//------------------------------// // Trial by fire // Story: Concealed darkness // by Neobreaker10 //------------------------------// Chapter 13 =========== Trial by fire =========== In another section of the castle Discord and Celestia walked down a series of corridors. “Ugh, how long do these go on for” Celestia asked with a slightly displeased tone, “forever at this rate” Discord replied trying not to laugh. “Why is that?” Celestia asked again, “because we’re walking in circles” Discord responded with a chortle. Celestia slapped her hoof to her face, “we’re going nowhere fast” she was most displeased now, “let’s try this way” she remarked walking down another hallway. Discord teleported over, “well, if this is going to take this long I might as well have some fun” he snapped his fingers turning the fire in the torches that lined the wall a bright pink, he snapped his fingers again, this time he turned the walls of the corridor a crazy set of bright colors arranged in erratic geometric shapes. “There, much better” he commented on his work with a sigh. “Discord, stop fooling around, the fate of Equestria is at stake” Celestia snapped at him, “oh I know that” Discord replied smugly, “but what’s the point of being in peril if you can’t have fun with it” he snapped his fingers yet again and turned the hallway floor into soap which he started to skate on. Celestia was not as happy as she had trouble standing now. She yelped in surprise as Discord used his magic to slope the ground under her which in turn sent her sliding into the door. “Ouch” she groaned as the door fell opened, Celesta looked up with a frown at Discord who glided by chuckling. The room they ended up in looked to be a storage room. “Hello there” an earth pony called, she was a sickly green/brown with lime green mane and tail and dark green eyes. “Young mare” Celestia rushed up, “you shouldn’t be here, it’s dangerous” she warned in a caring manner, Discord turned his head, pointed his finger at his open mouth, and gaged. “You’re right, it is dangerous here” the mare replied before turning her facial expression into a sinister one, “for you” she launched a flaming projectile which hit Celestia dead on. She stumbled back, “what? Who are you?” she asked in shock. The mare started to change shape, she grew as tall as Celestia and her coat turned a charcoal black, her mane and tail turned multiple shades of orange and red, the last features changed, she became an alicorn and her entire body lit on fire as her eyes started glowing white hot. “My name is Flare” she explained, “I am a nightmare”. Celestia and Discord readied themselves to fight, but Flare just giggled. “Oh, you don’t really expect me to believe you can win do you?” she asked, “try us” Celestia responded. “Please” Flare remarked rolling her eyes, at least if her eyes weren’t white she would be, “how can you defeat me, a nightmare, when you could not even defeat a simple changeling?” Celestia backed up a little, “how did you know that?” she gasped. “I’ve been watching you, and-gah” Flare was cut short by a blast of green/orange energy which smoked her right in the face. “Forgetting somepony?” Discord called, Flare looked over at discord, who was leaning on a cane made of licorice. “You are no better than she is Discord, as you were turned to stone twice” Flare pointed out, trying to discourage Discord. “Whatever” Discord commented, eating the cane, “I may have failed but that doesn’t mean that I won’t be back” he replied confidently. Celestia gave Discord a puzzled look, she knew him not to give up easily but she had not seen this before. “Fine” Flare growled, “Then take that hope with you to Tartarus” she readied a fireball, “already been” Discord replied. “What?” asked Flare, “never mind” Discord commented. Flare shot the fireball at Discord who caught it in a baseball glove, “go long” he called, hurling the fireball back at Flare knocking her off her feet. “ Why you-” Flare flew backwards as a bolt of Celestias magic hit her. “Thanks for snapping me out of that depression Discord” Celestia complimented, “you’re welcome” Discord replied snapping his fingers, at that Flares fiery aura was now a cheerful shade of pink. Both sides were silent until Discord burst out laughing followed soon by Celestia. Flare scowled at her opponents, she did not think this was funny. “GRAAAH” she roared as she launched a wave of fire that covered the room causing Celestia and Discord to jump to their feet. “This has gone on long enough” she growled and launched many flaming bolts ad her targets. Discord and Celestia countered with bolts of their own, Celestias being their usual color and Discords being of random colors. Bolt after bolt collided until Flare noticed that Discord was gone, “where did he go?” she shouted, she heard a voice, “right behind you” Flare screeched as a series of magical projectiles slammed her all over. Discord flew over to Celestia, “shall we?” he asked with his hand glowing, “yes” Celestia replied, her horn glowing. Flare looked up, “you may have beaten me, but you will never win” she groaned. Celestia and discord fired together, reducing Flare to her first form with a red dust everywhere. “Ugh” The earth pony looked up, “princess?” Celestia breathed a sigh of relief, the nightmare was no more. “Young mare” she commented, “hurry and leave this castle, it is far too dangerous”. “y-yes” the mare answered before hurrying off.