Prologue: Late Night Bus ride
Prologue
Late Night Bus ride
The sound of rain clattering against the aluminum awning drummed a pleasant if frantic beat for the young man sitting on the bench underneath it. Despite the meager protection of the structure his clothes were getting soaked, everything from his black peat coat to his dark blue jeans was thoroughly drenched, but he didn’t mind. Lars reached into his leather satchel which sat on the wet bench next to him and pulled out his watch. It was an old dented brass pocket watch nearly brown from old age it was one of those wind up ones, however, it kept time rather well. Lars pressed the latch with his thumb to reveal its face showing the time as nine forty PM. Leaning forward he looked down the street through the downpour to see the twin glow of headlights cruising toward the bus stop through the torrent. He quickly gathered up his gear and stepped out into the rain digging into his pocket and pulling out his plastic coated yellow bus pass.
The rain beat down upon him and quickly plastered his light brown hair to his forehead. The dull yellow bus came to a stop sending a small flood of dirty water into his shoes. The doors opened allowing the man to step aboard. He quickly flashed his pass at the driver who waved him past and he made his way down the aisle his shoes making that special squishing sound that only truly soaked shoes can make with each step. Inside the downpour took on a muted quality sounding like a dull murmur.
For the most part the bus was empty so Lars made his way to his usual spot near the back exit. As he took his seat he noticed somebody across the aisle from him. The man had a very strange outfit that looked be made of several different sets of clothes altogether; here and there you could see pieces of a track clothes and a pinstripe suit, his pants were also both different colors one looked like green leather and the other was brown corduroy. All in all his attire was patchwork to put it kindly yet it didn’t seem to faze to white goateed man as he stared at Lars staring at him.
“Let me guess it was my stellar good looks that got your attentions wasn’t it?” the strange man asked leaning forward oddly close to Lars’ face.
“Uh yeah. Wait, no I mean it was your clothes. Not that there is anything wrong with them.” Lars stammered not wanting to offend the man. “Actually I am a little curious about your attire there I have never seen anything um, well, quite so unique?” He smiled sheepishly trying to hide his nervousness behind a smile. It didn’t seem to be working very well.
“Oh these old things?” the odd man gestured wildly with his arms plucking at himself, still uncomfortably close to Lars. “This is nothing compared to what I have at home these are just my traveling clothes.” The man let out a strange laugh and leaned back in his seat somehow managing to kick his feet up at a comfortable angle. The rumble of thunder could be heard faintly through the bus. He turned his head toward Lars and smiled a toothy grin, one of his teeth looking strangely fang like. He looked over Lars and a hungry gleam lit his eyes. “What if I were to say that you could be somewhere else having fun and not spend another day working your dead end job. What would you say to a new life?” He raised a bushy white eyebrow, “Well Lars?”
Lars cocked an eyebrow at the man and his manic grin, “What? Wait how do you know my name?”
“Oh I know all about you Lars. How you used to travel the world drinking in all it could offer but a few bad relationships and poof! You decide to settle down barely leaving your dreadful excuse of a home to work and even more boring job.” He tsked in disapproval. ”I mean do you really enjoy watching a machine put caps on toothpaste?” He gestured with a paw of a hand toward Lars, “I’m offering you a way back to your old life, well actually just something similar to it in one way.” He wrapped an arm around Lars, “Come on it’ll be fun!” His other arm was in the air fingers splayed out as if showing some stunning vista instead of the grungy interior of public transportation.
“Alright so what if I say yes you keep my liver or something?” Lars humored the guy not wanting to actually lose his liver to a crazy stalker person. Despite the clear lack of personal space the odd man was giving him he felt a strange feeling overcome him. Something itched in the back of his mind and he felt as if something about this guy seemed familiar but Lars was unable to put a finger on it. Lars wondered how the man managed to slide into the seat next to him without him noticing.
“No catch,” the man purred, once again sliding across the aisle leaning back into his chair propping his feet up and putting his arms behind his head, “I just want you to have a little fun.” The man then reached into his jacket and pulled out a bag of popcorn and began munching away with an amused expression on his face.
“Alright sounds good.” Lars laughed reaching out and shaking the stranger’s hand which snaked out of the popcorn to grasp his in an uncomfortably strong grip. “What did you say your name was?” the tickling in his brain all but faded now.
“Oh have many names Avatar of Chaos and disharmony, the incorrigible trickster, but most just call me Discord.” The man replied nonchalantly eating another handful of popcorn.
Bells and alarms went off in Lars’ skull, mismatched clothes playful attitude smooth voice this guy was pretending to be Discord. Lars laughed, “Wow great Discord costume!” Smiling he continued, “ You know having watched Friendship is Magic I should have caught on sooner but I guess the lack of horns, wings, and tail threw me off.”
“Oh I agree but it always scares you humans to see a Draconequus waltzing down the street, personally I find it hilarious!” the odd man chortled.
“Heh, I bet.” Lars chuckled looking outside. Through the rain spattered window Lars spied his stop and rose to leave. His shoes squished with each step and his clothes were still dripping rain water as he made his way to rear the exit ready to disembark. Something still itched in his brain, how did this guy know about me?
“So do I know you from somewhere?” Lars questioned watching the odd man stand up and walk toward the rear exit his feet only lightly touching the ground. The sight puzzled him.
“Of course you do Lars,” the odd fellow spoke emphasizing course. “I’m Discord!” He threw his arms wide confetti flying out of his mismatched sleeves. He smiled another toothy grin matching the crazed look in his eyes.
“Right.” Lars’ deadpanned starting to get nervous again. “Well here is my stop so I better get going.” Lars said as the bus slowly came to a stop momentum trying to throw him toward the stranger but his balance managed to keep him upright.
The doors opened letting in a sheet of rain soaking his clothes in a fresh layer of cool rain water. Suddenly Lars felt a foot against his back and the world spun like a kaleidoscope as he was forcefully ejected from the vehicle. Instead of hitting cold wet concrete it felt more or less like he was thrown into a pile of soft downy pillows. Lars continued to fall through the insane light show of soft pillows waves of nausea hitting him as his sense of gravity spiraled.
Behind him through a cacophony of light and noise he could make out a familiar voice yell out arrivederci. Soon everything turned white. As last thoughts go Discord is real isn’t too bad he thought.
