//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: The Journey Beyond // by Derpyditzydoobubbles //------------------------------// Riolu felt at the warm dirt ground under his paws as he and Spike trekked into town. The cool glow of the afternoon sun had rested upon their heads, although it caused Riolu to shiver a bit. "When did it get so cool all of a sudden?" Riolu questioned. "Probably something to do with the weather, I guess." Spike shrugged as he kicked at some dirt. "Weather? What weather? It's been sunny all the time here." Riolu chuckled. "Heh, yeah. That's what it usually is around here, though better than rain, right?" Spike chuckled back. "Eh, I guess so." Riolu shrugged. An awkward veil of silence fell upon the two as they continued walking into town, tough spike had enough courage to muster a peculiar statement: "You say that a good bit." Spike spoke. "I say what a good bit?" Riolu said. "I guess so. You tend to say it a good bit." Spike remarked. "Really now?," Riolu said with a raised eyebrow. "Speak for yourself! You just said it just a few moments ago as well." "True, but you tend to say it a lot of times. No offense, by the way." Spike said. "I do not say it a lot of times!," Riolu snapped. "And none taken…I guess." "Gotcha!" Spike chuckled. "…be quiet." Riolu sighed with a paw over his eyes. "Heh, sorry about that," Spike grinned cheekily. "You'll thank me once we make it to the…" Suddenly, Spike's face had rammed up against a glass door. Riolu smirked at the sight of Spike rubbing his nose after coming in contact with the door. "I can't believe you did not warn me about the door." Spike growled. "I can't believe that you did not see the door!" Riolu objected. "Touché." Spike said as he got up from where he laid and looked at the door. "Well, it looks like we are already here. Come on in, Riolu. You are going to love it in here." Spike smiled as he opened the door for Riolu. "I doubt it," Riolu mumbled as he walked in, catching a whiff of the damp atmosphere that was permeating the room. "It feels warm in here." "Yep! It's the fryers," Spike explained as he closed the door behind him. "It's a fast food place, so they heat things up really quickly through frying…" Suddenly, Spike stared silently at the front of the room. Riolu turned directed his head to where Spike was staring and laid eyes on the back of a slender creature with two different types of horns, a tail, and two different types of wings. "What is he doing here?" Spike whispered aloud. "You know that guy?" Riolu asked as he pointed at the creature. "Shh! Keep your voice down. Now, let's just walk up to the front, ask for our food, and pretend that he is not there, okay?" Spike whispered quickly. "Okay then! Don't sass me." Riolu snapped back in a whisper. "…did you really just say what I think you just said?" Spike sighed. "Spike? Is that you?!" A voice spoke from the front of the room. "Oh no. Too late!" Spike groaned as he looked up at the red eyes of the creature. "It seems you have brought a friend here. Come over and introduce me to him!" The creature smiled. "Get ready." Spike whispered to Riolu as they padded slowly to the front of the room. Riolu looked on in curiosity as he and Spike approached the creature. The creature had seemed quite bizarre, as well as having disproportionate eye pupils. His grin was cheeky, but the white-tipped beard at the end of his chin had made it seem as more of a light-hearted, cunning smile. "Greetings, little one," The creature had spoked as Riolu came face to face with him. "My name is Discord. I am known as the master of chaos! I am available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for any occasion. Parties, weddings, graduations, and the occasional event where a certain princess I know of tries to raise the sun. If you ever need any help, come and find me. I'll make sure that your problems will get even worse. Now, what about you?" Riolu stared at Discord with a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Uh, I'm not sure how to respond to that. My name is Riolu, I will tell you that. I am what you would call a Pokemon." Riolu answered. "Pokemon? What an intriguing name. I do believe that I have experienced something that had something to do with something similar to that." Discord contemplated as he held up a magnifying glass up to Riolu's face. "Hey! Where did that come from?! Get it out of my face!" Riolu demanded as he pushed the magnifying glass away. "Well! How rude! Spike, I can not believe you are letting him do this to me." Discord huffed as he stared at Spike. "I think it would be best if you left us alone, Discord." Spike said boldly. "Well! How rude! Again! I think I'll just be on my way then! Cashier, where is my food?!" Discord questioned as he directed his attention to a pony behind a counter. "It has been right in front of you for the past five minutes!" The pony replied as she showed Discord a large bag of popcorn. "Oh, my apologies, miss. I must have been daydreaming. I shall be on my way then," Discord grinned as he picked up the popcorn and headed for the door. "Bye bye, everypony! Until we meet again! Especially you,…Riolu." "What a weirdo," Riolu stated as he watched Discord head out of the restaurant. "What was he going to do with that large bucket of popcorn anyway?" "Beats me. Let's just order our food and get back to Twilight." Spike spoke as he neared the cashier. "What can I get you?" The cashier pony replied. "Six hayburgers to go, please." Spike smiled as he placed six bits on the counter. "Thank you!" The cashier pony smiled as she grabbed the bits, placed them in the register, and galloped into the kitchen shouting: "Okay, I'm gonna need six hayburgers to go!" "You sure we can eat that much?" Riolu questioned. "Of course we can! It'll be two for each," Spike replied as he turned around to face Riolu. "Two for you, two for me, and two for…discord." Riolu suddenly turned his head around in confusion and looked out the window to see a dragon-like tail vanish suddenly from site. "What was he doing?" Riolu questioned. "I'm sure that it's not something good." Spike sighed. "Here you fellas are! Six hayburgers. Enjoy!" The cashier pony spoke as she placed a bag on the counter. "Thank you, miss!," Spike grinned as he turned around and grabbed the bag. "Come on, Riolu. Let's head out!" Suddenly, Riolu had taken off from where he stood and raced toward the exit. He pushed the doors open with great vigor and looked down the street to find any remain of Discord. All there was left was just a few popcorn kernels in the place Riolu had seen part of his tail. "Whoa! Slow down, Riolu!," Spike shouted as he opened the doors to the restaurant and ran outside with the bag in his left arm. "What was the point in all that?" "I was just trying to see if I Discord was still lurking around. He really did creep me out with what he said." Riolu breathed heavily. "You're getting all worked up over nothing. He just says stuff like that so he can get on your nerves. Come on, we need to get home before Twilight gets worried." Spike said as he lead the way back home. "You're probably right, Spike." Riolu mumbled as he followed him back home. Riolu turned his head back as he was walking to get a good look at the restaurant that was now behind him. It seemed pretty calm now, though there was something wrong. Riolu squinted his eyes a bit to get a closer look, and noticed something glimmering in the sun on top of the roof. It had looked like it was pile of popcorn kernels.