Chapter 10: Exhaustion

"Aura, it's getting close to Hearth's Warming Eve, shouldn't you be getting a tree?" Luna said. I tiredly sat up from being slouched over a book. I looked to Ember, he was picking up a few books that I had knocked to the ground when I fell asleep.

"What?" I asked, though I fully understood what she said, but I was too exhausted to think of an excuse of forgetting to get a tree before I could give an answer.

"Everypony in Canterlot is getting their trees today. You should too before they are all gone." Luna suggested. "I told you yesterday you didn't have to come in today, as the same as years past." She reminded me. She, in fact, had told me this, but I studied nearly all night last about Chaos magic. I forgot about it. I again looked to Ember while he set the books on the table.

"Right, I forgot." I admited.

"You've been forgetting a lot lately. I know that your departure is coming up, but you mustn't let yourself become lethargic now." Luna advised. I avoided eye contact.

"I know, Princess." I said with humility.

"If you don't pick up your game, I am going to send you home early." She warned. This was the last straw. My exhaustion got the best of me.

"I apologize if I haven't been my best lately, and I am certainately not being lethargic!" I barked. I let the angered look on my face fall into a defined frown. "I'm- I'm sorry Princess." I cried. "I'll take my leave." I said and used my magic to put books back on the shelves and put Ember on my back. I walked out. I closed the door behind me and slowly walked out of the castle. I was exhausted because of my studies with Discord. I had a mere two months before I left Canterlot for a very long time. I hung my head when I left the castle. I ignored the guards concerns about me. Ember slid off my back at some point and walked beside me.

"Are we going to get the tree?" He asked. I suddenly remembered why I yelled at Luna. It wouldn't have happened if she didn't bother me about the tree.

"I want to talk to Discord real quick, then we can get the tree." I promised. Ember nodded and we headed off to the statue garden. I stood infront of the Draconequus statue and waited. Discord appeared next to me.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Discord asked. I was used to to him saying something like this every time he appeared at the statue. I gently nodded.

"I just snapped at Luna." I said while I did my best to squelch a yawn.

"You know, you don't have to study so hard." He said.

"No, I have to. I only have two months left. I need to know how to do this. I have to. No choice." I said. Discord slowly nodded.

"I understand that, but we already have a month done, and you are a great Chaos bringer." Discord promised. Ember looked up. He walked over to Discord and waved him down to his level. Discord out an ear to Ember's mouth.

"I don't think her mind is all there." Ember said. I, of course, heard this. He said it rather loudly. I scowled at him.

"Ember!" I growled.

"Sorry." He muttered.

"Ember, her mind isn't all there is because she is exhausted." Discord said with a slight smile of delight.

"Tha-" he started, but he quickly stopped and walked back to my side.

"So what was the real reason you came to talk to me?" Discord questioned. I thought for a moment.

"To ask you if you wanted to come to our Hearth's Warming Eve celebration." I said. I mentally sighed. I meant to talk to him about a few chaos spells, but it slipped my mind. I decided to talk to him tomorrow instead.

"The castle is having one, but I can come. I'm sure I can convince Celestia to let me visit you. That holiday is all about friends anyway." Discord said with a wide smile. I smiled back and returned my gaze to Ember.

"Well then, let's go get our tree." I said and looked back to Discord. "Once we get the tree up I'll return for studies." I said.

"Stay home, Aura. Get some rest. What you're doing for yourself is bad for your body. Please rest." Discord begged.

"Fine." I said and left the statue garden. Ember and I walked to a gardening store. They always have trees there, so we went there and bought a small tree, it was big enough to be noticeable, but small enough to fit in our house. I tiredly walked back to my house, trying not to drag my hooves on the pavement. At this point, I wished I had some winter gear on. It was getting cold, and the first snow was scheduled for tomorrow. That would mean I didn't have to study with Luna, but I still wanted to study with Discord. His studies is like a drug to me. I can't get enough of the knowledge of chaos magic. I began thinking about the results of the darker forms of magic, but I stopped immediately. It scared me. We got home faster than I expected to. I shut the door behind me. For the first time I had in a very long time, I locked my door. There was no need for me to lock my door. Two or three gaurds were in my area at all times. Crime almost never happens by my house. Something, I don't know what, compelled me to lock the door behind me. Ember took notice of this.

"Is something wrong, Aura? You've been acting rather odd lately." Ember said. I gently shook my head.

"Let's get this tree up." I offered, lifting the tree higher in the air. Ember, although cautious, nodded and ran to get the tree stand. He set it down in our usual spot. At the far end of the living room. We got the tree in and began to decorate. We had lights, ornaments and plenty of other holiday things. We put our statuette of Luna and Celestia on top of the tree. I smiled at the little tree that we had and finished decorating the house. I went to bed with no hesitations. Tomorrow I would leave early and study with Discord throughout the day. I woke up a little later than I expected, but I still got ready as quickly as I could. I decided to do a quick practice of my chaos magic. It was already getting stronger, but I still enjoyed doing things with it. My target was my clock from my bed room. I made it quickly bounce over to me and in to my hooves. I gently pet it and checked the time. 7:47...PM. I slept for a mere hour. I stopped the chaos spell and levitated it up and dropped my hooves to the ground. I could feel my hooves shaking. I felt Ember poking me.

"Aura Bliss." He called to me. I accidentally dropped my clock.

"Y-yes?" I asked quietly.

"What happened?" Ember asked.

"I-I don't know." I said.

"Come on, let's go to bed." Ember offered. I looked at the mess I had made.

"Let me clean this up." I said using my magic to levitate the peices. Ember hit my horn which stopped the magic. He then held on to my horn.

"I'll do it." He said. He started to lead me to my room.

"I'm fine. Thank you." I said and walked myself to my room. I laid back down in my bed. I felt so stupid for acting like I had. I tried to fall asleep, but I never was able to fall asleep. I knew it was morning when the rays of the sun hit my face and roused me from my trance. I slowly walked into my kitchen and made myself some breakfast and a cup of tea. Ember walked in and sat next to me.

"What happened last night?" He asked.

"What?" I responded. My brain could not process his words.

"What happened last night?" He repeated.

"I-I think my body is playing tricks on me." I said.

"Did you sleep last night?" He asked loudly and clearly.

"Ye- I mean, no." I said, sipping my tea.

"Please stay home." Ember begged. "It's going to be a blizzard, and if you pass out you could freeze. Please stay home. For me." He begged.

"Freeze?" I asked tiredly.

"Yes, Aura! Freeze! Please stay home!" He cried.

"O-okay." I solemnly said. We stay in silence for a little while.

"Try to get some sleep. I'll be back in a while." He promised. "If you aren't here when I get back, I'll...I'll..." He threatened.

"You'll what?"

"I'll tell everypony that you are a chaos bringer." He said.

"You...fine." I stood from the table, knocking the rest of my breakfast and tea on the floor. Ember sighed.

"I got it." He promised and shooed me off to bed. I fell asleep for about a minute, I was awoken by Ember opening my door. I rolled over to face the wall. I felt my bed get up and start walking. I tried to the best of my ability to stop, but it didn't work. My normal unicorn magic didn't even work. The exhaustion messed with my abilities.

"I know you are awake, Aura Bliss." Discord said.

"That doesn't help." I moaned. Discord picked me up and cradled me like a foal. "Put me down." I demanded with a glare.

"I heard about your episode last night." Discord derailed.

"Ember! Discord put me down!" I yelled struggling to get out. I tried to shock Discord with my magic, but only a few sparks of magic flittered out of my horn. It burned Discord which made him drop me. I hit the ground and I blacked out.