My Curse's Benefits

Chapters

chapter 1
chapter 2
chapter 3
Chapter 4
I'm not dead!

chapter 1

I never thought it would come down to this one little thing. How foalish was I to think that I could make it through flight school with my disability? After all, what use does Cloudsdale have for a Pegasus that cannot stand on clouds? I thought that this was my best option, trying my luck at flight school and seeing if I could get a job. No wonder my mom told me never to come here. She was right.

The moment I flew into Cloudsdale and enrolled, I was bombarded with bullies who all had fun of me for the same thing. My cutie mark; it is a rainbow colored platypus surrounded by like-colored fish. My talents match my mark well for I can, in fact, turn into a rainbow-colored platypus. I can also communicate with fish and other aquatic creatures, along with some semi-aquatic creatures.

How I can turn is explainable too, you see, I am half-changling. My mother’s half to be exact. When I was born I inherited some of her powers, meaning I could shape-shift into the first thing I saw, which was a rainbow-colored platypus toy my mom bought me. She never said what happened to dad, though; I assume it was a one-night-stand gone wrong. My foalhood was like anypony else’s, except that I was home-schooled; mom said it was for my own good, but I know now that it was because of my… differences.

Before you ask, I have solid cyan eyes, grey fur, a red mane, and medium-sized wings. I was always happy with my mom, she was so cheery. It hurts me to think about her and what happened to her…
It wasn’t long ago, five months tomorrow; mom and I were baking some loaves of bread and there was a scream from outside. Suddenly I was hit by a purple wave that felt like being hit by a train, causing me to fall to the floor in pain. What I saw when I got up horrified me beyond belief; it was my mother, smeared across the wall in a green goo.

A jolting motion brought my memories to the end. I had arrived at the factory. After my mom died, my life spiraled downward. Not knowing where I would get my next meal, where I would or could sleep, or if I would be on the receiving end of judging eyes or physical and verbal assaults. This was maybe the best thing that happened to me in a while; I wouldn’t have to worry about food, sleep, or bullying. I just wanted it to be just me and mom in the afterlife, be it pits of fire or fluffy clouds, but this failure made me rethinks my plans, I only want to have some fun now before I spend my life as a factory worker. The doors to the carriage were opened two burly stallions in suits.

“Beautiful day isn’t it?” I say to try and lighten the mood.

“Shut up and get movin,” the one on the right says.

I begin to hover next to them and get moving but was grabbed around the neck by the one on the left.

“Walk,” he said.

“Did they not tell you why I failed the exam?”

“Flying ability does not affect walking ability,” he growled

“Oh no, I didn’t fail for that, I failed because I can’t walk on clouds,”

“*Sigh* Well, we’ll have to carry this one, won’t we?” the one on the left said to the one on the right.

The one on the right just nodded as they both hooked a hoof around my wings so I was being held up by the wings, with no way of relieving the pressure on them. They proceeded to drag me through the air through a medium-sized set of double doors. Once inside I saw others who had failed the exam on the ground and on the far side of the room was a large, shiny machine with several chains hanging from it.

“Let’s get this show on the road shall we?” I casually said to the thugs as if the three of us were waiting for a hoofball game to start.

“I hope your death is quick so you can’t laugh through it,” the one on my right said under his breath. The word ‘death’ came as a shock, but I’ll play along with it.

“What would the fun in that be?” I ask.

The one on the right was about to formulate an answer but a loud ‘AHEM!’ came from the scaffolding a few meters above the floor. I search for the owner of the voice as a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow mane walked into the light.

“Now that we are ready to get started, I’d like to introduce myself; I am Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria, owner of this factory, and the decider on who dies first”

“Sounds pretty cocky to me,” I said fairly audibly.

Like a lightning bolt, she flew down from the scaffolding and gave me a powerful punch to the stomach. I doubled over from the force of the punch, still with a smile on my face. I let out an audible laughter.

“What’s so funny?” she asks.

“It’s just I think your still hot shit and I just want to taunt my captor before I escape” for that she gave me another punch, this one to the face, drawing a bit of green blood.

“Is that so?” she said tauntingly.

“Yes, in fact any moment now I will break through the floor and escape,”

“Fat cha….” Her sentence was cut off by my rear hooves hitting her upper chest, sending her off balance.

I then changed my lower hooves in to those of a platypus and stuck the barbs on the lower part of my newly formed ankles into the abdomens of my two holders. I injected enough venom to cause paralysis but not enough to kill. Before the thugs knew what hit them, they fell to the floor, unmoving, but alive. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the cyan Pegasus charging me; I quickly turned toward her and push my hooves against hers.

“Is there something I might tell you by before I leave?” I teased.

“Like what?”

“Oh, nothing much, I’d just like you to know the irony of our names.”

“Why?”

“Well, you see, my name also pertains to this factory in a way,”

“How so?” she was beginning to push harder.

“I am called Rainbow as well, Rainbow Platypus to be exact,” I smiled stupidly.

“WHAT??”

“Would you like me to show you why?”

She remained silent, focusing on overpowering me. Perfect.

“I will take that as a yes,” I said as I changed into my platypus form, beaver tail and all. The sudden lack of pressure caused Rainbow fall forward and plow into some of the other failures.

I swear I heard the jaws of everyone in the room drop at the sight of the flying platypus.

“I will be making my leave now,” I said as I changed into my pony form, and closed my wings and dove straight down.

“How can you? That floor is solid stratus,” Dash said as I dove.

I let out a small chuckle as I fell through the cloud floor, and spread my wings and flew back toward my old home. I heard a loud war cry as Rainbow Dash crashed into me.

“Can’t get your hooves off me I see,” I was having too much fun for the situation.

“Nopony gets out of the factory alive,” she growled brandishing a knife.

“Well, looks like that streak will end today,” I said dodging her lunges.

“I…think….not!” she shouted as her knife connected with my front right leg.

“Well, would you look at that,” I said looking at my leg.

“It won’t be your last,” she said with blood lust in her eyes.

“Ah, there is the problem, you see, I happened to have aimed myself at a lake outside of that there town and we will arrive
there shortly… Now to be exact.” I said turning so I was facing the water below.

I could hear her trying to pull up as I turned into a platypus and pierced the water. I could see her lingering above the surface, waiting for me to need to breathe. Too bad for her, I found a cavern that had a tunnel to the surface. It was large enough for me to crawl through but small enough that she couldn’t get to me.

Knowing that I was safe for the moment; I lie down and fell asleep.

I awoke to the sweet aroma of steamed vegetables. Wait a second… I don’t remember getting vegetables. I opened my eyes to see that I was not in that cavern, but in a small cottage, with a yellow Pegasus cooking in the kitchen. Not knowing where I was, I stayed put; the Pegasus hadn’t done anything for me not to trust her. Soon she was done cooking and was bringing a plate of vegetables to me.

“There you go, now let’s get a look at that leg,” she said with a feeling of care I hadn’t seen since my mother.

I flinched as she removed the bandages from my leg, where the cut used to be, was a fairly large scar.

“Now what could have done this to you?”

“It was a Rainbow-mane bitch at the factory,” I said.

You feel a string of guilt as she passes out onto the floor.

“Well that went well,” you say turning back into pony form.

-Author's note: Thanks to my editors.
constructive criticism is wanted

chapter 2

-Author's note: Sorry this took so long. It was actually written at the begging of June during my driver's ed classes. But it got done and I'm pretty darn proud of it.

I put the poor mare on the sofa I woke upon. Then, taking a dropper filled with water and a towel, and placing the towel under her head, I let the water drip onto her head. After a few minutes of this, she began to stir. I quickly changed back into platypus form. She opened her eyes to see me curled up on the other end of the sofa looking at her. She quickly reeled to the far end of the sofa.

“C…Can you t…talk?” She asked almost inaudibly.
“Yes… I can,” I replied.
“Oh, good! So I’m not crazy!”
“Well, before you go all high and mighty one not being insane; I need to show you something else…”
“Like what?”
“Just watch…”

She was about to say something else but I changed into pony form. She remained speechless for several minutes; just staring at me. She finally managed to get what she was trying to say out.

“H…..how?” She said quietly but louder than before.
“It’s my special talent; along with being able to communicate with aquatic animals,” I explained.
“I see… wait then why were you in that burrow when I found you?”
“I…uhhh… was taking a nap,” I lied.
“Then why was your leg cut?”
“Oh! Ummm…. It was a bite! A truly nasty one from a snakehead! Really nasty fish, I forgot that they are extremely territorial. Even with my experience with fish, I try to avoid them.”
“And what about this ‘Rainbow-colored bitch’ you mentioned earlier?”
“It was a rainbow-colored female snakehead,” you say still lying through your teeth and she knew it.
“So you took a nap after being attacked by a rainbow-colored female snakehead?”
“That’s about it.”
“Did it occur to you that you should have probably gone to the hospital?”
“It was just a flesh wound.”
“It was bleeding very heavily; you might have died if I didn’t come along.”
“I….” My sentence was cut off by a loud growling from both our stomachs.
She blushed profusely,” Oh my… are you hungry?”
“Very, but I was just about to head home and…”
“Oh no, please… It’s getting dark…” I looked out the window. Sure enough the sun was barely peaking over the horizon, “… you can stay here… if you want that is…”

I pondered her offer as she moved toward an archway on the other side of the room. I shouldn’t take her offer… but I’m not the best night flyer… Plus, she is a bit cute… WAIT! What am I thinking? I just met her and I’m already thinking about that stuff!? I don’t even know her name!

My inner debate was interrupted by the soft clinking of dishes coming from the direction of the arch was she just entered. I slowly got up and troted over to the source of the noise. Upon nearing the source of the clinking, it was replaced with a soft singing. I stopped in the door way to what looks like the kitchen. I saw her making two sandwiches. She turned to see me standing in the archway.

“Smells delicious,” I said taking a quick whiff of the air.
“It’s only a sandwich,” she said blushing slightly.
“If you say so… but on to more pressing matters; I have decided to take you up on your offer.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful; I’d hate to see anypony have to walk through this darkness!”
“I realized, though, that neither of us has told the other our names…” I was about to say my name but she decided to go first.
“Oh, how rude of me! My name is Fluttershy.”
“That is a… pretty and rather fitting name. I am Rainbow Platypus.”
“Are you related to Rainbow Dash? She is a good friend of mine,” I winched at the mentioning of Rainbow Dash’s name.
“Ah… no. I do know of her, but we are not related,” I said as we made our way back to the living room. Sitting down, she passed me a plate and I began to nibble on my sandwich.
“Sweet Celestia! This sandwich is amazing! You’re a really good cook!” I exclaimed.
“Y…You really think so?” she said hiding a bit behind her mane.
“I know so, how’d you learn to cook so well?”
“Well, Angel is always picky about what he eats; so, that may be how…” she said munching on her sandwich.
“Angel? Who is that?” Well this is awkward if she is married.
“Angel is one of my animal friends,” she said, relieving the awkwardness from me. “He should be around here somewhere…” She got up and went back to the kitchen area. After a few minutes Fluttershy came back with a sleeping bunny on her back.
“This is Angel, he is normally good-mannered,” she said. I was about to reply but the clock struck ten and she gave out the most adorable yawn ever.
“I think this conversation can continue tomorrow,” I say with a slight chuckle.
“I guess you’re right. You can sleep in my bed… If you want that is…”
“What!? No, I could never do that! This sofa is perfect.”
“OK, good night then…” she said moving toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
“Oh! Before you go to bed I have some more questions. One, how far are we from Ponyville and in what direction is it? Two, which way is Froggy Bottom Bog?”
“Ponyville is about a twenty-minute walk, taking the path on the right at the first junction, and Froggy Bottom Bog is a left at the same junction… Why do you ask?”
“Oh, I have a friend that I told I would meet when I got back to Ponyville.”
“Back from where, if you don’t mind me asking.”
“It’s no trouble, I was at the flight academy for a while, but I failed the exam and left before anything could happen.”
“Won’t they be looking for you?”
“Who is ‘they’ and why would that be?” I asked, starting to feel suspicious of Fluttershy now.
“Oh, hehe…. No reason…” It was her turn to lie now.
“Ok, then. Good night.” I say, she seemed to relax at my pretended obliviousness, and moved upstairs.

I had no intention of sleeping here at all, as far as I’m concerned she is a treat to me. Shall I scare her a bit? I shall, but first I need some paper and a writing utensil. I thought silently searching through the drawers of Fluttershy’s house.

After a few minutes of searching I came across a napkin and a pen. Gripping the pen in my mouth, I began to write:

Dear Fluttershy,

I must admit, I was not entirely truthful with you yesterday, as you might have guessed. If you want to know the truth, come to the southern tip of Froggy Bottom Bog around noon, alone or with others, I do not care. I also know what happens when the Flight Academy exam is failed, so you can drop that act, too.

Hope you come,

Rainbow Platypus

After writing the note I placed it on the table in the living room, and quietly left her home. I headed toward Ponyville. The walk gave me time to gather my thoughts. So, Fluttershy and whomever she brings will be at the bog around noon… giving me enough time to run home for some sleep and some food. I’ll also need to find Snowball and make sure she didn’t get herself killed. Suddenly a voice said faintly, “Rainbow…” I turned to face the voice but nopony was there. Before long I was in the market square in Ponyville. I quickly found a direction sign showing my bearings. I need to head toward the northern edge of the bog so… I looked for a compass rose on the sign. That way! I thought, facing to my left, but as soon as I turned a newspaper hit me in the face.

I removed the paper and read the headline, ‘Griffin Pirates to make an appearance at Gala.’ Intrigued I skimmed the article. ‘Sources say that the so called Griffin Pirates will be at the Grand Galloping Gala in three days and would be recruiting anypony willing to join them in their campaign against the injustices of the north. Story continues on page 3.’ Nope I got shit to do and no time to do it in.

The trip to the northern edge of the bog was quick and I found my house even quicker. It was just as I remember it; it still smelled like the bog, which was no trouble to me. Upon entering the old grandfather clock in the living room chimed quarter after 12 at night, perfect time to go to bed.

Once in my bed, sleep came quickly. I dreamt of being a strange bipedal creature, much like an ape, but not nearly as hairy. I was in a desert it seemed, and I had some weird camouflage clothing on. It was hot, so unbearably hot, I felt something heavy on my back… It was a saddlebag of sorts and on its side was a long stick-thing… Then, I heard some shouting in the distance; it wasn’t any language that I knew… A group of figures with... towels on their head appeared on the horizon, also carrying the stick things. I shouted for help but my calls were met with a searing pain in my knee and a loud bang! shortly after. The pain caused me to fall to the ground as one of the figures approached and promptly hit me in the head with the large part of the stick.

I awoke in a cold sweat. Not knowing how to make heads or tails of the dream. It stuck in my mind like a leech to its victim. Trying to forget it, I looked at the clock next to my bed; it read 11:45.

Processing….

Oh, shit! I have to go meet Fluttershy at the southern end of the bog in fifteen minutes!

I rushed to the bathroom and washed up a bit before heading downstairs where I grabbed two pieces of bread and some peanut-butter to make a peanut-butter sandwich. I raced out the door with the sandwich in hoof and made a bee line toward the southern end of the bog. No time to check on Snowball, I’ll just have to trust that she is alive and will hear my call…

Upon reaching the southern tip of the bog I finally had a chance to settle down and eat my sandwich while I waited for Fluttershy to show…

-Yes this does take place in Blackwing/ Rust's world, i did ask as did about a dozen other authors and he ok'd mentioning

chapter 3

-please play nice in the comments!

Fluttershy was taking longer to get here than I had anticipated, I was still munching through my sandwich none the less but still I expected her to be here already. Hmm… did she run into trouble along the way? Wait, wouldn’t she fly if she ran into danger? Maybe she got lost on the way here?

My inner debate was interrupted by a rustling in the bushes off to my right. I remained seated as another pony came out of the tree line. He was pretty average in terms of height, maybe a bit taller than me, he had a jet black coat, a deep crimson mane, and it looked like he had no cutie mark.

I whistled at him to get his attention. He turned, saw me, and began to trot over to me; oblivious that I had actually called Snowball.
“How do you do?” I inquired.

“Quite fine actually, but this bog is quite a bit out of the way for anypony to be taking a break from traveling, isn’t it?” he asked.

“I am actually meeting a friend here,” he said.

“What a coincidence! I’m actually meeting some ponies here too!” I reply enthusiastically.

“Quite the coincidence… Oh! By the way, my name is Dark Rain.”

“Mine is Rainbow Platypus… You seem familiar, have I seen you somewhere?”

“Not likely, l just got back to town from a trip to Cloudsdale.”

“I was just in Cloudsdale… Why were you there?”

“Well, I wa…..”

“YOU!!!” A rather upset voice from the sky said. I looked up and there was Rainbow Dash diving for me at terminal velocity. She landed on the ground a few feet from me, spraying dirt all over my sandwich and me. Dark seemed relatively clean.

“I’ll have to talk to later, Dark, there are more pressing matters at hand.”

“I guess I’ll see you around then.” He said as he trotted back into the forest. Wait, he left before his friend came…. Odd.

I turned back to a very angry Rainbow Dash and say, “I was still eating that sandwich.” I said right before throwing the sandwich into the bog. I could hear the yelps of glee coming from the fish nearby as they munched on my leftovers.

“Geez Rainbow! Slow down, we don’t have wings you know!” said a lavender unicorn that came out of the thicket. She was followed by Fluttershy, and a pink earth pony that couldn’t seem to stop bouncing.

“Who were you talking to?” asked the unicorn.

“A friend that I just met here,” I said, not comfortable revealing Dark’s name.

“Are you sure? It sounded like you were having a conversation with yourself.”

“No, I’m fairly certain there was a jet black stallion here no more than fifteen seconds ago.”

“I think your loco in the coco! I saw you talking with yourself! Not even I do that!” said the overly- hyper pink mare.

“Well, my insanity aside. I believe I owe you all some answers, don’t I? So ask away, and Rainbow, could you please back up. Wouldn’t want you to get hurt now would I?” The fish in the water had all fled, signifying that a large predator had to be nearby and I knew of only one.

Rainbow reluctantly retreated back to her friends. The purple unicorn was the first to ask a question.

“Is it true you can morph in to a rainbow-colored platypus?”

“It is true I can.”

“How?”

“I know I told Fluttershy that I said it was my special talent, but rather it is something that I have been able to do since I can remember. I can shift because I am half-changeling.”

“You’re what?”

“A half-changling. My mom was a changeling and my dad was a pony… as far as I know.”

“No, that can’t be! Princess Cadence and my brother’s spell should have removed all changelings from Equestria!”

“Silly mare,” I said with a chuckle, “I’m only half a changling, so all that petty spell did was give me a shove and I almost guarantee that there are still more changlings in Equestria.”

“W-what?”

“Yes, Equestria still has changelings. Also, thanks for telling me who cast that spell now I know who I shall confront on the matter of my mother.”

“What do you want with my brother and sister?”

“My mother was in my house when the spell hit.”

“Oh… I’m so sorry for your loss.” Twilight and the others except Rainbow Dash visibly shrank back.

“What? What does the fact that his mom was inside have to do with anything?” Dash said

“You are possibly the daftest pony I have met Miss Dash. Now tell me, have you seen what happens when you smash an insect against the wall with your hoof?”

“Well it gets smeared all over the wall. Everypony knows tha… Oh, Celestia… I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, thanks for the sympathy. It feels nice to be show compassion for once since my mom died.” I shed a tear as the memories of my mom filled me.

“But, I fear I must provide my inquiry, this one is directed at Miss Dash… Do your ‘friends’ know about your second career choice?”

“What is he talking about, Dash?” said the pink one.

“No, and they will never know because I’m taking you back with me,” Dash said crouching down, preparing to grab me at the most opportune moment.

“Nah, I’m pretty comfy right here,” I say with a nonchalant wave of my hoof.

“It wasn’t a question. Girls get behind me; he is a wanted criminal in Cloudsdale.”

“Bullshit, all I did was escape from that hell hole.”

“You escaped from prison! Here is his wanted poster!” She said pulling a parchment out of her bag, and showing it to her friends.

“Well, technically I escaped from a death sentence, but it… gahh! Let me go!” I protested as a lavender aurora surrounded me and held me in the air.

“If you’re a wanted criminal then it’s our civic duty to make sure that you don’t escape. Also from here I can see the close-ups on a changeling transformation,” Twilight said, moving closer. Her horn started to shimmer a bit more that it previously was. Suddenly I felt a sensation, similar to when I transform into a platypus. It was with that I realized the reason for Twilight’s horn’s sudden luminosity; she was forcing me to transform!

“I could have just transformed for you if you had wanted,” I said as my wings started to recede.

“I wanted this to be as slow as possible so I can make mental notes.”

I was almost fully platypus now; when all of a sudden she dropped me. I changed back to full pegasus form almost before I hit the ground.

“What the hell was that for?” I yell at the mare as she walks away.

“I made enough notes. Rainbow, go ahead and take him to the Ponyville jailhouse.”

“With pleasure!” Rainbow said as she pulled a rope out from the bag under her wing.

“I think not!” I said as I made the call to Snowball the second time. This time she burst out of the water with all three heads roaring at my would-be captor.

“Everypony run!” Twilight yells.

“Snowball!” I screamed and hugged each of Snowball’s three heads. The hydra nuzzled me affectionately in return.

Where did your friends go? She asked. I turned to see that the four mares had run off.

They buggered off, shall I go round them up? I asked her.

Nah, leave them be for now, we don’t want to emotionally scar them anymore than we need to.
Fine…. So, how have you been? I asked.

I’ve been doing good… but food has been getting scarce lately.

Have there been any other predators in the area?

Not that I know of.

Interesting… I said scratching my chin.

There was a faint snap of a twig in the undergrowth.

Sounds like one of your friends came back.

Indeed they have.

I suddenly heard an ungodly laughter. It appeared to have more of an amused tone to it, not hinting any malicious intent.

“That was quite the show you just put on just now,” said the disembodied voice.

“Was it? I thought it was a bit over-done.” I said coming to a rest upon Snowball’s middle head, as I faced the direction of the voice.

“Not at all! I could use somepony like you."

"For what, if I may ask."

"To report to me the goings on around Ponyville. In return I can give you anything you wish.”

“Sounds excellent, but I must ask; what is the catch and what might I call you by.”

“Well it is not very often that I find a pony that has not heard of me, but I am Discord, master of chaos and disharmony. As for the catch… there are a few, one is that I will need you in a different universe all together; you see, there is enough chaos in this one and I have grown bored… but I have found one that has eluded my touch. Two, your coat color may or may not change during the trip. Finally, your ‘second form’ will change.” Discord explained, appearing in his Draconequus weirdness a few meters from me.

“What kind of changes?”

“Well, you would not be able to fly in your platypus form due to your natural magic not being split between your two forms and its colors would change to normal to avoid unwanted attention.”

I mulled over Discord’s offer, thinking that one more pro would out-weigh the cons.

“Can you bring my home and Snowball along for the ride?”

“Snowball?” he inquired.

“This old girl,” I say, patting Snowball’s middle head.

I’m 37, I’m not old. Snowball said objectively.

“Should not be a problem,” he said with a snap of his fingers. He snapped his fingers a second time and everything went blurry.

Chapter 4

-suggested you read This at least past chapter 2 before continuing. And enjoy!

“Oh Celestia, my head…” I said as I let out another groan. Where am I… let’s see… its dark…wait… my eyes are closed, dammit! I chastised myself as I tried to open my eyes as slow as possible as if to try and impede the sun’s assault on my eyes. Once the light started to bleed through the crack in my eye lids, it gave me an instant migraine.

"Ah! Discord damn it!" I screamed out of pure frustration.

"And what exactly am I damning?" inquired a familiar voice.

"So it wasn't a dream..." I stated as I had a look at my surroundings. I was still in the bog, Snowball was out cold off to my left and a familiar draconequus hovering a few meters in front of me.

"Nope! Now before we start causing any chaos I will be taking questions!" he said as if he were teaching a class, a pair of glasses and a book even appeared on his person.

"Oh! Oh! Pick me!" I said, raising my hoof, mimicking a young colt in school.

"Yes, you! The tan stallion with the rust-colored mane!"

"Do Rainbow and her friends have any recollection of me? And since my natural pegasus magic isn't split anymore, does that mean I can walk on clouds?"

"To answer your questions in order, no and then a yes," he said, pulling down a low-hanging cloud. "Want to try it?"

"Hell yeah I do!" I exclaimed, flying up on to the cloud. I landed as gently as possible, as if the cloud was going to disappear out from under me, but, to my relief, it didn't.

The cloud was extremely soft, I imagined the softest pillow I'd ever slept on, and this was a hundred times better than that.

"That felt fantastic!" I exclaimed as I punched the cloud with a satisfying POOF!

"Now are we ready to start causing some chaos?" Discord asked with a malicious grin.

"That I am, what shall be done first?"

"First, we need to dig up some dirt on the elements of harmony; what their habits are, who they are currently in a relationship with, et cetera, et cetera. You should start with Fluttershy, since she is the closest to this location."

"It shall be done, my master," I said deeply bowing my head.

"Oh and for future reference, you aren't half-changling, you're an animagus."

I had to take a quick look back at Discord, but I was met not with a joking face, rather a face that told me he was telling the truth.

The flight to Fluttershy's house gave me a bit of time to think. Am I really doing this? Spying for an immortal spirit hell-bent on nothing but chaos? What will hap.... OOPH! My train of thought was interrupted by my head smashing into the cottage that was Fluttershy's home. I recovered from my face plant, and flew down to the back door. Upon entering, I could hear voices coming from the living room. In haste, I transformed into a platypus so as not to be discovered. I noticed a group of animals all staring at me awkwardly. Well, best fit in as much as I can, I though as I took up a spot with some badgers near the doorway to the rest of the house. Just as I got comfortable, I hear a door open followed by a large Thump! I peeked around the corner to see a stallion and an alabaster mare placing Fluttershy on her sofa. So she still can't help fainting, I thought, chuckling to myself. When I finished enjoying myself, I noticed the stallion coming towards me, and I promptly took my place next to the badgers that now seem to start showing signs of friendship with me. They were giving me portions of their food and, in general, not trying to scare me off. It was a heart-warming gesture no less, and I did accept these badgers as my friends. I made it a note to visit them every now and again.

The stallion came in to the room and had a look around. He was around my size, not very bulky, blue coat, and a black mane, but what was interesting was how his wings just sat there, not even moving in the slightest. Odd… I'll have to look into that... The stallion had a short look around and, moving over to a deer on my right, stroked its head gently. A small grin appeared on his face, as if he felt he had passed some sort of test. Looking content, he left the room, still keeping up his grin.

All of the animals let out a collective sigh as he left the room, apparently the stallion was making every animal tense. With the tension gone, the badgers resumed showing their affection toward me. I, however, had to find out more about this stallion. So, I followed him up a flight of stairs to outside a bedroom. In the bedroom were the voices of the stallion and Fluttershy.

I listened intently on the conversation, “...And what’s my name?” Fluttershy mumbled something that you barely heard.

"And how do we greet family members in our family?” Another mumbled response from Fluttershy.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” This time Fluttershy was a bit more audible.

“If you don’t take the initiative, I’ll do what Grandpa did before he passed.” With that, Fluttershy hugged the stallion, I felt my stomach heaving because of the sappiness of the situation. I left the room fearing the coming onslaught of vomit, and went back outside.

Once outside I shifted back into pony form, making sure to stretch my wing muscles thoroughly before I took off into the skies heading toward Ponyville. Upon reaching Ponyville, my eyes perceived a peculiar sight. A blue mare with a white curly mane was being chased down the street by two tan stallions in white coats, one of which was levitating a particularly large needle. I watched intently as the mare made a sudden left turn into an alleyway. She skidded to a halt in front of a wall signaling she was at a dead end. Her expression turned to that of pure fear as she saw the two stallions at the other end of the alleyway. As they closed the distance to her, I decided that I needed to know more about the situation. So, closing my wings, I darted toward the ground between the two parties. I landed in cloud of dust, and once the loud dissipated I nonchalantly asked,

"What can I do you two stallions for today?"

"Could you please move so we can bring Loose back home?" One of them asked.

"Please don't make me go back..." She sobbed.

"Well, you heard her, she doesn't want to go home," I answered.

"Too bad, she must come back with us, whether she wants to or not."

"And why is that?" I was intrigued to say the least.

"She is recovering from a psychotic breakdown she had earlier this month." The one with the needle said.

"You know that I have fully recovered from that already!" She screamed.

"Yes, but we need to study your condition for future treatments."

"So she's your guinea pig?"

"Yes! Their sessions are making my mind worse!" She was at my side now.

"No, our sessions are helping you!"

"Like Tartarus they are!"

"No matter, we came prepared for this." He said moving the needle forward.

I sighed, "Just... Stop. I've decided what's going to go down... You," I said pointing to the mare at my side, "hop onto my back."

She stood there for a second, confused, but she did as she was told, positioning her body so that she wasn't crushing my wings.

Lastly I pointed at the stallions, spread my wings, and said,"... And you can buck off."

With that, I propelled myself upwards to the blue sky with the mare on my back. Before I even got to the edge of Ponyville I felt something penetrate my flank just below my cutie mark. I risked a glance back behind the mare to see what stuck me. To my horror, it was the needle that the one stallion had and the liquid inside was slowly draining into me. I swiftly shook the needle out of my flank, but the damage had been done. My vision started to get blurry at the edges.

By the time I reached my home, I was nearly blacked out from the drugs and flying like a drunken gryphon. It was a miracle that the mare on my back had clung on throughout the flight. I landed near the front door, and by landed, I mean crashed into the ground, skidding to a halt ten feet from the door. I was quickly fading from consciousness from the drugs. The last thing I heard and saw was the mare picking me up and saying," thank you mist..." The last part of her sentence was lost to me, but it was enough to bring a smile to my lips as I passed out.

-happy that I finally got this out, howitzer?

I'm not dead!

So...um.... Hello, sorry that this story has been kind of dead lately, but I intend to work on it soon. In fact, I will probably redo the first few chapters for coherence's sake. Just though I'd put that out there for you all to.... Digest.

Anyway, I'm off!
~your friendly neighborhood platypus