Though determined, temptation to look around got the better of her.
So many strange sights Marigold saw as she walked the arcs around campfires, hoof falls quiet, to temporary trails, on her way to the great doors towering on the massive structures before her.
There was dragon!
At first Marigold didn't see it, till it stirred, flicking tongue, saw soft, seaming, kind eyes shining , a body, not to big with not much length, framed, by the moonlight and flickering firelight setting off her scales like shimmering stars, sitting on its legs like sphinx. All color muted in dark firelight and moonlight.
Something stirred in the darkness beside, a pony snuggling her side!
"I have never been so warm in all my days!" he exclaimed luxuriating, enjoying the warmth, putting his back against her. The dragoness had no need for a campfire and looked down benevolently on the pony just a little smaller than itself.
Surprisingly the dragon appeared to enjoy his company.
"So..." With clicked tongue, “Your name is Ice Bane?"
It was a dragoness, unmistakable!
She reached out and stroked his mane and fur. From it she pulled at a crystal held it up to her face, in her claws, as if to admire its diamond clarity as a precious ember jewel sparkling the color of glowing amber in the fire's light. The crystal grew smaller in the dragoness grip as Marigold watched, and the ice melted away, turned to wispy vapor immediately.
The dragoness continued speaking almost in purr.
"My cool rock upon the ancient mountain..."she chuckled.
Interrupting her discourse, he threw his head over hers, barely twice his size, like some strange hat ( if she had been larger he would have sat atop!) gathering up her mane in his fore legs and breathed it in deeply, embracing her neck as she, surprised, gasped.
"Mine is like lavender," he said, falling backward, head and main toppling over her back, laying on top, Snoopily, her, making a contented sigh, “my love, she grows among its crags within....legs?...reach!"
They giggled in a way that made Marigold feel very uncomfortable.
"Yes. Best move on Marigold." she felt herself turn beet red."Best move on.." she decided to move on.
Next she came upon a flock (pack?) of female griffin's dancing around a campfire. No. They were dancing around a campfire and a couple, the couple, a pony and a griffon. Couples! More griffins! They sat together in pairs, save one, watching, eating, pulling, fish (?), lanced on spears, to their faces.
This dance was savage. The roaring and shrieking, the couple locked into each other’s gaze, as he examining her talent claw with his hoof. He felt it, pawing at it, as she glanced back and forth, nervously, blushing, at him a mix of compassion ambivalence and perhaps love on her face.
Were the other griffons trying to distract them or were they celebrating for/with them?
Marigold notices the young male griffin finish his fish among the couples on the log. He began to stare at the pony picking at the tip of his lance with his talent. Red shined in his eyes from the fire.
An older male sitting beside, with his wife, dashed the lance from the young one's claws to the ground, chewing out the younger, to his shock, loud roaring and shrieking in griffon toungue. Marigold couldn't hear what was said or understand in their language, but it disturbed the others.
Forgetting dinner, they, stared accusingly, and then began chewing out the young male; hatefully playing with his lance. They now ignored the dancers and the couple and super as they argued, with loud squawking.
The dancers shook and shrugged, ignoring the arguing couples.
The couple, themselves, ignored everything, making goo goo eyes and quietly watching the other as the frightful din around them swirled.
Marigold kept going, "What a noise!" she didn't stop to ask questions about the noise, but it was distracting.
So distracting; she almost bumped into a thestral couple walking past.
The male made his apologies dipping a graceful bow, accepting responsibility for the collision.
As the griffin's harangue died down she caught snippets of conversation from the thestrals. The female continued her discourse unabated.
“Honey, I don't know what to think!" They continued walking passed." If our daughter feels she has to have a mate, why not a mate from our own, our own colony?" Asking why she would seek out a day dweller, where would they live, how could it work and, "Weren't there enough males," of their own. "Couldn't she be happy with one?" Names like Chittering or Fire Lite, as she nagged. ”And the other thestral here we are forced to be around!”
"If she says she saw a vision, that she was promised a husband,” the male said grumpily," among the day folk, who are we to judge?"
They disappeared among the brush talking about a giant who towered above the sun, moon and stars.
Giant?"Wait!" Marigold pursued, stumbling, bursting into a campfires light, interrupting a pegasus tenderly embracing his mate within wings, his armor carelessly leaning against a log glinting in the fire light. The spear and shield the only things looked after, in their place.
"May I help you?" asked the female, startled.
"I'm…I'm looking for the pens..."
"Oh, you poor dear, it’s so late! I'll take you there at once.” She began to pull away from her husband.
"NO!"he said, pulling her back."You poor dear.What about me???"He then nickered explaining his duties for these past three days: Gone to great heights of the sky, diving at great speed, in harm’s way as the great vortexes of the pens batted him around, being kicked in the face, and bitten on the flank! Herding smelly strange ponies who didn't know how to walk or fly or even bathe, sort them, direct them, stand among them and march around them till his frogs ached.
Then extra duty: guarding enflamed female pegisi, earth ponies and unicorns while Celestia berated them, who in their headlong quest for a mate snatched them as if they were sacks of potatoes or the fare at a sale, bursting through the walls or up out of the earth carrying them over more walls, snatching them out of the air or lassoing them with rope. Total chaos! Disorder and lawlessness: throwing things, diving into the pens, scaring the ponies, not taken, out of their wits
Having to contend with a tired Celestial Princess; she having to mend broken bones and strained backs after the event.
Then apologies!
Him! Prostrate himself before Celestia: forgetting, losing his temper, justifiable so, at these mares, (these uncivilized, uncouth, brazen mustagna!) wiping their mouths and muzzles, fanning tears, protesting innocence! Them! “Why are you so mean? “They cried. “We can see by the ring on your tooth, you have your special somepony!"
"After, what I saw? Makes me doubt my faith in Equanity! But that wasn't the end of it!"
Having been dismissed, these mangy mares, together, at the same time, galloped headl
ong out of the throne room and became stuck in the door. They, pushing and pulling, pulsing and throbbing, a pulp stopper of unicorn, earth pony and pegisi stuck in the great throne room doorway. "The doors, those hollowed and ancient doors, to the throne room, wind milling their tails about to get free, out and through yelling screaming and cursing! Celestia gave them a might shove with her magic, they popped out they popped out like an air cannon!" They, shattering throne room doors and archway into a pile of stone and splintered wood hit the ground running as they galloped out!"
He, then directing traffic, through the palace, around velvet ropes, keeping the pegisi jumping from the widows, keeping the glass intact, as they left muddy tracks on all the carpeting."It was all ill thought out!The maids swooning over themselves. Mud from the courtyard brought into the halls, the mushy carpet sinking up to the pasterns!" The mess, the mares, together, made public service project for later!
"We Pegisi had to do the lion's share of the work cause we can be everywhere, the sergeants made sure of that!" his eyes softened. "You." he cooed. "Only you...thinking of you got me through these three days; thinking of my beautiful, lovely wife, my Boudicca Da Roses...working so hard under Rose Water. That at last, when our duties for this tour were at an end, he brought his hoof up and gently stroked her cheek,
"I would hold her and comfort her…" he said "And now you’re here!" He looked at her with doleful pleading eyes. "Do not remove yourself from me!"
They looked into each other’s eyes a long time. She broke contact, he turned his head away downcast eyes, spurned, chewing his lips. She looked at Marigold, still wrapped securely in his wings, a pleasant continence on her face, dark eyes shining, expressing her willing and helpful attitude as she spoke her words with force clearly for Marigold to hear.
"Scram!"
Marigold knew that tone of voice, on the Cloud Dream, with the ship's wives, when she met Mare Mighty and every time she accidently go between a mare and her mate. " MINE!"
Quickly she retreated back to her path as she heard the male praise and extols his mate. "That's my girl." followed by the sounds of kissing.
As she passes by she heard the stories of the day. It was hard not to listen. But she turned her ears forward and neither to the left or right did she look. She focused! She must get to the doors, she must not let any distract her from getting her heart’s desire, the stallion promised for her. But as the night wore on she began to doubt if she would ever get through the pathways between campfires.
A bard sang.
Itching ears, tickled ears.
Hearing only what you want to hear.
Thinking all worlds but the same!
What use is strength but to impress another?
Unless to feed the mouth?
To fill the belly?
Then to be hungry again!
Magic: Vanity!
Hope!
More friendship you have less magic you need!
(reprise)
Now,
Books without number, much study tiers the eyes,
for the ears do not get enough hearing,
and the eyes not enough filling.
"Meet me you at 'The Library', says the ah..unicorn filly.
She seals the message inside the wings of her mind,
She cocooned inside,
Cocooned,
(reprise)
sent
a kiss.
A star descends.
"Oh dear Doctor.
You seek truth same as I."
Inside her head.
Meet at 'The Library' she said
Truth she knows
Bites at her tongue
not ready yet to say.
But truth,
in a tear,
shall carry her away!
(reprise)
Of a thousand worlds,
libraries ten time its size
not enough space for all the Creator wrights!
Nor all his deeds.
Poured out for his freinds...
For much study tires the eyes
And more the words,
more lies.
But truth shall come and spirit thee away!
(reprise)
Alon
(reprise twice)"
Ears are such easily distracted things....
Rounding a stump she heard a filly asked if the strangers were dangerous.
"Straight toward the pens Marigold neither to the right or left, committed!"she snorted
"Why do you ask Dew Drop?" mother asked.
"I saw a stallion go into convulsions, when I asked if he was okay, he asked for more hot water from my rain cloud...as if he didn't know how a rain cloud worked."
Trying to get to the point, "What makes you ask if they are dangerous?" Mother said repeating.
"Oh. He said they were dangerous!” Dew Drop replied. “When he found I be a girl, bringing him towels, he got upset. Then I practiced flirting..."
"Dew Drop! You shouldn't do that! You're too young, much to young a pegisus!"Mother said aghast.
"That's just what I told him! “said the girl, completely clueless to mother. “But that's not what happened next, he got really upset asking(don't know who)'What is with the crazy females here, are they all so aggressive?' I told him, I said. 'Geez, grandpa relax. I'm decades and years from being able to foal!'''
"Sigh...."Marigold imagined the mother mare rubbing her temples. “What happened next, daughter?"
"He told me not to bring the towels, told me to stay on my raincloud and to swear to keep my distance from the strange ponies and to tell my friends the same!"
"How, strange.” said mother. “did he give a reason other than they were dangerous?"
"We talked, before I swore, I had trouble understanding him and I'm having trouble remembering whatever he said but I looked at him, staring, and I said to him....'because it is death.' Then he asked for more hot water."
"I thought you said he made you swear."
"We talked some more, I asked him what he was singing..."
"He was singing?"
"Yes! From before he started shaking was scarred and was talking to himself!"
"Talking to himself?"
"Yes, singing to himself. I suppose that's why he called the songs 'hims'. He wouldn't tell me who he had been talking to except to say he didn't feel abandoned and had help to win, I guess that's why he looked better and answered me! He slammed on his back and was like that before I called to him,looked like a bully had jumped on top of him...only I didn't see any bully."
"Huh...and then he made you swear to keep your distance from strange ponies?"
"Yes.” she said. “We argued what to swear he said I really, really had to do it."
"He was insistent?"
"Yes.” Marigold could hear the insistent nod. “He was insis...insi...said I really had to. Anyway...he said I should swear by my wings or by flight said that was silly. He got mad, crossing his front leg, sitting in that pool of hot water said something like...'stick a cupcake in your eye!' I thought that was a great promise!
So I did it!
Cross my heart and hope to fly
Stick a cupcake in my eye.
He made circles with his eye as he talked about the importance of keeping promises. I agreed, I asked him if he was my friend. He said, ‘As long as you are on that raincloud, and never come to any stranger being alone.' I told him I already promised and to break a promise was the quickest way to lose a friend, just then we hear Celestia lecturing the ponies at Canterlot for making a mess at the pens, the reason we had to scrub them down and give the strange ponies baths! I didn't think of it at the time I just took my raincloud to the next pony she sounded mad!” there was quiet. “Mother? She said, ‘Forever!' didn't she?"
"She did indeed little one.” Mother was satisfied. “Now, eat your super, we have a treat. Look! The thestral have been nice enough to trade for us squishy fruit...."the filly squealed with delight. “When your father gets here we will talk about this again. “there was a pregnant pause. “We just want to know how your day went."
"Ok..."
Marigold sped up her walking a bit, she had slowed, just to .
Eavesdrop, naughty!
How could the strangers be dangerious?
She heard something. It chilled to the bone.
It was crying.
"Mommy!” sobbed the voice .
That had been Dew Drop!
"What am I going to do? I'm, I'm, too young!” the voice became frantic."I broke my promise! Bad things happen when you break promises!” She started frantic breathes. "I ran as fast as I could! Couldn’t fly! It not my fault.." hysteric cries again.
Mother’s voice: "It’s ok. It’s not your fault no pony blames you. You are not the one at fault." Cried mother, "Whatever happens, your father and I, are here. We will be with you two!"
"But I'm too young, too young , too young,too young....."
Marigold spun around. Where had that come from? Maybe she should go back and try to understand. No, she had a job to do and she had to do it no matter what. It was then she realized she had been completely turned around, didn't know which fire was which. She had promised. Oh! She had promised!
She remembered her conversation with her giant had been up high in his arms.
"Am I your friend? She asked.
"Only if you want to be Marigold, only if you want to be..."
"I do. I do want to be His friend.” she said. “I’ll use that! Friends don't break good promises!"
"I will only tell you what you know. My ‘friends’, do as I ask...."
Right! Wait. That wasn't part of the memory! “What I know?"
" What is real, good, noble, of good report, right, truth...think on these things.
"Think on these things. It is Noble to persevere and keep promises!"
"Treasure kept in the heart..."
What did that mean? She decided to keep it in mind but trudged on, but soon she had forgotten.
Soon she heard a Hard Nose recounting to his wife, a tale, his day.
A tuba was hurled on his head, he scrambled to keep flying. "I had never been so scarred and blind, not since that mission in the mountains and I flew into that endless cloud!" However :"I was only inches above the ground."When they had calmed him :"It took a dozen ponies to pull the thing off my head."His fear turned to vengeful anger :"Done they would I, the three standing right there!" Against the mare in question :"She with the division we caught of pegisus down as they attacked the earth pony pen. Them: maneuvers band!" Celestia was scolded them in the open arena. Making his way:"With fire in my gut!"He was stopped :"Strange pony, Held me back. Be maestro! Play the scales on my pinfeathers like a metal harp: Cords!"Who being so fascinated in the pegisi's wings.
"Did you behave correctly? “she asked.
"I did the only thing reasonable."
"You?” she questioned “Reasonable is a buck to the face, now what did you do?"
He sighed. "I grabbed my wing and said 'Do you mind?'"
"Probably glared at him too, well, you're improving...go on."
"I stood before Celestia at court alone with the other guards, bitten and kicked. I" he sniffed feeling himself of some small reputation. "I asked to personally select punishment."
"What did you do?" she asked excitedly.
"Silver Sheaves and her second Golden Sparrow, were going to exhibit their flying skills to the ponies. The exhibit was illegal of course; the band music was to be ‘Fanfare Fillie Fie Dee!"Hard Nose said worth of punishment but March Majorette earned his special attention.
HE described what he did:" After me and her and two other guards entered I gave the tuba back. I drew a sundial on the ground.” He would make her play her tuba with all the choreograph marching around the inside of the wall all the while playing a solo.
"Oh solo tuba. That's very hard. What did you make her play?"
"Fanfare Filly Fie Dee!” Marigold could hear the creak of the grin in his face.
Shock: in the silence. “OH! But that is nearly impossible as a solo!Never heard a Tuba really do a solo or carry the melody before. OH you wicked stallion!” Said the mare, with a playful tone."
"Aye. "Said Hard Nose, you could hear the evil grin in his voice. “with all the moves:" Repeat, Inverted Repeated Capo, Dal Segno ,DS al Coda, DC al Coda, DC al Fine, DS al Fine, Alternate Ending, Choreography,” and on the ground circling the inside of the wall, in the marked time on the sundial!"
"What was her motivation?"
"Start when I blew my whistle, “If she did not do it perfectly, finish, or refused to, "she would be taken to her home under house arrest." until the selections were over. "You should have heard her whimper."
"Serves her right for embarrassing my Nosey!" she said in a justified tone. “But...something went wrong?"
"Or right." snorted Hard Nose. He explained in detail how she march around playing the awful tune never meant to be a solo, following all the cues, doing all the motions repeating the song in all the right places, as an expert musician would.
Then finished, she took her prized instrument and threw it away. "Junk she cried!" She still had plenty of time, but she fell on the ground sobbing. "Mind you, I felt quite justified! But things happened." He saw a passing shadow. He explained: "A pony, a stallion, broke off from the herd. He came over looked at the blubberer. He went over to the tuba," testing his joints, not sure how they worked everything still being new, pleased at the full range of motion, "picked up the Tuba but she didn't care...."He then tuned it, tested the keys. "He played, triploding along."
"He played for her a melody "Hee, a solo, a solo on a Tuba of all things!" She stopped crying. "It was wondrous, everypony agape, but it was an easy tune to pick up. “Then there was an opening in his playing, the ponies on the walls of the three races, began to play, in a spontaneous orchestration. “Marching Majorette and the stranger talked for a while, till, their own pause, she took a clue from his opening in the conversation. He had no name, so she named him Maestro...common as they get..."the orchestra was slowing down so," he gave the Tuba back to Marr and then directed," Mar playing the last, “in a grand fitting solo!"
"How romantic...!"
"Ya...."
There was a pause and quiet, then the sound of a slide upon a metal harp, the male gasped.
"Pray, what was the name of the piece he played?"she asked as cords were played slowly, being molded into a melody.
"Fine, you can do that!" he sighed “The stallion called it Tubby the Tuba."
"What are the notes?" she giggled playing on his wings as he instructed.
Marigold moved on.
Others took up the tune, some a delightful memory others out of habit, more due to peer presure and perhaps lack of sleep. Soon all the brush was filled with the tune, if not disjoined and rounding confusedly upon the melody in all the wrong ways at each pony’s own tempo for about an hour!
"Gee." Marigold said. "Accompaniment...."and rolled her eyes as she plodded along.
She heard a very deep chuckle. "Coo coo cachou! Eggmare...Walrus...."
Was that directed at her? It made her freeze...it seemed so close! Nopony was there as she looked around herself.
She swallowed and started walking again.
She later learned about the other two mares Hard Nose spoke, his voice did carry and was interesting to hear as his wife plucked pinfeathers!
One was a mighty pegisus warrior, strong and dark, showing herself:
She danced the ancient dance of warriors, pegisi taken as a prize and tribute from the griffons and minotaurs. All the moves mixed, moving disjointedly, rattling her armor and leaping about, forgetting why she was there.
Not a very pretty dance, more to frighten than allure.
A stallion approached her and interrupted the dance, annoying her.
"You are much better at dancing than fighting..."he said with a sweet smile.
Angry she dismissed him and continued her 'dance'. He reached round and broke the strap between her wings holding on her armor. It came off with a clatter leaving her wearing some kind of long cameses. Embarased, clutching herself, though nothing could be seen; she shrieked at him in a rage her face, livid dark purple.
"As I said: No good at all!"as he metronomeed his leg before her.
She was stunned at his assertiveness and just stared at him as he turned his back to her and walked over to the nearest wall.
"Little Unicorn..."he said leaning against the wall, crying up to a unicorn chewing bubblegum sitting high atop popping bubbles. "As you sat, bored with your mother, I saw you making musical bubbles. Wonderful! Simply Wonderful! Perfect melody!" He smiled. "Would you make another?”
She looked down and smiled, this whole affair was boring and silly to her.
“Tee hee!”
Nice to have some attention! She closed her eyes and produced the biggest bubble she could from her horn, as a favor, a boon, in this game of pretend. As if she: a princess noticing a lord at court, this pony below and casting favors.
The bubble floated down, music echoing from the sides of the pen, it was said to have been quite lovely.
He approaches the mare, on his back legs, walking gracefully, scissor like, long graceful stretches. She amazed.
"No...You were meant to dance the ballet!” as he stretched out a fore leg to her.
Intrigued, she took his front hooves and he led her as they danced.
After a while he raised her high over his head in improvised croiagraphy and she slide down his body never taking her eyes off his.
He looked at his hooves, the bubble finally landed with a pop. He went into shock.
"I had...I don't....why are they gone?" He stuttered. "Where did they go?"
She named him Piernas, Cabolo for legs, and gently led him out.
The last of the three came in.
Desperate she threw off all her armor and danced a typical silly Pegasus mating dance to any male who would look at her, desperate. All the males turned from her.
At last a male made eye contact.
Finally she thought she had a male who would look at her and she put all her efforts into her frenzied movements:
Frowning deeply, he raised a hoof, doglegged, in front of her. She stopped, stared at it. Then the stallion looked away.
Shaken, she sat down beside the stallion that now had his nose in the air his eyes closed tightly. They sat a long time.
At last she spoke in a voice like chalk.
"I'm.....sooo sorry I broke your leg...."she said at last.
"You should be! “he replied, swinging his head around glaring at her. “Come on.” he got up leading. “Let’s go get this paperwork filled out!"
He led her out, her following behind flying meekly, as he picked up her armor and put it on his back.
Marigold heard many things.
"It was like a fish bowl! “Said one.
"Thank Celestia things slowed down, we all cased a tornado vortex, lifting ponies off the ground, as if they weren't scared enough already!"
"I'll tell you what was worse: Being kicked by Golden Sparrow!" said another.
"Such a small thing, hard to take seriously in all that showy golden filigree armor, and flashy crimson feathery plume on top, I caught her...she bites like a mule!"
"She inherited the helmet from her father and had it fitted. Have some respect for Silver Shield second!"
"I guess I should thank her for the medical reimbursement, hazard pay, the overtime pay, the battle pay...whatever happened to her?"
"Last over the wall with a stallion at least ten times her size. She barely cleared!"
"You must have been under that pile! He wasn't ten times her size...but he was big and she could barely lift him, I heard her tell him they would have fun."
"Golden Sparrow?" said somepony surprised. “She was the one Celestia congratulate so all Equestria could hear, reminding to come to Capital in a month to finish signing papers?!!"
"Good Lord." said another. "It was only an hour!"
"Ya...them ponies were so jealous, even Celestia was surprised when Silver Shield told her in court !"
"About the door to the throne room, Pity.” said another guard.
"It was not well thought out."
Marigold learned as she listened that that afternoon the pens had simultaneously been attacked by swarms of unicorn, earth ponies and pegisi. This, ‘Spasm' had happen all over the area, at all the gathering points, but here at the capital it had been most sever.
Unicorns: seizing earth ponies and pigisi in their magic. Earth ponies: tunneling under the earth springing up and catching what they wanted, holding fast, unicorn and earth ponies cooperating to breach the walls. (She heard a funny story about a unicorn who used a earth mare to ram through the wall, highly unlikely with all the laughter.) but the worst was the Pegisus Dive.
The earth pony and unicorn were easy to round up without causing damage,
They gathered high above, in a spontaneous assembly led by Silver Shield. Afraid of exactly what happened, the pegisi spooked the mares when they began to appear a swarm over the horizon. Silver Shield gave the command and they dived, from high altitude. They crashed through the upper blockade defenses and gathering speed casting off armor and instruments, swooped in and carried off hapless males all the time being chased around the arena until they had a stallion in their hooves.
However, a lot of the stallions had been hurt. Celestia tended and healed many, herself.
One had just gone wild.
"He ran around in circles screaming and we corralled him in. Watch for those frantic flying hooves! Such a state! Trying to calm him down those wild eyes I though his heart would burst! Celestia came and just looked at him. He stopped running, just tore up clods and chunks of earth. He stood still pawing, pronging, snorting, wiping his back wildly. Then, fell on his haunches hitting the ground over and over again with his front hoof. Finally, he stopped. Started bawling with ever once of his lungs." the guard told his comrades around the fire.
"Then, whoop, she was through, surrounding him with her wings till his crying became softer and softer. She carried him to the medical tent herself, and stayed with him for at least an hour..."
Then Marigold was out of earshot.
She heard more about broken limbs and strained backs.
She thought, would she have given in to such?
She heard about a stallion trapped in a wall as pegisi swarmed around trying to pry him out. Another about a unicorn who tried to seduce a stallion with a love spell and failing, tried to use "forget me not" to lure him. Same stallion, huh, prying him out of his rock she fell backward swallowed her lipstick and went off with another pony she had kissed.
How three clueless stallions at the beginning of the day, elected by the majority of ponies in the arena walk up to three mares expecting to negotiate a release. How the fools were lead out following Mare's tails.
Gift were given, stallions, them, and they decided in small sporadic groups to play cards over bit with the undercover ponies scattered covertly. Some mares joined the games and won a husband that way, letting stallions go who discretelty showed the rings on their teeth.
"So...."said a pony nervously. "griffons are omnivores?"
"Course they are!” laughed the griffon. “And when I heard your son say you were having cabbage and broccoli...how could I say no? I had to get myself invited; tiered of sardines and hard tack! What do you think?"
"Tangy.” said a mare.
"That would be the mustard!" a munching sound. "Oh!Good cook!"
"That would be me..."said the male annoyed.
"Good cook!" repeated the griffon.
"Oh!" said a young voice." Tell them what happen today Doctor Pax Claw!"
"Why not?" He said. "After that Pegisus dive," he shuddered," Celestia ordered all the stallions to be looked over again, one comes to my medical tent, hoof split down the middle. Unicorn did a healing spell; mine was just unwrap the hoof and send him on. I'm away; he smelt something and decides to help himself to my rations! I come in finding this pony crunching away at my stores. I ask him what he has to say for himself.
He sings...."
There is quiet. A little voice pipes up.
" I’m going to eat you little fishy !"
"Well sung little colt! Anyway, I want to find out what he has been doing. I tell him to stop chewing and open his mouth! He tells me it’s rude. I tell this rube 'Ruder to talk with your mouth full and to eat a griffon's kippers!' I find out he turned my sardines into a paste and spread them on my hard tack! He gives me a biscuit decide to join him in the repass. We sing together."
The colt and the old griffon sing.
"I'm going to eat you little fishy!
True sardine in mustard sauce not white whittle in wine for me!
I'm going to eat you little fishy!"
"Along comes this Pegisus, big gruff, thick armor plate. He roars, 'Your late soldier! They're waiting for you! Hose you down scrub you off." There are muffled snickers. "Well it sounds better that way. What the hay are you doing?' he says.
We sing.
"I'm going to eat you little fishy" sings the colt
"I'm going to eat you little fishy."sings the griffon.
refrain,"spread sardines on crackers toast"
Together, "we're going to eat you little fishy!"
"As we eat together, A unicorn shows up puzzle piece on his rump. Oh he is mad!
"What are you doing!!? You’re holding up the line.
"I'm going to eat you little fishy
I'm going to eat you little fishy
I'm going to eat you little fishy
We're going to..."
"He then roars his interruption tells the pegisu Captain (or was it sergeant?”) how upset he is boots him out of the tent, grabs me in his magic, makes me take the bandage of the pony and inspect the wound, (not like there’d be stubs growing out of it!) it is sound. He tells him he'll return his book and leave a bag of kipper at his door, and then he sends him on his way floating out followed with a kick.
" I’m going to eat you little fishy..."sings the colt.
"Exactly, he sits down and tries some...'not bad.' he says crunching."
On strange Unicorns: they had no idea how to use their power. Inhibiter rings began to run short.
Old Bendy Bust was brought in. He played up what happens to a unicorn with a cracked horn. That got them to behave!
Mostly.
Save one, scarred to death of magic...worried for his soul.
"Ah, so spiritually minded of no earthly good!" said the other strange unicorns.
"Ah," said the staff at the pens."So he isn't fit for even the lowest of earth pony work!" The ponies decided to call him Weepers!
As wife gently led him out, before his name was written in the rolls, he spoke.
"That is not my name!" he straightened himself and stood tall as a prince, holding back the emotions within of a tear stained face.
"Then, pray," said the scribe" What is thy name?"
"Tisss" he hissed "Not Weepers!" He fumbled, his eyes darting around searching for any memory, an inkling inside, a clue of his true name.
"Not Weepers..."
That was as bad as Namis Watt.
"No!" before the scribe set pen to parchment, dots of ink threatening to invade the pristine page by never reaching the shore dropping down, down, into space.
"Well?" said his wife. "Reveal thy name!"
He licked his lips.
"Carbide...Calcium Carbide!"
"Calcium....Carbide." wrote the scribe." Dame Carbide, take Weepers and go..."
Carbide roared in anger and grabbed an impressively huge rock, boulder, ripping it out of the earth, in his magic, and all stared at the floating boulder knowing full well the pretext, the scribe, falling down staring at the floating rock ears back eyes wide.
Breathing heavily fire in his eyes he looked at the other ponies and the fire extinguished immediately realization dawned upon his face.
"I feel myself and this thing I do? If this I do with magic, what else will I dare to do?" He dropped the boulder falling back into its hole, with and earth trembling thunk.
He then fell on his haunches; head bent down as a single tear slid down his face.
Namis Watt,another pony, , with a twisted backward question mark on his rump, that appeared to the sound off a barley shucker, would not stop talking! His accent appalling his face, cross eyed, his tongue falling out of his mouth most of the time and his mane, a scraggly mess!
A painful accent to listen, but every word was gold...real gold!
"Acck...you go to sleep after working your seat at the exchange, and the next morning you wake with a weird accent, your first word your first name and the next word your last name and a twisted backward question mark on yer bum!" Followed by a rasberry."Ptttttttttttt......"
He spoke words of advice and investment and common sense, all the earth ponies, unicorn and pegisi gathered to listen and ask questions, this stranger with a backward, bent twisted question mark on his bum, every question he answered, crops and sky and energy.
The natives of Equestria plied him with questions that would have crossed Celestia's eye...yet he answered with good common sense answers and start laughing and grinning making the crowd merrier!
"Pttttt....."he put out a raspberry, “a regular Poor Rich and Almanac am I!" He cried, Marigold heard from the story. “A regular Bean Jasmin Franking-Kiln!" He laughed hysterically and fell down straight, as if his legs were made of rubber.
"Stop!" a mare rushed forward, blocking him from the crowds. "Leave him alone!" She spoke in an accent not unalike but less grating.
"Do ya not have common sense?" she cried in groag."Can't ye see he's scarred, he's tiered?!!"She brought here face to his she touched him tenderly. A ripply smile took her face a manic look in her eye. With grace and surprising agility, she slid under him and picked him up on her back as if he were the most comfortable saddle bag she had ever owned.
“Now, he’s MINE!" she said in a cringable tone with all legs turned inward as if she hadn't let go and lost control in a long, long time. She brought her hoof to her chest and calmed herself from the breathing coming through clenched teeth.
"I claim him!" she raised up Namis Watt hanging limply on her back, trying to keep his head from swinging back and forth like a pendulum.
She being just a little bigger than he, classic profile, good proud strong old earth pony stock!
"I take this as a consulting meeting...I have all your names...."she squinted as she raised a hoof , pointing to each pony. "You'll get a bill in the mail at a price I deem fit!" She brought her hoof down with a click for emphasis. "And if ya be thinking o' skippin out, and not payin.." she leaned forward , pointing. "Next letter becoming with a writ having the mare o' the sun's sign on it, followed by the royal guard!" her eye narrowed as she spoke. "Now clear the way, I be takin my husband home, or do ya want to be feeling the full brunt of four on the floor mud pony style??!"
They cleared the way and she walked out like a princess.
As the two left Namis Watt was heard say, "They storms the storms..among the towers, the winds they nash and scream!” He sputtered and grabbed her hard around her neck all the strength of his front legs, his eyes wild. "Never be done with me! Always give air Maid Mare. Do not let me drown when you are done ."
She reached back and gently touched him. "Never. " her soft words put him at ease and he flopped into a rag doll again.” I'll always be here for you.”
That was the story Marigold heard.
Another was called Romani, he a pegisus.
He only spoke a certain way.
He said good things about the authorities and good things about marriage...but only as if quoting another.
He wrote in a strange language when trying to say something else he couldn't speak.
His wife took him with her satisfied there was more in his head than what came out his mouth.
She heard a wonderful flute tune that was cut off suddenly.
"I do not mean to be curt, but take your fore leg off my trunk, or you'll be hurt.”what happened? Marigold moved closer
“And as for you, you're quite a jerk!” she was addressing somepony else.
“What do you mean giving you husband old wine? Didn't you monitor the time?
What makes you think I’d consider you? Can't you add two and two?
Did you hit your head with a thunk? No, you're also drunk!
Why would he consider me? Oh I see! You think this flutist’s easy!
What...you intent...with me?" there was a disbelief in her voice.
“Did I mishear?? Is he not your dear?
Is this sire not your heart’s desire? What is your thinking here?
I see no sign, why don't you cry out mine?
I just heard crime! The crowd your words heard this time. Last time…
Was I aloof?Make proof!
Is that all you think of him?
You think him be yours so easy? Those papers you wave make him your slave???
My point concede, repent if you are agreedthat you don’t want him just…”in the weed, Marigold lost the voice due to the vengeful growl growing in it.”
“What think you of me?”It was soft now and gentle and caring, mercy to give the other a chance.
She didn’t take the hint whatever insult/threat she said.
“GAURDS!!!!
“Insult us most gravely! Not a wondering homeless vagrant in rags I be but Zebra chieften, come from across the sea, to give these couples my heart felt blessing! If I did not know how low you are this would be an act of war!!!”real rage and furry, Marigold heard the crowd gasp.
“No....Sweatheart it’s ok. My gaurds will keep you safe.
Take her away!!!Out of my sight!!When she is sober where Celestia can deal with her in the day.
You!!!!I don't think so, you dare! Mare!Why should I say your name?
Tears for mercy now? Away!Let her not out till full light of day.I say!!!”
Now she turned to the stallion, “Do not cry. Please dry your eyes. There is no need. It makes you look less the handsome steed.
Sleep is what you need, and what Celestia says? We shall see.
Oh sweetheart. I have duties see?
With you, my children, last would be, of me!
I will wait patiently.
For me?
I would like, for them, to see, the last sunny day and then be carried away."said the Zebra."From the sky with a smile.In a rainbow, donchaknow!"
"Come! Forgive the interruption! There shall be no war’s desolation." cried the zebra. "From my flute you shall hear songs to bring you great cheer!"
"Apparently everypony is finding somepony!"she rolled her eyes.
"I saw the world end today."
Marigold froze. She listened.
"I would call you wrong,"Tsked another" but from what I imagined..."
"You imagined losing your magic too?" asked an older mare.
"It was just a collective delusion!" said another male.
"No...Delusions are not collective." Said a scholarly voice, ignorant and ignored. “collective delusions belong to the family of hysteria...."
"I said,” clearing his throat keeping the conversation from becoming discursive, keeping command. "I saw the world end today!” The other unicorn poke the fire in frustration as Marigold heard him ."You saw it!” said the female."Pegisis falling out of the sky! Unicorns dropping things! Large public works crashing to the ground!"
"Then where is the proof, my dear? “asked the sire angrily. "Sure, I saw unicorns working on a tower, then the whole thing came crashing down as their power evaporated! But where is the proof? Pens, paper, buildings dropping everywhere, but where in the proof?"
"Sure, I thought I lost hold of the notation I was taking, a wind came and scattered it and there was nothing I could do!"
"I saw all that." said the unicorn as he poked the fire again. "I also saw the look of horror on Celestia's face."
Now they were paying attention.
"There is a widow...with a stately slow stride, eight minutes from the throne.” He cleared his throat. "I saw her dethrone, walk over to it." Marigold heard his jaw pop. "I saw the sun...fall from the sky!"
"Oh Celestia!" there was shock in her voice, Marigold imagined tears.
"I heard her say...'This is not how the story ends!' Then it plunged into us...Celestia screamed...we. Were. Gone...."
Marigold swallowed, her mouth was dry, she had slept through it! No wonder it was dark...no wait...she should have been dead...emolliated.
"That would explain the hot flash..."said another mare.
"But we're still here..."
"I heard her scream...I ask if she was alright...I mean we had just cleared the last of those, heated mare out of the throne room hours before...."there was quiet. “No I didn't see the end of the world." mumbles. "I thought it was just stress. Then she looked around, at her throne, at us, and let out a great sigh of relief and dismissed court early, saying she had an appointment standing at tea."
"Do you want to know my impressions of what I felt when we were gone?"
"No. Please tell us. It should be good for some hypothetical college lecture!"
"Please, tell us." pleaded a mare.
"Admonition:" said the stallion matterafactly."admonition of a parent to a child, a father to a son.
Mumbling heard around the fire.
"I don't suppose you heard words?" mocked one.
"They were, ‘it’s fixed, and it was serious. It’s forgiven. ‘My name is not to be misused.....the consequences, most serious’."
"Hah." laughed another unicorn. "I saw none of that!"
"...and a feeling...the world has changed...no more mindless sacrifice or meaningless ceremony....no....it has changed not magically or naturally but supernaturally...it overshadows it orbits it oversees before and now to after..."
There was murmuring, some agreement, some awe some to argue.
Marigold moved on.
Was that why she was clutching her pillow so tightly?
She heard Rose Water call out periodically, “Not here!" or "Get a room ponies! There are little ones present."
"Look! You missed the chariot back to the capital, you either behave or I'll have the guard take you to the edge of the woods if you can't control yourselves." Some took her up on the offer. “Really? You want to be nothing but a stripped femur in the morning when we find only you?" They always changed their minds.
Marigold came to a clearing. At first she couldn't tell sky from ground, the she understood it was full of pools. She took a drink. "Fresh water."
She then noticed a mare and a unicorn. She was playing with his horn. He wasn't sure what to do but just let her play.
"I'm following a downward spiral," she said with a playful lilt in her voice.
He began to sing," destination unknown
A double-crossed messenger, all alone
I can't get no connection, can't get through..."
"Where are you?" came another voice, it was Rose Water again. She chided the two lecturing them on self-control and encourage them to go and hang out, more like bullied, with a nearby family so as not to be tempted and give a bad example to the youth.
Rose Water glared at Marigold who decided to move on after breaking eye contact with the mare.
Rose Water then summoned a guard and as Marigold left told him to shadow her.
Briefly, in the darkness, Marigold thought she saw a unicorn and his family, a mare and a young daughter. But it couldn't have been.
His armor was dinned and dented. His horn was cracked at an impossible angle, nearly severed. The mare was muddied mane and tail unkempt. She wore a torn and dirty dress.
And the filly? She looked unnaturally fat..."No just fat," Marigold shuddered to herself as she looked away. "She's too young..."she looked back, they were gone, "must have imagined it."
Something interesting to hear...
"You're not really a pony?" asked a young pony.
"No."
"You look like a pony....."
"I well...its.."
"Why don't you tell the kids a story...maybe I'll understand..."
"Ah....That's a good idea. Have you ever heard the story of Beowulf?"
"No..."They said.
"It the story of a god in the shape of a m...pony and a thing of...wood and stones... that looked like a pony!”
Then a sad story head told by two mares.
"I wonder what it was like for him. To fall out of the sky...wander around for a day not being able to see or hear."
"Well we got the fever down, cleaned the infections, Celestia did her best." said the other. "But unless there is a miracle or a phoenix tear, he’ll never see or hear again...that was obvious when he wondered into that village."
"He was so confused, he fought."
"What is his name?"
"I think he built boats, said his name was Keeler..."
"Hmm...Sounds right, Heaven and Keeler....you will make him see."
"....I don't have the salary to support such!!"said Heaven Healer.
"Nopony asked you too....he's comfortable in hospital." She stabbed at the fire.
"What are you doing?" asked Healer.
"I see too logs,” said the unicorn. “both burning brighter together than separate. That no wedge can divide...”
"Are you talking about me?"
"You will help him see. At the water..."
"I told you...I can't do it."
"The more you run, the closer to the water you will get...get close to him now, save both your lives and the water will be harmless."
"I'm so confused.” said the other mare.
"When have I ever been wrong about you?"
"Logs?" there is a hollow thud sound.
"Ack!" the unicorn is startled.
"HA! My friend sees all the future around me but doesn't notice a towering stallion come into the camp fire light!" Heaven Healer laughs. "Yes please, put them over there."
"He's Mine!"Says a smaller voice.
"Yes...quiet a catch too!"
"Thanks!"
Marigold hears them tromp through the brush away from the fire.
"Haul logs here, haul logs there, this would be most dull if alone!" his voice deep and throbbing.
"What did you do before?"asks the smaller voice young and female.
"(sigh)I hauled logs.."
"Ok. No problem there, transition into the new life doing what you did before." there is cheer in her voice. "Other stallions should be so lucky.
"You don't understand. When I say I hauled log's I meant I loaded them on a vehicle sixteen wheels maybe twenty four hauling small fallen sequoia! Engine four thousand pound per foot and one thousand one hundred fifty cubic Inches, power of two thousand horses at smallest!" He said in a voice Marigold imagined sounding a lot like that engine. The mare with him gasped excited. He continued.
"Capable of going over sixty miles an hour governed, five thousand, two hundred and eighty feet per minute, five to eight times longer than your own hoof! Five hundred thousand pounds empty. Stopping distance: twice as far as one of those pens we were in in eight seconds, operated that machine coast to coast sea to sea, over mountain deserts and plains forest cities.”he grunted.
” But not on my back!"
"How romantic!"
"Roman...?"
He is interrupted by a kiss. "I say so."
"How could it be, Orange Rind, you weren't there!"
"And isn’t life more exciting with me here."
"Stop jumping on my back!"
"It’s just practice for later......."something in her voice.
"Oh look." he spoke hurriedly and nervously. "Their fire is about to go out guess they need a log!"
Ah romance, Marigold would have loved to listen but she had a mission.
What she heard next was rendering.
"You're not my father!!!!” screamed the foal. Mother tried to explain but was cut off. "I'm sick of this! Every time you get into the passion, you have to go looking for a stallion, stallion here stallion there! Here! “She mocked. “OH and look at the big pigeon you managed to find! Pig! Pig! pig!"
Then a male voice, "Lay off your mother!"
"You can't tell me what to do!" the filly screamed.
"I'm sorry about your father...."
"You. Never knew. My father!" crying. "I never, never, never, never. Want to be like you!" mother was crying now. "I'm talking to you PIG!"
"How dare you! I've served my community over ten years I lost friends and colleges all in the line of duty, wearing the blue..."
"What are you talking about you stupid!!"She choked.
"No." said the stallion quietly. "None of you would know what I'm talking about. I can't...use it....I have to...be it..."
"So!" said the male determined. "You are disgusted you mother gets these...passions?"
"Iam!!!!!"
"How would it be if I, with your mother’s supervision, taught you how to say no when the boys come around."
The sniffling stifled. "Can you do that?"
"Is it possible?" asked the mother.
"I'm sure it can be remedied, I have experience some army training and discipline, I'm sure we can do it." He said confidently. "She already has the determination...."he talked to the child directly, "if you stop persecuting your mother, we, you, your mother interceding and I, can come up with ways to help you. Then when the boys come around you can lift up your nose and say, No!" There was quiet. "Please let me help you..."
"You have till next spring..."growled the filly.
"Great! I....AHHH!" the stallion cried out.
"Not again! How are you dislocating your wings like that? Hold still." said mother.
"Hmmp! You promise me self-control but you can't even control your wings!"
There was cracking sound and the stallion cried out again. Marigold was close enough to hear.
"Let her be made at me...better me than you, her only mother."
"Lots of luck." Marigold thought as she walked passed.
"There they were a dozen stuck in that lightning tree, all looking stupid; some were even eating the rainbow fruit!" He then went at great lengths to explain an exaggerated tale about he got them out of the tree, Rube Goldberg style!
"Pass!" Marigold said.
She was getting anxious. She should have been there by now.
Wait. What? Turned around again? She headed back toward the cyclopean cisterns.
"I really wish your wife had come Doctor Puzzle," said a mare, "and you Captains, you really should get a wife. I do tire of these bro bonding nights and I have nopony to talk too. The testosterone is oppressive, the conversation awkward." She huffed. "Oh, do find a wife Sergeant Captains! I'm sure she will adore you as I adore my Wishies here."
"Not behind the ear," said a laughing voice.
"Ah...no. From what I've seen, from what was available today, nothing desirable and desirable was simply unavailable. Unlike you two; a Captain and his lovely wife, doing their duty to help repopulate the country in our demographic crisis," said the sergeant. "with a soon to be large herd!”
"We only have one daughter!" The unicorn laughed hysterically. "Don't let me use my magic on you!"
"Oh save me sergeant from this upstart captain, they outnumber us, these two unicorns! We minority pony and pegisi must stick together! Tickle him with your wings!"
"It’s a plot! That's why you left your daughter at home, political power. Revolution! “said an older voice.
"No." came the sergeant’s pouty voice. "That's mares work. You take care of your own unicorns. You're outvoted at home too. Ask your daughter to tickle him."
"Outvoted, where I turn wherever, “she squealed as the laughter increased. “But no, she has an important test she is studying for."
"Hey!" the voice came hoarsely from laughter. "Tell you what stop tickling and I will show you the new trick I learned. I'll teleport you to Lord Puzzle’s estate. You can walk home and look in on her, when you can't shreve!"
"No!" screamed a stallion. "Don't do that!"
"Puzzle!" said the laughing one seriously. "Don't drop that book in the fire!" Scuffing sound.
"Second time." said Puzzle.
"What..?"
"It’s a copy. After that dam stunt the pegisi pulled today I took it from that recluse of ours hiding in the wall."
"Soldier? You took it from soldier? “said the pegisus.
"Split his hoof pretty badly. Is that what you've taken to calling him, our fire jumper?"
"Well I found him at the water bar after you lost him, pretending trying to blend in that's what I call him."
"You took his book?" now the laughing voice was angry. “He was in tears when I gave it back to him with the new cover!"
"Only to have it cleaned.” said the voice, a bushing sound came later. “Blood and parchment don't mix cleaned it gave it back...along with a bag of sardines in mustard sauce and hard tack."
"I'm going to eat you little fishy!!"sang the Pegisi."Nice fellow Doctor Pax Claw."
"Shh." whispered the mare. "No."
"But. His. Book, doctor!" he was getting flustered.
"It’s a copy. Can't you tell? The paper is not nearly the quality or has the gossameric properties of this one, it twice as thick. See?"
"But how?"
"Same bookbinder...made copy, asked me if I wanted one."
"Wait." said the female. "Book binders take weeks to bind books."
"Well, his was a special emergency." said the younger unicorn captain. "I took it to the best...who shall remain nameless, he works for the royal achieve and does important work, he owed me a favor."
"I also!" said doctor Puzzle. "But when he told me how singularly unmagical this book is, it’s a riddle,"
"As you always do." said the pegisi sergeant.
Ignoring him'"...I said I'm going to solve this riddle. You know how much I love translating languages. This one is easy. “More rustling. “It’s our language only different letters, truly fascinating. “There was a page rustle. “For different sounds, the letters break them down, or compress them together. For instance "the" these two letter make up the "the" sound. As opposed to the ‘one’ we use.” he then made a "th" sound through his teeth.
"Yes." said the mare. "All well and fascinating, but a grown stallion pays attention to the affairs of his household..."she now spoke very gently. “What’s wrong at home?"
"You do have to pick, don't you?" he shot back hostilely. "Is it that obvious?" he reframed.
"Mmmhm."
"I've been avoiding going home. My wife wants me to meet this new stallion, her friend, Glam Mare, just married." He mumbled. "I honestly didn't think she liked stallions."
"Glam Mare?” said the pegisi."She was the one harassing Soldier!"
"What?" said the doctor.
"She fell on her back and swallowed the forget-me-not lipstick she was wearing."
"Then she kissed this other fellow." said the doctor.
"Uh, I didn't think about that."
"I see what she's doing...have to be careful otherwise I endanger what I promised Soldier,have to give the two good memories before the thing wears off, hope I can help them bind, Crosswords how could you!" Again he said under his breath.
"Give Soldier what?" asked the pegisi.
There was silence. "I think him worthy...."
"Doctor Puzzle…"said the earth mare surprised.
"Oh, my…Celestia's going to have a new neighbor in the future!“ The captain gave his wife a kiss.
"Won't those capital city snobs be...."said the pegisi,
"…totally and utterly aghast!" said the mare in fanned shock. They the all started laughing around the fire.
Marigold moved on.
Marigold heard a baby cry crying. She looked down and saw it was a little foal she was holding in one leg she sat down, such joy as she lifted her up and nuzzled her.
Her own child, this, a vision of the future, with her pony stallion? Something pricked her cheek. She drew it back and looked it over. She had a horn. She was a unicorn! Well that's fine; sometimes if there is a unicorn in one’s ancestry....there was no unicorn in her ancestry certainly any in his!
Marigold was still walking. Wait, again she had been distracted. The sight and the scent of the child were gone, her mind pondered this.
"Just a dream, I will be faithful! There will be no unicorn."
Marigold stopped looked around. She had been turned around again. Something was making distracted. She heard a laugh, look a little ways saw something...yellow eyes, indistinct, warble laughter and moving in the bush, if that were possible.
"Oh...but the tyke is of unicorn stock!"
Suddenly something sprang up in front of her, startling her. Up and up it went higher and higher it didn't seem to stop. When it did, all Marigld could see where the yellow eyes somewhere in the top, she still couldn't wrap her mind around, of the shadowed form.
Thought translated: “Error...prmt connect device on early.."
As if she could possibly understand that on top of what she was seeing.
Something tapped the top of her head.
It touched her mind. "No? Forgotten me from history?" she felt it say, "What’s the matter.....too soon?"
Her mind was suddenly dropped in a vat of jellow and surrounded by a thick blanket, dots and flashes appeared in her eyes as they began to swirl. “Disco Dance Party!" came a muffled voice inside her mind. Her mouth felt like it was full of sawdust and cotton and....
"Peanut Butter....choclate?" she said through puffed cheeks as she fell over on her side like a shutdown toy.
"Actually...its Nutella..."said the voice again.
There was a wince as something dug its heels into Discord’s sides.