Everything was in pain. Everything I could see was blurry and out focus. I lay there for some unknown amount of time before I could make out what was going on. I was lying on the ground in a clearing of some kind of forest. I ground my teeth and spat out blood on the ground before I tapped the communicator on the side of my helmet.
"Sky! What are my vitals?"
"... I am going to put this as bluntly as possible. You are dying sir." The AI said. He had a naturally bored tone but now it was penetrated by a resounding sadness in his voice.
"Well. That bodes well. Where the hell are we?"
"We appear to be, in all places, Equestria."
"From My Little Pony?" I asked in disbelief.
"That is correct. However, it appears my systems are retreating due to being so far from my source. Goodbye sir."
"Heh. I think I may have just found my trump card. Goodbye Sky." After my AI self-deleted I tore off the helmet and began to crawl towards the middle of the clearing. Leaving a bright red trail of blood behind me. I pushed myself to my knees and looked up at the too-colorful sky and shouted a single word hoping it would be heard.
"DISCORD!"
***
Meanwhile at Fluttershy's cabin Discord stiffened suddenly and almost dropped the trowel he was using. The yellow pegasus stopped gardening and looked at with concern.
"What is it Discord?"
"Someone just called out to me. But I don't recognize their voice." The Draconeques looked down at Fluttershy and let out a long sad sigh. "I'll be just a minute." Then he reached up and snapped his fingers before he disappeared in a flash of light.
Fluttershy sighed. "Be careful."
***
Back in the clearing I waited. Darkness was beginning to creep around the edges of my vision and I wanted nothing more to lay down and sleep. To do that however would mean I would never wake up again, so I forced myself to stay conscious. Suddenly, with a flash of light and a burst of confetti and elongated figure appeared before me. He was a hodgepodge of three different colors on his snake like body and all four of his limbs were from different animals. He glared down at me with burning red eyes. His expression was annoyance and I was sure he was about to blast me into nonexistence. Which would be fine. That wasn't why I wanted his help though.
"Discord. I need your help."
He recoiled in shock. "Who are you. How do you know my name and why should I help you?"
"I travel the multiverse and have run across you before. I am Alex Ramirez, a human from Earth who has just been blasted here by a Shatter Bomb. Why do I need your help? Well, I am dying."
Discord scoffed. "Look kid, I may be the embodiment of chaos and madness. But even I cant create new life..." He looked away a scowled. "Or save it for that matter."
I pulled out a pendant from around my neck that was created in the image of a sword. The chain and the sword itself were gold. As I held it out to Discord his whole body convulsed as if he had a seizure. He turned to stare at the necklace in wonder.
"Wh-What is that!?" He reached for it but I pulled it away.
"This is the embodiment of a gods powers. He chose me for his vessel. I used most of it in order to contain the bomb so it doesn't have much left. However, it should give you the boost you need to give me a new body." I said and handed him the necklace.
"You're trusting me with this, just like that? How do you know I wont betray you?"
I laughed and coughed. I don't, I just need to trust that you will keep your word. So, Discord, Lord of Chaos. Do we have a deal?"
Discord gripped the necklace and then looked at me with a sinister grin. Then he raised his griffin talons and snapped his fingers. Then everything around me turned white... and I was no more.
***
In Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle braced herself as a massive sonic boom shook the castle. Books fell off their shelves and berried poor Spike.
"WHAT IT THE WORLD WAS THAT!?" Called a befuddled Starlight Glimmer from somewhere else. Twilight's face tightened in concern as she unburied her assistant.
"That's the discharge from a massive amount of magic being used. I can only wonder what could've caused it. My only hope is that it wasn't a premonition for something worse."
***
Fluttershy was in the possess of trying to clam down the animals that had been spooked by the blast when Discord reappeared.
"Oh thank goodness your back could you-" Fluttershy had begun but trailed off when she saw him. Discord didn't look different physically but his expression and the way he held himself made him look as old as he really was. He didn't even look at her, instead his gaze was focused on a small necklace in his claws. "Discord?" She asked and reached out for him.
He flinched and then his gaze seemed to refocus and he smiled. "Oh sorry. I was just lost in thought."
Fluttershy frowned but didn't push him on it. Instead she asked. "What's that?"
Discord sighed and shoved it in a nonexistent pocket. It's nothing but a trinket now. All of it's energy is gone. A stranger gave it to me in the hopes that if I used it's power along with my own... I could save his life. How foalish of me to think that would work especially after..." He clenched his fists in frustration and Fluttershy wrapped her hooves around him to comfort him. "That wasn't your fault and you know it. It was just bad luck. Maybe you did save his life."
"How would you know?" He asked bitterly.
"Well you did something that required a lot of magic. I could feel it from here."
He chuckled. "You always know the right things to say Flutter's." He wrapped an arm around her. "Say, after we calm the animals down we go inside and have a cup of tea? We've both worked hard enough today."
"Alright Discord. We can finish the garden tomorrow."
***
The Badlands. The cabin was out of place in this barren wasteland. It was well furnished but it didn't appear have been lived in for long. There was various trinkets and items at the shelves around the room she now sat in. To her they meant nothing. She was supposed to be rehabilitating but she couldn't sit still to let that happen. She hopped off the bed and walked through the combination kitchen and living room before she pushed through the outside door and into the harsh and unforgiving sunlight. The pony she sought stood outside the cabin with her back to her as if she was waiting for her. The unicorn was violet in color with garish blue and purple dyed hair. Her mane was wild and grown out but pulled some of it was pulled back in a loose pony tail. Her tail was in a similar state of disorder but she didn't seem to care. Her name was Magical Mistress but for some absurd reason she preferred to be called Jessica.
"So. It's time I see." She said without looking at her.
"It is time." She agreed.
Jessica turned to her with a sad smile. "I'm going to miss you Chrysalis."
"And I will miss you."
The two hugged briefly and the chuckled awkwardly. "I supposes this is goodbye. I'm just not sure what else to say."
Jessica placed her hoof on Chrysalis's breastplate. "You don't have to say anything. I've already heard it once before."
Chrysalis nodded knowing what she meant. "Goodbye Jessica."
Jessica's horn flared and surrounded Chrysalis in bright purple light and she disappeared. She reappeared on a hill that overlooked Ponyville from a safe distance.
"Look out Twilight Sparkle. Chrysalis is back and coming to rock your world!"
***
In a small shop in the heart of the city of Canterlot a figure stirred in the bed. They didn't know who they were yet. But they knew they had to live. Their shifting stopped and their purple eyes opened with determination burning in them.
