The frozen Changelings were momentarily confused by their sudden immobility, but quickly recovered and started casting spells at the attackers. Discord conjured up two balls of treacle and and threw them, covering their horns.
"I... why are you doing this to me!?" The mare demanded, shrilly. "Do you have any idea how long it took me to where I am now? I'm in charge here! Me! You can't take it away from me!" She threw down a handful of gems, creating a blinding flash of light, and bolted for a passageway behind the throne.
Frozen shielded his eyes from the flash. Something was off-putting about what she had said. Maybe she was more innocent than she appeared? Frozen wordlessly gave chase.
"Urgh; I hate running." Discord complained. He transformed into a cheetah. "Ah, this is easier." The passage led to another winding staircase, only this one was narrower, and less grand; obviously designed for function, rather than to to impress. It eventually terminated at the top of the tower, just above the cloud layer. There was a kind of serene beauty to the setting; it seemed like they were on a jet black disc in a sea of cotton wool, all the harsh desolation of the land below temporarily forgotten. Mauron stood at the edge, regarding them with fear as they climbed the final steps.
"Lies!" Mauron retorted, tears welling in her eyes as she inched backwards, "You mean to take them from me! Take them from me and return me to... that! Well you shall fail!" She declared, starting to laugh maniacally through the tears. "My children will stop you! You'll see!" "Well, I wasn't expecting this," Discord said quietly to Frozen, returning to his normal form again. "She's right though; if we delay too long, the changelings will realise something is amiss. We cannot hope to fight all of them."
Frozen knew he had to act quickly, so he focused upon her object of power..the ruby. He had heard a rumor that a mare, named Rarity, had once been posessed by a book. He was willing to gamble this poor mare was under a similar spell. With wind magic, he ripped her away from the edge of the tower and yanked the jewel free from her neck, crushing it with the force of cocentrated air.
"Noooo!" Mauron screamed, as the ruby was ripped away from her. She watched in horror as it was crushed into tiny fragments, before collapsing and sobbing pitifully on the cold black floor.
Frozen's face turned from one of satisfaction to horror at what he had done. He slowly approached her and knelt beside her, "I'm sorry," he said, "it was for the best.."
"G-get away!" She cried, pushing herself away from Frozen and back towards the edge. "They were my children! I loved them, and they loved me! But now..." She looked at the shattered remains of the crystal, and broke into hysterical sobs once more.
Frozen touched a comforting hoof to her back, "Perhaps it would be best you try and make legitimate friends now," he said, "I know you're not a bad mare, just scared I know, this is a terrifying place.. But we have a group of friends that you would be welcome in."
Discord approached cautiously. "Frozen, I'm not sure that-" "What?" The mare whimpered, looking at Frozen. "Is this some kind of trick? What do you want!?"
"No trick," Frozen said, "I'm accustomed to somepony considering me evil, without fully knowing what I am. I know appearances aren't everything and I know what this place can do to you." He knelt down to eye level, "I know you were probably just protecting yourself from Arzeroth and his ilk. I know you aren't the beast most think you are. You're a scared mare looking for friendship and sanctuary in a world of nightmares." Frozen stood up, "Call me foolish, but I try to see the good in everypony. Call it Windigo intuition."
The mare sniffed and looked from Frozen to Discord. "Hey, don't look at me; he's the the speech maker." Discord said, nodding to Frozen. "You're the one who killed Arzeroth?" She asked, looking back to Frozen "Who are you?"
"Frozen heart, exiled prince of the windigos, son of Discord," he said, "humble citizen of the world, and you?"
"M-Molly." She stuttered. "Molly Slate." She wiped her eyes and looked around. "Son of Discord? Lord Discord, ruler of Equestria? Why would he send his son here?" Discord's face dropped. How long had this mare been here?
Discord frowned; a droning noise was filling the air around them. Suddenly, Met rose through the cloud layer, flanked by a wing of Changelings. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Molly. "Ah, I see you were successful. This is the imposter then? The abductress of my hive?" Her tone was dark and full of anger.
