//------------------------------// // D̵̮̩̞̖͇̔̆̚͘ḯ̸̡͚͎̻̄͌̈̔͜s̵̝̱̤̣̚c̵̤̙̲̥̪͔̈͒̚͠͠ő̶̝̖̓̉̊̀̚̚r̸͈͖̩̺̰̖̹͋͆̃̀̓͌́̀̕̕ͅͅd̷̝̻͚̔̄̀͆ // Story: The Cutie Alchemist // by Visharo //------------------------------// D̵̮̩̞̖͇̔̆̚͘ḯ̸̡͚͎̻̄͌̈̔͜s̵̝̱̤̣̚c̵̤̙̲̥̪͔̈͒̚͠͠ő̶̝̖̓̉̊̀̚̚r̸͈͖̩̺̰̖̹͋͆̃̀̓͌́̀̕̕ͅͅd̷̝̻͚̔̄̀͆: ļ̴̹̭̽̑̐̍̈ǎ̵̝͙̙͆̆̏͜c̸̗̺̤̓̇̀͋͘k̴̼͎̦̙̉̋̇͋͋ͅ ̷̛͈̈́ô̶̡͙̬̑̆f̴̻̪̫̍ ̵͈͔̿ȁ̶̘̰͎g̶͎͑r̵̪̙̱̺͒̈́̊̑e̷̟̾͛̒͊e̸̳̊̕m̴͍̤̩͚̈́̾e̴͕̣̟͉͖̿ṇ̶̢̛̛͂͑ţ̶̖͈̲̓͜ ̵̤̬̚͝ȏ̷͇̍̑̀͊r̴̖͉͕̍̆ ̵͚̯̹̙̗͂͂̿̔͠h̷͔̙̑̀͝͠a̸̳̳̋̄͜r̸̢̥͖̩̖̈́͒m̵̡̝̘̽̓o̶͉͙̺̺̯̊n̸͍̩̓̀y̵̠̜̓ ̸̤̩̣̈(̸̠͎̗̅̊͒̆̓a̴̪̲͉̪̽͆͗̀ş̷̖̠͋͆̎͜ ̸͓͇͍̈̑͝b̸͕̬̮̄ȩ̸̡͙̤̒̏͑͒̅͜t̸̘͈̻̱͚̋̕͘ẅ̴̨̄͐͂̈́é̵̢̞͔͜ȩ̵̢̛̈̃ṉ̶̺̠̓̕͘͠ ̸̰͔͛͒p̷̝̼͔͔̈́͌͜ȅ̶̤͙̓̽͋r̸̫̀s̶̫͒̅͑͆͗ó̷̡̝̳̗n̸̑̾̎̉͜s̸͇̪̩̃̐͂̓̀,̸̼̾̃̌̏ ̸̨̦͍̑͋͜ţ̸̞̄h̷͇̫̮̫͒͗̎̀͘i̴̦̝̫̒̓̒n̷̦̞͒̕ġ̷̻̬͇ṡ̸͕̰̥͛̈́,̸̘͍̺̌́̀ ̸̡̳͖͗͗̚o̴͙̮̊ŕ̷̺̼̱ ̶̭̼̀̀̾i̸̫̻̽͛̈̍͆ḏ̶̨̿̈́͒͆͜ẽ̷̬̭̏a̶̤̣͔͔̗̔͋s̴̺̳̦̉̀̋)̴̧͖̗̩̾̕ ------------------------------------------------------ Starswirl the Bearded awoke from a dreaded feeling. Something in the air fouled his senses, something...unharmonious. He casted his gaze across the dark room, searching and sensing. After a few countings of nothing, the unicorn finally relaxed. Must have been a bad dream. "Oh, a bad dream?" A voice echoed in Starswirl's head. He immediately froze. That voice. "Is that what ponies think I am now?" "Who..." The gray stallion had to swallow. "Who are you?" "Ah, who am I?" A whoosh of air went by Starswirl's ear, making him involuntarily flick it. He turned wearily wondering what he would see. Nothing. "I am Chaos. I am Discord. I am Eris and Strife. I am Disharmony. What are you, my little pony?" "Sta...Starswirl the Bearded. I am the Guardian of Harmony, chosen from those above." Starswirl stuttered, but the more he spoke, the more confident he felt. "Chosen? Mmm, yes, I suppose that is true." The mysterious voice was directly in his ear, startling the poor old stallion, sending him to the floor in fright. "Haha! I think I'll have fun with you, Guardian." There was a snap and soon Starswirl found himself in a land not his own. There were trees and grass, flowers and animals, yet, none of this was real. It couldn't have been real. The clouds were pink and raining something brown, the dirt trails were replaced with something bubbling and wet, and the little critters were monstrous. "Wha...what have you done!?" Starswirl gazed at this new world with horror-filled eyes. The more he looked, the more he felt disgusted and wrong. This was all wrong! "I have merely changed the world in my image. Isn't it beautiful?" The gray unicorn turned to where the voice was coming from and was surprised to see two peculiar trees with large fern-like leaves sprouting from the top, hanging from the trees was a carpet of some sort, and the strangest creature Starswirl had ever seen sitting on said carpet. The creature raised a clawed hand with a glass cup filled with a yellow liquid and a... blue stick sticking out of it. "Well?" "No, it is not beautiful." Starswirl frowned, finally saying something after the strange sight. "It is wrong. This is now how the world is suppose to be." "Tch, you're no fun." There was another snap and within a blink of an eye, the trees and the carpet was gone and the creature was right beside Starswirl. He pressed his face right next to the unicorn's and extended his golden paw outwards, gesturing to the chaotic world. "You don't see the world like I do. How sickeningly perfect it is. Dontchya see the beauty in how none of this makes sense? How laughable this whole situation is? It just wants to make you lose your mind at how impossible this is." He cackled like he made a joke then he disappeared with another snap. "Stop playing around! Tell me who you are, what you want!" Starswirl growled and shouted at nothing and everything at the same time. The sense of wrongness was deep in his bones and he couldn't shake the feeling. "What I want? Oh no, little Starswirl, this isn't what I want, it's what you want." A deep laugh echoed throughout the entire landscape, making the wind pick up, the clouds shoot off into the distance, and make the vegetation shiver. "So, little pony, what do you want?" "What does this have to do with what I want! You are the one who is ruining this world, this pristine place Harmony created!" The stallion stomped his hoof in anger, but the moment his hoof touched the floor, the world broke apart like glass shattering. Starswirl fell screaming and kicking. The shattered world above slowly disappearing, replacing the vibrancy with a black void, nothing in sight nor sound. Then he blinked and everything turned blindingly white. Once he recovered, he didn't have a chance to figure out what was happening before he noticed two chairs and a TV. He blinked, what were these words, this knowledge? "Yes, Starswirl. What is this knowledge? It is what you want, isn't it?" One of the chairs was occupied by the creature, a draconequus he now knew, and he wore a black trenchcoat and black round sunglasses. "Welcome to the Construct, a loading program if you will." "Wha...what is happening? Why do I know...?" Starswirl shakily made his way to the other chair. "Like I said, this is all about what you want." The draconequus grinned. "And you want knowledge, I granted that wish. Unless you want a refund? Perhaps eternal protection for you many daughters, good for you by the way! Or perhaps something else? Anything you want, and I can give. Just ask." "And what do you get in return?" Starswirl asked, suddenly suspicious. "I do not even know your name!" "Call me...Discord, a good enough name. For what I get in return, why, that's for you to figure out! It would be way to easy for you if I told you outright. Let's go on a trip, shall we?" The moment after he said those words, Starswirl felt himself get sucked into the TV. It was the most jarring experience he had ever felt, but in only lasted a few seconds and he popped out in a completely different scenery. The floor and walls were metal and glass, machines of all types were blinking red and green and outside was...nothing. "No...please, stop." Starswirl placed a hand on his belly and leaned forward slightly. There was a snap and the feeling passed. "But we cannot, Swirly! We've only just gotten started!" Discord laughed jovially before snapping his paw again, the outside was filled with a bright green laser, heading directly for a spherical object in the distance. Starswirl instinctively knew that something terrible was going to happen so he looked away before the laser could collide. He peeked at Discord and saw he was looking away so he took his chances and bolted. Galloping around machinery and corners, through hallways and passages. "Oh Swiiiiirllyyyyyyyyy, you can't hide." The taunting voice of Discord made Starswirl shiver. He shook off the uncomfortable feeling and dove into a vent and stayed as quiet as possible. He took a chance and peeked through the grate and saw Discord's shadow slink away and when the last of the darkness receded, did he allow himself a breath. His calm and relief turned into a terrified shriek once he noticed that the draconequus was right next to him, in the vent, with a cocky little smile. "My little pony, you must understand that I am all powerful! You can't do anything to me with your pitiful magic." With a talon, he flicked Starswirls horn, making it go stark white. Another snap, another world. Starswirl was getting sick of it. "STOP! Just...stop." "What's the matter Guardian, can't handle a bit of exercise? Or perhaps you want some extra rice!" Discord snapped his fingers once again, which teleported the duo to a large flowery field and dumped a bowl of rice on top of Starswirl's head. The teeth grinding could've been heard for miles. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" A large buildup of sweat pooled on the unicorn's forehead and after a few awkward moments of silence, did Starswirl realize something wasn't happening. "What...did you do to my magic?" "HA! He's only had it for a couple of months and he's already so reliant on it!" Discord did a pirouette atop of a trash can within a blink that Starswirl allowed. "Imagine that but much worse. Tiny devices that hold everything. That's what's in your future Starswirl, although, I suppose no, it wouldn't." A lopsided smile followed that confusing statement. The gray stallion didn't let it get to him and with a guttural cry, he galloped and tackled Discord head on. There was an 'oomph' when the two connected and Starswirl couldn't help but cheer, which slowly died when he realized that Discord was watching with a disappointed frown. "I had hoped for more, Starswirl the Bearded, but I guess all good things slowly wear down overtime. Bah, there are more important matters to attend to. Follow me!" Discord grabbed Starswirl's hand and twirled him on a dime, literally. Somehow, underneath them, there was a dime and soon the twirling became dancing. Discord hummed a jaunty tune and his grip was iron, forcing the unicorn to dance alongside him. It happened, but not soon enough, when the duo finally stopped. A quick snap and a wardrobe appeared next to them. "Inside, I say!" Discord chuckled merrily before opening the wardrobe's doors and disappearing inside. The moment he went in, the beautiful sunny weather was replaced with the most terrible of storms, forcing Starswirl to follow the draconequus. Where they wound up was in the middle of a forest with a lamppost dug into the ground. Discord was swinging around the pole again and again, singing something that sounded like "Leeries! Trip the light and lead the way!" With that last verse that Starswirl caught, the whole forest was filled with blue ghostly lights. "Discord! Please make this stop! All I want is to go home right now!" "But my dear Starswirl, we haven't discussed what I wanted, and that's what you want, right?" Discord did a double backflip off the lamp and landed with a flourish and a goofy smile. He now had a top hat on his head and a cane in his hand. He struck a pose before dancing off into the distance, following a path that only he could see. Starswirl heaved a heavy sigh and followed, all of this walking and nonsense wasn't doing any wonders to his joints and back. "Don't be such a sourpuss Swirly! Here! Have a spoonful of sugar, it makes the medicine go down I've heard!" Discord teleported behind him with a spoon filled with crystal white grains. Starswirl grumbled and knocked it away, not bothering to say anything. "My, that wasn't very kind. I wonder how a butter-yellow pegasus would feel...mhmm, what if we ask this tree?" Before Starswirl could look up from his brooding, he got swept away in a windstorm, giving him the feeling of falling upwards. He was terrified and wasn't scared of admitting it. Then just as it started, it was over and the wind and the forest burred away into a lonely clearing with a single tree. It took a few moments but the gray unicorn spotted the draconequus sitting underneath the boughs of the willow tree. "This tree, holds a special place in my heart, did you know that? I care too, Starswirl. I'm not heartless nor a monster. This, right here, is a tree that keeps on giving, no matter the cost." Discord turned and Starswirl was surprised to see his eyes had misted up. The stallion was beyond confused now and he wanted to go home even more now. But Discord seemed to have other plans. The duo landed once again back where they started. Discord was back to his peppy self with a grin so massive, Starswirl felt like it could break walls. "Enough with the mushy stuff! Let's get to tangoing! Hiya!" Discord started dancing, occasionally pointing in random directions. Objects of all sorts appeared where he pointed and soon the grassy hill was covered in items. Then with a flourish of his hands, Discord produced the cracked glass cup, the special one that makes ponies. Starswirl immediately opened his mouth to protest but then thought better of it. Best to get this over with. He watched as Discord played with the toys and tidbits, humming to himself all the while. Then he finally held something up. It was two paper cards, one showed a picture of a Jack and the other showed a picture of a spade. "This one is particularly fun, I present to you, Blackjack!" He waved the cards in front of the glass and within seconds, a new pony appeared. "Gah, dammit, not again." Blackjack, Starswirl guessed, rubbed a hoof on her head. She was a white unicorn with a black and red mane. She also had a heavy looking jacket with 'Security' emblazoned on it. The gray unicorn was speechless as he watched the mare look around for a bit, then she spotted Discord. "Oh [redacted] me, what are you doing here! How are you even [redacted] alive! Hey, why can't I [redacted] curse! [redacted] you Discord!" The mare looked like she was going to shoot somebody and Starswirl involuntarily took a step backwards, but before anything could happen, Discord merely laughed. "Blackjack! How have you been?" "[redacted] you. You better snap me some Wild Pegasus into existence or else I'm going to [redacted] in your [redacted[ until you can't [redacted] walk!" The face on the new unicorn absolutely terrified Starswirl and he took cover behind some scrap Discord summoned. The draconequus laughed again and snapped, giving the shooty mare her prize. She cursed at Discord before trotting away. "Haha! I forgot how much of a riot she is, now where was I?" Starswirl shook his head, hoping that Discord would stop his antics, but it didn't look like he was anywhere near from stopping. He snapped some snow into existence, but summoned them too high up and then they dropped right in front of the cup. Then the cup glowed brightly. A white and really light blue filly pegasus appeared. She shook her head from side to side with a bewildered look on her face. Starswirl gasped once he realized that she was blind. Before he could rush to her side, comfort her, the filly flew away. Discord giggled which made the gray unicorn glare at him. "Would you stop? I have seen enough." "But you haven't, oh no, you haven't at all!" It went on like that for many hours. Discord laughing hysterically at every new creation the glass cup would make. One moment he would pull a cat made out of dust and the cup would produce a beige unicorn with a handlebar mustache, the next, he merely said nope and for some reason the cup spat out a white alicorn with a bored look. After the fiftieth summon, which involved a cup that burned that Discord somehow also washed with and he shouted something like 'Washburn', Starswirl had enough. He stormed over, bucked Discord away and then stomped on the glass cup, shattering it. "NO MORE!" *** Starswirl woke up, sweat beading on his forehead. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He took a look around and saw his mismatched family scattered on the cave floor. He smiled at how peaceful they all looked, and with the newfound comfort, he leaned backwards and attempted to sleep once again. But before he could, he heard a very distant laugh.