//------------------------------// // Agents of Chaos // Story: Episode 3: Mageismoiras // by mr lovecolt //------------------------------// The wind ripped through the trees, sending yellowed leaves flying through the night air. All of the houses of Ponyville were dark, and the curtains had been drawn shut on every last one of them. Luna’s moon, though now three quarters full, was constantly blocked by the quickly travelling clouds that had emerged from the Everfree Forest. The result was that the light of moon occasionally shone through, lighting up patches of ground on the roads like a searchlight. Sergeant Longwinder had travelled through the bazaars, only to find they had shut down early due to the weather and fear of timberwolf attack. He travelled from house to house, only to be met with confused stares and questions of whether one of the Elements of Harmony needed help, to which he had to lie and state that he was merely seeing if Fluttershy had decided to meet any friends. Apparently, Miss Fluttershy doesn’t go to others’ houses much, Sergeant Longwinder thought. He had to fight his innate urge to delve into long stories at each house that he went to, but as the sun went down, he saw that fewer and fewer ponies would even answer the door. He had even searched the borders of the Everfree Forest, where he met two particularly odd pegasi performing the nightly timberwolf watch rounds. After speaking briefly with the stallion named Thunderlane and the mare named Ditzy Doo, he realized that they had no idea where Fluttershy was, either. It was at this time that Sergeant Longwinder found himself at the door to Fluttershy’s cottage once again. He took a few deep breaths and tried to think of any other location that Fluttershy would be. Through the sound of the wind and leaves, Sergeant Longwinder heard the crashing sound of something inside the cottage. He immediately opened the door and looked around. As he made his way into the cottage the door shut behind him. He leaned against his fore legs and prepared himself to buck whatever was behind him, but sighed when he realized that the door had closed due to the pull from the wind outside. Inside the cottage, Sergeant Longwinder could hear the sound of the wind as it wrapped around the house, as though it were moaning. The glass panes on the windows rattled against the wind, but Sergeant Longwinder continued his trek through the cottage. He scanned the ground for whatever could have fallen, but found nothing out of place, except for the empty holes of the numerous bird houses, which he felt should have been teaming with sleeping birds. Sergeant Longwinder tried to remain silent as he crept up the stairs, but the sound of a creaking floorboard halted him in his tracks. He closed his eyes for a moment and held his breath, and when nothing else happened, he continued to climb the stairs. The door to Fluttershy’s room opened and Sergeant Longwinder stood in the doorway. On the upper floor, the sound of the wind multiplied. What is the Pegasi Weather Control Team thinking, he thought as he flipped a light switch. “What in Celestia’s name?” Sergeant Longwinder trotted towards the corner of the room, where a collection of shattered glass figurines lay on the floor. But what caught his attention was the dried blood on the floor. He bent down to investigate it, only to see an odd drawing next to him. What did Discord do to Miss Fluttershy, he thought as he scrambled away. He backed away, but his hind leg tripped over something, and he tumbled against the side of the bed. Looking over, he saw what he had tripped over. A small jewelry box lay on the floor, its contents smashed to pieces. He had landed on some of the pieces of jewelry, and they pierced his fur. He winced as the jagged pieces of metal pushed further into his flesh. “Must… tell… the Princess.” He mumbled as he staggered out of Fluttershy’s room. ***** “Dear heavens,” Rarity muttered to herself as she reached her shop, “This wind is wreaking havoc on my mane.” Rarity paused at her doorstep. “No, Rarity,” She chided herself, “You must not think about such trivial matters. You must go to Sweet Apple Acres to tell Applejack what you saw.” Rarity opened the door to her boutique. She wanted only to check on Opalescence before heading out. She didn’t know what was happening, but she was worried that the remaining elements must work to fix it. How can we fix anything without Fluttershy, she thought as she closed the door, what if Twilight truly is trying to bring Fluttershy back to life? Rarity shook her head. It was wrong to think such things. Nopony, not even the Princesses, would think of using such magic. Rarity took a few steps further into her boutique and paused. But isn’t that just what Twilight did, she thought. Twilight Sparkle had attempted to raise the dead. Rarity shuddered to think of how she got a pair of wings. Something glistened on the platform in the center of the showroom, and Rarity immediately went to retrieve it. “Opalescence,” Rarity cried, “I told you to stay out of mommy’s jewelry!” Rarity held the item in her hoof. It was the blue butterfly mane pin. The thought of Fluttershy in her gown appeared in her mind – the two pins holding up the sides of her mane. She brought the pin to her barrel. The wind outside drowned out the sound of her sobs for a few moments. Rarity stood and used her horn to hold the pin with her magic. She left the showroom and made her way to her workroom. The jewelry box sat on the vanity, just where she left it. She opened the lid and paused. Her horn dimmed, and the blue butterfly dropped to the floor. She reached into the box and pulled out the other pin. She levitated the other one and held them, side by side. “This…” Rarity mumbled, “This is impossible.” She placed both pins on the vanity and ran out of the workroom. She had to get to Sweet Apple Acres as soon as possible. ***** “You know,” Discord said as he watched Twilight Sparkle pace about the room, “When I create chaos, I at least like to see the fruits of my work.” Twilight Sparkle glared at Discord. “And what is that supposed to mean?” Discord suddenly multiplied himself in three and surrounded Twilight Sparkle. “It’s really very simple.” The original Discord said. “Every act, in a way, results in chaos.” The second Discord added. “Sometimes, the chaos results in good things…” The third Discord continued. “And sometimes, the chaos results in bad things…” The second Discord said. “But my favorite kind of chaos,” Discord said as he snapped his fingers and the other two Discords disappeared, “is the kind that results in unexpected things.” “What are you saying, Discord?” Twilight Sparkle asked. “I’m just saying that actions can have… unintended consequences.” Twilight Sparkle eyed the draconequus, who simply shrank in size and took up residence on Owlowiscious’ perch. “Where did you send Fluttershy, by the way?” He asked. “That’s none of your business,” Twilight Sparkle replied, “Wait, how did you know she was gone?” “Oh please,” Discord huffed, “As the spirit of chaos, I know when chaotic things are going to happen, even when I am not the cause, however much of a rarity that may be.” Twilight Sparkle stopped moving. The way he emphasized rarity caused her concern. Rarity had said she was going to Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight Sparkle thought, she told Spike about Fluttershy, so naturally, he would have told her about what he knew. Twilight Sparkle shuddered. She didn’t want Rarity to be there if Fluttershy appeared. How would she explain it if Rarity saw Fluttershy there? “I’m leaving,” Twilight Sparkle said, “And I want to go alone.” “Okay,” Discord said as his eyes immediately began to roll around so quickly until they popped out of his head, “Sorry, that happens.” “What happens?” “When somepony tells me to do something that I have no intention of listening to, my eyes roll out of their head.” Discord reached down and picked up his eyeballs, brushing them off before placing them back in his head. Twilight lifted the glass case surrounding the elements and placed the tiara on her head. “So… to Sweet Apple Acres, then?” ***** Rarity ran up to the gates of Sweet Apple Acres. The sky had darkened to the point that she couldn’t see, so she used a spell to light her horn so that she could see the way. Motes of dust stung her eyes, but she pushed through the wind to get down the road to the Apple Family farmhouse. There was an odd crackling noise near her, and Rarity leaped back just as a purple orb of light appeared and Twilight Sparkle and Discord emerged from it. Rarity squinted her eyes at Twilight Sparkle. “What have you done?” Rarity shouted. “I am only trying to keep the Elements of Harmony together!” Twilight Sparkle shouted back. “By creating that- that thing?” Rarity replied, “Spike showed me what you did, and I don’t even want to know how you did it, but something has happened to you, Twilight, ever since you became a princess.” “I have to do what I can for my friends!” “By doing that? What is she even? She didn’t move when I tried to speak to her. She didn’t blink those hideous black eyes. Not even once! You made some sort of shell, I’ll grant you that, but not for one moment will I-” Lightning flashed through the sky. Something snapped in the distance. “Ahh!” Twilight Sparkle screamed as her tiara began to glow. Twilight Sparkle fell to the ground. The tiara glowed yellow for a moment, and then returned to its fuchsia color. Discord leaned against the post to the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres. “What just happened?” Rarity shouted over the wind. “I don’t know.” Twilight Sparkle said, “But we need to get to the farmhouse!” They ran up the road towards the farmhouse, where they could see faint light glowing from the windows. But as they made their way up to the farmhouse, Rarity stopped in her tracks and looked off to the side. “No!” Rarity cried. Twilight watched as Rarity ran off into the field and followed her, but was stopped when a Stetson hat smacked her in the face. She looked on and saw where Rarity had stopped. In the field was a large branch. The large branch held two groups of leaves in the shape of two hearts. Beneath the branch lay the body of a yellow pony. Rarity quivered and mumbled to herself. She dug ferociously into the ground. Twilight Sparkle ran up to the branch and tried to push it with her hooves. Both of their minds were too caught up in the chaos to concentrate their magic effectively to move it. “This is my fault,” Rarity said as her eyes grew wide, “I did this. Why didn’t I just cut the limb?” I’m just saying that actions can have… unintended consequences. “Discord!” Twilight Sparkle shouted. Twilight Sparkle reached up a hoof to Rarity, but Rarity was unresponsive. Her eyes didn’t blink, even in the strong wind. Her eyes darted back and forth. Twilight Sparkle tried to shake her, but nothing released her from her catatonic state. Another feeling entered Twilight Sparkle’s mind. Fluttershy is close, she thought. She could feel her. She could feel her heart beating. She could sense her breathing. She was close, but she was not in the fields. Twilight Sparkle’s horn lit up, and she was gone a moment later, leaving Rarity staring at the sight of Applejack lying dead beneath the tree limb that she had reattached to the tree. ***** Big Macintosh stared into the fireplace with a mug of cider at his side. Why his sister had decided to go out into this weather was beyond him, so he simply took the moment of solitude to think. Granny Smith and Apple Bloom had been asleep for a while, so he sat there, alone. Rarity’s been a blessin’, he thought, she’s always thinkin’ of ways to help out around the farm. There was still something that settled itself at the bottom of his stomach, and he couldn’t quite put his hoof on it. Or rather, he didn’t want to place his hoof on it. Rarity’s a wonderful special somepony, he continued to think, she’s generous, she’s beautiful, and she’s kind. His mind stopped for a moment. Kind. Big Macintosh’s mind turned to the thought of Fluttershy. He thought of the determination in her eyes when she stared down that cockatrice. He thought of the gentleness in her eyes as she cared for her woodland friends. He thought of her long, pink mane. He thought of her canary colored fur. Big Macintosh closed his eyes for a moment. But he must have dozed off, because though it seemed only a moment, when he opened his eyes again, the fire in front of him had nearly died. He lifted the mug to his muzzle and greedily drank the last drops. He frowned as he set the mug down on the table next to him and turned to get up. But a figure in the corner of the room caught his eye. “F-Fluttershy?” Big Macintosh stammered. He waited for Fluttershy to move, but she stood still and stared at him. The ciders that he had been drinking caused his vision to blur, but something seemed off about Fluttershy. “Am ah still dreamin’?” He watched as Fluttershy took a step towards him. His lips quivered as he took a step forward. “Ah don’t know if Ah’m dreamin’ or not, but there’s somethin’ Ah’ve wanted to tell ya.” He watched as Fluttershy took another step towards him. “Ah know it’s too late, but ah just wished ah had the chance to tell ya…” Fluttershy took another step towards him. “Ah wished I had the courage to ask ya to be mah special somepony, Fluttershy.” He said, “I know other mares asked me to be their special somepony, and ah know ah said yes, but ah always hoped that y’all would tell me how y’all felt.” Big Macintosh closed his eyes and waited. He felt a soft muzzle brush against his. Big Macintosh squinted his eyes. The ciders he drank made the tears come out more easily. He reached out to touch Fluttershy, but he felt empty air. Big Macintosh opened his eyes. Flutershy was gone. A dream, Big Macintosh thought, that’s all it’ll ever be. ***** Twilight Sparkle watched the scene from the front window of the Apple family farm. Discord stood behind her with a bemused expression on his face. “Oh, how wonderful,” Discord said, “It seems that Fluttershy felt only regret about her feelings towards our big, lumbering red friend.” “She was supposed to be angry.” Twilight Sparkle replied. “Twilight, I’m surprised.” Discord retorted, “You sound almost disappointed that her feelings towards him were that she never knew how he truly felt about her.” Twilight Sparkle turned away from the window. “But if she feels regret about not expressing her feelings towards somepony, then why hasn’t she-” Discord’s arms fell to his sides as Twilight Sparkle’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh my,” Discord said, “You brought her back because… oh, I see.” Twilight Sparkle and Discord sat on the porch together. In the time that had passed, the wind had finally decided to die down. “Are you ready, Twilight?” Discord asked. “Ready to what?” “Are you ready to let her go?” Twilight Sparkle sniffled, but another feeling entered her mind. Fluttershy was still somewhere. She looked over to Discord, who nodded that he, too, felt it. She closed her eyes, and they teleported to the hill. Twilight Sparkle looked around her and found Fluttershy just at the top of the hill. The clouds had just begun to clear up. She and Discord made their way up to the top of the hill, but Fluttershy simply looked straight ahead. “Butterflies… butterflies… butterflies.” Twilight Sparkle turned to look at Discord, who ignored her in favor of looking straight at Fluttershy. She watched as Fluttershy’s head turned to Discord. Discord took a deep breath and smiled. Twilight Sparkle looked at how Discord’s serpentine eyes softened as he snapped a claw. Twilight Sparkle gasped in confusion as sticks of butter suddenly appeared around Discord and Fluttershy. The sticks of butter slowly separated into smaller squares, and they began to flutter around the two. “Fluttershy,” Discord said, “Thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance.” For the first time, Twilight heard Fluttershy breathe. She’s alive, Twilight Sparkle thought, she’s- Another round of pain shot through Twilight Sparkle’s head. She looked up and saw the fuchsia glow turn pink, and then return back to fuchsia. She turned towards Fluttershy again, but noticed that she now lay on the ground. “Fluttershy!” Twilight Sparkle cried, “Fluttershy, no!” “It’s done.” Discord said. “The lypouni flower has bloomed. The vessel no longer needed. Your work saved two souls, Twilight.” “But it killed Applejack!” Twilight Sparkle shouted. “Did it?” Discord asked, “I don’t recall you shaping that tree into two hearts. Do you?” I’m just saying that actions can have… unintended consequences. Twilight Sparkle played these words over and over in her head. “Twilight, really, I would have thought you would have known by now,” Discord said as he slithered around her, “I am the embodiment of chaos, not the god of it. All of you little ponies have the same ability to cause chaos as I do.” Discord smiled and then disappeared. Twilight Sparkle heard Discord’s voice in his head once more. But, then again, you are the one who wanted to learn of the magic that controls the fate of others. Maybe you should remember exactly how many ponies’ fates you can control at one time. Twilight Sparkle stood alone, on the hill, and called out Discord’s name, but his voice never returned her cries. Twilight Sparkle looked down at the body of Fluttershy. The spell that she had placed on her was broken. Her elemental necklace lay shattered on the grass. The wings she had so meticulously sewn onto her fell off. But there was one thing that brought happiness to Twilight Sparkle in this scene. Twilight Sparkle looked down and saw two beautiful, blue eyes. Another tear escaped from her eyes as she leaned down and kissed her dead friend’s cheek. “Tonight, I know there is no light but you.”