> Chaos Born
>  by Fluttercordia
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Could it be me?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Draconequus doesn’t eat the mares he takes, regardless of what the stories they tell outside our village of Ponyville. there’s talk in the lands of Equestria about the village. They imply it practices pony sacrifice, and he was a carnivorous monster. However, it’s simply not true.

Only two things were known about the Draconequus for sure, that he has powerful Chaos magic, that can bend reality at will and that he is immortal, but he never eats the mares he takes, almost all have been released one that had chosen to stay with him. But that had been many years ago now and surely old Aage would have claimed her. Though he never ages he can still be killed it’s said, and the forefathers would be able to band together to kill him if he wanted to eat one of their mares every ten years. He protects the village against the Everfree forest, and they’re grateful, but not that grateful.

He doesn’t devour them really, but it feels that way. He takes a mare to his tower and then ten years later he lets her go, but by then she’s someone different. Her clothes are well sewn and she talks like a courtier and she’s been living alone with a stallion or who knows what for ten years, so of course in the eyes of any stallion she’s ruined, even though the mares say he never puts a hoof on them. But that’s all they really say if anything, they never have revealed what he was like or what their purpose was. The Lord of Chaos gives them a purse full of pure gold bits when he lets them go, so anypony is usually happy to marry them ruined or not, but of course, most of the time has been for the dowry that was given to them. But no, they hardly ever want to marry anyone. They don’t even want to stay in Ponyville at all.

“They forget how to live,” Cirrus skies said unexpectedly. A young filly glanced up to the Pegasus stallion. His daughter, another Pegasi, probably no more than 5 at the time, adorned with soft pastel pink hair and a buttercream coat that reflected lightly in the now setting sun. She had already learned that ponies didn’t talk about the Lord of Chaos, or the mares he took, so it shocked her when her father had now broken that rule. They were sitting in the wagon on their way back to Ponyville from Apple Loosa and had stopped in the ghastly gorge for firewood on the way home.  
The filly then glanced up at the menacing looking tower that stood on the side of the mountain beyond the wall of dark trees in the Everfree. The earth that was visible from above the tree line was grey and burnt.

Sometimes when the wood caught someone, - a shepherd girl that used to work at her families farm at Apple Acres who drifted too close to its edge. She had a silky blonde mane tied in a loose ponytail and an amber coat. She had the cutie mark of 3 apples and was one of the hardest working and well-respected mares in the village. Her name was Applejack. Following her, a traveller who had been humming a beautiful bouncy tune also wandered into the tree line. Her name was Pinkamena, she was from a nearby village, also a farmer, from a rock farm, set for Ponyville to open a bakery. She had a bouncy bright magenta pink mane and a coat not too much lighter than that colour itself and bright blue eyes, - well, the Draconequus came down from his castle for them. and the ones he took never came back at all. It was a sad day for the Apple Family then, and for the family of the unusually energetic pink party mare. 

That was more than a few years before Fluttershy's time. He wasn't evil, well anymore as told in the stories about him from aeons ago when he was first turned into stone. But he was distant and terrible.

“They remember to be afraid” he continued. That was where he left it. He nodded to the stallion pulling the wagon and they moved on down the hill and back into the trees. “Why don’t you rest now Fluttershy?” Mr shy said as he placed his hoof tenderly on her small face. “I’ll wake you when we arrive home.”

It didn’t make much sense to the filly, now known as Fluttershy. Everypony was afraid of the Everfree forest. But the village was home. And how could you leave your home? The filly knew the only reason they didn’t move to the new upcoming village of Cloudsdale was that she was never much of a flier, and her parents knew this and had chosen to make this little village in the valley their home anyway. She winced at the pang of guilt in her chest. The mares the Draconequus took never stayed though. The Lord let them out of the tower and they came back for a little while- a week, or sometimes a month, never much more. Then they took their dowry bag of pure gold bits and left. Mostly they went to Canterlot. Those few that did marry, married city stallions, and otherwise, they became scholars or shopkeepers. 
There were whispers about  Mrs Spoiled Rich, a mare of vibrant purple hair and a heavy pink fur coat. Her name wasn’t always spoiled rich but after the Lord took her and her release after 10 years she became the mistress of Marquess Filthy Rich. By the time Fluttershy was born Spoiled Rich was just a rich old bitter mare in her 60’s that spoiled her nieces and nephews with grand gifts, but she never came to visit. Not even on Hearths Warming. 

It’s hardly like handing over your filly to be eaten, but it’s not something to be happy about either. There aren’t many villages nearby at all which makes the chances of being taken are high. He has a certain criterion. He only takes a mare of 18 years old and it's usually a unicorn or one who does magic, and not this one coming but the next this, he's chosen for a mare born in May. Unfortunately for Fluttershy and her family, she was born in the second week of May. Just because she was not a unicorn doesn't mean she was safe, the taking before the last an earth mare was chosen, so it still wasn't any reassurance to her or her family.

Everypony says that you love a Chaos born girl differently so as not to get too attached as the family can’t help but know they can easily lose her. But fortunately for Fluttershy, it wasn’t like that, they never stopped loving her, in fact, it only made them love her stronger. Fluttershy slowly closed her eyes to the gentle rocking of their wagon, drifting off to a dreamland where she would not have to worry about such a future. But even at her young age her family never kept it a secret, she knew she could be chosen, with a heavy heart she had accepted the possibility.
> Friends are forever, right?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Years Have passed and Fluttershy was beginning to blossom into a Mare, Notably to have easily been one of the most Naturally beautiful of the 13th century. At first her family, although in awe of their daughters transitioning were fearful that this would make her most likely to be chosen. However the Lord of Chaos didn't always choose the prettiest mare, it still made them weary. There were 11 mares born under the year of chaos which is worse odds than dice to be chosen. But as the years favoured Fluttershys growth it also did a few others. All eyes were on her 3 friends, Rainbow Dash, TreeHugger and Starlight Glimmer.

This year the Lord of chaos had chosen a unicorn by the name of sunset shimmer, she had red and yellow hair like fire, a tan coat and blue eyes. Her cutie mark of a yin-yang sun. She had been gifted in magic, but quite nasty when she wanted to be, it was a surprise he chose her, but then again they were sure he had his reasons. In 10 years she will be released. Then it would be the next line of chaos born girls. Fluttershy, Rainbow, Tree Hugger, Starlight, and a handful of other girls they from a few different villages in Equestrias’ valley. They would all be 18 by then.

Only travellers passing through ever complimented Rainbow Dash's parents telling them how beautiful their daughter was or how clever and Loyal. As mentioned The Lord of Chaos didn't take the prettiest but he always took the most special pony, somehow: if there was one who was the smartest, or best dancer or even incredibly kind, he always managed to pick her out, even though he scarcely ever made an appearance or exchange a word with the mares before he made the choice. 

Starlight and Tree Hugger didn't have family in Ponyville, and so they lived together on a side of Apple Acres land, Being as young as they are Granny Smith was happy to take care of them, as she had already lost 2 of her Granddaughters to the Everfree. But travellers would compliment them too, Starlight on her Beauty and inventions, Tree Hugger and her skills with plants and medicinal herbs. 

Rainbow Dash was a pegasus, had thick whisky hair the colour of the rainbow that could easily be mistaken for a real one when it flew in the wind. Her eyes were a strong Dark Pink and her coat matched the Cyan sky on a perfectly clear day, and a cutie mark of a Rainbow lightning bolt breaking a cloud. She could think of all the best games and was the fastest flier in the land, and she was fearless. Her mother, Windy Whistles would say "she'll have to be brave". 

Tree Hugger was an earth pony, which suited her as she was a very earthy mare, her coat the colour of green you would see at the break of spring, bright amber hair which had been formed into delicate and not frayed dreadlocks and eyes of a very faint purple. She was just somehow connected to the earth, much like Fluttershy was connected with animals. Her cutie mark a maple tree in the shape of a heart.

Starlight Glimmer, was smart, a gifted unicorn. Had a coat of lavender, it almost smelt like lavender. Her mane purple with a  green mint coloured streak down, on the tail as well. She had a cutie mark of a star, a magical mist the same colour as the streak of her mane, emanating from it, and eyes not much darker than her coat. She had been a bit hesitant to make friends with the others at first, due to fear of losing them one day to the Draconequus. But soon she realised its better to have had friendship and it taken away than to never have had friendship at all.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash lived close to one another, about 3 houses down, they too had to live on the earth instead of Cloudsdale, so as to prepare Rainbow Dash for the day the Lord of Chaos Might take her. Rainbow Dash had a sister Scootaloo who was much younger than she, and she looked up to Rainbow Dash. As hard as it was for everyone else to come to terms that surely the Draconequus could take her, it was even harder for Scootaloo.
Fluttershy didn't have any sisters, only a brother a little younger than her. The four were friends since fillies, being born in the same month, all chaos born, and often went running wild in the woods.

As they all grew older, Fluttershy's parents didn't fear for their daughter very much, she was still a skinny Mare with weak wings that couldn't fly so strongly. Mr and Mrs Shy would have never imagined they'd be so happy that their only daughter had some faults. Though who could blame them? Fluttershy She still had not received her cutie mark like the other. Though she tends to care for woodland animals a great deal and would often tend to them. They felt maybe this was what her special talent would be and she just needed that extra nudge to get her cutie mark. Any day now. 
Another gift of Fluttershy's, if you could even call it a gift was that she would always tear or stain anything put on her within the day.

"you'll have to Marry a tailor my little Fluttershy" her father chuckled as Fluttershy ran to him and threw her hooves around his neck, she had been playing near the wood again, never too close and was now muddy. He swung her up regardless and kissed her on her little forehead, Mrs Shy sighed in happiness, she would never be one to complain about a few faults in a Chaos born daughter.

They lingered out late in the woods together, praying that they could slow down time. Fluttershy entered her room after sundown and lay down in the dark. Mrs Shy came in and stroked her daughter's delicate face to free it of fresh tears and sang her a soft lullaby to ease the pain. She would always leave a plate of food by her bed for when Fluttershy woke up hungry in the night. Mrs Shy didn't comfort her too much though. none of her family did. Fluttershy knew why, She knew that no matter how much herself and her family loved Rainbow, Rainbows family, Tree Hugger and Starlight, she couldn't help but be happy- not MY daughter, not my only one would be taken. And Fluttershy couldn't blame her family for feeling that way, and wouldn't really have wanted them to feel any other way either.

It was just the four of them, together forever, even though they were only 8  years old Rainbows mother had told her daughter to stay away from young colts and stallions as she was growing up and started receiving attention. Just silly colt crushes of course. "its best you don't see much of them, for you and them" she had said. Rainbow never minded that, she had no interest in relationships herself. None of them did actually. But the group of them had clung to each other, and their families knew better than to pry them loose.

One day at the beginning of Autumn close to all their birthdays Fluttershy and Tree Hugger found a meadow, and of course pulled Rainbow and Starlight glimmer from the cottage and into their new discovery, they started a little fire giggling all the while and looking up at the beautiful Autumn struck chestnut trees. 

Rainbow had always stood up for Fluttershy when she was viciously bullied at school for her poor flying she was there for her. 'Another reason that without a doubt shed probably be the one taken' Fluttershy thought to herself after all Rainbow WAS the bravest and most loyal pony shed ever met.

Tree Hugger could be taken too, she always calmed her and shared with her passion for nature as well, always had some kind of advice to give and would help Fluttershy aid her animals with her natural skill with herbal medications.

Starlight Glimmer had a strong chance as well. She had a natural gift for magic, and often helped teach the younger unicorns in the village, and could solve almost every small problem in the village. She was smart. She had discovered that a pony could create a fabric that was more durable than cotton with hemp plants. Tree Hugger had a lot of those plants in her little houses backfield for some reason.

They all had reasons to be chosen, she had none, but she was not happy about that either, she knew there weren't many mares that fit this takings criterion, and it would more than likely be one of her friends.

"I'd like to be a tree", said Fluttershy as her eyes reflected the beautiful leaves above her, trying to break the silence and take her mind of the sad thoughts that had plagued her head. The three of them stifled a small laugh, knowing well of her friends passion for nature and its animals.

"It would be nice to be a Wonder Bolt" Rainbow eventually stated herself. Lying back with her eyes closed. The Wonder Bolts were the fastest and most fierce Ariel Knights in Equestria, they had come through town that morning to get some food for the road to the Crystal Empire. 
"To go all over Equestria and fight for the Princess."
She continued thoughtfully, it sounded not like that of a fillyish dream but as if she were really considering running away forever. But of course you can never run from the Lord of Chaos, some had tried to avoid it, but they always somehow ended back in the village on the day of the taking. 

"I want to be one of Celestia's advisors" Starlight chirped in herself, more than happy to share her dreams she might never fulfil.

"And I .... could go for something to eat" Tree Hugger added, sitting up from the small circle they had made in the grassy meadow and plucking a few chestnuts from the tree. She closed her eyes and put a hoof up on the trunk of the tree of which she had taken from "much gratitude for the chestnuts, have a chill sleep in winter, bliss outttt."

Fluttershy smiled at Huggers sweet antics. Rainbow was about to burst out laughing from the scene but was quickly halted by Starlights scowl, she had known it was coming. Rainbow just grinned sheepishly and Starlight then had to fight back her own little giggles at Rainbows expression.

Fluttershy thought of when one of her friends might be released, and the very well known fact that it could be the case she one of her friends would be like all the mares before and never return to Ponyville again. Fluttershy took everypony’s hoof swiftly, jolting them all a little, and looked at all of them with pleading eyes. "And you'd come here every Hearths Warming," she said, "and tell us all of your adventures." And they held each other tight, they all looked back at her, with eyes that said they would never leave her behind.

Fluttershy HATED the Lord at that moment, he was going to take one of her friends away, so she hated him, and had hated him. They ate their fill of roasted chestnuts and Celestia lowered the sun, but they lingered in the meadow as long as they could.
> The Green Summer, The lack of Rainbows
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the Northern mountains, Celestia reigned in Canterlot. She had an army of stallions to take to the war on the crystal empire where Her sister Luna reigns. Their domain was not much richer than any other kingdoms in Equestria, the stallions on their way through were given orders to help with the fields that year in Apple Loosa, and to recruit any more colts for their army. With all the soldiers roaming the mares had to stay indoors. Celestia and Luna were both great rulers. They had used to rule together, until Luna's corruption.
The Draconequus only had his dark castle and not a single stallion at hoof for an army and only a young purple and green drake he took as a messenger. The services he owed Celestia were his own powers, his magic. He would often be called out to renew his oath of loyalty lest he is turned to stone again. Celestia could have called him to war but she knew he had a duty to watch the Everfree and protect the kingdoms from malice.

The Lord of Chaos loved books, he would pay many bits for a single great tome, and so the Flim and Flam brothers  would always go out of their way to travel to Ponyville to peddle their books and so long as they were in the area some general wears as well, usually attempting to cheat the commoners out of some money. However as soon as our Lord heard of this it was said he paid them a personal visit, and no pony knows what went transpire, but since then they give the ponies an incredibly generous price on any purchase.

Then came the green summer, a hot wind carried some pollen and seeds from the Everfree into Ponyvilles fields and orchards, the trees at Apple Acres flourished and the fields grew furiously lush, but all also strange and misshapen and all different colours. The wind also blew in some Parasprites which devoured all the already grown harvest aside from the new misshapen ones that had sprung up. The ponies didn't know why the odd-looking crops were not touched but they soon found out why. Anypony who ate them grew sick and agitated, put in a state of hysteria. The affected ponies ran into the woods and was snarled by a blooming of sprouting thick black spiked roots and vines, Plundervines. 

Fluttershy's family huddled in their darkened room, Fluttershy's mother holding her little brother Zephyr Breeze who was too young to understand, like Fluttershy, Mr Shy put his wing around his daughter, it was cold and frightening, Fluttershy's head snapped up every time she heard the screams of the neighbouring ponies, they had been driven restless with hunger and ate one of the apples from the neighbouring orchard the colour of a rainbow it was. Fluttershy's father removed his wing from her body, she shivered from the now absence of heat, Mr Shy much to the protest of his wife ran out in aid holding a pitchfork but the neighbour had escaped from his helping hooves and too ran off into the forest.

One day of that summer Fluttershy's hunger and worry for her family drove her to foolishness, Fluttershy couldn't bear the sobs of her hungry family especially the soft wails of her little brother who was becoming too weak to wail at his normal ear piercing volume. Not understanding the danger she escaped from her now thin mothers watch and ran into the forest.

The Plundervines seemingly paid her no notice, "possibly due to my small frame"  she thought to herself.
She stumbled briefly and fell muzzle first into a... "A BLACKBERRY BUSH?!" she exclaimed with joy. The blackberries weren't misshapen at all, some had appeared to be nibbled on but only a handful. Fluttershy popped a few in her mouth, her hunger slowly easing as she sighed blissfully. She Heard a squeak and abruptly turned her head down to her left, under the bush lay a soft white baby bunny.

"Oh, you poor thing" at the sound of Fluttershy's voice the bunny stopped shaking and looked up, the white fluff around his mouth slightly stained with purple from the blackberries. "Oh, it was you that has nibbled on a fraction of these berries?". she plucked off another few and held them in her hooves out to the little bunny. "You must be so hungry I couldn't possibly take them all away from you". Angel bunny let out a grateful bundle of squeaks and chitter and took 2 of the 3 from her hoof and downed them feverishly. 

Fluttershy filled her skirt and ran back as fast as her hooves could take her, she would have fluttered a little off the ground so as to not risk dropping the berries, but didn't want to test her luck shed had so far with the Plunder vines.
Fluttershy looked up again and a horrible realisation struck her, she was lost.
A sudden howl interrupted her now terrifying thoughts. "Timberwolves.." she muttered under her breathe in a gasp.
She ran, not knowing or caring where now, still desperately trying to hold on to her bounty of berries. Her family needed her, they NEEDED this food. 

Running so fast her eyes started watering from the cold and the wind she started fluttering in a desperate attempt to put some distance between her and the Timberwolves she was sure were just behind her now, and then she halted, landing abruptly and skidding across the forest floor, dropping a few berries in the process. She had been cornered into the side of a steep cliff. She knew her wings were not strong enough to fly.
The Timberwolves had now formed a small pack she was sure she could not fight off. A low Menacing growl escaped their muzzles, their teeth bared and sharp glinting in the moonlight, and then they pounced. She shut her eyes tightly awaiting accepting her fate.

A thunderous roar shook her, sounding too loud to have come from a Timberwolf, and when nothing happened she opened her eyes to find the Timberwolves now engaged, with a dark figure of whom she couldn't make out as the moon was now clouded and providing her with no light for aid to see exactly what was going on. She looked down and saw a soft glow now dying out from inside her chest, but she had no time to ponder it. The creature slashed at the Timberwolves, they howled in pain and retreated, the figure turned to look at the buttercream mare. Still surrounded by shadows she could make out small glint in his seemingly amber eyes before he chased after the Timberwolves again and disappeared into the malevolent tree line. 

Without looking back she ran, still unsure of where she was going but she didn't care, she just wanted to get out of this place. she held strong and steadfast, wondering whether to be more afraid of the Timberwolves or whatever she saw that attacked them before her eyes. She heard a squeak from behind her and turned her head. Behind her desperately trying to catch up was the white fluffy bunny and by the bunnies side a Kaleidoscope of butterflies with translucent pink wings and bodies that matched her teal eyes. She stopped in wonderment "oh please, I'm so lost!" tears threatened to roll down her soft buttercream cheeks, that were still a soft shade of pink despite the cold air, "can you help me find my way home, friends?"
The fluffy bunny nodded his little head, ears flopping about, while one of the butterflies landed delicately on the end of her nose as if to say "Of course!"

The bunny bounced slightly ahead while the butterflies seemed to band together to lift her gently into the air. It felt as though she was floating, and she wondered if this is how other Pegasi feel when they fly with no effort unlike herself. 

Soon she found herself at her families home. She looked up at her saviours, the moon coming out from behind the cloud now and she found herself basking in awe at her new friends' beauty, "Thank you, friends, I will never forget you!"
a butterfly fluttered down and brushed her cheek, 'is this what a kiss would feel like' she thought to herself. Fluttershy felt a tingling sensation overcome her and glanced at her flank. Therein space that used to be empty, a cutie mark, identical to the beautiful butterflies who had led her to her safety. A small gasp escaped her lips, soft like her mannerism. 
She looked back to where the butterflies had been but found them nowhere to be seen. 

A small squeak brought her attention back to below her, the little white bunny by her side still, hanging onto her hoof with his little paws. 

"You found them to help me didn't you?" she asked with tears of gratitude threatening to escape her big teal eyes. The rabbit nodded feverishly and pumped his chest up with pride.
"Oh thank you, you are my little angel!" she scooped him up and placed him in the pocket of her skirt that surprisingly still held a majority of the blackberries she had picked. 

"That's what I will call you!"

The bunny now known as Angel twitched his nose in approval.

"Do you have someplace to go?"

Angel shook his head, ears lowering sadly.

"Well, you do now." Fluttershy nuzzled the little bunnies nose. Angels ears perked up and he jumped at his new owner and friends neck and tried to wrap his little paws around it as much as he could. Fluttershy then held her hoof to her door ready to open it before it violently swung open itself and a hoof reached down and pulled her inside with such force, even she let out a small squeak. Her mother pulled her close and wept, her father stood behind them with a pitchfork, Supposedly about to go look for her. Her mother wept of joy, her father, however, stood there with worry in his eyes now not for Fluttershy's safety but of the small amount of blackberry juice that stained her small pink lips. Mrs Shy pulled her head back and now wept for a different reason, she had seen the juice too.

When her mother and father had seen she didn't sicken like the others, they obviously calmed down and held her. Somehow the blackberry bush had escaped the Everfree Forests curse. They couldn't lose her, not their only daughter. After all was calm they shared the bounty of blackberries, their hunger subsiding slowly, her little brother Zephyr now fast asleep. Fluttershy didn't tell them the whole story in fear of them worrying, but she did, however, mention the butterflies and introduced her new baby bunny, Angel. Mr and Mrs Shy was at first hesitant to allow an animal into there home, but then decided it would do no harm if it rang joy to their daughters' already difficult life.

They were so proud of Fluttershy to have gotten her cutie mark but were still deeply afraid of the fact that they had almost lost her that night. Fluttershy didn't touch another blackberry for years after that, as every time shed see one shed be reminded of the sadness in her mothers' eyes and the horrors she had to face that night.

The next day they heard the Lord of Chaos had returned. He had been in the royal court of the Canterlot to renew his oath to Celestia but had come back early once he heard of the curse that had plagued his land. He called forth a storm of fireflies, that was actually made of embers, to burn all the tainted crops in the fields and orchards, that was what his duty was. But afterwards, he did something out of his usual character and sent his little dragon messenger to every house where any pony had been struck with the sickness and gave them a taste of a magical chocolate milk concoction that cleared their minds.

Fluttershy flew downstairs that afternoon, her pink tail a blur behind her. What she saw made her stomach fold in knots. Just below the landing was Tree Hugger, Starlight Glimmer and Rainbow Dashes mother, weeping to her own parents. Starlight didn't even look up at Fluttershy,  neither did Rainbows mother, though her ears twitched when Fluttershy dropped on the landing with a quiet but noticeable thud. Tree Hugger looked up with red eyes, a solemn look on her face.

"Starlight! Tree Hugger! Whats wrong?" Fluttershy asked. Already fearing the worst. "Wheres Rainbow?" 
Tree Hugger just shook her head and sniffed before answering.

"She saw you go into the Everfree last night, she thought you to be in trouble, it really knocked her chakras. We wanted to go in after you too, with her, but she told us to wait."

"no.." Fluttershy was shaking her head, tears already starting to break loose. "No! Is she okay? She has to be okay!"

brave brave Rainbow, always one to rush off to help a friend without a second thought. 

Tree Hugger reached out to her, Starlight looking up now, her fur wet with the tears that had streamed down her own face. None as hysterical as Rainbows mother, who had collapsed into Mrs Shy's arms. But before Tree Hugger was able to place her hoof on Fluttershy's face she dropped on the floor collapsing under the weight of her weak hooves.

"NO!" Fluttershy wailed. The girls had always prepared for the fact that one of them might be taken away from the group by the Lord of Chaos, but now... they are already one down without any aid of a Draconequss. "This is my fault." Fluttershy had whispered audibly. And she had probably suffered a worse fate.

"No Flutters, it's not" Starlight had finally spoken and protested shakily. "She would have done it for anyone, we would have done it for her." Starlight continued. "I know you went out there because you were hungry, and there is no crime in that, it's against your nature to not try to feed your family." She sighed shakily. "It would be against Rainbows nature to leave you alone in the woods like that."

Fluttershy looked up from her hooves she had buried her soft yellow face in. she wouldn't forgive herself no matter what they said, but now their quadruple squad had become a trio, and she had to be strong for these girls. They couldn't lose another. Angel bunny hopped down the stairs after seeing the commotion and wiped the tears from Fluttershy's face with his little paw, ears drooped and solemn.

The next few days that followed were the hardest For the trio. The Lord of Chaos gave orders to Celestia's army that was helping with the fields in Apple Loosa that had escaped the curse, should share their harvest with Ponyville, he even gave up his own tribute that year so that none of the ponies would starve. In the next coming weeks, he went through the fields again to make sure there were no corrupted crops left to make way for a new planting season.
But for all he had done to save them, they didn't love him. He never came out of his castle, not even to share a drink with the stallions at harvest time the way the Celestia or the prince did.

The Princess would attend plays and performances in their honour. But he didn't come to see them. Whenever the Lord of Chaos was brought his tribute, the doors to his Chaotic castle would open themselves and the carpet would roll out and seemingly drag the goods in as if it were a sentient being. They never saw him. He didn't try to win the Ponies love at all, none of them knew him, just bits and pieces about him.
And of course, he was a master of chaos magic and dark sorcery. Lighting would flash around his tower on a clear night, pink clouds of cotton candy would rain down chocolate milk in the middle of the day, and he often sent the Breezies to keep watch for him around the river and the forest.
> The Taking
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ten years later and the day had arrived, what used to be 11 mares born in may 18 years ago had now turned to 10, which is even worse odds than before, and they all had a huge day ahead of them. It was a clear day, one that did not reflect the inner turmoil of the mares and their families inside. Fluttershy HATED him even more today. They had already lost a friend 10 years ago, now she could lose another. 

She put on a green dress adorned with wildflowers that grew nearby. Mrs shy's hoof was shaking a little as she put her only daughter's mane into a loose but beautiful bun. There was talk that Starlight Glimmer would be most likely chosen, but it didn't mean they wouldn't be afraid.

Zephyr Breeze walked into the room, his face clearly in that of pain and confusion.  Obviously, he was happy it wouldn't be his sister, but even he was a little shaken. Fluttershy put her hoof on his shoulder which slightly eased his tension. They didn't have much to say today, they just embraced each other. 

Angel wasn't happy, Fluttershy had told him of what today meant all those years ago, but he was a feisty one. In an act of defiance Angel had ripped off 3 of the flowers on Fluttershy's dress and squeaked an angry chitter at Mrs Shy as she amended them in silence, but with a clear annoyance on her expression.
"Angel please, I have to look presentable for the Lord today, you know this," Fluttershy said kneeling down at eye level with the furious rabbit. 

Angel turned his head and began rambling another series of angry squeaks and chitters as if saying "why must you look good for this 'Lord', why give him a reason to take you?" Fluttershy sighed.

"Because, I need to make a special effort, I want Tree Hugger and Starlight to know I love them enough to give them a fair chance."

Mares would often make themselves look unpresentable to the lord this day, slouching or wearing a dirty gown sometimes. It never worked. But not Fluttershy, she couldn't do that to the girls. Fluttershy scooped up Angel, whose ears now drooped the length of his tiny frame. If her whole family was to be present, this included Angel.

A wagon pulled by two grey unicorns, one with a pastel blue mane and green streaks, and one with a deep red mane stopped at their house. Fluttershy lifted her dress carefully, her father assisting in her ascend, they pulled into the outskirts of the town into the village green, all 10 mares in line.
There were tables set with the valleys harvest, where a majority of ponies had gathered behind. Stacks of oats and hay were piled up like pyramids like smaller versions of the ones you'd see in Anugypt.

Mayor Mare, a grey-haired earth pony with a caramel coat, was pacing to the left of the Chaos born mares, practising her greeting to the lord, clearly in a state of anxiousness. Fluttershy glanced down the line of tributes, I didn't know any of them much, they weren't all from Ponyville. All of us were silent and stiff, watching the path we were sure the Lord would come down. Their families beside them.

Fluttershy imagined jumping in front of Tree Hugger and Starlight Glimmer, when he came, telling him to take her instead, or stating in matter-of-factly tone that they all DIDN'T want to go. But she knew she wasn't brave enough to do that. She winced, wishing Rainbow was here. 'Then maybe at least some of her bravery would rub off on me' she thought to herself.

Movement caught Fluttershy's eye, and horribly a slit of light came down through the air on the road. He didn't come down the road at all, he stepped out of thin air: an eagle talon and then an arm, and then a goats leg, and then half a long brown serpentine body. It was so wrong and frightening Fluttershy couldn't look away, she felt the ground sway beneath her as her stomach turned in knots. 

The others were lucky, only Fluttershy had seen him enter this way, not even noticing til he took a step towards them. Everyone tried not to flinch in surprise or fear but they were unsuccessful. None of the mares had ever seen a Draconquus before, hardly any pony had, Fluttershy was no exception.

After a thousand years, he was not old, though he looked menacing and had a small goats beard of white. He had a lions paw, the head of a grey pony, a green dragons leg, a goats leg and eagle talon of which she had already seen. 
She shook herself from her fear and bravely looked him over once more. He also had a long red dragons tail with a white tuff of fur at the end and two wings, one of a bat and one of the blue pegasi. At the very top of his pony head a blue horn that would resemble a ram, only more ragged, and the other that of a deer's. He wore a black suit striped with orange and a cape of black with red lined underneath.

One thing that briefly caught her attention was his eyes, a shade of...amber? with red irises. They looked familiar, and held a harshness to them as if to say "I'm  not one of you, and I don't want to be either." He clearly wanted this over with, as if this being the worst day of their lives didn't matter to him. 

Mayor Mare bowed, "My Lord, let me present to you these -" 

"YES, yes, let us get on with it." He interrupted.

Mr Shy, Cirrus, put his hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder and bowed; Mrs Shy's hoof was clenched around her daughters on the other side. Zephyr Breeze looked ready to jump in if he so even laid his paw on Fluttershy, though Fluttershy knew he wouldn't dare. Mr and Mrs Shy then reluctantly stepped back with the other parents.

Instinctively the mares all huddled together,  Starlight and Tree Hugger were on either side of Fluttershy, in a sandwich of attempted protection. The Trio had discussed many things before this day, that Tree Hugger and Starlight insisted that they were okay being chosen, either of them. After all, they had no family, Fluttershy did. But Fluttershy didn't care, the girls WERE her family as well.

It took everything in Fluttershy's power not to grasp their hooves, but she did stand close enough that her wings brushed against them. Fluttershy HATED him, hated him and hated him. On all fours the Draconequus made his way down the line, lifting each mares chin as he went to get a good look at them. He didn't talk to all of them, not even Fleur De Lis, and she was also one of the most beautiful unicorns in the valley whose father was already rich and a designer. Her pink hair tied into plaits and a maroon red gown popping out brightly against her white fur.
It was Fluttershy's turn, he glanced at her with a frown, his fire eyes boring into her. "Your name, mare?"

"-I-I-I’m F-Fluttershy..." she tried to say, but it was barely above a whisper.

"Speak up Mare!" he said, loudly so as to turn some heads abruptly. Only Fluttershy could make out a slight mused smirk on his face.

"F-Fluttershy,"  she said a little louder this time. "My Lord." 

Fluttershy's face was hot, she wasn't sure if the red was evident on her cheeks but dismissed the thought and dropped her teal eyes down. As she glanced down she saw for all the care she'd taken she had gotten a fairly large mud stain on her green gown, and Angel had clearly been at the flowers again. She glanced over to the small bunny, fidgeting against Zephyrs embrace, it appeared he was straining to hold the feisty bunny back, in his paws some of the flowers that had been once sewn on her dress.

The Draconequus shot a questioning glance at her and the bunny, a tinge of annoyance evident in his eyes, drowning out the amusement he had shown only moments ago, he then moved on. He paused, looking at Starlight, tilting her chin up to. He hadn't paused for any of the others. He let his paw linger for a while, a thin pleased smile curving his mouth. Starlight looked at him bravely and didn't flinch at all. She answered strongly without being asked, her voice not wavering in the slightest. "Starlight Glimmer, my lord."
He smiled at her again, not pleasantly but with a satisfied look. He went on to the end of the line rather quickly, barely glancing at the rest of the mares. Fluttershy heard a sob behind her coming from Tree Hugger. He came back and looked at Tree Hugger,  and kind of chuckled, still holding a smirk on his face. And then he turned to Fluttershy and frowned again. 

Fluttershy without thinking took both the girls hooves and draped her wings on their back almost protectively and was squeezing their hooves as if her life depended on it, they squeezed back. They quickly let go and Fluttershy fidgeted with her two front hoofs, before placing one behind her other instead, hot colour in her cheeks, afraid, for he had witnessed this. He narrowed his amber eyes and the red irises danced like a small flame at Fluttershy. He Snapped his talon and a ball of blue and white flames took shape.

"She didn't mean anything by it!" Starlight almost yelled, brave in a way that Rainbow Dash would have done almost.
'The way I hadn't been for her'  Fluttershy thought to herself in guilt. Fluttershy glanced at her parents briefly and caught them shaking terribly. Any bravery her brother and her Angel bunny had were now dissipated and they were huddled close together with fear as well, wanting to intervene but there state not letting them. 

"PLEASE, my dude-" Tree Hugger shouted, joining the defence.

"SILENCE, MARE," the Lord of Chaos said. 'did this herby smelling mare just call me "My dude?"' He thought to himself.
He decided to ignore that and held his claw out toward Fluttershy, flame and all. "Take it."

" I---What?" Fluttershy said, more in shock than if he had flung it at her face.

"Don't stand there like a cretin," he said. "TAKE IT!"

Her hoof shook, she brushed against his claw accidentally as she raised it, his claw felt hot. But the ball of flame was cool as ice, and it didn't hurt to touch at all. Startled and relieved she held it in her dainty little hooves, staring at it like a moth to a flame. 

Nopony noticed that her chest had started to softly glow, all focusing on the flame she held in her hand instead.
He looked at her with annoyance.

"Well," he said unkindly, "you then, I suppose."

In an instant he snatched the ball out of her hoof and closed his talon on it, it vanished as quickly as it had come. He turned to Mayor Mare and said; "Send the tribute harvest you have here up when you can."

Fluttershy still hadn't understood yet, not any pony had, not even her parents; it was all too fast, and she was shocked she had drawn his attention at all. Before she knew it and could get a chance to say goodbye he turned back and took her hoof. Only Starlight, Tree Hugger and Angel bunny moved. Fluttershy looked back and saw them dashing to reach her in protest and a series of alarmed chitters from Angel, and then he jerked her impatiently after him. Stumbling from the sudden tug she was dragged back with him into thin air.
> What of this place?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

When he let go of Fluttershy's hoof she collapsed to the floor and threw up without so much as looking to see where she was. He made an exclamation of disgust, and yet amusement, some of it had landed on his black leather boot. "this is too good!”  The Lord said between fits of laughter, Fluttershy looked at him with wet, red eyes. His laughter ceased, and it was like he shifted moods completely. “Useless mare, stop heaving and clean this filth up." he flapped his mismatched wings and floated away through the corridor and was gone.

Fluttershy lay there, till she was sure nothing more would come up. she wiped her mouth with the back of her hoof and lifted her head to see where he had possibly gone. There was only one door leading out from the tower, she presumed he went that way but she couldn't bring herself to follow.

Fluttershy marvelled at her surroundings,  she was surrounded by stone walls that although were black on the outside from what she saw when she was a filly, were an array of mismatched colours, black, to maroon, to purple. Beneath her was marble, pure white marble like snow with veins of green that looked as though it were alive as it swirled around in a circular motion, adding further nausea to herself. There were 3 slitted windows on in the rounded room, too high to look out of from below. 

She flew up to one of the windows and nearly collapsed again from pure fear. She was so high up, the Everfree forest bellow looked so dark that even if you could see through the trees you couldn't possibly see the ground below them. above her, the ceiling bent inwards.

There was no furniture in this room, nothing she could use to wipe the floor with. She finally resorted to using her dress, it was already dirty anyway. To the right of her a little further ahead she spied a staircase, excited she had found another way out of the room she hadn't seen before, and not wanting to go the same way as her captor, she raced up the stairs before going to a stop. Did they lead to... nowhere? "What kind of place is this?" she exclaimed aloud. 

Sighing in defeat she meekly trotted down the stairs and into the hallway of which he went, there really wasn't any other way, and she dare not fly from the windows. It was cold and empty, the same marble underhoof, the hanging lamps didn't provide much glow, but the swirling purple veins in the marble emitted a menacing glow. She followed till she came to the end of the hallway which led to more stairs. "I hope these stairs actually lead somewhere" she thought.

She climbed the staircase, each step she took emitted a soft musical note, she would have enjoyed the interesting feature if she weren't so numb from her previous fright. A door came into view, oak that has been dyed black. She pushed it open and looked about cautiously, as it would be wiser than pushing past and going inside without a care not knowing what was inside. The room was draped in vines, a  four-poster bed fit for a queen in the centre with white lace draped down over it, the sheets an Anugypt cotton mixed with silk. It was indeed the softest she'd ever known. 
There was also a vanity and chest drawers adjacent to the bed, it was petite, nothing extravagant. 

there was a window, one she could look out of with ease while standing on her two back hooves. From this side of the castle, she could see the river flow into the Everfree, where it disappeared never to be seen again. She could make out the village of Ponyiets, where a lot of the other mares had come from. It was where the markets were usually held on Sundays, Her father would take her and her brother there every few months, and not far from there her own village. Ponyville tucked neatly into the valley.
If Fluttershy squinted her eyes she could just make out the tables that were bountiful of harvest the tribute that the Lord of Chaos didn't want to stay for. She collapsed again by the window, crying like a little filly. This time she had no pony to comfort her, not her mothers reassuring touch or her father to make her laugh, not even her brother to make her pout with an obnoxious remark. 

She reached down for her dress and blew heavily into the green fabric. She slowly started to collect herself and gave the room another look. There was a painting above her bed, odd looking. The painting had a silver line going through the middle and was overall a dark shade of green. 

Fluttershy stepped a bit closer, to get a good look, even though it was making her incredibly uncomfortable. It was HUGE, far too extravagant for this room. She could see it had white circles along the silver line, spaced out in a familiar way.

"The Valley!!" she said aloud. It was indeed a painting of the valley, with the silver line being the river, she could even recognise pony village. The painting was what would be the view a bird would see if it were to fly above at an incredible height.

'Probably why it's making me feel sick.' She thought to herself, She still wasn't the best flyer, and was terribly afraid of heights. 
Almost mesmerised a growl from her stomach took her out of her trance. She hadn't eaten dinner the night before, nor breakfast. An odd time to finally get an appetite when this was the worst day of her life. 'Am is supposed to get his dinner?' It was a fair question, the only other being in the castle was a little messenger dragon, and she hadn't seen even him around anywhere. Other than the Drake he had no servants that she knew of. 

It wasn't cooking for herself that terrified her, it was cooking for the Lord of Chaos that did. "what do Draconequus even eat?" asking aloud. She gasped, her thoughts turning dark when she wondered and what about after dinner?'
Tree Hugger had said he had taken mares for 200 years now, and that one of them would have said something if he had touched them surely.

But Fluttershy found herself thinking about the lords face so close to hers, his paw and claw sliding up her skirts, warm but rough, what if all of him is fever hot to touch?' she imagined then his somewhat familiar amber eyes glowing as he eyed her from head to hoof, a soft growl escaping his throat, predatory almost. 

She snapped herself out of the thoughts with a shudder and shake of her head. She needs to eat. That will get her mind off this nonsense surely.

Hurrying out of the room she went back down the stairwell, it seemed to have changed. it was spiralling downwards now. She couldn't see around the next turn it was so narrow. She put her wing on the stone wall for guidance and slowly started to make her way down. When nothing jumped out at her she got braver and started to trot more quickly.

After a long while of not coming to a landing, she started to panic. what if this was like the stairs that led nowhere, only this time it doesn't end at all?!' This made her panic, she began to flap her wings and flutter down at an increased speed, panting as she went. 

And then ran headfirst into the Lord of Chaos.
> A Curious Letter
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

He was big compared to her, but if she stood on her hind legs she would come to his shoulders. He caught him by surprise it would seem, something that she would guess rarely happened to him. For a moment she was too lost in those eyes to do anything. He felt warm again, a nice warmth despite what she thought their first touch felt like.
As she lost herself in the moment he recovered quickly and grabbed her hoof as he hovered up, dangling her limply in the air as he floated above her.

Fluttershy snapped out of her trance, one she was getting into a lot today it so happened. "AND WHAT PRAY-TELL, DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" He spat at her, still in the air.

"I-am looking for the um..." she was caught off by his expression, deadpanned but with a frustrated crinkle in his forehead. "The kitchen" she spurted out.

"is that so, little pony?" He didn't release her, no. Instead, he pulled her up close to him in a swift fashion, their face inches away, making her blush over the closeness. "Perhaps I best show you then." 

It came out so sly, like a purr. She stuttered. Before she could blink he was on the floor, still had her hoof in paw and pulling her along down the winding staircase. It took a few more levels, but they did finally come to a landing. Fluttershy released the breath she didn't realise she was holding in. It did end after all. She scolded herself for her silly fear that had led them to this moment.

She was led into a room, with a fireplace glowing, upside down, embers flying to the floor instead of up. Another curious oddity this place had. Watching it get closer to her, she suddenly realised that he was dragging her towards it. She immediately landed on the floor pulling back on his hold. 'HE IS GOING TO THROW ME IN!' She screamed in protest, though it came out as more of a pitchy whimper. 'IM NOT GOING OUT THIS WAY!' She yelled in her head.

In a final tug of defiance and panic she had thrown her and the Draconequus to the floor, they landed with a thud on the hard stone. The Lord grabbed his head in pain. "HAVE YOU GONE MAD?!" He yelled though it didn't sound like much of a question.

"I thought you were going to throw me in!"

"What do you think this is?! Hansel and Gretel?!"

He stared at her, furiously. But then his eyes softened. She looked so beautiful in the fire's light, it danced on her coat and feathers, casting shadows and making her curves glow. Her eyes looked like water on the fire to him, a beautiful combination of nonsense. Then a giggle emanated from the room, and he snapped his eyes down from hers to her lips, the source of it.

She was laughing, laughing at him? THE LORD OF CHAOS?

That wasn't really the case, she was just having a bit of a breakdown, but he didn't know that. Yes, she was laughing but out of the whole mess of the situation. He scowled and turned away from her and teleported out of the room, to who knows where. Leaving her there in her state of hysterics.

Fluttershy couldn't believe this mess of a day, she was a mess, her dress in shambles, throwing up on him, running head first into him on the stairway, and now she had knocked him down entirely with force after making a terrible assumption.
Calming down after a few minutes like that she looked around and noticed the cabinets in the room, spices on racks and hay, wheat and potatoes in sacks by the dozen. It was a kitchen.

Facehoofing herself, she made her way to the cupboards, taking out a loaf of bread and cutting it herself with care. A pot was already under the upside down fire, she wondered how she could possibly cook like that. Glancing over it she could see the pot was already full and bubbling. 'I wonder if he made that?'

Something caught the eye beside her, on the wall hanging by the fire was a note. Grasping it she opened and began to read it.  


Breakfast at eight, Lunch at one, Dinner at seven, Leave the meal laid in the library, five minutes before, and you need not see him, no need to say who cause DUHHH! hahaha! Remember to be brave, and try to have a super duper fun time while cooking! cupcake recipes are there for you. 
P.P 


'Was this left by the last mare?' Fluttershy thought. 'Doesn't sound like Sunset Shimmer though.'
She inspected it closer. "P.P" she whispered. 'Did they mean to write P.S, and simply forgot the rest?' Curious. She hugged the letter, thanking Celestia she had some sense of guidance now, she also silently thanked whoever the mysterious letter was from. Making a note to try those cupcake recipes at a later date.

Smelling the stew from the pot a small sigh escaped the lips. It smelled good. She got a tray ready, a bowl, a spoon, and then started lathering the bread with butter that she had cut. Smelling the spices again it reminded her of Hearths Warming. She had always helped her mother cook for the family feast. It was a small feast, but beautiful nonetheless. 

Fluttershy was disgruntled, never in her life would she have expected to be chosen, if she had figured she would have attempted to master cooking like the other mares had. Like Starlight, Tree Hugger and...
Not wanting to finish the thought she finally decided upon making a baked apple, like they would make on festive occasions in the village. It was one of the first things she had mastered.

Putting the apple on a tray, she layered it with all the best spices, buts careful so as to not overpower the flavour, and slid it in-between the pit of the fireplace just above the pot. Growing peckish while waiting she tore some of the leftover bread of and ate it herself.
One it was ready and the whole assemblage was ready she couldn't help but feel proud of herself. It looked great, it smelled great, and now she only hoped it would taste great too.

With a deep breath, picked up the tray, balancing it on her wing and headed out the oversized door in search of the library to bring him his dinner.
> Navigations
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Oh my..." Fluttershy was lost, she didn't realise at the time she had no idea where the library was and how easy it was to get lost in this chaotic place of enchanted stairs, fireplaces, and flying objects. She swore she even defied gravity at one stage by walking down stairs that were upside down and on the ceiling.

Coming to a door she got excited, she opened it wide thinking it MUST be the library. After all how big could this place be anyway? Fluttershy let out a shrill scream louder than her normal volume as her hair was pushed back by a force of wind that came from an erupting roar. Just as quickly she slammed the door and stepped back.

She was NOT opening that door again.

Coming to another door on a different landing, she rationally decided to be more cautious when opening this one. A wise decision as when she was about to lightly put her hoof on the floor on the other side she found it wasn't there. With another yelp she retracted, and then ever so slowly peered over the side. It was an endless swirl of an abyss. 
Gulping she looked up to the ceiling trying not to lose her hoofing.  There floating around the room were polka dotted cats, not seeming to care for their anti-gravity situation, some licking themselves clean. Some even had the same mannerisms Tree Hugger had, after eating some baked goods she had made for herself during the harvest festival not so many years ago.

Once she was sure they were actually okay and seemed to be having an enjoyable time, she shut the door, a cringed look on her face. 'maybe he was right, maybe I have gone mad.' More determined than ever she flew down the flight of stairs again, not caring if she repeated the same mistake from last time. She just wanted to find him, she just wanted to find the library.

Another door. Fluttershy swore to give up if this wasn't her destination. She didn't open it without caution, nor did she be careful, It was more a defeated push with a dead expression. It wasn't the library, It was a potions room. Viles filled the shelves in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes. The whole room smelt like nothing she could explain either.

At least it was nothing overly odd and terrifying like the other rooms she'd been to. After looking around the room through the slightly opened door, she was about to draw back and shut it when a voice spoke out from an area of the room she hadn't opened the door wide enough to see.

"Hi there, can I help you?"

Fluttershy pushed the door fully open now, surprised to have heard any voice other than hers and the Lords. There at the desk, with viles bubbling and a few spilt over, was an alicorn. The alicorn had a lavender coat, her mane was cut into bangs, a deep sapphire blue with a tinge of purple and bright pink streaks throughout. She was very pretty, and Fluttershy was taken aback. 'Another mare in the castle? An alicorn no less?' The only alicorns Fluttershy knew of was the royal sisters and the lost princess Cadence.

The alicorn smiled at the little pegasus. "Whats your name?"

"Im.. Fluttershy"

"Sorry I didn't catch that?" The alicorn said, still smiling and making her way over to her.

"Um..I'm Fluttershy."

"Well, nice to meet you Fluttershy. My names Twilight!" Twilight extended her hoof for Fluttershy to shake.

Fluttershy slowly took it and gave a weak shake. "I have lost my mind," Fluttershy confirmed to herself aloud. Twilight laughed and shook her head, only slowing when she saw the little mare was very serious.

"I can assure you, I'm very much here. I assume you've had some trouble with the doors here though haven't you?" Twilight had giggled at the last part. Fluttershy only nodded her head dully.

"Its okay, I understand. I had the same problem when I first got here too."

"Really?"

"Oh yes, ended up in a snowy land next to a lamppost. Had some Turkish delight and conveyed with a talking lion." Twilight admitted, starting to trail off in thought at the end of it. She shook her head. "I thought I had gone bonkers too, it takes some getting used to." Twilight noticed the tray balancing on Fluttershy's wing.
"Say, do you need help getting somewhere?"

Fluttershy perked up immediately. "Oh yes! The library please! if, of course, its no trouble.. that is." She rubbed her hoof behind her leg nervously, her knotted pink hair falling in front of her face like an extra layer of protection. She had been through a lot today.
Twilight could see that and draped her wing over her in comfort. After a moment Twilight started to lead her out of the room, to what would be her final door. 





Finally, they arrived at what Twilight insisted was the library. She had found it with such ease Fluttershy had guessed she had often made trips to it herself. 

"Well, this is where I leave you." 

"You're leaving?!" Fluttershy said, panic-stricken. 

Twilight could tell her eyes were pleading her not to go, but she didn't know what the Draconequus would do if he found out they had met so soon. "I'm afraid so, but don't worry, I won't be far. This is something you have to learn to do on your own. But I believe in you." The alicorn offered a reassuring smile. "He really isn't that bad when you get to know him."

This made Fluttershy feel a little better, but she still wasn't so sure. He hadn't proved himself to be anything but a monster so far. Twilight turned to leave and was making her way up the stairs before Fluttershy could think. 'Damn it!' She thought. She had so much she had forgotten to ask her. 'How did she get here? How long had she been here?' and 'Did she writes the letter in the kitchen?'

The door opened on a room full of books, shelves up high from the floor reaching right to the ceiling. Piles on the floor and some with wings flapping around in no obvious direction. There were a few windows throwing light in and a smell of sandalwood wood was present. 

He was sitting there; on a throne of black and red, antlers adorning the top. He had a book laid out in front of him, surrounded by a purple haze, magic holding it up and was at least the size of two ponies in length.
She froze, feeling a bit betrayed by twilight and the note. Hanging in the doorway she found the words to speak.

"I've-I've brought you dinner." 

She didn't really want to go in unless he told her to.

"Is that so." The Lord said, harshly. "Didn't fall into another dimension on the way? I'm shocked." He then looked up at the pegasus and frowned. "Or did you fall into another dimension?"

Fluttershy looked down at herself. Her dress had a huge stain from where she had cleaned up her own mess, a few flowers missing and hanging from the seams most likely thanks to angel and scurrying about the castle. The hem was still muddy from that morning, and to her further dismay it appeared to have gotten caught on something and torn it without even noticing. Her mane which her mother spent hours on was now a big knot.

"I was- I cooked, and there was a door and- and- I cleaned -" She tried to explain.

"The dirtiest thing in this castle is you." He cut her off. It was somewhat true, but unkind.

She flushed and let her frayed hair fall in front of her face again, clearly embarrassed. Going to the table she laid out the tray and looked it over, and then realised sadly that with all the time she had spent looking for the library it had all gone cold. The stew, the lovely baked apple was now hard as well. 'should I take it back? maybe he won't mind?'
Feeling a hot breath on the back of her neck she whirled around and almost gave out a yelp. He was right behind her sneaking a look at the food.

"Maybe I should have roasted you." He chuckled. "You would have made a better meal than this."

She gasped. 'Maybe he Does eat mares?' She wasn't a bad cook, she just didn't know her way around yet. She opened her mouth to tell him but quickly shut it as he snorted.

"I's there anything you can do?" he asked mockingly.

If Fluttershy had ever thought she would be taken she would have trained for this. Taken lessons with Starlight and Tree Hugger. If only she hadn't been tired, if only she hadn't felt a little proud of herself in the kitchen. If only she hadn't listened to Twilight and flung herself at her hoofs begging her to take his meal to him instead and.... if only she hadn't lost rainbow. Fluttershy flung her tray down in anger, yet sighing a little at the sudden weight of her wing and cried, "WHY DID YOU TAKE ME THEN? WHY DIDNT YOU TAKE STARLIGHT OR EVEN TREE HUGGER?"

Fluttershy regretted what she said instantly. Horrified at herself. How could she have said that about her friends? She had also just spoken back to her Lord. She was about to apologise profusely, saying she'd make him another tray, that she hadn't meant it.

"Who?" He said impatiently.

Fluttershy couldn't believe it. "Starlight! Tree Hugger!" she said. He looked at her as though she was making a fool of herself and for a moment she had forgotten her noble intentions. "Especially Starlight! You were going to take her, I know it! she is the most clever, the most gifted in magic the-"

"Yes, yes I know the mare, I imagine she would not be a mess right now and arguing with MOI, The Lord of Chaos. Enough! You village mares are all boring and annoying in the beginning but you sure take the cake." He said conjuring up a slice of chocolate cake for emphasis and flinging it behind him, making a small explosion.

'Well If he can just conjure up food why does he need someone to fetch him dinner?! He doesn't need me at all it would seem!' Fluttershy thought. Crying out in anguish she retorted "Then you needn't keep me here if I'm that much of a burden!" 

"That's where you're wrong, my dear." He seized her hoof and whipped her around; standing so close she felt a rush of heat draw up her body. He stretched her hoof out over the tray of food and said "Mutatiolimen." A strange word that dripped of his lips like honey. "Say it with me."

"What?" Fluttershy said She'd never heard that word before.

He pushed closer against her back, and she shifted her wings uncomfortably. He put his mouth against her ear and whispered harshly, "Say it!"
She trembled and wanted nothing more than to put some distance between them so she relented and said the words. 

"Mutatiolimen." 

The air rippled over the food, her chest began to glow. When everything went calmly the food had changed, where the bread was there were cucumber sandwiches, the crusts cut off. Where the baked apple had been, an apple pie with whipped cream and honey glazed over. Where the stew had been, a bowl of... Paper?

He let go and she staggered a bit. He then grabbed a spoonful heap of paper and ate it. "Well my dear, you certainly know how to make me..... eat my words." He smirked at his own joke. But she wasn't laughing.

She gasped for a breath, it felt like she hadn't been able to breathe through the whole thing, whether it was because he was so close against her or, well, whatever he just did she wasn't sure. He seemed to have a small amount of surprise written on his face, as well as annoyance. "What did you do to me?" She whispered breathlessly.

"Stop whining, it was merely a cantrip, heck it could even pass as a parlour trick."

Whatever surprise he might had felt vanished. He seated himself on the throne again and made his tray follow behind him. "It's palatable, now go away, you've wasted enough of my time for today." And he waved a paw at her dismissively. 

More than happy to obey that, she crept slowly out of the library, she held her hoof close to her chest. It took her almost half an hour to drag herself back up the stairs and to her bedroom. She hadn't seen Twilight on the way up. Shutting the door behind her she fell onto her bed and let her exhaustion take her.
> Strange magic, and other Rarity's.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy hadn't seen The Lord or Twilight for days. She spent most of her time in the kitchen trying out the new cupcake recipes that were left by a mysterious friend, mostly for fun as she doubted that he would like cupcakes due to the curious diet he apparently had. Of course practising her general cooking as well, doing whatever she could to master the art. 
She always got to the library and laid out the tray 5 minutes early, sometimes there was a tray already there that she hadn't put there before, now empty. 'He must get his own food sometimes after all.' She pondered. 

Though she still wondered why she bothered at all seeing as how he could summon anything he wanted anyway, was it an attempt to control her? Maybe that's why he wasn't known to have servants, after all, he had the mares he takes.

Another thought dawned on her. 'Maybe he just wants some company?' She had heard no complaints from him. There were some ragged clothes in a box she found in her room, which only just fit her small frame, she had to tie them around her waist for it to not drape on the floor or she would surely trip. She didn't want to please him but she kept herself somewhat presentable, not because she wanted to please him. But because she never wanted him to do whatever he did to her that day again.

She had woken some nights in a cold sweat, the word Mutatiolimen on her lips like it belonged there, and his body close to her own and his paw on her hoof. She swore It had actually felt comforting for a moment. She was still scared, but it was better than giving into the deeper feelings. Feeling that she would not see her friends or family again for 10 years, that age would take angel before she saw him again, and whatever strange alchemy that was placed on all the Chaos mares before would soon take hold and turn her into someone she couldn't recognise.

Looking at herself in the vanity at her ragged dress, she sighed. It had come undone around the waist again and made her look like a sack of potatoes. She was good with a needle but she couldn't find one anywhere.

"MY DEAR!! That looks positively dreadful on you! And it's definitely not your colour."

Fluttershy jumped around to where the door was, her mouth gaped open. ANOTHER MARE? 
This mare was a unicorn, and she was GORGEOUS. Her mane was purple and curled in a way which looked like it took hours. and her fur was as white as snow. She had a cutie mark of 3 diamonds and eyes to match the brilliant shade of blue they were. She was wearing a purple slit at her side, and sleeves with light blue ruffles that almost touched the ground.

The unicorn giggled, "Careful if the wind changes you might be stuck agape forever."

Fluttershy snapped her mouth back shut. If she had anything to say she couldn't find the words.

"Ahem. Well.." The unicorn began, anything to break the awkward silence. "My names Rarity, whats your darling?"

"Rarity?" Fluttershy questioned. She gasped. "Rarity as in the Rarity from the stories!? The one and only Chaos born mare the Lord of Chaos kept?!"

Rarity gasped herself, her eyes sparkling. "They tell stories about me? OOOooohh Tell me tell me TELL me!" Rarity squeed and tapped her hooves together in enthusiasm.

Fluttershy couldn't believe it, she just couldn't! How could it be so? Those stories were almost 200 years old, this unicorn standing before her should have long passed of old age by now, and another pony in the castle? How many more ponies are there? The ground below Fluttershy's hooves began to sway. Rarity noticed this and quickly pulled a couch out of nowhere and dashed over to the buttercream pegasus before she was able to hit the floor, out cold.

"Oh dear..." She said looking down at her, she had managed to catch her in time. "I know my grand entrances can take ponies breath away but this is ridiculous."





Sometime later Fluttershy awoke to find herself on a red velvet couch. She put her hoof to her head and rubbed her temple. "That was the most peculiar dream." She said aloud.

"What was it about?" 

Fluttershy flew to the ceiling at the sound of a mare's voice, looking down at the ground below she saw the very same unicorn mare as before looking up at her and smiling. It wasn't a dream.
"O-Oh, hello again." Fluttershy fluttered down and landed softly on the couch again in an upright position.

"So sorry to give you a fright there, I should have known better with you being the newest edition and all, I hope we can start over." Rarity said sweetly and with sincerity.

"Newest edition?"

"Why yes to the castle of course!"

"Oh.. yes." 

Rarity looked so happy, 'Maybe she's been lonely too, maybe she hasn't met Twilight, maybe she thinks she's been here alone all these years.' Fluttershy's eyes widened. "Oh, where are my manners? My name is Fluttershy, it is very nice to meet you." She smiled.

"Well its certainly nice to see a fresh pretty face like you too!"

This comment made Fluttershy blush and smile. "I'm sorry to ask but, are you really the mare that never left after the 10 years were up?"

"The very same!" Rarity answered, happily as if not seeing how it was so confusing.

"But, pardon me, and I hope this doesn't offend you...." Fluttershy began. "But wasn't that... wasn't that almost 200 years ago? shouldn't you be -"

"Dead?" Rarity finished.

"Y-yes." Fluttershy gasped. "Are you a G-G-GH-GHOST?"

Rarity laughed hard at this, making Fluttershy red in the face. "I can assure you I'm not a ghost, and no I'm not dead at all, you could say I aged quite well, no?" She pushed up her mane elegantly with one hoof for emphasis.

"But...how? If you don't mind me asking?" 

"No, not at all." Rarity replied, and took a deep breath. "You see, I was taken well, as you know, many MANY years ago. I didn't mind, I had nothing left anymore for me anyway." A wave of sadness washed over her, and she spoke quieter. "I lost my sister, Sweetie Bell to the Everfree, and well, she was the only family I had. So it was not like I was leaving much behind."

Fluttershy's ears drooped back, she hadn't meant to make her new friend sad. How terrible it would be to lose a sister to the Everfree, she could relate after losing Rainbow to the very same thing.

"As it so happens, I have a special kind of magic, and he offered me to stay. He said if he could train me I could help bring peace to Equestria, and well." Rarity shrugged. "I accepted. I didn't have anything or anypony else in the world anyway. As for not ageing, we are both unsure, maybe its to do with that special kind of magic?"

Fluttershy knew that by 'He' she had meant the Draconequus. She felt for Rarity, it was very generous of her to give up her life and live with the Lord of Chaos to help bring peace to Equestria. "I'm sorry." She said quietly.

"Don't be, darling. It's not your fault after all." Rarity stated, trying to perk herself and Fluttershy up, dabbing a hoofkerchief under her eyes to catch the tears she hadn't realised were falling. 

"Bring peace to Equestria?" Fluttershy asked, trying to change the subject and ease her curiosity.

"Oh yes, but we aren't quite there yet, he says we need to find 6 elements to be able to accomplish any progress and he has never been able to find them. He just says we have a small amount of magic that the elements seem to possess, as was written in one of the books." She shrugged again. "But he has never been able to read much of that book anyway, says its all gibberish, whatever that means for him anyway. I'm sure you've noticed by now this place isn't exactly Normal."

"Book? Elements?" 

"My, my, a lot of questions today." Rarity said fanning herself. "But I can understand why, oh you poor dear. We simply must find you something to entertain yourself with." she looked up and down at Fluttershy and stuck out her tongue. "But first let us get you out of these clothes."






Fluttershy gazed over her new attire. Rarity had fashioned a beautiful off the shoulder dress, maintaining its Hazel brown colour, however. It now fit her snuggly around the waist and had a Lacey black hem the unicorn fashioned out of one of her bedpost curtains, and a tiny pink bow on the back. "It looks lovely Rarity," Fluttershy said in awe. She had asked for something simple, against Rarity's wishes, but she had complied.

"Now then darling, you look the part!" Rarity stole a glance at her green dress Fluttershy had worn the day of the taking in the corner of the room, stained and battered. "Let me just mend this for you, its far too beautiful to be crumpled on the floor in such a state." And she levitated it over to her with her horn.

"Oh thank you, but you really needn't too-" Fluttershy began. Not really intending to wear it again as it only reminded her of that horrible day.

"Nonsense! this is such a lovely couture, I will get it fixed up for you this evening." Rarity turned to walk out and glanced around her shoulders. "You coming?"

"Oh! Can I?" Fluttershy squeed, thrilled at not being left alone. "Where are we going?"

"To the library."

"LIBRARY?" Fluttershy yelped. Just because she hadn't seen the Lord in more than a few days it didn't mean she wanted to. She was quite content with the fact. Now this unicorn was going to leave her with him just like the alicorn before.

"No no no, relax darling, he won't be there, I believe he is in the potions room this time of day," Rarity confirmed, seeing the fright in the Pegasi's features. With that Fluttershy visibly relaxed and followed her down the corridor and the winding staircase. "Watch your hoof." She said, "these staircases tend to change from time to time." Fluttershy let out a small whimper at that note and started to trot more carefully.

Rarity had managed to find the library just as easy as Twilight had. Fluttershy was about to ask if Rarity knew Twilight, but as soon as Rarity's horn lit up and pushed the door open, her question was already answered. "Twilight! how wonderful to see you this fine day, I should have known you'd be here buried in a book." Twilight was sitting at a desk in a red dress with black trimmings and a sash around her right shoulder, black as well, only it seemed to sparkle a little in the light provided by the windows. She was with a huge leatherback book and a golden lock hanging from the open cover, the book however huge it may be, was still nowhere near as large as the Lords was that day.

"Rarity! What brings you here-" Twilight spied Fluttershy walking in behind her. "What are you doing?" She said to Rarity in a harsh whisper, but still not making any attempt for Fluttershy to not overhear.

"So the poor dear was lonely and in some dreadful attire, so shoot me, Twilight."

"It was bad enough she ran into me, you know he doesn't want us to socialise with the mares unless he knows for certain if she's-"

"Oh, you've met Twilight?" Rarity interrupted, not caring much what Twilight had to say in regards to keeping their distance. She turned sweetly to the pegasus. Fluttershy's looked at Rarity, and then back to Twilight, evidently in sad confusion. She had wanted to see Twilight again, but now it didn't seem like Twilight wanted to see her. Had she done something wrong?

"Yes. I have." Fluttershy stated rather bluntly, a little annoyed to be treated like she wasn't there and shouldn't be.

Twilight sighed, she did feel guilty for being so distant and leaving the poor frightened mare alone. "Well seeing as you are both here, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Ah yes, we are looking for a book." Rarity confirmed.

"We are? Fluttershy said.

"Yes, we simply must give you something to do other than cooking and cleaning." Rarity then narrowed her eyes at Twilight. "Because I'm afraid we can't always be in one another's company." This made Twilight sink back in her chair in a huff. Fluttershy smiled, excited to find a source of entertainment, but was a little sad about the last thing Rarity had said.

Twilight did perk up though if they wanted a book she was the one to speak to after all, and she would always be happy to find other ponies that share in her love for reading. She shook herself out of her sour look at this. "Well if you're looking for a book, what exactly do you like?" Twilight asked Fluttershy giving her a toothy grin.

"Um, I'm not sure, I like animals."

"I'm sure we have something like that around here." Twilight flew up and started sorting through the array of books near the ceiling. "Animals, animals, animals." She muttered to herself. And then she pulled out a red book with silver trimmings. "AH-HA, how about this one?" She then flew down and landed in front of the mares, book clasped under her right arm, pulling it out and levitating it to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy stared at the cover and ran a hoof around the rim. "Equestria's wildlife and Mythical beings, Edition one; What to pet and what to fret." She read aloud. "Its perfect Twilight thank you."

Twilight puffed up proudly, "Its no problem at all, Fluttershy." 

BOOM

Twilight crouched low to the floor, her wings shielding herself from small falling bits of rubble from the ceiling. Rarity's hair stuck up on the back of her neck, her face contorting, eyes shut tightly, she put her hoofs to her ears as to block out the noise of the blast. Fluttershy grasped the side of a shelf to keep herself in balance, "What was that?! Are we under attack?!"

Twilight regained her composure and stood up, "No, its okay, it must have been a little accident in the potions room, it's happened before, maybe once every two months or so." She laughed nervously.

"Oh no, I hope he's okay!" Gasped Fluttershy. She really didn't want anypony to have gotten hurt, even if he had taken her away from her friends and family.

Rarity let out a deep huff and started fixing her manes tangles and brushing the dust off herself. "Don't panic Darling, its incredibly hard for him to hurt himself, in fact, one of the few times this has happened he ended up in some quite amusing..circumstances." she put her hoof up to her mouth, laughing as if recalling a funny memory.

Another much smaller rumble came. "I should probably go check it out, see if anypony needs a hoof," Twilight said, and with that, she picked up some speed and ran out the door but coming to an abrupt halt at the entrance. She turned around and looked at Fluttershy, "It really was nice seeing you though Fluttershy, I hope you enjoy your book." She smiled at the little Pegasus and then disappeared up the spiralling stairwell.

Rarity followed not far behind Twilight, levitating Fluttershys green dress from the floor where she dropped it during the commotion. "I will bring this to your room once I've patched it up, shouldn't take me too long." Another rumble came again, "Well, I suppose I better get up there too, Besides, I'd hate to miss out if it was anything like last month. So nice to meet you Fluttershy!" And she too disappeared up the stairs all the while giggling "P-popcorn- t-to the ceiling." quietly under her breath.

Fluttershy for a brief moment was about to go and help to, but something called out to her.

"Fluttershyyy"

Her ears perked up and she spun around, there was nopony there.

"Fluttershyyyy.."

It came again, in a hushed whisper. Although it was strange, it didn't make Fluttershy anxious, in fact, it was almost calming in a way, silky, longing. She wondered to the bookshelf to the right of Twilights desk, next to that menacing throne she had seen The lord on those few days ago.

"Fluttershy"

It was softer this time, and she was frantic to find it before it faded into nothing. She ran a hoof along the shelf, collecting dust all the while. It was caked in it, except for one section, it was lacking dust as if the books there had been taken out frequently. Her chest began to admit a soft glow, but it had gone unnoticed. She ran a hoof up one of the bindings of a book and felt a sense of comfort like before. 

It was a dark blue, and visibly aged, it has a trim around it that looked almost like crystal. She pulled it out fully and opened it, the pages were gold, and the words although she didn't quite know what language, burned into her eyes. She could understand them, she knew what the book was saying without knowing at all what was written. 

Fluttershy looked up, and pressed the book against her glowing chest and drew in a deep breath. She tried to recall what she just read, but she couldn't. She tried and tried to even remember a sentence, but she just...well... couldn't? She opened the book again and her eyes danced across the pages, and once again it was all coming back to her.

It was spells, potions, ingredients. All written by hoof, with different amounts and variations. Fluttershy shut the book, There was no title on the book, just a small engraving on the bottom that reads Property of S.S. She placed it down on her new animal book, and then picked them both up under her wing and trotted up the staircase to her room. 'Surely the Lord and Twilight wouldn't mind if I borrowed one more.' She thought to herself.
> A letter, and a bo- wait, where is it?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Groaning audibly, placing a paw on his face and dragging it downwards. He glanced around at the mess of what used to be his potions room."SPIKE!" He yelled angrily and accusingly. The books that were splayed out on the floor were on fire, and screaming as they had been made sentient, flailing about trying to put themselves out. Chocolate pudding was on the walls bubbling from the heat of the room, remnants from the blast also scattered about, vials and various bottles broke.

Fortunately, a majority of the shelves were safe thanks to his quick thinking, it takes an extreme amount of effort to perfect these potions and contrary to popular belief or what ponies would like to think, he can not just conjure up magic potions on his own will. It took patience, magical ability and many rare ingredients to make them.

"I- I DIDNT MEAN TO! IM SORRY!" The little purple dragon retorted as he tried to put out a small flame on his tail. He ran over to the wall and pressed his tail against the chocolate pudding and it sizzled out, still burning a little from the temperature.

"WHAT IN TARNATION?" a thick country voice came to the ears of the two.

"Applejack get that walking hazard OUT of my potions room!" The Draconequus pointed at Spike who was still sucking on his tail. Spike just scowled. 

"I was just doing my job!" Spike said in a huff, but immediately regretted it when he was met with the Lord's own scowl.

Applejack, an earth mare, with a silky blonde main like straw, and a bright orange coat, 3 apples for her cutie mark and wearing an orange cotton dress, simple in design and a cowhide hat on her head looked in frustration at both the little dragon and the Lord. "Alright how bout Y'all calm down and tell me what happened here."

" I LOVE the renovation you're doing!!" 

You could almost hear his eyes roll at the pink earth mare that had just bounced into the room behind Applejack. She had a frizzy deep pink mane and a lighter coat to match, blue eyes and a cutie mark of 3 balloons, and was wearing a deep pink and white gown that was too frilly for his liking. 'How does she even walk in that.' He found himself wondering.

"Hey Applejack, I bet chocolate pudding! Hand it over!" 

Applejack huffed, rolled her eyes and tossed a gold bit over to the eccentric pink mare. "Darn it, Ya guessed lucky this time Pinkie Pie." The pink mare, Pinkie Pie, squeed in delight and tucked her gold bit into her dress. "Now ah will ask again, what happened here... this time?" Applejack continued.

"This, THIS, Insufferable overgrown fire-breathing gecko just made the entirety of my work go up in flames!!"

Spike and The Draconquus erupted into a loud uproar and were talking over each other loudly, the books still screaming on the floor, Applejack couldn't make out a single word and was backing away slowly from the squabble. "LOUD NOISES!" Pinkie added unhelpfully, wanting to get in on the chaos.

Twilight and Rarity burst through the door and gasped at the mess, shooting a glance to the poor country mare who was clearly in over her head. The situation at hoof clearly escalating. "EVERYPONY CALM DOWN!" Twilight yelled in a booming voice which caused all the noise to cease, aside from the burning books painful howls. Twilight gasped "NOT THE BOOKS!" she grabbed a jug of water from a side table in the corner and frantically ran around the room putting them out. Each book let out a sigh of relief at this.

Rarity looked at Spike who was cradling his slightly charred tail. "Oh, poor spikey-wikey! What happened?"

"That's what ah've been trying ta find out." Applejack said.

Twilight dropped the now empty jug of water to the floor, all the books now flameless. "Explain yourself, Discord."

The Draconequus, Discord, Growled in further annoyance. 'Its like they're accusing moi, MOI? The Lord of Chaos?'
"Now usually I enjoy a bit of chaos like this, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF MY WORK!" he roared, at twilight and turned to Spike in fury.

"I just got a letter is all! and as Everypony knows fire comes with any letter that comes through or goes out." Spike said matter-a-factly. "The flame managed to catch one of his potions and well..." Spike looked around at the mess. "It had a reaction." He finished.

"You know my vials are fragile!"

"IM SORRY!"

"You will be, so help me, Celestia!" 

Twilight let out a groan and massaged her temple. "Look, It was an accident, Discord." 
Discord crossed his arms, looked at the wall, still covered in pudding and snarled. "And Spike you shouldn't have been so close to his work anyway, what were you doing in here?" Discord then turned his attention back to the little dragon with a grin, happy to have been stood up for if only slightly.

"I was bored, I don't know when I'm going to get a letter, I'm not all-powerful ya know!" Spike raised his claws defensively.

"Speaking of which, give me that." Discord snatched the scroll from the floor, it had escaped the carnage. His eyes darted left to right reading it over and groaned loudly, pinching his nose between his amber eyes.

"What does it say?" Rarity enquired. trying to sneak a peak.

Pinkie stopped licking the pudding off the wall, "An invitation to a party!!?" She asked enthusiastically. 

"No." Discord said. "We will be expecting a visit from a royal pain sometime in the next week or so." There were a series of chatter at this, and he looked up to the mares in the room, "it's getting far too crowded in this castle for my liking" He muttered under his breath. "I expect all of you to keep to your rooms for a period of time.'

Pinkie pouted, her hair deflating. "Awwwww" She brushed her chocolate covered hooves against the floor in a kicking motion, smearing more mess on the marble. The rest of the mares looked at one another before simply nodding. "Understood." Said Twilight.

Discord snapped his eagle talon and the Chaos of the room disappeared, causing Pinkie to pout even more so. He looked at the array of broken vials he couldn't prefabricate, Fire-Heart had been one of them, a potion often in demand from the court, good for burning out old dead crops and defences against the Everfree. "I best get to work then." He remarked cuttingly.

And he snapped his fingers again and was gone. 





A bright purple light slit through the air of the library, Discord stepped out with ease. He clicked his tongue and went to the shelf to the right of his throne, running a paw along the shelves. It felt warm to touch for some reason, a feeling he never usually got from doing this routine and he swore his heart skipped a beat.

Discord found himself smiling for no apparent reason, and he pulled out a fur bound a red book that contained instructions for re-creating fire-heart. Looking it over his smile disappeared. Discord noticed his paw didn't have any dust on it, and come to think of it, neither did the shelf of which he pulled the book from.
Scanning it over he counted them through, he never put them in order, but he knew their locations off by heart, then he paused, glaring silently, his amber and red eyes lit like fire, at the now empty slot on the shelf. 

In a second flash he was back in the potions room, the group were already done tidying up a few things Discord missed, and Twilight didn't even have time to think before she found herself raised up back against the wall, an eagle talon wrapped around her neck. She wiggled a writhed in his grasp, gasping for breath. The others dropped whatever they were doing and collectively gasped in shock.

"WHERE IS IT?!" He demanded from Twilight, who was attempting to pry his grip from her throat with her hooves.

"I -What -are you-" She said between gasps.

"Don't play coy with me! The book, Star Swirls book! Where is it?"

"I-Don't - Know! I-don't have- it!" She was starting to fade in colour.

"LET GO OF HER! - you, YOU BRUTE! Rarity screeched as she pounded her hooves on his backside.

Discord dropped her and she fell to the ground beneath, drawing sharp breaths and sputtering, massaging her small neck where he had held with such strength. Discord turned to rarity and pushed her away and she stumbled to the floor as well. "HEY! What gives!?" Pinkie shouted at him before coming over to Rarity's aid followed by Spike. Applejack came to Twilights side and wrapped her hooves around her and looked up at him..

"Ya know none of us, includin you, can even read that book, so what the hay would we do with it?" Applejack said through gritted teeth.

Discord threw his arms in the air, "Well if you didn't take it, who did?!" 
Twilight drew in a small breath, "Fluttershy... " her eyes widened in realisation. Now she's done it! how could I have been so stupid to have left her alone in that room, why.. why would she have taken it? She thought to herself in despair.

Unfortunately, this caught Discords attention. "Fluttershy..?" He said slyly, through clenched teeth, His paw and eagle talon also clenching, into fists. Twilight gulped, she hadn't meant for him to hear her say the name. "So, you've met the village mare?" He said quietly, frighteningly. 
"N-no, I mean- who?" She laughed nervously, her ears flattening at this scary sight.

"Don't lie to me Twilight, You're as bad at it as Applejack."

"It's my fault!" Rarity interjected. "I took her down to the library to get a book to pass the time and-"

"YOU TOO?!" Discord cut her off. "What have I told you all, STAY AWAY from the Chaos born mares!"

"But why Discord!? You said so yourself that this could be the one! That this one is special, the missing link!? Do you know how hard it been to keep away from the ponies you take for 10 years!" Rarity said, still being held by pinkie and embracing her back. "Besides, she took an animal book, not the other one."

"COULD BE, I said she COULD BE, but I'm still not completely sure of it! As for the book well it looks like one wasn't quite enough for her liking." Discord drew in a deep breath and stated in a calm tone that clearly still held so much anger, ' It been a few days, I think its time I pay the little mare a visit." And he snapped his talon for the third time today and disappeared again.

Rarity and Twilight looked at one another. "What have we done?" they said in unison.
> Stone prisons and Spies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy had pushed her bed by the window for added light, flipping through the pages of the deep blue book. She had read the one provided by Twilight briefly, but as much as she loved the descriptions and pictures of the most interesting creatures in Equestria, she still had felt the untitled book call out to her.

It was strange for her to have been able to read or understand the strange words that were written, aside from being in a language she'd never heard of, it also was written in an almost code like sequence. But as she read the words aloud it all seemed to make perfect sense - better than perfect sense.

She was nodding along to it in satisfaction, it seemed to speak truth, like it was something she'd always known but had never put into words, and as she got to the with page she realised, that she couldn't have told anypony what was on the first page, she simply couldn't remember, or even on the page before as of that matter.

Fluttershy glared resentfully at the book, and she flipped it over to the first page and started again, reading one word aloud at a time with a pause in-between. The words sang like a bird out of her mouth, beautiful, melting like sugar on the tongue. But she still couldn't keep the patterns of it in her head, but she kept reading it dreamily as if it were part of her. She started repeating something she just went over again and again, desperate to remember it.


 Thy Heart will soon begin to glow
And within it a seed, a tree will grow
Darkness, Corrupt and nightmare fuelled
Will hath all thy loved ones fooled
One power by thy times of six
Bring forth a fire to mend thy sick
Hath traits of friendship sentiments
And thy should find the elements 


"Elements.." She whispered, her chest beginning to emit a small light until the door smashed open.

There he was, standing in the framed doorway. Fluttershy froze in surprise. He was furiously angry, his eyes glittering and terrible, and he held out his paw, lit up in a purple glow and gestured for it to come to him. 
The book tried to jump out of her hooves, to fly across the room to the Lord. Fluttershy blindly clutched it on pure instinct. It wriggled against her, trying to escape from her grasp, but against her better judgment she managed to yank it back into her arms, the purple glow encasing the book and his paw ceased.

He gaped at her, and grew even more wildly angry; he stormed across the tiny room on all fours, while Fluttershy tried to scramble up and back, but there was nowhere for her to go. She almost considered jumping out the window and braving her terrible flying abilities, but it was too late. He was on her in an instant, thrusting her back against her pillows. Her wings spread out on the silken Anugypt sheets.
"So," he growled low, sounding silky, his paw pressing down upon her shoulder, pinning her to the bed. Her heart was thumping faster than she thought possible, each beat shaking her.

He plucked the book away with his free eagle talon - at least this time she wasn't silly enough to keep trying to hold onto it anymore - and he tossed it onto a small table. "Fluttershy, was it? Fluttershy of Ponyville." He pretended to have forgotten her name, but he definitely wanted an answer from her.

"Y-Yes." She whispered.

"Fluttershy," he murmured, bending low towards her, and she realised he meant to kiss her. She was terrified, and yet half wanting him to do it and have it over with, so she wouldn't have to be so afraid. But he didn't do that at all. Bent so close to her face she could see her teal eyes reflected in his he said, "Tell me, my dear Fluttershy, where are you really from? Did Trixie send you? Or perhaps Celestia herself?"

She looked away from his mouth and met his eyes with her own, and dropped her terrified expression, replacing it with confusion. "I--what?"

"I will find out," He said. "However skilful your master's spell, it will have holes in it. Your - Family -" He sneered the word. " - may think they remember you, but they won't have all the things of a filly's life. An old cradle, filly clothes you've grown out from that are now worn out, or a collection of broken toy's- I won't find those things in your house, will I?"

"All my toy's were broken?" Fluttershy said helplessly. She hoped not, she loved always treasured her old toys. "They're- yes? I'm usually good at wearing out my clothes and I -"

He lifted her up and then shoved her hard against the bed again. "Don't you dare lie to me!" He hissed, "I will tear the truth out of your pretty little throat." His claws were now resting on her neck, his dragon leg between her own, and in a great burst of strength she put her hooves against his chest and shoved him off her with everything she could muster, and he fell from the bed taking her down to the floor below with him.

She had fallen on top of him, but hopped off him, matching the speed of Angel Bunny, Flying to the door. She fled for the stairs. She didn't know where she was going but she didn't care, she just ran anyway: scrambling down two flights, and he was pursuing her on all fours. He could have snapped his fingers and brought her to him, but as angry as he was, he loved a chase.

Fluttershy scrambled to a landing and ran down another dimly lit corridor to her left, and finding a room at the end with overly large doors much like her own only larger. She flung the doors open and dived in, quickly shutting it behind her and barring it up as best she could with a side table she found to her right. She stepped back and let out a small sigh of satisfaction, but her terror quickly came back as she realised HE CAN JUST TELEPORT IN!
Knowing she only had a few seconds to hide before he figured out which way she went, as he had not been far behind her, she glanced around the room she had entered looking for a hiding spot, but her terror only increased when she realised where she was. This was his room!

The room was black with a dark shade of maroon, much like his throne in the potions room. Aside from the side-table, she had pulled from the corner and another desk directly under a mahogany cabinet that had vials, although far fewer than the potions room, littered along the shelves, the entirety of the furniture was on the ceiling. With nowhere else to go she darted under the table, praying he would not be able to see her and pulling her legs to her chest.

The blockage she had made, obviously didn't work, and with a flash, he was in the room. She saw him over the edge of the one table. He paced around the table with steady steps, and as he rounded the end Fluttershy darted forward, scrambling the other way and tried to pull the side table of her silly attempt to protect herself away from the door so she could get through. Giving it a strong tug she lost her grip on it and stumbled backwards into the cabinets filled with vials and bottles of potion. One of the potions struck her back and she winced in pain, it rolled off and smashed on the floor at her hooves.

Grey smoke came up all around her and into her nose and muzzle, choking her, stilling her, she sputtered. It stung her teal eyes, and she went to rub them free of pain but found- she couldn't, she couldn't even blink, unable to move at all. Her whole body slowly froze into place, in an unflattering position on the floor.
She heard The Lords steps coming over to her, it sounded distant though, in her state, and for a moment she didn't care what he would do to her.

He stood there looking down at the used to be buttercream pegasus, now grey. The world had gone grey through her eyes too, and very still all the same. "No," he said after a moment, " - no, you can't possibly be a spy." He turned and left her there. 





After some time, he came back. Fluttershy wasn't able to guess how long he had been gone, she appeared to have no sense of time in this state and unbeknownst to her It had been half a day. He had a displeased look on his face, holding up a small knitted toy of a bunny that Fluttershy had made for Angel, that had been torn from both her affection through growing up and Angels insistence of dragging it around with him for years. "So," he said, tossing the knitted bunny to the ground, "You're not a spy, only a wimpy pegasus." And he massaged his left arm and winced as if in pain. "With a very annoying, oddly strong pet, that has an incredible temper." He continued. 

He let go of his arm and put his paw to her forehead, and she was encased in a purple aura, and as he did so, she started to see colour, breathe, and feel time again. Fluttershy's head came free and she shied away from his paw. The stone was slowly fading out of her flesh. Her front arms and hooves came loose, and she pushed them against the marble floor to try and free her own back hooves that still hadn't broken out of stone yet. He caught one of her front hoofs, however, so when she finally came to lose all the way she had no chance of flight.

Fluttershy didn't try to run, though. She figured if he wanted to do something terrible to her he would have smashed her to pieces, or left her in stone at the very least, and fortunately, he doesn't think she was some sort of spy anymore. She couldn't put her hoof on why he thought she was a spy at all, why would anyone have wanted to spy on him, much less celestial herself, he worked under her after all? 

"And now, my dear. Tell me. What were you doing with that book?" He demanded, his eyes still suspicious and cold.

"I only wanted a book to read," She said

"I know you've met Twilight and Rarity, maybe the others even, and I know she gave you an animal book, not that one."

"She- She did, I didn't- I didn't think there was any harm in another and -" She paused, only now registering his words. "The others?" She asked. But he ignored this.

"And you just happened to take Stars Swirls Summonings off the shelf for a light reading?" He said sarcastically, "And merely by chance -" Her alarmed and blank look convinced him, and he halted mid-sentence and looked at her, with agitation and wonder. "What a gift for disaster you have."

"Um- is that a good thing, to you?" She asked meekly. He scowled down at her, and then averted his gaze to the floor. Fluttershy followed his eyes downwards and looked at the smashed glass between his mismatched legs and her own hooves. He hissed his breath out between his teeth and harshly said "Clean that up and then come to the library. And don't touch anything else."

He started to stalk away and she called out to him in shock, "But can't you just snap it away?!"
Whipping his head around he shouted at her, "I COULD, BUT I THINK YOU, MY DEAR, NEED TO LEARN A LESSON! ARRIVEDERCI!" Clearly, in a temper, he wouldn't come out of anytime soon, she pouted and looked away at him in defiance. He then continued on his way, knowing well that she would comply.

With an agitated grumble, she got up and made her way to the kitchens to grab some rags and a bucket of water, and made her way back down to his room. She picked up the glass with a rag and washed his floors for good measure, even though the marble floor held no trace of any liquid. It was as if the potion had evaporated like a puddle indirect light of Celestia's sun. Fluttershy kept looking at her hooves to make sure they weren't turning into stone again. 'Why does he even have that potion?' She wondered, 'Has he ever used it on somepony else?' She shuddered and threw the washcloth down angrily into the bucket, making a small splash of dirty waterfall over her new attire.

Going to her room she collected the book that had caused all this trouble, and walked back to put it on the table she had tried to hide under and was careful not to touch anything else. At last, she made her way through the castle to meet him.

Fluttershy came into the library and didn't find him on his throne, he was pacing the floor, the book he was reading last time she had come here while he was present, was thrown to the side, neglected. He Turned to her, with an expression on his face that she couldn't read at all, and eyed her up and down.
Curious she looked down on herself as well to try and find what had the Lords interest and she frowned, guiltily, as the beautiful dress Rarity made her only this morning was stained with the dirty water that she had gotten on herself in her tiny outburst of anger, and the pink bow had been undone, a few tears here and there, obviously from the scuffle between herself and her Lord earlier.

"We'll begin with that, then." He said, gesturing at her attire. "As much as I like the new chaotic assembly of it all, I don't think it does you justice in its state." 

She tilted her head at this. was that a compliment? She shook her head, No, no it couldn't have been, he likes things chaotic, and he just said that this LOOKS chaotic, so maybe he is suggesting I'm not worthy of it? well, I don't think I owe him beauty! she continued to ponder in confusion, forgetting to address what he had just said. His ears had gone hot after saying that, mentally cursing himself for letting it slip from his tongue, not knowing where it had even come from.

No reply had come from the Pegasus, which was starting to make his temper flare again, he scratched the table at his side with his eagle talon, making it emit a loud screeching noise, much how a blunt knife would sound going down a chalkboard. This caught her attention again.

He beckoned her over, she could feel his impatience, and took a cautious step towards him; he took her hooves and crossed them over her chest, she felt the heat in her face from having his paw brush just under her neck as he did so. "Now I'm not always going to be around, my dear. so I am going to teach you how to do this to make yourself less of an embarrassment." He cupped her face gently, which made Fluttershy almost forget he had just some-what insulted her. "Now say this; Ornataurinsta." 

Fluttershy stared at him in mute rebellion. He grabbed at one of her wings painfully hard, but she gritted through the pain. She would not let him know he got to her in any way or form. "I may have to put up with your incompetence, but I won't tolerate your spinelessness," he said. "Now say it!"

Fluttershy gave in, after all, she had just been encased in stone. What else could possibly happen to her? It came from her lips in a whisper, as if being quiet would make whatever it did not work, "Ornataurinsta."

Her strength went with the words as soon as it left her mouth, and she found herself feeling extremely weak. Sinking to the floor she started breathing more heavily as if she had run or flew a great distance. The dress Rarity had amended was now of green and brown silk, its skirts pooled around her small frame and her wings had been tucked in the tight corset of the attire. Her head felt strangely heavy, she placed her hoof to the source and found the sudden weight was due to a heavily flowered headdress, a veil flowing down her back in a gold thread.

"Overdramatic much? And over nothing but a small spell again." He said over her. "At least your appearance has improved. Do try to keep yourself in a decent state from now on. Tomorrow we will try another." And with that he turned and walked away from her and sat at his throne, levitating his overly huge book over to him and started engaging in it. Fluttershy hung her head low and made her way to her room without another word.





The next few weeks came and went. Every morning now she had woken up a little before Celestia raised the sun and lay in her bed as the window brightened, wondering how her friends, family and Angel bunny was going, and what they might be up to, if they even remembered her. She scolded herself for these thoughts 'Of course they remember me, don't be such a silly filly.' Fluttershy hadn't seen Rarity or Twilight all this time and didn't quite understand why. 

On the plus side, she didn't have to take him his meals anymore, and she was starting to feel that maybe she was right, that he just wanted some company and seeing that they were seeing each other every day now he needn't have his meals delivered. Sometimes she would still see a tray outside the library empty on her way in, however, but never questioned it.

They would start with a few different spells, and she was getting quite tired of being his magical puppet, physically and emotionally. She wished he would stop channelling his magic through her, wondering why he was even doing so. All her simple dresses had slowly become elaborate and chaotically designed day by day, and they littered her room like mountains, able to stand up on their own because of all the skirts, cages and frills. Fluttershy would have much-prefered Rarity's input and found herself craving to see the fashionista again. 'Why is he using me this way?'

Feeling so drained every night she found herself imagining all the Fairy-stories, the worst of them; Vamponys and changelings drinking the life out of mares and stallions. The only comfort she had was knowing she wasn't the first mare to be taken, to have gone through this, nor was she the only one in the castle.'Others..' She recalled. 'Was he meaning the other Chaos born before her?' Who knew. She didn't have the energy to overthink it.

One day she tried to keep away entirely, hoping he would forget for just one day. She made her way to the kitchens and stayed there til Celestia sun went down, and she raised the moon. Celestia had to take on both roles since her sisters' corruption. There were rumours however that she wouldn't be able to keep this up for too long. Luna had vowed to make it eternal night all over Equestria. At least that's what the stories said. But it had been well over 200 years now and Celestia had managed to be holding well, so much so that no pony believed in a threat as great as that one. Only the terrible war that cost ponies their families and loved ones were real to them. Then it came, a Breeze, like the ones she had seen many times before floating around the forest, keeping watch for the Lord. She loved watching them from the border, They were so - cute.

It was the shape of a small equine wearing a tiny fur coat that would even be too small for one of her own dolls back home. With translucent wings, bug-like almost. Pink bushy hair and blue fur, and she swore if she looked close enough and squinted her eyes she could make out the colour of the Breezie's, a bright pink. It wandered over to the little pegasus and landed on her nose, which sent up a tickle that almost made her sneeze.

Fluttershy for the first time in a while felt excitement boil up from her stomach and greeted the little creature with much enthusiasm. "HELLO!" She yelled, not very loud albeit but it was enough to send the little bug-like equine to the floor in a gush of wind. "OH MY GOODNESS, I AM SO SORRY!" She yelled again, making the Breezie crumple to the floor again in its attempt to get up.

"Will you stop shouting! Fluttershy gaped, 'It can talk?' She had never heard a Breezie talk before. 

"I've come to collect you. The master is waiting."

"NO!" Fluttershy shouted again, only this time the Breezie braced herself, her little mane blew back wildly from her voice. The tiny equine was clearly becoming agitated.

“With all due respect,” The Breezie spat the last word bitterly, clearly not meaning respect at all, “It will be my plot he would be busting if I didn't come back with you.”

Fluttershy hung her head low, and nodded her head, defeated. With Fluttershy not saying much else, the Breezie took it as compliance and turned hoof to the corridor and made her way through, as expected Fluttershy followed. It was dark tonight, it didn't seem like the menacing stones that glowed on the wall were providing much light and that's how Fluttershy felt on the inside as of late in regards to her own happiness. 

Desperate to numb the thoughts plaguing her and dim her sadness she piped up a conversation, “So... What's your name?” She asked the Breezie in a quaking voice. The tone in her voice didn't go unnoticed by the small creature, and the Breezie looked down to the floor in a moment of sympathy.

“My names Sea Breeze.” 

“Nice to meet you...” Fluttershy said softly.

They turned down another corridor where a staircase lay, they went up it. The Breezie could feel the silence weighing heavy on the young Pegasus, and decided to play along with this charade, after all, she was a sweet mare, and Sea Breeze knew how hard the lord of chaos can be on these mares. “You must be Fluttershy, I have heard a lot about you, you are as pretty as the master says.”

Fluttershy's eyes widened. “He thinks I'm... pretty?” Fluttershy from that point was so lost in her own thoughts she hadn't realised they had reached the tower where he resided. Sea Breeze made her way through the crack of the door, which was slightly ajar. Fluttershy stood there for a moment, not wanting to go in, swallowing nervously, she finally pushed the door inwards and poked her head around the corner.

Sea Breeze was in The lord's paw, they were discussing something Fluttershy couldn't quite make out. The Lord nodded and Sea Breeze flew from his hand and out the window. The lord continued to look out the window, and without as much as a glance at Fluttershy he spoke up, “If you're going to idle by the door all night, by all means, but I won't forgo your lessons, as much as I don't like watching you flap about like an exhausted fish over the least cantrip. We've already seen the consequences of leaving you to your own devices.”

He turned to look at her, she hung her head low, however, it seemed to be out of annoyance more so than shame or sadness. He couldn't help but smirk, as he blew air from his nostrils in a small un-audible laugh. She was quite feisty for such a shy mare. A strange combination, he liked that, in fact, he didn't even mind so much when her attire got out of order per-se. But he had his reasons for doing what he did.

Fluttershy finally looked up and buckled under his gaze briefly. He seemed to be zoned out almost. What is he thinking about... what... is he looking at? She figured he must be waiting for her to do the usual spell, to gussy herself up. Reluctantly and softly she spoke, “Ornataurinsta...” 

He snapped back to reality as her attire shifted into something for an autumn Queen, wrapped in an array of orange and yellow silks. He noticed she was giving him a look as if saying ‘Happy now?’ He opened his mouth to speak but shut it just as quick. He turned to the window. “Those books on the table, to sort them into alphabetical order, say; Darendetal.”

Fluttershy looked at the books, and for the first time, didn't hesitate to do what she was asked. “Darendetal.” She mumbled. The books on the table shuddered, and one after the other they lifted and spun into place. This time, Fluttershy didn't feel as drained, she only merely gripped the edge of the table to keep her balance. He looked over at the order of the books gave a small growl in suppressed anguish. 

“Did I do something wrong?” Fluttershy asked, showing not much evidence of emotion in her voice.

“No... I've just never been fond of order.”

“Then why did you ask me to-”

“Never mind that.”

An awkward silence fell between them before he spoke up again. “That's Twilights favourite spell.” He gave a small chuckle, “She likes to keep things in order, its where we clash the most.” Fluttershy's ears perked up and her eyes widened. How was she to respond to that? 

Another silence fell upon them, this time Fluttershy was the one to break it. “I have so many questions...” She said, softly.

“Understandable,” He said, still not facing her, “Tell you what, since you managed to do one cantrip without being told, and not collapse to the floor with the second. I will answer you two questions.”

Fluttershy was stunned, she had a lot more than two to ask. She stuttered for a moment, “What does Sea Breeze do?” As soon as the question left her lips she mentally cursed herself for asking such a trivial question. Well, it wasn't trivial, she was still curious, but she should have asked about Rarity and Twilight.

“Sea Breeze isn't the only one, the Breezies work for me, they look after the forest...” Fluttershy looked on with interest as he spoke, he finally turned to face her and gestured for her to come to the window. She Hesitated, but then made her way over, her eyes never leaving his. He continued, looking back out the window. “They used to live in the forest, it wasn't so bad once, but long before you were born, 300 years ago, it became a dark place. Ponies aren't sure why, but I sensed it. The magical imbalance, I'm still not entirely sure what caused it.”

Fluttershy looked away for the eerie view and back to the Lord of Chaos. He seemed to have sorrow in his eyes, or was it stress? Whatever it was, it was a look he often didn't display. “What-” Fluttershy began before she stopped herself, that would count as a question if she had finished, and she didn't want to waste it. He laughed slightly, and for a moment she smiled too, as there was something about him laughing that suited him well. 

“Nice save.” He said with a smirk, before continuing the story. “They are quick, and aren't affected as much by the evil in the forest, They let me know if anything unusual has shown up if anything needs tending too, and lately I have been asking them to look for a particular tree for me. I took them in, so they merely do this as a favour to me, not so much as an order.” 

Fluttershy opened her mouth to ask why, but he interrupted.

“Tsk Tsk, only one more question, so choose wisely.” 

She pursed her lips in a pout, before placing a hoof under her chin in thought. “I can't decide.” She sighed. 

“You can save it for a later date if you like.” The lord suggested, with no decipherable tone in his voice. 

Fluttershy nodded. Silence filled the room again. Fluttershy looked up at him with her teal eyes sparkling, which made The lord feel like his heart had sunk to the bottom of his stomach, and he couldn't quite understand why. “Thank you for taking them in, that was... very kind of you.” 

His voice hitched in his throat and he stared at her wide-eyed. She started making her way to the door. He tried to focus his attention on the forest outside. He told himself he was still furious at her, and that he couldn't let such a conversation change his mind. His brows furrowed in concentration.

Fluttershy reached the door and had a sudden thought... a sudden urge even. She whipped around to face the back of the Draconequus. “I know what my next question is.” 

He sighed. “mmhm?”

“W-Whats... your name?” She asked, quietly. 

He stiffened and slowly turned to face this, wonderfully strange mare again. Should he answer her? No one but the mares in the castle knew of his name. None of the Chaos Born mares before this one did either, aside from Rarity. But then again it took even Rarity ages to find out. He got lost in the mare's eyes once more and visibly relaxed. 

“Discord,” He said, almost quietly, “My name is Discord.”

“Discord,” Fluttershy repeated. It felt right on her lips, like he was just like her now, maybe not a pony, but a breathing being, that has feelings. 

He felt weak when his name left her lips. After a moment he snapped himself out of it. His confusion on the events that just played out and whatever emotions he just felt made him feel... agitated. He needed her to go, he needed to breathe. This... this was too much for him for one night. “Get out.” He said sternly, which caught Fluttershy of the guard. 

Her eyes widened and became a little wet. “W-what?” Fluttershy asked, she couldn't understand, she thought... maybe she was getting through to him, that maybe he wasn't as bad as he had been seeming. 

“I didn't stutter,” he snapped “I will follow up with you on a later date, I have answered your questions and for now I am done with you.”

Fluttershy bit her lip, feeling emotional from the sudden outburst. Holding her head high and taking a deep breath, she quickly made her way out of the room to her own. Once she reached her room she flopped on the end of her bed. This was ridiculous. And yet... she couldn't stop repeating the name, softly until she went to sleep. “Discord...”
> Alone no more...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

About a week went by, and Fluttershy hadn't seen Discord. This wouldn't normally be odd, as she had tried and well, somewhat, succeeded to avoid him before. This time, however, it was as if he was avoiding her. She had taken him his meals but he was never there. If she hadn't come back to an empty tray every now and then she would think he had left the castle. 

She hadn't seen the other mares either, and she missed them. She even found herself missing him. It was quite scary in a castle with seemingly no presence. An odd, ever-changing castle at that. 

She made her way to the castle kitchens to bake some goods, to keep herself occupied. She read the animal book provided by Rarity and Twilight now twice, and she considered going back to ask for another but seeing how well that turned out last time she opted against it. Fortunately, more strange notes had been left around the kitchen every day for the past week, each short and sweet, holding different cupcake recipes to try. Always signed P.P. 

She smiled as she made her way over to the oven, where one was usually left. She opened it up with so much enthusiasm she could have ripped the iron door from its hinges if she were any stronger. Today, however, she didn't find any notes. She frowned and sat on the floor with a sigh. “This is fine,” She said aloud to nopony, trying to convince herself, “I’ll just....” She looked around for some inspiration but found none. 

“OOP! Looks like you beat me to it today!” 

Fluttershy jumped and turned around to find a lively pink mare. “Oh! H-Hi!” Fluttershy gushed in delight. She wasn't sure who this was, but her usual shy demeanour was overcome easily at the thought of finally having sompony to speak to let alone see!

“HA-HI to you too! I’m Pinkie Pie! Haven't seen you around here yet and oh my gosh I was getting so sad because I would have loved to have thrown you a welcome to the castle party but I'm not usually allowed to speak to the mares from the village and - GASP - “ Pinkie Pie finally drew in a breath. 

Fluttershy awkwardly smiled, as she did so, she had wondered if this mare was ever going to stop and catch a breath, add she had blurted all that out at lightning speed without so much as a pause. Fluttershy was about to say something when the mare, now known as Pinkie Pie, continued.

“Oh my gosh! We aren't supposed to meet you yet, but oh well,” she shrugged, “I don't have the patience for that anyway, especially since I found out you already met Twilight and Rarity, and I don't think that's very fair. Anyway, you must be Fluttershy!” Pinkie bounced over and grasped her hoof and shook it so fast Fluttershy started seeing stars.

Fluttershy shook her head to regain her vision and giggled softly. This one seemed like a bit of a wild card. “Yes, my name is Fluttershy, it's so nice to meet you, you know Rarity and Twilight too?”

“Well Duh! We all live together after all.” Pinkie said with a cheesy smile.

Fluttershy felt a bit saddened by this, but forced a small soft smile, “Why am I only just meeting you? S-sorry to ask, its just... is the castle really this big?” Fluttershy looked around the room they were in, “Wait, did you say something about not being allowed to see me? Twilight said something like that once too, now that I think of it.”

“Oh yeah, it's a long story,” Pinkie tapped her chin and hummed for a second in thought, “You know what? Buck it!” Pinkie exclaimed in delight. Fluttershy blushed from the profanity of her new friend, and she hadn't realised that Pinkie had now grabbed her by the hoof and was pulling her through the castle. 

“U-um... Excuse me...Where are you taking me?” Fluttershy stuttered nervously, trying to keep her legs up with the eccentric pink mare, lest she is dragged like a rag doll. She was incredibly fast, after all. 

“To meet the others!” Pinkie squealed.

“Others?!”

“Yes! You must be so lonely and have nopony to talk to. You being sad would make me sad, which means I won't be able to make anypony un-sad, and then sadness will consume the world and-” Pinkie paused and pressed her face against Fluttershy’s, looking her right in the eyes, “THEN EQUESTRIA WOULD BLOW UP!”

“Blow up?!” Fluttershy squeaked.

Pinkie shrugged, “Well, maybe not blow up, but I'm not going to take that chance.” And just like that Pinkie resumed pulling Fluttershy along at great speed.”





They arrived at the base of a huge tower, Pinkie bounced on the spot as Fluttershy heaved, trying to catch her breath. Not only was it hard keeping up with her new friend, but the changing staircases also didn't make the situation any easier either. “Almost lost ya there!” Pinkie said as she gave the yellow pegasus a few hearty taps on the back to help her out. “Sorry about that...” She said with a frown. 

“Its okay,” Fluttershy said as she finally pulled herself up straight and smiled, “You’re almost as fast as my best friend!” Her smile faltered... Rainbow... Oh, how she missed her. 

“Well, your friend must be really fast if she can ke-” Pinkie noticed the glint of sadness in Fluttershy's eyes quite easily. “Hey... are you okay Fluttershy?” Pinkie asked in a soft tone of voice, it was almost like it was out of character for her to speak that low.

“Yeah, I'm, okay.” Fluttershy’s eyebrows still furrowed, but she found her smile again, “What are we doing here?”

Pinkie may be an expert in all things fun and happy, but she could tell when somepony was upset, but also was able to recognise when they didn't want to talk about it. They would always tell you at the right time. Deciding not to pressure the already exhausted and lonely mare, she let it go. “Oh, I'm just here to introduce you to two others!” 

“Two... Twilight and Rarity? I've already met-”

Pinkie knocked on the door.

A mare's voice came out from behind, “Pinkie?”

“Noooooooo! You're supposed to say who's there!!” Pinkie wined. 

There was a collective sigh, before another mare's voice rang out behind the door, “Who’s there?”

“ATCH!” Pinkie yelled.

“Atch who?” 

“Gesundheit!” Pinkie laughed. Slapping her knees. 

A collective loud groan came from the behind the door. “Okay Pinkie come on in.”

Fluttershy giggled, “Oh I get it haha! That's Bless you in Germane!” 

Pinkie squealed in delight, “At least somepony appreciates my jokes!” She shouted teasingly, as she pushed the door open.

There, in the room were 3 other mares and a dragon. Twilight, who typically had her head stuck in a book, Rarity, who was threading some expensive looking silks into a design of sorts, and another she hadn't met before, the baby dragon must be the one Discord took so long ago as a messenger and general assistant. Fluttershy had wondered when, if ever, she would run into him, and oh he was just ADORABLE! He was sound asleep and had surprisingly not woken from the noise. She had almost forgotten that there was another mare there, one she hadn't met. They appeared to be glaring at Pinkie, and For a second the whole room was in silence. Fluttershy almost turned tail and made a run for it, as she already felt that maybe, with the expressions they were giving. Pinkie was not supposed to have taken her here. 

Rarity was first to break the tension, “Fluttershy!! Darling! It is so good to see you again!” she trotted over to the nervous pegasus and gave her a genuine hug. Rarity had wondered how the poor dear was doing since the incident and tried to check on her to make sure no harm was done. But each time Discord had reassured her that all was fine and demanded her to stay away for a while. 

Normally Rarity wasn't one to listen to Discord, she had known him so long she almost considered him a friend. Which is still odd, considering they had known each other for almost 200 years now, and they should be close friends by normal pony standards by now. But alas, they were not normal by any means, and she dared not try to bond too much, as he had never been the one to want a friend anyway. It didn't bother Rarity. But no, it was Twilight who made the extra effort to ensure Rarity stuck to his demands. She had been here a little longer after all and always listened to orders. 

Fluttershy felt a lot better, knowing at least Rarity and Pinkie was happy for her to be here. c“Fluttershy, this is Applejack and Spike!” Pinkie introduced, and then whispered in Fluttershy's ear, “Spikes the baby dragon.” 

“Well,” Applejack started, “Howdy there Sugar cube.” She nervously chuckled, before turning to Pinkie Pie in a harsh whisper, “What the hay do you think you’re doing Pinkie?!”

“Seconded. I'm wondering that too.” Twilight stated a sense of authority about her.

“Oh Relax! I just thought she needed some friends, she already met more than half of us anyway, I ran into her by accident. I have been leaving her some super duper slamming cupcake recipes, and today she just happened to get there before I did!” 

“It's been you?! O-OH OF COURSE! P.P IS PINKIE PIE!” Fluttershy confirmed in delight.

Pinkie beamed from ear to ear “YOU GUESSED IT!”

Twilight sighed and stood up from her book, making her way over to Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. “What has Discord said about us socialising with the village mare?” Twilight asked Pinkie in what could only be described as a condescending tone. Pinkie frowned and opened her mouth to speak, as did Rarity, but something in Fluttershy snapped.

“That's it!” Fluttershy shouted, grabbing everyponies attention in the room, slightly taking them back it would seem, due to their slack jaw expressions. “I have been taken from my friends and family. Used for Celestia knows what! I have done things I've never thought I could do without understanding why. I don't know why you are all here, as I have never heard of there being any other ponies in this castle. Rarity should be dead as far as I know. I don't know what Discord wants with me let alone anypony else. WHY CANT I SEE OR TALK TO ANY OF YOU?! I WANT ANSWERS!” Fluttershy gasped for breath, at her wit's end, and had practically screeched the last part. 

It was if time stood still. No one had been around Fluttershy for too long, and heck, one had never even met her before, but they all knew this wasn't and shouldn't be her regular tone and manner. This poor mare. They fell into sympathy and shame. Of course, she'd be afraid and confused, and how have they treated her? By shutting her out. For what they believed good reason. But for once they all silently agreed... she needs to know. She needed some answers. Who were they to deny that?

“Okay,” Twilight said, solemnly. 

“We will tell you all that we can.” Applejack finished.

The rest murmured in agreement. 

“I suppose I shall start with... how I got here, more specifically, why I'm still here.” Rarity began. “It all started....”
> Tales of woe, A jewel and a Pie.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rarity took in some air, she had the floor, a sweat droplet ran down her forehead. The others looked on, they had heard this story before, but they were never prepared to hear it again, given that their own was so similar. Spike still lay slumbering in the corner. “It all started when the way came, the one where every 10 years he chose a mare to stay with him. I was not the first, but I was probably the 9th or 10th, I am unsure.” Rarity turned away from her friends and gazed out the tall window. 

“I didn't want any part in the nonsense. I had lost my family in a fire and had plans on opening my own boutique in the kingdom of Canterlot. Many came from all over to buy my designs. I had found my talent in having to fashion clothes for my little sister Sweetie Belle after we lost... well.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “I always did my best to make it as elegant as possible, it was one of the only things that made us feel we were not poor and homeless. They say dress for the life and job you want. So that's what we did.”

Rarity took another moment of silence, “I tried to run.”

The others heads hung low, Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “Run from the lord, the taking?” The young pegasus questioned.

“Yes, but...” 

Rarity started sobbing. Fluttershy began to feel guilty, she didn't realise that it would have been as painful as the others as it had been for her.

“I never told my sister of what might become of me, I don't even think she knew of this new found law. She was young, but we were all we had left. I couldn't leave her, she needed me, so In the night before the taking, I gathered my sister Sweetie Bell from her bed...”





“Rarity? W-Whats going on?” A young unicorn filly yawned. She had light pink hair, white fir and had not yet gotten her cutie mark, “Where are we going?”

“Shhh,” Rarity hushed her little sister lovingly, “We are just... going on an adventure. We are going to Canterlot to finally open that boutique, and it cannot wait till morning I'm afraid.” Rarity said, sadly as she pulled the covers from her filly sister.

“You mean it!?” The young Filly said, now slowly starting to wake with excitement. 

“Yes Sweetie Belle, our new life awaits!” Rarity feined an enthusiastic smile. Though her heart was torn. It was dangerous to leave at night, and she knew it. But since the law was still fairly new, the head mayor at the time of the town personally escorted each of the selected mares to the taking in the morning. Rarity would have done this sooner. but running away from this responsibility is considered a crime. Rarity was at a loss. She was desperate. What would become of her sister if she was chosen?

They came to the edge of the forest after hastily packing what few items they could. Sweetie Bell hid behind her older sister, ears flat against her head, the Everfree forest was terrifying. “Can't we wait till daylight?” Sweetie asked, “We could take the train and-”

“No!” Rarity said, panicked. “We must go tonight, to get the best chance at our new life.” Rarity said more softly.





Fluttershy gasped, “You didn't? Did you?” She asked with dread and sadness.

“I did...” Rarity answered, shamefully. “Back then the rumours of the forest were still fresh, the Everfree had only just become truly malicious, and even though there were stories, even rumours of which involved the royals, that is all they were at the time... Rumours.”

Twilight flinched at that part. Though nopony seemed to notice.

“I was selfish,” Rarity continued bitterly, “and it cost my sister.”





“Well if you're okay with it then I am!” Sweetie Belle stated proudly. It was true. She believed her sister would not do anything to harm either of them. All they had was each other since the death of their family. Sweetie was feeling so brave she pressed forward without warning.

“Sweetie wait!” Rarity cried, chasing after her.

Sweetie Bell stopped beside a fallen log and giggled, “Sorry, guess I'm just excited. I am wide awake now!” Rarity sighed with relief that she had managed to keep up, she noticed her little sister looking to the sky. The trees were close together, but in this area of the forest, there was just enough gap in the treetops to see the stars. “Is it just me, or do the stars look prettier from inside the woods?” Sweetie Belle said softly, trying her best to hold in a yawn, but it didn't work. Proving she hadn't been exactly honest when she had told her older sister she was wide awake now.

Rarity felt calm suddenly, this was a good idea. she thought to herself, as she followed her sister's gaze and took in the breathtaking view. She looked back to her sister, who had fallen asleep against the log. Rarity smiled and picked her up and gently lifted her onto her back. Rarity started walking. I knew we could get through anything.

Rarity walked for an hour or so, it would still be a few till they reached the other end of the forest, but still, she was so close. Little did she know her chest began to glow. She was too busy relaxing to the heartbeat of her darling little sister on her back. 

Rarity began to grow weary, lost in her own thoughts when a snap suddenly jolted her back to reality. Her own Heartbeat raced. She did her best to keep composed and treaded more carefully, and quietly. muttering to herself that it was just a breeze, a fallen branch, anything she could think of that would make a rational explanation than her darkest fears.

After a while, she heard nothing, and that is when she started to calm down. But that moment didn't last long, as once her own heartbeat slowed she realised... she couldn't feel another.

“SWEETIE?!” Rarity screeched as she turned to see her little sister was no longer on her back. How could this be? How could she not feel the sudden drop in weight? Rarity ran frantically in the direction of where she came, “SWEETIE?!”

A blood-curdling scream came from in the dark wood. Rarity Wailed as she recognised the sound as her little sisters cry. “IM COMING!! WHERE ARE YOU?!” Rarity ran towards the sound, a few more screams rang out, each getting more distant, though she was sure she was running in the right direction, it seemed that she still wasn't fast enough for whoever or whatever had her sister. 

“RARITY!!! PLEASE! HELP ME!!”

It was faint, but she heard it, and her heart dropped, she picked up speed, her eyes were stinging from the tears, wind and twigs that occasionally scraped her. But that was the last sound she heard. The last sound of her sister she would ever hear again, the world and forest around her grew silent. She cried out to her many more times, panting she collapsed to the ground. Trying to drag herself forward. But she eventually drifted off into darkness. The only thing that mattered to her was gone.





“I woke up in the morning in my bed, I don't know how I got there, but I wish the forest had taken me too. I don't know why it didn't. for a moment I thought I had a bad dream. I ran to check on Sweetie Belle, but she wasn't there. I searched high and low... nothing.”

“I'm so sorry...” Fluttershy said, choking on a sob of her own. 

Rarity gave her a faint smile before her features turned into a frown once again. “The next thing I knew the mayor came to fetch me. I didn't get ready that day, and the mayor and the rest of the mares despised me for it. They figured it was an attempt to not get chosen, that I wasn't playing fair. I’d never do that.”

Pinkie growled lightly, “UGH! I am so darn mad at how mean they were to you, The-The big MEANIE HEADS! You would be generous enough to give everypony a chance.”

Rarity finally cracked a genuine smile, it was hard to not at anything Pinkie said. 

“They were mean to you?” Fluttershy asked

“Well, they didn't take kindly. They said some things in the cart, which made me do a once over of myself and I found I still had cuts and bruises all over me. Would you believe they thought I would go that far to make myself unpresentable?!” She spat bitterly and stomped her hoof on the floor. “Well, it didn't matter to the lord, he took me, and I had no reason to fight it. Everyone hated me now, all the mares and their families and coltfriends. I lost my sister, my family, my life. All because I tried to avoid it, to begin with.” 

Applejack moved over to Rarity and nuzzled her shoulder. “It ain't your fault sugar cube. You were just trying ta do what was best. A poor judgment, but how could ya have known?” 

Rarity looked to Fluttershy. “He was a lot meaner, you know, yet, more lively. I miss that part of him. His jokes were a bit...uncivilized at times but at least he made them more often back then. It was almost as if he lost himself when he found out I had a special power.” 

“What... power is it anyway? Do all of you have it?” 

The mares nodded. “We have a little of what was written in a book, a book he can hardly read. He isn't too sure if it's directly connected with this power. But it has a small effect of this power.” 

“And what is the effect?”

“The Everfree forest doesn't appear to harm us as much as others.” Rarity answered, bluntly, yet softly.

Fluttershy’s was stunned. “But... oh dear, I am even more confused.

Rarity giggled. “This new power, I and the others apparently possess, or so he says. Has provided a small cure for afflictions and diseases caused by the Everfree forest.” 

The young yellow pegasus gasped. “The chocolate milk elixer!”

“Yes, he takes a bit of our DNA, with our permission, and he has been able to make a small cure. Which is what was used not too long ago I believe for a big occasion.”

“The green Summer.”

“Yes, and a few times since then... in small cases too. But even the elixer cant save everypony. Those that get lost in the forest will already have become too far gone for such a cure. I didn't know this... or at least I didn't accept it. I always thought that if I found my sister, if she was afflicted by this curse of the forest, whatever it had done to her, I would still try to cure it. Even if the lord- ahem- Discord, told me otherwise.” Rarity stared blankly at the wall, “But I never found her, or heard anything of an appearance of her. With nothing else to lose, I decided to stay. I had no reason to go, and if it helped him find a cure or way to destroy whatever dark magic this forest is under that affects all creatures, or even one day find out what happened to my sister... well, it was an easy choice.”

“I am so sorry...” Fluttershy said sincerely, as she made her way over to comfort one of her best friends in the castle thus far. 

“We still don't know why we haven't aged, neither does he. For a moment Discord thought his immortality was rubbing off on us.” 

“None of you have aged?”

“Well, Rarity is the only one that's been here for a lot longer than she should have been. Twilight even more so. Other than that we are all, as far as we are aware, in our current life expectancies.” Applejack stated, “Though I gotta admit, yall look like ya haven't aged a darn day!”

“How long have you all been here?”

Pinkie bounced up to the small crowd that had formed by the window, a light from an unknown source hit her, and she held a violin and softly started to play, “Guess it's my turn for story time huh!” 

The mares looked at Pinkie questioningly, and she tossed the violin behind her. “Oh okay, I guess I could lose the props.” She shrugged. “I had packed my bags for Ponyville. I was planning on starting a business, a little bakery. Rock farming wasn't for me...” Her hair deflated. “I miss my family, I told them I would write to them, I wonder if they even know.”

“I have heard stories about you I think!” Fluttershy said.

“You have?” Pinkies hair suddenly bounced back to its usual curly manner, but she maintained a questioning look.

“Yes, and rest assured it is believed you were taken by the forest, so... I know it isn't much help but, I'm sure your family doesn't believe you left them on purpose.” Fluttershy tried her best to give her new friend a little hope and reassurance, after all, what she said was true. “So how did you escape and end up here?”

“Well, I braved the forest, my answer to fear is to laugh through it all, you should try it sometime! Only... it didn't work that time. A tree branch grabbed me, but suddenly let go. I ran, I wasn't sticking around to ask a tree why it was so interested in me ya know?” Pinkie laughed nervously. “I ran till I got lost... Timberwolves were AFTER ME AS WELL!” Pinkie grabbed Fluttershy by the shoulders and shook her like a rag doll. “I came to a castle, and Rarity was the one to find me...”





There was a pounding at the door, Rarity, who was walking above on the second story hear the thuds. A storm was raging that night, and she shuddered. “Probably just the wind...” Then the pounding came again. Rarity carefully made her way down the steps and to the door. Her delicate hoof reached out to touch it, but she hesitated and quickly withdrew it. She stood there for sometime when a crack of thunder jolted her to the core. The pounding came again, this time more frantic, and she could even hear... yelling? Over the heavy rain.

“Please, SOMEPONY!!” A voice screeched. “I DONT WANNA DIEEEEE, A FUNERAL IS NOT A PARTY I WANNA ATTEND LET ALONE BE THE GUEST OF HONOUR!” 

Rarity swung the door open and a Pink soaked to the bone mare fell inside. The mare quickly got up and shut the door, locking it behind her and panting, some howls were heard close by. For good measure Rarity pulled a couch the door to bar it even further. “OH GOODNESS, YOU POOR DEAR, WHAT HAPPENED?” 

The strange mare chuckled nervously and held out her hoof, panting still. “H-Hi,” She said as enthusiastically as she could, “Pinkie Pie, nice to meet ya! You...” She finally took a deep breath and calmed herself, “You wouldn't happen to know which direction Ponyville is do ya?”

Rarity stuttered slightly... “Well, y-yes I do, indeed. Oh but darling you couldn't possibly go back out there why don't you stay the night an-”

“What is the meaning of this?! Rarity...Who is this mare?!” came a booming voice from the top of the stairs of which the unicorn had just descended.

“Discord!” Rarity cried, alarmed.

Discord slowly descended himself, menacingly. “And what, pray tell, made you think I would allow guests over?”

“I didn't, she was lost in the forest and oh she is soaked to the bone and-”

“What?!” Rarity, get behind me. Discord commanded though she didn't have time to move before Discord dragged her behind himself. “She needs to leave... she must be corrupted it is too late for-” He paused, and realised the Pink mare's chest had a soft glow eliminating from it, which was now slowly fading. 

Discord summoned a glass of chocolate milk and passed it to the new mare. “Drink this.” He demanded.

Pinkie took a small sniff of the concoction, it smelt sweet, like chocolate. For some reason she didn't have any suspicion, she just downed the glass enthusiastically. “MMM!” She hummed in delight, “Could have used some whipped cream or something but I ain't complaining!”

Discord let out a small sigh of relief and even laughed slightly. "I'll make a mental note of that, it's a splendid idea!" He looked her over, “No pains, no sweating... no uncontrollable urge to do unspeakable things?” He asked her, his tone turning serious. 

Pinkie thought for a second as Rarity frantically turned her head back and forth between the two. “Nope!” She answered happily, “Though I don't see what the fuss is about?”

"What a shame!" Discord laughed, Rarity smacked him on the arm, demanding seriousness. he had half a mind to toss her into another dimension for that. but no, instead he calmed himself and stared at the pink mare sceptically. Another roar of thunder shook the castle. “You're not gonna send her back out there are you Discord?” He stopped and thought for a second. “Don't you dare!” Rarity said harshly. 

“She can stay. I want to keep her under observation tonight anyway. Give her the room in the west wing. Perhaps stays with her.” Discord looked over them once more before muttering “I have work to do.” With that, he turned tail and disappeared down the hallway.

“What was that about? What the frickity frackity is he anyway?” 

Rarity burst into laughter. “That is the Lord of chaos!?” She said through breaths of air. “You didn't know?” 

“Nah, who the hay? News doesn't travel fast when you live on a rock farm. We only know about Princess Celestia and her sister Luna really. 

Rarity couldn't believe it. How could anypony not know of the most powerful being in all Equestria? It was quite refreshing. “Come, let me show you to your room...”





Well, we had a bit of a slumber party that night,” Pinkie gushed, That's when she told me of her sister and such and her role in the castle.” 

“Back then he didn't have overly too much of an issue on communication.” Rarity said.

“After that, he came the next day, asked me to stay a while longer, so one slumber party turned into two. I felt bad, my bakery was waiting and... well the last day he told me he sensed something in me and asked me to stay. I refused, I had to go to the bakery. So he sent me on a safer path to Ponyville.” 

Fluttershy tilted her head slightly, “Oh? What made you come back?”

“Well, I didn't really have a choice you see... word travels faster in a small town than it ever did in the rock farm when I didn't show up to run the store, they had found out I had taken a path into the forest to get there. I wasn't aware that once you go in, you're kinda considered a goner. You know how they say you come back different and... darker? Well, once I was heading on my way into town, I was attacked by a stallion pony, who recognised my description. He thought I was evil, no longer Pinkie. I had to run back to the castle. Back then the brew that Rarity and Discord were working on hadn't been made public yet. So for my own safety and the doubts of others. I decided to stay and help in any way I could. 

Pinkie twiddled with her own hooves, “Not as tragic as Rarity's or Applejacks story, but, well, that's why I'm here.”

“Well, I'm sad for you,” Fluttershy said, making her way over to Pinkie. 

Pinkie waved it off nonchalantly, “Appreciated but don't be,” She gave them all a sincere grin. “I do actually like being here. It can be a bit boring but, if I can make all of you smile through everything you've gone through, I feel I need to be here in more ways than one!”

“She really does liven up the place!” Rarity happily stated, which caused another round of agreements from the mares, which stirred Spike from his slumber. Fluttershy was already beginning to feel more comfortable.

Spike yawned and rubbed his head with his claw, his eyes adjusting to the light. “That woke you up? Really?” Twilight teased playfully. Spike shrugged, he went to get up and stretch when he noticed an odd arrange of colours he hadn't seen before... another mare. 

“Hey who's this? OH WAIT! Guys what are you doing?! I'm still in Discords bad books from last week and I really don't need this hanging over my head as well.” He whined. 

“Oh, would ya relax Spike, poor lass jus’ wanted some company is all.” Applejack reassured Spike.

Spike thought for a moment before sighing. “Well if you're alright with it Applejack...”

“Of course I am, would I ever lie to ya?”

The young Drake shook his head. He started to resume stretching when he was suddenly pushed down by a hard lovingly nuzzle. “Oh my gosh! You're still a baby dragon? You are soooooo cute!!” Fluttershy cooed, causing Spike to blush and push his chest up with pride. “W-well, I'm not really a baby anymore, I just develope slowly as I'm a dragon, and even slower than normal dragon standards too. Its a bit of a double blow if you ask me. Technically in Dragon age is in my 20’s.”

Fluttershy, although believing this to be true, still couldn't help but fawn over him, and he was loving every second of it.

A small cough from Applejack got the attention of everyone in the room, she had a blush on her own cheeks for some reason. She quickly turned her face away from Fluttershy and Spike in what could only be assumed as an attempt to hide it. “We’ve been telling our stories on how we got here and.... well, I guess it's my turn.” She said, trying to get back on track and stop this odd feeling washing over her.