Author's Note
Hello Everyone,
Today is my birthday. Normally, i would ask people to write fanfics that i would ask for, but i think this time, i want to make something that people will enjoy on my birthday. I know it sounds weird, but it's my birthday, so anything goes.
Yes, you are seeing this. I have decided to put Groom of Eris on Fimfiction. I decided that on my birthday that i would release this story on Fimfiction. It was a tough decision, but i made this choice for several reasons.
When i finished this story before, i was kind of at a crossroads of what the future holds for the story. I wanted a new perspective on this story.
I wanted new fans to see Groom of Eris and hear their thoughts on it. I would also be satisfied with the return of old fans reading this story. However, old fans, don't expect to read the same story. This story will be slightly different than it once was.
Since it's my birthday, i wanted to go all out and make this story different than the usual MLP fanfics i write. I have cover art and proof readers. I know it's not much, but these are things i never use in my MLP stories.
Fanshipping 713 is doing a comic based on Groom of Eris. So, I figured i helped the comic out by putting Groom of Eris on here.
Currently, this story is the one that i am most proud of. I am happy with the friends and fans that i have made, i am happy that i was able to create such a romantic and dramatic story, and i wonder what the future holds for Butterscotch and Eris.
I want to thank the two people that have edited the first chapter of this story, AndromedaNova and Danger A Dragon. You two are the best.
I also wish to thank Fanshipping 713 for the lovely coverart. It really means a lot to me that Groom of Eris got a cover art and a comic. I thank you a lot Fanshipping 713.
Lastly, i wish to thank Disney Fanatic 2364 for allowing me to write Groom of Eris. I am really grateful for all your support.
So, let's begin Groom of Eris.
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro. I also don't own the rights to the gender-swap ponies.
Chapter 1: The Escape
Ponyville was under a chaotic storm.
It was once a place of sunny skies and whistling winds. Now, it was twisted and morphed. The ground was painted in a sort of checkerboard patterns. The roads ran with soap and water. Many structures such as windmills and trees now floated off the ground. Townhall floated upside down and up in the air like a balloon.
On one side of the town, a throne stood tall. The throne was decorated with two rubies for eyes and two deer antlers on its head. On this throne laid a female draconequus named Eris. She grinned as she looked upon her beautiful chaos as if it was her masterpiece.
“Ha Ha Ha,” Eris laughed triumphantly. “It is good to be back once more.”
She looked upon the ballerina buffaloes and long-legged rabbits that passed through her town. The goddess of disharmony felt proud of her work. She stretched out her arms turning all the leaves on the tree into oranges with wings.
“I still got it,” Eris said with a devious smirk on her face. She enjoyed turning the world into her personal playground. She summoned a glass of chocolate milk as she took her victory sip. Equestria was now hers to command. Nothing was going to stand in the way of her rule.
“You better think twice, Eris!” Dusk Shine said in front of the draconequus. Eris gazed, her eyes seeing the six colts standing right in front of her. They had regained their color, senses, and their Elements of Harmony.
"Oh, this again?" Eris stared at them as they were as harmful as a box full of kittens. The draconequus started sipping down her tall glass of chocolate milk. She then threw it behind her causing an explosion that unfazed her.
Dusk Shine glared at the draconequus as he spoke, “It is time you meet your end, Eris." Dusk Shine continued, "Look at what you have done to Ponyville! Look at the mess you have made to this poor town!”
Eris looked around Ponyville once more, yet she could only grin at what she had created.
"I see nothing but pure chaos. Exactly how I like it and it’s going to stay that way for a long time. Besides, I thought all of you weren’t friends anymore?"
"We have learned that friendship isn't always easy, but it's worth fighting for." Dusk Shine pointed his hoof towards Eris.
"You couldn't tear our friendship for long," Applejack stood in defiance to the goddess of chaos.
"Don’t lie to me, Applejack." She pulled on his necklace with her magic, "I'm the one who made you a liar."
With a swipe of her eagle claw, Eris started pulling all of Dusk Shine’s friends like a magnet. She grinned evilly while looking at the five stallions, knowing their efforts were useless. Dusk teleported in the middle of the circle of his friends, he sprouted a magic bubble to contain them and brought them back down to the ground.
Dusk Shine closed his eyes as did the other stallions. Applejack, Elusive, Butterscotch, Rainbow Blitz, and Bubble Berry's elements started to glow. Eris giggled seeing their necklaces lighting up. She only grew curious when Dusk Shine opened his eyes to reveal the pure white activating the crown.
"What's this?" Eris looked at each of the six until a swirl of rainbows sprouted up from them.
Eris’s eyes grew fearful when she saw the swirling rainbow heading towards her. She had underestimated the Elements once before. She remembered the thousand years she was trapped in her stone prison. She knew that if she stood still once more, she would be trapped for another thousand years. Eris didn’t want to be trapped for as long as she was. She wouldn’t let that be her fate. It was time for her to change this destiny. She closed her eyes before sensing the rainbow approaching her. Her claws lit up with magic before the elements of Harmony hit the draconequus.
As the elements started to work their magic, Butterscotch heard the screams of Eris but tried not to open his eyes. However, it sounded like a Banshee's wail, making the poor stallion bear witness to Eris’s imprisonment. The sheer pain and suffering were heartbreaking to the Pegasus' eyes. He quickly closed his eyes as he couldn't bear to watch her suffer like that anymore, no matter what evil deeds she has done.
Soon, everything was erasing the effects the goddess of chaos had created. The town hall flipped right side up and floated down much like the trees. The oranges flew back to the tree and morphed back into the green-colored leaves. The rabbits lost their long legs and returned to normal. The six stallions opened their eyes and saw their lovely home was back to normal.
In the middle of their celebration, Bubble Berry felt something was off about their victory. He looked over to where the throne once stood and noticed that something was indeed out of the ordinary.
“Hey, guys…… W-where is Eris?"
Rainbow Blitz face hoofed himself. The stallion knew that Bubble Berry was often easily distracted, but this was a new level of incompetence, “Don't you know, Bubble Berry? We turned her to stone."
"Yea…but where's the statue? There should be a terrifying statue right here, yet I don’t see one!”
As the other stallions turned to see where Eris stood, they realized that there was no statue showing their defeated foe. The group looked all around for any traces of her. Dusk rushed to the location where Eris last stood. He inspected the ground and then used his magic to detect the air.
"Where did she go? It doesn’t make any sense. We hit her with the Elements; hence she should be right here, yet why is she not here?" Dusk was searching with his friends as there was not a trace of the creature anywhere. It was as if she vanished into thin air.
"We didn't kill her, did we?" Butterscotch shivered, freaked out on the situation. He knew that Eris was very wicked; however the pink lemonade haired colt feared they might have done something terrible to Eris.
"Maybe she vanished into thin air?" Applejack was turning his head towards the sky.
"Or maybe she turned into grass." Bubble Berry said while looked down at the greenness of the grass. It did seem a bit strange to him, yet everything seemed strange to him.
"So, we are stepping on her…" Elusive slowly lowered his head and started to be frightened that they were stepping on the creature's remains. Elusive let out a scream that would rival a filly and the others soon ran in fear. Dusk Shine and Applejack were the only ones not screaming.
"Guys!" Applejack ordered the stallions to stop the screaming, “We didn’t kill her…Did we, Dusk?"
"The elements are a mysterious bunch, but they wouldn't possess the powers to destroy something. At least, I hope so." Dusk Shine said while pondering this theory. They had used the elements once before to save Prince Artemis, yet the elements could be capable of many things. Did they really hold such power?
"So, now what do we do?" Butterscotch peered at Dusk. The stallion looked to his left and right as if he was crossing the street on a dark and scary night. He wasn’t sure what they were going to do next.
"We will go see Prince Solaris and tell him of what happened here," Dusk declared.
As Dusk Shine and his friends left the area, a voice giggled before slithering away. “They think that is the end of little old me? But the fun is not over yet, they’ll see.”
In Canterlot, Dusk Shine and his friends had just detailed the events of the last few hours to Prince Solaris. Prince Artemis was away at the moment attending to other matters. Prince Solaris gazed upon the ponies of Canterlot and then faced the six heroes.
"I see," Prince Solaris was pondering upon the subject of Eris's escape, "You found no sign of her?"
"Yes, there was not a trace of Eris anywhere. It was as if she vanished into thin air." Dusk Shine bowed before his prince before standing up with his friends who did a similar act upon entering the throne room of Prince Solaris.
"This is quite an interesting development," Solaris stood up from his throne looking down at the six heroes.
"We didn't kill her. Right, Prince Solaris….?” Dusk Shine stumbled upon his words wondering if they did destroy the goddess of chaos, even though it seemed unreal. Dusk Shine didn’t want to be rude to his mentor, but the stallion needed his heart at ease.
"That is not within the elements power; their powers work on the inside of a creature's heart. When the Elements hit Night Terror, they banished him to the moon. When he returned, there was still a part of my brother Artemis, trying to get out. When he was hit with the elements again the shell of Night Terror cracked and my brother appeared before all of you. Eris, however, is different…"
Solaris stared at the picture of the draconequus in the glass window, “Eris is a creature with a heart of stone. Yet, this does not mean she is heartless. She just refuses to show her feelings. She has always been this difficult." Solaris closed his eyes and breathed in, contemplating what to do next.
"Eris must have avoided the Elements and fled the area. She tried to destroy your friendship and belief in one another in hopes that the elements wouldn’t work properly." Solaris looked down and opened his eyes viewing his young apprentice, who was full of questions and worries.
"She's still out there?" Dusk gasped as he looked at his friends "We have to find her. We need to round up everypony and send guards throughout Equestria. We need to track Eris down. Maybe me and my friends can start our search in Ponyville and--”
Solaris stopped his young student from making any rash decisions. Solaris knew Dusk Shine would act this way. He needed to ease his mind. Dusk Shine was too young to wait patiently for things to come.
"Calm yourself, my young one. Eris isn't the type to rush in headstrong. She is a tactful goddess and will think and plan her next move. The best advice I can give you and your friends is to wear your Elements at all time. We may never know when Eris may make her next move, but that doesn't mean she won't. For that, we must prepare in advance. We must be one step ahead of her," Solaris looked at Dusk.
"But, Solaris," Dusk was very fearful of what was to come, “How will we know?"
"You will know, trust me," Solaris smiled as he lifted his hoof up to comfort the young stallion, "Don't lose hope. I shall cast a protection spell on the Elements, so Eris doesn't try to take them from you again."
"Thank…Thank you, Prince Solaris." Dusk bowed before his Prince, calmly collected everyone together, and left. Prince Solaris nodded and stared out the window.
“Just what are you up to, Eris?” Prince Solaris lowered his gaze to contemplate Eris’s next move.
On the way back to Ponyville, the six stallions bought a secret room for them to converse in. They couldn’t take any chances as Eris could be anywhere or anypony. Dusk Shine shielded the room with magic just in case.
"So, we are just going to sit and do nothing?" Rainbow Blitz glared as he was clearly annoyed at the thought of Eris being free.
"She’s still out there," Butterscotch feared while looking out the window. “She could be anywhere.”
His face murmured in silence. Even the mere mention of her name sent a frosty tingle down his body and shook his bones.
"Oh, this is just perfect. Eris isn't even outside the train and Butterscotch is STILL afraid of her. I will find that thing and give her a piece of my mind…..” Rainbow Blitz grumbled and readied his hooves for battle.
"Hold on there, Blitz,” Applejack told Blitz as he pulled on his tail. “Dusk has a point; we can't do anything but wait and see what Eris has in store. We aren’t going to let her play mind games with us again."
The six stallions put their hooves together. As soon as they arrived at Ponyville, the six stallions kept their elements with them at all times, just like Solaris instructed them to do.
Some time passed since then and every pony assumed that Eris left Equestria for good. Things progressed back to normal and the six stallions had decided to move on with their lives. But, just because the six stallions resumed their lives, that didn’t mean that they had forgotten Eris. They would vow to keep their elements on them just in case if Eris decided to make a grant return.
Over the next three years, miraculous changes came into the lives of the six stallions.
Dusk Shine became an alicorn by completing the spell of Swirly Stars as this changed the lives of many ponies and stallions in Ponyville. Dusk would often go to Canterlot for royal duties, yet his home would always be in Ponyville. He missed his friends but had to keep his studies up just in case Eris made a surprising return.
Elusive's designs became top of the line. He had never been this popular in Ponyville in years. So, Elusive recruited the help of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to help create more designs and meet more deadlines. Sweepy Belle had some talent for sewing and was made the organizer of his brother's clothesline. Applebuck impressed Elusive with his own designs so much, that Elusive made him his apprentice. Scooteroll was made the delivery colt with his scooter in hoof.
Rainbow Blitz's dream came true when he was finally recruited by the Wonderbolts. He performed all over Equestria earning praise for his tricks. Despite him joining such an 'around the world' group, Rainbow Blitz made sure to make frequent stops to Ponyville to visit his friends and give them tickets to see his show. Bubble Berry always made time in his schedule to see his show and was to be considered Rainbow Blitz's number one fan. He screamed louder than any of the other fanponies.
Bubble Berry's parties were all the rage in Ponyville, to the point of royalty even asking for him to plan their parties. His requests would bring him all over Equestria, the most frequent visit was over at Yakyakistan. He threw the best parties. Sometimes, there was a fee involved, but what was most important about his job was that he loved seeing the smiles of everypony's faces.
Applejack's apples became more popular due to Dusk Shine's status as a prince. Soon, all ponies, stallions, and fillies near and far wanted to try the Apple Family’s apples. This made things at Sweet Apple Acres much easier. A new tractor for Macreina, fixed Pappy Smith's broken hip, and a new floor to the barn in case relatives came out. Whatever money was left over was donated to Canterlot Orphanage. For this, the orphans looked up to Applejack and his family. Whether he won a rodeo or not, he was a fan favorite and a hero to the orphans. He just wished a certain female dragon would notice him.
Butterscotch had grown to be a handsome stallion. Having a lovely voice that mares fainted at and stallions grew jealous of. His beauty was quickly noticed by the mares. Often, they would be all over him like bees to a beehive. However, Butterscotch wasn't the dating or marrying type. He was terrified by the idea of having a special somepony. Fearing the mare would be too demanding, he might ruin the relationship or other qualities that would deem him a bad husband. He had to make excuse after excuse of why he couldn't date that particular mare that wanted a coltfriend. He resolved several solutions that involved those ponies, eventually they moved on to better stallions. This crushed Butterscotch as despite his unwillingness to date, he felt that he would eventually find somepony to love. He tried to ignore his troubles and focus on his animal friends; the animals noticed the lonely eyes of the yellow pegasus. They knew how depressed he would be. How much he wanted to fall in love, but couldn’t. They tried to tell him that they cared about their owner’s happiness, yet their words fell on deaf ears.
In their fame, fortune and the comfort of their own lives, the stallions quickly forgot the evils of Eris; all except for one stallion. Butterscotch knew that somewhere in Ponyville, Eris would make her return. When that happened, Butterscotch feared the draconequus might go after him first. He had a hunch that Eris would choose him first based on his shy personality. Butterscotch was having peculiar dreams of a dark creature chasing him all around. At first, he thought it was nothing. Butterscotch figured it was just a figment of his imagination. Just the darkness out to get him, yet night after night, like a friend coming to visit, he would be visited by the nightmare. They weren’t letting him rest; they didn’t give him any beauty sleep. The nightmares kept coming over and over and over again. This caused Butterscotch to become exhausted during the daytime, sleep in the middle of lunch, and scream whenever he heard whispers in the night, despite the fact that it was only the wind. He had hoped the nightmares would go away. However, he was wrong.
One night, Butterscotch was tossing and turning in his bed. He was having the same nightmares again. He tried to tell his friends of them while they just gave him the usual answer of nightmares. They weren't real and were a figment of his imagination. He decided to listen to them and have a good dream without worrying of what could scare him.
In his dream realm, Butterscotch hummed as he was feeding the birds up high in the tree.
"There you go little guys. You are going to grow nice and strong for mama and papa" Butterscotch smiled as he flew right down. He saw a trio of butterflies past him.
"Good day to you madams," Butterscotch said while putting away the bird seed and saying hi to the butterflies that past him.
"Good day to you too, Butterscotch." the trio of butterflies whispered. Butterscotch kept his smiling face for a few seconds before stopping cold in his hooves. Only one female spoke like that and he knew those butterflies never talked in his dreams.
The light yellow pegasus turned slowly to face the creature that has been in his nightmares. The female draconequus smiled at him wickedly. She was being very flirtatious with him.
"Why so frightened my love, I have come for you first."
Butterscotch tried to retrieve his element, in hopes of his friends rushing to his aid. Eris caught him by the tail and pulled up so he was upside down facing the goddess of chaos and disharmony.
"You are mine and you belong to me," She laughed as Butterscotch feared for his life. The stallion tried to fly away, but Eris used her magic to create a large spider-web. Butterscotch tried to pull himself out of the sticky web, but Eris began to constrict him like a boa. The web became his binds and was getting tighter every time he struggled. Butterscotch looked in horror as the web was on Eris’ eagle claw. The goddess of chaos spun him around like a yo-yo.
“AAAAAHHHHHHHHH! LET ME GO, PUT ME DOWN,” he screamed but no pony could hear him. “HELP ME, SOMEPONY. ANYPONY PLEASE HELP ME!” Butterscotch was quickly running out of breath. It was as if he had been flying for a day. He kept trying to struggle, yet his efforts were useless.
“No one will save you now,” the string fell down Eris’s finger. At the bottom laid Eris’s head. She opened up wide waiting for the web to break from her finger. Butterscotch tried everything to avoid being eaten. However, the web broke at the worst possible time. Much like the flight school incident, Butterscotch began to fall down. Unlike that time, Butterscotch’s wings were covered in webs. He couldn’t open his wings properly, so he began a plunge towards Eris’s mouth.
“DUSK SHINE…BUBBLE BERRY…ELUSIVE…APPLEJACK…ANYPONY HELP ME!” Butterscotch screamed while rejecting the reality of what was going to happen to him. “no…no…no”
“NO!” he rose from his bed waking up from the nightmare. Beads of sweat ran down his face with his mane being a mess.
"Oh goodness…… It was just a dream," Butterscotch removed his hoofs from his eyes. He’d be sure to keep them open for Eris’ next appearance. He curled up into a small ball and rocked himself slowly.
The dreams kept on coming to the poor pegasus.
All sorts of questions rose to Butterscotch's head. When will she strike? Is she really gone for good? He looked out the window and into the night sky. Everything seemed safe for now, but the incoming fear began to frighten the poor colt. Every moment that Eris was alive was misery for him.
Butterscotch knew Eris would return, but how long would it be until she came back?
The Gala was well under way with guests that were coming near and far. It was the biggest party anypony had ever seen. The décor was outstanding and the food was delicious. The Gala could be marked as the largest turnout of the century, even the Canterlot snobs were appreciating the turnout, while adding their own opinions and remarks about the smaller fillies and colts in attendance.
Bubbleberry was entertaining the guest with a little song until he saw a sight that most of the colts and fillies were already staring at.
"RAINBOW BLITZ," Bubbleberry screamed over the microphone, leaving most of the guests with ringing ears. The pink stallion ran over to his Wonderbolt friend and gave him the biggest hug in the world.
"Bubble Berry,” Blitz managed to get out before being hugged by the party pony. The grip in Bubble Berry’s hugs rivaled a boa constrictor.
“I missed you too, Bubbles.”
"You made it," Dusk Shine said as he and Applejack raced towards their two friends.
"Of course I did, I wouldn't miss this for the world, you guys are my best friends. I will always be there for you guys, regardless if I was with the Wonderbolts or not," Rainbow Blitz smiled. "Where are Exclusive and Butterscotch?"
"Well Elusive is getting the CMC's ready and Butterscotch is practicing for the big song for tonight," Dusk Shine answered.
"Wait, wait a minute hold the phone…now give the phone to me," Blitz stopped his friends for a moment, "Butters is doing what?"
"Butterscotch is going to sing tonight," Applejack cheered.
"And he is going to sound awesome," Bubbleberry added.
"Butterscotch," Blitz was trying to understand what he was hearing, "You're kidding, right?"
"We thought it would be a great confident boost for him," Dusk Shine said, smile strong as ever.
"Sure, like keeping a Parasprite as a house pet," Rainbow Blitz wasn't too confident about his other best friend singing. Blitz knew about Scotch's stage fright and was afraid that Butterscotch wouldn't be able to handle a task like singing in front of an audience. How could his friends even suggest something so ridiculous? Though, he probably wouldn’t put it past them either.
Barbara was wearing a sparkling green dress and was looking upon the appearance of the white stallion that was in the ball room.
"Elusive" Barbara sighed lovingly, her eyes quickly forming hearts. It was obvious to everypony that Barbara loved the fashion designer. Her heart could just burst out of her body. However, she reeled it in.
"Oh, there's Regal Splendor," Elusive flew past Barbara to greet the mare that would soon be taken by him.
"Wait, Elusive," Barbara tried to stop him, but he slipped through her fingers. Her eyes glared at Elusive and Regal greeting one another. A stallion stood behind Barbara as he attempted to speak.
"You know Barbara if you want to dance, I could…" Applejack gulped looking down at the dragon trying to hold the confidence to ask her to dance.
"You mean it, Applejack?" Barbara smiled hopefully.
"Well, umm yeah" Applejack nervously said, sweat beading down the side of his face.
"Could you ask Elusive to dance with me?" Barbara looked hopefully at Exclusive silently praying that Applejack would help her out with her crush.
"Now Barb, that wasn't what I…" Applejack tried to tell Barbara, but there was no fighting the hopeful dragon that was begging for his help.
"I will do my best" he sighed, and with one last look, he started on his way towards Elusive.
"Hey Elusive, you got a minute?" Applejack poked the stallion by his shoulder.
"I am in the middle of talking to Regal" Elusive hushed his friend. Applejack was apparently throwing off his game.
"It's important," Applejack pushed.
Elusive knew it probably wasn't important, but he looked to Regal. "I am sorry, this will only take a minute my dear," He said kissing her hoof and walked over to Applejack to get some privacy. He was irritated that Applejack called him away from such a fancy mare.
"I am here, now what is it Applejack?" Elusive had an annoyed look on his face.
"Barbara wants to dance with you," Applejack pleaded. He really didn't want to ask Elusive this, because he knew the end result. However, Barbara had asked him, and he wasn't going to turn down Barbara at all.
"Don't ruin this for me," Elusive said "Regal just got out of a relationship, so she is a bachelorette. If she thinks that there is something that is going on between Barbara and me, she won't make me her coltfriend."
"Wait, you and Regal are...?" Applejack said and also felt a hint of sadness for Barbara as well.
"Well, not exactly, but this could be my once chance to land the mare of my dreams," Elusive looked ecstatic as he said this at the moment.
"What about Barb, the poor thing will be heartbroken," Applejack said, worry written across his face.
"We are just friends, I am sure she will be just fine," Elusive said, "If you will pardon me, my date awaits."
Applejack saw Elusive disappear in the crowd of ponies and stallions. A tap on his hoof surprised Applejack. He looked down seeing the dragon smiling. "Well, how did it go?"
"Umm well, it went… You know dear, umm" He looked down as he couldn't let her down. As much as he wanted to comfort her, he couldn't risk seeing Barb in such a state of sadness. It was like an adorable puppy that a pony couldn’t take in. Applejack couldn’t do it. "He might save you one teensy little dance."
"Oh really, that's wonderful" Barbara gave Applejack a hug. The breaking of his heart was getting a little bit to much for Applejack. He had to lie to himself in order to see Barbara's own happiness.
"Yeah, it definitely is."
Applejack was pouring juice into small cups for some of the guests to drink.
“What were you thinking Applejack? Of course, she wouldn’t notice you, I doubt she would if you went as far as to have a sign saying ‘I love dragons.'” Applejack was enraged at Barbara and Elusive. However, the one he had to blame was himself. Why couldn’t he just tell her?
“All you have to do is confess your feelings. I love you, how is that so hard?” Applejack growled. He then took a deep breath. “Don’t let it bother you AJ. Maybe you still have a chance. You just need to wait it out.”
AJ soon noticed Rainbow Blitz and Dusk Shine came over by the table. He faked a smile to mask his true emotions.
"Have you seen Butterscotch? We haven't seen him anywhere," Dusk Shine asked Applejack.
"Well, I haven’t really seen him, but why don’t you check the garden. I think I remember him practicing his singing," Applejack suggested
"I'll go," Rainbow Blitz smiled before zooming over to the gardens.
Applejack saw Barbara going up to Elusive and Regal as he gave out a sigh. What does that stallion have that I don't have?
"Are you ok, Jack?" Dusk Shine sensed a great sadness within his friend
"Yeah, everything's fine" He wore a fake smile as he lied to his friend. He couldn't let the other know how deeply unhappy he was at the current moment.
"If you say so," Dusk Shine said, smiling, as he went back to greet more guests.
“You know, I feel so bad for Barbara.”
Applejack turned face him as Dusk continued, “I know that Elusive doesn’t like him in that way, but I don’t want to see Barbara heartbroken either. I just hope some stallion will gain the courage to ask her out.”
Applejack felt guilty. He knew he should say something, but he couldn’t. How would Barbara react to such words?
“Well, I am going back to greet the guests, you take care okay?” Dusk Shine said before teleporting back to the front area of the castle.
As the Prince of Friendship appeared, he immediately heard a commotion in the front halls. It clearly needed his attention, as it sounded like it was getting louder.
"What do you mean I can't get in? I thought everypony near and far was invited to this event. That is very rude. Where is your supervisor?" a voice growled at the doors.
Dusk Shine noticed the guards were barring a gray coat mare from entering and he flew into action. "Hey there, this is a party. Everypony is invited."
"But sir," One of them protested. The guards felt something was off about this particular mare.
"Ahem" Dusk Shine glared as Prince Tempo stood at the side of him "Is there a problem here?"
"Umm no Prince Tempo," The guards bowed down as the mare flew past them and bowed before Dusk Shine and Tempo, "You are too kind your majesties."
"No need to be too formal, everypony is invited to this gathering," Prince Tempo smiled.
Dusk Shine waved as well as the mare stepped inside the party. "Thank you for showing up,"
The mare smiled with yellow eyes. She couldn’t believe how easy it was to infiltrate the castle.
'No, thank you for letting me in; Even though I am not what you think I am. What a fool.'
"It's ok Butters, it's going to be ok," Butterscotch breathed in and out, preparing himself for when he was called up for his turn to sing. He hit his hoof into the water in frustration, "Argghhh, who am I fooling, I can't sing. Why should I even try?"
"Why? I think you sound great," a voice called from behind the Pegasus. The stallion turned to find Rainbow Blitz standing a short distance from him. Butterscotch quickly ran over and hugged him when he recognized his old friend.
"How have you been?" Butterscotch smiled.
"I have been fine" Blitz nodded to his nervous friend, "how about you?"
"About the same," Butterscotch sighed.
"Really? Because that's not what I have been hearing from the rest from our friends" Blitz said
"It's the nightmares, they just won't go away," Butterscotch shook his head thinking about his nightmares with every passing moment. "I am just concerned that Eris might return."
"What? Do you think Eris is in there, cleverly disguised, and waiting to make her move? Don't be ridiculous; she is gone for good. It’s just bad thoughts trying to get to you. We are at a party; you need to cut loose. Speaking of which, your song is up next."
"It's ok; I don't feel like singing," Butterscotch said, hoping to avoid having to sing in front of ponies he didn't know.
"Hey, you aren't chickening out of this one," Blitz stood in Scotch's way. "What about the time you handled those hurricanes?"
"Flying is very different from singing. Everypony isn't watching you waiting for you to fail" Butterscotch said
"Ok, what about the time you sang that pet song with me" Blitz remarked
"That was when it was only you and thousands of animals and critters. This is a whole room full of ponies, colts, fillies, and stallions, I am not sure if I can sing in front of all of them; I'm scared" Butterscotch cowered in fear.
"Hey, you won't be all alone. I am here to support you. You'll be just fine" Blitz smiled leading Butters back into the party.
"Yeah, I guess. Let's do this" Butterscotch said half-heartedly before looking away towards the gardens. With a finishing sigh, he followed his friend into the party.
"Oh, this party is so incredibly dull," Eris said in her pony disguise. It was one thing that she had to take the form of one of these creatures, but it was a whole other thing that she had to wear a dress. Eris, the goddess of Chaos wouldn't be caught dead wearing a death trap like a dress.
"I will give these ponies credit, they managed to liven up this party," Eris said, shaking her head as she talked to herself.
"How are you supposed to hold anything with these hooves," Eris said as she tried to grab a drink, though every time she brought it up, it would slip through her hooves.
Eris saw some colts and fillies running from under her. "Do you mind? You winged spawns from Tartarus. Geez, who invited these brats here anyways? Note to self, never have kids."
"If there is something I hate more than ponies, it's younger ponies," Eris shook her head in distaste "Watch where you are stepping" She growled. She couldn't wait until Equestria was within her fingertips. Then, she would put all the brats in cages.
Eris saw some ponies getting punch, and she decided to have a little fun her own way. She snapped her finger when nopony was looking. A rabbit appeared and started to run across the table where the food was laid. As the animal ran, it knocked over many of the bowls and plates that scattered the table top. AJ ran off to catch the rabbit when it jumped away from it. The chaos that had ensued at the serving table made Eris laugh.
"If I knew a party could be this much fun, I would have returned years ago" She snickered as she pranced off to cause more mischief.
"And you reach your right hoof in and you reach your left hoof out" Bubbleberry continued to distract the audience until Butterscotch was found. Dusk Shine smiled and grabbed the microphone.
"Thank you, Bubbleberry" Dusk Shine said, glad that his friend was able to stall everyone.
"You're welcome, Dusk" Bubbleberry smiled as he went offstage.
Eris shook her ear; finally that stallion does something right for once.
"Mares and Gentlecolts, I would like to welcome you to the Grand Galloping Gala" Dusk Shine smiled.
"Blah blah blah" whispered Eris.
"We have so much fun planned for tonight. Including an air show from the Wonderbolts!" Everypony cheered, though Eris couldn't care less about the things going on that night.
"But, first we are going to hear a song from a very close friend of mine. The bearer of the Element of Kindness himself, Butterscotch."
"Wait, that wimpy Pegasus is going to sing?" Eris held down a laugh. She couldn't believe they were going to let him sing. “He is probably going to get too scared to even stand.”
Many of the female unicorns, Pegasi and earth ponies were gasping in awe, leaving Eris confused. What was making all these ponies gasp? It sounded like they were looking at a town christmas tree for the first time.
"Ok, I'll bite, what is everypony staring at-" Eris froze, looking at what everypony else was looking upon. What she found caused Eris to immediately drop her chocolate milk glass that she had been drinking.
It was Butterscotch in a suit that seemed to leave Eris star struck. The stallion looked incredible in his green suit. Her eyes couldn’t help to follow the young stallion on the stage. Eris moved a bit closer in order to get a better look. The stallion looked divine. His mane was distinguished; his eyes sparkled like gems, his coat shined like lemonade on a hot, sunny day. Eris was dumbfounded.
Oh my goodness, he is so….so….
The sound of a record breaking in her mind wakes her from her trance. She used the excuse that it was a momentary relapse and she kept repeating it to herself to break herself out of what she was feeling.
Butterscotch approached the mic, licking his lips. He felt incredibly nervous about singing. He had done it before, but there were many ponies and stallions watching him. Would he do well or would he be terrible? A part of him wanted to walk off stage, but he saw the faces of his five friends and smiled. He raced to the mic and sighed. He took a deep breath and started to sing the song.
Hearing Butterscotch's voice beginning to fade, Eris felt lifted by Butterscotch singing such a heartwarming tune. Was this the same stallion that entered the labyrinth with his friends? The same stallion she has watched most over the years that she has known him. Where has he been all her life?
She quickly snapped out of it, "I have to stop this madness."
A puff of magic came from the stage, which made all of the guests in attendance give a gasp of surprise. Dusk Shine, Elusive, Bubbleberry, Applejack and Rainbow Blitz were clearly dumbfounded, unsure on what to do. Everypony had looked upon the sight of the goddess of Chaos onstage with unsuspecting Butterscotch, who was still singing. He hadn't the ponies stares and in turn, didn't realize his nightmares were becoming a reality.
He flew up in the air as he felt all of his troubles were melting away by the sounds of his voice. For the first time in a long time, Butterscotch was happy.
An unknown partner had twirled around Butterscotch, and he had dipped his partner down. He wanted to get a good look at his partner. When he opened his eyes, the object of his nightmares was staring back at him with a smile.
"Oh Butterscotch, I didn't know you were such a great singer... and dancer" Eris giggled.
Butterscotch was frozen in fear upon staring at the Goddess of Chaos. Rainbow Blitz soon came to the defense of the frightened Pegasus.
"Get away from him" Rainbow Blitz glared at Eris. He managed to grab his best friend from the slithering draconequus.
"What? We were only dancing" the draconequus smiled
"Eris" Dusk Shine glared. He couldn’t believe she was back.
"What are you doing here?" Prince Tempo added.
"You're highnesses" Eris smirked as Prince Tempo and Prince Dusk Shine realized that Eris was the mare they had let in through their doors. "It was such a good chance to see you all again. Sorry if I didn't send a message of my arrival. I wanted to give everypony a surprise,"
Eris spotted the Crusaders who hid behind Elusive, Applejack, and Bubbleberry and smirked: "Why if it isn't my three little saviors?"
"What do you want, Eris?" Dusk Shine was beyond enraged.
"Oh, will you put a sock in it" Eris snapped as a pair of socks was stuffed in Dusk shine's mouth. He tried to spit out the pair, turning away from the conversation.
"Seriously, give him wings and a crown and its all 'I am better than everyone else,' Geez, it's so boring," Eris shook her head in distaste.
"Why are you here?" Dusk finally got the socks out of his mouth, though he had to deal with the horrible taste of hooves stuck in his taste buds.
"Well, I am a party crasher of course. While I am at it, I am here to take over Equestria," Eris smirked.
Everypony has gasped. They all feared the worst of what Eris could do.
“She could turn us into chocolate,” One said.
“She could take away our wings and horns,”
“She could summon the pink elephants. Anything but the pink elephants!”
As Eris grinned, Dusk Shine began to laugh with confidence, “What’s so funny?”
"You should have stayed in hiding. Now, you are going to get turned back into stone where you belong."
"Umm, I would mind embarrassing you here, but don't you need the Elements of Harmony to do that?" Eris pointed out the fault in Dusk’s plan.
"We have…"Dusk Shine shouted, before promptly realizing that he and his friends had stopped wearing them years ago, "We don't need them to beat you."
Dusk Shine was prepared to fight against Eris. Her response was yawning and waving her hand in her mouth, while effortlessly snapping her fingers to make Dusk's horn disappear.
"Hey, give it back" Dusk Shine ordered
"You are really a stick in the mud" Eris snapped her fingers to match her words to the situation. Bubbleberry couldn't help but laugh as Dusk Shine tried to get out of a large puddle of mud that had appeared.
Rainbow Blitz couldn't take it anymore "No one makes fun of my friends and gets away with it!"
Eris chuckled seeing Rainbow Blitz speeding up. She snapped her fingers to change her clothes into a matador outfit holding up a red blanket up to tempt Rainbow Blitz.
"Toro! Toro!" She said playfully.
This left Blitz even angrier, and his speed increased as he charged towards the goddess of chaos. Just before Blitz hit her, she flew backward, revealing a pillar that Rainbow Blitz met with full force. Eris cheered "O le!" before turning back to the others.
"Have you all learned nothing from our last encounter?" She laughs manically "You all thought I was gone for good. Except for you my little Butterscotch."
"Wait, how?" Butterscotch asked
"I have been watching you" Eris interrupted him. "By the way, if you ever want a dancing partner, I'm available."
"You touch him one more time; I will give you such a pounding." Blitz glared at Eris
"You wait until the Princes come back," Dusk Shine glared
"Ahh, does Dusky need Daddy Solaris need to come bail him out again?" Eris smirked, "I am afraid Solaris can't help you in his current…" She used air quotes "Predicament,"
"What do you mean" Dusk Shine darted his eyes back
"See for yourselves" Eris snapped her pretty little fingers again as she showed everyone that Solaris, Artemis, and Gleaming Shield were in a cell together.
"Those are the princes!" Barbara cried out
"What have you done with my wife?" Prince Tempo bared far more hatred for the draconequus than anything he had met before.
"Nothing I assure you. The foal is perfectly fine. However, it would be a shame if something were to happen to his mother before birth," Eris looked down
"What" Prince Tempo's eyes widened
"Blah blah, you are having a boy, congrats." Eris shook her head in disgust
"I swear, if you hurt Gleaming Shield," Prince Tempo growled, readying to attack Eris
"I wouldn't dream of it. Though, if any of you decide to be a hero and stop me, the princes get it, and that includes the unborn one," Eris made the image of the princes disappear.
"Now for the weather" Eris smirked, she wore business attire showing a broadcast of the weather. "It will be cotton candy cloudy with a chance of chocolate milk. Seriously, it will be raining cats and dogs. Hope everypony gets home safely. Or not. BWHAHAHAHAHAHA"
Everypony heard her laughter and started to panic. Whiting a few seconds, there was an uproar throughout the castle.
"Everypony calm down. The situation is under control." Dusk Shine shouted, attempting to calm the situation.
"They're not listening to me" Dusk Shine looked at the chaotic room that was full of screaming ponies and stallions.
"We're listening to you" Applejack smiled
"OK, Blitz and Applejack. I need the both of you to get the orphans to safety" Dusk Shine stated
"Gotcha, will do," both of them said as Blitz zoomed to gather the colts and fillies. Applejack followed.
"Butterscotch, you keep an eye on the Crusaders" Dusk ordered
"Alright" Butterscotch nods
"I will round up the guards to keep everyone inside their homes" Prince Tempo nods before racing down to gather up each of the guards.
The rest of them would handle leading the crowds to safety and to assist Tempo if they needed to. They would meet up at the Throne room in an hour after everything was settled.
Dusk Shine looked at the chaos that Eris had created. His eyes eventually landed on the spot where his horn usually resided. He sighed. Eris had managed to make it disappear all within twenty seconds of her being at the castle.
"Some prince I turned out to be,"
Author's Note
I don't own the rights to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro.
I am terribly sorry for not being around so much, but here you guys go. This is chapter 3 and i think it turned out well. I have a new editor for my stories. I don't want to overwhelm them, but i am glad that person has taken time out of their schedule to fix my story. Trust me, i own it to all of my editors.
So, I can assume everyone is going to ask me why didn't i put a song in the chapter? Well, i don't really like putting songs in stories. I really find it distracting. I know it might be in DF's version, but it won't be in my version. Whatever you hear in Bride of Discord will hold similarly in this version.
Now, i take back my decision of making Prince Tempo one of the prisoners because i felt there is more peril and more to be lost with Gleaming Shield than with Prince Tempo. A moment in the next chapter will highlight this fact. But, tell me what you think about the story? Do you like it? Give me your thoughts in the comments section below.
Until then, see you later.
