open Shifted

[Legendary Emerald 622]

Serah watched Silver storm out the door and sighed.

 

"I'll bring him back. We can't afford to split up at the moment." Serah said aloud, and then exited the inn before anyone could point out her hypocrisy.

 

It was dark out. Serah couldn't see Silver, so he must have already moved on ahead. She focused her thoughts as the familiar feeling of heat welled up in her body. She then broke into a four-legged sprint, lighting up the night and melting sand beneath her where her hooves fell.

 

It didn't take long at all to spot Silver. She raced past him and did a 180 degree turn, stopping right in front of him.

 

"Hold on. I understand what you're trying to do; more than anyone else, probably. But you can't run off on your own. Didn't you just say that Discord was trying to break us all apart?"

Edited March 26, 2012 by Legendary Emerald

[Arylett Charnoa 4,919]

She blinked as everything seemed to happen at once. First, she had heard that this pony she had met was called Princess Celestia... fitting. Though she sounded like more of a Queen if anyone would have asked Artsy. But this soon became too trivial for her mind to debate. Lionheart distrusted the others and her own words, as she had distrusted Peach. He distrusted the words of this Princess. Artsy blushed a little, feeling as though her story was less true. It wasn't as if she hadn't thought of not trusting this Princess... but she seemed trustworthy.

 

The others quickly stood up and berated him, which was something to think about. Here she was, having distrusted the others, now being listened by them. Well, mostly Peach... speaking of her...

 

She let out a shrill gasp of surprise as she watched Peach suddenly get sucked into a vortex. Was she dead? Was this the end? Though Artsy still didn't like or trust her, even this was getting out of hand. It wasn't as if she had wished for her to go into a vortex. Or to... die.

 

This situation was starting to get out of hand. Just what was this Discord capable of? People bickering... she felt her anger rising at her confusion and mixed feelings. They had been counting on her now, apparently. She was shocked at Brave's words... but apparently, it was her job now... to lead this group of misfits. Was she even fit? She'd find out. There was nobody else here who would do it. They were all too busy panicking. Silver had run off and the red pony whose name she had never gotten also ran off after him. A white one she didn't know had started crying, though she was calmed soon. It was something she would've done as well... if she hadn't felt so angry.

 

A furious passion that made her horn burst forth with a blast of red-hot crimson magic, reducing the paper that she unknowingly had doodled Discord on to ashes. Her mind was moving as quickly as it could, trying to make something of Celestia's information to figure out how to get out of this realm... Balance of Chaos... and Order.... Elements... of Harmony.

 

"All right, everyone! Listen up... I think I've got an idea. We've got to get out of here! And chaos only makes him stronger... so that means... we need harmony! This is going to sound crazy, but we're clearly not going to get out of here by fighting each other or fighting Discord... as much as I don't like to be the one to say this... and how hard it might be to do... we've all got to harmonize! We have to... to... do the opposite of chaos. Which is to cooperate with each other completely. I think only then can we get out of here, at least... we have to think only positive feelings! He's a being, at least from the impression I get, who feeds on negativity!"

[Nathan Fink 22]

He heard the words that were called out for him, but they barely registered in his mind enough to warrant the "....huh?" that came out as his eyes were glued to the book he had in his hooves. When he had reached the bottom of the stairs he had expected a cellar, or a storage room of some sort. Instead he had found a library. One of limitless size and filled with books whose titles he had never heard of. The one he was reading was about animals he had never heard of from a planet whose name he could0'nt pronounce. Such fascinating detail! Oh, how interesting! Ooh i wouldn't have guessed that!

 

On and on he read, every now and then he would look around for the next book he wanted to read and added it to a growing pile next to where he sat. The problems that were just minutes ago weighing so heavily on his mind had vanished, replaced by the fantasy made reality he now resided in.

 

*Meanwhile, in reality* Sifi, his coat and hair colors significantly more grey than before, sat on the dusty floor of the basement, his hooves held out in front of him as if holding something, hoof prints showed that he had moved from that spot several times to varying locations.

[Dexterity 3]

Looking at the slowly desaturating pony, Dex gasped. He was staring at something in his hooves... something that wasn't actually there. She stepped towards him. "Excuse me, sir.... there's nothing here, but you and me... what are you looking it?" A light blue light began to emanate from her horn as she got closer. She was trying desperately to get through to him, and hoped a little shock would do the trick. Dex lightly tapped him on the withers with her horn, hoping the static charge would bring him back to reality.

[Electrobolt 2,069]

Electrobolt watched as Silver and Serah just charged out of the doors, heading into the abyss. Sighing at that display of recklessness, he thought, *Why did they just run out like that...? Right now, the best thing to do is stick together...* He looked around as he saw SiFi and the new pony were missing. *Wait...* he thought. *Where did those two go...?*

[Flow 1,629]

Arty was shocked at what happened to Peach, he stood there frozen, then he noticed Brave trying to tell the others to stop bickering, "No, this is the result of Discord trying to seperate us," then he joined in "Guys! Stop bickering! It's not going to do any good, Discord is trying to seperate us!" But to no effect, then he decided to listen to Artsy, who had an idea, "Okay, I'm listening, and your right about Discord feeding on negativity, and I'll stay with you, I don't want to leave someone again, like when I left Peach, also we need to stop their bickering, and fast!"

[Wolfe 71]

Brave pondered on the thought of causing harmony. The only thing that came to mind was song, but he wasn't going to suggest that idea. There was organizing. That's a basic idea of harmony. Maybe cleaning? A clean home is clear mind, right? Although it seems silly, it's the only logical thing to do. Positive thoughts, eh? I don't think that should be too hard... Hmmm, something to get everyone's spirits up... maybe their powers? They all have those "cutie marks," so they have some special gift. Hope this works... In a loud voice, he yells to everyone: I THINK YOU ALL HAVE VERY SPECIAL TALENTS THAT MAKE YOU UNIQUE AND AMAZING!

 

​Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, that was embarrassing to say...

[Aureity 3,055]

Crystal Flame shook his head wearily-things had happened a bit too fast for him. This is what happens when you don't get enough sleep. The very mention of "bickering" irritated him. Curses, I thought I had that under control. "Come on, guys," he tried to say neutrally, although his hidden annoyance seeped through slightly.

 

"We have better things to do than sitting here and waiting for harmony, or whatever, to save us. A pony just...vanished. Some chaotic...thingy...creature...has plans to screw with two worlds. And you guys just want to sit. And, um...believe. That's not going to do ANYTHING. In fact, what's with this bickering nonsense? We weren't bickering at all. In fact, we only STARTED bickering when the subject was brought up-we were perfectly nice to each other beforehand. So maybe we should cut the fairy-tale and do something else."

 

(You guys can't have total peace THAT easy :3)

[Marcato 2,143]

Silver sighed when Serah ran infront of him to intercept him. "I know what i said, and i'm still keeping to that now." He explained to her. "I need to find Peach before Discord does something to her. We can't leave her alone like this." He finished.

 

"Oh how noble!" Said a familiar voice. "A daring prince to save the damsel in distress!" Discord appeared out of thin air in front of Silver. "I've got to hand it to you 'Silver,' you're only making my plans easier." The freak of nature taunted, his yellow eyes blaring into Silver. "You haven't learned from what happened last time you ran off on your own have you? Well now I get to laugh at it. Your confidence is far too high, and that could pose a problem for me, but if you keep running off like this i won't even have to lift a finger!" Discord laughed.

 

"Just who do you think you are trying to screw around with the way things are? Merging two worlds? That's crazy. You'll more likely hurt yourself then people around you. You don't belong in the human world and from the looks of things you don't belong in the other world either." Silver countered. He wasn't going to back down after all Discord had put him through. Wolves and an injury, this new chaotic realm, and now even his own friend.

 

Suddenly as if reading his his thoughts Discord spoke. "You think she was your friend? Oh that's rich! She was just doing what she thought was right. Her trying to find that medical kit was just her trying to be useful. She isn't your friend." Discord was obviously trying to get to Silver, but unfortunately it was working. "Thats not true. From what i've seen it doesn't matter anyways. She was being a good person and trying to help, and so she's right for that. But if any one else in the group doesn't think of her as I do then that's too bad, because if the human world taught me anything its that no one can change your opinion on anything." Silver, once again trying to counter.

 

Discord let out a very fake-looking, mocking yawn. ​"So cliché Silver, quite the speech indeed my little english friend. Ugh you remind me SO much of the last bearers of the elements of harmony. So obsessed with friendship and what not." Discord mocked, Silver was getting annoyed now, as if he wasn't already. "Well if i remind you of them so much why am i still alive? If i'm such a reminder why not you strike me down right now?" Silver said to Discord trying to put on a brave face, which was now being replaced by anger. "Because where's the fun in that? How much fun would it be if you, my favourite gentleman was dead right on the spot? Not very much i should say so right now."

 

Discord sneered at himself for the gentlemen joke. Silver didn't really care what Discord thought of him any more, he just wanted Discord gone. "There's some one looking for you you know." Silver decided to pull what he considered to be his trump card. "Some princess lady. Apparently she has already appeared to one of us and its only a matter of time before she finds you." Silver said to him. "Oh i'm simply shaking with fear! You think i'm afraid of her now? My plan is already so far it can't possibly be put to a stop by her now." Discord laughed at Silver. (Crap, apparently he's not afraid of anything.) Silver thought to himself.

 

"Now i have one more thing to do before i head back out to work." Discord said. Discord began to approach them, an evil look in his eye. (If he didn't always have that anyways.) "Ever wonder about the things you can't remember before you came here? Ever been curious about the life you had before?" Now Silver was backing away, his horn began to glow when Discord suddenly put his finger to Silver's forehead. "This outa clear things up." Discord said. A searing headache burnt into Silver as Discord took his finger away.

 

Silver could just hear Discord's laughter as he began seeing the human world again. The forest he had lived in was burning, and buildings in the city were toppling down. A memory while he was in school still flashed back, but it was altered. Discord was there, somewhere through every single painful memory, causing it by his own powers. The time he got a low mark on his test, people made fun of him for it, and discord was there making the teacher mark everything wrong. Such simple memories, but they held such high importance to Silver, and now they were altered into his worst nightmare.

 

It jumped ahead to the one thing he didn't want to remember, or now, Silver didn't even know what had and hadn't really happened. He saw his old home with his family. He was living peacefully like he always did, sheltered from the busy life beyond. That was the reason he had had a terrible time in school. He wasn't used to that life. Now, his peaceful life was ruined. He saw Discord floating above his home. Discord pulled on a little string, and suddenly a small group of robbers came out. He could hear the gunshots and clambering of furniture as they went through their house in the country. Silver hiding upstairs in his bedroom waiting for it to be over. He could hear the screams of his mother, the cries of his father as he tried to defend where Silver was hiding, and the sound of the gun. The door swung open and Silver stared in fear with his young eyes. The robbers looked at him, then at each other. "This ones not getting in our way." One said. "Can't take any chances though." Said the other. "You're right. Let's get 'em." Those were the last words he heard before he saw the robber swing his club, and everything went black.

 

When he woke up again, it was dark. There was a pain in his head, and he was tired. Very tired. Silver got up and looked around, and found himself out in the forest. Then he remembered everything that had happened, and lay there, crying. He didn't know how long he was there, but he knew it must have been several hours. "No.... I... I DON'T REMEMBER THAT!" He cried out. "That never happened... I..." It was too real. He finally accepted it after putting everything together. He had learned how to survive because he had been thrown out into the wilderness after his parents were murdered. Its how he became who he was. Learning to fend for himself.

 

His head was in pain, more painful memories rushing by, he couldn't control it. They just kept coming, and going, and twisting and changing. He couldn't take it, and fell to his knees holding his head. "hahahahahaha! How does it feel knowing the truth of your life before this?" ​Discord laughed maniacally. He couldn't focus. There was too much happening around him, and every once in a while he saw his parents faces, right before they died, his mothers screams filling his head.

 

(EDIT: Oh gosh i just wrote a freaking book. .____.")

Edited March 27, 2012 by Silver Arrow

[PeachPalette 1,000]

Some familiar hoofsteps came up behind him out of the shadows. Peach's tread was slow as it neared Silver from behind him. She smiled seeing Serah there, though it was not her usual smile.

 

"Why Silver, what are you doing here?" Her voice reached him, very much her own, but it had a different tone from the one she had just before being sucked up by the purple vortex. "Did you...come looking for me?" Peach seemed to totally ignore Discord's being right there with them. "My hero." She grinned locking eyes with Silver. Her tail swirled very feline like as she took some steps closer, her expression almost...deviant.

 

"I am afraid, however, that there is no saving me," she cooed as she reached him, her body sliding just under his chin, and flicking the tip of her tail at his nose to top it off. She turned with a semi trot and chuckled. "Why don't you stay here, Silver? Stay in this world. I'm sure the others will find a way out of this whole mess. After all, what is there to go back to?" She said, all of her words in an intriguing low hum. Her smile widened as she looked deep into his eyes, the yellows in them seeming to swirl with different tints of the color. "What harm will there be if one little pony stays?"

[Arylett Charnoa 4,919]

Artsy gritted her teeth into a grimace as she saw one of the others rebuke her statement. It wasn't as if she hadn't expected this; she had. How could she possibly by the only one to stay stable in this? Everything was falling apart... and how could she put the pieces back to together? All she was was one tiny, insignificant girl. And the weakest out of all of them. She was surprised Discord hadn't targeted her first. How was she going to keep it all together?

 

The only way was to get everyone in the same room. They were physically and emotionally separate. And she had to do this first before she was going to solve anything. Pushing back her negative thoughts as willfully as she could, she gazed at Brave with a spark of determination in her dark eyes.

 

"Listen up. You deal with things here. I'll be right back, I promise. If we're going to have harmony, every single person has to be all together at the same time. We WILL get through this, even if I have to use every goddamn thing in my insane mind to do it. Don't let any tricks, or anything get to you. This is the way to solve it. Everyone just trust me or be stuck here forever. End of story." Her tone sounded much more authoritative than usually, ringing out from her throat in a burst of confidence that she was surprised she even heard. When things fell apart though, she couldn't take it. She had to be the one to set them right.

 

The unicorn ran out of the room and followed Serah's trail to where she had encountered a very peculiar scene.

 

Outside, there was Silver, Serah, and... Peach. Doing something very odd. Very odd. Artsy felt confusion befall her, but not before her eyes fell onto the very same creature that she had drawn. She gasped. It was real? Why was it just hovering there... smiling mischievously? What was it doing? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Nor was what Peach was doing. Was she... hitting on him? She didn't like the looks of this. Nor the sounds of what she was saying.

 

"Hey, hey! What's going on here?! What are you guys... doing?"

Edited March 27, 2012 by Arylett Dawnsborough

[Electrobolt 2,069]

Upon hearing Brave just utter that phrase out, Electrobolt began to stifle a laugh. *Did... Did he just...* he began to think, before shaking his head and clearing out his mind. *Actually... I never thought of it that way before...* He then chuckled at himself for not realizing this fact right away. As he was about to say something, he heard Artsy speak out before heading out that same door that Serah and Silver went through. "Be careful..." he whispered, as he watched Artsy vanish into the darkness.

[Aureity 3,055]

Crystal Flame sighed as he watched that other pony (Artsy) vanish through the doorway. "Sheesh, you talk of unity then just ditch us like that?" But it was more concern than irritation this time. He anxiously swiveled his head to check the clock that hung on the wall. "Alright everypony! If she's not back with them in half an hour, I'm going to go look for them-and you guys should too. If unity is so bloody important, we're not going to get any being divided across two areas as we are." He kept a casual glance on the clock as he paced around the table, hoping time was one thing Discord couldn't screw with.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Auroreita Borealis

[Marcato 2,143]

I... don't understand it. Why all that... why these things could happen... even in our world... why do people do these things... Silver managed, shaking as he tried to regain control over his speech and body. Peach had suddenly shown up, and it didn't take much for Silver to figure out her personality had changed. However something wasn't right...

 

The head ache still burning, Silver tried to process what was happening. Stay here? That... no he couldn't do that... could he? It all seemed so hopeless now. The memory flash and shock of everything clouded Silvers logic. "Peach... whats going on?" Silver managed. He couldn't focus, he couldn't stop thinking about everything he had seen, the wind and lightning all around him stil throwing him off. "Is this... all thats left? Just a bunch of... helpless fools? Is that all we are...?" Silver said.

 

He then turned his attention to Peach. "And Peach, your personality... its changed again... this isn't like any of your others... you aren't like this. Silver still couldn't control himself. The images were still fresh in his head, then memories from just today flooded in. He yelled as the pain in his head spiked as he thought of it all at once. He didnnt even notice Artsy approaching. However one thought came into his mind before he lost himself in his own mind again. He knew no one could hear it, but he knew one thing, Discord could. (Do what you wish with me, but get the others out. Leave. Them. Be. They are just confused now. Give them a chance.) Then he fell back into his memories, his eyes blank staring into space.

[Nathan Fink 22]

The jolt that Dexterity had given him caught him by complete surprise. He had neither seen nor heard anyone, and yet now he was in pain, and accompanied by a unicorn in a bare and dusty room, his coat still a noticeably grayer shade.. "Aah, what was tha-NOOO! What did you do!?" He was on his hooves in a flash, his eyes searching the room frantically. "The books! What did you do to the books, my library! All gone, how!? Why!?"

 

He looked around in a panic now. His breath getting quicker and quicker. " I had it all...all the books i could ever want, all the knowledge of the universe! Why would you take that away from me? What did i ever do to you!?" His voice was getting louder, conveying more and more of his anger and frustration towards the Red and white unicorn.

 

She's with them, the new little voice in his head proclaimed. She was sent to stop you from figuring out how to use chaos to stop Discord! All these Ponies, they just dont understand you. They think he can be stopped by 'Friendship' it spat out the last word with scorn. But you know better dont you...you know that embracing the chaos is the only way to truly, stop it...So use that brain of yours. Figure out how to stop these Ponies from getting in your way...

Edited March 27, 2012 by Nathan Fink

[PeachPalette 1,000]

Her lip curled as she starred down at the lump on the ground that was Silver. "Honestly," Peach began as if talking to herself. "If you expect me to help do not scramble their brains first."

 

Her attention turned to Artsy and met her with a grin. "Welcome to the party, Artsy. I'm surprised you found us." She turned to her completely. "Now, would like to cut the cake or...," A cake appeared beside her surrounded in a yellow glow as was her horn. "Or...rescue your dear human friend?" With that Silver's body lifted from the ground and hovered on the other side of her. She starred down Artsy, her grin mocking Discord's.

 

Discord hovered above them, his arms crossed as if he was enjoying the show...and he was.

[Electrobolt 2,069]

"Hmm?" Electrobolt muttered, his ears popping up after having thought he heard someone shouting for a second. Slipping away from everyone else, he silently walked in the direction where he thought he heard the noise come from. It was a staircase going down into another room. "Did that noise... Come from here?" he asked himself silently. With that, he slowly began to descend the staircase, making sure he didn't trip and fall on top of anything that could possibly be down there. Eventually, he saw the room at the end of the stairs, and there he saw the two ponies who went missing. *There's SiFi, and... The other pony... I didn't quite catch her name though...* Finally, he nervously asked, "Um... What... What's going on here...?"

[Wolfe 71]

You got it Artsy, and be careful out there. Brave made a slight grin as he watched Artsy storm out into the dark abyss. He hoped she came back safely, but he remembered that he had to keep positive thoughts. He knew she'd be back just fine. He turned to the rest of the others and had a general idea of what to say, hoping it would be serious...

 

Okay everyone! Listen up! I want everyone here and lined up. Scattered is not good. I want everyone to think happy thoughts! Think kittens and puppies and cute forest animals! This sounds beyond silly for the situation we're in... Discord wants us in disarray, confusion, and, of course, chaos. But we're not going to let him. If anyone comes in contact with Discord, do not believe him and don't let him get to you. He noticed one of the ponies rush to that shouting. Brave thought for a moment to stop him, but he couldn't leave his post. Artsy ordered him to. On second thought, it was better. That pony took the initiative to find out what was going on. And if things sounded to get serious from that place, Brave would check it out. He turned back to the group

 

Now once Artsy returns, we can start getting things going. And you guys can bet your bottom dollar that Artsy is returning. I want everyone fully trusting Artsy returning safe and sound with the others. I have my worries, but I need to put my full trust in her. We need to trust each other. Brave watched every pony with their colored variety, hairstyles, and eyes. He tried to get a sense of who they were based on their cutie marks. They are all unique. "...surpress..." Everyone in this group will get through and will defeat Discord. We all can and WILL make it.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Wolfe

[Arylett Charnoa 4,919]

She felt her heart quivering and quaking, pounding against her chest as this situation turned weirder and weirder. What was she doing? Another weird personality change? Artsy had the feeling that... this was somehow the doing of the creature she had drawn. That creature was smirking and grinning, being entertained... the look of a villain. It was obvious who she had to target. Though it wasn't as if she hadn't seen this coming... she warned the others Peach's personality shifts would be their undoing.

 

And now Silver was... well, at first, he had fainted for reasons unknown. It was that creature again, it just had to be. Somehow, either it or Peach were taking advantage of this by making him hover.

 

"N-no!" The unicorn stopped her hoof boldly. "That's enough of this nonsense. I'm ending it here and now. This is no time for games or any of your ridiculous personality changes! We... we are all going to be... happy and cooperate, even if I have to force you down myself!" Her voice cracked and snapped vigorously, as she felt herself so empassioned with emotions that tears had begun to form in her eyes. It was at this moment that her horn erupted with another blast of magic, completely out of her control, which converged together to form a transparent draconian creature. The creature wasn't very large, but flew around in fury spouting out transparent flames that didn't seem to actually burn anything. It let out fierce shrill cries as it circled all of the ponies.

 

And she just lost it at that point.

 

Making a mad dash at Peach, Artsy threw all of her cautions to the wind at this point. All of her emotions were culminating on this moment. She had had enough of this world, these politics, and all of its nonsense. Enough of her confusion. And enough of this damned body. The unicorn lowered her head, her horn ready to pierce anything that got in its way. It was time to charge.

[Trixies Apprentice L 493]

Lionheart was shocked everything that was happening it was....it was madness and he was a fool, he just saw what was going on that what Discord wanted fromall along and his suspiciouness only furthered that goal. "That....that as I thought it to be. We lost before we begun it." He silently watched everyone walk and run around everyone scatered in chaos.

 

Then Artsy left once more. "No wait." He tried to say but it was too late. He was silent for another moment and then Brave said they should gather and line up. "Screw that." Was all that he could think as his horn lit up and the trail of everypoies appeared on the floor a name above each trail. He quickly followed Artsy's but half way he heard a voice "You don't want to help the do you ? They are just idiots. They cannot get what is happening.". Lionheart stopped for a second. It was true that what he believed but yet something inside him said no I should serrach it more before I come to a conclusion. He sontinued walking and he finally reached only to see more chaos.

 

Peach and Artsy were fighting, Silver had a mental breakdown and everything was just plain wierd.

"What the....What is goign on here. This is insane. That not what I meant about trusting. He then looked around and saw Discord sitting there laughing at this all. "You...you are good. You managed everything...this...this much chaos. Every one was too stupid to realises what was going on even I. We just fell into your trap like sheeps going to the slaughter. This is insane." Lionheart quickly turned his gaze back to the fight in front of him while Discord was still laughing.

 

"We truly lost before we even had the chance to begin fighting. We are pathetic." He though to himself. He was getting pretty nervous with the situation he wanted to find a way to spot this but he just couldn't find that way, that thing he needed to do to help. "Think, think, think of what have happened untill now." He though out loud desperate to find something. He finally fell down. "It hopeless...hopeless we cannot win this game."

[PeachPalette 1,000]

Discord's voice spouted an order, it echoing with her mind as clear as day. "Stop her."

 

The cake that was once floating disappeared from view in a flash, though Silver stayed in the air, growing higher and higher until he was floating next to Discord. A shiny string spun around him as if he was just pronounce a meal for a hungry spider. Peach's face hardened but with a chaotic joy, only all too happy to fight. "As you WISH!"

 

Artsy's and Peach's glowing horns connected, sparks flying from them in a beautiful but fierce array of yellows and reds. It looked like fire, and it reflected as such in their narrowed eyes. Their foreheads surely both throbbing from the pain of butting together so harshly, they locked in a angry game of strength as they pushed against one another. Artsy's dragon like image furiously depicting an air attack as well, though it was clear it was not a threat, but a feeling brought to life.

 

"You were right about me. You must be so proud of yourself!" Peach growled through her toothy grin as she pushed back with a great force. "Funny, I would have thought the all powerful Celestia would have chosen someone stronger than this!" She pushed again. Her tone lowered into an irking, sneer of a whisper. "Congratulations. You are now the leader of a broken group. There is no unity any longer. You have failed, you see."

 

The ground began to quake as a sort of screen imprinted behind where Serah was standing. It showed Ponyville, the place they were at only hours ago. The snow was gone. Instead, a crack in it's skyline grew wider as the familiar purple haze bellowed from it. The ground seemed to be shaking there too as ponies panicked. Their expressions ones of lives flashing before their very eyes. "It has already begun!" Peach exclaimed, her eyes burning into Artsy's as Discord now laughed at the images of his plan's progress, his body still floating above them.

[Arylett Charnoa 4,919]

She gritted her teeth, feeling the sheer power overwhelming her as the sparks clashed epically, and forced her eyes shut so as to avoid those evil yellow eyes. Her body was so physically weak, and she felt herself being pushed backwards by Peach's strength. It was that monster up there... it was making her say everything. That thing was the source of everything, but she couldn't do anything until she stopped Peach. Once again, she began to doubt herself. Was anything even worth it? Was she even strong enough?

 

So much... doubt...

 

___

 

"It's time to end it. I've had enough of all this... I'm worthless, I'm useless... and I contribute nothing to this world." A young teenage girl with curly hair was standing at an open drawer of kitchen cutlery, staring intently at it as tears flowed down her face. It was a monster worse than anything she had ever faced, and the monster lived inside of her. Something dark, something that had caused her so much pain... and she didn't even understand why. All she understood was-

 

A boy walked into the room, staring at the girl holding up a rather dangerous-looking piece of cutlery. He gently took it out of her hand as tears ran down his eyes and he held her.

 

"You're not worthless. Don't you know I love you? That makes you worth enough to me."

 

"But... I'm not strong enough to live in this world. I'm not strong enough... to handle these feelings."

 

"You're strong enough. I know you are. Please don't let this take you..."

 

"No. I'm a worthless weak broken shell of a girl! I'm broken... and I can't be fixed. It's time for this to be over! Now get out of my way and let me get on with it!" She pushed him out of the way and felt her heart shatter a little from his on-going tears and the extreme sadness in his voice. It cracked a little as he spoke again.

 

"Please don't listen to it! Don't you see what it's doing to you? It's a monster... and it's trying to control you. Don't listen to the doubt. Please... please don't leave. You're worth so much, and you're so strong..." She could hear the echoes of this boy's voice in her mind, again and again... until she had see the part of the memory where they left the kitchen, and nothing happened. Nothing happened... and she had fought the monster inside of her. She stood up that day, to that boy, and swore to herself that she'd never doubt again. Because she was strong. She had fought something far worse than any of this.

 

And won.

____

 

Her will would not be undercut this time. That memory was so important, and she could never forget it.

 

Tears glistened on her face as she screamed out loudly, forcing every fiber of her body to hold this pony back. Their words only added more fuel to her fire. Lionheart... and all of their words of hopelessness and negativity.

 

"Why don't you shut... UP?!" Artsy forced her hooves into the ground as she let out a mighty push, going on the offensive. "There's nothing.. ugh... you can say to me. I am immune to all of... of... your doubt. You really think... some silly words of yours can hurt me more than I've hurt myself?! You don't know me at all. Not you, and definitely not that pathetic creature that's controlling you! You really are enjoying being his little pet, aren't you? Just for that monster to manipulate your actions... you're the one who's weak! Just a pathetic puppet to him now! We CAN and we WILL win. Just as soon as I knock some sense into your crazy mooded head! I'm going home... and you... hey you up there, you're going back to the hell... that you came from!"

 

Her horn flashed even more brightly, almost going a blinding and vivid shade of red. The unicorn opened her dark eyes, which glared back at Peach with a fierce ironclad determination. She forced her front hooves deeply into the ground and let out as mighty a push as she could. The draconic image came soaring above them and flew at Peach, letting out a massive transparent flame that for a moment looked rather real.

[Aureity 3,055]

Crystal Flame gave up has patience as he saw yet another of the ponies leave, headed towards who knew where. Lionheart, or something like that. Probably going to go cause some trouble. Wonderful, more of what we need. He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, and was surprised to see that almost an hour had already passed. That can't be right...Discord must be screwing with the time. In fact...was it just him or did the clock suddenly jump back two hours? Grr...

"Alrighty guys, I give up on waiting. Not like waiting makes any difference when a minute seems like a century, anyway. Let's just find them and end this stupidity." Looking immensely disgusted with the whole situation, he headed out the door. Just as he was about to reach the door and yank it open, a glint of metal caught his eye. Turning his head in surprise, he thought he saw...what was it? A knife lying on the ground, the blade sunk three inches into the floor. It made him remember something for a second-hadn't he seen it somewhere?

~~~

 

"Come on, hurry up! Get your stupid head back inside the house this instant!"

 

"I won't! You've done absolutely nothing for me, not since I was born. Everyone else has a good dad. I have you."

 

"You bloody kid, you're going to come back in this instant and stop making a ruckus, or I'm going to force you!"

 

"You're drunk again, dad. You can't stop me, I'm running away-I've had it with you! I'm better off on my own."

 

"We'll see about that! Come back here!"

 

The shadowy figure lunged at him, smashing him against the floor. The breath was knocked out of him as he struggled to pull the shadow off, even as it drew back a fist to begin pummeling him. "You're gonna feel a world of hurt, kid! YOU DON'T MESS WITH YOUR DAD!" The fist pulled back, and for a second, the shadowy haze that was screaming at him contrasted sharply with the object it was holding-a sharp, polished steel knife that glinted in the darkening sunset.

 

"You wouldn't...!"

 

"Watch me."

 

And then he used his last burst of strength as he kicked at the shadow still standing on top of him, holding the shard of steel. It staggered backwards, and the knife dropped from its hand, landing blade-down on the kitchen table. They both grabbed for it...

 

~~~

 

Crystal Flame's gaze hardened as he paused to consider the knife embedded on the floor. You know you want to. That little piece of metal has helped you more than anyone in the world ever could. He blinked in confusion as Discord's voice echoed in his head. "Everyone's going crazy today," he muttered. He turned his gaze back towards the doorway, and prepared to leave.

 

He stopped, turned, and grabbed the knife out of the floor, before he disappeared out the door.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Auroreita Borealis

[Dexterity 3]

With a small nervous smile she said, "Now calm down Mr. Crazypants. All I did was give you a tiny shock to bring you back to reality. There never was a library..." Dexterity pawed at the floor with her hoof. "I just came down here to let you know that Peach has disappeared."

 

Dex could see that the bearded pony was getting angrier and angrier by the minute and this frightened her very much. She had never experienced this from anypony before. Dexterity seemed to shrink in upon herself, trying to appear as small as possible. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you..."

 

Finally, he nervously asked, "Um... What... What's going on here...?"

 

She looked back at the new pony in the room. Dexterity, you're surrounded. This is bad. You don't know these ponies, and they are all acting weird... You could get hurt. "I... ummm... I didn't do anything." She laid her ears back and lowered her head; she was so nervous she felt like she was going to jump out of her own coat.

[Electrobolt 2,069]

Electrobolt noticed that Dexterity was nervous, and that didn't help him feel any better. "Hey, I..." he began. "I... I didn't mean that... It's just... I thought I heard shouting come from over here, and... I just wanted to see what was happening..." He looked at the two there and noticed SiFi was looking rather mad, and different... *Wait...* he thought. *Why is he gray...? Something's not right here...*