//------------------------------//
// Fried Chicken 
// Story: You're All Alone, Sweetheart 
// by TheApexSovereign 
//------------------------------//

I skipped school this morning to visit Lake Alicorn.

As I rotted out the door, Rarity greeted me. I didn't make eye contact with her thought she attempted to make small talk. "Hello, darling. Did you have a lovely rest?" 

I grunted in response and pressed on, hearing her sigh as I slammed the door.

Honestly, I didn't give a flying feather about education anymore. There's really no point. I wanted to do something worth while, something Equestria would never forget. I thought I could cut a deal with Discord. It's torture, not knowing why I trust him so much. It's just something about him seemed so....right. Upon arriving to the lake, the demon himself was there taking a nap on a levitating hammock. 

Before I even opened my mouth, the draconequus removed his novelty red sunglasses and said, "I'd knew you'd return, darling." 





Well, tomorrow's my birthday. Yeah, you could tell I'm excited, right? No, I'm not. Rarity's probably gonna give me another dress I'll just throw in the closet. 

Speaking of Rarity, I've been avoiding her ever day. Though, that really had no effect on my life, considering how the only difference is that I'm doing it intentionally. Every day I skip school to train in magic with Discord. He was in a laughing fit of disbelief at first, but then realized I was up to the challenge. 

It hasn't been easy. I've had a few breakdowns where I got unbearably agonizing headaches. Discord says that's normal, and every unicorn goes through that. I'd writhe in pain, rolling in the sand as bursts of magic shot out of my horn like a loose cannon. 

I had no idea it takes so much skill just to cast a spell. I had to concentrate, think of something that relates to the spell, such as snow when casting an ice charm. Steady inhales or rapid breaths are also key depending on the very class of spell, such as destructive or illusion based jinxes. 

I learned so much more in a week than I have in a whole year. The books never go into much detail, probably for the 'safety of Equestria.' Then again, these books weren't written by an evil spirit with eons and eons of knowledge and experience. 

Like for example, I could only disperse a single wimpy spark of electricity from my horn. But after Discord's rough, grueling, training, I can now send an entire current through the lake surface. It's intoxicating, really. I never even dreamed of becoming this powerful of a sorcerer. But I needed more, though there's no possible way I could do it alone. 

As Discord and I sat along the shore, eating fried.....I don't even know what Discord conjured up, I suggested it to him. "Hey, uh, Mr. Discord? Just out of curiosity, is there any possible way to.....become ruler of Equestria?" 

The creature spat out his food in a fit of laughter, "Priceless! Simply priceless! Do you honestly think that's even possible? You'd have to deal with the entire royal guard, breach the castle's defenses, complete a ritual as powerful as Celestia herself to access powerful magic, get rid of the Elements, deal with her.......annoying sister, Luna, and finally, defeat the Princess in a duel capable of destroying all of Canterlot." He took a deep breath, "So probably." He said sarcastically. 

Jeez, I had no idea it would be that difficult. But the dream I had a few nights ago just seemed so real. So believable. 

But then I remembered a pretty substantial event that happened a couple years ago. "What about that Changeling character? She beat Celestia in a duel." 

Discord waved a hand in dismissal. "Celestia....wasn't even.....trying." He said in between the last chews of his meal. "The jinx that prohibits powerful magic effects the Princess to, same with me." He stroked his silvery beard. "No, to disarm the jinx, we'd have to complete a series of challenging tasks." 

"What?" I asked with hope glistening in my one green eye. 

Discord scratched the area in between his horns, trying to remember. "If I remember that old ritual correctly, and by the way, it's been a couple hundred centuries since the thing's been cast, so cut me a break, you'd need the keepers of the Elements of Harmony." 

I growled like an angered predator, then sighed. What am I thinking? I pretty much am a monster now, driven on an insatiable hunger for power. Right now, this'd be the turning point where the fallen hero would realize what they're saying. Did I? Absolutely not. I want this power. I need this power. And I'm not gonna let my awful sister and her self righteous friends get in my way. 

The spirit continued, flying in a circle for some out of nowhere reason. He almost looked like an uroboros snake. "Just to give you a little history, Celestia and Luna wanted a way so that this spell would never be broken. So they made the keepers of the Elements, at the time themselves, the keys."

So that basically made our job easier, but also more redundant. Discord continued, now leaning against an invisible wall. "You'd need an honest tear, and a, uh, oh right! A loyal 'flash' of an eye, a kind blood 'donation.'" He giggled at the emphasis he put on 'donation.' "A hair of laughter, and-" He took a pause to chuckle, knowing I'll like this one, "a generous amount of flesh. Oh, and they all still have to be alive." He could no longer contain his building laughter. 

That's not funny. I'm going to have to dismember my sister without killing her? That's just messed up, even by my standards. "Why does this seem so cryptic?" I asked. 

Discord leaned over, his eyes locked in mine. "Because," He began in a serious tone. "Everything was dark back then, my dear. Equestria wasn't always the bright and cheerful place it is today." His eyes popped open in realization. "In fact, it still isn't. I'm just the only one who sees the strings." 

I was a bit creeped out by his statement. Walking back home, I said, "Well, I'll see you later Discord." 

He waved an eagle claw at me saying, "Think about this ritual hun, I'm sure you'll find a way!" Then he morphed into a batch of balloons that rose into the air. 





As I walked home mulling over this insane ritual, a stranger grabbed me and pulled me into the abandoned Sugarcube Corner. The assailant shoved their hoof in my mouth, muffling my screams. To see his face, the tip of my horn lit up, illuminating the darkened shop. I could see the outlines of planks sealing the windows, preventing any outside light to come in. 

I let out a muffled gasp once I saw the captor's face. Scootaloo? She ungagged me and set in a hasty whisper, "Sweetie Belle! What the hay's goin' on?! Why're you conspiring against Equestria with that Discord thing?" 

My eyes shifted around as I tripped over my words. "I, uh, what're you...uh, I have no idea what you're talking about."

She frowned. "I wasn't born yesterday, Sweetie! I saw you talking to him! You haven't been in school for weeks! We're all worried about you! Your sister's worried about you!" 

I struggled in her grasp to no avail, trying to keep concentrating on my light spell. "No you're not. None of you care about me." I said matter-of-factly.

Scootaloo looked hurt, like she actually expected me to believe her. Her ruffled purple mane went over her left eye as the other searched my blank face for any signs of emotions. "What gave you that idea?" 

My grotesque face twisted into an even more hideous scowl. "Are you kidding? None of you talk to me anymore, everypony laughs at me, my own sister doesn't even give me a hug!" My voice cracked as it always did when I got angry. 

Scoot actually looked sympathetic. "Sweetie, things change over the years. Allot. Applebloom and I have simply been too busy-"

"Hanging out with Diamond Tiara." I snapped.

She was taken aback, but continued. "Rainbow Dash is in the Wonderbolts now." That, I did not know, caused a surprised gasp that made me look weak. "Fluttershy owns a retreat for abused animals," Let them die, I thought bitterly. "Applejack and Applebloom are still trying to cope with the loss of Granny Smith and run the farm after the entire batch of apples were poisoned last year." Well boo-hoo for them. "And you know this one already, Pinkie Pie adopted Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake after their parents died in the fire that happened here two years ago."

My heart actually ached for a brief moment, but was replaced with anger when I realized nopony ever told me that. I just though the cakes moved out of town, and this place got condemned or something. 

"Don't you see Sweetie Belle? Ponies change. Nothing ever stays the same." Saying nothing, I glared at her with my milky eye, actually causing her to shift from hoof to hoof uneasily. 

"Uh, Belle?" She cocked her head to the side. 

I looked down at her fully grown pegasus wings, which she uses to fly now. Took her long enough, right? "And this should change my mind because......?" 

Her jaw dropped in disbelief. "What's gotten into you?! You used to be a sweet little filly that would never hurt a fly, let alone try and overthrow the Princess!" 

I gave the slightest smirk. "Like you said, things change." 

She stepped back from me, allowing my front hooves to fall to the ground. A look of horror and confusion sprawled across Scoot's face. "You're a monster! Discord has done something to your brain, I know it!" 

I took a small step forward, making her actually flinch. "This whole town has had it coming for a while! Even if things change, that doesn't justify the chicken scratch I went through for THREE YEARS!" Both of us actually shook at the tone I was using. "THREE YEARS! The most miserable, gut-wrenching years of my whole life! No filly EVER should have to go through that! Does Celestia care? NO! Does my sister? NO! Do you? NO!" Scootaloo was now back up against the smoldered counter. "Does Discord? Yes. Yes he does. I'm aware of the dark things that happen underneath this peaceful land. What I'm doing is a favor." I gave a psychotic grin, followed by an insane cackle. Maybe I am crazy. But oh well. It's better than reality, by a long shot.

Instead of cowering, Scootaloo actually tried to hold her ground. "Don't worry Sweetie. I'll let Twilight and her friends now about Discord. We'll cure you, promise."

I shot her an eerily disturbed grin. "You're gonna run away, chicken?" I reminded her of that horrible nickname fillies called her when she couldn't fly.

Her face flushed into a bright pink. "Shut up, burnt marshmallow!" 

I ceased my crazed giggling. She just crossed the point of no return right there. I concentrated as hard as I can, locking my knees, thinking of the sun, focusing on a puzzled Scootaloo. Her eyes widened in fear, staring in horror at the jet of fire emerging from my horn and shooting towards her like a fountain. 

She was a goner before she even had a chance to run. Her beautiful orange coat was now a hideous charred black. The feathers on her wings burnt from the tips, the extreme heat eventually forced her uncovered eye to burst like a juicy grape. Scoot's tears evaporated before the were even shed as the massive flame engulfed her tiny frame. She clambered and bumped into the already scalded counter and tables. Instead of screaming, like I hoped she would, she released mangled and twisted cries of agony. 

The whole time she stumbled around the room like a drunken peasant, I watched contently. My emerald eye occasionally twitched as I softly sang, "You're the fire in my eye.....It'll burn until I die."

Finally, Scootaloo's charred corpse tripped into the wall, still burning in the dimming but still hungry flame. 

I was simply ecstatic. 

Then happy. 

Content.

Confused. 

Shocked. 

Appalled. 

Scared.

Depressed.

And finally, an overwhelming blend of all these emotions hit me like a tidal wave. I collapsed to the ground, bawling into the foreboding darkness of the scorched Sugarcube Corner. What's wrong with me? What have I done? And why does all of this have to happen to me?