Falling
It was a barely audible sound, a simple quiet scraping like steel against hard granite, that alerted her that her visitors had started arriving. She took a deep breath, her delicate ears pricking at the rapid but gradual shuffling and tapping of what seemed to be hooves.
The increasing tapping outside in the hallway became more pronounced and the slender mare realized it was less the sound of tapping, more like a distinct cacophony of claws, snapping in energized anticipation. She set aside her royal blue quill, a gift from her sister, who had presented it to her on the recent sun summer celebration, the scroll she had been writing on disappearing with a smoke like burst of golden magic. Her lips curved slightly in a smile that faded into a tight lipped expression. A tear rolled down her cheek.
The strained amber light of the humid afternoon filtered through the carved window, the window's well-oiled bronze hinges glittering faintly with tiny brightly coloured jewels engraved on the panel. She noted with passing interest that grey storm clouds were beginning to gather on the far eastern horizon, the storm's obvious oncoming beginning to show.
It would not matter, the mare thought with little satisfaction. She had done what she needed to. She had passed on her duty and something far more important to those who would handle it well. Possibly even better, she thought as she carefully did the clasps on the window securely in preparation for the storm.
There was, she silently concluded, not much more that could have been asked of a very old mare in that world, in her lifetime. She breathed in the smell of parchment and the ever present and mysterious scent of freesia that accompanied her sister, the smell making her eyes water in nostalgia. Her lifetime. She would miss her sister. The aroma triggered memories of her, and a younger Luna. Luna.
With that, she turned, her golden shod hooves making little pad noises on the rich marisan carpet. She glanced at the sitting crown perched on the windowsill and debated whether to bring it. She frowned and shook her head. Taking a deep breath, Celestia threw the door open.
The dark silhouette in the doorway gestured to her, and the ever calm princess caught a glimpse of wickedly sharp shapes, curved to a point, as the visitor's cloak fluttered slightly. The clicking noises grew louder and the lamp’s light flickered, making shadow come to life on the wall.
"Good afternoon, princess! I trust that I may have a word-"
"It's not here."
The white alicorn, as serene as always, smiled, though joy did not reflect in her amethyst eyes. She let a small amount of smugness crack through her calm façade. "You're too late."
The strange visitor was deadly silent, angrily knowing that the ruler spoke the truth. "I am... sorry to hear that." The visitor toned, voice dangerously soft. "This does not bode well for you."
The monarch shrugged, her eerie smile widening in anticipation, lowering her tone to match the visitor's. "What happens to me is no longer of importance. Others have wished for my demise, thousands before you and claiming my life is not easy. I have, however, put Equestria forever out of your reach, so when all is said and done, it no longer matters."
The visitor's voice whistled at the back of its throat in frustration. Wordlessly the visitor gestured, the fluid movements expressing an anger it could not carry out otherwise. Suddenly, the noises outside heightened for a brief moment, giving way to snarls. Then several creatures draped in heavy leather, stained and roughly sewed, made their way into the room. They were on their hind legs, trying to seem intimidating though they walked awkwardly, due to their inverted joints in their lower limbs. They were too tall and broad to be ponies, and lacked the leather wings of a dragon, but their signature sickle claws that protruded from their hemlines made it evident to the princess what they were. She tried hard not to laugh or sob, for she could not decide which to do.
The princess spread her wings regally.
There was a rush of bodies, and in moments the room was filled with pain and blood.
When the snarls and howls of pain finally faded, the room's inhabitants left, either purposefully or forcefully, dragged across the wine red marisan carpet, unable to move any more.
Soon the ornate room was deathly silent and still, exactly like before, with a few exceptions. The room's usual inhabitant was missing. Flickers and puddles stained the carpet, camouflaged in the red background. Also, the storm had started, the sky in grey turmoil, as if the pegasi realized what had befallen Equestria's monarch. The clouds seemed to express depression, a fitting mood for what happened. Lightning streaked the sky, trying to tear it in two as thunder roared its agony. The raindrops freckled the pavements and streaked the windows, but Celestia would not see them fall any longer.
~~~
Fond Fluttering Memories
The tip of the pale yellow quill went straight through the piece of parchment, causing Fluttershy to let loose a meek swear word, frowning at the tiny hole and splash of black ink. Her yellow brow furrowed, continuing to scrutinise the blank piece of paper. She tapped it gently with a hoof, her mouth still set in a widening upside down rainbow.
“Well, that settles it.”
Her voice rang in the cacophonous cottage, where animals scampered about, silencing for a moment to stare at her rare moment of conviction. A white bunny with a damned attitude scampered by, tittering in his squeaky language at his oblivious owner.
Fluttershy ignored him, continuing her speech.
“I have no clue what to write about.”
She sat hard in a pale green arm chair, the paper fluttering at her swift and sudden movement, before the yellow Pegasus turned her attention to her spoilt pet, blinking at his tittered words.
She waved a wing idly, causing the butter coloured feather to fall silently to the floor.
“Well, I could write about my day, it was rather interesting.” The Pegasus murmured, commenting at the bunny’s words, still waving a wing in anxiety. The bunny nodded, gesturing at the paper and fallen quill.
Suddenly, a spark of realisation caused the mare to sit up suddenly, wings fluttering at a more rapid pace. The rabbit, startled, jumped, falling off the table.
“Who am I kidding! Half the time my friends don’t listen to me! Why would the reformed master of chaos want to know how my day went?”
The white rodent rolled his beady eyes. He did not like the newly “reformed” Discord. It had been barely a few days since he had turned Sweet Apple Acres into a skating rink. However, he did not like Fluttershy panicking over nothing. In truth, he did not give a damn whether or not Discord would even read the letter. He did not even know why Fluttershy bothered sending a letter, and squeaked so.
She gasped violently, eyebrows pointed down towards the rabbit, angrily giving him a slight Stare.
“Angel! He’s my friend! Friends write to each other! Princess Celestia expects me to! She even gave me his address, see?”
Fluttershy presented a scrap of parchment with an illegible symbol scrawled on it, which Angel sniffed suspiciously, tiny eyebrow raised. He squeaked as the paper glowed and the symbol shifted from a dark azure to a vibrant yellow. Smiling at his surprise, Fluttershy chuckled.
“It seems to do that every few moments.”, she explained, placing the paper (Which once again turned to an eyesore of green) beside the paper which a bunch of hastily scrawled crossed-out words.
Angel squeaked again.
Fluttershy blinked at him, a slight frown crossing her expression. She breathed deeply in and out, eyes closing.
“Alright, Angel. I’ll write and get it over with.”
Dear Discord,
Hello! It’s me Fluttershy! I don’t know if you remember me, I’m one of the elements that turned you to stone.
Discord winced. “Hard to forget.” He muttered and continued scanning the rest of the letter.
I’m writing to you, because that’s what friends do!
Anyway, I was wondering what sort of tasks the Princess was making you do. ‘Using magic for good’ is a wide range, after all. I was going to write about my day, but my day was pretty boring. I might be an element, but today, we just went to the crystal empire and spent an entire day welcoming an ‘important guest’, but it turns out we got the wrong pony. It was really embarrassing. I don’t think you’d like to hear about it.
It’s strange, writing to somepony again. I haven’t written to anypony in ages. Castle life must be dreadful for once used to the freedoms you used to live in. I once stayed in a fancy hotel and I felt very restricted myself! I wish I could do something for you, as your friend, but not even I can let you go back to your ‘freedom’. Rainbow Dash says freedom is with the sky. Well, I live on the ground, so I do not get much either, but I live near the EverFree so I get a little freedom.
I’m sure the tasks the Princess made you do were fun! I bet being the ‘Spirit of Chaos’ is so much better than being a boring Pegasus in Ponyville. The only thing I would like to offer, however, is kindness and friendship, so you do not have to go back to a stone prison.
Um, maybe we could meet for tea sometime. How’s Tuesday?
Your friend, Fluttershy
The letter disappeared in a snap and a flash of white light. Princess Celestia, who was reading over the draconequus’s shoulder, having been called away from her daily politics by the mail mare, snorted with mirth. The dignified princess straightened and blinked at the draconequus.
“I haven’t made you do anything yet.” She stated.
“Obviously.”
“You do plan on replying, right?”
“To an insecure Pegasus? Sure, why not.”
“Why are you still standing here again?”
“The author wants to hit her word goal.”
“Oh. There are better ways.”
“No kidding.”
The draconequus snapped his fingers, sniggering and reappeared immediately in his room. It was a decorated part of the Canterlot castle, a disarray of antique furniture floating and the walls dripping with shades of bright paint. The carpet snapped at the draconequus’s ankles, causing Discord to snarl and turn its head into a cheese sandwich. A maid, who had taken the wrong turn and opened the door, shrieked and tried in vain to escape the sandwich.
Ignoring the havoc, Discord animated a quill and ink bottle to fly towards him and grabbed them before teleporting into the castle’s library, which was a much better place to write as it provided free snacks right off the shelves. He grabbed a paper, which had been lying on one of the un-occupied tables and was probably not needed. Probably. But it came with spell-check, so it was okay.
He began to write.
A pattering knock filled the cottage, bathed in amber evening light, causing a buttery Pegasus, who was preparing dinner for her animal friends, to glance towards the door. “Who could that be?” Her gaze swept past a bottle of ink and discarded quill lying on a green wooden table. Oh.
She sped towards the door in a burst of feathers, causing several little eagerly awaiting animals to screech with surprise. The door opened, revealing a grey mare, her yellow wall eyes staring in different directions. She had a smile plastered on her face, a crumpled letter in her hoof.
“Here ya go, Fluttershy!” Unfortunately, the derpy mail mare misjudged the distance between her recipient’s hoof and hers, and the letter was shoved into Fluttershy’s face with a crinkling of paper.
Fluttershy’s smile got a little more forced.
The mail mare shrugged and flew in a crooked line, towards the town, a couple envelopes trailing after her. Seeing that she had gone a distance, Fluttershy retreated back into her cottage, tearing the envelope eagerly.
Hello, Fluttershy.
Do not worry, I have not forgotten about you. It is hard to forget. I must say, it was a surprise getting this letter from you this soon. It’s quite rare for me to get a letter, I really never had any friends before and the only mail I’ve gotten is death threats, you know, the usual. Do not let Sun butt fool you, Fluttershy!
I do prefer this new ‘prison’ compared to stone though, no pigeons. Thank heavens! I am able to move too! Though I do have that urge to go out and cause chaos again. Some corn candy grass could really improve the scenery.
Anyways, don’t belittle yourself! A little confidence never hurt anyone! I’ll be coming by on Tuesday to hear this new ‘chaos’! Welcoming the wrong pony, eh? The crystal empire’s screwed! Glad to hear it’s back and no longer run by Mr. Magic-mascara!
Your Chaotic friend,
Discord
P/S: Want me to bring anything for Tuesday? Cucumber sandwiches?
Fluttershy felt laughter bubbling out through her mouth. Discord was really reformed after all. She grinned at the letter and hugged it to her chest. Friends! She smiled and she...
…sat up abruptly in bed, causing blankets to topple off leaving her bathed in the early morning chill, a bird’s song drifting in through the reddish curtains, the sun’s rising causing light to dance about the room.
Fluttershy stayed in the shadows.
A tear forced its way out of her eyes, dull and lifeless from old wounds, a scar that would never heal. She had been dreaming. Again. About him!
She sighed deeply, opening her dry mouth and began to sing, a sad, mournful tune that caused hearts to break, pain in every syllable. It was still a beautiful and haunting melody, sending chills down the backs of those who heard it. Her voice, cracking from emotion and long un-use, was still sweet and beautiful.
“Dreaming…A dream, that’s all its ever been,
Your eyes on every face that I have seen,
It’s not you, You’re gone, it’s not you!
You left me, and this world behind too.
I pray for something else, I pray for release.
There is nothing left here except broken memories.
Picture frames, hanging empty and long gone,
Fractured hearts cease beating, flawed and torn.
I must live.
I live on for you.
But what am I supposed to do?
I will,
I will live on.
But I wail that you left what you’ve known,
I wail that you have left me…… Alone.”