Elements of Disharmony 6

>You are Anonymous the Lich
>And everything is proceeding to plan.
>You have set the pieces in motion, and like a moth to flame, Discord came and struck.
>He twisted Shermanator in around himself, nullifying his place as the Element of Brutality.
>Shermanator realized your place as a deceiver and acted upon it.
>Now, with the aid of that small little pocket watch and your artfully timed distraction, Shermanator is within your grasp.
>He just needs a slight nudge.
>This was your world, and if you were to protect it, you would need a tight ship.
>You needed Shermanator above all else to trust you.
>Without him, the entire plan, the entire plot, crumbles.
>The other four would never trust you, not enough anyways.
>But Shermanator?
>He was simple.
>He was basic.
>He was approachable.
>And, best of all, he was determined.
>He would make the perfect focus point, the perfect frontman to ‘lead’ while you whispered in his ear.
>You felt no shame at playing Shermanator like this.
>He was a crass brute.
>An Animal, nothing more than a mad dog.
>Celestia, from his world, saw what he was earlier than most.
>She allowed herself to become soft, however, and began to believe he was something more than a weapon.
>He hardly thought enough to properly use his own body.
>There was enough room in his skull to build a new tower.
>His psyche, brused and in pain, was so easily twisted.
>Simply domineering his thoughts however would be inefficient.
>You wanted a more permanent form of control over him.
>You had to make him trust you.
>How best to do that?
>Saving him from himself, simply put.

>It was late day.
>You had been puppeteering the events that were culminating right now for the past couple days.
>Rushed yes, you would have rather had a month to prepare, but Discord forced your hand.
>It was surprising honestly how smoothly things were progressing.
>You had expected a hickup at some point, but the only variable in your plan was you.
>A tempting target in the traveling six ponies who wielded the true elements ensured Discord was distracted.
>You rise from your throne, and cast your hand over the baren floor.
>Runes rise and fall, flashing through the air, as a basin rises, sculpted by your will.
>With a thought, water in the air condenses into the basic, creating a calm pool of pure water.
>You grip the edges of the basin, and whisper to it in an arcane tongue.
"Reflection deep, reflection blue, show to me the future true."
>You trace a finger through the water, distorting your reflection, as new shapes begin to form.
>You watch as, not long from now, Shermanator sits upon a park bench. A few seconds later, you appear.
>You scatter the image, swiping your right hand to the left.
>A new image now, closer to the present.
>Shermanator flattens his lapel, carefully examining an offering from a frightened pony.
>You grind your teeth slightly.
>This wasn't a cold rage, this was boiling hatred.
>You would enjoy humiliating Shermanator for falling into a mafioso routine.
>You scatter the image more forcfully this time, and return to but seconds from the present.
>You watch carefully, seething with anger.
>Your Phylactory was rustling like a mortals Jimmies right now.
>You would make it up to Colgate for the fear Shermanator caused at your behest.
>The image finally clears, and you lean forwards, watching...

>He had developed a certain degree of OCD.
>He was currently fiddling with flowers in a restaurant as he waited for food.
>You simply watched as he constantly checked his watch, always making sure everything was exact.
>A far cry from the brash and bullheadedness that was his core being.
>You scatter the image.
>You had seen enough.
>His path was set now, as long as no outside forces acted.
>You had a little time to spend before you played your part.
>Or, rather, your Diamond Dog thralls did their part.
>Time to check up on Applebloom and her two friends.
>In your defense, you had to sacrifice the short term happiness of your friends to guarantee their long term safety and contentment.
>You needed to keep from dwelling upon what would happen to Colgate.
>Your eyes flash as you call upon a surge of power, teleporting away
>Not your choice of movement, but it had certain advantages over just shadow-stepping.
>One such advantage, was that it didn’t have an innately creepy nature to it.
>A few ponies had remarked that when you arrived, it sometimes was a bit freaky.
>Teleporting, however, was an established realm of magic among the Unicorns.
>In a flash of emerald light, you appear in the Apple Family orchirds.
>If you recall, it would not be much longer until-
>”Heya Anon!”
>Ah, perfect timing.
>You look up as you see Scootaloo pulling a wagon on her scooter, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle smiling energetically.
“Hello there girls. How was school?”
>You cross your hands behind your back.
>With their big sisters gone, you had to ensure that they were taken care of.
>Sweetie Belle had her parents, as did Applebloom, but Scootaloo…

>"Well, It was awrite..."
>The three Fillies begin to walk off to their treehouse, and you detect something is amiss.
>Their gaze is down turned.
>Their heads are hanging.
>"Ah guess.."
>And Applebloom has a sense of defeatism.
>Everyponies Big Brother powers:
>ACTIVATE!
"'Bloom, Sweetie, Scoots, I can tell something is off."
>You walk with them, genuinly concerned.
>You did not like those under your care suffering.
"Tell me what has happened today to make you all so introverted?"
>Applebloom walks up the ramp and looks you right in the 'eyes'
>"It's.. It's our Cutie Marks."
>Machinations in-progress
>"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were makin' fun a' us again."
>Scootaloo pops up right next to Applebloom
>"And it just isn't right, you know? We try so hard, too..."
>How best to properly goad the cows into a stampede?
>How could you get Winowa to help out?
"I understand how you feel."
>You pause for effect, quirk your head, and begin again.
"Would a little story help take your minds off of this teasing?"
>Sweetie Belle sighs and enters the club house.
>"I'm not sure how..."
>You climb in after the two other Fillies, and cross your legs, pulling your hood back.
"It all began many years ago..."

"I was but an apprentice at the time."
>With a flourish you your hand, a small, illusionary grotto forms.
>What?
>A little visual aid always made story time better.
"I had been practicing all day with my mentor, Master Duskryn, when a little hickup occured."
>On cue, there is a massive explosion from the grotto, earning gasps from the three fillies.
"I had miss-mixed some critical components to my potion. No one was hurt, but it was a blow to my ego like none I had suffered before."
>Applebloom raises a hoof, elicting a chuckle from yourself.
"Of course, Applebloom, you had a question?"
>She smiles
>"Potions like what Zekora makes?"
>Black Testimant, that Zebra...
>You stiffle a moan
"Yes, exactly like her."
>Your voice does not betray your distaste, instead sounding almost excited.
>You continue
"For weeks, I was rediculed by my peers, and was laughed off the dueling flats many a time."
>Numerous lights flash across the top of the Grotto, as two figures fling spells while surrounded by other acolytes.
>Eventually, one is tossed back, all those present laughing.
"My studies began to fail from the ridicule, and I was in danger of being evicted from the school."
>The scene changes, now this time a little different.
>You are hunched over a small desk, a slight 'edit' removing your flesh.
>You still had not revealed you were unnatural.
>Probably would avoid doing that.
"So, I decided that, rather than succumb to depression and mockery, I would make an example of my detractors."
>This was the part of the story you were eager to get to.
>You'd leave out the gory part.

"For an entire night, I studied non-stop. I was determined to prove those who had humiliated me wrong."
>You can tell you're making the fillies excited.
>you pause, and wait.
>Eventually, Sweetie Belle takes the bait.
>"What did you do next, Anonymous?"
>Hook, line, and-
"Simple, my dear Sweetie Belle. The following morning, I prepared for the final exam. I knew exactly how to show up the people who mocked me. I refused for them to have the final laugh."
>You sit back and chuckle slightly.
"I was tasked with creating a potion that could freeze anything, I assume meant as a joke."
>You pruduce a small, slender vial from your robes.
"In a vial not much different from this, I created it."
>Uncorking the bottle you allow a drop to fall in to your boney hand.
>There is a sizzling sound as steam races upwards.
"As you can see, I did not only pass the exam, but I made alchemy a strong suit of mine."
>You return the freezing potion to its position.
"Remember well this lesson, little ponies. Never allow mockery to disuade you from greatness. With focus, and effort, you can overcome any challenge."
>You left out how you eventually hunted down and murdered all those who laughed at you.
>Family friendly, sure, but the meaning of your little story helps cheer up the thre little fillies.
>"Hey, maybe we can get our cutie marks in adventurin'!"
>"Or maybe we'll find them if we try being detectives!"
>"You're both silly! We need to try Exploration!"
>You wish you could smile, your work done.
>"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS EXPLORERS, YAY!"
>You watch them gallop off to try and find their cutie marks, feeling better yourself.

>You exit the treehouse and look up at the sun.
>Just enough time had passed.
>Now was time for your gambit to begin.
>You ignore the knowledge of Colgate being humiliated, focusing instead on making this right.
>You fade into the shadows, moving through the nether in a streak of movement.
>The time was upon you to repair Shermanator, on your terms, however.
>And in your favor, as well.
>You emerge, exactly as you had scryed, and look down upon the lounging Shermanator.
>His coat is pristine, his posture proud but relaxed.
>Arrogant.
 try and subdue the human.
>You had told them that Shermanator had all sorts of shinies.
>It was comically easy arranging this, actually.
>With a swift kick, he dismisses one of the brutes, and with a back hand and an elbow, he cracks one upside the head, knocking it out cold.
>You had not expected them to subdue Shermanator.
>But then, that was never your goal.

"I tried to warn you, Shermanator."
>He scowls up at you
>"And I still took them down."
>You cock your skull sideways.
"You believe I intended for them to harm you?"
>He wipes a bit of blood off of a split lip with his pointer finger.
>"Of course I do. You want that Element of your back."
>You sigh, and approach Shermanator.
"You are my friend, Shermanator. Even when you turn your back on me, I am still trying to help you."
>He turns away, and pulls out his pocket watch.
>"Yeah, whatever."
>He takes two steps, and stops.
>You 'grin'.
>"The hell.. I just got this bucking thing fixed!"
"And why is that so important?"
>He spins around on you, eyes filled with fury.
>"You did this! I know!"
"Now look at who is making up facts."
>You cross your arms.
"Why is knowing the time so critical to you?"
>He pauses. Something makes him respond.
>"I.. I.."
>He stammering, trying to figure out why.
>He looks long and hard at the watch.
>"I need it to tell me the time."
>You take a few steps forwards, and put your hand on his shoulder.
"The Shermanator I know, the one to whom I extended my hand in friendship, did not care for such paltry things as the time."
>He turns to face you.
"I have not lied to you when it counted, have I? I have not done you harm, have I?"
>You can see color beginning to return to him.
>Very interesting, Discord even stripped Shermanator of his color.
>"N.. No. Not even now."
>You nod.
"We are allies, Shermanator. I will not lie to you."
>Not again, anyways. There will be no need to.

>He looks at you, long and hard.
>Finally, he smiles.
>"We got work to do. Let's go."
"Wait, what about your watch?"
>He examines it for a second, before tossing it away.
>"I think I'll be the one to decide the time from now on."
>He might be more difficult to guide, but his determination would be vital to success.
>"So, we got our next Element?"
>you nod.
>"Who is it?"
>You walk with him back to your tower as the sun begins to set on Equestria.
"A certain someone who goes by the title 'Sorcerer'."