Good Girl
Dew drops fell from the leaves of the large oak tree outside of Ponyville Hospital’s Mental Wing. The rain from the night before had left the air cool and clean, and the many children and ponies outside of the makeshift asylum were looking forward to a wonderful, funfilled day.
Not so for those inside.
As the sun peaked through her tiny window, Screw Loose woke with a yawn. She stood up, smiling and stretched as far as she could.
Which wasn’t far considering her straitjacket...
Honestly, she had no idea why they made her wear one. If they were worried about her hurting somepony, they should have given her a muzzle.
The ponies that ran the place were obviously crazy.
Of course, everypony seemed to be crazy.
Her first masters, for instance. They named her Screw Loose of all things. Screw Loose! That’s a pony name! She was obviously a German shepherd. Who names a dog after a pony? It’s not like ponies are named after dogs, are they? You don’t see Rover baking cupcakes at Sugarcube Corner, you don’t see Lassie selling flowers, you don’t see Spike delivering mail...
Well...the dragon was an exception...
Ooh! Let’s see who’s outside today!
Screw Loose scurried over to the window, wagging her tail happily as she stood on her hind legs, barking at passers by.
Bark bark! Hey, Skip! Bark bark! Hey, Corky!
The two passing dalmatians ignored her.
Screw Loose let a whimper escape her throat as her ears flattened to her head.
They always ignored her...
Screw, what are you doing to yourself? You’re barking at other dogs. Come on, we both know the truth here.
Screw ignored the voice in her head. It was a liar. Telling her things like she wasn’t a dog, how stupid.
Her door opened and in stepped one of her new masters. She didn’t like this one that much, he smelled weird.
“Good morning, Miss Loose,” her master said, “how are you today?”
He also thought she was a pony,
How weird.
Screw answered his question with a bark.
You’re supposed to talk to Doctor Syringe. You’re supposed to say, “I’m doing fine.”
“Quite,” the master answered. “Now, I know you don’t like this part of your day, but it’s time for you to take your pills.”
Screw let loose a growl.
They’ll help us get better, Screw. They’ll fix us.
They taste funny.
“Come now, Miss Loose, no need to get feisty.”
She wasn’t being feisty. He knew just as well as she did that she wouldn’t bite. “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” rule number one of the dog’s handbook.
Or it would be, if dogs could read.
So Screw Loose quietly took the pills, only mumbling slightly as her master fed her them.
His name is Doctor Syringe—
And he’s one of my masters.
They're not your masters! They’re medical staff! You’re crazy, Screw! We’re both crazy! You brought me here, you stupid dog!
So you admit I’m a dog?
“Good girl,” the doctor said, before catching himself, “er, I mean, well done, Miss Loose. I’ll go get some breakfast for you.”
Yes! More pony food. That’s some good stuff. Not like the dry kibble she was used to.
You’ve never had a piece of kibble in your life.
Screw barked happily. Oh, this was going to be a wondrous day.
✦✦✦✦✦
He shouldn’t even be here.
He should just go home and get on with his life.
He didn’t need to come back here.
He sighed.
But he had to hope...
The silver-grey pegasus with the black, wind swept mane took a few more tentative steps towards the hospital. The cloud cutie mark with a silver outline looked painfully grim today.
He knew what was coming.
Tears, pain, torment, self loathing.
It would all be there, and he would take it.
He would take it like he had yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that, and the month before that...
He shook his head, and stepped inside.
One of the nurses, a blue mare with a mint mane, Nurse Sweetheart smiled at him. “Good morning, Mr. Lining. Here to see Miss Loose?”
The pegasus, Silver Lining, nodded and desperately tried to smile at the nurse who had been so kind and so encouraging over the last few months.
“You are the best part of her day,” she said smiling, trying to lift his spirits.
Silver Lining nodded before heading into the mental ward.
The long hallway to her room was white, trimmed with green to keep the patients calm. But it may as well have gone straight through a graveyard for the solemn atmosphere that seemed to radiate off of every wall. This was where the insane spent their lives, slowly but surely dying at the hands of time. The ever-present smell of sterilized linoleum felt overpowering, before a quick snort from the pegasus cleared his nose for a brief second, letting him adjust.
A scream echoed from down the hall, and the security guard, two nurses and a doctor armed with a syringe disappeared into one of the rooms.
Silver ignored them before coming up to a door he had become more than familiar with. Room Three Forty-Five.
He hesitated at the door.
He wasn't ready for this.
He wasn't ready to see her act like a dog. He wasn't ready to see her white unkempt mane, which she normally had so well-groomed. He couldn't look at that straight jacket, that tugged and bound her tighter than any prison wall ever would. He could never prepare for her to treat him like some sort of stranger. His mind screamed when the engagement hoofband would mock him. He could feel his heart break when she would look up with those expectant eyes, hoping that maybe she’d go on a walk today. His hoof shook at the thought of going inside.
He wasn't ready for the mental image of the disappointment on her face if he didn’t.
Taking a deep breath, he went inside.
✦✦✦✦✦
Screw Loose wagged her tail as her favorite master came in through the door.
She couldn’t remember why he was her favorite, but she knew that he was.
She barked happily at him.
He frowned.
Oh no. Did I do something wrong? Did I make him mad? Did I make him sad?
Her ears flattened against her head and she gave a low whimper.
“No, don’t do that, Screw,” her master said, “you’re ok. Come here.”
She slowly approached him, her ears still flat, and her head hung low, looking up at him with her gaze.
“You’re not in trouble, Screw, just come.”
She came closer, her head still hung low, but her ears had come up.
“Come here, Screw,” Silver said again.
She got closer, sitting right in front of him, her tail wagging, happy to see him, but her head low, as though she were awaiting punishment.
Silver simply stood there.
✦✦✦✦✦
There she sat, looking like a dog that had left a mess on the carpet and was about to be scolded.
There she was, her mane and tail a mess, her straitjacket tight around her legs, giving her barely enough room to walk and move, her golden engagement band glinting in the sunlight that streamed through her small window.
The band he had given her all those nights ago at the carnival.
She had looked so pretty that night, with her mane straightened and her coat pristine, wearing that white dress bordered with lace.
Instead, she was here. Here, where she was surrounded by padded walls. Instead of her dress, she only had a straitjacket, designed to keep her from running like she had when she almost escaped a few months ago.
She whimpered, like a dog, looking up at him with sad eyes as her tailed stilled.
Where was the pony he had fallen in love with?
He lifted a hoof and ran it over her mane, smoothing it out, “It’s okay, Screw, you’re okay...”
But she wasn’t okay. She was crazy.
✦✦✦✦✦
The pet she had received raised the German shepherd’s spirits immensely. It meant that things were okay. Ponies could lie with their words, but not their touch, not even masters.
He’s not our master, you stupid dog, don’t you recognize him?
He's master?
No! No you moronic thing! He’s Silver Lining. He’s our fiance.
But that’s silly. Ponies don’t get married to dogs.
We’re not a dog!
“How have you been, Screw?” the master asked.
She answered with a bark.
No! Stop it! Talk to him! Silver! Silver, can you hear me!?
“That’s nice,” he said through a sad smile.
Silver! Silver, it’s me! Can you hear me!?
✦✦✦✦✦
The doctors weren’t sure what it was that had done this to her. Their best guess was that it was something akin to Multiple Personality Disorder, where the dominant personality was a dog.
Screw Loose, meanwhile, the Screw Loose he knew and loved, was forced into the background, watching.
They had told him a few things then.
The first thing they told him was that there were a few treatments they could provide. There were pills, shots, IVs, Advanced Medical Magic all the way up to electroshock therapy. They were all experimental.
The IV’s were pointless.
The magic failed.
Electroshock seemed too cruel.
Screw had always hated shots, so they had picked the pills, and they worked.
Sometimes.
Sometimes it would strengthen the pony Screw, and she would ping-pong between the two of them. Other times, it would strengthen the dog and Screw Loose would never show.
The other thing they told him was that there was no cure.
There was no cure and there would not be one in his lifetime.
There were simply not enough cases occurring to get a proper treatment. Her only hope was if she recovered on her own.
But ponies can’t really recover from mental illnesses.
“Your parents were worried about you,” Silver said. “They talk about you all the time.”
Screw panted as she looked up at him with those eyes. Those eyes that were glazed over with madness.
He was talking to her, he knew. In one of her few moments of lucidity she had told him she could hear him. Maybe that’s why he kept coming back. Because he knew it would kill her if she thought he had given up on her.
He smirked.
This was going to kill him.
“You’re a good marefriend, Screw.”
The dog licked him.
He froze, and his grin fell away.
What was he doing?
He was talking to a dog. He was talking to a stupid dog trapped in the body of the mare he loved.
But she was still a dog.
No, no that’s not right, Silver. You know better than that. You’ve seen her when she’s in her right mind. You’ve seen her fight herself for dominance. You’ve seen her win a number of times.
Only for the dog to come back.
Only for her to lose.
Only for her to slip back into insanity.
But she was still there...
✦✦✦✦✦
Silver! Silver, please! Please tell me you can hear me! Please don’t leave yet! Please!
Shut up, Voice in My Head, I’m trying to listen to master.
Silver! Silver!
Hey, I missed what he said!
Silver! Help me!
Hey, I think he said I was a good dog. I’m going to lick him for that.
Don’t you dare.
Too late.
Why you little...
Aw...now he’s sad...I better lick him again.
Don’t touch him! Don’t you dare touch him “You stupid Dog!”
✦✦✦✦✦
“You stupid Dog!” Screw Loose yelled at the top of her lungs, the sudden outburst startling the pegasus. “Leave us alone! Just leave me alone!” she said before she broke down into tears.
She sat, crying, sobbing as her eyes became lucid. Her tears fell in a constant stream as a frustrated, and broken mare took the place of the German Shepherd that had inhabited the body a second ago.
Silver nuzzled her, trying to comfort her in this impossible situation.
“I’m so sorry, Silver. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.”
“Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t,” he said, hugging her tightly.
She grabbed him under the hug, straining against the straps that kept her from lifting her legs over her head. She cried into his chest, holding on to him in desperation. “Don’t leave me. Please, don’t leave me.”
Tears ran down her face, staining Silver’s chest and her straitjacket.
“I won’t leave you, Screw. I won’t.”
Sobs racked her body as she shook from fright. Her forelegs were gripped tight around him, as though he were a ghost that would fly away at any moment.
She held him like that for what seemed like hours, crying and sobbing and holding onto him with everything she had.
Silver felt a blush of shame creep up on his cheeks.
He had almost given up on her once. He had almost abandoned her, leaving her at the mercy of the dog that tormented her and the doctors that only made her situation more dire.
He had almost forgotten Screw Loose.
The real Screw Loose.
“I’m sorry, Screw,” Silver whispered. “I’m sorry.”
She knew what he was going to say. The night he had proposed he had promised her that he would protect from anything.
But he couldn’t protect her from this.
“I’m sorry, Silver,” she answered back.
She had promised she would always be there for him.
Instead she was trapped in this small, padded room.
They sat there, just holding each other, because they knew it was all they could do. It was all they could do until Silver’s job or the dog tore them away from each other.
“I love you, Screw,” he told her.
“Don’t leave me,” she whimpered.
“I won’t,” Silver answered, a tear threatening to fall from his eye. “I can’t.”
✦✦✦✦✦
Lunch time had come and gone.
So had Screw.
The Dog was sitting in front of him now, her head cocked to one side as she tried to understand the words Silver was saying.
As she sat there, the pegasus wondered at her.
How was it that the pony was ugly when the dog was running her body, but so beautiful when she was in her right mind?
The dog made Screw’s blue coat look dingy, it made her calm eyes look wild, and it made her whole being less...
But when it was Screw Loose...
Her mane looked dirty, but not dingy, something a simple bath could fix. It made her eyes look frightened, not frenzied. It made her seem broken...but she was still strong enough to rise up and stand.
He loved her deeply, but he did not love the dog...
Maybe it was just his mind playing tricks on him. Maybe it was just his heart pulling strings, maybe he shouldn’t come back tomorrow.
Shut up, he mentally spat at himself for even thinking that.
He would be back.
He would always come back.
He had to come back for Screw Loose.
Her eyes calmed for a moment, and she approached him, gripping him in another hug. “Tell me about Cloudsdale,” she asked.
“It’s a nice place,” Silver began, returning the hug.
“What does it look like?”
She would do this every now and then; ask about the world outside her small four walls, it was her only way of knowing...
“You would like it there,” Silver answered. “Houses and shops made from clouds, carefully hoof-carved so that they will stand for a lifetime. Pillars that reach up to empty space, reminding us pegasi that there is no ceiling, no limit on our lives. The streets are soft and warm, and everything seems to glow white. Everywhere you look there’s nothing but blue sky. The sun always shines brightly, and the ground beneath us looks like a massive carpet, stretching to the very ends of the horizon...”
“It sounds beautiful,” Screw Loose said, holding him tight. “I wish I could see it.”
Silver nodded. “Maybe one day.”
Maybe one day. That sentence was wishful thinking at best.
She wasn’t leaving here. She’d never leave here. Not until she was cured and that just wasn’t going to happen.
They were just lying to themselves, and they both knew it.
Maybe one day they’d be able to look at the truth. The crushing truth that they weren’t getting out of this.
Maybe one day...
“Silver,” Screw Loose began, “Silver, can you still see the good in any situation?”
Silver gave her a small smile. It was his special talent, to see the bright side of things. To find his namesake in any cloud.
“Yes, yes, Screw, I can.” His smile faded.
“What’s the good thing about this?”
Silver was quiet for a moment.
He had asked himself this question so many times. What was the good side? What was the silver lining? What possibly good outcome could ever come from this?
Would this be a life lesson for one or both of them?
A lesson on what? That life sucks?
Were their lives being enriched?
If by enriched you mean I’m working myself to the bone trying to support her and she is slowly wasting away in a jail cell.
Would this bring them closer together?
It already had, but even that was killing them.
He just couldn't tell her that. He didn’t want to tell her that this situation had no silver lining, that this was literally rock bottom and there was nothing anyone could do to save them.
His mouth moved, but nothing came out. His throat didn’t make a sound as he struggled against logic and facts.
He wanted to tell her she’d be okay.
He wanted to tell her they’d both get out of here.
Instead, all he said was “I don’t know, Screw...I don’t know.”
She nodded, tears in her eyes. “I was afraid of that.”
They didn’t say anything else, but merely sat in silence, holding each other for as long as they could.
✦✦✦✦✦
“I have to go now, Screw,” Silver said, standing in front of the door.
She barked.
He couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t even look at her anymore. All he could do was stare at the door and beg for some sort of miracle.
There won’t be one.
He took a deep breath before letting it out in a ragged sigh.
Be strong, Silver. Be strong. Don’t let her see you cry.
He couldn’t afford to cry. He had to be the stable one. He had to be the rock she could stand on while everything else was a roaring sea of confusion and stress. He had to be unfazeable. He had to be—
“Silver?”
He turned, hoping to see the pony lucid one last time.
But she was already gone, the stupid eyes of the dog stared back at him as she panted.
He sighed again, before turning to the door.
A tear broke through, falling to the ground as it broke against the padded floor.
He had to speak to the dog now. The thing that was separating them. The stupid, clueless creature that was keeping him from his love. “Stay,” he said, as authoritative as he could. “Sit.”
The dog sat.
He chanced one more look back as he stepped through the door.
Only the dog stared back at him.
“Good girl...”
Miracles.
The hospital mental ward. It was a place few went willingly. The only individuals that really wanted to enter the sterilized interior were relatives of those inside. Friends of those that were lost in their own mental prisons would come by every now and then.
Today, however, they had a very special guest.
A certain draconequus.
He was currently masquerading as a ceiling tile, moving from corner to corner, and ceiling light to ceiling light. There weren't too many ponies that were permanent residents at the mental ward in Ponyville, most were there for simple overnight stays and evalutations. Of those that had longer stays, well it was either at their own voalition, or those of their relatives.
There was one case, however, that had piqued the draconequus' interest.
Contrary to what many would say, he was far from a heartless individual, as his interactions with Fluttershy showed to all the world. For the most part, the events of that day were left to churn in his mind. Friends. Such an interesting concept.
The little pegasus had awakened memories and a part of his heart that had long since been sealed away, turned to stone like the statue he used to be.
Now now, Discord. Dwell on your affections later. She'll be back at the castle, as always. For now, find that pony.
He sighed. His own thoughts could be so boring sometimes! But, his internal goal-oriented self had a point.
He was here, because a challenge had presented itself.
Of course, he knew Celestia had been goading him on. Why else would she mention something that “Even you cannot solve?”
If that was not a challenge, Discord didn't know what was. Whatever her intentions were, he didn't care anymore. No, he wanted to prove her wrong.
Say it.
No! I refuse.
Say it.
Fine. He gagged. And maybe make somepony happy.
See? That wasn't so hard. Wouldn't Fluttershy be proud!
…Touche.
Discord snorted, or rather, the ceiling tile version of him did, a puff of steam emanating from the otherwise ordinary object.
It hovered dangerously close to smoke detector.
Oh, that would be so delightful!
It would also delay what we’re doing here.
He gave a soft growl before dispersing the cloud of vapor.
A whole new type of chaos had been shown to him by Fluttershy, anyway. True, there was a different kind of satisfaction by causing long-legged bunnies to chase ponies hither-and-thither, but it was a start.
He would still wreak chaos, of course, but with certain stipulations. Celestia called it “using your powers for good.” Fluttershy put it more simply (and softly) as “Just be nice.”
However it was phrased, Discord knew what they meant, and intended to take full liberty of such statements. He had never imagined that chaos could be manipulated for a more... “nice” purpose.
Of course, he hadn't often tried.
This trip was to make his friends happy, and satisfy his lust for disorder.
And, it would make who else happy?
I don't know who you're talking about.
Liar.
Nope.
Liiiiar.
Am I really having a conversation with myself?
Yes. Yes you are. Now say it. Who else would be happy?
….Celestia.
Good boy. Now go find the pony.
Today, there would be chaos.
A few doors down, a bark sounded, echoing through the long hallways.
A dog, here?
No. You dunce. That's our pony.
Ah. Excellent.
A few ceiling tile movements later, and the draconequus was looking down into the plain room, where a straitjacket clad mare dwelt.
There was a split second where Discord actually took pleasure in the scene. A pony acting like it should not—that was chaos, plain and simple!
And yet...
The eyes on the ceiling tile narrowed with displeasure. There was more. Another mind was trapped inside this body. Some individual in this room was in utter agony.
How we have changed. You would have loved to see this scene repeated across Equestria but a short time ago. Now, it actually causes you pain.
Shut it. It is chaos, but it is not the kind I cause now!
Pish. You are growing soft.
I am not! I am no murder or torturer, although some may disagree. I delight in randomness, not...suffering!
And yet you do. You did. For centuries you laughed at ponies like this.
There was a price to being brilliant. You could lose an argument with yourself. Discord vowed to bring this up to Celestia later, because the dichotomy was causing him no small sense of dissatisfaction in his heart. He wanted to like seeing this pony utterly insane, but why was such a sight now displeasing?
Once again, his mind gave the answer.
Because of him.
Discord looked down, and saw another pony, embracing the occupant of the cell.
“Hey there.”
In response, the straitjacket clad mare barked, and Discord could see the pain in the other pony's eyes.
“Having a rough day, Screw Loose?”
Screw Loose. That was the name of the crazy pony. How fitting.
Before the draconequus could even be a bit amused at the pun-ness of the entire ordeal, the other pony began to speak. The visitor, a stallion with a silver coat and a fatigued demeanor, sat down and looked at Screw Loose.
“The doctors still have nothing. They say maybe upping the dosage would have an affect...but I don't know.”
Screw, or the pony-dog that was in her body, simply whimpered.
“S-sorry Screw...I'm so so sorry.”
“Go away! You stupid dog, let me talk to him!”
The ceiling tile actually jumped a few inches in fright as the mare's loud voice rang off the cell walls, her eyes becoming clear as she looked to the visitor.
“Silver...”
The two ponies broke down in tears, holding each other with a tight embrace.
That was when it smacked Discord with the force of a hammer.
They were in love.
The draconequus's heart seized up as he realized the situation. Even as Screw began to bark, Silver's voice echoed around the cell.
“I won't forget about you. I'm not giving up on you.”
He couldn't resist. A brief probing of the stallion's mind was all it took.
Engaged!? To her?!
Oh dear.
✦✦✦✦✦
Celestia was abruptly yanked from her throne room, from where she had been reading the newest set of laws to go into effect, and found herself standing on a large pink cloud, which seemed to stick to her hooves.
“Discord! What have I told you about—” her voice stopped as she saw the mismatched creature floating, staring at his claws.
“Discord?”
The draconequus looked up to her, a faint smile on his features.
“Ah. Hello 'Tia. Sorry to yank you away, but this is urgent.”
Very few times in his long life had Discord ever been truly serious, and he had always wanted to keep it that way. Yet this moment was another addition to that short list.
Mainly, because it concerned a part of Discord's life that, until recently, had been a knife in his heart.
“I visited the pony. The one you said couldn't be healed.”
Celestia sat down on the cotton candy cloud, giving the mismatched creature one hundred percent of her attention.
This was new....
“The spells failed because the doctors are naïve. They are dealing with two creatures in one body. Two separate minds. There is no spell to take the mind of a pony and shove it into another body, or in this case, the mind of a dog.” Discord's voice was unusually flat, lacking even a smidgen of peppiness so characteristic to him.
“Can you help her?” Celestia couldn't keep the eagerness from her tone. The situation had been brought to her attention by no small number of inhabitants in Ponyville. When Twilight Sparkle's magic failed to solve a problem, rarely did the librarian rest until something was done about it.
“Yes. No small task, mind you. I will need your...help. But yes. I can do something about it.”
Celestia didn't buy it.
“Then why are you so sullen? I know seeing happy ponies makes you gag—”
“This is different!” he roared. For a second, the draconequus' face was wreathed in a vicious snarl, one not seen by a pony in over a thousand years.
Any normal pony, anyway…
“How is it different?” she asked. "Tell me."
✦✦✦✦✦
“Tia, she's still engaged.”
Celestia failed to understand, and could only blink as she pondered.
“I know...” The alicorn struggled to keep her tone level and not too annoyed. Was he really having issues with the lovey-dovey aspect of life again?
The draconequus got up and began to pace the cloud, his thoughtful state another oddity presenting itself.
“You don't get it. Her fiance loves her, even like that. I...I don't understand it.”
Oh.
Knowing he was not the most affectionate creature to exist, Celestia opted for a simple hoof prod to his chest. “You don't have to.”
The sudden touch seemed to snap Discord out of his pensive state, because he quickly floated skyward, a mischievous smile edging back onto his features.
“Too true 'Tia. I think that is enough thinking for today. As for the mare, let me know when I can be scheduled to help. Until then, there are some ponies in need of confectionary attacks.”
Seeing Celestia's disapproving glare, Discord held up his paws in defense, an innocent smile on his face.
“They're camping, 'Tia,” he said, pointing to the forest below them, which she was sure was not there a moment ago. “S'mores supplies will rain on them from above, nothing harmful.”
He then disappeared with a 'pop', re-materializing above a clearing, where a large group of school fillies and colts were gathered.
“Well…” Celestia began, her eyes somewhere between narrowing and rolling. “I suppose a slight scare wouldn't hurt.”
Author's Note
This Chapter is brought to you by Radbunny.
Silver Lining steeled himself as he walked to the hospital. The usual emotion surfaced; regret, pain, anger, sorrow...longing.
Yeah...the gang was all here...
Even though the stress was taking its toll, he couldn't abandon her.
His Screw Loose.
She was still the mare he loved, still the mare that said 'yes.'
She was still trapped in there.
It had been a few days since he had last seen her. A few days since a moment of lucidity had surfaced, and Screw had given him a hug.
She was still there.
Silver didn't bother wiping away the tear that ran down his cheek. No point, because more would probably surface as he walked to the door. He'd wait until he was about to see her, he had to be strong for her.
He nodded to the secretary as he entered the mental ward wing, their customary greeting.
Instead of her usual nod back, the nurse simply looked at him with wide eyes, her mouth open slightly. She seemed to shake from her daze, pointing to the administrator's office to the right of the desk with a hoof.
“Umm. They need to talk to you. It's about Screw Loose.”
A bit of bile rose up to Silver's mouth as he walked to the door. If it was more doctors telling him the treatments still wouldn't work, he fully intended to walk out. He didn't need more bad news. Maybe it was something simple, like Screw refusing to take her medications again.
The door opened, and Silver already had a piece of his mind prepared for the doctors waiting inside to destroy his hopes.
“Ah, Silver Lining. Just the pony were were looking for.”
He froze. The voice that spoke his name was unmistakable. Every Equestrian knew it, and revered the speaker, the same that was standing in front of him,
“P-Princess Celestia?”
✦✦✦✦✦
The Princess bowed her head in greeting, a soft smile on her features to ease the nerves of the stallion in front of her. “Indeed. I've brought someone who might be able to help your loved one.”
A clawed hand tapped Silver's shoulder, and as the stallion turned around, he swore his heart would give out.
Discord.
The draconequus promptly clothed himself in a tuxedo, bowing dramatically to the stunned pony.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Celestia informed me of your predicament. I've seen her...And I believe I can help.”
Poor Silver Lining could only stare, his gaze flickering from the God of Chaos to the Princess of the Sun.
Was this real?
✦✦✦✦✦
Discord managed to suppress another instinct to fill the pony's mouth full of cotton candy, internally chuckling at the shocked stallion. Why was he so serious when dealing with this pony?
You know why. What if it was her in Screw Loose's place?
The draconequus' eyes narrowed at that thought. It was an evil thought, but it certainly got his mind back to the present.
Exactly. Now go and help.
“Now then, my little pony, let us go to your fiance.”
As they walked down to the padded room, that single thought continued to flood Discord's mind.
What if it was her, in this poor pony's place? What would you do to help her?
Discord stopped outside the cell as Celestia conversed with Silver Lining, their voices muffled and dulled to his ears.
Chaos was in his blood. It was his purpose in this world. For millennia, he had gone about expressing that in the wrong way. Creating pain, suffering, and agony. True, it was chaos.
But these strange, mortal, and rather amusing ponies had shown him another way.
“Silver Lining, I will need you to stand back. Celestia, at my side please.”
The Princess stepped up beside the draconequus, more than a little surprised at his clipped and serious mannerisms.
With a flick of his wrist, Discord opened the cell door, revealing the pony inside. As expected, Screw Loose looked at the new visitors and barked happily, tail flicking back and forth.
Discord stepped into the cell, looking around the bland room briefly.
“I think, my little pony, you have been in this room long enough.”
A broken mind was normal for this pony. Now, it was time for him to introduce chaos into this mare's life.
His claws began to glow with power, encasing the entire cell with a golden glow. Sparks flew from the floor to connect with his body, the chaotic being bringing his massive power to focus.
If Fluttershy needed my help, what would I do?
The draconequus aimed his energy at the prone mare, the pony levitating off the floor, head swiveling to look at the sparkling lights.
What if it wasn't Fluttershy. What if it was her? Would I help?
The snarl returned, but only manifested itself as a narrowing of his brow. He could see the two being's inside of Screw's mind. Two different colors began to form outside of the pony's body, both a red and teal sphere hovering in front of the mare. A few tendrils from the red began to creep over, and Discord was quick to slap them back.
Now the difficult part.
For the same reason the spells had failed, he would need Celestia's help. The consciousness of the dog had to go somewhere. That required a new body, a new vessel, created without a mind.
“Tia! Your help, would be rather appreciated now!”
Celestia's magic joined with his, and the draconequus let a grin slide onto his features. The orbs began to solidify, their respective colors occasionally sparking over to one another.
He couldn't solve this? Oh how wrong she was.
The red sphere shifted, the dog mind seeking to merge back to familiar territory.
Oh, no you don't! Bad dog!
Discord shoved a clawed hand between the two spheres, pressure actually forcing his grip back slightly.
Oh. So you're going to be difficult? Very well.
The draconequus drew upon more power, funneling it into the red orb. It began to slowly shift in shape and size, resisting at every twist and turn.
If this stallion can love a mare as chaotic as this...
Discord forced the two colors apart even further, feeling a drain on his power that rivaled that of battling the elements. The red orb began to conform even more, a few distinguishing features taking shape. The head and legs of an animal.
Perhaps, one can love a creature even such as me.
✦✦✦✦✦
Celestia's eyes widened with shock as the cell lit up with power. The walls began to melt, raw energy sparking from the ball of yellow magical essence in front of her. Silver lining could only stand by in shock at the sight. Somewhere in that orb, was a draconequus, and the mare he loved.
✦✦✦✦✦
The dog was almost formed now, despite the incredible resistance against such. Now for the final step.
Discord maneuvered the two colors even further apart, pushing the teal orb towards the mare's body, which still floated in the air.
First, the dog.
Like a cooling piece of glass, color and texture swept across the dog-shaped mass of energy. Sparks of red energy flew every which direction, but the image of a German Shepherd began to appear. Slowly but surely, the dog mind took form, coalescing into an actual being.
Now for you, my dear.
Discord reached his arm back, as though preparing to pitch a game. He slammed his paw against the teal orb, forcing it against the mare's forehead. Beams of light emanated from the contact point, but slowly, the teal light began to diffuse into the pony's body.
Then it stopped.
The energy around his body flickered momentarily, the chaotic being blinked in shock.
Fine!
Now he was angry.
Encasing Silver Lining in a protective shield, he brought the stunned stallion into the magical orb, setting him next to Screw Loose.
“You stubborn pony! I am trying to help you! He is right here!”
Ever so slowly, the orb resumed its path, the light beginning to fade.
Almost...there...
A final flash of color and light, blinding all within range. Even Celestia had to avoid her gaze for a moment. As the light faded, a few individuals became visible. The first was a large dog happily bounding around Celestia, then sitting at her side obediently.
Discord looked at the two ponies sitting on the remains of the floor, a fair part of his heart seizing up. What if he had failed?
“S-silver?”
The stallion broke down. Tears streamed his face as he leaned forwards, touching the mare's cheek with a shaking hoof.
“Screw Loose?”
Now both of the ponies were crying, and Discord did them both a favor and vaporized the strait-jacket, leaving both free to wrap their arms around each other. The two ponies were sobbing, tears of joy running down their cheeks.
“Is this real? Please. Silver. Is this real? It's so quiet...”
The stallion could only nod, holding the mare he loved close. It was only a second, but for a moment, Silver Lining looked up, his gaze meeting Discord's. His mouth moved, mouthing the words he didn't trust his voice to capture.
Thank you.
Even with the room in utter disrepair, the draconequus couldn't help but lean against a destroyed wall and fold his arms, smirking to himself as he nodded back to the stallion. He flinched slightly as Celestia put her hoof on his arm briefly, but the caring gaze on her face made up for any discomfort.
Even he couldn't help? Oh, how wrong you were Celestia. You forgot one thing. You forgot what Fluttershy taught me. You forgot what you taught me.
Love, is chaos.
The dog barked, sitting next to the large, powerful creature that got rid of the voice in her head.
Discord looked down at it, and patted its head.
"Good Girl."
Author's Note
Chapter brought to you by Radbunny.
