Equustale

by neorenamon

"If we had things like this in the Underground..." sighed Asriel as he looked over the side of the chariot they were riding in pulled by a pair of Royal Guard pegasi.

"I guess it's a classy way to get around," agreed Chara, "The best you could have hoped for was a Greater Dog sled."

"Huh?" he asked as he looked over his shoulder.

"Oh, it's nothing."

'Isn't it great that we'll have diplomatic relations with a nation of pastel ponies?' asked Frisk through her contact with Asriel's hand. They had been holding hands for some time since they mounted the chariot.

"They don't consider themselves monsters," he agreed, "but I feel like... there's a kinship between us and them."

"We seem to have more common with them than we do with the human race, don't we?" agreed Chara as she took Frisk's other hand in hers.

'Well we haven't seen everything about this pony society.'

"So... You think this society isn't all sweetness and light?"

'They say "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst",' she thought back.

"They do seem to have an odd mix of magic, science and social structure," added Asriel.

'How so?'

He looked down as he said, "Well we're passing over a steam locomotive right now, yet they still have carts and wagons that they pull themselves. We passed over a herd of cattle earlier, but they're vegetarian."

"Magic tends to mix things up," mused Chara. She leaned closer as she whispered in his ear, "After all, their magic seems to have replaced your lack of soul. I think I like the results."

"And it's given you a brand new body," he replied as he looked Chara over.

"How do you like the results?" she asked as she leaned back enough to let him see the swell of her chest.

"I... I definitely can't see you as the little kid I once knew."

"Funny. Thinking the same thing myself."

He sighed as he looked down at the train they were passing over. "But Chara... You're like my sister," he said slowly, "Why don't I think about you like that anymore?"

"Because we're related only by name, not by blood."

'I'm technically a Dreemurr as well.'

"We're molded by our experiences, after all. There's so much we've been through together. The kind of fire that forges the deepest of feelings. The tightest of bonds."

'Still I'd feel awkward trying to explain that to Mom and Dad.'

A quiet fell over the chariot for some time.

"Canterlot is coming into view!" called one of the Guards pulling the chariot.

"Wow," mused Chara, "A city built onto the side of a mountain? That's... pretty big."

'Look at all of those towers and spires.'

"A city fitting of royalty," agreed Asriel.

'It looks like Twilight and Shining Armor had a lot to catch up on,' mused Frisk as she looked towards the chariot flying alongside them. The two had been chatting up a storm ever since they left Ponyville with them.

Two more chariots carried the other Elements of Harmony. One for Applejack and Pinkie Pie, and another for Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity.

"It seems they've both been... rather busy with their work."

'I wonder if that's the way it is with Celestia and Luna?'

"You think they're related?"

'That was the impression I got when I touched Luna.'

"We shall be landing in the Royal Garden soon!" called the Guard, "The Princesses will be meeting you there!"

Asriel looked over the edge and took a white-knuckled grip on the chariot's rail with his free hand.

'Is... something wrong... Asriel?'

"Oh... ah... it's nothing!" he replied quickly.

She looked down into the garden. 'Is something about the garden bothering you?'

"Oh it's just a silly..."

"Those statues," mused Chara, "So... lifelike."

'Still too far away for me to sense effectively.'

"That one statue is really creepy though."

"It's some kind of monster," mused Asriel.

"That's strange even by Underground standards. Two kinds of horns. One arm has talons while the other has paws. Hind legs are different too: A goat leg and some kind of dragon leg. A serpentine body and tail, but the chest and torso appear to be fur covered. One side of his mouth has a large fang."

'So it's some kind of chimera, I guess.'

"Who would imagine such... a nightmarish creature?"

Asriel looked up and around.

'Something wrong?'

"I was half expecting some kind of snide comment to appear," he mused.

"Disappointed, are we?" replied Chara.

"Only... a little."

"Goodness. Look at all the ponies that have gathered to meet us," she said as she looked ahead.

"They've quite literally rolled out the red carpet for us, haven't they?" he said as he looked down on the red carpet rolled out as it stretched out to the length of a football field. No pony stood on the carpet, but Guards lined both sides. Beyond the guards lay no doubt the elite of Canterlot dressed in their finest. At the end was a wooden stand with thrones for both Celestia and Luna. The throne of Celestia seemed a bit larger and more impressive than that of Luna.

"Everyone's staring at us."

"Well we are the center of attention this day," agreed Asriel as they drew closer to landing.

'Something just... feels off.'

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about."

'Perhaps...'

The chariots flew in to land near the end of the carpet. Every pony was staring at them in wonder and curiosity. Everyone began to dismount from their rides as they looked ahead. Frisk noticed that Shining Armor was moving away from them to take his place among the Royal Guard. He was putting on his helmet as he walked.

"See you later, big brother!" called Twilight after him.

The chimera statue caught the attention of Frisk. She could see almost unimaginable amounts of power coursing through it from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. Stranger than that, it had a soul. It was... alive?! She broke her handholds with both Chara and Asriel as she stepped forward.

"Are you shedding?" asked Chara as she brushed a few loose hairs from his collar.

"Very funny," he mused as they walked to join Twilight and the others.

"Pretty amazing," said Twilight, "don't you think?"

"A great place for a party!" called Pinkie.

"She has party on the brain," mused Asriel, "doesn't she?"

"You make that sound like something bad," replied Chara.

"All in moderation."

"Say, where is the other one?" asked Twilight, "Frisk?"

They looked about. She was walking around the end of the line of guards and by the group of ponies that were at the end of the carpet. Her destination seemed to be the chimera statue.

"How are you speaking with us?" asked Asriel.

"Oh I studied a translation spell before we came here," she replied, "Now we can understand each other as long as you're within earshot of me."

"That's useful."

"But I wonder what she wants with that statue of Discord?"

"Discord?" asked Chara, "I thought that was a concept."

"Oh no, Discord is a real being. A creature of chaos and disorder. He was beaten more than a thousand years ago."

"Well I have to admit he looks like a chaotic mess."

"He caused no end of suffering and confusion when he ruled Equestria."

"Sounds like my kinda guy," she muttered.

Celestia and Luna seemed to be aware of the delay at the other end of the carpet, but seemed unaware of the cause.

"I didn't know Frisk had such a... strange taste in sculptures," she added as they began following Frisk.

"This seems to be more than just idle curiosity," observed Asriel.

"Maybe she just wants to see what it feels like," suggested Pinkie.

"It looks perfectly dreadful to me," sniffed Rarity.

"WAIT!" called Twilight, "Something's going on! Something... magical!"

A blue heart emerged from the statue's chest.

"It's like San's blue magic!" called Asriel, "But... how can a statue have a soul?!"

Frisk touched the soul and the statue at the same time. It began to glow brightly. The soul returned as beams of light began to burst from cracks forming in the torso of the statue.

"Pinkie sense!" called Pinkie Pie as she looked at her knee, "Something bad's going to happen!"

"I think it's a little late for that!" called Twilight as the area was engulfed in a bright burst of light.

...

Frisk found herself floating in a sea of white light.

"Well aren't you the precious one?" asked a voice behind her.

She turned to see the statue now quite alive and colorful. Very colorful.

'You're Discord, aren't you?' she replied.

"Why yes I am, and you're the one called Frisk?"

She nodded.

"So... this is what a human looks like, eh?" he replied, "Not terribly impressed, but I've... seen worse."

'Why were you trapped as a statue?'

"Oh, that's a long story that I'll tell you all about... some day. But right now, I have other matters to take care of." He raised a paw like he was going to snap his 'fingers', but paused. "Oh, and thank you for setting me free... even if you didn't intend to. Don't worry, when I restore chaos to the world, I'll be sure to thank you more properly."

'WAIT! I set you free because I sensed you are alone! You're trapped in your own ways!'

"Moi?! DISCORD?! Lonely?!" he hissed, "Surely you're mistaken! I NEED NO ONE!!"

'Everyone needs someone special!'

"You surely are... amusing... perhaps we'll talk more later, but I must go now... I'm sure you'll keep yourself amused until I return then." He snapped his 'fingers' and vanished.

He returned to the garden to hear a human female yelling, "Where's Frisk?! What have you done with her?!"

"Another human?" he replied, "How... amusing."

"Bring her back right now!" she hissed.

"Or what?!" he sneered, "You'll hurt my widdle feewings?!"

The whites of Chara's eyes turned black as blades appeared in her hands.

"Hold that thought, would you?" he said as he snapped his talons. A book appeared in his other paw. One that he simply swallowed whole.

Celestia and Luna were coming down the runway carpet as guards moved in from all sides.

"Discord!" called Celestia, "Don't move or I shall be forced to..."

"Don't make a promise you can't keep, Princess!" he replied.

"The Elements!" she replied, "They shall..."

"Oh those," he sneered, "Already been taken care of! Don't think you can stand a chance against me without them!" He turned to stare at the two of them as he added, "You know, I owe you two about a thousand years of suffering for what you did to me." Smiling, he added, "I was aware those thousand long years about what was going on around me. What was said in the garden by those who thought I was an ugly statue. The conversations you had with your little sister before she became... a total nightmare, shall we say?"

Luna stopped and shuddered at his words.

"We've both been wronged by Celestia," he added, "Perhaps you'd like to see some payback..."

"Celestia," replied Luna, "She has forgiven us for how we have wronged her. It was a fitting punishment..."

"Feh," he snorted, "You're no fun anymore. Maybe Nightmare Moon will feel differently?"

"Please," she begged, "Don't turn us back... into her!"

"GUARDS!!" called Celestia, "Protect the guests! Try to keep Discord contained!"

"You should really issue your Guards red shirts," mused Discord as he snapped his talons.

Celestia, Luna and all the Royal Guards suddenly found themselves wrapped neck to back hoof in black thorny vines.

"YOU SHALL NOT!.. MMMPPPHHH!" called Celestia as she was suddenly muzzled by more vines.

"She talks to much," he noted to no one in particular.

Black blades flashed by him as his arms fell off with a spray of black blood. He turned around as if he didn't feel anything and said, "If you want my attention so bad, you could have just asked." His arms floated up and flew at Chara. With the blades attached to her with thin chains and obeying her will, they cut the limbs to pieces. Many pieces.

To their surprise, the pieces turned to smoke as his arms just popped back out of his torso.

"I'm giving you ONE MORE CHANCE to give back MY FRISK!" she growled as her blades whirled about her hands. Her eyes bled black fluid, and it leaked from the sides of her mouth as well.

"Well, that look oddly suits you," he asked, "I guess that's just how ugly you look on the inside as well?"

"Twillie!" called Applejack, "Ain't ya got some kinda spell for this?!"

"I'm not that good!" she replied, "Not without my Element of Magic!"

"His chaos!" called Asriel, "It's warping the area around us!"

They realized the clouds were now made of cotton candy and chocolate milk was starting to rain down from them. The garden maze was turning tartan plaid in color and the pennants now all showed Discord's face on them.

"Well I guess it's time to stop being nice!" called Chara as she attacked him once more.

"Be careful!" he yelled after her, "His determination is much stronger than yours!"

"I don't know what determination is," answered Discord, "but I know I have a hellova lot more MAGIC than you!" He snapped his talons and a column of flame shot up from under her. Her clothing was ruined in an instant and she realized that one attack took away most of her HP. It hurt like heck.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" screamed Asriel as he lashed out at Discord with his CHAOS BREAKER lightning attack.

"Goodness," he sneered, "I felt that. You shall suffer for this, you strange creature."

"I AM ASRIEL DREEMURR!" he replied as he rushed to Chara's side, "PRINCE OF MONSTERS!"

"WELL I AM DISCORD!" replied the draconequus, "KING OF CHAOS!"

He used his power to heal Chara as he muttered, "I wish I was more skilled at healing like Mom."

"Fine," he mused, "I'll wait until you're done with her. Then I can take care of you, little one." He scratched his chin and added, "Why don't you attack me together? I want you to think you have a sporting chance, after all."

"Make... him... give... back... Frisk..." murmured Chara.

"What's so special about this Frisk?"

"I... love... her..."

"LOVE?!" he chuckled, "I have no use for that or friendship!"

"Get used to it!" replied Asriel, "Because I love her too!"

"Well if you want her back so bad... JUST DEFEAT ME!"

"If that's what you want, then that is what you'll get!"