//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 Part 1 A Nightmare of Chaos // Story: MLP Duel Academy // by Twistedphoenix1 //------------------------------// Chapter 8 A Nightmare of Chaos “I found these two using the illegal ante rule in a duel on campus,” Luna was telling Celestia as two students were sitting in chairs in front of Celestia’s desk. The were sweating nervously under Luna’s gaze...until Celestia spoke up. “Oh I’m sure they were just having a friendly bet,” Celestia said. “They were breaking the rules! We’ve let it slide with the wager Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich make since it’s only a one sided bet. But these two…” “Were just having fun,” Celestia said. “You two may go. Just don’t make a habit of playing with antes.” The two students nodded their thanks and left the office. Leaving the sisters alone. “Ugh!” Luna practically growled out in frustration before turning to her sister. “Why do you always do this!” “Relax Luna. It's the first day, I'm sure they didn't realize…” “They would've known the rules if you'd let me inform them at the opening ceremony like I'm supposed to! Why do you always have to undermine me like this!?” “Luna!” Celestia called out to her sister as she turned and left the office. “....I didn't mean to….” Luna was furious as she marched through the hallways. ‘I just try to do my job and she always has to let them go. Doesn't matter what they do, a second chance is always waiting for them.’ She was in the middle of her mental rant when she heard voices come from around the corner. “Thank goodness Celestia is the principle,” one of the boys from the office said. “Yeah. She's nice, unlike that vice principal.” “Got that right. The school would just be better off if Celestia took over it all and that Luna just got fired.” The rest of what they said was out of earshot, but Luna had heard enough. She quickly made her way to her office and slammed the door before leaning against her desk crying. “Why...Why am I always looked down on…” She slammed her fist down on her desk. “So what if I’m a bit more strict with the rules? I have to be! If my sister just ran things how she wanted, this place would be filled with…” “Chaos?” a voice said throughout the office. Luna stood up and spun, looking around. “Who said that!” The voice chuckled. “Oh, I think you know who I am dear Luna.” The vice principal’s eyes went wide. “Discord!” She began reaching for her phone to call her sister when the voice spoke again. “Calling big sis I see. I guess those students were right about you. You might as just leave the school…” Luna’s hand stopped. “Wha...what did you say?” “Oh, just that if you can’t do anything without your big sister that you might as well not be here.” Before Luna’s eyes, the shadowy form of Discord shimmered into existence. “I can do things without her!” Luna screamed. “Oh really,” Discord said before he launched himself at her. Before she could react he passed right through her. Suddenly, a swarm of memories flooded her. Celestia acing all their classes. Celestia winning the finals in their academy’s tournament. Celestia winning the employee of the month award. Celestia being picked by their last principal, Star Swirl, to take over. On and on the memories went, and not once did she try to give her sister any of the glory. ‘Wait, but she never gloated…’ ‘Who cares! She didn’t feel the need to gloat because she felt so superior to you already! She never tried to get others to show you the love and attention you deserve.’ Darkness began to surround her body as the tears slowly stopped. “You’re right...I’m nothing...she’s everything…” Discord floated, coiling around her. “But I can help you,” Discord said. “I can give you power to outshine your sister. Then everyone will see how much better than her you are. All I need from you is a little help in acquiring another little helper.” Luna’s eyes seemed glazed over as she responded. “Yes...please…” “Hehe…” Discord started to chuckle as he swirled around Luna, darkness forming up around her and power surging. “HAHAHAHAHA!” Meanwhile, in her office, Celestia was leaning against her desk. “I’m sorry...I didn’t…” As she was talking to herself, a loud crack of thunder sounded from outside. She turned to her window and stared out as clouds began circling around the school. She put a hand to her mouth as she realized what was going on. “Oh no…” In the school hallways Spike, Micro and Sugar were walking down the hall from their strategy class. “Well that was certainly interesting,” Micro said. “Some of those duel puzzles were challenging.” He heard twin groans from behind him as he turned to see Spike and Sugar rubbing their heads. “Some!” Spike said. “Those were brutal.” “Hey at least your first one wasn’t a token fest with an insane amount of life points to take down!” Sugar said as he rubbed his temples. Micro laughed before Spike spoke up. “Um guys...maybe my head's still spinning from the the puzzles, but wasn’t it just clear outside a second ago?” His friends looked out and saw that he was right. Storm clouds were gathering outside. Micro adjusted his glasses and stared outside. “Are they...converging on the school?” A bolt of lightning lit up the sky, causing the machine duelist to jump back from the window. “That’s not possible,” another voice said. The three turned and saw Twilight and the other girls approaching. “Storms don’t ...converge.” Though she had to admit that’s what it seemed like. “But what could be causing it?” Sugar asked as suddenly another bolt struck. This time, it hit a stone pillar outside, sending dust exploding out from it and the pillar began to collapse. Before the group could say, the PA system crackled to life. “Students,” vice principal Luna’s voice spoke over the system. Please refrain from going outside until the storm passes. Meanwhile, Spike Drago, please come to the vice principal’s office. “Oh come on!” Spike said. “What did I do?” “Don’t be worried sugarcube,” Applejack said, getting Sugar to be confused a moment until he realized he wasn’t the topic of the conversation. “Luna may seem mean sometimes, but she is fair. If you didn’t do anything, she won’t punish you.” “And we’ll come with you and wait outside until you’re done,” Rainbow said. “We can’t go anywhere for now anyway.” “Thanks guys,” Spike said. “Well, time to face the music.” The group made their way through the halls to Luna’s office. Sugar and Pinkie were talking about their favorite sweets while Twilight, Sunset and Micro all discussed duel puzzles while testing each other with some of their own. Rainbow chuckled and made a joke to the others about young love. They all laughed but Spike couldn’t help but glance at Rarity. When they made it to the office Spike knocked and heard a voice called from inside. “Come in!” Luna’s voice echoed. The others looked worried. She sounded upset. Spike shot one last nervous look at the group before entering into the office. It was dark in Luna’s office. The blinds were drawn and would only be able to let in narrow shafts of light, and that was if it was still bright and sunny outside. She didn’t even have a lamp on. Luna herself stood facing the windows. “Um,” Spike said. “Hello vice principal.” The woman gave Spike a cold look over her shoulder. “Ummm. You wanted to see me?” The woman didn’t respond for a moment, before turning to the window and muttering. “This is the one you want?” she asked to apparently no one. Spike was about to ask what she meant when he heard a voice. “Why yes it is!” a gleeful voice said. “I believe you know what to do?” Luna nodded to the unknown voice. Suddenly the woman turned around and activated her duel disk and a dark energy surrounded her. “Ms. Luna! What’s…!” Suddenly a swirl of bright neon bat like creatures shot toward him and began lifting him into the air. “HELP!!!” That was all it took for his friends to slam open the door. “What the heck!” Rainbow said. “Spike!” Sugar cried. “Those look familiar.” Micro said as he stared at the bats. “Those look like the bats that appear on the Fabled cards!” Sunset said. “Those are the cards Luna uses. “Vice principal Luna! What’s going on!” Twilight questioned angrily. “That is none of your concern Twilight Sparkle!” Luna shouted, in a voice that seemed to contain more than one at once. “My master desires the dragon duelist and that is all that you need to know!” A swirling portal of energy appeared above the now floating Spike as the bats tried carrying him through. Rainbow was the first to take action and jumped up, grabbing Spike around the waist and pulling him free from the creatures. The others formed a wall around their friend as the bats tried diving for him again. “Why are you doing this?” Fluttershy tried asking the creatures, but her usual affinity for animals seemed usual against these beasts. “If you all want to stand in my way then so be it!” Luna shouted. She drew out a card and was about to place it on her duel disk when another voice shouted. “THAT’S ENOUGH!” Celestia said as she stormed into the office, her duel disk active. “Principal Celestia!” the others shouted as Luna glared. “Interfering as always!” Luna growled. “Why can’t you just leave me be!” Celestia looked at her sister sadly. “Luna...you were right earlier,” she said. “I shouldn’t have interfered with you doing your job. But I never expected you to fall to...DISCORD!” She shouted. A soft chuckle echoed around the room. “Oh Celestia, you know you look stunning when you're angry. But I think you have family matters to attend to now.” And with one final chuckle the voice faded and Luna readied her duel disk. “Time to finally show everyone they were wrong to ignore me!” Luna shouted. Celestia looked at her sister with sad eyes. “If I have to, I will duel you,” Celestia said. “I’m sorry Luna...after I free you from his grip I will make sure to be a better sister.” She slid her deck into its slot. “I won’t give you the chance!” “DUEL!”