CHAPTER 6: SKELETONS

"Discord, there are certainly some things we need to discuss." Princess Celestia stated as she looked tiredly across the banquet room table. Dimly lit candles were the only source of lighting in the room, causing it to give off a yellow tint, which mellowed out the atmosphere. It was quiet, and surprisingly, even Discord wasn't saying much as of now. It was almost as if he expected those words to come out of Celestia sooner or later. Princess Celestia remained silent, as she'd simply used her levitation magic to sip from a cup of cocoa, before placing it down atop a small saucer, as the hot liquid substance could be seen steaming as it touched upon the surface of the glass. She exhaled, relieving some stress. "Do you agree? With my methods that is, Discord? You being a draconequus, and a prominent individual of your species, your opinion is quite invaluable to me."

Discord preferred to sit in his own throne, as he raised a brow at Celestia from the opposite side of the room, before a grin formed slowly from cheek to cheek. "Aaaaah! So Celestia actually cares for the wisdom of ol'Discord!? Well then!" Discord snapped his claw before poofing on a pair of reading glasses to make himself appear more intellectual than he already was. He then took in a deep breath before shrugging immediately and turning his throne away from Celestia. "Sorry no can do. Cause honestly I could care less about what you do with them, there is a reason I left afterall! They're just absolutely no fun! With all their poooolicies and ruuuules, what hogwash. A dull existence no doubt. They bring shame to what a draconequus is supposed to be!"

Princess Celestia just sighed heavily before pleading with the draconequus. "Discord, please, I realize you and I may not have the best history with one another, but your insight could prove quite helpful." Princess Celestia frowned, and looked overcome with worry herself as she thought more and more about the situation. She placed a hoof on her forehead, obviously distraught over the entire thing. "Everything I've worked to achieve with this child has quickly fallen apart. Twilight only grows more aggressive as time goes on, and I worry for her state of mind, and her tempered judgement. I cannot simply allow Twilight to banish the poor girl, but one can't just ignore Eve's crimes either. She may still prove useful to us, she may still be able to find herself a fitting role in equestrian society no matter how bad things look as of now. I only need for her to connect with me somehow, and for myself to be able to dedicate my time to guiding her as I did dear Twilight. It seems my way of handling the draconequus child has proven to backfire entirely, and yet the changeling threat still lingers." Princess Celestia groaned, showing a hint of vulnerability she didn't often reveal, if ever. She placed her head face flat atop the table with a slight moan in the form of a whine. "Must everything be so complicated...."

Discord turned back around, almost looking as if he took pity on the alicorn. "Funny, seeing you in this state almost reminds me of the days back before you and I would EVER consider sharing some cocoa over the hot topic of draconequus philosophy. Ohuhuhuhu, GOODY! Well Celestia, as much as I hate to burst your nasty little depression bubble-" he muttered to himself, "And trust me, I reeeeally do hate the idea of bursting it...." He sighed and took in a deep breath, "There are more important matters to attend to I'm sure! As in...shouldn't you be a LITTLE more concerned over the fact you sent your beloved 'student' and sister out to face the very creature that demolished half your city? And nearly us along with it? I mean sheesh!" He took a sip from his own wine glass. "You really need to set your priorities straight here, if it weren't for Fluttershy, I would've relished in seeing all your hard work crumble before you."

Princess Celestia leaned up before looking at her distorted reflection in the cocoa itself. She felt distant, and still more concentrated on other matters as she proclaimed softly. "Luna will succeed, as will Twilight. What matters is how we deal with the situation as it arrives on our doorstep Discord." She looked at the draconequus, almost as if she were a little disappointed by the fact he lacked the knowledge to foresee this. "Eve's future is still a treasure that can be preserved. "

Discord at this point seemed a little struck with disbelief at Celestia now. "Celestia, do please tell me you're JOKING! Have you gone bonkers? Is your little pony head screwed on tight enough? What makes you so confident that your 'little' filly willy of a sister and your future Sombra of a student will be able to 'succeed' so easily? We may have discussed how to go about the situation, yet it still doesn't make it any less probable how likely it is it won't happen. To be honest, I was half expecting you to lose your mind by now, and send me to help with the matter. Yet here I am, and here you are as calm as ever, worrying over things that you've already tried and FAILED to achieve might I add." He crossed his arms before grumpily leaning back and closing his eyes. "You want my advice? How about you stop attempting to control the poor girl and instead put her out of her misery! She's become far too much for you to handle as of now anyhow."

Princess Celestia slammed her hoof on the table. "IF SHE'D LISTENED TO ME, THEN SHE WOULDN'T BE LIKE SHE IS NOW!" She paused, before regaining her cool and realizing it wasn't like her to act so irrationally. Princess Celestia cleared her mind as she just exhaled once again, easing out and remaining concentrated on the topic once again. "The world we live in is shaped by destiny Discord. Even when it comes to your race apparently. Yet you've taught me that as shackled as your race appears to be, it's not as hopeless as you make seem. For even you sought to change, and changed you have. For Fluttershy you have been willing to comply with my wishes and help protect Equestria. You're the perfect example, of just how many possibilities are still out there regarding Eve's existence Discord."

Princess Celestia frowned somewhat. "The girl is special. She is a draconequus, born and abandoned in my lands for reasons of little value to me now. Although orphaned at a young age, she is still rightfully mine to give guidance and raise." Celestia still seemed on the defensive. "The draconequus policy may have been instilled, but I would've never imagined a child such as this appearing when she did, especially in such times." A soft nostalgic smirk decked Celestia's face in that moment, almost as if she were considering the irony of it all.

Princess Celestia looked down towards the table once again. "When I'd first discovered Twilight's potential, she was lost, afraid, unsure of what to do or how to go about her incredible magical power. She quite possibly, could've ended up no different from the creature she's hunting now. She doesn't see that as destructive as Eve may be, Eve's also progressively mastered her powers through mere adaptation. Alone, the child has managed to discover and become her very own draconequus representation. By all means, it's beyond impressive." Princess Celestia's eyes saddened the more she thought about it. "If only I'd been more careful, responsible, this all could've been avoided. But-" she looked to Discord, "Regardless of what has happened, I do believe that we can still salvage this Discord. You, Luna, and I, can still make it work."

Discord simply sighed before shrugging. "You call the shots your 'highness' but I have to wonder, if you don't enjoy your own policy, then why not simply remove it? It's not that hard you know, especially when you're the head honcho."

Princess Celestia winced at Discord as she scooted back from her seat. "You know it's not that simple Discord. Don't insult me."

Discord snickered as he cocked his head back, smirking as if challenging the alicorn. "Oh? Doooo enlighten me Princess."

Princess Celestia slammed her hoof on one of the armrests as she'd stood, actually speaking in her canterlot voice. "I do what I must to ensure the safety and happiness of my subjects! What do you suggest Discord, that I simply allow any remnants of the draconequus children travelling in my lands to casually roam free? They don't  belong within pony society, they should be with their own kind and if your rulers had been more responsible, then we wouldn't be having this issue. Even they see it, which is why they've sent us support." Princess Celestia scowled a little. "To abandon your own child, it is a horrendous tradition, yet I am one of the only individuals willing to accept this young draconequus. I am willing to take responsibility, where her own parents wouldn't. To establish for her, a prosperous future."

She continued, "But this is simply not something that can be handled by anypony, there must be rules Discord. Rules establish order, something I'm fairly certain you were never truly fond of. The policy must remain, draconequus as full fledged adults is a different matter, but children? They are a danger to everypony around them. A simple school fight, a small mistake, one slip up, one offensive remark, and these children are capable of erasing your very existence. They're prone to sensitivity, they have fragile minds. Such power must be contained....controlled, to ignore this would be to risk the very foundation of pony society." She glanced down, "And not to mention Eve's very existence is astounding in itself. Her development and magical capabilities vary far more than I expected of any draconequus, I know your race's powers seem to have some relation to your personal beliefs, yet still this child's capabilities are still but a mystery to me. The way things are now cannot remain the same, but they won't be easy to change either."

Discord fell silent as he seemed little interested in the matter at this point, yet still continued. "And what is it you plan to do?"

Celestia flashed Discord a soft smile. "There is one whose words and actions affected the child greatly. That certain somepony is the schoolmare of Ponyville, a certain, Cheerilee. She's kind hearted, very fond of children whether they be fillies, colts, and apparently, draconequus. If I can relate to this school teacher, then Eve would most certainly come to see my point of view, this method was obvious before, but now it's perhaps the only one available to me." Princess Celestia closed her eyes and chuckled. "I haven't given up yet Discord. Eve's existence can be so much more, if only she could see that her destiny is not limited to the grim dark world she has shown me." Princess Celestia's expression sunk once more, not failing to realize there were certainly still problems. "But Twilight's conviction...."

Discord's eyes widened before he snickered a bit, leaning back in his throne. "Speaking of which, how do you plan to handle our dear Princess of Friendship?" He muttered to himself with a sudden look of humorous worry. "Sure wouldn't want her to offer me her friendship."

Princess Celestia sighed before making way for the door. "Twilight is simply following her instructions to the letter, as well as the rules. It's not unlike her to do so, she'll be fine. She only need be sheltered from Eve's true purpose and she can go on living her life as she always has, away from all this chaos and heartbreak."

Discord burst into laughter. "BAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAA!!!!"

Princess Celestia winced again before looking fairly irritated. "I'm happy you're amused."

Discord calmed himself before speaking in a humored tone. "No I just find it hilaaaarious!"

Princess Celestia cocked a brow at Discord.

Discord continued with a snicker. "Hilarious that you believe your special in the sense that the girl simply cannot do the same to your dear precious student, Celestia."

Princess Celestia's eyes widened exponentially.

A playful grin formed on Discord's face. "I wasn't lying when I said perhaps your worries should be elsewhere, the future isn't as certain as you make it out to be, there is only gray. Things have changed Celestia, whose to say that girl hasn't also? Do you truly believe her incapable of showing your precious student the error of her ways? She is only a child afterall. And apparently, according to you, draconequus children are quite prone to sensitivity, are they not?"

Princess Celestia seemed to reveal a hint of worry due to Discord's words but she calmed down. "That won't happen..."

Now it was Discord who'd looked surprised once again as he raised his own brow at Celestia.

Princess Celestia looked at him with uncertainty, yet she still managed to smile. "Eve would rather die before that happens."

Twilight wasn't an idiot, she looked Eve plainly, and honestly more in pitied anger, rather than detest. Her eyes saddened as she just gave Eve that tired look. She looked upon the draconequus as if she were looking at a child who'd lost its way, one that needed help despite all her judgements. Twilight knew what Eve's words meant, and as much as she wanted to focus more on the fact that Eve had changed her appearance once again to something more familiar and strangely normal, she'd felt concerned by those words. Yet she couldn't place whether that concern was out of the fact that this girl would rather off herself rather than return, due to pity or disappointment. As sad as the situation was, Eve's circumstances were still selfish, and Twilight wanted to make that clear. She closed her eyes with a sigh before stating, "So you're planning to run away again huh? Your way with words never ceases to amaze me."

At this point Eve, although she was used to Twilight by this point in her life, couldn't help but take great offense to that comment. She stood there, looking at Twilight Sparkle almost in a sense of disbelief, shock. "W-What? I'm not running from anything Twilight Sparkle! I know what I did, I'm only trying to fix that!" She felt her childish emotions stirring up within her, and she knew it wasn't good. She knew she needed to mature, especially in this pinnacle moment. Isn't this what Twilight Sparkle wanted? This is what she'd always craved for, yet there was always something. Eve was never right, she was never correct, she was always wrong! What was she supposed to do? Twilight's words only shook her conviction to the core everytime, Eve could never make sense of her world or life, and could never find her place or purpose without feeling lost when it came to Twilight. Even in the end, when she'd been planning to help Twilight Sparkle achieve her perfect ending, it wasn't satisfying. It frustrated her. She clenched her only claw in, as she gritted her teeth, her tiny fangs showing as her brows furrowed and she winced at the alicorn. "Why?......Why can't I please you Twilight Sparkle?"

Twilight was cold, callous in her tone towards Eve, almost like a mother berating her child and trying to give him/her an important lesson, a stern lecture. Twilight cocked her head back some, almost as if she were looking down on the draconequus, scolding her. "You truly believe that I'd approve of you attempting to martyr yourself Eve? No, you're no hero, you're not proving anything. You're not allowed to make those decisions. You lost that right the moment you'd decided to take the lives of others, to strip young fillies, colts, mares, and stallions of their loved ones. You lost that right when you'd decided to take the law into your own hooves, and ignore the rules established before you. You lost that right..." Twilight winced at the draconequus. "When you'd threatened my friends lives with your nonsense."

Eve immediately snapped at Twilight. Yet this didn't stir a reaction out of the mare just yet, she'd only watched Eve continue with that pained expression, almost as if reading it, attempting to find truth in it, whether or not this expression of pain and sorrow was legitimate. To Twilight's surprise, she did not find it dishonest. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW TWILIGHT SPARKLE!?" What was she doing? Eve knew she shouldn't be doing this, it was only jeopardizing everything she strove to achieve. Was that all she knew how to do these days? Ruin everything for herself? But she couldn't help it, she just couldn't, she'd hoped that at least in the end, Twilight Sparkle would at least give her some silent approval. "ALL I WANTED WAS YOUR APPROVAL TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!! ALL I WANTED WAS FOR YOU TO APPROVE OF MOMMA AND ME.....I tried Twilight Sparkle! I tried to reach you, your world of love, friendship, I wanted all of it! I'd do anything for it!" She hesitated, but soon cried out, closing her eyes. "I'M SORRY TWILIGHT SPARKLE!" Eve tore at her hair in sudden frustration. "I never wanted any of this. I-I don't want this world....I...I...I didn't know what to do..." Her eyes went wide as if she were even going senile, recalling the events which'd traumatized her. "But....I couldn't...Not even for Momma, not for you. Not for Trixie. P-Princess Celestia...her world,...it hurts, it hurts too much. I...I'm scared of it. What do you know?...What do you understand?"

Although Twilight felt a little blown back by Eve's words, those final words struck her in particular. Twilight had a habit of reading into things more so than others, and it angered her to no ends, when something in particular was mentioned. That something was something Twilight didn't understand, and that's what infuriated her the most. Eve's story, she knew all of it, she knew all the details, yet with this sudden unexpected unmentioned slip up from the draconequus, Twilight was in the dark once again. Yet Twilight's rage only continued to stir and boil as she thought about the subject of her confusion.......What did Eve know about Princess Celestia she herself didn't? "What're you talking about?........"

Eve looked at Twilight for a moment with both an expression of vulnerability and slight confusion. "H-Huh?..."

Twilight's pent up frustration only grew more severe, as her eyes widened with almost an intense craving for information, for understanding, almost to the point of insanity. "For what reason, would anypony need to fear Princess Celestia?...What're you talking about?......You monster....." It tore at her from the inside. The simple thought of being wrong when it came to Eve, no, she couldn't be wrong, it wasn't possible, even the chance possibility would send Twilight over the edge. No, Eve was a liar, she always was a liar. As legitimate as she seemed, as honest as her words sounded, those words MUST'VE been intended, they must've been some lure to deceive Twilight. Twilight's mind was slowly being thrown into shambles, she blocked the thoughts out of her mind, denied any conceivable possibility. But her mind wouldn't allow it, it wouldn't allow her to simply ignore the pieces she was given. What'd Eve been doing at the festival in the first place? Why did Princess Celestia save her? Why did Eve spare Princess Celestia? What did this beast, this monster, this deceiving trash, know of Princess Celestia? What sort of lies was she trying to stir in Twilight's mind, what sort of seeds was she attempting to plant? Twilight snapped herself, so angry with Eve's sudden hint of emotion, sudden fear and heartfelt apology, that she herself couldn't accept it. As smart as she was, she WOULDN'T allow this possibility to be conceived. No, Eve wasn't allowed to do that, not after so many things had happened. She wasn't allowed to plant the seeds of doubt. She needed a confession, she needed Eve to admit she was just lying, making things up off the top of her head to save her own hide. "WHAT'RE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? YOU KNOW NOTHING OF PRINCESS CELESTIA EVE!!!" Twilight snarled, "YOU'RE JUST SOME DRACONEQUUS WHO CAUSED HER TROUBLE, SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!! NO CONNECTION, NONE!!!"

To acknowledge anything that came out of her mouth, would tear everything she ever stood for apart.

Eve looked at Twilight, unable to say anything more. She opened her mouth, but staggered before hesitating, taking a moment to understand the situation. Eve drew herself in once again, silencing herself nervously, she knew she'd talked too much. She simply wrapped her arm around herself, as her eyes saddened and avoided eye contact with Twilight Sparkle, immediately agreeing with her. She spoke in a hushed tone. "Y-You're right....I'm sorry Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight irked, as her heart felt struck again. No, that's not what she wanted either. Twilight hated it, each and every second of this moment told her things she didn't want to know. Her mind didn't stop connecting the pieces, it didn't stop her from seeing the obvious, seeing the things that just couldn't be true, yet they'd smacked her right in the face. "No Eve! Enlighten me, tell me your story, your hardships! Tell me just what I don't understand!"

Rainbow Dash in particular, who'd been listening this entire time looked at Eve with appeared to be understanding, as if somewhere inside, she couldn't convince herself that the girl wasn't lying, much like Twilight. But even so, Rainbow would never go against Twilight especially since Twilight was so personally involved with this ordeal as was she. Eve hurt her friends, made them suffer, yet to see the so called villain so broken before them, willing to silence herself for an eternity, after seeing her like this so many times before, Rainbow could help but question it all as well. But she remained silent, only looking at Eve, wanting the same answers as Twilight was demanding, but not voicing those wishes.

Eve's brows furrowed as she looked persistent, shaking her head, this time sounding far more serious. "N-No I..." Eve fell silent, as she'd just closed up. She bit her lower lip, struggling to find a way to cover herself but, she knew she had some issues regarding her emotions, and this outburst had done something terrible. Twilight couldn't be suspicious, she could never know what happened or pony society would be at risk, only more terrible things would come of it.

Eve stated without a second thought, "I lied."

"Good Girl."

Eve's eyes widened as she heard the sudden voice, within dangerously close proximity. But it wasn't that which frightened her the most, it was the familiarity of the voice. She'd recognize it anywhere, that tone, that kindness, but no matter the situation she knew it was impossible for 'her' to be here. Eve glanced back with wide, curious eyes, as her pupils dilated and they'd only grew wider with disbelief. Her mouth hung open for a long awhile as her heart raced with each passing second which felt to last an eternity, as impossible as the possibility was, she couldn't turn away. She was frozen unable to react, as she usually was in her presence. Her graceful, mesmerizing presence. "M-Momma?"

Cheerilee wore a soft smile, glancing down at her once daughter. "What're you so afraid of sweetie?"

Eve just looked upon Cheerilee still with that same expression, before it eased into something more tragic. Eve was tired of crying, but she couldn't help but sob still, softly to herself as she bit her lower lip. She raised her claw slowly before lowering her head, and refusing to look Cheerilee in the face. "Momma....."

Yes, that's all this world ever was for her, one big lie. Next Chapter: Chapter 7: Understanding Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 29 Minutes