Pinkie sat in a room, smiling at the little children sleeping soundly. She had offered to babysit for the parents, knowing they needed a little break with eachother. She soon heard the older one groan and rub her eyes.
"Auntie Pinkie?"
She went to sit next to her godchild. The parents had agreed that she was to be the godmother of their first child, to which she excepted gladly.
"What's wrong, Screwy?"
The child looked up and hugged her tightly.
"Please don't ever leave me..."
Pinkie hugged her back and smiled.
"I would never leave you Screwy."
She sniffed, making Pinkie pull back.
"Why would you think I'd leave you?"
She looked away with a look of fear and embarrassment on her face.
"I had a nightmare that mommy and daddy hated eachother and hated me and left me all alone in darkness..."
Pinkie smiled and chuckled a little at the thought.
"Your parents would never do that, pumpkin pie. Speaking of which..."
Pinkie brought out a pie out of no where. Screwball grabbed a slice and smiled as she bit into it. What Pinkie said next nearly made her godchild choke.
"Well, your parents weren't really on the same side or the in the same stature when they first met though..."
Screwball was astonished to say the least. Her parents, who were more in love then anyone in Maris, once didn't meet eye to eye? Screwball inched towards her aunt in interest.
"What do you mean?"
Pinkie looked over at Screwball and smiled.
"Well, your old enough now, so I think I can tell you your parents story..."
Screwball leaned closer as her Aunt began her parents tale.
"Your mother was the best gypsy dancer in Maris, still is to this day! And, of course, your father was the guard captain of our fair city."
Screwball nodded encouragingly, making Pinkie laugh a little at her eagerness.
"Back then, your father was under the rule of Minister Sombra, who would get rid of any gypsy's who disobeyed his order. Your mother didn't approve of this at all, but she never spoke aloud her anger towards him."
Screwball leaned in for more information.
"Your mother was very compassionate about all gypsies, always wanting to help if she could. Your father was forced to imprison gypsies unfairly, although he didn't have a reason to care before he met your mother. Sombra demanded order and fear from his subjects, but would allow one day of fun-"
"The Feast of Fools!"
Pinkie turned towards the younger one, her little colt godson, and smiled. She went over and picked him up gently.
"Yes, that's right, little one. I see your fathers already brainwashed you."
The little colt nodded proudly. He looked exactly like his father, except his eyes were his mothers. Unlike Screwball, he had only his looks in common with his parents, and of course, a love for chaos. She looked at them both then the clock.
"Maybe we'll save this story for tomorrow..."
Screwball and Discord Jr. both started to pout, knowing their Aunt couldn't resist. She sighed and chuckled.
"Ok, but you'll have to hear how your mothers came to us first..."
It was a dark night and the faint sound of a babe was heard as a song broke out into the night.
"Dark was the night when our tale was begun, on the docks near Notre Dame,"
A cloaked mare huddled a blanket closely and two stallions whispered harshly to her.
"Shut the filly up will you?"
"We'll be spotted!"
She looked down at the bundle and nuzzled it gently.
"Hush, little one."
"Four frightened gypsies slid silently under the docks near Notre Dame,"
The rower lifted his hoof and grinned deviously.
"Four bits for safe passage into Maris."
An arrow shot past him and he looked to see a whole band of archers aiming at them. Guards leaked out from everywhere. One of the stallions put a protective hoof around the mare and filly, who was now crying again silently.
"But a trap had been laid for the gypsies, and they gazed up in fear and alarm,"
The stallion slapped the spears away that were pointed at them threateningly. A shadow formed behind a set of the guards.
"And a figure who's clutches were iron as much as the bells,"
The mare looked up and gasped in fear and surprise. The stallion looked where the mare was and paled, whispering.
"Judge Sombra..."
"The bells of Notre Dame..."
Judge Sombra came out of the shadows, grinning evilly at the gypsies. Waving a hand to his guards, they advanced on the stallions.
"Judge Sombra longed to purge the world of vice and sin,"
The stallions were cuffed in chains and brought forth, making Sombra smile wider at the hated look in their eyes.
"And he saw corruption everywhere, except within,"
The guards threw the stallions at Judge Sombra hoofs, as he smirked evilly. He lifted one of their chins and smirked triumphantly.
"Oh yes, these stallions will do nicely,"
The stallion ripped himself away from his hold and glared harder at him, making the Judge smile wider.
"Bring these gypsies to the Palace of Darkness"
"Hey! What are you hiding there, gypsy?"
The Judge turned to one of his guards, Discord, and saw he was holding the mare forcefully as she held the bundle protectively close to her chest. He looked at Discord with a serious look.
"Stolen goods, no doubt. Take them from her..."
She ripped her hoof away and ran. Discord groaned.
"I hate it when they run!"
He ran after her in full pursuit. The bundle squirmed at her mothers fast movement. She kept running until she made it to the church. The guard was still behind her but she had a few minutes before he came into sight. She saw another gypsy with her child, no older then a few months and ran over to them.
"Please, take my child and take care of her, please!"
The gypsy didn't ask questions and grabbed the bundle quickly. She nodded to the other gypsy and she ran with the two children. The mare was immediantly grabbed by the guard and dragged away, as she cried for her child. He got angry at her tears and threw her to the ground. She looked shocked for a minute before her eyes closed. Discord knelt down and felt her neck. No pulse. He shook her, but to no avail. He sat there a moment before turning to leave. The priest opened the door and gasped at the unmoving body of the mare.
"Stop!"
Discord looked back to the purple unicorn, now holding the body of the mare.
"I have no more business here, Arch Decon, so I may take my leave..."
She looked up from the body with slight fury towards the Judge. She began to sing a mournful song.
"See there the innocent blood you have spilt, on the steps of Notre Dame,"
He sneered in disgust at the mare laying lifeless in the Arch Decon's arms.
"I am guiltless, she ran and I pursued."
She continued as she glared hatefully at Discord.
"Now, you will add this mares blood to your guilt on the steps of Notre Dame,"
He whirled on her, the same glare she wore on his own face.
"My conscience is clear."
She laughed mockingly before continuing.
"You can lie to yourself and your minions! You can claim that you haven't a qualm! But you never can run from or hide what you've done from the eyes!"
She pointed up towards the sacred church, still holding the dead mare.
"The very eyes of Notre Dame!"
He looked at the eyes of the statue ponies and gulped in slight fear. They were all staring at him, with eyes filled with horror. The faint sound of a singer again took hold of the air.
"And for one time in his life, of power and control, Discord felt a twinge of fear, for his immortal soul."
He looked down at the mare in slight pity and guilt.
"What must I do?"
She thought for a moment before answering.
"Come to the church every day to mourn for the mare, and for her child."
His face showed slight shock. A child? That was what the bundle was... He had ripped a foal from its mother, and didn't know where it was. He sighed.
"Very well, Arch Decon, I will do as you ask."
He turned his heel to return to his men at the Palace of Darkness, the feeling of guilt still in his heart. The Arch Decon walked into the church with the mare and prayed a silent prayer.
"Celestia and Luna, please watch over this mares child. And please protect her with all your will and power."
With that, she closed the cold wind out of the beloved Notre Dame.
Screwball was leaning in intently. Discord Jr. was fast asleep. Pinkie lifted up the boy, and placed him back on his bed. She smiled at Screwballs eager look and simply sat back down to tell the real important part of the story.
"And they soon met years later, at the Feast of Fools, and they had the spark..."
Fluttershy looked up from below the stage worriedly. She was going on in a few minutes after Pinkie announced her. She looked down at her very enticing dress. It was sea green with a slightly long train, hanging shoulder straps, and a slightly revealing chest line. A cyan jewelled crown keeping ear hair up in a loose tie and bun. She loved this dress, but felt so vulnerable in it as well. She let out a breath of stress.
"It will be fine, Fluttershy. Just, relax."
Her tenseness was released. She heard Pinkie overhead and got ready for the trick.
"See the finest girl in Prance, make an entrance to entrance! Dancer Fluttershyyyyyy"
The powder was sprayed and Fluttershy sprung on stage. She held out her silk scarf and danced around the stage with grace. She heard hoots and whistles from the crowd, but ignored them.
She looked over to see Judge Sombra in his tent. She always wanted to scowl at him for his cruelty towards her people when she saw him, but feared going to the dungeon. He was slightly gawking at her, making her blush. Her gypsy side took over and she danced tauntingly over to him. She sat on his hoof rest, slipping her scarf around his neck and teasingly leaning in. Before her face could come close enough, she pushed his hat down on his face, leaving her scarf with him. He ripped it from his neck and scowled at her. She smirked at him and grabbed one of the guard ponies spears, plunging it into the stage.
Flapping her wings lightly and wrapping her hind legs around the spear, she spiralled up and let her head fall back in delight. She loved to dance, not as much as singing, but it was enjoyable. She ended when she free-fell a few feet above the pole before catching herself to land softly on the stage. The crowd cheered, as she bowed.
She let Pinkie back on stage and went back to her tent. Shutting the flab, she heaved a sigh of strain. She took everything off to get her usual clothes on.
She was just got her robe on when someone stubbled in. She held the robe tightly to herself and whirled around on the intruder. She gasped when she saw Sombra's guard captain, Discord, laying on the ground. She stood there, paralyzed from his sudden appearance. He got up and looked at her with slight interest.
"I simply wanted to complement you on your performance, mademoiselle."
She blushed. She thought she had pushed her luck by doing that taunting display. She regathered her bearings and continued gathering her clothes.
"T-Thank you, monsieur, that's very kind of you."
She was about to get changed when she remembered she had company. She ushered him out the tent and giggled at the memory of him falling inside the tent.
"You must be a little more careful when entering a tent, monsier. Have a... good day, Discord."
He seemed a little awestruck, but tilted his head in farewell. She smiled slightly before becoming worried when she heard shouts in the crowd.
"Seems we got some thieves on our hands, boys!"
"We aren't thieves!"
Fluttershy paled. She knew those voices... The girls! She rushed through the crowd and saw them being crowded by guards. One of the guards grabbed Sweetie Belle, while Scootaloo and Applebloom could only watch. Fluttershy ground her teeth in fury. She smirked evilly as her gypsy side, once again, took over.
"Oh boys!"
They looked in her direction just as she kicked one of them in the groin. He groaned and the rest glared at her, starting to advance.
"Run girls!"
They obeyed and ran away quickly. She turned back to the guards and ran the other direction, with them in full pursuit. She smirked as she got up on the podium to buy some time. She started to fane amusement.
"Ok, let's see... One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine... So, there's ten of you and one of me? What's a poor mare to do?"
She pulled out her handkerchief and pretended to cry. She saw Discord in the crowd, trying to contain laughter. She smiled before she blew into the cloth so the powder Pinkie used shot out, encircling her. This caused a distraction for the guards so she could slip away. She grabbed a cloak off one of the tents and slipped it on quickly. She heard the Judge yell at his guards.
"Find the gypsy mare! And don't harm her!"
She rushed inside Notre Dame, thinking no pony saw her. The truth was far from it...
She shut the doors to hear... silence. She released the cloak and let it drop to the floor. She gawked at the pure beauty of Notre Dame. She walked down the hall in amazement. She stopped after hearing movement behind her. She stood still for a moment before whirling around and as she grabbed a candle holder, pointing it at the intruder. It was Discord, throwing his hands up in surrender.
"Whoa whoa relax! It's just me!"
She loosened her grip slightly. She looked at Discord with confusion.
"What are you doing here?"
He held his hands behind his back, coming a step closer. This made her grip tighten and she pushed the candle holder closer to him in warning. He sighed.
"I just want to talk..."
She looked away in disbelief.
"Is your thinking of 'talking' meaning arresting me for protecting my people?"
He turned her head gently towards him. She felt slightly safe with his claw on her face. Before he could say anything, Sombra came in, making her glare at Discord. She whispered hatefully to him.
"You lied to me..."
He looked at her worriedly before whispering back quickly.
"Claim sanctuary, now."
She sighed and thought for a moment. Claiming sanctuary would be the most safe option at the time, even if Discord betrayed her in some way. She quietly whispered.
"I claim sanctuary."
His sighed in relief. Judge Sombra came up to them just as she dropped her weapon. Discord turned to his leader with a slight glint of hatred in his eye.
"Well, Discord? Arrest her."
He faned anger, grumbling and grungilly answered.
"I'm sorry, Sombra, but she claimed sanctuary. There's nothing I can do."
Sombra growled, making Fluttershy back up a bit in fear.
"Then drag the mare outside and do it!"
"Sombra! You are not permitted to touch her!"
Fluttershy turned to see lavender unicorn approach her, putting a calming hoof on her shoulder. She looked at Fluttershy with a smile.
"Don't worry, Sombra knows quite well, to respect the sanctuary of Notre Dame."
Sombra ground his teeth together in rage, but huffed and took his men to retreat. Discord followed with a quick glance at Fluttershy, making her turn away. The unicorn steered her away and told her to stay here. She nodded as the priest went to escort the guards out. She looked around before being grabbed and her head right beside Judge Sombra face. He smirked.
"You may think you've outwitted me. But I'm a patient stallion, and your kind don't do well inside stone walls."
His head was close enough to her that he caught the scent of her hair. He placed his face inside it a little, breathing in her aroma. It made her cringe in disgust. She angrily glared from the corner of her eye.
"What are you doing, you sick son of a-?"
He regained his composure and wrapped a seemingly gentle hoof around her neck as he spoke.
"That's not a very polite language for a mare. And was just imagining a thick rope around that beautiful neck of yours..."
She angrily twisted out of his hold.
"I can probably tell what you were really imagining!"
She was no stranger to how the stallions mind worked. It disgusted her more so then this creature, but she realized that was how life was. He grinned and tapped his hooves together.
"Such a clever mare. What a shame that all you gypsies do is make things so bright and joyful around here. Well no matter,"
He walked away with a triumphant smile, opening the door before speaking again.
"You've chosen a wonderful prison, but a prison non-the-less. Step even a hoof outside, and your mine!"
He slammed the door. She let her tears fall freely now. She held her eyes to slow them down, but to no avail. She collapsed to the floor, no strength left in her body after that moment. She looked up to the statue of worship for the Two Sisters, whispering something before blackness consumed her.
"Why?"