//------------------------------//
// Beyond Your Control 
// Story: Corruption of the Moon 
// by FrostyDawn 
//------------------------------//

	Celestia knew something was wrong. When she awoke, on routine, the night seemed colder and darker than any night has ever been.

"Luna." she muttered. She hopped out of her bed, and softly trotted down the hallway. She creaked open the door to her sister's room, expecting to see Luna in her bed after watching over Equestria's night. She was wrong. Luna's bed was empty, and the balcony window was open, letting in a cold draft.

Celestia grew worried. Perhaps a telepathy spell would find Luna. Celestia's horn began to hum with her divine magic but quickly fizzled out as something canceled it out. She tried again, exerting more magic. A small stinging sensation forced Celestia to stop, making the area behind her eyes grow hot and strained. Still no sign from Luna.

None of this made any sense. So naturally, when rhyme and reason was lacking, there was one thing Celestia feared. She quickly trotted down the stairs, into the castle's basement. After a long corridor, was a large steel vault door. Celestia used her magic to twist the door's hatch. The metal groaned under the movement and slowly turned to allow Celestia into the room. It was a large, spacey area with a stone statue.

The statue was in the form of a thin, serpent like dragon, with several mis-matched parts. A lions paw and eagle talons in place of hands, the legs of a bull and crocodile, a deer antler to go along with its twisted unicorn horn, and two wings, one of a bat, and the other of an average pegasus.

It's head was a horse's, but more longer and skinny. The statue's body belonged to a long dragon, and at the end, a mule tail. The creature held its arm in front of it, as if trying to hold something away as its face was frozen in a look of fear. There was a special name for this particular creature. A Draconequus. But this particular state had it's own name. One that most ponies would shudder to even think about saying.

Discord. The god of chaos. The spirit of mayhem.

Celestia glared at the statue. She had numerous instances where Discord had gone on a chaos-spree, wreaking anarchy and havoc. But the princess was always one step ahead, using the Elements of Harmony to preserve him in stone, and imprison him further in the castle basement, under constant surveillance. Even stepping into the same room as his statue was a huge risk. But Celestia needed answers.

Her horn glowed once more, and so did the statue of Discord. The Draconequus' arms and head began to move, and loosen up.

"Oh, my. Another interrogation. What is it this time, Celestia?" the statue said, the stone moving like flesh and blood.

"You know very well why." Celestia grumbled.

"I'm afraid not. Do tell." Discord replied.

"Luna is missing."

"...and?"

"Don't play dumb with me! I can't find her with my magic and the only one able to cancel my magic is you!"

"Woah, woah. Calm down, sun-flank. Obviously, I couldn't. I was here the whole time, and you always made sure of that."

"Then who else is responsible? Who else is capable of such nonsense and mystique?"

Discord paused, scratched his stony chin, and chuckled.

"You know something, don't you?" The princess growled.

"The question, my dear Celestia, is not who. But what is causing all this nonsense and mystique. And the answer..." Discord chuckled even harder.

"What is it?! Answer me, dammit!" Celestia shouted.

But before she could react any further, the vault door slammed shut behind her. The sound of the metal gears turning signified the locks had closed completely.

"As I was saying, the culprit you seek is something not even I would mess with. It would be best to stay out of it's way. Or, in your case, in here!" Discord cackled.

"DISCORD! If you don't let me out, I'll-" Celestia cried.

"You'll what? Turn me to stone again? I'm not doing this. It is. Have fun." The Draconequus chuckled, returning to his original rigid position, the stone hardening once more.

Celestia's horn glowed, preparing a teleporting spell. Nothing happened. Her forehead stung, and her eyes burned. She readied a demolition spell, to blow the door of it's hinges. The same result. Celestia tried to cast any spell, even the most basic magic. Still nothing. A stinging forehead, and burning eyes.

Celestia soon tired herself out, and dropped to the floor as shadows enveloped her vision.