//------------------------------// // Not-So Happily Met // Story: For-never Alone // by Troypony //------------------------------// Discord had fallen into a sense of half-consciousness, still awake and able to notice anything just as normally, but time seemed to pass much faster and he felt as if his mind was at rest. Maybe this was to be his new form of sleep here? He could care less about that, much less anything. Just his "new friend" Celestia promised him she would bring. He was pretty sure it had already arrived while he was in this state of sub-consciousness, because of all the noise he was hearing. They sounded somewhat similar to when he was placed here, so he knew that must be it. He couldn't break out of his state, however, so he had to be content with just listening. It wasn't until a few hours (he thought) after the sounds disappeared that he finally was released from his state, and was able to finally get a look at the newcomer to his left. At first, he thought Celestia faked him out and placed a mirror, but then he realized that not all of the details were right. To start, she was a female, or so he assumed, so that was a dead giveaway from the start. Her hair was much more widespread and longer, having hair where Discord had none. Her neck was quite short, perhaps half the length than Discord's. Her face was much more rounded, and along with her hair, gave a feminine look to her that Discord used in his assumption. Upon her head were her horn and antler, horn slimmer and straight, while her antler was shorter and thicker. Her torso was somewhat slimmer, as was her entire body itself. Finally, the tail, which is what Discord always believed to be the signature part of a Draconequus. The ridges on the back were smaller and more numerous, making up size in numbers. The hair at the end of her tail was condensed, not in individual strands like Discord's tail. She reminded him of himself. Although, that's not saying much. Most of the other details were exactly the same about him, as was the thing about Draconequus. Draconequus were unique in the fact that they weren't very unique. All Draconequus had multiple things in common, besides the usual things. Most Draconequus of the same gender looked quite similar, distinguishable only through specific details in which an individual could be recognized physically. Like a visual nametag. Although, it's much easier to just ask them, if you're not worried about offending them. If this Draconequus was from his clan or any others he knew, Discord wouldn't have been able to tell who it was. Whoever this Draconequus was, he had no idea. He kinda felt as if he would like to know, however. Maybe she knew about the kinds of powers Draconequus are capable of? "Hey, uh, you alive in there?" That caught Discord off guard. She already knew how to perform the same form of mental communication he did? He only learned about how to do that yesterday! How long had she known how to do this? What else did she know how to do? "Hello? Are you ok? I know you can't be dead." Discord realized he had been sitting there for quite some time, and she had been trying to talk to him. Better say something before she believes you're just a lifeless slab of stone. Not like he really felt much better than one. "Uh...hi." Yeah, nice first impressions. "Oh, thank goodness. I was hoping you weren't a lifeless slab of stone!" Discord was a little surprised. He just used that exact phrase! Great minds think alike, I guess? No, that phrase doesn't work here. Discord wasn't great or anything like that. He was just...wrong. A mistake. He shouldn't be here, not in a world where order rules. He didn't belong anywhere, not even with his own race. Why did he even-? "Wow, you don't talk much...." Discord had completely forgotten about her. "Sorry, I'm...thinking." "Really? What about?" Discord could feel himself becoming agitated, and tried relaxing himself to brush it away. "Nothing. Nothing important." Still, she probed on. "Well, it HAS to be important if you're thinking about it, right?" "No, it doesn't have to. Not what I'm thinking about." "Anything worth thinking is worth something to you! My father always said that to me. It's kinda become somewhat of a slogan of ours!" "You don't say..." Discord had only a sliver of patience remaining, and could feel his anger beginning to take over. How he just wanted her to snap that mouth of hers shut! All she needed to do was open her mouth one last time until- "So, if something's troubling you, it's alright to talk about it." That was the last straw, or sliver in this case. Discord snapped. "Talk about it? TALK ABOUT IT!? Talking about ANYTHING couldn't help now!" "But-" "NO! No buts! You can't help me. No one can possibly help me! You don't have any idea what I have on my conscious! You don't know what I have done, what I have caused!" "I...don't understand..." Discord could only feel the anger growing inside him, but it was also being extinguished. "Then I'll MAKE you understand! I CAUSED THIS ENTIRE THING! I forced Celestia into action, only for a little chaos I caused! So, I get trapped here, and Celestia begins to evict every Draconequus citizen in Equestria. Can you guess what I do just to have a little fun? The exact same thing I did that got me here: causing chaos! To make it worse, I was actually harming ponies, ruining their lives! I'm exactly what everypony thinks I am. A monster. Nothing but a monster. Now I have nothing. No home, no clan, no friends...not even a family. I've only got myself, whom I hate, a nation that despises me, and this stone prison. So, I technically have nothing left to live for. Unfortunately for me, this stone prison is preventing me from doing what I wish to do with this life, and I'm sure you might be able to guess what that is." Some silence occurred. "Well, now do you understand why talking about my problems won't solve anything?" There was no response. Discord never expected any. He was sure that as soon as she could process all of that information, she would think of him as a loser, just like the rest of the world. Probably not even talk to him anymore, not considering the way he had just spoke to her. Just great. Now, in addition to everything else, he was a jerk. He's never heard of any other creature that acted like more of a monster than he had now. He was sure of it. Everypony was right about him. He was the sickest creature in the land. He could tell that himself as much as he wanted, but it still would never be horrible enough to describe him now. Nothing ever would, or could. He could waste away, like he wanted to, and the world would rejoice and revel. Unfortunately, like what he just told that poor Draconequus nearby, he could not end himself. Being stuck in stone had its many disadvantages, he guessed. "I'm...so sorry, I never knew..." It was her again. Why couldn't she just leave him alone!? Hadn't she done enough already... "Don't try wasting your breath, I'm not worth it. I'm not worth anything in this world. Not anymore." "I know someone who said the exact same thing, and I proved him wrong. I bet I could prove you wrong too." Discord wasn't really impressed, but decided to let her tell her story anyway. "Fine, go ahead. It won't do anything to change my mind." "Let's see if you're saying the same thing once I'm done." At that moment, she took a deep breath (metaphorically), and began to think.