//------------------------------// // Chapter 13-U Is For U And Me // Story: The Reign of Chaos: Discord's Story // by MisterEdd //------------------------------// "The dodecahedron exercise was to demonstrate one's grasp of the telekinetic or psychokinetic method of offensive and defensive magic, which can be used to not only lift objects but to also manipulate their physical form." Star Swirl tapped the chalk board with his teaching stick, drawing attention to a series of crude sketches depicting a unicorn magically lifting a carriage and transforming it into a wooden hut. "Telekinesis is the most basic form of magic but on that same token, also remains the most versatile. Between moving physical matter and conjuring energy barriers, it shall be your most-used tool in your arsenal. A true magician is capable of dividing their focus between multiple targets in a combat situation and today we'll be-..." Discord sighed contently, Star Swirl's voice lulling out into dull background noise as everything but Luna faded out of existence. He gazed dreamily at the filly, his eyes trailing her flowing sapphire and Persian-blue mane, idly wondering how it would feel between his fingers. WHY DO YOU JUST SIT THERE? TELL THE FILLY HOW YOU FEEL. It's not that easy! I can't just tell her that! Look at her...and look at me. For the past week, Discord was more at ease with talking to the Voice, discovering the presence to be oddly soothing, like he had something looking out for him. As much as he'd enjoyed his friendships with Posey and Luna, he always found it to non-judgmental and always in tune with how he was feeling. He often wondered would it be like to have a sibling, especially a twin, and the Voice fit the bill. In its weird, genderless, non-corporeal way. I AM. YOU LOOK FINE TO ME. IT'S THE FILLY I DON'T GET. HONESTLY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ATTRACTION. Luna stopped scribbling in her notebook to give Discord a tiny wave, her smile lighting up her face as a light blush reddened her cheeks. Seriously? She's beautiful! It's as if...somepony took a piece of the night sky and gave it life. WHATEVER. IT'S NOT MY LOVE LIFE. STILL, YOU COULD TELL HER THE TRUTH. Discord could practically see the Voice rolling its nonexistent eyes. He was about to retort when he saw Luna's gravity-defying hair flowing over one shoulder, giving him a great view of her profile and he noted the softness of her cheeks and the quiet intensity of her eyes. She was the underpony, the one that was often ignored in place of her big sister. Celestia was older, more magically adept, a skilled musician and was going to inherit the queen's throne when she came of age. Luna was just the "other daughter" and that frustrated Discord. Why can't anypony else see how amazing she is?! Star Swirl's voice droned on and in Luna's opinion, sounding like a trombone making wah-wah-wah noises. Normally, she would hungrily devour every one of the ancient unicorn's words, painstakingly taking notes of his lecture in hopes of gaining enough skill to finally beat Celestia in something but found herself fixated on a certain chimeric friend. Her eyes quickly flicked over to where Discord was sitting, trailing the unique contour of his body to watch the gray fur of his swan-like neck disappear into reddish brown fur and back into a scaly dragon-esque tail. She took another look at his limbs, wondering how he could possibly move so gracefully with two different legs, one clawed and one hoofed. His wings were also disproportionate and asymmetrical, an odd pair of chiropteran and avian wings that could and should not allow flight. Surveying her notebook, Luna nearly dropped her pencil upon that discovery that she'd nearly covered the entire page in hearts of varying shapes and sizes, some with arrows and some with flowery borders. Each one contained either the words "Dissy and Lu-Lu" or the initials "D+L," leaving her scrambling to flip the page in an attempt to hide this mortifying action. What in the name of Alicornia is wrong with me? I feel...hot. Am I sweating? Oh no, oh no! "Luna?" She looked up and realized Star Swirl was staring expectantly at her, one bushy eyebrow bouncing in irritation. "Yes, Master?" The unicorn sighed, "I said, 'What is the fundamental law of magic regarding matter transmutation?'" "Oh, um, 'Matter cannot be destroyed or created out of thin air, only changed from one form to another. In order to initiate said change, something must be altered in order to provide the raw material for transmutation.'" Star Swirl nodded, his eyebrows lifting up. "Very good, Luna. According to the Elrein Law, in order to obtain new matter, something must be given up that is of equal value. If you want to create, say, a two-foot stone block, you must pull that stone from somewhere. Building objects out of solid matter requires existing matter. What most ponies-and sentient creatures for that matter-fail to realize is that magic isn't some fix-it-all solution. It is the precise manipulation of cosmic energies and physical matter to provide multiple effects. Magic is simply science that takes thoughts and transforms them into action." Luna wagged her head up and down, though magical applications was the farthest thing from her mind right now. Detecting a pair of red and yellow eyes probing her, she turned to find Discord staring at her, which brought a very noticeable blush to her already warm cheeks. Admittedly, she wasn't used to having colts stare at her like Discord was and this made her do a giddy little jig inside her mind. Aw, I think I might die if he keeps looking at me like that! Giving him a little wave, she turned to once again face the front of the classroom, missing the look of suspicious indignation on Celestia's face. Once the lesson was over, Luna galloped out the door and towards the Royal Garden, humming a merry little tune as she trotted with a noticeable bounce in her step. She marveled at how much each and every color appeared to pop, as though she'd been wearing murky-lensed goggles up until now. The wind caressed her face and mane, the sun was shining even brighter and even the air tasted crisp and fresh. Her heart did little jumping-jacks at the thought of Discord, how handsome he was, abnormalities and all. Just the way he looked at her left her breathless. There was no doubt about it: Princess Luna, daughter of Queen Concordia and heir to the Equestrian Throne, was in love. "Luna!" "Hey Celestia, what's..." Luna froze. The normally-beautiful filly's face was pale, even for her and her scowling face with trembling lower lip did little favor for her face, which was considered by many to be the most stunning in Canterlot. A clump appeared in Luna's throat, one she tried to banish with an audible gulp. "Celestia? Is everything okay?" Taking a deep breath, the ivory-colored unicorn replied, "Luna, what exactly is going on with you and Discord?" "What are you talking about? We're friends." Feeling suddenly bolder, she added, "Is that a problem?" Celestia narrowed her magenta eyes. "Luna, it's cute that you're searching for a playmate but seriously, him? A draconequus? You could do better you know." "And what do you mean by that?" Luna shot back with a half-growl. "Why not him? Sweet Gaia, is this about the way he looks? I'm surprised at you, Celestia! As the future queen, you're supposed to care for each and every one of your subjects, no matter what they look like!" "Luna," Celestia replied with slight force, "Can't you see that he's dangerous? Don't you remember what Mother told us about the Umbrum-Draconequus War? Those things are dangerous!" "He's not a 'thing!' He's my friend and you...you should leave him alone! You...rotten speciesist!" Angry tears began to stream down Luna's face as she glared at a stunned Celestia. "You don't even know Discord! You don't want to know! He's been nothing but nice and polite since he got here and yet you and Mother treat him like vermin!" "Luna, please just calm down-..." "No! Don't tell me to calm down, not when you're talking bad about the only friend I have!" Luna shouted, choking slightly at the end. "He's nice to me, he makes me smile and he listens, really listens! And I'm..." In love with him... "-...Proud to have him as my friend! And do me a favor: at least have the common courtesy to at least talk to somepony before you look down your fat, snooty muzzle at him!" Before Celestia could retort, Luna groaned and ran off, littering the stone pavement with salty droplets as she wildly balled her eyes out. "Annnnnnd…now!" Snap! The pile of rocks rumbled and flopped around on the ground before rolling over and spelling out, "DISCORD RULES" in all capital letters. The young draconequus pumped his fists and did a celebratory dance, exhilarated by the sixteenth trial being a success. Star Swirl, noticing Discord's trouble with hand waves, and recalling the glass throne transformation, suggested that he should concentrate his magical energy into a finger snap. He theorized that because of the volatile and unpredictable nature of chaos magic, a class of magic that is extremely emotion-based, Discord should use a gesture that was more relaxed than say a closed fist or a finger point. Since then, his skill seemed to improve and levitation and telekinetic spells seemed to come much more easier. Uh-huh, yeah! Did you see what I just did? YOU MEAN MOVE A FEW PEBBLES TO FORM A JUVENILE SENTIMENT? THAT'S HARDLY IMPRESSIVE. Aw man, why do you always have to be such a downer? BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT APPLYING YOURSELF. BE IMAGINATIVE. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. YOU DON'T NEED SOME STUFFY OLD UNICORN WITH SCRAGGLY FACIAL HAIR TO TEACH YOU HOW TO USE MAGIC. No? Well I need somepony to help control it, to harness it. "CONTROL?" YOU DO REALIZE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHAOS MAGIC, RIGHT? KIND OF CONTRADICTORY. Look, it's a matter of...hey, is that...Luna? And she's crying! AND WE SHOULD CARE BECAUSE...? "Lu-Lu, are you-...Oof!" Nearly bowled over by the filly's embrace, Discord grabbed hold of the stone bench and righted himself, keeping one arm around Luna as she sobbed into his chest. "Luna, what happened? Why are you crying?" At first, she babbled through his chest, making very, very little sense but once he wrapped his arms around her, she began to calm down. After a minute, she wiped her face and took a shuddering deep breath. "Celestia…she was being very nasty about you. She called you a 'thing' and didn't like that we're friends." A eagle claw gently collected a tear beneath Luna's eye. He chuckled, "Is that all?" Luna gazed up at his curiously. "'Is that all?' Aren't you bothered at all?" It was infuriating but Discord didn't think Luna needed to know that. One of them needed to keep their head in this situation."It's certainly mean but I'm used to it. Besides, it's her opinion and it doesn't matter. Does it affect how you feel about me?" Luna's cheeks lit up at this query. She looked shyly away. "No. I'm still your friend. But Celestia…-" "-...Can have her own opinion. She's not hurting me, she's not hurting you so why let it bother you?" The unicorn's eyes met his own. "Because you're my friend, Dissy. My only one. You don't deserve to be treated unfairly, especially from my family. Friends stick up for each other." Discord smiled affectionally at her, his right paw gently rubbing her shoulder. "You're my friend too, Lu-Lu." BUT YOU WANT TO BE MORE THAN THAT, DON'T YOU "DISSY?" YUCK! SO MUSHY! "Be quiet!" Discord hissed. "Huh?" Discord momentarily froze. "No, not you, Lu-Lu! I was just thinking of something and I ended up thinking out loud." He then gave a half-hearted laugh and mentally kicked himself as Luna looked at him questionably. "O-kay. Hey Dissy? Would you maybe...like to go on a picnic w-with me?" Discord's ears flew up, excited by the prospect of food. "A picnic? Sure, I'd love to! A nice picnic with my best friend. I can't wait! We can have chili dogs, cookies, cucumber sandwiches, chocolate milk!" He was so wrapped up in his rambling that he didn't see Luna stare off into space disappointedly. Yeah...a picnic...between friends. That's what I meant.