Choices

Before Gaining Wisdom One Must First Experience Ignorance.

Angel managed to move back into Ponyville with her two sons, Bluejoy and Fortem and her sister-in-law, Dili. Zuro was officially declared Missing In Action while covertly working for Princesses Celestia and Luna. The situation between ponies and changelings had been growing steadily worse over the years. Angel was upset she would not be able to see the one she loved for who knows how long and Fortem having the lack of a father to look up to did not fare any better.

Shortly after they family agreed Fortem was quite capable of transforming, Zuro left off to carry out his mission for the royal sister while Angel took her kids back to Ponyville. Dili had already spent her time in school and now they were back in Ponyville she spent a lot of time with the now marked, Cutie Mark Crusaders while helping Angel to maintain the household. Bluejoy, old enough to work, looked for a job while simultaneously getting his hirer education in to help his mother with the house. Fortem, however, was very mischievous. Constantly playing a friendly prank on his family and friends.

One day, Fortem was out and about. He was in the form of a green Pegasus with blue main and tail. No cutie mark dawned his flank, but that didn't bother him. His wings were small and weak, so he could barely fly a foot off the ground for more than a few seconds at a time. Of course, being a changeling and filled with so much love from his mother and family and friends he could fly around any time he wanted, but to maintain his guise he could not fly as well as he could. But, he did fly around a corner in front of someone while changing a few colors. When the victim ran around to investigate Fortem would have already found a good hiding place or changed to something that would never be noticed.

School was out, so no one questioned him not angering the school bullies with pranks, which occasionally earned him a few black eyes as a result, but more often than not he would be the one who got the worst of it from the bullies playing the crybaby and throwing all the blame on him. Today was boring for Fortem, because the bullies he loved to target were out of town for the week.

He turned a corner and spotted something that somehow has missed his attention the few months he lived in Ponyville. A long, serpent-like creature with mixed animal body parts, wings and horns atop a pony head. Fortem was mystified by this creature. "Who is that?" He asked himself.

"I'm Discord, spirit of disharmony." A voice said from behind making Fortem jump. Discord laughed. "Oh, you should see your face!" Fortem looked up with a scowl at first, but soon started laughing.

"Good one, Mr. Discord!" He laughed.

"Oh, no! That will never do!" Discord cried. Fortem looked up at him curiously. "Just call me 'Discord'." He smiled. Fortem smiled back.

"I take you for a master prankster." He said with a raised eyebrow. Discord was suddenly in a gentleman's suit with a well educated poster.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, young colt. I am a well mannered spirit." He turned his nose up. Fortem smirked and snickered. Discord smiled at the young colt before appearing behind him, lips next to his ear. "I know you're half changeling." He whispered. Fortem gasped and looked up at him. "Don't worry, Fortem, I won't tell anyone." Discord smiled.

"Hey!" Fortem said. "Aren't you the guy who turned all of Ponyville into an upside-down world?" Discord raised a brow.

"I am offended!" Discord turned his nose up. "How could you make such a ridiculous accusation?!" He then smiled at the colt. "Yes, but that was the old me." A second Discord with an evil look stood next to him. "I'm reformed now."

"But you still prank everypony, right?" Fortem asked excitedly.

"Maybe every now and again." Discord smiled. The two both put equally mischievous grins on their faces before flying off. He knew he would receive a lot of lashing from his mother, brother and aunt tonight, but it would all be worth it to spend an off day pranking the town with the infamous spirit of disharmony.

They started by heading to Sugar Cube Corner. Discord as an old brown unicorn with a blue suit, grey mane and tail with Fortem as his son, a litter brown coat with white mane and tail. They stepped up to the counter and rang the little bell. Mr. Cake come up with a welcoming smile. "Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner, what can I get for you?" Mr. Cake asked. Discord cleared his throat.

"My good sir," he began with a perfectly executed gentle-colt voice, "it is my son's birthday and we need a large cake for all the ponies in town." A flash of pink zoomed from the top of the stairs right to the counter.

"A cake for the whole town?!" Pinkie Pie scream asked. "Does that mean you'll need a big party planned?!" She bounced in front of the disguised discord before bolting around Fortem. "Wait a minute!" She raised a brow as she looked them both over again. "Oh!" She started laughing. "Good one, Discord." She giggle as she walked off. Fortem stood their looking shocked while Discord groaned.

"How did she-" Fortem began to ask before he was suddenly back into his Pegasus disguise.

"Pinkie Pie has an uncanny ability of knowing things before they happen which has counter most of my attempts to prank her for the last six years." Discord explained. Fortem awed at Pinkie as she smiled at them. Before Fortem could go talk to Pinkie, Discord guided him outside. "Well, there's nothing more for us to do here. Off to the next one!" They left out the door.

"Wait!" Pinkie called as she bolted out the doors. "You never told us who your new friend is!" She looked left and right only to see the other towns ponies enjoying their day. Pinkie huffed. "Darn it!"