Chapter 1: Grinding Stone to Sand

How many years…

How many decades have come and gone since she…

No wait…it’s been longer than that…it’s been centuries…

I know this much…an immense amount of time has passed.

Can you stop that monologue please, it’s getting on my nerves after hearing it for the 173.711.619th time.

You actually counted it?

Well, I don’t have anything better to do since we share the same fate, Curator.

You are right, beast of chaos… But I know that it will change soon. I can feel it.

It was a bright, sunny day in Canterlot, Equestria. Like any other day I have witnessed so far. Or… at least I thought it is sunny. It is weird if you see everything in fifty shades of grey, you know. Well, you get used to it after the first 2.000 years.

By the way, I failed to introduce myself. I am known as „The Curator of the Sands“, or just Nasus. I’m living my third or fourth life right now… if you count being in stone for several millennia as ending a life.

Well, given that I am immortal, or rather ageless, I counted all those days and noticed the world around me change bit by bit. So I knew of course this current day. The one day where Discord would be free. Free for at least a few hours before the Elements force him back into stone.

Now you might have a few questions. How am I living the third/fourth life? How do I know about the Elements if I am stoned (pun intended) for more than 1.000 years? How do I know this is the exact day where Discord would be released?

Well, I can’t answer the first question yet. But for the second, I have some background information. Now I won’t elaborate on that because that would link me to the first question and I am not answering that. For the third question, I counted the days since I am imprisoned and I saw some scenes happening like Celestias and Lunas coronation, Discords first imprisonment and the rise and banishment of Nightmare Moon as well as her returning as Luna to the Canterlot Castle.

But enough of that, we should continue with the story for I have already wasted enough time explaining you some stuff. Anyway, I was looking around searching for a specific group of ponies coming to the Statue Garden today. As I spotted them (yeah, I can still look around as if I wasn't turned to stone…and no, the stone eyes don’t  move) I spoke to Discord again, mentally of course.

You see that group of ponies over there? The little school class visiting the Statue Garden?

Yeah, and why would that interest me in any way? They are just kids… what would  be so important?

You know what children can do best? They are masters in the art of creating chaos. Just wait here, not that you could do anything else, and you’ll see what I mean…

As they approached us, I heard their teacher, Ms Cheerliee, talking to them.

„Now, who knows anything about this statue?“ and pointed at me first.

Now, I am not that famous and I don’t believe that I am really that much mentioned in the history books of this age since I was long before them. But it still seems like she knew a bit a bit about me, surprisingly.

Well, the children didn't say anything and just stared at their teacher. Looks like no one really knows about me these days...

„This statue represents „knowledge“. It was known as the keeper of a great library in the deserts behind the Badlands. And it is said that there was a saying he told his scholars as they learned in his library. „We always want to know everything…““

And I just continued in my mind while she did the same to her class.

„… but some things should be kept away, buried by the sands of time until they are truly forgotten by all“

Her whole class just did some „Oooohhh“ and „Aahhhhh“ before she spoke again.

„Now, let’s get over to this one. What do you think this one represents?“

I don’t  think I have to explain in all detail what happened next, right?. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were arguing about the meaning of Discord, Cheerliee explained it and made those three write an essay about the meaning of Discord.

Now, I could see cracks forming on his outer stone shell until he broke free. He immediately floated over to me and hugged my giant form.

„Oh Nasus, you were right about these kids. But how did you know they would come today? And you even knew what they were supposed to do, right? You surprise me, for a being as old as you, you sure know much about this time.“

If he could see it, I would just smile mildly. I took a deep breath and spoke to him one last time since it is somewhat exhausting to speak with someone who’s mind is just full of chaos and disorder…

Now, if you would be so kind and release me? It would be great to feel the ground again and see the colors of this world again.

He seemed to really ponder about that decision but  I knew his answer already so I reacted quickly.

We both know that you aren't going to release me, so how about a little bet, a game if you want. As soon as one of us is forced to return to stone, the other one will be released shortly after. If you are so great, then it shouldn't be a problem for you to stay in your current state, should it?

And following his chaotic and playful nature, he of course accepted the challenge, being the idiot I always liked most out of the non-ponies in Equestria.

„Alright, we have a deal. And just so you know, I won’t return so soon. So, until then, ta-ta.“

With those words, he disappeared in a blink and I just leaned back. Now all i had to do was to wait until Twilight and her friends would appear and return Discord to stone, as long as my appearance in this world isn't causing something to change.

---Some hours later---

I heard something flying towards us and I of course knew what it was. Shortly after, I saw some guard ponies pulling something into the garden. It was, unsurprisingly, Discord, who found himself in stone again. Looking at it, I couldn't help myself but chuckle.

Looks like „The Great God of Chaos“ got beaten by some mares wielding some jewelry, am I wrong? Well… it seems like my turn has come. While they are having their little ceremony and party, I will swiftly make my escape.

Oh, ha ha, very funny… Wait, how do you know that some mares beat me? Just how much do you actually know, Nasus. Tell me!

With these words, the stone around me got loose. It didn't crumbled off of me, rather it slowly turned to sand, revealing my body beneath it. As I moved my appendages, namely arms and legs, I took my staff I was holding the whole time and moved over to Discord, repeating my signature phrase.

„We always want to know everything, but some things should be kept away, buried by the sands of time until they are truly forgotten by all“

With those words, I looked up the castle to see the ponies still standing there.

Well, I should make my escape now. It would be bad to be spotted by one of them leaving this place alive… I just hope that they are alright…

With that, I made my way through the streets of Canterlot, finding them unsurprisingly empty due to the current event holding place in the castle. Unseen, I left the capital city of Equestria and headed to the Everfree Forest, looking for a certain place I could „redesign“ to fit my needs… Next Chapter: While Stone becomes Sand... Estimated time remaining: 29 Minutes