Chapter 8 - Tea, Please Part 2

"All is a riddle, and the key to a riddle.... Is another riddle." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

A groan escaped me as I stood up, stumbling a bit on my wobbly legs. I rubbed my eyes to try and clear my vision and, after multiple attempts, it remained smeared. However, every so often it would allow me to see a glimpse of where I was. I think I was in the same room Dissy had brought me into, the dirt floor and stone walls a dead give away, only there were some very unsettling.... Markings.... surrounding me. I stood in the middle of a pentagram, a small circle of salt trapping me there. A candle was at each corner of the star, causing my uneasiness to grow. A larger circle of salt encompassed the pentagram itself, ensuring no escape. At the point of the star stood Discord, a disapproving frown on his face.

"Dissy, what--"

"Do NOT call me that, you abomination."

I took a few steps back, ears flattening and tail curling nervously around my leg. After one final step, my back hit the invisible wall the salt had formed. I gulped, eyes wide and frantic as the realization of what was happening registered with my now clearing vision.

"Diss-- I-I mean Discord, what are you doing? I thought that--"

"That we were friends? Oh, of course not! Why would I want a demon for a friend? There were so many times I tried to shake you, to get rid of you, and yet your disgusting loyalty always had you come running back!"

"But the contract--"

"I don't care about the contract. In fact, I'm ending it. I have all the power I could possibly need and I certainly don't need a friend. A demon friend, at that. Now, let's get this moving along shall we?" He summoned a book, flipping through a few pages before stopping at one, "Ah, yes, here it is. Let's see... Sending a demon back to Tartarus!"

I awoke to maple syrup pouring down my head and waffles being skewered on my horns, causing my fur to become sticky and matted. Again. I let out an agitated growl. Why wasn't he gone?

"Wakey wakey, Ally! It's time to get up!" Discord flew in front of my face with a big smile.

I shoved him away, "Why the hell aren't you gone?"

"Oh! Well since I had gotten here so late Starlight offered to have me sleep over! I must say, you really should have been there. We made all kinds of foods and played a variety of games. It was just wonderful!" He crowed.

I stood up, snapping my fingers to make the mess on my head disappear. Discord followed me downstairs where Starlight was making breakfast, though it obviously wasn't for me. A jar of fear rested next to the stove where she was making pancakes, levitating it into my arms when I came in. Looking back into the dining room, I only saw two plates and two sets of silverware on the table before I turned back to Starlight.

"I could have prepared breakfast. You know that, right?" I asked the mare.

She nodded, "Yes, I know, but after your little outburst last night, I figure you needed to sleep it off. We need to talk about that, by the way."

I rolled my eyes before giving her a nod, grabbing a spoon and trudging into the living room. Plopping down on the couch, I popped open the jar's lid and dug in. However, it was a bit awkward having Discord watch me eat with his bewildered expression.

"What? Never seen somepony eat their breakfast before?"

"Oh, no, I have! You're just not a pony, and I've never seen a demon eat... Whatever that is," When I gave him a glare, he continued, "I don't remember you being this harsh before. What happened Ally?" He gave me a pouty look.

"You sent me back to Hell, that's what happened. After enough hurt and betrayals, I decided to do something about it," My glare darkened, causing Discord's ears to droop slightly, "We both know that your act is a lie. You've used it on me for years. Now, we both know you came here for the guards."

Discord hissed suddenly, baring his teeth, "Where-"

"Here's a riddle for you. I build castles, yet tear down mountains, make some men blind, and others see. What am I?"

Discord flew forward, knocking the tea set from last night to the floor, before grabbing my chest fluff and pulling me up to eye level. Starlight ran in, freezing when she saw the hostility between us and a spark of annoyance at my spilled jar of fear.

"I don't have time for games, Alvar. Celestia sent me to figure out where the Elements of Harmony and the missing guards are, plus I won't be able to live without my best friend."

My ear twitched at the word 'elements' as I tilted my head slightly, "Elements, you say? Those buffoons? The Elements of Harmony? Devil, I really wish they hadn't fallen here. Wasn't my intent."

Discord dropped me, "What?"

I jumped into Discord's shadow, appearing behind him and placing my claws on his shoulders as I leaned in towards his ear, "After you banished me, I made you have terrible luck. Spells not working or backfiring. Ponies actually standing up to you. In fact, two princesses rose up and used some strange new gems to turn you into stone. How did they acquire these gems? You asked yourself this for years, until you didn't care anymore," I shifted to his other ear, adding more malice to my words, "Well, thing is, Dissy, those gems are not items of harmony. They came from my home, Hell, or Tartarus in your case. How did they get here?"

Discord's pupils narrowed into slits, "No."

I shaped my form into that of a snake, wrapping my shadowy self around him so I could look into his angry eyes, "Yes. I was demoted to a demonic guard after I failed to keep such a simple contract. I thought that if I successfully stole something so heavily guarded without being seen, I would get my job back. However, I accidentally dropped them in an unknown universe, which just happened to be Equestria. You getting turned to stone was merely an accident, but a bonus at the same time," My red eyes glowed like fire, "Unfortunately, I was smelled out instead of seen. A small mistake I was ripped apart for. How am I alive then? I don't know, but I consider it a second chance."

"A second chance for what?"

I made my way to the back of his neck, "A second chance to prove myself, to give up my old cowardice, and destroy those who betrayed me," I sunk my fangs into his neck, my grip on him tightening even as he writhed and squirmed.

"Alvar! What are you-" Starlight stopped, covering her mouth with a hoof at the sight before her.

From where my fangs were still embedded, his veins started to be seen from under his fur as I pumped his bloodstream full of black venom. Discord dropped to the ground and trapped me underneath him, much to my surprise. I let out a pained hiss before turning back into myself, my shadowy form dispersing.

"Why do you weigh so much!? You're only a few feet taller than me! This isn't right!" I tried pushing him off, only to causing him to roll closer to my face and possibly block off my air flow.

"Alvar! What did you do to him?! Is he dying?!"

I scoffed, "No, I just knocked him out with some good ol' demon venom. All it does is put him to sleep for a few hours. Nothing terribly harmful."

Raising my hand to snap my fingers, a purple field of magic stopped me, "No, you're staying there for a bit. Then, you're cleaning the house. With no magic."

I stared at her in disbelief despite my eyes flashing purple, confirming my orders, "That's so unfair! Why the hell-"

"Now, what would you like to drink in your temporary prison?"

I crossed my arms, leaning back to rest on the floor, "Tea, please. I didn't get any last night. I was to angry."

She nodded, disappearing into the kitchen. Then I realized I'd have more dishes to do......

I don't think I want that tea anymore.

Author's Note

I would put the riddle links here, but that would give away the answers! I rewrote this because before, multiple people pointed out I had made him to OP. I tend to get carried away sometimes, so I apologize. If I had kept that, it would have totally destroyed his character.

If you see any grammar or spelling mistakes, please let me know! Also, constructive criticism is always appreciated!