//------------------------------//
// The Side Effects May Include... 
// Story: A Soldier's Duty 
// by UndercoverGamer 
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	Hours upon hours of tedious work never did much for his mood. The musty air down here wasn't doing much for his mood either, nor was the job he had been assigned. For Discord had been assigned to the most prestigious job of dusting everything within the confines of the Royal Ornaments & Artifacts chamber. A task which hadn't existed prior to him being assigned it, and one he was reluctant to take but begrudgingly forced into as an act of penance for his actions. Actions which he performed over four months ago, actions which no one gives a flying feather about anymore, and actions that Celestia but more specifically, Luna, remember perfectly, and still hold him completely accountable for having no problem punishing him for it in any they see fit.

"Princess of the moon? More like Princess of peeve," he muttered grudgingly as he continued to mosey around the room  putting minimal effort into cleaning, seemingly not caring whether or not the objects in the room were actually dusted or not. Which ironically enough he didn't. 

Content that he had done all he can in the current section of the chamber , he drifted on over to the another to begin the whole process over again. The best part was that he had to look forward to doing the same cycle again for the other infinitely many rooms in the chamber. Truly spectacular.

"Honestly, is this even proper punishment for a deity of chaos, dusting off old pieces of junk?" he huffed seemingly expecting a response. Unfortunately, no one was there to pity the draconequus in his time of suffering leaving him to wallow in his own misfortune.

Deciding he'd been mindlessly dusting everything with nothing to distract him from the dreary job, he decided he might as well at least look at what the ponies had collected over the years. To his dismay, however, after his eyes had scanned a few of the engraved names beneath just a mere few of the pedestals, he came to the assumption that every piece of history in this room surprisingly had everything to do with everything he didn't care about.

'Wonderful.' he thought drearily.

`	"Life doesn't seem so grand anymore. I mean, sure, being released from that stone prison for the first time in a millennia was a feeling I couldn't even dream of describing but this... this is just ridiculous!" he exclaimed, floating upwards a few feet as he did before holding that pose for a few seconds and letting out a sigh as he glided back down to the floor. "It's just you and me isn't it?" he asked the feather duster held firmly in his claw. "Just the two of us against the world. A normal old feather duster and... wait. Why am I even using you," he questioned himself, nonchalantly casting the feather duster aside.

"Although, I can guarantee the old hag wouldn't dare let me convince someone else to do work that I was told to do, but..."

'She never said I couldn't use my magic, or, well, didn't specify which of my powers I couldn't use. ' 

A smug grin upon Discord's face as he turned to face the assortment of artifacts that were laid before him in all the various rooms. An assortment of artifacts that were just waiting to be brought to life with a little chaos magic. Cracking his knuckles and rolling his neck, he clapped his hands together. "Alright you dusty pieces of junk, have at it," he said as his magic did its work as all of the artifacts began to move around just as the candles and other dining assortments did months ago at the dinner party at Fluttershy's cottage. 

Just as plan, all of the artifacts, gems, and ornaments began to literally dance themselves clean of any dust and the like leaving the chamber quite unbearable for a few moments before the dust quickly settled. When it all was said and done, every piece of equestrian history was spotless much to Discord's delight. Hours of work done in an instant thanks to a little chaos. If only everyone else could see this. Maybe then they'd let him use his more often.
...
'Probably not, but it's a pleasant thought,' he shrugged mentally to himself.
Content with the work that he had done without actually doing any work, he snapped his fingers conjuring up a recliner chair and promptly collapsed into it. 

He let out an exasperated sigh as he laid back into the chair. "Being a lord of chaos and what not sure does take it out of you."

He brought his wrist up to check the watch that had just appeared on it revealing that he wasn't expected for several more hours. 'What joy,' he grumbled mentally to himself.

With nothing left to do, he decided to take a stroll though the chamber and give the artifacts in the room another chance to entertain him. Of course, he strolled through while still reclined in his chair for one does not simply leave a plush chair once he's comfortable in it. It's a fact. A fact that he himself declared to be true, and everyone knows Discord's never wrong.

It's because this fact of his infallibility that he decided that warning labels were mere suggestions. It's also because of this fact that he declared making an ancient bust's face change into completely ridiculous expressions wasn't risky at all. It's also because of this fact that he may or may not have sent that very expertly crafted bust of a famous spell weaver of the past, away. By away, he sent it somewhere else, and by somewhere else no one knows. Spontaneous dislocation is a common side effect of using chaos magic while under the influence of reckless fun.

"That's not good," he said to himself staring at where the bust once had been. He realized it was gone once he took a moment to breathe after enjoying himself to such an extent. He wasn't allowed much use of his magic these days. He leant his head down to read the pedestal's engraving. "I'm sure it wasn't anything important." 

The engraving read as follows, 'Marelagelo's Original Bust of Starswirl the Bearded'. 

"Oh my..." He stood there staring at the empty pedestal for a few moments before the gears started turning again. 'I'm sure they couldn't be too mad...' A quick thought of what Luna might do, however, sent a shiver down his spine, and quickly shoved out any ideas of getting off easy. A feeling of dread began to make itself known in his mind. It wasn't easy to get either princess mad, but he was certain they'd make an exception for him. 

He obviously tried to conjure it back but couldn't. That didn't sit well at all with him. It would seem that he could mark teleportation off on the list of things that don't work well with chaos magic.  He had to get the bust back, but he had to apparently without his magic since it seemed to have no use here. He really didn't care to ask why it didn't as he was more concerned with the matter at hand. 'However, someone's magic might,' he thought scheming a plan in his mind. He knew exactly how he was going to do it. Actually, he knew who was going to do it for him. 



 



The day couldn't have shaped up to be any better for Star Stride. He'd enjoyed the clichéd perfect morning with the calming music and everything - courtesy of a passing group of harpists on their way to the symphony hall. The sun's rays glided slowly across his room's floor over his form until it bent on the corner of the ceiling. He let out a yawn long held in since even before last night eliciting a soothing feeling of satisfaction that rippled throughout him vanishing as it reached the end of his fading alabaster white appendages. Turning to his right to climb out of bed to close the blinds which were currently allowing the now blinding light to invade in his moment of comfort, he couldn't help but crack a smile at how wonderful the day really was. The theme of the clichéd morning seemed to continue as the sun was high in the sky without a cloud in sight. 

He honestly couldn't remember the last time a unicorn like him could just lay back and simply enjoy the moment. Being the most prominent and only willing unicorn to be given the opportunity of studying the  magic of chaos up close was an exhausting occupation. However, it wasn't the magic that was exhausting, oh  no. Chaos magic was still a school of magic albeit a scarcely used one. What made the job so exhausting was the only being in the known world who wielded chaos magic was Discord, so perhaps saying that chaos magic was scarcely used was an understatement.  Although, it wasn't as if there weren't others who had the desire to uncover the secrets that chaos magic had to offer, rather the only being who knew those secrets was unwilling to share them. That's not to say he didn't say much. In fact, the complete opposite would be true, and often times you wish it wasn't. A conversation with him could end up in the most random of places like what how much chocolate milk the local brewery could hold and how mad the owners would be if such a thing would happen.

But none of this mattered today for today was Star Stride's day off, and a day off he only received once every fortnight. There would be no 'Star do this' or 'Star do that'. The entire day was his and at his rather old age, a day void of the constant responsibility sounded spectacular.

He rolled out of bed landing soundly on his hooves promptly after. He rolled his neck eliciting several subtle pops and the tension in his neck vanished instantly. Closing his eye, he breathed in deeply. Letting it out slowly, there wasn't a doubt in his mind that today might be one of the most restful days off he's had in a long while. 

In his moment of leisure, he was duly reminded to close the blinds. While the task slipped his mind during his minute-long sabbatical, the luminous and rather irritating rays made the task rather apparent once again. Letting out a short grunt of disapproval of having to do something remotely physical after departing from the luxurious comfort of his oh so plush bed, he ever so slowly inched over to window to close the blinds. 'Why is the window on the other side of the room?' he inquired mentally. 'Damn design flaw, I say.'

He reached his hoof out to close the blinds only to have the blinds instantly close just as he was about to pull the chord to close them. "Well then." He stood staring at the blinds before slowly backing away, turning to decidedly return to his bed for a few more minutes of rarely achieved bliss. He wasn't so easily bothered by things as petty as this. Blinds randomly closing wasn't the strangest thing he's seen over the years and it most certainly wasn't going to hassle  him on his day off.  However, as he was about to step back up unto the bed he noticed the blinds were once again open.  A sense of frustration beginning to develop, he returned to the blinds to attempt to pull the chord again to close them. To his dismay, the blinds closed themselves before he could do it himself. His expression twisting into a scowl , he slowly backed up keeping both eyes firmly locked on the blinds. A few moments passed with no signs of the blinds opening again and so, still keeping an eye on the blinds, he climbed back up onto his bed for the relaxation he so desperately deserved.
Deciding the blinds weren't going to open again, he closed his eyes and he couldn't help but stifle a sudden chuckle. 'Honestly, it's my damn mind playing tricks on me.' This was what he thought, or at least up until the point, a mere few seconds later, that the blinds opened once more allowing the sunlight flood into the room. Once again, he felt his eyes being barraged by the rays of accursed rays of light.

Star Stride let out an irritated moan as a fire could be felt building up in his chest. He practically leapt of the bed in the direction of the blinds. He would have reached the blinds too had it not been for the seven-foot all draconequus appearing out of thin air in front of him.

"Why hello, dear Star Str-oof!" Star Stride caught the visitor in the sternum causing him to promptly fall back into the desk near the blinds in the corner of the room. Dizzy and disoriented, Star Stride laid there for a few moments on top of his unwelcomed visitor trying to get his head to stop spinning. The ever so irritating light seemed to still be present, though. It wasn't helping. 

"Not the worst welcome I've been given, I suppose," grunted Discord as he slowly rose to his feet. "Although, I would have expected something a little bit more from someone like you." Star Stride left on the literal stone cold floor was brought back into reality with the sound of Discord's voice. It wasn't anything he said, oh no. It was just the simple fact that he the deity of chaos was currently in his chambers, and more specifically he was in his chambers during his day off. He knew Discord well enough to know that he doesn't make special visits for anyone, and in all likelihood had come to him seeking to attain one of his own goals. Star Stride wasn't having any of it; none at all. It was his day off, and it most certainly wasn't going to be ruined by the likes of him.

Star Stride near immediately regained control of his old bones and scrambled to his hooves. He raised one hoof accusingly at his unwelcomed visitor whom had made himself well at home in his own bed. "I don't think so. Out of there, this instant."

"Really? Oh, but it's ever so comfortable and what friend would you be to prevent me from enjoying it."

"And what friend would ya be to keep me from enjoying it?" Star Stride responded not making any effort to appear any less frustrated than he actually was.

"Why, I have no idea what you're talking about," Discord replied turning feigning innocence. Star gave him a dead expression in reply before calmly trotting over to the blinds reaching out to close them and once more having them immediately close on their own. Discord's laughter was enough evidence for Star to safely affirm who was responsible.

"Ha, alright, I may made some minor... adjustments to your blinds. All for your benefit, of course," responded Discord with a slight smile.

"Of course, my benefit. Please, do tell; how is this," he said pointing to the now perpetually opening and closing blinds, "to my own benefit, hmm?"

"Why for comedic relief, of course!"

"S'cuse me?"

"You're always so serious all the time, and I thought that perhaps you just needed a good laugh; laughter is the best medicine you know."

"That," he huffed pointing to the blinds again, "is not any form of comedic relief."

Discord's smile dropped. "Well, it was for me," he said shrugging. "This bed of yours is truly wonderful, though. Much better than the one I was given."

Star closed his eyes tight, and thought very hard on how to deal with this situation. Here was a being who he did not hate, -- it would be impossible to work with him otherwise -- but on the same note a being who he most undoubtedly did not like. He could act like a small child at time, and it would be unlikely that just telling him to leave would be very effective. However, the painfully obvious fact that  he was currently ruining his day off caused a pit to form in his stomach out.  His body demanded, with every last fiber within it, that he tell the deity of chaos to beat it. Contrary to that was another dreaded possibility that he nearly quivered at. He could, possibly, perhaps, by some chance do what Discord wanted. It was now transparently clear he wanted something with the smug grin that had appeared on his face whilst reclining on his bed. Discord would also periodically sneak a glance at him, practically screaming it at him.

Discord wanted something and knowing he was cornered into it, as the lord of chaos had done previously with others, Star relented and sighed.

"What is it that ya want?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Discord practically shot up out of bed. Star didn't even have a chance to blink as he was picked up by the waist and ported out of his chambers in an instant. 



 



Appearing in a flash of blinding white light leaving Star was less than amused.

"Really? Nothing?" complained Discord mildly disappointed.

Star didn't say a word keeping his aged eyes in a deadlock with the wall in front of him.

"You're impossible," said Discord beginning his walk down the corridor they were now in.

Star let out a barely audible grunt of irritation.

"Coming?" asked Discord somehow swiveling his head one-hundred eighty degrees to ask.

Letting out another grunt, Star complied but ever so slowly. "Not even that bothers you?" asked Discord once he had caught up. 

"I've been working with ya fer far too long, Discord."

"I see. Well, it's ironic that you would mention that," said Discord turning to face him with the most innocent smile anyone could possibly even have imagined.

"What is it that ya want?" he asked still keeping his gaze dead and center. "Although, bringing me here raises a few ideas."

"Ah, yes. Well, you see it all started when-"

"I don't need any explanation. Just tell me what to do, so I can return to my day off."

"Straight to the point, I like that in a stallion!"

"Don't be going all pansy on me now."

Discord waved his paw dismissively. "Please, you're not even my type."

"I don't think there's anyone out there who's yer type."

"I could say the same to you, dear Star Stride" responded Discord smugly taking a glance at the pony walk next to him.

"I suppose ya could," responded Star turning around. "But I also suppose I could go the other way."

"No, no, no, I assure you; I will make no more comments from this point on. You won't hear a peep from me," said Discord literally zipping his lips together.

"I've seen ya go back on that promise six too many times before," deadpanned Star.

"Ah, but I didn't promise it this time now did I?"

"So, should I expect anything different?"

"Well, I am the lord of chaos, so anything is possible."

"Then would it be possible for ya to shut your trap during our sessions?"

"Where's the fun in that? Without my delightful little comments our sessions would be nothing more than boring, dull questions"

"That'd be fine by me."

"Like I said, you're too serious."

Star rolled his eyes. "And yer too far on the other end of the spectrum."

"No one ever said that's a bad thing."

"Really now? Then-"

"Shush, we're here," said Discord bringing a claw to his mouth silencing him.

"Here?" replied Star mildly irritated at being silenced.

"Of course," said Discord opening the doors to the chamber.

"Why couldn't you just bring us here in the first place?"

"Then we wouldn't have had a chance to have our delightful conversation," said Discord turning to him with a smile as he floated into the chamber backwards.

Star let out an aggravated sigh, -- something he's very akin to doing -- and gradually followed suit into the chamber. "I wouldn't call it delightful. It was rather dull, especially for you."

Discord was gliding through the chamber shifting his vision back and forth from area to another. "Well," began Discord, "if anything you made it dull, not me."

"I see. Well, I still haven't been told why I'm here."

"Just a moment," answered Discord continuing his search. It did take some time to find where the bust's pedestal was. There were well over a thousand artifacts in the chamber all clamored together, yet somehow still remaining placed with some form of organization. When the pedestal was found in one of the smaller sub-rooms of the chamber, Star was quickly called over from where he was taking time to appreciate some of the greater artifacts in the room.

"I'm assuming ya have found what ya were looking for," asked Star plainly.

"Right here," smiled Discord pointing to the empty pedestal.

Star sat there with the ever-present emotionless expression he always wears. Discord's common smile dropped as it seemed to be doing a lot today with Star. He looked between Star and the pedestal, and it didn't take long to realize his mistake. He let out a chuckle. "Look here," he said with a newly materialized magnifying glass in claw over the engraving on the pedestal. 

Sighing exasperatingly, Star walked over to the pedestal still looking completely emotionless. However when he approached the pedestal and his glossed over the words on it, he allowed a slight smile to slip through. "I'm going to wager a guess this was you're doing."

"Me, of course not. Well, maybe a little... or a lot. Actually, now that I think about it, I may or may not have cast away in a bout of joy that perhaps, maybe blocked my many, many, many inhibitions."

"You have no inhibitions," replied gruffly.

"Oh come on, I have some!" said Discord casting his arms out. 

"Just tell me what it is you need me to do."

"Fine," said Discord snapping his fingers conjuring up a chalkboard. 

"You see, when I teleport, as I did with you not more than ten minutes ago, I know exactly where and when I want to go, but-"

"I know what teleportation is, ya dingus. I'm unicorn ya know."

"Yes, I'm well aware," replied Discord choosing not to go on the 'dingus thing. He'd been called them by him various times before, and it had became as usual to him as his tricks were to Star. "But," he continued, "with a hint of chaos, teleportation suddenly becomes very unpredictable."

"Yes, and we've gone over this during last summer's session. Why should this concern me?"

"Yes, well if you take a look here," said Discord dawning a professor's get-up drawing his attention to the diagram he'd drawn on the chalkboard. "When something is 'ported  it always leaves behind a residue, and-"

"You're trying my patience, Discord. I've already made it damn well clear that I know what teleportation is," said Star adopting a disdainful expression."Do you take me for a foal?"

"No, just... Alright, I need your help getting it back."

Discord smiled. Star laughed. Discord stopped smiling. Star didn't stop laughing. He continued to laugh for a few minutes leaving Discord, ironically enough, to sit there un-amused. 

"Are you quite done?" Star's gravelly, bellowing laughter began to subside, but not immediately. Eventually, however, it did stop leaving Star standing there with a very contented smile plastered on his aging face. "Perhaps I should be asking you if you're the foal?" he stated gaily. 
"No, you old fool. I would bring it back in an instant if I could, but for some reason I can't seem to pinpoint its location anywhere in Equestria and dare I say the world," answered Discord bitterly as he snapped his fingers. "See? Nothing at all."

"Well, I don't see how I'm of any use here. If you can't bring it back then I don't see how you expect to."

"Ah, but I do. You see,  I can wager a guess that you're familiar enough with what my magic looks like. I can make that claim, can I not?"

"Aye, I suppose you can."

"Splendid," said Discord delighted that his plan might work.

"If I may," said Discord reaching out his claw.

Hesitant and unknowing, Star carefully nodded trusting Discord only to the extent that he won't die from what he was about to do.  As he felt Discord's claw grasp onto his horn, everything went black. Needless to say, Star was not in any way pleased by this.

"You dreich, doaty, hiedbanger, no good, eejit. Look at what you've gone and done; I'm blind now. I can't see a damn thing!"

"Calm down will you; you're not making the situation any better. Tell me," spoke Discord as he began his spell, "do you see anything now?" 

"Actually now that ya mention it, I can see myself shoving my hoof knee-high up your arse."

"The one time you don't act serious just so happens to be the one time I need you to be. So, do me a favor and buck up, boy."

"Call me a boy again, and I'll personally show you how much of a man I really am; I'll show ya-"

"Enough, enough. I get it the point. But please, look for any traces of magic, and in particular, my magic."

"I'm afraid I won't be speaking another word until I know what you've done."

Discord let out a frustrated sigh, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I've merely tuned your eyesight solely on the magic in this very room."

"What?"

"You can only see magic now," deadpanned Discord. Star supposed it made sense 

"I could see magic just fine before, so quit lying to me or ya will be feeling my hoof with your face."

`	"You'd think for a unicorn use his magic as a threat," mumbled Discord.

"What was that?"

"Nothing! Just, do you-

"'Ey, shut up fer a second. I see somethin', no, a lot of somethins'."

"Excellent. Now, find the one that looks like my magic."

"You're tellin' me that all this that I'm seein' is magic?"

"Yes, yes, I said that no more than seconds ago, now find the one that resembles mine."

Gazing around the room Star noticed there were hundreds of different residue trails most likely from the hundreds of spells that have been cast in this room. They came in an infinite variety of colors with the originals like red and blue, all the way to colors that he hadn't thought possible. All-in-all, it was like looking up the lights above the Crystal Empire only if they were brought up much closer for all to see. Eventually, however, he did find what Discord has asked. A strand of residue weaving up and down, zigzagging left to right, and generally appearing as if someone had given a newborn a marker and the newly white painted wall in the living room. "Yer in luck, I found yer trail of magic, but there appears to be a slight problem."

"What? What sort of problem?"

"Well, unless ya sent two a' those busts away then there's someone else using yer magic."

"Impossible, there's no way in- Never mind, just pick one!"

"Excuse me?"

"The spell will wear off soon, and unless you have a strong urge to become blind then I can't cast it on the same pony twice in one day. Time is of essence."

"Why didn't ya say so. Let's just risk bringing another one of ya here. Oh ho, we definitely need that ta happen."

"If you can drop your worries for just a second then I promise I won't bother you for the rest of the week, no, month!" Star snorted, unconvinced.

"Really, I mean it this time. You have my word, just pick one!'

"All ya had to lad was say please, but if you insist on leaving me alone then who am I ta stop ya," complied Star smiling as he used his own magic to isolate the aura of magic and begin the process of bringing the source of it back.

"Thank you, I- Wait, why you little-" 

Discord was silenced when Star, though still temporarily blinded, raised his hoof shaking it back and forth. "I don't think ya want ta lay a claw on the one who's helping ya out, now would we?"

Discord only grumbled in response. 

"See, that wasn't so hard was it, lad? Just helping a friend in need, right?"

"Of course... friend," replied Discord rather bitterly to which Star's smile only grew. Discord, though still mildly agitated, began to think of how far he must have sent the bust for it to take this long to bring it back. While Star may not have as much practice as Discord in teleportation magic such as this, hence why it took him a mere instant to send the bust away, it still shouldn't be taking this long. The thought was driven home as even almost a minute later, Star was casting his spell. This shouldn't be happening. No matter how far he had sent it, there is no way possible that it would have gonethis far for it take the time that it was taking to bring back. 

Sweat began to pour down his brow. While he may have feared the punishment the Princesses would give him, whatever punishment he would receive for bringing another being of chaos would likely be far worse. Unfortunately for him, all thoughts and ideas of forewarning Star were cast aside as a brilliant white ball of magic began to form above the pedestal. The ball emanated chaos that sent rippled throughout Discord's form; the chaos magic contained within the sphere was testing the boundaries to which evem Discord himself considered  too much chaos 

While Discord remained still as he attempted to direct as much of the magic towards himself with him being better suited to withstand it, Star had other thoughts . No, he was not concentrating on how drenched he had became in sweat; he didn't care, he wasn't paying attention to where all the other artifacts in the room were strewn about; not his problem, and he most certainly didn't care on how much pain Discord appeared to be in; it amused him. No, his only though was of the damnable, vile, evil, ever-so irritating light radiating of the newly formed sphere. It's unfortunate that those were the last thoughts he had before he was knocked unconscious. 



 



"You know, standing there isn't going to help anything," muttered Lasky.

He was given no response. It's been like this for nearly an hour since he returned to check on him. Lasky would say something and he wouldn't respond. To Lasky, it was a depressing sight. He couldn't even begin fathom that someone of his stature would even begin acting like this. It was unlike him. Right there, a red flag went up, but he had seen that red flag go up long before this. When they'd plucked him from the debris, that's when the first flag had gone up, not now. The only difference is that now it seemed like it wasn't getting any better; it didn't seem like he was bouncing back so easily from this one. From what he knew, the man had lost others; others that were actually human, and some had died in front of him. Records report Sergeant Major Avery Johnson dying literally in his arms, yet follow-up reports state that his demeanor remained unchanged as if it hadn't affected him in the slightest. Anyone can hide anything, but no one can hide everything. John's shell was definitely cracking even it was only by the slightest bit, which was probably the truth. Records say that spartans can hide emotions very well. 

The reports weren't lying.

However, the reports are just that. Reports. They're not any hard truth given by the individual himself rather other's observations and conclusions on him. There's no definite truth in what they're saying. Lasky concluded that this thought to be at least partially true as one of them states that this particular Spartan blew up an entire Covenant armada single-handedly. Lasky had to resist the urge to let out a much needed chuckle, but ultimately suppressed as it wasn't the right place nor the right time. The reports weren't always true. He intended to get the truth straight from source, and it's what he's been trying to do for the aforementioned hour. He's been remarkably unsuccessful so far. He would've thought getting this man to talk feelings would have been so hard. 'I'll just get him to open up; piece of cake. Every soldier has a soft spot."

'... That sounded so much better earlier,' Lasky thought admittedly. However, Lasky, if anything, was determined and staunch. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to him was that John trumped him in both those categories. He actually didn't just trump him, he obliterated him there. From the frustration beginning to build up within him to the unnoticed fidgeting with his fingers he had begun to do, Lasky started to understand this reality. John wasn't going to open it so easily.

"Look, I know what you're going through. I've lost some people before too," he said taking a step towards John. "It's just... the way you're dealing with it isn't how you should be." He began to edge closer to him, but still keeping out of what he figured would be his personal space. "Just tell me. I know it's hard, but it's the only way anything is going to get any better."

"Lasky." The commander's spirits were lifted in an instant feeling a new hope wash over. Perhaps this was it; this was the big break through. And to think, if he had given up earlier, nothing would've been- "I'm only restless." 

With those words Lasky's expression contorted into one riddled with confusion. "I'm sorry?" he asked.

John chose not to respond which didn't help him at all. "Care to explain?"

"I'm currently standing around here when I could be down there, sir."

That was it, or more specifically that was it again. "Chief, you and me both know they don't need you down there. There only assessing the damage, and don't you think sending a spartan for something like that would be too much?"

"No," John replied simply.

"No? So you think that sending a seven-foot tall practical super soldier down to help assess the damage would be helpful?"

"I could help search for survivors," John replied a few moments later.

"No, they don't need a seven-foot tall walking piece of metal finding them completely petrified after the attack. I don't think they'd react well to it."

No response was given. Sweat began to pour off Lasky's brow, and licking his lips seemed to have found a place in his mind at the moment. "Look, chief, I-"

"It's fine."

"No, it's not fine. Like I said earlier, John, you're a man not a machine. I should've never made that comment," said Lasky clenching his fists.

John just hummed subtly and near inaudibly for a second. Lasky couldn't help, but chuckle; he found the fact that John was talking more now than he'd ever heard talk before rather humorous, or at least humorous in a situation like this. He needed some form of relief to break the tension. He did immediately shut up as soon as it came out, but it was still heard by John's ears. "I-I'm sorry, it's just you don't know how much I needed that." When no response was given, Lasky tried a different approach. "You know, the other guys around here say I've got a knack for connecting with the soldiers, and it just doesn't sit well with me seeing you like this; you know?"

"I said I'm fine."

"No, you're not. Just... look, if I get you something to do, a mission; will that cheer you up?"

John's reaction wasn't immediate, but he seemed to visibly loosen up if that was possible to notice with his armor on. He still, however, didn't respond.

"Okay then, how about this," said Lasky clearing his throat. "Master Chief, I need you to be ready to go planet side, ten minutes, priority two; I'll explain more on your way down.

This gained an instantaneous reaction from the spartan when he turned to face Lasky. Lasky was taken by surprise and would've jumped had not been for his occupation and what the situation demanded. "Yes, sir."

As John began to depart from this side of the observation deck, Lasky reached out. Through the armor, John felt his hand and stopped on instinct. He would grabbed hold and attempted to hurl Lasky halfway across the room if he hadn't remembered who exactly was the only other individual in the room. Still, it did make him a bit more tense which was something Lasky couldn't notice beneath the layers of metal and electronics.

"Stop, Chief."

"Sir?"

"Stop calling me that, if anything I should be saying that to you. I hope it's alright with you for me to say this, but you've had a promotion long overdue."

John made no move, but inwardly shrugged. If he had earned a promotion then he would have been given one. But so far, all he's been doing is what was expected of him. Nothing more and most certainly nothing less. 

"Look, this just proves it. You need help."

"Sir, I'm perfectly fine."

"No, well, maybe physically, but not mentally and there isn't a snowball's chance in hell you're fine in here," said Lasky pointing to his chest.

Unsurprisingly, without being given any requirement to reply, John didn't make a move nor sound.. He sat there with his back turned to Lasky, near the magnetic door, with Lasky's hand dropping from his shoulder. Where Lasky was desperately trying to get Chief to understand, John was sent into mild confusion. His conscious twisted among the many processes going on inside the inner workings of his mind. John's very human nature urged him to do something. The constant rising and subsiding pain in his sternum gave testimony to that. He could feel his heart physically beating on his eardrums and could ever since the bomb went off. He automatically dismissed the moment he returned to the ship and for the life of him, he couldn't understand why. 

Why. 

Why is life's key with its infinite potential to answer. It such a simple word, but when used it unlocks even the most complex of objects.

Why is the sky blue?

Why is the grass green?

Why is light so damn irritating at times?

All nothing more than common questions, and in all honesty, a waste of the word. Why was something John was so blatantly ignoring. The internal pressure he felt, the constant war in his mind, the very fabric of his being rippling with something. But, no. He never asked why. Why would he? A soldier isn't suppose to ask questions. A soldier's duty is to take orders. He did so flawlessly. Mission after mission, battle after battle, kill after kill, but not once had he asked himself why he was doing it. Even at the conception of his role as a spartan, he had never questioned a single thing. It leaves a man without a driving force. A man needs something to bring him back to reality and back to his humanity; he needs to know who he is, and why he's doing what he's doing. It may take a wife to remind that to father, a mother to remind that to her son, but what of a spartan? Who reminds them what they purpose is? It had become apparent that  that duty was the responsibility of the UNSC. 'Protect Humanity' they claimed. 'Protect Humanity at any cost' they claimed.  It's not so much a drive, but a command. How is a spartan suppose to reject the command when he knows nothing for if you stand for nothing then you'll far for anything, and so far John fell, oh so far. He's been falling for years, in fact. It's gotten to the point where he doesn't have so much a soul that drives him, but a machine that commands him. He'll relentlessly pursue any threat, immaculately complete any mission -- in record time too --, and conquer any challenge that presents itself to him. Why? Because the machine tells him to.

"I'm fine”
"I'm fine," replied John for going on the fourth time.

"I'm not one to be forceful , but if you would just listen to me for one second-"

Lasky would've continued had it not been for the brilliantly white light shining from John's chest plate that soon engulfed the whole room in shear luminosity. Not a moment later the light engulfed the entirety of John, subsequently becoming impossibly brighter with more surface area. It lasted only a few seconds before everything went dark, literally pitch black, within the room despite the florescent bulbs hanging from the ceiling and the sun's own rays shining through the glass.  When the light seemed to flow back in making the room appear as it did prior to the shining from John. the spartan himself was gone.

"Chief?" muttered Lasky, his hand tensely falling to his side.

"Chief?!" 

"Chief?!"

He continued this for what seemed like an entirety, shouting out the name with no response. Ironically it wasn't much different from when he was here, but it didn't bother him when chief had actually been present in the room with him. Now, now it bothered him. 

When he came to a somewhat normal state of mind, heart still racing, a thought popped into his mind through all the chaos running amok within it. Not a sound had was made during the ordeal, and in fact, all the common sounds of the constantly running ship seemed to fade. Actually, not just fade, but disappear entirely; they weren't heard at all. The room was eerily silent still. However, as if on cue, the sounds returned: the hum of the engines, the clanking of gears, and the overall atmosphere of the ship. It all came flooding back in as if time itself had stopped and waited for the light to appear and vanish before continuing. What just happened made absolutely no sense. The whole event made no sense. Facing the facts, Lasky finally came to the impossible conclusion that John had just vanished. Gone without a trace. He had just witnessed the impossible.

The very obvious thoughts came flooding in when he accepted this reality as truth. Thoughts such as who, what, and why were on the forefront of his mind. Why. Why was the most prominent of the three, and his well-known determination sparked to life burning in his chest. He was going to figure who did this, and more importantly he was going to figure why they did.

Although, he wasn't sure why felt the urge to know. When he thought about as he began walking down the corridor leading away from the observation deck, his mind lapsed. True, he didn't know who did this or why, but he also didn't know why he was choosing this particular way to respond. It bewildered him to the point that he stopped his mild jog to use all energy to ponder it. Shouldn't he be more panicked? Isn't it a bit cliché' to just say 'Oh no, he's gone. Better go find him'? And... shouldn't he be able to focus on one damn thing!

"Agh, damn it," he said hunching over bring a hand to the sides of his head. Thinking upon the matter seemed to only make it worse. Oddly enough, at that moment, he felt the strong desire to lay down and rest. Complying with the desire seemed reasonable at the time, and so Lasky went to his quarters and rested. He laid his head upon his pillow and fell fast asleep. All the pains and urges he had felt before began to vanish as he fell deeper and deeper into his slumber. However, as he fell deeper and deeper into his slumber, he began to forget more and more of what just happened.

Spontaneous amnesia is also a common side effect of chaos magic.



 



"My word, that was bright," complained Discord sullenly. "Star? Star Stride?" Not getting any response, Discord stretched every appendage working out all the knots of pain that he had just willingly accepted for the betterment of his friend Star Stride who... was apparently unconscious where once was casting the spell. However, that wasn't what perturbed him, oh no. What perturbed him was the hunk of olive green situated amongst the debris of the pedestal. 

For a moment Discord didn't do anything. He weighed his options mentally. He could leave at this very moment and pretend like none of this ever happened -- the proper choice --, or he could go check up on Star seeing how he seemed to be unconscious --the improper choice. However, the 'improper' choice seemed much more appealing once he realized that Star didn't get the bust back, and in fact had broken the pedestal on which it once stood. He certainly wasn't going to take the blame for it, and perhaps he wouldn't even need to take the blame for the bust either. It's what friends are for, right? Fluttershy said that, or at least, something along those lines.

Letting out an indignant sigh, Discord glided over to the unconscious form of Star Stride. He then proceeded to poke him a few times in his hind leg, mentioning his name occasionally. That didn't work, so he began to lightly tap his cheek still occasionally calling his name. Still no results as of yet, Discord upped the ante a little.

(Moments later... )

"I'm gonna skin yer wee behind if you do that one more time!"

"Ah, good your awake!" said Discord cheerily. "Get up," he deadpanned his mood shifting back to what it originally was. Star complied and rose to his feet with a bit of effort and struggle. Huffing, Star shook his head once to get his bearings back. "What happened?" he asked.

"Oh, I don't know, but what I do know is that you screwed up royally!"

"What? Me?" responded Star, his anger taking over.

Discord chose not to respond but instead pointed to what remained of the pedestal. Star shifted his gaze from the pedestal and back to Discord. He did so several times before eventually letting out a grunt. "Not my problem."

"What?!" cried out Discord. "Not your problem?! Oh no, this is your problem," continued Discord. "I didn't cause that one."

"Yea, and I didn't damn well ask for any ae' this. Besides some bits and pieces from a broken pedestal should cause ya little trouble."

"The pedestal? Oh no, I'm talking about the big olive green... whatever amongst it."

Star looked perplexed. "What?"

"The big, olive green thing lying right there- ..."

"I can't say I know what dinky little trick you did, but I don't think you'd intentionally make yerself blind on top of the fact that yer dumber than a sack of rocks."

Discord was brought back to reality with an anger now boiling inside him. "No, you fool. This is serious!" replied Discord shaking his claw where the mass of green use to be. "There was something laying right there!"

"Really? Is that so? Oh then please forgive me for not seeing the world as you do," retorted Star turning around to leave the chamber. "I don't see the world through the eyes of a completely insane deity hell bent on making the sky piss out chocolate rain and candy. I half expected ya ta crap out rainbows when yer spell was dun'."

"Why you insufferable little-" Discord wished to finish his sentence, but Star had already slammed the door shut behind as he departed the room. Discord sighed. There were now two problems to be dealt with. The bust and now whatever the old hermit brought here. It seemed that bringing him here didn't make the situation any better, and in fact seemed to make it worse. 

Before he could think anymore of it, however, the noise of metal pressing on stone could be heard from behind him.

That was odd.

Instinctively, he turned around but only to find nothing out of the ordinary. That was a problem. The rather large hulk of olive green was nowhere to found. All that was left was an imprint upon the stone and crushed pieces of debris scattered about. He was left with time to think about this matter as another sound could be heard from outside the door which redirected his attention forward. It sounded akin to a panicked cry, but was too muffled to be sure. Whether it was the door or something else, his curiosity had become peaked with a sense of paranoia falling not too far behind.

With said curiosity peaked and now given a reason to forget about this whole ordeal for a few moments, he ever so cautiously opened the chamber door. While teleportation may have taken him outside the room in an instant, he instinctively decided that he dare not risk anything with the large amount of light he emitted whenever he did.  And so, the door slowly creaked open revealing the same central chamber he had been in before. Nothing out of the ordinary. Well, except for Star's body laying on the ground unconscious once again. If it had not been for the new gravity of the situation then Discord would have greatly enjoyed waking him in the same he did before; it agitated Star ever so amusingly. But no, instead he decided to merely call his name. He received no response.

Taking the metaphorical plunge, he warily stepped outside the room. He called out once more, this time asking if anyone was there. He again, received no vocal response, but did hear a slight 'thud' coming from behind him. He froze. Evidently enough, something was behind him and not just from the sound, but from the large shadow greatly casting over his. 

Wait, why was he scared? He was a lord of chaos -- the only one at that. Why would a mere being startle him. If anything it was probably Star just being an old bastard playing a trick on him to get back at him for dragging him out of his chambers on his day off. With newly found confidence he did a one-eighty, retort at the ready.

"Star, while I find you're trick amusing I regret to inform you that-"  Star wasn't the one behind him. What was thought to be an illusion was really Star's unconscious form laying there which meant the foreboding being of metal in front of him was, in fact, very really. In that instant, the whole idea of being the ever-powerful lord of chaos faded from his mind. 

"Hello there," said Discord with a fake grin. Discord didn't get a response, but what he did get, however, was a metal knee plate to his jaw. Discord was out like a light.