//------------------------------//
// Broken Walls and Broken Wills 
// Story: Out of my Element 
// by TheLostwriter 
//------------------------------//


Out of my Element


Chapter 16: Broken Walls and Broken Wills.


Pinkie woke up in her room and sighed. It had been a long time since any of them had felt this comfortable, this relaxed. It had been equally as long since she had breakfast waiting for her. She rolled out of her bed and walked over to the table to grab a bite. She then went out to the general room. Princess Luna and AJ would be off at the alliance council meeting. She shook her head it had been thirty years since the fall of every major power on the planet. Equestria, The United Gryphon Republic, even the Changeling Empire collapsed a few short weeks after coming in contact with the beast and it's ugly followers. That's not right the Uglies were not followers they lived on its energy like a lamprey on a shark, or egrets with cattle.

In the main hall she found Rainbow Dash, Trixie, and Big Mac. They were all surrounding Rarity. The poor unicorn never had recovered from her attempt at suicide. She would answer questions and help out with things around there little base but everything she did had the same distant quality her eyes carried. Even Pinkies greatest party failed to bring a smile to her friends face. Disinterest and age had taken their toll on the unicorn. The physical work and her natural beauty helped hide that but she was no longer the pony Pinkie remembered. Dash wasn't ether, nor was AJ, or herself, Pinkie caught her reflection in the mirror. She was at least twice the mare she once was.

That was the problem; parties were still what drove her. However she no longer found them to be fun, they were a job and jobs were tedious. The only part she enjoyed was the food, it reminded her of a time long ago when laughter could cure any problem she found.
Trixie had fallen in with the group fairly well and had become one of the staunchest defenders of Rarity in her new state. There had been discussions from other on leaving Rarity behind. There had also been discussions about forced breeding, since as far as anypony knew less than thirty thousand ponies had survived. The Diamond Dogs ended up in the best position after the attack since most of their society was cut off from the surface. That's where they were now, in a massive complex a Diamond Dog alpha dug to plan a counter offensive. There were less than twenty factions over all. There were nomadic pony tribes, the buffalo that had joined up with the ponies after the fall of Appleloosa, a handful of diamond dog packs, the griffins and changelings.                   
Thinking of all this made her depressed, so she walked over to the group, "Hi Rarity."
The white unicorn turned towards her friend and in a monotone voice but with her old accent said, "Hello Pinkamena."  

"Rarity, I've told you before call me Pinkie," she said as she leaned forward to hug her friend.

As soon as Pinkies hooves touched her unicorn friend Rarity whimpered and fell to the floor.

Pinkie looked around deep concern etched on her face and asked "what's wrong."

Trixie began to speak. She had long ago learned to change her speech patterns when around her new friends. "I fear some stallions most likely assaulted her during her walk last night. She never returned to the room so I went looking for her and I found her shivering.  "

"No," gasped Pinkie in a whisper, "You mean they..." she couldn't bring herself to say the word.

"Yes," replied Trixie none of the old show mare was in her voice, "it's terrible, when Big Mac came by to help me he touched her and she started screaming. It was the most emotion I've seen her display since," she let her words trail off.

"Eeyup," added Big Mac. He looked at the shivering mare, "Rarity now that your friends are here I'm going to leave, but if you need anything just ask. As far as I'm concerned you're family."

She looked at him and watched him go still shivering.

Before anyone else could speak Rainbow Dash jumped in, "What's the point of all this. I didn't bust my flank trying to save these things" she paused and let the disdain roll off her tongue, "for this. I could have just stayed at the lab. There was a comfy place to sleep. Sometimes I wonder if we all wouldn't be better off dead. At least Twilight never saw us this way, I wonder what she would do, I wonder what she would say."

"Trixie, I mean, I sometimes wonder as well," added the show mare fighting the absent minded return of her old speech patterns. "Sparkle carried a significant weight and had big shoes to balance her load. I never realized just how much she did without complaint or comment."

Pinkie knew the Pinkie of the past would have done, she would have had a party. Not for Rarity, oh no, but for something. She would have kept it small, and invited Rarity. Now there wasn't any reason to throw a party. No birthdays, weddings or anniversaries, well at least none that mattered. Why would you celebrate two years of being trapped underground? Two years stuck with ponies that would do this to a defenseless mare?  She inhaled a ragged gasp. She didn't even realize she was crying until then.

"You okay Pinks," asked Dash. "We don't need two mares out of commission."  

"Yeah," she whispered in reply, "I just...I can't take this anymore." She began to cry as she spoke. "Dash why aren't you mad about this, you would have been the first one out to find who did this to her. Then there's Applejack, she won't care, she hardly talks to us anymore. When did we fall apart? I don't even have fun anymore. The closest thing I have is eating." Pinkie took in a deep ragged breath before continuing, "The most stable ones in our group are Derpy and Trixie, and they're nothing like they were before all this." She looked at the unicorn and whispered softly, "no offense."  

Dash hung her head, "It was inevitable Pinks, the old us couldn't live in this new world."

"Now that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard," countered Trixie. "While it would have been hard on you all, I feel this world needs who you were more than the old."

"What do you know? When you showed up you were still spouting all that Great and Powerful garbage," snarled Dash. "The war was over we had lost, you didn't see what we went through the ponies we lost."

Trixie's face was just as angry as Dashes but she responded in calm measured tones. "You don't know what I had to do. Do you remember the convoy that Trixie showed up with. It was twice as large when Trixie joined and the survivors only made it because of my efforts." Her anger forcing her old speech patterns to the surface. "Trixie saw death and had no protective shell or bunker, but after all that and everything since I am still The Great and Powerful Trixie."
Dash snorted but Trixie ignored her and continued. "While all of you have changed, this mare," she gestured at Rarity, "is at her core still who she once was. You don't see it because you are hiding behind your own problems. She still is just as giving and if you watch you will notice when she is left alone in a room she moves things to be functional and pleasing to the eye."

"So you're saying you know more about my friends than I do," Dash yelled, her face in Trixie's.

"Excuse me," said Rarity's voice as soft as Fluttershy's had once been, it held more emotion than any had heard from the mare in years. All eyes turned towards the mare on the ground in stunned silence. "Please don't yell at Trixie, she has been nice to me. Rainbow Dash, why didn't you come to see me when I've been alone."

Dash's jaw trembled and tears filled her eyes before she bolted from the room.
Rarity turned her eyes on her pink friend, "Um, Pinkie you're not mad at me are you?"

"No," she stammered in reply.

"Then why do you avoid me?"

It was true she had been avoiding Rarity, but it wasn't because of anything to do with the white unicorn. It was because every time she looked upon her friend she started comparing her now to her then. It hurt Pinkie to see the previously hollow Rarity, and her question cut Pinkie to the bone. She reached forward to wrap her friend in a hug but the unicorn stepped away. Pinkie could see it in her eyes it wasn't intentional and that made it even worse in her mind. "I'm so sorry," cried the pink mare as she ran away.

She hurled herself out of the room and down the hallway towards the kitchens. It was her last refuge the last place that she felt safe. Who am I, her mind cried as she ran, tears flowed down her face and she quickly lost her breath. She began to gasp for air against her sobs, and soon she staggered through the doorway into the kitchen.

Once inside Pinkie relaxed more and her crying intensified. She walked over to one of the islands, tail dragging the ground and sat down behind it. She held her mane lightly stroking the now straight hair as she mumbled to herself.  "I'm not a bad friend am I?"

"Not entirely," said a high pitched voice out of nowhere.

Pinkie jumped and looked around, "Who's there?"

"Maybe you are a bad friend if you've forgotten about me," said the voice.

Pinkie followed the sound stalking like a cat through the kitchen. Eventually she came around a corner and saw a bag of flower leaning against the cabinets. "Madam LeFlower," she asked.

"So you do remember me. Now may I ask why did you abandon us in Ponyville?"

"I...I...I don't know," cried Pinkie erupting into tears.

"You left us, abandoned us like you've abandoned everyone else. You could have prevented this, and the worst part is you know it. Every one of your friends fell into darkness because they were alone."

Pinkies tears gushed out and her sobs echoed through the kitchen.

"Miss Pie, is that you," asked a familiar accented voice.

Pinkie let her head turn slowly towards the new voice, "Gustave?"

"Oui," answered the aged griffin as he walked forward. "What's wrong my old friend?"

The word, friend, echoed in her mind, as Pinkie stared at him. Did he call me a friend, her mind asks. Eventually, she say, "I've been a bad friend, I've turned my back on everyone."

"Oh, no, no, no. You haven't you've never turned your back on me."

Pinkie just shook her head and sat back down on the floor. She only looked up when Gustave held an éclair in front of her face. She smiled weakly and accepted the gift. The taste pulled her mind from the now back to the time on the train. She missed that time; she slowly ate the dessert as the flavor of each bite faded so did the visions of the past. She took another small bite savoring the memories. Eventually she finished the éclair, and the warmth of memory faded away leaving her in the cold reality of now. "May I have another," asked Pinkie in whimper.  

Gustave looked at the pink pony and sighed. He went over to the cold box and pulled out a platter of éclairs. "These are leftovers from a few days ago, you can have as many as you like. I'm making more to replace them."

Pinkie hopped over to the tray and began to eat watching Gustave as he worked. He began to mix the dry ingredients into a giant mixing bowl, starting with the bag of flour. I guess so friends do make good desserts, she thought as she chewed away at an éclair.  

After several memories and several more éclairs, Pinkie found herself stuffed. However she continued to eat until she had hidden herself from reality or until the plate was empty. She licked the plate, thanked Gustave and walked out the doorway. She staggered forward, suddenly feeling weak and nauseous. She felt sick, as she staggered into a display case her back aching as she did so, the case and Pinkie crashed to the floor. She felt pressure in her lower chest like she was going to vomit but her stomach never made the commitment. The she felt pressure began to spread up her chest to her jaw and down a leg.

"Miss Pie," yelled Gustave but to Pinkie he sounded so far away. "Help," he hollered, "I need a healer," his voice even more distant now. "No you fool insect her not me."

Despite the slow creeping pain, Pinkie felt cozy. She was warm but not to warm, just right and the memories were flowing of her time in Ponyville. A smile spread across her lips as her mind faded she was home.

Pinkie woke up in her room and sighed. It had been a long time since any of them had felt this comfortable, this relaxed. It had been equally as long since she had breakfast waiting for her. She rolled out of her bed and walked over to the table to grab a bite. The food was good and it reminded her of the past and home.


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I woke up and I knew the creature was almost here. I don't know how but I knew. I rolled out of bed and was immediately hit by a wave of, I don't know. Nausea wouldn't be correct nor would dizziness they did occur but they were more a response than symptom. I felt, I did, and I can't explain it. Just moments before my foot hit the ground my foot hit the ground. Then my foot hit the ground again and again, three times in all. It was like there were three mes all a little off from one another and I could feel each one just as strong as the others. I could feel three different versions of thought in my mind, each similar and I could tell which was mine, I think. I was still me but I was aware of two alternate versions of myself, and I think they were aware of me.

What is causing this, was a unified thought through each experience as I staggered out my bedroom door. It must be it, I think it was me that use the word it, thing and entity were also thought.

In the main room propped up against the lab wall was the Magi-tech suit I built based off of the full body plate of old earth pony kingdoms. However when I looked at it I saw three images. It was the same effect of looking at something with both eyes open but a hand over one. However now I had three eyes, everything had depth, and none of the suits looked the same. 

One was just the wing and circlet that I had originally built, another was the suit I had and the last was a lightly built suit with an exposed face and neck. I took the longest of the three to get suited up and as such was the last to reach the stairs. Climbing them wasn't easy. None of the mes were instep and when one of the other mes almost fell I did feel the uneasy sense of lost balance.

As I entered Twilight's library in a very loud fashion, I could hear the other two personality's thoughts. One the first into the library was already thinking that this was a lost cause. The other was thinking of survival of the population instead of preventing the monsters arrival.

It was an odd echo as I heard a groggy Twilight ask, "What are you doing?"

"It's here," I replied in two of the three visions in the third an odd series of thoughts began to form and flow. The chief among them was, why should I care, we're all going to die anyway. This was followed by flashes of chemicals, testosterone, estrogen, adrenaline, and dopamine along with some serotonin. The me that was having these thoughts smirked and began to cast a spell on Twilight.

I realized what he was doing just as the other me did, but our mental objections fell unanswered. It was disgusting and I did my best to distance my thoughts from his, which is difficult when everything is happening simultaneously. "Can't you feel it," I asked the Twilight I was dealing with.

The me that wasn't currently dealing with pleasing and being pleased by Twilight was explaining to his Twilight an idea. It was for forming a shield spell that would cover Ponyville indefinitely.

The Twilight I had been talking to looked at me strangely and said, "I can't feel anything and my wards would let me know. Anyway you don't have to deal with this the Elements can take care of everything."

I heard and felt everything that the other mes experienced, everything and that made it incredibly hard to concentrate. Time seemed to burst forward in the different experiences. In one I had just explained a recharge spell that would pull magic out of the ground or a being and place that power into Potestatum gems. It sounded useful and I tried to remember how it would work. In the other the lust crazed me had moved on in his conquest of every mare he came across. Am I a coward, am I that much of a coward, I thought as a fought back to dealing with my Twilight. "This mess is my fault and I'm going to do my part to clean it up," I growled more for my sake than anyone else. I had to fix my resolve; I had to ignore the other mes in my mind.

"How..." She started to ask before shaking her head and continuing, "No. Go ahead I'll get everyone else." Her horn began to glow and she disappeared.

I quickly left the library and headed out of town towards the field of poison joke where this mess all started. I was traveling as fast as the wings would take me and I wasn't the only me outside the library. My lustful alternate had now encountered Rarity as she had left the spa. 

Damn it, why can't I get this out of my head, I thought as loud as I could.

Shut it you're distracting me, came an equally loud mental shout if you distract me I might mess this up. Can you imagine having your way with Rares and the mares that run the spa all at once?. The thought was sent with the mouth watering feeling of anticipation.
This caught me by surprise, and I immediately felt like an idiot. Of course the other mes were the voices in my head, and they knew what I was doing as well as each other. Where did they get a body and why were they here in my head now?

Well if you're worried about being a distraction could you tone it down horn dog? I can't build this spell with you getting your jollies off constantly. It's rather a big distraction for both of us. The me that was planning a defense of Ponyville snapped back.

I landed in the field and immediately noticed that some of the poison joke had grown, specifically the ones that looked like the piranha plants from Super Mario. They were half my size and snapped at me as I walked past. As I walked a flash of an alternate me almost overrode my senses. This time it was the one that was defending Ponyville, and I knew his plan fully. It was an odd experience I had done everything in my power to ignore him but I still knew what he was trying accomplish. He was using several unicorns to cast shields over the town. Then he had Twilight merge them into one spell while adding power from the Potestatum gems and any added magic from nearby unicorns. The me of that reality was trying to tie the physical manifestations of the Elements into the system as well adding there power to the system. It was impressive and it was working.

A loud noise and that was the best description for it tore my mind back to the field. The sound was in all frequencies, it was painful my brain felt like it was going to melt, but somehow for some reason it sounded familiar. I turned the speaker volume down inside the helmet, and I could think easier with my distractions down to two. I tried to find the noises source and saw a tear in the sky open. Lightning of every color imaginable and a few that weren't danced around the wound in the sky.

As the wound grew an appendage made of thousands of squirming cords reached out of the hole. The video relay inside the helmet was on the fritz, every time I looked at the thing coming out of the breach it would fill with static to the point it was almost useless.  Through the static I could make out the tentacle like arm pressed against the ground. Another appendage this one hand like pressed against the top of the dimensional gash. This thing was huge, like Toho monster huge. All I have to do is slow it down and prevent it from getting in to this dimension, I thought, that was simple right?               

I was an idiot I had no way to fight this thing, my magic sucked. I could pick things up, throw them and change a rock into a hat. Twilight thought that had been impressive but I don't think a hat will keep this thing from coming through the hole. None of the weapons in this world would help even if I had brought one with me. I don't even think a normal weapon from home would help. I would need a bomb or a nuke or a missile or something. I had pulled off a small explosion like a nuke before but I'm not even sure how I did it.

Why did I say I was going to stop it, I might say that if I had a plan. I stepped backwards my thoughts racing, and crashing as the feelings of the lecherous side finishing with the spa ponies washed across my mind. It did feel good but that was kind of distraction is going to get me killed along with everyone else in this reality. The other was building a energy absorption tube for Celestia or Luna to climb in when there shield was attacked and explaining the concept to Twilight.  

Would you all shut up! I screamed in my mind. I couldn't concentrate there was to much noise, my mind giving each source equal attention. The others started shouting at me, and throughout everything one word kept echoing in my mind missiles. I closed my eyes and tried to center myself, and went with the thought of missiles. I remembered thing from TV shows like Modern Marvels and the like. Simple warheads had design schematics shown in games and other shows.

It was impressive that in just a few seconds my mind had put together how to build a missile but it didn't do me any good. I had no supply, then it struck me like the hat and the rock, I could do the same with the trees and stones surrounding me. However I would only get one, if that, with the way the spell burned through the energy in the crystals. It's the best idea I have right now, I thought trying once again to focus my mind. It was getting tough though, my body was feeling everything the other mes were experiencing and some of those experiences were getting rather intense.

Before I realized it I had formed the missile. Things around me were moving so fast I wasn't even sure I was in control of my own body. I don't know how I aimed it or anything else but I felt the blast wave as the warhead exploded. The static left the in helmet screen and I could see again. The arm that had reached through was now lying on the ground and the portal had closed. Did I do it? If not I'm going to need more magic but how.

I began to think, What else could I do? Then I remembered Jack telling me something about how magic was in everything that existed in this dimension. If I could only drain there, my train of thought stopped what the other me was doing. He was draining magic from the planet, the elements, and other beings to power the shield around Ponyville. I looked in to his section of my mind.

He was in the middle of tricking Celestia into a power pod. I felt him smile when he felt my mind touch his. He knew I couldn't stop him and I didn't agree with what he was doing. Hello, he thought at me, been a while, missed you during the fight with the uglies. They left with a nice little prize, my eye. I could see in his mind the memories of the fight.

Your spell for draining energy can I see it? I asked.

I could feel his smile spread, jagged teeth poking out from the hole in his cheek. You mean the one I'm about to pull on the royal highness here?

I don't know, I need one that will pull magic out of the ground, I replied. It was odd begging myself for help, but I beyond questioning it at this point, I've never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. In my world I could hear the noise returning, come on man it's coming back, I need it. How are you even hiding this from me? Never mind just tell me.  

All right, he thought at me then, formulas, concepts, everything about the idea flowed into my mind. It blocked out the feelings from the lecher and I smiled it was quiet for just that instant. It was wonderful, but my silent sanity only lasted a moment.

As soon as I refocused to the world around me I began to weave the spell. It wasn't particularly complicated however the last part did need a place to put the energy. I chose the Potestatum gems in the suit. I then switched my mind to forming more missiles. Trees, rock's everything my magic could touch I was picking up and transmogrifying into missiles size varying on the mass of the original object.

The gauge that read the power levels in the stones was rising no matter how much I used in my spells. Inside the suit my body was beginning to tingle and itch like when I fought the dragon. I tried to lower my use of magic but it wasn't working but when I did the suits warning chimes began to sound. The stones were overflowing with energy, it was like I had started a siphon and couldn't cut it off. Well this sucks, I thought followed by no you don't, as I saw the creature through the static returning to the visor. I sent every missile towards the thing. It disappeared again leaving its blood covering the clearing. The blood boiled and ugly things rose out of it. I tried to move and engage them but the suits joints had fused. I couldn't move and more energy was flowing into the crystals as time went on.         

I tried to cast more spells but that didn't do much to cut down on the energy pooling inside the suit. The noise returned and I felt a suicidal smile spread across my face. It was the only option I had left was to pull in more energy. I began casting the absorption spell again pulling as much energy as it would allow into the stones. The creature was half way through the tear when I knew the stones were going.

I woke up and I knew the creature was almost here. I don't know how but I knew. I rolled out of bed and was immediately hit by a wave of, I don't know. Nausea wouldn't be correct nor would dizziness they did occur but they were more a response than symptom. I felt, I did, I can't explain it. I felt something else like I wasn't awake or I was having three dreams at once and one would most definitely be described as a wet dream. From those dreams I felt memories like I had just done this and it didn't end well for me.

Oh cool so when we die it restarts. I wonder if I could pull off an orgy of Harmony?

What, I hadn't had that thought. What's going on?

Aw man, I guess we don't remember what we were doing the last time around, this thought came from the same place as the previous one.

I could feel the me in the other dream, the non perverted one, thinking but I couldn't hear it. It wasn't a vocal thought but it was something. Finally it sent out a more focused thought, this has to be a dream.

Well that was obvious, thought spoke the one in the lecherous dream. Just for giggles why do you think that? Is it because I'm scoring with every one of these ponies, or maybe because everything's going right for you? Unless you need me I'm going to be focusing my attention on that athletic little honey Rainbow.

Whatever just stay out of my mind, I thought back. Then to the more focused one I thought, What can we do to get out of this?

Well you were the first to die so I'm not sure. You could try to force your way into mine or the other ones reality.

Why would I do that, you would be in charge, I asked.

True however I don't know what a cycle of continuous death and memories of your death from me and the other will do to your psyche. I don't know what's happening but I don't think any of us being mentally broken would be a good idea.

I shrugged I didn't know what to think but the memories of fighting that big monster stuck in my mind. Okay I think I'll head your way, right now I have too much respect for my friends to go with the other.

I focused my mind on the other me's world and concentrated. This world began to fuzz and melt like a wet watercolor painting. Then I was in my mind and my body, but not mine. I could remember everything that had happened to both of us. If this is a dream what will happen when we wake up, who's in charge, I asked the me that I was now inhabiting.

I have no idea, it replied to me as it was also trying to convince Luna into a power pod.
You know unless you need them it might not be a good idea to have both put away. I thought to him.

Why's that?

What's happening is going to make ponies angry if you have one of them on the top and can lead through them, they take the blame. It was a weak defense and I knew it but if I was in this world I had to do what I could to stay me and that meant helping my friends.

The me of this world sighed and said, "Luna the more I've been thinking we probably should rotate you and your sister through. That way one of you two is out to lead and if we need the power you can hop in to boost the power."

I smiled and leaned back in my mind, if that worked that means I can affect this world. I'm going to do what I can to make this world the best for everyone.



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I woke up and rolled out of my bed. I felt exhausted like I hadn't slept. I yawned and stretched before looking around the room. It was dark and the room was barely lit by glow stones so I announced, "Light, more light." The lights increased and I quickly heard hoof falls from outside my door. Then whoever was outside hit it with enough force to slam it open.

"Steel, you're okay," cried Logia as she charged into the room. She gasped and tears flowed freely from her eyes as she wrapped me in a hug. "I was worried about you, the others are, were just like you. Celestia sent Spike a letter about the wards being broken. You had worms in your eyes, all of you."

I smiled, looked her in the face and hugged her back.

"Steel, this isn't the time for that you know," she said.

My smile only grew and I said, "Baby it can be whatever time we want it to be."

Her face tightened and she pulled away, "What's wrong with you Steel, control your wandering hoof! Don't you care about what’s happened to your other friends?"

"Right now it's just you and me, so let’s forget them," I moved closer to the bed.

She slapped me across the muzzle, "What's gotten into you. Yesterday you cared about all your friends."

"Yesterday was yesterday, today is today, who cares right now it's just you and me," I replied.

She punched me in the chest with a forehoof knocking me back. By the time I recovered she had spun around and grabbed my head between her back legs, then thrown me to the floor.
I coughed and wiped my mouth with a fetlock. Then smiled as I said, "So you like it rough, I can accommodate that."  

She grabbed me with her magic slamming me against the bedroom wall. "You sick," her face scrunched up and rage built in her eyes. "I never want to see you again," she snarled before stalking out of my room.

I slid to the floor thinking, what the hell is wrong with me? I hate people that behave like that. Why would I do that. I wanted to go after her but a voice in my head told me not to.
If you don't know why you did that it might happen again, it said.

I guess you’re right, I thought to myself. Wait I just agreed with one of the voices in my head after acting so strangely.  I'm scared now.

You know it was probably the other guy taking over for a bit.

I felt my stomach churn at that thought, the idea that I'm not in control of my own body terrified me. How, I asked the other voice.

Remember what she said the wards were broken; he must have gained more power with that. I just wonder why I haven't.

"Jack," I hollered as I ran out of my room.

"What did you do," he asked, "I've never seen a female in any dimension that pissed before."

"I don't know something’s wrong, the wards are broken and I want to know if you can send me to the Canterlot Castle Gardens." I rattled off as I walked into the lab.

"I can with some accuracy, at least accurate as I can be from Twilight's notes on the castle," he answered with a concerned face. "Why the gardens?"

"It's inside the security of the castle and I don't have time to deal with the guards. So just do it please, I need to talk to Celestia now," I said as firmly as I could.

The world around me warped as blue energy flowed around me. I found myself in the garden close by a large hedge. "Hello" I called out and began walking towards the castle. It was still dark out so I figured it was early morning. As I walked I heard voices. One was familiar to me, I could have sworn it was Celestia's voice but why would she be out here. The other I couldn't tell. I had never heard it before.

"From what you have told me, it seems like good plan. However Tia, we don't know how your little pawns will be affected by this latest pulse. I still say if you let me go I could help with that," said the voice I didn't recognize.

Tia, I thought, it can't be Celestia, who would call her Tia? Anyway it can't be that easy I have to go find her. I came around the corner of the hedge and saw that it was Celestia talking to a... statue?

"Discord, you've proven yourself to be unable to keep a promise, or to speak the truth in the past. Why should I believe you now?"

"When have I ever not told the truth? It's not my fault that the ones that hear me speak can't follow the words."

I blinked was the statue talking? It wouldn't surprise me in this world but at this point who knows. I started to approach the princess and began to form report to her. "Hello, Princess," I announced.

She turned around with a puzzled expression. "Steel, you're awake. What about the others," she asked as I approached.

"I don't know, I asked Jack to send me here after I discovered something important," I said as I walked up to her. This was the last part of the conversation to go according to my mental script.

"And that is," she asked encouraging me to continue.

"Did you know you have the power to make other things rise?" My eyes bugged and one of my hooves flew over my mouth. I knew what I had wanted to say and I knew that wasn't it but I also knew what the implication of what I said was. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I said as my face blushed. "What I meant to say was if you're going to send me to the moon why not your moon." This time I punched myself trying to cover my mouth. My eyes were as wide as they could get and I was looking everywhere but at the princess. "I'm sorry I can't control my mouth, but if you want I can show how out of control it is."

The look she gave me was a mix of horror, anger and disgust. "Steel," she snapped, "what is the meaning of this?"

I tried to keep my mouth shut but it didn't work. "I'm sure you can figure out what I meant, but if we want to explore all the alternate meanings we can." By now I was laying on the ground my eyes pinched shut and my forelegs covering my head. What the hell is wrong with me?
I heard laughter from the direction of the statue, and the unknown voice began to speak. "Oh Tia don't tell me you're not intrigued by his offers?"

"Discord, do you know what's wrong with him," she asked.

"Ho hum, it's probably the entity, creature, chaos incarnate whatever you want to call it. Its energy is warping his psyche. You know I could fix him if you want me to, unless you are planning to take him up on his offer."

I felt the urge to speak but I was able to cover my mouth with a leg and it only came out as an unintelligible murmur. I was shivering in fear, I couldn't explain to her anything just being in her presence caused my alternate to highjack my body. I looked up to see that the princess had turned around and was talking to the statue again. The view was not helpful for my current mental infighting.

"Do you think the others were affected," she asked the statue.

"I wouldn't know but I would hazard a guess of yes. If that last pulse could break your wards, give me that ability to speak and limited use of my powers, I think it's a safe guess." It answered.        

I heard the princess sigh and she said, "I'm going to send a letter and I'll make a decision from there." She conjured a scroll and scribbled something quickly before enveloping it in green fire.

I heard another set of hoof steps walk into the area as the flames dissipated. I could tell from her voice that it was Luna, it also helped that she referred to Celestia as sister. "Who are you talking to, and why is Steel acting like a foal?"

"You'll have to excuses him he's not quite himself lately," said the statue.

I heard Luna stop walking and she asked in a shaky voice, "Discord?"

"Yes, it's been awhile hasn't it," replied the statue.

"How," asked the princess of the night, "How are you awake."

"Oh, you know cosmic horror approaching, rekindling the chaos within us all. Woke up Nightmare all that stuff," it replied.

"Yes, I thought you were still trapped in your mind though," she grumbled in reply. "Sister, have the plans changed?"

"I don't know yet, Discord's still on the idea that I'll let him go. He does claim that the Elements will all be in a similar state to Steel though," answered Celestia.

"Even so can't we cure Twilight the same way she was cured when Discord was free?"  
The statue began to laugh and I chanced a peek out from under my hooves, both princesses were ignoring me. I relaxed a little and stood up, did I have control back? I inhaled deeply and words flowed out of my mouth like water out of a broken dam. "I would bet Princest would be wincest would you two like to help me find out?" This time I clamped both my hooves over my mouth and fell face first to the ground.

Luna looked at her sister with a flat expression and asked, "Has he been like this since he arrived?"

Celestia nodded with a grimace and a sigh.

Luna just grumbled and her horn began to glow. I felt something wrap around my muzzle tight enough to keep me from speaking. I blinked and looked down my nose; I had a dark navy blue muzzle pulled tight over my snout. The worst was somewhere deep in my mind was parts of me liked it.

Luna smiled and turned back towards her sister saying, "That ends one annoyance." She then turned towards the still laughing statue. "What's so funny Discord," her voice was calm and measured.

"You all think you know chaos, you think I am true chaos. Kiddo I am just a shadow to that thing. You are trying to compare what I did to the elements to what he has done. I warped them; it pushed the buttons in the dark corners of their minds. It brought forth a darker more twisted version of who they truly are." He laughed and then continued, "You can't cure them of who they truly are. The best you can do is remove what has twisted their minds and hope they recover. 

Take your lust struck stallion over there; somewhere deep in his mind he has a neurosis of the more perverted persuasion it brought it out." I could hear the smile in his voice as he talked and it sent shivers down my spine.  

"Your point Discord," growled Celestia her voice about as hostile as I could imagine. I was glad it hadn't been used on me; I was terrified enough as it was.

"Simple let me go and I can pull the chaotic energy out of them."
This time Luna began to laugh, "We can pull the chaos out of them ourselves why do we need your..." She stopped and looked back at me; her face was more terrifying than her sister’s voice.
I froze I was a lot closer to her than I remembered, in fact I was in the middle of rubbing up against her back leg. My face was against the side of her waist. I let out a small whimper before I was tied up with something similar to what made the muzzle then tossed to the ground. I ended up in a very uncomfortable position, and unable to see anything other than the tall bushes.  

"You were saying," asked the statue.

Celestia answered, "We'll just use the Elements, they locked you away and freed Luna from Nightmare, we don't need you."

"Yes you do and you know it," replied Discord, "otherwise why would you come out and talk to me about it? While I'm asking what if the Element holders are too busy suffering from their own individual neuroses to bother helping out?"

I heard a growl, but couldn't tell which of the sisters it was. I tried to stretch against my bindings to look but it was to no avail. I couldn't see what was going on but I could hear the conversation easily enough. There was some more noise that sounded like a burst of pressurized air escaping followed by crinkling paper.

I heard Luna still using the same voice she had the entire conversation ask, "What does it say."

"It's from Spike," replied Celestia the anger in her voice broken allowing a swath of depressing emotions to dance in her words. "He says, Twilight is awake but she's too busy looking up spells and researching to read the letter I sent." I could hear her swallow, "what guarantee do we have that you will do as you say Discord?"

"Sister no," Luna cried this time her voice was full of emotion, "we can't let him out."

The voice from the statue laughed, "You have no guarantee. The only thing you have from me is the knowledge that I always act in my enlightened self interest. I have not given up on reclaiming my throne you stole but should Chaos arrive my throne will be destroyed. In that respect you could say we have a truce or cease fire at least until the danger is gone."

"He has lied before sister, be wary," cautioned Luna.

"Now, now Luna when have I ever lied, it's not my fault you heard me wrong and mistook the riddles."

I felt myself being lifted off the ground, then spun around and held so that the two princesses could look me in the face. My brain felt terror my body felt something else and I couldn't tell which or if both were causing my heart to try climbing out of my chest. I smiled and tried to avert my eyes, but somehow I always found myself looking at one of the two of them. Any trace of the saddened princess lost in memories was gone, as was the friendly and curious appearance that Luna usually carried. Now I know why Logia was so terrified, you would have to be nuts not to be in this situation. Celestia looked me in the face and I couldn't look away no matter how hard I tried. Her face softened and then after a few moments I was slowly put on the ground.         

"Sister," Luna started in a cautionary tone, "what are you thinking."

"I failed Star Swirl I'm not going to fail Steel," she answered her voice morose.

"Sister, think about this, how many have had to be sacrificed for Equestria. Are you willing to sacrifice the country for one stallion?"

"No, I'm not giving up on Steel, Equestria or the Elements. We have been backed into a corner with only two choices. We free Discord and maybe he does as he says, or we try to pull the chaos out of Steel ourselves." She stopped speaking and looked down at me her face matching the sad tone of her voice. "I'm sorry Steel, but unless it's the only option I can't let Discord loose and I we need the Element's too much to start with them."

I felt my eyes widened, and I whimpered slightly. This was not ending up anywhere like what any part of me had hoped. I was once again lifted into the air and I felt the bonds tighten as Celestia tapped my forehead with her horn. The pain was blinding, it burned in my mind. Even with my eyes closed I could see white for an eternity. I could feel my body thrashing against the bonds that held me. Suddenly the pain was gone and I began to pant, I was soaked in sweat. I slowly lifted my head and pried my eyes open to see a grim faced Celestia leaning in a second time. Damn it, I thought as the pain returned.

After so many attempts to cleanse my mind that I had lost count, I found myself praying for anything that would cause this to stop. I found the answers to my prayers in the form of Luna.
"Sister, stop this," she yelled. "Can't you see you're not making any progress, and if you continue like this you'll only kill him? If you're going to try to save him you should let him rest before continuing."

Celestia sighed and said, "very well, take him to the infirmary and keep him away from any mares."

I heard Luna sigh and I could feel a cool magic wash over me lulling me to sleep.



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Celestia shook her head as she watched Steel collapse into unconsciousness. What am I doing, she asked herself I promised myself that I would protect him, the same way Star Swirl protected me.

"Celestia," started Discord he had waited until Luna had left the area to start. "How far will your hatred of me drive you? You almost killed him and you're nowhere closer to curing him than before. Once you kill him will you move on to your precious little Elements? Who will you start with? How about Twilight Sparkle, or would you save her for last, that way you can save your de facto daughter, although only after slaying her friends." He laughed softly, "Oh Tia, why do this to yourself? Can you not bear the idea of me helping. You've seen it in your own dreams. That creature defeats us all, don't forget I've seen it as well."

Celestia stood in silence every word he spoke hit a cord. How far would I go? She asked herself, could I have done what I did to Steel to any of them, could I even do that to Steel again? If I'm going to do this on my own I'll have to. She focused her mind trying to picture herself cleansing Twilight, the idea made her shudder.

She stared at the statue, her body shaking in anger or was it the realization of how desperate she was to avoid his help. "Discord," she finally forced herself to say, "no one else is here and this is between you and me. For the sake of this discussion let's say the dreams are correct and I will admit that you have never lied that I'm aware of. If I set you free what will you do?"

"I will go clean the minds of the Element bearers then to stay out of everyone's way I will probably head to the frontier. After all I can only control my impulses for so long."

Celestia sighed and looked back towards the castle. "What about Steel, would you fix him as well."

"I thought I would leave him behind and let you try to cure him. You seemed to enjoy it. I am curious why do you want me to?"

"I owe someone, and I this will help me repay that debt."

The statue was silent for almost a minute before he spoke, "I'll agree to that should it be a condition of my release."
        
"It is," replied Celestia as she walked up closer to the statue, magical energy collecting in her horn. She touched his statue with her horn and it began to glow. It shook and the stone cracked up its length, a white light from within shone out along the newly formed seams.
As the stone skin fell from draconequus he yawned and stretched. His griffin arm fell from the stretch above his head and patted Celestia on the head. "You are growing up aren't you little one," he said before taking to the air like a serpent to water.



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Discord laughed as he flew through the night sky. It was true what he had said, he had never lied but he had never told the whole truth. He had also done exactly what he had promised. More so even, the chaos energy that was flowing into the ponies was now diverted into to him. He had also left a few gifts behind.

When he had stopped to see the stallion in the castle he had been unable to remove all of the chaos within him. It was possible that it was something Celestia had locked into his persona in her attempts to remove the chaos energy. There was also the possibility that he had accepted the chaos into his personality.

Then there was Twilight Sparkle. She had ignored his approach. Her little dragon hadn't though, his mouth would return in a few more hours. Twilight was too involved in her studies to notice him even after he started to pull the chaos out of her. That might have been because the process rendered her unconscious. He had given her some forgotten knowledge buried in her mind. She may never find the gift let alone open it but if she ever did it would be glorious.
Rainbow Dash, the element of loyalty was asleep in her house, her gift memories of Commander Hurricane. Then timid Fluttershy, her animals were a slight problem not as much as she was. Awake and angry, she was hard to catch. Her gift would be interesting once she opened it as well. The same scenario followed with Rarity and Applejack, they both were awake and were somewhat difficult to drain.

Finally there was Pinkie Pie. He climbed in through the upper window of Sugar Cube Corner. She was still asleep and like Dash the removal of the chaos energy was simple. As Discord left he conjured a small pink cloud of cotton candy and would rain chocolate milk.
Then he left the town snaking through the sky laughing as he went. He would go out to the frontier just like he said. However he had never said he wouldn't plan for once the truce was over. 
That was why he left the gifts just little mental mines, that once detonated would create a little fun. The only problem with mines was that you never knew how they were going to affect the world. would it be good or bad, you never knew but that was where the fun was.