Discordian Promise (OOC)

Midas Touch, Element of Generosity- Elacular
Skitterbuzz, Element of Honesty-Crystalite
Steel Works, Element of Loyalty- Colter Bolt
Compass Rose Element of Magic-TheCavalry
Sunlit Wave, Element of Kindness-Sunbeam
Marked Question Element of Laughter- Xel Unknown

stats spreadsheet

Skitterbuzz grew up with a pair of loving parents who provided everything they could for their daughter.

Of course, that wasn’t much; nobody had too much under Discord’s rule. They did alright, though; they had noticed that, for some bizarre reason, bees had been largely unaffected by Discord’s chaos. Were they resistant to it somehow? Had he overlooked them by accident? On purpose? Who cares? They made honey, and  Skitterbuzz’s parents figured out how to get that honey easily, by making houses for the bees to live in instead of making their own hives. Skitterbuzz got her Cutie Mark in it; when she found out she could communicate to the bees the same way she did to ponies. With practice, she could talk to other animals too (Although bees were easiest.) All in all, fairly unremarkable as life goes in Discord’s land.

Apparently the Chaos God had decided it wasn’t enough.

Now, there not any true laws or government; if Discord didn’t like something, it simply became impossible. However, each of the Realms had their own loose system of rules; no matter how chaotic things got, the ponies felt that some things were simply too wrong to allow to happen unanswered. In the Realm of Honesty, the biggest thing was Lying. One of the Survivors of Discord’s Promise had instituted the practice when he returned to his home; Lying would tear them apart, it must be avoided at all costs, Lies are the very worst crime. The punishment for telling a Lie was severe; like Skitterbuzz’s parents, someone was always keeping bees at one point or another. When someone was caught telling a Lie, they would be taken to some pre-appointed place where everyone would watch. A sort of wire basket would be secured around the Liar’s head; an opening in the top would be opened, and the beekeeper would begin forcing bees into it. The basket kept the bees from wondering off, and becoming frightened they would begin to sting the Liar’s face, mouth, and eyes; the basket also kept the Liar from protecting his face from the stings. It was as horrifying to watch as it was to experience.

It happened very rarely.

Skitterbuzz had seen it once. It had perturbed her to know that a Lie really was as serious as everyone had told her. The punishment did it’s job, cementing it firmly in everyone’s mind (Especially the one who had told the Lie) that a Lie was absolutely, without exception, unacceptable.

And so it came as no small horror to her when, one rather cloudy day, one of her bees confirmed something unthinkable.

Her best friend Flitting Leaf had told a Lie.

((Those finishing from the character sheet, start here.))

What was she to do? She knew that Lies were the worst evil known to the Realm. It upset her greatly to think her friend would resort to it; and what for? The bee hadn't known. Nobody knew yet; but Flitter Leaf had said not an hour ago he had been to the pond fishing for cats, just outside town, all morning. But according to the bee, he had not in fact been anywhere near there. He had been skirting the edge of the Great Dark Forest; which nopony in their right mind did willingly.

On the other hand, some very small part of her felt, in a vague sense, that it wouldn't be right to share this. Moreover, she had recently been named the town Bee Keeper; she would have to perform the grisly punishment herself!

Unsure of what to do, she went to the Secret Keeper.

Secrets were frowned upon, but not disallowed; however, one pony was designated as the Secret Keeper. The Secret Keeper was anonymous; nopony knew who it was (it was a Secret) and s/he only communicated through letters. But if you wanted to keep a Secret, you were supposed to tell the Secret Keeper; if your Secret became important, the Secret Keeper could reveal it without saying who's Secret it was or how it was heard. The Secret Keeper was also a sort of counselor, offering advice or help on sticky situations. Such as this one.

Skitterbuzz managed to get a Secret Letter written, and put into the Secret Box in the middle of town where the Keeper would collect them and read them.

She received no reply. Instead she received a notice: Gathering at the Bee Houses, at the earliest convenience (More exact timing being difficult under Discord's rapidly changing sky and environs), for the judgement of Flitter Leaf, the Liar.

She arrived an hour later. Before long, the Judge arrived in a black mask, marking his position for today. Ordinarily he was simply Hard Edge, the salt carver; today he would declare Flitter Leaf's fate, and therefore would be known only as the Judge. Flitter Leaf was being dragged behind him by a pair of strong stallions. He wasn't resisting; did they have to mistreat him so? Others began arriving from all directions; Skitter's parents, Flitter's mother behind them in tears. There was the cat herder, the shoe maker, the raining food collector, and everyone else she had ever known to bear witness. A stage made of saltines was erected on the ground, and a tall chair built from licorice and old socks was erected on top of that. The Judge sat down, and Flitter Leaf was placed before him.

"Flitter Leaf," the Judge said in a loud, projected voice. "You are hereby accused by the Secret Keeper of telling a Lie. Now, tell us the Truth."

Skitterbuzz could only watch helplessly. This wasn't what she wanted at all!

Flitter Leaf stood up in a failed attempt to seem less small. "I-I said I h-had been fishing in th-the pond yesterday morning. That was a Lie," he stammered out. He clearly knew his fate. He carried on.

"I have been wandering near the edge of the Great Dark Forest for several days now," he said after an uncomfortable pause.

The Judge stared through the expressionless Judging mask. "Why did you Lie about this?"

Flitter Leaf gulped visibly. "I was afraid the Chaotic One would find out. I hoped the forest might provide a means to..."

"To what?"

Another pause.

The Judge stood up, clearly angry now. "TO DO WHAT!?"

"To escape!"

A gasp rippled through the gathered ponies. Escape the Realm? Was there such a thing? Nobody was even sure the Realms had an edge from which to escape; one mare had decided to pick a direction and start walking; she returned three days later... From the opposite direction, and completely insane.

Flitter Leaf turned to look at the crowd. "Don't you see!? Somehow we were put in here; there must be a way out! A way to the other Realms! Maybe even a whole different place! We can't stay here with Discord anymore!"

"ENOUGH!" The Judge screamed. A hush fell on the crowd. Skitter heard someone drop a pin. It was sometime before the Judge spoke again.

"What you speak of is madness! There is no escape! And there are no Lies," he said, slowly regaining his composure.

"Flitter Leaf. You are a Liar and a mad pony. For this, you will be punished; by three hours of Bee Stings."

The crowd gasped; three hours would mean almost certain death at his age and size.

The two stallions produced the horrible wire basket and began putting it on Flitter's head. Skitterbuzz brought a basket, trying very hard not to cry herself. Flitter simply stood there, strangely calm now. After what seemed like an eternity, she found herself standing at the proper place. Flitter had been brought to his knees, facing her. He looked her in the eye.

"...Why..." was all she could manage.

He said nothing, merely bowing his head down to make the opening more readily available.

She stared in awe. He was really going through with it. Everyone stared expectantly. She really was supposed to execute her best friend. She opened the basket, revealing the writhing, confused bees within.

"I'm sorry," was all she could manage before pouring the contents in, tears flowing freely now.

Flitter Leaf was buried before bed time. Skitterbuzz would never forget that horrible, horrible day.

And she would never, ever tell a Lie of her own.