"Here's a gift for you, Lily." My black aura surrounds her head, immediately causing her to scream out while her violet pools shrink to pinpricks, her stiffened body collapses in a cloud of dust. Once the spell is cast I turn to face the two remaining ponies, now prepared to fight the inevitable. As I get closer a smirk decorates my muzzle, my blade flashing as it spins towards the stallions.
As the flying scythe makes it’s way to the pair a flash appears just before it hits, revealing a door suspended in midair. A trio of fishing lines shootout, hooking and dragging the three away behind the open door. "NOOOOO! DISCORD! BRING THEM BACK!" Angrily I fire off a rapid trio of black bolts, screaming in rage as they bounce off the door as it closes. Enraged I destroy the carts left behind, but it is not enough to sooth the growing anger. How dare she! How dare she send him after I told her not to!
"My my, somepony needs to cool down some." Everything freezes over as another flash appears, my hooves trapped in ice while the shadows dissipate and I get my first look at the entity who interrupted me, a snort of disgust and anger flying from my nose.
‘You need to calm down. Fighting him while this enraged will not go well for you.’ Despite the voice’s advice, I let out a frustrated scream as I fire off multiple blasts towards the Draconequus.
"I WARNED CELESTIA! I TOLD HER NOT TO LET YOU GET INVOLVED!" With a scream I let my rage go, firing a quartet of bolts at the Master of Chaos, unfortunately none land.
"Ohohohoho she didn't agree to those terms. And even if Celly, did it was only for the meeting set at her and Lulu's old palace. Didn't anypony teach you not to kill and torment those who show you kindness?" Standing in front of me is Discord himself, two of his claws pinching my horn.
"Even if I were to accept that explanation, which I don't, who is going to stop me from holding up my promise? And as for those three, why shouldn't I have ended their miserable existence? Just because they shown me.... kindness? Ha!" At this point I notice I'm encased in a bubble of anti magic. "Release me NOW you pathetic shell of your former self."
"Oh, thats exactly why I'm here my dear Moon, or should I say Moonshade, to keep the body count and terror to zero." Discord explains while dangling in front of my face, taking the spot my horn used to be.
As he says the word Moonshade a million images flood my mind, but where they came from I have no idea. In one instant, I’m in what looks to be a classroom where a light pink filly, who looks almost exactly like Lily, is sitting and offering her hoof to me with a smile. Suddenly the image reels to one where I am standing between both Luna and Celestia, their lips moving but I can’t hear what they are saying. A third image begins to play, but is quickly stopped by the presence inside of me. ‘Enough, don’t fall for his trap, Moon. Those were false images he tried to ensnare you with.’
Thank you. My attention returns to the miserable creatures in front of me, who seem oblivious to the spell Discord tried to put me under as he continues his speech. “I am also here to show you the value of friendship, as ordered by her highness Cakelestia.”
"Why should they be valued? it's only a sign of weakness from lower lifeforms, like you." I interrupt his laughing spree, not catching what he finds funny in all of this. “And what did you hope to gain by trying the enchant my mind with false memories? Why did you call me Moonshade? Why did Luna call me Moonshade? That is not my name!”
“Wait, you called her Moonshade. Is that her real name?” Lily asks in confusion as she looks at Discord, her head cocked slightly.
He disappears again, only to shrink and walk into my ear, his voice echoing through my head. "Well then little Moon, consider me to be your teacher. This is the only way Tia and Lulu will accept your request to meet privately." With a frustrated shout and roar I admit for the time being defeated, though a part of my mind is already going through my knowledge of Discord, specifically his weaknesses. "Now for your first lesson, I think there are a trio of ponies you need to apologize to." With a snap of his claws the door reopens with a very shaken Lily, Almond and Sunstreak on the other side. All three are shaking and near the point of passing out. Their terror, specially Lily's, sweeps over and through me, a shiver of anxiety courses through my veins as Discord ends his spell, giving me the opening I need. “And as for the ‘false’ memories you claim I forced on you, I am not capable of those kind of spells.”
A pair of shadows sharpen and fly towards the two stallions. However, before they hit the tips burst into an arrangement of flowers. "Now now Moony, that isn't what we just discussed." Releasing another frustrated snort I turn and advance towards the city, quickly realizing I'm walking but not going anywhere.
"Fine, what does a pony say when they apologize, Discord."
"Oh, I'll tell you, when you're ready to actually mean it." He steps in front of me with a grin while lifting my lips into a strange position. As he finishes I lean forward till I’m face to face with him, speaking as menacingly as I can.
"Enjoy this as much as you can weakling, cause soon you will be just another body feeding its blood into the night and the shadows." With a shove to get him out of my away I continue, leaving the four behind, or at least I try to as again I’m just walking in place. Despite how quietly she asks, I can still make out Lily's question, her voice wavering in fear as if she doesn't really wish to ask, but has to know to the answer.
"D… Discord, Wh… why is she so… evil? And why do we… why do we have to... travel with her?"
As Discord answers he disappears, only to shrink and reappear on top of her head, eliciting an eep and shiver from her. "That sweet Bily Lossom is a mystery, even to the princesses. As for your second question, I have been tasked to try and reform our little sour puss."
"What does that have to do with us then?" Pipes up Sunstreak, Discord's magic yet again stopping me from getting too far from him. The trio are obviously shaken as they go through the remains of their belongings.
"Yea, we don't feel very safe traveling with that demon." As I listen to them speak, my rage only begins to grow as I begin to cast another spell, targeting Discord first.
"Oh my, somepony is getting very frustrated I see, which is why we shall play a little game." Discord cuts off my spell by pinching the tip of my hair, breaking my concentration. Quickly I twist my head in an attempt to sink my fangs into the closest target, his arm. Instead of my fangs digging into his flesh they instead dig into something sticky, trapping my mouth closed.
‘You should have listened to me, then this foal would be dead at our feet along with the two stallions and Lily would be our slave as well. But no, you just had to lose your composure.’
Shut up, I don’t want to hear it. If you are so smart why don’t you figure out a way to get us out of this mess, huh?
‘Too late, he has us trapped already, no thanks to you. You will have to find it for us. I had faith in you, my daughter. You were showing great promise, but you had to throw it away because you could not control your anger.’
"I'm not in the mood to play." Rage colors my voice heavily as I retort, glaring daggers at my soon to be ex- tormentor, who just laughs at me. Once he gets close enough I rear back and try to shove my horn straight into his heart as my hooves aim for his mismatched feet.
"You need to get into the spirit of things, Gloomy, if you wish to regain your freedom." As he speaks, chains flash into view attached to very brightly colored collars and cuffs around my horn, neck, body and legs. Each one obviously intended to restrict my magic and obviously my movements as well. "For each act of kindness and friendliness you perform and mean a chain will slowly dissolve, vanishing completely after five acts." He explains, 3D glasses covering his eyes as a bowl of popcorn appears. "Now then my little ponies, shall we head into town?" With a chuckle he starts to float in that direction, the chains pulling me along. "Why don't you go and try to talk to them? Who knows, you might enjoy it." Discord says, his head level with mine as it's completely severed from his still walking body.
‘Something’s wrong. I feel… weak---’ I barely notice how weak sounding the voice is before it trails off. Not giving it much thought I assume it has something to do with Discord’s presence or something he has done to me, either way it still stokes my growing rage to ever higher reaches.
"No, I don't need nor want to make 'friends'! I know this isn't the real spirit of chaos, just his shell speaking like this." An annoyed snort and flick of my tail as we walk down the road is again directed at my unwanted traveling companions. Even in my angered state I can tell something is slightly off, my muscles feel weakened as every step feels hard, even my coordination is off just a little.
"Four rooms please, my good colt." Discord drops a large bag of bits on the counter as he step inside. The cheery decor nearly making me vomit. The desk looks is made of highly polished, dark wood as the pony behind it looks old, his blue coat dulled along with his green and yellow mane. His demeanor is friendly, though it wavers as he notices my glare.
"Wait? What?" Lily, Sunstreak and Almond shout in surprise.
"There's five of us, who's rooming together?" The two males ask in unison.
"Why sweet Biby and sour Moody of course." At his announcement Lily nearly collapses, again, as I glare at him.
"I won't be needing a room." The trio of ponies just stare at me in a mix of shock and fear.
"Wh… what do you mean you… you won't be… needing a room?" A fresh surge of fear races through Lily as her panic spikes even higher, her eyes shaking as they shrink to almost nothing.
"I don't have to... OW, HEY!" Discord interrupts with a quick kick in my flank, his disembodied goat leg hopping back towards him. After a few minutes of us staring at each other I growl at his attempt to try a frightening gaze on me. "I have a hard time sleeping, so I might be awake all night. There are you happy?" I direct the last bit to Discord, dodging as he tries to land another kick on my flank. "You might as well call it quits. But hey at least you could tell them you tried." Angrily I stomp up to the room, my tail swatting at anything close to it, hard enough to knock over a couple items.
"Here you go, Biby. All you have to do is yank or squeeze the chains if she starts to get out of line or becomes too scary." She takes the chains hesitantly from Discord. My own bloody gaze glittering a little as we step inside. The room is just as nauseating as the reception area. Another thing I notice is that the room only has one bed, a door semi-open to reveal the bathroom and a sliding door leading to an outdoor patio.
"We… well i… if you can't sleep how... how about we… talk?"
"If you want to, fine, don't let me stop you." Huffing I step out onto the balcony, my gaze lifting up to the full, silvery moon and the countless stars in the black sky as my tail twitches in irritation. Sighing I watch it intently, trying to ignore Lily's words which seem to be getting a bit calmer.
"I'm… I'm from Applewood originally. My parents moved to Trottingham when I was just a filly. Where... Where are you from?" After ten minutes of silence she gives the invisible chains a slight tug, jerking me a little and forcing me to scowl, which earns a sharper and more daring jerk. "It… it's not nice to ignore ponies who are speaking to you, you know that right?" With an annoyed sigh I finally answer.
"I have no idea where I'm from and who my parents are. In fact I don't remember anything about my past. There, that's what you wanted to know right? Now leave me alone." The lie comes easily enough as I stand up. Before I can return to my spot on the balcony Lily approaches, trembling with each step until she stops right next to me.
"I won't lie, you... you do frighten me, Moon, if that really is your name. But now, now I'm starting to... pity you. You've been alone for your whole life, haven't you? You've never been shown nor given any kind of love, have you?" As I sit there silently a pair of forehooves wrap around my neck unexpectedly, making me jump and snarl at the contact, which causes her to squeeze tighter, her muzzle pressing into my shoulder and neck. “I don’t know much about you yet, but please, whatever has made you this way, you need to release it. No pony should be living their life in anger and hate.”
"Whatever, get off of me, now." As I speak I try to break from her hold by twisting my body, or at least get her to loosen her grip some so I can slide away.
"No." Her hooves seem to squeeze me a bit tighter, and I find it is getting a little harder to breathe.
“GET… OFF... ME!” Even as I find it a little harder to get my bearings I manage to get my rear hooves under Lily’s belly and pushes her, or at least try to. I… why am I feeling so… weak. I know Lily can’t weigh that much, must be because she is an earth pony and has more muscle than me.
“NO! NOW CALM DOWN!” I can’t… she’s stronger than I thought, and not as cowardly either. However, I think showing her who I truly am will be enough to get this stupid mare to let go.
"Get off me, or you won’t live to see the sunrise by that false ruler, Celestia.” My snarl and glare forces her to back up a little in fright. As she backs away I bare my fangs while threateningly approaching her, my horn lowered as to make like I’m going to spear her in the chest.
Fortunately, in her fear she forgot about the controlling chains she is charge of, but as I get closer I notice something is wrong, the presence I’m so used to feeling in my mind has disappeared. What happened, where are you? Wait, why didn’t I… why… I don’t… what is… what is... happ… en… ing. The room turns into a swirling of blurred images, the sensation of hitting the floor barely registering before I pass out.