Chains and Ladders

“He ate Sobek. His own son.” Discord blinked in amazement as Celestia’s jaw dropped. So other Elohimi had survived the war. Too bad this one had been eaten by his own father. Discord briefly wondered if the relation between Lotan and Ahriman meant that he and Sobek were related, before dismissing it as unimportant.

“Ahriman is not Lotan.” Celestia closed her mouth and stamped her hoof. A potential ally wasted. Why Sobek had decided to fight alone, she’d never understand.

“It doesn’t matter.” Discord shook his head slowly “He needs to be stopped now, before he can consume enough energy.”

“We don’t have the strength yet to face him, as you yourself said.” Celestia reminded Discord. The draconequus made no response.

“This is my fault.” Discord eventually responded. Celestia noted the fire in his eyes as he suddenly snapped his fingers and vanished.

“Don’t do anything stupid…” Celestia muttered as she walked toward the library. She wondered if Discord really had a plan, or if he was just hastening his own demise. She needed him alive, but surely he wouldn’t risk himself knowing that. It was only rational.

“A fine battle, wasn’t it?” Ahriman’s feathered serpent body watched Melek Kul’s ragged form as the unicorn tried to forcibly manifest himself within their shared consciousness, which took the form of an endless ocean surface with each standing atop the waves. Having quieted his hunger for the moment, Ahriman had reverted to his host’s equine form and hidden away in the former temple of Melek Taus to digest his ponderous meal.

“This is my body.” Melek Kul closed his eyes in frustration as Ahriman watched with a hint of amusement.

“No longer, Mainyua. It is our body.” Ahriman’s voice seemed to slither out, sending a chill down Melek’s figurative spine. “You are weak. You have always been weak.” the voice taunted Melek as he felt himself slipping away, back into the darkness. With a wordless cry, he fell backward, only to feel a strong hoof on his back.

“Leave him be.” the weak voice of the Sultana sounded from behind Melek. Ahriman merely rolled his eyes.

“Just digest already. I’m tired of playing with you.” Ahriman’s forked tongue darted out as he suddenly snapped his head to his right. “Another time, I suppose.” Ahriman regretfully gave up on his attempt to fully consume Melek and the Sultana as he dragged himself back to reality.

“No-kin, you come before the hunter?” Ahriman’s voice reverberated around the chamber. He sat in the center of the pillars, with the mutilated bodies of the Janissaries around him. Discord towered opposite him, glaring. “Have you forgotten my warning, or did you come to kneel?”

“I forget nothing.” Discord clenched his fists “And I kneel to no one!” With a sudden flurry of movement, Discord launched a barrage of magical attacks. Ahriman yawned as he deflected them away and stood up to face his foe.

“Your subservience to Mazdana doesn’t count? Or did you forget?” Ahriman’s voice floated languidly toward Discord, who redoubled his efforts only to be met with failure.

“I am here of my own will.” Discord launched himself at Ahriman, grabbing his opponent by the neck.

“So be it, Mazdana-slave.” Ahriman smiled sadistically as the figure Discord held vanished. Instead, Melek’s body appeared behind him and his horn impaled the draconequus through his slender torso.

“I-” Discord tried to speak, but a sudden jerk of Ahriman’s head silenced him. He spat black blood as Ahriman laughed.

“Little lord of chaos, snapping his fingers to make it all go away.” Ahriman’s eyes shone with malice. “You thought yourself so mighty with your ability to manipulate reality. But you never won, did you Mazdana-slave?” Ahriman sneered at Discord’s ragged panting.

Discord tried to raise his arm, but another shake of Ahriman’s head brought more black blood to his mouth. Ahriman’s laughter continued to shake the chamber.

“You were but a fraction, a part of the whole.” Ahriman taunted him “You could never control chaos as you claimed, but were merely a plaything for its currents. That is why power abandons you when you need it most.” Ahriman withdrew his horn from Discord, who fell to the ground clutching a the hole in his chest. “Go ahead, try and strike me down.” Ahriman bared his fangs as Discord snapped his fingers weakly. Nothing happened as Discord tried several times to heal himself.

“Do you understand now?” Ahriman’s tone turned cold. “You were never anything more than a tool for my return.” Stamping his hoof down hard onto Discord’s hand, Ahriman felt a surge of joy shoot through him when he heard the bones crack. Grinding his hoof into the ground, Ahriman relished the music of Discord’s shrill screams.

“Ah, so refreshing.” Ahriman basked in the sunlight shining from the hole in the ceiling. Underneath him, Discord writhed in pain. “Do you mind if I enjoy a little more, Mazdana-slave?” Ahriman’s horn glowed black as Discord screamed in agony. The slim hole in his chest began to expand in all directions. Ahriman stepped back, allowing Discord to claw frantically at the gaping wound in his chest whilst black blood poured out onto the floor to mingle with that of the Janissaries.

“A pity, Mazdana-slave.” Ahriman shook his head sadly. “I hoped for more from you.” As Ahriman made to unhinge his jaw, however, he suddenly stopped.

“You dare interfere?” Ahriman hissed at Melek and the Sultana. Back in the mindscape, the duo had dragged Ahriman away from the fight in an attempt to save Discord.

“We do.” Melek charged wildly  at the serpent. With a quick lash of his tail, Ahriman knocked the rebelling Melek out cold. Without her servant, the Sultana’s concentration lapsed, and Ahriman was once more in charge.

“Quite sorry, Mazdana-slave.” Ahriman successfully unhinged his equine jaw as he approached the quivering form of Discord. “Though I am surprised you didn’t run away. Too cowardly for that, even?” Ahriman’s voice echoed oddly through the disconnected jaw. Discord’s eyes filled with tears as fear overtook him.

He didn’t struggle as Ahriman swallowed him. Rather, he allowed himself a brief smirk.