GREEN
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1640 9.9 KB 166
1640 9.9 KB 166
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x by Escapade
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>”Do it again! Do it again!”
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>…
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>You are Nightmare Moon.
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>Empress of the Equestrian Empire.
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>…
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>And currently, you find yourself sitting in your study, reading a military report regarding recent actions in the Badlands.
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>Or at least, that is what you /were/ doing.
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>”Oh ho! ho! Where’d the flowers go?”
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>As you sit on your reading cushion, your eyes and ears can’t help but wander to the sight before you.
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>Midnight Melancholy is cheerfully playing with her favorite friend.
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>Discord.
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>The Spirit of Chaos.
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>...
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>”It’s behind your back Uncle Dissy!”
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>You smile, watching Melancholy enjoy herself.
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>”Oh, I don’t /think/ so!!”
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>The draconequus reaches behind Melancholy’s ear, and pulls a comically large, colorful bouquet of flowers into view.
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>Melancholy’s eyes light up as Discord giggles.
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>”How’d you do that Uncle Dissy?”
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>He hands her the bouquet, which she pulls tight, and sniffs.
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>”I can’t say — A /real/ magician doesn’t give away all his secret!”
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>As she inhales the undoubtedly sweet smelling air, she smiles.
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>”Thank you so much! Can I keep them!?”
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>”I promise I’ll take good care of them! Honest!”
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>Discord looks briefly toward you as Melancholy once again buries her full face into the flowers.
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>Certainly unbecoming of a proper mare, but at her age, forgivable.
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>He nudges his head toward the flowers, clearly asking for an answer to her question.
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>You nod.
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>He smiles, and turns back to Melancholy.
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>”I think you can this time! But make sure you put them in chocolate milk, or they’ll get all dry and ugly!”
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>You take a breath, before looking back down at the report in hand.
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>Taming Discord has been a wonderfully beneficial decision.
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>Being Empress, it’s difficult for you to find the time to fully care for and entertain Midnight Melancholy’s foalish energy.
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>Countless meetings, briefings, and court sessions steal the majority of the night from your grasp.
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>Discord however, had no such obligations.
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>Instead, he seemed to /thrive/ off of Midnight’s enthusiasm.
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>On numerous occasions you’ve found Melancholy, having expended all her energy even before bedtime, tucked tightly against Discord; his body curled into a impromptu sleeping cushion.
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>His malleable form could be wonderfully soft and warm if he wished; a skill which he used to ease Melancholy into sleep on any number of occasions.
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>From the corner of your eye, you see Discord rubbing his chin.
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>”Now… where could we put these flowers…”
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>Getting an idea, he snaps his fingers, and seemingly out of thin air, a small vase appears.
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>”How about this?”
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>Intrigued, you look up at the pottery in question.
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>…
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>Your gaze narrows as you realize exactly which vase he chose.
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>The shape and patterns are instantly recognizable.
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>/You/ made that vase centuries ago — before your banishment.
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>He uses his magic and pulls it close, grasping it in his hands, and holding it before Melancholy.
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>”Careful now, you won’t want to break your auntie’s vase…”
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>With abundant caution, Melancholy tilts her head, grasping stems of the flowers in her mouth, as she carefully places them into the contain.
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>…
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>Perhaps you didn’t have a use for that particular piece anyways.
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>Having placed the flowers into the vase, she lets go, and looks at her work.
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>”It’s so pretty!”
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>Her eyes fill with awe as she stares at the surprisingly simple bouquet.
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>Discord quickly spawns a cup of chocolate milk, and pours it into the vase as well.
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>As it settles in the vase, you feel his magic activate once again, presumably changing it back into water.
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>”There we go! Now — me put this somewhere safe…”
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>He snaps his fingers, and instantly, the vase disappears.
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>For nearly an hour, Discord entertained Melancholy as you read your evening’s set of paperwork.
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>Being the Spirit of Chaos, Discord was… surprisingly creative with his antics.
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>From hosting a tea party and creating balloon art, to placing Melancholy in bubble and playing pin-the-tail-on-the-dragon.
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>The list of activities was nearly endless.
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>Of course, in typical Discordian fashion, his “list of activities” was kept on a physical list, which was, to the best of your understanding, very well organized.
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>Everyday he would read from the same scroll, and cross of an activity after having completed it with his little friend.
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>As one activity was crossed off, another would appear at the bottom to take it’s place.
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>Surprisingly, each item seemed to keep Melancholy entertained and excited.
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>…
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>While the two did create a substantial amount of ruckus, with the assistance of muting spells, you were able to do your work in peace.
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>Instead, the provided the occasional moment of refreshing reprieve.
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>Whenever Octavia would deliver a snack, or a cup of coffee, you would take the moment to simply sit, and observe.
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>As Empress, and Melancholy’s feminine role model, it would be improper of you to frequently participate in such activities; lest she misunderstand the manners expected of a proper mare.
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>However, even simply watching them play brought you a certain degree of happiness.
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>No doubt you’ve inherited that from your sister.
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>Luna was always fond of foals, and took special care to ensure their wellbeing.
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>And with Melancholy, that concern was even more pronounced.
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>You were responsible for her finding proper courtship.
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>You were the one her permitted her to continue her bloodline, and experience the essence of a higher stallion.
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>This foal; Melancholy, was a much a product of your oversight as she was a product of Octavia’s womb.
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>To see your favorite foal happy brought you a sense of pride — of hope.
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>/This/ plan, however minor it may be, was successful.
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>…
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>You can only hope the same holds true for your Empire.
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>Time passes.
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>You turn the last page of your briefing andy gently close the folder; laying in next to the candlestick, which is coated in the freshly melted wax.
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>You glance over at your now cold coffee, and quickly flash it warm again.
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>As you bring the cup to your lips, you look up, and see a familiar sight.
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>Melancholy, gently sleeping against Discord’s side, as his body surrounds her, forming a small ring on the carpet.
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>Quietly, you stand, and walk toward the mixture of fur and scales before you.
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>Looking down, you stop for a moment, and just… watch.
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>…
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>The coffee warms your mouth as you take a long, yet shallow sip.
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>Both of them look peaceful, their sides slowly rising and falling with each breath.
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>Discord’s body was in an almost protective position around the filly, as if somehow expecting an imminent in your private quarters.
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>Melancholy’s flank is tucked underneath Discord’s jaw, his snout laying gently on her side.
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>Her breaths cause small ripples in his fur, and moves his small, delicate tail feather.
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>No doubt they could sleep through the evening here if permitted.
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>But unfortunately, that was not an option.
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>…
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>You gently nudge Discord with your hoof.
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>Instantly, his eyes shoot open, and look toward the filly in his grasp.
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>Realizing she’s not awake, he slowly look toward your hoof, the source of the disturbance, and then up toward you.
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“Come, we have work to tend to.”
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>The reports mentioned that you’ve captured a high ranking officer from the Badlands, one who is believed to have caused a number of attacks over the last few months.
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>Certainly he had information which would be of use to your guard.
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>Discord’s eyes narrow, and nods gently, before looking toward Melancholy.
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>Slowly, he cradles her body in magic, before uncoiling himself, and levitating to the left of your shoulder.
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“How was she today?”
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>Both of you are now looking at Melancholy, who is floating a few hooves off the ground.
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>With Midnight asleep, Discord’s voice is significantly calmer.
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>”She was fine…”
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>You smile.
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”Oh?”
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>He nods.
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>”We made a house of cards, and colored on my scales…”
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>He does a small roll, revealing what appears to be paint on his side.
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>You snort gently.
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“Such tasteless tendencies you have.”
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>Instead of his usual witty reply, you notice him take a breath, as if uncertain if he should speak.
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>Out of interest, you look toward his serpentine form.
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”There is something you wish to say…”
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>He thinks for a moment, eyes locked on Melancholy.
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>”She said that she’d like to play with you more often.”
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>You turn, and look at Midnight as she sleeps.
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>”She wanted to have a tea party…”
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>He pauses.
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>”I tried to have one — to make her happy — but I could tell that she wanted…”
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>You interrupt.
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“Our Empire is in difficult times; certainly you know that.”
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>He shakes his head.
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>”I don’t care about the /Empire../ — all /I/ care about is Melancholy…”
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>You look at your servant, and then back to Midnight.
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>”She looks up to you…”
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>…
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>…
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“She… wanted to have tea with us?”
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>You curse your weak voice.
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>He grins and nods; his energy instantly returning.
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>”A tea party!! with cupcakes and candy, and-“
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>You speak, your tone much more confident and firm, silencing him before his ignorance woke the filly from her rest.
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“We shall arrange for afternoon tea tomorrow, before supper…”
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>His looks up, before offering a more reserved, gentle smile.
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>”I’m sure she’ll enjoy it.”
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>You snort.
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>No doubt her manners will be appalling and crude.
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>You shall make sure that her etiquette instructors address this topic in the morning.
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>…
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“Lay her to bed and return; we wish for your assistance with this new guest of ours…”
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>You can see a darker, much more predatory grin creep onto his face.
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>”Can I play with him /before/ you ask questions this time?”
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>You chuckle.
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”Such tasteless tendencies…”
by grapenut