Discord,
I request for you in my presence immediately.
You haven't been replying to my letters nor been showing up. We have a serious matter on our hooves and we need you here immediately.
Don't dissapoint.
Sincerely,
Twilight
He scanned through it as he exhaled. He crumbled the letter and threw it to the side.
He then laid back in his cloud. This is his home. Chaosville. He has made many improvements to said place too. There are roads, covered in checkered patterns now. A town, with bakeries and clothes shops anymore everything. Even a small fountain in the middle of it. Kinda like Ponyville.
It gave the place a sense of homeliness. Although he never admitted it, he grew quite comfortable in Ponyville. Well, it was comfortable to him a while ago. Now it's, it's just gloomy.
It was after the awaken of Twilight's view of the world that the town started crumbling. Even her friends weren't able to get her to wake up. To see what her 'dreams' are like in reality.
He could be the cause of said issue as well. But he didn't play a big part in it, at least, he never remembered anything about it.
And it's been bugging him that she kept sending him letters. Piles and piles of letters. Can't she take the hint?
It's been weeks. Months even. He doesn't plan to visit. He hasn't been showing up in Ponyville at all.
Usually he would show up there to pull a few pranks or just wreck some chaos in general here and there. A pepper raining cloud, a misflavoured cake, a decaffeinated coffee- the usual joys.
But, he never wanted to go back again. Not until Twilight stops shoving her horn up his ass. He wanted to be left alone. He wanted her to know that he isn't coming, he's not going to. He's not gonna.
He was not going back to stone.
Surely she has lost her mind? As if Celestia would be proud. To return the who-she-knows-is-already-reformed villain back to his prison is uncalled for. Surely she hasn't been this far gone?
He should do something, shouldn't he? He should tell Celestia! He should!
He always had that in mind. To tell on her to her own mentor. But a thought kept creeping up on him.
What if Celestia was on her side?
He had known her for years. Ever since childhood. He knows her ways and how she'd handle situation like these. He knows that she wouldn't betray him.
.......but she betrayed him before.
That was how he was turned to stone. Betrayal. The one true perk of friendship.
This was one of the reasons he didn't trust the magic of 'friendship'. To him, it was just some ploy, some trick that would backstab him in the future during his time of need. That was how friendship treated him before anyway.
But it really did bother him. The fact that she might be on his side. The fact that maybe the only way to not go back is to....stay home.
But, he knows he wouldn't last. Heavens forbid he stay cooped up here without losing his sanity bit by bit. He also can't risk leaving. For once in a hundred years, he's afraid. Afraid that a few laser-strapped ponies would get him.
But at least Fluttershy is still loyal. At least, he hopes so. What if it's a mask? A disguise?
He shook his head. He didn't want to dwell on the subject much longer.
But Fluttershy....
Gah! Whatever. She can't hurt him. She won't hurt him. She-
A letter flashed in front of him. He sighed as he let it fall instead of grabbing it.
He knew what it was.
He pulled himself towards the edge of his cloud as he looked down to the falling letter. It fell into the pond just below him.
He yawned. "Jeez-louies! Can't they take a break?" he said as he turned over and laid onto his back.
He was feeling kinda tired as well. He thought of taking a quick nap, since he had no ideas on what to do at the moment. Not like Twilight's letters will stop coming.
He closed his eyes as he felt himself being drifted into sleep. Almost.
He opened his eyes with an annoyed groan. He sighed. He can't stop thinking about Ponyville. About his friends. About the fact that Twilight went bat-shit insane. How it affected her friends, Pinkie, Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity,.......
"Fluttershy....." he whispered to himself. The poor thing. She's been trying all sorts of ways to convince her not to. Almost every day, anytime she could spare, she would always be by her side to talk her out of it.
For him.
There was even once where Fluttershy was kicked out of the castle, being forcefully shoved out due to her not being cooperative. She cried as she laid on the dirt path outside.
She's still trying. She would usually try to talk to Twilight from outside of the castle, although she knew that the princess might not have been listening to anything she was saying for the full hour.
It hurt him to know that she was trying, despite getting bruised or verbally abused. Despite the warnings from Twilight about him and the other situations, despite the threats that would be unleashed upon her.
She would still persuade in talking to her no matter what.
He.....he needs to do something. Anything. Not just for his sake, but for his......friends. It doesn't feel right for him to say so but, there's a time for everything he supposed.
The kingdom of friendship is falling. All in the hooves of the princess of friendship. Great.
Even the griffins are at war with ponykind. Seaponies, Yak, Changelings, you name it. Twilight is tearing Equestria apart, bit by bit, second by second.
But no one seems to keep in mind a fact that would always go thorough his head. Where is Princess Celestia in all this? Is she aware? Surely she is, considering she would always have meetings with different creatures or rulers or whatever nonsense she talks to these days.
Where are the other princesses? Luna? Or maybe Cadence? Surely they would at least come to help out a little, maybe even stop Twilight from destroying her own Kingdom and the ponies who resides in it.
Celestia would've been furious knowing that ponies are getting hurt under her protection. But then again, where is she? Surely she would come by to help.
......are they okay?
When he says that there's a time for everything, he sure ain't wrong. He was the kind to hide his feelings, to play cool and coy at troubles. But for some reason, now he's worried. Scared, for others and himself. Pity, the ponies that are going through the havoc Twilight is putting them through.
Surely she's not that far gone......
His thoughts were interrupted however, as he felt a shift in magical auras surrounding him. He felt himself being tugged a little, pulled down. Although it was gentle, he still felt it.
A white ribbon started revolving around him as he froze. "...what..." he said, confused and scared.
After whatever that has been happening, anything that happens around here, he started growing worried and fear for himself.
Although that may be the case, he was curious. As the ribbon revolved around him, curiously he touched the ribbon with his talon....which started enveloping around his talon and pulling him.
"Wha-hey!" he cried as, in a flash, he dissappeared.
He felt a slight jolt of pain in his head, dizzy and nauseous. Below him was dirt ground. He opened his eyes as he found himself in......wait.
He looked beside him, and what stood there made his eyes shrink.
The tree of Harmony, the glowing tree that beared the elements of harmony, wasn't anymore harmonious than the title.
The branches were all shriveled up, the tree's glow is none but meer dullness. The magical aura it used to have, Harmony, was gone.
All is left now is, an old dying tree.
Discord looked at it with both shock and fear. What could've happened to it? What caused its misery?
"You're here." said a familiar voice that sent a shiver down his spine.
But he remained his composure as he turned to her with a forced smile. "Ah, Twilight. Old friend, old pal, how's it goin'?" he said as he hesitantly stepped forward.
"So where were you, Discord?" asked Twilight, her tone a mix of irritation and anger.
He gulped, but still held on to his smile. "Was....out of town. Went for...a....walk. A walk outside of Ponyville. Yes." he said.
"Why didn't you respond to my letters?"
"What? Letters? I don't know no letters." he pushed aside as he pretended to be touched. "Oh friend, did you miss me that much to be sending me letters? You shouldn't have." he said as he made himself wear long lashes and fluttered them seductively while also having a very noticeable pink blush.
"Why weren't you here when I needed you to be?" she then said, this time digging her hoof into the ground.
"Well I'm sorry, Twilight. I never got any notification about-"
"LIAR!" she spat. "Expect me to believe you? Every letter I sent you, I have planted a magic sensor in them that when open, will resend me a copy of the letter itself. Since I know you're not that dumb as too resend the letters back to me that will indicate that you have read them." she acclaimed.
Discord backed up, surprised by the previous sudden outburst. But he stopped as he backed into the tree.
She took a step forward. "Are you trying to intimidate me?" he asked as he raised his talon. Snap.
Nothing.
He then looked down at his talon, confused.
He looked up at Twilight, who gave him a spine-chilling smile. "This is for the good of Equestria, Discord. No chaos will reign, only harmony. No wars, no fights, only....love. Friendship." she said as she stomped her left hoof.
Although confused by the sudden stomp, he spotted something coming from the distance behind Twilight. ".....wait....."
Spike walked towards Twilight. In his claws was.....the crown. "...how did you-"
"I have my ways, Discord." she said as Spike came up to her and handed her the crown. He then noticed that Spike looked.....drained. Drained from colour. His eyes were..... static. Empty. Nothing but grey.
Discord looked up at her. "What did you do to him?!" he yelled.
"He wouldn't cooperate. So I had to improvise. Along with...a few others." she said as she looked at her hoof.
Discord squinted hard as he saw some other figures walk forward. And he gasped as they got closer.
The rest of the element bearers along with their elements. Like Spike, they were all static and grey.
Rarity, her mane was a mess. There were visible small cuts around her neck and body. Almost all of them had cuts and bruises. Applejack however was seen without her hat. Rainbow's colourful facade was gone. Pinkie's hair seemed messier than her usual state. And....
Fluttershy.
His heart skipped a beat as he saw her. Bruised and cuts. There was one visible cut line by her cheek. By her neck, behind her element were visible scratches.
His friends. They're gone. Lost.
Twilight stepped closer. He didn't know what was happening anymore. Didn't know, didn't care as he stared at his front paw and claw on the ground. He was holding his composure. He wanted to pounce. After what he saw, he felt as though he had consent to do something. Run to Celestia, take the girls with him, or just save himself. He felt miserable, he was stripped of his own magic. His wield of power. Without the girls, without....Fluttershy, he felt as though nothing can save him now.
He slumped down to the ground. He felt tears well up as he lost his sense of hope. His friends were gone.
Rarity, although snooty for the element of generosity she was still nice to him in the end. She gifted him a scarf last Hearths Warming. Rainbow and Pinkie, the greatest prank duo he had ever come across on. Even better than the royal sisters. Pulling gags on others, including themselves had bonded them, and made him a considerable friend. Applejack, she eventually trusted him enough to ask him to help by her farm during zap apple season and such. Although he'd pull his usual chaotic stunts and feats of chaos, she was still thankful for his 'help' and would sometimes reward him with a whole pie. He'd usually share that pie with....
Fluttershy. His first and true friend. Who would always forgive him for the havoc he wrecks. Who he would always have tea parties with. Who would always be there whenever he's bored and he needs someone to talk to. Who he would always tell his stories of his numerous adventures throughout his life. Who had always defended him from bad mouth ponies. Who had faith in reforming him.
Who was always there when he needed her.
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a tap on his shoulder. And the heart-wrenching voice. "Don't worry. They'll be fine. Once we're done-"
Discord launched at her and tackled her down, surprising the alicorn. He smiled, his tears still visible and were streaming down. He wore a sadistic smile as he held her down by her throat, choking her in the process. He slashed her face as he then continued to her neck. He scratched and slashed. Twilight, tears forming herself, suddenly started to laugh. Her horn glowed. But Discord didn't stop as he continued to maul her.
Her magic then flashed through the cave. Blinding Discord, he yelped as he shut his eyes. His grip loosened, but didn't let go of the princess. As the flash faded, her laughing fit stopped. And a few more voices could be heard.
"Ngh....what the...." said Applejack as her colours came back to life. She rubbed her eyes, her whole body sore. And what she saw in front of her made her eyes shrink. "TWILIGHT!"
The others too jolted up with life. They were too shocked at what enveloped in front of them. "DISCORD?!" yelled Rainbow.
Fluttershy was still dazed, her vision slowly clearing. "...w-what happened?" she asked as she put a hoof to her head. She felt dizzy. But her friend's voices could be heard, especially hearing Rainbow exclaim Discord's name.
Discord looked up at them with surprise as he fell backwards, letting go of Twilight. Twilight inhaled as she coughed violently, crying from lack of oxygen.
Applejack and Rarity raced towards Twilight worriedly as Rainbow shot at Discord and kicked his muzzle, making him yelp. "WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, YOU SICKO?!"
As Fluttershy's vision finally cleared, she gasped as she saw what enveloped in front of her. Applejack and Rarity, worriedly looking over an injured looking Twilight and Rainbow, who was in action of kicking Discord. "Oh my gosh! Twilight!" she said as she ran towards her bleeding and injured friend.
Discord rubbed his muzzle and yelped again as Rainbow started beating him with her hoof. "WHAT DID YOU THINK OF DOING?! HUH?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
Fluttershy looked at her bleeding friend as she gasped. Slashes and scratches all over her face and body, bleeding heavily. She felt tears welling up as she saw her friend in said state. "How could've Discord done this to ya?!" acclaimed Applejack.
Her heart skipped a beat as she heard that. "...D-Discord?..."
"Did I stutter?!" she yelled back as Fluttershy flinched. She won't believe it. She wouldn't believe it. She couldn't. She felt as though this was just a nightmare. She hoped it was. She faced to the direction of her other friend. Who was beating Discord.
"Rainbow!" she shouted as she shot there. "Stop!" she shouted again as she pulled Rainbow away.
Rainbow pushed her away however. "Why should I?! How blind are you?!" she said as she poked Fluttershy in her chest. "He nearly killed Twilight! I saw him choking her and everything!" she acclaimed as Discord slowly got up, shaking.
"I-I didn't-"
"Don't you move!" she warned with great anger in her voice as she pointed at him, making him silence as he cowered.
"..b-but he wouldn't-"
"What else would you need?! What evidence could you need?! There's slash marks all over her! Dash said she had saw him in action with her own two eyes!" yelled Rarity.
"This is why I never trusted you to begin with!" yelled Applejack as she marched towards Discord. "Ya were never reformed! Everything ya did, the lives of innocent ponies that were hurt by ya, ya' never really felt guilty by yer actions. We forgave ya even after your reign of chaos all over Equestria. You had your chances after Tirek's reign as well. You never learned!" she said as she stomped on his tail, making him flip her off with his tail and backing away.
"....did you really?" asked Fluttershy as she focused her gaze on his. Her teal eyes were glossy, tears streaming down. He gulped as he didn't know what to answer. "Discord," she asked again, this time more stern. "Did you hurt her?"
"Ya don't need to ask him! He's...."
"Proof is already clear! It's him! It's....
"Darling, which do you believe? Us or the ruffian...."
"We're clearly right!" "He's always been a villain!" "He's nothing but a traitor!"
The words coming from her friends closed in on her as she tried to mute them out of her mind. Her tears streaming down more stronger. But she still fixed her gazed towards him as she awaited his answer. "Discord, please." she pleaded.
"He's a monster!"
"A villain!"
"A traitor!"
He couldn't contain himself as well as he eruptedly rose up, and eyed her closely. "......I'm a traitor." he said as he walked away from the group.
"Hey!-" said Rainbow as she tried to block, but stopped as he turned to growl at her.
"Get anymore closer and you and your little princess won't see the end of DAY!" he growled as his eyes were brimming once more. Without a thought, he sped up and ran out of the cave.
Before Rainbow could do anything about it however, somepony held onto her tail as she tried to fly. "Hey! What gives?!"
"Let him go." said Twilight with a raspy voice as she watched him running out of the cave. In the distance, she saw that he also snapped himself away, meaning her spell wore off.
"He'll be fine. As long as Equestria is safe. Safe from chaos."
Author's Note
So, yea.
Basically in this universe set, Twilight is......I feel as though as to leave the backstory for you guys to imagine for yourselves cause I like to see people being either creative or like 'yea I don't get it Twilight is nice book horse and yadda yadda yadda....'. Really butters my croissant.
And if you think the characters are out of character sorry peeps.
And if I'm a nice fren :):)<33 I'll make a story involving the backstory and......I'm working on the sequel for this one. So stay tuned. Yea. Imma go get Chipotle now. r/humblebrag
