//------------------------------// // Chaotic Closure // Story: Earning Freedom // by Daxisle //------------------------------// Chaotic Closure "OH GREAT DISCORD BUTT!" Praised Star Shade, bowing before a serpent like statue with mismatched body parts of different animals. "Tell me your secrets!" The former Night guard hugged the grey stone, a shiver crawled up his spine upon feeling how undeniable cold the statue was, thanks to winter weather. Shade's ear twitched. "What's that?" He asked looking up into the horror filled face of the statue. He observed the one fanged mouth intently and nodded his head. "Thank you My lord. I-" he stopped speaking and tilted his head. "No, I don't blame Luna, she-" He stopped speaking again. His serpentine eyes widened in shock as he looked at the statue. "NO! She's a BEAST!" "You know, it doesn't make me look good when one of my companions is talking to himself in front of a statue." Called Sin walking into the stone garden. Shade looked back and tilted his head. "Especially when you make it look like you're worshiping the greatest threat this land had ever known." Sin took a seat by his friend and observed the statue with scrutiny. "So, this is the draconakiss, Discord." "Draconequus, idiot." Sin looked over to Star Shade with a quirked brow. "What did you call me?" "Huh?" Star replied looking at him dumbly. "I didn't call you anything, he did!" He pointed a hoof to the statue. "Star, he's a statue, he can't even hear me." Sin rubbed his temples with his hooves. "Oh contrar, young Sin." That voice said again, Sin's mouth gaped when he discovered that the origin of the voice was actually from the statue. "I am very conscience and hardly hard of hearing." The voice was playful though menacing. Dark and some how light hearted at the same time. Like speaking to somebody who you know was playing around with you. The freedom loving stallion looked around the statue and circled it, trying to find if anyone was playing a trick on him. "There's nobody there, Sin." Discord called again with a chuckle. "It's only me." Sin looked around the garden to ensure they were unquestionably alone before he spoke back to the supposedly quasi-inanimate stone ornament. "Indeed." he growled walking back to his original position. "So, you're Discord, embodiment of disharmony and chaos." Discord chuckled, his stone form still as it always was, giving for a feeling of gross paranoia to the stallions mind. "That would be correct. The god lord of chaos at your service." A moment passed before he spoke again, this time his tone holding a bit of a condescending theme. I've read a lot about you from Shade here's mind. A stallion of liberty and freedom, hell bent on making the world a freer place and freeing those who have been unjustly imprisoned. "Something like that." Sin agreed cautiously. "You know." Discord chuckled. What is Chaos but another form of freedom? Sin quirked a brow and looked to Shade who was enjoying his masters words. "Consider it." the statue continued. "The opposite of Chaos is Order yes? Order of government, the very thing you loath in this world." "Indeed, I heard from Spike that you had unleashed quite a bit of trouble for Equestria last you were free." Sin smirked. To which the Draconequus laughed and listed off a few things he had done, putting sever emphasis on the comical value of his 'shenanigans'. "Tell me, Discord, is it true that you had buffalo dancing like ballerinas in pink tutu's?" Discored laughed again. "One of my best gags yet." "Do they typically do that?" "Are you kidding me? Who in their right mind would?" "So it was because of you that they did." "duh" Called the imprisoned spirit giving a sigh, clearly becoming agitated. "Can you get on with your point already?" Sin cleared his throat. "That sounds rather authoritarian to me." He shrugged. Discord was silent for a moment. "Beg pardon." He shot with skepticism. Sin adjusted his goggles and reasoned to the spirit of chaos about how if it weren't for him, the buffalo wouldn't have acted as they did. Discored replied with another aggravated sigh and explained that he only gave them the ability to do it. "So, let me see if I get this straight." Sin held up his hoof. "You're escape only 'allowed' the buffalo to dance like that, even though they could have done so already, yet they needed you out in order for them to done pink spandex and trot around like younglings at a ballerina recital?" "Pretty much." Discord replied apathetically. Sin's thoughtful expression turned deadpan. "You'll have to pardon me, however, bull shit." Oh Sin, you're far to serious for your own good. Sin smirked. "Sorry to say, it more or less sounds like you have your own form of authoritarianism. Except, instead of using your power to make those you control productive and rule them in an orderly manner, you make them act irrationally and perform acts that entertain you." Discord was silent for a moment, he made a few thoughtful sounds before he blew a rude raspberry. Yea so? He asked annoyed. "You are not the god of Chaos." Sin replied simply. Discord burst into a fit of laughter. It echoed throughout what Sin assumed was the walls of his stone prison. "I'm not the- hahaha" He continued his maniacal fit of giggles, even prompting Shade to join in the merriment. Though after a few minutes the Draconequus finally eased his laughter to chuckles. Alright smart guy, and what, prey tell, am I exactly? "You are a chaotic god, but you have your own brand of authority. Which you, and only you, dictate." Sin shook his head and began to walk away. "You are a dictator for your own entertainment, you do not let happen of their own accord, which is what true chaos is, you simply bring in your own destructive brand of control." The stallion began to walk away, a triumphant smirk plastered across his muzzle. "Shade!" Discord barked. Sick 'em!" Star Shade gave a quick solute and made a mad dash for his friend. Sin looked back just in time to see the stallion and rolled backwards, using his center of gravity, he extended his four hooves and pushed the attacking pony up, causing Shade to overshoot the stallion land on the other side of the garden. Let's see who you really are, Sin. The night pony geared up for another run before a white glow consumed him and held him still. Sin turned his head and looked over to find Celestia and the pink alicorn with yellow and purple hair from before. "Sin." She called walking up to him like a mother about to scold a child. "I don't know what this is about, but it ends now." She chided. Sin gave a glaring look to Star Shade and another look to the princess. Wanting no more trouble for the evening, former senator conceded to the princess"Very well." he called taking a breath and visibly relaxing. "Shade and myself had a simple disagreement. Nothing that violence will resolve." His last words were directed at the night pegasus, who merely returned his scowl. Celestia released the former night guard and sighed. "Good, now come. I've had the chef's prepare something for you and your friends." She turned around and motioned to be followed. The pink alicorn walked beside her, shooting a quick look between the two stallions. Shade gave one last scowl to Sin before slowly back his way to the princesses. Keeping his serpentine eyes intently on his associate. After the pegasus was out of sight, Sin turned back to Discord and humphed. "You really know how get under my skin." A chuckle came from the statue. "Oh I've gotten under more than your skin, dear Sin." The brown pony shot the statue a look. I've gotten into your brain, and I must commend you sir. I haven't seen anypony with so many daemons as you... Poor Sin, trying to be something he's not. Tell me, does it hurt?" Sin growled and narrowed his eyes, the finally remnants of Sunlight fading into the distance, and the moon rising in the east. The brown stallion took his umpteenth calming breath of the day, and turned to return to the castle proper. "You can't fight it forever Sin!" Called discord as the pony disappeared into palace entryway. Spike, Sin and Shade sat in a well light dining room. Small torches illuminated the corners that the mantel fire place hadn't. Though the eating space was significantly smaller than the royal dining area, it was a bit more homely, the brown circular oak table was bigger than the three needed, but still much more intimate. And the red cushioned seats and well made food was a welcome contrast to the constant nourishment of flowers, random herbs, and granite atop a cold hard ground. A servant brought in trey of five plates, most holding salad but one particular holding Spikes very favorite gems. The three began to stuff their faces with the tasty edibles, even Sin tossed aside his etiquette in favor of filling his gut. After a few groans of happiness and satisfaction, the dragon pipped up with a question. "Hey, have you guys seen Big Mac?" Sin and Shade looked around in a futile attempt to see the crimson pony, but eventually shook their heads. "Man." Spike folded his arms and shook his head. "What are he and the Princess up to?" "Probably bucking each other senseless." Shade replied nonchalantly taking another bite of food. "Classy." Sin replied. "He asked." Shade shrugged." "Ever hear of euphemisms?" "Don't you make up words to me!" Shade scolded.shaking a hoof. Spike quirked a brow, "Why would they... buck each other?" Shade gave a head splitting grin. "You don't know what sex is do you?" Sin's neck nearly snapped from the force he used to look at the dark pegasus again. The brown pony opened his mouth to speak but shook his head and went back to his meal. "Sex? What's that?" Shade smiled even bigger. "That's where fillies come from!" Spike shot Sin a look, to which the stallion nodded in the affirmative. After, Sin looked up to see Shade giving him a pleading look, his eyes darting to the young dragon before him. Sin gave a sigh. "If you want to teach the lad about pony reproduction, that's your deal. Don't look at me to give you permission." Shade beamed and picked up a salt and pepper shaker, and to Sin's horror, began illustrating the intimate and delicate intricacies of making love by bashing them against one another on the table. All of this complete with the inappropriate noises of pigs and sheep. The dragon stood speechless and horrified by the display, and gave nervous "uhh" when he found that the explanation wasn't yet over. Over the course of sever minutes: The night pegasus had foretold of an unimaginable tale in which life was conceived, complete with a secret laboratory in the core of Canterlot Castle and demons being resurrected from Tartarus. "And once the doctors of the lab give the fillies either a horn or wings, or nothing at all because they are just mean like that, they put the infant back in the egg and send it to the princess. Who reads from a long list of happy married ponies from all over Equestria, than distributes the eggs to them at hospitals to call their own children. And that, my friend, is where babies come from." Shade gave a proud and satisfied grin. His two comrades only sat in silence, mouths agape; one in shock and awe, the other in offended distaste. The only sounds to be heard were those of the crackling fire place, and the occasional trotting of patrolling guards outside. "Is," Spike stuttered looking over to Sin. "Is that really where babies come from?" "You honestly think... You know what? Sure." Sin let an exacerbated sigh, "Why not?" "Because it's not the truth." Called a scolding voice behind them. They all turned to see Princess Celestia enter from the hallway. She looked to the dragon and placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Your instructor seems rather... misinformed on the matter." She shoot a look to shade who only rolled his eyes. "FOOL! My lord Discord knows all an-" he stopped, his eyes went wide and realization set in on his features before he darted a hoof to Sin, grabbing him by the collar of his cloak and pulling him forward, placing his face only inches away. "You!" He growled with utter contempt. "Don't think I forgot. I'll get you Sin, I'll get you when you least expect it." His eyes peered through the reflective barriers upon the pony he was threatening. "When. You. Least. Expect. It." He spat. Again the room filled with a tense silence, Celestia's horn began to grow a faint alabaster with her eyes narrowing on the conflicting duo. Sin merely remained stone faced and calm, awaiting for Shade to either do something or let him go. Finally, the pegasus released Sin's cloak and slowly backed out of the dinning area, before he turned the corner, he put his hoof up to his eyes and and at the brown clad pony in the universal sign of "Eyes on you." After he left, everyone let a sigh of relief. "I'll never understand that kid." Sin pushed his plate away, the ordeal killing his apatite. "Indeed." Celestia agreed. "I was hoping to speak with you about your, condition." She gave Sin an awkward look. "If it's all the same to you, your majesty, I'd rather not." "But your-" "Is what it is." Sin replied visibly annoyed. "Nothing can be done about it now, and I wouldn't allow it even if there was." After a few more attempts to pry, the white alicorn accepted the ponies decision to remain mute to the topic. The last occupant of the dining area inquired as to what the two were speaking about, though was quickly dismissed upon hearing about it's irrelevance. The sun goddess nodded her head and proclaimed since there was nothing more to talk about, she would be retiring for the evening and have her servants awaken Sin and Spike for the trial tomorrow morning. "Princess," Spike called, halting Celestia's retreat. "Can you at least tell me what Macintosh is up to?" Celestia turned to the dragon with a playful smirk. "I wouldn't worry about him, Spike. He is in good care for the night." She winked before resuming her trot back to her quarters. The young wyvern fumed after his protests on how lackluster that explanation was until finally gave a defeated sigh and lay his hand on his claw. "Oh forget it." He complained poking at his food. A few minutes passed before Sin spoke again. "Spike. I need to talk to you." "Yea, about what?" Spike growled. "What I want you and Macintosh to do if I'm held in custody by the princess." The pout Spike once had was immediately replaced by a look of shock and panic. "No, she won't do-" Sin held up an hoof to silence his friend. "There is no guarantee of that, and even if there was; I'd rather you two have a plan to carry on with out me anyway." Spike opened his mouth to speak out to the ludicrous statement, but he knew that Sin was by no means foolish, and sagely nodded for the pony to continue. "Should I be restrained here, I wish for you and Mac to return to your families in Ponyville." Spike's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "Go back?" He asked with a denying smile. Sin nodded and relaxed his body, leaning his neck back so his head shot up to the ceiling. "I have every confidence in your ability, you and Macintosh. You have grown both mentally and physically, you wanted to be stronger and free; and have learned to survive off the land. Striving for self sufficiency and breaking the bonds that forced you into society. That is no easy task, despite what you may think." He leaned his head down to look at his attentive companion. "My absence should be no great loss for you." "No great loss?" Spike repeated dumbly. Sin shook his head "There is very little else I can teach you. Fighting larger dragons and minotaur, braving the weather in nothing but your cloak and eating various rocks and small game as nourishment, you have come along way from the small and portly dragon that stood up to his friends back in Ponyville." Spike looked down at his body. He hadn't really noticed it before but: his shoulders were far more broad, his muscles more defined in his arms and legs, and even his port belly had reduced considerably for all his travels. He took a sense of pride at that, everything he had now, he earned through hard work and by his own means. Though something else the stallion had said began to work it's way to the fore front of the dragons mind. "You said you're no great loss." He called solemnly. "Why?" Sin took a moment to think about the question before he spoke. "Because I'm more or less just a pony." He shrugged. "Just a pony." Spike repeated. "Ouch." Sin made an inquisitive sound and looked at the dragon expectantly. "Is that how little you know me and Mac? After the six months we've traveled around together, you really think we don't care about you?" His voice grew with every word. "Spike please." Sin began only to find an accusing claw pointing to his face. "No, YOU listen for a change." The wyrm yelled. "Now it's time I taught you something. All my life I've been treated like a baby! Like I can't take care of myself, have some one check up on me if I was left home alone for too long." Spike huffed, his eyes narrowed as the memories started to reherse. "Do you know what it's like to sleep in a basket? To be treated like some kind of pet? To be probably smarter than most of your friends, yet talked down to all the time?" Sin sat patiently through the dragons tirade, occasionally nodding for him to continue. "Do you know what it's like to feel useless?" Spike's voice broke. "What it's like to see the one you love dragged underground by a pack of diamond dogs while you can do nothing because one of them is throwing you around like a rag doll?" The dragons breathing became shallow as he recalled all of the events in his life where he was too weak to do anything to help his friends. Rarity and the Diamond dogs, Discord and his friends, Nightmare Moon and the like. After, the dragon let out a sigh of relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "And I wish that I had then, what I have now." He whispered before looking up to his friend with a determined glint in his eyes. "You're right. I have grown alot from the baby I once was. With your and Mac's help. Unlike Twilight, you treated me like an adult! You allowed me to make my own mistakes and get hurt, and I became a stronger dragon for it." "Do you remember that time when were were fighting Golvec or what ever his name is?" Spike waved his arm. Sin smiled, "You make it sound as if it was no big deal." Spike chuckled. "Yea, but you remember when you had the plan to shoot a bolt in his eye with your crossbow? I volunteered to be bait and lure his head down to me to give you a good shot. You told me it would be more likely that he would just pick me up with his claws than to actually lean his head down." He deadpanned. "But when I said that I was willing to risk it, you allowed me to. You treated me as if I were an adult capable of making my own decisions." He grinned sheepishly. "And that's alot more than Twilight or any of them would have allowed me to do." "I owe you alot, so does Big Mac. He's really come out of his shell alot since we began traveling with you." Spike smiled and shook his head. "I mean the guy never said anything past: 'eyup' or 'nope' back in ponyville. But now look at him, having actual conversations, talking to people about philosophy, hay, he's even spending the night with Princess Luna for ponies sake." Sin shrugged, "He's a good pony, big strong silent types are good with the mares." "And me?" Spike continued as if he didn't hear. "Look at me; I've lost weight, I've gotten a lot stronger and grown a bit. You helped me keep my greed in check, given me my own stuff, helped me to discover a hobby not centered around books, and taught me the value of freedom, honor, and defending them. Heck, I won my very first fight against that minotaur for pony's sake!" Sin flinched from the sudden pair of purple scaly arms that wrapped around him, "Don't ever think that you're nothing to me. You and Big Mac are like family to me now." Sin breathed steadily before gently patting his foreleg against the reptiles spines. Awkwardly giving him what he considered a 'hug'. "Very well." Sin stated before the dragon released him, content with his answer. After, the two finished eating in silence, and Spike made his way to bed. Before leaving, he tried to reassure the stallion of his assured light sentence. Sin shook his head with a smirk and told Spike that the events of tomorrow would be dealt with as they came. Content in the knowledge that his associate was far enough away, Sin pulled out a quill and paper. Macintosh, If you're reading this, I have been found guilty and am being held in custody by the crown. I write this letter to you for two reasons: Firstly, I don't want you to be angry or upset with Celestia's decision in her judgment of my guilt or innocence. It is true, I did go against the laws of your country, and now I must accept the consequences of my actions. Though some might find my imprisonment unfair, I want you to keep in mind that the inhabitants of Equestria have agreed to adhere to the rules and laws set forth by the Princess's and those she sees fit to govern. Knowing full well that my deeds were an infraction against her laws and wishes, as justified as anyone anypony might see my actions, the fact of the matter is: I have gone against the law. I could have left this country at any given time and never have been subject. However, my choice was to stay. My choice was to release ponies who I felt were unjustly imprisoned. Never the less, it is Celestia who has the ultimate word in this land, and as much as I may not like it, I must abide for one simple reason. I choose to. I am not completely sure if I, in fact, attempted to release a foalnapper. And if I had, than I deserve to be arrested. Though I never heard the charges brought against many who I have released, the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence, and I should have looked into the individuals I released more. The second reason I write this is to request that you return to ponyville. I had meant to speak with Spike about it, though it seemed that there was something else worth talking about. At any rate, the reason I wish for you to return to Ponyville is to be with your friends and family. Despite everything i have taught you: Self sufficiency, survival in the wilderness and using your own judgement, the real prize of freedom is to have it with the ones you hold close. What makes such an Idea worth holding, fighting and dying for; is so you may celebrate it's benefits with those who you love and cherish. There is very little else I can teach you, so this shall be my last lesson. Life isn't meant to be lived in solace and silence. What makes life worth living is being surrounded by individuals you care for, and who support you through your trials and tribulations. It maybe a bit hypocritical coming from me, however, it doesn't make it any less true. Don't live your life alone Macintosh, and Spike everything I say applies to you as well. Don't ever be afraid to be alone, but don't make it a point to push people away because they could threaten your sense of freedom. Some things are worth giving up freedom for. And I'm proud to say I have full confidence you will know what is and what is not. And if it means anything, I'm proud of both of you. Stay safe, and live good lives. Regards, Sin.