Chapters A Forgotten Power
Chapter 1:
A long time ago, before there were ponies, there were two alicorns, named Celestia and Luna. Before them, there were the 3 Powers of Disorder; Apophis, Chaos, and Discord. Apophis made the land change, and created what are known today as Griffons. Chaos created the land, and made living monsters, such as the Cockatrice and the Hydra. Discord pieced the land together and tore it apart as he pleased. But one day, Discord thought that life was too dull to live without others. In thinking so, he made the two alicorns. He gave them jobs as well; Celestia to rise the sun, and Luna to bring upon the moon. This pleased Discord for decades. Though Discord was never happy for too long, he became lonely again, even with his new companions. So Discord struck a deal with Celestia, and they made all the little ponies of the world. Once the other two Powers of Disorder realized that Discord was making all these creations without their permission, they revolted against him. But he became too powerful, and with the help of Celestia, they banished the Powers to the core of the planet, never to be seen again. For a long time, everyone lived in peace and harmony. Although, every day, Discord would become less and less happy with keeping the peace. He went to Celestia, saying that there should be more tragedies, more disasters. He told her that life was too boring, and needed some more action involved. Celestia saw Discord as an evil being for the first time, and used her power to turn Discord to stone. Celestia gave her land a name; Equestria.
Decades later, Discord was freed, and Equestria turned center of a chaotic storm. Celestia turned to her starred student and her friends for help, and with the power of The Elements of Harmony, Discord was once more stone.
Though no one knew that Discord was more clever than he seemed. In the midst of the deception, he created a new pony. One that shared his power, and his desire for disaster. This new pony was made somewhere beyond Celestia's view, and slowly began to awaken. This pony was named Screwball.
Chapter 2:
I do not know where I am, or even who. All that I know is that my mane is purple with white streaks, my cutie mark is of a baseball and a screw, and I wear an odd little hat on my head with a propeller on top. I don't even know my name. Life has been like some strange dream, where I know what exists and how to speak, but yet I know not about my location or the day. I'm just existing. It all seemed... Pointless.
I awoke to see a room of stone around me. Groggily, my eyes gazed around the area, only to find pillars of rock at the sides, some pebbles on the ground, along with some dark hooves... Suddenly, I became more alert. I looked up to see the figure of an alicorn, luminescent eyes boring down on me. The mare's mane fluttered in the wind, with twinkling stars instead of regular hair.
"Good, you are awake, young one," the shadow pony spoke.
"Who... Am.. Who am I?" I asked, dazed at the pony's aura of power.
"That is a question of which I crave answers to as well. You are rather peculiar, and certainly not one of my subjects."
I was confused. "Your... Subjects?"
The mare looked down with questioning eyes, as though looking for answers right out of my brain. "It seems you do not know of me. I am Princess Luna, sister of Celestia. I raise the moon, to bring upon dreams and new day."
"You're... A princess? But.. Where am I? I don't understand..."
"You do not remember appearing in my temple, little pony?" Her voice showed distinct command, but was also very soothing and kind.
"No, I don't remember anything.. I don't know how I got here, or who I am..."
"Well, to how exactly you got here or who you are I can not answer. Although, I can help you from here, if you wish. I know somepony who may have an idea of who you are."
This was the first good news I've heard in... Well... Ever.
"Yes, thank you, I promise I'll be good," I said, trying to get on her good side.
"Hmmmm," The Luna said, looking like she was considering if I was somepony of interest. "A young filly with manners. You will be a great companion."
That comment let me know that this princess wasn't the snobby kind, which I knew was a good thing, but not knowing why I thought some princesses were snobby at all.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to call you something," the princess said, looking down at me from her height. "How about... Screwball? Judging from your Mark of Harmony, I think it fits well."
"My what?"
"Oh, my apologies little one. Ponies nowadays call them Cutie Marks, correct? I've been gone for so long, time just seems to have skipped past me in the bat of an eye. Though that is a story for another day, right now we must start heading out. The Everfree Forrest is out of my control in the day."
Chapter 3:
Me and Luna trotted through the woods for a couple miles. Every now and then she would glance back at me, a deep expression on her face. What was it, confusion? Interest? Fear? I don't know why I would be any threat to anyone, much less a princess. I didn't even know my real name, though I was warming up to Screwball. I just hoped whatever it was, Luna wouldn't decide that I was a danger to anypony.
Luna slowed down, "We have arrived."
I looked forward to see a little hut of straw and wood at the edge of a small clearing.
"What are we doing here?" I asked, unsure that this was a place for answers on who I was.
"If anypony knows anything about you, it would be our spiritual zebra, Zecora. Come, I'll introduce you."
We stepped through the open doorway to a room that was cluttered with bottles and pots. At each end of the room hanging on the wall were tribal masks with awkward faces carved into them, and in the center was a large brewing pot with a striped horse moving a long pole of wood through the thick green substance inside.
"Zecora, it's good to see you again. I hope you don't mind, but I brought a guest," Luna spoke to the zebra.
"How good it is to see you as well," Zecora said turning to face us, "I don't mind- DEMON CREATURE FROM HELL!" She yelled, then swiftly jumped to the top of the wooden mixer with one hoof while shaking another dead at me.
"Zecora!" Luna shouted, looking baffled, "Why would you ever speak such language to a young filly? I know you were raised better, for I watched over it!"
"Princess Luna.. Maybe I should go... I think I'm in the wrong place," was all I could say while holding back the tears caused by the hurtful words Zecora spoke.
"Do you not know what that pony will become?" Zecora said, still balancing on the pole, "She is the demon spawn of the one we shun!"
"Zecora, stop scaring the young one! Screwball only wants to know who she is, not to be stung with your lashing tongue! If you won't calm down, then I will be back with my sister, and it will not be a good result!"
Zecora looked deep in thought. Finally, she hopped to the floor, staring at me like I was a specimen that has yet to be observed.
"You do not know of who you are?" she asked, her tone easing.
"I'm sorry.. I only came here because princess Luna thinks you know something about me... I was hoping, but I'll leave if you want.." I replied, scared out of my mind.
Zecora spoke, "I am sorry I decided to scream, I thought that you were the daughter of the one who is mean."
"What are you saying?" Luna questioned.
"The most notorious villain of all record, the one trapped in stone, the one named Discord."
Chapter 4:
"Who is Discord?" It was the only question to be said. A possibility that I belong to somepony? It was all I could hope for.
But Zecora seemed pretty angry at this Discord pony. What if finding out the truth was a bad thing? I couldn't think about that now. I needed answers.
"Discord," Luna started, "is a delusional being who seeks only chaos. He has the limbs of the creatures he has created, even pony kind. My sister, Celestia, once defeated him, transforming him into a stone figure. Alas, he escaped eventually, and tried to destroy everything we have accomplished by turning it all into a seething pile of havoc and destruction. We almost failed to stop him, and we would have been under his rule if it weren't for the Elements of Harmony. But surely his tricks are done, and young Screwball here can not be a spawn of his, correct Zecora?"
"The young one may not be the one of destiny," Zecora started, "Though there is something of great importance I can see."
"You can tell just from her eyes?" Luna said, confusing me yet again.
"What about my eyes?"
Zecora dipped her hoof into her brew and dabbed the air with it, creating a mirror image of myself. Now I could definitely see what Luna meant. My eyes were much different from theirs; they had swirling curves of purple where my pupils should be. "What's wrong with me? Why am I like this?!" I was becoming hysteric and causing a scene, but why shouldn't I? I was a freak with not only intense amnesia problems, but also vortexes for eyes!
Luna gently placed a hoof on my shoulder. "Do not fret, you are perfectly fine. You're just unique, a rare kind of pony."
Her words did not make me feel any better. All of my known life was hectic. I had no possible answers other than either me being the daughter of a monster or being a nobody. I needed to get away, I wasn't needed here anyways. I ran out the door, tears in my eyes, with Zecora yelling behind me, "Beware, beware!"
Chapter 5:
I ran for what seemed like hours. Making my way through thick bushes and dodging low branches, I found my way to a small clearing. In the middle was a single tree with a mini house built in its top. I knew I needed to rest, so I decided to climb up the ladder and into the treehouse.
Once I entered, I saw that the inside was mostly bare, except for a small rug in the center plus a few chairs, windows, and a table. I took a seat in the wooden chair for a breather, but it didn't last long. There was a slight banging from outside, like hoof steps coming up the ladder. There was nowhere to hide. I was trapped.
Up from the opening came two ponies. They seemed about my age, if I even knew my correct age. The spot I was in was facing away from the way the ladder lead to, so they didn't yet know I was there.
"I don't know, Scream," said a filly with a yellowish flank and red and blue streaks in her mane and tail, "maybe Gilda is right."
"She can't be Doom," replied the one with orange hide and purple-green feather-looking hair, "she just can't! If she is, then we'll never-" Then they spotted me.
"Who the hay are you?" asked the first one.
"Ugh... I'm.. Err..."
"You don't know your name?" said the orange one.
"I'm Screwball.. I'm sorry for intruding, I'll go, sorry," I replied shyly, heading towards the exit.
"Hold on there," the one called Scream insisted, stepping in my path, "You're one of us, aren't you?"
"I.. I don't know what you mean..." I stuttered.
"I can tell from your eyes. You see Doom, I told you!"
I was confused, no shock there. More ponies saying weird things when they meet me. It was getting old. "Do you know who we are?"
"I've never met you before, sorry," I answered.
"I'm ScreamLock, and this is AppendingDoom. I'm guessing you don't know where you're from either?"
"You mean this happened to you too?" I started getting eager. Finally, maybe someone with answers!
"Eeyup," said AppendingDoom, "We just woke up yesterday, not a clue. After a while, Scream here started getting this crazy idea that there was someone we had to find. Well, maybe it wasn't crazy after all."
"See? I was right after all. Hey, we should tell Gilda!"
"Who's Gilda?" I asked.
"C'mon, I'll show you, follow me!"
Chapter 6:
Things were picking up. I found others like me! Finally, someone worthy of relying on. I followed them up a hill while they chatted excitedly.
"At first me and Doom didn't even know each other, but we quickly became friends. It's like we were set at that same spot together just so we wouldn't be apart," Scream rambled, "then this weird looking bird walked over to us and took us as her own."
"Gilda isn't just some weird looking bird!" Doom exclaimed, though it seemed like they've had this talk before. "She's a Griffon. And you should show her some respect. After all, she did find and name us."
"Well maybe I didn't want to be named ScreamLock. Maybe I wanted to be named something cooler like BarkingMad or Scootalong or something."
"Scootalong? How is that cooler?"
"I don't know, I just like the ring to it. Oh look, we're here."
We stopped in the middle of the woods. I don't know why Scream thought we had arrived, because I didn't see anything of importance.
"Are you sure we are in the right place?" I asked.
"Of course, she's up in that tree right there," replied Doom.
I looked up to see a lion-ish tail sticking out from a few entwined branches.
"Hey, Gilda!" Scream yelled, "Look who we found!"
The tail moved, and a set of hawk eyes gleamed out from the shaded brush of leaves. "You see, this is why I named you ScreamLock. I could hear you just as easily if you would just talk." The figure leaped out of the tree and glided down in front of us. The winged bird had talons in the front, a lion's rear, and the head of a hawk.
"So, maybe you weren't crazy after all. It seems the trio is complete," Gilda said, sounding bored yet in a way amused. "I'll name this one PainBringer."
"My name is Screwball."
"Ok then, Screwy," she mocked. "Well, I've got some news for all three of ya."
"Yes Gilda?" Doom spoke, "Is it about our parents? Please tell me you found them!"
"Not exactly kiddo, but I know a Griff who has an idea about it."
Both of their eyes went wide, which looked strange when they spiraled around like mine. "YES! Finally! We've been waiting forEVER!" Screamed Scream.
"We've only been awake for a day, Scream," contradicted Doom, "But still, that's amazing news!"
"Thought you might like it. My pal Jackle will fly you two where you need to go. Just head back to the treehouse and wait for him, he will be there shortly,"
"Wait, what about Screwball?" asked Doom. "What will she do?"
"I'm going to take her personally to see her father. Now no more questions, run to the treehouse before Jackle gets there!"
Scream started dashing through the woods once more. Doom hesitated, but then nodded at me and chased after her friend.
"Did you really find my dad?" I asked, shifting from hoof to hoof eagerly.
"Absolutely. Better hold on tight, it's a long way up to Canterlot."
Chapter 7:
When Gilda told me to hold on tight, she wasn't kidding. Half a mile in the air, suspended only by sharp talons in my hide. It made me wonder, how the hay do pegasus ponies do this? It was freaky, and that's coming from the girl with no memory and portal eyes.
On the other hoof, it was a rather magnificent view. Overlooking the whole forest below me, a small town in the distance, and over the horizon I could make out a large mountain with a castle attached to its side.
"Is that where my dad is?" I asked, wind flowing through my mane.
"Sure is, Screwy," Gilda answered.
"Who is he?"
"Heh, you really want to know? Alright then. He is-" Before she could finish, something flew straight into us. Gilda lost her grip, and the last thing I saw before blacking out was a blur of colors.
"Who are you?" asked a voice.
"I.. I'm Screwball. Where am I? Why can't I see you?"
Everything around me was pitch black. I looked in every direction, but I couldn't find the source of the voice. I tried to open my eyes, but then I looked down. My eyes were already open, because I could see my own hooves.
Then a pony appeared in front of me. She was a filly with a purple and pink mane and tail, a unicorn's horn, and white flank. There was something familiar about her, but I couldn't put a hoof on it.
Now it was my turn to ask, "Who are you?"
"I'm Sweetie Belle. Why am I here, and why do you look like me?"
Then it hit me. That's why she looked familiar! Because she looked like ME!
"I don't know what's going on, sorry. I thought you knew," I replied.
"The last thing I remember is being at a field trip with my friends, and seeing this creepy statue. Then all of a sudden I'm here talking with you! Weird, huh?"
"Yeah, that is strange," I agreed.
"Do you think something important is going on?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Maybe it has something to do with-"
"Time to wake up!" a sly voice announced, and the Sweetie Belle faded away, shouting something I couldn't hear.
Instantly I was awake, floating over a bunch of statues. Yes, you heard me right. I was flying without any wings. I yelped, then gravity started to apply. I fell on my back in the grass.
"Oww.." I winced, flipping myself right-side-up. I looked around, seeing nothing but statues at all sides of me. I started walking around, eyeing each weird statue. One had 3 ponies standing on their haunches singing, the words on the base read "Songs of Serenity".
Just then, one caught my eye. A statue of a serpent with the head of a goat, and legs and arms of other random creatures.
The words inscribed in the stone read: "Defeated once more, Discord."
Chapter 8:
I stumbled back. Surely this couldn't be THE Discord... Could it? I took a step closer. The detail was incredible, every little hair made entirely of stone. It looked so fragile, though there it stood, in the open yard of a hundred statues.
I remembered what Gilda was saying. How my dad was in Canterlot, and asking if I was sure I wanted to know the truth. I looked back to Luna and Zecora, talking of destiny and demons. Is this... Truly my father?
I raised a shaking hoof, slowly moving it towards the foot of the statue.
"Why are you afraid?"
I jumped, then hid behind the choir statue. I looked around for the source of the voice, but saw nopony around.
"You know, I don't normally cause harm to my own blood, little one."
"Who said that?" I called out weakly, still not able to find the speaker.
"I thought I made you more brave then thaaat," the voice toyed.
Finally I looked up at the statue. "Yes, that's right my little spawn. Your daddy has spoken to you from inside his stone encasement." That time I saw a light move inside the statue, as if it were hollow and some tiny mare with a flashlight were trying to find an exit.
"You can't be my dad.. You can't!" I yelled at the stone figure. It didn't seem fair. It WASN'T fair. My father could not be the monster that everyone hates. He couldn't... He...
Tears filled my eyes.
"Please do not cry my dear. Your daddy- Oof!" In a flash colors, Discord's statue was impacted by what seamed to be a rainbow. He was sent flying back, hitting multiple statues on the way before impaling the ground.
At the base where his statue once stood now held a clearing cloud of dust. Once it was fully whisked away, what remained was a pony with a blue hide and rainbow hair.
"What the..." I started.
"Oh, Rainbow Dash! That was soooo chaotic of you! I'd be proud if I wasn't cracking up. Literally!" Discord said from somewhere in the crater he created.
"Oh please, do you really think that Rainbow Dash would ever do anything so vile? Honestly, it's as if you've been away for- oh wait, you were weren't you?" The blue pony said with a grin.
"That voice.. No, it can't be..." Now Discord was stuttering.
All of a sudden there was a miniature nuclear blast erupting from the hooves of the pony known as Rainbow Dash. Its flames engulfed her, and then disappeared altogether, leaving an entirely new product in its wake.
"Surprised?" spoke Chrysalis.
Chapter 9:
The creature standing on the pedestal only looked slightly like it was of pony kind. It had the same shape, although much taller and full of holes. It's mane (if you would call it a mane) was of a dark green and drooped down below it's neck, as if it consisted of soggy grass. The creatures wings were insect-like and full of holes as well. Eyes of green, and fangs that protruded from it's mouth. I preferred it as the happy rainbow pony.
"Who are you?" I asked the bug.
It smirked at me. "Well well, if it isn't another one of Discord's creations. Don't act like you do not know me, I am Chrysalis, queen of the Changelings!" She announced proudly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some unfinished business with your 'Daddy Discord'."
She lifted herself off the stone slab, wings buzzing as she moved towards the crater. I followed behind her, to see what would happen next.
When Chrysalis had arrived at the crater she exclaimed, "No! Discord you devil, reveal yourself!"
As she flew away patrolling the area, I looked down into the hole to find a tunnel that was made in the dirt. It was big, and looked like it could belong to a giant worm. Or a serpent. Not only was Discord not down in the pit, but he was loose. No longer was he trapped in stone, and now he could terrorize Equestria once more.
"Well then," Chrysalis started, "If you won't come with me, then I hope you won't mind if I take your precious daughter!"
Before I had a chance to react I was abducted by the Changeling queen. "Hey! Let me go!"
"Now now, why would I do that? You'll make excellent food for my father."
"Your.. Father?" I stuttered
"But of course. Apophis hasn't eaten in a millennia, I'm sure he'll just love the taste of his betrayer's creation!"
And with that she took off, carrying me from Canterlot and towards a faint far-away mountain.
Chapter 10:
I have two things to say about all that was happening. 1: Discord was some dad, huh? Breaks out of his prison and then leaves me to be food for whoever this Apophis guy was. And 2: Being carried by an insect pony with prickly legs, no hands of any sort and on top of that being miles above ground was not fun. I felt like I was going to fall the whole time, but luckily I stayed stuck in Chrysalis' legs. That is, if that was lucky at all.
As we neared the mountain I realized it wasn't a mountain at all, but rather a really tall castle that was full of holes like a hive. The closer we got the more I saw little creatures flying around the castle and entering through several holes. The creatures seemed to be the minions of Chrysalis, as they looked a lot like her, just shorter and less feminine.
We entered through an open wall near the highest point of the castle. Chrysalis put me down in the middle of the room.
"Now, you'll be a good little pony and stay put," Chrysalis started, "or I'll make you very, very uncomfortable. Trust me, you wouldn't want that."
"Never!" I yelled, nearly surprising myself with the force my voice brought. Without thinking I ran to the hole in the wall and jumped.
Under normal circumstances, I would have fallen to my death. Though somehow I managed to stay in the air. Shocked by not only me jumping but also me surviving, I held my hooves in front of my face and saw them glowing with some kind of gray aura. But as quickly as it had happened, it disappeared, and I was falling down to the ground.
"Minions, capture the little beast and bring it to me!" Chrysalis screamed in rage.
Then I was swarmed by changelings as they all grabbed me at once, lifting me back into the room. All but two let go of me and blocked the hole, preventing any more escape. I struggled against the restraining changelings, but they had me pinned down good.
"Well, it seems you have some of your daddy's power in you after all," Chrysalis scoffed. "I warned you."
And with that, she knocked the lights right out of me, and everything went black.
"It's that creepy voice again! Where is that creepy guy, why can't I see him? Hey, where'd you go Screwball?"
I recognized that voice. "Sweaty Bell?"
"It's Sweetie Belle! And why were you gone for a second there?"
"A second?" I questioned. "I haven't talked to you since I found Discord."
"Discord! That was the creepy statue my class was visiting! Now I remember the name," Sweetie Belle said.
"Wait... Are you saying that he did this to you?"
"I dunno. His statue was the last thing I saw before the screaming started... I can't remember who. Wait, are Apple Bloom and Scootaloo ok?!" Sweetie started panicking.
"Who? Wait... Scootaloo... Do you mean-"
"Get back in the game kid!" Discord cut me off, and then reality swirled back to me in a vortex of colors.
Chapter 11:
For the third time waking up in some form of bizarre way or spot, this was probably the strangest. I was upside down, hanging from the ceiling in a big green chrysalis. No, not Chrysalis chrysalis, the kind that holds insects while they evolve. I struggled against the gooey walls of the cocoon, but it was impossible. I just wasn't strong enough to break the walls of my imprisonment.
Then, through the see-through wall of green, I saw something move. I squinted, trying to get a better view, but it was hard to see through the thick ooze that was my viewpoint. As my eyes adjusted, I realized I was looking at two ponies walking into the room. Not just any ponies, though. These two I knew.
"AppendingDoom! Screamlock! Up here!" I shouted, trying to catch their attention.
They couldn't hear me, but I could make out their conversation. "Why did Jackle drop us off here with these things?" Appending asked Scream.
"How am I supposed to know? You're the smart one, you tell me," Scream replied.
"And where's our dad? And why isn't Screwball here with us? Aren't we all in the same group?"
Scream sighed, "Seriously, stop asking me these questions, I have no answers for any of this weird stuff."
"Sorry," Doom apologized, "I'm just nervous is all. And... I've been getting these messages."
"What kind of messages?" Scream questioned, seeming very intrigued.
"This pony, Apple Bloom, I keep seeing her in my dreams. Is that strange?"
Scream stared at Doom for a second before answering. "No, not at all. I've been getting visions from this pony called Scootaloo. It's just so str-" Scream stopped as she watched a green drop fall from the ceiling. She looked up, "Screwball?!"
"Yes! I'm here!" I called out, them now listening for my voice.
"Oh my.. How the hay did you get up there!?"
"Wouldn't I like to know!" I yelled sarcasticly, "Please get me down from here!"
Before Scream could question how, Doom started glowing, and fired some sort of laser right at the cocoon.
"Aggghhh!" I screamed as I fell from the ceiling and crashed into ScreamLock.
"Oww," she uttered, trying to get up.
"Sorry!" I apologized, raising myself off of her to help her up.
"How.. How did you do that?!" Scream gasped at Doom.
"I.. I don't know..." Doom responded, seemingly in shock about it herself as well.
We couldn't question further, for just then my least favorite Changeling came stepping into the room.
"How.. HOW DID YOU ESCAPE?!" Chrysalis raged.
Behind her came a smaller Changeling. "Queen Chrysalis," it spoke with a raspy voice, "father is ready for the children."
Chrysalis changed her angry look into an evil grin. "Good. Send in a squad to bring these vile beings to him."
"Of course, my queen." Then the Changeling made a noise that sounded like a cross between a bird screeching and buzzing bees, followed by the fluttering wings of the incoming squad.
We tried to dart away, but Chrysalis used her magic to keep us in place. This was it. We were captured.
All of a sudden, a crashing sound came from the lower floor. Chrysalis was about to say something, probably along the lines of 'What was that?', when the floor beneath her gave way, and she screamed as she fell.
Before we could register what just happened, the ground cracked, and we too fell through the floor.
"WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" screamed Doom.
I would rather not test that theory.
When all seemed lost, I saw something through the falling rubble. A serpent-like creature flying towards us.
"Oof," I mumbled as all three of us slammed onto the being's back.
"Well, isn't this a glorious family reunion?" Discord joked sarcasticly.
"You.." I started, "You let me get captured by that bug!"
"My dear," Discord said smoothly, "If I interfered we wouldn't have found our enemies lair, now would we?"
"You're a nut!"
"Most definitely so! Now let's destroy the place before he gets loose, shall we?"
"I'm pretty sure Chrysalis is a girl," Scream supplied.
"No, not that hideous thing. Her creator, Apophis. Now he's a beast I don't want to be bothered with having to defeat again."
"DISCOOOORD!" Shouted a familiar voice. "YOU ARE GOING TO PAY!"
"Oh, that's right, the little bugger can fly," Discord sighed, "Why won't you just die, eh Chrys? That would make my job of stomping these insects out so much easier."
Discord dodged rubble and attacking Changelings while we struggled to keep hold of his furry back. Chrysalis was firing magic from her horn at us, while Discord evaded and swatted her farther away with his tail. It was pure chaos. And Discord was loving it.
"Oh this is the most fun I've had in eons!" "You call that an attack? Ha! I've fought ponies better than you." "Haven't you heard? It's take your daughter to work day! See little spawn of mine? My job is simply the greatest!"
"Remind me to skip the next one," I groaned.
Discord kept changing the enemies into various tiny animals, or he gave them degrading outfits. Rabbits and frogs were hopping along the floor confused, and Changelings with clown masks or tons of makeup flew away trying to hide their embarrassment.
After a few minutes of continuous fighting, the wreckage settled down and less and less Changelings attacked. Chrysalis was nowhere to be seen, and nopony stood a chance against Discord's chaotic powers.
"Oh glory days ahead indeed!" Discord bragged. "Is there nothing that can stop my reign of chaos?"
"I see you've forgotten the true meaning to that word, old friend," spoke a scratchy voice.
Discord turned to see the speaker standing on the floor. It was a Griffon. The bird wore a tie around its neck and a black top hat with a white strap on its base. He looked very much like Gilda, only more masculine.
"Jackle? You know Discord?" asked Scream.
"Be gone you pigeon, I am having too much fun with the bugs to have time to properly roast a bird," Discord gloated.
Jackle's eyes gleamed red. "But surely you know who I am, Discord. After all, we were the best of friends until you left me to rot."
"I have no friends," Discord said, "and I've never had quarrel with Griffons, so your argument is invalid."
"Oh, but I'm no ordinary Griffon," Jackle countered. "The other one you betrayed was kind enough to give me this host. One of his own creations, too."
Discord lowered himself to the ground, and the three of us riding his back wobbled off, trying to get over the dizziness.
"I am starting to get annoyed, bird. I am the bringer of chaos, you can not defeat me."
Jackle grinned. "But I am Chaos."
Chapter 12:
No time for my opinion on the situation now, because I'm sure you want to know what happens next.
"You.." Discord murmured. "You should be gone. Far underneath our feet, buried in the center of this planet."
"Oh, but I couldn't just sit back and watch you screw up our world with your 'ponies' and 'harmony'," Chaos spoke through his host's beak.
"You never let me make anything! For a millennia I watched you and Snake-Boy Apophis break and create the world, and all I ever got to do was clean up after your fun was done. I was sick and tired of it!" Discord whined, flicking his tail angrily.
"Oooh woe is me, Discord, who never got to play with the big boys," Chaos mimicked. "Give me a break. You were always the lesser of the three of us. You're lucky you weren't killed back when we were all-powerful."
"I BEAT you! I won that battle! You dare say I, your conquerer, am the weak link?"
Chaos spread his wings. "Well, obviously you only won because you used our sacred power source. Rumor has it you didn't even have the decency to keep the gem in mint condition afterwards, and broke it down into the very weapon that your creations used to rebel against you."
Discord sneered at his enemy. "The Elements of Harmony were a mistake. Just like you. Now if you know what's best for you, you'll go back to the planet's core and rot like Apophis."
Chaos grinned from ear to ear. "I wouldn't think of him as rotting. In fact, he should arrive to the party right about..."
There was a giant explosion of wreckage, and a gigantic red serpent burst through the floor. The beast roared with a sound that no snake should be able to make, and once there was no more room for it to fit without crushing us it pushed its head out the side wall and continued to climb out of the hole, now wrapping itself around the hive. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Discord's ears droop.
"Well.." Discord attempted to speak, "Looks like the old gang is back together, ey?" He tried to play his surprise off, but it was obvious he was scared.
A deep groan of a voice bellowed at Discord. "You have betrayed the Powers of Disorder, and will ssssuffer for your inssssolence."
"Yes, Discord. You will suffer greatly," Chaos smirked.
"Well you see," Discord started. "The thing about that is... You can't kill what you can't catch!" And with that he snapped his fingers and evaporated into thin air, leaving the three of us alone with the world's most destructive beasts.
"DISCORD! I'm going to kill you!" I screamed at the spot where he once was, but then my anger turned to fear as I looked back at the fancy-yet-evil Griffon and the larger-than-life killer snake.
"Yes, cower before us. Your creator has abandoned you, and now you are in our clutches," Chaos said dramatically. "Now, my little Anti-Scootaloo, come greet your father."
Me and Doom just stood there, confused beyond belief. But Scream yelled back, "I'm not your child! You're a mad man, and I would never love you!"
Chaos put on a sneer. Then Apophis' head crashed though part of the ceiling and spoke, "Anti-Apple Bloom, be better than thisss young one, come and embrace your creator."
"NO!" Screamed Doom. "Shut up you oversized water hose! Why would you even begin to think I would hug such a hideous monster? You're freakier than Chaos and Discord combined!"
I was shocked at my friends. They showed so much bravery, and in the face of death. I was more than happy to have them by my side. I was blessed.
Apophis roared in rage, opening his mouth to show off the humongous rows of wicked sharp fangs. He couldn't hold in his rage, and lunged at us with amazing speed. We were dead.
At the last second, a flash of bright light blasted the serpent away, and washed over us like warm sunlight. The blinding light forced me to shut my eyes, and when I opened them again we were no longer at Chrysalis' hive. We were back in Canterlot, right next to the old block of stone that once held Discord.
I looked around, and I saw that Scream and Doom were nowhere to be seen. Before I could ask them what just happened, another light came from above the stone slab. It descended softly and landed onto its target. The orb of light started to come to focus, and then revealed a tall alicorn with a white flank, colorful flowing hair, and a sun emblazoned on her sides.
"I trust you are of good heart," the alicorn began. "I can not blame you for being a direct descendant of Discord, for I am one as well."
"Am... Am I dead?" I asked sheepishly.
The snow colored pony chuckled. "No, you are very much alive my little pony. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Princess Celestia, guardian of Equestria."
"You're Luna's sister?"
Celestia smiled. "Yes, young one. She told me that you needed my guidance, and I'm glad she did. Looks like I came just in time to help you and your friends."
"Yes, thank you for that.. We would have been eaten alive if I wasn't for you," I praised the princess. "Are they, you know, gone? The monsters?"
Celestia's smile faltered. "I'm afraid I do not have the power for that. But I delayed them enough for a couple hours of rest."
"Where are my friends?"
"I've put them inside my castle, safe and sound. I needed some time to talk to you alone."
"Why me?" I asked.
Celestia took a breath. "You may be the only one that can save us."
Now I was scared again. How could I stop the world's two first demons? I was just a little filly, I didn't stand a chance.
"Do not be scared," Celestia continued. "You are stronger than you think. Discord gave you powers to do his bidding for him, and you can use those powers for good. Though to defeat Chaos and Apophis, you'll need more. Which is why you must use the Elements of Harmony with your friends. It's the only way to save us all."
"Wait... You said you were a direct descendent of Discord. How is that possible?"
The princess sighed. "All pony kind came from him. As much as I'd like to forget it, Discord gave us all the gift of life. In a way, he was the creator of harmony itself."
That was a thought I'd rather not have. Discord, our god? I wasn't paying any tributes to that scoundrel.
Celestia seemed to read my mind. "Do not believe the tough guy act he puts on. He has a heart, he's just having a hard time putting it to the right use. It took me many years to realize that. You'll need his help to use the Elements. Now, let's go make our plans inside. Your friends need your support if you are all going to save the world."
Chapter 13: The Adventure Ends
Chapter 13: The Adventure Ends
"Welcome to my home, Screwball." That greeting was from Luna, who we had to have a very brief reunion that went along the lines of; "Hey, Princess." "Nice to see you again, please come in so we can discuss doomsday."
"It's an honor to be here," I accepted the greeting.
Luna looked at me with curiosity. "Well, you seem to have gotten more valiant since I first met you."
And it was true. Ever since I've been dragged into this crazy mess my shyness has been lessening. I felt braver. But that's what scared me the most. Change was making a difference, and wasn't that a form of chaos? Was I growing up to be like my father? Celestia said I needed to trust Discord if we were to win, but I still had my doubts about him.
I shrugged the thoughts away. All my concentration should be on my friends, who were coming up with a battle strategy. We all sat around a large table in a room with stain-glass windows. I couldn't help but notice the one with Discord being fired at by six magical ponies.
"We need to stop them before they take out Equestria," Scream stated. "Anypony got any ideas?"
"I could try and use my magic to defeat them," Doom suggested. "I'll try and figure out how I did it before."
Celestia spoke up, "You all have magic inside of you, that is true. You are parts of the ones who created you. The direct descendants get a greater deal of power, and then it lessens from there. Everypony has some form of ability, you just have to learn how to use it. The gifted are born with horns to channel their magic, and pegasus ponies use a form of magic that gives them greater than normal speeds. Even Earth ponies have magic. But that will not be enough to defeat these two. They are as old as the world, and can only be defeated by something older than themselves."
"There's just one problem," Doom reminded. "These guys literally created the world, so there isn't anything older than them."
"Not necessarily," Luna aided. "They made the planet, yes. But as a pony of the night and sky, I know of things other than this world. Space has existed far longer than any of us, and the whole reason this world exists is because of a rare gem that fell down from the heavens."
"What gem?" asked Scream.
Celestia took the opportunity to clarify. "The Three Powers of Disorder found this gem once they too were made from its magic. They called it 'A Forgotten Power'. They used it to make their own creatures. After Discord sent them to the planet's core with my help, he broke the power into 6 pieces which I later called the 'Elements of Harmony'. You'll need its power to stop Chaos and Apophis."
"But we need Discord's help with that," I said. "Why? You have the Elements, right?"
"Yes, we have the Elements in our special vault," Celestia agreed. "Although it has 6 pieces, and there's 3 of you. You see, it's magic works best together. The closer it is to itself, the better. That's why it can be used through friendship, because that is the bond keeping the pieces connected. We need Discord's help to make the power into 3 pieces, rather than 6. His magic is the only thing that can put them together."
"Ok then, we'll have to find Discord. But where do we start looking?" Scream pointed out.
I was stumped, until Luna answered the question. "This castle was built on top of the area where the gem was found. There are caverns with other jewels still down there. That is where I would expect Discord to be."
"So it's settled, we go down into the caverns and fish him out."
It was getting worse. I was not only being less shy, but I was building an attitude. If I made it out of this, would I still want the world saved? I remembered when I first woke up, and how I saw the world as meaningless. A revelation came over me. I wasn't my own self, and I never would be. I was a part of Discord, which meant every last detail about me was from his own mind. Just like a Changeling drone to Chrysalis, I had no personality of my own. And I accepted that.
There wasn't any time for self pity. The world needed to be saved, and Discord will be its hero. Because I am Discord.
Celestia lead us through a maze of intertwining hallways to a room with a door slanting towards the ground. We didn't discuss what we were about to do, we just entered the doorway, the three of us stepping into the dark.
"Hold on," Scream told us, "Let me try something."
She strained her face in concentration, and started to glow a shade of gray.
"Good job, Scream!" Doom complimented. "Now we have light!"
We trudged forward, Scream's light shining the crystals at both of our sides. Every fork in the path we guessed and continued. Multiple times a large gap between solid ground slowed us down, but we concentrated and managed to fly over them. I looked at my friends many times, because every time I looked their image shimmered. I kept seeing Scream's green streaks turn purple, or small wings appear on her sides. Doom sometimes had a large bow on her head. The deeper we went into the cavern, the more they changed.
We came across a large opening, with all of its walls blocked. It was a dead end.
"Well, I guess we have to go back and find another way," Scream pointed out.
"Ah ain't goin' to go down anoth-" Doom cut herself off. "This ain't mah voice! Ah can't talk right!" She yelled, freaking herself out.
"No, you can't. The aura of the Forgotten Power is changing you back."
The voice caught me off guard. I snapped my head around the room to see Discord blocking our exit. "You vile creature! You left us to die!"
Discord frowned, not seeming like his normal sarcastic self. "I have done many wrongs to many different species, most of them ones I've created. I wish I could take all of it back, but my curse is to be hated just for being old."
I almost took pity for him. But I had unfinished business with this relic. "You said the Power is changing us back, but to what? Answer me without your stupid riddles."
He stared at me for at least a minute before responding. "In order to make you without the Power, I had to give you a host. As you've probably realized by now, you are only partly you."
"Yeah, and the rest of my is your sorry behind," I shot back angrily.
"No, not entirely," Discord said, looking genuinely hurt by my remark. "Your host had to be existing already. I gave you some updated features, but you are in the body of Sweetie Belle."
I didn't know how to respond, and I didn't have to, for Discord wasn't done.
"Only later did I realize that because I took a pony from a very close friendship, the ones connected to her could be targets for Chaos and Apophis. They took Sweetie Belle's friends, and made you two," he said, gesturing to Doom and Scream.
Scream stepped forward. "That doesn't matter right now. If we don't act fast, the whole world is going to be destroyed. We need your help."
The third Power of Disorder spoke to the three of us. "Anything. I want to help."
I cleared my throat and spoke up. "We need you to make the Elements of Harmony a three part set. We need it to defeat them."
Discord smiled. "I thought you might."
He snapped his fingers and amulets appeared on our necks. Doom's had a squiggly line made of gem on it. Scream's had a circle with a bunch of arrows pointing out of it. Mine had a baseball with a screw going through it.
"I made you special, Screwball," Discord told me. "I wanted you to be given a name by me, even if I couldn't tell you it first hand. That's why you have a cutie mark and your friends don't. Because Chaos and Apophis don't truly care about anything other than power. I want you to know that."
"I.." My stutter was back. I had only one thing to say: "I know, dad."
He grinned widely, and just like that he was back to his old self. "Right! Now, let's go kick some ancient butt, shall we?" Suddenly we were in Celestia's Courtyard. Celestia and Luna looked in our direction surprised, then trotted towards us.
"Hello, Discord." Celestia greeted.
"No hard feelings, ey? I mean, we were both young and foolish in those days, right?" Discord said smoothly, putting an arm around the princess.
She just sighed. "We can talk about this later. At the moment we have some work to do."
"Couldn't agree more! Now, let's all fly into battle, shall we?"
"Not without me ya ain't."
We all turned to see a griffon glide down onto the Courtyard grass.
"Gilda!" Me, Scream and Doom exclaimed in surprise.
"Eeyup!" Gilda grinned. "Chaos isn't gunna keep my pal Jackle in his clutches for long. Not while I'm around."
"Glad to have you back," Doom said, nuzzling her.
"Ugh, guys? I think we'd better cut the reunion short, look!" Scream said pointing.
Sure enough, there was a giant swarm of Changelings heading right for the castle. Up in front were Chaos, Apophis, and Chrysalis.
"Huh," Discord scratched his head. "That's new. Apophis flying. Great. Anyways, they have an army, so we need one too." He whistled, and at first I thought nothing happened. Then from above the castle came the weirdest sight I've ever seen. Thousands of bizarre statues flew overhead, then circled down to the Courtyard ground in front of us.
"Allow me to introduce my friends to you guys," Discord announced. "We have Rocky, Stone Cold, Solid Sam, Tombstone, wave Hi Tombstone!" A tombstone with arms and legs waved at us. "And then there's Gravel Gabe, Crumbling Chris, oh and let's not forget-"
"Discord." Celestia cut him off.
"Right, right. War time! Alrighty then, hop on," he told me, Scream and Doom.
We did as asked and immediately zipped towards the frenzy. Behind us Discord's statue army flew right on our tail, along with Celestia, Luna and Gilda.
"CAAAAAWWWW!!" Gilda screeched her battle cry.
We were about to plow right into the Changelings when everything froze. Gilda was stuck with her talons bared. A Changeling had a laser in mid-launch. Discord's hair felt bristly and stone solid (although not actually stone again). I tried to move, but Doom had her hooves wrapped around my waist.
"You have caused us much anger."
Apophis slithered up between us and the Changelings. His red reptilian scales radiated a chaotic feeling that was starting to give me a headache.
"Why won't you just let us take Discord and the planet and be done with all this worrying?" Chaos said, flying to me and perching on Discord's head (who had his mouth gaping open and tongue hanging out in a crazy grin).
"Because you may have created this world, but its beauties are the thing you want to destroy. You are evil villains who only want everything shaped to your image. Let me tell you something; Discord gave this world a purpose. Ponies have shaped the planet better than you ever could. Life isn't about power, it's about love. And kindness. And friendship. Because that, is true magic."
I have no idea where that came from. The words dribbled from my mouth before I could realize what I was saying. It felt... Amazing.
Chaos sneered. "You can not beat us, foolish equine. You will be slaughtered, along with everything else Discord created."
"Then why don't you just kill me already?" I shot back.
Apophis' blood red eyes stared down at me. "I would enjoy ripping your flesh to pieces in my teeth. Though there are things that we can not control. When time is frozen no life can die."
"Then unfreeze it. Let's see who deserves to live."
Chaos' eyes gleamed. "Prepare to die." Chaos screeched an ear-shattering bird noise, and everything went wild.
I quickly re-gripped Discord's hide as he flew through Changelings. He touched one and it immediately turned to stone and fell, hitting a few others on the way down. Luna used her magic to do something to their sight. Whatever it was, a bunch of Changelings were swerving into themselves and crashing down due to it. Gilda pecked at them, which I'm guessing hurt because next they were holding their heads and not paying attention to Gilda as she then slapped them out of the sky with her wing. Celestia was also blinding the Changelings through shining a bright light into their eyes. Doom, Scream and I fired at them with our now enhanced powers, though Scream now had wings and Doom had a big bow in her mane. I couldn't see myself, but I could feel something attached to my head, just under my hat.
Apophis, Chaos and Chrysalis (who were now somehow under us) charged in our direction, quickly gaining speed.
Discord tapped a Changeling on the shoulder, then punched out its lights using his lion paw. "It's now or never Screwy. You ready?"
I nodded. "I'm ready." I looked at Scream and Doom, and we came to a silent agreement. We jumped off Discord's back, and spiraled down straight at our enemies.
Apophis opened his jaw wide. Chaos bared his talons. This was it. Now or never.
A few feet before we crashed into them, we tapped into the Forgotten Power. Our bodies glowed of our magical essence, and I could see the light fire through my eyes. We became a blinding orb of light, pure energy.
Chrysalis' eyes grew big, and she tried to fly away, but she was shot out of the sky with her behind smoking on the way down.
Chaos tried to scream in rage when he and Apophis were attacked by a much stronger beam of light. They roared as they fell straight down, dropping at such a wicked fast speed that they crashed through the ground, leaving a gaping hole leading far into the planet. Then the ground shifted and closed the tunnel, leaving them trapped. And I blacked out.
Epilogue:
"Screwball? Are you ok?"
I opened my eyes to see Sweetie Belle in front of me. Only she wasn't completely herself... She had a propeller hat on.
"Sweetie... I'm so sorry..."
She gave me a confused look. "Why are you sorry? You didn't do nothing."
I was starting to cry. "I never realized that Discord used you... I would have never agreed..."
Sweetie Belle raised a hoof and wiped my tears. "Screwball, I don't know what you're talking about, but it's alright. I'm sure everything is ok in Ponyville. Hey, maybe this is all just a dream, and I'll wake up to find everything the same as always."
"No.. It can't... It's all my fault.."
"You did nothing wrong, Screwball. I can tell. There's something about you... It makes me trust you."
"I-"
"Wake up, kiddo! It's your victory celebration!"
Reality came back to me. I saw me and my friends in a large throne room, with hundreds of ponies gathered around. I saw Celestia and Luna talking merrily with a purple unicorn. I saw Gilda laughing with the now Chaos-free Jackle. I saw Discord juggling fillies for their amusement. What I didn't see was Sweetie Belle.
Celestia stepped up and cleared her throat. "In honor of these valiant young heroes, I give to each a token of gratitude."
She stepped towards Scream. "For you, the token of Bravery." She levitated Scream's part of the Forgotten Power onto her neck.
She moved to Doom. "For you, the token of Guidance." She placed Doom's part onto her.
She stopped at me. "And for you, the token of Leadership." I watched as my amulet was placed on me as well. "Now, let the celebration begi-"
"Wait!" Every head turned towards me.
"Discord, you have to bring back Sweetie Belle. I can't keep her life."
The audience gasped in surprise. Then Doom spoke up, "Ah reckon y'all should bring back Apple Bloom too."
"Scootaloo deserves more time. Bring her back," Scream pleaded.
I was glad my friends stuck with me, even to the end.
Discord looked upset. "But... You can't just leave now.."
"I need to. Sweetie Belle needs to live her own life, and I'm going to let her." I turned to face Celestia. "Every life needs a bit of chaos. Let Discord be himself, to restore order to the world. Keep him controlled, and don't let him get too much power. But you need him. Just like I need him." I looked back at Discord and nodded.
He sighed, holding back tears. "Very well." While keeping his head facing the ground, he raise his bird claw and snapped.
And Sweetie Belle was awake once more.
