Celestia stepped off the chariot and onto the ground, her entourage of guards quickly following after her. Behind the alicorn, her chariot pullers quickly departed, shedding their armor and either collapsing or grabbing the offered water. Celestia wanted to thank them, and perhaps summon a more suitable drink, but she had larger concerns.
With her jaw set, the ruler of Equestria stepped quickly down the street, her gaze fixed on the hospital. All who crossed her path swiftly stepped out of the way, alerted by the heavy clank of the royal guard’s armor. No commands needed to be uttered, the residents knew from just a look that something terrible had happened. For this, Celestia was thankful, as she didn't know what she would say to the confused and terrified ponies she crossed.
As she walked, Celestia occasionally glimpsed one of the denizens of Ponyville out of the corner of her eye. They stood on the street corner, looking lost, and gazing down at a patch of red that stained the sidewalk. Nearby, a guard of the non-royal variety stood, his expression drawn and his eyes filled with pity.
Pushing the unfortunate mare from her mind, Celestia walked up to the hospital, entering after her guard opened the door for her. Once inside, Celestia looked around to find that the waiting room was a mess of controlled chaos, at the center of which sat Discord. The draconequus was chewing on handfuls of nails that he shoveled out of a bag in great handfuls.
The second her gaze fell on Discord, the chaos god leaped up and grabbed Celestia by the shoulders.
“Oh thank whatever gods you ponies believe in. You have to help Fluttershy, and I guess the others too,” Discord demanded.
“Hold on,” Celestia interrupted, gently pushing the male away. “First you have to tell me what happened.”
“I don't know!” Discord exclaimed. “Can you believe it? I don't have any idea what happened!”
Celestia bit back her immediate response and formulated one not quite so accusatory or insulting. “Start at the beginning,” Celestia softly offered.
“Right,” Discord sighed, sinking to the floor. “So Fluttershy and I were going on a hike and we passed by this spot that just felt weird. Like, not in a good way.”
“And?” Celestia pressed.
“I wanted to go around, but Fluttershy saw some pony lying on the ground nearby so she ran through the spot without a second thought,” Discord continued, the draconequus pacing with increasing speed. “After stepping through it she just… dropped.”
“And this other pony?” Celestia asked.
“They were just lying there, next to some screaming pony, and some weirdo that seemed totally calm,” Discord replied. “So I gathered them all up and teleported us all here.”
Celestia glanced over to the doctor who had been about to brief the alicorn who nodded.
“That is correct,” stated the middle-aged mare wearing a lab coat. “Since then we’ve done our best to treat their injuries, but it has been… difficult.”
“Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!” Discord demanded, shoving Celestia and the doctor down the hall.
“Where is the first closest patient?” Celestia asked after pushing Discord off of her, allowing the alicorn to walk using her own four hooves.
“Right this way your majesty,” exclaimed the doctor.
Discord pouted, but it was a nervous expression, one dark and filled with worry. Celestia tried not to think about what may worry a former self-declared god.
Pushing their way into the first room, Celestia immediately noticed that it had two beds divided by a thin white sheet that was currently pushed back. The closest pony lay in one such bed, their eyes open, but their body completely inert. The other stood in the corner near the window, chewing on a small tree, seemingly oblivious to everything around them.
“This is uh Cheese Wheel, your highness. Or at least we think it is,” offered the doctor, who gestured to the closest individual.
Celestia turned and glanced down at the bed, noting that the pony within it was relatively young, but still an adult. Their fur was a light yellow, their short mane a dark orange, and their eyes a faint blue color. They had a demure frame, and a more masculine face that marked them as a member of the less fair sex.
“What do you mean you think?” Celestia asked.
“Well, you see..” The doctor hummed. “Maybe it's easier if you just saw for yourself.”
“Saw what-”
“This!” Discord interrupted, lifting the sheet to reveal that the pony had no cutie mark to speak of.
“I’m assuming he had a cutie mark prior to today?” Celestia asked.
“Yes. We recorded him as having a rather predictable mark of a cheese wheel being pushed up a hill,” offered the doctor.
“Strange,” Celestia murmured. “What else can you tell me of his condition?”
“Not much, unfortunately,” admitted the doctor. “He's physically fine. No injuries to speak of, unless you count some grass stains.”
“He's fine, now can we please check on Fluttershy,” whined Discord.
“We’ll get there soon enough, Discord,” Chided Celestia. “Please continue doctor.”
“Well, that's just it. He's physically fine, and all scans have brought back a clean bill of health. But…” the doctor glanced down at the puddle of drool that had collected near the pony’s open mouth.
“Allow me,” Celestia offered.
Stepping forward, Celestia lit her horn and conjured a spell, one that took the form of a soft golden glow encompassing the seemingly injured pony. The faint light remained for several seconds, though when it finally dissipated, it left Celestia with a confused look on her face.
“That is indeed strange,” Celestia murmured. “He is physically fine but I’m not detecting any awareness at all. It's like the spell thinks our waylaid stallion is little more than a pile of meat.”
“He can't be helped, now come on Fluttershy needs your help,” Discord interrupted.
“Was Fluttershy in worse shape last you saw her?” Celestia inquired.
Discord winced, and recoiled. “Well no…”
“Then we continued,” Celestia declared. “Discord, can you enter his mind and find out what went wrong?”
“I mean, probably,” Discord remarked with a shrug.
“Then could you try? Perhaps this will help us to figure out what happened to Fluttershy,” Celestia exclaimed.
Discord sighed. “Alright fine, but step back. It's been a while since I used this one.”
Celestia did just that, standing near the door while Discord raised his arms above his head and began to glow. Then, just as Celestia was certain the draconequus was going to cast a real spell, he instead stepped forward onto a diving board. One which he used to catapult himself at the pony lying in the bed, his hands clasped together in a swan dive.
Whatever Celestia was expecting was not what happened, as Discord bounced off Cheese Wheel’s forehead. Landing with a clatter on the ground, the draconequus lay there, eyeballs rolling comically inside of his skull. Celestia hauled the male back to his mismatched limbs and waited for the discombobulation to fade.
When it did, Discord looked down at the pony on the bed in confusion, a look of bewilderment on his face.
“What did you find?” Celestia inquired.
“Nothing,” Discord replied with a shrug. “He doesn't have a mind.”
“What do you mean?” Celestia pressed.
“Just that. There’s nothing there,” Discord replied.
Celestia frowned. “That can't be possible. Even the most brutal of mind magic can't destroy a pony’s mind.”
“I’m telling you Celestia it was like trying to jump into the head of a stone,” Discord retorted, gesturing wildly at the drooling pony. “There's nothing in there.”
“I think perhaps… we should move on,” Celestia cautiously offered. “Perhaps we may discover some clue that may be able to aid us in helping the poor fellow.”
“Right, yeah,” Discord muttered.
Celestia took a moment to study the draconequs’ body language, noting that for the first time the chaos god looked unnerved. Older than seemingly every known creature in existence, Discord had seen more than anyone. Yet here he was, looking utterly confused, an expression which made Celestia begin to grow nervous.
“This is Cheese Wheel’s daughter, Wagon Wheel,” offered the doctor, gesturing to the foal chewing on the decorative tree’s leaves. “And as you can see she seems fine, but-”
“Has something very wrong with her,” Discord muttered.
“Yes,” admitted the doctor. “She doesn't seem to react to most stimuli, nor does she recognize anyone.”
“May I?” Celestia offered.
The doctor took a step back and gestured to the distracted foal.
Celestia tentatively trotted forward until the filly’s ears pivoted and she turned to face the alicorn. Then Celestia knelt down and used the same smile she had employed every time she wanted to calm a foal. Only the expression didn't seem to have the same effect, as the filly backed up until her butt hit the wall at which point a shrill neigh flew from her lips.
“My name is princess Celestia,” Celestia offered. “And I’m not here to hurt you.”
The filly neighed loudly and pushed herself backward until she had the plant between herself and the alicorn. At which point she seemed to relax, though she never took her eyes off the solar princess. Who glanced over her shoulder at Discord and the doctor briefly before turning back to the filly in front of her.
“Can you tell us what happened to your dad?” Celestia inquired.
The filly neighed and pawed at the air, as if trying to push Celestia away from her.
“Discord, can you-”
“On it,” Discord replied.
This time, the draconequus didn't make a show of it, and simply reached forward, touching a claw against the filly’s head. The young pony flinched backward and tried to bite the approaching paw, but was too slow. Contact was made, and the filly’s eyes suddenly went wide, remaining that way until Discord pulled away a moment later. When he did, the former god of chaos seemed even more confused, as he stumbled back a step.
“What, what is it?” Celestia asked.
“Theres… nothing there,” Discord muttered.
“But shes moving around, she sees us,” Celestia remarked, gesturing to the confused child that was now hiding behind the plant once more.
“I know, but shes like… an animal and not the smart ones but like… a fish,” Discord murmured.
“What do you mean?” Celestia demanded.
“Look at her flank,” whispered one of the guards.
Celestia looked down to find that it was indeed blank, prompting the alicorn to turn to the doctor.
Before Celestia had a chance to speak the lab coated pony nodded grimly.
“She had one. I remember her cute ceneria only a week ago. Real early bloomer. Has a talent for repairs,” the doctor looked down and frowned. “Had a talent for repairs.”
“So what, shes… an animal now?” Celestia pressed.
Discord nodded grimly. “I don't know how, but its like her intelligence is just… gone.”
“I’m not accusing you but, could you have done something like this?” Celestia asked.
Rather then be offended, Discord just looked… distant, the draconequus shaking his head. “I can change people, twist them, but I can't get rid of something thats already there. Thats the absence of chaos. Not really my thing ya know,” Discord replied.
“What about the other one?” Celestia asked, standing fully and facing the doctor. “Discord mentioned that there was another.”
A sudden scream followed by a thump and a sharp cry interrupted the conversation.
The doctor went whiter then the coat they wore and began running to the door. “The sedative must have worn off already. It should have lasted all day. Nurse, nurse!”
Celestia followed after him a moment later, accompanied by her somewhat shaken guards and an increasingly nervous Discord. Together they entered into the next hospital room and was greated with the sight of absolute bedlam. The patient was screaming and thrashing, somehow having managed to tear the protective straps off the bed.
On the floor nearby lay a wounded doctor, his nose broken and blood gushing from his face. A guard was swift to pull him out of harms way while Celestia approached the raving pony. The other mare’s face was marred by scratches, fresh wounds and bulging veins but there was no doubt as to her identity.
“Bouncing Lillies,” Celestia murmured.
The pony before her had a bright yellow mane and tail, soft off white fur, and eyes the color of a fall sunset. She would have been beautiful at one point, with a well styled hair cut, and perfectly manicured fur, but now that was gone. Her muscles bulged obscenely and a look of ravenous madness had taken over her previously serene face. Her eyes bulged, spit flew from her open mouth, and she strained in a desperate urge to commit violence upon anyone in reach.
“Sedate her, quickly!” shouted the doctor.
“Wait,” interrupted Celestia. “Guards, hold her down!”
The two royal guards didn't hesitate, leaping forward and grappling with the mad mare. It was a surprisingly even struggle, the screaming pony throwing one off only for his partner to subdue her with a spell. One that was added onto by the second royal guard, the glowing wave of crimson force being supplemented by off blue chains. Though she continued to thrash, spit, and strain as hard as she could, her efforts were in vain as she could barely move an inch.
“Discord, can you force her to see reason?” Celestia asked.
“My expertise is driving ponies mad, not making them sane!” Discord shouted.
“Can't you just do that in reverse?” Celestia pressed.
“I mean… I can try but its gonna be hard so make it quick!” Discord replied.
The draconequus quickly pushed the bed away from the wall, and took position near the end. His hands hovered over either side of the screaming pony’s head, a finger and a claw pressing against her temples. She continued to try and escape, but could do little but spit in a vain attempt at harming the draconequus.
Who began to concentrate, his eyes closing as his hands began to glow a faint mixture of purple, and gold. Celestia looked on in nervous anticipation, a million different spells flying through her mind. She resisted the urge to cast any of them however, and merely watched as Discord worked his own magic.
A sudden gasp cut through the tension like the stroke of a blade, and immediately all eyes were on Bouncing Lillies. The mare’s body had gone slack, and the look of utter madness had faded to little more then a burning anxiety.
“Quick, I can't hold this for long!” Discord shouted.
“Right,” Celestia cleared her throat. “Bouncing Lillies, can you tell us what happened to you?”
The mare looked at the alicorn for a moment before staring up at the ceiling emptily.
“I was… nothing,” muttered Bouncing Lillies. “Do you know what its like to remember what nothing feels like? No, of course you don't. The mind cannot comprehend it, cannot fathom what true oblivion is like. It wasn't meant to.”
“Oblivion, what are you talking about? What happened in that field?” Celestia pressed.
“That spot, it was like… a gateway, to nothing,” Bouncing Lillies muttered, wincing slightly and jerking to one side. “For an eternity and a second, I was one with the void, one with nothing.”
“You… died?” Celestia whispered.
“I didn't just die, I saw what comes after, I glimpsed the infinite darkness that awaits us at the end of all things,” Bouncing Lillies remarked. “And somehow, I came back, and I remembered what it was like to not exist. How does that even work? How do I remember what it was like?”
“I don't know but I promise I’ll help you. Just hold on,” Celestia implored.
“Hold on?” Bouncing Lillies laughed, though the sound came out more like a series of short barks. “You can't help me. I’ve brought back a peice of it. I’ve brought back a peice of nothing and it detests us… it detests existing at all.”
“Princess, look,” whispered the doctor.
Celestia looked down to the pony’s flank, which depicted a bouquet of Lillies falling, though it was besmirched. Long black tentacles had sprung up along the edges, and were eating their way towards the center, leaving nothing behind.
“It will embrace us all eventually,” Bouncing Lillies whispered. “We will all die, we will all rot, and we will all become one with the great dark.”
Discord fell suddenly, his chest heaving and his magic turning into a small flock of butterflies that flew out the open window. The moment this happened, the mare’s madness returned and she released an unearthly wail that shook all who heard it to their very core. It was a death rattle, scream of rage, and the last anquished bellow of a pony who knew they were about to die.
It was joined a moment later by something even more powerful, one that rattled the walls as the teeth of everyone in earshot. It wasn't coming from Bouncing Lillies however, it was coming from the room over and where the bound mare went quiet, the other continued. The wail continued without end, making communication nearly impossible, and deafening those not strong enough to resist it.
Celestia pointed from her guards, to Bouncing Lilly before gesturing for Discord to follow her as she left. The draconequus did so, stumbling after the alicorn as she sprinted around the corner, stopping right before she ran into a nurse. The mare fell to the floor, coughing up black bile and pawing weakly in Celestia’s direction, desperation in her eyes.
A healing spell leaped to mind, but before it could be used, the nurse’s eyes bulged and shot from her skull. Twin geysers of pitch spewed out into the air and hit the ground with an angry sputter. Before Celestia could do anything but awkwardly stumble backwards, the nurse had begun to deflate. There was seemingly nothing inside of her but black tar, tar which was rapidly spreading across the floor in a tidal wave of angry filth. Struggling to think of what to do, Celestia watched as eventually nothing was left of the pony save for her empty skin.
Discord conjured an enormous mop and brushed it all aside, allowing Celestia to quickly push her way into the room. Where she was once more greeted by the sight of absolute chaos, only this time the patient was someone she knew well. Not only that, but the pegasus was floating above the bed, a torrent of black sludge cascading down her body.
“This should not be!” Fluttershy shouted in the voice of darkness, of death, and of nothing. “I should not be!”
Each word knocked back everything around her, pummelling the bed against the ground until there was nothing left. The end table shattered, and its splinters were battered into paste. Even Celestia struggled to stay standing, with Discord stumbling back with each utterance.
“We have to destroy it!” Celestia shouted.
“But-”
“Thats not Fluttershy! Come on!” Celestia bellowed.
The alicorn didn't wait to see if her words had the affect she desired them to have, and conjured a blast of magic. The beam of white hot energy cut through the air like a razor sharp dagger, slicing cleanly through Fluttershy’s neck. This didn't seem to harm the possessed pony, who continued to float there, only now a torrent of black liquid could be seen flowing beneath her skin.
Each blast only further drove home the fact that there were no organs, or muscles within the pony. Only an endless tide of black bile that surged and twisted, creating a dark fascimile of what had once been a pony. Now whatever she had become was utterly unaffected by the barrage of attacks launched against it.
Fire sputtered, and lightning died upon coming into contact with the black bile. Every element did nothing, nor force, nor trasmutation, nothing had any affect at all.
“Discord, help me!” Celestia demanded.
“You can't hurt it,” Discord muttered. “Its not a thing, its nothing.”
“What?” Celestia shouted back.
“But chaos, well… I abhor a vacuum,” Discord exclaimed, turning to Celestia. “Goodbye, Celestia.”
“Wait, no!” Celestia cried, reaching for the draconequus.
But it was too late, he had already broken into a sprint and was leaping towards the blackened mass in the shape of a pegasus. The alicorn tried to stop him, to conjure a spell but by the time the magic coalesced, Discord had vanished into the torrent of black. For a moment nothing happened, then all at once, the creature’s body pulsed with a brilliant inner glow of pure white light.
The sheer brightnes caused Celestia to stumble back and shield her eyes for the first time in her life. When she looked back, the creature was smiling, its blackened body having become a radiant white color. Forced to look away once more, Celestia closed her eyes tightly yet still she didn't avoid the coming flash entirely.
Spots danced in front of her vision, and she blinked rapidly, willing away the strange phenomenon. Once it was gone, and she was able to see clearly again, Celestia found that she was alone. Fluttershy, or the entity that had taken over her had disappeared. Leaving only the husk of the nurse of the ground, and black stains everywhere though the sludge itself was gone.
“What… what happened?” Celestia muttered.
Author's Note
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