Four long Years.

Four years….

It had been four long chaotic years trapped in this accursed hell. Discord almost wished for his old stone prison, at least he was certain he had no illusion of escape then. But here, here in this pit below Canterlot he knew escape was possible, but so was certain death.

At least this prison was not as cramped, he was still able to exercise his chaotic nature, but this time it was for the benefit of his fellow cell mates as opposed to his own pleasures. Discord now spent his days doing his best to distract his beloved friend and her companions from madness, it was the only thing that kept him sane… well as sane as a god of disorder could be.

For a time his treats and tricks had done wonders creating intricate little shows with what he could. One time he even managed to get a chuckle from his yellow Pegasus friend by creating a gymnastic pantomime using only cutlery and metal cups he had wielded to life with what magic he could muster. But that was almost a year ago and things hadn't been much better since.

It was not his fault, or any of his cellmates the atmosphere in Canterlot was nothing short of horrific. It wasn't even the type of chaos and evil his old self usually would have accepted with open arms. It was worse, orderly Chaos, summary executions, by the books genocide, monotonous Torture, the whole thing stank of cruel oppressive misery that even he couldn't stand.

Discord lifted his head from his brooding thoughts, slowly the god of chaos made his way over to his yellow and pink friend across the cell. She was entertaining herself with a couple of mice that had taken up residents in the cell next to hers. As he walked Discord could hear the soft mumbling of the other elements of harmony doing their best to keep things cheerful. Pinkie Pie a mare who Discord had greatly warmed up to as a fellow admirer and participant of unexplained disorder, was telling a story about one of her few very rare outdoor excursions that had the other three mares enthralled. Most of all Rainbow Dash who had taken her cramped underground imprisonment worst of all. Her wings flapped merciless at night as her dreams tricked her into the open sky, only for the mare to be woken up to the cruel reality. She still cried nightly, but it was not as bad as it had been. Discord had even managed to create the illusion of an open world for the mare on occasions which Fluttershy had told him she was immensely grateful for, it was one of the few things that kept her going. As the cyan Pegasus was often too proud to admit, the rest of the elements unfortunately had to make do with what they could.

As Discord closed the distance Fluttershy looked up from the mice and with a practiced smile whispered her goodbyes to the rodents who scurried from her bed into their homes. Discord curled himself beside the ex-veterinarian who looked up at him with a gently smile that was betrayed by her defeated eyes.

“Good morning Discord did you sleep well.”

“Why yes as a matter of fact I did, I even dreamt that I was on a flying merry go round that flew over Ponyville spewing chocolate covered projectiles onto all the unexpected residents.” Discord lifted a scaly finger to his lips and tapped slowly. “Actually now that I think about it that might have been real, who knows?”

“That’s nice to hear, I mean except for all the pony’s that would have been hit, but at least it was chocolate, so it would be a tasty surprise” she stated with an ever graceful voice.

Discord chuckled “Well I'm glad somepony agrees, although next time, if I get the chance, I think I'll go for mint flavour, chocolates is a tad predictable.”

“Oh I wouldnt mind, it’s… it’s been a while since I even had chocolate, I don't even think I can even remember what it tastes like” she stated looking down slightly at her hooves.

As if by her own magic Pinkie Pie was between the two instantly with a smile so big it looked like it hurt. “ Discord you have chocolate!? Let me have some please, please, please I'll swap beds with you so you don't have to share with Applejack” she all but gushed out, saliva dripping from her muzzle at the prospect of tasting one of her many long lost passions.

“Hey what so bad about sharin' the hay with me?” Applejack chided back.

“Please darling, we love you very dearly, but whenever one of us has to share the ‘hay’ you treat us like one of your apple trees, I still don't think my back has yet to recovered from our last little shall we say sleepover.”

“Yeah Applejack you sleep bucked me so hard last time, I landed on Fluttershy.” added Rainbow Dash pointing to the bunk across the room.

Applejack looked down sheepishly. “Well I’m sorry I don't have much control over my legs when I’m sleeping, I guess when I’m dream of buckin apple trees, my legs sorta get nostalgic is all.”

“Aw Darling its ok I—“

“You six shut the buck up right now before you lose a few teeth!” a guard from the cell door yelled in a gruff uncaring voice.

“Oh yeah why don't you come in here and show us tough guy .” Rainbow retorted hovering towards the cell door with her usual bravado.

“What was that scum!” The guard growled pushing his face towards the door.

Rainbow pushed forward, however she was caught in Rarity’s magic, it was weak but it kept her at bay.

“Were terribly sorry sir, our friend here is just slow, she doesn’t know what she says half the time.”

“Rarity what the hay!” Rainbow added angry but was shushed by the mare who just winked at her whilst the guards focus was away for her.

“You better tell that filth to shut her mouth, any more noise comes from this cell and the Queen will hear of it.” he spat back.

“Of course sir and thank you for being so understanding of our friend’s condition, you truly must be a stallion of wisdom.”

“Oh be quiet whore, or ill have you serving the guards, in more than one way.”

Rarity swallowed a lump in her mouth, utterly shaken by the look the guard was giving her, there was no kindness in his eyes only untold horrors he smirked villainously at her response. the guard turned slowly keeping his eyes on the mare and was about to walk away when his hoof slipped on a previously unseen pile of green slime which caused him to fall muzzle first into a random, but incredibly well placed tray of would you believe it wasabi flavoured whipped creams. The guards screamed as the creams stung his eyes. However it was not the end to the guards unusual misfortune, as just as he was about to recover out of nowhere a large leather boot flew directly into his rear, causing the pony guard to slide face first across the floor. Landing on his back the guard groaned in agony which was matched by the sound of muffled giggles from the cell.

The guard stood up from his position and stumbled back to the door furiously. But when he looked inside all he saw was five very determined looking mares, and one darkly grinning Draconequus daring him to make his move. The guard flinched from his position his mind faltered from allowing himself to turn the key. “Y-you wait until King Sombra hears about this.” the Guard threatened fleeing from the cell.

The five Mares all let out a collective sigh of relief and settled back down in their place.

“Wowey That was close, I can’t believe a pile of slime, a boot and” pinkie ran over to a glob of whipped cream that had splattered into the cell “belch, Wasabi flavoured whipped cream just came out of nowhere what a stroke of luck” she finished licking the rest of the cream off her hoof despite the taste.

“Yeah, Luck” Applejack stated unconvincingly, tuning her gaze towards Discord who was putting on the face of pure innocence. As the accusing glare intensified he places a claw against his chest pretending to be insulted.

“Why Applejack, you're not saying that I was involved with that wrenched pony’s unusual but totally in no way my fault misfortunes” Discord stated disbelievingly but with an uncontained grin on his face at the farm pony.

“Well discord I hate to say it but that's exactly what I'm sayin’.”

“Darling if I may.” Rarity placed her hoof on Applejacks shoulders “Discord thank you for defending my honour, truly. But you didn’t need to go that far, that brute will just bring more trouble with him than it was worth.”

“Ow come on Rares I know where not in the best situation but I’m sick and tired of being treated like trash here, I’m with Discord that pony got what he deserved.” Rainbow butted in.

“Look girl we're not exactly in the best position here to be causin trouble” Applejack countered.

“Well I don't know about you but I’m tired of sitting here like a coward, hiding under our sheets whenever anypony so much as looks in on us.” she hovered closer to the orange farm pony.

“Who are you callin’ a coward” Applejack stated closing the distance between her and Rainbow as the both butted heads staring daggers into each other’s eyes.

“Girls please!” a soft but determined voice called out next to Discord. The voice so alien in its tone it cause all eyes to focus on her, which elicited a short ‘eep’ from the mare, who retreated into her pink hair for a moment before composing herself. “Look Discord was just trying to help in his own way” she tuned to Discord with her ever gentle smile that Discord despite himself couldn't help but return. She then turned back to the group. “However Rarity and Applejack are also right we can't respond with violence every time this happens remember… remember last time” all eyes subconsciously turned to Pinkie Pie who looked downcast, her hair already deflated as she and everypony else remembered her last little escapade and the price it had cost her.

“Oh no… I'm sorry Pinkie I don't mean to bring it up, I, it just seemed appropriate” Fluttershy retreated further into her hair, her eyes now clouding from tears at the thought of bringing up such terrible memories for her friend. Pinkie for her part walked up to her friend and gave the mare a subdued hug with both hoofs.

“Its ok silly filly, Gummies, well he's in a better place now, it wasn't your fault, so don't cry, remember what I told everypony the first time we meet with Twi… with Her in the forest, as long as you have a friend and a smile we can get through anything, now let’s see that smile.” she lifted her hoof under the yellow Pegasus’s chin bringing her out of her long haired hiding place. Carefully the mare looked at her party animal friend, who was grinning softly at Fluttershy, her hair once again the puffed out crazed mess it was always meant to be. Slowly the corner of Fluttershy’s muzzle curled into a gentle smile as Rarity trotted over.

“There see no harm done dear, now we better get our story straight, before they come back. If anything’s going to happen we're in this together, right everypony.” Rarity announced with determination.

The five gave a unanimous nod and walked forward into a group hug, Rarity looked back at her chaotic friend who was standing next to the group “that means you too dear.”

For once in a very long time Discord was left speechless, the simple gesture of the hug from the mares filled the anarchical Draconequus with a sense of warmth he would never got tired of feeling. He simply whipped around the mares eloping them in a sideways hug that tightened around the whole group.

It stayed like that for a while until, all of a sudden a magical shudder more violent than anything Discord had ever sensed before, up until a certain Princess's ascension into Queendom flung Discord upwards. This time however Discord recognised the magic presence immediately. Unfortunate the other mare were left completely out of the loop.
Fluttershy was the first up hovering over towards Discords face, she laid a gentle hoof on his shoulders. “Discord, Discord are you ok” the others quickly followed standing around him.

“Yes I'm fine Flutters, at least I think I'm going to be.” he added with a touch of hesitation.

Before Fluttershy or the others could question, the sound of clapping could be heard from the corner of the room. However the sound was like nothing the mares had heard before, pony’s often stamped against the ground for applause, and this was more like the sound of two hands than hooves’, a bit like how a certain assistant dragon had often sounded.

The clapping continued getting slowly closer, and closer until finally a soft but playful voice spoke from behind the door, still hidden from view “Bravo Discord I must say that was a very touching scene, I honestly let out a little tear towards the end, bravo simply beautiful.” The hidden voice sniffed a little more in playful mocking, than in genuine sadness.

Discords face went through many different emotions, some even beyond that of a mortal pony’s as he tried to decide on what feeling he was going to settle for, after a moment he spoke up. “Oh… it’s you” he said settling for contempt.

“Now, now, don't be like that Dissy.” The voice continued in its playfully joking tone.

“Now wait just a cotton pickin’ minute, what the hay's goin' on here, who are you and why does Discord here know who you are and we don’t.” Applejack announced loudly.

“Yes I’m with Applejack here, be a gentlecolt and show yourself at one!” Rarity added in a harsher tone.

Just as the group were about to add to the request, the question was answered. The creature snapped his fingers and materialised into the room causing the group to take a collective step back, except for Discord who simply stood there slouching slightly, with his miss matched arms folded together, a look of annoyance still plastered across his face. The creature before them confused the pony’s to no end, it was like nothing they've ever seen before, it had features like that of an ape but it stood tall and upright. And except for its head, chin, and lip, it had no hair at all, it was also oddly pink and cream coloured as well, and had similar muscles across its arms and legs like that a stallion. Weirdest of all it was wearing the oddest clothes imaginable a garish purple suit with matching trousers and no shirt leaving its unusually slim stomach on show for all to see, even rarity was having trouble looking at the garish outfit.

“Hello Ordinis, still gallivanting about as a human I see.” Discord flatly stating, finally ending the prolonged silence with mild content.

“Haha you know it, they are so much fun to be around Dissy, always starting wars, and silly little brawls over mates, they don't even live as long as most pony’s do. But they sure keep me busy, speaking of pony’s who do we have here” Ordinis stated directing his attention towards the five mares, who were still collecting themselves from the initial shock.

“Don't be coy, Ordinis you know who they are.” Discord added for once in his long life not in the mood to joke around.

“Yeah, but I want to hear you say it, I know you have a thing for the yellow one, or so I’m told.” He walked up and nudged Discord with a playful elbow.

Discords jaw dropped quite literally to the floor, as Fluttershy Blushed heavily from the accusation. It was finally Rainbow who ended the farce.

“Alright if no pony’s going to ask I am, who the hay are you, and how the hay do you know us.” she stated hovering next to the ‘Human’ and pointing an accusing hoof in his direction.

“Dissy, truly I’m hurt, how could you not tell them about your beloved older brother.”

Silence reigned in the cell, no pony spoke a word as they attempted to wrap their minds around the possibility that Discord, The Discord could be related to anything.

“Oh please there you go again with the big brother, you're only a couple hundred years older than I am, it barely even counts.” Discord sulked in a slightly childish tone.

“Older broth… I-I think I need ta sit down.” Applejack stated placing a hoof on her head.

Discord why didn’t you tell me you had family.” Fluttershy softly grilled into Discord all the while staring unsurely at his supposed sibling.

“Yeah Dissy, we need to get a party set up like a ‘welcome back big brother party bonanza.” Pinkie Pie bounced up and down giddily around Ordinis who grinned at the antics of the mare.

“Really Pinke its bad enough that he calls me Dissy, don't make me zap your mouth closed for that… for the fifth time this week.” Discord grunted at the mare.

“And you must be the element of laughter? You and my little Dissy must get on famously I imagine.” he stated scratching the back of Pinkes ear which she greedily leaned into.

"Yep-arony Discords been so much fun since, well since…” the Pink pony stopped for a second her mind lost in dark times.

“Say no more I always knew my little brother was a softy at heart, no matter how much he likes to pretend.” he grinned smugly at Discord who huffed and turned his head backwards at an impossible angle mumbling threats.

“Now discord don't be like that, he’s your brother and family sticks together” Fluttershy stated touching Discords shoulder softly.
Discord Sighed, once again something about the little shy Pegasus always seemed to make him more complacent, though he could never figure out why. “Fine, hello how are you brother how are things, why are you here, when can you leave, now? Well then I guess you don’t need to stick around.” He stated flicking his fingers and teleporting Ordinis across the hallway. Much to the shock of Fluttershy who starred disapprovingly at him. Until a snapping noise came from the outside of the hallway and Ordinis was back in the room.

“Seriously Brother that was just rude!” Ordinis stated with a small grin plastered on his face, “and after I travelled all this way to come find you.”

Discord lifted one eyelid up and stared deadpanned at Ordinis “Yes, why exactly did you come all this way? Having trouble with your precious little human world, need your little brother to come in and set things a little out of order.” Discord mocked as he flicking his claws in the direction of his brother, and began rotating his head clockwise until it came back to its rightful place.

“No, no they do that just fine on their own thank you, I don’t need your help, it’s hard enough keeping order as it is, now they got this new thing called ‘reality TV’ all it is morons fighting on television. I swear, I spend more time setting order there than I do on any other planet.”

“Oh sounds fun, I'll have to visit some time” Discord announced gleefully tapping his fingers together nefariously, thankfully both the immortal creatures attentions were interrupted by the sound of a short coughing noise coming from a white and purple maned mare.

“Pardon my intrusion into your family matters, but I feel like this will go on forever if I don’t speak, please tell us Mr Ordinis why are you here? I assure you this cell isn't the funnest, or safest place in Equestria to be in, i imagine even for you.” she noticed half grilling into the ‘Human’.

“huh? Right sorry” he coughed into his hand adjusting his voice, then turned to face both Discord and the other mares in the room extended both arms for dramatic effect “You and your friends here have been summoned to dinner by Mother herself, Discord.” Again a collective gasp of disbelief filled the room, loudest of all from the god of disorder himself.

“Oh and by the way, she’s kinda pissed.” Ordinis finally added with a wink.

Sooner or Later.

View Online

The queen stood on the balcony of her chamber staring out into the bustling city of Canterlot the black smoke and fuel rising and bellowing from the factory chimney’s blocked most of the view but it mattered little to her as it was not the subject of her gaze. She stared intently at the blazing inferno that arouse from behind the walls, the ever brilliant light of the sun signalling morning for Equestria.

Her feature’s darkened at the sight of the flaming sphere, it was not so much the sun itself that was the subject of her anger but the being inside it, which brought her blood to a boil. The being inside had been the cause of all of her troubles all those years ago. Why couldn't ‘it’ have listened?

‘It’ was the reason her friends had turned against her, ‘it’ was the reason why her family now attacked her and her husband’s domain, why her brother Shining cursed her name and denied her sisterhood to him the last time they meet. Why she and her husband had to torture and maim so many of her subject to keep them in line. If it wasn't for ‘it’ and ‘its’ sister things could have worked out for the best. Soon one day ’They’ would pay for everything.

The thought coupled with the glare of the sun only seemed to darken her mood further, slowly her horn crackled and whipped with a glow of black and purple lightning, matched by a similar aura emitting from her eyes. Just before it could escalate any further, a soft cooing filled her ears, the sounds of a restless infant caught the attention of the lavender Queen, the magic retreating almost immediately from her horn as she walked towards a small crib inside her chamber.

Inside the crib was the only thing that Twilight loved more than anything else in the world, perhaps even more than her King. Slowly she picked up the Foal in her magic and cradled it gently in her forehooves. As she laid down to make it easy to cuddle her infant daughter, she nuzzled the child’s cheek stopping any notion of crying that was about to occur, and eliciting a soft giggle from the filly, the foal flapped its wings momentarily before curling up towards its mother.

Twilight just starred at her daughter Lucilla, her oddly white fur rising and falling hypnotically as she breathed in and out. The filly settled into sleep accidentally prodding its mother with a white small horn protruding out of the small pitch black mane that looked more and more like her father’s each day. Twilight sighed contently all thoughts of anger and revenge gone. Nothing could take her away from moments like these, she brought her hoof over to the foals head and slowly brushed away the unruly black hair from her eyes. “You have your father’s hair alright” she joked softly to the foal.

“And her mother’s eyes” came a commanding voice just behind Twilight, causing her to turn just in time to see Sombra lay down next to his and her daughter. She leaned over and nuzzled her husband as they both watched the sleeping foal next to them.
As always the moment ended too quickly, a rushed and sudden banging on the door broke the tranquil moment and woke the sleeping Lucilla, the filly began to cry immediately as it was denied its rest. Sombra Growled angrily standing up and storming towards the door of the chamber leaving his wife to try and comfort the distraught filly in her hoofs.

“WHO DARES DISTURB US?” He roared almost ripping off the chamber doors at the hinges with a flick of his magic.
The two guards bowed as low as physically possible both of them shivering in abject terror. “Speak slave!” he commanded in a lower, but no less ferocious tone.

“A-A t-t-t-thousand apologise your majesty, b-b-but there’s a problem down in the Prison Cells.” One of the guards spoke forcing every syllable out like it was causing him great pain.

Twilight placed her daughter down in her crib and quickly kissed the tip of her forehead just below the horn as she turned back only catching brief interludes of the conversation.

“WHAT, HOW, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?” Twilight flicked her ears in an attempt to better hear the conversation, she turned her head towards the door as the two guards parted revealing another cowering guard wearing a standard prison guard outfit on him. Oddly the stallion’s uniform and parts of his fur was stained by some sort of greenish cream. Twilight was about to investigate further when an impossibly black beam from Sombra’s horn struck the pony eloping him in the powerful blast, which elicited a blood curdling scream from the stallion, after a moment the steaming, scorched uniform fluttered to the floor, the only proof that a pony had been there at all.

“Sombra, I told you not to do that near the baby!” Twilight scolded, unphased by the ferocious nature of her Husband.

Sombra spun to face his wife, the look on his face that of pure rage, “The bearers of the Elements, they're gone!”

Earlier the same day…

Ordinis could not help but laugh at the reaction of his brother, admittedly he too had a similar reaction when he heard his own mother was calling them to return for the first time in nine thousand years, but thankfully he was alone for that. Discord was not so lucky.

“No I refuse, no way I’m not going, end of story” Discord said snapping a book closed that had just materialised into his hand and forcefully sitting down on one of the cell beds.

“Dissy, it’s not like you have a choice.” Ordinis said more caringly as he walked over and sat next to his brother.
All the mares in the room where still completely silent, each one trying to picture what the mother of Discord could look like. The images that flew into the minds of Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash’s collective minds caused all three to shiver, it was not a pretty sight to say the least.

Fluttershy and Pinkie where more open to the idea of meeting the person who supposedly raised the chaotic Draconequus. Pinkie was the first to ask as always. “Hey Dissy wha— the mare tried to finish her sentence, but found that without a mouth it was incredibly hard to convey her thoughts.

“Discord!” Fluttershy scolded.

“What? I did warn her what I’d do if she kept using that appalling nick-name.” Discord answered nonchalantly stroking his grey beard.

“It’s true he did” Ordinis added nodding his head.

“Mmhm mhmh mhhm.” Pinkie mumbled nodding in agreement.

Fluttershy’s stare intensified it wasn't ‘the stare’, but it was still doing its job fairly well on Discord. “Oh fine.” he conceded snapping his fingers together and rematerializing the Party pony’s mouth once more, the mare in question took a gigantically overdrawn gasp before whipping a hoof over her forehead.

“Thank you Discord.” Fluttershy finished in a more gentle voice.

“I just can’t believe ya. Discord has a brother, and a mom…” Applejack mumbled mostly to herself.

“Hey she’s my mother too.” Ordinis conveyed pointing to himself. “But yes he’s her little destructive bundle of joy.”

“So wait, how the hay are we meeting, she’s not coming here is she?” Rainbow chimed in.

“Yes I should think that a goddess like herself would not want to throw a formal get together in the bellows of Canterlots dungeon.” Rarity said throwing her two bits into the conversation.

Ordinis rolled his eyes “well of course not, you’re going to her, we all are.”

All five mares suddenly found themselves dizzy with the prospect of leaving their little hellhole Rainbow was the first one to zoom right up to the ‘human’.

“Wait please tell me you’re saying what I think your saying?” She all but yelled grabbing hold of Ordinis purple suit with her hooves. Ordinis smiled genuinely at the over active mare, placing both hands on her hooves and gently guiding them away from his beloved suit. “That’s right, as the humans on earth say, I’m bustin you out of this joint.”

“And just how the hay are you gonna do that?” Applejack stated unconvinced, though still hopeful of the possibility of escaping.

“Well naturally you mares are all going to have to sign a contract.” he mentioned nonchalantly waving his hand around.
All five of them stared daggers into Ordinis, the supposed joke completely falling flat.

“I'm all for pranks Mister, but even I don't think it’s funny to get a pony’s hopes up like that.” Pinkie snarled in an unusually angry manner.

Discord for his part laughed at his brother’s misfortunes, any chance to see him squirm under the intense glare of five angry mares was good enough for him, even if he did know exactly what his brother was going on about.

Ordinis went bright red with embarrassment, backing away slowly from the mares. “No, no I’m serious, it’s the only way to get you five out of here.” He blurred out, fishing into the inside of his garish purple suit pocket and producing five scrolls and a quill. “See, it’s not my fault, mother makes me, I am a creature of order after all. I can't do anything this big officially without consent it’s in my nature.”

“Ow yeah well if it’s so important, why doesn’t Discord have to sign one.” Rainbow argued back pointing her hoof at the Draconequus.

“Because he was born there, he has the power to go as he pleases, well, for the most part. Besides do you think I could make my brother do anything, you all should know better than anypony else getting him to do anything other than spread anarchy is doomed to fail.”

Rainbow tried to retort, but couldn't fault the logic of the ‘human’ sighing slowly she went up to him and stuck out her hoof “fine, just hoof it over.”

“Rainbow dear we can’t just sign something all willy nilly, what if it has some sort of loophole in the fine print we can't just go about signing things from mythical creatures” Rarity argued.

“You got a better plan Rares, because the way I see it this dudes offering us a way out of here, and even if there is some sort of loop hole thingy better that than this Tartarus forsaken pit!”

“RD’s got a point hun, I don't like it any better than you do but I ain't one to look a gift pony in the mouth, not when it’s the chance at getting outta here.” Applejack added putting a comforting hoof over her fashionista friend in order to help sway her to their side of the argument.

“Very well, I suppose anything IS better than this horrid place.” Rarity sighed walking over towards the outstretched hand with the five other mares, each one breaking open the seal and individually scribbling their names into their selected scrolls.
Pinkie was the last to finish, dotting all her I’s with little love hearts and balloons much to the amusement of Discord, who was finding pleasure in watching his brothers agitation at the small defilement of his beloved contracts.

“aaan mone.” the Pink mare finished spitting the slobbery quill out of her mouth, which Ordinis meekly put back in his suit, looking at it in the same way Rarity would with mud.

“Guards this way, lets show these scum who’s in charge.” came an bellowing familiar shout, the sounds of many hooves galloping on cobble stone indicating the guards rapid approach.

“Just in time to” Ordinis stated grabbing a small vial from his pocket and throwing it at the wall of the cell, the vial smashed into pieces splattering the blue slimy contents all across the wall. Then in quick succession he strolled up to it and pushed his hand against the blue slime that was seeping down the wall, lighting it up with some unseen magic, and instantly creating a blinding portal where the wall once stood.

He turned his gaze to the mares and a slouching unimpressed Discord, ushering them forward with a wave of his hand. “Come on the portal won’t hold for long, get your flanks in now.” he yelled stepping halfway into the portal.

After a moment’s hesitation all but two of the cell mates raced towards the portal. Rainbow turned back to see a shivering Fluttershy fixed in her spot “Come on Shy, we need to go, the guards are coming any minute!”

On que the sounds of guards grew louder as one was fiddling to find the appropriate key for the cell.

“I-I don’t t-think I can do it Rainbow.” she stated lowering herself to the ground defeated, her inner fears once again getting the best of her, as she silently curse herself for being so cowardly.

Rainbow turned with determination to Applejack who nodded approvingly, normally Rainbow would have given the mare a pep talk in bravery, but there was just no time. Quickly she opted to simply fly over the shivering mare scooping her in her hooves and lifting her into the air. “No rainbow please.” Fluttershy cried in vain small tears glossing her eyes, as her cyan friend flew towards the rapidly closing portal.

As the last of the bearers stepped through the portal, Ordinis glanced back at his disobedient brother who was still mulling the proposition in his head. “Come on brother you knew this was coming sooner or later.” Ordinis stated softly. Before turning into the now nearly closed portal.

Discord sighed, as much as he loathed to admit it his brother was right. Snapping his fingers he teleported towards the portal sliding in just as edges closed around him for good.

Twilight watched as her husband paced endlessly around the chamber, part of the walls where scorched and burned. Furniture was upturned or simply smashed to pieces their child had been moved away long before as Twilight had already predicted one of her husbands ‘stress releases’ as she called them.

The Queen frowned as she looked around her domain, this was the third time this month they would now have to get their chamber refurbished. Ever since the rebels had hit a stroke of luck and by some miracle managed to capture Cloudsdale from them, Sombra ‘stress releases’ had gotten more frequent it was one of the few vices that her Husband had that they were still working on, as much as she loved him Sombra was a stallion of Pride and when it was wounded that’s when he was at his worst.

“How dare they! And after they were allowed to Live this long. I warned you that we should have killed them.” he yelled at Twilight who was practically unphased after years of dealing with his temper.

“Sombra my love.” Twilight trotted up and placed a hoof on his face stopping her loves pacing in its tracks. “You know why I told you not to kill them, the elements would just reset if they died, better to keep them alive, to rot in a dungeon where we know where they are.” she felt the tiny ping of guilt in her heart at uttering those words, but pushed it down after years of practice.

“Well now they have vanished into thin air and we are short five bearers.”

“Were they able to trace the magic’s origins? Twilight asked genuinely interested in the results.

Sombra sighed deeply “No I went down there myself, after I dealt with those lacklustre guards that is, the magic is of unknown origin.I have the men scouring the scene now looking for traces of the magic that was in the shattered vial, Though I loath to admit it even I founds it challenging to detect the magic, whoever teleported them out was very careful to hide their tracks.”

“So you're saying it wasn't discord?” Twilight asked trying to throw another possibility into the mystery.

“The magical readings where similar in certain ways to his, but the magic was not as chaotic in nature it was organised it flowed perfectly, unlike anything that buffoon was capable of.” Sombra snorted back.

Twilight frowned slightly as she meet her husband’s gaze “Its will be ok my love, we will find them, they can't have gotten far, why don't we rest and—“

“Do not speak to me as though I am a child Twilight!” Sombra snapped storming away from his mare's grasp.

Twilight looked down slightly defeated by her husband’s actions. The constant juggling of politics and family was taking its toll on both of them. Because of their child Twilight was unable to attend most meetings nowadays, and although she trusted her husband’s military prowess she knew her absence was taking its toll on him ever so slightly.

After a moment of silence Sombra’s glowing horn and eyes slowly subsided until the stallion stood as an utterly regal stallion once more. “I’m sorry my love, it has been a stressful couple of days.” Was all he managed to say to comfort her, Twilight didn’t need any more than that. She trotted over and plant a simple loving kiss on his lips. After a moment the couple broke free and Twilight Looked at her loving husband with half opened eyes a suggestive smile broke on the corner of her lips “you know my love, I've been thinking once I return to my full Queenly deputy’s, I fear our little Lucilla might be terribly lonely. Maybe a little brother or sister would help her dont you agree?.”

Sombra stared back into his wife’s Lavender eyes, the only eyes that ever tamed him truly. He smiled at his wife and answered with a much more passionate kiss one that she returned gratefully. After a moment the couple broke free from the entanglement.
“Yes I suppose she could do with a few brothers and sisters.” he replied in a suave tone as his wife guided them into the more secluded area of their chambers.

The glaring light blinded Discord as he emerged from the portal, the journey had felt like hours and he was still never used to it. Even now he stepped out and cracked the muscles of his back and spun his head around a few time to makes sure he got them all before laying eyes across the scenery.

To Discord it was just boring old non-chaotic physics and natural law abiding home. But to the other five mares, it was perhaps the most beautiful sight they had ever seen, all around them was a sea of luscious Harlequin green grass, swaying gracefully with the wind the sight broken, only by a ring of ancient oak trees dotted around the borders of the meadow that danced in the wind as they swayed. To the middle of the field was a crystal blue river, the sounds of swans and other aquatic creatures flapping their wings and landing ever so graciously on the water, the most beautiful sound to behold for the recently incarcerated pony’s. The only thing that stuck out was an enormous Greek looking temple right in the middle of the lake made of fabulously polished marble, its hundreds of snow white columns standing hundreds of feet into the air contrasted with the environment, yet still seemed so natural in its surroundings.

All five pony’s stood there stunted the only sound coming from quiet sniffles, and tears of untold joy as the silence continued broken only by the whistling of the wind. Until one mare just couldn't take it any longer, folding back her cyan wings the mare launched herself into the sky, a brilliant rainbow following her as she flew, tears on her cheek falling like autumn rain, contradicted by the biggest smile she had ever had on her face as she sailed through the untamed sky.

The Calm Before The Storm. (Part one)

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The group approached the entrance of the temple in a huddled mass, walking across a large similarly snow white marble bridge that stretched the whole length of the lake acting as the only way towards the temple like structure. A mildly upset Ordinis, and a smirking Discord led the way whist five mares followed behind. The farm pony and fashionista looking more than a little annoyed at their cyan friend who for her part at least had the decency to look sheepishly apologetic.

It had taken nearly two whole hours for the group to get the Rainbow Dash down from the sky. At first the sight of the friend finally reunited with one of her long lost passions was a heart-warming experience for the other mares, who were similarly enjoying their new found freedom from the incarceration. However after twenty or so minutes to collect themselves Ordinis less than subtly pointed out that they had places to be and pony’s to meet. Being a creature of order any dent in his schedule always made him a tad flustered and nervous. Unfortunately for him that was not on the agenda for a Rainbow Dash.

It was only when they had used Pinkie ungodly ability to catch up to the mare in question, and a little assistance from Discord who swears that shooting taffy at her wings was the ONLY way to get her out of the sky they had finally been able to reign in the stunt mare. Luckily for Rainbow she found that the taffy washed off rather easily once she collided with the lake from several stories.

After a vicious Fluttershy scolding, Discord was finally forced to apologise to Rainbow who in turn apologised to the group, or tried to at least. Ordinis at his wits end had finally decided to take matters into his own hands and more than a little forcefully redirected the group towards the temple using a large lasso that had materialised from nowhere stating that, ‘They could have their schedule ruining friendship moment in their own time!’

As the group approached the main entrance of the Temple Rarity stopped to admire the doors that lay before them. A brilliant master peace in its own right the crafts-pony ship of the metal was fantastically combined with the gilded jewels that encrusted the edges of Gates only seemed to add to its enormity, but also made it feel more serine and peaceful rather than benevolent like one would think. The most impressive piece was the carving of what looked like a solar system or many different solar systems that seemed almost endless.

Rarity remembered back to when she had seen similar images of the nocturnal lights on maps of the planets and stars that dotted the little Tree Library that a certain mare had once occupied before those dreadful days. The though didn’t bring as much of a terrible feeling as she thought mostly because Rarity’s mind over rid it with the simple look of awe over the door the flood of such inspiration was intoxicating.

At this point she would gladly jump in the biggest pile of mud she could find if she could get her hoofs on some fabric, well, as long as she could have a shower, and an all-out spa treatment, and a cup of tea afterword’s that is, she wasn’t a madmare.

The most interesting thing was that it felt like the carvings on the door were moving, if very slowly, she could see it they were rotating and gliding in all directions. It was an observation that was not lost on the other mares she would remember to ask about it another time as she noticed Ordinis giving her a flustered stare that screamed ‘keep up’ the stare did not have the intended effect though as it did little but reminded her of a pony she once called friend.

Ordinis knocked on the door and stood vigilantly tapping his bare feet on the floor in a mixture of impatience and worry his hair was a bit flustered and he was holding his hand on his waist whist fidgeting with the other. Discord snickered as he lifting a large camera from out of nowhere and snapping a picture of the god of orders face. This seemed to take Ordinis from his stupor he turned and glared at the sibling before turning back to the door.

Discord’s tried to stifle his laughter with a claw but it wasn't working as he waved the photo in the air a few times before placing it in a book labelled ‘cherished memories’ opening to a page which seemed to have pictures of nothing but his brother in similarly uncomfortable states of distress. He placed the photo amongst the many others before snapping it shut as he walked back towards the group of mares that where standing closely together near the entrance.

“So what do you think she looks like?” Rainbow muttered just above a whisper to her other companions.

Applejack looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was ease dropping before continuing “Ah have no idea sugarcube, but judging from the look of her kin I’d say were in for a bit of a surprise that’s for sure.”

“Yes I don’t mean to talk ill of the Mare who aided in our escape, but either way we should all be in for something of the strange and unusual variety.” Rarity agreed.

“Oh I don’t know about that… I think she might look sort of nice I mean, Ordinis doesn’t look that odd and Discords doesn’t look scary or weird once you get to know him, right? Well I just hope she’s not scary” Fluttershy whispered sinking slightly into her hair.

“Well regardless we must act with the utmost respect and revery she deserves.” Rarity concluded.

“As long as she’s not a big meanie pants, it shouldn’t matter what somepony looks like.” Pinkie added with her usual gusto.
“Well said Pinkie.” A voice accompanied by a pair of mismatched eyes agreed before turning back to his original equally mismatched form startling everypony in the circle but Pinkie whose own habits of random appearances had trained her a bit too well in the subtle art of scaring the hell out of her friends.

“You all shouldn’t worry too much regardless, Mother has always preferred the company of the female persuasion, I think that’s why she almost always makes most of the ruling planets have monarchy’s” Discord stated almost nonchalantly.

He leaned down towards the five mares and brought one of his mismatched hand up to his mouth in an attempt to insulate his voice. “If you ask me, I think mothers a bit of feminis— ouch, ouch, ouch!”

The sentence was cut off by an enormous hand reached out and grabbed the tip of one of Discords ears. The hand in question pinched down hard and pulled it towards himself until the two where face to face like one would do to punish a misbehaving child. Discord looked uneasy at the large muscular figure holding his beloved ear hostage and smiled sheepishly.

“Hello Discord bad mouthing mother again, I see.” the deep commanding voice grilled his eyes boring into him with an almost bored expression to match.

“Ahah, why of course not Statera what makes you say that” Discord pleadingly wined trying his best to release the ear from the Minotaur vice like grip.

The Minotaur grunted completely unamused by Discords failed attempts at an excuse dropping him and his pained ear to the floor.

“Ah little brother finally I've been waiting here for-” Ordinis reached into his inner suit pocket producing a large golden pocket watch from the interior and stared intently “one minute fifteen seconds.” He noted stamping his foot rapidly.

The Minotaur looked down his sibling with an uncaring gaze before turning back towards the mares and watching with faint amusement as the yellow mare flew over to his older brother fussing over his damaged ear much to the Draconequus protest.

“Your late, this is unlike you Ordinis.” The Minotaur stated in a no less commanding voice.

“Yes well it seems that I ran into a little bit of a snare in the schedule.”

The Minotaur raised an eyebrow nonchalantly already guessing at the probable reason “Discord?”

“Actually no it was one of our little guests, no harm done I suppose. I mean mother won’t mind too much, given the circumstances” he worryingly added putting a hand though over a fallen black strand of hair and brushing it back with the greased back others.

Statera was less amused he let out a snort before marching slowly towards the other mares. “Listen well little ones, you are Mothers guests but you do not understand the privilege you have received in her invitation so I will make this clear enough that even your tiny intellects will comprehend. You will do everything you are told here, you will behave accordingly or you will be punished, severely, do I make myself clear.” He finished putting his hands behind his back and standing to attention over the mares.

Rainbow finally had enough, she had just had a taste of freedom once more and she would be damned if someone was going to come in and start pushing her around again. “Hey buddy you listen here, we just spent four buckin’ years over in some Tartarus forsaken pit with pony’s like you pushing us around just because your some big important stallion doesn’t mean you can push us around and talk to us like dirt so jus—“

At almost lightning speed the large bulking hands closed around her neck cutting off her speech and lifter her up like a plaything bringing it up so that they were eye to eye.

“Do not think to threaten me! You no not who you are dealing with, I shall be keeping my eye on you little one.” He stated squeezing slightly tighter to hammer the threat home as rainbow squirmed defiantly using her forehooves to attempt to pry his fingers away as her friends began to protest and gasp accordingly.

“STATERA. PUT HER DOWN. NOW!” came a voice from someone not easily angered.

Statera eyes opened slightly the only tell-tale signs of shock and fear as he turned to his mismatched older brother a chaotic and powerful aura of magic whipping around his being. The Minotaur shifted in his position for a bit before releasing the mare from his grasp she hit the floor and began to cough and wheeze as her lungs once again became accustom to oxygen.

“So; It’s true what they say you’ve finally gone soft, I guess that’s why you failed so miserably in Equestria” the Minotaur growled slightly as he made his way towards Discord who was giving the minatory a deathly angry stare.

Before that could close the gap Ordinis was between them both hands outstretched. “Wow, wow easy now brothers no need for a brawl, this is a happy occasion remember family reunion and all that, why don’t we settle the guests in and have a couple of shots get trashed as the humans say… I think?”

The Minotaur only snorted not breaking his gaze from Discord who was now literally bright red with rage. After a moment the minotaur turned and began walking into the temple before stopping and turning his head “heed my warning pony’s, you may get away with insulting me by being here, but so much as step out of line and you will be begging me to send you back to your cell.” He finished walking into the temple.

Discord finally settled down as the other mares ran over to their fallen friend.

Rarity placed a hoof on her friend as she lay their trying to caress her neck. “Rainbow darling are you ok?”

“Yeah… yeah I’m fine… what’s that dude’s problem… besides being a total jerk.” she wheezed as she brought a hoof over to her slightly inflamed neck.

“Yeah that bullies nothing but a meine bo beany.” Pinkie added staring madly at the exit the large Minotaur had used.
Ordinis reached down and extended a hand to the fallen mare which she accepted.

“Yeah I’m really sorry about that Statera can be… well difficult sometimes he doesn’t like it when he’s not informed about things and he’s very protective of mother, I thinks it’s a youngest sibling thing.”

“That ain’t no excuse to go actin like a maniac and attacking our friend for no reason!” Applejack added she understood the importance of protecting family but that didn’t mean you had to go being a psychopath about it.

“I know, I know but trust me he’s not always like that. He just takes things a bit too seriously sometimes he’s only four thousand and thirty years old you can remember what it’s like at that age right?”

The mares in question stated dimly at the Human once again his social ineptitude had left them wondering if he was being serious or not.

Ordinis face when though several shades of red immediately “Right mortal sorry” he scratched his neck trying to distil the embarrassment.

“Annny way why don’t I show you to your rooms my offer still stands by the way, I know some cider that will knock you pony’s down silly if you can handle it.”

Rainbows sour mood lifted somewhat at the prospect of reconnecting with two of her long lost passions in the same day “Is that a challenge?” she added the corners of her muzzle lifting into a smile.

Ordinis chuckled at the reaction of the cyan mare he was already starting to see why his little Dissy was changing his ways for the group. “I don’t know think you can cut it?”

“Buddy you just watch. I can drink you under the table any day”

Ordinis turned his smile to the rest of the group “any other competitors?”

“oooh oooh count me in.” Pinkie happily bounced around like a little filly trying to be picked first for a game of hoofball.
“Ah ain’t one to shy away from a challenge.” Applejack added with a determined grin.

“Ahah count me out good sir. I’m afraid cider does awful things to me, I wouldn’t say no to a glass of wine though." Rarity chimed with her usual good graces.

“Of Course anything for our little guest, how about you Fluttershy… Fluttershy?” the man turned his head over towards the creamy yellow Pegasus who was hovering next his little brother, who had not moved since the encounter his face still bright red and both hands clenched tightly into balls of rage.

“Discord, everything’s fine now ok, Rainbows fine you don’t have to worry… um Discord?” Fluttershy concluded touching his shoulder the mare had only seen him in this one state previously when she had been struck in the face by a guard a few years ago trying to stop them crushing a butterfly during dinnertime. Said guard was still having night terrors according to what she overheard the other prison guard’s idle chatter by their cells.

Discord turned to the mare, his face the picture of wrath and a small ping of disappointment in his eyes, Ordinis frowned at his brother he knew that when Discord got this way his own work load of order was about to go dramatically up.

“Please excuse me Flutters, I have to be alone right now.” He muttered out barely containing his rage as he began to fly off, the act causing great concern to his nature loving friend it wasn’t often she saw Discord simply fly off on something that wasn’t some completely odd contraption.

Discords sight was blocked by blue blur of his ex-cell mate who looked at her with concerned eyes “Hey Discord, I know your about to blow off some steam or whatever and I’m not stopping you but, well I just wanted to thank you. I mean I could handle that creep any day but it’s good to know I got a buddy watching my back. So thanks.”

Discords expression lightened for just a second that alien and wonderful feeling of warmth like before coming back at the admittance of the rowdy mare’s friendship. Discord nodded in acknowledgment before flying off. Leaving the mares to themselves for the first time in four years.

The group feel silent once again in contemplation for a while.

“…Ahem sooo about those drinks.” Ordinis meekly blurted out as his voice faded under the intense and increasingly familiar stare of four disapproving mares and one shy disappointing scowl.

Ordinis looked down at the note that had materialized just after the incident with the bridge. It was from his mother, she had apparently had to go deal with a potential collapsing star somewhere on the other side of the universe and would not be home in time for dinner tonight. Ordinis scrunched up the paper in anger of all that planning ruined. Then because of his nature immediately un-scrunched it and carefully flattened it out again before placing it into a previously unseen folder he kept on his person.

After a quick tour around parts of the temple which turned out to be vastly bigger on the inside than outside, though it still looked huge from the outside as it was, the five walked towards what was said to be their chambers. As much as they wanted to take a look around the area. The sad realisation that this had been the longest any of them had walked in a very long time meant they didn’t quite have the leg strength for a full tour plus they were all looking very thin compared to the average pony. So in everyone’s best interests Ordinis decided they should skip to the next point in the schedule, dinner.

As they walked, Pinkie in her ever curious nature was hounding, and annoying the poor god of Order in a way his younger brother would have been proud as she barraged him with question after question most of them too fast for him to even answer.

“So does you mom like vanilla or Strawberry flavor I always think that Pony’s from outer space would like strawberry’s more, that is if they had a mouth.” She gasped “Ordy does your mom have a mouth it going to be so hard for her to appreciate my get out of jail free cake without a mouth, actually does she even have eyes! Does she know about monopony? I’m going to have to make a whole new cake that outer space supper beings without eyes, ears mouth or board games can eat!” she rambled putting both hooves to her mouth in abject horror at the idea.

Ordinis turned around to the other companions who were smirking at the hyper pony’s actions thankful to see Pinkie was still for all intents and purposes still just being Pinkie. Ordinis on the other hand was not taking it as well, true he was bother to the most chaotic and disorderly being in the known universe and then some. But this was different! It was like somebody had left the fast forward button on the mare and then left the room. He would have to ask mother what she was thinking when she made this one.
“So Mr Ordinis I got a question for ya.” Came a more coherent question.

Ordinis exhaled in relief thankful that it was most likely going to be question he would be given the acceptable time and though to answer.

“Please just Ordinis I’m barely over one hundred thousand years ‘Mr’ makes me sound old” he stated with no form of irony what so ever as the pony’s started to come to terms with the fact that he obviously didn’t get out much.

“Yeah, anyway just how many brother’s or for that matter sisters you got hangin’ around anyway? We ain’t gonna be walking inta a huge firebreathin’ dragon only to have her be ya baby sister or nothing are we?”

Ordinis chuckled that would be an interesting thought. “No I’m afraid I only have my two little brothers and a mom no napalm spewing lizard siblings unfortunately, why do you ask?”

Applejacks faced flushed a bit she looked down sheepishly before continuing “I was just wondering cos I, I mean I don’t wanna’ sound rude or nothing but bein’ that your all different species and such—“

“Applejack wants to know if your mom gets around.” Rainbow interjected as she flew closer into the conversation.
“RAINBOW!” Applejack growled in both shock and anger.

“Rainbow really that’s most un-lady like!” Rarity butted in next to Fluttershy who had now decided to effect a more reddish colour in her cheeks.

“Hey you were all thinking it and Applejack was taking too long.” Rainbow stated angrily folding her hoofs together as she hovered over the group despite her fatigue.

Ordinis wasn't doing to much better than Fluttershy but was pulling more of a disbelieving face close to something that read ‘where do these people come from.’ He coughed in an attempt to establish himself once more.

“Yes well anyway let’s nip that particular bud quickly and simply say no, no she doesn’t.”

But then why don’t ya’ll all look the same?” Applejack said with an inquisitive tone.

“well its, its complicated this isn’t my true form and neither is my other brothers this is just the form of the first planet we were sent to me and Statera where sent to planets with all or most of the inhabitants looking like this and I suppose it just sort of stuck that way or at least for me, you look this way for a few thousand years you get a bit attached if you get what I mean.”

Applejack shrugged “No, not really but for the time bein’ in just gonna go and stick with Magic as the answer to the question.”

Ordinis frowned slightly “Don’t worry Mothers better at explaining these types of things than I am I’m sure she will be happy to answer all of your questions but she won’t be able to do it today because-”

“Because she’s plugging up a black hole or potentially doing battle with aliens from another universe?” Pinkie asked with a smile as six eyebrows lifted in confusion.

“How do you even know that I didn’t even tell you about the letter?” Ordinis looked down at her throwing his arms into the air.

Pinkie looked up at Ordinis and smiled. “I read it in the script obviously.”

“Seriously I have no idea what she just said, is she always like this” Ordinis pleadingly asked. Unfortunately his answer was a round of shrugs and “it’s Pinkie.”

Ordinis let out a defeated sigh before walking forward and opening a grand door the ebony hands twisted as he flung both dramatically to revel a table with enough food to feed a small army with room for seconds. Everything from chocolate fountains to hay French fries, rich and cheese’s pilled next to red and green grapes that looked almost ready to burst foods of all variety’s lay before them at the dinner table. It was like a dream never knew they had. True many of them dream't of certain foods some of them a certain party pony more than others but it was still the second most beautiful sight to them since their freedom.

“I’m sorry its only small you arrival wasn't well timed believe me if I had known ahead of time this would be so…” he stopped as he realized that not a single word of what he was saying resonated with the pony’s who were stuck at the edge of the door it looked like they believed that if they moved it would disappear like some cruel trick that they would wake up back in the pits of Canterlot.

It was a little quiet for a while before. “Ouch Pinkie whatever was that for!” Rainbow yelled.

“Sorry Rainbow I just had to see if I was dreaming, oh ponyfeathers please say I’m not dreaming I don’t think I could take it.” the Pinkie mare said as tears fell from her eyes stopping the cyan mare from getting to mad at her. After a moment a hand was placed over her back by a much taller and less pony looking individual.

“You know this is mothers cooking and she would ever so insulted with me if we didn’t try ever single item on the table so Pinkie im asking you to do me a favor, would you help me eat all this.” He added lifting his hand across the dining room. Before turning back to the mare who just in time to see her pounce on him forcing him into the second tightest hug of his life the first being saved for when he meet his mother later on today. The mare nuzzled his cheek before looking at him with tear filled eyes and enormous smile.

Despite the unorthodoxy Ordinis couldn’t help but laugh “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Zap

Quack

Zap

Bark, Bark

Zap

Moo

The light from the chaotic magic faded on and off from the Draconness face as he took on a thoughtful expression whilst he causally rewrite a small animals DNA to his will. Streams of endless chaos around him, but nothing that would change his mood as he sat on a throne of swords that had once been a park bench. He tried to make it look as chaotic as possible it was his comfort zone after all much like back in the days of his reign in Ponyville.

However no matter how much chaos surrounded him it did nothing to lighten his mood, eventually he give in with a sigh and slumped into the iron chair as he’s eyes drifted wirily back around the land before him.

“Winter is coming hey bother.” Ordinis calmly stated looking at the thousand sword throne that Discord was occupying. “Sorry I thought because of the chair, never mind human joke.”

Discord turned around to see a garish purple blazer obstruct his view he looked up to see the face of his sibling with a caring yet sad smile across his face as he wielded a more reserved office chair next to his discordant brother.

Discord looked away, back to the amusing sight of the animal in front of him as it tried to paddle though the water with its hooves and udders. Yet this again did little to lighten his mood.

Ordinis looked at the chaos around him, a shuddered slightly but kept it at bay, he knew it was just his brother blowing off steam. And in a morbid way to him it was funny like supporting some sort of family art exhibition he knew was awful. “Ha haven’t lost you’re touch hey Dissy, Oh Mother, I remember the first time you learned how to use your powers. It was right here back when we were only a few hundred years old I was feeding a swan and you turned it into a great unknown one for some Love-craftian horror story by mistake.

Discord despite himself smiled at the memory it took his mother almost two hours to convince the great old one that Ordinis was not its new son before it let him go and she could send it back to the dimension it came from. Ordinis still couldn't look at squid without cringing even to this day.

“You want to talk about it Dissy? About Equestria I mean.”

Discord huffed he always hated being treated like a child, it was a lot of the reason why he enjoyed annoying Luna and her Holier than thou sister back in the day they treated him like an unruly child so of course he would act like it. And his brother was no different.

“I have nothing to talk about I’m only here because I finally got most of my power back to full and I want to stretch it out a bit nothing more.”

Ordinis sighed audibly his little brother was always difficult when it came to talking about his feelings making jokes and misshaping reality to his unorthodox will was just one of his way of hiding his emotions.

“You know bother there was a time when I thought like him our little brother Statera, being immortal has its benefits and all, but it’s easy to think we are better than the others that inhabit the universes, we live longer we have more power than they could ever wield hell if we wanted to we reign over them like gods given the chance I know you had a little experiment with that yourself a few thousand years ago.”

Discord turned a sour expression towards his brother not sure if he was getting at something or just insulting him for his actions.
“What I’m getting at brother is simple. Our time is eternal yet the purpose of ourselves is not how we chose to live it but what we do to make the universe what it is that’s important. It came easy to me at first ill admit, being a creature of order as I am showing kindness though order to others was one of the best joys in this universe and it was almost child’s play, something horrible happens in a mortals life one snap of my fingers a few contracts and hopefully all is restored in the world.

“Ok now you are just talking meaningless dribble Ordinis. Either say what you’re going to say or leave, I’m really not in the mood.” Discord angrily snarled.

“What I mean is I thought it was that simple. I went through my first thousand planets in record time as soon as I saw something wrong, an evil dictator, a corrupt economy, a slave nation I went down there and with a snapped my fingers or even a few necks I ended what was chaotic and set things straight… or at least I thought I did.

This time discord was all ears he was used to his brother gloating about his first few hundred planets how easy it was to go down and make mother proud as he put it. Every time discord saw his brother his smug little face he wanted to hurl.

But this was the first time he actually heard a different side to this story, it was as if his brother was finally showing his true nature and Discord was not going to let this pass no matter how much he pretended to not care.

“Well as I was waiting for mother to send me back so I could make sure I had beaten you in that little bet we had you remember the first one to complete a hundred planets wins their own planet? Anyway as I was waiting the message was never send, even when I tried to return I was denied every time. I couldn't understand what I did wrong, I fixed everything I killed all the right people I set thing right in my own perfect order right? Well after a while I decided to just go back from my First planet to last. That’s when it hit me, and it hit me hard.”

Discord was listening at the edge of his seat now he was still trying desperately to not look like he was paying attention but it was obvious to anyone that he was hanging off of every word his brother was saying even as Ordinis himself was holding his head in both hands and starring off into the distance.

“Every plant I went it was all the same, the dictators I overthrew, new more horrendous ones took their place, every genocide I put down another one reigned, ancient monsters took old ones places, slaves turned on the masters and then on each other. All” Ordinis sighed and looked down deep in thought “all of them using the system I used to destroy their fellow creatures though my own actions I had done as much if not more damage than when I arrived.

Discord once again in his long, long life was practically speechless this was becoming something of a record he thought to himself, his brother had failed that many times, how? He was always mothers perfect little baby, when they were children it was like he could do no wrong. Discord was always the one that got scolded if something went wrong, even though in fairness it was mostly his fault but that’s beside the point!

He was the perfect prodigy so to see him admitting that he had failed in almost all of his charges was something that even Discord was finding hard to believe. Something was eating Discord about this, this was the information he had always wanted to hear something he could finally hold over his perfect goodie two shoes brother, and yet he felt something else, was it pity or mother forbid empathy?

“What I’m saying Dissy is that I've been there what you’re feeling right now, like you messed up big time and even though it has come later to you than it did with me I want you to know that you are not alone in this. It is a horrible tragic lesson our family must learn, every actions we take or in your case do not take has a reaction, but it can be fixed trust me. It will be hard and may take everything out of you both physically and emotionally, but I have no doubt that you will do it bother especially with the friends you carry.” He put his hand on discords shoulder immediately regretting it at the awkwardness of being this open with his brother something they were both very unused too.

“Discord those adorable bundles of fur, you’re friends are strengths not weaknesses always remember that, Funny now that I think about it I believe that was why mother gave you charge of Equestria to begin with. That’s just a guess mother moves in mysterious ways so long as it’s not around wine haha.” He turned his gaze left and right quickly to make sure his little joke was not heard by a certain Minotaur, the action causing a soft chuckle from Discord which then became a joint chuckle and then full blown laughter from the two brothers.

Discord looked at his mismatched hands for a long moment and then looked at his brother with those crazed red eyes for a long moment as much as he wanted to argue even just for the sake of it he found he just didn’t have the words or energy to speak otherwise he still didn’t quite get what his brother was going on about the whole thing to him was quite an eye rolling affair in all honestly.

Yet something he said resonated with his chaotic soul, something that another mare had also said to him many moons ago. With another reluctant sigh he lifted his talon over to his brother who in turn lifted his hand to clasp his bother and pull him up from his slump Ordinis despite himself gave the god of chaos a short brotherly hug something he again immediately regretted as the awkward moment ended and bother where looking for anything to break the unbearable silence even if both had a an dark flush on their cheeks and a smile on their faces.

“Ahem, yes well I don’t know about you but this guy needs his rest and as much fun as those filly have had this day, I bet their missing their favorite bundle of chaos something fierce I know I did.” Ordinis finished with a large smile as he clashed his had around discord back and motioned him towards the temple all the while subtly warring with his brother as he attempted to set things back in order while Discord attempted to do the exact opposite with his own click of this fingers.

It was a dark night, darker than it had any right to naturally be as Fluttershy left the Everfree forest, she was coming back from helping some orphaned owls readjust to their nocturnal routine. Something she had done hundreds of times with her other animals when the sight hit her an orange glow coming from Ponyville.

The sight baffled her, it was a warm orangey glow spewing smoke from above the hillside, and then the realisation hit her.

“Fire…”

It took everything for the mare not to instinctively run away from the direction of the flame however she fought back her terrified nature.

“No I have to help… What if my friends are in there, remember what Rainbow said I have to be strong.” Fluttershy firmly stated to herself, as she began to gallop towards the blazing inferno.

True to her fears everything was engulfed in a burning haze it was as if nothing had been left untouched, houses, trees even street lamps where ablaze the smog around the streets making it all but impossible to see anything let alone fly as Fluttershy opted to run carefully though the streets.

The first thing that confused her was that She couldn’t see anypony that confusion quickly turned to fear and downright terror when she began to run past familiar land marks Rarity’s Boutique, Sugarcube corner even the Town hall not a single living being was around it was as if Ponyville had been abandoned completely.

Instinctively Fluttershy opted for the Library she convinced herself as always that if anyone know what was going on and how to fix it, it would be Twilight. As the fog began to thickened Fluttershy began to cough instinctively as the smoke rushed into her lungs with each breath at first it irritated and tickled her thought but now it was starting to get heavier and more concerning.

The usually quiet and slow mare was now galloping full speed towards the Library which to her complete surprise was almost untouched by the fire. And yet it looked even worse than some of the buildings. The braches where snapped and splintered as if a giant hurricane had attacked it, the windows where all smashed and the whole tree looked like it had aged hundreds of years more than it should have.

All these thoughts combined with the half hanging door that was just barely stopping anypony from entering as it held onto its last Hinge made Fluttershy come to an almost crawl, despite the smoke and inferno around her the tree was by far the scariest thing to the mare.

“Um…Hello?” the mare almost whispered as she closed the gap between her and the doorstep. Ever so gently she placed a soft hoof on the door which immediately gave into the tiny force. The slamming sound of the wood as it fell into the library, the shy mare let out a loud ‘eep’ and jumped behind the door frame shivering for several moments.

After calming her nerves she starred into the entrance, the home of her friend was pitch black she couldn’t spot a single item or even the floors it was all very disturbing to the mare. However some overwhelming force inside her was telling her she had to push forward, almost without knowing the young Pegasus was stepping into the residents once she closed the threshold of the door and was over the fallen door she spoke.

“H-hello is anypony o-ok in here?”

Sounds of groaning like something in pain could be heard in front of her it was soft but blatant.

“T-twilight?”

As suddenly as it had collapsed the door sprung back up and closed with a tremendous slam. Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs and dashed upwards away from the noise she after a moment she flew down and covered her eyes with her hooves shivering in fear as her breath began to hyperventilate.

After an untold amount of time the Yellow mare slowly removed the hooves from her eyes and what she saw she almost could comprehend. In found of her was a violet mare with only one wing and a cracked but still fully formed horn she her breaths where wheeze and sporadic and her eyes where barely opened and unfocused, she was also covered in allot of her own blood.

Fluttershy gasped in horror and flew towards her friend. “Twilight! Oh dear no, Twilight what happened?”

The mare in question didn’t answer at first her eyes blinked slightly as Fluttershy cradled her head with her hooves. A small raspy answer was all that she received.

“Twilight, I-I don’t understand what happened” Fluttershy whimpered small beginnings of tears formed in her eyelids as she eyed her seriously damaged friend

“It’s all…”

“It’s all what?” Fluttershy almost begged.

“It’s- it’s all your fault.”

“M-me what did I do.”

Twilight moved her head on her own her one open eye bore hatred of unrivalled animosity at the yellow Pegasus.

“Why! Why didn’t you stop her? I told you, I told you everything and you stood there and did nothing WHY!” the voice increased as it finished until it was a loud and terrifying scream Fluttershy flew back from the violet mare as it began to lift itself up from the floor the lavender mares wounds no hindrance to itself as it continued to look at the shivering crying mare.

“Twilight I didn’t know, I’m sorry I wish, I, I could change it if I could but…but”

The mare’s body vanished and in its place hundreds of faces of the purple mare flooded the pitch black room each one of them hate filled glares.

“BUT WHAT?”

Fluttershy was a shivering wreck at this point her tears matted her face as she tried desperately to not curl up into the tightest ball she could.

I-I don’t know” she whispered in a barely auditable voice.

“Everything I did for you, I thought we were friends Fluttershy I can see know that you helped me more than you know, you helped me understand that friendship was just another lie that she taught me as well I understand now friendship only brings weakness and I won’t let that weakness hurt me ever again.”

Before Fluttershy could answer a huge ball of flaming Purple magic lunged forward.

Instead of crying or running from the impending doom Fluttershy stayed perfectly still completely defeated whilst looking down to the ground.

“I’m sorry.”

Fluttershy screamed loudly as she flew out of her bed her breath was ragged and she was desperately looking around at the unfamiliar location, for one horrible moment she believed he was back in prison and that was enough to set the young mare off. She flew back down to the bed held the pillow in her four legs and began sobbing uncontrollably. The pillow bringing little comfort to the distraught mare as she let out years of emotional pain out onto the fabric.

After all the tears had dried up and she was down to a few sniffles and whimpers, Fluttershy settled down and listened to the sounds of the temple. It was mostly just the white noise of absolute silence but as she flicked her ears slightly, very faintly she could make out the sounds of owls, geese and even a few bats. All of these sound of the untamed nature lifting the spirits of the young mare despite herself.

She composure herself quickly and began to walk out the door she just couldn’t stand being alone right now she knew it was terribly rude but she hoped that maybe her friend would understand. As she exited she studied the outside of her chambers it was a large table the one that they had used for dinner around it was five doors each one of them containing her sleeping friends she looked around to make sure the coast was clear, she had no need to fear as far as she had been assured the temple was completely safe but it was something of a force of habit after her previous location.

She stopped outside of the middle door of the half crescent room and knocked gently.

“Y-yes who is it?” an upper class voice responded.

“Um…Sorry Rarity it’s me Fluttershy is it, is it ok to come in I mean if I’m not disturbing anything.” the yellow mare began pawing at the ground with one hoof waiting for an answer.

“Of course not dear do come in.” the voice behind the door answered.

Fluttershy turned the handle and peered into the room it was almost the exact same size as her room a large white single onsweet bedroom, the centre dominated by an enormously large bed the same as Fluttershy fit for almost eight pony’s her size it reminded Fluttershy of the guest rooms she had used in Canterlot castle many years ago.

The light form a single candle glared into Fluttershy eyes and for a moment, she couldn’t make out what was behind the source of light after blinking a couple of times she saw Rarity half out of the covers rubbing her eyes, and wiping some moisture under them with a tired but still genuine smile across her face.

“Well come along dear you’ll catch your death if you stay out their long enough.”

With a simple nod the yellow Pegasus walking into the room allowing the door to shut behind her as she moved closer to her friend, instantly she began to feel better even as she tried to ignore the bloodshot and cloudy eyes of her friend it was a little concerning but she imagined that it was because she had awoken her friend and nothing more.

“S-sorry to bother you Rarity, it’s just that-“

Rarity lifted a hoof to silence any more talk from the yellow Pegasus. “Say no more darling you never need an excuse to come see me, Anyway why don’t you come lay down here.” She patted a part of the enormous bed as Fluttershy leaped gracefully into the stuffed behemoth of a mattress and landed next to her friend’s side. The warm and comfort of Rarity chasing any of her fear struck emotions away almost instantly.

Rarity looked at her friend and upon noticing the look of her smile dimmed somewhat.

“Why dear please forgive my rudeness but you look positively dreadful, have you been crying?

Fluttershy looked down at her hooves she thought that she had all but run out of tears, but apparently she was going to test that theory once more as new streams graced her face. She leaned into the white unicorn’s side and sobbed again.

“Oh Rarity it was horrible I had a dream about Ponyville everything was on fire and I was all alone and then—“

“Shh, Shy my dear” Rarity cooed as she gently stroked her friend’s mane. “Its ok everything’s fine now.”

“But, but Rarity I saw her again I haven’t dreamed about that in almost three years!”

“Darling it’s not real, none of it is if anything it’s even more unreal considering Luna’s disappearance.”

Fluttershy started wailing even more into her friends shoulder “B-but she blamed me Rarity she blamed me for not being there for her, and, and I think she’s right why didn’t I help her I’m the worst pony ever.”

Rarity had had enough, she pulled Fluttershy from her shoulder and lifted her into eye contact with both hooves a look of determination and anger bearing down on the Pegasus.

“Now you listen her, you, and especially you had nothing to do with this and don’t you dare let me ever catch you doubting yourself again, do I make myself clear!” Rarity stated authoritatively, there was no real anger in her voice it was more like stern confidence but it was no less effective.

Fluttershy looked away for a moment in contemplation before looking back at her friend and nodding as rarity removed her hoof from her face.

“Good, and please if you ever find yourself doing that again always remember that you can talk to me, I find these things are best not left to fester, at worst thoughts like that do terrible things to your completion and a beautiful mare like yourself should never be seen with a frown.” she added sincere smile on her face to lighten the mood.

Fluttershy giggled a little blushing slightly at the complement “Um Rarity I know that we’ve basically be sharing the same room for four years and everything, but I um I mean if it’s ok with you-“

“Say no more darling, of course you can share the bed with me, if I’m being perfectly honest after so long I don’t know how I’m ever going to be able to sleep alone without at least one of you girls in the room, especially in a bed that looks like it was meant for somepony the size of dragon.”

Fluttershy smile strengthened as she felt the sheets of the bed levitate from under her and Rarity before gently folding over them both as Rarity’s horn lit up. The feeling of another body almost seemed to remove any anxiety and fear in the young mare as she felt the hands of sleep grasping her and her friend.

Knock, Knock.

Both mares’ heads lifted from the pillow to sounds of a hoof rattling softly against the door.

“Come in” Rarity finally called.

The silhouette of a pink mare popped into view from the door, however unlike her usual state the usually puffed up crazed mane and tail where instead replaced with a flattened lifeless hair instantly signalling the mares current mental state.

Once again Rarity found herself looking a very downtrodden image of one of her friends.

“Pinkie my dear are you ok?”

“Hey Rares sorry to bother you, oh and hey Fluttershy sorry to bother you too, but, I, I had a bad dream and usually if I had one of those I would tell Mr and Miss cake but they’re not here anymore and I, and I don’t want to be alone is it ok if I stay here for a little bit.” She sniffed a little holding back a tear in her eye.

“Why of course dear, come why don’t you share the bed with me and Fluttershy and tell us all about it.”

Pinkie’s mane inflated just a little at the prospect but still not enough to signal any change in mood as she trotted slowly over and climbed in-between both her friends and under the sheets.

“Now dear why don’t you tell us all about it, it will make you feel better I’m sure.”

Pinkies nightmare had for all intents and purposes been the exact same as Fluttershy with a few different variations, based on it being Pinkie’s reactions and not Fluttershy but other than that was almost note for note as the Pink mare started to cry when it reached the climax both Fluttershy and Rarity threw the mare into a group hug trying desperately to cheer her up and reassure her it was ok.

Finally Rarity spoke up as the sounds of the party pony’s sobs died down to a controllable whimper, there was something that was eating at her and she had to get it off her chest. “Girls I must confess I, I had that exact same dream.”

Fluttershy looked at the two mares and nodded in agreement “Um…Me too Pinkie your dream was almost exactly like mine.”

“What do you think it means?” Pinkie added in between soft sniffles.

“I’m not sure darling but one thing at the end of the day it was just a nightmare and as long as we have one another nothing that happened in that dream is ever going to happen again I’m sure, now I think it’s best if we all get some sleep we have to look are best for the morning and dwelling on this will do none of us any good.” Rarity finished rapping the two mares into a hug with both hooves.
The two other mares nodded in agreement before settling down into the bed still locked in a three-way hug the warmth of the friendly embrace doing wonders for each mare involved.

Knock Knock.

“Oh by Celestia, who is it now?” Rarity moaned.

A sad and slightly tear matted cyan Pegasus and an equally rough looking orange farm pony came trotting into the room the sight instantly sending a ping of guilt inside Rarity for her slightly aggressive response.

“Oh girls let me guess nightmares.” She asked in a concerned but slightly ever so slightly annoyed tone.

“No! I was a just checking on you guys that’s all I um I heard noises and thought that bull thing-“

“Minotaur” Fluttershy corrected.

“Minotaur whatever was up to no good.”

Applejack sighed “Rainbow ain’t no use lyin’ they can obviously see the tears on your fur."

“Hey! I wasn’t cry alright, some bugs flew into my eyes just as I was trying to get a glass of water that’s all.”

Rarity sighted, but kept a sincere smile across her face. “Its ok girls Fluttershy, Pinkie and myself here where just about to settle in for the night are you sure you two don’t want to join us?”

Both mares looked at each other then sighed, as much pride as they both had the prospect of sleeping alone instead of in a cosy bed with friends was not something they were going to trade just to keep up appearances.

With a slightly reluctant nod both earth and Pegasus pony settled into the group hug as Rarity send a small amount of magic to extinguish the candle.

As the moon reached its peak in the sky the moonlight shone gracefully though the window of the bedroom chamber revealing five multi-coloured mares sleeping soundly and safely for the first time in four very long years. Interestingly enough settled around the mares in an almost half crescent fashion was an ancient Draconequus who was only sleeping there because all the other beds where taken or terribly uncomfortable, and not! Because he missed their company and wanted to be with his friends.

The Calm Before The Storm. (Part two)

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All five girls were up near simultaneously at five am. It was not that they didn't want to sleep in for a change, far from it. It was more vigorous formality and life style structure drilled into them through years of incarceration. At exactly five am the mares were lined against a section of their cell wall, blurred eyed and sleep deprived, well except for the element of laughter who even years into the torturous affair had the energy of somepony on fifteen cups of coffee in one sitting.

It had actually taken them around five minutes before they realised what they were doing, mostly because the demeaning insults and splashing of ice cold water was not being thrown their way, as part of their ‘daily bath’ as it was cruelly nicknamed.

"…What a minute..." Rainbow said out loud, eyeing the room twice to make sure she wasn’t sleep walking, she smacked her hoof against her face for being so stupid and brought herself back toward the comfort of the enormous bed, with the sleeping Draconequus still slumped half on half off the bedding, snoring obnoxiously, (four years of routines meant very little to a chaotic god, whose entire being fought the very concept).

"Rainbow!” her yellow cellmate whispered out desperately, “what are you doing your going to get in trouble." Fluttershy finished taking a step, hesitantly, towards her comrade.

"Darling get back her quickly!" Rarity harshly whispered in agreement, rubbing more of the sleep from her eyes.

Rainbow smugly grinning to herself slumped further into the covers "Why, who's going to make us?"

"Girl have ya’ lost your dang marbles, if ya’ don't get back the guards are gonna’ tan our... wait a cotton picking minute..." Applejack stopped herself as the penny dropped realising that her state of incarceration was now transitory.

"Exactly" Rainbow retorted with no small hint of joy escaping her voice as she rolled around tangling herself in the fluffy blanket like a enormous silk caterpillar.

“I don't follow, what’s stopping the guards from reprimanding... oh oh of course, oh how silly of me." Rarity huffed remembering exactly where she was and moving back into bed along with Rainbow and now Applejack.

Fluttershy took a step forward again, but stopped herself. She couldn't bring herself to take the risk, she couldn’t fight the ambivalence culminating in her psych, somehow even knowing that the chances of her causing trouble was now (according to Ordinis) less than zero, she just couldn't do it. It literally went against her nature to be a trouble maker even following tyrannical prison rules.

"Darling come on, nothing's going to happen that’s all behind us now." the element of generosity cooed softly noticing the lack of her light hearted Pegasus friend.

Fluttershy looked around eyeing the walls as if they were watching her every move. "I don't know girls."

Rairty simply rolled her eyes at her beloved friend, it was simply far too early for her to spend the early twilight hours coxing her friend back to the comfort of the bed. It might have been harsh but a mare needed her (four years standing) beauty sleep.

Lighting her horn, Rarity, somewhat shakily activated a simple levitation spell, it was an alien feeling to her now like stretching a ligament she had not used in many years she found more demanding than before having been out of practice in the ways of magic. The Pegasus was engulfed in the aura of magic from the fashionistas horn as the diffident yellow pony was picked up with a squeal as she was being drawn back to bed.

“EEP!”

Slightly shivering Fluttershy was laid stiffly on the bed before the alabaster hooves of the fashionista curled around her in a platonically loving hug showing no means of escape from its warm fluffy restraints.

"There darling, not to worry, this is far better than waiting all cold and tired against the wall. Am I right?"

Still shivering and eyeing the room corner to corner as if something would materialise from them, the Pegasus finally nodded.

"Great everyone's back in bed, can we just get some sleep now." Rainbow moaned pulling the pillow over her head.

Applejack lifted her head doing the math. "Wait what about--

"I WON!" an enormously over enthusiastic voice screamed before she had time to finish.

All of the mares on the bed flew up in shock, looking over to the wall. Rainbow having been wrapped in the covers tried to escape but only succeeded in falling flat onto the floor with a loud thud. The sound also throwing Discord completely out of his slumber and off the bed. Like Rainbow he was flapping his wings and darting in the best direction to escape the possible threat, however having the upper body half off the bed and pointed towards the floor, that of course meant the floor.

“Ye-ouch!” Discord cried out, curling up into a ball on the floor both antler and horn bent comically out and curled like boar tusks as the collided onto the cold unforgiving ground.

Sitting and massaging his head he growled in annoyance. "I'm up, I'm up you blasted vindictive stallion tyrant." Discord grumpily moaned at the non-existent guard as he reached up and straightened out his horns marching and stumbled towards the wall.

"Silly Dissy, I'm a mare, that's why we have different toilets." Pinkie smiled innocently at him.

"Pinkamena Diane Pie! You mind tellin’ me why you where hollering like a drunk in cider season who just lost his dang house keys!?" Applejack roared putting more anger into her voice than she wanted.

Pinkies smile dropped somewhat "Sorry A.J."

"Wait, why are you against a wall, Wait, why am I in fact?" Discord muttered inquisitively disassociating himself from both the wall and the mare.

"I thought we were playing who can stay by the wall the longest, I never win these things it’s always Fluttershy so I was just so happy I won this time." She stated with feverish passion, hopping up and down ironically in place.

"You mean you knew that we didn't have to stay against the wall for that stupid guard all this time and you still didn't tell us." Rainbow asked exacerbated.

"Hee hee of course Dashie they’re like a gazillion miles away. How are they gonna’ throw smelly water on us?" Pinkie asks eliciting a groan from all in the room as she bounced back into the bottom of the bed.

“Uh Pinkie Pie please don’t bring up the hygiene of that water again, You know how hard it was for me to rationalise that no pony no matter how cruel or morally bankrupt would throw stagnant water on a pristine groomed coat!”

“Shucks it worn’t that bad, though, come to think of it, it was strange that even the fly’s didn’t go near us when--
"Can we please just get some sleep now, jeez!" Rainbow groaned.

Based on the gods surrounding the pony's as they slept it seemed like the god of irony was the one to answer Rainbow request as the quite sounds of the chamber was suddenly defiled by the loud sounds of rapping on the chamber door.

The handle opened revelling a grinning Ordinis. "Rise and shine girl's, it's five thirty in the mourning and you know what that mean, time to organise what we’re going to do today, who wants to start up the Excel Spread sheets?"

Ordinis's only response was about six of the seven pillows being flung at an astonishingly fast velocity curtsy of a tired and cranky servant of disorder. The pillows sending Ordinis flying across the hallway with a resounding crash, and the shattering of furniture.

"Thanks." Rainbow mumbled turning over on her side.

"Anytime." Discord answered eyes still shut as he snapped his fingers to shut the door before placing enough locks in the door to make a bank vault blush.

A few hours later the mares where finally awoken more naturally by the three suns of this strange land as their combined warming light invaded the darkness of the room.

It had still taken them an extra few hours to fully be up and ready. To be fair, it was a combined Rainbow dash and Discord lethargic duo where notorious loungers coupled with Rarity finding the multi-planetary stocked cosmetic cupboard that might as well have been her preverbal candy store.

After an amazingly pleasant mourning routine that being a hot shower or bath, a luxury in its own right among the five mares, they couldn’t wait for another chance to attack the home cooking of this mysterious ‘Mother’ of the three gods. If her idea of a quickly prepared meal was anything like what they had last night Breakfast was going to be something of world wonder to the mares.

Walking somewhat hesitantly through the seemingly ever turning lavishly yet tastefully adorned corridors, many containing paintings and photos of things the girls could scarcely understand, one a picture of pod of whales swimming in space between planets, another even more amazing a moving almost alive picture of a bright purple subterranean Jungle swaying in the breeze, and perhaps (for what it was) even more bizarrely a painting of a single metal can with the words Campbell’s soup printed on it. More and more questions piled into the girls minds collectively. But their rumbling bellies and morning addled minds quelled the idea of asking them; at least for now as the trotted towards what Ordinis somewhat conservatively called the ‘big room’.

"Okay girls." Ordinis announced Turing back to his guests as they approached an impossibly enormous door.

"Now just a few reminder here, do not be frightened by mother, she is a loving caring uh call her mare I guess if it helps you acclimate easier. She doesn't want you to be scared to speak your mind, she knows you all pretty much better than you know yourselves so there’s no point keeping any thought to yourself, Oh and you might feel a slight pressure like squeezing a balloon or diving when she comes in, allot of magical touched creatures such as your self are a bit sensitive to her aura but it passes shortly."

The girls looked at one another nervously with their peripheral vision, they gathered the concept that she was powerful if that word was even enough to describe whatever this thing was but to have its very presence palpably tighten the very air… Even Applejack and Rainbow dash had a hard time keeping the ill ease from their faces.

"How does she know us, so well if she's never even been in our presence?" Rarity finally asked talking the initiative.

"Well… how to I explain this, she did have a hand, sorry hoof in making you, all of you, so I'm pretty sure she has a good idea."

"Come again?" Applejack stated unbelievingly.

"But she's not my mom, I pretty sure I know daddy would never cheat on my mommy and in filly-sex-ed it said that to make a baby you need a mommy and a daddy to love each other very much and then the mare would present--" Pinkie was interrupted by a well-timed hoof covering her muzzle by Rainbow Dash.

"Thanks" Ordinis nodded. "Well long story short she made us all, you can ask her the full details when you meet her, to be honest the time it would take to explain it, you should just settle for ‘its Godly magic’ but as I mentioned before mother can usually explain it better than I. So in a few minutes for now just let her say what she has to say and then I’m sure she will let you ask her as much as possible, is that fair?"

"Ah guess it'll have ta’ do." Applejack hesitantly agreed for the whole group to the strange god.

"Excellent" Ordinis declared clapping his hands together in a humorous display of unrelenting joy before turning around and placing a single hand against the door.

Almost immediately the door relented creaking open automatically, groaning under the behemoth weight of their own enormity they slid open revelling the 'big room'

To call it an understatement would be to laughably wrong to the mares it would almost be anathema; as they looked at the impossible space in front of them it. It would do little to exaggerate the fact that if windows had been let open in this colossus of a hall they would be in danger of letting in the very clouds from the sky. Something, the mares would have thought impossible had they not visited or lived in a city of clouds themselves on occasion. Though thinking about it Cloudsdale could probably even fit into the room if they laid it straight out.

Marble columns the size of small houses in width held up the room the underside of the buttresses were as adorned with engravings, guilds and markings as the outside perhaps even more so. The room had the odd effect of being both oppressive and perversely homely at the same time, the opulence was there but it wasn’t overdone, the size was obviously too much but its atmosphere its aura was one of chilling peace, of the freezing breeze on a moutain top, a whisper in your ear as if the very air had softly cooed welcome home into ones ears, even if the mares had no knowledge of this place. The colours where white and blue, the tapestry’s were long and immaculately stitched and contained signs and symbols which none of the girls had even an inclination as to what they could mean but still, it felt just a little like-

“This feels like Canterlot.” Fluttershy whispered aloud to herself, putting her thoughts into words as the other mares nodded in unison. Though the castle itself paled in comparison to the opulence of this temple to the very gods, it was the closest the mares could equate in there minds.

All around the room the sides were held up with the same behemoth alabaster marble that littered the outside of the temple like structure, squinting the mares could see untold numbers of painting dotted between each pillar. Each even from this distant where immaculately painted and incredibly decorated.

"Ehem" the god of order lightly spoke following a coughed bringing the mares out of their collective stupor. "I know it’s a lot to take in but trust me the view is far better inside the room." Ordinis smirked as he walked towards a "modestly" sized table centred perfectly in the middle of the pseudo- stadium.

Discord had already strolled over to the table bored of the room, and uncaring of its perfectly “normal” non-spinning or bouncing walls. His mismatched feet now up on the table as he leaned back against the grandiose chair folding his arms behind his head.

"Need material, must create, so much beauty." The alabaster fashionista whimpered out as a single tear of joy escaped her eye as she let the magnificence overwhelm her creative side.

"It’s gonna take me a looooooot longer to decorate this place for a party than the princesses castle." Pinkies stated in a tone similar to Rarity’s.

The other mares found themselves tripping over their own hooves as they walked towards the enormous table.

Eventually they found there seats at the table, subsequently seated as they kept their gaze any and everywhere around them. Flanked on both sides by the Ying and Yang’ed siding deity’s.

“Oh sorry how rude of me, you all need breakfast don’t you?”

“’Iffin’ you don’t mind.” Applejack answered with a silly smile of anticipation, her stomach choosing the perfect time to grumble at the moment she finished the sentence causing a blush to form and giggles to be reverberated around the room.

“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” Pinkie pie yelled out in her usual chipper way.

“I didn’t think they had horses on Equestria?” Ordinis asked with a raised brow.

“Psst Rares, what’s a horse?” Rainbow puzzled towards Rarity who simply lifted her hooves in an ‘I have no idea’ fashion.

Ordinis shook his head, pulled out a scroll from his purple flamboyant jacket, folding it out gently he wrote down a few things mumbling to himself before putting it back in his pocket. A click of his finger and the table was instantly bustling with myriad of different foods a banquet fit truly and in this case literally for the gods.

Applejack Pinkie and Rainbow launched in head first, like they had silently challenged each other to a food eating contest; not like they need to word something for such things to occur among the three. Immediately grabbing whatever was in front of them not caring for what it was, the banquet last night was even half as good as this everything on the table was amazing without discriminating with personal tastes.

Fluttershy and Rarity took smaller portions trying to keep a more reserved manor however again with the food this good and the gruel they were used to so bad, even Rarity was taking what her former self would call most un-lady-like levels of portions, Fluttershy was little different.
Conversation was replaced with the sounds of chewing, slurping and humming of appreciation as the food tickled all manner of taste buds, as each still mostly famished looking ponies gorged themselves silly. The only sound came from the fidgeting of hooves, the careful scratching of quill on paper from Ordinis as he dipped his quill into the ink pot on the table and back onto the papyrus scroll and the bored fluttering of a cards as Discord flicked all fifty two cards from one mismatched hand to the other occasionally making them dance and flicker in the air, before landing in his palm, whilst he wrestled and pondered with the deep and troubling feelings he thought he was over.

Perhaps the most interesting thing Fluttershy had kept her gaze on as she subconsciously sat next to the bored, somewhat downtrodden Discord was the most decorated frame of all. The only one that was left without any other paintings around it.

The light scribbles cofounded the mare so much so that despite herself she couldn't help but fly over lightly to it the curiosity overtaking her own shyness. A picture made of crayon somewhat stained by some sort of chocolate on the corner of the paper was a drawing of stick figure that could only have been a picture of Discord helpfully labelled so on the paper, a picture of something, Fluttershy could not make out mostly because of the crudeness of the childlike drawing. The only indication to what it was was the words ‘mommy’.

She tilted her head at the drawing, but smiled as she realised she had caught a rare artefact, an insight into the young draconequus past. And the fact that it had its place prominently amongst the rare and numerous master pieces that littering the halls like band posters in some rock club. Fluttershy sighed happily suddenly feeling like a piece of her mountainous apprehension of meeting this ‘mother’ slide away like an avalanche.

As Discord turned his head towards where the mare had gone, he watched her blushing immensely as he realised what she was drawn to. However, before he had any chance to comment the sounds of the impossibly large doors began to open again, drawing his gaze elsewhere.
The monolith of metal slid open, revelling a creature as dry and stiff as the doors themselves, entering the large room.

Marching forward like a man on a mission the acrimonious Minotaur made his way around the left hand side of the table, seating himself on the opposite side of the temples guests and his brothers. A good twelve seats away for good measure.

Fluttershy, seeing the intimidating figure fell back among her friends, landing in a dainty fashion in her seat. She smiled at Rarity next to her who offer her a golden jug full of soda with her magic. Nodding Fluttershy filled her cup with some soda water. It wasn’t exactly breakfast material but she wanted to try as much as she could from her old comfort foods, she never knew if it would be her last chance. Sucking though the straw she took in a bit too much and lifted herself up producing a loud and embarrassing burp that shook everyone away from their food.

“Eep… sorry everypony.” She stated with her cheeks growing redder in embarrassment.

“Filthy mortals.” Statera snorted with contempt folding his gigantically muscular arms, before turning away from the group.

Fluttershy looked down in shame scrunching her eyes in fear waiting to be further reprimanded by the creature, when all of a sudden a larger and even more prominent burp came from the side of the table, blowing her mane to the side with its intensity.

“Woops, my apologies, chocolate milk always made me a bit gassy” Discord stated with a villainous, mocking smirk towards the girls but with the full intention of it being used for his stick in the mud brother.

He knew it worked as soon as he heard the growl coming from his side.

“Oooh ooooh me next, me next, I can beat that one!” Pinkie bellowed extremely giddy to take up the challenge she grabbed an entire jug of soda and emptying it in one impressive gulp, the girls around her braced themselves when Pinkies cheeks and even her whole body swelled up and she let out a burp so powerful it throw her off her chair.

The action caused both Rainbow and Applejack to fall also off the chairs, out of laughter instead as they clutched their sides and rolled off.
“ENOUGH!” Statera screamed slamming his mighty blue hands onto the table, sending all of the plates up into the air and then down with a resulting smashing sounds and metal clanging. Ordinis pot of ink flipped up landing on his garish purple suit causing him to jump up with a flamboyant gasp as he tried to brush it off, the rest of the room was silent as the night.

“You beasts, how dare you show nothing but the upmost piety when you’re in mothers house. You fools are fit to be no more than to be Jesters!”

“Statera for the love of mother calm yourself, look what you did to my new suit, this was Hugo Boss, they aren’t cheap you know!?” Ordinis yelled wiping the black ink as best as he could from the suit doing little more than smudging it further.

“Shut your intrepid mouth Ordinis, for a deity of Order, you act more like our improvident brother. How dare you defend these, these things! They should be treated like virus’s and dealt the same, the very fact that they’re here to fix that world is beyond comprehension. And as for you going around like some sort of preforming monkey, have you no honor, no respect for the gift you have!” Statera continued to scream snorting venomously at his brother his chest pulsating violently from his angry breath like he was being deflated and inflated in rapid strokes.
Picking up a napkin and whipping his suit Ordinis turned to his brother with a sickening pout. “You sound a bit jealous Baby brother?”

“Of course I am it should be me you myopic fool!” Statera screamed snorting his rage through his nostrils, as he eyed his brother staring into those calculating small blue eyes, perversely annoyed that his anger did little more than annoy his eldest sibling.

“Funny” Stated Discord lifting his other leg and placing it over the other. “All this talk of fools, animals, and childish antics and you’re the only one that seems to be ranting and raving like some wild baby chimp. Perhaps we should get you a little leash, so you won’t make such a mess on the table, or at the very least a bib.” Discord chuckled nefariously as he clicked his mismatched paw summoning a baby bib over his brother’s neck with the words, ‘I ate all by myself today’

If Statera was mad then he was in a blinding furry as he looked down at the mockery. Especially as he heard his eldest brother snort a chuckle behind his hand.

Looking like he was ready to charge Discord flared his wings, when all of a sudden something in the air changed a light but noticeable weight had been added to the room something palpable and ethereal all at the same time.

“Honestly boys, I can’t leave you alone for two minutes.” The wondrous and impossibly soothing voice called out all around the room, like the omnipresent being it was.

A light, brighter than all the suns of the Milky Way floated down from the sealing. All eyes turned to it and then the mortal ones turned away, unable to stand the radiant, Incandescent ethereal light in front of them.

Whatever emotions Statera was feeling left his body. Almost falling back he spun on the spot and feel to one knee. Discord himself also turned however instead of a bow he simply seated himself back on the seat looking down at the floor and folding his arms with a somewhat childish hurt pout.

Ordinis simply smiled, a nostalgic smile, a proud smile, a joyous smile. A smile of a son who had been reunited with his mother for the first time in a very long time.

Applejack was the first to recover from the flash bang of light, her sight more used to light with the glaring and eye burning sun of Equestria invading her retinas on a hot summer day at the farm she saw more than any of the other girls.

The ‘whatever’ it was began to morph taking shape inside the light, or was it that the light was morphing into it she couldn’t tell, however once the light began to decline the figure in front of Applejack made her think that perhaps it had blinded her more than she thought.

The entity moved its four hooves towards the table dwarfing it easily its Ashen fur covered all its body except for its brown mane and tail, her white wings spanning almost the width of two ponies and its horn like a spear wielded by the old Celestia guards white and glowing with shapeless multi coloured power. And her eyes, gods her eyes were like the universe themselves Applejack couldn’t see a colour in them it was like when she looked at them she saw everything every constellation, every red dwarf, every shooting star.

Sensory overload shoot through the mare she felt fine and at the same time like she was going to faint. It was too much.

“Y-you’re…”

Her eyes lined with Applejacks saying everything in a single glaze. “Not quite, my little Applejack, not quite.”

What’s happening, who’s talking I can’t see for crabapples” Rainbow groaned rubbing her eyes.

Applejack couldn’t breathe, this almost, but not quite, Alicorn looked like something from a book very close to pony history, they had all seen the image very many times, in stainless glass, in books thought mostly fiction and one that at least in earth pony culture more so revered than any especially in Applejacks case nailed to granny-smiths wall atop her bed.

“I’ve been waiting for a long time to meet you all, it pleases me greatly to finally see all your faces once more. A great many things are about to happen my little children and I'm sure you all have a vast myriad of questions for me. But first...” She added with a nod of approval and a smile only Celestia could ever pull off towards a slumped down sulking Draconequus .

There could be no way it was her there was just no way…

And yet here she stood.

“Dissy stop you’re pouting and come give your mommy a hug.” She finished with a giggle that despite Discord sullen mood made him smile, but only for a moment, okay maybe a few seconds.

Of Mice and Gods

by Living Madness

Four long Years.

Sooner or Later.

The Calm Before The Storm. (Part one)

The Calm Before The Storm. (Part two)