Voices of Unity: Song of Iron

Equestria, the most peaceful country on the continent of Cheroa, which in turn was the safest place on Equus...despite the many dangers that had a habit of manifesting within its borders, and the rare scuffles that occurred among its many denizens.

The grand oceans too were peaceful, the aquatic fauna keeping mostly to themselves, leaving the surface dwellers to their world, even the sea faring travelers rarely heard of those under the waves, usually giving over to tales of fancy and drunken rumors.

Nether Cheroa nor the oceans were alone, however, for there was another continent upon the Equus. The Continent of Ferraes, land of the Dark Coalition...or at least it was now. Rivaling Cheroa in size, it held a history of turmoil and danger the likes of which a pair of Alicorns made sure never encroached upon their lands, though a hiccup now and then had appeared. One such hiccup had been known as Tirek, who they banished to Tartarus long ago, another being Discord, who, now free, was at least behaving...sort of.

"Oh come now Grogar! A Necromancer such as yourself should be more cheerful! Don't let the dead drag you down...or undead, as the case may be."

Following the merry voice, a much darker and deeper tone followed, flowing from the entrance of a cave deep in the heartlands of Ferraes, surrounded for miles by nothing but a deep blue landscape of sands and bones.

"Discord, I will NOT be disturbed during a soul calling! Begone pest! I will not allow that...beast who calls himself a warlord try to even THINK of taking MY magics! Not that he could, but I still don't care to be bothered by such a fool as such that thinks escaping the pits of hell means even a fragment of respect from the likes of me."

Deep in the confines of the cave, the draconequus lazed on bed of nails, looking perturbed, save a smirk upon his maw.

"Oh you hypocrite. It's not you've ever escaped Tartarus. Not that I'm saying you haven't done worse. After all, I hear the Blasted Keep isn't any easier on the complexion."

A bottle of suntan lotion suddenly splurt over Discords current victim of chaos. The glare of red pupil-less eyes focused squarly upon discord, who tried to look entirely inoccent, as with a simple shake, the dark blue furred ram rid himself of the lotion, his fangs grinning despite himself.

"You amuse me somewhat Discord...now what is it you want? You've never bothered me unless you needed something, now spill it before I spill you into one of my rituals...literally."

"Oh, you wound me Grogar. Cannot an old friend drop by to annoy an old coot? After all, it's been a thousand years."

The trickster vanished and reappeared next to a cauldron set deep into the ground so that the lips of the metal were level with the floor.

"And you haven't even invited me to try your newest brew! What is it this time? Aged algreu stew? Dark soul wine? Oooh...or maybe massacre moonshine? That always had one interesting kick."

The goat chuckled and plodded over, looking down into the cauldron, yet hardly changing his stance that seemed to radiate power and demanded respect.

"Nothing like that. No, not this time at least. I'm going to revive my army so that I can keep to myself. I will not be recruited into some moronic invasion when our own lands provide plenty. I am not suicidal...regardless of being nigh immortal. If that idiot wants to take on the Diarchy AND the new Elements of Harmony, he can do it without my aid. The only reason he even stands a chance is because the Voices have yet to arise anew."

Discords face went from jovial to serious in but a moment, something that even Grogar was caught off guard about.

"What is this about Voices, Grogar? That sounds like something I should know."

"Of COURSE you should know it, if you bothered to know all the things that could curse something as powerful as yourself! Bah, why should I tell you about something like this. You know of the Elements, figure it out. Now go away, I'm busy!"

Discord snapped his fingers, a dandelion appearing above the cauldron, hovering dangerously close.

"Now now Grogar, as the spirit of Chaos, it IS my duty to cause mischief. I may not be allowed to cause a major problem in Equestria, but nothing prevents me from causing something...serious over here. Now, spill it you old coot."

Grogar smiled again, snorting at the mishmashed monster before him.

"Keep this up, I just might take the time to find your Soul Anchor...and relocate it to Tarturus, you meddling figment of frustration!"

"Just tell me about the Voices, and I'll leave you be."

"GrrrRRR...Discord! I am no longer amused! Fine...the Voices of Unity are the Ferraes companion to the Elements of Harmony! For being born in these lands, you know so little of your heritage! Especially when that heritage encompasses several species! You don't even practice the Necromancy that is from my blood in your veins!"

"Oh, I'm sorry uncle Grogar, but it's not like I was given a choice of who I was made from."

The dandelion vanished, Grogar releasing a breath he didn't even know he'd taken. Undead needs no air after all. Discord on the other hoof backstroked midair with a massive smile.

"But I'm SO glad I didn't get your personality! I mean, after all...a spirit of Chaos shouldn't be so...stale."

"Just get out of my horns so I can finished my project. The warlord is almost upon me! Begone!"

The thunder of a deep voice entered the cave, Grogar narrowing his eyes as he heard the booming bass.

"Grogaaaar!"

"Great...see what you did Discord? You delayed me too long. Discord?"

Grogar spun around, confusion slowly turning to anger upon his visage as he realized the actual intent of the trickster.

"Oh, I will pay you ten fold for this Discord, mark my words!"

"I already have. See, it's in my notes."

Discord waved the notepad with Grogar's very sentence upon it, the spirit standing on the ceiling with his trademarked sneer.

"Good luck with Tirek, Uncle. I'm sure you two can work something out. After all...it's not like he can kill you anyways. Ta ta!"

Grogar growled at the puff of smoke that was left behind, his magic telling him that this time he'd left completely.

"Uuugh...I swear, the next time someone suggests we band together to create a powerful being for ANY reason, I am staying out of it! Not that the four failures didn't suggest that enough."

"Grogaaaar! Get your sorry horns out here and prepare to go to war! As Warlord of Ferraes, you are beholden to me!"

The ram shook his nowhere near sorry horns and tread out of the cave, the massive beast that was Tirek staring down at the cave mouth, and its even smaller occupant, his red and black fur actually contrasting to the dark blue that was Grogar.

"What is it Tirek? Can't you see I'm busy? I have no time for some idiotic invasion. Go do it yourself and begone from my sands!"

"Oh, the necromancer doesn't want new bodies to play with? After all...this is no friendly invasion."

Grogar stopped since he had turned to re-enter the cave, ears perking up at the offer.

"Go on Tirek...you have my attention."

Tirek sneered, holding out a band with a bell upon its center, Grogars eyes widening in surprise.

"You're not the only one to escape his prison with a prize."

Far above, lounging on a cloud with popcorn and 3d glasses, Discord smiled.

"Oh, this will be fun. It's not every day I get to sew a seed of chaos in one of my creators. Not that Grogar really needed such a thing, but I'm sure he'll enjoy the respite from having to use alchemy for all his spells now that he has his bell back. So much chaos to be had...and all I have to do, is make sure it stays here! Oh, this will be lovely. Getting the Elements to travel so far from home, creating harmony in a chaotic land...that in itself is a form of chaos! Oh, it'll taste SO sweet...and then when they leave, I can just toy with this land again until it's ALL chaos once more! But...these Voices he spoke of, I must learn more. Ah, I see uncle took the bell after all. I knew delaying him would work. Oh...time to help feed the chimera with Fluttershy."

A slight poof marked his return to the other side of the world, Tirek leaving the site with a smirk, having pulled a powerful ally to his side. Grogar, meanwhile, stared up at a lonely cloud in the sky, smiling to himself and snorting as he walked back into his cave, tapping the bell in front of his chest as he called forth his ancient powers.

"So many years separated from you my darling. Let's make some noise, shall we? I believe my nephew is asking for a bit of a disturbance...and few things are as disturbing as the undead."

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Across the world, Twilight was helping Davis with the rehabilitation to his new body, the going had been slow for the first few days, but as time went on, he felt like he was getting the hang of it. Currently in a bed in the castle, thanks to the hospitality of a pair of Princesses, Davis stared out at the stars from his balcony, wondering which one was his.

He sighed silently, wishing he could cry...wishing he could voice his sorrow to the heavens. He knew he couldn't go back...Bedlam had made that clear, even if he hadn't really meant to. Only death awaited him if he tried to return...he understood it. He turned back to his bed, his talons and hooves clacking upon the floor, making him wince slightly from the sound. Turning back, looking through the gently billowing curtains, he saw a single star shining brightest among the rest.

Please...don't forget me.