The Equestrian Monomyth - Book 2 - Complexs of Disharmony

Equestria border with the Gryphoon Empire, just before Ponyville's second gryphoon attack:

Daybreaker was flying, proudly leading the dragons, after easily convincing them to invade Equestria. Being the standing Arena Champion does had it's advantages, indeed! Suddenly, Discord approached her: "Hey, pretty pretty. You do look like a lot like Celestia. Are you relatives?"

"Yes. I'm her twin sister."

"Are you? I fought with her four thousands of years ago, and she hasn't any twin sister, as far I recall."

Daybreaker shrugged her eye: "And who are you? I don't remember seeing you at the dragonlands. Did you joined later?"

"Oh, yes, I did. What are you seeing here is just a poor humiliated soul, who was only trying to have some harmless fun, but that hideous ponies almost strangled me, and that wicked hairless monkey banished me from Equestria under death penalty. Ohhhh! I'm so disgraced!" He falsely mourned with a fake grieve.

Daybreaker rolled her eye: "That wasn't what I asked. I asked WHO YOU ARE!" She said in a growing upset tone.

"Oh. Where are my manners? I'm Discord, God of Chaos and former ruler of this lands." He presented himself with a reverence.

"Hmpft. Then you must be EXTREMELY OLD." Mocked Daybreaker. "Tell me, what use could I have of an old crock like you?"

"What use? As I've told you, I already fought with Celestia, so I can give some hints on how to defeat her." He smirked.

Daybreaker smirked: "Now you're talking..."

It haven't been long after I returned from defeating Discord, when a huge pegasi battalion, with Spitfire at command, arrived to reinforce us: "Your Highness, Marshal Spitfire reporting on duty!" She saluted. "If there's something that's taught in the academy, it's how to fight that filthy gryphoons!" She assured, and I saw, relieved, how all of them had a full body armor, that protected up to their wings.

Celestia smiled: "Well done, Marshal, but, from now on, General Gus is giving the orders here. He knows about war far much better than anypony."

Spitfire saluted in a military way: "Acknowledged!" Then, she turned to me: "General, what are the orders?!"

"Marshal, you and your troops get the new weaponry I've brought, get a know-how from Captain Trixie, and stay ready to enter in action!" I ordered her, pointing to the site where the gunponies where.

"Yes, sir!" And she and her troops flown to carry on.

I walked to Celestia, and asked her: "Do you want me in command? Are you sure?"

She smiled and lewdly blinked several times: "Love, if you're going to be Equestria's King, is only mandatory that you're put in command of the troops."

"Ahemm, ahemm!" Twilight cleared the throat and spoke with measure: "Your Highness, I'm gonna ask you very politely..." Then, she angrily screamed: "AND JUST ONCE!!" Then, she returned to her measured voice. "That you restrain yourself in calling my coltfriend..." And then, she angrily screamed again: "'LOVE'!!"

Celestia stood up and walked to her, smirking: "You won't be so pretentious after I'll take you down again."

Twilight frowned even more and smirked too: "We'll see who's going down..."

Suddenly, Lieutenant Stout Heed's horn glowed, and he spoke, interrupting the funny girl-fight: "General, I'm detecting a large group of dragons approaching from the enemy's side, an alicorn, and another creature of god-like strenght!

I shrugged the eyes: "A creature of god-like strenght?" and I cast an enhancing sight spell, and looked with my telescope, spotting... Can you imagine? Discord himself! That damned degenerate, he allied with the invaders! I should had killed him when I had the chance!

"Discord has allied with the invaders! This's gonna put us to the limit!" I angrily blurted, waving an arm.

Celestia gasped, scared: "Oh, no! Discord! We barely could defeat him the last time, and he was alone! Now he's coming with an army and all! How are we supposed to defeat him this time?!"

I looked down, pondering the strategy to proceed. Obviously, we'll need the trio Twilight-Pinkie-Me to take care of him, and we had to do it fast, or he'll make disappear the pegasis' wings and the unicorn's horns, putting us in a dangerous handicap. Coward and treacherous by nature, he'll hid on the rear guard, to safely bother us, protected by the dragon army. There was only a way to win this: We had to attack first and fast, with a demolishing strike!

So, I turned to Celestia: "Sorry, Cellie, but I have to break your 'Non-attacking first' policy."

Celestia smiled. "What did I told you? You're in charge now. Do as you wish."

Luna stood up, very happy: "See, sister?! What did I told you?! We need to get past our limits!" And then, she trembled, and surrounded herself with a dark cloud! Her coat turned black, and her eyes became green and shrinked up to became cat-like! Then, she screamed with the Royal Canterlot Voice: "I'M NIGHTMARE MOON, AND VICTORY WILL BE MINEEEEEE!!!" Then, she smirked and looked to her scared sister: "What's happening, sister? Scared?"

Celestia gulped, trembling and sweating cold.

On my side, I teleported back to Cloudsdale, and quickly returned with two weapon prototypes that I was wishing not to have to use, and then, I put my hands on my solar plexus, and said: "Seventh Seal Life-Force Magic Cancelling Surrounding Effect!" And a wave blasted from me, giving all the nearby troops a temporary magic protective shield.

Celestia and Twilight said: "Soul Shield!"

Pinkie cast her flying stones, hopped on them and apologetically smiled, looking to us: "Hummm, I'm supossed to say something?"

The large dragon flock were flying in a care free way, sure to being far enough to be attacked, when... they were attacked! A bombshell fell over them, exploding and causing panic among the scaly creatures! And then another, and another!

"What's this?!" Asked Daybreaker, surprised and confused.

Discord stopped short in the air a projectile, and looked nonchalantly to it: "It seems some sort of explosive metal barrel..." And then, he made it to disappear with a plop.

From the distance, my artillery pieces were keeping fire, while I was looking the results with my telescope: My plan had worked: Now we had Discord's exact location!

"Alright! Twilight, Pinkie, get ready!"

And I teleported the three of us in front of Discord, just in the middle of the dragon flock! Risky move, but mandatory! Luckily, the two artillery pieces continued firing, giving us certain advantage among the mayhen. Celestia and Nightmare Moon teleported themselves just in front of Daybreaker, while, simultaneously, in the border, armed with firearms, the pegasi troops charged to the unwary gryphoon army, which was still expecting for us to wait until they attacked first!

The strategy worked, and soon, the gryphoon army, surprised and attacked for three sides at the same time, and technically surpassed, were quickly sustaining too much greater casualties than our own army!

Discord tried to escape, but, no matter where he tried to go, he always found a scary smirking Pinkie before him: "Discord, my 'friend'! Ready for another rerun?!" She happily mocked of him.

Discord trembled, opening his eyes an maw wide, turning white, and a yellow line appeared in his loin. "Ahhhhhgggg." He gasped of terror, and flown away, with Pinkie behind his tail. With Discord's menace taken care of, we could take care of the dragons, which, after the inital shock, were regrouping to counterattack. Twilight and me made them to regret trying to attack Equestria.

On the other side of the battlefield, Celestia and Nightmare Moon were having a hard time with Daybreaker.

"Useless coward!" Complained Daybreaker when she spotted Discord giving up. And then, she lit her horn... and the sun started to shot powerful lightbeams over her opponents!

"And the sun could do that?!" Celestia backed off, scared.

Nightmare Moon, on her side, rushed to Daybreaker for the front: "Sister! Take her down when I lock her in place!" She indicated, floating over the enemy alicorn, and with a deafening neighing, she surrounded her with a dark cylinder, locking her in place!

Celestia cast her lightning spear, and tried to rush against her evil twin, but, suddenly, a brightly sunlight beam fell in front of her, rendering her blind for a moment! And when she regained her sight, Nightmare Moon was falling defeated to the emptyness!

"SISTER, NOOOOO!!" She screamed, desperate, trying to fly after her but a pair of swords stopped her flight.

"Give me your horn!" Demanded Daybreaker. "Your sister or your horn!"

Celestia didn't gave it a second thought: "Cut it!" She allowed, dispelling her magic body shield.

And just when Daybreaker was going to sever not Celestia's horn, but her head instead, a purple beam tossed her away, while I took Luna just before hitting the ground!

"Your Highness, how could you fall on that dirty trick! She was gonna sever your head, not your horn!" Twilight scolded her, shooting to the still coming dragons.

Celestia shooked the head, realizing her mistake, and landed near her sister, to heal her.

Daybreaker looked around: The gryphoon army was fleeing, with a pegasi squad fusillading the latecomers, the last of dragons were being taken down among large hadou-kens and five-fold purple beams.

The witty white alicorn shrugged her only eye. If the gryphoons where fleeing, why she wouldn't? Better to live to fight another day. And she teleported away and escaped...

Once the battle was over, we put ourselves to the sorrowful task of counting the casualties: unfortunately, at least thirty brave ponies wouldn't return to their homes. On the enemy's side, seventy three dragons and two hundred twenty seven gryphoons gave their last breath. There was a lot more of casualties among wounded and prisoners. So, I could say this was a crushing victory. Those filthy gryphoons wouldn't dare to attack us in a good while.

Even better, Pinkie returned with Discord captured, all beaten up, and throw him with disdain to our feet, where he fell like a deflated balloon:

Ha ha ha ha ha! Did you see, Discord?! Your resistance is futile, whatever you do, you'll be pinkied!" I mocked with my most evily possible smirk.

"Please, spare me. I'm a war prisoner. War prisoners have rights!" He pleaded.

"Yeah, sure. But to earn those 'rights', you still have some things that needs 'fixs'" I mocked again.

"...And then, when we thought that it was dead, it grew another head! We had to cut it and to burn the necks until it couldn't grow anymore!" Was Rainbow Dash bragging about our times when she and I were going bounty hunting, taking down dangerous animals and capturing criminals around.

"Ohhhhhh." The foals and fillies opened their muzzles, amazed by the cyan pony's tall tales.

At the side of Cherilee, Fluttershy was hearing the story, smiling, happy because her friend had overcame her disabling and had given a new purpose to her existence.

"I'm so happy for her." She commented, pouring tears of happiness.

Suddenly, Rarity came galloping, happily announcing: "Dashie! Dashie! Twilight has returned with Discord! They're going to put back your wings on!"

"Wow! I'm coming!" Happily said Rainbow Dash. Then, she turned to the children: "Well, kids, I have to go, have a nice afternoon today and listen to your teacher!"

"Awwwwwww!" The foals and fillies complained, eager to continue hearing her tales.

"Don't worry kids! I'll be back next week, with more stories of bravery and awesomeness!" Rainbow Dash happily cheered them, gesturing a bye-bye with a foreleg.

"Ehhhhhhhhh!" The children happily acclaimed.

When Dashie's wings were back on her sides, she smiled and said, flapping them: "Oh, yes! Back to work, then!"

Twilight giggled: "That's all, Dashie? What about the 'Oh my gosh oh my gosh' thing?"

Rainbow Dash smiled and remained silent for a while: "OhMyGoshOhMyGoshOhMyGoooooosh!!"

The wooden door was knocked, and when it got opened, there were Twilight and Pinkie, looking to the house owner with pleading eyes.

Twilight was the first one in speaking: "Please, Big Mac, let us talk with AJ. We're very worried for her. Pretty please?"

Pinkie raised her foreleg with a platter full of cupcakes: "Look, I've brought apple cupcakes. Her favorites! Well, I really don't know if they're her favorites. But they're tasty! She'd like it!" She featured a wide smile.

Big Mac looked them for a while, very serious: "Let me ask her." And he closed the door.

The two mares waited for a while in front of the door, talking between them.

"Twilight, do you think that he said that to get rid of us?"

"No, Pinkie. Big Mac is as honest as AJ. So, if he'd had wanted us to leave, he'd had told us already."

After a tense while waiting, finally Big Mac opened the door again. "Alright. But make it quick."

When they entered, Applebloom quickly galloped to them: "Than' goodness tha' mah brother let ya in! Ah am so worried for mah sister! She doesn' wanna eat, she doesn' wanna stand up from the bed! She's gonna die! Help her, please!"

Twilight and Pinkie looked each other, concerned.

Once on AJ's room, Twilight came closer to her: "AJ, please, listen to us..."

"Why, Twilight?" Applejack interrupted her. "Why always Ah hav' to get the worst luck of all? Mah parents died on tha' accident, and left me at charge of the orchard. An' now, Ah end up disabled..."

Twilight closed her tearful eyes. "Listen, AJ, I..."

"Tell me, Twilight." Applejack interrupted her again. "If Celestia is as powerful as she says. Why didn' she prevented my parent's death, huh? Why didn' she prevented my misfortune? Where was she, Twilight?! Answer me!" She asked, rather angry and sobbing.

"AJ, Celestia can't be everywhere, she..."

"And how she can call herself a Goddess?! What kind of Goddess is tha', tha' can only look on those tha' she cares of?! An' screw with the others off!" AJ asked, with crying anger.

Twilight looked down, not knowing what to answer.

"AJ." Pinkie come closer. "Celestia is the Goddess of the sun. She takes care of everypony. That's a lot of ponies. And she's only one. So, she can't take care of everypony at the same time! She'll become mad, like me! Can you imagine a Pinkiecelestia?"

AJ turned around in her bed: "Tha's not funny, Pinkie."

"But it's the truth. And the truth is not funny. It's hard and painful. You should know it best."

AJ sighed. "Ya'r all right..."

"Then, eat some cupcakes, AJ. You're gonna die if you don't eat, and that's the truth."

AJ smiled and a tear slid on her cheek: "Oh, Pinkie. I don' know how, but ya always make me smile. OK, Ah'll give 'hem a try..."

"Well, well, well. What we should do with you, huh?" I asked to the scared Discord, with Celestia at my side, and Luna, with a foreleg in a sling, at the other side.

"I'm gonna behave! I promise! I didn't attacked anypony, you know?" Discord pleaded, praising with his hands.

At that moment, Twilight arrived along with the rest of the Mane 6: "Good news, Your Highness! We found the Elements Jewels exactly where indicated!"

"See? That's a token of my good will!" Said Discord in his defence.

"Hmmm, given the situation, maybe we can give him a chance." Celestia said, with a hoof under her muzzle. "If somepony wants to take care of him, of course. Twilight?"

The purple unicorn raised an eyebrow: "What?! Prrft! Not even dead!" She refused with a disdainful smile and gesture of her foreleg.

Celestia turned her head: "Dashie?"

"What?! No! He'll mess with the weather up so much, that he'll put the clouds to rain upwards!" Protested the cyan pony, who was pegasi again.

Celestia turned her head again: "Rarity?"

"No! No no no no no and a thousands times no! I'll blew the tap of his brains first!" Angrily refused the dressmaker.

Celestia turned her head again: "Pinkie?"

This time, it was Discord who refused, twitching both hands, scared: "No no no no no! Not her! Anypony but her! NO!"

Pinkie smiled and turned the head: "Your loss..."

Celestia turned her head again: "Flutters?"

Fluttershy angrily looked to him: "What? After all he made to pass thru to my friends? No way!"

Celestia sighed again, hopeless: "AJ?" She asked without confidence. There was no way she'll accept him, after leaving her disabled.

Applejack smiled: "Ah'll take him."

"Well, given the facts... What?!" Celestia shooked the head, incredulous.

"Ah said tha' Ah'll take him. There's a lot of things tha' ar' needin' to be done in the orchard, an' any help woul' be welcome." She explained.

Celestia blinked a couple of times, dumbfounded, and then, she smiled: "Alright. Then, I hereby order that Discord stays at Applejack's custody. But put him to work, AJ. Don't let him to slack off."

Applejack smiled: "Ya can bet Ah will, Yar Highness!"

After all was settled down, everypony was leaving, but Celestia told to Twilight: "Twilight, my faithful student. I want to talk to you. In private."

Once they were in private, Twilight asked Celestia, concerned: "What's this is about, Your Highness? If it's about our duel, I want to tell you that you already won. We don't have to duel again, so, I'll step... aside..." She sobbed and sniffed a couple of times.

"Shhhh, shhhh, shhhh. That's enough, Twilight Sparkle." Celestia interrupted her. "It's time for us to stop with this nonsense."

"What?" Asked Twilight, still weeping. "What do you mean? I don't understand."

"It's about what you did. In the battle. You could had let me die, and you didn't."

"Ow. That's nothing, Your Highness. Anypony would have done the same."

Celestia smiled. "See, Twilight Sparkle? You always keep despising yourself. That way, no matter how many times I insist you, you won't get serious in any duel with me. And that's not fair."

"Huh?" Twilight blinked. "Ow. Well. But, Your Highness, I still don't see where you want to go with this."

"Ah! It's easy. Instead having a serious duel with me, you'll only have a serious duel with Luna, and, if you win, I'll consider myself defeated as well."

Twilight giggled: "Ow! Then, you're giving a Two-for-One showdown!"

"That's right! Otherwise, I'll end up having yet another duel with Luna! And I think that we'll be needing a third moon this time!"

Both mares giggled.

"Well, everything is settled up, then. Luna's still recovering from her wounds, so you have plenty of time to get ready. But don't push yourself too hard. This is a test, like any other else. Alright?" Celestia explained. "Well, that's all. We'll talk later. Dismiss."

Twilight turned around to leave, but then, she stopped short, and looked to Celestia: "All this was part of your plan, or you came out with this after the battle?"

Celestia winked in complicity: "A bit of each one..."

The sun was raised that morning, as well as AJ's stetson, while she was putting it on her head as she always do, every morning but sundays. Then, she walked limping to Discord's room and knocked on his door: "Wake up, sleepy head. Breakfast is ready."

But Discord didn't answered.

"Com' on, Discord. Yar'v' already slept for four thousands years straigh'. Stretch that ol' bones already."

"But is still too early." Discord complained, yawning.

"Ya'll better get used to it." Applejack smiled.

Once in the orchad, and after an entire morning of hard work, at least, hard for Applejack, as she was trying to do her best, finally the noon arrived. Big Mac left to the house to bring the lunch, and Applejack sat to rest for a while, and Discord sat at her side:

"I... I still don't understand. How could you forgive me so easily, after all I did to you... and your friends?" He asked.

Applejack smiled: "Ya reminded mahself, bac' then when Ah was a liar, cheater an' dishonest."

Discord opened his eyes and maw wide: "No waaaaaaay! You... dishonest? Then, how did you manage to become an element?"

Applejack smiled again: "Ah changed. Ah had to, 'cause all mah misdeeds provoked a situation so bad an' a disaster so huge, tha' almos' destroyed all tha' we had worked so hard to build." Then, she looked to Discord. "So, Ah can say tha' Ah am some sort of reformed villain."

Discord raised his eyebrows "And are you not afraid of... I don't know... a relapse?"

"All the time..." She honestly said. "And ya?"

Discord smiled mischievously: "I want to relapse all the time, but I know that Pinkie Pie will best me, so I stay cool in the meantime, pretending that I'm good." He mocked, lying down on a appletree, with his arms behind his head and half-lidded eyes.

They both laughed.

"An' how do ya feel, Discord? Ah mean, about yar career change from God of Chaos to a mere farmer?"

Discord opened the eyes: "How... do I feel? Good gracious, nopony had ever asked me that before... I don't know. How do I feel? Do I feel? I'm quite not sure." He put a finger in his maw, thoughtful.

"Tha' shoul' had been quite a sad an' lonely life, didn' it, Discord? Not even knowin' if ya can feel a thing."

Discord looked to Applejack, and forced a smile: "Sad? No! Not at all! It was funny, full of jokes and entertainment! Nothing about sad!"

Applejack giggled: "Ya'r lying, Discord, an' Ah can spot a liar from a mile away. So, tell me. Wha' can Ah do to make ya happy?"

Discord's eyes moved to a side, and then, they returned to look AJ: "Anything that doesn't include Pinkie Pie."

They both laughed again.

"Yeah, ya'r right. Pinkie can drive ya crazy sometimes. It's like the saying: 'Taa much of a good thin'. But ya haven' answered mah question."

Discord shrugged the shoulders: "I don't know. I always had got all I wanted, and even all that I didn't, so, it's hard for me to figure out what you could do for me."

"Well, Ah am listenin' to you right now. Wha' do you want to talk about?"

Discord eyes moved to a side again: "I don't know... I mean... this is annoying! You keep asking me things that I'm unable to answer to!" He stood up, upset.

Applejack giggled: "See? There are things tha' not EVEN YA can do."

Discord looked up, and then, he smiled too: "Ohhh, you got me there, little pony. And now, tell me. Aren't you afraid from me?"

AJ shrugged her shoulders: "Why shoul' Ah?"

Discord looked around: "Because we are here, all alone, in the middle of the woods, with nopony nearby. And I'm a God-like Draconeequs and you're a weak and disabled little pony. That's why." He extended both arms.

AJ sadly smiled again: "Why? Ar' ya thinkin' in doin' somethin' nasty?"

"It might be."

AJ looked down. "Well, if tha' makes you happy, then, go ahead."

Discord looked to Applejack, dumbfounded: "What? You're not afraid? You're not worried? For real?"

"Wha's the point, Discord? It's not like Ah could stop ya, anyway. Go ahead. Hav' fun with me."

Discord opened his eyes and maw wide: "For real? You're willingly... letting me to.. do anything I want with you?"

"Yep."

"But... why?" Discord raised his arms, dumbfounded.

"'Cause tha's wha' true friends do."

"Friends? Friends?! Nonsense!" Exclaimed Discord. "How could you be my friend?! I left you disabled! I took the raison d'etre from you! You can't have forgiven me so quickly! How can you want me to be your friend?! That's impossible! That's nonsense!" Discord rambled about, flustered.

"Look who's talkin' about nonsense." AJ chuckled.

Discord stopped speaking and looked to her: "What's happening with me?"

AJ pointed him with a foreleg: "And tha's how ya'r feelings feels. Seems tha' ya can feel, after all."

Discord looked down, even more confused: "Why? Why are you doing this?"

"'Cause, as ya said, ya took the raison d'etre from me, so Ah had to find a new one, by reforming ya."

"Ah! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! That's hilarious! This pony has turned crazy! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! What makes you think...? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! What makes you think that you'll be able to reform me?! That's impossible! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Incontrollably laughed Discord.

"Well, Ah made ya happy."

Discord stopped laughing, realizing the fact. "Huh?"

"An' Ah may fail, but Ah am not givin' up. A good friend of mine taught me tha' bein' weak an' disabled, it's not a reason to giv' up." Assured, with an everlasting smile AJ.

Discord sat at her side again, looking ashamed to her, and later, looking down again: "Oh. Well. I see."

At that moment, Big Mac returned with the lunch and with Applebloom:

"Lunch time in family, everypony!" AJ happily cheered.

Daybreaker's only eye moved from a side to other, making sure that she wasn't been spotted. Maybe the battle had been lost... But not the war! She still can give a devastating strike to the enemy forces! And the only thing that she has to do, was to render their main weapon, the Elements of Harmony, unusable. That way, she could return to the Gryphoon Empire with her head up, proud of having at least an objective accomplished!

Daybreaker pondered her attacking strategy: As far as she knew, the six Elements were required to use the weapon, which means that she could complete her mission by killing just one of them, so, she has spent her time studying her targets. Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were out of the question: They were way too powerful. The other three were more approachable: Fluttershy was a good candidate, but she was always accompained by one of her friends, or by her coltfriend, and trying to take down two pegasis at the same time had their hitchs: One of them could escape and give the alarm. The white unicorn with the three diamonds cutie mark looked easier, but she lately had became a master in the use of that new fearsome so-called 'firearms'. Daybreaker still didn't understand how these apparently harmless pieces of metal and wood, could leave a powerful gryphoon like a sieve. It must be dark magic of something.

Then, there was Applejack. She was PERFECT! She was an earth pony, weak and disabled, who spent most of the time in a woody area, accompanied only by other earth ponies or that useless coward of Discord. It was going to be... a piece of cake. If only she could find a way to enter undetected...

Daybreaker's train of thoughts was interrupted by a far away steam engine sound. The alicorn roamed among the woods to look what it was:

"Look, Flam, we're almost arriving to Ponyville!"

"That's right, Flim! And with our Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, there's no way we can lose! Sweet Apple Acres will be ours!"

And the two stallions laughed, sure of their success. Suddenly, they both opened their eyes wide:

"Your Highness! What an honor! Are you coming to enjoy the best cider ever made?" They smiled apologetically.

Daybreaker smirked: "'Your Highness'? Negative!" And, with a flashing move, she put her forehooves on each of the stallion's muzzles and her swords on each of their necks, impeding them to speak or scream: "I'm Your Worst Nightmare!" Then, she looked to the machine: "And where are you heading with this big piece of junk?"

"Hmmmmpftmmmmpft!" Said Flim and Flam at the same time.

"What? I didn't heard you. Do I have to kill you to make you speak?" Daybreaker mocked, smirking.

"Mmmmoooo mmmmleaseeee!" Said Flim and Flam at the same time again, sweating cold and scared to death.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Evily laughed Daybreaker, releasing her forehooves from the stallion's muzzles. "Answer now!"

"We're going to Ponyville, but only as visitors! Right, Flam?"

"Yeah, we weren't intending on taking Sweet Apple Acres at all! We're only going there because it's the best cider brewer in Equestria, and we want to learn from the best! We swear!"

"Ow! You're going to Sweet Apple Acres, then? But that's not perfect?" Daybreaker mocked.

Next, after threatening them to stay quiet, she opened a side cover of the machine and started to toss inner parts away, so she could fit inside, while Flim and Flam where helplessly staring how she destroyed their precious Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, letting go the big tear drop. Once the alicorn eviscerated the machine enough, she entered inside and told the owners: "And play along like nothing is happening, or I'll roast alive both of you! Move!" And she closed the cover, perfectly hidden inside the vehicle.

"Well, that's the last of them." Happily said Discord, placing in order the last cider barrel of that season's cider batch.

"Than' ya, Discord. Tha's a great job ya'v done there, sugarcube!" AJ complimented him. "Now, will ya be a perfect gentlecolt, an' help stan' up a damsel in distress?" She asked, with a Rarity-like entonation, raising a foreleg.

"I'll be honored!" Smiled Discord, gently helping her to stand.

AJ was so happy. Slowly but steady, she was managing to turn Discord into a good fellow, and that's all that mattered for her. And even if a solution for her condition was never found, she felt that her purpose in life was already fulfilled.

The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy had already arrived to Sweet Apple Acres, an it was running along the long line of ponies, waiting to buy cider.

"But wha' tha' coul' be?" Asked Applebloom, curious, walking along the machine.

"Oh! This is a Super Speedy Cider Squeezy. But it's broken, so we're taking it to the next repair shop." Lied Flim with a fake nervous smile.

"A Super Speedy Cider Squeezy? And wha's that does?"

"Well, it crushes apples, to make cider."

"To make cider?!" Startled somepony. "Hey, everypony, there's a cider making machine here! This season we're having more cider than ever!"

"Ehhhhhhhhh!" Cheered everypony.

"Claws and beaks!" Swore Daybreaker inside the machine. "Just when I found how to enter, there's half town in a line here!" So, she used her magic and pulled Flam's head inside the machine: "Don't you dare to stop, or I'll kill you both!" And then, put him where he was again, with wide opened eyes and trembling of fear.

"Sorry, everypony, but we can't stop now! We have to take the machine to repair! But we swear that we'll return later!" Said Flam, nervously tighting his small tie.

"Awwwwwwww." All the ponies complained.

Applebloom galloped to her sister: "Sister, sister! There's a cider makin' machine there, but is broken! Yar magical friend couldn' repair it?"

AJ looked to Discord: "Discord, friend. Do ya think ya can repair tha' thin'? Ah imagine tha' won' be the big deal for ya!"

"Oh, I'm sure it's just a mere loosen strap! Nothing that the omnipotent Discord couldn't do!" He bragged, opening his arms and forwarding his chest, and he plopped near the machine, stopping it. Then, he opened the side cover and froze in time and space, when he found himself face to face with Daybreaker.

The alicorn used her magic to slowly pull his head up to left him looking directly to her eyes: "I won't do anything stupid, if I were you. You told me all your tricks, so I already know how to best you." She direfully said to him. Discord eyes's quivered, as he realized the HUGE BIG MISTAKE he had made, by telling Daybreaker how he was going to defeat Celestia.

"So." Continued Daybreaker. "Run for your life, you idiot fool, and don't you even dare to give the alarm." And she pulled him out of the machine.

Discord gulped.

At that very moment, Rainbow Dash landed: "There's still cider left?! Oh, yes yes yes!" She happily gave some small jumps in the place. The, she galloped up to AJ: "AJ! Please, dear friend, give me two well frozen!"

"Sorry, sugarcube, but if ya wan' cider, ya hav' to make the line like everypony else!" AJ indicated her, smiling and closing the eyes.

"Awwwwww! That's not fair, AJ! I never get to the cider! It always ran out of stock first!" Rainbow Dash complained.

"Ya'll get yar cider if ya always came earlier, homey! An' no exceptions, Dash!"

"It's not fair! I can't come so early! That's training time wasted!" Rainbow Dash still complained.

Suddenly, Discord plopped near them, stuttering: "S-sorry, my friend, b-but I forgot m-my tools there in the ho-house and..."

"Discord? Wha's happenin' mah friend?" Asked AJ, concerned.

Discord lowered his head down to the two mares and told them in a whisper: "Sorry, little pony, but this is not my fight..." And he plopped out of existence again.

AJ laughed in all honesty: "Ha ha ha ha ha! Mah friend it's so weird! Always with his clownin's. When he'll learn?"

But Rainbow Dash was already suspiciously looking to the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy and it's... occupants? Flim and Flam had fled from a while ago, leaving a trail of dust in their rushed leave. That's all she needs.

"AJ, take your family and leave inmediately." Said Rainbow Dash in a whisper to her friend.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Laughed AJ again. "Wha's this? Ya'r threatenin' me just to get the cider? Hav' ya fell so low mah friend?"

"Shhhh!" Hushed Rainbow Dash. "I think there's something wrong with that machine. Leave, quick!"

Rainbow Dash's serious stance finally worried AJ, and she made a silent gesture to her family to get to her. Then, she turned her head to Rainbow Dash again: "An' wha' about the line, Dash? Wha'r we goin' to tell 'hem?" She whispered to her.

"Let that to me." Assured Rainbow Dash, and she walked to the line: "Sorry, folks, but the sell is over! You'll have to come later, when the owner reopens again! Thanks for your cooperation!"

"Hey, she's only saying that because she wants to buy first!" Said somepony, upset.

"Freeloader! Brasher! Perky! Go away!" The crowd started to scold her.

Rainbow Dash clenched the teeth and trembled of anger, but suddenly, she came out with something "Exactly! I'm Ponyville's Heroine, the awesome Rainbow Dash, and that's why I demand to buy first! Anypony dares to face me in battle for that tasty cider?! Anypony?!"

All the ponies shutted up.

Daybreaker trembled of anger inside the machine: Now, that Rainbow Dash were there too! She has lost this chance! She had to try to escape, and try again some other time later.

"So, what are you waiting for? Go home! Hush hush hush!" Rainbow Dash ordered to the crowd, who slowly turned around and walked away, still swearing.

Meanwhile, Applebloom and Granny Smith had managed to hop AJ on Big Mac, and all of them made their leave.

Soon, there was nopony there but Rainbow Dash herself, who hid on a nearby grove, to watch what's inside the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000.

She hadn't to wait too long, as, mere minutes after everypony has made their leave, Daybreaker cautiosly came out from the vehicle.

'I knew it.' Rainbow Dash thought, frowning. 'Luckily, she'll leave without hurting anypo...'

"Com' on, girls! We can take all the cider we wan'!" Happily said Applebloom, galloping with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle back to the orchad.

"Damned be..." Rainbow Dash opened wide eyes and muzzle. Those bucking Cutie Mark Crusaders always appeared at the worst of moments!

A neverending door knocking and Pinkie's calling where heard in Twilight's house: "OpenPleaseOpenPleaseOpenPleaseOpenPleaseOpenPleaseOpenPlease!"

Twilight opened the door: "What's happening Pink...?"

"There's no time! One of our friends is in danger!"

"Who, Pinks, who?!"

"I don't know, that's why I came to see you!"

Twilight looked up and enlightened her horn, to check on her friend's vitals: "Well, Flutters is fine, Rares is fine, AJ... is moving too fast! She can't run that fast, she's gonna hurt her liver!" Then, she turned her head to me, horrified: "Love, quick! AJ is in trouble!"

In middle of a chaotic dust cloud, Daybreaker and Rainbow Dash were rolling, struggling in mortal combat! As she was told before, Rainbow Dash knew that she must avoid to let Daybreaker to perform her deadly tail attacks, and the best way to do that was to stay as close as possible from her, so she couldn't toss her poisonous kunai without risking in hurting herself. But that was easier saying than done. Staying too close of the alicorn mare meant that she could use her Goddess-like strength to crush her opponent against the ground. That's why Rainbow Dash were using a rolling technique to avoid being anchored in place.

Unfortunately, rolling too fast finally made the centrifuge force too much for Dashie to bear, and she was tossed far away from her opponent. A Kunai tail attack came right after that: "Come over here!" Dashie used her lightning swords as good as she could to protect herself, but she was pulled by a titanical force, and suddenly trapped by two pincer-like alicorn wings.

"Scorpion's wrath!" Exclaimed Daybreaker, and an unstopping rain of tail attacks fell over Dashie's shield and swords!

Unable to escape or to do other thing that just resist, Rainbow Dash closed the eyes, her strenght was abandoning her. Her shield was shattering. Her swords were fading. She won't be able to resist much longer.

"Sorry, Master." She sobbed. "I've failed you... I'm an unworthy student... and I'll never had the chance... to tell you... how much I..."

And all her life passed before her tearful eyes. It was the end...

A powerful five-fold purple beam tossed Daybreaker away from Rainbow Dash, just in the moment that her shield was giving in, and she was tossed on the opposite direction, unconscious!

Daybreaker impacted against the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy, crushing it. She quickly stood on her fours, finding herself surrounded by Twilight, Pinkie and me. But Daybreaker wasn't defeated. Realizing that Rainbow Dash was unconscious, she teleported the cyan pegasi in front of her and put a sword on her neck.

"Easy, easy. The life of this puny pony means nothing to me." She threatened us.

"That's enough, Daybreaker! The war is over, or haven't you noticed?!" I pointed her and swung my arm away.

"Shut up, filthy monkey, or I swear that you'll need a thousand coffins to bury this pony!" Said the alicorn. "Now, you're going to let me go, and end of the story!"

"You're a bucking coward, Daybreaker! Come and fight with honor!" Said Twilight.

"Fight with honor?" Daybreaker chuckled. "Three against one? Where is the honor in there?"

"What do you want? And One-on-One combat?" I asked the alicorn.

"That's right! And how I'm the challenger, I'll choose the opponent!" And then, she pointed to Pinkie: "And I choose her!"

Pinkie shrugged the eyes: "Bring it on, horsehit! We still have a score to settle!"

Daybreaker smirked, and she tossed the frazzled body of Dashie to me.

Twilight opened her eyes and muzzle wide, and then, she turned around, closed the eyes and covered her head with her forelegs, scared to death: "I don't want to see I don't want to see I don't want to see!"

So, I told her: "Love, go and verify that the Crusaders are alright."

Twilight nodded and left.

Pinkie looked back to me, with a look that scared me: "And you... don't you dare to get in the way... or I'll kill you too!"

I gulped and backed off, to give healing treatment to Rainbow Dash on peace.

The wind raised a small twister of dust, and Daybreaker tossed one of her swords in front of Pinkie: "Take. That'll even the odds."

Pinkie took the sword on her muzzle and said: "Hrrmmrrrmmrprft."

Daybreaker shooked the head, chuckling: "What?"

Pinkie spitted the sword: "Pfth! How I'm supposed to say something deep with that thing in the muzzle?!" She angrily complained.

Both mares chuckled.

"It was fun to met you, pink mare. For real." Said Daybreaker.

Pinkie looked to her, surprised: "Huh?"

"You know? If the circumstances were others, we may have been friends." Said Daybreaker with unhiding sadness.

Pinkie shooked the head: "You're still on time to. You haven't any actual need to do this. You know?"

"I'm sorry, pink pony. It's too late for me. Fight with honor and die with glory. That's the only thing that I have left to do." Then, she levitated her remaining sword: "Don't worry, pink pony. I promise to do this as less painful as possible. Get ready!"

Pinkie raised her sword with the muzzle again: "Hrmmrmmrmmprft!"

Daybreaker launched to Pinkie, breaking up with laughter, and the next second, Pinkie had pierced her chest from side to side, and the bloody sword's edge came out from the alicorn's loin. Blood came out from the still smiling muzzle of Daybreaker:

She wearily looked to Pinkie, and raised a foreleg to her chest: "Thank you... pink pony... for giving me... a warrior's death..." She said, smiling with relief.

And Daybreaker fell motionless to the floor, in front of the shocked pink mare...

"An' Discord?! Wha' happened to him?!" Was asking AJ, very concerned.

"How I'm gonna know, AJ?! He wasn't anywhere nearby!" Said Twilight.

"Wha'?! He didn' helped in the battle? None... at all?" Asked AJ, with tearful eyes.

"Nope. We didn't see him. Pinkie had to took down Daybreaker all by herself." Sadly explained Twilight, looking to the trembling pink pony, who was with wide open and quivering eyes, and with shaking lips, still shocked by her very first kill. "And, honestly, I'm more concerned for Pinkie right now. If it makes you to feel better, we already knew that he was a lost cause. You created illusions for nothing, AJ." Said Twilight, turning to face AJ again, with half-lidded eyes, but with great sorrow in her heart, as she knows how much that was hurting her friend. But it was the truth.

AJ closed her tearful eyes, and lowered her head, crying: "Why, Twilight, why? Why Ah always hav' to fail in everythin' Ah try to? Wha' hav' Ah done to deserve thiiiiiis?"

Twilight hugged her. "You didn't failed, AJ. You did more that anypony of us could have done. And that's all that matters."

"But tha's not enough for me! Ah wanted to do it right, not to fail miserably again! Now Ah hav' nothin' to live fooooooor!" Cried AJ.

"No no no no no, AJ, no! Don't worry, my friend, we... we'll find a fix for your disabling... you'll see."

"An' wha' about if you can'? Wha' about if Ah am condemned to be a burden an' a shame for everypony, huh? Ah am not goin' to take it! Ah am not!!"

Twilight looked to me with pleading eyes. I understood and raised my finger: "AJ, you're an useless pony, a burden for your family, and a shame for your friends..."

"Yes, yes! Tha's right! Tha's exactly wha' Ah aaaaaaam!" AJ cried.

I frowned, as it looks like that my inverse psychology wasn't working... "And how you'll be never be able to buck a single tree again, I think that you should give up."

"Ya'r right! Ya'r right!! Ah am givin' up! Everythin' is over for meeeeeee!" Cried AJ, even more in despair.

I scratched the back of my head. That wasn't the reaction I was intending to produce: "And, finally, since you're not capable to stand for yourself, I believe that you should resign to your Element status, and give it to somepony else."

"Yes, yes! Mah sister Applebloom is the new Element of Honesty! Or Big Mac! Any of 'hem will do! Ah already hav' written mah last will! Ah am ready to die... Oooh..." AJ put a hoof in her chest, and later, she put the same hoof in her forehead, and she fell back on her loin. I quickly reached for her, gasping, fearing for her life, but fortunately she had just fainted.

Twilight looked to me, frowning and with scrunched mouth: "You just made it worse..."

I frowned too: "I know..."

What can we do to help Applejack? That's the question we ask ourselves everytime that we wake up in the morning, that have breakfast, that have lunch, that we bath, that we have dinner, and that we go to bed in the night. This is the fourth night that Twilight haven't slept at all, researching on medical an magic books for a fix for AJ. I don't know how she could do that. Anyway, on the fifth day, we're both exhausted at hell.

"I can't go on." Complained Twilight. "I feel responsible for this, but I can't go on anymore. I'm gonna turn crazy." She put a hoof on her unbrushed and disordered mane, with bags under the eyes and a weary look.

"I can't neither." I added. "And, if somepony as smart as you can't find the answer, it's unlikely that I'll find it on my own."

"I give up..." She sadly said. "And I'm still having a duel with Luna... and I'm so tired, that I think I'm gonna lose!"

I shrugged the shoulders. "Well, then, I guess that I'll have to marry Luna."

Twilight looked me with a crazed angry look: "What?! Don't you dare!" She shrugged an eye.

"Well, lose, and you'll see." I said with disdain.

"What the prfth...?!" She angrily blurted. "Never! I'll kill you first!"

"You'll kill me? For real?"

"Yes!"

"You don't have the gu..."

And that was such a couple fight... Ahhhh, how I missed it!

The nightfall found us hugging each other, among a pile of disordered books, broken things and holes all around in floor, walls and roof.

"I hate you." Said my marefriend to me, hugging me with tenderness, just before we both fell asleep...

The next morning, I was awaken by a sudden bucking on my chest, that startled me so much, that I, still sleepy, threw a punch and accidentally hit Twilight's face. Pretty strong.

"Ouch! It hurts!" She complained.

"Damn it, my love! You scared me! Shit, let me heal that..."

"No no no! Listen to me, I got it, I got it!" She happily assured, with a purple eye from my punch...

We both arrived Sweet Apple Acres first thing in the morning: "Hello, Big Mac!" Twilight greeted the big red pony. "We have great news for AJ!"

AJ was with her eyes closed, lying in her bed, as the living image of despair, when we came to visit her: "Wake up, wake up, AJ! I have great news for you!" Happily announced Twilight.

AJ slowly half-lidded the eyes and smiled: "Yeah? Ar' you goin' to let me die? Yes, please. Ah am ready..."

"No, AJ!" Happily replied Twilight. "I've figured out!"

"Wha'?!" AJ fully opened her eyes. "No, ya'r teasin' me Twilight, there's no fix for mah misfortune" But she sounded hopeful, despite her affirmation.

"Yes, there is!" Happily assured Twilight. "The liver is an organ that can regenerate itself, so, if you have a surgery and have the damaged part removed, you'll be as good as new!"

AJ's eyes and muzzle happily opened wide, filled with hope: "And wha'r we waitin' for?!"