“This really isn’t what I had in mind.”
Creon heard the voice and slowly opened his eyes.
“Oh, you are up. Good.”
Discord reached out a claw and used it to flick Creon’s hair. Creon recoiled slightly and Discord’s frown became bigger.
“You know, I figured that I would get something a bit less stupid,” he said, looking at Celestia.
“Well, I didn’t think it would be completely useless either,” she told him, walking around in front of Creon.
Creon scowled at the two of them.
Release that anger.
The voice from earlier seemed to come from everywhere and yet nowhere.
If you do, they will learn not to treat you that way.
“But I feel a strange connection with the weird one,” said Creon, not really concentrating his eyes on anything.
“Is he talking about me?” asked Discord, pointing to himself, and Creon looked startled.
Hahaha!
The mocking laughter almost pierced Creon’s ears, making him flinch.
They can hear you when you talk out loud. Try talking more quietly.
“Great,” sighed Celestia, “not only is it completely brain dead, it talks to itself.”
“Provoking him isn’t really a good idea, Celestia.”
The new voice came from behind Creon, and he turned to see what appeared to be a fortress of chairs hastily stacked up around a dark blue pony, similar to the white one in front of him.
“Luna, come out of there,” Celestia said, poking Creon in the head, “it can’t do anything to you. It doesn’t do anything.”
She poked Creon a few more times, and the anger Creon felt rose each time.
Go on. Do it now. See, Discord is getting out of the way. It won’t hurt anyone but her.
Creon turned his attention back to his surroundings, and saw that his inner voice was right. Discord was in fact moving away, and Celestia’s constant poking made Creon more and more agitated.
Now. Focus your anger and release it.
Creon felt Celestia’s hoof hit his head once more, and he snapped. A deep black aura surrounded his horn, and a burst of energy hit Celestia in the chest. Her eyes widened in surprise as she was thrown across the room. She collided with the wall and fell to the floor with a loud ‘thud’.
Discord began to laugh uproariously, and even Luna giggled slightly before teleporting to the other side of the room to help her fallen sister.
“Don’t treat me that way!” growled Creon, getting to his hooves.
Discord stopped laughing when he heard the menacing sounds coming from his ‘son’.
“If I tell you that you can treat me that way, go ahead.”
Creon took a few steps forward and Luna shielded her sister with a wing. Creon’s body shook all over and he glared at the stunned Celestia.
“But until then, don’t treat Creon that way.”
“I appreciate your threats,” remarked Discord, moving towards Creon, “but you have to learn proper speech. You should have said ‘I’ there, not Creon.”
Creon turned towards Discord and Discord noticed that his eyes had become silvery-white.
“And as much as I appreciate the correction, I was not referring to myself.”
The coat around Discord’s chest began to flicker, changing from the usual grey, to a dark red.
“I was in fact referring to Creon in that statement.”
The colour change rapidly spread to the rest of his body, and soon, Creon was almost half red.
“Stop!” yelled Luna, and the red hairs immediately changed back to their original colour.
Creon recoiled slightly, as though waking from a day dream, and turned towards Luna.
“What happened to you?” asked Luna, stepping towards Creon.
“It’s funny you would ask that,” said Creon, “I asked a similar question to him earlier, but he never answered properly.”
Creon’s statement confused the others, but he continued to speak, oblivious to their confusion.
“So I’ll ask you instead. Who am I?”
-----
“Another you?” asked Celestia, for the third time since their conversation began.
“Yes,” replied an exhausted Creon, “he said he was me, but he wasn’t. Can’t you explain this, Father.”
“Please don’t call me that. It makes me feel old.”
Creon looked at Discord, but the spirit just shrugged.
“It does.”
“That doesn’t answer as many questions as I had hoped,” said Luna.
“You didn’t exactly answer mine,” hissed Creon, though no-one heard him.
Luna took a sip of the tea Discord had provided and continued to speak.
“I don’t know why a split in personality would occur. Discord’s wing was the only thing from a sentient being in the ingredients. So where could the extra personality have come from?”
Discord looked away shiftily, and Creon picked up on it.
“What are you hiding?” he asked, and the spirit tensed as all eyes focused on him.
“Come on, you are supposed to cover for me!” mouthed Discord before answering the question.
“Well,” he began, “I may or may not have placed a few of the hairs from Celestia’s mane into the mix.”
Luna’s cup shattered under the added magical energy.
“Why would you do that?” She yelled, “Do you know what you could have done?”
“Of course I do!" yelled Discord patronizingly, "Made chaos! Like I always do!”
Luna sighed angrily and she and Discord began to argue.
Look at them arguing. Isn’t it so wonderfully chaotic?
The voice interrupted his concentration on the scene before him and Creon shook his head.
“I don’t like the chaos it causes,” he said quietly, and only Celestia, who was glaring at him and nursing an injured wing, heard him.
How could you not love it? The wondrous disharmony, the beautiful chaos, the splendid discordance. Doesn’t it make you feel so alive?
“No,” said Creon, “it doesn’t. I prefer order. When everything is precise, and harmonious. Like the scales in the corner there. They are perfectly balanced.”
Until something is placed onto the other side.
Creon’s horn went dark, and he involuntarily threw his own cup at the scales, shattering the chains holding one of the dishes.
Or taken away. Chaos is so easy to cause, whereas order is so hard to keep.
“Doesn’t that make it more rewarding though?” asked Creon, slightly louder than intended.
Luna and Discord, who had stopped arguing after the shattering of the scales, looked at him, waiting to hear what he had to say next.
“The fact that you kept it like that for so long. Isn’t that truly rewarding? Knowing for a fact that those scales would not have broken had you not tampered with them. Knowing those scales can be remade, become as orderly as they were before.”
Creon’s horn went dark again, voluntarily this time, and the scales floated across to him. Creon worked in the silence, bending the links of the chains back together, making the scales as perfect as they were before their untimely demise. The clinking of the chains punctuated the silence as the scales were rebuilt.
“You have remarkable control for someone that has existed for so little a time,” said Celestia, admiring his precision.
Creon smiled slightly and placed the scales back on the table, making sure they were still balanced.
“You destroyed them; I returned them to their former state. There is even a chance I made the scales better than they were before. Would anyone have even noticed them had you not broken them in the first place? Many efforts to create chaos ultimately lead to a more orderly creation.”
Creon looked at Discord and smirked at the spirit’s expense.
So order is used to build and enhance?
“And order relies on chaos to do just that. Chaos and order are like the sun and the moon. Both are required but neither can be dominant while the other is. Just as the sun is required to help the plants grow, so too is order needed to build a thriving world. But the sun must occasionally allow the moon to take its place, and chaos must take the place of order.”
Creon took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts for a moment.
“Chaos allows a break from order, just like the moon allows the land to cool and beings to rest. When the order takes control again, those affected are not opposed to the order, as chaos has made order the more desirable option. Chaos cannot live with order, and order cannot live with chaos. But neither can live alone. One must always be ready to intervene when the other becomes too overbearing.”
The room was silent yet again.
“You know, that would have made much more sense if I could hear the other side of the conversation,” said Discord, breaking the awkward silence.
“I apologise for interrupting what you were doing,” Creon said, bowing his head.
“Don’t be,” Discord said, waving the apology away, “are you sure you don’t want any of this tea? I brewed it myself.”
Discord held out his paw and a teacup appeared above it.
“You have asked that several times now, but I don’t know what you are referring to.”
The cup was enveloped in a black aura and floated towards Creon.
“This cup is clearly empty.”
The cup flew towards Luna and inverted itself above her head. The alicorn squealed and teleported herself out of the chair. The tea splashed over the cushion and started to seep through it.
“What are you doing?” she cried, stomping a hoof.
“Touch the cushion,” said Creon, pointing at it.
Luna looked at him skeptically but eventually obliged. She reached down and placed a hoof against the cushion on the chair.
“It is now soaked. What is your point?”
“You know,” Creon sighed, “I honestly thought someone of your magical prowess could see through it far quicker. Close your eyes.”
She did so, and Creon swiftly lifted the cushion and slammed it into the side of Luna’s face.
“You little bastard!” she yelled, making Titian jolt upright, before falling asleep again.
Luna stormed towards Creon who threw a magical shield up in front of himself.
The voice in Creon’s head laughed loudly. Discord did as well. Even Celestia found it hard to suppress her laughter.
That was incredible!
“Please calm down Luna,” Creon stated calmly, having no trouble keeping the barrier stable against Luna’s physical and magical blows.
The princess glared at Creon, but stopped her onslaught.
“Thank you. Please feel the side of your face,” he instructed bluntly.
Luna scowl deepened as she lifted her hoof to her face.
“What about it?” she grunted, her eyes fixed on Creon’s neck with a murderous glare.
“Is it even remotely wet?”
She stopped suddenly and her facial expression changed completely, become far softer than before.
“No,” she whispered, almost in awe.
“See?” asked Creon, “There was never any liquid. It was just an illusion.”
Discord laughed again and began to applaud.
“While it is true that this was really a test of your abilities, this was far more entertaining than I expected from you!”
He is right, that was really well done.
“If you simply wanted to show me it was an illusion, why hit me with the cushion?” asked Luna, still aggravated.
“Two reasons,” replied Creon, “doing so caused you to forget about the tea, no?”
Luna nodded.
“Also, it was fun.”
Luna scowled again and the voice laughed again.
You know, you could cause some real chaos if you tried.
“I could,” said Creon.
Luna made her way back to her seat and Discord teleported into the air next to Creon.
“Well,” he said, “I think it is time the two of us left, don’t you?”
He looked at Creon and nodded slightly.
“No,” replied Creon, shaking his head in return, “I believe staying here for a while is the best plan of action.”
Discord looked at Creon with a confused expression and Creon elaborated.
“If I stay here, for even a few days, I can learn far more about current events than I could anywhere else. I would have access to the library here in Canterlot, and I’m sure Celestia will allow me access to her private book storage.”
Celestia snorted.
“Yeah right,” she said, “Titian, Luna and myself are the only ones that may access that wing of the library.”
Creon shook his head.
“I meant the collection that you keep hidden even from your sister.”
Celestia’s eyes widened abruptly and Luna turned her glare on her sister.
“What is he talking about?” she asked icily, “What secrets are you keeping from me.”
“Well,” Celestia gulped, trying to explain, “I may have a collection of spell books that contain spells I deemed too dangerous for use.”
“Then why keep them?” Luna asked.
“I keep them as a precaution,” sighed Celestia, hanging her head, “and as a memento. Some of these spells were made by Starswirl at my request, but I now realize they are too dangerous to allow them to fall into the wrong hooves. I keep them hidden in case I need them.”
She looked back at Luna sadly.
“There are spells there that were made to kill alicorns. Specifically you, Luna.”
Luna looked at her sister with a mixture of hatred and surprise.
“And here I thought you had forgiven me. I will be taking my leave,” she said, getting up and turning away from the others.
She took a deep breath.
“I need sometime alone.”
With that she disappeared.
Everyone was silent, their eyes fixed on the spot Luna stood moments ago.
Boy, you really know how to make people angry, said the voice in Creon’s head, we have existed for a less than a day, and you have already enraged a princess, made said princess hate her sister, and make that sister regret half the decisions she has ever made.
Creon turned to Celestia, whose face showed no emotion at all.
“I didn’t mean to,” said Creon, feeling guilty, “I merely wanted access to powerful spells and vast wells of knowledge.”
Maybe next time you should be more subtle about it. I think you even managed to make Discord feel uncomfortable. That is not exactly an easy feat.
As though on cue, Discord began to speak.
“Well, I think my presence here has had a more negative effect than I would have liked, so I will take this as my cue to leave. I will come again in two days, okay Creon? Learn what you need in that time.”
Creon nodded and Discord bowed before teleporting away with a ‘pop’.
“What was that?” asked Titian sleepily, rubbing her eyes with her hooves.
“That was Discord leaving,” stated Creon.
“Aww, I wanted to keep talking to him though,” whined Titian, not realizing she had no idea who she was talking to.
“I’m sure you will see him again.”
Titian nodded and hopped off of her chair.
“Princess, what are we going to do now? Will I return to my studies?”
Celestia shook her head half-heartedly.
“No,” she replied, as if in a trance, “I want you to take Creon around Canterlot. Help him do what he likes.”
With that she too teleported from the room, leaving Titian confused.
“I have so many questions,” she said, scratching her head with a hoof.
“I will try answering them as best as I can,” Creon told her, walking over to her, “I am Creon. Could you take me to the library please?”
Titian considered it for a moment.
“Well, Celestia did ask me to help you, so I guess I can. Just promise you will answer all the questions I have.”
“Deal,” said Creon, nodding in agreement, “before we go though, I have something to take care of.”
And what would that be?
“I have to go get this being named ‘Cake’,” said Creon, “I believe he was thrown into a wall when I was created.”
Titian opened her mouth to ask a question, but Creon placed a hoof on her mouth.
“All in good time,” he said.
He quickly scanned the room and saw a trail of cream down one of the walls. He walked over to it and saw what could only be described as a blob on the floor beneath it.
“Are you Cake?” Creon asked the blob.
A muffled ‘yes’ came from the pile, and in a few short moments Creon had it lifted into the air.
“Could you please put me back together?” the blob asked Creon.
What is that thing?
“I dunno,” replied Creon, both to Cake and the voice.
Cake whimpered and the voice laughed.
“If we work together we can fix him,” said Titian, adding her magic to the amount holding Cake up.
Creon shrugged.
“Sure. Let’s hurry though, because I need to get to that library as soon as possible. Discord will be back in only two days.”
“Right,” said Titian, making a serious face, “let’s get to work!”
The two of them sat on the floor and began to piece Cake back together.
“So,” started Titian, “why did everyone leave?”
“Well,” said Creon, focusing most of his attention on the mess in front of him, “Luna felt betrayed by Celestia, Celestia felt responsible for everything and Discord felt like he had caused too much chaos for today. Surprising for him really.”
And you caused all of it, chided the voice.
“Shut up,” Creon sighed.
“Who do you keep talking to?” asked Titian, paying less attention to Cake than she should have been.
“I don’t really know,” replied Creon, “he says that he is me, but he also says he is not me. No-one will tell me who I am, so I can’t tell who or what he is.”
“Does he have a name?”
“No,” Creon said bluntly, “I hadn’t even considered it.”
Rude.
“You should give him one,” Titian said.
“Alright I will,” agreed Creon, “but what?”
“You said your name was Creon right?”
Creon nodded.
“So why don’t you call him Necro? It is an anagram of Creon. He, can be you, but not you, at the same time.”
I like it, the voice said, I should have a title too. Necro the Chaotic.
“Alright,” said Creon, nodding, “your new name is Necro the Chaotic. Necro for short.”
Titian smiled.
“Can you hurry up and fix me please?” cried Cake, whose body parts were floating in the air.
Creon apologized and continued to work, but Titian had all but given up, leaning back against the wall.
“Why are you named Creon?”
“The same reason anyone is given a name I suppose,” replied Creon, working to put Cake back together, “it was just chosen for me. Damn it, this is really difficult considering I don’t know what you looked like in the first place.”
“But many ponies and changelings are given names based on certain characteristics they have,” said Titian, “like me. I bet you can’t guess my name though.”
Creon looked at her for a moment before closing his eyes.
“I can’t be sure, as my knowledge of changelings is limited to what Discord passed to me when I was made, but I would assume it has to do with your eyes.”
He opened his own eyes again and studied the changeling’s eyes closely.
“Your eyes are different to most changelings I believe. If I were to hazard a guess your name would be similar to that of your eye colour.”
Titian listened to his reasoning, and Cake had given up all hope of ever being put together again. Creon continued his analysis.
“Your eyes are a fairly orange, but also have hints of brown in them. The word auburn comes to mind, but to my knowledge, auburn is more red than orange. I would say your eye colour is closer to that of dark orange or titian, and since we are talking about names, I don’t think dark orange is correct. So I will say that your first name is Titian.”
Titian’s eyes widened with surprise, but Creon wasn’t finished.
“As for your second name, which if I am correct many ponies and changelings have, it would most likely have something to do with your identity as a changeling. The fact that a changeling’s wings ‘buzz’ or ‘hum’ when they fly probably has something to do with your name. Buzz doesn’t sound like a name, but the word drone is quite fitting.”
Creon smiled and nodded.
“I would say that your name is Titian Drone.”
Titian smiled broadly and applauded.
“Wow, not many ponies could figure that out like you did!” she said, admiring Creon’s abilities.
You aren’t going to tell her that you have some of Discord’s memories about her are you?
“Nope,” whispered Creon devilishly.
Sneaky, said Necro.
“Why did you say you have a limited knowledge?” asked Titian, her flow of questions impeding Cake’s recovery process.
“Because I was only made a few hours ago,” Creon told her, “I was created with magic and I only know what memories I happened to be given by Discord and Celestia. That is why I know that Celestia has a hidden collection of powerful and forbidden spells.”
Titian’s ears perked up at the utterance of Creon’s statement.
“If you have some of Celestia’s knowledge, can you tell me where she keeps a certain set of books?”
Titian whispered the request eagerly, and Creon was hesitant.
“Doing things like that is what caused the others to leave,” he said.
“Please? It won’t take long.”
Go on, said Necro, you’ve already made a huge mess, how much worse can things get?
“A lot,” Creon whispered, but decided to help the changeling regardless.
“What books are you looking for?” he asked Titian.
“Well,” said Titian, “I want to know where foals come from, but Celestia keeps telling me that I don’t need to know yet. I was hoping you could find a book on it and I could finally learn.”
“Seems harmless enough,” said Creon, “I want to learn as much as I can, so we may as well start there.”
Creon lifted one of the cushions from the chairs over to himself and emptied the stuffing out of it, before dumping the pieces of Cake into it.
“Not again!” Cake squealed, but Creon ignored his protests and tied the sack to his back with magic.
“To the library!” Creon said loudly, and he and Titian began their journey.
-----
It didn’t take Titian long to get the trio to the library, and she sat at a table waiting for Creon to return from the librarian’s desk.
“Here we go,” he said, placing the monstrous stack of books he was levitating onto the table, “the mare at the desk said that this wasn’t all of them, but she gave me this weird look when I took so many. She probably wasn’t used to people getting so many books at once.”
“Probably. Okay Creon, let our studying commence!”
“You said it Titan!”
You both sound like foals, sighed Necro.
-----
Titian sat at the table, her face tinged an odd shade of green. Creon, who was suffering a similar affliction, was seated next to her.
“Creon,” croaked Titian, her voice barely audible.
“Yeah?” he replied, his eyes still gazing into the distance.
“Next time, maybe you can get books with fewer pictures.”
Creon shook his head.
“There won’t be a next time. I am going to burn all of these books so they can never harm anyone again.”
Titian nodded shakily.
“Can we research something else now?” she asked.
“Let’s start with memory erasing spells,” Creon said.
“Agreed,” said Titian.