My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Discordian Troubles

Chapter 11

Reunion with Friends Long Dead

Rainbow Dash collapsed into the sand as her disease had begun to take it’s tone on the Pegasus. She thought she had more time before she would start feeling the effects of the illness; especially if they are in the Lifeless World. But, guess somethings, you can’t outrun. So much for hoping that diseases don’t hit in the Lifeless World.

“DASH!” Req yelled as she ran over. Manni watched with fear clearly seen in her eyes. Req pulled out her sword and held it over the unconscious Pegasus. “Curaga!” the spell seeped out of the sword and into Dash but, frankly, it won’t help with an incurable disease like the one Dash has. She was so desperate, she went into her goddess spells. She didn’t want her friend to die. “Celestial Light!”

The sword glowed bright white and Dash did the same. Dash took a deep breath and coughed violently. Req took a sigh of relief and fell back onto her butt. “thank goodness. You had me worried.”

Dash coughed again and held her throat. “what happened?” she coarsely asked.

“your illness hit; what else?” Req replied.

“my… illness?” she rubbed her throat as she got up. “but this is the Lifeless World, isn’t it?”

“well, Gabs told me that even in Purgatory, you can still get hit with illness’s. thankfully, they won’t kill you, seeing as how you’re already dead. So even fatal diseases like cancer or… whatever you have won’t kill you, long as you’er in here.”

Dash looked up to the clear sky. “but… I’m still gonna suffer the painful affects?”

“afraid so.”

Dash sighed and rubbed her eyes. That’s just great, just real great. She’s still gonna get the affects but won’t die from them. Why not just call this place hell while we’re at it? “well… can’t stay here.” she flapped her wings and took to the air. “come on. Let’s see if we can find everyone.”

“o-okay.” Req muttered. She walked off in the direction they were already heading with Dash not far above her. Manni followed not far behind. She almost let the truth slip when she and Dash had their argument before she lost consciousness but, thankfully, she was able to hide it in time.

Begin Song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ9cPxUXbuk

Sulyya Springs - Final Fantasy XIII OST.

The stars in the sky flickered one by one as each and every group in the Lifeless World journeyed on, hoping to find the others and make some sort of plan and get out of this endless desert place. Of course, not knowing where to go is a bit of a… problem.

“we’ve been walking for hours.” Shadow moaned. “can’t we take a break?”

“you want to find the others or not?” Sora replied, leading him, Fluttershy, Edge, and Garble though this wasteland.

“I WANT to go home with Dash and Scoots. And are you even sure we’re going in the right direction?”

“no, but this feels right. And my feelings have never lead my astray.”

For some reason, the Pegasus, the Changeling, and the Dragon weren’t exactly confident with that plan. But, it was the only thing they have to go on. And anything was better then being in the middle of nowhere.

Spike continued walking with a sleepy and lightly wounded Rarity on his back.

“sorry again, Spike. I didn’t know there was a snake under that rock.” she yawned, looking at where the snake bit her on the hoof.

“just be glad it wasn’t poisonous.” Spike commented. “otherwise, we would’ve lost our kid.”

Rarity held her stomach for a moment. “yeah.” she felt guilty. Ever since they started going out, even after he proposed, he had been doing everything for her and not letting her do anything for him. How could she? She didn’t have the time. Well, as soon as she got the chance, she was going to go by her Element and do something for him as thanks for taking care of her.

Considering they ever get out, that is. “where do you think we are?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” he replied. “could be anywhere, could be nowhere. We could be dead and this is the afterworld or another dimension with no sun yet everything is still as bright as the day.”

They passed over a sand dune and a patch of green not far from them. Well, it looked like a patch but they were quite a ways away from it.

“is that… green?” she asked, squinting her eyes.

“only one way to find out.” Spike put Rarity down for a moment, picked her up to carry her as if they were crossing the threshold, and took of to the air. Where there’s green, their’s likely people. And where their’s people, there’s likely a way out.

“are we there yet?”

“no.”

“are we there yet?”

“no.”

“are we there yet?”

“Can you shut up, Bahamut? Geez. And we don‘t even know where we‘re going.”

“sorry if I’m trying to lighten the mood, Zilver.”

Derpy knocked on the massive double-decker doors of the palace she found while flying. “Hello?” she knocked again. “hello?” when nobody answered, she figured it’s deserted. “just so you know, I did knock.” she said outloud before opening the door and heading in.

The door automatically closed behind her, locking her inside.

Dash flew upside-down beside Req as the 3 of them continued on to… who knows where.

Manni glanced to the right and saw something that would be considered out of place. “is that green?”

Req and Dash doubled back and looked in the direction she was looking. Sure enough, there was a patch of green far from them. By Req’s calculations, it’ll take them at least half a day to reach it.

“Anything’s better then sand.” Dash happily exclaimed as she flew towards it. Req and Manni followed after her, running as fast as they could.

The trio reached the greenery in 4 hours of non-stop flying and running which, in the Lifeless World, is a breeze. Anyone could run a triathlon here and still be as well-rested and calm as when they started.

The patch, however, turned out to be rolling fields, every flower ever known stretched out over the hills, trees the size of houses, small snow-covered mountains that one can easily climb over, and petals floating a unseen and unfelt wind.

In short, this was the definition of paradise.

“knew that this place couldn’t be endless desert.” Req said as she looked around in awe.

“hopefully there’s people here.” Manni said. Her stomach growled, causing her to laugh nervously. “and maybe some food. I didn’t have a thing to eat since we left Manehatten.”

“well, only one way to find out.” Dash said as she walked deeper into the greenery. Req and Manni followed.

After 3 hours of searching though the green fields, the 3 of them were starting to give up hope that there was anyone else here. I say were because… well… that proved to be false.

The trio climbed over a hill, each of them yawning out of boredom, when they spotted a small but modern town not far below them. And where there are buildings, there are…

“People!” the 3 of them exclaimed as they ran on down.

It took them the better part of a hour to get there but they got there. Sure enough, there were people, but it was a bit surprising to see Ponies, Humans, Demons, Lylatians; basically a whole ton of beings from different worlds here.

“is that…. Is that a gargoyle?” Req commented, seeing one walk by. Dash and Manni shrugged and walked though the town.

They got the attention of everyone they passed by. They all felt something off with those 3, as with their other guests that arrived recently.

“Come on. Kick it over here!” a boy’s voice called out.

Requiem recognized it instantly and gasped in shock. “was that…” she ran off to go find the source of the voice. Dash and Manni, wondering what she heard, ran after her.

Req ran though the ground, shoving people out of the way, before coming across a playground where children were playing. Among them was a 7 year old boy she never thought she was going to see again.

“Adolf…” she gasped.

Adolf kicked a soccer ball into a net. It went in, causing him and his team to cheer. “YEAH! That’s how we do it!” he cheered. He high-fived a few of his teammates when he spotted his sister standing there with a wide smile on her face. “Requiem?”

“ADOLF!” she yelled out as happy as can be. She ran for her and hugged him and held him tight. “Oh, Adolf. It’s so good to see you again.”

“wh-what are you doing here, Req?” a surprised and confused Adolf asked.

“it’s a… it’s a long story, little bro.” she said with tears in her eyes. “it’s just great to see you again.”

Dash and Manni appeared and saw her hugging the kid. “un… Req? who is this?” Dash asked.

Req put her brother down. “I told you about my… deceased brother Adolf, right?”

Dash looked at him and he playfully waved. “he’s Catalyst?”

Both siblings face-palmed. “guess we’re gonna have to explain that part of the story.” they said in unison.

Then, Dash had a realization. “wait? If he’s dead, then that must mean th…” Dash quickly turned around and ran off. It took her a moment but Req got the same realization.

“if this is the afterworld…” she muttered. “… then all dead people must be here. Including a recently deceased brother and mother.”

Dash ran though the town, even passing by her friends that had just arrived. She arrived at the outskirts of town, finding the two she was searching for, talking and laughing on a bench. Happiness welled up inside her as she ran over. “Mom! Soarin’!” they both turned around in surprise as Dash’ ran up and hugged them. “OH, it’s so great to see you all again!”

“Dash!” they both exclaimed in surprise. “are you dead?” Soarin’ asked.

Dash chuckled and lightly punched him in the shoulder. “no. I’m not dead. At least… I don’t think I am.”

“this is just so unexpected.” Shine said.

“I know. I felt the same way when me and everyone else got here.” Dash immediately broke the mood and lightly punched her mom on the shoulder, same as with Soarin’ but a bit harder. “why didn’t you tell me you were sick?”

Shine knew she would have to answer that question sooner or later. She just hoped she had 60 more years till then. “well… I didn’t want to worry you while you were growing up. Though… having you commit Suicide, I certainly didn’t see that coming.”

Dash was surprised that she heard that. “how did you… forget about it. Forget about it. Still, you could’ve told me. Could’ve helped me when I got it.”

Shine felt bad. “I’m sorry, Dash. I didn’t know it was genetic. If I did--”

“I know. I know.” Dash softly said. “but still, some fair warning.”

Soarin’ looked between them and felt uncomfortable. “sooooo, how’s Scootaloo? Is she okay?”

This part, Dash was looking forward to. “you mean Ms. Scootaloo Dash? She’s doing fine. Just adopted her.”

Soarin’ breathed a sigh of relief. “thanks, Sis. And hey, how’s Eris?” a pang of regret fell on her face as she looked away. Soarin’ felt bad for asking that. “that bad?”

“y-yeah.”

“how bad?”

“it’s--- it’s a long story. And I don’t feel like talking about it now.”

Soarin’ nodded. “okay. I understand.”

Dash took a deep sigh then looked back to them. “well, anyway, as I said, I got Scootaloo adopted into my family, despite some help from a stubborn and vengeful Manni.”

“Manni?” both her brother and mother asked.

“yeah. Some crazy lady who was trying to take Scoots away. Still not saying why. But, thanks to Dad, we were able to put her in her place.”

Both Soarin’ and Shine gasped. “you… you met Golden Day?” Shine gasped.

“yeah. He feels extremely guilty for abandoning both our families and he believes helping with Scoots would help. It did, but only a sliver. And it felt good, punching him in the face.”

Soarin’ and Shine chuckled in empathy. She beat them to the punch. Literally.