The Melody of Despair

by Selene Moonlilly

Rating: teen
Tags: Main 6, Original Character, Trixie, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sparkler, Derpy Hooves, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe
Length: 12102

Have you ever wondered why everypony starts singing along with any old song that ponies start and then act as if nothing happened. Well it is because of me! I work tirelessly to atone for sins I didn't commit. But soon I will be released.

It has been four years since the defeat of Tirek and besides a cutie mark hating mad-mare messing with time, a baby alicorn destroying the Crystal Heart and almost dooming the Empire to eternal winter, and another invasion by the changelings, Equestria has been at peace. That is until a relic from before the unification is unearthed. It is this relic that has been responsible for the random singing that happens in Equestria. The relic finds its way to a down on her luck pegasus driven to the edge of despair named Melody Song. Thus begins Equestria's down fall.

New cover art of Crystal Quartz drawn by Katja-Pegasus. Here is a link to here Deviant Art Page.Click Me!

Published 2016-12-14 11:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-12-09 05:50:12 UTC

Overture: Oh to be Truthful.

Ok, I have the rune matrix up and running. I also have the barrier set so only Discord’s, Celestia's, Starlight’s or my magic can effect anything inside it. I just wish that I had time to carve the matrix instead of having to use paint, would have been harder to mess with. Oh well time restraints and all.” Crystal Quartz said as she examined her hoof work on the floor in the map room of the Castle of Friendship. “The energy for the altered time traveling spell is being provided by the the tree of Harmony via the crystal map, so once Starlight starts the spell there is no stopping it.” She muttered as she looked at the table with a three dimensional display of Equestria on it that was surrounded by six big thrones with different cutie marks on each one.

“Are you sure about that Crystal Quartz? What if the Tree of Harmony were destroyed?” A voice asked Crystal. Crystal being busy with double checking her work didn't realize that somepony else was there answered the question.

“ Well yes if the tree were to be destroyed then the spell wouldn't have enough energy to work, but that isn’t going to be a problem because as soon as I heard that we were being attacked by three alicorns, I tied the barrier on the tree of Harmony to my life force so no pony can get through without my permission or killing me first.” Crystal said before she noticed the other presence in the room. She looked around the room until her eyes fell on the opened door to the room. A dark purple alicorn stood in the doorway giving off a dark and oppressive violent aura. “Well welcome home Twilight Sparkle. What did I do to get the honor of the Princess of friendship herself visiting me?” She asked sarcastically while taking a mock bow towards the alicorn.

“Don't call me by that name! That is the name of a weakling! I am much stronger now that I have thrown off the pretense of friendship!” The Purple alicorn screamed. “You will address me by my new name, Midnight Symphony.” She demanded of Crystal as her mane became disheveled and her eyes turning a solid pitch black.

“Now, now Midnight. What we have talked about losing your temper? You can not plan or think straight if you let your emotions get the better of you. Now just use the breathing exercises I taught you and calm yourself down, I will finish our mission.” Said a dark pink alicorn coming up from behind Midnight.

“You're right Heartbreak Ballad. There is no reason for me to lose control here. Thanks.” Midnight thanked the pink alicorn that was coming into the room while putting her left hoof in front of her barrel and inhaling deeply. She the released her breath and lowered her hoof.

“Now while my compatriot calms herself down why don't we get down to business. Your father would like you to return to him and embrace your Umbra heritage. You see, he needs your help to free the rest of your race from containment, and seeing as we are allies we agreed to get you. I can't fathom why you would help the alicorn responsible for killing you a thousand years ago but this little family drama has gone on long enough. Now if you would be so kind, come over to this side of the barrier so we can get you home, Princess Crystal Quartz of the Crystal Empire.” The pink alicorn beseeched Crystal in a reasonable tone.

“If you think you can talk me into joining your side you are sorely mistaken. I will never use my powers over the shadows. When my father King Sombra sacrificed all of the ponies and changelings in the Crystal Empire to the Crystal Heart in order to bring me back from the dead, I had to live the last moments of life of all those ponies and changelings. Every ounce of their pain and despair is engraved into my memory. Can you guess what that does to a mind? Can you even comprehend what I felt living that moment over and over again. So I am going to do all I can to make their sacrifice mean something. Even if that means helping the one who originally killed me! With the lives of thousands of ponies and changelings on my conscience, I can't afford to let something as petty as revenge enter my mind.” Crystal exclaimed in defiance to the two alicorns.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you under the impression that we are giving you a choice? We will take you back to Sombra one way or another.” Heartbreak answered and charged up energy in her horn to cast a spell but when she went to release it, the energy drained from her. “what’s going on? I know I cast the spell so why didn't it work? You should be my mind slave now!” Heartbreak exclaimed to Crystal in confusion.

Crystal started laughing at the look on the pink alicorn’s face. “What you thought that knowing we were being attacked by alicorns that I wouldn't have set up any safety measures? Do I look that stupid?” she asked the alicorns. She then noticed that Midnight was charging her horn “Oh Twilight, please cast a spell. We need all the energy we can get.”

“What do you mean? What makes you think you can best two alicorns in a magical battle? I’ve read up on you. You have a rare genetic mutation that makes you unable to cast spells as a unicorn could, and as you swore off shadow magic, what could you possibly do to stop us?” Midnight ranted at the white unicorn. In response Crystal just tapped her hoof against the floor repeatedly. “Will you stop tha… wait what are those symbols?” Midnight asked as she finally noticed the symbols painted all over the floor of the room.

“ I see you found the new addition to your castle. Do you like it? While it's true that I can't cast spells in the normal way, I more than make up for it with my skill in enchanting. It was a little known fact that most of father's little toys were made by me, including the alicorn amulet. This whole castle is one big gem full of magical energy which makes it perfect for enchanting. This one is one of my masterpieces, an energy draining array that drains mana from any spell cast by anypony not designated by the maker. It then feeds the stolen energy to power whatever other enchantment it's paired with, in this case the shield spell in front of you. Strategy one o one, doesn't matter how much power your opponent has if you use it against them.” Crystal explained to the two. She then looked behind the two corrupted alicorns and sighed. “ Now if you are done posturing would you kindly leave?” She asked her voice dripping in sarcasm.

The two alicorns looked at each other and started laughing. “You really think this is enough to stop us? We will get past this barrier by brute force. Did you forget that we have earth pony strength?”Midnight asked.

“Oh I wasn't talking to you two. I was talking to the gentle stallion behind you.” Crystal said before taking a bow. Midnight and Heartbreak turned around only for both of them to be hit in the face with an apple pie.

Suddenly everything freezes and a voice started talking, “No,no,no. It wasn't apple pie. It was banana cream. How do you expect me to get a warning to the past when you guys can't even get the little details right? I mean seriously is it to much to ask for a little professionalism?” a bipedal figure made up of different animals said as he got up from his clothe fold up chair that had the word director on the back of it.

“There you are demon! I do not know how you entered the dreamscape from your stone prison but you will stop haunting this pony's dream or be destroyed!” A blue alicorn that appeared out of nowhere declared as she rushed the figure with a sword in her magic.

“Great, now we're out of time. Welp let's wrap this up and try again tomorrow night.” the figure said the snapped his fingers and disappeared.

“Come back here and face me!” the blue alicorn shouted and also disappeared. As soon as she as was gone a light enveloped everything.

The first thing I felt as I woke up was irritation at Princess Celestia, who deemed it a good idea to shine her sun directly into my eyes. As I rolled over to try to go back to sleep I heard my door open and hoof steps drawing closer to where I laid in bed. “Ugh go away Amethyst, it is way too early for me to be up. Can't you come back in an hour?” I asked the pony that was obviously my adopted sister. I mean, who else would just barge into my room without knocking?

“Oh wake up already, it's already eleven thirty and you have yet to make any of those light gems for the Nightmare’s End Festival tomorrow requested by Mayor Mare.” I heard my sister reply, sounding a little annoyed.

“They are over there.” I said pointing to the closet with my right wing. “Top shelf in my saddlebags, I did them while you watched Dinky for mom yesterday. I just forgot to tell you. Now, can I go back to sleep?” I asked her hoping against hope that she would just take them and leave. No such luck.

“Sorry Rosie but I have to foal sit for the Silver family in a half an hour, so you are going to have to get up and deliver them yourself, just tell her that I did them as per usual. Plus the mayor said that she wanted to talk to you about something.” She replied while leaving my room.

“Ok, I'm getting up.”I said as I opened my eyes. I blinked a couple of times to get the gunk out of my eyes. I let out a yawn as I got out of bed and headed towards my mirror to get my mane in place. On the way to my mirror I heard a gasp coming from my window but as I turned around to look out it there was nopony there. “ Must have just been my imagination.” I said as I turned back and stared at my reflection in my mirror, gold slanted eyes stared back at me through strands of black and turquoise colored mane. I picked up the shooting star shaped comb that was on the desk next to the mirror and started to comb my mane back.

‘This would be so much easier If I could get that levitation spell to work with one of my stones. I just need to find the right gem to mesh with the runic symbols for gravity and object manipulation.’ I thought as I combed the tangles out of my mane. I let my mind wander back to my dream last night. ‘Seriously, I'm secretly so envious of unicorns that I now dream that I am one? Although, my cutie mark would make more sense for an unicorn.’ I stopped messing with my mane for a moment to look at my flank where my heart-shaped red colored gem inscribed with a silver pentagram cutie mark rested.

“And why did I dream of such a miss matched figure at the end? It looked like something from a horror story. Ugh, no more late night snacks for this pony.” I said out loud as I finished with my mane and started on my tail. “Although the first part of the dream felt different then normal. Almost like it was a memory and not a dream,but that can't be the case as there is no giant crystal castles in the middle of Ponyville.”I mulled as I finished combing my tail.

With my tail dealt with I picked up three of my mane and tail ties off my desk each of them having a different gem attached to them. I used them to put my mane into pigtails and tied my tail ironically into a ponytail. With my mane and tail dealt with I took out a pair of crescent moon earrings from a wooden lockbox on the desk and put them in my fur tufted ears. As soon as I put the earrings on, my form changed. My fur went from a light brown to a rose pink color, my mane took on a solid deep purple color. My bat like wings turned into those of a normal pegasus with rose pink feathers. My eyes stayed gold but the slants rounded out into regular shaped pupils, my fangs and ear tufts disappeared. My cutie mark changed into a bunch of rose petals swirling around in a twister. ‘I wish I knew why mom insistes on me never going out without the special illusion earrings. I mean she is always going on about how you should never be ashamed of who you are and yet I can’t even go outside as myself? What's up with that?’

Once the enchantment was done changing my appearance, I went to my closet and took out the saddle bags with the light stones in them and strapped them on. With the bags firmly in place, I trotted out of my room and down the hall to the stairs leading down into the living room. I looked around and upon not seeing anypony there, I unfurled my wings and jumped down the stairs using them to slow my descent. I land safely at the bottom, sure that I had gotten away scott free when I heard a voice from behind me causing me to turn to look at the top of the stairs.

“ You know that mom said no flying in the house.” A light pink colored unicorn filly with a yellow mane and gold eyes said to me as she came down the stairs. “Mom would be mad if she found out.”

I looked at her and sighed. “What do you want for keeping quiet, Dinky?” I asked her. She put her hoof to her chin and pretended to think about it.

“ How about you take me to Sugarcube Corner? Please.” She asked with a pleading puppy dog look. I sat there trying to resist but in the end I relented.

“Ok, but it will have to wait until after I deliver these light stones to the mayor.” I answered and smiled when she jumped up and down in excitement. ‘oh I can’t stay mad at her, she’s way too adorable. Hey, at least I lasted a whole two and a half minutes this time. I beat my record by 15 seconds! I wish I had Amethyst's immunity to it, guess that's why I'm not the filly sitter.’ I mused to myself as I went into the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast. “Let's see what do we have that I can eat on the go?” I asked myself as I looked around. I spotted a basket full of muffins with a note attached.

Good morning my little muffins! I will be working a double shift today so I won't be home until five o'clock tonight. Now Rose, I know that you think you need to work to help make ends meet, but don't neglect your friends and family while doing so. Yes I know you and Amethyst have been trying really hard to get a shop in Canterlot to sell your gems but don’t run yourself ragged doing it. P.S. don't forget your earrings.

I stopped reading the note as it started to talk about Amethyst and rolled my eyes. ‘She's working a double and she's worried about me running myself ragged? Mom... always the worry wort.’ I thought as I checked what kind of muffins were in the basket. To my joy they were triple berry surprise, my favorite! I put a couple in my saddlebags and hoofed one to munch on the go. I turned around to see Dinky waiting patiently by the door to the outside. I walked over to her and bent down so she could climb up on my back. Once she got up I opened the door and left the house.

I closed the door and started heading towards the town hall. “So Dinky, how have you been? Having fun on your summer vacation? Is anypony picking on you?” I asked my little sister to pass the time. I then proceeded to decimate the muffin in my hoof.

“ Well, my magic teacher Miss Rarity had me help make decorations for the festival tomorrow. Sweetie Belle and I made the banner that will be put in the town hall. I also finished my spell practice for the weekend this morning while you were sleeping.” Dinky answered me, but I sensed some reluctance from her.

“Come on sis, you know that I can tell when something is bothering you so spill it.” I said. I waited for a couple of minutes for her to answer but got nothing. ‘Ok so she answered the first two questions I asked but not the last one. So she is still getting picked on.’ I mused to myself. “Who is picking on you now? Is it Filthy’s little filly again?” I asked her.

“No it's not Diamond Tiara.” She answered hesitantly, causing me to stop and look back at her with a raised eyebrow. I was about to ask her to elaborate when she gave me an explanation. “It's a grey pegasus colt named Rumble. He won't leave me alone, always pulling on my tail and asking me to watch him while he jumps off of trees and hovers around. I wish he would leave me alone.” She said in exasperation.

‘Rumble, Rumble. Now why does that name sound familiar?’ I asked my self only for it to hit me like a broken pinkie promise. “This Rumble wouldn't have an older brother named Thunderlane would he?” I asked my little sister in hopes that I was wrong.

“Yes, how did you know?” Dinky asked with curiosity. I groan as I remembered all the times that Thunderlane asked me out or done something to try and impress me. That stallion just won't take no for an answer.

“Let's just say that I had the same problem with his brother. If you just give him some of your time and he might tone it down a bit.” I told Dinky. “ If he doesn't let me know and I’ll have a talk with his brother. Did you eat breakfast before we left? If not then there are a couple of muffins in the left side of my saddlebags help yourself.” Almost as soon as I had said muffins Dinky opened the flap to my saddlebags and jumped in them. “Well I guess that answers that.” I said with an amused tone.

“Hey Rose Storm!” I heard a raspy voice call out my name from above. I looked up and saw a blue colored pegasus mare with a rainbow mane looking at me.

“Oh, hello Rainbow what's up? Is everything ok? ” I asked her thinking she might need help with something.

She looked around and started to say something but stopped before she got one word out and shook her head.“I was just wondering if you have time later to watch my new aerial stunts?” She replied. “After all what point is there in being the best flyer in Equestria if nopony is around to see it?” She asked rhetorically while hovering in front of me.

I rolled my eyes at her bragging and answered. “ Well I have to give some light stones that Amethyst made to the mayor, and then take Dinky to Sugarcube Corner but after that I'm free.” At the sound of her name Dinky stuck her head out of my saddlebags muffin crumbs all over her mouth.

“Did you say something Rose? Oh hi Rainbow Dash when did you get here?” Dinky asked.

“Just a bit ago squirt. But what's this I hear about going to Sugarcube Corner later? You caught Rose flying in the house again didn't you?” Rainbow asked my sister to my dismay. At Dinky’s nod She sighed and looked at me. “You know if you just accept my offer to move in with me, you wouldn’t need to worry about that. If you are worried about paying for rent I can get you a job on the weather team.”

‘Great this again. What do I say this time? I'm running out of excuses. I can’t just tell her the truth. “I’m sorry Rainbow but I can't move in with you because my mom won't even let me out of the house without an illusion hiding what I really look like.” Yah I see that going over real well.’ I thought to myself as I scrambled to come up with an excuse.

“You know what Rose, how about I take Dinky to my parents house to play with Scootaloo while you deal with the mayor and then we'll meet you at Sugarcube Corner after and talk more about it. I’ll even treat everypony. Besides I have something else I wanted to talk to you about. ” Rainbow offered.

‘Ok what's she up to? She never treats anypony and she hardly braged at all. She is up to something.’ I started to muse in my head when I felt something pull on my mane. I turned my head back only to be met with the puppy eyes again. ‘Damn, I really need to develop an immunity to that. Well it will keep Dinky busy while also giving me time to think of an excuse.’ “Ok but we meet in a couple of hours.” I told them both.

Almost as soon as I said these words Rainbow picked up Dinky in her forehooves and flew away saying, “Thanks, see you in a bit!”

I turned around to start heading toward the town hall and was knocked down by somepony. “Oh I'm sorry miss how clumsy of me. Here let me help you up.” Said the pony that knocked me over. I looked up at them and saw dark green unicorn stallion with a light blue mane holding his right front hoof out towards me. I accepted his hoof and he pulled me upright. “ Are you alright? Here let me scan for any injury you might have gotten.” He offers and before I can tell him no he casted the spell on me. After a few seconds of feeling the spell go over my body I saw his eyes go wide for a second but then he quickly regained his composer. “Well, looks like nothing is wrong. Sorry again for knocking you down, but I’ve got to go. Late for an appointment so bye.” He said in an obvious rush to get away.

‘Ok, that was strange, did he see through the illusion? I hope not. But why else would his eyes go wide?’ I started to frantically think until I hear a very familiar voice coming from behind me.

“Are you okay Rose? Was that unicorn bothering you?” The voice said with a hint of jealousy. I looked behind me and see a dark grey pegasus with a silver blue mane flying towards me.

‘Nope didn't see through the illusion, just saw Thunderlane flying this way like a jealous coltfriend and hightailed it out of here.’ I looked directly into Thunderlane's amber eyes and with as much patience as I could muster said, “No he just bumped into me and was making sure I was alright. Now was that all you wanted to talk about or did you have another reason to talk to me?”

He looked at me for a few seconds and started to look around nervously and said, “I know that you keep saying no, but I was wondering if you would like to go out and maybe get lunch and get to know each other better.”

‘Wait no over dramatic display of intent, no trying to impress me with dangerous stunts, or trying to woo me over with gifts. But an honest effort to get to know me?’ I asked myself in my head. “You know what. Why not.” I answered him to which he got a look of pure joy on his face. “But it will have to wait until after the festival is done. Let's say next week wednesday at two thirty meet me at the library.”

“I did it?... I did it! Oh thank you Rose, you won't regret giving me a chance.” He said as he flew off. I turned and started heading towards town hall again.

‘Wow, he was like a foal that just got their cutie mark. I will give him a fair chance, even if it is doomed to fail. No relationship can last when one of the participants is living a lie.’ I thought sadly as I walked up to the town hall. As I walk in the building I noticed that the entry room was empty. “ That's weird, this place is usually busy this time of day. What gives?” I said out loud as I opened the door to mayor mare’s office.

“ Well that is because I asked the mayor to lend the building to me and invite you here so we can have a talk. My little thestral.” said the large blue alicorn that sat behind the desk. “Now if you would be so kind please close the door and sit down. We have much to talk about. ”

Breit: The Nightmare Race.

Everfree Forest, The Castle of Shadows

A dark green unicorn stallion trotted up the crumbling steps towards the entrance of the castle. Standing between him and the inside of the castle stood a large double door made of wood. A silver crescent moon with a crimson colored liquid dripping from the lowest point could be seen on the door. The stallion knocked twice, in quick succession, then waited for ten seconds. He then knocked four more times.

“In the realm of dreams she stalks feeding on the fear of the unconscious mind trying to break her chains. Chaos bond in Order...” A deep ominous voice recited from behind the doors.

The unicorn waited another two minutes in silence before giving an answer. “ Until we the children of despair free our mother from her prison.” Almost as soon as he finished talking did the doors open wide enough to let him in. He slipped through the opening and entered the castle. Once he was through the entrance, the doors closed behind him. As soon as the doors closed he sighed and was engulfed in green colored flames. When the flames disappeared the green unicorn was gone, replaced by a black insect looking pony with a horn and dragonfly like wings. In front of him stood a pony dressed in a silver cloak that covered them from head to tail with only the blue colored tip of a horn to hint at their identity. On the sides of the cloak sat the image of a crimson crescent moon. “Welcome back Split Image, Tri… I mean I am glad you are back from your mission. I take it you have good news?” The cloaked pony asked in a self important voice.

He looked at the cloaked unicorn and shook his head. “You know I can't tell you anything until you get clearance from the boss Arcana. Speaking of whom, I should go report to him.” The changeling said and headed down the hallway toward the throne room. As he traveled down the hall he passed by some thestrals and other changelings like himself. There were even some half breed thestrals, though he could never remember what they called themselves. He knew it was something starting with a V. ‘ Now that I think about it, there was something different about that thestral in Ponyville. Some magic that my scan couldn't read, let alone copy.’ he thought to himself as he walked to the cult leader’s office. ‘ And that Arcana, she rubs me the wrong way. I mean. I can't even feel any emotions coming from her. It's like she isn't there.’ As he mulled over his thoughts he came to the door leading to his destination. He knocked on the door and a gruff voice immediately invited him in.

Upon opening the door, he was greeted with the sight of a brown colored thestral stallion with a salt and pepper colored mane sitting behind a desk. The thestral looked up at the him as he entered the room. “So what do you have to report?” The thestral asked.

“You were correct in your hypothesis Shadow Hex, the ponies you need were born in our time. I have identified all five of them. Four of them are currently living in Ponyville. With the last one visiting for the festival with her brother.” As he said this he floated a quill and scroll from the desk and started to write with his magic. “ Here are the names and physical descriptions for them.” He finished writing and floated the scroll over to the cult leader who took it.

“Good. As you have been a tremendous help, once we free our older siblings from the dream realm, we will help free your queen from tartarus.” Shadow replied and looked at the scroll and started to read it. Split Image took this as a dismissal and turned around to leave before he remembered the thestral he ran into.

“One more thing. When scanning for potential ponies to replace with other changelings I found a thestral under the effects of an illusion spell. Did you have any scouting out the town?” Image told Shadow whose ears perked up in interest.

“No. But do tell me about this thestral.” Shadow said eager to hear about this discovery. Image preceded to tell him all the information he was able to garner from the scan. Unknown to the two they had an invisible listener outside the door.

Ponyville Town Hall

I stood there staring at princess Luna not sure what to do. ‘Why is the princess here? What does she want with me? And what the heck did she call me?’ I must have sat there with a dumbfounded look on my face for about five minutes as I pondered those questions. She finally coughed into her hoof and gestured towards the door. ‘Oh, right the door.’ I thought as I turned around and closed it, my cheeks red with embarrassment.

“Now please sit down and be at ease. You are not in trouble. I have to talk to you about your dream last night.” Luna said in a soft pleasant voice trying to calm me down. As she said that, I remembered that she had appeared in my dream last night.

“Wait so you actually were in my dream? I thought that was just an old mare’s tale. You know something your parents tell you when you are a little foal to help you sleep at night.” I blabbed out before I could think better of it. I berated myself for my lack of decorum when my brain caught up to my mouth. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as my embarrassment made itself known. I then heard a soft chuckle coming from in front of me. I look forward to see princess Luna lightly laughing in merth.

“Do not worry, this is not a formal visit. You do not need to worry about doing or saying something wrong. I am here as the guardian of dreams, not as princess Luna but as Luna.” She said with kindness and merriment. “But before we begin could I ask you to take off your illusion?”

As she uttered those words my world came to a stop. ‘She knows!! How does she know? Wait she was in my dream last night, what if she has been in them before. I have had several dreams about revealing who I am to the world, what if she saw one of those? Great of course one of the two ponies that my mother said must never know about me knows. Now we have to move again.’ I thought in a panic. ‘No now is not the time for that. I must get out of here and make my way to Zecora’s hut in the Everfree forest. Mom's instructions were to wait there for her to come get me.' I then started to hum a fast paced melody as I mentally reached for the amethyst stone in my left mane tie. But before I could activate the gem, I felt a wave of calm take over me. I looked up to and noticed Luna’s horn glowing a soft blue color.

“Be at ease young pony, I mean you no harm. I just would like to see who I am really talking to.” Luna said as I felt the last my panic fade away thanks to her magic. “ I hold no ill will to your race’s actions while under control of the Queen of Nightmares.”

“There are others like me?” I asked her in a shaky voice. Despite my feelings about the situation I was curious. ‘If there were others like me why had I never heard of them?’ My question seemed to take her by surprise if her widened eyes were anything to go by.

“Do you know nothing of your heritage?” She asked in disbelief. When I shook my head in negative, she sighed. “Well I don't have the time to tell you the entire history of the thestrals but I will tell you the important parts. In exchange, you have to answer some questions I have. Sound fair?” She offered.

‘Well she hasn't tried to do anything to me yet but that could be her trying to get me off guard. Mom was very adamant that princesses should never find out but she never said why. She is also here by herself without any soldiers, so she probably means me no harm.’ I mused to myself as I pondered Luna’s offer. “Only if I can keep my illusion on.” when Luna nodded her accent I let out a sigh of relief.

“ Where to begin?” Luna mused. “What do you know about the Nightmare Era?”

“Well I know what they teach in school. An unknown entity calling themselves the Queen of Despair showed up about a hundred years after the foundation of Equestria. With her came three alicorns, two earth ponies, a unicorn, and a pegasus. With the help of these ponies and an army of monsters, she conquered equestria. Her rule lasted for about twenty years. The Alicorn of Time Eternity banished The Queen and her subordinates to the dream realm with the help of seven heroes.” I recited from what I remembered Ms.Learning teaching us about that part of history.

The princess sighed and shook her head. “I should be glad that they even teach that much, what with my sister censoring almost all history taught to the small details. How can ponies learn from the previous generation if all the history they hear is altered?” She said hotly before looking back at me. “While you know the basics, the Queen of Despair did not have an army of monsters. Each one of her seven generals altered a sentient race to their own ends. The Alicorn that called herself. Woeful Lullaby took a few hundred pegasus and made them more like her. She changed their feathered wings into bat like ones and gave them slanted eyes to allow them to have better night vision. She also gave them fangs with which to administer a powerful sleeping agent. She called this new race thestrals and used them to put ponies into comas. There she made them relive their worst fears over and over again to increase her own power. This is where the myth of vampires came from.” She said as a matter of fact. “Did you follow all that?” She asked me.

“So I am descended from a race of magically altered pegasus whose sole purpose was trapping ponies in unending nightmares.” I replied to which she nodded happily. “I was better off not knowing.” I muttered under my breath. ‘Being part of a magical sleep inducing vampire pony race is the last thing I would have guessed as why I have to hide what I look like.’ I thought to myself. I looked back at Luna Not wanting to hear anymore about the vampires in my family tree I asked her, “Okay so what did you want to ask me?”

“I would like to know about the dream you had last night. If you would be so kind to reiterate it for me I would appreciate it.” Luna said as she floated a quill and scroll next to her most likely to take notes. I proceeded to tell her of how I dreamt that I was a unicorn named Crystal Quartz and how I stood against two alicorns in a crystal castle. She showed no visible reaction to hearing any of it. When I got to the part where she entered the dream she stopped me. “Have you had any other dreams with the mismatched figure in it?” She asked me.

“No this is the first time.” I answered in truth. I then thought about how it didn't feel like a dream but like a memory. “When I had the dream, it felt like I had seen it before like it was something that I experienced first hand and not something that I had dreamt up. Is that possible?” I asked Luna my curiosity getting the better of me once again.

“While possible, I doubt that is the case here. The entity that appeared in your dream was not a figment of your mind, but a powerful creature of chaos that my sister and I turned to stone over a thousand years ago. I would not trust anything you see or feel when he appears in your dreams as he would do anything to escape his prison.” She explained to me. “Now, I do not know how he was able to access your dreams from his prison. I can cast an enchantment on you that will warn me if anypony but me tries to enter your dreamscape, with your permission.” She asked and then waited for me to answer.

‘If what she says is true I should get help but mom has always said to always look at a problem from all angles.’ I thought as I mulled over what was told me. ‘Ugh, I don't know enough to make a snap decision. Maybe she will let me think on it so more.’ I then looked back at the princess to see her still patiently waiting. “Is it okay if I mull it over for a couple of hours?” I asked.

“I understand your reluctance to do this. So how about this I will give you the rest of the day and then I will visit your dreams tonight for your answer?” She offered to me.

‘Perfect, this will give me time to talk to mom about everything and ask her opinion.’ I thought as I mentally congratulated myself. I then nodded my agreement. There was a knock on the door and a deep voice came from the other side of the door.

“Pardon me your majesty, but we need to leave now if we want to be back at the castle before Princess Celestia notices your absence.” The voice said to Luna. Luna used her magic to open the door. In the doorway standing at attention was a black unicorn with a long navy blue mane that was edged in a burgundy red color. He wore the typical blue armor of the night guard. But none of that caught my attention at that moment. What did was the fact that he had fangs and tufts of fur at the tips of his ears like me. I then looked at his eyes and was greeted with two different colored slanted eyes. His right being a gold like mine but his left was a ruby red.

“How many times have I asked you to drop my title lieutenant Blade?” Luna asked the guard with a false scolding tone. Meanwhile, my brain was still trying to process the fact that a pony like me was not only out in the open but also a guard for one of the princesses.

“Five hundred and twenty seven times and counting Princess.” He answered with a smirk that showed off his fangs. “But seriously, we need to go.” Luna nodded to him and then rolled up the scroll she held in her magic and then set it on fire.

“Okay I am ready to go, Crescent Blade.” She said to her guard then looked back at me. “I look forward to your answer tonight Rose and I will also be glad to answer any questions you want to ask then.” She told me as she left the building with her guard following. After about ten minutes of staring off into space my brain rebooted. I shook my head and looked back at the desk. I then remembered the light stones for the mayor. I took out the stones and put them on the desk along with a note saying how much she owes my sister and me for the stones. I look at the clock on the wall and noticed that I was late. I rushed out of the building and almost ran head first into a frantic Rainbow Dash.

“There you are!” She exclaimed. “I was looking for you everywhere. We need to go now!” she said as she flew behind me and started to push me down the road toward the Everfree forest.

“Calm down and tell me what's wrong Dash.” I said to her as she continued to push me down the road.

“I was practicing my tricks at my parents house when I noticed that both Scoots and Dinky were no longer watching me. I asked my mom where they were and she said that they went to Scoots room. But when I checked it, I found a note saying that they were going to see the zebra witch that lives in the Everfree.” She answered in a rushed panic. That got my attention.

“Why didn't you say that in the first place. Let's go.” I said as I started to run toward the forest. While I ran I started to hum and mentally reached out to my sapphire tail tie and then I started to speed up to a faster pace. Rainbow kept up with me in the air. Once we were well into the forest and halfway to Zecora's hut Rainbow stopped me.

“Did you hear that?” She asked me as she looked around. I shook my head in negative. “I think I heard screams coming from that direction.” She told me as she pointed off into the dense brush. I start to head into the brush when I felt something hard and heavy hit the back of my head after which I blacked out.

Author's Note

Hello Silver here and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks to New Lunar Principality for use of his OC Crescent Blade.:pinkiehappy:

Cavatina: A Shadow of Hope.

I came to in a black void. I looked around but could not see anything but darkness. I then lifted my right hoof in front of my face to see if I still had the ability to actually see anything but instead of a rose pink or a light brown color my hoof was white. “Oh, I see I must be dreaming,” I said as I felt my forehead for a horn and sure enough I had one. “Yep defiantly dreaming.”

“Well, not quite gem butt.” A voice said from behind me. I turned around and saw the mismatched figure from my last dream sitting in a chair that was hanging upside down. I tilted my head as he continued to talk to me. “You see, while we are in your mind you aren't dreaming. You were knocked out and I took the chance to have a heart to heart as it were with you.” He said as his heart floated out of his chest and came to rest in front of me.

“Why should I listen to you? Luna warned me about you said that you would say anything to be free and do not trust a single thing you say.” I told him. Right after I said that the heart in front of me broke apart into little pieces and fell to the floor.

The mismatched figure also broke apart and then fell to the ground in a pile. “You break my heart, Crystal. After everything, we have been through. We weathered the end of a timeline together and this is how you treat me with suspicion and doubt?” He asked as his body parts put themselves back together. After most of him were pieced back together his body bent down and picked up his head. “Well, I guess that's to be expected as you only have Crystal’s essence. You are more akin to a reincarnation then anything else, although I have to applaud the old tree for choosing you to host Crystal’s essence.” His head said with a chuckle as it was reattached with his body.

“Well onto business as they say.” He said as he waved his lion paw and the black void faded away to reveal ruined Ponyville. Buildings rotting, trees all shriveled and dead, and the sky being empty of either the sun or moon. There were pony shaped skeletons lying about everywhere I looked. I took a closer look at the some of the skeletons and every one of them looked as if they just laid down and died. There was no evidence of struggle it was as if everypony just lost the will to live. “This is the future that awaits you if you don't listen to what I have to tell you.” He told me his tone suddenly turning serious and all brevity leaving his features.

“You are the hope of this world but you can't do it alone.” He stated as an image of my cutie mark appeared before me. “If you don't find the six other lights then you will fall into despair and upon falling you will pave the way for Serenade to return.” As he explained that the image of my cutie mark blackened and a dark shadow emanated from it.

“Seek out these marks.” He said as six images replaced the one of my corrupted cutie mark. “A rose, a crescent moon, a kite shield, a gear, A palm tree, and a present. Gather the ponies attached to each of them and then lead them to where despair met with eternity.” He said as the images started to float around me. My surroundings then started to fade out. “ Well looks like you are waking up. One last thing when you see Luna again tell her that Mixed Blessings never meant for things to turn out the way that they did and that he misses her.” He said as my dream faded out completely.

I awoke to a dull pain in the back of my head. ‘What hit me?’ I tried to ask myself out loud but no sound came out my mouth. I started to panic and reached my front hooves up to my throat only to feel a collar around it. I felt all around the collar but found no clasp holding it together. It was just a single enclosed band and as it was skin tight I couldn't pull it off over my head. It was about that time that I noticed that my hooves were my natural light brown color which caused me to pause. ‘Wait I could have sworn I had my earrings on. Ok, think Rose what is the last thing you remember?’ I thought to myself then proceeded to go through the events that I could remember in my head. ‘Okay so I talked to Princess Luna, then Dash came to me in a rush about our sisters being in the Everfree forest. We were about half way to Zecora’s when something hit me on the head and then nothing but another weird dream.’ Finding nothing helpful in my memory I decided to examine my surroundings. I was currently laying in the middle of an empty room with no windows and only one door. The room seemed to be lighted by some kind of magic as there was no discernable source. The stone of the walls seemed wethered but as if to contrast the door looked as if it was just installed. The door suddenly opened up to let in a grey-furred green-maned earth pony mare. The mare didn’t notice that I was awake right away, however, I was able to notice that her ears were tufted just like mine before she looked in my direction. Her blue colored slanted eyes going wide at seeing that I was awake. She then proceeded to back out of the room then close the door. I then heard the click of her locking the door quickly followed by the sound of hoofsteps rushing away from the room.

‘Great, there goes my chance at getting out of this room and finding out what is going on.’ I thought in announce as I could have got up and rushed to the door instead of just laying here like an idiot. I then followed the advice of hindsight and got up and headed to the door. I turned around and pulled my back left leg up to my belly. I then shot my hoof at the door with as much force as I could muster. My hoof connected with the door with a resounding thud but that was all that happened. ‘Darn guess it was a long shot hoping that I could break the door down. It’s not like I am an Apple.’ I berated myself as I moved away from the door to return to the center of the room. I then laid back down as to save my energy.

After about fifteen minutes my ears picked up the sound of multiple hoofsteps coming toward the door to the room. I flapped my wings to get into the air and hovered there waiting for my chance to rush out the doorway the moment they opened the door. As the door started to open I rushed forward only to stop halfway to the door as I suddenly felt weightless. Through the door entered two insect looking ponies encased in black colored shells and having horns and dragonfly-like wings. Both their horns were lit with magic.

“Okay Hex she is restrained and you were right she did try to rush the door.” The one on the right said as another pony entered the room. This one having a brown colored coat and a salt and pepper mane. But what took most of my attention was the bat-like wings on his back. ‘So I have been foalnapped by thestrals.’ I thought as he looked at my floating form. He then held up what looked to be a book with a black heart on the cover. The book became encased in a red aura as soon as he brought it close to me.

“Yes, she is the one we have been looking for.” I heard him mutter to himself. “Welcome my dear to the castle of shadows. Now I am sure you have questions but I am afraid that because of the siren half of your heritage, we can't let you have the ability to speak.” As he said this I tilted my head in confusion. “All you need to know is that you won't be here for long.”

“Oh, and if you are thinking that you will be missed, do you know what these fine gentle stallions are?” He asked me. I shook my head as I continued to float in the air.

“These are changelings and they have the most useful ability to transform into other ponies.” He explained as the one on the right was engulfed in green flames instead of a bug pony my illusion form stood there. “I had one these changelings take your place so you can expect no rescue.”

“Now I am sure that you have noticed your new collar. Well besides suppressing your ability to make sounds it also lets me know exactly you are at all times. So please don't waste energy trying to escape. It will just make things harder for you. Now excuse me but I have other business to attend to.” He said as he and the changelings left the room. As soon as the door closed the magic holding me up dissipated and I fell to the ground with a thump. I just let out a silent sigh and sat on my hunches.

After about an hour my mind started to wander as I mulled over my chances of escaping from here wherever here was. ‘Probably somewhere in the Everfree as I don't think I was out longer than a few hours.’ I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice the pony in a silver cloak standing in front of me. I let out a silent gasp and backpedaled until I felt my back against the wall. The cloaked pony held up a blue colored hoof up to their hood and pulled it back to reveal an older unicorn mare with silver hair. She then held up her hoof in a way as to show that she meant no harm. Her horn then lit up with magic. “There no nopony will be able to eavesdrop on us.” The mare said she slowly approached me. “Now hold still while Trixie gets this collar off of you.” She said as she lit her horn and after a couple of minutes I felt the collar fall off my neck.

“Oh thank you miss but why are you helping me?” I asked in wariness.

“I am the Trixie the Great and Powerful. And if I am not mistaken you are Melody Song.” She said as she floated my hair ties over to me. “Trixie believes these are yours?”

“Yes, they are, thanks.” I thanked Trixie as I put the ties where they belonged in my mane and tail. “You didn't happen to find a pair of crescent moon earrings did you?”

Trixie’s ears dropped a little at the question. “Trixie regrets to inform you the earrings were not with the ties so does not know where they are.”

‘Great, mom will kill me.’ I thought as my mom had told that those earrings had come from my father. ‘Wait what did she call me?’

“What did you call me?” I asked her.

“Trixie called you by your name Melody Song.” The unicorn answered.

“My name is Rose Storm.” I told her. Her left eyebrow lifted in response. She then just shook her head.

“You can call yourself whatever you want and you will still be Melody Song. Now we need to get out of here. Trixie can teach you how to walk unseen with magic so you can sneak out while Trixie causes a distraction.” I stared at the mare as if she was crazy.

“You do know that I am not a unicorn right?” I asked in a deadpan voice.

“Do you take Trixie for a fool? Trixie feels your magical signature on the gems of your ties. You may not be a unicorn but as part siren, you can weave spells with your voice.” She said with a huff. “Now sit so Trixie can teach you.”

I did as she asked and sat in front of her. “Okay now as a siren you won't actually make yourself invisible but rather by singing you can convince anything that hears that you are not there. It is more akin to mind magic than an illusion.” She lectured me. “Now when you cast the spell you have to be thinking about the effect you want. Say you want somepony to be happy just think of that when you start singing. Same for convincing ponies or animals that you are not there. Just think that they can't see you and they won't be able to. However, it only works if the subjects are not aware of what is happening. If you bump into them they will notice you. So you have to be quick about it.” She explained to me as I listened. “Do you thi…”She started to ask as she trailed off mid-sentence. Her ears the pressed flat against her head.

“Well looks like Luna got the message that Trixie sent and is leading a raid on this place. Old Hex is probably on his way to collect and move you to a different location. Now, remember what Trixie told you about your magic. You have to keep yourself hidden until Luna can get to you.” She told me.

“Okay but what about yo...” I started to ask her as she simply just vanished from view. ‘Wait where did she go?’ I thought as I looked around the room but found no sign of her anywhere. I then heard more hoof steps coming down the hallway. Thinking quickly I got into one of the corners of the room and started singing while thinking about how nothing could see or sense me. The hoofsteps stopped just in front of the door.

“How did the princesses know where we are? We already have four of the ponies that we needed for the ritual. We have to get this one out of here and to the thestral homeland before Luna or one of her night guards find her. Now get ready to detain her with magic while I ready the escape route.” Hex’s voice said from the other side of the door. I kept on singing as the door opened to reveal the to changelings from before they scanned the room. I felt their eyes roam over the corner that I currently was in and passed right over me. They then saw the collar on the floor.

“Hex I think that they have beaten us here.” The left changeling said.

“What?!” Hex screamed as he rushed into the room. He looked around and just like the two changelings his eyes went right over me but didn't see me. “How did they get here so fast?” He asked as his eyes stopped on the collar. His ears flicked back and forth as if trying sort through different sounds. I began to fear that he would break free from my spell and see me when a black thestral mare entered the room.

“Hex we have to go. Luna is on the way here being led by a light brown thestral mare with golden eyes and mane,” she said.

“ Damn! Come let’s go. We must cut our losses and try again. We now know who the ponies we need are. We will get another chance.” He said and the four of them left the room. I waited until I heard Luna’s voice before I stopped singing.

“Are you sure she is here Miss Hooves?” I heard Luna say from the hall. ‘Wait... Miss Hooves? Mom!’ I thought as I rushed out of the room and upon seeing my mother next to the princess I yelled, “Mom!” My mother looked my way when she heard me yell. She then rushed to me faster than I thought possible and pulled me into a hug.

“Oh, my little muffin are you okay? I was so worried.” She asked as she nuzzled me. It was at this point that I noticed something of about my mom. I slowly worked my way out of the hug and got a good look at my mom. When I did what I saw through me for a loop. My mom was a thestral like me bat-like wings and everything. I must have spaced out for a bit as the next thing I knew I was out in the Everfree forest sitting next to my mom as Luna talked to one of her guards.

“We were able to find all but one of the replaced ponies, a Twilight Sparkle who was visiting Ponyville with her brother.” The guard said.

“Keep searching the castle for any sign of her. Teleport the rescued ponies to the Ponyville hospital to be checked out by medical professionals.” Luna told the guard then turned to my mom and me. “Now I believe you owe me an explanation Miss Hooves,” Luna said sternly to my mom.

“Can it wait till we get back to Ponyville? I want to at least get Rose looked at by her doctor first.” Mom said as she stared down the princess.

After a tense five minutes of them glaring at each other Luna relented. “Okay I will teleport you to the hospital but you will explain while she is getting checked out, deal?” Luna offered then held put her hoof to mom.

Mom for her part just looked at the offered hoof for a minute before shaking it with her own. “Deal.” She said as they shaked.

“Now gather close and I will teleport us now,” Luna said as she lit her horn and everything disappeared in a flash of light.

Da Capo: What Despair Drives us to.

Author's Note

Hello and thanks for checking out my fic. This is my first nondisplaced fic so let me know what you think. I read all comments.

Da Capo: What Despair Drives us to.

"Are you sure this will work Celestia? " asked a white crystal unicorn mare with black and turquoise colored mane and tail."I mean even if this spell of yours does what you say, what if I end up in the wrong time? I could end up two hundred years before the element bearers are born. Don't get me wrong I'm all for fixing things, but if that happens I won't be able to help.Unless I use the darkness power to extend my life like my dad there is no way I could live long enough to stop this future from happening.Even if I did that I would eventually lose my sanity for living longer than the mortal mind was made to handle, just like what happened to Sombra. Which means that you will not have the artifacts that I made with my special talent." She points to her flank were a silver pentagram is carved into a red heart-shaped gem."They run on my magic, which means that they will stop preventing Serenade's song from affecting Ponyville like the rest of Equestria."

"I am aware of that Crystal Quartz, but thanks to Serenade's ability to control heart songs and influence ponies with them she has darkened the hearts of all of my little ponies. Even five out of six of the element bearers were corrupted. Now we only have the element of kindness, Discord, myself, and you to protect what is left of our Kingdom."Celestia answered."We can no longer afford to wait on the hope that my sister remains uncorrupted." Celestia then turned her head towards the door to the room of the castle of friendship that they were in as she heard the sound of a couple of ponies trot in. The first is a blue unicorn with a silver mane and was wearing a cape and wizard's hat. The other one is a pink unicorn with purple hair and light blue highlights. " Ah Starlight and Trixie is everything ready for Star Swirl's altered time traveling spell? " she asked as the pair of unicorns trotted over to her and Crystal.

" As ready as it ever will by your Highness." Starlight answered Celestia, she then got a quizzical look on her face," I understand why Crystal and I are needed for this spell. but why is Trixie here? No offence Trixie." she asked the sun monarch. Just as Celestia opened her muzzle to answer an alarm sounds outside the Castle of friendship.

" They broke through? How? Those were some of my best enchantments. It would take the force of three alicorns to break the artifacts." Crystal said in disbelief.

"That's because there is three alicorns attacking us gem butt." a voice said as a flash of light blinded them. when the light faded it revealed Discord and Fluttershy in the middle of the room. " Sparkle butt, Heart butt, and Moon butt are all out in the town causing all kinds of damage. I stopped to get Fluttershy to safety. Now if you all could move things along I will stall for time." Discord stated as he snapped his fingers and disappeared.

" Now then Crystal if you could head to the map room and double check your wards there the rest of us will be there shortly." Celestia told Crystal in an authoritative voice. Crystal for her part recognized a royal command when she heard one nodded her head and rushed out of the room. Celestia then looked over to Starlight and Trixie. " As to your question, we need Trixie to find and keep safe the young Melody Song before she is corrupted by despair."

" While Trixie is honored that you think Trixie is the best for this part, Trixie is confused. Wasn't that supposed to by Crystal’s job?" Trixie asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"No Crystal has a different part to play. Starlight here is the spell used by star swirl to create the elements of Harmony."Celestia said as she hoofed over a scroll to Starlight. “Look at what powered the spell that created the elements.”

Starlight rolled open the scroll and read until she got to the part she was looking for. “After studying the Crystal Heart in the Crystal Empire I have devised a way to create a self-aware living artifact capable of bringing order out of chaos, and resorting an altered entity back to it’s original form. To do this I needed to add the essences of six ponies to a seed of Yggdrasil. Once the essences left the bodies and joined in with the seed, I then took two young fillies and bound their souls and life force to the seed. I did so to ensure that there would always be guardians of order as long as the living artifact is intact. When I planted the seed in the Cave of Friendship it grew into a full sized tree with the destiny marks of the ponies whose essence I used to create the artifact, along with two others. The two fillies turned into alicorns with the unaffiliated destiny marks that appeared on the tree. This should protect Equestria from any more threats like the Windigos.” She read out loud, then looked at Celestia with a shocked expression. “ You mean to tell me that Star Swirl Sacrificed six ponies and damned two fillies to eternal servitude to order. Wait you and Luna were those fillies right?”

“Yes, and what isn’t elaborated in that scroll is the six ponies were Clover the Clever, Smart Cookie, Private Pansy, Princess Platinum, Chancellor Puddinghead, and Commander Hurricane. Also me and Luna were Star Swirl’s grandfoals, and none of us were given a choice in the matter. Now this pains me to ask of you but, I need you to travel to that time and convince him to add Crystal’s Essence to the tree using any means necessary. Crystal is one of two entities that are immune to Serenade's song, and out of the two she is the only one thats essence is aligned with order despite who her father was.” Celestia said to Starlight and Trixie. “Now go we have used up all the time we have, you must make sure you do not fail the fate of Equestria rests with you.”

Starlight and Trixie looked like they were going to question her some more before the wall behind Celestia exploded spraying her with debris. She turned around to see Discord in the pile of rubble and felt an overwhelming pressure coming from the hole in the wall. A feeling of despair so intense that it felt as though her heart was being crushed in a singularity accompanied the physical pressure. She turned back to Starlight, Trixie and Fluttershy to see them struggling to stand up, with a flare of her wings Celestia blocked the pressure from affecting the three. “Now Starlight take Fluttershy and Trixie and get to the map room. Discord and I will stall Serenade’s minions.” She said as a flash of light appeared and Discord was out of the rubble, his head and side bleeding heavily.

Discord looked toward the pair of unicorns and noticed that Fluttershy was still there. He then snapped his fingers and all three disappeared. “ There I sent them to Gem Butt, now we can go all out.” He said as a form appeared in the hole that Discord made when he crashed through the wall.

“Here you are sister. We have been looking all over for you. Serenade has freed me from order’s thrall. You can not begin know the joy of spreading despair. I alongside Twilight and Cadence have come to free you from the tree of Harmony. Will you not join us?” The form asked as it stepped into the room revealing a midnight blue alicorn with giant bat wings and a black horn. Blood red dragon like eyes with black energy coming out of them looked at Celestia.

“ I am sorry sister but I can not join you. With all of Equestria in danger I can not afford think of myself. This life may have been chosen for me but I will not let hundreds of ponies die just to be free.” Celestia answered her sister. “ Besides you are not free. You just traded one master for another!”

‘ I’ve got copies of myself keeping Twilight and Cadence busy. Just keep Luna busy talking and we will have this in the bag.’ Celestia heard Discord’s voice say in her head. ‘ So if we can keep her monologuing then that should give Starlight all the time she needs.’

“ You don't know what you are talking about! I am not a servant of Serenade's. I am only helping her to free you from a life of servitude to order, and save you I will. Even if I have to hurt you to do so.” Luna told Celestia while charging up a spell to paralyze her. “Now this is the last time I will ask you. Will you join us?”

“Well don't I just feel unwanted! I mean you just gave her a couple of chances to join you yet you didn't even bother talking to me! What am I chopped liver?” Discord asked while turning into a plate of actual chopped liver. With a flash he was back to his old self.

“You are a creature of chaos. You therefore cannot be freed from order. So why would I offer you something you already have besides you will join us as soon as Fluttershy is one of us.” Luna stated to Discord as if it was a fact. “Now stop distracting me fool!” It was at this time that Luna noticed a white light heading her way engulfing everything in it’s path. “What trickery is this? What have you done foul beast!” She asked him.

“What me? Why I have done nothing but acted as a distraction to you, Twilight and Cadence. This is the result of Starlight Glimmer going back in time to change things so this doesn't happen. So welcome to future that never was.” Discord responded to her all the while clapping his hands. “Now you will never hurt Fluttershy.” He announced with malice as the light engulfed everything.