Betwixt and Benighted

by Phaoray

Rating: teen
Tags: Comedy, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Discord, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Romance, Drama, Trixie
Length: 2980

Trixie continues on to Las Pegasus, learning more on what it means to be an Alicorn. Discord must track down Fluttershy before she succumbs to her new instincts, and Twilight must learn to balance her duties and interest in a certain showmare.

The fallout begins across Equestria as Trixie and Discord's actions become more widespread, forcing a response from the princesses.

Trixie works her way towards Las Pegasus, torn between her desires to be with Twilight and her fears of what their next encounter will truly involve. Does Twilight truly want more, or was she caught up in the spur of the moment?

Fluttershy's changes have forced Discord to try to hunt her down before the princesses do. Yet the former pegasus is lost between rational thought and primal instinct, creating terror across Equestria.

Somehow, Twilight needs to balance between her interest in the newest Alicorn, and her duty to her fellow princesses. To Equestria.

Amidst the myriad of hopes and follies that make up one's actions, can there truly be a happy ending for everyone?

Only one way to find out.

Special thanks to Crowscrow and Ponyponipon3 For pre-reading and ideas. About time I finally got around to this second arc. :facehoof:

Cover art done by MegaBlackOX.

Published 2017-06-24 17:10:06 UTC
Last updated 2017-06-24 17:10:06 UTC

Prologue to Change

Revelry; if there had ever been time in Equestria for Discord to be dancing in the streets, this was it.

Ah, such a sweet feeling. Equestria hasn't felt like this since my escape, and that was only for a day.

A pity it couldn't last, not like the old days when raw chaos ran wild. There was too much order now; too many Princesses trying to make everything 'right' again. Discord continued to lie back lazily on his cinnamon cloud. He ignored the farmers on the ground as they frantically worked, trying to save their crops from the steady stream of cinnamon raining down and coating them. Instead, his attention was focused on the major eruption points of chaos in Equestria at the moment. Chaos came in many flavors, and each one would wind their way to Discord if it was strong enough.

Trixie was to the East, changing ponies' minds and fabricating stories as she made her way towards Las Pegasus. While her own actions so far were minor, the ripples just from her existence were slowly spreading across Equestria, bringing confusion and worry. He felt the greasy chaos of schemers, particularly more as Trixie grew closer to Las Pegasus. And he felt the light and fluffy disorder of new hopes and ideas blooming as she left each small town. The type of chaos Trixie was bringing would likely linger on for a long time, bringing its own unique, and permanent, scent to Equestria.

Fluttershy's however, would not. She was to the West, a maelstrom of madness blooming up wherever she went. She wasn't changing order, she was eradicating it. Discord knew from personal experience that such chaos was short lived in this day and age. It ruined the balance and fueled the creation of yet more 'champions' if left alone too long.

Discord took a brief moment to look down as he felt something new take hold. The farmers were tasting the cinnamon-coated corn while talking excitedly. Several bags had been opened directly below his cloud, collecting the cinnamon. Plans were being formulated on what to do with this new situation the farmers found themselves in. And just like that, his chaos was being dissected, categorized... ordered. Yet another reminder for Discord that chaos, big or small, rarely lingered in Equestria.

The princesses wouldn't let Fluttershy's type of chaos linger long either. Enough destruction and she would be sealed away like Discord once was. A fate he couldn't let happen.

Whelp, he thought, letting his cloud disperse, much to the dismay of the farmers. ...time to get to work.

I died today.

The thought felt alien no matter how many times it went through Trixie's head. And no matter how much she drank of the bar's beer and mead, she couldn't get herself drunk enough to forget it. Even a light buzz seemed almost impossible with the metabolism of an Alicorn. She could almost feel her body's magic burning the alcohol out of her system as it ran down her throat.

Silently, she placed her mug down, barely noticing as the bartender took it and replaced it with a fresh one for at least the twelfth time. Despite having barely two bits to rub together, she didn't worry about the cost. Trixie had stopped asking about paying for anything anymore. Every town refused her bits. Ironically, every town also refused to tip her after her shows, much like they refused to stop calling her a princess, no matter what she said to the contrary.

Every town had something they needed her for. As if being the Great and Powerful Trixie, show mare extraordinaire just wasn't enough for them!

"Oh, yes Princess, our town would love to see your performance! But, before that"...seriously, why does every little mishap or disaster happen right before or during Trixie's visits!?

Yes, she understood that the rate of monsters and ancient evils waking up had dramatically increased after the incident with Nightmare Moon, but just why did every country bumpkin try to make it Trixie's problem? Twice now she had been too exhausted to perform. And this town was going to make three. Oh, Trixie wasn't exhausted this time, but...

The bar was quiet, sober in spirit, if not in body. Trixie's hoof found its way back to her throat where the wolves had ripped it open earlier that day.

She recalled the pain, the feeling of dying, watching her blood draining out as she clutched her throat. The utter pain and helplessness as her life stained the ground in a deep crimson. She had not realized how dangerous the wolves in this area could be before offering to help the village with their removal. Then, she had blacked out, cursing her inability to have died by Twilight's side. A short time later, she had simply woken up completely whole again, much to the amazement and joy of the villagers carrying her remains back to the town at the time.

Discord hadn't mentioned these parts of being an Alicorn. Discord hadn't mentioned a lot though as Trixie had doggedly pursued her dream. To be a permanent part of Twilight's life, loved or hated. She had never thought on what being an Alicorn would really mean to her; on how others would view her; on how even death would mean something different now.

Still, she contemplated, picking up the mug. She had Twilight's attention. Twilight even hinted that Trixie might one day actually have a chance to be more than a rival.

It had all been worth it.

It's not like there's any going back now, right?

Okay, just keep it together. You can do this. JUST KEEP IT TOGETHER!

Twilight brought the paper bag away from her muzzle, feeling herself calm down a little. Her eyes looked across the cutie map as she sat on her chair (she refused to call it a throne). She still had a few days to get her story straight, to find a way to be honest and yet not too honest with her role model and mentor...and that role model's sister...and her own sister in law.

Twilight brought the paper bag away from her muzzle, feeling herself calm down a little. She had to be ready for this. So much had changed in such a brief time.

Trixie was the number one issue they would discuss for sure. A small contingent of guards had been stationed in Ponyville and specifically at Twilight’s castle (the thought of owning a castle still had not gotten weird for her) in case Trixie came after Twilight for trying to stop her. Right now, Trixie's motivations were an unknown, and she had been mostly quiet so far, but Celestia and Luna were adamant on finding a solution to her as soon as possible.

That part had rubbed the wrong way to Twilight when she read over the letter Celestia sent to her. Ponies weren't math equations, as nice as her younger self would have liked it to be the case. There was no solution to a pony, just attempts at understanding, compromise, and coming to an accord, if possible. It didn't always work out that neatly, but-

Trixie's motivations aren't like Tirek's. Discord could be...no, he's not a very good example right now actually.

Bringing him up would probably only make Trixie's situation worse. Neither hide nor hair of the Draconequus in question had been seen since Trixie's transformation. Though what Discord created...

Twilight sighed and picked up the note Fluttershy had supposedly left at Pinkie's a few weeks ago.

Pinkie,

I'm really, really sorry about the short notice, but I just need to get away from the rodents see more of them, because that's just how much I love animals. And I really, really need to go do animal things somewhere else for a bit. Could you please take care of them while I'm away? Even the stupid rabbit Especially Angel? Thanks!

Fluttershy

Pinkie was...dangerously trusting, and believed it immediately. Twilight though, she'd seen enough of Discord's tricks already. She just hoped her guess about the creature attacking the northern farms wasn't who she thought it was...

Discord wouldn't do that to Fluttershy, would he? But Luna said whatever it was that fled that night was bright yellow.

No. She wouldn't believe that about him. Not yet. There wasn't a pony alive that Discord cared more about than Fluttershy. He probably has her wrapped up with Trixie somehow and it just involved them both...disappearing for awhile.

Celestia, please let that be true.

With a large butterfly net in tow, Discord continued through the black cave, avoiding stepping in guano and shriveled fruit as best he could. His own eyes glowed a dim yellow in the darkness. He'd always hated the rare times he needed night vision. A world of dull greys and whites? Bleh!

He'd even removed the claws on his non-cloven foot for this, fearing they would clack against a rock and bring down every little sleeping bat in the area like last time. Grunting quietly in irritation, Discord fought his instincts to dress up as a miner with a bright light on his head. This game of theirs was getting too serious for him to blow this chance.

I'd applaud her if it didn't mean another month of tracking her down. Her hide-and-seek game just keeps getting better. She's like a ninja. A big, yellow, adorable ninja.

Squish.

Discord picked up his foot and shook off the wet remains of an apple. The apple was just one of hundreds of different emaciated fruits that were scattered about the cavern system. The trail got thicker as he continued. Eventually he had to float, the fruit and guano mix becoming too much for him to sneak through anymore.

"Hisssssssssss..."

You've got to be kidding me!

With a gulp, Discord looked up, his own glowing eyes being met by a hundred smaller ones. Slowly, Discord brought a finger to his lips and sheepishly gave them a quiet laugh.

"So sorry to bother you, why don't you just go back to sleep, while old, bumbling Uncle Discord looks for your....umm...mootthhherrr?" He smiled up at them unconvincingly.

"HISSSSSSSSSS!"

That one...didn't come from them...

Something large was hovering behind him. He caught the faintest scent of honey and flowers hidden behind the smell of fruit and guano. Discord turned around quickly, swinging his butterfly net. The creature hissed in surprise at his speed. The moment he felt a large weight start to struggle in his net, he caused the top of it to weave itself closed. Discord grinned at the angry Flutterbat struggling within the confines of his net.

"I...did it? I mean, ha! I win, Fluttershy! Go Discord!"

A dozen other Discord's suddenly appeared in the cave, sitting on bleachers and cheering for him. One lifted up an air horn and blew it.

HOOOOOOONK!

"HISSSSSSSS!"

The cavern began to shake. As one, every Discord looked up at the hundreds of red, beady eyes above them, then back to the Discord with the air horn. He laughed a little and pulled on his fur before hiding the air horn behind himself.

"Umm....whoops?"

Trixie stood up on her two back hooves, proudly beginning the show.

"Behold, the performance of a lifetime! Watch as the Great and Powerful-"

"HYDRA!"

Caught off guard by the sudden shout, Trixie stumbled erratically on the stage, wings flapping all over as she tried to correct herself. Her lack of coordination with her new wings did not do her any favors, making a simple thing as not falling incredibly difficult. After a few seconds of teetering back and forth and trying to recover, she gave up and fell unceremoniously onto the stage. Trixie decided to stay there for the moment, glaring up at the latest disruption to what was surely going to be her best performance yet.

The hydra didn't even notice her, simply roaring and smashing into a building while chasing a pony that was supposed to be sitting down and watching something much more wondrous: Trixie!

"Why couldn't you have waited just an hour!?" Trixie whined as she finally stood up and chased after the hydra.

"I-*gasp* I think I lost them."

Discord stood still in the dark, preferring the blackness for the moment over seeing yet more grey and white. He could feel it as the other Discord's continued to run and scream as bats chased them around the cavern. Unfortunately, he had dropped the net awhile back, meaning Fluttershy was free and could be anywhere by now.

A large pair of glowing, red eyes appeared at eye level with him, Fluttershy was hovering a dozen feet away, at best. "HISSSSSSSS!"

Placatingly, Discord put his hands out, showing his palms as he slowly started stepping backwards. "Okay, now, easssy there, Fluttershy."

She growled.

Even her growl is adorable!

Not the time!

"Look,-" he pleaded. "We're both adults here, I can admit that I was maybe, a little hasty with the whole BOOM Alicorn Fluttershy thing. Probably should have gone through more official channels, dotted my I's, looked into the insurance plan. But, come on, Fluttershy, do you really want to go through this again?"

One of the red eyes raised slightly, before they both narrowed. Discord gulped.

"B-because, believe me, I really, really don't. B-besides, you wouldn't want to roast all your little friends, would you?"

The eyes gestured around the room. For the first time since the bats began attacking him earlier, Discord realized that he couldn't hear any small, fluttery wings of the little devils flapping through the caverns.

"O-oh, well now, how, um, kind of you. Making sure all the little guys are out of the way before *gulp* that. That's just the Fluttershy we all know and love. Ha ha..."

For a second, Discord was sure the eyes softened. With some small hope, he took a step forward.

"L-look, Flutterbutter, I'm really sorry this happened, okay? Let me fix this. If you come with me, I'm sure I can un-mangle whatever happened during the ritual."

The eyes looked away, as if hesitating.

"Trust me."

The eyes looked back at him, then narrowed. Fluttershy's wings illuminated as magic began flowing through them.

".......HHHHHHHHIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

"Crap..." was the last word Discord got out as his gaze became locked with Fluttershy's. For the second, all he knew was the overwhelming feelings of fear and guilt.

A few seconds later, and all he knew was fire and screaming.

Discord coughed up a plume of smoke. Slowly, he crawled his way out of the hole he had made when he impacted the wall of the cave. He was sure Fluttershy's scream would still be ringing in his ears if his eardrums hadn't thankfully given out earlier. With a sigh Discord stood up, taking out a small towel and placing it in one ear, then grabbing the other end as it appeared out his other ear. He pulled the towel back and forth a few times, cleaning out the blood. "Okay, I really need a new plan."

Another Discord stepped out from an adjoining cavern, holding up an air horn sheepishly. "Don't bring this next time?"

"...It's a start."

Fluttershy shrieked as she flew, her call being returned by hundreds of others. To fly across the night like this was exhilarating! Oh, she'd never have done this on her own, not this high, and especially not in the dark. But with so many friends, with the feeling of kinship hazing her mind and instinct leading her on, none of that mattered.

And it wasn't like she exactly had much say in it anyways.

I wonder if this is how Rainbow feels like when she flies.

Her thoughts fogged again as instinct began taking control. She needed to hunt for a new cave system. More food. Safety for her kin. More were coming by the day. She could feel it, somehow. Her call was reaching out to them.

It had taking her this long to finally begin thinking beyond instinct. She wasn't sure exactly how long it had been, but she guessed it must have been a few weeks by now. The memories filtering through of what she had done during that time almost made her lose herself all over again. Ponies trying to stop her family from devouring their crops; the fires, screaming from below and screeches from above. It was so hard to think like she used to. But she had to. She had to find a way to regain control of herself.

She didn't think anypony had been hurt yet, but she couldn't say for certain. She couldn't let anypony get hurt. She had to at least hold to that small sliver of herself until she could think clearly again and find a way out of this.

As hazy as it all was, she also had one other thing she had to do. She couldn't let Discord get to her. How could she trust him again, after this? How could she face what happened between them in the forest? She couldn't, not right now.

With another shriek that caused any pony below to huddle inside their homes, Fluttershy dove through the night, looking for her kin's next feeding ground.

Author's Note

Finally, after all this time it begins! I still need to edit the original, but I wanted to get this out while my mood for writing was high, as editing older stories can kill the mood, sort of speak. :pinkiehappy:

I'll remove this part later, but the only real important change I need to address in the original is Twilight having the castle instead of living in her library. Everything else will just be superficial and touch up work using what I've learned of writing over the years since that story.