//------------------------------// // Flirting and Discord // Story: The Rise of Nightmare Moon // by Discordismysexslave //------------------------------// 7 years later Luna strolled through Canterlot. She had grown up a lot since the first chapter. She was now a slender teenaged mare. Her mane was tied up in a ponytail (no pun intended) and had become a smoky dark blue, with sparkling stars twinkling within the flowing glow. Upon her head her shiny three-pointed crown sat. Her coat and eyes had also gotten a little darker: they were now a mix between midnight and navy blue. Nopony still bowed to her when she was just walking around casually, and not at an official occasion or event; partly because she mingled with the citizens so much there was not much point, but mainly because she officially told them not to. Anyhow, she was on her way to meet up with her best friend, Moon Swirl, at a discreet café on the outskirts of Canterlot. Ah, yes, of course. If you remember in the last chapter young Luna palled up to Space Swirl, father of Star Swirl and his elder brother, Moon Swirl. Yes, well, that wasn’t just a one-day friendship. She often went to him when she wasn’t sure of what to do, or if she was just feeling down. For a long while Space Swirl was Luna’s only friend, until one day she turned up to his house, and only his children, Moon Swirl and Star Swirl, were home. She asked to stay until Space Swirl came home, and of course they weren’t going to deny a princess. However, Star Swirl was rather unsociable, choosing to stay in his room and not talk very much to Luna. Moon Swirl, on the other hand, conversed with Luna and made good friends with her. When Space Swirl came home he found them play wrestling on Moon Swirl’s grand bed (The Swirl family was very wealthy). By that time it was impossible to deny the fact that they were going to be life long friends. Well… life long for one of them. She arrived at the café to find Moon Swirl already there, sipping an Americano from behind a book, with a medium Mocha (Luna’s favourite) waiting in front of the seat opposite him. Luna smiled and blushed, and felt a surge of compassion for this young stallion. Moon Swirl was handsome in a nerdy kind of way. He was a tall, slender unicorn that was about the same build as Luna add a few inches. He was a dark greyish colour, and he had dark blue eyes that mirrored Luna’s. His mane was jet black, medium length and neatly combed out of face, but that didn’t stop the odd strand or two. His cutie mark was a crescent moon encompassing a quill and scroll. “You’re too kind.” Luna told him as she approached the table. She sat across from him as she tested the temperature of her beverage. He put down his book and murmured to himself, “You’re welcome.” Luna giggled and sighed, “Thank you.” She said in a mock girly voice, ironically batting her eyelids at him. “Only when prompted.” He murmured again, “There is just no pleasing you, is there?” Luna actually laughed out loud. Moon Swirl looked up at her and tried to suppress a grin, yet failed miserably, “Nope.” He smirked. He then looked around them nervously. “It’s okay, no one’s taking pictures anymore.” Luna reassured him. She said this because a few months a go there was a picture in the newspaper Equestria Daily of Luna and Moon Swirl in a particularly heart-felt embrace. The story was something along the lines of ‘Does out princess of the night time have a boyfriend?’ And Luna’s public response was something along the lines of ‘No, and if anyone suggests that again I’ll exile anyone involved.’ Although at times she wished they weren’t wrong. In fact, all the time she wished they were wrong, but at the same time she was glad that they weren’t a couple. ‘Besides,’ She thought, ‘That’s stupid and girlish and somepony of my status should not be thinking like that.’ She couldn’t help it though. “I’m not looking for that.” He said is a hushed tone, “I’m checking to see if anypony is listening.” Her heart jumped, “To what?” She blurted, “Are you still angry about the whole ‘Nopony appreciates the night’ thing?” “Oh.” She said, a little disheartened, then angry as she remembered her night wasn’t in fact appreciated, “Well, yes! Of course! But can we not talk about that here?” “Whatever.” Moon Swirl said indifferently, “So how’s your brother?” Luna asked in an attempt to change the subject, “Oh, the usual. Spending ungodly hours in his cave.” Moon Swirl replied. By ‘his cave’ he meant his room, where Star Swirl would spend days on end reading and learning about magic. “Celestia not getting through to him?” She said, knowing the answer. The answer would be what eventually led to the rise of the dreaded Draconequus. However, that part of the story comes later. “Nope.” He answered concisely. “Shame, a little time out of that dark place could really do him some benefits. Like less impaired vision!” Luna cracked. Moon Swirl chuckled, “His vision is fine, it’s the lack of use of the vocal chords that makes him sound like a dying cat.” He put bluntly. Luna laughed and almost spilled her coffee. Then Moon Swirl looked at her inquisitively, “What?” Luna asked, “You don’t think, maybe, you could tempt him out of hovel?” “Doubt it.” Luna replied in a negative tone, “If anything I’d probably just re-affirm his doubts in the way Equestria is run. Why me?” “Because,” Moon Swirl replied shyly, “I trust you.” He mumbled. “D’awww.” Luna said affectionately. “Shut up.” Moon Swirl said defensively, as he did not like showing positive emotion, unless he covered it in irony so it came out negative. “It’s okay.” Luna told him. She clutched his hoof, and reached across the table to hug him tight. Moon Swirl stiffened up and blushed. “Yeah well, you know…” He began. “Go on.” Luna said sensing something adorable about to happen. “Well, it’s just… We’ve known each other for, like, ever. So in the rare occasion I need something, I will automatically come to you. It’s cause you’re like… My… You know… M-my best friend.” “D’aaaaaaaawwwwwww!” Luna cried, in a kind of cuteness overload. She reached across the table once again and hugged the crap out of him. After a few seconds he hugged her back. “I love you, Luna.” He whispered to her, as he split off. She looked at him with an adorable smile on her face. “As a friend that is.” He corrected, “Err, erm. I have to go and… Feed my cat.” He said, as he rushed off. Luna watched him go, and when he rounded the corner she turned back and looked at his half empty Americano. That described him surprisingly well. Half empty. While on the outside he seemed happy enough, if a little negative, once you got to know him you could tell there was definitely something he was missing. She had repeatedly tried to find out what that was, but he just never let her in. In fact, that was the first time he’d ever really opened up to her, despite the fact that she’d opened up to him many times, and he helped her through her inner anger. She felt that now they were whole lot closer. ----- Luna sauntered up to her room in the Canterlot palace. She sat on a beanbag and grabbed a book in her horngrasp, opened it and started reading it. The book was about unpopular but surprisingly useful spells. It was rather interesting to find that there was an entire spell dedicated to remembering somepony’s name. After reading about two chapters of the book a royal guard knocked on her door. “Come in!” She called, not looking up from the book. “Your highness.” The guard announced, “What?” “A young gentlecolt said he needed to see you urgently.” “Oh, will I have to do something important?” Luna groaned. The guard stood stock-still, “Let him in.” She said. The guard stepped aside and Moon Swirl rushed in. “Luna, you have to come, Star Swirl’s done something stupid.” ----- When they arrived at Star Swirl’s cave (not his room, an actual cave this time) Luna and Celestia (who had come along too) were shocked at the sight of Star Swirl. I should probably mention at this point that Celestia looked much the same as she did in the last chapter, save being taller. Star Swirl, however, was looking ghastly. Before Star Swirl was a thin, light brown unicorn, with a mane and tail of a light grey. His cutie mark was a ring of stars surrounding a quill and parchment. Now, however, he was old and dishevelled. His brown fur was greying and his hair was in strands. He did, however, have a mighty bushy beard. On the floor of the cave there was a five-pointed star, painted in a red liquid. Luna shuddered to think what. By it Star Swirl was howling a chant in some ancient language. There was a terrible thundering sound coming from the walls, and the star was glowing white between the lines. “What have you done, you fool!?” Luna yelled at him. Star Swirl finished his chant, “I’ve raised the fabled Draconequus!” Cried Star Swirl in a sadistic joy. “Care to expand?” Celestia yelled desperately. “I have risen above the ranks of mortal ponies,” Star Swirl hollered, “I have cast the spell to end all spells!” As he said this the head of an odd creature started rising out of the centre of the star, “The spell that will either destroy the world, or send it into a new golden age,” The figure’s body had started to taste fresh air, “From one to another, another to one,” The creature had now almost fully risen, “The mark of one’s destiny singled out alone fulfilled!” The monster was now fully risen, “Join us!” He cried in a pure psychopathic wondrous joy, “DISCORD!” ----- Discord stretched his back, spread his arms and let out a gruesome scream of delight, before looking down at the ponies around him: One bearded, hunch-back old sea cucumber of a pony, one young, petrified looking stallion, and two equally petrified looking young mares. “Haha!” Discord laughed manically, “You should see the looks on your faces!” The ponies just stood there in silence, “Oh you are boring! I’m off to go and cause some chaos!” “No!” Star Swirl shouted, “You can’t! You can’t do anything just yet; your powers are still growing. It will be at least another few years until you can get into any real fights.” Discord looked down at Star Swirl, “Why, you must be the one who created me. You must have sucked all the life out of yourself and given it to me! Well, I am thankful, and I am also thankful that you told me my limitations. What is your name?” “Star Swirl,” Star Swirl replied, “And you're quite welcome.” “I like your beard. From here forth, I shall call you Star Swirl the Bearded.” Discord announced. “Star Swirl the Bearded…” He repeated, testing how it rolled off the tongue. However, he didn't have to test for very long. “Last words were your own name, arrogant little sod.” Discord murmured as he sucked the last bit of life out of Star Swirl, before he collapsed on the floor as a corpse. “Brother!” Moon Swirl cried out, in total despair. “Brother?” Oh, how evil of me!” Discord giggled excitedly. Celestia ran at Discord, letting off bolts of magic meant to seriously maim. One got him in the chest. He staggered back, and he appeared to realize that Star Swirl wasn't wrong, “Be back soon!” He sang, before disappearing in a white flash.