The Opera Phantom Discord

by Alexandrite Ward


Masquerade

Masquerade

The elegant carriage pulled up in front of the Opera House, causing several ponies on the street to stop and whisper amongst themselves. The driver quickly jumped down from his seat to open the door for the carriage's occupant. Several mares who were walking stopped and stared at the figure that arose from the carriage; those who were holding fans immediately began to rapidly fan themselves.

He was a tall stallion, slim but muscular as was the fashion at the time. He was elegantly dressed in a gray suit with a high collar, his black shoes polished and glistening, his white tie tucked into his slightly ruffled tunic. A top hat made of black satin crowned his golden blonde mane which feathered just slightly off his neck; he tipped it to the mares who were admiring his emergence. He stepped down from the carriage steps, muttering words to his coachcolt while he dusted himself off. He lifted his eyes to the Opera House and smiled; his face was clean shaven, his posture straight, his teeth white, his eyes a sparkling green. And when he began to walk up those steps, there seemed to be this air of power that followed him with every step. He was like the sun, dazzling at first sight, and forever burning an image within your mind's eye after he had disappeared from view.

Inside the Opera House, things were well underway for the opera that would be kicking off the season in a matter of days. Dancers were frantically perfecting their steps, while stage hooves worked on sets and the orchestra tuned their instruments. Fluttershy's father was turning out to be the toast of the orchestra. In a matter of hours he was close to perfecting the score for the upcoming opera; the managers were well pleased with their decision.

Sadly, Fluttershy herself was not having the same good fortune. When Fleur De Lis first discovered that Fluttershy was to be her costume pony, she had a fit that could rival the most spoiled of fillies. She screamed, stamped her feet, swore in Italian, and then stomped off to lock herself away in her dressing room for a good hour, while the managers stood outside her door and pleaded for her to come out. Fluttershy rolled her eyes to the whole incident, thinking that despite Senora Fleur De Lis' elegant dresses and years of stage experience, a dog could both sing and act better. While the managers pleaded, Fluttershy busied herself with her tasks, mending costumes that had snares, and ironing ones with wrinkles. She delicately laid them out, examining them closely to see if she had missed any repair work, all the while feeling as if someone…or something, were watching her.

Ever since she and her father had arrived that morning, Fluttershy had the suspicion she was being watched. By whom, she had no idea, for every time she turned her head to look, she saw no one. The feeling was strange; most of the time she felt chilled and uneasy, but she would also feel admired and…she blushed when she recalled feeling somewhat, aroused. She shook her head to the whole thing, believing that once again, it was her imagination running wild. And any other thoughts on the matter were quickly disposed of as Fleur De Lis returned, dabbing her nose and eyes with the handkerchief Flim had given her. Flam, Flim, and Fancypants followed, each filling the air with praises to her. The whole thing made Fluttershy sick.

Fleur De Lis waved her hoof, which temporarily stopped the three stallions from making further idiots of themselves, and turned to Fluttershy. "I have decided I will allow you to continue being my costume pony," she sweetly purred, a fake smile creasing the corners of her lips.

Fluttershy stared at the mare.

Fleur De Lis' sweet smile was beginning to fade. She shifted side to side and was tapping her hoof, as if waiting for Fluttershy to fall to her knees and thank God above for granting her this fine honor. Was the mare that conceited?

"Well?"

Fluttershy jumped at the sudden bark that escaped the prima donna's lips. Fleur De Lis quickly smoothed back a silky pink curl that had escaped from her shout. She smiled again at Fluttershy and said in that sweet voice she had used earlier, "Have you nothing to say, my dear?"

Fluttershy wanted to tell the mare what she really thought. She wanted to tell Fleur De Lis she had no talent, that while she strutted across the stage like a peacock, she sounded like a crow. She wanted to tell the mare that her behavior was disgusting and that there were more important things going on in the world than how one's hair looks or what fabric one's dress is made from. She wanted to scream, and perhaps even strike the mare…but she remembered her father and how desperately they needed this. So she swallowed her pride and lifted her chin.

"I have repaired the silk ball gown you were planning to wear for the opening gala."

Fleur De Lis stared at the mare. Fluttershy showed no emotion on her face, but inside she was laughing at the blank expression she was receiving from the so-called great star. Not the answer Fleur De Lis was expecting, let alone looking for, but it was not one she could scream at either.

"What a smart little thing you are," she said through clenched teeth, mustering all the sweetness her voice could create. Fake pleasantness was perhaps the worst acting Fleur De Lis could do.

Fluttershy smiled, placing the gown gently back down on the table, while the managers and Fancypants exchanged worried looks between one another, knowing that the young mare was playing with fire. "Well!" Flam interrupted. "I must say, keep up the good work mademoiselle, you'll do fine in the opera business I'm sure!"

Fleur De Lis only gave Fluttershy a cold smile. "Yes my dear, do show me what else you've accomplished. I can see that life in the country has perfected your skills in…humble domestic crafts."

Fluttershy flinched to the stinging words, but refused to show Fleur De Lis any sign of their effect. "I shall…there is one that I have pinned together that was literally falling to pieces…" She turned to retrieve the dress, while Fleur De Lis took the hot iron Fluttershy had used earlier and placed it, hot side up, near Fluttershy's legs. The second the mare turned back, she gave a yelp of pain as her skin made contact with the iron, causing her to drop the dress in her hooves onto the floor (thus sending pins and pieces flying every which way) and to knock the iron over with her elbow and land on a beautiful white silk gown.

"AH! YOU CLUMSLY LITTLE FOOL! LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO MY COSTUME!"

The managers turned quickly to Fleur De Lis' shouts, and Fancypants was by her side in a second. "My darling! What happened? What did the wretched mare do?"

Fluttershy was still rubbing the painful burn on her leg before she realized what had happened. She gasped and lifted the iron off the dress, but the damage had already been done. A large brown stain and several tiny holes remained on the dress as souvenirs from the iron. Fluttershy lifted her shocked eyes to Fleur De Lis' face, surprised and enraged upon seeing the smirk in the mare's eyes. "This…this little idiot has ruined two of my costumes!" she shouted to both Fancypants and the managers who had rushed to her side. "She has not only ruined the gown I must wear for Faust by sticking atrocious pieces of fabric to it, but she has also burnt a hole in the silk gown I must wear for Hannibal!"

Flim and Flam stared at Fluttershy, not sure what to say, but knowing if they did not do something quickly, Fleur De Lis would explode. "Don't just stand there, fire this wretched little thing!" Fancypants shouted in defense of Fleur De Lis. He attempted to wrap his arm around her but she shrugged it off immediately.

"F-f-fire her?" Flam asked, glancing at Flim with worried eyes. With only five days till the opening night of the opera season, they needed Time Turner to play in the orchestra more than ever. If they fired the mare they knew they would lose him too. But they couldn't displease Fleur De Lis either! They were in a very tight spot indeed. "Perhaps we can come to an arrangement senora-"

"Arrangement?" Fleur De Lis exclaimed. "There will be no arrangement! This stupid little-"

A gruff male cough interrupted Fleur De Lis' shrieks. "Um…beg your pardon, but is this a bad time?"

The managers and Fleur De Lis turned their heads and all exclaimed at once, "MONSIEUR!"

Fluttershy, whose cheeks were still burning red from both Fleur De Lis' cruel words and foul tricks, stared at the stallion with whom the others appeared to be enamored. He was very handsome; tall, blonde, a bright white coat, and obviously wealthy judging by the clothes he wore. He looked right past the admiring managers who were crowding around him and stared into her eyes. She felt her knees go weak and reached out to clutch the table at her side.

"Good day," he said with an elegant bow of his head. Fluttershy swallowed the lump in her throat and gave the stallion a small curtsy. He smiled at her and she felt that strange feeling in her knees again. "Well, who is this pretty little thing?" he asked the managers who were still singing praises into his ears.

"Who? Oh! Just the new costume pony. Monsieur, we are so pleased you came to see us today. As you can see, we are well underway in preparing for the opening gala-"

"Yes, yes, it is all looking wonderful Flam," the stallion said with a wave of his hoof, his smile still remaining on Fluttershy. "And what is your name, mademoiselle?"

Fluttershy stared for a long time at the stallion, trying to find her voice, but it was Fleur De Lis who spoke in her stead. "What does it matter? The mare is incompetent with costumes, as I'm sure she is with everything!" she thrust the burnt dress in the stallion's face. "See what I have to put up with monsieur?" she pouted. The stallion gave a weak smile to the prima donna before turning and looking to the managers for answers.

"Oh! Um…" Flim glanced at Fluttershy, trying to remember the name. "Shy…Fluttershy, I believe."

Fluttershy frowned and lifted her chin, looking directly into the handsome stallion's eyes. "My name is-"

"Silence!" Fleur De Lis barked, throwing the burnt gown in Fluttershy's face. She then turned and smiled sweetly up at the gentlecolts. "My dear monsieur, had I been expecting your surprise visit I would have dressed more elegantly for you." The stallion smiled warmly at Fleur De Lis as she batted her eyes, causing Fancypants to fidget with jealousy.

Fluttershy glanced back and forth between the handsome stallion and the cow that had burnt her. The two acted as if they knew each other…rather well.

"Monsieur, um…we have some matters of business to discuss with you. There have been some notes-"

"All in good time Flim," the stallion answered without taking his eyes off Fleur De Lis. "I first have some matters of business to go over with Senora Fleur De Lis. She has written to me of her displeasure with the way things are run here…" he glanced at the managers, the handsome smile disappearing and being replaced with a serious frown.

"D-d-d-displeasure?" both stallions stuttered, looking at one another and Fleur De Lis in horror.

"Yes," Fleur De Lis snapped, linking her arm with that of the handsome stallion. "Much displeasure and hiring that mare is now on the top of my list!" she began to lead the stallion away from the managers who were too flabbergasted to utter a single word. "Come monsieur," she said with a twirl of her skirts. "Let us go to my dressing room to talk things over."

The stallion turned his head back to Fluttershy and gave her one last charming smile before he was literally dragged away by the boorish opera star. Fluttershy's face continued to burn as she watched the two walk away, her emotions confused. Yes, the stallion was indeed handsome, and his smile appeared warm and inviting, while his words and manner were quite charming. But there was something about him that didn't seem right; it was probably the company he seemed to prefer to keep.

The managers finally dashed away, both pale and stuttering worries about what must be done to please Fleur De Lis. Fancypants immediately followed in Fleur De Lis' wake, trying to catch up with the pair. Fluttershy sighed, looking at the burnt costume in her hooves, wishing she had intentionally caused the burn with Fleur De Lis in the costume. She bent down to retrieve the dress that had fallen apart on the ground when a small voice caught her attention.

"I can't believe it…he actually spoke to you!"

Fluttershy glanced up, seeing that the voice belonged to a petite dancer with long purple hair and wide eyes. It was Twilight Sparkle, the lead dancer and daughter of the dance mistress. "Do you know who that was?" she asked Fluttershy, her voice filled with excitement. Fluttershy shook her head, confused at Twilight's behavior.

"Twilight! Was it him? Has he come back?"

Twilight grinned and nodded her head to several other dance mares who were standing back a little ways. The group burst into squeals and excited shrieks. Fluttershy needed answers. "Who is he?" she asked, rather irritably.

The mares looked at one another, rolled their eyes, and then exploded into giggles again. Twilight however kept some composure, at least enough to explain. "He's Prince Blueblood!" Fluttershy's blank expression forced the mare to continue. "The highest paying patron of the Maris Opera House!"

At last it all fitted together. That was why the managers were falling over themselves and why they panicked at Fleur De Lis' mention of displeasure. Fluttershy stared after the direction the Prince had disappeared, feeling like a fool for thinking that for a moment he admired her, and that she thought him kind and charming. She may have lived in the country all her life, but Fluttershy was no fool; a stallion with wealth and a title only looked at a mare in her situation for one thing.

"Mares!" the dancers stopped their giggling and quickly scampered back to where they should have been practicing. Madame Luna emerged from the curtains and looked crossly at all of them. "Twilight!" she barked at the embarrassed mare. "What is the meaning of this?"

Twilight fidgeted and bit her lip. "I'm sorry Mama, it was just…" Madame Luna lifted a dark eyebrow, awaiting her daughter's answer. "It was just…well…we saw the Prince Blueblood, and-"

Madame Luna's face paled at the name. "The Prince is here?"

Twilight nodded her head, her face turning from embarrassment to worry. "Mama, are you alright?"

Madame Luna gave her head a quick shake to compose herself and lifted her chin, her face returning to its cold expression. "Do not let me catch you or any of the other mares wandering away when you should be practicing," she ordered through tight lips. Twilight nodded her head, still looking concerned, but scampered off in the direction the other dancers had gone.

Fluttershy stared up at the ballet mistress whose face returned to one of worry. She fidgeted slightly, biting her lip, and glancing about wildly. "Madame? Are…are you alright?" Fluttershy placed one hoof gently on the mare's arm. "Is there anything I can get you? A glass of water perhaps?"

Madame Luna finally acknowledged Fluttershy, but her expression did not change. "Where did he go?" was all she asked.

What was going on? "He left with Senora Fleur De Lis…they are going to discuss 'business matters' in her dressing room."

Madame Luna lifted an eyebrow at Fluttershy's statement. "Well he'll be occupied for some time," she muttered under her breath.

"I beg your pardon?"

Madame Luna looked at Fluttershy and smiled at her. Despite what the stage hooves may have muttered about the mare, Fluttershy could tell the dance mistress truly had a warm heart of gold under the cold exterior she showed. "Thank you my dear, but no, I'm truly fine." Without another word she turned and quickly walked away, leaving a confused Fluttershy in her wake.

"Fleur De Lis, I must implore that I stay-"
Fleur De Lis groaned and gave Fancypants the cruelest of looks. "Be gone! I have many important matters to discuss with the Prince and I do not need you breathing down my bodice!"

Prince Blueblood couldn't help but chuckle at the prima donna's words. He stood just outside Fleur De Lis' dressing room with Fancypants blocking the entrance way. The stallion was loyal, one could not deny that. It amazed the Prince that despite Fleur De Lis' obvious displeasure for the stallion, he still willingly remained her lap dog.

Fancypants continued to glance back and forth between the Prince and Fleur De Lis with unease. He didn't like it when this stallion came for visits. He didn't care that the stallion was rich, or that he was the reason both he and Fleur De Lis had jobs at the Maris Opera House. He saw the way his lovely Fleur De Lis looked at the stallion, and vice versa.

Fleur De Lis sighed and realized it was time to resort to other necessary battle moves. "Fancypants," she said in a sweet manipulative voice. "Why do you worry? Do you think my virtue is in danger if I allow the Prince into my dressing room?"

Fancypants bit his lip and shifted back and forth a little, glancing at the Fancypants with slight distrust. Fleur De Lis smiled and reached out to caress the tenor's face. "I admire your chivalry. You truly are my knight in shining armor." Her voice was dripping with fake sweetness, yet Fancypants was enamored.

He was cracking. "I assure you I will be quite safe…and I will cry out if I am in need…but I will be perfectly fine. And knowing you are near warms my heart and fills me with such…" she leaned close and planted a soft meek kiss on the tenor's lips. "…passion."

She had won. Fancypants melted away from the dressing room door and smiled bashfully at his lady love. She smiled back and winked at him, while she disappeared into the room, the Prince merely smirking behind her. The second they had entered the dressing room, she slammed the door shut, locked it, and began to spit. "Eh! The stench of him is all over me. I'll have to burn this dress!"

The Prince continued to smirk, placing his hat on her dressing table. "He's quite attached to you, more than ever I see…and quite suspicious…"

Fleur De Lis groaned. "Do not remind me! And to think…I have to kiss him in the opera we are performing!"

She squealed when she felt two powerful hooves grab her by the shoulders and twirled her around. She found herself being pressed to the Prince's body, and she went limp the second she felt his hard frame mold to her own. "How will I be able to control myself then? Seeing you on stage with him…" one of his hooves went up to her hair and began to pull the pins out, causing the pink curls to fall across her shoulders. "…in his arms…" his hooves moved to her skirts and he began to hike them up to her hips. "…kissing him…" his lips captured hers and she melted even more, returning the passionate kiss and clawing at his dress coat.

The Prince pulled back immediately. "Careful!" he hissed, removing her hooves and looking at the coat to be sure it wasn't damaged. "This was quite expensive, I'll have you know."

Fleur De Lis pouted and folded her arms crossly as he carefully removed the coat from his body. "I don't seem to recall you ever feeling a need to be careful with my expensive gowns!"

The Prince grinned, and purposely placed his coat on top of a large white box that was sitting at the chair before her dressing table. Fleur De Lis' eyes followed where his coat went, and she looked at him for confirmation. When he nodded, she squealed happily and tore at the box like a filly at Christmas. He had to carefully remove the coat again.

"OH! Monsieur, it is most beautiful…" she whispered, pulling the elegant gown from the box. It was pink, with blue ruffles and black lace. There was a billowy train and a very low neckline that glittered with black and pink sequins. Most ponies would look at such a gown and find it atrocious, however the Prince had long since learned that Fleur De Lis' taste in fashion was just that.

"Now you truly can burn that gown," he chuckled, coming closer to place kisses on the back of Fleur De Lis' neck while his expert hooves began to undo the buttons on her present dress.

Fleur De Lis whimpered at his touch and leaned back against him. "It has been far too long monsieur since our last encounter…I was beginning to think you had forgotten me…"

"You?" he said with mock horror. "Never…" while one hoof continued to undo the buttons, the other climbed higher and began to sink beneath the bodice of her dress. She moaned when his lips tickled her ear as he nibbled the lobe slightly. "Now…I have a favor to ask of you…"

"Mmmmmmmmmm…a-a-a-anything…" she whimpered, leaning back and purposely pushing herself against him. He groaned at the movement, but years of experience had taught him self-control.

"Good mare…" he hissed, biting her neck briefly, while his other hoof moved to lift up her skirts. "I want you to tell me…" her skirts were up to her thighs. "…everything you can…" he pushed the stockings and garters down. "…about your adorable little costume pony…"

Fleur De Lis' eyes flew open and she pushed the Prince's hooves away before tearing herself away from his body. "WHAT?"

Blueblood sighed and closed his eyes momentarily to prepare himself for the shrieks that were to follow.

"WHY THE HELL DO YOU WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER? SHE'S GARBAGE, SHE'S SLIME, SHE'S-"

"Be quiet!" The Prince snapped. "Do you want all of Maris to hear you?"

The fire in Fleur De Lis' eyes grew wilder. "BUCK MARIS! I DON'T CARE IF ALL OF PRANCE HEARS ME! ANSWER ME WHY YOU WANT TO KNOW!"

The Prince stared back at Fleur De Lis, eager to wrap his hooves around the soprano's pretty neck and snap it in two. However, he knew the best way to handle situations like this was not to lose one's temper. And he too could play the same games that Fleur De Lis played on Fancypants.

"My sweet, I am only interested in knowing what all is going on in my theater," he crooned, putting on his most charming smile and slowly walking towards her. He hoped the passion that filled his eyes would weaken her..

However, the Prince realized it would take more coaxing, as Fleur De Lis was having none of it. "I am not a fool, Blueblood!" she snapped, using his first name. "You think I know nothing about your infamous reputation? You think I know nothing about the many chorus mares and dancers you've bedded? You think I don't know that one of the main reasons you patronize the Opera House is so you can be assured of a pretty young face, with a mouth wide and open and willing-"

"That was BEFORE I met you!" Blueblood lied, coming to her in two strides. "I will not deny my past, but the moment I saw you perform on stage and heard your voice, you alone are the only mare I think about, dream about…" his hoof sneaked down to the hem of her skirts and began to lift them once again. "…and want to buck till the sun comes up…"

Fleur De Lis melted slightly to his words, especially as she felt his hoof move under the skirts and softly brush her thigh. Still, she tried to show some self-control. "W-w-why then do you care about w-who she is…" she whimpered, her lips going dry as she felt his hooves inch closer.

Blueblood grinned as he could tell he was winning this battle. "My dear, did you not say that the mare was incompetent?" His lips brushed against hers as his hooves inched higher.

Fleur De Lis moaned and melted even more, licking her lips and trembling beneath his touch. "T-t-that is true…"

"Yes, it is…and you're not happy…" Fleur De Lis was gripping the dressing table and pressing against his body. "I only want to make you happy Fleur De Lis…I only want to give you pleasure…" He could see from the expression on her face that she would tell him anything so long as he didn't stop. "Her name, Fleur De Lis…" he huskily whispered, "Tell me her name…"

She couldn't take it anymore. "F-f-f-Flutter-s-Shy…oooOOooOOoohhhh Fluttershy!" she shouted, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately, while he lifted her body with one arm, and the other cleared the dressing table before placing her down on top of it.

"Thank you my dear, you will not regret it!"

Nor would he, he mused to himself. Already, he was imagining the pretty costume mare as the one before him, But as he had learned, from the time his father had taken him to a brothel at the age of 14 to "make a stallion out of him", any mare could be easily bought at the right price. Sometimes it took money, sometimes jewels or other expensive gifts, sometimes even words of affection and love; but every mare had a price, and it only took Prince Blueblood little time to learn what it was, before luring a mare to his bed. Fleur De Lis definitely suited his purposes; he knew she was once a star in Italy, and with the right publicity, he could make her a star in France and get more money into his pockets. And if that meant having to come every now and then and listen to her litany of complaints before finally moving onto "normal business", as he referred it, then so be it. Whatever it took for him to get what he wanted.

He smiled at his own reflection in the mirror. He continued to look at himself, thinking of all the wealth he was acquiring from Fleur De Lis' so-called talents, thinking of his next escapade: bedding the costume mare. She looked young, full of country virtue; he loved breaking virgins in. She would be a most eager student, he grinned. Yes, he would soon seduce her to his bed, and gain much pleasure for himself from her. Fleur De Lis was business, but the costume mare would be his pleasure. And he loved mixing the two together. He thought all these things while he smiled at his own reflection.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Madame Luna hurried down the stone steps that led to Discord's lair, her face pale and covered with worry lines. She carefully avoided the passages that she knew were booby trapped, all the while hurrying as fast as she could. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadowy figure. "Where is he?" she called out to it. The figure made a groaning sound before pointing off to the right. She nodded her head in thanks and took the passage the figure had indicated. The sound of music filled the cavern before her, and she knew he would not be pleased to be interrupted while working. "Discord! Discord!" she called out, while she crossed the candlelit cavern.

The organ music stopped, and the caped figure stood, his shoulders slumping slightly before straightening his back. "I'm very busy, what is it?"

She stopped a few feet away from him, panting and clutching her chest while she tried to regain her composure. "H-h-h-he's…h-here…"

Discord turned, his face masked and the visible eyebrow arching in speculation. "Prince Bluebood?" he simply asked.

Madame Luna looked at him with surprise. "Y-y-you know?" she asked, her breathing slowly returning to normal.

Discord waved his paw in a blasé manner. "It's my theater, is it not?" he said, before adding under his breath, "despite what that son of a bitch thinks." He reseated himself at the organ and began to play. "Besides, it was rather hard to ignore the harpy's shrieks."

Madame Luna was surprised with how cool Discord was behaving. Normally he would fly into rages when he learned that the Prince was at the Opera House. Discord despised Prince Blueblood, and she could not blame him. The stallion wore the mask of a gentlecolt, when in truth he was more of a monster than Discord ever could be. True, Discord had committed acts of terror and murder, but the Prince…his crimes were so much more heinous to the dance mistress, especially since she knew that he was responsible for impregnating three of her dancers over the past five years. One mare died when seeking crude means to have an abortion, while the other two were thrown out onto the street with no where to go and no money. Madame Luna had no idea what happened to them, and she cursed the Prince for ruining all three lives.

She also knew the many reasons Discord despised the Prince…so why was he acting so nonchalant? "You…you do not care then?" she asked, not daring to come around and face him, but unsure what else to do or say.

The Phantom ceased his playing momentarily and sighed heavily. "Oh, I care very much indeed," he growled under his breath, before his paw and claw violently banged against the organ keys, causing the cavern walls to shake.

Discord's reasoning for despising the Prince was somewhat different. Like the current managers, the Prince cared very little for art and music, and more for the money that rolled into the Opera House. While the Prince was a patron, he also had stock in the Opera House, and ten percent of the profits from every performance went straight into his pocket. The Prince was also the one responsible for placing Fleur De Lis at the Opera House, a sin that Discord would never forgive the stallion for. Yet the crime that Discord held over the Prince more than any other was what he did to Pinkamena Pie, a dancer Discord fancied himself in love with when he was much younger.

Discord was only 19 when he saw the mare on stage for the first time. She was beautiful, with curly pink hair, and large soft brown eyes. He sent her love poems and flowers, thinking she would find it romantic that she had a secret admirer at the Opera. However, his love sick dreams were dashed when Prince Blueblood, a boy of 16 at that time, easily seduced the star-struck mare, making her believe he was the one who had sent her the flowers and poems!

Discord wanted to interfere, but feared if he revealed himself a mob would discover his whereabouts and force him back to the life he had not long escaped. So he waited, and plotted how he would make the young Prince pay. Pinkamena, the foolish mare, believed that young Blueblood truly loved her, and that the two were going to run away to get married. She abandoned her dreams of performing for the scoundrel, disappearing early one cold November morning, never to be seen again. It wasn't until after the death of Blueblood's father, that the Prince returned to the Opera House, some three years later. No one knew what had become of Pinkamena, and the Prince did not seem upset at all.

The stallion was a snake; Discord saw how he strode about the theater as if he owned it, giving musicians advice, telling the managers how to run the business, and bedding chorus mares and dancers along the way. The time would come when he would have his revenge for all the atrocities the Prince had put him through.

But revenge was a dish best served cold…and simply killing the stallion was too polite. No, Discord would have his revenge when the time was right, and it would be a long, agonizing revenge, one full of screaming and begging. This little joy made him smile, and he easily regained his cool demeanor, despite his random outbursts of rage.

It was this show of emotion that Madame Luna feared most. She could not think of what else to say, and he seemed so engrossed with his music that she turned and began to walk away. Yet before she left, he called out to her. "I've seen the violinist's daughter," he said causally.

Madame Luna paused and slowly turned back. "And…?"

"She is very pretty, you did not tell me that," he said with a simple wave of his paw, before turning the page of the score before him. "And she appears to be a hard worker, her care for costumes is impressive," he added. "But what I admire about her most…is the way she refused to give Fleur De Lis the satisfaction of 'thanking her' for the opportunity to work under her," he chuckled.

Madame Luna gave a small smile, but sighed sadly. "I fear Fleur De Lis will make her life a living hell."

"Fleur De Lis makes everyone's life a living hell," Discord grumbled. "At least she had the courage to stand up to the harpy, despite the so-called accident the bitch did to her."

Madame Luna's brow furrowed with confusion. "Accident?"

"It doesn't matter," Discord replied casually, turning the page of the score. "The violinist plays very well too, they both can stay so long as they continue to obey the rules." Madame Luna nodded her head and turned to leave, but Discord called out to her one last time. "I have a note for you to deliver. Rarity has it, see her before you leave." Madame Luna nodded her head again, finally leaving to retrieve the letter Discord had written.

He listened to her distancing footsteps while he continued to play the sweet cords of music written before him. He noticed out of the corner of his eye a hunched figure approaching. "I'm busy Derpy, you know I do not wish to be disturbed while working," he said icily.

The hunched figure remained in the shadows, but nodded its large head. "F-f-forgive me, master," she slowly replied, her words stuttering slightly. "I just…c-c-couldn't help overhearing…t-t-that you were t-talking…about the c-c-c-costume mare…"

Discord nodded his head, not lifting his gaze from the music. "Yes, and what of it?"

The figure shuffled her feet a little before finally responding. "I like her…she s-seems d-d-different…nice…like the g-gypsy mare…"

Discord paused and looked at the hunched figure. "Gypsy mare?"

Derpy nodded her large head. "Yes…f-from the s-s-stories…that Rarity t-tells us…like the one w-with the hunchback…in the c-c-cathedral…"

Discord rolled his eyes and groaned and quickly resumed his playing. "There is no such person, Derpy, it was story, simple as that."

The hunched figure shifted her feet nervously again, her voice barely above a whisper. "B-b-but R-r-rarity says…"

Discord's claw and paw came crashing down on the organ. "THERE IS NO SUCH PONY!" he shouted, his voice echoing throughout the cavern and passageways. Derpy gave a cry of fear and quickly backed away, molding her large frame to the stone wall, as if hoping the shadow would keep her safe. Discord sighed and took several long breaths before lifting his head and speaking again, his tone icy, but calm. "There is no gypsy mare Derpy, there is no mare on earth like that…" he sighed one last time before finally lifting his eyes to where the hunched figure stood shaking. "Beautiful mares and stallions do not fall in love with monsters like us, that is the reality of it, and it's better than you learn this now, before…before you do something foolish and risk hurting yourself."

Derpy nodded her head as if she understood, although she made a strangled sobbing sound before retreating down the passageway, her sobs filling the caverns all around. Discord sighed and cradled his head in his paws. Damn that mare, somehow she was to blame for this. He recalled the crude scene of the Prince and Fleur De Lis, together in her dressing room. He followed her angry shrieks to see if his suspicions were correct, and yes, there was the Prince, attempting to win her affections with seductive lies. While Discord was a spy, he was not a voyeur, and had no interest in watching the two ponies he despised most become like wild animals with one another. But before he turned to leave the disgusting sight, he heard the Prince ask for the name of the new costume mare. Fleur De Lis finally conceded, telling him what he wanted to hear, and was thus rewarded with what he had come to the Opera House for all along.

Discord hated the stallion, but normally did nothing to stop his seductions and rendezvous with the mares of the Opera House. If they were more concerned with what the Prince thought of them, they were not fit to be a part of his theater. However, Disocrd felt a strange urge within his being to protect the violinist's daughter from the hooves of the handsome monster. He wasn't entirely sure why, as he didn't entirely feel this way for Pinkamena. But he felt compelled to keep a close watch on the mare, to make sure that her virtue, if she had any, wasn't turned into a plaything for the Prince.

Yet now her supposed sweet nature was having an affect on Derpy, and he did not need those that he took care of to be filled with such foolish notions, like love and romance. Love got him nothing, and he knew that if he had revealed himself to Pinkamena long ago, she would have rebuked him the second she saw his face. Indeed, love was not meant for creatures like himself.

The thought filled Discord with such rage that he pounded his claw and paw on the organ keys till blood flowed in time with the music.