You’ll Never Walk Alone

“Im such a dilemma. I want to distance myself from you, but yet, I don’t want to lose you.”

“What’s up, Discord,” I muttered, crossing my arms. “Haven’t seen you in some time. The last time I saw you was when you saved my ass from the feds.”

“Yes indeed, it has been a while. Truth be told, it is quite difficult tracking you down. Your race seems to have no magical traces on you whatsoever,” Discord rolled his eyes, prodding the floor with annoyance. “No matter, you are here, and we need to talk.”

“Talk? Talk about what? You’re practically a figment of my imagination and don’t say otherwise. Ironically, you pop up every time I seem to fuck up.”

“Purely a twist of fate, and as for me being nothing but the result of your sanity, it is completely not true. You are literally speaking to a talking puppy,” he said casually, his tail annoyingly swaying side to side. “So about that talk…”

“Later, I’ve got enough shit to deal with as you probably know since you are literally made up.”

The small pup face-pawed and sighed deeply. “Humph, you’re impossible.”

“You mean you’re impossible, considering you’re imaginary.”

Discord didn’t respond, nor did I see what he did as I opened the front door. I expected to see Nathan still sitting there, bawling his eyes out, but it looks like I was wrong. I heard the sound of the shower running upstairs. Looks like Nathan had the right idea. I wouldn’t want the blood of a prick on me either.

I stood there for a moment, taking in the scene. The aftermath of the confrontation with Jordan weighed heavily on my mind. The air felt thick with tension and unspoken words. My apartment, though small and rundown, was a haven for Nathan and me. Now, it felt tainted by the violence that had unfolded within its walls.

Discord’s presence, a bizarre blend of comfort and annoyance, reminded me of the surreal nature of my life. A talking German Shepherd puppy appearing during my darkest moments was just another layer of the chaos I navigated daily. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts.

Nathan’s resilience amazed me. Despite the horrors he had witnessed, he sought solace in the simplest of things—a warm shower, a moment of peace. I needed to protect that innocence, to shield him from the brutality of the world we lived in.

“Well, well, looks like you had a busy night. Let me guess, he slipped on a banana peel and banged his head, completely knocked out. Then, from the fall, the tomato ketchup miraculously made it all the way from the top cupboard onto his chest, where it went everywhere. Case closed, another marvellous job by yours truly. Detective Discord,” Discord cheered discreetly. I crossed my arms and continued to stare at him.

“What? It’s flawless. I can’t see it being anything else. My brilliant mind never lets me down,” he said, with a confident smug look. Somehow, he pulled out a fedora from behind his back, placing it atop his head. Okay, it made me chuckle. He was a dickhead but, at this moment, a cute dickhead.

“First of all, no. And second of all, where did you get that fedora from?” I raised a brow, looking at him with a grin.

“Okay, first of all, what do you mean by ‘no’? And second of all, it’s actually a trilby. See the brim? It’s two inches. A fedora has a three-inch brim. Get your hats right.” He pointed a paw at me, his tone tinged with annoyance. I raised my hands defensively.

“Shit, didn’t know my mind was a connoisseur in fucking hats. Maybe I should fuck my job off and start a business in fixing and making hats. Thank you so much for telling me the difference between a fedora and a trilby. Now kindly fuck off into my brain so I can get rid of this shithead.” I shouted, my accent coming out as my tone got louder. All the Scousers have it; even Nathan, at his age, has picked it up.

“It was a pleasure to open your eyes to such talents,” he bowed slightly. “But now I’m getting impatient with your foolery, Miss Mia,” he said sternly, tapping his paw and looking at his opposite foreleg as if there was a watch there… and yes, there was one. A Spongebob Squarepants watch, funnily enough.

“Foolery? Go on then, take your little ass to court with your shitty watch as my lawyer and explain how this prick is not dead but, in fact, covered in ketchup while unconscious. If you can do that, then maybe I’ll listen to you,” I said hysterically, throwing my arms up as I paced around the room. I eventually stopped at the window, shaking my head to myself. “What the hell am I still doing here? I should have grabbed Nathan as soon as I killed him and run, but instead, I’m talking to a fucking dog. Nineteen years old and I’m already losing my fucking mind,” I growled, speaking in a toneless voice, repressing my tears.

Slowly and gently, I wrapped my arms around myself and rubbed my arms to calm myself down. There was no noise from either of us for a long time; the only thing interrupting the silence was the sound of the shower and the distant hum of the streets below.

A few minutes later, I heard the pitter-patter of Discord walking on the carpet. “I’ll do one better, Mia,” he said in a strange voice I’d never heard from him before. Was it pity? Nah, for someone like him, he couldn’t take anything seriously; it’s not in his nature. The only thing he takes seriously is his fucking hats, apparently. Nah, what’s he up to? What does he want to talk about so much that he’d use that tone? He doesn’t care, and I know that for a fact. From day one, he’s looked at me like everyone else, ready to use me for their own gain, like a rat waiting to use me for a favor.

Suddenly, I felt something land on my head. It was light and didn’t feel like it fit me. Putting my thoughts on hold for the moment, I grabbed the beaver felt material off my head and was surprised to come face to face with the same trilby Discord wore, which was odd. I rubbed the brim between my fingers and thumb, feeling the woolly texture as if I was actually holding it, as if it was real. Unless…

Slowly but hesitantly, I turned and began to reconsider who I was really dealing with. When I turned, I came face to face with the puppy, sitting on the arm of the couch, waiting expectantly. But my living room… it was clean. Cleaner than I had ever seen it before, like, fresh out of the womb clean. No crooked cupboards, the cement-colored carpet was brighter than ever. I even went over to a part of the floorboard that always creaked when stepped on. Not a single sound was made. Most importantly and gratefully, there was no trace of Jordan anywhere. Even the blood from my hoodie and face had vanished. If it wasn’t for the pictures of me and Nathan on the walls, I would have believed I was in someone else’s living room. I was completely rocked by this new development.

The change was startling. The previously grimy and worn-down space now gleamed as if it had just been constructed. The walls, once marred with cracks and peeling paint, stood pristine and freshly painted. The once tattered curtains were now whole and clean, allowing soft sunlight to filter in without obstruction. The dingy, flickering light bulb had been replaced with a warm, steady glow, casting a comforting light over the room.

I felt the smooth surface of the trilby, my mind reeling with the impossibility of it all. The material was unmistakably real, tangible, and out of place in the context of what I knew. The air smelled different too, lacking the usual musty scent and instead carrying a hint of fresh linen and a faint trace of lavender. It was disorienting, like stepping into a dream where everything was just slightly off from reality.

Discord sat calmly on the arm of the couch, his eyes following my every movement with an expectant look. His small frame was almost lost in the vast improvement of the room, yet his presence felt more substantial than ever. The juxtaposition of the ordinary and the extraordinary left me questioning the very nature of what I was experiencing.

“Ahem!” Discord snapped me out of my fascination, making my head snap to him instantly.

“You…” I whispered, still in awe as I raised a shaking finger. “Did- did you do this?” I said, sweating as my heart raced in suspense.

A full-blown grin was plastered on his face, and he laughed out loud as if he had heard a belly-clenching joke. It was irritating to be laughed at, especially this hard.

“My oh my, I was waiting for the day to see the face of realisation on your face. I knew it would be priceless, but this… This deserves a round of applause,” Discord gasped, trying to control his breathing. Ignoring him taking the piss out of me, I continued the subject.

“You did it, didn’t you though? Somehow, you got rid of every bit of dust from this room, you fixed the creaking in the floor, and hell, you got rid of the body. How?” I asked in wonder, a grin growing on my face, a rare sight for those who know me.

“Magic,” he shrugged, making it a bit anticlimactic and a bit disappointing. What a dead answer.

“Yeah, I figured that much out, dipshit,” I rolled my eyes. “I mean you’re a fucking talking dog with magical powers and have a strange obsession with hats. What classified experiment came out of the government's asshole to produce you?”

“Well, my dear friend. If you may sit down and talk like civil beings, I will answer all the questions you may have, and we can finally talk about why I am here. Sound good?” he suggested. I nodded fairly, not minding a good chat with someone who isn’t Nathan. Not to say Nathan is boring or anything, but with what’s right in front of me, I can’t wait to get started.

Sitting at the other end of the couch, I began the first of many questions running riot in my mind. But, before I asked anything, I pulled out my carton and took one out for myself.

Discord, now sitting attentively on the armrest, watched me with those wise, sentient eyes. His posture was almost human-like, a stark reminder of the bizarre reality I found myself in. The trilby still in my hand felt real, grounding me amidst the surreal events.

“You smoke?” I asked, holding out my carton with one sticking out for him to take. He chuckled.

“Of all the questions you could ask, it wasn’t something about magic, it wasn’t about me being a talking dog, nope, it had to be about my addiction,” he ranted. I just stared back with my arm still extended.

“So is that a yes or no?” I deadpanned, feeling my arm ache. He sighed, and with that sigh, the puppy looked ten times older. His posture slumped, and his eyes looked distant. All of a sudden, this puppy looked older than me.

“Yes, yes I do,” he muttered, leaning over and taking a stick with his muzzle. I was going to continue to my next question when he tapped the couch’s cushion beneath him and suddenly, the end of the ciggie was lit. I stared for a bit, in awe of his abilities and for a second or two, I pondered his abilities.

“So, was that your only question? If so, I need to speak to you about something dire,” he murmured, that distant gaze never leaving the TV in front of him. He watched the footy match with a dead look. You’d think Norwich City was playing Newcastle. I opened my mouth to speak once again but, yet again was interrupted.

“What do you call this sport?” he asked out of nowhere, the question catching me off guard for a moment. I looked back at the TV to see that Liverpool was still twatting Manchester United everywhere.

“Football, or footy for short, why?”

“Oh, it’s practically the same name back where I’m from then. It takes me back to when life was… simple… or fair, in better terms. I remember it like it was yesterday: foals running after the ball, passing and tackling, and when one side scored, it was a joy to see them celebrate,” he said nostalgically, deep in his memories as a smile tugged slightly at his lips. Then, as fast as it came, it quickly turned into a deep frown. I would have asked what was the matter but, I’d end up acting interested in his problems, and I don’t have time to listen to others’ problems. So instead, I just sat back and watched the footy with him, ciggie in hand ready to be lit. There was no need for the lighter though; the magic user did that for me.

The room was filled with the faint haze of smoke, and the familiar yet surreal act of smoking alongside a magical talking puppy made me feel oddly grounded in the bizarre reality I was living. The game on the TV continued, the commentators’ voices a background hum to the silent exchange between Discord and me. His presence, once purely an annoyance, now seemed to carry a weight of its own, blending with the strange comfort of the cleaned and restored living room.

As the match continued, I noticed Discord’s eyes flicker with every goal, his emotions a mix of nostalgia and something deeper, perhaps sorrow. His connection to his past, his homeland, and whatever events had transpired there seemed to hang heavily on him, mirroring the burdens I carried in my own life.

For a moment, the chaos of our world seemed to pause, allowing a brief respite where two unlikely companions could share a moment of calm amidst the storm.

“Mia? Who are you talking to?” a meek young boy’s voice said from behind me. Looking back, I saw Nathan hiding behind a door frame. I hadn’t even heard him stop the shower or walk downstairs. He had a new pair of clothes on and was looking around the room inquisitively. Unlike the room being clean of its mess, Nathan was untouched, his battle wounds still visible, unaffected by Discord’s interference. It made my frown deepen.

“How are you, kiddo? Feel a bit better after the shower?” I asked, changing the subject to his well-being. He rubbed his arm gently.

“A little bit, yeah,” he muttered, not looking into my eyes, more interested in the room he had just walked into. “Why is everything so… clean? And where is the body?”

“Well, my dear child, I believe that would be because of me,” Discord announced himself with a bark, popping up with none other than another hat, but this time it was a cap with a crimson crest of the Liverbird. Damn, it looked good too. Nathan, on the other hand, had eyes only on the talking German shepherd as his eyes slowly widened and his smile slowly expanded, the thought of blood and gore instantly vanishing.

“CHASER!!” Nathan exclaimed cheerfully as he ran up from behind the couch and caught Discord in a huge hug, much to Discord’s dismay. His little paws pushed against Nathan but only to fail miserably. I laughed out loud at the sight; not only that, he called him Chaser, which is one of the dogs from Paw Patrol. All we need now is that police uniform.

Calming down somewhat, I flicked away a tear that was about to spill. “Well, Discord, looks like you’ve made a new friend. How nice,” I mocked, taking his cap and ruffling the top of his head.

“Yeah, best of friends,” he almost growled. Nathan gasped, either forgetting or ignoring the fact that the dog had spoken to him a few seconds ago.

“He can talk?! Where did you find a walking, talking doggy?” he shouted, never letting his tight grasp around Discord go.

“He found me. Now let go of the poor dog,” I chuckled slightly, the sight seeming adorable. Quickly letting go just to run around and sit next to the pup, giggling as he watched him, waiting for him to speak again. Discord, however, looked uncomfortable with the proximity of the wondrous kid. I placed my hand on Nathan’s shoulder, trying to get his attention, but as soon as I touched him, I felt his body tense. Instantly, I hovered my hand off his shoulder. Fuck sake, Mia. You kill someone right in front of his face and you think everything is fine because there is a talking dog. He’s obviously fucking terrified of you, dipshit.

I wanted to say something, anything to reassure him that I would never hurt him, to tell him he could trust me, but there’s nothing you can say to make him feel safer around me. So, I did the only thing I could think of. “So, uhh… I’m going outside for a second,” I said, getting up quickly from the sofa and heading to the door with haste. Looking back though, I saw that Discord was confused and curious about my departure. As for Nathan, he wore a deep frown with his eyes screaming for me not to leave, but the thing was, it was conflicted with fear. I left the room with a talking dog and continued to puff away at my cancer stick.

The night air hit me with a sharp chill, a stark contrast to the warmth inside. I leaned against the railing, the city lights flickering below like tiny stars. Each drag of the cigarette felt heavier, the weight of my actions pressing down on me. How could I ever make things right with Nathan? The fear in his eyes was a knife to my heart, twisting with every glance.

The sound of distant sirens and the occasional shout from the street below was a reminder of the world we lived in, a harsh and unforgiving place.

()()()()()

Half an hour… Half an hour I have been sitting on the stairs leading to the block. It’s fucking freezing, and I’ve only got a bloody hoodie on, smoking like a chimney. 10 minutes away? My ass she’s 10 minutes away. I could have stayed with Nathan for half an hour. I know I said I would give him his space, but truth be told, my nerves are gone. My foot starts tapping when I don’t have Nathan by me. It’s fucking stressing me out. Then again, what doesn’t stress me out these days? I swear, I’m going to get grey hairs when I’m 20. And now I need a piss, great. Might as well check on Nathan while I’m at it. Getting up to relieve myself, I turned to walk up the stairs.

Beep beeeeep!

Welp, there she is, I thought, hearing the distant sound of a car honking wildly. Fitting for the energetic gal like her, always making a scene.

Once she parked up at the block’s pavement, my eyes widened a bit in shock but not fully surprised with what she had just pulled up with. A Rover. A black Rover. Not any black Rover, though. JC’s black Rover. The sleek black paint gleamed under the dim streetlights, reflecting the gritty surroundings like a polished gemstone amidst rubble. The custom rims, darkened windows, and subtle yet powerful roar of the engine as it idled spoke of both luxury and menace. The vehicle was a stark contrast to the decaying block, standing out like a raven in a flock of pigeons. I’ve only heard of the things that JC has done to this beauty. Customised it with big doe. It’s practically worth 180 grand on its own, I can’t imagine how much it costs now. It was beautiful. I think I’m in love.

Walking up to the black beast, I was in awe as the tinted window slowly lowered to reveal Gaby with JC’s favorite shades on. Gaby had a smug smile as she hung her arm out the window.

“So, babes, how do you like my ride? Reckon I could pull some birds with this bad boy?” She patted the steering wheel like a good boy.

“You do know JC is going to be pissed when he finds out that you took his pride and joy,” I said, leaning on the car door to meet face to face with an old friend. Her grin grew bigger.

“He knows. It’s too bad that his TT tires have been popped. Wasn’t looking forward to getting chased by that speed demon,” she giggled. As much as I wanted to be surprised by what she did, I knew her all too well. That’s something Gaby would do. Hell, I’ve seen her do that before. I never laughed so hard in my life as when the plods realized their tires were gone. The youngers they caught lacking got off, never to be seen, as the feds tried to chase them with four popped tires. The fucking pigs were baffled. I chuckled at the memory.

“God, it’s good to have you back,” I said, wrapping one arm around her in a hug. In reply, she instantly draped her arms around my back, deepening the hug.

“It’s good to be back with you. I can’t remember the last time I’ve smiled like this,” she said, relief and joy evident in her tone. Damn, I guess Kenny and that prick had Gaby and the rest around their finger more than I thought. Fucking JC had Kenny around his finger more like it, and Gaby and the rest were just along for the ride.

Gaby’s presence brought a warmth that cut through the cold. Her familiar scent, a mix of leather and a hint of vanilla, was comforting. The way she effortlessly took control of any situation, her confidence, and her unyielding spirit were things I had always admired about her. Even now, stealing JC’s prized Rover, she did it with a flair that was uniquely hers.

After a few more seconds of Gaby’s trademark tight hugs, I gently pulled away and leaned my arms on the window sill of the door. Suddenly, her grin faltered and her expression turned to one of concern as she reached her hand out for my cheek. Immediately aware of the state my face was in, I quickly backed away from the door but it was too late, she had seen something.

Quickly, she opened the door with scary speed and exited the car, startling me. I only took one step back before she was upon me and just like that, my hood was gone and my face was revealed by the lamp post above us.

Gaby gasped and stared at my bruised and broken face. I felt my eyes tear up in shame. I felt so weak, so exposed. Everything hit me at once. All the pain, all the stress, all the tireless nights hit me hard as Gaby looked at me, judging the former shell of myself. And just like that, tears started spilling and I started to have a runny nose.

“What- what happened?” she whispered, horrified at my answer.

“It’s- it’s just not my day today,” I sobbed, trying to crack a convincing joke but only to fail miserably as I broke down right there and then. My hand went straight to my face as I tried to hold back the tears. As soon as I did, a strong grip pulled me into a warm embrace as our bodies met. I cried and cried and cried into her shoulder like a baby, all while Gaby was stroking my hair soothingly like a mother would do to her baby to stop it from crying. While my emotions were high, I tried desperately to let everything off my chest. All the pain and suffering, I had to offload it onto her. I can’t do this alone anymore. But, when I tried to talk, I kept sobbing. Slowly, she would rock me from side to side as she whispered comforting things into my ear.

“Shh, shh, shhhh, it’s okay. Everything is going to be okay. You know why? Because you are the strongest gal I know. And now that I’m here, I won’t let anybody hurt you again. Nobody. You know why? Because you’re so precious to me that it hurts me to see you cry like this,” she said, kissing the side of my head affectionately.

“It’s just s-so hard,” I babbled incoherently, grabbing the back of her jacket as I tried to control my speech. “It’s hard to take care of Nathan… I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t stressed about making enough doe to feed us for a week. I can’t remember a time where I felt safe in this shithole. I tried for so long to look after Nathan but, at the end of the day, who was there to look after me?!” I began to shout, anger welling up within me as I dug my nails into Gaby’s jacket. “Where were you when I needed you, damn it! You’re my best friend! Why didn’t you come with me? For five fucking years I was alone with Nathan! Why didn’t you come with us?” I yelled into Gaby’s shoulder. I felt so exhausted and vulnerable as I was held tightly, absorbing her warmth as our bodies pressed together. Then, sniffling was heard which was not my own.

“Sorry…” Gaby muttered into my shoulder.

“Huh?”

“I said I’m sorry, okay. I’m sorry I let you go alone. I guess I was scared to leave the gang, scared to leave the people that protected me from this cold world. My parents abandoned me, Mia, I didn’t want to do the same,” she started to sob as I just listened. “When you left I was so conflicted, I didn’t know what to do when you told me you were leaving. It was tearing me up inside. At the end of the day though, I stayed and I waited for you to come back. Then, Jaden died and Kenny took over and everything started falling apart. Kenny was due his debts for JC. Drugs, money, even opps were wanted dead. Kenny’s head is gone and he has taken us all down with him. I regret staying, I wish I just went with you.” She wept, and now I had to console her. Gently, I pushed away from the hug and saw tears running down her soft skin. I put both hands on each cheek and with my thumbs, I started rubbing the tears from her eyes with a smile. Apparently, that’s what was needed as she started to calm down as she looked back at me. Her eyes as bright as the summer sky. I always loved looking into her eyes.

“You’re staring again,” she smirked as she rubbed the rest of the tears away. I started to stutter but ended up rubbing the back of my head with a sheepish smile. “Come on, let’s get inside. It’s fucking freezing.”

“Right, come’ed den.”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

“Fuck off, Pogba, you cheeky cunt! I’ll have you and Ronaldo on the same night, pussies!” Nathan shouted as he stood up from the couch, screaming at the players on the TV. The game was getting heated, tensions high with every pass and tackle. Even Discord wasn’t happy with the challenge on Naby Keita. The both of them cheered as a red card was shown, vindication for the foul.

That was when Gaby and I walked in, and that’s when Gaby saw the all-grown-up Nathan. Gaby wore a massive smile, her eyes lighting up with recognition and affection. Nathan just looked at me, curiosity etched on his young face.

“Who’s this?” he asked, and I smiled at the question. I wrapped my arm around Gaby’s shoulders, feeling a warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“This is Gaby, an old friend of mine and one of your babysitters from when you were younger. She’s going to stay with us for a while,” I said, and to my joy, Nathan cheerfully smiled. Discord, on the other hand, looked pretty annoyed, his fur bristling slightly.

“Hey Mia, you have a dog?” Gaby asked, pointing at Discord who wore a straw hat perched jauntily on his head.

“For the record, Mia does not own me and my name is Discord,” Discord said plainly, clearly unimpressed with Gaby. His tone was laced with irritation, and his tail flicked in mild annoyance.

Gaby’s reaction was exactly what I imagined—full-blown shock.

“Mia… Mia…” she stammered, her voice trembling.

“Yes…” I replied, feigning innocence.

“The dog just talked…” she said in horror. “That fucking dog just bloody spoke to me… And you’re looking at me as if this is normal… The dog is talking.” She yelled, shaking all the while as if she couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Truth be told, I was just having a bit of fun.

“No, really?” I said in mock shock, sarcasm dripping from my words. “That’s just Discord.”

“Mia, look at me, look into my eyes,” she said with all seriousness, and I did, looking into her ice-blue eyes. “The dog, that dog there…” she pointed at Discord sitting next to Nathan. “…just spoke to me… It didn’t bark, it didn’t growl, it spoke to me in our language.” She said, and I just continued to stare into her eyes.

“Yep, he did,” I said simply with a smile, which seemed to irritate Gaby as her eye twitched.

“Okay, listen to me closely… The fucking dog. Spoke to me. It said its name is Discord. It also said you don’t own the fucking mutt. Why can’t you see why this is fucked up? It’s a talking dog!” Ooo shit, angry blue eyes, but still, they were her blue eyes, so still gorgeous. “Are you even listening to me, Mia?” she deadpanned.

“Nope.”

“Ugh, I’m over it. I’m off to sleep,” she sighed. “Nathan, I’ll see you tomorrow, Kidda. We’ll hang out if you want?” Gaby said, walking past and ruffling his hair, making him giggle. But when she walked past Discord, they just stared at each other awkwardly. I forgot to mention, Gaby is a cat person; that’s all that needs to be said.

“Good night to you too then,” she murmured, not sure what else to say.

“Yeah, goodnight,” Discord said back. Before she stepped out of the room, she quickly turned her head as if she just remembered something.

“I almost forgot to tell you, I’ve got something for you tomorrow. It will make our lives a million times easier,” she smiled, and before I could reply, she walked up the stairs. I could briefly hear her muttering something about a ‘fucking mutt,’ and by the flicker of Discord’s ear, I guessed he heard it too. But judging by his face, he didn’t give a fuck. Looking back at Nathan, I could see he was tired as he rubbed his eyes. I smiled as I walked over and sat next to him.

“I think it’s your bedtime. Come on, up you go,” I said, patting his back as he gave no effort to resist sleep, following Gaby up the stairs. Then there were two.

The living room, now a mixture of laughter and lingering tension, felt strangely peaceful. The game on the TV had ended, leaving a quiet hum in the background. Discord, still perched with his straw hat, glanced at me with a mixture of curiosity and something else—perhaps a hint of understanding.

Me and Discord stayed up for a while, watching Pirates of the Caribbean. We were at the part where Jack Sparrow was robbing the bank and hilariously getting caught, but it didn’t even get a snicker from Discord. He looked like he was in his own world, his eyes glazed over as if he was lost in deep thought.

“What you thinking about, Discord? It’s kinda pissing me off that you’re not watching this bit; it’s the funniest bit.” Like a link being severed, Discord snapped out of his trance.

“Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about my predicament and the options I have,” he explained, his frown never leaving his face.

“What do you mean?” I asked, my attention caught.

“Your friend has made things more complicated if you agree to aid me.”

“How so?” I asked. He sighed, the weight of his thoughts evident.

“To answer that, I need to tell you my reasoning for being here. It’ll make more sense.” He said, looking at me for confirmation to continue. I nodded, and he went back into his trance.

“Once there was a land called Equestria that was ruled by two sisters. Princess Celestia, the embodiment of the sun, and Princess Luna, the embodiment of the moon. Together they led their ponies to peace and harmony. The earth, the peg-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa there… Ponies? Like, baby horses ponies? What wild west bullshit is that?” I asked, not grasping the concept of talking ponies. Then again, I’m talking to a fucking dog… Yeah, I think I get what Gaby was trying to say.

“Please don’t interrupt, and yeah, they are magical walking, talking ponies.”

“Oh, now they’re magical. Fuck me, what are you going to say next? Boris Johnson does brush his hair?” I chuckled, knowing full well the tramp doesn’t brush his hair.

“You finished?” Discord just stared back, clearly annoyed.

“Sorry, please continue,” I gestured with my hand.

“As I was saying, earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns united to become a great nation.”

‘Why does this sound like an American speaking about their country?’

“For centuries, the ponies had their fair share of challenges. The likes of Nightmare Moon, King Sombra, Queen Chrysalis, Lord Tirek, and even myself have been enemies of the ponies.”

‘Nightmare Moon? King Sombra? Queen… Uhh… Whatever she was called? Sounding like Dark Souls bosses.’

“Then, the day came where everything started to fall apart. Where the earth ponies rebelled against the high-class nobles and their princess. Even the legendary elements of honesty and laughter fought. The earth ponies struggled to make money to provide for their families, while unicorns and Pegasus ponies slowly pictured themselves as more superior to the earth ponies, causing earth ponies to be treated like dirt, hence being subjected to racial slurs. Then it really kicked off when earth ponies were forced to work longer hours for less value. It shattered the hearts and angered the minds of the earth ponies. Many ponies played a role in fostering this hate. In addition to the royalty, nobles, and military parties who planned and implemented policies aimed at persecuting the earth ponies of their rights, many 'ordinary' ponies—civil servants, doctors, lawyers, judges, soldiers, and railroad workers—played a role in this hatred.” Discord wanted to say more, I could see the struggle and how it pained him to relive the memories. I was grateful for the momentary pause; it was a lot to take in at once. A few questions came to mind, but the most frequent one was… why? It bugged me that their own rulers, government, military, and even their own kind would dislike these so-called earth ponies.

“Why? Why not the Pegasus? Why not the unicorns? Why did it have to be the earth ponies?” I asked, my foot tapping anxiously as I waited for his response. It felt like I was a kid listening to a scary story.

“Simple, it’s what they don’t have that makes them insignificant, inferior to the rest only because they don’t have wings nor a horn. Yet again, there have been a few theories around the slowly processing hate,” he said skeptically. “During the war against King Sombra—when times weren’t all sunshine and rainbows—earth ponies weren’t happy with the strategic approach in the final battle that would end it all. The princess commanded the platoons of earth ponies to fight on the frontlines while the unicorns played the role of medics and support. As for the Pegasi, they were the communicators and air support. They all sat back and let the earth ponies die in the mud, which infuriated the highly respected General Steel Shine. It was said that he was down to earth, climbing through the ranks with leadership and loyalty to the Princess, but if there was one thing he was deathly loyal to more than the princesses, it would have to be his comrades in arms. He trained every single earth pony that was drafted and knew all their names, knowing them enough to show them respect as a friend. So, the moment Steel Shine found out that the princess was using his friends to die like pigs, the two clashed and fell out after the battle. That day, Steel Shine lost over 50,000 friends, more than half he had. His fury equaled the extreme heat of the sun, and he vowed his revenge to end the sun monarchy,” he said, pausing once more. I was confused, not to say Steel Shine's anger wasn’t reasonable, but war is war. Death is almost guaranteed. I don’t get what he was expecting. A fucking picnic? Each and every earth pony had a role other than to fight… right? Unless they were drafted for the sole purpose to die. That’s… that’s fucked. Could a ruler be so cruel? Yet again, we’re not much better. Ain’t that right, Hitler? Suddenly, he continued as I was about to ask a question.

“Not even a week after the great battle, he was plotting to turn the earth ponies all around the land against the royalty that wrongly sent them to their deaths. Leaking information to the Daily Equestria News that spread quickly from cities to villages around Equestria. The effect was immediate. The false information provided by the nobles, generals, and even the princess herself sent the earth ponies into a frenzy. Protests turned into riots, crimes increased tremendously from theft to assault on the authorities. It was mayhem, and it was like music to the former General’s ears. Then, the earth ponies came together and formed a rebellious movement called The Earth’s Justice.” He finished strongly, looking back at me to see what my reaction was, and truthfully, I wasn’t surprised. I would be more surprised if the earth ponies didn’t at least protest. Riots, crime, and leaked information have happened before. Nothing I haven’t seen or heard before. Hell, I’ve been in a riot before—absolute chaos, but fun nonetheless. Managed to get my hands on an iPhone.

“So… then what?” I asked.

“Well, not much to say other than the royal guards slowly overcame the gang and the followers were sentenced. Steel Shine, though, was never seen again, and the history of the whole revolution was wiped from the new generation's history books, rewriting the time of the Winter War,” he explained, too vague in his wording. I didn’t like that. Doesn’t he know more than he’s letting on? Possibly, he bypassed that quickly.

“Right… I still don’t understand why this has to involve my mate?” I said suspiciously.

“Listen, I don’t have much time here. I’ve expended most of my magical power in this world, and I’m slowly losing power with every second I stay here. So I’m going to make this quick, and you have until tomorrow to decide your future and the fate of the earth ponies. Understood?” He said seriously, sending shivers down my spine at his odd behaviour. Where was the fun, chaotic puppy all of a sudden?

“What is it then?” I asked nervously, intertwining my fingers together.

“Will you aid me in erasing Celestia, the Princess of the Sun, and Luna, the Princess of the Moon, off the face of Equestria?”

/-/-/-/----\
----/-/-/-/

I lay between the mattresses that both Gaby and Nathan slept on, their soft snores the only thing breaking the silence of the room. But it wasn’t the noise that kept me awake. It was that question… that fucking question, swirling around in my head like a relentless tornado. It had obliterated any chance of sleep tonight. Worse, Discord hadn’t elaborated on anything. He hadn’t answered any of my questions—vital questions I needed to know before making such a monumental decision. He said he’d answer everything once we came to an agreement. That was killing me more than anything.

The ceiling above, with its peeling white paint, seemed to mirror the fragmentation of my thoughts. Each crack and flake represented a doubt or a fear. The uncertainty gnawed at me, making the darkness of the room feel oppressive, almost suffocating. How was I supposed to make a decision that could change everything? Could I trust Discord, a creature who appeared out of nowhere, to lead us to a better life? Or was this another trap, another illusion in a world already filled with too many broken promises?

“What do I do? My head is telling me to tell Discord to fuck off, but this is a chance to leave and start a new life, our second chance at life. But at what price? Helping a dog take down the ruler of pony kind… what would you do, big sister? God knows I need you right now,” I whispered, staring up at the peeling white ceiling, feeling more alone than ever. The memories of my sister flooded back. Her laughter, her strength. She always knew what to do. If she were here, she’d know how to handle this mess. But she wasn’t, and I had to figure this out on my own.

“What are you whispering about, Mia?” A soft voice said from beside me. I turned to see Gaby on her side, staring back at me. Even in the dark, her blue eyes shone, piercing through the gloom. Those blue eyes—if I stared at them long enough, I might just find the peace I was desperately seeking.

“Well, me and Discord had a little discussion before you went up to bed and… He offered me something that could make our lives easier, a second chance, but in return, I had to do a favor for him, one that could end really badly. What do I do?” I asked pleadingly. She looked at me for a few seconds, then finally spoke.

“Well, first things first, what the hell are you doing on the floor?” she asked, raising a brow. Why was that the first thing she said?

“Because you took my mattress?” I replied, sounding more like a question. She dramatically sighed, scooting over just a bit.

“Come on, hop in,” she said, smiling oddly, holding the quilt up for me and at the same time, exposing her slim, fit body clad only in black knickers and a bra. I really hoped she couldn’t see my burning face or feel the heat emanating from my cheeks. Bloody hell, girl. Revealing yourself like that? You’re practically asking to get fingered everywhere. Jesus.

Hesitating for a moment and just gaping, I finally moved towards the inviting sight. As soon as I got within the sheets, my body absorbed the warmth within, Gaby’s body heat. My body shivered in relief from the feeling as my muscles went stiff. I was surprised my cheeks weren’t glowing.

“Why don’t you take your PJs off? It’ll be cozier,” she whispered in my ear, and my heart skipped a beat.

“N-no thanks, I-I’m good with my pajamas on,” I stuttered, my mind racing.

“Come on, we’re both grown-up gals. You know I won’t do anything I’ll regret,” she smirked, moving a strand of my hair back behind my ear. I frowned.

“Nothing you’ll regret? You just stole a Range Rover worth more than 100k, and you think JC isn’t going to try and find us? He’s going to slit our throats in our sleep,” I whispered harshly.

“But I gave us an opportunity to be filthy rich. We can fly away. If we manage to sell the Rover, you, me, and Nathan can go wherever we want, whenever you want. Isn’t that what you wanted? To get away from England? Just say the word, and I’ll take you to Canada, I’ll take you to Spain, Portugal, Italy, New Zealand—we have the whole world to explore,” she said suggestively. The idea of going places I’d never even dreamed of made me grin in giddiness. I’ve always been on the move, but abroad? That was something else entirely.

But as I lay there, listening to the soft snores of Nathan, my thoughts wandered back to Discord’s proposition. Could I really trust him? Could I take the risk for a chance at a better life? The memories of my sister haunted me. She always knew how to handle things, how to make the tough decisions. What would she do in my place? Would she take the risk or play it safe?

The room felt colder, despite Gaby’s warmth next to me. The weight of the decision bore down on me, making it hard to breathe. I could hear the faint hum of the city outside, the distant sounds of cars and sirens, a reminder of the world I was so desperate to escape.

The ceiling above seemed to close in, the darkness pressing down on me. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the noise, the confusion, the fear. But it was no use. The question lingered, a shadow that refused to be ignored. What was I willing to do for a second chance? What price was I willing to pay?

As I lay there, the weight of the decision growing heavier, I felt Gaby’s hand gently touch my arm. Her touch was warm, grounding, a small anchor in the storm of my thoughts. “Mia, whatever you decide, we’ll face it together. You’re not alone,” she whispered softly.

Her words brought a small measure of comfort, but they didn’t solve the problem. The responsibility still rested on my shoulders. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, to find some clarity in the chaos.

In the end, I knew one thing for sure. I had to protect Nathan, no matter what. His safety, his future, was all that mattered. I would make the hard choices, take the risks, if it meant giving him a chance at a better life. Even if it meant aligning with a mysterious, magical dog.

Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to drift, hoping that sleep would bring some semblance of peace. But the unease lingered, a reminder that tomorrow would bring new challenges, new decisions. For now, I held onto the warmth of Gaby beside me, the promise of her support, and the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, we could find a way out of this mess.

“I think I’ve made my mind up,” I said in a hushed tone, feeling my eyes finally droop. Discord isn’t going to be happy. Little did we know that a certain puppy was listening in, and he certainly wasn’t happy.

~End Of Chapter~