CHAPTER 6:
Trouble Minds

It was late in the evening in Canterlot, and the time to lower the sun and raise the moon was fast approaching. Celestia had long ago finished her duties and was reading Twilight's second report on the creature. She was slightly disappointed to read that the creature had eluded their sights all day. Celestia let out a heavy sigh of frustration. She was not truly disappointing in her faithful student or frustrated with her she was only worried. She felt her worry was reasonable seeing as Twilight has let her sense of duty and curiosity lead her on yet another potentially dangerous trail. The low orange glow of the sunset seeped through the stained glass windows in the thrown room as she blankly stared at the letter expecting the answers of her problems to form. But her trance was broken when the thrown room doors burst open.

"Good evening dear sister!" Shouted Luna beaming with happiness. "How art thow?"

Celestia was frozen in surprise by her sister sudden outburst. She was up far earlier then she has ever been and wore a smile that was so warm it could melt a glacier. Celestia was so surprised by her bright mood she almost could not get a reply out to her.

"Good evening Luna." She started collecting her bearings. "I am doing well, but may I ask what has you up so early?"

Luna Opened her mouth to tell her the good news about her wonderful new friend but stopped remembering what he had asked her. Luna felt a cold sweat drop down her face as she realized her problem. She had promised a friend not to speak of him, but she could not very well lie to her older sister. Her hard pounded against her chest hard as she struggled to fin a solution that would not mean taking sides.

"O-Oh I was just getting an... early start that's all!" She said struggling with her words.

Celestia raised a brow at her as she assumed a defensive stance in this conversation. She knew she was acting strange even for her.

Luna saw her sister's acknowledgment on her stance. An idea popped into her head that would allow her to keep her promise to her friend and not necessarily lie to her sister. Luna noticed that her sister was going to press the matter further so with all her graceful haste she put her brilliant plan into action.

"IGOTOTGODOSOMETHING!" She cried and with that the azure princess was gone leaving Celestia dumbfounded.

"Well that was different." Said a voice from the side of the thrown room.

Celestia turned her gaze from the open door to face Discord standing by one of the stained windows. She tried her best not to glare at the reformed Chaos god but found it hard when she did not trust him.Though thanks to Fluttershy he is easier to deal with his pranks have been far from amusing. They were down right annoying. However right now he looked to be deep in though as he gazed at the stained window as if trying to see through it. He has been like this since yesterday which troubled the sun goddess greatly. As much as she enjoyed the peace and quite Discord's unnaturally calm demeanor was to unnerving.

"What is on your mind Discord?" She asked with sincerity in her voice. He did not answer and continued to gaze out the window. Much unlike Celestia she began to fidget at his silence. "You can talk to me." She said trying to coax him out of his mute state.

"It's not whats on my mind Tia," He turned to face her." It's whats not. Or rather what should be but isn't."

Celestia glared at Discord but eased up when she saw the sincerity on his facial expressions.

"What do you mean?"

" I don't know!" He said throwing his arms up in frustration. " I feel as though I have forgotten something important. And I mean REALLY important!"

Celestia felt for the old god of chaos and decided it would be good for their relationship as gods as she tried to help him.

"Well Discord maybe it was not so important if you forgot?" She suggested trying to cheer him up. However he showed no signs of doing so." I am sure if it was important it will come back too you. Although I am willing to bet it's just another prank."

Discord smirked at the remark which in turned caused Celestia to smile with success.

"Well Tia you will be the first to know should that be the case." Celestia's smile faded. "Is that a letter from Twilight?"

Discord's mood seemed to have returned to normal as he made back stroke motions to swim through the air to Celestia. Celestia was already beginning to regret her choice but answered him regardless.

"Yes. This is actually the second report on a new creature that has found it's way to Ponyville..." She paused and looked Discord sternly in the eye. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?"

Discord made a mock frown at Celestia.

"Celestia! You wound me." He exclaimed dramatically putting a claw to his chest. Celestia continued to glare daggers into him until he sighed and rolled his eyes. "But in all seriousness I have no idea what your talking about. You and your ponies should have already discovered all my little creatures. I was not very discreet with my creations after all."

Celestia Let out a sigh of relief as she rose from her thrown. "Well it is time for me to retire for the night. Good night Discord."

"Good night Tia."

With a slight nod from both the gods Discord was alone in the thrown room. Discord slithered through the air to a clear window in the back of the room and delved back into his thoughts. It did not last long though. He spotted Luna flying out the castle wearing a pair of saddle bags and a mischievous grin on her face.

"What is she up to?" Discord murmured to himself as Luna flew away.

The sun had just set and I could see the white orb of the moon peeking on the horizon. I was waiting for Luna to show but was unsure of what time she would arrive or if she would at all. I realized my doubt was misplace as I heard the flap of wings above me.

I turned to face the dark pony as she landed in front of me gracefully and with her eyes closed. As she landed I felt the same pulse Like the first time we met. I let out a little chuckle at her dramatic entrance.

"S-Shard is that you?"

"Yes it is me."

She was eyeing my new form from my crystal hooves to my almost featureless face. She seemed puzzled and at a loss of words as her mouth opened and closed like a fish. I let out another laugh at the strange mare.

"What? Like what you see?" I asked in a mocking tone. Her cheeks immediately went red.

"N-NO. I M-MEAN Y-ES. WAIT! I D-DON'T MEAN I-IT LIKE THAT!" She was fuming from the ears unable to form coherent sentences.

"Relax I'm only joking." I said with another chuckle.

"O-Oh. Of course." She said more calmly but still stumbling on her words.

She then hastily took a seat next to me by the pond before we continued to talk the night away. I told her about all the experiments that I had conducted today especially the one about my new new form. I noticed her extreme interest in my abilities by how many questions she asked.

"So you used your shards as an extra set of eyes to observe the town?" she asked in disbelief.

"Exactly."

"How is that possible?" She asked still not buying my story.

"Every one of my shards is like a separate entity." I started grabbing her attention instantly. " Like everyone has their own mind or level of understanding. When I think about something or say give them an order they fulfill it to the best of their abilities. So it's like my mind is the ruler and my shards are my citizens."

I looked at Luna who seemed to be not entirely pleased with my explanation but at least seemed to understand the theory. I continued to tell her about my day along with the foals I had encountered who were less than scared. Luna smiled as I told her how the children reacted to me.

"It seems as though that your encounter went well." She said with a nod. "I was beginning to worry you would be having trouble with the other ponies."

I looked at her a moment with a quizzical look. She appeared to have some kind of leather sacks strapped across her back that hung at her sides. She saw what I was staring at and opened her mouth to speak.

"Ah yes I brought you something. This is a book on the crystal empire." She said pulling out a large hardcover book with a leather strap and a clear crystal bound into the cover.

"The Crystal Empire?"

"Yes. Based upon your appearance I thought you might be related to them. I brought the book to maybe help you with your memory."

I paused. I had no idea how she knew about my memory loss and to be honest it frightened me.

"How did you know about my lack of memories?"

Her face filled with remorse as she hesitated to answer my question.

"Y-You did not seem to know anything when I first found you. About the world, the ponies, our language, and almost everything else." She said lowering her head in sadness.

There was silence between us. The only thing that could be heard was the slight rustle of leaves as the wind lightly brushed against them. I let out a heavy sigh to break the silence.

"I see. I suppose it was quite obvious." I started never breaking eye contact with Luna. "But there is no need for you to feel sad for me I am fine."

Luna let out a sigh of relief. After she had calmed down and handed me the book along with the saddle bags we continued to chat the night away with pleasant conversation until it was time to part ways again.

I made a slow trot to my dwelling all the while thinking about what would become of me. It was clear to me that I was most likely not from this world but that did not cease my curiosity for the Crystal Empire that I apparently was so similar to. I could fell drowsy as sleep crept up on me. I drifted into a dreamless sleep.

End of Chapter 6

Author's Note

Still looking for editors.