Longness of Semper, Still I Remember

"Come on! This has your cloven hooves all over it!"

"I'll have you know I have only one cloven hoof." Said appendage departed from his serpentine body to roundhouse Rainbow's flank. "And such accusations. I thought we were friends."

"Drop the act, buster," her pink friend snapped, "We're on to you!"

"Who else could've told that occult about the vines," asked Comet, more anxious than ticked.

"Better yet," Applejack added, "who else could've known about 'em to break all them loose onto Ponyville?"

"And who else has something to gain from taking the Princesses," Thunderlane wondered, "Somepony who's not currently imprisoned?"

Then Rarity said, "Surely there's just far too many coincidences to suggest otherwise, Discord. How could we not summon you with the Elements?"

"Ladies, stallions. Please, rest assured I am innocent. Would I lie to you?"

"Yes," came the vast majority. Only Fluttershy, Fire Streak and Homestead Hunt offered a "Maybe" instead.

"Well, it seems we have reached an impasse," said Discord feigning interest, "I'm telling the truth, but you think I'm lying. What do friends do in a situation like this, eh Princess? I'm sure you and the rest know a thing or two about trusting others. Congrats on the promotion by the way, Twilight. You deserved it."

"Maybe you didn't let those vines out," Fire Streak offered, "but we're thinking you at least have an idea what's causing this now."

Hearing somepony actually giving this guy a bit of leeway nearly made the prismatic mare explode. But since it was a retired Wonderbolt who seemed to know what he was talking about, she just crossed her forelegs begrudgingly.

But then Homestead spoke. "If you can help point us in the right direction, we'll be able to put in a good word to the Princesses - if they're ever found - then start to trust you a bit more."

That was the feather that broke the Pegasus' back. "Are you kidding me?! This guy's nothing but trouble! I say we blast him back to stone and see if those Disciple pals of his come and free him!"

"Works for me," answered Applejack on impulse, taking her stance.

Rarity stomped, "Hear, hear!"

"Let's see if he's got a funny bone to zap first," Pinkie exclaimed.

"Everyone, shut up!" The grey stallion's outcry caught all their attention, and got Fluttershy to huddle away from him. This situation seemed to bring back unpleasant memories. "Look, I get that you all have doubts on what he's saying. From what I'm told, he's the one who made you the worst versions of yourselves. But even after, did any of you learn from it? I mean, from that wedding I heard about, did any of you show your best selves when Twilight suspected something about Chrysalis incognito?"

All five paused for reflection while glancing sheepishly toward their Alicorn friend, allowing for Homestead to continue. "And yes, even I had a similar experience. Seeing those I looked up to and trusted with my life use me, lie to me, and turn against me like I was some pawn. And I thought that's what life had to offer. Nothing but lies and betrayal, until you came along and showed me otherwise. Then I was glad of the satisfaction knowing those responsible were brought down. So why aren't you satisfied that you showed someone else a better way to be, like Twilight did for Shimmer? Or did any of you not named Fluttershy actually put in the effort to help this guy?"

"Hey, that almost sounded like Zecora!" The amused smirk from said Zebra was forgotten when Homestead stared down at Pinkie for interrupting.

That grating, cryptic voice entering Rainbow's ear embittered her to no end. She knew that voice. She knew exactly whose it was, fuzzy or not. She did not know how it was physically possible, but she did not care right now. She wanted to really make sure he did not say another word after what she saw him do to her friend. But then, she also remembered how far he went to help them all, even save them: half-dead in a bleeding heap. His words also struck a chord with how Twilight still managed to help somepony who wanted to kill her. Despite what that bitch did to Twilight right before that. How she might have done that with Gilda also.

Then she saw how downcast the rest were, while Fluttershy was gaining confidence in hearing somepony support her. She guessed maybe she still felt sore about what happened because of how she acted during those bad times. The Element of Loyalty, for crying out loud. And hay, if nothing else, then she should at least have faith in her best friend since flight school. But now she has somepony else to wonder about, seeing as he obviously kept secrets still, including about himself.

"I may not know the first thing about making friends and keeping them. But I do know if we're just excluding others like this, we're as good as dead. How're we even still alive? How do you know he won't think it's pointless to try to be better without more backup? Why’d you even listen to Celestia to begin with?”

"Damn, Hunt," flatly stated Bon Bon, "that's the most I ever heard you talk."

"Not for me," Moondancer muttered.

"Really, Bon Bon," Rarity chided, "there's a child present."

"What," asked Spike, "I heard worse from those guys at Blood Gulch."

"Hush, darling. It's the principle of the matter."

"It's not my most temperate moment," Homestead shrugged after a calming breath. "Guess something finally snapped. Still though, something had to be said."

"And he's right," Rainbow's timid, yellow friend spoke up. "What if Discord really is telling the truth? We won't know for sure, until we actually give him a chance. Otherwise, that would be unfair to him. And how would that make us any better?"

"Well," said Discord, actually struck dumb by somepony not his best friend standing up for him, "I suppose it's a step in the right direction for us both, mi compadre."

Rainbow Dash barely noted how that sounded like the jerk knew the ex-Freelancer, himself.

"Just," Homestead regained his composure, "tell us what you know. We'll do what we can to stop this from escalating, and you can just walk away after you help us contain it."

"Um, Boss," Moondancer pointedly remarked, as all their attention was brought back to the silent mare of lavender in front of them. Her violet irises shrank in a shocked daze. She never even pointed out Bon's language next to Spike.

"Right, sorry. Princess, what will you have done with Discord?"

She was shaken from her apparent stupor after Spike elbowed her back to the present. "Oh, right. Discord, if you're not responsible, nor helping those Disciples use the vines for cover, then at least help us figure out a way to stop them, save the Tree of Harmony, and find Princesses Luna and Celestia. We're not making any progress by just standing here talking."

"Well," Discord pondered, "I for one am glad this whole drama's come to a close. There's a small band of fellows in the Everfree Forest I know of who might help. They did not bring the plants about, mind you. Those things simply popped up after that illogical Tree finally lost its mojo. However, they may point out somepony they knew and taught to navigate through that chaotic mess, even with my input."

"That's a good place to start, I guess," she sighed. "So long as it's on our way to the Castle ruins."

"Oh, I will do you one better. I'll send you there, myself!"

"Wait, wh-"

And with that, he snapped his talons.

Once the ponies had vanished, he took his lion paw stroking his goatee. "Hm. Perhaps I should have warned them about the carnage they might encounter there. Oh, well. Now, let me see how well those venison tribal folks have been since I last saw them millennia ago!"

But before he pulled his tail to teleport himself this time, he began to ponder further. "Oh, but how am I supposed to surprise and expect anydeer to listen? They probably heard the absolute worst distinctions of mine from their ancestors. That sort of thing never stopped me before. Apparently, that never stopped David there to hold a conversation with those ponies. Though that was nearly a year after they thought he was dead.

So, how did he manage it? By giving himself space from everypony he betrayed? He didn't seem all that intense when he was in the same library with those mares and Dragon. Maybe he wasn't all that off put by crossing paths with them again, knowing it was unavoidable perhaps?

Except for that moment he just suddenly lashed out and had a bit of a tantrum. Almost as if he felt he was deserted and shipwrecked all by his lonesome. Or, wait. Did he actually see something of himself in me? And what about Twilight? I was expecting more of a sharp tongue and lip from her at first. What cat caught her tongue? Or more, whose feline Cutie Mark? Did she find something of herself in him, somehow? Is...is David the common link for me to become good friends with Twilight?"

He floated idly by as the implications flew insensibly over his head and through his ears in a blur unreadable.

"Nah! Why overthink it? Let's just check on the latest King of the Thicket, shall we! Oh, balderdash! Now I'm starting to sound like Zecora, too!"

"Just be sure to close that drama shortly, yourself," the Zebra spoke up, "or else they might read you like a book on a shelf."

"Oh, zip it why don't you! What? Even I have standards not to stoop to vulgar expressions!"