//------------------------------// // Uncertainty // Story: A Pony's Sympathy // by Ckat_Myla //------------------------------// [Or: 'My Attempt to Continue A Pony's Sympathy' Their search of the forest had been fruitless, even with the six of them searching the area that Twilight had indicated Discord had been hiding; none of them could find any clue as to where he had gone. Only the cheese trees seemed to remain – and they were already mostly-eaten by various woodland creatures. Twilight knew that there wasn’t anything else they could do at the moment, but it still made her feel fairly powerless. Of course, she was already feeling powerless without her magic, so having to wait for Discord to make another move was not helping the situation. Why did he have to take her magic, and had their whole conversation been about giving him a chance to do so and make a quick getaway? She pondered it as she stood perched on the top platform of her library-tree home, looking through her telescope. The wind was a bit chilly, but stargazing had a way of calming her, and aided her contemplation. All of that stuff Discord said about ‘keeping the balance’, and then his talk of loneliness in his stone prison…had it all been an act? The way he’d looked when she voiced her sympathy hadn’t looked faked, and then after she’d confirmed it he had looked almost…pleased. She didn’t know what to make of any of it, and it bothered her so much to think that he could have manipulated her without using his magical trickery. Twilight adjusted her telescope again to focus on a new piece of the sky, when another thought found its way though her mental deliberation. Perhaps she was so bothered because – in some way – she wanted it to be true, that she wanted to believe him. But wasn’t that crazy? Couldn’t that be just what Discord wanted? It made her feel so stupid that she had even for a second thought that he might be worth helping. Yet she had, and for some reason there was a part of Twilight that still thought that…and that was the part that struggled against her more practical sense to keep her in this state of near-constant emotional uncertainty. Then there was that other thing he’d done, the part that she mentally skipped over without focusing too much on the details of the memory. How it had felt – how she felt about it – Twilight rationalized that none of it was relevant. She rationalized because she planned on omitting it from the retelling she would give her friends. She’d planned on giving them a more complete account of what had happened…but Twilight didn’t really want them to know about that part. He’d done something to her magic; they didn’t need to know her suspicions about his method for doing so. Twilight was pulled out of her deep thoughts only when she felt something small smack into the back of her head followed by a tiny shrill screech. It hadn’t hurt, but Twilight turned to see what had hit her. It was harder to make out in the dark, but there was definitely a furry creature lying at her hooves. It flapped its delicate, leathery wings as it tried to right itself, making more screeching sounds as it did. She wasn’t sure what she should do about it, but a few minutes later Twilight noticed a light growing closer in the distance, zooming in on her at her platform. The light hit the winged creature as it came up to them, and Twilight could properly see that it was a bat. It winced at the beam and she didn’t blame it, because it was big enough now to cause her to wince as well. “Oh Echo, I know you were excited, but you shouldn’t have gotten so far ahead of me,” Fluttershy’s voice came from the light that was still shining in Twilight’s eyes. Fluttershy had apparently noticed this and quickly extinguished it as she landed beside her friend. “Oops, sorry Twilight, I was just helping little Echo here on his first hunt for insects after recovery and he got a little overzealous.” Echo had finally gotten back to his feet and was now flapping around Fluttershy, probably looking for a good place to perch. Her eyes adjusting back to the dark now, Twilight could make out that Fluttershy was wearing a mining helmet. So that explained the light. “It’s ok,” Twilight said as she checked her telescope to make sure it hadn’t gotten jostled out of place. “Do you take bats out for night flying often?” “Not usually, only when I want to make sure they’ll be ok on their own. What are you doing out here so late?” Twilight sighed. “Just thinking,” she answered wistfully as Echo finally found a good spot on Fluttershy’s back. “Too much to sleep I guess, so I came up here.” Fluttershy moved her gaze from Twilight to look around her, eyes finally pausing at the stars overhead and she gave her usual small smile. “Sorry you couldn’t sleep, but at least it’s such a clear night to see the stars.” “Yeah, it’s fun to look for the different constellations,” Twilight said sounding a little stilted, it was far too obvious that stars weren’t the only things on her mind. Fluttershy however either hadn’t noticed or was being polite about it. “Oh I don’t know many of the constellations, but it’s still nice to see them all spread out across the sky like that. They’re lovely even if you don’t know their names.” They spent a moment doing just that, admiring the sky above them. This was the first time Twilight had really looked at them without her telescope since she came to the platform. Fluttershy had a point, analyzing them in groups and looking at one piece of the sky at a time was fun for her, but seeing the entire expanse of stars all at once made Twilight fully appreciate them. It was a strange thing for Twilight, being able to see them grouped into their constellations and knowing all their names, but at the same time seeing them as her friend saw them, a smattering of twinkling dots spread out randomly across the deep violet background. It was like seeing them with two different sets of eyes simultaneously, but together they were still beautiful. After she noticed this, a sudden realization hit Twilight even harder than Echo the bat had…it was order and chaos together, sharing the same sky. “Do…do you want to talk?” Fluttershy asked softly, looking back to her friend, concerned. Twilight blinked, breaking the thousand-yard stare she’d been holding with the sky. Turning back to Fluttershy, she could tell her friend meant well and wanted to help. But Twilight wasn’t sure though how much she should tell her before she’d worked things out for herself. “…only if you want to, I mean,” Fluttershy added to her last sentence in that apologetic manner she sometimes had. Yes, Twilight wanted to figure it out herself first before telling more to any pony…but she felt so overwhelmed that perhaps looking to a friend for help was a good idea. Plus Fluttershy was the representation for kindness and compassion in the group. Twilight was curious to know how she would feel about all of it. She smiled at her friend, who returned it. “Thanks Fluttershy,” Twilight said. She then took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and began to tell her. First she explained all of what Discord had said and done (with the one exception) while she had been in that fun house, and then how mixed she was feeling about what he had said. How she felt so conflicted about believing him, but at the same time starting to possibly understand his side…and beginning to wonder what they could do about him that wouldn’t involve death or eternal imprisonment. Turning away from the telescope, the two ponies each put their hooves up on the railing of the platform as one spoke and the other listened. Echo had moved to Fluttershy’s shoulder, and was curled up possibly asleep. There was another moment of silence as Twilight finished and gazed out over the buildings of the town full of sleeping ponies. “I just don’t understand, what type of game might he have been playing?” Twilight asked aloud partially to herself, part to Fluttershy. “But you’re also not sure that he was playing a game, and he might have just been trying to avoid us?” Fluttershy asked, trying to show she’d been following Twilight’s train of thought. “Exactly. I mean, if he were hiding, why choose a place so close to us?” “The Everfree Forest is a scary place though, and not many ponies go in there unless they have to. I’d think it would be a good place for someone to hide.” Fluttershy said. That was true, and it certainly was the last place Twilight would have thought to look, had she not discovered his little additions. “So you think he was telling the truth? Do you think Discord’s capable of keeping a low profile enough to remain in-hiding?” Twilight asked. She saw Fluttershy deliberating. “If the rest of it was true, I think so. I mean, if being stone was really as bad for him as he said. From what you said it sounds like he expects it no matter when we find him, and he’s right.” Twilight nodded. She knew that her friends would believe that was the only option. It was the safest bet if he really was planning something. She had to consider the safety of all those sleeping ponies whose homes lay below them. Again that other part of her wondered if it really was the only option, and surprisingly Fluttershy seemed to pick up on that as well. “You’re not sure though if that is the right thing to do anymore?” she asked. “Well, it probably is the right thing to do,’ Twilight corrected her. “But I’m not sure anymore if it’s the fair thing to do.” Fluttershy blinked at Twilight, her tiny mouth in a small ‘oh’, as though unsure to ask the question in her mind. Twilight made a sound somewhere between a sigh and a chuckle at her friend’s expression. “Yeah, I know. That sounds crazy, right?” Twilight knew that Fluttershy was too nice to answer, even if the question hadn’t been rhetorical. “Out of all of our friends who’d fallen victim to his manipulations in the maze, you were probably the strongest. You told us that you didn’t fall for anything he said, and in the end he had to force you into becoming the opposite of your element. He was probably the harshest on you,” Twilight stated. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you had no hesitation wanting him gone.” “Right after it happened, yes. I wouldn’t have hesitated. I don’t think I’ve ever really hated any pony before, but I actually hated him for making me so mean to my friends.” Twilight saw the yellow pony frown at the memory, but she didn’t know if it was about Discord or the idea of hating someone. “But after a while I tried to put it behind me, since he was gone.” “And now that he’s back, how do you feel?” Twilight asked. Fluttershy didn’t appear to be happy with her thoughts on that, either. Still after a moment she answered. “I suppose I understand your dilemma, Twilight. If what he said to you was true, than you really have his confidence and you don’t want to betray that. It’s hard to take that chance though.” His confidence? Twilight thought. That might be so, but if she did Twilight still had no clue why. “I don’t like to think that any pony is beyond hope, but this is Discord. I have to wonder if he is worth that chance.” Twilight understood that, she’d been expecting Fluttershy to say something like that; she figured her friend’s compassion might only reach so far. “I just-I just wouldn’t feel right sending him back to stone if he were telling the truth.” “Would you want him out there where we wouldn’t know what he was up to?” Fluttershy asked. “No, but…” Twilight started, and again her mind seemed stalled by the debating ideals. “I have to believe there is another way.” She was glad that came out as confident as it did. It was one of the only things she was certain about in all this uncertainty. Fluttershy removed her front hooves from the rail and turned back towards the telescope, waking Echo who slid off and flapped to stay airborne. “I don’t think I could trust Discord, Twilight. At least…it would take a lot for me to, and I think that would go for the others as well,” Twilight saw her give a sympathetic smile. “But I do trust you, and I know you wouldn’t be so worried about it or so adamant if it wasn’t worth it. If any pony can find another way, you can. I’ll trust your decision.” “Thanks,” Twilight said and returned her smile with a small one of her own. “I think I’d better get Echo back to his cave. I’m sorry I wasn’t more help,” Fluttershy said, extending her wings and flipping the switch on her hat. “No, no you were. You gave me some pony to talk to and muddle through all of this with at least. I appreciate it.” “You’re welcome,” Fluttershy said, but she paused before taking flight from the platform. “Are you going to be ok, do you think you can sleep now?” “Maybe, I’ll try anyway,” Twilight answered. Fluttershy didn’t seem convinced, but she took off anyway, and Twilight figured she would keep her word and attempt to sleep. She began to take her telescope apart to store away (by hoof), when she looked once more to the sky. It would take a lot; Fluttershy was right about that too. If Twilight could think of something that would ensure the safety of every pony while still leaving Discord some place to remain…and whatever it was would require every pony’s approval, that and Discord’s cooperation… Even if Twilight had his confidence, she wasn’t sure that would be so easy to gain. Still conflicted, but reassured now that she knew at least one of her friends knew and understood (to the best of her ability) Twilight left the starry night for bed, hoping maybe the solution would come along with sleep. Well, that was unexpected. Discord thought as he landed on a cool, sandy landscape. It was a still night, but as he had just flashed out of an interesting predicament, he wasn’t immediately taking in his surroundings. That should keep her from tracking me down for a short while at least, but I’m amazed she allowed me to do it that way. The satisfied grin he had while pondering his parting from Twilight only grew. The look on her face was worth it all on its own. It was really a spur-of-the-moment decision. The opportunity had presented itself, and Discord had taken it. He didn’t regret it though; it was beneficial for him in more ways than one. Of all the ponies – even among Celestia’s new champions – it was Twilight Sparkle who found him. Well, that wasn’t entirely surprising. She was intelligent and wasn’t the type to give up, or at least not for long. No, it was what she’d said that had struck Discord. That any pony might feel anything close to sympathy for him was hard to believe. But for her to say it – possibly the most powerful unicorn he’d come across, not to mention Celestia’s pupil – that was unexpected. Discord usually stayed two or three steps ahead of everyone, and even when he wasn’t he still liked to give that impression. So having a curve ball like that thrown at him just made things all the more interesting. Compassion was something else that was mostly foreign to him, and he would not have thought a pony so skilled and honorable could be capable of holding it for an enemy. It was a strange thing to recount the conversation. The mischievous glee he felt when he thought of flustered Twilight as he had come so close, trying to get her to see the benefits in his work…and then of course that flabbergasted expression she’d had when he’d kissed her. He recognized that. The feeling of having fun with a pony like that was familiar. The rest of it though was new ground. His usual demeanor had only slipped once, so on the surface he’d remained the cool and collected self he prided himself on. Inwardly though, it had been hard to ignore. Touched, Discord thought that might be the right word. She had said ‘I feel sorry for you,” and that small sentence hadn’t just surprised him, it had touched him…in some deep place inside him long thought lost or abandoned along with his conscience. Then – useless though he knew it to be – when she had actually tried to think of something he could do that would change the minds of all those friends of hers. Discord had found it amusing because he saw no way that imprisonment could not be in his future…other than to avoid capture, but there had been a mixture of something else in there. He …possibly… might have felt grateful to her. The moment he found the word that defined what she had felt like to him at that moment, Discord immediately dismissed it. He would be fooling himself if he thought for even a second that he might have an ally in Equestria. Twilight could have been using her own means of manipulation, pretending to sympathize to get him to trust her. Then he might have given away his rough avoidance plan (i.e. not draw attention to himself. Definitely not the most fun plan, but he had been in a hurry). He couldn’t rule it out; it’s what he would’ve done if he were her. But of course, Twilight was not him. She had strong principles (or actual principles), she could have been genuine. Discord hadn’t been sure then, and he wasn’t sure now. The tears that had formed in her eyes when she said it – then the certainty in them when he’d asked her near the end if she still felt that way - how hard could that have been to fake? It nagged at him; it was an idea that just wouldn’t let go. It was almost as if he wanted to be proven wrong, and that was disconcerting. He tried to avoid the only conclusion that might resolve his conflict – letting them find him – but Discord knew that the only way to know the truth was to speak with Twilight again, even though that might be just what they wanted. Discord finally took a look around, and noted the expanse of barren, cracked ground and sparse plants along the landscape. Another deserted location, but one that had potential. He would distract himself for while with making himself at home. Discord would try and put it to the back of his mind, and if they found him he would figure something out. He was good at improvising. To the back also went Twilight Sparkle…and the faint hope that had come along with her words.