Orion took a seat on the multi colored ground and looked into a large pool of red wine. Or what he hoped was red wine…
A lie… That’s all my life has been… Orion thought as he gazed at his reflection. All my memories never happened. My mother, whose warm touch was so comforting and the sweet scent of lavender that always seemed to linger, never existed. My foalhood friends, my school life, all I ever accomplished… None of that ever happened, no, they’re just thoughts that Discord placed in my head…
The stallion looked up for a moment and took in all the chaos around him. Discord had caused all of this, except of course his miserable life, which had just began a few days ago. The blame of that he rested solely on Twilight. How selfish could she be? Creating me, just so she wouldn’t have to be alone anymore… The only purpose of my life was to love her…
But was that so bad?
He dragged a hoof down his clean shaven face. He did have to admit, he was handsome. It was no wonder that pretty much every mare on the street had always been staring at him. A gift from Discord he could call it.
She had made me happy, just as much as I made her happy. Every moment we spent together was perfect, and I wouldn’t have taken a single minute back… We really were made for each other, I’m the perfect stallion for Twilight. And she’s the perfect mare for me…
As he continued to look at his reflection and think a snarl crossed his lips.
Discord. He ruined it all; he made me over protective, the blame rests solely on him and him alone. “We can still be together, it isn’t over yet!” Orion shouted, jumping to his hooves. He galloped off, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.
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I can’t believe he left me… We were made to be together, our love was so strong, then he just leaves me… Then again, I guess I can’t blame him… The poor guy just found out his whole life never happened and that his sole purpose was to start Discord’s reign of chaos…
Speaking of the monster… Twilight glanced up at him, anger surging through her as he sat there laughing. He was pulling what she imagined to be a prank on some poor, innocent pony. She didn’t know, and to be frank, didn’t care. She didn’t care what happened now; she had lost her friends, her assistant, her teacher and her lover. Things couldn’t get any worse.
She looked away from the devilish creature, and towards her old friend. Rainbow Dash was lying on the ground, breathing weakly. She had struggled for hours, trying again and again to break the chain that kept her trapped. The rusty chain had dug deep into her skin, and a large, bleeding gash was visible along her neck. The pegasus stared at the ground blankly, unsure of what to do.
Twilight felt sorry for her. Every bit of her body cried sympathy, yet she could do nothing for the broken pegasus. If she could even call her a pegasus any more, what with her wings gone. A blow she was sure had struck her hard.
It was only a matter of time now, before Discord broke Applejack and Fluttershy. Then all of the bearers of Harmony would be gone, and Discord’s revenge would be complete.
The sound of hooves made her ears perk up, and she scanned the area for the source of the disturbance. For the first time since Discord had taken rule, Twilight smiled. It was Orion, and he was galloping full speed towards them.
Discord looked up from the poor unicorn that was running about covered in bees. A frown crossed his face as his eyes fell on the dark blue stallion. He hadn’t planned for this…
“Discord!” Orion shouted, skidding to a stop right in front of his dark looking throne. “This ends here!
“You again? Do you need me to remind you how pathetic your life is?” He smirked, leaning back in his chair.
“I don’t care! I don’t care that I’ve only lived for a few days, and everything before that are just fake memories! Because I love Twilight! And I’ll do anything to get her back again!”
Twilight looked at him, her mouth agape. She almost couldn’t believe that this was happening, that Orion had actually come back. That there was some hope no matter how small it was.
“Bah! So you thought that if you just come back here and ask that I’ll give her to you?! Ha! Now that is comedy!” Discord chuckled, his laughs only serving to anger Orion.
“A game.”
“What?” Discord asked, breaking out of his laughing fit.
“A game. If I win you give me Twilight and the Elements of Harmony.”
“And I win?” Discord leaned in, now interested in the stallions words.
“Me. You can take my soul, for all of eternity if you wish. Do whatever you want to me, I don’t care.”
Discord let out an evil, heartless laugh. “Now there’s a deal… Whatever I want you say?” Orion nodded back. “Well I can do a lot in an eternity.” He slithered out of his throne and circled around the unicorn. “Even after your body rots and dies, I can just simply create you another body. I could make you suffer for the rest of time itself…” A grin was plastered on his face as he imagined all the amusement he could get out of just one soul.
The words didn’t even seem to faze Orion. His slightly stoic face remained, and he continued to stare at Discord. “I’m willing to take that. I’m just asking that even If I lose you let Twilight go.”
“Hmm…” Discord repapered in his throne and he began stroking his beard in deep thought. “Fine! But I chose the game and the rules…”
Twilight quickly looked to him and shook her head. Discord was manipulative, and he’d simply just make a game where only he could win. Nonetheless, Orion ignored her and nodded at the Draconequus.
Discord snapped his talons, and a single sheet of paper appeared. He placed the clean, thin contract in front of Orion and levitated a quill beside him. “Find the elements of harmony by sundown, no magic. If you lose your soul is mine forever, but I let Twilight go. If you win, I give you Twilight and the Elements. Either way your love is free. Deal?”
“No Orion! Don’t, he’s tricking you!” Twilight tried to plead to him; she didn’t care about her freedom, not when so much was at stake.
“Deal.” Orion mumbled, taking the quill in hoof he scribbled his signature onto the paper.
“Back her by sundown with the Elements, or you lose…” Discord let out a chuckle, snapping his talons again. The once dark night suddenly turned very bright, and the sun hung about halfway through the sky. From what Orion could tell, he had about five to six hours, he also noticed his and Twilight’s horns were gone. “Oh and you can take Twilight with you if you want, you’ll need her! Ha!” He slammed his fist against the arm rest of his throne and broke out into a fit of laughter.
Twilight walked over to him and shook her head in annoyance. “This is a bad idea Orion… I know you mean well but… Discord’s a trickster; he makes things so he’s always going to win. No matter what you do.”
“But no matter what happens you’ll be free! And that’s all that matters to me…” Orion turned away from her and started down the street, Twilight soon followed.
“But what about you? Discord’s a monster, who knows what he’ll do to you!”
“Don’t you see?!” Orion suddenly spun around, startling her. He looked deep into her eyes and a frown crossed his lips. “I’m doing this all for you… Because I love you Twilight, and that all that my life’s meant to be. Now let’s hurry up, I imagine that Discord’s hidden the elements at each of the bearers houses. I say we start with Applejacks.”
Reluctantly, Twilight nodded to him. Now was not the time to argue, the contract had already been signed and all they could do now was try their best.
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They arrived at Sweet Apple Acers within fifteen minutes, both of them panting and covered in sweat. There were no apples on the trees, something that struck out as odd to them. As they made their way down the dirt path, they heard a faint whimpering coming from the barn.
“I don’t like this… Not at all…” Twilight commented as they came to the barn door, a faint glimmer of fear flashing through her eyes.
“It’s probably Discord just trying to scare us, which means I had the right idea.” Orion looked at the locked wooden door for a second, before he bucked it hard with his fore-legs. The sturdy door held up, but after a second kick it came crashing down.
It was very dark inside, and a nose cringing odor filled the air. It smelled faintly like rotten apples from what they could tell. Orion peered into the darkness, and after a few moments he was able to make a shaking figure in the corner. Twilight was hiding in the remains of the entrance in fear, but the stallion stepped into the dark bravely.
“Hello?” He called out to the figure, whose head immediately shot up.
“Wh-who’s there?!” Came the broken, shaken response.
Orion took a few steps closer, and after his eyes adjusted he recognized the figure to be Applejack. However, she had certainly seen better days. Her mane was a complete mess, no longer tied in a ponytail but hanging down her face in an untidy manner. Her eyes were constantly darting around the room, almost afraid that something was going to suddenly appear and attack her. Her coat had lost some of its color, and she was covered in what appeared to be smashed apples.
“Orion, and Twilight’s here to.” He gingerly pointed to Twilight, still standing in the doorway.
“T-t-twi?” She asked, almost unsure that they were really there.
After hearing the voice of her dear friend, Twilight rushed to her side, her mouth falling open at the sight of her. “Applejack?! What happened?”
“A-a-apples…” She mumbled, rocking herself back and forth. “C-c-came to life…”
“Discord…” Orion stated, looking to the still scared Twilight. “Well, we have to find the Element. Maybe it’s in the house?”
Before anypony could have said anything, there was a horrible hissing sound. They turned to look at the entrance, and sitting there were several apples. However, they looked like something one would find in the deepest, darkest parts of the Everfree Forest. They had long, spider like legs, and blood red eyes. Their most defining feature was a set of teeth, which looked long and sharp.
Upon the sight of them Applejack screamed and retreated further into the barn, leaving Orion and Twilight to stand their ground. The apples hissed again before charging at the two ponies.
“Are you kidding me? Apples?!” Orion looked at them dumbstruck, not believing that this was the best Discord could do.
“Well they do look very scary!” Twilight pointed out, however her earlier fear had disappeared.
One of the apples scurried over to Orion and bit him on the leg, causing him to curse in response. “Ow! That kind of hurt actually…” He mumbled, quickly slamming his foot down on the apple. Its fruity inners spilled out onto the barn floor.
“Now that I think about it… This is kind of weak for Discord…” Twilight followed Orion and grinded the apples into the ground, after a few moments all the demonic apples were dead.
“A-are they gone?” Applejack asked carefully walking over to them, her eyes still darting around.
“Yeah… But we’ve wasted enough time. Twilight, you explain everything to Applejack. I’ll go search the house, I’m sure the element will be in there.”
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After another ten minutes Orion reentered the barn, a beautiful gold necklace embroiled with an emerald dangling from his saddlebag. He was glad to see that Applejack had calmed down, her normal composure quickly returning.
“Sorry ah freaked out there… But them apples were scary! All mah live ah been eating apples, and never before have they tried to eat me!”
“Well it doesn’t matter, we don’t have that much time and we still have five elements to find. I say you go to Pinkie’s and get her element, while Twilight and I go to Fluttershy’s. That way we’ll do this a lot faster.”Applejack nodded, and she quickly rushed out of the barn. Orion turned to Twilight. “Where’s Fluttershy’s house?”
Twilight was about to respond, but something in her mind kept her from talking. She heard a very faint, weak whisper and she said exactly as it said. “In Ponyville, on the east side of town.”
“Really? I know she has a love for animals, I would have expected her to live by the Everfree Forest or something…” Without saying anything more he hurried out of the barn, and Twilight followed with a frown.
No matter how hard she tried to say something nothing came out. It was like somepony had taken hold of her throat. She couldn’t even stop herself from following Orion; somepony had taken complete control of her body.
Discord…