>Your dreams were a thing of both fear and delight.
>You sat amidst mountains of gold and jewels, stone halls carved with your image embellished in the finest metals.
>A throne of sorts was erected from ruined buildings and crystal, suited to your taste to instill beauty through destruction
>From your seat you watched as lines of ponies paid tribute to your greatness, each offering what they could to satisfy your hunger for more wealth.
>One of the offerings displeased you, a slight made on your behalf. Insulting you even.
>Rising from your throne you lowered your head to the cowering speckle of nothing, flames licking at your jawline. In the blink of an eye a torrent erupted from your mouth and made to bathe them all in flame, only to have the image vanish as your eyes shoot open. Fear taking hold as they dart around frantically looking for something comforting, familiar, completely oblivious to what was standing directly in front, illuminated by a faint glow of pink around her horn.
"Um. Hi."
>Focusing on the source, you see the winged, purple unicorn before you. Her face held a nervous smile but remained firm as you slowly adjusted yourself after waking up so abruptly.
>"Twilight Sparkle was it? You'll have to excuse me, just a fit of restless sleep. How long have you been standing there?"
"Only an hour. I didn't think it was prudent to wake you so I just waited."
>You look to your door. It was still sealed.
>"The point of a door is to keep unwelcome guests out."
"Oh if I'm bothering you, I can come back another time."
>You might as well get this over with.
>"No, you're here now. I'm just not accustomed to guests popping in. Literally."
>Stretching outward, you try to make yourself comfortable for whatever she was about to say.
"I just came to check on you. Princess Celestia summoned me to Canterlot to discuss recent events in regards to your outburst. I told her that I would help in keeping you calm and to make sure nothing like this happens again."
>The way she spoke to you, it almost seemed like a child was reprimanded for how their pet acted out. You didn't like it.
>"And if I'm to, act up, so to speak what then? Another trip to the dungeon? Encased in stone? Or are there other methods for keeping a full grown dragon in check that I haven't been made aware yet?"
"No, I just want to make sure everything is ok and..."
>"That all the little ponies are safe? Is that it? Worried I might have a tantrum and burn the town to ash when you're not looking?"
>Something was wrong. This wasn't like you. With every passing moment you were becoming more aggressive.
>You started moving towards her, extra weight put into each step to send a message. Twilight could only slowly back away as you drew ever closer.
"Anonymous, if this is a joke it's not funny. Stop it you're scaring me."
>"There's not much room here, I'm well aware of that. Everything in a claw's reach, no disappearing acts to get into my blind spots. I'm curious now, to see if you would be able to get away if I so much as wanted to pluck those little wings of yours, feather by feather."
>Backed into a corner, Twilight looked up at you with fear. She couldn't focus enough to cast a spell this close to you. You could easily do it too, just have to open your claw and...
>You stop realizing what you were about to do.
>"I'm, I'm sorry I don't know what came over me. I think it's best you leave. I'm not myself right now."
>Twilight slipped out from the corner and made for the door, looking back.
"Ok, great. Right, um I'll come back later. Obviously you're still grumpy from waking up so there's no need to bother you further."
>A flash of light and she was gone, leaving you to stare at your claw recollecting what just happened exactly.
>You stayed in your cave for the next few days, only venturing out to feed yourself or when the eventual cabin fever kicked in.
>Your dreams caused you nothing but misery. Each time you slept you were greeted with more visions of same thing haunting you: Mountains of wealth, destructive flames and you were lording over whatever creature you deemed beneath you.
>Your last exchange with Twilight left you bewildered. There was no reason for things to escalate to such a degree yet with almost no effort you started to become a fire breathing behemoth simply by being slightly agitated by a few words.
>Spike hasn't come to visit in the time you secluded yourself. Just as well, you feared of what might happen to him if you had another episode, what with the lack of magic to protect himself from you.
>Fed up with your surroundings you decided to get some air and vent some frustration on foliage. You had used the nearby forest mainly for hunting and exercising some destructive habits but lately you found yourself coming there more often.
>Flying overhead, you spotted a herd of deer in the midst of the trees. Diving down, you managed to grab an older one too panicked to get away.
>Gemstones, fish and the occasional fruit sated your hunger but lately you wanted something more. Cutting the creatures squirming short, you began to feast on your prize.
"That can't be healthy for you. Who knows where it's been."
>The voice was familiar.
>"It suits me fine."
>You clutched at your meal greedily, barely turning to look at who you were talking to. You didn't have to as he was now in front of you.
"I must say this is a rather gruesome scene. Imagine the delight of your pony friends when they learn you've taken a liking to hunting anything on four legs, especially adorable woodland creatures."
>Swallowing the rest of your kill, you look up at Discord.
>"And I suppose you're going to tell them of my beastly habits?"
"You're doing a good job of that already."
>"I have things under control."
"Do you? Hiding in your little cave, venturing out to hunt, sleeping most of your time away. Oh yes that's quite controlled."
>You were getting annoyed again.
>"Until I can get a handle on whatever is happening I'd rather not put anyone at risk. I seem to recall you being quite the instigator so leave me before I start to lose my temper."
>Discord looked dissatisfied but shrugged his shoulders.
"I must say you've become boring my dear nonny. Before you were a mystery, sophisticated intellect mixed with the brute strength of a dragon but now you're merely just an animal that knows how to speak fluently."
>His words struck you hard.
>"An animal? An animal! You dare speak to me in that manner?"
"There you go again, getting all riled up. How very dragon of you."
>A stream of fire erupted from your mouth but was quickly turned into a flood of water. You started to cough from the shock as Discord stood there.
"Remember when I set you free? How I said someone was placing their faith in you to not be the monster you were mistaken for? It seems you've forgotten and are in dire need of a refresher course."
>Spitting out the last of the water, a long growl starts rumbling from your throat. Slowly it built up and finally released in a full blown roar. You have shouted before but this was entirely new for you. As it died away, you collapsed to the ground breathing heavily trying to make sense of everything.
"Oh yes. Everything is entirely under control."
>Twilight paced her chambers, several books floating around her head as she circled the room for the hundredth time. Spike looked out the window spotting a shape in the distance leave the mountain and head for the forest.
"Twilight, all this pacing is making me nervous. You've been at it non stop since you came back from visiting Anonymous. What are you looking for?"
>The books stop encircling and drop to the floor. Twilight lets out a frustrated sigh.
"Dragon behavior, Spike. Pony knowledge is very limited on the subject so I'm looking for anything that can explain the recent events and changes to Anonymous' attitude. It's like I told you, one moment he's helping to rebuild the next he wants to pluck me like a chicken!"
>Spike giggles at the idea of Twilight going through that scenario but stops when she gives him a harsh look.
"You probably caught him at a bad time. If I know sleep like any other dragon, you probably woke him up and he was just being grouchy."
>Twilight picked up a book from her shelf, quickly flipping through the index pages.
"I would have known if he was grouchy. This was something else. He acted beastly, like he enjoyed the idea of hurting others. The only thing to go on was that before he woke up, he tossed and turned alot. As if having a nightmare."
"You think dark magic?"
>Twilight puts the books back and sits down.
"I don't know honestly. I wish it was that simple to just say dark magic did it and call it a day but something tells me it's more than that."
>A loud, booming roar is heard coming from the forest. Several ponies in town start running for shelter as others scanned the skies.
"Well whatever it is, it's getting worse."
>Twilight puts Spike on her back and makes her way to the forest as the roar starts to fade.
>You started to catch your breath as something glittering came into view. Recognizing it instantly, you squirmed to confirm your fears.
>There it was, held aloft in front of you was your globe. The thing you treasured most.
>"You. You were the thief this whole time!"
>Forgetting your previous lesson, once again water came pouring from your throat instead of flame. Discord acted like he was bathing in the shower using the globe as soap.
"Yes it's true. I took something that didn't belong to me. It just happened to be the most important thing to someone else. I have a powerful curiosity I'm afraid. You don't mind me holding onto it for all this time do you? I just wanted to know why it was so important."
>With a swipe at him, he was gone again.
>"If all of this was just a ruse to torment me, you've done a fine job. I'm done playing these games of yours. Return to me what was stolen before I turn this entire forest into an inferno looking for you!"
"But you haven't answered my question. Why is this so important to you?"
>Before you could answer you see Twilight coming from above. Not now, you were so close.
"Anonymous, what in Equestria is going on here?"
>She lands near you and Spike jumps off. You didn't have time for this.
>"Leave. I'll explain later but for now I can't be bothered by you."
>Twilight looks horrified when she sees your face.
"Is that..is that blood? Is this what you do when you come out to the forest?"
"Twilight, calm down he was just hunting."
>Spike walked towards you but Twilight scooped him up and placed him behind her.
"Don't go near him Spike. Whatever is going on, he's becoming dangerous."
>"I'm not becoming an animal!"
>The two of them jump at your shout. Twilight slowly motions for Spike to climb on her.
"Anonymous, maybe it would be best for you to not come near Ponyville. For both our sake."
>Twilight's words hurt you. After all you've done to rebuild the damage, you were nothing more than a monster to them again.
>You watched Twilight leave, Spike turning around looking back unsure what to make of all this.
"Well I hope you're happy now. Everything's swirling down the drain because you got upset over this little rock. Here, you can have it back."
>Discord is leaning against your leg as he places your orb at your feet. You don't even know what to do at this point. So many emotions are swimming in a melting pot but none of them are surfacing to take priority.
>Picking up your globe, you fly back home. You got what you wanted most but now felt like you lost everything in the process. The stone didn't even feel significant to you.
>Placing the stone on the ground next to the pillar, you lock yourself in and drift off to sleep hoping for one peaceful night's rest.