Interlude One: The King of Chaos

Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality...

Stampede. The capital city of Equestria. The city itself was not the stereotypical idea of the lair of an evil kingdom. In fact, had an architect pony from Equestria been there to see it, they would have remarked on how similar the city looked to Canterlot. But Stampede differed from Canterlot in one key aspect. It was diseased. It was sick.

Like Equestria itself an illness seemed to seep into its very foundations. The stones that built up its fortress like walls, originally pure white rock, mined from the mountain at whose base the city rested, had long since been burned black through time and entropy. Filth and stinking rivers of something foul ran through the gutters. The buildings at the city's outer-edge were crumbling, decrepit and broken. Those unfortunate slum dwellers who were forced to live in such squalor, died quickly from the illness and disease that seemed to be as much a resident of such places as the outcasts who died there.

Further into the city however, disease became less common, the buildings stood the test of time far better and even if one were to collapse the repairs were swift (swifter the closer you were to the city centre). The streets were cleaned on a near hourly basis, at the city's heart. Money that was spent in desperation at the bread line for those in the slums, was spent almost frivolously for those who practically slept at the castle's door.

A towering spiral of architecture, the castle at the heart of Stampede saw all for miles around. Indeed, it was said the castle's corridors were like streets, and the chambers of those who lived there were veritable mansions. At the top of this city within a city, this mountain where the rich and the 'noble' called their home, lay the Citadel of the King. A palace upon a palace. Great spires and towers pierced the sky, ramparts and battlements shrouded the night. Earth pony guards, almost overladen in armour marched around the perimeter as Pegasus ponies flew overhead to ensure that no one attacked from the sky. All the guards flew and marched under a shimmering sheen of multicoloured darkness from the magic of several dozen unicorn spells, their caster's walking around the Citadel, attending to other duties.

Within the most private chambers of the King, Discord looked out over his kingdom in hatred.

Well, to be more accurate he looked down at those pests who so clamoured for his affections. The pathetic and crippled nobility. The greedy and the egotistical rich. The merchants and the businesses that constantly tried to sell him their wares and goods; tried to persuade him of the new must-have purchases that no nobleman or royalty could live without.

Well this was an unfair summation of his feelings. He was disgusted in how he had to rule over the maggots before him. It was all a political game with rules, goals and penalizations. Discord didn't like to play games. Not unless the rules were mailable and the game was rigged for his entertainment only. But no. He was forced to play this game of thrones. To live in this ridiculous castle. To wear the fancy clothes and paraded around by stupid guards in paper thin armour. He could snap their minds with a click of one taloned finger, turn them into slugs and ants with a thought. And yet he couldn't.

He growled and ground his teeth together before he stormed away from the window that looked out over Stampede.

His temper wasn't in the best of moods to begin with after looking over the city, but now he had to deal with... him.

There was a figure standing just inside Discord's library, pursuing the the title's with lazy interest. He was a tall unicorn stallion with unkempt grey fur and a wiry white mane, pulled back into a ghastly ponytail. He was dressed in a crumpled black military dress uniform with scuffed and dusty brown boots that creaked whenever he moved his feet half an inch. As he traced his fingers over the spines of different volumes, Discord noted his hands were caked in dried blood.

"Conquest," Discord said, trying to keep the growl out of his voice. He didn't succeed but then, he knew Conquest wouldn't care. He was right as Conquest turned to Discord in acceptance of his presence.

Conquest lifted a black attaché case to Discord. Rolling his eyes, Discord plucked it from Conquest' grasp and dropped it on the table of his library before thumbing in the combination and popping the case open and removing the pages from inside. He flicked through them slowly, skimming the texts. As he did his expression grew steadily more and more bored.

"War insists," Conquest muttered. "This 'liberation front' on the southern borders is getting, as he puts 'bothersome.'"

"Which knowing the stubborn bull means that they're halfway to the gates," Discord grunted.

"I wouldn't know," Conquest shrugged. "Do you agree to the transition of soldiers from Tartarus to Equestria?"

"Do I have a choice?" Discord growled snapping his fingers and a black fountain pen appeared in his grasp and he quickly signed the document at its final page before shoving them back into Conquest' grasp. "Is that all you wanted?"

"This will suffice for now," Conquest confirmed, snapping his fingers and sending the papers to where Discord knew not. "We thank you for your cooperation Your Majesty."

"Just get out of here and back to your boss already," Discord snarled. This proved to finally get a reaction from Conquest. His eyes narrowed and he stepped up to Discord.

"Do not forget who holds the power here Discord," Conquest whispered, his voice practically burning with power. "You may rule Equestria but only for as long as my Master deems you are useful."

Despite himself, Discord took a quick step backwards. Conquest smiled at this, a black fire burning in his eyes and in a burst of white and black sparks, he disappeared. Discord shook himself and petted the sparks from his goatee and snarled.

There was a clatter from outside and a low curse before the door opened and a tan pegasus in silver armour stumbled inside.

"But, your Majesty," Flash Sentry stammered. "Her lessons aren't for another half an hour."

The door snapped shut behind him and Discord turned on his heel and stalked to the other side of his chambers, snatching up a fistful of darts from a metal tankard on a dining table and threw them steadily; one, two, three, four, five... he lost count. The darts transformed in mid air to become swords, knives, axes and rubber chickens as the hit the wall Discord had turned to; hitting the six framed portraits with a terrible 'thunk'. There subjects looked down at him in condescension.

Above the rest there was the portrait of Conquest, dressed in his full military regalia; dried blood caking the left side of his uniform. Below him to his left was a weedy, thin unicorn pony with thick, amber lensed goggles wearing a surgical mask. He looked sickly and weak, his bleached blonde mane coming away in great tufts, and his chalk white coat was dry and brittle. Pestilence.

On the other side of Pestilence there was a tough, buff looking Earth Pony with a clipped black mane and dark red fur. He was dressed like Conquest, in full military gear, but unlike Conquest his was shining; clean and pressed to a gleam, his red eyes burned with terrible power. War.

Below him there was a Pegasus pony. He was skeletal looking with a deep black coat and thick greasy black mane, slightly hiding his sunken bloodshot eyes. His lips were thin, cracked and dry, peeled back to reveal thin, black, pointed fangs. The labels of his ill fitting suit were stained with gravy, fine wine and various forms of offal and refuse that had fallen from his mouth whilst feasting. Famine.

The fifth portrait below Pestilence was of a hooded figure, turned away from the artist slightly. The black hood shielded his face, throwing him into shadows. Skeletal hands crept out from the sleeves of his black robe, the rest of his body hidden in the shadowy folds of flowing fabric. Silver light glowed from under the impenetrable darkness of his hood, bringing forth a cold and unforgiving aura. Death.

In the centre of all five of the others was a purple alicorn, with a well groomed black mane, neat magenta fur, and eyes of a blazing red power. Diaboles looked out at Discord, dressed in a crisp black suit and tie, his wings spread as if her were about to take flight, the sword Discord had thrown plunging directly into his heart.

Discord grunted and snapped his fingers. The various weapons he had projected to the faces of his so called superiors returned to being simple darts and reappeared back in their tankard on the table. Discord turned and readjusted his lapels to face his new guest and her company.

"Sentry," Discord growled, his yellow and red eyes fixing the young Flash to the spot. "You are dismissed."

"Yes sire," gulped the pegasus stallion, almost scurrying back to the door, under the cold gaze of his king and the critical gaze of the young mare who he had escorted inside.

She was tall and skinny. A unicorn as well. Her mane was tied in a tight bun at the back of her head; petunia in colour with a stripe of fuchsia and a stripe of dark magenta side by side each other as well, just over her left eye. Her coat was a light shade of lavender, though most of it was covered up by tight fitting dress trousers, white blouse and a formal business jacket of some material that at first glance appeared black, but upon closer inspection was in fact a deep, deep red. Her eyes were a deep lavender, half hidden behind her wire rimmed spectacles, but there was a cold intelligence in those eyes. Calculating, critical and decisive. Her Cutie Mark was what appeared to be a metal star with eight points, shaped like an ancient throwing star. It was inset with a red jewel like centre piece and in-between the points of the metal star were alternating white and red stars.

"Of course you're not," Twilight sighed. "Why not skip the foreplay every single time?"

"Okay, I get it," Twilight sighed. "You're not in the mood for sass. I get it." She paused. "So who was it today?"

Twilight 'hummed' in acknowledgement and examined the tankard of darts as Discord strode back to the large window that opened to the city of Stampede. She pulled five from where they rested with a delicate grasp and turned to face the portraits. Her horn glowed with a cruel purple light and she pulled a dart from her bunch. She gripped it tight before flinging it towards the portraits. This was followed by another and another until all five were in the air, each enveloped in the same purple glow. Just like before when Discord had thrown them, they transformed in mid air. However Twilight was more uniform than her master; the darts becoming obsidian daggers piercing the canvas right between the portraits' eyes.

Discord smiled slightly at the brutality that his prize pupil demonstrated. Ever since she had been a young filly he had known Twilight Sparkle would be gifted in the ways of magic. What he had not foreseen was how, growing up, she would become skilled in the ways of savagery. He had not seen such ruthless, sadistic efficiency in one pony in some time. He had taken great pleasure and moulding her into his perfect weapon. He clenched his fast in anticipation and smiled evil into his own reflection. One day soon, he was sure that Twilight Sparkle would be powerful enough to kill The Horsemen, Conquest and the King of Tartarus himself, Diabolus. And with Diabolus dead, Discord would be free. Free of this wretched act as a court jester. Free from having to rule this foolish ponies. Free to do whatever he wanted.

"How go the preparations for the Autumn Equinox?" Discord asked suddenly. Twilight snapped her fingers and a clipboard and quill jumped into her grasp from nowhere.

"The preparations are looking rather poor this year Sire," Twilight murmured despondently. "We've had reports from several small towns, Ponyville, Dodge Junction and Hollow Shades to name a few. Technical issues are apparently an issue which may causer the broadcast to shut off at any time. We've attempted to send technicians in to fix the issue but we've hit a few roadblocks."

"We mean the constituents yes," Twilight confirmed his unspoken question. "The residents seem unwilling to cooperate in the repairs and some of our tech boys seem to think sabotage was involved in the damage of the equipment in the first place."

"Are we still good to go in Manehatten and Fillydelphia?" Discord asked unperturbed.

"Then it doesn't matter about these smaller towns," Discord muttered blandly. He paused and glanced around him. "And the Tea Party?"

Twilight froze for a beat before continuing to scribble notes on the scroll before her. "I haven't heard from our guests in a few days sire. I don't think they're going to make it back in time for the equinox."

"We've heard plenty of them," Twilight grumbled. "They keep making a noise around the borders. The Engineer has apparently settled in Manehatten underground. The Strategist is lounging around Fillydelphia airspace but no one seems to be able to pin point her down though."

"Unknown sire. There are a few shivers down the grapevine that he's on the Man o' War."

"If he's on the Man o' War sire I highly doubt he's there for kicks. If he is he has a very strange way of getting them."

"Sire if you don't mind my asking why do you persist with the uninvited guests? If Project Dawn is as powerful as you claim it is then surely we don't need the Tea Party, let alone the help of the uninvited guests."

"Project Dawn is a long way from completion Twilight," Discord murmured. "Both of these allies will help us distract Diabolus from the preparations of Project Dawn. Once Dawn is ready we will obliterate Diabolus."

"And Equestria will be free," Twilight murmured wistfully. She paused. "It is a sobering thought. What will happen to us once Equestria is free from his grasp? We've been his puppets for so long... will we stand or will we collapse?"

Discord gave a derisive snort. "You've been reading those philosophy tomes again haven't you?"

Twilight kicked the ground at her feet and gave a small blush. "Sometimes it's hard to sleep. The things that you teach me... it feels like my mind is being split open sometimes and all my thoughts are leaking."

Discord tapped his arm. This was a problem he knew. Chaos magic had a habit of breaking the mind of those who tried to master it. He should know. His mind was completely splintered having been consumed by chaos magic since his conception. If Twilight continued to master Chaos magic at the rate she was there was a very real danger of her going insane. If philosophy helped keep Twilight's thoughts together he wasn't going to complain. The longer her mind was intact the more she could learn and the more she could learn the more powerful she could be. It was no shame for Discord to admit that right now, if Twilight wished, she could easily kill him. Which is why she knew nothing of how to apply her magic to the field of combat.

Discord jerked and turned slightly to look at Twilight. She was looking out over Stampede at his elbow, looking at the black city.

"How can anything be okay Twilight?" Discord sighed. "How can anything be okay knowing that that damned bastard is out there and potentially listening to every damned word I say?"

Cutie Mark Crusader Saviors of the World

by D101 Reviews

Interlude One: The King of Chaos