Lyra discovers the Internet

     Discord, it is not a kind thing. Discord is what causes friends to turn on each other, society to crumble, and relationships to end in bitter strife. Even through his smile and renewed loyalty to ponies, Lyra could feel the anger radiate from him and penetrate her soul.

His grasp on her was tight, forcing her to make small breaths while doing her best to impersonate Fluttershy's stare to be let go.

     Up close, she could observe the chimera better than she would've liked. For being composed of many amazing animals, Discord wasn't a charming beast to look at in the flesh. The unnaturalness of his body made Lyra fear she was going to sprout an extra limb from her chest and be stuck with it for life, and having Discord in front of her it could become a terrifying reality.

     His sudden appearance started fireworks and flares in her mind, he wanted the machiene she had stolen days ago. She thought back to the message she had received earlier, and replayed it in her head, searching for an explanation. Brittany and Zach, both humans. Brittany had wanted her magic book back from Zach, and he obviously doesn't have it, so why had it ended up here?

     Despite the embodiment of chaos clenching her in its grasp, Lyra decided it was best to wait for a better explanation and hope it was just a misunderstanding.

     Only a few minutes passed until Discord upped his ante, and put a tighter grip on Lyra. His eyes grew sharp and penetrating, searching the pony in front of him for answers before finally asking, "Where is my Laptop?"

     The question was enough to set gears turning in her head. Brittany mentioned that the book was a laptop, so how is Discord involved in this? She carefully crafted her next words in hope she wouldn't be strangled, "A few days ago, an... acquaintance, of mine mentioned something by the same name, do you know who?" Lyra knew questioning the already threatening chimera in front of her for proof was risky, especially if he didn't know who Brittany was.

     "Brittany," he responded plain and simple, "Specifically Brittany Kenderson. She's a bit of a stuck-up brat but nice... In a few ways. Why would you be asking?"

     "She sent me a message awhile back, how do you know her?" Lyra was only getting more confused and hurt from this, she glanced down at her stomach which was beginning to chafe from his coiling tail. Why aren't I down on the sweet ground? Can't he let me down for this?

     "I think I should be asking you that, be careful, it's not your possession." He smirked, "You've already given me proof that you have it, now hand it over before you grow a feeler and I lose a friend." He almost laughed at his last remark, adding to Lyra's fear.

     Lyra sighed and took a moment to collect herself before answering Discord, "I don't have it."

     The comment rattled Discord more than it seemed it should. He his face appeared to show... Worry, but just for the briefest second. "Where is it then?" He said as he pulled Lyra to an even closer position to himself.

     "The laptops back in the bakery now let me go!" choked Lyra, "Aren't you supposed to be good now?" The question stopped Discord cold in his grasp, almost dropping her for a moment, before he resumed his stance. He flicked his fingers, and the two popped into existence right in Lyra's bedroom.

     "Find it," he put simply, "And as for your question, well... those elements aren't everywhere are they now my little pony? It's surprising what you can accomplish out of sight, just like you."

     Discord dropped Lyra right onto the floor to retrieve the laptop, sitting openly on the floor in front of them, This is too simple, why does he need me to get it? Hesitantly she inched to the device and grabbed it while rubbing her aching stomach.

     "Sit down now, I'm going to tell you a story that you may choose to believe, or to try to falsify it."

     Lyra took no objection to his demand, it was more time for her to recover from his coiling. She observed the embodiment of chaos as he also took a seat and rested his back on the wooden wall, and stared to the ceiling.

     "Some time ago I felt a need for more friends, sure Fluttershy was nice and more caring than the rest but the need I had was bigger. You ponies are all familiar with me now, and quick to flee and run as the 'big bad Discord comes to town', all but a small, brave, and loyal few. This encouraged me to seek out new friends, ones who had never heard of me before, not even in myth, legend, or tale. The search was brief nonetheless, a habitable world was practically around the corner."

     "What does this have to do with me exactly? Why is this here?" Questioned Lyra.

     Discord gave a frown to her impatience and continued briefly. "When I arrived at the planet it was infested with beings I came to learn were Humans. The first few ran from me in terror, but what would you expect if you saw me one day come at you for seemingly no reason?" He quickly put a claw to Lyra's mouth "Hush, patience is a virtue," he took a moment to retract. "With all the screams I was getting it became clear I couldn't approach them looking the way I was, so I turned myself into one by the name of Zach."

     Lyra couldn't be more invested with his Discords story, all her dreams of humans were being answered so simply and easily. If only do known to ask him earlier. She leaned towards him and absorbed every word he could offer her.

  "Which led me to find Brittany, three days later on the side of the road. She had been walking home and I asked if I could help her carry her book and backpack. She had accepted thankfully and I helped her home, to which she invited me inside for a snack. I had taken a seat in the dining room as she gathered something in the kitchen and walked back to me. The snack doesn't matter, it's what else she brought. Right as she sat down she was holding some plain, metallic looking object that could show her anything and everything she desired. Eager to use it, I asked her if I could borrow the contraption she called a laptop. Her generosity surprised me, the power of a god and she handed it over, well... after we had established a return date and location, bit still. Brittany had shown me a great kindness by letting me borrow her possession, one I will not soon forget."

     "So you want to give it back to maintain your relationship with her, how nice of you." The words had played out better in her head, "Oh," she winced. "Yep that explains a lot," Lyra said nervously, "So if you could just take back the thing and go that'd be great please."

     "Oh I can't have it be that simple now can I," replied Discord as he snatched the laptop back from Lyra, "You've been very disrespectful of our friendship, so I'll have to punish you." He began to make a show of chanting and meaningless rambles to heighten her fear and at its climax slammed talon and paw together.

     Lyra felt no change by the event, nothing was different as far as she could observe. Then the chimera in front of her pointed at her stomach, precisely where she was chafed. What lay there were letters, in a mocking tone, saying thief all around the damaged area.

     "The curse should last for a few days at its best, ta-ta now pony, see you in the human world," Discord gave a cackle before he flicked his talon and vanished with no trace of having ever entered her room.

With all that's just happened! I'm surprised it was nothing worse. The mare took a moment to absorb all that had recently happened before Bonbon came through the door. Lyra quickly jumped into her bed, retreating under the covers to hide her new features.

     "I wanted to thank you Lyra, turns out Pinkie had just forgotten to list an ingredient like you guessed. Any other way and I think I would've torn her to shreds if you hadn't made us come together. Again, thanks for helping me out, even if did seem mad at you. And... Goodnight Lyra, you've earned some sleep." Bonbon then closed the door and left her friend to her thoughts.

     Lyra took minute to reflect on the last few days and smiled at them, Mostly fun, she thought. Inside her bed she realized it was the one thing she had left to do, sleep.