//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15 - The Undesired Answer 
// Story: Only the Broken, Only the Cursed (please read blog post) 
// by DougtheLoremaster 
//------------------------------//

“Do you know what a nightmare is?”
The five fillies sitting before Celestia looked at each other in confusion. For over ten minutes they had sat there, in complete silence as the Tyrant stared down at them. Her piercing glare like that of a griffon observing its prey.  
Her stare seemed to peer into the very souls which inhabited the corpses which they possessed, almost as if searching for something. Now she had finally spoken, and it was just those seven words, nothing more. She said nothing else as they looked at each other; sitting there, still as a stone upon her throne of gold. Waiting. Waiting for their answer.
The youngest of the five, Pinkie Pie, shrugged, clearly at a loss, and looked confusedly at Rainbow Dash, the next youngest. For some reason, the Pegasus seemed to take the shrug as a challenge and blurted the first thing on her mind.
“Aren’t you a Nightmare?”
Fluttershy flinched as soon as the words were uttered, while Rarity nearly fainted at the display of disrespect. Celestia wasn’t focused on Rainbow Dash, however. Somepony else had the Tyrant’s undivided attention: Applejack.
The Earthpony filly had made the slightest shake of her head at Rainbow’s reply; a movement that had not gone unnoticed. Her eyes narrowed, Celestia peered down at the Farmpony, her words disturbingly gentle.
“I take it you disagree with Miss Dash’s response, little Applejack; daughter of Pear Butter and Bright Macintosh.”
Rarity blinked as she watched the Tyrant Princess address her friend. How odd, she thought to herself. That was rather specific; why would she say that? Rarity didn’t have to wonder for long, as Celestia showed exactly why she was a terrifying entity to stand before.
Applejack stared open-mouthed at Celestia.
“You know who mah parents were?”
Nodding, Celestia responded in a strangely expressionless tone.
“I do.”
“Ah was told there were no records of mah folks!”
“There aren’t, little one.”
“Then how-”
“You would be quite hard-pressed, sister of Big Macintosh and Applebloom, to find a single thing within your existence that I do not know nor have witnessed.”
Applejack’s reply was tinged with condescension as she stayed calm at the remark.
“Hmph. Is that so, yer majesty?”
Flaring her wings, making an elegant display and a fearsome sight in the glow of the background sunlight, Celestia grinned a cold smile that froze Rarity’s blood to see.
“Yes, Applejack, that includes your unofficial adoption of Applebloom. Your mind, your heart, and your very existence are an open book to me, child.”

***

“And just like that, what I now call my fearless sister, lost all semblance of rationality. The Princess had forcefully ripped away her mental barriers-”
Rarity paused to look over at Applejack happily snoozing, oblivious to the conversation before chuckling.
“Though sometimes knowing you’re outclassed, can lead to quite the evolution, Twilight. You see…”

***

The Tyrant stared down at the motley group of five fillies. She had grown silent as Applejack ranted about how ‘Nopony coulda known that. She weren’t even registered’ and the like. The look on her face told of her amusement at the antics, and she seemed content letting Applejack vent. Celestia sat there, still as a statue. She didn’t blink, she didn’t move. She just watched and listened to the cries of outrage.
When the Earthpony had tired herself out and sat in frustrated silence from the temper tantrum, Celestia folded her wings and simply asked.
“Are you done?”
She didn’t seem angry or even bothered by the outcry, she just kept smiling that expressionless smile. Rarity sat quietly with Pinkie Pie, as well as little Rainbow, both of which had burrowed their heads in her lap in fear. She watched as the scene played out and it seemed to Rarity almost as if-
She knew this would happen. Rarity’s mind had barely thought this when a soft voice ripped her from her thoughts.
“I did child.”
The words caused Rarity to shiver with the seriousness they were spoken. Celestia had turned her attention towards Rarity and had been staring intensely at her.
“Then again, I always do. Which brings me to you five. Yes, I know you. Not just your names children but you, yourselves, I know you. Your likes, dislikes. Your fears, your hopes. I’ve seen your first hoofsteps, heard your first breaths and every second of your existences.”
With those words Celestia flared her wings wide, and her horn glowed with her signature golden magic, Rarity was a bit startled as the ground below them changed to display an overhead view of her parents. They seemed younger and her mother was cradling a mass of formless shimmering blue magic resting in a bassinet. Both seemed overjoyed at the sight, while Celestia herself was off to the side, also watching the pair. She spoke to them in an oddly friendly way.

***

“Such a wonderfully formed soul, you should be quite proud. Have you a body for it?”
The two looked nervously at each other before Rarity’s dad spoke.
“Your Majesty we don’t have any bits for a used body at this time…”
No body meant the little soul would have stunted growth once it achieved the possession of its body. Celestia blinked, before sighing after a moment of thoughtful silence.
“A late possession? No, that will not do at all for my plans. Do hold on a moment.”
Amidst the puzzling silence of the two, the Tyrant’s horn glowed and a rift opened, revealing a horrible creature, like no other ever seen in the realm. 
It possessed the head of a goat, with one horn twisted. The eyes were a glowing yellow, and the body was serpentine, though not entirely. The scales of a draconic sea serpent comprised its tail while its midriff was covered in the feathers of a Griffon’s plumage. It had two arms; the right arm was a Manicore’s paw while the left was a Cockitrice’s talon. The left leg of the creature was that of a Kirin but the right was rather insectoid of an unknown type. The mane of a Donkey graced the neck of the creature’s form. It grinned with a mouth of fangs and normal molars combined. It spoke playfully but with subtle malicious undertones.
“Oh, well if it isn’t little Celly, come to build another daughter...”
The creature's eyes twinkled knowingly before finishing its statement.
“Even knowing what it may cost you?”
The eyes of the Tyrant twitched in annoyance at the long-forgotten nickname before aggressively telling the creature.
“Discord, always a pleasure. I have no time for your childish games, I need a body; female, white-furred, foal build, future cutie mark that of three diamonds in a cluster. I want the genetic color of the mane and tail to be amethyst. The eyes shall have sapphire blue irises. That should do it, did you get all that?”
Discord had bent down and seemed to be fiddling with something as he remarked offhandedly.
“No time for games, little Celly? But what is life and death if not the greatest game of all? And it would seem you’ve built quite the formidable deck...”
Celestia stamped her hoof in irritation.
“That is enough! Did you get it or not?”
“Yes, yes. Your package should be delivered momentarily.”
At that moment a copy of Discord appeared before her holding what appeared to be a cardboard box in its mismatched forelimbs. On its body was the signature mail pony attire.
“Order 9087241356…”
Rarity’s parents' jaws dropped as the number went on for six minutes while Celestia stood still, glaring at the messenger.
“...74972356. Are you Tyrant Celestia?”
Rolling her eyes and unamused, Celestia still played along.
“Yes, that is me.”
“Alright, gonna need you to sign here. Here. Here….”
Another ten minutes of signatures later, the messenger pulled out a parchment and read it out loud to all present.
“Thank you for purchasing from Chaos inc. We sincerely hope you are satisfied with your order. No Returns or Exchanges will be accepted if you aren’t. The following model has been created as of your request:
(1) Foal of White Fur, Unicorn, Female, Eyes of Sapphire (custom created), Mane and Tail of Amethyst. Cutiemark encoded to appear once mare status has been achieved: a cluster of (3) diamonds (cut in a plumbbob cut).”
Pausing, the messenger looked up at the clearly aggravated face of the Tyrant.
“Does this match the order given?”
Through gritted teeth, Celestia acknowledged the being.
“Yes, that is my order.”
The messenger Discord’s jovial demeanor didn’t change at all.
“Very good. Now shall it be registered to you?”
“No, this is a gift for them.”
Celestia pointed her hoof at the two flabbergasted parents of Rarity.
Nodding, the messenger’s voice changed considerably; becoming softer and empathetic momentarily.
“A bit generous, wouldn’t you say?”
Celestia froze but only for a moment as she answered the odd question with an even stranger answer.
“Yes, it is. Consider this my generosity to my world.”
The messenger turned towards the rift and watched as the Discord within nodded, snapping his talon-like fingers. Celestia’s eyes flashed and she staggered for a moment before breathing heavily and standing firm once more, though clearly in pain. The box glowed for a moment as the messenger held up another clipboard.
“I need you to sign for the new modifications, Miss Tyrant.”
Seventeen minutes of signatures later the messenger bowed his head.
“Thank you for your business and-”
The messenger vanished mid-sentence as Discord within the rift leaned through it and grabbed a newly materialized zipper, zipping it up and laughingly finishing the sentence as he did so.
“I do so look forward to any future dealings, little Celly!”
As the echoing laughter died down, Celestia grimaced as her right foreleg buckled slightly, and she fell forward into the mud.
“Your majesty, are you all right?”
The two future parents were about to rush forward to help her back up when Celestia let out a roar.
“Stay there!”
Gritting her teeth while the two watched in awe, Celestia’s body erupted in flame and she shakily lifted her right forehoof before slamming it down into the mud, strenuously forcing herself to rise off the ground. The tears in her eyes spoke volumes as she struggled to her hooves; ablaze with the fury of the Daybreaker.
“I...Will...Not perish so easily, Discord!”
 Finally, after a few tense moments, she stood there on all four hooves, flames dying down. Her breathing, horribly labored, she turned her head and glared at the confused couple.
Her eyes softened and she whispered to them through clenched teeth.
“Does...she...have...a...name?”
Completely at a loss, the mare stammered an answer.
“R-Rarity. Your majesty, her name is Rarity.”
“Such a lovely name for such a beautiful soul.”
Smiling lovingly as her breathing slowed and returned to normal, Celestia spoke to the two, gesturing to the box with a wing.
“And I think she has waited long enough to have her body. It’s time for her to take possession. Go on, let your daughter experience all this realm has to offer.”

***

As Rarity watched the scene from above, her parents approached the box and the scene faded once more, leaving her staring in disbelief at the cold stone floor. Around her, the shouts and murmurs of confusion and surprise told her that she wasn’t the only one that had seen the events of their own creation. Looking at her friends, Rarity was greeted with a multitude of reactions.
Pinkie was grabbing her own mane, muttering wildly to herself. Rainbow Dash was just shellshocked and had curled into a ball, shivering. Fluttershy was looking at Celestia in absolute awe and newfound respect. Meanwhile, Applejack had taken off her hat and was staring at it, tears falling from her eyes.
The Princess stared down at them, addressing them directly.
“Your souls were created through the connection of your parents, but as you have seen, those bodies were created, at great cost, by me. To make your bodies, shreds of my very soul and obscene amounts of magic were ripped from my being and fused within your own.”
She pointed her right forehoof at each of them in turn as she exclaimed.
“Laughter...”
Pinkie Pie stopped her anxious muttering to look up as the Tyrant’s hoof pointed at her.
“Kindness...”
Fluttershy’s eyes shone with admiration as Celestia gestured towards her.
“Honesty...”
Applejack wiped away her tears, placing her treasured stetson back upon her head, swiftly covering the horrible wounds upon her face.
“Generosity...”
Rarity blinked as she sat there, suddenly feeling very warm almost as if she were being given a hug, as Celestia’s hoof pointed towards her.
“And last but certainly not least, Loyalty.”
Rainbow Dash stopped rocking back and forth and shivering. She quickly stood up on her hooves and a change seemed to come over her, her burned wings laying tucked against her body.
“Within each of you resides a unique trait that only you, within the realm, now possess. Ripped from my flesh and given unto you. Though I’m sure you’ve noticed, growing up, how you always seemed to be the odd one out in almost every situation. These traits, though you may fight them, are a part of you and should be embraced. Which brings us to little Rainbow’s foolish answer earlier.”
Rarity watched as Celestia looked pointedly at Applejack, still speaking.
“It’s very easy to dismiss such action as immature, however, the motivation can be just as important as the action itself. Listen to me, little Apple. When it comes to maturity you are indeed the undisputed grown-up amongst your friends, the sacrifices you’ve made to give your sister the parents she never got to know, cannot be disputed.”
Applejack looked up in surprise at the warm statement.
“However, before me, even the most experienced mare or stallion would be little more than a foal opening their eyes for the first time. I have lived many generations, far too many to count and I have seen far more than you could ever comprehend. Keep in mind, that it is easier to see the flesh than to see the soul. I want you to gaze into my eyes, and see past my glare. Look beyond the veil to uncover the real truth within.”
As the five sat there, Rarity watched Applejack lock eyes with the Tyrant and after a moment, the earthpony’s jaw dropped and tears began to flow from her eyes. Celestia smiled softly.
“Tell me, little one, do you still think I’m unreasonable in my decisions?”
Silently, Applejack shook her head. It was then Celestia revealed the extent of what Applejack had seen.
“Your little friend here has just viewed my soul and my resolve to sacrifice everything if it means protecting my followers, not only from the perils of the realm but from myself as well. And rest assured, I will stop at nothing to accomplish this. Even if it means destroying myself in the process. Am I wrong, little Apple?”
“N-no yer majesty.”
The answer was barely more than a whisper as the filly stood there; her eyes completely hooded over in absolute desolation. Rarity could see from the haunted look on Applejack’s face, that whatever it was Applejack had seen in Celestia’s eyes, was so horrific that all rebellious desire had been drained from her being. And then Rarity heard something she had never heard Applejack say before.
“Ahm, s-sorry. Ah didn’t know-”
Giving an almost amused snort that took Rarity by surprise, Celestia nuzzled Applejack while whispering to her.
“None ever do. Don’t worry about it. Perhaps now you realize though, appearances are only skin deep.”
Lifting her head, the Tyrant addressed her audience.
“I do not nor have I ever cared whether or not I am liked by my subjects, my sacrifices aren’t for furthering my fame or making others happy. They are to protect my world. And as long as my subjects can exist in peace, I will and have, gladly taken their hatred of my rule.”
Raising her head to stare at the ceiling intently for a moment, Celestia sighed, before continuing her monologue.
“The safety of this realm is my one and only priority...”
Lowering her head to glare at the five fillies before her, Celestia’s next words were felt in each’s very soul.
“No matter what sacrifice is demanded of me, or of those I command. Including you. And yes, Mrs. Dash over there was rather humorous in her reply, isn’t that right, Pinkie Pie?”
Rainbow Dash froze and stammered at the Tyrant.
“Y-you knew?”
Celestia snickered.
“That you only gave such a foolish answer to comfort and make your friend cheerful again in my presence?”
Rainbow Dash’s jaw nearly hit the floor. Celestia’s eye glinted.
“Don’t be so surprised. As I said, there is very little about you, Element of Loyalty, that I don’t know. Now on to why you are here. A nightmare is a worst-case scenario, where no matter how strong or determined an individual may be, they simply cannot change the outcome.”
Rarity watched in silence as Celestia paused her words to stare intently at Applejack, as though expecting something from her. It was a tense moment as Applejack fiddled with her hat, before taking a deep breath and asking the Tyrant a blasphemous question.
“Beg yore pardon, yer Majesty but are you saying there are beings stronger than you out there?”

***

“Oh wow, did she really say that...Aunt...Rarity?”
Twilight sat at the dining table in the grand hall of the castle, normally reserved for the staff and ‘teachers’. Across from Twilight sat Rarity who seemed to be staring intently at a clock on the wall, as though waiting for something. Twilight looked at the clock and noticed it showed 11:29 PM. 
As the second hand ticked and the minute hand showed 11:30 PM, Rarity’s eyes darted to the nearby door as it burst open wide, to reveal Rainbow Dash and her squad, dragging the lifeless carcasses of their foes behind them. Laughing and joking, the squad seemed in rather high spirits, as the bodies were thrown up and lit ablaze by Trixie, who summoned a massive fireball. 
Twilight watched in morbid fascination as the weapons the four mares held were used to skin, tenderize and roast the flesh. We can smell you little Nightmare. Come to us, let us rip you.  Twilight heard the voices in her head once again, and as she rose, Rarity quickly slammed her hoof into the back of Twilight’s head, immediately bringing her to her senses.
Rarity hugged her and whispered gently.
“Don’t go near them.”
Twilight blinked and shook her head as though waking up from a dream. Dazedly she found herself staring into the serious glare of the alabaster unicorn. Shakily, she replied.
“R-right, so Aunt Rarity, did Applejack really say that?”
Pausing, Rarity glanced at the clock again. 11:32 PM. Almost time. She nodded at Twilight.
“Oh yes, she most certainly did.”
“Mom probably didn’t appreciate that much.”
Rarity seemed to consider this and her expression softened.
“As afraid of her as we were, her response was far more terrifying.”
Twilight nodded.
“Probably threatened you or something?”
Rarity shook her head.
“No.”
“Well then, what did she say?”
Looking Twilight dead in the eyes, Rarity’s voice lost all its warmth, her sparkling eyes dulled slightly and hooded over. She leaned close and whispered, tonelessly.
“She told us even she couldn’t begin to fathom the power...”
“I command.”
Twilight’s eyes widened in surprise. The voice had not come from Rarity but was a rather jovial almost giddy tone. Focusing on Rarity she saw that the unicorn had been frozen in place, in mid-sentence. It wasn’t just her however, Twilight could no longer hear Dash’s group laughing and play-fighting; turning towards them, she saw Cozy Glow had leaped up into the air swinging her massive ax, and was frozen in mid-swing. Below her, Rainbow Dash had been brandishing her own sword to block the blow; both were flushed in the cheeks from too much liquor and both were frozen in time. Even the others watching in excitement and cheering were frozen in place.
Hearing a sound behind her, Twilight twirled around to find herself staring into two bright yellow eyes with red irises. Startled, she whimpered.
“Who are you?”
The strange being laughed.
“Oh lose the tears, it’s time for fears. Discord, Lord of Chaos; the one and only, though perhaps not the only one, is here”
Twilight blinked. That name…It can’t be...Didn’t mom make him up?
“What do you want? What did you do to them?”
Chuckling with mirth, Discord held out his taloned hand, preparing to snap his claws.
“I’ve come to tell you a fairytale, little pony; though the ending to it, depends entirely on you.”
*Snap*