The Last of the Perytons

The city was celebrating. Discord was gone, and the two alicorns Celestia and Luna had taken over as rulers of Equestria. Few had said anything against them ruling, and the cheers of the celebrators had drowned them out.

One being, however, was not in the mood for celebrating. That being was Discord. The draconequus stood erected in the courtyard of the Castle of the Two Sisters, as the castle had begun to be called.

Few ponies actually knew that he was the one and only Discord. Most thought that he was nothing more than a statue, a simple block of stone carved in the likeness of their most hated foe. Those who did know thought that it was the best option. If any knew that Discord, instead of being dead as most thought, stood in the sculpture garden, then there would be a riot.

I hate this, Discord though maliciously. I’m stuck here, nothing more than a block of minerals. I could have taken being chocolate, but no, Celestia had to turn me into a pretty little statue. That alicorn is no fun. I was perfectly happy ruling Equestria, but she had to come with her sister and end up defeating me.

The worst part of all of this is that I can’t snap my fingers, he though bitterly. No way to even access a bit of chaos magic. I’m stone, and there is no way for me to break free. It would take eons of wearing away at this to make a dent, and Celestia and her sister would simply seal me back up if I tried. I hate that little alicorn princess.

As the draconequus mulled over his condition, he cast his stony gaze across the courtyard. At least they gave me a nice position. I can see in multiple directions from here. He stared to one side in an attempt to find a familiar face. Finding none, he cast his memory back to when he was defeated.

Hm. Celestia said that they were the Elements of Harmony, while Luna said they would defeat me by using them. I suppose that the Elements came from the Tree of Harmony.

I wish I knew how they used those Elements of Harmony to defeat me so quickly. My plunder seeds were supposed to have sprouted up long before they defeated me. I had my victory in the bag, yet the beat me with a set of jewels that grew on a tree.

Those Elements are intriguing. They seem to be able to destroy chaos. I wonder, do they have any limitations? Can they be separated from their owners? The draconequus wondered. Are the Elements of Harmony independent, or do they require their users to activate them?

A voice jarred him from his pondering. “So, what do you think of the new statue?” The owner of the voice, a young earth pony, was speaking to a friend. “According to some, the princess commissioned it to celebrate Discord’s defeat. I like it. What about you?”

“Hm,” her friend replied, flapping her wings in order to fly up to Discord’s head. “I admit that it looks quite a bit like him.”

Of course it looks like me, you useless twit. Instead of flying around criticizing me, why don’t you free me? Discord though sourly. The world needs more chaos, not ponies like you trying to figure out if I resemble myself.

“But,” the pegasus continued. “He doesn’t look exactly like Discord. His arms seem a bit too long.” She spread her legs wide in order to illustrate this point. “See? Discord’s arms were always a certain length according to what others say, but this statue’s arms are a bit off.”

You need to get your eyes and those of your friends checked. My arms were never the same length. They changed depending on how long I needed them.  Discord growled inwardly. He tried to illustrate this point, momentarily forgetting that he was stone. Of course. I’m completely solid. There’s no way for me to show you that.

“Eh,” her friend replied. “Discord was always strange looking. Most ponies never even got more than a glance at him. Those that did get more were so terrified from the experience that most never spoke of it again. I never saw more than his outline and the occasional drawing of him. I’m not really that surprised that a few details were off.”

As the pair walked away, Discord glared forcefully at them. Well, some ponies cannot realize that I am a true beauty. At least they fear me. That wasn’t the most interesting of conversations. The draconequus tuned his somewhat nonresponsive ears to conversations elsewhere in the courtyard. I wonder, are there any other conversations for me to listen in on?

“Well,” a high-pitched voice began, grating against the draconequus’s eardrum. “There are seven basic…” Discord immediately stopped listening to the mare’s words. Seven basic things were not what he wanted to hear. He began tuning his ear to different conversations.

That won’t be helpful. Does anypony at this party have any information for me?

“I know that Celestia and Luna…” Discord began listening intently.

Well, you have knowledge of my defeaters. I’m listening.

“Most of us are wondering how they beat Discord. The princesses refuse to tell us. However, I think that it would be beneficial if they told the secret to the public. The ponies have a right to know!”

Oh. You’re a reporter. That doesn’t do much good. The only way you could help me was pestering Celestia and Luna to death. Hey, there’s a thought. Why don’t you go and pester my enemies to death? He thought sarcastically. I never had a tolerance for reporters anyway.

A voice pulled him from his annoyed thinking. “Having a good time?” A pair of soldiers, spears in hoof, walked past the statue of Discord. The speaker waved a hoof at the whole party, and in doing so, waved his spear, thwacking one or two partygoers.

“Yeah,” the other replied.  He leaned his spear against Discord, and then leaned against Discord himself. “It was nice of the princess to place the statue in a prominent position. Makes it easy for ponies to sit on and relax.”

Great. Now everypony can use me as chair. Everypony should envy me, because I’m a statue. Wonder how you’d like being stone? Then ponies could sit on you and relax. How’d you like that? Discord tried to will some of his power to punish the guard. The soldier’s eye twitched, but that was about it.

The soldiers continued their conversation as if nothing had happened. “Discord’s gone once and for all,” the first soldier began. “It’s such a relief. Do you think Celestia’s speech will be any good?”

“Eh,” his friend replied. “She’s not the best at speeches. I’ve heard her. Sure, she’s kind and just, but motivational speaking isn’t her specialty.”

“True. I’ve heard her speeches. She really needs some motivational speaking lessons.”

Celestia, in need of motivational speaking lessons? How surprising.

“Oh, here she comes,” the soldier remarked. The graceful alicorn alighted on a podium a little way away from Discord. She was wearing a golden crown, one that Discord had never seen before.

Wow… You’re here to give that speech right in front of me and in full regalia. What a surprise. Maybe I can give you something to think about. Something scary, something ominous. The type of warning you tell in rhymes to scare them to death.

As Celestia began to speak, Discord tried to find a way to say something to her. “My little ponies,” she began.

I will get you to listen. Even without my chaos magic, I still have basic magic. Not a lot, but enough for what I need to do. Plus, your speech is too boring. You need something to lighten this party up.

“Today we celebrate the defeat of Discord,” Celestia continued, oblivious to Discord’s attempts to contact her. “It is a momentous occasion. Together, let us build a new world, one devoid of Discord’s influence.”

Listen to me.

Celestia continued without a qualm. “Working together, Equestria will become a place filled with love and harmony.”

No. I will not let you. You cannot defeat my chaos.

“The land will be restored, the fields tended, the skies filled with pegasi and the unicorns allowed to continue their studies. Peace will reign, for our enemies are gone.”

That will not happen! I will destroy you, raze your villages, burn your fields in waves of chaos. I will be free, and then I will laugh at your misery!

Celestia continued speaking without hesitation. “Any who wish to try their own path may do so. It will be up to everypony to choose their destiny. Discord is gone, and none shall fear his whims.”

Enjoy your fun while it lasts. Some day I will be free, and then I will be ruler of Equestria once more to finish my fun. Soon, very soon. The draconequus sat back inside his stone prison and pouted while the party raged on.

A roar sounded from the cave. The birds and all the other creatures fled from it, their eyes wide with fear. They knew what lived in the cave, and their natural instincts told them to run. They needed no more invitation. They were prey, what lurked inside was the predator.

The animals scrambled in a mad rush, trampling each other in a stampede of feet, paws and talons. They feared what lurked inside the cave, and they all wanted to be free of it. Too many of their number had been eaten by what lurked inside while he had hunted, toying with them and letting them run. They simply hoped that they could outrun the others, for the slow ones were the ones who were usually eaten.

An unlucky squirrel failed to run fast enough. Its eyes wide with fear, it scampered away as fast as it could, only to have a hoof stamp down on its tail. It squealed in terror, as a vicious head bent down to gaze at it. A cruel eye gazed at it, focusing all its malice upon the squirrel.

“Unlucky,” the creature said quietly. “Abandoned by all your little forest friends. What a shame. It’s not even your fault that you’re going to be eaten; it’s all of theirs. That’s a sad fact in life. The weak ones always get eaten. Isn't it bizarre?”

The squirrel squeaked with fear, trying to get the monster to spare it. It squeaked out a few words in whatever mangled language it spoke, succeeding to catch the monsters interest.

“What’s this you say?” It asked calmly, in an almost sadistic way. “You’re saying that where Discord used to rule, there’s now peace and harmony?” It scoffed at this remark, and then revealed a set of razor sharp fangs. The squirrel went even paler with fright. “Don’t lie to me. I know that Discord rules there. Why do you think that he doesn’t?”

The squirrel quailed, and then began speaking even more rapidly. The monster nodded slowly, putting in the occasional exclamation as the squirrel spoke as fast as it could.

“So… You claim that Discord was defeated by a pair of creatures known as alicorns. Fascinating. Do go on,” the creature said, flicking its head and antlers towards a tree. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll let you go if you keep me entertained. I am generous at times.”

The squirrel gazed at the tree in question, and then felt a surge of hope. Maybe the creature would take pity on it. It chattered out a few more words, making the monster pause. It kept chattering until the monster growled at it to stop.

“No,” he murmured. “You’re lying. You must be. Tell me the truth, or you’ll learn how deadly my fangs can be.” He bared his fangs to illustrate his point. A drop of green venom fell from one of the fangs, causing smoke to rise from the newly sprouted plants.

The squirrel almost fainted with fear, its eyes as wide as they could be. However, it said the same few squeaks, sticking to its original story. The monster seemed interested, but also a little taken aback by the squirrel's information.

“So… You’re not lying. That’s a surprise. Well then, if what you say is the truth, then I am one lucky peryton.” The peryton stretched a hoof, but kept one pinning the squirrel. “I should go soon, but I need something to eat. I’m grumpy if I don’t eat anything, so you either need to tell me something to keep my mood up, or you are on the menu. Take your pick.”

The squirrel screamed, and then chattered even faster than before. The peryton grinned as the squirrel rattled off anything it could think of. Dozens of secrets about the woodlands became known to the peryton, who just leered as it spoke.

“Fascinating. Mr. Robin has been cheating on his wife? You stole a few nuts from your neighbor? There are five bear cubs living a few miles from my cave?  Certainly not the most helpful of information, but entertaining nonetheless.” The peryton lifted his hoof, allowing the squirrel to get up.

The squirrel relaxed, wiping a paw across his forehead. He began to chatter thanks to the peryton, who simply stared at the tree. The squirrel ran up and shook the peryton’s hoof in thanks and bad judgement, but that turned out to be a sad mistake.

The peryton stomped down on his hoof once more, pinning the squirrel by his chest. “Now, now, you shouldn’t talk to strangers. Didn’t your mommy squirrel ever tell you that?” The peryton asked mockingly. He grinned wickedly, bringing his fangs within an inch of the face of the squirrel. “Now, where should I bite? I love to see how my venom reacts. Take your pick. I can do your neck, your tail, your paw… The list is endless.”

The squirrel began to cry. Small tears ran down its face, and the peryton seemed to have mercy. “Fine. You’ve twisted my leg. Run off before I change my mind.” The peryton lifted his hoof, allowing the squirrel to get up. But before the squirrel could run far, the peryton lunged forward, biting down hard on its neck. The squirrel collapsed, its face frozen in a joyful grin. The peryton picked up its carcass and gulped it down. “Pity. I like it when they twitch.”

The peryton stretched his bird-like wings, preparing for flight. “Ah, it will be nice to see them again. How long has it been?” He winced at the thought, and the scar across his eye seemed to shine in the dim light. “Too long. Far too long.” The peryton laughed maniacally, then took to the air, flying towards a location that only he knew.

When he had gone, the birds and squirrels crept out of their hiding places. When they came back to where the unlucky squirrel had been, all they found was a tuft of hair, and a drop of green venom that burned all it touched.