A Lullaby for Gods

There was something to be said about a creative block: they were a pain in the plot to get rid of. Even for a fashionista such as Rarity, they were a pain. They struck at such odd or important moments where her great ideas were needed. Oh, the humanity of it all. How was she supposed to convey the masterpieces of her mind if she was unable to get those magnificent ideas down on paper? Scraps and trashed works littered her workshop as the extravegant bearer of the Element of Generosity frustratedly threw away another failure.

Days of futile effort had left her beyond frustrated. Not even Sweetie Belle or Spike could cheer her up. Perhaps it was punishment for the whole Mare Do Well episode. It had ended up with Rainbow Dash in quite a funk. While it was a perfectly valid reason to unleash her vision of what a superhero should look like, it had been a tad cruel. Perhaps Princess Celestia had damned her to eternal creative blockage for making such a fabulous superhero outfit which caused their rainbow coloured friend to be thrown off her "game".

Ah, well whatever the cause was, Rarity cursed her uncreativity to Tartarus and back.

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" lamented the fashionista. "All of these ideas are terrible!"

"Hey, I'm sure they're great!" said Spike. The cute dragon picked up one of her scraps and stared at it. For a few moments of thoughtful thinking, the green haired boy asked, "what is it?"

"Exactly!" cried Rarity.

It is not to be said that she did not try her hardest. She did, truly. It was just that Celestia herself seemed so adamant about her not being able to complete even one simple little piece. It was quite frustrating. Oh the frustration. There truly was no other word for how she was feeling. Frustrated was the new black in this case.

"Cheer up, Rarity. I'm sure you'll make something awesome!"  Spike said, attempting to console her with his awkward hand gestures which really was an internal struggle of whether to pat her back or just leave her be. It would have made her smile on any other day. Dragonkin were cute no matter the season. "You always do!"

Rarity wondered when they changed the definition of always.

"You just need to get out. I'm sure Twilight is doing something. Or Fluttershy. What about Applejack or Pinkie Pie? Surely they can help you!" optimistically declared Spike.

"And let them see me wallowing in my despair? Never! Oh, Spikeypoo," sighed Rarity. She collapsed onto her fainting couch in utter distress, "what am I to do?"

"Err, I don't know?" confessed the dragon.

He awkwardly stood to the side.

Rarity sighed, exhausted and just all around tired. Her eyelids fluttered shut. For just a moment, she would rest her eyes. Then, perhaps, she could finally create something of worth and value.

"Um, should I go?" fumbled Spike.

The cute dragon was shifting from foot to foot as he looked anywhere but at her. A dark blush was painted upon his cheeks when emerald eyes caught hers. It nearly made her smile. However, in the spiraling darkness that was her uselessness, the mage couldn't help but sigh. As dramatic as she was, Rarity was anything but cruel. He had no need to help her nor want but of a blooming hope that she would soon return his not so clandestine feelings. It was amusing and endearing if not a tad too much to handle. Of all the great men to be attracted to her, it had to be a teenage dragon.

"Yes." Rarity gave a long sigh. "I shall not be doing anything productive today."

Her horn ignited a pretty blue. The curtains became encased in blue and pulled taut until they blocked the sun's light. The workshop was instantly shrouded in an artificial twilight where only the bravest of rays slivered in between the faint cracks of the red drapes. The blue vanished as swiftly as it had come.

She turned on her side, the cushions swallowing her body, and waited to hear the dragon leave her be. Rarity heard the chatter of Ponyville from outside her window, the usual chaos her sister was up to with her hooligan friends. Not that she would tell Applejack such when she saw her next. While Rarity sometimes enjoyed the otherwise uncultured company of her cowgirl friend, she was utterly terrified of terran strength. The woman could break her in two without even trying.  It would simply not do to tell Applejack that Applebloom was a bad influence upon her sweet sister.

Though, when the door did not open or close to her study, the purple haired mage flipped back onto her other side and let her head loll to the side. Sure enough, the dragon boy was still there, picking up her discarded work. He set them on the table, gently flattening the crumbled papers, and piled them by how finished they were. Spike did not seem to notice her. He moved effieciently and the russling of papers became a soothing lullaby. It gave her a chance to look at the boy who served as Twilight's little helper. Spike had grown a few inches since he had first come to Ponyville. Once she had towered over him, now he was only an inch away from topping her. Green hair was gelled back by nature's design or some sort of magic because it never moved even as he bent down to grab the fallen pieces. He wore a subtle green shirt with his signature purple jacket which barely concealed his building muscles. In the fake twilight, Rarity made out the more defined features of his face. It no longer held the boyishness of youth but the crispness of manhood. She wasn't certain if she saw correctly but she thought she spotted stubble upon the peak of his chin. Somehow, he had reached the beginning of manhood without her noticing. She briefly wondered how much she had missed in her obsession.

She nearly startled. The thought was suprising and unsuspecting.

Where it had come from?

She chose not to dwell upon it further for it woukd only lead to darker places. Dhe was already feeling the effects of her lack of inspiration. With her head atop her bent arm, she watched the green haired, green eyed teenager continue his unspoken, unnecessary task. It was relaxing to see him work, she realized.

Later, when she woke, Rarity would thank him.

Her back roughly hit the dirt. Just inches away from having hit her head on a rather sharp looking rock, Rosemary frantically scrambled backwards while clutching her throbbing head. She could feel the slick wetness of blood soaking through her fingers, staining them as red as her hair, but the young mage was more concerned about the looming soldiers than her head.

"We told you folks that if we caught you, we'd kill you." the leader of the soldiers sneered, tapping the rod of his spear against his armored shoulder. His features were shadowed and warped by the silver helmet he wore but it did not matter. Rosemary could still see the malicious leer he sported looking at the filthy mages at his feet. "We'll just have to start with you, girlie."

Purple eyes widened in trepidation. She had seen what the soldiers did to anyone who tried to steal food from the terrans. Images of her eminent death flashed in her head. Firing squadron, the gallows, the guillotine, any possible way to die, she thought of. It was not that she was afraid to die. Her heartbeat did not increase in trepidation for her own well being but for those who needed the food more than anything. Sticks and skin rather than normal beings, especially the children. It pained her as much as her bloodied head did to know that they would be nothing more than bony carcasses.

Burning tears of hatred for the terran soldiers and herself for getting caught privked her eyes. Roughly picked up by two burly soldiers, the adolescent mage resisted. Rosemary thrashed in the grip of the men, kicking with all her feeble might. The suddenness of which her head was forcibly snapped to the side was more shocking than the initial blow. Dirty, oily red hair covered her face, creating a dark red curtain as the terrans haughtily laughed.

"We've got a fighter on our hands, boys!" the leader grinned.

His metal hand grasped a chunk of her hair and yanked her head upwards to face him.

"A pretty one, too!"

He leaned in. The stench of his breath, of unwashed teeth and rotten food, clung to him as would a second skin. It washed over Rosemary like a fine veil and clung to her skin.

"And what is your name, pretty thief?" he leered, yellow teeth glistening.

"Rosemary." confidently stated Rosemary.

At the very least, she would be brave enough for all of them. Though with the prospect of spitting in his face becoming more popular in the chaotic mess that was her mind, being brave was becoming more and more difficult. She had seen men get killed on the spot for doing less.

"A pretty name for a pretty thief. Do you know what I do to pretty girls like you?"

The terran captain caressed her cheek as he leaned in further, forcing her to inhale his stench. She tried not to gag as he reached up and touched her horn. The metal was hard and cold against her horn.

"Of course, you're too young. In a few years, you'll be just right. Of course, you'd have to live to be of any value. Would you like to live, Rosemary?"

"Y-Yes." hesitated the mage.

He smiled.

"She says she'd like to live, boys! You know what that means!" roared the leader. The terrans' shouted with joy and mad delight as they stared at her with no hidden malice. "Let's see if this little mage has what it takes to kill the Dragon!"

Dread tightly coiled in her gut. Death by execution or beating was a mercy compared to the Dragon. She did not feel the guards roughly push her down the dirt path, the gleeful stares of the townspeople or the snickering of the troops. Rosemary knew she was going into shock. Her limbs functioned on autopilot while everything around her contorted and twisted into a frenzied whirlpool of activity and chaos.

She was going to kill the Dragon.

She was going to kill the Dragon.

Oh sweet gods above.

She was going to be roasted alive.

Upon entering the ostentatious throne room, Celestia resisted a cringe. It was not to be said that Discord was a man without courtesy or respect for the ancient, unspoken laws of guesthood. He left the throne room in tact. Everything was as it should be. The carpets were still inanimate, the curtains were not on fire and the stained glass windows were motionless in their storytelling. No, everything was as it should be. Everything that was except for the God of Chaos.

The chaotic spirit was serious. His red eyes were cold and lacking emotion, even the barest flicker of something... anything. Clad in a pinstraight black suit, he stood with hands behind his back and tail barely moving. If it had not been, she would have thought him frozen. Though it was her that was frozen. Seeing him professional brought back unwanted memories of the first time the Sun sovereign had seen Discord solemn. It was so unlike him which was what sent shivers of... something down her spine as it had at the beach.

"Tia, glad of you to finally host me. I was worried that you had forgotten about me." Discord greeted. There was no bite behind his words. Simply impatience. "Lulu, I see Tia has finally allowed you to participate in adult matters."

"Watch your tongue, Discord, for you might lose it." warned Luna.

Instead of a laugh or a snide joke, the God arched a gray eyebrow. "The laws, Lulu. You cannot touch me. Of course, Celestia, you already know as to why I'm here in this dreadful place. Why not tell Lulu?"

"I know not what you speak of." stiffly answered Celestia.

She wondered what he knew. He had the unfortunate habit of knowing her secrets before even she knew. Manipulation, lies, trickery, it was no curious matter as to how he got his information. It had been hours since they had last met upon the beach to gaze upon the devestation that laid upon the approaching horizon. A storm of unparalled might was looming just beyond their reach. Discord would be the changing factor in this destructive, ungodly equation of life and death.

"They're remembering, Princess." snapped Discord. Red eyes in those pools of sickly yellow seemed to cast a powerful shadow upon the brightly illuminated room. "The rainbow one and now that pompous one!"

Celestia swallowed.

"And how do you know that, beast?" snarled her nocturnal sister. The younger Goddess eyed the spirit with blatant distrust.

"I was in the neighborhood doing my sacred duty when I spot the blue one being hit with a beam. It should have killed her but her Element appeared and saved her from death. Of course, being curious as to how such a precious gem could have just appeared out of nowhere without a hint of magic, I couldn't help but notice the magic seeping into the girl. At first I thought it was Twilight Dork but it turns out the magic is returning faster than any of us anticipated." Discord's fang was bared as he hissed, "it is in your best interest for them not to remember, Lulu."

"And why is that?"

He chuckled. "Two thousand years of pent up rage can do wonders. We wouldn't want them causing trouble now would we? That is my job after all."

"They are citizens of Equestria. They would not harm us." Luna said.

"They would if they knew what you two did. And what daddy dearest did."  smiled the God. The slyness in which he spoke sent shivers down her back. Celestia remained as still as she could when the God shifted his eyes from Luna to her. "As much as I hate to speak rationally, it would be in your best interest to remove the girls from the equation as soon as possible?"

Her lips pursed and eyes narrowed. Underneath thick, long lashes, Celestia hissed, "if you'd think I would just kill innocent girls—"

"If you won't then I will. The girls are a threat to all of us!"

"I will not kill them!"

"You think they'd just let you walk away scotch-free? Once they remember, they will be coming after all of us. First you, then Lulu and then me. As much as I love your plot, it isn't enough to risk my life for past sins!" shouted Discord.

Celestia was glad that Luna had dismissed the guards prior to the meeting. They would have been on him within seconds. Yet, as he fumed at the possibility of his own death, Celestia felt the full weight of the situation come crashing down around her ears. One millenium had pasted in sorrowful remembrance of cruel fates and tyranny which had controlled them like puppets. Two had past since the initial blow which left them suffering of sins of the father. Barely did the Sun Goddess register the walk to the throne or the feel of the plush cushions against her stiff, erect back. Gravity smugly pulled at the wrinkles of infinite pain and exhaustion.

The misshapened monster bore daggers into her while his scaled tail curled and flicked to some unheard melody. Discord awaited her answer in his dreadful way that mocked all forms of patience. He said not a word and the game began. Two thousand years and she would have thought his tongue would be dancing in earnest to ramble endlessly.

"We shall keep an eye on them. The Elements of Harmony will be monitored at all times and if they present a threat to anyone, citizens or gods, they will be neutralised. They are forbidden to be killed or maimed or harmed in any way, shape or form. They are still our last option if we cannot nullify the threat." Celestia punctuated every word in a clear, curt voice which allowed no space for argument. To her side, Luna could be seen nodding in agreement. In front of her, Discord was more reserved.

Very slowly, a slowness which encased the chamber, the Chaotic God curtly bowed and tilted his head downwards. Black hair streaked with ashen grey fell forward ever so slightly while he remained low. Finally, after several painful moments, the princesses watched the Spirit of Chaos rise and straighten himself.

"As you wish." softly murmured Discord. His voice was just a whisper upon the wind yet it surrounded them as an avalanche would a valley. It was cold, distant and unforgiving. "Just realize, your highnesses, that when they come for you... when she comes for you... not even your faithful student can protect you."

They watched him disappear in a flash of swirling green. His tail was the last to go. Celestia found herself staring at the spot where the beast had floated only mere moments ago and took a moment to blink. It was as slow as his bow had been and the tears of hatred for the God and herself stung her eyes. Everything hurt beyond description. It was an agony of millenniums amd exhaustion of sins both her own and those of her father. Tartarus gleamed deceivingly in its warm embrace as her mind tried to outrun the exhaustion. Then, it was only after Discord left did she realize what the feeling that had sent her shivering was.

Fear.

"I don't trust him, sister." finally spoke Luna.

Her nocturnal sister still eyed the spot where he had vanished. She turned to face her and a scowl was sprawled across her beautiful space.

"We should have detained him when we had the chance." voiced Luna.

Her blue hair was the only moving thing in the chamber and it took a second for Celestia to remember how to breathe. Blinking, Celestia looked towards the sun which hovered lazily at midday.

"We still need him. If what he says proves true, Luna, then we'll need all the forces we can get." Celestia answered. Luna was ready to argue when Celestia continued with, "that does not mean we have to trust him. Have your night guards follow him during the night and I'll have an agent in Ponyville keep an eye out for anything suspicious."

"Does he know this person you speak of, sister? Could they be compromised?" questioned Luna.

"No. He wouldn't recognize them. This agent is special. More so than any guard we have." Celestia rose from her throne. "While well disciplined and trained to execute a kill at any given moment, she may come off as a tad bit... derpy."