//------------------------------// // The Jester and the Dragon // Story: Animation Corps: Entropy // by Peridork //------------------------------// Before The Schism The world tree burned. Odin stared at his armies plight in the fight against his greatest foe. He saw the plains of his kingdom of Asgard burn. The fires licked at the branches of the holy tree of Yggdrasil that gave its name to the planet. He had been warned of the complete rout by the three women sitting comfortably in his hall currently dining on the best Valhalla had to offer. He turned off the magical link to the battle and turned to the three women. The three norns of prophecy stared back at him. “What do you suppose we do? You three norns are the last things I would ever turn to but since our land burns...I am at a loss for words.” The three women were one of the few beings that were given the foresight of time in the entire planet and they were sought out for their expertise in such matters as births, deaths, and battles. Their nonchalant demeanor spoke of days long past and days that would come. Their golden locks swayed in a nonexistent breeze and their clothes were made of the finest threads of fate. “It must have been a dire situation to drag us out of our little well. Isn’t that right my sisters?” Urd, the eldest, smirked as she passed her hand through the table in boredom. Her body was a representation of the past- of all the multiple possibilities that a second had held.. “Yeah. Why else would our greatest customer ask for our advice?” Verdandi, the middle one, watched as she absentmindedly saw the fates of millions enter her consciousness and leave to enter Urd’s domain of the past. She was the calmest one unless the time stream was in danger. Then and only then did she react and she held the sway of trillions of souls that passed through her airy domain. “I believe the All-Father needs our help. I can’t wait to hear your proposal. It is making me just melt in anticipation.” Skald, the youngest, began to shift into her water form, representing the ebb and flow of the future.. “How do you three wise women suggest that we have a fighting chance?” The three norns glanced at each other and grasped hands. Odin waited for their performance to start. As he watched, their temporal powers began to affect each other and the room began to shift. He felt a sense of awe as the ancient magics ripped open a rift in space-time. Flashes of pictures danced upon the walls and the norns began speaking together as one. He saw a glimpse into the multiverse of worlds where the impossible was possible, where humans never existed, and a world where everyone he knew had switched genders. Finally he realized why he had to sacrifice an eye to have even a small portion of these powers. “The horses of the Aesir and Vanir are the key. Their survival is of utmost importance in the coming of the end and of the delaying of the imminent. Skinfaxi, Hrimfaxi, Sleipnir, Blodughofi, Gullfaxi, and the rest and bring to us. We shall do the rest. Just remember this: When the Golems of the trees, the Aetherians, and the Seraphs come back into the worlds...Ragnarok shall be upon us.” The portal closed and the three sisters gently floated back towards the earth. “I hope you have found what you wanted, All-Father. You may ask us to do a reading again some other time, but for now we shall leave these chambers and go back unharmed for even Azathoth fears our sway.” Urd, followed by her sisters, waltzed out of Valhalla and back into the war zone. *** Twilight slowly opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She remembered back on the talk that the Princesses had spoke of. The implications of her whole life being a lie was devastating, yet she did remember that this whole thing began with a letter of Celestia’s. Maybe if she could just find the Princesses then they could bring the ponies back into a world of peace and joy. She could even live with being a Princess that didn’t rule anything. Then she realized her folly. There were so many unknown factors. First of all: she didn't know where she was or who had saved her. Second: she didn’t know the order of rulership in this place. It could almost be anything from a dictatorship to a monarchy. Or anything all all even a world that made Discord’s rule look like a walk in a park. She shivered at the thought. She glanced around the room. This place rivaled Celestia’s personal chambers in the sheer amount of gold filigree that wrapped around the room. Everything was covered in the stuff from a dresser that reminded her of her little dresser at home to a mirror that contained an image that surprised her. She knew from a jaunt in the deepest darkest recesses of the Canterlot Archives (for there had been some privileges given to her after becoming a Princess that she had used to full advantage) that there had been mentions of humans in the earliest books of the First Era written by the six founders of early modern Equestria. The human. Sure with a few additions that the texts hadn’t mentioned but a humanoid stared back at her. She ran through a few quick tests. She flapped her wings. The reflection flapped back. She stared at her arms that held a latticework of her cutie mark up and down her shoulders. She blinked and yawned. Everything she did; the mirror played back like a recorded message. She moved her pony ears and the mirror reflected it. She didn’t want to try the more personal aspects of the test so she ended it and thought that her quick experiment that she had devised a long time ago after Lyra had told her about the humans was complete. Finally she stepped out of bed and the girl began to take some baby steps. Bipedal walking was different than being a horse. She felt awkward but it would pass. It already began to feel natural as if this was supposed to be her true form. Twilight began to dance to a beat in her head and she didn't notice the door to her suite open. “Oh Twilight, you still amuse me, Even in that form.” Twilight quickly turned and blushed.. Leaning in the door frame was a man that was very familiar. His beard and hair was streaked with white but his main hair color was black. His eyes actually glowed yellow and he had red pupils. Twilight was most taken aback at his suit that looked as if he was a clown or a jester. The sleeves were different sizes to compensate for his different arms. His pants were as chaotic with polka dots everywhere. He moved an arm and his whole outfit jingled with the bells sewn into the getup. “Yggdrasil to Twilight. Hello, ground control to major bookworm. You do know who I am right?” Twilight just stared back at the man. He facepalmed and snapped. Suddenly, Twilight’s wings flew off her back and began to fly around the room. Twilight began to try the breathing exercises that Cadance had taught her during the Equestrian Games. Finally she noticed the man’s most notable features: Two tiny horns of different animals and a forked tail. And it clicked. “Discord! Give me my wings back- now!” Discord breathed a sigh of relief and snapped his fingers again and everything returned to their proper place. “Oh, but Twilight that has just been one of my forms. Being an immortal waiting for the call could just get boring. And I became like this. But, oh no, it wasn’t my fault. It was those accursed Paradiso protocols that were set in place. Because what brings people- or in this case ponies- together? A common enemy.” Discord began to shift his form into his other disguises that served him through the years. The first was a huge grey horse the size of Celestia. He had eight legs and he cantered around the room as he spoke of his history. “This was and is my original form. You wouldn’t know of it because I never used it in Equestria. Well, I did but I was known as King Sleipnir and my rule was the first after the Paradiso protocols were set up. Its all ancient history but seeing the six founders of Equestria act like buffoons in a new land was funny. Then I began to be clouded by chaos and disharmony.” He shifted again into a form that Twilight knew well. She had dressed up as him for Nightmare Night. His long white beard and outfit that was covered in bells. Standing before her was Starswirl the Bearded. “But, you must be asking how I was both Sleipnir and Starswirl at the same time. Your Hearth's Warming story was changed just a little bit. I drove the six out for I noticed that Blodughofi- Sombra- had released the Windigos and as I fought the corruption we had to bring in Celestia and Luna and we both were lost. Sombra was jailed for his crimes but I was actually cleansed. For a time at least.” He quickly shifted back into his form she knew the best and began to flit around the room. She tried to get his attention but she was no Fluttershy and he didn’t pay attention to her at all. Twilight had so many questions that she wanted to ask but Discord floated back down to the ground and began to walk out of the door. He glanced back and beckoned Twilight with a finger. She grudgingly followed the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony. “Welcome to the capital of the Aesir. Valhalla. I have so many memories built into the walls. He chuckled at a personal joke of his. “Oh sorry. My birth isn’t important. But it always gives me a little chuckle. Just ask my mother. He would definitely blush at his little gamble. I popped out as the fastest horse of the entire Eternal Herd of the Gods.” Twilight just blocked out the mental image that Discord had just gave her. She shook her head and tried to hide her wingboner that had sprung upon her. Discord probably was grinning like a timberwolf but she knew that she would get him back. It would just take time. In her occupied mental state she didn’t notice Discord push two large wooden doors open. The newest princess stared at the people clad in terrifying armor. ‘The boorish mob of warriors were supping upon a feast that Twilight actually salivated over. Her mind fought itself because of the taboo that was created in early Equestrian law. It said that, besides pegasi, that nopony should ever eat meat. And even the pegasi were just stuck to aquatic meats. Now the idea of eating meat was crushing her resistance. Discord led her to her seat and she was surprised to see two faces that she knew. The two Princesses were sitting towards the middle of the table, Their table manners surprised Twilight. She knew of the Princesses’ eating habits and it surprised her to see them act like mirror opposites. Celestia slowly ate her meal with dignity and grace while Luna was digging into the meal as if she hadn't eaten in ages. Maybe Celestia had enough restraint- except for the times when desserts were involved. Celestia beamed at Twilight while secretly pointing at her sister with a finger. In that moment, a whole conversation without words was had between the regal monarch and Twilight. Twilight wondered where Cadance was but she might have been sitting at the table for it was a massive table made from a single tree. Suddenly, the room fell silent as a weary looking man at the head of the table stood up. He wore an eyepatch and his armor was of the most precious metals. Yet in all that finery he still seemed to be humble. Twilight wondered how old he must be because if Discord looked middle aged in this place, this man was even older and had wisdom gained from years of rule. Twilight learned that all from a glance. (For even though she was new at her powers and responsibility she had always had a mind for detail.) “My Einherjar, you warriors, have been waiting for this day. A day that was prophesied many aeons ago by the Norns. We have lost much from the last major battle of this Vahalla but we survived- just barely. Now I feel that we have an advantage. Our horses have returned with new additions. Thanks to the Paradiso protocols that those Norns infused inside that bubble they stayed as far away from Azathoth and his horrors. Now Ragnarok is upon us. Yet we are not alone- for we have allies through the other planets. But we have to realize that this is just a beginning for we shall win. Now if Skinfaxi and Hrimfaxi could deliver a speech to reacquaint us.” Every eye fell upon Celestia and Luna and actual fear crossed both of their faces for a few moments Their dresses flickered with color for a moment- Celestia’s with the colors of a sunset and Luna’s with the stars- and their hair swayed in a non existent breeze as normal. But they seemed smaller to the purple haired girl. As if they had lost all their majesty and they stood not in a room of equals, but if they stood in the presence of gods. Twilight doubted these men and women to be gods for even the Princesses never tried to say they were goddesses. Maybe this was the reason why, Celestia’s and Luna’s arms lit up and they floated gracefully to the podium. Luna deferred to her sister for the right to speak and she stepped aside. Celestia used all her skills learned through the years of ruling Equestria. “Thank you. And my sister and I are happy to see that the Aesir and Vanir have finally been integrated into a force to be reckoned with. Our own subjects in Equestria have now been spread around the worlds and I hope we get the Golems, the Seraphs, and the Aetherians into the fighting force that we have been planning for ages. As you can see we are joined by two other Princesses-” Celestia nodded towards Twilight and Cadance, who Twilight now saw was further down the table, and everybody glanced back at Celestia. “-and these new additions were added through our machinations and our search for potential candidates for being part of the Eternal Herd.” Twilight did a spit-take when that was announced. Luna began to speak up as well. “It was mostly my sister’s idea for I had been banished to the moon for a thousand years...I had to deal with a corruption that twisted me into a form that I hated and I looked down upon my nights as I cried and wished that I could be with my subjects. And I saw them grow and change when the nights became a winking mass of lights that calmed the real me. My name and purpose was lost until the Elements of Harmony cleansed me of the corruption.I, Luna Nocturnus Solaris, and my sister, Celestia Invictus Solaris, thank you for this reception.” A thin man with a garish golden helmet and gold armor interrupted the festivities by hitting the table. These guys must love gold or something maybe it is a common metal here. “Elements of Harmony sounds like a joke to me. You didn’t use lethal force? No tricks? Next you’ll tell me that it shoots rainbows and joy.” Odin’s mood darkened and he slammed a nearby mug into the table. “Loki, this is a day of joy. Do not question what sealed off this bubble and what it created for safety measures.” “Sorry father but ‘I have to make sure that what they say is true. They appear out of nowhere and one of my kin appears again you told me to give him to you. And you think that I might be happy on what he has become. My Sleipnir has become a clown. I may be the Trickster but even I see that as an affront to me.” Loki pushed away his chair and stormed out. The joyous mood that had permeated the hall disappeared. Twilight had no idea what happened but she felt that the pomp and ceremony that she had walked into hid a much more violent and varied past history that she had no knowledge of. Lost in thought, Twilight jumped when she felt two different hands on her shoulders. She quickly turned and looked and her new friends. A boy that shone with the radiance of the sun and a older girl that held all the colors of the night. Twilight was suddenly struck by the feeling that they seemed very familiar. “Twilight, I am overjoyed to see that you have come inside our hall. My sister and I wished it was just a bit happier but I’m the optimist.” The boy then grinned an innocent smile. The girl extended her hand and pulled Twilight to her feet with little effort. “We never were properly introduced. I’m Nótt and this buffoon is my brother Dagr. We were the ones that found you after you hit the ground.” Twilight thought their voices sounded familiar. “Thank you, but you two couldn't have been the ones that dragged me here.” Dagr blushed as he dragged his hand through his hair. “Yeah, about that, when you appeared...you weren't wearing any clothes. So-” Twilight was confused. “I don’t understand. Where I came from we never wore clothes.” Nótt and Dagr shared a look. “Okay, so on our little tour we might need to tell you how everything works in this world as well...” *** “And that is why being naked is a social taboo.” Twilight’s mind reeled with all the new information about clothes and what being naked entailed. Twilight cursed herself for not listening to Rarity more as the tour continued. “And here’s our little laboratory. Celestia said you might like this part.” Dagr pulled a golden key out of one of his pockets and placed it in a matching lock. He turned it and the door unlocked with a whooshing sound. Twilight squeed in happiness as she stared around the room. She raced around the room to see the sights. Robots lined the walls clad in armor that she had never seen before. When she approached, they stared up at her. Their eyes glowed the colors of the rainbow as she passed each one- for each had a different pair of crystalline eyes. “Ah, yes. While stories of the good old days had us fighting with just spears and magic we learned after the World Tree was burned to near ash to branch out into new technology. The dwarves had the foresight to start learning how to combat the Elder Gods. They came up with these automata. Don’t tell the other planets but we also might have reverse engineered the robotics in Starfleet.” Twilight turned at this. “Starfleet?” She hadn’t heard of the names of the other planets and she thought that she might need to learn about them at some point. “What my brother is saying is that we traveled to Halcyon and stole a few robots. Not without some losses of course. Those people of Midgard aren’t as hardy as us.” “Wait. What are you?” “We are the sun and moon. Well actually day and night but that doesn’t sound as nice. How did you think Celestia and Luna get their powers? They were our mounts. You know like we rode them.” Dagr clarified the whole confusion on the whole connection with the Princesses. Twilight thought back on her early days of being Celestia’s student. ‘Hey, Twilight, do you have any plans for tonight? No? Have you ever tried wearing a saddle? Okay then if you don’t want to I’ll just talk one of my new Royal Guards into trying it.’ And with that short conversation, Shining Armor had been put on the fast track for promotion. In a few years he went from a lowly recruit to Captain of the Guard and a Prince. Twilight shivered as the implications finally sank in. During that conversation, she had been reading and she could have been tricked into agreeing to anything. “Celestia might have hinted at something.” Twilight blushed as she realized why Shining Armor always smiled when Twilight mentioned Celestia. “We believe in the Elements of Harmony stuff too.” Nótt spoke up. She had been quiet for most of the walk to the lab. Twilight couldn’t get a good idea of how she reacted to things since she had been quiet for most of the time she had known her. “We had a mental connection with our horses for the duration of their rule. So we personally know how much pain Luna and Celestia have had in their lives. We couldn’t do anything...” Dagr and Nótt hugged as the personification of night felt all the emotions that she had been keeping inside for thousands of years. Twilight finally learned of the burden of immortality. Seeing events pass you by while all your friends die or be corrupted takes a toll on your emotional state. The two gods took out these feelings of helplessness with their bravado and uncaring attitude towards death. Twilight had to look forward to something like this for the rest of her life. “This is a chance for you two to reconnect with Celestia and Luna. Go to them. They probably want to see you as much as you want to see them. I’ll be fine. Just one question have you found a dragon here. He might be one of my friends.” Dagr wiped tears from his eyes. “Yeah that was going to be our next destination. A dragon was one of the Starfallen. He’s in the basement. It might be a little hot. Just ask Discord where Muspellheim is. He’ll show you where your friend is.” *** A While Later “Why does everyone here that I know talk in riddles? Yeah, the hottest place is Muspellheim.” Twilight’s eye twitched as she remembered the temperature difference that she had walked into once the teleportation wore off. She was currently sweating up a storm as she climbed a mountain. Her wings were too warm to achieve flight and she wasn't a natural flier like Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy. So she was stuck watching Discord lazily float through the realm of fire and she was on the rocky ground. Finally, they reached the final crest and she stared down at what caused the heat. Fire was coming out from the cracks in the ground. She saw people walking around a wheel that raised and lowered bellows that stoked the flames. “This is new. I don’t remember a prison being here the last time I was here. At least it isn't as terrible as Tartarus. That place is cold. Especially that frozen lake that Luna created...” Twilight had tuned out Discord and she saw the one dragon in the place. She hoped it was Spike because the dragon in the distance was huge. His colors at least reminded her of the time that Spike terrorized Ponyville. Purple and green. Twilight’s cutie mark lattice on her arms lit up and . she teleported down to the dragon. Taking a deep breath, her pony ears twitched and she tried to get the attention of the dragon. “Hello. My name is Twilight Sparkle and-” Twilight couldn’t finish her sentence as she was swept up in the claws of the dragon in a hug, A very strong and almost back breaking hug. Twilight tried to breathe as the dragon hugged her to death. “Twilight! I’m so happy to see you! I mean I have no idea where I am and its kinda hot and now I have weird cravings for meat...and I just missed you.” Hearing Spike for the first time in that form surprised her. His voice was much lower and it rumbled and echoed through the canyon that they were in. Twilight cleared her throat and Spike knew from experience that that meant that Twilight probably wanted him to do something. He guessed that she wanted to be put back on the ground so he gently placed her back down and he waited for her to talk. “So Spike...how’s it here?” “Fine. It took awhile to get used to this body though. I mean I like being big and all but its easier being small. At least I got wings.” A blast of wind hit Twilight as Spike lifted off into the air. He fist-pumped as a dream of his became reality. He would have continued celebrating if not for the gout of flame shot of his mouth. It was a magnificent sight except that he outright set on fire most of the flora that survived the heat of the place. Discord just smiled and sat in the inferno that Spike had caused. Discord was relaxing in a lawn chair inspecting the rampant beginnings of Chaos that he soaked up like a sponge for he was in his element. “Discord! Do something!” Twilight hated feeling helpless but the raging inferno had spread too quickly for her to stop. Blame it on the fact that it never rained in Muspelheim, or just that being near Discord invited chaos,, but Twilight was almost ready to pick up some of the burning trees and toss it at the Spirit. “Fine-” Discord snapped his fingers. “-but Twilight, you know how much I hate to create Order. And this is the second time that you've made me do such a thing. Bad purple princess.” Discord smacked Twilight over the head with a newspaper.”Well with that display of fun and uncontrollable power I think I might have a solution.” “And what is that?” Twilight felt dubious about any solution from Discord but she was worried about the health and well being of Spike since he couldn't control his fire breath. Discord rubbed his hands together and grinned. “I think I know a perfect teacher for Spike. He doesn’t know any sense of control. Especially since you fed the poor lad a diet that stunted his growth . Dragons are not vegetarians and you should know that. Back off that little diatribe I had...I’ll see that Spike learns from Nidhogg.” Twilight groaned. Again with the strange names and the whole mysterious past that Discord knew. “And who in Celestia’s name is that?” “A master of the draconic tongue. A dragon that is older than most things on this planet. Holder of ancient wisdom and the devourer of the dead. Altogether decent fellow and not in any way a large violent dragon that is in a feud with me.” “Discord. What. Did. You. Do?” “Really I made a bet that I could beat him in a race. Too bad he forgot he was stuck under the World Tree. So I won and last I heard was that he’s eating the roots of said tree to topple it and get to me.” “Twilight? Is Discord joking?” Spike tried to laugh off the ridiculous story that the man explained. “Spike, I have been here for a single day and from my single day here I know that this place is messed up. Believe him.” Twilight looked at the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony and waited for something to happen. “Ugh, grab on to an arm everybody. But don’t say I didn't warn you. My popping in and out of reality can be painful for most people. Spike wrapped a talon around Discord’s hand while the pony girl placed her hand in the jester’s. “Disapparate!” *** Twilight’s eyes burned as they felt like they were on fire. She tried to scream but no sound came out. She felt like she was flipped inside out and as she looked at Spike he was foaming at the mouth. Discord was standing as still as possible. His breathing was shallow and she saw that his legs were crossed and he was meditating. The strain on his face was surprising since she never had asked where his powers had come from. Finally after a long time he opened his eyes and reality shaped itself around them. *** Helheim “You two surprise me. Usually travellers get ill after a disapparation.” Discord was stretching his arms and getting a crick out of his neck as the two other travellers stared at the jester. “I wonder why-” Spike replied dryly. Discord brushed off the comment and the trio reached the roots of the World Tree. Spike and Twilight stared at the tree with dwarfed anything they had ever seen by a factor of ten. The tree shone with a golden light as it went higher and higher. “Ah, we’re here. Careful of the bones.” Twilight was getting tired of Discord’s floating. She couldn’t float. The crunching sound of brittle bones reached her ears. Her footfalls became much lighter as she realized what she was stepping on. Discord’s body tensed. “Nidhogg knows I’m here and he’s moving.” The whole ground shook and a mountain came rushing towards them. Pillars of smoke rushed out of the boneyard and Nidhogg opened his eyes. A deep rumble echoed throughout the entire realm as the walking mountain spoke. When the dragon opened his mouth Twilight looked into a black void lined with razor sharp teeth. “I have not seen a dragon like me in a very long while. Son of the Trickster, is this an offering to me?” Discord smirked as he figured out how to twist this into his favor. “Oh Nidhogg- you are the most powerful dragon and this whelp of a dragon is in need of your infinite dragon knowledge.” Twilight could just feel the sarcasm dripping off of Discord’s tongue. “I know you are a liar and I don’t trust you. Therefore I shall ask the wyrm. What is your greatest desire? The thing that will give you reason to survive in this wasteland. My reason is...unimportant but in time I will tell you all.” Spike thought for a long while. His face became a stony mask as he thought. Reasons flashed by quickly. “What would I want most of all. Rarity is a good pony but that just wouldn't work. Twilight is a good friend. I...want...” Then it hit the young dragon. “Friendship. I want to protect my friends the most.” Spike stood resolute in this and he was worried that he said the wrong answer when the ancient dragon began to laugh. His laugh shot out gouts of magical flame that caused the bones to knit back into facsimiles of humanity that danced around as the dragon enjoyed a laugh that had given life to death. After a long while, the skeletons fell back apart and the black dragon wiped a burning tear from his eye. “Now that was not an answer that I would expect from one of our kind. Us dragons are defined by the sins of the flesh. I am a Gluttony Dragon. But there have been some dragons that escape our carnal natures and become a force of nature. You hold the smell of one who has begun the journey of carnality. Greed- yes. You have beat that but there are six more tests to weed out desire. And then I can teach you about your breath. Once you agree to my training there is a ritual of blood that ties us together in familial knowledge.” Spike’s eyes widened. He was ready to finally learn about his heritage. “I accept.” “Then I, Nidhogg, dragon of death and devourer of corpses, name you my student.” With a claw the black dragon slit his arm and his blood dripped onto the ground. He motioned for Spike to do the same. With some trepidation, the smaller dragon did so. His red blood mixed with the black blood of Nidhogg and the black blood slithered towards Spike and traveled into his cut. Spike waited for his body to melt but it didn't. “The ceremony is complete. I shall respect our bargain, Alaric. I had heard of your egg being sent into the void between but I didn't think I would see you again.” To Spike’s surprise, Nidhogg did his best impression of a bow. Discord calmly put his hands behind his back and chuckled. “Now this changes everything. I thought that the hybrid project was redacted. To think that Twilight’s tiny dragon holds a bloodline that makes mine look like a walk in the park...” Twilight was puzzled. “What are you talking about?” The jester turned and with a bounce he grabbed Twilight’s face in his hands. “Everything and nothing. You are looking at the surviving egg of a match made in haste. He holds so much potential. Your dragon is the son of the Destroyers. We tried once and only once to summon an Elder God for a peace agreement. We succeeded but we summoned Cthulhu and he had one demand: His morality was different and his reproduction was different as well. He saw the Midgard Serpent and touched it.” “And?” Twilight was waiting for Discord’s punchline. “I’m his uncle.” Twilight’s eye twitched as she let out all the rage that she had built up. She was getting tired of this convoluted family tree. Her hair began to pop up and her grin widened as her mind began to unhinge. “Oops. Spike, I think I broke Twilight.”