>The click of shoes and the clack of hooves against a crystal floor echo through the hall as you rub the sleep from your eyes >Nearly every part of you wishes you had stayed in bed >It would be useful to just lay there and do nothing as you try to come to terms with your current situation >You've been thrown ass over tea kettle into a new dimension and it was difficult to get used to, to say the least >Currently you're making your way through your new eye sore of a temporary abode to get some breakfast >"Anon, once again I can't apologize enough for what I did" >You're pulled from your thoughts by the walking talking purple alicorn, Twilight Sparkle, human kidnapper extraordinaire "Twilight, how many times have you apologized to me since I got here?" >Despite your teasing tone Twilight takes the question and runs with it "36 times or thereabouts, I'm still a little hazy on how many I sputtered out when I first summoned you" >Pressing a hand to your tired face you rub the sleep from your eyes and chuckle >She was kind of cute when she rambled like that >The thought cuts as quickly as it appeared, leaving you no time to process it >"Honestly though Anon, I'm glad you don't hate me for what I did. I would never have cast that spell if I knew it would have dragged you here." >That makes 37 >"Though thank Celestia that, out of everypony that could have summoned you, it was me, who knows how hurt a poor stallion like you could have gotten if the wrong mare got their hooves on you" >There it is, that strange role reversal that this world adheres to >Apparently all their males are limp wristed gossip mongers >Finally reaching the double doors to the kitchen you reassure Twilight as you open the doors >Expecting to be stopped by the weight of the doors you stumble slightly when your outstretched arm meets open air >Before your hand could reach the handle both doors were enshrouded in a purple aura and opened wide >Looking down to Twilight with a raised eyebrow she extends her hoof towards the kitchen "Stallions first" >If it weren't for her genuine smile you'd think she were mocking you >You simply shake your head and make your way to the table, where a pre-stacked pile of pancakes awaited >Throwing a glance around the room you see no sign of Spike, Twilight's little helper >Shame, he was the one guy you'd met in this world who didn't come off as a tool >Then again the only other guy, or stallion, you'd met was Caramel >Talk about a diva >"I'm still looking into that spell that brought you here Anon, if I can replicate it and reverse engineer it, I should be able to find a counterspell to send you home" >With a flap of her wings, Twilight sat herself in front of her own stack of pancakes >Once more her horn lit up with a purple aura >This time her target was a punnet of berries and a tube of cream >Loading up her stack with a generous helping of both she’s quick to dive into her meal >You on the other hand, preferred something more viscous with pancakes >Hoping that Spike didn't have a system for his storage you haphazardly rummage through the cabinets in search of some syrup >After a minute of searching each cabinet you're ready to give up until a quick flash and pop makes your head snap to a particular shelf >Before you sat an unassuming bottle of golden brown liquid >Double checking you didn't just have a stroke you shrug it off and grab the syrup >Twilight is already on her last pancake before you even sit down >Just barely stifling a chuckle at how fast one pony can eat you pop open the bottle and squeeze >Once again you check that you're not having a stroke >As the golden brown falls out of the bottle it begins to solidify and a grey liquid replaces it >Blue, yellow and red, about a dozen different coloured liquids appear in the bottle before oozing out and solidifying in mid air >As the mass of jumbled colours float in mid air they begin to compress and stretch into shape >At this point Twilight has forgotten about her food and her eyes slowly turn to pinpricks as the mass takes form >With a spin and a flash of sparkles the former syrup has taken a form you could only describe as a Picasso painting come to life >A lion's paw, an eagle's talon, and a goat's hoof to name a few of her features >You're 95% sure it's female at least, this new visitor's body is noticeably lithe with a slender face >Her eye's immediately lock onto you and she coils herself up like a spring before gently uncoiling as she approaches you >With Twilight stunned into silence you say the first thing that comes to mind "You're not syrup" >The creatures halts mid hover as she processes your words >Her previously stoic face cracks into a slight grin before she bursts into a bout of laughter >Quickly composing herself she simply shakes her head >"No, no I am not, however" approaching you once more she shifts her body so that her tail arcs up and around to rest on top of her head, gently brushing against your face "I can be just as sweet if you like" >The only word that comes to mind as she looks at you is sultry >However before you can retort her face begins to contort before she sneezes due to the tip of her tail brushing her nose >As she recoils from her own tail it flicks you in the nose as well, causing you to sneeze as well >Finally snapping out of her shock Twilight leaps to her hooves >"DIS- cord?" >Her brief flash of anger is replaced by confusion as she does a double and triple take on the new guest >"Oh me, oh my, are my ears burning?" >Another voice echoes through the kitchen before the table starts to shift >Acting fast you swipe your plate off the table before you lose your uneaten breakfast >The table shifts to life and another entity similar to the first appears >This one's definitely a dude though >The beard is a dead giveaway >Glancing between the two, you note that the female is considerably younger >The coat of fur covering her head has a pristine silver sheen and her torso's fur is the same golden brown syrup colour >Meanwhile the newcomer's coat is noticeably more matted and its color is dulled >"Oh, sorry, my mistake, it's just you" The newcomer waves his arm at Twilight, whose ears are literally on fire >With a yelp Twilight's horn revs to life and a glob of water materializes above her, drenching her and dousing her ears >Growling at the two new chuckling entities, Twilight visibly suppresses her anger >"Discor-" >"Oh where are my manners!" planting his lion's paw against Twilight's lips, Discord, turns to you "I haven't even introduced myself. Discord's the game, chaos is my name" >With a bow that detaches his torso from his legs he holds out his remaining appendage to you >You only hesitate slightly before taking the talon in your hand "Don't you mean Discord's your-" >This time you're the one cut off as he presses his talon to your mouth "Yes, yes Discord, Chaos all the same really" >With a flash of purple light, Discord is teleported to the corner of the room where he collapses into a mess of limbs >It'd be obvious to anyone that Twilight was close to blasting a hole in Discord's chest >Though with what you've seen, you'd be surprised if that would work >"Discord. What are you doing here?" Finally getting a question out, Twilight noticeably relaxes >The sound of legos clicking together ring out as Discord slots his limbs back in their sockets >"Oh Twilight, please, you're seriously telling me that, after you shanghai'd a creature from another dimension" after mentioning shanghai Discord appears in a stereotypical chinese outfit "you actually thought I wouldn't come snooping?" >"But that doesn't explain how you even knew he was here-" as the two devolve into their back and forth they seemingly forget about you >Of course the other guest hasn't >In fact you're pretty sure she hasn't stopped looking at you since she got out of the syrup bottle >As she nonchalantly floats over to you, you try and relax but she seems intent on making that impossible >Stretching out her talon she gently swipes at your hair with a claw >You wordlessly move away but her talon simply detaches at the wrist and follows you >As one of her claws begins twirling one of your hairs you shoot a glance at her >She simply winks at you before propping herself up on her paw "You wanna try squeezing me next to see what comes out?" >Various images flash through your mind before you can process them >Quite frankly you don't want to process them either >Grabbing a hold of her talon, you pry it out of your hair and throw it back to her >With a flash she dons a loose baseball shirt and catches her talon in a leather mitt >After a brief transplant from mitt to talon her arm is back to normal >Or at least as normal as something like her gets >"-is that anyway?" Silently thanking whoever was watching you turn back to Twilight and Discord, the former of which has her hoof pointed at the hair fondler >"Oh I'm so glad you asked" Discord squeezes his cheeks together before floating over towards you two >"Oh Celestia I regret asking" Letting out a groan Twilight slaps her face with a hoof >"Yeah, I regret you asking too" With an annoyed sigh the girl curls into herself slightly as Discord approaches her >"Twilight, Anonymous-" "How do you know my name?" This time it's your turn to cut Discord off >Shrugging off your question he simply says "I have eyes and ears everywhere" To punctuate his point several eyes and ears sprout of the walls >That's gonna haunt your dreams >They recede as quickly as they appeared and Discord wraps the mystery girl in a hug before squishing her cheeks together >"I want you two to meet my chaotic daughter, Eris" >Eris, finally, a name to madness >Embarrassed at Discord's introduction Eris simply curls into herself more >Then she curls into herself more, and more, and more >Until she shrinks to the point that you can't see her anymore >Huffing at the display Discord puts his hands on his hips "Eris, what have I told you about going subatomic when we're visiting the neighbors?" >Somehow her sigh is audible as she begins unfolding back to her regular form >"There's that's better" >Once more he wraps an arm around Eris' shoulder and looks between your two >While you're attempting to process what you just saw Twilight just seems tired >"So, so, so, so many questions, but since I don't want a headache. Why?" >"Well, number one" with a flash he and Eris appear in between you and Twilight "you ponies did such a good job with me, I thought it'd be downright cruel if I just left my daughter to continue wreaking chaos so haphazardly the same way I did." >Suddenly the wall in front of the four of you flashes to life and you see a near copy of Ponyville, only its sky looked like a child's drawing of the sun and moon, while it's building were spinning like dreidels >Snapping his fingers, Discord restores the world back to normal >"Dad!" Breaking out of the hug Eris flattens herself against the wall "I worked really hard on that one" >"I know dear, I know, a real shame to waste all that chaos, but trust me, you'll love it here" >Turning back to the now pristine world, Eris face falls to sincere dejection >You'd feel bad for her if you hadn't just seen the state of the world she left >"Now, point number two" An identical clone of Discord pops out of nowhere as the two speak in unison "Like I said, she's my daughter, but ever since my petrification I haven't been able to spend any time with her" Reaching into one of his wings they both pull out a blank black book >Flipping it open shows various photos of Discord and Eris, each one showing a background more chaotic than the last >"Oh this one's my favourite, Eris' first-" Before he can finish flipping the page Eris snaps the book shut and turns it into bubbles that quickly pop >Her eyes quickly glance between you and the Discords >"Oh well, I have more" both Discords sprouts ten new arms, each one holding a copy of the book >Eris' eyes turn to pinpricks before shooting out of her sockets and puncturing two of the books >Discord throws the books up as they sprout wings and scatter throughout the castle >Growling with rage, Eris races after the books >After she rounds the corner Discord merges back into one as he scoops you and Twilight together with his tail and get uncomfortably close >"Number 3, my Eris REALLY needs friends" >The seriousness of his tone starkly contrasts his words >Disentangling yourself from him you brush yourself off and pry Twilight out from his coils, eliciting an eep out of her >You could have sworn you saw his eyebrows furrow for a second >"Didn't she have her own world? Why couldn't she-" Twilight is cut off by two dozen books being thrown into the kitchen >Was Eris sweating? >She must really not have wanted you to see those pictures >"Look just go with it" Discord whispers quickly to you both before throwing his arms out and approaching Eris >Shoving her paw into his face she moves him out of the way before hopping up and relaxing in midair >Shrugging it off Discord floats over to her "Good news Eris you get to stay here with us" >"She does?" "I do?" Twilight and Eris ask in unison >Noticing her mistake Twilight clears her throats and straightens her posture "I- I mean yes, we'd... love? to have another Draconequus here" >Despite the off delivery Twilight maintains her smile and offers a hoof to Eris >Before Eris can take it in her talon, Discord pushes her towards you >All three of you raise an eyebrow at him but he simply shrugs >"I felt like Eris could get along better with Anonymous here, after all they're both new here, both bipeds, both-" Discord pauses for a minute and rolls his hand as he tries to think of something else to connect you two >"Well the semantics don't matter, really, you two should get along like a house on fire, the good kind I mean" >With that he grabs Eris' talon and puts it in your hand >It's surprisingly smooth and cool to the touch >Relaxing slightly you shake it, just to get this over with if nothing else "Glad to have you here, I guess" >As you shake her talon you notice that it's simply remaining rigid >Taking a second glance at Eris you notice she's gone stock stiff and a slight pink has crept up her cheeks >"YES NICE TO MEET YOU TOO, I'M ERIS, BYE!" >With a flash and a bang Eris dissipates into thin air and you're left with your hand hanging in mid air >Not expecting that reaction Discord simply taps his paw and talons together before awkwardly chuckling "Kids right? What are you gonna do?" >With a flash of his own he disappears as well >You look to Twilight, just to double check that all that actually happened >She opens and closes her mouth like a fish before letting her head droop and shaking it with a sigh >You turn your attention back to your pancakes, still in your hands >Tearing a piece off and nibbling it you let out a pleased sigh as you find that they're still warm >Magic, how does it work <> >With a flash and a bang you appear in your room >Home sweet home >With the bed you never use stuck to the ceiling and the upside down flowers in your floor, the roots growing up >This can only mean you are Eris, heiress to chaos >Still love the way that rolls off the tongue >With an angered yell you grab hold of your wardrobe and hurl it at the nearby wall >The wall simply grabs a baseball bat and smacks the wardrobe away >As the wooden structure floats in zero gravity you let out another groan >You can not believe your dad just did that >He shows up for the first time in over a millenia and pulls you out of your perfectly chaotic work >Then he makes it NOT CHAOTIC >WITHOUT asking you first >Then he pulls you into his world >Which also isn't chaotic for some reason >Ugh, you're gonna have to get to know who to watch out for while you're here >Grabbing hold of the air you tear it like paper >On the other side is several flashing images of Equestria >As your eyes scan the various images you think back to your first encounter with these new beings >At least that biped was cute >Anonymous was his name, if you're remembering correctly >Then of course your dad nearly embarrases you in front of the first non-pony guy you've met who hasn't run away from you with that stupid book >THEN he makes you hold his hand >Sure, you teased him with the old syrup bottle trick >Maybe you touched his hair and got a little distracted and zoned out >But who makes two people who don't even know each other hold hands? >Your dad apparently >You can't help but rub your paw over your talon >It's still warm <> >Despite all the clattering upstair, courtesy of your rowdy daughter, you couldn’t be prouder of yourself >You’d even go so far as to say you’re usually machiavellian mind has outdone itself >”Try not to break an arm patting yourself on the back Discord” >You turn to see a clone of yourself shaking his head disapprovingly “Oh be quiet, me” >With a wave of your paw the other you dissipates into a cloud of very handsome air >Despite that nay-sayer, this is going better than you thought >Sure Eris may be stewing in her room for a while but she'll thank you in the end >Pulling a piece of paper out of the ether you unfurl it and grab a pawful of ink >The Eris Plan sat proudly at the top "Let's see, introduce Eris to a boy that won't freak out at her. Check. Have Eris spend more than five minutes in the same room as said boy. Check. Get Eris to hold hands with said boy." >You have to scroll down the list for several seconds before you get to that particular point. "Also check." >Having soaked the paper in ink you throw it back into the ether and dust your hands off "Discord old boy you're a natural-born cupid. At this rate Eris will stop being a wizard before she knows it. Honestly I should play matchmaker more often. Ooh maybe I should go give Cadence some pointers" >Knocking on the air you open it like a door and step into the Crystal Empire <> "So they're gods?" >After the draconequus' duet had amscrayed you and Twilight headed over to her part library, part study >Pancakes still in hand, and still without syrup you tear away strips and enjoy them at a leisure pace >You really need to ask Spike how he makes them stay fresh and hot >After crashing onto the various pieces of plush furniture you finally got to ask Twilight what the hell just happened >Clearly Discord was not a subject Twilight enjoyed bringing up, if her tone was anything to go by >After a quick rundown of his history and what he, and by extension Eris, were capable of, the only conclusion you could come to were that they were gods >Which Twilight heavily objected to >"First off, despite any claims he might make, Discord isn't all knowing, and secondly, he certainly isn't all powerful" >With only half a pancake left you simply fold it in half and stuff the rest into your mouth "You sure about that Twilight?" You hold a hand over your mouth to obstruct the sight of chewed pancake "They seemed pretty powerful to me" >With a brief sigh Twilight's horn lights up as she begins scanning the various shelves >"He SEEMS all powerful sure" pausing briefly, Twilight mutters to herself as she double checks a certain shelf "buck's sake" >You only just catch that last bit before a pulse of lavender washes over you and the entire room >As the pulse fades a string of white light spirals up through the grooves in Twilight's horn before sprouting out of the tip and stretches to the other side of the room and lands on a specific book >With a grumble Twilight propels herself to the shelf with a single wingbeat >Pulling the book from the shelf, she approaches you and begins skimming through the pages >"Like I was saying, they're not gods, they're simply the concept of disharmony that have manifested in a physical form" >Despite the very scientific sounding answer you’re not convinced "I dunno Twilight, still sounds like they're gods to me, or at least god-like" >Snorting slightly at that Twilight flips the book open with a wave of her horn >When the book finally settles you're staring at an illustration of a grand pedestal, protruding from it are five struts, each one holding a different shaped gemstone >In the centre is a much larger, star shaped gemstone >"If Discord and Eris are gods simply for being physical manifestations of disharmony, are me and the girls gods for being physical manifestations of harmony?" >You open your mouth to retort but quickly shut it as you process Twilight's words >Her faces shows that what she just said makes perfect sense to her >Personally you're just baffled that she'd compare herself or the others to those two "Ok, a few questions Twilight" >With a thump she shuts the book as her face begins to beam, like a teacher with their favourite student "Can you or your friends warp reality on a whim?” Though she opens her mouth to retort, you decide to push your point “Are you or the girls immortal like they are?” >Twilight is quicker this time and interrupts you “They aren’t immortal” as you raise a skeptical eyebrow, Twilight rubs one of her forehooves with the other and turns her head to the side before murmuring “as far as I know” “Didn’t you say that Discord guy’s been around as long as the princesses?” >Twilight’s face takes on a triumphant smirk at that “Yes I did, but he wasn’t around before them, therefore he’s not immortal” “But he also hops from one dimension to another at a whim right?” Twilight’s mouth shuts at your counterpoint “Sort of like a god” You hide that last point, poorly, behind a cough >Twilight shoots you a glare but you simply return it with a smirk >”Still not immortal” Her tone is matter-of-fact but you’re not quite ready to give any ground just yet “Well, have you ever thought about, oh I dunno, asking Discord how old he is?” >Twilight's mouth clamps shut at that and she nervously chuckles >"Well I mean, no, of course not, my mother raised me better than that after all" >That's a weirder response than you were expecting >"I know full well that it's rude to ask a stallion his age, and with a stallion as whimsical as Discord it might be downright dangerous to ask" >"Oh please, my doddering old man is harmless" You and Twilight jump as the familiar voice and the thud of the book clattering on the floor echoes through the room "you ponies have made sure of that-" >Half expecting the chair to turn into Eris you bolt up and away from it >Several pops turn your attention to the abandoned book as the gemstones on the page morph into Eris' eyes and limbs while the pedestal takes on the colour of her fur >Stretching up and out of the page, Eris begins to form out of the book >"-and it's all thanks to these trinkets" Unfurling her paw, several small gemstones that match the color but not the shape of the ones on the page now rest there >Gasping, Twilight tenses her legs and wings before rocketing towards Eris >With a flash Eris takes on a matador outfit and holds out a piece of thick red cloth >As Twilight collides with the cloth she comes to an abrupt stop, as if she has just hit a wall >Her body crumples from the physical shock and Eris lets the now regular cloth drop and cover her >Eris’ eyes briefly meets yours and she gives you a smile and wave >Not entirely sure what to do, you simply return the gesture “Hey Eris, good to see you again?” >You’re not entirely sure how to play this, considering Eris just left Twilight in a heap of feathers and a possible concussion >”Y- you too” >Her eyes widen slightly at the awkward delivery and turns her back to you before clearing her throat and returning her attention to the gemstones in her paw "The. Elements. Of. Harmony" >She flips the gemstones like coins from one finger to the other, punctuating each word by flipping them into the air "You know, we didn't have these back where I'm from, or at least, nopony ever found them" >A sheer ringing echoes through the room as the red cloth is torn to magical shreds by a ruffled Twilight >"How did you get your paws on those Eris, they're protected against-" >"They are protected" Eris interrupts, pressing her face against Twilight's causing her to flinch slightly before pressing back against Eris "against my dad, not against me." >As Twilight leans back slightly Eris' face detaches from her head and follows her >Using the slight distance Twilight gives a firm shove forward with her head, pushing Eris back and putting some space between the two >"You both use the same magic" Twilight's breathing has gotten slightly more pronounced from the brief tussle >"Oh please, that old goat?" With a snap of her talon a goat falls into the room wearing a mask with a crude drawing of Discord's face "He's about a thousand years out of practice" >With another snap of her talon the goat turns to stone >"Then when he finally did get free" Another snap and the goat was back to normal "You ponies threw that mess of yellow and pink, whatever her name is at him and made him soft" >This time a herd of goats appeared and chucked a cotton candy coloured one on top of the first >"But personally, I think he's due a wakeup call" Eris begins slowly growing in size and you try to back away while Twilight takes to the air "throwing this world into turmoil ought to get his old chaotic motor running again" >Her body has now grown to the point where she has you pressed against the wall with her surprisingly soft fur engulfing you >You hear the snap of her talon before a crack and flash ring out through the room >Everything's back to normal >The goat's are gone and Eris is back to her regular size >In fact, she seems to be the most confused out of the three of you >With another snap of her talons a small flash erupts from them, but nothing happens >She snaps again and again but the flash only gets smaller and smaller >Nearly fuming she shoots a glance between you and Twilight before shaking her talon with a frustrated growl >"What's the matter Eris, having problems getting your magic up?" >Eris shoots a death glare Twilight, who currently has the smuggest grin you've seen on her face >"What the buck is this? My magic's never failed before" >Still incapable of any magic Eris simply stands there shaking her talon furiously >She stops as her paw is engulfed in a purple aura as the elements are pulled out with ease >"Don't worry Eris, I hear that's common as mares get older" >Eris' face has taken on a red hue as Twilight giggles at her own comment >"What did you do?!" Remembering she had wings, Eris bolts over to Twilight "I know my dad took those away from you before" >Simply pushing Eris away with a hoof this time, Twilight teleports the elements away >"Another reason they’re not gods Anon” Brushing off the fuming draconequus Twilight turns to you “they have absolutely no way to counter harmony based magic directly” >Turning back to Eris, Twilight boops her on the nose, causing her to lurch backwards “As for Discord, he was never stupid enough to expose himself to physical contact with them for an extended period of time" >Eris' eyes widen in realisation before skulking away from Twilight >Smacking her face with her now empty paw Eris runs it down her face, causing it to stretch >Though it isn't able to get far before it snaps back up, eliciting a pained gasp >"Pain, that's new." With a sigh Eris flops against one of the library chairs "I suppose I'm going to get the medusa treatment now right? At least I'll take one of your chairs with me" >Twilight does seem to ponder this for a second before letting out a snort >Her wings flutter gently at her side as she approaches Eris >"As tempting as that sounds Eris, no, we're gonna give you the same chance we gave Discord" >Sitting up straight at that, Eris' face shift between surprise to joy to disappointment >"Oh goodie, you're gonna put a collar on me too." She snaps her talon, but again nothing happens "Buck, how long is that gonna last?" >While you can't see Twilight's face, you can see the corner of it turn up in what you can only assume is another smug grin >You finally decide to speak up as you approach the two "Well not that that wasn't fun but" reacknowledging your presence, and seemingly embarrassed by her display Eris shrinks back into her seat, or at least she tries to "if she’s getting the Discord treatment, then who’s gonna keep an eye on her?" >Turning to you, Twilight's eyebrows furrow as she ponders your question >"Well we can't ask Fluttershy, she's got enough draconequus to deal with as it is" >You faintly hear the scratch of quill on parchment, looking up you see Eris scribbling in one of Twilight's books >Unsatisfied with her lack of magic, Eris makes due with drawing a crude sketch of Fluttershy and putting a cross over it >"As for the other girls Pinkie might just encourage her" Hearing this causes Eris to sit up as a grin stretches across her face "so that's another no" >Disappointed, Eris slumps back and draws a caricature of Pinkie, also with a cross through it >After listing off the other girls and herself, Twilight comes to the conclusion that none of them would make a good fit as Eris' parole officer >With each rejection Eris makes a crude sketch and crosses them out >While Twilight paces back and forth trying to determine how best to approach reforming Eris your attention is once more brought to the draconequus in question >She waves her talon to get your attention and opens a new page >All that's written is ‘(You)?’ >You let out a sigh as you put two and two together >It can't be that bad right "What about me?" >Twilight stops her pacing and snaps out of rambling to turn to you "What?" "I said, what about if I, you know, try and help her reform?" >Twilight's eyes widen slightly in shock while Eris silently fist pumps in the background >Slowly processing what you just said, Twilight is barely able to sputter out a response "I mean- I suppose? I don't... know how that would work but, maybe?" >"Well that settles it then!" With a snap Eris shuts the graffitied book and shoots out of the chair >With a flap of her mismatched wings she takes to the air and glides out the room "Come on Anon, let's go paint the town red, or maybe lilac?" >"Hey! Wait" Twilight gallops after Eris "I didn't say yes!" but the draconequus has already long gone >Groaning, she turns to you "Sorry Anon, can you make sure she doesn't turn Ponyville upside down? I have to make sure the elements are secured" Planting a hoof to her face she lets out a tired sigh "and maybe contact Celestia about this too" >With a salute you go into a light jog to chase after the chaotic woman >Despite how maze like the crystal hallways are you're able to find the main doors with relative ease >You look out over the expanse of Ponyville and see no sign of Eris "Great, hide and seek" With a tired sigh of your own you begin jogging towards the town square >As you slowly make your way into Ponyville proper you slow to a walk and begin scanning the streets for the popery of pinched body parts “Alright, if I were a dracono-whatever Eris is, where would I go?” >Despite only being a classified as a small town, there was a lot of ground to cover, and with her wings she may not even be on the ground >You steal a glance up at the sky and notice it’s completely covered by thick white clouds, meaning she could easily be hiding up there too >Since Spike, who is Twilight’s direct line to Celestia apparently, is out of the castle, you’re gonna be on your own for a while >Not to mention that once she recovers her magic she could go literally anywhere “Great, just great” with a sigh you rub your temples as you scan up and down the alleys you pass by >While you could ask some of the residents for help, you’d rather not start a panic >If even half of what Twilight told you about him was true then you doubted any of them would have forgotten Discord’s last tirade through Ponyville >Hearing that a new draconequus, fresh out of an Equestria she had ruled over, had taken up residence would probably not go over well with the ponies >Besides, they’re already uncertain of you, and telling them all that, plus the fact that you’re the one who’s supposed to keep her in line probably won’t endear you to them >You can’t blame them for being skeptical of you though >It hasn’t even been a week since you arrived and Twilight has yet to properly introduce you to any them >The only real introductions you’ve made are with her friends, and you haven’t had a chance to get to know any of them yet >There’s also Caramel >But that wasn’t exactly planned >He just kind of started talking your ear off one day while you were getting to know the lay of the land >That stallion had issues and you weren’t interested in any of them >You do a 180 just to be sure Eris wasn’t hiding behind you >As you do you’re met with a faceful of paint >Staggering back you reflexively spit to remove any paint from your mouth >A melodic chuckle is all you hear as you wipe your eyes >”Hey buddy, the paint ponies didn’t have lilac, so cyan will have to do” >You mentaltly ask Twilight to hurry up “Eris” You bite back your annoyance as you spit out more paint “and here was me thinking we were playing hide and seek” >”Oh Anonymous, why would I ever hide from you?” As you wipe away the last of the paint you see Eris has bent her body similarly to how you first met, with her tail dangling over her head and the slight tuft of hair at the tip of her tail waving at you >You also notice she’s hovering >Without the use of her wings “I also see you got your magic back” >You had been hoping to wrangle her back to the castle before her magic returned >”I know! It’s great right!?” Holding up the can of paint it burst open, releasing a spray of confetti and multiple smaller Eris clones “You know, I actually thought those elements were something worth worrying about for a moment” >As each clone hits the ground they splatter into a puddle of varied paint colors >”Well Anon, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover, and I only had enough bits to buy this one can” Eris chucks the can at you >As it lands in your arms your knees nearly buckle at the weight >Not wanting a hernia you simply let the can hit the ground before looking back up at Eris “Wait did you say you bought this?” You dare a glance into the can and you do indeed find ordinary paint >”Well of course, I’m reforming aren’t I?” With a flash a tacky, cracked, halo appears above her head “The responsible thing to do, is to pay for-” “You paid with chocolate wrapped in gold foil didn’t you?” Just barely keeping a straight face, Eris nods >Internally sighing you make a mental note to ask Twilight to pay the paint shop later As you still struggle to lift the paint can, you wait for Eris’ giggles to subside “So I’m guessing there’s like, infinite paint in here?” Eris simply shakes her head at you, her snow white hair briefly covering her eyes “It refills itself?” another head shake “Then why does it feel like it’s full of concrete?” >Finally, the can begins to tip >As it lands on its side, a mass far too big for the can falls out of it >Your eyes slowly widen as you notice the sputtering and coughing mass has a rainbow mane >While Eris has doubled over with laughter, you rush over and try to use your shirt as a makeshift rag >Luckily you manage to get most of the paint out of her eyes while she clears her mouth >Despite having just been stuffed in a paint can Rainbow gets to her hooves with surprising speed and leaps at Eris, only for the draconequus to simply move slightly up and out of reach >Rainbow attempts to take to the air but finds her feathers stuck together and made heavy due to excess paint “Eris, what the hell!?” Finally venting at Eris, she simply responds with more laughter >”7 colours for the price of one can” Eris just manages to crack out her words through peals of raucous laughter “now that’s what I call a bargain, eh Anon?” >Eris dangles her tail up and down, goading Rainbow into leaping at her again and again >”I guess my old man was right” finally removing the halo from her head, a grin spreads across her face “I think I am gonna like it here” with a flick of her wrist the halo sails above your head and off into the distance >When Rainbow finally manages to latch onto Eris’ cloven hoof, she simply disappears with a flash, leaving Dash lying on the ground while her laugh still echoes up and down the street >Finally taking notice of you, Rainbow’s head falls, her eyes simply staring at the ground >Quickly looking up and down the street you spot a nearby well >Kneeling besides Rainbow you pat her lightly on the back, covering your hand in paint >Finally pulling her gaze away from the ants in the grass her eyes meet yours >You give her a small smile as you point to the well with a thumb >Her only response is a silent nod >With a trail of cyan hoofprints in the grass and Eris’ laugh still echoing through the street you begin inspecting the well’s winch >A simple wooden bolt connects the lever to the well’s frame, locking it in place >Pulling out the bolt you let the lever spin wildly before it halts and a splash of water echos up from the narrow chasm >You turn the lever back as quickly as you can while Rainbow has simply sat besides the well, embarrassment clear on her face >Thankfully it’s still early in the morning so most ponies aren’t going to be up and about yet >Except maybe Applejack, as you recalled from your brief meeting she worked on a farm >Now with the knowledge that Eris is back to her full chaotic self you feel a greater urge to find her and try and reason with her >Though you doubt that word is in her dictionary >As the rope gets shorter and shorter you see Rainbow slightly shaking out of the corner of your eye >Unhooking the bucket you place in on the ground and realise you don’t have anything to wash her off with >Other than your shirt that is, but you doubt that would be helpful since it’s already covered in paint >Seemingly noticing your uncertainty Rainbow lets out a frustrated groan >”Just dump the water on me for buck’s sake!” you’ve never seen someone’s mood shift so suddenly >You do as requested and begin to realise she might have been angry instead of dejected >With the water now soaking her matted fur and mane, Rainbow gives her body a thorough shake, whipping off most of the paint in one go >She extends her wings to their full span and begins haphazardly preening them to get the majority of the remaining paint off them >Her irritation with the situation only grows with each passing second, no doubt fueled by Eris’ still echoing laughter >Whether it was exclusive to this stretch of dirt road or was echoing throughout the town, you were unsure >Finally satisfied with her wings Rainbow shoots into the sky, leaving a trail of rainbow dust in her wake >Just below the cloud cover you see her head snapping back and forth, her barrel heaving up and down as she searches for the draconequus >Most likely with the intent of physically venting her frustration >You also search as best you can from your grounded perspective for any sign of her >Mismatched horns, mismatched wings, anything >But you find nothing >With her magic back you can’t imagine her being able to resist messing something else up >Especially after that display >But no sign of her >”Hey!” You snap out of your thoughts and crane your head up to the source of the call “Anonymous right?” >It only takes less than a minute for Rainbow to give up, though it is apparent that she does so reluctantly >You have to shield your eyes slightly as the sun still manages to shine through the clouds >With a flap of her wings, she makes her way down to your eye level “Do you know what the buck Discord’s problem is today?” “Discor-?” Realizing her misunderstanding you’re quick to correct her “Oh. Actually, that was-” You cut yourself off as you notice a few ponies have finally taken to the street >Some of them have begun crowding around each other speaking in hushed tones as they cover their ears and look for the source of the echo >You point your head to the side a few times towards a nearby alley and make your way there >Despite a bit of hesitation Rainbow follows behind you >Without enough room for her wingspan she lands with a click of her hooves and now only comes up to your waist >Once you’re sequestered away from prying eyes and ears she speaks up “Ok, seriously, what’s up?” “What’s up is that, that wasn’t Discord” Sadly the alley was built with ponies in mind, so you have some difficulty turning around to face Rainbow >”Well that explains the voice at least” >Finally twisting around fully you see Rainbow zone out briefly when she realizes what she’s at eye-level with before her head snaps up to make eye-contact >Brushing it off you drop your voice a little to make sure no one else hears “Yeah, that was Eris. His daughter” >The word ‘daughter’ hangs in the air for an uncomfortable amount of time as you see Dash’s face shift from anger to confusion, back to anger, then to slight worry and finally contorts in disgust >“Oh Celestia, I did NOT need that mental image” A shudder runs up the length of her spine “Since when did he get a kid?” “Dunno, but she only arrived here out of her own Equestria today” Despite the limited room you still crane your neck up to the sky, hoping to see her tail disappearing into a cloud or something >”Her own? She- wait wha-” Rainbow raises and lowers a hoof while her mouth opens and closes sporadically as she tries to process what you just said “Everytime you answer one of my questions I get like, ten more, dude” You chuckle slightly “And I haven’t even gotten to the worst bit yet” >Her face falls slightly at that “Oh Celestia, what is it?” “Unlike Discord, she isn’t reformed” Her eyes begin twitching at that >“Yeah! I noticed!” Just barely holding up one of her wings you spot paint still dripping off it >Slightly embarrassed by her condescending tone you rub the back of your neck >Noticing your reaction she heaves out a sigh as her head droops >”Crap, look, I’m sorry for snapping but-” You cut her off mid sentence by holding up a hand “Don’t worry Rainbow I get it, if I were stuffed in a paint can I’d be pissed too” >You both share a chuckle at the ridiculousness of the situation >At least she doesn’t look like she’s going to go into a murderous rage anymore >A distinct feeling of dread drops in your stomach as you imagine how Eris would react to something like that >”So, I guess we need the elements to blast her into a glorified lawn gnome? I’ll go tell the others” Her face breaks into an assured grin as she turns to leave the alley >Quickly placing a hand on her back you just manage to stop her before she takes off “Not quite, or at least, not yet” >Scoffing slightly she turns her head to you “What do you mean not yet?” She shakes her body in an attempt to get your hand off her back “A crazy chaos causing she-goat is out there, doing who knows what.” Her wings flap slightly in a poor attempt to free herself, only hitting the surrounding walls “Last time Discord was around he turned Ponyville on its head in a minute” “But they might not be enough now” This seems to finally get her attention >Wrenching herself away from you, she gets out of the alley and begins hovering in the air “Like tartarus, why wouldn’t they be!” “Well she got hold of them earli-” You begin before being cut off >”She got hold of the elements of harmony!” Rainbow’s eyes have nearly widened to the size of dinner plates “It’s fine, Twilight has them back now” You hold up a hand to try and get her to quiet down again “Look, the bottom line is, touching them drained her magic or something, so she’s not gonna be caught off guard by them.” >Rainbow’s face twists in anger and uncertainty before landing with another click >”Buck this” Muttering under her breath she begins pacing back and forth >Maybe Twilight’s habits are rubbing off on her >”If the elements don’t work then what the hay are we supposed to do?!” >With the echo of Eris still loud and clear the street has emptied once more >You spot a few ponies on either end guiding others away from the thoroughfare, and a few dozen others heading straight for Twilight’s castle >This could not be going worse “It’s not that they don’t work it’s just-” Heaving a sigh of your own you mutter a few choice words under your breath “Look, right now I’m just trying to find her, but since she could be anywhere I could use a pair of eyes in the sky” >You let the words hang in the air for a moment as Rainbow realizes what you mean >“I’ll see what I can find, but it’ll be difficult since the clouds aren’t scheduled to be cleared ‘til later, so I won’t be able to get a great view” Rainbow brings a hoof to her chin as she mulls over her options “I’m also guessing you want this kept quiet?” “Well” You shift your eyes back and forth across the echoing street “As quiet as possible. Let’s just try and make sure a panic doesn’t break out” >”Right” With a nod she spreads her wings out once more “And Rainbow” Turning to you once more you give her a nod “Be careful?” >”Tsk. Colts. Always worrying over nothing” With a self-assured grin she straightens out “I’m gonna go get Fluttershy too, maybe she can help” >With a faint rainbow trail behind her, she shoots off to the other side of town >Renewing your own search, you begin making your way up the street >And immediately go back down the alley when you spot Caramel >You really didn’t need to hear about Aloe and Lotus messing up his hooficure again >As you go deeper into the alley you notice Eris’ laugh begin to fade >Good, it was giving you a headache >Coming out the other end brings you to an area where an intricately carved stone fountain sits in the centre >At the top of the fountain stands three statues, one representing each pony race, and each spewing out a constant stream of water >Briefly recalling your rather rushed tour of the town, you remember Twilight calling it Ponyville Square, the centre of the town >At least it’ll make a good point to backtrack to if you get lost >With at least a dozen streets branching out from you, and no further sign of Eris you take a seat on the fountain’s edge as you flick your eyes across the streets, trying to choose where to start >Before you’re able to get your thoughts straight a hefty weight crashes into the back of your head >Quickly bracing yourself you manage to keep your face from meeting the ground >Sitting up straight you bring your hands around and grab hold of whatever hit your head >As you pull it around to your front you come face to face with a foal >With a white coat and brown mane the infant simply stares at you gormlessly, curious about what you are >”Pound!” You whip your head around and see a pink blur barreling towards you >Despite her speed, Pinkie comes to a grinding halt, stopping just short of your face >You hold up the foal, Pound, to her and she carefully takes him in her hooves >”Whoa, thanks Anon, Pumpkin distracted me and then Pound got out of the play-pen and then Pumpkin magiced the door open and then Pound flew out and he’s pretty fast for his age and” With a deep gasp Pinkie practically inhales a metric ton of air “and, thanks” >You chuckle slightly at the pink mare and wave her off “Don’t worry about it Pinkie, it’s fine” >”You know, normally his little wings are constantly abuzz, but he kind of calmed down with you. Stallion’s touch I guess.” Her beaming smile and soft tone makes you feel a little pride >Though you doubt you actually calmed him down, it’s more likely he was just weirded out by you >But you keep that to yourself >”So what brings you here?” As Pound and another yellow and orange foal, most likely Pumpkin, crawl over her body she occasionally grabs one of them and puts them back on her back “Well I’m uh-” You notice a significant amount of ponies making their way through the square >Not only is it probably the main thoroughfare, but some of them were probably taking a detour around the echoing street >Still trying to avoid a panic you decide to skirt the topic as best as possible “I’m looking for someone” >With a wistful sigh Pinkie grins slightly “Aren’t we all?” >You put your head in your hand and chuckle slightly at Pinkie’s naive response “No Pinkie, I know who she is I’m just literally looking for her” Weirdly you can almost see through Pinkie’s eyes as something clicks in her mind >”Oooooh I get it” She slightly nudges your arm with a hoof before correcting Pumpkin’s position for the tenth time “So who’s the lucky mare?” “What?” You raise a confused eyebrow at the pink mare >”Oh come on, I can throw the two of you a get-together party. What kind of cake does she like?” >Your hair is threatening to annex your eyebrow with how close it's getting to the border of your forehead >”Hey don’t worry, there’s no need to be embarrassed, some mare just like… how would Rarity put it?” With a quick headbang Pinkie’s hair curls into a more elegant style while she takes on a posh accent “Exotic stallions” >Finally realizing her misunderstanding you plant your face in both hands with an exasperated groan “Look is-” Noticing some of the ponies have half-turned their attention to the two of you, you decide to move your conversation “-is there somewhere else we can talk about it” >”Awww, you colts are so cute when you’re bashful, come on, we can go to Sugarcube Corner” With a spring in her step, Pinkie bounces off down one of the streets >”Mr and Mrs Cake are out today so I needed to shut the store anyway” As her legs compress like rubber she slowly makes her way down the street >Silently, you give one more glance around the Square for any sign of Eris >Nothing, again >Getting to your feet you jog to catch up with Pinkie >As you get closer you notice the twin foals bouncing along with the pink mare >Pound however is slipping towards the edge of her back >Quickly leaning down you hold your arms out for him to fall into just as he spreads out his wings >Noticing that he isn’t falling anymore he puts his wings back to his sides >Pumpkin shoots a curious glance between you and her brother >Not wanting to separate the two, you simply put Pound back on Pinkie’s back >Almost immediately after your hand leaves him he spreads his wings and flaps back to you >Thrown off guard by his weight bumping into your chest you simply cradle him in your arms awkwardly, not entirely what to do with him >”See Anon? Stallion’s touch” Pinkie says, without even seeing what happened “How did you-” Just as you voice your curiosity she cuts in >”My Pinkie sense silly, my left forehoof was itchy” Despite only using three hooves, she maintain her balance perfectly >While you want to question her you decide not to give yourself another headache >You and Pinkie begin heading up an incline towards the town bakery >Just in view is the very top of the bakery, a dome decorated like a cupcake >As you reach the crest of the hill you see the rest of the bakery, the exterior decorated to take on the appearance of multiple treats >You almost wish you were staying here, at least you didn’t get blinded when the sun bounced off this building >But you understand Twilight’s reasoning, her castle is a little bit away from town >It gives you some distance from prying eyes, which is a very welcome perk >Pinkie slows her pace as she takes control of the outstretched bit of mane that hangs over her face like a prehensile limb and digs into the main part of her mane with it >A bag of sugar, a half eaten muffin, Eris’ earlier halo >Your eyes widen when you spot that >Before Pinkie’s able to inspect it, it comes to life and shoots off into the distance again >Whipping around you try to spot Eris, but still nothing >The lack of her presence is actually starting to make you feel more anxious than when she was around >Simply shrugging off the living halo, Pinkie begins digging through her mane again >With a satisfied hmph she pulls out a small metal key >As you make the final approach to the bakery you spot a small purple dragon running over to the two of you >You and Spike exchange waves as Pinkie rubs the top of his head affectionately >”Hiya Spike, whatcha doing?” >”I’ve been looking for you, actually” >While he couldn’t match you or Pinkie’s stride, Spike kept beside you two as you finally got to Sugarcube Corner’s door >”We’re out of syrup at the castle, and the usual stall at the market isn’t due a shipment for the next two days” >You stop and wonder if he had really spent all the time that he was out of the castle looking for syrup, simply on the chance that you or Twilight might want some with your breakfast >Briefly removing an arm from cradling Pound you copy Pinkie’s show of affection and rub the top of his head >While he shrinks slightly under the pressure of your hand he makes no attempt to escape it either “You’re grade A Spike, you know that?” >The dragon simply smiles up at you, pride beaming from his grin >With a click the door opens and the three of you enter the bakery >As you cross the threshold, a dozen different scents flood your nostrils, each one sweeter than the last >Though closed, the store shows signs of vibrant life >The floorboards are worn from the countless hooves that have wandered through the shop >The glass of the display cases shine with polish, save for the deep stains of where foals have left prints of the hooves and faces they pressed against the glass >The serene calm of the bakery is finally broken by claws gently scratching against the wood, hooves rapidly clicking as Pinkie quickens to a trot behind the counter, and your own heavy footfalls >You breathe deeply, taking in the confectionary filled air and allow yourself a moment to relax >From in here you could almost forget that Eris was causing havoc around Ponyville >Images of her invade your mind >Though as you recall what she did to Rainbow your face hardens slightly >If something like that brought her joy then you doubted anypony would be off the table for her magic >Seemingly sensing your shift in mood Pound taps on your chest >Looking down to the small foal, he leaps out of your arms as his wings buzz to life >You take a small step back as his body flails back and forth, his hindlegs threatening to hit you in the neck as his lack of muscle control causes them to swing wildly >Pound haphazardly manoeuvers himself through the air, towards a corner of the shop, separated from the customer tables by a knee high plastic fence >With a slight thud, Pound lands and his wings click to back to his sides >His head twists to look back at you as he waves both of his hooves while bouncing to the best of his ability >You chuckle softly to yourself at the display and make your way over to where Pound sat >Clicking open the play pen’s gate you sit cross-legged in front of Pound, several toys, as bright and pastel as the ponies who made them lay strewn on the floor >With you finally present, Pound grabs hold of some coloured blocks and begins stacking them haphazardly >When the shoddy structure is complete Pound leans his body back, before throwing his infantile weight against it, sending the blocks scattering across the floor >Briefly looking at the destruction he had wrought, Pound’s gaze shift between the blocks to you and then back and forth >Taking the hint, you take hold of a block yourself and realise just how small it actually is >These blocks are barely the size of an average ponies frog, and are even smaller in your hands >Taking the block between your thumb and index finger you place it in front of Pound and begin grabbing each scattered block and stacking them atop one another >Being much bigger than Pound, you’re able to stack the blocks in a single column without toppling them, much to Pound’s amazement >With a click, the last block settles atop the tower, still barely reaching your chest >Glee clear on his face Pound leans his body back >You recognize the tell and hold a hand up >This stops Pound from destroying the tower, much to his confusion >You retract your palm and hold up just a single finger and grab another wooden block >Unlike the coloured blocks you had been just using, this one had a curved underside, taking on a shape similar to a bridge >These particular blocks are clearly intended to be built up to loosely resemble actual buildings >Block in hand you stack it atop the coloured block >Seeing this Pound’s eyes widen significantly, as if you had just told him the secrets of the universe >Eager for more, Pound begins grabbing the other blocks himself and slides them towards you >Your heart tightens slightly at the sight >Pony or not, an adorable baby brings a grin to your face >Finally stacking the last of the wooden blocks it has now reached your chin in height >As you and Pound admire the architectural marvel you wave a hand dismissively at it >Understanding your meaning Pound leans his body back far enough that you expect him to lose balance >However he manages to lean back at the perfect angle to bring his body back for a mightier swing than before >His body meets the blocks and sends the foundation flying, causing the top to lean inward >With an arm held above Pound’s head the wooden blocks bounce harmlessly off you as Pound lets out a cacophony of mirth-filled laughter through the hail of wood and colours >Some small part of you begins whispering in the back of your head >It urges you to simply stay here, to leave Eris to burn herself out in Ponyville >It’s not as if the Elements of Harmony won’t work on her >The girls would simply have to be clever about their use >They might not even be needed, Discord could simply be made to fix his daughter’s mess <'I said, what about if I, you know, try and help her reform?' >Your own words echo through your mind and cut off your doubts >Why had you gone along with Eris’ suggestion anyway >Why had she even made the suggestion in the first place >For a moment you consider the possibility that she was using you >You, the lone human in this world, without any sort of magic to his name, no flight, and no freakish strength >If there were a creature that a being of chaos could more easily dismiss than you, you were having trouble thinking of one >But then your mind flashes back again to your brief meetings >There were instances of her acting strange, even considering her nature >There was a reason she suggested you, a reason you agreed and a reason that Twilight didn’t outright dismiss the offer >And you intended to discover the answers >You sweep up the scattered blocks and pile them in front of Pound again before rubbing his mane and standing to your feet >With an incoherent babble he flails his hoof in your direction >Pumpkin crawls under your legs to join her brother as you click the playpen shut >With renewed determination you approach Pinkie and Spike, recounting whatever had occurred since their last meeting >Noticing your presence, as well as your change in posture they shoot you curious glances >”Hey Anon, something the matter?” >Pulling out a chair of your own you seat yourself between the two and shoot a glance at both of them “Spike, Twilight needs you at the castle asap, she can fill you in” >”Ar- are you sure? What’s going on?” >In an attempt to reassure the dragon you place a hand on his shoulder “It’s under control” a small white lie “but Twilight needs you, so I can’t be wasting your time trying to explain everything here” >Clearly wanting to argue Spike opens his mouth though he shuts it just as quick, with a nod to you and Pinkie he hops off his chair, a few bottles of syrup in his arms as he goes >The jingle of the front door’s bell rings through the bakery as you turn to Pinkie Pie >Her lips have narrowed into a straight line and her eyes are fully focused >You decide to simply rip off the proverbial band-aid “Discord came by today and introduced us to his daughter” >Pinkie’s jaw begins dropping as an all too familiar voice cuts through the air >”Are my ears burnin- wait. Dad did this bit already” >You twist in your seat and spot Eris hovering over the playpen >With a snap of her talon Pumpkin’s horn and Pound’s wings to begin rotating, startling the foals >As Pound rises through the air he squirms as best as he can in a vain attempt to get his wings to work properly >His wings chop through the air like helicopter blades until they finally stop dropping him inbetween Eris’ horns >You hear Pinkie gasp at the sight but you hold up a hand, hoping Pinkie doesn’t worsen the situation by giving Eris a reaction >Your fingers dig into the varnished wood and scrape slightly as you see Pumpkin attempt to lean back as her horn gravitate towards the ground, before cracking it open like a drill head and digging deep >You breathe a sigh of relief as Pumpkin re-emerges from the ground almost as soon as she had disappeared, only for Eris to wrap her up in her tail >Before you’re able to do anything though Pinkie bounds over to Eris >”Oh my gosh, I can't believe Discord has a daughter!” Basking in Pinkie's attention Eris flips her hair slightly as a spotlight appears and highlights her face >“I have to throw him a 'You have a daughter' party and I have to throw you-” Poking at Eris' tail Pinkie swipes Pumpkin out of the slowly coiling appendage and puts her on a nearby table “-a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party. OH!” >Pinkie compresses herself against the ground, seemingly disappearing for a moment before springing back up just behind you “I could throw a double 'Welcome to Ponyville' party-” interrupting herself Pinkie suddenly gasps as her eyes widen >Pointing to you, a grin spreads over her face “So this is the mare you were looking for Anon, I'm surprised it took you so long, she’s not exactly easy to miss” >”I disagree my dear 3.1415 pony” Eris has started giggling while donning a white and red striped sweater, beanie and thick rimmed glasses “I was the master of hide and seek back home, although-” the clothes phase through Eris as she pulls them off, leaving them perfectly intact as she drops them on top of Pinkie “being able to teleport probably helped” >“I suspect I'll be the talk of the town before long but” letting the word roll she leans down slightly and begins hovering towards the main counter “what has Anon been saying about me?” Twirling one of her white locks with a talon she shoots a sideways glance at you “Only good things I hope” >The usually silver colour of her head fur has taken on a light dusting of pink blush “Well Eris, you've only shown me good things since you got here” Your eyes narrow slightly at her, causing her smirk to only grow >As she passes by, your eyes flick between her gaze and Pound, who’s still confused as to what's going on >You shoot a hopeful glance at Pinkie, but she’s busy calming down Pumpkin, who’s still coughing up dust from her brief drilling expedition >With Eris still idly twirling her hair you spring forward and cut her off mid-hover >Spotting you she stops hovering forward, causing all her body to compress towards her head as the sound of rubber wheels squealing against pavement echoes through the shop >The sudden high-pitched shriek has Pinkie and the twins covering their ears while Eris simply lets her body flow back out while her eyes rapidly shoot to look at everything but you >”I- I believe I had right of way Anon” >Briefly you realise that this is the first time you’ve seen her up close >From afar her eyes appeared to have a sickly yellow sclera and pupils mismatched in size >Upon closer inspection you’d say her sclera are closer to gold >Her pupils meanwhile are like looking into a red kaleidoscope, the patterns within writhing and twisting >With no real way to reach Pound yet you decide to just try and keep her talking “You know Eris” Your voice finally snaps her out of her rapid eye shifting as they finally settle on you, causing the pink dusting on her cheeks to brighten “With how much you pop in and out we may have to put a bell on you” >The red of Eris’ tail shoots up her entire body and explodes into a plume of smoke as it reaches her horn >The hot air is enough to lift Pound off her and towards you >As his body collides with you, you dip your body back, allowing the momentum of his fall to peter out >Some part of you wishes you could trust Eris, but with her plans still being an unknown you feel a lot more secure with having the foals away from her >Though ultimately, you’re well aware that she could undo any action you take with a snap of her talon or paw >You return Pound to Pinkie and approach Eris once more >She’s still a stuttering red mess, but at least she’s staying in one place >Hopefully you can have a proper conversation with her now >Before you’re able to get a word out though a clone of Eris appears behind you >”Hold on, I can fix her” As the Eris clone approaches the original, she grabs her by her shoulders and begins shaking her vigorously “Snap out of it!” Raising her paw she slaps Eris across the face twice >The second slap causes Eris’ head to unscrew like a lightbulb >It extends at least an extra foot before detaching and a howl like a boiling kettle rings out as a column of thick steam pours out of her neck >With a talon on one hip the Eris clone shoots you a smirk before heading back to you >”My bill” She holds out a slip of paper which you hesitantly take >Flipping the page back and forth you see no writing on it at all >You look around for the Eris clone only to realise she’s already vanished >Meanwhile, the original is finally running out of steam, literally >With a final puff, Eris’ natural colour returns as she screws her head back on >”Wew!” Slightly out of breath, Eris shakes a single talon from her claw at you “I knew I had a good feeling about you Anonymous” Pulling at the point where her silver fur meets her body she pulls it out like a shirt collar >”Now Pinkie” Having finally calmed the foals and corralled them back to the pen, Pinkie turns to Eris “I believe you mentioned a party?” >Pinkie’s mood brightens at the mention of a party, but you notice her eyes stay trained on Eris “Absolutely! We’ve got a lot to plan so where should we start?” >Trotting up to the counter she leaps atop the case and looks between you two, front half down and tail wagging like a pink puppy >”I know it’s ‘stallions first’ but if I may be so bold, I think we’re going to need a lot of cake, let’s say” rolling her paw, Eris looks around the bakery “everything you’ve got?” >Snapping her paw, a potato sack full of gold coins lands with a heavy thud >Pinkie’s eyes widen slightly at the sack of money but she quickly recomposes herself >Leaning towards the bag, Pinkie gives it a small sniff before flipping one of the coins up with her nose and letting it fall between her teeth >With several clicks the coin stays unbent >Satisfied, Pinkie spits out the coin, letting it clatter back into the sack as she begins rushing around the shop in a pink blur “So no chocolate coins this time?” You raise an eyebrow at Eris as she chuckles at the recent memory >”Yes well, after me, you and Rainbow got done painting” you let out a small huff through your nose at that “I decided to take your words to heart, so I popped back home briefly to grab my allowance” “By back home, do you mean-” >”My old stomping ground! Yes, indeed” Grabbing one of the bits she holds it up to you >Where normally you’d see your own reflection you see the copy of Ponyville you had briefly been shown on Twilight’s castle wall >Not even half the buildings of the Ponyville you’re in are there, and the ponies wander around, constantly throwing nervous glances in every direction >”Ah, memories” Clutching the coin to her chest, Eris lets out a content sigh, a look of nostalgia crossing over her face >”Do try and make my memories here worthwhile, eh Anon?” Leaning slightly towards you she raises her eyebrows up and down as she flicks the coin back into the bag >You push her away from you slightly, causing her eyebrows to stop and a mark in the shape of your hand to appear on her neck >Another dusting of pink crosses her face as she wipes at the point you made contact >”Okie dokie loki Eris, here’s ‘everything we’ve got’ as ordered” >It was surprising to see just how many boxes were needed for all the cakes in such a small shop >Several Eris’ split off from the original, each wearing thick gloves, goggles and a hard hat >Two of them fight over operating a miniature forklift as they cart away box after box >Another two stack them high and phase into a nearby wall >The last Eris grabs hold of the last of the tightly packed, ribbon-wrapped, multi-coloured boxes >With a growl the box comes to life and engulfs Eris and then engulfs itself, causing it to fold into itself until it disappears >”Phew” Wiping her brow, Pinkie beams at you “She doesn’t seem to be any worse than Discord at least. Oh drat” Her face falls slightly “I should have asked her to make some chocolate rain, no wait marshmallow hail, no wait marzipan snow!” >Despite what you’ve seen so far, you can’t help but agree with Pinkie >Other than covering Rainbow in paint and Pumpkin in dirt, she hasn’t really hurt anypony >But you’re lack of progress still leaves you anxious >You’re supposed to be trying to reform her, but she scampers off as soon as you start talking >Hopefully Spike has gotten back to Twilight by now >With no real plan you decide to just try and find her again on foot >Before you step over the threshold of Sugarcube Corner again you turn back to the pink purveyor of pastry “Hey Pinkie” She turns her head to you as she idly entertains the twin, since the store is now emptier than when you entered “Are the Cakes still in Ponyville?” >She opens her mouth to respond but is quickly silenced when Pound latches onto her face with a flap of his diminutive wings >With a foal latched onto her face she simply nods in response “You should probably take those two back to them then, Twilight might need you too” >With a salute, Pinkie scoops Pumpkin up in her hooves and swats at one of the nearby tables, causing it to spin >You hear a heavy clunk just before a trap door opens under Pinkie which she and the twins disappear into >Shaking your head at the sight you make your way back out onto the Ponyville street >Just as you begin heading down the dirt hill again you hear a thundering creak behind you >Turning around you spot Eris, once again she has grown in size, to the point that both sides of her body hang over the edges of Sugarcube Corner’s lower roof >She takes a hold of the cupcake sized dome at the top and takes a bite >You expected it to have taken on the texture of actual cake but instead you’re showered with wood splinters >With a swing of her tail, it extends and sticks into the ground beside you and Eris rapidly pulls herself towards you >As the tail retracts Eris slowly begins shrinking again >By the time she’s landed besides you, she’s returned to her natural size while the dome has shrunk alongside her >You look into the now demolished dome and see what looks like a bedroom on the inside, or half of one, with several miniature Eris’ having a party in the ruins >Before you’re able to comment she holds up a talon to silence you >She slowly hovers behind you while her talon stays in place >You shoot a glance between her and the talon, only to see it now much closer to your face >The talon flattens out into a palm and raises to just below your eye level >Briefly you go cross-eyed as you stare at the slowly rising appendage >When it stops your eyes snap forward and from your perspective it seems like the talon is holding Sugarcube Corner >”I did say I wanted everything they had” With a deeper chuckle then usual Eris reattaches her talon and begins lifting it >And Sugarcube Corner lifts with it >As the foundation of the building is ripped out you feel a slight shift under your feet and take a step back to steady yourself >Spinning around to face Eris you see her holding a much smaller version of Sugarcube Corner in her talon “Eris you can’t just-” You try to object but Eris is quick to interject >”Oh my dear Anonymous” Pulling at her golden brown fur, it once again pops open like a shirt collar >With both her limbs full, her dragon leg detaches and walks up her body and reaches into the pocket >The claw pulls out another box, which Eris happily dumps the Sugarcube Corner into it >”You don’t need to worry about can and can’t anymore, now that we’re friends, I’m happy to show you the time of your life!” With a smile that literally splits her face in two and a wink she once again folds into herself and disappears >It was getting harder and harder to gauge Eris with each encounter >Was that ominous sarcasm or was she being genuine >These thoughts and countless other swarm your mind as you begin jogging through Ponyville >With no way to tell where she was going you decide to head back to the square >At least, you try to >When the fountain comes into view you pick up the pace of your jog but find yourself getting further from it >Your first mistake was stopping >Despite you no longer being in motion you are hurled backwards as the ground is pulled out from under you >Then that damned laugh invades your ears again >As you shake off the dirt from your jacket you look down to see a dirt road treadmill has appeared where once was solid ground >Meanwhile in front of you, two Eris’ holding up a lifesize portrait of the fountain, moving back in sync to give the illusion you just witnessed >Again you’re reminded that, while her actions have been wildly unpredictable, at least no one’s gotten seriously hurt >You allow yourself a moment to relax when that thought crosses your mind, and you can’t help but crack a smile at Eris >If you can convince her to restore Sugarcube Corner, this might not be too bad >Your second mistake was thinking she’d stick around >You’re briefly blinded by the flash of a camera as Eris once more giggles at you before she’s gone in a flash of her own >The portrait of the fountain drops and catches in the still in-motion tread, sticking to it like glue and bending like rubber >Moving around the treadmill you approach the fountain and notice a distinct orange glow and a visceral heat >You have to keep a sizeable distance from the fountain as you nearly retch at the overbearing stench of sulfur >Inside the fountain, the water has been replaced with lava >Luckily the stone stays intact >You also see some ponies enjoying the new addition >Three stone ponies to be precise >The blank white eyes of each statue turns to you as you slowly pace back and forth in front of the fountain >They each share a glance between each other before the pegasus raises one of its wings from the depth of the magma >With a flick the pegasus sends a bout of lava at you >For a brief moment, you ponder if this is how you die >You’re not given long to ponder however as the lava hits your arm before you blink >You tense up your entire body in anticipation of the pain, but nothing comes >Inspecting the lava further you confirm that it does give off an intense heat, but not enough to burn >Unfortunately the sulfuric smell is still very pungent >It has the texture of a viscous gel and slides off of your arm with ease, leaving no stain except for a slight pink tint from the heat >Briefly shooting a glance at the fountain ponies you quickly move on after they shoot a wink back at you >”Hey Anonymous” >Backpedalling into the previous street, your turn to see a now paintless Rainbow Dash has finally gotten back with Fluttershy >And they’ve got a very disgruntled cowboy pony in tow >”What the hay is taking Twilight so long? This town is getting worse by the second!” Rainbow points at the lava fountain to emphasize her point “It… looks worse than it seems?” >While not entirely false, you expect the three of them will find no credence in your words >”Don’t matter much how bad it is, it’s still bad” Applejack scuffs her hoof against the dirt as she dismisses your words “Ya ask me, ah’m in the right mind to buck that smug grin right offa this ‘Eris’ gals muzzle” >Applejack is undoubtedly used to being dirty and worn out but even you can tell she’s been pushed to her limit >The entirety of her forelegs, barrel and the bottom of her mane has been steeped in dirt, the crisp orange of her coat's natural colour is barely peaking through the brown >The rest of her coat has been matted with sweat and what you can only assume is apple juice >The only part of her left untouched is her stetson hat, still as pristine as when you last saw it “So how bad is the rest of the town exactly?” >You hope that Eris hasn’t just been going easy on the areas of town you’ve been through >”Ah reckon it’d take me an hour to list everything but here’s a start: she turned all the paths in mah orchard to rocky road. Oh she found that pun real funny. So funny she felt the need to tell me about it three times.” >Applejack’s face hardens as she talks, eventually talking through clenched teeth >With a distinctly horse-like whinny she shakes her head and takes a deep sigh >”Why in tarnation couldn’t Discord ’ve just kept her in his house, or just not bring her here in the first place?” >As Applejack’s temper begins to flare again, Fluttershy places a hoof on her withers >”I’m sure he just didn’t expect this kind of reaction from her Applejack, I’m sure if we talk to him, he’ll understand” >It’s clear to you that neither Rainbow or Applejack share her optimism >Quite frankly neither do you >You are certain that, if anyone could get Discord to stop Eris, it would be Fluttershy >But your concern comes from whether or not he actually could stop her >From what you’ve seen, she could probably match him if she needed to >That wasn’t a pleasant thought >”Ok Shy, sure, but first we kind of need to know where he is” >Fluttershy shrinks back slightly at Rainbow’s words “Well unless he’s been running around with a wig, the only draconequus I’ve seen for the last hour or so is Eris” >”As I recall, I’m currently walking Cadence through my plan to broker a peace with the Changelings through the use of: some rope, half a barrel of cheese, and a talking ferret” >There was neither the flash or pop that you’ve become used to, but all the same Discord has appeared beside the four of you >”Discord!” The low volume of Fluttershy’s voice betrays the enthusiasm of her words as she goes to hug Discord >Just as she reaches his torso however, Fluttershy phases completely through him, temporarily replacing Applejack’s anger with confusion >”Augh, Discord, now ain’t the right time fer your antics, be a Celestia darned father and fix your daughter’s mess” >”Mess!” Discord places a talon against his chest in mock offense “I have a keen eye for interior decoration and if you ask me, she’s done a swell job of sprucing the place up” >Whipping out a camera of his own, he begins rapidly flashing pictures “This place hasn’t looked this good since that whole vine incident” >With each flash of the camera, chunks of the chaotic town disappear >As the old camera prints out the photos he gives each one a light blow, restoring the briefly vanished parts of the town, still as chaotic as before >”Oh, these are definitely going in the book” Once more he takes out the blank black book from before and places the photos within >Snapping the book shut, Discord disperses both it and the camera >”You can scrap book with your colt group later Discord” This time it’s Rainbow who phases through Discord >Groaning at the chaotic goat, Dash simply settles for getting as close to his face without phasing through it >”The town is a mess, you brought her here, you fix this!” >”Oh my dear Rainbow, I would if I could, but I can’t. Luckily I can, and I will in about.... Oh-” Whipping out a melted clock Discord eyes the illegible time “-ten minutes? Give or take” “Wait so are you, or are you not gonna fix this?” >If you didn’t know any better you’d say that Discord looks disappointed in you >”Oh Anonymous my boy, I had hoped that you at least would get it, after all you were the one who- well, you’ll figure it out” >Again, no flash, but Discord has donned a white professor’s coat, with several complex equations and childish doodles littering it >”I’m not really here, here, as you might have noticed” To emphasize his point he puts his arm through his body and wraps it back around so it pokes out of his face “I’m just a delivery boy, your me is currently enjoying a wonderful conversation with Cadence” >Despite the girl’s looking completely lost you’re just managing to follow the nonsense he’s trying to explain >”I think right now I’ve shifted to my talk of matchmaking, oh the wonderful relationship ideas I had” Swooning slightly he puts his phased arm against his forehead as it snaps back to normal “Personally I think it’s going swell, even in hindsight she really was just being a killjoy” >”Anywho, after that little… spat I’ll end up here, then after some strong-arming, your truly appears here” >You and the girls each share a look of complete confusion, Rainbow’s muzzle twitching as she tries to think of what to say and Fluttershy looking like she’s repeating Discord’s words in her head to try and understand them “That was… great? Discord” You finally break the silence and Discord gives a small bow as his coat slips off “But could you repeat that in English?” >”But could you repeat that in Ponish?” >You and Applejack look at each other as you talk over each other “I mean Ponish” >”Ah mean English” >Once more you and Applejack stare at each other >Applejack chuckles as the two of you stumble over each other and you can’t help but find it infectious >Discord simply rolls his eyes at the two of you, quite literally as they click against the ground like dice >”Honestly, I can’t wrap my head around living through a linear timeline like you lot, it sounds dreadfully boring” >When the eyes settle, Discord pull a small umbrella out from his back and grabs Applejack’s hat, much to her chagrin >”Like I said, I’m just a delivery boy” Slipping the yellow umbrella into Applejack’s hat it disappears completely into the stetson as he throws it to land perfectly back on Applejack’s hat “See you all in a few minutes” >Without any of the usual flash or panache he simply begins fading into nothing >Thoroughly confused by that, you and the girls simply stand there, while Applejack paws at the inside of her hat looking for the intruding umbrella >”Girls, Anonymous!” A new call finally snaps you all out of your thoughts >Looking up, you see Twilight flying down to the three of you and Pinkie bounding across the ground not too far from you >As the pink blur and purple alicorn finally reach your group the girls exchange hugs >Seeing the state of Applejack, Twilight ignites her horn >As her horn glows a deeper purple the magic envelops Applejack’s body, causing the dirt and grime to slowly wash out of her coat, returning it to its usual hue >With the pleasantries done Twilight looks around the group but pauses >”Where’s Rarity?” >”We were just planning on grabbing her now, ‘til we ran into Anonymous here, and then Discord” Applejack’s tone drops at the mention of Discord >”Hold on, I should be able to…” >Twilight’s face begins twisting in concentration as her horn ignites once more >With a flash of purple, Rarity appears in the middle of her group >And immediately loses her balance >Being closest to her you dip to one knee and hold your hands out in case she collapses >Her body briefly falls into your hands but she uses the surface to regain her footing and stabilise herself, though she is still shaking on her hooves >”Rarity, are you alright?” Twilight voices all of your concerns as she approaches the dishevelled mare >”I. Have been spinning. For fourty minutes!” Rarity gasps several times, trying to catch her breath >As Rarity continues gasping Pinkie goes to her side and produces a simple paper bag for the unicorn mare who takes it gratefully >With her breathing back to normal Rarity begins again “I was finishing off my latest orders, when the ponnequins came to life and started asking me for changes to their clothing, as if I had made it for them” >With the bag no longer needed, Rarity returned it to Pinkie and began fixing her messy mane >”Initially I thought it was due to that dreadful Discord” You spot Fluttershy mouth straightening into a line at Rarity’s tone “but instead I was greeted by a female doppleganger, it was the most peculiar sight.” >While not satisfied with the state of mane, Rarity moves on to her tail to fix it as best she can. “I introduced myself and the store, but before I could get another word in edgewise she took the name ‘Carousel’ boutique literally and it began spinning out of control” >Heaving a sigh at her still raggedy mane and tail she looks back to Twilight “I’m just thankful Sweetie Belle wasn’t stuck in there. Thank you ever so much for the rescue dear” >Twilight wraps Rarity in a hug of hooves and wings, apologising for not doing so sooner >Rarity is quick to dismiss Twilight’s worries though, citing Eris as the problem >”Now, somepony please tell me we have someway to make her stop” >You and Twilight share a nervous glance as she tilts her head to the side >Taking the hint you move a bit away from the group as they share their own tales of encountering Eris >”Have you had any luck with Eris yet?” >The surrounding area could answer Twilight’s question easily but you see the nervous look in her eyes breaking through the calm face “I haven’t even had a conversation with her” >As much as you’d like to reassure her, you don’t really have anyway to do so “The only thing I can think of is that she hasn’t really hurt anyone” >You list off your handful of encounters with Eris and Twilight slowly nods as she processes each part >”Ok, she isn’t hurting anypony, but it sounds like she’s making more and more chaotic changes as time goes on, we should try and find her quickly” >”That’s great and all Twi” You and Twilight look up to see the rest of the girls have eavesdropped on you both “but how in the hay are we supposed to find a needle like her in a haystack like this?” >Applejack waves a hoof to indicate Ponyville as Twilight ponders her question >”We could try the spell that summons Discord to try and summon her by proxy, but I’m not sure if that would work” Twilight’s eyes dart back and forth as she weigh whatever options there are >While she’s deep in thought Pinkie speaks up “Didn’t you girls say you saw Discord already? Maybe he’s gone to grab Eris right now” >You, Fluttershy, Rainbow and Applejack all share unsure glances with each other >”Well sure, he appeared outta nowhere about ten minutes ago, but after talking some nonsense he left, just a little bit before you and Twi appeared actually” >As Applejack finishes, your brain latches onto her mention of ten minutes >A brief gust of wind blows across the ground as you see a very slight pink tint in the distance >Without much thought you grab hold of Applejack’s hat and stuff your hand inside >Surprisingly you’re able to go shoulder deep in the hat before making contact with something >With a yank you pull the yellow umbrella out of the hat and return the stetson to its owner >You inspect the umbrella for its mechanism but are startled when it opens on its own and encompasses the area around you and the girls >Before any of them can question you, the sound of trickling rain splattering against the umbrella stops them >As the rain drips off the umbrella you notice a distinct brown and grey colour to it >Closing the umbrella with a click, you watch as the drops slowly move towards each other and begin growing bigger and bigger until they begin to take on the form of Discord >With a pained groan he stretches out his back >”Honestly, I don’t see how matching Tirek with a copy of himself is such a bad idea” After several clicks and pops he straightens out with a shudder “Oh and Anonymous-” >Finally turning to the seven of you he beams at you >”-don’t think I didn’t see that little trick with the umbrella” Splitting into multiple clones they each give you a small ovation “I didn’t know you had some chaos magic of your own” >Briefly looking between Discord and the umbrella you hold it out for him “Actually, it’s just a loan” >”And don’t go messin’ with my hat in the future- ah mean- the past” >Umbrella in talon, Discord looks confused for the first time since you met him as he looks between you and Applejack >”I’m sorry this is new to me, I’m lost” “Don’t worry, you’ll get it in about 10 minutes ago” >You dismissively wave at him and his confusion turns to surprise >”What a delightfully chaotic thing to say Anonymous, I knew there was something special about you” Discord wipes at his eye before shrinking and stretching across your shoulders >Before you’re able to question him you’re blinded by the flash of another camera >Discord disembarks from your shoulder as he looks over the photo >Cheerfully inspecting the photo Discord pauses as he seemingly just starts processing your words >”Oooooooh, poo.” With a sigh he holds up his arm, only to show some cracks have appeared on it >Turning to you he leans down to eye level “You said ten minutes, yes?” “Give or take” Echoing Discord’s own words back at him feels weird >”But time stuff is such a bore. Maybe I could let the continuum slip just this once?” >As his eyes sweep over the seven of you they stop at Fluttershy, who has simply raised a thoroughly unimpressed eyebrow at him >”Oh fine- fine” With a snap he makes the umbrella vanish “If living in a reality that doesn’t collapse in on itself is that important to you, I’ll go” >”Annnnnnd?” >Fluttershy has taken on a smug grin that could rival Eris’ easily as she stretches out the word >”And, I’ll ‘fix’ this ‘mess’ when I get back” >”Thank you Discord” Back to her chipper self, Fluttershy wraps Discord in a hug, causing him to awkwardly laugh before coughing into his talon to regain his composure >”Yes, well, you may want to stand back for this” Suddenly bracing himself, Discord moves Fluttershy away with his tail >Mimicking what you saw just a few minutes ago, Discord begin simply fading out of existence >While Twilight, Pinkie and Rarity are all thoroughly confused by what they just saw, you, Fluttershy, Rainbow and Applejack share a knowing look >Before either of the other three are able to voice any questions, Discord reappears, his usual flare back in full >”Now that that tedium is over and done with” With a cheerful tone Discord looks around at the scenery “I see that Eris has been getting settled in splendidly here” >Several copies of his faces appear across his neck and torso as he tries to take in more of Ponyville >You follow some of his gazes yourself and see that the town is still devolving >One by one, flash after flash, the various buildings are slowly turning to origami >Ponies begin galloping out of the spa as you see the mud from the mud baths seeping out and turning the surrounding area into swamp >”Yeah Discord” Twilight has started approaching Discord, causing him to retract his spare faces “she’s gotten really comfortable after she tried taking the Elements of Harmony” >Both the girls and Discord gasp, though Discord is brimming with mirth >”My Eris got past all those little spells you and the other princesses locked the Elements behind?” He lets out a small squee as Twilight nods her head “That’s my girl!” >”Discord!” Fluttershy’s level tone causes Discord beaming grin to dull slightly, though his pride is still evident on his face >”Don’t worry Fluttershy, it’s not like she could have done anything with them anyway, right?” He looks at you and Twilight for confirmation, but you and Twilight share a small grimace as you remember her getting a hold of them >”Wait! Don’t tell me, I want to guess” With no sense of personal space he scans you and Twilight up and down as his face turns slowly into a grin >”Oh my, she touched them didn’t she?” Discord is desperately trying to hold in his laughter as you and Twilight nod at him >With the dam broken he spins in mid air as he continuously doubles over “I can’t believe she actually touched them, her face must have been priceless” >”I’m not so sure dad” Everyone in the group, save for you and Discord, tense when Eris voice cuts through the air once more >While Pinkie shoots a suspicious glance at Eris, Fluttershy retreats behind her mane and the rest of the girls turn to her with glares >Discord is the complete opposite though, beaming at his daughter >Meanwhile, you’re still unsure of the chaotic girl, so your face remain mostly neutral as you turn to look at her, though you do exchange a wave with her >”Personally I think, these faces” With a snap and a flash two statues of Discord appear, one of them holding his stomach as he laughs towards the sky, the other holding his mismatched limbs up with face contorted in what you can only see as fear “are MUCH funnier” >Eris’ face twists back and forth between the two statue faces before laughing >With a chuckle of his own, Discord wraps Eris in a hug “Yes, yes, good times, had by all, right girls?” >Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack and Rarity simply snort dismissively at Discord >Pinkie on the other hand has begun drooling with a thousand yard stare >Spotting this Discord whispers something into Eris’ ears who’s eyes widen in shock >With a smirk she snaps her talon, causing a pink cloud to appear in Pinkie’s hooves >Holding the cloud up, Pinkie wrings it like a sponge, causing chocolate milk to rain into her mouth >You look up at Eris and curiously see her shooting glances at you through the corner of her eye >Speaking up you get her attention “What, no silly straw?” >Eris smacks her face at your question, before snapping her paw >With a delighted squeak Pinkie begins guzzling the chocolate milk through the non-euclidian straw >”She’s alright by me” >You spot Fluttershy’s eyes flicking between Eris and Pinkie’s interaction from behind her mane >Taking a deep breath, she straightens herself out and flutters over to Eris >”Um, you must be Eris?” Despite her nervous tone Fluttershy manages to suppress her shivers which you spot at her twitching hooves “I’m Fluttershy, it’s nice to-” >”The Fluttershy!?” Taking the shy mare’s hoof in her talon and paw, Eris begins shaking Fluttershy vigorously “The one responsible for my dad going soft on you all; yes he wouldn’t stop talking about you when he was packing my things in the old world before bringing me here” >Despite being let go, Fluttershy continues to shake up and down until Discord stops her with a press of her head >”Wait a darn minute, did you just say ‘old world’? The hay does that mean?” >Before Eris is able to answer a new voice cuts in >Your body shakes involuntarily as you feel the words shoots through your mind >”An old world? Yes, I’d like to hear more about this myself” >Great, another newcomer >You decide to take a page out of the pony’s book as you voice your annoyance “Oh for Celestia’s sake, who is it now?” >The others seem to be just as confused by the telepathic message as they look around for the source of the voice >Before you’re able to look around yourself you feel your mind rear back at something that isn’t there >Adrenaline suddenly begins pumping through your body while your legs and arm tense as your fight or flight instincts turn up to 11 >You groan as you feel the air pressure dropping >You felt something similar when Twilight teleported Rarity, only now it feels different >The only word that you feel can describe it is heavy >What feels like pins and needles encompasses your body as the feeling of the air around you and the ground beneath you is numbed >While you try to inspect your arm to confirm what you’re feeling you can’t wrap your head around a single thought >It’s like static in your head as each thought is lost before it can be formed >If that wasn’t enough you suddenly feel hot >Heat greater than the fountain of lava flushes through your body, from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet >The numb feeling in your arms and legs overtakes the adrenaline and your legs give way under you >However your nervous system is given a hard reset as you feel a sudden impact against your stomach snapping your brain back into action >Though it’s of little use as you double over in pain and drop to one knee >If that wasn’t enough a flash unlike anything Discord or Eris have used encompasses your entire vision temporarily blinding you >The air just seems to keep getting heavier as a ringing pierces your ears >A dull, incoherent echo repeats in your ears as you try to keep yourself from completely collapsing >Then silence >It become uncomfortably quiet as your own heavy breathing is all you can hear >Your mind takes a few second to fully start processing your surroundings >First your ears clarify what the dull echo from before was >Twilight was calling your name, she still is actually >You hold up a numb hand as best as you can to let her know you’re becoming responsive >Second comes your sense of touch >As Twilight turns you on to your back you sit up just as quickly when you feel a dozen small pricks in your back >Finally the white begins to clear and you look around >Ponyville’s been turned back to normal >And littering the burnt ground around you are small pieces of glass >Before you can turn your head up you are taken into a gentle hold by a pair of pure white wings >”Little human I can not apologise enough! I had no idea harmony magic would affect you like this” >Before you’re able to respond a golden glow encompasses your body >The pain of the shards in your back dissipates and you feel your senses hone themselves back to full in an instant >Similarly to when you first ended up here you gulp down the air as best you can >Despite being back to one hundred percent your mind is still reeling from the sensory overload >Raising a shaking hand you slowly get to your feet >The wings never leave your side as you do, gently repositioning themselves when you stumble slightly >Finally, after what felt like several minutes just to rise to your feet you turn around >A pure white coat to match her wings and a gentle visage >Deep violet eyes resting beneath a crown of intricately forged gold >To finish off, an incandescent, multi-hued mane >Now steady on your feet, the princess retracts her wings, though the golden hue of her horn persists, clearly intent to cast a spell if you need one >Princess Celestia >While you feel none of the fight or flight from before you can still feel a slight pressure radiating from her body >You had heard brief stories from Twilight about her, but you assumed they were all from the skewed perspective of a student and admirer >Evidently, you were wrong >When Twilight says she towers above other ponies, she meant that she towers >Celestia actually stands above you in height >While you’re level with her head, you have to turn your gaze up to meet hers >Before you’re able to fully wrap your head around what just happened, Celestia drops herself into a deep bow >”I humbly apologise for hurting you the way I have, if there is anything I can do to rectify this, please let me know” >Ok, you officially feel weird “Hey, it’s alright, I know you didn’t mean anything by it” Quickly dropping to your knees you hesitantly place your hands on either side of her and wave them upwards >Thankfully she takes the indication and stands >”Well, be that as it may, my offer will stand until I feel I have properly apologised” >With a sigh of relief you wave her off >You’re just glad that you don’t feel like the world is collapsing anymore >”If you’re having an apology party, where are our invitations?” >You realise that, in the confusion, you had forgotten Eris and Discord were even here >Both have been hurled several dozen feet >Discord’s body has wrapped around a lamp-post several times while Eris has dug a trench from the force of her impact with the ground >”I’ll deal with you two when my sister arrives” >While Discord is being aided by Fluttershy you notice that the others have dropped low in a bow to the princess >Heaving a sigh you slowly make your way over to Eris, still worried your legs will collapse under you again >You feel Celestia cautiously place a wing in front of your path but you brush past it >If you’re gonna reform Eris you’ll need to make an effort >A quiet, pained groan escapes Eris’ lips as she attempts to prop herself up on her elbows >With a grunt of pain her arms give out and she lands on her back again >The magic must have really done a number on her >Considering her nature, you’re not surprised >You slowly step into the trench, avoiding loose rocks and Eris’ bruised body as you do >By the time you reach Eris’ head you’re up to your waist in dirt >Slowly inspecting Eris’ body you can’t help but recoil slightly at the damage >Her arms and legs twitch sporadically, probably from her body trying to simply process the pain >From what you’ve pieced together from her brief rant back in the castle, it seems like she went completely unchallenged in her Equestria >Going thousands of years without even acknowledging the concept of pain is probably making this harder for her than it should be >You steal a glance at Discord and see him already back on his feet, or his cloven hoof and claw >He’s unsteady, but stable with Fluttershy’s help >A shallow gasp brings your attention back to the female draconequus >You’re pretty sure she isn’t even aware of your presence right now >Not wanting to agitate her injuries you settle for brushing her hair out of her eyes >You can’t help but appreciate how soft it is while you sweep it behind her ear >This gets her attention as she slowly cracks opens an eye >Neither of you are really sure what to say, so for now you simply share a gaze >Finally breaking the silence Eris once more attempts to prop herself up >Just as Celestia did with you, you hold your hands just above Eris’ body, ready to catch her if she falls again >She manages to find enough of her strength to settle herself on a loose patch of dirt >Taking a deep breath to steady her shaking limbs she leans towards you and manages to eke out her voice >”Are you alright?” >The absurdity of the question cause you to let out a chuckle “What?” You ask through another chuckle, double-checking that you heard right >”I saw you collapse before I got flung by that white-” Eris slowly clenches her talon, digging up dirt as she begins to mentions Celestia >Before she can finish the insult, the dirt agitates her wounds enough to elicit another pained gasp from her >She attempts to cling to her injured talon with her paw, which nearly causes her to collapse from the sudden weight shift >Luckily you were close enough to stop her from collapsing into the trench again >As you wrap your hands around her back she gasps slightly at the contact but with a few deep breaths she settles down >Once more she props herself up and holds a shaking paw up to you >Slowly releasing her, she settles back on the dirt “Trust me Eris, you’re doing a lot worse than me” >”Pffft” her dismissive hiss is cut as she gasps once again, but she persists nonetheless “Please, it’ll take more than Celestia to keep me down” >She shoots you a shaky smile in an attempt to dissuade your concern >You simply raise a skeptical eyebrow at her in response >Snorting, she turns her head away from you and mutters “shut up” under her breath >The clamour of hushed voices tears your attention away from Eris once more >Having finished greeting Celestia, the girls are seemingly recounting the goings on of the last hour or so >You notice that Discord has abandoned his usually nosy personality as he hasn’t moved from the lamp post ever since Fluttershy unwrapped him >Fluttershy herself hasn’t left Discord’s side either, tending to his wounds as best as she can without an aid kit >It’s unlikely that either Discord or Eris will actually need one >Once they get their magic back they’ll most likely be able to undo their wounds with ease >Still you can’t help but share Fluttershy’s desire to ease Eris as best as you can until that time >Before you can turn back to your quasi-patient Celestia’s eyes catch yours >Her violet eyes briefly flick over to Eris and Discord’s damaged forms >What you saw as a gentle visage before hardens into a slight glare >She clearly regrets catching you in the crossfire of her spell, but she definitely doesn’t feel that same regret towards Eris or Discord >Her gaze turns back to the girls and just as quickly as it appeared, the glare is replaced with the motherly smile and calming gaze from before >You also notice that she’s positioned herself so that you two are within full view out of the corner of her eyes >For a brief second, your mind flashes back to the pressure you felt radiating off her >The memory cuts out as quickly as it entered your mind >You shake your head to clear your thoughts and turn back to Eris Leaning down you extend a hand to her “Can you stand?” >Your voice grabs her attention again as she looks between your hand and your face >She clears her throat before awkwardly placing her talon in your hand >You notice a slight pink tint creep up on her cheeks while her talon rapidly changes from a sturdy grip to going slack in your grip >Slowly, you begin pulling her to her feet >Once more you’re reminded of the height difference between the two of you >She has to slowly retract her feet into a crouch so that she can rise >Fluttershy was probably able to stay level with Discord as she pulled him up >Sadly, you can’t do the same >As she continues to rise far past your head she continues holding your hand >When she finally gets back to her full height she parts her claw and cloven hoof to steady herself >Taking a deep breath she gives you a small smile as she finally stabilises >You return the smile just as she rips her talon from your hand >Holding it in her paw as she looks everywhere but at you >”T- thanks Anon” >You simply respond with a nod before tilting your head towards the group >Still unsteady, Eris begins walking with you back to Celestia and the girls >Your hands stay at your side, ready to catch her if she falls again >Celestia is the first to notice you two approaching >Holding up a hoof to a still ranting Applejack, she turns to face you two >Out of the corner of your eyes you spot Discord and Fluttershy following your example as they begin approaching as well >Spotting you, Twilight rushes over to your side >With a flap of her wings she begins circling you, checking your body for any damage >You chuckle a little at her concern “Twilight, don’t worry, Celestia did a great job patching me up” You shoot the princess another thankful nod which she happily returns >”Anon I’ve never seen any creature react to harmony magic the same way you did” Twilight’s face twists in thought slightly “Actually, this is the first time I’ve seen you give any kind of physical reaction to magic at all” >Before she can go too deep in thought she shakes her head >”Maybe I should take you back to the castle, run some tests” >”Oh yes” The sound of slow clapping draws you and Twilight’s attention to Eris “Brilliant idea Sparkle-” >You’re surprised as Eris uses her tail to slowly push you behind her, placing herself in front of Twilight >”-let’s take Anon, who just collapsed from magic, and pump him full of some more” >Twilight glares up at Eris ”They’d be non-intrusive medical projection spells, they wouldn’t even enter his body” with a flap of her wing she rises to meet Eris at eye level >”Or am I supposed to trust his safety with you?” Eris’ eyes widen slightly as Twilight jabs a hoof into her chest to emphasize her words, before they narrow to pinpricks “You, the draconequus who stuffed one of my friends in a paint can! And trapped another in her own house for a quick laugh!” >Eris has lifted herself slightly off the ground with her own wings and you could swear that the red in her eyes has started to glow >”The worst I’ve done to Anon is dirty his clothes, SHE” with an accusatory talon Eris jabs in Celestia’s direction “nearly made him keel over-” Twilight’s confidence slightly falters at the reminder >Her eyes briefly flick to you before returning to Eris >”-am I supposed to trust his safety to her student?” >Before Twilight can retort Celestia’s voice cuts through the air like a gunshot “ENOUGH!” >Both girls heed Celestia’s words as they turn their attention to the alabaster alicorn, their argument forgotten >Despite the harsh volume of her voice, Celestia’s has kept her regal composure as she looks between the two >With one final exchange of glares, Eris and Twilight land on their feet, Eris stumbling slightly, and wincing at the pain >You place a hand on her back just in case, but she’s quick to wave you off >With the squabbling ended, Celestia approaches the three of you “I made it clear that any matters concerning you, Eris” Celestia’s voice drops slightly as she says Eris’ name, causing her to step back slightly “would be handled when my sister arrives” >The usual golden hue of Celestia’s magic is replaced by a deep azure that briefly lights up her horn before fading >With a contented sigh Celestia turns her attention fully to you >”Anonymous” As Celestia turns to you, you feel the pressure from before radiating from her again >”Yes your maje- Celestia?” You mentally curse yourself as you flub your response >Walking up to you she pushes Eris away with a wing and holds the other one in front of you like a barrier >”After what happened earlier I ask that you brace yourself for my sister’s arrival, just in case” >Before you’re able to question her further you feel the same shooting pain in your head from before return >Luckily you’re able to begin taking deep calming breath before your adrenal glands begin panicking again >A splitting migraine pierces your head before a harsh gust of air pressure washes over you, pushing you back slightly >Before you can collect yourself you feel Celestia’s wing wrap around you once more and what you can only assume is Eris’s talon on your shoulder >”Anon?” “I’m alright Eris- I’m-” You’re actions betray your words as you need to take several more calming breaths to stop your shaking “I’m fine, I’m not made of glass” >You can feel the histation in Eris as she slowly removes her talon from you >”We would disagree with such a sentiment” You can feel the lunar princess before you even open your eyes >”Luna-” Celestia’s voice begins to dull in your ears as waves of a strange, serene calm slowly glide over you and wrap around your thoughts like vines >Where Celestia radiated a gentle calm like basking in a simple summer noon, Luna’s presence brings a calm that reminds you of a dreamless sleep >With a grunt you actually have to shake your head to stave off the intrusive, uninvited calm >Finally opening your eyes you see Celestia shooting her sister a look you can’t quite read >”Really Luna?” >Luna simply turns her nose up slightly at Celestia “We can turn it off no less than you can dear sister, ‘tis simply the reaction of his meager constitution” >With your thoughts freed from whatever that was you begin to process Luna’s body >The fur of her coat gently blows in the wind and all too quickly you find your mind lulling once more >The longer you stare at her, the deeper the gentle mental vines from before dig into your mind >You feel them >You can almost see them in your mind’s eye >But you can’t find the strength to shake them off >The world around you seems to fade, dull voices echo in the empty that surrounds you >Even the tangible presence of Celestia begins to fade >All that remains besides you and Luna is the sun >The golden glow catches in her azure coat, pulling your stare deeper >Slowly, the light begins to fade as well, and is replaced by a shining silver >The muscles hidden by her coat undulate beneath the contours of her lithe frame >As one muscle rolls over the other you are reminded of waves in an ocean >Suddenly, the world falls around you gently like smoke and is replaced with a desolate beach >Your hazed mind inspects your surroundings >But you see nothing >No Eris, no Twilight, only cold pale sands >You feel nothing >What once was a constant pressure from Celestia pushing against your body has faded to still, dead air >All that remains in this place is you, and the azure waters >One part of you wants to pull your mind out of this place, but another part of you, in its foolish curiosity, wants to remain >Ultimately you decide to stay >You feel no danger here >This place, this beach, it is cold and dark >And a very gentle place >Once more your gaze stares into the abyssal waters and a voice, not your own, intrudes on your mind once more >Before, it felt like the words sliced cleanly through your head >Now it feels as though the words are slowly dripping from the folds in your brain, like rain >”Great volumes of deep water serve as a grand bulwark, guarding sleep” >As the waves gently lap against the shore the refined azure begins to darken and blend with deep purples >White dots begin to shine through the dark waters and you realise you’ve begun staring into a night sky full of stars “stop it” Your mouth doesn’t move, but your own voice cuts into your star-gazing, disturbing the infinite ocean of the night sky, creating ripples that cause some of the stars to fade >You feel your mind lurch back and once more you become aware of the vines gently caressing your mind “Stop it” This time you manage to vocalize your thoughts and the night sky falls into the sea, the chunks of solid sky forcing up huge plumes of water that crash into your body violently as you return to the beach from before “Stop it, stop it” With each repetition your mind begins to recoil and forcibly tears the intruding magical vines out “Stop it! Get out of my head!” With one last cry you clasp your hands around your head and stumble back >Once more the pressure radiating from Celestia hits you and you can feel various appendages holding you steady >A part of you is worried about opening your eyes again, you can still feel Luna >She hasn’t moved an inch >But the gentle calls of your name gently open your eyes for you >Eris has clasped her talon and paw on your shoulder and has used her body to block Luna from your view, worry etched on her face >Twilight meanwhile a hoof on your side and a wing against your back “Didn’t know you girls cared so much” You let out a nervous chuckle to try and ease the tension >Eris lets out a sigh of relief and gives a chuckle of her own “Only cause you’re the only one who’s put up with me so far” >You shoot her a small grin and pat Twilight on the head >Undoubtedly you’ve given her enough material to make her think you need to be doted on constantly now, but you’ll burn that bridge when you get to it >To the side you see an equal measure of curiosity and worry on Celestia’s face before she turns to her sister >With a deep breath you make a greater effort to mentally prepare yourself this time as you turn your gaze back to Luna >Just as you had felt, she hasn’t moved >”Hmmm, interesting” >You hear a small gasp from Twilight and a not so small gasp from Eris at Luna’s words >With a flap of her wings, Eris plants her face an inch from Luna’s >”He has THAT kind of reaction to looking at you and all you can say is ‘hmmm’?” >Luna’s calm remains undisturbed despite Eris’ being so close >”Get thee gone creature” Luna almost sounds bored as she talks down to the draconequus, despite having to crane her neck to look Eris in the eye “we have little time and less patience still for Discord’s spawn” >Eris bares her fangs at Luna’s callous dismissal but stops when a golden glow gently tugs her away >With a glance, Celestia dismisses Eris just as quickly as Luna did before turning to her sister >”Luna! I thought I made it clear-” >”’Tis passive magic Celestia, you know this” Luna cuts Celestia off, though you hear none of the callousness from before in her voice “Are We to apologise to for the results of a spell We did not consciously cast?” >”You could have stopped it at any point” >”As could he” Luna nods her head towards you as she counters her sister's point “Yet he chose not to ‘til the end, and you can not deny thine own curiosity at the fact he has reacted to us both just as our little ponies did all those millenia ago” >With a nudge to your side Twilight grabs your attention >She gives you a questioning nod which you return >While hesitant, Twilight moves in to join the conversation between the two sisters >As the three begin talking, with Eris butting in every now and then the other girls surround you >They each question you while Fluttershy gently inspects your body for any damage >Honestly, you just feel tired >Having to deal with the presence of the two ruling alicorn sisters has left you drained >Your adrenal glands have never pumped out so much adrenaline so rapidly and in such quick succession >Slowly you feel the dull aches of exhaustion start to spread through your body >You suppress a yawn as you turn your attention to the girls >”Are you quite sure you’re alright darling?” Rarity’s asks in her usual posh, dulcet tone “Maybe you should sit down, we could go back to my boutique, it’s not far” “Thanks Rarity” She puffs her chest out slightly with a small smile on her face “But I’m gonna have to say no” >The fashionista deflates slightly at your refusal but pushes her point “Darling, I understand wanting to put up a strong front, but you look exhausted” “I probably feel worse than I look” You let out a tired laugh but none of the girls seem to share your sense of humor >”Anonymous, you’ve had a very… volatile reaction today, maybe you should take it easy” >”Ah’m with Rarity on this one” Applejack cuts in as she shoots a glance at the princesses and Eris “Ah ain’t ever seen the princesses this riled up before, and I don’t want you gettin’ caught in another spell again” >With a deep sigh you slightly shift one of your aching shoulder back and forth and roll it in its socket to try and alleviate the tension >Just as you do you feel a pair of hooves press into your shoulder blade and you feel some of the tension start to ease up >Looking over your shoulder you see Fluttershy, eyes focused as she presses into various points on your back, loosening your recently tensed muscles >You’re surprised she doesn’t work with those massage ponies Caramel mentioned “Girls, I’m fine. At least now I am” You can see that they aren’t convinced so you turn to the other draconequus “Discord, back me up” >No answer comes though, save for several successive snaps >Turning your head, you see Discord concentrating on his talon and paw, snapping the thumb and index of one and then the other >He tries different combinations of fingers and even tries clapping before letting out a frustrated groan through gritted teeth >”Honestly Applejack, I don’t know how ponies like you can live like this” >With a derisive snort, Applejack approaches Discord “Don’t tell me the big bad Discord can’t handle not having his fancy schmancy magic for a few minutes” >”I wouldn’t expect you to understand Applejack” Rising to his feet, Discord makes full use of his height to tower over the mare “You’ve been stuck in the mud your whole life, I haven’t had to touch the ground in millenia” >”Yeah... well” With Discord literally hanging over her, Applejack has lost most of her previous confidence and steps back slightly “maybe you’d learn a thing or two if you did” >With a scuff of her hooves she walks back over to your group >”Oh, I doubt that” With a dismissive wave Discord goes back to snapping his talon >With an audible click you feel a lot of tension roll out of your shoulders >You roll them back and forth in their sockets again and heave a sigh of relief ”Thanks Fluttershy, why don’t you go check on the old man? He’s getting grumpy” With a smirk you nod towards Discord >”I heard that! I’ll have you know that I can’t remember how old I am, so for all you know I’m young” >Fluttershy hides a giggle behind her mane as she trots over to Discord, checking his bruises >”... in lieu of not being able to investigate his mental state directly” >”Considering the fact he isn’t a pony, that would be too invasive without asking” >You turn to the approaching princesses as they finally break away from their secluded discussion “Ask me what now?” >As the three princesses approach, Twilight’s eyes dart up and down your body, searching for any sign of another reaction like before >Luna regards you with cold curiosity, although her eyes betray her and show some regret >Celestia, as always retains the warm motherly gaze as before >”First things first, how are you holding up Anonymous? Sometimes my sister and I forget the kind of effect we can have on others” >Celestia looks out of the corner of her eyes towards Luna and raises her eyebrows slightly >With a small cough Luna approaches you “Indeed sister. Anonymous-” Once more she clears her throat as her regal composure falters slightly “-t’was not our intent to cause thee duress. We shall endeavor to suppress our passive magics when around you in the future to ensure it does not ail you again” >Now that she’s gotten closer you see that she’s about a head shorter than her sister >That puts her head just below your jawline “Thank you Luna” You hold out a hand to her which she graciously shakes with a hoof “It’s actually nice to finally meet you, Twilight hasn’t had much time tell me about you” >With a small smile Luna retracts her hoof “We are sorry to say that thine knowledge of us shall have to remain shallow for the moment as there are more pressing matter to deal with” >She shoots Discord and Eris a glance and narrows her eyes slightly >Eris simply pulls one of her eyelids down at the princess while Discord ignores her comment as he continues snapping his talon >”However, thou ought to know that our realm is that of dreams” This catches you off-guard slightly as Twilight had only said she was diarch of the night during one of the few crash course she was able to give you on Equestria >”At the behest of Twilight Sparkle We have refrained from yours for the time being, wouldst thou be willing to allow us to visit you while you sleep?” >You think about it for a moment but find no viable reasons to deny her “As long as I don’t have a bad reaction to you entering my mind again, you can knock yourself out” >Luna and Eris both pause at your words, until Eris bursts into a fit of laughter “You tell her Anon” >Luna meanwhile has scrunched her muzzle slightly and turned her head to the side >Seeing the confusion Celestia is quick to correct it >”Luna, he simply means you can do as you wish” >With a huff Luna rolls her eyes “Why must modern speech be so perplexing?” >Eris meanwhile has stopped her laughing fit “Wait that’s what you meant? Well that’s boring” >”Ah yes. Eris” Celestia once more turns to the female draconequus “Discord’s daughter from another world” >”That is the long and short of it, yes” Eris idly responds to Celestia as she grinds her talon’s claw against a small rock “Though, if you ask me, you could hardly tell the difference between here and there” >”Oh?” Celestia steps towards Eris as she holds up her talon and paw and creates a frame with her thumbs and fingers >Slowly adjusting the frame Eris closes an eye as she sweeps the frame back and forth between Celestia and Luna >”Yep, you two are practically mirrors of the ones I knew” Drifting over to Celestia she coils slightly above her head “For example you’re as big a killjoy as ever, if I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that my Celestia had followed me here” >Pulling out a magnifying glass, Eris’ eye presses through it as she turns to Luna “And don’t even get me started on Bluebean here?” >”Bluebean!?” Luna pulls retracts one of her legs as an indignant glare crosses her face >”Yeah, you know, Bluebean, Moon Cheese, you hated those names back home, I’m hoping you’re the same” Putting her talon and paw behind her head, Eris reclines mid air and lets her head drop backwards to look at Luna, a smug grin plastered on her face >As Luna’s horn begins glowing slightly Celestia places a hoof in front of her chest >Luna’s horn doesn’t get any brighter but neither does her magic stop completely >Pulling back her hoof, Celestia turns back to Eris ”According to Twilight there are no Elements in your world, I can’t imagine we’d be the same pony without them, what can you tell us about them?” >With a bored sigh Eris rest her chin in her talon “Oh you know, you two would find me, cast some spells, say ‘Eris something this, Eris something that’ honestly I just tuned you both out whenever you started talking” >Luna lets out a small groan as she leans in towards Celestia “Sister, this is going nowhere” >”Be patient Luna” Shooting a glance between Celestia and Eris, Luna lets out a sigh as she shakes her head >”Eris, I need to be sure that you understand that what you normally did won’t be allowed here in our Equestria” >Eris simply stares at the ground, following the path of a ladybug before snapping to attention “huh?” >A loud snap and brief flash catches your attention >As you look towards Discord you see him floating off the ground again, all of his previous injuries have disappeared while several flowers spin around him >”Oh, finally!” With a snap of her talon Eris clicks her wings to her side and she begins hovering as her own wounds fade >”That feels, so much better. You know, my Celestia really is a lot like you-” Stretching out her paw, Eris snaps again >In a flash she dons a robe and blind fold and holds up a pair of old scale, with Celestia on one side, causing it to dip >”-maybe not quite as heavy” >As she leaps from the scales you see Celestia’s horn start to glow ever so faintly >”None of your games creature, you would do well to cooperate if there are to be terms to you staying here” Luna’s horn shines much more brazenly as she points it squarely at Eris >Holding up her arms in mock surrender, Eris disappears her creations “There’s no need for such hostility, Luna. You ought to be thanking me really” >”Why would we ever thank a vile creature such as yourself, after what you did to this fair town?” >”Mud roads and thatch roofs? Yeah truly a ‘fair’ town” Eris looks up and down the street before grabbing some of the thatch from a roof and screwing it up into a ball and letting it roll through town like a tumbleweed “This place is a modern marvel” >Before either of the princesses can interject Eris gets closer to Luna “I am interested by your choice of words though. ‘Vile creature’ is kind of rich coming from you isn’t it?” >With a flash, Luna’s magic bursts from her horn and sends Eris back several feet, though she hardly seems phased by this spell >”What are you implying, creature?” >”Oh don’t pretend to be a fool Luna” With a snap of her talon, Eris replaces Luna’s regalia with a jester’s outfit “It really doesn’t suit you” >With another flash of her horn, Luna tears apart the outfit >”I mean, I’m not the one who got put in the moon for a thousand years” Luna’s eyes widen slightly as Eris rolls a miniature moon in her hand, on its surface is a rough cluster of craters that resemble a pony’s head >”But as for the thanks” Eris flings the moon over her shoulder, but it hovers above the ground rather than hitting it, and begins drawing in small bits of dirt and rock >”Without the Elements, you two had no way of decorating your garden with my beautiful form” Eris strikes several poses mid-air as she approaches the princesses >”And since both of you fought me together, your ponies loved you both equally” As Eris continues Luna’s horn slowly dims “which means there was never any Nightmare Moon, so, you’re welcome” >Luna simply stands there, her face a mix of contained rage and sadness >Before Eris can poke further Celestia goes face to face with her “How did you come to learn of these events in the first place Eris?” >”If something catches my attention, like you two” Eris pokes at Celestia’s horn but quickly pulls her paw away as it begins smoking “I can be a very quick study” >”If that’s true, then why did you fail chaos school all those millenia ago?” Discord has appeared beside Eris in a worn and weathered professor’s coat >”Because none of the teachers were interesting dad, we’ve been over this” >”I was all of the teachers” >”Exactly” Eris smiles smugly at Discord as he puffs on a bubble pipe with an irked expression >As the two begin to devolve into squabbling back and forth you feel something tug on your sleeve >Looking down you see Twilight nodding her head away from the group >Silently, you two walk out of earshot of the others >You’re pretty sure the only ones unaware of your departure are the princesses and the draconequus’ though the girls don’t question the two of you “What’s up Twilight?” >You lean down a little so you can speak quietly >”Has Eris told you anything about her Equestria?” Twilight briefly glances over your shoulder at the draconequus in question >Returning your focus to the princesses, Eris and Discord you catch small snippets of their conversation >”-an accord, of which you have broken every term” >”Name one” >”Breaking the laws of physics, breaking the laws of reality, using temporal magic-” >”I said name one Lulu, besides, would you have preferred if I let a paradox take root? As tempting as it might have been” >”Do not call us that Dis-” >You spot Eris simply leaning against the air, popcorn in paw as she watches Discord and Luna’s back and forth “No, like I said I haven’t gotten the chance to talk to her yet” You shift through your memories of the recent chaotic hour you spent chasing the she-goat when your brain stops at Sugarcube Corner “Except, there was a point where she said she briefly went back there to grab some bits” >Twilight’s eyes narrow slightly as she rubs her chin, a pensive look on her face >”That actually says a lot without saying much, I have some theories but I’d rather wait until we weren’t being eavesdropped on” Again she looks over your shoulder >Her eyes suddenly widen and before you’re even able to open your mouth something grabs you by your collar and pulls you back >”-true Anon?” “Um what?” Regaining your bearings, you find yourself in the middle of Celestia, Luna, Discord and Eris >”I asked if it’s true Anon” Discord asks as he bends his head around yours >Despite his head being upside down his face has flipped to look you in the eyes “Is what true?” As you rephrase your question you reach around to pry Discord’s talon off you >”Eris claims that you’ve been assigned as her reformer” Celestia steps forward to clarify the situation >You pause briefly as you consider this, you haven’t exactly been doing a stellar job of reforming her so far, if the previous state of Ponyville was anything to go by >Neither were you really assigned to her >According to Twilight, Fluttershy was requested by Celestia herself to reform Discord, whereas Twilight simply asked you to try and catch Eris after she ran off >The closest thing anyone’s done to asking you to reform her was Eris scribbling in a book back in the castle >You look between Eris and Celestia, the latter regards you with calm patience as you try to think of an answer >Meanwhile Eris is strangely devoid of her usual smirk, you could almost believe she looks nervous >You recognise that nervousness >After your first night here you saw the same look on your own face as you checked yourself in the mirror >You spent nearly two hours in your room just trying to mentally prepare yourself for facing the fact of this new reality >It didn’t help that Twilight kept coming to check on you, each time she knocked on your door or tried speaking to you through the door frayed your nerves and reminded you that this was real >Straightening your posture, you turn to fully face Celestia “Yes. I am her reformer” You notice a few of the girls whispering amongst themselves out of the corner of your eyes but you continue to focus on Celestia >She raises a curious eyebrow at you, but a wistful smile grows on her muzzle >”It’s decided then” >You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding as Luna steps forward >”Far be it from us to criticize, but are you sure this is wise Anonymous? We would assume thou art eager to hurry home” >She turns her attention to Twilight “Or are there complications unbeknownst to us?” >Suddenly being put on the spot causes Twilight to tense briefly before she collects her thoughts >”Well... while I did bring Anon here, it was unintentional. The arcane casting of the original spell went haywire halfway through and spiralled out of control, before I could even stop my magic it had nearly drained itself in an instant. The next thing I knew, Anon was in front of me” Looking down at the ground, Twilight kicks at a loose rock. >”I don’t even know where to start to send you home” She looks up at you, the same regret she’s worn for the past few days still clear on her face Holding up a hand you stop her from continuing “You’re just confirming what I already know Twilight. You didn’t mean to bring me here, it’s fine” >Her face relaxes slightly as she smiles at you >”If Anon shall be remaining here for the foreseeable future as you say” Luna stands between you and Twilight, looking up at you and then down at her “Then I have no further qualms with this arrangement” >”That’s all well and good” Applejack speaks up, catching all your attention “But I got plenty o’ qualms ‘bout her staying here, it’s bad enough that we have to put up with one of them already” Applejack points a hoof at Discord >Rarity and Rainbow step in an agree with Applejack, but Fluttershy is quick to interject >”Girls, please. You all agreed to let me reform Discord, remember? Why not do the same with Anon and Eris?” >Once again it’s Applejack who speaks up “Well back then we had the Elements at the ready in case Discord tried anything” >”Oh, you mean these trinkets” With a snap and a flash, a large intricately decorated box begins floating besides Eris, eliciting gasps from five of the girls, while both Luna and Celestia reignite their horns “Honestly they’re not as impressive as I expected” >Discord is once again trying to suppress a bout of laughter while Twilight simply glares at Eris >”Eris” Twilight extends the name in a low, tense voice >”Oh, fine, I learned my lesson last time anyway” Haphazardly, Eris lets the box drop >Catching it in a cloud of purple mist, Twilight teleports the elements away “Great, gonna have to re-work the spell again” >”You know, you could think of it as magic practice” Eris gives Twilight an amused grin, but the purple princess simply huffs dismissively >”Oh come on girls” With a small bounce Pinkie hops besides Fluttershy “She really isn’t that bad if you ask me” >”Why, thank you Pinkie” Eris rests her paw over Pinkie’s shoulders “I knew you’d forgive me for eating Sugarcube corner” >”You did what?” Pinkie’s head snaps to look at Eris >”I did what?” Retracting her paw, Eris drifts away from Pinkie “On the subject of Eris” Diverting the subject quickly gets everypony’s attention on you “Not to play devil’s advocate” Turning to Eris you quickly add “no offense” >”None taken” You briefly see Eris’ whole body turn red as she holds up a sharpened trident >As soon as you blink she’s back to normal You blink a few times before turning back to the girls “But from what I’ve heard of Discord, she hasn’t been nearly as bad, has she?” >”Anon, ah’m sure you’re a good colt, but you didn’t see the state of my orchard when she was done with it” >”Not to mention the state of my boutique” >”Or the fact that you were literally the one who got me out of that paint can” >As each mare voices their complaints you hold up your hands to stop them from ranting “I remember all of that, but didn’t Discord do much worse?” >Discord straightens himself out as a proud smile crosses his lips while Eris crosses her arms “I mean, didn’t he turn your brother into a dog or something Applejack?” You address her first as she has seemingly taken charge of the complaints against Eris >”He just acted like a dog, but yeah” Seeing your point her face drops in thought Before she’s able to retort you push your point towards Rarity and Rainbow “And were either of you actually hurt by what Eris did?” >Rainbow has raised off the ground to be face to face with you >”Well no, but it took Fluttershy like ten minutes to get all the paint out” >A baby blue glow of magic grabs hold of her hoof and pulls her down as Rarity speaks “Rainbow, Anon does have a point, after all haven’t you dumped paint on ponies before as one of your ‘pranks’” >”Well, yeah but- I mean that was-” Cutting off her own stuttering Rainbow crosses her hooves over each other >Rarity gives Rainbow a small smile before pushing her way forward slightly “And I would be remiss if I condemned Eris for what she did to my boutique when Discord had gone so far as to corrupt the six of us when he was running rampant” >Your knowledge of Discord’s last caper was still limited to what Twilight had briefly gone over with you earlier today but it’s clear the memory is still fresh for the girls as their moods noticeably dampen at the memory >”If you wish to reform her darling, then I’ll simply wish you luck” Rarity smiles up at you as she places a reassuring hoof on your leg “Thank you Rarity, that means a lot, really” You crouch down slightly and place your hand on one her withers >Leaning forward slightly, Rarity drops her voice to a whisper “And should she ever start to get out of hoof, just let me know” You and Rarity share a chuckle as you stand back up “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind” >”Well my little ponies, if there is nothing more to discuss…” Celestia lets her words hang in the air briefly as she looks over the six ponies >As each one shakes their heads she nods and turns to Discord and Eris “Your breaking of the terms of our accord will be omitted this time Discord, but I expect you to take responsibility and educate Eris on those same terms” >With a groan Discord pulls his talon down his face, stretching it to his feet “But there’s so many, and it’s so boring” >”Well then you and Eris can consider it due punishment for what you did today” While her tone stays level you see a small smile tug at the edge of Celestia’s lips >Grumbling, Discord grabs Eris “Well, I suppose we should get started now” >Before she can object Discord snaps his paw and the two disappear into nothing >Heaving an exasperated groan Celestia’s wings drop slightly before she shakes herself to regain her composure “Dealing with him never gets any easier” >”You handle him quite well though” Luna says, causing Celestia to smile >”Now-” Once more she turns to the seven of you “-the harmony spell should have undone all of Eris’ damage, if anything is still out of place though, do not hesitate to contact me” >With a clamour of acknowledgement the girls bow to the princess >”Come sister, we should return to Canterlot” Spreading her wings Celestia takes to the air, each wing beat sending up significant clouds of dust >”Oh yes, the nobles must be pulling their hair out without you to hold their hooves through every decision they make” Luna joins her sister in the air, causing your clothes to whip back and forth from the combined gusts their wings create >”Day court rests for nopony sadly, not even me, and besides I’m sure you’re eager to go back to bed” With a chuckle Celestia beats her wings much harder and takes off with Luna close behind >As soon as they crest the tops of the surrounding buildings the two pull their wings much farther forward and with a thundering crack shoot into the sky and disappear from view in a few seconds >You’re surprised they didn’t break the sound barrier >But relieved that they didn’t teleport again >With the town restored, and Eris, Discord and the princesses gone you see ponies starting to pour out into the streets again >The girls also say their own goodbyes >Rainbow shoots off to go check on the weather team and get them back on schedule >Applejack races off back to her farm to check on her family, her powerful hooves pounding against the dirt >Rarity goes to check on her boutique and clothes while Pinkie bounces off to check on the Cakes and foals >Fluttershy takes a slow trot back to her cottage to check on her animals >Leaving just you and Twilight stood in the middle of the street “Well, that was… eventful?” You turn to Twilight who simply looks up at you wordlessly >She looks as tired as you feel >With a heavy groan she begins trotting towards the Castle, wings hanging loosely at her sides >You hadn’t noticed before but you’re pretty sure she had tensed her whole body for the entire time that the princesses were here >To fill the empty air you and Twilight compare your stories of the day one last time >You give Twilight the cliff notes of your side since you already explained most of what happened when she first arrived with Pinkie >She meanwhile begins detailing what she did from the moment you left the castle >How she sent about half a dozen letters to Celestia through different magical means in case Eris tried to intercept them >The method she used to rework the protection spells on the Elements >You didn’t understand half of it, but it was fascinating to listen to >Then she spoke of Spike’s arrival >After hearing about the situation the little guy was too spooked to come with her to regroup with you all >Finally there was her meeting Pinkie Pie and then meeting up with the rest of you >The rest of the trip goes by quickly as you begin approaching the crystal castle >Maybe you should ask Eris to change it >But only slightly, maybe make it so light doesn’t bounce off it and into your eyes so much >Eris >Your mind briefly flashes through all your interactions so far, as brief as they were >You’re officially her reformer now >And you have no idea where to start >Maybe you should visit Fluttershy, see if she can give you any advice >As the doors swing open you hear a small yelp come from deeper in the castle >”It’s just us Spike” >A high pitch screeching of wood and an echo of metal impacting metal rings through the castle for a few seconds before halting entirely >Soon it’s replaced by the pitter patter of scales on crystal as Spike rounds the corner >Barreling into Twilight, Spike wraps his claws around her neck which she returns with her hooves and wings >”Did anything happen here while we were away?” Twilight’s voice has dropped so much that you’re just barely able to hear her >”Some of the mops came to life, swept over the floor and made it dirty, the bags of flour came to life and spread pollen everywhere, and some of the rooms were tilted” Detaching from Twilight he turned to look at both of you “But nothing too big thankfully, then a flash of gold made it all go back to normal. I guess that means you had to use the Elements huh?” “Actually that was all Celestia apparently” >Spike turns to you and then back to Twilight with a raised brow and she simply nods in confirmation >”Wow, I didn’t know you could do that without the Elements” >Spike scratches his head at the new knowledge >Twilight simply giggles and rubs him on the head >”Well she can’t do it too often, especially with how Anon reacted” >Your eyes widen slightly before narrowing at Twilight >”Why what happened?” Spike’s voice goes up an octave as he looks at you worried “Nothing, Celestia already fixed me” You regret the words as soon as they leave your mouth >”Fixed you?” Spike’s eyes have widened in shock at your choice of words >”He collapsed from the spell” Twilight quickly speaks as she begins trotting down the hall “Damn it Twilight!” She simply giggles as she rounds the corner, leaving you with a very worried Spike >”Come on, the castle has a small room with some medical supplies, I can check on you there” >He grabs hold of your hand and begins walking down another hall >With his small size you could easily stop him but you’d rather not manhandle him “Spike I already said I’m fine, Celestia was the one who magiced me better” You know that your arguments will fall on deaf ears but you try anyway >”And how do you know your body hasn’t had some other reaction to that magic?” >You open your mouth to argue but close it when you can’t think of anything >Despite your time here you’ve only been exposed to a handful of spells so he might have a point >With a groan, you simply resign yourself to whatever checkup Spike has in store for you <> >’Dear Princess Celestia: Discord has broken the terms of his accord with us in more ways than one today. While me and Anonymous were trying to enjoy breakfast we came face to face with another draconequus, a near perfect doppelganger of Discord, save for the fact that she was female. Discord says that her name is Eris and is his daughter, and if that wasn’t enough to process as is, she’s apparently come from an Equestria she had ruled over, one with no Elements of Harmony, to top it all off she was able to break through the arcane seals guarding our Elements, I’ve managed to reclaim them but I require your immediate-’ “Blah blah blah, is this pony writing a letter or a thesis?” >With a snap of your talon the letter ignites, and deteriorates into a soggy heap from water damage >It didn’t matter, you had more >She had sent so many after your little soiree Looking around you pluck another of the dozen letters that you had snatched “Honestly, I thought friends weren’t supposed to tattle on each other” >It was fun watching the little alicorn send letter after letter and not get a response as your party in Ponyville raged on outside her crystal tree house >You’re a good sport though, so you let one go to her precious princess eventually >The cool feeling of ink runs up your tail as you dip the tip into an inkwell >Running your tail over the letter you draw the pony in question along with the new Celestia and Luna >These new princesses are fascinating >And much stronger than the ones you knew >How this Celestia managed to harness and channel the same magic as those magic gemstones, you aren’t sure >The worst part is you probably wouldn’t be able to figure it out either >You aren’t even entirely sure what those gemstones are >Their magic was able to warp reality the same way yours did but in a completely opposite way >The idea boggled your mind >Letting out an annoyed groan, you stretch your body out >Not knowing something was a pet peeve of yours >Your father could learn a thing or two from you >He always claimed that ignorance was the most chaotic thing >Well all that got him was a stone bodysuit >You still can’t believe that idiot let that happen to him >Twice >With a growl you shred the letter with a swipe of your talon >The worst part is the way he’s been acting recently “It’s almost like he’s- he’s… trying to be a dad” >You shudder violently in disgust at the idea >He was a spirit of chaos, even older than you >What the hell would make him want to be a father now “Hmmmmm… Fluttershy” You murmur the name under your breath >She was the only pony your dad ever seemed to talk about >The pegasus hadn’t exactly impressed you though >Sure, she had approached you first out of all the other ponies >That alone made her braver than most, but she was still a coward >You could see it in her eyes, feel it >She was terrified of you >Even if she had dealt with your dear old man, you were something completely new >And you were gonna prove that to the rest of these ponies <’I remember all of that, but didn’t Discord do much worse?’ >There he is again, getting in your head >What does he know anyway >Who does he think he is >You are Eris, The Mad Madam herself >The next time you’re in Ponyville you’ll show Anon so much chaos that he’ll never think your father is worse than you again >Without even using your magic you feel your hair shift behind your ear >It’s as if you’re back there, in that trench >Having your magic blocked for a few minutes was one thing, but the amount of pain you’d felt >It was awful >Something hurting you didn’t make sense, it was beautifully chaotic >But you hated it, but you loved it too >Another groan escapes your lips >You want to try and fight the memory but you just feel yourself relaxing >The way his arms wrapped around you to stop you from falling was intense >Celestia and Luna had grappled you a few times during your fights, but this was different >There was nothing like his appendages in your world or this one >Wrapping your arms around yourself you could swear that you can still feel them >You could feel each of his fingers adjust individually >He spread them out to avoid agitating your wounds too much, and he left your wings free so you could use them if you needed to >Floating up, you rest on your bed for the first time in nearly a millennium >Clearing your head wasn’t something you did often but this was bothering you >That biped had actually defended you >You had given him the ol’ doe eyes when Celestia asked if he was gonna reform you >But you didn’t expect the response you got >You expected him to shrug you off, to see through the act, to just leave you with somepony else >He didn’t do any of that >When he turned to look at you, your eyes met, and for once since you got here you were actually able to hold the stare >Something about the way he looked at you rubbed you the wrong way >It’s like he pitied you >You didn’t need pity, certainly not from him >But he defended you all the same >It’s the first time anyone hasn’t gotten angry at you after wrecking a town >It was new >It was chaotic >And you weren’t even sure if you wanted more or less >A clunking and banging from the corner of your room pulled you from your thoughts >A tarp was draped over something you hadn’t used in a while, your mirror “Oh shut up in there” >Desperate for something to take your mind off of Anonymous, you snap your talon and a crack in your wall opens up >Looking through you take in the landscape of your old home >You’re eager to see how your ponies are dealing with the fact that the queen who ruled them for a millennia has disappeared <> >Slowly you become more and more aware of your own lucidity >As your body begins to wake up you stiffen slightly >The exhaustion from meeting the princesses yesterday had turned into various aches littering your body >If there was a part of you that wasn’t aching, it’s because it was numb >Thankfully your new bed was helping >The soft texture and slight pressure helped to distract your mind >You could easily go back to sleep for a few hours like this >But you feel the need to resist the temptation >Mainly because you don’t know how long you’ve slept in already >There were a handful of rooms in the castle that had no windows and you had claimed one as yours >The lack of natural light made it a bit of a pain initially but Twilight set up a few dim light runes after you first settled in >Personally, you thought the tradeoff was worth it >Completely shutting out the noise and lights of the outside made sleeping feel like a whole new experience >Luna hadn’t visited you last night, which is understandable considering the size of her kingdom >Despite this you couldn’t help but wonder when she’d visit you >The way she had requested your permission made you assume she already knew how to find you >More likely than not you just needed to wait >As you sort through your thoughts you begin to feel yourself relax deeper and deeper >Before you can fall asleep again you gather the strength to throw your duvet off >And you are reminded of another perk of not having a window >No morning chill >Your room has remained a pleasant temperature throughout the night >Shifting your legs over the side you get to your feet and stretch out the aches in your body as best as you are able >The floor lights up with a soft purple glow as you walk over to your wardrobe >Twilight’s idea, along with the regular light runes, she set up runes on the floor that detected you as you passed by, giving you a constant light source >Magic was still far beyond anything you could understand, even if Twilight broke it down as simply as possible >Thankfully Spike was just as clueless as you so at least you got to share your lack of knowledge >Throwing open your wardrobe you grab a shirt, jacket and jeans >They were nearly identical to the ones you wore when you first arrived here >Only this outfit was fresh from Rarity >The sleeves and collar weren’t frayed and the colours were much more vibrant >She’d insisted on putting gemstones in your clothes but you managed to talk her down to reserving that for any suits she made you >Her eyes had widened to the size of dinner plates when you mentioned formal attire >Having an entirely new species to design clothes for seems to be like a waking dream for Rarity >A small smile tugs at your lips as you make your way through the castle, remembering the few times you’ve managed to talk with her >Behind all the hair product and posh articulation was genuine, raw passion for her work and you couldn’t help but admire that >It was the same for all the ponies here >Especially Twilight, you think to yourself, as a soft orange glow pulses under a doorway >You could play crapshoot with how hard you’re rolling your eyes >Opening the door you briefly spot the source of the orange glow >A life size projection of your body, made up of hundreds of individual dots that created your outline like an incomplete dot-to-dot >Before the doors even reach the walls a flash of purple shrinks the dots into a sphere “Put it back Twilight” >Closing the door with a click, you see the wall light up with the orange glow again >The purple princess is nursing a large mug of coffee >Who knows how many times she’s refilled it >You’re pretty sure that if it weren’t for Spike she’d just carry the coffee machine with her at all times >Her ears are folded down slightly and her eyes are glued to the ground as she tries to make herself as small as possible >As you make your way beside her you remain silent >Reaching a hand up, you flick it down and the projection begins to perpetually spin at a slow pace >It stops as you tap against it, the dots rippling outward from the point of contact >Guiding a finger to one of the dots on the neck of the projection you double tap it and the dot widens and three graphs appear >You still can’t understand any of it, it’s all magic mixed with medicine >The only part you understand is the text at the top >Jugular Vein >Structural Integrity: 100% >Magical Erosion: 0% >With a flick of your wrist the dot recedes and the body projection appears again >Twilight still hasn’t said a word >You look down to make sure she hasn’t scampered off for another fill of coffee >She’s still there, and still looking at the floor “So, found anything yet?” >If you’ve learned anything from your time here, it’s that a good conversation can help to snap out Twilight out of her own head >Unfortunately she settles for just shaking her head >Alright, yes or no questions are off the table “How long have you been up for?” >She raises her head a few times before turning to look up at you fully “About six hours” “And what time is it?” >Again she turns her head down and paws at the floor with a hoof “About 10 o clock” >You take a long time as you breathe in and even longer to breathe out Clicking your tongue you turn your attention to the ceiling “Please tell me you at least got something close to resembling sleep” >This was inevitable >After you had first been pulled here, Twilight had spent 56 hours straight combing through every book she had to try and send you home >You had only managed to convince her to go to bed after threatening to pick her up, carry her to her bed and hold her there >Before you could blink she had dropped her books and teleported away >And after your reaction to the princesses your gut told you she’d react this way, but some part of you hoped she’d learned her lesson >”I tried to sleep Anon, honest” She’s finally turned to look at you again “But I just- I had this dream. You were there! And you were collapsing again! And I couldn’t-” >Crouching down to Twilight you wrap her in a hug which she gratefully returns >You pray that you don’t start to feel a wet patch on your shoulder >Hearing her voice quiver was more than your heart could take already >Pulling back from the hug you cup Twilight’s face and force her to look at you “Twilight, I’m right here, and you just said there’s nothing there” Indicating to the projection you see it pulse slightly as you mention it “I’m. Fine.” >”You were fine this time” Twilight pulls away from you “But what about next time? What if nopony’s there to help you? What if you have an even more violent reaction to a different kind of magic?” >She’s starting to freak out and you’re not entirely sure what to do, so you do what comes to mind first and place your hand against her chest >That is a powerful heart >It’s beating so hard and so fast you’re almost worried that it’ll bruise your hand >As she processes what you’ve done Twilight takes a deep, shaky breathe >Her tired eyes meet yours as she places a hoof over your wrist >”Anon, I don’t even know how to send you home yet. If I don’t figure out what caused the reaction in you then-” She cuts herself off as the same thought crosses both your minds >She tries to find the words, but all her knowledge seems to fail her when she need it now >Her hoof falls from your wrist and she steps away from you “I couldn’t forgive myself if, something, made it impossible to send you home” >Her eyes narrow in determination as she turns to the projection and her horn flares to life >The projection flashes between multiple dots as she investigates each part with incredible speed >You need to approach this from a new angle >Wracking your brain for a few seconds you settle on an idea >Hook “Alright Twilight fine, but it’ll take more than your sun goddess princess to take me out you know?” >You hear a small huff come from Twilight and a mumble of “not a god” “Well, you could have fooled me, I mean, my people have a lot of stories about gods that manipulate the sun” >Nothing yet “Some stories came from civilizations from over a thousand years ago even” >The projection has finally stopped moving and Twilight’s ears have perked up slightly >”How many stories?” >Line “More than I could ever tell, and that’s just for one god of one pantheon” >She’s turned to you completely now, a hoof tentatively raised in curiosity >”Pantheons?” She probably knows exactly what she’s doing but she probably doesn’t care either “Yeah, multiple pantheons, greek, roman, egyptian, nordic” >Twilight’s body is shaking ever so slightly as she looks between you and the projection “But I guess you wouldn’t be interested in that right now, don’t worry I probably won’t forget anything by the time you’re done” >Slowly making your way over to the door you’re surprised that you’re able to turn the handle before Twilight reacts >”Wait!” >and Sinker >With a small burst of purple the projection disappears and Twilight trots over to the door >”I think Spike was planning on making prench toast today” >Her muzzle is scrunched up slightly while a blush creeps up her face as she walks past you >She definitely knows you played her >But she’ll get you back by poking you for detailed answers for the rest of the week probably >At least she should be able to get some sleep >To keep her attention away from your magic episode you start listing off the pantheons you know and some of the gods within them >Twilight has already teleported a notepad and quill to herself >You can’t help but chuckle as she seemingly never stops writing >Despite what little you know she’s managing to fill whole pages >Eventually you make it to the kitchen and Spike confiscates the notepad >He watches to make sure Twilight sits down and then looks at you to confirm what he’s seeing >”Dude, you actually managed to get her to stop worrying about you?” >As you approach the table he walks over to the still simmering pan “I wouldn’t say that, I just-” >”Bribed a princess?” Twilight grins as she cuts you off “I was gonna say, encouraged you to focus your mind elsewhere” Twilight raises an eyebrow at you “But yeah ‘bribed’ works too” >The two of you share a laugh as Spike delivers the toast to your plates >He also leaves small bowls of fruit which Twilight ends up nearly emptying >You’re not too fussed though, you doubt you could match an alicorn’s appetite if you tried >As Twilight devours the toast you wonder if she’s just eating at her regular speed, or if she’s going faster to get back to questioning you >Either way you have no intent to end your meal any time soon >The toast has been made tender and soft from simmering in the beaten eggs yet it retains its crisp crunch as you bite into it >The taste has been enriched by the mixture of egg and fruit that come together in a wonderful combination >Twilight grumbles slightly when you ask for seconds but is placated by a second helping of her own >With that brief reprieve over, you begin going into greater detail of the greek pantheon >You start with Apollo of course >Twilight found the idea of a man pulling the sun across the sky by chariot to be very whimsical >She was also bewildered by the idea of your species using very similar animals as them for transportation >As you regaled her with the stories of how the Gods overthrew the Titans and the Titans overthrew Uranus, Twilight found great delight in the literary symmetry of the cyclical nature of the pantheon “There are a lot of stories of mortals interacting with the gods as well you know?” >The scratching of quill on paper stops suddenly as Twilight begins to peek over the top of her notebook >”Really?” Her disbelief is palpable “Why would your people want to interact with these gods? You’ve not exactly painted them in the best light” “What can I say Twilight? Humans have always wanted to touch the untouchable, and it’s not like it was easy” Adjusting yourself in the plush chair you sit forward “After all, Hades lived underground and if you fell in the river Styx you’d die prematurely” >Something you’ve noticed as you’ve talked about the greek gods is Twilight’s reaction to the death that pervaded these stories >Apparently it was extremely rare to find any pony fables that mentioned death, it all either ended with imprisonment or banishment >Your nonchalant discussion of it also seemed to worry her >But before she could bring it up you digressed from those stories into more palatable ones >Prometheus was one she took particular joy in hearing >The idea of passing on the ‘fire of knowledge’ for the greater good of others despite the ramifications seemed to resonate with her >Ramifications that you may or may not have played down >Sure, Prometheus was locked away for what he did >But you didn’t need to tell Twilight about the vulture that visited him “Not to mention that the rest of the gods were up on Olympus, a near impenetrable mountain… city” Despite having described Olympus beforehand your thoughts suddenly slow >Despite being miles away and inside a castle of dense crystal you start to feel it again >The pressure >Wordlessly you slowly turn your head around the room until it settles on a specific part of a bookshelf >You don’t know how, or why, but for some reason you can still feel Celestia’s presence >When you first saw Canterlot sat on the mountain, the sun caught in its ivory towers, you were left speechless >Now it just made you nervous, but you didn’t want it to >You didn’t want to feel this way just thinking about the princesses, but every survival instinct you had told you to avoid them >A hoof against your leg snaps you out of your staring contest with the wall and the pressure disappears completely >Twilight’s abandoned her notebook as she scans your face >Damn it, you were supposed to get her mind off what happened >But then again, you can’t get your own mind off it either >”Oh come on Anon” Before Twilight’s able to voice her concerns or you’re able to wave them off a long red tail begins slithering down, the tip replaced with a hook that catches the top of Twilight’s notes >Looking up you see Eris in an oversized fishing hat that covers her eyes, which end up highlighting her mischievous grin >Cranking an invisible reel, her tail begins to retract >”I was really getting into these little stories of yours” With notebook in paw, Eris begins flipping through it “Though Twilight has taken all the fun out of them with this chicken scratch writing” >Twilight lets out an indignant gasp at Eris >Before she’s able to retort, the notebook springs to life, flapping its pages like wings and begins running rampant through the room, crashing into furniture and scrabbling up the various bookcases only to fall off them >You’re surprised when Twilight ignores the falling books in favour of catching the notebook in a spell >With several chicken cries the book shifts wildly in the spell until it start to settle down >A second layer of purple, paler than the first overtakes Twilight’s horn as she begins sorting the library back to the way it was >”I see you got your sense of humour from that teacher of yours” Crossing her arms Eris grumbles at the restored library >Twilight’s wings buzz slightly against her side in irritation as she takes a deep breath “Eris, what are you doing here?” >A forced smile appears on Twilight’s face as she turns to Eris, who returns the smile >”Well it gets boring just having my dad for company, so-” As if swimming through the air, Eris’ body slides through the air towards you “-I thought I’d come see my parole officer here” >Suddenly an orange jumpsuit appears on Eris’ body >On her paw is a handcuff far too small to fit around the wrist and on her talon the cuff is too big and slides off the wrist completely >Glad to see that she hasn’t turned the castle upside down you give her a small smile “You’re hardly a prisoner when you can teleport wherever you please, whenever you please Eris” >”Hmmm” In a flash the outfit disappears again and you become vividly aware that you’re surrounded by perpetually naked creatures >Before your brain can conjure any images you mentally burn the idea >That was a thought you could leave until later >”I suppose you’re right Anon” The air suddenly shifts as you blink >In the brief window that your eyes closed you were warped to an equally displeasing to look at crystal castle >Several gasps draw your attention to the multiple guard ponies donning silver armor “Where-” Before you’re able to finish your sentence the castle shakes and a flash of pink escapes one of the windows >Several flashes follow and you can almost begin to make out voices from within, and one of them is very familiar >Phasing through a nearby door, Discord appears a gleeful grin on his face >Following close behind him a pink aura rips the doors off there hinges and a very frazzled pink alicorn in-between Twilight and Luna’s height appears >”How many times do I have to tell you to get out?!” She fires several pink blasts at the cackling draconequus >”Oh come on Cadence, I really thought Shining and Chrysalis had chemistry” Discord dodges several of the blasts, parts his body to avoid others and summons a bat to hit them away >”I’ll turn you into coloured rain again!” >”Fine by me, Anonymous can probably handle me again. OH!” At the mention of your name he seems to finally notice you >He seems elated to see you three as he summons a mirror >A creak comes from the mirror and a duller version of Cadence appears >In more ways than one, the clone’s colours are dulled and also seems incapable of higher brain functions as it fumbles around >”Eris, I see you’re taking your reformation by the horns” >Eris simply responds by sticking her tongue out at Discord >With a flash of pink, the fake Cadence and the mirror shatters and she once again turns to Discord >”Well it’s been fun, but I can see when I’m not wanted, arrivederci!” >Another flash and Discord’s disappeared >Leaving the three of you with a still fuming pink alicorn >She calms down significantly when she notices your group though >”Who- wait how? Twilight?!” Her head snaps back and forth between you, Eris and Twilight >”Cad-” You feel the air shift again as you blink ”-ence” >It’s significantly hotter and humid now as you look out at an arid desert >Both you and Twilight whip your heads back and forth to confirm your surroundings >”Is that Appleloosa?” Squinting her eyes and placing a hoof above her eyes, Twilight stares into the distance >Joining her you look off into the desert and see a cluster of dots in the distance >”Well of course, if I’m not a prisoner than I guess some sightseeing is in order” >While Twilight turns on Eris you walk around a little >The crunch of the barren earth beneath your feet isn’t entirely unpleasant >You only wish you had put on shoes >Another flash, this time form below you grabs your attention >Your once bare feet are now covered in your old shoes >Looking over your shoulder you see Eris barely paying attention to Twilight >On her shoulder sits her talon which shifts to make a finger gun at you >Nodding to the appendage you return your attention to the various flora and fauna that litters the biome >Scorpions scuttle around underfoot and the cries of carrion birds from above cause them to scatter to safety >The only green you can see are the cacti of various sizes and shapes, though on some of them, flowers are beginning to bloom >A thunderous crack rings out, causing the scorpions to dig for safety and the birds to converge into one swarm and fly away >Following the path of the birds you turn around and see the source of the disturbance >Several of the monolithic plateaus that dotted the landscape have been uprooted and have begun spinning in various directions >”Eris!” Twilight stomps her hoof into the sand while Eris waves her talon randomly to turn the airborne rock formations >”Oh lighten up Sparkle, this place is practically empty, these would make great tourist attractions” >Like a stampede, several Eris clones appear out of nowhere all carrying cameras as they take in the new sight >Some of them pose for the pictures, some of them pretending to hold the plateaus up while some grow their bodies and literally hold them up >”Anon” Twilight extends your name slightly with a defeated tone “A little help please?” >Right, reforming >Suddenly you feel very uncertain >At the mention of your name Eris turns towards you >”Oh Anon, you have to see this” >The thumb and index of her talon comes together and just as you hear Twilight yell out “Wait” you’re suddenly stood atop one of the plateaus >Not just a regular floating one though, this one is rotating on an axis and also spinning through the air in a circle >Before you know it you’re staring at the world upside down >Instinctively your body attempts to adjust as it expects gravity to pull you off and towards the ground, but nothing happens >You stay rooted in spot while Eris floats in mid air, turning in perfect sync with the plateau, making it appear like she isn’t moving at all >”Pretty cool right?” Looking out to the horizon you follow her gaze and your eyes widen at the view >Seeing the world turn and spin messes with your mind slightly but you can’t deny, it’s a view you’d never be able to see if it weren’t for her “Definitely… but” >All the mirth left her face, and her face drops as she looks at you “Oh please tell me that’s a good but, like ‘but you could do more’?” >A small chuckle escapes your lips before you can stop it >She really was just like a kid “I’m not gonna tell you to stop if that’s what you’re worried about” The previous tension leaves her body at that “I was just gonna ask if you had any plans for that town- Appleloose or whatever it’s called?” >Holding her talon to the side of her mouth, Eris leans towards you “Don’t tell Twilight” Her voice is low but filled with excitement >Her eyes practically shine at whatever thought is in her head and you almost don’t want to stop her >But you know that if you don’t then things could spiral downwards really quickly “Well, what if you…” You pause as you try to think of how to phrase this in a way that she’d go along with “Only affected Ponyville, and left other towns alone?” >Eris lets out a bout of laughter at your suggestion “Anonymous, come on” Slowly regaining herself she manages to speak through smaller and smaller bouts of laughs “My chaos was worldwide just a few days ago, asking me to confine it to one town is practically criminal. Now get excited, cause it’s gonna get weird” >You begin to race through any ideas you can as she begins rubbing her paw and talon together >Focusing on yesterday you remember one comment that seemed to throw her off “I guess you’re right Eris” She turns to you with a beaming grin as her paw and talon rub together faster and faster and begin to smoke and glow >”See, I knew you’d get it” “I mean after all, I suppose it was wrong to compare you to Discord” Eris’ ear perk up and she slowly turns to you >Her paw and talon detach from her and continue rubbing together as her eyes narrow at you “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Well you know, when he was reformed he just stuck with Ponyville afterward, but I get it if it’ll take you a few days to get to where he is now” You have to desperately fight the smirk that threatens to invade your face as Eris lightly growls at your words >Still with no talon or paw, Eris gets much closer to you, and her empty arms point towards you “I! Could cause more chaos in one town in one day then he could cause to this whole world in a year!” Absent-mindedly scratching your cheek you turn away from her “I’m not so sure Eris, I mean Twilight couldn’t stop talking about how bad Discord was, and Fluttershy can’t stop talking about how well-behaved he is. So you’re chaotic sure, but do you have any self-control?” >Her eyes narrow to slits and her body shakes slightly >With a deep breath she relaxes back to her usual self and a more playfully sinister grin spreads on her lips “Alright then, how about we make a deal?” This time it’s your turn to narrow your eyes as you turn to the grinning draconequus “What kind of deal?” >Tapping the tips of he talon to her paw rapidly she leans back against the air “If I can convince you by the end of the day that my father doesn’t hold a candle to me, then I win” “And what exactly would you win?” You feel a small amount of dread in the back of your mind as her smile widens >”You allow me a full day of unrestricted chaos, and join me as I traipse through this new world” Her eyes glow slightly and your cone of vision darkens slightly, making her stand out more >With a brief shake of your head your vision is back to normal and so are her eyes >“Eris even if I wanted to, I couldn’t give you that” >She looks very unimpressed as she crosses her arms ”Why not?” “I don’t have the authority to say ‘sure have at the world’-” >Eris points one of her claws directly at you to cut you off “Anonymous, you’re my parole officer, not the princesses, not my dad” As she lists off each one a small version of them appears in her talon and disappears just as quickly “not even that fuddy-duddy that’s being trampled by my clones” >You have to turn around several times to spot the area that you were in >Just as Eris had said, Twilight is being squished in the throng of Eris clones >”As far as I’m concerned, you have final say on what I can and can’t do” A playful smirk appears on her face as she leans towards you >You ponder her offer for a moment and think of how you can turn it back on her >Or at least think of how you can minimize the damage from your bet “Ok-” Eris leaps in mid air and pumps her talon but you quickly stop her with a hand “-but what about me?” Her eyebrows raise slightly, so you clarify “Let’s say that, since you’re trying to-” >”Going to!” “Going to show that you have self-control, if you break any of the terms of your agreement with the princesses, then I win” >Her mood dampens and she begins nibbling her lower lip as she considers your proposal “If you do win? What happens then?” >Stroking your chin you begin to think of what you could want out of this >Eris could literally grant you whatever you wanted >But one idea in particular stand out to you “Let’s keep the prizes similar, I’ll spend a day with you, but this time, you won’t be allowed to use any magic, not even flight” >Her eyes widen at you and she looks about ready to back out but stops herself “Fine! But, you’re not allowed to restrict me with one of those Elements if you win” Certainly a fair caveat, meaning you need your own “Alright, but only if you keep your chaos restricted to Ponyville during the bet, and I still can’t just give you a town to run wild in if you win, so how about that weird forest nearby?” >Once again she looks about ready to call off the bet but decides to keep pushing “How about half of Ponyville and the Everfree?” ”The Everfree and the empty area bordering Ponyville?” You’re surprised that you’ve reached a point where you’re haggling on what areas of Equestria you’re gonna let her run rampant in >”The Everfree, Canterlot Mountain, and the entire sky?” She’s held out her talon to you now “Don’t affect Canterlot itself and take out the sky and it’s a deal” You hold out a hand to her and she looks nervously between it and you >Seemingly steeling herself she slaps her talon into your hand and shakes it once before pulling away >”Today’s gonna be fun… can I keep the plateaus?” You can’t help but laugh at her playful nature and nod “Sure, until you get bored of them” >Turning her back to you, Eris looks out over the vast planes >Simply watching her back, you wait for a snap and flash >But it never comes >After waiting a few more seconds you clear your throat to get Eris’ attention >She turns to look at you and you indicate to the floating plateaus with your head >Confusion crosses Eris’ face as she tilts her head >No longer able to fight it, you let a toothy grin cross your face and chuckle “Guess I win then?” >Eris’ confusion doubles at your comment “I believe we agreed you’d keep your chaos contained to Ponyville, right?” >The red of her pupils nearly fills her yellow sclera as she begins to realize her mistake >Sputtering slightly she manages to find her voice “Bu- but you said I could- and we shook on it!” >The sight of her muzzle scrunching in annoyance nearly makes you double over in laughter You’re able to suppress your laughter enough to eke out an explanation “We shook and THEN you asked if you could keep them. They were never part of the deal” Shrugging your shoulders you smirk at the draconequus >Her pupils begin to literally playback her memories and you can see the deal being made from her perspective >Sadly you can’t hear the memory >As the memory slows to the present she visibly deflates at her own mistake >You walk towards her and once again your brain tries to forcibly correct your body since you’re staring at the world sideways but your feet still gravitate towards the turning plateau >Eventually you’re able to stumble over to Eris and you lightly tap her lion arm, snapping her out of her own thoughts “You don’t really… talk to others that often do you?” >Your smile is seemingly infectious as she mirrors it and chuckles a little “Depends, do you count threatening Celestia and Luna everyday as ‘talking’?” Briefly you share her laughter until you process her words “Wait, did you say ‘everyday’?” >Nodding her head Eris’ pupils widen again and you briefly see, from Eris’ perspective, several images of Celestia and Luna casting spells or lunging forward either with weapons or their bare hooves >”Everyday for all my reign, they never gave up, it was annoying but in an endearing way” A blink later and Eris’ eyes are back to normal >Despite this, the images remain printed in your mind and store them away for later >You’ve never seen anything filled with as much rage as those versions of Celestia and Luna had in their eyes “Well, that aside, this was too easy a win” Holding out a hand to Eris another smirk crosses your face “Rematch?” >Eris grabs her talon with her paw before she’s able to grab your hand >Pulling back she snaps her talon, fixing the plateaus back into place and freeing Twilight from the pile of her clones >Once more you offer her your hand but she holds up her paw “The deal doesn’t start until we get to Ponyville” “Well look at that, you can actually learn” Her eyes narrow at you but quickly morphs back into a smile as you shake once more >The heavy flap of wing beats catches both of your attentions >Kicking up a small dust cloud, Twilight grinds to a halt as she lands on the plateau >Her mane and wings are ruffled as she pants for air >She shoots a small glare at Eris who simply giggles at the state of the mare >With a tired sigh she shakes her head and turns to you “Let’s just go home” >”An excellent idea Twilight” With a flash, the three of you are outside the castle steps and Twilight’s mane and wings have even been fixed “Now, let the games begin Anon” >Twilight stops inspecting her preened wings and fixed mane at Eris’ words “Games? What games? Anon?” Holding up a hand you manage to stop Twilight before she can begin ranting “Relax Twilight, me and Eris just made a little… wager” >Twilight’s eyes only widen at your words “Anon, that’s a huge deal, the last time the girls and I made a deal with Discord he took over Equestria” >Eris’ tail brushes over Twilight’s nose, causing her to sneeze “Oh relax princess, my dad never understood that a good deal was a two-way street, Anon has as much to gain from this as me” >Rubbing the side of her snout with a hoof Twilight looks incredulously between you and Eris “Do I even want to know?” “She can’t break the terms of her agreement, and she has to stay within Ponyville” You list off the basic terms on your fingers which seems to satisfy Twilight >Letting out a sigh Twilight heads up the steps to the castle “I’m gonna get in contact with Cadence, make sure Discord hasn’t been causing too much trouble there, and make sure nopony in Appleloosa is panicking, if she-” Twilight narrows her eyes at Eris, who’s scanning the town “- starts getting out of hoof, let me know” >You give a small nod, which she returns >With one last glance at Eris, Twilight heads inside, leaving you and Eris alone >It only occurs to you now that this might be another excuse for her to painstakingly inspect your medical projection again >Before you’re able to pull the alicorn out of her castle the sound of rustling grass fills your ears as deep green fills your peripherals >Refocusing your attentions, you see that all the grass in Ponyville has sprouted to be the same height as the crystal castle >Spinning on a dime, you turn to Eris who is already giggling to herself and rubbing her talon and paw together >She swims over to the nearby grass and rests her body against it >The grass gives significantly against her weight but eventually settles >”Did you actually know the terms of my agreement before this deal Anon?” Her smug grin is back in full force >Besides the brief snippet you heard from Luna, you realise that you are woefully ignorant of what she can actually do >”Don’t worry I can give you the cliff notes, believe me, you do not want to go through the whole thing” Kicking off against the air, Eris begins floating down the walled off dirt path >As you get beside her you make out a few splashes of colour through the grass as the wind blows it aside occasionally >”To make it short, there are three big rules, though two of them sort of overlap. Number one, no breaking the laws of physics” Grabbing one of the blades of grass, Eris rips it free and cups it in her hands >With a few blows she adjusts it slightly until she can make a continuous melodic whistle with it >As she whistles you make an exaggerated show of looking between her and the surrounding grass to make sure your point gets across >Her eyes briefly flick to you before she focuses on you completely “Oh my dear Anon, you thought this was gonna be easy didn’t you?” >Quickly getting bored of the grass whistle she chucks it back and turns to you “Our laws of physics and yours, are two very different things, because we, have magic” >”For example-” With another snap of her talon the ground beneath you trembles and rises, nearly throwing you off-balance “-levitation, is a basic spell, and falls under our laws” >Floating in front of you, Eris throws her arms open to indicate to the surrounding grassy maze “And a simple growth spell is foals play” >Relaxing against the air, Eris grabs a nearby rock and begins grinding down her talon “It just so happens that I’m a bit of a magic powerhouse” >With a small hop, you get off the floating piece of earth which collapses back into the ground “Kind of just sounds like you can cast any spell you want Eris” As you brush off the dirt you glide your hand against the rough texture of the enlarged grass >”Pffft, I wish that were the case” With you and Eris now in Ponyville proper you see a lot of the residents giving you both a wide berth “Well how am I supposed to know?” Several creaks and tears pulls your attention upward once more as you see the roofs of the surrounding buildings being lifted while slowly spinning >If any ponies were still in their houses, they weren’t any more, as several ponies come bursting out of their doors to investigate >Several grumbles emanate from the slowly growing crowd while they shoot you both dirty looks >”Hey!” With a streak of colour Rainbow appears in front of you two >”Oh Rainbow! Wonderful to see you, you’ll make a great example” Rainbow’s eyes widen slightly at Eris’ words and she flies several meters away ”Oh relax scaredy pony, I’m on the reformation course right now. In fact, if I could use all my magic right now, I’d give myself a halo” >Eris slowly flaps up to Rainbow who eyes her cautiously >Turning to you, Eris wraps her paw around Rainbow, pinning her wings to her back >The sound of hooves beating against dirt tells you that every other pony is only interested in getting away from the three of you as quickly as possible >”A few ways that I could break the laws Anon, are if I were to say, take a paint can, and stuff a pony two sizes too big into it” Rainbow’s struggles intensify as she’s reminded of her previous encounter with Eris “Or doing what my dad did, and modifying pony physiology, by say, taking away their wings” >With a yelp Rainbow rips herself free of Eris and creates a sizeable distance between her and Eris’ cheshire grin >Pointing a hoof at the draconequus she manages to speak through laboured pants “Keep your freaky magic away from me” >It’s only for a moment, but you catch Eris’ narrowing her eyes at Dash as an edge of her mouth curls up in a snarl, briefly showing her fangs >Taking a deep breath, Eris relaxes again and floats towards you “Sticks and stones Dash, but I’ve not broken any rules yet, so I can put my magic where I please right now” >Rainbow’s glares hardens before she turns to you and relaxes her face into a concerned stare “Anon she can’t be serious, I mean look at this place” “Tall grass, and floating, spinning roofs, yeah it’s a.... waking nightmare?” Shrugging your shoulders you see Eris stick her tongue out at Rainbow from your periphery and nudge her with an elbow >Rainbow’s mouth hangs open and one of her eyes twitches slightly >Looking between the houses and the two of you, the cyan mare heaves a sigh “You’re right. You’re right. This isn’t as bad as yesterday but it’s just- she’s-” >”Amazing?” Rainbow jumps slightly as Eris floats right behind her head >”Ugh, she’s that” Rolling her eyes Rainbow flaps away from Eris “Look, the main reason I came here is because we’re due a storm, and if this-” Rainbow says, pointing to the roofs “-keeps up, houses are gonna be flooded” >Turning to Eris you see her taking particular interest in a nearby wall as she drums her claws against each other “Eris” She continues to feign interest in the wall as her tail wafts in the breeze >Reaching a hand out you give the tip a brief tug causing her to yelp and shoot backwards, hugging her tail to her body “When the clouds come, put the roofs back, alright?” Rainbow is holding a hoof to her muzzle as she tries to suppress her snickers at Eris’ glare >”Please, that’s too easy, if I’m gonna keep the rain out, I’ll do it my way” Turning away from you with a huff she brushes her tail with a paw >A few snickers escape Rainbow “You keep that up and you may actually be able to control her” >With a snort Eris releases her tail and lets it whip Rainbow in the back >The pegasus’ backend is dragged down slightly, but is mostly unphased >Rolling her eyes at Eris Rainbow gives you one last nod “If she starts-” “Getting out of hoof, let you know? Deja vu, Twilight and Rarity have said the same” >”Yeah, well, I mean it” Leaning in closer Rainbow drops her voice “Don’t let her push you around just cause you’re a colt” >You roll your eyes as she flies away, and you see grey clouds in the distance, most likely just coming out of Cloudsdale >”Ugh, good, now can we get back to our fun?” Circling around you, Eris flicks her tail in the general direction Rainbow flew off in >Looking around the now deserted street you’re somewhat stumped for what to do “I mean, we could actually tour the new town I’m living in?” As you look around you realize that you have absolutely no idea where you are in relation to anything else >Other than the path you just came from to the castle, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the path to Applejack’s farm and the path to Town Hall >Stroking her chin, Eris ponders your suggestion >She looks around herself and, seeing nopony and nothing else around, simply shrugs her shoulders “After you” With far more flourish than necessary she waves her arms towards a street >Most of the town is purely residential, with occasional restaurants, cafes and stores dotted through the town >Some ponies use their house as the base of their job >As you and Eris move through town she takes great glee in causing small bouts of chaos >Snails and worms that pass underfoot are enlarged and proceed to demolish the enlarged grass >Rocks are brought to quasi-life and hurl themselves at window panes which let out small grunts of pain at each impact >An animation spell and a voice mimic spell respectively >All of which are supposedly within the limits of her agreement >It’s doubtful she’d use your lack of knowledge to win the bet, she just seems to be happy to use her magic >You imagine that Twilight’s gonna attempt to give you another lesson in magic so you can verify what Eris does in the future >Celestia and Luna are also probably going to consider revising their agreement after today >But for right now, you find a simple joy in the elation on her face >If you weren’t actually there, you wouldn’t have believed Eris could make the same nervous face she made yesterday >Ponies still avoid the two of you like a plague, muttering as they go by >Out of the corner of your eyes you often see Eris’ ears flicking back and forth before she lets out a small growl >Her senses are unboutebly sharper than yours, but you can’t help but wonder what they could be saying that’s getting under her fur >As another group of ponies give you a wide berth she straightens out and turns to you “Hey Anonymous, wanna hear something cool?” Hopefully you’ll be able to distract her from whatever’s bothering her now “Shoot” >Leaning towards you her eyes flick between several ponies around you, each one stepping away when her eyes land on them “Some of these ponies, aren’t actually ponies” Your hair is threatening to annex your eyebrow with how high you’re raising it “What’s that supposed to mean?” >Giggling to herself she goes a full spin, investigating the surroundings “I’ll tell you when I found one, oh the looks on their faces back home when I’d undo their disguises. Priceless” >While Eris darts back and forth, investigating plants, ponies and rocks you feel your stomach grumble slightly >The idea of hay-based food isn’t exactly appealing, and you can’t remember how long you’ve been walking away from the castle >Briefly looking around you spot a small door framed by two walls of grass that cover the rest of the building >On it hangs the sign ‘Bon Bons bon-bons’ >Shrugging, you head over to the door >With a jingle you step inside to a quaint sweets shop that could have been pulled straight out of a children’s book >A singular room, in the centre stands a large, square display case with a hollow centre where ‘Bon Bon’ most likely works from >Each side displays dozens of different sweets, save for a small wooden panel for her to enter and exit >The walls have shelves dug into the stone all the way to the roof, each shelf having been refined down to a smooth finish where even more sweets and confectionaries sit >”Hello hello, sorry to keep yoOOOOOOO-” Turning to the source of the voice you see a cream coated mare with a blue and pink dual-coloured mane >Her eyes are wide as she looks you up and down but slowly relaxes as you make no move “I uh- I had heard of some strange… thing running through Ponyville yesterday” With an aged creak the wooden panel is flipped up as she steps behind the counter >”I guess I owe Lyra some bits” Clearing her throat Bon Bon tries to regain her composure “Anyway what can I get you uh…. um?” >Her bewilderment is slightly amusing, though you imagine that if you have this interaction with every other pony in town when you meet them, it’ll get old fast “My name’s Anonymous, and I’m a human” Finally hearing you speak seems to simultaneously startle the mare and put her at ease >”Well Mr Anonymous, you’re certainly… bigger? than Lyra implied” She leans forward to look you up and down >Quite frankly you’re not surprised by her reaction, especially considering the fact that the only pony to surpass you in height is Celestia >Bon Bon soon realizes she’s been staring and shakes her head “Sorry, don’t get a lot of new species coming through town, what can I get you?” >You give the courteous mare a smile, considering the fact that you’re a literal alien they deserve a little slack “Well” Looking around the store you count at least a hundred or more sweets “What do you like?” Turning back to the mare she seems a bit taken aback by your question >”Oh uh, I don’t really sample my own stock” Nodding, you turn back to the stock but she quickly starts again, possibly worried she’ll lose a customer “B-but! I do make the bon bons myself” Pulling a small, unassuming chocolate brown box from the display case she places it atop and pops the lid open, allowing the slight fragrant scent to fill the shop >”And well I... wouldn’t want to toot my own horn... but-” Her words slowly die in her throat as you approach the counter >You just hope that other ponies won’t make a habit of it >Each bon bon is wrapped neatly in foil and you take one in your hand >You could probably fit a dozen or more of these in a single palm “May I sample one?” Again Bon Bon snaps out of her daze and refocuses on you >”Huh? Oh, yes you can sample one” With a wave of her hoof she grabs the box and puts it back in the display case >Unwrapping the bon bon you pop its entirety in your mouth >You have to immediately stop chewing after the first bite as the rush of flavour and pure concentration of sweetness nearly overwhelms you >There was nothing on earth that had this level of sweetness to it, yet it isn’t overpowering >For what feels like ages you simply hold the bon bon in your mouth allowing the thick chocolatey goo, in place of the usual liqueur, to dance on your tastebuds >It takes every fibre of your being to hum instead of moan from the taste as you finally swallow the sweet “That’s fantastic” The mare perks up at your compliment, her chest puffing out in pride “How much are they?” >”They’re two bits per bon bon” For such a small sweet you’d normally complain if it weren’t for the sheer quality “How many would you like?” Pulling out a paper bag she awaits your order >”Why don’t you give us all of them” With a heavy thud a bag of bits lands on the counter, luckily without cracking the glass >Bon Bon lets out a yelp as she looks towards the door, Eris has climbed into the room, literally, she’s climbed up the wall and onto the ceiling, her claws and talons digging into the stone >”No! You! You, get out!” Bon Bon scrabbles under the counter only to reappear a moment later with a broom which she swipes at the upside down draconequus >”Come now, there’s no need for that, I’m a paying customer after all” Releasing her talon she dangles from the roof >She has to crouch her legs to stop her head from hitting the floor and also to stop her head from being level with your crotch “Are you doing that with magic or is that just leg muscle?” It takes you a moment to realise you had actually vocalized your thoughts >Your only response from Eris is a wink >With a grumble Bon Bon puts away the broom and begins counting the bits “Also, where did those come from?” Pointing to the bag you distinctly remember not seeing it before >Eris’ tail drifts towards the bag and begins flipping through the coins “A clever observation, but I just teleported these from my house, so I’m still winning” “Only cause I felt bad for you earlier” Her tail coils up slightly as a light blush creeps up on her face >You also notice Bon Bon trying to hide the smirk on her muzzle “Here. Try and keep your freaky marefriend under control this time” >With a loud crack Eris detaches from the ceiling and falls to the floor, just barely managing to twist and land on her tail >Like a spring it compresses to stop her fall >Her muscles are tensed as she gets to her feet >Quickly grabbing the bag of sweets you make your way beside her “Hear that Eris?” Nudging her manages to snap her back to reality but there’s still a small snarl on her face “Ponies are already talking about us” As you make your way to the door she seems to slowly calm down “We keep hanging out and there may be stories before long” >This seems to finally get her to smile as she begins floating again “Oh I dread to think” >Another jingle echos through the store as you exit and the snap of Eris’ talon matches the clicking of the closed door >Looking around you see no obvious changes to Ponyville >Soon though rapid popping emanates from inside the store and several yelps follow >Turning to Eris she shrugs her shoulder “It’s just a popping spell on her candy, it’s not like I’m hurting her” >Now hanging upside down above you she reaches into the bag to grab a bon bon “Speaking of which” >Unwrapping the foil she pops it into her mouth and chucks the sweet to you “Rule number three, I can’t cause any kind of harm to ponies” >You glance between Eris and the shop >Maybe you’ll be able to convince her to undo the damages later >Though right now she still doesn’t seem to be back to her usual self “So did you find any of those things you were on about earlier?” Hoping to get her mind off what’s bothering her you bring up her little tease from earlier >After finishing the foil, Eris does another spin to look around town >”No, no I haven’t, maybe we should get a better view” Once again the ground lifts up from under you as Eris tears a sizeable chunk of the earth up and over the grass line >Now with a better view you’re able to see the ponies wandering through the maze like grass >You also see a very peculiar sight, Eris has enlarged a gray pegasus pony with a pale blonde mane, flapping over the town she looks between the houses and the enlarged pack on her side >Pulling from the pack she drops letters and packages on to the houses as she passes by >Her wall-eye catches you two floating there and she waves at you both, thanking Eris >Eris simply waves back at the mare >Apparently, before she had entered the store, Eris had bumped into the mail pony, usually she would fly around to do her job but the tall grass was getting in the way >Of course Eris’ solution was to make the mare grow “So seriously, just tell me what you’re looking for” Poking the draconequus in the side cause her to recoil with a snicker >”Not yet” She says waving you away >Her smile begins to fade slightly as she looks back over the town so you decide to push her for info >Several pokes later and you manage to break her down enough that she can no longer sustain her hovering >Backing away from you and clutching her sides through her giggles she manages to prop herself up >”Alright fine, if you’re gonna be such a needy colt” Drifting besides you she does one last scan of the area before sighing “I’m looking for changelings” “Changelings?” The name rings a bell but you can’t remember that much detail about them >”Yep, they’re Celestia and Luna’s best allies, not sure what they’re like here, but if they’re anything like back on my world, they’re the princesses spy network” >Pulling out another bon bon you hand her the foil as you chew through the chocolate >Despite being your third one you still aren’t used to the pure sweetness of it >Now being high above the town, a comfortable silence replaces the constant murmurs of the ponies from before >A few thoughts drift in and out of your head but none of them stick as you glance at Eris >Her usual jovial nature has been replaced with tired eyes >Shuffling against the rock you lightly brush against her as you readjust, causing her to go stiff >You settle a bit away from her but her eyes remain on you >After a few more thoughts come and go you decide to simply grab the proverbial horns “Eris, what’s wrong?” For a few minutes she doesn’t say anything >Unlike earlier, she isn’t purposefully ignoring her, you can see her trying to collect her thoughts as she eats another bon bon, both the foil and the chocolate >”Back in my Equestria” Her voice finally snaps you out of the staring contest you were having with her neck “Nopony or changeling ever used my name, I was always just ‘freak’ to them, after a few centuries I actually had to start reminding myself of my own name” >Idly picking at the floating rock, she flicks a few pebbles to the streets below “That’s the price you pay for initiating a hostile takeover of a whole planet but... I don’t know” Using her talon she rips out a more sizeable chunk of rock and begins carving into it with her claws >”I guess hearing it over here just” Her carving begins to slow and eventually she simply lets the rock drop to the ground “I really don’t know why it’s bothering me” >You open your mouth to try and say something, but you see her pupils have grown again >Countless images of ponies and pony sized bug creatures flash by, each of them yelling and hurling whatever they can get their hooves or magic on >Now that you’re closer to her you notice small bags beneath her eyes >Tentatively, you wrap an arm around her paw >She doesn’t freeze up this time, but her head jolts slightly as her pupils snap to their regular size, and she looks down at her paw, as if to confirm what she’s feeling “You look tired Eris” >With a tired chuckle she places her talon against your arm before slowly pulling herself free “I am tired. Believe it or not a thousand years is a long time, even to creatures of chaos. I never got any before; Luna would just give me nightmares” >Leaning back Eris rests herself against the rock “Ol’ Bluebean really needed to get laid if you ask me” >The thought of that causes both of you to giggle, the infectious nature of the laugh and the ridiculous subject feeds back into itself, fueling you both into near howls of laughter >Finally broken out of her sombre mood, Eris manages to sputter out ridiculous commentary regarding Celestia as well which only makes you both laugh harder >When the laughter finally begins winding down you realize that somewhere along the way you dropped the bag of bon bons >The previous anger from before has finally washed off Eris, and a small contented smile has taken place on her muzzle >Leaning down beside her you stare at the sky, by the position of the sun you’d wager you’ve missed lunch >But right now your stomach doesn’t really seem to mind >Quicker than you’d expect though, dark clouds begin to roll over the skies of Ponyville >”Ugh already? Pegasi work a lot quicker over here” With a snap you hear several heavy thuds >Looking over the side of the floating rock you see the roofs are back on the houses, except they’re all backwards >As the ponies below, the mail mare included, gallop to their houses a crack of thunder and a flash of lightning lights up the sky just as a torrential downpour begins >Yet you and Eris remain unaffected >The water crashes against an invisible barrier and falls harmlessly away from you >You don’t even bother asking this time >As the rain continues to fall, Eris begins telling you of her experiences with the changelings in her old world >Apparently they had several hives, and each changelings mission was simply to find and relay her position to the princesses >Rinse and repeat everyday >Though Eris took great joy in reminding them that she could find them with ease, no matter how many new disguises they tired or tricks they used >One story is cut off by a piercing whistle, dulled by the rainstorm, the thunder and the barrier surrounding you >Eris whips her head in every direction for the source of the noise >Eventually her eyes land on the train station and she leans forward to get a better look “What’s that thing?” >Sitting up you take in the sight of the steam-powered locomotive “They didn’t have trains back in your Equestria?” You stand to your feet as Eris begins hovering, shaking her head as she does >Before you can say anymore the two of you are on the train, shocking the driver >She immediately begins flying around it, taking in the carriages, wheels and finally back the engine >”How the hell is something this big supposed to move?” Eris says as she sits atop one of the carriages >Not entirely sure what to do in this situation the driver simply turns away from you two and focuses on the engine “Well I’m no expert but, from what I recall” Another whistle and jolt causes the train to lurch forward “Coal is fed into a boiler, then the resulting steam turns the pistons which turn the wheels” >Eris’ eyes slowly part to the side as you talk before snapping back into place “Ok, now what’s a boiler and what’s a piston?” >You can’t help but laugh as you realize that Eris inadvertently stopped her Equestria from progressing technologically for a thousand years >The gentle rhythm of clicks and clacks of the train wheels against the rails and the shuffling of coal fills the air as the train barrels down its track >Eventually you’re able to break down the basic mechanisms of a train down into laymens for Eris >She meanwhile, is fascinated by this new discovery “This thing is insane” “You think this is insane? Wait until I tell you about rockets, or submarines” Eris eyes literally sparkle at your words “But before we get into my world, tell me more about yours” >Eris slumps back slightly, no doubt annoyed by you withholding information, but her face quickly turns ponderous >”Where do I start? Do you wanna hear about Sombra or Tirek first?” “Either, who were they?” Your hand brushes against the metal roof of the carriage and you’re reminded that your bon bons are probably still ruined in a muddy puddle back in Ponyville >Seeing this Eris snaps her talons and teleports the bon bons into your lap >Happily unwrapping one you give her the foil while you indulge in the sweet >”Well, of course neither were too happy with my rule, so they joined with the princesses, but I think I’d say Tirek was the bigger threat, since he was, you know, an actual threat” >You nearly choke on your chocolate at the thought “How’s that possible?” You find it hard to believe there was anyone that wasn’t the princesses that would have a chance against Eris >”Well sit back, cause it all starts with Cerberus-” >The wider world almost seems to fall away from the two of you >Eris’ eyes take on a gentle red glow as she reminisces about her old world >How Tirek was allowed to consumed the magic of ponies to try and fight her, only to have it ripped out of him and scattered back to the ponies again >When Sombra tried to use the Crystal Heart as a power source for his magic only to have it undone by Eris >And the countless fights she had with Celestia and Luna “She seriously dropped the moon on you?” With half a bon bon in hand, you give Eris an incredulous stare at her latest story >”Well, she tore off chunks of it and let gravity pull them down on top of me” Rather than eating the foil, she’s begun folding them into origami figures that prance around the two of you ”And no other pony or monster tried to stand up to you?” >”I guess everyone else saw them fail and got scared off” >With each new story the landscape changes little by little >From rolling emerald hills, to verdant woodlands >Slowly but surely rocky formations begin to come into view >All the while the rainstorm rages over head >One lightning bolt had actually come towards the two of you but Eris simply caught it in a bottle >The bet had been forgotten long ago >You preferred it when she went unrestrained, there was something in the way she effortlessly warped the world that made it impossible to look away >The huffing of the train becomes more intense as greater amounts of coal are shovelled into the boiler >Looking around the metal motor you notice that you’re going up an incline >This is the closest you’ve been to Canterlot since you got here >Along with the towering spires of ivory you see grand building inlaid with gold and purple >Your body instinctively tenses as you expect to be hit with Celestia’s presence >But it never comes >Glancing over to Eris you see her lost as she too stares at Canterlot “so that’s where they live” Her voice is barely above a murmur, she probably didn’t even intend for you to hear her >”I doubt they’d want me visiting them so soon” This time her voice clearly cuts through the ambient noise “I guess you won the bet… again” Letting out an exaggerated hum you stroke your chin “I dunno Eris, there’s an argument that it’s a tie” >This gets her full attention as she leans towards you “I like the sound of that” “Well, I believe that you could win by convincing me that Discord ‘doesn’t hold a candle to you’? Right” She nods along with you “Sure you broke the terms of your agreement, which part I’m still not sure, and you took your magic out of Ponyville. But you still managed to convince me” >Eris’ body relaxes slightly at your words and a look of uncertainty crosses her face “I know it doesn’t really make up for a thousand years of ponies calling you-” You cut yourself off before you blunder “-well you know. But for what it’s worth, I think you’re pretty great” >Shooting a smile and wink at the draconequus you expect her to do the same >Instead her body shakes ever so slightly before she lunges at you and wraps her arms around you >“Thanks” >Her shaky voice is the last thing you hear before the world seems to stop >It takes you a second to realise that you had simply been teleported back into the castle >You look around for any sign of the draconequus, but she’s simply gone >A slight tingle runs through your hand and a crinkle comes from the other >Looking down you see the bottled lightning and bag of bon bons in your grasp >With your day so abruptly ended you mindlessly wander through the castle >Rumbling snores come from a room as you pass by >A room with an orange light >Groaning slightly, you head over to your room to deposit the volatile lightning and sweets >Swiftly returning to the room you crack open the door to see Twilight fast asleep >Beside her are two small notes >One of them is in a harsh scratchy calligraphy >‘It’s of my professional medical opinion that any harm done to Anon’s body was benign at worst and that no further medical measures are required to ensure his safety’ - Private Light Sutures, Equestrian Medic Corps >You twirl the note in your hand for a while >Did Twilight go out of her way to get a combat medic to look into your projection or was this pony sent by Celestia >The other note is in Twilight’s neater calligraphy >’Anon, there’s food in the fridge, also, please don’t be mad’ >Flicking the notes aside you put your hands apart and bring them together, shrinking the projection down to a small sphere >Careful to not wake the exhausted mare you slowly cradle Twilight’s body and carry her through the door “Silly mare, why’d I be mad at you for caring?” You keep your voice low as Twilight slowly shuffles in your arms >Eventually, after several broom closets and toilets, you find Twilight’s room and place her atop her covers >They’re so tightly tucked into the bed that pulling them free would probably wake her >Leaving the purple mare to her dreams you slowly make your way to the kitchen and the preserved food >As you pass by a few of the windows you see the storm still going on, though with far less intensity than before >Slowly small gaps in the clouds begin to form as they begin to dissipate from lack of rain >An inky black peeks through the holes in the clouds with small specks of white dotted through >How long had you been on that train >Your thoughts return to Eris as you grab the large salad from the fridge >The way she spoke of her old home definitely reminded you of how you had felt >A sombre nostalgia, but at the same time, worry at the thought of returning >You imagine that, after literally being hunted everyday for a millenia, even if it was never successful, Eris is probably happy to be able to relax out in the open >Save for the murmurs from today >Twilight will need to hear about Eris disdain towards the word freak >Slowly you chew through the cold salad, maybe you should see if Fluttershy has any meat you can eat, she has to feed her carnivorous animals somehow, right? >Trying to think of other ways to help Eris feel more at home you hope that you’ve at least helped her feel at ease around you >That hug was pretty telling though >With the salad done you leave it in the basin as your exhaustion begins to finally catch up with you >Along with the purple glow of Twilight’s runes, dull flashes of white hums through the room as the lightning perpetually rages on inside the bottle beside your bag >Besides both items you see a small picture, most of it dimmed by the room >Bringing it in front of the light you see yourself, laughing at something >The dirt treadmill besides the laughing you brings your mind back to yesterday >Turning it over, a short note is on the back, each letter seemingly made up of letters cut from magazines >‘See you later Anon’ >Propping the photo against the bottle you slowly slip off your clothes before finally collapsing into your bed <> >The cold cries of wendigos filled your ears >As they ran down the mountain their ethereal hooves kicked up a blizzard that would have snow-blinded you if you didn’t have goggles on >Your own laughter managed to match their cries in sheer volume >You hadn’t done this in eons and had forgotten how fun it was >Fighting Celestia and Moon Cheese can be so boring sometimes >Though this will probably draw their attention pretty quickly >With a simple flex of your paw you extend your claws and cut the ropes that bound the phantoms of ice >Were Wendigoes dead ponies or simply another species of them >Maybe Celestia or Bluebean will know >Though their response will probably be something along the lines of “Shut up Eris” or “Today you fall Eris” >Honestly, those two need some new material >Slowly your momentum peters out and you come to a halt >Snapping your talon, the wendigos' eyes flash and make a beeping noise “All right kids, remember where we parked” >Scurrying under your cloven hoof, several smaller clones of you scatter throughout the wintery expanse >Before you’re able to take in the sights yourself, you’re briefly blinded >Every muscle in you tenses, ready to throw your magic at the twin princesses >You tense, and you tense, and you tense >Yet you sense no incoming magic >Blinding you before a battle was Celestia’s favourite, if not pointless, trick >A quick glance up helps you relax >The sun had simply bounced off the spires of Sombra’s crystal castle >Annoyed at the little ball of burning gas you turn your gaze up to it >Using the thumb and index of your talon, you see the sun fit between the gap and pinch it out of the sky >Unsurprisingly its quite spicy as you pop it into your mouth and it travels through you >You’ll put it back >Eventually >Maybe “I wonder if I could convince Celestia to beg me to put it back?” You double over at the mental image of the stubborn mare kneeling to you “She probably would as well, if it meant protecting her ponies” >Your laughter carries up the mountain and shakes the snow sat at the peak loose, causing an avalanche >With a few tonnes of snow, your laughter finally stops >Luckily someone was kind enough to leave a door in the snow for you to simply walk out of the avalanche with >That someone was you “Thank you Eris” >”You’re welcome Eris” >Before you can properly thank yourself she disappears in a cloud of dark, crackling magic >The snow nearly muffles it, but your ears pick it up clearly >Heavy metal boots crushing the snow and rock beneath it >Glancing towards the source of the noise you see a pair of eyes piercing the prevailing darkness you’d created >Red pupils like your own, with purple smoke wafting out of the sickly green sclera >A red cape, lined with white fur and black dots >On his head sat a crown of steel as cold as the ice around you “Hello Sombrero, miss me?” With a flash that tacky crown of his turns into a wide brimmed straw hat “Hey look we match” Floating next to the dark sorcerer you grin ear to ear as you compare your hats >His horn crackles to life with dark lightning as its overtaken with purple and green smoke to match his eyes >The snow is melted off the ground from the heat and pressure as he tears apart the hat “That was a gift Sombrero” Your hurt tone is returned with a deep growl >”You should not have come here today, monster” His voice reverberates around the two of you >Was it simply a vocal alteration spell he used or was it a result of all the dark magic coursing through his veins “Don’t you mean tonight?” Waving your arm up you pull Luna’s celestial body up over the horizon, replacing the ebony darkness with a silver light >”They are not yours to control, freak” You feel your nostrils flare at the impudent stallion as he began pacing around you “Well if that teacher of yours is too pathetic to stop me, then why shouldn’t I do what I want with them?” Sombra’s face twisted in rage at your insult >Once more his horn flared to life and a spell was launched at you, but a simple mirror deflected it onto the snow >Like a twisted tree, a spire of black crystal sprouts up from the ground >An effective spell, if he could actually hit his target, which he never could >”I will not suffer any slander of Celestia’s name, creature” With a snarl, he levelled his horn at your chest >Volatile black lightning sprang from his horn and formed a net >With a twist, you unscrewed your antler and began spinning it in your talon >When the net made contact, it spun itself into a ball >Biting into the magic, it tore away like cotton candy “I’m not really a fan of black liquorice, but this isn’t too bad” Flicking your wrist, you threw the magic treat up >Telekinetically compressing it, the black of Sombra’s magic and the white of your antler mixed into a flaming ball of black and white >His horn flared to life again and dozen of crystal walls appeared around him >With practiced ease you tore them away from him and began peeling them >The black stone fell away to reveal a reflective surface which you used to reflect and multiply the fiery orbs >Clapping your talon and paw together, the balls converged on Sombra >Instead of the blazing inferno a spell like that would normally cause, the black and white balls unfurled into dozens of kittens of the same colour >For a split second you saw a grin tug at Sombra’s lips before he regained his composure and turned to you again >His horn flared with a sickly green and purple as spears of black crystal manifested in the air >Your paw extended towards him and tore his cape off as he hurled the spears >Throwing up the cape, each spear harmlessly bounced off the enchanted garb >As if gravity were acting on it, the cape tugged itself out of your grasp and towards the crystal ruler “Tell me Sombra, does that cape come in green? Red isn’t really my colour” >Despite being Celestia’s pupil, Sombra wasn’t a fast learner >Dark magic pulsed off his horn once more as he prepared another spell >The magic cloud grew larger and larger with each passing second >When the cloud became the size of a building it pulsed angrily, as if an invisible wall were stopping it >Though it continued to pulse as Sombra poured more magic into the spell it didn’t grow any further >In fact it began to shrink >Sombra’s face was twisted in concentration as the cloud began to solidify, pulsing with a magical density far greater than its mass >Sure, you could stop him, for the first century you didn’t let anyone cast a spell as you were more than quick enough to stop them >But you quickly got bored of doing that, so now you let these spells play out >This one has certainly caught your attention >Looking down, you see small flakes of snow getting pulled off the ground and into the dense spell >The spell has shrunk to the size of a ball and the silver light of the moon began to be drawn too it as well >You were honestly getting excited at this >Finally, the spell converged back into Sombra’s horn and arcs of black lightning tore up and burnt the ground around you >As the spell hit its zenith, Sombra let out a scream of pain >Any other pony would find it bloodcurdling >You just found it funny as he fell into a crumpled mess, the spell releasing a powerful shockwave that caused a split to run up the entirety of the mountain >His limbs folded the wrong way, snapping the bone and sinew beneath >So intense was the pain that his horn flared sporadically, leaving him in a puddle of an inky liquid >Probably something else too, if his whimpers were anything to go by “A thousand years Sombra” One of his hooves twitched in your general direction, so he hadn’t fainted from the pain just yet “A thousand years and you still haven’t figured out how to counteract your own magic’s drawback?” >Sombra slowly propped himself up on his own broken legs >With a groan that slowly turned into a defiant yell his magic twitched and flickered before taking a cohesive form and burst around his body >Another series of clicks rang through him as he fixed himself >”I… can do… enough-” The stress of it was clearly too much as he once more collapsed >Steam rose from his body as the cold wind boiled against the sheer heat of his body, resulting from the magic expenditure >It wasn’t hard to see why Celestia had taken Sombra under her wing >Any other pony would have died after a decade of using dark magic non-stop and if they managed to last longer than that, they’d go mad >But not old Sombra >The little dark prince had practically made himself a magic beacon for the others >As you looked over Sombra’s pathetic form, you didn’t see a beaten and broken stallion, you saw Celestia’s student, and as your mind focused on the ivory princess you felt an old familiar emotion begin to rise in you >Anger >It was fun to mess with these ponies but every now and then they managed to tick you off >And right now you felt like blowing off some steam “Awwww, poor Sombra” He knew the situation he was in, yet he still tried to gather the strength to shuffle away from you “That looks like it hurt” Your sickly sweet voice dripped from the ear-splitting grin on your face as you stood to your full height >Your paw and talon hung limply at your side, your magic wasn’t necessary, right now you felt like getting physical “Here, let me help you” Rearing your cloven hoof back you compressed it as much as you can before letting it fire into Sombra’s chest like a piston >Wait, what’s a pist- >Before you’re able to finish the question a weight slams into your back >Quickly increasing your own density, the offending items crumples into a gasping heap behind you >Turning around you see Sombra, his chest plate shattered, his crown long gone, and his cape torn >You must have teleported into the empire just after kicking him >Shaking the previous thought from your head you pull up your dragon talon over his body >Like the knell of a grand bell, the impact of your foot reverberates through the empire >Inspecting the point of impact you see a crystal clear dome has formed around Sombra >You shoot a glance over your shoulder and see a gentle, baby blue glow shining brighter and brighter from behind you >As you drag your talon’s claws against the crystal dome, the piercing screech causes the spell to warble as the surrounding ponies wince at the sound >Your talon gently slaps against the ground and the deep gashes you had left in the protective spell slowly begins to fill again >Slowly you turn around to face the ponies of the crystal empire >Despite their defiant nature >Despite the fact that they had been taught about you from birth >They were still cowards when they came face to face with you >”Y- you-” With a crack you bent your neck in a way no other creature could >This alone was enough to paralyse the crystal pony that had managed to build up the courage to speak to you >But you felt like really messing with this pony >Your eyes began to glow and you created a small illusory dome around you and the pony and began to make the light dim, leaving only you visible to them “Have something to say?” You twisted your neck again so that your face was the right way up >Her breathing slowly became more and more ragged and she slowly placed one hoof behind the other Bringing your lion paw down, you caused the ground to crack “Well!?” >That did it, with a screech, the pony turned around and bolted to whatever hole they had crawled out of >As your body twisted back to its normal orientation you couldn’t help but laugh at the fleeing mare >Her terror had really brought up your previous mood >But that’s wrong isn’t it? >You weren’t supposed to be doing that anymore >Anymore- >Once more your train of thought is derailed, literally as a train come tumbling out of your ear and crashes into the ground >Where’d that come from, you don’t have anything like that in this Equestria >This Equestria- >You let out a small gasp of pain and clasp your head >”What’s the matter monster, getting tired?” Sombra’s voice cuts through your head “Well well well, look at you, so eager for my attention, I can understand if Celestia isn’t doing it for you anymore” Sombra’s face twists in anger as he tries to rise to his hooves, only to collapse once more You begin pacing around the protective dome his subjects made while he growls at you like a cornered animal “If you must know, I’m just desperately bored of you, I could use an actual challenge like say, an alicorn?” >”Careful what you wish for, creature, Celestia and Luna will have noticed your presence here by now” >You’d be able to take him more seriously if he were actually able to stand “Well why wait for them Sombra, why not have Cadence come fight me?” Glancing towards the castle expectantly, you wait for the familiar flash of pink >”Who?” All you get is Sombra’s question “Oh you know, Cade- Ca- Candy? Cotton?” You wince as another twinge of pain hits one of your temples >You had just said her name, you remember that earlier you knew her name, but now it escaped you >Planting your head in your paw and talon you let an exasperated groan “Something’s wrong” Before Sombra can interrupt your thoughts again you teleport yourself >Where, you don’t know, you just know you needed to be there >Ponyville >That’s where your magic brought you >But again something was wrong, except it wasn’t >It was exactly the way you had left it, including the ponies that screamed and ran as soon as they saw you “Where is it? It was… big and ugly, right?” >As you stared out into the open plain of grass you continued to wonder at what was missing >Did you put something there before? >Before you can think too long a whistle rings through the air >With a speed that you didn’t know you had, you blitzed over to another empty plain of grass “There’s supposed to be something here, a snake” Snapping your talon you summoned a massive python >Close, definitely close “A… a metal snake?” Another snap hardened the python’s scales to the same steel that Celestia and Luna’s guard would use >Not sure of what to do next you let yourself fall onto the snake’s back >Seemingly with a destination in mind, the snake began slithering through the grass and away from Ponyville >Meanwhile you were racking your brain trying to figure out what you were missing “Something big and ugly, and Cade- Cady… Candy? Bon bons?” With a flash a bag of the sweets appeared in front of you >But again, something was missing >As your journey continued, you chewed through the bag like a sandwich >Eventually a mountain came into view >There was nothing interesting about it, but for some reason it drew your attention “That’s where they live?” You mimicked the words before you even knew what you were saying or who you were mimicking >Another flash and you were stood on the face of the mountain >Your eyes enlarged to several times their normal size and shone light onto the mountain’s surface to try and find whatever it was you were looking for >As you glanced over a rock you brought your talon down on it and squeezed >With a flash of green fire, Chrysalis dropped the inanimate disguise and gasped as your talon squeezed her neck “Will you ever learn Chrysalis?” Aside from the disguise magic, she couldn’t really do much, so you let her go >Sputtering and heaving, she slowly managed to regain the air you had squeezed out of her >She slowly staggered to her hooves and you got a clearer look at the damage you’d done to her over the centuries >You could see every crack in the sinister smile she shot you >Her chitinous hide was tougher than stone, but you had found a way to work around it >Hit her, hard, with something very big >You matched her smile with one of your own as the memories flooded your mind >”You know, I’m actually glad to see you, monster” With a final cough, Chrysalis tried her best to puff out her chest and look intimidating >It wasn’t working, but it was cute that she tried “Oh?” Normally she’d have signalled for a few hundred drones to swarm you by now, so this ought to be interesting “Do tell Cheese Legs” >Her nose flared slightly at your little nickname but she quickly calmed herself >”I actually wanted to show you something new I’ve been working on” With a flash of green fire, a perfect copy of you stood before you “Actually, I think I wear this freaky body better than you do” She even got your voice right >Her smarmy self-assuredness was admirable if nothing else “Good for you insect, but you don’t have my magic so…” You wave your paw up and down at the copy of you, wondering what the purpose of it is >”Well it was more of a personal goal than anything” Seeing yourself rest your cheek against a single claw was weirder than you expected “I just haven’t done it until now because I wanted to figure you out first” >With a flap of her wings, the Chrysalis copy spun and floated over towards you and began spiralling around your body >“And you know what, I really think I finally have” To emphasize her last word she flicked your nose with the tip of your tail “Oh goody, psychology” With a flash you sat yourself in a leather armchair and donned a tweed jacket and fake beard “Is this the part where I tell you about my mother?” >Chrysalis’s voice echoed slightly as she chuckled “Oh no, this is the part where I tell you about yourself” >You could feel your brain melting from boredom already >In fact, you and the chair were melting too >Maybe she’d keep talking and you could slip away by melting to the bottom of the mountain >”I mean, of course you’d act this way with all the ponies that have hurt you” >You stopped yourself at her words and slowly resolidified >Crossing your arms, you turn back to the queen of the bugs >”Trust me, I get it, being capable of changing into anything, I know what it’s like. When no one trusts you” She shifts to take the form of Luna and the deeper feminie voice replaces yours >Her form was far more pristine than Luna’s actual body, it was the way her body looked before you went on a rampage >The countless nights of being visited by her and her endless interrogations flashed through your mind but were cut off as Chrysalis spoke again >”I can be anything or anypony. You’ve never tried to be something you're not, but when push came to shove, they didn’t trust you” >Celestia this time, the harsh glare, and the voice of a disappointed mother actually caused you to stumble back from the now approaching Celest- Chrysalis, she was just trying to get in your head >”But in the end, none of that mattered, what really stung, what really drove you to… all this? Was the simple fact that-” Clasping your paw in her hoof, Celestia was slowly overtaken by green fire >This time you saw a dragon’s talon and a cloven hoof, leading into a tall skinny brown body >But it wasn’t yours this time, the coat was matted and dull >Slowly, your paw was pulled up and rested against the face of your dad >“-they didn’t need you, and they all left you behind” A cruel smirk crossed his face as his deep voice echoed throughout the mountain >Pulling your claw back you made sure to draw blood >The Discord copy simply chuckled as they wiped away the blood ”But in the end, despite being smart enough to outwit all of us for centuries without slowing down, you never stopped to ask why” >Undeterred by your bared fangs and claws the copy continued to approach you as green fire began to creep up its form again “Why did everyone you ever cared about leave you? And you also haven’t asked yourself-” >For the first time since you got here you froze completely, your face fell, and your claws retracted >Skin to match the emerald fire that had just engulfed the body, and simple clothes with a rugged and worn jacket “-what’s to stop everyone else you meet from leaving you too, Eris?” >Chrysalis never used your name, no one had in centuries >You’re pretty sure the only ones who remember your name are the five you’ve been fighting all this time >Hearing your own name, from her, using his face >You had never frozen up like that before, but it didn’t matter, because it was being overshadowed by all the unyielding rage you felt >With a roar that shook the mountain you grabbed the fake by the neck, only hesitating for a moment as you saw the face you were attacking >Reminding yourself that it was Chrysalis you doubled your grip and shot into the air >As quickly as you rose, you dived back into the mountain with a thundering crack that caused a crater to form, causing Chrysalis to revert back to her regular form “DON’T YOU DARE USE HIS FACE, VERMIN FILTH!” As your fists closed completely around her neck she slowly began dissolving and laughing >But not with her own voice >Springing to your feet you watched as Chrysalis turned to smoke and blew away in the breeze >The breeze carried with it another bout of laughter >Turning to the source of the noise, you see Luna >Definitely the real one >Patches of her fur were completely gone from where you had left her scarred >She refused to place her full weight on one hoof that was particularly thinner than the others >Pure magic filled in half of her left wing >You’re pretty sure you’ve got the rest of it framed somewhere in your house >After that particular fight, she never even thought to fight you alone again “Bluebean. Should have known it was you” You let out a derisive snort at the moon princess >”We expected a standing ovation for that performance, twas not easy to get all those likenesses correct, we assure thee” With a half hearted bow, she hopped off her previous perch on an outcrop of the mountain and stood before you >”Was the little world we made thee to thine liking, creature? Thou wouldst not gainsay that it made for sweet anodyne for thine bleeding heart” She did a small pirouette in the air and her dream form began shifting >Her body became flush with new fur, hiding away her scars and injuries >”Tis more than one so vile deserves” Her eyes narrowed into a small glare as she hovered in front of you “What world Moon Cheese, how’d you get in my head?” Luna stops and looks you up and down for a moment before a laugh escapes her >”Be still our beating heart, was our woven story so compelling that it snared thee like a fly in a spider’s web?” Another bout of laughter escaped her and you begin to feel your heart beat faster >”Thou never thought to question what befell thee? Thine estranged patriarch returned, mismatched limbs outstretched to whisk thee away to another world” Her horn flared to life to show Discord suddenly appearing before you and disappearing just as quickly >”And what should inhabit this new world? Tis an alien, an outsider much like thou art” Once more her horn conjures up a small version of you and manifests Anonymous besides you “Yet he does not fear the unknown as others do, he accepts thee with rapturous vigour” >Luna’s magic twists the duplicates to show when you had briefly stolen a hug from him on the train >The echoing laughter of the night princess disperses the image and you feel your arms go numb >”Our lucky stars shone true the night you finally succumbed to slumber, we have so much more planned tonight” >As her voice echoed in your head you clasped your talon and paw over your ears, desperate to keep her out any way you could >”Thou art having issues remembering the rest of the world we made correct?” >But it wasn’t enough >“As if it were like trying to recall a dream?” >You tried teleporting yourself to the other side of the planet but her laughter persisted >”Soon, you will lose everything else” >Despite your eyes being closed you saw an ever growing expanse of white approaching >“Your past” Visions of your first exploration of Equestria fills your mind >Meeting Luna and Celestia >Setting their world’s sky on fire >”Your future” Now you saw yourself going through the second Equestria, making the same mistakes you made before >The world constantly flashes to each time you’ve seen Anon’s face >A few times, there was frustration, but never anger >Curiosity, but never fear >”You will lose everything and you won’t even care” >Your back hit something solid and you opened your eyes >You were in the throne you had carved out of a mountain to sit on and watch Equestria fall to chaos >With a yelp, you lept out of the throne but rather than floating in the air, gravity pulled you, and everything else, down >The world around you was dragged further and further, until it was stretched so thin that you couldn’t make heads or tails of where you were >”And one day, you will stand before the decrepit gates of the world you ruined! Without really knowing why...” Your mind finally grinded to a halt as you floated in front of another draconequus >You didn’t recognise her, her eyes were pale and dull, and she looked like she barely had the strength to stand >Mentally struggling against the image, you managed to rip your mind out of Luna’s grasp >Luna’s laugh was like torture, it poked at your brain and pulled the memories you had made in yoru brief time with Anon to the forefront of your mind >Eventually you couldn’t hold your own body up and collapsed, wishing that she’d just go away >A roar like thunder suddenly shook the world and everything fell silent >Finally unfurling yourself you looked around to see that the world had turned into a white void >Only you and Luna, now back to her scarred self and frozen in laughter, remained >”We find this glib facsimile to be most insulting Eris” Metal shoes softly clicked against the void and approached the two of you >Hesitantly, you look up to see another Luna, this one’s face is slightly twisted in disgust as she examines your Luna >With a dismissive huff, Luna flicks her horn and the frozen one, still taunting you with her silent laughter disappears into the void >”It took us far too long to gain control over this errant mind of yours Eris” Luna looks around the white void, clearly seeing something that you can’t >”We feel the need to reveal that we have not trusted thee e’er since Discord brought thee to our world” Her words leave no room for you to interrupt, though right now you’re just glad for the conversation >“We wish to disregard this distrust now” This is almost enough to break you out of your stupor, but you are halted by a gilded shoe “The reason for this, is that we no longer believe thine intentions to be false, nor do we believe a malcontent could react in such a way to a dream such as this one” >Slowly her hoof approaches your face and as it makes contact you recoil at the sudden chill >Bringing your talon up to your face you realise that Luna’s shoes weren’t cold >Your face was hot, with tears you didn’t realise you’d been crying >With a twist that would have snapped a normal being’s spine you turn your back to Luna and fervently wipe away the wet stains on your face >Once more hooves hued in royal blue lightly press against your arms and push them down >”Such emotions are naught to be ashamed of Eris, we know this more than anypony” You try blinking away the tears that lie on the edge of your eyes but they still fall, and burn you again >”We know full well the temptations to pretend that this pain does not exist, but you must face it” A chill like ice runs through the hallow dreamscape and you look up at Luna >Her head is turned away from you, to something behind her >Looking over her shoulder, your eyes widen at the pony in front of you both >The same height as Celestia >A billowing mane of stars >And a coat like ebony >You’d only seen Nightmare Moon briefly when you studied this Equestria’s history, you didn’t expect her to command such a presence >”If you are ever to know peace” Luna’s voice drops to a whisper and her counterpart wordlessly turns her gaze away from you two and out towards the endless void >Luna slowly pulls away and you can feel her magic presence becoming fainter >Internally pushing against your own shock you reach out to her “Wait- wait- please wait!” Your call stops her from whatever she was doing as she turns to you “Please just- just tell me that these past few days have been real” >Luna raises a hoof slowly as worry crosses her face “My- my you she’d- the fucking bitch always made me question what was real when I slept, so I stopped, but now I- I don’t know I-” >Gentle shushes echo through the void as Luna closes the distance between you again >”We wish we could aid thee further Eris, but thy mind is set, we both know that our words would fall on deaf ears, sincere as they may be” You feel a little bit of shame as you realise she’s right, with that face you just can’t trust her “But we also know whom’s words would mean the most to thee. When thou art ready to hear their words then hold them close, and hold them fast. Until it hurts if need be” >A smile begins tugging at the corner of your lips at her words “The words or the one who said them?” >Luna steps away from you and a wistful smile crosses her face “Tia was ours” >”For now though, accept this, tis all we can do for now” Luna’s face twists in concentration as she begins to manifest something in the void >The spell is taking far longer than it reasonably should >With an exhausted pant she levitates the new item to you >An emerald green dreamcatcher You chuckle as you inspect the intricately designed ornament “Thank you Lu-” As you look up you find yourself alone “-na” >Turning your attention to the dream catcher once more you hold it close and slowly feel yourself growing sleepy <> >With a jolt you sit up and whip your head back and forth >Slowly, you process the inside of your own room >You let out a small hiss of pain as you register how deeply your claw and talon were digging into you >If you hadn’t been gripping the fabric of your duvet so tightly you probably would have pierced your own skin >Sighing you look down to see the gold foil origami animals running around your room >They were kind of cute >As you shift in bed you feel a weight that isn’t your own >Reaching under the bed you grab the offending item and pull it up >An emerald dreamcatcher >You blink a few times to make sure you’re not seeing things >Again you are assaulted by a burning, stinging sensation >Bringing your talon up, you feel tears running down your cheek >You lose track of time as you run your claws gently over the dreamcatcher >It’s made of something denser than stone, so you don’t need to be gentle >But it feels right to treat it with care >Slowly, you slump lower and lower into bed >Your eyes start to feel heavy again as you hold the dreamcatcher close to your chest and the origami animals lay besides you >Leaning your head to the side you look to the photo floating besides the bed >It’s the picture you took of Anon laughing at your treadmill prank >The picture actually moves, showing his chest moving with his laughs, yet makes no sound >But you can hear his laughter in your mind >A smile forms on your face as you let your body relax completely into your bed once more <> >Cicadas cry out into the darkness >Their calls are only occasionally interrupted by the high-pitched snap of twigs under your heavy boots, before their cacophonous song begins again >The storm that had passed a few days ago brought with it summer rain >What would usually have been refreshing and cool, has left the air hot and damp >There was sweat dripping off you before you even set foot in the forest >The Everfree >Its name had been tossed around during your time here but you’d never gotten a chance to ask more about it >There was already so much to learn about this world and you didn’t know where to start >Now though, you wish you’d asked >At least Rarity was nice enough to think ahead and made you some boots to help you trek through the mud a little easier >The forest floor was two inches short of being a bog >How ponies were able to walk through it so easily was baffling >Especially somepony like Fluttershy, who was self-admittedly the physically weakest of the group of six >”How are you holding up Anon?” The yellow pegasus’ voice pulls you from your thoughts “You know, I was gonna complain that these boots are too tight but-” You give an annoyed grunt as you have to wrench one of your boots from a particularly thick patch of mud “-I probably would have lost them by now if they didn’t have my toes in a death grip” >Fluttershy titters as you drag yourself through the mud “I was more concerned with how you’re handling the forest. I know it can be pretty scary during the first time through” >You raise an eyebrow at the pegasus and cast your eyes across the dense overgrowth surrounding you >Fireflies blink in and out, casting a gentle, almost ethereal green glow across the trees >When Fluttershy had told you about the group’s first journey into the forest you expected to see the trees shift and writhe, you expected their branches to reach out to you and beckon you deeper into the forest’s embrace >But nothing, as with every tree you’ve ever seen they simply stand as stalwart sentries of nature >Of course, you know that there are things other than harmless insects and looming trees in this forest >You also know that they’re watching the two of you >They have been ever since your foot first stepped into the mud >When you had reached the gap in the trees that led to the only beaten path into the forest, the air had kicked up and leaves had skittered under your feet, as if fleeing from whatever lay deeper within >As your gaze lingered on one of the distant treelines, every now and then, when a firefly’s light would snuff out, two more green lights would shine through the thick, gloomy shade of the trees >The lights would never approach you, but nor would they retreat >Even the air clung to you in a way it never had before >The heat and weight of it was oppressing >To the point where you had to be weary of your own breathing >Not just because it was physically challenging simply to put one foot in front of the other due to the mud that clung to you, but because each intake of air felt like it weighed down on your lungs >As if it you could suffocate on the very air itself >This forest was heavy with magic >Like it was alive >You couldn’t stop the tired sigh that escaped you at the thought >Celestia >Luna >This Forest >Whatever they were, nopony seemed to feel them the way you could >After your collapse at the mere presence of the princesses, you had asked Applejack if she could feel them too >Celestia’s pressure, that silently told you to keep a distance >Or the serene calm that invaded your mind and lulled you into a near helpless mental state when Luna was near >You hadn’t worded any of it like that, you haven’t even fully divulged to Twilight what you felt that day >She didn’t need anything else to worry about right now >You had hoped that, being an Earth Pony, Applejack’s lack of magic might make her feel something akin to what you did >But no, she claimed that the princesses felt the same as any other pony to her >Even Fluttershy, as quick as she was to recoil from a hint of danger, strode through the forest without care, only occasionally casting glances at the surrounding area >Her gait was unwavering, her breathing unobstructed >The forest accepted her in a way it refused to do for you >You had spent a long time in bed after you met the princesses, like the day you first got here, your mind needed nothing more or less than time to process >You expect you’ll need another long rest after today to come to terms with this place and the fact that it’s sat right on the border of the town you call home >They’re rather isolating, these feelings >There the six of them stood before the twin princesses, with nary a single care or worry >But you, you were nearly paralysed as you looked upon them >You couldn’t see their magic, but you could feel it >The danger that ruled this land >Kept in check by just a few inches of skin, their horns and their metal regalia, hidden beneath motherly smiles and gentle words of wisdom >You shake your head free of these thoughts before you can get lost in them again >Finally getting out of your own head you realise that Fluttershy’s been staring at you >Right, you had been talking before this forest invaded your sense Turning your head to the side you let out a small grunt “This forest is weird, but I’ve seen weirder since getting here” >Fluttershy’s eyes narrow ever so slightly at you but she quickly shifts back to her small smile and nods at you “I suppose it might seem that way to you, but this is actually one of the stranger parts of Equestria” “Stranger than the city that hangs off a mountain?” Turning back to the mare, you tilt your head slightly >Again, she titters at you “Much stranger actually, you see, pony magic doesn’t affect this place at all” >That was strange to hear, considering how the air itself seemed to be saturated with magic >”Nopony is sure why, but the trees grow on their own, and the weather changes at random no matter how many pegasi try to control it” Her eyes rapidly shift from one point of the forest to the other as she speaks “Sounds a lot like home” Though it doesn’t feel like it, you think to yourself >Fluttershy suddenly perks up and takes to the air to be eye level with you >As she rises, the saddlebags she had strapped to her rattle as the contents within shift with her >”Really? You haven’t spoken about your home much, I’d love to hear what the nature there is like” You almost think you’re speaking to Twilight in a Fluttershy suit but you quickly dismiss the thought “Well, it’s like you just said, nature sustains itself. Wherever there’s regular bouts of rain and an abundance of fertile soil, forests like these grow.” You turn your head up to the canopy above, briefly spotting the dark clouds above through breaks in the trees “Animals would feed from the plants, and whenever either died, the remains would be used to grow into something new.” >You notice a distinct drop in Fluttershy’s demeanor at your words >”Isn’t that scary?” She asks as she begins lowering to the ground “How do you mean?” >”Not being able to control nature, ever, doesn’t that scare you?” Fluttershy shrinks into herself at her own words “Not really, nature being out of our control is as normal to us as nature being in your control is to you” As you explain yourself, you realise just how truly opposite your world and this one is “Most of the world wasn’t too bad to live in, it’s only disasters that we have to worry about” >”Disasters?” Once again, she shrinks into herself “You mean like out of control tornadoes? That must be awful” “Terrifying actually” You let out a small chuckle at yourself which seems to throw the mare off “Back before modern civilizations we actually used to worship nature in an attempt to placate it so it wouldn’t destroy us” >”Did that happen often?” Despite the mud weighing you down you’re now in stride with Fluttershy “Yep, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, and tornadoes are infrequent but ever present threats to my world” A violent gust of wind whips past the two of you, as though the Everfree itself were listening to you and reminding you of its own danger >Thankfully, with your boots buried so firmly in the mud it barely shifts you, though Fluttershy has to tightly clutch her wings to her sides so they don’t get caught up in the wind “Luckily the volcanoes have settled down enough that we don’t have to worry about them too much, though scientists are always monitoring them just in case” The wind carries your voice and you notice several more green lights blink into existence in the distance >As the wind finally dies down, Fluttershy straightens out her mane and ruffles her wings before you both continue your journey >”How do your people monitor natural disasters like that? Even we have difficulty stopping them, and we have a weather factory” “Well” You scratch your chin as you try to recall what little you knew of natural disasters “Back home nature had a sort… pattern to it” >”Like a puzzle?” Fluttershy interjects >You chuckle at the naivety of the answer but find it fitting “When you get down to it, I suppose it is. For example, if the tide at a shoreline is retreating far more than it should, then that’s a possible sign of an approaching tidal wave” Fluttershy nods along with your explanation >Though, as her face twists slightly in confusion, you realise how foreign these concepts must be to her “Another example would be checking the seismic activity underground to predict earthquakes or volcanic eruptions” This causes Fluttershy to pause entirely as her face scrunches up >”I’m sorry Anonymous, but how do your people monitor things underground?” Her face suddenly perks up “Do you have an underground society like the Diamond Dogs?” >Your brief bout of laughter causes her face to fall and you quickly hold up a hand to avoid hurting her feelings “Sorry Fluttershy I- I’m not laughing at you. It’s just-” Your laughter tapers off as you sit yourself on a tree root that’s sticking out of the ground “In a lot of human mythology, we have the idea of underground cities, you just reminded me that so much of what we see as fantasy is real here” Fluttershy’s smile returns as you reassure the meek mare >”So how do you monitor what happens underground?” Fluttershy lays down in a low branch just above you “That wasn’t really something I knew a lot about, if I’m honest I don’t know a lot about exactly how advanced our own technology is, for perspective, the train has been around in my world for over two centuries” Fluttershy’s eyes widen a little at that >You weren’t sure of the specifics but you knew the train system that’s around today wasn’t around when Ponyville was founded >But Ponyville was essentially developed by the Apple Family, specifically Granny Smith’s generation, meaning it can’t have been around for more than half a century here >”What about the animals?” Fluttershy’s question snaps you out of your small attempt at mental maths >You hum questioningly in response, to try and get her to elaborate “The animals? I assume you monitor for natural disasters to evacuate, how do you help them get away?” >As her innocent eyes looks at you, you can’t help but break the gaze “Humans don’t really have the same affinity for animals as you do Fluttershy, unfortunately” You turn back to her and let your words hang in the air, hoping she picks up on your hidden meaning >”Oh” Such a simple response, but as she turns her head down and her mane falls over her face you wince slightly “But then again, we can only do so much with wild animals” As you step off the root and adjust your footing in the mud, Fluttershy looks up to you “After all, they either attack us or hide from us” >Fluttershy quietly nods as she flaps her wings and lands beside her “So are you sure we’re going the right way?” Wanting to get off the topic you try to redivert her attention to the task at hand >”Hm? Oh yes-” Clearly still bogged down by thoughts of your world, Fluttershy shakes her head to snap out of her own thoughts “-this is the main road that leads to the castle” >Now with a bit more pep in her step, Fluttershy once more takes the lead ”Last time, me and the girls kept having to take different paths due to Nightmare Moon, but we’ll be taking the full path there, though it’ll still take some time” >You silently nod, simply taking your guide mare at her word >Once more you glance at the treeline and the lights from before have disappeared >Or, to be more accurate, you just can’t see them anymore >You take a deep breath to calm your nerves >The thickness of the air threatens to clog your lungs, so you force yourself to be especially slow with your breathing >With your nerves back in check you fall in line with Fluttershy and take in the forest >The trees seemingly go on forever into the darkness with barely any way to discern one from the other >In the distance you can just barely make out a few sheer cliffs >As the wind picks up in another violent gust, it weaves through the trees and lets out a howl like a banshee >When it finally dies down you notice Fluttershy has tucked into herself quite a bit more than before >Before you can check on her you realise how quiet it’s gotten >Neither the light of the fireflies nor whatever was watching you can be seen >Even the cicadas have gone quiet >Turning your head up once more you narrow your eyes to try and focus through the gaps in the tree canopies >The dark clouds overhead are rushing past “Fluttershy, a storm’s about to hit, do you know anywhere we can take shelter?” You’re nearly thrown off your feet as you turn to the mare and are hit with another gust of wind >Looking up from her crouched position, she tries to stand but has difficulty with all the wind >”We’re nowhere near the castle or Zecora’s and Ponyville is at least half an hour’s walk away, I don’t know where we can go” She darts her head back and forth and, for the first time since entering the forest, you see her getting scared >You try to take in your surroundings for somewhere to hunker down but let out an annoyed grunt when the darkness hides any sign of shelter >Just as you’re about to suggest trying to run back out the forest you notice a faint trail of green light fading into the distance “Come on Fluttershy!” You call to the mare, finally snapping her out of her small bout of panic >Pushing all the strength you’ve got into your legs, you begin running off the path >”Wait, Anonymous” Turning your head back you see Fluttershy trying to jump over the roots of the trees that stick out of the ground >Your height would give you a natural advantage in the overgrowth over the ponies >Jogging back over to the yellow pegasus you hold up an arm in attempt to defend yourself from the howling wind that continues to pick up in force >With Fluttershy in reach you wrap your other arm around her barrel and tuck her into your side “Sorry! But we don’t have time!” You’re just barely able to call over the screaming wind >You see Fluttershy’s lips move but the wind carries her words away before you can catch them >Shaking your head you begin heading deeper into the overgrowth >Every now and then you briefly spot that same trail of green light before it fades again >After a few minutes of weaving your way through the trees, making sure to keep Fluttershy secure, the trees begin to space out a little more >A few of the trees you’d passed were hollow, but they were each only big enough for one of you, so you’d have to separate from Fluttershy for both of you to take shelter >Before you can consider the thought though you notice a part of the approaching cliff is a darker shade than the rest >Getting closer you confirm your suspicions, it’s a cave >Before you’re able to wonder about whether the green lights will be in the cave or not a rumbling from above draws your attention >With that as the only warning, the clouds open up and release a torrent of rain that is carried by the harsh wind and whips against you >Fluttershy lets out a meek yelp at the heavy rain and you shake your head clear of your previous doubts >You use the last of your strength to burst into a sprint into the cave >As the stone walls begin to surround you, they cut off the wind and rain and finally give the two of you a brief reprieve >The burning in your muscles forces you to drop Fluttershy, though she lands on her hooves, and plant your hands on your knees to catch your breath >”Thank-” Fluttershy is cut off by a series of coughs and deep breathes “Thank you Anonymous, how did you even know a storm was coming?” >It takes a bit but you manage to take in enough air to stop your heart from thundering against your chest “The wind-” You let out another gasp as your body is still recovering from the run through the harsh storm “The wind wasn’t just strong, it was noticeably moving the clouds” Fluttershy tilts her head to the side slightly so you continue “It means the clouds were lower to the ground then usual, they were heavy with rainwater” Standing to your full height again you take one last deep breath to steady yourself “Plus the entire forest had gone quiet, so the animals knew something was coming” >Fluttershy perks up as you mention the animals >It also causes you to pause >There was no other noticeable place to hide out from the storm, unless they had dens they had dug underground “Fluttershy do you have a lantern in your bags, or something?” Turning to the mare she looks between you and her saddlebags >”Ummm, no but-” As Fluttershy drops her hindlegs, her saddlebags slide to the cave floor and she begins searching through them “-I do have… some kindling-” She retrieves a bundle of thin wood, luckily kept dry by the thick material of the bag “-and a fire striker” With a dull thud, Fluttershy drops a piece of metal and flint out of her bag “Fantastic” >Crouching down you slip one of the pieces of wood out from the bundle and hand the rest back to Fluttershy >It takes a few tries but you eventually manage to agle the flint against the metal correctly to light up the wood >Grabbing the new torch you hold it above your head and the light casts itself across a wide area of the cave >Not the entirety, but enough that you no longer feel like you’re blind >Another howl of wind causes the flame to flicker and you quickly bring the torch in front of you, hoping to use your back to shield the flame >As you make your way deeper into the cave both you and Fluttershy remain silent >Besides the occasional whistle of wind from outside, the only noise within the cave is the skittering of insects and the occasional plink of water dripping from the ceiling >Deeper within the cave, you find a turn, now with the threat of the wind blowing out your flame gone you once more hold it above your head >The top of the cave is covered in a warm orange glow while the walls and floor reflect a pale yellow light >You slowly take in the darkness that stretches past the border of the light, but see nothing >Hesitantly, you take the first step into the new stretch of cave, but feel your stomach drop when a series of growls meets you >Two, four, six green lights flicker to life and lock onto you as another growl echoes through the cave >Quickly stepping a foot in front of Fluttershy she lets out a small gasp at your sudden movement >Hoping that you can simply drive them deeper into the cave, you take a heavy step forward, making sure to put all your weight into it >Your heavy boot stomps against the solid rock and causes an echo of its own to ring out through the cave >For added effect you wave the torch back and forth >The lights seem to back away though they come forward just as quickly >Back and forth they seem to flow and you wonder if it’s some sort of intimidation tactic >Before you’re able to do anything else, you feel Fluttershy tug at your leg >Looking down at the pegasus she cuts you off before you’re able to say anything “Can I borrow the torch Anon?” >Briefly looking between her and the lights you slowly crouch down and hold the non-charred wood to her >Taking it in her mouth, Fluttershy gently flaps her wings and makes her way towards the light >You step forward to object but stop as the light illuminates the source of the green lights >Three wolf-like creatures made of wood have pressed themselves against a dead-end wall of the cave >”There, there, it’s ok, we’re friendly” The eyes dart between Fluttershy and you and she gently giggles which seems to calm the wolves “He was just trying to protect me, he’s harmless” >Some small part of you wants to be offended by being called harmless, but whatever Fluttershy is doing seems to be working >”We just need a place to rest and wait out this storm like you, ok?” Once more, their eyes flick between you and her before slowly nodding >As Fluttershy trots back to you, you see the wolves begin to rest against the floor and huddle together before the light creeps off of their forms, leaving them shrouded in darkness again >You continue to watch the dark corner for a while until a crackling sound snaps you to attention >While you were staring into nothing, Fluttershy had set up the rest of her kindling as a proper fire >She’s made herself comfortable at the edge of the fire and smiles up at you >Her hooves kick up small puffs of dust as she pats the space beside her, but you opt to simply sit yourself where you are, on the other side of the fire >Casting one last glance at the corner, you see a wooden paw quickly retreat back into the shadows >With your shelter secured and the threat of being mauled having been dealt with, you finally allow your body to relax >Stretching your hands out to the fire, you rub them together in an attempt to rid yourself of the cold that clung to you from the rain and the wind >Luckily the floor of the cave was perfectly dry so your clothes wouldn’t get any dirtier >When Fluttershy first asked you to be her companion through the forest you chose to use your clothes from Earth >It was better to wreck the already old and frayed clothing over the fresh pair that Rarity made you >For a long time, you and Fluttershy sit in comfortable silence, the crackling fire and the echoing wind from outside being the only thing that disturbs your ears >Eventually though, your curiosity gets the better of you “What are they?” You peer above the roaring fire at Fluttershy, while she has to peer through it to look at you >You see her raise an eyebrow at you and you clear your throat before clarifying “I haven’t had a lot of time to read about Equestrian plants or animals” Tilting your head towards the darkness you hear a faint growl “What are they?” >Fluttershy perks up as she finally processes your question “Oh! Those are Timberwolves, and they’re absolutely fascinating creatures!” >If her excitement wasn’t evident enough in her voice, then the fact her wings involuntarily flap and raise her slightly off the ground is >”They’re a breed of wolf entirely native to the Everfree” She looks over to the shadow and smiles at it “Despite their appearance they’re actually a condensed magic core, bound to the wood of the Everfree, so whenever they’re damaged, a piece of an Everfree tree can restore their body” >Raw magic parading itself as a wolf, one that can regenerate, possibly indefinitely >The thought unsettles you >Clenching your fist, you shoot another glance at the hidden creatures, and the growl they respond with is much louder this time >Fluttershy remains calm, so you stop yourself from jumping to your feet >Slowly, you place your hands on the floor, and slowly rise to a crouch >The dark corner remains quiet, though you see two slits of green staring at you >Maintaining eye contact, you slowly rise to your feet, and make a slow, but obvious show of turning your back to them >”Anonymous?” Before Fluttershy can question you, you hold a hand up over your shoulder and make your way towards the entrance of the cave >When you clear the corner, you allow your shoulders to go slack >You rub your face with a hand and make your way to the mouth of the cave >The storm still rages on outside >Though it doesn’t hit you, you can feel that, unlike the rain from Equestria, this water is cool and refreshing >Dense trees, wild animals, and random weather >If it weren’t for the crazy magic, you could see yourself living here, or at least on its edge >With nothing but you, the rain and your thoughts, you think back to the reason that brought you here >Fluttershy had come to you hoping you could come investigate the forest with her >Apparently, the monsters within had begun crowding around the border to Ponyville >The yellow mare had previously visited Zecora, the local zebra equivalent of a witch doctor >Something deeper in the forest had driven the beasts out of their homes and she wasn’t sure what >Zecora was busy brewing potions to help Ponyville incase any monsters did decide to cross the threshold between the forest and the town >So Fluttershy was the second best choice, as her knowledge of the Everfree was second only to the mare that lived here >A weight against your chest reminds you that this forest was drowning in magic, and you ponder why anypony would want to live here >Even if it was for the plants that grew here, surely she could simply visit the forest to collect them >Shaking your head free of the thought you return to the main thought >Why had Fluttershy brought you to help her, out of every other friend she could have chosen >The wind whistled, howled and screamed at you, as if trying to give some kind of answer >Your thoughts were going nowhere fast >With nothing left to think about you turn around to head back into the cave >Though, before you can take your first step, you feel a wave of calm run down your spine and a simultaneous pressure against your shoulders >It almost feels like a massage >Quickly snapping out of the brief trance you shoot a glare over your shoulder >The Castle >Celestia and Luna’s old home >Despite being abandoned for a thousand years, their presence had left a magical print in the air >Though you had only felt it just now, there was no doubt in your mind >The early days of their reign was spent in that castle >For a few centuries they had lived there before the Nightmare Moon incident forced Celestia to leave the castle behind and let it fall to ruin, while she founded Canterlot >As you walk back into the cave, you wonder if there’s anything still salvageable in the old home of the two alicorns >The sound of sharp claws scratching against stone fills your ears as you round the corner of the cave once more >A flowing tail of twigs is all that you see of the Timberwolves as they once more retreat into the darkness >Their glowing green eyes stay locked on you as you approach >When you seat yourself back at the edge of the fire, their eyes begin to lower to the floor >After a few more tense moments, they close again >Fluttershy watches the spot they disappeared into, a vague hint of pity within her gaze >Clearly you’d interrupted something >You grab one of the few remaining pieces of kindling and idly poke at the flame >Some of the charred pieces of wood give into the gentle poke and collapse >The impact of the collapsing wood is enough to launch a plume of ash into the air >Your eyes follow the plume into the air, and you watch as the embers of the flame rise to meet the ash and dance across the ceiling >Though it isn’t much, the light of the embers and ash is enough to illuminate bits of the cave that the fire isn’t strong enough to reach >Small stalactites hang from the ceiling, droplets of water slowly flow into the cave through cracks in the ceiling, converge on the points of the hanging stone, and fall to the floor >They almost harmonize, the crackling of the fire and the splashing of water droplets >Closing your eyes, you take a deep breathe and, for the first time, find your lungs unobstructed >The cool air that flows in through the mouth of the cave, and the bitter aftertaste of smoke from the fire mix in your lungs >All these sensations mix with your own exhaustion from pushing yourself through the forest and begin to lull you >You suddenly become sharply aware of the fact you’re about to fall asleep and jolt slightly >As you pull yourself back to lucidity you pull your foot back, as it had begun creeping towards the fire while you were falling asleep >To stave off your tired eyes you glance around the cave again >Each of the wolves had opened their eyes a crack >Your sudden movement had probably unsettled them >Fluttershy meanwhile, remains blissfully calm >Her eyes follow the crackling flame as it rises and falls >She’s completely unphased by the three monsters that lie in the shadows just a few feet from the two of you >It’s incredible to think that this was the same mare who was cowering from a simple heavy gust of wind before >As another wave of fatigue rolls over you, you let out a small yawn and shake your head >Clearly you need something more to stave off sleep >Turning your head down to look at Fluttershy you clear your throat “You really surprise me Fluttershy, you know that?” You have to clear your throat again as the smoke from the fire wafts into you again >Fluttershy’s head snaps away from the fire and her eyes briefly widen before going back to normal as she looks at you >It’s like the fire had her in a trance With no word from her, you continue “You’ve often said that you’re shy, your friends have said the same” Fluttershy adjusts her legs as a small smile forms onto her face “Yet you’re handling those wolves better than I am” >Again, you look out of the corner of your eyes at the shadows and, as with every time before, the wolves answer with a menacing growl >Your words hang in the air for a while as Fluttershy stares at you >Eventually her eyes become half-lidded as she looks down at the fire with a gentle smile >Her mouth opens and closes a few times as she tries to find the words >Content with waiting, you throw the kindling you’d used to stoke fire into the flames >With fresh fuel, the fire creeps up to consume the wood and grows >”When you were talking about wild animals before” Fluttershy’s voice pulls your attention back to her “It reminded me that my friends see animals the same way you do” >Her voice is a gentle hush, and the roaring wind outside threatens to drown it out >But you pull your legs into your chest and move closer to the fire to hear her >”When I think of wild animals… I think of them” Her head turns to the shadows and the eyes open wide to look at her >They make no other movement, or sound, they simply watch and wait >For what, you’re unsure >Perhaps she and them are having a silent conversation >”I can’t really talk to them the way I can with my animal friends. But they understand me enough” Fluttershy moves one of her hooves from beneath her towards the shadows >You hear a slight scratching against the stone, but they make no move to approach her >Fluttershy’s face drops slightly as she retracts her hoof and the wolves let out a small whine as their eyes retreat as best as they’re able to into the darkness >”... They’re scared of you” >The silence is deafening >Her words leave you with no response, as if you’d been winded >Seconds stretch on as her gaze lingers on where the wolves lie in darkness before slowly turning to you >FInally the silence is broken by a low whistle of wind as a chill breeze wafts into the cave, sending chills down your spine and causing the flame to quiver >When the wind stops blowing, the cave seems to come alive again >The flames creep high again, consuming the wood to preserve itself, and Fluttershy’s shadow stretches up the cave wall “Me?” You narrow your eyes at the fire, and you keep them locked there, though you can see the yellow mare shifting out of your peripheral vision >Initially, she gives an affirmative hum, before continuing “I’m not sure why, like I said, the animals here are more difficult to talk to. But from what I gathered, to them, you just feel-” >Once more, she goes quiet as she tries to find the word “...wrong” >You let out an amused snort at the word and shift back from the fire as chips of wood begin to fall at your feet “Well isn’t that a compliment and a half” >Fluttershy shoots you a small, apologetic smile but you wave her off with another amused huff >”It isn’t entirely their fault” Turning to half look at you, and half look at the wolves, she lets her head fall to rest on her hooves “They’re not as capable as the animals of Equestria, here, all they know is their instincts-” “-and instincts are hard to fight” She turns to fully look at you as you cut her off “Right?” >Her smile widens slightly before gently nodding at your words “Instincts” You say the word more to yourself as you grab another piece of kindling to stoke the fire >You blink away the thin smoke that wafts in front of your eyes >As your eyes close, in that instant, your mind is pulled back to then >All at once you’re reminded of every sensation you felt >The numbness, the static in your head, the impact against your stomach, the glass shards that dug into you >Above all of that though, one thing overwhelms you >The heat >As your eyes open again the visions disperse as quickly as they had formed >But not the heat, that prevails through your mind, and remains in front of you >How such a gentle pony could invoke such primal terror in you, you’re still unsure >Every part of you wished you didn’t feel this way around her >All that power, yet she wants for none of it >You could tell >There was something in her eyes when she looked at you >Regret was etched into every inch of her eyes when she realised that all the pain you felt was because of her >She only began to look happy again when she was surrounded by her subjects >Hopefully you’ll meet her again soon >You feel that there were words left unspoken due to Eris and Discord’s presence >As your mind lingers on Celestia, it begins to drift to Luna >Even now, you have not been visited by her in your dreams >”I think Discord is why” Before you can lose yourself in your thoughts again, Fluttershy speaks >Turning your head away from the flames, you give her an inquisitive look >”When you asked how I can ‘handle’ the wolves easier than you, I think Discord is why” One of the corners of her lips curls up at the mention of the elder draconequus >”I used to be terrified of this forest, but Discord-” She cuts herself off again, again looking for the right words, clearly not wanting to outright insult him “-he gives you a new perspective on things, doesn’t he?” You and Fluttershy share a chuckle as you once again finish her sentence >”He made me realise that not everything has to be as scary as it seems” She turns her gaze back to the flames and you can see an almost nostalgic look cross her face >You can’t help but smile at her >As she loses herself in whatever memory of Discord she has, you think back to the last time you saw Eris >When she had hugged you on the train, her arms had a firm grip on you, but none of her claws dug into you >Her soft neck had pressed into your face and just before she teleported you away, her hair had hung down and tickled your forehead >”How are you and Eris by the way?” Fluttershy’s eyes are wide with curiosity as she leans towards the fire and you Chuckling slightly you lean back on your hands “Well, if you include today, I haven’t seen her in three days. But I think I’m getting somewhere with her” >Finally tired of staring at the flames, you begin shuffling around to Fluttershy’s side >Though you make sure to keep the wolves on the far side of you >Maybe putting Fluttershy between them and you will help them to feel a little calmer “She gave me a bolt of lightning in a bottle. Still not sure what to do with it” Fluttershy chuckles at the thought of the odd gift >Her laughter slowly dies as she turns her gaze up “Discord’s constantly giving me strange gifts too. Singing tea bags, animated stuffed animals” You give a chuckle of your own at the mental image >”He’s really helped me come out of my shell” Her words slow as she begins to curl up into herself For a while you let the comfortable silence permeate the cave before breaking it “Eris has helped me too” >Your voice i barely a murmur, but Fluttershy opens her eyes a crack and turns up to look at you “More than she probably knows if I’m honest” Your voice is slightly melancholic as you turn to her “This place still baffles me, but she’s shown me so many strange and amazing things that... that just makes this place more bearable, I guess?” >You’re not entirely sure of yourself, but Fluttershy seems to understand you well enough as she nods “Maybe you should tell her sometime, if she’s anything like her father, something like that will really help her” “I will, next time I see her. Whenever that is” >Before the silence can completely return Fluttershy speaks again > “Sometimes...” She swallows a lump in her throat and lets out a sigh >Slowly turning away from you and the fire, Fluttershy stares at the dirt beneath you, and her mane covers her face “Sometimes Discord gets this look in his eyes…” >Her smile slowly begins to fade as she absentmindedly paws at the ground ”Like he’s so sad” >Her gaze briefly turns to you and you narrow your eyes in a sympathetic look before bringing your hand on top of her head and silently nodding >Once more you think back to your time on the train with Eris >The entire time she was telling you about her world, she was eager to move onto some other aspect of it, never staying on one topic for too long >Any time she lingered on something, her composure would begin to falter >But as soon as you’d blink, she’d be practically bouncing, eager to tell you about something else >The only time she purposefully let you see her like that was when she hugged you, and that was still only for a second Eventually, your thoughts become too much to stay contained and a question rises up your throat before you can stop it “What was Celestia thinking, choosing us for this?” >You regret the words as soon as they leave you >Pulling your hand away from Fluttershy, you gently clench it as you shut your eyes >Rubbing them, you let out a tired sigh before looking back to Fluttershy >No better word than shock comes to mind >Pushing yourself to your feet you dust yourself off and take a few steps away from the fire >You know you can’t just leave a question like that, but you hadn’t even had time to think it through before you said it “I mean-” As you turn on your heels, you see Fluttershy close her mouth, so you continue “-Applejack, is stronger than us, Rainbow Dash is faster than us. Pinkie Pie is- is-” >”-is Pinkie Pie” You and Fluttershy chuckle as she finishes your sentence for once Nodding to her, your chuckle slows down, as do you “Rarity, at least she has magic.” >”And Twilight is an alicorn” Fluttershy’s gaze once more falls to the floor and you feel your shoulders slump at the sight “Even before that she was a magical prodigy” “At least you’ve got an element, you’ve got latent magic potential. But I’m just me” You raise your arms slightly before letting them fall against your sides >Bringing a hand up you snap your finger, and the crack seems to reverberate through the cave “It’d be that easy, just-” Again you snap “-just that and exit stage left, goodbye me” >”Anonymous-” Fluttershy’s tone is low as she rises to her hooves “If you’re that worried about Eris, the elemen-” “No Fluttershy, the elements are NOT an option!” You raise your voice higher than you would have liked, but she remains undeterred >”But you just said-” As Fluttershy continues, you turn away from her, to try and calm yourself down >But her words are just acting like fuel now “I know what I said! I was there!” >Despite your attempts, your voice has now started to drown out the storm >”But if you really think she’d-” “She wouldn’t do that! Ever!” You cross your arms over each other, in an attempt to end the conversation >Slumping down you fall into a crouch as you angrily pick at and flick stones away >Without a word, Fluttershy slowly makes her way over to you and wraps a leg around you >”The girls certainly didn’t think so” >With an exasperated groan you rise to your feet again, almost throwing Fluttershy off >She has remained composed though during your spiral and simply floats with her wings “Well what do they even know! They had their chance! But I don’t remember hearing them volunteer for this!” Your mind flashes back to when you were calming down the girls after Eris’ first trip through town >The irony of this situation is not lost on you, but it in no ways cools the burning you feel in your chest >”Then why did you volunteer to help her?” >Fluttershy’s tone remains a constant in this back and forth as you pace through the cave >The wolves growl at your movement, but you ignore them “Because I- I needed something to do! Something else other than- than ALL of this!” You raise your arms up and make a wide circular motion with them >”And what’s wrong with Equestria?” “What’s wrong!? What’s wrong!? How about your princesses that make me collapse when I get within ten feet of them! How about immortal wooden wolves that are, for some reason, scared of me! How about I don’t know how I got here and Twilight doesn’t know how to send me back! WHAT’S WRONG IS THIS WORLD DOESN’T MAKE ANY FUCKING SENSE!” You give a solid kick to the ground and launch up a huge pile of dirt >As the dirt suffocates and kills the fire, the resulting smoke invades your lungs and immediately snaps you out of your rant >You wheeze and cough to try and force the smoke out of your lungs >Feeling one of the walls of the now pitch black cave with a hand, you retreat in the direction you think is the exit >Before you can register it, your hand hits the corner and you fall on your side >Your body has officially used up the last of its energy, so you simply lie there >The click of hooves against stone stops you before you can start pitying yourself >Shuffling, you manage to find the strength to sit upright, where you find Fluttershy already sat besides you >Shame overwhelms any sense of self-pity you had >Tightly curling up, you bring your head into your knees and hug them close “‘M sorry Fluttershy” You just barely manage to eke out “Stupid” >”Stop it!” Your grip on your legs tightens at her suddenly strict tone >It loosens just as quickly as you feel her gentle hooves slowly press on your legs >You hesitate only for a moment before you stop resisting her and pull your head back up >She still has that same gentle smile on her face “How long have you felt this way Anon?” >In a poor attempt to distance yourself, you shuffle down the wall, she simply follows you >You chuckle at how you two must look, and let your head fall against the wall “I dunno” Heaving a deep sigh you get a lung full of the scent of rainwater “First day?” >”Why didn’t you tell anypony?” Fluttershy places both her hooves against your shoulder >You don’t look at her, but you’re certain she’s looking at you with well intentioned pity “Didn’t know it was this bad ‘til now if I’m honest, it all just” You clench your fist in front of you and tighten it before letting out a huff of air as you unfurl it >Fluttershy, seemingly with no response, lets her hooves fall to the ground, and slumps against your side >Her light rose mane is soft against your now cold hands >The silence has officially gone from comfortable, to awkward >You both sit there, as the smoke slowly filters out of the cave, and is drowned out by the wind and rain >Turning your head to the tempest you mutter under your breath “How long is this damn thing gonna last?” You mentally scrap your previous thought of ever living in or near this forest >The seconds go by and slowly turn to minutes as you both continue to be at a loss for words >You wrack your brain, trying to think of where that bombshell even came from >But nothing seems to fit the puzzle >Everything you’ve done until now felt fine >Even at your lowest, this place has been good to you >Sure, you weren’t lying when you said it didn’t make sense, but you thought that could be an inviting proposal to explore it >Now, you’re not sure what to think >”Anonymous, I want you to really listen to me” Fluttershy’s voice, barely a whisper, finally breaks the silence, but she’s crystal clear to you >With no real strength anymore you simply hum to let her know you’re listening >”I can help Eris, if you need time. It’s barely been over a week since you got here after all” Her mane shifts against your hand as she tilts her head >You don’t turn to meet her gaze, instead, you stare off into the rain, and think >Closing your eyes, you mentally go over all you’ve done until now >There’s so much to go through that you find it hard to believe it’s only been a week >The longer you think, the more your thoughts turn to Eris >Even when you try to focus on something else, there she is, tugging at the corner of your mind >You can almost hear that soothing, mischievous voice of hers telling you to pay attention to her >A smile forms on your face and you finally turn back to Fluttershy “No” A simple, straight answer that seems to be more than enough for her, but you explain anyway “I think we can help each other. I know she’s tired and…” Heaving a deep sigh, you slump down against the wall “I think I am too” >Your chuckle is interrupted by a yawn >Caught by a yawn of her own, Fluttershy slumps deeper into you >”We should rest, who knows when this storm will stop” Her voice slowly gets quieter and quieter as you feel her bury her face into your arm like a pillow >Rolling your wrist, you wrap your hand in her mane once, to make sure you don’t get frostbite as you feel yourself drifting off >She’s not as warm as Eris <> >The cries of cicadas and chirping of birds slowly pulls your groggy mind back to reality >The smooth stone of the floor contrasts with the coarse dirt that clings to your coat >You’ll need a bath once you get home >Maybe you should convince Harry the Bear to join you, he’s been avoiding cleaning himself for a while >As you become more and more aware of your surroundings, you feel a weight on your back >A weight that isn’t your saddlebags >Looking over your shoulder, you see a raggedy cloth draped over your whole body >Oh, it’s Anonymous’ coat >That thought brings you fully back >Quickly rising to your hooves causes the coat to thump against the floor >Looking through the mouth of the cave you see Anonymous, his arms crossed and his back to you, your saddlebags slung over one of his shoulders >Though only briefly as his coat catches his ear and he turns back to you >”Welcome back to the land of the living” He chuckles at himself as he enters the cave to retrieve his coat >You’re about to apologise for dirtying it but he silences you as he simply picks it up and puts it on with practiced ease >He didn’t even bother dusting it off >It’s really easy to forget he’s not as picky as the colts in Ponyville >None of them would have the stomach to do the same with their clothes >”Come on sleeping beauty, sun’s going down” You blush lightly at the compliment but, from what little time you’ve spent with him, the context and lax nature of what he said leads you to believe it’s some reference to his old world >The previous hours speed past your mind as you remember the anxiety he tried to hide in the forest, his slowly growing temper and eventual burst >You approach the mouth of the cave and see the Timberwolf pack sat a little bit away from you, in the shade of the trees >Raising an eyebrow to Anonymous he simply shrugs his shoulders “Don’t look at me, I think they’re waiting for you” >The wolves don’t growl at him this time, only letting out a half-hearted bark >Once more you’re confused >”We’ve just been stood here for a few hours, I think they’re used to me, or at least, as much as they can get used to me” You do a double and then a triple-take at Anon’s words “Hours? Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry, why didn’t you wake me?” You rise to his eye level but he closes them as he shrugs at you >”You were sleeping, what was I supposed to do, kick you?” He lets out one of his carefree chuckles as he heads towards the trees and timberwolves “Come on, I think they’re gonna lead us back to the path, or maybe eat us” >Rolling your eyes you flap your wings to follow him “You shouldn’t say things like that, you might offend them” >He simply waves you off, reaches into one of your bags and hurls a piece of kindling at the timberwolves >The three watch the arc of the stick and then each leap at it, before breaking it between themselves and eating the remains >”See, we have an understanding” Gone is his previous low tone and his shaking body, replaced by his usual mannerism and devil may care attitude >Though what you previously saw, sticks to your mind “You know Anonymous, we’ve been here a while, maybe we should head home? I’m sure the girls are wondering where we are” He could tell what you were going to try before you even said the first word >You can see it in his eyes as he casts a sideways glance at you >”Nah, I want to see what’s going on with this place, the castle can’t be too far” You purse your lips a little at his words “Actually… it’s about a half a day’s journey there and back” He stops and turn to you completely, his face neutral >”Seriously?” He gives you an incredulous look and you simply nod back “Yeah, when we entered the forest the first time, it was sunrise- or at least it was supposed to be” >You and Anonymous are able to keep pace as you no longer have to worry about the roots tripping you up, while he remains unphased by them “But when we got back it was early to… midish afternoon?” The day was so hectic you hadn’t actually bothered to check how long it took you >Twilight probably knew though, sadly you hadn’t asked her before you came it >”Well then, guess we better be quick” Your eyes widen slightly as Anon lets out another chuckle and hurries ahead of you >For your perspective it almost looks like he’s chasing the timberwolves >Flapping harder, you fly after the gleeful human “Anon, are you sure?” You keep your tone level, and see his gaze soften >Turning to you he gives you a small, but definitely genuine smile “Just give me some time Fluttershy, alright?” >With no real reason to argue you simply sigh and continue following him and the wolves >At least the girls were partially right, this has helped you to get him to open up some more >Though you suspect Twilight’s worries about how Anon’s handling things are much worse than she expected >It feels like, even with all that happened in the cave you only got a glimpse of what’s he’s been holding in >You hope he was right when he said Eris could help him and much as he could help her <> >This forest is just messing with you at this point >After the storm, you expected the mud to be even thicker and harder to walk on >Yet, for some reason, the forest floor seems to have gotten drier >The soles of your boots are still being caked in mud, but it no longer feels like you’re being dragged down by it >It takes a while longer than you expected to get back on the path >You must have ran a least a few miles into the forest to find that cave >By the time you all reach the path you’ve returned to the usual routine >Fluttershy is close to the wolves and talking to them while you keep a comfortable distance >When you’re safely back on the beaten dirt road to the castle, the wolves let out a howl and run back into the wilderness >Your eyes linger on their retreating forms for just a moment before you turn back to your path >Then you turn back and forth a few times >There’s no discernible landmark to let you know where you are >Fluttershy however, begins walking deeper into the forest with no hesitation >Adjusting the saddlebags on your shoulders you begin your trek once more >You’re still not sure how to start up another conversation after you blew up in the cave >If the continuing silence is anything to go by, Fluttershy isn’t either >But despite the silence, you’re glad you finally got all that off your chest >Better to let it out then let it stew and turn ugly you suppose >For most of the remainder of the trip, the sounds of the forest are the only noise >After the storm had them stuck in their dens for a few hours, the animals are back out to hunt >Luckily there seems to be some unspoken rule of the forest that they avoid this path >Fluttershy occasionally gives commentary on the local flora and fauna >You cross a patch of poison joke and she recalls all the effects it had on her and the others >A part of you wonders what it’d do to you, then it wonders what it could do to Eris >She also points out a few other packs of timberwolves and describes slight differences in them that help differentiate the packs >Different shades of brown in the wood that their bodies are composed of >The slight differences in the shape of their heads and tails >Each of them with an alpha about twice the size of the rest >Her reaction to a manticore is particularly strange >She insists you both stop while she moves her head back and forth to discern as many details about it as she can >After a few minutes she sighs, apparently she was hoping it was the first manticore she met here >If you had to name a highlight of the trip it would have been when you saw the silhouette of a chimera through the trees >Its hulking form doesn’t slip through the trees like the rest of the creatures here, but instead rams them aside >Some of the trees simply bend out of the way, while some are nearly uprooted from its strength >Fluttershy expresses regret for not bringing a notepad and quill with her >Apparently she’s wanted to sketch the beasts of the Everfree for a while >Even after the heavy storm, dark clouds still loom over the Everfree, making it impossible to tell how much time has passed >Not to mention the path still looks the same to you, so you’re also not sure how far you’ve travelled >Luckily you’re able to mostly go on autopilot, losing track of time as you lose yourself in your thoughts >One thing stands out in your mind right now >Your very presence unsettles the animals of the forest >At least, it unsettles the timberwolves >But from the way Fluttershy described the Everfree, it seems like every animal acts the same way >Would you scare one of the pack leaders >Could you scare a manticore, a chimera >All Fluttershy could deduce from the wolves was that you felt wrong >Whatever that meant >As you travel further down the path, slowly but surely, the trees begin to shift and open up >Snapping back to reality, your internal clock seems to catch up with you and you realise that your legs are beginning to ache and your breathing’s gotten a lot heavier >Fluttershy was right, that was definitely a few hours of walking >The trees begin to clear as the path curves one more time, leading to an old rope bridge >Straight across, sat atop a small hill, lies your destination >The old castle of the princesses >A thin fog hangs over the ruins, slightly obscuring it >With a howl, a gust of wind batters at you, as if the castle were telling you to turn back >Once more you feel it >An unwanted wave of calm and a slight pressure >It’s slightly stronger than it was back in the cave >With a firmer mental shake you manage to shrug off the ambient magic invading your senses >Turning your head down, you stop yourself as you no longer see Fluttershy besides you >Shooting a glance to your sides you see her stood at the edge of the cliff >Slight aches run through your shoulder, so you switch the saddlebags as you approach the yellow mare >Over the edge is a long staircase that curves towards a large, glowing cave beneath the castle >Fluttershy smiles up at you as she begins hovering down the stairs >With a shrug you begin making your way to the base of the cliff >The stairs are made for ponies, meaning they’re so short that you take them two or three at a time >Sadly they’re also so narrow that you have to be careful of each step so you don’t send yourself hurtling down them >Finally making it to the bottom, you take in the surroundings >It’s mostly just a barren ravine, the only point of interest being the cave >Or more importantly, what’s inside the cave >A grand tree made of a deep blue crystal >Before you can stop her, Fluttershy lands on your shoulder and pulls her saddlebags off >She smirks down at you and you can’t help but chuckle >They had begun to chafe anyway, so you won’t miss the weight any time soon >You both approach the cave and your curiosity finally gets the better of you “Where are we Fluttershy?” Your voice bounces off the walls of the ravine and is carried up by the gentle stream of wind that flows through it >”This is the Tree of Harmony, I… wanted to see it” Her voice drops to a sadder tone briefly before she perks up and glides towards the titanic tree >As you approach the cave’s entrance you feel a slight pressure and heat washing over you >It’s like standing in front of a grand furnace You slow down as you mull over Fluttershy’s words “Harmony?” Having reached the tree, Fluttershy doesn’t hear your voice, which is barely a whisper “Did you say Harmony!?” Your raised voice finally reaches her as she hovers over it’s branches >She nods at you before her face shifts to dread >You’re facing the floor before you even realised your legs had gone numb >Blinking to life, your instincts force your numb arms out to the edge of the cave’s walls >Like knots under your skin, your muscles seem incapable of receiving the orders to brace themselves >Just managing to force past your body’s reaction to the magic, your hands finally grip the wall and stop you from collapsing >A wisp of pink causes you to jump slightly as you register that Fluttershy’s besides you now >Her mouth moves but you hear no words >Your hands are clasping what should be cold rock but it feels like you’re pressed against nothing >The taste and smell of rainwater that had hung heavily in the air since the storm no longer registers >Finally, your mind becomes incapable of discerning shapes and all the outlines that defined the world falls away, and the colours mix into an incomprehensible sight >Loss of senses >Shaking your head, you ignore the yellow mare and try to focus >Like before, it’s as if static has filled your mind, each thought lost in the fog before they can take root >The magic of Luna, Celestia and this forest >You feel all of it washing over you as a single wave >But there’s something else, something new >Your experience with it was brief, but now you feel the full weight of it >Harmony magic >The invading force continues to press on your mind despite your best effort to clash your will against its own >As you feel yourself growing closer to unconsciousness, you attempt a new approach >Relaxing your muscles and mind, you feel a great flood of pressure encompassing you >Like a whirlpool with you at its centre >Despite having let your mind’s guard down, you remain conscious, or at least inbetween it >You know that your body is just beyond the overwhelming swell of magic that surrounds you, but you can’t command it to move anymore >The magic seemingly does nothing, it presses on all sides but it doesn’t crush you >You aren’t being pulled, or pushed >It’s simply you and the magic >Not sure of how the magic will react, you experiment by trying to send a signal to one of your fingers >Your finger twitches and causes ripples to echo outward from the point of impact, like a pool of water >You can’t see them, but the ripples slowly pass over you and begin to clear your sight, though none of your other senses have yet returned >A pale white fills the edges of your vision, framing the Tree clearly in front of you “Harmony magic” You can’t even hear your own voice anymore >But your sight has seemingly sharpened as you catch the faint pulse of pale light from the tree, like a response “Show me” The tree’s light shifts ever so slightly again, and you begin approaching it >The great swell of magic begins to move around you, it contracts and hugs your form, then expands, allowing you to breathe >You hadn’t even realised you’d stopped >The distance between you and the tree seems to stretch, no matter how many steps you take >It’s especially difficult to walk when you can’t feel your legs beneath you, but you press on >With some effort, you lift your arm and extend your hand out >In a flash, the tree rushes towards you >If your mind wasn’t in a haze, the speed would have startled you >As your hand makes contact with the tree, you feel electricity run through your entire body, and your sense of touch returns “I can feel this” You absentmindedly speak as you guide your hand across the tree’s surface >It’s cool to the touch, but you can feel a heat emanating from deeper within >Its roughly hewn surface makes you wonder if it’s actually a tree or a crystal construct, whether it grew naturally, or by some other means >With the edges of your periphery still framed in pale white, blocking out the rest of the world, your eyes glide over the tree and stop at a point nearest to the roots >A glyph of a crescent moon carved into the trunk >Curiosity fills your mind and you trace your hand over it >What was once a pale white light, has turned to a gleaming silver, a sapphire moonlight pours out from the mark and shines through a cluster of star filled clouds >As soon as your palm presses against the moon the back of your head is invaded by a feeling of weightlessness >The sensation spreads down your spine and across your entire body >It’s as if you’ve stepped into a pool of still water >Though unlike when you encountered Luna, the floating sensation does not overtake you >Something holds it at the edges of your mind, keeping you rooted >Your hand slowly drifts away from the mark of the moon, and it feels as though the sensation is flowing out of you, through your hand, and back into the tree >The light dims and your vision is once again framed by a pale fog of light >Turning your head up slightly, you come face to face with a crest depicting the sun >Briefly, your instincts rage against the sensations of the harmony magic and try to force your body and mind to work normally again >But you suppress them >Again your hand crosses a familiar mark, and again, your sight changes >The fog that had simply stood at the corners of your sight flood your eyes, and the world goes dark >You hear someone exhale and a small candle is lit in front of you, and a familiar sensation fills you >Heat >The light of the candle grows, chasing away the darkness that threatens to consume it and snuff it out >Yet the unfettered fire continues to grow into a great orb of twisting orange and yellow and red >The scorching heat you felt just barely contained under the cool material of the tree has now come to meet you fully >It threatens to eclipse your sight, and you can feel that it wouldn’t stop there if given the chance >But once again, as if bound by invisible chains, it is restrained >You’d never be able to see a star up close like this usually, so you bask in the sight >Coronal loops grow out from its surface and reach out to you before being suppressed >It occasionally breaks the limits of its reach as massive coronal ejections burst from it and creeps into the darkness that surrounds you >Still though, it remains bound >With the image burned into your mind both figuratively and possibly literally, you begin moving your hand away >The sun begins to contort and shake, as if in protest, but as your hand crosses over the border of its glyph, it begins to be sucked back into the tree >A familiar pale fog pokes at the edges of your sight, replacing the shade from before >Looking up, you see the crown of the tree >At the crown’s centre, where the branches stretch out from, you see a jagged star >Your arm stretches as far as it can, but you can’t even brush the lower edge of the mark >Still, you feel a slight pressure >It reminds you of the brief sensation you felt when Twilight had teleported Rarity to your group all those days ago >Your mind wanders to the other five and your eyes follow the branches to each mark engraved in them >A fragment of each of their cutie marks lays at the tip of one of each branch >Your eyes eventually fall to the branch at the far left >The mark depicts a pink butterfly >Focusing on the mark causes something to tug at the edge of your mind >Any attempts to turn your head are obstructed though, by a slight resistance that tries to pull your eyes back to the tree >As though a gentle being has cupped your cheek and is trying to keep you here, in this haze of pale >You give a small smile and feel the resistance shift and finally turn away from the trunk >The pale light may have been feint, but it was dense, and it takes several seconds for it to rush out of your peripheries >Air floods your lungs and you feel a deep heat flush through your system >Your sense of smell returns and you catch the faint scent of rainwater still hanging in the air >Next, your sense of touch returns fully as you finally feel the entirety of your body freed from that magical swell >With it comes the sensation of heavy sweat pouring from you, and your shaking, exhausted limbs >Gasping for air to calm your burning muscles you turn your back to the tree and let yourself fall onto one of its roots >Finally, your hearing >Short, shallow gasps ring through your ears >You keep your eyes closed as the world seems to spin around you, but you raise a shaking hand to the source of the noise >A pair of gentle hooves grabs your hand and Fluttershy presses it to her fur >The gasps and whimpers slowly fade as you move your hand back and forth, letting her know that you’re back from wherever you’d gone >”Anon…” Her voice is wavering, like she’s on the brink of tears >Your attempts to answer are met with dry gasps and coughs as you realise how dry your throat’s become >Licking your lips and swallowing whatever saliva you can to wet your throat you let out one more dry cough >Before you can answer a fit of soft laughter overwhelms you >Fluttershy’s grip on your hand tightens, her worry has become palpable >Drawing your hand back, you clasp both your hands over one of her hooves and squeeze as your laughter slowly fades >Finally opening your eyes, you look up at the mare, who’s pleased to just see you open your eyes “That was incredible” Her eyes shrink to pinpricks as you begin to let out another chuckle >She pushes you back as she holds your head still between her hooves and inspects your face >Raising an incredulous eyebrow to her, you see her chest heave up and down >The sky outside is still dark, so you still can’t tell how long it’s been “How long was I out?” Your voice finally gets Fluttershy to stop her frantic examination of you and she flutters a little bit away from you >Her hooves are shaking, and she grips them in each foreleg to stop them “...hours, I don’t know how many” >It takes a second for her words to process, and you feel your heart begin to quicken and your stomach drop “What? How?” You stand from the root, but quickly sit again as your legs are still numb >”I don’t know- I don’t-” Fluttershy presses her hooves to her face as she tries to suppress her whimpers >You curse yourself in every way you know how, you can’t even remember why you let that thing encompass you anyway >Now you made Fluttershy watch your half-possessed body stare gormlessly at a tree with no tell of what was happening to you “Why didn’t you grab somepony?” Fluttershy gasps slightly as she forces her composure back >”Who? Zecora doesn’t really understand pony magic, and I didn’t know what would happen to yo-” She begins sniffling and retreats into her hooves again >The physical drain you feel is all the real explanation you needed >Even if she flew straight to Ponyville and back, you’d have been stuck like that for maybe twice as long before the help got to you >But still, you can’t feel completely upset, nothing could rival the sensations you encountered in that state >Yet that very facet of your experience is what stops you from turning back to the tree >The exhilaration made you yearn to experience it again, like the strings of a puppet had been wound around you, and were gently tugging you back >The Tree wanted you to look at it again >Looking back up, you see Fluttershy still curled up into herself >Your heart aches at the sight, so you reach up to the mare and pull her down >With one hand to keep your body braced, you encompass the shivering mare in a hug >A harsh gasp escapes her as she allows herself to finally cry into your shirt >No words come to mind that might consolidate the mare, so you simply tighten the hug and curl your torso over her, letting her feel as much as you as she needs to >When her sobs begin to taper off, and you feel your shirt no longer being flooded, you whisper down to the mare “Why’d you wait? You could have tried” You keep your voice up, to try and reassure the mare >Her shifting beneath you makes you move and let her sit up “You didn’t leave me” Her words are broken up by gasps as she wipes her eyes >You have to stifle a snicker at her “There’s a difference between sleeping and…” You still don’t know how to describe your experience to someone else, so you leave your words hanging >She seems to find some humor in your words as she chuckles slightly ”Still” Her face falls again and you cup the back of her head and press her to your chest “Thanks Fluttershy, but don’t worry, I’m safe” She shifts slightly in your grips and sniffles again >”You’re welcome” She just manages to choke out through gasps as she tries to calm down >Stepping off of your lap she heads towards the mouth of the cave “Come on, it was silly to bring you here” >You catch her bitterly murmuring about harmony magic under her breath and see her tense slightly, clearly beating herself up over what happened “Not yet” She freezes in place and slowly turns to you, worry on her face again “I’m out of breath and can’t feel my legs, gimme a minute” You shoot her a wry smile and she makes her way back to you >She looks calmer, knowing you’re not staying for the Tree >You become aware of how late it must be as you hear nothing but the wind from outside >The cicadas and birds must have gone to sleep >This fascinating place, it defeats your sense of time >”You know, today’s been kind of emaresculating” Turning your gaze from the mouth of the cave to Fluttershy, you see she’s rested on her hooves >”Getting carried through the Everfree, waking up under your coat, you consoling me just now. Rainbow would have a field day if she found out” She lets out a small huff and lightly bats at a loose rock Chuckling to yourself at the mental image you speak up “Oh I’m gonna have a field day telling her” Fluttershy’s head snaps to you as a small blush crosses her face >”Please don’t” She meekly says as she hides under her mane >Laughing again, you pull her mane back “Don’t worry Fluttershy, that stuff stays between you and me” She smiles up at your assurance “Though I bet Twilight will wanna know about the Tree” >Again, her face drops “I’m sorry for bringing you here, I should have remembered, I just-” >With a few shushes you stop her from berating herself >When she finally quiets down you feel another question poke at the back of your mind “Why are we here Fluttershy?” A brief silence fills the cave before she turns her head to the left and begins floating up >”I just… wanted to see my element again” >You follow her path up to the tree branch and see the pale fog creep into your vision again >Quickly turning away you let out a sigh “Didn’t Eris get hold of those? And weren’t they in a box?” You wait until you hear the flap of wings before turning back to her >Fluttershy has a pensive look on her face as she comes to rest besides you again “It’s possible Eris felt the traces of the elements in the box that Celestia used to hold them in. But they’ve been in the Tree for a while and, as far as I know, this is where Twilight’s been sealing them” >You nod along with her explanation before she continues >”The elements are actually what keeps the Everfree in check, like I said; pony magic can’t handle it” Her eyes drift up to her element and a nostalgic smile crosses her face >The thought of an out of control Everfree briefly crosses your mind before you store it in the back of your mind >You’d actually like to go to sleep without any nightmares when you get back >Taking a deep breath you begin flexing various muscles >Everything is fully receptive though you feel several aches from exhaustion >Standing up, you nod your head towards the cave entrance, much to Fluttershy’s joy and make your way out >Just as you begin to cross the threshold of the cave you feel the tug of the gentle being from before one last time, before the sensation falls away completely as you exit the cave >Slowly making your way back up the stairs, the faint glint from the cave shines in your peripherals until you reach the top >Turning to the rope bridge, you finally begin making your way to your intended destination >”Anonymous?” Turning around you see Fluttershy half way down the path in the other direction >You give her a toothy grin and increase your speed across the bridge >She vocalises her chagrin as you step off the bridge to the other side >”Honestly Anon, we need to go back so you can rest” Her tone is soft but you stay the course up the hill towards the castle “Come on Fluttershy, you know that if I go back after that, Twilight will never let me have the chance to come here again, I wanna see what Celestia and Luna’s old home is like” >Fluttershy looks down to the ground, seemingly weighing the options in her head “Plus I know that you wanna be sure we checked everywhere for whatever’s freaking out the animals here” She perks up a little at the mention of that >”That is true” She more says it to herself, as if trying to convince herself to go along with you “So?” You wave your arms towards the castle ruins and raise your eyebrows at her >With a sigh she deflates “Fine. But!” Before you can celebrate she flaps her wings and is now inches away from your face “If I think for even an instant that you’re in trouble, we’re going home! Even if I have to drag you!” Her more authoritative voice throws you off slightly But you recognise the seriousness of her concern and nod “Even if you have to drag me” You echo to let her know you understand >Smiling at you she lands and points her hoof towards the ruins “Stallions first” >Giving a small fist pump you begin making your way over the crest of the hillock >A faint fog is shrouded over the grounds of the castle as you approach >Fluttershy sticks to your side like glue, out of your peripherals you see her eyes flicking up to check on you every few seconds >You might have avoided the overbearance of Twilight, but now you’ll have to deal with Fluttershy >At least she might be tolerably observant of you >The fog clings to you as you approach it and breaks away as soon as you pass, like spider webs >Rocks crumble and fall away from the archway that leads into the full castle >Carefully you slow your pace and watch the arch, only crossing once you’re certain nothing will concuss you >From the archway, a long hallway stretches in front of you two >Cracks in the stone walls show the castle’s age in its ever withering state >Approaching the walls, you trace your fingers over the split rock >Now that you’re much closer to them, you realise just how deep the cracks really are >They’re driven so deep into the stone that they seem like exposed wounds >Turning your eyes further down the wall, they widen at the sight >An indent bigger than your body runs across a far length of the entire wall like a trench >The rubble from the half caved in wall is all piled up at one end of the line >Like someone was slammed into the wall and forcefully dragged across it >Inspecting the other walls and ceiling show similar scars in the castle’s architecture >One wall though stands mostly unmarked in comparison, the one at the very end of the hall >At its base sits a pair of thrones >On the left sits one hewn from an azure stone, with jagged markings cut into the top of the seat, like a crown >A depiction of the full moon lies behind it >Or it could be a depiction of a new moon, the wear on what was once an immaculate display of art now leaves the difference indiscernible >Opposite to the azure throne, is an equally impressive seat >Were it not for the obvious signs of age and deterioration, you would have thought it was carved from solid gold >The back of Celestia’s old throne is moulded into the shape of a teardrop >Perhaps the intention was to depict a candle’s flame, as there are several layers of lighter shades painted onto the design >Between the thrones is a small stone bridge, connecting the two >Above both thrones, long banners hang from the ceiling >Holes and other tears have formed in the absence of any staff to maintain them, but what they depict is clear >On Luna’s banner sits the moon, and beneath it are images of various astrological objects and at its bottom it shows visions of waves so huge they threaten to swallow the constellations above >Celestia’s banner shows the sun shining down on vast mountains and lush planes of farmland >Back in the prime of this castle’s time, you imagine it was quite decadent >The carpet that had once led all the way to the throne has collected so much dust and dirt that you have only just noticed it was there to begin with >It felt the same as walking the dirt path here >When the two of you finally reach the thrones you cast your eyes down to the cracked tiles that lead to the other parts of the castle >To the side of each throne and at the very back wall is another doorway >Just before the thrones, about half a dozen doors line the walls >Most likely leading to kitchens, dining halls and libraries if Twilight’s castle is anything to go by >”When I was last here, Rarity brought me because she wanted to fix the tapestries” Fluttershy’s voice breaks through the silence of the night “We didn’t get a chance to explore any of the rooms so I’m not sure where to start” >Twilight has told you little of this castle, save for the events of Nightmare Moon that took place here >The only doorways that seem to be of interest are the ones that sit apart from the rest, the one’s nearest to the thrones “Let’s try those first” Pointing in the direction of the doors, you head to the left first “Maybe there’s some magical artifact in the princesses’ rooms they left behind” >Before you can even suggest splitting up Fluttershy all but clings to your side as you head towards the darkened room >Slowly you make your way through the narrow hallway past the door >The further in you get, the darker it becomes >Briefly you sweep your hand over both walls, but find no torches “Please tell me I didn’t use all our wood up back in the cave Fluttershy” A small startled yelp reaches your ears, quickly followed by the sounds of rummaging >Then you hear the sound of metal striking stone >With a rush of hot air, a small flame springs to life and grows >Crouching down, you lift the torch overhead so Fluttershy doesn’t have to hold the wood in her mouth >You feel more confident walking through the hall now that you don’t have to worry about each step >After about a minute of walking your torch illuminates an interesting sight >Embedded in the left wall are two stone doors >Turning to the right, you see a fractured and broken doorway and a deep darkness shrouds the room beyond >The light of your torch stops just as it hits the doorway, as though the darkness were a wall >”W-what happened here?” Fluttershy brushes against your leg as she moves behind you >The darkness of the room seems to writhe and reach out to the flame in your hand >Pushing forward you feel a slight air pressure push back against you >Tensing your arm, you swing the torch down >Like a knife, it cuts through the thick shadows and the darkness starts to clear >Deep shades of black either fall to the ground or waft through the air and disperse into nothing As they disappear, you trace your hand over the doorway “Luna turned into Nightmare Moon in this castle, right?” >Fluttershy gives a timid but affirmative hum >One of the jagged edges of the cracked doorway catches the skin of your finger, but not deep enough to make you bleed “If I had to guess” Stepping over the rubble at the foot of the doorway, you hold the torch up to inspect the room “I’d say that this is where Luna gave in, and she either used her magic or strength to break the doors open” >Your mind briefly wanders to the darkness that had filled the room just moments ago, it was definitely magic, but it didn’t feel like Luna’s >It also wasn’t very strong, seeing as a simple torch was able to disperse it >Clearly the thousand years hadn’t just taken its toll on the castle but on the magic within it >As the final wisps of black smoke-like magic disperses, your torch illuminates the entirety of the room and your breath hitches in your throat >There isn’t a single inch that hasn’t been smashed, like some massacre took place here >Briefly looking back to the doorway you see Fluttershy’s eyes rapidly shifting across the room, shaking hooves slowly stepping into the wreck >You doubt you can do much more to help her nerves other than stay in her view right now >With bits of smashed furniture constantly underfoot, finding stable footing isn’t exactly easy >Slowly, you sift through the wreckage of wood and cloth >Discarded cans of old make-up, fine curtains most likely from the now collapsed bed and rotting wood filled with termites >With a grunt of disgust, you hurl those pieces of wood at the far edge of the room >Wood roughly scratches against stone as you see Fluttershy has now joined you in your search >What kind of magical artifact could be scaring the Everfree, you’re not sure >Hopefully Zecora shared some ideas of what it could be with Fluttershy >Minutes begin to bleed into each other and you reckon at least an hour has passed by the time you’ve upturned each piece of wreckage >The centre of the room’s been cleared, and all the damaged furniture has been pushed against the walls >Yet nothing of interest was found in any of it >Once more you scan over the wooden rubble and you can’t help but wonder what caused it >There’s no sign of the walls being broken inward, so you doubt that it was Celestia and Nightmare Moon’s battle that wrought this mess >The tight space doesn’t seem ideal for two battling alicorns “Maybe Luna and Nightmare Moon?” You mumble only to yourself, and Fluttershy doesn’t seem to catch it >According to Twilight, even Celestia isn’t sure how long Luna had been tempted by her darker half >Perhaps Luna tried to fight it once upon a time >The thought makes you once again question the deep, tangible darkness from before >Luna’s relationship with Celestia was strained back then, was the black fog a spell to keep her sister out >Or did Luna create it to try and keep Nightmare Moon in >The only thing you’re certain about is that you won’t get any answers here “Well, let’s go check the other one” With nothing left here for either of you, you head out of the doorway, with Fluttershy very close behind >You’re not sure if it’s from her fear of the castle or her worry over you >The journey out of the dark hallway is much easier than the journey in, and you quickly pass by the thrones to inspect Celestia’s side room >Just before you reach the door several quiet cracks causes your ears to twitch >Shifting your foot, you feel a slight imbalance in the floor >You take a few steps back and see something gleam in the light of your torch >Crouching down you grab the sparkling rubble and bring it up to your face >What once was the dirt and stone of the castle has turned into glass >Most likely the result of some heat based spell used by Celestia in her fight >Sweeping your eyes over the main hall you spot several more patches of glittering rubble >With no further use of the glass you toss it to the side and continue to the darkened hallway to the right side of the thrones and Celestia’s room >Several runes, weakened by time, activate in sequence down the hall as you enter >Shaking the torch weakens the fire, and with a puff it’s full extinguished >The runes let off a soft golden light, though some have been worn so that they’re incomplete and unable to activate >Nonetheless they provide a suitable amount of light >Celestia’s room is shut by a pair of ivory doors, gilded with faded gold leaf on their corners >Thankfully the lock isn’t in place and there’s no kind of magic ward >A much stronger rush of hot air hits you as you step into the room >At the far side of the room sits a quaint fireplace that has lit itself >In front of it is a plush royal purple mat with several pillows scattered about it >Lining each wall is a bookcase that reaches the ceiling >Sadly they’re all empty and what books you can see are molding >Fluttershy still flaps over to the shelves to inspect whatever books remain >Tucked away in the corner is a bed that you imagine would only be just big enough to fit Celestia >Your eyes sweep to the side of the bed and a feeling of warmth fills you >Briefly you focus on the feeling >The gentle warmth that brings with it faint feelings of nostalgia definitely remind you of Celestia’s passive magic, though it lacks the usual pressure >Approaching the bed you sweep your eyes back and forth >The bed and a calming heat >Your steps slowly stiffen the closer you get >With a bit of exertion you force yourself forward another step and your body lurches forward as it registers the strain you’d put behind the step >Tensing your legs, you stop yourself from tripping over your own feet and take in the new section of the room >A large desk roughly hewn from a deep brown wood with tints of dark red >It lacks any of the intricate etchings that you’ve found in what remains of the castle so far, like it were carved by hoof >On the desk sits a single candle that flickers in the slight breeze that creeps into the room through the holes in the main hall of the castle >Several quills from various birds and pots of ink are tucked into the other corner >Above the desk is a long shelf, holding very few books >Three drawers line the right side of the desk while the left side only holds two and an equally large chair sits in front of it all >Gripping the chair is enough to tell you just how heavy it is >The weight requires both of your arms to drag it out so you can slip onto it >Unlike the fireplace, there’s no cushions to ease the discomfort of the wood >Apparently Celestia wanted nothing more or less than to focus when in this particular nook of her room >Recalling your memory of entering the room, you can now clearly see the desk in your mind, yet when you tried to look at it before, something stopped you >Shaking your head, you lean down and pull out a few of the drawers >On the right, the top drawer holds a horde of sweets, all of them having cultivated a culture of mold >The next two have completely caved into themselves from what seems to be water damage >Perhaps moisture from the sweets dripped into them >You have a bit more luck on the left side >The top drawer had already been completely removed but the second holds several cut envelopes and a knife with an engraved blade, most likely a letter opener >Grabbing the envelopes you flick through them and the letters within, yet the writing is unfamiliar to you >Most likely the language that predates modern ponish >The more you look at the calligraphy, the more you recognise the familiar pattern of the written language, though you still can’t decipher it, save for the word you assume to be the old written form of “Celestia” >Ponish was certainly an interesting language to learn >It had all the same letters of english plus about half a dozen more, and was written in a different style >The first few days were difficult but eventually the method clicked in your head and the pieces began to fall into place >At least, reading it had become easier, you’ve only just started to get a real handle on writing it just before this day, but according to Twilight you still have a lot to learn before you should be writing letters >The final drawer holds two items >One of them is pot of deep red wax, as you move it back and forth, you see that the wax hasn’t hardened >Holding it above your head, the candle light illuminates a rune, you can’t understand it, but the slight warmth of the pot tells you what its purpose is >The next item is a stamp with a royal crest carved into it >Grabbing the items from the left, you carefully lay them to rest on top of the desk >Perhaps Celestia would like to see them again >You’re especially delicate with the letters, though they’re made of parchment, and much tougher than paper, you can feel just how fragile they’ve become with age >Standing from the chair, you reach up and pull one of the books down >The hard leather that binds the book shows various crystalline patterns, coloured with pale and deep blues that mix and swirl together >For fear of harming this ancient text you tentatively lift the cover with a finger >Dust gently wafts up from the old pages to greet you, forcing you to suppress the coughs that it elicits from you >”Are you alright Anon?” Fluttershy’s words briefly cut through your investigation of the desk “Yes yes, I’m fine, just a lot of dust” With another cough you wave away the dust and turn your eyes back to the parchment >More unfamiliar symbols written in an intricate text lie upon the pages >Despite not understanding them, the book intrigues you >Within the margins of the pages are more of the old language in a completely different calligraphy >Several pages are dedicated to complex drawings >A closer look at the designs reminds you of the spell runes Twilight used to illuminate your room and Celestia used to illuminate the hall >But these runes have several layers, each one littered with various symbols and markings >Some diagrams show a simplistic outline of a unicorn shooting a spell, with the correlating rune above them >Besides them is the same unicorn firing a jagged twisted spear, above them is the same initial rune, but with several layers and symbols added deeper into it >As you reach the end, an envelope falls out of the back cover >Quickly looking over it, you still find no real meaning in the words, though you can’t shake the sense of desperation that you feel as you read it >What you think are Celestia and Luna’s old written names appear several times throughout, and the writing has none of the elegance of the others, as though the words were scratched into the parchment >Perhaps the pony had little time to write it >Slipping the letter back into the envelope and back into the book, you glide your fingers over the two books that remain on the shelf >Grabbing the smaller one, you find that your hand is big enough to stretch from one side to the other >The cover is simply a blank but pristine white leather binding >You skim through the book and scan the writing >Pausing briefly, you reopen the crystal book and compare the marginal notes with the writing of the smaller white book >The calligraphy between the two matches >The book in your hand was written by Celestia herself >Like the previous book, this one shows several spell runes >Unlike the previous one though, this book cuts off halfway through >With both books finished you stack them besides you and grab the last one >”Anon, have you found anything?” You keep your eyes locked on the cover of the final book as you turn it back and forth It takes a few seconds for you to fully process Fluttershy’s question “Y- yes Fluttershy, I have. Some interesting books” Delicately you trace your fingers over the various covers “But I can’t make out what any of them say, though I think I’ve seen Celestia’s name in them” >”They’re probably written in Old Ponish, Twilight can probably translate them” You let out a hum as Fluttershy’s hooves click against the floor >The book in your hand stands out amongst the rest, nearly twice the size of the others and three times as thick >It’s cover is made of a darker, rougher material >If the material didn’t slightly give at the pressure of your fingers, you would have mistaken it for stone >The cover depicts the outline of a jagged pony’s head their maw opened to show several razor fangs, a crooked horn rises from their forehead, surrounding the image is a thick ring that juts up from the cover >Again, you’re reminded of the differences in books as the cover takes far more effort to lift than the others >No dust rises from the book’s pages, nor do they show any sign of aging >The symbols still refuse to make sense to you >Though one page shows an interesting sight >Another jagged pony’s face, though this one is in far greater detail >One word appears more frequently on all the pages before and after the image than any other >Examining the word you try to compare it to what ponish you do know to try and find any similarities >It takes a few minutes of mental deconstruction and reconstruction, but you’re rather confident of the old word’s meaning “Arachnid” You murmur the word and trace the outline of the drawing >”Did you say something?” Fluttershy’s words startle you slightly >Pulling your fingers away from the drawing you turn the page “Don’t worry about it, Fluttershy, just talking to myself. We should put these in your saddlebags anyway... then head back” You almost want to stay and study the book, even when you know it will do you no good with no foundational knowledge of the language >”Alright, I’ll be happy to be home again” Her hooves slowly get louder before stopping >With a sigh you continue studying the book >Several pages depict outlines of the image from before >There’s one page that compares the full body of the creature with another, smaller but similar creature >A closer look makes you realise that the book is implying that the smaller creatures are roughly the size of an average pony, meaning that “Arachnid” would be close in size to Celestia, maybe bigger >Their hides have no fur and appear to be harder than a pony’s, and their legs have several holes in them >Suddenly your train ride with Eris flashes into your mind “Changelings…” As you trace the depiction of their chitinous hides you try to recall as much of what Eris told you about them as you can >”Um Anon… where…” Fluttershy’s voice is dull as it carries through the air >Her tone slightly worries you >Turning to the mare, you see her eyes slightly glazed over as her head sways between you and the bed “Fluttershy?” No response “Fluttershy!” She finally snaps out of whatever daze she was in and snaps her head towards you “You really need to go home eh?” You and her share a chuckle as she begins approaching you >You skim through a few more pages before stopping at another diagram >This one depicts a mighty spire of rock, with several holes dotted through it, like some mix of a hive and a castle >You’re still not entirely satisfied by what you’ve read, but you suppose you’ll have to wait for Twilight to translate them before you can fully understand the book’s contents >Stacking the books you turn to Fluttershy and find her with the glazed over look in her eyes again >Quickly setting the books down you crouch down and cup her face >As soon as you step forward she snaps out of it again and her eyes focus on you >”Oh, Anon, I-” She recoils slightly and lets out a pained gasp >Rubbing her temple, she looks back up at your concerned face >Turning between her and the desk you narrow your eyes in thought “Fluttershy” Standing up, she follows your movement with no problem “You can see me right?” She gives a small, confused no at your question “What about now?” Stepping back towards the desk, Fluttershy’s gaze holds for a second before a glazed looks comes over her face again >Stepping forward again, Fluttershy’s eyes snap back to focus on you and she shakes her head “What?” >You step away from the desk, unlike before, you have no problem seeing it now “What is that?” Crouching besides Fluttershy, you see her trying to follow your line of vision, but she keeps turning her head away “Illusion? Hypnosis?” >Grabbing Fluttershy, you lift her and step over whatever concealed the desk and feel her shiver slightly as you pass over the magic >Setting her down, she takes a second to register the desk that’s seemingly appeared out of nowhere to her >”So this is where you’ve been?” She inspects the small area as she talks “Yes, could you really not see me?” Picking up the books, you carefully place them into one of her saddlebags >”No I- I could definitely see you, but it’s like I didn’t want to” She lowers her back to give you better access to the bags >Grabbing the knife, you don’t want it cutting the books so you tuck it in one of your jacket pockets >As for the envelops, you don’t want them being crushed, so you place them in the opposite inside pocket “Alright, another thing to tell Twilight about” Double and triple checking that everything is secure and won’t be damaged, you head back to the door >”Does that mean we can go home now?” You smile slightly at her tone and simply nod your head “Yeah, we’ll have to come another time with Twilight to find what’s scaring the animals” >Once more heading towards the thrones, your path is lit by the previous golden light of the runes >Doing one more sweep of the castle’s hall you look to the thrones, and to the tiled floors below >As you head towards the door, you turn to take in the banners one more time >Before you can though, your eyes turn to the carpet >Stopping yourself you try again, and again your eyes turn to the carpet just as you look at the thrones >Curious, you reach the entrance and try again >This time, you feel no need to turn your head down “Hold on Fluttershy” You hear a tired sigh from the mare as you turn back to approach the thrones >Keeping your eyes on them each step, you hold the stare until you make it to the foot of the stairs that leads to them >Finally, your eyes turn down “Ooooooo, interesting. Fluttershy, there’s another one of those spells here” Looking besides you, you see Fluttershy has followed you but looks confused before a sudden realisation crosses her face >Picking her up again, and with another bit of exertion, you push passed the haze that tries to make you ignore the thrones, and your head finally stops trying to appreciate the floor >”This is fascinating, I wonder what else the princesses would try to hide” Fluttershy crosses the bridge over to Celestia’s side while you stay by Luna’s azure throne “Dunno” You say absentmindedly as you inspect the surroundings >Inspecting the throne and the wall something stands out to you “Fluttershy, what do you think of this wall?” Placing your hand against the wall, you sweep it back and forth >Barely any dust falls off of it >”Um, it’s… nice?” Turning to Fluttershy, you see an incredulous look on her face and roll your eyes “Well, think about” You sweep your arm to indicate to the rest of the hall “The entire castle is in ruins, there’s marks to indicate that Celestia and Nightmare Moon weren’t just casting spells at each other, but outright beating each other through the walls” >Fluttershy nods to your words and her eyes narrow as she starts to see the puzzle >”But this wall is intact” She’s now fluttered up to inspect various parts of the wall “Exactly, and it’s not like it wasn’t touched- like here” Just besides Celestia’s throne you spot a handful of small craters clustered in the same area >Several different cracks arc outward from the centre of the cracks >”It’s like…” “Like one of them was being hit against this wall continuously…But it hasn’t given way like the others” >”Oh my” Fluttershy slowly steps away from the throne as you continue looking over them >If the princesses didn’t want ponies to pay attention to their thrones, it would have been for a reason >Running your hands along Luna’s throne, you inspect each part of it and eventually find a gap that slightly separates it from the wall >With a bit of difficulty, your fingers manage to find a bit of leverage in the gap and you feel it shift ever so slightly >Now that there’s more room, you can fit more of your hand into the gap >Slowly, you work the throne away from the wall and eventually pull it away completely >Hearing the scraping of stone on stone, Fluttershy joins you besides Luna’s throne >As you’d seen from the entrance, it’s simply a painting of the moon on the wall >”Can we go now?” Fluttershy’s disappointed tone causes you to chuckle “Have faith Fluttershy” Tracing your hand up and down the wall, you feel an icy chill meets your fingertips >Slowly, you trace the entirety of the moon, the entire time a gentle calm overwhelms you >Any attempt you make to rid yourself of it proves fruitless >With no indicator of any loose stone or trigger you try to pull your hands away >But they keep tracing the rock, this time in a constant pattern “Great volumes-” >Your body begins to speak with no input from you and the moon begins to softly glow “-of deep water-” >Familiar sensations fill you as the world begins to dim and fall away into smoke leaving just you and the moon “-serve as a grand bulwark- >”-serve as a grand bulwark-” >The voice that has intruded in your mind echoes your words and stars begin to dot the darkness that surrounds you “-guarding sleep” >”-guarding sleep” >The last word leaves you and a rush of pressure snakes up one of your arms >It’s so intense that it throws your arm back and hurls you off of your feet and into the throne behind you >As your body collides with the hard rock, your sight clears, the vision of the night sky has dissipated as the door swings open, sucking in air as it does >Fluttershy’s eyes are wide with fear and panic as you feel the chair begin to slowly tip >Everything that follows happens so quickly yet so slowly >The chair hits the stairs, and the sudden stop throws you off the throne and further down >Colliding with each step, the throne slowly cracks until it breaks, bombarding you with shards of rock as you tumble down >All the air in your lungs is forced out of you and before you can hear yourself gasp in pain, the world goes dark <> >It takes a few minutes before you even realise that you’re awake >Not just that, but standing >As your eyes attempt to adjust, you scan over your surroundings >The old grey stone of the castle is gone, replaced by towering walls of red brick and mortar >You crane your neck up to try and gauge how much time has passed >Sadly you’re met with the sight of the walls of brick converging at the top and mixing with a shroud of thick fog >The fog gently wafts down from the sky and pools around you, covering the entirety of the street >Ahead lays nothing more or less than the walls >No matter which way you turn you can only come to the conclusion that you’re trapped >With nothing better to do you begin making your way down the fog laden street >In the time it takes for you to blink, your body jumps to the end of the seemingly infinite walls >Sadly, you’re only met with a turn into another infinite hallway of brick walls >Again and again you blink, and each time you jump to the end of the street to another turn >Sometimes you’re given multiple paths to take >But all of them lead to the same infinite line of walls surrounding you >To you, the walls seem to never end, you even strain to keep your eyes open until they burn and water >But the walls only end when you blink >How long have you been in this place, seconds, hours, more perhaps >It doesn’t seem to matter, nothing changes >One foot in front of the other, come what may >There have been brief moments, where a feeling of ice so cold it paralysed you ran down your spine >Out of your peripherals you’d see one, only for an instant, and as soon as you turned to them they’d vanish >Another human, though their faces were shrouded by the same fog that hung heavy over this labyrinth >Some were sat in the fog, a bottle in one hand, the other nursing an aching head, and the scent of smoke hanging over them >Some were wizened and wrinkled and held each other close >The other visions would make you turn your head, and in those moments, children would appear just below your line of sight, looking up at you >Then they’d disappear too >Sometimes you wouldn’t even catch a glimpse of the children >But you’d hear their laughter carried on the wind >You’re still not sure how long you’ve been here, but it’s been long enough that the phantoms in the corners of your eyes don’t bother you anymore >A horn blares out through the silence of the labyrinth and a great wall of fog suddenly rises up in front of you >Unlike before, this phantom doesn’t shy away from your stare >Two dim yellow lights cut through the fog >The fog hits you, passes you by, and takes the labyrinth with it >You can’t really describe the place you’re in now >However, you slowly become aware of one thing, there’s no sensory information whatsoever to process >You’re only aware of that fact when you finally feel something >The only warning you’re given is the great mass of air that sweeps over you >Pain racks your body as you feel your body twist and shift in unnatural ways >But just as quickly as it came, the pain is gone >All that surrounds you now is crystal, lined with shelves, filled with books >A faint light glows from beneath you, emanating from strange runes >In front of you stands a purple alicorn, shock clear on her face “Twi-” She gasps and brings a hoof to her face and she turns to smoke >In the next moment, you and the smoke rise and stretch upwards >When you finally land again, you’re surrounded by darkness >As your eyes adjust you can make out the walls that line the new room you’re in >What really draws your attention is the figure that stands in the centre of it all >You’d recognise her silver grey head and golden brown coat anywhere >She’s standing on the other end of a circular table, an open book in front of her “Eris…?” You’re not sure if she can hear you as her name hangs in the air >Slowly, her eyes turn up to meet yours >She still looks tired >With a wave of her talon the open book is set alight >The fire spreads and engulfs the table, the floor, and the walls >But you and Eris stand separated from it all >She looks to you one more time, then turns away >As the room burns away, the fire and smoke fills your vision until they’re all you can see >Slowly, the fire begins to recede and contract into a raging ball of fire and remains that way, even as it fights against the black smoke >Slowly, you shift your hand >Your vision clears and the fire is replaced by a sigil depicting the sun >The fire and smoke are sucked into the Tree of Harmony >No pale light fills your peripherals this time as you take in its pale blue crystal and ivory branches >Again, you begin to rise >As you rise, the branches creep past the marks, and the tips rise towards the cave’s ceiling >When you finally reach the top, they pause before viciously stabbing into the stone >You’re jerked through the ceiling and find yourself hovering above the sullied carpet of the castle >Despite there being nothing in sight, your fight or flight instincts shoot through your body >Before you can begin to calm yourself, a crack forms in the air and shakes the world around you before one of its lines pierces your body <> >Your own scream startles you awake >As your mind reels from its brief tug of war between dream and reality you force yourself to go stiff so you can figure out what’s going on >You remember the door, and the voice and the fall >But where you are doesn’t match what happened >Cold sweat has drenched your entire body >You’ve been purposefully sat up amongst a pile of rubble >Something constricts your arm, head and chest >Each breath is a struggle >But it’s not like before in the Everfree >Now it’s like cobwebs in your lungs >Any successful breath you do take forces a cough that causes a great pain in your chest to flare up >Each cough rattles your chest like something’s stuck halfway down your windpipe >But the worst sensation is the total lack of sensory output from your left arm >In the rest of your body, your blood runs hot, but you feel no heat from your arm >The rock beneath you is cold and rough, but you don’t feel any rubble beneath your arm >It responds to no attempts to twitch you send it >You don’t want to look, for fear of what you might see >Again you have to force your body stiff as you feel shock and panic flood your system as thoughts of what could have happened to it fill your head, each worse than the last >With a few deep breaths you prepare yourself and force your right arm up and to your left >Flesh slaps against flesh and you let out a thankful sigh >Then you wince in pain >Slowly, you gently press over the surface of your arm >Gauze has been wrapped around it from your wrist to your shoulder >Several rocks are embedded in it, each simultaneously causing and staunching the blood flowing down your arm >Sitting up to get a better look, you immediately realise another problem as it hangs limp at your side, and you feel the bone inside being weighed down from gravity >It’s been dislocated >So that’s why you haven’t been crippled with pain yet >Now sat up, you get a better look at where you are >The princesses’ thrones are on the other side of the hallway, the archway that acted as the main entrance just besides you >At your feet sits an empty and upturned first-aid kit >Your mind still hasn’t fully processed your situation, so you take your time as you rise to your feet >Gently you squat up and down and feel a bit of tension and aches in your kneecaps >But you can definitely walk, or stagger, staggering works >Other than the first-aid kit, Fluttershy is nowhere to be seen >Briefly you peer outside the door and see her saddlebags discarded near the rope bridge >A nagging anxiety fills you as you’re reminded of the millenia old books stored in them >You stagger over the rough dirt and stone, down the hill and to the old bridge >As you drop to your knees, you grimace and hold back a yelp of pain behind gritted teeth >With your one good arm you open the bags >All the books are still there, and still in good condition >You didn’t even realise you’d been holding your breath until now >With nothing in one of the bags you manoeuver the biggest book into the empty bag and sling the whole thing over your neck >The weight of one of the bags is now constantly reminding you of your dislocated arm, but at least you can keep the bags with you and keep your good hand free at the same time >Again, you feel shock run through you as you remember the knife and envelopes >Patting yourself down, you shift your hand under your shirt and feel your bandaged torso >Luckily, you feel no dampness save for your sweat, though you recoil in pain when you make contact with the middle of your ribs >Everything is still secure >Slowly staggering back to the castle, you find your vision blurring every now and then >Shaking your head only makes it worse >Once you’re back inside the castle walls you let yourself collapse and grasp at your head >The gauze bandaging has been wrapped around several times and an especially thick but soft bit of padding is tucked under one side of it >This time you feel a damp stain that couldn’t be your sweat >Bile suddenly rushes up your throat and your involuntary reflexes almost makes you swallow it >With a gag you force it up and out the rest of the way >Your eyes peer back up the hall, towards the door that caused your current predicament >Luna’s throne has been reduced to a pile of rubble like the rest of the castle, and the hidden door hangs open >You should just stay where you are, lie back in an elevated position, and try to get some sleep >No, you’re bleeding from the head, sleep might make your situation worse if you have a concussion >So that means you should just wait until Fluttershy gets back with the others >But how long has she been gone >Did you wake up just as she flew over the bridge, or is she already on her way back >If you’re gonna be awake anyway, it’s not like they wouldn’t see the wide open door and the shattered throne >You’re not sure how many times you’ve cursed yourself throughout your life >But as you limp over to the end of the hall, you curse your every step >Your knees buckle as you climb the stairs but you still force yourself forward >If you don’t bleed out, you imagine one of if not all of the girls will kill you for doing something this stupid >Maybe Luna will charge you with treason >You have just smashed her throne and opened some hidden door of hers >Despite dragging your broken body this far, you can’t help but freeze as you stand before the door >A darkness floods the room and the dim light that filters into the castle can’t seem to break it >Tentatively, you step forward >You’re reminded of the tangible darkness that blocked your entry into Luna’s personal quarters earlier, and some part of you hopes to be stopped here >Sadly, the darkness does not impede you >With nothing stopping you, and your curiosity forcibly keeping the sane part of your mind quiet, you continue >You stand on a small stone outcropping and scan the room >Both doors lay against the walls beside you >Reaching out, you brush against the surface of the right one >It’s still ice cold to the touch but now you realise that it’s made of metal instead of stone >As soon as you make contact with its surface, the moon engraved upon it lights up >Pale silver light fills the room and reveals a cylindrical shape >The roof is barely a few feet above your head and below you, the darkness remains >You’re stood inside a tower that leads underground >Was it built to access the Tree or was it made before the Elements were discovered >How far down does it go >So many questions fill your mind but one forces its way to the forefront of your mind >How are you supposed to get down >The light reveals no staircase or primitive pulley system to lower yourself with >Your stubbornness has brought you this far, maybe it can take you further still >Briefly retreating to the main castle you gather up a handful of dust and return to the tower >Shaking your hand, you release a small clump of dust in front of the outcrop of stone >The dust falls and falls until it disappears into the darkness >You receive the same result on your right side >When you turn to the left and release the rest of the dust, it stops at your feet >With your head injured you can’t shake yourself to check that you’re seeing things correctly >Taking a deep, painful breath, you wince as you step forward and your foot lands on the open air and connects with something solid >Still cautious, you lean more of your body weight onto your foot and slowly bring your other foot off the visible piece of rock >You’re now stood on what appears to be nothing >Taking another deep breath you wince again and step forward >When your foot doesn’t immediately land you pull it back >You might have been stupid enough to do all of this while injured, but you’re not stupid enough to kill yourself >Crouching down, you half sit on the air and push your foot forward and let it dangle off the edge >Again, it connects with the open air >Pulling your foot back, you step down and you’re now mostly positive that this is an invisible staircase, but you still take it as slow as possible so you don’t accidentally worsen your condition >Slowly you spiral further and further down the tower’s staircase and eventually find yourself completely encompassed by darkness >It takes several minutes, but eventually the stone levels out and you find no more steps >With a crackle, an ancient stone torch comes to life with a blue fire >Then another, and another >A dozen torches now brighten up the room >The space hasn’t expanded despite being at the bottom of the tower, though you do spot two doors leading out of the room >At its centre are two dozen ornate and grand seats set in a circle >Stretching up the wall and past the lights of the torches is a mural of Luna, her wings spread upwards, framing a gleaming moon that hangs low in the sky behind her, the stars are only visible on her wings and in her ethereal mane >It almost reminds you of a shrine >”One of the great art works of old” The melodic voice snaps you to attention >Spinning on your heels, you stagger back as you find Luna’s muzzle just barely a few inches from your face “Luna! I- I- uh” The sudden appearance of the princess of the night causes your mind to stumble over itself >”Forgive us Anonymous, our intent was not to frighten you so” Her lax demeanour and calm voice helps to settle your racing heart “Oh. No, it’s fine, really. I uh- I didn’t mean to intrude” You’re calmer than before but still your mind races >A nagging voice is constantly asking you how she snuck up on you so easily >You were heavily injured sure, but you were still cognizant >Maybe she finally suppressed her magic, but her metal shoes look heavy and the floor has no carpet to muffle them >”Thou art wounded. May we?” She nods her horn to your stone riddled arm and leaves her unspoken question in the air “Oh, yeah, that” You slowly stagger over to one of the chairs and allow yourself to collapse into it >Despite their stone structure, they’ve been cushioned, making them far more comfortable than you expected >With no way to hold it up yourself, you allow Luna to freely manipulate your arm in her magic >Now maybe you can begin to get your brain to stop stumbling over itself >This new place, the mural on the wall, Luna’s sudden appearance, you slowly go through it all in your mind >Tension slowly builds in your arm, and then releases >Several similar sensations flow through you as the tingle of Luna’s magic caresses your body >”There, we have done what we can for now, but thou should seek medical attention post-haste” Luna shakes her hoof at you like a scolding mother before she glides off the chair to inspect the rest of the room >She slowly flaps her wings and caresses the mural of herself >Her wings hold her with all the majesty and practiced grace that only one with her power and age would be able to achieve >You simply sit and watch her, you doubt anyone would know that she had been sealed in the moon for a thousand years if they saw her now >For a long time she silently looks at the mural that reflects her, and you see her lose herself in her thoughts and memories >What would these walls tell you if they could speak, and were inclined to humor the endless questions you’d have for them >”So many moons have passed, since we last shared this room with another.” Her voice is soft and melancholic “It is… not entirely unpleasant” >As gently as she rose, her wings bring her back to the ground, and her hooves trace over the thrones and tears prick at her eyes >”They’re gone…” Her words and gentle sorrow hangs heavy in the air “Not a single night has gone by where we have not wished to share just one more night here with even one of them…” Her voice is slow, as the sadness in her voice nearly causes her words to slur “Even if it were for only a moment” >She blinks and now it is as if her tears were never there >Her head is held high again, and her eyes now only shimmer with the light of the stars that lie behind them, instead of the tears that threatened to invade her fur before >”How twisted it is, that only half of our wish has been answered, in the form of a stranger amongst strangers” >The candour that drips from her words causes a smile to tug at your face >You still distinctly remember her resolute refusal to apologise for what her magic had induced in you >A stark contrast with her sister >It was somewhat refreshing, her blunt honesty “Sorry if I disappoint, Luna” You see a brief flash of realization cross her face, though your smile is enough to tell her that you don’t feel insulted >A small smile graces her lips, and she begins circling the thrones “Can you tell me about this place? Before we leave” >”I would not suggest any further delays, personally” You feel your ears twitch at the motherly tone >Swivelling on the chair, you see Celestia stepping out of the darkness of another hall and approaching the two of you >”Meeting an injured colt in a dusty old room hidden behind magical locks in the middle of the night? It is not the strangest place I have found you Luna” Celestia smirks at her sister and titters into her wing >Luna’s face scrunches before rolling her eyes and dismissing her sister’s goad >Your eyes narrow at Celestia and you tighten your grip on the chair >Her eyes flicker briefly to your white knuckles before flicking up to meet your gaze “Is something the matter Anonymous?” >Her tone has taken on an air of caution as she slowly approaches you >Standing from your chair, you slowly circle around the princess >Your stomach drops and you clench your teeth >Something’s been nagging at the back of your mind ever since you entered this room >But it’s constantly been pushed down as your attention was drawn back and forth >The mural, Luna, and now Celestia >One diarch sneaking up on you was pushed aside in your mind >But you can’t ignore Celestia >You could feel her pressure from the Everfree >So why couldn’t you feel her now >Heat begins to creep into your veins as you whip your hand up to your jacket pocket and pull out the letter opener you had taken from Celestia’s study >You level the blade at the white alicorn in front of you, and Luna levels her horn at you >”You are walking a dangerous line Anonymous” >”Luna stop!” Celestia’s voice echoes off the walls, but you ignore the ringing in your ears to continue focusing on what’s in front of you “He has lost blood, he is simply delirious” “No” Your voice is low but clear “I think I’m beginning to understand” >Pivoting on a heel, you turn so that Luna is half in your view now “Celestia healed me with ease, but I still can’t feel my arm after you finished with me” Luna’s eyes narrow at you and she begins circling you >Not willing to turn your back on Celestia, you stomp forward, forcing Luna to backtrack, keeping them both in front of you >”Thine breathing is unobscured now, thou should be gratef-” “My breathing’s been fine long before you arrived” The air had indeed been clearer since you stepped through the door, your lungs no longer ached “Speaking of your arrival” You emphasise both princesses by swaying the knife back and forth “I haven’t been able to feel either of you, despite being this close” >”Our magic-” Again, you cut her off “Is suppressed? Sure, but what about her?” You once again place your full attention on Celestia “I’ve been able to feel her pressure from miles away, in places she hasn’t been in for millennia. I’m not even sure if it’s even possible for her to suppress her magic enough for me to not feel it” >The two sisters slowly look to each other, worry and confusion on their faces >Doubt starts to creep into your mind, but one last thought pushes through “Then there’s this place, a spell that makes ponies ignore the thrones, and a sealed door; if Luna really wanted to keep this place secret, she’d do more than just that” >Luna lets out an annoyed huff and begins approaching you as her horn lights up >Tossing the blade up, Luna follows its arc through the air and you reach up and snatch it out of the air >With your left arm “And this just confirms it” You tilt the knife back and forth in your now fully healed and responsive hand >Celestia’s previous worried face has turned to hostility as she too lowers herself and lights up her horn “I’m dreaming” You whisper to the two >Both princesses turn to smoke and leap at you >With a slight jolt you force your hand towards your neck <> >The pain that shoots up your arm forces you awake >Gasping for air you wheeze and cough and enter a vicious cycle of pained breathing >Your lungs refuse to take in enough air, which forces you to take shallow breaths >Each breath causes your chest to rattle and forces up a cough >And each cough leaves you winded and gasping for air >The strain causes your knees to buckle and you just manage to throw your right arm out to steady yourself >Your finally freed from the cycle by what caused it >Pain once again shoots up your arm and forces the last of the air from your lungs >Bracing yourself, you force yourself to keep any air out as you try to regain any semblance of composure >Slowly, you begin taking in, small, steady breaths >As your body finally begins to calm down, you push yourself back onto your feet >Looking around, you find yourself back where you started >Stood upon a small stone outcropping, with cold metal doors either side of you and an abyssal darkness surrounding you >Shifting your foot to the side it slips down for a split second, and stops on empty air >The wall besides you lights up with a calm sea blue light as a rune springs to life >You’re nearly certain that you’re not dreaming anymore >Or maybe this spell is learning how to trick you better >Again, the overwhelming weight of just how little you understand about this world hits you >Heaving a tired sigh, you swipe at the rune with what little anger you can muster >It doesn’t respond >Turning to the edge of the staircase you sit down and let your feet dangle >Maybe you should have just stayed motionless in the pile of rubble Fluttershy left you in >At least you can stay here now, what you’ve done here will already make a story and a half for the others >You’ve done enough today >Haven’t you >You really wish you had someone to tell you that >Someone to stop you >Because despite so much of you wanting to stay still, you get to your feet again >No matter what you do, after what’s happened to you tonight, Twilight’s going to keep you in her sight for a long, long time >You can already imagine it >You’ll be like a caged bird >There’s so much that you could experience and feel for yourself >Language, culture, a whole system that defies human logic >You could either wait, get treated and find the answers in Twilight’s books >Or you could risk yourself further, for the chance of getting some answers now >After all, what is bravery without a dash of recklessness >Despite the pain from your shifting arm as you descend the steps, you can’t help but smile >Your vision slowly becomes a blur of blue as you spiral downward, further and further >Until finally you reach the bottom >In your dreams, grand seats that nearly matched the thrones above stood in a circle at its centre >Here, there’s nothing but rubble >You can’t even tell what the pile used to be >The walls however, are still decorated with grand murals, though they are vastly different from what you had seen before >Rather than just one grand mural of Luna, the walls hold several, each depicting Luna and some grand feat >One shows her surrounded by a swirling vortex of water, a giant, serpentine beast bearing down on her >The one beside it shows her beaten and bloodied but stood firm >Beneath her lies a pile of broken bodies >You do a double take as you realise that they’re changelings >Above her, at the top of a jagged, crooked spire, stands the gnarled form of a far mightier changeling >The mural has made the monster look at least two, maybe three times Luna’s size >Fluttershy’s saddlebags shift against your arm, causing you to wince and remember their contents >Crouching, you duck your head and let the bags slide to the ground >Flipping open one of the bags you grab the large book from before >Quickly skimming through it, you land on the desired page >Picking it up, you hold the drawing of the changeling you had translated as “Arachnid” against the towering figure >The two figures match, and their eyes almost seem to follow you >Eris had said that the Changeling’s were Celestia and Luna’s greatest allies >Just how much had your two worlds diverged >Shutting the book, you return it to the bags and leave them on the floor to give your aching shoulders some rest >Looking up at a third mural shows Luna with a legion of heavily armed and armoured, winged ponies behind her, their wings spread out, blotting out the pale moon that you can vaguely see between the gaps >You can only call them winged ponies because they certainly don’t seem to be pegasi >These ponies have pale coloured eyes with slitted pupils, and their wings look like they’re made of leather instead of fur and feathers >Finally, you spot a fourth, unfinished mural, it shows an incomplete crescent moon with a sapphire blue eye with a slitted pupil staring out from it >Scanning the room, you see just one door leading out of the room >Besides the changeling mural, there are no other answers here >Perhaps there was something more beyond the door, but what was once a raging fire for discovery before has faded and flickered >Your vision begins to blur and your knees grow weak >They suddenly give way and you try to catch yourself >As your injured arm hits the floor you topple on to your side >The pain barely registers as a dull throbbing now as the rest of your body goes numb >Your mind slowly approaches unconsciousness, and you find your mind drifting from what small thoughts remain >You wonder how long it will take you to learn to read old ponish and what you’ll find in these books once you’ve learned >How much is Twilight gonna freak out when you wake up >How much is Eris gonna freak out “Eris…” >Her face lingers in your mind, and her name lingers on your lips as you finally allow yourself to sleep again <> “DAMN IT, ANSWER ME! WHAT HAPPENED!” >Fluttershy shrinks away from your bellowing voice >”Eris! That is enough! Give her a moment!” Your dad’s voice does nothing to calm you down “YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!” His eyes slowly glow a deeper red as he snarls at you >That might have worked on you eons ago when you were young, not so much anymore >Turning to the yellow mare you’d been interrogating, you see she’s still crying >You’d popped into Ponyville to visit Anon but apparently he and Fluttershy had been in the Everfree for half an hour >When you reached the forest’s edge you peered deeper into it and saw a contained storm raging within it >At the time, you had wanted to go in there and pull them out, or at the least lend them a helping paw >But your dad had convinced you enough to trust Fluttershy, after all you are giving this whole “friendship” thing a try and it was certainly working out well with Anon >You hoped >So you were content to wait outside the forest to surprise him >You waited, and waited, and waited, until enough hours had passed that night had fallen >At least the storm inside had stopped >Twilight thought nothing of it, reassuring you that Fluttershy could handle any creature within the Everfree >But then again, the pegasus wasn’t the one you were worried about >Your worry only deepened when you felt a massive shift in the harmony magic inside >It permeated the air bordering the Everfree for three hours >The magic made it so you had no way to get inside and stop whatever was going on >And again, Twilight brushed it off >Fluttershy was a bearer of harmony, so she could keep Anon safe >Your anger at Twilight’s dismissal was overshadowed by the anger you felt towards yourself >As soon as the Harmony magic cut off you should have gone in there to check on him >But you simply sat, and kept waiting >Then several more hours passed and another big wave of magic rushed out of the Everfree >This one distinctly had Luna’s magical signature >The two of them had officially been in there for two days and that was finally a long enough period of time that Twilight and the other four finally grouped up to check on them >Before any of you could set hoof into the forest though, a blur of yellow, pink and red rushed out >Through your questioning she had just barely managed to say Anon’s name a few times, the red on her coat made your heart sink >Which leads you to now “Fluttershy” Despite your calmer tone, the mare still refused to pull herself out of her hooves “Damn it!” Gripping the mare, you pulled her up so she was finally looking at you “Where is he!? Where’s Anon!?” >Th- the cast- castle! He was hurt- magic- I don’t-” Everyone was trying to pry you off of the mare but you shrugged your shoulder and hurled them back with a force of magic “YOU LEFT HIM BLEEDING AND ALONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EVERFREE!?” She shrinks away at your voice again, but with nowhere to go simply nods her head in shame >“H- he was too heavy- I wanted to get here quicker” >Your grip on her tightens and so many thoughts flash through your head >One of them points out that it wasn’t an entirely illogical idea >But you quickly kill that idea >Right now you just want to be angry >With a groan you simply drop the mare, you’d rather focus your anger on getting to Anon instead of hurting your Dad’s friend >Turning to the Everfree you feel a tug of magic >You fold yourself backwards and growl at Twilight as her lavender magic grips your arm >”Eris we need medical specialist ponies to help stabilise Anon as soon as we reach hi-” “I. Don’t. Care.” The venom in your voice is enough to actually make the purple princess step back “Anon needs me now” With a swipe of your talon, you cut through the magic, causing her to wince in pain >With a flap of your wings you rush into the forest >This place always messed with your magic, you’d always end up in the wrong place from teleporting >So you simply use your magic to reach chaotic levels of speed >The trees and beasts are an irrelevant blur as you follow the dirt path to the castle >You’d been there plenty of times in your old world >Seeing the place that Luna and Celestia were so fond of, collapsed into a ruinous heap, brought you a cathartic joy >All those thoughts leave you as soon as the castle comes into view though >You’re over the bridge and inside in an instant >A dozen clones split off from and charge into the surrounding rooms to look for Anon >Each of their eyes and ears feedback directly into you >As you process all the information, you feel yourself getting more and more agitated as none of your clones see hide nor hair of him >You meanwhile, begin approaching the door opened behind the ruined throne >You’re impressed he was able to break a spell like that >Even if it had weakened over a thousand years >Definitely gonna have to ask him about it later though >Again, you feel a bit of catharsis seeing Luna’s throne broken to pieces >With a flap of your wings you slip through the doors >The darkness is nothing to you, and you glide straight down the middle of tower and the invisible spiral staircase with ease >Landing at the bottom you look around for the human >Each second that passes where you don’t find him fills you with dread >The last time you’d seen him was when he was smiling in wonder at your stories >Your mind relentlessly conjures images of how he’ll look now, and you have to try desperately to crush them “Anon. Anon!” >Your calls go unanswered >”Anon, Anon, wherefore art thou Anon?” You really wish they had stayed unanswered >Half a wing, multiple scars, and a smug grin “Luna. A dream curse. Of course, I should have known” You smack yourself at your own idiocy >Your panic made you fumble >”Curse is such a strong word Eris, we prefer… charm, or hex! Hex is a much better term” Her voice is laden with glib self satisfaction “Yeah, whatever, I’m waking up now!” >”Yes, wake from this dream into another” >Her words stop you just before your finger can slide over your thumb to snap yourself out of this >How come she always knew exactly what to say to goad you >”Eris” This new voice stops you completely >An ivory hoof, hidden beneath layers of plate metal hangs over your shoulder >”Perhaps it’s finally time that you woke up, you’ll only hurt yourself here” >The curse was just trying to keep you here, Celestia didn’t talk to you that way anymore, she hadn’t used that tone with you in a thousand years >Pushing yourself away from her, you feel your breathing quicken as you turn to Celestia >This was nothing like your dream Chrysalis had conjured >The dream curse- hex- whatever had dug far deeper into your mind >This Celestia, was exactly as you’d left her >From head to hoof she was donned in heavy golden armor, its colour dulled from centuries of use, but none of its luster was lost >Countless scratches and dents marked it from the centuries you had battled with her >There was no sentimentality in its design, no ornamental styling to its structure >The armor that covered her wings was a work of art in and of itself, it covered the back half of them so they could be brought to her chest to act as a shield, while the front half was left free to unobstruct her flight >Her neck was protected by several smaller, layered pieces of plate metal, that rested above a flexible chain mail >Her crown had been melted down into a helmet that could cover her face with a simple nod >When she wasn’t in full battle-mode it simply covered the sides of her head and her horn, the familiar crown jewel now warped to act as a conduit to amplify her magic >The diarch of the sun alone, was already a one-mare army >But in that armor, Celestia was a living, breathing, war machine >A true soldier, to her bones, as is denoted by the flawless back of the armor >There was no dents to mends, no scratches to buff out >For centuries you had fought her, and not once did she ever turn her back to you >The lines of enchanted old ponish that had been etched into the rest of the armor still shone with all the glory and fury of the sun, though after you had broken enough of the text, the spells no longer worked >It was strange to see her in that armor without the worry of her trying to kill you >It felt wrong >Your eyes were glued to her chest, where the armor was thickest >It hid an ugly, ugly scar you had branded her with >In the first years of the war, Celestia and Luna had fought you unarmoured >It wasn’t surprising, their hides were stronger than most metals when tensed >But you were always eager to break rules and so they quickly learned that their best wouldn’t be enough against you >Luna learned that fact on the day you took her wing >Celestia learned the day after, or more specifically, the year after >She didn’t let you stop, hours turned to days, turned to weeks, turned to months >Whenever you teleported she latched herself onto your magic signature and followed you >You couldn’t run from her, and you couldn’t hide >There was bloodlust in her eyes after what you’d done to her sister >So you stopped her >You’re still not proud of what you did, the thought of it almost drives you to retch >As you stagger back from the impostor Celestia she approaches you softly >”He’s not even real, you know that right?” >The bile in your throat is forgotten at her words >You might not have been proud of what you did to her >But you don’t regret it either >An almost feral growl erupts from your throat as you lash out at the fake Celestia >The figures of the dream level their horns at you >”Eris…” >You turn your head and twitch your ears >You’d recognise that voice anywhere >Even with how weak he sounds Though they’re not real you still can’t let either of them get the last word “I don’t care” >With a snap, they and the world disappear and you feel your body being tugged <> >With a swipe of your talon, you will the magical defense weaved over the doorway to become tangible, and rip it to shreds >Back in the waking world you once more dive down the tower, light runes flashing to life as you pass them by >Reaching the bottom, you see Anon, collapsed in a bloodied heap, drenched in sweat >Rushing over to him you slowly shift him onto his back >The state of his arm almost brings tears to your eyes >But he’s been bandaged properly >You’re definitely gonna have to apologise to Fluttershy >Maybe not face to face, maybe just a singing fruit basket or something >Gently, you sit him up, and slide under him >He folds over your back and you snap your talon, magically sealing him to your body so he doesn’t slip >Just as you’re about to leave, a speck of pink catches your eyes >Fluttershy’s cutie marks on a pair of saddlebags >That’ll be a good way to start your apology at least >As you hover over to them, a shaking hand reaches out to them >Your talon shoots out and you gently cup the hand >It’s fingers twitch sporadically, and eventually settle as they interlink with yours >”Eris…” He just manages to croak out your name >As much as you like it when he says your name you shush him “You need to rest Anon” You don’t receive an answer but the hand goes slack in your talon and flops to your side >As it swings, one of the fingers slowly points towards the bags >”Need- need ‘em” >Reaching down to the bags, you pull them up and rest them on your pack >The arm slowly draws itself back and you feel it wrap around the bags >After a shuddering exhale, you feel his body go slack against yours >You bring your talon up and run it through his hair >It isn’t helping him but it’s stopping you from doing anything stupid >Right now, you just need to get him out of this castle and out of this forest >Just as you begin making your way out of the room your eyes are drawn to one of the murals on the wall >It shows Luna, surrounded by the bodies of Changelings, and a Changeling Queen stood upon her hive “Arachnis?” The name leaves your lips and you have to stop yourself from inspecting it further >This place can wait >With a flap of your wings, you pull the two of you out of the room and back into the main hall >As you pass over Luna’s ruined throne you grab a sizeable chunk of the wreckage >Maybe when Anon wakes up it’ll make a good souvenir, he could use it as a paper weight or something >Your wing beats are practically silent as you make your way out of the castle and back into the forest >Anon may be sealed to you so he can’t fall off you, but if you blitz out of here, it will still affect his body, so you’ll be leaving the forest a lot slower than when you entered >Visions of could-have-beens but never-were flood your mind as you fly down the dirt path >You see yourself rushing up the hillock >She rushes into the castle before Fluttershy has even finished wrapping Anon’s bandages and takes them both back to Ponyville >As you fly over the rope bridge you see another echo of what you could have done >She flies down the stairs, this version of you doesn’t let her fear of harmony magic stop her >More and more phantom versions of yourself pop into your mind, mocking you, reminding you of your failure >They hover besides Anon and Fluttershy >They’re who you could’ve been if you had ignored Twilight and just listened to your instincts >These feelings are very new to you >Or maybe you just forgot how to feel them >Fighting a war for a thousand years would make anyone forget certain things, even emotions >But you’re not to blame >Twilight should never have stopped you, none of this would have happened if she just listened to you >Fluttershy should have tried harder to bring Anon out of here >Luna should have stripped away those spells when she returned >Celestia should have stripped them away during Luna’s thousand year absence >Anon should have- >A pang of guilt pierces you gut as you cut off the thought >He’s been so still ever since he passed out >Neither his arms or legs have shifted since you placed him on your back, he hasn’t even twitched >The only thing that’s assuring you that he’s still there is his breathing and his heart beat against your back >Both are so weak >And it’s all your fault >You involuntarily twist your neck at the thought >It was so much easier back then, to blame everypony else but you >But there’s no war here, and now you’re being forced to see everything you’re doing wrong >The only thing your pride and ego have done since you got here is cause harm to the only one in this place that you could call friend >You can’t help but wonder how he feels about you >Are you his friend too >Does he trust you >Or are you just the mad mare he’s trying to reform <“Because I- I needed something to do!” >You had kept an eye and ear on them both while the storm raged inside the Everfree >After all, you needed something to distract you from all the boring waiting >Maybe you’re just a distraction to him >Something to help him adjust to this place >The rumble of thunder draws you out of your mind >Looking up, you see no sign of a storm >The thunder’s in your head >Another phantom >The storm is raging in the Everfree >Anon and Fluttershy are holed up in a cave for shelter >The phantom decides to find them, and she stays with them >She stops Anon from being overwhelmed by the Tree >She destroys Luna’s magic before it can hurt him >She actually helps him, and she isn’t you >Shame fills your gut again as you continue flying through the forest >Hooves beat against the ground, and the girls, except for Fluttershy, round the corner to meet you “What took you so long?” You sneer at the five of them and float past them, back towards town >They’ve all been shocked stiff by the state of Anon’s body >”Is- is he-” “He’s fine!” You cut off Rainbow Dash before she can finish her thought >Your talon shoots up to grip Anon’s arm >He doesn’t stir even slightly at the contact >Placing your thumb and finger together, you prepare to teleport yourself to the hospital, only to feel a small magical tug on your arm >”Eris, he needs to go to the castle” You raise a confused eyebrow at Twilight “Remember the medical specialist pony I was talking about before you left?” >Despite her words, you’re reluctant to do as she says, you’re still internally fighting yourself on whether you should blame her or not >Sighing, you snap and the world warps around you >The forest disappears and you’re surrounded by gaudy crystal walls “Where?” Your voice is low, and slightly trembling now >You slowly cast your eyes to Twilight, who looks at you with bewilderment at your tone >Shaking her head to clear her confusion, she points down a hallway >You see her lips moving to give you instructions but the words don’t really register >All the same, you drift down the winding corridors >Stopping in front of one of the more ornate doors, you give it a few firm hard knocks >Some unicorn you don’t recognise comes out to greet you >Her features aren’t very important, so you only just glimpse at her slightly >She’s wearing an old doctor’s coat, the patches of mismatched cloth sewn on to cover the tears are a clear show of its age >An iron chain made of large rings is attached to the chest of the garment and runs diagonally down the coat >A golden needle and thread cutie mark sits on her flank >Safe to assume that she’s the doctor >Completely unphased by you, she pushes you to the side and pulls you downward to get a better look at Anon >After a second, her horn lights up and pulls him off you >A part of you didn’t want to undo the spell that sealed him to your body >You wanted to keep him as close as possible >Luckily you’ve calmed down enough that the logical part of your brain finally got a chance to speak >You couldn’t heal Anon even if you wanted to >And you desperately wanted to >To simply snap your fingers, make everything better, and then... >Actually you hadn’t planned that far >Maybe you could go to Sugarcube Corner >The foals there seemed to like him at least >Echoes of the door slamming in your face bounce off the walls while you continue to absentmindedly stare >She hadn’t even given you her name >Not that you really cared to learn it anyway >Anon’s breathing and heartbeat has gotten worse in the brief time between the castle and here >His shallow breaths and the weak pulse of his veins stick in your mind >Those ever so faint noises repeat in your head, over and over >Any strength you might have had to be angry at yourself or others is gone >Replaced by the monotonous rhythm in your mind >For the first time, in a very long time, you feel exhausted >Slowly, you drift the rest of the way down to the ground >As you land, a soft fabric brushes against your fur >With a cursory glance, you see that it’s Fluttershy’s bags >You brush against the metal butterfly clips and you’re back in the old castle again <”Need- need ‘em” >You turn your head away from the memory and the castle disappears in an instant >He sounded so weak, so small >Nothing like how he’d spoken to you before >Initially he was nervous around you >But quicker than anyone else before, he seemingly got used to you >During your little bet you had gotten used to his playful tone >You’d enjoyed how he sounded like he was worried about you, after the ponies had called you freak >Dare you imagine that he was actually interested in the stories you told him of your old world >But would he still be interested if you told him about what you did to Luna, or Celestia >How would you even begin untangling the web that led to you bringing everything in Equestria against you if he ever got curious >The time you spent with him was short, but he seemed observant enough that your two day absence wouldn’t go unnoticed by him, and he’d have questions >It didn’t matter how many times you imagined it in your head >Ever since that damned dream you couldn’t stop picturing it >Initially you had imagined what would happen if you told him once you got back >This incident makes you imagine yourself telling him after he gets his strength back >Both end the same way, it’d be too much information, too quickly, and too soon >Sometimes you’ve imagined what would happen if you waited months, or years, if you gave yourself time to develop your relationship with him >But in those scenarios you see him feeling angry and betrayed that you hid it for so long >Every time, it always ends the same way, for one reason or another, you lose him >Your mind has allowed you less than a pawful of ways that he might actually accept you for what you are and what you did >But all of them were infinitesimally unlikely >So you pushed them all aside, and created a new scenario in your mind, a truly impossible series of events in which he held you close and refused to let go >It made you happy, to live in that imagined world for a few moments >But all too soon you’re pulled back to reality, and the dull rhythm in your head >One beat every two seconds >As you rest against the cold crystal you start tapping your talon against the floor in tandem with the rhythm in your head >You count each beat, and the time until the door opens again >Behind you, the girls have gathered and are having some quiet conversation >A muzzle pushes against your paw, and a pink cupcake is slid in front of you >Begrudgingly, you turn your eyes away from the door to the baker mare Pinkie Pie >Admittedly, the cupcake did smell good >Pulling off the wrapping, you eat the sweet paper and the bits of dough that had stuck to it >With a flick of your tail, you slide the rest of the cake back to the mare who gives you a smile at the gesture >Still determined, she splits it in half and hands you one of the pieces >Sighing, you languidly consume the confectionary >A minute has passed >Finishing the sweet, she raises her hoof, as if she wanted to say something >But as her gaze meets yours, her face falls and she steps away and moves back to the girls >Closing your eyes, you will your focus into the room >While you were able to spy on Anon and Fluttershy with relative ease, they were in an open cave >This doctor mare however, is behind a locked door, in a castle littered with faint traces of harmony magic >Not enough to incapacitate you >But enough to limit you in the smallest of ways >You could always manifest an eye and ear inside the room, but you’d rather not distract the one trying to fix Anon >Her magic cascades off her horn and envelops the room from floor to ceiling, from wall to wall, but barely leaves an imprint >An assortment of sterilised tools, held gracefully in a practiced web of telekinesis >Faint traces of the magical properties contained in the various medicinal herbs, poultices and potions she’s brought stick to the air like cobwebs >Medical magic thrums through her and into Anon >The arcane technique of burning up one’s own mana in order to restore the natural mana flow of another to facilitate an increase in reconstruction of broken tissue >Something that your magic was incapable of conjuring >Healing yourself was one thing, you essentially replaced your injured self with a previous version, from when you were uninjured >Healing someone else was an entirely different matter, it required absolute, constant focus, so it wasn’t exactly easy for a chaotic being to replicate it >You can feel it though, as it pokes at Anon’s body, it shifts the tangled, volatile magical mixture of the Tree and Luna’s door that twists inside him >First, it traces over him with all the pressure of a feather >When no reaction comes from it, the pressure is increased >She needs to know what she’s dealing with >Like a scholar solving an equation, she needs to know what causes the problem in front of her to fluctuate >Even when lifted off the table itself with magic, Anon’s body does not react >She’s nervous >Not only is she dealing with an alien species >She’s dealing with magic she’s never seen before >Steeling herself, she latches her magic onto one of the fragments of Luna’s throne >Magic isn’t really alive, to you, it’s never been anything more than dead air until you wrapped it around one of your claws >But as soon as the shard inched out of Anon’s skin, you could have sworn you heard the magic screaming >It unsettles you enough to break your focus >Despite not feeling the pulse of magic from Luna’s door earlier, Twilight did feel that >Lazily, you turn your eyes to her >She’s hunched over slightly and taking deep breaths, her friends are crowded around her >All their lips are moving, but it’s like you’re in a fog, everything besides what’s beyond the door in front of you is faded, and you can’t be bothered to pay attention on them >Once more, you turn back to the door and focus >Rarity didn’t notice the heavy onset magical flux that just occurred, so you doubt the mare did either >But her magic noticed, and it’s wavering >Unbeknownst to the mare, her magic has created a sort of net around the room, and it’s caught the released magic >The air’s gotten heavier, so you exert a greater amount of your will and magic over the room >Her caution and years of experience has made the mare go still >Anonymous hasn’t stirred, and her magic is too weak to pick up on the shard’s residual magic >But her instincts have told her to stop >Her eyes flit around the room, looking for something that isn’t there, her magic swells as she examines her patient again, but finds nothing >Once more, though with greater hesitation, her magic wraps around the fragment of azure stone and begins to pull, and that awful screaming fills your head again >The released magic threatens to crack the walls, and shatter the glass >You may not be able to heal Anon, but you can help that mare, and you won’t allow yourself to hesitate this time >Your magic weaves through the door and strangles Luna’s residual mana before it can do any harm >Though it feels off as you do >Closer examination causes a feeling of gentle cold to wash over you, like the night suddenly fell upon the world >Echos of the battle that caused the old castle to fall to ruin was absorbed by objects that had the strongest connection to the princesses >It’s not just Luna’s magic that rests in this piece of stone, but Nightmare Moon’s >Luckily, it has faded to only an echo, but it remains >Piercing through the echo of the alicorn, you twist and warp it so it no longer is bound by the traditional laws of magic >The great pressure that had pressed on the doctor’s magic fades >You make it truly ethereal, and it wafts through the magic, through solid matter and disperses into nothing >20 minutes have passed, and only one shard has been removed >Her caution remains, but your assistance has stopped the echoes of magic from interfering with her work >The mixture of Luna and her corrupted-counter part’s magic tries to fight you, but Luna herself being here to stabilise it, the magic is pitifully weak >But the mare has been given no answers as to what just happened, so she’s still cautious and slow as she removes the stones >The screams of the echoes don’t stop until they’re finally pulled loose from Anon’s body >They try to latch onto him, like leeches, like a pickaxe stuck in a brick wall >When they feel you tearing them apart they try to stick to you >Luna’s magic always did have a penchant for wrapping itself around the minds of those she used it on >You know that better than most <> >”Monster!” >The air pressure increases >You warp yourself through the fabric of space with the same ease as every time before >Luna crashes into where you just were, the ground cracks and splits beneath her hooves and the shockwave roars like a dragon >The sickly sweet scent of smoke and the crackling of fire dances through the air >With a tired yawn, you turn to the blue mare >You only wish you could see her >Sadly your last bout with her has left your eyes out of commission >You’re not sure how she did it, maybe you slipped up last time and she snuck a blinding spell past your magic defences >Perhaps it’s some sort of post-hypnotic suggestion she left in you over the years >Whatever it is, you reckon you’ll have it undone in a few days, the magical structure is unfamiliar to you, it wasn’t like Luna’s usual magic >Of course, you’re not the only one who’s been affected by this little war between you and the two princesses >In these first few years you’ve already left her slightly scarred on the barrel >You can’t see them, but you remember what they look like, and you can feel her passive magic angrily pouring out of the wounds, trying and failing to heal them “Moon Cheese, so good to see you” Your lips curl up in a smug grin >”Cease your revelry creature, thou shalt be brought afore the courts for thine transgressions” Luna’s voice drips with the same venomous hatred that she’s had for you ever since you turned this place to kindling >But she isn’t the biggest threat >Manifesting a pair of your arms on your back, you tap against the air >Like a stone breaking water, the impact sends a ripple outward, scanning for any sign of Celestia, any trace of her magic, but you find none “So where’s your dear sister Blue Bean? Don’t tell me I’ve scared her off” Your voice trails off into a mocking laugh >Growling at you, Luna’s horn lights up and fires a spell at you >It phases through you harmlessly, but as it passes, you feel a part of it snag on you >You can feel it try to slither towards your mind, but you quickly crush it >”She is protecting our ponies from your blighted fire, something a deviant such as thou could never understand” Her words are so simple, but they bring your blood to boil “I did understand… once” >Luna’s eyes narrow at you >Your ears twitch as one of the great trees besides you creaks and groans >Turning to the purple wood, you feel a crack split the tree in half, and all its branches snap and fall to the ground, and begin burning into cinders >They were everywhere, these trees >Like weeds, they crept into every nook and cranny they could find and they brought with them beasts like Timberwolves, Chimera, Manticore and Hydra >It honestly impressed you that ponies were able to coexist in such an environment >But you always hated it, all of it >Before everything boiled over, you endured their presence, they had become ingrained into the lives of the ponies so none of them were eager to be rid of the trees >So when this war first started, and all bets were off, your first choice was to burn them all, down to their roots >They’re much sturdier than you thought, even your magic is having a bit of difficulty eating through them >But you’ve rid the far north, south, east and west of this country of them, and scattered all the beasts that used to live in those parts as well >Like a ring, your fire’s been slowly creeping inward, towards a central point of the forest >The closer to the centre the fire gets, the longer it takes to burn away one of the trees >Of course Celestia tried to force your fire to obey her >It almost did, but in the end it bowed to no will but your own >And so Equestria burned, and burned, and burned >The two of them have been maintaining barriers around every town, city and settlement ever since >You tried telling them it was pointless, you had no interest in hurting their ponies, but of course they wouldn’t listen to you anymore >It wasn’t much of a change, they seldom did before, least of all Luna >”Eris, this is madness!” Another spell, another miss, another tug at your psyche >You can’t help but laugh at Luna’s choice of words “You call it madness, I call it trimming the verge” Stretching out your paw and talon, the claws turn to scissors >Clipping away at one of the trees, you mould it into the shape of Luna, before it collapses in on itself and becomes a smouldering heap “This place is long overdue, wouldn’t you agree?” >She attempts a binding spell, but with a flex of your wrist you begin using it like a skip rope >Furious, she screams and lunges at you >You brace your legs and catch her hooves in your claws, the shockwave from the collision causes your fire to falter before it begins consuming the forest again, and you’re pushed back several hundred meters before her momentum finally stops >”Look at this! Look around you Eris!” You do as she bids, burning trees and fleeing beasts fill your vision “What, do you want to be empress of ashes?” “Empress? EMPRESS!?” >Again, her words boil your blood >All these preconceived notions she had about you, even after all this time she can’t even imagine you want anything else >With a flap of your wings and a shift of magic, you pin Luna’s wings to her side, leaving her dangling from your paws >Rearing your head back, you slam it into her muzzle, sending her down to the ground with enough force to make a crater “I never wanted to rule! But you... you and Sombra and Celestia. You refused to even let me live a life here!” Flashes of the countless nights you spent in your dreams answering her interrogations pass through your mind >Growling, you pour pure chaos magic into the air, and slam it into the princess of the night, multiple times, each time you pour a greater concentration of magic into the air >She gasps at the impacts, and her body contorts at the influx of foreign magic >Her whole body glows with ice blue veins that spread into the air >The veins begin to crack and eventually shatter, breaking your spell and allowing her to get back to her hooves >”So you would burn the world I love for your imagined slights!?” She attempts to fly at you, but crashes into a barrier of condensed air you’d created “Imagined?” The gall behind her words has shocked your voice to a whisper “You took… everything… from me Luna” For once, she actually pauses at your words to look at you “You couldn’t handle so little as one town wanting me, instead of the two of you” >Her gaze hardens at you “And now they’re all gone” “Them-” You nod solemnly at the memory “-and the wendigos your sister’s dear little dark prince took as well” You sneer at the nickname >Luna’s face shifts slightly, her mouth twitches upward and her eyes soften >A chuckle escapes her >”Tears, really?” >Bringing a claw up, you do feel a wet patch beneath your eyes >Memories of those days gone by cross your mind, and you feel a new wave of them leave your eyes “It’s not like you cared enough to mourn them” A smile of your own tugs at your mouth as you see Luna’s body begin shaking in anger >With a snap of your fingers you force up the dirt to wrap and ensnare her >Her magic blasts away into the dirt, so you contort her horn like a silly straw, and make multiple horns grow out from the main one, causing her magic to malfunction >Now she’s not only struggling against your magic, but her own >Stepping over to her, you bring your cloven hoof down on her spine, causing her to cry out in pain >Leaning down, you take hold of her wing and unfurl it “You know something, Moon Cheese. I’ve always believed that one good turn deserves another” >As you begin to pull you can feel her smirking >She thinks you’ll use your magic >But as your grip tightens, and the tendons in her wing start to strain and tighten, her smirk falls and she begins to fight back >”Eris?” >The world shifts around you, and you see a portrait of yourself and that day all those centuries ago >It’s hung upon a pillar that is coloured like static, in the middle of what appears to be a gallery >Anonymous is to the side of the pillar >You turn your eyes down to him and he stares at you with confusion, blinking multiple times “Did you see it?” Your voice is low, and full of fear >Not like this, you’ll tell him anyway the world wants you to, but not like this >”See what?” Concern crosses his face as he looks at you >He begins approaching the front side of the portrait, but you slam your talon into the side, stopping him “Don’t…” He wraps his fingers gently around your shaking claw “Please don’t look at it” >You let your head droop, but you can feel his eyes staring into the side of your head >The seconds seem to stretch endlessly >”Okay” Once more, he shocks you to silence >Without a second of hesitation he wraps his other hand around your wrist and pulls you away from the portrait and dismisses it >You both wander the halls of the gallery for a while, he seems to be looking for something >He finally stops dragging you when you find a bench made of simple black metal >Sitting down, he heaves a sigh and rolls his neck >Like everything was normal >But this is what you wanted, so you try your best to act natural >Sadly you misjudge the metal and slide off its surface, landing on the ground with a thud >Anon chortles at your display “Did your magic stop or something” Standing up, you brush off your fur and murmur “Shut up” Before properly adjusting yourself as you sit >Another round of chuckles escapes him and you feel your lips tug upward “Are you real?” The question slips past you before you even process the words >Brief images of Anon melting away to reveal Luna’s scarred visage fill your head but never come to pass >Instead he simply tilts his head at you “Funny, I was gonna ask you the same thing” >If it looks like Anon, sounds like Anon and acts like Anon, is it Anon >You desperately want to trust your mind not to trick you anymore >”Unless I’m still in that damned castle” You see a shiver runs up his spine, and down yours >Of course the dream curse hit him too >His eyes suddenly shrink and dart around the room >He clutches an arm that, as far as he’s aware, should be dislocated, riddled with dilapidated rock and bleeding >Far stronger than before, his heart beats like a drum and his breathing becomes ragged >If, somehow this actually is his mind in front of you, then his body on the outside will be attempting to mirror him Clasping your talon and paw around his arms, you shift him towards you slightly “Hey” His eyes briefly dart to you and the way he looks at you nearly stops your heart “Hey!” Bringing your paw and talon up, you cup his face and force him to look at you “It’s just me” You lower your voice and his breathing becomes more steady >With a shaking hand he brings it up to your head and brushes your neck >Letting out a shaky breath he chuckles and pulls himself back before doubling over in laughter >A content sigh leaves him, and he recomposes himself “Well, i just made a complete ass of myself, eh?” You give him a small smile as you feel your gaze soften “Not to me” He turns to you with a nervous smile “Luna… That spell was one of her favourites” >Before you can be dragged into your memories, Anon grounds you by taking your talon in his one of his hands >He opens his mouth to say something, but closes it and simply stares at you >There’s sympathy in his eyes, a silent understanding >Or maybe you’re reading too much into his eyes >Are you staring too much >Have you been holding his hand for too long >When did your claw get so clammy >Awkwardly pulling away from him, you readjust yourself, but he keeps looking at you >You’re not really sure what normal ponies or humans do in these situations so you just try to figure out where you’ve ended up >”Where are we, Eris?” Anon asks, voicing your own curiosity “That… is a good question” One you’re trying to figure out >You were in the castle, and you were helping the doctor mare by warping- “Luna’s magic” You cut off your own thought as the pieces start to fall into place >”So we’re in a dream?” He stands from the bench and looks around, pressing his hand against some of the walls >As he pushes harder against it, it doesn’t give, but he does pull his hand back and rub the back of his head >With that, the final piece clicks “We’re i-” >”Are we in my head, or mind?” He may have cut you off, but the fact he almost figured it out from that much makes you smile “Nearly, but not quite” He gives you a quizzical look at your choice of words “It will be easier if you know how we got here” >He turns to you, and his face slowly twists in confusion >His mouth opens and closes a few times before he shuts his eyes and rubs his temples >You feel a little worried as you see him begin to strain himself >Drifting over to him, you pull one of his hands down >He lets out a sigh and rubs his eyes “I don’t know, I feel like I’ve got a mild hangover” >Stumbling slightly, he walks past the wall and a new frame manifests itself >Anon’s memory >The wood that frames it is poorly crafted, clearly not a vivid memory >There’s also a noticeable amount of rot just on the edges, so not one he’s proud of either >Through the haze and static you can just about make out the old castle, arms stretch out to catch themselves on the old metal door >”What the hell was I even doing?” He stumbles on his feet slightly, and you’re besides him in an instant just in case he trips “I don’t even-” The memory begins to fade and blur, before jumping at random “It’s like I was in a drunken stupor… kept making the stupidest choices” >Grabbing the saddlebags >Staggering up the stairs >The dream curse, and finally breaking it >Anon’s memory finally stops jumping as he sits on the staircase <”Maybe I should have just stayed in that pile of rubble Fluttershy left me in” >Your eyes widen at the words >Initially your anger flares at the mental image but when you turn to Anon he’s staggered over to the portrait, the confusion on his face cools your anger slightly >”I- I never said that” He places his hand against the frame and traces it up and down >Sometimes you forget that magic is a completely foreign concept to him “They’re your thoughts” You clarify to him as he turns to you “What you said in your head back then, is said aloud out here- in here?” >Before you can ponder the matter, Anon’s memory rings out again <”At least I can stay here now, this’ll certainly make a story and a half for the others” <”I’ve done enough today. Haven’t I?”” >Anon begins to grimace as the portrait clears and he starts to remember it better >The words that were in his head back then make your heart ache >It just adds another reason you regret not finding him sooner <”I really wish someone would tell me that” >Anon’s memory shifts as he stands from the stairs and begins to descend <”That someone would stop me” >With a grunt, Anon lashes out at the portrait and it disappears into smoke “Anon” You hover over to him while he turns away from you >”I’m fi-” “Don’t…” You cut him off and pull him to face you >Hesitantly, his eyes meet yours, and you slowly shake your head >He raises his arms up and tries to say something, but the words die in his throat as he drops his arms >”Fine fine… but just-” He turns his eyes to the floor “Just not now, ok?” His voice is hushed but you hear him well enough and nod >”So” Almost immediately perking up he turns back to you “All that… happened” He waves a dismissive hand towards where the portrait was “How does that fit in with all this?” He gestures to the entirety of the gallery >Now faced with explaining his current situation, you’re a bit unsure of how to approach it “Just… don’t freak out… ok?” Your words are slow and careful >His eyes widen slightly as he leans towards you “That makes me worried but alright, ok” He brings his hands up and pushes down as he takes a deep breath “I’m calm” >That wasn’t convincing at all, may as well just rip off the band-aid “You’re in surgery right now” You hold up your claws when his nostrils flare and his eyes widen again >He paces back and forth, clearly trying to keep calm “H- how- how bad am I, exactly?” “Ummmm depends- is your heart supposed to beat once every two seconds or....?” You can faintly hear the rhythm in your head again >Somehow, his eyes widen even further and he begins to shake slightly ”No, no it is not supposed to be that low. That’s about half of what it should be actually, give or take” He buries his head in his hands and lets out a groan and begins walking down one of the hallways You quickly hover down the hall too and follow beside him “But you’re fine-” >”Yeah. Yeah!” He says the second one with more confidence, probably more for himself “Just not used to being told I’m being operated on, but- but there’s like doctors working on me?” >He turns to you and you immediately nod >You really need to damage control and calm him down “Yes, I mean- she really doesn’t know what she’s doing-” >”She what!?” Frantically waving your paw and talon in front of him you talk over him “Bad choice of words, you’re just a different species is all” >He lets out another groan and increases his pace down the hall “Ok, move away from that, how are we here?” >This is really not gonna get easier to tell him “Well, you know how Luna’s magic was still in the door?” >”Yes” He nods along with you and finally begins to slow down again “It was also in her throne-” >”Which is currently residing in my arm” He tenses and grasps his arm before letting out a small hiss of pain You gently place your talon on his hand and slowly pull it down “There was residual magic in it, I maybe, sort of, kind of, had to step in so the magic didn’t run rampant” >He tenses again but let’s you continue “Since Luna’s magic affects minds, and I was warping her magic-” >His eyes seemingly snap into focus as he stares at you “And since her magic was in my body…” You hold off on finishing the sentence as his eyes narrow in focus “You think that mix… connected us?” >You slowly nod along with him and he starts to take deeper breaths and calm down “Ok, I- that- that’s still a lot to take in, but ok” >His hands fidget frantically with themselves and his clothes as he breathes “I’m sorry” Your words finally snap him out of his own head and make him focus “I’m really, really, really new to this, so I’m probably gonna be bad at it for a while” >Anon takes another deep breath and puts one of his arms on your lion arm “It’s alright Eris, I appreciate the effort, really” >You nod to him and he begins walking down the hall again “You know, I think I was here before you got here” “Oh yeah?” Focusing on a new topic is definitely a good idea “How so?” >He looks between you and the gallery several times as he tries to put the words together in his head >“I… remember this place, sort of- there was lots of fog, I was- I was looking for something” He scans the area, as if expecting it to pop-up “But I don’t remember what” >You coil your body over to him and raise an eyebrow >”Then you came, and the fog cleared” He smiles up at you as he says that >You can’t help but smile back at him, he’s as close to back to normal as he can be now >His arms go slack at his side as he heaves a tired sigh >Gently, you hover your talon just besides his shoulder, and start guiding him back to the bench >As you sit down again, his body goes slack and he rests against you >It causes you to freeze up and stiffen immediately >The last time you were this close was the train >As with before, a new portrait appears >This one is much different from the last one, the image it paints is clear as crystal and it’s framed in sturdy metal <”This is new” >Your voice begins to ring out through the gallery, and you try and waft the frame away, like a bad smell <”He’s actually listening to me” >Anon’s eyes are focused on the frame while you’re still subtly trying to force the memory to the back of your mind <”And smiling too, I like that smi- focus on the story Eris” >He chuckles at the words and gives you a much bigger grin >It’s rather infectious as you feel your lips tugging up <”Tirek, that bastard nearly tore my magic out of me, if I meet him again I swear I’ll snap off his horns and-” >The memory finally flashes forward and you breathe a small sigh of relief, now if you could just get rid of it <”Sombra… the wendigos-” >Another jump, Anon’s on his feet, clearly taking interest in your thoughts >Well, fair is fair, you did the same >The picture sticks on the point where you hugged him >You know exactly what you were thinking at that point and you bolt towards the frame to try and physically remove it <”Luna, please… please don’t take him from me” >The frame turns to smoke in your talon and paw >Staring at your claws, you stay completely still >A gentle tug of your arms causes you to stumble over your cloven hoof >You steady yourself, and Anon begins guiding you back to the bench >Slumping down on the bench you look everywhere but at him >The silence lingers, only occasionally interrupted by the sound of Anon’s feet shuffling on the floor >Clearly he wants to ask >”Well… I’ve seen yours, you’ve seen mine, who goes first?” His question hangs in the air and you tighten your talon into a fist >Its quickly wrapped in his hand and pulled towards him >Facing him again, he has a small smile on his lips “How about you tell me about Sombra and those wind-things you said” You pause at his words “Instead of whatever you meant by Luna” >You want to ask him why but now you find that you’re the one with words dying in their throat >Apparently gauging your unasked question, he continues “I admit that I spotted a shade of blue out of the corner of my eye before” >He wraps his other hand around your talon and squeezes gently “The look in your eyes when you told me not to look at it...” His words hang in the air “Just tell me when you’re ready, ok?” >He turns his head up to meet your gaze and he squeezes your talon again “O- ok” You manage to choke out and nod to him Pulling your talon away, you close your eyes “The wendigos, not the wind-things” You correct him with a smirk as you close your eyes “It… will be easier to show you” >A new portrait appears on the wall, framed by sculpted ice with shallow, but visible cracks “Wendigos-” You hear their call as clearly as you did when you first met them “-are creatures of ice” >Opening your eyes, you begin to watch the memory with Anon “They take on the form of a pony, whether they’re actually a kind of pony, or some magical spirit I don’t really know” The wendigo shakes its mane and a blizzard flows off of it, surrounding several ponies >The ponies try to stave off the cold, extra clothing, a fire, magic, but none of it works >Slowly, the ponies begin to argue, and ice creeps up their legs “Wendigos feed off of disharmonic magic” You feel Anon relax against you again >Steadying your breathing you focus back on the memory to try and distract your mind >A swirl of multi-hued magic flows off of the frozen ponies and to the wendigo who lets out a triumphant neigh >”That’s a little brutal if I’m honest” Turning your eyes down to the human he looks up at you, clearly a little unsettled >Sighing you slump forward and stare at the image “Yeah, but it’s not just magic, it happens whether they want it to or not- it’s instinct” Anon nods at you and relaxes a little bit, knowing the wendigos weren’t intentionally harming ponies “Of course, I’m a wellspring of disharmony” You feel a small smile of pride tug at your lips as the scene shifts >It now shows you, back in your old Equestria, before everything went wrong >Wendigos swarm to you, they cling to your body and gallop around you happily “When I got to the old Equestria I visited the north, met the royalty” You see a pony you haven’t seen in a thousand years appear on the frame >Queen Amore of the Crystal Empire, nearly as tall as Celestia, with a pale pink coat, and a glittering mane and tail that starts as deep pink and flows into a deep purple at the end “And him” Sombra appears besides the two of you >Dirty grey coat, black mane and that ridiculous red cloak “The wendigos had been giving them trouble, what with the endless snow storm” You see yourself leaving the protection of the Crystal Heart magic field >A swarm of dozens or possibly hundreds of wendigo charge through the atmosphere above, a cacophony of hail and snow filling the air >Then the horde of ice spirits rushes down to meet you, and they stop, and then tentatively approach you >One of them bites down on the air around you, as they pull back the air stretches and snaps >With your magic detached from you, the wendigo begins to eat and assimilate it >A gust of cold air rushes off their form as the wendigo lets out a pleased whinny, and the snow begins to part >After that, each wendigo approaches you and absorbs some of your magic, each one clearing a bit of the snow as they do >When the last wendigo had ate its fill, the storm had died down considerably >It was still a heavy storm, but you could actually see far into the distance, and the sky had begun to clear “After that, I decided to live there” The memory shows you shaking hooves with Amore, and living in a cave as days and nights fly past “I must have been there for decades, and I felt like I found something in the wendigos” The memory slows down and you see the times you spent playing with the spirits >You build great monuments of art out of the ice and snow with the wendigos >They chase you through the mountains, a game to see which was fast enough to get the first taste of your magic >All of them trying to stuff themselves into your far too small cave >The first time you ever showed them fire >So many memories >Then it all falls apart in a flash of black >Sombra’s dark magic eats away at the wendigo, destroying some and causing the rest to flee >You try so many times to find them and help them >But the wendigos either attack you or flee from you now >Your anger was swift and cruel >It flashes to Sombra’s broken body, and you being yelled at “I fixed their problem” Your hiss out your words, and you feel Anon wrap his arm around your back “I fixed it, and they thanked me by destroying the closest thing to friends I had, and then they berated me, for hurting him” >You turn your head down and choke back a hiccup as you feel your eyes start to water “Because they never really cared” Your breath hitches in your throat as Anon wraps you in a full hug >”I’m so sorry Eris” You don’t even know why he’s apologising >The portrait fades to nothing again >Sniffling, you wipe your eyes and nose “It’s a thousand years in the past, I’ll be fine” You smile at him and he unwraps his arm from your back >Now without it, you’re noticing how cold it is in this mind connection of yours >Anon’s face falls to a mix of pensive and sad “Ok… my turn” The previous, slightly rotted frame comes back >The memory doesn’t move, frozen on the image of him sat on the stairs, looking into the surrounding darkness >”I can’t seem to stop myself” He leans forward as his brows furrow “I knew what harmony magic did to me” >The frame goes completely black but a clamour of Anon’s voice overlapping itself flows out of it, distress clear in every word he says >”And yet…” The scene shifts to the Tree of Harmony >The picture is now framed with pale light and a whirlpool of magic swirls around him >Slowly, he limps towards the Tree on unsteady feet >His hand hits the Tree and the memory speeds up, star filled clouds one second, a ball of fire the next, and then it stops >”I’ve been able to feel Celestia’s magic for a while” The frame shifts backwards and shows the ball of fire again >The ball of fire becomes a deep violet colour and shifts into the gentle eyes of this world’s Celestia >Anon sits in Twilight’s castle, he freeze in the chair and fire begins to flicker into the frame from a corner >Twilight speaks, Anon snaps out of his daze, and the flame retreats >The same occurs in the cave Anon and Fluttershy stayed in >“It was in the castle, but I didn’t stop myself” A handful of old books sit in front of Anon on a desk as he studies them >His eyes show interest, but a lack of understanding >”Then… there’s Luna” The frame’s light fades and an azure hoof steps into view as Luna reveals herself >So many parts of you want to hate her, but a lot of you wants to try and get to know this one after your previous encounter with her >The picture shows Anon’s hands weaving across the door in a constant pattern, and he’s speaking a small chant >It almost seems like an incantation >You tuck that particular thought away for later >There’s a brief pause before he’s blown off the door >The memory cuts off and scrambles into incomprehensibility afterward >But the frame rewinds, and repeats the moment he was blown off the door again and again >Each time makes you recoil slightly “Where did you learn those words?” You hope that you’ll be able to get him to stop by asking >Luckily, he does stop the memory >The portrait itself fades, and a new one arrives >This one’s frame is made of smoke, yet the picture is clear as daylight >”A cold and dark, and very gentle place” His eyes have a thousand yard stare as he focuses on the memory >”Pale sands” The once dark frame reveals the beach, the sands appear white at first, but on closer inspection, it’s not so much that they’re coloured white, but simply devoid of any other colour >”Black water” Like ticking off items on a list, his voice seems to go on auto-pilot >Standing from the bench, he walks over to the frame as if in a trance >His hand brushes against the picture and something leaks on to his fingers >It’s almost impossible to see, but a sheen of light bounces off a wave >”Small patches of ice” Pieces of white dot the sea but Anon shakes his head “No, stars in the sky” The ice fades and stars begin to blink into the sky “No. Stars in the sea- ice in the sky- both!” The frame shifts and shifts until it shakes from his voice >It’s weird hearing him talk like this, and almost worrying >Slowly settling down, the picture now shows a night sky and a sea just as dark, to the point where you can’t tell where one ends and the other begins >“Above it all… the moon” Manifesting from the centre of the frame, the moon grows and grows until it begins to blot out some of the stars and ice >”It’s absorbing the light and distorting the ice until all of the world is caught in the tide” A great wave rises up and eclipses the moon “No” Before it can shift an inch it shatters into water droplets that rain over the beach “The moonlight is kind, there will be no more nightmares” >”Then a voice- no- vines” A double of Anon appears in the frame, staring up at the moon and vines begin to creep up him “They coiled and hugged, pulled and pushed. Stay here, it’s safe” The vines in the frame shift around him into the shape of a gazebo >”Curious and playful like a filly, so young.” An ethereal Luna appears beside Anon “No longer a filly. But not a thousand years older either. Something new. Curious, but weary, everything else that was new all hurt, it isn’t the same.” Anon cups his hands to his mouth and drops his voice to a whisper “It isn’t safe” >Worry begins to fill you again and you rise from the bench >You exert your magic over Anon, but you don’t feel any traces of Luna’s magic on him >Keeping your magic on him, you watch as he continues >The vines in the frame have twisted again to resemble a cage now, while the Anon in the frame stands still, blissfully ignorant >”It wasn’t long ago” The picture splits in the middle and the old castle appears on one side >Grand chairs sit in a circle and the ethereal Luna walks over to them >”They were here, they were just here, just heard, laughing, grieving, caring. They’re not gone, just hiding. Bring them back” >The vines creep out from the beach and coil around the thrones >You can’t fully understand what he’s saying, but you can almost feel it >It’s like Luna’s magic went wild and accidentally entwined the alicorn’s thoughts into his head >You can’t imagine it’s pleasant >You are definitely gonna have words with Luna after this >“I just want to learn, why should I apologise?” A third picture appears, when Anon first met them both, Luna’s eyes staring into the frame >”But I didn’t want it” Shaking his head, Anon grasps at his temple and gasps, and the portrait returns to just the beach “I said no” >The vines turn to dust >”The sea fell into the sky and the moon retreated” One of his eyes still stare off into the frame as the beach begins to collapse in on itself >With a shuddering breath, the frame disappears and Anon doubles over >You catch him and sling one of his arms over your shoulder and slowly bring him back to the bench >He takes in several deep breaths and you see his body start to pour off sweat >”It happened again didn’t it?” He looks up at you, and nods at your confusion >”There it is, the same look Fluttershy gave me after the Tree” A simple picture this time, in a frame you might put on a desk >It shows Fluttershy expressing a mix of confusion and worry >You twist the picture in your paw, and the light reflects your face >Like Anon said, you match >”I can’t… stop it” He breathes deeply one last time before finally straightening again “Or maybe I can and I just don’t” He presses his hand to his face and slowly drags it down “Do you remember what you were just saying?” He looks at you, confusion and fascination mix in his eyes >”I do... but I can’t repeat it” He raises an eyebrow at you and sighs when he sees you still confused >A scratching noise slowly builds >Looking down, you see Anon scraping his fingers against the bench >”It’s like… a wall” Pulling one of his legs up, he hugs it to his chest and rests his chin on it “I’ve got a language in my head that I don’t understand, I can speak it fluently, but I can never remember how to say it properly” >Sighing, you see his eyes shift to frustration, he wants you to understand too >You at least understand what it’s like to want someone else to understand you >Still unsure, you take a calming breath and slowly wrap your arms around him >He goes stiff briefly before relaxing and wrapping you in a hug too >You really should have stuck around the train, if hugging him feels this good >Again, the solid metal frame that locks the train memory in your mind appears >This time however, half of it is made of a carved wood, shaded like dark honey >The smell of the air after lightning hits fills the air and you feel Anon’s mouth twist up against your fur >”I really like that memory” No voices come off of the portrait this time, but you hear the clicks of the steel wheels against the polished rails, the huffing of smoke and the shuffling of coal >Before you can fully relax into the hug, you feel Luna’s magic tugging against you >Half of the gallery falls away and you and Anon get off the bench >”What’s happening?” He looks to you, but you smile at him to reassure his worried tone “I should have figured this out before, this place will only last as long as Luna’s magic throne is in you” Sighing you shrug at him “Guess our time’s up” >He reaches to you, but pulls his hand back and smiles “So… see you on the other side?” Smiling, you nod at him “Just try and stop me” >The magic tugs at you again and you begin to be pulled away from Anon >Just before you’re fully pulled away he calls your name >Willing out some of your magic you rivet yourself into the gallery and cup your ear >”Tell who ever’s operating on me to use something to reduce pain, my arm’s killing me” He yells at you >Laughing at his words you give him two thumbs up and let yourself be pulled out fully <> >Groggily, you open your eyes >Your finger’s still tapping against the floor >Four hours have passed >The doctor’s magic is still thrumming through the air >You have to stop yourself from pushing the doors open to see him >He was just here >Just in your arms >So close, but not close enough >You wonder how it would feel when you’re not in a connected mental state >You wonder if you could wrap the entirety of your body around him >Briefly your mind flashes to the night of the train, and you recoil slightly at the invading thoughts that follows >Opening your body up like that, no magical defence in place, no physical enchantment to protect yourself >Raw fur against the soft, cool fabric of his clothes and small patches of exposed skin >His heart was strong, each beat was like a warhammer that pounded against your chest, but it was comforting >It made you feel safe >All of the feelings are gone as soon as they come however, overwhelmed and crushed under the oppressive weight of your memories >There were few times that you had ever let your guard down like that >One in particular, stuck to your mind like a parasite, the memory nearly drove you to retch >You were made sick by the smell of smoke, but this smoke wasn’t from your fire, it was black and heavy and made you choke >The taste of blood suddenly stains your tongue and you have to fight yourself not to gag >Your own wicked laughter resonates inside your head >Flashes of burning gold and deep blue start to distort your vision and you feel your body begin to fill with dread >It isn’t real, it isn’t there anymore, it was a thousand years ago >You repeat the mantra in your head, desperate not to relive those days, you frantically try to pull your mind back to where you are >Slowly, the stench of smoke clears, replaced by the scent of sterilising agent and medicinal herbs >Your tongue loses the taste of blood and you realise how dry your mouth has gotten >Snapping your fingers you warp the oxygen inside your mouth into water and swallow >The cool liquid clears the last of the bitter memory’s bitter taste and refreshes you somewhat >You try to ease your mind with the train memory, but it just causes the sickening feeling to return >Mentally, you will your mind to silence >You couldn’t let yourself associate your old memories with that day >You wouldn’t let what you’d done in the past stain that moment >You refused to let what happened back then hinder yourself now >So, with a heavy heart you let the memory fade from your mind and tuck it away >If it remained, your old world would sully it >Deeper entrench in it, and you, feelings that didn’t belong >The mantra had served you well >It was a simple trick you had learned a long time ago >Being capable of altering reality, your will was made manifest by your thoughts >So it was useful to have at least something to keep your emotions and mind it in check >At least, as in check as they normally are >Maybe Luna could teach you some actual mental spells >A heavily scarred leg of deep blue flashes in your mind >This new world was going to be harder to deal with than you thought >Whenever you saw either of them, your mind forced up memories of what you knew them as to the forefront >But you might be able to get over that some day >What’s really making things difficult is that you can’t seem to make up your mind on how to deal with them >Keep your distance, and try to distance them from who you knew >Or get to know them and have a more concrete understanding of what makes them different >Either had a chance to backfire >You can ignore Celestia, for now, but Luna is an entirely different matter >You’re definitely gonna get answers as to why her thoughts are in Anon’s head, and maybe get some spells to help you sleep better too >The dream-catcher helps, a lot, but it isn’t perfect >One moment you want to interrogate her, the next you want her help >It suddenly strike you that you may not be as ready to handle a world where the princesses aren’t trying to kill you as you thought you were >But Anon is making it better >Little by little >In his own little ways >You’re snapped out of your reverie by a horn poking into the small of your back, just between your wings >You let out a small yelp of shock and bolt into the air >Now hovering above the ground, you turn to glare at the pony who poked you >The white one, Rarity if you’re remembering correctly, you made her Carousel Boutique into a carousel boutique >A smirk crosses your lips at the thought, then falls >Perhaps Fluttershy wasn’t the only one you owed an apology to >It’d be easier if Anon was here >He seems to have a knack for interacting with this lot >”-if you’d like dear” She was talking, and you blanked >Great start “Sorry, could you repeat that, I’m a little groggy” You feel a wave of fatigue roll over you >That mental gallery must have taken more magic out of you than you thought >”Of course, I was just wondering if you’d like to join us for dinner darling. Spike is just about to serve up” She gives you a warm smile as she points down the hall >Several tails are just moving out of your view around a corner, and into a deeper part of the castle >Turning back to the white unicorn, you try to answer but the thrumming of medical magic interrupts your thoughts >You turn back and forth between her and the door >Before you can think it over properly, a hoof pokes against your dragon leg >”I know that you’re worried about him Eris” Her eyes narrow and a small sadness overtakes her smile “We all are, but Twilight has assured that he’s in excellent hooves” >Dismissively snorting you float a little bit away from the mare >Your tail bumps against something >Looking down, you spot the saddlebags where you just were >With a shift of your tail, you coil it around the bag straps and lift them to your chest >Again, you look to the door >Anon’s been in there for a long time >You’d rather be here when he wakes up >But, then again, maybe getting to know the ponies he knew wouldn’t be as bad as it sounds >Despite your jumbled thoughts, you manage to nod at the mare >Her warm smile returns and she begins trotting down the hall >Pressing a claw to your face, you run it through your hair and float after her >Slowly, the two of you catch up to the other four >Pinkie is bounding down the hall, chatting the ears off the others >And you, as you feel your ears clatter to the floor >Eventually, Twilight turns to a door and the rest of you follow >Everything here looks like the same cut out of crystal, so you’re surprised anyone can make their way through it >It’s not even a chaotic layout, it’s overly organized, to the point of absurdity which makes it just as confusing to you as anyone else >But, then again, it is her castle >After a few more doors, you all enter a very spacious dining hall, which of course is covered in crystal “Of for the love of-” With a grunt you snap your fingers and warp the crystal >The once gleaming colours dull to a much more pleasant shade, one that no longer offends your eyes >Of course if you changed too much then Twilight would get into a huff, and demand you change it back >Your bickering would have the chance of distracting the doctor and causing her to make a mistake, a chance you were unwilling to take >Even if you didn’t disturb the doctor, Twilight would nag into your ear endlessly >Her complaints would mean nothing to you, so nothing would change >But eventually, Anon would wake from his injuries >And you’d prefer it if the first sight he saw wasn’t you and Twilight bickering >You do get some sidelong stares from the ponies but you merely hold your claws up in mock surrender “I was just trying to make it so that the walls didn’t burn our retinas out while we ate” You give them a sincere grin and float over to a random chair >Twilight lets out a sigh, and scans the room once more >She turns quickly, but not quick enough for you to miss the smile that tugged at the corner of her lips >Now the walls looked like well painted, roughly hewn stone, there was no shimmer or shine to indicate that they were crystal >It would honestly make your dining experience easier >Speaking of, as soon as the thought crossed your mind, a door slammed open >Rammed through it was a small trolley, packed with eight plates >That seems a few too many >Yourself, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack >Oh and two clones of yourself just appeared >How could you have forgotten them, that makes eight >”Hey, where am I supposed to sit?” A small voice pipes up from the ground >The three of you look down to see a small dragon “Ah yes, Twilight’s little dragon helper, brother thing. Apologies” With a flourish of your wrist one of your clones is dismantled limb by limb and carefully placed in a box and teleported away >With an indignant grumble, the dragon.... Spike, that’s his name >He begins handing out the dishes >You and your remaining clone stare at your dishes, then each other’s dishes, and switch them >They’ve both got lids on, so you don’t actually know what your clone had, but your gut told you that she had a bigger portion >”Um, actually Eris, one of these is for Light Sutures” You flick your wrist and dissipate the other clone >You didn’t like sharing the spotlight anyway “Light who?” Your mind snaps to the golden needle and thread cutie mark and you interrupt Spike before he can answer you “Oh, so that’s her name” >The girls share a look and raise their eyebrows at you >”Eris, we’ve been talking about Light Sutures for the past four hours” Twilight says, she’s sat across from you >Was she just naturally sat at the head of the table, or was she just as far from you as she can be >Who are you to judge either way “And I’m sure it was a fascinating conversation but I was… otherwise occupied” You push off the table and lean your chair back and forth >You weren’t even using your magic, having it wobble back and forth, messing with its centre of gravity, risking falling back >It was the simple things that had the most chaotic possibilities >”What in the hay is that supposed to mean? Cause ah’m a might bit confused as to what ya’ll coulda been doin'’” Applejack tilts her hat back to get a better look at you >Still tilting on your chair, you absentmindedly detach your talon from your body and begin filing your claws against the table “Well if you must know” You give a teasing shrug and relax your legs, letting the chair come down hard on the floor “Me and Anon were sharing some… quality time” >You exaggerate the words, and the resulting expressions are priceless >Twilight and Pinkie are confused, Applejack and Rainbow are trying to figure out what you mean, and Rarity has remained poised, save for a raised brow >“Now darling” The flair she puts behind the accentuation and clear enunciation of her words really do help to build up her posh persona >Even though you’re pretty sure she was either born and raised in Ponyville, or somewhere that is just as backwater >”Such words can leave so much up to the imagination” She gives you a playful smirk, you’re glad at least one of them can keep up with your teasing “Whatever is the context of this little… private soiree you two indulged in?” >You give her a full-toothed smile >Admitting it wasn’t easy, but she was becoming endearing to you >Which only made remembering what you had done to her hurt a little bit worse >Heaving a sigh your shoulders droop, and of course she immediately notices >Before she can say anything you force the word out “I’m sorry” >It was hard to build up to it, but you found saying it to not be as taxing as you expected >Confusion crosses everypony’s (and dragon’s) face, but before any of them can question you, you speak up again “I sent you on.... a bit of a wild ride, on my first day here, Rarity” She finally catches your meaning, but relaxes into a smile “So, yeah, sorry, I uh-” Why did no one tell you that saying sorry and apologising are two entirely different beasts >Before you can sputter any further, the fashionista shushes you “I need not hear anymore Eris” Looking up, you see she’s still wearing her smile “I have heard sparse tales of what you’ve done since that day, but from what I did hear and…” >She pauses and her breath seems to hitch in her throat as she finds the words >”... and after what I saw with you carrying Anon in such a way” Her words cause your chest to shudder slightly “I can see that you’re not wholly a miscreant” >You and her share a smirk at her use of ‘wholly’ >”Uh, that’s great and all but, do I get an apology or…?” Turning to Rainbow Dash you quirk an eyebrow at her “You know, for stuffing me in a paint can!” She’s put her forehooves on the table now and lets out a frustrated snort >”Ah reckon ah’d like an apology for what ya did to the farm’s roads too” >”Well, you did take Sugarcube Corner, but you also put it back, so I’m fine” >You turn to Twilight and raise an eyebrow, wondering if she’s been offended in some way that you can’t remember >Honestly you don’t even remember most of these >Nonetheless, you apologise to the best of your abilities >While Rainbow huffs at your attempt, she does sit back down, and Applejack begrudgingly accepts the flimsy apology because she can tell that you’re at least being honest when you say it >”So, are you girls done? Cause your food’s gonna get cold” You perk up at Spike’s words and remember the dish in front of you >Your round of apologies had apparently distracted all of the girls as well, as they turn back to their food as well “So what did you cook for us Spike?” You enquire as you lean towards him >”Pasta alfredo with mushrooms, we’re having baked alaska for desert” He beams a proud smile at the girls, Rarity from one side gives him a head pat while Twilight does the same “If it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll have the desert first” Before anyone can object, a flash comes from under the lid covering your plate >Pulling away the lid shows a miniaturised landmass, covered in snow and forestry sitting atop a tectonic plate >Grabbing the cutlery, you cut through the snow and rock and begin your dish >The ponies all stare at you in perplexion >Twilight is the first to recover, simply sighing and shaking her head and choosing to dismiss your chaos >If your dad’s been here as long as you think, then you’re glad at least one of them has figured out the best way to stay sane around you is to ignore what you do >Eventually the rest of them pick up their cutlery and begin eating >For a while, the table goes quiet, everyone content to sit in silence >The silence is heavy, everyone has a look of uncertainty or worry on their face, and the dinner and desert plates are finally pushed away after an hour >Pushing away her own plate, Twilight quirks an eyebrow at your torso and her horn lights up >A weight lifts from your chest and the saddlebags begin to float towards her “Nope” Quickly snatching the saddlebags out of the air, you hold them out to the side >Another you in a bellhop uniform takes them and disappears in a flash >”Eris, those are Fluttershy’s” You see her horn light up again as she tries to find and teleport them back to her >She’s got next to no chance of actually achieving it but you let her burn herself out anyway, it’s amusing to watch if nothing else >When she finally releases her magic, she shoots you a small glare and you simply shrug “Sorry Princess, but Anon wanted them, I’ll bring them back when he’s awake” You feel a painful twitch in your stomach as your thoughts go back to him >”It’s been five hours now, maybe it would be best if we... left?” Pinkie says assuredly “I mean I did kind of leave Mr and Mrs Cake on short notice” She shrinks into herself with a guilty smile >Twilight, now showing clear signs of fatigue, shakes her head slightly and leans over to Pinkie >Wrapping the pink mare around the shoulder, Twilight gives her a hug “That’s ok Pinkie, you can go back, I’ll be sure to tell Anon you came by if he wakes up tonight” >You grind your teeth a little at her use of ‘if’, it made you uneasy >All the other girls begin stretching their legs and necks, each giving their own explanation to why they need to leave as well >Still tired, Twilight half-heartedly nods and waves them all off as they begin filing out of the castle >Gathering up the plates, Spike slowly begins packing them on to the cart >With a snap of your talon, the plates come to life and begin floating off to clean themselves >He gives you a wayward glance but you wave him off “You patched up Anon after he got blasted by Celestia, consider it thanks for that” The dragon nods at you and scurries after the others and out the door >Most likely gone to relax now that his chores are doing themselves >All the boring paperwork your dad showed you back then, regarding the accord you had to agree to nearly drove you mad >So when he wasn’t looking, you’d pulled the air down like a pair of curtain blinds and watched what Anon was doing and saw him being tended to by the dragon >Your thoughts are interrupted by Twilight’s sigh “Eris, I- I’m so sorry” >That immediately grabs your full attention >Turning your head down, you tilt your head at the mare and she continues “If I hadn’t tried to stop you from going into the Everfree then maybe…” She heaves a heavy sigh as if attempting to unburden herself “...maybe none of this would be happening” >You’re surprised to say the least >Of course you expected Twilight to feel some guilt, but you didn’t expect her to admit it to you >Either way, it’s not like her apology is gonna fix the problem so there’s no point addressing it, but there is something else you want to talk about “Why was he in there in the first place?” Your question catches her off guard as she snaps to attention “Are you really saying that none of you would have been better suited to- whatever you had sent them in there for?” >Guilt washes over Twilight’s face as she retreats into her seat “The Everfree… wasn’t the original decision” >Again, you tilt your head, how much had these mares been hiding >Twilight drops her head and casts her gaze to the floor “Anon’s miserable here” You suck in a lot of air and let it out in a hiss “It’s nothing to do with you!” She quickly rectifies the statement and you let out a snort “It- it’s nothing to do with any of us… I don’t think” >Her uncertainty at her own words does not give you any confidence >”Let me start again” Shaking her head, Twilight takes a deep breath while bringing her hoof to her chest, as she exhales, she extends her hoof out “Anon… misses home- I think” >You recall your time back in the shared gallery, it would have been good to get some more answers from Anon there >But that opportunity has sailed, so you’ll have to wait for him to wake up >”I know he wouldn’t admit it if I asked so I came up with a plan, so to speak” She rubs one of her forelegs with the other awkwardly “I thought, with how Fluttershy is, Anon might be willing to let down his defences” A sorrowful look crosses her face >Clearly she’s regretting how this plan of hers has turned out >”I just wanted to know what he didn’t like about this world, so I could help him acclimate better. Then the girls joined in and well, Rainbow Dash and Applejack had ideas” Your starting to regret apologising to those two now >Twilight horn lights up and, after a few seconds a large, brown leather bound book floats into the room >She flips it open and hovers it in front of you >Skimming over the book you spot a few details that stick out, something to do with increased sightings of Everfree creatures >”There’s… something in the Everfree, that’s scaring the animals out to the near the border of the forest and the town” Twilight pulls the book back to herself, and a look of worry crosses her face “Fluttershy was already going there, so Applejack and Rainbow Dash suggested she take Anon with her” “How would that have helped get Anon to talk?” The logic of these ponies baffled you, and that’s really saying something >Twilight’s eyes twitch with regret as she closes the book “In Applejack’s own words ‘colts like strong mares, show him that Fluttershy can handle the Eveerfree and he’ll be more likely to spill the beans on what’s troubling him’” >Unbeknownst to Twilight, you’d hovered a copy of Applejack’s hat above her head to complete her little monologue >Luckily, you were a master of poker, so you’d just managed to keep a straight face “I’m still confused as to why you couldn’t just, you know, ask him yourself? Even if he was defensive you could have just poked him about it” Twilight’s shrinks into herself at your words >”I couldn’t because I still don’t know how to send him home” With a burst of magic, a small purple book is teleported into the room and floated over to you >Hesitantly, you take it in your talon and flip it open, several runes and magic scripts have been written, re-written and crossed out >Some of the pages shows where she was pressing the quill to the page with far too much force, anger clear in the sloppy, frustrated writing >There’s barely enough to fill three pages >”I’ve been trying to recall how the spell felt, or worked but nothing I’ve come up with has seemed right” She buries her face in her hooves and wings and you spot a small shudder run up her body “He won’t tell me what’s wrong, even when I can see it, and I can’t send him home. I’m -I’m worth-” >Before she can finish the word you’ve wrapped an arm around her >It feels a lot more awkward than when you did it with Anon, but she looked like she needed it >How do ponies comfort each other again Stiffly you pat her on the back and give her an uncertain “There, there” and retract yourself just as awkwardly >Twilight bursts into a fit of giggles at you and slowly rises back up, wiping the tears that had begun to form “Y- you REALLY are new to this aren’t you?” Another wave of giggles escapes her and you can’t help but join in >With a shrug from you, she finally begins to calm down, and rest her chin on her hooves >You feel like you should say something, so you just go for the first thing that comes to mind “I don’t think he’s as miserable as you suspect” Twilight sluggishly turns to you, the fatigue having finally hit her fully “After all, he’s got us… right?” It feels weird to say ‘us’ but not bad >A genuine smile spreads on Twilight’s face and she wraps her hooves around you “Thanks, Eris” You’re completely still at her touch >Yep, you definitely prefer it when it’s Anon >With a yawn, Twilight begins heading out the door too “I’m gonna check on Light Sutures before I go to bed, make sure she has everything she needs. Feel free to stay the night if you want” >Another yawn and a flash of magic later, and you’re left alone in the room as the doors creak shut >Stay the night, but where would you stay >A certain part of the castle suddenly springs to your mind and you can’t help but smirk >Teleporting yourself, your feet and tail don’t make a sound as they hover just above the floor >Anon’s room >It’s much darker than you expected, and with very few pieces of furniture >Luckily there is a light source >A crackling bottle of lightning >Floating over to it, you pick it from the bedside and hold it up “He actually kept it” Seeing the little trinket you’d made in his room makes your chest feel a little warm >The lightning hasn’t lost any of its energy, still violently striking against the glass rapidly as it tries to break out of the prison you put it in >Softly smiling at the jar, you gently place it back where it was >With your lion paw, you begin rummaging through your fur until you find a jagged piece of dense rock >Pulling out the shattered fragment of Luna’s throne you place it next to the jar of lightning, the pale white cascades over the stone and illuminates its deep azure colour >Well, if you’re going to be staying the night, you’d prefer to be close to Anon, so you begin floating out of the room and towards where Anon is being treated >Before you can get far though, two shivers runs up your spine >One is icy cold, the other burning hot >Twitching your ears, you faintly hear the beating of powerful wings approaching, reaching a crescendo as they pass over the castle and fade into the distance >Towards the Everfree >So even they felt Luna’s door opening >As much as it pains you to leave Anon before he wakes up, you want answers >Making a break for the main door, you fly out into the open air, and slowly follow behind the twin princesses <> >With one last beat of your wings, you clip them to your sides and glide through the door of your old home >Your hooves hit the floor, the sudden impact would have sent a normal pony hurtling forward, but you simply trot across the floor, allowing the momentum to leave your body as you slow to a halt >Another gust of air and the trot of a different pair of hooves tells you that your sister is just behind you, as she had been since you both left Canterlot >Feeling the millenia old incantation ring out inside your mind had snapped you out of your dreams and made it impossible to return to sleep >Anonymous, the human who’s been here for just over a week, was speaking words that nopony other than you knew >Well, anypony could speak those words, but they couldn’t use the incantation >So many questions and so few answers >You had wanted to immediately teleport here to investigate >But of course, ever the stubborn fowl, the representative of the Griffons would not be ignored >A part of you wanted to send her into a nightmare, it’d just be for a few seconds >Enough to make her claim illness and retire to the chambers your sister so generously offered undeserving guests such as her >Of course, you only entertained the idea >You’ve found that, after your return, by embracing the darker thoughts that popped into your mind every now and then, you could control them, rather than the other way around >Under your breath, you mutter a few curses regarding the day court >Fully grown mares, stallions and representatives from other countries couldn’t seem to go two seconds without Celestia >They couldn’t seem to get it through their heads that there may be things that are more important than their petty problems >Nonetheless, your sister aquiested to the griffon and you paced the castle for hours while you waited >On the upside, you did get to make some small conversation with the day guard >Your interactions with them thus far were seldom and brief, but when you did get time to speak with them, you found them to be quite interesting, very different from your night guard >When Celestia was finally done, she still refused to teleport with you >She saw your anxiety, and instead suggested you fly, to help clear your mind >Admittedly, teleporting from Canterlot to the Everfree would have been quite draining, and your mind is clearer >You can actually make out your own thoughts now, rather than just having a jumbled, scattered mess of confusion to deal with >Slowly taking in the surroundings, you breathe deep and let out a shuddering sigh at the sight >Your old home >In ruins >Because of you >As if sensing your drop in mood, Celestia wraps a wing around you >Returning the gesture, you bump your head against her cheek >Your gaze scans over the ruined corridor that leads to your old thrones >Or old throne, in the singular, it would seem >Making your way towards the end of the hallway, your eyes dart to every crack in the walls, every hole in the ceilings, each one brings back a crystal clear memory of what caused them >A spell from you >Celestia grappling you in an attempt to restrain Nightmare Moon >You reversing it and slamming her into the stone >It was a rather pointless endeavor you’d found, trying to separate yourself from your other half >She would always be there >But by accepting that fact, you could keep her quiet, you could keep control >Honestly, it was quite freeing >Every part of your mind was free, even the thoughts you didn’t agree with >But by allowing those thoughts to flow, and dismissing them, they could gain no hoofhold on your psyche >Finally reaching the dias upon which your old thrones sat, your eyes scan from where yours should be, to where it actually is >Shattered into hundreds of pieces >Specks of dried blood contrast the deep azure >You will your horn to life, and the red fades >”You’re not going to fix it?” Your sister’s gentle voice pulls you out of the memories that the throne was calling you to “We have not used it in a thousand years, and we do not intend to again” You turn and begin trotting up the stairs “Canterlot is our home now” >Turning to Celestia, you give a smile, which she returns >During your first year back she was, ‘walking on eggshells’ as the saying goes, always so nervous around you, never sure what to say or how to say it >She stills gets that look in her eyes sometimes, shame, guilt, and self-hatred, all boiling behind her eyes one moment, then gone the next >But, just as she’s helped you acclimate to this strange new world, you’re helping her too >Finally reaching your intended destination, you begin scanning the door >Everything you’ve experienced so far indicates to Anonymous being responsible for its opening >Yet it seems so unlikely that you can’t help but doubt yourself >Once more, your will calls your magic forth and you weave it across the door >There’s still traces of the magic that sealed the door hanging in the air >While you can’t exactly question it, the magic can feel what you want to know, and you, in turn, can feel the answer it holds >Your last bit of doubt is gone as you feel traces of Anonymous’ presence in the magic >The ambient magic in the air and ground reacts to everything in the country >But most ponies have such a low threshold for magic that their signatures can get lost in it >Anonymous however, is unlike any other >Unlike your little ponies, unlike yourself or Celestia >He’s even unlike Eris and Discord >A very curious being, but also easy to track >But what exactly happened here >How did he get past the dream hex, the perception filter spell >What happened after he spoke the incantation >Why was his blood on your throne >You needed answers, and you would have them >In all your years under his tutelage, Starswirl always told you that you and magic must seek co-existence, or one of you would dominate the other >As this particularly powerful spell surged from your horn, the arcane output made your head ache, you could feel your very veins begin to heat up >With a burst of magic, a bright silver dome expands out from your horn >It reaches the castle entrance, and into the underground tower, you’d had built all those centuries ago >The spell tugs at the ambient magic in the air, the echoes of what happened here still fresh in the dust and begins to force it to take the shape of the events that transpired here earlier >Echoes of the past, brought into focus now >”Luna… are you sure about this?” Celestia was always nervous when either of you used the grander spells like this one >Country-wide self-teleportation >Short distance teleportation of huge swathes of the populace >That one time you two mixed the two spells >Your head and horn felt like they were gonna split in two for days afterward >But you both felt very accomplished at its success “Trust us sister, we do not wish to guess as to what transpired here” Celestia’s eyes holds your gaze for a few seconds before she breaks away and nods >The silver encompassing your horn pulses as you will the ambient magic to reform echoes from earlier in their time >Much earlier >Roughly five hours, give or take >As you approach the timeframe you seek, you slow the ambient magic down, so you don’t miss anything >A rustling echo comes from the entrance >You both look and see Eris hovering into the castle, backwards >One issue with this spell, unless you wanted to pointlessly spend an inordinate, and ultimately pointless amount of magic, you had to watch the events unfold in reverse >You’d have the answers first, and then be given the questions >As the echo of Eris approaches the room, you see something that stops your heart and causes Celestia to gasp >Anonymous, stiff as the dead, laying on Eris’ back >Half of his body has been bandaged, numerous bruises and cuts mar his legs, and his arm hangs loosely from the socket, riddled with shards of your throne >”Luna, stop this, we need to go see him, now” You strain as you have to cast a telekinetic spell over the first to tug your sister back “Neither Eris, nor Twilight Sparkle would allow grievous harm to befall Anonymous” Your words slowly make her relax in your magical grip >Which you are thankful for >It was difficult to exert a spell over another alicorn’s body, even when you weren’t preoccupied by such a powerful and complex spell “We should first learn of how these events unfolded, and then go to your student’s side” Celestia has stopped, but you could feel her body still tense >Finally, she lets out a sigh and relaxes >You let out a huff as you finally release the spell you held on her >Once more, your will is driven through your horn, and Eris disappears into tower >Trotting forward, you peer over the edge and into the chasmous depths >Darkness was as clear for you, as daylight was for your ponies, so you need no magic to see what is occurring below >Eris removes Anonymous from her back, panics at the sight of him, and begins floating back up the tower >She reaches the entrance of the door, and is frozen there >So your dream hexes are capable of stopping draconequi >You truly wished to believe Discord was as reformed as young Fluttershy claimed >Equally, after your encounter with her in that quite frankly disturbing nightmare, you hoped Eris wanted to reform through Anonymous >But, having knowledge such as this could be useful >Just in case >Whatever the dream hex is showing her, and you have some guesses as to what they might be, they are still disturbing her deeply >You see her usually confident and lackadaisical form trembling >Then, she hovers away from the door, back towards the entrance, and a dozen clones charge backwards out of the castle and merge with Eris >As she vanishes through the entrance, the sound of Anonymous’ collapse inversing comes from the tower >Once more, you cast your gaze below >He slowly paces the entirety of the room, his good hand gliding along the surface of the murals below >Perhaps you should see them again, one last time >You had no intention of returning to this castle, you had no need >But one last memory couldn’t hurt >Slowly, Anonymous’ battered form rises up the spiral staircase >As he reaches the top, a look of defeat washes over his face and he collapses onto the stairs and sits there, staring into nothing >He rises again, and enters the dream hex >What did it show him you wonder >You increase the speed of the spell to do away with the sight before >Anonymous’ arm constantly drips blood as he stares into the spell you had weaved across the door >Very little of note happens next >He retreats through the castle, and to the outside >With a flap of your wings, you reach the stone archway to watch him >He removes Fluttershy’s saddlebags from his shoulders and sprints up the hill >After returning to the castle, he slowly begins lying down and his head goes limp against the rubble >The air is still for a long time >Once more, the spell flares to life, after a few minutes, fluttering catches your ears >Fluttershy enters the castle, tears endlessly pouring out of her eyes >Her hooves hover above him, gently grazing his body then shooting back to her, as if he were glass in this state >You see in her eyes that every aching second that she treats Anonymous’ wounds, she’s on the verge of a panic attack >When the bandages are removed, she flies to his shoulders and begins hauling his broken body across the floor, feet first >Anon arrives at the bottom of the stairs and Fluttershy leaves him, and floats to the tops of the stairs, shock and panic fresh on her face >Finally, the part of most interest >Not wanting to miss anything, you slow the spell down even further >Your shattered throne and Anonymous’ body slowly rock back and forth upon the ground >The shards slowly coalesce into a more cohesive form as Anon floats through the air like a puppet on a string >The majority of your throne reforms into a cracked mess, with one section wrapped around Anonymous’ arm >Enhancing the clarity of the echoes, you pour your magic into Anonymous’ body at this moment >His arm isn’t riddled with stone yet, but it has already dislocated from the shoulder >”Luna…” Your sister has gotten soft in her thousand years of peace, if this is enough to shake her >No, that is the wrong way to see it >She loves all her subjects just as you do >Seeing a single one of them injured so severely cuts her deeply >She has had time to grow attached to each and every subject of the land >Whereas, for you, the wars you raged against the likes of Discord, Sombra and Tirek are all still so fresh in your mind >Your banishment was difficult >In one part of your mind, you are hit by the banishing spell, and the next thing you see is your big sister standing in front of you, and six strange ponies wielding your own elements >A dreamless sleep that lasted a thousand years >Yet another part of you remembers every passing, maddening second of your confinement and isolation >Screaming, but with no air, you were not even allowed the privilege of hearing your own voice >A torturous imprisonment >Two minds and memories >One pony >Any other pony might have been driven mad >Not in the same callous, malicious madness as Nightmare Moon >Or the whimsical, nonsensical madness as Discord >But truly mad, drained of all mental faculties and higher brain function, the kind that had you rambling made up words and hitting your head against a padded wall >Then again, perhaps you are uniquely suited to such an experience >As princess of the night, you exposed yourself to the inner machinations of dozens, or even hundreds of minds every time your moon graced the sky >Having two sets of memories was easy to deal with >Reversing the echo further, Anon’s back rests against the back of your reconstructed throne, his arm bent at an odd angle as the large chunk of stone reforms on your throne >The throne reforms more and more >As it reaches the top, it suddenly shifts upright, and Anonymous’ arm clicks back into place >The throne begins to rest and Anonymous’ arm is pushed back out of the throne, the stone that had been forced out now fixing the hole >Your enchanted door slides shut with a shuddering bang and Anonymous slowly glides towards the door >An echo of your own magic closes in on Anonymous and seals itself back into the door >A spell specifically meant to deter thieves who were good enough to get this far >”peels gnidraug ,krawlub dnarg a sa evres retaw peed fo semulov taerG” The words, even though reversed, ring through the echo and into your mind >Definitive proof, beyond definitive proof >Somehow, Anonymous knows how to speak your incantation >This answers one question, but raises several more >How, when and where did he come to learn those words, being just a few >What did it mean that he could use it >Was he aware that he’s been able to the entire time >If that was the case, was he hiding it from you >If not, what drove him to this point >Most importantly though is, how is a being with no inherent magic able to use it >The echoes are able to answer that question at least >Wisps of ambient magic long past, scramble together into Anonymous’s body, and the mass tangles and writhes >Pausing, you allow the echo to play normally >The words are spoken and, something, appears in that tangled weave >It forces through the magic and rips Anonymous’ body in half >Or at least, with how violently the tangled mess forces itself out of his body, one could be forgiven for thinking so >The mass envelops the door, and it answers with the blast of your magic that sent him hurtling back >You reverse the echo and let it play several times >You’re missing something >”Luna, I don’t like looking at this” Celestia’s voice is stern, but restrained, like she is holding back her sadness at the sight of Anonymous being so viciously torn by this new unknown >Out of the two of you, yours was usually the colder disposition >Certainly, you felt no joy in watching Anonymous injured in such a way >But you could acknowledge that this had already happened, by recognising that it was in the past, you could detach yourself from it >Celestia always had a harder time of detaching herself from anything in this world, past, present or future “Apologies, sister” You pause the echo at the point just before the writhing mass ejects itself from Anonymous and push it forward in increments >You focus the echoes into Anonymous and slowly they begin to form a clearer picture >Like a spear head, something new enters the writhing mass >Physically bracing yourself, you slowly push your horn towards the echo >Your magic makes contact with the ethereal spearhead that had burst Anonymous open >And you feel yourself >The realisation causes you to go slack and crumple into yourself >Without your careful guidance, the magic surges off your horn, causing a great pain to run through your horn and across the entirety of your head >You let out a gasp of pain and cradle your head in your hooves >Celestia wraps her wings around you, and you feel her magic gently encompass your head as healing magic is poured into you >She was always better at it than you >It was something unlike any other, and so few ever experienced it >Again your mind wanders to Anonymous, how had he felt when your sister had healed his body after it had been fractured by her use of harmony magic >Then you recoil into yourself at your discovery >It was you who had broken Anonymous’ body >The incantation called to you, and your subconscious magic answered >It used Anonymous’ body as a conduit and, when it met resistance, forcibly ejected itself from him in order to open the door >Your magic should have displaced the defensive magics that lashed out at him, but something caused them to see him as a danger >That tangled mess inside him >Whatever it was, you’re still unsure >But as the pain subsides, you begin to form a few possible answers >”Are you feeling better Luna?” Celestia’s voice is soft and reserved as her magic washes over you You let out a contented hum “We would not object if you focused behind our ears, your magic scratches them just right” >It was easier to refer to Celestia in the common parlance than it was when regarding one of your subjects >Celestia chortles at you and gives you a playful push before standing again Placing one of your forehooves to your chest you let out a mock gasp “Assaulting the injured, thou art a cruel healer, Tia” >She chuckles at you and offers you a hoof >You take it gratefully, and rise beside her >”So… now we know what befell Anonymous here” Her voice is low, almost as low as you feel “Yes-” You’re cut off by a hiccup >You thought you were getting better >Through the dreams and nightmares of ponies you’d been slowly rebuilding a connection with your ponies >The new fascination they had with partying through the night gave you the joy you wanted before >Just a few ponies, out to enjoy your night, however they may >You’d been helping ponies, creating bonds with the nobility of the countries your sister made peace with during your absence >You were better than you were before, weren’t you >And yet, here you stand >In the monument of your greatest failure >Watching Anonymous, the newest of your subjects, nearly being torn apart because of your lack of control >The incantation rang through your dreams, and you let yourself follow it >You should have forced it shut, stopped it, done something, anything >But you didn’t, and now, as you watched the dust settle back to the ground, a shudder ran up your spine and forced up another hiccup >Cold disposition be damned, you were so sick of failing >Before you can fall further into your own mind, Celestia wraps you in her hooves and wings “Don’t you dare sister” >Tears threaten to spill from your eyes at her words, you remember them well >Your conversations with her during your initial return were sparse and curt >But one night, when you felt your sadness about to overwhelm you, she rushed to your side, held you close, and spoke those words >The dam you’d built broke that night, and all the pain and apologies you’d wanted to speak of were set free, for both of you >Those words helped to strengthen your resolve >With a sniffle most unbecoming of the diarch of the night, you rise to your hooves “Thank you Celestia” You wrap one of your hooves around her neck and bring her down to you >Pulling away, you cast one last gaze at your door, and then to where her’s is hidden “Art thine own enchantments still in place sister?” Like yours, her chambers were hidden behind her throne >This particular section of the castle was wrought of far harder material than any other >Partially to conceal what was spoken of within from your subjects, but also to act as a last bastion of defence >In the worst case scenario, where you were losing a war, you could usher your subjects behind the doors >If the full might of two alicorns could not bring down the walls, then no machine of war or siege engine could >Celestia’s horn lets out a flash of sunlight as she turns to her door “Yes, everything is still intact, perhaps they should finally be undone though” >Melancholy washes over your sister’s normally stoic face as the wall is set ablaze with golden fire >The flames slowly flicker and fade, lowering to the ground until they sizzle into nothing >Just as you were the only one who knew your incantation, Celestia was the only one who knew hers >Unless Anonymous has somehow learned them as well >So many questions, so many possibilities >He seemed harmless and kind-hearted when you first met >But these new circumstances may yet bring such conclusions into question >As an alien, he was truly an unknown entity >Twilight Sparkle claimed than an unknown and unseen force took hold of her magic, and the resulting outpour of arcane focus resulted in his summoning >Simultaneously, Anonymous claims he knows nothing of how what transpired came to be >Perhaps neither of them is lying >You dearly wish that to be the case >But now is not the time for doubt, so you shake your head to clear your mind “We should continue further in” Celestia gives you a quizzical stare as you make your way into the tower “If we are not going to reseal this chamber, we wish to be sure nothing of value is left behind” >Your sister lets out a sigh before she follows behind you >It was clear that she wanted nothing more or less to rush to Ponyville to confirm Anonymous’ current condition >But you both knew that, if anything had happened, a letter borne on emerald fire would have come to her by now >Tucking your wings to your side, you dive into the tower >Just before you’re about to break your muzzle against the stone floor, you spread your wings out fully and they stop your momentum almost instantly >You float down to the ground and begin examining the room >The grand thrones that once held your closest confidants a thousand years ago still lie in a pile of rubble >In your first days, you were deep in denial, refusing to believe the words your sister told you >You had rushed here to meet them, but they were gone, and they had taken all of the possession that once adorned this hall with them >All your rage, despair and shame boiled to the surface that day, and you turned the thrones to rubble >With a sigh, the memory fades, and the dust is kicked up as Celestia lands by your side >Before she can comfort you again, you break away from the main area, towards the side door >It led to several personal chambers that would house you and your confidants, when the need arose >Swiftly, you peer and magically scan each room >No records laid on millenia old parchment >No magical artifacts hidden behind loose bricks or within secret compartments of furniture >Even your old room was bare, Celestia had emptied it and brought what she could find to Canterlot on the day before your prophesied return >A tired sigh escapes you at the sight >The memories of the days and nights you spent in these grand halls were both recent and distant memories for you >And yet, you can not bring yourself to be sad >There is nothing here that can tempt you into being stuck in the past >All that remains now is the future, one that you can build side by side with Celestia, and the descendents of those that you once called friend >Briefly, you hum the tune of an old song that once echoed off these walls as you return to Celestia >She gives you a worried glance, but your smile breaks her nerves >”Shall we go now sister?” She extends a wing to the stairs “We shall, it is doubtless that young Anonymous will have countless questions for us upon his waking, and we would very much like to be there to provide them” There are also many questions that you would like answered >Before you can make your way up the first step, the old murals catch your eye and brings a smile to your face “Oh, I remember that night” With a slight skip in your step, you head towards the mural that depicts your fight with a great sea beast “Tyfun the Sea Scourge” >Even its viscous name brings a smile to your lips >”Ah yes” Celestia joins you at the mural, and you see a smirk on her own lips “I remember the worries our ponies had at the time about the sporadic sea levels” >You can’t help but chortle at the thought >With all your magical strength, you brought your moon lower than it had ever been before, and opened a great hole to the sea’s floor >That was where you met the beast, and clashed >Your moon was ever in the sky, so it appeared to be one long night, when in all actuality it had taken two days to finally cast its carcass back into the churning tides >The entire time, Celestia had to keep an eye on the coasts, ensuring that none of them were ravaged by the tidal waves your moon was causing >Back when you and her were the living legends that inspired dreadful fear in those who would do harm to your subjects, and great hope in those who stood beside you >Your eyes are caught by the mural besides it, the day you met the thestrals >A strange race, so similar, yet so different from your ponies >Their stallions were softer than their mares, yet they all had the hearts and hooves of warriors >They bent the knee to none but their own, but over time you gained their favour, and their loyalty >This mural was hoof-crafted by their greatest artisans >It showed the day they finally bent the knee >Just before they had, each of them challenged you to combat >One-on-one combat was easy for you and your sister, but with thousands of them coming at you immediately after you bested one, with no break for food or drink or rest, even your muscles began to ache >But you had prevailed and united an entirely new species of ponies into your lands >Though seldom few ponies knew of their existence, due to their nocturnal nature >Unlike the day guard, your thestral knights made their home within Canterlot mountain itself, in order to rest away from the sun’s light and heat >”Archanis” Your sister’s hushed voice pulls you out of your reverie >The changeling queen from a thousand years ago, ancestor of Chrysalis >A worthy foe >”Yes, Arachnis, a more prideful insect, I’ve never met” The voice that rings through the room causes the fur on your neck to bristle >While you wanted to trust Eris, her tone had a potent venom to it now >”Tell me, what was she to you?” The eyes of Archanis on the wall burst into a yellow light >The rattle of a snake’s tail rings out beside you >Tyfun’s body comes to life, and takes on a golden brown hue >The beast grows several mismatched limbs and slides across the walls >”I get the feeling-” Eris’ eyes also slide to the side, and both parts conjoin at the mural of the thestrals “-we’ll have very different answers” >Your head on the mural morphs into the lithe, silver gray head of Discord’s daughter, and her eyes and body slide into place >Slowly stepping off the mural, the stone stretches with her >As her cloven hoof hits the floor, the stone snaps back to the wall, and wobbles like gelatin >”Eris” Your sister’s tone is low, she caught the venom that dripped off of Eris’ words as well “It’s good to see you” >”Oh, I’m happy to see the two of you as well, it’s been a few days” She walks past you, though her gaze lingers on you before turning to your sister “Have you been busy sundering the bodies of anyone else recently?” “That was an accident!” You may have pushed aside what happened to Anonymous at the time, but you didn’t want what had happened to occur in the first place >”Oh, yes yes, of course, how inconsiderate of me” Her tone is half-mocking, half-sincere >She certainly had Discord’s blood in her veins >If draconequi even had blood >Discord had offered to do a physical when he was first reforming >Your doctors excited the room with their heads on backward and their hind and forelegs swapped >Thereafter by royal decree, he’s been banned from every hospital in the country indefinitely >”But, back to what I was saying. Arachnis...” Her eyes scanned the mural, before snapping back to you “What ever happened to her” Her voices lowers to a whisper “In this Equestria, I wonder” She emphasises the words with a hiss from a forked tongue >This Equestria >Discord had nonchalantly mentioned the possibility of their being more to reality than you could comprehend >Multiple universes >Diverging timelines >But to see someone who was a byproduct of one such alteration of the universe’s course, was unsettling on so many levels, yet fascinating on so many others “She was a foe, a very old foe” Eris’ eyes lose some of the simmering anger that was in them, and begins floating up >She rests her chin on one hand, and rolls the wrist of her other >Briefly, you shoot a glance at Celestia >Discord was one thing, he’d turned Equestria into his playground for decades >You knew his mind, how he acted and reacted, and how to counter him >Eris though, was something entirely new >But you persisted “Her changelings invaded many of our townships, it is how we first came to learn of their existence” Eris’ eyes widen at this and she flips over, to rest her back against the air >”Huh, so some things haven’t changed” She notices you narrowing your eyes, before you can question her she waves her talon at you “Oh don’t worry about that, please, continue” >”It took several months to root out all of her infiltrators” Celestia steps forward now, adding to the story as she remembers it “While I harnessed the element of honesty to find them, Luna confronted her at her hive to…” >Celestia chokes on the words, the decision you’d made that day, to protect your ponies, was one of the few that both of you were constantly second-guessing “We destroyed her, to ensure our ponies safety” Eris regards you both with narrowed eyes, as if expecting their to be more to the story >There was, but none that needed to be shared >”’Destroyed’ her, fancy way of putting it Luna” The chaotic daughter floats past you and up to the mural “But… then again” She traces her talon along the mural, leaving a small cut in the stone “It does explain some things” >You have to stop yourself from shooting up to her >It may be that no other pony will come down here ever again, but seeing her defile the work of your old friends makes your blood boil >”Like why I haven’t been able to find any changelings since I got here” This replaces the anger in you with shock and curiosity >”There are changelings in our lands!?” Celestia’s tone has taken a distinct edge at the thought of your old enemies coming back >It’s not entirely out of the question >By now, Chrysalis should have had enough time to muster her forces after her defeat at the hooves of Princess Cadance and Prince Shining at their wedding >”None that I’ve found, no, and I’m quite adept at sniffing them out” Eris exudes pride at her claim “Though I suppose it makes sense. With my dad gone, you had no reason to ally with them” >Her voice slowly goes quiet as she mentions her father’s defeat >Their relationship was hard to place, Discord seemed eager to bond with her, but when you first saw the two interacting, you noticed that there was something in the air whenever he got close to her >This also seems to be somewhat of a sore subject for her, since words are slipping out of her that she most likely didn’t intend to >’No reason to ally with them’ So your counterparts in her Equestria saw them as allies against her >The thought of you allying with a species that made your stomach turn both disgusted and intrigued you >But you doubt she was here to share nostalgic stories >She was here for a very specific reason, you could tell, there was something in her tone when she first came >One of the few things she’d inherited from her father >That made it a little easier to read her, but only a little “What hath brought thee here Eris? To discuss how we might route an enemy that hasn’t even encroached on our borders?” Eris’ head finally snaps away from the mural and to you >”Ah yes, how silly of me to forget” She hadn’t forgotten, she just had some intent with the previous conversation >To lower your guard >Perhaps coerce something out of you that she thinks your hiding >”You see, Blue Bean- can I call you Blue Bean?” She flows through the air like water and gently rests her paw on your shoulder >Her claws haven’t been extended, nor has her grip tightened, but her face has a mocking smile “We would prefer, if thou referred to us by our name” Just as gently as she placed her paw on you, you bring up a hoof and push it aside >”Moon Cheese it is then” She turns and gently swipes her tail upward, the soft, fur-laden tip brushing against your muzzle “You see, Moon Cheese, I had SUCH an interesting interaction with Anonymous about, oh, an hour ago now?” >”How is he?” Eris’ eyes had met yours, and neither of you had broken the stare until your sister’s gentle voice cut through >Even now, she chooses to see the likes of Eris as secondary concerns when it comes to the safety of her subjects >Slowly, Eris turns her head though her eyes remain trained on you >A metal shoe clicks against the stone, Celestia was stepping forward with intent to press Eris >This is enough to finally break the stalemate as the female draconequus turns to her, finally acknowledging her presence >”I don’t know. Some doctor, Light Soup or something, has him locked up in Twilight’s castle” She lets out an annoyed huff “Had the place sealed with locking magic, wouldn’t let me see him” >That… >Was a strange explanation >Clearly she meant Light Sutures, a combat medic that was well known in Celestia’s court >She was certainly a well-trained and powerful unicorn, but Eris had the power to undo the multi-layered sealing magic that Twilight, Celestia and yourself had placed on the Elements of Harmony >Yet she couldn’t break the locking spell of an above average unicorn >Then again, Twilight’s castle most likely had an ever-present atmosphere of hamonic magics >No, you’re looking at this the wrong way again >It’s not that Eris couldn’t get through the lock >She simply chose not to “Why did you not simply heal him yourself?” Eris glares at your words, though you see the tiniest flicker of pain behind her eyes >She gives no answer, which is enough >She couldn’t heal him >”He’s hurt you know” Her voice drops considerably, and her eyes flick between the two of you, and she nods to herself “Hurt very badly, I could barely feel his heartbeat when I got him to the doctor” >A heavy pressure hangs over the three of you at her words >”I should go see him” Celestia’s wings gently extend outward, and she turns in place, trying to find a good place to brace herself for take off >“I...!” Eris’ voice is loud, but her tone wavers “Don’t want EITHER of you NEAR HIM!” As her bellowing voice echoes off the walls, Celestia’s wings droops and she quickly goes to your side >You could feel her magic slowly poking at the base of he thorn, just as yours was >Not enough to give off any indication of light, but enough that you could both let off a torrent of spells if the need arose >”You!” Eris is in front of your face before you can blink >Celestia’s horn has flared to life, but you’ve kept yours dim >There’s anger behind Eris eyes, rage and fury >But you stay your horn >Because its all being tempered by confusion and sadness >”Why…” Her words are cold enough to temporarily douse the heat exuding from Celestia’s magic “Why!” Eris attempts to press forward, but you brace your hooves and push against her “Be. More. Specific” >You were willing to listen, but you would not give ground in your own home >Her stare bores deep into your own, as if searching for answers in your mind >With a gasp she floats back, her arms, now shaking at her side, show that she had sharpened and elongated both her claws >Her body had started to grow proportionately, she had towered over you both normally, with the size she had grown to, she could suffocate you in her body >Her mane of silver hair had extended down her neck like her father’s and had grown wild >She truly looked like a beast in this form >Slowly though, she reverted back to her normal state, a lithe figure and slim frame >Compared to before, she looked harmless >”Just tell me why; why are your thoughts, in his head?” She shakily points towards one of the walls, to Anonymous as he lays several miles away from you all >Celestia’s horn has dimmed, but magic still dances off its edge as she approaches you ”Luna, what’s she talking about?” She speaks to you in hushed whispers “I don’t know” Your words are intended for both of their questions >Eris’ face scrunches as she grits her teeth, not the answer she wanted >But the fact she hasn’t gone back to her rage, means she has no way to say you’re lying “Show me” You step towards her, which catches both her and your sister off guard “Thine magic should be capable of that much, yes?” >Eris regards you with hesitation and curiosity, she grits her teeth one more time before relaxing and nodding >Her eyes gently close, then open into a blinding white >Her body shakes and her breathing is unsteady as she purses her lips and exhales >Cloud of ice blue flood out of her and swarm the room >Celestia raises her hooves and flaps her wings as the clouds creep up your bodies >Turning to her, you give her a reassuring nod as you allow the cloud to creep up your body fully >When the clouds clear, you’re surrounded by white walls and strange paintings >”Where are we Luna?” Looking up, you see your sister, still floating above you two “That is what we wish to kno-” >Eris harshly shushes both of you and flicks her head down the hall >You and Celestia exchange one last look before following after her >The paintings fly past you before you can fully comprehend what’s on them >A field, snow, a town, fire >So many bizarre landscapes framed in portraits made of odd material >Some of them rot, some are dusty, some are good as new >As you approach a corner, Eris rest her back just at its edge >The two of you try to look past her, but she quickly catches your manes and tugs you back >Her talon snaps and your mouths disappear >Before either of you can protest, she silences you with a glance and a claw to her lips >With no other course of action, you sit besides the draconequus and strain your ears >A voice creeps past the walls >Anonymous >”Curious and playful like a filly, so young. No longer a filly. But not a thousand years older either. Something new. Curious, but weary, everything else that was new all hurt, it isn’t the same. It isn’t safe” >Your eyes widen at the words >That shouldn’t be possible >”It wasn’t long ago. They were here, they were just here, just heard, laughing, grieving, caring. They’re not gone just hiding bring them back” >Those thoughts were years ago, long before he arrived >”I just want to learn, why should I apologise?” >You turn your head down at the realisation of just exactly what you’ve done >When you saw how he first reacted to you, it reminded you of how it affected your little ponies over a millenia ago, when you first came to these lands and united the three tribes >But perhaps it was something deeper than that >It seems that far more than just your magic has rooted itself in Anonymous >This will need to be corrected >As the voices fade, so too, does the gallery >Swept up in another pale blue cloud, the three of you are returned to the castle, and your mouths are returned >”Well?” Eris’ voice has the same anger as before, though now it has calmed considerably >Your sister is noticeably quiet, clearly she heard Anonymous’ words, but does not like their implication “It… would appear that, upon our first meeting, in our carelessness-” Eris’ wings slowly buzz behind her as you extend the explanation “-when Anonymous saw us and our magic reacted to him, it… left a fragment of us in him?” >Saying that it was a fragment of you is not even close to what happened, but neither is it a fallacy “However!” Before Eris or Celestia can interject, you turn to Eris, this time your eyes bore into her “‘Twas not JUST our magic that injured him so” >With a flap of her wings, she comes face to face with you and bares her fangs ”What are you implying?” “What art thou inferring?” You narrow your eyes further at her, and see her arguing with herself behind her eyes >Both literally and figuratively >The uncertainty on her face most likely mirrors yours >Despite you both being so long lived, and being so well versed in various magics, Anonymous’ situation is strange “Eris” You lower your voice to a more civil tone, and she slowly turns to you “Such things as these should be left to another day. We both wish to aid Anonymous’ recovery, Celestia and I” Celestia steps beside you and nods “Will you let us?” >Your sister’s eyes are still on you though >Those words Anonymous spoke, your thoughts, your disdain towards this new world you were living in >She’d want to discuss it upon your return to Canterlot >”You don’t exactly need my permission Luna” Her tone is dismissive, but has lot all the confidence she had when she arrived “No, no we do not” Eris slowly turns to you, she regards you with the same look she had when you banished the nightmare she had all those nights ago >Slowly, you approach her, and gently rest a hoof against her “We are not them, Eris, we promise” >Eris lets out a sharp, pained gasp and turns away from you both >She buries her head in her claws and shakes her head before taking a calming breath >Her body slowly stops shivering and she turns to you both “Ok.” Such a simple word, but it gives you hope >Hope that she may in fact be true to her wish to reform >”But you two are gonna have to teleport us, that overgrown fern you’ve got hidden below gives me a headache” >You chuckle at her, it was good to see that she was able to keep up her sense of humour >As Celestia approaches you so you both may cast the spell, she gives you a look you’re all too familiar with >She has every intent of speaking with you >After all, you have not yet revealed to her the circumstances of Eris’ dreams >It did not feel like your place to reveal such deeply hidden pains, but your sister was nothing if not good at keeping secrets >Perhaps once you have finished with Anonymous, and have left him to Eris’ care, you can begin explaining to her >Your magic and hers act in unison, where there was even the most minute of errors in one of your spells, the others magic would fix it >With a flash the world warped around the three of you >The dust filled air of the castle disappeared, and the smell of polish and medical remedies fills the air “Lead the way Eris” <> >It’s hard to believe just how quickly a dream can become boring >At least you’re pretty sure this is a dream >Eris said so >But being awake in a dream is so contradictory it’s hard to believe and with each hour that passes, it becomes harder and harder to believe >Lucid dreaming is certainly new to you >But here you are nonetheless >Unconscious, while pony doctors try to fix your alien body >While your mind, so unwilling to face the truth, has forced you to here, a place of peace >It really was a beautiful sight >If it weren’t for the fact that the first time you saw it you were dragged here by alicorn magic, you might actually be able to enjoy yourself >At least there weren’t any magical mental vines causing you to enter an unwanted calm >Just pale sands, a never ending ocean, and the moon hanging so low that you could reach out and touch it >Despite the moon being so low, its gravity seems to have no effect of the water’s tide >You double check to make sure you’re looking the right way, the water is so dark, and the dots of white within made it nearly impossible to tell the difference between it and the star-filled sky above >Hopefully Eris hurries up and gets you that medicine >It was back to full form, but you could still feel the shards of stone impaling your arm >Luna’s magic tickling you beneath your skin >Or maybe you were only imagining these sensations >Briefly you wonder if you could convince Applejack if she could give you a barrel of that apple cider she’s bragged about when you wake up >Dying is thirsty work after all >Of course you weren’t actually dying, you imagine Eris would have been a lot more freaked out if you were >Hopefully she’s ok too >When the magic that linked you two was severed, she was yanked out rather suddenly and, for lack of a better word, violently >The gallery you’d wandered shook like it was in an erupting volcano that was being hit by an earthquake and a tornado at the same time >Luckily you managed to stay in one piece throughout it all, and when you woke up, you were face down in the sand >Sighing, you drop down and sit on the beach, and take in the scenery for the dozenth time >A cooler appears besides you, with a plethora of drinks to choose from >At least your mind knows how to help take the edge off >Grabbing a random bottle, you flip off the cap and take a swig >It won’t help your real body, but it helps your mind pretend you aren’t thirsty >No kick to it, guess your mind can’t replicate booze without the actual chemicals >But at least it has a fruity aftertaste >Before you can finish your drink, the moon begins to glow >The craters begin to fade and a bright white light overtakes the lunar body >You recoil slightly and shield your eyes as the intensity begins to sting >”It is good that we can finally meet again Anonymous” The soothing tone of Luna echoes from the light >As the intensity begins to fade, you pull your arm down >Rising to your feet, you walk to the edge of the beach to greet the princess of the night >In all her cold glory as last time, Luna holds her head high, regarding you with the same curiosity as before >Yet you distinctly notice her slightly shifting on her hooves >Her eyes also fail to meet yours >She’s nervous “Hey Luna- you are the real Luna right?” This is a dream, so anything is possible >Her nervousness briefly breaks at your question >Confusion crosses her features as she processes what you just said before a look of realisation overcomes it >”Ah, thou art unfamiliar with our presence, of course” She visibly relaxes, the muscles hidden just beneath her fur untensing “Yes, we assure thee Anonymous, we are Luna” >Nodding to her, you step to the side and indicate to the cooler >The moon princess chuckles at your silent invitation >Sitting down once again, she lays on the other side of the cooler >Her horn glows and she levitates one of the drinks to her lips >After taking a brief sip, she pulls the bottle away and narrows her eyes at it >Once more, her horn flashes >Taking another sip of the drink, she lets out a pleased hum and begins gulping down the beverage >Slowly, you inspect your own drink >As far as you can tell, nothing about it has changed >Bringing it to your lip, you’re pleasantly surprised to find the fruity aftertaste has become much stronger >It’s like you’re actually having a drink Pulling the bottle away from your lips with a pop, you turn to Luna “How do you do that?” >The last of her drink slips past her lips and she drops the empty bottle into the sand, only for it to turn into wisps of smoke and dust >”The realm of dreams is ours, we can change it as we see fit” She pulls another bottle from the cooler “Like making them seem more like real life” You only mutter the words but you regret them as soon as they leave you >Out of your peripherals, you see Luna deflate and let her head hang down “I didn’t mean it like tha-” >”No, no, thou art owed an explanation” Though she cuts you off, Luna can’t seem to find the next words she wants to say >Not sure how to continue, you bring your drink back to your lips >The silence is deafening, no wind blows, and no waves crash >A shuddering breath finally pulls your attention back to the night’s diarch >”What- what did thou see?” A simple question, but she quickly speaks again “Or rather, how did thou manage to overcome our spell?” >Briefly, you let your mind wander back to the realistic dream >So much of it reflected the real thing >The stairwell was the same length >The room was the same size >Only a few things were different, like the murals, side rooms and chairs >But none of those were strange enough for you to question them >There was only one thing that clued you into something being wrong With the last of your drink, you swallow the lump that had formed in your throat “You- well, you and Celestia” >”Us?” There’s genuine surprise in her voice as she stretches out, leaning towards you to hear you better “We helped you break the spell?” “...sort of?” Looking at the Luna besides you, you try and take in as much detail of her as you can, but you can’t find any difference between her and the Luna you saw “It was more your magic, I suppose” >Luna tilts her head at you >Clearly you’re not explaining this right >You press a hand to your face in an attempt to piece your words together better >”Tis alright Anonymous” You’re brought out of your head by a hoof on your leg “We imagine it is like remembering a dream” “That’s just it, I can remember it perfectly, I’m just having trouble explaining it” She nods at you and levitates another drink from the cooler and offers it to you >The magic doesn’t affect your hand, as you expected it to, as you grab the bottle from her and set it besides you >Standing to your feet, you wind your arm back and hurl your empty bottle towards the sea >Before it can break the water’s surface, a whale-sized goldfish leaps out of the water and eats it >Chuckling to yourself, you sit again and grab another bottle >Luna chuckles at the sight as well and levitates her bottle to you >Clicking the bottles together, you both flick off the caps and begin drinking again >Eventually, you turn to the nocturnal diarch again “I’ve… I’ve been able to feel you and your sister’s magic ever since we met in Ponyville” Luna’s eyes go wide as you speak, lurching backward as she chokes on her drink >Gasping and spluttering, she hits her chest with a hoof as the drink roughly goes down her >”Thou hath been able to sense our magic for that long?” You nod at her “Even when we were in Canterlot?” “Well, I’ve certainly been able to feel Celestia’s magic, but I could feel your magic in the Everfree” Luna’s eyes narrow again and dart back and forth, clearly pondering your words >”What was in the Everfree that made it easier for thou to sense our magic?” She’s looking at you with the same cold curiosity she had back in Ponyville >Whatever you’re saying, it’s clearly something she didn’t expect “I’m pretty sure I was just feeling your old castle, the feeling definitely got stronger the closer me and Fluttershy got to it” Luna’s face drops at this, and she lays her chin on a hoof >She begins muttering to herself, though you can only make out a few snippets “imprinted magic”, “our battle” >Not wanting to startle her, you slowly rest a hand on her withers >Her head snaps up and towards you >Now out of whatever she was thinking of, she relaxes, though there’s an air of concern around her now >”Clearly, we have underestimated the severity of this problem Anonymous” Her choice of words confuses you slightly “I mean, I wouldn’t exactly call it a ‘problem’ Luna” You sip from your drink as she raises an eyebrow at you “It’s just a… a sixth sense, it’s not like it’s dangerous, you know?” >Briefly you sip from your drink again as her eyes shoot between you and your arm “This-” You emphasize the word by waving your arm at her “-isn’t because I could sense your magic. This is… something else” >Luna’s head turns down once more and her horn flashes before she begins gulping down her drink >As your own drink crosses your lips you pull it back as a familiar tingle washes over the back of your throat >So she can even simulate alcohol in dreams >You guess it shouldn’t surprise you >Though what does surprise you is how quickly she’s gulping down the drink >The alcohol hits you again as you take a few more gulps from the bottle >You’re not sure what alcohol she’s simulating, but it’s already making your head feel a little lighter >”We- we are truly sorry for our transgressions against thee Anonymous” Her voice wavers slightly, and she refuses to meet your gaze >Leaning forward, you click your glass against hers, the brief ringing causing her to finally look at you “Come on Luna, what happened to the mare who said she wouldn’t apologise for something she couldn’t control?” She ponders your words before realisation crosses her face “That spell was a thousand years old, I’m not gonna blame you for it” >A sad smile crosses her lips as the bottle in her magic turns to dust and a much bigger one replaces it “Perhaps thou should” >Heaving a sigh you place your bottle down and pull her bottle away from her magic >Her eyes follow her bottle as you lay it down “Luna” You keep your voice low as she slowly turns her gaze to meet yours fully “Talk to me, I’m not gonna get mad, I doubt either of us understand what’s really happening anyway” >Yet, despite saying that, not understanding what was happening was the very source of your earlier outburst >After you wake up one of the first things you’ll need to do is apologise to Fluttershy >She didn’t deserve to have you blow up in her face like that >Luna takes a deep breath and nods to herself >”Anonymous, I need you to be honest with us” She has steeled herself again, her voice steady and authoritative “Are thine intentions only as you have stated them to be” You quirk an eyebrow at her “Or art thou hiding something from us?” >Concern fills you at her words >Clearly you’ve stepped into something you weren’t supposed to >However, you try and keep a straight face as best you can and roll your wrist at her, hoping she’ll give you some idea of what she’s talking about >“We refer to the words that opened our door. None yet live in Equestria but us who remember them” >Your straight face completely breaks at this revelation >That’s definitely not what you expected “Furthermore” Her words snap you out of your head before you can even begin to collect your thoughts “We wish to know how thou came to learn the words” >She rises to her hooves and, from your position, you realise just how small the ponies must feel next to her >Briefly you ponder just how much smaller they must feel next to Celestia >Taking a deep breath, you gather your composure and decide to tackle the questions one at a time “First off, I swear Luna, everything I’ve said until now is true” Her eyes narrow at you and gently glow, though you feel no hostility from it “I don’t know how I got here, how to get back, or even why any of it happened, I was in my world, and the next thing I know Twilight is in front of me” >”Thine memories recall naught from that day?” Luna begins pacing around you >Pulling one of your legs up to your chest, you straighten your back and slowly follow her gait as she circles you >The days before now are such a blur, your memory of home only really clears when you try to think back as far as a month before you arrived here >But one part of that day sticks with you >Slowly, you try to visualise that brief window of time >For the first time since you got here, a gust of wind begins to pick up >Slowly, the wind howls louder and louder, battering you and Luna harder and harder >Until a gust of wind rams into you like a train >Luna gasps slightly at the sudden impact, but just as quickly as it started, it stops >The familiar gasp in front of you makes you open your eyes >Twilight, staggering away from you, shock clear on her face, with a slight hint of fear You let out the breath you’d held, and the imagined Twilight is blown away with it “That’s it. That’s all I remember. I promise” >You don’t bother turning your head to face Luna >Recalling that memory was strange >It seemed like a lifetime ago >But it hasn’t even been half a month >”And the rest?” Luna’s tone has become much lighter now >Clearly, openly showing her some of your memory has helped her to relax “Well, as for the words, I actually learned them here” You nod your head towards the dark horizon >Luna’s shoes lightly scuff against the sand as she once again lies beside you “When we first met, when I was saying ‘get out of my head’?” You turn to her, and she nods in remembrance “This is where I ended up, only… I felt like a puppet on strings that time” >Luna remains silent, though you see her eyes flickering between calm and regret, so you continue “When you two arrived in Ponyville, after I got over your magic of course, I felt calm. But with you, the calm seemed endless, like it was wriggling into my mind” You slowly flex your hand back and forth in a serpentine pattern “I ended up here, but it’s like I couldn’t get out, hence my little freakout back then” >She nods at your words and lets her head fall again “Yet here we are, accusing thee of nefarious intent” >Slowly, you let your hand rub up and down her back >Her regret slowly morphs as she relaxes in your hand >Shivers runs up her as you cross over where her wings meet her body, so you focus a little bit there >After a minute or two, you pull your hand away >”I believe that may be the cause of the troubles that have been plaguing thee since thine arrival” “Are we talking about the magic or the fact that I just rubbed your back?” She snorts at your joke and gently hits your shoe with a hoof >You let out a snort of your own, thankful that the tension has finally broken and the two of you can relax again >Grabbing the abandoned bottles, you hand Luna’s back to her and take a sip from yours >”Of course we speak of the magic” Her tone is back to how it was before “Though we believe that we may have done more than left just a trace of our magic in you” >This gives you pause, so you stop your drink before it can grace your lips again >You don’t actually know how long you’ve been in here, but you know that your body was really thirsty >Luckily whatever Luna did to the drinks is making it bearable “How do you mean?” >Before you can question her further, half of the area transforms into the gallery from before “Thine mind seems to enter a haze when our magic is involved, how doth it fare in regard to this?” “I can remember it, I just couldn’t repeat it back to you” You almost bring your drink up but pause “Even if I wanted to, something stops me” Again you begin quenching your thirst as Luna nods at your words >”A mental block, that must be why it has not progressed to a dangerous extent” She mutters the words with a pensive stare “Dangerous?” That word in particular captures your attention >Turning to you again, Luna sighs “Yes, we believe that, when we did not stop thee from becoming overwhelmed by our magic, it left… a fragment, a splinter, a- a piece?” She lists off several varying words to try and convey her point before shaking her head “Some part of our own mind, barely the size of one of these grains of sand” >She levitates the grain but you have to squint to actually make it out >”Whatever it is, it left some of us within the confines of thine own mind” Her magic disperses and she rises to sit on her haunches “While it is not responsible for you knowing the words, it is responsible for the strange words you spoke to Eris back then, how we were ‘Not a filly, but not a thousand years older either’” >Those words did feel different than when you had opened the door >But you assumed it was because your body was injured and that you were in a dream “By dangerous, do you mean?” You don’t want to finish the question, as there are so many different ways that it could be finished >Still, Luna understands your silence and shakes her head at you with a small smile >”It could cause you to have lapses in mental judgements, perhaps that is what called you to inspect our door to begin with” You nod along with her, and feel some of the tension leave you as she speaks “We do not believe it will negatively affect your mental or physical constitution. Of course, if thine worries persist, we could remove it” “Really, that easily?” Luna simply nods at you >”It is difficult to explain to one who has no concept of magic but-” She pauses and mulls over her words “It would not be too unlike if thou were to drop a bit. There would be no difficulty in simply retrieving it” >Hearing that you’ve got a piece of Luna’s mind lodged in your brain is one thing >Hearing that it’s as simple as retrieving loose change is another, then again it is her magic, so it makes sense that she could easily take it out “What doesn’t make sense, is why you haven’t done it yet” Out of your peripherals you see Luna’s eyes widen slightly >It takes a second for you to realise that you had spoken your thoughts aloud >Before you can try to explain yourself, Luna holds up a hoof “Yes, we can see why that would bother thee” >Her words die on her lips and she looks at you with worry >Scrunching up her face, she heaves a sigh before speaking again >”Anonymous, we want to believe that Eris has no ill intent” You lean back from her slightly as you begin to guess what she’s about to say “But-” “But you think leaving your magic in me will help somehow?” >Before either of you can say another word a body-projection spell, similar to Twilight’s back in the castle forms >Unlike Twilight’s though, the dots expand and make a clear replica of your body, though slightly see through as it’s composed entirely of pale blue magic >A tangled ball of something indistinguishable forms in the body >It twists and turns sporadically, and a spearhead forms in its core and violently rips its way out of the projection >The sight actually makes you lean back >Slowly, the projection fades “That was what occurred in the castle. You spoke the incantation, and our magic used your body as a conduit to cast the spell, whatever it encountered inside you, nearly ripped you apart as, when the door detected the phenomenon, it reacted to you as though you were an enemy” >A conduit, so you weren’t actually a wizard, but more like a middle-man for throwing around magic >Weird, but interesting “You think Eris had something to do with the… phenomenon that the door tried to reject?” Luna’s face morphs between curiosity, shame and discomfort >”We believe that- that it is one of many possibilities, we will not render judgement until we are sure” At least she was willing to not throw Eris under the bus straight away >Which is good, you doubt the girls would be so accepting if they knew this >”Whatever may be causing whatever that was, we personally believe it would do thee well to retain this piece of us” You raise an eyebrow at her “If nothing else, it will safeguard thine mind from external forces that may try to influence it” “That’s a possibility?” You feel worry creep into your stomach at the thought >“Thou art an alien, an alien that hath been acknowledged by Celestia and I. Eris and Discord have also associated themselves with you. Though they are but a hoofful, there exist those who would see opportunity in you” You bring your drink back to your lips and completely drain the bottle at the thought >The girls made it easy to forget that the way Bon Bon reacted to you is more likely to be the norm of how this world would react to you >The ponies clearly weren’t very happy having Eris around, so you doubt they find you to be much of an improvement >Especially now that you’re going to be more heavily associated with her >But you can burn that bridge when you get to it >”But in the end, the choice is your Anonymous, and yours alone” Though its small, her smile is full of warmth “If you think it’ll help, then I guess I can keep whatever’s in my head” You trusted Eris, but if Luna was right, there would be those that you wouldn’t want to encounter >”Thank you Anonymous, we will endeavor to learn all we can about what is afflicting you, and see if we can mitigate the worst of it” As she she rises to her hooves, the moon begins to glow “Am I waking up?” It’s not the same as when Eris was pulled out, but clearly something is happening >”We are afraid not, thou… thou may yet be unconscious for some time, thine injuries, while not grave, were severe. But the sun rises, and we must retreat to our chambers to rest” With a slight bow which you awkwardly try to return she begins walking up the air towards the moon, like there was a staircase there “Wait, before you go!” Your voice carries enough that she stops and turns to you “If you see her can you apologise to Fluttershy for me, and maybe get me some more painkillers, my arm still hurts” >Luna nods to you and her horn glows as a smirk crosses her face >Your arm is encompassed by her magic and the tension and pain from before disappears >”Thine arm hath already been bandaged and treated, your mind simply held onto the memory of the pain” So you really were just imagining it, thanks brain >You call to her once more, and feel a bit bad by giving her so much to remember “Can you also, maybe connect me and Eris again? I could use some company if I’m gonna be here for a while” She titters at you so maybe she isn’t too bothered >”A spell lasting for such an extended period of time would be… an interesting challenge” Well, at least it wasn’t a no “Rest well Anonymous, and we bid thee farewell” >Nodding to her, she turns towards the moon and disappears into it >The light slowly fades and the pale beach returns to how it was before >With her gone you begin to ponder one aspect of your interaction >Unlike before, you didn’t feel her magic >Is it because you were in your own mind >Was she suppressing it >Or is it the fact that you’re aware there’s a fraction of a fraction of herself in your mind that she doesn’t affect you >This world never seems to slow down and let you get your bearings >It was certainly more interesting than your old world at least >You hope the girls aren’t worrying about you too much >Who are you kidding, Twilight’s definitely freaking out >Before you can fully create a mental picture, the world starts to shift >Bubble and ripples start to echo out from the water and are reflected in the sky >Or, did they start in the sky and the water reflected them >Trying to figure this place out makes your head hurt >With a groan, you rise to your feet and go to inspect the disturbance >The inky blackness reveals nothing below the water >But you have an idea to what it might be >Rolling up your sleeve, you plunge your hand into the water >You make contact with something soft and wet, grasp it tight, and pull >As you haul the weight out of the water, colour finally begins to fill the drab, pale land and sky >The golden browns, reds, greens and blues of Eris’ body leaks out and spreads to the surrounding area >Though nothing is the colour you’d expect it to be of course >The sky is pink, the ground is blue with teal polka dots and the moon is now a ball of cheese “Hello Eris” You can’t help but smirk at the wildness she’s brought simply by existing >The draconequus lets out a weary groan and slowly pulls herself out of your hand >Her soaked body rises and begins to twist in on itself, wringing out the water that clung to her >As she untwists herself she lets out a satisfied groan “It is good to be out of there” >Floating over to you, she lets her tail glide over your shoulder >She curls around the cooler and sticks her whole arm in >”Honestly, would it really have been so hard for Blue Bean to not poof me under water” With a grunt, Eris dunks half her body into the cooler to fish out whatever she’s looking for “I’m surprised you didn’t just teleport yourself out” You sit just beside the now dry draconequus and grab one of the bottles she ignored “Or that you even need air” >The cooler violently rocks as Eris pulls herself and a comically large bottle designed like a mobius strip out >There’s no neck of the bottle, but when Eris brings one edge of it to her lips it begins to drain >As she lets out a sigh, the bottle refills and the liquid endlessly flows through the bottle “We don’t. But it’s better than water” “I also imagine it’s better than stone” You bring yet another drink to your lips >Only, as you gulp down the liquid, the glass drains away, while a solid lump of liquid stays in your hand >”You like it? Dad taught me that-” She takes another swig and mutters to herself “-and not much else” “You um-” You’re not entirely sure if this is something you should broach, but you’re curious “You don’t seem to get along with Discord” >Eris’ body sends conflicting signals from your words >Her grip on the bottle tightens, but her eyes narrow and shoulders sag as she looks away from you “Yeah, guess you could say that” >Definitely not in a good place to bring it up >Maybe another time >If you’re gonna reform her, you may have to help her through some things >But such things are for another time, so you take in more of the ever-changing world >Fish have started river-dancing along the water >Clouds have gathered to play poker with each other >You can’t help the smile that crosses your face >It’s a wonderful thing to watch how she shifts the world >Like every part of it becomes a living, breathing thing >”So I must admit, I was surprised that you personally asked for me” Eris leans over the cooler towards you “I’m surprised that you’re surprised” Eris lets out a small giggle as you click your bottles together “Who wouldn’t want you around?” Eris’ face drops a little but you lean forward and whisper “Idiots, that’s who” >This brings the smile back to her face “You’ll find not many others share your opinion” “Who are you and what have you done with Eris?” You lightly poke her side >”Don’t” She speaks through a barely concealed giggle you’ve elicited from her as she finally uncurls from the cooler and points a claw at you “No seriously, since when did you care what others thought of you?” A more half-hearted smile creeps into the corner of her lips >”Less what they think of me, and more what they’ll think of you” “Sounds like their problem, not mine, and certainly not yours” >She turns to you, surprise clear in her eyes >You’ve been drinking from your bottle but it just keeps refilling >The slight kick of dream alcohol may be fueling some of your words “Eris, I chose to be your reformer, so stop stressing about others, alright?” She visibly relaxes at your words thankfully and begins nursing her drink again “I’ve got enough to stress over as it is” >Her chuckle is more sombre this time “You and me both” “To us then” You raise your glass once more >”To stress” She happily moves her bottle toward yours, but they phase through each other like gas >You’ve been battered both mentally and physically by magic at least half a dozen times in the past few days >You’re currently in such a bad state you’re being operated on >To top it all off, you’ve got a god in your brain >Two actually, counting Eris >Yet despite all that, you can’t feel the same flame of frustration bubbling in you like it did back in the cave >The nonsensical nature of Eris’ antics genuinely makes the stress feel a little lighter >”Hey Anon?” You quirk an eyebrow and turn to her, seeing her with her eyes down makes you let out a sigh before she even begins “I’m-” “Please don’t” You barely make an attempt to hide your exhaustion at her tone >She turns to you perplexed, but you hold up a hand before she can take it the wrong way “I just got done hearing Luna apologise, I already told her I don’t blame her for what happened” Eris nods slightly, a small blush crossing her cheeks “I don’t blame you, I won’t blame Twilight when I wake up-” >You list the ponies on your fingers and Eris simply nods along “-and I’m not gonna blame Fluttershy when I see her again” >”So I’m not allowed to play in the apology olympics?” You both chuckle and you jab her in the side again “No, you’re not, blame me if you blame anyone, I could have stopped myself, I didn’t” >”The rest of us could have stopped you too, but we didn’t” “Yes, but it was my choice” >”And we’re supposed to be your friends!” Her voice sends a breeze across your dreamscape, and the chaotic goings on stop in place “I’m! Supposed to be your friend!” >There’s a slight quiver in her voice now “Eris…” The cooler and drinks disappear, and the world begins to shift back to the pale grey >”I know!” She’s risen into the air, though she still refuses to see your eyes “I know that this won’t help, but I- I felt everything, going on with you Anon. The cave, the tree, the door, and I did nothing-” She’s barely able to get into her rant before her voice starts to breaks >You step towards Eris and tentatively reach up >As your hand bumps her paw, she recoils >”And I’ve had to sit outside your room, not knowing if you’re going to be ok” >You draw back from her slightly >Luna had neglected to give any detail about your current condition >Some part of you was too nervous to ask >”I still don’t” Eris just barely swallows the lump in her throat “The doctor says she can’t be sure until you wake up” >You feel a bit silly doing it, but you go onto your tip-toes to reach her again >She doesn’t pull away this time, but she doesn’t react either >Slowly, you wrap your fingers as best you can around her and try to lower her >Instead of her lowering though, you find yourself starting to levitate >Even now she won’t look at you, and you’re not entirely sure how to help >You’re not gonna let her blame herself, and trying to blame yourself isn’t helping >You sit as best you can in mid-air, while she curls her tail around herself Every part of you doesn’t want to, you’d rather divert the topic to anything else, but you quash your worries anyway “How bad am I?” >For a while, Eris doesn’t speak, though you see a shudder run up and down her body every now and then >”The worst injury you’ve got- you had, was a punctured lung” She tries to emphasise the use of past tense, but it does little to soothe you >As though becoming aware of the injury, a sharp pain echoes in your chest, causing your breath to hitch and your heart to accelerate >But this is a dream, you remind yourself, and all at once, your body relaxes again, the pain forgotten >Again, you try to place your hand over her paw, but she simply curls into herself more >”What was it like?” Her voice is just a whisper “The Tree of Harmony” >An endless string of words die on your lips as you try to respond >Even while it was happening to you, it was a difficult sensation to describe >It’s even more difficult to describe now that the feelings have passed >You’re still trying to sort through your thought about your injuries >She said that it was the worst one >Meaning you had more, and probably not just regarding your arm >You’ve learned some of your situation, and you doubt probing Eris for more will do you any favours >Changing the subject may actually help “It…” You try to recall the sensations, and the wind begins to wrap around you, just like the magic did before, but so much is missing that your mind just can’t recreate “It was wonderful. But I prefer you” >Eris slowly raises her head in confusion, her tail beginning to relax again “When I was at the Tree of Harmony I felt… safe, but caged, like I couldn’t get away” You recall the tugging sensation from before when you tried to pull your gaze away “But with you, there isn’t that caged feeling” >She waves her talon, and the cooler reappears, along with her drink “You probably shouldn’t feel safe around me either” “Why!?” There’s a slight edge to your voice, but it doesn’t seem to phase Eris as she simply shrugs at you >You feel a twinge of anger at her constant self-flagellation >Reaching forward you rest a hand on her leg, finally snapping her out of her own head, and making her look to you “Eris, I trust you, whether you want me to or not.” Her breath slightly hitches “You said you know about the cave, I said back then that you make everything here more bearable, remember?” >Her smile begins to return as she brings her drinks to her lips “I didn’t really understand that part if I’m honest” >As you pull back, you begin to relax in the air >Some small part of your instincts tell you to worry that you’re about to fall, but you silence it whenever it comes up >Heaving a sigh, you start to see colour slowly returning, only this time it’s coming off of you “Everyone I’ve met, acts like the magic here makes sense, but it doesn’t to me” Eris has started to lay down as you talk “Then you came along, the definition of ‘doesn’t make sense’, but in some way, the fact you could control all this” >You hold your arms up to indicate to everything around you >As Eris takes in the surrounding, she uncurls herself more and more, slowly relaxing “I- you-” You stumble over the words, but as you look at Eris, the words seem to find their own way “It didn’t matter if it didn’t make sense. It was just you” >Eris lets out heavy sigh, the tension she’d previously built finally falling off her shoulders >As she does, colours begin to leak off of her again and mixes in the landscape >The world around you could have been mistaken for some mix of a Picasso and Dali painting now >”I guess I never really thought about it like that” With a shudder, she finally begins to float back to the ground >You however remain in the air, levitating is new to you after all >With a little bit of wriggling and concentration, you begin to shimmy your way back down “You know, this really isn’t how I intended for this to go” With a particularly rough shift, whatever was holding you up disappears and you finally land back on the ground >The colour has returned to the world, though now the chaos is a little less intense >Instead of the moon being so close, it has retreated over the horizon and been replaced by the sun >Though you’re pretty sure you can see the markings of an incomplete game of tic-tac-toe on it >”Well then, what do you have in mind?” Eris rises from the cooler, a small and gentle smile on her lips now “Maybe water-skiing?” With a flash you and her are strapped up for the water >”We could also go ice-skating” A clone of Eris appears, wrapped up in several layers, a ski on each of her limbs and tail “Why not sky-diving?” This time a clone of you appears, hanging limply in mid-air “You… don’t know how to slow down, do you Eris?” The clones and clothes disappear as the draconequus lets out a quiet chuckle >That’s the Eris you prefer >”Dunno, never tried before” There’s mirth and a teasing mockery in her tone, but you wave her back over to the cooler “I didn’t ask Luna to connect us to question you Eris, or talk about all the shit we’ve been through. I just wanted your company” You offer her the strange bottle again, but she’s paused in front of you >Her face morphs between confusion, happiness, sadness and something you can’t quite place >But slowly, she curls back around the cooler, just like before, and settles besides you >Taking the drink, she sips from it and turns to you “I really don’t understand you” “Don’t worry, the feeling’s mutual” You shut the cooler and lean against it as you stare over the horizon >It’s taken on a kaleidoscope effect, shifting from polka-dots, to a checkered design, to multi-layered diamonds >But the sun remains a constant in the sky >You see Eris shifting on the sand, but leave her be >Slowly, you feel her fur brushing against the side of your face, and her head resting on your shoulder >Turning to the side, you see her looking everywhere but at you, though you also see a blush on her cheeks >A grin spreads on your face as you slowly wrap an arm around her shoulder >She briefly tenses at your touch, though just as quickly, she relaxes against you >”Can we go water-skiing soon? I haven’t done it in ages” You giggle through a mouthful of drink “Yes, and then you can teach me to ice-skate and sky-dive and whatever else. After this” >You feel her head shift in a nodding motion against your shoulder “After this” <> >Though it was sparse, you were conscious >Or, to be more accurate, you were conscious enough that you were aware that you were conscious >Like a hook threaded through your body, something had grabbed you and slowly pulled you through your own mind and away from Eris >These past few days with her have been great >Sometimes your mind overtook the dreamscape and the horizon was as close to real life as you were comfortable with making it >Tricking yourself into thinking you were awake was not something you wanted to do >Of course, Eris’ artistic take on a horizon was nonsensical >She actually pulled out a portrait and began slapping paint on it >Whatever appeared on the canvas, appeared on the horizon >Sometimes, your horizon and hers mixed >A wonderful middle ground between Wonderland and Reality >But now you were waking up >At least, you were trying too >Like a heavy blanket, a great darkness encompassed you >It wasn’t all bad, it was comfortable >But you were ready to get a taste of the real world again >Instinctively you tried moving your body, but something stopped you >Despite your best efforts, your limbs refused to do anything more than twitch >Even something as simple as opening your eyes has become a herculean challenge >You’ve never been this weak in your life >It was surreal >The pale beach that laid somewhere in your mind seemed more real than this >You felt some part beckoning you back there, to rest >But you refused, and simply laid in the emptiness >As the darkness rolled over itself, you tried to focus on your senses >A thin, cool stinging sensation was throbbing in your arm >Most likely IV, or the pony equivalent >Your body was warm, so you were being covered by something >Specifically, your stomach was being weighed down by something that was slowly rising and falling >And an ever present tightness encompassed your body >Bandages, more likely than not >How long you’ve been out, you weren’t sure, only that it had been a few days >Your internal clock wasn’t quite working properly >Thankfully, your patience was slowly being rewarded >As you remained conscious, the darkness slowly slipped away >Bit by bit, piece by piece >Until finally it fell away, revealing a blinding light >Though sadly your body still refused to comply with your desires, and your arms hung limp at your side >What felt like cracks ran up your dry throat >All you could muster to clear it was a weak cough >A short, curious hum barely registers, before you feel something poking your lips >”Drink” You comply with the voice and take in the offending object >A small gush of water runs over your tongue, and never before has it tasted so good >Though every part of you demands you chug the drink, you force yourself to take slow sips All too soon the drink is pulled away “All of it” Your voice is hushed but whoever’s treating you brings the drink back to your lips >As the last of the refreshing liquid flowed through you, you feel a brief trickle of energy in your core >Sadly, as soon as it appeared, it’s consumed by the exhaustion that rages through your body >Your vision is too blurred to make out anything, but from the overabundance of purple, you hazard a guess that you’re in the castle >Somewhat more conscious now, you once more attempt to move your body >You attempt to flex out your fingers and bare your knuckles >While your right arm complies, though slightly delayed, your left arm refuses to move at all >The muscles underneath spasm and twitch in an attempt to capitulate with the signals your mind is sending >Like the darkness before, the blinding light begins to fade as your eyes finally focus >Only your right arm responds, but you tighten and relax your hand a few times to return some feeling to it >Wanting to feel your injured arm, you pull your working hand across the bed >And bump into a soft mound of fur, eliciting a displeased grunt >While it takes an inordinate amount of energy, you turn your head down >Eris has laid her head over your stomach, her eyes still closed as she dreams >”She refuses to leave” The voice from before is much clearer this time >Turning to the side you see a mare who looks weaker than you feel >A dull white coat and a pale blonde mane and tail >The strongest aspect of her body is her eyes, that shine like newly forged gold >Though the lids hide most of her eyes as they hang heavy over her irises >She wears a worn and torn patchwork doctor’s coat, with a chain of iron running down from the collar to the hem >From here you can just make out her cutie mark, a golden needle and thread >It almost hurts to focus your mind, the gears in your head screeching against each other as the rust and cobwebs in your head falls away “Private… Light Sutures, I assume?” Her eyes widen slightly, but quickly return to the tired look from before >”Has Princess Twilight spoken of me?” Her voice is gentle and hushed, yet firm and clear >A squirming against your torso snaps your attention back to Eris >Before a chuckle can form in your throat, your chest tightens, turning your mirth into a pained hiss >The burning sensation fades, and you look back up to Eris >Despite your hiss she hasn’t stirred >Gently, as not to wake her, you rest your good hand on her and slowly shift your hand through her hair >As white as silk, and just as soft >It probably is silk, spider silk or something >That would certainly complete her whole “walking zoo” appearance “I uh, I remember your name” Once more, you turn back to Sutures “From the letter you left, a few days ago, then there’s your cutie mark. I put two and two together…” >Her mouth shifts almost imperceptibly into a small smile >”Very observant, you might have made a decent scout if you didn’t stick out like a sore horn” A small chuckles escapes her lips as she looks over the both of you “So… this is…” >She awkwardly waves her hoof up and down in the direction of Eris >As your hand continues shifting through her head, you lightly massage her scalp and stroke her ears as you near them >The slumbering draconequus croons as your hands dance over her head “Yeah, this is her. She nearly turned this town upside down the other day” Even as you say it, you hardly believe it >She seems practically docile at your touch, blissfully resting on top of you >”To think somethi- someone” Your eyes briefly dart to the mare as she catches her own words “like her would have such a soft spot” She trots to the end of your bed and pulls up a clipboard >While you’re not fond of the way she phrases it, you can’t outright deny her >Discord is a living infamous legend among ponies, and he seems to live up to the legend >To those out of the loop, Eris must not seem that different >In a way, they’re right >You’ve only been given pieces of the puzzle, but it isn’t painting a pretty picture >Maybe her world got what it deserved >But did it deserve to endure it for a millenia >You’re not gonna be a judge regarding that >Reformer or not, you don’t know enough to commend or condemn what she did >At least she’s here now, away from it all, and she seems willing to try again >You’re certainly not gonna stop her from trying, and you’ll help her succeed if you can >”Now, Mr. Anonymous, I feel the need to inform you of just how bad your condition currently is” Snapping out of your thoughts, you lazily let your head droop in the direction of the mare “I also want to reassure you that you are currently stable” >Wow, they really treat their stallions like they’re made of paper don’t they >Over the time you’ve been here, you’ve found that more often than not its better to just go with the flow >You try to speak, but your voice cracks >The sensation makes it feel like your throat has cracked as well >Just barely suppressing a bout of coughs, you simply nod to Sutures >”Well, you already know that you’ve suffered severe puncture damage in your arm- unless you’re having memory issues?” Her face turns paler, if that’s possible, as the thought occurs to her >Her head snaps to you, with your voice still dead in your throat you smile as best you can and shake your head >”Right. Right, you remembered my note after all, I worry too much sometimes” Clearing her throat she continues listing off your injuries “Your arm was dislocated and both the bone and your skull suffered a hairline fracture. Broken ribs at, well take your pick, third, fourth, fifth, and one of them punctured your right lung. You-” >While it’s faint, you can just make out a slight quiver in her body >Strange that she’d react this way when she’s a combat medic >Or maybe she just cares a lot >”You were practically dead when you were brought to me. Barely had a pulse. A few minutes later and I-” She cuts herself off and turns away from you >You’ve never seen a doctor lose so much composure so easily >Nor anyone else for that matter >Once more, you drink in her appearance >From the first moment you saw her, it seemed like she was fighting to stay awake >Her clothes are so loose that it would be more appropriate to say that it was wearing her >Then there was her coat and mane, so pale it was almost sickly >Either she was born weak, or she’d seen too much >Neither thought comforted you “Imagine the headlines” Though you’re still barely able to mutter, she catches your words and her attentions snaps back to you “Local alien, killed by a staircase” >You actually manage a chuckle that doesn’t set your chest aflame >Lucky you, she has an open sense of humor and smirks at your joke >”You’ve been unconscious for four days, and I recommend staying within the castle for at least another week in order to properly facilitate recovery” She’s recovered from before as well as she can, delivering her diagnosis “Am I allowed to leave this bed?” Thoughts of food and certain other activities run through your mind at the prospect of being bed-ridden >She turns to you and regards you with a look of ponderance >Her mouth twitches but she pauses as she mulls her own words >”Only if you’re accompanied by somepony else” She nods, seemingly more to herself than you >While you weren’t fond of the idea of being coddled and treated like fine porcelain, when considering the situation, it was a fair enough stipulation >You nod to the mare in understanding >Her eyes widen again, only a fraction >Then she relaxes, as though a wave of relief had washed over her >Perhaps she’s had difficult patients before >”So tell me, are-” “Can I have more water please?” You both speak at the same time, and you feel a bit bad for talking over her >Though she seems just as embarrassed >Before you can say anything she trots over to the end of the room >Her magic is so faint that it barely glows off her horn >A jug of water levitates into the air and flows towards you >She places it down on the cabinet besides you >You’re still unsure on just how weak you are, so you lean towards the jug >An uncomfortable tingle runs through your arm as you lean on it >Though it takes a second longer than you intend, you manage to wrap your fingers around the jug >It feels like you’re trying to lift a boulder as your muscles strain under the weight of a simple jug of water >But after a few seconds, you manage to muster the strength to tip the jug >The clear fresh water flows into the glass sporadically as the jug constantly shifts up and down from the strain >Despite the difficulty, you can’t help but smile at the sight >You’ll be better in no time >With the glass filled, you let the jug rest and begin draining the glass >For the next few minutes, you repeat the process of draining the glass, struggling with the jug and draining the glass again, until all of the water’s gone >As you let your glass slam against the cabinet one final time you take several deep breaths >Your hand has gone completely numb, now as unresponsive as your left >Though your tightly wrapped bandages strain against your chest, constricting it as you breathe, your chest doesn’t ache as much >Despite doing so little, you feel your exhaustion return in full “Sorry, you were saying doc?” Resting back against your bed, you feel a hot puff of air as Eris snorts >Returning your hand to her head, she relaxes at the touch >”I was just wondering if all humans are as tough? Apparently you got up and started walking around the castle, even with your injuries” Her curiosity makes it feel like you’re talking to a clone of Twilight “I reckon that was mostly just adrenaline” She looks a little disappointed to hear that, but her face quickly returns to a neutral stare as she nods “...I should have had a bag with me” >She perks up a little at that and trots over to another corner of the room >Slowly, Fluttershy’s bag hovers over to you, and is rested gently on your chest >Much to Eris’ chagrin you begin shifting up the bed so you can sit >Sutures helps as best she can, using her magic to help keep you steady and rearrange the pillows >”I dunno how you’re gonna get in there though, she put some sort of spell on it” Sutures indicates to Eris with a nod of her head “Even the princesses couldn’t undo it” “Celestia and Luna were here?” You knew Luna was in your dream, but you assumed the doctor had just kept them updated with letters >”They were pretty worried about you, and a little irked that Eris refused to undo her spell” She chuckles a little at the memory and you can’t help but smirk at the mental image >Your left arm still refuses to work so you awkwardly shift the bags with one hand >The clasp that seals the bag gives you a small static shock on contact, but you flip it open as easily as usual >Both you and Sutures simply stare at the bag for a moment >The silence is broken as Sutures lets out her first real laugh since you woke up >”Ohoho wow. Princess Twilight’s been fuming over that thing ever since you were brought here” Her mirth filled voice ends with a mix of a chuckle and a snort >You can imagine that Twilight will be flabbergasted at the sheer ease with which you opened the bag >Though you suspect the spell was intended to work this way >Another smile grows on you as you look back down to Eris, happily snoozing away >Again you bring your hand to her head, causing her to let out a mix of a coo and a purr >Even with your good arm, retrieving the books is difficult >Made even more so by the fact you exhausted what little strength you had with the jug >With a grunt, you begin shuffling the bottom of the bag back and forth >The books begin to wriggle free of their confines, slowly creeping out of the bag >Sutures glances at the books and does a double-take so quickly you’re surprised she didn’t hurt her neck >The faint glow of her magic invades the bag as she pulls two of the books out >Celestia’s white leather bound book slips out onto your lap >While the other two float around Sutures’ head, her eyes wide >”I’ve only ever heard about these books- if they’re the books I think they are” Her horn lets out a brief, faint whistle as the books flip open >The sight of the Old Ponish shocks Sutures and causes a small look of giddiness to overtake her >She flips the books back to their covers >You hadn’t noticed before, but there were runes carved into the inside of the covers >Most likely for the specific purpose of identifying them “Good read?” With what little strength you still have, you idly flip back and forth through the pages of Celestia’s book >Still as incomprehensible as before, but just as intriguing >Your voice seemingly snaps Sutures out of whatever reverie she was in >She sheepishly levitates the books back to you >”Sorry it’s just- those books are old, very old, very rare” Her body says more about the books than her words, the simple sight of them has caused her breathing to noticeably quicken >You simply smile at the mare, humming lightly as you brush your fingers over the surface of the books >The one designed with intricate details of diamonds and crystals is rough but firm >Meanwhile the book depicting something regarding changelings is as unpleasant to the touch as before >Almost as though it were specifically designed to turn away readers >What is actually written in the book though, you’re unsure, is it some ancient history, legends and tales about their kind, or does it simply hold information about the changelings themselves and their culture >If you’re going to be stuck in the castle for a week, maybe you can get to a point where you can make out some of the words >Briefly, you wonder if Eris may be able to help you as well as Twilight >She may not be suited to teaching, but perhaps her Equestria followed the same Old Ponish, and maybe she knew how to read it from first-hand experience >”I… don’t mean to be overbearing Mr. Anonymous, but you should get some more rest” The books levitate out of your near-limp grasp and return to the bag “Your lethargy is becoming more apparent with each minute” >Her magic encircles you and your body begins sliding back down the bed as your pillow is adjusted once more “You’re the doctor” Her words become more apparent to you as your own speech come out slightly slurred from your exhaustion >With a small smile she turns and heads towards the door “I’ll let the Elements know that you’ve been awake, but I’ll make sure to keep them out” >Her eyes briefly glance to Eris once more as the door clicks shut behind her >With a bit of exertion, you rest your hand on Eris’ head again, though you have now completely lost any strength, and so it sits unmoving “So, how much of that did you hear?” The more you’ve spoken the easier you’ve found it to speak, though your voice has none of its usual volume >Despite your low volume, Eris’ ears still twitch “How’d you know I was awake?” “I didn’t” You want to chuckle, but you only manage a small exhale through your nose >Shifting under your hand, Eris turns to face you, her eyes only open a sliver of the way >Though they’re hidden behind the lids of her eyes, you still see her irises fall to look at the blanket instead of you “‘m sorry” “Eris” You say her name in tandem with a deep sigh “I’m… not doing this, we already went over it” >Despite your earlier words in your dream, and now, Eris’ eyes remain down >Though its small, you manage to nudge Eris’ head in your direction >She takes the hint and moves up your body, now resting her head on your chest “You’re sorry, and I forgive you Eris” The tension is palpable for an instant before it fades away as Eris’ breath hitches >With a gentle shush, she settles down on you again “I’ll be stuck here for the next week” You leave the words hanging in the air as Eris shifts slightly on your chest “It’s gonna be boring” >”I’ll stay, don’t want Princess Purple driving you mad with boredom” Her face is buried in your chest, but you can feel her lips turn up in a smile “I would have thought you’d want me to go mad, I’d fit right in with you then” She chuckles, causing your chest to gently shake back and forth “Where’d you go anyway?” >Her few days of absence hadn’t come up as you were dreaming >Though it seems there may have been a reason >Faintly you can feel her talon creeping up the bed >She rests it against your arm and carefully traces the tip of her claw over your skin >The sensation is not entirely unpleasant >”I just…” Her claw rakes against your skin as she balls up her fist “...had a bad dream” >Sombra, that Queen Amore and the Wendigos >The brief flash of blue you saw in the portrait back in the gallery >Despite how numb your body is, you still feel a stab of regret in your stomach >There’s still so much you don’t know >More likely than not, you’re never gonna be able to learn everything >How could you, she had a thousand years of memories >Shifting your arm forward, you wrap it around her neck and pull Eris ever so slightly closer >While you want to stay awake and talk, you can feel your fatigue calling you “Get some sleep Eris” >Your voice gets slower and weaker with each word until you feel your muscles go completely lax >The last thing you hear as you drift off is a gentle humming from your bed companion >The next thing you hear is a mix of voices >It’s much easier to wake up this time >Though it’s no easier to move >A stinging pain shoots up your arm, making you grunt and hiss >Whatever the voices were talking about, they were too engrossed to notice >It’s painful to do so, but you try to get your left arm to move >You’re thankful to finally get a response from it >As your senses fully come back you begin to make out some of the voices >”-should be looked at” >”Not happening Sparkle, I’m leaving the decision up to him” >”That magic door blew Anon right offa his feet, you tellin’ me there ain’t no way them books aren’t gonna do the same?” >”Hey doc, come on back us up here” >”Maybe Rainbow Dash is right, what do you think, Doctor Sutures?” >”Oh this should be good” >Silence finally falls over the group >With more effort than you expected, you shift your right arm under your back and manage to prop yourself up >Several silhouettes blot out the door’s crystal glass >Despite how small her voice is, it carries with enough confidence that it comes through clearly >”If I’m honest princess, if it were anypony else displaying this kind of conduct, I would have thrown them out on their flanks by now” You see several of the silhouettes recede from the door, allowing Sutures outline to be more clearly defined >”We just-” >A harsh shush quickly shuts down the hovering silhouette >”The only reason I haven’t done the same with all of you is because you outrank me, you and your friends have saved the world multiple times, and she could turn the planet inside out” Even though you can’t see her properly, you can feel Eris smirk >Though you quickly see her distinct shadow recede even further as Sutures’ head snaps to face her >”I’m honestly reconsidering allowing you all in at this point” A clamor of voices and complaints echo from behind the door >A bouncing silhouette catches your attention, and then it’s gone as quickly as it appeared >Sutures holds up a hoof and the clamour slowly dies down >As she begins to trot away, the shadows follow after her >Probably for the biggest dressing down they’ve ever gotten >”Psst, Anon” A whisper seems to come from both sides of you >If your mind wasn’t so slow and your body wasn’t so injured, that voice would have made you jump out of your skin “Who?” You turn your head side to side, trying to find the source of the voice >It takes about half a dozen times of sweeping over the room before you find the culprit >Out of seemingly nowhere, Pinkie appears, sat at the edge of your bed >How you didn’t notice her, you’ll never know >How she moves like that, you don’t particularly want to know >Maybe she’s a distant cousin of Eris’ >Anything’s possible at this point >With a calming breath, you notice a plate held gently in her mouth, a small frosted cupcake >She places it on your lap, then gently pushes it forward with a hoof >”Happy fornightaversary Anon” She’s much calmer than the exuberance you’ve gotten used to “Thanks Pinkie, I think?” The pink mare titters as you quirk an eyebrow at her >Grabbing the confectionary, you bite straight into the top, getting a full blast of frosting and cake >You thought Bon Bons bon-bons were sweet >But this is on a whole other level >The pure sweetness hits you like a shovel to the face so you let your head crash back into the pillow as you slowly chew through the cake and swallow >The sugar actually gives you a tangible amount of energy that doesn’t immediately die >Sadly you’re too preoccupied trying to process how something can be that sweet without being pure sugar in order to use that energy >”Um… Anon? You ok?” >Still dazed from the cake you give the pink baker a small thumbs up >She lets out a cute squeak, content at your approval >With a heavy sigh you begin sitting up >”Need some more pillows?” Before you can answer four pillows are propped up under you, helping you to sit up “How do you do that?” You’re bewildered but can’t help but smile as you take another bite of the cake >She doesn’t answer, eyes locked onto the cake >You snap the confection in two as you chuckle at her >Her eyes go wide and her smile goes wilder as you share the sweet treat >The cake is gone in an instant, and she lets out a satisfied sigh “Do what?” >Of course she had to ask when you had a mouthful of cake >Before she can press you with more questions, you hold up a hand and try to speed up your eating >Emphasis on try, your jaw is especially sore for some reason >Something you’ll have to enquire with Light Sutures about >With that mental note, you finally swallow “Your whole… thing, appearing in this room without opening the door, the pillows” Pinkie’s head tilts sideways, a content smile on her face as you list off her endearing strangeness “I’m pretty sure you’re faster than most pegasi” >”Well, I just kind of....” She makes various hoof movements, trying to convey some cryptic message, one that you’re way too exhausted to try and decipher ”You know?” Admittedly, you had zoned out, but you nod nonetheless “Yeah I guess that makes sense” >She beams at you “Thank Celestia, most ponies don’t get it. They always say ‘huh?’ or ‘In Ponish Pinkie?’” She puts on a few suspiciously familiar voices as she speaks “Well, when you hang out with Eris enough, stuff like that just starts to make sense, even when maybe it shouldn’t” Peeling away the last of the wrapper, you eat the rest of the cake >Talking about Eris with Pinkie vividly reminds you of the first time the two met in Sugarcube Corner “So how are the twins?” Hopefully the experience hadn’t affected Pound and Pumpkin >”Fit as fiddles, they also really like fiddle music, makes nap time a LOT easier” Though she chuckles you can hear a small amount of tiredness in it “There been any problems with the building since Eris put it back?” You don’t know where she got these pillows, but they’re doing wonders for your back >You shuffle against them, but no matter how differently you lean on them, they accommodate you perfectly >Maybe you can convince her to let you keep them >”Well, aside from the bitemarks in the floor, walls and ceiling and the little Eris’ I keep finding in the nooks and crannies, everything’s normal” She lightly takes the wrapper from you and scrapes her hoof against it >With a cluster of icing and cake resting on her hoof she sucks it clean >You try to imagine just how hectic her room could be for that to seem normal >But then again, with what you’ve seen from her, it’s not that hard to understand >A chorus of muffled voices echo from outside, drawing you and Pinkie’s attention >The pink mare is still sucking on her hoof as she turns to the door >”-e could be anywhere” >”I’d still prefer it if you were all present here before I let you in” >”We ain’t gonna be no trouble doc, we just wanna see him for a minute” >”Not even that if you want, we just need the books” >”Not happening princess, we’ve been over this” >”Yes Eris, we have, but you don’t seem to listen” >”I’ll listen when you have something to say” >A frustrated groan is quickly silenced by a clearing throat >”I think we need to go over this again” >Several more groans come from them but Sutures quickly shushes them >”I wouldn’t have to do this if you didn’t act like foals” Her silhouette moves but quickly snaps back to them “My patience is starting to wear thin with all of you” There’s more venom in her voice than you expected her to be able to muster >The shadows retreat once more “I think he’d like to see you all at least once before the end of the day, keep that in mind” >Murmurs come from the girls Pinkie awkwardly shuffles on the bed while you sigh at what you just heard “So are you supposed to be here?” >Pinkie lets out a mix of a chuckle and a snort but waves her hoof at you “Well, if you got into the technicalities...” >This brings a smile to your face, which she shares >Its nice to know she was willing to break some rules to help you feel more comfortable >You’re more surprised that Eris hasn’t broken those rules >Then again, she seems to be a bit out of sorts since you got hurt >Just another reason to get back to full health, so she could get back to her old self >Pinkie doesn’t seem to be faring much better >But she’s doing a damn good job of trying to hide it >Save for the random breaking and entering, the cake and the pillows, she hasn’t been nearly as boisterous “Fortnightaversary…” The word doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue at all, but it pulls back Pinkie’s attention “Can’t believe I’ve been here for half a month” >”Actually, you’re closer to being here for three weeks, your fortnightaversary was the first day you were brought back from the castle” Though there is pep in her voice, it drops significantly as she mentions the castle >Hopefully you’re not gonna have to do this with all of them >Gently raising a hand, you rest it in Pinkie’s mane and scratch her scalp lightly >She leans into the touch slightly and lets off a sigh “I’ve told Eris, and after I’m done telling you I want you to tell the girls so I don’t have to do this again” Pinkie chuckles at your tone “I’m fine Pinkie, I got banged up but I’m ok” >She moves your hand off with a hoof and hops off the bed to beside you “I know Anon it’s just…” >A punctured lung and a fractured skull as your worst injuries was pretty intense to hear >You’re pretty sure the gravity of how close you were hasn’t set in properly >But right now you’re less interested in getting existential and more interested in making sure the girls don’t get existential >”Light Sutures is great and all but she would only say things like ‘If the surgery holds’ and ‘He may soon’ and ‘He could be’” You’re not sure if your eyes are deceiving you, but you could swear that she’s deflated, just a small amount “So you just got given a bunch of ifs and mays and coulds?” Pinkie nods at you and you begin to understand >If Eris or the girls were injured, and you weren’t given a concrete guarantee that they would be ok >Well, it certainly wouldn’t make you feel better “Well, I’m not gonna get better on cake alone” Though it has helped, even with just half of it, the pure sweetness has given you a lot of energy “Surely you’ve heard of the best medicine?” >”Laughter” She smacks her hoof to her lip as her voice bursts into jovial mirth at the simple word >There’s probably an extra layer of humour for her, considering her element >She rests her hoof against the railing of your bed as she ponders what to do >“Oh, ok, let’s start small” With a dramatic clearing of her throat she grins at you “A policemare arrests a battery and a firework, what does she do with ‘em?” “She charges one and lets the other off” >”She charges one and lets the other off” >You both break into full laughter at the corny joke >At least, Pinkie does, your chest still aches so your laughter is considerable repressed “Such a bad joke but it doesn’t stop being funny to me” Its especially difficult to get out the words as you juggle laughing with making sure you don’t inflame your chest with pain >Pinkie lets out a giggle-snort as she begins to calm down “I know right, can’t wait to tell it to Pound and Pumpkin” >The thought of the two foals brings you to smile >You’d visited them again after the storm of Eris had passed when she was first in town >Pound had slammed into your head again >Hopefully he doesn’t make a habit of that >Pumpkin started chewing on your hand >Apparently teething has been the biggest problem with her >Pinkie assured you she was harmless but you didn’t want the foal to get a taste for you >Another pair of ponies you need to visit when you’re out of here >In a week’s time >You didn’t think of it that much yesterday but now you wanted to contest it >Of course, that was just the stupid you talking >Besides, if you stay inside, maybe you won’t be accosted by wild magic trying to kill you >That could be fun in its own way >”Would it be alright if I brought the foals to see you?” Pinkie’s voice breaks you out of your thoughts “They kept looking at the door while you were here, I think they miss you” “You mean Pound misses his landing pad and Pumpkin misses her chew toy?” Her giggle is much more suppressed this time >”Maybe” She teasingly elongates the word “Or maybe they miss your stallion’s touch” >Her words only elicit an eye roll from you “Check with the Cakes and Sutures first” Getting back to the topic, she nods at your words >Gears are turning in her mind, you can tell, hopefully she doesn’t try something too outlandish >She loves those foals so you wouldn’t put it out of the realm of possibility that she’d try a few underhoofed tactics to sneak them here >The voices return again, notably more hushed this time >”I was never here” Pinkie waves her arms in a way that her bones should not allow as she sinks below the bed railing >You’re tempted to bend over the railing and check under the bed, but you’re pretty sure you’d either injure yourself more, or make yourself nauseous >Instead, you simply lay against the pillows that are thankfully still here >Wait how are you gonna explain the pillows >Of course, that’s the exact moment that the doors open >”Anon!” >”Howdy ‘nonymous” >”You’re looking well darling” >”Dude, you look like you got trampled” >The room goes silent at Rainbow’s lack of tact >While the others either look at her wide-eyed with jaws dropped you can’t help the chuckles that escape you >The noise pulls everyone’s attention back to you >Slowly your chuckle turn to full blown laughter >Though your chest stings with each laugh you can’t seem to stop >Two other snorts come from the group as Eris and Pinkie join in >While Twilight, Rarity and Applejack aren’t openly staring at Rainbow anymore, they still look unimpressed >Rainbow just seems thankful that you managed to stop them from biting her head off “Well what are you doing over there? Come on” With as much strength as you’ve got you lift your arm and beckon them over >It falls a bit oddly and smacks into your left causing you to hiss >The girls’ faces fall at the sight as they approach >”Is it hurtin’ much sugarcube?” Applejack leans her head back and forth to inspect your bandaged arm “Nah, only when I flex it, lift it, or use it in any way” The farm pony rolls her eyes at you and mutters something under her breath >”Well ah’m just happy that you’re feeling better, y’all gave us a mighty scare back there” She tentatively rests her hoof against you hand “Think you’ll be back on yer feet soon?” >”Applejack!” Twilight gives her the same look she had just given Rainbow >”Worryin’ ain’t any kind of medicine I’ve heard of Twilight” A brief puff of air blows from Applejack’s nose >Before either can get started you hold up a hand >Your eyes briefly shoot to Sutures and you just spot her placing a forehoof down “I reckon I could get to my feet now, just not for long” Applejack seems to take comfort in your confidence “But Sutures wants me here for a week to be safe” >She doesn’t say anything but Applejack nods and a genuine smile spreads across her lips >Rarity steps forward as Applejack shuffles back >Despite the size of the castle, the presence of six ponies has made the room seem much more cramped >Though you doubt that the presence of a human and a draconequus are helping that much >Speaking of, Eris has simply hovered above you all when she entered >Your elevated head, thanks to the pillows, actually gives you the perfect angle to watch her >Her wings don’t even twitch at her sides >She moves like a puppet on strings, and she’s the puppeteer >Its graceful in its own way >She looks rather disinterested at the ponies gathering around you, her eyes drifting from one to the other >You do notice her eyes look towards the bag that lays by the corner of your bed briefly >As Twilight had entered, you noticed her eyes darting around the room as well >Looks like you’re gonna have to spend some more time getting her to calm down before she panics over nothing >Each time you’ve opened and read the books, nothing’s happened >Her eyes briefly lock with your and her disinterested look disappears into a small smile >Maybe after this week is done you should try the stuff you did in the dream in real life >Would dream experience translate into real world ability or are you gonna have to relearn it all >Perhaps you’d be able to do it from muscle memory >Rarity clears her throat besides you ”What I believe Applejack was trying to say darling is that we’re all hoping for a speedy recovery” Her face turns down a little as she mumbles “Especially Fluttershy” >The realization suddenly hits you >Fluttershy isn’t here >You’re not even sure if she’s been here at all >She was actually there when you were turned into an injured, bleeding mess, but Eris was the one who pulled you out >With her proclivity for panicking, you can’t imagine how she’s feeling >The cold metal of the railing shoots up your arm as you brace your hand against it >Before you’re able to lift yourself an inch a heavy paw rests on your chest and pushes you down slightly >”Not happening Anon” Eris has come down from the ceiling with a slightly annoyed look “Eris-” Before you’re able to get anther word in she pokes your nose with a claw >”I can read you like a book, I’m not helping you get to Fluttershy” Her words cause the girls to murmur among themselves “I just want to see her” >”I don’t want to hear it” Her paw presses down a bit more on your chest, yet you feel no ache “No one’s fault remember?” >You open your mouth to argue but snap it shut >A smug grin crosses her face as she shuts you down with your own argument >”So these are the books” Twilight mutters beside you >Eris’ head snaps to the side and her talon claws come together before snapping >The bag and books end up to your side >Twilight rolls her eyes at Eris and walks over to the two of you “Anon would you please tell her” >”What, can’t come up with a good enough argument yourself?” Eris’ smug grin remains as she leans on a paw “Eris” Before you’re able to say anything Twilight cuts in >”See Anon gets- “Twilight!” This effectively shuts up both of their bickering “What is even going on” >”Sparkle’s got this idea that those books are gonna hurt you, when I’ve already looked over them” Bitter tones slowly enters Eris’ words as her eyes narrow at Twilight >”It doesn’t hurt to get a second perspective Eris, we don’t even know what part of the castle he found them in” >Twilight has propped herself up against your bed railing >Eris has leaned down to come face to face with her >The girls are slowly backing away >And Light Sutures looks ready to perform medical malpractice >All while your arms is still aching “Celestia” At the mention of Twilight’s mentor and Eris’ old enemy both of them snap out of their glaring contest “They were in her private study or whatever it was” >The two shoot one last glance at each other before drifting away >You can see the faint outline of Sutures horn but you give her a pleading look >Thankfully she seems willing to give one more chance as her magic fades again “There was this weird spell, it…” The words to describe the spell escape you for a while until Fluttershy’s own words echo in your head “It’s like, I could see the desk and books were there, but I didn’t want to” >Eris seems simply confused at your words, which in turn amuses her >Whereas Twilight’s eyes have widened slightly “Of course, a perception filter spell charged with alicorn magic would’ve…” Her words fade into thoughts as her lips move without a sound >If you had to guess she’s probably planning on investigating the castle again herself >It wouldn’t surprise you if she’s gotten it into her head that she’s missed countless parts of the castle due to oversights and other spells she didn’t expect “As for the books themselves, well” Grabbing the books you pass them over to Twilight >Eris rolls her eyes slightly but otherwise seems fine with the exchange “I’ve got no idea what any of them say, they’re all in old Ponish” Twilight perks up at hearing that, flipping open the crystal patterned book first >Eris is simply hanging in the air still so you awkwardly grab the changeling book and hang it in front of her >She smirks a little and takes it anyway >Upon spotting the changeling face on the cover she glares “Arachnis” >Flipping through the book, she actually seems legitimately interested in what she’s reading >With those two amptly distracted, the rest of the girls can finally approach >Rainbow hovers over you, investigating you as best you can >”Seriously dude, never met a stallion take a hit this bad and not whine about it” A proud grin tugs at her lips while Rarity lets out a huff “What? It’s a compliment” >Applejack and Pinkie join you as you chuckle at the two of them >”So do you like, want anything to help pass the time while you’re cooped up? Trust me I’ve been there” Rainbow lets herself slowly land on the headrest of the bed just beside you >”That’s not a bad idea Rainbow, I reckon there might be a board game or two back at Sweet Apple Acres” >”Or I could bring you the latest fashion magazine, of course I could outdo all the designs easily” Rarity giggles at her own pride “But I hear the gossip columns are popular among stallions” >”Ew” Even Twilight and Eris break from their books to let out a snicker at Rainbow’s deadpan disgust “I was thinking more along the lines of some Daring Do books? I’ve got all of them” >”So do I Dash” >”Yeah but-” >”I also had them all first” Her face doesn’t move away from the book, but Twilight still smirks >Rainbow mutters to herself as she flaps her wings “No gossip magazine Rarity, sorry, but sure to the rest” Rarity sighs a little, but seems content nonetheless >”Is he allowed to have cake?” Pinkie turns to Sutures who ponders the question for a moment >”Hmmm, who knows?” Eris whispers besides you >As you turn to the draconequus she pops the discarded cake wrapper into her mouth and winks at you >She lets out a pleased hum as you bring up your hand to rub behind her ear >”Well, with all due respect, considering this is only the second day he’s been awake, I think this is a long enough visit” Her announcement is met with several groans from the girls “You can just visit him tomorrow, now come on” >The girls begin filing out, each one stopping to hug you before they leave >Thankfully they all avoid your bad arm >”So are you alright with me looking over this” Twilight still has the book in her magic and is practically shaking with excitement >If Light Sutures was right about how rare they are, you imagine that even Twilight may not have read it before >Which is surprising, considering the size of her library “Go ahead Twilight” Though Eris grumbles a little beside you, Twilight is ecstatic at you answer “But you gotta teach me how to read it too” >Twilight’s jaw briefly drops before she beams >She took to teaching you modern Ponish like a fish to water, so you’re not surprised she’s just as excited at teaching you another new language >You’re pretty sure she’d have started ranting in her excitement if Sutures hadn’t started physically moving her out of the room >As Pinkie bounces out the room behind the others she raises a hoof to her lips, as her eyes dart between you and the pillows >With a small salute to her, the doors finally shut >Of course, Eris chose to ignore Sutures’ suggestion >The doctor and the draconequus briefly lock eyes >Both are rather apathetic to the other, but you imagine neither are particularly happy >Sutures heaves a heavy sigh and shakes her head as she trots over to you >Other than mentioning your jaw and the pillows, both of which Sutures waves off, her brief check-up is uneventful >With one final nod, the doctor makes her way out of the room “So, Arachnis huh?” Eris pulls her head out of the book again >Plucking the tip of her tail off she places it in the page to mark it and leaves the book hanging in the air >”An… old acquaintance, not as bad as the others, but her granddaughter, Chrysalis?” You’re not sure how she does it but she chuckles in an angry way “Total bitch that one, and an annoyingly resilient insect as well” “Maybe she’s part cockroach?” Eris’ brief flash of anger melts into mirth at your words >”She’s also not welcome here apparently, can’t say I’m not thankful” She floats down to the floor and rest herself over your torso again >Like before, you run your hands through her hair >She seems to enjoy it just as much if not more now >”It’s weird how much the world changed just cause Luna and Celestia stoned my dad” Her voice drops significantly and her eyes get a thousand yard stare >You’re pretty sure you know what she’s thinking, and it hurts your heart to think of >Though it still aches, you wrap your other arm under her, and pull her straight up to you >She stutters briefly at the contact but you stay silent until she goes quiet “It wouldn’t have been better if the same happened to you Eris” She goes to say something but you press a finger to her nose “I can read you like a book” You make your tone lighter as you copy her words >Eris’ face shifts from happy to sad so many times it’s hard to tell what she’s feeling anymore >Her voice fails her each time she opens her mouth so she just settles for returning the hug “After all, we might not have met then, right?” Eris gasps, clearly trying to suppress a sob, so you tighten the hug, and she does the same >It feel way better than it did in the dream or on the train >You almost don’t want to let her go >But, with how tightly she’s hugging you back, you don’t think she’s eager to let go either >You’re not sure how long you stayed like that, minutes, hours maybe >Neither of you said a word >It’s the longest she’s gone without doing something chaotic >While in each others arms you feel her breathing even out >But even as she gets better, her hug never loosens >A wave of fatigue washes over you both as you feel her breathing get slower and slower >She actually falls asleep before you >Just as you feel your own exhaustion take you, something whips your head up >The dark purples, blues and blacks and whites of the star-filled night sky surround you >Clouds gather on every side of you >Dirt roads and thatch roofs are beneath you >You’re stood straight up and inside a bubble >Before you can question the empty air a flash and pop snaps you out of your own curiosity >”THAT, was exhausting” The aged voice of Discord fills the bubble “Hello Discord” Your voice is heavy with unamusement >Of course he dismisses it with an immediately jubilant voice >”Oh Anonymous, so good to see you again” He shakes your hand vigorously “And even better to see how good you’re taking care of my daughter” With his hands detached from his body and still shaking yours, he nudges your shoulder with his >It takes a bit of effort, but you manage to detach his hands and throw them back to him “Let me guess, Fluttershy?” Turning away from the elder draconequus you peer out of the bubble, trying to spot the quaint cottage >”Are you asking if that’s why I’m exhausted, or if that’s why I’m here?” Stretching out, he drums his claws against each other Your simple response of “Yes” causes him to chuckle >”She’s been beating herself up and crying over what happened to you for quite some time” His tone becomes much more sombre “I only just got her to calm down, but now you’re here so I can make her feel much better” >His talon goes together but you clamp a hand over it before he can snap “Send me back Discord, preferably now” You roll your eyes at him while he chuckles >”My dear boy, do you really think I could just snatch Eris’ pillow this easily?” He claps his hands together and spread them apart, revealing a window that shows you back at the bed with Eris “Awww, it’s adorable” >A flash appears from a camera >Quicker than you thought you could, you snatch the camera away and snap it >Knowing him he’d probably embarrass Eris with it or something >He tuts at you like a disapproving parent “Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to steal?” “Didn’t yours ever teach you not to spy?” Several more snaps and flashes cause spots to appear in your vision >”Sorry Anonymous, I couldn’t hear over the thirty cameras I can conjure on a whim” His voice echos several times as several clones fill the bubble >You knew it wouldn’t be that easy to stop him, but at least you tried >”So. Fluttershy?” He raises his eyebrows at you “No, I’m exhausted and my arm’s still killing me” Being in such close quarters with him is more annoying than you expected >If you were in the open you could at least walk away from him >Sure he could hover besides you or teleport to you in that case >But here, all you can do is stand and talk >”Is that all, how about some coffee and aspirin?” With a flash he takes on a maître d outfit, with a cup of coffee and a cup of painkiller on a silver tray “Think I’d prefer bed rest” Looking around the bubble, you see no opening to it >Before he can argue further, you grab Discord’s talon arm and jab one of his claws into the side >The bubble does puncture, but it acts more like a balloon, letting out a stream of air as it whips through the air >Strangely though, you both remain unmoved by the rapid speed and wild course changes it takes >”Well now look what you did” “Hey, it was your talon” >Another snap and flash and the bubble disappears completely as you land on a cloud >Surprisingly sturdy, considering its just dense water essentially >”Look if you’re so hung up about the injured arm I could always give you a new one” Now he’s wearing an outfit similar to Sutures’ patchwork doctor coat “Of course, I only have experience with a lion’s paw or an eagle’s talon, so which would you prefer” >He holds up the limbs next to your with a measuring tape >Scoffing you get to your feet and bat the arms away “Look Discord, not that this hasn’t been fun but…” You mull over the words as you sit on the edge of the cloud “... it hasn’t” >As you look over the rolling hills below you make another mental note to have Eris bring you up to one of these clouds when you’re done >So much left in this world to explore >Discord is mostly silent as he hovers over to you “You gonna send me back soon or?” He’s oddly quiet now as he sits besides you >”Just… a few questions first?” His previous tone has been replaced with a more serious one now >You’d be surprised if Eris didn’t have similar whiplash changes in mood “Alright, shoot” A bottle appears in your hand and his paw >Like in your dream, the cap comes off with a flip >Unlike the dream though, you’re positive this is a real drink >It’s probably affecting your real body too >Wouldn’t exactly surprise you if he could do that >”You and Fluttershy, you- she… you can” He stops several times before taking a swig of his drink “How?” >His tone comes out just as baffled as you feel from hearing it >You give him a quizzical stare but he just raises his brows at you >Looks like you’re gonna have to try some mental gymnastics to figure out what he’s trying to say >You and Fluttershy >How >How what >With another swig you mull over the possibilities >You doubt he’s interested in the castle, or the fact she’s enquired if you want a pet while you’re here >Discord and Eris are the only reasonable connection you and Fluttershy have that he’d be interested in >How >How do you both put up with them maybe “I dunno, if I’m honest Discord” He doesn’t look happy with the answer, but he gives you a nod anyway “What I really don’t get though is how we’re the only ones” >This immediately gets his attention “I mean, Twilight and Eris earlier they were…” You bump your fists against each other a few times to convey their earlier arguing >”I’m not surprised really” With the drink itself gone, he begins draining the glass itself “I’ve been here for several years longer than Eris and Fluttershy is still the only one who really trusts me” >You join him in drinking glass which takes him by surprise “Eris showed that trick to me” He beams at your words, and you continue “But didn’t you also like, betray them big time with that Tirk or Tirek guy” >His tail creeps back up the cloud and wraps around his legs “Yeah, I did, didn’t I” >It would surprise you to see him acting this way, if you hadn’t seen Eris acting similarly >They’re still practically gods to you, but you’re beginning to appreciate that there’s more to them >Hopefully you can help the girls figure that out too >Or maybe you and Fluttershy are gonna stay the only ones >You’re shocked that the idea actually seems appealing >But it sticks to you nonetheless >The idea of you and Eris and Fluttershy and Discord being just the four of you >It’s not the worst outcome you can imagine to this whole reforming thing >You shake your head to clear the thought >You know Eris wants to be close to other ponies >So you’ll be damned if you don’t at least try to make that happen “It’s a shame though, you know” Discord picks his head up to look at you “I was actually considering asking you for advice on how to help them get along” >He gives a small smile and simply shrugs at you “What’s the other thing?” As you lean back and stare up you catch the vapor trails of a few pegasi heading home >”Does Eris hate me?” The bluntness of the question throws you, causing you to fall flat on your back >As you scramble to sit up, you look to Discord and he refuses to look at you >That was heavier than you were expecting from the lord of chaos >”Come now Anon, I’m not blind” He runs his lion’s paw through his hair and rubs his neck >You want to tell him no, but you think back to what you spoke of with Eris in the gallery >She definitely isn’t happy when he’s around >But does she hate him >Obviously she’s been cold to him, maybe angry a few times >At the end of the day, you don’t have a very good answer either way “I think this is probably something you need to ask Eris” With no good answer, it’s probably best to leave this between the two of them >You’re a reformer, not a therapist >”Yeah, you’re probably right” He sucks in a large amount of air and sighs “Well!” With a leap into the air his mood shifts completely “It’s been fun as always, we should meet again, be sure to schedule it with my secretary” >With a flash a miniature desk and Discord clone at a typewriter appears before you “Adios my Anonymous friend” >Before you can get a word out another flash hits you and you crash into a soft material >As you get your bearings again, you feel something shift against your chest >Looking down, you spot Eris still hugging you >Back in your room again >That certainly wasn’t how you expected to end your day >Now you definitely need to see Fluttershy >Maybe if you both work on it you can help Eris and Discord >But that’s a problem for another day >Exhaustion and fatigue hit you again and again as you settle further into the bed and readjust yourself in Eris’ grip >Hopefully when you drift off this time you won’t be hijacked <> >It was almost imperceptible as you slipped away >Even as you open your eyes you find it hard to believe you’re dreaming >Everything is as it should be >Including Eris resting against you >But there was one difference >Your body keeps phasing in and out from under her >As you sat up, you shifted through her, but she remained elevated, like you were still under her >With no more risk of agitating your injuries you throw away the covers and hop out of bed >Scanning the room does nothing to tell you this is a dream >The medical equipment is still surrounding the bed >Fluttershy’s bag still lays in a crumpled heap in one side of the room >The book of changelings thrown haphazardly on top of it >Despite its age, its remarkably durable >You’ll have to enquire with Celestia about it >As your hand brushes against it, the book levitates beside you >The unexpected shift makes you jerk back, and the book follows you >Like you’ve developed some sort of gravity or magnetism with the book, you wander back and forth, but the book always remains beside you >Tapping the book again causes it to rapidly flip through its pages back and forth and then snap shut >Altering dreams is still is a bit foreign so you’re content with wandering the room for now >Briefly, you stand besides Eris >She seems to have taken your words to heart about how she looked tired back then >Hopefully sleep will help her, even if only a little >Subdued snarls come from besides you >While it doesn’t move, you could swear that the changeling design on the book cover is slightly expanding and contracting >As if it were breathing >The snarls thrum through your head >You glance between the book and Eris and take a few steps back >Just a few steps back is all it takes for the book to stop >Once more you approach the slumbering chaotic girl to confirm what you saw >Growls and snarls erupt from the cover again >The strangest part is that the face remains completely still as it does so >Withdrawing from Eris’ side, you inspect the book more closely >Just as when you had first found it, without even touching it you can simply see how heavy it is >Its cover is thick and made of something like roughly hewn stone or gnarled wood >Unsurprisingly, the pages reveal nothing new >However, now you know that what you read as ‘Arachnid’ is actually ‘Arachnis’ >Which changes how you read some of the unintelligible text more than you expected it to >Before, you thought that the pony who wrote this was using arachnid as a stand-in for changeling to describe the species >Knowing that it’s a name makes it seem more like a hoof-written account of encounters with the changeling in question instead >As you trace the outline of the drawing, you note that it’s slightly faded due to age, but the visage of the old changeling is very clear >Arachnis, Grandmother of Chrysalis >Twilight had quite a bit to say about that particular enemy when she was brought up >You recall her mentioning Chrysalis’ use of magical mental manipulation spells >The memory causes an itch to creep up the back of your head >If you’re lucky, you won’t even bump into her >Even if you do, you doubt she’d be able to get one over Eris >But even if all else fails, you feel a bit more comfortable with your decision of letting Luna keep a bit of herself in your head >One thumb glides over the images outline while the other glides over the book’s spine >With no way to read the book, you simply stay like that for a few minutes >Your stare bores into the words but still nothing changes >Until the book shifts in your grasp >It suddenly shoots out of your hands and hovers above you >Like before, it flips back and through its pages, cover to cover >Snapping open, the letters of each word begin to converge into a point and then drip off the page, as if the ink were still wet >As the droplets hit the floor, they spring up and hang in the air, revealing the Old Ponish word again >The words then begin to slowly circle around you, ascending and descending randomly >When the final word falls off the page, the book turns to the next >With each falling droplet, the speed of the turning pages and falling ink increases until it feels like you’re in a torrential storm >Like a tornado, you’re surrounded on each side by ink words whipping through the air and around you >Your focus shifts from one point to another, trying to discern anything from the tempest of ink >Despite the maelstrom of unfamiliar words, your eyes do manage to catch the name Arachnis as they pass by >Eventually the storm calms and begins to undulate and warp into itself >A narrow gap forms in the storm which you thankfully take >Your head was starting to spin from how fast the words were moving around you >The clear air helps calm your sense of balance, even if you’re only in a dream >Like rain hitting a pool of water, the sound of droplets fills the room again >Though you’re absent from the whirlwind of Old Ponish it remains in place as it twists and contorts itself >Slowly, the words begin to form the outer shell of a cohesive form >The form is similar to the ponies, specifically Celestia >Its height is about right, where its eyes would be is slightly higher than your own >A horn and wings >But something’s wrong with it >The horn is crooked and the words leave slivers of space where you can look through to the other wall >Especially in the legs and wings, the words spiral around certain points, creating rings of empty space >As the form begins to settle, words begin to separate on its face, creating quasi-eyes >It approaches you, but never lifts its legs, instead the ink hovers just above the ground >Neither does it say anything >The creature simply circles you, as if it were studying you >And you study it in turn >Clearly this is a rough facsimile of the drawing of Arachnis from the book >What interests you the most though are the legs and wings >Eris only gave a vague, generalised description of how changelings appeared, simply calling them “ponies but more like insects” >When you read the book, you thought the holes in the legs were an artist’s mocking interpretation >A caricature of their appearance, derived from the fact they lived in hive castles riddled with holes >Normally you’d put what you’re seeing down as your own minds lack of knowledge on the subject >Yet there’s an unfamiliar certainty in the idea that this is how they look, despite how little time you’ve spent on the subject >The itch in the back of your head returns and makes you wonder if, someway, somehow, Luna’s own knowledge of how changeling’s appear is bleeding into your own mind >Now you not only need to check in with Celestia about the books, but with Luna as well, due to this new development you’ve agreed to >No words come from the form of Arachnis, but she does languidly open her mouth >A single word hangs in the empty space >She also spreads her faux wings and the same word is highlighted in them >The word appears several dozen times in her body, meaning it would have come up frequently in the book >It almost looks familiar but you can’t place it >Like trying to pull something out of water, as you approach the memory of what it means, it slips away in a torrent of interrupting thoughts >Before the lack of clarity can antagonize you more the mass of ink makes another move >The copy of Arachis holds up her hoof, her wings and tail disappear and converge on her hoof, the ink then blossoms outward and forms a block >At the same time, a rustling comes from a different part of the room >Your discarded jacket rocks back and forth from where it’s been hung >Approaching the jacket, you pull it back to reveal the inside, and the letters you’d gathered spring out of the pocket >The Arachnis copy does nothing else, so you stare between the block on her hoof and the letters >Eventually, the mass of ink figures out your confusion and seems to go taut, as if straining despite its lack of muscle >Four lines split the block of ink and the shape refines itself >A book with a diamond on the cover >Your head snaps to the side as you remember the letter that you left in the cover of the book you lent Twilight >Did that have something to do with the word >With a bit of concentration, you try to imagine the book in your hand >But nothing happens >The bag doesn’t contain the book either >It’s your dream, but you seem to still be having difficulty controlling it >Without any way to communicate with the dream changeling you simply head towards the door of your room >If you’re in the castle and you can’t significantly change this dream, then you just need to physically find Twilight >Even if you simultaneously aren’t physically finding her >Dreams are weird >What should have been the crystal hallways of the castle are revealed to be just a blank void as you pull open the door of your room >It’s unsettling to look at, there’s no way to focus your depth perception >No matter which angle you look at it, you can’t tell if its a wall of white or a never-ending expanse of white >Any attempts to determine otherwise give you a small headache >After a few minutes of analysing the blank space, it begins to encroach on the room >Some parts of it appear like cracks in the door frame, other parts look like spider webbing slowly overtaking the walls >Without a second thought you slam the door shut, cutting away the white and restoring the parts of the room to normal >Shooting a glance at the Arachnis copy, she simply opens her mouth again and holds up the book >Her inability to talk is more unsettling than her appearance >Your eyes drift over to Eris, blissfully unaware of whatever’s happening in your head >She suddenly tenses on the bed and her tail violently rises, strains and shudders in place before shakily falling again >Shivers rock her body and she clings to the empty space where your actual body is >As you approach her side, with great care, you reach down to her and brush your hand over her face >For a brief moment you can feel the soft silky hair and you see it being brushed away >It seems that you have retained some small control over your actual body >Before you can ponder this idea Eris lets out a small hum >Her shivers stop, and her grip loosens as she relaxes against the bed again >You smile at her and the snarl from before echos in your head >Arachnis hasn’t moved and her jaw still hangs low, with that strange word in her maw >Perhaps you should stifle your curiosity every now and then, but now is not one of those times where you can >Again you head towards the door and open it >With one last breath you step out of the room and shut the door behind you >The door remains visible but so does the void >Its even worse looking at it now, it throws off your depth perception and balance >When it gets a bit much you look back at the door to calm yourself down >Looking around you see that a small bit of the floor you’ve stepped on has been cleared of the white and revealed the familiar crystal >Taking another few steps, you find that each one reveals more of the floor >You glide your foot in a full circle around you and the area fills itself >Pressing a hand beside your door, you meet resistance >As you sweep it over whatever was stopping you, the familiar gaudy walls are revealed >You never thought you’d be so happy to see something so ugly >At least they don’t blind you anymore with their weird shine and sheen >So you’re still in the castle, but your mind’s just having difficulty figuring that out >You shake your head to clear all the questions this brings up, you can answer them after you get that book >Slowly, you walk through the empty space, gliding your feet over the floors and your hands over the walls and doors in large arcs to get rid of as much of the white as possible >Unfortunately you’re not tall enough to brush the white off the ceiling >With every hallway in the castle being so similar to every other hall, you mostly have to use muscle memory to get to Twilight’s room >Eventually your hands brush against a pair of double doors >Crouching down, you place your hands at the foot of the doors and run them up its length >As you hit the top of the door frame, the colour fills out the rest of the door >Taking the handle in your grasp you pause as you wonder if her room will be a void as well >Its a pretty big room and she could be at her bed, her desk, or even the floor >Just something else you’ll have to handle >As you throw open the door you’re thankful to see the room fully in view >You’re even more thankful to see her actually in bed >According to Spike, she’s had back problems for a while due to her bad habits of sleeping while reading >Her fix to it seems to just be reading in bed >As you approach her bed a small feeling of unease creeps into your stomach >You may be dreaming, but you’re still just walking into her room in the middle of the night >With a calming breath your crouch beside her >Her muzzle is slightly open as a bit of drool threatens to spill out >The wings that normally sit proudly at her side twitch slightly, ruffling the feathers >Half of her body is splayed out against the still open book >Curious as to how it will react, you tap the book >While Twilight remains unmoved, the book phases through her and towards you >Without need of the actual book, you flip to the back of it and grab the open envelope >You leave the book besides Twilight and it shifts back to where it was before >Envelope in hand, you begin heading back down the hallway >It looks more like an amateur’s attempt at an abstract art piece as it’s mostly white, with splashes of the castle revealed from you wiping away the white >Pulling out the letter within, you glance over its contents >Mostly illegible, save for Celestia’s name >Though your mistake with the Arachnid-Arachnis mix-up makes you second guess yourself >You can always ask Twilight in the morning >When you’re finally back at your room, you find that nothing’s changed >Arachnis has remade her wings and tails after disposing of the book, though the word still hangs in her mouth >Eris still seems content as she rests on your bed >Approaching the facsimile of the old changeling queen, you scan over the letter >You hold it up besides her mouth and try to discern which word its supposed to be >The words were written in great haste, the quill having scratched across the parchment with next to no coordination so its difficult to compare them with the neat writing >After a long process of elimination you narrow it down to a few words until one of the last ones it could be catches your attention >You’re pretty sure this is the word you’re being shown by Arachnis but you’re still not sure what it means >As you glance over the letter, you see it being used in conjunction with the word for Celestia’s name >The memory of being hunched over this letter in Celestia’s study comes to the forefront of your mind “Luna” You mutter the name under your breath >The words seems to hit Arachnis as her mouth finally snaps shut, the words on her body highlight again and begin to violently whip around her body “What about her?” You briefly chastise yourself for asking an ink figment of your mind >”Luna” The sudden voice causes you to stumble back from the figure >Her words came out in a guttural, broken tone that seemed to speak twice at once >You check your ears to make sure they’re not ringing but the word echos in your head and through the dream word again ”Luna Luna Luna Luna” and again and again she repeats herself >Arachnis’ body starts shaking as the word for Luna’s name begins to race over her body, faster and faster until they’re a blur >The light from the words being highlighted begins to lag behind the word itself, leaving a trail of light that turn into rings that encircle the changeling >”Luna” With one last utterance of the name, the form splits down the middle, the name hanging morbidly in the crack >The two halves fade, but the word remains >The itch in your head has stopped, replaced by a whispered hum, just at the edge of hearing >You’re not sure how, but the word almost seems to resonate with the hum >It rapidly expands, covering the room in its inky blackness >But the darkness fades as your eyes adjust >Your mind has put you back in the old castle >In the chamber at the bottom of Luna’s tower >Looming over you is one of the old monolithic murals >Specifically it’s the one that depicts the most violent part of Luna’s past >The one where changelings lay at her hooves, and the dark outline of a far greater changeling, the one you now know as Arachnis, stands in the distance >You can’t help but feel discomfort at the image >Perhaps a thousand years ago it was appropriate to glorify things like this >But now it just makes you uneasy >Once again, the old book appears in your hands >It makes no move as you flip through it, it doesn’t snarl or twitch in your hands >It simply lets you flip through it >When you first came to this room with these murals, they never really clicked, probably due to the delirium of losing blood >But now, as you flip through the books, you think you’re getting a better understanding of what the words will say when you can understand them >Now that you know the words, you spot Luna’s and Arachnis’ names much easier than before >The words still mean nothing despite everything, and you find your annoyance growing >When you reach the final page, a pause interrupts the humming before it continues, though much more subdued >The very last page is blank, save for one word at the bottom corner >Celestia’s name, in the same calligraphy of the white book she had written in >The castle begins to fade, and you’re back in your room >Your thoughts rage as countless possibilities try to overtake one another >You let the book slip to your side as you head over to and sit on your bed >The image of Arachnis, the book, the mural in the castle >Despite your own efforts, one conclusion continually forces itself to the forefront of your mind as to what it means >Equestria barely ever had a changeling incident in its recorded history until Chrysalis >The last recorded piece of contact with them seems to be the mural in Luna’s tower that shows her attacking the changeling hive >And this book contains a history of whatever Luna did to them back then >You doubt that sort of information would reach the ears of some common historian >Celestia’s name being in there isn’t just a way to say it belongs to her >Its the signature of an author >It would certainly explain Eris’ interest in the book at least >She’s never been eager to talk about her old world or what she did there >However, in this world, events spiralled out in a completely different direction >It makes you wonder how different things were for her >She’s already told you that her versions of the princesses allied with Arachnis >But now you wonder how and why >Specifically, what Eris did to both sides to make them agree to ally >As the book remains open in your hand, the hum goes on >You snap the book shut, hoping for some reprieve, but sadly it remains >At least it’s a somewhat bearable tune >Thoughts of what exactly it is that Luna did, invade your mind >One thought in particular pokes you >Twilight has a vast collection of books, yet you saw nothing like this >Something written by the teacher she loves, in Old Ponish, about such an unknown species >You doubt she’d miss the chance to have a book like that >Meaning that this book may never have been published, even though it had been written and seemingly finished >But why would the princesses try to hide that piece of history >Any attempts to try and calm your mind fail >The humming continues, as do the thoughts >Before it can become to overwhelming a groan breaks through the noise >Turning around to Eris, you feel your mind finally start to calm at the sight of her >Once more, you bring a hand to her head >You’re happy when you feel your physical hand brush over her >The hum fades, as does the itch, and the thoughts of the book finally pause >It seems that you and Eris are just as curious about this world as each other >Though she seems to be handling it better than you >As your hand rests on her head, the hum returns and you start to feel drowsiness overtaking you again >You feel yourself rock forward as your eyelids grow heavy >Then you jolt upright as something beneath you shakes >The room is gone, replaced by the wide open fields of Equestria’s natural sprawl >The click and clack of steel on steel draws your attention downward >You’re on a train >The same train you rode several days ago it seems as you look ahead >Eris is sat there, the real Eris >Or rather, it’s Eris’ mind, instead of some dreamed up creation you made >Like with the form of Arachnis, the itch in the back of your head makes you certain of this fact >You look around as the realisation hits you >You’re sharing a dream with Eris again >Not entirely surprising, considering you’ve done it twice before, and the thing that allowed it in the first place is still in your head >Before you can begin to wonder if you could do this with other ponies, murmurs from Eris and you pull you out of your thoughts >Even though you’re talking about nothing, the dream version of you seems quite content where he is >Eris however, has an air of anxiety about her >The train shifts again and you spot the shadow of something slipping under its wheels >Several other amorphous shadows fly around the train >While the dream you is ignorant to them, Eris is attempting to ignore them >Whenever she gets closer to you, the shadows recoil for a time, before they begin encroaching on the two again >As you step towards Eris, your steps thunder against the metal, yet no one seems to notice >Eris jumps ever so slightly with each passover of the shadows, and as you approach you begin to figure out why >Each shadow briefly takes on the visage of one of the princesses or Sombra or Chrysalis >Luna’s shadow in particular gives you pause >Scarred, from face to foreleg >A lot of her injuries are blurred though >When you finally reach the train car that Eris and the other you are sitting on, your footsteps finally seem to be heard >Eris’ attention snaps away from you and to you >The shadows let out a low growl at your presence “You know Eris, I remember this day being a lot more pleasant” She giggles at you as the world seems to take a more concrete form >Now that Eris has become aware of you, the world begins to take the shape of what it was like during the train ride >The sun had just dipped over the horizon, leaving the sky a light purple as the last of the light began to fade and darker colours took hold >Clouds of whites and gray begin to form and the shadowy figures dissipate >You turn to her version of you >He simply smirks as he too turns to smoke >”You look a little shaken Anon” Eris’ voice pulls you away from the empty air >Sitting beside her, you look up to her >Images of how Eris would react to you telling her that Luna left a piece of herself in your head crop up >Then the fact that that same piece of Luna is what threw you away from the door follows behind >This is definitely something she should know >But your mind is already too occupied by other thoughts to think about that right now >Reaching behind your back, you feel something heavy catch in your grip >You pull the changeling book forward, causing Eris’ brows to rise and a smirk to appear on her face “Bad dream” Her smile becomes a bit smaller, and a bit sadder at your words >”You’re a quick study if you’re already reading this” She pulls the book from your hands, and idly flips thumbs through it “I just know three words” You count on your fingers as you list the three names, all of which causes Eris’ face to scrunch slightly as you mention them “...Celestia wrote this book” >Eris simply nods at that, she was probably aware before you were >Another curious thought crosses your mind, how much did she know the princesses before everything that happened >How you’d broach that kind of subject crosses your mind as well >The ridiculousness of it all causes you to chuckle >You feel the fur of her paw brushing against your back >Her claws reach your arm, but they flinch back momentarily, before she seemingly forces herself to grip your arm lightly >She’s tense, unsure of what she’s doing >It’s actually kind of cute that someone as powerful as her could be this nervous >You lean into her to try and reassure her of her own action >While you feel her suck in air and hold it as you press your body against hers, slowly she relaxes >If you keep this up she might be comfortable with contact after a few months >Another chuckle escapes you at the thought >”It doesn’t have to matter so much you know?” Her voice is quieter than you’ve ever heard it >Her words are gentle but they shock you enough to snap your head up to look at her >She refuses to look at you, instead her eyes drift across the pages >The kaleidoscope feature in her red irises shifting constantly >You have no words to respond, so you simply place a hand against her chest >It’s just as if not softer than her hair >But you put that thought away in favour of what you just heard >”I see how much this stuff bothers you Anon.” She takes a shuddering breath, but still refuses to see you “You wanted me to grab these before I pulled you out of there” >Your last few moments of consciousness in the tower are hazy at best, you don’t even really remember Eris being there >But what little she told you filled in the gaps “The look in your eyes just now” She holds up the book and tilts it back and forth slightly “Last time I saw you like that was after you first met Celestia and Luna” >Her teeth slightly grind against each other as she mutters their names, and you feel another pang as you think back to your deal with Luna >Even now, you want to keep to it, but how you’re gonna bring it up with Eris is becoming more and more difficult >Eris’ hand rubs up and down your arm slowly, and she’s curled her body closer to you >”But then again” She closes and reopens the book “Who am I to talk? They don’t have to matter anymore either” >As she talks, small pools of shadows crop up in the book, revealing the faces of the ponies that had been rocking the train back and forth from before “But they matter to us anyway” You glide your hand over the book and the wisps of smoke dissipate once more >”Yeah” Her voice is soft as she closes the book and opens it to the very first page >She places the tip of her talon to the front page “Year 344 of the Unification. Herein follows the account of Celestia, Diarch of the Sun, and the burning of the Great Changeling Hive” <> >You’ve been awake for a few hours now >After Eris had finished reading the book to you, you had snapped awake >The whole book >You had insisted >Eris had managed to stretch the time between the dream and reality >It felt like more than a day had passed as she read page after page, chapter after chapter, until she let it snap shut >At one point, you’d gotten up and paced the train as you listened >Every now and then you caught her watching you through the corner of her eyes, but she never stopped >You’re thankful for that, if she had, you might not have wanted to continue hearing what was in that book >Why she stayed asleep, you’re not sure, maybe she knew you needed to stew on what you’d heard >And you did, you really did >Or maybe you need to leave it in the back of your mind >You’ve gone over so many of the pages and chapters in your head so many times, but nothing comes from it >No real feelings >Honestly, you weren’t sure how you expected to react >Sympathy towards the changelings maybe >Anger towards Luna or Celestia maybe >But no, nothing >Either way, what you’re doing isn’t getting you anywhere, so may as well focus on something else >A new train of thought comes in the form of Eris still being asleep >She does have a thousand years of sleep to catch up on so you’re not entirely surprised that she’s still asleep, but it simultaneously makes it harder to know whether or not you should be up yet >What time it is exactly, you weren’t sure >Still, being ignorant of how much daylight you’ve lost is still worth not being assaulted by the sun each morning >Speaking of assaults in the morning, nature is calling you >You’ve mostly just been on IV for the past two days >The few bits of food that you have been brought were few and far between >Not for lack of trying on Spike’s part >Poor guy probably got it into his head that you didn’t like his food anymore >Truth is you’ve just lost your appetite, so you could barely manage half a plate before your body refused to accept more, with threats of forcing it back up if you tried >But now, what little you got in, wants out >The smart part of you knows that you should wake up Eris and ask her to help you out >The part of you that’s currently staring at her contented sleeping face says you shouldn’t disturb her >Weirdly, your injuries help you >They’re good at indicating if you’re moving too quickly, which helps you move slow enough to untangle yourself from Eris >Slowly you make your way out of bed >First you let your weight rock back and forth from one leg to the other >Then let your full weight rest on your stronger leg first, and then settle onto both >Neither were as severely damaged by the magic blast like your torso, arm and head were, but the joints still ache and click, sending an uncomfortable tingle through your nerves >Each step is slow and careful, and you keep a grip on your bed railing for good measure >As your grip leaves the railing you slowly get into a more comfortable stride >While you’re not walking as fast as you’d like, and you have to limp a little, your legs are definitely better than they were when you woke up in the everfree castle >It must be early morning with how quiet the halls are >Your limping gait barely even elicits an echo off the walls >Thankfully that should stop Twilight or Sutures from bumping into you and giving you a lecture on why what you’re doing is stupid >With nature’s call heeded, you’re ready to try and get back into a more normal routine >As you make your way through the castle, you let your nose guide you in the vague direction of a rather inviting smell >The crystal doors to the open kitchen/dining room creaks as you push them open >”Morn- Anon!?” Spike’s voice echoes through the room and the walls outside >Muttering a few choice curses under your breath you quickly shut the doors “Spike, please try not to wake the town” The kid dragon hops off his stool and rushes over to you >As he rapidly looks you up and down, you rub the top of his head >For a brief moment he forgets his concern as he chuckles at the contact >The slight scrape of your chair against the floor snaps his attention back >”Anon, what are you doing? You’re still injured” He holds his claws near you but doesn’t get closer, concern clear on his face >You let out a heavy sigh and rub the sleep from your eyes “Spike, I’m allowed to be up, Sutures just doesn’t want me out of the castle for the rest of the week” Another four days cooped up >At least the days are going by quickly with how much you’re sleeping >”Just because you can be, doesn’t mean you should” His eyes dart from you to the door to whatever he was cooking “You might make your injuries worse” >He anxiously rubs one of his arms and heads towards the food >Seems you’ve been here long enough for him to know you won’t be convinced otherwise >Which makes you feel a little bad “Spike, buddy, I appreciate the concern, really” He briefly glances towards you as he cooks “Look, what if… what if I promise not to be alone in a room while I’m up and about?” >This brings a smile to his face “I mean, I can’t force you to-” “Alright, I won’t be alone in a room until the week’s up, sounds good” Despite your interruption, the young dragon smiles >For a while you enjoy the simple silence between you and Spike >It’s nice to finally be able to stretch your body out properly >Though some parts of your body protest your activity, most of it is thankful to have blood properly pumping through its systems again “So what are you making today Spike?” You weren’t exactly a chef, but Spike might as well own his own restaurant with the amount of dishes he knows how to make >Your first day here, he was quick enough to figure he should ask you what you can eat >Something else you’re thankful for, you haven’t seen a single bit of hay or grass on your plate since you got here >”Oh just some salad with dressing for Twilight and Sutures, some gems for me” You nod at that >How dragons can eat and digest gems was beyond you >He tried explaining it to you, but it was basically just “Dragons eat gems cause they’re dragons” >That isn’t even the weirdest dietary thing you’ve heard of while you’ve been here >Pinkie once told you that she and her family eat rocks >Just the thought made your teeth ache >”As for Eris, well” He tilts his head back and forth then shrugs as he raises his eyebrows in a knowing way >Sure she can make whatever she wants, but your thoughts on that give you pause “What are you making me?” He didn’t include your name when he mentioned the salad, so he has a plan >He simply grins and chuckles to himself You grin as well at the idea of a surprise “If you have extra, why don’t you make Eris the same?” >Spike turns to you with a questioning look >You hold the stare and he just shrugs and pulls out a fifth plate from one of the cupboards >The click of utensils against bowls and gems ring through the room as Spike prepares the meals >It’s nice to enjoy a bit of normalcy again >Of course, it doesn’t last long >You heave a sigh as you hear snaps and pops slowly getting louder as they get closer >A final flash and pop interrupts Spike as Eris appears, her head snapping back and forth around the room >Her thumb and finger join together just as her eyes land on you >She briefly pauses before sighing You give the frazzled draconequus a smile and wave “Hey Eris” Your only response is a small glare “Awww, you were worried about me” >She clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth in annoyance >But despite that, a smile creeps onto her face as she inverts the gravity of one of the chairs and sits besides you >Spike clearly isn’t as used to her presence or antics as you are, since you can see him tensing every now and then as he shoots glances at her >”So where did you run off to exactly?” It’s a bit disorienting to look to Eris as she’s sat upside down, but you shake it off “Sorry, nature called, didn’t think that would interest you” Her nose scrunches as she shivers slightly at the thought >”Fair enough, but how are you feeling?” This gets Spike’s attention as his purposeful attention to the salad is put to the side as he half-turns his head to you >Taking a deep breath you lift your arms and twist your body back and forth >Your right arm’s practically good as new, though a little sore, as for your left, it’s been switching between feeling numb or constantly stinging with pain >But it’s responding perfectly to how you want it to move, so the rocks that impaled you didn’t leave any nerve damage >Where Sutures said you got a hairline fracture, you occasionally feel some pain arcing out to the rest of your skull, but it usually settles quickly >Your legs have probably improved now that you’ve finally started using them again ”Overall I’d say I’m fine, though I’m pretty sure any heavy duty physical stuff is off the table” >”You’re right about that, if I have any say in the matter” Sutures calm voice pulls the attention of the three of you to the door >She and Twilight walk over to the table, both of them rolling their legs back to life as they shake away their grogginess >”It’s good to see you up and about Anon” Twilight’s tired voice is rather adorable as she slurs the words ever so slightly >Spike quickly drops off her large coffee mug and the jug >The purple princess hums happily as she begins draining the drink as though it were liquid ambrosia >Sutures simply rolls her eyes at the princess and looks you up and down “I share Twilight’s joy at your improvement, though I do wish I were there to assist you” >You simply shrug under her disapproving glare >”You and me both doc” Eris takes a sip from a crudely made mug with ‘Multiverse’s Most Chaotic Daughter’ written on it >Her eyes narrow at you, which causes you to groan slightly >Clearly your idea hasn’t been popular with anyone, which you expected ”What do you want me to do, get a cane?” While Twilight and Sutures roll their eyes at your jab, a pop comes from beside you >Eris holds her talon arm out to you, and wiggles it as you stare >Slowly, you take it from her and look it over “Um, thanks” A new arm extends out of Eris’ shoulder as you place the talon besides your chair >The sound of porcelain gliding across crystal grabs your attention as Spike begins handing out plates >”Bon appétit everyone” He hops onto his own chair and begins eating through a high pile of gems >Eris has slowly flipped her chair the right way as she stares at her own plate >Like yours, there’s a lid over it >He really does want to play this surprise of his for all it’s worth >Quickly you pull away the lid and your nose is invaded by the smell of cooked meat >A smoke piece of fish with cream cheese and salad >Eris is just as surprised as you at the dish, though as her stomach growls, you can see she’s also just as hungry >Looking up to Sutures and Twilight, you see both herbivores are undeterred by your dish >Simply shrugging off your hesitation, you dig into the meal >Going without meat for nearly three weeks truly makes your taste buds explode in delight at the old familiar taste >As Eris practically inhales the food, which Spike takes no small amount of pride in you note, you take it much slower >How or where he got the fish from, you’re not sure, but you’re gonna savor it >Eris finishes her food before you’re halfway done and refills her plate with a snap of her talon >You manage to catch Twilight’s gaze as she shoots a look to you and Eris >She doesn’t say anything, simply turning back to her food, but clearly something’s on her mind >After you all finish your meals, and Eris finishes her third helping, you start helping Spike collect the plates >You get protests from the others, but you shush them and dangle Eris’ cane talon in front of them >With half of the plates in hand, you follow behind Spike >The hand of the talon entwines its fingers with yours as you head over to the sink and back >Admittedly, it has made walking significantly easier >Both you and Eris let out a content sigh at the meal, though you waft your hand to try and clear the smell of meat “So Twilight, Sutures, you uh-” >”Don’t worry Anon” Twilight’s interruption throws you slightly though you stay quiet “I’ve met with a few foreign dignitaries, some of which were carnivorous, meat doesn’t really bother me anymore” You nod at her, thankful that your meal didn’t put her off >”Indeed” Suture’ speaks up this time “I could hardly call myself a doctor if meat was enough to turn my stomach” The pale doctor chuckles at her joke “Actually, while you’re here, I’ve been wondering something about you doc” Sutures seems content with you and Eris’ nickname for her as she turns to you “No offense but, why did Celestia send you here?” >While Twilight’s mouth goes into a painfully straight line, Sutures holds up a hoof to her mouth as a small smile crosses her face >”No offense taken, of course I’m just a private in the medic corps of Equestria. The rank and file we get called” Again, she chuckles at her self-degradation “Truth is I’m not sure myself, probably because of the favor I did for Celestia way back when” >Twilight grins to herself, clearly in the know >Meanwhile, you and Spike pull your chairs closer to her >”Well you can’t say something like that and not tell us the story that goes with it” Spike is bouncing on his chair slightly in anticipation >Eris has turned her head away to feign disinterest >Leaning down, you peer under the table >As you expected, she is interested, she’s manifested an ear on the underside of the table besides Sutures >The attention has earned you all a smug smirk from Sutures as she slowly drinks from her glass, drawing out your patience >”Well, I suppose you all know about Luna’s return?” The three of you murmur affirmatives at her “Well, there’s something about it that most ponies don’t know” >The sound of rolling marble interrupts her as a miniature moon appears on the table >As it comes to a stop, it splits in a half with a small burst of confetti >Inside sits a miniature Nightmare Moon >The sight elicits small chuckles from everyone at the table >”Yes, after Nightmare Moon was defeated, Luna experienced an incredibly extended period of mana exhaustion” This actually causes Eris to turn slightly and Spike to gasp >Your face remains neutral with no point of reference to what that is >”An alicorn can usually recover from mana exhaustion within a week, but a month later, she was still suffering from it. The thestrals that used to serve her were still scattered so there weren’t many nocturnal doctors to watch her condition, so Celestia asked for volunteers” Twilight is nodding along with Sutures’ words >You wouldn’t be surprised if she’s read this story somewhere a few dozen times >Though the mention of thestrals grabs your attention >Spike looks confused but you and Twilight share a knowing look >Those strange leather-winged ponies you’d seen on the old mural >”A few doctors with greater experience and age were chosen before me, but they couldn’t really… handle her proclivities” You chuckle a little as you mentally picture what Luna was like back then >”Did she use the Royal Canterlot Voice?” Twilight’s voice raises briefly that it actually sends a brief gust through the room >The three of you rub your ears while Twilight shrinks into herself and Sutures chuckle >”Oh yes, I went in knowing that, so I always wore plugs. Other doctors tried to get her to stop, but I reckoned it was a piece of the past she wanted to hold on to” Her voice goes a bit softer and she gets a wistful look in her eyes >This seems to be a pleasant memory for her as she seems to lose herself in it, almost forgetting she’s telling the story, rather than just remembering it >Quickly snapping out of it she waves her hoof dismissively “Well, long story short, I got her back on her hooves, Celestia thanked me, and dismissed me back to the corps” >You, Spike and Eris all lean forward, expecting a bit more >But Sutures simply uses her magic to get a refill which she happily sips >”Wait, that’s it?” >”That is it Spike, yes” >“Wow, and I thought my Celestia was rude” Eris has now fully turned to the group, dropping her act of disinterest >An annoyed snort leaves her nose while she narrows her eyes “I gotta say, I’m with these two” Sutures turns to you with a quirked brow “I mean, you helped Celestia’s long-lost sister and she just says, thanks and goodbye?” >Sutures finishes her drink and smiles at you “Well, I mean, that’s what I wanted” >A collective “huh?” comes from the three of you >”Being promoted wouldn’t have given me more medical knowledge, or changed what I do; work in the army, and treat patients as they come. It would have just given me more responsibilities and more stress” While Spike and Eris look at each other perplexed, you nod slowly “I mean, you would also get more money, that can’t hurt” This causes Sutures to laugh heartily >”True, a bit of money to help out back home would’ve been good, but I got something better” Once again, the three of you lean towards her “Celestia’s trust” >Eris lets out a dismissive huff at that >”No no, it’s true” Ignoring Eris, Sutures continues “She saw I wasn’t in it for fame and glory, so now she trusts me to look at higher profile cases as just simple medical cases, rather than a way to further myself” >Twilight finally interjects to the conversation again ”I used to see her a lot in Canterlot castle back when I was studying there, I still don’t know how you could juggle that and your duties in the corps” >In a silent answer, Sutures simply points at the many bags under her eyes “So does that mean her royal highness sees me as a high profile case?” Eris chuckles at your exaggeration of addressing Celestia by her title >”Are you kidding? She literally teleported me straight here after she got Twilight’s letter” You look to Twilight who simply nods “She had to deal with something at court, and then she and her sister had to deal with something else” >Deal with something >Most likely the castle you’d guess, if Luna was involved “Well, sorry that you’ve been stuck with me” You and Sutures chuckle to each other but she waves you off >”Honestly, it’s been interesting studying the biology of an alien species” She leans forward a little “Plus, it helps that my patient’s a cute colt like you” >Of course, she had to say that as you were taking a drink >Her tone and the way she lidded her eyes makes you laugh mid-gulp, causing your drink to spill over the edges >While you and Sutures laugh at your back and forth, Twilight and Eris have different reactions >Eris has rested her body against you, and again, you’re reminded of the height difference >Despite you both being seated, her chest is rested on your head >She lets out a huff though you can feel reverberations in her chest, like a growl >You can’t see her face, but you’d bet she’s done that thing where she makes her eyes glow >Twilight is just staring at Sutures, her jaw partially open and her eyes frantically darting between the doctor and draconequus >”Don’t worry Eris, I’m kidding” Despite being stared down by one of two spirits of chaos, Sutures is remarkably calm “Besides, I’ve already got a cute colt of my own back home” >Eris remains rested on your head despite Sutures’ reassurances >Reaching forward and up, you manage to run the tips of your fingers against her cheek >This finally snaps her back to reality >Her chest stops reverberating as she slinks back to her seat, though she’s noticeably closer to you now You lean towards her so you’re an inch away from her fur “So very protective” >Your sarcastic tone is hushed, but she clearly hears you as she turns away >There was definitely pink on her face >Though, with how hot your face got with Sutures, you’d be willing to bet you went a bit pink as well >You haven’t given it a lot of thought since you’ve been here, or any thought at all really >But there was definitely something about these ponies and Eris >It was starting to feel more normal to interact with them >Like you weren’t so out of place >Sure, you were out of place in a literal sense, and you weren’t naive enough to think that you were a normal thing here >You and Eris were certainly outsiders >But the girls, princesses and Sutures being so calm around you has helped >Of course, having Eris near has also helped you not feel so hung up about being so strange in this place >It was comforting >”So Anon, do you think you’re feeling well enough to try learning Old Ponish?” Twilight’s question seems to break the unspoken tension Eris was feeling >You simply nod to the pony and rise from your seat >Novelty cane in hand, you begin moving >Eris floats besides you while remaining seated in her chair as Twilight leads the two of you towards her study >Spike makes his way out of the castle, shouting back something about groceries and something else about ogres >Meanwhile Sutures heads off to another part of the castle, to wherever she’s been setup >She seems to know that you’re well enough that you won’t keel over from a light breeze, but she still insists on keeping you locked up >But you just have to stomach it for four more days >The three of you finally make it to the study, and Twilight’s levitates the book you lent her and some others over to the table >”I was thinking these books would be the best to use, none of the text is faded, so you won’t get confused by any of the old letters” You’re not sure if she’s just as or more giddy about teaching you this then she was about teaching you Ponish >”Is she always like this?” Eris’ bored tone makes you smirk and nudge her “You could always try teaching me too” She seems to ponder the idea for a moment before rolling her eyes and floating away >Twilight seems to be in full teacher-mode as she doesn’t even notice the draconequus hovering to her bookshelf >Eris also takes note of Twilight’s ignorance and slowly pulls a book away >She then slides the book besides it up the shelf, and places the first book back >No reaction >Eris’ smirk grows as she slowly begins mismatching the books >Placing them on entirely different shelves >Putting them in backwards >Squeezing smaller books into the thin spaces of the tops of the shelves >But still no reaction from Twilight >It’s a big library, and Eris has barely touched three shelves >Plus she isn’t even using her magic, instead opting to get her hands dirty >A chuckle escapes you but you clear your throat as Twilight looks to you >Quickly sitting down you pull one of the books towards yourself “Alright, so, how should we start” You glance up at Eris who gives you a full-toothed grin at your cooperation >You subtly shoot her a wink which you disguise by winking a few more times and rubbing your eye to not make Twilight suspicious >She’s gonna pout hard, and for a long time after this, but you just can’t help yourself >”Well, Modern Ponish and Old Ponish share a few small similarities- though I’m sure you already knew that” She nervously giggles as she corrects herself >The first day she taught you Ponish, she acted more like she was teaching a child rather than a full-grown adult >When you made it clear that you understood each letter save for the half dozen new ones and their use in certain words, she corrected herself >It took a bit of prying, but apparently she’s had more than one student not so subtly excuse themselves from her tutelage >All petty, feckless colts apparently >Though Twilight was a lot more polite when describing them >You almost pity the fools, once Twilight figured out what level you were actually on, she was one of the better teachers you had >She was good at gauging whether or not you could figure out what you were stuck on by yourself or not >While she can talk a mile a minute she managed to keep her cool and explained nearly everything perfectly >By the end of the week you could read any and every book she had in her library >Of course you still weren’t great at writing it >You only got a handle on it just before you went on that trip with Fluttershy >The door already folded your body like an omlette so you’re hoping it didn’t also scramble your brain like an egg “Hey Twi, can we spend an hour or so going over my Ponish writing when we’re done with this stuff?” You vaguely indicate to the books >Your question briefly snaps her out of her teaching zone “I mean, pretty sure there’s no nerve damage, but I wanna make sure my fine motor skills are still working” You hold up both your hands >You grimace a little as you see your fingers sporadically twitching ever so slightly >Twilight’s eyes narrow in concern “Of course Anon, sorry, got a bit distracted” You’re quick to wave her off before she can continue “I’m not gonna bite your head off Twi, besides I’m the one distracting you, remember?” >You can actually see the instant her thoughts click as she realises that fact >Luckily, rather than apologizing again, she just chuckles to herself >”Alright… so-” She briefly pauses, glancing over the books as tries to recollect her thoughts “Similarities! Right. When you read these books in Celestia’s study, did you see any similarities?” >Your immediate thought is to mention Arachnis, but the name hits you like a freight train >You’re almost positive now that Twilight doesn’t have the book as you look over the various shelves >She doesn’t strike you as one to hold any book in secret >Not for long anyway >If you mention it, you can’t imagine a scenario where she wouldn’t ask for it and you’d be able to come up with a good enough excuse to withhold it >You don’t have a game plan as to how, but you really want to discuss that book with Celestia first, before you do anything else with it >If she didn’t have it published, she may downright want to destroy it when she sees it next >You wouldn’t blame her either >It’s hers, by every right of ownership, and the contents aren’t exactly pleasant >Luna stills seems anxious when in public, when she visited Ponyville to observe Eris for the first time, she was a lot more tense than Celestia >It’s doubtful she was able to keep up a good public image while stuck in the moon for a thousand years >If Twilight gets a hold of the book, it’ll definitely shake her >Enough that the girls will notice >Then they’ll read it, and you can easily picture the downward spiral the situation will turn into after >If the public learns that one of their monarchs nearly commited genocide, and that the other tried to cover it up >Shit, you need to stop thinking about this >A haze of purple snaps you out of your thoughts >Twilight’s hoof is an inch from your face >Eris has briefly floated away from the shelf towards you >You wave your hand at both of them to try and dismiss their concern “Sorry Twi, just got hit by a headache that felt like a train” You stretch back and rub your temples >Your thoughts had actually caused a headache, so you weren’t completely lying “Got any pain-killers?” With a pop, a glass of water and pills appear before you >Thankful for the medicine, you throw back the pills with ease >Despite this, Twilight still looks nervous “You wanna call Sutures don’t you?” She nods at you “But you don’t want to imply I’m weak” She opens her mouth to speak, but turns her head down and nervously nods again >Chuckling, you reach over and rub her mane >While she bats your hands away and tries to straighten her mane, she can’t hide the smile on her face “Tell you what, give me five minutes, if it’s still there, you can call her, fair?” You hold a hand out to her, which she takes in her hoof >”Alright, but I’ll be watching you mister, and no pretending that you're fine. I get enough of that from Rainbow Dash and Applejack” Though her tone is serious, there’s still a light smile on her face >Eris has also returned to her tomfoolery as she opens a book and snaps her talon >You can’t see what she did, and since literally anything is possible, you’re not gonna guess “Right, so I think I’ve figured out which words are the old-writing for Celestia and Luna?” Twilight perks up as you mention your vague knowledge >Using her magic, she flips one of the books open to a random page >Probably her way of getting the words to stick in your head, and of course test that you’re not lying >As you read over the pages, you’re reminded of the day you were officially certified as literate in reading Ponish >It was just before Eris had popped into your already upside-down life and she turned it upside-down again >Does that mean your life is double upside-down now, or that it’s now right-side up >That sort of illogical logic is Eris’ turf, you’ll ask her when you’re done You frown slightly as you go over both pages again “Pretty sure their names aren’t here Twi” >”That is correct, well done” You let out a puff at her cheeky tone >For a while you go through the various books, picking out Celestia and Luna’s names >When she’s confident that you can actually read the Old Ponish as their names and you’re not just guessing she begins going into greater detail about the old language >She writes out each letter and then writes out the corresponding Ponish letter below them >You begin writing out the shorter, simpler words from the books and translating them >Once you’ve got the alphabet mostly memorized, you try to translate some of the words without the use of the translated letters >Every now and then she scribbles a variety of Old Ponish words onto a scrap of parchment and gets you to translate those without help >There’s normally a few new ones to make sure that you’re actually learning >By the time a few hours have passed, you’ve made marginal progress >Having Modern Ponish as a base has made it significantly easier than it would have been, but you doubt you’ll be at a comprehensive level for a while >Luckily, you’ve still got a few days >You just hope that the information will stick with you after you’ve slept >Your concentration is broken as a small rumble hits your stomach >Pushing away your latest translations, you move out of your chair and grab your cane “Come on Twi, let’s see if there’s anything to eat” As you turn to leave a sad groan comes from the bookish princess >”But you’ve made so much progress Anon, I’m sure if we went for a few more hours-” You hold a finger to her muzzle >You knew Twilight well enough that those few extra hours would turn into another set of ‘extra few hours’ >Then it’d go on like that until Eris dragged you out of here >You had fallen for the ‘extra few hours’ trap once before and the thought makes you shiver slightly “Remember when you taught me Modern Ponish Twi?” She nods her head, though still looks disappointed >When she learned that the majority of the letters in modern Ponish were the same as English, she had insisted on staying up a long time to help you get it over with quickly >Sadly, that had burnt you out and nearly everything you learned left you as you slept >So instead you took the extra time to slowly learn how to read and write the extra letters of the language >”Finally, I was wondering when you two nerds would finish” Eris emphasizes the ‘nerd’ by jabbing you in the nose with her tail fluff >The hair irritates your nose for a few seconds as you force air out to try and get rid of the feeling >”You know Eris, you could always...” Twilight lets out a slight groan before she continues “Help. If you wanted” >”Wow Sparkle, never seen anyone have such difficulty saying one word before, need a lozenge?” With a flash, a comically large lozenge appears in Eris’ hand >Rolling her eyes, Twilight moves the lozenge aside as she gets to her hooves and makes her way to the door >Eris floats besides you and rolls her eyes too, though hers continue to roll and rattle in her head as she goes “I wouldn’t be against you helping you know” With a blink, her eyes straighten as she looks to you >If teaching you could help these two find some common ground, maybe it was worth a shot >”Oh but what would be the point? We already had a long, long private session last night-” Eris purposefully makes herself more breathless as she continues >You see her eyes darting between you and Twilight as she slows her words >-and we can always have another tonight if you like” The purple alicorn actually stops in her tracks mid-step and her ears pin to the sides of her head >One of Eris’ talons gently scrape against your shirt as she talks Quickly brushing off her talon you speed ahead of the two “Would you not say it like that Eris?” >You’re thankful that it’s cooler out in the hallways of the castle >She bursts into full laughter as she floats in front of the two of you >Before you can get your composure back a familiar weight slams into the side of your head >Being caught off guard and not having your full weight on your legs throws you completely >The cane slips against the floor, and before you can throw your hand out to catch yourself, something wraps around your torso and stops you >Looking down, you see the cane has wrapped itself around you, and lifts you back up before placing itself back in your hand >Eris winks at you before narrowing her eyes at something to your side >Incoherent babbling and a wet patch forms in your hair >With your free hand, you grab hold of none other than Pound Cake, who giggles at you and waves his hooves in your face >”Pound, what are you-” Before Twilight can finish the sound of breaking glass comes from down the hallway >The four of you look over to see Pinkie randomly teleporting through the castle >”Twilight, little help!?” Pinkie’s slightly panicked voice echoes through several different parts of the castle >With a quick flick of her horn, Pumpkin Cake and Pinkie appear in front of you >Before Pumpkin can do anything, her horn is wrapped in a purple glow >Sighing, Pinkie places Pumpkin on her back >The unicorn filly seems to calms down as the purple aura fades from her horn >”Sorry about that, Pound got away from us and then, well...” Pinkie takes several deep breaths before sighing “Kids are hard” >You chuckle at the pink mare and hold Pound closer to you as you walk past her “So the Cakes ok'd you bringing their kids here?” As Pound babbles at you and gently hits your chest with his hooves, Pumpkin teleports herself atop your head >Why these kids like you so much, you’ll never know >Maybe it’s your size, you probably look like a walking playground to them >The only answer to your question is Pinkie’s eyes darting back and forth and making a poor attempt at whistling >”Pinkie, Anon’s still injured, Pound could have hurt him” You lightly wave your cane at Twilight, and she does calm down slightly >Admittedly, your head where Pound impacted has gotten a lot hotter >As your extended group continue heading down the hall, Pinkie simply walks instead of hops, clearly a bit down by Twilight’s words >”Sorry. It’s just, they’ve been really eager to be outside the bakery more and more, so I figured maybe this would calm them down” You can’t help but smile at her words >She really cares about these kids >As you all head down the hall, Pinkie begins talking with Twilight, and Eris floats beside you “So, are you ok? I remember Sutures saying something about a fracture up there” >She places one of her talons at the top of your head and tilts you side to side slightly as she inspects your head “I’m fine Eris, don’t worry, he might have slammed into me, but he’s still just a baby” Eris hums as she looks over you once more before letting your head go >Pound and Pumpkin squirm slightly at the sight of Eris >But, as you speak with her, they begin to calm down, maybe because of how calm you are around her >The situation makes you smirk, maybe you can get her back for her little comment earlier >Picking Pumpkin off your head you push both foals into Eris’ chest >She immediately grabs them and holds them as far away from her as she can while stretching her chest in the opposite direction >”Anon, get back here” Neither of the twin foals are bothered by their change in accomodation, so neither you nor Pinkie or Twilight go to grab them >As Eris’ continues to call behind you, you just chuckle as you increase your pace towards the kitchen again >You’re not sure if Spike ever stops working, but seeing him already preparing lunch makes you think he deserves a vacation >He smiles as you, Twilight and Pinkie arrives >His smile falters just a little as his head darts back and forth over the groceries >Quickly adjusting what he’s currently making, he hops off his stool and begins grabbing more food from the pantry and fridge >Despite your reassuring words to Eris, the point of Pound’s impact with your head has steadily been getting hotter, while the rest of your body feels slightly cold >With a grunt you head over to the freezer and grab some ice >Wrapping it in some kitchen roll, you place it to your head and let out a sigh at the comforting chill >Twilight looks you up and down but makes no other move Sighing, you hold up a finger “No panicking” She straightens up at your words and nods “But yes, go get Sutures please” >You can see her legs tense as she trots at a normal pace out the room >It’s clear she’d rather sprint or fly or teleport, but she restrains herself >Meanwhile Pinkie walks beside you as you hobble towards a chair >A grunt escapes you as a wave of nausea washes over you >Thankfully your body manages to keep its insides inside as you feel your stomach relax >Eris has a mix of nervousness and frustration on her face as she looks between you and the foals she’s still awkwardly holding >Despite the pain, the sight causes you to laugh, which frustrates her more >Spike gently places the lunch he’d made in front of you >A grilled cheese, simple, but delicious >You can only manage nibbles of it as the nausea lingers at the pit of your stomach >Each swallow becomes a bit more difficult as you find your eyelids getting heavier >A flash of gentle yellow just barely registers as Sutures appears besides you >”Ice pack away please” You do as the doctor says and move your hand down >Before you can stop it, the muscles in your hand go slack, scattering the ice across the floor >Eris snaps her talons and gets rid of the ice >You feel the warm glow of Twilight’s magic cover you as the chair is pulled out from under you and you are lowered to the floor >”I’d like you to talk to me Anonymous, hits to the head can be serious, especially since you already had a fracture” It takes you a few seconds to register her words, but you lose your voice “I uh-” A new exhaustion begins to creep up on you, you can’t shake your head to get rid of it since Sutures is holding you still >With a bit of metal force you pull yourself into being more awake >You focus on as much as you can as fast as you can >The furniture >How the floor feels >Eris, Twilight, Sutures, Pinkie, the twins >You don’t let your mind settle on one thing and it manages to wake you up a bit more “The part of my head that got hit is burning, and I’m really tired for no reason” Sutures murmurs an affirmative as you feel her magic focus on your head >”Hmmm, I had to make an incision in your head to check your skull, drain some excess fluid and then stitch it up again” Her magic hones in on to a sliver of your head >As the magic traces the shape of the fracture you can actually put together a mental picture of what it looks like >”The good news is, your fracture isn’t any worse, the bad news is your stitches are completely torn” Another flash of gentle yellow invades your view “You’re not scared of needles are you?” “Only when they’re near my eyes” She gives a short but warm chuckle >”Don’t worry I’ve already done this once” A liquid runs down your head and you flinch away, only for your head to be locked into place >”Really sorry Anon, it’ll just be for a few seconds” Twilight sits besides you, regret clear in eyes as she places her hoof on top of your hand >Before you can respond a sharp pain stabs through your head, literally >You have to bite down hard on your lip to stop yourself from swearing in front of the pair of babies >Both of which simply stare at you, completely unaware of what’s going on >The stabbing pain shoots through you nearly a dozen times before a minute passes >Not a word is said as Twilight’s grip on your head releases and a cool sensation flows into the new stitched area >With a long, pained groan you let yourself fall backwards >A snap and flash places you in a large cushioned chair >You’re still trying to process what just happened so you can only manage a weak thumbs up in Eris’ general direction >Another flash and you gently land in your bed, with Sutures besides you >Eris has left herself and the others back in the kitchen >This whole situation makes your blood boil >Arching your back you let yourself fall, you pull your right hand up and clench your fist >As you bring it down you stop yourself just short of the metal railing >Sutures makes no move to stop you, or even to inspect you >With an exasperated groan you relax again “Fucking magic door” You mutter a few more bitter curses under your breath until it starts to become repetitive “One day! I want one day where my body isn’t being fucked up, two would be nice” Sutures says nothing, only turning her eyes downward >You take a deep breath and relax into your bed >After a few seconds she trots over to you, and the previous cooling sensation flows into the stitches again “What is that by the way” You keep your tone much more subdued this time, though it’s still strained after the pain of being stabbed in the head >You’re pretty sure that liquid was supposed to either clean or numb the area >If it was supposed to do the latter, it failed >”Healing magic, specialised to doctors like myself and-” “Princess Celestia, right?” You turn a small bit so you can see Sutures out of the corner of your eye >Somehow, she still looks worse than you feel “This isn’t gonna extend my time stuck in here is it?” As that thought hits you, you let out a small groan >Before, she had a look of trepidation about her, but now a small smile has returned to her >You’re relieved when you see her shake her head “Like I said, the fracture hasn’t gotten any worse” >A few minutes of tired silence fills the room, yet you can’t find in it in yourself to keep being angry >Honestly you’re just tired >Not even in the literal sense, the healing magic is helping to get rid of a lot of fatigue >But with the silence, your mind wanders >If you go outside, some magic might screw with you >You’ve been inside for days, and you still couldn’t escape something going wrong >So now you wonder what to do next >Eventually, Sutures lets out a tired but seemingly happy sigh as she gets to her hooves “There, that should make the stitches hold and even speed up the healing a bit” She heads towards the doors as she gives you a small wave “You’re actually one of the better patients I’ve had Anonymous, just call if you-” “Sutures” The doctor stops her rambling and turns to you “Thank you” >For a while she simply stands there, though she quickly snaps back and you see her posture straighten as she opens the door and heads out >The others pass her as they slowly file into the room >Eris has kept hold of the twins, who are still completely oblivious of what just happened Before any of them can get a word out you let out a sigh “Eris, study please” >She gives you a quizzical look before she slowly snaps her talon >If you’re back in that bed ten hours from now, it’ll be too soon >None of the girls say anything, though you see them slightly open their mouths every now and then >You look around the room at the various shelves >Your Eris cane drops from above and onto your shoulder >Grabbing it, you look it over and get an idea >Locking your eyes on to a specific book, you point the claw part of the cane forward >Much to your amusement it begins to extend and grabs the book before retracting back to you >With book in hand, you let yourself fall back completely into the plush, cushioned seat Eris had manifested >The others shift awkwardly in theirs >It seems that neither of the twins are happy about the silence either as they squirm in Eris’ grip >Surprisingly, they actually manage to get free, and of course head straight for you >However their young brains work, they aim for your lap this time, instead of your head >You open the book and, while you don’t read it aloud to them, they still lean against the pages and stare gormlessly at the words “So, are the others coming or?” Your voice finally breaks the silence >”I went to them before I came here, but they were all busy and Fluttershy was…” Pinkie doesn’t finish her sentence, but you already know why “Yeah, Discord told me about that” >”Dad was here?!” There’s surprise and a little anger in Eris’ words >You rest your hand on Pumpkin’s head as you turn the page and nod “Yeah, he came by last night, and we had a little chat. Wasn’t that bad if I’m honest” Eris’ face scrunches a little at your words, but she reclines in her chair anyway >You can tell that you still haven’t broken the tension as you look at Twilight and Pinkie >For a while you simply sit in silence, stewing over your own thoughts >Pound and Pumpkin slightly amuse you >Sometimes when you turn a page, they try to turn it back >Other times they try to turn a page early >Eris seems a bit uneasy, but overall fine >Twilight and Pinkie on the other hand are still clearly worrying >With a heavy sigh you let the book close with a loud snap >Both nearly jump out of their skin at the noise, while Eris remains undeterred as she stacks books to balance on her nose You let silence hang for a few seconds more before looking at the two “Look, if this world has it in for me, which obviously it does-” You throw your hands up while Twilight rubs her leg >Pinkie continues watching you >Grabbing the foals you hand them back to her, and she gratefully takes them “-Then stuff’s gonna happen to me no matter what, I don’t know about you two, but personally, I’d rather take the chance that I’ll be fine, rather than worry about what’s coming next” You direct the last point more to Twilight >This seems to finally snap the two back as Pinkie gives a small smile >Her eyes tell you that she’s not happy about what’s happening, but at least she seems to be on the same page as you now >Twilight seems to still be internally conflicted >Humming to yourself, you glance over the table and spot your books still there >Grabbing one, you gently poke Twilight’s horn with it “If you don’t stop being sad~ I won’t let you teach me anymore~” Your tone causes Twilight to snort >With a smile she ignites her horn >As a book levitates in front of her she does a double-take >She then does a triple-take of the library >Eris and Pinkie burst into laughter as Twilight’s jaw drops >She starts shaking as she takes in every defiled inch of her library and turns on Eris, who has turned her hands red >Twilight lunges at Eris, only to hit the chair as Eris teleports away >Using her wings and magic, she chases an ever evasive Eris who’s laughter only grows with every attempt Twilight makes >Pinkie joins in Eris’ laugh, as do the twins, though you doubt they actually understand what’s so funny >As you watch the scene unfold, you gently rest a hand against your head >For a brief moment you feel that slight itch again, and the whispered hum lets out a handful of notes before fading again >This world may never stop boggling your mind, and since you still plan on visiting Luna and Celestia, you’re definitely not out of the woods >But as you watch Eris and Twilight, you can’t help but smile at the prospect of what you’ll do when these four days are done