The Greatest Villain Of Them All

by Lise

Rating: everyone
Tags: Discord, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 1872

Princess Celestia has sacrificed a lot to create and protect Equestria. When her past catches up to her, however, she is forced to rely on the only being who remembers the truth for what it was — Discord.

Princess Celestia has ruled Equestria since its creation. She has defeated countless threats to ensure her little ponies are safe. When someone from her past appears threaten this, there is only one being that Celestia can turn to — Discord, for only he knows what really happened in the past.

Written for the 9th **** this prompt! contest.

Contains heavy references to previous MLP generations.

Published 2016-01-10 22:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2016-01-10 22:40:02 UTC

The Greatest Villain

The Greatest Villain

She tried again last night. My quill scribbled on the parchment. The wand Elements stopped her this time, but she keeps trying.

I hesitated, knowing full well that he can read every word the moment it is written. Most probably, he was grinning already, waiting for me to spell it out. Curse my horn that I have to rely on him! If only there was another option...

I need your ass

The quill suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke mid-word. I didn't have to guess why. This sort of foalish jokes were so typical of him.

"That was supposed to be 'assistance'," I said calmly, then turned around. As expected, Discord was sitting on my throne, grinning the way only he could.

"No guards today?" His smile quickly faded. He needed an audience to act the fool, and this time I wasn't giving him any. "What about your dear sister? Wouldn't you require her by your side? Just this once?"

"Not this time," I smiled. "Not before you help me take care of my problem."

"Let me guess — the wands are fading again, aren't they?" He narrowed an eye. "And after what happened during the last recharge there is no way to power them up again. Not on this side, at least."

Testing me... always testing me. Millennia could pass and he still wanted to see my limits. What was he hoping? That I would crack? That I would change my mind? Always the sentimental little spirit.

"Which wouldn't have happened if you hadn't helped Tirek," I glanced at him. "That was a low blow, even for you. I saved your life, remember?" Part of me still resented him. The nerve to try and destroy Equestria by siding with Tirek. Ponyfeathers, he had nearly succeeded! Thousands of years of planning, work and dedication, almost gone to waste because the draconequus had a change of heart again. That is not something a wink and two bouquets of flowers could make me forgive.

"I just think it's stupid of you to keep resisting!" he snapped. "I tried showing you that two thousand years ago, but you were blind then just as you are blind now!"

It wasn't easy, but I remained calm. The memories of the Chaos Wars were still fresh... too fresh. I had given him a quarter of the Equestrua to do as he pleased, and he hadn't shown an ounce of gratitude. Oh, how I had hoped that providing him a place in which to amuse himself would make stop thinking about the outside, about her. And at first it seemed it had, but ultimately Discord had proven me wrong... by submerging Equestria in chaos.

That rebellion of yours cost me a lot, Discord! At first I had been foolish enough to let myself believe it was his villainous nature talking. How very wrong I had been. Instead, his goal had been to pierce the veil surrounding Equestria. Even back then he had dared think of asking forgiveness... form her!

"How desperate you myst have been," I sighed, shaking my head. "To go against me. You never stood a chance, actually. All those centuries in stone could have easily avoided, if you only had shared your fears with me."

"Oh, don't act all high and mighty." A sly smile covered his face. "I nearly succeeded. Thanks to my efforts, one of your 'friends' saw right through you back then, didn't she? Dear Primrose, if I am not mistaken? I like what you did to her, by the way — she looks quite fetching with wings. Oh, and the 'adoption' but was a nice touch. Quite masterful, if I say so myself. Ironic, that she used to take care of you once."

The floor cracked under my hoof. He was pushing his luck. I despised discussing the past, it was so full of cruelness and naïveté. It deserved to be forgotten, replaced, erased! Just for that, I should petrify Discord again, yet I couldn't. He knew it too, so was doing everything to annoy me. No, little spirit, I will not lose control, nor will I display my full power. That I reserve for her, and her alone.

"I gave her the love of her life and an Empire," I reminded him, as I slowly made my way to the window. "I gave you the same, remember? Or are you telling me you don't like the pegasus I chose you? After that display at the Gala, could you honestly claim that?"

He didn't say a word. It was clear he wouldn't — Fluttershy was bred to be the perfect object of his affection. All that time he was kept in stone, I had painstakingly played matchmaker for countless generations to come up with the pony he couldn't resist falling in love with. Centuries were needed, but it had worked like a charm. Just like Shining Armor had been perfect for Primrose — a match made in paradise. Absolutely perfect. Well, almost perfect — Twilight Sparkle had not been part of the plan. In truth she had been nothing but an unexpected side effect. Thankfully, her existence had proven quite useful in the long run. All it had taken was a little guidance and a few nudges in the right direction.

"She is getting more persistent." I looked at the night sky. "It used to be once a century, then a decade, now it's every month. I want you to convince her to stop. Let her know Ponyland is hers, but Equestria and everything in it — mine."

"You know she won't agree." The draconequus emerged next to me. "If it were only you, she might consider, but with all these little ponies—"

"My little ponies!" I corrected. "I protect them, I take care of them! She is just an outsider that never should have been brought here! It is my task to look over my children!"

"As you took care of the other princess ponies? Look what you did to Royal Blue!" He frowned. Was he accusing me of something? "She was your most loyal friend, the only one who wholeheartedly went along with this insane scheme of yours. Without her you would have never gathered all six magic wands or convinced Primrose to take your side. And what did she get in return? You literally locked her up in the loony bin for ten cent—"

"Royal Blue recognized my rightful claim for Queen, nothing more." I allowed myself to snort.

Was he really bringing up all that? True, we might have had a few disagreements in the past, but no once had I killed anyone. I had merely taken away their confusion. What was more, I made them happy. I had transformed Royal Blue to the Princess of the Night, made her my 'sister'. Before that she was nothing, less than nothing — just a silly princess pony like all the rest. And despite that, she had expressed doubt. After millennia, she dared suggest that Discord was right, that she was right! I was left with no choice but to punish her — cast her to the moon, erase her memory, vilify her for generations to come. All that I had done out of care, not hate.

I really missed you, Royal Blue. It still pains me I had to transform you into another.

"You, on the other hoof, didn't." A single bolt of magic shot out of my horn, striking Discord's neck. A massive iron collar appeared, pulling him to the ground. "Or do you need reminding?"

"Everything I did I did for you!" He started squirming, as I knew he would. 'God of Chaos' my hoof. "I helped you create the time veil around your land, remember? All the time, I was nothing but loyal. Even before you got your horn. I..."

Don't you dare say you loved me! You are the reason I will forever remain alone! The songs, the letters, the endless flirting. You wormed yourself close to me, made me reveal more than I should... then used it to start the Chaos Wars! From that day I swore I would never give the opportunity to anyone to ever harm me again! Primrose, Royal Blue, the other princesses, even Spike — if I have to suffer watching you go about your lives like living puppets, without memory of your past, I will!

"You can't defeat her, Tiffany, no one can!" Discord continued to beg, in a pathetic attempt to achieve something. "She has defeated every threat there is — Tirek, Hydia, myself, even Grogar. She will defeat you. Can't you see? That's why I started the Chaos Wars. That way you can claim I tricked you, like I did all the rest. You know her well enough. She will forgive you."

She won't. You know as well as I that she doesn't forgive. While I change the memories of those I fight, she destroys. This is why I created Equestria — to never have to kill again. She might have bowed to me once, but that time is over.

"Tiffany, please!"

"Never address me by that name!" I shouted. The past was meant to be forgotten. "Or I'll do the same to you, I did to Grogar 'the Bearded'!"

"As you wish, my Queen." Discord bowed begrudgingly. It was difficult to say what he detested more — to be made prisoner or to be forced to agree with me. The irony was, that he really believed all his treasonous schemes would help me. Oh, poor, misguided spirit. So much like Starswirl... Grogar. He too had betrayed me despite everything I had done for him. And for what? To see the magic that was Equestria to disappear?

"Listen, Discord, I want you to deliver her a message," I said, releasing him from the collar's grip. "That is everything I wish. No more games, no arguments, no trying to convince me I am wrong, because I am not! Could you manage that, at least?."

"Are you sure?" Was that concern in his eyes? "She is stronger than you."

"I'll take that chance." I allowed myself a smile. "I'm not a spoilt little princess anymore. Don't forget, I also defeated you, the Smooze and Grogar. At the end of the day, I might not be as weak as you think. Besides, I have all six wands still. Even if they can't recharge, they are more than a match for her rainbow."

Discord just stared at me. I could see the battle going on his mind — to do as I asked, or betray me again, and hope for her mercy. He was even ready to sacrifice himself for me, if that would help. How touching.

"What is the message?" His head stooped down. Seems he still loved me, after all. A shame that ship had sailed. Maybe things could have been different?

"Stop," I said determined. A shiver passed through my bony, as I did. Stars, I still feared her, even now. "Tell Megan to stop. Tell her that I am Tiffany no more, that I am Celestia — Queen of Equestria now, and am prepared to do anything to keep things that way!"