Discord's birthday presentby realmjumperChaptersDiscord's birthday present pt 1Discord's birthday present pt 2Discords's birthday present pt 4 Discord's birthday present pt 3Discord's birthday present pt 1Moon Chaser stretched her wings, allowing her eyes to squeeze shut as she felt out all the stiff joints of her wing mussels. The Purple Pegasus was on Princess Luna detail that night, and she wanted to keep up with the beloved royalty on her nightly flight around Canterlot. “Now then, where did I put my helmet and breast plate?” She mused to herself as searched through her locker. “Chaser! Front and center!” The voice was gruff, as if everything in Equestria annoyed him, and the stallion behind the voice didn't look any kinder. “Yes, Commander Flick!” Moon Chaser trotted up the grizzled unicorn, his white face scared from countless battles that the public would never know about. Princess detail was never to be taken lightly, and Commander Whip Flick was a living reminder to all that there was no cost too high in protecting royalty. “Did I say canter? Gallop Filly! I don't have all night!” “Yes, Commander!” Moon Chaser snapped her wings to attention so hard that she almost winced from the slap against her flank. The Commander seemed pleased with that. “Good girl.” He nodded. “Now, tonight is a special night for our Princess. Tonight, the Princess has asked for a smaller than usual detail, as a birthday present!” The sound Flick made in the back of his throat assured the mare that this was certainly not his idea, and that he had protested all the last week about it. Moon Chaser knew better than to speak, so she stayed rigidly at attention. “Now, as you can imagine, I wanted all my best fliers out there protecting our Princess, but she has requested that you, and only you accompany her tonight.” That startled the Pegasus. True she was completely loyal to the dark purple Alicorn, but she kept her feeling to herself. As a guard, a pony must always be alert for danger, and so guards never talked much. Moon Chaser doubted that her Princess knew how much she loved the night and adored the Princess of it. “Her reasoning’s are her own,” The gruff voiced Flick continued. “She did drop a hint about you being in the Wounderbolts Reserve,” Oh, well that cleared up everything. The unicorn was suddenly face to face with the Pegasus, his breath hot on her snout. “But believe me when I say this, if anything funny happens, if she twitches wrong, or one freak rain cloud soaks her, you'll have wished you never learned how to fly when you were a drooling, toddler, do I make myself clear, little mare?” “Yes, Commander! No funny business, Commander!” Moon Chaser belted out. “Good! Dismissed!” And with that the veteran Commander Flick was out of her face and heading to the barracks door. “Whew,” Chaser whipped a hoof across her brow. “If that wasn't grilling, I don't know what is?” She turned back to her locker. “Now were did I put that helmet?” Once Moon Chaser found her helmet, which turned out to still be in her bag, she had taken it home to shine it last night, and fitted her breastplate on, she made her way to the throne room to relieve her fellow guards. “Glad you could make it.” Feather Stripe said as she took his place. “The Princesses could hear my stomach and had told me three times already that I could go get some food.” He rolled his eyes. “Do you know what Commander Flick would do to me if I did that?!?” “Probably pull out your feathers, one by one, with his teeth.” Moon Chaser grimaced. “I got grilled before even starting duty. Apparently I'm going to be the Princess's only guard tonight, and he made it clear that no matter what, my plot was on the line.” “Hmm, nice plot though.” Feather Joshed. His little joke earned him a wing to the face. “Oh, I'm sorry, weren't you going to get some food, or did you start eating the rug and drapes already?” Feather snorted. “I'm a goin', I'm a goin'.” And he bowed to the Princesses, who were in deep conversation, and paused only to nod back, dismissing him, before continuing whatever Princesses talk about as he left to the bunker and food. Moon Chaser took her spot, several paces before the raised dais where the royal thrones stood, and put on her best stern face as she began to watch everything in the room, while not moving. When Moon Chaser started Princess detail, she found she got board easily, which was not the best thing for a guard, and discovered that if she tried to watch everything, she could relieve that boredom, but only a little. It was times like this that the mare would try and guess who would come into the throne-room next. “And how are you, this afternoon, my guard?” Princess Luna asked, her tone a little less formal that times before. “I'm doing well, your Highness. Thank you for asking.” There was a snort from behind. “Moon Chaser, why don't we drop the stiff formalities. True, you are my guard, but I get enough 'your Highness's' to last me twelve life times. I do have a name, or have you forgotten it?” Moon Chaser resisted the urge to roll her eyes, trying not to think of the time she actually did as she was bidden and called the Princess by her name. Commander Flick had almost pulled out her tail, hair by hair, for it. She wasn't going to make that same mistake twice. “I have not forgotten your name, dear Princess. I just feel that—” “Mooney!” The Princess cut in, gasping, “You feel? That's new. A guard that feels!” Okay, something was up. Moon Chaser chanced a glance back at her Princess, to see she was looking rather un-regal at the moment. Princess Celestia was just watching, to see how Moon Chaser would handle this. The white Alicorn had a habit of letting things play out before she stepped in. “What's the matter, my Princess?” Moon Chaser asked keeping her voice as neutral as she could. The dark Alicorn gave her a look that could have froze a dragon in mid breath. “It's my birthday, and I asked for my only friend, who's not royalty to show up, but she's being unfriendly right now.” Moon Chaser blinked. “You did?” She looked around the throne-room. “Where is she?” For a reply, Moon Chaser caught a pillow in the back of the head. This was the side of Princesses that the public never saw. Princesses, when you take away all the royal duties and privileges, were just simple mares, with their own personalities and tempers. “Princess.” Moon Chaser protested. “Please, talk some sense into her, big sister.” Luna whined to Princess Celestia. “Oh no,” The Alicorn smiled. “Don't get me involved. She's probably just following the orders of Commander Flick. You know how he is.” Princess Luna shook her head, sending her flowing mane in flurry of dark sparkles. “Let me deal with the Commander. He might think other wise, but on my birthday, I'm going to get my way.” The purple Pegasus relented. “As you wish...Luna.” Luna's face brighten up immediately. “Now then, we will have ourselves a little party.” Somewhere, someone snapped. From the empty air came a chuckle, and from the corner of the room walked out the one that neither Princess nor guard wanted to see. Discord was decked out in a clown outfit, complete with squishy red nose and a party hat over his antler. “Did I hear some pony say party?” He laughed gaily, rubbing his mismatched paw and claw together. “Oh, I do love a good party. What shall we play? Spin the bottle, pin the tail on the pony? We can bob for apples. Oh I do love a good red delicious every once in a while, but first, we need the birthday pony dressed in her finest.” And with a snap of his eagle claw, Princess Luna, in a swirling whirl wind, transformed from the young princess to something awful. Moon Chaser felt her eyes widen in terror and her ears fold back as she stared at the looming figure of Nightmare Moon. “Oh, And consider this my birthday present.” Discord smiled, juggling popcorn as he chuckled. “You see, if Nightmare Moon can be conquered here and now, our dear Princess Luna can use her powers for her own, without fear of corruption. Now, there are a few rules here.” Another snap and Princess Celestia was trapped in a large pink bubble. An additional snap from the Lord of Chaos, both Princesses and lone guard were transported from the thrown room to a rocky alcove far away from Canterlot. “First, this is a fight to the death, figuratively speaking. That is Nightmare Moon will try and kill you, Moon Chaser, and you must stay alive and stab her with this.” Discord, literally, drew up a horn that looked like that of Luna's. “It must be in the heart, or it wont work. Also, you can't use magic...Oh, sorry, you can't use magic can you?” Discord gave a mock look of sympathy. “I guess that's all the rules then. Game one.” It was then that Discord noticed that the white Princess of the Sun was bucking at the walls of her pink bubble cage, trying to yell out something. With a wave of his lion paw, the weird creature let Celestia's voice drift thru. “Discord! You Fool! Nightmare Moon's going to Kill Moon Chaser with out my help! You Doomed her!” “Ah, it's just Nightmare Moon.” Discord smiled, his single fang making his smile look more demonic than innocent. “What's the worse that could happen?” Moon Chaser was hit by the Dark Mare of the Moon in the chest. If it wasn't for her breastplate, the Pegasus would have been dead. The blow launched her across the alcove, into a boulder, which crumbled at the force of the collision. In a daze, Moon Chaser lay where she dropped, trying to get her bearings and stop the ringing in her ears as Nightmare Moon stamped forward, triumphantly. “This is the best you can do?” She demanded. “With you're death, I will become whole again, and eternal night shall reign forever. With your death I will be free!” Discord put a paw to his chin. “Hmm, wasn't planning on that happening." Discord's birthday present pt 2Pain. Pain was the first thing Moon Chaser felt before she blacked out, and it's sharp embrace was what woke her up again. Nightmare Moon was standing over her, a smile of triumphant on her lips as she looked down at the Pegasus, who doubted she had the strength left to stand. “You are a fool, young filly. With your death I will rise. With your blood spilt, I will be free. With your demise I wi—” “Stop talking!” Moon Chaser shouted. She might not have the strength to stand, but her wings were a different story. She struck out with one at the dark mare's legs, catching her off guard, and used the other on to lift her to her hooves. It was then that she was glad for all the wing ups that Commander Flick and Spitfire made them do everyday. Now that she was up, she took off before Nightmare Moon could recollect herself. The sudden change of events played out on the banished pony's face. First, Nightmare Moon growled with a dreadful rage of a diamond dog who just got tricked out of his gems. Then she smiled, relaxing a little, as if this was nothing more than a minor annoyance that would rectify itself. “So you do have some fight in you.” Nightmare nodded. “I can respect that. Nightmare Moon's horn started glowing violently red as her face darkened again. “But I do not appreciate it!” She roared, firing a barrage of intense magic blasts at the flying Pegasus. Moon Chaser might not have been the first in her class at the Academy, but she was more than ready for this kind of attack, dodging, dropping, strafing and rolling out of the way of each blast. With frustration, Nightmare Moon increased the intensity of the magic missiles, forcing Moon Chaser to preform more and more complex maneuvers that she'd only seen, but never done before. “A little help would be nice!” Mooney called down to Discord, who was eating the popcorn he'd been juggling earlier. “And what would you have me do, my dear?” Discord asked in his happily amused voice. Only Discord, Master of Chaos, could find this situation light and not at all serious. “I already said you have to do it without help. Shall I bend the rules for you?” Tutting, he shook his head sadly. “I am sorry, but that is cheating.” Moon Chaser just barley managed to roll out of the way of a bolt of magic, when it turned, chasing after her. Now they were homing blasts? That was going too far! “You said no magic!” The fleeing Pegasus squealed out in fright. Any moment now, one of those fiery magic blasts was going to hit her and—snap! The magic fire balls were gone. “I did say that.” Discord relented. “Very well, Nightmare, you must spill the blood of the mare before you without your magic.” Nightmare Moon, who was dumbfounded that anything could cancel out her magic, turned angrily to Discord. For an answer, she tried to summon another blast to vaporize the weird creature on the spot. She tried, sweat beading on her forehead as she commanded with all her will to summon the most violent, angry ball of energy she could, but nothing happened. Lifting her head, to see the Draconequus properly. “Ahhh, isn't it my dear Discord.” She purred. “Surely you wouldn't come between me and my freedom, would you? Not when you of yourself could be free and conquer the Equestria with me. You, with your chaos could keep the ponies in a state of endless misery, while I rule over the endless night.” The Mare of the Moon smiled wickedly, her eyes speaking volumes of more intricate things, that should not be said. “You could be King, but what is a King without his...Queen?” Discord, with a smile looked up at the panting Moon Chaser. “You hear this? I'm being seduced!” He laughed, twirling a claw at Nightmare Moon, causing her to rotate where she stood. “I'll admit, you've got a cute flank, and I wouldn't mind to spend all of eternity with you—our kids would be the cutest little things—but first kill the Pegasus, and then we'll talk about it.” With a snort, Nightmare Moon launched off, catching Moon Chaser off guard, and slammed into her, knocking her to the stony wall. The sharp rocks of the wall ripped at her fur and tore at her feathers as she tumbled to the ground. It took a moment, but before she slam into the rock floor, Moon Chaser kicked off of the wall, soaring a dozen feet above Discord and the imprisoned Princess Celestia. What in Equestria what she going to do? A shadow told her that now was not the time for that question. Nightmare Moon was hunting her, like a hawk hunting a sparrow. Mooney never really like hawks to begin with, but now—Swerving to the right, she managed to flap fast enough to evade the Princess of Darkness, but she'd have to be careful, the rock wall wasn't more than ten feet away, and those sharpened chips would shred her if she hit them at this speed. Nightmare made another dive for her, forcing her closer to the wall. If she made another—Moon Chaser was hit squarely in the back, between her wing muscles, forcing her to crash land on the rocky terrain. “Little fool of a filly.” Nightmare Moon whispered in her ear. “Did you really think you could escape me? You barely know how to fly with these things. In fact, I'll see to it, you never fly again.” Placing a hoof square between the wing muscles, Nightmare held the helpless Pegasus down. Moon Chaser, now realizing what was about to happen started to scream “NO, NOT TH—” The iron shod hoof of Nightmare Moon stamped down on the wing joint of Moon Chaser's right wing. With a snap, the wing joint shattered, sending rippling waves of searing hot pain thru the purple Pegasus's body. “AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH, NO, No, no, no.” Moon Chaser sobbed, as the Dark Princess took her place over the second wing. There was not pause, not hesitation. The Princess that Moon Chaser swore to protect, had just stamped her other wing to broken pieces. “NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOooooo.” “My, my, my, this does not seem fair, does it?” Discord asked Celestia, who redoubled her efforts of trying to kick her pink, bubble cage to pieces. She was screaming something at the top of her voice, but it was muted by the pink bubble. “Come again dear, what was that?” Discord asked, and with a snap Celestia's voice could be heard. “DISCORD YOU FOOL! NIGHTMARE MOON HAS WON! YOU HAVE DOOMED US ALL! YOU HA—” Snap. “All caps rage, hmm?” Discord looked at the broken body of the royal guard. “I think I can live without all that sobbing I hear from other there.” and with a snap the body of the purple Pegasus that Nightmare Moon was about to crush the last bit of life left, vanished, only to reappear, whole and fully energized with the horn Discord had created tied to her left hoof. Discord took a seat in the air, pulling out a game controller and tiny, near invisible, strings shot out the controller onto the wings, head and hooves of Moon Chaser. “Pony Combat!” He sang. “I love this game!” Then pulling out a pair of sun glasses, Discord put them on, and gave a wickedly toothy smile. “Alright then, let's see if I can win.” Discords's birthday present pt 4 Discords's birthday present pt 4 “I have to...I..have...to...” Moon Chaser gulped, trying to hold what was left of herself together. “Run my horn through my sister's heart.” Luna finished. A few tears trickled down her face, leaving dark trials in her deep blue fur. “I'm sorry it has to be this way, but you have to. If I'm to return, you, and only you can do it.” Moon Chaser nodded, her eyes glistening. “We better go.” Discord said, his normally energetic and sarcastic tone subdued. “We don't have much time left.” With a snap they were back on the rocky floor. The alcove no longer existed. All that was left was the floor, and above, both sun and moon stood in the sky, challenging each other, silently watching their champions fight to the death. Both Queen Moon and Queen Aubade were glaring at each other, fur soiled from dirt and rock dust and bloodied from horn gouges and biting from close combat. “How am I going to do this?” Moon Chaser asked Discord as she stared up at the two sisters, who renewed their dreadful battle. Discord, shook himself. He couldn't let what needed to be done scare him. He was the Lord of Chaos, and though he wanted Chaos, he did not want this! Destruction of everything? No, where was the fun in ruling over rubble? Would there even be rubble left? “Now listen here, missy!” Discord took Moon Chaser by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “Luna said to stab Celestia in the heart. She said nothing about killing her. You'll be fine. Just go up, ask them to stop and stab the Princes. Simple, no sweat. She can't die from being stabbed in the heart. Think of it like a key in the key hole. Does that kill a door? No, it opens it. Now, off you pop, I'll make sure you're safe. For reals this time.” And he picked her up and tossed the Pesasus into the air, like he was letting a dove free. Moon Chaser gave an 'eek' before getting her wings to flap right. She turned to glare at the Draconequus before flying into the fray. Truth is, she was grateful for Discord's play off of the matter. She'd seen his true feelings and knew that this was just as hard for him as it was for her. Discord, once he was let free, had warmed up to the Princesses and actually liked them. Other than the Fluttershy he talked often about, Celestia and Luna were his closest friends, and this was breaking his heart. If he could keep a strong front, then so could Moon Chaser. “Stooooooooop!” Moon Chaser screamed once she got close enough, but neither Princess acknowledged her, too busy thrashing at each other. Celestial Aubade had Nightmare Moon by the throat with her teeth, while Nightmare Moon was pawing at her with her fore hooves. “Stooop! Stop it! Stooooop!” Moon Chaser screamed as the Queen of the Sun and Day threw her weakened sister to the rocky floor, gathering her strength for a blast that would end the fight. “Stooooooooooooooo—” Moon Chaser flew straight into the Alicorn, hooves out stretched with Luna's horn glistening in the duel light of the sun and moon. The impact swayed them in the air, but didn't knock them down. “My child, what are thou doing?!?” Celestial berated, taken completely by surprise to see the small Pesasus halt the fight. “Get out of—” She started to sway. Slowly, the Queen of Day looked down at her chest, seeing the dark horn sticking out of her furry breast, held there by Moon Chaser's trembling hooves. “My Child!” She gasped. “Wha? What are you?” “I'm sorry...” Moon Chaser whispered. “I'm sorry...” Looking up with defiance, not for the Queen of the Sun but for her own self, She yelled. “I want my Princess back!” Both Alicorn and Pegasus dropped from the sky, crashing onto the rocky ground. Nightmare Moon, a sneer on her face, trotted up to the two. “And what is this charade?” She demanded. “Have you been beaten by a little Pegasus, dear sister? How sad.” But when her sister did not respond the Queen of Darkness looked more closely. Taking a few more steps forward, she kicked lightly at the Pegasus. “Move.” She said, but Moon Chaser shook her head. “Move!” Nightmare said more forcefully, kicking a little hard, but the mare still wouldn't budge. Finally, Nightmare Moon just kicked her off of Celestial's still form and froze in shock. “....no....” The dark mare said in a small voice. “...no...no, no.. Celestia!” Throwing off her helmet, Nightmare Moon dashed over to cradle her dead sister's head. “Noooooo!” She cried, eyes of anger and hate melting into tears of shame and sadness. “...no...Celestia. I'm sorry...I'm so sooorrrryyy!” Discord walked up next to Moon Chaser, who lay where she was kicked to. Everyone's eyes were full of tears of regret and sorrow. “I'm sorry my dear.” Discord said. “I...I...” He took a deep breath to steady himself. “I just wanted to give you a birthday present. As you and your sister reformed me, so I can use my magic for good of my free will, I wanted to give you that same gift. Nightmare Moon has power that could help you protect Equestria. That is why I did it.” His chin trembled and his shoulders slumped as his emotions got the better of him. “I never intended for this to happen.” He sobbed. “I never wanted Celestia to die! I just wanted to do good! And to help you and your sister!” “You lied!” Moon Chaser accused Discord. “You...you....you said it was going to be alright. You said it was like a key and a key hole!” It was unfair of her, she knew, but Moon Chaser had to hold on to something, had to blame someone other than herself. Even as she looked at her now blood stained hooves, she kept telling herself that it wasn't her fault. How could it be? She had to do it. “Just like a key and a key hole.” Discord nodded sadly. He walked over to the still form of Celestia, and turned the horn. Click. For a moment, all were still, each hearing the click. Slowly looking up at each other, they waited. For one long minute they waited. Celestia gasped. “Sister!” Luna threw herself at the white Alicorn on the ground. Moon Chaser collapsed into tears of joy as Discord gave a wide toothy smile. “Easy there Luna!” Celestia gasped. She sat up and turned over, so she could get up. It was then that she noticed the horn sticking out her her chest. “Uhh...would anyone care to explain?” Discord, ever quick on his feet, pulled the horn out, with no ill effects and twirled it. “I'm sorry my dear, but the game is over, and our little Guard over here, did not pin the horn on the Alicorn correctly. No biggy, all is well, and all is well.” Moon Chaser was so relieved to see the Princess alive again, that she didn't even bother to protest the sudden blame put on her. “I'm glad you're back.” Luna hugged her sister again.” “Back? Why I was never gone.” Celestia replied. “Uhh, where are we?” Snap. “Why we're in the throne room of course.” Discord replied, his usual suaveness back as he bowed to Celestia. “I do believe that it is time for Ice cream and cake. I absolutly love a good party!” “Hold on for a moment!” Princess Luna held up a hoof. “There is a matter I must take care of first.” And she pulled on the bell cord next to her throne. An earth pony trotted in. “You're Highness?” He bowed. “Summon Commander Flick for me. And tell him to come Post Haste!” Before anyone could ask why, Commander Flick, who was in a near by room Galloped in, hastily bowed and stood up to attention. “What is it, My Princess.” Princess Luna pointed at Guards Mare Chaser. “I demand this guard be no longer a guard!” She said. “I have too many guards who are well qualified for the position. Instead, she is to become my Mare in Waiting. I also request you give her all the training that you would of your advance fliers and fighters, as I can not have my personal Hoof Mare be anything less than the best Wonderbolt there is! Understood?” Commander Flick, who had no idea where all this was coming from gaped openly at Guardsmare Chaser before coming back to attention. “It is already done!” He saluted. “Lady Chaser, when you come back to the barracks, I will give you your affects, and tell the earth ponies of your new position. You'll also be given personal quarters adjoining Princess Luna's quarters. Tomorrow, you'll meet with Spitfire and Shining Armor to asses you're current skills and see what type of training we'll give you. Until then, keep to the Princess. Understood?” Moon Chaser snapped her wings to attention. “Sir!” She barked out. Commander Flick's face softened into a smile, the first one that Mooney had ever seen him give. “I don't know what you did, filly, but I'm proud of you. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to call.” He bowed and left the throne room. Luna tackled Moon Chaser into a tight hug. “I'm so glad that's over with.” She sighed. She looked at Discord, who was standing as out of the way as he could. “Come here you!” She demanded with a smile. Shyly, the mismatched creature, came closer. “You know, for everything you put us through, it wasn't that bad of a birthday present.” Discord's birthday present pt 3Moon Chaser shook her head, trying to clear the hazy fog that settled over her brain. The last think she remember was Nightmare Moon stamping her wing joints to pieces. Nervously, she flexed her wings. She winced with pain. They hurt, but were still intact. That was a good sign, but before she had a chance to register anything else, she was moving. “Waaah!” She yelped in surprise as she found herself galloping full speed at Nightmare Moon, who was ready for what ever the purple Pegasus had in store. Before Moon Chaser even had a chance to do anything, Nightmare head butted her in snout, quickly adding a horn whip to her neck and swung her hind quarters around to give the poor mare a taste of iron clad hoofs to the face. “Aww, I thought that would work.” Discord sympathized gleefully. Moon Chaser felt her mouth fill with blood as the Nightmare's hooves knocked out a few teeth. “Stop playing around!” Moon Chaser demanded. “I'm the one getting beat up here!” Discord, nodded. “Time to turn up the heat!” He agreed. Quickly, he hit down and rotated the analog stick a quarter turn to the right, pressing both A and B with his lion paw. Moon Chaser found herself forced to the ground, only to quickly rise up. Her mouth forced open, but nothing happened. “Hmmm, that was suppose to work. Let's try that again.” Discord decided, and tried the maneuver again and again and again. Nightmare Moon watched in dull amusement as her opponent was forced to the ground and rose up to belch out air over and over again. She grew board of the this amusement. And a quick charge, she impaled the Pegasus in the right leg with her horn. “Perfect!” Discord shouted triumphantly. “Now stab her in the heart and this all will be over. Moon Chaser did as she was instructed, stabbing the black mare over and over again in the chest with the horn tied to her left hoof, crying the whole time. “Make it stop!” She sobbed, the pain of the horn in her leg filling her with the fiery heat of agony. “Please, just make it stop!” And so she stabbed faster and faster, aiming for the dark Alicorn's heart, but no matter how she stabbed, the horn just seemed to go right thru the mare, like she wasn't really there. “Huh....” Discord cupped his chin with his eagle claw hand. “That should have work...what gives?” He tossed his controller. “I never liked this game to begin with.” Still in caged, the Princess Celestia watched. She watched how her sister's evilness returned, how the Draconequus fooled around like it was all one big joke, but mostly she watched the faithful guard of her sister was reduced to a broken pony that would do anything to make the pain stop. It was too much for her, and she had to do something about it. “Discord...” She said, her quite voice penetrating her prison. The weird creature turned to watcher her for a moment, seeing the great Princess standing, her head down, eyes closed, as if she was giving into defeat. Then the white Alicorn stood tall, her eyes snapping open, revealing blinding white irises with now pupils, her voice shattering the bubble that held her. “DISCORD!!!!” Discord, who was not expecting anything like this, was toppled back and landed flat on his tail as he watched the once calm collective Celestia become...become.... The white mare was now a tall proud Alicorn, with glowing white eyes, hooves bathed in white fire and a mane that seemed to burn like the very sun itself. On her head sat a wreath of golden flames. The powerful creature looked from Discord, who was now scared out of his wits, to Nightmare Moon. “Nightmare Moon, I will destroy you for what you've done!” The dark pony sneered. “And what will you do? Shine me to death?” The white Princess snorted, stamping a hoof, causing the rocky alcove to shudder. “I am Celestial Aubade, Queen of the sky and daylight! Equestia is my home and her ponies my children, and like any mother, I will rip you limb from limb for touching them!” And with that the Queen Aubade and Queen Moon charged at each other, both blasting each other with the pure essence of light and darkness. The ultimate battle of good and evil, the battle that never should be, the war that never had an end was being fought for the final time, and as the fight raged, the alcove was being torn apart. Every time Nightmare Moon was thrown into one of the rocky walls, shattering countless boulders, or Celestial Aubade was blasted out of the air, driven to the ground, causing mini earthquakes, more and more cracks appeared, not only on the side of the walls, floor and celinge, but in the very air itself. The fabric of nature was being torn apart at the pureness of the hatred the two queens had for each other. Discord, who now lost all of his audacity, crawled over to where the sobbing guard was, still stabbing the air, crying, “Make it stop...” “I'm sorry!” He cried out, grabbing the broken mare by the shoulders. “I'm so sorry, I didn't think that any of this would happen.” “How?” Moon Chaser cried, her tears streaming down her face. “How could you have thought letting Nightmare Moon loose was a good idea?” “My plan had holes.” Discord admitted. “I knew it did, but I wanted to do something chaotic for fun. I never intended to actually cause harm or bring out this side of Celestia.” Mooney forced herself back together. “How are we going to fix this?” “We have to get to Nightmare's heart and stab it. Only then will Nightmare Moon be subdued!” Discord screamed to be heard over the clashing and smashing of the two hyper Alicorns. “But I tried!” Moon Chaser yelled back. “I stabbed her plenty of times, but nothing happened. It just went through her.” “Then we have to ask her herself!” Discord decided. “We have to go now!” And with that, Discord picked up the purple Pegasus with his lion paw and –snap— They were gone, leaving the raging fighters of good an evil to tear at each other. Moon Chaser blinked. “Where are we?” She asked in confusion, looking out at the lush fied of moon flowers under the full moon of the night sky. “Welcome.” A warm, familiar voice said from behind them. Moon Chaser and Discord turned to see Luna, sitting at a little white tea table, smiling at the two of them. “Luna!” Moon Chaser sobbed, galloping towards her Princess. She embraced her, and for a moment, everything was right. “Princess.” Discord bowed, and for the first time in her life, Mooney saw the strange creature known as Discord be completely serious. “I made a tragic mistake.” He went on to say. “I awoken Nightmare Moon again. I wanted to give you her power, but I was too hasty in my attempts to subdue her to make sure she was properly in check.” Luna's face fell. “It is as I feared.” She sighed. “And you intended to stab her in the heart with my horn?” Discord nodded. “And did you?” “I stabbed her in the chest over and over.” Moon Chaser answered, still lost in her Princess’s hooves. “But it didn't do anything.” Luna closed her eyes. “The heart you seek is not my own, but that which my heart belongs to.” Moon Chaser looked up as Discord started to tremble. He understood what the little mare did not, and it was something that stilled his beating heart. For the first time, he wished he'd never been let out of his stone prison in the first place. “What do you mean?” Moon Chaser asked. “I, as Luna, Princess of the Night and Protector of Ponies Dreams, am forever loyal to Celestia, my sister.” Luna shed a single tear. “To subdue Nightmare Moon and restore my power, you must stab my sister in the heart with my horn.” Numb. No pain, not feeling, just numbness fill both mind and body of the Pegasus as she stared at her Princess. “To free you...To bring you back...I must kill Princess Celestia...” She repeated. There was one feeling she felt now that she'd said what needed to be said...dread...
Discord's birthday present pt 1Moon Chaser stretched her wings, allowing her eyes to squeeze shut as she felt out all the stiff joints of her wing mussels. The Purple Pegasus was on Princess Luna detail that night, and she wanted to keep up with the beloved royalty on her nightly flight around Canterlot. “Now then, where did I put my helmet and breast plate?” She mused to herself as searched through her locker. “Chaser! Front and center!” The voice was gruff, as if everything in Equestria annoyed him, and the stallion behind the voice didn't look any kinder. “Yes, Commander Flick!” Moon Chaser trotted up the grizzled unicorn, his white face scared from countless battles that the public would never know about. Princess detail was never to be taken lightly, and Commander Whip Flick was a living reminder to all that there was no cost too high in protecting royalty. “Did I say canter? Gallop Filly! I don't have all night!” “Yes, Commander!” Moon Chaser snapped her wings to attention so hard that she almost winced from the slap against her flank. The Commander seemed pleased with that. “Good girl.” He nodded. “Now, tonight is a special night for our Princess. Tonight, the Princess has asked for a smaller than usual detail, as a birthday present!” The sound Flick made in the back of his throat assured the mare that this was certainly not his idea, and that he had protested all the last week about it. Moon Chaser knew better than to speak, so she stayed rigidly at attention. “Now, as you can imagine, I wanted all my best fliers out there protecting our Princess, but she has requested that you, and only you accompany her tonight.” That startled the Pegasus. True she was completely loyal to the dark purple Alicorn, but she kept her feeling to herself. As a guard, a pony must always be alert for danger, and so guards never talked much. Moon Chaser doubted that her Princess knew how much she loved the night and adored the Princess of it. “Her reasoning’s are her own,” The gruff voiced Flick continued. “She did drop a hint about you being in the Wounderbolts Reserve,” Oh, well that cleared up everything. The unicorn was suddenly face to face with the Pegasus, his breath hot on her snout. “But believe me when I say this, if anything funny happens, if she twitches wrong, or one freak rain cloud soaks her, you'll have wished you never learned how to fly when you were a drooling, toddler, do I make myself clear, little mare?” “Yes, Commander! No funny business, Commander!” Moon Chaser belted out. “Good! Dismissed!” And with that the veteran Commander Flick was out of her face and heading to the barracks door. “Whew,” Chaser whipped a hoof across her brow. “If that wasn't grilling, I don't know what is?” She turned back to her locker. “Now were did I put that helmet?” Once Moon Chaser found her helmet, which turned out to still be in her bag, she had taken it home to shine it last night, and fitted her breastplate on, she made her way to the throne room to relieve her fellow guards. “Glad you could make it.” Feather Stripe said as she took his place. “The Princesses could hear my stomach and had told me three times already that I could go get some food.” He rolled his eyes. “Do you know what Commander Flick would do to me if I did that?!?” “Probably pull out your feathers, one by one, with his teeth.” Moon Chaser grimaced. “I got grilled before even starting duty. Apparently I'm going to be the Princess's only guard tonight, and he made it clear that no matter what, my plot was on the line.” “Hmm, nice plot though.” Feather Joshed. His little joke earned him a wing to the face. “Oh, I'm sorry, weren't you going to get some food, or did you start eating the rug and drapes already?” Feather snorted. “I'm a goin', I'm a goin'.” And he bowed to the Princesses, who were in deep conversation, and paused only to nod back, dismissing him, before continuing whatever Princesses talk about as he left to the bunker and food. Moon Chaser took her spot, several paces before the raised dais where the royal thrones stood, and put on her best stern face as she began to watch everything in the room, while not moving. When Moon Chaser started Princess detail, she found she got board easily, which was not the best thing for a guard, and discovered that if she tried to watch everything, she could relieve that boredom, but only a little. It was times like this that the mare would try and guess who would come into the throne-room next. “And how are you, this afternoon, my guard?” Princess Luna asked, her tone a little less formal that times before. “I'm doing well, your Highness. Thank you for asking.” There was a snort from behind. “Moon Chaser, why don't we drop the stiff formalities. True, you are my guard, but I get enough 'your Highness's' to last me twelve life times. I do have a name, or have you forgotten it?” Moon Chaser resisted the urge to roll her eyes, trying not to think of the time she actually did as she was bidden and called the Princess by her name. Commander Flick had almost pulled out her tail, hair by hair, for it. She wasn't going to make that same mistake twice. “I have not forgotten your name, dear Princess. I just feel that—” “Mooney!” The Princess cut in, gasping, “You feel? That's new. A guard that feels!” Okay, something was up. Moon Chaser chanced a glance back at her Princess, to see she was looking rather un-regal at the moment. Princess Celestia was just watching, to see how Moon Chaser would handle this. The white Alicorn had a habit of letting things play out before she stepped in. “What's the matter, my Princess?” Moon Chaser asked keeping her voice as neutral as she could. The dark Alicorn gave her a look that could have froze a dragon in mid breath. “It's my birthday, and I asked for my only friend, who's not royalty to show up, but she's being unfriendly right now.” Moon Chaser blinked. “You did?” She looked around the throne-room. “Where is she?” For a reply, Moon Chaser caught a pillow in the back of the head. This was the side of Princesses that the public never saw. Princesses, when you take away all the royal duties and privileges, were just simple mares, with their own personalities and tempers. “Princess.” Moon Chaser protested. “Please, talk some sense into her, big sister.” Luna whined to Princess Celestia. “Oh no,” The Alicorn smiled. “Don't get me involved. She's probably just following the orders of Commander Flick. You know how he is.” Princess Luna shook her head, sending her flowing mane in flurry of dark sparkles. “Let me deal with the Commander. He might think other wise, but on my birthday, I'm going to get my way.” The purple Pegasus relented. “As you wish...Luna.” Luna's face brighten up immediately. “Now then, we will have ourselves a little party.” Somewhere, someone snapped. From the empty air came a chuckle, and from the corner of the room walked out the one that neither Princess nor guard wanted to see. Discord was decked out in a clown outfit, complete with squishy red nose and a party hat over his antler. “Did I hear some pony say party?” He laughed gaily, rubbing his mismatched paw and claw together. “Oh, I do love a good party. What shall we play? Spin the bottle, pin the tail on the pony? We can bob for apples. Oh I do love a good red delicious every once in a while, but first, we need the birthday pony dressed in her finest.” And with a snap of his eagle claw, Princess Luna, in a swirling whirl wind, transformed from the young princess to something awful. Moon Chaser felt her eyes widen in terror and her ears fold back as she stared at the looming figure of Nightmare Moon. “Oh, And consider this my birthday present.” Discord smiled, juggling popcorn as he chuckled. “You see, if Nightmare Moon can be conquered here and now, our dear Princess Luna can use her powers for her own, without fear of corruption. Now, there are a few rules here.” Another snap and Princess Celestia was trapped in a large pink bubble. An additional snap from the Lord of Chaos, both Princesses and lone guard were transported from the thrown room to a rocky alcove far away from Canterlot. “First, this is a fight to the death, figuratively speaking. That is Nightmare Moon will try and kill you, Moon Chaser, and you must stay alive and stab her with this.” Discord, literally, drew up a horn that looked like that of Luna's. “It must be in the heart, or it wont work. Also, you can't use magic...Oh, sorry, you can't use magic can you?” Discord gave a mock look of sympathy. “I guess that's all the rules then. Game one.” It was then that Discord noticed that the white Princess of the Sun was bucking at the walls of her pink bubble cage, trying to yell out something. With a wave of his lion paw, the weird creature let Celestia's voice drift thru. “Discord! You Fool! Nightmare Moon's going to Kill Moon Chaser with out my help! You Doomed her!” “Ah, it's just Nightmare Moon.” Discord smiled, his single fang making his smile look more demonic than innocent. “What's the worse that could happen?” Moon Chaser was hit by the Dark Mare of the Moon in the chest. If it wasn't for her breastplate, the Pegasus would have been dead. The blow launched her across the alcove, into a boulder, which crumbled at the force of the collision. In a daze, Moon Chaser lay where she dropped, trying to get her bearings and stop the ringing in her ears as Nightmare Moon stamped forward, triumphantly. “This is the best you can do?” She demanded. “With you're death, I will become whole again, and eternal night shall reign forever. With your death I will be free!” Discord put a paw to his chin. “Hmm, wasn't planning on that happening."
Discord's birthday present pt 2Pain. Pain was the first thing Moon Chaser felt before she blacked out, and it's sharp embrace was what woke her up again. Nightmare Moon was standing over her, a smile of triumphant on her lips as she looked down at the Pegasus, who doubted she had the strength left to stand. “You are a fool, young filly. With your death I will rise. With your blood spilt, I will be free. With your demise I wi—” “Stop talking!” Moon Chaser shouted. She might not have the strength to stand, but her wings were a different story. She struck out with one at the dark mare's legs, catching her off guard, and used the other on to lift her to her hooves. It was then that she was glad for all the wing ups that Commander Flick and Spitfire made them do everyday. Now that she was up, she took off before Nightmare Moon could recollect herself. The sudden change of events played out on the banished pony's face. First, Nightmare Moon growled with a dreadful rage of a diamond dog who just got tricked out of his gems. Then she smiled, relaxing a little, as if this was nothing more than a minor annoyance that would rectify itself. “So you do have some fight in you.” Nightmare nodded. “I can respect that. Nightmare Moon's horn started glowing violently red as her face darkened again. “But I do not appreciate it!” She roared, firing a barrage of intense magic blasts at the flying Pegasus. Moon Chaser might not have been the first in her class at the Academy, but she was more than ready for this kind of attack, dodging, dropping, strafing and rolling out of the way of each blast. With frustration, Nightmare Moon increased the intensity of the magic missiles, forcing Moon Chaser to preform more and more complex maneuvers that she'd only seen, but never done before. “A little help would be nice!” Mooney called down to Discord, who was eating the popcorn he'd been juggling earlier. “And what would you have me do, my dear?” Discord asked in his happily amused voice. Only Discord, Master of Chaos, could find this situation light and not at all serious. “I already said you have to do it without help. Shall I bend the rules for you?” Tutting, he shook his head sadly. “I am sorry, but that is cheating.” Moon Chaser just barley managed to roll out of the way of a bolt of magic, when it turned, chasing after her. Now they were homing blasts? That was going too far! “You said no magic!” The fleeing Pegasus squealed out in fright. Any moment now, one of those fiery magic blasts was going to hit her and—snap! The magic fire balls were gone. “I did say that.” Discord relented. “Very well, Nightmare, you must spill the blood of the mare before you without your magic.” Nightmare Moon, who was dumbfounded that anything could cancel out her magic, turned angrily to Discord. For an answer, she tried to summon another blast to vaporize the weird creature on the spot. She tried, sweat beading on her forehead as she commanded with all her will to summon the most violent, angry ball of energy she could, but nothing happened. Lifting her head, to see the Draconequus properly. “Ahhh, isn't it my dear Discord.” She purred. “Surely you wouldn't come between me and my freedom, would you? Not when you of yourself could be free and conquer the Equestria with me. You, with your chaos could keep the ponies in a state of endless misery, while I rule over the endless night.” The Mare of the Moon smiled wickedly, her eyes speaking volumes of more intricate things, that should not be said. “You could be King, but what is a King without his...Queen?” Discord, with a smile looked up at the panting Moon Chaser. “You hear this? I'm being seduced!” He laughed, twirling a claw at Nightmare Moon, causing her to rotate where she stood. “I'll admit, you've got a cute flank, and I wouldn't mind to spend all of eternity with you—our kids would be the cutest little things—but first kill the Pegasus, and then we'll talk about it.” With a snort, Nightmare Moon launched off, catching Moon Chaser off guard, and slammed into her, knocking her to the stony wall. The sharp rocks of the wall ripped at her fur and tore at her feathers as she tumbled to the ground. It took a moment, but before she slam into the rock floor, Moon Chaser kicked off of the wall, soaring a dozen feet above Discord and the imprisoned Princess Celestia. What in Equestria what she going to do? A shadow told her that now was not the time for that question. Nightmare Moon was hunting her, like a hawk hunting a sparrow. Mooney never really like hawks to begin with, but now—Swerving to the right, she managed to flap fast enough to evade the Princess of Darkness, but she'd have to be careful, the rock wall wasn't more than ten feet away, and those sharpened chips would shred her if she hit them at this speed. Nightmare made another dive for her, forcing her closer to the wall. If she made another—Moon Chaser was hit squarely in the back, between her wing muscles, forcing her to crash land on the rocky terrain. “Little fool of a filly.” Nightmare Moon whispered in her ear. “Did you really think you could escape me? You barely know how to fly with these things. In fact, I'll see to it, you never fly again.” Placing a hoof square between the wing muscles, Nightmare held the helpless Pegasus down. Moon Chaser, now realizing what was about to happen started to scream “NO, NOT TH—” The iron shod hoof of Nightmare Moon stamped down on the wing joint of Moon Chaser's right wing. With a snap, the wing joint shattered, sending rippling waves of searing hot pain thru the purple Pegasus's body. “AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH, NO, No, no, no.” Moon Chaser sobbed, as the Dark Princess took her place over the second wing. There was not pause, not hesitation. The Princess that Moon Chaser swore to protect, had just stamped her other wing to broken pieces. “NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOooooo.” “My, my, my, this does not seem fair, does it?” Discord asked Celestia, who redoubled her efforts of trying to kick her pink, bubble cage to pieces. She was screaming something at the top of her voice, but it was muted by the pink bubble. “Come again dear, what was that?” Discord asked, and with a snap Celestia's voice could be heard. “DISCORD YOU FOOL! NIGHTMARE MOON HAS WON! YOU HAVE DOOMED US ALL! YOU HA—” Snap. “All caps rage, hmm?” Discord looked at the broken body of the royal guard. “I think I can live without all that sobbing I hear from other there.” and with a snap the body of the purple Pegasus that Nightmare Moon was about to crush the last bit of life left, vanished, only to reappear, whole and fully energized with the horn Discord had created tied to her left hoof. Discord took a seat in the air, pulling out a game controller and tiny, near invisible, strings shot out the controller onto the wings, head and hooves of Moon Chaser. “Pony Combat!” He sang. “I love this game!” Then pulling out a pair of sun glasses, Discord put them on, and gave a wickedly toothy smile. “Alright then, let's see if I can win.”
Discords's birthday present pt 4 Discords's birthday present pt 4 “I have to...I..have...to...” Moon Chaser gulped, trying to hold what was left of herself together. “Run my horn through my sister's heart.” Luna finished. A few tears trickled down her face, leaving dark trials in her deep blue fur. “I'm sorry it has to be this way, but you have to. If I'm to return, you, and only you can do it.” Moon Chaser nodded, her eyes glistening. “We better go.” Discord said, his normally energetic and sarcastic tone subdued. “We don't have much time left.” With a snap they were back on the rocky floor. The alcove no longer existed. All that was left was the floor, and above, both sun and moon stood in the sky, challenging each other, silently watching their champions fight to the death. Both Queen Moon and Queen Aubade were glaring at each other, fur soiled from dirt and rock dust and bloodied from horn gouges and biting from close combat. “How am I going to do this?” Moon Chaser asked Discord as she stared up at the two sisters, who renewed their dreadful battle. Discord, shook himself. He couldn't let what needed to be done scare him. He was the Lord of Chaos, and though he wanted Chaos, he did not want this! Destruction of everything? No, where was the fun in ruling over rubble? Would there even be rubble left? “Now listen here, missy!” Discord took Moon Chaser by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “Luna said to stab Celestia in the heart. She said nothing about killing her. You'll be fine. Just go up, ask them to stop and stab the Princes. Simple, no sweat. She can't die from being stabbed in the heart. Think of it like a key in the key hole. Does that kill a door? No, it opens it. Now, off you pop, I'll make sure you're safe. For reals this time.” And he picked her up and tossed the Pesasus into the air, like he was letting a dove free. Moon Chaser gave an 'eek' before getting her wings to flap right. She turned to glare at the Draconequus before flying into the fray. Truth is, she was grateful for Discord's play off of the matter. She'd seen his true feelings and knew that this was just as hard for him as it was for her. Discord, once he was let free, had warmed up to the Princesses and actually liked them. Other than the Fluttershy he talked often about, Celestia and Luna were his closest friends, and this was breaking his heart. If he could keep a strong front, then so could Moon Chaser. “Stooooooooop!” Moon Chaser screamed once she got close enough, but neither Princess acknowledged her, too busy thrashing at each other. Celestial Aubade had Nightmare Moon by the throat with her teeth, while Nightmare Moon was pawing at her with her fore hooves. “Stooop! Stop it! Stooooop!” Moon Chaser screamed as the Queen of the Sun and Day threw her weakened sister to the rocky floor, gathering her strength for a blast that would end the fight. “Stooooooooooooooo—” Moon Chaser flew straight into the Alicorn, hooves out stretched with Luna's horn glistening in the duel light of the sun and moon. The impact swayed them in the air, but didn't knock them down. “My child, what are thou doing?!?” Celestial berated, taken completely by surprise to see the small Pesasus halt the fight. “Get out of—” She started to sway. Slowly, the Queen of Day looked down at her chest, seeing the dark horn sticking out of her furry breast, held there by Moon Chaser's trembling hooves. “My Child!” She gasped. “Wha? What are you?” “I'm sorry...” Moon Chaser whispered. “I'm sorry...” Looking up with defiance, not for the Queen of the Sun but for her own self, She yelled. “I want my Princess back!” Both Alicorn and Pegasus dropped from the sky, crashing onto the rocky ground. Nightmare Moon, a sneer on her face, trotted up to the two. “And what is this charade?” She demanded. “Have you been beaten by a little Pegasus, dear sister? How sad.” But when her sister did not respond the Queen of Darkness looked more closely. Taking a few more steps forward, she kicked lightly at the Pegasus. “Move.” She said, but Moon Chaser shook her head. “Move!” Nightmare said more forcefully, kicking a little hard, but the mare still wouldn't budge. Finally, Nightmare Moon just kicked her off of Celestial's still form and froze in shock. “....no....” The dark mare said in a small voice. “...no...no, no.. Celestia!” Throwing off her helmet, Nightmare Moon dashed over to cradle her dead sister's head. “Noooooo!” She cried, eyes of anger and hate melting into tears of shame and sadness. “...no...Celestia. I'm sorry...I'm so sooorrrryyy!” Discord walked up next to Moon Chaser, who lay where she was kicked to. Everyone's eyes were full of tears of regret and sorrow. “I'm sorry my dear.” Discord said. “I...I...” He took a deep breath to steady himself. “I just wanted to give you a birthday present. As you and your sister reformed me, so I can use my magic for good of my free will, I wanted to give you that same gift. Nightmare Moon has power that could help you protect Equestria. That is why I did it.” His chin trembled and his shoulders slumped as his emotions got the better of him. “I never intended for this to happen.” He sobbed. “I never wanted Celestia to die! I just wanted to do good! And to help you and your sister!” “You lied!” Moon Chaser accused Discord. “You...you....you said it was going to be alright. You said it was like a key and a key hole!” It was unfair of her, she knew, but Moon Chaser had to hold on to something, had to blame someone other than herself. Even as she looked at her now blood stained hooves, she kept telling herself that it wasn't her fault. How could it be? She had to do it. “Just like a key and a key hole.” Discord nodded sadly. He walked over to the still form of Celestia, and turned the horn. Click. For a moment, all were still, each hearing the click. Slowly looking up at each other, they waited. For one long minute they waited. Celestia gasped. “Sister!” Luna threw herself at the white Alicorn on the ground. Moon Chaser collapsed into tears of joy as Discord gave a wide toothy smile. “Easy there Luna!” Celestia gasped. She sat up and turned over, so she could get up. It was then that she noticed the horn sticking out her her chest. “Uhh...would anyone care to explain?” Discord, ever quick on his feet, pulled the horn out, with no ill effects and twirled it. “I'm sorry my dear, but the game is over, and our little Guard over here, did not pin the horn on the Alicorn correctly. No biggy, all is well, and all is well.” Moon Chaser was so relieved to see the Princess alive again, that she didn't even bother to protest the sudden blame put on her. “I'm glad you're back.” Luna hugged her sister again.” “Back? Why I was never gone.” Celestia replied. “Uhh, where are we?” Snap. “Why we're in the throne room of course.” Discord replied, his usual suaveness back as he bowed to Celestia. “I do believe that it is time for Ice cream and cake. I absolutly love a good party!” “Hold on for a moment!” Princess Luna held up a hoof. “There is a matter I must take care of first.” And she pulled on the bell cord next to her throne. An earth pony trotted in. “You're Highness?” He bowed. “Summon Commander Flick for me. And tell him to come Post Haste!” Before anyone could ask why, Commander Flick, who was in a near by room Galloped in, hastily bowed and stood up to attention. “What is it, My Princess.” Princess Luna pointed at Guards Mare Chaser. “I demand this guard be no longer a guard!” She said. “I have too many guards who are well qualified for the position. Instead, she is to become my Mare in Waiting. I also request you give her all the training that you would of your advance fliers and fighters, as I can not have my personal Hoof Mare be anything less than the best Wonderbolt there is! Understood?” Commander Flick, who had no idea where all this was coming from gaped openly at Guardsmare Chaser before coming back to attention. “It is already done!” He saluted. “Lady Chaser, when you come back to the barracks, I will give you your affects, and tell the earth ponies of your new position. You'll also be given personal quarters adjoining Princess Luna's quarters. Tomorrow, you'll meet with Spitfire and Shining Armor to asses you're current skills and see what type of training we'll give you. Until then, keep to the Princess. Understood?” Moon Chaser snapped her wings to attention. “Sir!” She barked out. Commander Flick's face softened into a smile, the first one that Mooney had ever seen him give. “I don't know what you did, filly, but I'm proud of you. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to call.” He bowed and left the throne room. Luna tackled Moon Chaser into a tight hug. “I'm so glad that's over with.” She sighed. She looked at Discord, who was standing as out of the way as he could. “Come here you!” She demanded with a smile. Shyly, the mismatched creature, came closer. “You know, for everything you put us through, it wasn't that bad of a birthday present.”
Discord's birthday present pt 3Moon Chaser shook her head, trying to clear the hazy fog that settled over her brain. The last think she remember was Nightmare Moon stamping her wing joints to pieces. Nervously, she flexed her wings. She winced with pain. They hurt, but were still intact. That was a good sign, but before she had a chance to register anything else, she was moving. “Waaah!” She yelped in surprise as she found herself galloping full speed at Nightmare Moon, who was ready for what ever the purple Pegasus had in store. Before Moon Chaser even had a chance to do anything, Nightmare head butted her in snout, quickly adding a horn whip to her neck and swung her hind quarters around to give the poor mare a taste of iron clad hoofs to the face. “Aww, I thought that would work.” Discord sympathized gleefully. Moon Chaser felt her mouth fill with blood as the Nightmare's hooves knocked out a few teeth. “Stop playing around!” Moon Chaser demanded. “I'm the one getting beat up here!” Discord, nodded. “Time to turn up the heat!” He agreed. Quickly, he hit down and rotated the analog stick a quarter turn to the right, pressing both A and B with his lion paw. Moon Chaser found herself forced to the ground, only to quickly rise up. Her mouth forced open, but nothing happened. “Hmmm, that was suppose to work. Let's try that again.” Discord decided, and tried the maneuver again and again and again. Nightmare Moon watched in dull amusement as her opponent was forced to the ground and rose up to belch out air over and over again. She grew board of the this amusement. And a quick charge, she impaled the Pegasus in the right leg with her horn. “Perfect!” Discord shouted triumphantly. “Now stab her in the heart and this all will be over. Moon Chaser did as she was instructed, stabbing the black mare over and over again in the chest with the horn tied to her left hoof, crying the whole time. “Make it stop!” She sobbed, the pain of the horn in her leg filling her with the fiery heat of agony. “Please, just make it stop!” And so she stabbed faster and faster, aiming for the dark Alicorn's heart, but no matter how she stabbed, the horn just seemed to go right thru the mare, like she wasn't really there. “Huh....” Discord cupped his chin with his eagle claw hand. “That should have work...what gives?” He tossed his controller. “I never liked this game to begin with.” Still in caged, the Princess Celestia watched. She watched how her sister's evilness returned, how the Draconequus fooled around like it was all one big joke, but mostly she watched the faithful guard of her sister was reduced to a broken pony that would do anything to make the pain stop. It was too much for her, and she had to do something about it. “Discord...” She said, her quite voice penetrating her prison. The weird creature turned to watcher her for a moment, seeing the great Princess standing, her head down, eyes closed, as if she was giving into defeat. Then the white Alicorn stood tall, her eyes snapping open, revealing blinding white irises with now pupils, her voice shattering the bubble that held her. “DISCORD!!!!” Discord, who was not expecting anything like this, was toppled back and landed flat on his tail as he watched the once calm collective Celestia become...become.... The white mare was now a tall proud Alicorn, with glowing white eyes, hooves bathed in white fire and a mane that seemed to burn like the very sun itself. On her head sat a wreath of golden flames. The powerful creature looked from Discord, who was now scared out of his wits, to Nightmare Moon. “Nightmare Moon, I will destroy you for what you've done!” The dark pony sneered. “And what will you do? Shine me to death?” The white Princess snorted, stamping a hoof, causing the rocky alcove to shudder. “I am Celestial Aubade, Queen of the sky and daylight! Equestia is my home and her ponies my children, and like any mother, I will rip you limb from limb for touching them!” And with that the Queen Aubade and Queen Moon charged at each other, both blasting each other with the pure essence of light and darkness. The ultimate battle of good and evil, the battle that never should be, the war that never had an end was being fought for the final time, and as the fight raged, the alcove was being torn apart. Every time Nightmare Moon was thrown into one of the rocky walls, shattering countless boulders, or Celestial Aubade was blasted out of the air, driven to the ground, causing mini earthquakes, more and more cracks appeared, not only on the side of the walls, floor and celinge, but in the very air itself. The fabric of nature was being torn apart at the pureness of the hatred the two queens had for each other. Discord, who now lost all of his audacity, crawled over to where the sobbing guard was, still stabbing the air, crying, “Make it stop...” “I'm sorry!” He cried out, grabbing the broken mare by the shoulders. “I'm so sorry, I didn't think that any of this would happen.” “How?” Moon Chaser cried, her tears streaming down her face. “How could you have thought letting Nightmare Moon loose was a good idea?” “My plan had holes.” Discord admitted. “I knew it did, but I wanted to do something chaotic for fun. I never intended to actually cause harm or bring out this side of Celestia.” Mooney forced herself back together. “How are we going to fix this?” “We have to get to Nightmare's heart and stab it. Only then will Nightmare Moon be subdued!” Discord screamed to be heard over the clashing and smashing of the two hyper Alicorns. “But I tried!” Moon Chaser yelled back. “I stabbed her plenty of times, but nothing happened. It just went through her.” “Then we have to ask her herself!” Discord decided. “We have to go now!” And with that, Discord picked up the purple Pegasus with his lion paw and –snap— They were gone, leaving the raging fighters of good an evil to tear at each other. Moon Chaser blinked. “Where are we?” She asked in confusion, looking out at the lush fied of moon flowers under the full moon of the night sky. “Welcome.” A warm, familiar voice said from behind them. Moon Chaser and Discord turned to see Luna, sitting at a little white tea table, smiling at the two of them. “Luna!” Moon Chaser sobbed, galloping towards her Princess. She embraced her, and for a moment, everything was right. “Princess.” Discord bowed, and for the first time in her life, Mooney saw the strange creature known as Discord be completely serious. “I made a tragic mistake.” He went on to say. “I awoken Nightmare Moon again. I wanted to give you her power, but I was too hasty in my attempts to subdue her to make sure she was properly in check.” Luna's face fell. “It is as I feared.” She sighed. “And you intended to stab her in the heart with my horn?” Discord nodded. “And did you?” “I stabbed her in the chest over and over.” Moon Chaser answered, still lost in her Princess’s hooves. “But it didn't do anything.” Luna closed her eyes. “The heart you seek is not my own, but that which my heart belongs to.” Moon Chaser looked up as Discord started to tremble. He understood what the little mare did not, and it was something that stilled his beating heart. For the first time, he wished he'd never been let out of his stone prison in the first place. “What do you mean?” Moon Chaser asked. “I, as Luna, Princess of the Night and Protector of Ponies Dreams, am forever loyal to Celestia, my sister.” Luna shed a single tear. “To subdue Nightmare Moon and restore my power, you must stab my sister in the heart with my horn.” Numb. No pain, not feeling, just numbness fill both mind and body of the Pegasus as she stared at her Princess. “To free you...To bring you back...I must kill Princess Celestia...” She repeated. There was one feeling she felt now that she'd said what needed to be said...dread...
