Feather Gem

@, Chamois was a bit surprised when he actually stepped out. She was even more surprised that she expected that he would take it seriously, because it was clear he would not. She watched him the entire time with an expression that read; 'Are you kidding me?'. But, my oh my, did his words have a ring of truth to them. The filly seemed just like she had been and the mare seemed just like who she would be. How could she turn out as anypony else? If she continued this way, she would become that disturbingly dull pony. She didn't want to be...but...she didn't want to change either. She had promised herself... You get through this horrible life. You get through every. Endless. Day...and...you'll be rewarded. You have to do it...just as long as they don't win. Not after all they've done... 'They' were not anypony specific. Perhaps all 'they' were was life. Are you done? Oh, the voice was back... Are you finally done weeping and sobbing and being so pathetic? Oh…the voice was back... Well, good, because I have a plan. Vine, darling, you are going to become the greatest actress ever. You are going to straight-out lie, pretend, act, perform. You are going to...'change', aren't you filly? "I...don't want to...go on like this anymore..." Chamois whispered, staring fearfully at her older, business-like self. More tears streamed from her eyes. It wasn't all an act like she thought. Part of her was whimpering and trying to break free and become exactly what she should be. But the other part...just thought she was a darn good actress. Oh, and there was the part telling her that this was a bad idea, but she couldn't hear it.

"I...I just saw how King Sombra was banished the first time...that was all..." he stuttered. Discord smirked back at him. "Very funny," he said, his voice seeming genuine even though the words did not. "Maybe I could look for a changeling," he said, looking back. "Hurry up Chryssie!" Chrysalis slowly came out of the castle, dragging her hooves, her head low to the ground. "Patience, spirit. Patience."

@, Chamois lifted her head to glare at the small filly who looked exactly as she had when she was younger. Small, lost, dull, broken. She fit all the criteria of how Chamois had looked as a filly when she looked into the mirror, her image blurred by her own tears. When the other mare appeared from behind her, Chamois jerked away from her and scurried a bit away in surprise. She scowled at the older version of herself, trying to wipe away her tears. It didn't work very well considering that they still flowed at a steady pace. She would not respond to a word that it said, but they were imprinted onto her mind anyway. Maybe if she was lucky, she could lock them up just like everything else. She had been going on like this for too long. She didn't know anything else then what she already had. She had already lost so much that she didn't want to lose anything else. She didn't realize that there wasn't anything else left for her to lose. "Why don't you stop hiding behind my face and face me yourself!" Chamois growled. The depression was evaporating, leaving space for the incoming storm of fury. That's just how Chamois worked. Replace one bad feeling for another until you reached feeling nothing. She knew that Discord was behind this. What other explanation could be behind this madness?

@, Chamois skidded to a stop seconds before slamming right into the stone wall. Breathing heavily, she hit the wall with her front hooves in frustration. She should have known. She should have known it wouldn't be that easy. She knew for a fact that this wall had not been there earlier. It was to trap her in, to confuse and frustrate her. Her ears twitched upon encountering a sound that seemed like her own voice. She jumped back from the wall in dismay, covering her mouth quickly to prevent anymore unwanted sounds to escape it. Then, she saw her. Turning her head very slowly to face the filly sitting in the corner, her heart skipped a beat and she stepped back, away from...herself. The first step she made backwards was followed by another, and another until she bumped into the wall of the tunnel. You’re always running away from me? Running away from her? Running away from herself? Well...y-yes, maybe she was. Maybe all she had been doing this entire time was just that...running away from the feelings and the loneliness deep inside of her. She ran away from everypony...even herself. Slipping to the ground below, Chamois pressed her face into her forelegs. She couldn't stop the sobs at this point. She would be able to take simply crying, but sobbing? Hearing her own sobs made her weep more. She wanted this to stop. She wanted him to stop, she wanted that...that thing in the corner to stop. She wanted for it to all end. That’s all she wanted. But she was already weak enough. She would not beg. And she was certainly not going to take this. "Just g-go away y-ou di-dirty little freak," she snarled, not ceasing her sniveling or lifting her head. She wasn’t ready for that yet.

@, That room. It was absolutely horrific. She didn't understand it, and she didn't know what she didn't understand until he stated the abnormalities. Even then, she couldn't comprehend it completely. A nonexistent color? Impossible angles? And then it was gone, leaving them in an empty space. No...not empty...and not space. It was nothing. That’s all it was. Nothing. It was in that moment that he started to talk to her in that nothingness, that she really felt part of her sanity slipping away. Her life was just like this endless nothing they were floating in. She held it all in, and never let it out. She didn't let anypony come near her in case they messed her life up even more. But what was the point if she had nothing left to lose? And they were back in the tunnel once again. It was so quickly that she cracked, it was kind of funny. All this time she had acted as this strong mare when she was just hiding how weak she actually was. Pathetic. She was absolutely pathetic, and did she know it! Now, she did want something. She wanted a little, empty room where she could sit in the corner and cry until her life went back to how it used to be, no matter how worthless. She needed that now. At this. Very. Moment. But no, Discord just blabbered on and on and tried to mess with her some more until little Chamois Vine just couldn't take it anymore. Without a word, fearing that her voice would crack, Chamois turned away from him and trotted as fast as she could back through the tunnel, trying to keep the tears in until she got away. Sweet, pathetic, little pony.

@, It certainly felt nice to be the first pony to do something that seemed positive enough, but it wasn't as if she'd want anypony to know if she ever made it out of here sane. That might not ever happen, or at least not anytime soon. She was not going to beg nor was she going to cry. She'd just have to deal with this like she'd dealt with everything else that had been thrown at her. When he mentioned that he was lonely, Chamois felt a stab in her heart. She was lonely herself, though she'd never admit it to herself much less anypony else. She wasn't even very sure if he meant it. He didn't seem the kind to become lonely or depressed. Then again, she could think anything of him, and probably be dead wrong. "I would rather not see any of your acquaintances," she stated. "And there are only two things I would desire. To go home, or to rest. Both these things aren't any fun. So, I'd prefer if you decided our path." She looked at him with one eyebrow raised, almost as if challengingly for a reason that wasn't visible to even herself. There probably wasn’t a reason. Maybe that was the challenging part. Oh, he's going to love you, the voice in her mind chuckled in amusement.

Midnight frowned as she hoofed it to him. He stared down into the white liquid. He didn't really want to...but...for his mom. He lifted the vial to his mouth and took a reasonable sip. Then he saw the King. He watched fearfully as the King was defeated and banished. Along with him went an entire empire. The empire completely disappeared. It was an unspeakable tragedy. Midnight blinked back in the present. "Huh?" Discord stepped outside and gazed around the empire from where he stood. "Hm. I am starting to dread looking for ponies all the time."

@, With him leading her, Chamois bounced back onto the genuine ground. Even as happy as she was, she swayed from the sudden change for a moment before regaining her balance. With her balance, she also regained her sanity as Discord mentioned that she was appreciating chaos of all things. Snap out of it! Chamois blinked up at him, amazed with herself. She forced the smile off of her face. I thought I'd lost you to the dark side. But she was beginning to think that maybe the dark side wasn't so bad. In fact, it was very dark at all. Chamois almost apologized to Discord, but then she realized that she'd be apologizing for something he seemed to appreciate, and for being happy. "Er..." Chamois whispered, trying to find something to say. She was very embarrassed for her behaviour actually. "You...could be a...great artist...I'm sure even Celestia's subjects would like your...work..." Art was, after all, pretty chaotic itself.

Midnight was completely confused. He didn't understand a word and was getting rather impatient. "There must be something. Maybe you should try again?" Discord nodded and stood up, placing his paw and talon onto his hips. "Here I go. Off to save Equestria again..." Chrysalis snorted, finally acknowledging them. "Er...here we go, I mean," Discord smirked.

Oh my God, they failed sending. xD Um...I'll have to figure this out... But, I can try to get back to you tomorrow? And maybe you could hold onto deciding on Cadence for me? Cx

Helloooo! Would it be possible to send you the recordings through email? I've done Twi Twi, Pinkie and Cadence! Cx

@, She loved it. Really, she absolutely loved it. Chamois...she loved colors and light. Put them together and you get something even better than magic. You get a light show to bring color to your black and white life and light to brighten up your darkest night. At this point, that’s really something she needed because there wasn’t any hope in sight. Either than that, there wasn’t a special reason behind why she loved it but…there wasn't a reason to not love it! So when he held out his claw to her, she didn't even think to hesitate. She let go of the wall – now alive with shadows – and reached up to take it with a bright, ridiculously delighted, beam. "It's so pretty," was all that she could say before squealing. Squealing was one of her weaknesses.

Midnight stared at her with wide eyes. "Y-you...froze and..." he whimpered. "You were very quiet for a very long time...are you...okay?" he asked. Discord rubbed the back of his head, wincing. "Wah...wha? Oh. Yes...I...don't know..." he stuttered, confused for a moment. Slowly, the focus came back to his eyes and he looked behind him to see that Sombra was gone. "Wow. That gets old fast."

Sign me up as usual! These are always fun regardless of whether I win or not. Cx

@, Chamois frowned. His words were starting to get to her. But she didn't like that one little bit, no. He wasn't going to muddle up her mind. Whether he was right or wrong, Chamois was content the way she had been just before. Perhaps that was a bit foolish of her, but sometimes, ignorance is bliss. It seemed a bit dangerous to think in such a way in such a ‘pretty, pretty’ world as we-- Wait, what? No, no, Vine. Get a hold of yourself. Chamois shook her head to clear it. When it was cleared, she realized that she had been left behind and quickly trotted after him, keeping one hoof on the wall. She didn't actually need to balance herself. Her balance was exactly as it had been on the ground. She just felt...off. And why wouldn't she? She was walking on the ceiling! "Uhm…lighting is important..." she said, just to hear her own voice. She glanced at the few candles lining the walls. They could probably do with a few more...it was rather gloomy before Discord brightened it up.

Midnight bounced up and down so that he could read the note over her shoulder. When he had finished reading, he stopped and looked at it. "But what does it actually do?" he asked, confused by the unspecific note. Discord stared at the goo as he felt that it didn't seem to be serving its purpose anymore. "Uh...uh oh." King Sombra squirmed around and then suddenly changed into his shadow form. He hissed at Discord who gave him a displeased look. Sombra phased through the ground and disappeared in only a few seconds. Discord simply stared at the ground where he had disappeared. "Huh. I guess he isn't going to---ow!" King Sombra had appeared from the wall behind him and bucked him in the head. Such a blow would knock most ponies out, but Discord...well Discord was Discord.

@, When he took away the color, Chamois felt a twinge of anxiety and depression. And then when he brought the color back, except this time, making all the colors of the rainbow appear all around them, she couldn't help but smile. Her life had so little color to it, and perhaps that's why she was an artist who worked with a magnitude of colors. Color...it was important to her. Heck, why else would she have added neon streaks to her otherwise dull, black mane? Then, he locked his eyes onto her and the smile faded off of her face and she stared back at him. Time seemed to slow down, as if daring her to think carefully about every single word that poured from his mouth. With his chuckle, everything seemed to go back to normal. At least, as normal as they could get with the Spirit of Chaos. The colors still shimmered around them and now…they were on the ceiling. Chamois squeaked quietly and grabbed at the wall with her front hooves. "So...u-um..." Chamois said, staring up at the floor. "You...you're a good guy or something?"

Midnight darted about the ponies house, searching around for a way to get underground. There had to be someway that didn't involve changing into a weird shadow thing. Discord grunted and turned his head to Villan. "I should hope not. But what are we supposed to do with him?" he asked. His focus suddenly shifted to Chrysalis, who had been standing there quietly for quite a while now. The Queen continued to stare at the floor silently.

@, Chamois raised an eyebrow at him, stopping in her tracks to watch his dramatic display. He obviously thought highly of himself. When he had finally seemed to finish, Chamois spoke; "Balance? Really? Isn't that...like the complete opposite of chaos and disharmony...?" She gestured with the glass of milk that she still held in her hoof, making it slosh around inside of the glass. Remembering that she had it at that moment, she peered down into the glass, thinking how no matter how good it was, she'd go for a fruit smoothie any day. She was not about to ask for it though. Speaking of fruit smoothies, he didn’t seem to take much seriously. Chamois actually – regardless of how serious she was – found herself respecting that in a way she didn’t understand. "I was also expecting a more normal introduction. How stupid of me," she said quietly, almost to glass rather than to Discord.