Chapter One: Stasis and Change
How did this happen? Twilight thought to herself as she watched the twisted creations of Discord run amok, terrorizing ponies and destroying homes. The Elements had been used, her friends were restored, but Discord didn't stop, he didn't even bat an eye as the rainbow came for him. He had batted it aside as though it were nothing, laughed in their faces as he tortured their friends and family. Twilight hadn't been able to take it, she had ran. She'd been running for days, barely giving herself time to sleep and eat. Her friends had cried out for her to stop, to wait, but like a coward, she ran. She was unable to face them, unable to look them in the eye. They'd failed, SHE'D failed, and now the world was paying the price. Twilight was heading along the edge of the Everfree Forest, using her magic to make herself unnoticeable to prying eyes, though this would have limited effectiveness against the lord of chaos himself.
She heard screams and cries for help, but ignored them, continuing on her way. It was hard, but she managed to ignore the sound of tearing flesh and crunching bone, enough at least, to get as far from it as she could. Twilight knew, deep down, that she should help, but all hope was lost. If the Elements couldn't stop Discord, what could? It was hopeless to try to resist, the best she could hope for if found was a quick death, instead of the torture Discord surely had planned for her. Perhaps he would force her to face the friends she'd abandoned, or maybe even Celestia herself. Maybe she should just give up... There was no hope, nothing left to fight for, to run from her death would only prolong the inevitable.
"Y'know, I once thought like that." Said a voice from behind her, causing the unicorn to jump. She whirled around to confront the pony that had managed to sneak up on her, only to find it wasn't a pony at all. It looked like a pony, but had no mane or tail, and was dressed in all white, with finely combed hair, a silvery beard, and a walking cane. The strange man smiled, leaning on his cane.
"W-Who are you?" Twilight managed to ask, her bewilderment giving way to fright. What if this was one of Discord's creations? What if it was Discord himse-
"Don't be ridiculous! I couldn't be Discord if I tried. Fundamental laws of reality and all that. M'names Voyce, pleasure to meet you."
"H-How did you know what I was thinking?!"
"Thoughts are predicable, unless you're dealing with a madman like Discord, and honestly, I can see it in your eyes. 'Who's he?' 'What does he want?' 'Oh Celestia I don't want to die!' and such."
"O-Ok... So, what do you want?"
"What anyone wants! Peace, love, a place to call home. But mostly, I want to help you. You see, Discord and I have a... Troubled history, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say."
"Why me? Why not someone who... Who didn't abandon their friends?"
"Who better! I mean, sure I could choose some brave hero, but where'd be the fun in that!? Discord would see that coming from a mile away! No, it has to be someone seeking redemption, someone who already failed, someone like yourself."
