My Little Pony: Stormbreaker

Record 10: Chaos Accord

Far down in the Southern parts of Equestria, in one of the few remaining camps yet saved by Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom before their being pulled back for the fight with Sombra and Chrysalis, the rumors of their mission had reached them before the duo could. Some of the camps were eager to be saved upon hearing these tales, but as the days turned to weeks, turned to months, those outline groups were losing hope that they would be saved. For a pair of young ponies, the wait was too much. They went against the wishes of their camp leader, and gathered their supplies to charge out into the deadly expanse of Equestria, braving the dangers to reach the Crystal Empire and find why they had been left behind.

Taking lead was the young Pegasus, with a tan coat and brown mane. His auburn eyes were focused ahead on their task. Heavy saddle bags kept him grounded, which was fine for the Unicorn who followed him. She was yellow, with baked crust-brown mane. Her blue eyes were not so trained, as she scanned the fields around them. She was not as weighed down, though she did have heavy saddle bags of her own.

Looking back, the young stallion called his travel companion. “Kin, keep up, we can’t get separated out here”

“I’m fine P.C., I just haven’t seen Equestria in a long time, not outside the camp anyways” She responded, only slightly annoyed by his questioning of her abilities.

Turning his head forward again, he muttered. “Not much to look at” He was not too interested in the sights, only their goal. “This land was once beautiful, at least that is what Uncle said, back when he was a baby. Not sure there is anything but scars and rot out here anymore, and that is all I hope to see, none of the villains”

Appearing suddenly beside him, nearly scaring him half to death, Kin replied. “Where is that optimism that pushed you to take this trip? You have to just pretend, get rid of all the destruction and replace it with trees and flowers, and happy ponies playing”

Recovering from the start, P.C. looked at her like she was mad. “We only had a couple sickly old trees, and certainly not many happy ponies. How can I take that little bit of sunshine, and spread that across this Hades landscape? My optimism is that we can save our camp, Uncle, and make a new life, not pretend that all is ok around us. That is just delusional”

“You’re so gloomy” She stuck her tongue out at him.

“And you’re a daydreamer!” He countered, becoming very annoyed with her. “Our parents are long dead, we were too young to even have memories of them. Just as likely that our Aunt, who left us that dumb thing you are carrying, is also long dead. The only family we have is back in the camp, likely aware that we took off and are worried. Now we are traveling across this land of death and horrors, to find out why we got abandoned by those ‘heroes’, and very likely to die trying! How can I be anything but gloomy?” P.C. Looked away from her, showing his defeat in his posture. “Actually being out here, has made me see how messed up it really is now. Who knows if Sweetie Belle or Apple Bloom are out here or even looking for ponies any more? What if the Crystal Empire fell? All my hope and believes are focused on the ‘what if’ of us getting there alive and saving the camp”

A house style front door appeared before them, stopping the pair and putting them on defense. Parting like a saloon hinged door, the unmistakable hybrid form of Discord stepped through with a superior grin upon his snaggle toothed, mismatched face. “Oh, I know” He replied to a question not really intended for him. “They were, but they’re not now. Things got a bit crazy in the Empire, and by the way, it’s still there”

Well aware of the Draconequus, P.C. was quick to judge the words. “Why should we trust you?”

“Indeed” Discord’s grin twisted into a more wicked, yet playful smirk. He grabbed at something in the air, and the word “why” formed in his digits. “But this should really be here” He placed it into a sentence that read “Why would I lie?” Following this new sentence, more words appeared, and scrolled up into the air at an angle, slowly disappearing from sight. They matched what he spoke. “I don’t need credibility or even your trust, so why waste my time in lying? I don’t care if you believe what I say to you, because I’m here for another reason, and ~~ir~~regardless” He took out a pen and struck out the “ir” as it appeared. “So many think that is a word, but any who, regardless of your feelings or views of me, my mission here will be unaffected” When he finished the scrolling words stopped forming and just traveled off into space.

The camera panned down from the heavens onto Kin, as she asked. “What do you want?” She was a bit more patient in her tone.

As the question hung in the air, another came through the door, though it was opened in a more normal fashion. “Simple” The mare that joined them began. She was yellow, though not quite in the way others would remember her being, with a hot pink mane. Her cold, almost icy-blue eyes had a depth of wickedness in them now. “I want what you have” She moved up to them, stopping just short of looming over the pair. “One of you holds an Element of Harmony, and it is mine” She spoke calmly, but it was clearly an effort to do so.

Kin stepped back, intimidated by the aura the mare was giving off, while P.C. stood his ground. “I don’t know what you are talking about, and even if we did have anything we wouldn’t give it to a traitor!”

She slowly turned her head, focusing one of her frozen orbs at him, widening the gaze as she did. “Traitor?” She was mono tone, and spoke slowly. “How do you figure that?”

“We heard all about you, Fluttersnide. First to fall to the corruption of Discord, and started the chain of events that plunged Equestria into the Shatter Storm! Everything would have been fine, if you hadn’t been taken, and our parents would still be alive!” He scoffed. “Nice new name, by the way”

Addressing the sarcasm first, with a dismissive tone she said. “Seemed the thing to do, seeing how we have such clever names like ‘Nightmare Rarity’ and ‘Rainbow Death’, but I’m not shy anymore” Passing this, a smile cracked across her face, adding to the insanity of her look. She did not seem too concerned by the accusations. “Who’s to say if it was me, or if something else was to blame? I do find it interesting how it has been twisted, that I just went willingly into the den of Discord. Seeing how he stole me away, and not one of my so-called friends came to save me. Did the story say anything about that? That I was abandoned!” Her tone grew ever more crazed, and angry. “Where was that in my legacy as the scapegoat for Equestrian fall?! How friendship failed me, and nopony cared!” She whipped her head forward, moving closer to the stallion. “What do you know? You seem rather young to have lived those dread days, yet you sit in judgement of one who suffered the most and longest?”

P.C. stepped back now, not sure what to do with this other side. “We were too young to remember, but we had those close to it, and they tried, but there was so much go-”

“Spare me” She cut him off. “The reality of it all is that Discord offered me the world and I resisted, then he tried to force me, but I remained untainted by his tricks. It was a long time that I spent in his realm, and we soon forgot about the why, and focused on the moment. While my friends forgot me, Discord showed me a kindness and interest no other had, and I finally found myself in Chaos. No more judging ponies, no more mocking or insulting Pegasi, no more fear of just trying to be myself and just be myself. All I needed was Discord, him, and that which you have of mine”

“He obviously manipulated you!” P.C. countered. “Kept them from you, hid that they tried, and lied about everything going on, all so you would choose him over them!”

She gave a chuckle at this. “Oh, he showed me, and I knew. My friends were so easily deterred from helping me, it proved that it was barely a friendship at all. We were the ponies of Harmony, and were unstoppable, and yet they could not do anything to change how things were? They couldn’t save one mare, let alone the land, now Equestria is dead, and hope with it”

“There is still hope!” P.C. came back, finding a new passion. “There is still a brighter future for all, even those who turned evil or are evil, we can find a way to live together and restore this land back to how it was before!” He was not sure how he suddenly felt this, but he knew he did always, and was allowing his optimism to surface again. “Even though everything looks bleak, I know we can bring back the light!” One of the bags at his side began to give a faint glow, something Discord took notice of, yet none of the others seemed to be so observant.

Scoffing at him, Fluttersnide shook her head. “Such foalish notions. Soon enough, you will learn better”

Discord snapped his fingers, and the saddle bags were now in his claws. P.C. protested as the Draconequus rummage, tossing out things that were not actually in there, bubble gum, comic books, heavy artillery, a CD titled “Moonrise”, all until he found the real item in the pouch’s contents. “Ah, what have we here?” He pulled out a familiar necklace, with a blue balloon gem in the center.

Watching him, Fluttersnide saw the trinket and was initially excited. “So you did have an Element” She then saw the shape, and was disappointed. “Unfortunately not mine…”

“Give that back!” P.C. demanded. “Our aunt gave that to us, she left it for us with our uncle”

Turning back to him, Fluttersnide tried to process this information. “Aunt? Pinkie Pie? I suppose with three sisters one of them was bound to get knocked up, but I don’t recall her having a brother”

“Well” Kin chimed in, hoping this casual topic might allow for some negotiations. “We’re not really related, just that she was really like an aunt to us since we were foals”

Grinning, Fluttersnide said. “Interesting, so she believed she could pass on the Element of Laughter. Not sure even Twilight had thought of that. She was really too in tune with things that none of us could really grasp. Besides all that, I know I sensed my Element of Kindness on you, so one of you is still holding out!” Feeling that the young stallion was not the keeper, she moved to the mare. “Here’s the deal, give it to me or die”

“We only have one, I don’t know anything about any other” Kin replied, being purely honest.

“Even if we had it, what good would it do for you? You’re not kind, and the Element won’t work for a villain!” He did not rightly know, but wanted to keep her from his sister.

Looking at him with her eyes alone, Fluttersnide replied. “Simple: to keep them out of the game”

Discord came in, speaking on his original plan. “I intended to seduce all the Mane Six, and corrupted them, but then I found myself with the best, and she alone stopped the rest from being of much use. It was a bonus that most of the others removed themselves from being a risk on their own, and thus all of the only chances for Equestria were gone. Yet, now they seem to be returning to the world, and while the surviving keepers from before can feel them, they are not returning to them” He was spinning the necklace on one finger at one point, but as he spoke, his hand moved away and the gem continued to spin in the air. “Although having this one would be enough to stop them again, with so many factors, I would like to get them all out of the way”

“They awoke some months ago, and I felt it and knew mine was gone from me” Fluttersnide started again. “I want what is mine, I want my Element back!”

P.C. stood between her and Kin, taking a defensive stance. “I won’t let you get it back, even if we had it!”

Cocking her head slowly, the yellow Pegasus looked upon the tan one consideringly. “Oh? What can you do?”

“I-” P.C. was about to say something, but the air shifted and seemed to shatter. An explosion somewhere above roared through the land. More blasts echoed after, and the whistling sound of debris tore through the air leaving trails that dulled the liquid coloured sky. “What in Hades?!”

They all looked up and around, but only Discord had an idea. “Well… this is interesting”

“What?” Fluttersnide asked with impatience, while the two younger ponies listened for the reason.

“The Rainbow Factory is under attack, and not doing at all well in stopping it” He mused, with a hint of grin, enjoying the chaos.

Though she could not see, Fluttersnide looked skyward still, making a sound of thought. “Nightmare Rarity making an attempt?”

“This is no attempt, that place is coming down” Discord replied. “Seemed to be somepony else… those two pests”

Not realizing, or possibly even caring, that they were filling the two ponies in on what had been happening, the two villains continued to be distracted. “With Sombra and Chrysalis dead, and Trixie missing, now they are taking down Rainbow Death? Such busy little pests”

As the pair gave them all they needed to know of what had been going on, and being distracted by the current calamity, P.C. jumped up and grabbed the Element and put it on. “Ha!” He said triumphantly, then he and Kin galloped off at full gait.

For their effort, the two young ponies gained little as Discord was quickly upon them. “Leaving so soon, and without even saying ‘goodbye’? How rude” He levitated the Pegasus and proceeded to attempt to remove the necklace. “Why… won’t… it… come…………more dots…………..off?!” Discord was not really straining, only playing up the moment.

“It's bonded to him” Fluttersnide sneered. “We can’t take them off any more than we could steal Trixie’s little charm”

Recalling back, with a crude cartoon version of the events playing out above his head. Discord and Fluttersnide tracked Trixie down, and attempted to take the Alicorn Amulet when she was sleeping, only for her to snap awake and nearly drain Discord on the spot, if Fluttersnide had not thrown a pony they brought as bait before the fangs of the vampire.

Flaring his claws, Discord had another idea. “What if he’s dead?” Kin cried out as P.C. struggled in the grip, with the talons leveled with his chest. “You two are twins, so I’ve always been curious if that legend is true, so please tell me if you feel this as well?” He drove deep into the pony, piercing P.C.’s lungs in the process, not giving him a quick death as he coughed up the blood pooling inside him. “Anything dear?” He turned to look at Kin, as she was sobbing. “Not quite the same thing” He dropped the Pegasus, and let the mare run to her brother.

Stumbling and nearly blinded by her tears, she clung to the dying pony. “Pound! No, no, no…”

“He won’t survive that, just another lost cause in this barren world” Discord remarked. “However, there is still a chance for you. Join us, and help keep the Elements from these goodie-four-horseshoes”

“I’d rather die!” She snapped at him, taking him slightly by surprise. “I hope they destroy you both!”

Turning to Fluttersnide, Discord shook his head. “Doesn’t much sound like a pony of Kindness to me, very rude”

“I must have been just sensing Pinkie’s Element” She scoffed, then sighed. “I really thought one of them was holding my Element” She turned toward the door that suddenly appeared. “Kill her too, for wasting our time”

“She is so cute when she gets so menacing” Discord swooned. “Now, how to dispose of you?” He turned back to the siblings, as he watched the Pegasus still struggling and grasping at a fading life, and Discord had a moment of inspiration. “Ah, how poetic I-” Another explosion shook the very air, and drew the villain’s attention again. More rain of a dying factory rocketed across the sky, and spread around for a great distance. “I don’t think Rainbow is going to be a factory soon”

“Something is happening with the Elements” Fluttersnide pointed to Pound as his shimmered. “Another is awoken, and taken a new master. I might have read theirs wrong, but I understand this feeling now. Three Elements of Harmony are in the sky, and one is fading here”

“Funny how that works, you can sense them, even if yours is gone. I guess once tied to them, you always are…” He trailed off a bit, focusing on the twins. “Anywho, back to nafarities” He snapped his fingers, and a flash came from Kin’s chest. “Now you are truly tied, and when he dies, your heart will give out. Seeing how broken you are, I feel it is a fitting way to go” He said darkly, and floated toward the door, as it lowered like a drawbridge. “See you in hades, Xamot and Tomax” Though the reference was lost on all but himself, he still passed back into his own realm with a satisfied laugh. Soon he and Fluttersnide were gone, and the two ponies were left to their fates.

******

Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and now Scootaloo were recovered and together again, and after their fight with Rainbow Death, decided to again set out to find those last groups of ponies clinging to the edges of the land. After the events in the sky, some of those camps had begun to migrate toward the Empire having heard or saw the destruction of the Rainbow Factory. Matters in the sky would be left to the Pegasi, and with Death’s hold gone the Aerial Nation was in chaos, with so many Pegasus fighting for control. Most of those who did not scatter to the winds, were loyal to the ideals of the Third Flock and wanted to claim the power void.

To make things easier with the enhanced power of her Element, Sweetie Belle was able to teleport further now, even with two ponies, though it was still a great effort to do. They only went so far to avoid the Territory of Nightmare Rarity, then elected to hoof the rest of the trip.

Several Changelings wanted to go with the three mares to offer aid and protection to the Stormbreakers, but taking so many would shorten Sweetie’s range, and only slow them down. They would also pose a risk, as not all would know that the Changelings were now Allies. The ability to send the Changelings to meet the mares was possible with Mystic Tome and the spell of mass transit that was used to save the refugees, it was not wise in the grander scheme.

As they traveled, there was clearly a bounce in Apple Bloom’s steps, as she nearly pranced along the way. Sweetie Belle also moved with a new found happiness, neither feeling the same weight of the world as they once did. The pair were overjoyed that they were reunited with their lost friend, and seeing their victories as proof in hope for changing fate. Scootaloo was not as elevated, as she trotted along at a steady, but sloppy pace. She was still haunted by the last few years, all she had done, and the things she had seen. Killing her sister did not help, and though she had new wings provided by the Element she now bears, she could not find much joy in flight at the cost it came with. So the artificial limbs were kept tight to her sides, almost more ashamed to display them than the ones she had stolen from that innocent pony so long ago.

“Scoot, why so low?” Bloom turned her head to look at her friend. “We’re so close to end’n all the pain and suffering, an on top of all that, we’re back together! The Crusaders returned, to face the world, for that is our destiny!”

The Pegasus lifted her head enough to look at her friend. “I know, and I’m happy we are… but all I can think about is Rainbow… all the horrors I’ve seen her do, all the horrors I did for her… How did it all get so far?”

Apple Bloom stopped and turned to fully face her. “I know it ain’t easy to work out, I blamed myself fer letting Granny and Big Mac die, all because I was too weak to fight back. I couldn’t save our home, or any of em, but I also had to tell myself that I did the best I could at the time and that I need to push on to honour those who died by being the best I can be, and make the most of my life. I fought all them nag’n thoughts, by knowing that by fight’n, I can help stop any others from suffering what I had to”

“Easy for you to say now, you had all these years to train your mind, but I’m fresh to it. I was brainwashed, and broken by the one who I thought loved me the most. Then I awake to find a noose around my neck, waiting to string me up as soon as she was done with me… I don’t know how I will ever get past that…”

Going over to her, Bloom hugged her troubled friend. “Y’all have two who truly love ya, and ain’t about to let you go down or be hurt again. We risked our lives, so y’all can have that time to recover and find a better tomorrow. We had our time, and had to face it, more or less, alone. Y’all ain’t alone, and won’t be so long as we can help it!”

“How touching” Discord appeared, using a tissue box to wipe away false tears. “It really makes one's heart grow three times…” He let out a burp, and patted his chest. “Oh, never mind then. Just gas”

The three mares were quick to go on the defense, partly circling the draconequus ready to fight, though at the moment he did not seem too threatening. They all understood it took but a moment for that to change. Apple Bloom moved her cover and focused her Elemental Eye on him, with Sweetie Belle having her horn trained, and Scootaloo with her wings flared. “What do you want Discord?” Sweetie Belle demanded to know his intentions.

Looking surprised, he returned. “Why, can’t an old fiend visit with some enemies without being up to something?” He crumpled the box of tissues, and tossed it aside, where it transformed into an aeroplane and flew off. “So it is true, three of the Elements of Harmony have reappeared after all this time” He disappeared and returned, each time around one of the mares, taking in the sight of their new features. When he moved back away, he was now in a blue and black uniform, with slicked, managed hair, and arms folded behind his back. He raised his longer brow, and with an eerie calmness, simply said. “Fascinating” continuing this character, he went on observing. “I was unaware that the Elements could manifest themselves in such forms, and enhance the bearer. Alicorn, wings, and an eye?” He went to poke at Apple Bloom’s Gem. “This must have been a strange experience” Bloom slapped his claw away, and he receded. “Alien life appears hostile, but as far as the new functions of the Elements, I am… stumped” He then transformed into a tree stump, with his grinning face.

“Ain’t fer y’all to figure, but we’re glad to give a show of what we can do with ‘em!” Bloom challenged, causing him to change back.

Still wearing his grin, and laughing at her boldness, he replied to her call. “Now, now, is that any way to treat a friend? I came in hopes that you three would join us. After all, you are the reason I’m free, so it only makes sense that we can all just be buds” Using some toy versions of themselves, he played out the scene so beyond their recollections, when Bloom and Scootaloo were arguing over Cutie Marks in the royal garden, their mixture of harmony and chaos feeding the statue of Discord, giving him power to leave the thousand year prison. The memories of that bit of history struck the mares, and they recalled how some stupid fighting had caused Discord to escape his stone prison. “Why fight what you all had a hoof in starting?”

Each stepped back, though Scootaloo stepped further, with Bloom not going as far as her friends, as the weight of this came down on them differently. Recovering from it, Bloom came back with. “Maybe we did let y’all out, but we can’t be liable fer all the mess y’all made after! Can’t say its the tree’s fault, if’n its apple bonks a grumpy pony who goes about spread’n their anger”

“Oh ho ho, such a colourful, country euphemism. I suppose you are right in that, though I still think I can sway you three to our side. I can change that stubborn mind” His playful grin became dark, and unsettling. “What if I could offer you the chance to get all of your families back, with but the snap of my fingers?” Gasping at his offer, he knew he had them on the hook. “The Apple Family restored, and farms in full harvest. Rainbow Dash, alive and back to her old self. Even Rarity could be purged of that Nightmare being, and returned to you. All this, with my power, and the enhancement by the Elements of Harmony could be possible” Looking around at one another, the mares seemed drawn into this. He curled out his arm, and presented his clawed hand to them. “Join me, help me get the Elements, and together we turned back time before this story was written. No more Stormbreaker, no more Shatter Storm, just go back to Season 2. Maybe even get Faust back. Deal?”

Scootaloo moved closer to Sweetie Belle, and exchanged looks. They then looked at Apple Bloom, who was reaching for the appendage. Then, all at once, as Bloom slapped the hand again, shouted “NO!”

“Y’all can’t lead with a rotten carrot! My family would rather stay dead, than let you have access to the power to destroy everything, and give that traitor what she wants!”

Face turning sour, Discord was a bit wiser. “I see, that eye is like a kind of lens of truth, and you can read right through my tricks. Annoying” He looked at Scootaloo. “So, what? Do your wings ‘lift up’ or ‘blow the winds of loyalty’ or some sappy thing?” He gagged. “It doesn’t matter really, I can do without the Elements, and in fact have quite a plan in my pocket…” He rummaged in pants he was suddenly wearing. “I have it… I swear… It was just here…” He turned out several pockets, more than pants should have, some pockets even coming out of other pockets. Several objects fell out, magnets, a full sized wagon, a document with “Khitomer” on it and little sentient dust bunnies. “Oh… it must be in my other pants, I can just go home real quick and get it” Seeing that none of them were entertained, he made a fart sound with his mouth. “You three are such sticks in the mud”

They each jumped out of the way, as mud formed under them, reading his games as clear as day. “Wow, I need to step up, if you can read me that easily”

“Don’t turn into a book in some other language,” Scootaloo said flatly.

“Or made of stone,” Sweetie added.

“Maybe small print” Bloom finished. “Face it, you are barely a villain, and more of a clown with powers. I don’t need a special eye ta see yer games com'n”

Discord’s eyes twitched. “You think I’d waste my A material on you three?!” He shot back, showing that he was angered by their mockery. “You have no idea of the damage I can do, but it is not entertaining to just-” He snapped his fingers, and a black hole appeared, sucking in and ripping up the land. Only by Discord’s power were the four of them not affected, at least physically. “I could destroy everything right now!” He snapped his fingers again, and transformed them. Scootaloo became a scooter, Apple Bloom an apple sprout, and Sweetie Belle song book, all still with their Element gems somewhere on them. Their gems flashed and they were restored. “Even to a degree, I can mess with you all” He snapped his fingers again, and the black hole was gone, but left much of the land around them damaged by it. “Be glad I enjoy my games, for when I grow bored of this world, I will simply end it”

The three mares panted and finally realized the depth of what they were dealing with, and did their best to recover. “Now, do you understand how little you are all a risk to me? Oh, and don’t think that you can get the Elements of Harmony together and stop me either. One of them, at least, is no longer a factor”

“What do you mean?” Sweetie Belle asked, she was hoping that he meant because of Fluttershy, and that he did not know that even if a turned bearer was alive, it would pass on. “Because you keep one of the old holders?”

He looked at her with amazement. “How is it to ask a question and immediately answer it with your own idea? Self gratifying? No, not my partner in chaos” A little Fluttersnide appeared, and made faces at them. “You see, an interesting encounter happened as you three were ruffling Rainbow Death’s feathers. My dear little monster was feeling a sense of loss, as her Element is gone. Somewhere during part 9, we found two little ponies with one of the lost Elements of Harmony, sadly not hers. It seems they were hoping to find out why you never came to save their camp, and braved the harsh world of Equestria. Unfortunately, while you were busy planning and ruining the hierarchy of the Aerial nation, very nice work up there by the way, the grounded ponies were losing hope. For them, all hope is truly gone”

“What did y’all do to them?!” Apple Bloom could read the hints that those who spoke of did not escape unharmed.

“Oh? Well, we killed them of course” Discord disappeared before the lasso could take hold, then reappeared in the same spot. “A rope against the lord of chaos? Seriously?” He shook his head with a grin. “I know, killing is a little out of character for me, I much rather a bit of torment and lingering suffering” He said, using polish remover on his crimson stained claws. “Why, you should have seen the strings I pulled behind the scenes. Twilight was probably my best work, I’ve heard she went mad before she disappeared” Sweetie Belle growled low at the reminder. “Scootaloo, maybe you remember that book Rainbow Dash became so obsessed with?” Revelation struck the mare, as she joined Sweetie in fury. “I can’t say I had much to do with your family though” Discord looked at Bloom. “Those timber wolves were itching for an excuse to move on the farm, and well… a particularly tempting Zap Apple Harvest was all it took”

The three mares did not need a hint to the thoughts of their friends, and they each unleashed their Elemental power at Discord, who seemed merely amused by the attack, though dodged it still. “Don’t cross the streams now” He mocked them. “You ponies are such fragile things, a point proven by my dear-ranged, when she ordered the execution of the two ponies who lead us astray. Now I was set to play around, but she stomped her hoof down, and well, baby gets what baby wants” The little version disappeared, and Discord stroked at his beard. “Luckily, she isn’t here now, as I would much rather you three live a bit longer. Have a few more chapters to fill, and it would be boring with Prince tight ass, and princess ‘my daddy is evil'’”

“How can you be so cruel, so vile?!” Sweetie demanded to know. “To twist the lives so carelessly, and to take such an innocent pony like Fluttershy and make her into a monster like you?”

“I just like to have fun, but unfortunately your kind doesn’t appreciate my style of fun” He pulled out a chart from the air. A diagram and flowchart he referred to as he spoke. “You see, good, bad, these are illusions that are based on perspective. To you, I’m evil because I like to play a bit rough. To a tree, you’re cruel for taking its fruit. So as I came to spread some fun, I was rejected and imprisoned. You try being stuck in stone for a thousand years and not be a little annoyed, desolate and cold” He took a bit of a more serious tone. “You stand there in judgement of me, and all the villains, when you are seeking to change the world how you want, regardless of what others might like or want! My sweet little children, Good and Evil are up to the general consensus and perspective. Sombra was living his life, Chrysalis was doing what she felt best for her kind, Trixie was twisted by a sacrifice she made for you” He pointed at Sweetie Belle. “Even Rainbow Dash was just trying to reclaim the one thing she wanted in life, and saw a chance to make her people better as well. So maybe think a bit about why we do what we do, before you are so quick to judge us as monsters. Villains and Heroes are driven by passion, but some passion can be seen as wrong when society doesn’t agree”

Not one of them could truly deny his argument, though none of them found it an excuse to do what had been done. “Allow me to offer this,” He started again. “A pony, born in the clouds, who feared heights, with the rest of her kind making fun of her for it. She only wanted to be left alone, and the one pony who stood up for her, also let her fall. Sure, she found the animals as friends, but she was also pulled back into pony society, where she was talked over, mocked, and pushed to do things she didn’t want too, all so she could live well enough to take care of animals. So when she was abandoned for the last time, and taken in by one who wanted nothing but to let her be her truest self, she became very welcome to that life, and bitter to the old. She put on a happy face, and bore a lifetime of trauma, and how she did for so long, I can’t even say. She was so strong, but strength gives out” As he was speaking, he was growing ever more passionate and angry over the details. “She had no pony to care for her like she cared for others! Even her so-called ‘friends’ would abandon and use her time and time again! Forcing her to do things she didn’t want too! I took her to break up the Elements, but I instead saved her. She is good to me, and the animals we have in my realm, but to you selfish monsters, that is where she appears evil. She is reflecting back what she was shown by your kind! Blamed, like she caused all the troubles in the world for accepting me” He laughed in a humourless way. “She only accepted my offer, when I vowed to leave her friends alone, and had quite a list. Then she renounced you all, when she saw how little she mattered to any of you”

Now they truly could not fight his point, though it was still a bit skewed, it was striking to see how deeply he felt about her. Nopony would believe Discord was capable of it, but he did actually have a heart. “So, y’all care about her” Bloom finally asked, with no plans or plots to use the information.

“Of course! Any pony could see that. She befriended me, maybe she had little choice, but it has become as real as any of your little friendships. We’re perfect together, a pony with so much love to give, and a draconequus with so much freedom to offer” He crossed his arms in sternness. “Your narrow views find it so hard that I can actually care about something, but even the Lord of Chaos has feelings; I just turn them off most of the time” A large electrical panel appeared, with a oversized lever, with a tiny little switch beside it with “feels” above it in the off position.

“Then, why not just stop doing all these wicked things, by our standards of it?” Sweetie Belle attempted. “You could help us stop Nightmare Rarity, and clean up Equestria, really change the opinions about you, and you can bring Fluttershy back to her home. You both could find happiness and friends. Is it worth it to keep watching everything fade away, knowing that one day you’ll have nothing left? You could find others who will enjoy your games, and make a better life, a long life, for yourself” She was hoping to turn the tables here and now, and maybe actually gain a friend, instead of having another foe to defeat.

For a moment, he seemed to actually consider this, though such hope was fleeting. “A cute offer, and a valiant try, but we’re happy now. We don’t need ponies in our lives, and as the population fades more and more, the world will only be better for it. I have the power to keep us alive and happy for all time. Though I have to say, you three have made me feel it is time to speed along this much needed purge. As you knock out one villain after another, the hope that the problem will cure itself is fading” Discord flew higher into the sky. “Seeing how you will not join us, and we’re not joining you, I guess our time here is done” He gave a solute, with his back to them,wearing an orange outfit, angel wings and a halo as he faded away. “See you real soon, Stormbreakers” With that he was gone.

“Monster” Apple Bloom scoffed.

“We’ll stop them, we gave him a chance to change, and he refused. He has done too much to be left excused, and is too dangerous to be left alone besides” Sweetie Belle stated.

Scootaloo was still staring at the spot he disappeared, lost in her own thoughts. “He started it all… he gave me the book that made Rainbow into a monster… at least I didn’t start it”

Sweetie Belle and Bloom were focused on other things, and went on discussing the information they had. “You think he was trying to throw us off, or do you really think he killed a pony was holding an Element?”

“Like he said, this here eye lets me see the truth, and I didn’t read any deception… they must’ve-”

“So do we find this Element then? You think he left it out there, and can we even do anything with it?” Scootaloo had come out of her mind, and was still new to the workings of the Elements.

Sweetie fielded that, answering the question the best she could. “We can try to find it, I don’t know why he would just leave something like that laying around though, unless they were actually the next keeper, then the gem would be useless. From what we’ve seen, the Elements can be reborn, or passed regardless of the state of the older keeper. Bloom’s was reborn in her, probably exchanged to her after Applejack’s passing. Yours came to you while Rainbow was still alive, then I was able to take Twilight’s and it took to me”

“See’n how Twilight was already dead, we can only assume that the Elements also wait for a proper host” Bloom added.

Hoping to avoid Apple Bloom’s ability to read the truth, Sweetie spoke as truthful as she could, without too much detail. “I believe they can lay dormant, until a suitable host is born, or is near. If you look at how our sisters and their friends got theirs originally, they seemed destined to come together, but it wasn’t until they were there where the old Elements were last, that they could summon them. So, seeing how we each gained ours in kind of the same way, it seems logical… though honestly I don’t know if that is really how it works. Not even Twilight knew much about how they functioned”

“So, should we try to find those poor ponies, or what?” Scootaloo asked, not fully following the whole thing.

“I don’t think it’ll do much good” Bloom returned. “If’n Discord killed ‘em, it can only mean they weren’t keepers” Scootaloo was puzzled by that. “Well, mine helped me before I even knew I had it, and it was awoken when I was pushed to my limits, defend’n myself and my beliefs and friends. Sweets came after she needed it for others, and of course yours came when y’all stood against Death fer us. Look’n at all that, if’n the Element was theirs, it would have awoken to save them, and if not, Discord or Fluttersnide would have taken it. I figure too, if’n it did awaken, and they did die, it most likely has gone on to another, or wherever they go between forms''

“It’s probably best if we just stick to the plan, and finish helping ponies who we can assume are actually alive and need us” Sweetie said, with much reluctance. “We have no way to track the Elements, or a clue where this happened. Those ponies in the camps left, like Discord said, have likely started to lose hope, if not given up on us coming at all. We need to focus on them, we let them go too long”

“Yeah…” Scootaloo did not like that, having a nagging feeling, but she could not argue that those who were alive needed them now, not two who already met a terrible fate. “Maybe after we can try at least?” She attempted.

“Of course” Bloom assured, and Sweetie agreed, easing the Pegasus’ mind a bit.

Returning to their quest, the mares moved to the next camp on their list. There was much left to do, and they had delayed too long.

Record 10: Chaos Accord

End

Author's Note

Like to ships passing in the night, one wonders just how close the Stormbreakers came to meeting those young ponies. The search continues.