Stronghold: New Beginnings.

Chapter 14:

Yes, we can!

“Thank the Royal Sisters, you're alive!” said a crying Fluttershy as I came into Ponyville's boarders. “Reggie had woken up a while after we blew up his palace. Also, I've decided not to kill them, because they claim there's an even greater threat among us.” “Okay, then. But I'm just glad you're okay. I read your note, and became a little worried.”

“Well, I'm here now. I get to watch the sunrise with you after all. Okay?” “Okay.” “Reggie, head down to that red and black building over there. That's our HQ. Tell them I sent you. If they ask why, tell them to ask me that. Flutters and I have some sightseeing to do.”

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“Wow. Quite the view. It's a good thing Rainbow Dash allowed us to borrow this cloud.” “She's easy to persuade sometimes.” Said Fluttershy as she leaned her head on my lap. I stroked her hair, aware that she had lack of some sleep. I told her “Why don't you go to sleep, okay? You had a rough night, worrying over me. Don't worry, I'll tell you about how the sunrise went, alright?” “Okay” Said Fluttershy as she tried to stifle a yawn. She curled up, and closed her eyelids.

I stroked her hair until she was deep in slumber, then I rested my eyes until the sunrise began. It was beautiful, so colorful and amazing. Fluttershy woke up, now fully rested, and asked how the sunrise went. I said it was lovely, gave her a kiss, then looked down at the ground. I heard someone call me down. I jumped off the cloud, landed on a nearby house's pipeline, and vaulted off of it. Flutters got the cloud to go down, slipping herself off of it. “Reggie's asking to be questioned, sir!” said a blue beret pony. He was actually the Commander, a light brown stallion with a silvery-gray  mane and tail, a gray mustache, and eyes the color of a crackling fire.

“Then question him, Commander Ryan.” I told him. “I can't, sir! He asks for YOU to question him, sir!” “Okay, then, Commander Ryan. I'll be over in a sec.” I grabbed Fluttershy's hand, and lead her back home. After that, I headed over to the HQ and went inside to question Reggie.

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“Hey, Max. How's it's been? Just so you know, I'm secretly glad you blew up those changelings. Their faces creeped me out.” “Your welcome, Reggie. Now, just so you know, I'm willing to be nice and not bash your face in as long as your willing to cooperate. Okay?” “Yeah, sure. Ask away, Sir 20 Questions!” Said a calm Reggie. “First of all, I'm going to ask a two year old question that's been on my mind; How did you survive the blast? I'd like to know, since no one else except you, me and Jake made it out.”

“I made a force-field of a bubble surrounding me. The explosion sent me so fast throughout space I landed here. I accidentally hospitalized two Ponies in the landing process.” “Next, how did you become the Tyrant?” “By three months time, I met someone. My lovely wife Chrysalis, who gave up on trying to be a villain and became close friends with the Mayor of Ponyville.”

“And?” I asked.

“And, I started hearing voices in my head. Called itself Discord, Master of Chaos. He filled my head with images of wealth and power, me sitting on a throne made entirely of gold and silver. It was enough to drive a man mad, and it did. I overthrew the Royal Sisters as they slept, locked them away deep in the Everfree Forest, and became the Ruler.

“Soon after this happened, gloominess covered the entire world in the form of storm clouds. I saw something different, though. Through my window, I always saw the world before I ruled. That's why I always arrested the Rebels instead of stepping down.”

“Last question, since you gave me a lot of information; What are our chances of defeating this...Discord, character?”

“You'd die before you can touch him. One mistake is all he needs to play with your mind. He can drive you to the point of insanity. If your will is weak, he makes you so insane, you wind up killing yourself to end the madness. I've seen him at work, and I regret watching.”

“Seems we've got our work cut out for us, eh, Reggie?” “Not even close, Max” “Well, it doesn't matter. We'll send some boys to go and find your old home. Then, we'll have some people help redecorate. You and your wife can relive your lives as normal villagers just like everyone else.” “Great! I do kind of miss helping people.” “Good. You can start tomorrow.” “Last thing you should know, Max.” “Yes?”

“Do you really believe you can take down Discord?”

“Yes, I do, and I can. Remember Obama? Yes, We Can!”

“Good.” He said as I left the premises.

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“Who's Discord, Flutters?” I asked while changing Pound Cake's diapers. Fluttershy gasped as she dropped her watering pot, and as it cracked, I heard it make the noise of ceramic breaking. Water formed a puddle around her feet. And then...she fainted.