1. Behind the Scenes
This world has always known magic. Since the first creatures of sentience walked the planet it has been used in every way imaginable. Whether it be archaic, spiritual, or divine, magic has had many forms. In fact there was one instance when its inner workings were almost unraveled. At the time it was called science. But do not think that magic is just some kind of energy that can be tapped into. No, it’s alive and it has evolved during its existence. As you can see for yourself the magic of today can manipulate even the cosmos. But there are some aspects of it that have never changed. One particular strain of magic found a way to preserve itself, by living in the higher planes of the subconscious realm. It is a powerful magic that has created a very real name for itself over the millennia. Whether it inflicts torcher, mercy, or bestows judgment, no being who has encountered it has ever truly escaped.
“I do not think I will ever understand your, how do they say, ‘randomness’ Discord. As interesting as a history of magic sounds this is neither the time nor the place for one.”
The draconequus wore a hurt expression. “My dear princess Luna, you surprise me. Your academic thirst rivals that of princess purple smart herself.”
Luna looked at Discord with a small frown.
"Thou are not amused,” he asked arching an eyebrow. They continued down the dirt path until they came across a very wet road. She gave him a small huff and marched across to the other side immediately noticing something odd about this road. It was black and very firm and it had strange yellow things in the center that stretched out in both directions.
As Luna bent down to get a closer look at the raised yellow squares, Discord walked over to the guard rail. He looked out towards the forest and squinted a few times to make sure he was seeing things properly.
“That shouldn't be there,” he said in a voice far too serious for his character. Luna sat down next to him and stared at the huge lake with wide eyes. There were a few small tufts of land in the middle and on the fare shore she could see lights.
“That was not there the last time I was here,” she said quietly. Discord turned and started walking down the road. Luna followed.
“Discord, why did that lake suddenly appear? For that matter where did this road come from, or this mountainside,” she waved a hoof at the other side of the road. “What’s going on?”
Discord continued to walk seemingly lost in thought. She continued following him waiting for a response. Finally he stopped and glanced back to look at her.
“If my theory is correct my dear, then we're in big trouble. And not just you and I, but everything, all that has been and all that could be will go down this very rusty and rotted drain.”
Now she was really confused, “all that just because a lake decided to appear in this world?”
Discord rubbed his temples and continued walking, Luna followed.
“You don’t understand. That lake hasn’t been a part of this world since…” he thought for a moment, “a very long time ago.” He grew quiet again, thinking.
"It is strange," Luna said. “This place, it does not feel the same as before.”
“How so, “Discord asked curiously.
“The first time I was here was not of my own choice. It was … terrible,” she shuddered slightly. “Now that I have voluntarily returned it feels like,” she thought for a minute.
“It feels like sneaking into a movie studio for some behind the scenes action,’ he finished for her.
“Exactly,” she nodded.
It started to rain.
“Well that came out of nowhere,” Discord said shielding his face with a paw. He snapped his fingers. When nothing happened Luna smirked. He snapped them again and again nothing happened. Luna chucked as he continued snapping his fingers growing more frustrated as he did so. Her horn glowed and a blue dome appeared over their heads.
“Discord you are an astral form of yourself, you cannot do magic here.”
He looked very put out.
“Well excuse me for wanting to stay dry. I'm am glad you can use your magic though.”
They continued walking in silence listening to the rain increase and decrease in intensity.
Luna looked at Discord, “Yes?”
He jumped, “What?”
“Did you say something,” she asked.
He shook his head, “no.”
She returned her focus to the road ahead, “oh, ok.” The rain slowed to a drizzle as they walked quietly. Suddenly Luna saw something run across the road.
“What was that?” Discord jumped about a foot in the air, “would you please stop that you’re going to give me a heart attack.”
“Sorry.” She pointed her hoof, “I thought I saw something.”
Discord’s eyes narrowed.
“We need to hurry,” he looked back at her. “I think we’ve just been spotted, and if that’s the case then we need to act fa-“
-Clang!
Discord turned, smacking face first into a huge metal box.
“Ouch,” he muttered rubbing his nose, “now I know that wasn't there a second ago!”
Luna looked at the box curiously. She noticed the wheels. It looked like some kind of vehicle. The front half was different, not so box shaped. Looking closer she saw a door.
“I think it is some sort of transportation device,” she said to Discord who was still rubbing his face.
She found what looked to be a door latch and after failing to squeeze her hoof into it she resorted to magic. Locked, typical. A breeze brushed past her mane. She heard a faint whisper.
“Discord did you hear that?”
He popped out from around the other side of the vehicle. “No, what did it sound like?”
She strained her ears hearing it again, “it sounds like someone whispering a name.”
He was about to say something when he heard a noise behind him. He turned just in time to see a road sign fall out of the bushes. As he walked over to it he heard Luna ask “who is this Travis?” he bent down picked it up and froze.
“No,” he said in alarm.
“What, what’s wrong,” Luna hurried over to him.
He stared at the sign dumbfounded. “It’s not supposed to say that. I mean it’s not supposed to say that anymore.”
She peered past his arm at the sign. It read
Silent Hill
She watched as the sign started to rust with incredible speed. Then they heard it. Two pairs of pupils turned to pinpricks as the sound of a siren became louder. Discord dropped the sign and grabbed the closest alicorn in the area.
“Luna,” he shouted “get us out of here!”
She raised her hoof and slammed it down with a sound like a cathedral bell. There was a rush of wind a blue flash and a pop. They were gone.
The siren died down in the distance. But if you listened closely you could hear the sounds of something big, heavy and metal being dragged across the ground and a soft whisper saying “Travis” over and over again.
