Troubling Visions
Flying high above the rolling green hills of this unknown landscape,the hawk soared,ducking and weaving with the currents of the wind. He dropped close to the flowers,sending a great spray of furtive seedlings towards their new homes. Truly,this was freedom. The hawk gave a caw of challenge as he rose to meet the midday sun,twirling in the air with natural grace. Out of the corner of his eye,the hawk saw a new sight, an encroaching blackness that darkened the azure perfection he so enjoyed. Curious,he flew towards the source,soaring high into the air and dancing along the currents that propelled him. What unfolded was horror.
Below the poor creature,there was only flame;the blaze covered all there was to see and the crackling of the fire's feast was audible even up where the hawk flew. The hawk tried to pull back but the currents that had propelled him now trapped him on his unknown course. He dare not dive underneath this current for fear of being scorched by the tongues of flame that seemed to reach out to him. Soon the hawk came to the epicenter of the disaster,crumbled masonry blackening as it stubbornly resisted the fire's voracious appetite. There remained but one haven, a tower that seemed to bend as its foundations had cracked. As the terrified hawk flew towards the construct, his eyes made out the figure of a pony, larger than the ones he'd encountered before; it's mane and tail were ablaze and its body seemed to shimmer, in a haze, as if it were fire made manifest. Yet, molten drops were falling from the creature's eyes as its horn erupted in a new gout of flame that seemed to sear the very sky.
The figure locked eyes with the hawk. "Help me" it said. Then the horn flared anew and a terrifying construct took form,great bat- like wings, a serpentine body, and eyes of the purest blue flame. The horror beat its wings and roared,sending a searing whip at the tortured sky. The thing growled, like the sound of a forest fire and the collapse of a building in one, its eyes locking on the little bird. The hawk barely managed to turn as the thing took off with a loud whoosh. Despite the frantic flapping of its wings, the thing grew ever closer,the fickle wind betraying its companion in the face of this terrifying power. The hawk turned as the maw of its destruction opened.
Starswirl the Bearded awoke with a cry,his body soaked in a cold sweat. He threw back his bed covers and massaged his throbbing temples. What does it mean? he asked. "Master Starswirl?" came the voice of a servant from the ajar doorway, "Is everything alright?" Starswirl could see the faint glow of her turquoise hornlight against the blackness of his room. "Fine, fine." he lied, "Just a bad dream. Must've been the cheese I ate before bed!" he joked, but couldn't find the strength to laugh. "I'm sorry if I woke you." he said. The servant soon took her leave. Starswirl did not attempt to sleep again, all he saw were flashes of his dream,replaying the scene of destruction over and over. Grabbing his robe and pipe,for no Mage would dare be seen without his pipe, Starswirl left his room in Canterlot Palace and headed for the Observatory.
Where the halls of the palace were abuzz with pampered courtiers, servants, and dignitaries in the day, the night provided a serene quiet that was accompanied by the silvered splendor of pale moonlight, far more beautiful than the greatest canvas. Starswirl had no time to appreciate this though as he hurried, hoofsteps reverberating on stone. A few Night Watchmen heard the noise and investigated, but did not slow the old stallion as the look in his eye was very determined, and none of them fancied life as a frog in the Palace gardens. Shortly, Starswirl was ascending the stairwell of the Observatory, passing through the doors into the cushioned room beyond.
Standing there, on her nightly vigil, was Princess Luna, her coat and mane reflecting the celestial beauty of the night sky. She turned and broke into a grin: "Ho, Starswirl, friend! What brings you to my perch this night?" she asked ; Starswirl would often keep the Princess of the Night company, swap stories, magical knowledge, and debate various things, so she was not confused at his entrance. Luna caught the hollow look in her friend's eyes. "What troubles you?"she asked, her brow furrowing.
He told her of the dream and Luna listened intently; a Mage's dream is never something to be taken lightly, especially the dreams of one as powerful as Starswirl. "Friend," she said, when he finished, "this dream is most troubling. If this figure be my sister, possessed by some evil, no doubt...I know not what we might do--our power as joint rulers is nothing short of limitless, even one such as you could never match us. You must talk with my sister of this dream- she may be able to guide you further than I. However, there is one,and I hesitate to suggest it, that may assist, or lead you into greater peril...."
Shortly after the talk, Starswirl walked through the statue display in the palace gardens; themes of love,friendship, and bravery dominated the gallery, save one piece. Very few ponies know that the Statue of Discord is in fact a prison for the God of Chaos, putting the statue's bizarre form down to some inexplicable artistic whim. Starswirl came to a stop at the base of the statue, he could feel the power radiating from it. Although sealed by the Elements of Harmony, the power of the fossilized immortal could still be felt by powerful Magi. Starswirl closed his eyes and meditated, letting his consciousness drift into a shadow-self that pressed against the barrier. In this form, Starswirl could see the tightly bound spell-work that covered the entirety of the construct. The barrier did not see him as a threat and he was allowed to pass. Starswirl was met with blackness before a sign fell from the infinite void above him and planted itself firmly in the 'ground' , it read: "No Ponies Allowed! "
Starswirl rolled his eyes "Discord! I would speak with you. It is of dire import!" The image of a bathtub, with drawn, pink shower curtain and running shower materialized some distance ahead. Starswirl headed for it, annoyed. A shadow played across the curtain and the sound of humming carried to the Mage's ears. He pulled back the curtain and came face to face with the mighty Discord... wearing a shower cap and holding a brush.
Discord moved his limbs to cover his modesty, "Eeek!" he cried, "Don't you know how to read, little pony?" He snapped his fingers and the tub disappeared. He looped his long neck around the Mage's, a smug look etched on his features. "You need my help?" the yellow eyes flashed, despite all the playfulness, there was a true danger there--Starswirl would need to tread carefully.
"I had a vision" said Starswirl "of the world being consumed by fire."
"Hmm," said Discord, pondering this as he tapped his face with a talon, "Who do we know that uses fire? ?" he gasped, conjured a light-bulb, and ate it . "Why, dear Celestia of course!"
Before Starswirl could speak, the Draconequis snapped his fingers and a flame appeared between them. "Fire is wonderfully chaotic, it has but one aim,to consume and burn until nothing is left but..." he pointed to himself "Moi." looking quite pleased at the fact.
"It's not very fun though..." he conceded, "Who would I have to play with, if not for you cute, little creatures?" he said,ticking Starswirl's nose.
"So,you'll help?"
"Did I say that? " Discord put a paw to his chest,"What's in it for me?" he asked,conjuring a striped prison outfit and ball & chain. "You gonna spring your ol' buddy Discord from the big house?"
He laughed at Starswirl's expression "Thought not. "
Starswirl was in a bind. His vision was true, of that he was certain, but to release Discord invited a similar fate,albeit with Chocolate Milk.
Discord slithered forward,his eyes bore into Starswirl's "Let's make a deal" he said, in his serpentine lilt.
Discord put two talons together and opened them, only slightly. "You make a teeny tiny hole in the barrier and I help you to not burn to death."
Starswirl considered this, troubled, while Discord conjured a clock, reclining on one of the hands. "I'm waiting."
"The barrier would still hold until it dissipated completely... given the strength of the seals it would take... " Starswirl did some quick calculations, "1,000 years?"
Discord seemed to know what he was thinking as he appeared before the stallion, offering a paw. "Do we have a deal?"
There was something in that statement which made Starswirl fear for the future. "Deal." he said, offering a hoof, praying that he'd not made a grave mistake.