Poisoned Chaos

"Dee, are you alright? It's your time to come to the ring soon"       Smooze peeped in his friend's dressing foom. Discord was standing there, dressed in white wide sleeved shirt, black vest and trousers and shoes, with black cape on his back. Old magician looked at his sad reflection in the mirror, wearing white mask on the right half of his face. "Are you okay?" "Yes... I'm fine, Smoothie." "You look awful," chubby guy approached him, "Still thinking about what happened that evening?" "Still am," Discord sighed, "Fluttershy... she rejected me so sudden. As if she wasn't sure it was really me that time." "I don't think that's the matter." "That's what I am afraid of. There are million reasons she could reject me. Any of these is scaring me." "Don't think about it. It'll be okay," Smoothie gave Dee a shoulder pat, "Come on, you have to be out there in a minute." "Alright, friend."       Smoothie left. Discord observed his depressed reflection for a little longer before taking his hat - the black one this time, - hiding his horns and going to the ring. Gymnasts, acrobats and other staff who already finished performing passed him by in a good mood. Magician was a little jealous on them - unlike him, they spent Nightmare Night without acciddents and fighting.       Crowd's excited screams and aplause were heart from the arena. Everyone was pleased with circus perfomances and were eager to see the finale featuring our famous Discord as "The Phantom of The Opera". Breathing out, Discord came out to the crowds, taking every step carefuly and slowly. Light went out and just two spotlights were pointing their rays at the star performer. Audience stopped breathing for a moment, excited. Tense, majestic music began to play and then deep singing was heard from "The Phantom”:

You have come here

In pursuit of your deepest urge

In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent.

Silent...

      Discord slowly walked around the arena, looking around at the audience. He made his facial expression as cold and stern as possible, so as not to spoil the image of the phantom by thinking about his problems.

I have brought you

That our passions may fuse and merge

In your mind you've already succumbed to me

Dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me

Now you are here with me, no second thoughts

You've decided...

Decided...

      The music changed to enchanting, as if something otherworldly enveloped everyone in the room. - Come on, friend, you can do it...

Past the point of no return

No backward glances

Our games of make-believe are at an end

Past all thought of if or when

No use resisting

Abandon thought and let the dream descend

What raging fire shall flood the soul?

What rich desire unlocks its door?

What sweet seduction lies before us

Past the point of no return

The final threshold

What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn

Beyond the point of no return?

Discord fixed his gaze on one single point in space. A spark of concern became noticeable in his eyes - he was so worried about what happened that he completely forgot to find a partner to sing this song. If someone's soprano does not sound in the next few seconds, everything is lost, the show will be ruined.

You have brought me

      Startled, Discord turned around. Fluttershy slowly came out to him, still in the same black dress, but with better combed hair. She knew that Discord didn't take care of his singing partner, so she took on this role herself.

To that moment where words run dry

To that moment where speech disappears into silence.

Silence..

      Fluttershy took a few steps towads magician.

I have come here

Hardly knowing the reason why

In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent

Now I am here with you, no second thoughts

I've decided.

Decided.

"You came to help me..," Discord thought to himfelf, shocked, still trying to remain cold. He and the girl were slowly approaching eachother, singing.

Past the point of no return

No going back now

Our passion play has now at last begun

Past all thought

of right or wrong -

one final question:

how long should we

two wait, before

we're one . . .?

When will the blood

begin to race

the sleeping bud

burst into bloom?

When will the flames,

at last, consume

us . . .?

      They came as close to each other as possible, touching their right shoulders to each other. A slight, exciting tremor ran through Dee’s body. With some difficulty, he took Fluttershy's hand and squeezed it tightly. She squeezed her hand in response, but not so hard.

Past the point

of no return

the final threshold -

the bridge

is crossed, so stand

and watch it burn . . .

We've passed the point

of no return . .

      Discord turned his gaze to his wife. She looked at him without fear, but still disappointed. The wizard slowly walked behind her, putting his arm around her shoulders.

Say you'll share with me

One love, one lifetime

Lead me, save me from my solitude

Say you want me with you here, beside you...

      Discord, with the music growing, turned Fluttershy towards him and grabbed her by the shoulders, looking at her with despair in his eyes.

Anywhere you go, let me go too!

Fluttershy looked at Discord calmly. She put her hand to his cheek, barely touching his mask with her fingertips. "Fluttershy!.. that's all I ask of..!''       Accurately to the music, at the most tense and fatal moment, the girl jerked her hand upward, abruptly removing the magician’s mask. As luck would have it, she also touched the brim of his hat, so that at that very moment the spectators gasped in fear as soon as they saw what the wizard was hiding under his hat. Yes, he was already famous in this town, but he didn’t like to stutter about his peculiarity, much less show off those horns. Discord stood motionless and just looked at Fluttershy with fear, not believing that his beloved could do this to him. Flutty herself was scared that she had acted like that in the heat of the moment. "I-I'm sorry."       Tense music kept going. Discord, finally coming to his senses, grabbed Fluttershy's hands tightly. She was scared, but the magician winked at her, letting her know that everything was fine, snapped his fingers and disappeared with her in the flames. Don't worry, they just moved behind the scenes. From there they heard how delighted the crowd was: everyone jumped up from their seats, applauded, and whistled. The climax was a success.       Smoothie soon found our "Pantom" and "Cristine" together. He smiled with his usual crooked smile. "You were amazing! I've never seen so many impressed people since you pretended to get overdosed!" "Uh... weird but thank you, Smooze. I guess it's time to go home now..."

***

      Discord rushed to take off the cape and vest as soon as they got home. These made him sweat a lot. Fluttershy left him to put clothing in the closet in the hallway while she got to the bedroom. Discord followed his wife a minute later. He opened the door and saw his wife sitting on the right side of their bed. Baby Tebder was sleeping in her crib which was standind by the left side of her parents' bed, curved into a ball. Fluttershy looked upset. "Fluttershy?" Magician came closer. "Discord, please... don't touch me."       Discord shaddered. He wasn't expecting such words from his dear wife. After five seconds standing there like a fool, he walked to the left side of the bed and sat there, sighing, resting his hands on his knees. "Why, Discord?.." "What?.." "You know what I'm talking about," Fluttershy said strictly, "Why did you let them out? What were you thinking when you gave freedom to these dangerous criminals? Why did you have to put us in danger?" "Honey, I-..." "Don't call me "honey" until you give me a proper explanation!"       Discord felt a sharp pang in his heart. He could hardly stop the trembling in his knees. "Fluttershy... you have to undersrand, I never meant to cause anything horrible. I just... thought I could help them change, to redeem them." "By killing you and those you love?" "No... But by working together... You see, a few months before they kidnapped me I thought to myself... this isn't fair. I've murdered so many people just trying to hide my secret and did such terrible things these guys cannot compete with. Yet I was the one to deserve forgiveness and second chance... you and your friends accepted me even after I kidnapped you. I, the murderer, was given a second chance. They were not. They are just... a family, just like us, but complicated. So I thought, what if I can change them?" Magician voice was trembling, "I pretended to be the one of the greatest villains in history so I could release them convince them to "work" for me. "Don't lie to me. I've heard the news, Tirek escaped." "I'm not lying. Tirek was too impatient, so he escaped along with Sombra, while Chrysalis was released legaly." "Wait, S-Sombra?! That Sombra that tried to kill Twilight's sister-in-law and brother and tried to make me join him?" "Yes. No need to worry though, he died while trying to escape." "So... is that it? Your "plan" was..?" "Was taking a bad start. They were always fighting and dragged their adopted gal into it. But the week before my disappearance they finaly managed to master the team work. I was so proud... but I was so oblivious. I should have put them to the right path. I should have... should have..."       Fluttershy noticed her husband's voice trembling harder. She turned around to him. He slouched heavily and grabbed his head, shaking from something. He could hardly contain the surging emotions. "I'm sorry... I-I don't know what to do. I could have lost you. I don't wanna loose you. You, our baby. Even Smooze. You're... you're the most dearest people I have." "Discord..," Flutty carefully moved closer to him and hugged him from behind, "Sorry for being so rude."       Magician glanced at his wife. They were silent for a while. Then, sighing loudly, he asked her: "Would you mind if... if I take my beast form?"       Flutty let him go and nodded. Soft yellow glow came from Dee. In a few seconds he turned into long bodied dragon-like creature with completely different animal limbs, tail of a snake, head of a horse and asymmetrical horns which you are already familiar with. Hardly but the girl could still recognize his sticking out fang and big red eyes. Discord wrapped his tail around Flutty's waist, hugged her close to him and then wrapped himself around her, resting his head on her shoulder. Fluttershy stroked his head, giggling. "You dummy. My silly cute dummy." "Dada?" Suddenly a thin tiny voice was heard. Shaddering in surprise, both parents looked at baby Tender. She was standing on her tiny legs in the crib, holding into its edges, looking at her parents with her curious little eyes. Looks like they woke her up. "Dada?" The baby repeated. Discord and Fluttershy looked at each other and on man's face with a happy chuckle appeared a smile. "Her first word!"       With a snap of his fingers he teleported the baby into his arms and hugged her tight. Little girl laughed for teleportation tickled her. And Fluttershy was just observing happy father and daughter, smiling. Maybe it wasn't such a bad Nightmare Night after all.