The Herd

Chapter 8

“Well, thanks for listening Discord. It really helped me clear my head. I’ll be sure to stop by next time I’m in Canterlot.” Pinkie Pie waved enthusiastically to the statue before she turned to leave, striking up a cheerful hum as she began to skip her way out of the central courtyard of the maze. She never noticed the hateful eyes watching out of one shadowy passageway.

“I don’t understand,” a soft voice hissed as the bubblegum pink mare bounced out of sight. “Why let her leave, it was a perfect opportunity. One of the Element bearers, all alone. Removing even just one of them would render all the Elements useless and…”

“You’re an idiot,” a cold, harsh voice interrupted the first, which cut off abruptly. An angry silence hung in air for several moments before the cold voice spoke again. “We did not come this far to throw it all away on a pointless risk. Keep your mouth shut! I will not chance her escaping to give warning, or her being missed before we have time to finish. Now come, we have work to be done.”

Two figures stepped cautiously out of the shadows. They were tall, and lean nearly to being emaciated. A disturbing amount of bone and sinew slid visibly beneath the dark, shiny flesh stretched tightly across their forms. Even more disturbing were the open holes that tunneled clear through their limbs.

Queen Chrysalis glared darkly after the departed Pinkie. Though she had forbade it, she was still loath to let one of wielders of Harmony just walk away. It would have been so easy to take her unaware. The cruelly hooked horn jutting from her stringy, tattered hair glowed a sickly green as she imagined the various spells she could have used to quickly and silently cut the heart out of the Elements of Harmony.

But the moment was already passed, and it would be even more foolish to go after her now. Returning to Canterlot had been far, far more difficult than infiltrating the city the first time around. The defenses around the Equestrian capital were far more subtle and dangerous than the crude barrier of before.

Chrysalis ground her teeth in frustration. Even through the haze of her mind control, Shining Armor had somehow managed to learn enough of the nature of her power to be able to craft spells that could tell the difference between Changeling and Equestrian magic. Now the entire city was blanketed in a web work that would instantly respond to any spell she or one of her minions dared to use within the capital. And she had practically handed him the means to do so!

Still, every problem has its solution. Since she couldn’t use her own magic to sneak into Canterlot, Chrysalis had simply used someone else’s. Finding the right unicorn for the task hadn’t been easy, but once a significantly talented individual had been located it hadn’t taken much effort to bend him to her will. The illusions had gotten her and her minion inside the city, aided by the influx of outsiders coming to attend the Grand Galloping Gala. As much as security might have been increased for the event, it was mostly focused on the palace itself. Something as unimportant as a hedge maze hardly warranted extra guards.

Not that the maze was without protection. Celestia had learned from her previous mistake, and the air around Discord’s statue buzzed with energy from the numerous spells laid upon and around it. Just standing within the courtyard made Chrysalis’s horn itch.

With the utmost care and caution, Chrysalis slowly reached for her magic and sent it drifting hesitantly towards the statue, gently probing the latticework of spells. This was the most dangerous part of the entire operation. She was counting on Celestia’s spellwork to provide enough interference as to avoid setting off Shining Armor’s alarm system. At the same time however she had to be careful not to trigger any of the spells Celestia had woven. Setting off Shining Armor’s spell would bring half the city guards down on her head. Setting off one of Celestia’s might bring down far worse.

And the Equestrian magic wasn’t the only threat to be concerned about. As her magic touched the statue, she felt her mind brush against a power more primal, more intense than any spell. It was the power of the Elements of Harmony, power enough to bring low even one of the Prime Spirits, to entrap the very source of chaos. There was nothing in the world, perhaps in all of creation, to rival such magic.

If what she had in mind worked however, she wouldn’t need to rival the Elements. Every Changeling in the world would not be enough for that task. But where brute force would certainly fail, perhaps subtly could succeed. Even an invincible wall could be thwarted if one could find a way to simply walk around it.

Time became a blur as she crafted the spell she had come so far and risked so much to cast. It had to be built in the tiniest steps, the magic flowing into the construct a slowly as she could manage. She lost herself in the casting, counting on her companion to keep watch for her. There was no room in her awareness for anything but the magic. Every ounce of focus had to go into this working, to keep the complex effect firmly in mind, to carefully work around the magical traps and alarms, to keep the flow of energy light enough to avoid detection. It had to be perfect. She had to be perfect.

Ecdysis meanwhile, was bored out of his mind. The Changeling stared dully down one, then another pathway, and then yet another. For the sake of variety, he would occasionally sneak a glance back at Chrysalis, but his queen hadn’t moved an inch since beginning her spellwork well over an hour ago. Whatever it was she was doing was complex to be sure, far more complex than anything he’d ever tried.

Not that he had ever really tried many complex spells. Why bother learning such annoying intricacies when he had strength enough to just overpower the issue. His brood mates had always accused him of being lazy, but they were just jealous. And rightly so, as his natural talent had clearly earned him this position of honor, of being handpicked by the queen herself for this important, top secret mission.

Granted he would have thought she might have let him in on just what the mission was at some point. Ecdysis figured she was testing him in some way though. Seeing how well he coped with being left in dark? Making sure he knew how to keep secrets before entrusting him with one? Or maybe she was seeing if he could figure it out for himself. That made some sense.

He glanced back at Chrysalis, wondering what she could possibly be doing that could take this long. It was impossible for him to tell without using magic, and the look in his queen’s eye when she had expressly forbid him from using even the simplest spell had promised consequences to make his nightmares quiver in terror. He could wait.

Another hour passed, and Ecdysis gave a start as Chrysalis let out an exhausted sigh. He had nearly fallen asleep on his feet, and his gaze jerked around the courtyard in alarm. If anyone had snuck up on them while he was supposed to be on watch, Chrysalis would have his head.

The clearing was empty of any newcomers though, and Ecdysis felt the vise around his heart loosen. He turned toward Chrysalis, and found her leaning against the dais to keep herself upright. The statue upon it looked unchanged, still that of an oddly mismatched and ugly individual, his features looking as if the artist had picked each element at random, with no regard or care for how they would look as a whole. Had the spell not worked?

“Your majesty?” Ecdysis approached hesitantly, his footsteps faltering as a low laugh bubbled from Chrysalis’s throat.

“Almost there,” she whispered. Her tone became firm. “Help me.”

Ecdysis quickly responded, striding over to help support Chrysalis to her feet. She leaned heavily against him. “What do you need, my queen?”

“Just one last thing,” she murmured. “Your love.”

“My…I don’t…” Ecdysis stammered in confusion.

“Don’t you love your queen?” Chrysalis asked in a soft hiss, turning those deep, bright green eyes upon him. He saw it coming a second too late, felt the magic take hold of his mind before he could start to bring a defense to bear. He hadn’t even realized the spell had been there the entire time, just waiting for her to activate it. Anger and betrayal flared in him, but it was quickly drowned out by love. Pure, unrestrained, horrible love for the woman that had just set him up.

“With all my heart,” Ecdysis responded passionately as his mind went blissfully blank.

“Good, very good my little Changeling,” Chrysalis whispered, pulling him into a deep kiss. Energy flowed into her, washing away the worst of the fatigue, and it was so tempting to just keep going. But she still needed him, and draining him dry would leave her unable to complete the task she had already put so much effort into. Reluctantly she shoved him back, drawing upon the fresh power she had taken. The final piece of the spell she had labored to construct fell into place as she forged a bridge between the hapless Changeling, and the statue behind her.

The results were amazingly lackluster. There were no flashes of light, no buzzing of energy. Nothing but an indistinct rushing sensation that seemed both very close and very far away. Ecdysis stiffened for a few heartbeats, and then slumped to the ground. He lay unmoving, glazed eyes staring blankly into the late morning sky.

It was perfectly silent.

Chrysalis took a hesitant step forward.

He wasn’t breathing.

She waited, holding her own breath.

One eye blinked.

Chrysalis jumped back as Ecdysis jerked up off the ground, sucking in a deep, painful lungful of air. His chest heaved frantically as he scrambled to his feet, his gaze casting around wildly. He spied her and froze, his eyes thoughtful and calculating. Far more so than they ever had been before.

He glanced down at himself, and just like that, he was in control. His breathing became regular, and his features smoothed into a clam mask. He flexed the fingers of one hand, and gave a small chuckle.

“Yes, I see now,” he spoke with a calm certainty. His gaze traveled up to the statue, and he smirked in a wicked, lopsided fashion.

Green flame erupted around the Changeling, washing over his features in a wave. When they cleared, the gaunt, sickly form was gone. In its place stood a mostly Equestrian figure, slender yet solid in build. He was tall and angular, with sharply contrasting features. He was ugly, but not hideously so. He could have been handsome, if not for the horrible clash of his mismatched appearance. He turned to face Chrysalis, and a single long canine flashed as he treated her to a smile full of teeth.

“Discord?” the Changeling queen asked.

“In the flesh,” the Spirit of Chaos replied. “Or at least, in someone’s flesh.” He gave an exaggerated stretch, with some truly hideous popping noises.

“Excellent,” Chrysalis purred. “Quickly now though, we need to…”

There was a bright, white flash, and Discord was gone.

Chrysalis just stared at the empty space where her prize had been standing. No, he couldn’t have just…

She risked a bit of magic, but could find nothing. No clue as to where Discord had gone, not even a general sense of direction. He had teleported away without leaving even a hint of power behind. And he had done so without tripping any of the alarm spells to boot.

“Well this body isn’t too bad,” a deep voice announced from right behind her, and Chrysalis almost jumped out of her skin. She spun, spells coming automatically to her mind. Discord was leaning casually against one wall of the maze, a rubber chicken of all things in one hand. “Still, it is a far cry from my own magnificent being.”

“Yes well,” Chrysalis said, forcing her voice to be calm as she let go of her magic. “Your body is entrapped by the greatest power in existence.”

“Yes, true enough,” Discord sighed dramatically, placing the chicken on his head. With a flash, it became a golden tiara, topped with a purple gem cut into a six pointed star. “So long as the Elements remain whole, there is no magic that can set me truly free.” The tiara blackened, and crumbled to dust.

“I too would like to see the Elements destroyed,” Chrysalis said. “Along with this wretched kingdom.”

“Of course you do,” Discord chuckled. “Why else go to the trouble to free me?” He gave her a blatant once over, and leered at her. “I assume you wish some kind of alliance?”

“Yes,” she replied stiffly, shifting a bit uncomfortably. “But perhaps we should discuss the details some place safer. I have a plan to escape, if you will follow…”

Discord yawned. “Oh, how dreadfully dull. What fun is there in being safe?” He snapped his fingers, and Chrysalis found herself sitting at a table across from him. A large stack of documents stood between them. “Now then, shall we begin the negotiations?”

“The what?” Chrysalis demanded.

“Negotiations,” Discord repeated brightly. “For the terms of our partnership.” He whipped the top sheet off the pile and pulled a pen from one ear. “Item one, division of labor resources.”

“…what?”

“Your minions,” Discord said, as if she was being purposefully slow. “Unless you Changelings have changed while I’ve been entombed…” he giggled, and then sighed when Chrysalis fixed him with an flat stare. “…then you no doubt have quite an army at your command.”

“Yes, MY command,” she emphasized.

“Oh come now Chrysalis,” Discord pouted. “Are you really going to make us fight over the children? Next you’ll be saying you plan to take the house as well.”

Chrysalis just stared at him for a long moment. This was the great and terrible Discord? The Prime Spirit of Chaos, that had once terrorized all of Equestria, that had twice now faced the full might of the Elements of Harmony and survived? He was a buffoon.

“Are you even listening to me now?” Discord broke into her musings, and Chrysalis had to blink in bafflement at the basket of baby bunnies balanced on his head. She felt one eye give an involuntary twitch.

“This was a mistake,” she told herself, pushing back from the table and starting to get up. Before she could rise however there was another flash, and she found Discord laying across her lap.

“Oh come now your majesty, we’re just getting started,” he grinned up at her. “Come come, you went through all this trouble for me, at least let me do something for you.”

“You could try being serious,” she informed him, crossing her arms sternly. Discord laughed in response, and the sound sent a chill down Chrysalis’s spine. As bright and gleeful as the sound was, there was a dark undercurrent to the humor that put her on edge.

“My dear,” Discord said, wiping away a tear. “I am always serious,” he told her in a chipper tone that made her stomach churn uncomfortably.

“Now then,” Discord went on, spinning around until he straddled her in the chair. “Let’s discuss some…other…benefits to our new partnership?”

“Ugh!” Chrysalis cringed back, and her horn blazed. The telekinetic shove sent the Chaos Spirit flying all the way across the courtyard, where he made a perfectly Discord shaped hole in the hedge wall.

Then the alarm sounded.

“Are you truly certain about this sister?” Celestia asked, pausing to look up from her work. Luna met her gaze in the mirror calmly.

“Quite certain,” Luna replied. “Why? Dost thou have reservations?”

“Stop that,” Celestia chided through a smile.

“Seriously Tia, why not?”

“Things have changed sister,” Celestia said, once again taking the brush to Luna’s mane. It still surprised her, how easily they had picked back up their old habits despite everything that had come between them, despite the Nightmare, and an entire millennium apart. Here they sat, back in their private rooms in the palace, one brushing the other’s mane before bed.

“So you keep saying,” Luna muttered though a yawn. It was nearly noon after all, rather late in the day for the princess of the night to still be awake. “I begin to wonder if you think me slow.”

“Of course not.”

“Then you believe I have not really been trying to learn?”

“Luna…”

“No Tia,” Luna cut in. “A great many things changed while I was gone, but many more things stayed just the same. I am not so out of touch as you seem to think I am.”

“Perhaps not,” Celestia allowed. “But you are considering treading down a very slippery slope, one that could trip you in many ways.”

“Good thing I have wings then,” Luna said smugly.

“And not taking this seriously will certainly send you plummeting,” Celestia said darkly.

“Oh do lighten up,” Luna sighed. “I am their princess. They should be so honored as to have caught my eye. How could they not welcome me with open arms?”

“Funny, I seem to recall hearing something very similar to that last Nightmare Night,” Celestia replied pointedly.

“Touché,” Luna allowed. “Still, we aren’t talking about random citizens.”

“No, we are discussing perhaps the most vitally important people in the entire kingdom. Those who wield the greatest power in creation. And whose hold on said power is only as strong as the bonds of friendship between them.” Celestia shook her head. “I already worry about what might come of them progressing their relationships further, especially as it seems unlikely they will all become lovers. What will such an imbalance of affection do to their friendship? Will they be able to keep hold of the Elements with such a shift?”

“That’s hardly fair Tia,” Luna protested. “You can’t ask them to live static lives just to maintain the certainty that they will be able to wield Harmony against some as yet unknown and uncertain to even exist threat.”

“Of course it isn’t fair,” Celestia agreed. “But neither is it fair to chance the safety of all our subjects.”

“But how many more threats could there be that would require the Elements?” Luna asked.

“If I could answer that, I would be less nervous about the entire situation,” Celestia replied. “It is not knowing that worries me.”

“In a thousand years, the Elements have only needed to be used thrice.”

“And two of those times within the last two years,” Celestia said hotly. “And we only survived not using them a fourth time by a stroke of good fortune.”

“If you had just bothered to wake me rather than challenging the Changeling Queen alone…” Luna said primly.

“I did not have time to do anything else,” Celestia grumbled. “And how was I to know how strong she would be?”

“If only you had access to someone with intimate knowledge of the creatures of nighttime and shadowy realms…” Luna said wistfully.

“Would you just say ‘I told you so’ and be done with it?” Celestia sighed.

“Why sister dearest,” Luna replied with false indignity. “We would never be so crass.” She smiled daintily up at Celestia through the mirror.

“We thinkest thou must be suffering an imbalance of the mind then,” Celestia retorted. “Did thou not just the other day speculate most boldly and rather inappropriately about which guard would be most likely to possess the largest…”Celestia ducked as Luna levitated a cushion at her. “And now thou dost throw things at us as a child in temper,” she reprimanded with a wide smile.

“As the children of this age would say, bite our royal backside,” Luna smirked back.

Celestia laughed lightly, giving Luna’s mane a final few strokes before setting the brush down and setting about gathering the ethereal strands up into cooperative braids. Trying to sleep with the floating strands waving free and loose was an invitation to a restless night. Or day, in Luna’s case.

“You still haven’t given me a good reason not to take Pinkie up on her offer,” Luna pointed out after a moment.

“It’s Pinkie Pie, how certain are you she was serious?” Celestia asked in reply, eyes down on her work.

“It could hardly hurt to inquire.”

“What about your reputation?”

“I have been demonized as a cannibalistic monster that haunts the night once a year for the past millennium,” Luna said drily. “What are a few rumors to that?”

“There are those who oppose your return,” Celestia said, a hint of real anger creeping into her tone. “They only talk now, but it could be they have no other means to move against you. If they perceive an opening to strike at you through those they see as being dear to you…”

“I pity them if they dare try,” Luna scoffed. “We are speaking of the Bearers of Harmony.”

“Who are still just normal…” Celestia began, but Luna snorted in derision.

“Normal Tia? Even without the Elements, they are more than capable of taking care of themselves, especially against the individuals of this age,” Luna shook her head. “I must commend you on your work in that regard sister, the average citizen of today could hardly even consider violence beyond a few thrown fists. You truly think there are dissenters that could do more than some heavy handed bullying? After Discord, Nightmare Moon, Queen Chrysalis; you think Twilight or the rest would be defeated by some name calling?”

Celestia didn’t answer, but shook her head and sighed.

“Why don’t you tell me the real reason?” Luna asked.

“What do you mean?” Celestia asked after a brief pause.

“You have given me many excuses,” Luna said. “But you haven’t voiced the real reason you have against this.”

“I’m afraid I have no idea what you mean,” Celestia informed her levelly as she finished up the final few twists to her sister’s mane. Luna scowled at her in the mirror, noting with some vexation that it was hard to look properly regally annoyed with her hair in cute little braids. The bows really didn’t help.

“You can’t use that tone with me,” Luna stated imperiously anyway. “I know that tone, I’ve heard you use it to deny all sorts of hidden truths to all manner of politicians, rivals, and guests alike.”

“I’m afraid I have no idea…”

“Fine then, be that way,” Luna cut her off. “If you won’t admit to it, then you forfeit your right to complain later.”

“And what would I be complaining about sister?” Celestia asked wearily.

“How I stole Twilight Sparkle from you, of course.”

Celestia just stared at her, blinking in surprised confusion.

Luna stared back, waiting.

Celestia smirked.

That…that was not what Luna had been expecting.

Celestia put a hand over her mouth, but her eyes sparkled with mirth. She began to shake with suppressed laughter.

“Stop that!” Luna demanded. “What are you laughing at?”

“N-nothing dear s-sister,” Celestia giggled.

“Why is that funny?” Luna asked, standing up and turning to face Celestia.

“B-because,” Celestia paused to take a few deep breaths. “Oh my poor sister, have you really been taken in by that foolish gossip?”

Luna stared at her for a handful of seconds, and then realization clicked. Even her dark complexion could not fully hide the blush.

“You…and she are not…you never were…” Luna sputtered.

“No, not at all,” Celestia managed to say with a mostly straight face.

“But…but everyone thought…” Luna protested.

“Of course they did,” Celestia said. “With the amount of time I spent alone with her on ‘private lessons’. Amazing as it is however, I really was just teaching her magic.”

“But, the way she looks at you…”

“…yes,” Celestia sighed. “I suppose it was unavoidable really. I gave her so much, my time, my knowledge, my affection and attention. So much at such a tender age, it’s no surprise she developed a crush on me under such circumstances.”

“More than a crush Tia.”

“Perhaps, but it doesn’t matter either way. I did not allow it to become more than what it was. I am her friend, her teacher, her mentor. That is our relationship, and that is all it can be.”

“…why?” Luna asked in puzzlement.

“Because anything more would not be appropriate.”

“Says who?” Luna demanded.

“Tradition sister,” Celestia replied softly. “The social morals of the age, my own sense of ethics, take your pick.”

“Trough wash,” Luna swore dismissively. “Tradition changes all the time, morals even more so. You are supreme ruler of the land, answerable to no one and only obligated to explain anything to me.”

“Such heavy handed leadership is not the way of things anymore,” Celestia insisted. “I keep telling you, our rule is by the grace of the people…”

“A pretty lie to make yourself feel better sister.”

“Luna!” Celestia said, looking as if she’d been slapped.

“I am sorry, but it is truth,” Luna said mulishly, though she did look apologetic. “We rule because only we can. Who else has the stomach for it? Who else can truly keep this land safe from what lies beyond the boarders? Who else can provide the rock solid stability of centuries of consistency? Look at the chaos of the Griffin lands, their leaders switching every few years. They are lucky to have someone in office for a good decade. They struggle along because no one has the time to implement even minor policies before getting booted out by the next hot head with grand visions she’ll never be in power long enough to see done. You can say the people allow us to rule, but if they do, it is because they realize and recognize that they could not possibly replace us.”

Their eyes met, and it was Celestia that looked aside first. Luna stepped up to her and placed a hand consolingly on her shoulder.

“I still think it is inappropriate,” Celestia said thickly after a moment, laying a hand over Luna’s. “I knew her when she was just a filly.”

“She is a grown mare Tia,” Luna said softly.

“She’s still young.”

“Next to us, who isn’t?” Luna asked with a slight smirk. “She’ll be wrinkled as a prune and still be a baby by comparison.”

Celestia smiled sadly. “I know. But I still feel as I do.”

Luna sighed in mild frustration, but nodded.

“Very well sister. I do hope you won’t hold it against me if I feel differently though.”

“Of course not,” Celestia told her, pulling Luna into a brief hug. “But at least promise me you will be thoughtful of their feelings.”

“When am I not?” Luna asked indignantly.

Celestia pulled back from the hug enough to fix her sister a level look.

“…fine, I will be on my best behavior.” Luna grumped after a moment.

Celestia laughed and started to say something, only to freeze in place. Luna felt a chill crawl into her stomach as she watched a normally alien emotion fill her sister’s eyes.

Fear.

“Discord is loose,” Celestia breathed, her gaze turning in the direction of the garden.

“Wh…” Luna had to swallow. “What do we do?”

“Strike, quickly,” Celestia replied in sudden heat. “Before he harms anyone.”

Golden flames erupted around the solar princess in a flash of blinding light and searing warmth. A second later they were gone, and Celestia with them. Luna gave a start, shaking off the uncertainty and nervous fear that tried to pull her down. Shadows rose to engulf her, and when they melted back into the dark corners of the room, so too was the princess of the night gone.