In which I talk to a rock
Lost.
I sometimes think about the day I met him, that lonely lost soul. It's been so long I can barely remember anymore, of course that's still better than the shape I found him. He didn't remember anything.
It was a bright day outside, not that I was getting to enjoy it. It was just another day in the mines, like so many others and yet so different in the end. For it was the day that I found it, or more correctly found him. The boss had just finished chewing me out for once again not filling my quota of crystals. Why the unicorns needed so many I never knew.
I was on my way back out of the caves when I heard it.
“Hey you there!"
Stopping and glancing around I didn't see anypony. "Um hello?"
"Down here."
Looking down I still didn't see anyone.
"Still can't see you"
"Well of course not! You're standing on me"
Hastily taking a step back I saw..... What appeared to be a small gemstone, not unlike the ones I mined everyday
"The crystal?"
"Yes the crystal, now that we have that out of the way. What are you doing here?"
"I work here." I managed to stammer out, still not believing that I was talking to a crystal.
Looking back I must have looked crazy, standing there talking to a rock. Heck I thought I was crazy. Hello brain, anyone one home? Nope logic has checked out for the day.
"I see and where exactly are we?"
"Under Canterlot"
"Canterlot?"
".......the city above us"
"Fascinating, there wasn't a city up there when I got here"
"And how long have you been here?"
"... I .... I don't know anymore."
"You don't know?"
"It's been so long I've lost track"
"Well it's been nice talking to you but I gotta go."
And with that I started to beat a hasty retreat, I was still unsure of whether it was safe talking to it. Just as I was about to slip away it called out.
"Wait! Take me with you!"
"And why should I do that?"
"Because I haven't seen the outside in so long and I want to see this ‘Canterlot’ you speak of. Besides it won't take much effort to take me with you, I'm not exactly large you know"
Now I'm not a cruel or mean pony. No I was a very caring pony but the fact that a rock was telling what to do was to much to take in at the minute. And so I ran, I ran out of the caves like they were the gates of Tartarus.
That night was torture. I lay in my bed at home tossing and turning. It was all I could think about. The crystal danced upon my dreams. Ran through my mind when I woke up and occupied my every thought. What was it? How can it talk? How long has it been down there?
Well at least I could answer how long it had been down there, at least a little bit. The city of Canterlot was thousands of years old, and the town that had been there before that for longer than anypony could remember. They said that it was there before the two sisters were born and their age has long since been lost.
Had it been there all along? Alone?
How could anypony be there that long? How was it still sane? How did it get there?
I don't know when I decided, but before the sun had risen it's rays and the moon had laid down it's burden. I had made up my mind to find the crystal again.
For better or worse.
The day passed by faster than I ever thought possible. For once I did my shift and filled my quota without complaints, my boss remarking that if I worked like this every day he would be able get me better hours. I didn't care, I just needed to get finished so I could search for it.
Dashing up the side tunnels, I started my search. I must have walked by it 3 times without noticing it.
Why was it not calling out to me? Was it angry that I had left it there the day before?
I was just about to give up for the day when it spoke.
"Well while it was certainly amusing watching you scurry around looking, I do believe that you walked past me a few times already."
"Why didn't you say something then?" I huffed angrily.
"Well you did leave me down here. For the first pony I can remember you weren't very nice at all."
"Forgive me but a rock was talking to me, well it's still talking to me but that's besides the point."
"The fact that you are still talking does makes it a very valid point indeed."
"Look I came to get you if you still want to get out of this mine."
".... Why didn't you say so?"
At this point I had almost decided to leave and try again the next day. As I was turning to leave, it called out.
"Wait!! Please take me with you."
"Why didn't you say so." I repeated back its earlier question.
(Chuckles)
Tucking it into my saddlebag I started back up towards the entrance to the mines.
Suddenly I remembered that I never got its name, if it had one.
"So what's your name by the way?"
"My name?"
"Yes your name. You do have one don't you?"
"Why.... I can't remember. I know I have one but... I just can't seem to remember it."
"WAIT WHAT?!" How can you not remember your own name?
"It's been so long since I've used it that I think that I just forgot about it and just moved on."
How long had he been down here? I mean how could somepony forget their very own name? It was beyond belief. I found that I had stopped in my shock.
"Excuse me but I do believe that we were leaving if I’m not mistaken."
"HUH? Oh right yes we were leaving."
A little while later we had reached the exit. The sun was streaming in from the exit, a sure sign that the day was almost over.
"So this is sunlight."
Once again he had surprised me with his lack of knowledge of the outside world. I mean how could somepony forget about the sun? Again I found myself drawn back to the question of just how long he had been down in these mines. Nevertheless it was a beautiful day outside even if I had missed most of my time to enjoy it, seeing as I had been busy searching for the crystal.
I didn't waste any time and headed straight home that day, which was odd because I normally never missed an opportunity to enjoy the day. But really who can blame me, I had just taken a talking rock home and was planning on showing it the city.
It was then that everything started to unravel.
In which a dream comes true (if only)
The next morning I noticed two things. One, the crystal was trying to wake me up and two, that the desk that I had set it on last night has changed, it was now a bright blue. Wood wasn't supposed to be blue, that was abundantly clear.
"Ah you're finally awake, took you long enough."
"What do you expect? I have to sleep you know."
"Well of course I know, I'm not completely ignorant."
"Also did you change my desk color?"
"Yes I did! Why? Do you like it? Blue is such a nice color.”
"Can you change it back please? I'm not a big fan of blue."
And with a little pop it was returned to normal much to my relief. Still I had never seen magic like that before and it got me wondering what else could it do.
I was left with a conundrum now though I didn't want to leave it at home alone there's no telling what the crystal might do if I wasn't around to keep an eye on it. But if I didn't go to work I wouldn't have a job anymore, and as much as I hated my job it was still better than having no job.
I had no choice but to go to work and I couldn't bring it with me so I guess I was going to have to leave it at home after all.
“I gotta go to work, I'll be back soon" I called to it on my way out the door.
Once again I flew through my work and back home in a few hours
The sight that I saw upon opening my door absolutely floored me, the colors everywhere were wrong and the desk was walking around using its stubby little legs "Ah you’re home! What do you think? Do you like what I've done with the place?"
"...."
"Oh dear, I seem to have broken him."
"H-h-how?! How can you even do that?"
"I don't know, can't you change things?"
"No I can't change things like that at all! My magic doesn't work that way, no ones magic does."
"Well that's odd, why not?"
"Because it just doesn't make any sense! "
"So? Just because it doesn't make sense to you, doesn't mean it doesn't make sense at all"
"I- you- I- you know what it doesn't matter. Just turn my house back to normal please"
(Sigh) "ok fine then" 'pop'
Looking around the, now thankfully restored room everything seemed to be back to normal. Dropping the crystal in my saddle bags again I headed out the door into the city. It was time to show the city to him and see if I could learn more about his past.
We ran into a complication as soon as we walked out the door. Turns out that it could only see when I was carrying it around in the open, which lead to me carrying it around Canterlot in my mouth.
Apparently carting things in your mouth in Canterlot wasn't a good idea. I could feel the haughty gazes of the unicorns around me all day. I mean I should have expected it. The unicorns of Canterlot always did look down upon the non-unicorns, still do really. But they could have at least been subtle about it.
It was about halfway through the the day I found out that while I was talking out loud to it in public, it was talking to me inside my head. Which did explain some of the worried looks I'd been getting from the other ponies. I must have looked mad walking around having a conversation with myself.
The days passed by and despite my best efforts the crystal remained an enigma. The only way I could find anything about it was to show it around the city, and after the first day I invested in a brooch like holder for it. And while I looked odd I certainly didn't look crazy like before which was a relief.
As it saw more and more of the city, I started to notice little things about it. For one he seem to be more mischievous than was good for any-pony but then again after being in a cave for untold years I didn't fault him for it. And another thing, he noticed more than I did. Once he stopped me from buying a scam from a con-artist. I learned to think my conversations at it, so as to not attract unwanted attention. But by far the most important thing I learned was that he was not the crystal but inside the crystal. That much was clear from the time that I asked him if he felt it when I dropped the crystal one morning.
In the end he learned far more about me then I ever learned about him. He seemed to care more for the little details then the major things. He wanted to know things like when my birthday was, or what my favorite color was (it was green.) He was surprised to find that my family had been Pegasus. That no I didn't have any friends. (But really as an earth pony in Canterlot I didn't get many chances to make friends, seeing as we were treated like second class citizens.)
Everything was going good, that is until the night that he tried to help.
It began as any night before did. I had come home exhausted. Took him out on a trip around the city, though why he wanted to keep doing them I have no idea. We had already seen the whole city. And after that I collapsed in bed, asleep before my head hit the pillow.
It was a dream I had, had for as long as I could remember. I was soaring through the clouds with my parents. The sun was in the sky and not a cloud was outta place. We were talking, about what I don't remember.
All of a sudden the dream changed the clouds rolled in dark and menacing. Lightning flashed and thunder roared. The winds picked up and I was forced to watch as my family was thrown away into the storm soon lost to sight. Worse felt a burning sensation upon my back as my wings were struck by lightning and they burned away in a flash of flame, and I fell. I fell towards the earth sobbing and bracing myself for the end the rocks rushing up to meet me.
"AGGH”
And with a crash I ended up in a pile upon the floor
"It's just a dream Granite, just a dream."
“Yeah, yeah I know, just felt so real…..”
“You know, I've never found out what these recurring nightmares actually are.”
“So?”
“So, I want to help you.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re friends."
“We’re friends?”
“Well I like to think we are you did save me from my eternity in that dingy hole, and helped me re-learn the ways of the world so to speak.”
“Huh.” You know I had never really thought about it that way to be honest I didn't know what I saw this weird talking rock as, but he was right we were pretty close, I knew most of the things there were to know about him, (which didn't really account to anything) and he knew most of the things about me, so I guess technically we were friends.
“Alright, well you know how my parents are Pegasus right?”
“I do recall that yes."
“Well I've always wished I was a Pegasus to so that I could go flying with them, and I keep having this stupid nightmare, where I am a Pegasus.”
“I fail to see how that’s terrifying, unless you’re scared of heights?”
“Shut up, I was getting to it, anyway this massive storm comes in and I get hit by lightning, my wings burn up, and I fall, most likely to my death.”
“Yeesh that must’ve stung a bit.”
I swear if he wasn't trapped in that crystal he’d probably have the biggest smirk on his face.
“You think?” I replied sarcastically.
“Hmmmmmmmm.” His tone became quite serious all of a sudden.
“What?” I asked him suspiciously.
“Well I’m just wondering you know how I can do things no-pony else can?”
“Yeah?”
“Well I’m just thinking creating things out of nothing would probably fall under that category right?”
“Do you mean?” I asked hesitantly as my mind began putting two and two together.
“I might very well be able to give you wings.”
“Not even if Tartarus was my other option.”
“Ohhh how your words cut me deeply.” He said his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Well I’m sorry for not being very trustworthy but your magic doesn't seem to do any good when you use it.”
“Well duh, I do those things purposefully, they’re a riot, but with this I can do it no strings attached.”
All I did was cock my eyebrow at the crystal, unconvinced.
“All right look here’s the deal, I might be able to give you your wings, all you have to do is trust me, simple as that.”
I have to admit the offer was tempting, I could finally have my dream come true, but I kept getting this nagging fear in the back of my skull….I silenced that nagging.
“Alright do it.”
“Woohoo! You will not regret this my friend.” He said nearly hitting the floor as his Crystal fell of the bed luckily I caught him in time
“Alright now, I’ve never actually done something as complicated as this so I might need some space.”
I got off the bed and readied myself.
“Ready Granite?” He asked.
“Ready.” I replied.
For a while we just stood there no sign of movement at all, as time ticked on and it had nearly been a minute I was just about to put this off as a poor excuse for a prank, until suddenly a green light burst from the crystal. It began to hover above the bed and let out a light humming, eventually a beam of magic struck me and began to lift me into the air, wait what was that? I could feel...something, something…..growing? Yes definitely, there was something growing out of my back, another flash and the magic stopped. I landed back on the ground slightly dazed, when I felt something on my back again as I tried to stretch, I turned my head only to see…...wings? My breath caught in my throat I couldn't believe it I had wings! I wanted to try them out, but then I didn't know how to fly, then I remembered who gave them to me I ran over to the bed to hear gasping and panting.
“You ok?”
“What…...me?.....Oh yeah…..I’m peachy…...did…..it...work?” He said faintly.
“Yeah man, check it out.” I spun round so he could get a better view.
“Wow…...not bad…...though I think…….they could use……...some blue.”
Even when tired you couldn't get him to shut up with his damn jokes.
I rolled my eyes at him but gave him a thankful smile “Thanks bro, really this means a lot to me.”
“Ahhhh don’t mention it what are friends for.”
“Normal friends can’t do stuff like this.” I pointed out.
“Now Granite I think the dust from those mines are getting to your head, what in Canterlot would lead you to believe I’m normal?”
“Touche”
Suddenly a surge of pain shot through my entire body causing me to collapse in agony to the floor.
“Granite? Granite! Are you alright?”
I couldn't reply, I couldn't feel my jaw, I couldn't feel anything I was in so much pain, all I could do was lie there and spasm uncontrollably in pain. But I could feel something, my wings,they were changing, becoming heavier, My eyes burned and I dimly remember hearing screams which only got worse as all of a sudden hearing them got painful. I felt my eyes roll into the back of my head, then suddenly it stopped. Gasping for breath, shaking uncontrollably, covered in perspiration, I shakily got up.
“What…...the…...BUCK…..was that?” I asked in between gasps.
“.......” He didn't say a thing, only further fueling my anger.
“I asked you a question!” I snapped at him.
He snapped out of his daze “What? Oh right, um I don’t really know how to tell you this, so you may want to check the mirror.”
I walked over to the mirror and gasped at what I saw, I saw a complete stranger staring back at me, he had the same color eyes, fur, and mane as me, but he had, bat-like wings, turned up ears, fangs, and slits for eyes.
“Turn. Me. Back. RIGHT! NOW!” I snapped at him, shaking in place.
“I can’t.”
“Yes you bloody can! You did this! You fix it!”
“Granite listen to me I can’t turn you back I’m far beyond drained.”
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, this damn thing turned me into a freak, and he couldn't turn me back? I couldn't stay here, I’d have to leave, either that or be run out of town, or straight up killed. So I started to pack.
“What are you doing?” The crystal asked.
“Leaving!” I replied harshly.
“Why?” He asked.
Could this thing get anymore ignorant.
“Look at me, I’m a freak if I’m seen like this who knows what the ponies in this city will do.” I screamed at him visions of a angry torch wielding mod playing through my head.
“I’m coming with you.” He stated
“No your not.”
“Yes I am!” He replied sternly.
“No. Your. NOT! You made me this way, I should have just left you in that damn mine.” I shouted back.
“Hey now, you know I was only trying to help.” He debated.
“Yeah some help you were.” I replied.
After finishing packing I left the house, luckily it was the middle of the night, so no-pony should’ve been up I was able to make it two steps until.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHH MONSTER, CALL THE GUARDS, MONSTER!”
Crap, well so much for sneaking out, I galloped as fast as my legs would take me as I heard, voices coming from all buildings as the bell of Canterlot were rung and the guards stormed into the street looking for the source of the commotion. And of course they found it.
“THERE’S THE MONSTER AFTER IT!”
Yelled one of the guards.
I looked around to see the guards chasing after me, (and on that note gaining on me.) Only was one option left to me.
“Wings don’t fail me.” I whispered to myself as I extended my wings and attempted to beat them as hard as I could, shockingly I made it off the ground at which point I stumbled and fell face first into the dust.
“Come on Granite you can do it” I said to myself as I hastily got back up and tried again.
The first few times where a failure, but finally I was able to make a some what steady takeoff and fly away from Canterlot. I flew for a couple miles to be sure I had lost any possible Pegasus ponies on guard, eventually I found a nice clearing in a forest to take refuge in. As I finally started to settle down a voice suddenly rang through my ears and I swear I could feel my eye twitch.
“WOO what a chase that was, admittedly the flight was quite boring.”
I turned my saddlebags upside down to find him fall out of them.
“What are you doing here.” I asked through gritted teeth.
“Come on now, did you really expect me to stay in that house after you decided to bail on me.” He asked sarcastically.
“That was the plan.” I replied.
“Come on now Granite, what kind of friend would I be if I let you face this cruel world alone?” He asked over dramatically.
“WE ARE NOT FRIENDS. You've turned me into A FREAK.” I shouted at him.
“Now Granite we've been over this I was only trying to help.” He replied.
“I don’t want your help! I don’t want you in my life! I don’t want anything to do with you ever again! All you ever do is cause chaos no matter what you do! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.” I shouted at him scornfully.
But then something inside me happened…... something snapped, I raised my hooves and brought them down upon the crystal breaking it beneath them. Then I left, to do what I don’t know I just ran into the trees sobbing.
The crystal fragments just lay there, until a black mist began to be emitted from them, slowly they took, shape and turned into a creature of countless creatures, it had a lion paw, and a griffons talon, a bat wing, and a buffalo leg, a pony’s head, with yellow eyes with red pupils, and all the creature did was stare in the direction of the one thing he had ever called friend, and bowed it’s head in shame.
“I’m sorry Granite, I’m sorry.” He whispered.
Then the creature felt something build up deep inside him, and there was one thought in his mind. Rage.
“I’m sorry Granite, because of me you lost your life, because of those snobby ponies you lost your life, but I’ll get them, I won’t just take their lives, I’ll take them and turn them upside down, you said all I ever do is cause chaos? Then that’s just what I’ll do, I’ll cause chaos. I AM chaos! I……...am Discord.”
And with this the creature took off into the air and turned his attention to what would be the first victim of his revenge. Canterlot.