//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 - Nightmare and Chaos // Story: The Lost Pegasus // by J8ck78 //------------------------------// Birds chirped a eery song while crickets sang a sad tune. It was almost as if the forest knew of the impending doom that was going to befall the world. Despite the sun being at midday, the forest floor was blanketed with a thick layer of gray fog. The trees themselves looked darker than normal and almost seemed to be trying to create their own world to protect them from Discord. All this combined into one and this place couldn't resemble Everfree anymore unless it had Poison Joke and Cockatrice's. Of course, Tara had noted some Poison Oak and there were timber wolf tracks running through the are. This did little to settle the intrepid 7 women who walked through it, their fears eating away at their bravery. They jumped and screamed when a branch fell a distance away and made a racket falling down. They laughed it off nervously, but they were still uneasy at the whole situation. The silence did not add to it, and when talk finally sprung up, they wish it hadn't considering the subject. “Anyone get the feeling we're being watched?” asked Reine to the group. “I'm trying not to think about it.” spoke Fiona. “Well, I know what to do!” announced Diane cheerfully. “What?” inquired April. “Well!” started Diane in a singing voice. “OH NO!” shouted Dash. She clasped her hands around Diane's mouth and held it shut tight. “Just because your the human image of Pinkie Pie doesn't mean your going to break out in song! Got it?” “Mmm-hmm!” squeaked Diane in fear. The rest looked back to the two, and while they didn't want to mention it, they were all thinking the same thing. Walking on, their thoughts drifted back to what Reine had said. The whole time they felt like they were being watched. As if someone, or something, or somethings, was staying a distance away. Stalking them, watching them, waiting for the perfect moment of ambush. Twilight herself was keeping her head alert and her horn ready for anything. Ever since that Police Crustier had nearly crushed her, something was up. The worst possible scenario for her was something she dreaded above all else: Discord was here. It made sense in every way. Celeste, Luna, even the Doctor and Derpy could handle the crazed creation, but they were at a disadvantage. Thus, while they attempted to threaten him in the city, he would be nowhere to be found. No, while they searched for him, he would swoop in and easily remove the true threat to him. He was probably shifting through the woods right now waiting for his perfect moment, which would probably be when they got to the mansion. As Fiona said, she tried not to think about it, but it kept coming back to her. She shivered at what would happen to the rest if they were caught, which was noticed by Tara. “You okay?” Twilight looked back to her double, and gave her best smile, but couldn't hide her feeling of unease. As the others were too distracted in their own conversation and keeping watch, Twilight spoke, albeit in a hushed tone. “This is too easy.” “What do you mean?” whispered back Tara. “Discord would know we would go for the Elements. It's the only possible thing capable of defeating him! Why has it been a free walk all the way?” “Well, there was that Police Cruiser that almost crushed you.” “Either the exception that proves the rule, or a test to see how sharp we are. The reason that it was your friend, Jack's car means something is up.” “Hey, you guys here that?” came Dash from behind. They all stopped and looked to her. She had a blank look on her face, but her reason soon became apparent. In the distance, monotone mumbles could be heard along with the barking of dogs. They stood there in fear as they slowly got closer and closer. “He sent the Police after us!?” screamed Diane. “I guess so! What do we do?” asked April. “Run!” cried Tara. “I can't run in these heels!” shouted Reine. “Why did you bring heels to a hike through the forest?” groaned Dash. “I'm sorry! I wasn't exactly able to go home after work!” snapped Reine “Twilight, a little help?” April asked for her friend. Twilight concentrated on the heels, and in a moment they were suddenly hiking boots that matched with the rest of Reine's dress. She marveled at them and looked them over. “Ooh, remind me to ask who styled these?” “Uh, I think you did, now RUN!” screamed Diane. The barking dogs closed in as the girls took off. There was little hope that they would make it far with attack dogs on their trail, but what other choice did they have. Suddenly, there was a sharp boom from behind them which caused their hearts to jump a beat. “Are they shooting at us?” asked dash as she leaped over a tree. “Wouldn't be the first time!” replied Twilight. There came several more, but instead of tree branches around them snapping off, they could hear the dogs behind them yelping in pain. “Are they shooting at the dogs!?” came a confused Twilight. “Poor Puppies!” spoke Fiona. “I think those poor puppies won't mind,” tried to ease April. Then there came the sound of actual gunfire. As the girls took cover, they quickly realized it wasn't at them. There were more explosion off in the distance, which confused them to the fullest. “What is going on back there?” asked Tara. “Did one of the Officers break free of Discord?” spoke Reine. “If so, why is he shooting at everyone else?” added Dash. “Come on! Let's use this chance and put some distance between us and them!” ordered Twilight pointing up a small hill toward a cliff side. It looked daunting to climb from the looks of it, but Twilight used her magic to create a small path. Taking it, they scrambled up as Twilight “closed” the path behind them as they ran. ---- Celeste looked to her brooding sister. Since they had left the TARDIS, she hadn't spoke a word. Unsure of whether to talk or not, she chose the route that kept Lou from snapping and stayed quiet. Lou herself kept her head forward and eyes straight as they continued their walk toward Discord. Celeste could tell they were getting close, the air having an odd feel to it, and the pretzel tied trees on the side of the road. Amazingly, they bent the opposite way as Lou walked between them, before returning to their “original” position as she passed. Celeste looked on amazed when she caught a dark figure out the corner of her eye. Looking and bracing for a fight, she was relieved to see it was just Lou. She was standing still over a parked vehicle, and when Celeste looked, could tell why she stopped: It was a Police Cruiser. Oddly enough it was the first one they came across on this entire walk, but it was enough to make Lou stop. Celeste put her hand on her sisters shoulder, who turned to look at her, a tear nearly forming. “I know you miss him,” she finally spoke to her little sister. “Why did he have to go?” “He went out saving you. What more could you ask for?” “For him not to,” was Lou's answer. “What would he say right now?” asked Celeste hoping for the answer. “That he's not worth crying over,” chuckled Lou before it died away, “He's still worth it for me though.” Celeste hugged her sister, when there came a sobbing behind them both. They turned and darkened their faces as they both saw the Human-Discord standing there holding a pink neckerchief to his eyes drying up fake tears of sadness. Lou glared at him while Celeste stood defiant. “Oh please, don't stop on my account. You were having such a wonderful moment,” laughed Discord. There was the sound of scraping metal, and in blue flash Lou was wielding her double bladed staff. Discord looked on intrigued at the development, while Celeste brandished her own weapon, which appeared to be a lance infused with the power of the sun itself. Discord smiled devilishly and held out his left hand. From his shoulder to his hand appeared a large gauntlet ending in sharp spiked talons. Clearly, he was ready for the fight. Yet, he knew something they didn't. This was reinforced by his smug chuckling. “What's so funny?” “Have you once even given thought to why there is not a single police officer here in this city?” The two looked around nervous upon realizing that simple fact. Discord, by now, would have the entire Police force under his control, and yet the streets were deserted. They stepped into a defensive pose as Discord just chuckled. He held up his hand as if he was drinking something, and from his mouth came a glass and some chocolate milk inside of it. He finished with a satisfaction and with a snap, the glass was gone. “What's going on Discord?” demanded Celeste. “Wow, even as a human your still as grim as could possibly be. I just sent them to patrol some woods; particularly the state park.” The two reacted in shock. Discord just laughed, reveling in the trap he had set. “Between the Police, and those alien Dalek things I sent after the Doctor and his Assistant; I'll give you a choice: save your friends, or defeat me. Since there are two of you, I guess I can- AARGH!” Discord clutched the bloody wound that was left from Lou's blade as it passed through his shoulder. She held out her hand, and in seconds it returned to her, ready and waiting for it's masters next move. Discord snorted in anger while Celeste looked to her Sister in surprise. “Go save the Doctor, Sister! I can take Discord!” “Are you sure?” came Celeste. “I'm sure,” she smiled. Reluctant, Celeste nodded and held her lance in front of her. Discord watched in anger before Celeste suddenly disappeared from sight with a flash. Lou stood there, ready for a fight. “What about your friends?” “You obviously underestimate my friends. They can take on a few zombified lawmen. Especially with THE Twilight Sparkle leading them.” “You think just because you're Princess Luna you can defeat me? It took both Celestia and Luna to lock me away on this accursed world.” “Oh, there's a whole side to Lou you forgot about!” The spirit of Chaos looked on as she sliced open the Police car behind her, and the armor from inside of it flying out and around it. It floated around her, increasing in speed before suddenly, with a flash, Lou was no longer the human embodiment of Princess Luna. Instead, she had become Nightmare Moon, and all her anger was fixated right on Discord. “Didn't see that coming,” noted Discord. “You will pay for what you've done!” she shouted. Discord weighed his options before Lou slammed her blade down upon him. Discord barely managed to capture it with his gauntlet, but he could barely hold it, and redirected to the ground in mere moments. He was about to strike back, when the other side came down on him, only his small horn on his head preventing his head from being split open. Discord recoiled in pain and held his head. Lou stood back and smiled at her handiwork as the spirit of Chaos seethed in anger. He looked to her, his normally crazy red eyes aflame with vengeance. With a snap of his finger, the ground shook, and Lou was catapulted into the air on a stream of rock and water from below. Nightmare Moon or not, unless she could fly, there was no way she could survive the fall. Discord reveled in this, until he saw the wings Lou now sported. “Hmm, how cliché,” he mused. “Cliche, but it works,” spoke Lou. Discord burped a little, and snapped his fingers again. From the ends of the streets the street lamps themselves grew and angled right toward Lou. They wrapped themselves around the Nightmare entity and started to constrict and Discord expected to see a struggling Lou. All he got was a smirk. With a blue flash, Lou became a sparkling blue cloud that easily slipped out of the constricting poles and bee-lined right for Discord. Discord stepped back and looked around, with each gaze, similar geysers of water and rock burst from the ground where the cloud was, each one missing. Finally one struck home right in front of her, but the cloud split in two and flew around each side before appearing right before Discords face. Discord looked on in horror as Lou materialized out of the cloud and was struck with he staff and slammed into a wall, leaving a cartoonish hole in it as he crashed through it. Lou landed, wings folded in and blade ready for the next round. Discord stumbled out of the hole and held his stomach where the blade had hit. “You've clearly gotten stronger,” he grunted. “Where there is chaos, there are nightmares,” taunted Lou. He eyed her, and spit out some blood. “We shall see Princess.”