//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The Bloody Rage of the Titans // Story: Chaos and Darkness // by Paleo Prints //------------------------------// Chaos & Darkness by Paleo Prints Chapter 2:  The Bloody Rage of the Titans Twilight had always liked rainbows.  They represented order.  As reliable as the Canterlot Weather Patrol making the rain, the Cloudsdale Rainbow Factory churned out the sign that the worst was over.  Except for the wild ones in the Everfree (mystery number sixty-four on her “To Be Researched” list), rainbows represented order. Rainbows weren’t meant to bleed. All around Twilight a shimmering cloud whipped around, hammering at her protective magic bubble.  As the threatening wind hit the side of her barrier it bled away into trails of different colors, clashing shades melting into each and out again as they circled her. Inside the bubble a terrified Spike surveyed the chaos, shaking slightly as he used one claw to hold onto Twilight’s mane like a safety blanket.  Behind her was Iron Will, bent over on his knees as his horn scraped the top of the protective bubble. “Miss Sparkle?”  Iron Will said with a grimace.  “Is there any way to get a little more space in here?” Twilight spun around, eyes on the bubble wall.  Light flared out of her horn, pouring into different parts of the bubble as intricate geometrical patterns played along the inside. “I’m having enough trouble keeping it stable at this size!”  She grit her teeth as giant fists of blue smoke hammered at her shield.  “This spell was made for ponies, not a whole party!” “You did do it that time over the whole library,” Spike reminded her.  Iron Will’s ear perked up hopefully. Twilight gasped as the bubble started to bulge from outside pressure.  “This guy requires a little more structural reinforcement to fend off than the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Iron Will's eyes were drawn to Muleta, hovering into the side of his vision.  He swiveled his body to face her, knocking over Spike.  Pushing his hands against the shield, he could see her levitating six hooves high off the ground. “She’s out there!  We have to get her in before he tears her apart!” Twilight turned and swallowed.  “Mister Will, whatever she’s doing is out of her control.” Iron blinked.  Looking again he noticed that Muleta’s arms dangled limply, as if someone was supporting her forearms but letting her hands swing freely.  Her unconscious head turned to him grotesquely. Iron Will growled.  “Come on, cloud!  If you dangle my girl, I’ll rock your world!”  He smashed his fist on the bubble wall. “No!”  Twilight’s eyes widened.  “Punching the force field is a no-no!” The entire cloud convulsed as it giggled.  Muleta’s hands were raised in a mockery of a friendly wave.   Spike shivered.  “Okay, t-t-that’s genuinely creepy.  B-but why would it waste time doing that?” The unconscious minotaur was suddenly lifted into the air over the bubble.  She slowly rotated and was shortly pointed straight down.  Everyone inside the bubble held their breath in suspense as Muleta Oubliette was slowly lowered until one horn touched the top of the bubble. Muleta then began to spin. “Oh boy,” Spike said, summing up the reaction of his two companions. The horn spun downwards, drilling a much larger bulge into the bubble.  Iron Will pushed his hands against the ceiling, muscles straining to force the penetrating horn back outside. Twilight’s eyes closed as sweat poured down her face.  “Spike, I need you to listen to me.” Spike nodded, offering a trembling salute. “When this thing drops the field, you run into a cell and hide.  He can’t focus on all of us.”  She swallowed.  “I’ll handle this.” Iron Will stared into the cloud as the horn poked through the shield.  There was a sound somewhere between screeching iron and a popping balloon. He leapt off of the ground into the cloud. As the vapors curled around him, Spike gave a wink and a thumbs-up.  “Count on me, Twi!”  The dragon pulled a wrapped-up sandwich from out of his belt-pouch, swallowed it in one gulp, and belched out a torrent of smoke that smelled faintly of pickles.  The cloud recoiled, allowing him the time to slip away. Twilight allowed herself a brief smile of pride as Spike disappeared down the hallway.  The smile instantly disappeared as she felt an gaseous hand smack her flank playfully. “Hands off, Mister!”  She scattered bolts of force into the unseen ceiling of the prison corridor, and she only heard the explosion of rock. Iron Will screamed from somewhere outside her vision.  “Get ready, Sparkle!  Brace yourself!” Twilight cocked her head in confusion.  She threw her forelimb around a prison bar and mentally thanked Celestia that not every inmate required a force field. Surprised voices screamed in shock as the cloud was thrown back by a great wind.  Twilight squinted and looked into the gale.  The prison was dark, the torches having long since blown out in the windy battle.  Increasing the light of her horn revealed the outline of the warden.  Muleta had been placed on the ground with apparent care.  Next to her stood Iron Will, holding a gigantic table with both hands and waving it up and down with immense strength. “Come on, Monstromurk,” he bellowed.  “If you wreck my day, I’ll blow you away!” The again-wholly-blue cloud was hovering in the middle of the prison hallway, drawing dozens of tendrils of smoke back into itself. Iron Will dropped the table and leaned against the side of a force field, panting hard.  On the other side of the field a green blob of slime hammered at the barrier, driven into a frenzy with the possibility of freedom.  Iron Will turned to it and stared.  The crud creature very gingerly backed away. “Okay,” he said.  “I stunned it.  How do we put it down, magic mare?” _____ Discord rubbed his aching neck as he stood up.  “Tirek, Tirek, Tirek.  My dearest, oldest friend.” The necromancer raised an amused eyebrow.  “You may continue digging your hole, Discord.  You will indeed lie in it.” The draconequus swallowed.  He waved to Tirek genially.  “Why don’t you throw just a teeny bit of the power back here?  Let me have just a smidgen this way and I’ll show you how to put it through its paces.”  He smiled hopefully. Tirek lashed out toward him with a hoof.  Discord threw his hands in front of his face and closed his eyes.  After a second, he cracked one open to risk a glance.  Tirek’s leg was inches away from kicking Discord’s face.  With a triumphant sneer, the centaur lowered his hoof. “Really?  Should I re-establish the connection?  Should I risk you finding a way to reverse the conduit?”  Tirek slowly walked forward, pressing one hoof against Discord’s chest until the trickster was forced against the wall. “I am neither an idiot nor salivating at the chance to be your plaything.  Sit down, shut up, and I just may not change my mind about sparing you.” Discord was gasping as Tirek ground his hoof into the draconequus’ chest.  He stared in horror and confusion at Tirek. “That feeling is pain, Discord.  Get used to it.  Once the word gets out that you’ve been neutered . . . ” Tirek walked back out into the hallway, ignoring the moaning draconequus.  He scrutinized the cells, eyes playing over the warning placards.  Behind one field a single book sat on a lectern, a female face poking out of the pages and staring back at him.  A much larger containment cell held a gigantic spasming green tentacle, whipping back and forth against the reinforced walls.  An animated flaming axe followed it around the room, chopping off and incinerating the end of the continually regenerating tendril. Tirek scratched his chin thoughtfully. This place is filled with weapons and allies.  An army of this nature has never been fielded in the history of the Many Realms.  If I were to free them... “Let me loose!” Tirek turned to regard the prisoner addressing him.  A living shadow with a green face and burning eyes looked at him hopefully. “Let me loose and I shall cast your enemies into time!  I will rework the world for you!  I also happen to make excellent jasmine tea.” Tirek stared at him thoughtfully.  He slowly shook his head. “No!”  The shadow loomed closer until it filled the cell.  A now gigantic face sneered out from the blackness. “You will not deny the shape-shifting master of darkness!  I will unleash unspeakable evil upon you for this rebuff!” Tirek sighed.  “If I free everyone here, do you know what kind of army I could have?” The shadow nodded with a gleeful grin and calculating eyes. “I would have the greatest assembly of cowardly, backstabbing, self-serving fools in the Multiverse,” Tirek concluded. The shadow screamed in anger as Tirek snapped his fingers.  A flash of light flew out from his hand and fled out into the hallways of the prison.  Where the wave passed animated books closed, tendrils ceased to struggle, and shadows retracted into inert orbs of darkness. Tirek turned around and walked into Discord’s cell.  The draconequus had curled up into the fetal ball.  The necromancer laughed. “A strange position for one who was never truly born.”  Tirek snapped his fingers again. Discord’s eyes opened slowly.  “Wha?  No, Megan, I don’t wanna go ta school.  Celly’s comin’ over.” Tirek’s front hooves kicked out, slamming Discord against the wall.  The groaning trickster rubbed his eyes and sighed. “It was too much to hope that this was the dream, wasn’t it?” Tirek nodded and crossed his arms.  “I doubt you could create a nightmare such as this.  Discord, I have woken you for a purpose.” The draconequus smiled widely.  “You need a professional cringing ‘Yes, Master!’ hench-thing?” Tirek sighed.  “Ever the weakling, Discord.  Leave this place.  Tell them who I am.  Tell them what I am.  Make them suitably afraid.” The necromancer snapped his fingers and disappeared.  Discord sighed and rolled his eyes. “What is it about omnipotence that turns some people into such drama queens?” ---- Unaware of the swiftly approaching wall of light, Twilight narrowed her eyes at the Monstromurk.   “Over here, Iron.  I’m going to need your help for this one.” Iron Will ran to Twilight’s side and dropped into a linebacker’s crouch.  “What’s the plan, coach?” Twilight grinned.  “You know what condensation is?” Iron turned to her in confusion.  “No.” The cloud started to reform. Twilight’s horn glowed as the air around the two began to solidify into cold, blue glass.  “I happen to find science education works best with a little demonstration.” Iron Will raised an eyebrow as he found himself inside a large, freezing sphere. “Push!” The minotaur threw himself against the wall of the orb, running toward the Monstromurk.  Two eyes briefly solidified inside the cloud.  The color creature froze in confusion as the world’s largest hamster ball barreled into it. Unseen by the combatants, a wall of light flew down the corridor over them. The ice sphere plunged straight through the angry tempest, barreling through out the other side.  Hitting the curved end of the hallway the ball cracked, rolling slowly backwards until it fell apart.  A panting unicorn lay on her back next to a minotaur groaning on his stomach. “If that didn’t work,” moaned Iron Will, “I hope it kills me quickly.” Twilight pulled herself off the ground.  She was beaming as she tugged on Iron Will’s shoulder.  “So, what happens to molecules of gas when they get significantly colder?” He sighed.  “You know what,  I’m a gentlebull.  It could kill you first.  Just make sure it gets me before I feel worse.” He felt his skin tingle as a purple glow lifted him and spun him toward the “cloud.”  The prison floor was coated in a sickly-sweet-smelling blue liquid.  Iron Will rubbed his eyes in disbelief before turning to Twilight as she clapped her hooves on the floor in triumph. “Explain.” Twilight cantered down the hallway, calling back in a practiced lecturing tone.  “It’s why you get droplets on the outside of a cold cup.  If you freeze a gas, you get a liquid!” Iron smiled as he painfully pulled himself upright.  He stopped after a second.  Something was yelling at him on the edge of his brain.  Iron Will always listened to those voices, as they usually sounded like his mother. He realized it was the only voice he heard. Iron Will walked over to a nearby jail cell.   The metallic fake minotaur inside had never ceased spouting annoying nonsense for Iron’s entire visit at the prison.  The stream of mumbo-jumbo had ceased.  The bullish automaton lay silent and inert on the floor.  A quick scan of the prison confirmed Iron’s suspicions. “Twilight, why are the prisoners all asleep?” She stopped as she considered the question, slightly skidding in the pool of Monstromurk.  A moments concentration sent violet sparks jumping from her horn and floating down the hallway.  They settled on the different torches, bating the jail in a lavender light. She spied a snoozing pile of minotaurs at the opening of the cell block.  “It’s not just the prisoners,” she said to the approaching hoofbeats behind her.  “I’d guess some kind of sleep spell was cast during the riot.”   The lone conscious minotaur scratched his chin thoughtfully.  “So, why are we awake?” “Simple spell-casting superiority, silly! There was a basic protective ward in that ice sphere!” Iron Will gently coughed as he cast skeptical eyes to the bouncy spellcaster.  “Yeah, I felt protected when we hit that wall.” Twilight gave an embarrassed smile and looked away.  “Well, I think the caster or casters assumed that everyone would be running through the hallways . . . magically unprotected.”  Twilight started to hyperventilate as she turned around. “Spike!”   She found him in front of a snoozing bipedal mantis-thing’s cell.  In front of its field was the little dragon, curled up as if he was safe at home.  He snored deeply as a greenish bubble flickered out of his nose.   Twilight stood silent for seconds.  Iron Will carefully approached her.  “Um, Miss Sparkle?  Should we... “ Her horn exploded with power, the light nearly blinding Iron Will.  Her eyes became pupilless silver screens and her hair whipped around in a sudden wind as purple energy played over the little dragon.  Runes appeared on his scales and vanishes, and violet electricity crackled over his body.  The smell of ozone filled the air, and all of the hair on Iron Will stood up (a most uncomfortable thing for a minotaur). The magical mayhem stopped as suddenly as it began.  As the pupils returned to Twilight’s eyes, Spike was still peacefully snoring. Twilight’s voice was soft as she turned to Iron Will. “Mister Minotaur?” “Iron Will,” he said gently. “Could I . . . ,” she paused, wiping her eye with a hoof.  “Could I have the key?” He nodded, holding it out towards her.  She levitated Spike into the empty cell of the Monstromurk.  Twilight leaned him gently against the wall and kissed him on the forehead, then bit her lip for a second as she tried to find the words.  “Spike, take a letter.”  She sniffled.  “I’m going to go find out what I have to do to wake you up.  You’ll be safe in here.  I promise I’ll be back for you, Number One Assistant. “ Twilight gently kissed him on the forehead.  “Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle.” Spike turned his head, mumbling.  Iron Will stood outside until Twilight slowly walked out of the cell and used the gold key to reestablish the field.   Twilight turned to Iron Will, a look of determination on her face.  “Alright, let’s tell the minotaurs who’re still awake to . . .” Iron stood her with a raised palm.  “Hold on before you go barking out orders, lady.  As much as I love how your plan saved our tails, I see a problem with this one.  If there was any hope of a fight happening down here, we’d have half of Tataurus with us by now.”   Twilight slowly drank in the implications.  “Everypony’s asleep.” He nodded, grinding his teeth.  “Yeah.  ‘Everybody’ is asleep, my whole family included.” Twilight nodded.  “Do you want to look for them?” He sighed.  “Yeah, I really do.  And if I do, when they wake, my Mom will ask me if I did look in on them.” Twilight smiled. “So when I say ‘yes,’ she’ll gore me.”  Iron shook his head as he turned and walked away from the prisoner entrance, leaving a wide-eyed Twilight behind him.  He picked up an axe and turned briefly.  “Whatever happened started inside.  You coming?” Twilight stammered out words as best as she could.  “But . . . But shouldn’t you check on them?” Iron Will sighed.  “They’d say ‘no.’ Minotaurs.”  He shrugged. --------------- Ponyville was as renowned for its splendid atmosphere as its unimaginative writers.  On the walls of Miss Cheerilee’s schoolhouse was the phrase, “It was a beautiful day in Ponyville, and...”  The whole thing had a red “X” written over it, with the words “DO NOT USE AGAIN” scrawled beneath. Regardless,  it was a pretty nice day when Tirek teleported to Ponyville. He appeared in the marketplace in a flash of light.  The centaur turned up his nose at the chirping, cheerful throng.  He walked down the street, ignoring the sounds of business as he scanned the village with glowing eyes. The Ponyvillians were less focused. Screams broke out as the strange monster strolled amongst the villagers.  More than twice as big as a pony,  most witnesses fled shrieking from the sight of him.  Several others stood in shock, unable to process the sudden change.  Three of the town flower-girls fainted immediately. Tirek paid them little heed.  He reached out his new senses among the houses.  Opening himself to Discord’s powers felt like eavesdropping on a large chatty crowd, and he worked to distinguish the noise (seventy-five ponies slept within three blocks of him, and he could name their dreams in order) from the useful intelligence. He stepped over a prone pony while careless treading over another unconscious soul’s mane.  Thoughts of vengeance filled his head as he opened his consciousness to the heartbeat of the cosmos. ___ Inside the Carousel Boutique, Rainbow Dash welcomed the screams of terror.  Anything was better than being Rarity’s model.  Her teeth worked furiously to undo the largest train of her dress as Rarity moved to the window. “Wuh es et,”  she growled through a mouth of scintillating silk. Rarity gasped as she peered at the town.  She threw a hoof across her forehead, and Rainbow wondered (not for the first time) if Rarity acted that way deliberately. “My goodness!  Rainbow, it’s some kind of monster!” Rainbow hurried to the window as fast as her corset would allowed, although not careful enough to keep the hat and wig in place.  Her face lit up with delight at the sight of the necromancer. “Ah, sweet!  That’s Tirek!” Rarity blinked.  “Dear, you know I’d never wish to impugn your education,  Still, where did you pull that particular knowledge from?” Dash rushed to her saddlebags, carefully stepping out of enough lace to make a particularly racy (and somewhat ineffective) ship’s mast.  She drew a pair of bronze-rimmed flight goggles out of her bag and clicked them into place with glee.  “Rarity, the only time I ever paid attention in history class was the parts about Firefly’s adventures.  She’s not just awesome, she’s a Cloudsdale national hero!  And now, I get to follow in the wingbeats of the pegasus who took Tirek down to funky town.” Rarity drew in her breath.  “Oh, my.  You simply can’t be serious!  Rushing that thing on your own would invite disaster!  It looks so dangerous.” Rarity expected a disappointed glare from the eager warrior-to-be.  She was shocked at the cheerful response thrown her way. “On my own?”  Rainbow snorted.  “Heck, I’m bringing back-up.”  Her grin made Rarity shrink back. “No, no, no!  I could never resort to such hoofticuffs.  What good would I possibly be, dear?” Rainbow pushed open the windows.  “Gee, I dunno.  I just thought the mare who rushed and bucked a manticore, kung fu fought AJ, and nag-smacked changelings with a grin would have my back.”  She turned to Rarity, hope written across her face. The reluctant mare sighed.  “Very well.  At the very least I could try a diplomatic approach.”  As Dash flew out of the window, Rarity muttered under her breath.  “Thanks for the mandatory athletics, Father.  If you could see me now, you would have let me take ballet.” ____ A quivering Fluttershy sat behind a garbage can.  As her teeth started chattering the rabbit next to her covered her mouth and shook his head.  She nodded, tears rolling down her cheek.  He offered a smile as he removed his paw. “I-I know, Angel.  I’m just so scared.  Wherever could that monster have come from?” Angel shrugged as he hefted a nearby board-with-a-nail and swung it experimentally. Fluttershy gasped.  “Oh, no.  We couldn’t possible confront him.  Why don’t we slip out the back of town?” Angel gave her a withering look.  He suddenly kicked her into a pile of trash and lifted his club as powerful hoofsteps entered the alley.   “I sense something,” Tirek said as he reached out with mental feelers.  “A presence I’ve not felt in . . . ” Rainbow Dash slammed into the ground on three hooves, keeping the fourth at the requisite jaunty angle pointing away.  The shockwave shook the alley, sending garbage cans rolling and Fluttershy into a exposed faint.  Dash looked up from the ground with a practiced grin.  Inwardly, she hoped all those weekends spent honing the “Three Hoof Drop” paid off. “You’re not going anywhere, Tirek!” Rarity ran into the alley with enough time to see Rainbow’s opening salvo.  Panting, she rolled her eyes and leaned against the wall. “To think they call moi melodramatic.” Tirek stepped closer toward the ponies.  He smiled as Angel took up position beside Dash. “After all this searching I have finally found you.  The scion of my old nemesis lies before me.  Blood of Firefly, you will kneel before Tirek.” Rainbow gasped as Angel Bunny charged. “Really? Blood of Firefly? Me? Oh, this is going to be so... ” Tirek raised a hand and telekinetically flung the starstruck pegasus and charging rabbit down the alley. “Cease your meaningless prattle.  I have no business with you.” As Fluttershy stared into the sky shaking, she saw a grinning crimson face peer down at her. “Greetings, scion of a worthy foe.  Today is the day you were born to suffer through.” Rainbow Dash pulled herself out of a garbage pile with burning ears.  Her brain almost refused to deal with the sight in front of her. “FLUTTERSHY?  No way!  Come on, Tirek.  You’re joking, right.” The necromancer spared an irritated glance at the pegasus.  Snapping his fingers made a garbage can leapt into the air and twisted around Rainbow’s mouth, legs, and wings.  She stared at Tirek in impotent fury.  Next to her sat Angel Bunny in a dumpster-derived bird cage. “I am not to be addressed so familiarly, pony.  Be still. Be silent.  The destiny that transpires here is above those as common as you.” He sighed in exasperation as Rarity stepped towards him.  “What is it now?” She stamped her hoof, lowered her head and growled.  “Good sir, if I may use that title for one such as you, please remove yourself from our presence!  If we can’t find a common diplomatic ground, let me assure you that no claw shall be laid on my friends!”  She leapt onto her rear hooves into a fighting stance. Tirek laughed as he craned his head down toward Fluttershy.  “I like this one.  There is fire in her.  Is there nothing you will say in her defense, my enemy?” Fluttershy quivered and stammered.   “P-please leave her alone.”  She narrowed her eyes.  “L-leave us all alone and go away.” Tirek considered her before looking at Rarity and Rainbow Dash again.  He shrugged as he snapped his fingers.  Fluttershy disappeared in a blink of energy.  Rarity roared (or possibly screeched) as she jump kicked toward Tirek.  He snapped again, freezing her in the air.  Her limbs refused to respond, but her rage-filled eyes followed Tirek as he calmly walked around her. “Is it possible that ponies have grown a backbone?  Unicorn, your friend will suffer in anticipation until I have time to deal with her at length.  After some more pressing business I may just return to take your mettle.”  Her rubbed a claw along the underside of her chin.  “It may prove a most amusing diversion.” Tirek vanished as Rarity fell to the ground.  Dash and Angel exchanged worried looks inside their metal prisons as the wrathful seamstress smashed her hooves against the pavement and screamed incoherently.   _____ As Twilight Sparkle and Iron Will passed a seemingly endless supply of sleeping evil, the magic-user wracked her brain over the entire incident. “Okay, sleep spells are magic spells. The prisoners can’t do magic.  How does that work?” Twilight rubbed her chin as she looked upward.  She briefly wished for a chalkboard to work on. “Alright.  Iron Will, every prisoner in here has a magic suppression spell on them, right?” Iron shrugged, drawing an exasperated breath from Twilight. “Mister Will, its your city-complex!  Don’t they teach this in school?  I had to do a report on it in Canterlot!  Well, more like I handed in an extra credit paper, but the principle is the same.” His hands tightened on the axe. “Lady, I don’t even live here anymore, and you can be sure that when I did no one cared about drumming any civic pride into me.”  He drew a long breath and straightened his shoulders.  “Iron Will says that you need to focus on solutions, not problems.”   “Okay,” Twilight said while cocking a hoof at him, “I know I’ve heard you use personal pronouns before.  What’s up with that?” Iron shrugged.  “I slip into character when I’m flustered.” He rolled his eyes at her incredulous look. “Look, if you wanted a minotaur wizard go talk to a fire mage at Hurloon Academy.  You’ve got a motivational speaker with an axe, and it’s worked so far.  Let’s not focus on our limits . . . ” “Limits!  Iron, that’s genius!” “Of course,” he said cheerfully without comprehension.  A career in show business had taught Iron Will to never looked flustered when the customer is having a happy moment.  He considered how to goad her without giving away his ignorance.  “So, obviously . . . ” Twilight was now bouncing around the minotaur.  “The suppression spell has to have a limit!  If a prisoner could suddenly gave a boost to their magical power, they could overcome the suppression limit.  It’d be simple enough to push the dweomercraft until . . . ” Twilight stopped as Iron put a hand in front of her mouth.  Using his axe he gestured to an opened cell marked “NO-HEART.” The minotaur lowered himself to Twilight’s level.  “Okay, I’m going to go in.  You stay out here.” He suddenly stared into the eyes of a very angry mare. “I’m not some helpless ambassador,” she whispered forcefully.  “I’m the student of the Princess!  I’ve bravely beaten boasting baddies before.” Iron made incomplete gestures with his hands as he tried to spin this problem.  “Look, I know.  I’ve read your file,” he lied.  “But if something jumps us, I can take the beating well while you send a rescue spell.  Let’s optimize our skill sets.” Twilight reluctantly nodded at Iron’s disarming grin.  He turned and stepped towards the cell. “Besides,” he whispered, “the guards say that this guy’s a pushover.  I hear he’s reformed so well the guards relaxed the anti-magic wards on him.” Twilight’s mind raced as Iron tipped-hoofed inside the cell.  Long seconds passed in silence. “Iron, is everything okay?  I’ve been thinking... ” A moment passed. “Uh.  I can deal with this on my own, Twilight.  You don’t need to come in.  One question, though. If an inmate had his magic ward relaxed, say just enough so he could run the prison drink cart, could someone else steal his magic?”  Iron Will paused.  “Think about it outside.” Twilight nodded, then blushed as she realized no one was looking.  She peered at the small text on the “No-Heart” sign.  “His information says this prisoner’s a wizard, right?  A mortal’s magic is normally tied to their life force.  You can’t take it while they’re alive.” More silence intruded. “Well, what if that didn’t matter to someone?” Twilight gasped.  “What’s inside that cell, Iron Will?” “Nothing,” he shouted.  “Just a . . . sleeping wizard.  He’s in Slumberland.  I’m just putting his cute little green teddy bear in his arms, now.” Twilight broke the silence first. “You said he had reformed before . . . “ There was the sound of hooves being wiped against the wall before Iron Will walked out and nodded.  “Yeah, he was their big success story.  Accepted Celestia as his Lady and Guidance.  I guess someone has his power now.”  He paused and saw a unicorn about to cry.  “Before he fell asleep.” Twilight swallowed.  “Let’s find out who took his power.”  She walked forward without casting a glance inside No-Heart’s cell.  The pair stayed in silence for moments until a distressed voice called out from the corridor ahead. “Help me!  Oh for Chaos’ sake would someone please help me!  I’m just going to die!” “No,” said Twilight Sparkle. Iron Will moved towards the sound.  “Maybe we should investigate?” “No,” she repeated with rising anger.  “It’s a trick. Get an axe.” Iron Will’s eyes shifted uncomfortably as he lifted his prison standard issue double-axe.  Twilight giggled nervously. “Okay, you’re prepared! Good. Now be ready to use it.” The voice drew closer. “Oh, someone please help me! I fear my legs are going to fall off. I haven’t used them this much in centuries! How do mortals deal with putting them one in front of another endlessly? What I wouldn’t give for my powers back.” An exhausted mixture of parts dragged himself into view.  Twilight stared in hatred, but Discord was staring too intensely at his own wings to notice. “Useless little things.  I mean, their handsome and striking, but being able to fly would be useful.” Discord screamed as a blast of magical energy knocked him off of his feet.  He gasped as four hooves settled onto his chest.  Looking up revealed a lavender horn glowing with a blinding light and two merciless eyes just beneath them. “Oh.  Hello, there!”  Discord flashed the “Don’t Hit Me Grin” that had mostly worked for him that day. “I’m kind of in a mess right now, so if you can help me it’d be great.” “Discord.” The pinned draconequus shivered.  “I’d never forget that timber of righteous indignation.  Twilight Sparkle!  How good of you to come rescue me.” Iron Will stepped to the side of the two.  He marveled at the change that had come over the intellectual dignitary; she was channeling a rage that would have gotten her invited to Iron’s mother’s girls-night-outs. “Twilight, is this guy a problem?” She looked up with hair that had suddenly become frazzled and a wide grin.  “Nope, nope, nope!  Didn’t you hear?”  She turned her terrifying glance towards the draconequus.  “He’s fine and vulnerable and powerless, didn't you hear?  Why, he’s totally at our mercy.” Discord threw an arm over his forehead.  “Oh, now we see the violence inherent in the system.  Please spare me, Miss Sparkle.  I’m the victim here.” Iron Will gently put his hand on Twilight’s shoulder.  She sighed as she stepped off of the groaning trickster.  He pulled himself to his feet with great difficulty and grinned at the steaming unicorn. “Twilight, my dear, let’s be reasonable,” Discord said as he wiped grime off of his coat.  “There’s no reason to be frightened.  I may have been temporarily AH!” Discord grabbed his side as Twilight withdrew the tip of her horn.  Iron Will gave her a disapproving look. “What?  I didn’t even draw blood.  Besides, his claim to have lost his powers is an extraordinary one, and requires replicable empirical evidence.” The minotaur was about to respond when Discord threw himself at Iron Will’s feet. “Please, good sir!  Please help me.  I’ve always been a fan of your people and their incessant lack of a fear of immolation.”  Discord started sweating as he saw Iron’s eyes widen.  “I beg you as a minotaur to help me, and in deference to you upbringing I’ll even use small words as I do so.” Iron Will considered this.  “How much evidence, Twilight?” The draconequus drew himself up and crossed his arms.  “Really?  Ladies and gentlethings, behold the heroes of the piece: Mister and Misses Random Violence.” “Hey, I am trying to do serious research!” “And we are not a couple!” Discord smiled.  The age old trick of putting others on the defensive had worked.  Having the least amount of control he had possessed in centuries, Discord relished mastering the conversation.   “Well, the heroes have vanquished my confidence.  I seriously doubt you’ll have any luck even finding the one who stole my powers.” The gleeful trickster spun away from Twilight and Iron Will.  He mouth the words silently as Twilight asked, “Who stole them, Discord?” So predictable, he thought.  Better play to it.  Heroes feel like they’re in change when they’re asking questions. “Well, his name is Tirek. He’s a Sagittarius, of course.  He happens to like eternal darkness, thrones of skulls, and long walks on the beach.” Discord turned to his audience, but his gloating expression quickly disappeared.  He expected the frumpy librarian to pepper him with questions, not charge him with her horn.  He threw his arms in front of him, but lifting his feet to hover away only succeeded in connecting his rump with the floor.  It was a sensation that had occurred recently so often he was starting to become bored with it. Twilight hesitated within a few inches of Discord, stopping sudden with a pained squeak.  Behind her the prone prankster saw Iron Will, his gruff savior, holding Twilight’s tail at the base.  Discord blew out a breath and giggled in hysterical nervousness. “Just a little joke, Twilight! Try to have a sense of humor about these things.  It was funny!” The furious librarian advanced on Discord. Staring nose-to-nose with a unicorn became especially uncomfortable as Discord angled his head to avoid impalement. “I don’t trust your assessment of ‘funny,’ Discord.”  Twilight paused to slowly breath in and out several times before continuing. “I remember the worst moment of my life.  Not many ponies can say that.  Usually, they’re exaggerating.  I actually remember it, and you were right next to me, laughing in enjoyment the whole time.” The powerless draconequus shrugged.  “Did I? My condolences. Was it at least slightly amusing?” Iron Will averted his eyes from the blinding flare-up of Twilight’s horn. “You . . . don’t . . . REMEMBER?” Now backed into a corner, the trapped trickster held his head high. “Please, Miss Sparkle. The day I amused myself in your tiny hamlet may have been the worst moment of your miserable dull existence.”  He pointedly examined his fingernails. “For me . . . it was Tuesday.” Iron Will whistled, drawing an irate look from Twilight.  She turned to him with a scowl.  “By the way, mister,” she angrily whispered, “you may be ignorant of pony customs, expressive gestures, and social mores, but trust me on this one point.  If you grab my tail like that again, you better have put a ring on it!” Discord chuckled at the tirade that had gotten progressively louder with each sentence.  “Well, this little outing may turn out to be more amusing than I thought.  Shall we go?  I warn you, I may need the burly bull to carry me.” Twilight laughed in disbelief.  “Why, do you want us as bodyguards? Good idea.  If I were you, I’d be scared of how many ponies will line up to take a shot at you! Heck, you made Pinkie Pie mad! Pinkie! That’s almost disallowed by physical law!” Iron Will scowled.  He stepped toward Discord and leaned down.  Twilight couldn’t help trying to calculate the draconequus to minotaur body mass ratio.  It wasn’t very equal. “Listen to Iron Will, funny guy, and listen good.  Hear Iron Will now and understand him later, for he will use small words for your benefit.” Twilight smiled.  I could get to like that “in-character” thing. “Why should Iron Will drag your miserable carcass out of here, you feckless pile of hydra dung?” Discord smiled. “Because I’m in control here.  Sure, you can run over hill and dale chasing a teleporter with omniscience.  It’ll amuse me to contemplate while you tiny, provincial world falls apart.  But I . . . ” Discord breathed in their anticipatory attention as he stretched out his sentence. “ . . . I know where we need to go.  I know how to get there.  Also, just a minor point, I’m one of less than a dozen remaining beings who know how to ring the doorbell.” ___ Tirek regarded the Canterlot gardens as he walked toward the castle.  A bevy of exotic animals hid from him, quivering in dark corners.  This had already put him in a good mood.  Approaching the nearest door to the castle brought him to the border of the statutory area.  Stopping near a fountain, he folded his arms behind his back and regarded a recently restored alicorn statue.  Minutes passed with the only sound provided by the flowing water and Tirek’s recollections. Whether cruel fate or an uncaring universe, it was the worst possible moment for Prince Blueblood to walk his poodles in the garden. Four tiny fluff-balls barked angrily at him.  Their leashes lay upon the ground, no longer held by the now-dim horn of their terrified master.  Prince Blueblood stared in shock with his mouth open, unable to form words at the sight of the grinning necromancer. Tirek regarded him for long moment with a smile.  He sardonically nodded to Blueblood. “So, noblestallion of Canterlot, I assume you have been educated as to who I am?” The only answer was a strangled whimper.  Tirek stepped closer and leaned close to Blueblood. “I couldn’t quite make that out.” The only change in the whimper was one of volume. Tirek shrugged and turned to the noisy poodles. He looked back at Blueblood with eyebrows raised in amusement. “Shall you set your hounds upon me?” Blueblood licked his lips as his brain restarted.  “Oh, please don’t touch my babies!  They’re not bred for confrontation.” “And neither are you,” Tirek concluded as he walked around the prince.  “I wonder what your forefathers who claimed this land would have thought.  You caught me pausing to think here before the true difficulty starts, but I sense no threat from you.” Tirek glowered at the withering Blueblood.  The shivering noble started walking backwards toward the castle. “Or . . . do what you want to them!  They’re just dogs, after all.  I’ll be in the castle . . . the one a few countries over.” Tirek stared disbelieving as Blueblood turned and ran.  Casting his eyes down, he thoughtfully regarded at the pack of yapping poodles.  One of them leapt forward and began to gnaw ineffectually on Tirek’s leg. “To think, in your master flows the bloodline that claimed Dream Valley.”  Tirek snapped his fingers as Blueblood disappeared behind a shrubbery wall, and the prince reappeared in front of him.  Blueblood quaked as Tirek regarded him.  The centaur pointed a finger at the poodle trying without success to sever his ankle. “Do you know what is the single difference between you and these useless, thin-blooded, pompous show dogs?” Blueblood swallowed.  Faced with the first important decision in his life. his brain froze and screamed for help. Tirek’s mouth remained in a thin, disappointed line.  “These scrawny things still possess the will to fight.  You are more domesticated than they.”  He suddenly smiled.  “And I have a habit of collecting domesticated royalty . . . ” Tirek snapped his fingers, and Blueblood’s body broke.  The prince screamed as his coat fell off of his face and his teeth reformed.  His hooves pushed into the ground in pain before splitting into claws.  He looked at them in shock as the flesh of on his back exploded, the sounds of leathery flaps coming to his ears as he scrunched his shoulders. Tirek nodded in satisfaction.  “Stand up, former prince.” Blueblood sobbed as he tried to wipe the tears away.  “What have you done?”  He flinched in pain as one of the pointy things at the end of his ruined hooves poked him in the eye. The centaur smashed his hoof into the ground.  His fist balled at his side, Tirek bellowed at the ruined unicorn.  “I command you to stand!” Only two beings ever dared to yell at Prince Blueblood, and both controlled heavenly bodies.  He had long since developed the instinct to respond with immediate servitude when screamed at. He willed himself to stand.  He lifted his front half off the ground and twisted upright at an impossible angle. Tirek nodded and crossed his arms.  “Good.”  He cast an amused finger towards the fountain. ”Now, look at yourself.  See the inside of you painted upon the outside.” “I . . . ” “Walk.  Now.” The blubbering thing that was once royalty turned and fell over on unfamiliar legs.  He felt Tirek’s hand grab the back of his neck as he was lifted into the air.  Blueblood was dangled over the fountain.  He screamed as he looked down, beholding a creature with a naked, fanged muzzle topping the body of a clawed ape with bat wings.  It screamed back in his own voice. Tirek laughed deeply, dropping Blueblood into the water.  Blueblood stared out into nothing until Tirek’s voice drew his attention back to the pain of reality. “You are now my gargoyle, noble.”  Tirek snorted.  “You are now and forever my Scorpan.  You will serve me.” The thing in the fountain stared at his ruined and split hooves wriggling in front of his face.  “Serve . . . you?” Tirek rolled his eyes.  “Of course, idiot.”  He turned to the poodles.  “After all,” he said with a grin, “I need someone to look after my dragons.” Tirek snapped his fingers. .____ Minutes later a small crowd of nightmares disappeared from the Canterlot gardens.  Tirek walked into the nearest castle door and beheld a busy kitchen.  Ponies rushed back and forth around him, decorating cheesecakes, transporting platters of cranberries, and producing minor towers of dishes and utensils that were unceremoniously dropped into a huge bathtub that could be regarded as a sink.   “Do I still need to eat, I wonder?”  Tirek mused aloud as he examined the edible fineries around him.  “If so, should I cure myself of that particular habit?” The kitchen workers stopped to stare at the ominous voice.  The wait staff was inured to midnight snack runs by demigods. They didn’t run at the sight of the necromancer.  An agitated head chef, showing that civilization does indeed dull the instincts hard won by natural selection, trotted up to Tirek irately. “What is the meaning of this?  I demand to know!” Tirek smiled. “Historians would debate the meaning of this moment, perhaps.  That is, if I intended to leave any of them around.  You’ll know, I suppose.” His brain finally noticing his instincts’ screaming, the blood quickly drained from the attendant’s face as Tirek stepped closer to him.  The rest of the kitchen staff watched, spellbound.  Tirek laid a hand on the quaking pony’s shoulder in a gesture that only the pathologically hopeful would interpret positively. “One day in the future, when you foolishly assume I cannot hear you, you will whisper to your grandchildren that this was the moment Equestria as you knew it died.  On that day, no matter where I am, I will hear you.  I will laugh.  I will remember you, little pony.”  Tirek’s grin widened.  “Do hope that I am in a good mood on that day.  Pray to me for indulgence.” He removed his hand, taking time to gently pat the pony’s shoulder.  It sent the attendant to the ground in front of Tirek as his knees gave out. Tirek cocked his head at the sprawled pony.  “That is not an inappropriate gesture.”  He turned away, dismissing the wait staff with a wave of his hand.  “Now, go.  Tell her I am here.  I am certain she can sense me by now, but I want her to remember the day her terrified subjects ran to her to herald me.” Tirek was quickly alone in the kitchen.  He idly picked up a platter of cake and stared at it in contemplation before shrugging and returning it to the counter.  The centaur waited for a space of minutes until the screaming had subsided.  Assuring himself of his fairness in this, Tirek stepped out into the empty castle, making his way to the throne room through hallways he once knew well. He stopped just outside the throne room door.  Tirek stared at the wall and seemed to consider something.  Nodding in decision, he snapped his fingers, prompting the throne room to fill with a tinkling sound.  Momentarily, he stepped in. The great hall of Canterlot Castle had barely changed over the centuries.  Tirek noted the familiar boasts of victory immortalized in stained glass.  He smiled at the turns of destiny as he noticed one familiar window, finally recognizing a handful of mares he had met only that day.  Past the windows and the dozens of armed and armored pony warriors trapped up to their neck in glass cubes was Princess Celestia.  She stood upon her dais,  hair whipping more than he recalled, wings outstretched.  He felt the hate radiating off of her and smiled. Stepping forward casually, Tirek chuckled as his gaze passed over the squirming, trapped guards. “Really, you still have soldiers here?  Do you now hide behind your troops, Celestia?” “I relieved them of their duty,” she answered with an unwavering gaze. “They stayed, regardless.” “Hmm.”  He scratched his neck, and yawned, reveling in the visible aggravation that bubbled to Celestia’s face at his disdain.  “Is that loyalty to be commended or insubordination to be punished?  How do you judge that act, Solar Tyrant?” Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “Let them go, Tirek.  You quarrel is with me.”  She stepped towards the front of her platform.  “Such cruel acts ill suit beings of power like us.” Tirek laughed.  “My little tyrant, being capable of such acts are the only true justification to obtain power.  They stay.  They bear witness to this for future generations.” He stepped toward her, slowly and nonchalantly.  “Where would your sister happen to be?  If she’s unoccupied, I would . . . ” Celestia kicked off the floor with her rear hooves, wings carrying her forward as she swept her horn into Tirek.  From behind Tirek, a trapped guard felt hope as he saw the front horntip disappear into black armor.  The necromancer grabbed the base of the horn with his hands and yanked her head out.  Celestia stood on her hind legs as her front hooves flared with light, leaving heated marks on Tirek’s chest as she pummeled him. He grimaced as he held Celestia’s horn with both arms.  His hands twisted in opposite directions, sending a cloud of sparks flaring around the room.  The princess gasped in pain as she placed her hooves steadily on Tirek’s shoulders.  She strained forward, lowered her head towards Tirek by inches. “Yield . . . tyrant.”  Tirek grunted with effort as he struggled to keep grasp of Celestia.  He strained with effort, a spurt of magic blasting the ceiling as the slight sound of alabaster cracking filled the silence.  “Yield, lest I make a wish.” Celestia snorted and whipped her head back, flapping with both wings.  Tirek was flung into the air behind her, the castle wall behind him shattering as his back impacted it.  A cheer raised from one of the trapped ponies.  Tirek lifted himself onto his knees and gave the imprisoned guard next to him a withering glare. “You . . . ”  Tirek breathed in and out slowly.  “You still have faith in her?” A determined nod answered him. Tirek placed his hand on the cube and used it to help himself stand up from the pile of scattered dust, broken masonry, and dark droplets.  “That will make this all the sweeter.” He turned to Celestia, noting with satisfaction that amongst the flaring mane of colors a trickle of red ran down the horn.  Her hair streamed wildly around her as she stared at him, unafraid.  He chuckled. “Now I understand how a trickster of such simple tastes could find himself smitten with such equally simple glory.  Tell me, how did the Faery Queen manage to best such a spirit?  I was incredulous when the news came to Tartaurus.  You once slew three of her ilk at once with only horn beams.” Celestia’s eyes narrowed.  She lowered her horn, spread her wings, and reared back while lifting her front hooves into a still position.  A modern sculptor would have assumed she was posing classically for intimidation purposes.  Only beings such as the one she faced now would recognize a stance in the ancient martial art that stained the ground at the Battle of Dream Valley.  Tirek subconsciously moved into a defensive posture. “It was true love, Tirek.  She stole the power of true love for her own purposes.” He laughed, circling Celestia.  “In that case, I offer you the chance to relent.  You shall certainly have no chance against me.”          As he drew closer to her, Celestia turned to keep her horn pointing at him.  “Stand down, Tirek.  Lavan approached me in this way, and he was shattered in turn.” Tirek chuckled as he slowly drew closer.  “The Magma Demon was a fool.  I am not.” Celestia’s gaze never wavered.  “He was confident because of his stolen power.  Perhaps that sounds familiar?” In response, Tirek galloped across the castle floor, cracks appearing where his hooves smashed the ground.  Celestia fell forward effortlessly, like a leaf blown by the wind.  In that single movement, her horn glowed as it swept sideways.  Parts of Tirek disappeared, and nearby parts blackened.   He gave a low growl as both of his hands grabbed Celestia’s mane.  Grunting with effort, he spun away from her while pulling upward, sparks playing along his hands.  Celestia was dragged off of her hooves and into the air.  She spread her wings and flapped with all her might to attain control.  Barely slowing, the princess screamed wordlessly as Tirek slammed her into the ground.   Tirek released her mane and smiled as he approached the fallen alicorn.  She struck with her back leg, connecting with Tirek’s right foreleg and forcing it to bend unnaturally.  He snarled as he took ahold of her wings, and Celestia kicked out in defiance as she was lifted off of the ground.  The princess gasped in pain as his fingers tensely clenched her feathers before hurling her across the room.  Trapped ponies screamed as their ruler was pitched through a castle wall.  The marble bricks scattered like kicked children’s blocks as the side of Canterlot Castle shivered, its foundations starting to crumble. Tirek pushed his hand into his wet side as he limped outside.  He paused to regard a horrified captive guardspony. “Do you . . . think any less of her . . . now that her blood is smeared across her throne room?” The paralyzed soldier gritted his teeth.  Tears he was unable to wipe away ran down his face. “She bleeds for me.  She bleeds for us all, monster.  We would do the same for her.” Tirek raised an eyebrow.  “Hmph.  Ponies.  Stronger than I thought.” He leaned against a jagged wall and pulled himself outside.  Celestia was dirt-covered, bleeding, and already standing.  Heavenly parents, she thought, I thank you for giving me enough strength to get on my feet before the beast saw me.  Let it get no satisfaction from me. Tirek half-collapsed as he pushed himself through a fence, bending the painted purple iron before throwing it aside.  “You don’t look good, Celestia.  No one would immortalize the wretch in front of me in statuary now.” Celestia suppressed a cough, swallowing something warm.  “You look worse.” He nodded.  “I concede the point.  The question remains as to which of us will be standing in several minutes time.  I confess that in spite of the danger, I find myself too curious to stop.” “STOP!  FOUL BEAST, LAY NOT ANOTHER TOUCH UPON MY SISTER!” Tirek smiled as Celestia’s eyes widened in fear for the first time that day.  “She’s noticed my presence, tyrant.  She’s coming.” Celestia began pulling herself towards the necromancer.  “I can end you before she arrives.  Whatever the cost, you will never see her.” He raised a hand toward the advancing alicorn.  “Hold your . . . prattling.  I never tested the extent of Discord’s power . . . but I assume this will work.” Clouds pulled across the sky, racing at a breakneck pace.  Lightning flashed, striking around the perimeter of the gardens.  Tirek paid the weather no heed, focusing on his own efforts.  Celestia closed her eyes and ran at the necromancer, horn pointed at his heart. I don’t care what happens to me now now.  Luna’s strong enough.  She’ll nurture Equestria.  Only please, Lord of Galaxies and Lady of the Nebulae, please let me kill him before she arrives. Celestia flung herself forward toward the chest and into the hands of Tirek, closing her eyes for what she assumed was the last time. Tirek disappeared in a flash of light.  Celestia smashed against the castle wall, sending cracks rippling through the marble.  She drew labored breaths as she turned around. A fully healed Tirek stood a dozen paces away.  He was politely clapping as he smiled at Celestia.  The wind around them both whipped into a frenzy as four hooves landed on the rubble like thunderclaps.  A determined voice whispered behind Celestia. “I am here, sister.” Oh, Luna.  I’ve failed you.  I failed to spare you this. Princess Luna’s eyes glowed with power.  Electricity crackled along her dark-blue coat.  She stepped into front of her sagging sibling and stared at Tirek. “THOU DARES!  THOU DARES TO RETURN MY GAZE UNAFRAID AFTER LAYING THY FILTHY CLAWS UPON MY SISTER?” Tirek stood stiffly, breathing in the sight of Luna.  He dropped to one knee, lowered his head and swept his hands outwards. “Indeed, Queen of Stars and Shadow.  All this I do and more,” he said in a careful tone.  “I would do anything to give you the glory you truly deserve, my Lady of the Night.  My heart and soul is yours, Nightmare Moon.” The power left Luna’s eyes as she gasped in shock.  Celestia’s heart leapt into her throat. Please, Luna.  This time, please don’t listen to him.