“Where’s Fluttershy?” Gilda asked, noting the absence of the pony in this meeting. “Figured she’d be here too.”
“She’s visiting friends,” Discord said with a smile. “Tis the season, after all.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” Gilda replied with a sigh. “So how much did she tell you about the Snark?”
“A little,” Discord answered, using his claw to give that small visual with a bug between his fingers. “Have to say, it would be quite something if you really did all that you said.” Gilda was now in a chair across from him. “And even then, you’d still need...well, that is the question, isn’t it? What is “The Snark”, Gilda?”
“Way I can tell, a windigo that’s in my head,” Gilda explained to the snake walrus. “I’ve seen him in that...other place too. That, like some other things I told Flutters, seems impossible.”
“Like your brothers story on how you were alive and unharmed in a horror story?” Discord asked as he typed away on a invisible typewriter. Gilda felt another groan coming on.
“He told me he’s the reason for it,” Gilda added as she tapped on the chair she sat in. “And, you know, destroy us all? That part feels pretty pressing, don’t cha think?”
“Indeed,” Discord replied, as a ding indicated him to reset the invisible page roller. “That part does concern me as well. Normally those creatures from beyond can’t organize beyond a small group, maybe two.” He looked to her with a raised eyebrow. “And you tell me an army of them is coming then?”
“You don’t believe it either?” Gilda deadpanned back.
“I do at this point, with a simple look outside,” Discord said as a pile of snow fell on the griffon, from above, indoors. Her beak out like a snowman nose and her eyes wide. Despite his jest, he snapped his fingers and the snow was gone. “They aren’t even in this plain yet, but there it is. I have a personal dread how bad it can be if they all came at once.”
“Uh, can they?” Gilda asked, even if she knew she’d dread the answer.
“Thankfully no,” Discord said with a, for once, nervous smile. “Only so many at a time, like a long line or a fuse burning down. I’d have to say this would have been better to know some time earlier.”
“Hey, don’t blame this all on me,” Gilda countered, quite upset. “I didn’t even know about most of this crud.”
“That does not make you blameless, dear,” Discord also countered. “Though it would have been nice to know from Luna about your nightmares as well.”
“She can’t see them, not with me knowing her bits and pieces,” said a voice familiar to Gilda.
“The Snark I presume?” Discord replied to the voice, as he could hear it too.
“In the flesh, or not,” the Snark said, now next to Gilda, and thankfully not seated. “After I enjoyed a taste of her hate, I came to know a few things. Like her little power of dreams.”
“You fed on Nightmare…” Discord was about to say, but “The Snark” went first.
“Oh yes,” he replied, with a red smile. “And she was quite a dish! Not that it matters to you.”
“And I would say it does,” Discord said in a stern tone. “You are clearly out of your league you know.”
“You can’t even touch me, you old stone face,” the Snark said, mockingly. “After all, I’m not even here.” He jabbed Gilda’s side. “Oh, I’m real enough, like all the others. But even you can’t just magic us away, like you would if you could.” He nodded with a sneer.
“Hum, like I would,” Discord said stoically as he nodded back. “I should say the jig is up Mr. Snark. Even Twilight knows about what your scheme is, and even I can push back this storm you’re brewing.”
“Oh, you could,” the Snark cackled back. “But you can’t stop all of it, not with so many of us coming in.” The more the Snark trotted around with that smirk, the more the snake man looked displeased. “And some...other little surprises I can muster, just little bits here and there.” He looked at Discord’s unhappy face and suddenly had a cruel grin as the gore on his muzzle dripped to water on the floor.
“Oh, I see,” he added after a pause. “You’re thinking on how stoppable I can be? I’ll give you a freebie, because I’m such a swell guy, hm?” Discord didn’t flinch at the Snark’s jests. “If you killed the bird,” he said as he pointed to Gilda. “Well, I’d lose my beacon, so to speak. I can tell you, and her, but don’t tell Fluttershy. Oh no! I want it to be a surprise when she find little bird’s body at your feet.”
Now that got a reaction.
“I won’t!” Discord yelled at the still grinning windigo.
“Or, what if my power are even more unknown to you?” the snark added, rubbing Gilda’s head. “Imagine, calm and collected, more or less. Then POW!” His hoof became an icy spike in Discord’s direction. “A claw in someone! With no problematic trauma or fear, she won’t even remember it! Could even be her doctor…” he said playfully.
“Stop!” Discord was looking even more upset, but staying in relative control of his anger.
“See, this is what happens my little bird,” the Snark whispered to Gilda. “They always think they are better than that. Like you can’t get to them.” He softly laughed as he turned back to Discord. “It’s for a limited time only, operator is still alive. And only a few hours to go. Kill now for life savings!” The snake walrus was shaking with suppressed anger. “Save the friends you won’t have when after-”
“I’m not playing you little game Snark!” Discord snarled. And despite the angry gaze, the Snark laughed. “I make the game here.”
“As if!” the Snark chuckled, only raising the snake creatures anger. “You mortals will always be able to perceive us! The scent of hate from your every thought attracts our gaze, and we can see with your corporeal eyes!” the Snark’s white pony body split and separated as he continued. “All that is left is for you is to know us! And you were never a lord of chaos! Only the pretender to the empty throne!” cried the shapely blue windigo that now stood in the room.
“Enough!” Discord shouted in full rage. The sudden force was enough to shake the house, even sending some furniture flying. Even Gilda was knocked for a loop and Diamond Tiara could be heard shrieking upstairs.
“Oh, back to basics, good man!” the Snark said, gleefully unfazed why the force and delighted. “First the children, then the world! Just like last time.” Discord shook his head and grit his teeth. “And when you next dangle them over volcanos…”
“Get….” the room rumbled as Discord spoke in a shuddering growl.
“Why not drop some, for a laugh?” the Snark finished with a laugh.
“...Out!” Discord finished, and the room stopped shaking.
“Make me, pony boy!” the Snark said as he blew a raspberry.
Discord looked wrathful, breathing heavy as he flinched. He walked up to Gilda, who wondered why he legs weren’t moving and raised a hand in the air.
“Oh, you are a poor sport…” the Snark mocked as Discord poked Gilda’s head.
For Gilda, this was a surprise.
She nearly forgot “Ruzka the Wonder Bear”, her favorite teddy, and she giggled until she thought she was going to be late for school. Her mom said the next ruler should be more educated, even remembering the royal protector rumor she heard once. Or was that a story she told her? It was like she never left home, or even childhood, but couldn't remember who she was or what was so scary a moment ago.
Then the griffon blinked, and her vision became clear.
Discord was sitting down rubbing his head and not looking particularly funny or silly now. As for herself, she was on the floor nuzzling a teddy bear.
Being mortified doesn’t fully describe the feeling she had as she pushed it away. She didn’t need someone else knowing this fact.
“That...mind poke thing….” Gilda said, as she shook her head. “Don’t. It’s like you put a thing in there and did...stuff,” she picked herself up off the floor as she spoke.
“It’s a bit rough, and a bit messy, but it’s something I can do when desperate,” Discord replied with very little excitement, but managing to smirk at the end. “It did get him to leave though. Nasty fellow,” he sighed. “I’d prefer not to reduce myself to his crude level, though it’s just as likely he wanted me to get angry.”
“Remind me not to get on your bad side…” Gilda added as she saw the lopsided fireplace and the knocked down, and lopsided, vertical shelves. Even the doors were knocked over, lying on the floor, still in the doorway. “Ah crud, is Diamond….”
Discord seemed to answer this with a snap and a boing sound. Suddenly the filly, wet and damp, was clinging to the griffon’s back.
“How the…” Gilda was about to ask before seeing the small waterfall on the staircase. “Where did all the water come from?”
“It’s...not water,” Discord said sadly, but he quickly composed himself.
Maybe from the already messy logic she’d seen from that point, but Gilda had the an idea. Was it tears or sweat flooding upstairs? Also, is she getting too used to this? She shook her head at that thought.
“So, what now?” Gilda said as she got the wet Tiara of her back. “Any ideas?”
“Getting dry?” was Diamond’s two bits. Next the foal knew she was dry and puffy with her fur and mane sticking out. By the look on her face, this was not an improvement.
“You’ll be glad to know I won’t play his game,” Discord said as he patted Gilda’s head. “But he does seem to have his own scheme, as well as getting stronger from it.”
“And the magic pony plan of the day is…” Gilda asked, hoping he would know.
“Well, with a bit of work they can get Hearth’s Warming back on track,” Discord said as he rubbed his chin...thing. “But now I’m worried. He’s just as likely to go find more power, escalating this matter.”
“A clear yes or no doc,” Gilda asked, now a bit nervous.
“At present, yes we do Gilda,” Discord said with confidence. “These little ponies have weathered some storms quite similar to this.”
“I hope so,” Gilda added, and with that hopefully settled. “Ya need a comb kid?” she asked the fluffy foal.
“Please,” Diamond Tiara said, rolling her eyes.
“Yo, you got a…” Gilda was about to ask, but it was already in her claw. “...comb?”
“I’ll take my leave for now,” Discord said with a bow. “In the mean time, try not to get too upset. We don’t need you to feed him more than he already has been.”
Gilda turned away, about to hand the comb to Diamond, when she needed to ask. “And how am…?” But when she turned back, he was gone. At least the room was back in order, doors on the wall and what not.
Still, more than “try not to be mad” would have been good advice at this point.
“You giving that to me or what?” Tiara got Gilda out of her worrying.
“Sure, right,” she replied. Once in hoof, the pink filly got to getting her new fluffy look under control. “You know, when did you say this party was?”
“Apple Bloom said her and her sister would come for me when they were ready…” Diamond answered back. “And can I ask why the house moved?”
“Just the world ending, no biggie,” Gilda joked, then noted Tiara looking annoyed again. “Lizard boy got mad, and I can guess why.”
“Can he do something about this storm outside?” Diamond added, as she got the last of the puffiness tamed.
“He’s getting to it,” Gilda answered reassuringly. “He won’t let it ruin the festivities.”
“Awesome sauce!” Diamond said with some excitement.
“Seriously?” Gilda chucked. “That had to be the dumbest sounding catchphrase!”
“I don’t see you coming up with cool catchphrases either,” Tiara quickly countered.
“Heh, good point,” Gilda said as she rubbed the bottom of her beak. “I”m am totally slouching here. Geeze.” She pondered as she tapped her beak. “If I told you that over the course of a week I’ve gone through a lot of changes, what would you say?” she asked the foal.
“How?” was Diamonds word on that. “Weren't you the one who described herself as ‘the bird you cannot change’?”
“Been lot’s of weird stuff, mostly.” Gilda answered with a shrug. “Kind of like I lost my grip.”
“Weird stuff, right….” was Diamonds word on that too, as she looked indifferent. “Pretty sure I liked it better when things were less nutty.“
“Guess it grows on ya,” Gilda said with a smile. “So, you good?”
“If by less wet and less puffy, yeah.” was Tiara’s answer back.
“Cool,” Gilda said as she headed to the kitchen. She could go for a snack right now anyway.
The griffon figured it would be a good idea to raid the fridge, however on the kitchen table was a nice surprise. Finding a cake there didn’t elicit much of a response to her. Maybe Pinkie, maybe Discord. The “Eat me” note just next to it didn’t clear that up either.
Diamond Tiara however seemed more surprised than she was. “Is that a cake?” she asked as she pointed a hoof.
“Want some?” Gilda answered with an innocent smile. “Pretty sure it’s safe.”
“Pretty sure it’s safe?” Diamond added with wide eyes, not quite understanding how the griffon wasn’t bothered by this. “So that cake just…” She blinked, still with that weirded out look.
Regardless, she rolled her eyes and sat down as well as Gilda got to cutting them a slice.