Broken Harmony

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 4
Chapter 18 (end)

Chapter 1 Author's Note

* NOTE: I have started this idea before but, writing it as first person. I found that the story wasn't what I wanted it to be so I have started it again in third person. I love the idea that I have in my head I just want it to translate into a story a bit better than it was before. I want to be excited writing and I was finding it harder and harder to convey in the way I wanted the story to be heard. Please be kind this is my first fanfiction I love positive criticism and want to connect. Being mean isn't going to help anyone and may be the reason someone stops writing.

Chapter 1

He woke up slowly, as if coming out of a thick haze. Discord stretched out his long sinewy body desperately trying to shake the cobwebs from his brain, this wasn’t like him, Discord prided himself on being quick witted and alert, especially here in his home, where everything was his idea of perfection. Something was very wrong he sensed it but, wasn’t sure what it was exactly. It felt like magic to him, like someone had drugged him and made him sleep. He tried to remember what had happened before coming home, were things the way they should have been? He just couldn’t think, everything was covered in smoke, a feeling of panic crept into his gut. Magic someone had used magic on him, he was certain of it and it must be damn powerful to have put him out the way it had. Someone had trapped him inside his home, kept him away from Equestria. Taking a breath he jumped out of his dimension to find Fluttershy and the girls, they would know where to start looking for this new threat.
Popping in front of Fluttershy’s cottage usually took no effort but, Discord felt like he was coming through tar. Thick and slow he materialized into madness. He couldn’t see through the smoke, the black clouds billowing up from what use to be his bestfriend’s home. The smell of burning hair and flesh choked him, he couldn’t catch his breath. “Fluttershy!,” Discord searched out with his magic to see if he could feel her, but, there was no sense of her anywhere. He did feel the animals, her animals, their lives lost in flames.

Turning away from the cottage Discord could see the orange hue in the smoke filled sky. It greeted him as if it was an old friend, mimicking sunset but, no warm feelings came with this sight. That was Ponyville and it was on fire, everything was burning. Discord used his powers to land in the centre of town. The sight was horrifying, burned bodies lay on the ground. Charred black and lifeless, he could feel bile rising in his throat. How long had he been put to sleep? How could this have happened? Where were the girls, they must be alive, they had to be ok right? They would have gone right to Celestia and Luna he was sure of that, quickly, he cracked his power and left Ponyville.

The castle was in bad shape but, it was standing. Cracked and crumbling in places it represented hope to Discord. “The girls must be here, that’s why there’s still a castle”, he muttered to himself. Gliding through the hallways the castle was strangely quiet except for the moaning of the building itself. It sounded like it could break apart at any second. Looking around Discord found himself in the stain glass hallway and there, painted in coloured light from the windows reflecting the fires below, was Celestia.

Blood pooled to the side of her from a deep gash in her flank. Discord drew in a sharp breath afraid so very afraid of the still body of the princess. If she were dead…

Celestia coughed and shuddered from the pain. Trying to move her head to locate the sound she called weakly “who….who’s there?”

Discord came into view and Celestia felt relief. He was still alive, somehow he had escaped the end of the world. “Discord….”

“Tia? How badly are you hurt? If I help you, can you move?”
“I think with your help I can at least attempt….we need to get to throne room….Luna….was there...not sure if she’s...alive….or - “

Discord slowly helped her stand. She trembled but remained as regal as she could. Without Discord she knew she would have fallen but using him they slowly made it to the throne room. “Luna!!” Forgetting her pain Celestia jumped away from Discord and ran to her sister. Blood flowed down her body and dropped onto Luna’s broken disfigured wing. Bent at an odd angle with the feathers torn out in places, Discord could see her chest falling and raising but, just barely. He knelt beside Celestia and watched as she quietly cried over her fallen sister.
“Tia, my God what’s happened here?”

Celestia looked up at him. The history that they shared she could see the weight of it in his eyes, concern and fear came off of him in waves. “His name is Grogar, Discord he’s a necromancer and so very, very powerful. I didn’t feel him enter this world, only when your gate was locked did I know something had shifted in the magic here. He came so fast, he knew who to deal with, the unicorns were caught first. He….shattered their bodies and, he took their souls. He ate their souls -” Her breath caught as she fought off a sob, “those poor ponies had no chance. He charred anything he couldn’t consume. Three days was all it took and we were overpowered. I held the castle together, it was all I could do…”

“Where are the girls…...where is Fluttershy?”

“You know the answer,” she whispered so softly. Looking at him with fresh tears trailing down her cheeks. “They were lost, I did all I could to ease their pain.” She saw all hope leave his eyes. Discord sat down and wept. “Discord listen, he did not get their souls, I .. I was able to send them to a different plane. They are shattered but, will find each other and make a whole. They will seek a body. Discord - “ He wept, she nudged him beckoning him to listen to her, “ I need your help...please Discord listen to me.”

Through his tears he looked and Celestia and nodded for her to keep going. He knew he had to hear what she said. She was talking about Fluttershy having another chance...for all the girls to be reborn in some way. “We can beat him. I can shield Luna and I until we heal, I know I can but, Discord I need this new vessel of harmony, I need to send you to where their souls were sent.”

“You want me to follow them and leave you here with this monster stalking the land? I can’t, I can’t lose you and Luna too , Tia, I just can’t -
“Discord you will lose this whole world if you don’t go! I tried, I couldn’t protect them! I tried…. I did what I could at the end… you have to find them …. Please.”

Discord nodded, “tell me what I have to do”
“I will open the portal for you. While travelling through I will be able to gift you with a body to use while in this world, and the knowledge,their customs, the way things work, how to be a part of this world so that you can search.

Our soul bearer will be female I know that for certain. She will be born with the girls inside her, magic is not something this world knows, it’s why I sent their souls there. The necromancer will have no reason to search for any power there. You will feel them inside her, their magic will call to your magic. She will have to learn her own power and how to control it. I know you can help her find it Discord. You will still be fully capable of your own magic. I can not control you,” she paused and gave a small smile, “ not that I ever could. I will stall here and freeze time. When you come back with the bearer Luna and I will be well and assist the fight.”

“Freeze time, Celestia you can still do that? You were suppose to give up magic that was so powerful.” Discord had started to shake. This was too much for even him to take in, so many emotions rolled through him. He was scared, terrified of what had happened. This Grogar was a necromancer. He had thought that he had seen the last of that black magic. Awful things had happened in the past thanks greatly to those who had practised the art. He was also afraid of what was going to happen when he jumped through to the other side but, as pain lanced his heart he knew he had to follow all that remained of Fluttershy. Looking Celestia in the eyes he nodded. “Let’s do this now.”

Celestia’s horn glowed white hot, too bright to look at she was able to create a bright oval in the air, it shimmered with power. Discord stood, looked at the throne room one last time bringing his eyes to Celestia and said “you will see me again Tia,” then walked through to the other side.

Chapter 2

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 3

Nova stood in line for the dance club Stages fidgeting with her outfit and thinking she was crazy to have come with her friends. She was far too old to be at this club, even dressed the part she felt shy and awkward beside her friends.
“Are you sure you guys want to go here? We could go bowling instead, they have cosmic bowling on tonight ….”
“Nova,” her friend Maria sighed, “really, we already talked about this don’t blow it. I haven’t been out in years and it’s my birthday I just want to break out and let loose!” Maria stretched her hands to the sky and twirled around in line. A couple of their friends smiled before turning back to their own conversation.
“Can’t you do this … for me? Besides you look incredible! You’ll have them all lined up to dance with you!”
Nova knew she was defeated and accepted her fate. Tonight was a night for her friend and she would try her best to have fun with the girls. She smiled, “of course I can and it’s going to be fun, I’m just nervous, I don’t remember the last time I was out dancing, it’s been a long time.”

“Too long clearly... Nova, come on we need to catch up with the group!”
Nova wasn’t really too old to be out dancing. She was twenty six, give or take a year, as no one was really sure when she was born exactly. Nova’s past was somewhat of a mystery, she really had only memories from the last four years. Not that she minded, she was happy with the here and now. The nurses from where she recovered turned out to be amazing friends. She was able to take on a job at the hospital and in the last few years come to terms with who she was and start her life.

Stepping into the club, the music pounded into her bones. Smoke poured onto the dance floor as Nova could see shapes of people moving to the music. Her friends quickly went to the bar to grab a drink. “Come on Nova!”, Maria called to her friend and ran back to grab her hand. “You my dear need to let loose a little I’m buying you a birthday shot!”
“Oh I don’t know…”

“But, Nova I do. You need to have some fun! Besides birthday girl wishes, have a drink!”

An hour later slightly tipsy Nova stood in front of the mirror in the girls washroom. She fought with her skirt to lay a bit longer but, soon gave up. She studied herself, and reapplied some lip gloss. Nova stood 5’4 and was very slim. For her height she had shapely legs and was built to be a dancer. She was pale but in a buttercream type of way. A small sprinkle of freckles dotted her nose and onto her cheeks. She had deep teal coloured eyes and yellow hair that flowed down to her waist. In short, Nova was someone who stood out in a crowd, she was graceful, beautiful and had an aura about her. People noticed her wherever she went regardless of being a bit shy. One last dusting of makeup Nova made her way out of the washroom to find the girls.

The club had become very crowded, bodies squeezed together making the overall feeling of the club chaotic. Nova pushed her way towards the dance floor to see if the girls had stayed dancing. She didn’t see them, turning to look towards the bar she felt a jolt rock through her body. A couple standing close to her gave her a quick look since she had actually jerked from the feeling.

“Whoa, what was that?” Nova walked over to the wall to just lean on it for a second. Let her mind regroup, take a second to breathe away from the crowd then, she would see if she could locate her friends. She felt another jolt flow through her, what was happening, she really hadn’t drank that much.. Staring at the ground she didn’t notice there was someone beside her until she saw shoes. Startled she looked up and into a mismatched pair of eyes.

“Oh,” she managed not to fall backwards with him being so close. Physically he was a normal distance from her. He may have even have been there when she leaned against the wall and she just didn’t notice. It was more his presence he felt closer to her, it was a very odd feeling. This night was not turning out right at all.

“I’m sorry, I thought you saw me. Are you ok Miss? You seem out of sorts…”

“Nova, my name’s Nova”, she said although she didn’t know why she was telling him anything, he didn’t need to know her name. At the same time she felt a connection with him and couldn’t help staring. He was wearing a dark grey dress shirt and tight black pants. His hair was long pulled half up with parts falling around his shoulders. She continued, “ I’m ok just a little overwhelmed, it got busy very quickly and I’m not feeling the best. I’m just going to find my friends and head home.”

“Seth, I’m Seth. It’s nice to meet you Nova. Would you like some help finding them? I am very good at being a detective and, being a fair bit taller than you, I do seem to have an advantage.” He smiled at her and Nova felt another jolt, this time more from how comfortable she was with him being with her. She felt instantly at home near this man. Something that had never happened since she could remember.

“Hello Seth, normally I would decline the offer but, you are a fair bit taller,” Nova giggled as she noticed him light up at the chance, “so yes I think I would like to have a detective help me out.”

“At your service my dear”, Seth said with a dramatic sweeping gesture, “now let’s find these friends of yours.”

It didn’t take long to locate the missing girls. Nova actually spotted them first standing by the bar having another drink. Maria smiled knowingly when Nova introduced Seth. Shaking her head in reply to Maria’s look, Nova let the girls know she was heading home.

Maria asked loud enough for Seth to hear, “ you are going home or, we are going home?”

“I am going home Maria, not that it’s any of your concern really. In fact, I was suppose to let loose tonight right? But, to ease your mind no, Seth is walking me to the cab and I am going home to bed.”

Maria hugged Nova saying that she only wanted to make sure she was safe. Nova returned the hug and then confidently walked away with Seth beside her.

“They mean well you know, afterall we did only meet an hour ago.” Nova glanced at Seth once they were out of the bar and into the silence only the middle of the night could bring.

“They wouldn’t be good friends if they didn’t watch out for you. I completely understand their questions.” He paused and then said, “so, Nova I firmly believe in random encounters being the spice of life. I am very happy to have spent the last hour with you my dear.”

Nova looked up at Seth and then to the taxi waiting. “Thank you for helping me find my friends… and for making sure I was feeling ok…”

“No problem at all my dear, no problem at all...say I don’t want you to assume I was just doing this for the payout at the end… but, I want to see you again.”

“I do too,” Nova blushed scarlet but quickly pulled a pen from her purse motioning for Seth’s hand. Writing her address down she said, “pick me up tomorrow at seven for dinner?”

Seth grinned, “My lady it will be my delight, until then my dear.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze and opened the taxi for her to get inside. “Good night Miss Nova.”

“Good night Seth.”

Discord watched the taxi drive away and let out a long shaky breath. He had found her. She was real and he was going to see her again tomorrow. Walking around to a vacant alley he snapped his fingers and transported himself home. For once, he felt excited to see the sun rise.

Chapter 5

Nova woke up to sun streaming through the bedroom window. She smiled as she glanced at a small scratch on her arm, apparently a lion cub had gotten too close. Not that she minded at all, she would have to thank Seth again for the night out. She’d have her chance in a couple of hours. Thinking about that made her sit up and swing her legs out of bed. She was so excited to see him. He was a very new and exciting feeling that brought out a bit of boldness that she wasn’t use to showing. He seemed so carefree but at the same time grounded and sad maybe? She really couldn’t put her finger on it yet but, they hadn’t known eachother more than a couple of days.

Last night was just amazing and she wanted to give him a repayment for the joy she had experienced with him at the zoo. She grinned stepping out of bed and turning a playlist on her computer while she printed out tickets for today. Dancing around the apartment she got dressed thinking about what he would say when she showed him what she had planned. Thinking about that she twirled to her phone and sent a quick text, “ Make sure you dress down today and comfy shoes we’ll be outside.”

His reply was quick, “sounds interesting …. See you soon” Nova smiled and made her way outside to her car bringing it around to the front of the apartment building. He wasn’t driving today, this was her idea and she was planning on being in control. Getting out she went to the front of the car and leaned on the hood waiting for Seth to show up.

Seth wasn’t long to pull up behind her car. He got out of his car and strode up to Nova at the front of hers. “Well, I see we have another car here and the lady has the keys… I’m not driving today am I?”

“I told you I had something planned today and I meant it. Honestly, how could I keep a surprise if I was telling you directions.” She pushed off of her car and looked up with bright eyes, “come on get inside! Promise I’m not planning on kidnapping you or anything.” She smirked as she watched him go to the passengers side. He looked at her from over the car and laughed. He caught the joke from last night in reverse she was really clever.

Nova started the car and turned on the radio. She was listening to a classical station Seth noted. “So my dear,care to spill the beans on where we are going yet.”

“Not really”
“No huh, well then let’s play a game.”

She glanced at him, “a game?”
“Oh yes! I mean what a better way to fill the time than fun and games.” He smiled at her and hoped he wasn’t off his mark. He wanted to get to know her a bit better and this way it kept everything happy and if something ended up getting too serious he could always back away and change the rules.

“Ok you’re on, we have a little bit of time before we get to ...the….place. I’ll play, what are the rules?”

“Rules are easy and I’m sure you’ve played before two truths and a lie.” He watched her smile and nod her head. “Right! I can start! Let’s see….. I think cotton candy would be better as clouds than candy…. I love thunderstorms …. Jigsaw puzzles are a wonderful way to spend an afternoon” He watched her think she scruntched up her nose, it was adorable.

“The… cotton candy one? No, puzzles that’s the lie.” She smiled as she saw him react. He laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

“ What can I say they are just soo predictable and talk about a snoozefest. Ok, your turn!”

Nova was quiet for a moment thinking about what she wanted him to know about her. She knew this “game” was just a way to get to know each other a little bit better. She enjoyed it to, it was a quick fun way to learn a few things about the other person. “Ok.. I love popcorn more than anything… I watch the my little pony cartoon even though it’s for kids…. And… I like rollercoasters..” she waited for his response.

“Easy, pony cartoon is the lie.” Seth felt his heart start beating a bit quicker. Maybe, this wasn’t such a good idea. She shook her head no… he already knew it would be the truth he just wasn’t ready for that yet. “Ok popcorn…..” She smiled and nodded her cheeks a bit redder than they had been a few seconds ago. Seth knew she wanted to say something about the cartoons so he quickly sidestepped her response by asking “So, rollercoasters huh?”

“Oh! Yes, I love the feeling of flying and how fast they go… say… Seth, do you like rollercoasters?”

“I had a feeling you were going to ask that question, Nova can I guess where you are taking me?”

Nova laughed, “guess away although, I’m thinking that it’s not a guess at this point is it? So, do you like amusement parks? I hope you do, I know they aren’t for everyone.” She took her foot off the gas pedal look over at him, “I mean I should have asked we don’t have to go….”

“Nova, my dear I can not wait to ride whatever hair raising contraption you want to make me a passenger in. Drive on my dear this sounds like an exciting day.”

She sighed relieved letting him know how great that was and how excited she was to take him there. She continued on about her favorite rides and inside he felt his own sigh build up and let go. Not ready for the other conversation yet, I want to get to know her first before everything else hits the fan. Seth knew he had to let her know and quickly, he had been away for too long as it was. He missed home so much but, being with her and feeling the power of the elements he finally felt happy. He deserved a bit of happiness didn’t he?

The only reason there was a my little pony show was because he made it. Discord knew that the story would call to whoever the elements had turned into. How could it not, it was about them and their history, their home, magic, and lives. He also wanted this human to have a basic history of Equestria under her belt so he wouldn’t have to explain so much. Also if he was being truthful watching the show made this world a little less lonely. Memories he could see and smile at without having to think too much about them. It kept him company. So, to make this happened Discord used his powers and implanted a story in a young animators mind. The rest, was history and here they were. He could explain much easier to Nova now and maybe she wouldn’t be afraid of him once he told her the truth. He really hoped she wouldn’t be afraid of him.

“Ok, we’re here!”

The rest of their time was spent talking in lines and then flying through the quick turns and loops of the rollercoasters. Nova’s laugh was like the sound of pure joy. She really did love this and he had to admit to himself he was loving his time here as well. Watching her bounce ahead of him, leading him to the next thrill ride, her hair tied up in a ponytail but still managing to flow out like it had a life of its own. Her movements were truly music. He was surprised how much he couldn’t predict her actions. He kept thinking she would act one way and she would go off in a whole different direction. He thought all that would matter was being with his elements again but, he was wrong. She was all of her own wonderful self and he felt joy at spending time with just her, Nova.

The sky had started to darken towards the middle of the afternoon. Clouds quickly closed in and the smell of rain was in the sky. Nova sighed she didn’t want it to rain today. She was having way too much fun. Seth proved to be an equal for thrills. She didn’t get a chance to come here very often as she was the only one of her friends to really enjoy rides. She grabbed Seth’s hand and said, “saved the best for last promise, let’s hit one more coaster before the rain starts.”

They sat next to each other gliding slowly up the first hill. This coaster was massive and the drop looked like it just fell towards the earth. They turned and grinned at the other one. Making eye contact, when all of a sudden thunder sounded. Nova took a sharp breath in. Something didn’t feel right inside. The thunder felt like it had almost gone inside her. She felt the jarr of energy like before at the club. It hurt, she looked at Seth and he grabbed her hand squeezing tight. He had felt it too. The coaster car tipped over the drop as lightning streaked the sky Nova screamed in pain. Seth watched her in horror as she fought to ride out the energy.

The air was ripping around them as the rollercoaster flung through it’s path. Nova closed her eyes and focused on the pressure from Seth’s hand. She felt another flash of lightning streak through her. She felt it inside her soul. The power ripped through her, what was happening to her? The coaster came to a stop inside the que with a jolt. The restraints popped open and she stayed sitting. People in the line waited while Seth slowly got her to her feet. The ride operator asked if she was ill and needed medical attention. She heard Seth telling them no just that the storm had scared her. She looked up at him and smiled weakly.

“I’m taking you home, where are your keys Nova?” She pointed to her pocket and grabbed them out for him.

“Something’s wrong Seth, I don’t feel well.”

“I know, don’t worry I got you. What you need right now is some rest and out of this storm.”

The moment he said storm the heavens opened up and the rain fell onto them. Nova shivered and had a hard time walking through the torrent even with Seth’s help. Lightning lit up the sky and she screamed. The jolt that flowed through her was overwhelming. She knew she must look like she was terrified of the storm but, for some reason she didn’t feel like Seth thought that. He seemed to understand exactly what was happening like he could feel it too. She stumbled almost falling. Seth bent down and scooped her up carrying her back to the car. She heard the thunder and she vibrated inside with the power. She quietly said to him, “you feel it too right?”

“Yes, I feel it too my dear. Shhh we need to get you back to the car and out of this storm.”

“This isn’t normal Seth. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m scared.” She buried her face into his chest and started to shake.

Seth quickly got her back to the car and put her in the back seat so she could lay down. He sent a small amount of power into her to help her sleep. Until the storm was over it was the only mercy he could give her. Her powers were waking up. Driving back to her apartment he kept an eye on the figure in the backseat. She looked so small and terribly young.

This wasn’t fair, he understood now that him being with her was setting everything in motion. He was going to be the cause of her pain as she worked through this. He wanted nothing more than to leave her be as he watched her shiver with another flash of lightning. This wasn’t fair. Why did everything have to be forged so violently. He had realized far too quickly that she wasn’t just a vessel for his ponies, Nova was a beautiful soul all on her own. She was here because of them, only alive because of them but, she wasn’t them. This was far too much to handle, he bashed his hands on the steering wheel. Fate was cruel. Friendship was magic all right .. magic enough it might kill her.

Getting back to her apartment he carried her to what he assumed was her bedroom. He used a quick spell to soak up the water and get rid of the chill she had gotten in the storm. Placing her in bed he covered her up and went to the bedroom door with a blanket he had taken from the bottom of the bed. He was so tired. The storm had taken a toll on him too. He could feel everything flowing through Nova. He felt her power call out to him and twine it’s way through his body. It was all he could do to not transform back into his normal body. The fight was very much two sided and he was exhausted. He curled up beside the door and fell asleep.

Chapter 6

The room was still, the rain having stopped some time ago, had made everything in the house silent. The moon was shining through the window, painting the floor in a silvery light. The blankets felt warm and soft, they were begging not to be disturbed, let’s stay asleep they seemed to call to Nova. Suddenly, her eyes shot open, her bed? How did she get in her bed? One second Seth and her had been having fun, getting to know eachother better and then the next moment….

The intense feeling that had came with the storm was something she didn’t want to remember. There was something wrong with her. Nova started to shake, she curled into a ball and hugged herself. What happened this afternoon? It was the same the other night when she went out to the club but, so much worse. The lightning felt like it had entered her body and placed it’s fingers all over places it should never have been able to touch. She felt power pulse and slide through her. It was as unnerving as it was scary. If it wasn’t for Seth she would have never made it out of the theme park today.

Seth, she immediately knew how she had gotten to her bedroom. She scanned her bedroom without moving and found him on the floor near the door. Nestled in a blanket he was staring back at her. Her heart jumped into her throat. She let out a shaky breath and said, “ how long have I been sleeping? What time is it?”

“How are you feeling?”
“I’m not sure, how long have I been asleep Seth?”
Seth sat up and ran a hand through his hair, “it’s nearly 2:15 in the morning. You’ve been asleep since this afternoon. We both were asleep since this afternoon. I didn’t feel exactly what you felt but what I did feel drained me as well.”
Nova raised onto her elbows the movement took more strength then she had and she fell back to the bed. She pulled in a hissing breath as her body burned all around her. Her muscles were screaming at her not to try that again. She lay her face down on her pillow, what the hell was happening to her.

She felt Seth’s presence before he touched her. She looked up and said quietly “ today scared me, I think I’m still scared. I don’t want that to happen again, I don’t even know what it was Seth but, I couldn’t stop it, I couldn’t keep whatever it was out of me. The more I tried… the harder it seemed to slam into me. It wanted me… that power it wanted to be inside me…. I sound crazy but, it was real Seth.” She looked into his eyes and searched to see if he believed her. “It was real….right Seth?”
“It was real Nova. I felt it.”
“Seth please, I need you right now. I just want someone to hold me and keep me solid. I could feel it inside me trying to meld and bend me. I just need to know I’m here still. Can you stay with me?”
Seth bent down and said “My dear, there is no where else I would rather be then here standing watch over you.” He slid into the bed and Nova placed her head on his chest. He could feel how tense she was and from time to time she would start to shiver. He put one hand on her back and pulled her closer so he could hold her. The other hand found it’s way to her hair and he brushed it over and over. Slowly he could feel her body become more soft. Her muscles began to calm and she wasn’t shaking.
Nova looked up at him and reached to cup his face. Seth remained still as she ran her hand down his cheek and jaw line. “Now your tense,” she said quietly, “was I wrong?”
“No!, no no. Things are just charged right now, you could regret anything further that you do after you have time and space to heal from this afternoon. Nova - I don’t want to hurt you.”
“How could you hurt me? You helped me, this is weird stuff happening and you haven’t even batted an eye at the whole situation.” Nova then felt a punch to her gut….” Unless the reason for staying so cool is because you know what’s going on.” She felt his body go so still under her, she wasn’t even sure if he was breathing. “Seth, you know what’s happening .. don’t you?”
His breathing came quick and fast, he didn’t want to tell her yet. She wasn’t ready to know the truth about her origins, about who he was...he had finally found someone he could connect to, the thought of causing her pain broke his heart. He didn’t know if Celestia had meant for this to happen but, he deeply cared for Nova.
“I know what’s happening Nova.”
“Tell me.”
“Nova please, listening to me and try to understand. I will tell you, I have to tell you and I know your scared, honestly, so am I. Right now though, being the middle of the night where we are both weak, tired and just need reassurance from one another, tonight is not the night for this tale. Don’t make me, as much as you need me to be near you… I need you tonight too.”
The pain on his face took Nova’s breath away. He was so intense, he felt like the embodyment for pain. He was right, whatever it was… it wasn’t for tonight. She raised up from his chest to look him in the eyes. He had such extraordinary eyes regardless of the colour difference both had tears shining in them. “Seth, shhhhh, it’s ok. Things are going to change, whatever this is .. it’s going to change things for me and most likely for you. I can feel that much. Tonight though, tonight I just want you. Tomorrow things can change but for tonight... ,” she ran her fingers down his face and cupped his jaw, “tonight is meant for comfort and healing.” She lifted her face and pulled his down to meet hers. Their lips touched together, the lightest touch before they parted.
Seth stared down at Nova with wonder and amazement, the contact had been too brief he was better at this than that. He held her tight and kissed her again. Where the other kiss had been butterfly wings this kiss was passionate. This kiss held all of his emotions at finding his element to discovering who Nova was to knowing he was going to have to tell her the truth. This kiss was fire.

Nova kissed him back with as much energy. Her tongue slowly darted into his mouth. She heard him take a sharp breath and his hands wound tighter on her back. He followed her lead and his tongue danced around hers. It was exhilarating, Nova’s breath came faster and she could feel the change in Seth. She slowly pulled back from the kiss and smiled up at him. She let her gaze slide lower and heard him chuckle. “How far are you willing to go Seth?”

“As far as you are willing to take me Nova.”

She slid his shirt off and he did the same to her. Time seemed to blur for the two of them. Kisses up and down one another's bodies, hands touching and exploring places waiting to see what the other’s reaction would be. Finally ending up with Seth on his hands staring down at Nova in wonder. “Are you sure my dear?”

She wriggled her hips and arched her back, “Seth I need you. You have made me feel more since knowing you than I have ever felt. I have been waiting for you all my life… yes I’m sure.” Seth didn’t ask again, he lowered himself, slowly connecting them together as one.

Souls and bodies filled to bursting Nova slid back to Seth’s chest. It took only a few moments for the two to fall into a deep healing sleep. Tomorrow would come but, tonight was meant for them, for one moment, time had stood still.

Chapter 7

Discord woke up warm and content. For one moment he was at peace as Nova rested on his chest all he could think was bliss, that the world had paused and given him a gift. That moment ended too fast though as he felt his magic flare to life and send a small spark out towards the sleeping girl. She woke quickly feeling the jolt, her eyes round and bright.

“Seth? Did you feel that?” Nova sat up with the blankets pulled to her chest. She had started to breath quicker when Seth put his hand on hers.

“It’s going to be alright, do you feel it now?”
“No”

“See, I’m sure it was just you waking up. Things are fine, it’s morning the sun has just began its rise for the day. Perfect time … dawn, the start of a new day.”

Nova smiled and started to nod when Seth leaned over the bed and put his pants and shirt back on. She stayed frozen with the blankets held tight. She was well rested but, felt like things were off. Then she remembered he wanted to talk this morning about what was going on. Taking his cue she waited until he had gracefully exited the bedroom to get up and find some clothes for herself. Clearly Seth wasn’t wasting time.

Seth was waiting at the kitchen table with two bowls of cereal. He smiled when Nova walked into the kitchen. She glanced at the breakfast and returned the smile.

“So Seth, last night-”
“Last night my dear was the most perfect night of my life. I can not wait to talk at length about what happened last night but, first we do need to talk about the present issue. Eat up Nova.”

The conversation died after that and Nova quietly ate her breakfast. She was nervous and Seth’s mannerisms did not help her feelings. She wished last night had never ended. She had felt safe, she felt like she belonged and she had felt truly cared for. Now that same man wasn’t only speaking when he needed to and seemed lost in his own thoughts, none of them pleasant.

Seth glanced at Nova’s empty bowl and stood up taking the bowls to the sink. He motioned for the door. Nova looked around her apartment. “We can’t talk inside?”

“Please, just walk with me I need space to talk.”
Nova stayed sitting she knew she needed answers but, had no understanding as to why she couldn’t sit on her couch and just talk to Seth. “Seth? No one can hear us in the apartment, we can stay here.”

Running his hand roughly through his hair Seth walked to the door. He glanced back and you could feel the tension radiating off of him. “Nova, I’m walking out the door please, come with me.”

“Why? What’s with all the mystery? Why can’t we talk in my home, why do we have to leave? You aren’t giving me a lot to go on Seth, yesterday was scary ok? You aren’t making today any better.”

He stood at the door for a second, “I just need you to come with me. I can’t do this here, not inside… I … just can’t.” He opened the door and was gone.

Nova stood up and grabbed her shoes. Scared, overwhelmed and starting to find her temper she wasn’t letting Seth just leave like that. He hadn’t explained anything and what hints he had given her just made her more upset about what was going on. This felt stupid and knowing how things like this usually played out it was something small that he had blown way out of proportion.

She saw him slip onto the path on the opposite side of the road. He was heading into a forested area. She ran across the street and fell in step a few feet behind him. He knew she was there, Nova was sure of it but, he didn’t slow down to wait for her. He suddenly jumped off the path and heading deeper into the woods. Nova slowed for a second to see if he was going to come back out but he didn’t, so she went in after him.

He was standing there waiting for her a few feet away. Holding his hand out Nova held on and the two walked together through the forest in silence. Except for the sound of their breath and shoes hitting the forest floor there was silence. The woods became thicker the further in they went in, Seth finally stopped and pointed. Ahead the trees lightened and Nova could see a clearing. He lead her to the edge of the open space and had her stand beside a large maple tree. This is it he thought, Celestia forgive me but, I’m scared of messing this up.

Nova crossed her arms over her chest, “so…. What now Seth?”

“Now, Nova I need you to trust me,” he looked at her in the eyes, “you do trust me right?”

“Yes, call me crazy but I do.”

“Then I need you to promise me you are going to stay. I need to show you something, I think showing you will be easier than trying to explain everything. After I show you it will be so much more simple to just talk about what’s been going on. Promise me Nova, that you won’t run from me.”

She stood silent for a moment taking in everything he had just said. He made everything sound so doom and gloom but also mysterious and kinda scary. She either said yes and figured out the next chapter or she said no and walked.

“I promise Seth, I’m not going anywhere.”
He squeezed her hand and gave her a small smile. Then he walked to the middle of the clearing. She went to move towards him but, he shook his head. “ I need to show you this before we keep talking Nova. My name is not Seth….

A glow started to form around his body, Nova’s skin burned with the feeling she watched and suddenly where he had been stood something that she knew couldn’t be real.

Discord, stood silent where Seth had been.

She walked over with unshed tears in her eyes. Slowly she brought her hand out and touched his face. He was solid and warm underneath her fingers. Nova gasped and brought her hand quickly away. This was real. She looked up at him, “Can you speak in this form?”

Discord nodded, “do you know my name Nova?”

It sounded so strange he sounded the same as before but then it also sounded so different coming from this body, this mouth. “You’re Discord. Oh my God, you’re Discord.” She sat on the ground trying to take everything in, she looked up in amazement, “how is this happening?”
Discord looked down at her, “may I sit beside you so we can talk face to face?”

Nova nodded a bit quicker than normal but he took her action to mean yes. He stretched his body out curling his front feet in. His tail curled around so that Nova could use it as a back rest, if she decided to that was. Discord watched her as she looked over his body. Her eyes seemed to take in every scale, every change of body parts that made him whole. She closed her eyes and he could see her lips moving as she counted to ten. Opening her eyes back up she let out a deep shaky breath. Then, she started to laugh.

The noise made him jump which made her laugh even harder. She slowly composed herself and said “I’m sorry, I just, I know my life has been strange but this,” she giggled again, “this I think takes the first place trophy. I also have a feeling we are going to be here awhile.” She leaned into his tail and the tension drained out of Discord. “ Ok Lord of Chaos, what are you doing in my world?”

Discord took a breath and started to talk. He asked her about her general knowledge of the tv series. He was delighted to see that she had indeed been watching it pretty much weekly and knew the stories and the background of Equestria. This was exactly why he had implanted the ideas for the story inside that animator’s dreams. Now there wasn’t a need to explain his little ponys and the inner workings of their world to Nova.

“There has always been different dimensions in space. Doors that lead to other worlds that lead to other doors. Some worlds develop the magic side of their nature and like this world here some ignore it and evolve in other ways. It doesn’t make either less or better than the others just different. This world was the safest place for you to be as there was so much technology here it cancelled out your magic.”

Nova had grown accustomed to Discord and was delighted to hear his versions of the way the ponys day to day lives had gone on. The shift back to her was sudden and she was now paying close attention. “ I’m not from here either, am I?”

“No my dear, this is not where you belong either. Nova what do you remember from your past?”

“Nothing, I don’t remember a thing. I don’t remember having a childhood, a family, or even existing until I woke up in the hospital. I was an adult with no memory, no records of ever being born or having any past. No one knew what to do with me. When I woke up I was assessed and tested like crazy and no one could figure anything out about me. It was like I just appeared one day out of thin air.” Discord looked at her and she finally understood something, “I did just appear out of thin air….”

“Let me explain Nova.” He went on to explain what had happened the day he left Equestria. He told her about Grogar and what had happened to him, how he had been locked away. She heard the anger and despair as he explained how he had been blindsided and wasn’t able to help anyone.

“By the time I was free, it was too late. I made it to Canterlot and found Celestia and Luna. They were hurt, Luna badly. Celestia explained to me what had happened … to the … girls.” His head hung low and tears fell. Nova moved to cup his face with tears falling down her own cheeks.

“They didn’t make it, did they Discord?” He shook his head no and finally started to cry for his lost friends. He had never been able to talk about what had happened and really he had never been able to grieve. The release this conversation gave him was freeing him from a prison of silence that he had lived in for years. He looked at Nova and touched her with his lion paw. “Celestia did all she could to protect the girls. Grogar consumes souls, he’s a necromancer. He has power over the dead. Celestia was able to collect the pieces of the girls souls and send them to another world. Where they would be able to join together and create one being.”

Nova moved her other hand to cup his paw. “Me?”

“You, Nova. You are the elements anew. When you say you appeared, you honestly did. Their love and friendship fused together and created you.”

“I need you Nova. You have their magic. It’s why when we connected things started to change and charge inside you. Your power has been dormant because you haven’t had anyone else that was magic around you. But, you see that’s why I’m here. I came for you, to find you to guide you. I have been searching for you now for years and I found you!” He jumped up leaving Nova startled and sitting alone. He was on fire he was excited and overwhelmed with the prospect of sharing all of himself with another.

Nova sat there taking everything in. This was what she had always wanted, answers to who she was, where she came from and a purpose for being here. But, inside she was worried was she Nova, or was she the vessel for six other spirits. Were her actions guided by others was she merely a puppet being moved by their magic?

Discord saw her face begin to fall and he could guess exactly what she was thinking. “You are Nova. Stop before you think too much on this. When I found you I shared this line of thinking. I compared you and tried to see the girls inside you. Nova, their spirits are in there but, your soul and personality and spark is what ties everything together. You are your very own being. You are a personality all on your own. I thought I enjoyed our time together because it was like being with the girls in a way. That’s how this started but, I care for you. Just you, I love watching you look out the window of the car and see new things. I loved watching your hair escape from the hair tie when we were on the rides. I love seeing you smile and laugh. I want to protect you. You, my dear mean the world to me.”

“Thank you…. Thank you for knowing exactly what to say.” Nova stood up and faced him. His form being taller than her she had to look up but was still able to look determined. “So what’s next? Do you train me? We are going back to fight Grogar right?”

Discord hugged her and said “Thank you … thank you for knowing exactly what to say.”

Discord transformed back into his human form and Nova grabbed his hand. They walked out of the forest and back to her apartment where she packed up her clothing and a few things that she cared for placing it inside her car. Discord watched her as she bustled around the apartment taking stock of what she owned.

“Care to explain what you are doing my dear?”

“Well, I can’t very well learn anything by staying here and doing the normal day to day things. I’m staying with you. I mean, you want me to stay with you.. Right?”

Discord laughed, “ here let me help you pack.”

A couple of hours later Discord was leading Nova into his home. He shut the door and snapped his finger bringing Nova’s boxes inside. She jumped when the boxes appeared at her feet turning around and see Discord transform back into his actual form. He stretched and shook himself before grinning at her. “Welcome home Nova.”

She walked over to him and hugged him. “I’m glad to be here. Now, when do we start training?”

Chapter 8

Nova followed Discord through his home admiring the different rooms and their distinct feelings. Now that he was able to he let his chaos magic freely move about and as a result objects were resting upside down above Nova as she walked beside him. He glanced down at Nova and saw her face lit up taking in everything his home had to offer.

“It’s not as exciting as my chaos dimension but, I needed somewhere I could be myself while in this dimension so I made sure to put up some safeguards around the property and well, let myself free here.”

“It’s exactly the way a home of a chaos lord should look.” She smiled and ducked as a pillow floated between them to find it’s home on the couch that was balancing on two legs on top of an end table.

“Anyways,” said Discord clearing his throat, “ let’s settle you in your room and then we can continue talking as I’m sure you have just a teeny bit on your mind.”

Nova nodded and Discord snapped his finger teleporting them to his second bedroom. He had left this one untouched and standard. It was a very calm presence in his home. Nova stumbled when she was suddenly shifted to a different room. She sat solidly on the bed looking up at him catching her breath. She blushed and turned her eyes down, her hair falling around her face to block him from seeing her.

“Are you ok my dear?”
She thought about the question not sure how to answer it truthfully. Was she ok? No, she was for sure not ok. She was terrified, excited, nervous, tired, exhilarated, so many emotions flew through her mind. What was happening right now was fantasy brought to life. This didn’t happen, maybe she had simply lost her mind. Maybe, she had had an accident at the theme park and was in a coma or something? None of this made sense. She wanted desperately to understand everything and know she was safe, that this was real. The only thing was if this was real, if Discord wasn’t simply a result of an overactive imagination coming from some very intense dream, then everything that had happened, that had been said was real.

Was there really another land with real ponies? Were they under attack? Was she really the ponys of harmony formed into one being. One being to hold their souls together as they had been ripped apart and destroyed? If she held them all together what was she? Did she belong here on earth or in the pony world. Was she really even a individual or was she simply them blending together and controlling a body? Nova sighed and shook her head. She started to shake and brought her knees up to her chest wanting to have all this disappear in a way but, when a lion's paw touched her arm and she looked into the worried eyes so close to her she very much wanted this to be real.

“I’m not ok.” She fell against his chest and started to tremble and cry. He stroked her hair and held her tight. Slowly he was able to crawl onto the bed and wrap his body around her. He tried to keep all the pieces inside as he could see her falling apart. She slowly began to still, relaxing into the strange body that held her. She felt his strength and his fur was so soft he was so warm. “I’m sorry, I’m overwhelmed,” she said brushing the tears away with her sleeve.

“ My dear Nova, I was so relieved and shocked to see you handling everything so well. Your reaction makes perfect sense. You my silly girl do not need to be sorry. Of course you are overwhelmed, I simply can’t see why you would assume that any of this was just par the course. No one wakes up, takes a walk and hears this bombshell dropped to be like okie dokie. I couldn’t believe your strength when you were packing up your belongings without blinking. You, are such an amazing creature dear Nova. I’m in awe that it took till now before the world caught up to you.”

Nova snuggled in against him and started to really cry in earnest. Her whole world had been once again ripped apart and reformed into a new type of reality. She mourned the girl she had been a week ago and was scared of the unknown that had presented itself in the form of a creature that was supposed to be unreal. Discord turned her towards him and hugged her tighter he could feel her crying she felt so small when he was in his normal form.

“Nova, I need you to talk to me. What can I say to make this better? You must have questions and feelings that need to be addressed. I can not change what is happening or who you are but, I can try and make what I can better for you.”

She calmed a bit not making the desperate pleas only a good cry will make you do. Tears still falling she looked up at Discord and took a deep breath. She needed to talk to him as much to let him know how she was feeling and so she could sort out what was happening.

“ I need you to just listen to me and let me get this all out Discord, please,” she said to him quietly. She looked him in the eyes and he nodded wordlessly to her. “I remember waking up on a hill. The smell of the grass was one of my first memories. I was alone and in the dark, there were trees surrounding me but I could hear rumbles of something in the distance. I know now that they were cars from the freeway but, then I was terrified of the noise. I remember how cool the night was and that I was laying down when I went to stand up I found I couldn’t walk. I stumbled and rolled down the hill falling into a stream at the bottom. I sat there for a long time stunned by the pain a few rocked had caused and how cold the water felt.

I didn’t know what to do or where to go. I didn’t know if I had a name or who I was. Were people looking for me? I could tell I was in trouble but I didn’t know where to go to get help. Everything was foggy in my brain. I had a terrible headache and I swore I heard voices trying to talk to me. They scared me so I blocked them out as fast as I could. I remember one saying to stay strong and be brave… another saying find him he’s a friend. I stopped listening and made them quiet by screaming as loud as I could. I felt everything well up inside and I just let it out as I sat in the water, with blood dripping down me from my fall down the hill.

That’s where I was found by the police. Apparently someone had heard me and wasn’t sure if an animal was in trouble or if it was a person but, it had spooked someone enough to call for help. The light from their flashlights was so bright, they were speaking to me but I didn’t hear them I was so scared of what was happening. I tried to back away from them to crawl and hide but, I wasn’t able to get far. I remember them touching me and I panicked, I remember swinging myself around and trying to get away and then I remember my eyesight slowly fading until the world became black.

When I woke up I was in a hospital room. It was dark in my room but the hallway was bright. The smells were overwhelming and very strong. I heard beeping and saw that I was connected to different wires and tubes. I started to panic and my machine went haywire sending alarms off as my vitals spiked. The nurses who came in saw that I was awake and scared. Four had came to the door but, only one stayed. She talked to me quiet and calmly, telling me her name how long she had worked at the hospital and just other silly things that came to her mind. I was so surprised when I figured out I could understand her. I knew what she was saying and I knew what she was talking about.

Eventually I was able to talk to her and when I was asked about .. well about anything I didn’t have any answers. There were no records of me anywhere I was a complete mystery. The staff started to call me Nova because the night I was discovered there had been a beautiful flash of light that had brightened the sky. The joke always was I had come from the stars since it was just a valid as any other theory.

It took a year, for me to rehabilitate and start a life outside of the hospital. I was lucky and the staff had become friends, some even felt like what I believe family feels like to me. I was offered a cleaning job there and accepted happily. I was able to have a little apartment set up for me and that was it, I started my life. For another three years I moved through my daily motions and did what needed to be done. I never felt right or real though, never felt like I was apart of normal society. I didn’t know what it was but it was just a feeling that never went away. I had friends and did enjoy being with them. I loved seeing them smile and wanted to do anything I could for them. I wouldn’t have been who I was today without them and I always wanted to repay their kindness.

That’s why I was out the night I met you. I was out for the night with the girls for birthday fun and to show them I cared and wanted them all to be happy. They had wanted me to go clubbing with them so we could all kick back, relax, have fun. Then, I met you.

I felt like the last couple of years had been erased in a week after meeting you. I couldn’t breath, couldn’t sleep, I could do nothing without thinking about you. You spoke to me with more than words… I felt truly alive, I wasn’t just moving and going forward I was blissfully alive. The power bursts were scary and I hated that they reminded me of the first night that I could remember. I could feel the voices start to swirl in my head screaming at me but I couldn’t say what it was they were saying. I didn’t care though the pain of those episodes was nothing compared to the feelings I had when with you.

Then, yesterday happened, it hurt this time the power that went through my body jolted and rolled through me, I thought I was coming apart. You were there though, putting me back together. I knew something was different when you told me to sleep I felt the calm of your power and that I simply didn’t have a choice. Then waking up and seeing you watching me, making sure I was ok. I knew I had found someone who I would go to the ends of the earth to be with. I don’t even know what that means yet, I can’t explain it, just that I felt that you also shared the feeling as well.

Which brings us to today, this morning and now. I don’t know what to think now. I shared a bed last night with a man. Who not only told me something completely insane but then revealed that it was all true .. right before my eyes it all changed. You, you changed …..right before my eyes…..

I’ve changed too. The moment you blinked into your true form my whole world shifted from what I thought was my path. What was real or what was a firmly in reality. Everything is different now.”

Discord had stayed silent taking everything in, he wanted to interject but knew if he had, she would have stopped talking. He needed to know her reaction and hearing her speak about the past hurt. She had been scared and alone, just like him except, unlike him she had no memories or knowledge to pull her through. What an awful way to begin to exist. What worried him though throughout the conversation was one thing..

“You could hear voices?”

Nova snapped her head up startled from her own thoughts. She stood up and started to pace the room. “Yes, at least at the beginning. I thought it was done though, until meeting you everything had been silent. Why?”

Discord looked up from the bed as she walked past and grabbed her hand. Nova stopped seeing his expression. “Nova, what happens if it’s the girls calling out to you?”

“What?!” She started to pace again walking to the door and walking back. She kept it up in silence and then the third time she went past the door she opened it. Discord got up making to a move towards her.

“Stop! I just I need a moment. I just I need to be by myself for now.” She looked around the room and it seemed so normal, glancing into the hallway there was nothing normal. The way the colours moved on the walls the carpet was made of grass. Things were so out of sync. “ I need some time Discord. Please, don’t follow me.” She ran from the room, Discord following her out into the hallway. Tears in his eyes he floated after her. Watching as she bounded down the stairs and ran through the front to the door.

“Please Nova...don’t leave me…. Please”

She turned and saw his tears he looked so heartbroken. Her body sent a shock of power through her, reacting to his pain. More overwhelmed than ever Nova turned from him grabbed the door and opened it. The last sight Discord had was her bright long hair flying out the door.

Chapter 9

A few hours had passed in a blink of an eye. Nova kept walking, she didn’t know where she was but, she really didn’t care. She just needed distance from everything right now. The whole world was against her it felt like. Her story already decided for her from the very beginning. She had no say and apparently now on top of everything else the voices she had heard when she had first woken up were most likely the spirits of ponies trying to communicate with her.

Slowly her thoughts swayed back to Discord as well. Her heart went out to him, as much as the whole situation overwhelmed her, he had his share of pain as well. They were both searching and blowing through the days like an autumn leaf caught in an updraft. She finally started to look around and see where her feet had carried her.

She was inside a forest. This one unlike the one from this morning in the city was overgrown and old. The forest closed in around her but felt calming. As if with her life changing in more ways that anyone's life should and with a speed that blurred, this forest was here. Never changing, standing strong, supportive to the creatures who called it home. She saw a fallen tree just off the path that she was able to sit comfortably on. Taking a large breath of the fresh forest air Nova searched inside herself, looking and hoping she could find peace with the next chapter of her own story.

It had become dark and she still sat on the fallen tree. Fireflies flitted through the air going about their nightly routine. She watched them quietly not wanting to disturb the forest anymore than needed. She slowly breathed in and out thinking in pictures not sure how to put anything into words.

She didn’t want to hurt Discord. She was amazed at him, he was out of this world. His true form was identical to what she had watched on the cartoon but where he was made to almost look comical showing a mismatch of body parts almost sewn together, this Discord fluidly transitioned from one to another. The other thing that the animated version didn’t show was how his muscles formed and flowed as he walked. He look incredibly strong and more dragonlike than she had thought of him before. He was a physical marvel, magic given a body. He was so sad when she had opened the door. She hurt alongside him, the magic that had jumped then had made her choice for her, she needed to be away from his magic, to think and come to terms with what was happening.

Almost on cue another pulse of magic rippled through her. This time starting from the ground and moving up. She shivered as it reached the top of her head, she waited for the pain that normally came with such a jolt. This time though to her surprise it spread back out slowly filling her with energy. She touched the tree she was sitting on and flowers sprung up from where her fingers grazed the bark. She let out a soft sigh, staring at the tiny blue flowers seemly dancing in their own wind. Then she could feel almost like a touch inside her head. She held still, not knowing what to do with this new sensation. The power was still pouring through her body, she rocked back and forth feeling a wind come forth from inside her. “Help me,” she thought desperately.

“Let it out, close your eyes and visualize it leaving, create something with it. Like maybe, flowers? In the trees? Just let it be free.”

The voice came from inside her … she heard it as a thought that was not her own. She had no choice though, the power needed to move forward or she would burst it felt. She gracefully leapt up onto the fallen tree and clapped her hands together before throwing them wide. A wave of wind left Nova and raced through the trees. Where the wind touched flowers appeared. The forest was filled with tiny blue blossoms. It was beautiful.

She felt energized and also calmed. Her body and the power within stilled. She jumped down from the tree and walked around staring at what she had created. She couldn’t believe that this came from her. Again, the feeling of being touched inside her stirred. She stopped moving and waited to see if someone was really going to speak to her.

“ I hope that made you feel a bit more peaceful. I’m sorry for the intrusion.”
“Are you real?” Nova had said it outloud but it felt so silly to speak to the air.

“You can just think what you want to say if you want. I know saying things without having someone there can feel strange. I don’t want to make you feel worse. Yes, I’m real. Just like Discord is real, his story is real. I’m Fluttershy and I’m inside you with the others.”

Nova sat down in the middle of the forest floor. She felt panic starting to creep back up to take root and hold on tight to her heart.

“ It’s ok …. Nova it’s ok…. I’m not here to hurt you, none of us are. We aren’t really here at all honestly. We tried to talk to you at the beginning but you were so confused and scared. We didn’t want to hurt you.”

“ How is this possible?”
“ Our souls are I guess, us in a way. We have our personalities left, just nothing to hold them together with. I know what you have been thinking Nova, you are you. We can not create a case to carry us around. We are inside you and have graciously had you to host us. You, your personality your soul is your own Nova. We could never make something like that. Celestia brought us here, you were indeed made but, you… you made you. Oh dear, does that make sense?”

Nova nodded her head thinking back, “ as much as it can make sense I suppose. Nothing about this makes any actual sense. Although, it does in it’s own way. Why are you the only one speaking are the others ok?”

“ Oh yes, the others are all here with me. We are weak, being scattered. The pain it caused was terrible. The thing is, we can put enough power together to let one of us speak to you. The others can talk through the girl who talks to you. We all thought given that Discord is with you, that maybe I should do the talking? I hope you don’t mind, I know I’m not the most knowledgeable on magic and such things but, the other girls are here guiding me…”

“It’s fine. I’m happy to have finally made some type of positive contact with the magic and you as well. Thank you for showing me how to let it out. I have no control and it seems being near Discord make it’s so much stronger.”

“Of course. Him being from Equestria and magic himself, magic speaks to magic. He hasn’t had anyone to feed any of his magic to in so long the poor dear. I don’t think he meant to trigger your magic but, he just couldn’t help it. Emotions play a big part too. I’m sure you two have experienced intense and varied emotions since finding each other….oh …..”

Nova could hear Fluttershy blush even inside her. The girls being a part of her could access and feel what she thought and felt. Nova shifted uncomfortably as Fluttershy started to move inside her head.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to snoop. I just, you just, you were showing us all these pictures and feelings with your thoughts. It was hard to avoid. At least we understand now what is going on… oh dear... I want to answer one pressing question that you seem to be thinking of again and again. At least I believe you have been worried about it. Discord’s human form is real when he’s transformed into it. That’s him, that body is a actual human. It’s not like he’s a Draconequus just taking human form. He really is human. It’s ok and you don’t have to worry about any of what you were thinking.”

She felt Nova’s body relax and shared her joy with the girls that she was able to help her sort out some of her feelings. “See it’s ok. Your feelings for .. he called himself Seth right, they should not be confused. He shares them too but, yes I do understand why things have gotten complicated currently, given your physical bodies. I agree with your way of thinking, leave it as a memory for now, a side plot to the main story. Just know that caring for one another is not against the rules, ok?”

“Thank you,” Nova thought. She smiled up at the flowers as a soft wind began to blow through the branches. The petals began to fall looking like a type of rain. “Dance, it’s ok Nova.” Fluttershy could feel her joy and peace flow through her.

Nova nodded to herself and flew to her feet. She pranced through the area leaping up and catching flowers as they fell to the ground. She was streaking through the woods barely touch the ground twirling through the flowers. A light began to glow and trail behind her.

That’s how Discord found her. She looked like a dream. Floating through the forest with that hauntingly beautiful light flowing out and around her. The flowers falling from the trees, swirling around her as she moved. She looked so free from the fear that had chained her. His heart swelled up as he watched her move so confident and graceful. She reminded him of Celestia in a way. The power, the confidence, it was just spellbinding.
She glanced up feeling his presence and held out her hand. He slowly walked towards her afraid that him being there would shift whatever spell had been cast. He was sure she was an illusion after what he had seen leave his home. He had spent hours tracking her down.

“It’s ok Discord. I’m so sorry.” She wrapped her hand around his eagle talon pulling him into a hug. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t want to hurt you. I never want to hurt you.”

“ My dear Nova. Did you create this display on your own? What happened to you?”
“I did, with a bit of guidance. Discord you were right. The girls, they are inside me. Fluttershy, is the only one right now with a voice I can hear. They are too weak to all speak. They gave her the power to communicate with me, with us.”

“My dearest Fluttershy……”

“She says to tell you she’s not hurting anymore. That she is so proud of you.”
Discord’s breath caught in his chest. He pulled Nova into a tight hug knocking them both to a ground covered in blue flowers. Nova’s power still lighting up the forest surrounding them. He whispered to her, “Thank you, oh my dear...thank you.”

Chapter 10

The light suddenly glowed brighter and then dimmed around them. Nova felt a wind reach for them from the ground itself. The light suddenly beamed brighter from the ground, glowing a brilliant white blue, the wind picked up and Discord had time to look down to see a portal open below them. The earth was there and then gone as they were dropped into nothingness.

The two held tight to each other as everything fell away from their reality. It felt like no time at all and yet, like the drop would never end. Neither of them could feel the other, Nova screamed but there was no sound made. Her body was gone, her sight was gone, all she could sense was air whipping around her and the bright light that eventually lead into pure blackness. Time had no meaning and when the assault through the portal ended Nova fell unconscious on a cool marble floor.

Discord understood that Nova’s power opening up must had been a trigger to send them back towards Celestia but, travelling through the portal felt harsh, it pushed on his being and tried to break his mind. Something was trying to keep them out. He held Nova tighter and opened his own power to push away this other entity. It must be Grogar he had time to think before a sliver of cool power rushed him and he felt his hand pulled from Nova. Then, he couldn’t see, couldn’t think, he could only be on this wild ride from hell.

He landed outside the castle. Everything looked the same as it had been except that he could see the glow from Celestia’s powers. She and Luna must be waking from their crystalline sleep. Slowly he moved forward on all fours his body feeling torn from the inside out. Drops of red hit the ground as he moved towards the marbled hallway that lead to where he had last seen the princesses. He turned the corner and found their resting place. The golden light felt warm and he could feel tears streaking his face. They dropped red to the marble floor.

The light was spellbinding and as it became as bright as the sun she was in charge of rising Celestia rose into the air. Discord watched in awe as the sun goddess was joined by a healed Luna who joined her haunting pale blue glow to her sisters. The power swirled around them then burst forward flinging the castle into light as it found it’s way to wrap around the palace and form a shield.

The girls landed and as the light began to dim Discord saw that they had came to rest by a small figure laying on the floor. The girls looked up at his blood tear stained face and back down at the body below them. “Oh, Discord….I am so proud of you.” Celestia ran and embraced him. “ You found her…. Oh you found her”

Luna came to his other side and the princesses helped Discord reach the still body. She was breathing slowly but, evenly he noted as he looked at her in wonder. He had brought her through without that other power harming her but, coming through had taken a toll on Nova. He looked up at Celestia and hoped his eyes would explain what he needed to know.

Luna said it first, “Celestia, was she not a different entity? What has happened to her?”

Discord bent down to the figure that was asleep and slowly touched her side. Gone was her human body, instead there lay a young alicorn princess. She resembled her name. Her coat was a mixture of blues, blacks and brilliant purples all changing and flowing from one to the other. Dotted all over her coat were the illusion of stars, sparkling with their own inner light. Her mane and tail were different shades of silvery hair falling into one another. Her horn shone a bluey silver hue, but not just her horn, her whole body seemed to glow as if light by some inner power. Nova truly looked like she was a part of space made to flow into the body of a princess. Her cutie mark was her namesake, a rendition of a supernova, exploding and creating a star all at once. She was breathtaking.

Discord felt tears hit the marble floor as he watched her. How would she react to this change? Would she wake up ok? He felt Celestia near him and looked up at her. “This is Nova. She has the elements inside her body and her magic has manifested itself. She’s funny, kind, and so very brave. She is so much more than I had ever thought to imagine.” He wiped tears away and touched Celestia, “ time passed not for you but, for me, I have been gone for four years. I have been alone and searching for Nova for four years Princess.” He looked down at Nova stroking her cheek as he continued, “ this young lady has become very precious to me Celestia. She is so much more than a vessel for the elements. She is special … so very special.”

“Discord, you have done our world a great service. Her name is Nova?”, he nodded, “she looks exactly like her name would imply. The energy that she has inside her has helped pick her form for this world. She will wake soon, will you stay with her? I need to check on our castle and make sure Luna is well. I am so sorry I put this burden on you, but, you are part of this world and immortal like us. We have a duty to our land, we need to stop Grogar before anymore damage can be done. Time may have been frozen here while you were abroad but, it’s not now. We need to prepare Discord.”

She bent down and nuzzled him. “I am so happy to have you here. I will be back as quickly as I can. See if you can wake your Nova.” With that she trotted down the hallway to find Luna who had exited before her.

Discord felt the energy change around him. She was waking and he could feel it. Slowly her eyes began to open, even the blues in her eyes had changed, star dust was now caught inside them. She lifted her head slowly and let her eyes focus on him. She stayed quiet as she looked down and took in how she had changed. Her breathing became a bit quicker as she looked back up at Discord.

“Mirror, can you make a mirror?” she stayed still as he snapped his fingers and produced a tall elegant mirror. Slowly she tucked her legs underneath herself and rose for the first time as an alicorn. Her wings stretched out and she shook her mane from her eyes. She stared at herself in wonderment. Was this who she was suppose to be? Was this why she had never felt right in the world. She saw Discord’s reflection as his hand came to rest on her shoulder.

“I’m an alicorn?”

“Yes”
“How is that possible?”

Discord touched her horn carefully and smiled at her in the mirror, “because you were meant to be one my dear. Magic called to you and shaped you as we fell from one land to the next. You are beautiful.”

Nova turned from the mirror and looked at him, “we’re in Equestria?”
“Yes”, said a voice from the entrance to the hallway. Celestia stepped forth with Luna beside her. “Welcome home Nova. Although, welcoming you into the battle our world is about to begin feels wrong and I am sorry for that.”

“Sister,” said Luna quietly as she pressed herself into Celestia’s side, “I’m sure the young one understands from Discord what has happened her. Nova, are you able to help us? You need to accept this responsibility of your own free will. Neither my sister or I will have you engage in the coming combat if you are not prepared and giving of your own accord.”

Nova slowly walked to the Alicorn sisters. She started on shaky legs but by the fourth and fifth step she was able to walk in this form as if it had been hers all along. As she moved a trail of stardust seemed to fall around her.

Looking the sisters in the eyes she was able to say, “ I have had Discord to guide me, although it has only been for a short time, he has been able to give me this history of your land for the past four years. Discord created a story with visually moving talking pictures that the people of that world watched. I was able to learn and grow with the pictures. I I have seen the adventures and what happened here in the past, both good and bad.

When I agree I need you to understand that I do so of my own free will, and based on what I know of this world from before and from being her myself in this story. I want to fight. I want to avenge the elements. I want to help rid this land of such evil. I want you all to be safe again. Yes, I will help. I will give you all that I am and all that I will be to help give you back your home.”

Celestia smiled and nodded to Nova. “Oh my dear child, your strength and bravery are matched by your honesty, loyalty, and kindness.I can not wait to see what you are capable of.”

Nova watched as Celestia’s horn began to glow, dimly at first it became brighter and brighter. Slowly Celestia lowered her horn to Nova and touched her at the base of her horn. Nova’s horn flared to life matching the glow from Celestia.

Luna bent her horn and brought it down to sit on Nova’s as well. Her horn lit a brilliant dark blue and as the three lights mixed together a wind began to swirl around them. Suddenly a beam of light white in the center changing to purple,blue,pink,orange,and yellow burst from where the horns touched. It wrapped around the alicorns and then poured back into Nova. Both Celestia and Luna backed away as the light flowed down into Nova. She lifted her face to look at Discord and all he could see was power.

The princesses had freed her true powers. She was finally who she was destined to be. For better or worse her powers were fully her own.

Author's Note

I made an image of what I believe Nova would look like in pony form. I hope you guys like her. The base I used was made by Snakehands on Deviantart

Chapter 11

Discord watched at the power was absorbed by Nova. She took two steps and stumbled, almost falling. Luna and Celestia came up on either side of her, to support her as she tried to stand. Nova started to shiver as she looked at the other two alicorns.

“It hurts…..”

Celestia gave her a small nuzzle and said, “ give it a few moments child, the power has always been there, Luna and I just freed it and gave it a path to follow. Your head may hurt as well for a small time. You now know what we know, the spells Luna and I can perform, the knowledge is now yours. That much information given so quickly will surely leave you weak.”

Luna turned to look at Nova, “ time is a luxury that sadly we cannot afford. Nova, my sister and I would have preferred to let you adjust to your new self and magic at a much slower pace but, sadly, I fear we do not have the time for that, the enemy is strong and already planning and plotting to rid this world of the rest of our kind.”

Discord floated up to the princesses and quietly said “ the rest of your kind? Are there still others then? From the destruction I saw outside I feared there would be very little left to save even if I were able to find and bring Nova back.”

Celestia looked him in the eyes and he saw that she had tears. Of course she would, he thought, these are her subjects, it must kill something inside to know she couldn’t save them all. “ Luna and I before sealing ourselves away were able to save as many as we could. Many of them I was able to get over to the Crystal Empire. The heart was able to shield them from Grogar’s attack. He hasn’t found a way through that much love and light, at least yet.”

Luna continued, “ as for the others that were not able to escape through that means, we were able to shield them inside here in the underground chambers. That’s where we need to head now, we have to get them out and as safe as we can.”

Discord nodded and moved to take Nova from the princesses. She leaned heavily on him but, he didn’t mind he wanted to make sure she was ok. He started to think about how he could at least help them with this problem. One small problem at a time and maybe that would be enough to get them all through this without anymore casualties.

Nova sighed and stumbled as she started to walk with the others. “I’m so sorry, I don’t know how much help I will be the way I am right now. I want to help though I want to make sure no one else gets hurt. Where is he, Grogar? If you have unfroze time, should he not be making some type of advance?”

“My dear, let’s not press our luck shall we, you almost sound like you are inviting trouble in- frankly that’s what I’m suppose to be here for….”

“No Discord, Nova’s right,” Celestia said. “ With the amount of power we just casted off in such a short amount of time I don’t understand why he hasn’t tested the shield Luna and I made - “

THUNK- a meaty sound came through the broken windows in the hallway. All of them turned to see what was the cause. No one wanted to believe what they saw, another THUNK sounded and they all watched in horror as something slowly slid down the shield. Discord made sure Nova was with the sisters and walked towards the shield. He had to see, had to know what was being thrown at the castle.

THUNK - Discord jumped back from the sound, then watched as the animated body of a unicorn slid down the pink power that ignited underneath her. All the while her horn lashing out, and driving wild power into Celestia’s defenses. Discord watched in shock as he saw what was happening, two animated bodies of pegasus came flying towards the barrier with a unicorn body between them. Closer and closer they sped with no disregard for their wellbeing, they threw the unicorn at the shield where it hit with the THUNK sound they had been hearing. Again, this one slashed out with blind power trying to fight it’s way through to the castle.

Celestia, Luna and Nova had moved to stand beside Discord. The sisters cried as another unicorn hit. The eyes were bloodshot, pieces of his skin were blackened. There was no life left, only Grogar’s power and hatred flowing out. The unicorn snarled and slashed, this time making a small tear in Celestia’s power.

Discord glanced at the girls beside him and quickly to a staircase leading down. “ I am going to need my power to help if this turns into a battle. We need to get underground - now.” Nova was slowly sliding to the ground between the grieving rulers, Discord started to panic, if he didn’t get them to move forward now, they were in serious trouble. “ TIA, LU! MOVE, NOW!!!!!” The girls were startled by how loud he was and backed towards the stairs. He grabbed Nova and spun the girls around, they ran with all their might. Faster and faster down the stairs. Nova tripped and Discord quickly grabbed on to her lifting her up and holding on to her as he glided down the stairs. Upstairs they could hear snarls coming from screaming enraged entities that use to be ponys. They were breaking through, it wouldn’t be long now.

Down at the bottom of the stairs Celestia took charge. “ We need to get to the other little ponys that are down here, they have to be protected.”

Luna catching her breath turned to the staircase as the sounds were gathering strength. “We don’t have a lot of time sister, we need to figure out something fast and effective. Whatever your plan, we need to do this now.”

Nodding, Celestia gave one quick glance to Discord and mouthed please help, then she ran as fast as she could, her hair wildly trailing behind her. Luna close behind kept pace, behind them, Discord holding onto to Nova, covered their path.

They rounded a corner and came to a group of fifty or so ponys. They were tired, scared, and some of them hurt, they huddled together as they saw their rulers come running towards them. Celestia looked at Luna and screamed “ FREEZE THEM- DON’T LET HIM TAKE THEM! LUNA, HELP ME!!”

Luna’s horn lit up in response and together the girls ran side by side as the power pulsed and pierced the darkened hallway. Slowly a crystal started to form, Nova heard a pony start to scream. They’re encasing them in crystal, they’re freezing them to keep them safe. Nova started to struggle in Discords arms.

“Nova- stop, you can’t help them, it’s too strong a spell. You just got your powers you haven’t even tested them yet!”

“Discord! If I don’t help now, I doubt I will have a chance to ever test them. Let me down! I need to help them save their ponys. It won’t hurt them near as much if the spell is done quickly. Now! Please!”

She nudged his chest enough to make him lose his grip and let her go. She flew to the sisters and fired her horn to match theirs. Together the three lights formed one beam and the crystal quickly formed. All three girls were at the end of what they were capable of. They all crumpled to the ground. There was a crash upstairs and Discord knew that the animated bodies had gotten through. He could hear them dragging themselves down the stairs. He was sure wing beats were coming up the hallway. He screamed in frustration, what would it matter if the few ponys that were encased survived if their rulers were not their to love and guide them?

Nova’s sight was turning grey around the edges she was close to blacking out. She snapped her head up at Discord’s scream. “ Help us ….” she barely had enough voice left to whisper. He saw the first skeletal pony sliding towards them and reacted, ripping a hole in the fabric of space he pushed the girls into his Chaos Realm. He raced in after them as he sealed up the tear. The last thing he saw was a broken unicorn dragging her body up the hallway, screaming in rage at him. The sight would stay in his nightmares for a long time after this was over, he was sure of that.

He flew to the girls as they fell through space, grabbing all three in his power, he floated them over to his home. Kicking at the door he fell through with the girls into his place of safety. They had made it out, for now.

Celestia and Luna woke fairly quickly after they had fled from the nightmares at the castle. They glanced around at their surroundings and found that they were in a room that may have been a place for company, an entertainment room. Celestia pulled her legs underneath her and slowly stood up. She turned to Luna, “ take your time sister, let me talk to Discord and then we can all come up with a course of action.”

Luna nodded to her sister and set her head back down. Celestia knew she needed a moment as she had just recovered from the first attack. Really they both had, but, Luna was far more injured than she had been. Celestia looked around to see where she would find Discord, it appeared there was an upstairs … without stairs to go up. Setting her wings alight she flew up to the second floor. She landed near a door and looked inside.

Discord had placed Nova on an oversized bed. His room seemed to shimmer as it blended together in a mismatch of patterns, colours, and furniture, it suited him.

She walked in hoping the sound of her hooves would alert him to her presence, it did the trick.

“ I knew you would wake up soon, you two were stirring even before I brought Nova upstairs. How are you and Luna feeling?”

“ Luna is still resting. She’s been through a lot and still needs to take it slower then she wants. It can’t be helped though, her injuries were far worse, you know that though..” She walked toward the bed and leaned her head against his shoulder. “ Thank you, for getting us out of there. After that spell there was no way we had the energy left to free ourselves,” she looked him in the eyes, “ you saved us, you know.”

Discord touched her cheek, “ My dear Celestia, Tia, I will do whatever it is in my power to see this world, and you all safe. You surely must realize that by now. I have been literally to the ends of our world, travelled across space to bring back peace to this world.”

“ I know you have. I wish there could have been any other way but, I had to act quickly. I am so sorry to have left you with such a task. Once before, I would never have dreamed to turn to you.”

“I know my past and I’m not him anymore, but Celestia, remember I am still the Lord of Chaos. I will never be able to stop who I am, honestly nor would I want to. I am who I am.”

“No I understand that Discord. The idea of having you on our side to fight with us instead of against us, it means a lot.”

“ Yes well,” he shuffled a bit further away from Celestia, turning to face Nova, “ you have all taught me things about myself, what this world could be… it’s worth fighting to protect it. It’s worth fighting to protect her….”

Celestia looked down at Nova, “ she really is beautiful. The power she possess even I didn’t expect her to be so strong so quickly. You can feel the elements inside that power.”

“I know you can, I’ve been driven to and brought back from insanity by that power Celestia.”

“ I’m sure you have,” she watched him as he brushed a stray piece of her mane from her face. She was surprised by the emotions crossing his face.

“Discord?”

He looked up at her, “ she can hear them inside her Celestia. They are still within her, their spirits are there and conscious.”

“ What, you can’t be serious? Discord, that can’t be possible. How?”

“ You expect me to know, friendship is magic I suppose is as easy an explanation as any. Nova explained to me that their powers were weak but, they
had enough spirit left to have one speak for them all.”

“Fluttershy?”

“Fluttershy. She talked to Nova first. Nova told me she had heard them from the beginning but was afraid of the voices and shut them down. Once her power had started to emerge she was able to hear Fluttershy again. They spoke and then in turn Nova let me know what was happening.” He glanced at Celestia and saw there were tears streaming down her cheeks. His lion paw touched her face softly and made sure she looked at him.

“They aren’t in pain anymore. They made sure to let me know that they were ready to help Nova and they were ok with what had happened. What you did to save them.”

Celestia drew in a shaky breath, “ thank you for this Discord, I had never imagined that they could be awake, alive inside her.”

Discord looked down at Nova, “ I’m sure she didn’t either. She has had so many shocks so quickly, one right after the other and has charged through everything thrown at her.I am astonished by her sheer strength Celestia, she is such an amazing creature.”

Celestia listened to him and heard the emotion flow in the way he was speaking.
She was shocked but not surprised to see that Discord had fallen in love with Nova. “ Discord, is it her or is it the memory of the girls you love?”

“What?”
“You love her.”

“ I love her Celestia. I thought I had feelings for her magic and how much she felt like home but, the more time I spent with her I knew that wasn’t it. It’s her.”

“ Discord, understand please. You finding someone to care about romantically is wonderful, chaos finding a love in harmony. It seems so opposite that it just makes sense for you.”

“But…”
“ But, Discord understand that we are in the middle of a battle for survival. I need to know that you will do what is needed to help us save our home, help us save the ponys who live here and vanquish Grogar to whatever hell he came from. Nova is apart of our story now. She is connected to this world and saving it. She has no choice, her whole being is made up of souls and magic sent to protect this land. She will do what is needed at whatever the cost. It’s why she is here.”

She put her hoof on the bed making Discord look at her. “ You understand that - right Discord?”

Discord looked painfully at the still alicorn sleeping on his bed and then turned stoney eyes to Celestia. “ I know the reasons she came to be Celestia, I know that my friends were killed and given a new chance at fighting. I also know that she is not just them. That she is her own beautiful soul and regardless of having a choice or being made to fight, Nova would help. She will fight alongside you and Luna, and I will fight alongside her. Trust me Princess, I understand well what we are facing. Now, if you don’t mind, I believe I would like to be alone. I’m sure you need to tend your sister?”

“I’m sorry Discord, I don’t want to hurt you. Just, please keep in mind what our goal is. Love is beautiful it can make us stronger, it gives us reason but, it also can make us question what may be needed. I need you clear headed when we leave your rehelm.” She turned around and walked to the door, “ he’s waiting for us, and he’s not afraid to use any means to win. We must be ready.”

Discord watched her go, there was nothing else to say to her. Celestia was battle ready, her heart already hardened to do what was needed to win back her kingdom. This was his home too, and as he looked at Nova, he knew he would do anything to give her a chance at peace. He thought of the poor ponys who were being reanimated to fight against them. Yes, he would do what needed to be done to destroy Grogar.

Chapter 12

She kept her eyes closed upon waking. Nova didn’t want to let anyone know she was awake just yet. She needed to take inventory of her new body, see how everything felt. She really didn’t have a chance to even examine what had happened to her before everything turned on its end inside the castle.

She felt her wings move in response to her thoughts, the new muscles that controlled them felt strange; the overall newness that came with this body was overwhelming. She stifled those thoughts quickly enough, this was not the time to overreact to what was happening, panicking right now would help nothing at all. When Discord had changed into his true form she had known her life was changed forever. She could do this, she had to, for the ponys, the princesses, for Discord and for the girls she held inside her.

Quietly she searched inside herself to see if she could still feel them. Praying that the changes that had happened didn’t silence their hold on the world, she waited. What seemed like hours went by before she started to feel the odd feeling inside her head. Softly a voice flickered inside her head.

“We’re ok Nova.” Fluttershy sounded like the wind the sound drifting in and out barely a whisper but, Nova heard her.

She thought back, “ I’m so happy to hear from you. I was afraid something had happened. Do you girls know where I am? Did you see all that happened when we crossed over? Did the magic surge make it easier or harder for you to communicate? Is - “

“Nova sweeite, I can’t keep up please, slow down and let us answers the questions you already posed. I don’t even have to ask the girls about where you are, Discord saved you by bringing you to his home. Do be kind to him Nova the poor dear has been through so much. I wish I could speak to him…….. “

Silence for a moment and Nova feared they had retreated back inside her when Fluttershy started to talk again. “ You are an alicorn. It really does suit you. You have so much power inside you, we don’t believe any other form would have made sense in this world for you. We can see, what you see and feel, and what is happening through your reactions. So, yes we did see what happened at the castle. Twilight can not believe the amount of magic you have. She wants you to know she is here and ready to help guide your magic as much as she can from this side.

When your magic flared to life we were momentarily left adrift in the power but, it’s ok now. We still can’t speak to you all at once. The girls still want me to be the one to talk to you, if it’s ok with you? I hope it is, it’s a tiny bit scary for me but, I like knowing I’m helping even if it’s only a little bit.”

“I am overjoyed to have you to talk to Fluttershy. I am so thankful to know you are all with me right now, I need as much help as I can get. What happened in the castle, those poor ponys….”

She felt more than just her sadness well up inside her and knew the girls were also grieving for the reanimated ponys. Fluttershy came through again even more quiet barely above a whisper she said “ Grogar is a terrible creature. We need to stop him. The horrors he can create know no bounds. Nova, we need you to help us. Help the princesses stop him. Help Discord find some balance of peace…….I can’t stay as present as I am much longer. It takes a lot of power and you need to have all your energy for what comes next I’m afraid. Nova, trust them, trust us and most importantly trust yourself. We have to win.”

Nova felt the power ebb and go back to wherever the girls were inside. She let out a shaky breath and opened her eyes. Discord mismatched eyes were inches from hers. She couldn’t help but pull back just a bit.

“ Sorry my dear, you weren’t sleeping but, I couldn’t tell what you were doing. I was worried and when it seemed you weren’t in danger, I stayed because I wanted to know whatever it is you know. I assume you were speaking to Fluttershy?”

She looked at him and nodded. “ She wishes she could speak to you, I’m sorry I can’t let her, I don’t know how.”

“ I don’t think you could even if you wanted to. Nova, Fluttershy is so dear to me but, don’t think for one second you are second fiddle.” He touched her cheek and ran his paw down her face tracing her jawline. “ I care for you very much Nova, I want you to be safe, speaking of that… how are you feeling my dear?”

“I’m ok.”
He raised an eyebrow and looked at her waiting for more of a response. Nova instead turned away from him and slowly started to raise out of bed. The sheets were tangled around her feet and having four to worry about now she didn’t notice until she tumbled. Discord caught her gracefully before she hit the ground.

“ You sure you’re feeling fine?”
Nova looked up into his eyes and sighed “ I’m just a little unsteady on my feet….hooves, I’m feeling fine though, I’m not weak from the magic or physically harmed. I’m ready to get moving and figure out what our next plan of action is.”

Discord gave her a small squeeze and placed her on the ground. “ My dear, you can take a moment for yourself. It’s ok, my word Nova, you have just been through more in a few hours than most have been through in a lifetime. Even before that with me, and dare I say your past. It’s ok to breath for a moment-

“No. Discord no it’s not ok,” she stretched her wings out and then firmly tucked them into place. She looked up at him with blazing eyes, “ if I stop right now and start thinking about what is happening, what is really happening Discord, I don’t know what I would do. I don’t know if I could keep going or if I would just run away. Except where would I run away to right? I don’t belong in the human world and this world isn’t mine, not really. Yet, there’s a demon running the show right now and using innocent lives as his play things. No, not even just their lives but has to torment them even further in their deaths. It’s awful…..”, she shook her head and silently tears hit the floor, “ I can’t let that type of evil win. He is not allowed to stay here in this world where magic, harmony, love and friendship are the energies that fuel the day to day. He needs to be destroyed…….”

He moved to touch her and she side stepped his reach quickly trotting to the door. “I’m sorry, just don’t, I need to move forward not be cradled and left in limbo. I’m going to find the princesses.” She left the room and he heard her trot down into the main living area where a mummer of voices started on her arrival.

Confusion filled Discord’s heart. She was so strong but, no one can go through so much and not have a breaking point where enough was enough. She was willing to take on everything for them with no regard for herself. She deserved to be more than a weapon she deserved to feel more than fear, and duty. This fight was going to determine the fate of Equestria, having her here may very well tip the balance in their favor but, would it cost Nova her sanity? How do you support someone who has decided she’s on her own, that she has to face the beast regardless?

He floated down into the main area which seemed so much smaller with three alicorns standing inside it. Snapping his fingers he rearranged the house so it was larger and he felt more at home, making Celestia startle also helped settle his nerves. Luna glared up at him and humphed a do you mind comment in his direction. He settled down near them to see what they were talking about.

It seem to be the same type of conversation he had done upstairs with Nova. He noticed she answered the princesses with a bit more formality but, basically with the same tone. She wanted to fight and talking was a delay in action.

Celestia smiled softly and even though her eyes were lined from the stress and fear she had accumulated from this horror she tried to be the patient teacher. “Nova, I understand that time is something we do not have the luxury of passing slowly. I agree, we need action against Grogar but, we also need to carefully think of what the next step will be. You child, you need to learn some control over your magic. You have just become an alicorn from a species that has very limited magic. Right now having your large stores of magic thrust out wildly may work once or twice but, it will not sustain any type of battle and I’m afraid it will leave you weak if not drain you completely. You would be a target Nova if your own body didn’t destroy itself.”

Nova sighed, turning to look at Luna. She continued what her sister was saying, “ Dear young one, we would not be standing here if it were not for you and Discord’s power. Please understand that my sister and I want to fight back just as badly as you do. Grogar is terrible even I wasn’t prepared for the - for the way he used ….” She shuddered, “ what he did to those ponies even in death, it’s an abomination. I wish my sister and I could do more, right now, like you do. We would be walking into our own funeral if we were to leave here right now. We can’t help anyone if we are dead correct?”

“ No, I know you’re right… I’m just so over my quota for everything and I want to keep moving forward. There is so much right now that I don’t fully understand, but I want to fight. He needs to be stopped, this is why I’m here right? I am the elements made alive. I can’t let their deaths - all of their deaths be for nothing.”

Discord moved to stand beside her and slowly rested a paw on her shoulder. “ You aren’t here alone Nova. This is not just your fight. You don’t have to kill yourself to prove you belong.”

Nova looked up sharply at him. “ Why would you say that?”

“Because it’s the truth and you very well know it. As soon as you told me your story and I explained to you what you were, you’ve felt guilty and afraid. Nova -

“ Discord,” Celestia motioned to Nova who had started to shake.
He took his hand from her shoulder and she stared at the ground. “Luna, can you help me practice a bit outside please. I would like to see if I can produce some of the spells I have in my memory.“ Of course Nova,” Luna said glancing at Discord, “ I suspect we can go outdoors here and not fall down into the unknown?”

He nodded and watched the two alicorns leave his home. Celestia moved to sit, conjuring a map of Equestria. “ Care to join me Discord?”

“ Well, I suppose I have no choice in the matter since Luna is training her. I might as well be useful somewhere.” He sat down beside her and said “ she is so much more than a weapon Tia. She’s brilliant, funny, kind, adventurous and braver than anyone I have ever known. I know she has a job, as we all do but, seeing her like this it worries me.”

Celestia watched him, Discord was in pain. Sadly she thought, we all have a battle we have lost, we all have our painful burdens to carry into this battle.

“ She has a place in this world, in this fight Discord. I can’t lie and say she is not incredibly powerful due to having the elements fuse together inside her. She is a force that will help us and may make the difference in how the end plays out. Once things are done one way or the other, then, if we can talk about the future we will. Right now though, I need you to try and help me with this map. I have to figure out the cave systems that connect together here so we can use them to travel. We need to be stealthy and undetected by anyone in his control.”

With that Discord and Celestia worked for hours on what they could do to get into Equestria and stay off of Grogar’s radar. Luna and Nova came inside after a couple of hours visibly exhausted. Nova lay down beside Discord to listen and figure out what was happening in the plans. Luna sat beside her sister and began to offer suggestions based on battles in Equestria’s past. Nova listened but, slowly started to loose focus on what was happening. Discord wrapped his tail around her and she gladly let him lower her head to his lap. She fell asleep almost instantly.

Luna smiled, “ she did very well sparring with me. Her control is second to none I can’t believe how quickly she was able to learn how her magic worked. I know we gave her the Alicorn magic and all of our knowledge but, Celestia she is incredible.”

“I suspect Twilight is helping her as much as she can.”
Celestia looked at Discord, “ What does that mean exactly Discord?”

“ She can communicate with the girls, a piece of them all are alive inside her. She talks to them through Fluttershy. They don’t have enough power to manifest all at once and they don’t want to take from her powers, at least from what I gather. So the girls talk to Nova and Nova to them through Fluttershy. I don’t believe she is present all the time at least to speak but, they are all there Celestia.”

Celestia and Luna cried silent tears. Celestia was the first to gather herself, “ I never thought in my wildest dreams that this could be an outcome. Discord, this means so much to Luna and I, to know they are somewhere close by guiding Nova. Twilight my always faithful student, the youngest of our royal family. I missed her -”

“ Tia, I understand. I felt the same way as you both do. Those girls changed my fate. Nova, she’s changed my life.”

Luna had walked over to him and gave him a small nuzzle, “ love is a funny thing isn’t it?”
“ Yes, it really is. Such an emotion it’s so close to Chaos at times I don’t know where one ends and the other begins.”

“ It’s late, I can feel the moon passing even from here. We should all get some rest so we can … head back home.”

Celestia nodded and Discord snapped his fingers adding another room onto the downstairs with two beds for the Princesses to sleep. He picked Nova up and smiled at the sisters. “I’ll take her to bed she’ll rest better in my room.”

Luna snorted but, left it alone. Celestia nodded and bid him well. He snapped his fingers and teleported to his room. Laying Nova down and making sure she was tucked in, he slipped in beside her and pretended that just for tonight, everything was going to be ok.

Chapter 13

Celestia was the first to raise. The ebb and flow of Equestria’s energy called to her just as it had to Luna last night. Her day had started and so, she was awake. She looked over at her sister still deep in slumber. Luna’s mane was ruffled looking and her wings were stretched out at different angles, a position she had slept in since they were young. Discord’s home as strange as it may be, offered them a momentary break from the evil beyond.

Quietly she trotted out of the room and back into the main living area. Things around the room had rearranged during the night she noticed. Looking to the ceiling she found the door leading outside. One quick stride with her wings had her opening the door and gliding outside, she needed to feel the outdoors regardless of the dimension she was in.

She sat on the roof and took in the cotton candy clouds as they danced across the sky. She had a plan in place, knew they had to act quickly but, this place pulled at her to stay and rest even just for a little bit.

“I’ve missed here.”
Startled she shot into the air. Looking down seeing Discord she flew back down and sat beside him. She gave him a small cuff with one wing, “ don’t do that you fool. You scared me half to death, you know we’re under attack I could have blasted you to ashes.”

“Oh Celestia you charmer I would love to put that to the test, some other day perhaps?” He gave her a quick glance to make sure he wasn’t going to get hit again, seeing that she smirked he believed he was in the clear.

“ How are you doing Discord? You haven’t been back long enough for me to even ask you, everything happened so fast-” Falling silent she stared straight ahead and Discord was able to see the small tremor run through her body.

“ Celestia, it’s going to be alright. I can’t tell you that we will win this but, we will be battling together. Luna, you and me, tell me, do you remember the times we fought in the past. We have had a very detailed history together before I ended up as a lawn decoration. I am not bragging when I say the three of us are all kinds of powerful. Very little could come close to our powers in the old days.”

“ Thank you, for some reason you do have a knack for knowing what to say. I really am proud of you Discord. I was so afraid when you left, I feared for your sanity and what would happen to our land if you should fail. I held on to hope, to the friendship we had once had and that we are rebuilding presently. I just never knew if it would be enough, I asked so much of you and I am truly sorry for putting the burden on you.”

Discord turned and took her head in his paws. “Enough my dear lady, this line of thinking isn’t going to help anyone, it will only cause guilt and resentment. I get an opinion on this, since it was me who went through the portal after the girls. I am not forgiving you.”

Celestia looked crushed. She had really thought they were repairing a friendship she had held so dear. At one time the three of them had been as close as family. She had thought of him as her brother in arms. She will have lost him for sure for doing this to him. How could she have expected him to not break under the stress, loneliness, and chasing after the dead?

Discord quickly broke the silence. “I’m not accepting the apology because there is nothing to say sorry about you silly sunbutt. I would have followed them through any world. Yes, it was lonely and learning to adapt to what humans use instead of magic, even covering my own magic up - it wasn’t easy and very little fun, but, I learned and I searched. When I felt her Tia, I can not for the life of me sum up the feelings her magic brought out for me. I really did miss home and she felt like magic and yes,” he rolled his eyes and let her go still maintaining eye contact, “ she reminded me of friendship and family. When I saw her for the first time, she was utterly breathtaking. Luckily she responded to my charming personality and quickly we started spending time together.

I didn’t mean to have such strong feelings for her. I started out by looking for the girls in the way she walked, talked, twirled her hair, kicked a stray soccer ball back to a group of kids. I could see the girls in everything she did and it was like they were back! Then, I noticed how funny she was, how brave she was even when her magic started to manifest and it scared her, she was so strong…..she’s incredible all on her own.”

Celestia was the one who moved closer to Discord breaking him from his thoughts. She smiled up at him but, her eyes were so sad, “ she has to fight Discord. We are not strong enough without her. I need to know that you will not interfere with her in battle. We have a mission to work towards, we have to free Equestria from Grogar. Nova needs to have you as her ally, not her protector.”

Discord blinked and then shook his head, “yes I know that. Excuse me princess.” With a fick of his tail he flew back inside the house. Celestia sighed she hated breaking his heart, the idea of taking more kindness and love from a creature that fought so hard to maintain it hurt her soul. She sat up there for awhile longer and when the clouds had become thick and chocolate milk started to rain down she went back inside to see if the others were awake. Celestia had a feeling Discord’s mood helped control the weather here, she wondered if he knew that.

Inside the house was awake, Luna was showing Nova how to cook pancakes as a creature without hands. Nova was studying the way Luna effortlessly flipped the pancakes holding the pan by magic. Putting the frying pan down she asked Nova to add more batter in by using her magic. Nova eagerly showed she was learning great control and made three pancakes in the frying pan.

Discord was sitting in the corner of the main living area with a set of maps arranged on the floor. He glanced at Celestia when she walked in and nodded to her. She nodded back and went to sit down beside him to see what he was looking at. Luna smiled at her sister and Nova greeted her by sending a plate of piled high pancakes to her. They landed a bit harder than she had meant to but, the plate stayed together. She smiled and turned back to the stove to continue helping Luna.

“This is nice.” she said quietly to Discord. He nodded and quickly stole a pancake from the stack as he talked to her about where they were going to enter back into Equestria. She vowed then and there if they made it through this ordeal, breakfast at Discords was going to become habit. The feeling of warmth and family was too nice to let disappear. It felt like old times, with a new addition in Nova.

Nova trotted over with her own stack of pancakes hovering in the air using her magic. She looked at Discord and Celestia saw how proud she was of the control she was gaining. She deserved to be. From the very limited time the Princesses had to instruct her Nova had dove head first into their teachings. Having all the magic in the world wouldn’t help anyone if there was no control. Celestia sensed that Nova felt the urgency and wanted to prove herself willing and able to fight.

Luna brought her breakfast over and with one simple question the atmosphere changed, “ Nova, Discord has told us the elements are still present inside you?”

The air went still. All eyes turned to Nova as they waited for her to respond. She finished the mouthful she was eating and stayed silent for some time. Her eyes moved as if she was listening to something the others couldn’t hear. The Princesses gracefully waited for an answer but, Discord wasn’t good with the silence.

“Nova….”

She blinked up at him and shook her mane out. She had been asking the girls what to say to the Princesses, Twilight had so much to say that Fluttershy hadn’t answered right away. Finally she heard her say, “Tell her Twilight says she misses them… and she’s here to guide you as much as she can from this side.”

Nova nodded to herself and looked at Luna and Celestia, “ I’m sorry, they were trying to organize their thoughts to convey through Fluttershy. I’m sure there was a lot more said but, the core of the message was Twilight wanting to let you know how much she misses you. She wants you to know she will be guiding me as much as she can from her side.”

Celestia nodded and tears shone in her eyes, “ can they hear me from within you?”

“ I don’t think it works that way, I’m so sorry Princess. I believe with the limited power they have that they are using Fluttershy and I as a communication gate. I believe they feel emotions that I am feeling and my thoughts to them for sure. They did let me know they felt the surge of power when I opened. I wish I could let you speak to them. I just- I don’t know how.”

Nova bowed her head in defeat. She would give anything to have the girls restored to their world. They belonged here, with their mentors and magic. This was their home and she knew they wanted to defend it, to save it. She knew she would do everything she could to make sure that happened.

A lion paw came into view and gently lifted her chin up. “ No one is blaming you. My dear Nova, you simply can’t do the impossible.”

Nova fell into his arms and he held her tight. Her eyes falling on to the Princesses. Celestia walked closer to her and said “ Nova, I would never have believed a by product of my magic would manifest the way it did. Please, believe me when I tell you that you are more than enough. You are stronger than you think. The simple fact that a part of the girls is still so very much alive means so much to Luna and I. Do not believe you are less than you are. We are all counting on you to be so much more and I know you can do it.”

Discord brushed his talon through her mane over and over as she trembled in his arms. Slowly she stopped and looked up at him. “Thank you.”

He smiled at her and placed a small kiss on her cheek, “ don’t thank me for caring for you. I will continue to be behind you, beside you, for as long as you need me.”

She blushed but, nodded.
Luna had been silent the whole exchange fearing that she wouldn’t be able to say what she really meant. Now that it seemed to be over she knew she could simply say, “ are we ready to return home?”

“Yes.” Nova said as she stood taller, her head held high, “it’s time we take a fight to Grogar and show him, we are not going to fall apart.”
*************************************************************************************************************

Discord concentrated on the mirror in his bedroom, slowly, a warm yellow glow came from the mirror and the groups reflections were replaced with a stone tunnel. He turned back and looked at the girls.

“We can’t turn back once we go through….,” he said quietly. “Once he detects us back in the world, he will not let us leave again. He’s shut me inside my dimension once before, I’m sure he can ban me from coming back.”

Nova nodded, walked ahead of Discord and stared at the mirror. Discord touched her back and she leapt through the mirror into the tunnel before her. Celestia and Luna quickly followed leaving Discord to bring up the rear, shutting the portal up behind him.

When the portal was closed the tunnel was plunged into darkness. The girls stood still waiting for Discord to say something. A blue flame flickered to life in his lions paw. He suddenly looked older and a lot more serious.

“Nova, I know you want to help and prove yourself capable of helping but, from now on leading the way into what could be unknown danger is foolishness. You had no idea if there was anyone here or what you would have done if there were an enemy in the dark. Let one of us take the lead. Understand?”

She looked to the sisters who looked from Discord to her. Celestia nodded while Luna nuzzled her. “ You are young, eager to help but, don’t let that make you careless. Discord speaks the truth. Now is not the time to take chances. Things are already dangerous without adding rash thinking into the mix.”

Ears flattened Nova nodded, and moved to stand behind Celestia in the middle of the group. Discord took to the front lighting the way with his ghost fire they all slowly made their way through the tunnels. Only talking in whispers when needed. The light reflecting off of the stones and shape of the tunnel eerily, startling Nova more than once. Luna came up beside her and lay her horn on Nova’s shoulder. “It’s going to be ok child,” she said softly.

The tunnel started to widen and slowly became a small room. An underground stream flowed through one side of it. Discord turned and whispered something to Celestia that Nova didn’t hear. Celestia turned to her and Luna letting them know that this was a place they could rest for a moment. Luna shrugged and trotted to the stream for a drink. Nova looked around, lost as to what she should do. She turned to follow Luna for a drink and heard a pop sound, quickly looking back she realized Discord was gone.

Celestia walked up to her seeing the confusion on her face. “ He won’t be long, he’s gone to scout ahead outside. He wants to see how close we are to where Grogar has set up base. He’s been following the left over power from the necromancer spells. Death magic leaves a taint in the energy around it sadly. Although, it is working in a favor right now.”

Nova nodded staying silent. Her mind was racing. She understood her life was more than just her own world and she had more than herself to live for and protect. She understood that magic was now an active part of her life and that she now was large piece of the puzzle that made up Equestria. Regardless of understanding the facts and where this was taking her moments when time stopped moving forward and she was able to pause and think made her feel like a supernova had been set off inside her. She was afraid at how huge everything was, the feelings inside her raised up and engulfed everything.

Discord speaking to her like a child confused her even more. These three beings had such an immense feeling, their aura’s felt like she could touch them. They were immortal beings and for the first time since really meeting them Nova gathered a sense of what that truly meant. She really didn’t have any idea of well, anything. Not compared to them.

She looked up and realized she had walked away from the girls to the far side of the room. She was alone as much in her thoughts as she was physically. She hoped Discord would be back soon. She knelt on the floor and sat waiting.

****************************************************************************************************

Discord materialized above the ground into a dark forest. He didn’t recognize where he was for a moment. The trees of the Everfree Forest had twisted and taken on the feel of the death magic floating freely throughout them. Dark trunks with leaves that took on thorn like shapes. The forest felt forbidden and in pain. Anything alive was now tainted and living cursed. Discord shivered at the feeling, he hated it. He floated above the ground and wyrmed his way through the forest following the path of death magic. It was gathering at the castle of two sisters. This place seemed to always end up being used for the wrong doings. Luckily for Discord he knew the place well and was able to find a place to hide and watch what was happening. This was where he was finally able to see the enemy for the first time.

Grogar sat on a throne made of bone. Some of the bones had tufts of fur, an odd patch of colour here and there. It was a heart stopping sight. Clearly the throne had been made here and recently. A few goblin like creatures ran around the area. Some riding on the reanimated ponies and laughing to each other. Others were carving up pony’s bodies and cutting the meat up to roast on a sickly green fire.

Grogar glanced at his minions and snarled. He crossed his legs and called for a minion named Brain. Discord watched a thin donkey approach the throne. The donkey had patches of fur missing and looked to be in ill health. His eyes had the yellowish sunken in look only the sick seemed to have. Once the donkey reached Grogar he was kicked sharply from cloven hooves. “Fetch me my meal Brain!”

“Ye-es your majesty”

Grogar laughed as he watched the donkey limp back towards the fire. Discord shook his head, fear and cruelty were all he knew how to give. He was imposing looking as well. Dark midnight blue horns curled from top of his head. He was the colour of blue before the coming of a winter storm. Strong and muscular he was massive standing taller than the donkey he kicked. His hooves cloven and sharp were the same colour as his horns. He had what appeared to be smoke coming from his nostrils curling up through the air. The worst part of his appearance came from his eyes. They burned as if lit from the very fires of hell. Bright red lacking any type of pupil they glowed dangerously.

Discord also noted how strong Grogar’s power seemed to be. He hated to admit it but, he could feel the waves of pure raw power roll off of him. Discord surveyed the scene below and felt real fear. There was a reason Grogar had won so quickly and Discord was worried if they were just gathering themselves to be more easily slaughtered.

Suddenly, there was a sound to his right and he saw a zombie pegasus land twenty feet away. It was sniffing the air and suddenly sent a trumpet of sound out into the sky. Discord watched as all the heads in the camp turned towards his hiding place. He stayed silent for a moment then stood up.

Grogar smiled showing fangs jagged and covered in gore. “Welcome Chaos Lord….as weak as you have become your magic will be added to my army. I will slay worlds with the combined strength your power will give me!”

Grogar stood up, “Now…..DIE!” He shot off a powerful bolt of black magic. Discord leapt out of the way but, not fast enough. The purple flames leapt and licked at his side searing his fur off in places. The pain was intense but Discord kept standing.

“You will fail Necromancer. Your cruelty will be your downfall. You are arrogant and your pride will see you destroyed.”

Grogar lashed out with another attack, Discord noticed that he wore a bell on his neck. It had sparked power as Grogar sent out his magic. Discord stuck out his tongue and snapped his fingers as the magic flew into his path. He was far gone when the dark magic exploded leaving a crater where he had been standing.

He landed in the room where the girls were settled. He was near the back corner where Nova was laying. She glanced up quickly at the power surge and saw him fall onto the ground. “Discord, oh my god….”

Celestia and Luna ran over to them. Discord looked up and smiled, “well ladies, I know where Grogar is currently. Although he may also know that we are back in Equestria. Sorry about that… got too close and paid for it with a pound of flesh.”

“Hush let me look at that,” Celestia said as she bent down to examine the charred flesh. She sighed as her horn started to glow faintly yellow. Luna’s horn had a silver shine as she stood beside her sister, they let their magic flow into Discord and healed his wounds.

Nova knelt beside Discord, “ are you ok?”
He nodded, shook himself and stretched, “ I do know where he is, but, I don’t know if acting now is the right thing to do. He knows I’m close and will be on guard.”

“True,” Luna said,” but, he also won’t be able to gather any more forces if we act now. We may have lost the element of surprise but he is not organized for a fight right now. Tell me, do you believe we could get him on his own?”

Discord thought of how prideful he had seemed and nodded, “ I don’t think it would be too hard to lure him out.

Luna nodded, “then we need to move and move now. Celestia, Nova are you ready to fight?”

Celestia came up beside her sister, “I am with you until the end sister.”

Nova looked at Discord studying his eyes intently. She could see the weight of the Centuries in his gaze. “Do you think this is our best shot Discord?”

“Right now, I believe this is it Nova, we need to kick him out.”

She placed her one wing over his shoulders, “then let’s go and get him.”

Chapter 14

Discord lead them above ground in the thick of the Everfree forest. Celestia gasped as she stepped out of the ground and saw the mutated trees surrounding her. Luna helped Nova up out of the hole and used her magic to move a large rock over the entrance. The sight of the trees sent a shiver up her spine. This monster was changing the very nature of their world. He could not win, their very existence depended on them being victorious.

“Is this the Everfree forest?” Nova walked over to Discord whispering.
“ Yes, what’s left of it.” He motioned for the girls to follow him, “we aren’t far away from where he was sitting. See the ridge up ahead that’s where I was hiding before. I think the best idea to get him out in the open is to set up a magical trap. He’s smart, I think he’ll understand if we are trying to divert his attention to another area. Although, I imagine he would also make sure to check everything, which means we make a big enough commotion elsewhere he will send guards to check. Though he, I would assume, would go with the second party and try to find us the opposite way.”

Celestia looked to Luna who was always better with battle strategies than herself and saw her nodding along with what Discord was saying. She pawed the ground with her front right hoof thinking. “ I agree with you Discord. From when we battled him before this seems exactly his style. So now, how do we create a big enough power surge to get him interested in another spot?”

“ Luna my dear, Chaos Lord at your service.” He flew up into the air and looked down at the girls, “ready for this?” He noticed that Nova stood between the two sisters a bit paler than normal but, her eyes were bright and determined. Celestia nodded to him and he shot out of site.

The girls stood in silence when Nova felt something odd. A cold energy flowed through the trees wrapping around the girls.

Celestia turned to Luna, “Something’s wrong.”
Luna reared pushing Nova to the ground as a black power bolt streamed past where she had been standing. Celestia whipped towards the space the bolt of magic had come from. Her power flung out causing her to glow and have a wind come off of her. “Show yourself!” she demanded.

Slowly movement came from the trees in front of them. They all watched as Grogar emerged from the darkness, a twisted smile on his face. “I never thought the Chaos Lord would leave. Finally, it’s my turn to play.”

He shot another bolt of power faster than eyes could follow, it smashed into Luna and she was thrown to the ground. Laughing he leapt into the clearing shooting pale green lightning from his horns. He turned his soulless red eyes on Celestia and centered the power to shoot at her. Nova dove in front and raised a shield to cover her and the girls. Gasping when the lightning hit she was able to maintain control and hold back his attack.

“Oh? And who do we have here? A new comer to the party I see.” Grogar opened his mouth and breathed out a wisp of blue white light it flew out towards the alicorns and instantly brought down Nova’s protection. At the same time another bolt of black power hit Celestia and she crumpled to the ground.

“Celestia!” Nova screamed. She was the last left standing.
He looked at her and took a step closer. “Interesting, your power feels like it doesn’t belong to you, did you take someone’s gifts perhaps? No.. that’s not right either...who are you?”

Nova felt the power burn through her body a wind of her own started to dance over her body. She felt her horn light up when she said to him, “I am the element harmony, you have not destroyed me, merely changed the vessel into something more. I am not pieces bound together by friendship, I am whole.” A raw energy burst from Nova’s horn as she aimed it at Grogar. He hissed and cast his own dark energy to match it. They collided in the sky causing an explosion. Nova was thrown back landing hard on her side. She smashed her head on a rock, her sight going in and out she knew she was losing the battle. The last thing she saw was Grogar standing above her, then darkness.

Discord felt the power hit him before he even had the chance to turn around. When he spun in the direction of the girls he saw an explosion fill the sky. The shock wave hit in and he was pushed into a tree, slamming into the trunk. He bounced onto a branch and lay stunned for a moment waiting for his breathing to come back. He snapped his fingers and transported himself back to the clearing, already knowing he had been so very wrong for leaving.

Celestia was on the ground covered in dirt and bruising. Luna was in the air screaming. Discord ran to Celestia as she slowly brought her head up shaking herself awake. Her eyes widen when she saw the ground and surrounding area. Discord helped her stand and Luna landed in front of them. “He took her, sister he took her!”

Discord felt time freeze as he heard Luna say again, “Grogar has Nova.”

“Like hell he does.”

As quick as the words were said Discord had disappeared leaving the princesses alone shivering from the toll of Grogar’s magic.

He appeared in front of the castle of two sisters. A goblin like creature screamed and ran towards him holding a skeleton sword high. Discord roared a sound like nothing that had been heard in the forest before and charged the goblin quickly using his talons to take it down. He swung around and running on all fours charged the door of the castle. Reanimated ponies were knocked aside as he cleared a path. Slamming into the doors they burst open as he lunged inside.

There was no one inside the castle. Everything that he had expected there to be was gone. Grogar had clearly planned ahead to move his army, he had planned to take a hostage. Nova was gone, and Discord had no idea how to find her. He slammed his hands on the ground and screamed out his rage before flying back through the door. He tore through goblins and zombie ponies alike their death blows doing little to calm the anger he felt. He would destroy Grogar for this, if he harmed her in any way his death would be slow and very painful. There was no going back for him now, he had to find Nova and end this.

Suddenly Luna and Celestia joined him in the sky. He turned his head and snarled snapping at the princesses before he realized who they were. The sisters flew on either side of him and lead him towards the cover of clouds away from the castle and the destruction he had caused in his rage. He sagged between them and let them take him far away. He trusted their judgement and with them beside him, he could fight another day.

***********************************************************************************************************

Nova awoke alone. She was inside a room with red curtains, someone had placed her on a bed with black silk sheets. She looked and down and saw that she had been bandaged and her wounds tended to. She slowly stood up gather her thoughts and memories. Her head hurt and after a time she remembered the powerful energy that had coursed through her body exploding outwards. She also remembered he countered the attack and, it wasn’t enough. Where was she now?

She turned around the room looking for a clue as to her whereabouts. She was inside a room that lacked windows but, had a double door on the far side. She walked over and tried to open the door but it was locked. She had guessed as much when she had seen it but, had to try just incase. She glanced back behind her and there was the bed with a night table beside it. The bed was black, the night table was black and on top of the table there was a silver cup. She walked back to the night table and saw there was water in the cup. She was incredibly thirsty but worried that it was a trick to drink it. Although, if she was still alive and bandaged up she wasn’t meant to be killed yet so, the water should be fine to drink. She lifted the cup to her lips and drank deeply.

Everything froze up. Her body went stiff and she fell to the bed. She couldn’t move her legs or wings. She couldn’t move at all but, she could still see and hear. The steps coming closer to the door outside sounded as loud as cannon fire and when she saw the door begin to open she panicked trying in vain to move. Grogar stood in the doorframe staring at her with heated red eyes. She looked back desperately, she was at his mercy.

He walked slow and sure towards her making sure she was able to track him as he came nearer. Her eyes showed such fear of him and inside Grogar felt a surge of excitement. The fear came off of her in waves it was such an amazing source of energy for him. He licked his lips and locked eyes with the young alicorn watching her try and move was delightful. His mouth curved into a smile as he stood there just staring at her. Her eyes filled with tears and he laughed. Bending down he whispered to her, making sure his lips brushed her ear, “welcome home Lady Nova. You now belong to me.”

He left her like that, helpless, alone and afraid. He calmly walked to the door and through to the hallway, she could hear his hoof steps as he left. Shortly after a group of goblin creatures came in carrying a throne. They placed it on the wall opposite the bed and quickly left the room. Shortly afterwards another goblin came in and placed a candle on the night table. It was getting dark in the room and instead of being left to darkness ghostly candle light now made shadows dance across the wall that Nova could see. She waited and listened fearing the sound of hooves. Another hour had passed before she heard the sound she had been dreading. He was coming back and there was nothing she could do about it.

Grogar entered the room and walked to the throne not once glancing at Nova. He sat down and a goblin entered quickly bowing and handing him what appeared to be grapes. The goblin fed him one by one. Grogar eagerly took each grape but, did not look at the goblin he was now watching Nova.

“Be gone monster.” Kicking the goblin in the stomach it fell backwards quickly gather itself from the floor and bowing over and over as it left the room.

“Ah, now we are alone. Tell me my lady, are you willing to talk”
Nova felt the spell loosen it’s grip and she was able to move her head and neck. She slowly lifted her head from the bed and spoke, “ talk?”

“Yes, talk with me. Tell me of your dreams.”
She looked startled at the thought, “my dreams? You have stolen my dreams from me…”

Laughing he stood up and walked up to her. She tried to pull away but other than her neck and head she had no movement from the rest of her body. He reached out and touched her wing. “Oh my dear lady. The dreams of youth are the regrets of maturity. You shall see that the dreams you once had have fallen into a nightmare state. Wake up child and see where your dreams have taken you.”

“You are the nightmare Grogar.”
Chuckling again he looked down at her lowering his face to hers, “perhaps I am, but remember this and think upon it. I did not create you for the sole purpose of using your powers as a weapon. I am not that monster, to find that monster you will have to look to others. You were created Nova. Remember that, the only reason you are alive is because Celestia fused others to create you. You have no dreams for me to take dear girl. You shouldn’t even be alive and they will leave you in the dust once I’m gone. Believe me, all I would need to do is separate the souls from your body and you would be nothing to them.”

“No!” She screamed at him, tears trailing down her cheeks, “stop this! Your wrong!! They are not like that.”

“You are only here to be used Nova. They will drain your power down to the last drop to defeat me. Then, when this world is green and lovely once again, why would they want your death magic around? You are fused together from the souls of others. You are made from death. They will destroy all magic that resembles necromancy, mark my word. That includes you.”

He dropped the spell from her body and she collapsed onto the bed crying. “ I will have one of my servants bring you something to eat.” He walked out the door and down the hallway listening to her screams.

Chapter 15

The Princesses touched down on the soft rolling clouds. They were hidden, for now. Discord turned quickly to them, eyes burning, “ we need to find her. He can not be allowed to win. He can’t have her. He … can’t….have Nova too.”

“Discord,” Celestia raised her hoof and touched his paw, “ He hasn’t won, not yet.”
Luna moved to Discord’s side so he would see her and said, “ remember you are not in this alone Discord. You have Celestia and I, we will not leave you to face this monster alone. This battle is against us all. You said it yourself before, remember us of old Discord. We are not needing your protection. We will fight beside you, we will find her and we will get her back.”

Discord stepped back, “then what happened Luna? Why is she gone? How can you tell me I don’t need to think of you as weaker when you failed to protect Nova?” He went to turn away from the girls and left. He was so angry at them but, not as enraged as he was at himself. How could he have let this monster get the jump on him, how did he not see the trap?

Celestia was suddenly in front of him horn blazing. She threw a bolt of solar energy at him knocking him through the cloud hitting the one below them. She was there on top of him as quickly as he landed. He stared up at her and snarled.

“That’s how Discord, that’s why Nova is gone. He surprised us and he used speed and blind force against us. We did not expect it and we fought back as quickly as we could react. Nova, she tried to shield us, she most likely saved us from great injury if not death.”

She moved to stand beside him as Discord got to his feet she continued, “ he simply overpowered us. We did what we could and I will not be ashamed of that. Now, we can either sit here fight between each other, blame one another for our heartache or, we can fly back up to Luna together and figure out how we can track this beast.”

Discord stared at her for a moment and then snapped his fingers sending a fury of wind at her, knocking her down. He snaked his way to her side and whispered, “ you’re weak Celestia, that’s why you couldn’t save her. That’s why you haven’t saved this damn land from him. He has stolen everything from you, because you are too weak to fight him. I will not leave her fate in your hands.”

“THAT’S ENOUGH! Both of you STOP THIS NOW!” Luna flew down, her night magic crackling around her. “ You are both being needlessly cruel.”

She landed, taking in the situation. Discord’s chest heaved and his eyes were burning with anger. Celestia was below him, head bowed with tears slowly trailing down her cheeks. Luna shook her head and said,” How is any of this going to help bring Nova back? Discord, I agree with you, we have been weak. We have not needed to fight like this in so long it has not come back as quickly as one would hope in this situation. This has cost us the lives of the people who looked to us for protection, it has cost us our home, and it has cost us the elements. Our harmony, our peace, is gone because we could not save the very land we swore to protect.

But, we are still here. Our magic is still as strong as it was in the days of old. You can say what you want of weakness but, you are not going to defeat Grogar on your own. You are going to end up sucked dry and destroyed by your own emotions. If you let him divide us, there is no chance of saving Nova. You are one of the most clever entities I have ever met, don’t you dare act stupid now. Use your head, you are playing right into what he wants. Expend the energy fighting between each other. Break the others confidence all while becoming more and more rash in your choices due to anger. You are acting predictable Chaos King.”

She shook her head and gave them both a fierce glare. “ I am going back up on the next cloud and I am going to use my dream walking magic to see if I can get a glance into Nova’s dreams. If she is sleeping and dreaming I should be able to find her. Once you two figure out what your priorities are and start acting like the immortal beings you should be, come and join me.”

She took off without a second glance and was through the cloud cover in a flash of starlight. Celestia sighed and was startled by a lions paw being offered to her. She took it and stood up staring into Discord’s eyes.

“I’m sorry Discord, I -”

“ Don’t worry about it, moon butt is right. Let’s go see if we can help her.”

He waited for Celestia to raise into the air and together they flew up to where Luna was laying. She had her eyes closed and her forehead was covered in beads of sweat. She was speaking but, only her lips moved. Discord watched fascinated by her ability to dreamwalk. He could do the same to a point but, Luna’s magic was simply designed to let her shift into different dream states. She was a hauntingly powerful Alicorn. Suddenly her eyes snapped open.

“I’ve got her.”

***************************************************************************************************

****************************************************************************************************

Nova had finally fallen asleep. Her body needed her to rest to build back it’s strength. She was alone, scared, and the words Grogar said wormed their way inside her. She couldn’t make them stop from planting the first seeds of doubt.

The dream caught her off guard. She was human again running through a black starless night. She was searching for something she knew that much but, couldn’t remember what it was. She knew without it she would not survive. The fear and urgency made her run faster and faster until she was running not just to find the thing, but to get away from something else. She was terrified. Suddenly there was a hill in her path. She ran up to it and felt the urge to climb to the top. Something was up there and she needed to see it. Slipping and nearly falling back to the beginning it took all she could to climb to the top.

Panting, she looked around and saw Luna. She was lit from within, she glowed as if the moon were inside her. She was so beautiful. Nova ran to her and Luna pulled her into a tight embrace. As soon as she touched the Alicorn, Nova’s human form shattered and she was once again in her Alicorn body. She sparkled and shimmered with her own astral beauty.

“Luna, are you real?”
“Yes, sweet Nova. I am here with you in spirit. My body is being safely taken care of by Discord and my sister. Child, where are you?”

“ I don’t know. I’m in a room, it’s stone and it’s cold in here. There’s no windows - I think it’s underground. There’s one door, it leads to a hallway, it’s stone as well I can hear them walking.”

“Are you hurt? Has he hurt you?”
“ No, he hasn’t hurt me. He’s talked to me. Luna, do you hate me? Do you hate who I am? Do you wish I would perform my magic, and then be done with me? Looking at me, do you think of the souls inside me? Do I make you feel death?”

Luna’s eyes grew wide and she went to touch Nova but the dream shattered and instead Luna was left staring into the worried eyes of Discord.

“I’ve got her. He’s manipulating her. We need to hurry he’s trying to turn her away from us. She’s not hurt but, her soul is losing it’s grip on who is friend and who is foe.”

Celestia nodded, “ where do we need to start looking.”
Discord waited. Watching Luna think about what little clues Nova had given her. “ He’s someplace cold. He’s under the ground. We need to look for death. Maybe a burial ground, an unmarked mass grave…. Something like that. It’s in stone. From what I could gather from her description maybe.. Limestone?”

Discord gave a dark chuckle. He flew straight into the air and started to fly to the North. Celestia and Luna glanced at each other and quickly followed him. Luna prayed he would hold his sanity together long enough for them to reach Nova.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Nova woke up sucking in as much air as she could. She knew that the dream had been in part real. Luna had been there, she was sure of that. They were looking for her. They were coming to save her. Although, were they trying to save her so she wasn’t trapped within this hell or, was it simply that they needed her to destroy this madness and then be done with her. She watched the candle on the night table flicker, it was almost burnt out. She must have been asleep for hours.

Was Grogar right? Did she simply exist to be a weapon. What would happen after she was done her duty. He had mentioned the idea of the girls souls being taken out of her. Could he actually do that? Would she die? Did it even matter if she did, if her life really wasn’t even hers to begin with, did it matter if she were separated from their souls and didn’t last?

She felt Fluttershy moving inside her mind. She was desperately trying to speak to her. Nova didn’t want to hear a thing from the girls right now.

Fluttershy managed a whisper, “ you are loved so much more than as a weapon Nova. Think of Discord, think of the night you spent together. You mean so much more to him than a vessel for us. You are so much more than that, please…. don’t believe him. Grogar is trying to hurt you. He’s evil.”

Nova shot back, “what if he’s right though. I am made of some sort of necromancy. I am a product of your deaths. Your bodies were taken from you. Your breathing, living bodies, they are gone. This whisper of a voice is all that is left of six of the most powerful ponies in this world.I am all that’s left of you. What if I could give it all back? What if I could use him to bring you back to this world? Solid, and alive if he could do that, if he could be tricked into believe that having the six of you back is the weakest option …. I could give you back to Equestria.”

Nova shut down the link between Fluttershy and herself. She whispered sorry to the night air. She didn’t want them to know what she was thinking what she was planning. She knew he couldn’t give them back their bodies. He didn’t create things, he stole them away. He was a destroyer but, her magic might be enough. Fluttershy never said it couldn’t be done. In fact, as Nova was speaking she never said a word. The girls knew there was a possibility it could be done. She could not only save Equestria she could save them from their fate. She just had to figure out how to do it. She would not quit on this world. Her fate was already written she could either cry and stay hollow, defeated, and let Grogar take over. Or, she could embrace what she was, how she came to be in this world and use it to her benefit.

Grogar was right she was created using souls of other beings. Their magic coursed through her body. She was here breathing, moving, being, because of them. She was more than that though. She was Nova. She needed to stop thinking of what everyone wanted her to do and be, she needed to think about who she wanted to be. She could be the hero. She could save this world, she could save the girls. She needed to be brave. She needed to convince Grogar to give her the magic so she could let the girls free. When they were free, with Discord and the Princesses nothing would be able to stop them.

She stood up from the bed and walked to the door. She was ready to face him, she knew what she had to do. Damn him for putting the thoughts in her mind, for giving her a reason to doubt herself. She would not let him destroy the part of her that made her Nova. She vowed there in that room, that she would be his downfall.

Author's Note

This chapter was harder to write and I ended up scraping a few pages and just starting again. It just didn't feel right to me. I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 16

Footsteps echoed coming down the hallway. Nova quickly trotted back to the bed and lay herself down. She waited, eyes on the door watching for movement. Even with the anticipation of it opening the door still scared her as it moved letting in the light from the hallway.

Grogar stood in the doorway illuminated from the light. His features were darken on this side and he simply looked like a shadow. He stood in the doorway silent, still, as if he were contemplating something or merely gloating as he took in the sight of Nova on the bed.

He suddenly shifted into movement and glided over to her bed. Standing above her he laughed causing Nova to cringe. The sound was like broken glass, sharp and crystal clear. He leered down at her and she noticed smoke coming from his nose.

“Have you had time to think on my words young one? Or, do you believe that these creatures of light and love actually care for your death magic?” He sneered and stepped back from the bed, making himself comfortable on the throne. He watched her with the same look a snake would give a mouse. Calculating but devote of any warmth at all, he would simply wait for an answer from her.

Nova knew she needed to play this exactly right or he would see through everything. She had to make sure he believed her. She needed him to, so she could save the others. She rose up from the bed and walked to him. Lowering her eyes she replied, “ I don’t believe you.”

Laughing he took her chin and pulled her face up from the floor, “oh but you are beginning to my young necromancer. Your eyes tell me a new story from the one you have been using words to weave. You know I’m right. They will use you, and then, they will drop you. It might take a few months or even a year or more but, they will search out a way to be rid of your stench of death. If they can destroy you along the way all the better. You are tainted young one. Your magic came from death.”

“No, my magic came from light. My name is because of the light that shot to the earth when I was discovered. I was born from light.”

“You were born from their souls being split apart and created as they were formed back together. You came from their reanimation into a new physical being. You are made from necromancy.” He stood up and looked down at her, “you are a powerful being but, young lady you are being stupid. Those souls inside you will take over, you will be used and destroyed by the ones inside you. Power like you have will either see you destroyed or, you can control them and you can use your necromancer powers to gain a life for yourself. You can make yourself into a Queen child. This land, you could rule here. No one would ever use you, your life would be everything you want it to be. Not what princesses want, not what the voices comment to you inside. You could silence them all. You would rule them all.”

She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. “ I don’t want to be used anymore. Not by anyone… not anymore.”

Kneeling beside her, he looked her right in the eyes, “then what do you need to do young necromancer. What do you need to accept to become the most powerful ruler this land has ever seen?”

“You.” Nova took a deep breath feeling like her fate had changed, “I need to accept you. Teach me what I am capable of Grogar. Show me how to live free.”

Laughing he stood up and helped Nova to her feet. “Oh child I will show you more than any limit the princesses dreamed they could put on you. You are so powerful, your magic screams of death, this is your destiny. Come child, follow and I will teach you to lead.”

Nova walked with her head high and left the room beside Grogar. The guards gave a nervous glance as they watched the two head down the long hallway. Nova kept note of doors they passed and where another hallway started to the left. The hallway widened into a huge chamber with a proper stone throne situated at the end of a red tattered carpet. They were inside an underground cavern but, Nova couldn’t tell much more than that. The walls were lined with goblins standing silently on guard. She couldn’t believe that there were so many in the cavern, they made her nervous.

She followed Grogar to his throne, he stopped and turned to her. “Sit young one, sit on the throne and look out onto this room.”

Nova paused and took a breath willing herself to move forward and sit upon the throne. It felt almost ceremonious like it was part of some greater ritual. She sat and looked around the room, the throne felt warm and tingly there was magic here. The power lashed out and enveloped her she. She cried out as thousands of tiny shocks lit her body afire. Everything became hazy and the last thing she saw was Grogar laughing. Then darkness covered her vision and she knew no more.

She came back to the world cold, there was no warmth left inside her. She slowly opened her eyes and found she was back in the bedroom she had been imprisoned in. Taking in a breath of air as if she had been held underwater for too long her lungs screamed with the sudden rush of life. She felt someone move beside her and brought her head up. Grogar was sitting there on the throne he had left in the room. Smiling down at her she realized he had placed her on the floor at his feet. Something was wrong, she felt wrong.

“What did you do to me.”

Grogar lifted her chin up so that they were eye to eye, “ I have given you everything young necromancer. You have no limit to your power, can you not feel it move inside you? The darkness that the Alicorns thought they could control. I gave it back to you young Queen.”

He stood swiftly letting her head fall, “come and see for yourself. See your true form Queen Nova.” He walked away from her without a second glance. He knew she would follow, he wasn’t going far the mirror was on the other side of the room waiting for her to view.

Nova slowly stood her legs almost betraying her. The magic inside her wriggled and moved through her body almost like a serpent would feel it gave her legs power to move forward. She glided leaving a trail of shadows behind her.

Grogar’s eyes lit up at the sight. She was simply glorious and those fools thought that they could control her. She would be his greatest victory and she would be their final curtain. He simply could not wait to watch how they would cry out in pain at the end.

Nova stood at the mirror and an image looked back with fiery blue eyes. Her starlight coat was now shadows mixed with midnight blues and purples. Her silver hair faded out into black shadows, her horn shone the same blue as her eyes. Her wings looked like they had been made of the darkness that was only found on the darkest stormiest of nights. She was a nightmare brought to life. Her breath caught in her throat as she tried not to scream. She turned and looked at Grogar who never took his eyes off of her reflection. When she looked back she noticed that their eyes were the same except for the colour, they were exactly alike.

“This, is my true form?”

“ Young necromancer this is who you are destined to be. You have become a Queen. Nova, are destined to rule this land. You magic took it’s form and it courses through you even now. Tell me, how do you feel.”

She stood there staring at the reflection. Her eyes shone with inner flames, her mane turned to shadows and when she breathed through her nose a small string of smoke escaped. How did she feel, terrified, betrayed? Her new power moved through her. She let a blast of dark energy out of her horn and the mirror melted down reshaping into a onix coloured crown. She levitated it onto her head and turned to catch Grogar’s eyes.

“I feel powerful.” She started to laugh and it sounded almost like a cry being released onto the world. A cry from the Nova that was and a joyous sound from the Nova that was here now. Grogar watched and his red eyes took in the transformation. He smiled.

Slowly from the rise of excitement a bone crushing exhaustion overcame Nova she turned to Grogar and said, “ I need to sleep now. You need to leave.”

He stared at her calmly trying to decide if he needed to correct her tone with him. She walked slowly to the door and waited for him. He turned and followed her to the doorway. “Remember young necromancer you have power, great and glorious power but, I will take everything from you if you rise above your place. You will respect me. I am taking this lapse in judgement due to the swelling powers and needing to rest. I will not tolerate you speaking this way in the future. Do I make myself clear Nova.”

She watched him and slowly nodded. Stepping out he shut the door firmly and she could hear him lock her inside. Regardless of her powers she was very much still under his control, he made that clear. She shook her head and went to the bed, falling asleep as quickly as she landed on the mattress.

Discord paced in the cavern he had found in the mountains for the Princesses to rest inside. There was an underground hot spring in the one corner of the cave that threw off enough heat that the trio didn’t freeze. It was dark outside, Luna’s moon cast an eerie glow to the stones he could see at the entrance to the cave. He turned and walked to the edge of the entrance to view the world in this night prision. He couldn’t see much without using his magic but he didn’t care. He couldn’t feel a thing, wait that was a lie he could feel too much, just not her. Nova’s magic he couldn’t feel her magic.

He growled and walked back to the Princesses. Celestia was finally sleeping, there were tears still drying on her cheeks he noted. Not that he really cared right now, he did care he really did but, he was angry. They had been waiting for another sign to follow for three days. Nothing. They simply couldn’t find where they had hidden. Nova had disappeared with Grogar and there was nothing that he, Discord could do about it. He continued to pace.

Luna suddenly snapped her head up and looked at him eyes bright. “ I’ve got her.”
He lunged through the air and landed beside her as he watched her eyes go blank. She had gone to the dreamscape and all he could do was wait for her to return with word from Nova. It was too quick her eyes gained focus and she looked at Discord and said, “ I can’t get into her dreams. They’re so much more powerful now and the emotions flowing out of them are so dark, chaotic. She is clashing with herself I can’t walk into that much chaos. I would risk losing myself …. I can’t - Discord I can’t reach her…. “

“ Luna, night is yours to control, dreams are yours to walk. Who else do you know that can dreamwalk. You are forgetting who you are talking to dear lady.”

“ Can you still do that?”
“With help from you I can. I know the risks of dreamwalking. Luna help me get to her.”

She nodded, “becareful Discord, something is wrong with her I can feel it. If anything happens to you there I can’t pull you back. You risk your life doing this.”

“Luna I know the risks. She won’t hurt me. I trust her with my immortal life.”

Luna nodded and raised her horn asking him to lay down. She placed it slowly on top of his head and used her power to place him inside an enchanted sleep. She lay down herself and drifted into the dream world so that she could help him cross into her dreamworld. She was afraid. Something didn’t feel right about Nova, something was wrong she was far too powerful. Grogar had done something with her, Luna was sure of it.

She found Discord and she had him follow her to a gate. The colour was wrong it started out in Nova’s stars and shine and then slowly faded into black shadows. Blue fire flickered at the bottom. Luna looked at him and said, “ I will not speak of it if you want to turn back.”

“Luna, you know I can’t.”

“I know but, I had to ask. I’m afraid for you. If you become trapped inside her dream I will not be able to reach you.” She touched his arm and looked him in the eyes. “Be cautious and know when to back away Discord.” With that she opened the gate and Discord walked inside.

He walked into the dreamscape and noticed they were in the clouds. The stars shone brightly all around him like he was walking far above even where space existed. There was a silver staircase weaving it’s way up into the sky. He strode towards it as a crackle of black lightning shot across the sky.

The dark light reflected and he saw her. She was at the top looking down at him. He ran to the stairs and took them two at a time he needed to reach her. She moved her hand to her mouth and waited silently. He slowed at the last few stairs and she stepped back so that he could stand in front of her.

“This isn’t real, Discord, you aren’t real. I’m alone, I’m here in my castle on the clouds alone and away from everything. No one can find me here .. no one.”

“Except me. Nova, except me.”
“Oh my god, how…. how did you find this place. I kept it a secret even from him. He doesn’t know how to find me here, Luna’s magic won’t let her walk inside here. How?”

“With this much chaos, are you honestly surprised?”

She shook her head and stood there silently. Discord took in her appearance. In the dream she was human again. He glanced down and took note that he was as well. He was dressed in a dark grey suit with a deep red dress shirt underneath. He noticed his hair had been braided and pulled out of his face.

Nova was in a gown glowing softly in the starlight. The gown was the same colour as moon light, pale, shimmery and flowing out from around her. He looked at her, she had circles under her eyes even here and her blonde hair now had streaks of black through it. Her eyes had changed colour as well the teal blue colour that had reminded him so much of Fluttershy was now midnight blue. So dark it was almost black.

“Nova?” He held out his hand to her, she gave him her hand and he pulled her into his chest holding on to her as tight as he could. She started to shake and held him fiercely. “What’s happened Nova, what has he done to you?”

She moved herself back enough that she could look up at him. “ I don’t have much time, I am not allowed to sleep forever. He’s going to come back for me. He wants me to train with him. I’m learning so much Discord, but, I’m afraid. I thought this would be easier to control. I had a plan but, I don’t know if I am strong enough now to pull it off.” Tears slid down her cheeks, Discord reached out and wiped them away.

“Please, Discord don’t hate me.” She reached up and kissed him.
He held her tighter and returned the kiss. Breaking away he looked down at her and said, “ my dear, I will find you. I will come for you and I will take you out of whatever hell he has put you in. Do you understand me? You are not alone, we are searching for you. Stay strong Nova, we are coming for you. I am coming for you. Do you understand. I am coming for you.”

She nodded quickly and placed her head back on his chest.” I know you are, I just don’t know who you are going to find when you come to me.”

He looked down and she raised herself up again to meet him, kissing him with more urgency. He opened his mouth to her as her tongue slipped inside. His breath caught as he moved his own tongue to meet hers. Slowly as heated as it was he back away. He looked at her breathing hard.

“Is this really want you want Nova?”

She moved her hand and the dream changed around them. There were still stars in the sky and the clouds were still being used as their platform but now, there was a clearly shaped bed in the center and the stairs were gone. She walked away from him and kneeled in the middle of the bed. She looked up at him with those strange eyes, hers but also not. He watched as she slowly pulled her dress off of one shoulder and then the other. It pooled at her knees she watched it fall and then brought her eyes back to him.

“ I don’t know what is going to happen when I wake Discord but,I know right now I can feel this and it’s real. You are here with me now, I will wake up and remember this.” She looked down and then back up at him. “ I need you, right now, I need to feel you with me, I want your heat inside of me. I want to feel you, I …..”

He snapped his fingers and was on the bed kneeling in front of her. He reached up grabbing her hair and kissing her. She felt his hands glide down her back reaching her bottom and slowly starting their way back to her shoulders. She pulled on his suit jacket and cursed when she found that them being so closed made it impossible to take it off without losing contact.

She smiled into his mouth and Discord felt a warm wind rise around him and then suddenly his clothes were gone. He stopped the kiss and looked down at her as she smiled up. “My dream, my rules.”

“Indeed my dear.” He pushed her down onto the cloud bed and watched as she lay down, her dress still pooled at her hips. He slowly leaned down and kissed her slipping his tongue into her mouth, licking at her own tongue. He pulled back and started to kiss her neck leaving a warm trail where his mouth had been. He went lower and left a small kiss on the tops of her breasts. Her chest was rising and falling as she anticipated what he was going to do next.

Discord gently blew a warm breath onto her breasts making her nipples stand up. He leaned down and took one into his mouth, sucking on it and holding it carefully in his teeth. He used his tongue to flick it, slowly back and forth. Her responding moan was exactly what he had hoped for.

He let go of her one nipple and began to lick circles around her other. Slowly he would draw the nipple into his mouth suck on it and then let go to start the pattern over again on the next nipple. Nova squirmed and panted. When he felt her body shudder under him Discord continued his way lower.

He kissed his way down her stomach and came to the dress. Taking it in his teeth he urged her to move her hips upward so he could pull the dress down. Nova moved slightly so he could get the dress down her legs where he pulled it off of her. He was now resting at her feet staring up her body. She stole a glance down and the heat from his gazed set her on fire. He was watching her with almost a predatory need. She wondered if she looked the same.

He held her legs and slowly pulled them apart. She squirmed as he planted kisses on the inside of her legs, ankles, calves then just above her knees. She knew what was coming next and tensed, breathing hard.

He stopped and stayed still. She could feel his breath just above, it was warm and she could hear him panting. He finally held her thighs and moved her legs to rest on his shoulders. She was open, exposed and so totally turned on by the position.

He rolled his eyes up to meet her and said, “ you want this? You truly want this, like this here in this dream?”

“I want you Discord in every way, make me feel alive, I need you!”

He leaned down and licked the inside of her thigh moving slowly over to her pussy. He took one more look at her and then lowered himself to her and started to use long strokes with his tongue on the inside of her lips. She gasped and her legs trembling. He slowly slid his tongue inside her and she felt him lick places that she never knew a tongue could reach.

He brought his attention back to her clitoris and just as he did with her nipples he licked circles around it. Bringing it slowly into his mouth to play with then letting it slip out and then repeating himself. She started to breath faster and said, “ inside me, please I need you inside me .. now.”

He brought himself up and kissed her as he lowered his body on top of hers. He waited for her to bring her hips up and met her mid motion sliding inside. He moved his hips pressing her into the bed. She reached up and wrapped her legs around his back. Kissing his jawline she urged him to move quicker. He pumped his legs and moved as quickly as she did matching the fever rhythm of urgency.

She bit his earlobe and he was undone he broke the rhythm and slammed hard inside her she moaned and whispered “are you ready because I’m going to scream for you.” He lifted his head and she caught him in a kiss as they both moaned out their pleasure.

They lay together as one breathing heavy, he looked down at her and she touched his cheek slowly moving down his body.

“I love you.”

“I love you… stay strong for me Nova, I am going to save you from all of this.”

“Discord, you can’t save me from myself. Just, know anything I do, I do for love. I really do love you.”

Then Discord was pushed out of the dream, Nova was gone. He woke up startled with Celestia and Luna coming into view. Both with looks of concern on their face.

“ Are you ok?” Luna watched him move slowly to a sitting position. He looked so serious, his cheeks flushed and his eyes wild.
“I’m fine. Celestia, Luna we need to find her, and now I know how she gave me a gift. I know what her magic feels like. I can feel her inside me. I know what to search for now I can sense her oh my dear Nova, I’m coming for you.”

Chapter 17

Discord was still inside that damn cave. It had been a week since the dream walk and he was still unable to exactly locate Nova. Every once in a while he would feel a surge of some sort of energy but was unable to trace it to a source. For their part, Celestia and Luna were trying to help the best they could. Celestia helped Discord to look for unbalanced power shifts but, with the amount of disharmony in the world right now it was harder than she could have imagined. Luna slept and watched the dream realm as much as she could. She had located a gate once in the past week but, to both her and Discord’s frustration it was barred shut. Even working together they were unable to open the gate to the dreamer inside. By the third attempt the gate shimmered and blinked out of existence. Nova had walled herself off from all contact. There was nothing they could do and Discord was becoming desperate.

Suddenly, he froze as time stopped. Celestia jumped running to her sister but,Luna had already woken. They all moved to the front of the cave in time to hear the snap of magic burst through the sky. Purple energy flowed through the sky in sharp streaks. Moans could be heard all around them, from the trees, the lakes, the earth, their world was screaming with the power searing across the sky.

Celestia turned to look at Discord who was staring up at the sky, she opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out. Suddenly as quick as it started there was a crash and all fell silent once more. The stillness was unnatural and Celestia shivered.

“Are you two ok?” she asked, still looking at Discord. He shook his head and flew up into the sky without a word to the sisters.

Luna nuzzled Celestia and slowly took to the sky waiting for her sister to follow. They both caught up to Discord and Luna moved to be beside him. “ We are here Discord. The three of us need to stick together or we will never survive what is happening to help anyone.”

He looked down at her and then back to where Celestia was tears streaming down her face. “ It was Nova …”
“ I know Discord, we both know this is connected to her but, you felt that the surge of power that we just had thrusted into the world, that is not something you can fight on your own. None of us can.”

Celestia flew over to Discord and made sure she was eye to eye with him, “ I am not sure if the three of us are strong enough to take on that type of power even together” she shivered, “but we need to know what that display was for.”

“ I’ll lead the way,” he said moving towards where the energy was the strongest.
“Wait Discord!” Luna looked at him, “we have to do this carefully. You can’t just run to her, if this is her power then we have to account for the fact that she may not want to be saved any longer.”

Celestia nodded, “This may not be about saving her if we have to banish her along with Grogar….”

“ It won’t come to that.”
“Discord you-
“Celestia, it will not come to that.” His energy crackled around him. He would save her; he had to rescue her, there was nothing else left for him if he lost her.

Luna flew ahead and turned to say “ I’m taking the lead, any of us could follow this energy. Celestia is right and you know so Discord. I am not going to watch you two fight about this when our world could be torn in two at any moment. If Nova is the enemy we will deal with it then but, for now we will still treat this as a rescue.” She turned back and flew towards the energy. Leaving Discord and Celestia in her wake. Quickly they caught up and made their way to the center of the energy.

As they approached they could see the colour of the sky change. They slowed their flight and landed inside a twisted version of the Everfree forest. The trees were warped and all pulled towards the center where a sickly purple light emitted.

“Slowly Discord” Luna walked to his side. He was sniffing the air around him, his own energy pulsing. He nodded towards the center of the forest.

They walked together through the dark forest. Every few moments something would move just out of their vision. It felt like death and the forest was still nothing moved, there was no sound besides their own walking. They had finally found where Grogar had been hiding.

The castle of the two sisters stood transformed into a dark nightmare. The shape had taken on a black twisted nightmarish appearance, it was full of black vines and wraths were seen flying around the towers. It was also encased in sickly purple light.

The sisters stopped at the edge of the forest and took in the sight with disgust. Breathing was hard being so close to that much death and chaos. Discord kept moving forward. Slowly he stood back on two legs and leaned forward to touch the light. It felt thick, cold and moist. It was also very solid.He sent a small amount of magic into the force field and watched as it travelled up and around making a dome shape. He looked behind him at the alicorns and nodded. They came running up to him.

Together all three sent a burst of energy towards the force field, their power was absorbed and then they heard the same sickening snap from before and watched as the power was shot back at them. Discord jumped in front of the princesses and deflected the blast. The force threw them all back to the ground at the edge of the clearing.

Discord looked up to make sure the girls were ok and both were slowly getting to their feet as he gathered his thoughts and stood. Then, from behind the wall he heard laughter. Cold and cruel, loud enough to get their attention. The three turned to face Grogar from behind the force field. Eyes glowing Discord flew and hit the force field with all his strength. Grogar watched with a slight curl on his lips.

“Bastard, I will destroy you.”
Grogar walked calmly up to the force field and said in an almost bored tone, “you will try but, you will fail.” He turned his back on Discord and walked a few paces back where he erected a throne. Sitting he addressed all of them.

“ I thought you would like a first hand view of the lessons and training we have been undergoing here. Save your energy, you will not break through this barrier. You should be thankful for I am protecting you, for when this barrier falls it will be your death.”

Suddenly the air shivered and the temperature lowered. Grogar chuckled darkly and made a sweeping motion towards the castle. “May I be the first to introduce you to Queen Nova.”

The door slowly opened and shadows seeped through pouring down the stairs and stretching across the ground to surround the throne. Grogar stood and walked to the back of the chair. They watched as the shadows by the stairs slowly took shape and an alicorn appeared gliding on top of the darkness. She walked proudly to the throne, blue hellfire connected with the ground at every step. She was simply put a personification of the castle behind her, a nightmare brought to life.

Discord watched her coming towards them with his breath held. He couldn’t feel anything other than the power from the barrier although he didn’t need to because she emitted power and magic. Celestia and Luna stood close to him he could feel their fear but, when he looked down they didn’t show any of it. They looked fierce and ready for whatever was going to happen next.

Nova had made it to Grogar and she stared at him waiting. He stepped back bowing. She continued to the throne and gracefully sat down like she had all the time in the world. She nodded and Grogar trotted up creating a second throne for himself to sit on. Nova watched and Discord noted that Grogar’s new throne was not as decorated as the one he had created for Nova. Something to think about if they were able to leave this place.

Celestia was the first to speak, “Nova are you safe, has he hurt you?”
“Queen.”

Celestia stopped, “ Nova?”
“You will address me as Queen or you will not address me at all.” Her voice was sharp and took on the darkness of the shadows that were swirling in and around her. She calmly looked down at them and her horn lit up suddenly Celestia was pinned to a tree ten feet behind them. Her wings were at odd angles wrapped around the trunk. She screamed. Nova laughed and released her. Luna made it and caught her sister as she fell to the ground.

“You broke her wings!” Luna screamed.
Nova tilted her head and replied “ at least it was not her neck.”

Luna looked down at her sister and back up “ what did you just say?”
Nova stood up and walked to the barrier and pushed energy into it until it was perfectly transparent. Discord stood his ground watching her. They could all suddenly feel her power. It pushed against them and Luna was brought to the ground by the weight of it. Celestia rolled her eyes towards Discord. He buckled but did not fall. He just stared at her. Saying nothing.

She stood in the middle of all her shadows and power flowing in and out of her. Her mane lifted from an invisible wind. She stared at Discord and looked over his shoulder at Luna then back directly into Discords eyes, “I said at least it wasn’t her neck.”

Discord nodded and walked back to the princesses. He kept his back to the barrier and used his own chaos magic to repair Celestia. She stood between Luna and Discord shaken but better. Discord slowly looked at Nova and said, “ believe me I won’t forget this.” He looked down at the girls and snapped his finger teleporting them back to their cave.

Breathing heavy Discord took in everything that had just happened. Celestia was laying on the floor beside a very protective Luna. She was pale and her mane had lost some of it’s luster but her eyes were clear and her breathing level.

“Are you ok Tia?” Discord touched her right wing carefully seeing her flinch slightly, “did the magic not heal everything, are you still in pain?”

She looked up at him, “no I’m fine it’s fine, my wings are healed thanks to you. I didn’t even think to guard against her … “

Luna nudged her, “ I don’t think any of us would have been able to guard against it. We couldn’t feel her magic through the force field she has around the castle. This wasn’t your fault. She needs to be stopped at all costs.” Luna placed her wing around Celestia, “ she confirmed what we all feared, she’s lost to us.”

Discord nodded slowly lost in his own thoughts, “so it would seem… but my dears, read between the lines.”

Celestia flattened her ears, “Discord.. she smashed me into a tree, broke my wings, she could have easily snapped me in half. Her power is immense.”

Luna nodded, “ she said it herself she could have broken her neck….
“Exactly.” Discord sat beside them, “ she could have broken her neck, she said it twice, at least it wasn’t her neck. What happens if this is a sign she’s trying to send while acting out a role. She held back on us.”

Celestia nuzzled into Discord’s side, resting her head on his shoulder. “ If I agree to listen you need to also agree to the possibility that this wasn’t her holding back and she’s just working up to being able to make the ultimate choice between life and death.”

He brought his head down to her mane and nodded, muffled she heard him say, “ I know Tia, I know but I’m just not willing to give up on her yet.” He lifted his head up and looked at Luna, “ two things stuck out to me besides the very obvious influx in power. Grogar may think he’s running the show but I think he may be in over his head.”

Luna nodded, “ he seemed less himself, like he was intimidated by Nova. His actions when Nova came out were different than anything I have noticed him act out before. Did you notice how he stood behind her as if he were second in command.”

“ Yes, he was acting almost subservient to her, I did notice that as well.” Celestia looked up at Discord, “is that what you are thinking that he’s afraid of the monster he’s created.”

Discord sighed, “ that is exactly what I am thinking. His throne was not equal to hers. He purposely made sure it was smaller and less decorative. He’s either seriously unnerved by her or he believes he can manipulate her into thinking she is doing this for herself when he believes he controls the strings. The problem is either way Grogar is not going to like what happens when she does decide she is done toying around. We can all agree that Nova’s powers are something none of us have felt.”

Discord gently moved Celestia’s head off of his shoulder as he stood up. He knew that this next part was going to be hard but they needed to know more about the situation at hand. “I’m going back there.”

Luna stood, “ not without us, Discord you promised.”
“ I understand.”

Luna felt Celestia stand beside her. “Sister?”
“Luna I’m not ready to go back. I’m drained, I’m bruised and I honestly don’t see what the three of us can do right now even if we were all together. Discord, please becareful. I want to stay together we’re stronger together and it’s also the safest choice but the one they will expect from us. We can’t give them anything that they can work ahead to beat us with. Luna can go into the dreamworld and see if she can find anything, maybe even from Grogar’s guard. I will watch her while she sleeps.”

Luna looked at both of them and said quietly, “ I don’t want to lose you, either of you. I feel like this is only going to lead to our destruction, but if this is the best we can work with right now I agree to the plan. Be safe Discord.”

“I will be back for you both. I just have to know more, I need to see her, to watch her and decide what is really happening.”

With that he slipped out of the cave and flew into the forest. The princesses both watched as he weaved in and out of the trees until he was out of site. Slowly they turned and made their way back into the cave.

He stopped and moved slowly through the trees. He did not want them to know he was near. Taking a deep breath he dropped his own shields and let himself access the deep magic that was within him. He felt the chaos spread throughout his body. The familiar power poured into his very soul. It felt so good to free everything and let all of him loose. He needed to become the Lord of Chaos and not just Discord if he wanted a chance to fight against all of this.

His full power frightened him although he didn’t fully understand that, he just knew when he was at full power he had hurt ponys and other races, he had created wars, famine and ruled selfishly. He had almost destroyed this land and he fed on the chaotic destruction he made.It gave him a rush of energy, of power that was like no other. He was not the hero but, more the villain than ever. This was the magic he had tucked away when Celestia had given him back his full powers. He feared becoming who he was but, to beat Grogar he had to access it all. All the power and all the memories that came with it. To save Nova, he would go back into his own personal hell, he just hoped this time he could come back out.

He silenced his powers, swallowed them into his core and shrunk down to the size of a squirrel. He stayed in the tree tops and made his way to the castle. The dome of energy glowed it’s sickly purple light. He could see movement as he approached and once he was at the edge of the clearing he found a spot to hide and observe what was happening behind the force field.

Grogar stood side by side with Nova. His red eyes glowed as he became engulfed in red energy. Slowly as if being pulled a small skinny pony was dragged over to stand in front of them. Grogar looked at the pony like it was an insect, with revulsion. The pony shook and looked from Grogar to Nova afraid.

“Nova, take his life force. Feed yourself my queen. Suck his soul from his body and make him part of our army.”

She smiled darkly, “need you even ask Grogar.”
The pony cried out as Nova used the shadows that swirled around her feet to cover him fully. Discord felt the energy being ripped away and then heard the sound of the pony crashing to the ground. He stared at the midnight glow surrounding Nova’s body; she slowly brought it into herself and laughed.

“He will make an excellent member of our army,” and with that she fired a bolt of dark magic into the corpse. Slowly Discord watched it twitch and then start to move. There was nothing left of the pony, this was another shell that they could use to fight.

Grogar nodded, “wonderfully done my queen. You have come into true self. There is nothing that will stop you from reaching your goals, our goals.”

Nova watched Grogar as he walked around the animated corpse. Discord took note that she observed him like he had the poor pony, like a bug that was disgusting. As fast as the look came over her face she had put her mask back on and was looking neutral when Grogar reached her.

She quietly said, “ leave me now Grogar. I have my own business to attend to.”
He looked at her with his red glowing eyes, “excuse me?” He raised a hoof and kicked her hard. She crumpled to the ground and he stood over her. “ I am not ordered around Nova.”

She glared at him and before he had time to react she had thrown him into the castle wall with her magic. “ I said LEAVE ME NOW Grogar.”

Standing she walked with the regality of a queen to stand above him. He came up in flash and had headbutted her to the chest. She fell and did not get back up. Sucking in air, her chest was on fire. He then kicked her in the ribs and sent a shock of power through the air at her. She quickly shielded and rolled over coughing.

“ You will not order me Queen Nova.” He trotted to her and sneered into her face as she wheezed. Remember young one, that you belong to me. Your powers, I can easily lock them back up. You grow bold, it's time you remember your place. With that he brought his full weight down on Nova’s back leg and there was a deafening snap. She screamed as he laughed.

“Now, I will, what did you ask for oh, that’s right, leave you be.” With one more snide look he walked back to the castle and barred the door.

She let out a scream, it tore through Discord's heart. The pain and sorrow that one sound showed was nothing he had ever heard. He watched as she glowed and brought her horn down to her leg to heal it. There was a flash and then she was standing shaking off the dirt from her coat. She walked over to her zombie pony and lowered her horn. “ I am so sorry dear one, please rest and walk no more.” She touched her horn to his nose and the pony fell to the ground silent and still.

“ At least now you won’t have your body used for this madness.” Levitating the pony she made a small hole in the barrier and stepped outside of the dome. Discord watched as she went to the back corner where some small blue flowers bloomed. She took the body and encased it in light the same colour as the flowers. Shimmering the body disappeared into the light and on ground below was another blue flower. Nova lowered her head and whispered “rest now poor soul.” Tears fell onto the flowers as she remembered his fear. She also remembered how it felt to feed on that force. It was so temptingly strong the urge to just give in and be the dark queen. Her heart skipped a beat and she shook her head violently at the thought. She hated Grogar too much to become him.

She turned her head and flattened her ears, something was coming out from the woods. Her horn lit up with the strange blue fire, smoke poured from her nostrils. Her eyes became the same blue flames. She reared up and shot magic out across the field. The shield came up about ten paces from her. It cracked and shattered under her magic and there he was.

“Discord” she turned to the dome and looked beyond to the castle. Carefully she sifted out her power to see if she could feel Grogar. He was lower down in one of the sub levels most likely with his guard. For now, he was still ignoring her. She turned back to face him and was surprised at how close he was. Her eyes narrowed and she took a step back.

His heart broke watching her reaction. He wanted to grab her and teleport away, leave this and run but, she had thrown a shield up around herself that he wasn’t sure he could break.

“Nova, come with me.”
“I can’t. Discord, I can’t leave Grogar.” She looked back at the castle and took another step back towards the dome. “You can not interfere, you have to leave.”

“Interfere? Nova I’m here to get you away from here. You cried, I watched you. I saw what happened. You are putting them to rest, you're saving them.”

She stepped forward and pushed him back with her magic, “ saved them? I killed them! I ripped the souls from their bodies. All of those flowers were ponys Discord! My garden of the dead. Look at my creation Discord, you have no clue who you are trying to save!” She transported herself back into the dome and sealed it.

Discord ran to the dome and threw himself on it. It was solid enough to hold him. He slammed his hand down and watched helplessly as Nova stood on the other side. “This isn’t you Nova. Please, don’t pick death over life.”

She stood tall, only her eyes showed any emotion. “ I don’t have a choice. This plan has to happen. I can’t leave, I have to follow through with … everything.”

“Nova, we can figure this out. Just step back through the barrier and let me take you away from here. I can protect you, together we can stop this.”

She walked up to the barrier and said, “no Discord you can’t protect me any more and you can’t stop what’s going to happen. Now, leave so you can live to fight another day. Don’t make me hurt you.” Her eyes shifted back to the blue flames, her mane blowing in the wind her power created.

He stepped back as he watched her paw the ground. “ Listen to me and hear me clearly, the gate that has been locked will open and the full power of our army will flood out. We will drown you with our undead. You will wish you had listened when I barred you from my dream world. What I said then holds true now. When the sun goes dark next, you all will feel our fury.”

He nodded and transported away without another word. Nova gathered her shadows around herself and slowly sunk into them drifting into the castle through the crack in the door. She solidified in her bedroom where she sunk to her bed and cried. Once the moon rose for the final time she would be free from all of this one way or the other.

Celestia felt him enter the cave, it was shortly before dawn. She needed to raise the sun soon and had been listening to the energy of Equestria. His energy crept ahead of him which surprised her. She had forgotten just how powerful he really was. It had taken everything her and Luna had possessed to beat him in the first fight. She hoped now all three of them would be enough.

Moving to the front of the cave she sat beside him. He never turned to look at her just stay still, intently watching the colour of dawn spreading through the sky. He felt her power flare and fall.

“The sun is coming up without you isn’t it.” He glanced at her and back at the sky, “ the end of days and you don’t even get the joy of raising your sun.”

“Did you see Nova? What did she say to you?”
He smiled darkly and his own power flared up, “ I saw her and Celestia, she is terrifyingly powerful, but she's also not the enemy. She believes she is though. I think she believes it’s too late to stop the coming storm.”

He stepped out of the cave and turned to face her. “ Wake Luna. We need to speak on what is about to happen.”

Discord moved letting his magic stretch out inside of him. He felt it uncoil and react to the energy in the world. His hair stood on end and his power crackled out of his claws. He heard a small gasp from the cave entrance and floated back to the princesses.

Luna stared at him, not quite meeting his eyes. “ I had almost forgotten your force Lord of Chaos.” Her tone was slightly tinged with something that sounded like distrust. It felt good to see the confusion on both their faces. He shook himself and quickly swallowed the energy back into his center.

“ Never forget who I am my dear. I certainly can not,” he chuckled darkly.
“We have no time for this though, I need to tell you what I saw. Grogar is growing desperate. I believe the show of power was plainly a trap. He wanted to see where we were and show his hand. He certainly did that.”

Celestia touched him, “what did you see?”
“Death. He had her training when I showed up. He pulled a pony out for her and let’s just say she has learned much about death magic.” He shuddered remembering how she screamed when Grogar left her. “There’s more to it though. Once her and Grogar fought and he left her. She healed and gave the body true rest. She transmuted the pony into a flower. I believe she gave his soul back. She didn’t feed on it like I believe Grogar thinks.”

Luna started to pace back and forth. “You said she did kill though? She killed a pony in the same tormented way Grogar did. How can you not see her as the enemy Discord, who’s side are you on?”

Celestia jumped, “ Luna..”
“No Tia, it’s a fair question. Luna I spoke to her. I watched her transform the pony and saw the tears.”

Luna stopped walking, “you talked to her?”
“ Yes, she gave us a warning. He’s planning on attacking tonight. The next time the sun disappears she said we would face the army of the dead. She talked about not being able to leave because the plan that was in motion had to be followed through and to listen to what she said in her dream world.”

Luna looked up at him, “and what did she say Discord.”
He took a breath and paused for a moment, “she said what she did she always did for love and to please trust her.”

“Do you trust her Discord? After everything you have seen her do, is she giving you a message of trust or betrayal?” Celestia walked to her sister and stood beside her. “You know her better than Luna and I, Discord do you really believe she is not planning to destroy everything?”

“The question is my dear Celestia, do you trust me? You sent me through to another world to find the shattered souls of my dearest friends. I was alone for years searching for any sign of the one thing that kept me sane. I spent years looking in a world that was not my own. Hiding in plain sight not being able to fully use any of my powers. You trusted me then, to find the elements and help piece them back together. To weaponize them and bring them back in the vessel they had created.

I found them! I found more than I ever thought was possible. I almost wept at the feeling of Equsterian magic Celestia. Then, it became more than that. She became real to me. Still, I did as was commanded of me. I brought her back here. I let you pour more magic into her and make her so incredibly powerful. I then watched as she was taken away and lost to me. Everything I have worked for I have done for this Celestia.”

He turned his back to them and ran his paw through his mane, “I ask you again, do you still trust me? After all of this do you trust my judgement?”

He turned back around and watched the two alicorns waiting.

It was Luna first, she bowed and looked up at him. “Yes. I trust you Discord. If you believe that she is to be trusted then I believe you.”

Celestia nodded her head in agreement, “so what is your plan then?”
Discord looked up at the sky as the sun started to slip behind a black shadow. The girls both lit their horns up with magic.

“It’s time,” Discord said, throwing power into both of his hands. The three of them turned to face the woods as the last of the day light seeped away.

The shadows poured out of the woods ahead of the army of the dead. Discord quickly created a barrier around them. They watched as the dead came out of the forest and lined the edge with their animated bodies. There was no sound except for their own breath. The shadows darkened and rose up from the ground creating a doorway.

Grogar walked out from the door with Nova behind him. He was in full battle armour, his red eyes glowing through the helm he wore. Nova was dressed in shadows, you couldn’t see where she began and the shadows ended. On her head was an onyx crown.

“Boo.” Grogar laughed at the three behind their shield. “ Do you really think that display of magic will stop us? This is the end for you all, why shield at all?”

Nova stepped forward and walked to the edge of the shield. She stared at them and said “ remember me?” Bringing her horn down she cut through the shield as if it were butter. The dead shifted behind her and marched towards them.

Grogar watched and made his way to the back of the army making himself his throne to sit on.

Discord gathered his power with Luna and Celestia and shot a bolt out at Nova. She dodged and screamed, shooting a power blast through Discord’s shield breaking it completely and replacing it with blue light. Celestia brought her power into a ball ready to strike when Discord touched her shoulder shaking his head. Nova had flown into the sky above the army and watched as the first corpse reached the blue light.

Suddenly in a flare of power the blue light danced between all of the dead and within seconds there was a field of tiny blue flowers swaying in the wind all the energy created.

“NO!” Grogar screeched leaping from his thorne charging through the flowers firing shot after shot of dark magic towards Nova. “ What have you done! You bitch! I will destroy you for this!” He shot a thick black energy cloud at her and it struck. Nova fell into the flowers like a stone.

Discord was moving before she had even hit the ground and caught her. He flung out an energy blast knocking Grogar back. Celestia and Luna came flying in from either side and sent their own energy blasts at him. He turned his attention to the alicorns.

Discord looked down, “Nova my dear Nova,”
Her breath shook but she pushed him from her. Her horn lit with the dark blue magic and she shifted into shadows and was gone.

He watched the shadows travel across the ground and flew after her. He let his full chaos energy free and watched as it mixed into the shadow streaking across the ground. Grogar looked up in time to see Nova leap into her pony form the shadows and chaotic lightning following her into the sky. She looked down at him and sneered. “ You have forgotten what it feels like to be afraid Grogar, let me remind you.” She shot towards him and sent a bolt of energy in front of her. It hit him in the chest he screamed and she landed pinning him to the ground.

“ You will never be able to undo what I have done here Nova, this world is now filled with death. You are filled with death Nova. You came from death and all you can do now is create death. Even if you destroy me now, you will never be rid of me for your immortal life. I will always be the monster unleashed inside of you.”

Discord walked up beside her watching her taking deep breaths. “ You know nothing of my power Grogar. Do you not understand why I stayed kidnapped and beaten,because I could have left you at any time. I wanted this power not for death but, for creation.”

She brought her horn down and he screamed as she poured shadows into his eyes. He started to smoke and she didn’t stop. His screams became louder and more urgent then, as the skin slowly peeled away from his bones he stopped. He was dead. She stood and calmly stomped on his skull crushing it to dust.

Discord reached for her and she whipped her head around “don’t touch me!” She threw a barrier around herself and the pile of dust at her hoolves. Celestia and Luna landed and stood on either side of Discord.

“ I’m sorry, I have to finish this. I was created for this purpose. Discord remember what I have done, what is about to happen I do because I love you. I love this world and the lives that were taken from it. I can bring it back … “ The dust of Grogar started to swirl around her as she lifted herself into the air. “ I can bring it all back. I can bring life where there was death and restore the balance to this land. I will bring them all back.”

Discord shook his head “ Nova, wait!” He flew up hitting the barrier even in the sky, “dammit let me in, Nova stop!”

She looked at him and smiled a small sad smile. “Say hello to Fluttershy for me ok?”
He hit the barrier as her body lit up pure white and suddenly exploded in a fury of light. Discord was thrown to the ground with the blast. Lifting up he saw the rain start to fall but it fell in beams of light.

All over the field of blue flowers ponys became real again, the light would drop on a flower and a pony would become solid and alive. He watched the sky and saw the swirling lights form six colours and slowly regaining shape they floated to the ground.

Twilight, Rarity, Apple Jack , Pinkie, Rainbow and his dearest Fluttershy lay on the ground. Celestia and Luna ran to them, tears streaming down both of their faces. Nova had saved Equestria and all who lived inside it. There was another flash and ponys were transformed to their homes. Away from the forest away from everything that had happened.

Everyone was gone, except for the six ponys who were still in the field with Luna and Celestia slowly waking up. Celestia turned to Discord and motioned for him to come to them. He walked over to them in time to watch a pair of teal blue eyes blink open and focus on him.

“Discord?” Fluttershy blinked and looked up at him. He looked the same but also very different than before all of this. He grabbed her and held her tightly to him.

“Oh my dearest Fluttershy how I have missed you.” He watched the others waking and how Celestia and Luna greeted them all. He let Fluttershy go so she could be part of the group. Twilight turned and pulled him into the hug.

“Discord I am so sorry for everything you have sacrificed” she turned and looked at him. He wasn’t the same although she doubted any of them were ever going to be the same, not after going through this.

“I am so happy you’re all back. Please believe me,” he looked at Fluttershy, “I just need some time with Grogar gone and Equestria alive and well. I … have to….”

Fluttershy hugged him tears falling onto his fur, “I am so sorry Discord, I am so so sorry.”
Discord held her and cried, “she said to say hello.” With that he broke and wept as everyone gathered and held him. With the final tear sliding down onto the ground a flower grew as they watched. Stepping back the flower began to hum with energy shining from within.

Rarity sighed “it’s beautiful….”
Discord reached out and touched it, the flower trembled and opened to the sky sending a bright white light towards the heavens. They all watched in amazement as a shape formed and began to slowly drift towards the ground like a feather, it was still wrapped in light but becoming more solid the closer it came to the ground.

Discord jumped and flew to the figure wrapping her in his arms. Bringing her down he carried her to the cave and gently placed her on the ground. He looked down at the sleeping figure of another draquonious. Celestia was beside him suddenly catching her breath. She looked down and carefully touched the sleeping figure with her horn. She smiled and looked back at Discord.

“It’s Nova.”

Chapter 4

Discord paced in his living room. He was still a few hours away from going to pick up Nova and his guts were twisting inside out. He finally had to admit that he was, in fact very nervous. Last night he had sensed her, his magic jumping inside him like a jolt of lightning. She was close and to his intense relief she was very real. He had to go and see her, he had to look at this girl so he could believe she was really here.

Calling to his own magic to follow the trail of hers, Discord transported himself into the city. Quickly, he walked down the street to see a group of girls walking into a nightclub. She was in the group, he knew it but, could only catch a glimpse of the girls in the middle of the group. Frustrated, he slipped into a back alley and used his magic to change into a more suitable clothing. Satisfied he went to the head of the line, did a quick manipulation on the bouncer and waltzed inside.

He took a breath as the chaotic energy filled him. The music was loud enough to pulse through him and people’s emotions were on fire, it was a wonderful feeling. Although, this wasn’t what he was doing here and he knew it. He pulled his energy down and waited to feel her energy. It didn’t take long, her aura was unmistakable, she felt like home. Discord followed the energy path and finally was able to get a good look at this girl.

She filled him with so many different emotions, he wasn’t quite sure how to process everything. He stayed in the shadows and watched her with her friends. The way she moved,danced, even breathed screamed magic to him, she moved like she could hear her own powers song. She was perfection.

She suddenly moved away from her friends on her own, Discord startled from his own thoughts quickly but carefully moved to see where she was going. This was his chance, he stepped over to the bar while the girl was in the washroom and ordered a round of drinks for her friends. Watching as they settled in to have their drink he saw his girl walk out of the washroom. She went back to the dance floor to find her friends. He smiled and sent a tiny bit of power out in the air. She reacted as if she had been hit by an electric current! Not that he had had any doubts but, this proved it to him. She moved off the dance floor to the wall.He waited for her to lean against the wall and then made his presence known.

Now, he was pacing his living room counting down the seconds until he could see her again. Nova, her name was Nova. What a perfect name for his elements, as it literally ment “new”. He chose his name for the same reason his name came from the Egyptian God of Chaos. The name helped him stay grounded with who he was and who he is even when all seemed dark and hazy. Although, this evening was going to be anything but dark, energy raised up inside him along with his nerves. He couldn’t wait to see her again.

On the other side of town Nova paced her apartment thinking about Seth and what had possessed her to see him again. Picturing him in her head made her shiver. He felt wild, carefree, young and then at the same time he felt old and almost sad. He vibrated with energy even when he was standing still she thought he should be moving. She really couldn’t wait for dinner, to test out what about him called to her so strongly. Did she just imagine it at the club, it had happened before, a chance meeting with a stranger and when followed through ended up being nothing more than the atmosphere of the night. She really hoped that this time wasn’t like that.

Seven on the dot Nova peeked through her window and saw a sleek black car pull up next to her building. She smiled despite the butterflies that were forming in her stomach. She put a touch more lip gloss on and grabbed her keys and purse and walked out to meet Seth.

As she walked down the stairs of the building Seth had stepped out of the car. Wearing a salmon pink dress shirt and grey slacks he walked over the the passenger door and gave a small stylish bow. “Good evening my dear. You look lovely.”

Nova looked down at her pale pink dress it was the colour of roses. She had added a pale yellow belt to it although she couldn’t fathom why. For some reason it felt right. She giggled shyly at him bowing. “Aren’t you the formal gentleman. I love the shirt,” almost as an afterthought she continued, “we match - like we’re going out to prom haha….” Her cheeks turned scarlett as she realized she had actually said that out loud.

“Well, I suppose we do match although, I am hoping what I have planned tonight is a far bit better than some silly high school prom.” Seth walked to the door of his car and opened it ushering Nova inside. She took one more look at him and added quietly, “the colour really does suit you.”

Inside the car she watched Seth walk around and get inside. He smiled and started the car driving it out onto the streets of the city. Nova waited for him to say something but he seemed perfectly happy to just be driving.

“So… where are we going tonight? You aren’t just kidnapping me right,” she glanced out the window and back to him in a flash. Although, he had seen that her joke was laced with a bit of anxiety.

“Oh I’m sorry my dear but I can’t spoil the surprise, and no I promise to have you home tonight,” he turned to look at her in the eyes “kidnapping is very much not my style.”

Nova turned red in the face, “I wasn’t serious…..”
“Nothing to worry about my dear, I do understand your reservations. We really have only just met. I’m impressed you got in the car with me to tell you the truth. Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to run away with dangerously good looking men?” he chuckled to himself and he watched her start to relax.
“Yes well, I’m sure my mother did once, I really can’t remember. Although, I do remember last night and I doubt you are anything dangerous. So, what brought you out to the club last night Seth?”
“Oh well I suppose it was the chance to meet a pretty girl.” Nova gave him a side glance , “nooo you don’t think so huh, well let’s say it was a dull night and I needed a distraction. So out and about I went and the music sounded good so I went inside. So, I suppose a lucky chance for me. What about you? You didn’t seem to really want to be out when I saw you with your friends.”

“ I’m not a fan of the chaos bars seem to have. The sounds, the lights, the smells, people so close to you,” she shook her head as if chasing off a bad dream, “just too much for me but, it was for a friend and … you know what I’m happy I went.”

Seth smiled, “I’m happy you were there too. I just can’t wait to show you what I have planned tonight!”

The rest of the drive was spent on getting to know each other a bit more. Seth felt Nova relax which was such a relief. She was wonderful, a mixture of all of the girls rolled into one being. He was simply bewitched by her. He asked her about her life, where did she work, did she enjoy the city? What did she like to do in her spare time, just anything he could say to keep her talking.

Nova was quick to answer and ask her own questions in turn. She wanted to know about his job, his life, did he have pets, had he lived here long, what did he enjoy doing on weekends? She smiled as he told her about moving about for his job. He explained he was someone who worked independently but wouldn’t say exactly what he did. He did let it slip that it was something that had made him a good deal of money and that he had enough now he only worked when he fancied the idea.

“Ah! Here we are!” Seth slowed the car down and turned into the parking lot for the local zoo. Nova couldn’t help but light up she loved the zoo but, she also knew it closed within the hour.

“Can I ask what we are doing here don’t they close soon?” she looked around the parking lot only seeing a very small amount of cars parked near what she assumed was staff parking.

“They do but, then again we are not here for just an ordinary trip to the zoo. There is a special presentation tonight that I happened to be invited to by the lead speaker. We met when some business took me to Africa for a small while. He is really fascinating to listen to. I thought this might be something unique for a first date. I really hate to do the ordinary. There is a dinner before his speech in the main hall. I promise he really is very interesting to listen to….”

“Seth, you don’t have to explain anything more.” Nova got out the car and walked around to where he was standing her eyes sparkled with excitement. “This is the perfect idea for a date. Thank you for bringing me.”

“My dear, the pleasure I can assure you is all mine.” He took her hand and led her into the banquet chamber. They sat near the back and enjoyed the hum of people around them. Dinner was wonderful, Nova had to laugh when Seth asked for a glass of chocolate milk. Everyone else was drinking wine and here he was with a tall glass of chocolate milk. She was quickly informed that the people there clearly didn’t have a refined enough taste to know what was a good pairing with dinner. She actually agreed as she sipped on her own milk. She clearly couldn’t let her friend stand out all alone in the crowd.

The lecture afterwards was amazing. Seth’s friend Paul had been travelling through Africa and had some of the best stories she had ever heard of the wildlife in the area. She felt like the night had gone way to quickly and was sad to hear Paul wrapping up the end of the lecture. She glanced at Seth and he was watching her. “ Would you like to go home or, we could go and say hi to Paul? Totally up to you my dear.”

She smiled and took his hand, “I would love to stay here and talk to your friend. This was lovely Seth thank you again for bringing me tonight.”

Seth led the way over to Paul introducing him to Nova. He was surprised by how assertive she was all of a sudden. She had all these questions and comments about Paul’s lecture. Seth had guessed she would be very intune with animals but, adored seeing the things he had thought come out in the real world. Suddenly Nova gave a soft squeal of delight. “ Seth, we can go with him right? You don’t actually have to go home at a certain time right?”

Paul chuckled at Seth and pushed his glasses up. “Did you even hear a word I said Seth, I know its hard to concentrate with this young lady here but, come on man.”
“Puhlease, I heard you and yes Nova let’s go and see the lion cubs with Paul. I mean who am I to say no to such cuteness.”
Paul led the way through the zoo’s back lots. Nova could hear the animals tucked away for the night. The low call of the male lion sent a rush of excitement through her she couldn’t believe she was going to go and see cubs!
Paul brought them inside and after a few moments explaining how to go about interacting with lion cubs he brought them out. Nova spent the next half an hour playing with eight week old lion cubs. Seth had very much out done himself.

Outside her apartment building Seth and her walked to the front door. “This was the most perfect night I have had in … ever, Seth I can’t thank you enough.”

“Thank me by saying you will see me again soon. That’s all the thanks I need Nova. Honestly, I was going tonight to the lecture alone and this by far made a night of dull boring me time into something wonderful. I really do hope we can see eachother again?”

“Yes, of course I want to see you again. Here,” she grabbed his phone and put her number in his contacts. She handed him the phone back. “Call me tomorrow…. Ok?” she stepped on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek turned, and ran inside.

Seth stood there for a second bewildered with the sweet boldness. Chuckling out loud he hummed a tune as he walked to his car. Pulling out his phone he sent Nova a text. “My dear, did you really think I would wait til tomorrow? Dream of lions ….Seth”

Nova watched his car pull away and heard her phone go off. She read the message and felt the warmth rise up all the way from her toes. What a perfect night.

Discord ran a hand through his hair staring out his bedroom window. Tonight had been exceptional, Nova was really amazing. He had really enjoyed being with her but, what surprised him was it wasn’t just being with the elements and the feeling of home. He loved interacting with Nova. For the first time in such a long time he didn’t feel so alone in the world of humans. His phone lit up and looking down he read “my turn tomorrow I have an idea for the afternoon if you are up for it? Nothing fancy but I promise it will be fun. Nova”

He grinned and text back “when do you I pick you up”

Chapter 18 (end)

Moonlight filtered into the cave. The air was calm and peaceful. Celestia, Luna and Twilight had been out the remainder of the day checking on the ponys and all the other areas of Equestria. When they came back at moon rise Discord was relieved to hear that no other ponys asides from their own group remembered what had happened. The world had been reset thanks to Nova’s sacrifice.

She still had not stirred, she was beside Discord but she might as well have been a million miles away. He could not reach her dreams for, when Luna tried there had been none. Her fur glistened with the moonlight giving off a fairy like glow. He touched her paw with wonder, the idea that she was a draquonious that this was what form she took it left him with a feeling like nothing he had ever experienced. He didn’t even know it was possible for another of his kind to come into being, to think Nova was here in this form, his heart swelled and broke into a thousand pieces. When she woke what would she think? She had never asked for any of this, all choices were taken from her the moment she came into being.

He rubbed her snowy leopard paw, loving the feel of her thick fur. Her body reminded him of himself except for his colour and the way that his animals came together was a bright mismatch to her harmonizing flow. She started with the head of an alicorn princess. She had a horn still and a mane flowing down her silvery hued neck. Her colour started to transition to white and was flecked with lavender strands of hair that sparkled when they caught the moonlight. Her legs like his, were different animals. On her front she had a snow leopard paw to his lion paw and where he had an eagle claw, hers was a snowy owl claw. Her one back leg was taken from an antelope, white with some grey blending throughout. Her final leg looked like a female version of his dragon leg, hers a brilliant teal and mauve, the scales shone with a fire of their own accord. Her tail like his took on a more dragon shape ending with the same coloured mane that graced her head.
Her wings were a separate species as well, her right wing from her alicorn image a bright teal and gold intermingled through the feathers and the left was the pale green wing of a Lunar moth. She was breathtaking.

Also still very much asleep, he sighed flicking his ears to the cave entrance. Fluttershy trotted towards him, concern in her eyes. She nuzzled him and carefully touched Nova’s feathers. Without looking up she said, “It’s been a long day Discord you must be exhausted.”

He looked down at her and really took in the sight of his best friend. He had missed her so much. She looked up at him with her big teal eyes and gave him her sweet smile. “ Discord, it’s ok now. We’re ok now.”

He grabbed on to her and pulled her into a tight hug. “ I couldn’t save you! When it happened I wasn’t able to save you. Please forgive me my dearest Fluttershy. I .. should have been able to rescue you …”

Her muffled voice rose up and she pushed herself off of his chest. “ Now that’s enough of that talk. You couldn’t have done anymore than you best.” She flew out of his grasp to make sure she was eye to eye with him. No fear or timidness hindered her. “ You listen to me, this wasn’t your fault. Grogar was a terrible being full of death and well just evil. None of us knew what was happening. Discord, what happened couldn’t have been stopped by you alone.”

“He hurt you, he ….he killed… all of you…”
She floated back down to the ground, her eyes distant and haunted. “ Yes. He did. “

He put his lion paw around her.
“But, Celestia gave us a chance to become something together again. We were very much aware of what was happening when we awoke as part of Nova. All of us had come to terms with that being our new life and we were happy to play our part in all of this… until she was taken.”

“What happened when her magic changed?”
“ She shut us down. We could feel how torn she was and knew she was planning something big. I begged her to rethink … but she had grown so powerful.. I am sorry Discord, I wish we could have stopped her.”

He looked down at Nova sleeping and Fluttershy rubbing her hooves together. “Nonsense my dear. I am so thankful that you are here, that you are all here together again.” He motioned to the other ponies asleep around the cave. “ I have never been happier. You’re back and things are normal again. It’s all I ever wanted since this first started.”

Fluttershy watched him, he was telling the truth but it was flat she knew how he felt about Nova. “ Discord..”

He stood and quietly said, “ I need to get some air. Mind taking over for me here.”
“Yes of course.” She settled beside Nova and looked back at her friend. “ I know how much she means to you, remember we were there and felt what she felt and saw through her eyes. Discord it’s ok to feel sad..”

“I need some air Fluttershy”. He turned without waiting for more from her and exited the cave as quickly as he could. He was airborne and flew, not caring where he was flying. He just needed to breathe and be alone with his thoughts.

Fluttershy watched him leave. Her heart hurt so much for him. The changes he had faced from being who he was in the past, to changing and learning about friendship and then love. To have it all ripped away and reshaped, to have it fall around him again and again. She felt a tear roll down her cheek. She looked at Nova and whispered, “he needs you, please wake up and save him too.”

As if she were just waiting for someone to call her, Nova stirred and slowly blinked her eyes open. Fluttershy stopped breathing just watching her and not wanting to break the moment with even the smallest of sounds. Nova’s eyes darted around the cave taking in the ponys and the moonlight dancing off of the walls. She looked up at Fluttershy and gasped.

“You’re alive? How am I still here, this isn’t possible… are you all alright?”
Fluttershy started to cry and nodded her head, “you saved us. All of us, you brought the world back. You gave yourself up for us…”

Nova slowly sat up and tilted her head, “what else could I have done? I was made to save you all but, it wasn’t even about that anymore. I wanted to create what he had destroyed. He took so much for only his own selfish gains. He was planning on clearing every world he walked on and making them just places of death. I couldn’t let that happen…”

Fluttershy hugged her crying louder, loud enough that everyone in the cave awoke. With a shout from Pinkie everyone rushed to Nova’s side hugging her and crying. The girls were reunited with what they felt like was a part of who they were. Nova felt warm and unafraid in the middle of all their attention. It was the first time she had ever felt like she belonged to a real family. She laughed and listened to everyone talking at once. Celestia and Luna were standing a bit further back giving the other girls the floor to speak and heal together.

“Wait, girls slow down I can’t keep up.” Nova laughed and looked down at her body. “Whoa, this wasn’t the body I started with….”

Twilight laughed as Rarity made a mirror appear. Nova circled around herself and took in everything. Celestia stepped up beside her.

“I believe whatever magic you used to recreate our world was also able to recreate you. Nova, you became so strong that you forged your own soul. Who you are you created yourself. The girls were a part of you but, you made your own light and through that light you were able to be reborn as a being that is more legendary than real.”

Nova turned to her, “I chose this form?”
“Your magic, your light created this form for you. You are a being of light magic, of creation. You are Discord’s magical other half. You have come into being just as he did through power, magic and the world’s energy saying it was time. You deserve to be here. You are creation magic and through your own sacrifice you were reborn. I never believed I would see another draquonious.”

“I don’t know what to say.. I’m just so happy everything is ok again. I just wanted to make sure everything was ok...that this world was a safe haven and a home for everyone again.”

“ It’s your home and haven too.” Twilight said, “ this is where you belong you don’t have to question anything ever again. You’re home Nova.”

She nodded and looked around the ponys and cast her magic through the cave. Waking up and with the rush from everyone being together she hadn’t had a chance to see where Discord was. Fluttershy nudged her and pointed to the entrance. “He left shortly before you woke up. He needed some space, he hasn’t left your side.”

Luna looked at her and said, “he never gave up. He fought fiercely for you. I have never seen him care so deeply for anyone before.”

Fluttershy nodded, “he loves you Nova.”
She smiled and took her first steps in this body towards the entrance of the cave, “ I know he does, and I love him more than anything else. I have to go now. I need to see him.” She ran to the front of the cave and stretched out her wings for the first time. She took off and rose effortlessly up into the air. Glancing down she saw the ponys gathered below. She waved at them, “from the bottom of my heart, thank you! I will find him and see you all soon.” With that she flew straight up into the clouds and disappeared from sight.

He was alone in his thoughts roosting in a tree. He was so happy everything was back to normal again except, with Nova sleeping he felt more alone than ever. Suddenly, he felt energy wash over him. It was warm and loving, it felt joyful and moved like a summer's breeze. He looked up just as she started to land next to him.

“Is this real?”
“Yes,” she laughed and jumped on top of him knocking them both out of the tree. They tumbled onto the ground where Discord had made a soft landing pad for them to fall into. He intertwined his body with hers and ended up standing above her. She smiled and made a small purring sound settling into the pad.

“Oh Nova, I was so afraid, so scared to lose you. I thought you were lost and then I found you and you chose to stay away and then you came for us and I found you again..and then I lost you. You’re here….” He stepped down off the landing pad and offered her his paw. She used her paw and held onto his, slowly stepping down with him.

“I’ve never seen another of my kind…”
She smiled and brought their paws up between them. “What do you think?”

“Perfection.” He leaned in and kissed her long and deep. They held onto each other and as they laughed, cried, kissed, touched, they healed as one.

She suddenly pushed off and playfully said, try and catch me. With that she weaved her way through the trees a white streak of light. Laughing he shot off the ground and followed her into the dawn. Their laughter could be heard through the forest as they played throughout the morning. Finally, they both had found their family, their home, and their happy ending.

Author's Note

I did it! I finished my first fanfiction! I hope for those who have followed along with my journey you enjoyed the world I created. It's a cool feeling. Thanks for reading!