> Dragon Stone > by Rain-Flash > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I looked around the room in a desperate attempt to find something to do. "Ugh," I groaned, "I'm so bored!" It was if my mom had super hearing or something because just as I uttered those words she stepped into the room. My mom's short black and wavy hair rustled with her quick movement, her dark brown eyes looking at me, calculating. "There are lots of things to do around here," She began. She then started naming off activities I could try on her fingers, though I wouldn't really call them activities for my such interests, "You could read a book, go outside, clean your room, do more school work..." I stopped listening after she listed off school work. I thought she was suppose to be listing off things that wouldn't make me bored. I got up from the couch that I occupied, wanting to stop my mom in her tracks of suggested activities, "Okay I'll try to find something to do," I gave my mom a strained smile, at least she tried. "I'm going to start by going for a walk," I told her, grabbing my music player and headphones while making my way towards the door, " Be back in a little while." With that, I had walked out of the house and into the crisp fall air. I inserted the headphones into my ears, connecting them to the music player, then pressed the triangular button that universally meant 'play'. "Life is boring," I tell myself, "there is nothing to do here. My friends live somewhere else while I'm stuck on this side of the planet!" I started kicking a rock that was in front of me. "At least my cousin is coming and things are never boring when I'm with my sisters." I was headed toward the park that was but merely five streets away from mine. The park had a track that I often liked walking around to just think to myself for a little while before entering back into my life with my family. In order to get to this track I had to walk down an alcove that made it seem like an alleyway, though there were two sets of sidewalks on either side of the street, as well as a road separating the two. Bushes cluttered the left side of the street, some nicely trimmed, others unkempt to the point that it made you wonder when was the last time it was taken care of. Though the right side of the street was the polar opposite of the left. All that lay on the right side of the street was a, a bus dropping off kids from school, and brick wall which opened up at points to reveal a field of grass sparsely laden with trees whose leaves were turning a greenish-orange from the fall weather. I decided to take a moment and "smell the roses" as they would say. I strayed into the field between the opening of the wall, away from where I was originally going to go. While I was admiring the trees and their beautiful leaves, someone walked up to me. Sensing this, I turned my head to see a woman with long, blue, ethereal looking hair wearing a blue t-shirt, jeans, and a dark blue sweater; around her neck she wore a necklace with a half moon on it. She looked up at the tree and spoke with curiosity. "What is it about this tree that fascinates you so much?" Her voice was kind and soft. "I just like the color of the leaves in the fall." I replied simply. I then turned around and began to head in the direction of the track again. "Might I join you on your walk?" the woman asked. I wasn't sure if I was okay with that, she might be a killer or a- "I don't mind." I started to curse my mouth for reacting without my brain. "Thank you," She smiled and began walking beside me. "I've had a long day, and being all by myself isn't helping at all." "What happened?" I asked. "My sister and I had an argument on something. Afterwards I went to her student to talk about our situation, and when my sister found out what I had done she wasn't too happy," She gave a sigh, "But why am I burdening you with this since we have only just met?" I shrugged, "Maybe you'll feel better after a joke." I gave her a small smile. "Go ahead." She said in anticipation. "This one is my sister's favorite," I cleared my throat, "There are two muffins in the oven, one muffin says 'it's hot in here', and the other says 'AH! a talking muffin!'" The woman started laughing. She laughed so hard she had to lean against the wall we were walking by to keep from falling over. "What is your name?" The woman asked once she stopped laughing. "I'm Joseph." I held my hand out to shake hers, "What is your name?" "I am princess Luna of Equestria, but Luna will be fine." she reached out and shook my hand. When we touched hands there was a brilliant bright light that blinded my eyes for a few moment. When the light faded, my hand felt like it was burning. "OW!" I yell. Luna took in a sharp breath, her eyes widening, "Oh-my-gosh-are-you-alright?" she asked quickly. "Yeah," I assured her, "It didn't even hurt, it just took me by surprise." I forced a smile. 'That really hurt!' I yelled inside my head. After she made doubly sure I was okay she said she had to go back home, and looking at the time I should have been heading home as well. "See ya around." I waved good bye. Luna waved back and started walking away, and as she did something dropped from her pocket. I reached down to picked it up, and upon examination It looked like a bracelet. The bracelet was a pansy purple with a maroon colored jewel in the middle, and eight tiny emeralds evenly distributed among the two sides of it. I look back up and turned my head in the direction of where Luna was walking. "Hey, you dropped this!" I called out as I tried to get over to her, but the bus from earlier got between Luna and I. When it passed, Luna was gone. I looked around a bit to find her, but she was nowhere to be found. 'I'll give it back the next time I see her.' With that, I started my trek home again. Once inside my house my younger sister looked up from her computer. "Come here!" she exclaimed, "I found this game that I think you'll really like!" "Nooo," I whined playfully, "I need to sit down, I'm tired." I trudged toward my room. "I'll take a shower later," I tell myself with a yawn, "For some reason I'm really tired." While in my room I take off my shoes and climb into bed, putting my music player on the nightstand. After I close my eyes I felt the cat rub up against me, move across my bed next to my pillow, and I smiled as I went to sleep. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hey mister," a voice called out to me,"Are ya okay?" The voice sounded like a country accent. I blinked, my eyes trying to adjust to the light. All I could see was a blurry image that turned into two others. "Ya'll go get some help, I'll stay here 'case he wakes up." The voice seemed far off, as if it was an echo. My vision slowly returned, the blurry images turning into three little girls who were standing over my body. I sat up. The first girl wore blue jeans, with a green shirt, and a bow that adorned her red hair, what stood out amongst her appearance though was her tangerine colored eyes. The second girl had purple hair and lavender eyes, she wore a gray zipped up hoodie and moss green shorts. And the last girl wore a white and pink striped shirt, a light maroon jacket, and a yellow knee length skirt, with yellow-green eyes and a stripped cameo-pink and purple hair. "Do I have something on my face?" the second girl asked. "Scootaloo," the third looked over at the girl with purple hair, "Only you could walk around with food on your face." "Hey!" Scootaloo protested, "whats that supposed to mean?!" The two started to throw insults back and forth to each other, "Sorry 'bout ma friends," the girl with red hair apologized, "I'm Apple Bloom, that's Sweetie Belle," She pointed over to the girl with the striped hair, who was still insulting her friend, "and that's Scootaloo, It's nice to meet ya!" I looked over and waved at Scootaloo and Sweetie, "Um... Hi?" I said questionably. The realization that I was in the middle of nowhere laying on the ground, out side of a creepy looking forest, with three girls that looked like they were thirteen, finally hit me. "A~Ah!" I jump to my feet, as I raked my hands through my hair. "It'll be okay," I tell myself, "I was just kidnapped by three girls!" "Um, sir?" Apple Bloom raised her finger, "We didn't kidnap you." "Yeah," Sweetie Belle added, "We just found you lying in the grass here sleeping" she pointed to a patch of grass with the outline of a person. "What would a kidnapping cutie mark look like anyway?" Scootaloo rubbed her head in thought. "I don't know," Sweetie remarked, "Who would even do that in the first place?" "So if you didn't kidnap me, then why was I laying on the ground, and not in my bed?" I asked, "And why are we outside a forest?" "I don't know 'bout you mister." Apple Bloom replied. "We were gonna go see our friend Zacora." "What? Does she live in the forest?" I inwardly laughed at my joke. "She sure does!" Scootaloo exclaims proudly, "And it's not just a forest, it's called the Everfree forest for a reason." My face turned serious, "Wait... she actually lives in a forest? for what reason!" The three girls looked at each other, then began to talk at once, "One at a time, if you please." "Well, the Everfree forest just ain't natural." Apple Bloom began, "The plants grow on their own." "The animals are wild, and eat other animals," Scootaloo added, "and the clouds move all by themselves." "And, um." Sweetie looked to the sky in thought, then back down to me, "What they said," she smiled. I looked at the forest, fear of the place starting to build, "Doesn't sound like the kind of place I want to live," I turned to the three girls, and looked at them like they were crazy, " Why do you guys want to go in there? I've seem to have forgotten that part." They were about to tell me again, when a voice from behind me caught their attention, "There ya' are Apple Bloom," the voice was also a country accent, like Apple Blooms, " I was lookin' fer' ya' at Pinkies party," "Ah horse apples." Apple Bloom sighed. I turned around to see who was talking, the girl stood there with her hands on her hips, she had long blonde hair that had a rubber band at the end of it, keeping it from going all over the place and beautiful green eyes, she wore an orange plaid shirt, blue jeans, and a brown hat that I believed was called a stetson. I shook my head when I noticed I was staring. "And you brought this poor man out here with you too?" she extended her hand out to me, "I'm very sorry sir." she apologies as she shook my hand. "But sis we were just gonna' see if Zecora wanted to come to the party, and we found this guy on the ground." Apple Bloom said, Apple jack didn't seem to buy her excuse. In that moment I had a small surge of confidence, "Thay're telling the truth," the blond girl looked at me, her eyes looked like they could spot a lie a mile away, I gulped hard confidence gone, "I was laying here, and they told me that they were going to see, what ever her name was," I said sheepishly, "Sorry, I'm bad with names." The blonde girl's eyes scanned me, It was as if she was studying me by looking into my soul, it sent shivers down my spine, after a moment her face returned to normal " Well I guess any friend of my sis is alright, it's mighty nice to meet ya', my name's AppleJack what's yours?" she asked, "My name's Joseph." I asked, a little surprised at her sudden friendliness. "Are ya new to ponyville?" she asked, "Because if ya are, then y'all are in for a big surprise when you actually enter ponyville." 'Ponyville? who would name a town Ponyville?' I asked myself "Why, what's going on there?" "Our princess is visitin' ponyville, so mah friend, Pinkie, decided ta throw her a party." Applejack sighed, "Honestly, I don't know why that girl has ta have a reason to have a party." "What do you mean, 'has to have a reason'?" "Pinkie can't seem ta have a party, just for the heck of it, don't get me wrong, I like her party's, but there is always some reason for it." "Wait, so what is this party about?" "This one is a "Welcome to ponyville again Celestia" party, and everyone in ponyville is invited." My eyes grew bigger with surprise, "The whole town?!" I exclaimed. "Yep, and I heard on ma way over here that Celestia's sister, Luna, is in town too." 'If this is the same Luna I met while walking, then I have a few questions for her,' I thought, I tried to think of an excuse to see Luna, and ask her were I am when I remembered, "Can you take me to Luna please, I saw her drop this and I wanted to return it." I reached into my pocket, and pulled out the bracelet, how it got in my pocket I'll never know. "Well that's mighty kind o'ya, sure I'll take you to her," Applejack looked at her sister, and her friends, " Y'all are comin' along to, don't need you guys runnin' off an gettin' into trouble." Applejack began to walk back in the direction she came from, with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell, and I following behind, " And ta make sure that doesn't happen i'm gonna leave y'all with Granny and Big Mac." > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applejack and I left Apple Bloom and her two other friends at the front gate to Sweet Apple Acres. I waved good bye to the three girls as we headed down the road in the direction of town. My curiosity about this place was beginning to grow little by little as we walked along. "What's this country called?" I asked, still gawking at the world around me, "I don't think I have ever seen it on any of the maps of the world." "Huh," Applejack huffs, "that's funny. Equestria is usually right next to the griffin kingdom." She looked up in thought. My mind was spinning from all this new information. The fact that I didn't know anything about this place scared me a little, so I tried to get my bearings. "So then which way is it to the United States?" I asked. "Sorry, couldn't tell ya," I began to sigh in relief at her words, "because I don't know what the United States is." Then, panic built up inside of me again. Everyone knows where and what the U.S. is. "You know Manhattan right?" "Ya'll sure do pronounce things funny," she said chuckling. "It's not said man-hat-in, it's manehattan, and it's the stop before Appaloosa." "That's it," I thought, "My life is over." "Cheer up." Applejack gave me a smile. "I'm sure the princesses can send you back home." I slowed a little. "How did you know I'm not from here?" I asked. She then turned around and smiled. "You can say it's because of all the weird questions ya ask." She chuckled some more, then gestured for me to keep walking. "Now let's get going. Don't want ya to miss the princesses." She ended up getting far enough ahead that I had to jog to catch up to her. * * * * * After a while of walking through the town, Applejack and I came upon a building that looked like a gingerbread house. Inside was a girl with pink curly hair. She was holding a silver tray. Her mouth dropped when she saw me, then she ran off further into the building with the tray. "What is this place?" I asked. Applejack was about to say something when someone burst out of the building and picked me up in a huge hug, a different voice replacing Applejack's, "Thisplaceissugarcubecornerthemostfantasticalplaceinallofponyville!!" "Can't." I gasped "Breath!" I gasped out. Right after I said that, I was dropped on my hands and knees, gasping for air. "I'msorryit'sjustyournewandit'ssoexcitingwhenyoumeetnewpeopleyaknow?" I looked up, still taking in air, to see the girl with pink hair standing over me. She took something from her tray. "Cupcake?" she asked with a beam. "I'm afraid he's not here for the party," Applejack said. The girl didn't seem to be phased by this. "I know that, silly!" she said, fanning her hand at Applejack, "I just came out here to tell you guys that-" She stopped mid-sentence and put on a helmet that was white with red dots all over it, "-the princess is in another castle." "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked "It means she's not here," Applejack replied. She then turned to the girl. "Y'all have any idea where she went?" The girl gave Applejack a smile, "Yep!" We stood there in silence for a bit. "Well?" I asked. "Well, I can't tell you!" the girl exclaimed. "Why not?" Applejack asked. "She said that it was a secret and that she was looking for something, but I don't remember what," the girl tapped her chin with her finger. "Well, can't sit around here all day thinking about it. I have guests to host!" She picked me up off the ground and gave me another hug, but this one was a bit lighter. "It was nice to meet you, Joseph! I'm Pinkie. Have a fun time in Ponyville." She stopped hugging me and started skipping off. "How did she know my name?" I asked, looking at Applejack. "Little word of advice for ya, never question Pinkie; it just makes life simpler," Applejack smiled at me. "Oookay?" I still wanted to know how Pinkie knew my name and why we were here. "Now what do I do!" "Calm down," Applejack said. "Calm down!" I repeated, now agitated. "How can I calm down when the princess is my only way home?!" I throw my arms up in the air. "Granny always said, ya can't think on an empty stomach, and the princess might come back to the party, so we'll talk to her when she arrives." She gave me a smile and gestured toward Sugarcube Corner. "Ok," I said with my head facing toward the ground. "But as soon as we see Luna, we talk to her," I said as I raised my head and pointed at her. "Deal." Applejack then turned and walked into the gingerbread bakery, with me behind her. > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luna began her walk from Twiligh's library back to Sugar Cube Corner. 'What is sister thinking?' She asked herself. Earlier that day Luna and her sister, Celestia got into an argument about the safety of Equestria again, and again her sister told her she'll take care of it, 'What kind of princess am I to her?' Luna asked no one in particular. The rant continued on in her head untill she heard what she thought was one, but found out there were two, voices she recognized, they both were coming toward Sugar Cube Corner. Luna ducked behind the wall of a house to conceal herself as she peaked around the corner at the two voices. The owner of the first voice, Luna recognized as Apple Jack, but who was she talking to? Did her sister send a royal guard to check on her? She wondered. It wasn't long before the owner of the second voice came out frombehind the building that was blocking her view of him. The boy had dirty blond hair, he wore a plain green shirt and a pair of jeens. His hazle eyes were looking at Apple Jack as they were heading into the candy house building, containing a party. Apple jack said something to the boy, then his head looked down for a bit, as it came up from looking at the ground with what looked like renewed determination, replied then they both walked in together. "Haven't we seen that boy before?" Luna asked herself. She followed the boy and Applejack inside Surger Cube Corner, she had to go in to talk to her sister anyway so why not, she thought. As she walked in, Luna looked to her right and saw DJ-Pon3 in her DJ stand playing music, with people on a flashing floor doing what looked like dancing. Luna thought if anyone came in to the candy house, they wouldn't recognise it, and (to Luna's surprise) her sister was in the DJ stand with DJ-Pon3 mixing music and dancing. Luna rolled her eyes, "The strange habits my sister has" she said with a sigh as she began her walk towards her sister. ***** Joseph entered the candied building and followed Apple Jack unconsciously through the crowd, music filled his ears whether he liked it or not, the room was dark except for the flashing lights of the dance floor, and the ball above it, there were two people in the DJ stand, and one was visibly taller then the other, but it was easy to tell that the shorter one was running the show. Joseph was paying so much attention to his surroundings, he ran into Apple Jack when she stopped, she turned and looked at him, "sorry." He said plainly, she turned back around adressing the person in front of her, Joseph looked around Apple Jack at the person. The man was huge, with muscles rippling through his body, the man had blond hair, an earing in his left ear, and a tattoo of a dumbbell on both shoulders, he wore a white tank top, with plane blue jeens and boots. "Do y'all know where I can find Princess Twilight?" Apple Jack asked. The man though for a moment then yelled "YEAH!" And pointed in the direction behind the counter and though the double doors, that looked like the entrance to a saloon in the western days. Apple Jack regarded the man again, "Thank you, and can ya tell Rainbow that our re-match will have to wait?" "YEAH!" Joseph jumped this time, he didn't expect the man to yell his response, 'just a nod or something, but yelling?' He thought. Joseph followed Apple Jack to the back, they went through the double doors, and entered the kitchen of the establishment. As they entered the room the woman began to face the newcomers who stepped into the room, the woman was shorter than Apple Jack by an inch, her hair was multiple colors of purple that reached down to the middle of her back, her eyes were maroon, and she wore a purple, long sleeved, shirt with a magenta colored star in the middle, which had many smaller white stars around it, she was wearing capris. "Hello Apple Jack, what can I do for you." The woman asked with a smile. "Good'ay Twilight, " Apple Jack said with a bow, "Have you seen princess Luna today?" Apple Jack asked. The woman, whose name was apparently Twilight was about to answer Apple Jack, when a voice came up from behind her. "Were you looking for me?" Everyone turned around to see Luna in the doorway to the kitchen, with someone else behind her. ***** Luna walked up on stage to her sister, who was in the DJ booth and pull her a side, she returned to the mic for a minute, "My sister shal be right back" Luna said, and went off the stage again. Her sister was still partying, no surprise though, she had a lamp shade on her head, and the music was still going. "Sister," Luna began, "I mu-" her sister held her hand up. "Hold up," Luna's sister began to touch Luna's face, "this is... umm," she was still touching Lunas face as Luna rolled her eyes. "CELESTIA!" Luna yelled Her sister jumped, "Jeez, you don't have to be so loud," her sister said in a whiney voice. Her attitude didn't seem like her, and now that Luna thought of it she didn't recall being four inches taller than her sister. The lamp shade was raised, and under was certainly NOT Celestia, "if you're looking for the princess, she is talking with princess Twilight in the kitchen, and asked me to fill in for her." "And you have done well," a voice from behind Luna said, she turned around and saw the real Celestia, "I have been looking all over for you Luna, we need to discuss something, Twilight is waiting for us." Celestia motioned her arm toward the other room, as Luna took the lead stomping, she was a little upset that her sister was bringing Twilight into this, the poor girl has already been through so much and needed a break. They walked through the double doors, and to Luna's surprise, she found the boy from earlier in the room with Apple Jack. "Well we found her" Apple Jack said with a smile. **** Luna looked at Joseph for what felt like hours, she probably wasn't to happy to see him, "I just have to ask him something real quick," Luna took Joseph aside, "Who are you?" She asked, "you follow me to this party, and now to a meeting my sister sets up!" It was clear to Joseph that Luna hadn't slept in a while, and she seemed very paranoid, "I'm Joseph, don't you remember me?" He asked, "I have been trying to find you to return this." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the bracelet. Luna's face softened as she looked from Joseph to the bracelet, then she realized what she was doing. She had accused the boy, of something she only assumed was the truth. And the last time she did that, she was banished to the moon. Twilight and Celestia began to approach them, "If you don't mind Luna, we have some things we must talk about." Celestia said. Joseph took that as he cue to get going, but he remembered he was no where near home, Joseph faced Luna "How do I get home from here?" He asked her, "I don't know where I am, and I don't live in this land." Celestia looked at Joseph questioningly, then she replied to his question instead of her sister, "I'll have my guards escort you to a place you can stay until we can get you home." She smiled at him, as a couple of guards came in and took him out of the gingerbread looking building. It wasn't that bad of a walk, 'it actually was a nice town' Joseph thought, he was now able to enjoy the sights because he did what he came to do, and he took comfort in the fact that he was going to be going home sometime. He then saw a shadow move out of the corner of his eye, but when he looked nothing was there, so he shrugged it off as nothing and kept on going. > Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celestia's guards took Joseph to a house that was outside of the small town known as ponyville, the house was surrounded by evergreen trees, that for some reason grew carrots, the house had a roof made of sticks, straw and brick, the windows had water in place of glass in them. Outside the house there was a cotton candy cloud raining down a brown liquid, and a man was running around under the cloud splashing in the puddles it was making. He leapt around like a child, he was wearing one long, brown sleeve on his right arm that wasn't attached to anything, his left arm had a short, green sleeve on it, and he was wearing a yellow tank top, his right foot had a sandal, while the left had a running shoe on it, and the closest thing the man had to trousers was a mix between pants, shorts, and swim wear. Joseph looked around, desperate to find something that actually made a smidgen of sense, "What is this place?" He asked. One of the guards gave a small laugh, and it wasn't the friendly kind either, as he answered Joseph, "This is the house of Discord, the spirit of chaos." Just as he said 'chaos' his armor turned into a half butterfly, half bee thing. "That's MISTER Discord to you my good sir." Discord floated down, snapped his fingers and sat down in the chair he created, sipping a cup of tea. "Well MISTER Dis-" The second guard began before being interrupted. "I don't like that tone in your voice when you say mister," Discord said as he crossed his arms and looked away, "It sounds like you guys aren't happy to see me, and quite frankly that hurts my feelings." He gave a fake frown and looked away poutingly "We don't have time for this!" The first guard yelled, "Princess Celestia-" the first guard was interrupted by Discord's jabbering this time. "Oh Celestia, how is the old lady?" Discord asked, "honestly it's been such a long time since I've seen her, maybe I should pay her a visit some time, tell me does she still live in that run down place she and her sister call a castle?" Joseph didn't know if he should laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, or keep silent so Discord wouldn't notice him. He found out that the latter was useless when Discord waved at him and mouthed something to him. "Don't worry, I'll babby sit for Celestia today," Discord snapped his fingers, then the next thing Joseph knew, he was standing next to Discord. "But let her know, I charge fifteen bits an hour." He smiled at his comment as the guards rolled their eyes and walked away. He waved in their direction, "Tata make sure no one steals a honey bun!" He then focused on Joseph, "I have to apologise for their behavior, they aren't very hospitable you know, but down to business, how are you doing buddy?" He gave Joseph a pat on the back. "I haven't seen you in ages!" "I'm sorry, do I know you?" Joseph asked. "Well I could be mistaken for someone else, but that's all up to you to decide now isn't it." Discord materialized matching necklaces that said 'Friends Forever' on them, he then landed on the ground and put one around Joseph's neck, "My, don't you look adorable in that necklace!" He gave a fake squeal. Joseph stood there confused, "What's going on?" He tried to take the necklace off, but when he went to touch it, it hissed at him. He quickly pulled his hand back. "Did this necklace just try to bite me!?" "What's going on is sun butt is going to owe me a lot of money," Discord grinned with delight, "and yes it did, you have to be very careful with how you handle it, didn't your mother ever tell you that necklaces have feelings to? But that's not important, what is important is I need to get ready for a picnic with my good friend Fluttershy," he formed a wardrobe and started throwing clothes out of it making a huge pile, "as a friend you would surely know how much this means to me right?" He stopped throwing clothes for a moment, "What do you think of this one?" He took out a suit and slapped it on as if it was tape, "Not enough, or is it to fancy?" Joseph kept staring at Discord without so much as a word, he walked around the wood closet, knocking on the back. The wardrobe turned to him and began rubbing against him purring, "And there it goes again, it just can't get enough of these people." Discord slapped his face, "Oh bother," something that sounded like thunder echoed in the distance, Discord looked in the direction it came from, there was a huge rain cloud headed for a larg mountain with a city on the side of it, "No one told me about a rain storm, must have slipped their mind," He gave a shrug, "well come now old friend, I don't know your new name, but you can tell me that inside where we won't get sprayed on by fruit cakes." He turned to the mismatched house and walked up to a wall where the door would be. Joseph, once finished with his wardrobe fascination, ran up behind Discord, "What do you mean new name?" Discord made the wardrobe disappear then shushed Joseph, looked around to make sure no one was looking, and threw him at the wall where the door would be, Joseph covered his head with his hands instinctively, not like it would help any, but instead of the pain of hitting the wall with his head, he felt the pain of hitting the floor with his back, Joseph got up and looked at his new surroundings. The inside looked decent enough, nothing out of the ordinary or weird looking, the couch sat to the left of him, if it had been set a few paces to the right then he would have landed in it instead of on the floor, their was a circular staircase heading up to the second floor, through the archway infront of him was a kitchen, or what looked like one, behind him the door that he was thrown at hung open with a wall in its way. Discord walked through the wall with a smile, then he saw where the couch was and frouned. He rushed over and pushed Joseph aside, moved the couch infront of the door, and threw Joseph onto it. "There much better," he smiled and pushed the couch back into the living room, "now what is your new name?" Discord asked, the door closed behind him with the flick of his wrist, "Is it that name you've always wanted? Archipelago or something like that?" "I have no idea what you're talking about," Joseph's words were muffled by the couch. "I've never changed my name." The couch was finally in the living room, "Well don't keep me guessing, you know your old pal doesn't like that sort of thing." "What pal?" Joseph got his head out of the couch, "My name is Joseph, and I don't even know you! How can you say we're old buddies and expect me to know your likes and dislikes?" Discord looked at the window with a blank expression, "You really don't know me then, do you?" Joseph shook his head slowly, Discord laughed under his breath, "She told me not to get too excited, said you wouldn't remember me, that the person I knew died a long time ago." A knock sounded at the door, and Discord became chipper again, "now who could that be?" He opened the door, "Well hello there Fluttershy, what a delightful surprise," he smiled at his new company, "come in, come in!" Fluttershy walked into the weird house and looked around, "I like what you did with your house." Her voice was soft, so soft in fact, that you could make a blanket out of it. "You really like it?" Fluttershy nodded, "it's nice." She smiled at Discord. "Thank you," Discord slithered to the couch where Joseph sat, "Fluttershy, I'd like you to meat my new friend, Joseph." He circled his arm around Joseph's face. Fluttershy tried to hide behind her hair, "Hello," she said as she rubbed her arm, her voice was so quiet that Joseph couldn't hear her name. "I'm sorry what was that?" Joseph asked, "I couldn't hear you." "Her name is Fluttershy, she is a bit shy for a first impression, but once she gets to know you she won't be as shy anymore," Discord walked over to the kitchen, There was a sound of clattering in the kitchen for a minute, then he reappeared in the room with a plate with sandwiches and a vegetable Joseph had never seen on it. "Are you ready for our party?" Discord asked. They walked out the door, then Discord popped his head in the house again, "I'll be home later, if you leave the house then leave the door open, or you will never find your way back in, TA!" His head disappeared behind the fake wall leaving Joseph alone in the house. Hours passed and the sun began to set, Joseph was still trying to soak everything in, and it took all the willpower he had to keep from losing his sanity, he found that laying upside down on the couch didn't help either, "Discord has been gone a really long time." He thought. He made the decision to try and see what's around since he had nothing better to do, and he doesn't have to chase a supposed princess to another world. He got up from his blood rushing position and went over to the door. Joseph put his hand on the knob and was about to turn it when he heard the sound of pebbles hitting something outside, he quickly looked at the water filled window, but instead of water, it was turning to ice! There was a shadow behind the ice, and when it noticed Joseph had saw it the thing ran. "HEY!" Joseph yelled, and ran after it, flinging open the door and running out. He so easily forgot Discord's warning that he didn't make sure the door stayed open upon exiting. Outside the house the sun was down and the moon was beginning to rise, Joseph ran out of the tree area that surrounded Discord's house chasing the figure, he stopped when he reached the top of a hill, and standing at the top was the figure. "Hello there.. Joseph" the things voice was deep, and it sounded like it was gargling marbles. It was wearing a hood, and from the hood came a larg, white, toothy smile. There where no eyes that Joseph could see. "Who are you? Why are you following me? And how do you know my name?" The thing raised its hand, "patients boy, I will only answer one question at a time," the smile on the things face, or where the face should be, grew wider, "we have as much time as there is moon light, who I am is none of your concern, all that you need to know is that I am a friend," "If you are my friend then why do you hide under that cloke?" "The pice of cloth you see around me keeps me hidden from things I don't want seeing me," he put his hand on the cloth and rubbed it as if it was a good luck charm. "Besides, do you really have to see someone face to face to be their friend? Take Discord for example, you have never seen him, but he claims to be your friend." Joseph thought about it for a moment, "I guess that's true," Joseph thought for a moment, "why you have been following me?" He finally asked. "you have the mark," the thing pointed to Joseph's hands. Joseph looked at them, and in the palm of his hands was a picture of some fangs sinking itself into a half moon. "What did you do to my hands!?" Joseph began to freak out, and tried getting the picture off his hands. "Nothing my dear boy, that is just a seal for anyone who enters this land, a seal that allows them to unlock their true power, given to them by the gods themselves." He gave a bow at their mention, "And who says I have been following you?" Joseph tried to calm down, but didn't stop messing with his hands, "I've been seeing you out of the corner of my eye, but when ever I look, you would disappear." The things eyes shown now through the blackness in the hood, they were a solid red and looked menacing, but they were filled with fear instead of the intention of harm. "They have found you, I must go!" "Wait, whats wrong?" "Do you remember the gods I was talking about?"Joseph nodded, "one of them rebelled against the rest killing them all and tried to take the world by force, but for years the only thing keeping him from taking over equestria is the princesses," A rumble sounded again in the distance, "you defeated him once, and you can do it again, good luck!" The figure ran off down the hill out of Joseph's sight "Wait!" He yelled after it, he sprinted to where he last saw the figure, but it was gone, Joseph looked around when a loud BOOM went off, he turned around to see that the side of the mountain was on fire, with little beings flying around it. Discord floated down, "What are you doing down here?" He asked Joseph, he looked in the direction of the burning mountian, "Oh that," he faced Joseph again and pointed his thumb behind him, "its no problem the princesses can't handle," a larg piece of the mountain fell off and landed on the ground, Discord groaned and yelled in the direction of the fire as if someone was listening, "we're coming to help!" He gestured for Joseph to follow, "come one, we need to get the water, and it would be faster if we flew." Joseph began laughing sarcastically at Discord, "What am I going to do, sprout wings and fly?" Discord didn't look amused, he pointed his finger at Joseph, and used his magic to tug on something behind the boy's back, he was obviously in denial, "That is an idea don't you think? But instead of sprouting them, I think you should spread them." They began to fly to help put out the fire.