//-------------------------------------------------------// Discordia -by Cupcakes14- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: The Beginning //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: The Beginning The land of discordia was as gloomy and chaotic as ever. "Ah," Discord sighed, looking overtop of Ponyville in Princess Celestia's castle, which was now his castle. "This is magnificent" He smiled and turned away from the window he was facing. "Servant!" He shouted. Princess Celestia came to light, chains holding her back, frowning. "What do you want, 'Super Supreme Lord of Chaos'?" She said with sarcastic disgust. "Not you, I want your sister... I want to torture her some more." Discord said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. A tear escaped Princess Celestia's eye. Discord had been torturing her sister ever since..... ever since her faithful student and her friends lost. She couldn't stop thinking about how her poor, poor Lulu had been doing... If she was fine or not. "Then go to the torture chamber where you left her." She growled. "No, I want you to come with me." Discord sneered. He unlocked Celestia's chains and the magic canceling collar around her neck. Princess Celestia looked like she was ready to charge, her horn glowing gold. Discord saw this. "Tsk, tsk Celestia. You never learn don't you," He said as a remote appeared. "One click of this button and Luna and all of Equest- or should I say Discordia goes boom!" He laughed. The princess backed off. She wouldn't sacrifice the lives of innocent ponies. She would have to bide until a new hero came along... unfortunatly, that day might never come. Discord smiled, knowing he had won. He had known all along! From the start since those three fillies started fighting in front of his statue. Hadn't they known they were creating disharmony by doing so? And that it would help him become stronger as to escape? Whatever, he shrugged off the thought. The past is the past. A grey-coloured, broken-spirited unicorn was sitting by the window of a library. She was as depressed as ever, reflecting on all her falures. Spike, who had been taking care of her, was sitting beside her, trying to comfort her. All of a sudden, Twilight started laughing. Seeing this, Spike jumped back, thinking she might have lost it. He wondered what she was laughing about. As if on cue, Twilight spoke. "You know what's funny about all of this, Spike?" He stared at Twilight. How could any of this be funny? Discord overthrew Pricess Celestia! Even taking her hostage as a servant! Not to mention the current state of Equestria. He renamed the land "Discordia" and discorded everyone! Especially all the pain seeing everyone like this, especially Twilight. "Discord's managed to get to everypony, breaking their spirits and discording everypony! Everyone except you, Spike." Twilight glumly said, making Spike feel a tinge of sadness. It was true, Spike didn't know why Discord never even touched him, and he felt guilty about it, after all, he was pretty much the only one left with his sanity. He had to powder himself grey everytime he went out or else everypony might call Discord to come and discord him, and then Twilight might not have anyone to take care of her... This Twilight was merely a crazy, paranoid, depressed, and meek follower, in contrast to Equestria's calm, cool, lover of life, and strong leader Twilight. This Twilight looked out the window. She thought about her friends... or ex-friends. Discord even created nicknames for all of them. Pinkamena, which was actually Pinkie Pie's real name, Fluttercruel, Greedity, Traitor Dash, Liarjack, and Dull Dawn. Pinkamena, who used to be Pinkie, was born with poofy hair that went flat when she got her cutie mark and stayed flat until "Party of one" where it turned poofy when she went crazy. Now turned Pinkamena, she was the pony who sold cupcakes and sweets, who hated laughter and anypony who laughed. She hated working at Sugarcube Corner, but she was only there because the harsh and cruel Mr. and Mrs. Cake forced her to. They gave her a room and she would have to live somewhere or else Discord might kidnap her. They beat her and laughed in her face, but she knew better than to lash out at them or else they might kick her out. Fluttercruel, when she was Fluttershy had streaks of dark red in her mane. She was now the leader of the elements of disharmony because of her now cruel nature. She was a ruthless tyrant and hated animals, especially Angel and Spike. Spike hid whenever Fluttershy came to punish Twilight for not coming to the disharmony meetings she held at her cottage. She physically and verbally hurt Angel whenever she could and rewarded him for doing bad things, which Angel always regreted, but did anyways to avoid injuries. Fluttercruel also always covered her cutie mark in embarassment with the blood of poor animals that she had killed. Greedity, who used to be Rarity, didn't care about hygene after the change. She would do anything to get even one bit. She claimed all of Sweetie Belle's room her's but left just a tiny amount for Sweetie Belle in the corner. The greed overtook her and she eventually kicked Sweetie Belle out just to make room for Tom. Sweetie Belle eventually had to sleep in the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse with the other crusaders, since they freed Discord, they weren't discorded, but wished they were because of all the pain seeing their friends and family being who they weren't. Traitor Dash was the most traitorous pony in Dicordia. She was on the discorded ponies' side, but it would be just a few moments until she joined the Anti-Discord cause. She was useful but for only a while. Because she spent an equal amount of time with each side, she knew things about them and blabbed them to the other side. She was a very gossipy pony because of that. She always looked suspicious, and when she backstabbed her friends, some ponies could see a touch of regret behind those steel-grey eyes. Liarjack wasn't tough to figure out. She lied about everything all the time and that made it easy to figure out that all you have to do to understand her, was to think of the opposite of what she said like if she says she didn't eat that apple over there, she did. She lived with Granny Smith, the dancing machine, Big Mac, who seems to be a dog, and Apple Bloom, who wasn't even discorded, but soon after, she ran away with the Crusaders and Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who were now called Plastic Zirconium and Rusted Fork. Now they were the Elements of Disharmony, Misery, Cruelty, Betrayal, Greed, Dishonesty, and Lonliness. Dawn sadly shaked her head. Why did the fate of everypony have to be this way? Why couldn't we stop Discord? Why did I have to give up? She asked herself billions of questions and always found the same answer. Because I'm a coward. She layed her head on her pillow and sobbed. Crash! "Rainbow Dash! What did I tell you about flying around in my library?" Twilight asked rhetorically. "I dunno. I wasn't paying attention the last time." Rainbow Dash said absent-mindedly. Twilight sighed as she telekinetically picked up the books that fell when Rainbow Dash hit them. "Really, Rainbow Dash, you should be more careful. Your behaving like a total klutz!" Twilight said. "Me? A klutz?! I've just been really antsy 'cause you've kept me all cooped up in here, and Celestia knows what for!" Rainbow Dash admitted. "And what have I told you about saying Princess Celestia's name in vain?" Twilight asked impatiantly. "Whatever." Rainbow Dash said. "Well, wait no more, we just needed to wait until our friends weren't busy." Twilight said matter-of-factly. "You mean instead of spending a cramped afternoon in here, I could've waited until everypony wasn't busy, and just spend it flying instead?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Well yes.... but it does get a bit lonely without Spike, but he should be arriving here with the others just about now." Twilight said sheepishly. On cue, a pink party pony burst in through the door, breaking the fourth wall saying "So we're gonna go through a portal Twilight?" Twilight, who was oblivious to the fourth wall breaking said "Yes Pinkie... how did you know?" She said surprised. "Oh, silly filly. I know lots of things! Don't you remember about the parasprites?" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. "Hmm. I guess that's true..." Twilight said. "And what about my Pinkie Sense?" Pinkie added. Twilight nodded. "Ooh! And when me and Spike came to tell you about - oh wait, I don't think that happened yet..." Pinkie said. "Um, it's 'Spike and I' and what are you even talking about Pinkie?" Twilight asked, confused. "Never mind, it was silly." Pinkie bit her lip. Pinkie, you're just doing this for the sake of the plot. She sighed, then returned to her cheerful, bouncy self. "Okay? Well, I need you to go get Spike and the others." Twilight said. "Okie dokie loki!" Pinkie said as she bounced out the door. A few moments later, everyone was there at the library. Pinkie Pie bounced in last. I wonder how she managed to get everypony here so fast! Oh well, maybe it's just because she's Pinkie Pie. Twilight thought. The mane six and Spike went down to the laboratory part of the library, with Twilight leading, telekinetically moving the box containing the Elements of Harmony. Applejack was the first to ask, "Twilight, why do we even need to bring the Elements with us?" "Yes, I agree. It seems rather odd for just some meeting being held in a... dusty basement." Rarity added. "That's true, but it's not a basement, it's my laboratory. You see, I've been working on a portal to another dimension. I've sensed a great deal of evil and disharmony so I decided to ask for some extra help and I've added the precaution of the Elements for safety measures." Twilight responded. "So is that what Pinkie meant by "a portal"?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Precisly. Although I'm still not sure how she knew about it..." Twilight admitted. A pale yellow hoof raised in the air. "Yes Fluttershy?" Twilight asked. "Um, if you don't mind me asking... by you saying that you need company and safety measures... does that mean that, um, well, we would be going inside the portal?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes." Twilight answered. "So, we're gonna be like time travellers?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Close, we're going to travel to an alternate dimension." Twilight answered. There were mixed reponses from the group. Rainbow Dash, of course, thought it was cool. Fluttershy was scared. Rarity worried about her boutique, she had orders to fill, but she decided she would stay with her friends. Applejack was just happy to help her friends. Pinkie Pie.... well, was just being Pinkie Pie. Spike, who might have been forgotten over this whole time, spoke up. "Before we go, don't we have to put your Element necklace and crown thingys on your necks?" Spike asked, then looked at Twilight and added, "And head?" "Spike's right." Twilight said as she put each necklace on the corisponding pony. "Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, Laughter, Kindness, and Magic. We're ready." "But Twilight, what's gonna be waitin' for us in the portal?" Applejack asked. "Goodness... well I don't really know. All I know is that it's an alternate dimension. There could be anything behind it." Twilight repied, turning to the portal. "Evil and disharmony girls! And Spike..." Pinkie Pie hinted. All the others had no clue. "Come on everyone, think!" Pinkie Pie said. "Is it Sombra?" Rainbow Dash asked. "No." Pinkie Pie hopped around the ponies. "That changling queen?" Spike guessed. "No! Come on, everyone, you can do it!" Pinkie Pie said. "Disharmony... it must be Discord again." Twilight thought out loud. "YES THAT'S RIGHT TWILIGHT!!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she appeared upside down above Twilight's head. Bewildered, Twilight said "Pinkie! Don't do that!" "Alright, sorry." Pinkie Pie said. "Discord, huh... for all we know, he could be in the form of an alicorn, or a vegetable... or even much more powerful... We don't know what could be in that alternate dimension so-" Twilight pondered. "Come on slowponies!" Pinkie said, half out the portal, which somehow was magically opened without Twilight even activating it yet. She giggled as she dissapeared through the purple-black hazy swirl of magic. One by one, the remaining Elements and Spike jumped in the portal. Voices. Discord! Oh no, he's coming. "Hello Luna. How are you on this fine, chaotic day?" Discord asked with sarcasm. Princess Luna frowned. "Well, I thought that-" Discord began. "Just get to the point!" Princess Luna snapped. Discord frowned. "Someone wants to see you." Princess Celestia stepped forward. Princess Luna looked up in surprise. "T-tia? Is it really you?" She stuttered. "Lulu!" Princess Celestia ran up to her sister for a hug. After talking for about an hour, Luna said "Tia, why don't you stop him? Why couldn't you end this?" Princess Luna cried. "Oh, Lulu, I want to, really. But he threatened the life of you and all of Equestria! I just couldn't let that happen!" Princess Celestia admitted. "Ahem. It's Discordia now, and visiting hour is over... Forever!" Discord said. Princess Celestia looked in wonder of what Discord was going to do. Discord tied her up as she was caught off guard. She struggled to free herself, but then she noticed Discord positioned her in such a way, that she had a clear view of Luna. Oh no,, She thought to herself. He's going to do somethint to Lulu! "Lulu!" Princess Celestia shouted as Luna started to become aware of what was going on. "Tia!" Luna said with tears in her eyes, "I love you." She whispered. "I love you too." Celestia whispered back. Discord struck. Princess Celestia could only stare in horror at what Discord did. He's gone too far... oh my, all the blood. How could he do this to poor Luna? She was so young... Luna was my only reason to live, besides Twilight, but now both of them are gone. A box of tissues appeared in front of her. "Discord stop hurting me!" Celestia screamed. "Whatever do you mean Celestia?" Discord laughed smugly. "Just kill me now! I've had enough! Kill me!" Celestia screamed. Discord started to laugh. "What are you doing? I said KILL ME!" Celestia was hysterical. Discord simply left the room. "To-do list for today, 1. Kill Luna, check," He said as he checked off that box. "2. Break Celestia's spirit, check" He laughed evily. "Oof!" Said Equestria Spike as he landed on top of Twilight. Huh, what a potral ride. He dusted himself off and stood up. "Woah..." Said the mane six. They looked at the sight before them, a world ruled by Discord. Everything was chaotic and grey. All the grey ponies looked up at them and said, "They have colour! They aren't discorded!" A silence was followed as the six was frozen and panicked. "Meh, we don't really care." The grey ponies said as they kept walking. "Phew, that was close, right Spike?" Said Twilight. She noticed they were one baby dragon short... "Spike?" "They have colour!" Said the grey ponies, "They aren't discorded!" Gasp. "They're here! Oh, Pinkie was right, that was fast!" Said the Discordia Spike. He snuck over to where the Elements were. Come on, Spike, you can do this. You're not kidnapping you alternate dimensional twin, you're holding an unannounced meeting with him in an alley. D Spike took in a breath, then gagged E Spike and dragged him to the alley. Gagged. Of course, this is how I'll die. Dragged to my doom by one of Discord's henchponies... wait, are these dragon hands? E Spike looked up, and there was a grey baby dragon, dragging him to an alley. Of course, my discorded alternate dimensional twin. D Spike sat E Spike down on a rock and tied him to the pole beside it. He removed the gag. "Help! Help! Somepony please help!" E Spike shouted. "Shh! They won't care anyway." D Spike said. E Spike looked unsure, but promply stopped. D Spike sighed. "Look Spike, you and your friends will be in great danger without this warning, so here it is. You have to get the Elements back together again, as friends." "How can I trust you, DISCORDED ME?!" E Spike said. "Well, I'm not really discorded, it's just I was scared that if ponies see me with colour, they would call Discord to come and discord me." D Spike said as he wiped off the grey powder off his cheek. "I don't have to worry about that now, though, but let's keep it like this to tell us apart." E Spike's jaw dropped. "And I know to tell you this because I'm this dimension's fourth wall breaker." D Spike said. "Huh?" E Spike said, confused. "Well, you know how Pinkie Pie in your dimension is, well... Pinkie Pie? Well, in my dimension, she's discorded so she's not like that anymore, but in every dimension, there's supposed to be a fourth wall breaker, someone who knows what's going on in other dimensions, even talk to the people there, and that's how I found out by the way, and can interfere there. If there isn't, the whole dimension might fall apart, and I was taught by Pinkie Pie herself! Uh, the one from your dimension," D Spike explained. E Spike was as confused as ever. "Never mind, I didn't really expect you to get it anyways, but I bet the human reading this did." D Spike said. "What? Human? Reading? I don't get it, what do you mean by reading?" E Spike questioned. "Nothing! Now go tell the others you have to tell the mane six from your dimension to convince them to be their element to undiscord this dimension's Elements. Hurry!" D Spike said as he cut the rope holding E Spike. E spike looked confused. "Mane six? Are you kidding? Wow, that is the lamest pun-" "Spike, let's go!" Pinkie Pie said, popping up from nowhere. "P-Pinkie? What are you-" E Spike began. "No time! Hurry!" Pinkie shouted. E Spike and Pinkie ran out of view of D Spike. You all better fix this. Good luck. "Twilight, we're back!" Said E Spike, out of breath from running. "Oh thank goodness, we were worried! Where did you go?" Twilight asked. "Well," pant. "Discorded me," pant. "Wasn't discorded after all!" pant. "Fourth wall," pant. "Pinkie," pant. sigh. E Spike lay on his back, tired. Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie. "You got to convince the discorded versions of you to be their element to undiscord them!" Pinkie Pie said. "Wow, that's all we have to do?" Twilight pondered. E Spike and Pinkie Pie nodded. "Alright, looks like we're splitting up. Convince them to be their element to undiscord your alternate dimentional counterpart. Move out!" Twilight said. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: Laughter And Tears //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: Laughter And Tears A pink party pony bounced along the steets of Discordia. Pinkie started humming Smile Smile Smile to herself as she made her way to Sugarcube Corner, where Pinkamena was. Pinkie started giggling at the thought of herself with a straight mane and a light grey coat. Unfortunatly, Pinkamena heard her laughing. Pinkamena jumped over the counter, pushed a discorded Lyra out of her way, and tackled Pinkie Pie to the ground. "Grr... Whoever you are, you must be new here because I do NOT tolerate laughter at Sugarcube Corner, or anywhere else for that matter!" Pinkamena growled. "Oh silly filly! You know who I am! I'm Pinkie Pie!" Said Pinkie Pie, who appeared right beside Pinkamena, surprising her. Pinkamena looked down at her empty hooves, then back at Pinkie Pie. She recovered and growled at Pinkie. Her eyes darted to some red velvelt cupcakes. Fast as lightning, she flung them at Pinkie's head. "Wow, you sure do growl a lot! We outta call you 'Growly Pie!" Pinkie Pie laughed as she dodged them with ease. "It's Pinkamena! And you just made a BIG mistake!" Pinkamena said, careful not to growl so the pink annoying pony wouldn't laugh at her more. "I'll say! You made the cupcakes too big, but since I'm basically you, I did make a BIG mistake!" Pinkie Pie laughed and everypony else in the shop laughed too. "I'll murder you and everypony else if you don't stop laughing!" Pinkamena screamed. Only Pinkie Pie was left laughing. "So you wanna fight?" Pinkie Pie stopped. "Then taste my party cannon!" She fired it everywhere. Pinkamena's eyes dialated as she ducked for cover, as did everypony else. She ducked under tables and chairs until she reached the kitchen. She sprinted to the knife drawer looking for the biggest one. Instead she found a note that read, Dear you ungrateful psycho, we hid all the knives. You are grounded from making anypony into baked treats after what almost happened with Traitor Dash forever. Have an unpleasent day, Mr. and Mrs. Cake On the back was a troll face. She groaned and crumpled the paper. She moved over to look for the biggest fork. "So, retreated from the battlefield, eh?" Pinkie trotted to the door. Pinkamena had enough. She lunged at Pinkie, they fought and tumbled back into the restaurant area, with all the terrified ponies staring at them. Finally, Pinkamena pinned Pinkie to the wall, fork at her neck. "I bet you'll have a really unique taste." Pinkamena said hungrily. Pinkie giggled. "Nice joke! What are you gonna do, make me into cupcakes?" "That's right, you annoying pony!" Pinkamena said triumphantly. "No... it's............ LEFT!" Pinkie Pie appeared upside down, and pulled out her drum kit. Ba-dum kch! Everyone started laughing again. "Stop! I'll kill you all! Stop that! It hurts!" Pinkamena screamed, clenching her ears. "You know, Growly, you could just laugh too. I do it all the time!" Pinkie said, then laughed hysterically for emphasis. "See? It's easy! Please try it." Pinkamena looked straight into Pinkie's eyes, and for a sliver of a moment, any pony staring directly at her eyes could see a flash of blue, expression turning sad, then as fast as it came, was back to grey and expression turned into anger. "Never!" Pinkamena screamed. She tried to tackle Pinkie, but to no avail. Pinkie kept popping up in the most random of places. All of a sudden Pinkie shouted "PARTY CANNON!!" She shot it directly at a certain unsuspecting straight-maned pony. Pinkamena screamed as she thrashed at the streamers binding her to the wall. "Let! Me! GO!" "Sorry, but no! Now, time for.... tickles!" Pinkie said as she got out a giant feather and began to tickle her. Pinkamena stared at Pinkie "I'm not ticklish you idiot!" "I know!" Pinkie said, smiling. "Then, why?" Pinkamena asked. "You should be ashamed, you just embarassed yourself." "I just laugh at myself," Pinkie shrugged, "No need to get worked up over nothing." Again, there was a flash of blue, only it laster a bit longer this time. But soon it was back to grey. "Shut up. There's lots of things to get worked up over." She said, even though she knew that wasn't all that true. Pinkie sighed, "Don't you miss your friends?" The flash returned as soon as the word "Friends" left Pinkie's mouth. Pinkamena's eyes stayed blue as the flash engulfed both the blue-eyed ponies. "W-where are we? What did you do you creep??" Pinkamena screamed hysterically as the two adjusted to their surroundings. They were in a small black room with no windows, doors, or any sort of exit. "I... honestly don't know. I've never seen this dimension before, and I've been to every dimension there is!" Pinkie said. "Dimension?" Pinkamena asked. "Well, I'm a-" "Help....." A voice inturupted. "Did you say something?" Pinkie asked. "No..." "Please save me! Anypony? Please!" The voice, that sounded vaguely like Pinkie and Pinkamena, started to sob. You'll never escape Pinkamena, never! A different, but still female voice shouted. "No, Misery! Somepony will save me, I know it!" The pony said again, followed by the sound of metal clanking. "We have to help that pony." Pinkie said. We? No way! A voice that combined the voice of whoever Misery was and Pinkie's came out of Pinkamena's mouth, yet sounded as if it was on the other side of the wall of the room they were in. She clasped her hooves over her mouth as she looked like she would cry. "Growly...?" Pinkie asked. My name is Pinkamena!! The combined voice said again, from the wall and Pinkamena, but was muffled through her mouth. Pinkie took that opertunity to hear where the voice was coming from, and started smashing the wall where she heard it. "What are you doing?" Pinkamena said in her normal voice, and realized what was happening. She quickly joined in. Soon, they found a second room, that was white this time, it had a pink rock, and had a cage with a pink pony with a straight mane inside... and a light grey floating pony with a crying mask outside. Pinkamena suddenly realized where they were and who caused the mysterious voice. They were in her head. She realized she was discorded. She couldn't believe it, after all, she thought she had always acted like this, but in her heart, she knew something was wrong. She knew something was missing. Laughter. Suddenly, the rock started to shake, everypony looked at the rock as it turned into a golden necklace with a pink balloon shaped gem. It floated over to Pinkamena and she looked puzzled, but imediately remembered what it was as it clasped around her neck. It was her Element of Laughter. No! You foolish ponies will not win! I shall prevail! Discord is ruler! Said the grey floating one who called herself Misery. "Growly, I need your help to set you free." Pinkie pleaded. Pinkamena was unsure. But then she remembered what she had always been missing, Laughter. "Alright." "Ready to giggle at the ghosty?" Pinkie asked. "Yes. Wait, wha-" Pinkamena said. "When I was a little filly and the sun was going down." Pinkie sang. The pink mare who was also called by Misery as Pinkamena's ears perked up. "The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown." They sang together and smiled. "I'd hide under my pillow," The grey Pinkamena looked at them in confusion. "From what I thought I saw." Pinkamena began to remember the song. "But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way to deal with fears at all." Pinkamena joined in, her and Pinkie's element starting to glow. "She said Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall. Learn to face your fears, you'll see that they can't hurt you, just laugh and make them dissappear!" "Ha. Ha. Ha!" "So, giggle at the ghosty, Guffaw at the grossly, Crack up at the creepy, Whoop it up with the weepy, Chortle at the kooky, Snortle at the spooky," No, STOP! Misery shouted. Big breath for this part. Pinkamena reminded herself. "And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone, and if he thinks he can scare you then he's got another thing coming the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna," The pink ponies laughed. Pinkamena then started to giggle, then she started to chuckle, and then she finally laughed like her old self, her colour returning, but the only thing was that her hair stayed straight. "Laaaaaaaaaugh!" The music faded. Now, Pinkamena and Pinkie's Element glowed brightly, and a beam shot out at Misery, she screamed, turned into a mist and left Pinkamena for good. They woke up. "Are... are they okay?" A grey pony pondered. "I don't care, Pinkamena's mean!" Another pouted. "Hey, her colour's returning!" Pinkie and Pinkamena came to, then they started laughing. "Hahahahahaha! Phew! Thanks a bunch Pinkie! I'm soo happy to be back to normal! Let's go find Dawn- I mean Twilight and the others!" Pinkamena smiled. She looked down at her neck and found the Element of Laughter still on her neck. "You're welcome Growly! But you and Dawn and everypony else can still keep your name you had when you were discorded." Pinkie said as she hugged Pinkamena. "Right, so it won't be confusing!" Pinkamena hugged back. They bounced together off to meet Twilight and the others. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3: Show A Little Kindness //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3: Show A Little Kindness Fluttershy was so scared. Here she was, in Discordia, instead of spending the day feeding her animals.... and, um... oh, I guess this day would have been boring anyway. She tried thinking of othere reasons to not be there. She went over to a shop, and looked around for a bit. There was no cashier, and she didn't have money anyways. All of a sudden, a smash was heard and a grey pony stole all the food, not seeing Fluttershy, who hid as soon as she heard the smash. "I got the stuff, wait. Animal food? Hm, guess I robbed the wrong store," He said as he threw it on the road. Wide-eyed, Fluttershy quickly grabbed it before anyone ran over it. Did... did anypony see that? No... Still, it's not nice to steal... But what if this would come in handy? She trotted over to her cottage, only to find all the poor animals locked up and starving. "Oh my! Who could have done this to you poor, poor critters!" Fluttershy cried out as she released them, knowing all well who could have done it. Angel was in the crowd, and Fluttershy picked him up, and held the poor abused bunny like a foal. He struggled to escape but found out he could escape easily. Fluttershy's grasp wasn't steel hard like Fluttercruel, and it was in colour, a distinct pale yellow. Even though he could leave as he pleased, he didn't want to. Her soft touch was comforting, just like the old times. This mare's eyes were kind and green! Fluttercruel's were alway grey... weren't they? Hoofsteps were faintly heard, but soon slowed. "WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY PROPERTY?!?" Fluttercruel glared at Fluttershy. Fluttershy turned around and saw Fluttercruel. She was shaking and stammering, but she knew she had to do something about this animal abuse. "I'm Fluttershy!" She managed to use a brave voice, but it all faded away as soon as she looked into Fluttercruel's eyes, "I-I-I d-don't think what you're doing to these poor animals is right!" she whimpered. "Oh yeah?" Fluttercruel leaned towards Fluttershy, "Well who says so?" "I-I-I say so." Fluttercruel tried to tackle Fluttershy, but Fluttershy moved in time. "Grr! You'll be sorry, you wimpy baby! Animals! Attack!" Fluttercruel screamed. The animals ran closer to Fluttershy, but her animal care-giver's instincts took over. "Would you animals like some food?" Fluttershy asked. The animals nodded. Fluttershy gave them lots of food and Fluttercruel came up to her. "How the hay did you do that?" She said, eyes narrowed, and a short flash of green was seen. Fluttershy saw it, but thought she just imagined it. "You just have to be kind to them, and care about their needs." Fluttershy said, petting Angel, "Only then will they treat you the same. How you like it if you got yelled at all the time, and punished for the slightest thing?" She asked. "Not very good, I guess. I would yell back and call them stupid!" Fluttercruel repied. "So when you get yelled at, you yell back... but if you were treated with respect, you would...?" Fluttershy asked. Fluttercruel didn't answer. Instead she looked down, and even Fluttershy couldn't see the flash that lasted longer than last time. She just needed one more hit... "Come on, Fluttercruel. You can try it on the animals!" Fluttershy suggested. She picked up Angel and put a piece of lettuce far away from him. "Now, Fluttercruel. How would you lead Angel to the lettuce?" Fluttershy asked. "By yelling?" Fluttercruel joked. "Well, no. What else?" Fluttershy asked. Fluttercruel sighed. "By being nice." She got up and asked Angel "Hey, Angel. Can you please go to the lettuce and eat it?" She said with little emotion. Angel shook his head no. "Why you little-!" She yelled. "Fluttercruel!" Fluttershy scolded. "Sheesh, sorry." Fluttercruel rolled her eyes, which were half green, half grey. "It's alright. Try again." Fluttershy said. Fluttercruel released all the feelings she felt at the same time, no one ever had this much paitience for her, and yet Fluttershy had forgiven her and encouraged her to try again many times! She laughed, cryed, and punched a hole in the wall. "I'm so sorry!" She wailed. A brighter, stronger green flash came to be. It engulfed them in bright green light. Slowly, they woke up. They were in a red room, the only thing there was, was a locked door, and no key to be seen. Fluttercruel pounded at the door, "Who's there? Let me out!" "Fluttercru-" Fluttershy was interupted. "You... you tricked me didn't you??" Fluttercruel yelled. "This was your plan, wasn't it?! To catch me off guard and... and impersonate me after you-" "Fluttercruel, you've seen enough of how I act to know that I wouldn't hurt a fly!" Fluttershy said. They started arguing, but then a soft sound of sobbing was heard. They stopped and listened. "Please, somepony..." A voice sounding vaguely like Fluttershy said. Shut up!! Another voice said. It was like a female pony yet sounded as if it came from everywhere, echoing. "Ok... this offically creeps me out." Fluttercruel said. "Let's help that pony, Fluttercruel." Fluttershy said. "Anypony! You won't win Cruelty! I'll come back to my friends, sniff they'll... they'll find me!" The first voice said. The voice who was called Cruelty laughed and said Oh, Fluttercruel. How long have you been saying that? Two... million times or so? Whatever, it was far too long, my dear. "Um... you counted?" The other pony who was also Fluttercruel said. "That's not the point!" A mix of Fluttershy's and Cruelty's came out of Fluttercruel's mouth, and came from everywhere, still. Fluttershy looked at her in fear. Then remembered about the pony. "Fluttercruel, do you know anything about breaking down doors? We got to get out of here!" Fluttershy asked. Fluttercruel nodded and charged at the door. They were in a room that caged a pony in colour, who looked like Fluttershy, yet had red streaks in her hair, and a floating pony with a mask that looked angry on the outside of the cage, holding up a dead animal, and was skinning it. There was also a pale yellow rock near the entrance. The pony with red streaks started sobbing quietly. "Tell us where we are!" Fluttercruel yelled at the floating one. My beautiful, cruel creation. Haven't you figured it out by now? Cruelty teased. "Creation, wha-" Fluttercruel asked. We're in your head you blithering idiot! Cruelty shouted in a meaner tone. Now it all made sense, but... cruelty was all she knew, wasn't it? Did she ever had a touch of kindness before? Those locks on the cage, were they the times Fluttercruel broke free? She did recall showing mercy to Angel a few times before... and to her minions as well. No... they aren't minions. They were her friends. And as soon as she thought about her friends, the yellow rock began to shake. It formed into a golden necklace with a beautiful butterfly shaped gem. It floated towards Fluttercruel, and it took her longer than Pinkamena to realize what it was. She about about to take it off, when she realized. It was the Element of Kindness. Her eyes welled at the thought of how her days would go by if she was kind, all the things she missed out on, and about the way she treated her friends. "I'm.... I'm sorry." She said in a whisper. Sorry? SORRY for who? Cruelty punched Fluttercruel. "For everything! I'm sorry about the way I treated my friends, and I'm sorry how cruel I've been and I'm sorry I decided to listen to you!" She pointed at Cruelty, who was smirking at the display. "And I'm sorry we let Discord win!" She started to sob. With each apology, her necklace had glowed brighter and so did Fluttershy's. You think some mere apologies will save you? Cruelty laughed. You're weak. Pathetic! I did not allow you to that this way and I won't start now! She flew at Fluttercruel, but bounced off of an invisible sheild caused by the Elements. "Oh yeah? Well I'm still sorry about e-everything! Y-you can't stop it!" Fluttercruel broke down. Fluttershy hugged her. "Shh.... it's ok, it's ok. What matters is that you are sorry, and for that, you are forgiven." She smiled. With that final word of forgiveness, their necklaces grew brighter and finally shot out a beam at Cruelty, making her leave forever, and freeing Fluttercruel as her colour returned. They woke up and looked at each other, and Fluttercruel quickly ran into her house and began to feed her animals. Fluttershy helped and they went off to find their friends. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4: Loyalty Is Like A Rainbow //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4: Loyalty Is Like A Rainbow Rainbow Dash scouted the skies, looking for Traitor Dash. Sigh, she could be anywhere! I'll never find her at this rate! Wait a second... A greyscale rainbow mane was seen in a cloud. Rainbow Dash zoomed over to her. "Hey Traitor! Wake up!" Traitor Dash woke up then looked at a frowning Rainbow Dash. "Oh it's you. What didja wake me up for?" "What? How did you know about that? And how do you know about me?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Well... I sorta saw you guys a saw our Spike dragging your Spike to an alley and heard enough about what you were gonna do so... yeah. It's about time! I was gonna go crazy with all the psychos here!" Traitor Dash said. Silence. "Alright, well. I'm leaving now, bye." Traitor Dash flew off. "Huh? Hey wait!" Rainbow Dash flew after her. She flew faster and faster, avoiding a few things here and there. Wow, she's pretty fast. Wait, oh yeah, she's me, isn't she. Rainbow Dash flew much faster and reached supersonic speeds. She could almost touch Traitor.... Boom! A rainbow appeared. It caught Rainbow Dash off guard with the sudden acceleration, and she accidentaly tackled Traitor Dash to the ground. They fought a little, but soon Rainbow Dash pinned Traitor Dash. "Alright, I'm just gonna come out and say, yes, I know. But I just can't stop backstabbing! If the Elements or other discorded ponies see that I'm not discorded, they'll make sure that I will be!" Traitor Dash said. A flash of magenta was seen. "Okay, first of all, you're not even discorded? And second of all, we went out like this and nopony cared!" Rainbow Dash countered. "Well, I'm grey because I take- I mean 'borrow' the grey stuff Spike uses too." Rainbow Dash got off of her and helped her up. "Then we should just get your necklace now, right?" Another flash. "No! I can't. I really am a traitor now! I lied to my friends and pretended I wasn't loyal just for my sake, not theirs! I mean, I practically gave up hope for any of us, and backstabbing became a hobby! I'm not truly loyal now!" Traitor Dash moaned. "Hey, I forgive you! And as long as you can forgive yourself, I'm sure the others will too. Besides I'm basically you, so technically, you are forgiving yourself!" Rainbow Dash said. A much bigger magenta flash covered them. The two awoke in a room filled with different shades of grey, the walls covered in wide stripes. "Where are we?" Rainbow Dash looked at Traitor Dash. "All I remember was that I saw a pinkish flash and then we woke up here." Traitor Dash gulped. "We're in my mind I think." "Uh, Rainbow? Traitor? A little help here??" A familiar raspy voice was heard through one of the walls. "Whoever you are, where are you?" Rainbow Dash asked. We're in the darkest shade of grey stripes! Hurry before the chaos comes back, I know I shoudn't betray them... A mystery voice said.. The two didn't question, they were terrified, but found the stripe and found they could pass through it. They were in a room with a blue rock, a caged pony who looked like a coloured Traitor Dash, although the door wasn't even closed, and a grey floating pony with a mask of a straight mouth. Hi, I'm Betrayal. I'm risking my afterlife to save you. Oh man, if Discord finds out- "Don't worry Betrayal, he won't find out." The caged mare rolled her eyes. So, I'm supposed to stop you girls, but I'm on your side! She smiled. "This explains it... why I felt perfectly fine, still had my colour, and yet had the urge to betray my friends." Traitor Dash gasped. "The door on the cage is open, and you were betraying Discord for our side... But, why?" I... I don't really know. All I know was that I was a spirit who got pulled out of my grave by Discord. Me and my other spirit friends were brainwashed and became evil. I was brainwashed into a betraying personality, but since I was on their side, I betrayed them for you girls. I'm gussing my friends were in a similar situation. More silence. Now, to free you and banish me, I guess, you have to remember what it's like to be loyal. I can't even remember my living days, much less loyalty, so I'm not much help. I'm sorry. Betrayal said. "It's alright, she's still got us, right Rainbow?" The mare in the cage got out and flew towards the two. "I'm Traitor Dash, well the undiscorded one." "Wait, so I am discorded?" Asked Traitor. Yes. You can see me right here, right? The spirit of betrayal? In your head? Betrayal laughed and flew in circles around the three. "I don't know how to remember being loyal!" Traitor Dash said. "Just think about your friends," Rainbow Dash said "And how much you love them!" The undiscorded Traitor Dash said. "And what you would do for them!" Rainbow Dash added. "And how much you stuck by them." The other said. The blue rock shook and turned into the Element of Loyalty, which was already glowing, and was soon around Traitor Dash's neck as her colour returned. It shot a beam at Betrayal and they finally woke up. Traitor Dash smiled at Rainbow Dash "Thanks Rainbow, you made me feel a whole lot better." "No problem Traito- um, Dash." Rainbow Dash said. Traitor Dash slightly cringed at being called that, but she became calm again once she called her Dash. They flew off, trying to race each other.