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                     The Cobra Effect                      
                   -by lightninghawk101-                   
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                Prologue [edited] [orginal]                
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Prologue [edited] [orginal]
Alright I have a few things to say, first wow it's been a looooong time since I've been on this site, second this chapter is now not canon to the fan-fic, sorry but I have decided to change major aspects of the story and change many parts of the plot, but I'm going to keep this up as a "what could have been chapter", third my writing style has improved and changed and no longer is exactly how I would have written things a few years ago. Hopefully I'll be able to get some chapters for the redux soon, but I don't exactly have a consistent work schedule for these kinds of things, and anyway I hope you have a good day, night, whatever, and I'll see you later, maybe, hopefully.
How had his life become what it was now, why did he let it come to this? He could even remember why he did it anymore, why he chose to be a monstrosity. He searched through the broken and warped landscape that was his memories, nothing. The man or rather draconequus in this case, bowed his head to the earth and let out a deep heavy sigh. How could he be so blind? Better yet why did he let his anger control his better judgement? He knew the path he had chosen would just lead him to grief and that nothing good could ever come from it.
How many time had he asked himself these same old questions? He lost count over the last year and a half.  He wanted to curse himself and scream out into the heavens, but he knew that would not solve anything. He was about to ponder the never ending questions of what could have been. Probably would have to if the sound of birds singing through out the air interrupted his thoughts. The images and sounds of his memories, actions, and life choices had once crept back, forcing him to re-watch them again for the hundred thousandth time.
He thought of his childhood, he thought of the only two friends had had ever had in this world, well three if a pet phoenix could count. He remembered the time he had spent traveling the world with them, roaming a divided country ruled by three different tribes with them. When they, his friends, became the leaders of the newly named Equestria. When he had decided to hide from society and live in a cave, the times they would visit him.
Those were the good memories of his life, the times he tried to forget because of the pain, guilt, and regret they brought. But the memories did not end there, they continued, and became much more dark and blurry, like when you try to see while underwater without any goggles. Much of it was not discernible, just hazy streaks of color, sound, smell, and motion. He recognized himself laughing, the frightened screams of panic, and the smell of burning wood and heavy smoke. It all remained an unclear mess up until it came to what happened a year and half year earlier, when he woke up from his madness.
After he had destroyed the very village he now stood in with a wildfire, nothing had remained of the village, just a large black scorch mark on the face of the land of where it had once been. He had been walking through the Everfree forest shortly after, when he been suddenly engulfed in darkness. When he awoke it was dawn, the sun just barely starting to rise into the sky, it was like he was just waking up from a bad nightmare, he was covered in a cold sweat, and he was panting like he had just sprinted a marathon for some reason.
The memory was about to continue until it was suddenly disrupted by the sound of wings flapping and a large flock of birds squawking like a broken record. Opening his eyes and looking around him, Discord gazed upon the ruins of what he had wrought. Destruction, total unnecessary destruction was what it was. To think what had once was an entire town, was now nothing but charred ground and ash. The ground had never been fixed, neither by time nor the ponies, so it just stayed like it was, burned and scarred.
The he had come back to this place with a reason, this was the final place he had caused mass panic, the last place he had used his powers to cause chaos. He chuckled darkly, the crimes that laid on his hands, well, talon and paw, how he ever found any amount of enjoyment in that before he would never know? He sighed, he was the only one responsible for the mess he was in, he wasn't going to make anymore excuses and lies to pardon what he had done.
Thinking about his consequences of the actions he had chosen throughout his life, Discord knew it was only a matter of time before he was captured and imprisoned. He had ruined who knows how many lives, forcing people of many different races to find new places to live, ruining their public reputations, ruined farmer's crops, made a fool of the Equestrian guards on many different occasions, creating horrific disasters, and many more despicable thing. He had burned any bridges and relationships he had before, ruined his own reputation beyond almost any and all conceivable repair, and no longer could go any where without being marked as a villain.
His sanity was in shambles, the many years of solitude he had spent being alone had driven him to the brink of madness. Slowly losing the pieces of his sanity one by one until he finally lost all normal sense of reasoning. After accepting that he had to change discord had regained some sanity, but it was like trying to fix a broken set of fine china back to how it was before, it wasn't the same. Maybe those voices in his head were right and that the only thing he would ever be able to do is cause chaos and be a monster, he was after all a draconequus, a chaos bringer.
Why didn't he change until only a year and a half ago? He always felt terrible for his crimes, his guilt, regret, conscious would always remind him that what he was doing was wrong. He knew the answer, and he hated himself because of it. He just lied to himself, and kept lying until he actually believed them, that he wasn't doing anything wrong. It made him sick, sick that he believed those lies and that it took nearly three decades to stop believing his own deceptions.
He began thinking ahead think about the consequences his criminal choices would bring to him. There was no happy ending for him, not anymore, he had torn down any chances for a good life when he betrayed his only friends and began being a terrorist. He knew Celestia and Luna would never kill him, they were simply to kind hearted for that, but they certainly would imprison him using the elements of harmony. That or someone else dead set on revenge would come after him.
Even if he ran he would be caught at some point. Disappear? No that would work either, the sheer amount of chaos magic/energy within him made him a shinning beacon in a pitch black night. Again he knew he had to take responsibility for the mess he created. The draconequus sighed, so much of him just wanted to breakdown and just cry, but no, gathering his willpower together he forced his self to stay calm.
All he could do now was wait for the two princesses to arrive, from there he didn't know what he would do. Let them take him willingly, no jokes, no riddles, no catch, it was his best choice considering all things. His left talon clenched into a tight fist, before he sighed and relaxed it. He was such a fool, did he honestly believe he could get away from his actions scot-free? He already knew the the answer to that question and just hung his head, making him look quiet pitiful in the way which he stood.
Maybe he could repair the damage he caused, use his abilities for good? No, that would never work, he knew he would never earn the trust of those he once and still cared about, not fully at least. The urge to scream out or sob began building up within him, he had a chance for a good life and he had ruined it. What purpose did a monster like him have now that he no longer wanted to be evil? His mind drew up nothing and Discord finally broke down, tears rolling down off his face in streams. He continued to cry until he could no longer continue do so, taking a deep breath he tried to figure out what his next move would be.
He knew he choose something, but he had no idea what to do.
'I've really screwed up haven't I? No matter what I choose, it'll never be the right choice.'
Minutes passed before another idea came to his mind, what if he went back in time? No he didn't have the energy or ability to do that, not to mention the serious repercussions of changing fate itself would have. He could fake his death and pretend to be someone else, no, that had the same problems as disappearing. What if he made everyone forget his actions and himself, Discord seriously doubted he had the energy in him to make every person that knew or heard about him no longer have any memory of him. The thought of committing suicide crossed his mind, every part of him screamed and rejected the thought, refusing to consider that an option. What if he repaired his image, changed his reputation of being a monster, he almost rejected that one as well before he reconsidered it.
How would he do that? No one single act was going to fix everything, everyone feared and hated him too much for that to ever work. Maybe he could just wait to be completely forgotten, then try to be a good person, no that would never work, well not in any way that would be good. If he tried to repair his reputation now by doing good now everyone would fight against him and no one would ever trust him. If he waited for a few generations to act on this plan he would become a monster in the tales parents tell their children to behave.
But if he could manage to somehow shift the public's attention off of him long enough, he might have a chance to slowly undo his mistakes. How would he, Equestria's biggest threat in centuries ever, find a way to shift the public eye off himself. It was a question he mulled over for a large period of time, nothing came to his mind, there wasn't a single thing he could think of that would completely shift everyone's attention away from him and temporally forget about him.
Oh what in the world was he going to do, summon an object, creature, or person from another world, to, get, their, attention... He thought about that for a minute, yes, that just might actually work. It was completely off the wall ludicrous levels of insane, but since when had he ever been normal or not at the very least a little bit crazy. He chuckled at the idea, it couldn't work... could it?
Something completely unknown appearing in Equestria would immediately grab the public's eye, but he would need something that would keep it for enough time to fix his image. A mysterious object might grab the attention of scholars, but it wouldn't interest the public for very long. A monster, no, that would be taken care too quickly. A person, maybe, but a normal average every day boring person wouldn't do, they would need to better abnormal, something that wasn't expected in any sense, form, or fashion. A hero? a villain? a mad man? a mysterious person with no way of knowing what they would do? some one who could change the world? a person with an interesting story to tell? something in between? He continued to pondered the subject, a villain and a mad man would just remind them of himself, the world already had enough heroes and storytellers, and no one really had the power to change the world.
That meant they would have to be a cross of multiple things, they would need to be able to change the world, they would need to be an unknown, and they would need a gripping story, that would definitely get the public's attention for a good long while.
'I really am an insane mad man aren't I? I must be if I'm even considering this plan a possibility.'
For the next hour Discord spent his time mulling over his plan, and whether or not he should discard it completely. He stopped thinking about his current plan and considered other ideas and options he could use. After three hours had passed he decided none of them were to his liking, in fact a great deal of them would just make his situation a thousand times worse than it already was.
Sighing he returned to the only option he felt he had left. The persons, as he decided he couldn't just summon one to wander on his or her own, would need to be skilled in many different places, be able to adapt quickly, be willing to learn, and they would also have to be near death's door. He never forgive himself by being countless levels of cruel by ripping a perfectly happy person from their normal life and stranding them in a completely different place that they would be unfamiliar with. But if they were near death's door, then least he would at least be doing them a favor by giving them a second chance, unless they for some reason wanted to die.
This also meant he would have to take counter measures to make sure they survived the journey here, he wouldn't be able to help them when they arrived, he would almost guaranteed be in prison. Taking this into consideration he would need to heal any wounds or diseases they might have, perhaps reverse their age to when they were in their prime, as well do something to protect them from harm for the first few minutes after arriving, but where to place them within the wide world of Equs? He couldn't just have them pop up in some random town, that kind of chaos would just be counterproductive.
Discord rubbed the bottom of his bearded chin with his lion paw 'where to send them, where to send them.' "Ah-ha" He cheered as he snapped his fingers together, a light bulb appeared over his head for a moment before it quickly disappeared.
He would send them to the Everfree forest, yes the place was dangerous, but it was the only place in Equestria that he could put them that wouldn't immediately peg him as the culprit who brought them here. Many strange things tended to happen there so it would most likely be written off a freak one-in-a-million chance accident. It would also serve as their first test, to see if they could survive in the forest. If they could stay alive in there he knew they could at least survive in dangerous situations.
He paused his train of thought once again, reconsidering his options, and then considering the one he was working on. Making up his mine Discord immediately began to work on the wordless spell, it was similar to creating a computer program, except much more complex, weaving together the commands he wanted it to follow. He had thought about making the spell let the three understand what everyone on Equs was saying or at least what everyone meant, but that would also make their arrival suspicious. He would also need to know the language they used as well before he could add that so they would have to learn on their own. It could be another test to see how fast they would be able to adapt.
After a half an hour he finished, for a moment he thought of what could happen. Instead of reconsidering his options, he looked at what the long term effects of what could happen if he carried this plan to it's end. So many things about his plan go had a chance to go down hill very fast, but then he looked back at the spell. Too much effort, time, and energy had been put into this for it to be wasted. He pondered what was the best decision for ten mintutes, with a sigh he made his choice.
'There's no point of going back now, I guess all I can do now is hope for the best and use this spell before Celestia and Luna finally get their rears into gear and show up'
Casting the spell, Discord felt his body weaken, while he was immensely powerful, and while he could pretty much do anything he wanted to this world, he still had his limits. Not to mention summoning or sending an object from another world was very difficult and require an amount of energy equal to that of a small star. But being a draconequus he could bend some of the rules of magic to make the spell much less taxing.
Finished he decided to sit on the ground and simply waited for the arrival of the two princesses. After an hour of watching the horizon he began to see their forms off in the far distance. They looked as small as the point on the head of a needle, slowly growing in size as the two approached. Discord silently prayed the two wouldn't notice the spell that he just cast, but casting as much energy as he just did he wouldn't doubt everyone in Equstria felt that much energy being used all at once.
The draconequus chuckled softly to himself "Well old chap, it looks like fate has finally caught up with you" his voice sounded tired, and even if he tried to hide it, he would never be able to fool those who were once his his friends. Tired he sat down on the pile of ashes he stood on, exhausted to the point of not being able to summon a chair, couch, or bench out of nowhere. He continued to watch as the princesses forms slowly grew in size until they glided over to where he sat, they landed in a graceful manner going straight into a brisk trot, then slowing down, and completely stopping a few feet in front of him.
Both wore expertly crafted armor, using magic they both carried a sword and spear, clearly ready for a fight that he knew they didn't want to take part in. Their faces, to the normal bystander, would have seemed emotionless, but for Discord he could see the hurt, the sorrow, the pain, and the rage behind their eyes. He could also see the elements of harmony hanging from around their necks, the elements of magic, generosity, and kindness worn by Celestia, and the elements of honesty, loyalty, and laughter worn by her sister Luna.
Discord just stared at the two of them, avoiding eye contact. "Discord, thou art to with us to answer for thy crimes, if thou resist we shall defeat thee" Celestia stated her voice stern and almost without emotion, but Discord could hear the near inaudible sound of her voice shaking. In rage, sorrow, something else perhaps?
"I'm not going to fight." He answered standing up, gathering his courage and looking at them in the eyes.
"What?!" They both blurted intelligently their jaws dropping, any masks of calm and resolution they had before now shattered by his unexpected decision.
Luna was first to recover "Then please explain thyself, thou must surely understand why we would be so hesitant to trust thy word" Her face now visibly confused and distrustful
"I've got to take responsibility for my actions at some point." Discord sighed "and I'm just tired of running, I was bound to be caught some time."
"If our memory serves correctly I remember thee claiming thou would never be caught nor surrender. Would thou kindly tell both me and my sister what changed?" Celestia asked recovering from her surprise and shock
"I'm beginning to see the errors of my ways... and I'm done lying to myself, done making excuses for my actions" He answered his voice hollow
Both of the two alicorns tried to think of a response to that, while he had at one time been a close friend, he had become an enemy over the past couple of decades. The two looked at each other then back at Discord, trying to figure out if he was being sincere or if this was just another one of his tricks. Looking at his tired face they could see that he was telling the truth.
Before either could say anything Discord continued "Because of what I've done I will forever be painted as a monster in the eyes of many."
Celestia was first to reply "Thou can always cha-" Discord interrupted her seeing where see was going with this "Tia, I've been causing mass chaos and panic for the past thirty years, I've no doubt ruined many people's lives who most likely hate me now, even if I were to snap my fingers and fix everything, no one would trust me."
Celestia quickly shut her mouth and the three stood in silence, seeing how neither had anything to say discord continued "Look at my past actions, look at what I've done here, do you honestly think people will ever trust me?" He stated pointing at the scorch marks on the ground.
He continued, not waiting for an answer "I can remember a time when you both told me not to go down this path, that I didn't need to do this, that I could still make up for what I've done. You were right, but I still threw that chance down the drain like an idiot. So please do me a favor by imprisoning with the only thing that can."
Neither of the two alicorns moved, this had to be a joke right? Discord wouldn't just peacefully surrender just like that, there had to be some kind of a catch. They two looked at each other for a moment, even though they knew he was telling the truth, they still had doubts. The draconequus was utterly mad, had lost his most if not all of his sanity, it simply wasn't possible for him to regain that over night.
Then Celestia spoke, asking the question on her mind "How long? How long has it been since this change began to occur?"
Discord took a deep breath and just sighed "Since the beginning of my terror, I knew what I was doing was wrong. I had always felt regretful and guilty for the things I had done, but I would just lie to myself and ignore it." He paused for a moment before continuing "Now, It's been a year and a half since I stopped telling myself those same lies." He paused to take in a breath and to chuckle darkly "I could have so easily just kept going the way I was... Kept being a monster, letting my insanity control me, listening to my lies and self deceptions, I only wish I had stopped listening three decades ago"
Celestia nodded, her question answered "We have one final question" she began "Why? If thou felt so terrible about thy actions, why didist thou continue?"
Discord was silent for several minutes, his expression filled with pain, sorrow, and regret "I can't even remember anymore why I did the things I did, not fully at least." he paused to take a breath "All I can remember is being so angry, and filled with rage and hate. I don't remember what was the source of my emotions, I just remember I wanted to blame somebody or something for the rage I felt.
Maybe it was the solitary I had subjected to myself. Maybe it's because I am a demon, a monster to be feared, my kind have only been known for causing chaos, destruction, and ruin. Maybe it was because I was bored, I just don't know anymore." He paused for several minutes before he added in a hushed tone "I no longer enjoy the chaos, panic, and cruel jokes like I once did, so I returned to the place of  our last meeting, and placed an illusion spell to show you what my actions have brought. To show you how far gone and lost I am."
Both princesses just stood there, their expressions filled with sorrow. Discord knew that they wouldn't say anything anytime soon so he decided to ask them a question "Do either of you trust me? Think about it, I've done nothing but make myself an enemy to your country, I've betrayed you, and I've ruined countless lives. Can you honestly say that you trust me? After everything I've done? After what I did the last time we met?"
They continued to stay silent, both of them looking at the ground avoiding making eye contact with him. "That's what I thought"  he stated with a sigh "Now if you would kindly seal me awa-"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Celestia yelled interrupting him "I want to trust thee, both me and my sister have known thee since we were children, thou made thyself an enemy, and thy actions have ruined the lives of many, but after this I. just. don't. know."
Discord looked to Luna who just shifted uncomfortable under his gaze, then back at Celestia "So, what are you going to do with me? I know the people of Equstria are screaming for me to be imprisoned or banished. For goodness sakes even I agree with that. I'm too dangerous, chaotic, mad, insane, and down right random to have a punishment any shorter than prison or death"
Both princesses winced at the last word, they were a peaceful country that didn't believe in the death punishment, they actively avoided wars, tried making peace with as many countries as possible, and didn't like to focus on the more dark aspects of life. To have someone, even an enemy, state that they deserved to die was like they were just stabbed. It went against every thing they stood for, it was something they greatly disliked, yet here it was, the idea being suggested by Discord of all people!
Silence had once again came over the three, minutes passed and none of them said a word. Both Celestia and Luna were still stunned and surprised that this was Discord talking to them, but any notions or doubts that this was all an elaborate scheme were gone. Turning him into stone and then sealing him that prison would be so easy. It would satisfy their people, ease their fear and worries, but it was too easy. If Discord really and truly was sorry for his actions, something they both were sure of just by the sound of his voice, then that would be the last thing he needed.
What he needed would be a long and hard road, but it have a light at the end of it. Their subjects would not be happy if they chose this, at least if they made their decision public, but it would be better for everyone in the long run. If Discord would give and keep his word to fix his mistakes then, while not immediately, he would be forgiven in time.
Celestia closed her eyes and after a minute of thinking she sighed
"Sister prepare the elements for use. Discord if thou will give thy word that thou will work to undo thy mistakes by showing thou hast changed and if thou will let us restore thy mind before it's madness thou shall not be imprisoned. Of course a close eye will kept on thee at all times and thou will have to agree to stay within our castle walls. If you follow these rules thou will have some freedom, anymore than that will have to be earned."
Now it was Discord's turn to be shocked, did they really just give him a second chance, he honestly wasn't expecting this. It didn't take him long to recover before he answered "I swear upon my life that I will undo my mistakes, work to restore what I destroyed, that I will make a better reputation of myself, and that I will actively try to gain, not just the people's trust, but your trust as well " then he added almost inaudibly "This is far more than I deserve, but, thank you."
The two princesses nodded, preparing to cast the spell required through the six elements. It took several seconds before the spell did it's job and when it did he could momentarily see himself being surround by a rainbow of colors and hues. He felt the madness and the insanity slipping away, and his sanity returning completely. With it's return a thought struck him, he used every piece of willpower he had to keep his emotions from showing in any way.
'Ooooh no, how am I going to explain that little spell from earlier... okay I just need to calm down, maybe I can fix this... Somehow, maybe it'll turn out for the better, maybe, probably, most likely not'
The colors around him disappeared and he could see the princesses looking at him, their expressions unreadable for a moment. Then the two wore small sad smiles, using their magic the group teleported to their castle in canterlot. Discord was beginning to freak out within his mind, he never bothered to add any hints or suggestions for the three to follow so trying to figure out what they would do would be like buying a lottery ticket. There were so many ways that spell could back fire and turn into an enormous mess, he needed to stop that before it happened, but he had just given his word to stay within the princesses castle walls.
'I trade one problem for another, great job me, great job. It's okay I'll just figure this one out.' He had a very bad feeling of what was about to happen, sooner or later he would have to explain this to somebody before it was discovered he was the cause. If that happened he could kiss his freedom goodbye and say hello to prison.