//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Four // Story: Agent of Chaos // by Li_Time //------------------------------// Chapter Twenty-Four Discord “Stand back,” I told everypony after I opened the door to show a black void beyond it. “This is a barrier.” “A barrier?” Twilight asked. “Yes,” I said. “Try and step through and you’ll find yourself in the Outside.” “Perfect,” Molly said. “So, what are you going to do?” “Break it down,” I said and I lifted the cane. I took a deep breath and struck the barrier. Normally, it would just pass through and go to the Outside; but instead, it had power in it and started to break down the barrier. Only it didn’t break right away. I had to strike it several times before it started to fall apart. The drawback was that I was using up the power I had regained during the night. I growled at the thing as I kept striking it. I could see the fractures forming in the barrier. I took several deep breaths as I continued to hit it. “Discord,” I heard Fluttershy say as she approached me. “Are you aright?” I looked over at her. “Ya. It’s just taking more than what I thought it would.” She put a hand on my arm and I gave her a soft, reassuring smile. Even though she now looked like a vampire bat, she was still my Fluttershy. My Fluttershy. Mine. I looked back at the barrier as I pushed my power through the cane. I let out a loud cry and struck the barrier with the cane again. Cracks spread out from the impact point across the barrier, the walls, and the windows. I looked around at the cracks, thinking that I may have overdid it. Then, it shattered to a million pieces, the fragments flying everywhere and flickering from excisitant. The walls and windows remained, undamaged. The barrier was gone. Standing on the porch outside was Dresden and a short woman with bushy blond hair and a button nose. She didn’t look tough at all, but if I knew better, she could probably kick some ass. “The hell was that?” Dresden asked at once. “A barrier,” I said. “No shit, Sherlock,” he said. I saw his eyes look at each of the girls and me. “Didn’t know we were suppose to dress up already. You do realize Halloween’s later tonight, right?” I frowned as I noticed the sky beyond him. I walked out onto the porch and pushed passed him. “How about right now?” I asked him. The sky had turned green and a blood red full moon hung in the sky. “Hell’s bells,” I heard Dresden breath beside me. “It wasn’t like that a moment ago.” “Chaogent is getting stronger,” I said. “He’s affected everypony else. And now he’s changing your world.” “Every pony in the cars,” Dresden said. “We’re going to the park.” “I don’t think having a picnic at a time like this is very wise, dear,” Rarity said. I looked back at her to see that she had tied a bonnet over her head to cover the still growing bump on her head. “Nope,” Dresden said. “It’s time to go face Chaogent.” He frowned as he spotted Applejack. “You might want to stay. One good hit and you might break into a thousand pieces.” “Ya think I’d go through all the trouble to come out here and find my friends just to be left behind?” she asked, holding onto man Rainbow. “No sirry. I’m goin’ too.” “Harry,” Thomas said, and he gestured at Pinkie. “How are we getting Pinkie there?” “She’s small enough to fit in the back of the hummer,” he pointed out. I saw Thomas look at the pony with a serious look. “No pooping in the backseat,” he said. Pinkie let out a huff, but I knew what she wanted to say. I gave her a wicked grin, imagining her leaving tough guy Thomas a present in his back seat. Thomas took Molly, Pinkie, Applejack, and Dash while I rode with Dresden, his woman friend, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Twilight. The whole ride, I rubbed at my eyes, trying to get my strength back. Breaking that barrier took more out of me than I would have liked. The way the city was looking, I was going to need every ounce of strength that I could get. After a long time, we came to a stop near a parking lot. Dresden parked the car and Thomas parked next to him. We piled out of the cars and gather by the back of them. “What’s the plan, Harry?” Thomas asked. “There must be an enchantment around the park,” he replied. “I find it and start breaking it down. Molly, I’ll need your help with that. When we get in there, I’m expecting both Cowl and Chaogent to be there. Discord, you take care of Chaogent. Thomas, back him up. Molly, Murphy, and I will take care of Cowl.” “What about us?” man Rainbow Dash asked. “Hang back and look pretty,” Dresden said. “If we need you, we’ll call. But in your current state, you lot can’t do much.” I saw Twilight about to protest but Harry interjected. “Even if you were here a while to properly learn to use your magic, this is major league stuff. I could barely hold up against this guy the last time I fought him.” “Then why not take the extra help?” Rainbow asked. “What can you do?” Dresden asked. “I can fight,” he...well, she replied. Even though she was currently a guy, she was a still girl I guess. “How?” he asked. “I’m a black belt,” she replied. “That won’t help when magic is being thrown around,” Dresden replied. “You might as well shoot spit balls. It would be about the same results. You don’t know how to fight a necromancer.” “Look, sugarcube,” Applejack interrupted. “Like it or not, we came here to fight also. And we ain’t come all this way to just watch the rodeo. Ya either let us help or we’ll deal with this on our own.” I could see Dresden getting frustrated with the girls. I assumed that he was more use to taking the lead and not being told what to do. It’s funny that he’s the Winter Knight. “They’re my backup,” I said. “They’ve dealt with Chaogent before and, as much as I hate to admit it, myself in the past. We’ll take care of my brother.” “Whatever,” he said. “I just don’t want anyone to get killed. Stick together. You girls listen to Discord. Discord, you listen to me.” “Sorry, Dresden,” I said. “I don’t listen to anyone. You just deal with your necromancer. We’ll deal with Chaogent.” “As long as you’re in my city, you’re listening to me,” he said. “You have a limited supply of power.” I growled, showing my teeth. As much as I hated to admit it, he was correct. I wasn’t summoned to this world like my brother. Because of that, I was limited with my power. If I ran out of power, I was useless. I wanted to fight back, with every fiber of my being, but I had to bite my tongue. “Fine,” I said, putting every bit of hate into the word. Dresden nodded and looked back at Murphy. “Got your gun?” he asked. She rolled her eyes and pulled her coat aside to reveal a shoulder holster. “Good.” He looked at Thomas. “I have my gear,” he said. “Good. Let’s go rock and roll,” he said. He lead the way. Molly, Thomas, and Murphy followed behind him. I was behind them with Fluttershy beside me. I was actually surprised that she was there. Was it because of her current state? No, that couldn’t be it. Even looking at her, I could see you shaking, even if it’s just a little. Behind us was Pinkie with Applejack on her back and the rest bringing up the rear. I was on Harry’s side. Applejack was in no shape to fight. Really, none of them were. However, I had a feeling. If it’s right, they could be helpful. If not...they were as good as dead.