Screw Loose and Screwball: The 2nd and 3rd of The Insaneby TwistedSkittlesChaptersA Long DayShoe Doesn't Shine AnymoreTaken AwayA Sweethearted MorningLonely ChaosChaotic WondersSafely DisturbedThe First BiteA Long Day“LADY! WHERE ARE MY SHOES?” A stallion yelled. “No, I said gold not silver.” A mare snapped. “Excuse me over here!” A pony called. Shoeshine could barely hear their voices. She scrambled around, tossing boxes of horseshoes at customers. The endless customers surrounded her. Most were angry, and demanding, a few were polite and merely called out to her. They were all impatient. It would be a few hours until she closed. A few hours of chaos. ……… Shoeshine threw herself onto the bed. She laid her head back onto her cool pillow and sighed. Today had been another long day. She placed a cold damp washcloth onto her forehead to ease her huge head ache. It was the usual busy day. Running back and forth through a mob of angry ponies from Canterlot demanding horseshoes. Shoeshine was so far behind on her work. Ordering the materials, dealing with the late shipping, and then taking them to the blacksmith. She would help Smithy in his shop, pounding the metals into shiny horseshoes. Then it was then her job to organize them into boxes, fill out orders, and either ship them off or have them become mixed up in her store. She merely had a few hours of sleep, then it was back to her job. She was a pretty, light blue mare with mauve eyes and curly hair. She had once been happy, spending time with her friends, and stallions would even flirt with her. Now she had no time for anypony. Shoeshine sighed again and gestured her front hooves in the air. “Why can’t I be free like the others?” She exclaimed in anger. She had grown farther and farther apart from her friends and family. They no longer asked if they wanted to meet her somewhere. Shoe was always working, she devoting her life to her store. Shoeshine groaned and rolled onto her side so that she was facing the window. She closed her eyes for a moment, to fall asleep, when she heard a loud barking. She opened her eyes to see a young unicorn filly playing with a dog. The filly used his magic to toss the tennis ball towards the puppy, a german shepherd, and he caught it happily. He growled and bit it. “Good job Max. You’ll do great working with Daddy. We’ll both grow up nice and strong and can work on catching bad guys like Daddy.” The filly said. Shoeshine recognized him. He was the son of Hemlock Bones, a stallion who solved crime, known mostly for murderers. Shoeshine’s eyes went back to the german shepherd. The dog seemed so careless and free, spending time playing with his family. He had no job, no worries, just toys to chew on and bowls full of food and water. Shoe chuckled to herself. “Why can’t I be like that?” She mumbled. She rolled over and and fell asleep, but not before hearing a strange voice in her head. “You can.” Author's Note Incase you are wondering who in the hay Shoeshine is, look her up on Google Images. She shares the same color scheme as Screw Loose. The only difference is the cutie mark. Anyways, as you read on through the story, see if you can make the connections. Enjoy! Shoe Doesn't Shine AnymoreThe next morning, shouting could be heard from somewhere. Shoe opened her eyes heavily and saw angry customers. She jumped in shock, and realized she had fallen asleep on her stool again that was behind the counter. She turned to an angry mare as the other customers shouted at her. "Oh yes, your copper horseshoes. Sorry ma'am." She said apologetically and rushed into the back of the store. She looked at boxes before her and began searching for the mare's order. Sleep begn creeping in as she searched, but her eyes opened when she found them. She ran back to the mare and shoved the shoes in her hooves and grabbed the money. Her vision was blurry, and blinked slower than usual. The lights were shining in her eyes, and the colors seemed to drain. Everything seemed unreal, like a dream, but also a nightmare. There was a sound of heart monitor, two of them, going at different, yet similar paces. Shoeshine turned to a stallion. "And what are you here for sir?" She asked. "About time." He replied angrily. "I need my bark! Bark! Bark!" He finished, barking like a dog. Shoe blinked. "Excuse me?" "I said bark! Bark! Bark!" The stallion repeated. "I'm afraid I don't understand." Shoeshine told him. The stallion growled at her. Suddenly the rest of the customers started barking and yipping angrily at her. They slowly began walking towards her. Their teeth turned into sharp fangs, saliva foaming at the mouth. The scratched at her with claws instead of hooves, and growled at her with flattened ears. As they climbed over the counter, ready to pounce, Shoeshine saw a black figure with glowing red eyes and green and blue hair. It was a normal pegasus, instead of the dog-like beasts in front of her. "Can you help me?" The black pegasus cried. "Please help me!" Shoeshine's eyes widened it terror as her eyes darted between the pegasus and the beasts, who were about to pounce. Finally, they locked onto the pegasus's red eyes. "Help me!" A voice called. Shoe found it was not the strange pegasus's, but her own. She was calling out. Suddenly the pegasus's eyes red eyes flashed to bright green. "I'll help you if you help me." The same scratchy voice came from the black pony's mouth as it smiled. It turned it's head to look at her beautiful windows. Shoeshine followed it's gaze. Suddenly a blue rock flew in, shattering the bright window. As glass flew everywhere, Shoe followed the bright blue rock as it flew by her. It seemed to fly in slow motion, time seemed to slow down as well, and was so smooth and shiny that Shoe could see her reflection perfectly. Her mane was a mess, and her cutie mark had changed from two horseshoes to a screw. Her eyes were small with terror, but slowly widened at the reflection of herself. As time suddenly continued to its normal pace, the rock sped up so quickly it smashed into the wall. It did not break, but instead jammed inself into the wall. Everything else seemed to speed up. The glass flying, the beasts growling, the black pony with the green eyes smiling at her. Everything seemed to move so quickly except for Shoeshine, who stared into black pony's shiny green eyes. Shoeshine muttered the only sane word she would ever say again. "Screw Loose." Author's Note Okay, so honestly I think this all goes a little too quickly. I mean, Mind Twist slowly went insane through out the story. I might rewrite this chapter. I don't know yet. Don't hate me too much. Oh! I almost forgot! Did anypony notice anything in this chapter? *COUGHCOUGH* I bet you're all so confused right now!!! Lol just kidding. Maybe more like Ugh whatever. At least the Mind Twist fans might get it. Taken AwayRed and blue lights flashed from the Canterlot Shoeshop. Injured ponies were taken away on cots and into the ambulances parked in the front lawn. A few received bandages on their legs. Nurses and police horses were trotting left and right. A pink earth pony with white and purple hair stood on the hard cement steps leading to the front lawn. Her bright blue eyes watched as everypony stood in group talking, examining the lawn for clues, or rushing injured ponies out the door. "You there!" A voice called to her. The mare snapped her head up at the sound. "You a nurse?" The stallion gestured at her nurse's hat. "Oh, yes Mister Bones. But it's only my first day." The mare told him. "Call me Hemlock. D'you know what happened here?" He asked. "Yes sir. The owner was having a tough time coping with all the angry customers. It put too much pressure on her. The customers said she kept mumbling to herself about dogs and helping a strange black pegasus. The pegasus was not actually there. She must have been hallucinating. A few seconds later somepony threw a rock, breaking her window. Many ponies are injured, but the owner......has just......lost it." The nurse gestured at a blue pony. Her mane was a mess and she growled under her muzzle. "We are unsure of what caused it. She now believes she is a dog. She keeps repeating 'Screw Loose' while barking and growling." Hemlock pulled out a different notebook. He opened it, flipping through blank pages towards the middle. "A black pegasus you say. Hmmm." He used his magic to levitate the pencil. As he wrote, the nurse continued to gaze at her surroundings. She turned her head as another ambulance pulled up. Just then somepony bumped into her. The pink nurse turned her head and saw it was another nurse whom she didn't recognize. The nurse was a white earth pony with soft pink hair in a bun. As soon as they locked eyes, something felt off. "Excuse me ma'am." The white nurse said as she pushed past. She reeked of perfume and blood, but must have cleaned it off her pure white coat. She heard a buzzing sound, similar to a cicada, an insect that were active in the summer, producing an annoying buzzing sound. A shiny bit of blue could be seen under her nurse's hat, but she moved so quickly that one could only think they imagined it. Our fellow pink nurse continued to watch the other nurse climb into an ambulance, that had pulled up a few seconds ago. She took the passenger seat instead of riding in the back, sliding next to a pink unicorn with a blonde mane and blue eyes. "Got it?" The pink unicorn whispered. "Yes. Now what do we do?" The white nurse asked. "We wait for His orders. It'll be only a few years until the next one is ready." The pink unicorn looked in the side view mirror and saw that she was being watched. She quickly started the engine, turned on the siren, and sped away. "And what is your name Miss?" Hemlock asked as he finished writing. The pink nurse answered without taking her eyes from the ambulance. "Sweetheart. Sweetheart Rich." A Sweethearted MorningIt was a sunny day out in Ponyville as Nurse Sweetheart walked up to the Canterlot Mental Hospital. She had brought a bag of cookies in the shape of bones. Sweetheart had the Cakes make the usual cookies, but shape them into bone. Her patient would would love them. Sweetheart opened the glass door to the asylum, a eating one of the cookies. She walked up to the pony behind the counter, a yellowish Earth pony with blue curly hair. The pony was gathering papers. “Good morning Snowheart.” She told the nurse as she joined her in grabbing papers. Nurse Snowheart looked up at the sound of her co-worker’s voice and gave her a warm smile. “Mornin,” Her southern accent as strong as usual. “Jus’ gettin some papers for the doc and…..are you eating….dog cookies?” Snow gestured to the half eaten cookie in Sweetheart’s hoof. “No, they’re peanut butter, but I had the Cakes make them look like dog cookies. She already has too much kibble. A pony shouldn’t have dog food. It’s unhealthy.” Sweetheart explained. “Ah.” Snow nodded as if in thought. “Well, here’s the rest of the paperwork. I have to go check on her.” Sweet waved and then walked down the long hallway of the hospital. She came up to a perfect white. She pulled out a silver key and unlocked the door. It swung open to reveal a padded room. “Hey girl.” Sweetheart smiled at the pony inside. Screw Loose immediately began wagging her tail and panting happily. The blue mare had been put in a straight jacket, but seemed oblivious to it. Sweetheart walked over and freed the pony from the jacket. The asylum feared what would happen to Screw Loose when she was alone. Luckily they trusted Sweetheart, and allowed Loose to be jacket-less along was near Sweet at all times. "Look what I got for you." Sweetheart showed the pony the bag of cookies. Screw Loose barked happily and drooled. Sweet dumped them out of the bag for her and then grabbed one for herself. As she chewed, she watched Screw munch on the cookies happily. How strange it was to find a pony who thought she was a dog. When Sweet was still an average nurse, she filled through endless amounts of paperwork, trying to find anything she could of Screw Loose's past. There was nothing but a small scrap of paper and a photo. Shoeshine Owner of Canterlot Shoeshop Entered Canterlot Asylum May 18 Diagnosed with multi-personality disorder, mild anger issues, violence, mild bipolar. Somepony had merely shoved them in a folder. The rest of Shoeshine's past remained hidden. Now, Sweetheart was head nurse, along with Nurse Snowheart. They had found Screw Loose about four years ago. She had been assigned to take care of the disturbed mare, and both grew fond of each other immediately. Although the doctors had once tried to cure Screw with therapy, medicines, and CAT scans, they had given up, for Screw could never be cured. Sweetheart respected the fact that Screw Loose thought of herself as a dog, and treated her kindly as one would care for a pet. In return, Screw would play ball and lick her master's pink cheeks. Both took care of each other. Sweetheart had a best friend, and Screw Loose had a loving owner. It worked perfectly, a win-win. When Screw was finished, she barked. "You want more?" Sweetheart said. She sighed but rolled her eyes with a smile. "Alright, alright. But you're eating kibble when I get back." She said as she strapped Screw Loose back into her straight jacket. Then she walked to the door. "I'll be back in an hour or so." Screw whined at the thought of her leaving. "C'mon you know it's all the way in Ponyville. I'll see you in a bit." With that, Sweetheart closed the heavy door and it clicked behind her. As she walked through the hallway when she saw a stallion in a lab coat walking up to her. "Hello Doctor Feel Better." She said him as they met. "Ah yes Candyheart my best nurse. I have good news for you." He said. "Sweetheart," she corrected. "What's up doc?" "We know you and your family live in Ponyville and you have a deep connection with Screw Loose. Since you constantly have to go back and forth Canterlot and Ponyville, you and Screw Loose shall be transported to Ponyville Hospital. You continue working with Screw Loose. You start tomorrow." Feel Better explained. Sweetheart's eye lit up. "Oh....thank you sir....I think." "You're welcome. Go on then." He nodded his head at the door with a smile. As Sweetheart left the asylum, she heard a deep chuckle, as if somepony was laughing at her. Sweet looked around and saw she was alone. She frowned in suspicion and continued to the train station. Lonely ChaosChaos. The word rang through Discord's ears. He could almost feel the familiar tingle whenever he heard that word. Almost. Because he was still made of stone. He couldn't move, nor touch nor feel nor hear nor speak nor smell. He could only see and sense. Now before you point out that Discord can not feel, you should know that feeling and sensing can be two different things. You feel the hard marble all around you, surrounding you that it a mystery of how you can breathe. You can feel the group of ponies taking a tour of the castle gardens as the little fillies brush past you with their soft fur. Some are even arguing about you. But you can sense that the alicorn magic, the magic within the cold hard marble that has kept you trapped for thousands of years, you can sense that it is growing weaker and weaker around you. As three little fillies continue to argue, Discord realized that he could hear their silly voices, he could smell the dirt and the dust they stirred up as they fought. He felt the soft fur of the ponies beneath him. The alicorn magic seemed to break away, and he found himself chuckling, his voice rough from being muted for thousands of years. His voice echoed through out the marble, and he saw a purple energy glow from the middle of his chest, right were his heart was. It seemed to tap on marble, like a finger. He immediately recognized the purple light. It wasn't energy. It was power. Wonderful chaotic power. Discord thought with a sinister smile as the stone around him began cracking like an egg. With a colorful blast, the stone broke away, and he was free. "Thanks to those three foolish ponies," he announced, refering to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, "I approve that the chaos shall begin!" Discord through up his arms and flew up into the air. Fireworks went off behind him. He snapped his fingers and the white fluffy clouds surrounding him turn into bright pink cotton candy clouds. A rumble sounded from them and a chocolate liquid began to drop from them. Discord gave a gleeful smile and a cup appeared in his griffon claw. He stuck the cup beneath the nearest cloud and it filled up with the chocolate substance. Discord sipped, and lowered the cup with a smile. "Chocolate milk and cotton candy clouds! How de-lightful!" He announced. He flew higher, and looked over and saw a small town. "Ponyville! Of course!" With a flash was gone, and appeared in front an large apple orchard. The sunlight poured below as Discord stood on top of a fill. The red and green apples glistened perfectly in the sun, and a soft breeze blew on his fur, feathers and scales. Discord softened for a moment, a small kind smile formed on his lips. "HEY I DIDN'T TELL YOU TO GO ANYWHERE!!" Discord froze, then quickly turned into a red apple hanging from a tree, his eyes sticking out. To his relief it was not the Royal Sisters, but beneath him was an orange earth pony with a hat picking corn and putting it into her wagon. Discord sighed and looked up to see a blue Pegasus chasing one of his cotton candy clouds. The rest of the pink clouds followed the rainbow-maned pegasus as chocolate milk rained from them. "Rainbow Dash!" The orange pony called to the pegasus. "What's going on with this rain? I mean chocolate milk. I mean chocolate milk rain!" Discord chuckled from his hiding place. Oh won't this be fun!! Just a few tricks with these ponies and soon it will be the chaotic capital of the world!! ........ Discord, now a small leaf, watched as the Mane Six stood in front on the Canterlot Labyrinth opening. "Never fear girls! We have each other!" Twilight Sparkle announced. "Yeah! Like Twilight said. There's nothing we can't overcome if we all stick together!" Rainbow Dash agreed. The ponies nodded and lined up in front of the entrance. "Alright girls! Let's do this!" Twilight said. The very moment they placed one hoof forward, Discord smiled evilly and immediately walls of thick leaves and branches appeared out of the ground, seperating themselves from each other. There! Now you'll see what happens when you're all alone! Discord wanted to scream. But he turned into a shadow and slimmed away with an angry growl. As he wandered through the maze, using his power to rearrange the walls as he made his wayn't help but feel a sharp pang of loneliness. How can I be the bad guy here? Shouldn't I get a chance to show them my own fun chaotic world? Discord's loneliness turned to anger. Celestia didn't even give her own sister a chance for those stupid ponies to see her side of the story! He began ripping and the leaves, growing more violent. And now she won't let me show mine! Imprison in that stupid stone before I got a chance. Now those ponies are living in a carefree world while Celestia imprisons us behind their backs. And now I have no pony!! Discord was about to scream when he stopped and called down. "What if...I made those six silly ponies as lonely as I am? They would see how evill the world is, even more than I do!" He rubbed his hands together and grinned. "They would turn against each other, and I would finally show every pony who Celestia really is." He laughed, and slithered into the shadows as he heard Applejack walking. Chaotic WondersAs Discord turned each of the six friends against each other, he had found that he was still unsatisfied. The pink pony seemed very similar to Discord before she was discorded. They were both secretly lonely and Pinkie actually seemed to find Discord more entertaining than a threat. But of course he had to change her anyway, not wanting to risk the fact she still wanted to save her precious friends and that she was an Element of Harmony. Discord was now sitting on his throne, his head rested in the palm of his paw, elbow on the arm of the chair. He watched as buffaloes danced in tutus, and the ponies ran left and right, wanting to escape the endless chaos. Discord sighed, waiting for the Mane Six to attempt to stop him. They were still at the labrynth, with Twilight still trying figure out his simple riddle. As the ponies ran past the King of Chaos, Discord spotted a pink pony with purple and white hair throwing dog cookies at a group of bunnies with tall deer legs. She finally ran out of cookies, due to the rabbits catching them in their mouths rather than getting struck, and growled at her with devious grins. Discord knew they were going to trample her, but their were so many that she would most likely get trampled to death. Discord frowned snapped his fingers. Suddenly everything moved in slow motion, he had merely slowed down speed of everything except for him. Death.....just not my style. He thought. I wonder if she has anypony to look after her. Discord turned away and drummed his fingers on the chair. I bet she does. They always do. He growled, then frowned again, then turned back to the pony and the rabbits. He pounded his fist in frustration and a file full of papers appeared before him. "Let's see. Nurse Sweetheart Rich. Divorced from Filthy Rich, Mother of Diamond Tiara. Has no known other family members. Works at Canterlot Asylum as head nurse." He read from the file the snapped it shut and it disappeared. "Hmm works at an Asylum, divorced, and has that brat as a daughter. Not exactly my kind of life-style. I'd say she's a bit lonely, don't you think?" Discord frowned in confusion. "Ugh, there you go again talking to yourself again! You need another chaotic mind!!" He glanced at the pink pony with an angry frown. "What if I just made another chaotic mind? As lonely and angry as me." His hands glowed with the strange purple power, for creating another personality would take more magic than his normal spells. He was about blast the energy at her when he a voice suddenly rang out. "Discord!" He turned and saw it was Princess Luna standing in front of his throne, neither smiling nor frowning. "Luna!" Discord's hands stopped glowing as he turned angrily at the alicorn. She was some how not effected by the slow motion. The princess's horn glowed with magic and everything except her and Discord stopped moving completely. "Don't tell me you're going to turn me in to your stuck up sister!" Discord snapped. Luna remained calm. "I am not here to imprison you nor tell my sister you have escaped. I am not here to stop you. I know you are lonely, with nothing but your chaotic thoughts to keep you company." "Ugh," Discord slumped in his throne and crossed his arms, making a grumpy face as a small filly would when they didn't get things their way. "So you're not going to let me turn this mare into another chaotic mind." He gestured to the frozen Sweetheart. "I get it, I get it." Suitcases apeared in his hands as he stood up. "I'll just get out of your hair." His head suddenly appeared in Luna's mane. "Quiet the opposite actually. I am allowing you create somepony to share your happiness and pain." Luna said, not even reacting to his strange appearance in her mane. Discord raised an eyebrow and the rest of his body appeared as he floated out of the alicorn's hair. "As long as you take care of her. But. You must only give her one power. It must be her choice." Luna explained. Discord smiled. "Of course. It is only fair." He said. "And let her know....that...." Luna searched for her words, then closed her eyes in defeat. "That the world is not what it seems." Discord grinned, trying his best not give away the sadness in his voice. "Ah yes Luna. Us villians all know that." Safely Disturbed"Get away! Get away!" Sweetheart told the strange rabbits towering over her. She had run out of the cookies that had picked up for Screw Loose. The rabbits had merely eaten them as she threw the cookies at their heads. They were now grinning sinisterly as she cowered before them. When she arrived in Ponyville, she saw ponies getting trampled by the violent rabbits. Now there were so many rabbits she would clearly be trampled to death. As the rabbits started running towards her, Sweetheart let out a blood-curtling scream. Unknown to her, and every pony else, her time was slowed down while Discord and Luna were talking. To what was few seconds to Sweetheart, were ten minutes to Discord and Luna. Suddenly Sweet heard a strange sound around her, and saw a bright light flash of Discord's magic. She could now move as quickly as Luna and Discord were, and saw everything around her slow down, then stop. There was a sudden flash of blue light from above their heads and everything seemed to shake. Sweetheart heard ponies screaming from above, but when she looked up and saw no pony. Just a sparkle of blue light flying towards her. The blue object, what looked to be a strange stone, shimmered in the sun as it whizzed past her head. It landed with a small thud, merely a few feet away from where Discord and Luna were now standing. Discord had noticed the blue stone, and picked it up in his lion hand. He studied it for a moment, turning it over and over, then held it up for Luna to see. The alicorn noticed his paw and said "Yes Discord? What did you find?" "Can't you see it Luna? I'm holding it in front of me." Discord moved his fingers so that Luna could see it better. It continued shimmer brightly. "See what? Why are you showing me your empty paw?" Luna asked in confusion. Discord looked at Luna, then at the rock, then at Sweetheart. He shrugged at her and tossed the pink pony the strange rock, which she caught. She held it in front of her and looked at it. Although the rock was so smooth and shiny, she could not see a reflection, or any pony's for that matter. "Save me." She heard a scratchy voice whisper. She held the rock closer to her ear. "Save me." Came the whisper again. The voice was familiar, but she could not remember who it was. "Save me." There was suddenly a loud buzzing noise. It was so painful to Sweetheart's ears. She yelped and dropped the blue stone. She covered her eyes at the bloodcurdling noise. It was a loud annoying buzzing, so painful that the pony felt any moment her ears would explode and she began hurting all over her body. Discord gasped and Luna was dumbfounded. "Is she supposed to be like this?" Luna asked. "I don't know!!!" Discord screamed over the noise. It was loud, but nowhere near as loud as it was to Sweetheart. "I thought you were the King of Chaos! Why are you yelling? Why is she covering her ears like that!" Luna's voice rose. "Can't you hear it!? That awful noise?!" Discord screamed. The noise grew louder, and he groaned and covered his ears. Luna said something but the noise was too loud for both Discord and Sweetheart to hear. "WHAT?" Sweetheart screamed at the princess. "I said, take some Discord's chaos. This isn't his doing! Is it?!" Luna voice was barely heard. "NO! BUT I'M GOING TO KILL WHOEVER IS MAKING THIS AWFUL NOISE!!" Discord shouted. He turned towards Sweetheart, who was trembling and crouched down. "I HAVE TO GIVE YOU SOME CHAOS. IT IS THE ONLY THING TO MAKE THIS ALL STOP!" He screamed at Sweetheart. With that Discord lowered his hands, which glowed with purple power. He blasted her with a beam if the purple. Sweetheart floated up on the air, her hooves still covering her ears. Her eyes opened, no longer the light blues they had been. Now they were purple, swirly eyes, giving her a hypnotized, dizzy look. Her mane became bouncy and swirly, and her coat changed to a darker pink. Her freckles vanished, and a prepeller hat appeared on her head. There was suddenly a huge purple blast, shades of purple across the sky. Discord and Luna opened there eyes, blinded by the blast. They looked at the strange pony before them. She gave them a creepy grin, and was floating a few inches in the air by her prepeller hat. Her cutie mark had changed to a baseball and a small screw. "Oh my." Luna said. "Relax," Discord held up a hand. "It's normal." He shrugged. "For us chaotic spirits atleast." He walked up to the strange pony, then studied her for a moment. "So I see you have chosen to fly." He said to the pony as he pointed to her hat. "Tell me. What is you're name?" "I'm Screwball, Daughter of Chaos." She answered. Her voice had also changed. It was rushed and a bit higher then her old voice. "I see." Discord answered. He turned to Luna. "Well, looks like we have everything taken care of." He said with a smile. "Are you sure Discord?" Luna asked, looking suspiciously at Screwball, who with a flash turned a flower into a towering bean stalk. "Luna, you have my word that everything will be fine. I will keep an eye on her so that she won't cause too much trouble." Discord grinned. An eye popped out his head and rolled towards Screwball, who watched it with confusion. "Her and I will be best buddies!" Luna still frowned suspiciously, but finally agreed. She flew off glancing back at them before disappearing. As soon as she was gone, Discord grinned evily, rubbed his hands together, and turned to Screwball. "So Screwball, like carrots much?" A carrot appeared before the pony. Screwball picked it up and turned, revealing Discord's face. Screwball merely started laughing. "Nice try. I know someone who would loves chaos." She grinned. With a flash, Screw Loose appeared, looking around in confusion. When she saw Screwball, Loose started panting happily and wagging her tail. She new it was her master. As Loose began licking Screwball's cheeks, something seemed a bit off. Screwball's appearance kept changing, like a glitch, from Sweetheart back to Screwball. Discord, no longer a carrot, raised his eyebrows, then frowned in realization. "Is this a patient?" He asked, remembering that Sweetheart worked at the Canterlot Asylum. "Oh yes. This is Screw Loose." Screwball said, then changed to Sweetheart. "I'm the only pony who takes care of her. Nopony else can." Sweetheart changed back to Screwball. "She's my best friend!" Screwball said happily. "She thinks she's a dog." Sweetheart continued. "The only way she would be happy is with me." Screwball explained. "We don't know much about her." Sweetheart said, then changed to Screwball, which she stayed on. Discord frowned in disappointment. "I see. Screwball, take her back to the hospital. Keep her there until those silly Mane Six arrive." Screwball nodded, then in a flash Screw Loose was gone. The First BiteIt had been almost a week since Shoeshine had seen the filly and his puppy. She often felt herself thinking of the two. It was a Sunday, which were never busy compared to the rest of the week. As Shoeshine was placing a red ribbon on a shoebox, she heard the bell over her door ring. She looked up and saw Frilly Pants and his son Fancy Pants, both smiling politely at her as they stood in front of the counter. “Good morning Miss Shine.” said Fancy Pants “I’m here for my order of silver horseshoes.” “Oh, yes. Umm,” Shoeshine started searching for the box. “Hmmm,” When she found nothing she went to her bedroom, where she often would add the finishing touches at her desk. She looked and saw a strange lump in her bed. She removed the covers and saw the cardboard box, which was ripped and chewed on. “Huh.” Shoe said. She picked up the box and went back to the two Pants. She placed it in front of the two unicorns. Shoe blushed apologetically and grabbed another box. Placed the horseshoes into the new box and handed it to the colt. Fancy Pants grinned at the sight of his new shoes as if he had been given a sack of his favorite candy. After examining them and giving a polite smile of approval, his father stepped forward. “Another pair done perfectly Miss Shine.” He said proudly. “Thank you sir.” Shoe said with a smile. “Here you are.” Frilly Pants used his magic to levitate a medium sized sack. “Two hundred bits.” He put the sack onto the counter. “Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you.” The mare replied politely. “As with you.” Frilly nodded at her and begin to lead Fancy Pants out the door. “Thank you Miss Shine!” Fancy called as they left. Shoeshine smiled at them as they left, then remembered the chewed up box. She turned her head to it and frowned. Where did you come from? She mentally asked it. A horrifying monster came the reply. …... Shoeshine tossed and turned on her bed. Her back hooves were tangled in her heavy covers. She gave a frustrated sigh and flopped onto her back. The pillow was damp from her sweat. It was the fifth time she had found a chewed up box. And every time it had taken up time and patience as she would have to find a box and then move the shoes from to chewed up box to the newer one. Why did it keep happening? Was there an animal somewhere in her house? Maybe I should go look for it. She thought. No no, Another voice told her. It was rough and scratchy like sandpaper. Just go to sleep. You're right. Tomorrow is Monday. Another busy day. Exactly, you should get as much sleep as you can. It's a busy day for us tomorrow. Shoeshine nodded as her eyelids suddenly felt like bricks. She closed her eyes, then suddenly opened them and gasped. "Us?" But everything went dark as sleep took over.
A Long Day“LADY! WHERE ARE MY SHOES?” A stallion yelled. “No, I said gold not silver.” A mare snapped. “Excuse me over here!” A pony called. Shoeshine could barely hear their voices. She scrambled around, tossing boxes of horseshoes at customers. The endless customers surrounded her. Most were angry, and demanding, a few were polite and merely called out to her. They were all impatient. It would be a few hours until she closed. A few hours of chaos. ……… Shoeshine threw herself onto the bed. She laid her head back onto her cool pillow and sighed. Today had been another long day. She placed a cold damp washcloth onto her forehead to ease her huge head ache. It was the usual busy day. Running back and forth through a mob of angry ponies from Canterlot demanding horseshoes. Shoeshine was so far behind on her work. Ordering the materials, dealing with the late shipping, and then taking them to the blacksmith. She would help Smithy in his shop, pounding the metals into shiny horseshoes. Then it was then her job to organize them into boxes, fill out orders, and either ship them off or have them become mixed up in her store. She merely had a few hours of sleep, then it was back to her job. She was a pretty, light blue mare with mauve eyes and curly hair. She had once been happy, spending time with her friends, and stallions would even flirt with her. Now she had no time for anypony. Shoeshine sighed again and gestured her front hooves in the air. “Why can’t I be free like the others?” She exclaimed in anger. She had grown farther and farther apart from her friends and family. They no longer asked if they wanted to meet her somewhere. Shoe was always working, she devoting her life to her store. Shoeshine groaned and rolled onto her side so that she was facing the window. She closed her eyes for a moment, to fall asleep, when she heard a loud barking. She opened her eyes to see a young unicorn filly playing with a dog. The filly used his magic to toss the tennis ball towards the puppy, a german shepherd, and he caught it happily. He growled and bit it. “Good job Max. You’ll do great working with Daddy. We’ll both grow up nice and strong and can work on catching bad guys like Daddy.” The filly said. Shoeshine recognized him. He was the son of Hemlock Bones, a stallion who solved crime, known mostly for murderers. Shoeshine’s eyes went back to the german shepherd. The dog seemed so careless and free, spending time playing with his family. He had no job, no worries, just toys to chew on and bowls full of food and water. Shoe chuckled to herself. “Why can’t I be like that?” She mumbled. She rolled over and and fell asleep, but not before hearing a strange voice in her head. “You can.” Author's Note Incase you are wondering who in the hay Shoeshine is, look her up on Google Images. She shares the same color scheme as Screw Loose. The only difference is the cutie mark. Anyways, as you read on through the story, see if you can make the connections. Enjoy!
Shoe Doesn't Shine AnymoreThe next morning, shouting could be heard from somewhere. Shoe opened her eyes heavily and saw angry customers. She jumped in shock, and realized she had fallen asleep on her stool again that was behind the counter. She turned to an angry mare as the other customers shouted at her. "Oh yes, your copper horseshoes. Sorry ma'am." She said apologetically and rushed into the back of the store. She looked at boxes before her and began searching for the mare's order. Sleep begn creeping in as she searched, but her eyes opened when she found them. She ran back to the mare and shoved the shoes in her hooves and grabbed the money. Her vision was blurry, and blinked slower than usual. The lights were shining in her eyes, and the colors seemed to drain. Everything seemed unreal, like a dream, but also a nightmare. There was a sound of heart monitor, two of them, going at different, yet similar paces. Shoeshine turned to a stallion. "And what are you here for sir?" She asked. "About time." He replied angrily. "I need my bark! Bark! Bark!" He finished, barking like a dog. Shoe blinked. "Excuse me?" "I said bark! Bark! Bark!" The stallion repeated. "I'm afraid I don't understand." Shoeshine told him. The stallion growled at her. Suddenly the rest of the customers started barking and yipping angrily at her. They slowly began walking towards her. Their teeth turned into sharp fangs, saliva foaming at the mouth. The scratched at her with claws instead of hooves, and growled at her with flattened ears. As they climbed over the counter, ready to pounce, Shoeshine saw a black figure with glowing red eyes and green and blue hair. It was a normal pegasus, instead of the dog-like beasts in front of her. "Can you help me?" The black pegasus cried. "Please help me!" Shoeshine's eyes widened it terror as her eyes darted between the pegasus and the beasts, who were about to pounce. Finally, they locked onto the pegasus's red eyes. "Help me!" A voice called. Shoe found it was not the strange pegasus's, but her own. She was calling out. Suddenly the pegasus's eyes red eyes flashed to bright green. "I'll help you if you help me." The same scratchy voice came from the black pony's mouth as it smiled. It turned it's head to look at her beautiful windows. Shoeshine followed it's gaze. Suddenly a blue rock flew in, shattering the bright window. As glass flew everywhere, Shoe followed the bright blue rock as it flew by her. It seemed to fly in slow motion, time seemed to slow down as well, and was so smooth and shiny that Shoe could see her reflection perfectly. Her mane was a mess, and her cutie mark had changed from two horseshoes to a screw. Her eyes were small with terror, but slowly widened at the reflection of herself. As time suddenly continued to its normal pace, the rock sped up so quickly it smashed into the wall. It did not break, but instead jammed inself into the wall. Everything else seemed to speed up. The glass flying, the beasts growling, the black pony with the green eyes smiling at her. Everything seemed to move so quickly except for Shoeshine, who stared into black pony's shiny green eyes. Shoeshine muttered the only sane word she would ever say again. "Screw Loose." Author's Note Okay, so honestly I think this all goes a little too quickly. I mean, Mind Twist slowly went insane through out the story. I might rewrite this chapter. I don't know yet. Don't hate me too much. Oh! I almost forgot! Did anypony notice anything in this chapter? *COUGHCOUGH* I bet you're all so confused right now!!! Lol just kidding. Maybe more like Ugh whatever. At least the Mind Twist fans might get it.
Taken AwayRed and blue lights flashed from the Canterlot Shoeshop. Injured ponies were taken away on cots and into the ambulances parked in the front lawn. A few received bandages on their legs. Nurses and police horses were trotting left and right. A pink earth pony with white and purple hair stood on the hard cement steps leading to the front lawn. Her bright blue eyes watched as everypony stood in group talking, examining the lawn for clues, or rushing injured ponies out the door. "You there!" A voice called to her. The mare snapped her head up at the sound. "You a nurse?" The stallion gestured at her nurse's hat. "Oh, yes Mister Bones. But it's only my first day." The mare told him. "Call me Hemlock. D'you know what happened here?" He asked. "Yes sir. The owner was having a tough time coping with all the angry customers. It put too much pressure on her. The customers said she kept mumbling to herself about dogs and helping a strange black pegasus. The pegasus was not actually there. She must have been hallucinating. A few seconds later somepony threw a rock, breaking her window. Many ponies are injured, but the owner......has just......lost it." The nurse gestured at a blue pony. Her mane was a mess and she growled under her muzzle. "We are unsure of what caused it. She now believes she is a dog. She keeps repeating 'Screw Loose' while barking and growling." Hemlock pulled out a different notebook. He opened it, flipping through blank pages towards the middle. "A black pegasus you say. Hmmm." He used his magic to levitate the pencil. As he wrote, the nurse continued to gaze at her surroundings. She turned her head as another ambulance pulled up. Just then somepony bumped into her. The pink nurse turned her head and saw it was another nurse whom she didn't recognize. The nurse was a white earth pony with soft pink hair in a bun. As soon as they locked eyes, something felt off. "Excuse me ma'am." The white nurse said as she pushed past. She reeked of perfume and blood, but must have cleaned it off her pure white coat. She heard a buzzing sound, similar to a cicada, an insect that were active in the summer, producing an annoying buzzing sound. A shiny bit of blue could be seen under her nurse's hat, but she moved so quickly that one could only think they imagined it. Our fellow pink nurse continued to watch the other nurse climb into an ambulance, that had pulled up a few seconds ago. She took the passenger seat instead of riding in the back, sliding next to a pink unicorn with a blonde mane and blue eyes. "Got it?" The pink unicorn whispered. "Yes. Now what do we do?" The white nurse asked. "We wait for His orders. It'll be only a few years until the next one is ready." The pink unicorn looked in the side view mirror and saw that she was being watched. She quickly started the engine, turned on the siren, and sped away. "And what is your name Miss?" Hemlock asked as he finished writing. The pink nurse answered without taking her eyes from the ambulance. "Sweetheart. Sweetheart Rich."
A Sweethearted MorningIt was a sunny day out in Ponyville as Nurse Sweetheart walked up to the Canterlot Mental Hospital. She had brought a bag of cookies in the shape of bones. Sweetheart had the Cakes make the usual cookies, but shape them into bone. Her patient would would love them. Sweetheart opened the glass door to the asylum, a eating one of the cookies. She walked up to the pony behind the counter, a yellowish Earth pony with blue curly hair. The pony was gathering papers. “Good morning Snowheart.” She told the nurse as she joined her in grabbing papers. Nurse Snowheart looked up at the sound of her co-worker’s voice and gave her a warm smile. “Mornin,” Her southern accent as strong as usual. “Jus’ gettin some papers for the doc and…..are you eating….dog cookies?” Snow gestured to the half eaten cookie in Sweetheart’s hoof. “No, they’re peanut butter, but I had the Cakes make them look like dog cookies. She already has too much kibble. A pony shouldn’t have dog food. It’s unhealthy.” Sweetheart explained. “Ah.” Snow nodded as if in thought. “Well, here’s the rest of the paperwork. I have to go check on her.” Sweet waved and then walked down the long hallway of the hospital. She came up to a perfect white. She pulled out a silver key and unlocked the door. It swung open to reveal a padded room. “Hey girl.” Sweetheart smiled at the pony inside. Screw Loose immediately began wagging her tail and panting happily. The blue mare had been put in a straight jacket, but seemed oblivious to it. Sweetheart walked over and freed the pony from the jacket. The asylum feared what would happen to Screw Loose when she was alone. Luckily they trusted Sweetheart, and allowed Loose to be jacket-less along was near Sweet at all times. "Look what I got for you." Sweetheart showed the pony the bag of cookies. Screw Loose barked happily and drooled. Sweet dumped them out of the bag for her and then grabbed one for herself. As she chewed, she watched Screw munch on the cookies happily. How strange it was to find a pony who thought she was a dog. When Sweet was still an average nurse, she filled through endless amounts of paperwork, trying to find anything she could of Screw Loose's past. There was nothing but a small scrap of paper and a photo. Shoeshine Owner of Canterlot Shoeshop Entered Canterlot Asylum May 18 Diagnosed with multi-personality disorder, mild anger issues, violence, mild bipolar. Somepony had merely shoved them in a folder. The rest of Shoeshine's past remained hidden. Now, Sweetheart was head nurse, along with Nurse Snowheart. They had found Screw Loose about four years ago. She had been assigned to take care of the disturbed mare, and both grew fond of each other immediately. Although the doctors had once tried to cure Screw with therapy, medicines, and CAT scans, they had given up, for Screw could never be cured. Sweetheart respected the fact that Screw Loose thought of herself as a dog, and treated her kindly as one would care for a pet. In return, Screw would play ball and lick her master's pink cheeks. Both took care of each other. Sweetheart had a best friend, and Screw Loose had a loving owner. It worked perfectly, a win-win. When Screw was finished, she barked. "You want more?" Sweetheart said. She sighed but rolled her eyes with a smile. "Alright, alright. But you're eating kibble when I get back." She said as she strapped Screw Loose back into her straight jacket. Then she walked to the door. "I'll be back in an hour or so." Screw whined at the thought of her leaving. "C'mon you know it's all the way in Ponyville. I'll see you in a bit." With that, Sweetheart closed the heavy door and it clicked behind her. As she walked through the hallway when she saw a stallion in a lab coat walking up to her. "Hello Doctor Feel Better." She said him as they met. "Ah yes Candyheart my best nurse. I have good news for you." He said. "Sweetheart," she corrected. "What's up doc?" "We know you and your family live in Ponyville and you have a deep connection with Screw Loose. Since you constantly have to go back and forth Canterlot and Ponyville, you and Screw Loose shall be transported to Ponyville Hospital. You continue working with Screw Loose. You start tomorrow." Feel Better explained. Sweetheart's eye lit up. "Oh....thank you sir....I think." "You're welcome. Go on then." He nodded his head at the door with a smile. As Sweetheart left the asylum, she heard a deep chuckle, as if somepony was laughing at her. Sweet looked around and saw she was alone. She frowned in suspicion and continued to the train station.
Lonely ChaosChaos. The word rang through Discord's ears. He could almost feel the familiar tingle whenever he heard that word. Almost. Because he was still made of stone. He couldn't move, nor touch nor feel nor hear nor speak nor smell. He could only see and sense. Now before you point out that Discord can not feel, you should know that feeling and sensing can be two different things. You feel the hard marble all around you, surrounding you that it a mystery of how you can breathe. You can feel the group of ponies taking a tour of the castle gardens as the little fillies brush past you with their soft fur. Some are even arguing about you. But you can sense that the alicorn magic, the magic within the cold hard marble that has kept you trapped for thousands of years, you can sense that it is growing weaker and weaker around you. As three little fillies continue to argue, Discord realized that he could hear their silly voices, he could smell the dirt and the dust they stirred up as they fought. He felt the soft fur of the ponies beneath him. The alicorn magic seemed to break away, and he found himself chuckling, his voice rough from being muted for thousands of years. His voice echoed through out the marble, and he saw a purple energy glow from the middle of his chest, right were his heart was. It seemed to tap on marble, like a finger. He immediately recognized the purple light. It wasn't energy. It was power. Wonderful chaotic power. Discord thought with a sinister smile as the stone around him began cracking like an egg. With a colorful blast, the stone broke away, and he was free. "Thanks to those three foolish ponies," he announced, refering to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, "I approve that the chaos shall begin!" Discord through up his arms and flew up into the air. Fireworks went off behind him. He snapped his fingers and the white fluffy clouds surrounding him turn into bright pink cotton candy clouds. A rumble sounded from them and a chocolate liquid began to drop from them. Discord gave a gleeful smile and a cup appeared in his griffon claw. He stuck the cup beneath the nearest cloud and it filled up with the chocolate substance. Discord sipped, and lowered the cup with a smile. "Chocolate milk and cotton candy clouds! How de-lightful!" He announced. He flew higher, and looked over and saw a small town. "Ponyville! Of course!" With a flash was gone, and appeared in front an large apple orchard. The sunlight poured below as Discord stood on top of a fill. The red and green apples glistened perfectly in the sun, and a soft breeze blew on his fur, feathers and scales. Discord softened for a moment, a small kind smile formed on his lips. "HEY I DIDN'T TELL YOU TO GO ANYWHERE!!" Discord froze, then quickly turned into a red apple hanging from a tree, his eyes sticking out. To his relief it was not the Royal Sisters, but beneath him was an orange earth pony with a hat picking corn and putting it into her wagon. Discord sighed and looked up to see a blue Pegasus chasing one of his cotton candy clouds. The rest of the pink clouds followed the rainbow-maned pegasus as chocolate milk rained from them. "Rainbow Dash!" The orange pony called to the pegasus. "What's going on with this rain? I mean chocolate milk. I mean chocolate milk rain!" Discord chuckled from his hiding place. Oh won't this be fun!! Just a few tricks with these ponies and soon it will be the chaotic capital of the world!! ........ Discord, now a small leaf, watched as the Mane Six stood in front on the Canterlot Labyrinth opening. "Never fear girls! We have each other!" Twilight Sparkle announced. "Yeah! Like Twilight said. There's nothing we can't overcome if we all stick together!" Rainbow Dash agreed. The ponies nodded and lined up in front of the entrance. "Alright girls! Let's do this!" Twilight said. The very moment they placed one hoof forward, Discord smiled evilly and immediately walls of thick leaves and branches appeared out of the ground, seperating themselves from each other. There! Now you'll see what happens when you're all alone! Discord wanted to scream. But he turned into a shadow and slimmed away with an angry growl. As he wandered through the maze, using his power to rearrange the walls as he made his wayn't help but feel a sharp pang of loneliness. How can I be the bad guy here? Shouldn't I get a chance to show them my own fun chaotic world? Discord's loneliness turned to anger. Celestia didn't even give her own sister a chance for those stupid ponies to see her side of the story! He began ripping and the leaves, growing more violent. And now she won't let me show mine! Imprison in that stupid stone before I got a chance. Now those ponies are living in a carefree world while Celestia imprisons us behind their backs. And now I have no pony!! Discord was about to scream when he stopped and called down. "What if...I made those six silly ponies as lonely as I am? They would see how evill the world is, even more than I do!" He rubbed his hands together and grinned. "They would turn against each other, and I would finally show every pony who Celestia really is." He laughed, and slithered into the shadows as he heard Applejack walking.
Chaotic WondersAs Discord turned each of the six friends against each other, he had found that he was still unsatisfied. The pink pony seemed very similar to Discord before she was discorded. They were both secretly lonely and Pinkie actually seemed to find Discord more entertaining than a threat. But of course he had to change her anyway, not wanting to risk the fact she still wanted to save her precious friends and that she was an Element of Harmony. Discord was now sitting on his throne, his head rested in the palm of his paw, elbow on the arm of the chair. He watched as buffaloes danced in tutus, and the ponies ran left and right, wanting to escape the endless chaos. Discord sighed, waiting for the Mane Six to attempt to stop him. They were still at the labrynth, with Twilight still trying figure out his simple riddle. As the ponies ran past the King of Chaos, Discord spotted a pink pony with purple and white hair throwing dog cookies at a group of bunnies with tall deer legs. She finally ran out of cookies, due to the rabbits catching them in their mouths rather than getting struck, and growled at her with devious grins. Discord knew they were going to trample her, but their were so many that she would most likely get trampled to death. Discord frowned snapped his fingers. Suddenly everything moved in slow motion, he had merely slowed down speed of everything except for him. Death.....just not my style. He thought. I wonder if she has anypony to look after her. Discord turned away and drummed his fingers on the chair. I bet she does. They always do. He growled, then frowned again, then turned back to the pony and the rabbits. He pounded his fist in frustration and a file full of papers appeared before him. "Let's see. Nurse Sweetheart Rich. Divorced from Filthy Rich, Mother of Diamond Tiara. Has no known other family members. Works at Canterlot Asylum as head nurse." He read from the file the snapped it shut and it disappeared. "Hmm works at an Asylum, divorced, and has that brat as a daughter. Not exactly my kind of life-style. I'd say she's a bit lonely, don't you think?" Discord frowned in confusion. "Ugh, there you go again talking to yourself again! You need another chaotic mind!!" He glanced at the pink pony with an angry frown. "What if I just made another chaotic mind? As lonely and angry as me." His hands glowed with the strange purple power, for creating another personality would take more magic than his normal spells. He was about blast the energy at her when he a voice suddenly rang out. "Discord!" He turned and saw it was Princess Luna standing in front of his throne, neither smiling nor frowning. "Luna!" Discord's hands stopped glowing as he turned angrily at the alicorn. She was some how not effected by the slow motion. The princess's horn glowed with magic and everything except her and Discord stopped moving completely. "Don't tell me you're going to turn me in to your stuck up sister!" Discord snapped. Luna remained calm. "I am not here to imprison you nor tell my sister you have escaped. I am not here to stop you. I know you are lonely, with nothing but your chaotic thoughts to keep you company." "Ugh," Discord slumped in his throne and crossed his arms, making a grumpy face as a small filly would when they didn't get things their way. "So you're not going to let me turn this mare into another chaotic mind." He gestured to the frozen Sweetheart. "I get it, I get it." Suitcases apeared in his hands as he stood up. "I'll just get out of your hair." His head suddenly appeared in Luna's mane. "Quiet the opposite actually. I am allowing you create somepony to share your happiness and pain." Luna said, not even reacting to his strange appearance in her mane. Discord raised an eyebrow and the rest of his body appeared as he floated out of the alicorn's hair. "As long as you take care of her. But. You must only give her one power. It must be her choice." Luna explained. Discord smiled. "Of course. It is only fair." He said. "And let her know....that...." Luna searched for her words, then closed her eyes in defeat. "That the world is not what it seems." Discord grinned, trying his best not give away the sadness in his voice. "Ah yes Luna. Us villians all know that."
Safely Disturbed"Get away! Get away!" Sweetheart told the strange rabbits towering over her. She had run out of the cookies that had picked up for Screw Loose. The rabbits had merely eaten them as she threw the cookies at their heads. They were now grinning sinisterly as she cowered before them. When she arrived in Ponyville, she saw ponies getting trampled by the violent rabbits. Now there were so many rabbits she would clearly be trampled to death. As the rabbits started running towards her, Sweetheart let out a blood-curtling scream. Unknown to her, and every pony else, her time was slowed down while Discord and Luna were talking. To what was few seconds to Sweetheart, were ten minutes to Discord and Luna. Suddenly Sweet heard a strange sound around her, and saw a bright light flash of Discord's magic. She could now move as quickly as Luna and Discord were, and saw everything around her slow down, then stop. There was a sudden flash of blue light from above their heads and everything seemed to shake. Sweetheart heard ponies screaming from above, but when she looked up and saw no pony. Just a sparkle of blue light flying towards her. The blue object, what looked to be a strange stone, shimmered in the sun as it whizzed past her head. It landed with a small thud, merely a few feet away from where Discord and Luna were now standing. Discord had noticed the blue stone, and picked it up in his lion hand. He studied it for a moment, turning it over and over, then held it up for Luna to see. The alicorn noticed his paw and said "Yes Discord? What did you find?" "Can't you see it Luna? I'm holding it in front of me." Discord moved his fingers so that Luna could see it better. It continued shimmer brightly. "See what? Why are you showing me your empty paw?" Luna asked in confusion. Discord looked at Luna, then at the rock, then at Sweetheart. He shrugged at her and tossed the pink pony the strange rock, which she caught. She held it in front of her and looked at it. Although the rock was so smooth and shiny, she could not see a reflection, or any pony's for that matter. "Save me." She heard a scratchy voice whisper. She held the rock closer to her ear. "Save me." Came the whisper again. The voice was familiar, but she could not remember who it was. "Save me." There was suddenly a loud buzzing noise. It was so painful to Sweetheart's ears. She yelped and dropped the blue stone. She covered her eyes at the bloodcurdling noise. It was a loud annoying buzzing, so painful that the pony felt any moment her ears would explode and she began hurting all over her body. Discord gasped and Luna was dumbfounded. "Is she supposed to be like this?" Luna asked. "I don't know!!!" Discord screamed over the noise. It was loud, but nowhere near as loud as it was to Sweetheart. "I thought you were the King of Chaos! Why are you yelling? Why is she covering her ears like that!" Luna's voice rose. "Can't you hear it!? That awful noise?!" Discord screamed. The noise grew louder, and he groaned and covered his ears. Luna said something but the noise was too loud for both Discord and Sweetheart to hear. "WHAT?" Sweetheart screamed at the princess. "I said, take some Discord's chaos. This isn't his doing! Is it?!" Luna voice was barely heard. "NO! BUT I'M GOING TO KILL WHOEVER IS MAKING THIS AWFUL NOISE!!" Discord shouted. He turned towards Sweetheart, who was trembling and crouched down. "I HAVE TO GIVE YOU SOME CHAOS. IT IS THE ONLY THING TO MAKE THIS ALL STOP!" He screamed at Sweetheart. With that Discord lowered his hands, which glowed with purple power. He blasted her with a beam if the purple. Sweetheart floated up on the air, her hooves still covering her ears. Her eyes opened, no longer the light blues they had been. Now they were purple, swirly eyes, giving her a hypnotized, dizzy look. Her mane became bouncy and swirly, and her coat changed to a darker pink. Her freckles vanished, and a prepeller hat appeared on her head. There was suddenly a huge purple blast, shades of purple across the sky. Discord and Luna opened there eyes, blinded by the blast. They looked at the strange pony before them. She gave them a creepy grin, and was floating a few inches in the air by her prepeller hat. Her cutie mark had changed to a baseball and a small screw. "Oh my." Luna said. "Relax," Discord held up a hand. "It's normal." He shrugged. "For us chaotic spirits atleast." He walked up to the strange pony, then studied her for a moment. "So I see you have chosen to fly." He said to the pony as he pointed to her hat. "Tell me. What is you're name?" "I'm Screwball, Daughter of Chaos." She answered. Her voice had also changed. It was rushed and a bit higher then her old voice. "I see." Discord answered. He turned to Luna. "Well, looks like we have everything taken care of." He said with a smile. "Are you sure Discord?" Luna asked, looking suspiciously at Screwball, who with a flash turned a flower into a towering bean stalk. "Luna, you have my word that everything will be fine. I will keep an eye on her so that she won't cause too much trouble." Discord grinned. An eye popped out his head and rolled towards Screwball, who watched it with confusion. "Her and I will be best buddies!" Luna still frowned suspiciously, but finally agreed. She flew off glancing back at them before disappearing. As soon as she was gone, Discord grinned evily, rubbed his hands together, and turned to Screwball. "So Screwball, like carrots much?" A carrot appeared before the pony. Screwball picked it up and turned, revealing Discord's face. Screwball merely started laughing. "Nice try. I know someone who would loves chaos." She grinned. With a flash, Screw Loose appeared, looking around in confusion. When she saw Screwball, Loose started panting happily and wagging her tail. She new it was her master. As Loose began licking Screwball's cheeks, something seemed a bit off. Screwball's appearance kept changing, like a glitch, from Sweetheart back to Screwball. Discord, no longer a carrot, raised his eyebrows, then frowned in realization. "Is this a patient?" He asked, remembering that Sweetheart worked at the Canterlot Asylum. "Oh yes. This is Screw Loose." Screwball said, then changed to Sweetheart. "I'm the only pony who takes care of her. Nopony else can." Sweetheart changed back to Screwball. "She's my best friend!" Screwball said happily. "She thinks she's a dog." Sweetheart continued. "The only way she would be happy is with me." Screwball explained. "We don't know much about her." Sweetheart said, then changed to Screwball, which she stayed on. Discord frowned in disappointment. "I see. Screwball, take her back to the hospital. Keep her there until those silly Mane Six arrive." Screwball nodded, then in a flash Screw Loose was gone.
The First BiteIt had been almost a week since Shoeshine had seen the filly and his puppy. She often felt herself thinking of the two. It was a Sunday, which were never busy compared to the rest of the week. As Shoeshine was placing a red ribbon on a shoebox, she heard the bell over her door ring. She looked up and saw Frilly Pants and his son Fancy Pants, both smiling politely at her as they stood in front of the counter. “Good morning Miss Shine.” said Fancy Pants “I’m here for my order of silver horseshoes.” “Oh, yes. Umm,” Shoeshine started searching for the box. “Hmmm,” When she found nothing she went to her bedroom, where she often would add the finishing touches at her desk. She looked and saw a strange lump in her bed. She removed the covers and saw the cardboard box, which was ripped and chewed on. “Huh.” Shoe said. She picked up the box and went back to the two Pants. She placed it in front of the two unicorns. Shoe blushed apologetically and grabbed another box. Placed the horseshoes into the new box and handed it to the colt. Fancy Pants grinned at the sight of his new shoes as if he had been given a sack of his favorite candy. After examining them and giving a polite smile of approval, his father stepped forward. “Another pair done perfectly Miss Shine.” He said proudly. “Thank you sir.” Shoe said with a smile. “Here you are.” Frilly Pants used his magic to levitate a medium sized sack. “Two hundred bits.” He put the sack onto the counter. “Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you.” The mare replied politely. “As with you.” Frilly nodded at her and begin to lead Fancy Pants out the door. “Thank you Miss Shine!” Fancy called as they left. Shoeshine smiled at them as they left, then remembered the chewed up box. She turned her head to it and frowned. Where did you come from? She mentally asked it. A horrifying monster came the reply. …... Shoeshine tossed and turned on her bed. Her back hooves were tangled in her heavy covers. She gave a frustrated sigh and flopped onto her back. The pillow was damp from her sweat. It was the fifth time she had found a chewed up box. And every time it had taken up time and patience as she would have to find a box and then move the shoes from to chewed up box to the newer one. Why did it keep happening? Was there an animal somewhere in her house? Maybe I should go look for it. She thought. No no, Another voice told her. It was rough and scratchy like sandpaper. Just go to sleep. You're right. Tomorrow is Monday. Another busy day. Exactly, you should get as much sleep as you can. It's a busy day for us tomorrow. Shoeshine nodded as her eyelids suddenly felt like bricks. She closed her eyes, then suddenly opened them and gasped. "Us?" But everything went dark as sleep took over.
