Rip Off the Wings of a Butterfly

Chapters

The Chaos Lord and the Night Princess
Who Is to Blame for the War-Stricken Dead?
All for the Vain Illusion of Strife
Night’s Wrath Unearths the Slender Thread
No Friendly Drop to Help Me After
When the Moon Burns and Twilight Whispers at the Edge of Night

The Chaos Lord and the Night Princess

Princess Luna headed for the long table in the currently empty Great Hall—empty, that was, save for her sister and liege-mare, Princess Celestia. The lamplight shone on the rainbow waterfall of her long mane as it tumbled about her shoulders and over her withers, reflected off the golden crown set above her spiraling ivory horn and the golden torque about her throat. The moment Luna's hoofsteps echoed off the smooth stone floor, Celestia turned to her sister with beseeching mauve eyes.

"Well?" The princess asked softly when the other alicorn settled onto the bench beside her. She reached out and touched Luna’s slender, midnight hoof with hers. "Did you learn anything? You two seemed to be growing so close; did he say anything to you?"

The princess bit back a sigh. Her sister and young Twilight Sparkle had asked her to take on the heavy task of spying on Discord in an attempt to discern something in regards to what Discord had done in Canterlot and before, in Ponyville, during Twilight’s time visiting the Crystal Empire. After receiving bizarre reports of the draconequus's behavior over the last few months, the four alicorn princesses—Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight—had deemed it prudent to discover more…if it was possible. So they had sent Luna, the one who had first convinced Celestia all those years ago to give Discord the same chance she had once been given.

"He…spoke to me," Luna murmured. Which was fairly astonishing in and of itself. Discord hadn't said a word to anyone in the nine months he'd been imprisoned in Celestia's dungeons, except to make a few innocuous requests of Lady Rarity, and only because the unicorn was—literally—the soul of generosity itself. "But the things he said…" Luna shook her head. It's Twilight’s fault, damn her! Hers and Celestia’s and yours…and mine…"I did not understand him."

Frowning, Celestia nuzzled her sister’s shoulder. "Tell me what happened, Sister. Perhaps I might be able to make sense of things."

Discord had once been close to Celestia, Luna acknowledged silently, before he’d turned against the royal sisters centuries past. Perhaps the ruler of Equestria had the right of it. Clearing her throat, Luna began, "I went to the dungeons as we'd agreed. All was silent, except for the sound of a pencil against paper…"

Scritch-scritch-scritch.

The gentle scrape of charcoal against parchment was the only sound in the vast corridor, save for the crackling of the torches in their wall sconces and the snap of flames in the hearth of one of the cells.

Most prisoners of Equestria's high princess couldn't lay claim to a fireplace, or a sumptuous bed draped in russet and gray, or a table with a blown-glass oil lamp giving off the softest rosy glow. Most prisoners weren't given books, sheaves of paper, bottles of ink, the finest quill pens, and sticks of charcoal to amuse themselves with during the long days of their captivity.

But then, most prisoners weren't Discord, former ally of the Princess of the Sun, the Princess of the Moon, and the Princess of Magic.

Luna watched Discord from the shadows beyond the torchlight. Her sister’s old friend bent industriously over the black-wood table, sketching something. Snow-white brows knitted together, fangs clenched, Discord worked almost feverishly at a drawing the midnight alicorn couldn't see. Golden lion claws grasped the stick of charcoal so forcefully Luna was surprised it didn't snap in his grip.

Discord leaned closer to the table, his shaggy pelt spilling like liquid dust over his shoulders and across his brow; the draconequus hadn’t allowed anyone to trim his fur in months. The alicorn noticed that Discord’s extra-long fang had sunk so hard into his lower lip with his concentration that a pearl of blood had risen up, dampening the hair.

Suddenly Discord stopped, jerking to a halt as if frozen. He stared down at the sketch, brow furrowed, face utterly bloodless. Lambent eyes blazed with something that might have been madness…or anguish. The charcoal pencil fell from his claws to hit the floor. He swallowed audibly; Luna heard it even from where she stood. A trembling claw-tip stretched out to caress down the length of the parchment in a strange pattern.

Luna frowned. The guards had spoken to Celestia and Luna about this odd behavior, and neither princess could account for it. Cadence, Twilight, Celestia, and even Lord Shining Armor had considered it Luna's duty—as the one closest to Discord—to investigate. So here she was, and the utter desolation on Discord's face astonished her. The guards had said nothing about that. What was the drawing of—what could it be of—that it moved Discord this way? Luna was about to open her mouth to call out to the draconequus, forgetting momentarily the need for silence and secrecy, when Discord lunged to his feet, snatched up the drawing, and making three quick strides to the hearth, cast it into the flames. Then he half-crouched, half-fell before the fireplace to watch the paper burn to ash and smoke.

"What do they know of darkness?" Discord rasped to the fire. One hand lay on his knee, gripping so tight the knuckles of his claws stood out stark against the scaly fingers. "What do they know of the choking blackness of the void? What do they know of isolation? Nothing." He bowed his head. A tremor shivered through his tall, twisting frame. "Nothing at all."

"Discord?" Luna could remain silent no longer. Stepping from the shadows of the prison corridor into the sienna light of the flickering torches, she approached the enchanted bars that separated the draconequus from the outside world.

Discord's head whipped around. Something savage flashed across the gaunt before he smoothed his features to careful blankness. He rose slowly to his feet. The patchy fur and stringy burgundy feathers covering his thin body made him seem even longer and leaner than normal. Almost sickly. Discord arched one knife-thin ivory brow at the princess.

"Come to keep me company, Your Highness?" A small smile played at the corner of Discord's mouth. "Come to ease my loneliness?"

Luna scowled. Any touch of sympathy or concern she'd felt evaporated like night mist in the morning sun at the draconequus’s words. "Do not mock me, Discord. I came merely to see what mischief you might be getting up to, what chaos you’re brewing."

Slender but powerful shoulders lifted in a nonchalant shrug. "Another coup, as you can plainly see," he replied with a familiar—and irritating—smirk. "Even within the walls of the stoutest prison, a draconquus can conquer the world." A shadow appeared to flit across golden eyes. Discord's arrogance seemed to falter, and the smirk wilted at the edges. "Yes…with loyalty and conviction, or even merely with desperation at his side…or perhaps madness…"

"Don't pretend you're being clever," Luna snapped. There was something about Discord's words that left her unsettled. She let that unease morph into anger buzzing like hornets in her blood. "What would you know of loyalty? After betraying us once and being given a second chance, you turned on us once more."

With another mercurial shift of temper, the chaos lord spun on his heel with a wordless snarl and paced the length of his cell. Every movement snapped and jerked with edgy tension. Luna suppressed another surge of unease. Until his incarceration here in Canterlot, Discord had never been so…changeable. So quick to spin from one mood to another. When rage had taken him in the past, there had always been a build-up, some signs of warning—during those rare instances where he even became truly angry, instead of treating the world around him like an amusing toy. There had never been this rabid fury that seemed to spring from nowhere.

Perhaps Twilight Sparkle had been right all those months ago when she'd claimed Discord had gone mad. Mayhap Discord had truly succumbed to actual madness…

Desperation…or perhaps madness…

"What do I know of loyalty?" Discord asked softly. Rage—and something else, something dark and cold and terrible, something Luna did not wish to examine too closely—gave the mild words a razor's edge. "When have I ever stolen something truly precious to you, Luna? To you or Celestia? To Cadence or that traitorous bitch, Twilight Sparkle?"

"You tried to kill us, Discord. I deem my life very precious, thank you."

To her amazement—and fury—Discord scoffed at the accusation.

"Let us say I did," Discord hissed, reminding Luna that the draconequus had never actually admitted that he'd tried to kill the princesses during his invasion of Canterlot. "What of it? It was a conflict betwixt the five of us, no one else."

Now it was Luna who scoffed. "So those innocent people whose homes you destroyed—"

Discord held up a sharp claw. "Homes, you said. Was anyone killed?"

Luna lifted her chin in challenge. "I was. Your little chaos-bomb broke my neck. If not for Twilight’s spells, I would have died. What say you to that?"

"I say that my point has been made: I attacked you alicorns, and no other pony.”

The princess bit back something savage. More than a year ago, after that day when the Guardians of Harmony had unlocked Discord’s stone prison and made him flesh once more, after he’d vanished from Equestria while Celestia’s attention was diverted…then he’d returned to Canterlot, at the head of a wave of darkness that had swept over the village of Ponyville before flooding the city of Canterlot.

Changelings. Discord had returned to Canterlot at the head of an army of changelings. Luna and Celestia had been certain after the royal wedding that they would never see the changelings again, that Chrysalis had been defeated. But they had come, wave upon torrential wave of buzzing empty blackness ready to suck up the love and magic of Canterlot’s people and twist it into darkness and evil. Riding at their head on the back of a night-manticore had been Discord himself, garbed for once in armor of chitinous black spikes, wielding a black staff glowing with the emerald-blue light of ravenous changeling magic.

If they’d had all six of the Guardians of Harmony there, the tide could’ve been turned with far less bloodshed. But one of their own had gone missing, and so Canterlot had been forced to rely on its princesses and the remaining four Guardians instead. And so too many ponies had died. Luna still remembered the aftermath of the battle, the corpses stacked in the streets like cordwood, blood running like water over the cobblestones. Her horn still bore a gouge taken by Chrysalis’s own spiked horn during the sorcerous duel between the changeling queen and the Night Princess.

“Your chaos creatures attacked the Guardians of Harmony—” Luna began.

“They only attacked the Guardians because they sought to interfere with them, which you allowed. I kept the combat between the five of us. I never killed someone in an attempt to get at you. I kept it between you princesses and me, involving no one else!"

"We involved no one else!" Luna protested.

"Liar!" Discord roared suddenly, with enough venom that Luna actually stepped back from him. The guards shifted restlessly. Luna tried to speak, but now whatever words had been festering inside the chaos lord spewed forth, and would not be halted by anything Luna could do.

"It's your fault, damn you! Your fault the Changelings…" Discord dropped back against the white stone wall of his prison and slumped to the floor, defeat etched in every line of his face, every angle of his body. "Your fault…Twilight and Celestia’s…and mine. The slaughter, the pain, all that innocent blood…all of it for nothing, and all because you couldn't just leave me alone."

Luna took a single step toward the draconequus. She locked her shaking legs before she threw aside sense and launched herself at the bars. Rage and disbelief twined together in a thorny tangle in her breast. "Leave you alone? Leave you alone?" Luna's voice shifted to a sepulchral snarl with every word. "Let you butcher helpless ponies, slaughter countless innocents, so that you, in your arrogance and callous disregard for life, could rule Equestria with Chrysalis at your side? I should have let you destroy an entire world, all so that you could be their king?"

"No!" Discord roared back, surging to his feet. Wild-eyed, the chaos lord yelled, "I was trying to save them!"

"Save who? The ponies of Canterlot and Ponyville? You mowed them down without a thought, without one regret!" Venom had been building up in Luna as well. She didn't know how long it had been fermenting inside her—since learning of Discord's betrayal? His attempt to steal the Equestrian throne? Since he'd murdered Zephyr Breeze?—but she would spill that poison now, and let Discord drink it to the dregs. "You're a liar, a murderer, a traitor! You attempted to save no one except yourself!" Discord jerked, recoiling as if he'd been stabbed. "Who were you trying to save, and for what?" Luna demanded, voice dripping derision. "Hmmm? Answer me if you can! And tell the truth for once!"

At first she thought Discord would fly at her, attempt to hurl some spell despite the shielding on the bars protecting her and dampening Discord's chaos magic. Twilight and Celestia had laid those spells themselves, but there was always a chance the magic could break. For several heartbeats, a twisted expression of half-mad—rage? Pain? Turmoil?—twisted Discord's face. His eyes burned scarlet as firelight through rubies at Luna. But he didn't try to attack the princess. Instead, he merely trudged back to the table and slumped heavily into the chair. He dropped his head into his claws. Sighed.

"Yes…I know I'm a murderer, Your Highness. Well I know it. Do I despise myself for it? Do I mourn the blood dripping from my claws?" Discord lifted his head, draping his arms across his thighs. His claws dangled limply between his knees. He scoffed softly at the Princess of the Night. "You've already decided that. What hope is there of changing your mind? I don’t think there is any. And a liar…so is Celestia, yet you don't hold it against her. As for treachery, well, my loyalty belongs to somepony else. That's all there is to it, I'm afraid."

"To who?" Luna demanded. "To Chrysalis?"

A bitter, humorless smile twisted Discord's mouth. "No. She will die one day, by my claws, for what she did to…" The anguished expression he'd worn when studying the burned drawing returned. Something cold pulsed like an ache in Luna's chest. What made Discord look like that? "…to them," Discord concluded in a voice that was nearly a whisper.

Baffled now, the anger draining away to leave her slightly numb and out of breath, the dark-maned princess demanded, "To who, Discord? Who are you talking about?"

When Discord lifted his head to look at Luna, Luna found herself speechless. The look of bitter, icy hate in the chaos lord’s eyes was like a blow to the belly. Even in the midst of their battles, there had never been this deathly-cold loathing in the draconequus’s eyes.

"Your ignorance is no excuse," Discord spat. "Their blood is still on your hooves. On the hooves of Chrysalis and her minions. And," here his voice dropped to a broken rasp, "and on my own claws." Turning from his bewildered audience, he added softly, "I know what my sins are. They’re carved into my flesh and bones. Go away, Luna. Stop torturing me and just go away."

"Discord…" But her old friend did not turn back. Feeling as if something vital was even now slipping from her grasp, Luna murmured, "I will be back to finish this later, Discord. I will expect an answer to my question." With an oddly heavy heart, the princess turned and walked away.

Bewildered, Celestia listened to her sister's recitation to the end. Shook her head.

"I…I don't know what he could mean, who he could mean." Tracing the silky smooth grain of the table with the edge of a hoof, frowning, she shook her head again. "I cannot fathom what Discord means, except that…perhaps he somehow blames you, us, for the deaths of the ponies during the conflict."

Luna scowled. "It was hardly our fault he decided to invade with an army of savage changelings ready to slaughter anyone they came across. He'd have to be mad to blame me for that."

In a voice as soft as falling snow, Celestia murmured, "Perhaps…perhaps he truly is mad."

The scowl melted from Luna's face and she sighed. Pressing her muzzle to her sister's shoulder in tender reassurance, she said, "Don't worry, Sister. I will go back to him tomorrow and see if he'll speak to me again. Maybe we can discover something."

"What hope is there for Discord, Luna?"

She didn't know. The only one who could’ve told them had vanished months ago, lost…somewhere. But if there was hope for her old friend, the draconequus who’d taught Luna so much of magic and midnight centuries ago…the Night Princess vowed silently that she would find it.

TBC

Author's Note

So…that's my prologue. What do you guys think? Let me know! I love reviews/critiques, and I love to hear from my readers.

Some of you are probably wondering what's up with my other fanfic, To Wake the Stars at Twilight. I'm revamping it based on the latest seasons of MLP, but also life just got in the way. Work and such. I was pulling 45-70 hour work weeks for a while, blargh. But now I have some time on my hands because I got fired from my job (joy) for, of all the ridiculous things, being disabled and autistic. *sigh*

Also, don't worry. Unlike To Wake the Stars at Twilight, this fic is actually complete and I'll be updating on a schedule (2x a week - Monday and Friday) until the whole thing is up.

Check me out on Patreon for more neat stuff!

Who Is to Blame for the War-Stricken Dead?

Luna studied her ashen reflection in the looking glass of her bedchamber, wondering what she was doing. Was she really going to go back to see Discord again? She'd been to visit her former old friend in the dungeons every day for the last two fortnights—ever since Discord's startling accusation that blood of someone, perhaps those ponies killed during the Changeling invasion, was on Luna's hooves as well as the chaos lord's claws—but Discord had said not a word since then. Luna had by turns pleaded, threatened, and cajoled, all to no avail. The draconequus would say nothing, do nothing, while Luna was present in the dungeon corridor outside his cell. The moment Discord heard the sound of her hoofbeats, he would stop whatever he was doing and sit, silent and immobile, in a chair staring into the fire.

A draconequus at rest outside of a containment spell was unnatural. It left an odd itch between Luna’s shoulders. And she couldn’t infiltrate his dreams. Somehow, despite the magic-dampening spells on his prison bars, he was blocking her out.

With a sigh, the Princess of the Night leaned back until her head touched the cold stone wall. She closed her eyes wearily. Only the distant roar of the sea and the chirp of crickets singing farewell to the day broke the silence of her bedroom. It gave Luna the quiet she needed to think. What could she do this evening that she hadn't done over the last four weeks? What could coax Discord into explaining himself?

A soft knock at her door pulled Luna from her musings. Tossing the waterfall of starlit mane over her shoulder, she called, "Enter." At her entreaty, Princess Cadence stepped into the room. Immediately upon seeing Cadence, some of Luna's tension eased.

"Good evening, Luna," Cadence said softly, her gentle voice like velvet warming the room.

It still surprised Luna how much the second-youngest princess had grown up. She stilled remembered when it had been little Cadence running on her short filly's legs in a hopeless effort to chase down Luna, Celestia, and Blueblood in an effort to join in on the revelries of the older princesses and prince. Now Cadence had become a full-grown mare—tall, elegant, already blooded in the First Battle of the Changelings during her own wedding, and with the magical strength and noble bearing of one of Esquestria’s alicorns.

"Good evening, Princess Cadence."

"Are you going to see Discord today?" Cadence asked when Luna said nothing more. "Has he spoken again?" Luna shook her head, and Cadence sighed. "Celestia seems positive you can do something with him where the rest of us have failed. What do you think?"

A small pain was beginning to throb behind the older mare’s left eye. Trying to block it out, Luna replied, "I know not what can be done with him, if anything. I don't even know if his words to me before have any bearing on his treachery, or if he seeks to play with my mind. I simply do not know. If Celestia can get nothing from him…" Luna shrugged almost helplessly. "I don't know."

Cadence nodded, dropping her head a little. Her violet eyes—nearly the same color as Celestia’s—darkened with worry. "Well, I know one thing—do not let Blueblood near him again, or there’s going to be a fight."

Luna arched an eyebrow. "He's in prison. And Blueblood is not so foolish as to let Discord goad him into breaking into his cell in order to—"

"Discord’s not the one goading Blueblood," Cadence interrupted. Luna's brow furrowed. "Blueblood keeps trying to get information out of him by taunting him. He’ll catch Discord drawing…whatever he’s always drawing and deliberately provoke him. Discord hasn’t responded overtly…yet. But there’s trouble brewing if Blueblood keeps it up."

"Have you spoken to Celestia about this?"

The younger princess nodded. "You know how she is about Discord. And you know Blueblood almost never listens to her, anyway. I thought about talking to Twilight, but with Fluttershy missing…"

The sigh that came from Luna then seemed to hold all the weight she felt down to her very bones. Things had been so simple that long ago day when she’d talked her sister into freeing their old friend from his stone prison. When had the world become so tangled?

If Fluttershy had been here, she could’ve done something. Fluttershy was the soul of kindness. Celestia had been positive that day that if any of the Guardians of Harmony could break through to the old Discord, Fluttershy could. But the shy, gentle Pegasus hadn’t been seen or heard from in over two years. At this rate, Luna and the others of Celestia’s inner circle feared the worst.

Well, perhaps today would be the day Discord finally gave Luna some answers. Trying to hold onto that slim, flickering hope, Luna rose to her hooves, bade the other princess goodbye, and went to visit the chaos lord who’d once been her friend and teacher.

Discord was drawing again. Luna had made sure to keep as silent as possible when drawing nigh the chaos lord's cell this time, and Discord was distracted enough by his task that he didn't seem to notice Luna's stealthy approach through the shadows of the corridor. The princess took a moment to observe Discord from the safety of those shadows.

Every move he made was fraught with an electric, frenetic energy. His tawny eyes burned as they darted over the paper. His face-fur bristled, and a bright crimson drop stood out against Discord's mouth again, drawn by that single extra-long fang. The claw holding the charcoal sketching stick practically flew across the page as if on demonic wings. Discord's breath came in half-choked little gasps.

He was so different now. No sly amusement, no tricks, no teasing. None of it. He was as somber as Twilight Sparkle at her studies, but as vicious as Chrysalis herself. Why? Even during his first betrayal centuries ago and during that battle with the Guardians of Harmony when he’d first broken free of his stone prison, he’d kept that sly, half-cruel amusement. Where was it now?

Suddenly, as before, Discord stopped. He stared at the drawing as if searching for something, some miniscule detail on which hung the very fate of the cosmos. Wrinkles formed between his thin, white brows as they knitted together. His lips moved soundlessly. It took Luna a long moment to realize he was mouthing the word "no" over and over again; that and another word she couldn't quite make out.

A look of helpless confusion flitted across the draconequus’s wan face, followed swiftly by anger edged with what might have been despair. Discord dropped his face into his claws. He crushed the charcoal stick; it broke in half with a muffled snap. The pieces clattered to the table top and rolled slowly over the smooth surface before slipping off and falling to the floor. Discord's empty claws convulsed into a fist so tight it visibly shook. He pressed it hard against the table until Luna heard the wood creak.

At last Discord lifted his head to stare once more with broken eyes at the drawing. "Memory fades so fast," Discord breathed. "Why can’t I remember something so easy? Something so important? In Maelstrom’s name and for Pandemonium’s sake…why can’t not remember?"

Maelstrom and Pandemonium, Luna thought. Maelstrom, the pegasus god of chaotic storms, and Pandemonium, the primordial god of the draconequus. When was the last time she’d heard Discord call upon the gods? Any of the gods? And why Maelstrom? Discord was no pegasus…

He clamped his lips together. Squeezed his eyes shut. His face contorted as if in pain. With a muffled, wordless cry he snatched up the picture and crumpled it into a ball. He surged to hoof and paw—unsteadily, Luna noticed. Stalking to the sullen fire, Discord made as if to cast the drawing into the flames…but then he hesitated. With trembling claws he unfolded the crumpled drawing; gazed down at it with a blank face, though his eyes were alive, alight with something like desperation.

Discord took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, with a shudder. He shook his head. "No," Discord said softly. "No. It isn't right. It won’t…work." With those opaque words, the chaos lord balled the paper up again, but he moved as if it were the hardest thing he had ever done. And instead of hurling the paper into the flames, he held out his claws, palm up, and let the drawing slip from his grasp to land in the fire.

While the paper crackled and burned, Discord leaned his forearm against the fireplace mantel. Swallowed audibly. Then he leaned his forehead against his arm. His shoulders slumped. He raised a fist and thumped it once against the marble mantel.

Luna could bear it no longer. As before, the princess stepped into the light. "Discord."

He didn't turn around, which Luna had half-expected, half-dreaded. She hadn't expected Discord to mutter, "Why are you back here, Luna? What do you want?"

"Are you…all right?" She couldn't forget the haunted—and haunting—look on his face.

But to her incredulous irritation, Discord turned to her with that smirk twisting his features. He laughed openly at Luna. "Am I all right? Luna, I'm in prison. No offense, of course, Your Nightliness, but that's a really stupid question."

Fury washed through the princess. "Forgive my foolishness. Of course civilities are wasted on common criminals."

That smirk carved deeper across Discord's face. The once-anguished eyes twinkled with mocking amusement. Had Luna only imagined the sorrow in Discord's face before he'd burned the drawing? Surely not…but there was no trace of any deep emotion now as he chuckled and replied, "Your wit hasn't improved while I've been imprisoned, Luna. Is that why you've come today? Trying to sharpen that rapier wit?"

In that moment Luna came to a decision. She'd avoided confronting Discord flat out about the drawings themselves, instead asking about the things he'd said the last time they'd spoken. She hadn't wished to see that look of vicious pain on his face again. But she would not stand here and be mocked for her trouble, either. If Discord wished to contest with her, Luna would strike at his heart.

"Were you not satisfied with this latest drawing, Discord?" Luna asked casually, striding toward the ensorcelled bars that separated her from his foster brother. "Did it not please you?"

The effect on Discord was immediate: what little color that had come back into his face while verbally sparring with Luna drained away, his eyes snapped wide, tension gripped his entire body, and his lips parted slightly as if he'd been stunned. Then he seemed to recover himself. Gritting his fangs, he glared at Luna. His gaze was like a topaz knife.

"That’s none of your business."

"Oh?" Luna shrugged. "It was a simple question, Discord." When he said nothing, Luna narrowed her eyes. "I'll get answers out of you eventually. You cannot put me off forever."

Discord scoffed. "Oh, can't I? Don't you have better things to do? Primping in front of the mirror for your little Night Guard, for example? Surely you want to look your best for him. Perhaps you should go and polish the spike on your war helmet."

"Leave Duskspear out of this," Luna snapped, a sudden surge of protective rage boiling in her chest. Duskspear, the Captain of the Night Guard, the pishacha pony who’d come all the way from Vineighhas to join the royal guard. Duskspear, who’d spent countless months carefully courting the Princess of the Night. "You berate me for involving others in a conflict between us, then attempt to use him against me—"

"Hypocrite," Discord snarled softly. "So you're allowed to attempt to use my weaknesses against me, eh, Your Nightliness? But when I hit back with the same tactic, you throw a little royal tantrum?"

Through gritted teeth, the midnight-maned princess said, "There is a vast difference between asking you a difficult question and threatening a stallion I care for. You will not harm Duskspear, Discord. So much as attempt it, and old friend or no, helpless prisoner or no, I will kill you. Do you understand?"

Eyes like sunlight through amber glass flickered. "A difference? No, there really isn't. Not in the end," Discord murmured, and once again Luna had the impression of trying to catch something precious but elusive in her grasp. Then Discord shook off whatever melancholy had softened his demeanor and smirked at Luna. "Besides, I never threatened him. I may have mentioned a time or two that I might pay him a visit one day, but that was merely to get you to do what I wanted. Even you should’ve been able to see that. And I wasn't threatening him just now, either. Just proving a point. I can put you off for eternity if I need to. You might as well give up whatever futile quest you've come here on and leave me in relative peace."

"It was a simple question, Discord. Were you displeased with the drawing? Forgetting a detail, perhaps?" As Luna spoke, Discord's lips pressed tighter and tighter together. The cocky smirk had vanished like a ghost. "Something you can't remember interfering?"

Voice hoarse and strained, the draconequus hissed, "You were listening. Spying on me!"

Luna's shrug was completely unapologetic. "My only recourse," she said, "when you refuse to tell me what I wish to know."

Discord's face went blank. In a carefully neutral tone, he said, "Very well. I wasn’t satisfied with the drawing. It’s difficult to draw something so detailed from memory, even for someone with my skills. Even I make mistakes, hard as it is to fathom. Satisfied?" The last word was spat as if it were poison.

"What were you drawing?"

Discord's expression hardened. "Getting a bit greedy, aren't we?" Luna merely shrugged…and waited. She kept her eyes trained on Discord as he glared at her with that same icy hatred Luna had seen before, the loathing that frosted Luna's blood and squeezed her heart like King Sombra's own bitter-cold grip. Finally Discord said, "There is nothing in all of Equus itself that you could offer that would compel me to tell you."

After a carefully measured pause, Luna asked, "What about your freedom?"

He laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. Only bitterness like wormwood. "My freedom is not in your power to give. Nor," he added sharply, "is it within the purview of the Princess of the Sun. Not my real freedom. No one can give me that." His voice dropped low, almost musing. "The fetters that bind me are stronger than any Celestia could make."

"Why do you always throw your drawings into the fire?" Luna asked. She wanted to demand Discord explain himself, explain his words of fetters and guilt and innocent blood. Explain why nothing was worth his giving Luna the information she wanted. Instead she focused on the subject that seemed to draw Discord out of himself the most. "Why not keep them? Surely you do not despise your failures so much that they must be destroyed. I remember your skill with pencil and brush from when I was a foal. Even with small mistakes, the work would be well-done."

A sneer twisted Discord's face. "Because I know you want to see them, so I make sure you cannot. I delight in vexing you, little moon."

Luna scoffed. "You're acting like a foal."

"Do not speak to me of foals!" Discord roared suddenly. The fury blazing like golden fire in his gaze, the hatred searing in his voice, nearly made Luna step back. Taking a shaking step toward the mare, Discord shouted, "How dare you? How dare you?"

"If you don't want me to call you a foal," she replied scathingly, using acid to mask her sudden unease, "don't act like one." Why, Luna wondered, had the juvenile insult enraged Discord so much? Here was another of those mercurial shifts in temper Discord had begun to display. What about the comment had enraged him this time? Was it simply that he was so proud, looked down on Luna so much, that he took grave insult if Luna said anything negative about him? It made no sense…

And Discord didn't reply to Luna's latest retort, either; only spun with a meaty thwack of his thick, scaly tail to glare at the fire as it slowly began to die. Silence stretched taut and heavy between the brothers. Finally Luna sighed.

"Discord, old friend…I do not wish to fight with you. Why must you make this a battle?"

It took a few moments for Discord to respond. When he did, Luna was surprised by his words. "Do you know what it’s like to fight every moment of every day of your life? To see battles looming when others tell you there's nothing there, that you’re just imagining things? And then you have to fight them, knowing that nothing you do will ever just make it end?" Discord shook his head, never taking his eyes from the flames. "When you live on a battlefield, you don’t willingly remove even a single piece of your armor. You should know that, Luna."

Luna took another step toward the bars. She could feel the magic of it as soft prickles along her skin that made her cobalt hairs stand up, as a dull ache in her teeth. Ignoring it, she took yet another step. Took a breath.

"I have never harmed you, Discord, save when you attacked first. Why do you think I seek to hurt you?"

"You've already dealt the fatal blow, Luna. You and Celestia and Mi Amore Cadenza and Twilight Sparkle. Ever since you defeated me during the Second Changeling Invasion, I’ve been bleeding to death from it. Why waste time with a funeral?” Discord added bitterly. “What do you think Celestia will do when I die of this wound, hmmm? Throw my corpse to the pigs?"

Bile rose in Luna's throat; she swallowed it back. In a carefully neutral voice, she said, "If you died, Discord, Celestia would surely mourn. She was inconsolable for months after we were forced to encase you in stone. She wept for weeks. When you vanished, it broke her heart. And if you were wounded, the healers would tend you faithfully…if you allowed it."

Discord's laugh was almost poisonous as it rattled in his chest. "Tend me? This isn’t a wound that can be tended, little moon. You’ve carved out my heart the way the deaths on my conscience have carved into my bones. As a heartless monster I now stand before the Night Princess of Equestria, vainly trying to remember what it was to possess a heart capable of breaking. You have killed me as surely as Chrysalis killed so many of your little ponies. But I forgive you for that."

Noting his emphasis, Luna asked, "If you forgive any injury I've done you, then what is it you despise me for, Discord? Whatever wrong I have done you, I am sorry. But it was not wrong of me to stop you from conquering Equestria with that monster."

"Well, whatever helps you sleep at night, Princess," Discord snarled. "Are you blind? You come here and ask your questions, and in the same breath deny the answers. Why should I tell you anything?"

"You cannot blame me for the deaths of the innocent ponies who were killed in the invasion," Luna snapped, losing patience. "Nor can you blame me for the guilt you supposedly feel over their blood."

He turned to sneer over his shoulder. "Right on the first point, but not the second. I don't blame you for their deaths…but you are the reason their deaths were in vain. If you and your pathetic Guardians of Harmony hadn't attempted to thwart me—"

"You blame me because the invasion failed?" Luna demanded, incredulously.

"Yes."

"And because it failed, those who died, died in vain?"

"Yes," Discord hissed.

"And your guilt stems from that and that alone?" Luna asked. When Discord hesitated, Luna's heart gave an odd lurch in her chest. A knot of confusion, anger, and concern twisted sharply in the pit of her belly. Luna shook her head in bewilderment. "Discord…what is it, exactly, that you condemn me for?"

Xanthous fire smoldered in his eyes. "Their deaths."

Luna remembered that Discord always chose his words with care, even when in a fury. Their deaths. He had already said he didn't blame Luna for the deaths of the ponies in Ponyville and Canterlot, just the futility of them. So…

"Who, Discord?" Luna asked softly. "Whose deaths?"

As if emerging from a dream, Discord blinked. Shook his head. "No. No, you're not going to get that out of me. You don't deserve to hear their names."

Stunned, Luna gazed at him with wide eyes. Didn't deserve…? Someone Discord actually cared for? For a moment, Luna wondered if Discord meant a love. But no, he'd said their names. But then, who could he mean? Luna shook her head. "How can I answer your accusation if you do not tell me their names?"

"Their names would mean nothing to you. Don’t try and argue, Luna; I know where the blame for their deaths lies. Yes, with me, and I’ll carry that guilt for the rest of eternity and even when I’m a moldering corpse rotting in the ground. It lies with that monstrous bitch, Chrysalis, and her lieutenant. But most of all, it lies with you, Luna of Canterlot, and damn your soul to the bowels of Tartarus!" Ashen, eyes glistening like wet amber-orange jewels with what might have been the gloss of savagely enraged tears, Discord cried, "If not for you, if not for Twilight and Cadence and Celestia and you, they would still be alive! Damn you!"

Then it seemed as if all the life drained from Discord's body. He fell to his knees on the floor, then sank down until only the wall kept him upright. He dropped his head against the cool stone. Closed his eyes. His breath came in great, heaving, shuddering gasps. His claws knotted into fists so tight the knuckles burned white against the flesh. Luna watched Discord unclench his claws digit by digit; he ran them over his face and sighed.

At last Discord merely sat there, his claws clasped atop his head, elbows bracketing his face, eyes tightly closed. He did not move an inch. Did not make a sound. He only sat like that, and Luna could almost see the walls of ice that had so recently come down building up around him again.

Moved by instinct, Luna said softly, "Discord…I don't understand. Please, explain it to me."

Discord simply sighed. "Why should I bother? You won't listen."

"I will."

"You won't believe."

"I…" Luna hesitated, then pressed on. "I will try." When he said nothing, Luna added, "Discord, we used to trust each other. We used to protect each other. When did that change? It has not changed for me. You're my friend. I called you ‘brother’ once."

A small laugh. "An obvious case of adoption."

Luna scowled. "Do I look as if I give a damn?" To her surprise, Discord chuckled. "Discord, if I have earned your enmity, I deserve to at least to know why. Tell me!"

Discord sighed again, then opened his eyes, which seemed oddly discolored by the light; almost scarlet. Dropping his arms to rest on his updrawn knees, he stared at the floor. His brow furrowed in thought. Was he considering Luna's offer? The princess didn't wish to get her hopes up…but then Discord looked up at her. It felt as if someone had jabbed a needle of ice straight into Luna's heart. Slowly, Discord nodded.

"Yes…I suppose you deserve at least that. But it's late, little moon. So I will give you one reason, and you may come to collect the rest on the morrow." Discord closed his eyes again. "I suppose the guards have told you that I do not simply draw, but that I also write?"

Nonplussed by the abrupt change in topic, Luna nodded. "They did."

"Did they tell you what I was writing?"

"They claimed not to know."

A ghost of a smile curled Discord's mouth. "I would imagine so. I'm careful enough. But I shall tell you, since you wish to know what sins have condemned you. I write letters, Luna. Letters to the dead. And I burn them because I was told once that if one wished to send a message to someone who has passed, the best way is to burn it, and the wind in the chimney will take the pieces up into the heavens." Discord's voice was soft, musing, with a weight of sadness that seemed to drag at the alicorn like iron shackles. "I don’t know if it actually works. I hope so."

Luna swallowed, afraid of breaking the spell that seemed to have fallen over him, but at last she spoke softly. "I think, if the gods are merciful, such tactics work well enough. But what has that to do with me?"

"Do you know who I'm writing to?"

"The dead," Luna replied, frowning. "You've said that."

Discord shook his head slowly. "Such a thick skull. It's a wonder you've lived this long. Which dead, Luna? All the dead? A handful? One in particular?" The princess could only shake her head helplessly. A faint crease formed between Discord's brows. "I write to the ones whose deaths I lay at your hooves. They are the ones I draw. But I said I would give you but one reason today, and so I shall. I will give you a name. And you can think on that name, turn it over in your mind, feel it settle around your heart as the guilt seeps into your soul."

There was a long silence. Luna could count her heartbeats, loud as war-drums in her ears. She watched as Discord's forehead wrinkled as if with some great strain. His eyes, closed and relaxed until now, squeezed tight. His fists were so tight, Luna's hooves ached in sympathy. There would be bloody crescents in his palms later.

Finally Discord opened his eyes. To Luna's utter shock, his eyes were damp with tears. A single teardrop spilled from the corner of Discord's eye and rolled down his cheek to drip off the end of his chin. He seemed paler than ever. Pale as death. His voice, husky with emotion, trembled.

"I called her Rosedust. Now leave me in peace."

TBC

Author's Note

Posting a day early because tomorrow is going to be cray-cray.

So…what do you guys think? How am I doing so far? I know it's not conventional to introduce a major influence at the end of the second chapter/installment (unless it's a villain) but like I said, I'm doing things a little different from the norm, so…yeah. Anywho, what do you guys think so far? Reviews are love, yes? And of course if you notice any typos, any plot issues, anything you don't like, blah-blah, let me know. Love you all!

Also, why do I have 3 dislikes? That's never happened to me before. Did I like, break a rule or something? Please let me know so I can fix whatever it is. Thanks! :)

All for the Vain Illusion of Strife

"Rosedust?" Celestia murmured. The high princess of Equestria moved to the window of her private receiving room, the rainbow waterfall of her mane rippling in the light. Her sister saw that a tiny shiver moved over her ivory coat. Luna watched as her sister pressed her cheek to the smooth pane of window-glass, letting the fading sunlight caress her muzzle. "Rosedust," she said again, as if testing or tasting the name. "Rosedust."

Feathers of sunlight drifted through the glass and that cascading mane, casting rainbow sparkles upon the smooth marble floor. Luna stood near the bench her sister had offered—the bench she'd been too restless to take when she'd first arrived—and watched Celestia gaze sorrowfully through the glass. Worry for Discord was in every line of her body, in the brittle set of her shoulders, even the angle of her head as she studied Canterlot through the window. They all worried for Discord; until the day he and Luna had battled atop the highest tower of the Night Palace all those centuries ago, there hadn't been even the slightest inkling that there was anything wrong with him.

"Who do you think she is?" Celestia asked softly, pulling Luna's thoughts back to the meeting at hand. "This Rosedust he spoke of? A pony? Could he…" She trailed off, then seemed to steel herself to continue. "Could he have fallen in love with one of the changelings, do you suppose?"

Luna's shoulders rose and fell in a helpless shrug. "I don't know. I…I'm not sure. He spoke of they. Not a single pony. And he…he spoke to me of foals."

Celestia's head whipped around, mauve eyes wide. "Foals?"

The princess sighed and glared at one of the decorative stained glass windows. "He provoked me, and I told him he was acting like a foal. Suddenly he…he changed again. He was being his typical condescending self. He sneered at me, so I struck back with an insult to show him how petty I thought he was acting. It enraged him. I have never seen him so furious. He raged at me not to speak to him of foals. I didn't understand…I still don't understand what made him so angry."

"Perhaps this…Rosedust…was his…offspring?"

Luna's eyes widened and an odd feeling churned in her belly. Discord…with a draconequus kit? The thought was so alien, so bizarre, Luna could scarcely fathom it. He couldn't have a kit. Discord as a father?

But then, if not so, why had her former friend become so infuriated at the petty insult? Had Rosedust been Discord's daughter? Or if not that, then a foal he'd inexplicably grown fond of, who'd been killed during the Changeling Invasion? No, because how was that Luna's fault?

Unless in Discord's insane guilt, he had to place blame on his former protégé and friend because he could not shoulder it alone…

"I simply don't know, Sister," Luna murmured, heaving a sigh. "I do not know what Discord is thinking, or even if he speaks the truth. I came only to give you a report of what occurred last night. I know you worry for him."

"I worry for all of you," Celestia replied in a strained voice, turning back to the window. "Blueblood was so angry at being passed over for the power seat of the Crystal Empire, but…but he simply wasn't ready. Would never be ready. Cadence and Twilight are both so hurt by what Discord has done, and you…I've asked so much of you, Luna—"

The gentle smile Luna gifted her with seemed to ease some of Celestia's strain. She smiled at her sister. Luna went to her and nuzzled her shoulder gently. "You needn't worry, Sister. I will handle Discord."

"Don't let Blueblood provoke him," Celestia added. "I do not know what cruel game he plays with Discord, but his harsh words will help nothing."

Luna nodded. "Don't worry. I will speak to our nephew."

As before, when Luna went to the dungeons to speak to Discord the next day, she approached with silence and the utmost caution. It seemed that if she took enough care, and Discord was distracted, he wouldn't notice Luna's presence until the princess had had a chance to observe his strange behavior for a time. She was counting on that; after everything Discord had said the night before, Luna wanted a chance both to think and to observe him.

The clank of iron horseshoes on the marble floor arrested her. Frowning, Luna paused. The air suddenly seemed to hang thick in the torch-lit corridor. A sliver of apprehension whispered down the Æsir's spine as a guard hurried down the hall, eyes wide beneath the visor of his golden helm. Luna took three quick strides forward and planted herself in the guard’s path, halting him.

"What is it?"

"Discord, Your Highness," the guard gasped. "He is trying to perform a spell to break the bonds of his prison."

Something sharp and hot sliced through Luna like a blade. Discord was trying to escape? Now? Because he knew Luna was coming, and didn't wish to answer anymore of her questions? Or because of something else? Luna shoved past the guard, ordering, "Fetch my sister and Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Without waiting for the guard to acquiesce, she took off at a full gallop. The blood pumped hot through her veins as she charged magic through the tip of her spearing, sapphire horn. Discord hadn't broken out yet—the backlash of power from the shattering prison-spells keeping him bound would've been felt throughout Canterlot. There was still time to stop him.

With that thought, Luna lowered her head and put on a burst of speed that rocketed her down the corridor and around the corner, where she slid to a halt just before she would've come into Discord's line of sight.

But Luna could see Discord as plain as day.

He sat against the plain white wall of his prison, shoulders hunched, knees drawn up to his chest. His lion’s paw curled into a white-knuckled fist, pressed against Discord's mouth hard enough that Luna saw he’d cut his lips on his own fangs. His thinner, clawed hand stretched out toward empty air, palm-up, trembling as if it held up a great weight. Blue veins pulsed in his eyes and chords of muscle strained against his feathers and fur, and sweat streamed down the gray brow, plastering dust-gray hair to temples, cheeks, and neck.

Discord's breath came in harsh, ragged gasps. His chest rose and fell sharply with each breath. An intense, almost mad fire blazed in the toxic yellow of his gaze; that gaze focused on a spot somewhere in front of him, never blinking, distant with concentration. Luna could tell Discord hadn't closed his eyes, even for a second, in some time—moisture gathered and seeped from the corners of eyes.

The lion paw flexed open, shot out to join the other. Long arms stiffened, shaking with Herculean effort. White brows knotted in fierce concentration and the golden eyes narrowed to mere slits. Thin lips peeled back to reveal Discord had gritted his fangs, almost as if he were in pain. His breath whistled between his clenched fangs as he struggled against the bonds of his prison. The spells Twilight and Celestia had placed around the prison and laced throughout the room vibrated and hummed as Discord fought to bring his spell to fruition. The ensorcelled bars rattled with the force of the magic battering at them.

No. No, Discord couldn't escape. Not again. As vividly as a nightmare that would always haunt her, Luna remembered the day Discord had stepped off of his night-manticore mount at the top of the Night Tower, that smug grin on his face. As if everything were going according to plan. Luna recalled vividly how she'd run toward her old friend and former teacher, planning to shove him off the battlements with her tenebrous power, only to pass through the illusion of him like lunging through a sheet of icy water. She remembered the manticore’s claws slicing her flank, Discord's mocking, Oopsies.

All too well could Luna remember Zephyr Breeze—poor Zephyr Breeze, who’d found his place and his purpose at last—preventing Discord from dropping the wounded princess off the tower to what should have been certain death…only to see the chaos lord murder the pegasus stallion who'd inexplicably become one of Canterlot’s most trusted warriors with a thrust of those vicious, golden claws through Zephyr’s back. Discord had murdered him…stabbed him in the back…like a coward…

Luna flared her wings and bared her teeth, the sweep of dark feathers whispering against the stone walls like a softly spoken promise of vengeance. Her heart hammered in her chest, threatening to bruise her ribs. She took a step forward, rage and grief warring for pride of place in her chest. Her magic was a heavy weight on her shoulders, pressing on her bones. She would do whatever it took to prevent Discord's escape. She would…she would shatter Discord's concentration…and if that didn't work, then…then she would…what would she do?

Another step dragged her closer.

Something shimmered in the air about two feet in front of Discord's nose. Shadows twisted and writhed in the air, coiling around each other, morphing like clay to take a vaguely equine shape. Discord bit his lip until it bled. A thin trickle of blood leaked from his left nostril. The crimson droplets stood out as stark as rubies in the sun against the wan face and dark feathers. Wrinkles snarled across Discord's forehead and between his eyebrows as he leaned forward, hunger written plainly across his features.

The twining shadows smoothed out, the vague shape sculpting into more definable lines. Luna froze perhaps ten paces away from the cell. Luna didn't know as much about this sort of spell as Discord—very few did, at least in Canterlot—but she knew a little. Enough, in fact, to know that what Discord was doing would never get him out of his cell. It would never help him escape.

It was a waking illusion spell; Luna’s specialty was dream-illusions, which followed different rules of magic. But this was not the kind of illusion Discord normally used to deceive his enemies; something less malignant, less vicious. This illusion couldn't even make tactile contact. Though it could be touched, it couldn't touch anyone itself, couldn't affect the world around it. That was a subtle difference taught to every Equestrian warrior, because this type of illusion could be damaged, but could do no damage in its turn. If Discord had been forming an illusion of himself, perhaps it would have made sense, but this wasn't an image of the chaos lord at all, nor could it be mistaken for such.

Luna lifted her head as the shadows and smoke solidified into the image of a young foal. She couldn't see the foal’s face, as it faced away from Luna and toward Discord; she saw only the back of its head and body. It might have been perhaps five or six years old, judging by its size—just old enough to start foal-school. Slender, small. Its thick, lustrous burgundy curls fell to its knobbly foal knees and its tail swept the floor. A pair of dusty-gold colored bat wings flared out from its small back. A gray ribbon tied back those curly, blood-burgundy tresses, giving Luna just a glimpse of a round cheek, delicate ear, slender throat, all the color of those bat wings. It clutched a stuffed manticore in one hoof.

Was this Rosedust? She couldn't have been Discord's foal. She was too old. Discord hadn't been in the habit of fathering bastards, and even had he been, Celestia's edict regarding illegitimate issue was well-known—the by-blows were to be raised in the palace, their parents given work there, and taken care of as befitted the offspring, legitimate or not, of the royal family. Discord couldn't have had a foal—not one he knew of, at any rate—before being turned to stone all those centuries ago, or being recaptured by the Guardians of Harmony, or…So who was this foal?

Discord drew a shuddering breath. His eyes roved over the illusion of the foal with insatiable hunger as he reached out with one shaking paw. Trembling clawtips halted a brief span from the small cheek. Discord's claws knotted into a fist and his breath escaped in what might have been a sob. Then, moving as if he might shatter, he caressed the foal's cheek with his knuckles. Carefully slid his claws into the crimson curls and ran his fingers through them; his eyes tracked the movement of his hand before returning to the foal's face, which Luna still couldn't see.

"I'm sorry," Discord whispered. Luna jolted; it seemed her entire body had gone numb, then been struck by lightning. The rage and fear of Discord's escape dwindled to nothing, replaced by confusion and uncertainty. Discord's mouth quivered as he breathed, "Oh, little one…I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I swore to protect you…swore I would always…but I failed you. I'm so sorry."

Then Discord did the unthinkable—he shifted, rising to his knees, and embraced the foal, pressing his face against its shoulder. A fine tremor went through the long, lean frame. Discord crushed strands of the little foal's burgundy hair in his fists even as the illusion began to fade. Luna watched—chest tight and throat raw from swallowing back salt and sorrow at Discord’s grief—as the foal's image vanished, leaving Discord holding naught but empty air. The rattle and hum of magic pressing against magic slowly faded.

Slowly, as if afraid of bleeding to death, Discord drew his claws to his chest and bowed his head. His shoulders shook once, twice. Then he went still. He knelt there for a moment, simply breathing. Then he surged to his feet and strode to the fireplace to gaze down at the flames. Luna saw then that an entire stack of drawings were burning to black char and ash amidst the coals. Was that what had brought on this sudden need to conjure the illusion?

Discord passed a claw down his muzzle, and when it dropped back to his side, there was no sign of the anguish that had so recently pained the prince. The gray countenance was a blank mask, empty of everything. Then Discord's lip curled, his mouth twisting into that familiar and irritating smirk that made Luna's hoof ache to knock it askew. He straightened his shoulders. Rolled his neck until a small pop released some tension. Then he sighed and shook his head, before chuckling to himself.

"Luna is a fool," Discord whispered, still sneering. "But then, so are they all."

The words were a slap that struck aside everything Luna had felt in the last few moments upon seeing the illusion of the foal. Left behind was only simmering anger.

"Fool, am I?" Luna demanded. Her voice emerged harsh and strained, but the fresh anger in it came through well enough. Discord tensed, but didn't whip around to face her. Instead he pivoted slowly until he could look Luna in the eye. The princess snapped, "And why am I a fool?"

Discord chuckled dryly. "Well, there you stand. Surely the guards rushed off to tell you I was attempting to escape, yet you come running with no spell charged in an effort to stop me…again. Even though every time you've attempted it, you've failed. Is that not foolish? Or perhaps mad," he added with a bright smile that made Luna's teeth clench. "Is not the definition of madness, 'doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result every time?'"

"Celestia and Twilight Sparkle are coming to see you," Luna said coldly, ignoring his taunt. "You will offer the proper respect to your sister—"

"I believe we've already established that she's your sister."

"So you decry us all because Celestia, what? Brought you into our family, treated you as a brother to us both, then didn’t allow you to rule beside her? Truly? Don't tell me that everything you've done, every treachery committed, is because Celestia didn’t let you sit the Equestrian Throne. You’re not a pony!"

Discord shrugged and clasped his claws behind his back. "Believe what you will. You always have. Which is why, I imagine, you told the guard to bring the Princesses of the Sun and Magic, in case I managed to get past you once I'd broken my bonds." When Luna said nothing, Discord scoffed. "So predictable."

"I remember what happened the last time you escaped your prison," Luna muttered. "You killed a stallion I was proud to call my friend and ally."

Discord arched a brow. "Oh? Did I?"

Luna lunged for the enchanted bars separating her from the draconequus. Thumping her steel-shod hoof against it, ignoring the prickling of the magic bound within the bars, the princess growled, "Don't you dare mock me! He was my friend, Discord, and you murdered him in cold blood."

Another disdainful scoff. "He had a sword aimed at me. What did you expect me to do, little moon—let him slice me into a million pieces? I know you were sorely disappointed when I managed to survive his attempt, but surely you've more sense than that."

"Disapp—" Luna choked on the word. She stared at him with incredulous eyes. "Is that what you think? That I wanted you dead? Sun and moon, Discord, why would you ever think that?"

"Because I remember you dropping me off the end of Night Bridge into the blackness of Tartarus without a thought, Princess!"

He'd said that before, Luna recalled, when they'd argued at the Palace of the Two Sisters before his first imprisonment in stone. We’ve been together for centuries, Discord! You half-raised me! We played together. We fought together against countless enemies. Don't you remember any of that? And Discord had said something like, I remember you dropping me into an abyss. Luna hadn't known what to make of that at the time; still didn't. But there had been other things that needed to be said, and so she'd let it go. Yet surely Discord didn't think that Luna had let him fall on purpose when he’d been hanging by his claw-tips from the edge of Tartarus’s gates? Discord had let go of the cliffs. Didn't he remember?

"You let go," Luna murmured. And even now, that memory sent a shaft of ice through her heart. "I begged you not to. I begged you, Discord, and yet you…you let go." They’d been there to quell an uprising in Tartarus and things had become…tangled. Discord’s love of chaos and his vindictive nature had pushed him beyond what was acceptable to do in order to win their fight. Celestia and Luna had condemned his actions and then…that wretch Tirek and that monster, Sombra…they had…

Discord blinked, brow furrowing as if in confusion. He shook his head slowly. "No. No, you dropped me—"

"I didn't," Luna insisted. "I would never. You were my friend, my teacher. My brother. I mourned you, Discord. Celestia mourned you. I thought you were dead, as I did when you vanished after being freed. When I found out you were alive, both times I was overjoyed. How could you ever think otherwise?"

"Oh, yes, you seemed quite glad to see me when you and Celestia trapped me in stone as soon as I returned from Tartarus. I could see your joy as plain as a campfire in the dark, little moon."

"You'd murdered innocent ponies. Did you expect me to be happy about that?"

A flash of snow-white teeth in a smile that was more of a sneer. "Happy? Perhaps not. I suppose it isn't your fault you've become so soft. I can understand, even sympathize. No, I didn't expect you to be happy. But I didn't murder anyone. The ponies who died were unfortunate casualties—"

"Unfortunate casualties?" Twilight Sparkle demanded from behind Luna. Immediately Luna saw Discord's features close off, his eyes go blank and cold as frosted topazes. His lips thinned into a severe line. The princess hadn't realized how much the chaos lord had opened up to him until he shut down in the presence of Celestia and Twilight. Twilight continued, "Is that what you call those innocent poniess, Discord?"

Discord's lips twisted into an expression Luna couldn't quite name. "Do you think me a liar, Princess Twilight? Do you doubt my sincerity?"

Twilight's violet eyes burned as they rested on him. "Yes."

Discord gave a short, sharp laugh that seemed to Luna as if it should've left the three princesses bleeding. He replied, "Ah, but I'm never sincere, am I, Luna? You've said so yourself. But then," he focused on Celestia, and the blankness left his gaze, to be replaced by something icy and razor sharp, "neither are you."

None of the princesses spoke for several long moments. Luna studied her sister and their former protégé. She wondered if they saw as much—despite Discord's mask of boredom—as Luna did herself. Finally, the white alicorn broke the silence.

"You attempted to thwart the containment spells on your prison; why? What did you hope to accomplish? Surely you knew you couldn't break them and escape, so why waste so much effort?"

Luna opened her mouth to tell her sister about the illusion of the little foal, then closed it. Discord didn't know he'd been seen; at least, Luna was fairly certain he didn't know, judging by Discord's reaction the last time he'd accused Luna of spying on him. What sort of damage would it do to whatever progress the princess was making with the draconequus if she revealed that secret in front of him? Somehow Luna knew that Discord would never forgive her. And what would Twilight do with the information? Had Celestia already told her of the mysterious Rosedust, whose death Discord blamed on Luna?

"It wasn't a waste," Discord said simply, smirking once more. "Clearly Lord Shining Armor isn't keeping as strict a watch as you would like, since he can’tanswer your questions. Then again, he’s always been a bit blind to what was right in front of him…as have you, Sun Princess."

"Discord, that's enough," Luna cautioned sharply. Discord shook his head, but said nothing more. "Sister, Twilight Sparkle, Discord hasn't escaped, as you can see. He has not the strength to make another attempt in the near future. Let me speak to him alone. Perhaps I can get the answers you seek."

When Discord snorted, Luna shot him a look that clearly said, Shut up.

After another interminable silence where Celestia and Twilight seemed to be communicating silently, Celestia nodded. "Very well. Reason with him…if you can."

And she turned and strode off down the corridor with the youngest princess, leaving the chaos lord and his interrogator alone, save for the guards. At a nod from Luna, the guards took themselves off a ways, giving the princess privacy once more.

"I hope you enjoy wasting your breath," Discord said with a smile. He turned to walk to the chair where he normally sat during his and Luna's often one-sided conversations. "Not to mention your time."

"Both are mine to waste," Luna replied, thinking quickly. "Tell me…who was the foal?"

Discord froze, as if his entire body had been encased in a thick sheet of ice. So excruciatingly slowly, he turned to look at Luna. "What foal?"

"The foal you conjured," Luna said gently. Bored mask gone, Discord leveled a vicious look at him. "Who was she?"

"That is none of your concern."

Still keeping her voice gentle, the princess asked, "Was that Rosedust?"

Claws slammed down on the table hard enough to make the ink-wells rattle. "Don't say her name!" Discord hissed, hatred seething beneath the words. "How dare you? You don't deserve to speak her name!"

Time for a single moment of ruthlessness. "Why?" Luna demanded. "Because you and I killed her?"

The effect on Discord was immediate. All the rage and hatred dissipated and he sank into the chair like his legs would no longer support him. His pale face grew haggard. He closed his eyes as if attempting to block out Luna and her incessant questions. A ragged sigh escaped him.

"That foal—that was her, wasn't it?" Luna asked. "Who was she?"

But Discord shook his head. Wearily, he said, "That wasn't her. That was…someone else."

"Who?" When Discord didn't speak again, Luna said, "You said you would give me the reasons for my condemnation today, Discord. You would tell me once and for all why you hate me so. Well, here I am. Give me your reasons. Because of a mare whose name you have forbidden to speak, and why else?" Silence stretched between, broken only when Luna implored, "Tell me why, Discord."

The seconds ticked by as Discord sat with his eyes closed, his face unreadable. Luna measured those seconds—those small eternities—with the rapid, uneasy beat of her heart. Finally Discord lifted his head and locked shadowed golden eyes with her own midnight blue gaze.

"The…the foal you saw…" Discord seemed to momentarily struggle for breath. "Her name…was…Eris."

Was. A hollow pang hit Luna in the chest. The foal had been so young…"She is dead, then."

Discord's hand resting atop the table spasmed. "Yes."

Eris. A pegasus name. Luna knew that Discord would never have given any issue of his loins a mortal name. He would never call a daughter of his after mortal fashion. But then…who was the foal?

Sensing an odd brittleness in Discord, Luna's voice was at its gentlest when she asked, "Who was she?"

The amber-eyed lord shook his head. "I know I promised you an explanation, and so you’ll get, but if you want it to make sense, I have to start at the very beginning—the moment I disappeared from Ponyville." He cleared his throat. "It’s quite a long tale. Are you certain you want to hear it?"

Luna nodded. "Tell me. I will hear you out."

Discord drew yet another ragged breath that seemed to tear through his chest like a knife. He said softly, "You asked me who Rosedust was. I'll tell you. She was a prisoner of the Changelings…a prisoner from Equestria."

"One of the prisoners you captured for them?" Luna hazarded.

Yet Discord shook his head. A rueful smile played about his mouth, edged with no little pain. His eyes were tired when they lit on Luna's baffled face, but a flicker of amusement warmed them from glacial topaz to a softer gold.

"You still think you know how it all played out. You think you're so wise," Discord whispered, "so clever." He leaned his head back, supporting the weight of it against one fist. His burgundy feathers gleamed in the lamp- and firelight. The lines of pain around his mouth deepened as he closed his eyes again, laughed softly, ruefully. "You think I caught her, like a songbird behind golden bars, and then regretted caging her when my better nature won out? You're such a fool, little moon. My prisoner? No. Rosedust wasn't my captive."

Noting his emphasis, Luna asked, "Then…who was she?"

"She was the prisoner in the cell next to mine."

TBC

Author's Note

I've always thought there was more to the relationship between Discord and Celestia, mostly based on the line "Did you miss me, Celestia? I missed you!" and certain songs by artists like Aviators. But while most people tend to make that relationship romantic, I thought it would be interesting to give a more sibling-relationship to Discord, Luna, and Celestia from before his first time being turned to stone.

Night’s Wrath Unearths the Slender Thread

Luna stared at Discord, unsure if she'd heard correctly. Discord gazed back at her impassively. Not a flicker betrayed him. But then, he’d always been a good liar. He'd had centuries upon centuries of practice. After all, hadn't Discord fooled Luna—fooled them all—for however long he'd been plotting to usurp Celestia and take the Equestrian throne all those centuries ago? Why should Luna be surprised that her old friend could lie convincingly?

But the words the Night Princess had spoken only the day before slipped into Luna's mind, taunting her with the echoes of a promise made to the foster brother who might just be going mad.

Discord, I don't understand. Please, explain it to me…Why should I bother? Discord had asked. You won't listen…I will, Luna had said. She'd promised to listen. And when Discord had predicted, You won't believe, Luna had promised to try. Perhaps such an oath had been rash, because how could he believe that Discord had gone from the changelings’ unwilling prisoner to their general and the leader of their invading force? It was preposterous.

"The cell next to yours?" Luna echoed, not even bothering to hide her disbelief. "Did you take it and feign imprisonment in an attempt to woo the mare's confidences? Gain her trust? What did she have that the changelings could want so badly?" Was this Rosedust that Discord spoke of even really dead? Did she even exist?

The chaos lord shook his head wearily. For a moment there was something in Discord's face that caught Luna's eye, an almost-feral desperation—there one instant, gone the very next, pulling at the concern always hanging over Luna like a threatening cloudburst. But then, replacing that whisper of bestial phobos, was Discord's familiar disdain. Rolling his eyes, he sneered, "Of course that was my design. After all, of course the changelings would seek to harness the power to destroy entire worlds in an eye-blink, with just the wave of a hand."

Luna's eyes widened. Horror shivered through her. Could their enemies truly possess such power? Could there be a pony as powerful as Discord claimed? Then if the changelings ever returned to Canterlot in full force, they could wipe out the rest of the ponies in seconds. Midnight blue eyes stared at Discord in dismay as his thin lips curved into a smirk.

"Such power, and all in the hands of a single pony. Truly a powerful weapon. Of course the changelings wanted her power under their control. Once the silly filly fell under my power, it was a simple enough matter, wooing her to our side."

Luna stepped back from the ensorcelled bars. The buzz of the magic dissipated as she put distance between herself and the containment spells. Sick disappointment churned in her stomach, mingling with the ever-present simmer of anger. Silence descended, broken only by the snap and crackle of the torches in the corridor. Shadows danced along the walls while coldly enraged blue eyes locked with taunting amber.

"You almost had me fooled, Discord," Luna muttered, no little bitterness tingeing the words. She'd thought they were making progress. Had truly thought she was getting through to Discord a little. But it had all been a cruel little game. What was the Night Princess supposed to tell Celestia? "I should have known better than to trust anything you said," she added softly. "A soldier for the changelings to the end, I suppose? You tricked the mare into using her powers for your twisted queen and then killed her yourself, did you? And here you had me feeling sorry for you."

A flash of vicious hatred and something that might have been betrayal in Discord's green-tinged eyes should've sliced Luna to the bone; she tried to shove the feel down, where she could ignore it. Surging to his feet, Discord stalked forward. The smirk was gone; all traces of amusement had vanished. In a voice smoldering with abyssal fire, Discord snarled, "Sorry for me. You felt sorry for me. Let me be the first to tell you how very much I appreciate your pathetic and so-sincere sentiment, little moon."

Eagle claw and lion paw slammed against the bars. Under Discord's strength, normal bars would have buckled, cracks spiderwebbing across through the iron before shattering under the blow. The enchanted cage merely shuddered. Sparks of gold and magenta magic shot through the bars in incandescent waves. Discord pressed his forehead against the sparking, crackling metal, despite the fact that the magic had to be pushing at him, vainly attempting to shove him back with little needle-pricks of pain against his fur.

From between clenched fangs Discord spat, "Are you stupid? Are you blind?" Luna bristled, but before she could snap a reply, Discord jerked his claws back from the bars and brought them crashing forward again. The bars rattled harder under this second blow. The magic in it blazed with magenta and amber fire that reflected like dancing flames in Discord's eyes. The chaos lord added with savage heat, "You sanctimonious idiot! You really are a fool. Will you believe anything I spoon-feed you? You've not changed at all."

Squaring her shoulders, Luna said coolly, "I'll not be toyed with, Discord."

Discord sneered at her. Luna's hoof ached to knock that sneer off his face. Her foreleg ached with the strain of holding herself back. Discord's voice dripped contempt when he hissed, "But you make it so disgustingly easy, Princess."

With a cry like an enraged harpy, the Night Princess took two furious strides forward and brought her hoof down on the bars. They shuddered under the impact. Both alicorn and draconequus seemed surprised by this flash of temper from Luna, but Discord's surprise quickly morphed into disdainful amusement. Luna narrowed her eyes as thin, pale lips curled into a cat-like smile. Her heart hammered as fresh anger flooded her veins like molten star-iron.

"Windigos freeze your soul, Discord," Luna thundered. A knife-thin white brow winged upward in mocking inquiry. Every word picked up more volume as Luna bellowed, "For once in your life, abandon your webs of falsehood and tell me the truth!"

The words echoed in the corridor. Luna's chest heaved as she fought to control her breathing, fought to cool her not-inconsiderable temper, fed by hurt, and bring it to heel. Discord merely regarded her with unfathomable topaz eyes. The contempt and condescension faded from his expression, leaving it blank as a brand new sheet of paper. Something impossible to read glittered in the depths of that jewel-gaze as the two ex-friends regarded each other. At last Discord's mouth curved into a smile with just a trace of mockery in it—mockery aimed at Discord himself, Luna thought with some surprise, not at the Princess of the Night. Discord nodded slowly, as if coming to a decision.

"The truth?" Discord murmured conversationally. He shook his head as if in disbelief and pulled away from the bars of his cell, turning his back on Luna to amble over to the table and chair that he so often occupied during these visits. As if too weary to stand any longer, Discord slumped into the chair and stretched out his long legs. Long claws trembled as they reached for a single sheet of paper on the table.

From her semi-distant vantage point, Luna could see the cramped, spidery handwriting that filled the entire page. The top-most line was the only part of the thing discernible from that distance. The alicorn thought she saw a word beginning with "R"…but couldn't quite make it out. That small detail seemed important, though she couldn't have explained why.

Discord's eyes roved over the paper for a long moment of silence before he dropped it to the table again. Then he lifted his gaze to Luna's. "You want the truth? Really?"

Her anger finally under control once more, Luna nodded. "It is all I have ever wanted from you, Discord." Work with me, Discord, she tried to say with her gaze. Will you not help me to help yourself, old friend? Tell me the truth.

Discord sighed and leaned back. Propping his elbow the arm of the chair, he brought his lion paw to his mouth and draped two claws across his lips as Luna had seen him do when considering a difficult problem. After a time, Discord nodded again and fixed her with a look that was almost pitying.

"I shall give you the truth, then, since you want it so much."

He straightened, dropping his arms so they draped across his thighs. He leaned forward, golden eyes piercing, and stared at Luna like a serpent watching a mouse. A strange unease shivered through the alicorn under the full weight of that gaze.

Discord swallowed audibly and a shudder rippled through his tall, lean frame. "Tell me, Luna…do you have any idea what it is to be locked away in a dank, dark pit for days, weeks, months on end?" Discord's brow arched upward as Luna's brows furrowed. "Do you know what it's like, Luna, to be trapped in a box so small you can't take three paces, nor even stand without stooping, but are forced to crawl like a worm?"

Luna opened her mouth to reply…and found she had no words. She couldn't imagine Discord crawling. Couldn't imagine anyone having the audacity to try and make him do so. Even when he'd stood before Celestia to receive the judgment of the Princess of the Sun for his crimes against Equestria, Discord had stood tall, refusing to kneel before a mare he named "a treacherous liar." And Discord hadn't seemed to be crawling under the cruel weight of the changelings’ torments when he'd murdered Zephyr Breeze or overseen the attack on Canterlot. When he'd stabbed Luna after the alicorn had pleaded with him one last time to surrender and come home. What fetters had bound him then?

The fetters that bind me are stronger than any that Celestia could devise…The words echoed in Luna's brain, a whisper of doubt that she ruthlessly shoved away. Let Discord spin his lies like a slender, black spider biding time in the center of his web, intent on ensnaring the princess as his prey. Let him try to spin his web of falsehoods. Luna would have none of it.

But there was the memory of his anguish when he'd called up the vision of the little foal. Eris. If the foal didn't exist, if she were merely a tool for Discord's latest scheme, then where had he even heard such a name? And what if she did exist? If she and Rosedust were in fact real…what had wrung such grief from the draconequus? Why had he needed to swear to protect young Eris, and from what? And what had caused him to fail?

What was Luna supposed to believe?

She focused once more on Discord as the steady voice suddenly wavered and trailed away. Wrinkles furled between Discord's brows and he bit his lip hard enough that a red spot stood out against the dust-gray fur. Discord pressed his palms flat to the table, bowing his head so that strands of stringy gray hair spilled across his face, hiding his features. Breathing ragged with some unknown strain filled the otherwise quiet chamber and the corridor beyond.

Finally Discord rasped, "Have you ever been shut up in pitch blackness for so long that you cannot remember the feel of the wind, the song of the Equestrian Sea, the sight of sunlight or moonlight or even the faint glimmer of the stars? Have you any idea what it's like, to be wrapped in silence so absolute that you only have the sound of your heart roaring in your ears and your own screams to listen to?" Discord's hands knotted into fists so tight they shook. "Do you know what it is to be clawed at so savagely by thirst that you'd drink the blood of the rats scuttling around in your cell in order to quench it, only to choke on the poisonous salt? Have you ever known hunger so savage it tears at your guts like rabid wolves until you think you must eat something—slop or sawdust or glass, anything—or you'll go mad with the pain tearing at your belly?"

He turned his head away, as if unable to look at his former protégé any longer. He drew a sharp, shuddering breath. "Tell me that, Luna. Tell me if you've ever known the degradation of being treated worse than the lowliest cur, with no hope of ever escaping captivity unless you give in and do the unthinkable—and yet you still refused. Even when you thought insanity loomed on the horizon, even when your claws were torn and bloodied from scraping at the walls for hours in a futile attempt at escape…even when you sought to take your own life in order to escape, only to be thwarted by your torturers...have you ever experienced such, Luna?"

"We never put you in such a place," Luna snapped, masking her horror and unease with irritation. It hurt, like a knife through her heart, to think of anyone in such a place. But Discord had looked fine when Luna had found him on the Night Tower during the invasion. There was no proof of such torments.

In an utterly dead, emotionless voice the chaos lord replied, "I am not talking about the prison cells of Canterlot, or the stone prison where you twice sent me."

"Then what are you talking about?"

"I am talking about the changeling dungeons."

And despite the wall of doubts assailing her, Luna was suddenly reminded of that first visit and reconnaissance mission to Discord's cell on Celestia’s behalf. Discord had knelt before the fire as one of the infamous and unknown drawings crackled amidst the searing flames. In an almost-tortured rasp, Discord had demanded, "What do they know of darkness? What do they know of the choking blackness of the void? What do they know of isolation? Nothing. Nothing at all." Had this been what he meant?

Bile seared the back of Luna's throat. No. No, she couldn't believe he’d been subjected to such tortures after vanishing the day the Guardians of Harmony had freed him. Luna wouldn't—couldn't—believe it. Discord was lying. That was all there was to it. For if he was telling the truth, how had he become the changelings’ commander on the invasion field? And the changelings didn’t keep prisoners as some did; only locked them away in cocoons to absorb their magic and love. Why would they change their methods now?

But of course, if the princess asked such questions, of course Discord would have an answer ready; a perfectly good answer, which would come tripping sweetly off his forked tongue, the deceitful snake.

In a lifetime of lies, it was nearly impossible to discern the truth. And Discord could never seem to hold onto sincerity for long, even during these conversations. Not without being poisoned by the mad rage or disdain so prevalent in his dealings with Luna.

Discord at last opened his eyes and stared unseeingly into the slowly-dying hearth flames. Shadows cast by the fire flickered in Discord's empty gaze. The princess could only stare in baffled silence. Discord's voice rang with sincerity…but then, it had done so the day of Celestia’s coronation thousands of years ago, when he'd professed his fraternal love for his foster-sister.

For a long moment, Luna continued to stare at Discord and try to fathom what he was telling her. Which was the truth? Every word vibrated with such rage and desperation when Discord spoke of what the changelings had supposedly done to him…but then, there was the question of Rosedust. Her identity. Whether she had been intended as a tool for the changelings’ invasion force, or whether she even existed. And the foal, Eris—what if she, too, were a lie? Was Discord simply attempting to manipulate them all? He'd done so many times before. What if this was just another such attempt?

"I told you that you wouldn't listen," Discord murmured, leaning his forearms atop the table. He stared at the paper filled with his careful but miniscule handwriting as if his gaze could devour the words like a starving man at a banquet. A tired yellow-gray gaze flicked to Luna's face, then back to the paper. Discord sighed. "You never listen. It seems I'm not the only one who's never sincere."

Wondering vaguely if ruthlessness or true curiosity prompted the question, Luna demanded, "And did she listen? Your precious Rosedust? Did she drink up all your sweetly poisoned lies?" But Discord said nothing. Merely closed his eyes and laced his claws together so that he could rest his chin atop his hands. "Answer me!" Luna shouted. The blood pounded hot through her body once more as fresh anger lanced him. Did Discord have to be mysterious about everything?

A swift transformation overtook the golden-eyed creature. The ruffled gray brow furrowed, wrinkles snarling betwixt his thin white eyebrows. Thin lips pulled back slightly as Discord bared his fangs in something to savage to be called a smile but too pained to be snarl. That new and all-too-familiar arctic loathing filled eyes like topaz knives that threatened to cut Luna open to the bone.

"How dare you speak her name?" Discord slowly rose to his feet, gaze fixed on Luna. Each word was chiseled from jagged ice. "How dare you speak of her at all? You don't deserve to truly know her. You don't deserve to even know of her. How dare you? How dare you mock what you do not know?"

The words sent an odd pang through Luna's chest. She still couldn't shake the feeling that whoever this Rosedust was, Discord had cared for her. Perhaps deeply. But Discord had supposedly cared for his foster family, and look what he'd done to all of them. Forcing coldness into her voice, Luna said, "You take offense because I dare to take you to task for lying to her—"

With a swift savagery that seemed to Luna almost to be madness, Discord lunged forward, raging, "I never lied to her!" Luna jerked back from him, stunned. Discord roared, "How dare you! How dare you speak of lies when your own sister lied to you when she blasted you off to that infernal rock! How dare you accuse me of lying to her when you and Celestia are the ones who lied to your precious Twilight Sparkle! I was watching. Yet I am the liar? I am? You had a choice! You didn't have to force her into the alicorn trial! You could have gone handled it yourself! I had no choice! None! There was nothing I could do! It's your fault, damn you! It's all your fault! You wouldn't let me return!"

"Return where?" Luna demanded incredulously. "You had no means of traveling between the kingdoms, no way to leave Equestria—"

"I begged you to turn away!" Discord snarled. "You wouldn't listen! I begged you to let me go, begged you to—"

"Demanded I let you," Luna contradicted. "Demanded I release you, and for what? To wreak more havoc? To butcher more innocent ponies? To shame our family, betray our princess and our honor—"

Discord snarled low in his throat. His eyes, bright with a crazed light, seemed almost green in the uncertain illumination from the torches. "I owe Celestia nothing. Nothing. Because of her and because of you, Rosedust is dead now. Celestia sent you after me, sent you and Twilight Sparkle to interfere, and because of you, Rosedust is dead. She's dead, damn you. They both are. Don't speak to me of betraying honor. Where is the honor of the House of the Sun and Moon now? Drowned in the blood of two innocents. If you had just let me go, instead of betraying me yet again, they would still be alive and all those ponies wouldn't have died in vain."

Hiding her unease and uncertainty with feigned disgust, the princess shook her head. "You've changed, Discord. At least before your latest betrayal, you would accept responsibility for your own mistakes. The blood of the ponies you slaughtered isn't on my hooves. Look in the mirror to see the face of a true killer."

Luna nearly attempted to leap through the bars and strike him when Discord sneered at her yet again, his lip curling in obvious contempt. In a hissing, almost snakelike voice, Discord said, "A killer. Oh, yes, I am a killer, aren't I? My claws are stained by so much blood they'll never be clean again. I can even tell you where it comes from, all that blood—the blood of innocent mares, fillies and colts. Foals. Yes, little moon, I am a killer. I know it; I don't need a coward, a traitor, and a murderer like you to tell me."

Midnight-blue eyes widened. "Traitor? Coward? Murderer? How dare you? You betray the princess of Equestria—to whom you owe your life, to whom your swore fealty, who took you in as her own brother—usurp the throne that rightfully belongs to your sister, try to kill me while laying waste to our city, join forces with the changelings, murder innocent ponies, stab my friend and comrade in the back, command a slaughter, and yet you name me traitor and coward?"

Discord raised one mocking brow. "Is that what I did, little moon?" He asked in a faux-shocked tone. "All of that? Tsk, tsk. No wonder you wish I were dead. I must be such an embarrassment to you. I suppose nothing I did would surprise you after all that."

"Don't mock me, Discord! And do not put words in my mouth!"

He glared, contempt practically dripping from him. "You think you're so superior, don't you? You think you know everything. You think you know how it was. You and all the rest of the ponies have always believed yourselves so far above me. Nothing I could do would ever make me your equal. I would always be inferior to you in the eyes of the kingdom." Discord shook his head in disgust. "Get out of here, Luna. Go away, and don't come back. Tell Celestia it's pointless. Ah, yes—I knew why you were here: to offer her some small ray of hope that her precious foundling was still in here, somewhere. Well, let me tell you this: Discord the Chaos Lord of Equestria is dead, and I am what's left. Don't look for answers here."

"Tell me what happened when you disappeared that day, Discord," Luna demanded, only to be ignored as the draconequus turned and strode not to the chair, but to the cot that served him for a bed. Flinging himself carelessly upon it, he fixed his eyes on the ceiling of his prison. "Tell me! Curse you, Discord, you will tell me the truth!"

"You don't deserve the truth," Discord murmured, closing his eyes. "Stop pestering me for it like a foal wanting a sweet."

Willing to use almost any means necessary to keep him talking, Luna snapped, "Like a foal, am I? A child like your little Eris?" Every muscle in Discord's body stiffened. His eyes shot open, though he didn't look toward the princess. "Where did you find her? Did you trick her into helping you, promising your protection and friendship, feigning affection for her, only to betray her in the end?" Discord's claws convulsed into fists. He took one single sharp breath. His eyes blazed, but he still didn't look at Luna. "What was she to you? Hmmm? A servant? A slave? One of your pawns?" He was using Blueblood's goading approach, which Luna realized was pathetic, but if it would make Discord say something, perhaps it was worth it.

There was a long silence, then Discord slowly released the breath he'd been holding. Keeping his eyes focused on the plain stone ceiling above, he said tonelessly, "Still so very blind. Still so dense. How does anything get through that thick skull of yours?" Luna growled, but said nothing. Finally Discord added, "The question you should ask is not what was she to me, Luna. The proper question is, what was she to you?"

Luna's mouth fell open. Her thoughts stuttered to a halt for a split-second, then began racing through her skull. But no matter how Luna prodded or coaxed, Discord closed his eyes and would speak no more.

��C7#

Author's Note

Guys, just so you know, I have a lot of trouble writing for ponies regarding their anatomy and stuff. Sometimes I mess up and write "hand" instead of "hoof," for example. If you see that in a chapter, please let me know so I can fix it. Thank you! Hope you guys are enjoying so far!

No Friendly Drop to Help Me After

The question you should ask is not what was she to me, Luna. The proper question is, what was she to you?

Discord's words reverberated through Luna's skull as she lay in bed that night, staring into the darkness of her chamber as if that would give her some insight into her old friend’s cryptic words. No epiphany emerged from the shadows. No moment of enlightenment found the Night Princess, in waking or in dreams. She woke the next morning near dawn, bleary-eyed, head aching from the questions circling in his mind. Who was Eris, this foal who was somehow connected to Discord and, apparently, to Luna? How had Discord found her? How had he come to care so deeply for her? And care for her he did; Luna couldn't find it in herself to discount her foster brother's visceral reactions whenever Eris came up in conversation. What did the foal have to do with the mysterious Rosedust?

The princess was still pondering all of this as she trudged into the dining hall and slumped onto the bench. Within moments Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Starlight Shimmer had taken spots on either side and across from her. Remaining in a fog of exhaustion, Luna basically ignored the pegasus and pair of unicorns as they filled their plates and began eating. It was only when Rarity and Rainbow Dash both fell silent that Luna realized one of them must have said something to her, and she'd missed it.

"Hey, Princess," Rainbow Dash said, catching the alicorn’s eye. "You gonna train with us this morning?"

She shook her head. After she finished his meal, she needed to speak to Discord again. She'd already reported yesterday's happenings to her sister; now she needed to know more. She couldn't leave things as they were between herself and the draconequus. Like an idiot, she'd lashed out at Discord in attempt to get him to speak, attacking the only two things that seemed to be capable of truly hurting him—the mysterious Rosedust and Eris.

She could only blame it on her tiredness. Discord slept at odd hours but was most communicative during the day—when she was supposed to be asleep. Maintaining a balance between her duties as the Night Princess and her hopes for learning the chaos lord’s secrets was…difficult.

"Twilight will be there," Rarity added, then casually took a sip of wine. Luna frowned at her.

"Where?"

Now all three of her friends were staring at her. As if speaking to a particularly dull foal, Rarity said, "At our sparring session, darling. In the salle. Which we just invited you to."

Luna shook her head. "I can't. I have an important matter to attend to."

There was a long silence. It was Starlight, usually very shy around the Princesses of the Sun and Moon, who finally broke that silence. "You’re going to see Discord." She waited for Luna to cant her head in acknowledgement before adding, "You’ve been visiting him a lot these past few weeks." Luna said nothing, thinking of the illusion of the foal called Eris, and the unknown Rosedust, and Discord's claim that the changelings had imprisoned him. It was not something to share with her friends. Not yet, if ever. Starlight sighed. "I don’t think you can help him, Luna. I don’t think anyone can."

"It’s not fair to Celestia to make her think otherwise," Rarity added softly. Luna shot her a look of glacial sapphire and her friend mumbled an apology, hiding from the princess's ire behind her goblet of wine. Silence fell again. Any attempts at restarting the conversation were feeble, easily shot down with one slashing look from Luna.

At last the alicorn princess decided she could eat no more, and rose from the table. Her friends—three brave ponies who had once been willing to become Discord's friends as well—watched her go. Their gazes were heavy on her back as she left the dining hall.

The walk to the dungeon hall two mornings later led the princess down corridors of stone that echoed with her hoofbeats and shaded pathways where early-morning summer sunlight dappled across the floor and briefly warmed her skin. Beyond the arched roofs, she could see the sun still soft and golden with the last kiss of dawn in the sky with its peach and amber clouds, the magnificent work of her talented sister. Birds sang to welcome the new morning. Luna sighed, wondering if Discord missed sunrises, sunsets. He’d had always been fond of the stars, as well; he’d challenged her when she was just a tiny foal to try and make order out of the astronomical chaos he’d created in the sky, and so she had forged constellations. Did he miss being able to gaze up at the star-studded night sky the way he had centuries ago?

From morning light to timeless shadow, Luna stepped into the dungeons, where only torches held back to darkness. With every step the birdsong grew dimmer and dimmer, until it had been silenced all together, leaving only oppressive quiet.

Have you ever been shut up in pitch blackness for so long that you cannot remember the feel of the wind, the song of the sea, the sight of sunlight or moonlight or even the faint glimmer of the stars? Have you any idea what it's like, to be wrapped in silence so absolute that you only have the sound of your heart roaring in your ears and your own screams to listen to?

Did the shadows and the quiet remind Discord of his time in the changelings’ dungeons? Or the time he claimed to have spent, anyway? What had helped him through such terrible times, Luna wondered? She'd asked the day before, and the day before that, only to be ignored. She resolved to ask him again when she arrived at his cell this time. It was Midsummer's Day, the day celebrating her sister; Luna decided she was due for some luck.

But Luna slowed as she approached when she heard a snide voice ask, "Another drawing? Quite the artist, aren't you, Discord?"

Blueblood, Luna thought, rolling her eyes. Didn't her nephew have anything better to do an hour after dawn besides taunt Discord? Tryst with a chambermare or get drunk, for instance? Or pound on somepony in the practice yard? Squaring her shoulders, she picked up the pace.

"I've heard the guards say you're drawing a mare," Blueblood continued to jeer. A jolt of electricity snapped through Luna's body. A mare? Was it Rosedust? "Feeling lonely, are we, little draconequus? Who is she, the mare in your drawings? Your current favorite? Maybe I should pay her a visit; she must be something special if she can hold the interest of a chaos lord this long. What's her name?"

"If you do not stop talking, I will—"

"You'll what?" Blueblood demanded, laughing. "Reach through the bars and kill me? As if you could. And even if you were able to, well…Aunt Luna would really hate you then. And what would Aunt Celestia say? That would be your third attempt on a member of the royal family—or is that fourth? Who's next on your list? Cadence? The flitting brat-foal? What’s her name? Fluffy Farts? Besides, you don't need to answer. I merely wanted to see if you would. I already know your mare's name. Rosedust, wasn't it?"

At that, Luna launched into a gallop just as the sound of something heavy hitting iron bars echoed down the corridor. Luna rounded the corner to see Discord plastered to the grid of ensorcelled steel, lips twisted into a feral snarl, eyes blazing. Only Blueblood's broad, white back and golden blond mane and tail were visible to Luna, but the princess was fairly certain her nephew was sneering.

"Shut up!" Discord yelled. "Shut up!"

"Oh-ho!" Blueblood threw back his head and laughed. "Well, well, well. Don't you remember Aunt Celestia's lessons about sharing, Discord? Or didn’t you get that one before you stabbed our princess in the back?” He spat at Discord’s feet. “I promise not to hurt the silly little slut. I only mean to—"

But Discord rammed the bars again, hard enough that even Blueblood went quiet. Ivory brows knotted, dark mane standing up in wild, chaotic spikes, and shoulders and chest heaving with every ragged breath, Discord spat from between clenched teeth, "Get. Out. You filthy swine, get out!"

"Swine, am I?" Blueblood's voice turned savage. "You treacherous bast—"

"Blueblood!" Luna snapped, imbuing her voice with that regal coldness she’d learned in her youth. Her nephew turned and grinned when he saw Luna, glacier-blue eyes warming slightly, but the grin slipped away when he caught sight of the princess's expression. Blueblood opened his mouth to say something but Luna ruthlessly cut him off. "You will not speak to Discord, or of someone under his protection, with such disrespect."

Clearly flabbergasted, the prince said, "Aunt Luna…he's under house arrest. By Primordia and her daughters, he's in prison."

Icily, Luna said, "Which changes nothing. He is still a prince of the royal household."

"He was adopted centuries ago and he spit on that connection," Blueblood hissed.

"He is my brother, my friend, and under the protection of the four princesses of Equestria, and you will speak to him and of him with respect, or I shall take this matter to Princess Celestia herself," Luna snapped. Wide-eyed, Blueblood offered him a mocking, truncated bow and shoved past her, disdaining to bid her a proper goodbye. Luna didn't care. She didn't know what had possessed her to Blueblood with Celestia’s interference, but the half-insane rage and grief in Discord's eyes had forced Luna to act before she'd actually formed a thought.

Dismissing her nephew for the moment, the princess focused on the chaos lord. Discord's forehead was pressed to the bars; he ignored the needle-pricks of the magic meant to keep him imprisoned. His claws had relaxed from their tense fists. Now they lay palm-down against the window. Discord's breathing had evened out. He no longer panted for breath like a rabid wolf.

"Why?" Discord demanded softly, not looking up at Luna.

"Why what?" Luna replied, voice just as soft.

"Why did you defend me to him?" Because Discord kept his head bent, Luna couldn't quite gauge the new expression twisting his face. "Maintaining unity among the ranks, were you? Except Blueblood is your nephew, your family—your real family. So why?"

A sigh heaved through the princess, then she gestured to a guard for a chaise lounge. She'd made provisions to have one brought last night. Now the guard dragged the comfortable seat to the alicorn, who dropped into it with another sigh. Leaning forward, she studied the draconequus—the bowed head, the slumped shoulders, stringy feathers and fur, the exhaustion in every line of his body. Had Discord been sleeping these last months? It seemed likely that he hadn't, and even a chaos lord needed rest. Seconds ticked by in silence, then minutes. Discord didn't move. Neither did Luna. It was almost like those staring games they'd played when she was a foal, seeing who would blink first. In the end, they both moved at the same time, Luna leaning back as Discord lifted his head.

"I'll make you a bargain, Discord. For every question of yours I answer, you answer one of mine. Deal?" She ignored the pang that always shot through her when she thought of deals…when she thought of the tantebous and how she’d bargained with herself, her power, and created that dark creature.

Thin lips pursed as Discord considered. After a moment, he nodded slowly. "Very well…but it has to be an equal trade. No baring of my soul so you can tell me what you ate for breakfast. It’d probably bore me out of my skull, anyway."

Inclining her head, Luna replied, "Fair enough. Why did I defend you to Blueblood? Because he has no right to attack you in such a way; because no matter what you've done, no matter that Celestia has judged you a traitor for your crimes against Equestria, you don't deserve to be tormented by your own kin; and because you're my friend, my family, and that's what friends and family are supposed to do."

Pushing away from the glass, Discord scoffed. "When will you get it through your thick skull that I'm adopted?"

Unperturbed, Luna asked, "When will you get it through yours that I don't care?"

"Well, then, what about…" A muscle flexed in Discord's jaw, and his claws convulsed into fists before he forced them to relax. "What about…Rosedust? She is no kin of yours. Why should you defend her to Blueblood?"

"Because it is very obvious to me that you cared about her a great deal," Luna said gently, "and Blueblood should respect that, as I do."

This time Discord’s expression was clear as a cloudless sky. "Oh?" He snarled. "Do you?"

"I should not have said what I did before," Luna said. "I was angry. You're very good at provoking me. But then, that's what chaos lords are supposed to do, so I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised."

Discord stared at her for a long moment, then asked, "Are you drunk?"

Startled, Luna blinked. "No. Why?"

"Did that Applejack get you to drink that hard cider again?"

"Get me to…no. Why?"

Long moments of intense scrutiny passed, then amber eyes at last looked away and Discord said wearily, "Why are you here, Luna?"

"Because I promised you I would listen."

A wry chuckle echoed down the corridor as Discord shook his head. "We both know you're incapable of pulling that off. I told you to go away. So why are you here?"

"Because I promised."

They regarded each other for a few moments. Discord stood beside the fireplace now, mismatched arms folded and laid against the side of the fireplace mantel. His face was thin, and paler than ever, his eyes vibrant yellow against his unhealthy, dust-gray fur. There were dark shadows beneath those eyes, firming Luna's conclusion that he hadn't slept, and Luna saw that Discord's claws on his lion’s paw were ragged and torn to the quick, bloodied in places. Scrapes marred the knuckles of his griffon talons. What had he been doing to himself?

"My turn for questions now," Luna said, "unless you have something else you wish to ask." When Discord shook his head, the princess asked, "How did Rosedust die?" Because if Discord had killed her, then there was no point in continuing the conversation; if Discord could kill someone he cared for as deeply as he obviously seemed to care for Rosedust, then he was capable of anything, any treachery.

Dropping his chin to rest atop his forearms, Discord replied in a tight voice, "The changelings killed her. Poison."

"Were you with her?" Luna pressed.

A slow, somber shake of the head as xanthous eyes stared off into the distance, gazing down roads of memory. "No…but I should have been."

Baffled, Luna asked, "Why?"

Squeezing his eyes shut, shifting to grip the mantel tightly with his paw, Discord drew a short, sharp breath. Let it out slowly, as if fighting for control of himself. He bowed his head; the ragged, black mane fell around his face like an inky curtain, obscuring Luna's view of his expression. He rasped, "Why does it matter?"

"Because you feel guilty for not being with her when she died," Luna said gently. "I want to know why." When Discord said nothing, she added, "Do you remember when I was a filly, barely more than a foal, and one of the original Guardians stole your spell book? Ripped out the pages and threw the binding on the midden pile? You remember that; I can see you do." Discord shook his head and rolled his eyes, but when Luna just stared at him, he gave a grudging nod. "You remember how Celestia found you raging through the library and you wouldn't tell her what had happened? You wouldn't explain to Celestia, to anyone…but you spoke to me. You trusted me then."

"I was young," Discord said coolly. "And stupid.”

Anger flashed through the princess, but she swallowed it back—with difficulty. Giving into her anger had pushed Discord away every time. She couldn't afford to let that happen. It seemed as if, despite his reticence, they were making a little more headway. She wouldn't let that progress slip through her hooves.

"I wish you would trust me, Discord."

"Yes, of course I'm going to trust you when you are the reason I'm here in the first place instead of with—" He cut off abruptly, glaring fiercely at the princess. A malevolent spark burned in the depths of poison-yellow eyes.

"Tell me," Luna said softly. "What were you going to say? Who are you supposed to be with? Tell me, Brother."

But Discord shook his head. "I won’t be tricked into baring my soul for your twisted pleasure, little moon. I owe you no answers."

"You promised to answer my questions. I'll forego the second to receive an answer to the first—why do you feel guilty for not being with Rosedust when she died? Because you could have saved her?"

"No," Discord spat. "I couldn't have saved her. You made sure of that."

"Then why—"

"Because I promised her!" Discord suddenly snarled, taking a single shaking step toward Luna. A feverish light burned in his eyes as he cried, "She was afraid to die alone. She was so afraid, and so I promised her, only to be far from her side when she succumbed at last. Because of you! She died, alone and frightened and in pain, because of you!"

"Discord—"

"Do you know what changeling poison does? To a mare? To a foal? To an…" He trailed off and turned away, to slam his fist into the wall. It left a smear of blood and tawny fur on the white stone, but it didn't seem to affect Discord at all. Pressing his claws flat to the wall, he hunched his shoulders and bowed his head, mumbled something so softly under his breath that Luna couldn't hear it.

"Discord…I never meant…"

The draconequus twisted around, eyes blazing, and he fixed her with a hostile look. "I don't care what you meant. That doesn't bring her back. That doesn't bring either of them back! That doesn't erase the fact that Rosedust's last hours were filled with suffering and agony. I was told her death was a hard one, that she died cursing my name with her last breath for betraying the promise I made her. But then, I suppose you're not surprised that I didn't keep my promise. After all, I'm never sincere, am I?"

Luna stared at him, at the way he shuddered, the sweat dampening his forehead and temples, the anguish in his eyes. Suffering and agony…because of Luna, because she'd stopped him from murdering innocent ponies…at least, that's what Discord claimed. Though she wasn't certain of the verity of the details, Luna believed Rosedust had died, and died a hard death, for it to strike Discord so.

"I'm sorry, Discord, for what happened to her," Luna murmured. And she was; surely he could see that. After struggling with the idea that it might not be the best question under the circumstances, Luna finally asked, "Did you love her?" She knew the answer, or was fairly certain she did…but she wanted to hear what Discord would say.

He scoffed, sounding weary again. He leaned against the mantel. "Don't be stupid. Me? In love? With a mere pony? You really are a blithering idiot, Luna."

And yet…the words didn't quite ring so sincerely this time. Or was that lack of sincerity just another ploy of Discord's to manipulate her? Ignoring his hostility—the only way they'd actually have a conversation that lasted more than five minutes that didn't involve curses and shouting—Luna asked, "What were you muttering before?"

"Nothing," Discord snapped, his expression hardening. "A bit of verse that seemed apt." A momentary softness crossed his face. "Rosedust told it to me," he said, as if to himself. "She had a gift for remembering such things."

"Will you not share it with me?"

Discord shot her a look that plainly said she was intruding on some important private recollection with her very stupid question. "Why? It's not important."

"Then why not tell me?"

Shoving off from the mantel, Discord replied, "Because you're wasting my time. But since you'll not cease whining for it like a neglected puppy, I suppose I must indulge you." Staring into the fire, voice empty of any emotion, he recited as if dead, "'What's here? A cup, closed in my true love's hoof? Poison enchanted, I see, hath been her timeless end: O churl! Drunk all, and left…'" There was a hitch in Discord's voice, just the slightest waver, before he concluded, "'And left no friendly drop to help me after?'"

Wondering how to keep Discord talking, Luna murmured, "I didn't know her fate was mixed into the balance. Why didn't you tell me about her?"

Exhausted eyes flicked to her, then away. "It wouldn't have changed anything; you wouldn't have believed me." A pause, then Discord asked in an emotionless voice, "Do you even believe me now?"

"I see how much her death has hurt you."

Verdant eyes drifted shut. "Oh, you see, do you, little moon? You see. Tell me, what do you know of pain, Luna? What have you ever truly lost during the span of your perfect life?"

"For one terrible night and day, I thought Celestia was dead," Luna said coolly, and she thought he saw Discord flinch, almost imperceptibly…but it might have been her imagination. "You told me Celestia was dead when she set out to forge the Elements of Harmony, that the spells had cost her life. You looked me in the eye and lied to me." Discord said nothing, but his expression seemed to soften for a moment, and his eyes when they opened seemed full of sorrow. Acting on instinct, Luna didn't push the moment of softening. She merely asked, keeping her voice as gentle as she could, "And what of the foal, Eris? How did she die?"

Discord's eyes widened and his features twisted as if he'd been stabbed. His talons crept toward his heart before tightening into a fist. He squeezed his eyes shut. For several moments his throat worked convulsively, and he swallowed hard. The color drained from his face and the gray fur and burgundy feathers bristled. Luna had to fight the urge to jump to her hooves and demand if he was all right.

"Poison," Discord choked out, and the misery and hatred saturating that one word struck Luna like a kick to the belly. "The same as her…the same as Rosedust. And for that, when my sentence is ended here, I will hunt down Chrysalis, even if I must sojourn to the ends of the universe, and I will drive my claws through her heartless chest. I'll have her blood, even if I have to crawl over broken glass for it. Even if I have to drink it. Nothing in this universe will stop me from killing her."

Discord locked eyes with Luna and the princess's brow furrowed. Somehow, in the light, Discord’s eyes looked almost the same sickened color of changeling magic. It was there for a moment, a flicker of all-too-familiar cerulean-green, before it faded away, leaving only gold in its wake. Had the princess simply imagined that change? She couldn't be sure. Nonplussed, Luna tried to find something to say, but could think of nothing. She could only stare at the mad gleam of hatred burning in Discord’s gaze before he cleared his expression of all emotion.

With a sigh, the chaos lord moved to the table and sank into his chair. Papers covered the smooth wooden surface of the table, many filled with Discord's handwriting. A few seemed to display unfinished sketches, but they sat at such angles that Luna couldn't decipher them. For several long moments Discord shifted papers to and fro, eyeing them with a strange apathy. Then he held up his pointer-claw as if in warning.

"One question left, Luna," he said tonelessly. "Use it wisely."

Buying time to figure out a good question, Luna sat back and watched as Discord picked up a half-done sketch and studied it with an unearthly intensity. Amber eyes narrowed as they took in every charcoal-etched feature. The princes wished she was in a position to see the drawing but…wait…

"May I see that?" Luna asked, a spark of triumph beginning to grow in her chest. If Discord was drawing the mare who seemed to constantly occupy his thoughts, then at last Luna could put a face to her. But her hopes plummeted when he sneered and denied her. So much for getting her hooves on one of the drawings. Ponderous silence descended once more.

At last, unable to think of anything more pertinent, she asked, "Why did the changelings even have a foal like Eris?"

Discord sighed, shoulders slumping. He dropped the drawing to the table and let his head fall backward against the chair. Closing his eyes, he passed his claws over his face and down his snout, as if attempting to smooth away any telling emotions. Luna merely waited for him to speak. At last Discord said, "If I say this, I want no more questions. I will answer no more questions. Do you hear me? You will leave me in peace."

"As you wish. After this, I'll go. You'll not see me until tomorrow."

"Very well," Discord murmured. "The changelings had Eris because they had Rosedust…and because they'd captured me."

Author's Note

Happy December 1st, peeps! Sorry I'm a little late, hour-wise. Life attacked...

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! :heart:

When the Moon Burns and Twilight Whispers at the Edge of Night

"The changelings had Eris because they had Rosedust…and because they'd captured me."

"Because they'd captured you?" Utterly baffled, Luna shook her head. "I do not understand. Were you and Rosedust bait with which to trap Eris?" Discord shook his head, looking exasperated. "Discord, I don't understand. Explain it to me, please."

But Discord merely shook his head again. "You're out of questions, little moon, and you gave me your word you would leave me in peace. Go now."

"Discord—"

He bit out from between clenched fangs, "Get. Out."

Instinct told Luna that pushing Discord now would be a very bad idea. There was a brittle tension in him that the princess could sense, even though Discord held himself stiff and aloof from Luna. So the Night Princess inclined her head in acquiescence, even though everything in her clamored to stay with the chaos lord, and Luna left the dungeons. She had much to think about…and just perhaps, a plan to set in motion.

The sun rose and set at least three dozen times without any more progress being made regarding discovering the story of Discord, Rosedust, and the foal known as Eris. As before, when Discord sensed Luna's presence he would stop whatever he was doing and either sit at the table or lie down on his cot and stare at the ceiling until the midnight blue alicorn went away again. He hardly responded to any of Luna's questions or promptings, except a few times when the princess came to see him late in the night, when her duties as the Guardian of Dreams allowed it. Sometimes then, Luna would speak to Discord for hours at a time, only to receive a small bit of information in return.

"Did you know anything about her family?" Luna might ask near the end of the night.

"Her mother is a gardener," Discord would say. "Her blood-father was a brute and a fool that abandoned Rosedust, her mother, and her siblings in his heart when he grew to old and worn-down by mortality to work in his pathetic factory anymore."

"What did she look like?"

"You've never seen someone so lovely."

"How old was she?" Luna might ask.

"Too young to die so brutally," Discord would reply, tone arctic, cutting Luna to the bone. "Too young to be caged in the dark and then murdered thanks to the treachery of a supposed friend."

But these exchanges were brief and rare. Through them all ran one common vein, however—Discord would, no matter the cost, deliver swift and brutal justice to the changeling ruler, Chrysalis, for what she'd done to Rosedust and Eris after he was released from the Equestrian prison. And because of that, Luna at last had something to bargain with. She merely needed her sister to agree.

"Absolutely not," Twilight Sparkle snapped.

Luna gritted her teeth, but didn't lash out under the influence of the hot frustration boiling in her blood. She'd learned her lesson after that difficult Nightmare Night her first year returned from her lunar prison. So instead of snapping back at her sister’s protégé, she drew a deep breath and fought for calm.

It had been nearly two months since that last full conversation with Discord. Luna chafed under the need to know more of his story. Something, some instinct, told her that time was of the essence. Now she, her sister, and Twilight Sparkle sat alone in Celestia’s solarium, discussing the matter. Rather, Luna was petitioning Celestia for help.

"Twilight Sparkle…if Discord is telling the truth…if the changelings did what I suspect—imprisoning him, torturing him, and then killing the mare he loved and a foal he cared for—do we not owe it to him, and to them, to see them avenged?"

"You should know Discord isn’t capable of telling the truth! He's manipulating you. He would never fall in love with a mortal. He called us puny, pathetic, insignificant. Does that sound like somepony in love? Does that sound like somepony being forced to betray his friends? He wanted to take over Canterlot, not save it. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Certainly not this Rosedust or this foal. Luna, don’t fall for this! He’ll only hurt us all again!"

But the princess shook her head. "Twilight, I'm telling you—he spoke with real sincerity! Whoever Rosedust was, he loved her, and the changeling ruler murdered her. I think they were forcing him to lead the invasion by threatening her and then…" And then she'd gotten in his way. The Night Princess couldn't regret saving the ponies of Canterlot …but if she'd known about the mare Discord clearly loved, how would it have changed things? "I believe the changelings blackmailed Discord somehow, using Rosedust and perhaps Eris."

It was Spike, Twilight’s attaché, who frowned, looking deeply troubled. "How? Who was the foal? Was she Discord’s?"

Luna shook her head. "I don't see how she could be; she was too old in the illusion he conjured. But he does care for her. I could see that plainly in how he spoke to her. Somehow he allowed himself to soften towards this foal and this mare."

Leaning back in her chair, she turned to Celestia, who sat beside her, quiet and somber in her navy blue evening gown. Luna bit back a frown. Her sister had yet to change out of such dark colors, even now that they'd captured Discord and begun talking to him again. Where the strain of Discord's treachery had manifested in Twilight as stress and anger and protective instincts brought to the fore, it had unfolded in the high princess as melancholy impervious to everything Luna and the rest of them attempted to raise her spirits.

Celestia brushed her mane back, tucking a stray rainbow lock behind her ear. "Luna…I want to believe Discord can be…helped, just as much you do. But what you're proposing is madness. It could spell ruin for the entire kingdom, perhaps all of Equus. Discord cannot be trusted as yet."

"Celestia, we know him. I know him. Let me try this. Let me attempt to bargain with him. After all, he is the one who must convince the Council of Princesses that he is trustworthy. I'll make certain he understands that. Please, Sister…I truly believe that this will work. Won't you let me try? "

The Princess of the Sun and her protégé exchanged uncertain glances, then Celestia turned back to her sister. The violet eyes roved over Luna's features as if searching for some sign. The princess didn't know what her sister sought; she only gazed back, face regal and gaze beseeching, hoping with all her heart that Celestia would trust her in this. If Discord was telling the truth…it changed many things. Not everything, but a great deal.

At last Celestia sighed. "Even if you are right, Sister, even if Discord was blackmailed regarding the changeling invasion…what of his betrayal before, in Tartarus, when we stayed his hand to prevent a slaughter? What of his attack against you afterward? He sent raw chaos magic to kill you, attempted to slaughter the original Guardians of Harmony. Has he made some excuse about that?"

"No, but I can speak to him about it. My instincts tell me there is more there than any of us know yet. I feel…" Luna lifted her hooves as if she could grasp the words from the air. "Sister, I feel there is more to all of this than we know."

"And you believe you can convince Discord to give up his secrets so easily?"

"Not easily," Luna contradicted. "But he thirsts for vengeance against Chrysalis and her changelings. It burns in him, Sister. I can see it. We can use that to our advantage."

Silence stretched between the Sun Princess and her sister as they regarded each other. Luna couldn't read Celestia’s expression. Would Celestia understand that Luna could feel something, some small part of Discord, reaching out to her? Like a drowning creature desperately reaching for a safe shore, Luna's old friend strained toward her, even while his grief-fueled, half-mad rage held him back as surely as iron chains. How to convince Celestia of this? Without the full story of what had happened after Discord disappeared from Ponyville, Luna didn't think there was a way to make her sister believe.

But finally, the princess of all of Equestria nodded once. "All right. Offer him your bargain. We shall see what happens."

More than a fortnight went by without response from Discord; whenever Luna was there, Discord seemed to be sleeping. The princess suspected him of faking it, but couldn't be certain. There was a wall around Discord’s mind, perhaps forged of his innate chaos magic, that prevented her from touching his dreams.

Yet on the fifth day of the third week, Luna felt something ice-cold and piercing the moment she stepped into the dungeons. Magic, sparking and buzzing with raw power, rippled through the air and hummed along the corridor leading toward Discord's cell. A fleeting panic lanced the princess, but she suppressed it. Last time she'd felt such power from his prison, it had been because Discord was summoning the illusion of Eris. It had been weeks since Discord had attempted such a thing, though. Uneasy, the princess picked up his pace, approaching his cell with caution. She halted just out of Discord's line of sight, so that she could observe the draconequus without being seen.

As he had that first time, Discord hunched against the plain white wall of his prison, knees drawn up to his feathered chest. But this time both talon and paw were stretched palm-out before him, shaking with some terrible strain. Chords of muscle strained against the patchy, dun-colored fur and dusty-gold scales. Sweat streamed down the mold-gray brow, plastering strands of ebony mane to temples, cheeks, and neck. A terrible light burned in the amber depths of his gaze as he watched the twining shadows and wisps of plaid-colored light twist together to form the familiar illusion of the burgundy-haired foal Discord called Eris.

Discord's breath whistled between his clenched fangs as he struggled against the bonds of his prison. The magic that Celestia and Twilight Sparkle had placed around the prison and laced throughout the room vibrated and hummed as Discord fought to bring his spell to fruition. The ensorcelled iron bars rattled in their casement with the force of the magic battering at them, but Discord ignored it as he twisted his claws back and forth, as if weaving the magic of the illusion. A thin trickle of blood leaked from both nostrils as Discord leaned forward, brow furrowing in fierce concentration. Wrinkles snarled across Discord's forehead and between his eyebrows.

"I have to," Discord whispered, eyes narrowing. "To avoid it is…I’m no coward. I have to do this." Taking a deep breath, the chaos lord stretched his claws out toward the foal and seemed almost to smooth down the air in front of it. As Luna watched, the illusion began to shrink.

No, Luna realized. Not shrink. The foal was getting younger. The burgundy curls shortened, the foal's body slimmed out and shrunk down as the limbs grew shorter, spindlier. Discord's entire body was shaking violently as this point. His breath came in ragged gasps and his chest heaved with the effort of manipulating the illusion. Wetness gleamed in his golden eyes. Anguish twisted the mismatched features. Luna frowned. What was he doing? And why?

When the illusion showed a foal of perhaps two years of age, suddenly Discord jerked his claws back with a sharp intake of breath that was almost a sob. Clutching his arms to his chest as if wounded, he whispered, "I can’t…I can’t. Rosedust, I’m so sorry, I can’t stand to…"

Somehow the illusion held—though Discord shuddered and sweated—an illusion of a two-year-old pegasus foal with wisps of baby-fine blood-burgundy mane. The stuffed manticore had made a return, as well, clutched now at the little foal’s side, shielded by one cream-yellow wing. The foal's small head was bent over the toy so that Luna couldn't see her eyes or any real features, and she was angled so that her emblem was hidden.

Why had Discord made her younger? Was he trying to remember a time before the changelings? But no, he'd met Eris after being taken prisoner by the changelings, he'd said. Unless he'd been lying. Why was he changing the illusion?

In a voice choked with grief, Discord whispered, "Oh, Eris…you look so much like her. Like your mama. I always wondered if…wondered…Little one, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for what they did to you. I'm so sorry."

The illusion lifted her head, but the fall of dark red curl and the angle still prevented Luna from seeing anything but the chubby roundness of Eris's cheek and the delicate curve of her ear. She must have done something, however, because a look of intense pain flashed across Discord's face and he reached out his trembling paw to her. His clawtips touched her cheek before he lifted his paw and laid it atop her head. The thin lips formed a trembling smile and to Luna's astonishment, a tear welled up from the wet golden eyes and spilled down Discord's cheek.

"You would’ve been so beautiful when you grew up," he whispered. "Just like your mama. I'm so, so sorry, my little abomination. I'm so sorry."

He slumped back against the wall as the vision faded and closed his eyes. Luna watched in heartbroken silence as Discord, who always tried to appear so strong, so sly, so indifferent, quietly fell to pieces. A few silent tears slid down his cheeks before he dropped his face into his claws and merely sat there, silent and still save for the occasional shudder racking his long, lean frame. At last he dropped his head back and heaved a sigh.

"I'm sorry, my Rosedust," Discord murmured, staring up at the ceiling. "I couldn't do it. I can’t look at her as…as she…I can’t do it. I’m so sorry."

Discord had sat in silence for several long minutes before Luna had the courage to step out of the shadows and call his name. Discord didn't look toward her; merely closed his eyes and sighed.

"I'm not in the mood today, Luna. Go away."

"I've come to make a bargain with you," the princess said, as if ahe hadn't seen him weeping over the changed illusion of a little foal only moments before. "I want to know what happened to you after you disappeared from Ponyville."

Without his customary sneer, Discord murmured, "Don't you know it's unhealthy to get everything you want?"

Coming to a stop just at the window, Luna said, "We can both have what we want. I have spoken to Celestia, and she’s willing to obey the conditions of this bargain. If you tell me what happened to you—the entire truth, all of it, and you can convince Celestia and the other princesses, all of them—then we will help you get your revenge on Chrysalis."

If he had to convince all of them—all six of them: Celestia, the Princess of the Day; Luna, the Princess of the Night; Mi Amore Cadenza, the Princess of Love; Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Magic; Starlight Glimmer, the Princess of Connection; and Sunset Shimmer, the Princess of Song, who had been called back from the Other Realm because of the approaching changeling threat—then the decision would be unbiased. Sunset Shimmer and Starlight had little personally invested in the situation. That, combined with Twilight and Cadence’s suspicion and anger, would balance out Luna and Celestia’s desire to save Discord.

Now Discord looked at Luna, brows slightly furrowed, mild incredulity on his face. Dark shadows circled his eyes; Luna thought he looked a bit like he had in Canterlot after the changelings had sent him there. How had she not noticed how sick Discord had looked then? Well, other than because she'd been preoccupied with stopping him from slaughtering the ponies of Canterlot.

"You will…help me…kill Chrysalis," Discord said. Luna nodded, never taking her eyes from his face. Discord shook his head slowly, obviously puzzlement twisting his features. "Why would you do that?"

"To kill the villain who murdered the mare my friend and foster brother loved."

Closing his eyes, Discord turned his face away. "What do you know about it? Nothing. I never said I loved her. And I doubt Celestia and the other princesses are going to let me out just so I can seek my revenge."

Luna shrugged. "She has sworn it to me and Twilight Sparkle and Cadence have sworn to abide by it. Starlight and Sunset Shimmer have no reason to defy Celestia. Why would you doubt them?"

The sardonic look Discord hit her with could have drawn blood from a stone. "Forgive me, little moon, but that is a very stupid question. I wouldn't trust Twilight Sparkle as far as I could throw her. And she hates me."

"Then trust me, Brother. Have I ever deceived you?" When Discord said nothing, Luna tossed the starry waterfall of her mane over her shoulder and tried to think. Sometimes when he was being particularly obstinate, she could get Discord talking by changing the subject a little. Asking a different question. But what question? There were so many she still had…but one, Luna thought, that she really should have asked a while ago.

She had a choice, the princess realized. She could satisfy her own curiosity, or she could ensure that the changelings weren't as much of a threat as they all feared. That was, of course, assuming Discord was telling the truth…and assuming the six princesses believed whatever he said, truth or not. That was why Luna had made the princesses’ belief a hinge-point for Discord's plans for revenge.

"Tell me, Discord…could Rosedust truly destroy an entire realm with merely a wave of her hoof?"

To her surprise, Discord threw back his head and laughed. There was just the faintest mocking edge to the chaos lord's amusement, but Luna ignored it. When he'd finally stopped laughing, the draconequus said, "You really are a fool, Luna. Of course she couldn't. No pony I know of possesses that much power. Even Celestia can’t do that without harnessing the power of the Elements from the Tree of Harmony. You'll believe anything, won't you?"

Bratling, Luna thought, but didn't say aloud. Now wasn't the time to indulge in insults. Instead, glaring, Luna demanded, "Had she any power at all?"

The amusement on Discord's face vanished like night mist in the morning sun, to be replaced by something betwixt wistful pain and awe. "Oh, yes. Hers was the wonder of dreams brought to fruition, the power to make memories live again, the magic of illusion as real as life." He held up his claws, curled into a fist, then snapped open his long fingers, flexing them. Staring at his empty palm, Discord murmured, "That was her gift, when combined with mine, and the changelings desired to study our combined powers once they saw what it could do in battle, how I could work off of her own emblem talents." Shaking himself as if from a dream, the chaos lord said coolly to the princess, "But I'm a bit busy at the moment, little moon, so could you be a decent pony and leave me alone? Go sink the sun or something."

A muscle twitched in Luna's jaw. Would he never cease mocking her over what she’d done as Nightmare Moon? But instead of snapping, Luna said, "One last question. A simple one."

"Erm…no."

"It's a very simple question, Discord, it will cost you nothing. In the illusion of Eris, she held a stuffed manticore; where did she get it?" When Discord hesitated, eyeing Luna warily, the princess shrugged. "A simple enough question, is it not?"

A blatant challenge, that. One Discord could not back down from—his pride wouldn't allow it.

After an excruciating silence, broken only by the crackle of flames and Discord's increasingly harsh breathing, the draconequus said tersely, "I made it for her…but I never had the chance to gift her with it." Seeing Luna's expression, he added in a voice sharp with accusation, "She was murdered before I had that chance."

And Luna thought of him weeping silently for the dead foal, and felt something twist savagely in her heart. "I am sorry, Discord."

Discord sneered. Viciousness twisted his features and that icy hatred, which Luna had hoped she wouldn't see today—it had been absent until now—filled his gaze like abyssal fire. "Oh, you're sorry. Tell me, Luna, what do you dream of these days? Is it still the glories of war, the beauty of the night, and the pleasure of those stallions who serve in your Night Guard?" Before Luna could reply, he spat, "Do you know what I dream, little moon? Do you know what fills my slumber?" Numbly the princess shook her head. "A mare's screams and the sound of a…" Suddenly Discord frowned. Something that might've been horror flickered in his eyes before vanishing. "What is that?"

Puzzled, Luna scanned the corridor, but saw nothing. All was emptiness and shadows dancing across the walls. She turned back to Discord. "What's what?"

"That sound…don't you hear it?"

Luna listened, but there was only the steady drum of her heart and her breathing mingled with his. "I hear nothing. What is it?"

But he shook his head. "Nothing. My imagination, I suppose." But Luna knew Discord was lying, even as he said, "It doesn't matter. Go away, Luna. You've used up my patience; now you're boring me."

"Tell me what happened," Luna said softly. "What happened when you disappeared? If you tell me, I can help you avenge them. Tell me."

"I owe you no answers."

"Discord, I'm trying to help you! I'm trying to understand! Why do you fight me? Why won't you let me help you?"

In a voice that was a mere thread of sound, a thread that threatened to strangle Luna, he said, "You can't help me, Luna. Every time I look at you I see my Rosedust's blood on your hooves. I see Eris…my little Eris…her blood…she never even had the chance to…and it was your fault! Your fault they killed her! Your fault she's dead!"

"You didn't tell me! How was I to know?"

"Because you should have known me! You should have trusted me! Why would I butcher innocent ponies? Why would I invade Canterlot, launch an attack on them, without good reason? You should have known there was a reason! When I took control before, I offered no true harm to anyone except those you sent against me! You should have left me alone to do what needed to be done instead of interfering!"

Swallowing back sudden rage, Luna demanded, "How was I to know? You tried to kill me, Discord. You tried to take the throne—"

"Not true!" Discord snapped, surging to his feet. "I never wanted the throne! I only took it as a game, to see if you’d fight me for it! It was only a game—"

"What about the chaos spell?" Luna demanded coolly.

Discord snarled an obscenity under his breath. "We have been over this. What do you want me to say?"

"Explain why you sent it to kill me."

"I didn't," Discord snapped. "I've said this before, if you'd been paying attention. I told it to make sure you didn't come back to the Palace of the Sun and Moon because if you had, you would have ruined everything."

"Everything? What is everything? What were you trying to do? Slaughter the ponies of my kingdom? Because yes, Discord, I would have 'ruined' your attempt to murder everypony in this kingdom."

Discord thumped his fist against the bars. "How dare you? I was forced to take drastic action in order to clean up your mess."

Luna stared at him, jaw slightly slack. Discord glared back, eyes blazing with that odd mix of amber and cerulean-green again. "What?" Luna mumbled. "You…my mess?"

"I told you not to try to wrest control from your sister all those centuries ago. I told you never to create the tantebus, I told you to embrace your anger and your dark feelings and work through them, but you—wouldn't—listen. You were the one who sparked every war Equestria has ever fought, remember? Not me. You and your damned temper were the problem, always! I did what I had to do in order to protect Equestria. When I found out you were back, that you were feeding that creature with your darkness…"

Blinking, flabbergasted, Luna demanded, "That is why you did all of that? To stop me? But why attack Ponyville?"

Discord scoffed. "How else did you expect me to stop you? I’d fought you before, little moon. I knew what you were capable of. And now you had protectors; the Guardians of Harmony were back. And I’d learned long ago I couldn't trust any of the courtiers here," the smooth voice deepened into an infuriated snarl, "couldn't trust Celestia or Star Swirl or Mistmane or Meadowbrook. My so-called friends. How was I to win a new war, if it came to that, without soldiers I could trust? And I couldn't trust these new Guardians because you and Celestia were the ones they wanted! You were the ones everypony loved, everypony’s favorites! You left me no choice! If I was going to stop you from growing so strong that even I couldn’t defeat you, I had to take away the ones who protected you first."

Unable to shake off her astonishment, Luna said, "Discord…why…but you never said any of this. If this is true, why did you not explain?"

"'If this is true?' Of course you don't believe me," Discord hissed. "I’m not an idiot, Luna. I know you’re trying to pry my secrets from me in the hopes of finding some weapon to use against me. You can tell Celestia and those sparkly little princesses what they can do with their little bargain."

"Discord, please," Luna pleaded, leaning in. "Please. I'm trying to help you. I…I have to know what happened. Tell me, and I will help you get your vengeance. I swear it. But I must know what happened. You say there is blood on my hooves," she added softly. "The blood of the mare you loved and the foal you cared for." There was an almost imperceptible flinch from Discord. "I must know how it went, Discord. You must tell me."

For a long moment, Luna didn't know if Discord had even heard her. He didn't react to Luna's words, didn't so much as bat an eye. But then the golden eyes focused on the princess's face. A savage, mad hatred flared to life in the depths of Discord's gaze. Unease shivered through Luna as that icy loathing filled his eyes and suffused his face, turning it into a hideous mask.

"You must know?" Discord echoed, voice a mere breath saturated with black rage. "Oh, yes, you must know. You need to know the purity and beauty of the lives you snuffed out. You need to know the depths of your sins. Yes, little moon, I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I met my gentle Rosedust…and how you killed her. And when it's over, you will help me hunt Chrysalis and put an end to her. Then I'll give you the knife and let you cut your own throat as penance for what you’ve done."

Blankness descended over Discord's face, erasing hatred and its underpinnings of grief or loss or regret or manipulation. He moved to the table and sank down into the chair, never taking his eyes from Luna.

"When you let the Guardians rip me from my stone cage, they made a mistake. They didn’t pull me into their reality all the way before Chrysalis sensed my awakening and grabbed me with a spell. I tumbled through the void of between-space, hooked by Chrysalis’s power, through the between’s deathly cold and its star-spangled blackness until at last I plummeted through noxious silver-gray miasma. At last I hit solid earth. The impact jarred my skull, shattered several bones. Only luck kept me from breaking my neck."

Luna's eyes widened, but Discord seemed not to notice.

"For what felt like an eternity I couldn’t do anything but lie there, racked by the pain of my injuries, my magic in fragments," he continued tonelessly. "What your Guardians did to me was nothing compared to that time. My blood soaked the sand and stones beneath my body and your precious, vicious moon burned white against my eyelids until I saw it always, sleeping and waking. I see it still when I close my eyes. And then they found me."

She was almost afraid to interject, but Discord fell quiet and did not speak for so long that Luna had to ask, "Rosedust and Eris?"

Discord shook his head. "No. That would be too easy for you. No, I did not meet my dear Rosedust for some time after that and as for…as for Eris…"

Though his face remained empty of expression, though his tone was as hollow as that of a dead stallion speaking in a dream, a terrible agony filled his eyes. For Luna, it was as if looking into his gaze was like being raked with poisoned golden talons that burned like acid. It was the same agony she'd seen when Discord had wept over the illusion of a younger Eris.

"As for Eris," Discord somehow managed to continue, though his voice shook and his eyes gleamed as if wet. "I did not…I never…I was never allowed…never truly…"

The thin lips quivered and Discord covered his mouth with one shaking paw, looking away. Luna wondered what could possibly crack Discord's composure so. Who was Eris, that she affected the golden-eyed creature so dramatically?

At last, he spoke again, his voice somewhat steadier. "No, it was not my Rosedust who found me, but the changelings. They brought me to their fortress and healed my wounds. Throughout the weeks it took for my bones to knit and my injuries to mend, the second-in-command of the changeling armies, Lord Pharynx, came to me constantly with an offer—a command couched in pretty words. I was to join their ranks; they wanted my power, my chaos. They wanted Equestria, they wanted all of Equus, and they wanted my help in conquering them. If I agreed, I could become king of my own country, and win glory for the mighty changeling Empire.” He scoffed. Scratched absently at a horn. “If I refused…well, one does not refuse Chrysalis for long."

But Luna knew Discord, and knew that receiving an order like that would have been tantamount to a slap in the face. As proud as draconequui naturally were—as proud as Discord had always been—there was no chance the chaos lord had accepted such an offer, threats or no.

"So they imprisoned you."

A regal cant of the head acknowledged Luna's words. "And though I was left to die if I didn’t give in, though it was as if I'd been stuffed into a coffin and left to rot in the wet dark earth like a moldering corpse, I didn’t give into their pathetic demands. I refused to take part in their invasion of Equestria."

A chill settled in the pit of Luna's stomach. She knew the changelings hadn't all been killed during their second invasion of Canterlot, merely thwarted again. She knew they could return at any time…or turn their sights somewhere else. If it came to war, Equestria would—

"They locked me away in the darkness," Discord whispered. Luna's attention snapped back to him; he stared unblinking and unseeing into the hearth fire. His throat worked convulsively for a moment. Then he said, almost as if he were speaking to himself, "The darkness has eyes and teeth, claws to rake and fangs to bite. It presses against your eyes until there is only blackness slithering into your skull to devour your mind. Silence deafens, darkness blinds. Hunger gnaws and thirst burns. They gave me just enough to keep me alive, just enough to keep the pain sharp in my throat and in my belly. I thought I would go mad in the dark. I thought I would shatter under the silence. It was all so ordered, so empty, so much the same day after day, night after night. And then…"

Those sightless eyes suddenly focused again, coming to rest on Luna's frozen countenance. Some of the hollow sickness festering in that gaze faded, to be replaced with a dull sort of agony. Somehow Luna knew just what he would say next.

"Then I heard her voice, muffled by the stone wall. It had been so long since I'd heard another being speak. So long. I'd lost count of the days, the weeks…the months. I heard her as she raged at the changelings, demanding to know what they wanted. She shouted that her friends would come after them, would make them pay if she wasn't released…and then she said something interesting. She said that she would never, ever, so long as she lived, use her powers for Chrysalis."

Luna's brow furrowed. "She knew of Chrysalis?" Luna asked, eyeing him. Was that the smallest quirk of a smile curving the corner of Discord's mouth? "How?"

Discord arched a brow. "Don’t you know? From your precious Twilight Sparkle, of course."

Author's Note

What do you guys think? Any theories? Any questions? Did I switch up my human and pony anatomy by accident? I do that sometimes. Anyway, let me know what you think!