Can't Take Criticism
Celestia and Discord continued to dance to the placid music, keeping excellent rhythm as they did. They looked into each other's eyes and were both hardly aware of the others around them.
Celestia's eyes were a dull violet, empty of any lively glow or precise expression. However, she still smiled, danced, and spoke to Discord just fine. Her movements were not slowed down in the slightest, and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy her time with him.
Twilight tried to step forward towards them, but gasped when she and the other five were encased in a wall of thick glass, unable to even be heard. "Hey! What on earth-"
She started to tap on the glass, along with the others, but her attempts to be heard were in vain while the scene before them continued without any disturbance.
"It was so brave of you to come here, Discord." She smiled at him again as they turned to keep up with the waltz. "I knew you would come. I knew you'd save us. I'm so grateful..."
Discord smiled at her while she leaned against him. "Oh, darling… I really couldn't do anything else, could I? I'm so honored that you waited all this time… All for me… I have to say, Tia, you look just lovely and splendorous tonight… Rather divine for a princess that nearly died not too long ago, my sweetheart."
"I am feeling better, thank you. I will confess that I don't know what brought me out here tonight… But, I couldn't help it. I could feel it calling to me, Discord…" She held his face and sighed. "The need to come see you. It didn't matter that I had to wait out here for you. Something told me to wait as long as it took, but you were definitely going to come… I wasn't wrong. I could never be wrong about you anymore."
He held her hoof and kept smiling at her. "Thanks for keeping such faith in me. It really does mean a lot." He looked around and held Celestia a little closer. "This music is really lovely, wouldn't you say?" He took a step back with her, and spun her under his claw.
"Not as lovely as you."
Discord chuckled and helped her back up. "Oh, stop it. You're going to make me blush." He smiled and turned around with her again.
Twilight stomped her hooves on the glass while her friends kept screaming. "Hey! Discord! We're back here! Stop it and get serious, something's not right!"
Applejack scratched her head. "Just what in tarnation is wrong with that guy? He couldn't just have forgotten about us all of a sudden! Plus, the princess is sick, doesn't he remember that?"
"I have been waiting for a long time to say this… And this moment happens to be perfect. It's something that I can't keep inside me for much longer."
Discord leaned down to speak to her, but blinked when she put her head on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Of course I am. How could I not be?" She opened her eyes a bit, looking at him again. "I love you, Discord."
Discord gave her a smile and nearly stopped dancing from the surprise, but he quickly composed himself and held her gently. "Tia…" He spun around with her right past the glass that held the screaming ponies.
He cleared his throat and lowered her down once the music quieted a little bit. He kept eye contact with her while he held her in his claw and paw, barely above the ground. "Well, then… There's something I've also been wanting to say to you… ever since I saw you dancing here, on your own… Looking as beautiful and lovely as you do, my dear… I just couldn't help but notice it. Now I have to say it."
He looked into her eyes again, and smiled as she reflected in his red irises, but saw that his image did not reflect in her eyes. He nuzzled her and caressed her face.
Celestia put her hoof in his paw and gave him a vague smile. "What is it, Discord?"
Rainbow Dash slammed herself against the glass as Applejack tried to buck it down. "Why… Won't he just… Get over here?! Can't he even see us?!"
"It's no use! It won't come down!" Applejack grunted while she tried to hit through the glass again, to no avail. "It's some tough material to deal with-it's hardly any glass at all!"
"LET US OUT!" Pinkie Pie's scream made them all cover their ears, after they were greatly startled.
"P-Pinkie Pie, I don't think anypony can hear us here..." Fluttershy muttered and looked up at the dancing couple with concern. Suddenly, Miseria seemed to have disappeared, nowhere to be found…
But before she could say anything about it, her friends became restless again, and did their best to try to break out of their prison. "Um, girls, maybe if we just fall back for a little-"
Twilight tried to use her magic, but found it was useless. No spells penetrated through the wall that surrounded them, either. "Where's she hiding this time?! I can't tell what she's up to!"
Rainbow Dash flew closer to her. "You'll have to think of something quickly, Twilight. We have to get out of here now, before it's too late! Just look at them! Discord's not paying any attention to us. That's really bad!"
Celestia chuckled sweetly while Discord leaned closer to her. She even blushed slightly. "Discord..."
"You're right, my dear. Enough waiting. I'll just... go ahead and say it." He held her hooves together in his claws, his tail wrapping around her body before she could even move against it.
He bent over her so that their bodies were shadowed beneath the moonlight, then approached her ear to whisper to her. "Hello, Miseria." He grinned and wrapped his body around Celestia's completely.
Celestia blinked and looked around with confusion. "D-Discord? I… I thought you…"
Miseria appeared beside them, with her front legs folded, while she gave Discord a look. "You couldn't give her one little dance, could you? Seeing as how she's been waiting for you ever since I brought her here? You're despicable." She tapped her hoof in the air, though she kept looking at Discord.
Celestia closed her eyes while Miseria vanished her from Discord's body. She appeared right beside Miseria and said nothing else while the mismatched alicorn leaned down closer to her.
She was missing her crown, and when Miseria leaned down, it was revealed to be on her head instead. It was another detail that Discord immediately noticed, but said nothing about as Miseria patted Celestia's head approvingly.
"Who's a good slave? Yeah, who's a good girl? That's right, you are, you are, Celestia!" She brushed her hoof under Celestia's chin, then pushed her aside. "I'm thirsty. Why don't you get me some punch already?"
Celestia bowed her head. "Yes, Queen Miseria." She closed her eyes as her horn glowed, and made a goblet appear, full of fruit punch for Miseria. She smiled a little when her head was pat once again.
Miseria drank the punch and smirked. "Okay. Now, be of use, don't stand around. We need some snacks for our guests, and for me. Get to it."
"Yes, my Queen." Celestia's horn glowed again, appearing all kinds of delicious meals on top of a table.
Miseria giggled and glanced at Discord while Celestia continue to strain herself to obey Miseria's commands. "Doesn't this fit perfectly, Discord? Look, Celestia as or… or, my slave. The personal slave of the rightful queen! And also…"
She pointed her hoof out at Luna, who was still a statue as she stood at the far end of the long table. "Something in your favor, a little gift from me. I thought it'd be nice to show you what I easily accomplished. Something that you never had the daring guts to do yourself."
Twilight gasped and glared at Miseria. She hit her hooves on the glass again, and did all she could to try to get Miseria's attention. "Stop it! Leave Princess Celestia alone! You're making her strain herself! Stop it!"
Miseria laughed and looked at the Mane Six while they moved around the glass and screamed. Outside, nothing they did or said could be heard. "Aww, how cute…"
"So that's where they were…" Discord raised an eyebrow with a slightly annoyed expression and snapped his fingers. He gave the Mane Six a look after he released them from their prison. "You need to look after yourselves better, girls. Can't waste my time with you all."
The girls stared at him with protesting looks, but he moved away into a thinking pose before they could actually say something to him. "Hey! Get back here!"
Discord teleported beside Miseria and gave her a small smile. "I've been thinking… You're absolutely right, dear. I don't know how I didn't see it before! Something's wrong with me…"
Miseria stared at him suspiciously while he appeared his usual throne and made it float while he sat on it. "What do you mean, 'I'm right'? What am I right with? I mean, I know it's everything, but knowing you, it must be a certain something, and very important."
"Oh, definitely. It's brilliant!" He snapped his fingers and didn't even look at Celestia while he ordered her around. "A glass of milk. Chocolate, Celestia, and pronto, you hear?"
"Yes, Discord." Celestia lowered her head a bit while her horn glowed with her golden magic aura.
He snickered while he watched her appear a chocolate milk of his favorite glass. "Indeed… Celestia serving others, just like a nice, proper princess finally should. And then there's the lovely garden decoration there. Just for decorative purposes, Luna is. Right? I have to admit, you certainly have gone beyond my expectations this time, my dear." He smirked, then took a drink of the glass.
Miseria continued to watch him cautiously. "I have?" She took Discord's milk before he threw it away, and actually swallowed it, with no explosive effects.
Discord nodded and kept his eyes closed while he ate some chocolate-chip cookies. "No question of it."
Miseria chuckled and looked away from him. "Well, it's really not that surprising. After all, I was sent up here to replace you. Or rather… surpass you. Hope that doesn't make your blood boil too much."
She made Celestia appear a show of lights for them, though she didn't actually watch them. Instead, she watched the princess while her body shook from the effort. "Say… Those clothes really don't fit you, Celestia. Get new ones, right away. I won't have you walking around like a fool, you're my slave."
"As you wish, my Queen." After a flash of magic, golden light, Celestia appeared before them wearing old rags that were also ripped, like a peasant. She groaned and swayed a bit from the continuous effort. However, despite growing debilitatingly exhausted, she shook her head and bowed in front of Miseria.
Miseria looked down ahead expectantly and cleared her throat, tapping her hoof on the table. "Well?"
"Yes. I am not worthy, my Queen. Not even as your faithful servant. I, Celestia the lowest of the low filth of Equestria, am ready to meet my punishment."
Discord's face remained calm, the same as ever, as he continued to stare at the scene. If it was Miseria's goal to unnerve him by humiliating Celestia in such a manner, she really was failing, and he was ready to prove so. He was far too busy eating the goblet that had suddenly turned into gold.
Rarity shuddered while Twilight growled and almost lost it to her rage. "That is unimaginably humiliating! She must stop, now! Just who do you think you are?!" She stepped forward, though let out an exasperated groan when the force of Miseria's magic pushed her back.
Miseria chuckled and stared at Celestia, completely ignoring Rarity and the other ponies. "And punishment you shall obtain…" She raised her hoof after she whispered to Celestia, and smiled as it began to glow.
Before she could strike her, however, she was interrupted when Discord burst out into loud laughter. "What on earth…?! Discord! You're breaking my concentration!"
Discord held his sides and rolled out of the throne as he promptly distracted Miseria. "Now that is funny! Never mind making her a mindless toy like all that time ago, this just takes the cake!"
Twilight's eyes almost shined with her fury while she glared at him. "You better not be talking seriously, Discord, or I'll make sure that you're less than stone when this is over-"
Discord flicked his claw and made Twilight momentarily lose her voice while he continued to look at Miseria. "Ahem… As I was saying…" He ate a biscuit and stepped down upon the ground.
Miseria raised an eyebrow. "You were saying?"
He gave Celestia a cold look and scoffed before he looked away from her. "Alright, Tia, look alive. Start digging, my dear. I want you to act like a mole. Of course, don't forget to use your magic." He smirked and looked back at the enraged Mane Six while he rubbed his claw and paw together.
"Yes, Discord." Celestia started to dig through the ground with her magic, though she had a slow progress. She groaned every so often, and swayed as well, but continued to do as she had been ordered.
Miseria turned to give Discord an annoyed look. "Hey, I wasn't done with her. I was going to destroy her for good. She doesn't deserve to live anymore." She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Don't tell me you're actually planning to trick me, Discord. It's not going to work." She folded her legs again.
"Oh, no, no!" Discord shook his head and began to make gestures with his claw and paw while he spoke. "Far from it, dear. I could never hope to trick you! I just want to give you a few interesting tips. I certainly must commend you for your abilities. You're so young and already so capable! Yes, indeed, you have potential, I'll admit… But you still lack that which I have plenty of."
"Hmph. And what is that? Quit joking, Discord. I have everything that I could ever need to be a thousand times better than you. The Dark One gave it all to me." She smiled and snapped her tail in the air, creating destructive things that even Discord could not dispel. "Soon I'll have so much more."
"Yes… But destruction is so… volatile…" He teleported before her and made his paw glow with his magic. "How is it really better than chaos? Chaos is eternal, my dear, no matter how you put it. It's subtle and in that sense, infinite without any doubt."
He turned her around to show her the destruction that spread through the forest by her aura alone. "Destruction just has no rhyme, there's no creativity to it." He teleported above her and turned into a black clouds that were bound to unleash a storm. "That is what you lack; creativity."
He shot thunder to the ground from the clouds, then appeared where it had struck. "I happen to have an infinite supply of such a vital source of work!" He laughed and looked at her again.
Miseria frowned and turned away from him. "No creativity? Hmph! Fool, you don't know what you're saying. Just how do do you think I came up with all of this? You're the one on the losing end, brother… Yet you dare insult me? You sure have guts."
~~~
Rainbow Dash growled and stomped her hoof down. "Just what is Discord doing?! He's going to betray us again, isn't he?! I mean, look at him! There's no way I'm letting him get away with this!"
Applejack raised an eyebrow while she stared at Miseria and Discord. "Well, Ah don't think that's quite his aim. He really has learned otherwise, you know."
"And you really believe that?" Rarity gave her an incredulous look. "How can you, after what he did to Princess Celestia? He did it right in front of us, there's no way we can forgive him! If he didn't mean to betray us, he would have never talked to the princess like that! I can't believe what he may be up to!"
"I can." Fluttershy walked in between them, while Twilight walked away from them to try to recall the Elements of Harmony. "I can and will always believe in Discord. He may not be the easiest guy to understand, but I always will give him a chance. I'm sure he already has something in mind, and that there's a good reason for him to pretend to be that way."
Rainbow Dash gave her a look. "Pretend?"
"Hush, Rainbow Dash, please. She'll hear you. She has very good hearing… We can't blow his cover, okay? We just have to trust him, he helped us out earlier." Fluttershy smiled and looked at Discord again.
Twilight sighed and held her head. At least we'll have to trust him until we get the Elements of Harmony back… Otherwise we're just useless. Discord, you better not double-cross us now. This isn't a game. The princesses' lives are really in danger, and it's up to us to save them. Do something!
~~~
Discord scoffed and dismissed Miseria's arguments. "Oh, please! You're just angry because you know it's true. I mean, look at this!" He teleported back to the ground and motioned at the destruction that had grown out of control, as well as the different things that she had created.
Miseria gave him an indignant look as he walked around her creations.
"Let's go through your 'unique' masterpieces, shall we? Right off the bat." He pointed at her labyrinth, which still stretched out all around them through the forest.
"A scary maze that has a barrier powered by a torturing spell, featuring sharp thorns, creepy voices, apparitions, and your depressive, broken failed mess on the inside. Ugh, that is so out of style! It's as sloppy and unprofessional a job as it gets."
He gave her an unimpressed look while he continued critiquing her efforts. "Taking the Elements of Harmony? Big deal, been done before. Driving their bearers insane with emotional illusions? C'mon!"
"Taking, hiding, corrupting, breaking, what in all is the difference? Really." He pointed at Celestia and barely stifled a yawn. "Using Celestia like a puppet, so unoriginal." He tapped Luna's statue and smiled a little. "I half expected her to be cracking to life in the presence of such arguments and bad energy here, like I did…"
Miseria gritted her teeth while he continued talking. She could feel anger creeping up within her again, about to unleash itself while Discord continued to speak badly of her creations and ingenuity. However, she forced herself to remain calm and composed regardless of what he said. It was difficult, but she would succeed. She was better than him, after all.
"And finally, allow me to let you know that Darkness has no class. Honestly, my love, didn't you learn that from Sombra? And I would've thought that Chrysalis would have taught you not to copy anyone else's work at all. He raised an eyebrow and scratched his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. There's so much that you still have to learn, little one. Yet you gloat endlessly about work that really has no touch for its worth."
Miseria gave him a warning glare. "Stop it. You stop that, now, Discord. Understand? I won't take any more."
Discord waved his claw dismissively. "Oh, why not? Now, now, it's alright. I know that you're upset, dear. Some just can't handle constructive criticism, I know that. It's yet another of your flaws, and quite a sharp one, if I do say so myself. Apart from your egocentrism and pride."
"Who are you to talk?! Listen, who cares about what you think of my creations?! I'm still going to beat all of you with them! In the end, they'll prove their worth, you'll regret wasting your time with comments like those. Like I said in my riddle, I am going to make you wish that you'd never come into this world!"
She smirked while Celestia swayed again and grew even weaker. She took a deep breath to calm down and compose herself. Keep your head. Don't let this buffoon get to you, because it's just what he wants. He always wants to get away with having everything in his favor, regardless of how things are meant to be. He doesn't care about me, yet he still wants to see me wrapped around his stupid, filthy claws. Got another thing coming, Discord. You are not going to beat me. It's my game, not yours!
He snickered and paced around her, much to her further annoyance. "Well, I guess that in that case, the future of this world will be to truly plunge in destruction." He smiled and held her close while he snapped his fingers in front of them. "Endlessly dull and boring destruction!"
A dozen square ponies in gray suits and short manecuts with briefcases next to them appeared before them. They bowed to their queen, Miseria, before they walked past in a slow and monotonous march. They did not do much else, not even talk. As soon as they were far enough, they vanished, only to appear at the start of the line to repeat their dull march.
Miseria blinked while she watched them, then growled at Discord. "How dare you mock me?!" She opened her wings and rushed a current of electricity from her tail. "I'll make you pay for that…"
Celestia cried out after she was shocked by Miseria's electricity. He fell on the ground, trembling in pain.
Miseria flashed another glare at Discord. "You are in no position to mock me at all! Don't you dare laugh at me, or I'll make sure that you regret it! I am supreme to you in every way… Why can't you understand that yet?!" She stomped her hoof down and electrocuted the Mane six as well.
He watched all seven of them while they writhed in pain, then gave Miseria a mocking grin. "Oohh, no… Please! Stop it, Miseria, I beg of you! I am so scared! Whatever shall I do to rid myself of this fear and agony?! I just can't bear it…!"
"Discord!"
He lowered his claws from his face and gave her another dull look. "Really? Torture them, that's how you're going to strike a nerve on me? Why is that, because you can't face me on your own? Too scared, are you? You're not the only one that is capable of doing manipulative abuse, Miseria. In fact, I should tell you that not even your whole self and all of your 'creativity' could ever amount to even a fraction of anything original. Not even your cowardice, and that's saying much."
He smirked and chuckled when he saw Miseria fuming with anger and hatred. Time to get that old touch back to action… This is going to be grand. He teleported beside Miseria with two heads on his neck; two heads that finished each other's sentences while they tormented, teased, and mocked Miseria further.
"You wanted me to train you..."
"Because no matter how hard you try, you just couldn't be better than me on your own."
"You wanted to learn my tricks..."
"Because you couldn't create something by yourself without it dying on you in seconds!"
Miseria was about to protest, but he held her face and made her silent while he looked into her eyes. "You can't lie to me, or hide anything anymore. I know all of it. You want Celestia gone..."
"Because you're jealous of her."
Miseria seemed shocked for a second, before her expression turned into that of outraged, silent fury.
"No, don't you contradict me."
"You're jealous."
"Because you can't be her."
"Because you can't have me, and she can. She can have everything."
"She deserves it. You don't even deserve pity."
"You only tried to manipulate me."
"She always tried to help me."
"Because I love her."
"And you brought my hatred upon yourself."
Miseria gritted her teeth and growled while she held her head in her hooves. "Stop it… Stop it…! Shut up, Discord, you don't know what you're saying! You idiot, you inconsiderate jerk, ignorant fool, you don't know anything! Who do you think you are to-"
She gasped and opened her eyes wide with distress while she grew more and more aggravated by his cold statements and facts. It was getting harder for her to deny them or remain calm, he didn't slow down at all.
His sudden laughter startled her, particularly when it echoed from the two heads.
"You're afraid, Miseria."
"Afraid to be alone and in the dark."
"Afraid to fall into that again and be consumed, when you already tasted so much freedom on my behalf…"
"You don't want to be alone and wasting away…"
The two heads appeared in front of her, making her flinch. "Just like the Dark One always leaves us." They smirked and began to play with her mane while they spoke in unison again. "Am I wrong?"
She shook her head quickly while she looked at the two heads. "No… N-no, you can't… You can't actually… You're not serious! You can't!" She panted and moved away from him. That's all you can make of the time that we spent together… You really thought that all I wanted to do with you was…
She shut her eyes closed while her energy surrounded her, covering her in dark mist. Her form changed again, growing taller and more slender. "No… No… You ungrateful idiot, that's not fair… All I did… All I wanted… Everything that I learned so that I could make you happy… And you just… NO!"
The Mane Six and Celestia collapsed after a large amount of dark energy was released all around the land.
Miseria rose in the air with her eyes closed. "You're going to pay... I'LL MAKE YOU PAY, DISCORD!" She glared at him after she snarled, and her eyes filled with angry tears.
The ground trembled and broke all around them, and trees withered as the earth cracked. Sparks spread out in the air, just as all kinds of bizarre things happened all over again through Equestria.
No town was spared of her energy and magic as she unleashed it at full force. She let out a laugh while she watched the destruction begin anew. "You won't beat me with your little games now!"
Discord frowned after he looked around at the land that Miseria was steadily claiming as hers. He grimaced slightly when the destructive magic only spread, and even drove some running victims insane before they even knew what had possessed them. "Okay… I think I may have pressed a few buttons too many."
Oh, my god, this was real fun to get done and expand. Another intense chapter, yay! Gotta love Discord and his critiques. They are a bit harsh, so I don't blame Miseria for going berserk and wanting to kill everypony. Some just don't take well to criticism. And, honestly? I don't think I'd ever want him to critique my work...
I loved his reaction at the end. Totally Discord, right?
Miseria continues to frighten even me… But I keep feeling bad for her. I like how I keep portraying her with every chapter, though. It's just great! This was hilarious in a messed up way, I know. Discord should have shown more emotion while Celestia got trampled on, but he really didn't want to blow his cover. He still doesn't. He's the best actor I've ever seen!
I hope you liked it, again… I look forward to hearing your feedback. I do think that I may be focusing on Miseria a bit too much now...
