Let's start over, shall we?

Chapters

A new day, a new opportunity
What are we about to do?
Are We Ready to Start Over?

A new day, a new opportunity

Twilight lay in the soft, comfortable bed of her palace, wrapped in fine blankets that covered her almost entirely, leaving only her head exposed. Slowly, she rose and began to walk across her room, the gentle sound of her hooves on the marble floor leading her to the bathroom. Once there, still sleepy, she turned on the faucet and splashed some water on her face. The cold water ran down her cheeks, finally waking her up. "A new day, Twilight, another day," she murmured to herself.

Using her magic, Twilight carefully picked up a handkerchief, delicately woven with her initials and her cutie mark. She gently patted the damp areas of her face, looking at the handkerchief with a mix of nostalgia and pain.

Centuries ago, Twilight found it a bit excessive that Rarity would give her a handkerchief every time they reunited. Once Twilight became the ruler of Equestria, she focused entirely on governing, leaving very little time to spend with her friends, moments that were priceless to her. For Twilight, seeing her friends was the greatest gift, and she cherished every second she could spend with them. While Twilight had unlimited time, her friends did not, and one by one, they passed away. Twilight made sure to be present at each of their final moments. Now, she deeply regretted telling Rarity that such gifts were unnecessary.

Twilight gently folded and placed the handkerchief back where she had taken it from. She then returned to her bedroom, putting on her hoof guards and crown before calmly leaving her quarters. As she passed through the door, dozens of guards bowed to her before returning to their posts. Twilight smiled maternally and, seeing a young adult dragon standing outside her door with a list, couldn't help but let out a small smile.

"Good morning, Twilight! Are you ready to raise the sun, or should I add it to the list of duties?" Spike said, holding a list with a quill.

"Trying to be funny as always, Spike, but remember, before being the ruler of Equestria, I was the princess of lists," Twilight replied with a small laugh, noticing Spike's slightly old but well-kept scarf.

Twilight began her walk towards the balcony, and with each step, pairs of guards would bow and then rise to follow her. Spike walked beside her on her right. When they finally reached the balcony and opened the doors, the gentle morning breeze was already present, though the moon still hung in the starry sky. Twilight slowly accumulated her magic in her horn and spread her wings, lowering the moon to bring forth the day and reveal the bright star that once belonged to her mentor. Once she had raised the sun, Twilight kindly dismissed the guards, who returned to their posts, and then she and Spike walked towards the royal dining room for breakfast.

"Hey Spike... Wouldn't you like to take your scarf to a royal tailor? It looks like you've taken good care of it, but it wouldn't hurt to have it looked at by skilled hooves."

Spike slowly took his scarf and made a face of discomfort."I don't think that's necessary, Twilight... You know this scarf was a gift from Rarity. I appreciate your offer, but I'd really like to keep it... You know, just between me and her."

Twilight looked at Spike with a bit of sadness, fully understanding him. Spike still hadn't gotten over Rarity's absence, although Twilight quickly hid her emotions behind the well-practiced mask of the caring and maternal regent she had to be.

When they arrived at the dining room, breakfast proceeded normally. Twilight ordered the same thing she had for the past few years: some cupcakes as a starter, followed by a flower sandwich, and apple pie for dessert. Twilight mainly enjoyed the starter and dessert, even though they weren't as delicious as those made by her dear old friends. But just eating them brought a warmth to her heart that she always treasured along with her bittersweet memories.

Finally, the most tedious and long part of the day arrived: Twilight's court, which she attended almost every day, making her life monotonous and frustrating. Fortunately, Twilight could say that she, her friends, and her former School of Friendship bore fruit, as she only received simple, if not trivial, problems from nobles and high-status ponies who were whiny and demanding. So, Twilight sat on her throne with Spike by her side.

The court proceeded normally for Twilight, who was definitely tired of looking at the same paintings, columns, and guards while noble after noble came in to complain and demand nonsensical things. Twilight would simply affirm that their requests would be reviewed, hoping they would forget their absurd demands. In some cases, Twilight felt a bit uncomfortable and sad, as several nobles tried to flatter her and suck up to her, which she did not enjoy. Twilight never liked being treated like a deity by other ponies, as she considered herself just another pony.

Unexpectedly, a visit arrived that put Twilight on alert and made Spike excited, though he tried to hide it, unsuccessfully, as his tail wouldn't stop wagging.

"Good morning, Princess Twilight. It's a pleasure to see you. I've spent quite a few years waiting in your court line," Discord said, teleporting to the center of the room while lifting the confused noble who was about to speak with Twilight, suddenly elevating him with his magic and ejecting him from the throne room, closing the doors behind him.

"Discord, what brings you here unexpectedly? Are you here to prank my guards again or to take my mirror for your annoying games and tricks?" Twilight said, trying to appear as tall and firm as possible while the guards shook a bit in fear and trauma from the chaotic events Discord had previously caused.

"Calm down, princess. Aren't you happy to see your old friend? It really saddens me to be treated with such caution by my oldest and dearest friend!" Discord said, dramatically falling backward onto a copy of himself, crying on his shoulder.

"Enough games, Discord. We both know you only come around when you plan to cause trouble," Twilight said, bringing a hoof to her forehead and sighing lightly. "I'm listening, Discord. What does my 'old friend' need?"

Discord looked cheerfully at Twilight and quickly teleported behind her, wrapping an arm around her neck and playing with her flowing mane. "That's the spirit of my favorite princess! I'm here to propose a deal, something you and I truly desire."

"What we desire sounds like trouble, Discord. If it's a joke, save it. I have things to attend to," Twilight said, using her magic to separate herself from Discord.

"What a shame, Twilight. I thought you would enjoy spending another day with your friends, your parents, your brother, and all your loved ones without altering the past and with no consequences," Discord said, teleporting to the grand doors of the throne room, dressed in a suit, bowing, and tipping his hat while holding a briefcase.

"Wait!... Are you serious? Is that really possible?" Twilight said, pensively, wondering if this was another prank.

"I could see Rarity again!... I mean, we could hang out with Big Mac again, you know, for our guys' night," the dragon said, blushing a little, trying to hide it.

"Of course! I swear on my friendship with Fluttershy!," Discord said, placing a hand on his chest.

"What's the catch, Discord? You usually tend to omit small details in your deals," Twilight said, annoyed. If this was a joke, she would have to restrain herself from turning him to stone again.

"You're as sharp as ever, Princess. I expected nothing less from Celestia's star pupil. Time has certainly paid off. What I need to bring back all our friends is... I need you to lend me your magic, Princess."

"That's not something to joke about, Discord!" Twilight said in her Royal Canterlot Voice. "You're taking this too far; it's not funny to joke about taking my magic and especially about the death and false resurrection of our friends!"

"It seems the wound is still fresh for you, Twilight," Discord said, a bit melancholic. "I understand, my dear friend. I still haven't gotten over... My best and first friend. I truly speak the truth. I've studied for the past 200 years, finding a way to bring them back, even if just for a day, without any consequences! And I found the way, but I need you to lend me your magic."

"How do you plan to do it, and why do you need my magic?" Twilight said, doubtful. Despite knowing Discord for years, she knew he was unpredictable, but his sadness felt as deep as hers.

"You see, Twilight, I..."

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Honestly, it took me quite some time to come up with the concept and story for this fic, which is heavily inspired by Five Score. What really took time, though, was gathering the courage to publish it. This story serves as an introduction and provides some context for what I truly plan to do, and I intend to divide this introduction into three parts. The next two parts are currently under edit and being translated.

I would be delighted to read your comments and suggestions. Thank you for reading the beginning of my first attempt at a fic!.

What are we about to do?

Discord found himself in a supposedly haunted forest, a place no pony would enter without a significant reason, a place where nature acted on its own, posing the greatest terror to the weather team and the Apple family. This place, called the Everfree Forest, was once what Discord might have called home before a lovely pegasus came into his life.

As he moved through the forest, Discord finally arrived at a quaint cabin on the outskirts. In the yard, a large bear was obediently following the orders of a disgruntled rabbit, who was directing the bear to pull carrots from the ground. Discord watched this scene with a fond smile, remembering how Fluttershy would try, often in vain, to discipline her devilish little rabbit.

With a snap of his fingers, Discord's body became almost translucent and light, his feet passing through the ground. He quickly grabbed his tail and flapped his wings, adjusting his height before entering the cabin.

Inside, Discord saw something that nearly brought him to tears. His heart raced, and his hands trembled. Before him stood Fluttershy, near a window, accompanied by a pair of birds. She seemed to be making a birdhouse for them, laughing gently as the birds chirped happily around her.

Discord demonstrated incredible self-control, as despite his wavering, he never revealed himself to his dear friend. Instead, he noticed his past self sitting on the couch, looking at him seriously. They locked eyes for a moment, and then the past Discord nodded and pointed upstairs.

Ascending to the upper floor, Discord entered Fluttershy’s bedroom, feeling a powerful wave of nostalgia that brought tears to his eyes. He moved slowly across the room to stand in front of Fluttershy’s dresser, where he saw a small birdhouse. It was crudely made, clearly the work of an amateur, the paint having run in places. This birdhouse was the first one Fluttershy ever made, and though it wasn’t very pretty, it was cherished by Fluttershy and thus, by Discord as well. He duplicated it and stored it in his pocket dimension. Then, he duplicated a few strands of Fluttershy’s hair from a brush and, after storing them, snapped his fingers and found himself in the center of Ponyville.

Discord couldn't help but remember the good times and jokes he enjoyed here. He wished he could materialize and live here again, but he knew he couldn't risk his friend Fluttershy's life and future happiness. As he floated, unseen, he was passed through by Bon Bon and Lyra without them noticing him, which made Discord a little uncomfortable. When suddenly he heard a voice that he didn't usually hear much since Fluttershy left.

"Fluttershy would be truly disappointed by what you're planning," said a miniature Discord with alicorn wings and horn, his fur white and his aura reminiscent of Celestia, as he perched on Discord’s right shoulder. "Twilight trusted you. You used Fluttershy’s name to convince her! Are you really going to tarnish the name and the promises you made to Fluttershy?"

Discord felt a moment of doubt. Was he really doing the right thing? For him, it was completely justifiable, this was his chance to have Fluttershy back and to relive the time he so cherished.

"Nonsense! Don’t listen to that bitter party pooper" said another miniature Discord on his left shoulder, resembling Tirek, with dark horns and black and red fur. "You’re Discord, the embodiment of Chaos. And technically, we didn’t lie to Twilight; we just gave her a half-truth, sweetened with what she desired. Isn’t it a friend’s duty to make their friends happy?"

"Party pooper, your mom! Discord, you know our spell isn’t completely safe. We don’t even know if it will work. We could end up destroying this reality and the other. And if the spell does work, who knows how Harmony will react? There’s no guarantee that the Fluttershy you try to recreate will be the same one we love!" The logical side of Discord had a point, making him sweat and hyperventilate.

The chaotic conscience slapped Discord. "Calm down, big guy! We’re the lord of Chaos, remember? What’s wrong with your plan? We’re doing our job, and it’s to make us happy. Remember, you’re Discord, the embodiment of chaos, not harmony, friendship, or order."

"Why do all the ponies get to be happy and have good lives, while you’re chained to the memory of your only true friend, the only one who treated you like just another pony? Do you really think the princesses, Twilight, and her friends saw you as a friend? I don’t." said the chaotic, erratic conscience of Discord, literally kicking the rational conscience, sending it on a paid tour to Cloudsdale.

Those words stung Discord deeply. It was a constant thought he hated to believe might be true. He was about to say something when the chaotic conscience grabbed his beard. "Open your eyes! They didn’t see you as a friend, only Fluttershy did, and maybe Starlight, though I doubt it. Twilight treats you like a pet, using your friendship and affection for Fluttershy as a leash. Ponies have had over a thousand years of peace and harmony, and you’re here, alone and friendless. It’s our turn to finally be happy and be with our friend."

These words rekindled the chaotic flame of determination in Discord. In record time, he would gather an item from each of Fluttershy’s friends to recreate the happiest, most beautiful time of his infinite and eternal life, even if it meant dooming one reality and altering another.

And so, Discord set to work, starting with the rest of Fluttershy’s dear friends.

Twilight headed to a distant place, as the nearest town was a 20-minute flight for a pegasus at full speed and about six hours from Canterlot. She finally arrived at her destination, enveloped by the scent of the sea and the beach, along with the relaxing sound of waves crashing against the sand. Twilight walked along a path until she observed a small bay with a modest house, so she proceeded towards the cabin. She was a bit anxious and emotional as she approached the door.

"It can't be, it's Princess Twilight! What could bring the ruler of Equestria here?" Celestia exclaimed, emerging from behind some palm trees. She carried a basket full of shells and a handkerchief slightly dirty with sand. Celestia walked up to Twilight and bowed before her, clearly enjoying her life as a normal pony with little burden on her shoulders.

"Please, Celestia, there's no need to bow. You know it's not necessary. Please, stand up," Twilight said nervously, feeling a bit uncomfortable seeing her former teacher and role model bow before her.

"I see you finally understand how I felt before, don't you? I remember a little Twilight following me everywhere like a cute little flea in my fur. You were so adorable, and then you grew up to be my dear friend and book-obsessed student. You know, when you went to Ponyville, I hoped you'd start seeing me more as a friend, and it took quite a while. I remember all the trouble you went through to achieve excellence for me when all I needed was a cake and a bit of your time," Celestia said, laughing maternally.

"Yes... I finally understand how you felt, being treated like... a superior being, when really, you're just a normal pony. We're immortally long-lived, but we can still... die," Twilight said, sighing.

"Well, you are an alicorn. To most ponies, you're like a deity, a sort of goddess or savior expected to solve all their problems, even if we don't like it. I have to admit, it saddened me that we grew distant a few decades after you started ruling, but I don't blame you. After all, you're the ruler of Equestria now, and I know how exhausting and draining it can be." Celestia sighed softly. It wasn't that she hated ruling, although she did for a time, especially when her sister was absent. Rather, the memory of her long, monotonous life as a regent, which spanned over a millennium, brought a mental fatigue. Celestia would need at least half a millennium of rest before even considering taking her position again.

"Yeah... I should have written to you and Luna, but ruling really consumes so much of my time. I can barely hold a conversation with Spike without being interrupted by some issue or another. I definitely think I should start looking for a new apprentice at the School of Friendship, as it seemed to work well for the previous regent," Twilight said with a light laugh, causing Celestia to blush slightly.

"Well, I think it will be nearly impossible to find as good a student as the one I had. She was truly one in a million". Celestia said as she gave Twilight a little playful nudge.

"But I have to ask, are things going so badly that you're already looking for a new student? I don't think the nobles and high society ponies are driving you crazy, are they?." Celestia placed a hoof to her chin, pondering if she was bothering Twilight, "Though, I suppose what bothers you the most is how some nobles and elite ponies try to kiss your hooves, seeking to curry favor and gain your approval."

"Don't even mention it. Every time I think about it, it makes me feel very uncomfortable," Twilight said, looking at her front hooves. "I remember once a pony tried to kiss my hooves to emphasize how much he praised me and why I should help him with a mining project. He was really desperate, but his plan involved demolishing a small town that was forming near a mountain," Twilight said, a bit annoyed.

"Tell me what's bothering you, Twilight. I don't think it's that absurd request. What could really trouble my best student, the ultimate heroine of Equestria, and the ruler of Equestria with the most peaceful reign so far? What could you need from this retired mare? Or are you looking for Luna?" Celestia asked, a bit confused by Twilight's anguished appearance.

"Well... I came to ask you and Luna for advice. You see... it's about Discord," Twilight said timidly, causing Celestia to sigh and open the door to her house.

"Let's go inside, Twilight. You can sit in the living room if you like. I'll go wake up Luna. There's cake in the fridge if you're a bit hungry, though don't eat it all," Celestia said, entering the house and going upstairs.

Twilight entered the house and saw how cozy it looked. It had a bit of both sisters, images of the sun and the moon, as well as the sisters themselves. Twilight, a bit distracted by observing the cabin, sat on the sofa in the living room while she waited for Celestia and Luna. Twilight thought deeply about Discord's deal.
Twilight.
Is it really possible to bring back all her friends and acquaintances for a day without affecting time and space? If it's possible, from when would her friends come? Knowing Discord, he could bring her friends before they even knew each other, or he could bring them all when they were just little foals. That would be cute, especially Fluttershy, but it's not what Twilight hoped for.
T-Twilight!.
There's also the question of why Discord needed her magic. If Discord is so powerful, why would he need the magic of an alicorn? Something doesn't add up, but this isn't what worries Twilight the most. If Discord is telling the truth, wouldn't seeing her friends again reopen the wound that's barely healing? Twilight truly wishes to see her friends, but she knows that will only happen when it's her turn to rest. Besides, she doesn't really know the consequences this could bring...

"Equestria calling TWILIGHT!" Luna said beside her. "Is this normal for her? Did she break or something?" she asked, waving a hoof in front of Twilight's lost gaze.

"No idea, sister. She probably lost her list or forgot a book," Celestia said, cutting a slice of cake and putting it on a plate, then taking the rest and bringing it to the living room where Luna and Twilight were.

"I have an idea..." Celestia placed her cake on a shelf and rummaged in a drawer until she pulled out a newspaper and started reading it aloud.

"The head of the School of Friendship has just proclaimed that homework will no longer be necessary, and subjects requiring books will be optional. The library will be replaced with an area specialized in quesadillas..."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!? THAT WON'T BE POSSIBLE, NOT UNDER MY REIGN!" Twilight said, jumping up from the sofa. Her fur was bristled, and her eyes showed worry and nervousness. She quickly extended her wings and began concentrating magic in her horn, preparing a teleportation spell.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down, Twilight. I made it all up. There's no quesadilla in sight, alright? We finally have your attention," Celestia said, tossing the newspaper to Twilight, which only talked about a play being held in the town 20 minutes from where they were. Celestia then took her cake and sat on the couch next to Twilight.

"My sister tells me you wanted to see us, Twilight, something caused by Discord from what she mentioned. What did he do now?" Luna asked, worried. "Did he harm your guards or... turn evil again?" Luna asked, her eyes filled with tenacity, fearing the worst.

"NO, he... well, he... hasn't done anything bad, for now. He's planning something, something I agreed to help him with. But I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do. I have too many questions and few answers," Twilight responded, a bit overwhelmed.

"Could you share that information with us, Twilight? I know you're now the ruler of Equestria and have your own matters, after all, I did the same. But the more Luna and I know about what's troubling you and what Discord is planning, the more we can help you," Celestia said, slowly taking Twilight's crown and placing it on the shelf next to the sofa. "Because you're among friends, and remember you can be honest with us, Twilight."

"We'll support you as much as we can, Twilight. That's what friends are for, right?" Luna said, sitting next to Twilight and wrapping her with one of her wings.

Twilight timidly shrank. "That's actually the problem... Discord found a way to bring... to bring our friends back for a day, supposedly without altering our timeline, without any consequences..."

"THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE," Celestia said, alarmed. She quickly got up from the sofa and started trotting in circles, upset.

"Discord doesn't have that kind of power. Sure, he's the manifestation of chaos, but neither chaos nor harmony can interfere with life or death. Neither Discord nor we can alter that unalterable cycle. You've seen that power yourself, Twilight. Even harmony, the most powerful force in our world, doesn't annihilate or kill those who threaten it. It merely imprisons them in stone or purifies them of their evils, like Luna with Nightmare Moon." When Celestia mentioned Nightmare Moon, Luna lowered her head, a bit sad. Though she had dealt with that delicate issue, being used as an example wasn't very pleasant.

"If there's one thing we're sure of, Twilight, it's that Discord is planning something else. You must be careful and not let your guard down. Discord is a very unpredictable being, the best actor and liar that has ever existed. He may have been reformed, but Fluttershy is no longer with us, and there's no one to keep him in check. I know it sounds tempting to see your friends again, believe me, Celestia and I know perfectly well that it's not possible," Luna said, looking downcast while Celestia gazed at both with sadness.

"Letting go of others and accepting that they're no longer with us is difficult. You might feel like the world is ending and there's no reason to go on," Celestia said, lifting Twilight's chin with her wing to look her in the eyes. "But life moves on, and time never stops or forgives. I know you see your immortally long life as a curse, but it doesn't have to be. Think of how many amazing ponies you'll get to know. Like you, if I weren't immortal, I wouldn't have met you, or Cadance, or your lovely niece."

Twilight stood up from the sofa and took her crown as she headed to the door, trying to hide her tears. But knowing Celestia, she was deeply sad and overwhelmed. "I would have liked to chat under different circumstances. It was really nice to see you both again. Thank you for letting me into your beautiful home, Luna, Celestia. You've given me a lot to think about. I hope to come back another day for tea if you'll allow it," Twilight said before taking flight and teleporting back to her palace.

"Should we follow her? She didn't take it very well, to be honest," Luna said, a bit worried, starting to spread her wings, though Celestia stopped her by placing a hoof in her way.

"I know Twilight very well. After all, I was her teacher for many years. Sometimes I don't like to think of it, but she's like a daughter to me. Though I want her to see me more as a friend than her former teacher and mentor, but I agree with you, sister. We should follow her but not interfere unless necessary. Let's avoid being discovered. I don't want to cause any negative feelings or remorse in Twilight..."

Are We Ready to Start Over?

Discord finally returned to the present, standing in the center of the throne room. He had gathered all the artifacts and samples from the ponies that he believed were necessary to recreate his most beloved era. Now, he was making the final preparations. Discord began to draw a series of ancient and chaotic magical symbols, forming a huge circle. He then scratched his ear, extracting a bit of earwax, and flicked it right into the center of the circle. The moment the earwax touched the ground, it transformed into Twilight's magic mirror.

"Wow, Discord... what's all this?" Spike asked as he entered the throne room, gesturing to the guards to relax.

The royal guards were incredibly nervous, given the last known story of Discord, where he turned all the royal guards into chocolate and marshmallow ponies for Hearts and Hooves Day, even though that was over fifty years ago.

"Is that Twilight's interdimensional mirror? Is it for the spell to bring our friends back?" Spike asked as he stood next to Discord, holding a cup full of gems.

"Yes, my scaly little friend. Once Twilight arrives, we’ll be able to see all our friends again and have the grandest adventure of Ogres & Oubliettes!" Discord said, snapping his fingers and transforming both himself and the young dragon into their Ogres & Oubliettes characters. Discord felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him as he donned his costume, and he couldn't help but laugh at Spike, whose outfit was comically too small.

It had been a long time since Spike and Discord had a boys' night. They had tried to have one with other ponies and creatures, but after Big Mac left, Ogres & Oubliettes just wasn’t the same. Gradually, Discord and Spike began to drift apart.

"I'm glad. That... sounds really exciting!" Spike said, struggling with his too-small outfit, which was suffocating him.

Discord, laughing, snapped his fingers again, making Spike's costume fit perfectly for a grand dragon lord.

"You'll get used to the outfit, Spike. Consider it an early gift for a few centuries in the future. Now, where is our dear ruler? One would think she’d be here for the grand moment, or at least for her dreadfully boring court," Discord said, conjuring a sofa and lounging on it.

"Well, Twilight told me she needed to think for a bit and asked to be left alone. So, I don’t know exactly where she is, and I doubt any guard knows either. But I can send her a letter to find out... I suppose all this talk of seeing the girls, her parents, and... and Shining. She probably went to see Flurry Heart and Cadance. Maybe she’s making a list-"

Suddenly, Twilight entered the throne room. Discord quickly jumped off the sofa and duplicated himself into rows of bards playing trumpets around Twilight as she approached the throne.

"Well! You arrived! I feared for a moment you might chicken out and not come. I was terrified that young Spike and I would have to rule Equestria in your absence. I could already see myself sitting on your throne, hearing silly petitions."

"Discord... I need to tell you someth-" Discord silenced Twilight with a quesadilla.

"Yes, yes, yes, Twilight, we have a spell to cast. Once we’re done, you can tell me anything you want, I promise. Now, I need your magic, and I promise we’ll see our friends again!" Twilight, annoyed, spat out the quesadilla, trying to look as serious and firm as possible, although the quesadilla had clearly surprised her and shaken her confidence. But she still had to be firm.

"We're not doing that spell, Discord. I won't help you. I don’t know what you’re really planning, but you won’t get my magic," Twilight said firmly, eyeing the strange symbols on the floor, which gave her a bad feeling.

Suddenly, the copies of Discord vanished, the birds' singing ceased, and the gentle breeze died instantly. Discord snapped his fingers, and all the guards who had taken a defensive stance suddenly

"Twilight, what did you just say?" Discord asked slowly, rubbing the bridge of his snout. The open doors of the throne room slammed shut, and the sound of the guards outside trying to force their way in could be heard.

The atmosphere was the most tense Twilight and Spike had ever experienced. Neither Nightmare Moon nor Tirek had managed to make Twilight's fur stand on end like this. For the first time in centuries, Twilight feared for her life and the lives of her beloved ponies. Now, it was just her and Spike with the Lord of Chaos, and for the first time, her friends would not be coming to help her. Finally, Discord began to laugh maniacally, his laughter likely echoing throughout Equus, frightening and unsettling every living being who heard it.

"Well! I didn't expect that answer from you, Twilight. It seems we adults will have to have a warm chat." Discord snapped his fingers, and Spike fell unconscious to the ground, breaking his cup of gems.

"You’re still too young to participate in adult conversations, my dear dragon. Now, Twilight, could you repeat what you said? I think I didn’t get all the wax out of my ear, so I must have misheard you... right?"

"I... Discord..." Twilight was at a loss. Discord had proven not to be evil in the past, and she even considered him a good friend. However, after Fluttershy passed away, Discord changed, distancing himself and only returning to play pranks. Although these pranks were neither malicious nor dangerous, they had made Twilight see Discord as more of a nuisance, knowing he would only add more hours to her workload. But now, Discord seemed like the malevolent Lord of Chaos she and her friends had once imprisoned in stone. This time, she was alone; even Spike was unconscious. There was no time to send a letter to Smolder, the current leader of the Elements of Harmony. All she could do was buy more time, hoping Smolder would notice something was amiss.

"Discord, I don't think we were about to do the right thing. Neither harmony nor chaos should tamper with life and dea-"

Suddenly, Discord grabbed Twilight with his lion arm, which had grown gigantic. Twilight could feel the pressure of his hand and the coarse fur of his fingers wrapping roughly around her before he slammed her into the largest symbol in the circle he had drawn.

"I’m tired of being patient, Twilight. I’ve lived a life full of pure chaos, destruction, and jokes, but always alone. Then I was imprisoned for millennia and freed, finally finding happiness and your precious 'friendship.' But like all things, it had to end, didn’t it? After centuries of study and effort, I found a way to be happy again, to reclaim the beacon of light and joy I cherished most. I thought you, like me, would want this too, but it seems I didn’t know my supposed friend as well as I thought. Believe me, Twilight, I still consider you a friend; otherwise, I would have already taken your magic and used your empty shell to cast this spell. But you’re more useful to me if you cooperate, so I regret that you’ve forced my hand," Discord said, growing to an enormous size, his body filling almost the entire throne room.

The royal guards who had broken through the doors tried to enter but were blocked by the wall of fur and flesh that was Discord's body.

Carefully, Discord took hold of Twilight's horn with the tips of his eagle claws, causing both their eyes to glow. Without wasting time, he released her horn and with the same claw shattered the mirror, breaking it into many fragments. These fragments melted into a viscous purple mass that covered the circle Discord had drawn on the floor with the symbols.

"Discord, please, STOP! I don’t know what you plan to do, but this isn’t right!... I promise if you stop now, I won’t reprimand you or turn you back into stone. I know this is all my fault... I should have been there for you. You’re my friend after all. I know when Fluttershy died, it hurt you even more than it did me. Instead of supporting you and being there for you, I left you to suffer in your solitude. I didn’t know you were in such pain, Discord. I thought in my foolishness that you distanced yourself because you had matured since you never brought chaos again. Please, Discord, stop what you’re doing, and let’s start being friends again," Twilight said, beginning to tire, still trapped in the grip of Discord’s giant lion paw.

"It’s too late, Twilight. Too much time has passed, centuries even. If you had truly seen me as a friend, you would have been happy to see me. You would have known that my harmless pranks were just attempts to bring a bit of excitement and joy into your life because you were my friend. But instead, I received rejection, anger, and disdain," Discord said angrily, pulling out the samples and objects from his pocket dimension, sorting them by pony, encapsulating them in bubbles, and placing them into the purple viscous mass that now covered the circle.

"However, I appreciate your apology, and as a token of my gratitude, I’ll tell you exactly what I’m doing, Twilight. You see, I am the embodiment of Chaos, as you know, but neither chaos nor harmony can interfere with the cycle of life or death. We can’t bring the dead back to life or completely eliminate a soul, no matter how powerful we are. A soul can only exist once and never be duplicated in the same reality. But what if I transfer a copy of a soul to another world where it doesn’t exist? Of course, I can’t create life, but nothing stops me from altering it, especially if it’s just forming. That’s what these samples and objects are for, Twilight," Discord said, lifting a very familiar Stetson hat that Twilight recognized, then encapsulating it along with some orange and blonde hair strands.

"YOU CAN'T JUST ALTER OTHER REALITIES LIKE THIS, DISCORD. YOU CAN'T TRANSPLANT OUR FRIENDS INTO ANOTHER REALITY. Besides, what do these things have to do with a soul? They’re just objects and a bit of DNA," Twilight said, struggling in vain to free herself from Discord’s grip. His hand was enormous, and he was applying enough pressure to immobilize her.

"You’re quite observant, Twilight. You really deserve a gold star. You see, the DNA samples explain themselves, don’t they? They’ll only make the individual take on the appearance of our beloved ponies, but not their essence. That’s where the objects come in, my dear friend. What better way to capture the essence of a pony than by using something they cherished and represented them? This is what will truly bring our friends to another world, Twilight. As I tried to explain before you interrupted, these bubbles containing our friends will travel to an alternate reality, one without magic or harmony to interfere with my plans," Discord said, placing the bubble he made for Applejack into the viscous mass.

"But... But you can’t create life, Discord. That’s impossible-" Discord suddenly released Twilight, realizing she was too weakened, and his grip could now cause her physical harm. He was still draining her magic, preventing her from moving, but Discord himself was also tiring.

"I know, Twilight. It seems I finally got the Princess’s prized student to be wrong. I told you I couldn’t revive or create life but could alter it. When a new soul forms, it’s almost empty. So, when it’s forming, I can interfere and insert the soul of one of our dear friends, making the new soul take on theirs as if it were its own, thus creating a copy of our beloved ponies," Discord said, placing more bubbles into the viscous mass, mockingly holding a book full of Twilight’s lessons and letters, along with some purple hair strands, encapsulating them and placing them into the mass.

"I hope you enjoy this world of Equestria without your beloved Discord, because I’m leaving. This is probably what you wanted all along, isn’t it?"

Just before Discord could immerse himself in the viscous mass, the ceiling of the throne room exploded. From the debris and clouds of dust emerged two very angry alicorns.

"Stop right there, Discord! Cease what you’re doing and surrender," the two sisters said in unison, firing a beam of pure magic at Discord, who shielded himself with an arm.

“You two are more annoying than a pain in the ass. I understand why you're so obsessed with me, after all, I am Discord. Who wouldn’t fall in love for such a magnificent draconequus? But you’ve chosen the worst possible moment, and this will likely be your final interruption. I’ll make sure of it once and for all," Discord said, deflecting the magic. But he was exhausted, and the combined magic of Luna and Celestia overpowered him. Nervous, Discord resorted to trickery. He redirected one of the sisters’ beams toward Twilight.

Celestia quickly noticed and broke off her attack to save Twilight, falling right into Discord's trap. He swiftly redirected Luna’s beam towards Celestia, hitting her square in the chest. She gasped, collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud, writhing in pain.

"CELESTIA, NO!" Luna screamed, momentarily distracted by her sister's fall. Discord seized the opportunity, swatting Luna like a fly with one of his hands, sending her crashing into a pillar, shattering it, and embedding her in the wall.

"This wasn’t part of the plan, and you’ll pay for it. If you’re so eager to participate, then I’ll oblige," Discord said, materializing the crowns of both princesses.

"If you wish to play so badly, I’ll make you players in my game," he added, placing Celestia’s crown on the head of the now unconscious ex-monarch. Discord snapped his fingers, and Celestia was absorbed by the magic of her crown.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY SISTER, YOU MONSTER!" Luna yelled, struggling to free herself from the crack in the wall. Once free, she tried to charge at Discord, but her legs gave out beneath her.

"That hurt, Luna. That’s no way to speak to a friend. I thought you wanted to play with me, so I’m including you. You see, I’m not entirely sure how all this will work. It could go wonderfully or terribly. It’s all very... chaotic, don’t you think? Especially for you two. You’ll be a particularly interesting case. I mean, the others just have a bit of DNA, but you two..." Discord began to laugh, "You two are going whole into a new world. Not even I will do that."

"Wait, what?" Luna managed to say before she was absorbed by the gem in her crown, encapsulated in a bubble. Discord, exhausted, held the two sisters’ bubbles before his face.

"Yes, my dear friend, I’m not going in whole like you. I’ll be fragmented. The bubbles that now contain you, your sister, and the replicas of our ponies’ souls are essentially my essence. Once I enter the portal, I’ll disperse and reinforce these bubbles. This will prevent you from taking your pony forms immediately. It will also allow me to choose and modify which pony assimilates which soul, so I can try to recreate as much as possible your pony versions in that world dominated by primates," Discord said, playing with the bubble containing Luna.

"To put your mind at ease, think of it as a way of imprisoning myself. I won’t be able to interfere directly at any time. But remember this, my dear friend. A day will come, and I don’t know when, where, or how, but when all the souls are present, I will slowly return, and everyone will revert to their pony forms."

"It will be amusing to watch you all struggle with your pony and primate versions in that universe. I wonder if my spell will be powerful enough to truly replicate the ponies we all loved, or, in the worst case, a conflicted being torn between two completely different minds," Discord said, his tone mocking. Luna tried to scream, pounding on the crystal of her own crown from the inside. Discord laughed and simply placed the bubbles into the viscous mass.

Finally, Discord bowed, doffing an imaginary hat to the unconscious Twilight and Spike, as if they were an audience in a theater. Then he stepped into the viscous mass. The warm darkness enveloped Discord, and he felt a comforting peace as he was slowly absorbed by the thousands of bubbles.

"Twilight, Spike, what happened to you?" Sunburst, the greatest wizard in Equestria, shouted as he rushed into the throne room with a dozen guards, alongside Smolder and the current Elements of Harmony. They saw the destroyed room, the unconscious Twilight and Spike, and the strange, enormous symbol on the floor. "What in the world happened here?"

Author's Note

With that, we've come to the end of the introduction to this story. I'm already working on the next part, which will focus on the Apples (since they’re my favorite family from the Mane Six :ajsmug: ).

However, I'm open to suggestions on who you'd like to see featured after the Apples.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to read this fic, and I hope you enjoyed it!