MLP: Age of Chaos

by religarro


Chapter 5 - The Other Side

It had been a little over a week since, what had been dubbed, The Crazy Doors Incident. At Maelstrom’s suggestion the team had decided to lay low for a bit. This move served two purposes. It gave everyone on Equis a much needed break from the powers chaos while also making everyone paranoid, wondering when the next prank was going to hit them. It was quiet, too quiet.
Disarray was back at Castle Friendship, relaxing in the library while sipping some tea and reading a nice book. Twilight was reading with him, a little nervous due to how calm things seemed to be, but was trying to make the most of this peace and enjoy the time she got to spend with her baby brother.
The girls of chaos had decided that this break from their regular mischief was the perfect opportunity for some ‘mare-time’. The four of them had donned their original ‘ordinary’ forms and decided to spend the day out on the town. It sounded exciting at first, but Ponyville really didn’t have much in way of nightlife and entertainment. There were a couple bars, a few shops, a nice sized marketplace, but Ponyville was no Canterlot.
They walked around the streets, tried on outfits at Carousel Boutique until Rarity kicked them out, and after wandering around some more the four found themselves in a familiar booth at Sugarcube Corner, sipping on milkshakes and munching on cupcakes.
“Do you feel like...I don’t know...that we should be someplace else?” asked Scootaloo, taking a bite of the half eaten cupcake she had been staring at for the past few minutes.
“What do ya mean? Ya don’t like Sugarcube Corner anymore?” Appleboom responded, taking a nice gulp of her milkshake.
“No, I mean...we’re all of age here. So why are we hanging around a bakery? Shouldn’t we be hanging out at bars or something?”
“I’m so down for going to a bar!” Babs chimed in, stuffing the rest of her cupcake in her mouth and seemingly swallowing it whole. “Let’s go!”
“Ah never been to a bar before….could be interesting…” said Applebloom, looking over to Sweetie Belle “What do you think?”
“I think it could be fun. Check out a local bar or two and if we don’t like it we can head to the Spa. Ha, even if we do like it, we could head to the spa afterwards!”
With that settled, the four quickly finished their food and left. Seemingly unknown to them, two sets of eyes had been glaring from across the eatery. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon watched the group leave before turning back to each other.
“What do you suppose they’re up to?” Silver asked.
“I don’t know, but it’s probably some lame new plan to get their cutiemarks. I’m not buying that they’ve given up their dumb crusading. Not for one second!” resplied Diamond.
Silver nodded “Now they have that fourth markless looser from the city too. She wouldn’t just come out here for no reason. They are definitely up to something!”
“Definitely, and we’re going to get to the bottom of it!” Diamond said.
The two got up and left, determined to figure out what was going on.


Meanwhile, in Canterlot:
“Experimental batch number three hundred and forty three” said Luna, reading off a clipboard
“Complete failure” responded Celestia.
Luna wrote that down and continued reading out loud “Experimental batch number three hundred and forty four?”
“Again, complete failure” sighed Celestia.
Writing that down again with a slight nod, Luna responded “So that brings us to the present. Experimental batch number three hundred and forty five, sample number one.” She readied her pen to take notes.
Celestia nodded a picked up a small brown round candy and after looking at it hopefully she popped it into her mouth, spitting it out a few seconds later “Again, failure” she said sadly.
“Noted” replied Luna, writing down the results.
Over the past week, at Celestia’s order, the old confectionary castle staff had been rehired and were working in tandem with the new confectionary staff to recreate Disarray’s cruelest and most sinister of creations; the Candy of All Candies. Needless to say, they were failing miserably. Logically, there was no way a bunch of mortal chefs could ever hope to recreate something made by a god, but Celestia was determined. She wouldn’t rest until she could undo this curse that has befallen her and once again partake in her beloved desserts. First, however, she had to recreate that evil candy in order to begin developing a cure.
“Experimental batch number three hundred and forty five, sample number two” said Luna.
Once more Celestia picked up a candy and popped it into her mouth before immediately spitting it out. Failure. Always Failure. Celestia clenched her teeth and scowled. She’ll make them pay. That twisted and cunning Disarray, that evil maniacal Maelstrom, and the rest of their little team. This was an insult! This was unacceptable! This was completely and totally impony-like torture! IT WASN’T FAIR! What did she ever do to them?!
Luna couldn’t help but chuckle a little at her sister’s misery. She wouldn’t say it out loud but seeing her sister like this was rather amusing for her. It didn’t matter what combination of  ingredients or methods the Royal Confectioners tried; the results always ended in failure. Celestia was miserable, but at least she had lost some weight. That was something Luna’s ears had picked up through the grapevine of castle staff. Many were talking about her sister’s rather sizable hips, thighs, and rear having not only slimmed down but were starting to tone a bit as well. Her wide hourglass figure was the talk of many a stallion and the envy of many a mare, and this new ‘diet’ of hers was only helping. The benefits didn’t stop with the Royal Plot; due to Celestia’s rather hysterical antics and constant experiments, pastry chefs and candy makers all across Equestria were discovering and creating all new and more delicious treats every day.
It was a new golden age of sweets in the kingdom of Equestria. The only place that didn’t benefit was Ponyville, as the children there no longer bought candies. Places such as Sugarcube Corner and BonBon’s Bon-bons had to change and alter their menu; offering sandwiches, wraps, crepes, croissants, and even dried fruits and trail mix in order to keep their businesses afloat. According to reports, these changed seemed to greatly improve their overall profits. So yes, it was a golden age in Equestra. Luna couldn’t help but notice the irony, fate's cruel hand. It was a golden age of sweets and Celestia was the cause of it but couldn’t partake in any of it.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Tia” said Luna, watching as Celestia starting packing up the remaining candies in the batch. She seemed too disheartened to continue testing them. “Maybe it’s time to stop. I mean, you’ve lost weight, you have more energy now, so there is a blessing here among your ‘curse’. However, if you desire to reverse the effects so badly, why not just ask Disarray to give you more of his candies? You could finally then leave the poor Royal Confectioners alone, you’ve been running them ragged!”
Celestria frowned and shook her head.
“No. NO! I will not kneel before that little god of chaos and beg for treats! I will find that recipe myself! Even if it takes me a hundred, a thousand, TEN THOUSAND YEARS!! Do you understand me Luna?! Have I made myself clear?! I will do this on my own if I have to! Even if it takes an eternity or two! If you’re not going to help anymore, you can leave. I’ll finish up here on my own”
Luna just rolled her eyes and left, deciding it would be better to just go to her chambers and relax, than to have to deal with her sister while she was like this. The whole situation was still amusing to her though. She teleported directly to her bedroom and immediately stripped out of her royal garb, donning a blue silk nightgown. She had been up all night and, thanks to her sister, the better part of the day. She needed some sleep. Maybe she’ll have a bit of personal fun first, but ultimately sleep. She yawned and turned around, only to notice three golden eyes staring at her through the darkness.
“Hello Luna”
“AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
“Luna, calm yourself!”
“What are you doing in my bedroom!? How long have you been there?!” with a gasp, Luna’s eyes widened “What did you see?!”
“See? Oh, I saw everything. You have a nice body, you know. So toned, and sculpted. You like to take good care of yourself and it shows. It’s amazing how different two sisters can be...like night and day” Maelstrom said with a chuckle.
Luna gave an angry glare, but her cheeks were heating up in a blush that threatened to overtake her whole face. She was no stranger to the act of courtship, but it had been a rather long time since anyone had so blatantly shown interest in her body. She had just recently started to regain any semblance of popularity among her subjects and most in the castle lusted after her overly voluptuous sister. After a few more seconds of glaring and thinking, she gave up. While annoyed, she couldn’t truly be mad at Maelstrom. Their pranks had been a source of great delight and entertainment for her since their arrival, and besides, it was against her nature; as a being of Darkness. Still, they invaded her personal area, her sacred secret space. That would not do!
“Guards! Guards!!” Luna cried out.
Both beings stayed silent, staring at each other as nothing happened.
“Guards?” Luna called out again. Again, there was no reply.
“Basic soundproofing spell, no one can hear anything that’s happening in this room. Though, I am curious, what exactly were your guards going to do that you yourself couldn’t?”
“Well….um….” now that she thought about it, what WAS the purpose of the royal guard? She tugged a bit at her nightgown as she thought, causing Maelstrom to chuckle.
“That nightgown really hugs your curves nicely, though if it’s really that chilly in here, you should put on a shirt or something” Mael continued with a smirk. Luna’s blush grew.
“Wh-what is it you want?” she managed to say, moving over to her wardrobe, fetching and putting on a bathrobe. Tightling it caused the fabric to rub against her nipples, which in turned caused her to gasp and bite her lip. Was it really so cold in here? It must be the cold.
“I was in the neighborhood, and decided to stop by for a chat. We really haven’t had the chance for a real conversation since my arrival and I AM rather curious about you. Younger sister to Princess Celestia. Avatar of Darkness. However, the only one who seems to be cloaked in shadows is you, and yet still, they aren’t even the shadows of your own creation. Why? Does your sister have you on such a short leash that you can’t help but be two steps behind her?”
“Leash?! I am on NO leash! I am a princess of Equestria! Goddess and Avatar of Darkness, Guardian of the Night, Slayer of Nightmares, Might of the Moon!” stomped Luna, standing tall and regal.
“And yet here you are, helping your gluttonous sister try sweets day in and day out, oh powerful goddess. Did she accept that sage advice you gave? No, spat it right back in your face. So mighty, so regal, oh slayer of nightmares, oh guardian of the night. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were nothing more than a Light lackey” mocked Mael
“How did you…” Luna bagan to ask
“I told you, I saw everything. Also, for the record, if Celestia were to swallow her pride and ask, we would gladly give her more candy. But that is neither here nor there. No, I’m here to talk about you…You went super dark that one time, right? Got fed up with being stuck in your sister’s shadow, right? The whole Nightmare Moon incident? You were locked out for a thousand years, but nothing’s changed has it? You’re still in your sister’s shadow and let's face it, with an ass that wide she casts a really big shadow. A shadow keeping you from being yourself. Keeping you from rising up as the goddess you were meant to be. Keeping you from your purpose”
Luna eyed the god of chaos. They were calm, and didn’t seem to be up to anything. Parts of what Mael said hurt. It hurt because it was true. She couldn’t deny that part of her still longed to show up her shining sister. She couldn’t deny that part of her was just playing the part, trying to be on her best behaviour, trying to meet everypony’s standards just so that she wouldn’t be pushed away again.
However, as isolating and lonely as her sister’s shadow was, she still had a good thing going. She was a princess of Equestria, and one of a handful of the most powerful beings in the world. She was just now starting to get the favor of her ponies back. She wouldn’t give all that up to join some villain. On the other hand, the longer she thought about Mael’s words, the more curious she was becoming. It wouldn’t hurt to just hear them out. After all, their departments had always been rather friendly to each other. Maybe Maelstrom’s intentions were from a place of genuine kindness. Either way, even if she didn’t agree with any of it, it might provide some insight she could then pass on to her sister. Villians do love monologuing after all. “Ok, you’re here for me...what about me? What are you really after?”
Nodding, Mael smilled “Ok, right here, right now, I’m putting an offer out. I don’t want to chase you down and I know you see it”
“See what? What kind of offer?...” Luna asked.
“A deal; you run with me, and I can cut you free; right out of this drudgery and walls you keep in. Why not trade all this typical for something truly mystical?” Mael said with a smile.
“If you’re being serious right now, then you are crazy…” said Luna
“Well then come live a little crazy! You can play it sensible, like your sister; queen of conventional. Or you can risk it all and see…”
“I don’t know…” muttered Luna.
“Don’t you want to get away from the same old parts you gotta play? Well, I got what you need so why not join me and take the ride? I’ll take you to the other side!”
“But my sister…”
“You can do like she do, or you can do like me. Stay in your cage, or finally take the key. Just like that, suddenly you’re free to fly! Fly right on to the other side.”
Shaking her head, Luna sighed. It was slightly tempting, but she had her place here. “Ok, listen, you want to cut me in. Well, I hate to tell, but it just won’t happen! So thank you, but no. I think that you should go. I quite enjoy this life you say I’m trapped in” she said, leaning in an placing a hand on Mael’s shoulder “Now I admire you, and all the things you do. You’re really something, it’s all really something. But I live here among the top and I’m afraid that’ll never stop. There no way I’ll go with you...”
“I don’t believe that for a second. You have a purpose, same as me. Come on Luna…” Maelstrom began, but was cut off.
“Don’t you see that I’m ok with this high class role I get to play?! I have all that I need and I don't want to take the ride. I don’t want to see the other side! So you go ‘do like you do’, I’m fine to do like me. Not in a cage so I don't need to take a key. Please leave!! Can’t you see I’m doing fine?! I don’t need to see the other side!!” Luna practically screamed. She was shaking, a part of her wanted to rage at the chaos god, another wanted to cry. She didn’t know if she actually believe what she was saying, only that it was the ‘right’ thing to say.
Shaking their head, Mael stood up and pulled Luna into a hug, causing her to flinch “Is this really how you want to spend all of your days? Hiding your misery with parties and plays?”
Looking into the golden eyes, her own tearing up a little, Luna responded “but If I get mixxed up with you I’ll be hated once more. Disgraced and disowned, shunned just like before…”
“Maybe, but you’ll finally get to live a little and learn to laugh a little. Just let me give you the freedom to have dreams of your own. Come with me, let me cure your aching. Take your walls, and get them breaking. Now that’s a deal I think seems worth taking...but I guess I’ll leave that up to you...and if you’re so adamantly against it…” Mael said, letting go of Luna and floating over to the door.
“Wait!” cried Luna.
Mael turned around and raised a brow.
“Ok, I’ll admit, what you’re offering is intriguing, but to join you would cost me dearly...but...for the sake of argument...what did you have planned?”
Mael grinned “well…”


Back In Ponyville:
Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon had been tailing the CMC all day. Well, really, they were just peeking through the window of one of the local bars. The CMC had been in there for hours, sitting in a booth, laughing it up. It seems the stallions (and a few mares) in the bar were buying them drinks and flirting with them. Could you believe it! Ponies were actually flirting with those blank flank losers! It really boiled Diamond’s blood to see, but they had been here for hours. and it was starting to get boring. They needed a new strategy and fortunately one came walking by.
After calling out to a certain stallion, saying a few choice words, and taking one trip home and back, the three were now once again in the alley behind the bar.
Diamond Tiara gave a small package to the stallion, one of her old classmates whose name she couldn't currently remember, while Silver boredly glanced around to see if anypony was coming. Even if it was a rarity in ponyville, the last thing they needed was to get mugged in some dirty alley.
“Here you go, take it” said Diamond Tiara as she gave him a seemingly never used professional grade camera she owned. “Now, just like we agreed; you figure out and get some pictures of what those dorks are up to, and I’ll pay you fifty bits.”
“And…”
“And we won’t tease you about being a blank flank anymore” added Silver with an eye roll
“...and…”
“And you can keep the bucking camera! For Celestia’s sake!” Diamond said with a huff “It doesn’t even matter, my auntie got it for me. Wanted me to take up photography as a stupid hobby. Obviously it didn’t stick, photography is stupid!”
Smiling, Rumble gave a satisfied nod and got into position by the window, ready to start his mission.
The two rich ponies gave each other a look and a smirk. Now that they had somepony watching those losers’ every move, it was only a matter of time before they slip up and reveal whatever it was they were scheming. Leaving Rumble to it, they left to head back to Diamond’s home.


Back in Canterlot;
Mael had just finished telling Luna their grand plan. The night blue princess just stared, wide eyed and slack jawed.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Mael asked.
“...very…”
“And you see how you have a special role to play? Something more than second fiddle to Sunbutt?”
“Yes, if what you say is true...if you could really pull it all off….” pondered Luna. If they could really achieve their goals, she could be...she would be...
“You would be free. Free to be yourself. To truly express yourself. Free to be you. So are you in? Will you join us?”
“Well…”
Mael grabbed Luna’s arm and twirled her. “Don’t you want to get away to this whole new part you get to play? You know I got what you need so come with us and take the ride. Come on to the other side!” Mael held out a hand “Deal?”
Luna stared at that hand for what seemed like an eternity. A part of her wanted to smack it away. A part of her wanted to tell at this chaotic trickster to get lost, that she’d never join them. But they weren’t a trickster, were they? Without them, she would forever be trailing behind her sister, stuck following HER desires, HER morals, HER ideals. This was Luna’s chance to break free, to finally and truly break free.
With a smile Luna grabbed the hand, shaking it and pulling Mael into a hug. She would do it! “I’m going to do like you do, and I’m going to do like me! Forget this cage because I know how to make the key. Ha! Look! Suddenly I’m free to fly, and I’m going to the other side!”


Meanwhile, in Ponyville:
It had seemed like forever to Rumble, but finally the cutiemark crusaders left the bar. He had been staring through the back window for almost thirty minutes before he realized he could just go in, sit in a booth, and comfortably observe them without looking so suspicious.
So there he sat, nursing a mug of hard cider, watching the crusaders as they talked and laughed with each other or accepting drinks and the occasional flirt from various bar patrons. Eventually they seemed to be ready to leave. He watched them pay their bill and go. From the amount of bits he saw them hand over it was a very small bill. Most likely, the only thing they had to pay for was their bar snacks, all their drinks being gifts. Quickly, he finished his own drink, left a couple bits on the table, and left to go follow.
As he hid around corners, watching as they move down the street, he noticed that there was no stagger to their step. None of them wobbled, or tripped, or leaned on one another. If he didn’t know better he’d say they were perfectly sober. But that couldn’t be possible, he himself saw them drinking steadily for over an hour!
Something weird was going on and he had to get to the bottom of it. Not only because he was being paid, but also because his own curiosity had been peaked. With a smirk, he gripped the camera hanging around his neck and continue tailing them.
After ten minutes of walking, the girls found themselves in front of the ponyville spa. With a giggle, they all rushed in and ordered the full treatment. Aloe, one of the spa-mares, asked Sweetie Belle if she and get friends were going to put it all on Rarity’s tab.
While very tempting, Sweetie had a better idea. With a smirk, she simply sung out that her and her friends should receive free treatment at this spa, forever. Should the twin spa-mares show themselves worthy, they’ll receive a great reward in time.
With that out of the way, the girls were brought back to the lockers, where they removed their clothes, showered off any excess dirt, and prepared to enter the small artificial hot springs. This was going to be fun, just what they needed on their day off.
Rumble had snuck into the spa while the twins had been distracted dealing with the CMC. He had managed to sneak into the locker room, where he found a sports bra on the floor that he suspected belonged to Scootaloo. He had even been tempted to take said sports bra for ‘evidence’...but he was no pervert, even if he may have grabbed it and rubbed the fabric a little. All for the sake of looking for clues and hidden pockets! Mares were notorious for hiding things in their bras, he was just looking for pockets! Totally reasonable!
Shaking his head and making sure he placed the bra exactly where he found it, he made his way to the entrance of the hot springs. Camera at the ready, he was going to get to the bottom of this!
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around shocked, he stared into the smirking faces of the spa’s proprietors.
“Well well well, look what we have here” said Lotus with a smirk.
“A young stallion, trying to sneak a peek on a group of innocent mares” replied Aloe with a nod.
“No, w-wait, I wasn’t trying to peek! I mean, I was, but not like that! Wait, that didn’t come out right! W-wait! No, wait!! Let me explain!!” cried Rumble as he was dragged away.


Back in Canterlot:
Maelstrom decided to take a stroll through Canterlot. It was a nice day, and they were curious about the ongoings of Equestria’s capital. Also, a walk sounded nice. Donning their unicorn persona of Moonspark, the god of chaos casually made her way out the castle grounds and deep into the city.
If you want to get to know a new city, some of the best ways to do so is to get into the nitty gritty of it. Moonspark had a hunch about the architecture of this city and wanted to see if she was correct. She turned down a side street then made her way down an alley. Sure enough, her hunch was right.
The buildings of Canterlot weren’t neatly pressed together like you’d see in a more grid-like city. Sure they were nice and neat on the main streets, but if you were to slip behind them you’d find large back streets and winding alleys. There appeared to be smaller storefronts hidden in covered areas, and shady looking street vendors. There even appeared to be back areas and stairwells that led underground to more housing. One of the benefits to building a city on the side of a mountain.
Moon spent almost an hour just wandering around and exploring this maze of alleys, it seemed there was an interesting place around every corner. One such place caught her eye, it was a very narrow alleyway. What specifically caught her attention was that the normally stone or brick ground was instead grass, and she could hear faint music coming from down it. With her curiosity thoroughly peaked, she decided the only course of action would be to investigate.
Going down the alley, Moonspark found herself in a grassy little grotto. There were flowers, and vines along the limestone and brick walls. It was a little hidden garden! How quaint! She also seemed to have found the source of the music; it was a small crystal radio that seemed to belong to the pony who currently had their back to her.
The pony appeared to be a mare, if their curvy hips and butt were anything to go by. She was yellow, with a three toned mane and tail. She wore a dark grey sweater dress and what appeared to be tight leggings. She also appeared to be attempting to dance. Attempting and mildly failing. Her movements were jerky and it seemed like she was just striking certain poses rather than moving in time with the music. Moon wondered if this could possibly be intentional, some kind of performance art piece.
Moonspark leaned against a nearby wall, continuing to watch the mare attempt to dance. It was mildly amusing, but also, sweet and innocent in its own way. Here was a mare who obviously was trying to learn how to do something outside of her predestined talent. As a chaos god, Moonspark couldn’t help but find this admirable.
The mare had her back to the god this whole time, focusing solely on the book lying open on the ground in front of her. Step step, cross step, pose pose step. None of this was going right and she knew. With a grown of frustration she used her magic to turn off the radio with a sigh.
“Why’d you stop? You were just getting the hang of it...I think” said a voice behind her.
Moondancer whipped around, staring at the blue mare casually leaning against the far way. The unicorn did the only thing she could deem reasonable.
“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”
“Oh, for Boss’ sake, could you not?! Why is everyone screaming today??”
“Wh-who are you?! Why are you here?!?!?”
“Um, well, I’m Moonspark, and I’m here because I heard some music”
“Oh...um….how long were you standing there?...”
“Long enough to get the sense that you don’t know what you’re doing…”
Moondancer’s face couldn’t be any more red then it was.
As if things couldn’t be worse, a royal guard came rushing into the alley, sword drawn
“I heard screaming! What’s the problem here?!” he said, looking between the two mares.
“No problem. No problem at all.” responded Moonspark. With a grin she began talking in a sing songy voice. “In fact, you heard nothing. Go back to your normal patrol. Everything is fine here. In fact, everything is so find that you’re going to head back to the Royal Barracks and take a nap. If your commanding officer asks why you’re doing what you’re doing…..sing to him about how everything is awesome”
The guard’s eyes seemed to glaze over and he turned and walked away without a second word.
With was a moment of silence before Moondancer spoke up. “H-how did you do that?”
“Oh come now, you’re a unicorn” replied Moonspark with a smirk “you should know magic when you see it”
“But your horn didn’t light up or anything! There was no magic in the air! You just spoke and he did what you said! Who….no...WHAT are you?!” the unicorn asked nervously.
“I told you, I’m Moonspark”
“I don’t believe you…”
“Smart mare heh. But fine, you want an answer? It would take way too long to explain what? As for WHO I am. Who I really am. I’m Maelstrom. Equis’ new god of chaos”
"Don't lie to me! What are you really?!"
Moonspark just grinned and transformed back into their regular form. Stretching all four arms, Maelstrom stuck a pose "Lie? Why would I lie?" they said.
The timid unicorn first went wide eyed in shock, then looked warily at the god of chaos. Moondancer didn’t trust them, not if they were anything like Discord.
“By the way, you didn’t answer my question from before” Mael said. “Why did you stop dancing? I was rather enjoying it”
Moondancer scoffed “Don’t make fun of me! I know I’m terrible!” she said before looking down and sighing. “it’s just, my name is Moondancer, and I don’t know how to dance”
“Then go to a class and learn” responded Mael
“I was going to! But when I got there, I felt so embarrassed about not knowing anything about dancing that I just left...I figured I’d get some practice in on my own and then go back...but I can’t get these steps right! I’ve read all the books, I understand what I need to do, I just can’t get my hooves to do it!!” said Moondancer, throwing her hands up in defeat and plopping down onto the ground and pulling her legs against her chest.
“Why is learning to dance so important to you anyways?”
“Well...you see...I don’t have any friends anymore. I used to, I think, but they all left and forgot about me. I thought if I could dance it would help me attract more friends…” Moondancer said, playing with her fingers. Under her breath she added “...and maybe help me find a special somepony...”
Mael smiled and held out a hand “Well, dancing isn’t too hard. I’m gonna help you. Come on, up up!”
Moondancer stared at the hand for a minute, before slowly reaching out and taking it, allowing this strange being to pull her to her hoove “How are you going to help me?”
“I’m going to give you some pointers. Firstly, loosen your body, don’t be so stiff. Somepony with curves as nice as yours has absolutely no reason to move around so jerkily” Mael said, placing two of their hands on Moondancer’s hips, causing the mare to blush, both at the contact and the compliment.
“Now start moving”
Slowly, stiffly, Moondancer moved her body around like she remember the books told her too. Step one two three, step one two three, cross step, twirl, step step, cross step.
“No no no!” said Mael, shaking their head. They started swaying one of their hands in the air, as if conducting an orchestra. Moondancer was about to ask what they were doing until she started hearing music. It was light at first, seemingly carried on the wind, but it got louder and clearer. It seemed to flow through and around her, filling her up, she’d never heard anything like it.
“Now, start dancing again. This time, don’t think about it. Just move your body.” Mael hummed “Listen to the music and sing ‘oh, eyy, ohh’. Just move those left feet, come on get crazy. Anyone can do it; sing ‘Oh, eh, Ooh’”
As the sang, they used their hands to move Moondancers hips, pulling the blushing mare in close. Moondancer couldn’t help but move; it was like something was taking her over, making her dance. It didn’t feel bad, so she didn’t fight it. Her hooves moved, her arms flowed. Before she realized it, Mael had led her out of her tiny back alley hideaway and onto a main street.
She can’t let ponies see her like this! She tried to stop dancing but found she couldn’t. The music had a hold on her, it’s power forcing her to continue. She looked up at Mael in slight panic. The chaos god just looked back and smiled.
“Come on, show the world you got that fire! Feel the rhythm getting louder. Show them all what you can do. Prove to them you got the moves!” the god said, spinning Moondancer around and booping her nose playfully. Mael were having fun, Moondancer wanted to crawl into a hole from sheer embarrassment.
“I don’t know about you” Mael said with a wink and slowly began to sing again “But I feel better when I’m dancin, oooh yeah. Better when I’m dancing, yeah yeah!”
Turning to a nearby group of ponies who had been watching the spectacle, Mael smiled and continued to sing “We can do this together, I bet you all feel better when you’re dancing, yea yea yeah!”
The ambient music seemed to swell, as various ponies around the dancing duo had looks of surprise and shock, as if they were hearing the music for the first time. Some began to tap their hooves. Some patted their hands on tabletops to the beat. A lot, however, couldn’t help but begin dancing. Many dropped what they were doing, rushed out into the street and began dancing away without a care in the world.
While there were many eyes wide in surprise at the inability to stop, there wasn’t a single frown. There was no anger, or embarrassment. All were laughing, finding partners, and having a merry time.
Moondancer looked on in awe before she felt Mael pull her in close. Her shyness gone, she just let go and let the music move her. She danced around Mael before pulling away letting the music take her completely. She’d never felt so free in her life. She swayed and moved, bent and twirled, at that point all that mattered was the music and how it made her feel.
With a smile, she danced back over to Mael and wrapped her arms around the god, pressing herself against them as they danced together.
“Heh, you’ve finally let go, and you slayed that solo, ‘cause you listened to the music, oh, ey, oh” Mael sang “Now you’re confident babe, go on and make your hips sway. I knew that you could do it, oh, ey, ohh”
Mael spun Moondancer again before pulling the unicorn back in close. Moondancer just laughed, staring up at the god as they sang to her “you showed the world you got that fire. That rhythm’s pulsing through ya. You showed them all what you could do. Proved to them you got the moves, and I’m so proud of you. Don’t you feel better that you’re dancing? Ooo yea. Better that you’re dancing, oooh yeah. We can do it together, don’t you feel better that you’re dancing yea yea yeaaa!”
The next few minutes were filled with dancing, and impromptu celebration. Many more joined in, all were happy and full of cheer. Eventually the music died down and stopped, and with it the dancing. Some looked around disappointed, others went off to find more music to continue the festivities, one unicorn however gave a god of chaos a very tight hug.
“Thank you” Moondancer said “Thank you so much”
Mael smiled and hugged back “Anything for a friend” they said before teleporting away.
“...a friend…” Moondancer repeated softly, smiling.
With a new found skip to her step, Moondancer hummed and danced her way back home, a large grin on her face and happy tears in her eyes.