Chapter 6 Season 2 Starts

“Sorry I don’t quite understand” the white mare leans her head back. “Season Opener? Like when we clean up winter?”

I had to shake my head a bit to rattle it free from the surprised lock it was held in. I look to the mare and chuckle weakly “He he, sigh, Naa it’s something else altogether.” I wave my hoof dismissively and hop off the podium. Stretching and bending to test the new outfit I had on and I found it appropriate to complement the maker “Man Rarity I need to hoof it to you, this outfit is nice! It feels so, normal.” Guess I still was a human at heart if I felt normal being covered up like this. I muttered inside my head. “May just keep this one on all the time.” Not like cartoons ever changed their outfits anyhow.

“Why thank you dear!” she takes a small bow and smiles just enough to show her pleasure but not so much to be unlady like. “I make much more than just that so if you ever want to change anything just say the word. But remember,” she turns to walk to a desk to put away her glasses and measuring tape. “This was a gift, other garments will cost you Mr. Volley. I do need to make a living after all.”

“But of course fair maiden, I fully understand.” With a slight nod I just had a small idea. Maybe I can work behind the curtains of this show I’m stuck in. Thinking about how the opener worked I suddenly realized a few loopholes as it were. Like how did some of the main six just show up at AJ’s farm? Tapping my chin with one hoof I glance outside one of the windows and nod. “Speaking of garments, do you have rain gear Rarity?” I trot over to the window to get a better look outside and I spot a pink cloud, perhaps the first one?

“Well yes I do. I have wares for all the seasons darling. What kind of fashion boutique would this be without a little of everything?” pointing over to a small section of the store to show the rain and winter outfits of the seasons fashion.

“Put on the good ones.” Turning around to look at the mare I smile at her and made my way for the door with a bit of a rush. “I think Apple Jack would love to see your best rain gear down at the farm. You know she likes the practical things.”

Blinking in surprise she stares at me “Excuse me? Now why would I do that? There is not a cloud in the sky until tomorrow and I know AJ would not go for that style. Whether she knows what is good for her or not.” She flicks her tail as she looks back to the rain gear on the racks.

“Just, just trust me on this? You hardly know me and I understand that, well, that and you probably don’t like me much right now for that stunt I pulled with Pinkie. But go to Sweet Apple Acers with the rain gear and on my word I am sure it will be put to use. You will see.” I bow so much that my nose almost touches the floor in an effort to try and sway the mare to head my words.

Leaning her head back a bit Rarity looks around as the strange moment grabs hold until she breaks it by trotting over and putting a hoof to my withers “Oh that’s not needed Mr Volley, please get up. I will go if this means so much to you. Despite how you act to my friends.” After I lift myself up she shakes her head with a sigh. “This is your one chance. Mess this up and I will not only lose trust in you but I will charge you more for cloths, Got that?” I nod with a chuckle and quickly turn to open the front door, that and hide the shocked look I had on my face for fear of how much the one I had on would cost to replace.

Who knew Rarity would be that shrewd? Well I am a stranger asking favors and she is running a business so, yeah. I wonder. But she is generosity, perhaps it’s a bluff? I see one pink cloud speeding towards a normal one that looks like Dash is sleeping on. The rainbow colored tail did give it away. “Got to move faster.” I mumble to myself. “See ya Rarity! Do the thing please. You will not regret it!” for my sake I hope she does not ether. I dash out the door heading towards golden oaks library. “For Equestria dear.” I chimed out in a sing song tone.

Rarity stood in the open doorway and looked to the sky only to see a few clouds and one pink one dashing away at a strangely fast pace with Rainbow giving chaise. “Hmm, perhaps I should pay AJ a visit after all.” Shutting the door Rarity starts to get ready to visit her farming friend.

Galloping towards the old oak I glance to the unicorn citadel that’s Canterlot. Lifting one brow I could swear I could see something moving around in the sky up there. But it was so small it could have been any number of things, or just me going mad. Could be the first sign of me being sleep deprived from the nightmares, but for the moment I think I’m ok. Maybe? Even with my bandages binding up under my new threads I skidded around a corner easily to spot the oak that was growing in the small town. Slowing down to a trot I tried to catch my breath and was happy to realize how simple it was. Perks of being equine I guess. Stopping just short of the door I take a slow breath as I shake my cloths and adjust the bandages underneath so as to fit a little better. Without thinking I reached back and drew another shell from my side. “Slug.” with that I slip the round into the shotgun’s feed tube and the gun hovers back to its place on my butt. Pushing the door open I yell softly to garner some attention “Hay Twilight! You still here? I have something to ask of you!”

Without looking at me Spike chimes in as he shelves some books from a small cart “Try the back, she was doing a paper on old spells last I saw her. Knowing her she is still there.” Catching me by surprise I glanced over to the drake and nodded bit. He gives me a thumbs up to acknowledge me as he keeps shelving the books from the small pile on the cart. Trotting to the back I was trying my hardest to keep a straight face and a level tone in my voice just to keep others from picking up on my distress and worry that was slowly but steadily building.

Oh gods above why Discord? Pushing open the door with my muzzle I spotted Twilight behind some books with a quill magically scratching away on a scroll next to her. “Umm Twilight?” how could I trick her like Rarity? Could I? Did I even trick Rarity for that matter?

Glancing up she references a book floating just over a much bigger book that was laying open on the floor in front of her. “Yes?”

Thinking as fast as I could I try to play to the magic using scholar in her “What happens if you use a spell and it goes bad?”

“Backfire, Rebound, Miscast, or a failure is the common term. Anything from a flash of bright light to an explosion can happen, some times more even.” Her ear twitches as she nods and scribbles more down onto the parchment. I was surprised she was talking, in that one episode she would not even look up or say more than a grunt.

Walking over but still staying back to give her space I nod “Ok I know that much, but are there ways to fix it or stop it? Like a reset button or something?” sitting down on my haunches I just hope I can push this in the right direction.

“One could set up an ether flux regulator to restrain the flow and lessen the effects. Barriers could contain the backfire or the spell itself.” Another note is scribbled down and the book floats away as another takes its place. With a slight pause the unicorn looks past the book eyeing me “Why do you ask?” her ears perk up and she suddenly looks quite exited “Are you going to try and cast something? Do you need help?! Oh! Let me get another roll of parchment and I can give you some notes to study first.”

Waving my hooves back and forth I shake my head “No, no, I’m not doing anything just yet. Was just wondering what could be done if a spell is cast and the effect was not what you wanted. How could you put things back? Like if you changed something from red to blue but wanted green.” man she did not even realize my new outfit, I should not be surprised too much, or care much for that matter. She is in her study mode after all. Even at this thought my ears lower showing my thoughts.

“Failsafe spell comes to mind. It can break spells and reverse the effects of lots of wayward magic depending on how much magic was used on the first spell and how much is powering the failsafe spell, Why?” Tilting her head as she sets down a book that she was holding in her magic and the librarian looks past me as her horn lights up. A thick brown book slides off the shelves in her magic hold and drifts to her and she holds it up to see. “Here we are: Ether Effects and How to Control them.”

“Cool! Well I think there are some strange things going on at AJ’s and I have no skill to cast such a spell. Do you think you could take Spike over and help her out?” faking a smile a bit I point in the direction I could only guess was towards Apple Jacks farm.

Narrowing her eyes at me and stepping out from behind her books. The mare walks towards me looking me up and down. “That’s a nice outfit Rarity gave you. When did you have time to stop by the farm?” ears pinned back the unicorn was on to me. And it’s about time she saw my attire! And why do I care?

“Well you sure can spot flaws in details. I will be sure to be much more carful next time.” Turning toward the door and spot Spike threw its threshold. “Fine! Season opener Twilight. This is what I was talking about. Just go to the farm ok? And bring that spell book with you, Spike as well.”

With a gasp Sparkle dashes in front of me blocking the door “This is the information you were talking about? What’s going to happen? Should I wright to warn the princesses? What should I do? What should I bring?”

Turning my head away from her I grit my teeth “That’s all I can say. Don’t ask any more of me. I’m not sure I can escape this ether to stay out of it. But don’t tell the princess, solar will send a letter for ya anyhow. Until then, please go to the farm.” The purple unicorn steps back and gasps. Putting a hoof to my big mouth I realized what I may have done and pointed to the door. “Just get going!”

Nodding as her face shifts to that of a sterner look she turns for the door with the book in her magical grasp. Grabbing Spike as she headed out to her friend’s farm and to AJ’s aid. It was not long before I heard the front door close. Standing back up I slowly walk into the front room and look around at the books. “Gods above I hope I did not mess things up. Maybe this is how it all works?” I ponder to myself as I look around the room itself. Could I truly work behind the scenes in the show or was I actually the force at work in the show? Was I just playing a part that was never seen to begin with but always there? Oh this line of thinking is problematic to my mental state, sleep deprivation not helping. Rubbing my eyes something catches my ears and makes them perk up. It was a faint chuckling that seemed to radiate from the books around me. Almost like I was mistaken to hear it but after I rubbed my ears and walked over to one wall, I realized it was in fact the books. One in particular actually, an old tome on a high shelf labeled: The Elements of Harmony, A Reference Guide. Staring at it I sat down and started to get annoyed as my head bobbed as I fell asleep for just a second before I popped back to reality. “Considering the events about to unfold I have a dang good idea what is going on. You are not going to catch me by surprise Discord!” I was surprised he came right to me first. Wonder why, out of all of equestria, why would he do that?

“Oohhhh~ the distraction knows who I am! Now that takes so much fun out of this guessing game.” the book slides off the shelf and flies around the room. “Now how in this land do you know who I am? I was under the impression I had been forgotten by all but two. Such a bore when all the others just up and die.”

“That is none of your concern and the name is Ballistic Volley. I have no intent of stopping you so why in the wide world are you even here?” A sly grin slips onto my muzzle as I watch the book stop and flutter over to me. “That’s another’s job to do anyhow. So I don’t fear you or your pranks as you call them.” I shrug as the book spins and Discord appears reading it with one hand and a pipe in the other claw. “You will be back to stone by the end of the day or so.”

Looking up from the tome the draconequus lifts one brow “Oh? You think so hmm? Well I will have you know that the elements are the only things that can send me back.” Snapping the book shut he leans forward and boops my muzzle with a faint knowing grin. “Tia and Lulu are the only one strong enough to use the elements. And after the nightmare fiasco the elements have gone silent. So they can’t do a thing to me. No one can anymore!” leaning back and taking a step back he cracks his knuckles as an evil grin manifests itself on his mismatched body. “Now what was that about not fearing me? I will have you know they all called me king during my time.”

Not moving but trying hard to keep a straight face I nod a bit “True, but if you know of the nightmare incident then you also know how it was mended.” Now I was grinning and leaning forward to whisper “There are new bearers of the elements of harmony, six to manage the power of each. Rarity has generosity and the fashion wise eye. Rainbow dash is more loyal then I know any other and an attitude to fear. Apple Jack has one hell of a buck and her strength is honesty.” Talking normally now I sit more upright as if I was proud of something. “Flutter Shy is so kind, well, hell I don’t think anyone could match it and you will see that first hand in time. But I can see you getting along more with the laughter bearer Pinkie Pie, but that never happens. That could be a blessing now that I think about it” I tap my chin and look to the books at this wondering if there was a point to that, but shrugged it off. Quickly looking back to the mismatched menagerie in front of me I sigh a bit. “All of this is pulled together by the sixth. Magic is Twilight Sparkle’s thing. And in time” I look Discord right in the eye “she may surpass your power even.”

Nodding the whole time Discord just smiles and giggles at me as he slowly spun on his Y axes. It was then I realized the note pad hovering next to him jotting down notes. Pointing to the pad I realize what I had just done. “Oh you are such a good help my little distraction. Perhaps I will see to you last as payment for the information update, or not.” Putting a hoof to my big mouth I shake my head a bit. Baring his teeth the king of chaos grows in size to more than twice his normal stature. “You say you do not fear me, hmm? Your face is painting a much different picture. You will call me king just like the others soon will again.” the note pad vanishes as he snaps his claw.

Pulling myself back into line I shake the horrid thoughts from my dumb skull. “You will still be sent back to your stone incarceration in time. I have no control of that and nether do you.” I just hope I did not derail the course of events that I knew. Then again I still did not know if I could even do that. Man, messing with unknowns is a pain. My face fell back to its blank default as I remembered one key fact about Discord. He is just a prankster, that’s all, madness is what he does and seeing as I know the outcome along with other things. I should not be scared of him. He does not cause any real harm anyhow.

Narrowing one eye Discord leans forward with a magnifying glass and pokes at me with a cane. “Oh what is this? You don’t actually fear me do you? Oh I think I may have broken him. Well that didn’t take long.”

Swatting away the cane I made my way to the door of the library. “My mind is not broken. I just remembered that you are just a prankster. Unlike a changeling or hydra, no real physical harm will be dealt and you are not much to worry about for the time being, just a distraction to me. Not sure why I was scared of you to start with. So just mess with the others and try and stay out of that stone. Heck I would bet bits on you going back, say, three hundred bits on you being stone by the power of their friendship by the end of all this? Even after you try to break them.” The door was now running away from me around the room I just slowly look back to Discord and grin only to see him actually looking a little mad.

“You actually think you have nothing to fret over? That your cherished pony friends will save you?” the draconequus lands on the ground and walks over to stand in front of me, looming over me at his normal size now.

“Not my friends but yes.”

Tilting his head the god looks at me puzzled “Oh? But don’t you share a special bond with them? ” he blinks his eyes as shimmers of light emanate from them as he tries to look cute.

Nodding back I follow up. “I have no friends in this world but I know them and your fate just the same.”

With a slight grin and a snap of his fingers I found myself in a cage of black iron and a large padlock dangling from the latch. “Is that so? Well then how do you expect the power of friendship to help if you have no friends to speak of hmm?” reaching threw the bars his paw grabs my muzzle and turns my head to one side with a harsh jerk to look me dead in one eye.

“I don’t matter, it’s that simple. If I disappear the flow of time still moves unchanged. Events will still transpire.” I push into his lions paw to close the gap between my face and his just behind the bars. Doing my best to bare my teeth from under his grasp I glare back at him. “I got your number so you can’t do a thing to me mentally. So get over it Discord, you can’t get a laugh out of me, I will grin and bear it knowing I will not be hurt and that it will end soon. So go ahead and struggle ya big noodle! ”

At this it looks like all Discords confusion melts and his normal clever grin slithers back onto his muzzle. His eyes suddenly radiate blue, yellow and a pail green as he starts to hypnotize? Discord me? Gray me? Hell, I never knew the term. But whatever it was he was trying to do, it did not happen. Letting go of me and looking at his own eyes in a mirror the chaos incarnate scrutinized his power. ”What? Did I use the wrong pattern again?” I simply looked at my own legs to find I was no shade of gray, or even discolored for that matter. Spinning around Discord thrusted his clawed hand forward and pressed one talon to my head to try the more direct approach. Again nothing happened after a moment and I could not help but chuckle.

“Performance issues after all that time in stone? Want to use a pocket watch to warm up?”

“I’m not sure. This has never happened. Give me a moment to fix this” pulling a blanket around him he checks the thermometer in his mouth as a cup of hot tea appears next to him.

“Pff, not like I’m going anywhere. Maybe it’s the fact that my mind is not pony? ” I tap on the bars with one hoof to make the bars ring.
Looking back suddenly his ears flatten to his head. “Hmm? But you look like one, you are one, well, no matter.” With a snap of his fingers the cage turns pink.

“Different, but I’m not dissing the color” I tap the now pink bars. Pink metal? Odd.

“Oh, this is strange.” Another snap of his paw and there was now a dancing pot of petunias next to me in the cage.

“Not again”

“Can I not have cell mates?” stepping away from the potted plant I poke at it with the barrel of my gun to keep it at bay.

Spotting the gun I was now using to prod the plant out of the cadge threw the gap in the bars, Discord narrows his eyes and points at it. “And what? Is that!?”

“hmm?” looking to my gun I shrug as I levitate it back to my flank. “It’s mine and not yours. Leave it at that.” I was not about to let my KSG be taken away again.

With a slight glare and a snap of fingers there is a flash around my gun but nothing happens. “so that’s why.” walking around the cage Discord snaps his fingers over and other only to have more and more crazy things happen around me. “It appears I cannot affect that thing, or you.” With a shrug he spins around as his ears pop back up. “That mystery is for next time. I hear an angel calling my name!” In a flash of light the god was gone and I was left in the cage surrounded by dancing plants, a rug, some cake, and one sour looking brink. Don’t ask how I know.

“I would surely not call sun butt an angel but to each there own I guess?” pulling my gun back into my view I poke and prod at it. It was completely unharmed and all its rounds where unaffected, as far as I could see that is. Pulling another round from my side shows that my little trick is still working like always. Another round for my gun. “I’m not affected by magic or is it just the gun and me by proxy? Cake butt could lift it, why not Discord’s magic? Meh, I should test this sometime.” With a click of that safety and the trigger there was a loud bang that rang the bars of the cage. With a spent shell falling to the ground its partner in the short fall was the large lock that was previously hanging from the now missing door latch. Pushing open the door of the pink iron cage I simply walked out and made my way to walk through the now scared stiff door huddling to one side of the library. Right as I opened the now normal door all that was done by Discord suddenly turned to clam chowder. Looking back and forth I roll my head a bit and grumble. Bloody Discord. A moment later and I was leaving a note to Spike asking him to mop up the mess and I would pay him back in full for his efforts. After slamming the door shut I was back outside and things had, changed.

But unlike the show it was the same town I knew but more, gray, and demolished. Slowly watching my steps as I walk into the chaos that seemed to be a scene from the move: Saving Private Ryan. This ponyville looked more like a war zone! Disbelief on my face I could not help but try to make heads or tails of this. “This is not right. Where are the checkered floors and chocolate milk rain clouds?” running in over drive my head snaps to a quick conclusion. I gave Discord info he was not supposed to know? Is this the recoil of my Freudian slip? No that’s not right ether. I shake my head a bit and tap my skull with one hoof. “In the show he knew who the main six where, I did nothing out of place. Right?” Something catches my ear as I pondered. Well it was more of a scream then anything. Looking towards its source I spotted a pony sprinting away from a timber wolf following close behind him. Was this Discord’s doing or did the chaos push the wolf from the forest? This was not the time to wonder how it happened but to rectify it. Pulling another slug shell from my side threw the fabric was a comforting reminder about what I could do for this world while I was here.

*Thoomp-Clink* that round topped off the second feed tube, my gun was full again! It was at that moment I realized I had quickly made a habit of pulling shells and loading them into my KSG. Wonder how often I could do this?

*Chick-chlak* Shell in the chamber and action locked.

*click, click* Sights pop up from there folded position.

Standing up on my hind legs I’m able to hold my gun in my hooves and pull it close into my shoulder as my hooves simply hold it much steadier, well, more than my magic seemed to be able to do by floating it. Sighting the passing target in my sighs I felt oddly stable and sure footed even though I was a quadruped standing on two legs. It was faint but I could also make out a crimson glow around my sight and the sights of the gun as I aimed for a head shot to finish the wolf in one shot. Hooves not able to pull the trigger I squeezed it with my magic instead like I had always done before.

*fisht-BAM!* crimson mana gushed backwards in a jet from my gun to counteract the massive recoil along with a slight pull that I did not intend. The slug round was sent down range and for a moment I remembered that I did not lead the shot. But not a moment later the timber wolfs head was gone and the body fell limply on the ground kicking up some dust as it did. The pony being chased stumbled and fell as well, probably from the sound of my shotgun. Said pony turned quickly to look behind them, fear on his face expecting the wolf to be on them and his fate set. Instead of this he found the downed corpse of the wolf lying just behind him. With a sigh of relief the pony looked over to me by happenstance of looking around to see who did this. And a slight look of confusion and wonder filled there features.

I lift my cheek from the gun and tilt my head as to show my wonder to what the problem is. Was it me? It must be, I’m just going to look odd as long as I use this gun. The red glow quickly disappeared and with my gun back in the hold of my magic I let myself back down onto all four hooves and that feeling of steadiness faded. Strange, standing on two legs with my gun I was steady but on four hooves I’m not as steady? Too many things about myself annoyed me, and what was that red glow and slight pull?

“HELP! ANYONE, PLEASE!!”

Looking to the left I spot the same scenario, a timber wolf running down a stallion. Taking off in a sprint to close the gap and save another I was off. I could only guess that adrenaline was helping out as I was able to catch up to the wolf fairly fast. Running just behind the wolf I pull my shotgun next to me with my magic, changed the selector switch for buck and racked the pump for a new round. I was much closer and so the wolf heard the pump and turned his head to see what was so close. But it was too late for him as a small cloud of smoke and buck shot pulverized its head just above the neck. And like a broken record the stallion tripped and looked back to give me that same look, but with slightly more relief. The wolf again fell to the ground and lay still just like the other. Slowing down as I trot pass, something pops into my head. Why are they not falling apart like before in the forest? Looking back to the first wolf it strikes me how the downed wolf is not pulling itself back together ether.

Before that I hear screams again, this time it was Cheerilee and some little fillies and colts from the school struggling to keep away from a small pack of wolves. Digging my hooves into the ground I was dashing towards them in a literal blast of speed. It was short lived and I made to intersect them as the wolves gained on them. With a sliding stop I put myself right between the wolves and there possible pray. In that moment I had fired off four rounds in rapid succession. One round was wide but the following buckshot made up for it as it caught two wolves with one shot. Again all where head shots, I could not explain it but something in my being was telling me to hit their heads and nowhere else. The wooden bodies fall limp to the ground and sliding to a stop at my hooves like stiff rag dolls. Turning my head to the side I brace for the twigs and magic laden sap to pepper my face, but nothing happened. Looking back all I see are the twisted corpses of the wolves at my feet. Leaning inward towards the lifeless sticks and leaves I rub my chin in thought. With my gun floating in a ready position over my head I pump the action mindlessly and a shell ejects hitting me on the head and bouncing off my muzzle. I flinch a bit to the hot brass and watch the round fall toward the body of one wolf and faze through? it as it tumbles. Hmm? Did that just? Reaching out to touch the headless pile of sticks my hoof is suddenly smacked away by another reaching out from the foliage.

Shear surprise makes me rear back and backpedaled away, subsequently falling backwards onto my back. As I roll to right myself and get up I looked back to see the image of the downed timber wolves fade away to show Cheerilee and the other little ones huddled behind her. She had the look of rage pushing past a deeper fear. “Don’t you dare hurt them! What did we do to you?! What are you trying to do to us?” the children huddle tighter as I slowly got up shaking my head.

“No, I was shooting at the timber wolves to save you, them,” I pointed to the school mare then to the little ones hiding behind her in fear. “and those folks!” I turn to the others I had helped just before only to see the timber wolves had vanished. And in there stead, terrified ponies still locked on to me. Eyes filled with fear for their lives as I pointed to them sitting on the ground. Pulling back my hoof I shake my head more and my ears lay back. “No, no,” looking around in a slightly panicked fashion I realized the war torn town was dripping away to reveal the world Discord had crafted, the world of floating? trees and an upside-down windmill. I turn to face the filly’s and foals but step back quickly looking back to the young ones. “I was trying to save you, the wolves-”

“What wolves?!” Cheerilee interrupted me. “I saw you casting that loud spell at those other ponies and scaring them to death. So I tried to save them from you. But you ran and stopped right in front of us and cast that spell to scare us with that loud boom from that club. Are you with that strange monster that’s causing this?” with that she gathered up the others and herded them away without another word. Falling back onto my rump, dazed and confused I look back to the others who turned and run from me following Cheerilees lead. It was then that I would make out Discords chuckling in my head again.

“It would have been much more of a riot if they only knew what that loud spell actually did hmm?” I just stared forward as the spirit appeared clapping his paws together. “Scared them pretty good didn’t you? So who is ruler of this land? The one who can make you scare others without knowing it? Or the one that blew a hole in your side?” pointing to my side I slowly follow his finger so stare at my side and my gun that was now lying on the ground next to it.

It clicked what happened, he had me thinking the wolves where a threat so I would shoot. But I was actually shooting over the smaller ponies inside the illusions. I could have been killing if I was going for body shots. Slowly looking toward the god I now realized why I was scared that first moment he appeared and why I did not want to face him before. He would not hurt others simply because he could get more of a kick out of making others do that for him if need be. Loki incarnate?

With a glimmer of my magic my gun was slowly moving back to its place on my side, shaking just a bit before it was again affix to my flank by the normal magical bind. Looking up to Discord my ears lay back as I open my mouth. He leans over with that sinister grin in anticipation of what I was about to say. “I have no lord to listen to as I do not hail from this land. The bind may be only in my mind but this is not my home or my dimension for that matter.” Pulling myself up I slowly walk past the Draconequus toward the outskirts of town. “Knowledge of events to come is all that I have and yours have not changed as far as I know, you will be stone again.” tapping my hoof to my chin I realize something as Discord disappears and materializes right in front of me on a hill, sitting atop his thrown. “But I have no clue what my fate holds.”

With an apparent large grin on his face Discord narrows his eyes “Are you sure I will be trapped? Those mares just failed my little game. I won!” Looking up to him on his thrown I tilt my head and shake it.
“If that’s true then I have no time to be talking to a clone! And if you’re so sure about that then have at it! Do what you want! You will be stone and I will rub it in your frozen face that I was right.” I turn around from the cocky tyrant and trudge off as that sinister cackle rings threw the air and buffaloes dance by.

“So you’re not going to stop me?”

“Above my pay grade.”

“Who is paying you? I will double it.” a suitcase overflowing with bits appears and floats over to me.

Shaking my head I keep walking away. I hear the spirit burst into laughter as I tugged off to try and put distance between me and him. If the girls had failed at the maze then it was only a matter of time now before they would be back in town to deal with things and for twilight to mend things. I had to stay away from the library for now. Guess I will just stay out of town until then? And not shoot anything? Slowly trudging to a stop I sigh and hang my head. I hope Discord has had his fun with me. Pulling my gun in front of me I take note of how many shells are left after that small misguided assault. “Five slugs and two buck.” I mumble to myself as I reach for another shell hoping for a buck round. “Ouch! What the?” looking to my hoof reveals a slug round with just a slight smear of blood on it. Did I pull it wrong and aggravate my wound? With a shrug I wipe off the blood and slide it into the gun as I got up and trudged on. It was not soon before I would hear the distinct sound of bug wings buzzing, a big one. Following my ears I look around the corner of a building to see a blue pegasus floating by. The same barfing one I had meet the night I got out of the hospital. But it looked like Discord had found her before me. Her wings where flapping so fast they blurred, she was also floating in an uncontrolled manner. It sort of reminded me about that time Rainbow Dash got poison joke and could not fly right, but this mare was moving much slower contrary to her zippy wings. “Umm excuse me, your wings sure are moving fast, like a bug actually. Maybe you would land and stay on the ground before someone mistakes you for a giant bug. That or you strain them from such a fast pace and get hurt.”

Looking toward me with an almost angry look she hissed at me “don’t you dare call me a bug!” a moment later she looked to her wings and her eyes shrank. Putting a hoof over her mouth she suddenly descended to the ground and folded her wings to her side. With a bit of a sad chuckle I walked over to her to which she held up her hoof to stop me, which I did. “Stay right there! I know you are not from around here and you don’t belong. I don’t know what you want with this town but this is my home! You’re not going to take that away from me, not again.”

Thinking for a moment I tilt my head and take a step forward narrowing my eyes. “And what per say do you think I am?” Ok, how does this random mare know I’m not from around here? Or I’m not normal for that matter? Was the gun a giveaway? As I took that step forward I could not help but catch a faint flash of magic around the mare, a magic shield, a ward, or something? Was someone else around? Looking around quickly I try to spot if a unicorn was around. Or I could just be going mad like Discord wants?

“You look like a pony but you are not a pony, that much I can tell. I live here but I don’t recognize you from around town so I know you’re new. That and you make me sick just being around me!” she stamps her hoof and flares out her wings to make herself look bigger. Why do winged horses do this? Or does it work on others but seeing as I’m not pony it just looks a little odd? Or cute? Hell not again!!!!

Thinking back to when I first saw her as if to recall some clue to what was the trigger. “That’s why you got sick? But what did I do? I was just there.” I took another step forward only to watch her take one back.

“Y-you just do.” she was looking around as if to look for a way out and as she did I heard something I could not believe.
“She knows your secret.” a little voice, faint all be it, was wafting into my mind.

“Well she did just tell me.” I mutter back to the voice. I knew better then to encourage this kind of chatter but I wanted to see what the voice had to say.

“Well, yes, but how did she know?” the voice sounds more solid now and it was that of a gentile mare.

“I’m not sure right now, got any ideas how I could find out?” I move one hoof forward and the mare glares at me with a look of disgust.

“Cut that out!” she almost screams and bares her teeth at me. “I can drop you without a sweat! One more step and I will drop you!” She lowers herself to the ground in preparation to jump.

“Here is an idea.” As I heard this something dug into my skull like barbs, man it stung. “try to think about rushing her from the left” nodding a bit but not moving any more than just standing still I think about making a mad dash to her left. After a moment of nothing the voice chimes in and snickers. “Good now stop thinking about that. Let’s rap this up, now hate her, think of something you hate and let it fill your chest. Let it fill you.” Ok I knew this was going in a bad direction for this world if this voice is telling me this. But aside from my better judgment I do as it suggests. I recall back to my first day and bloody sun butt changing me into this form, and boy did that do it. Suddenly the mare across from me recoiled and wavered as she put a hoof to her muzzle. Moments later she shook her head and I saw another flash that was more vibrant. “See that? How is a pegasus using magic? And a reaction to your feelings?” the barbs sunk in more and it was starting to really throb now. But the voice had a point, not my thoughts but my feelings? Well both would be different from a normal pony’s right? But why would the voice point out- oh. It all hit me like a flashback. There was a story about changelings that I loved back home that suddenly made sense. I calmed down and took a slow breath as I remembered the story and its details about the main characters. Clearing my mind of the solar hate to stop the reaction she is having to it was the first step. Taking a step back a sleepy slime slips onto my muzzle as the barbs suddenly jab and the voice shouts into my ear “what are you doing?! You know what monster this is right?! Now take care of it!” shaking my head a bit the blue mare tilts her head at my sudden change.

“I’m sorry about doing that, my emotions must be causing havoc on you. I’m not here to make any one sick or displace them. If at all possible I would like to help if I can.” I take another step back to defuse the situation and start to turn around.

“You want to protect this town right? Then deal with that imposter!” I can feel something twist and clench around my ear as the voice rings from outside my skull rather than from within. And with a quick swipe at my ear a tiny chaos noodle falls and floats just above the ground with my blood on his claws. And a blond wig to match his red lipstick. Gods, this is worse than I would have thought. too much lipstick.

“Discord!” in a flash of crimson light my shot gun was pinning down at the embodiment of chaos with its barrel. “So help me hold my mind if you keep this up. We may just find out if I can hurt you.” Pressing the muzzle brake into his chest something catches my ear from behind me. Keeping Discord pinned I look over my haunches to see the blue pegasus that had surprisingly not flown off by now.

“So does that mean you will leave?” her tail swayed back and forth as if she was told she had won a big pile of bits.

Shaking my head a bit I shrug “Nope, still stuck here for a bit. But I know you are less foreign to this town then I am to this world. I’m not going to do anything to ya lest you start something first.” I feel my gun tug and shift in my magic so I look back to find Discord was giggling as he melted into the ground like water. Seeing this is so much more wiled in real life then the show. Pulling back my gun it pops back into place on my side, safety still off at the moment.

With a suppressed look she tilts her head then glares at me. “You, you know what I am? How?!” stamping a hoof on the ground she moves closer to me and I remembered a little tidbit from all those stories I knew of her kind. Changelings don’t like others knowing what they are, to the extent of there are now three options; kill, erase memory, or trust the other not to tell. I was hoping it would be the latter so none of this was a problem but it seems I was wrong and it was the first option. “No matter, you know so now I have to deal with it.”

“Hay hold up!” I back away as she flares her wings and charges, her horn starting to glow threw her transformation. “Discord told me! It was the demi gods fault. So don’t you dare take this out on me!” I stamp my front hoof to show I would stand my ground but she did not waver and charged full steam ahead. “I’m warning you!” I lower myself just a bit as my shotgun pops free of my flank and hides behind my neck along my back. With a large beat of her wings the pegasus was lunched forward in a sudden burst of speed without stopping. As she bared her fangs I suddenly felt anger well up inside in the pit of my heart. “I said STAND DOWN!!!” in one fluid motion I stepped forward and swiped my gun around in an upward sweeping arc, catching her in her neck just below her chin with the butt of the gun. Following through I lifted her up and back redirecting her momentum to slam her onto the ground on her back, causing a flash? Hmm? Was that flash me or something else? I look around to try and spot anything but to no avail. Still keeping the butt of the gun to her neck I turn to glare down at her as she gasps and coughs, trying to breathe after the wind was knocked out of her and the gun pressing on her larynx. I suck at fighting back home and I was able to do this? Cool!

Eyes tearing up as she struggled to breath I let up on my gun and let it hover over my head pointed at the mare in case she was not done. After she rolled over onto her belly and got her breathing under control she glared up at me as she rubbed her neck. “So what now?” her voice was harsh but I could understand her. “Are you going to run me out of this town? Or just black mail me to do whatever you want?”

Stepping back I shake my head and put my gun back to its resting place. “Pff! Hell no! I don’t care what you are as long as you don’t cause problems for the folks around here. You can hate my guts for all I care but I’m not going to rat you out or make you move. You were in this town first I’m guessing, but I’m not going to up and leave just yet because of you. As long as you don’t try to blab about me not belonging to this world I don’t care if you’re a changeling. So let’s just stay out of each other’s way if I make ya that sick.” Stepping back I turn around and start to walk away. Wonder if the others are back and have dealt with Discord yet. Before I get too far I stop and glance back. “Oh and your name is Electric Blue right?” I point to her two lightning bolt cutie mark. “Don’t try and wipe my memory, I don’t think it will work for Me.” she gasped as I continued walking away looking to the sky. Now where did that flash come from?

Author's Note

Oh gods this was harder to get done then I had thought! Within 30 minuets I had checked the show over 13 times to make sure things worked out right, even then this may not flow right.

So here we are and sorry to say but I'm not sitting around for my editor any more, too much time. so sorry but this story will be riddled with grammar and some spelling mistakes.

Remember I do this for fun and in no way am I a English master. but you can still point out my flaws so I can fix them. Or at least try to fix them.

sorry I just suck like that.