In Ponyville, Spike was wandering across town once again. He passed by the stalls with their amenities to sell to the travelling ponies throughout town. As he walked, his stomach was rumbling with a hunger like none other. He put a claw to his stomach; “Whoa there boy, I’ll get you something. But what is the question…” He trailed off as he looked around the different food carts. He spotted Big Mac over by what looked to be a veggie kebab cart, so he made his way over to his friend. “Big Mac!” Spike yelled as he came closer, waving at the broad pony. They exchanged hoof-bumps and slapped each other on the back. “How’s it hanging? I was just looking at these kebabs myself and thought they looked awesome!”

“Eeeeyup!” The red stallion said with a smile on his face. He took another bite of one he already had purchased. Spike handed up the bits to the cashier and grabbed two for himself, downing the first in seconds.

“Mmmmm! That hit the spot dude! What a find!” Spike licked his lips as he looked at his other. Something was off about it. The zucchini on the top had sprouted what looked like… eyes.

“Well boys, I was hoping to find you two together!” Discord’s face appeared in front of the zucchini. “And with such delicious snacks for our session of O&O!” He turned into his ‘normal’ self between the two friends and snapped his finger, making the kebab turn into the cardboard cutout of Spike’s character.

“Sorry Discord, but Twilight is using the whole castle today with her friends and doesn’t want anyone disturbing her.” Discord scowled and turned to Spike.

“But what if I’m as quiet as a mouse!” He exclaimed, turning into a tiny mouse that ran between Big Mac’s legs. “Or even better, Fluttershy!” He yelled. Spike had a disapproving look on his face. Discord stopped and came back to himself. “Oh, you’re right, pink mane was never my color anyway.” Big Mac was already turning to head back to the farm, but Discord turned and grabbed his yoke and hoisted him into his arms. “Say, your barn wouldn’t have a quite sufficient pile of hay in it that could substitute as a table?” He asked as he batted his eyes at the stallion in his arms.

“Eeeeenope” Big Mac said as he huffed at Discord. Discord opened his arms, letting Big Mac fall to the ground with a thunk.

“Oh, very well, we can go to my place then!” He raised his hands to snap them away, but spike flew in front of him to catch his fingers.

“Discord! Stop. Big Mac still has half his chores left, and I have to get back and help Twilight with whatever it is they’re doing. She was really demanding that I get back in time before Celestia and Luna show up.” Discord opened one of his eyes and looked at the dragon.

“Tia and Lulu are visiting Twilie??? And I didn’t get an invite! What has this world come to.” He turned a shade of green that was putrid to look at. “Say, Spike, why don’t I come help with you and maybe with my added help we can make enough time for a game!” Before Spike could respond, Discord snapped his fingers and they teleported right into the library of the castle of friendship, where the three princesses were already sitting around a table together. Between them was an old looking book. Just before Spike and Discord came crashing down on the table, Celestia snatched the book and Discord made himself hover. Spike remembered he had wings just before he hit the table and floated up to Discord with a stern look on his face.

“Spike! Discord! I said no O&O today! I’m super busy and kind of WITH THE OTHER PRINCESSES!” Twilight yelled as she glared at them both.

“Sorry Twilight, I tried telling Discord, but he insisted on ‘helping out’.” Discord was lounging in the air as he peeped down at the four who were so upset by his appearance.

“Oh, my deepest apologies your highnesses. I just thought I could be a good friend and help you finish whatever you’re doing so the guys can get back to painting the town red! Or should I say Spiketopia.” He winked at Spike who facepalmed at the comment.

“Discord, while I appreciate the offer, we are kind of in the middle of a very sensitive matter that is also a little PRIVATE!” Twilight steamed again. Discord looked hurt and put his paw to his heart.

“My deepest apologies your majesty, I just didn’t think friends kept secrets, or perhaps my friendship lessons didn’t go over so well! Woe is me!” He feigned as he smirked through his over-dramatic one-pony play. Celestia raised a hoof and spoke.

“Actually Twilight, Discord may be of some use in this matter. He is the only one besides Starswirl who still existed at the time.” Discord stuck his tongue out at Twilight, believing he had won the contest. Twilight sighed and put her head down on the table. “Discord, we wanted to know if you have any knowledge of the Lichen creature?” The question stopped Discord in his tracks. He lowered himself down with his talon hand to his chin.

“Lichen… ah yes that ghastly creature that caused so much chaos all those millennia ago! He almost put me out of a job you know! Sometimes too much chaos can be bad for the economy!” He pulled out a wallet and showed the room how empty it was.

“Then you must know of the pony who made it, Star Strider” Luna interjected before the performance could continue. Discord again thought deeply about the name.

“It is familiar, but I can’t put a face to the name. When you’re the lord of chaos you meet so many famous ponies its hard to keep them straight!”

“Discord” Twilight said sternly as he began another act. He caught the fire in her eyes and cleared his throat.

“Well, since you all are so eager to know and I don’t really feel like remembering, I’ll just play the memory on this new-fangled T.V. I found!” He snapped his fingers, and a wide screen filled a wall of the library. On it, a perspective appeared of what seemed to be Discord’s. A Steel-colored earth pony stood in front of their view, wearing a cloak, and looking worried.

“So, master of chaos, I give you this, and you show me the chaos dimension spell?” The view shook with laughter as the old Discord put his paw to his face.

“Oh, you make it sound so important! Honestly, the fact any of you ponies would want to go there is so amazing! Maybe one day, I can share it with this world!” The gray pony pulled out a bag of black pebbles, ones that Twilight recognized as the seeds Discord planted to kidnap Celestia and Luna and destroy the tree of Harmony.

“256 seeds, yours to sew. But be careful where you use them, they have a mind of their own.” Discord reached forward and grabbed the bag, popping a few into his mouth. The screen shivered as he swallowed, clearly enjoying the little seeds.

“Delicious. Any for you? They have quite the nutrition you know.” The pony held up his hoof in rejection.

“Thank you, uh, Discord, but all I need now is the spell for the dimension. It’s my failsafe.” Discord shrugged and conjured a scroll in front of the pony.

“Here, but I don’t know if you can use it to get out, just to enter, since that is all you asked for.” The pony grabbed the scroll and tucked it in his cloak.

“Thanks, but I just need the one-way ticket.” The pony turned and started away, and the vision on the screen faded. The Princesses stood with their mouths agape, and Discord was munching on popcorn he had made sometime during the show.

“Oh my, you all should see your faces! You look as though you met me! Which of course is always breathtaking.” He did a show bow in front of them, but they did not react in the slightest. “Hey, what gives? You’re all acting boring. Well, more boring than normal I should say. Spike shrugged when Discord pointed towards the three. Celestia was the first to move. She blinked and closed her mouth, clearing her throat as she did.

“Discord, may we inquire of you the spell you gave to Star Strider?” He was twirling a scroll in his hands and looked over, making the scroll disappear.

“I could… but what do I get from that? That’s like you just barging into my home!” Twilight glared at him again.

“And what kind of friend would do that.” She seethed. Discord reared back and tugged at his neck.

“Fair point, but listen, Fluttershy is the only one I’ve taken there, and she had my protection. She hasn’t even been out of my house! All that chaos would drive a pony mad for sure.” Luna floated up to him and asked “but time stands still there, does it not? So, anything inside does not grow with the seasons?” Discord smirked at the princess and snapped his fingers, teleporting him to Twilight’s throne.

“Quite so my dear, one of the most maddening things is nothing happening at all!” He laughed as he thought about the friends wandering his homescape of oblivion all on their own. As his laughter died, he cleared his throat and conjured up two scrolls. “Very well, these are the opening and return spells to the dimension of chaos. But I cannot attend you while there. If the other creatures of chaos knew I helped you, they would protest on my lawn for all eternity!” Luna accepted the two scrolls in her hooves and floated to the table, spreading them next to the book they had. Discord rolled his eyes and started up, “Well, as much fun as nerding out with you was, I’d rather be doing… anything else. See you in the madness!” He saluted and twisted into himself until he disappeared.

The princesses looked over the scrolls and the book thousands of times without speaking. Spike wandered away to find more food, knowing Twilight would yell his name if she needed him. Suddenly, Celestia jumped up and yelled ‘A-ha!” as she pointed her hoof at a passage in the book. “Star Strider writes here: ‘I will use the spell from the Lord of Chaos to trap the creature forever in a place where it will not be out of place. My only hope is that it can be accomplished without my coercing through physical force.’” The two other princesses gather around the book and read the words themselves.

“This is the last page of the book…” Twilight said.

“Which means, he most likely had to use that physical force he was talking about.” Luna added as they all sat back in their chairs. Celestia stood and scooped up the materials.

“Thank you for all your help, Twilight, but Luna and I must go. We will resolve these matters in our own time.” She started for the door as Twilight leapt up to join them.

“Oh, it’s no bother, but please, let me know what you find? I just can’t stop thinking about all the discoveries that could occur if you really succeed in rescuing the mentor of Starswirl. I mean, who knows more than the pony who taught the pony who knows everything?” She snorted as she walked them to the door. Celestia turned back with Luna and embraced her student.

“We will, but please keep this a secret as long as you can so we may surprise our old teacher with his.” Twilight nodded.

“I promise.”

“Good, then we must be off. Thank you again Twilight. It is always a pleasure to see you.” With their goodbyes said, Celestia and Luna began flying towards Canterlot to attend their royal duties.

Author's Note

Bit of a shorter chapter with a couple extra characters to help flush out the story, hence the earlier publishing. We're getting to the meaty part of the story so stay tuned!