Chapter 6

Forest Decorations

Celestia awoke with a start the next day. A loud squawking interrupted the dream she was having of partaking in a smorgasbord of tasty treats. She was about to sink her teeth into a slice of cherry pie when the tiny Phoenix resting happily on the mirror’s frame let the sleeping Alicorn know the morning was upon them. Celestia lifted her head up from the drool-covered pillow and looked over at her tiny roommate that was now busying herself by cleaning her wings. It took a while before Celestia realized that the cage from last night had melted and morphed with the table so there was newly formed metal splatter in the middle. The Phoenix looked down at her and leaped off its stand and fluttered down flapping its wings furiously as to slow its fall.

“I guess you don’t like to be locked up huh?” Celestia asked yawning. “What time is it?”

The tiny bird tilted its head as to understand what was being said. Celestia rose from bed, her mane and tail curled and messy. She levitated a brush from the dresser and began brushing her mane. The Phoenix watched as Celestia finished. The bird hopped to the edge of the dresser and braced for another leap. It leaped off and landed on Celestia’s back where it stayed stationary like a statue.

“I guess you’re hungry too,” said Celestia noting her tiny rider.

Once again the bird looked up tilting its head before bouncing expectantly. The two left for breakfast, the guards outside the King and Queens quarters greeted them the second they were spotted. Passing by the windows she saw that outside the castle grounds were still covered in snow. Unlike yesterday when going outside wasn’t the best of choices, today the weather appeared to be giving the kingdom a break from the heavy storms.

When the two arrived in the dinning room they found that only two ponies were there. Her sister Luna and the grey Earth Pony were talking about something that made the future Princess of the night look on with wonder.

“Oh, Celie!” she proclaimed looking up. “Come join us! The new pony was just telling me about the Crystal Empire!”

“Good Morning your highness,” the grey stallion said with a faint smile. “Awake at last eh? Looks like you win.”

“Win what?” asked Celestia taking her seat as the bird hoped off her back and darted toward the plate covered in food.

“Her majesty and I had a little wager,” the stallion said a little embarrassed. “She bet that you wouldn’t come down until everypony else had already eaten.”

Luna’s smirked at the brilliance of her plan and wasted no time in proudly explaining it.

“Yes! And if I won, you would have to tell us more about the Crystal Empire and what your name is.”

“Hold on now Princess, I never agreed to that last part.”

“Luna, you shouldn’t be forcing him to tell you certain things about himself if he’s not comfortable with it.” Celestia frowned. “I’m sorry, I hope she hasn’t bothered you too much.”

“Not at all Princess,” said the Earth Pony reassuringly. “She’s curious, I can respect that. Future leaders should have the guts to ask things like that. I mean, you want to know you can trust those you are with after all.”

Luna blushed a little at this. The Phoenix was helping herself to some of Celestia’s corn flakes while she tried to take a separate plate and scoop some of the food on it for herself.

“Wait, do you think I have what it takes?”

The stallion staid silent for a good ten seconds before setting his goblet down and said thoughtfully, “I think you each have something of importance to give to this kingdom. What that is however, I do not know.”

The two sisters were beside themselves as they began to think about their strengths and weaknesses. The only thing of importance that kept coming up was their duty to one day raise the sun and moon. Ever since they found out who they were destined to become, they have undergone extensive training. So far Luna has learned about making constellations and Celestia was busying herself with reading books on the past rulers of Canterlot who had their gift. No matter how hard they tried, she and her sister couldn’t raise the sun or moon. Their parents told them that when the time comes, they would know and then the sun and moon would be theirs to control. When that day would be was any ones guess, but until then the two would continue with their studies and look for anything that could give them advise on how to be Princesses. Luna levitated a vase of water and pored it in a bowl for the phoenix to drink out of.

“So Princess what are going to do with it?” the stallion asked looking down at the bird who had hopped into the bowl and dunked its head.

“I guess I should start teaching her how to fly at some point,” said Celestia. “I’ll give her a couple more days to grow her wings out though.”

“Ah, so you see I was right about guessing that the Phoenix was a girl,” said Luna knowledgably.

“No, I found out last night as a matter a fact,” said Celestia and added, “Do you really want me to explain how she handles business?”

“No, that’s fine,” said Luna quickly and went back to her goblet.

“Well, I need to head out,” said the new pony rising from his seat and putting on his cloak.

“Where are you off to?” asked Celestia.

“I told Princess Luna that me and some of your guards should go make sure that the tribes aren’t at each others throats. Don’t worry, I already checked on your parents. They’re doing better than expected.”

“Isn’t it wonderful sister?” asked Luna happily. “He told me that they will be back to normal by the beginning of spring!”

“Yes,” said Celestia looking grateful. “That is good news. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet your highnesses.”

As the cloaked pony opened the tall doors to leave, he bumped into Snap Shot. “Captain!” he said genially to the tall stallion in front of him. “Good to see you’re up and ready for action!”

Snap Shot ignored him and bowed to the Princesses.

“Sorry for intruding your majesties, but I think we should think about what we should do if the tribes haven’t settled on an agreement.”

Celestia and Luna smiled at the Captain and then to Snap Shot who was waiting by the doors. Snap Shot didn’t like the look the two sisters were giving him and something told him it had something to do with the young Earth Pony behind him.

“Snap Shot you are in luck,” said Luna still smiling at the two of them. “Can we trust you two with something?”

“Yes Princess Luna, anything,” said Snap Shot still dreading what the sisters had in mind.

“Good, our friend here has requested that he should check on the tribe leaders and see if things have settled down.”

“It sounds like a fine plan indeed Princess,”

“I’m glad you think so. We want you and a couple other guards to join him.”

The Phoenix shook its head and squawked happily as it continued to clean itself in the bowl. Snap Shot looked at the bird, then to the sisters and finally the cloaked stallion. He would have preferred to send a couple of guards to escort him and let them deal with it, but it was clear that the two sisters wanted them to get along. Swallowing his pride, Snap Shot saluted the two sisters and marched out of the room. The Earth Pony was thanking the Princesses for allowing him to assist the guards when he felt his tail being pulled. The doors closed shut leaving the two sisters to their own conversations. The Phoenix had leaped out of the bowl and shook itself dry.

“Hey, big sister?” asked Luna sounding serious. “What was wit that magic last night?”
“What magic?” questioned Celestia, but Luna wasn’t buying her puzzled fib.

“Celestia,” Luna frowned, “I know you felt it too and I know your heard those cries of anger. So, what do you think?”

“I… I don’t know sister,” said Celestia truthfully. “What ever it was, it was powerful. But…”

“But what?”

“I don’t think the burst of magic was the same magic felt at the meeting. This one didn’t feel like anything dangerous. It’s strange but I felt a sense of happiness after it lifted. Like all the negativity around was gone the instant it was.”

Luna considered her big sister on this. For she too had felt at ease once the magic they felt had left.

“Do you think that’s the end of it?”

Celestia didn’t answer. Luna waited, thinking that she was pondering on a response, but something told her that Celestia had a feeling that whatever that magic was, they haven’t seen the last of it.

Outside the city, down the falls and into the Everfree Forest, Something was making the animals think twice about coming out of their homes. A serpentine body slithered its way across snow-covered grounds while a much larger being with wings trekked along side.

“I don’t see why you won’t tell me what your real attentions are,” commented the large creature in low raspy voice.

The snake smelled the white surface and let out a dissatisfied hiss.

“Because I get the feeling that you and your brother are hiding things from me as well.”

The Snake came to a stop and hissed again. This time he lifted his head and narrowed his eyes as if something he was tracking would become clear to him at last.

“There’s something different about this place.” He hissed.

There was small flash of white light and where the snake once was a small bird had taken its place and flew up a tree to have better look at their surroundings.

Below the large beings feet left deep imprints in the snow, making the ground shake a little. He like his traveling companion was anything but ordinary. The bird in the trees was a Shape Shifter, but what he was he didn’t even know. Perhaps the best way of describing himself was that he felt like he was like the Shape Shifter once he was in his true form. A mixture of different species thrown together to create a beast like no other. He and his brother had a problem with the increasing amount of ponies traveling outside of their own territories and venturing into theirs.The last one they expected to run into was the Shape Shifter, but after the three met his older brother told him to go with the being of many faces and find a place to take refuge in until spring. The two traveled until the night before, when the Shape Shifter began to head on a one way track. As if he was homing in on something that only he could see. Now, here they were, in another forest where it became clear that the bird in the trees was onto something. The winged beast looked up to where the bird had gone.

“Well?” he asked. “All I see is a frozen wasteland. What’s so strange about that?”

“Because its not just the ground as I originally thought,” said the bird landing on one of the outstretched branches. “This entire place is filled with magical energy.”

“So?”

The bird took off and landed on the beast's shoulder.

“I told you and your brother that I felt a strong wave of magic come from here. But this isn’t the same.”

“What do you mean?”

The bird sighed knowing that he would have to explain himself.

“Usually powerful magic like the one I felt goes away after some time. Here, it’s different. While the one who had done the casting might be gone, the magic is still around. And this isn’t ordinary magic. This is something else. Something… Dark and Chaotic.”

Even as he said it, an evil smile formed on the bird’s small beak. The tall winged being sensed the delight coming from his small friend. The very thought of those living under such conditions where they were helpless to stop it made the bird wish he was there to see it. Confusion running rapid, the natural order disturbed and true colors having the chance to at last be shown were like music to ears. Everything unbalanced and disordered; everything in perfect Chaos. He was so busy daydreaming about it all that he didn’t realize that he had transformed back to his original form. A strained groan snapped him back to earth.

“Ah, My mistake Scorpan,” he said lazily as he wrapped himself around his companion like a large snake. “Must have drifted off.”

“Clearly,” said Scorpan coldly.

As the two continued their way through the Everfree the more the Shape Shifter wanted to try out his own magic. He began to wonder what would happen if he tried to change something that has already been changed. As if Scorpan had known what he was thinking he was quick to warn him not to try anything. Reluctantly the Shape Shifter agreed making a mental note to go back on his word the second his companion wasn’t watching him like a hawk. A while later the two took a break beside a pond. Scorpan told the Shape Shifter that he was going to get a birds eye view while he stayed behind. While Scorpan was away, the crafty menace used his own magic to make his tail glow bright yellow. Sneaking toward the edge of the pond he made the ice melt and let it sink into the icy depths. The water gave off a small spark of yellow light before returning to normal. Wondering what he must have done, the Shape Shifter was about transform into a frog when Scorpan called out to him.

“Discord, the search ends hear.”

“Let me guess,” began Discord stepping away from the murky water. “You found what you were looking for at last.”

“That and more. We are near the kingdom of Canterlot!”

“Kingdom eh?” Discord said sounding bored.

“Yes indeed!” Said Scorpan more enthusiastic. “There are mountains up ahead. I think that is where my brother and I will be residing for now.”

“Sure, you two go ahead and do that,” said Discord more interested in finding out what had changed under the water.

Quickly faking that he had something in his eye the mischievous creature turned to take his own eye out.

“Is that really necessary?” asked Scorpan in disgust.

“What? This way I can clean hard to reach places.”

He dunked his eye in the water and moved it around. With his sight being limited he dropped his eye on purpose and let it sink to the bottom.

“Oh, no!” he cried out dramatically. “I must have dropped it!”

“Your kidding right?” growled Scorpan. “If going into that murky slop is all you wanted just do it already!”

Grinning to himself, Discord turned into a frog and leaped into the pond. He dove deeper than expected and found his eye lying beside a mossy rock. Being free to see with two eyes, he looked around expectantly. All that was there was thick brown nothingness. Feeling disappointed the frog was about to swim back to the surface when a large object swam past in plain view. The frog saw a pair of small orange eyes staring back at him and when the reptile drew close he saw that there was something different about it. The whole body had taken on a smooth rock form. Even the teeth had turned into stone. Discord’s toothy smile returned as he watched his creation swim off. A new thought came to him as he made his way back to the surface. If he could change the way the wildlife looked underwater, then what would the land look like by the time he was done with it? To him the possibilities sounded endless. If he could create a new habitat, the forest would be his control! Alas, if it were only that easy. Unlike his brother, Scorpan was strict about the natural balance of things. Finally a solution came to him. All he would have to do is live with Scorpan and his brother in the mountains for some time until he was able to fully control the forest bellow. One thing was for sure as he hopped out of the pond and transformed back into himself. With the land already being affected by dark magic, this was going to take some time to figure out.

“Satisfied?” questioned Scorpan impatiently.

“Oh, yes, very satisfied,” said Discord as he made water poor out of his left ear.

“Fine, you can go wherever you wish now,” said Scorpan excusing the Shape Shifter. “I must return and give my brother the news.”

“On second thought, I might join you two after all,” said Discord with ease. “That is until spring arrives.”

Scorpan walked over to him and eyed him suspiciously.

“What are you planning?”

“Planning?” questioned Discord acting innocent. “Nope, no plans here.”

Scorpan surveyed the Shape Shifter a little longer. Trying to see if he could intimidate him into telling the truth. Discord knew exactly what was going on and refused to break eye contact. Finally Scorpan eased up and allowed the trickster to join them. Discord transformed yet again. This time he took the form of a fox. He trotted beside the tall flying beast, his plan already starting to form I his head.

When the two returned a red Centaur who wasted no time in finding the closest cave to take refuge in from the cold winds accompanied them.

“This will have to do for now Scorpan,” he said in a low rumbly voice.

“Tirek, we should climb higher,” said Scorpan noting how small the cave was.

His voice was a little higher pitched than his older brothers.

“And be at the winds mercy?” questioned Tirek darkly. “I think not. No, this will do just fine until Spring.”

Discord was just telling Scorpan something when Tirek asked what all the whispering was about.

“Discord is a little concerned and so am I. We are close the Canterlot. You know, where some of the pony races live and…”

“It matters not,” Tirek glared. “If any of them venture out here, we will deal with them.”

“Now Tirek,” began Scorpan warningly. “We mustn’t act irrationally. They haven’t done anything to us yet.”

“Besides invading our lands and roaming wherever they please. Harmless? I think not!”

He slammed his fist into the he wall and made a crack form all the way to the ceiling. Worried that his brother might trap them all inside he calmed him down with reassuring him that if the ponies do discover them, they would get rid of them.

“Good,” said Tirek coldly. “I promise brother, soon they will have what’s coming to them. Discord, in the meantime do whatever it is you usually do.”

“Tirek you don’t mean…” began Scorpan but his brother cut him off.

“Oh, but I do Scorpan. Discord, put your talents to work. This place needs some redecorating.”

Discord was beside himself. This was going better than he had expected. His wicked toothy grin came back as he watched Scorpan try to reason with his older brother but was silenced by the dark look he was given.

“Oh, I can assure you that my decorations will be quite the sight by the time I’m done,” Discord said to himself as he rubbed his claw and pawed hands together.