I Am Not a Monster

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

--Abraham Lincoln

I Am Not a Monster!

"Commander Nightshade." Luna said to the remaining night guard in front of her. "Have the imposter interrogated and sent to a dungeon cell. Do not disturb me, unless it is of the utmost importance."

"Yes, princess." He said, turning to the other three guards. "You heard the lady, take him to the basement."

"And have a medical team dispatched to Chaotic's chambers to retrieve Noble Cause."

"Yes, princess."

Luna returned to her chambers, where Chaotic was sitting, still frightened from the events that occurred not fifteen minutes ago. She laid down, and comforted him. After several minutes, the doors were unexpectedly thrown open, and in came Celestia, looking worried.

"What happened?!" She half-yelled, "I was told that a stallion dressed like a guard tried to foalnap Chaotic."

"Relax, Tia, he is fine." Luna said, as Chaotic bounced up. "As for the imposter, he is being interrogated as we speak."

Celestia (albeit roughly) picked Chaotic up with her magic, and pulled him to her chest, into a bone-crushing hug. She held him there, glad he wasn't hurt. After a short while, Celestia placed the colt on the floor, and rubbed her temples.

"I just don't understand. How did some random stallion get past the palace security, and get his hooves on a full set of armor? It just doesn't make sense." Celestia said, thinking about what happened. "I hope the palace security is actually stopping anypony from entering parts of the castle."

Chaotic said nothing, and watched his mother and aunt converse. He knew not to get involved with "big pony" problems. After several minutes, Celestia finally stopped, and turned to her threatened son. She motioned him to follow, and he quickly got to his hooves (and paw), and rushed over.

"Don't worry, Chaotic, you're safe. I won't let anypony harm you."

After lowering the sun and putting Chaotic to bed (leaving two trusted honor guards outside the door), Celestia silently left the castle, and flew towards the statue garden, specifically to a certain draconequus. She landed next to the statue, and stared at it. An uneasy feeling washed over her, and she took a step closer to Discord.

"Hey." She said, casually. "We haven't spoken like this in a long time. Except, well... you know."

Celestia fell to her haunches, and leaned against the statue's base.

"Chaotic used his magic for the first time. He's getting quite good with it." She sighed. "Do you remember the first time we met? We were so young. And stupid. I remember when mother first saw you. She would say that 'a princess does not belong around his kind.' She was very protective of me. The first time we kissed, she ran over, and teleported me away from you. Oh, did she yell at me that night. She forbid me from seeing you. That didn't stop me. When she, well, left, there was nopony to stop us from being together."

Tears began to flow out of her eyes, as she was broken from her trance by the sound of hoofsteps. Celestia looked up, and noticed Luna approaching.

"Having a little talk with your special somepony, sister?" She asked, jokingly. "Maybe one day he will abandon his ways. If not for you, but for Chaotic. The colt needs his father there, with how young he is."

"I'll figure something out, Luna. I'm just worried that if we do calm him down, he'll just be a bad influence to Chaotic. Namely the pranks."

"You must admit, sister, that some of them were quite funny."

"Yeah, because its real funny when your makeup stains your coat because of a chocolate milk tsunami."

"Perhaps we could request assistance from Twilight Sparkle and her friends. They could certainly have him choose harmony over chaos. Especially little Fluttershy."

"Perhaps, Luna. Perhaps. The only thing giving me hope was how much Chaotic loved his father. He seemed angry when he saw the statue for the first time, but he misses Discord. I could see it. He wants his father back."

"When Discord returns, we will help correct his ways. He was overwhelmed by the chaos magic. He didn't invite it."

"Luna, I-"

"It's alright, Sister. We shall find out what we will do tomorrow. As for the imposter, I will interrogate him tonight. It will be interesting to see what he says."

"I'm coming with you, Luna."

"Of course, Tia. Would there be any other way?"

----

"Right this way, princesses." A guard said, motioning to the cells.

He led them down the thin corridor, past several (empty) prison cells. When they stopped, they were in front of the imposter's cell. The brown stallion was facing the wall, away from the princesses. Luna cleared her throat, and the stallion was alerted to their presence. Celestia felt her anger boil within her, knowing that the stallion in front of her tried to foalnap her son. He tried to foalnap the son of one of the most important ponies in the country.

"Why?" Celestia asked. Well, loudly demanded. "Why did you try to take my son?!"

The stallion remained silent, and smirked, trying to make the princess angrier.

"Answer me!" She demanded once again. The stallion continued to remain silent.

"Tia, maybe you should-"

"No. I want an answer."

"We want change." He finally said.*

"Minnotaurian, hmm? Grypho-Minnotauria has no ground against Equestria." Celestia said, "Nor did they support Discord's... Time... In charge. What made you want to bring him back?"

"You think that you know everything. You might be the goddess of the Sun, but you are nothing but the Chaos Lord's shadow."

"Tia, he's toying with you." Luna said, noticing her sister's scowl.

"Luna," Celestia whispered, "Try putting him to sleep using a spell, then me. I know you can link dreams together."

"Tia, it's dangerous. Are you sure?"

"I..." Celestia paused. "Yes. Do it."

"Oh, alright."

Luna's horn flared, which she pointed towards the prisoner. His head was surrounded by a blue-tinted aura, in which he quickly fell asleep.

"Are you sure about this, Tia? If he wakes up when you're in his dream, your mind will be stuck inside until he dreams again."

"Luna, do it. I'm willing to take the risk."

Celestia started to feel dizzy and lightheaded, before finally passing out.

====

Celestia shook herself awake. Instead of the cold, stone tiles, she was on a grassy hill. She quickly recognised it as the one outside the castle. It was bright, but something was off. The sun was missing. She stretched her hooves, and noticed several ponies galloping towards the balcony where she announced important events and the like. The solar goddess began to follow, and noticed the large crowd below it. She flew to the top of a large tree, and hid in it like a bird. In several minutes, a white figure emerged from the castle above, but Celestia didn't recognise them. They resembled her, but without the flowing mane or tail. But they did have a serpent's...

"Oh my-"

"These are... unfortunate times. Do not doubt me when I say this." Prince Chaotic's voice boomed, likely due to an amplification spell. "We are losing this war. After the Gryphonian military took hold of Los Pegasus, they have been increasing their blockade's strength. In due time, I have no doubt that they will move inland, possibly towards-"

He was cut off by a thundering noise, similar to the muskets used by the Equestrian Army. Only louder. Celestia noticed that a single gryphon was hiding in the crowds, smirking. Without hesitation, she flew towards them at extreme speeds, tackling the gryphon.

"Halt!" A guard yelled behind them. The gryphon pressed a button on his wrist gauntlet, and slowly faded away. Invisible. "Turn around. Slowly."

Celestia did so, and noticed two oblong objects in her face, probably advanced muskets. She saw the look on Chaotic's face when he apparently noticed her. He walked up to her, a quizzical look on his face. Lifting his paw up, he quickly grabbed Celestia by her neck, just below her head.

"Imposter." He whispered, his voice suddenly becoming very childish. Right as he walked away, Celestia felt nauseous, and noticed Luna standing nearby, next to a glowing white door.

"This is an interesting dream, sister." She said, looking around. "Through here is the dreams of Wandering Spirit. I must remain here, to keep the link between your dreams. The... occupants here are unable to see me, so the link is safe. Once you enter through this gate, I cannot aid you."

"Thank you, Luna. I'll make sure I don't take too long. Hopefully I can find out where the cult resides."

"Good luck, Tia."

====

Celestia emerged from the doorway, feeling a sense of vertigo wash over her. She was in the mind of this 'Wandering Spirit'. She was in a dark forest, with twisted branches covering every tree. A cheer was heard nearby, to which Celestia turned to investigate. As she got closer to the source, she heard a familiar voice over it all.

"I have returned, children!"

'Oh no. He's dreaming of Discord.'

She crept forwards, until a group of ponies came into view. They were circled around a campfire, not unlike coltscouts on a camping trip. Numerous tents were scattered around, with ponies happily chatting. She saw Discord sitting by the fire, explaining something to one of the cultists.

He raised his head up, and his eyes connected with Celestia. Without saying anything, she walked forward, almost hypnotised, ignoring the cultists surrounding her. They yelled at her, in what she identified as a Fillydelphian accent. That solved the location issue. They were most likely in the Everfree Forest. Celestia continued walking forward, until she was right in front of Discord. Wandering Spirit was the stallion sitting next to him, and looked pretty surprised.

Without saying anything, Celestia thrust her head forward, and kissed Discord. When she did this, she noticed that the dream-Wandering Spirit had fallen over. The dream around her began to crumble, as he evidently began to wake up. Not wanting to be trapped in his head, Celestia ran towards the doorway to her own mind,  which also began to crumble. Using her wings to fly forward, she made it through just as the dream was destroyed, and Spirit awoke.

====

(This scene is what the warning is for. It's slightly disturbing, so be warned. I kept it as small as I could, without getting rid of it.)

Celestia awoke with a shutter, disturbed by the dream jumping. As Luna helped her up, she noticed Wandering Spirits was tapping the very top of his horn, strangely. The hoofcuffs were hindering him, but not preventing it.

'What is he doing...?'

Without warning, he broke the sharpened tip of his horn off. It appeared to be a fake piece, as if it was meant to break off...

"No!" Celestia yelled, but it was too late. He ate the piece he broke off, and began to foam at the mouth. It was a suicide pill. The princesses weren't quick enough. By the time they opened the cell door, he was dead. The cult was more prepared than they thought, and they weren't afraid to take their own lives for Discord's return.

====

"Mommy, are you okay?" Chaotic asked, worried about his mother. She looked sick, after what happened the night before.

"I'm fine, sweetie. Just a little tired." Celestia couldn't help but smile from how innocent Chaotic was. After she dreamt of him as an adult, she knew to treasure the little foal of hers. "The bad ponies won't be trying to take you anymore, at least."

This made Chaotic giggle, but he soon stopped. Maybe he was going to ask about the cult, or Wandering Spirit, or something. "Mommy, can I see daddy again in the garden?"

That wasn't what she expected him to say.

At all.

"What made you want to, Chaotic? I thought you were mad at daddy?"

"I just want to see him. I don't know why. So can I?"

"Well..." She paused. "Oh, fine. We can go see daddy again."