//------------------------------// // The End of Chaos Ch. 1 The Journey Ahead // Story: The Shadows Saga // by Tagshadow //------------------------------// (I’m so terribly sorry that this is so late. Life sort of wanted to take a dump on mine and I’ve been busy with several family emergencies and a terrible fight with an illness that had taken up all my time leaving none for writing. Neverthless I’ve tried my best and finished this quickly. –Tag) Darkness, utter darkness. He tried to stand up around but the tight, rusty chains restricted his movement. He squinted and found that he could see the faint outline of a barred window and the almost nonexistent moonlight squeezing through the cracks. He looked around slowly; he couldn’t feel the presence of anypony in the room. He let out a depressed sigh; and stiffened when he heard a dark malicious laugh from behind him. “Good to see you’ve finally rejoined the land of the living.” “What do you want?” His voice sounded hoarse with misuse. “Ohhhh just checking in, I need you and your friends to be alive if my plan’s going to work.” “What did you do to them?” His voice sharpened, some of the defiance had returned to his dull eyes. “Oh about the same thing I did to you, minus the extreme exercise. I should have thought of that myself.” “Just you wait,” “That’s exactly what I’m doing. When your foolish brother gets here then there will be nothing in my way.” The laughing began again and drifted away as his visitor left. ---- Tag felt the boat shudder as it grounded in the sand. He looked over the railing at the land in front of him; there was a forest that hadn’t been there when they left. The moon that had been sitting in the sky suddenly fell only to be replaced by the glaring light of the sun. He heard deep panting behind him and turned around, Fiandu stood a little ways off. His mouth began to move and Tag heard his voice. We ready to go. “Is anypony on the beach?” Tag asked No, nothing there. Fiandu replied. Tag trotted towards Fiandu and motioned for him to follow. “I don’t know what McCutchen’s arrangement with the princess was but I hope we don’t end up walking back to Canterlot.” Tag and Fiandu walked over to where McCutchen was talking to Pilot. “Princess Celestia said that they would keep an eye on the horizon for us!” Pilot argued. “But the landscape’s been changed, we have no idea were we’ve landed, and I don’t think we are were we should have landed anyway.” McCutchen said. “For all we know we could be up at Clopton!” “So you’re saying we should just walk around and hope we find something?” Pilot demanded. “I’m saying that we should send a search party of pegasi to take a look for any landmarks to help us find out where we are.” “The land’s been changed too, landmarks won’t help.” Tag interjected. McCutchen sighed in frustration. “Well what do you want to do?” He asked angrily. “I say we leave a small amount of the crew behind to watch after the ship while the rest of us try to find Canterlot.” Pilot said. McCutchen looked around as ponies went about pushing the long wooden plank down to the tide. “I’ll call a meeting and we’ll see what the crew wants. Everypony get over here!” he called out, the crew gathered quickly to attention right in front of the three ponies and creature. Lop ad Brook trotted over and stood next to Tag. “As you all know we have arrived at the mainland, and nopony has come for us. We need to come to a decision, Pilot suggests that we leave some behind and go looking for the capital. I say that we wait for members of the royal guard to come for us. What do you all say?” There was a moment as the crewponies muttered to each other and soon a unicorn stepped to the front of the crowd. “We vote for Pilot’s plan.” He declared. McCutchen looked around at the crew. “Alright then, if that’s what you want. We need a group to stay with the ship and one to come with us, those who want to go stand in front of the boarding plank those who want to stay… stay.” A large chunk of the crew trotted over to the plank instantly, only about 15 stayed. Among those who wanted to leave stood Lop and Brook, Tag trotted over to them followed by Fiandu. “Good. Everypony who’s leaving get your stuff together, we’re leaving in 10 minutes!” A nervous cheer came from the crew. ---- Tag stepped onto the sandy beach as the moon fell back to the ground; the sun came up less than a second later. “That really gets annoying after awhile.” Tag muttered. McCutchen nodded his head. “But we’re going to go and fix that. Pilot, were are we going?” Pilot gave the captain a surprised look. “Me? How would I know?” He asked. “Because you’re the one with a compass on his flank.” McCutchen answered. “Right, give me a second.” Pilot sighed; he jumped up into the air and flew as high as he could, stopping to take a look around in the air. He landed on the ground and folded his wings behind his back. “I can see what looks like Mt. Neverest out to the north.” He reported. McCutchen started up the beach; he turned around so that he could face the gathered group of ponies. “All right everypony!” he called out getting their attention, they all turned to face him. “We have a direction now. We’re heading north to where we’ll hopefully find Canterlot. When we get there we’re going to assist the Royal Guard in any way until this Discord problem has been dealt with. Make sure you have everything you need because we’re leaving right now.” He started up the beach without a moment’s hesitation and the crew followed, keeping up a brisk pace. On the other side of the beach was a grassy plain that stretched into the distance. Tag fell into step besde Brook. “I was kind of curious about that, shouldn’t the princesses be able to take care of it?” She asked. Tag thought for a moment. “Personally I don’t know that much about their power. Maybe Discord is overpowering them with his magic.” He suggested. Brook nodded. “But maybe something bad happened. What if they were kidnapped?!” She exclaimed. Tag shook his head and looked away. “I don’t know.” He murmured. They trotted on in silence. ---- Tor felt the door to his room open and shifted making his chains rattle loudly, a reminder of his imprisonment. He turned around, everything had a blueish tint due to the bubble that he was stuck in; they had given it to him so that he could keep Torais on his side, and keep his life. He turned around slowly and looked through the bars of his cell. Tac stood there flanked on both sides by shadows. “Good to see that you’re awake. My lord Discord would see you now.” One of the shadows opened the cell door and the other unhooked the chain from the wall. It used the chain to drag Tor through the cell door and out of the room; unfortunately that caused Tor’s collar to choke him. Tac walked ahead while the shadows followed. “What are you going to do?” Tor demanded. Tac threw him a wolfish grin before responding. “Do you remember what I said to you in Ponyville?” He asked darkly. Tor groaned and went limp. ---- Tac opened the door with his magic and stood back as the shadows dragged Tor into the large room, looking around Tor could see large that led to a ceiling concealed in darkness. There was a red carpet that led forward and on both sides’ torches hung from pillars; the effect was disturbing. At the far end of the room, sitting on a high back chair lined with red velvet sat Discord, he sat nearly hunched over, his chin sitting on his crossed claws as he watched Tor being dragged toward him with a mischievous smile on his face. The shadows dropped the chain in front of the throne and disappeared, Tac stepped beside Tor and bowed deeply to Discord. “I have brought him, my lord.” He announced; Discord laughed as he stood up, he strolled casually over to the bubble until he was inches away form Tor. “I can see that.” He said and tapped on the bubble Tor shied away and sat on the other side of the bubble. “Leave me alone.” Tor muttered. Discord stepped back and snapped his fingers. Tor saw a flash of light and closed his eyes, when he opened them again he saw that he was to the side of the room. Discord turned back to Tac and whispered something, Tac nodded and trotted out of the room. Discord turned back to Tor with an evil grin on his face. “You’re in for a real treat, a personal show even. All for your viewing pleasure.” The door opened and Tac stepped into the room followed by shadows. Tor heard the rattling of chains and felt dread pour into his mind. Oh Celestia what is he going to do? Tor despaired. He’s going to attack the mind, just like he did to Tag. Silver answered. Tor heard a familiar voice. “What in tarnation is goin on here?” Applejack demanded as Tor saw her come into view, she was following the shadows with another chain collar, and one shadow held the end of the chain and the other trotted behind her. Discord stood up again and stepped up to Applejack. “Can I offer you something to drink, my dear Applejack?” He asked casually. Applejack looked at him like he was crazy. “I guess not.” He snapped his fingers and a glass appeared in front of him filled with chocolate milk. “What do ya want Discord?” Applejack demanded. Tor threw his hooves against the bubble. “Don’t listen to him Applejack!” He shouted. Applejack seemed not to hear. She continued to watch him, waiting for an answer. Discord gulped down his chocolate milk and put the glass down carefully. “I suppose I should say that I’m not inviting you to a tea party.” He explained. He stood right in front of Applejack who just looked up at him defiantly. “Ah had figured as much.” She deadpanned. “But, we are going to have a little something that I like to call fun.” Discord lips curled into a smile that sent shivers down Tor’s spine. “Ah don’t like your kind of fun.” Applejack muttered trying to back away from Discord but the collar around her neck prevented her from getting far. Discord stepped back and shrugged his shoulders. “Well fun is fun, in the end it all depends on whose having it.” He started floating in the air twisting and contorting his body so that it swirled around in a disk like manner. Tor could see strangely coloured swirls coming in from the sides of Applejack’s eyes. Tor looked back to Discord and found that he couldn’t look away; his vision began to get smaller and farther away until all he could see was nothingness. ---- Tor opened his eyes; he was in a bed. He felt himself get up and look around; he then realized that he wasn’t in control of his body at all. He got out of bed and in the corner of his eyes saw that his hoof was orange. Silver? He called out mentally. Nopony answered. “What a night that was!” He heard Applejack’s voice. Dear Celestia I must be watching from Applejack’s view! Tor realized. Applejack trotted out of her room and down the stairs, Tor recognized the Apple Family farmhouse from his end of day meetings. He could see Big Macintosh sitting at the table eating a few apples for breakfast. “Morning Big Macintosh.” Applejack said to him as she got several apples from the fridge, Tor could see that the fridge was predominantly apple-filled. “Are ya ready for cider season?” Applejack asked as she sat down beside her brother. “Yup.” Big Macintosh said. He was a stallion of a few words Tor remembered. “Gotta make sure we have enough for everypony this time.” Applejack muttered, almost to herself. Big Macintosh had finished his apples and stood up. “I’m going to get the press set up.” He said and trotted out of the room, Applejack quickly finished her apples and followed him out into the still dark farm. ---- Big Macintosh had gotten the cider press parts out and Applejack came over just in time to help him assemble them. The press had been in the Apple Family for years, the Apple family had brought it with them when they had originally made the journey to settle Ponyville; Granny Smith was always muttering about getting a new one but Applejack couldn’t bear to let the machine go. Big Macintosh stepped onto the treadmill and nodded to Applejack. Applejack pulled out the previously sorted apples out and started to steadily feed them down the shoot. Fresh apple cider poured out the other side into a barrel. The team of two stopped occasionally while Applejack brought over a new barrel. A few hours later they had 30 barrels of Apple Family Cider, ready to sell. Applejack stood next to her brother. “Are ya ready for this?” She asked idly. “Yup.” He said simply. Applejack nodded. “Well let’s get out the stand then.” ---- The sun had come up; Applebloom and Granny Smith had gotten out of bed and the entirety of the Apple Family now stood beside the stand with a mountain of tankards ready for business. Several ponies had been waiting at the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres; their cider was just that good. Applejack stood at the front of the line and waved a hoof to get everypony’s attention. “Howdy everypony! We’re just about ready to get this opened up, so if you would kindly form a line right here in front of me I can let y’all in.” Everypony ran to get into a line, Applejack waited patiently until everypony had sorted themselves out. “C’mon y’all, you know how it goes.” She stepped aside and the line of ponies started to file towards to stand. Applejack galloped over and stood beside the extra barrels for when the first one ran out, Applebloom began to pour into the first tankard. ---- Business was good, they were running low on cider as usual; there just weren’t enough hours in the morning to press enough cider. Applejack tossed another barrel over to the stand. “Last barrel everypony!” Applejack called out. She saw Pinkie Pie come up to the counter; she threw down several bits. “Six cups please!” She exclaimed. Applebloom shrugged and started pouring. Pinkie trotted away holding five tankards, balancing the sixth on her nose. Rainbow Dash stood at the counter and put down a few bits. Applebloom pulled down lever, only a few drops plopped into the cup. Rainbow Dash’s face liquefied and fell onto the counter, she seemed devastated to say the least. “Jeez Ah’m sorry Rainbow…” Applebloom trailed off with a gloomy look on her face. Rainbow Dash turned around and hung her head. “It’s alright kiddo. There’s always next time.” She mumbled and extended her wings. Applejack heard a strange sound off in the distance that caused everypony to turn around and look down the orchard road; in the distance Applejack could make out a strange contraption coming toward everypony. “What in the hay is that?” Applejack asked as she trotted over to stand beside Applejack, Big Macintosh had come from the orchard where he had been working to see what the noise was about; everypony waited as a giant… thing pulled to stop in the middle of the orchard road. Two yellow stallions jumped off, they were wearing identical hats and striped vests; one had a moustache while the other was clean shaven. “Hello!” Said the one without a moustache. “My name is Flam. My brother. Flim, and I have come offering a competition. Your cider versus ours. Can you handle the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000?” He asked. Applejack hesitated trying to answer the question. Flim gave her a charismatic smile. “So whadaya say my dear friend Applejack? A contest for ownership of Sweet Apple Acres and cider selling privileges?” Applejack looked up at Flam defiantly. “We’ll take you on, and we’ll win I guarantee you that!” She said. “Yeah!” Applebloom exclaimed jumping up from her spot behind the stand. Flim and Flam nodded to each other. “Good, one hour from now we’ll see who has the best service around.” Flam said. ---- Applejack stood nervously with her family looking at the Flim Flam brothers and their contraption. “Ah really regret making that bet.” Applejack mumbled. “But sis… we’re gonna win, aren’t we?” Applebloom asked looking up at her sister. Applejack put on a brave face. “Of course we’re gonna win, it just might be close. That’s all.” She reassured her. Spike was standing beside Twilight with a clipboard and a quill ready to start judging. “All right everypony we’re almost ready to start the contest!” He announced. He turned to Applejack. “Is the home team ready?” Applejack nodded. Spike turned to the Flim Flam brothers. “Is the opposing team ready?” “Always has been, always will be.” Flam said confidently. Spike pointed towards Dr. Hooves who was in charge of time keeping for the challenge. Dr. Hooves flipped the large hourglass and the race was on. Applejack ran over to the trees with Applebloom while Granny Smith and Big Macintosh went for the cider squeezer. Flam and Flam stood on their contraption and used their magic to move the hose over the trees to suck up apples. Applejack started to buck apple trees as fast as she could while Applebloom run around catching them in baskets balanced on her head. Applebloom ran the full baskets over to Granny Smith who sorted them with her well-trained eyes and threw them into the squeezer being powered by Big Macintosh’s strong legs. The four of them worked like a machine. 30 minutes passed and the Flim and Flam brother showed no signs of letting up; but the Apple Family was starting to wear down. Applejack’s legs were sore from the repeated bucking. Twilight was starting to look worried; she counted up the barrels for both sides. “Oh no! At the rate their going Applejack won’t have enough barrels to win!” She exclaimed, she looked quickly at the Apple Family and then to Flim and Flam. “What about us? Can unhonorary members participate?” She called out. Flim looked at Flam then he turned back to Twilight, he opened his mouth to say something but then his eyes flashed grey. “I’m sorry, the rules clearly stated Apple Family only.” Tor could hear another voice under Flim’s but nopony else seemed to notice. Twilight looked back to Applejack with a worried on her face. “Don’t worry Twi!” Applejack called out. “We’ve got this!” Time had run out and now both teams stood together waiting for the count to come; it was plain that the Apple Family had lost. Spike gulped as he finished and turned around. “Flim and Flam win… with 50 barrels to 27.” He half mumbled. Applejack looked back to he rest of her distraught family. “Ah’m sorry.” She said sadly and trotted back to the farmhouse. She could hear Flim and Flam calling out cider and a cheer from the crowd of ponies. Applejack closed Applebloom’s suitcase, pushing hard to make sure all of the little filly’s possessions would fit. She turned to her little sister and sighed. “Why don’t you head on down to the front with Big Mac. I’ve got to get my stuff together.” Applebloom nodded slowly and picked up her suitcase in her mouth. Applejack watched her sister trot out of the room and felt a pang of sadness. Applejack trotted to her own room and threw her belongings into the trunk and slammed it, a single tear coursed its way down her cheek landing on the neatly folded covers of her bed. “Ah’m sorry ma.” She whispered. She heard a knock at her door and looked up; Granny Smith teetered uncertainly in the doorway. “Granny! What are you doin in here? We’ll have to get you downstairs again!” Applejack exclaimed. Granny Smith tried to raise up a hoof but only managed to lift it off the ground. “Now wait just a minute dearie.” She started. “I hope you realize that I’m well past the age that most mares and stallions have checked into a retirement home… and I have come to a hard decision.” Applejack inhaled sharply. “You mean you’re not comin with us?” She asked. “I just can’t keep up with you and your brother anymore, not to mention little Applebloom. I think it’s time that I gave these weary bones a long, well-needed rest.” Applejack stood in silence across the bed. She knew Granny Smith was right. It just felt like… failure. ---- Tor gasped, sucking in air greedily in an attempt to breathe normally. Looking around he realized he was back in his bubble, no longer trapped in the body of a mare. Tor, are you all right? Silver demanded. Tor stood up shakily. Yeah… I’m fine. He thought. He could see Applejack huddled on the ground with her eyes shut tightly. Discord lay curled around her; he used his body to block out any sounds or distractions. Tor could hear him whispering into Applejack’s ear. “Do you feel it? Good. Failure, fear for your family. Fear that you can’t help them. What’s there to fear but the truth? You can’t save them; they don’t stand a chance. Every single one of them will die under your watch.” Applejack twitched and made small, terrified moaning noises. Tor shook his head vigorously and pounded on the bubble with his hooves. “Discord!” He shouted. Discord raised his head slowly and put his mouth back to Applejack’s ear. “Repeat.” He got up and walked over to the bubble until he stood right in front of Tor. “You remember the entire ordeal, yes?” He asked. Tor pounded on the bubble even harder. “Leave her alone!” He shouted Discord chuckled. “You’re a little late. But just for me, I want you to focus on the feelings you felt inside poor little Applejack’s head. What did you feel?” He wondered. “I won’t play your little mind games!” Tor said defiantly. “Failure. Failure can be a powerful foe as I’m sure you remember. It was barely a day ago that you failed to citizens of Ponyville. At least I think it was a day…” He stroked his beard idly while looking up at the ceiling. “It’s so hard to tell what with the erratic changes I’ve made. But I digress. Failure, it pours into your mind until it’s all you can think about. Failure of those you love, failure of those who trusted you. It’s can be quite overwhelming.” Discord turned away and stepped over to Applejack, tiptoeing so as to not wake her up. Tor could see a grayish tint taking hold of Applejack’s coat. Discord snapped his fingers and she disappeared. He laughed loudly and Tor shrank to the ground looking everywhere. I failed them, didn’t I? He asked. They trusted me and I let them down. Not this again. Tor, there was nothing you could do. Yeah sometimes things don’t go as well as they had been planned and sometimes they do. You have to count your blessings and move on. Silver said. Tor huddled his legs in close. They didn’t stand a chance; I told them it would be fine. We can’t afford to dwell on this. The princesses might need our help and we need to break out of here! Tor gulped and stood up. You’re right... they need me… I need to be strong. He noticed that Discord had been watching from his throne with a sly smile on his face. “Feeling better?” He asked in a condescending voice. “Not when you’re destroying my friends’ minds!” Tor retorted. He heard the wooden door at the end of the hall open and close and the sound of another chain rustling. He peered through the bubble and saw two shadows struggle as they dragged Rainbow Dash bucking and flapping her wings into the room. Discord frowned at her vain attempt to get away and waved his hand, Rainbow Dash’s eyes jumped open and she seemed to melt to the ground making feeble attempts to move at the same time. “What do you want Discord?” She demanded from the floor. Discord smiled while looking down at her. “You’re not exactly in a position to be making demands now are you?” He asked. Rainbow Dash said nothing but bared her teeth. Discord ran a thin claw down the side of her face and poked her nose. “There’s a lot behind that confidence of yours, I can feel it. Perhaps I should take a little look inside the mind of the loyal Rainbow Dash.” He brought his face close to hers until they were centimetres apart. Tor couldn’t see what was on Discord’s face but Rainbow Dash seemed to calm down immensely. Discord then patted her on the head and the top half of her head opened like a door. Tor looked away. Dear Celestia I hope this won’t kill her. He thought. I doubt Discord will want to kill her. He wants his revenge. Silver reminded him. Discord was muttering to himself while peering into Rainbow Dash’s dome. “No… no… all this gaudy friendship, barf! Hey, what a second. What’s this now?” Discord chuckled loudly and stood up; he slammed Rainbow Dash’s head closed waited a moment for her to regain her senses. “What did you do?” She demanded; she lay on the ground apparently unable to move. “Oh, just a little digging.” Discord said wistfully. “But enough about me, let’s continue with you.” He looked down at Rainbow Dash whose eyes seemed to swirl around. Tor could feel himself fading again and collapsed. --- He was in the body of a mare again. Tor sighed and watched the world around him unfold. Rainbow Dash, only a filly, jumped into the room in excitement. “I did it! I did it!” She yelled triumphantly. An older stallion with a black coat sat in a cloud chair in the corner of the room. He stood up from where he had been reading. “Did what?” He asked putting a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder to calm her down. “I flew!” Rainbow Dash cried and brushed the hoof away; she jumped into the ar and zoomed around on tiny little wings. A mare walked in a kissed the stallion on the cheek. “Can you believe it?” She asked. “Only two years old and already she can fly!” The stallion smiled broadly and hugged Rainbow Dash. “Look at that! My little filly’s growing up!” The older pair must have been her parents. Rainbow Dash looked around, the smile still on her face. “Where’s Storm? I wanna show him!” She asked. “Storm’s still on weather patrol.” Her father explained. “But he should be back fairly soon…” The sound of a door shutting could be heard and a deep voice calling out: “I’m back!” A powerful looking stallion trotted into the room, his coat was black and his mane was rainbow-coloured like Rainbow Dash’s. Rainbow Dash jumped on top of him, knocking him over. “Brother! I did it! I flew!” She exclaimed dancing around on her brother’s chest. The stallion, Storm pushed her off gently and got to his hooves. “Really?” He asked skeptically. Rainbow Dash nodded enthusiastically. She jumped up and zoomed around the room. Her mother looked back at her father. “I’ll sign her up for flight training tomorrow.” She said and turned back to watch Rainbow Dash play with her brother. ---- Rainbow Dash, a few years older landed hard on the ground. Storm landed beside her and helped her to her hooves. “Are you alright?” He asked concernedly. Rainbow Dash shook her head to clear the stars floating around it and nodded her head. “I’m fine, just a little sore.” She mumbled. Storm patted her on the back with a hoof. “Keep your chin up, you’ve been getting better. That’s something to be proud of.” He said encouragingly. “There’s only a few more weeks until you go to flight camp. I can’t come with you so we have to get as many training sessions in as we can before then.” “I know.” Rainbow Dash pouted, her frown disappeared quickly and was replaced by a smile. “Let’s go again!” Storm sat down. “Hold on a sec.” He said. Rainbow Dash looked at him. “What?” She asked. Storm looked directly into her eyes. “You need to know right now, that you are a special filly.” He started. “Don’t let anypony tell you otherwise.” Rainbow Dash looked at him wide-eyed. “Remember that and let it help you chase your dreams.” He looked up at the sky. “I just know that… you can achieve the greatest of things when you put your mind to it.” ---- She was alone; she couldn’t sleep if she tried. The dark sky and Luna’s moon was a testament to the lateness of the hours. She had pulled off a Sonic Rainboom. She had achieved the greatness her brother said she could. She could hear the distant talking of ponies, probably talking about her amazing feat. Looking around she could make out the shadows of several ponies; they were trotting towards her. “Isn’t it a little late for a little filly like yourself to be out by herself?” Asked a dark voice. Rainbow Dash stiffened and took a closer look at the shadows, she recognized the colt from the race, except larger, perhaps his brother? “What do you want?” Rainbow Dash demanded. The stallion grinned and several more appeared. “You raced my brother earlier today. Knocked him away. Broke his wing.” The stallion said the grin disappeared instantly. “Now, we’re going to break yours.” He lunged at Rainbow Dash and she flinched but didn’t feel anything. She looked and saw that there was another stallion struggling with the first, it was Storm! He punched and kicked at the first stallion all while screaming: “Run!!” And Rainbow Dash flew away. ---- It was an hour before she returned to the scene. She had hoped to Celestia that Storm was all right… “Brother?” She asked quietly as she landed in the street. “Brother?” She called a little louder. Still nopony answered. She noticed a still form out of the corner of her eye and trotted over to it cautiously. She saw a lock of matted rainbow hair, it was Storm; but he wasn’t moving. Rainbow Dash prodded him gently, he didn’t move. Shocked, she sat down. “Wake up brother…” She whispered and waited. ---- Tor felt that he was back in his own body and pushed himself to his hooves. He looked at Rainbow Dash on the other side room beside Discord, her once flashy mane had dulled and her eyes clenched sporadically. Discord whispered to her softly so that Tor couldn’t hear. Discord stood up and snapped his fingers; Rainbow Dash disappeared. Tor ground his teeth and shut his eyes. Why? He demanded. “Because I can.” Discord interjected. “And because I want revenge.” Tor neighed in frustration. “The feelings are getting to you, aren’t they?” Discord asked. “This one was fear. A burning liquid that drips down your spine until it flows throughout your entire body. Fear of the unknown and fear for those you love. Poor Rainbow Dash feared for her brother and in the end he lost. There’s not much that can be done about that.” Tor shook is head angrily trying to free himself from the fear that gripped him. Discord smiled. “You’re afraid for them aren’t you? How sweet.” “Stop this! What do you hope to gain from showing me these… nightmares?” Tor demanded. “An ally.” Discord half whispered. He stretched his arms and cracked his back. “But that’s enough for today, I’m wiped!” He rubbed his brow with a claw and disappeared. Two shadows come from the corners of the throne room; one grabbed the chain attached to Tor’s collar and began to pull him back to his cage.