The Broken Stone

I do not require riddles to gain what I lost...

My plan was formulated, and all was set. I began to walk slowly towards the imposing castle in which Celestia lived, slightly marveling at the swoops and curves of the design. I still believed a gothic style of building would have looked better.

I kept my slow pace until I reached the main doors. There were two Royal Guards keeping watch with complete vigilance at the sides of the door. I raised a claw. The guard on the left crumpled over, his eyes rolling back into his head, while the guard on the right made a short, raspy gasp for air as his windpipe was crushed.

I approached the doors ran a finger down its length. The gold that lined the frame melted as I ran my finger over it, bringing a sharp, metallic tint to the air. I pressed my claw onto the door and watched in anticipation as a ripple shimmered through the air, followed immediately by a loud BANG.

I smiled. The door was completely blown off it's hinges, and was now a mangled piece of metal on the floor. I looked into the large entryway and was greeted with a bolt of magic straight to the chest. I was blasted into the ground. I gave a grunt as I collided with the hard floor.

"Discord!" Celestia said, anger filling her voice.

I struggled to pick myself up. I managed to get to my feet and was immediately blasted back to the ground.

"I will not allow you to escape!"

I raised my paw and a beam of gold shot from it. It hit Celestia right in the chest, and she flew back across the entryway. I looked at the large windows that were behind Celestia as she stood; I raised my paw and blasted each of them to small fragments.

I then refocused on Celestia. She was still pulling herself up, and mark of gold streaked across her chest. I approached her as she struggled. I slid my paw's index finger down her horn, and a gray shock wave passed from my paw into her horn. Her horn then became a dull, monotonous gray.

"No!" Celestia yelled, beginning to run away.

I said not a word as I roped her in with another golden strand, once again leaving a gold streak across her body. I pulled her in close to me.

"Oh,no, no, no," I whispered into her ear. "There is no running. I am here to get my revenge, and you can't run. I shall not let you."

Celestia squirmed under my grip. I ran a claw down her spine, and she shivered. Her entire body began to become gray as I drained her magic straight from her body. Celestia looked desprately at me, her eyes full of panic and terror. I gave a chuckle; her pain was amusing to me.

I felt something clamp down on my paw. I yelled, looking down to find Celestia sinking her teeth into my flesh, drawing blood, which began running down my paw; it dripped to the floor. I let go of her in the sudden pain, and she sprinted off into the depths of the castle.

"You cannot hide, my sweet!" I called.

I began to walk to the back of the castle, knowing exactly where she'd be. I walked through the tapestries, the mirrors, and the glass, admiring the beauty I was about to destroy. I arrived at my destination, Celestia's royal chambers. I punched the door with my clawed fist, and I heard a lock click.

I threw open the doors, looking around the room. I cast a Sight spell to allow sight through the dark and solid objects, and began to look into the darkness, though not stepping in. I looked around and saw a figure huddled in the corner. A grin came over my face. It was time for sweet, sweet revenge.

I stepped into the black room through the large double doors made of steel and gold. I had uncast the Sight spell, and could hardly see a foot in front of my face, but I knew where Celestia was, so I didn't need sight.

"Hello!" I called out in a sing-song voice.

I moved further into the blackness, my eyes slowly adjusting to the gloom.

"I know you're here!" I called. "You know why I'm here!"

I heard a shuffle of hooves nearby, but decided to ignore it, to extend the hunt, to toy with my prey before I finally pounced. I went to what looked like a nightstand in the dark and shoved it over; it hit the ground with a loud CRASH.

"A-ha!" I yelled, in perfect imitation of something - or somepony - being found.

There was a whimper from the corner of the room, but I still ignored it. This was simply too much fun. I went to a dark shape in the corner. I didn't know what it was, but I shoved it over anyway with a sharp, "A-ha!"

A scream came from the corner of the room. I sighed. She had just spoiled the fun. I decided to end it, because nopony could have heard that and ignored it. I went over to the corner and flicked the candles on with a paw click. I looked and saw Celestia cowering in the corner like a filly, her entire body a nasty shade of gray mixed with white.

I lunged foward and threw my claw onto her face. My claws dug into her face, and upon looking into her eyes, I saw them to be filled with tears, terror, and pain.

"Hello, Celestia," I said, my eyes sparkling.

She said something muffled from beneath my hand. I smirked. Another shockwave of gray ran down my paw into Celestia. I looked down at her tail and backlegs. A layer of stone was beginning to creep up her body, gradually picking up speed as it progressed. She began to squirm and struggled in my grasp.

"There is no escape," I said triumphantly. "Now you will feel as I did when you trapped me in stone for a thousand years, and when your pawns froze me, too.

I squeezed my claws harder as my rage and fury rushed out. They dug into her face, tearing her skin, drawing blood. The stone finally enveloped her whole body, and I released her. I guffawed wickedly.

"Sweet dreams, Celestia," I said victoriously, walking away.

I left the room, leaving behind me a statue, a reminder that I was going to win.