Truly, Marble finds it difficult to get any sort of rest that night.
Normally, she sleeps like a rock. It's more efficient that way, what with her and her sisters having to get up at the crack of dawn for chores. Every second of shut-eye is precious on the farm, and so the habit stuck.
But Discord's words keep wriggling around in her head.
Tomorrow, he is going to ask something of her. Yet, Marble isn't sure there's much she will be useful for. Even sealed as he is, he's a lot more powerful and all-knowing than she is. There's no possible way she will ever measure up to that potential, so what can he possibly ask for? Yet the many hours of being awake eventually catch up to Marble, and her eyelids slip close as her breathing slows.
When her eyes open, Marble does not find herself in her bed. Rather, she's surrounded by tall hedges that tower like cliffs. Above her, the perfectly circular Moon drifts across a purple-dark sky devoid of stars. She looks at the celestial body for a while, at how the deep craters mark the presence of the Moon Princess within. How many times has she looked at these shapes, longing to solve her family’s financial woes? And how many times has the Moon Princess looked back down at her, longing to return to the ground?
“She's beautiful, isn't she?”
Tearing her eyes from the Moon, Marble only briefly searches for the source of the voice before finding them. Before her, a small foal stands. While their fringe is a pale slate, the rest of their mane tumbles around their shoulders in a darker hue. Were they there the whole time?
“Mhm, s-she is,” Marble responds, even as a sense of déjà vu nags at her. “I’m s-sorry, do we know each other?”
Something in the foal’s gray eyes sparkles. “No, we don’t. But we could, couldn’t we? After all…”
Sitting with a flourish, the foal smiles. “‘Furry or feathered, false or fair-weather, I’m the one who bonds like minds together.’ Who am I?”
How many riddles has Marble heard these past few days? Three of them, now. And every riddler looked so similar and as devoid of color as she is… But this one isn’t difficult at all, is it? After talking to Discord every night, she feels she’s actually become the subject of this riddle.
She hopes he feels the same.
“You’re a friend, a-aren’t you?” Marble softly answers, though there’s no one besides the foal that can be disturbed by her volume. “Furry, feathered, false, and fair-weather are a-all idioms themed after friendship. And most friends have similar things in c-common, right?”
The foal slowly blinks before bringing their hooves together to clap. “Correct. And you never know who will be a friend to you, do you? Even somepony you never expected could change your life, forever.”
“Mhm…” Marble agrees, gaze trailing upwards towards the Moon another time. “A-All my life, I only had my sisters as friends. S-So I don’t understand… I c-can’t understand why Discord might want to be mine. Especially since ponies as a-amazing as the Sun and Moon Princesses were his, at one point.”
The foal nods. “Sometimes, a pony needs somepony unlikely to lean on. It's so easy to give up because something is hard or scary. But lending a helpful hoof through those struggles makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it?"
Huffing quietly, Marble looks at the foal again. "I'll a-admit, I'm not sure I completely follow. But I s-suppose some things don't need to be understood to be true."
"Makes sense to me!" Whistling an aimless tune, the foal rises to their hooves. "Even if there's no fun in making sense. But tomorrow is a busy night, right? You have somepony depending on you, after all."
"B-But I'm worried…!" All at once, the hedges around Marble seem to close in, and the light of the Moon feels overwhelmingly bright. "What if I c-can't help him at all?"
"Isn't that the exciting part?" the foal answers, even though Marble cannot see them through her now screwed-shut eyes. "You'll never know if you don't try."
The twinkling laugh of the foal is all Marble registers as the light beyond her eyelids ebbs away. Once they reopen, she's greeted by the cracked ceiling of the hotel room. Logically, it makes sense that that was all a dream, even if she normally can't recall the ones she has. But…
The foal felt so real, and just as alive as the stallion and mare before them. Could they really have only been a part of her imagination…?
Sluggishly, Marble fumbles out of bed. Despite her buzzing legs, she manages to reach the window and pull the curtains aside. Beyond them, the waning rays of the setting Sun shine in the far distance. Did she sleep the whole day away?
But if it’s sunset now, that means night is soon to follow.
Drowsiness forgotten, Marble moves away from the window to shuffle most of her possessions together, even if only to kill more time. Yesterday, Discord said he is going to ask something of her. Normally, the expectations of others weigh heavily on her, like a millstone around her neck. Even now, she can feel the burden of her family’s predicament within her veins. So why would anypony rely on her when she often crumbles apart like chalk in a foal’s grip?
Only once her belongings form a misshapen pile does Marble leave the hotel room to journey out into Canterlot. The streets are mostly barren, with only an occasional carriage or passerby filling those spaces, but that suits Marble just fine. It allows her hooves to move on auto-pilot towards the castle, even.
Yes, having others relying on her in any sort of way normally threatens to crush her. But Discord has been… kind to her. Not that her family hasn’t, but aren’t they obligated to be? She was a stranger to him, in every possible way. For there was no way he would’ve known she would show up in the garden all those days ago. There was no possible way he would’ve known she would be able to communicate through his stony state.
Yet he talked with her. Always jovially, but never mockingly. Like he enjoyed having her around. Almost like Pinkie, but there’s something about the lilt of his voice. Something about the way his syllables always seem calculated, despite the unpredictability life offers. If anypony in the entire world could help her find herself, show her how to finally be enough, it surely must be him.
Marble wants to have faith in something, for once.
Eventually, she steps into the sculpture garden once more. Just like her dream, the full Moon is alone against the deep amethyst sky. And just as before, Marble finds her way to Discord’s side with ease.
“Hi, Discord, how a-are you?” Marble asks as she places her hoof on his base.
Absolutely splendid! I chilled here by myself, doing some thinking. Hard to relax that way, of course, but I’ll manage! But I trust you got some rest where I didn’t?
“Mhm, I did,” Marble replies. “How did you put it, b-before? ‘I had myself a good night, a-as instructed?’”
Ha, that was it, indeed! But it’s wonderful to hear you managed to catch those pesky Z’s. Simply wonderful…
There’s silence, for a time. Marble tries to ignore the jitteriness that hums within her muscles. She’s wary of bringing up Discord’s promise from yesterday, but still, she wants to know what he believes she's capable of doing for him. What did Pinkie call this feeling? Nervicited?
Marble Pie.
“Eep!” Somehow, Discord speaking catches Marble off-guard, despite her waiting for it to occur. “I mean, w-what’s up?”
Marble Pie, I could never have imagined these past four nights going the way they have. For over a thousand years, I’ve been here in this garden. All alone, the entire time. After all, Celestia’s guilt over trapping me has hardly convinced her to come to visit very often. But I digress—
For over a thousand years, I’ve been without company. Standing here as I am, within this prison of stone. Yet now, I do believe I have a friend, don’t I? I have you.
Oddly, a strange sense of familiarity curls in Marble’s memories at the words. Has she heard something similar, recently…? Nonetheless, she responds:
“I’ve a-always felt alone, all my life. And I thought maybe, if I p-proved myself to be capable, as something inherently different from myself… that p-ponies outside of my family would like me, for once. But you didn’t care, did you? You s-said I was fine as-is, strangeness and all. And you w-want to be my friend, even…”
Without warning, Marble rears up on her hind hooves and wraps her forelegs as high as she can reach around Discord’s pedestal. “So I w-want to repay you somehow, even with how little I have to offer…”
Clinging around Discord as she is, Marble feels something within him rumble through her bones.
Has anypony ever told you you are truly spectacular? Words are so easy to play games with—look at riddles, for one! But I mean it, I really do. After all, I’ve never seen somepony be able to communicate with rocks and stone, as you can.
“W-Well, mhm, I haven’t either!” Marble lets out a laugh tinged only slightly with self-deprecation. “And I haven’t met s-somepony as special as you, either. Guess w-we’re both one-of-a-kind, right?”
Indeed. There’s nopony else who can compare. Nopony else at all on this little Earth. But that reminds me…
Marble releases Discord to look at his face, a crease forming on her brow. “Reminds you of w-what?”
The Earth… isn’t the Earth a rock, too? After all, that’s where most of the stones ponies use come from, correct?
After a moment, Marble nods. “I s-suppose so, though I’ve never really given it much thought. W-Why do you ask?”
Discord hums a low note.
Before I get to that, you need to remember that I’m the draconequus of discord. I gain power from every little thing that feeds into disorder. Thus, I’m considered the natural enemy of Celestia’s perfect harmony. But you and your family have been failed by harmony, haven’t you?
Marble’s mind feels like a jumbled-up puzzle. “W-What do you mean…?”
Everypony is told they matter within this society of ours. That everypony has the same value, and all are rewarded if they just work hard enough for it. But that’s not true, is it? Your family works tirelessly on the farm, but they’re facing bankruptcy. That’s why you came here in the first place. And by simply utilizing your talents, you’ve been ostracized from your peers for years. Are struggle and ridicule all that harmony has to offer…?
“I guess you’re not w-wrong, are you…?” Marble’s head sorta hurts from questioning the very fabric of civilization, but she can’t find any fault in his reasoning. “B-But what can I do about it? I’m just one p-pony…”
Perhaps you can’t do anything alone… but I’m here, aren’t I? You see, even despite Celestia’s efforts, bits of disharmony slip through the cracks. Everyday and everywhere, even right here in this garden. And, piece by piece, that chaos feeds into my strength. As such, I’ve felt this prison around me steadily weaken, like a sculptor chipping away at a block. And I do believe I could break free… with your help.
That wasn’t what Marble thought he would say at all! “B-But how could I…?”
Well, you see… if you can talk to stones, what’s stopping you from talking to the very Earth itself?
Any possible response Marble could have given melts out of her brain in that instance, and all that comes out is a breathless squeak. She walks on the Earth every day, doesn’t she? Almost all ponies do. But she never thought to listen to it…!
Discord takes that as a cue to continue.
I told you I would ask something of you, didn’t I? Well, this is it. I want you to speak with the Earth, and do something as spectacular as you. Because you have the power to free me, and change the worlds of everypony alive.
Marble blushes furiously. Surely, Discord has too much belief in her, right? To be able to undo ancient magic from the Princess herself seemed… quite impossible, really. But no, she told herself she would have faith in Discord, and if that means trusting in his judgment…
Well, how can she refuse?
“Okay, I’ll do it…!” Marble’s head dips in a self-reassuring nod. “Even if I’m not actually s-sure what ‘it’ is.”
You never cease to amaze me, Marble. I have no doubts you’ll find the perfect solution.
Bobbing her head again in acknowledgment, Marble steps off the paved stone surrounding Discord’s pedestal. Once in the nearby grass, she digs past the turf until she can get her hooves onto the soil beneath. Taking a deep, shaking breath, she speaks:
"Hello? A-Are you listening, down there…? I was hoping we could… talk?"
There's no response. Anxiety rushes through Marble's veins, and she wishes she was closer to Discord so she could still hear him. But no, everypony is relying on her to succeed, aren't they? She can't give up here!
Reinvigorated, Marble opens her mouth to speak again when her entire body shakes all at once—
Hel… lo? Little… po… ny…
Brightening, Marble plants her hooves more firmly into the dirt. "Hello! I hope I'm not b-bothering you, Mr…. er, Mrs.? P-Pardon me, I'm not sure what to call you…"
We are… Gai… a…
"A-Ah, nice to meet you, Gaia,” Marble greets—but where are her manners? “Oh, I forgot to s-say who I am! I’m—”
We… know who… you are… Mar… ble… Pie…
“Really?” Marble’s gaze tilts down to where her hooves are surrounded by sediments. “That’s s-surprising, I’ve never spoken to you b-before… have I?
The ground beneath her groans.
Not… di… rectly. But… We have… al… ways… watched… ov… er… you…
Marble starts. “B-But w-why? I’m not anypony s-special…”
But you… keep Our… child… ren… com… pany. Even… through their… physi… cal… prisons. You are… a friend.
That’s right. Almost all rocks come from the Earth—from Gaia—so that would mean They’re all stonekind’s progenitor. Still, that strange sense of familiarity overtakes Marble at Gaia’s voice. She’s heard those words before—
“That’s w-what Discord said,” Marble starts. “And those three p-ponies who told me riddles. That by k-keeping stones company despite their prisons, I've b-become a friend. But how w-would you…?”
All life… was born… from Us. And We… listen… to what… ponies… have to… say. Yet they’ve… for… gotten… Us. For… gotten… where they’ve… come from. But…
Your… fam… ily… never… forgot. For… gener… ations… they would… tend… to Our… child… ren. So We… gave them… a gift. We… gave them… you.
Marble feels quite like somepony kicked the wind out of her. “You w-were the one who gave me my talent…?”
We… were. But… it was… up to… you… on how… you used… this… blessing. And… despite… hardship… you talked… with Our… child… ren… any… ways. Under… pres… sure… you… per… severed. We are… grateful… to you.
Marble resists the urge to bring one of her hooves up to cover her reddening face. “A-Ah, thank you? It’s not that b-big of a deal, honestly. P-Ponies don’t usually want to talk to me, after all. But I’m glad that p-pleases you, truly.”
Again, the surface beneath Marble shivers.
You… need help… don’t you? We… heard him… ask you. We… remem… ber… him. From long… ago. You must… know… that he… is… unpre… dicta… ble. Do you… trust him? Wholly… and… complete… ly?
Does she? Marble’s breath catches in her throat as her mind churns. She’s known Discord for less than five days. What if the Princess was right, sealing him away? And what if she punishes Marble for disobeying her order? Or punish her whole family! That would be awful…
But isn’t being the object of derision awful, too? And Marble’s family is currently suffering under the Princess’ reign even without her direct influence. Discord has already changed so much of her worldview just by talking to her, so if he was free…
Well, the answer is quite obvious, isn’t it?
Marble firmly nods. “Mhm, I do. Because of your gift, I was a-able to meet Discord, who helped me treasure it even more. And together, w-we can shoot for the very Moon. P-Please, help me do that.”
If that… is what… you wish. Hold… on.
Marble pauses, befuddlement on her features. “‘Hold on’? W-What do you—”
The surface beneath her creaks ominously, which almost knocks her over. Before she can fully process what’s happening, an incredibly loud CRACK sounds all around her, and it takes all her effort to keep her hooves on the ground. Frantic, she spots an almighty rift encircling the land she and Discord occupy. Again, the ground shudders.
Fare… well… Mar… ble. Good… luck.
“W-Wait, what’s happe—”
As it turns out, everything happens, all at once.
The piece of ground surrounded by the fissure violently quakes, sending Marble tumbling off her hooves. Scrambling to cover her flattened ears against the cacophony of noise that suddenly floods her senses, she squeezes her eyes shut. But despite that meager protection, she hears the KER-RAAACK! that splits the air. Jostling side to side, she’s suddenly pressed into the soil by an extreme force that overwhelms just as much as the veritable gale-storm pummeling her.
But before she can even cry out, everything stops just as suddenly.
Marble waits for a second. Two. Three. Tentatively, she opens her eyes. Gray strands of mane hang tangled in her face. Bringing a shaking hoof up, she pushes the hair aside, clearing her vision. A foot or so ahead of her, the grass drops off jarringly, with the dark sky taking its place. Carefully making her way onto her hooves, she tiptoes to that edge, and looks down.
Far, far below her, minuscule structures sprawl like an ant farm. The largest shape is only the size of a toy marble, if that. And from the ground sprouts a tower of bedrock, striated in many earthy tones of stone, leading up to the ground beneath her. Gasping, Marble looks up.
The Moon is much, much larger than she’s ever seen it. When she said to shoot for the Moon, she didn’t intend to be taken literally! Oh, but this is spectacular, isn’t it? Discord will be so proud of her.
…Discord!
“Discord!” Marble turns away from the edge to face his direction. “Did you s-see what I—”
Only the pedestal remains where Discord sat. Where did he…?
A voice breaks through the air. “Ahhh! How wonderful it is to feel the breeze through my fur again!”
Startling, Marble’s eyes shoot upward again.
Above her floats Discord, seemingly without the aid of his wings. His stony skin has melted away into a mishmash of different colors, from blue to yellow to green to red. Part of Marble warms at seeing that his head is still gray, like she is. Said head turns, the sharp saffron of his eyes piercing through the gloom.
“There you are, Marble!” Discord smoothly moves down towards her, despite his previous centuries of immobility. “Love the new mane-style, very festive! And I must say I’m quite impressed with your performance, here. Never in my wildest imaginations did I think you’d rocket us up into the sky!”
“Discord!” Marble exclaims, face aflame with delight. “You’re moving a-around! You’re free! Oh, b-but I think you did most of the heavy-lifting. I just helped a b-bit.”
Waggling his talon, Discord grins toothily. “Even though I’m usually quite a fan of it, that’s utter nonsense! Because of you, I’ve checked out of the Stationary Suite, for good. And now that I’m out, it’s time for the real change to begin. Behold—”
With his paw, Discord snaps. Suddenly, his abandoned base melts into a large marshmallow that explodes into a swarm of small, pale birds. Faces toasty brown and tails aflame, the flock swoops to the grass, which at some point transfigured into green graham crackers. Picking every “blade” off, the birds dip them into the glass of chocolate milk that Discord now holds. Bizarrely, the glass disappears instead, coating each cracker in translucent brown. When the birds fly off, all that’s left behind is a white cylinder of milk that shatters when Discord throws it against the dirt.
Stunned, it takes a moment for Marble to find her words. “W-Wow… you can do all that with only a s-snap? W-What else can you do…?”
“Anything,” Discord replies simply. “Anything and everything at all. But wait! I told you I’d bring down the very Moon for you, didn’t I? I think I have a more fun alternative, though. Watch this!”
With a practiced movement, Discord raises his talon. Eyes guided by the motion, Marble has a perfect view of his claw, framed as it is by the Moon behind it. He snaps again.
And the Mare in the Moon markings vanish.
Feeling her eyes widen, Marble doesn’t protest as Discord picks her up from the grassless ground. “W-Where did the markings go? Is the Moon P-Princess…?”
Chuckling, Discord holds Marble up above him, the shape of her messy mane silhouetted on his face. “Well, if we’re gonna have a big ol’ party smashing Celestia’s society up, why not do it with an old pal? I’m sure Luna will be thrilled to join in!”
Tucking Marble under his arm, Discord gestures to Canterlot below them. “After all, the three of us can make a world where you can literally be whoever you want to be, and still thrive. Where you can be a little strange, or a lot strange! For we freaks have to stick together, right?”
To be whoever she wants to be… Marble likes the sound of that.
“W-We should go find her, then!” Marble cheers, wiggling her hooves back and forth. “S-She sounds like she’d be a perfect member of our little ‘club’, right?”
Discord guffaws at that. “That’s for sure! So let’s make a welcoming environment for our first club meeting, then! The entire world is our garden, now!”
As they descend from the elevated piece of Earth, Marble snuggles closer to Discord’s side. Perhaps ponies will call them crazy, and perhaps they won’t understand what this change will accomplish. The Princess certainly won’t. But for once, Marble isn’t scared of what the future might bring.
For it’s nice when a misplaced marble finally feels found.