//------------------------------// // Chapter 29 // Story: The Darkness in our Souls // by Black Light //------------------------------// Chapter 29 Flare and I were walking in the main hallway in his house. Cloud was sitting in the living room. We told the girls to wait in the hallway while we talked to her first. “Hello Cloud.” I greeted with a nod. “Oh Shadowmere, it’s good to see you again.” She responded. “Flare told me you would come by to help with the wedding planning.” “Yes I am, and I brought a few others to help.” I said trying to hide that I wasn’t telling her something. She wasn’t buying it. “What’s wrong? It looks like you have more to say.” “Well, kind of. You see it’s just that you might know them already.” I told her. I turned my head and nodded for the girls to come in. Based on her reaction I would say she did know them already. Her mouth dropped and she was speechless. “Cloud this is my little sister Skies.” I said rubbing my sister’s mane. “And these are my friends, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash.” I pointed to each of the mares as I said their names except for Rainbow who instead stood next to me and I put a leg around her in a small embrace. “These… these are the Elements of Harmony.” Cloud finally said. “Yes but they are also just some ordinary mares that live ordinary lives.” I responded I saw Rainbow give me a look out of the corner of my eye. “Okay, maybe things aren’t so ordinary.” “Oh my Celestia, the Elements of Harmony are in my home. I need to clean up. Oh my, oh my.” Cloud said as she started to run around the house with no real point. I let out a small chuckle and Flare went over and stopped her. He had on a smile. “Cloud its fine. You can treat them the exact same as you do any other pony.” “That’s right.” Twilight said. “We’re not really any different than any other mare.” Cloud gave a small nod. “Okay.” “Good, now since that problem is solved. I’ll let you get to planning, and since I know nothing about wedding planning I’m going to get a cupcake.” I said. “And since cupcakes are involved I’m coming too.” Flare added on. “And I’ll eat this cupcake.” Pinkie said taking a cupcake from nowhere and eating it in one bite. Everypony in the room didn’t look surprised except for Cloud who was speechless yet again. “Don’t worry. You get used to it pretty quick.” I said with a laugh as Flare and I walked down the hallway towards the door. We opened the door and shut it behind us. “So do you think she’s going to make it?” Flare asked me. “Who?’ I responded. “Cloud. You said that those mares are normal, but they are anything but normal.” He told me. “Yeah, you’re probably right, but I think you’re underestimating Cloud. I think she’ll do just fine.” I said to him. “Well, I guess we’ll see.” Flare responded. “Come on I know a good place to eat near here.” He finished starting to fly off, and I took off after him. ~~~Some Time Later~~~ “Why did we decide to get involved in that eating contest?” I asked with one hoof rubbing my stomach to try and tame it. “Because we love cupcakes, and it was free cupcakes.” Flare answered. “Oh yeah.” I responded. “That was probably a bad idea.” “Most likely.” Flare said as he walked up to his home and opened the door. We were greeted by laughter coming from the living room. We walked down the hall into the living room and saw the mares sitting around drinking coffee and talking. “We’re back. What we miss?” “Oh hello Flare.” Cloud said. “We’ve just been talking for a bit. What about you two?” We looked at each other. “Well, we had an exciting day. I think that we’re both on sugar overload right now.” Flare answered. “Sugar overload?” Rainbow responded. “Yeah, there was a cupcake eating contest, and we kind of entered.” I told her. “There was a cupcake eating contest and you didn’t tell me!?” Pinkie asked loudly. “Yes.” I replied. “Okay.” Pinkie said walking off. “So how many cupcakes did you eat?” Rainbow asked. I looked at Flare. “There were about ten per platter, right?” “Yeah, and I think they gave us two platters apiece.” Flare said. “But what about the one’s we took from the other contestants?” I asked. “Well I took about four more.” Flare said. “And I took around three more than you, so I guess I had ninety.” “That means I got sixty.” “You ate ninety cupcakes?” Rainbow asked. “Eeyup.” I responded. “And you had sixty?” Cloud asked Flare. “Yes, yes I did.” He answered. “How did you two eat that much without throwing up?” Rainbow asked. “I never said we didn’t.” I responded. All the girls got a very disgusted face. “Of course that doesn’t mean we did.” I finished with a small grin. Rainbow punched me lightly on the shoulder. “That was disgusting.” She said. “Yes, but the looks on your face was worth it.” I said looking at them all. “Especially Rarity’s since it seems she’s frozen in shock.” I said as I saw her not moving on the spot. “I got this.” Rainbow said as she walked over to Rarity. “Hey Rarity, Applejack is trying to wear her rain boots to the Grand Galloping Gala.” “SHE WHAT?!” Rarity screamed coming out of her shock. “Well, that worked.” I said. “Always does.” Rainbow said with a small grin. “Now that everypony is conscious again. I must bid you all farewell. I have business to discuss with the princess.” I said. “Skies would you mind staying with Rainbow while I’m gone?” “Sure I’d love to hang out with my future sister-in-law.” Skies said with a smile. “Stop saying that!” I said with a slight blush. “You should stop trying to deny it. It’s obviously going to happen eventually.” Flare said trying to mess with me. I saw that Rainbow had a similar look to my own. “It really is obvious. I mean, I just met Rainbow today and even I can see it.” Cloud added on. “That’s it. That’s the line. I’m out.” I said as I started towards the door. “Skies behave yourself, Rainbow don’t let her mess with you, everypony else don’t destroy anything.” I finished walking out the door and spreading my wings. I took off and started towards the castle. I landed a few minutes later nodded at the guards as I entered the castle. I found my way to the garden where I found both the princesses and heard them talking to Discord. “Ah, here comes my savior.” I heard Discord say. “I can totally hear you sarcasm.” I responded. “Well, if you couldn’t you would be deaf.” He said. I turned to the princesses. “So have you decided anything?” I asked. “Well, Discord has agreed to be released at a more secluded place and limit his chaotic powers, but I’m not completely sure we can just take his word for it.” Celestia answered. “Oh you don’t trust me? I am deeply hurt princess.” Discord said with a laugh. “Well you’re probably right.” I responded to the princess. “But as long as it’s a decently secluded place we should be able to limit panic.” “You are probably right, but it would be best to find some way to control him.” Luna told me. “Well, the only way to control him is for him to do it himself.” I told her. “He’s right you know.” Discord said. “There is nothing you can do to control me.” “Except make you live your greatest fear.” I said. “My fear? I am the embodiment of chaos. What fear do I have?” He said but I felt the change with my power. “You think you can hide it from me. You said before you knew I was a telepathic, but my telepathic link is very specific. It targets the dark emotions. Like evil, jealousy,…and fear.” I said with a grin. “I’ve seen you’re fear, and I can make it happen. Now you wouldn’t want that would you? Being all alone, with no pony to talk to. Maybe bury you in a hole, so you have to watch the dirt over and over never changing. Completely constant with no change. The complete opposite of chaos.” The princesses were staring at me as I spoke in my monotonous voice. “…And you call me evil.” Discord finally said breaking the silence. I heard him sigh. “Okay, I’m going to try to keep myself under control.” “I want you to Pinkie Promise.” I told him. “Fine, I pinkie promise, cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye.” Discord said and I could've sworn I saw the statues eyes roll. “Okay now we’re guaranteed.” I told the princesses. “How can you know?” Celestia asked. “Obviously you have never seen what happens to Pinkie when somepony breaks a Pinkie Promise. I’m pretty sure if you break one she will destroy you.” I answered. “Pinkie Pie… angry? That sounds impossible.” Luna said. “And extremely terrifying.” Celestia added.