Madness and Chaos

Chapter 3

In the Court of Madness, the political center of the Shivering Isles, Haskill was finishing up his tasks given to him by his master. As he threw away the last few wedge of cheese from Sheogorath's latest hissy-fit, he walked over to a chair and sat down to relax his aching back. "That is the last time I tell Lord Sheogorath we are out of cheddar again.  I wonder where he went off to anyway. Probably visiting Pelagius again. He always was his favorite subject," remarked Haskill, "Oh well, time to get to work on that latest incident in Passwall. The new gate guardian is causing a real..." Before Haskill could finish his thought, a dark purple void opened in the middle of the court with Sheogorath and Discord walking out.

"HASKILL!!! I'm HOOOOOOOME!" roared Sheogorath heartily as he entered his keep. "Haskill! Where are you!?"

"I'm right here..." began Haskill before he was pointlessly summoned in front of his master, "*sigh*, my lord. How was your trip to... where ever you were?"

"It t'was well enough. Pelagius is doin' well, aside from his mother issues, that whole inferiority complex and..." Sheogorath began to ramble, stopping after Discord let out an obvious cough to get his attention, "Oh, yes, that's right. Haskill, this is Discord."

"Oh, so is this a new kind of Daedra, my lord, or simply another pet you've created." inquired Haskill looking over the snake like chimera.

"Who're you calling a "pet", you bald-headed secretary!" snarled an irritated Discord before materializing a small blue pail above Haskill which then tipped and poured chocolate milk on him.

"Discord, don't insult Haskill. Anyway, Haskill,  Discord is my son," said Sheogorath introducing the chimera to his servant.

"You... have a son? My lord, I have never heard of him before," stated the puzzled Haskill while squeezing the milk out of his clothes, feeling a bit over whelmed with the fact he may have to deal with another mad god.

"That may have to do with the fact I made him long before you, Haskill... also I may have forgotten about him," responded Sheogorath.

"Ah HA! So that's why you left me trapped in stone for all those eons!" accused Discord.

"Well it wasn't my fault. When I left you there it was the end of an age, I had the Gray March to deal with back here," responded Sheogorath, "And my memory gets fuzzy after a Grey March."

"Uh huh, sure. Anyway, I'm feeling a little peckish. Got anything good to eat around here?" asked Discord rubbing his belly.

"Well we did just acquire a large amount of cheese if you'd like some," suggested Haskill holding up the sack full of cheddar.

"Brilliant idea Haskill! We can have a Cheese Banquet! No wait: A Cheese Parade in honor of my son's arrival!" Sheogorath cried out in glee.

Haskill rubbed his eyes in irritation as he was beginning to become sick of cheese. "Alright, until then were would you like me to set up Lord Discord's quarters sir?"

"Hmm... put him in the court of Mania. I'm sure he'd like it there much better than the court of Dementia, wouldn't you son?" stated Sheogorath.

"Where ever is fine, really. I highly doubt I'll be in it much anyway seeing as I've got a whole new world to wreak chaos on," chortled the spirit as he flew out of the Court of Madness and beyond New Sheoth into the Isles' vast terrain.

"Ah, it's good to see him so happy... anyway, back to work, Haskill," said Sheogorath as he watched Discord fly away, "We've got a lot of preparations to make before the parade."

"Yes, my lord," groaned Halkill.

***

Discord flew high above the hills of the Isles and stared down at the vibrant and beautiful terrain. He admired the winding chaotic paths, the destroyed ruins, the loud buzzing of over-sized insects, and especially the giant fungi that towered like trees. He flew over to a nearby cloud and threw himself into its soft and cushy form so he could lie down and gaze upon his wondrous new home. It brought him back to the days when he ruled Equestria before he was imprisoned in stone, and then how he was imprisoned again by Twilight and her cheery little friends. He quickly dismissed those thoughts so he could relax and enjoy his new freedom.

Discord then shifted his attention south and saw a land full of nothing but doom-and-gloom. He took one look at the sorry looking swamps and let out a loud gaging sound as if to mock it.

"Looks like I've got my work cut out for myself," Discord chuckled as his paw began to glow with a golden aura. He then snapped his fingers and a large portion of the swamp became as goofy looking and colorful as a Chuckie-Cheese. As he laughed loudly above his creation -- watching the native beasts run around in agony due to the sudden change from dark to bright colors -- his jubilant laughter was cut short as he saw the scenery revert to it's previously horrid hue.

"What the... hmm... guess I just have to put more umph into it," pondered Discord as he charged up another spell and blasted the area again, making it even brighter and more colorful than before -- and even including soap roads. "There, that should do GAH!"

Once again, to Discords dismay, the land scape transformed back to its original state, infuriating him to no end. He then started to blast the area in a frenzy, hoping to make the change permanent, but no matter how much he snapped his fingers or shot ball of magic the trees and soil always changed back. Soon enough, Discord just gave up, panting heavily. He looked at the dark swamp and blew a raspberry at it.

"Who needs it anyway," spat Discord as he divirted his attention toward the plane north of him, "Let's see what over there, then I'll be back for you," he said pointing spite filled finger at the swamp before he flew up north to see what he could find there to entertain him.

***

Sheogorath sat on his throne and was listing off all the requirements for the Cheese Parade he was going to have Haskill prepare in honor of Discord's arrival in the Isles. "Also we need Swiss Cheese, Farmer's Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Smoked Gouda, streamers, pinwheels..."

"Hold on, my lord. When you say pinwheels, do you mean the toy or the pastry?" asked Haskill, holding  rather large scroll and a quill.

"Both. Now then, where was I? Ah, we'll also need goat cheese, cabbages, string and..." began Sheogorath before he was interrupted by the sudden entry of a Golden Saint -- a gold colored female in gold armor.

"Lord Sheogorath, I bring grave news." announced the Golden Saint before approaching her lord and bowing.

"Ooo, this better be very important because you're interrupting the planning for the Cheese Parade," stated Sheogorath in an irritated tone. "Other wise I might have to play skip-rope with your intestines."

"It is, my lord. The Knights of Order have been spotted in Mania, sir: The Grey March has begun."

Alright, this has been a longtime coming, and I'd like to thank everyone who is still keeping an eye on this story. You may notice that this chapter contains a segment from what was originally chapter two, that is because I've moved a few parts of the story around to help it flow better, so if you're a little lost, I recommend going back to chapter two and read the amended chapter.