"Thank you for your generosity, Zecora. I'll keep in mind to visit you again someday so you wouldn't feel so lonely...." offered the Princess. They were walking through the forest, Zecora leading the way and guiding the Princess and her fellow guards to Ponyville by hoof. Her guards carried a satchel of items with them, mostly containing food and water.

Zecora chuckled. "There is no need for that, I don't intend to stay anymore. With all these fires and haze and outbursts of civilians, what good is staying really for?" Celestia looked surprised.

"Oh? To where do you intend to move to?"

"It's not a very promising idea, but I intend to move back to my homeland. East Zebrika, if everything goes according to plan," Zecora confirmed. She looked around for awhile at the forestry that was around them, seemingly destroyed by fire. They have hopped over so many tree trunks. "Sigh, all the poor trees, it shows that the civilians are ponies with needs desperate to be pleased."

Celestia tilted her head in confusion. "Do you lack the funds? Or are you just in doubt to leave?" she asked. "I'd rather see you safe and sound than stay here for even a second longer. You can tell me what you lack, I'll make sure to help you get back to your homeland."

Zecora hesitated. "It's not a problem with what I lack, it's......" Zecora paused in speaking, thinking through what she needs to say. "...the transport system. Olden days, you'd just need to pay for your ticket and pray to the gods that there's still seats available, nowadays it's impossible, as if the guards were ordered to force civilians to stay and decay. To tell you the truth, I believe Twilight is in denial of the state of the city, in awe of the "city of dreams" but for her civilians, no ounce of pity." She shook her head. "I remember my recent visit to the station, can you believe they tried to charge me two grand for only one train ticket?? Greedy baboons."

That change of tone and no rhyming took Celestia by surprise. She smiled a pity smile for Zecora, although it went unnoticed as the zebra merely grumbled, staring down at the ground in disbelief. "....I'll try all I can to help you, Zecora. You are a very generous person, and a good friend. The Gods forbid you stay around any longer and get yourself hurt one day."

Zecora looked up to the princess, and shared a smile of acknowledgment. "I.....you are very kind, Princess, but.....I doubt you could do anything with success. It's....Twilight had hired a few men to guard the train station, ordering them to disallow subjects to leave freely and easily the nation. Even if you did buy a ticket, chances are they'll be another group of ponies loitering around the tracks, waiting to confront passengers and rob them, to see what they could get. It's a dangerous town out there, its no wonder ponies now riot and live in shaken fear." Celestia frowned at that statement, feeling saddened by how much worse the situation in Ponyville and most neighboring towns are than they appear. But not long later, they soon found their way out of the forest, and lead to a dirt path road. Zecora coughed, "This road leads to Ponyville, this is as far as I would bring you to. However, should trouble come your way, do not fear to come by, I'll gladly assist you."

The Princess shared one last smile with the zebra, and with a nod she set off with her guards following the dirt path road. They weren't even in the town yet, but from afar it didn't look like the happy little town she had known before.

"Ditsy?" Luna asked her personal maid as the mare set her a tray of breakfast, specifically a normal plate of eggs and sliced fruit alongside a cup of orange juice on the dining table. Ditsy was a yellow coated mare with an orange bun up-do. "Have you seen.....Discord anywhere?"

Ditsy tilted her head at the Princess. "Well, the last time I've seen the Lord, he was casually lurking around in the corridors. Perhaps playing up a few new pranks on some of the guards or maids? Although- I haven't heard anything after."

Luna's horn lit up, and she lifted a fork, poking at her egg a little. "...hmm. And when was it that you've seen him lurk around in the corridors? And where do you mean by 'corridors'? Perhaps I could ask the guards there if they've seen him."

The maid pondered for awhile, before answering. "It was about 8-ish, and if I'm not mistaken, that corridor' be leading to where General Roco was stationed for the night. Perhaps you can ask him?" Ditsy suggested.

Luna thought about it a bit, but sighed as she shook the though away. "Nevermind then, I'm sure Discord just got bored of waiting around in my room till' the morning. Honestly, it's like babysitting a colt," she rolled her eyes and took a bite out of her eggs.

"Should we prepare some breakfast for the Lord then, your highness?" Ditsy asked.

However, Luna waved a hoof at her, shooing her away. "No need for that, Ditsy. He'd be able to ask for breakfast should he desire some. And he should see that he had brought it upon himself if he does starve. Honestly, my sister has been treating him too well," she huffed.

Before she could say anything, she hesitated, and instead began to make her way out of the hall as gestured. Luna sat there eating her breakfast, alone in the dining hall for once in a very, very long time.

There he floated, in the midst of what remains of his void, with a few knick-knacks floating about- thinking. He had healed himself earlier after having calmed down a little. Still he couldn't help but fathom what has come upon Ponyville these few months past.

The smoke.

The fire.

The resistant to peace.

The unnervingness of it all.

He wondered how everypony lived their lives there at this point.

Worse than his reign, possibly?

Well, duh, he thought. He doesn't hurt ponies. H-he doesn't.....he doesn't burn them alive. He doesn't....he doesn't do what Twilight would do. If Twiight really did it. Who knows if what the guards said were true.

But.....one of them was even from Ponyville to begin with. Who is more trustworthy?

His cowardice gut or an ex-citizen of Ponyville?

The updated story of the situation in Ponyville however was still unnerving. It almost made him feel sick. And it made him wonder too....

...did Celestia deliberately hide the truth from him?

He didn't know whether that was for the better or for the worse.

He.....he just thought it was riots a-and forest fires.....things like that....n-not....

...not this.

If he didn't know about everything....he would've felt slightly better for leaving.

Now he can't help but think of what he could've prevented.

What he could've done to help.

What he could've done to stop her.

What he could've..... could've.....

....oh, who was he kidding? He will always and inevitably be the coward in the end. Always.

He wondered however. If he did do anything. He....he knew himself better than anyone. So he knew that the first thing he would do was to rub it into the other's face claiming "I told you so". But.....of course, no one would be there to laugh at the remark. Or to roll their eyes. The only thing he could see them doing is giving him the cold shoulder for leaving in the first place, or to blame him for possibly brain damaging their beloved highness, or even getting mad at him for joking about their troubles still. And he would laugh if they did. Because he really, really.....

Really think it's funny. Funny how everything turns out at the end. It's always like that, isn't it? Always assuming, always doubting, but in the end, he was right. He was. There was nothing else to it. He was right. He was....

He did maul her. And if they didn't come to their senses in time, he could've even possibly kill her.

Would it be considered being protective or holding grudges if he did?

Would he be renowned as a hero or the villain yet again?

None of this would've happened if he did succeed after all.

But, of course. A loss for a loss. His "friends" would turn their back at him, possibly condemning them. The entire nation would. Celestia would be disappointed. Very, very disappointed. He might even be executed for murdering her. Maybe he could use his "clear insanity" as an excuse to get out of it? No witnesses at his disposal, no proof that he did it out of good.

Of course no one will believe the Lord of Chaos.

He was born a villain, wasn't he?

Always and will forever be a villain.

He even looks like a villain, doesn't he?

A monster? Like everyone claims him to be?

Before he could ponder anymore, he suddenly felt his hunger slowly affecting him. Ah yes. He hadn't eaten yet that day.

He had no appetite however, which impeded his hunger. It was bothersome, but he still needed to eat. It was even more bothersome with the fact that he was tired from the lack of sleep he had. Still, he didn't want to black out from going hungry. With a sigh, he snapped his tail tuft.

Author's Note

sorry for the late and short update. im working on a bunch of other stuff.