My Little Discord: Chaos is Lovely

Twilight walks out of the castle in a daze. Her ears are ringing as though Discord himself had just spun her in circles and proven to her that air did not exist. The Wandering Stallion legend is...true. She had heard the words straight from Celestia, yet they seemed so alien. Twilight recalled the legend:

Back in a day of old, a master sorcerer tried to hold
the power of a monstrous beast, fore he made the world a feast.
But a feast the beast was not after,
wise and clever, he courted disaster.
Fought with mind and magic, not claws,
For this cause the mage was ill prepared.

The beast wished for one small gain,
To amuse himself watching ponies in pain.
The mage took with him spells or war, expecting a battle dreary
But before him was a creature of trickery, who tested his
mind and made him see what could not be.
Time and again the creature played his game as the mage grew weary.
He wished for the trickery to end, so powered his magic,
prepared to rend the creature from this plane.

The creature had but one more game, a trick that was no trick.
Before the mage appeared his family.
Assuming it a trick the mage took his opportunity.
A powerful spell meant to end the existence of a god,
Wasted on 3 mortals.

The creature cackled with delight,
The mage's heart struck with fright,
and guilt, shame, and terrified remorse,
The mage ran from the sight.

But the creature's game was not done yet.
He thought it shameful for such regret,
To only last a mortal's years.
The creature extended out his hand,
And made immortal the Stallion's fears.

Now the Stallion prays for the end of time,
And longs for nothing but the sublime.
He wanders nowhere, longs for none
And begs for the end of existence to come."

The Creature, Celestia had told her, was Discord, and the Stallion was her very first student. "Fireheart," she had called him. She had said he was always passionate and caring, but it had been decades since she had last spoke to him.

"Why him?" Twilight had asked.

"He was always good with riddles. Besides, he's got a bit of a bone to pick with Discord. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't want to help you out. He has a wonderful heart. Also, an extra powerful magic user may turn out to be useful for you."

"How do I know he's not...well you know, crazy by now? I mean it sounds like Discord messed him up big time."

"Twilight, everyone is crazy in their own way."

"...Where can I find him?"

Now Twilight finds herself making preparations to a place she has never been before, a place called the Badlands. The place Fireheart was last seen, nearly 50 years ago. She packs seven days of food and water, a tent, a rope and a few other small items in case of emergencies. Celestia had given her a small unassuming cart to carry everything in. Twilight is grateful for the plainness of it. Celestia could have given her a royal carriage or something similar, but this gives Twilight a chance to travel without drawing unwanted attention to herself. Twilight looks over her cart with all the supplies.

"This...is...crazy," She realizes too late that she once again spoke aloud.

"What is, my dear?"

Once again, Discord is behind her. His popcorn glistens and butter drips off the top.

"I really wish you'd stop doing that," Twilight says through her teeth.

"You didn't answer my question. I happen to be an expert on crazy, so I'd like to know."

"Er, um it's nothing."

"Nothing? You say? Oh, you must be talking about traveling to the middle of nowhere to get help from somepony I clearly bested years ago. Well, I wouldn't call it crazy, maybe hopeless, but not crazy."

"Anything else you want to add?"

"Just that if you really want to find him, you may want me to mark your map first. Discord leans his finger and puts an small X on the map. You'll find him there, though I really think it's a mistake on your part."

"And why is that?"

"For one, you're doing yourself a disservice by eliciting help. This is your quest, Twilight. Take pride in it. For the other thing, he's got many years of anger built up toward me. I've changed Twilight. I'm not like that anymore, at least not as much."

"Yeah, just cruel enough to change your friend's personality and transport her to the middle of nowhere."

"I already told you. It's something I had to do. I don't expect you to understand, but it's important. But that's not my point. The guy hates me."

"Gee I wonder why."

Discord creates a magical zipper and zips up Twilight's mouth. "I'm sorry, dearest Twilight, but I really need you to listen right now. The guy hates me, and it you elicit his help, and he sees me, there's no telling what he'll do. If he knows that I have been having these little chats with you, he may attack you. He hates me that much."

Twilight unzips herself. "That's a risk I think I can take, and all the better if it gets rid of you."

"Well, this is your quest Twilight. Take the risk if you must, but let it never be said that I didn't warn a princess of impending danger."

Discord disappears again. The last thing to disappear is his wide eyed, upturned grin. A baffled expression grips Twilight's face. Discord...protecting her? What does it mean? Or is he just tricking her again? She presses forward, uncertain if she should travel to the place Discord marked.

She sighs and says aloud, purposely this time, "I guess I don't really have a choice, do I?"

She hears nothing but the caw of an eagle, but it almost sounds like Discord saying "nope." She shakes her head and moves forward to the spot marked on the map. There is a lone, tall, flattened rock there. She travels in a pseudo-desert. The wind whips sand in her eyes. and the cart creaks and wobbles through the unsure ground.

A lone thought travels her mind, I should have prepared for this more. I wasn't even sure what the Badlands were like. This isn't like me. I should have been better equipped.

Her thoughts are interrupted by what sounds like a distant gunshot. She freezes in place. The hair on her back stands still and she looks around wildly.

"Pretty smart of ya to not move." 3 tan-colored blankets are thrown upward, and 3 stallions fix guns directly on Twilight. Two of them are earth ponies. One of them a unicorn. "Now what'd ya bring us?" The earth pony speaking to her wears shades and his mouth is covered by a handkerchief. It is unclear if he wears it to hide his face or protect it from the sand.

Twilight nervously laughs. "Oh...I don't have much. Just regular supplies, you know food...rope." She looks at her surroundings and considers ways she can use her magic to save her."

"Nice try Princess," the bright orange unicorn speaks. He seems slightly older than the two earth ponies "And don't get any ideas about using your magic. You see that cliff over there? We got ourselves a sniper fixed right on you. Do anything funny...and well, let's just not be foolhardy, now shall we? Where are the valuables?"

"But...but I didn't bring any valuables," He puts the gun closer to her face. "I...swear! I don't even collect typical princess stuff. The only reason I'm out here is because I'm looking for somepony."

The unicorn snorts, grins, and adjusts his hat. "And who would you be lookin' for in a place like this?"

"Somepony named Fireheart. Celestia sent me. I have to find him!"

The unicorn lowers his gun and takes a step back. He removes his sunglasses. The blue earth pony speaks up.

"Hey Fireheart, how come she knows your name?"

Twilight's eyes go wide.

"...You're Fireheart?"

Fireheart's eyes go wider. "Why are you looking for me? What do you want?"

"I..." She looks down and away, hesitates. A few moments pass. She looks back up. "I need your help."

Fireheart bursts out in an angry laugh. "You hear that boys? The princess needs my help!" The earth ponies join in the laughter. "And what, dear princess, makes you think I'm going to help you?"

Twilight shrugs. "Well, that depends. Do you know who Discord is?"

That shuts him up quick. His eyes grow wider yet. He looks down, studies the sand on his hooves, blinks a few times. It is as though his entire personality leaves the planet for a few seconds. Finally, he takes a deep breath.

"Miss, I don't know what you're about to say to me, but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna regret running into you."

He pauses for one more moment, then throws a large bag of bits to his men.

"Boys, take the night off."

The younger of the earth stallions celebrates. "Yeehaw!" He shouts. "Ya hear that eagle eyes? We got the night off!"

"Yeehaw!" A loud voice echoes in the distance.

The earth pony with the handkerchief says nothing, but slowly sadles up next to Fireheart.

"Swifthoof, didn't you hear me? Ya got the night off."

"Oh, I heard you all right, boss. There's jess one little problem. It's not jess the night off is it?" Swifthoof takes off his shades and sets his steel blue eyes straight at Fireheart. "What exactly are you after with this princess?"

"I have unfinished business," Fireheart replies, "And it is none of yours." He turns away and walks in the opposite direction of Swifthoof.

"Oh I beg to differ. It's all my business if you're goin' way. You're my bread and butter, and...Hey! Don't you walk away from me!"
Swifthoof darts in front of Fireheart. "You look me in the eye and you tell me you ain't goin."

"Swifthoof."

"Look. Without you...we're lost. They're goin' be just as lost without you as me. They're just too damn stupid to see what's 'bout ta happen. We need your plans. We need your magic."

"Sorry Swifthoof. It's not going to happen. You got yourself a good month's wages there if ya budget yourself properly. You'll be okay without me. You all will."

Swifthoof draws his gun and points it at Fireheart's face. "The hell we will! I'm somebody now! I'm not goin' back...not ta who I was. And even if I did, we're wanted criminals, remember? Either ya help us, or ya die. Now wassit goin' be?"

Twilight shrinks back a few steps and tries to think of what to do.

Fireheart stares Swifthoof down. "Swifthoof, you're in over your head."

Swifthoof stares back. "I'll be judge of that."

"So you will. Well? What are ya waitin' for? I haven't got all day."

"Ya that eager ta die, ya old stallion?"

"You and I both know ya ain't gonna pull that trigger."

Swifthoof's finger tightens a little on the trigger. "Ya willin' to bet yer life on that?"

Fireheart says nothing.

"So...Looks like this unfinished business of yours is worth dieing over."

"Yes...In fact, I'm counting on it."

"Too bad. I guess you're not as smart as I thought you were."

Three seconds pass. In that time, a rifle flashes. A purple alicorn cries out. A unicorn stands his ground, and a few disbanded desperadoes perk up their ears at the sound of something in the distance, then go back to their cider. A moment later, Swifthoof stands steady, knowing that the deed is done. Fireheart stands still for a moment, slowly uses his magic to pull the bullet out, then sighs.

"I'm sorry Swifthoof." Using his magic, Fireheart hurls Swifthoof onto a rock, and then forms the rock around Swifthoof. The rocks clasp around him. He throws a canteen of water Swifthoof's way, as well as the bag of gold. "It's about ten hours till sundown. At that time, the spell should wear off. You and I both know you can't track worth a spit, so by that time we'll be long gone. If you follow me, I won't hesitate to kill you."

With nothing left to threaten Fireheart with, the earth stallion spits on the ground near him. "You're ruining our lives, Fireheart. Don't you think for a minute I won't come back to ruin yours."

"...It already was."

Fireheart turns away. Swifthoof hollars after him. Fireheart remains unshaken and walks away.

"...Sorry Swifthoof."

Twilight finally speaks. "Are you sure he's going to be alright?"

"He can take care of himself fine," The Wandering Stallion shifts his shoulders a little and walks on. "We better hit the road. And about this business of yours..." He looks Twilight in the eyes, and sees something. For a moment, the harshness drops off his face, but it doesn't last long. "Needless to say, it had better be worth it."