• Chapter Sixteen: Hardly Competing •
…
The land was exposed, with the shimmering black creatures buzzing above, threatening to hurt anypony with a zap of their magic. Mercy was not a word in their dictionary. Ponies from down below peered up in anxiety, alas the changelings were fearsome, greedy creatures. The earth below was as black as soot, and had sludges of icky, green, slime, slivering over the surface of the once beautiful land. Eventually the changelings descended to the shattered earth, and began to round up the ponies. This was unusual behaviour for the changelings, and the ponies let out mortified screams, as they began trying to run away from the insect-like tyrants. The changelings narrowed their emotionless, icy, blue eyes, and charged toward the ponies, nipping their heals as if they were sheepdogs and the ponies were the sheep. The ponies attempted to run the opposite direction of the charging changelings, but to their despair, came face to face with another set of the monstrous creatures. In fear, the ponies huddled in one, tight circle. Every so often, a pony would seek rebellion, attempting to hurtle out of the crowd, whilst bowling over the changelings, but with one zap of their magic, they consumed the pony in flames, before sending it into a pile of ashes.
"What is the meaning of this?" The ponies let out frightened whimpers, as the changelings stepped threateningly forward, tightening the circle.
"You're not being fair! There are foals here for Celestia's sake!"
This comment intrigued the changelings, as they let out smug grins. "Celestia's sake? Celestia's sake? How dare you! The only pony we give our gratitude to now, is Chrysalis!"
The ponies gulped at the changeling's hatred. Several changelings began to grab ahold of some ponies on the outskirts of the circle.
"What are you doing?" The ponies let out shocked cries.
"We're here to donate." The changelings didn't say any more, as they dragged the ponies out of the group and stuffed them in cages. What all the ponies had in common, was that they were all young, female mares. Each of them seemed quite pretty as well. Some ponies who were loved ones of the ones kidnapped, let out depressing cries, struggling to break free from the circle, but they were too late, as the ponies were lifted into the sky by the changelings.
"No!" One of the ponies trying to save those kidnapped, began to unfold his pegasi wings and take off into the sky.
"Leave them alone!" He let out a brutal snarl, before ripping off the wings of one of the changelings. It let out a pained squeak, and went plummeting to the earth, unable to fly. Alert, the other changelings began to charge towards the pegasi, their horns powering up.
"No!" One of the ponies in the cage flailed her hooves out of the bars, trying to help the war, but was too late, as the treacherous magic from the changelings went scorching the pony to death. The changelings didn't even seem too phased that they had just committed a murder, or that one of their soldiers one the ground was unable to fly, as they began to zip off, into the air again. The ponies on the ground waited until the changelings were out of sight, before they approached the changeling on the ground. Lots of the ponies were crying, and they expressed their malice on the wingless changeling, as they began to callously beat it up.
…
Chrysalis stroked her hoof along her wrinkled face, as she felt her youth slowly dissolving.
"No! No!" She let out vain cries, as she threw herself to the ground, smacking her head against it over and over again. She rolled over, before getting up.
"Hurry up!" She looked at her hoof and saw it's beauty begin to wear off, as it looked more old and worn than ever. Finally, there was a knock on her chamber's doors. Chrysalis let out a relieved sigh, before she opened it up, and the changeling guards stood before her, holding a dozen ponies as hostage.
"About time- now go!" Chysalis narrowed her eyes, listening to the pattering of the disappearing hooves case, before she turned her remorseless green eyes to the shuddering ponies.
"What are you going to do to us?" One of the ponies bleated in fear.
"I just need you all to donate something which belongs to me," Chrysalis's eyes flashed wickedly, as she circled the trembling ponies.
"A- and what i- is that?" Another pony whispered.
"My youth of course!" Chrysalis laughed, as her horn shone around the ponies, before ever so slowly, their beauty began to fade, as it was sucked into Chrysalis's soul. The changeling queen beamed, as her image began to change back to it's original form, and all the strength from the crying ponies began to fade.
"Guards, take them away," Chrysalis shrieked, before she elegantly strutted up to her mirror, and admired her reflection.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall... who is the fairest of them all?"
The face appeared, and spoke a new sentence, which Chrysalis had never heard before. "You my queen, but I am sad to say, that a new pony, may get in the way." Chrysalis's jaw was agape, and her eyes were wide in shock. Then her whole head seemed to peel back in fury and she let out a furious scream, which could be heard from ages away- the sound waves might have even reached the Griffon Kingdom. Alerted by the scream, the draconequus teleported into the room and watched quizzically as Chrysalis's pupils went as small as raisins. The veins at the back of her eyes showed as she stomped a hoof on the ground, making the marble floor crack. She breathed heavily, until she finally managed to contain her anger, before she glared at the mirror.
"And who might this pony be?"
The draconequus peered over her shoulder, as the mirror began to flicker with images, until it rested onto a small town near the Everfree Forest. Chrysalis narrowed her eyes, as she scanned the crowds, trying to pinpoint a pony who might possibly compete with her, but all the ponies looked very average. She spun around.
"Can you see anypony who might possibly be more pretty than me?" Chrysalis stepped back, still trying to prevent herself from doing something out of rage, as the draconequus stepped forward and squinted through the mirror.
"All of the ponies look too average! How could one of them compete with me?" Chrysalis narrowed her eyes.
"I agree..." The draconequus hesitated, about to blink, before he widened his eyes, as a spark of colour shot across the mirror, before disappearing in a split second. "What was that?"
"What?" Chrysalis stepped forward, eyeing the mirror, trying to see what had perked the draconequus' interest.
"I swear I just saw something flash across the mirror..." The draconequus played with his beard with his eagle claw for a second, before he peered at the mirror again. He saw the flash of colour zoom across the glass again, in the distance, and the colour disappeared behind a cart. "There it was again!" The draconequus used his magic to make the mirror zoom into the cart, and waited for a few seconds, before he saw a head peak from behind it.
"Her." He grinned, pointing to the creature which was cowering slightly.
Chrysalis charged forward, pushing the draconequus out of the way, and viewed the little creature. The little pegasi had a butter-yellow coat, and her mane was long, curling at the end, a shade of cotton candy-pink. Her eyes were big and innocent, and a striking shade of teal. Chrysalis watched, as the pegasi quickly tiptoed across town again, obviously trying to go unseen. Chrysalis got a view of her Cutie Mark, which was three blue butterflies, with pink wings.
"Sure, she's... pretty. But she's not astonishingly beautiful like me!" Chrysalis muttered doubtfully, turning to the draconequus. "She can't be a competitor... of course she can't!"
Chrysalis waited for a few seconds, only for the draconequus not to reply, his eyes seemed glued to the mirror, and he was watching the pegasi's every move.
"Is she?" Chrysalis roared, butting the draconequus, as he regained his senses and was freed from his trance.
"What? No, she's not as beautiful as you- she's even more beautiful!" The draconequus grinned stupidly, as he tried to glance at the mirror again, but Chrysalis smacked him across the face.
"How?"
"Well..." The draconequus hesitated. "It seems she has a lot of inner beauty. Something which you have barely any of. She doesn't pose, or try to get attention all the time. She wants to just be like every other pony, and fit in- no... not fit in! She wants to hide her beauty. Also, her eyes are prettier than yours," the draconequus grinned goofily, before shaking his head. He glanced at Chrysalis in embarrassment, before using his magic to cast a spell around himself.
Chrysalis didn't bother asking why the draconequus had done the spell, as she watched the pegasi get into a line to buy some apples. A few ponies pushed in front of her, but the pegasi didn't complain, she only glanced at the ground in sorrow, whilst cowering. By the time she reached the front of the line, there was no apples left. The pegasi tried to hold her misery down, as she gave an understanding nod to the shopkeeper, but as soon as her back was turned, the pegasi began to sob softly and run away. Chrysalis hesitated, feeling her heart melt slightly... no! She couldn't let the pegasi get to her! She couldn't... she would just be slightly less strict.
"I will let this... competitor slide, as long as she only stays a competitor. As soon as she begins to win this, I am to take action." Chrysalis sighed, before she made sure the mirror would always stay on the pegasi. "But I will be watching this pony."
The draconequus hesitated. "Can I watch her too?"
"No, go away!" Chrysalis hissed, taking a fierce step forward, and the draconequus quickly disappeared.
…
Sighing, the draconequus watched as Chrysalis peered through the mirror. He hadn't exactly left the room- he had just turned invisible... He felt guilty, but for some reason, he wanted to make sure that Chrysalis didn't hurt the little pony. This devotion made him feel sick. Why was he bothering to protect the little pegasi? Knowing that Chrysalis would probably feel the softness he was portraying, the draconequus had put a spell around himself, so Chrysalis wouldn't be able to see what he felt. He watched the pegasi, feeling immense sympathy for the little creature, as she tried to live her life, but was constantly put down and underestimated by others. She seemed to struggle to utter words, her social skills were so limited. The draconequus shook his head. No, he wasn't going to stay and watch. He had better things to do. With that, he teleported away.
...
Birds twittered above, and trees rustled in the breeze, as Fluttershy arrived at her cottage. As soon as she creaked the door ajar, the yellow pegasi was welcomed with a tornado of ecstatic animals. Fluttershy giggled, as she was welcomed back home by all of her friends. After a few minutes, she could finally get up, and using the food she had recently bought, she began to feed each animal. A white bunny in particular hopped behind her, an irritated expression on his face.
"I really tried Angel Bunny, I swear," Fluttershy guiltily sighed, as she turned to the little creature. "The apple stand had a very long line. By the time I reached the front, all of the apples were gone."
Angel spun around dramatically, giving her glances of sheer betrayal.
"I... I'm sorry... can I make it up to you by purchasing two apples tomorrow?" Fluttershy hopefully tried to convince her stubborn pal, but he just shook his head.
"Three?" Fluttershy glanced at the ground, thinking hard on what she could say to coax the companion out of his annoyed frenzy. "Three apples and I'll curl your tail. How does that sound?" Fluttershy scraped the ground with her hoof in bribery. Angel was hard to convince. "Have I won you over yet?"
Angel Bunny sighed, and gave a satisfied nod, before hopping up to a bowl of lettuce which Fluttershy had supplied him for the meantime. Sighing, Fluttershy trotted up to the couch in exhaustion. Every day seemed to be hard for Fluttershy... this day was no different from any of the others. She lived alone (besides all her animals) in a cottage- she was only 16, and she hadn't seen her family in ages. Her family were hard to find these days. Fluttershy could only describe herself as a pushover. She struggled in everyday life constantly, and couldn't achieve any of the average social abilities which most ponies could. She was afraid of practically everything... and with everyday life attacking her on one side; having complaining animals on the other was just the cherry on top of a cake. Her self esteem was limited, but she didn't mind about any of these things. She wasn't going to complain, if this is what the celestial heavens from above chose her to be like. Maybe it was her destiny to be a doormat for the rest of her life. Maybe it was her destiny to be ignored and neglected. Perhaps her destiny was to be unknown by many ponies. A pony just to fill the background in times of trauma. She wasn't going to complain with her fate. She wouldn't complain, because she was a pushover.
She did worry about what others thought of her though. She knew it was pretty ridiculous, considering that few ponies even knew her name. But her image was important- it was for the better of everypony if she lived life unseen. She couldn't be too horrendously hideous, and she couldn't be jaw-dropping gorgeous... she just had to be average. But what if average wasn't enough? What if there was a secret organisation of ponies, who watched her and silently judged every move she made? What if there were ponies watching her right now? Fluttershy looked up, and through the window, sighing contentedly, as she saw nothing there. But her mind was being cruel, as it sent sounds of bickering and gossiping wavering through her ears. Fluttershy cowered, as the voices became louder. She desperately covered her ears with her hooves, but it didn't make any difference whatsoever. She squinted, and illusions pranced right before her eyes. The mocking and callous faces of random ponies began to pop up, one by one. Each one was worse than the one which was before it.
"Stop laughing at me..." Fluttershy squeaked, attempting to turn around to avoid eye contact with the ponies, but they were everywhere in sight.
"Please?" Fluttershy began to cry, tears leaking down, dampening her pastel fur. She felt something nudge her hoof, and she glanced down to see Angel Bunny sympathetically trying to free her from her nightmarish daydreams. Fluttershy sighed, and felt her muscles relax, and her pounding heart begin to slow into a steady rhythm. The snickering images began to fade away, and their voices only lost echoes.
"Thank you Angel. I promise I won't have any more of these visions," Fluttershy promised. Angel gave her a concerned glance before hopping away. Some of the other animals had crowded around their caretaker, worriedly trying to comfort her. Fluttershy smiled and modestly blushed, at all the encouraging and warm comments which were coming from her animals.
"Anyway, I've rested enough now... it's time to help all the hibernating animals prepare for the cold season..." Fluttershy shivered at the thought, and wearily peered outside to the trees. The branches were vivid, as they swayed in a ferocious wind. Fluttershy flew delicately outside, with a few of the animals pursuing. Despite the breeze, it was not too cold outside, and Fluttershy didn't need the warmth of a scarf or anything to keep her from freezing. Smiling, Fluttershy began to lightly sing a little tune she had grown used to, to attract the help of her woodland buddies.
"Sun's light blazes,
No time to slumber,
Lead the way to the upcoming season!
Autumn to Winter to Spring to Summer!
Blossoms soon bloom,
Birds shall sing,
Lead the way to the upcoming season!
Summer to Autumn to Winter to Spring!
Snow slowly drifts,
Nothing's more simpler,
Lead the way to the upcoming season!
Spring to Summer to Autumn to Winter!
Deciduous leaves fall,
Evergreen, some,
Lead the way to the upcoming season!
Winter to Spring to Summer to Autumn!"
Animals from around the area began to excitedly tumble out of their nests, and gather around the yellow pegasi, with the teal eyes and the fairy floss-pink mane.
"I know this problem doesn't concern some of you, but for some animals, they need to hibernate throughout the whole of Winter. I need all your help to dig some cozy nests for our sleepy friends to stay in for a whole season." Fluttershy glanced at the animals pleadingly, and they all let out enthusiastic cries. Before she could even give out simple instructions, the animals were off, scratching at the dirt surrounding some areas, and happily burrowing some holes for the small animals.
"I may as well build some nests for the... not so small animals," Fluttershy purred, before trotting up to some nearby caves and removing some surrounding cobwebs from around them. She carefully only removed the old cobwebs, which were no longer being used. For the newer ones, she reasoned with the spiders, convincing them that there were some better spots to live. After Fluttershy had helped several spiders to find new homes, she began to clear out any rock debris which may be uncomfortable for the hibernating animals (mainly bears). It took a few hours for the final preparations to be completed, but once they were done, Fluttershy was quite pleased with the ending product. Sighing, Fluttershy returned back to her cottage, nestling in a blanket which one of her animals had kindly spread over the couch. It was now dark outside, and Fluttershy smiled in the dim light, as she made eye contact with a few of the animals sitting and watching her.
"One would never know if it were me looking after you, or you looking after me."
...
When Fluttershy awoke, it was bright and early, and she happily trotted out the house, quickly uttering a few words to Angel to take control while she was gone. The marketplace wasn't far away, and as soon as Fluttershy reached it, she noticed there was a large crowd around the back side of the marketplace. Curiously, Fluttershy tiptoed up, flapping her wings so she could see above the massing ponies. She noticed a poster, which two changeling guards were putting up. The ponies surrounding were letting out furious cries, whilst throwing fruit at the changelings in disgust. Fluttershy deviously caught an apple before it hit the ground, and hid it in a basket she had taken with her. Then she read the poster, and let out a shocked cry. Chrysalis was increasing the taxes by 15%.
"I'm not sure if I can even pay that much..." Fluttershy hovered down to the ground, and began to weep softly. She couldn't keep crying- somepony was bound to notice her if she kept up this show. Fluttershy forced herself up onto her hooves, before rubbing away the tears. Her eyes were still watery, but it would have to do. In the meantime, she could buy another apple while the rest of the ponies were distracted. She went to the line- there was only one pony- no griffon- before her. However, as soon as the griffon noticed her, it smirked, and picked up a few more apples to buy.
"You know what- I may as well stock up before Winter arrives!" The griffon paid a few more bits, and spun around to leave, before changing her mind, picking up another few apples. "And I might need these too... and these!" Fluttershy watched in agony as the apples began to disappear.
"I only wanted one..." The yellow pegasi whispered.
The sales pony noticed this, and let out a sympathetic sigh. "Sorry youngster, Gilda here just bought all the last apples!"
Fluttershy nodded. "I-it's ok. A-at least I still have one apple..." Fluttershy peered in her basket, only to see nothing there. "What? It's gone! How... oh no... Angel's never going to forgive me!" Fluttershy scampered away, receiving sympathetic glances from the surrounding ponies- except the griffon who had been in front of her in the line, who was calling out insults behind the little pegasi. Gilda smirked, as the pegasi disappeared into the crowd, before she curved her tail up to her face, and bit into an apple, which had been recently stolen from a certain pony's basket.
Fluttershy bolted into the woods, hiding behind a tree, and panting heavily between tears. She was having a bad day today. Every day was bad for her, but this day was worse.
"All I wanted was two apples for Angel..."
…
Today was no different to any of Gilda's days. She took pleasure out of the depression of others, and enjoyed to toil with ponies. Fluttershy was an easy victim. Gilda wasn't sure if she knew anypony more wimpy than that pegasi. Gilda didn't care about hurting other's feelings, or destroying the lives of others more innocent. She just found amusement out of cruel things.
"So let me get this straight Gilda. You steal, you lie, you hurt others physically, verbally and emotionally- let's just say you bully others in every way possible, you think you're cool because of this, when really, you're a backstabbing jerk. Does that sound accurate?"
Gilda furiously looked around. "Who said that?"
"Why would I reveal myself. I would scare you. It's better to just invisibly taunt you." The voice sounded like that of a male, and the tone in the voice was mocking. Gilda peered around to see if anypony could hear the voice, but none of them showed any signs of hearing the voice.
Gilda narrowed her eyes. "I'm not afraid of anything!"
What happened next took the griffon by surprise. A massive dragon-like face appeared, right before her. "Boo."
Gilda screamed, before she spread out her brown-feathered wings, and flew swiftly away and out of sight, leaving the apples she had bought behind.
The dragon burst into laughter, before turning back into the form of a draconequus. It took him a while to regain his senses, before he turned to the ponies walking passed. "Haha- did you see the look on her face? Priceless!" He hesitated, frowning, as no pony seemed to turn to him or even hear him. Then he remembered he had turned himself invisible and sound proof to everypony except Gilda. He was about to make himself visible again, before he had second thoughts. Ponies probably would fear him- run for their lives. As funny as it sounded, he was no longer in a joking mood, and that rarely happened. The draconequus teleported the basket of apples Gilda had left behind into his hands, before he teleported into the woods nearby, and made his voice no longer soundproof, but remained invisible. He peered around, until his eyes rested on the little pegasi, who was still crying. She was resting underneath a tree, trying to stop herself from weeping- trying to toughen up, but her attempts were pitiful. The draconequus felt a wave of sympathy, and he teleported before her. Of course she couldn't see him- he didn't want her to see him. But he did want her to hear him.
"Gilda left without these. You have them." The draconequus dropped the basket of apples before the pegasi, and turned away, but kept his eyes glued to the creature.
The pegasi jumped slightly when she heard the voice, and she peered around to see who was responsible, but she saw nopony whatsoever. Her eyes rested on the basket which was before her, and she gratefully pulled it closer. "Thank you so much- but where are you? I can't see anypony."
"I don't think you'd want to see me," the draconequus murmured, guiltily peering at the ground.
"Oh, but please! Anyone who shows the slightest bit of consideration, I have I acknowledge!" Fluttershy got up onto her hooves, confusedly peering around.
The draconequus cringed slightly- this pegasi was being very convincing, but he couldn't show himself, could he? "You'd be scared."
The pony shook her head. "I promise I won't! I swear!"
The draconequus sighed, before giving in. "Don't say I didn't warn you." Hesitantly, he turned visible, and glanced at the pegasi, waiting for her to scream and run away, but she didn't even flinch. This intrigued him, as he saw curiously glint in her eyes. Was it just him, or did she seem much more beautiful now that she could actually see him?
"What are you?" She trotted up, and tilted her head.
"A draconequus... I look like a whole heap of animals combined, I know, but it just means chaos." He sighed.
"You're not like anything I've seen before!" Fluttershy bounced up and down excitedly. "And how did you turn yourself invisible? I've never even seen the most powerful unicorn possess a skill like that!"
"That's just me- I have more magic than all the unicorns in Equestria combined- well maybe not all of them, but my skills in magic have few limits! More than Chrysalis," the draconequus grinned mischievously remembering all the times he had compared his magic to the changeling queen's and his being the most undeniably best.
Fluttershy slowly nodded. "What's your name?"
The draconequus stiffened. He hadn't spoken his name in years, and few even knew the two syllables. Was he ready to confess his title to this pegasi who he'd only just met, or should he just remain anonymous, how he liked it? "Uh... what's your name first?"
"Fluttershy," the pegasi replied, smiling.
The draconequus had to admit that the name was perfect for the pegasi. It fit her perfectly- before he had even met her, if there was a selection of names to guess out of, he would have easily picked Fluttershy.
"So... your name?" Fluttershy's smile faded slightly. She seemed slightly betrayed that she could tell him her name, but he had not yet spoken his name yet.
The draconequus hesitated. It was time he came loose. He wouldn't let the name he- despised slightly get the better of him. "Discord. My name is Discord." With that, he teleported away.
Fluttershy gasped, running up to the place he had just been, but there wasn't even a sign he had just been there. "Wait! Discord!" Fluttershy peered frantically around, but there was no sight of the creature. Fluttershy sighed, before picking up the apples, and trotting towards her cottage. "I hope I get to see him again..."