Twilight looked at her, conflicted; she was obviously curious about the existence of another draconequus, but her natural instinct to help was fighting with her curiosity, and on top of everything, she didn't fully trust Aborel. "What's wrong with him?" She asked, finally.
Aborel took a deep breath. "well..... we were helping a dragon get it's hoard back and we found a ring. it was a very pretty ring, wrought to look like two draconequui..... but he put it on, and, well...... now he's a she."
"no. as soon as she tries, she's changed right back. even without the ring." she said. "she said the only one who might know how to fix it was you"
"Discord said that? Really?" Twilight asked, seeming surprised, "I always thought he was contemptuous of me..." She pondered for a second, before shaking her head and refocusing. "A ring, you said? You don't happen to have it with you, do you?"
Aborel frowned. "I think Discord still has it..... not a problem, though." she said, snapping her fingers as there was a flash and the ring was on the table
Twilight blinked again and looked at it. "Well, that proves you really are a draconequus at least..." She cautiously picked the ring up with her magic, and studied it closely. "Intriguing... But highly disturbing..." She said, after a moment, "I fear this may have been made by the same pony that forged the Alicorn Amulet..." She trotted over to a bookshelf, and after a quick scan, came back with an ancient-looking tome, which she set on the table and started reading.
Aborel peered at the book. "the alicorn amulet? that sounds somewhat familiar....... so, can it be reversed?" she said
"Possibly..." Twilight murmured, still studying the tome closely, "The Alicorn Amulet's power and effect could only be ended by the wearer willingly removing it, but the same doesn't appear to be the case with this ring; the Amulet was designed to make it's wearer more powerful, but the ring was designed either as a trick or a punishment, I'm not sure which, and it's effect can only be revered by the use of another artefact, which would remain in the possession of the one playing the trick."
Aborel sighed. "but we don't know who used to own the ring! for all we know, they've been dead for centuries....." she said sadly.
"Several, by my count," Twilight said, looking up from her book, "After those responsible for making the Amulet were cast down, one of their number escaped to the great deserts of the South, but he vowed to wreak havoc and vengeance on those who had ended his reign. It would seem one of those on his list was a draconequus mare, infamous for her vanity." Twilight smiled, and looked back at the book. "This really is all fascinating stuff; I'm so glad I decided to rescue these books from the Sister's old castle library..."
Aborel frowned. "I'm going to tell Discord. thank you" she said sincerely, opening a portal back and closing it as she stepped through.
"Hmm?" Twilight replied, turning just as Aborel disappeared. "Aborel!" Discord exclaimed happily upon seeing her friend return; she was sat on the bed Aborel had summoned, snuggled up in the blankets and nursing a cup of tea.
Aborel grinned, sitting down next to her. Discord was happy..... that was good. she sighed, then took a deep breath. "well..... I have good news, and bad news from my visit to Twilight's." she said reluctantly.
"Hmm..." Discord frowned slightly, looking a little concerned by that, "What's the good news? Other than that you're back, of course..." She smiled, leaning gently against Aborel. She couldn't help but feel affectionate lately....
Aborel blushed. "well, the good news is that we know of a way to reverse the ring's effects" she said
"That is the very news we were hoping to hear!" Discord exclaimed, though not as loudly as she might have the day before...
Aborel nodded reluctantly. "the bad news, however, is that it requires another artifact, which is somewhere in a desert to the south, where it's been ever since it's owner's death centuries ago........." she said sadly.
"Somewhere in the desert?" Discord repeated, deflating a little, "That desert's a big place.... still," She smiled at Aborel, brightening a little, "At least it means you and I get to go on another adventure together!"
Aborel grinned at that. "yeah! but should we go now, or..... maybe wait a little?" she said, somewhat hopefully
