//------------------------------// // The Antidote // Story: Renew // by lorettafox //------------------------------// Screwball paced around in the throne room shortly after being taken away from her mother. She just couldn't stop pacing and wrap her mind around the idea that her father was truly gone. No longer encased in stone...just plain gone. Not even a body was left behind, a spirit. Everything that was and is him was simply...gone. Screwball stopped suddenly in front of a nearby window that poured the moonlight into the otherwise unlit room. He wasn't even going to be in the place ponies go to when their time is up. She would simply never get a chance to see him again. Screwball let out a small sniffle and brought a hoof up to her eye as she felt a small tear run down her cheek. “I'll never be able to have your chaos again, Daddy. I'll try to create as much as I can for you...but now I know that there is nothing I can do to bring you back. I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Daddy.” “Screwball...” came the voice of Princess Luna. “My sister is working on an antidote to reverse the spell placed on the mare and perhaps she can reuse the amulet to bring back Discord. Now that she has been placed under an anti-corruption charm, the amulet will no longer be able to corrupt her.” “H-How long does the potion take to make?” Screwball asked with a sad tone. “My sister should be almost done but the antidote itself takes three days to remove all traces of the Immortal Servant Spell. It takes time for magic to get rid of the false memories and put the real memories back into their place.” explained Princess Luna in almost a motherly tone. “That means I won't be able to see my Daddy for that much longer...” Screwball said sadly. “I know the pain is hurting you, dear Screwball, but you must think...if our antidote works, you'll be able to have your father back. My sister and I vow that after this is repaired that the Alicorn Amulet will go under strict protection to ensure that no pony else will ever be able to go under its influence.” spoke Luna. “And I know how much you miss Discord. I miss him as well. He used to play with me when I was a filly. He always made me laugh when I was feeling down. I guess he can't make our hearts stop aching...” Screwball instantly hugged Luna, which took her by surprise. Luna blunk for a second, but hugged the pink mare back. “I miss my Daddy. I didn't think it would hurt this much to lose him again. It didn't hurt this much before...” “I believe you are also feeling Twilight Sparkle's feelings for him as well. She seemed to love him more then anything, perhaps even more then her own friends.” spoke Luna. “We will make everything better, dear Screwball. Everything will be alright.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “We deserved to be in here.” said Bookworm sadly in her cell a few hours later. “I didn't realize my old teacher told how cruel Discord was...and I believed him...” “I know he hurt my family...but the way that mare felt...I feel so terrible...” said Apple Sweet. “Why are you two feeling remorse for him? That monster?” asked Star Mage who was sitting next to the two. “Apple Sweet...he hurt your family, remember? My family? “I-I know he did, my mentor, but am I any better then him by taking him away from the only mare that loved him? I still hate how he harmed my family, but that was a long time ago and my family would be long gone anyways...so in a way...it's all ok.” said Apple Sweet. “I wish we could heal the mare's pain, but I don't know how to bring him back...” “How dare you suggest bringing that monster back?!” yelled Star Mage. “Apple Sweet, I demand you forget this pitiful feelings towards this purple mare. She was simply a pawn in Discord's plans.” “No!” she yelled at him, getting on her hooves and began staring Star Mage down. “I will always be loyal to you, my mentor, but I will not stop feeling this way. The guilt...I actually deserve to feel this way! I broke apart a great loving family...you should feel this way too but you are to happy about your revenge to see what truly is important at the moment!” “It seems your spell over her is finally fading.” came the voice of Princess Celestia as she walked into the area, only to be separated from the group of three by chain bars of the holding cell. “The book also revealed that emotion is the main opponent in weakening the Immortal Servant spell.” “But how is that possible?” asked Star Mage. “That spell was supposed to be permanent on the both of them!” “Wait...the both of them? You cast it upon both of them?” asked Celestia in surprise. “I have been alive for the last thousand years, so I've taught many different students using many different forms then this one, though I am truly a unicorn.” explained Star Mage. “I'm only saying all this because I know what I wanted done is finally done.” “Wait...you were my teacher? The one who told me about Discord and his evil ways?” asked Bookworm in alarm. “I was indeed, young Bookworm. You may not been able to perform magic, but you had an incredible thirst for knowledge. So, I gave it to you. I cast the spell one night while you were studying your little history books.” “I think I remember writing The History of Equestria after that. That book is filled to the brim with incomplete facts!” Bookworm hissed out. “I'm a murderer and a lousy author! I should be executed for my actions against the purple mare and the world of literature...” “Now, now. I will not be sending any of you to your graves.” said Celestia with a small smile. “Even after all that we've done? To you, your sister, your family.” said Apple Sweet. “We don't deserve your sympathy, Princess.” “I know you have caused me and many members of the royal family pain, but I know most of your actions weren't of your own choice. It is because of this spell and the false memories and thoughts that have been implanted into your minds that you have acted the way you have.” “False memories?” asked Apple Sweet. “You will soon find out for yourself which memories were true and which were false, once I give you this antidote. It will remove the Immortal Servant spell of the both of you and the two of you will finally be able to think for yourselves again.” said Celestia as she levitated two vials with a purple liquid swirling with blue inside of it. “You will not be taking my two students away from me, Celestia!” Star Mage barked, trying to use his magic, but it was blocked by a magic blocker that was on his horn. Apple Sweet had one on her own horn as well. “You are in no position to be making any more threats against me, Star Mage. You will be dealt with separately then the two mares you placed under your control. As for these two, they need to freed from the horrible fate that you bestowed upon them.” said Celestia as she glanced at one of the guards guarding the cell. “Bring the two mares out here, but leave Star Mage in. I wish to administer the antidote on them both.” she spoke with another small smile. “Of course, your highness.” the guard said as he unlocked the the door and both Bookworm and Apple Sweet timidly walked out of the cell, partly afraid that Celestia would try to do something to them. “All you two need to do is drink this liquid and the effects should start immediately. It'll take three days to permanently get rid of the damage that the spell has caused on you, but your true memories should start surfacing immediately.” said Celestia. “First you, Miss Apple Sweet.” Apple Sweet opened her mouth as Celestia levitated the vial to Apple Sweet's lips, she slowly drinking the liquid until it was gone. The liquid itself was actually quite vile tasting, but Apple Sweet didn't stop until it was completely gone. Some of Apple Sweet's true memories suddenly flashed into her mind. “I-I remember...my family...they were never harmed...they were simply apple farmers, earth ponies. I was the only unicorn in the family. They lived to be just fine.” “That's right, Apple Sweet. The Apple Family was never harmed and live all over Equestria. In fact, that would make you directly related to the Element bearer of Honesty, Applejack.” Celestia smiled as she levitated the other vial in front of Bookworm. “And now for you, Miss Bookworm.” Bookworm complied as she opened her mouth to take in the vile tasting liquid. She almost spat it out as it touched her tongue, but she forced herself to drink it. Bookworm's eyes opened suddenly in realization. “I remember why I was studying with Star Mage now. I was interested in what had happened before the Princesses' rule. It seemed I got more then what I bargained for.” “Guards...I want you to take these two mares to a room in the less used part of the castle until the antidote has completely taken effect on them.” said Celestia. Bookworm looked up at Princess Celestia in amazement in how kind she was being. “B0But why are you being so kind to us? Even after all that we did to that purple mare? To Discord?” “We took him away from the mare. His family. We don't deserve such kindness.” Apple Sweet spoke. “The reason I am being kind is that I know for a fact that your spell on Discord can and will be reserved. Only the pony who cast the spell can bring him back however and only with the amulet.” spoke Celestia. “I am putting you both in the more unused part of the castle for your safety. Twilight might become hostile towards you after all that's happened but I will explain everything to her and she shall forgive you, and so shall Discord's daughter.” “D-Discord had an actual daughter?” asked Bookworm. “Created from a cloud of cotton candy over a thousand years ago.” spoke Celestia before her horn glowed and slid the magic blocker from off of Apple Sweet. “I don't think you no longer will be needing it. I believe you are safe enough to go without it.” “T-Thank you for your gratefulness, princess Celestia.” Apple Sweet said with a bow, in which Bookworm followed her lead. “I will do everything in my power to return Discord back.” “Don't tell me that, tell her that.” said Celestia. “Luna, bring in Screwball.” “Yes sister. Screwball, please enter.” Luna called when Screwball walked in, a sad expression still very evident on her face. “Why did you take my Daddy away from me? Why did he have to leave again?” asked Screwball. “I'm sorry for the pain I caused you.” Apple Sweet said, dropping herself to the ground as tears filled her eyes. “I will bring him back for you, in three days, I promise. I know that's a long time, but Celestia said...” “...That it is best until the antidote has completely cured you so the spell doesn't give you second thoughts that aren't truly your own.” said Celestia. “Y-You'll bring my Daddy back to me? To my mommy?” Screwball asked, making sure she had heard right. “Y-Yes. You have my word.” said Apple Sweet. “And I'll do anything I can to help repay any damage that I have caused to your family.” Bookworm said, dropping herself to Apple Sweet's level. “I don't want to ever be the source that has caused this much pain to anypony...” “You're actually gonna bring my Daddy back to me?” Screwball spoke excitedly, tears coming from her eyes. She quickly gripped Apple Sweet in a hug. “Thank you! Thank you! I can't wait to see him!” “Screwball...you must wait three days for my antidote to take effect.” Celestia reminded her. “I know. That's gonna be the hard part but I have to go and tell Mommy! She'll be so happy and can finally stop crying!” said Screwball said as she ran away from the dungeons. “Come along then.” said Celestia. “I will have my servants take care of you. You shall be safe from any praying eyes in case this were to leak out somehow.” “Sister, do you know what you are doing with these two? Can they be trusted in the castle?” Luna asked with concern. “I believe they can, little sister. Star Mage, however, is to stay here until I can effectively decide what to do with him.” said Celestia as Bookworm and Apple Sweet followed her out, as well as one guard behind them. “This isn't over, Celestia!” Star Mage hissed from inside the cell. “You hear me, not over!” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Mommy! Mommy!” Screwball shouted as the clock in the bedroom chimed four in the morning. She ran over to Twilight, who had been up all night in tears and was simply staring at the moon, wishing that it could have never had happened. “Y-Yes Screwball...” she was barely able to make out. Her body was sprawled out, ears down, and wings drooping. She looked like the image of grief. “I have good news for you that I think you might want to hear!” Screwball spoke excitedly. “Those two mares that took Daddy...Princess Celestia removed a spell that was hanging over their heads.” Twilight didn't even bother to give Screwball any acknowledgment whatsoever. Who cares if they were cured? Unless Discord came back, it didn't matter. Screwball kept on going with her news. “But the one that took Daddy away said she was gonna bring him back after the antidote is in full effect.” Twilight immediately lifted up her head. Apple Sweet, the one who took him away from her, would bring him back. Twilight quickly looked at Screwball. “Was this her own choice?” “Yes, Mommy. She feels sorry for hurting you but the antidote is going to take three days to work and I'm afraid we have to wait until then.” said screwball. “But we'll soon have Daddy back.” Twilight immediately got up and hugged Screwball. “Thank you for bringing me this news...my special daughter.” “You're very welcome, Mommy.” Screwball said as she hugged her mother back Order with chaos. That's how it was supposed to be and always will be. If one tried to break it, something would bring the two back together, somehow.