//------------------------------// // [E] Chapter ! // Story: Son of Chaos // by TheNomad //------------------------------// The surface of the moon was quiet. The Equis hung over the star spotted night sky. The Moon was lifeless all except for two beings. The first of the two being a pitch black alicorn named Nightmare Moon. She had a tall, lean figure that could bring a stallion to their knees. Her mane was a slice of the night sky, it seemed to flow in an invisible breeze. Her eyes teal and had cat-like slits. Her cutie mark covered her flank a dark purple with a crescent moon. Finally, she wore light blue battle armor. The other being was much stranger, his body like a snake, but covered in brown fur. His tail was red, shaped like a dragon’s and had a white tuft of hair at the end of it. His right leg was an alligator's and his left was an antelope's. His left hand was a eagle's claw and his right was a lion's paw. He had a blue pegasus wing and a bat's wing. He had a head like that of a goat/pony, his mane was black, yet his bangs were a snow white. His eyes were yellow and his pupils were red, as well one pupil was larger than the other. Finally he had an antler and a blue goat horn atop his head (but unlike his father he had no facial hair). This one's name was Strife. They having a one-sided conversation, as Nightmare Moon seemed to be on a rant. When Nightmare Moon first met Strife she hated him. But after a year or so with him she decided some company would be better than none. Strife was the only being to seem even remotely interested in the alicorn. She didn't know why, but it was nice to talk to someone. However, sadly, even he had to go sometimes, and then she would be left to her thoughts. She hated being alone, but when Strife came back he would always have a gift for her. She didn't know why he was so nice. In fact, she didn't know much of him or why he did what he did, after a few hundred years his antics dwindled down to “Strife just being Strife". "-and she dare say that I was in the wrong!" Nightmare Moon finished, breathing heavily. Strife rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "But Nightmare, if the world was trapped in everlasting night, wouldn't everything freeze over?" He asked softly. Nightmare Moon looked at him blankly. "... I guess I never thought that far..." Strife gasped "Idea!~" "What?" "Oh... never mind. It’s nothing..." "Obviously it wasn't nothing!" She said angrily. "Well, I was just thinking that, you know, with my--” Strife snapped his claw and a feather appeared, falling to the ground like a rock '--powers and all I could make it work. But... No, never mind. It probably would never work. With y'know, Celestia and all..." At the name of her ex-sister Nightmare Moon gritted her teeth, "Oh when I get free I don't think we'll have to worry about her!" At hearing this an evil smile appeared on Strife's face as he snapped his claw. Nightmare Moon blinked a few times before letting out a soft yawn. "I think I shall go to sleep," she started for her bed (it was one of the first gifts Strife gave her). "Let me," Strife said, snapping his claw once more. In a flash, Nightmare Moon found herself in her bed. "Comfortable?" "Yes indeed.” She let out a unladylike yawn and shut her eyes. “Sleep well... friend..." she said as her eyes drifted shut. Strife stood there, blinking once, then twice. His eyes were wide in shock. "Friend?" he whispered before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Canterlot The city of Canterlot was beautiful. White buildings covered the streets, the worst looking buildings were a dull grey. The streets were bustling even though the sun began to dip below the horizon. Alas, no one was in the castle courtyard, where there stood a garden of statues. A large puff of smoke appeared next to a particularly unique sculpture. From the smoke stood Strife, a solemn look in his eyes. He looked to the statue, knowing that it was more than just a piece of some artists strange imagination. He looked before the prison of his father, Discord. Strife conjured a wooden bench and sat down. "Hey dad, sorry for not visiting for so long. But if you didn't notice I've been trying to get you out." He began to smile. "I had an idea... after a few hundred years of spreading little bits of chaos everywhere, I thought 'why not one large moment of chaos!' So I have been trying to get Nightmare Moon off the moon, but I can't... the spell keeping her there is just too strong... I don't know how to say this but," he took in a deep breath, "she called me her friend." He paused as if waiting for a response. "I just don't know what to do. The last thing I ever called a friend was over eight hundred years ago! ... I just- ugh! feel like getting her out is... something more? I just... “‘ he sighed’” Thanks for listening dad..." Strife looked up at his dad and sighed before getting up. He held out his claw, "See ya dad." As he snapped his claw, he disappeared. The Moon The smell of something wonderful flittered through the air, causing Nightmare Moon’s eyes to slowly open. She groggily looked around. She saw Strife cooking... she didn't know what they were but they looked flat, tan, and circular. They smelled wonderful and the stranger part was there were thousands of them, in gigantic piles. Strife inhaled deeply and sighed "... I love the smell of three hundred seventy-two thousand eight hundred forty-four pancakes in the morning... Smells like victory!" he said proudly. "Strife, what are you doing?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Oh! Morning, Nightmare! I was just making you some breakfast." "Oh! Thank you," she said surprisedly as she began to get out of bed. "But what did you make?" "Pancakes! Trust me, you'll like them," he said, conjuring two chairs and a table. He set down the plates and silverware and placed six pancakes on each plate. "Okay..." She sat down, grabbing a fork as she began to cu- "Wait! they still need syrup and butter." He quickly added a cut of butter and covered the pancakes in syrup. "Now dig in," he said, smiling. Nightmare Moon began to eat her pancakes, and she couldn't lie, they were pretty good. Swallowing her mouth full she voiced her compliments. "It was nothing, but thank you!" he said, happily. Time passed as they ate in silence. "Do you miss being on Equis?" he asked suddenly. "What ever do you mean?" "It's just... it's your home right? So don't you miss it?" A slight frown formed on Nightmare Moon's face. "Of course I do." "I'm sorry..." "Huh?" "I'm sorry." "What for?" she asked, confused. "You're trapped here and I can't help you..." He stood out of his chair "what kind of friend am I?" Strife whispered the last part looking away. Strife felt a hoof on his shoulder, he looked to see Nightmare moon, a heart melting smile on her face. He returned the smile, and with a snap of his claw they were sitting at the top of a crater. They sat there looking at Epuis. Strife spoke up "I've never told you anything about me have I?" Nightmare Moon shook her head. "Do you want to know?" she nodded. "Okay, but just to warn you this is gonna get deep... So the main story of my life began nine hundred years ago, when my father died..."