//------------------------------// // The Mysterious Voice // Story: Eye's of the Dead // by DiscardedHope //------------------------------// Kione was traveling on his merry way through Ponyville. He had just stopped by the closest town to restock up on some of his supplies for his traveling. He was hoping to take a shortcut through the Everfree forest, and maybe take a stop by the local Zebra herbalist to purchase some herbs. However, some of the locals decided it was their task to inform Kione about the dangers that dwelled inside the Everfree. “Don’t go in there! The weather happens on its own!” Exclaimed a random mare Kione walked past. “Well, milady, that’s very nice of you to tell me, but I really need to keep to my schedule,” he said, walking past the mare. “Animals take care of themselves!” shouted a brown stallion, as he stepped in front of Kione. “Well, I’m sure I can handle them if they become too curious, but I seriously need to go,” he said quickly, before galloping away from the populace, and into the Everfree. ‘Yeesh, talk about touchy. I would have had them decapitated for standing in my way!’ A voice within Kione's head spoke out. ‘That is where you and I differ, Mactans.’ Kione responded. ‘I told you to call me by my full title! King Latrodectus Mactans, King of the Changelings!’ The changeling king exclaimed. ‘Well, sorry to burst your little egotistical bubble, but you were dethroned over three thousand years ago, and trapped inside this blasted mask that you created.’ Kione mentally jabbed. ‘Point taken…’ Nodding to his minor victory, Kione continued his walk down the barely visible dirt path. --------------------------------------------------------------- Twenty minutes later, Kione arrived in a clearing that held a cottage within a tree. Said tree was decorated with masks and other items that Kione guessed was native from the occupant’s home land. He walked up to the door, and knocked his hoof on it a few times. *Knock* *Knock* *Knock* The door was opened by a Zebra. She was with no doubt younger than him, but she seemed to be doing fine living on her own within the Everfree. “Ah, hello there, I just wish to purchase some herbs, and then I’ll be right out of your mane.” Kione said quickly, hoping that she would comply, despite him being a stranger. “Come in quick, for I have potions to mix,” the zebra said with rhythm, stepping aside to let him in. They had a nice conversation about herbs as Kione browsed through her goods. He picked up a few medical herbs, for obvious reason, before he started to continue on his journey. “Thank you again, Miss Zecora.” “Till we meet again, masked one.” --------------------------------------------------------------- Kione struggled to follow the dirt path, however, all his struggles were in vain, as he still somehow lost the trail. ‘Well, as long as I keep going straight, it shouldn’t matter…’ Kione thought to himself. ‘Just keep telling yourself that, I’m sure you’ll get far.’ The changeling's voice sounded within Kione's head. ‘Then perhaps you could help me, Oh so great, King of the Changelings.’ The masked pony responded. ‘Well, you could just follow that guy, over there.’ Looking over to where Mactans mentally directed, Kione saw a cloaked pony. A wad of green hair could be seen sticking out from under the mysterious pony’s hood. As Kione got slightly closer, he could see that the pony was interested in a purple rose. The mysterious figure examined the rose for a few more moments, before plucking it from the ground, stashing it within it’s cloak, and trotting away. Deciding to act quickly, Kione carefully followed the mysterious pony, lagging behind enough as to not be seen. A style of bob and weave was used as Kione hid behind every tree and bush, as to not be seen. However, this pattern was soon set to a halt as the cloaked pony walked into a large clearing that held a castle that lay in ruins. Kione wasn’t too keen on walking into clear sight, but he was willing to risk it as his curiosity was rising. He ever so cautiously made his way towards the castle. As he got closer, he could hear the mysterious pony talking to itself. Though, it, shouldn’t be used if what the voice sounded like confirmed the pony’s gender. The stallion, or colt, inside the building yelled something about his eyes and something about a mockery. All noise seemed to stop, when suddenly a loud crash was heard. Kione quickly ran into the castle, hoping that the pony inside was okay. When he made it to where the crash sounded from, he saw a green Pegasus laying on the floor, shards of glass surrounding him. Upon closer examination, Kione noticed that the Pegasus was unconscious. ‘Do you feel it Kione?' The king's voice sounded. ‘Feel what?’ ‘There’s an evil spirit inside his body, his state of unconsciousness is not natural, by any means.’ ‘What do you suggest we do?’ Kione thought, as he paced around the room, looking for anything out of the ordinary. ‘I suggest that you let me take a look and see if I can disperse of the spirit.’ Kione stopped all of his movements, taken aback from Mactans’ kindness. ‘Alright, but don’t do anything funny, like last time.’ Kione walked up to the green Pegasus’s body, and set his hoof against said Pegasus’s head. There was a visible flash from the mark on Kione’s for hoof. ‘Ah, just as I thought, something is keeping him unconscious.’ ‘Well, hurry up. This place is giving me the creeps.’ Kione kept looking behind him, feeling as though he were being watched. ‘Hmm, okay, I’m going to try an- Ahhh!’ ‘What! What is it?’ Kione backed away, retracting Mactans’ soul from the Pegasus’s body. ‘It’s Discord! Kione, we need to get out of here!’ “Aww, leaving already?” Said a voice from all around them. “And here I thought you would actually be one of the more willing ones.” “Discord… I have no quarrel with you!” Kione said, although Mactans seemed to fear for his life. ‘Kione, get out of here! Remember what I told you about the making of this mask, Discord helped form it, he has power over you!’ “Ah! Latrodectus, buddy! How have you been? It’s been eons since we last talked!” Discord's voice rebounded across the room. “Discord, what do you want?” Kione was slowly back up towards the door, only to have it slam forcefully shut. “What could little old me want? Oh, I don’t know, spread chaos, have fun, and to be free!” Discord’s reflection was seen within the shards on the ground, as he danced about. “Oh, you have no idea how one thousand years in a stone prison can make someone so stir crazy.” “While I have never been within a stone prison, I have a feeling that I know how it is being locked away for one thousand years. But that aside, what do you want from me?” Kione said, standing in the defensive, as to make sure he isn’t caught off guard. “Well, I would just like you to take a little step through this portal, and have a little chat with a few friends. No harm done, guaranteed!” As said, a dark purple portal appeared, Discord’s reflection now within the portal. “You aren’t lying, are you? I know very well that you hold control over me, so attacking me would do you no good.” Kione said, stopping in front of the portal, looking Discord straight in the eyes. “As you said, what would I gain from attacking you? Blasphemy I say!” “Alright…” Kione stepped through the portal, Mactans being silent the whole way. --------------------------------------------------------------- The other side of the portal, it was black. Not dark, just black, as in black ceiling, black walls, and black flooring. All just… black. As Kione looked and observed the area, he spotted the green Pegasus from before, talking to a shrouded figure. “I demand to be returned to my realm, immediately! I have work that must be completed!” The Pegasus exclaimed to the shrouded figure. “But where’s the fun in leaving, before the party even started. Surely you must know that you must not leaving meetings adjourned before they’re started!” The shrouded figure verbally fought back. “I-I.. I never even wanted to be a part of this meeting, and quite frankly you messed up my biggest project!” The Pegasus again yelled out, mostly due to frustration. “Ah, Kione, wonderful of you to join us!” The shrouded figure turned towards Kione as said pony walked over. “Perhaps it is, but I do believe there was something you wanted to talk about. Not just verbally bash against this pony’s mentality,” he said, walking next to the Pegasus, who took a step to the side, slightly intimidated from Kione’s taller stance. “Ah, you’re too right! Thank you for reminding me, Kione. I would have surly forgotten, and would have just kept talking to Radneon here.” The shrouded figure raised a claw and snapped, bringing first a young, dark purple earthpony. “Wha- where am I?” The purple pony shook his head, before looking over to Radneon and Kione. “Apparently you’re in the realm of chaos, while intriguing as it may be, I certainly do not wish to be here anymore!” Radneon said, obviously not liking the situation one bit. “Umm, okay…” The purple earthpony looked slightly confused, before giving the shrouded figure a nervous glance. “What’s your name, kid?” Kione said, hoping to kill the tension in the air. “It’s Ian.” The pony, now named Ian, said. “Well, welcome to the realm of chaos, Ian. Yet, I have a feeling youre not the only one joining us,” the masked earthpony said, looking towards the shrouded figure for confirmation. “Once again, Kione, very helpful! Now for our last guess before we start our meeting!” The figure said happily, giving a little dance, before snapping his claw again, once again summoning the last pony needed for this meeting. A light blue unicorn fell, landing on his stomach with an, ‘Oof,’ before shaking his head and sitting up. He looked around the room, confused majorly. “Uhm, would somepony mind telling me where I am?” He asked, looking around. Radneon opened his mouth to say something, but Kione beat him to it. “You inside the Realm of Chaos, sent here by our friend,” as Kione paused, Discord dropped his shroud, revealing his mismatched self, “Discord.” Discord gave a slight bow, and followed up with the beginning of his “meeting.” “This meeting is hereby initiated!”