The Elements of Discord, Ch. 4- Deception

Twilight rolled over under her covers and groaned, silently cursing her new-found insomnia.  Now, don't get her wrong, she loved being back in Canterlot again, whatever the reason.  The fact that her friends were here with her made it all the better; she had sometimes fantasized about what it would be like for her friends to move with her into the palace and live with the Princesses.  No, it was the stupid sun keeping her awake.

Then it dawned on her.  The sun?  She had gone to bed rather early, but that was hours ago.  Why the hay was the sun still up?

She rolled out of bed, grumbling to herself, and made her way toward the throne room.  When she got there, she casually walked over to Princess
Celestia, trying to think of how to say it respectfully.  Unable to come up with anything, she decided to just keep it simple, "Princess, why's
the sun still up?"  It was only when the Princess turned to her that she noticed the worry on her face.

"Its not, Twilight," she said, "I lowered the sun hours ago!  I can feel my sister's moon up right now, but nopony can see it!"  Celestia paused, looking at Twilight pointedly.

That's when the second realization hit her.  "Oh!"  She groaned and smacked her forehead with her hoof, remembering why she was in Canterlot in the first place.  She turned to the nearest guard and said, "Go get my friends and bring them down here, please."

The guard turned to Princess Celestia, raising an eyebrow.  "Orders, your Highness?" he asked.

"Why are you questioning her?  You know who she is!  You are to take everything she says as if its coming from my mouth!  You know that," she scolded.  The guard cringed and left, muttering to himself about how cranky everyone was.  A few minutes later he returned, leading the yawning, sleepy-eyed group into the throne room, Rarity still in her bedclothes.

"Well, what do we know?" the fashionista asked almost as soon as they entered the room.

"Wow Rarity, you re- *yawn* you've really been taking charge lately!" Pinkie said, absent her usual bounces.

"Yeah, well, Twilight may be our unofficial leader, but somepony has to step up every now and then so she doesn't burn herself out," she responded, giving Twilight a warm smile.

"I appreciate that, Rarity," Twilight said, returning the smile.  "Listen up, girls!  We've narrowed down the area that Deception could be in to Canterlot itself.  Lun- errr, Princess Luna sent us a letter a few minutes ago saying that it got darker the farther you got from here and that it was completely night by the time you got the the Everfree forest."

"Alright," said Rainbow while stifling a yawn, "let's go kick this thing's flank so we can get back to bed."

Taking her advice, they donned their Elemental jewels and immediately left, heading to Canterlot market.  The streets were deserted but for a few ponies who were curious about the strange situation.  Twilight turned to the group, speaking like a General addressing her troops, "Alright, everypony, fan out!  We'll make our way from here to the gates, then head back this way!"

"Awww hay, we don't have time for this," Applejack muttered, not used to being up anywhere near this late.  "SHOW YERSELF YA COWARD!"

The entire group jumped when a raspy voice spoke up behind them, "You didn't have to yell."

"Oh, wow.  Ah honestly didn't think that would work."

"Such a short temper...  That'll get you into trouble someday," the voice said.  A transparent snake, big enough to swallow a pony whole, shimmered into view.  Twilight shrieked and attempted to run, only to fall flat on her face.  Rainbow had stepped on her tail as soon as the serpent appeared, anticipating her reaction.

"What do you want?" the cyan pegasus asked, not changing the disinterested expression on her face.

"Remember, girls, we can't trust a thing that comes out of that mouth!" Applejack yelled, giving it her meanest look.

"Oh, you're going to be like that?  How quaint." Deception said with a bored sigh.  "I was planning on being honest for once in my miserable existence.  How about I show my true form, would that ease your minds?"  The snake disappeared in a flash of light and was replaced by an albino griffin.  "What I want is to go home.  It was not my choice to be sent back to this awful plane of existence and I dislike this place immensely.  Personally, I think this world must be beyond our own breed of redemption or you would've learned that you could trust only yourselves long ago.  Thankfully, simply by causing a bit of chaos the way I have, I have fulfilled the barest requirements set upon me by the powers that be."  The creature spoke plainly, glancing at each pony in turn.

"He's... he's telling the truth," Twilight said slowly.  "I don't know how he is, but he is.  I can sense it."  She shook her head as if trying to clear out her mind.  "So if you want to leave, why are you still here?"

The griffin gave a wry smirk, saying, "This is my first cycle.  Technically I died two hundred years before your Princess came to power, so I've never played this role before.  Still, its not every day that you meet the holders of the Elements of Harmony.  I've decided to have a little fun with you before I go."

Rainbow gave an aggravated groan.  "Are all of you going to make us play a stupid game?  I figured you jerks would be coming to fight us!  Why shouldn't we just blast you right now?"

"Because, my lovely little Dashie, I am not really here," Deception said with a chuckle, walking through a nearby market stall to prove his point.  "You see, each of us Discordians have power over one specific facet of existence; one single piece of nature that somehow corresponds to our individual vices.  Whereas Avarice had control of plague and disease, I have power over light.  I am a master illusionist."  He fixed his gaze on Rainbow before continuing, "And no, where Avarice and I are content to simply use you as temporary playthings, the rest of our counterparts are...  lacking our sportsmanship.  They are each as cruel as they are powerful and you'll find them much more sadistic than either of us.  If its battle you want, they'll give you more than your fill."

"Fine, we'll play your game.  Let's just get this over with, I need my beauty sleep," Rarity grumbled to him.

"A game?  No, you are mistaken.  Games are fun for all, this is a test!  I will be enjoying this much more than you!"  He turned back into a snake once again, causing Fluttershy to tackle Twilight to keep her in place.  "Part one is simple, do you know the truth?"  The walls and streets of the city shifted in an instant, becoming a maze of alleys and dead ends.  Deception left them with one final instruction as he faded from view, his voice now angry and commanding, "All six of you, meet me at the gates of this city or I'll burn out the eyes of everyone in its walls!"

"You think this can stop us?  I know Canterlot better than anyone!" Twilight said, running through a nearby wall.  "If we just keep running this way we-" she grunted as the next wall was completely solid.  Rubbing her head she stared at a shimmering wall of solid light.

"You don't think I'd make it that easy, do you?" Deception's raspy voice called out.  "Some of these walls are false, some aren't, your memory will do you no good here.  I've also placed these same invisible barriers over your heads, so don't even think of flying!  Can you feel my lies or will you be forever lost in the dark?  You have one hour, get to it!"

The six mares immediately took off down nearby alley, not wanting to be responsible for blinding all of Canterlot.  They turned down another, making their way toward the gates, only to reach a dead end.  "Grrrr, check the walls, girls, we need to find a way out of this!"  All of them began to push against various parts of the wall.  It was almost a full minute before Fluttershy gave a surprised yelp as she fell through the fake.

Rainbow pulled her up as the rest of them ran through the spot she disappeared into and all of them continued on.  They kept going, running toward the gates as fast as they could, stopping and checking the walls whenever they reached a dead end.  After what seemed like only a few short minutes they heard Deception's spiteful voice ring out across the city, "One-half hour gone, one left.  The clock is ticking, ponies!"

"Ah hate to be the one ta say it, but we'll never make it at this rate!"

"I know that, AJ, I know!  But we have to keep moving!" Twilight shouted back, on the verge of tears.

"Well calm down, Twi!  There has to be somethin' we're missin'!  Think, girl!  Ah mean he's a mean one, but Ah don't think he'd make this impossible."

Twilight took a couple deep breaths, then closed her eyes and sat down, attempting to stay as calm as possible.  She tuned out everything around her, first the feel of the chilly night air on her skin, then the dank smell of the dark alley, finally the sound of Fluttershy's soft whimpers.  She gasped as the realization hit her and stood up quickly.  "He asked if we could feel his lies!"  She closed her eyes again and gave a single laugh; she could see the path in her mind's eye, plain as day!  "We've been looking for the path this whole time, but our eyes can lie to us!  When he said we could only trust ourselves, he was giving us a clue!"

She turned to the direction she knew would lead her to her destination and took off in a full gallop.  She could hear her friends hot on her heels, they might just make it!  The entire group have a relieved cheer as they reached the gates with ten minutes to spare.  Waiting for them was the serpentine form of the still transparent Deception.

"Not going to run from me, filly?" he said, addressing Twilight.

"I've seen you for what you are," she replied defiantly.  "You're just a fraud!  A pathetic excuse for a soul who uses smoke and mirrors to cover your own lack of power!"

The snake smiled.  "You're trying to make me angry, but everything you say is true.  I accepted what I was long, long ago.  Your words mean nothing to me.  Its a pity Avarice is so hasty, you would've provided him with the most fun he's ever had if he had thought out his plan more thoroughly.  Oh well, it doesn't matter now."  Desception coiled up his form, relaxing carelessly in front of his foes.  "Now for part two.  You wish to go back to your beloved Princess and tell her that you vanquished the big, bad Element of Discord, don't you?  Simply telling her that he chose to leave Equestria forever just doesn't have the same flair.  So if you want to beat me, you must tell the truth."  He gave a wicked grin at their confused looks.  "You must tell the truth to each other.  Now, who shall start?"

He looked around at the group before locking his eyes on Applejack.  "I think I'll have my goodie-goodie counterpart go first!"

"Ah'm ready for whatever you can dish out you monster!  Ah'm not afraid of you!  Ah never lie to my friends!" she shouted toward him, puffing out her chest proudly.

"Indeed?  Maybe so, but you certainly don't tell them everything," Deception said, narrowing his eyes.  "Well then, why don't you tell us all what you said the night before the Sisterhooves Social?  You know what I'm talking about...  That little thing you told little Sweetie Belle after swearing her to secrecy?"

Applejack deflated immediately, staring at the snake in horror.  "Y- You wouldn't!"

"Yes," he said with a delighted hiss.  Twilight's heart sank when she realized what he was attempting.  "Yes, my dear.  If you wish to end this, speak it out loud!  Oh, and look right at Rarity when you do it!"

She cowpony stuttered, too shocked to speak.

"Applejack..?  What is he talking about Applejack?" Rarity said softly, sounding like she'd rather not hear the answer.

"Ah... Ah..."  She looked away from the white unicorn, tears streaming down her cheeks.  "You have to understand, sugarcube.  Ah was frustrated with you and Ah was angry seeing Sweetie Belle as hurt as she was."

"Applejack...  Just please tell me..." Rarity said, tears now running down her face as well.

"Ah said... Ah said you didn't deserve a sister as loving as Sweetie, okay?!  Ah thought that you were only thinking of yerself when you apologized and that you'd never go through with our plan!"  Applejack said, weeping openly.  "Ah told her that she deserved better..."

"Applejack, how could you?" Rarity sobbed.  "I may not always appreciate her as much as I should, but how could you say such a mean-spirited thing to my sister?  Its one thing to say something like that to Applebloom, but Sweetie Belle?  How could you?"

Applejack burst out crying.  Unable to look her friends in the face, she turned and fled back toward the castle.

Deception gave a mirthful chuckle and spoke again, "Well, that was certainly amusing.  Now, what next?"  He looked around lazily for a few seconds before snapping his head toward Rainbow Dash.  "How about you tell your pink friend over there how you originally felt about her?"

Rainbow glared at the cruel spirit.  "Oh you are lucky you're not here right now.  I swear if I ever meet you face-to-face I will kill you.  And I'm not exaggerating; I will murder you!"  She gave Pinkie Pie a sorrowful look.

"Dashie..?"

"I'm sorry, Pinkie," Rainbow said, looking at the ground.  She continued, barely above a whisper.  "For the longest time, I hated you...  I wanted nothing to do with you and just wanted you to leave me alone.  I... I even secretly wished you'd just leave Ponyville forever."  She looked up to see that her best friend's normally puffy mane had deflated, her hair hanging limply at the sides of her head.

"Dashie, why would you want that?" the party pony said, barely keeping her composure.

"I thought you were annoying and immature...  When you convinced me to go pranking with you, I realized that you were just as cool as I was, if not, more.  I've been kicking myself for thinking that way ever since," Rainbow said, thoroughly ashamed.  "Well, there you have it.  My secret shame...  Can you ever forgive me Pinkie?"

"Yes, Dash," Pinkie said while crying into her hooves.  "Of course I can, but right now I just...  That really hurts me, Rainbow, I just need some time..."

"How delightful,"  Deception cackled.  "This is turning out much better than I thought it would!  I believe one more should suffice.  Now, who's it going to be..?"

Twilight noticed that he was staring at something behind her and turned around to see Fluttershy rooted to the spot.  "No!"  She turned around and marched right up to the snake, staring him straight in the eye.  "Make it me!  Ask me five things!  I don't care what you do, but you're not tormenting Fluttershy!"

"That's not how this works, missy.  I make the rules here," he said, slithering around her to look the trembling mare in the eyes.  "Tell your friends how you feel when you think of them and their careers!"

Fluttershy backed away with a squeak, cowering from the evil being.

"Tell them how jealous you are!  Tell them how much you resent their successes and how worried you are that they'll move on to bigger and better things, leaving you to rot alone in your little shack!"  She collapsed to her knees, crying harder than Twilight had seen anything ever cry.

Twilight wheeled around on the demon.  "How dare you!  You are the most evil, the most vile thing I have ever had the displeasure of coming across!" she bellowed, sure that all of Canterlot could hear her.

Deception laughed heartily as a tiny mote of light appeared in the air just above his head.  "I believe I am done here.  This has been most enjoyable!"  Twilight felt the world shift as the illusions over Canterlot dispelled, returning the city to its rightful layout and displaying the night sky for all to see.  Deception's form distorted and warped as he was pulled into the tiny speck of light and just like that, he was gone.

Twilight guided the miserable group back to the castle, where they immediately headed toward their quarters, having been told by a guard that the Princess would meet with them in the morning.  As they passed though the throne room where Princess Celestia was rapidly giving orders to the Royal Guard, Twilight noticed that the worried-looking Princess was starting at her.  When her mentor noticed that she had caught Twilight's attention, she flicked her eyes toward the pedestal on which sat the ancient book that had been retrieved from Canterlot Tower.  Reading the stupid thing was the last thing Twilight wanted to do at the moment, but she knew that it was of the utmost importance that she was prepared for whatever happened next.  Newly appeared on the third page of the once blank section was another poem.

Even when all love is gone and only suspicion is known,
cooperation is required should one wish to live.
However, once the end is reached,
all will lust for the prize and Betrayal will be commonplace.

Twilight groaned at the revelation before muttering to herself, "I can wait until morning to tell Dash, she's earned some sleep.