Deal

Liam's eyes sluggishly opened in the dark.

As his senses returned, he found a familiar sensation upon his torso and his arms, dark furred hooves wrapped around his midsection. The darkness in the room did not lend much to sight, but he knew by smell and touch just who had wrapped herself around him. He felt a titillating buzz spread through his chest, then realized that another set of legs were wound up in his own. He gently ran his hand down the hoof draped over his stomach, eliciting a melodic hum from the one behind him. A pressure found itself atop his head as Luna set her muzzle in his hair, blowing a snort across his scalp.

"I could get used to waking up like this," he grumbled contentedly.

"Then we will have to make it habit," she murmured behind him.

Liam's eyes fell shut again.

"How'd you sleep?" he asked her.

"A brief, but wonderful nap, despite the small quarters."

He let out a low chuckle.

"Liam, you understand that prisoners within the dungeons of Canterlot are afforded better conditions, correct?"

"I get what you're saying, I just don't want to-"

She blew a raspberry on his head.

"Liam, as a leader, you must also consider yourself. To subject yourself to a tortuous bedchamber will impact your health," she warned.

His eyes opened just a crack and he turned back to get a look at her in his periphery. The movement was not unnoticed, and her lips were quickly against his cheek. She fell back against the pillow and he pushed his body further into her embrace.

"So?"

"I'll see what I can do," he acquiesced.

He fumbled about and turned on his side to face her. Despite the darkness of the room, faint traces of that radiant aura glowed about the edges of her form. The sight nearly frightened him, but he soon found her eyes looking into his own. Fear was replaced by contentment, a feeling of safety and warmth. He pushed closer to her, her muzzle dipping closer to his face, their noses just an inch apart. Her breath spilled over his mouth.

"Luna, about last night," he began, but could not find the words to finish it.

"Yes?" she whispered back.

Liam decided on action and carefully bridged the gap and pressed his lips tenderly against hers, his eyes closing. She pushed back into him, returning the kiss with a gentle sweetness. When they parted, a dumb smile broke out against his features, and a blush rushed into his cheeks. She smirked behind her own blush.

"Noted."

The glow that they shared and the intimate moment was promptly dashed away by a loud metallic ringing, cutting through the silence and the hushed breaths they made. Liam jolted and Luna twitched, her ears shooting down to block out as much of the ringing as possible, her face pulled into a grimace. The small, black, metal-framed alarm clock continued to screech it's horrible song as the bells atop were rung at a terrifying speed. Liam lunged for the contraption and miscalculated the swing of his hand, sending the device to the floor, where it thrashed about in its unholy performance. Liam shot up from the mattress and fell upon it like predator upon prey, deactivating the alarm with urgent fingers.

A small, blue light floated into the room and towards the ceiling, dimly illuminating the two as they looked upon the silent alarm clock. Liam's eyes went to hers with a clear apology within them.

"I see you remembered your alarm. Why must the thing make such infernal noises?" she complained.

Liam rotated on the floor, holding the device to his bare chest with a sheepish look.

"If it scares the hell out of me, then I'm up for sure. No chance of getting back in bed," he confessed.

"Not even while I lay here?" she said invitingly, stretching a wing open.

Liam watched the display and quickly fell red. He shook his head.

"Don't tempt me, you've got a moon to lower," he jabbed a finger at her, then set his alarm clock back on the nightstand.

"Of course."

Liam looked off into the distance as some vestiges of memories came to him. The habit and the routine of his day had yet to start, but given the hour, they had time.

"I need to stop into the office before the day goes into full swing, you want me to grab you a bite and meet you topside?"

"That would be lovely, thank you," Luna said quietly, a small and appreciative smile on her lips.

"What kind of bagels do you like?"

Luna let out a small, contemplative hum and tilted her head back, her mane spilling out over the pillow. She thought intensely on the subject, and with a definitive nod, had her response prepared.

"Two sesame seed bagels, one with creamed cheese and arugula-"

Liam made a strangled sound.

"What?" she asked.

"Creamed cheese?"

Her ears dipped back slightly.

"Is that not how it is said?"

Liam snickered and shook his head.

"No, but it's cute. It's cream cheese,"

Luna pouted.

"But it is creamed, is it not?"

Liam knew she was playing a game. He decided to play along.

"I guess so, but then string cheese would be stringed cheese, and cheese cake would be... well I guess that'd be caked cheese."

Luna pushed back the urge to smile, instead, forcing a larger pout.

"I still do not see your point," she said in mock-offense.

Liam reached into his closet for an outfit to wear.

"Creamed cheese and arugula on sesame?" he asked over his shoulder.

"Yes, and the other, creamed cheese and jam. Strawberry," she ordered.

Liam turned back with a grin.

"Big fan of creamed cheese, huh?"

Luna's composure broke and she stretched with a muted laugh.

"Hush!"

Liam weighed the belt buckle in his hand.

"When does Celestia want to talk?"

The light-hearted mood between them seemed to vanish as the subject was addressed.

"Mid-day."

Liam hummed and looked back to his alarm clock.

"Then we'll have time to see Discord."

Black rubber.

The soles of the combat boots trudged through the thicket and underbrush, the morning sun looming above as the figure strode through the woods. The gray uniform was pulled taut by various straps and harnesses, bags and cases dangling about with each step. The figure stood still in a clearing of brown and golden leaves, the white bark of beech trees stretching high into the air above, and it stopped, gas mask and helmet swiveling around as it scanned the environment.

A gloved hand slowly rose into the air. It turned back to look into the brush, then it gave a quick gesture with its hand. From the trees emerged two more figures, each in various states of disarray.

With frayed jet black hair pulled into a loose ponytail, silver glasses over blue eyes and a nervous look upon her face, the tanned young woman gracefully slid her lanky form near to the gray figure. Her lab-coat was torn in places, tatters and stains across the white fabric. Her baby-blue shirt beneath, while structurally intact, had a similar amount of grime and wear.

Behind her, a pale bald man wheezed and coughed, his eyes red and the sheen of his scalp intensified by slick sweat. Damp spots sat underneath the arms and neck of his button-up yellow tee, his rotund form shaking and heaving with deep breaths. He fixed the uniformed figure a look of disdain, then pulled his green eyes to the sky above, grimacing with a squint.

Their black pants caught upon twigs as they walked out into the clearing.

"Do you think anyone else made it out?" the woman asked.

"Are ya talking ta me, or him?" the figure asked in a deep Scottish baritone.

"You. Y-you have more experience with this kind of stuff, right?"

The Scotsman laughed behind his gas mask, a muffled gravel-like staccato.

"Not with this kinda shite, no. Normally, MTF don't survive when something like this happens."

That was not the answer she was looking for, and when he turned back, he could see as much on her face. The man pulled on his collar, venting his suit. The morning sun was hot, and he turned to see that the plump scientist behind him was fighting for his life against the heat. He would have found the sight funny, had he any idea where they were, or if civilization was anywhere to be found. He looked up to the oppressive sun above.

The brief silence felt awkward as they contemplated.

"At least, not often," he remarked, then pushed forward through the vegetation.

The woman set her eyes upon the man trailing behind her, shallow breaths and swampy gasps catching her attention.

"Victor, how are you feeling?"

The man growled and set his green eyes to the woods. A frown fell heavy on his face.

"Terrible, Anna. Zis is awful," he remarked in a tight German accent. His pitch was higher than normal, due to the circumstances, but had always maintained a higher note. It seemed to be on the edge of gurgling.

He looked at the Scotsman pushing ahead and raised his voice slightly.

"How do ve know zat ze air ve're breazing iz safe? Do you have any idea vhere ve are?"

He did not turn around to face Victor.

"Not a clue, ya whingy quack, but look on the bright side: yer not dead. Now be quiet."

Victor resolved to do otherwise.

"Easy for you to say, you have a gas mask, Gault."

Gault stopped and let out a sigh, the glass of his mask fogging up with each breath. He was cooking.

"Yer breathin', right?" he said in exasperation.

The German fixed him a glare as best he could with the sweat in his eyes.

"Do ya have allergies, Vic?" Gault asked, already knowing the answer.

"Ja, why?" he asked suspiciously.

"We're in the middle of a forest, ya fuckin' goon."

Gault continued walking. Victor almost stamped his foot in frustration. Anna stepped on a branch.

"Zat does not change anysing! For all we know, ze air is corrosive! You have got a gas mask on!"

"So I do, want ta see me take it off? Ya wan it?"

Gault stopped and reached for the straps of the gas mask, pulling the device free from his face. A slight breeze passed on his ruddy, pale skin, just an inch away from the sizzling silicone.

"No! No, you have to preserve my last words! I've already been contaminated! How vill I be remembered if ve all die?!"

Gault removed the mask and took in a deep breath, gray eyes shut in relief. He was free of the damn thing. He'd been wearing it for hours, and now he could breathe fresh air like a fish to water. He opened his eyes and unclasped his helmet, eliciting a gasp from Victor as he freed the cropped patch of ginger hair from its confines.

He smiled with crooked teeth.

"As an arse, in my last moments with ya. Best hope Oh-Eight-Two isnae here, or he'd kill yew fer sure," he said with a grin.

"Oh mein Gott... do not mention ze possibility, please," the German wheezed.

Gault continued walking forward, wiping sweat from his eyes with a gloved hand. He noticed immediately that the trees had suddenly vanished to his right and left, paths cutting through the forest. They were on a trail. Gault went rigid as he heard something in the distance. Neither Anna nor Victor heard it, and the unidentifiable sound disappeared suddenly. His eyes poured over the trees intently, looking for any threats. He heard them coming up behind him.

"Is there any chance we're still on Earth?" Anna asked, peering at a tree.

"Stop. Quiet," he hissed.

He jumped into cover behind a tree, both Anna and Victor fumbling for concealment around him, kicking about all sorts of leaves and making too much noise. Gault's teeth ground together and his heart jumped.

"Someone's up ahead. They've already heard ya, most likely," he whispered.

"Are zey friendly?"

Gault almost rolled his eyes.

"Native?" Anna asked, eyes wide.

"I donno."

"I hope they're human," she said with a creased brow.

Victor's lips smacked together and he dragged his hand across his forehead.

"Unlikely. Vhen Prospero malfunctioned, I got a look at ze-"

Whoever was coming, whatever was coming, it was coming closer. Gault pulled his service pistol from its holster and pulled back the slide a smidge, checking for the round he knew was chambered within. Brass glinted back at him from inside the Beretta.

"Shut the fuck up, they're coming this way."

"Schieße," Victor cursed silently.

They were drawing nearer, and it wasn't just one. The scrapings of their feet against the ground told Gault as much. He grimaced, tuning out the sound of his heart thrumming away in his chest, and launched himself off the tree with his arms locked. He spun out into the trail, pistol leveled at the approaching creatures.

"Oi! Stay where ya are!" he barked.

What he saw was definitely not human. Pairs and pairs of sharp talons sat on the dirt trail, rising into brown fur of different shades, composing bird-like creatures with feline hind-legs. They stood on four legs, cutting avian eyes staring forward in surprise. While the sight was unfamiliar, the armaments they adorned were not, bladed weapons and steel armor on their bodies. Thick avian wings stretched out, five pairs, plumes of feathers shifting in the wind.

One of them, the leader if Gault had to guess, let out a cawing noise and a huff. Its eyes narrowed, a talon reaching up and resting on the sword in its hilt.

"I don't think they speak English," Anna whispered.

The others adopted similar stances. This was getting worse.

"I forgot ze first contact manual!"

"Shut him the fuck up! Stay! Where! Yew! Are!" Gault shouted at the bird-like creatures.

He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and there, in the woods was another one. Then he saw another, and another behind that one. Their eyes were predatory, tails hanging low to the ground as they crept upon the ragged group. Victor and Anna hadn't heard them sneaking through the tree behind them. They spun around to find swords pointed towards them.

"Maybe they're friendly?"

A shrill cry, followed by a deep chirping, and they moved closer. They were everywhere. He didn't know how fast they could move, what kind of combat capabilities they had, if there was a variable unaccounted for. He cursed silently. What he wouldn't do for his submachinegun right then. The sweat on his brow trickled down into his eyes, a light sting. His vision was clouded by the perspiration.

They were surrounded. Gault glanced to Anna and Victor, their fearful eyes darting between the creeping trio approaching. He thought about asset denial. There would be no one to interrogate if they were all dead. All he had to do was turn his gun on them.

Anna's blue eyes locked on his. He clenched his jaw. He knelt down and placed his pistol in the leaves. He rose and put his hands in the air, praying that they understood the gesture.

"Arright, we surrender."

"If it isn't my favorite monkey!"

Discord's chaotic form shook with excitement as Liam entered the cell, his brows falling slightly. Discord's fanged grin grew as he spotted Luna following close behind, yellow eyes widening as he suppressed a giddy laugh. When they made eye contact, one of Discord's brows quirked and his exuberance morphed into mild distaste. The inner door closed behind them to keep everything contained. Luna immediately felt as though a pressure pushed within her horn. She attempted to use her magic, only to find that nothing came of it.

"Oh, on your guard now, are you? Is there a good cop, bad cop routine in the works?" he said.

"You have not changed, I see," Luna said with a frown.

"She must be the bad cop," Discord rolled his eyes.

Liam looked over the white toilet in the corner, then to the bed. The sheets were piled up into a clump at the edge of the bed and the pillow was on the other side of the white room. Small etches were made on the concrete wall beside the pillow.

"How'd you sleep?" Liam asked.

Discord slithered to them with a groan, putting his paw to his head in a dramatic flourish.

"Like an ursa minor in a cage. You must be the good cop, to be oh-so-concerned with a poor draconequus like myself," Discord batted his eyes and pulled his paw and talon into a tight lock on his chest.

"We just have some questions we'd like to ask you," Liam said cooly.

Discord suddenly recoiled and adopted a defensive posture.

"It wasn't me! It was the one-armed man!"

Liam blinked.

"Was that a... did you just reference The Mask?"

"The what now?"

"Never mind. Can you just listen for a second?"

Discord gave him a deadpan look, then found Luna staring at him with her own.

"Oh fine. If I had my magic, I'd grow five ears to listen. What is it?"

Liam bit on his cheek for a second. He gestured to the bed and waited for Discord to sit. The draconequus complied, then crossed his legs and gripped the frame. He noted in that brief silence that the room smelled oddly of mint.

"How did you become Discord?"

Discord's excitement returned.

"Oh, oh ho ho ho, someone knows something they shouldn't. What do you know already?"

Liam and Luna shared a look. Liam perched himself against the wall near the bed with a sigh.

"I know they aren't natural-born alicorns, I saw it in a dream," Liam answered.

"Hmm, what else?"

"Some kind of ritual. The details are hazy."

"I thought you'd never figure it out. My turn to ask a question," Discord purred.

Liam nodded to him.

"How long have you been sleeping with her?"

Liam went red immediately, heat on his ears and neck. Luna, for her part, managed to restrain the sudden urge to lunge at the trickster god. She fixed him a murderous glare.

"Discord-" she started.

The draconequus frowned.

"What? It's completely natural, Luna! Though, I will say, your snoring can move-"

His eyes widened and his mouth dipped open.

"That was rather rude of me wasn't it? I did not mean to offend," he said apologetically.

Luna knew better. This was a trap. She could see the beginnings of a devious smile forming at the corners of his mouth.

"I rescind my question and present another: how long have you been rutting her?" Discord waggled his brows.

Luna let out a squeak. Liam's eyes hardened and a sneer formed on his face.

"Just joking, boring as all you law-and-order types are! Ask your questions," Discord rolled his eyes.

"We have not rutted," Luna said firmly, thoroughly embarrassed. Liam dropped the friendly pretenses.

"Where did you come from?" he asked abruptly.

"When a mommy and a daddy love each other very much-"

"Come on," Liam said sharply.

"Oh, fine!" he groaned, "I was right there with them. Are you happy?"

"Not yet. What happened exactly?" Liam pressed.

Discord's joviality and mischievous nature ebbed away and his eyes found the floor, disdain on his features.

"Father tried very hard to keep that one a secret, and while I despise him to the very core of my heart, you should ask our sister. She's got his diary, you know," he finished with a glance at Luna.

"Diary?" Luna asked. This was news to her.

"Journal, diary, logbook, whatever," he waved his talon flippantly.

Luna suddenly welled up with emotion, her throat tightening.

"Discord, how long have you known?" she managed to push past her lips.

"If you're going to cry traitor, I'd recommend against it. I don't have any napkins."

He rubbed at his frumpy horn for a moment, watching the two. Something in Liam's posture changed as he looked at Luna, and there in his eyes, he found a familiar glimmer.

"You can see her like I do!" he shouted.

Both Liam and Luna jumped at the sudden sound. Discord launched himself from the bed and wrapped around Liam like a snake.

"That is quite novel! I didn't even have to get my mirror out! Fascinating!"

Luna quickly pulled him off with her hooves, an angry frown on her muzzle.

"Was it frightful?" he asked behind her grip, "I imagine it would be! What a treat! How can you see their auras?"

"My turn. Why do you look the same? Is it the cell?"

"Mm, I not suitably eldritch enough for you? Feeling a bit disappointed, are we?" he asked with a smirk.

"Relieved, honestly. Why do you look the same?" Liam continued.

Luna released Discord and he straightened up considerably. A somber look fell over his features, fanged tooth digging into his lower lip. He gave Liam a hollow look.

"Because I was the mistake. Father almost succeeded too, the bastard. Thankfully, you can always count on little ol' me to cause a little mischief," he said with resentful sarcasm. Then, the look in his eyes seemed to intensify, then abruptly brightened again.

"You almost made me forget, their auras! How do you see them?"

Liam took in a sharp breath.

"I don't know. Celestia thinks it's because I died and came back," he forced out.

Discord gasped.

"You died?! Oh, you're just brimming with secrets, aren't you? You don't even know half of them!" he laughed.

Liam's head dipped slightly and he looked to the floor; the maddened chimera was right. There was too much about his situation he was unaware of, and he had yet to finally piece together how he had gotten there in the first place. His research into his revival was also fruitless, in-part due to his hesitance to test his mortality. At that thought, his eyes landed on Luna as she approached Discord.

"Why did you not tell us of this sooner?" Luna asked.

Discord immediately seemed to deflate, then implode, a bitter growl pouring from his throat.

"Don't you think I didn't want to," he said venomously.

Luna stayed silent and Discord rose from the mattress. His features softened as his sister recoiled and retreated into herself. His shoulders slumped and he let out a sigh, reaching towards Luna. Liam felt a brief bout of panic before he realized that Discord was comforting her, his paw resting on her shoulder.

"You don't even remember a time before, do you?" he whispered with wounded resignation.

"I do not. Why would you not tell us?" she looked at him with open eyes.

"Would you have believed me?"

She was silent and dipped her head.

"That's what I thought," Discord broke away and sat on the mattress.

"Celestia never told you, and for good reason, too. Not that she has many of those. Father cursed us, Luna. These aren't even our names. I have chaos to cope with all this, but you two..." he sighed and rubbed his temple.

"You two are walking emotional catastrophes. You got a little too sad one time and nearly plunged the world into eternal darkness. How do you think you would have reacted if I told you about dear old dad?"

Luna remained silent, stewing in guilt and remorse, contemplating his words.

"I suppose we should be thankful no one has stripped Celly of her cakes, otherwise we'd all be burnt to a crisp. How would you like sunbathing forever?"

His half-hearted joke did not lighten anyone's mood.

"Anyways..." he scratched the back of his neck.

Liam's head suddenly jumped up, drawing both of their eyes. His finger and his thumb stroked at his stubbly chin.

"You three aren't biologically related. Parents don't often rename their kids, unless there's some cultural thing I don't know about," Liam speculated.

"Correct. We are family in shackles only. But, I've said all I will on the subject. Until I am released from my cell, I will yield no further answers," Discord declared.

"Give me some more information, please," Liam rested himself on his knees.

"Why should I?"

"Do me a solid, Discord."

A hint of joviality returned to the trickster's face.

"This relationship is strictly professional. How would the other inmates feel if they knew the warden was so close to me?"

"How about a trade? I'll tell you what I know after you return and tell me what you've found out from our completely transparent and totally honest sister."

Luna thought about jumping in to Celestia's defense, to dissuade Liam from making a bargain with the chaos god, but her own questions burned ever greater in her mind. Her sister demanded trust, but offered none in return. She demanded honesty, but hid away so much from her. The familiar sting of betrayal scrubbed at her brain, and when her eyes landed upon Liam's, she decided for him.

"Deal," she declared.

Discord shot a questioning look to Liam, a schemers smile on his face.

"Deal," he answered, hand outstretched to Discord.

Author's Note

I am absolutely drowning in dialogue at the moment, so we're going to cut off the chapter. There's a lot of juicy story waiting in the next chapter, but hitting you guys with a 8,000 word or 10,000 word chapter felt a little over-the-top. Writing in brief bursts also doesn't help with releases, so we'll just call it here.

A few notes:

1. We're nearing the end of Act 2. Things are going to get pretty hectic, and we have a lot of plot threads that need to be addressed and wrapped up. I hope to do a good job of it, but we'll see. Don't want to turn this into a Game of Thrones Season Eight-type situation.
2. I'm going to resolve to take a week long break in-between releases up until Act 3 starts, mostly because I have some stuff in my personal life that I want to sort out. The next chapter will be exempt from that rule, releasing whenever it is finished. Given my problem with taking a break from things in the past, we'll see if I actually adhere to that.
3. I've started a group that you can find here, and the blogpost announcing the group can be found here. I don't know that many of you will take interest in writing or contributing to it, but I thought I'd open the doors up anyway.

That's that.

If you notice errors, have comments or just generally want to share how you're feeling about the story, be sure to leave your thoughts below!

Catch you all for the next one,
Caspian