//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 ; A different kind of draconequus // Story: A Forgotten Life // by PeriwinkleLove //------------------------------// At a small house in the Everfree Forest lived an ancient living draconequus, that draconequus name was Arrist,and right now in her house were six,ponies and one,baby dragon in her doorstep being nervous at their encounter. ‘This is the end..’Spike thought ‘Discord...if I survive this...I SWEAR,I’m going to listen to your crazy antics more carefully next time,’Twilight promised to herself. “Oh but don’t worry!I’m not going to hurt you!Why would I do that?Please come in!”She said as she nodded them to enter. They firstly blinked,then looked at each other only by moving their eyes,heads still,then their eyes looked at her,then the door that led to her house,then again her,each other,the door,her,the door,each other,the door,her. “Are you going to sit there staring at me like confused parrots or enter inside?”She suggests. “Emm,yeah,right,move on!” Rainbow told as she pushed Fluttershy to the door. “Em,yeah,emm,” Fluttershy murmurs. Then the others still unsure if that was a trap or not,entered inside carefully. The house inside was.. Perfectly normal. The colour of the walls were Dark pink,there were three blue bookcases not very big but full with books in their right as they entered ,two green couches and two living chairs were in the centre of the room,there was also a yellow glass-see through table,there were also two shelves one with a vase with flowers and the other with a miniature of The Tree of Harmony together with a clock beside it,and there were also two windows. “Wow,your house looks pretty!” Fluttershy comments. “Thank you!Now please sit,like you are at home.I’ll go bring us tea.Which tea flavour you like?”She asked. “Em,you don’t need do to do anything,really,we don’t want to get you into any problem!”Fluttershy said while sitting on the couch. “Oh but it’s not any trouble really,”She replied. “If you could bring me a glass of water,I would be mostly grateful,”Rarity tells her,trying not to offend the spirit. “Me too,if you don’t mind of course,” Twilight tells. “Would you mind another one?”Spike raises his hand. “Alright then!Be right back!”She told and she walked to an opening towards the kitchen. “Emm,girls not to be mean or anything,but shouldn’t we be more kind. Especially towards the one that we stoned her brother!”Fluttershy whispered to them. “Well maybe you got a point,but maybe she would be offended,I still don’t understand her species very well,” Spike defends. “Oh relax!He was overreacting,as he always does.Look at her!She doesn’t seem to be mad or annoyed.If she was mad wouldn’t she kick us out of her house already?” She asked. “Well,you’ve got a point...But still,she knows that we imprisoned her brother!So wait a moment...does she even know that he is free and not causing chaos and havoc?”Twilight joined whispering with the others. “Of course I know!” Arrist’s voice joined the others. The seven friends,startled at her reappearance almost jumped of their seats. “Yikes,” Spike told out loud. “Em,we are so sorry,excuse them for their behaviour!We didn’t mean to offend you,or anything darling!”Rarity apologised. “No it’s alright...so he told you after all..hmm...my brother is really full of surprises...You still can’t believe it right?”She asked while giving Rarity,Twilight and Spike their glasses of water. “Em,well,I just learned it so…”Spike then gulped as he drank his water. “I know..same old Discord.He doesn’t share secrets easily,but I guess you know it,” She continued. “Yes,we-” “So wait...you are not mad at us?Or him?” Pinkie cutted Rainbow. She then giggles and responds. “Why should I be mad?For stopping chaos and havoc taking over or for reforming and bringing back my brother?” She ironically asked. “So..you are aware of everything..” Twilight pointed out. “Zecora told me,and I know it was her who led you here because she and Discord are the only ones who know this path so...yes I know everything,”She reveals. “As it seems you are not mad or scary as your brother told us!Didn’t I tell you that he was overreacting?”Rainbow reminded to the others. “Yes..my brother can be overreacting.But it’s in his nature,and sorry if he is still the same annoying self that he is,”She facepalms herself. “Meh,we got used to it.So I have been wanting to ask;Are you really mad at him?”Fluttershy asked curiously. “Huh…”She sighed. “As he probably told you,me and Discord are different,meaning sometimes we don’t understand one another,yes it’s true,I’m the spirit of order,while he’s the spirit of chaos,our differences were a fragment of Discord jealousy towards me….When Discord was first encased in stone I was devastated,besides,I was the reason behind this anyways,if I had listened to him or at least tried to stop him,nothing of this would have happened;Discord’s downfall,ponies being manipulated,homes destroyed,even your manipulation from him,all that because of me,”She turns away eye closed. “All these years I thought Discord was mad at me!I mean,he got my stubbornness that’s for sure.But,if he told you then I guess he’s probably blaming himself for this,”She tells facing them. “Yes,you can’t imagine how much he regrets what he had done a thousand years ago,becoming a crazy ruler and all that.He really feels sad about abandoning you,the past few weeks he wasn’t himself!He was all sad and simply well-” “Moody let’s say!”Rainbow completed Fluttershy’s words. “Really?That much?’Sight’,the one thing that I was afraid to happen;my own blood is afraid of me.’Sight’ What have I done?” She sadly covered her face with her hands. “I’m ashamed to admit it,but,sometimes,I really think that I shouldn’t have taken Discord under my wing,” “Maybe I should have just abandoned him or anything like that,at least like that I guess he wouldn’t have suffered as much as now,” “No!Don’t say that!You took the right choice to raise him,if it wasn’t for you,Discord wouldn’t even live right now,”Fluttershy disagrees with Arrist. “How can you say that?I was a twelve year old kid!And I was all alone,no parents,no one else,and I even knew the big risk of raising him,and I wasn’t even sure if he was my real brother,but,still,I took that risk and that risk caused so much pain,” “Yes,” Twilight spoke. “That was a very big risk,” She continues.”I can’t imagine anyone in that age,in that situation,in a such little potential on magic:taking the risk of raising the lord of chaos,”She pauses. “I know I wouldn’t,” She admits “At least that’s what I think I would do in your situation,but who knows?But you..”She then started to flap her wings and she was in the air,then she landed in the floor. “You….took that risk.Despite your mind cursed you not to do it,you did it.You had hope,that maybe it wouldn’t end up as bad as you thought,hope,hope was inside of you,that helped you raise your brother,that helped you and him through your everyday struggles,and helped you….not to kill yourself I presume?” Arrist’s eyes then opened wide. “I presume that you did have suicidal thoughts?Each day you just couldn’t make it,you were ready to do it,but hesitated,because,who would raise Discord after you?No one would take in a ‘freak of nature’,no offence but you get what I mean,no one would take Discord,both because of hard times,and because he’s different,you took that great risk,and yes,it had troubles,but,wasn’t it worth it?Yes,Discord has made mistakes,but we all make ones,and Discord regrets his actions to this very moment,and as far as I know,forces of nature don’t regret and don’t care for others,he on the other hand,”She then heads towards the window and sees the forest. “He does care about us,in his own unique and strange way,but he cares,I guess that’s thanks to you,and I guess caring for others besides his sister is still a bit weird to him,”She chuckles. “Discord was lying when he said that he never cared for anyone else before us,he did care,for you,”Fluttershy adds. “He couldn’t just raise himself,there had to be someone,and that was you,his sister,and we know that he still cares about you,so much that he doesn’t visit you because he’s afraid that he’ll hurt you again,” “Wait,really?”Arrist says surprised “Of course!You were the one who raised him!The one who missed sleep many times just to keep him safe,the one who tried to give him a normal life by not caring for her needs but his,and you say that he doesn’t care?”Applejack assures. “It’s...true,” She admits. “And by the way,you managed to raise a baby all alone!And not any baby!But the master of chaos himself!”Rarity continued. “And besides,he makes the best chocolate milk ever!And he can think of a good prank or two,and he can be a fun guy at times,”Pinkie cheered. “So,you are not a bad big sister!You are anything but that,” Rainbow told her. “You raised a wonderful brother and you should be proud for that,”Fluttershy agreed. “And anyone who achieved raising one of our closest friend;has our rightful respect,”Twilight adds,bowing her head in respect as the others also did. Arrist had no words to say to them only; “Thank you..”Very small tears started to roll down her cheeks. “You can’t imagine how long was the last time that I had ever felt happy and proud for myself,thank you so much,and for giving my brother a chance,really...I can’t even think of anything to repay to you for what you have done,” She said. “Yes,well,nothing really,”Spike assures. “Well,I know that you want to ask millions of questions and I will be more than happy to answer. The least that I can do after what you have done for my brother,” “Well then might I ask;how was he when he was a kid really?I was always eager to know,well,at least since I met him,so?”Spike asked her. “Oh,actually,he wasn’t very naughty as a kid.As a baby he was actually very quiet.He...slept a lot,I can’t understand what went wrong while he was growing up though!”She thoughtfully replied. “Wait...he was quiet?Not any troubles coming from him when he was a kid?”Twilight shocked exclaims. “Nope!Not a trouble at all.Luckily,as he probably told you we had a tough childhood...so both of us didn’t have time or the means to goof around,so yes,that’s probably the reason why he didn’t get into trouble.Back then the last thing we wanted is to get into serious trouble,”She said. “Wow,Really?Discord quite as a kid!Welp,I think I heard everything now!”Spike exclaimed. “Alright,now,sorry for asking but,did he ever,I dunno had a,emm,crush..”Applejack whispered. “Sorry,what you said?” Arrist asked her. “I'm sorry,I am a bit shy to ask but,we all always wanted to know,and of course Discord would never tell us so,did he,ever..”Applejack paused. “Had a crush?” Pinkie blurted “....” She looked at them with an emotionless face,then she covered her mouth,small giggles escaping. “Are you alright?” Fluttershy asks. “Yes...hehe..I’m...hehe..fine,”She still covered her mouth to not laugh as a crazy maniac. Until she couldn’t take it anymore and started laughing. “Oh,this is the funniest thing that I’ve heard in centuries!You gave me my hardest laugh,Discord and a crush,HAH!Not even in my worst nightmares!” “So no?”Spike tells. Arrist then wiped a tear from laughter of her eyes “S,sorry for that,and no,he never had a crush.I thought once that he had one , but nope!It was just him trying to make me nuts!If he ever has one then it will be when Lord freaking Tirek is reformed.Pft so write me when he has one,” “WAIT!You know Tirek?”They all seven surprised asked. “But of course,”She replied,now in a serious voice. “You’ve...met him?”Twilight asks. “Yes….”She replied,clearly wanting them to change the subject. “Really?” Spike asked. “Right….it was one of the most,emm,memorable things in my life,’sight’,”She answers barely keeping her shaking. “Are you alright sugarcube?” Applejack asks her. “Yes,it’s alright,just,emm,I just,’sight’ he really freaks me out just thinking of him,” “And….what do you think of him?”Rarity asks. “Oh,well,I heard and,”She pauses “Oh,who am I kidding?He is HORRIBLE!And I hate that grumpy,selfish,annoying,scumbag,mean,colossal brat of a centaur!”She told with hate. “Wow!You seem to hate him!”Rainbow said. “WHO doesn’t?” She asked angrily. “Welcome to the Tirek-haters club sister!” Pinkie exclaims “Wait,how do you know him?” Applejack asks. “It’s…..a long story,”She tells awkwardly rubbing her left arm with her right.Chills passing in her body. “Well,we have all the time ahead of us so..you can tell us!”Pinkie says excitedly for a new story. “Emm,I really don’t want to talk about him,I’m afraid that I might punch something from my hate towards him,”She tells rubbing her temples in anger. “Ooooo,and I wanted a new story..” Pinkie says sadly. “Pinkie maybe she just doesn’t want to talk about him,her right,”Fluttershy tells. “Sorry she loves stories at times,you don’t have to tell us,now at least,but,really,the way you talked about him,I think you hate him more than Discord,or even me!And he blew up my library!”Twilight surprised said. “Yes,I heard it, sorry for your library Twilight,I heard The Golden Oaks library was a dear place to you,I know how it feels,Discord too,sorry,” “It’s alright,and,wait,how do you two know how that feels?”Twilight curiously asked. “Em,as kids we were basically kicked out in every town we thought we could finally call home so yes..I know how that feels,”She explained. “Oh!Sorry I forgot...so I guess you hate him too,huh,well happy to know we hate the same centaur!”She joyfully cheered. “Hey,the enemies of my enemies are my friends!So,yes,” She answered. “So enough with the grimdark themes,let’s jump into something more fun,don't you think?” Spike tells trying to light up the mode of everyone “So..we wanted to talk you about your brother,”Fluttershy spoke. “You know….we are having a breakfast banquet tomorrow at Discord’s and we thought,”Rainbow continued. “You might want to come with us?You know to finally see your brother...and if we both know the same Discord he won’t talk to you very soon I guess,so?…”Twilight asked. “Oh,well I don’t know,he doesn’t hate me but still,I can’t face him like that after one thousand years!Are you sure it’s a good idea?”She replied worried. “Trust us!He might be a bit surprised,but still,you want to miss that chance?”Pinkie asked her. “Well...at least he doesn’t hate me…..but I don’t want to be any trouble to anyone!” “Oh darling!Why would you be any trouble?He is your brother,he might faint but everything will turn out fine.Besides,we would love to get to know you better Arrist!You know we don’t learn everyday that Discord,our Discord,has a sister!”Rarity assured. “And besides,I want to see the look on his face when he sees you!Hah,it will be priceless!” Rainbow added. “Em,no offence,don’t listen to Rainbow she's always joking!Right?”Fluttershy looked at her angry and Rainbow worryingly nodded. “Well...his scary face,might be hilarious,”She thought again “Wait,you will enjoy him get scared and shocked?”Fluttershy confused asked. “I am his sister,if I don’t laugh then who will?”She replied. “Right!So you are the older one,right?”Twilight asked. “Right,luckily,I can’t imagine him raising a kid!”Arrist said. “You know,when Discord told us about your past I’m surprised that you didn’t take payback for all the things that our kind had done to you when you were kids,”Rarity admits. “Well,I’m not the ‘revenge’ type of being,I just brushed it off because that happened a long time ago,and because they were your ancestors,not you anyways,”She replies. “That’s a…”Twilight pauses to find the right word “Very surprising point of view,”She continues “Well...I’m not called spirit of order for nothing..I’m a being that thinks with logic and not with emotions,I don’t let my feelings and emotions take the best of me when I make a serious decision,I think with logic and facts,nothing more,” “Wow,rare is the being that puts logic and not emotions first,rare really,”Applejack admits. “Well,she is the spirit of order,Discord’s opposite,what do you expect?” Spike points out. “But you know,I still can’t chew the fact that you just never kicked their heads so that they could get it through their skulls that you aren’t monsters!”Rainbow ironically exclaimed. ”Em,technically speaking,Discord did prank them for revenge back then so...that counts too,” “Oh really?” Rarity asked. “Well yes,no one get’s away when you are treating rude the ones he cares without a prank or two...well,I did pull a good two or three pranks at your kind too,”She admitted ”Harmless but still rewardful,who you think invented the classic trick of letting banana pill in the floor and let others slip on it?” “Wait you created one of the classiest tricks in the pranking world?”Pinkie asked. “Well of course!Discord invented the good old pie-in-the-face prank!Yeah,needless to say,I can be a prankster too sometimes,but I hardly prank,you know….I have pulled one prank that no pony can ever manage or even imagine,not even Discord!” “Ohh by all means say it.A prank that even Discord didn’t think of before,I MUST hear it” Rainbow said. “Well here how it was;Hundreds of years ago I engineered an audacious caper that makes pie-in-the-face pranks look like child’s play. During the course of a single day,I had nearly every product and service available in the city of Canterlot delivered to the home of a Mrs Velvetia.First thing in the morning,ten carriages of hay arrived. Soon after,deliveries of furniture, musical instruments, flowers, bread, a wedding cake, and countless other goods showed up at her doorstep. Doctors,magicians,farmers even the Princesses themselves were all sent to the mare’s house until there wasn’t enough room for everyone! I had made a bet with Discord that I could turn without magic any home into the most talked-about address in all of Equestria! Needless to say,I won,” “Wait...you were the one responsible for the biggest prank pulled on Equestria!?It was even recorded in the pranking book of history!They never found out who pulled out that prank,so it was you!?”Rainbow tells shocked. “Yeah,good times,good times,”Arrist told. “Wait, Equestria’s biggest prank ever pulled was by a draconequus?You?Without any magic?”Twilight asks. “Well,I did have to disguise myself so the delivery ponies wouldn’t freak out ,but the rest,no magic involved at all,” “Wow,I didn’t expect such a clever pulled prank by The spirit of Order,and,what did you win?”Pinkie asks. “Well….the bet said that if he won he had the right to pull any out normal pranks on me for a week without me complaining,but I won so he didn’t pull any prank on me for two weeks,” “Wow,I need to make that sort of bet with him!I so need it,”Twilight tells. “Well,if you do that sort of bet,I can always help with any ideas for pranks,” “So...what price are we talking about?”She said damn seriously. “I can lend you Spike for a week or two,” “HEY!” Spike exclaims. “Hush Spike,I need those two prank-free weeks,sooooo need them,” “Alright….well I don’t want anything,just the look on his face when he’s defeated will be more than satisfying,really,” “So...Basically speaking there is someone that is better at pranking than him besides Pinkie,huh,didn't expected that!You are fun Arrist!”Twilight admitted. “Thank you.You are pretty good yourselves,never thought that there are ponies that don’t want to cut my head of or chase me to death,” “Wow!That’s the exact same thing Discord told!I see the similarity now!”Rarity pointed out. They all started to laugh for a few seconds. “You know,you are pretty cool,still wonder why Discord didn’t tell us how fun you are!”Rainbow admitted. “Really now?Well I haven’t heard that from anypony besides Zecora,literally!At least my brother did a right thing after all;to have such good friends.I am really grateful that he has such kind and caring friends,thank you,and for not slapping him in the face,sometimes…. he just deserves this!”She joked. “Oh thank you!At least he has a nice sister,why didn’t he take more from you besides stubbornness?”Twilight asked. She lifted her hands with no clue “Don’t ask me!” “You know I was ready to punch him in the face for not telling about you earlier,so he was lucky!”Rainbow told. “Very lucky,” Fluttershy rolled her eyes. “Well,that was fun!What time it is?”Applejack asked. “It’s almost six,”Arrist replied as she looked at the clock. “Wait,we have been sitting here for an hour!?Wait we came here at five right?”Rainbow questioned. “Well I think yes,wow,time flies huh!”Applejack said. “Well,we asked you enough questions for one day,we will have plenty more for you and Discord!”Spike exclaimed when he jumped from the armchair he was sitting. “Time for us to go dear,but we will meet again,tomorrow morning,wait what time are we supposed to be in your castle Twilight?”Rarity asked. “Seven!Arrist you know where my castle is right?”Twilight asked. “Of course I know!Besides even if I didn’t know I surely wouldn’t miss a castle!” She teased. “Haha,good point,so I guess we see you tomorrow!”Pinkie cheered. “Yep!Good evening Arrist,heck at least he got a nice sister,luckily!I will be happy to know you better Arrist!”Applejack said. “Me too!I would like to know my brother's friends better!Do you want me to teleport you back?It’s not a problem”She offered. “No thanks,we will walk,and see you tomorrow at the castle!”Twilight told. “Alright then,good night everyone,”Arrist said as she was walking all of them outside. “Welp!Goodnight!” Pinkie happily then was jumping around. “Why is she-” “Don’t ask!No one knows.Even your brother can’t figure her out,”Fluttershy cutted her off. “Oh!Get it.She is….very active at least!” She pointed out. “Yeah..Very active!” Rainbow joined. “Goodnight!” Everyone said to her. “Goodnight,”She happily told as she entered inside her house and closed the door ,the others were walking to get out of the forest. “Well,what you think of her?” Applejack asked. “Oh she is really nice!”Twilight answered. “I can’t see why Discord would be afraid of her!”Rainbow continued. “She seems kind,not rude or anything,now I see where he got the good side of him!”Fluttershy added. “Yeah..the good side..well she seems very friendly to me!Sad that she was alone for a thousand years though,”Rarity replied. “Oh she is pretty fun to me!Why didn’t he get more from her really?”Spike asks. “She is just fine and definitely knows to tell good stories!Told you we were going to be friends!”Pinkie reminds. “Pinkie did or didn’t I tell you to not rush?”Applejack pissed asked. “Oh,you know she is pretty nice!Told ya that she would be as fun as him!”She replied still bouncing around. “Well,must admit she seems nice,obviously because she is Discord’s opposite,”Applejack continued. “Well,yes,I still can’t believe he has a sister thought!Even if I met her I simply can’t!How are we supposed to tell it to the others without them screaming from shock?!”Spike curiously exclaimed. “Oh we will find a way,we didn’t believe at first that Celestia had a sister,but then we adjusted to it,probably the same will happen with the others.I don’t know how the princesses will react thought,”Twilight admitted. “Yep they might;get completely freaked out or they say that we are pulling a very mean prank to them!”Spike suggested. “I think the second is more logical.But..huh...how am I supposed to say it to Starlight?”Twilight told. “Are you going to tell her tonight or….?” Rarity asked. “No,probably a bit later when we know that Discord and Arrist are getting along,”Twilight decided. “Well good luck with telling her!”Spike told. “You will tell her too,”She emotionless replied. “Darn it!” “Welp sugarcubes we are already out of the forest!Welp have to go!Goodnight see ya tomorrow!”Applejack told as she was walking to go back to her home. “Goodnight!” Everyone said as they took different paths towards their homes. At Twilight’s castle As she and Spike were walking the hallway to their rooms a voice was heard “Well,how did it go?I want to know everything!And why was Spike with you?I thought he wouldn’t come,” “Starlight!” They both exclaimed. “Well…?Did you figured out what’s his problem?”She repeated. “Em,well,”Spike tried to make an excuse. “He lost his imagination,”Twilight blurted. “He lost his imagination?” Starlight clearly confused repeated. “Yep!He lost it!He is trying to find it and he simply can’t!He says it happens to him sometimes,it’s nothing to worry about!He gets like that due to him being all,you know, not that much chaotic anymore!But he will figure something out,”Twilight lied. “Ok...Spike what’s going on?I can tell that Twilight’s clearly lying!So?” “I can’t!The girls promised that they wouldn’t tell anypony!And I eavesdropped so..” “I promise I won’t let anypony know it!What’s his problem!?” “That’s what the girls promised,but here I am,knowing everything!” “I wish I could but I am not sure if things will turn out!I promise I will tell you everything after you return from your trip to your old village,” “Em,actually I won’t visit them after all.The train station has a problem with the machines so I am going to stay here for the weekend!”Starlight informed. “Oh,so you are not visiting them?”Spike asked. “Nope!Unless I would want to pop all across Equestria and beyond like I did last time with The Changeling Kingdom!” “Well,then,I guess,Spike…..” “No no no no no!I am not telling her!She will get freaked out!And I don’t want to be around!” “Oh come on Spike!I will be at the banquet with the girls and Discord so you have to tell her!” “Why can’t we come with you?” Starlight asked. “Because one unicorn and one baby dragon burned my journal and tried to re-write it so that I don’t get suspicious on them for searching my things for their birthday presents!”She pissed replied. “Oh,right!Well in that case see you tomorrow!”Starlight right away then dashed to her room. “Yep tomorrow Twilight!” Spike also quickly as possible run towards the other hallway. “Oh,why do they act like I am going to kill them or anything?” She talked to herself until she walked to her room and after some hours she fell asleep like the other residents of Ponyville