Nigma and Wild Mint made the tiring trek to their new home as dusk began to strike the already sleepy town. They had spent the day with Chilly having dinner and talking about their lives. Wild Mint may have enjoyed himself, but Nigma was exhausted. He couldn’t remember the last time he had actually gotten tired from too much fun.
Mint walked up to the door of their new home, looking at it critically. “Well the door seems sound, but it doesn’t look quite sturdy.” He said with a hum. “I think we’ll need to get this replaced before we open up for business.”
Nigma frowned as he tapped the door. “It seems fine to me. Besides, why would we need to get a sturdier door? It’s not like people are going to rob us.”
“Did you already forget your first few moments in town?” Mint deadpanned.
“Point taken.” Nigma lifted the key with his magic, sliding it into the deadbolt. He tried turning the key but nothing would move. In fact, the key ended up lodged into the keyhole, reluctant to budge even an inch. Nigma looked at Mint nervously. “Well I suppose we’ll really need a door now.”
With a sigh, Wild Mint walked closer to the door and eyed the edge. Without another word, he spun around on his hooves and bucked the door, tearing out part of the frame and hinges. “Told you it wasn’t sturdy.”
“Well it was better than nothing, you know.”
Both stallions walked into the house, flicking on the lights. The lower floor wasn’t much, but it was to be expected for a business floor. There was a bar counter further back in the room with a set of stools sitting on top of it. A few tables and stacks of chairs were in one corner while a pile of scrap and broken wood panels were in another. The whole place was covered in a thick layer of dust that made Nigma want to sneeze.
He prayed that the upstairs wouldn’t be so under furnished and horrifically dusty.
“Hey, I remember this place!” Wild Mint said. “This place used to be a bar a few years back. The place closed after a major bar fight broke out.”
Nigma glanced over at the massive pile of junk. He didn’t need to guess how much property damage had actually been done.
Mint continued to check out the shop while Nigma decided to scan the upper floor. As he walked up the stairs, the dust quickly began to recede. By the time he was upstairs there wasn’t a speck of dust to be found. “Strange.” He said out loud. “I didn’t think dust would do that.”
The second floor, much to Nigma’s surprise, was better furnished than downstairs. The stairs had opened up to a living room and dining room that was already packed with a full kitchen, tables and couches. Off in the back were three rooms and a bathroom, though Nigma couldn’t quite grasp the concept of indoor plumbing. He had heard of toilets from Discord, but didn’t understand what would drive a pony to dig massive piping systems.
Both bedrooms were basically the same, with a bed and nightstand and a window with a view of the marketplace. It didn’t mean that Nigma couldn’t decide which was better, however, and ended up choosing the further bedroom, preferring the slight view of the Everfree Forest to the mountain range.
“Well I suppose that tonight I’ll actually be able to sleep in a bed again.” Nigma said with a yawn. He dropped his saddlebags on the ground as he pulled out his statue of Discord and walked over to the nightstand. He placed the statue gingerly on the table, taking care to maneuver it to allow it to see the whole room. Once he was sure it was positioned to his liking, Nigma jumped into his bed, pulling the covers over himself.
Another yawn made its way out of Nigma as he glanced at the statue once again. “Goodnight, My Lord.” He said. “Maybe I’ll be able to see you soon. I know you would be proud of me.” Not wanting to be dragged back out of bed by mint, Nigma flicked off the lights and closed his eyes, dreaming of the new life ahead of him.
Morning came with a gentle smell wafting through the house. Nigma roused to it, sniffing the air lazily as he drew himself out of bed. The as he finally snapped out of his slumber, though, he realized that the smell was anything but pleasant. He was smelling smoke from the kitchen.
Nigma burst out of his room, head snapping left and right in search of something to put out any fires. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the kitchen. The place had gone from spick and spiffy to a downright disaster. The place had been covered in a thin layer of pancake batter and it looked like somebody had dropped a hay bomb over the grill. Discord floated about in the kitchen, trying to make food out of the chaos in the room.
Discord noticed the awe-struck pony and grinned. “Morning, Nigma.” He said with unusual enthusiasm. “Hope you don’t mind, but I helped myself to your kitchen.” He glanced at the grill in front of him as it began to catch fire. “You like your hay bacon burnt, right?”
Nigma shook his head in response to both the sight in front of him and the bacon. He liked it crispy, not burning. “What are you doing here, Master?”
Discord frowned. “Well I guess I’m here to correct your manner of addressing me.”
Nigma waited for a real answer before realizing Discord’s comment. “What are you doing here, Discord?”
Discord grinned with content, resuming his work. “Well I hear you saying to the statue that you wanted to see me soon, so I figured that you wanted me to visit. To be honest, I’m surprised with you. I never pictured you to be the entrepreneur type.”
“It’s more like a partnership actually. The shop is for my friend.” Nigma glanced back at the rooms, making sure that Wild Mint hadn’t woken up yet. “How did you hear me though?”
“Don’t you remember me fiddling with your statue? I wasn’t just making it glow a pretty color.”
Nigma paused before the answer settled on him. “You were making a beacon of sorts. It broadcasts whenever I talk at it.”
“Exactly.” Discord set a plate down in front of Nigma. Somehow among the mess, he had managed to scrounge up a large portion of hash browns, hay bacon and even roasted mushrooms. Nigma didn’t question any of it. You don’t explain Discord.
Discord sat next to Nigma while he stuffed his face with the delectable food. “So how’s my favorite kid doing in Ponyville so far? What friends have you made?”
Nigma choked down a strip of hay bacon before speaking. “I’ve actually made quite a few. I met this powerful illusionist unicorn called Chilly Quill and Rose Wind the Pegasus. I didn’t really talk to her much.”
Discord’s eyebrows shot up. “Well that’s interesting. Was the mare a cutie?” Nigma ignored the question, prompting a cackle from the Draconequus.
“I also heard about this stallion called Innate Enigma. Never got around to meeting him yet.”
Discord scratched his beard. “You know I’ve heard of the fellow while I was around. Apparently he’s got quite the reputation as an artifact hunter. Always comes into towns with a giant saddlebag of rare crafts. Also heard about him dabbling in necromancy, though, so I don’t know what to think.”
Nigma shrugged. “Finally there’s the stallion I bought the house with. His name is-“
Before Nigma could answer, the door to Wild Mint’s door shot open. The green earth pony came half hobbling out of his room, drool dripping from his mouth. Discord and Nigma sat still as they watched him shuffle over into the kitchen. He snatched a plate from the table without even thinking and went about gathering food from ground zero of Discord’s food incident.
Mint sat down next to Discord, munching his food without opening his eyes. Discord looked nervously at Nigma. “Should I be worried?” He whispered. “I don’t think things would go very well if he saw me.”
Nigma nodded, silently shifting out of his seat. Before he could even move though, Mint’s tail lashed out at him, making him jump right back into the chair. “No need to rush now, buddy.” Mint said drowsily. “You haven’t even finished the food your friend whipped up for you.”
Discord only shrugged, pushing the plate of food closer to Nigma. The two began to chew down the pile before Mint actually came to his senses. With the two working together, they managed to put away a meal fit for three in a matter of moments. Discord began to snap away the plate until a hoof slapped down his lion’s paw.
Discord stared at Wild Mint in shock as the green pony began to blink his eyes. “Do I know you?”
An audible snap echoed in the room as Nigma’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, leaving nothing but shocking white and a terrified face. Discord took the news calmly, sighing as he stood up. “Have you ever been to the pantheon above Canterlot?”
Wild Mint nodded. “It’s the temple of Discord. Just about everybody around Ponyville has been to it once.” Mint blinked again, staring at Discord as if he had just woken up. “Oh my goodness, it’s you! It’s Discord! Discord is here in our house Nigma!” Mint jumped up and began shaking Nigma before he paused. “Why are you here, exactly?”
Discord pointed at Nigma, who was just shy of being unconscious in Wild Mint’s hooves. “Your friend there is - in a general sense anyway - my son.”
“No way.” Wild Mint Slapped The back of Nigma’s head, forcing his eyes back in place. “You never told me your dad was Discord!”
Nigma tried getting himself out of Mint’s strangle hold as he stuttered. “It never really came up. Besides, I’m an adopted child. I like to think of myself as a butler.”
Wild Mint dropped Nigma unceremoniously and turned to Discord. “Is her serious?” The Draconequus could only nod. “You have some major daddy issues, dude. But I suppose this helps to explain the whole eye thing.”
Nigma blinked. “Whats wrong with my eyes?”
“Nothing at all. It’s just a little too unique. I’m honestly surprised that no one has asked about it.”
Discord laughed. “You should have heard him when he was just a little colt. ‘Discord, why do the other ponies only have one color in their eyes? It’s really weird.’ It was just too priceless!”
Wild Mint joined in on the laughter as Nigma sat on the floor frowning. “That’s a made-up story and you know it!” He turned over to Wild Mint and grabbed the pony by the hoof. “You need to promise never to tell anyone about this, alright? And whenever Discord visits, you don’t invite anyone over to the house.”
Mint was about to speak when a knocking came from downstairs. Nigma let go of Mint and wandered downstairs. “Hm, someone at the door.” He started for the door before stalling and rushing back up the stairs. “When did we get a new door?”
Mint grinned as he stood up. “I went out and got a door from Uncle Crabapple yesterday evening. I also told him that we got a house, so it’s probably just him.”
Nigma sighed. “I guess this is it then. Sorry Discord, I guess we’ll have to visit another time.”
Discord nodded. “I don’t really need other ponies thinking I really exist. I’ll never get a moment’s rest then.” Discord snapped his talons, creating a flash of light like he always did. Once the light faded, however, he was still in the same place he was before. Discord frantically snapped his talons, the flash of light doing nothing but making the two ponies blind.”
“Whats going on?” Nigma asked with a hint of concern. “Why aren’t you teleporting?”
“Do you think I know?” Discord snapped. “Something’s blocking my magic. MY magic of all things! I can’t do anything!”
The knocking came again, this time with a mare’s voice. “Do you think Wild Mint is gone?” Nigma recognized the voice as Rose Winds.”
“That’s not just Crabapple down there.” Nigma glared at Wild Mint. “Why is Rose Wind down there?”
Wild Mint grinned nervously. “While I was out on the town, I bumped into her. She said she was a friend of yours so I invited her to the housewarming.”
The knocking became more rapid, now with a different voice. “I know Wild Mint.” Chilly Quill said from outside. “He wouldn’t lie to us. He’s got to be in here.”
Discord began snapping his fingers as frantically as he could as Nigma began to shout at Mint. “Just how many ponies did you invite?”
Wild Mint’s ears flopped back. “Well I was out for a while since I was talking to all of my best friends. I may have invited all of them?” Nigma peeked out the window, finding seven ponies sitting impatiently in front of his door.
Nigma spun around and growled at Wild Mint while Discord continued his crazed claw snapping. Mint grinned nervously as he heard another rap on the door. “Oops.”