Whimsyshire

Chimeras, Cockatrice, and Fillies Oh My!

The monk rolled out of the way as the deadly arcane beam disintegrated all the forest's vegetation it came into contact with. Vasilisa pulled out her fist blades and took a defensive stance as she began to chant one of Ytaar's sacred mantras to grant her increased regeneration. The monk was good, but she knew she was not getting near the wizard unscathed. Lihua may be arrogant, but she earned an increasing right to gloat with every demon she laid waste to, and that was no small amount. But Vasilisa could tell something was off, Lihua was too full of herself this time. The amalgamation of different creatures next to her must be at fault, perhaps some sort of demon?

"This is for your own good!" Vasilisa yelled as she summoned a spiritual bell in front of her and struck it with all of her might, causing seven images of her flying off, one straight for the Wizard who did not even have enough time to swear before being struck.

"Not bad I must admit... But not good enough!" The wizard choosing not to spend her precious split second on swearing had instead used it to coat her skin with a magical layer of diamond hard crystal to protect her. Wasting no time the wizard began a volley of arcane bolts upon the monk. Though most were dodged or merely missed, many still met their mark and Vasilisa was starting to show signs of fatigue as her bodies ability to heal itself was being strained.

Discord noticed the now sluggish movements of the white haired female that had followed him and his new toy back into this world. Wasting no time Discord closed in on her and pressed a digit from his lion's paw onto the monks forehead and let his chaotic magic seep into her mind to corrupt any and all flaws her personality might have.

"That will not work on me..."

"What the-" Discord began before being cut off by a kick that could shatter stone to his jaw. Were he not immortal the snapped vertebrate and pulverized skull might have killed him. Luckily though unlike Envy, Discord truly could survive a few minor abnormalities to his physical form. However, he did not want to face many more blows like that, lest his immortal essence be exposed without a physical shell to protect it.

Vasilisa was glad that her spiritual training had left her mind and soul empty of all evil. The broken demon before her had tried to twist her heart and mind to do its bidding, but it was no more. Vasilisa turned to Lihua who was looking around confused having regained her color.

"Your mind is in right place now, yes?" Vasilisa called over to the wizard, still keeping a safe distance just in case.

"H-huh? Yeah, I think... Umm,... Where are we again?" Lihua managed out as she pinched the bridge of her nose and screwed her eyes shut as a massive headache overtook her.

"That creature used its dark influence to shroud your mind and twist your heart." Vasilisa said pointing to the creature who's head was 180 degrees from where it belonged.

"What is it?" The wizard said, her curiosity outweighing her headache.

In response to this Discord's right arm came up and he snapped his fingers as he disappeared into a puff of smoke. The two women just stared at the spot the creature had once been in, then at eachother, then back to the empty spot on the forest floor.

"Not dead apparently..." Mumbled the monk.

Envy was preening her feathers as she held her royal court, nodding occasionally as reports were issued to her from all over her kingdom. Nothing truly out of the ordinary other than civil unrest as the news of the military loss spread. She truly hoped they took the news of Discord escaping were kept secret though, that would lead to widespread panic among the towns and cities.

Envy nodded and waved off the scroll bearing Griffin that had just finished her report from High Talon Peak, the closest settlement to where the Immortal King had claimed as his territory. The mayor had asked for an increase in guards and supplies in case they had to use the bunkers to defend the local populace.

"Send them the troops and supplies they requested, and keep couriers ready if the dogs and their new master attack. I want to know as soon as possible if they invade." Envy commanded to the newly appointed guard captain standing at attention to her right. The captain saluted and flew off to send the orders down the chain of command to have a detachment be sent off with resources for High Talon Peak.

"I guess I should actually thank Discord..." Envy said as she watched the courier and guard captain leave her alone in her throne room, "These fools couldn't run this kingdom without me..."

On cue, Discord's broken form snapped into existence sprawled on the floor in front of Envy, causing a startles squawk from the Griffin empress.

"Discord what in Tartarus happened to you?!" screeched Envy as Discord grabbed his head and twisted it back into place, followed by the sound of bones snapping together.

"Plah gaw wong" Discord struggled out of his limp jaw, earning a confused look from Envy. At this Discord screwed up his brow and looked down his snout as he used his magic to reform the bones in his face and repair the tendons and muscle in his face.

"Plan gone wrong, horribly wrong I fear..." Discord restated, a sullen look on his face.

"What... What did this to you? Dragons?" Envy said as she watched Discord check his face in a mirror he conjured from behind his back.

"No the blue flight is with us, but I payed the Immortal King's home world a visit and brought a few beings back with me. That did not work how i planned it." Admitted Discord as he glanced away from the mirror and to the gaping visage of Envy.

"Home world... of course..." Envy said as she broke her gaze away from Discord and looked down as she thought, eyes darting as she imagined what the news implied, "Is he an invading conqueror?"

"I can only imagine so, his home world was a magnificent place full of so much chaos even I was briefly overwhelmed by the feeling... But it was so dark and broken I wish not to associate myself with it again. I found a being there that I twisted to serve me, but it had an ally follow me back who was actually immune to my influence." Discord ranted on.

"Immune huh, how is that possible? Even the elements were turned by you I hear." Envy commented.

"Simply put, it had no chaos in its heart, no thoughts or urges outside what it views as morally right. Most likely a religious fanatic, isn't the first time but it's rare that I come across them. Especially ones willing to kick me in the jaw..." Discord explained rubbing his no longer damaged jaw.

"So what do you propose we do now? We don't have anyone able to fight on their level other than you the dragon elders and me. Will it be enough?"

"Not as it stands, we need to get you a boost of power..." Discord said thoughtfully.

"And how do we go about that?"

"You feed off the envy of your people. We use propaganda." Discord said as he snapped his fingers, now wearing an old fashioned printing press outfit.

A tapping sensation was all Thorne was aware of, and it was beginning to cause a small headache to form. The tapping was ever vigilant and the headache was ever growing, if it did not stop Thorne feared that he would lose his nerves. Where was it coming from? What was causing the tapping to occur?

With a start Thorne woke up as he realized the tapping was occuring on his forehead and what was hitting him felt like a rock. As Thorne rubbed his eyes to clear his blurred vision, he found the source of the tapping. Bannuk crouched over him, his right index finger extended and touching his forehead.

"W-Wha..." Thorne mumbled out.

"You were sleeping..." Bannuk said with a flat tone.

"No, I was keeping watch over you. I closed my eyes for a mere minute..." Thorne rubbed his aching head

"You reek of booze... And you have a grenade in your hand..." Bannuk's stare grew accusing.

"Oh... Well then..." Thorne said, looking down with bloodshot eyes to the orb in his hand.

Bannuk grunted in reply and smacked the Demon Hunter upside the head, causing the smaller man to go sprawling on the floor and drop the grenade that was loosely held in his hand. Said grenade skipped across the floor as it began to glow, increasing in intensity as it went until blowing a hole in the wall.

"What was that for! You could have blown us up if that landed closer to us!" Yelled a startled Thorne, now fully awake.

"You almost did, or were you not paying attention that you activated it in your sleep?" Bannuk grumbled as he stood up and stretched, letting out a deep and drawn out yawn, "Where's Ayida?"

"Gathering the bodies and making zombies no doubt. Provided we haven't both been asleep for too long." The Demon Hunter said as he picked up his bow and slung it over his shoulder.

The two ventured out of the house through the hole the bomb had created and beheld a large group of Diamond Dogs staring wide eyed at the hole and the groggy eyed duo. Thorne rubbed the back of his head and looked apologetically towards some of the dogs as Bannuk strode off towards where he could see Ayida working in the distance.

"Is there a problem my lord?" Offered a Diamond Dog to Bannuk as he strode past.

"No, merely a wake up exercise, it happens more than you would imagine." Bannuk said with a bored look on his face.

As Bannuk approached the Witch Doctor who was ordering around a rather large group of zombies something caused the old Barbarian to freeze in place and watch quietly. Ayida had stopped what she was saying mid sentence to a zombie, and had cocked her head to the side as if listening to something. Ayida then looked off into the forest with a scrutinizing glance before turning to address Bannuk.

"Did you feel that?" She asked.

"No, whatever magic you felt I did, and can not." Bannuk said bluntly, still not fond of the entire magic thing.

"Someone is channeling a lot of magical energy in there." Ayida said warily.

"Think it's that thing that interrupted my fight with Envy?" Bannuk said beginning to gain interest.

"No, his magic felt chaotic in nature, this feels more... arcane. Familiarly powerful as well." Ayida said with a small smile and glint in her eye.

Bannuk covered his face with his hand and shook his head, "No, please not that foolhardy brat..."

"Yes, that foolhardy brat."

"It wont work. We need to find that demon to get home. Seemed like only he could open the portal." Vasilisa said as she sat cross legged on the ground meditating.

"Nonsense, I simply need to exert myself more. This is but a trivial matter for one such as I." Lihua said as she stuck her nose into the air.

"You were just in your Archon form yes? If that did not do, then you can not do. Take a lesson from the holy teachings and show some patience. I'm sure we will either come across another demon who will lead us to the previous. Or we will find a new ally here who will help." The monk said as she stood up and put her hands on her hips as she looked at the wizard.

Lihua simply crossed her arms in front of her chest and stuck her tongue out at the monk before turning her back to where the portal once stood and walking off through the undergrowth.

"Are you sure that is the way to go?" Vasilisa inquired.

"No, but it is better than doing nothing." retorted Lihua.

As the two bickered and walked through the forest they went unaware of the small cockatrice that followed them. The beast stalked its would be prey for quite some time, waiting for its chance to strike. Normally cockatrice were known to pounce out of a bush without warning, but this one had learned. After failing to turn a yellow Pegasus into a statue, it had learned to wait for the perfect moment and see if it could handle its prey. The time would be soon, the two arguing strangers to the forest had stopped and were yelling at each other. As much as it wanted to be careful, the cockatrice knew that if it did not act soon another predator would be drawn in by the racket the two were making.

The cockatrice was seconds from pouncing when it stopped dead in its tracks, its petrifying red eyes shrank in fear as it saw the shadow of a chimera behind its once prey. The cockatrice hunkered down in the bush and stood its ground knowing it was well hidden and safe, unlike the prey.

"You always run off, and I always have to come and save you. If Bannuk were here he would be giving you stern scolding." Vasilisa said, her patience wearing thinner by the second.

"But he's not! Him and Ayida are lost somewhere and we will never find him. Especially not wherever we are now!" Yelled the wizard.

"Which is why I have to yell at you in his place. You need to slow down lest you take in more than you can chew. If I had not saved you who knows what that demon could have done." Vasilisa said as a pair of giant blazing red eyes opened in the darkness to her side.

The chimera took this opportunity to leap out and attempt to bite down on the monk. Unfortunately this was the wrong choice and as it closed its mouth all it got was pain as its teeth chipped and cracked on the steel gauntlets the monk wore. Vasilisa then did a back-flip kick into the chimera's jaw causing it to fracture, and the beast to lift its front legs into the air after its head. The wizard then launched a freezing ray, chilling the beasts blood until the entire chimera was covered in a sheet of ice. The monk then finished with a seven sided strike, a secret technique that channeled spiritual energy to increase speed and strength, and giving the appearance that seven attacks happened simultaneously. The frozen chimera shattered and hailed shards of blood and bone upon the forest floor.

"Where was I... Ah, yes. You need to keep your head calm, and not be so brash!" Vasilisa said, shaking a finger at Lihua.

"Wait... did you hear that?" The wizard said, raising a finger to silence the monk. The two of them listened intently to the now silent forest. Silent, except for the faint sound of rustling leaves.

"The bush, something is in it." Vasilisa said pointing a finger to a shaking bush.

Lihua readied a ball of arcane energy in case anything else decided to attack. Vasilisa in the meantime moved in slowly to check what was spying on them. The shaking only seemed to grow more violent with the closer she approached it. When she stood over the bush in reaching distance the shaking stopped and she paused with held breath. ready for an attack at any angle. A minute passed as she stared at the bush and the entire forest seemed to hold its breath with the monk as the silence dragged on.

Finally a small figure broke from the bush to run away but Vasilisa was too quick and jumped over it, pinning it to the ground with her right knee on its back and her left hand gripping the back of its neck, right arm poised above its skull ready to attack. The monk pulled her right arm farther back to ready a mighty blow when she was stopped by something most unexpected.

"Somepony help! Monster!" The voice of a small girl cried out from under Vasilisa. The sound of a child screaming in fear from under her caused the monk to loosen her grip for a mere second. But this was all it took the small yellow equine creature to wriggle out from under the monks grip. The filly was about to run when it was yanked into the air by its red tail by Vasilisa who held it in front of her face.

Vasilisa stared intently into the animals face, it looked like a small horse. But she as sure it had just talked to her. It looked frightened too, not the kind of frightened an animal gets, but the kind of fear you see in a child about to be attacked by something. Vasilisa took in these facts as Lihua walked up behind her to look at what she had caught. The filly looked with wide frightened eyes between the two strangers, tears building in the corner of her eyes.

"Applebloom where are you!" Called the voice of another young girl.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Called a third.

The monk turned her attention from where the noises had just come from to the whimpering pony she held in the air. She then shot a glance back to Lihua who merely shrugged. A startled gasp rung out and then Vasilisa could feel a soft tapping on her boots that caused her to look away from Lihua and down to an orange filly kicking her shins.

"Let her go you big meanie!" The orange one said, tears of fear running down her face but determination in her voice.

"Did... Did that thing just talk?" Exclaimed Lihua.

"By Ytaar, I have read of many species capable of speech and intelligence like us, but never have I read of talking ponies." The monk said with wide eyes as she lowered herself to look the orange filly in the eye while keeping the yellow one held in the air.

"Does that horse have wings?" Lihua commented with interest.

"Pony, body structure is much smaller than a horse." Corrected the monk, turning her attention away form the filly still kicking her shins.

"Let her go or I will go tell Bannuk on you and he will beat you up!" The orange one screamed.

Vasilisa and Lihua froze staring at each other, eyes wide and pupils now pinpricks. Vasilisa's left hand shot for the orange one and grabbed it around the chest under the forelegs and lifted it into the air as she stood up and addressed it.

"What... Did you just say?" Vasilisa spoke slowly and clearly. Tears were freely falling down the fillies face as it rethought what it had just said.

Vasilisa shook the pony with a scowl, only unleashing a torrent of sniffling as it tried to stop crying.

"That can't be coincidence, Bannuk is not a name you hear anywhere but in the barbarian tribes of Arreat." Lihua commented.

"Where is he?" Vasilisa said again.

"...." The filly whined and looked to her friend who was too scared to make any noise.

"Where is the old fool?" Lihua joined in on the questioning.

The orange one gulped and tried to speak in vane for a few seconds before finally regaining her voice, "Please don't hurt us."

"I promise no harm will come of you, just tell me where my friend is." Vasilisa said firmly.

The fillies exchanged glances before the yellow one finally spoke up, "Scoots did it just say Bannuk was its friend?"

"Yeah, now that you mention it they do look really alike... But they aren't as big as Bannuk, and they are a lot paler than Ayida..." Scootaloo said.

"Ayida is here too!?" Exclaimed Lihua startling the fillies.

"Y-yeah, they live that way." Scootaloo said pointing off into the forest, and coincidentally where a shaking white filly was hunched down.

Vasilisa dropped the two fillies onto the forest floor and they landed with a dull thud, Scootaloo rubbing her rump where she landed and Applebloom rubbing her head.

"Lead the way." Vasilisa said to the fillies.