//------------------------------// // [Archive] Chapter II - The Master // Story: Discord! Under His Rule // by Takarashi282 //------------------------------// Chapter II The Master As they neared the wall, the guards straightened up, staring at them as they came closer. “Halt,” said one, stepping forth in the red light of the sunset. The color reflected off of bronze armour that fit tightly around his barrel, bearing a symbol in the shape of a golden sun at his collar. His helm was bronze as well, making a double-arched shape over his eyes, a sky blue crest standing up on edge. “Who goes there?” Princess Celestia stepped forth. “I am Princess Celestia of the Castle of the Two Sisters.” She turned to the side and pointed to Luna and him. “I have brought the company of my sister, Princess Luna…” Luna curtseyed. “... and a colt she insisted we bring with us.” The two guards briefly exchanged looks, and the other shook his head. The guard stepped to look over Princess Celestia's shoulder. “You there, come forward.” In a stupor of thought, he realized they were talking to him. Hesitantly, he obliged, walking up curiously to being addressed. “You have quite the build there,” the guard remarked, scanning his eyes all over his body. “Not the usual bulk we see on normal servants. What is your name?” Again, his mind went blank. He crossed his forelegs and studied the grass, knitting his eyebrows. I’ve had hours to recover, he thought. How in the world do I still not know my own name? “His name is Angel.” Luna hesitated after the brief statement, the guards shooting an eyebrow at her. “Angel Down. All I know about him is that he’s a villager that lives near the castle.” The guard lifted an eyebrow. “Angel Down, eh? In a village majorly populated with zebras?” He looked toward Princess Celestia. Hesitantly, he stepped aside. “You are free to enter.” Mumbling small thank you’s, they continued into the village. But even though his attention should’ve been forward, he heard the guards talking amongst themselves. “That one’s build… it’s not common for a peasant to be so fit,” said one guard. “I know,” said the other. “Should we warn Her Royal Highness? That one may be a mercenary.” “We should. But I’m wary of this Princess Celestia. Could it be possible that he finally did it?” “Star Swirl, yes? I’m not sure. The old man is getting quite senile these days, after all. Why would we trust him in passing down that much power to a former student of his?” “We don’t. He will still do it. But… I’ve heard her name elsewhere… I swear it.” While distracted by these comments, he didn’t notice that he’d run into Princess Celestia’s rear. Without blinking an eye at him, she said, “You watch where you’re going, colt.” He jumped back a couple feet, in the air a couple more. He spilled out apology after pathetic apology, until the Princess seemed satisfied, and then they moved on. The meager buildings continued in rows on either side of them, some serving, as he’d notice, as shopping centers for essential food items, like hay, wheat, and barley. Of course, these centers were nothing compared to what was farther north. There, at the edge of the paved road were the stone-walled buildings, standing majestically above the crowd of ones of sticks and fiber. They were flat-topped regardless of their position on a mountain, and as they walked past them, a satisfying warmth embraced the company. By now, the moon had risen only quarters above the horizon, spilling its cool light on the mountain they found themselves on. He didn’t realize he was staring at the peak’s new, blue outline until Princess Luna bumped him. “My sister and I have agreed to have you meet our master, at the very least,” she told him. “He’s there, at that pub just across from us.” She pointed to a small building. Unlike the other stone-clad buildings, this one was a log cabin, with boisterous noise booming from it. A sign sat above the door frame, but because of the shadow of the mountain, he couldn’t discern what it said. Princess Celestia was already poking her head in the door frame, glowing yellow light illuminating her face with an odd glow. When she stepped in, he and Princess Luna followed. When he walked in, the room seemed to explode in chatter. Mares and colts alike were lightening up the night for themselves, talking about anything from work, to pastime and spouses. The air smelled thickly of alcohol and sweat, with a hint of the drink’s flavor in the air. As he looked around, the pub seemed smaller than it was on the outside, ponies packed nearly barrel to barrel in between tables and chairs made of red oak. Princess Celestia walked to one specifically, where sat an old timer, mug of bubbling cider in his hoof, promising a drink to whoever won the hoof wrestle in the excited group beside him. His coat was white, though greying around his underbelly. From his chin grew a long and sweeping beard, grey with age, his mane more or less the same, his green eyes glowing with the excitement of a child on Hearth Warming’s Eve. Beside him on the table was a coned hat, blue with gleaming yellow and white stars. When he saw Princess Celestia, his eyes managed to grow two times as wide, a ridiculously broad smile beaming from his face. “Well!” he proclaimed. “If it isn’t my noble student!” He had a slight slur in his words, his voice deep. His eyes met Luna, and he bobbed his head. “Students,” he mumbled. “Are you here to have a drink with your old teacher?” “No, Star Swirl,” Princess Celestia declined. “We have somber matter to speak about.” Star Swirl expression turned slightly glum. “Really?” he said, disappointment evident in his voice. “What wonderful timing…” That was when his eyes met Angel Down’s. He narrowed his eyes. “My, you do have quite the taste for young colts, Princess.” Through a slight snicker from Princess Luna, Celestia rolled her eyes. “Trust me, he isn’t a mate.” She nodded toward Angel Down. “We were going to drop him off here, as a matter of fact.” Not taking his eyes off of Angel Down, he slowly nodded. “All right. So, why, may I ask, was he following you?” Princess Celestia propped down and took a seat in front of the small table. “T’wasn’t my call. Luna insisted that we bring him along with us.” There was a slight hint of irritation in her voice. “Said she felt some sort of power from him. We were fleeing from scouts when she decided to take him along with us, unconscious, through the Everfree Forest.” Star Swirl was in the middle of drinking a large gulp from his mug, and hesitated. He slowly let it down, the metal base clinking against the table top. “And what was the cause of all this excitement, if I may ask?” “The invasion of a draconequus,” Princess Celestia answered. Star Swirl’s face went slack. “Draconequus…” He brought his voice down to a whisper. “But we’ve done away with them, thousands of years ago… how in the world…” Princess Celestia nodded gravely. “He called himself Discord. The last of his kind.” She shook her head. “His power is something to be reckoned with… damn the beast.” Star Swirl nodded. “Yes. It is very much to be reckoned with.” He looked longingly at the mug of alcohol in front of him, but instead of grabbing its handle, he pushed it aside. “It takes a lot of power to overcome what the Magi have made.” Princess Celestia leaned onto the table, which creaked beneath her weight. “So, what do you propose we do? I’ve tried everything I could, but nothing could affect him. Surely, with all of your knowledge, you must know how to overcome him.” Star Swirl tapped the table with his hoof. “At one time, yes, Princess, I could. But that required the assistance of the other five Magi, no more, no less. Since that time, half of our company have passed, seeking after mortal mates. One of them was your caretaker, if you recall.” “You needn’t bring back that memory,” Princess Celestia grunted. “I don’t,” Star Swirl admitted, shrugging. “The point is, though, we do not possess the power to overthrow that of a draconequus.” The ponies in the establishment drew to a hush. Half the room was looking at them, leaning in close to hear the conversation. Star Swirl sighed, carrying his head in a hoof. “And if you all thing the ramblings of an old, senile colt are more interesting than the beer in your mugs, you’re sorely mistaken.” His voice wasn’t a yell, but it filled the room, even resonating off of the absorbent wood a couple times before the room returned to its own business once more. Princess Celestia became stiff. “So we should just let him do as he pleases?” she grunted. “Ruining our home, possibly spreading his reaches further as we dilly-dally in the muck?” “Yes,” Star Swirl said. “I ask you to do that. If there’s one thing I must tell you, it is that your enemy is an enemy of cunning. Not only does he rely on power.” He tapped the side of his head. “He relies on wit as well. Such is the nature of draconequus. If you go in with a thick skull, he will easily manipulate you, turn you into one of his toys for his own sadistic sake. I will not have one of my students or both of them become his puppets.” Angel looked back at Princess Celestia. She was shaking with rage, as if her head would pop right off her shoulders. But a moment later, the shaking subsided and she began to relax, her breathing audible from where he was standing. “I refuse to be idle while my home is turned to a pin under his rule,” she said. “If I can help it, it won’t be any longer.” Star Swirl sighed, looking back at the mug, and scooted it in front of his chest. “Make sure you gather some supplies,” he said. “Go to the stewardess. She will assist you on your journey.” Princess Celestia stood and pushed Angel aside. “Come, Luna,” she ordered. “We must be off.” Princess Luna stared at her as she walked past. “But…” “Now.” Princess Luna sighed and turned to follow her, and all Angel could do was watch. He felt he should thank them, but at the same time, he didn’t want to stall them. So he was idle, watching as Princess Luna’s tail flicked out of the doorway into the reddish orange of sundown. “There was something she wasn’t telling me.” Star Swirl said behind him, his voice muffled behind the mug. He took two huge gulps by the time Angel turned around. “Do you know, perchance?” Angel was surprised that he was willing to talk to him. The fact that he was the Princess’ teacher bestowed what seemed to be a higher power than even they. “Um… yeah.” “She was followed, was she?” Angel, though slightly puzzled by his accuracy, nodded slowly. “Of course,” Star Swirl grunted wearily. “She never tells me those things.” He caught Angel in his sight, the link of his gaze unbreakable. “Tell me, young lad, what is your name?” Angel shrugged. “Princess Luna called me Angel Down out of necessity at the gates. As for my true name, I’m not sure.” “Ah, so you cannot remember anything, I presume.” Angel shook his head. “Not a thing, sir.” “Good.” Star Swirl managed a smile. “You’re lucky you don’t have it.” Angel cocked his head. “... Sir?” “Trust me, Angel Down, you don’t want to know how horrible Celestia has been in ruling over the Everfree Forest.” Star Swirl frowned. “Sometimes I forget why I made her a princess in the first place. Her parents are more qualified in all honesty, but they’ve got two worlds to handle.” He shook his head. “But you must not be left behind.” Angel took a step back. “Sir!” Star Swirl put his hoof up to silence him. “You have a power about you, Angel Down, a power uncommon among unicorns like you. They will need you, though Celestia will say otherwise.” Angel hesitated. He knew without a doubt that trying to rejoin their company would be suicide. He’s the princesses’ teacher, he thought. Have I even authority to turn down his request?  He took a deep breath. “What shall I do, then, if they won’t have me?” He stared into Star Swirl’s eyes, and they stared back into his. The seemed to spark with electricity; though his body was feeble and his mind intoxicated, his eyes were unmovable, his gaze a force to be reckoned with. Then Star Swirl shrugged. “Princess Luna seemed to have interest in you.” Suddenly, in a small moment of bewilderment, a boom of voices came from outside, followed by clanks of armour and stampeding clops. They came through the doorway, clad in the same bronze apparel as the gatekeepers, the one in the front yelling, “Where is the one called Celestia?” When the light of the pub caught the front one’s face, Angel’s eyes widened while front one’s squinted. “You…” he recognized. “You were with them.” Angel couldn’t move. The sheer number of them pouring through the door of the now silent pub diminished his hope by every pony. In a stupor of thought, he reared back. “Now, now, my friends…” Star Swirl stood from the table, swaying slightly as the alcohol found its way through his system. “This fine young stallion here is no threat to you.” At that moment, the army of guards went silent, and started muttering amongst themselves, “Is that Star Swirl?” and “The old loon?” Star Swirl smiled and turned toward Angel, his more or less affable expression matchless to the intensity of his eyes. “He just needs to run.” Still in a stupor, Angel glanced at Star Swirl blankly. “What…?” Star Swirl rolled his eyes and sat again, picking up his beer mug once more. “Go, you idiot,” he mumbled. After hearing this, Angel let out a nervous laugh. Then without thinking he tossed the chair that Celestia had sat in. It collided with the front one’s face. Blood and spit flew. The chair had crashed against the opposite wall when Angel leaped into a dead sprint. He held his breath and threw himself out the nearest window, taking customer’s beverages with him as the window broke around him. His vision caved in and his head spun, blindly running to whatever cover he could find.