When The Glass Breaks

A Timely Dialogue

James smiled sheepishly as he looked at the Princess of the sun and then shrugged gently before saying “According to what's in my head it's a simple relocation spell. All it takes is a thought and-” He stopped talking as he moved his hand once more in a waving motion and the statue was there as his hand passed over the spot as if it had never left. He then looked to the sisters still standing there in shock as they saw the statue come back to the same area it had once occupied and with barely a wisp of magic felt for the effort from him.

While all this was happening a small crack was beginning to form on a statue that was in a garden, mostly hidden away from the public as magic that wasn’t supposed to exist in this world was being used. The three in the training area had no idea however as they continued to run through a few spells that James had been given with the information however it was quickly put to a stop as he tried to do a different kind of Magic.

James thought for a moment and after taking a breath quietly whispered “ Infernum “ but as he felt himself draw in the Magic around him and try to mix it with his own he stopped as his body rejected the process. He began coughing up blood as the magics rejected each other and began wreaking havoc in his own body. He fell to his knees as the Princess ran over to him and began to speak trying to figure out what had happened.

Luna moved one hand to his back and then began trying to run a diagnostic spell saying with worry etched into her tone “ James what happened? Please you need to tell us.” She prayed that her spell would finish soon and as she began to pick up snippets of the damage her face drained to almost a teal blue. The beginning assessment showed that some of his internal organs were being shredded while others were being rapidly healed.

Celestia looked to the human kneeling and trying to begin a healing spell saying as her eyes beheld the blood, it being a deep and dark red to show it was arterial blood “ Stay with us. Don’t close your eyes and try to focus on our Vo-” She then looked to her sister and her face blanched as well from the concern that was on Luna’s face. At this she quickly used the healing spell sensing that her efforts were aiding James body in fighting the volatile battle within his body of the magics trying to dominate one another.

Meanwhile around that statue there was a cracking noise as the defense of the enchantment that had been placed on it was wearing down faster from the chaotic nature that was being shown in the young man's body. A small and yet sinister laugh began to echo around as more and more cracks appeared in the stone until finally the stones began to fall off of the being that had been imprisoned within like a second skin being shed.

Back with James and the Princesses they had finally gotten the magic within his body to calm back down and both mares were looking at him with worry. After a few moments to collect himself James smiled and looked up at both of them wiping the blood off his lips and chin with the back of his hand and saying “ Thanks for the help. Honestly had no idea that was gonna happen and I don’t think I am gonna try that again anytime soon.”

Celestia and Luna sighed softly in relief and began to smile until a gentle chuckle began to play in the air around the three. Hearing it their eyes betrayed abject fear and apprehension as the laughing became louder and louder until it finally stopped and what appeared behind the Princesses in James sight was hard to describe. It seemed to be a man but he had what appeared to be talons on his left hand and the right was a paw that seemed to be a lion. Meanwhile he was dressed in a bespoke suit with odd shapes and colors that seemed to shift if you stared at it for too long but generally seemed to be a brown on beige checker pattern. He had two sets of horns and they each seemed to be from different animals and the best way that James could put it would be this was a walking zoo that stood close to eight feet tall.

The creature then reached and gently tugged on the Princesses ears and disappeared once more as the mares whirled around and saw nothing. They then turned back to see James giving them a strange look and their fears confirmed as well as the creature was now behind the young Human and reaching out toward his head. The mares tried to shout and warn him but it was too late as the paw from the Creatures hand reached his head and suddenly seemed to absorb the creature into James’s mind. The creature then smirked and looked around as James felt a shift in his mind and that made him growl a bit. He then dove into his own mind as well and met the creature moments later as it was looking around in confusion.

James then smiled as he saw that most of his mind was hidden behind the wall and then he spoke saying “ You know it is pretty rude for someone to go mind hopping… I mean you could have always given me a penny for my thoughts.”

The creature raised an eyebrow and he smiled, showing off yellow teeth that seemed to be a mix of molars, bicuspids and canines. Though there was one snaggle tooth that seemed to hang out more than the others and finally the creature spoke with a delighted tone “Oh My oh my. It seems that the Celestia and Luna have finally found someone with a bit of humor to them. But do excuse me for being rude. My name is Discord and I am the God of Chaos…. And you…. You are not supposed to be here which I have to thank you for as it allowed me to break free. But in return I had wanted to give you a nice gift but I can’t seem to find a place that I would normally put it. Where are the errant thoughts and feelings huh?” Discord as he had named himself simply smiled as his eyes seemed to bely that with a fury and scorn that seemed to be matching the sun with intensity.

James smiled and then tilted his head, ignoring the glare that would of cowed others and then shrugged saying with a bored tone “Well honestly they are probably behind the wall… but if you want to make this a bit more fun what say we have a bet as I have an Idea of what the gift is?”

Discord’s gaze shifted as he heard the bored tone and then smiled a bit easier as a bet would mean a game and those are something he loved to play. Whether it be for small stakes or for ruling over the ponies like he had in the past before the interference of the two Princesses. He held out hands upward with palms showing to make sure no aggression would be shown as Discord spoke with a gleeful tone “Well if its a bet then the game has to be interesting. As I assume that wall you spoke of is as well. So what is the bet naked Monkey?”

James frowned hearing that as he sighed and shook his head, ignoring the urge to plant his face into both of his palms before speaking again with a bit of venom edging through “Well first off I am a Human and the name is James. Secondly the game is actually pretty simple… I will take you to the wall and then you open the door and look into it. If you can last for five minutes without closing it then you win. If you close the door before five minutes is up however then you will stop whatever you are doing and will have a conversation with me and the Princesses. Sound fair?” James smiled now reaching out his hand and casting a silent spell known as Oathtaker which bound two or more parties to an agreement and if one side tried to back out then they would lose their power for a period of seventy two hours in which the victor could take revenge.

Discord, not knowing of the spell, reached out and grabbed the hand with a smile that seemed to split his face and then get sewn back together saying with a bit of madness and happiness blending “Well this is getting interesting…If I win though then you are going to be bound to me and my will until you die. I hope you are ready for this Jerry.”

James smirked and nodded, letting the jab at his name go and then motioned for the god to follow behind him as he walked toward the wall. After a few minutes they reached it and James simply raised an arm and pointed to the door while standing still. In his other hand he held up a timer with five minutes showing and said “Alright Discord. There is the door so go ahead and open it. Remember that you have to keep it open and looking into it for five whole minutes. If not then I win.”

Discord nodded and smiled, jumping and then seemingly gliding like a paper bag in the wind to the door before standing before it. He grabbed the handle as he was going to enjoy the easy win he believed he had before seeing what was beyond the door. Literal billions of lives were playing beyond it all a cacaphony that overwhelmed the senses. His grip on the handle tightened as the metal let out an eerie screech that sounded through James mind. James meanwhile had started the timer and it had only been twenty seconds since time began for the bet. James kept his eyes on the watch and after merely two minutes the door finally slammed closed and Discord looked over to the Human with confusion and fear dancing across his face at the same time.

Discord spoke with a stuttering voice wracked with terror “Wha-what are yo-you? How a-are you e-even here?”

James sighed as this was the second time someone had asked that question and so he shrugged and smiled saying “Hope out of my mind and we will talk to the Princesses.” With that he then left his mindscape and came to see the Princesses looking at him with anxiety from something but he could not tell what. He then smirked and said “Well that was a pretty good bet. So what did this Discord guy do that made you guys go bleach white and teal exactly?”

The Princesses eyebrows shot up as if trying to escape their faces and then looked at him incredulously as Luna spoke first “James? James is that really still you?”

James had to hold back a laugh as he found it a bit funny that she asked as she really didn’t know him but nodded saying “Yep. All six foot two inches of me and amazing at science to boot. What has you two so spooked really?” He asked with some confusion as he didn’t find the God of Chaos to be that much to handle with the advantages of going into his own mind had provided. He then felt said God leaving his mind and appearing beside him and the Princesses and looking at him with the word shock being etched onto his face by a chisel.

Discord then looked to the two rulers and back to the Human before going to snap his fingers to try and get as far away from them as he could. As he did, he felt something massive being pulled from him and the snap completed but nothing happened. The God felt terror and sheer panic as he tried to snap again and again to get away but each time nothing happened and so in a quiet tone he asked “What did you do to me Human?”

James smiled softly and held up his hand saying with a cheery tone “Well I placed us under a spell when we agreed to the bet. With that spell if either of us tried to break the agreement then the one who did would lose all of their power for the next seventy two hours. So now we can get to that talk you agreed t-” James stopped as he saw the Princesses already powering up to destroy the powerless God before them and he sighed before yelling “ PLEASE PUT THE MAGIC DOWN AND LISTEN TO ME!!!”

The loud tone and sense of conviction in James’s words shocked the Rulers and instead of firing off the magic they had prepared they both looked at each other before nodding and letting their hands down and the magic to die from their horns. He then smiled and nodded before taking two steps back and finally deciding to test out his theory he was piecing together “ Alright now that we have all three of you a bit calmed down we can actually talk. Now, Luna, Celestia, I have a question for you… That heart monitor that I was hooked up too…. How old is that technology?”

The Princesses looked confused at the sudden question and then pondered before Celestia spoke up saying “That monitor was made I believe fifty years ago. And it has recently been upgraded from what it was. It now can handle different species heartbeats and track them. It used to only be able to track ponies…. Why?” Luna couldn’t help but ponder at the question like her sister was doing and then James shook his head with a slight look of sadness at that.

“Well in all honesty I am surprised…. Honestly I thought that tech was much newer but if its fifty years old and can only track a heartbeat then that makes me feel a little upset…. Now Discord this one is to you. What are you and if you are a god where have you been?”

Discord blanched at being given attention in his state before then saying “I am a Draconiequis…. And I was sealed in stone near one thousand two hundred years ago. Why?”

A frown appeared on James face hearing this but he let it drop as he then shifted to a neutral expression and saying “Well…. That is a little sad but from how scared Luna and Celestia are of you I am going to assume you wrecked a lot of havoc back when you had freedom?” DIscord didn’t speak but nodded and then James once again turned back to the Princesses and asked “Alright and here is the last question…. When was the last time your country went through strife and struggle?”

Both the Princesses looked appalled and then began to ponder at that, trying to think and nothing that had caused true harm had appeared in almost one thousand years. They both stood there silently and after waiting for a bit James shrugged and said, “Well this is interesting… You have technology that is built in peace but it is not upgraded in time as there is seen to be no reason. You use magic to go for all shortcomings but that is only for the Unicorns. What about the Pegasi and Earth ponies? They don’t have that level of innate magic and thus with technology lacking behind many things that are difficult could become easier. So… Now that we have these facts laid bare I believe there is something that needs to happen…. That being you allow Discord a little freedom as long as he does not truly hurt anyone.”

The Princesses looked at James in shock before shaking their head and Celestia saying “We will not allow him to roam free James… You do not know what he has done. What he might do with all that he is able. He is simply too Dangerous.”

James raised an eyebrow in disbelief at that and then pointed to himself saying “ If we are following that argument to a logical conclusion then that means that I should be imprisoned as well shouldn’t I? As we had found out earlier with how my magic incinerated that dummy when it was supposed to be a small spark then aren’t I too dangerous to be allowed freedom?”

Luna shook her head gently sighing as she explained a bit of the history between the three beings before the Human with a tired tone “ Back when Discord was the ruler of Equestria he ruled with no care for those in the country. He would drown towns in chocolate milk just because he wanted to laugh. When he was saddened he would force people to dance and sing until the could no longer stand and even die. When…. When he was angered he would tear Ponies limb from limb, shifting them into walls without care and ending all who came for him. Do you really believe you are in the same league as this God?” Her tone at the end had become somewhat incredulous as she was getting both angry and depressed by having to remember the past in such a way.

James didn’t answer with his head down, in fact if one wasn’t paying attention some would believe he would be dead but his chest still raised up and down. This was the first odd thing that the group would notice about the Human. The second would be that from him seemed to be the sound of glass shattering and a shake in the fabric of the world itself as Time seemed to be reverberating from him. He slowly looked up but when he did they didn’t see the Hazel eyes of James nor the seemingly curious expression he might be wearing. No, instead there were grey eyes, filled with apathy for most everything and his face was completely neutral. He opened his mouth and from it a whisper came “Truly you are a fool if you believe this being is a God… A God is not beholden to the whims of Pretenders nor do they suffer them in their presence. But as you wish to speak of Gods and their powers allow me to educate you. In this body there lies three entities of which you might call Gods. I am considered one and out of the three I am the least powerful in terms of combat and skill… But Knowledge is where I succeed and surpass, so before you stands Arc’Tis god of Knowledge and Wisdom. Allow me to subject this group to a bit of my scope of abilities…”

With that the God waved his hand and suddenly the group seemed to no longer be on a planet, floating through the Vacuum of space and stopping in front of the Sun. Arc’Tis then motioned one hand in front of him, pulling a solar flare that was spiraling off of the sun into the palm of his hand with no ill effects. He then turned to the group, his grey eyes still showing the apathy as he spoke with only disinterest in his tone “This is simply a bit of what I can do… I could take what is in my hand and destroy the very planet you walked upon moments ago. I could destroy the moon and simply let the pieces fall where they may upon it instead. I could kill all three of you and none would be the wiser. This is the power of God and I want you to understand that, no Mortal nor Pretender can compare to what stands before you. Now there is one thing to keep in mind when it comes to me and the other two…. Never mention us to the boy for if he knows of us then he will focus on us and take us in without precaution destroying all who reside within him. If he finds out about us then I will ensure that all three of you will die long after your people will and before we will die. Do You Understand?”

Arc’tis’s tone finally shifted from disinterest to commanding toward the end and none of the three before him could defy that tone and so they nodded. With that the God shifted them back to the planet and smiled softly, a genuine expression showing and reaching his grey eyes. He then said with a bit of interest “Now when he comes too simply tell him that you will keep Discord under watch. Discord…. I am giving you a warning…. Do not trifle with what you have obtained for if you do there is nowhere you can hide that I won’t find you. As for the technology he was mentioning simply say he had agreed to help build improvements and play as if he was spaced out for the conversation. Now good bye and remember to play nice.” Arc’Tis then closed his eyes and let out a slow and soft breath before James slumped down and raised his head looking around a bit lost. He noticed that Luna, Celestia, and DIscord each had a strained expression before he asked “Sorry did I miss something?”