Pssst

Little something I'm working on to get me in the spirit of writing again so I can finish up chapter 3 of Royal Duties: Inheritance. Please note this is a very rough draft, and only the first few words of much more.

You find yourself in a cottage with no knowledge of how you got there. Actually you can’t seem to remember the last several hours. Why are you in a cottage? Were you even in an area that there would be a cottage?
“Oh! I see we have another guest.” A gruff, chilling voice states behind you. You can’t be certain, but you swear you recognize it, despite the fact that you are certain it belongs to no one you know personally.
“You know instead of worrying about who I am you could just turn around.” The voice chuckled in amusement. Swallowing the lump that formed in your throat, you turn to gaze upon whatever it is behind you, as you are certain it’s not going to be anything pleasant.

You are only half right.

Before you stands a creature formed together of many different animals. The leg of a goat, the horn of a deer, the arm and claws of a eagle? Griffion? Whatever animals that make this thing up isn't what surprises you. What shocks you is that you do know this creature.

Discord.

“Yes yes, I am Discord, the oh so lovable scamp of a draconius from the wonder world of Equestria.” He says with quite the dramatic flare, going as far as to strike a pose with his fingers on his chest as he looks to the sky. Your body begins to numb as you sit there staring at this creature before you. Whether you feel this out of fear or awe you can’t really place.
“Ah, but this isn’t about me. Oh no, this is about you isn't it? As in, why are you here?” His eyes twinkle, “No no, don’t say anything, there’s no need.” With a snap of his claws, various items begin to float up and spin around you, flying around the room as if possessed. In the midst of all this, Discord casually reaches out and grabs a rather age worn tomb, it’s cover blood red. Try as you may though you can’t make out it’s title.
“I so do enjoy the tales in this book, I've actually had a claw in shaping most of them don’t you know. Oh, but this is no time for bragging.” He holds the book’s cover right up to your face, the canvas blank of any markings.
“These tales, well they can speak for themselves!” With a grin from Discord that causes you to shudder, you watch as gold Equestrian lettering burns their way onto the book’s face. You stare at the strange symbols for mere seconds before you realize you can actually understand them. Trying to ignore the metaphoric pins and needles in your arms and legs you read outloud the text.
“Tales of the Unusual?”
“Right you are!” Discord cheers as he sits back in the chair that just floated up to meet him. “Now which story shall I read? The one about how clothes make the mare? Oh but that’s more of a human tale, and I think we are both in the mood for some pony ‘tails’ don’t you agree?” Was it just your imagination, or did you feel a swishing behind you? Discord just continues to grin as he flips through the pages one by one, his expression slowly changing to boredom.
“No, no not that one, not this one. Drat I really should ask that Twilight Sparkle to help me create an index for this thing.” He sighs with a glance outside the window. It’s only now that you recognize why this place seems so familiar. The colors, the small holes and doors, the smell of animals. This can’t be anything other than Fluttershy’s cottage.
“Of course if I did ask for her help, she’d probably lecture me on those annoying lessons of friendship and how my stories are a misuse of my wonderful chaos. Bah!” A sudden chill wind blows through the cottage as Discord watches it turn the pages of the book. You can feel the very hair on your back stand straight up from the cold, causing you to wish you had dressed in warmer clothing, it was like you had nothing on at all.
“Ah ha! Here we are!” Discord hoots in glee as he places a finger on the top of a page. “The Tale of the Longed for Love! Oh such a classic!” A wine glass of what you can only guess to be chocolate milk appears before him before he reaches out and takes a drink from it. You barely have time to register that the glass never seemed to drain while he drank before Discord is looking around disapprovingly again.
“No no, something still isn't right. A story like this needs the right setting and a sunny cottage just doesn’t fit the bill!” His hand raises up to show you a duck sitting in it as he speaks. The duck quacks once before Discord tosses it gently on a couch.
“Fluttershy’s place is homely I’ll give it that, but during the day it’s just too daycare like for a story of this caliber! I know what we need!” Placing his hand on the window glass he strokes downward upon it, causing the sun to suddenly dim and go out plunging the world outside, along with the cottage, into night time darkness. Without having any time to adjust your eyes, about a dozen candles light up all around you, bathing everything in an eerie orange glow.
“Perfect, now let us hear the tale of a lonely human like yourself who only wanted the love of one of his favorite ponies. Not that he believed anyone was listening…” The book floats up into the air itself as a soft golden glow fills it’s displayed pages.
“Oh I hope you don’t mind, but I thought I’d have it presented in a first person narrative, gives us some delicious insight as to what he’s thinking don’t you agree?”

Without waiting for a response, a male voice begins to emitted from the book, the tale having already begun…

Comments

[Rainedash]

Looks interesting. You should consider continuing it.