//------------------------------// // When it all Went Wrong... // Story: A Deal With The Devil // by Legacy55 //------------------------------// Twilight paced across the main room of the library for the hundredth time. A beam of sunlight shot through one of the upper windows causing the unicorn to cover her eyes in annoyance. The bags under her eyes revealed she hadn’t slept a wink, and she was still dressed in her dress from the previous night. The lavender unicorn sighed in frustration. No matter how many times she ran everything through her head she was still unsure. She had to talk to Orion; she couldn’t just let this slid. It already hurt her so much that Spike was gone; she couldn’t bear him taking the rest of her friends from her. However, part of her still loved him, and it urged her not to go through with it. You have to talk to him… What he did was horrible, and you have to stop this relationship before he hurts you anymore… A voice inside her head told her. But you love him! He’s the only colt to ever love you! You can’t survive without him! Another voice argued. But he hurt you… He forced Spike away, you can’t love him… But he’s so caring and romantic! He made you happier then you’ve ever been, for once everything was perfect… “I can’t take it anymore!” Twilight yelled into the empty room, her breath coming out in deep heaves. “Stop fighting! I’m talking to him, and that’s the end of it!” She stood silently, almost as if she was waiting for a response. None came, and she sighed before heading up the stairs. She needed to change and get ready for the coming confrontation. ----------------------- The delicious smell of fresh baked goods wafted through the morning air. Anypony nearby could tell that the aroma was coming from Sugarcube Corner, as Pinkie was always baking around the clock. A dark blue unicorn made his way up the few steps and entered the bakery. As he entered bells rang throughout the store and he was met with the full force of the aroma. From one sniff he could tell that cakes, muffins, cookies and all sorts of other sugary delights were just coming out of the oven. He glanced around the empty store and within a moment a pink pony popped out of the kitchen. “Hey there! Want something to eat? I just finished a whole batch of things! We have cakes, pies, cupcakes-” “I’m fine for now; I’m just waiting for Twilight.” Orion cut her off, Twilight had told her that the pink pony was rather talkative. “You must be Pinkie Pie I presume?” “Yeah! How do you know Twilight?” “I’m Orion, her coltfriend.” Pinkie jumped what must have been ten feet in the air, and he would have imagined higher had there not been a ceiling to stop her. “Coltfriend?! Twilight’s finally met somepony, oh this calls for a party!” She said grinning. “Hey Orange, get my Party cannon!” “Party cannon? What do you need that for Pinkie?” An stallion poked his head out from the kitchen and he looked at his wife with a confused look. “Twilight finally met somepony! This is Orion, her coltfriend!” Orange Taffy grinned, “Well that’s great! I’ll start setting up the party, you go get some ponies!” He said before rushing back into the kitchen. Slightly annoyed by their excitement and fast speech, Orion spoke a little louder than usual. “No! No, we don’t need a party. Me and Twilight were just going to meet for breakfast that’s all.” “Oh…” Pinkie said with a somewhat sad look. “Well that’s okay too! Orange, let’s make something super duper special for Twilight and Orion! To the cookbook!” She shouted, rushing into the kitchen and out of sight. Glad to be finally alone, Orion reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a small box. He glanced around to make sure Pinkie hadn’t returned, satisfied that he was alone he opened it. Inside sat a perfect band of gold. It was flawless, and the light sparkled off its golden surface revealing not a single scratch or smudge. Only the best for his true love. --------------------- With doubt, worry and a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, Twilight pushed open the door of Sugarcube Corner. A single table had been set up in the center of the room and Orion was waiting there. “Twilight! I was wondering when you’d show up!” He paced over to her and grabbed her hoof. His warm touch sent shivers down her spine, and it only served to make the whole situation worse. I have to tell him… What he did was awful, and there’s no forgiving him for it… Even if he’s so dreamy and romantic… “Orion! I uh, have something to talk to you about…” “Oh? Could it wait a bit? Pinkie’s just finishing up our breakfast!” “That’s fine!” She nodded, silently telling herself that this added time was good. She needed to compose her thoughts and figure out exactly what she was going to say. Not to mention she could spend one last romantic meal with him. The two took their seats and within a moment Pinkie Pie rushed out of the kitchen. “Twilight! I’m so glad for you! You must be so happy!” Twilight nodded back with an awkward smile. “Yeah… Orion’s great!” “Well me and Orange baked you something extra special for you two! Bring it in honey!” The stallion entered the room, somewhat struggling as he had a five layered cake on his back. Twilight’s jaw dropped at the sight of it. “P-p-pinkie! You two baked that?!” “Yep!” She chirped. “I know it’s kind of last minute, but it’ll have to do on such short notice!” She shook her head, even after all this time Pinkie was still Pinkie… Orange Taffy placed the cake on a nearby table and grabbing a couple plates cut some for them. He placed one in front of both of them, smiling as he gave one to Twilight. Orion growled at him, bearing his teeth like some sort of wild animal. Orange gave him an odd look and backed off a bit. After serving them their meal they left, leaving the two lovers on their own. Twilight dug into the cake, enjoying the sweet taste as she chewed. Pinkie’s cooking skills had remained sharp as ever, and it only helped that Orange was a great baker on his own right. Orion joined in two, and for a few minutes there was silence between them as they ate. “So Twilight… Have anything in mind for today?” Orion asked, looking up from his nearly empty plate. His eyes are so beautiful… “Um, uh no!” She snapped out of her trance. It was becoming harder to talk to him by the second, she had to tell him soon… “Well I was thinking we could go to the park. It’s a great day out today!” He watched attentively as Twilight ate her cake, waiting patiently for her to finish. Finally, as she swallowed the last of it he let out a sigh. This was it. I’ll tell him now… Before this get’s any harder. “I need to tell you something.” Both of them said simultaneously, surprising each other. “Uh you go first.” Orion said awkwardly. “No you!” “Okay… ” He got up from his seat and walked over to her. Oh no… This can’t be happening… Not now, please oh Celestia don’t tell me he is… “Twilight? Will you marry me?” He grabbed the box from his saddlebag and held it out to her. She gazed with wide eyes at the brilliant wedding band. Her biggest dream had finally come true. Say yes! Part of her urged. No! Remember Spike! You have to end this now! Pinkie and Orange looked on from the kitchen with utter excitement and joy. Pinkie’s party cannon was at the ready, at both of them were ready to jump out and scream congratulations. Seconds passed like hours, and Twilight continued to stare at the band. Her love for Orion was battling fiercely with her love for Spike. This was one of the biggest decisions of her life, and she only had seconds to make it. “Orion I…” She closed her eyes, she had to do this. Spike had been her best friend, and he drove him away. She could never forgive him for that. “I can’t marry you…” “CONGRAGULATIONS!” Both Pinkie and Orange yelled out, jumping in between them. The party cannon went off, decorating the entire store with balloons and streamers. It took them a minute to realize what she had said then looked at her with confused looks. “Wait, what?” Orion had a horrified look on his face. “B-b-but why not? You love me don’t you?” “Well yes but… I know what you did to Spike… How you forced him away from me, you’re just too protective! Spike was my best friend, and he was with me for so long…” Twilight couldn’t bear to look at him, and instead stared at her hooves. “I thought I was alone for all those years… I was wrong… I had Spike; I was just to blind too see it… And now that’s he gone well…” She tried to blink the tears from her eyes with little success. “I just want him back…” “B-but Twilight! I love you! We’re meant for each other, we both know that! Spike was just getting in the way; there was no place for him in our relationship!” Anger surged through her at those words; he had no right to say that. “Spike was my friend! I even considered him like a brother to me! And now he’s gone because of you! I hate you! Our relationship is over!” Twilight screamed, jumping up from her seat and charging out the door. She was crying all the way. Twilight didn’t stop running until she reached the library. She burst through the door, slammed it shut and rushed up to her room. She collapsed onto her bed, pounding her pillows in anger and sadness. You did what you had to do… But was it the right thing? Orion’s gone now, the only pony that ever made you truly happy… Really, what did ending the relationship do? It’s not going to bring Spike back… Now I’m just even lonelier… A loud pop echoed through her room, and she looked up to see the Draconequus that stared this all. “Yes!” He pumped his fist in the air. “Good job Twilight, you just finished the last phase of my brilliant plan!” “Wh-what are you talking about?” “You’re mine now, for one whole year!” Discord grinned, rubbing his hands together as he spoke. “B-but no! You told me that you wouldn’t take your side of the deal for a very long time! You lied again!” She shouted, her life was already bad enough; she didn’t need some Draconequus bossing her around. “I didn’t lie!” He waved a talon at her. “If you read the contract clearly you’d understand that…” He snapped his fingers and a single page of the extremely long document appeared. Discord had to squint his eyes to make out the very small letters. “If Twilight and Orion’s relationship is to ever end, the deal becomes null and void, and Discord shall take his payment immediately!” Twilight looked at him with a horrified look. “Bu-but, I…” “Don’t try to weasel your way out of this Twilight, I won fair and square! And now I’ll take what’s rightfully mine!” Very quickly Twilight realized that this was Discord’s plan all along. He made Orion overprotective; he knew that he would force away Spike and the rest of her friends. He knew that Twilight would end their relationship, and with that her fate would be sealed. Discord snapped his fingers and a metal collar appeared around the unicorn’s neck. It was made of some sort of steal, and it was cold around her neck. She tried to pry it off, but it didn’t budge. “Don’t even try Twilight, that collar will remain on you for one year, and during that time it will make you do whatever I ask.” “You can’t do this!” She yelled, now trying in a desperate attempt to rip the collar of with her magic. “Oh I can. Now let’s try a test! Walk to the end of the room.” Twilight tried to resist, to keep from doing the Draconequus bidding. But her body betrayed her as she couldn’t keep herself from walking to the other end of the room. Discord chuckled as he watched. “Perfect! And now…” He grinned with a maniacal look in his eye. “You steal the Elements of Harmony for me…” “What?!” She yelled out. However, before she could even say another word she found her horn glowing. She teleported away from her room, Discord's laughter still echoing in her ears.