“Thou art vanquished, demon.” Luna spat at the grotesque statue before her. Discord, former despot of Equestria, had been vanquished. All that remained was an effigy in his disfigured form, mocking the world still.
“Calm thyself, sister.” Celestia quickly rebuked Luna. “It is ignoble to display such contempt openly. Relish in our victory, dear sister, not in the destruction of our enemies; even one this foul. Other matters require our attentions now.”
“Thy words are true, sister. Forgive my outburst.” Luna looked at the grounds surrounding the castle. This land had been warped worst of all. The vegetation grew unbidden and wild, while the creatures had been transformed into monstrous visions of their former selves. Luna made a mental note to investigate the extent of the local damages later.
Luna drew a heavy breath and let loose a deep sigh. How could she not show contempt for Discord? His rule had left the land broken. Nature itself was nothing more than a cheap joke for his amusement, and even with is defeat the world suffered. Without Discord’s will sustaining the malefic status quo, the unnatural environment would degrade quickly. The world was in shambles. Luna could only guess at how many generations it would take to restore order. The ponies of the world – no, all the creatures of the world – have suffered too much. Luna’s anger could quietly seethe a while longer.
“Come, sister,” Celestia called over her shoulder to Luna, already making way toward the castle proper. “Equestria needs us.”
~<^>~
Oh, drat. My mouth isn’t moving, is it? None of me seems to be moving. Well that is offensively boring. Those silly, overgrown fillies will have to be a bit more clever than this to keep me down.
Discord readied himself, already eager for his triumphant return.
Just a hop, skip, and a magical jump and I…am...still stuck inside the stone.
That was unexpected. Huh, surprises are less fun when they’re happening to me. Who knew?
Maybe if I try to wiggle my wings just a little?
The statue that now played host to the avatar of disharmony remained still...
Nope.
Come on fingers, hoofs and tail!
and motionless.
Nope.
Can I at least summon some little gremlins to keep me company?
There was no familiar “pop” that Discord felt when his magic took effect. Only a few wispy clouds drifted overhead, as mundane as could be.
Nope.
Discord’s thinking was becoming frantic and agitated.
I can’t move and I can’t use magic. I don’t think I can feel anything, either. I’m not hot, or cold, or itchy, or anything. There’s just…a nothing; an emptiness where my body should be. I know it’s there, but it’s not telling me anything.
Come to think of it, I don’t hear anything, either. Shouldn’t there be cheering and celebrations happening? Those ponies have been trying to get rid of me for ages. I can’t even look around to see what’s happening. I really should have gone with “wide eyed menacing” stance instead of “nice try, losers, I’m amazing” pose. The way this is shaping up I doubt I’d be able to see at all anyway.
I’ll just rule out taste and smell. Losing three out of five is already bad enough.
Now, Discord was worked into a full panic.
I’m stuck here, inside my mind, alone, with nothing but my thoughts to keep my company.
This has to be temporary. They must know that I’m still aware inside here. They HAVE to know! They can’t leave me here like this forever. They can’t. They won’t.
I AM THE MONSTER! Not those blasted sisters. Those goody four-shoe fillies will drop me in a nice, secure cell somewhere and then break this petrification curse, or whatever it is. Of course they will; it’s the civil thing to do. Good ponies don’t torture their prisoners. They’ll come for me. I know they will. I just have to be…patient. How absolutely BORING!
Unless…
A maddening thought began to take shape in Discord’s increasingly fragile mind.
Unless they think I’m dead.
~<^>~
“Hold, Celestia!” Luna called back, her gaze fixed on the stone draconequus. Warily, she let her eyes move as she took wing to catch Celestia. “What should we do with this monstrosity? Surely it cannot be left out in the open. Perhaps we should toss it in Tartarus and do away with it for good?”
“No, I think not.” The elder sister replied, a little too quickly for Luna’s liking. "We should keep him where we, and everypony else, can watch him. He will stand testament to the horrors of chaos and disharmony. But, we shall deal with that in due time.”
~<^>~
Has it been a day? Perhaps a week? Maybe a month. I don’t know. There’s nothing keeping the time inside my head. No sun and moon to measure the day and night, no warmth or chill to give away the season.
Have they moved me? Did Celestia place me in a guarded cell for fear that I escape the stone, or has Luna cemented me in a public square for all the precious little ponies to gawk at?
Does any of it even matter? I don’t know. I don’t care. I’ll take the cell, the humiliation, community service; whatever punishments they can throw at me for the next ten thousand years! I just want out of this damned stone! I can’t take it anymore. This solitude is maddening, and I’m not very stable to begin with!
Celestia! Luna! Can you hear me?! Let me out of here!
Please…
Help me.
~<^>~
The winged unicorns had come from nowhere, wielding unheard of magic, and overthrew the Lord of Chaos. The terror known as Discord stood harmless in the gardens of Everfree Castle, proof of the Royal Sister’s dedication to peace and harmony. Celestia and Luna sat upon their thrones discussing matters of state with representatives from the towns and hamlets all over Equestria. For a brief moment their ears grew warm and their attention was drawn to the windows facing the garden. But as quickly as it had come, the sensation passed.
Neither princess paid the feeling further thought.
