Chaos Reborn: The Corruption of Harmony

Chapter 24: A Challenger Appears

Luna stood strong, ready to fight, knowing that she had no chance of winning.

Twilight knew this as well and tried to stop her. “Princess, wait!”

The dark blue alicorn turned and whispered to Twilight with determination. “We will keep her distracted as long as we can. Use the Elements of Harmony.”

Twilight nodded in acknowledgement and huddled up with the rest of the girls to fill them in on the plan.

Luna stepped forward, meeting eyes with Discordia. “We shall not allow you to succeed.”

Discordia smiled back. “Planning to use the elements on me again, eh?”

Luna gasped. “How did you -!?”

“Oh please, princess. We both know that you can’t hope to hold your own against me. I’m not stupid. There’s no need to be so deceptive.”
Discordia challenged the others, spreading her wings wide open. “Here, give it your best shot.”

Dumbstruck, the girls looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Twilight turned to Luna for guidance. The princess was just as confused, but Twilight realized this might be their only chance. “Alright then. Get ready girls?!” She called out to the group, as they fell into formation. Their elements began to glow, lifting them into the air. Twilight’s eyes lit up bright white as she was pulled up to the center of the group.

“Come on! Let’s see what you can do.”
Discordia taunted with excitement.

In an explosion of light, a rainbow beam shot up to the air, arcing down and bathing Discordia with its purifying energy. The purple alicorn let out a scream, the magic consuming her. It seemed all was won. As the magical energies subsided, the girls landed gently on the ground, drained by the stress of their second usage of the Elements.

But before the smoke had a chance to clear, the sound of Discordia’s laughter echoed from within. Everypony gasped in disbelief, as the villainous alicorn stepped out from the dark cloud of debris. “Did you really think that would work?” She continued to laugh. “It didn’t stop me the last time, what made you think you’d succeed the second time around?...But if it’s any consolation, that hurt a lot more than I expected.” Discordia arrogantly tilted her head to crack her neck, and brushed off debris with her wings. “So, do you have any other bright ideas or should I kill you now and call it a day?”

Everypony backed away in fear.

“What now?” Rarity asked, looking to Twilight for a new strategy.

“I don’t know, Rarity. Anypony else have a plan?”

“W-we could run away.” Fluttershy suggested.

“For what?! She’ll just find us again.” Rainbow Dash shook her head.

“What if we-” Pinkie started, but was interrupted by the Doctor.

“I have idea.” He said as he pulled out his sonic screwdriver.

“You got weapon in that fancy stick of yours?” Applejack asked.

“No, but I do have a secret weapon of sorts.”

“Well, where is it!?” Rainbow Dash yelled in frustration.

“You mean, ‘where is she?’” Whooves corrected the confused blue pegasus and turned to Discordia. “If you’ll allow us just a little bit more time, we have one last thing to try.”

Intrigued and curious of what he was planning, Discordia acknowledged his request. “Very well, but make it quick. I grow bored with this game.”

The Doctor pressed a button on the device, causing a static filled holographic screen to appear. “Assistant, do you read me?” The static began to clear and the outline of pony could be seen on the other end.

“Doctor? Whoa! Where are you? And where did this thing come from? Did you guys win?” The screen finally cleared up to reveal a walleyed, grey mare tapping on the screen. “Oh hi, Rainbow Dash!”, she smiled and waved.

“Oh no, not her! That’s your secret weapon?!” Rainbow Dash groaned.

The Doctor glared at the blue pegasus, scolding her for her rude remark before turning back to the screen. “Assistant, we need your help.”

“But what about Dinky!? I can’t just leave her here alone!”

“I’m sending the TARDIS to your location. I’ll have it bring you here and then send Dinky somewhere safe. I’m sorry to put you in this position, but I’m afraid your help is imperative to our chances of survival.”

“But what can I do?”

“You have a power within you that even you aren’t aware of. I saw when I absorbed the memories of my future self. Derpy, you’re our only hope.”

The blond maned pegasus stared blankly at the screen.

“Um...Derpy?” The Doctor asked, unsure if she was paying attention.

She continued to stare, expressionless for a few moments before seemingly coming out of a trance and responding. “Alright Doctor, I’ll be there soon.”

“Thank you.” The Doctor said, signing off and looking to the rest of the girls.

“Seriously!? She’s your secret weapon?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in frustration.

Whooves simply gave her a stare, ignoring her comments. “She’ll be here momentarily.”

Discordia scoffed. “A valiant effort, but pointless.”

“We’ll see about that, you monster.” Whooves said with a glare.

“You know, while your future self was hiding away with Twilight, planning your escape to the past, we killed her…slowly. She died calling your name, begging for her Doctor to save the day. Like cowards, you both left her to die.” Discordia taunted, laughing to demoralize the brown stallion.

“Y-you're just trying to get into our heads!” He said, gnashing his teeth in anger.

“Am I? Then why did you arrive in the past without her? Hm?”

The girls all looked at the Doctor, unsure what to think.

“Derpy stayed to fight. It’s what she wanted. You and your abominations murdered her child! She had nothing left to lose.”

A screeching noise interrupted the two of them as the TARDIS materialized a few feet away. The door opened as the grey pegasus stepped out. “Um…I’m here!” She smiled and waved at everyone before turning around and poking her head back in the blue, rectangular booth. “Now you stay here. Mommy and The Doctor will come get you when it’s safe. Ok, Muffin?” She took a step back clearing the doorway. “Ok, stay safe. Bye bye.” She waved as the TARDIS closed its door and screeched once more, disappearing from sight. She turned to the group with a look of confusion on her face. “So what were we doing again?”

The entire group looked at the Doctor in disbelief. Nervously, he pulled on his collar, trying to ignore the stares and groans. “Well, um. I-I didn’t really think this out that far. I need you to get really upset. Think of something that makes you mad.”

“I’ll try.” She said, crossing her eyes as she tried to focus. “Um…we’re…out of muffins...” She thought even harder. “I got yelled at for mixing up the mail again.” She squinted and stuck out her tongue as she tried to visualize. “I…I got nothing.” She said shrugging her shoulders.

“Allow me.” Discordia said as she fired a beam of magic directly at the Doctor.

The girls jumped away, as the brown pony was set ablaze. His screams of pain were quickly choked out, the flames stealing his breath away. He collapsed to the floor, and the fire died out almost instantly, leaving behind a charred, smoking pile of mangled flesh.

“Doctor!” Derpy cried as she galloped to his side.

He coughed, trying to clear his smoke filled lungs, and looked up at his assistant with the one eye that hadn’t been fused shut by the burns. His skin cracked and split as he painfully reached out to his teary eyed assistant. “You…have to save…Equestria.” He wheezed, wiping the moisture from her eyes.

Derpy reached out, and held his blackened hoof, nuzzling it against her cheek. “But what about you?”

“I’m sorry it had to be this way.” Whooves coughed up another small puff of smoke and wheezed for air. “Be strong, my assistant.” His hoof fell limp as he closed his eye and exhaled deeply.

The walleyed pegasus just sat there. Her lip quivered as tears spilled uncontrollably from her eyes.
The Pinkie Pie walked up to the grey pegasus and attempted to console her, placing a hoof on her shoulder in a gesture of support.

Derpy’s brow furrowed as she released the Doctor’s hoof and got up. She turned to Discordia with rage. “H-how could you?”

“Oh, poor little Derpy.” Discordia mockingly pouted her lip as she spoke. “Did I hurt your boyfriend? Well don’t you worry, you’ll all join him soon enough. After all, I’m just getting started. When I’m done here, I’m going to find that little filly of yours and do the same to her.”

“NO! You leave Dinky out of this!”

“Hahaha!...Or what? You couldn’t save her last time either.”

“What are you talking about!?”

“Oh, didn’t he tell you? In my future, your little brat was...how do I put this?... unfortunate enough to have a run in with a few of my associates. I’m afraid, things didn’t go well for her and she kind of…” Discordia chuckled. “…lost her head. I think this time I’ll make it even more horrifying for your little one. Oh, I know! How about I reanimate your corpse and send it to kill her? That way the last thing she sees is the sight of her own mother ripping her apart.”

“You won’t lay a hand on my muffin!” Derpy stomped, as the ground began to quake around them.

The girls looked around in confusion, ducking for cover as a beam of light tore a hole in the ceiling, bathing their accident prone friend in its glow, and releasing the grey pegasus’s Elemental power.

Discordia grinned in delight. “Took you long enough.” The purple alicorn yawned. “Now let’s get this over with. I’m getting bored with you ponies, and I’ve got a full schedule after I’m done here. You know, chaos to spread, ponies to kill. Lots of busy work.”