//------------------------------// // Intermission VIII // Story: Story of a Stick // by Xinrick //------------------------------// "So...Sombra was just stupid depressed?" Rainbow asked. "Sadly." Celestia sighed out. "We tried to help him through it, but nothing worked. "I even asked to spar with him to relieve some sadness...that didn't work either…" Luna sighed out. "So he went on to mass murder and usurping the empire?!" Twilight yelled flabbergasted. "And the heck with those weird items?!" "I wanna say they're SCP's but I don't know…" Discord mused. "Probably." Pinkie nodded. "I feel kinda bad for Sombra now…" Fluttershy stated. "It...does shine a different light on him…" Rarity frowned. "Depression sucks…" Spike stated bitterly. "Regardless, it does not justify his crimes." Luna stated. "Still, perhaps this could bode well for us. A chance to reform Sombra back to how he was before." “Are you sure that can happen princess?” Twilight asked carefully. "Sombra, despite his race and origins, was not always the tyrant you know him as, Twilight." Celestia spoke. "There was a time he would do anything for friends, family, he was once the best guard in the Crystal Empire. His natural affinity for dark and black magics gave him a unique edge basic unicorn magic simply lacks." “Fascinating.” Twilight said in surprise. “I...never knew Sombra was that good of a pony before.” "No creature in this world is born evil young Twilight. The world and our actions shape us into what we become." Luna informed. "A prime example, once upon a time Discord could barely grass into candy, or water into grape juice. He believed himself a magical mistake for a long time." "Ah yes, my cringe edgy teen years." Discord spoke fondly. "I still have my Linkin Park albums too. Don't know what I was thinking with the reverse mohawk though." “Fair…” Twilight frowned. “Were the Stick Figures that friendly and kind?” Fluttershy inquired. “Oh yes, young Fluttershy, some of them were our best friends all those years ago.” Luna answered with a fond smile. "Many of Equestria's technological advancements came from them. Trains, steam and coal powered plants. Hydroelectric power plants. Modern boats. The list goes on." Celestia informed. "Tis a shame we never got to experience Space travel." Luna frowned. "Or get those blueprints for airplanes." “Wait, as in the average pony can go to space?” Twilight asked in shock. "Without the thousand year banishment." Luna smirked. "I still can't believe you can joke about it like that…" Celestia huffed. “Well, it’s better she joke about it than make another Tantabus.” Discord shrugged. “While the chaos of everyone learning how to have Lucid Dreams was great, her literally making a physical manifestation of her guilt to haunt other’s when it got bored wasn’t such a good idea.” "This coming from the one who listened to 'In The End' for twelve years straight on loop…" Luna commented. "Oh I am never going to live that down…" Discord grumbled. “So where’s he going next?” Applejack asked. “Cause so far Simon there seems to just be running or...well getting blown straight to very specific locations.” "For now, perhaps he should rest. Even Stick Figures have their limits." Celestia stated. “Considering he’s fought a Parasprite Queen, two of his kind, having his emotions drained to an extreme by Changelings, had most of his magic stolen by Sombra and then had to be put through a Nightmare Curse with Bog of all people…” Discord listed off as he held a list of the shit Simon went through and what he was going to go through which was...a lot longer than it probably should be. “I’d say he needs a nap yes.” "Well while we let him rest, shall we get to our duties. Day and Night courts have been cleared… until further notice, so how about we raise the moon, lower the sun and have some dinner given it is rather late." Luna motioned to the clock, reading ten till seven. "That is true." Celestia nodded. "I just hope things will start turning out for the better…" Celestia sighed out. "Are you saying things could get worse?" Twilight asked nervously. "Well the next place he's going to is Yakyakistan, which has it's own Stick Figure there." Discord shrugged. "Why there of all places?" Celestia groaned. "It's where the next rift will open my dear." Discord stared simply. "Strange how they aren't opening where they did before." Luna noted. "Ah, that little Luna is where you are wrong. They are opening where they did before. The planet has just changed positions since those days." Discord commented. "The Physical realms and their ethereal barriers don't always remain still and constant with one another. Imagine it like a ball within a ball. You put dots on the ball on the outside but inside the ball, Equis in this case, still moves and turns while the dots outside paint stays where they were." "That makes sense." Spike nodded. "Like some fancy dice that really want to make sure people aren't cheating." "So these are the same rifts, but different locations… Luna, we still have that map of prior rift locations?" Celestia asked. "Yes. And I think I know where you are going. Using the old map and marking the new locations, we can find out where each rift is and where it is going to open." Luna finished. "But...what could be causing the portals to open again?" Twilight asked worriedly. "And in all the same places technically? Is someone trying to bring back something or...live out some weird glory days thing?" "When the barriers between realities rip, the initial tear is always a central weak point." Celestia explained. "Basically it's easier to reopen a sealed doorway rather than break down a new one. It's a similar principal to the mirror portal to the Human world Sunset lives in. The portal actually contains a sealed rift in an artificial barrier space that Star Swirled created to establish a permanent location portal. It makes getting to these worlds more stable and less damaging." "Someone had to know about the portals before hand then, and even though Simon said Faust did it...she had to have a reason for it." Twilight frowned. "Which begs the question as to how. If this was all pre planned, then who did this, and why?" "There's too many questions…" Rainbow groaned. "Let us eat then rest on the matter. We can tackle this with fresh minds and rested bodies." Luna stated. The collective growls from the groups stomachs proved correct in Luna's assessment. "I was gonna say." Spike chuckled. "Heh, well, come on then. The dining hall is this way." Twilight spoke up as she lead her friends out of the throne room. "So, shall we raise the moon and lower the sun before joining them?" Celestia asked. "Let's. See you in the dining hall then Discord?" Luna asked. "I need to double check something's." Discord said. "Cause while I do enjoy all the fun were having...something's need to stay bound." Discord frowned. "So I'll be back for dinner, don't scarf down everything too fast sunbutt." Discord said as he teleported away to make sure some boundaries stayed closed. "I still can't believe you two used to date." Luna sighed with an eye roll. "Oh we both know he wasn't that bad. Besides, the sex was nice and let's be honest, not to many other immortal males are around." "This is why I prefer to stay out of relationships." To be continued...