A Forgotten Power

Chapter 11:

For the third time waking up in some form of bizarre way or spot, this was probably the strangest. I was upside down, hanging from the ceiling in a big green chrysalis. No, not Chrysalis chrysalis, the kind that holds insects while they evolve. I struggled against the gooey walls of the cocoon, but it was impossible. I just wasn't strong enough to break the walls of my imprisonment.

Then, through the see-through wall of green, I saw something move. I squinted, trying to get a better view, but it was hard to see through the thick ooze that was my viewpoint. As my eyes adjusted, I realized I was looking at two ponies walking into the room. Not just any ponies, though. These two I knew.

"AppendingDoom! Screamlock! Up here!" I shouted, trying to catch their attention.

They couldn't hear me, but I could make out their conversation. "Why did Jackle drop us off here with these things?" Appending asked Scream.

"How am I supposed to know? You're the smart one, you tell me," Scream replied.

"And where's our dad? And why isn't Screwball here with us? Aren't we all in the same group?"

Scream sighed, "Seriously, stop asking me these questions, I have no answers for any of this weird stuff."

"Sorry," Doom apologized, "I'm just nervous is all. And... I've been getting these messages."

"What kind of messages?" Scream questioned, seeming very intrigued.

"This pony, Apple Bloom, I keep seeing her in my dreams. Is that strange?"

Scream stared at Doom for a second before answering. "No, not at all. I've been getting visions from this pony called Scootaloo. It's just so str-" Scream stopped as she watched a green drop fall from the ceiling. She looked up, "Screwball?!"

"Yes! I'm here!" I called out, them now listening for my voice.

"Oh my.. How the hay did you get up there!?"

"Wouldn't I like to know!" I yelled sarcasticly, "Please get me down from here!"

Before Scream could question how, Doom started glowing, and fired some sort of laser right at the cocoon.

"Aggghhh!" I screamed as I fell from the ceiling and crashed into ScreamLock.

"Oww," she uttered, trying to get up.

"Sorry!" I apologized, raising myself off of her to help her up.

"How.. How did you do that?!" Scream gasped at Doom.

"I.. I don't know..." Doom responded, seemingly in shock about it herself as well.

We couldn't question further, for just then my least favorite Changeling came stepping into the room.

"How.. HOW DID YOU ESCAPE?!" Chrysalis raged.

Behind her came a smaller Changeling. "Queen Chrysalis," it spoke with a raspy voice, "father is ready for the children."

Chrysalis changed her angry look into an evil grin. "Good. Send in a squad to bring these vile beings to him."

"Of course, my queen." Then the Changeling made a noise that sounded like a cross between a bird screeching and buzzing bees, followed by the fluttering wings of the incoming squad.

We tried to dart away, but Chrysalis used her magic to keep us in place. This was it. We were captured.

All of a sudden, a crashing sound came from the lower floor. Chrysalis was about to say something, probably along the lines of 'What was that?', when the floor beneath her gave way, and she screamed as she fell.

Before we could register what just happened, the ground cracked, and we too fell through the floor.

"WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" screamed Doom.

I would rather not test that theory.

When all seemed lost, I saw something through the falling rubble. A serpent-like creature flying towards us.

"Oof," I mumbled as all three of us slammed onto the being's back.

"Well, isn't this a glorious family reunion?" Discord joked sarcasticly.

"You.." I started, "You let me get captured by that bug!"

"My dear," Discord said smoothly, "If I interfered we wouldn't have found our enemies lair, now would we?"

"You're a nut!"

"Most definitely so! Now let's destroy the place before he gets loose, shall we?"

"I'm pretty sure Chrysalis is a girl," Scream supplied.

"No, not that hideous thing. Her creator, Apophis. Now he's a beast I don't want to be bothered with having to defeat again."

"DISCOOOORD!" Shouted a familiar voice. "YOU ARE GOING TO PAY!"

"Oh, that's right, the little bugger can fly," Discord sighed, "Why won't you just die, eh Chrys? That would make my job of stomping these insects out so much easier."

Discord dodged rubble and attacking Changelings while we struggled to keep hold of his furry back. Chrysalis was firing magic from her horn at us, while Discord evaded and swatted her farther away with his tail. It was pure chaos. And Discord was loving it.

"Oh this is the most fun I've had in eons!" "You call that an attack? Ha! I've fought ponies better than you." "Haven't you heard? It's take your daughter to work day! See little spawn of mine? My job is simply the greatest!"

"Remind me to skip the next one," I groaned.

Discord kept changing the enemies into various tiny animals, or he gave them degrading outfits. Rabbits and frogs were hopping along the floor confused, and Changelings with clown masks or tons of makeup flew away trying to hide their embarrassment.

After a few minutes of continuous fighting, the wreckage settled down and less and less Changelings attacked. Chrysalis was nowhere to be seen, and nopony stood a chance against Discord's chaotic powers.

"Oh glory days ahead indeed!" Discord bragged. "Is there nothing that can stop my reign of chaos?"

"I see you've forgotten the true meaning to that word, old friend," spoke a scratchy voice.

Discord turned to see the speaker standing on the floor. It was a Griffon. The bird wore a tie around its neck and a black top hat with a white strap on its base. He looked very much like Gilda, only more masculine.

"Jackle? You know Discord?" asked Scream.

"Be gone you pigeon, I am having too much fun with the bugs to have time to properly roast a bird," Discord gloated.

Jackle's eyes gleamed red. "But surely you know who I am, Discord. After all, we were the best of friends until you left me to rot."

"I have no friends," Discord said, "and I've never had quarrel with Griffons, so your argument is invalid."

"Oh, but I'm no ordinary Griffon," Jackle countered. "The other one you betrayed was kind enough to give me this host. One of his own creations, too."

Discord lowered himself to the ground, and the three of us riding his back wobbled off, trying to get over the dizziness.

"I am starting to get annoyed, bird. I am the bringer of chaos, you can not defeat me."

Jackle grinned. "But I am Chaos."