//------------------------------// // The Effigy // Story: Breaking Free // by Nrdygrl //------------------------------// Author’s Note: HEY GUYS! Sorry this update took FOREVER. Been as sick as a Diamond Dog. :p baha. Hope everypony had a great holidays! 2013 is going to be PONYEPIC! Is anybody else SUPER DUPER excited for “Keep Calm and Flutter On” OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG! I’m dying over here. *rocks back and forth and foams at the mouth.* Anywho… Da chap is a lot shorter than normal. Sorry about that. But I figure cuz of what happens it’ll make up for it hopefully. :3 Chapter Twenty-One “The Effigy” “Discord.” Celestia pushed the sound out of her throat as the words tumbled from her brain to her tongue. She felt compelled to step even closer forward now in this pause. As she did, more words came out. “I’m sorry. I truly am. I didn’t mean a word. “Perhaps there was a smidge of truth locked inside those words, but it was only because of my anger. I didn’t just pity you, Dis. You know that. After everything we’ve been through together, you know I could never just give up on you. You know I could never let you go. And…even if now, I have to put my kingdom’s best interest at heart, and let the stone take you from me forevermore…I want you to know, that I forgive you. Even after everything you’ve done here. After everything you’ve put me and Luna through. After the chaos you’ve brought here that brought out the worst in me and almost destroyed me. After everything. Discord…I want you to know that….” Celestia paused, swallowed hard, and took the last few steps towards him, closing the remaining distance, allowing only a slight space between them. She felt the air from his nostrils brush her cheeks and could see the muscles on his face tensing up and his ears pulling back. He lowered his eyebrows at her, and seemed to wait for her to finish with a reproachful but yet slightly dewy look in his eyes. Celestia felt a long, glistening tear fall lightly and effortlessly out of her eye and trickle like a waterfall down her cheek. A smile crept across her bright face as those last words found their way off her tongue. “I still love you. And I always will…” She gasped a breath in and blinked her eyes to let the remaining tears fall down her face so her vision of him would not be blurred. She attempted to swallow the sore lump in her throat to no avail. It would prevent any other words now. But it was all right. The words she’d said…were all she needed now. It was closure. “Oh. Oh, I see how it is, Celestia,” Discord replied scoffing and chuckling slightly. “Come up to me with your teary-eyed apology to make up for everything. No. No, you see it’s not going to work this time. I will not be subject to your lies and twisted little mind games that you’ve played with me through these years over and over again just like you always do…..!” Celestia completely closed the rest of the distance separating them and locked her lips onto his, silencing him with the most passionate kiss. All her emotions just pooled to the surface. She felt her knees trembling and eyelids quivering over her teardrops. All the heaviness weighing on her heart in this moment and the love that she felt may never return just flowed through her veins like the deepest form of magic. It all poured out in that one kiss. It was a million words of passion never to be spoken out loud. It was all the Elements represented times a hundred and added to the deepest form of true love. A warmth spread through her, making her heart race and goosebumps travel up her spine. The moment only lasted a few seconds, but it took her back to their first kiss on that balcony. It was like time slowed down again. Then, she had to let him go. As hard as it was and as much as it broke her heart, she pulled away and opened her eyes. Looking into her Discord’s eyes, she could see them soften and turn dark for a split second. They looked just like they did when he wasn’t consumed in the darkness. It was for a moment, but it made Celestia’s heart skip a beat. She saw him again for just a moment. It meant more to her than anything in the world. It gave her a second of joy and peace in her heart. She wanted to hold onto him. Never let him get away from her. But as quickly as he appeared, he vanished away and his eyes returned to their reddened, hardened state. 'I’ll redeem you, my love,' she thought, her heart overwhelmed with a million emotions. 'If not now, someday. The Elements will work miracles for you. I know it. Even if the spell must be forever…I won’t let you stay this way forever. Because I need you. And no amount of Chaos can change how I feel.' Celestia turned and walked back over to her sister. Luna was staring up at her with teary eyes due to the moment she had just witnessed. Celestia let her breath erupt into one final sigh and she nodded to Luna. It was time to try again. This time, she knew for a fact it would work, one way or another. This was it. She closed her eyes and let the magic flow through her again, feeling the familiar, natural warmth of the Elements’ glow inside her. At this moment in time, Celestia felt her mind slip into a daze. Everything blurred before her vision and felt like a dream. Was it a dream? She questioned everything as she and Luna floated above the ground and the Elements floated around them again. She felt as if everything around them were happening in slow motion. It was too surreal. For a moment, she felt as if time reversed and she was her young self looking down at a younger, good-hearted Discord once again. The lights swirled around her body. Discord was looking up at her and Luna with widened eyes. The look in his eyes. She felt the moment almost pause. Time just….stopped. She was looking at him, one last time, maybe. She knew. The stone was wrapping around his legs. She felt more tears fall down her face. There was a hope lingering in her heart, however; almost a vision of the future. They were happy. He was redeemed. Like she wanted. And there was no fear of them ever being apart from each other ever again. It was perfect. Was it a true vision? Maybe just her wishful thinking. Either way, she had to let him go right now. Celestia…Princess Celestia had her duty to her people. To her friend. To her two loves. Discord and her kingdom. The bright light overtook her eyes, blinding her. Memories flashed before her eyes and then, a thought… 'You said…our love. It was discordant. You were wrong. It wasn’t discord. It was Harmony.' Everything went dark. ___________________________ Her lips interrupted his speech and thoughts. Her lips quivered and wet drops gently fell down her face as she kissed him. The sparkling drops caught in the crevasses of her dark eyelashes and then dripped down her nose, touching his nose. The warmth from her lips and the cold from her tears brought a different sensation…a different feeling to Discord’s heart in this moment. He was frozen and numbed as emotions surged through him, confusing him. His mind was in a state of chaos, as ironic as that sounded. It almost made him chuckle. He himself was in a state of discord. Here, after everything he’d put Celestia through, just to have the satisfaction of revenge, she still loved him. And…he actually believed her now. It was like it used to be. For one simple moment, it was like the old times. And it was all he wanted. It really was, wasn’t it? To be loved. He felt tears welling up in his eyes. As the comfort of her lips left him, maybe forever, he felt like his heart was ripped in two parts. That dark whispering voice tickled his ear. Don’t go back to her. She makes you weak. You know how powerful a weapon fear is. Love is nothing. It makes you nothing but a fool. Better to be feared than loved. Better to be feared than loved. Fight. Even if that stone takes you, fight. She won’t keep you in there forever. You can come back. Take over everything. Find a way to break the spell if need be. Do everything. Fight, you fool. “Fight and make me proud.” His eyes grew wide. Chaos. It was like he was standing right behind him. “Son.” Discord’s eyes grew wide and he could feel that fire begin to burn inside him again. The rebellious fire that made him despise Order…love disorder…want to make life a miserable place for everypony in this kingdom, including the one he thought would be his love forever. It was that fire in him that made him want to fight this. He stood still and watched as Celestia and Luna’s horns glowed bright again and they floated effortlessly above him. Those six orbs of light surrounded them and glowed in six different colors. He felt a wind beginning to blow from the pure magic before him. It sent shivers up his spine. Celestia stared directly at him. The look she gave him. Her eyes. The world was crashing around him and a sudden burst of panic entered Discord’s heart. This couldn’t happen. He had to fight it. He tried to lift his paw and bring about a burst of chaos to counter-act the power, but he felt like a force was stopping him. He looked down in shock as his power was failing him. The wind picked up and twisted around his body into a tornado of light and color. It blinded him. Suddenly, he felt the first stab. It was a sharp pain at his hooves. It was unlike any other pain. He knew what it was, but he looked down anyway. The stone licked at his feet, creating a pillar underneath him like he was going to be a simple statue, a monument standing alone for the world to stare at. It felt like teeth biting and gnawing the flesh off him. It felt like a million knives cutting away his pores one by one. It was excruciating. And it kept going up the curve of his body. Up his serpentine silhouette and almost touching the tips of his claws. Discord moved his paw up, fear gripping him as the rock continued to eat him away. He gritted his teeth as the rainbow of lights swirled around him. Tears entered his eyes as he watched images of the past spin in the whirlpool of magic. The shadowy image of himself continued to whisper to him in the back of his mind. In light of everything, revelations came to him. Fear made him who he was now. He’d always been afraid, hadn’t he? So others needed to fear him back. And that fear had its hold on him now. He could never give it up now. Not when that power gave him what it did. Someday, perhaps that feeling could return. He’d break free. He’d never let the world put him down ever again. He’d break free from all of it. The stone crept up his paw, pinning it to his body. He felt his heartbeat increase as the stone slowly but surely made its way over his chest. Discord felt his chest tighten and he shut his eyes. The last few moments…his clawed arm jerked up and he opened his mouth wide in a cry of pain as the last stabs reached his neck and face. All was dark. There was silence. No breath. No speech. No thoughts. Then, he gasped for air. He opened his eyes and all he saw was a wall of blackness. His body was nonexistent, almost spirit-like, and his mind felt like the world was a dreamland. No life. No death. Yes…maybe this would be the best prison for him. He’d sleep now. He’d rest now. He was an effigy. Forevermore? Maybe forevermore, as intended. He’d allow no such thing. Discord…son of Chaos…would find the way out. He’d break free. Someday he’d break free… ________________________ Celestia blinked her eyes and saw the fuzzy images before her. What had happened? She lifted her body off the ground in a disoriented state. Her mind tried to rewind everything. Looking around, Canterlot was perfectly normal again. Everything was how it should be. The houses were in proper order, the ponies were looking all around smiling. The sky was a pure blue. The sun was shining bright above her. It was home again. Then she remembered. And she almost wished she didn’t. She sighed and glanced at Luna who was getting up also. “We did it, Tia,” her sister said smiling weakly. The two then glanced at the same time at the figure before them. Discord, in his new state. There were no words. Celestia stared at the effigy, a lump already forming in her throat. Based upon his position, she could tell…it had hurt. It had hurt him. She’d hurt him. It was over now, but there were still no words to be spoken. Just…tears. More tears. Luna approached her and the two embraced. Celestia smiled weakly as the sounds of her subjects cheers reached her ears. She glanced over at a nearby cliff, seeing the Sages and Star Swirl standing by. Star Swirl gave her a grim nod and she nodded back. “Even if the spell is meant to last forever, I can’t let that happen,” she thought, sending the telepathic message to him. “I know,” Star Swirl replied. “His heart was fragile, but not lost. I knew from the beginning you’d try and stop him from becoming his mother. The stars may not agree with us, but he’s not a lost cause, Princess.” “I have faith in him,” Celestia replied smiling. “He’s going to break free, someday. You know what I really mean, don’t you?” “Yes. From the darkness that is holding him captive. Not just the stone. I believe in you, Princess. He’ll break free. I believe it too.” _________________________ “And you know what?” Celestia’s lips quivered into a sad smile. “I still believe it.” Her eyes returned back up to the statue as the flood of memories came to an end. No tears now. Now was the time to be strong. It was almost here. “I’ve waited so long for this. And now…it’s too terrible and too wonderful at the same time. My heart is with my little ponies. My kingdom. But…you know how I do feel about you. How I’ve still felt these thousand years. I’ve felt so alone, ever since Luna…” she paused and swallowed. “I thought I was alone when that happened. But I wasn’t. And now I have her back…and I’ll get you back too. And the friends I had will be with me again. It’s empty here…without you. But I can’t be selfish, Discord. I can’t have it both ways. My kingdom comes first. That’s why…I can’t let you stay. I know you’ll take over again. The Elements are no longer connected to me and Luna. So, the spell didn’t last forever after all. But they still exist. And I have faith in them now. I cannot fight you, Discord. Even if I wanted to. And…today, you’re an old foe of mine. Nothing more. For, I could never bare my heart to them. I must not appear weak to them. I must stand strong. Do as you wish…but they will stop you. And I’ll be waiting. And when it’s over…my heart will break again, just like a thousand years ago. But it will also be elated in the irony that time will never touch you when you are trapped in that stone. So in a way…I suppose I can keep you, like what I wanted…” Here one final tear trickled down Celestia’s cheek. She sighed and smiled, all the brightness returning to her features. “I suppose I shall see you later, then, Discord. Today is the day. You’re breaking free. Except your heart…from the darkness that binds you. But you already know that, don’t you? …” In the closing words of her speech, the Princess turned her head. Her ear twitched at the sound of voices coming from beyond the hedge. There was the sound of laughter and young squeals of foals, all led by a more mature tone. “All right, my little ponies!” Ah. Visitors, thought Celestia stepping away from the statues and out of the garden. She could hear the exited voices of the foals as they entered the sculpture garden and overheard a bit of arguing and commotion going on as the group stopped directly in front of the certain draconequus statue. Well, Discord. You’re getting a treat today, aren’t you? As she turned her head to look back at the group leaving the garden, she felt a shiver run up her spine and could’ve sworn she heard a certainly unmistakable, faint laugh echoing in her ear. TO BE CONTINUED… Continued Author’s Note: FINALLY we are getting down to the wire. Who knows how much longer now. I DON’T EVEN KNOW AND I’M WRITING THE DANG THING! That’s pretty bad. Lol! xD I’m gonna guess like…two chapters or something left. MAYBE three. It depends! OMG! I’m excited now. I shocked myself at how almost done I am. Eeeee!!! xD I’ll try to update quicker next time so we can be done with this. Yes? :D Until then, KEEP CALM AND FLUTTER ON, PEOPLE!! AHHHH! ~Nrdygrl