//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11--Meanwhile 
// Story: The Forgotten Sisters 
// by Flaming Pulsar 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 11--Meanwhile

Back in Canterlot, the remaining royals were gathered after their dinner to discuss Starswirl’s findings regarding the Stones of Power.
        “Starswirl, would you please share with us the reason that we have gathered today?” Temporus said when the family had gathered in the war room.
        “Of course,” Starswirl replied. “As you all know, I have been meticulously researching the Stones of Power, the very same items that we have sent Clover, Floriana, Animia, and Flagra to search for. Before I began my research, we already knew that these Stones were the only things that could vanquish a creature touch by Discord’s evil, mind-altering magic. Since then, I have found that there are in fact six Stones that make up the group. Each of these Stones represent a power that when combined with the others creates an unstoppable force. Let us just hope that Tirek is not an immovable wall.”
        “Daddy, don’t forget to tell them about Discord,” the young Flagra piped up as she made her presence known.
        “I was just getting to that, dear. From my readings, I have found rumors that it was Discord himself who created these Stones and it can only be assumed that he would also have the power to destroy them.”
        “But why would Discord create a weapon that could be used against him?” Celestia asked.
        “Your guess is as good as mine, he’s madder than a hatter. But the point still stands that should our search party find all of the Stones, we must do everything in our power to prevent Discord from destroying them. And that’s another thing, I’m not so sure they will be able to find all of the Stones.”
        “What do you mean?” Temporus asked.
        “No one has ever been able to find all six, only the first five. The sixth Stone always appears in an unusual way once the other five are obtained. It’s always something different each time. The most detailed description of the appearance of the sixth Stone said that a creature appeared bearing the skins of many others and presented the sixth Stone to the locator of the other five.”
        “‘A creature bearing the skins of many others?’ Sounds like a description of Discord,” Luna said.
        “My thoughts exactly.”
        “So Discord is responsible for giving the final Stone to the locators of the other five?” Galaxis asked.
        “So it would seem. Which only creates more questions.”
        “Yeah, like how are we going to get that sixth Stone?” Sapphire said.
        “The only way I can think of is to find Discord and request the sixth Stone from him.”
        “And if he refuses?” Temporus asked.
        “I don’t think he will. I’ve done a little research on Discord himself and I’ve found that he wants the creatures of his touch extinguished as well.”
        “Why would he want his army destroyed?” Celestia asked.
        “Another good question. The simple answer is that I don’t know and I doubt I ever will. All I know is that in all likelihood he will give us the sixth Stone, we just need to find him.”
“Did you find any more useful intel?” Temporus asked.
“That is all for now.”
“Then this meeting is adjourned. Thank you Starswirl.”
Everyone began to get up and return to their respective duties. As Starswirl returned to his tower with his wife and child beside him, he suddenly stopped and looked out the window.
“What is it Swirly?” Sapphire asked.
        “Nothing, I just thought I saw...something. Come on, it’s getting late.”
        They continued to their tower and put Flagra to bed before retiring to their own room. As Sapphire got into the bed, she looked at her husband. “Are you coming to bed, dear?”
        “In a bit, I think I’ll do a little more research first.”
        “You’ve been doing nothing but research for the past three months, you need to take a break. Your daughter needs her daddy and I need my loving husband.”
        “I promise, I’ll take a week off starting tomorrow, just let me have tonight.”
        “Fine, but you better not do any research the entire week.”
        “Deal.” As Sapphire went to bed, Starswirl went to his study to continue his research. But when he arrived, he found something he wasn’t expecting.
        “Hello, Starswirl the Bearded,” a voice from the shadows said.
        “Who’s there? Who are you?”
        “Would you believe that I’m you from the future?”
        “Likely story. Show yourself.” The body that the voice belonged to stepped out from the shadows to reveal that he was in fact-- “Discord!”
        “Ah, so you know who I am. Actually I already knew that you know about me. In fact, that’s why I’m here.”
        “What do you mean?”
        “You’ve been doing an awful lot of research lately.” The creature said as he picked up Starswirl’s research journal and started reading it. “Discord created the Stones. The sixth Stone never found. Discord wants his creations exterminated. You sure know how to find some useful info. A little too well if you ask me.”
        “I also know that your appearance is never for nothing so why are you here?”
        “Right to business, I like that. You see, I don’t much like the amount of research you’ve been doing about me. No one should ever know too much about me, that knowledge could be hazardous to their health. So let’s make a deal, if you put down the books, I’ll leave your family alone.”
        “You wouldn’t dare hurt my wife or daughter.”
        “Oh wouldn’t I? You know what I’m capable of so you know very well that I could easily corrupt their minds without you even knowing. I could even kill them and be long gone before you even found their bodies. Luckily for you, I won’t do this. At least, not to your daughter. She happens to play an important role in the existence of a powerful pawn in the future.”
        “How do you know what the future holds?”
        “Oh, I know much more than you might think. I can read the minds of any of you simple creatures and for the ones I miss, I have several spies to make up for that. But of course I don’t usually miss many. As for the future, I happen to know exactly how everything will play out down to the second, which makes killing me all that harder.”
        “What about the Stones of Power?”
        “What about them? I created them, I can destroy them. Besides, even if I let them remain in existence, the sixth Stone can only be obtained through me.”
        “Then why haven’t you destroyed them already?”
        “I have no need to. If they’re used against me, they’ll only turn me to stone but that won’t kill me. The only way to kill me is to extinguish all sentience on the planet. And that’s harder than it might sound, trust me I’ve tried. I know only that my death will come to pass but not in your lifetime and the Stones will play an essential role in killing me.”
        “You said you’ve tried to kill all sentient life. Why would you do that if you knew that doing so would kill you?”
        “I’ve been around for longer than you can imagine, something like 6 billion years or so. In that time, I’ve tried to entertain myself by messing with all the mortals that have had the honor of existence but in all that time I’ve grown bored, weary, old, lazy even. I’m tired of living so I want to die.”
        “So give me the sixth Stone and with it and the others we can end you.”
        “I’m afraid it’s not so easy. You see, I know that the Stones play a crucial role but I don’t know how that role is played. Don’t worry, you’ll get the sixth Stone in due time, or at least, someone will. But right now, I need you to stop your research unless you want your good ol’ wifey to be out of the picture.”
        “Don’t you hurt her!”
        “Oh I won’t, but you must never pick up another book about me ever again. Of course I already know the decision you’re going to make so I’ll just take my leave and carry out the next step in my master plan.” And without another word, he vanished leaving Starswirl to wonder what Discord assumed his decision would be.