A Jester's Hat

Chapter  1

The Temple of Insanity

Taz Darkstripe is wearing a hood while walking around Canterlot. He's never worn a hood before, and ponies are looking at him. He keeps his head low and feels ashamed. But he couldn't frighten them with his mane. He'd tried to flatten it so many times, yet it made no difference. Everypony knew about what happened 50 years ago, and he didn't want them to think they were under attack again. Shining Armour had held his sword to Taz's throat when he first saw the mane, but Taz had explained what had happened. Well, what he knew, at least. He still didn't understand it. All the Jesters were dead, how the buck did this happen? Taz continues to walk along, coming to the Lunar Cafe. This place had just recently opened and Taz had been in it a few times. He walks in and sits at a table, looking out at all the happy ponies in the sunshine. A filly is jumping and laughing with who Taz guessed was her older sister. He'd seen them both the first day he arrived in Canterlot. The younger one had cowered behind her sister as Taz walked past but he was known in the city now. He often played with the fillies and colts regularly, but today he was feeling really down. Brog Sceal, the owner of the cafe, walked up to him.

"What's wrong?" He asked, sitting opposite Taz.

"Nothing," Taz replied, forcing a smile. Brog gave him a look.

"Don't lie to me," He says. Taz  can't help but give a dry chuckle. Brog always knew when something was wrong with him.

"Okay." Taz looks around. The cafe is empty except for them, and he takes his hood down. His mane is still in the style of a jester hat. Brog gasps. Taz quickly puts his hood up again. "I don't know why it's like that. Nothing I do can change it for more than a few minutes."

"Well, I think the hood was a good idea," Brog says. "You don't want to scare everypony after such peace. Have you tried shaving your mane off?" Taz nods.

"It just grows back within a few minutes." He sighs. "I'd probably be best to get back to the castle. Celest will be wondering where I am." Taz puts a few bits on the table and says goodbye to Brog. He walks back outside and heads to the castle, keeping his head low.

That night, Taz has a nightmare. He's looking at his brother and laughing while he slits his throat. Lightning is also laughing and gurgling from the blood. When he dies, Taz turns to Lucy, and she screams as he drives the knife into her forehead and twists it, making a large hold through which he can see her brain. Taz then licks the brains that are dripping out and laughs in a high-pitched tone. finally, he turns to the princesses. They're tied together, and Taz giggles as he skins them both, keeping them alive with magic and taking their coats off until only the muscle is left. He then puts Luna's skin over Celestia, and vice versa. Once he does that, he takes their heads and pushes their horns into each other's skulls. He's laughing as he does this, and he can hear the jingle of bells on his head. He's rolling on the floor laughing. It's all he could do.

Taz wakes up with dagger in hand, sitting bolt upright and breathing heavily, sweat covering his brow. He gulps and steadies his breathing. It was just a nightmare, nothing more. He walks to the bathroom and splashes cold water on his face again. The night mares were getting worse every night. He'd tried everything possible to prevent dreams but nothing worked. Taz wiped his face dry on a towel and looked at the mirror. His mane was now yellow and blue. He dropped the towel and his mouth fell open. When the buck did this happen? Did Celestia do this? No, she wouldn't. She could barely look at him with his mane in this style, and he didn't blame her. Those Jesters had killed her and Luna, after all. Looking at his own reflection, Taz thought it looked funny. A smile crept onto his face, and he began to giggle. He stopped almost immediately. That wasn't his laugh.  It was high-pitched, and... it had a hint of insanity in it. Taz's eyes widened. Was he... He tried desperately to flatten his mane, but it didn't go down. And... it felt like fabric.

"No, no, no, no..." Taz muttered. He went back to the bedroom and paced frantically. While he did, small bursts of laughter escaped his lips from time to time. These must have awakened Celestia, and she knocked on his door.

"Are you okay uncle?" She asked through the door.

"Yeah, I'm- heehee- fine, I'm just- haha..." Taz hits himself in the head. "Please don't come in," Taz erupts in a high-pitched laughter.

"Are you sure?" Celestia's voice sound concerned. Taz knows she's going to end up coming in, so he grabs a quill and writes a quick note on a piece of parchment. He leaves it on the bed, giggling as he does so. He then opens the window and takes flight, flying for as long as possible. He loves his nieces, but he doesn't want to hurt them. He knows what's happening. After a long time his wings begin getting tired and he lands in a snowy land. He looks around and sees something in the distance. He makes his way towards it, fighting against the blizzard and laughing all the way. When he gets to the thing, he looks up. It's a temple made out of ice. He laughs and sees figures walking down the steps. They're wearing hats... jester hats. As they get closer, Taz sees they're not hats. it's their manes. His heart drops when he realises what's happening. These are the true Jesters.

He's turned into a Jester.