What I Became

Chapters

Chapter 1 - Ensnare the Sun
Chapter 2 - A Seed of Doubt
Chapter 3 - Endgame
Epilogue - Fool Her Once
Extended Ending - Broken

Chapter 1 - Ensnare the Sun

In a quiet peaceful meadow a pony sighed contently and basked in the serenity of her surroundings. The young alicorn Celestia was enjoying a quiet day out on her own. Unbeknownst to the teenager, gold and crimson eyes watched her every move.

She spread her regal wings and allowed the chill breeze to stroke them. The action sent a pleasant shiver down her spine, and she sighed contentedly. Once again she contemplated if she should head back to her younger sister. Before she could finish making up her mind though, a heavy thump echoed from behind her. She whirled around with her horn blazing, ready to defend herself from any danger stupid enough to attack her.

When she saw the beast standing there, scratching its lion arm sheepishly while trying not to look straight at her she took a defensive step back. She had seen this... thing before, but never this close to her. It crouched down and snatched a few flowers from the field, straightened them out a bit then and was now holding them out for her with a small, innocent smile.

“For... For you...” The creature muttered quietly. Celestia noticed by its voice that it was male. The flowers were apparently for her.

Celestia’s jaw fell open at the realization. “You want me to... with you?” Images of indecent things filled her thoughts, and she suddenly found herself shaking uncontrollably in her rage. For its part, the creature shrunk back like it had just been hit across the face.

“I... I...” It stuttered, taking another slow step away from her.

“What could possibly have given you this idea?!” Shouted Celestia, gesturing angrily in the things direction, “I'm a pony while you're a-a... Chimera of some sort! I'm an alicorn! Do you really think I would be interested in being with some monster?” Celestia snarled. She firmly pushed the creature to the ground to emphasize her point. Turning around and spreading her wings, she looked over her shoulder one last time to say in a harsh whisper, “Leave me alone...”

She took off, leaving the monster in the dust behind her. She flapped her wings faster than ever before, more than eager to get away from the field as fast as possible. Looking over her shoulder one last time, she could see the creature get up from where it had fallen, release the flower and turn around to walk away, its shoulders slumped and head lowered in apparent dejection. A sudden rush of regret muddled her senses, but she shook herself and focused her magic, teleporting away to the safety of her home.

The young draconequus groaned as he tried to fight back the emotions regarding what had happened bare minutes ago. ”Everything... Everything was perfect... Why didn't she see through my exterior?” Discord thought bitterly. He wandered towards a nearby forest, failing to notice or indeed care. ”No one ever looks past my exterior. So what if I'm not like her? She... She could have... I...” He clutched his talons to his face and sighed miserably, slumping down against the trunk of a nearby tree.

”Is that too much for me to ask?! Am I not allowed a little happiness!?” He cried out, hoping that the universe might give him an answer.. Unsurprisingly, no answer was heard except for the rustling of the leaves in the breeze. Discord began muttering to himself dejectedly. ”Oh it’s just so obvious isn’t it? She's a pony, an alicorn at that… while I'm just some stupid patchwork beast... Why would she ever care about me?” He sobbed and broke down, hugging his legs tightly to his chest as tears slowly descended his face.

”Poor, poor Discord...” An ominous voice echoed from the shadows of the forest, causing Discord to stiffen, ”…Poor, stupid little Discord.” The voice rasped. Discord stood up and frantically jerked his head around to survey the area around him, his breath catching in his mouth.

”w-Where are you?! Come out!” Discord raised his talons, attempting to ward off his assailant. ”I-I'm not s-scared of you!” He puffed out his chest in a futile attempt to seem bigger.

”Oh believe me, I would if I could...” The voice said venomously. Discord gulped. ”I've seen your memories, boy... So much pain and suffering... I love it! Why not drop this little façade of yours? Embrace your true self because of what they did to you! But of course, that would only happen if you weren’t a spineless little wimp.” The voice taunted him.

Discord shook his head. ”No! What do you mean by my 'true' self anyway?”

”Tut tut, do you really still believe you can fit in amongst the ponies?” Discord opened his mouth to reply, but his voice betrayed him and he eventually looked down in defeat. ”As I thought... Your true self… your destiny, your life...” The voice chuckled.

”Why, your very existence is for nothing more than to cause chaos amongst the species.”

The young draconequus shook his head in denial. ”You're lying! I can do anything I want to do! I can do many great things! I just... I just need to be careful...” He scratched his lion arm nervously.

”Boorish lout!... Do you even realize the full extent of your powers? You have the raw power to move the sun and moon like a foal kicking a ball!” The voice snapped, ”You’re the spirit, no, the Avatar of chaos! You have no love, you receive no love. What is keeping you back? Do you still believe that little snob Celestia will answer your feelings for her? Oh, don't make me laugh!”

Discord felt his determination deflate like a popped balloon at the mention of the alicorns name. He closed his eyes and managed to fight away the dark thoughts growling, ”You keep her out of this!”

The voice laughed even harder at Discord's raised voice. ”Ohohoho, so you do believe that she'll notice you one day! You are a stubborn one! This is just too rich... You are nothing more than a nuisance to her! She's annoyed at your very existence! But who am I to jump to conclusions? Let’s take a quick flashback of your last encounter shall we?...”

Discord couldn't even protest before his vision flared white and he felt himself slowly slipping unconsciousness. It felt like reality itself was bending around Discord, attempting to pull away from him. All he could see now was the blinding white and nothing else. He attempted to clutch at his eyes, but felt nothing… not the movement, not the contact, not even the pain he knew was there. No longer did he hear the sounds of the forest he was first in. After what felt like a millennia, he faded into the darkness.

The darkness faded away to reveal a clear blue sky above him. Discord's heart leaped, only for it to plummet like a rock again as he recognized the place where he had talked to Celestia earlier. His heart fluttered as he noticed the regal alicorn walking peacefully in the field of flowers surrounding her, creating an ambient glow around her. He almost felt his hope rise again.

Almost...

He noticed a shadow pass over her, which she didn't see. He saw himself touch down behind her, careful not to startle her. His expression was a mix of fear, doubt and obvious infatuation. She turned, and he got a bad taste in his mouth as he saw himself bend down and quickly collect a makeshift bouquet of flowers. Discord tried to look away as he saw himself offer them to the alicorn, but he couldn't turn his head. It was being held there by an invisible force.

He tried to close his eyes, but his eyelids wouldn't answer his commands either.

”Why ever would you want to look away now? The fun is just beginning! Let's watch, hm?” It was the same voice as before. Discord tried to shudder, but was again held motionless. He had no choice but to live through it again. He couldn't hear their voices, but Discord could read her lips, and he already knew by heart everything she had said...

”You want me to... With you?! I'm a pony while you're a... chimera of some sort! I'm an alicorn! Do you really think I would want to be interested in being with some monster? Leave me alone.” Discord felt his tears well up in his eyes as she pushed him down. Turning away from him, she took off into the skies, leaving a beast to clean up his own mess.

The distant Discord stood up and dropped the flowers, which lazily drifted away in the breeze. His head down, he turned around and tried to embrace himself as he trudged away from the field slowly, glancing back once to see that she had disappeared from view. He sighed heavily and fought back the tears of a broken heart.

”I... I thought she'd know what I deal with... I thought she would look past my appearance... I... I don't... I thought she would understand me...” Suddenly free to move again, Discord sat down and allowed silent tears to roll down his cheeks. He had a distant, almost void look in his eyes. He laid down and spread his mismatched wings so they might provide him with some comforting warmth. ”I was wrong...”

”Oh, boo-hoo...” The voice drawled, ”You really are a wimp, you know that? You’re an unlovable, disgusting little creep who got over-confident. Pathetic, if I say so myself.” The voice said with a certain edge.

”Shut up...” Discord whimpered, covering his ears with his talons. ”Be quiet, I don't want to hear it...” Discord shivered, ”Everything will be fine... I can continue without her... I don't need anypony...” His right eye twitched and he swallowed a lump in his throat.

The voice chortled. ”If you say so... but it's only a matter of time before you see, and succumb to the darkness which is reality... I am here to merely watch the progress as it unfolds, as it were. Now let's take you back, shall we?”

Once again, Discord wasn't even able to reply as the same sensations as before flooded his mind, returning him to consciousness.

Discord woke up and he immediately noticed that night had fallen, as a barely visible orange line hovered over the distant horizon. ”Was... Was it just a dream?” He thought.

A dark chuckle diminished those thoughts though, and he shrunk back. ”Good luck trying to get rid of me... I'll always be here, watching. One day you'll see… one day you will embrace your destiny. It's inevitable. On that day you’ll become the very thing she sees in you. Goodbye for now, Discord...”

“No, wait! I…” A pregnant pause filled the air as Discord hesitated, looking up with a hopeful expression. He asked “What is it that you think she sees in me?”

“A monster.”

Silence.

Discord considered what was just said. ”No... I will not change who I am just for her... She's… She's not worth it!

Right?” Sleep didn't come easy for the youngster that night, as his mind was busy processing everything the voice had said to him that day. It had been right on a few points, one of them being that he was alone and unloved.

Confusion and slight fear entered his mind. ”What if I actually become a monster like he said..? What... What if he was right about me being born to cause chaos?” Discord rolled over onto his side, eager to get the tainted thoughts out of his mind by falling asleep.

Inside the depths of his mind, a certain entity grinned sadistically and prepared to be unleashed into the world in answer to his true calling.

Discord woke in a cold sweat a sharp gasp escaping his lips. He looked around in a panic at his surroundings, only to find himself in a strange room. Scrambling to throw off his sheets, he succeeded in falling heavily to the floor.

Now jarred into full wakefulness, he at last remembered where he was. The knowledge was only a small comfort. He was still in Canterlot, having been released and 'reformed' only a few weeks ago. This was the room he’d been given in the castle.

He dragged himself up from his ignominious position on the floor, and stretched his back slowly before sitting on the bedside. He snapped his eagle talon and summoned a cup of tea to help calm his nerves. Sleep didn't come easy for the draconequus, as nightmares from his past haunted him constantly.

“It's always the same nightmare... I am quite sure that little Luna isn't the one causing it, as I've placed a spell on myself to keep intruders out of my mind, but... No, it must be my memories playing the fool of me...” He concluded with a heavy sigh. Drinking the cup and depositing the tea through an open window, Discord decided that it might be best to forget the dream for now, and take a little stroll through the castle.

Walking out into the hallway, he allowed himself to walk up the wall and onto the ceiling. He laid his arms behind his back as he walked, thinking deeply about what was to become of him. Even after Celestia had accepted his presence and allowed him to wander the halls freely, he still noticed an air of uncertainty around her. He snorted at that… Discord had trouble trusting her as well, since he knew that she could easily sic her dogs on him.

“I still can't seem to look her in the eyes. I have no clue what it is she keeps me for, though...”

Discord looked up to the floor below him to watch a frazzled Luna walk down the hall, a sour look on her face. He decided not to interfere, since Luna could be quite feisty when she was angry. She paused and looked up at him, so Discord waved at her with a goofy grin on his face. Luna grumbled and trotted down the hall with her ears splayed back and fire in her eyes.

“And then there's Luna...” He rolled his eyes, all trace of goofiness gone as quickly as it had appeared, “Always the moody little brat...” He was certain that Luna didn’t see Celestia's point in keeping him around either. Did it give her some kind of sick pleasure to see him submit to her? He shuddered, frowning at the thought. Discord stopped momentarily when he realized where his steps were taking him… Would it be a good idea right now to visit the solar princess? He took a deep breath and continued walking. Perhaps he could learn a thing or two from the visit.

His wanderings eventually led Discord to the gigantic gilded doors of the throne room. Falling lightly to the floor in front of it and startling the sentries stationed there, He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the coming encounter. With a push of his magic the heavy doors glided open and Discord strolled inside, his talons behind his back.

Immediately he heard a few gasps coming from the ponies who didn't know that he had been released. They quickly descended into mutterings. One foolish mare in the crowd huffed and decided to express her opinion out loud, “Why would the princess allow that ghastly thing to roam around? One would think it should be leashed.” Discord gritted his teeth and snapped a claw, turning the scarf the mare was wearing into a living over-sized gummy worm. The mare shrieked and passed out on the spot. Discord quickly swallowed his chuckles once he saw Celestia's cold glare directed at him.

Not to be cowed, Discord clicked his tongue reprovingly, “You know, for being the monarch of something incredibly warm, your glare is quite cold, your highness...” He grimaced. Both of the immortals glared at each other for a few tense seconds, until Celestia addressed the crowd.

“I apologize on his behalf. Discord can be quite unruly when he doesn't get what he wants.” Celestia said nonchalantly. Discord's eyes narrowed as he found something new to grimace at. “Now, I am quite sure that many wonder why he is allowed to roam freely after his last escapade. The answer is that I felt like him being trapped once again after thousands of years in stone was too much of a harsh punishment. Do not fret, my sister and I will keep a close eye on him.”

Discord growled. He could easily see through her lie; she had something else in mind for him... He just had to figure out what 'something else' was. He opted to not call her out on her lie now though, he'd wait until later when they were in private. He scoffed. “Gee princess, that sure was kind of you...” He turned around from her, “Now, don't you go around thinking that I haven't noticed your adorable little scrying spell you and your sister put on me. I'll talk to you later, dear Celestia... Arrivederci.” He snapped his eagle talon and disappeared in a yellow flash.

“Are you really sure princess Celestia would lie to everypony just like that?” Fluttershy raised an eyebrow as she lifted the tea kettle from the stove with her right wing. “She's always so nice to everypony so I don't really think she'd be lying...”

“Of course you would think that, Fluttershy...” Discord deadpanned. “Believe me, I could see right through her clever little lie. She just said that to please the crowd...” Discord snapped his eagle talon and two cups appeared on the table. “And furthermore I am not pleased that she haven't told me what she need me for yet.” He drummed his fingers on the table in a slow pace.

Discord had teleported to Fluttershy's cottage after confronting Celestia, where he had continued to tell the saffron pony about what had happened in the throne room. “Maybe she will tell you later today? Don't lose your trust in her, she won't hurt you. I think...”

“I would have to trust her in the first place to lose it, silly pony...” He chuckled, but his expression turned grim. “She hurt me enough in the past though but that's a completely different story.” He rolled his lion talon. “Nasty business...” He muttered bitterly.

Fluttershy had finished pouring some tea in the cups Discord had provided for her, and she was surprised to see that they hadn't run away, screamed from the heat or leaked in any way. “I think you should talk to her then. Maybe she'll tell you, or you could try and earn her trust.” Fluttershy shrugged. “I'm just giving you some friendly advice...”

“Oh, I know that you're trying to help and I appreciate it, but me earning her trust and she telling me what's going on won't make up for what happened in the past and make us hop around gleefully in a field full of rainbows, flowers and butterflies,” Discord said dryly “and you know what? I will talk to her later when I go back to Canterlot, whether she wants to or not. But right now I'd like that tea...”

He snapped a claw, and one of the cups whinnied and started running around in a perfect circle for a couple of seconds. When he gripped the cup, it started screaming and a dying wail came from it as he slurped the contents of it. When he had finished the tea and put the cup back on the table, it fell on its side and twitched.

“Thank you for your time, dear Fluttershy but I must be going now. Ciao!” He disappeared in another flash.

Fluttershy stared at the cup he had been using, which was perfectly still now. She reached out carefully and nudged it. The cup twitched and yelped. Fluttershy squeaked and hid beneath the table. Angel bunny was staring at the butter-yellow pony in hiding, then shook his head and hopped away from the room.

Celestia walked through the extravagant halls of the castle with two guards by her side, Shining Armor had insisted that she would always have guards near her when Discord was released again. She yawned and stretched her wings. There was a comfortable silence amongst the three ponies, but she didn't expect the guards to say anything.

She sighed when she saw the doors to her private quarters. She walked a little faster and focused her magic on the doors, which started glowing in a yellow aura and opened slowly. She nodded to her guards, who saluted and positioned themselves to stand guard by the entrance. Celestia rolled her eyes, walked inside and closed the doors behind her with another flick of her magic.

She levitated an ornate golden chest from her wardrobe and opened it. She lifted her tiara off herself with her magic, along with the rest of her regalia. Once she was finished, she levitated the box back into the wardrobe and closed it.

After that, Celestia rolled her neck and shoulders. A content sigh escaped her as she felt and heard them crack. She stretched her wings and flapped them slowly while walking toward her bed. “I wonder where Discord left... I haven't seen or felt his presence ever since I talked him in the throne room...” She laid down and turned off the lights.

A sudden glow from two golden orbs in the corner of her room gradually appeared, and mismatched crimson pupils appeared as well. “Discord...” She muttered. His body started composing itself out of shadows somehow, and he took a step forward in his complete form. His eyes were still shining a little, though.

Discord smirked and held his hands behind his back. Celestia flicked the lights on and the glow in Discord's eyes vanished. “Well, well, well, princess...” Discord took a step closer and leaned ominously over the bed. “I feel like it is time for you to tell me what you want me to do. I have to say I am getting awfully bored being cooped up in here on my own, and you know that I don't play nice when I'm bored,” Discord said.

Celestia opened her mouth to retort, but before she got the chance Discord snapped his eagle talon. Her eyes narrowed and she stood up on the bed, matching his height. “What did you do?” She snapped.

Discord polished the talon to his chest, then allowed it to fall limply to his side. “Oh, I just set a nice little soundproofing spell on the room. Nopony can eavesdrop on us.” He crossed his arms. “Now spit it out. What am I here for? Don't even try thinking of a lie, I can read you like a book...”

“I released you because...” She looked away from him. “Surely you know of the events at the marriage last year?” She asked. Discord nodded.

“I do remember. Why, the delicious chaos it caused was almost enough to release me!” Discord grinned. “Too bad the fun had to end prematurely though... It would have been a blast to crash the wedding.” Discord pouted dramatically.

Celestia shuddered. “Then you should also know that I was overpowered by the changeling queen.” She said bitterly. Discord snorted and forced himself to hold back a laugh. “Quiet. Now, Luna was overpowered by the sheer number of the changelings when she attempted to fight the-”

“And your point is?” Discord snapped, interrupting her in mid-sentence. “Is it because you and little Luna finally realized that you're not overpowered goddesses and that you need a little boost?” He turned around and walked in a circle. “All I see when I look at you and Luna are two fillies who are over-confident and trust that their status as royalty will save them.” He chuckled and shook his head. “And what if I refuse to help you? You basically told me that you are weaker now than what you were when you fought me and imprisoned me the first time...” He grinned. “With you and Luna out of the picture, I could easily overpower the Elements of Harmony...”

“Then what about Fluttershy?” Celestia's gaze hardened. “Would you go so far to even hurt her to get what you want?” That effectively silenced Discord. Celestia sighed and rubbed her temples. “Look, we don't have to fight about this... The help I needed from you was that you would become Equestria's guardian as Luna and I attempt to regain our former strength.”

“You mean you don't think the answer to you and Luna's mystery is obvious?” Discord raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.

“What are you talking about?”

“Ugh... The Elements of Harmony. There's your answer. You and Luna aren't connected to them anymore. When Twilight Sparkle became the Element of Magic, her control of her raw magical power became much better, yes?” Discord said dryly. Celestia's eyes widened.

“Of course...” Celestia muttered.

“Ding ding ding, we have a winner...” Discord mimicked hitting a bell while rolling his eyes. “Now I'm sure you would never wrestle away the elements from your precious little ponies, so you will have to accept the fact that you're not such a divine entity after all...” Discord smirked. “How wonderful... Witnessing a self-entitled goddess turn to a god of chaos to do her dirty work.”

“I never called myself a god!” Celestia pushed him away from the bed and climbed off it.

“You never said that you are one, you strut around the place like you are one.” He snapped his eagle talon once again, lifting the soundproofing spell. “I accept the task you have appointed me to, but don't think that I will help you out of the swamp known as politics...”

Discord shuddered and took a step closer to her, stopping just in front of her. He craned his neck down to her level as Celestia took a reflexive step back. He balled his lion paw into a fist, then thrusted it toward her. She flinched and closed her eyes, but when she wasn't struck she opened her eyes and looked down to see him holding his paw out for her with a playful smirk on his face. “Just shake it, you crazy old mare...” Discord chuckled.

Celestia reached out with her hoof almost hesitantly, but bit down and shook his paw with her own. Discord released her hoof and wiped the paw on his chest. “See, that wasn't too hard...” Discord turned away from her. “Now, get some sleep before I decide to raise the sun myself. Maybe even change it to some nice color... I always liked blue...” He muttered as he disappeared in another gold flash.

Celestia was standing all alone now in her room once again. The thought that she was weaker than before frightened her to some degree, as if something would attempt to invade Equestria she and her sister wouldn't be able to fight it at their former might. And then there was Discord... Celestia shuddered. She'd never know what he could be planning, and despite his childish behavior, he was a force to be reckoned with.

For the first time in several years, Celestia was scared.

Chapter 2 - A Seed of Doubt

Instead of teleporting to his room, Discord had teleported to the royal garden. He walked through it in complete silence, barely glancing at the statues surrounding him. He sighed heavily as he saw an empty pedestal standing in the distance. Discord shuddered and walked a little faster.

Not far away from him, he noticed a massive hedge maze. He smirked and decided to fly over to it. He landed just by the gate, and memories of the game he played with the Elements of Harmony returned to him. He had the ponies wrapped around his claws, even Celestia was played as a fool in his madness. 'It felt good to see her clueless..' Discord chuckled.

'Did you miss me, Celestia? I missed you...' A voice in the back of his head echoed.

Discord scowled and shook his head. He turned away from the maze and walked back to the castle. Luna's moon shone down at the path ahead of him, making the dark of the night seem to be a little brighter. He hadn't actually talked to princess Luna after being 'reformed', but knowing her, she wouldn't listen to what he had to say.

'Oh, I've forgotten how grim you could be, Celestia...' The voice spoke up again. Discord groaned and lifted his lion paw on his face, muttering a few chosen words. He decided to go back to his room and go to sleep. Sleep meant that he would probably have the nightmare again... Discord sighed heavily and snapped a talon, teleporting himself to the room the princesses had offered him to stay in.

It was a simple room, or as simple a room in the castle could be... Marble walls with enormous windows lined by royal blue drapes. The bed in the far end of the room was originally too small for him, but after a small burst of magic it had grown to be the perfect size for the draconequus. He flopped down on the bed and stretched his back. His eyes wandered around the still lit room. When he saw nothing which caught his interest, he sighed and closed his eyes.

A sudden knock on the door made him crack his eyes open and curse the one who bothered him at this ungodly hour. Without asking for permission, the handle was encased in a navy aura and the door opened. The princess of the Night herself walked inside while glaring at Discord. Not to back down from the challenge, Discord sat up and glared back at her.

“What did you do to our sister?” Luna hissed and her eyes narrowed. “She came to us and said that she couldn't sleep after she talked to you.” Luna took a daring step forward and her glare hardened. “What. Did you do to her?” Luna's head lowered.

“Really, Luna? You still use the royal 'we'?” Discord shook his head. “You're hopeless...” He muttered.

“Stop avoiding our question, draconequus...” Luna growled. Discord rolled his eyes and begrudgingly got up from the bed and stood next to it. He crossed his arms.

“Well, you're no fun...” Discord ran a claw through his beard. “I merely helped princess Celestia figure something out, and apparently she didn't like the answer. Her well-being is not of my concern, so I advise that you get help from somepony else.”

“And why in Equestria would my sister need help from a creature like you?” Luna snarled. “I would never trust you with anything more than a single bit.”

“Oh, you make me feel so trusted and totally not alienated, princess..” Discord said dryly. “I am a creature of chaos and disharmony, so it is easy for me to sense when there is something chaotic going on. And come on, would Celestia really trust your full opinion after your little temper tantrum?” Discord sneered. Luna gasped.

“How dare you speak of our banishment in that manner? Celestia trusts us completely after we were purified by the Elements of Harmony.” Luna huffed.

“Oh really?” Discord stepped forward. “Have you noticed the way ponies look at you? Have you not noticed that Celestia sometimes glances at you with worry in her eyes, worry that you will become a creature of nightmares again? Face it toots, you're a monster like me.” Discord grinned sadistically as he noticed the princesses' uncomfortable situation. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves.

“We are done speaking with you, draconequus.” She snapped and walked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. Discord's grin was still on his face as he plopped back on the bed.

“And thus, a seed was planted...” Discord chuckled, closed his eyes and finally fell asleep.

Luna shook her head as she walked away from the spirit's room. She knew that she shouldn't listen to anything said, as most of the words spoken from his forked tongue were lies. She held her head higher. She was a princess, for pony's sake! Discord's words shouldn't even scrape her iron will, and his lies should just pass right through her. But still... Her ears flattened.

She hated to admit it, but Discord had been right about her sister glancing at her from time to time... He was right about her subjects not trusting her. Except for a few individuals in Ponyville she met during the Nightmare Night celebration.

Luna decided to not dwell on those matters any further and headed toward her sister's quarters, to see if Celestia had fallen asleep or not. She couldn't help but to notice how empty the corridors were as she walked through them. Luna shuddered as she recalled the moment the Nightmare corrupted her and changed her.

When she was in front of the doors to her sister's room, she opened the doors slowly so she wouldn't make any noises. She sighed in relief as she heard snoring and saw Celestia in her bed, fast asleep. Luna closed the doors and teleported to her observatory for some peace and quiet.

The silver light from the moon danced across the towers of the Canterlot castle, creating an alluring ambient glow. Luna smiled. She knew that she wasn't the only one enjoying her night. She took a deep breath of the slightly chilly night air and relaxed. Discord's words had already faded, but she still felt a little uneasy. 'Oh well, I suppose I could talk to Celestia regarding this matter tomorrow.' She shrugged, then walked inside the observatory where she kept several books on modern society.

She picked a book at random, then made herself comfortable on a couch and started reading. She basked in the serenity of her surroundings and allowed a happy sigh to escape her.

'Face it toots, you're a monster like me...'

Luna frowned as she remembered the words he had said to her.

'...you're a monster...'

She shuddered and tried her hardest to focus on the book she was reading. She closed her eyes, counted to ten and then continued reading. She didn't hear his voice for a complete minute and started humming a song.

'...monster...'

Luna growled and used her magic to light up the room. She searched it for the spirit, but couldn't find a trace of him being there at all. She concluded that it was just her own mind playing tricks on her as she sighed and once again settled down on the couch and continued reading where she had left off. Luna glanced around the room one last time but yet again, it was nothing for her there. No intruders, no nothing...

She was completely alone, just like a thousand years ago...

The next day, Fluttershy was in her garden, tending to her animal friends' needs. She had fed all of them, even the bear who had started coming to her regularly after the massage she gave him a year ago. All of her animal friends seemed to be strangely happy today. Even Angel bunny looked happy this particular day, for some strange reason.

Fluttershy didn't mind it all. If her animals friends were happy, it was much easier to help them with what they needed help with. She hummed a simple tune as she fed the otters. She heard a sudden magical pop from behind her, yelped and attempted to hide behind Angel, who frowned at the addition. Fluttershy looked up and saw Discord laughing at her reaction. She couldn't help but to giggle a little.

”Really, Fluttershy?!” Discord held his sides. ”You tried to hide beneath that little demon?” He wiped his eyes with his eagle talon. ”Ohoho, that's just priceless...” Discord's chuckles died down and he levitated into the air beside the pony.

”Do you really have to surprise me like that every time you come here?” Fluttershy pouted, then finished the task of feeding the now impatient otters. Discord gasped, as if somepony had insulted him.

Why, of course I have to!” Discord held a dramatic talon to his chest. ”It's all in my absurdly long list of tasks I have to perform as the embodiment of chaos, my dear!” He leaned down to her level and whispered to her. ”But I have to say I make up some of those tasks as I go...” Fluttershy giggled.

”What brings you here today, then?” Fluttershy sat down in the shade next to her house and waited for the spirit to join her. With a snap, Discord materialized a bench for them to sit on. Discord grinned.

”Oh, you wouldn't believe all the fun I had yesterday...” He snickered. Fluttershy frowned, she didn't like it when Discord made fun of poor, innocent ponies for no apparent reason. ”First I had a little chat with Celestia regarding her mistrust in me. Apparently both of the princesses are weakened because they're not connected to the Elements of Harmony anymore. She didn't like that conclusion one bit.” Discord rolled a talon nonchalantly.

”Anyway, later that night little Luna pranced along and accused me of harming her sister. I explained what was said. I also told her that Celestia wouldn't have a reason to trust Luna after the Nightmare Moon incident.” Discord chuckled. ”You should have seen her face... Priceless...”

”You did what?!” Fluttershy gasped, horrified. ”That's awful, and I think you should apologize to her for saying that!”

”Oh come on, I have no reason to why I should apologize! They locked me into a stone prison when all I did was have some fun! Actually, I almost feel like I could do worse to them...” His face darkened. Fluttersy shrunk back, but took a deep breath and steeled herself.

”It was princess Celestia's idea to free you, aren't you happy that she allowed you to get out from your stone prison?” Fluttershy made a futile attempt to glare at the spirit, who answered her glare tenfold in intensity.

”The princesses just want me to act as a guard dog for them as they attempt to regain their powers... They want me to protect them as they run away with their tails tucked in! I hold no loyalty toward them, and I am quite sure I never will!” Discord snapped and narrowed his eyes.

”You're just being a big, dumb jerk!” Fluttershy finally retorted, much louder than intended but she didn't care. Discord had it coming. ”You are just being a childish, ungrateful meanie when you act like that to them!” Fluttershy breathed heavily.

”And of course you would take their side!” Discord exclaimed and threw his arms up. ”You, like everypony else run and hide behind your precious pony princesses as soon as a situation you cannot handle arise!” He lowered his head to match her height. ”You ponies herd behind those who are more powerful than you, then expect them to shed their blood, sweat and tears for you all...” He growled. Fluttershy backed away from him, shaking her head.

”That's not true, and you know it is!” She stomped a hoof.

”Oh, I've lived long enough and seen enough to know what I'm saying is true.” Discord crossed his arms, still glaring at the little pony.

”Everypony can change, so why do you still hold a grudge against the princesses?! Princess Celestia is one of the nicest ponies I've met in my life, and princess Luna is a bit awkward, but she's still nice!”

”Because Celestia broke my heart and Luna won't stop chasing me around until my head's on a platter!” Discord roared. ”So excuuuuse me for being reserved around them!” Discord's right eye twitched.

”That's crazy...” Fluttershy muttered. ”You're crazy, Discord!” Her glare hardened.

”Well that took you long enough, dear Fluttershy.” Discord grinned in a creepy way. ”Oh, I am positively, absolutely mental...” Discord picked up Fluttershy, who struggled to get away from him. He held her right in front of him.

”Discord... You're starting to scare me...” Fluttershy whimpered. Discord's grin widened.

”Good. Now listen carefully, I have allowed this... Travesty to go on for far too long now. There can never be a true balance between harmony and disharmony. This time I got the upper talon over your precious princesses...” Discord dropped her to the ground, and she shrieked as she landed with all her weight on one hoof. She felt a few tears rise to her eyes, but desperately shook her head. ”Aw, is wittle Fwuttershy gonna cwy?” Discord mocked.

”You're not nice... You're just a meanie... I can't believe I even thought of you as a friend.” Fluttershy looked away from him and tended to her injured hoof. Discord froze momentarily at her words, but shook his head.

”Another point for you...” Discord chuckled. ”My advice to you is simple, dear Fluttershy...” Discord walked forward. Fluttershy attempted to move away from her, but winced as she used her bad hoof. Discord leaned down to her and whispered. ”You better run, little puppet...”

Fluttershy felt her wingmuscles tighten in fear and a shiver ran down her spine. The way he had said it was more than just scary, it had been down-right terrifying. She flapped her wings, then took off faster then ever before. She had to tell Twilight before Discord got to the princesses!

Discord watched her fly away. He raised his eagle talon, smirked, then snapped it. A golden flash appeared on Fluttershy's back and as it faded, her wings were gone. He had to hold back a laugh as she descended and nearly crashlanded. She was lucky that it had been a bush beneath her. Discord knew that she would be dazed for a few minutes, so he had a headstart on the ponies.

”And now,” he laughed ”the endgame begins...” He snapped a talon and teleported away to Canterlot.

Chapter 3 - Endgame

Oblivious to the situation rising, Celestia and Luna were sitting in a lounge, drinking tea and chatting. Celestia had of course told Luna of their decreased magical prowess. Luna's reaction had been... Expected

”You mean... we're weaker?” Luna asked her sister in a small voice. ”Discord must have had a part in this! He-” Celestia silenced her sister with a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

”Discord didn't have a part in this, Luna.” Celestia shook her head. ”As strange as it may sound, but the reason we're weaker is because the Elements of Harmony are no longer connected to us. Their strong magic boosted ours.” The solar princess sighed.

”Aren't you afraid that Discord will use this to his advantage?” Luna's ears splayed back as his words invaded her thoughts. She shuddered. ”I don't trust that... Snake with anything. He's just trouble, and has always been trouble...”

Before Celestia could answer her, they were blinded by a sudden flash. They covered their eyes with their wings. A smell of slightly burned fudge accompanied the light. As the light faded, Discord stood there with his arms behind his back. He smirked. ”Hello little goddesses...” He took a step forward.

”What are you doing here?” Luna sneered.

”We are not gods!” Celestia's left eye twitched. ”We were having a private conversation, which means that nopony, or nodraconequus is allowed to interfere.”

Discord laughed. ”You really think that I would obey your rules?” He wiped a mirthful tear off with his lion paw. ”That's a good one...”

”Leave at once, or we will have to call our guards.” Celestia stood up and flared her wings. Luna imitated her. Discord just laughed even harder then before. Celestia and Luna glanced at each other.

”You really think your pathetic polished tincans would be able to evict me?” Discord held out his talons. ”Then by all means, send them in. It would be fun to see what they would accomplish...”

Celestia called out to the guards, and almost immediately a pair of unicorn royal guards stormed into the room. ”Guards, escort this... gentlecolt out of the premises.” The guards glanced at each other nervously.

”R-really, your highness?” One of the guards spoke up. Luna's glare was the answer they needed. The guards took a deep breath each, then charged.

Before the princesses could react, a golden sphere of pure force shot out from Discord's eagle talon, knocking both of the guards out through a seperate window. Their jaws dropped as Discord shook his talon, then polished it to his chest. Luna was the first to react by flaring her horn to life and assuming a defensive position.

Discord walked to one of the broken windows and peered down. He whistled. ”Lucky for them that this room wasn't far from the ground, or else it would have been two nasty stains down there right now...” He snickered.

Celestia was fuming. First, Discord had interrupted her talk with her sister. Second, he insulted them. Third, he had injured two of her little ponies in such a casual manner. It made her sick... Before she could find her voice, a sudden mist of magic appeared in front of her. She noticed that Discord scowled momentarily, but grinned again after a few seconds. As soon as the scroll materialized, Discord snatched it away from her.

”Well, well, well... What do we have here?” Discord ripped the seal of it, then unfurled it. ”Ah, very interesting...” He tapped a claw to his chin.

”Give me that!” Celestia focused her magic on the parchment and tried to take it from him, but he simply swatted away her magic aura. Her eyes narrowed. ”I'm warning you, Discord...”

”And what can you possibly do to harm me? You're weak, Celestia when I have my full powers at my command. Everything I can do is just a snap of a talon away.” Discord held up the scroll. ”And within this little message from your precious student, there may be some... Alarming news...” He flicked his talon and threw the scroll toward Celestia, who caught it in a telekinetic grasp.

She started reading it immediately.

'Dear boring Celestia,

Discord rules, Celestia and Luna drools.

Loathe,
Discord.'

Celestia glared at Discord, who was twirling the original scroll in his lion paw. Without warning, she snatched it away from him. ”Oh come on, is your funnybone really fractured that bad?” Discord drawled. ”You're absolutely no fun, you know...”

She ignored his teasing and was finally able to read the scroll her student had sent to her. Luna peered over her sister's shoulder.

'Dear princess Celestia,

Fluttershy is at the library right now. She's crying and saying something about Discord and to warn you. Her left front hoof is injured pretty badly and... And her wings are gone, much like the time we first encountered Discord.

He's up to something, try to hold him there. The girls and I have all gathered our Elements of Harmony and will take the next train to Canterlot.

Be safe.

Your friend and student,
Twilight Sparkle'

The eyes of the princesses widened in horror. Discord laughed again but this time it was a quiet, dark laugh. ”I allowed you two to have your little fun for some time but I have other things in mind, you see...” Discord took a step forward. ”The revelation that you two were weaker was just the thing I needed to hear!” He bared his fangs and narrowed his eyes. ”But now... I am done playing around. I have been tossed around and toyed with for far too long now.” He teleported next to Celestia and cupped her cheek in his eagle talon and lowered his head.

”Don't you remember our younger days, Celestia? On the fields outside of Amstermane?” He shook his head. ”I've had several nighmares about that, and many, many other things... You thought of me as being nothing short of a monster. A rugged, untamed beast...”

”And you know what?” Discord released her and pushed her away. Celestia stumbled, but regained her balance.

”You were right.”

Before Celestia or Luna could react, Discord lunged forward with his talons blazing and a manic glint in his eyes. He brought his talons in front of him and blasted a barrage of bolts of them. Celestia was barely able to raise a barrier around her and Luna in time. The bolts bounced off the barrier harmlessly. Discord scowled. ”Nothing wrong with your reaction time, little goddess...” He chuckled.

”Stop this at once, Discord! This is madness!” Celestia shouted and lowered the barrier. Luna scraped a hoof to the floor and lowered her head, as if she was readying herself to gut him using nothing but her horn.

”Of course this is madness, Celestia!” Discord exclaimed. ”And I'm loving every single second of it! There's just so much beauty in the minds of insane ponies, you wouldn't believe the possibilities if they're used... Even little Luna had a little brush with insanity which lasted a thousand years...”

”I am not a monster!” The younger sister snapped. ”I am nothing like you, and I will never be!” Luna's eyes narrowed. ”We should have sent you to Tartarus instead of imprisoning you in stone...”

”Foolish little Luna, not even the beasts of Tartarus would be able to hold me back. Why, they may be a rowdy bunch, but all of them have their fears which can be used against them with a simple snap.” He started circling the princesses. ”And think about all the chaos that would be brought upon the world if the gates to Tartarus would fail... All those ponies suffering and then there's just me, laughing away at their misery.

”Enough!” Celestia silenced the spirit, who looked ready to burst into laughter. ”You may insult me, Discord... But when you treat my sister like that and threaten our subjects... I was a fool to think that you could be reformed.”

”You are a fool, Celestia... Come to think of it, you helped me find out that both of you are weakened! You two hold no opposition against me this time...” Discord chuckled. ”Isn't it ironic, dear Celestia? You wanted me to defend Equestria as you attempt to regain your former prowess, when I will cause the downfall.” He tapped a claw to his chin.

Luna had enough. Discord was mocking them, nothing else... All she needed was just one clean hit and it would be over. She lowered her head, scraped a hoof to the floor and smirked. She spread her wings and with a powerful flap, she shot toward the spirit. Discord just raised an eyebrow and sidestepped with time to spare. As Luna passed him, he latched onto her throat with his strong lion arm and held her up.

”Luna, no!” Celestia screamed. Luna kicked and struggled against the spirit, but he was just too strong. ”Release her, Discord!”

Discord's grip on her throat tightened and he waggled a claw on his other hand. ”Now now Luna, look where being aggressive led you...” The manic glint in his eyes made Luna freeze. Celestia prepared to charge him, but Discord turned to her. ”I wouldn't do that If I was you, Celestia...” He squeezed Luna's throat, making her wheeze.

”Let. Her. Go.” Celestia's glare could be described best as a vacation to the surface of the sun itself, but Discord found it quite humorous. ”I may not know what it is you have planned, Discord... But mark my words, if you hurt her I will take you down myself.”

”Oh you can try, Celestia...” Discord chuckled. ”But if you want your sister to not be harmed, you will do as I say. If you fail to do as I say there will be...” His grip on Luna's throat tightened momentarily. ”...consequences.”

Celestia knew that she didn't have any other choice than to do as Discord said to keep Luna out of harm's way. She bit her lip, closed her eyes and lowered her head in defeat. Discord scowled. He almost wanted Celestia to face off against him. Discord released his grip on Luna, making her fall to a heap on the ground beside him. He took a few steps back and allowed Celestia to run to her sister. Luna breathed heavily and rose to her hooves with help from Celestia.

”Now Celestia, you must stand by your promise to keep your precious sister safe.” Discord smiled slyly. ”You must lift your spell from the Elements of Harmony. Unless... You like seeing little Luna suffer from your choices once again.” He laid his talons behind his back. ”What will you do now? If you remove the spell, you make the Element bearers vulnerable... If you don't remove the spell, one of the last true alicorns will fall.” Discord chuckled and snapped his eagle talon, materializing an oversized clock next to him. ”The clock is ticking, my dear Celestia...”

Celestia glanced at the clock, then back at Discord. She sighed and focused her magic. ”I'm sorry, Twilight... I am so, so sorry...” She thought as the golden aura around her horn expanded, then burst into golden sparks. The spell was gone, and all that was left of it was some residual magic. Discord could sense the spell releasing and grinned.

”That wasn't so hard, now was it?” Discord gloated. ”Selfish little Celestia, throwing away the fates of six mares like they're thrash just to save one pony...” He shook his head. Celestia growled and considered attacking him.

The whistle from a train sounded in the distance and Celestia's eyes widened. Discord grinned wider than before and clapped his talons together. ”Oh! Seems like I have a train to catch and hopefully derail somewhere along the way!” He laughed, but stopped. He turned to the princesses with a wicked snarl and snapped a claw.

Golden webs from his chaos magic wrapped themselves around the princesses' wings and legs, impairing their movements. Luna screamed and fought against the bonds with all of her strength. Celestia attempted to use her magic to rip them away, only for the webs to attack her glowing horn, snuffing out the aura.

Discord watched them struggle against his magic in almost a sadistic pleasure. After losing his powers and being forced to endure undescribable pain... He had waited for countless years to see the same happen to them. After a while Celestia and Luna were lying on the floor, panting and occasionally wincing from the pain spreading through their bodies.

”How does it feel to have your powers ripped away from you? How does it feel to know that both of you are nothing more than an annoying nuisance?” Discord leaned over the princesses. A grim scowl was on his face. ”I could do much worse than just restraining you like this... But I don't turn ponies into stone.”

”I...” Celestia gasped and screwed her eyes shut. ”I'm...”

”Hm? What was that? You better speak up, Celestia.” He cupped a talon over his ear.

”I'm... S-sorry...” Her body started shaking uncontrollably and she gritted her teeth. Discord paused. His eyes softened, but he shook his head and turned away from her.

”You're pathetic, Celestia... The moment you're weakened and helpless, you attempt to apologize to make everything better just like that.” He turned to her, leaned down and lifted her head to his while glaring at her. ”Remember our youth?” He seethed. ”You saw me as nothing else than a monster, so I became one. This is what I became, Celestia.” Discord dropped her head and held out his talons. ”And you know what?”

”I'm loving every single second of it. Not caring about anything gives you so oh-so many fun ideas and games. And with the power to make everything I come up with happen...” He chuckled ”...Why, one could say that I am a god, when you ponies are nothing but puppets made for my own amusement.”

The whistle from the train sounded once again, but this time much closer then before. Discord allowed a dark chuckle to escape him. ”Would you look at that, my guests have arrived... Time to welcome them then. You girls play nice now, you wouldn't want another punishment...” He raised a talon, blew a raspberry at the princesses and teleported away.

Celestia sighed and glanced over at Luna, who was still struggling against the bonds restraining her. Celestia recognized the look in her sister's eyes. Fear. She hated seeing Luna like this, so she attempted to worm her way to her. After a few attempts, Celestia was next to her. Celestia laid her tired head on Luna's neck, humming an old song their mother had taught them when they were nothing but fillies.

Luna calmed down eventually, and nuzzled her sister's head. Celestia smiled, despite the horrible pain which ravaged her body and head. She could barely even think without a wave of pain rolling through her. One single thought was clear though;

”If the girls can't defeat him, at least Luna and I will be together until the bitter end...” Celestia thought and finished the song she was humming.

Fluttershy had barely said a word during the trainride to Canterlot. It wasn't strange that she was quiet, but this time she was... Too quiet. She would usually comment on something they passed, or join in on a conversation. But not this time. She was just sitting alone, staring out the window and would occasionally glance down at her bandaged hoof.

Rarity shook her head and sighed. ”I'm not sure what happened between Discord and her, but from what I gathered the last time he was on a rampage he never actually hurt somepony physically... He even said it himself.”

”Yeah, because Discord of all ponies is somepony you could totally trust with anything...” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. ”I mean c'mon, I actually expected that something like this would happen sooner or later. Once a bad guy, always a bad guy...” She rubbed the back of her head. ”Well, except for Princess Luna...”

”Like Rarity said, it doesn't really seem like Discord would do that, but he's a slippery one, so he could've changed his approach at things to better suit his own benefits...” Twilight shrugged. ”He hurt Fluttershy, and as far as I know, he threatened her as well.”

”Doesn't matter how Discord plays th' game, we have an upper hoof with th' Elements of Harmony, and with Princess Celestia's spell, he can't touch 'em. Ah guess all we have to do is ta' play it on th' defense and zap'm the first chance we get.” Applejack tipped her hat back, then rubbed the necklace around her neck.

Pinkie Pie, who had tried to cheer up Fluttershy and failed miserably was now standing next to the window, staring at the quickly approaching city. ”Uh, girls... You better come here and see this...” She gulped. The girls crowded around the window and looked up at Canterlot. Their eyes were drawn to one of the castle towers where a golden light shone. The light became brighter and expanded past the tower walls, until it exploded into sparks which rained down to the town below.

The girls noticed that their respective elements started glowing like the castle, and rained sparks after a few seconds. The horrifying realization that the only failsafe they had against the spirit didn't exist anymore dawned on them.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were the first ones to react by cursing. Pinkie Pie's mane deflated slightly and she bit her lip. Twilight and Rarity glanced at each other nervously and Fluttershy was still quiet.

”Well... I guess we gotta play it even safer now... Fluttershy will stay in the back with her injured hoof, I will stand up front, ready to activate the elements at any moment. Rainbow and Applejack will stand next to me, with Pinkie and Rarity behind us.” Twilight glanced at her friends, who nodded at her plan.

”You should have seen him...” Fluttershy finally spoke up. ”He was so... different... He acted much more hostile than ever before, and his eyes... Something was wrong with him.” Fluttershy looked away from her friends and became quiet once again.

They closed in to the train station, and the whistle of the train sounded. The doors opened, and ponies began filing out from the train. The girls hurried out of it, but Rarity helped Fluttershy walk without stumbling whilst Twilight scanned the crowd. Rainbow Dash shot up into the air and surveyed the area, but landed shortly after and shook her head.

”Discord's not here, so we should get moving before he shows up.” Rainbow looked behind her back.

To the horror of the girls, all of the ponies walking around on the train station slowly turned into dust and blew away in the breeze. The ponies screamed, and the girls had to look away as a young filly tried to run to her mother, only to be turned into dust just before the mare stretching out her forelegs. A heartbroken wail came from the mare, who witnessed as her daughter turned into dust and blew away.

Fluttershy whimpered and hid her face with her hooves, when Rarity tried at the best of her abilities to comfort the pegasus. Pinkie's mane deflated as she watched everypony meet their demise, and there was nothing she could do to help them. Twilight, Applejack and Rainbow Dash stared at the situation unfolding in silent horror.

The dust from all the ponies gathered into one giant pile and after a few seconds of silence, the pile rustled and started shifting and changing shape. Two mismatched legs were formed, and a long snake tail slithered into existance as the upper body began growing and morphing into shape and the wings grew out one at a time. An eagle talon and a lion arm grew into place. The rest of the neck formed, along with the head. The last things to appear were the horns, mane and finally the closed eyes. It was a complete ashen gray statue of a certain draconequus.

After another few seconds of complete silence, Discord's eyes shot open with an eerie crimson glow. The girls stepped back and scrambled to get into position. A cruel smirk made its way over Discord's features. He could feel the fear and trepidation coming from the mares. He put his talons behind his back as the ashen gray dust fell off him and revealed his colours. ”Why, isn't it rude to drop in unannounced?” He stalked toward the girls.

”What did you do to all those poor ponies?!” Pinkie stomped a hoof, demanding an answer from the spirit. Discord laughed.

”Oh, there never were any ponies here, beside from you girls. The other ponies were just a quite simple illusion spell. I must admit that it was hilarious to see your terrified faces...” Discord stepped forward.

”Get back!” Twilight warned as she lit up her horn. Discord tsked and continued walking toward them. ”Girls! Forma-” Twilight was interrupted by Discord, who snatched the tiara right off her head. He snapped eagle-talon, and the rest off the elements disappeared from their respective bearers and to a golden orb levitating above him.

”Hey! Give those back!” Rainbow Dash shouted and attempted to swoop in and grab the elements from him, but was stopped by Applejack. Discord chuckled and started juggling with the necklaces.

”Oh, that would just be so boring to give them back to you just like that!” Discord pouted. ”I won't be hiding them this time, nor will I play any games with you. But I have to say the thought is quite tempting...” The necklaces suspended mid-air, and Discord tapped a talon to his chin. ”...No. That would be repeating, and that's something I'm not a fan of doing...”

”Oh would you just quit rambling and get on with it already!” Rarity snapped and narrowed her eyes. Discord rolled his eyes.

”Fine... You see; I am bored of playing nice with you all... If I hold back, you all just get it much easier to defeat me.” Discord closed his eyes, took a deep breath and focused his magic to his talons, making them crackle and become surrounded in a golden aura. ”If you want your precious elements back, I'm afraid you will have to go through me.” A cruel smirk stretched across his face.

Rainbow Dash splayed her ears back, spread her wings and shot toward him. With a shrill battlecry, she held her forelegs in front of her, ready to tackle the spirit. Discord faked a yawn and sidestepped. Rainbow zoomed past him and tried desperately to brake her momentum. Discord snapped a claw and a giant slingshot materialized in her path.

She flew into the string and was shot back to her friends dazed and confused. Twilight caught Rainbow with her magic and eased her down to the ground. As Twilight started tending to her friend, Applejack darted off to the side and withdrew some rope from a crate.

She tied the rope into a lasso and started swinging it as she took a few tentative steps toward Discord. With a flick of her neck, the rope shot toward the spirit. Discord smirked and just before the lasso would ensnare him, he snapped a claw and the rope turned into a noodle which he ate. Applejack stared at him dumbfounded but shook her head after a moment. She charged toward him and spun around when she was just in front of him and prepared to buck Discord in the gut.

She heard him snap his claws as she bucked, and her hooves made contact with something soft. Without warning her hooves bounced back, making her tumble forward. Discord laughed.

”Nice one, dear Applejack!” Discord clapped his talons sarcastically. ”Now, who's up next?” His gaze wandered over the ponies still standing before him. Rarity took a deep breath and stepped forward. ”Ah! Little miss prissy unicorn!” He grinned, ”What a surprise!”

”Do not get any ideas. I am a lady and a true lady would never descend to the level of those who settle their differences by ugh... Brawling.” She sneered. ”But when the situation truly calls for such a brutish act...” Her eyes narrowed as her horn was encompassed in an azure aura. ”...Then so be it.”

Several tools answered to the tug of her magic and levitated around her. She slashed the air with a shovel. Discord raised an eyebrow and shrugged. ”Well then... Tally-ho!” Rarity was the first one of the two to act by thrusting the shovel toward Discord, who easily avoided her attack. Discord gulped as three more tools flew against him. He was barely able to evade them and took a defensive step back as Rarity smirked and took another step forward.

In slight panic, Discord lifted his eagle claw and balled it into a fist. He stretched out his index claw and lifted his thumb whilst aiming at the unicorn's horn.

”Pow!” Discord shouted and a golden string shot from his claw. As the strange string made contact with her horn, Rarity screamed and collapsed. The tools she was levitating dropped to the ground around her. Discord stared at the unicorn, then at his claw, then back at Rarity. ”Well that was new...” Discord muttered.

Twilight focused her magic and ripped the magic string from her friend's horn, who sighed in relief. Twilight turned her glare to Discord, who just stared back at her with an amused smirk. Pinkie Pie stepped forward and glanced at the lavender mare, who nodded.

Pinkie Pie reached behind her back, and in some strange way she brought forward her party cannon, primed and ready to be fired at her will. Twilight raised an eyebrow.

”Where... Where do you keep it when you're not using it?” Twilight questioned. Pinkie rolled her eyes and sighed.

”You don't want to know, Twilight.” Pinkie's tone was oddly serious. Twilight nodded and turned her attention back to the draconequus, who was impatiently tapping his lizard leg to the ground. Twilight charged the magic in her horn.

Then she unleashed the barrage.

Several purple beams shot from her horn in rapid succession. Discord was forced to roll out of harm's way. He flared his mismatched wing and balanced himself. Before he was able to retaliate, he was shot in the stomach by Pinkie's cannon. Discord wheezed and held an arm to his gut. He growled and stood up slowly, glaring daggers at the small pony who had hurt him. He raised his lion arm slowly, and the paw was encased in a golden aura. A manic glint in his eyes alarmed the ponies, who once again raised their guard.

Instead of attacking any of the ponies, Discord confiscated the cannon from Pinkie. He brought it to himself. Discord balled the glowing paw into a fist slowly, making the cannon crumple into a small, blue ball of metal. He lifted his eagle-talon and snapped a claw, making the remains of the cannon burst into flames. Without warning, Discord chucked the flaming metal ball against the ponies. Twiligt reacted and raised a barrier around her and her friend, making Discord's attack explode into a thin layer of fire coating the dome surrounding them.

As Twilight lowered the barrier, they found themselves surrounded by a ring of fire. Twilight snuffed out the fire with a thought and looked behind her back to make sure that her friends were okay. Pinkie smiled at Twilight and nodded, Twilight did the same to the pink mare. Pinkie ran over to Twilight and grabbed her tail with her right forehoof as if it was a handle and started cranking her tail. Discord raised an eyebrow as Twilight's horn started glowing with more force the more Pinkie cranked her tail. Discord focused his magic to his talons, which started glowing with pure magic at his command.

Another barrage of purple magic rained upon the spirit, who managed to evade every single one of the blasts. He growled, raised a barrier around him and stood up. The barrier absorbed the magical attacks from the ponies. He started walking toward the ponies slowly. When Discord was close enough to Twilight, he released his hold on the barrier, making it explode outwards and knock away the purple mare and her pink associate.

Discord couldn't help but to allow a smug smirk to embrace his features as he glanced down at the fallen Elements of Harmony. He felt an odd sense of pride well inside of him as he watched them squirm beneath his might. ”How adorable! You honestly thought that you could defeat me. Me! The Spirit of Disharmony! The five of you... Wait a minute... Fi-” Discord wasn't able to finish his sentence as a hoof connected to his jaw quite brutally. He howled in surprise and slight pain as he fixated his glare at his aggressor.

He wasn't sure if he should laugh or prepare himself to fight as the remaining Element of Harmony glared daggers at him. Even without wings and an injured hoof, Fluttershy refused to stand back and allow her friends to get brutally beaten senseless by her former 'friend'.

”And what, pray-tell, can you do that your friends failed to do?” Discord sneered. ”Your wings are gone, your hoof is injured so you can barely even stand up properly on your own.” He lifted his lion paw to his mouth and chuckled. ”I apologize, but I must say that you must be stupid for even considering to do this.”

”I-I-I can't l-let you do this to my f-friends...” Fluttershy felt her sudden courage deflate at his words. ”A-And you're right... I can't do much to stop you when I'm like this...” Her ears splayed back. ”But if we fail here, all of Equestria will probably be doomed... That's why I have to do this.” Fluttershy took a deep breath and steeled herself for what to come.

Discord chuckled at the small pegasus' bravery. ”A noble cause, but also a lost cause my dear. You see; I have the power to defeat your pony princesses, when you have barely the power to persuade a stubborn prick of a bunny to do as you please.” Discord cracked his knuckles. ”So tell me, just what can you do against my might?”

”I can distract you.” Fluttershy smiled as a flash around her neck lighted up her surroundings, and the Element of Kindness faded into existance around her neck. Discord's jaw dropped and he whirled around to see Twilight and the girls standing in formation, smiling viciously at him. Twilight teleported Fluttershy to stand at her place amongst the rest of the Elements.

”Clever...” Discord said as he focused his magic to his talons and in a last desperate move, he roared and dashed toward the Elements of Harmony. Twilight poured all the magic she could manage to activate the Elements.

The girls felt the connection to eachother they had experienced several times before as the Elements powered up and expelled their elemental magic. Their respective Elements of Harmony started vibrating from the massive input of magic coursing through them. At long last, the signature harmonious rainbow erupted from them, along with a blinding white light.

Discord screamed, a wail of a trapped beast realizing its fate.

Intense agony ripped through his body and nerves, paralyzing his body. The familiar feeling of stone creeping over his limbs entered his mind. He sighed heavily as he realized that there was no point in fighting against the elemental bonds ensnaring him in his eternal prison once again.

He couldn't move his legs or arms anymore as he looked up at the floating Fluttershy, who had regained her wings. He felt the stone creep over his neck and reach his jaw. He took one last breath before his mouth and nostrils became stone.

After what felt like hours of paralyzing agony of turning to stone, Discord closed his eyes and allowed the stone to completely enclose him in his prison once again.

Epilogue - Fool Her Once

(Listen to this for extra feels)

Darkness.

Cold.

Silence.

Discord shivered. His body may be stone, but within his mind he could move freely and spawn random trinkets as to his wishes. The only thing he could actually focus on was the fact that he got carried away and his ego led to his downfall once again. It was a foolish move to underestimate the Elements, especially Fluttershy.

”Fluttershy...”

He had one friend. One pony he could talk to and he blew it quite spectacularly by harming her both physically and mentally. He actually admired her courage to trot up to him and punch him in the face like she did. His thoughts wandered off to the princesses and how he was sure that they would never allow him to feel sun's rays on his skin ever again. It was a depressing line of thought, to be sure. But he knew that he deserved to be in this situation. He knew that what he did to the princesses and Fluttershy was terrible.

”Why couldn't I stop myself?”

He remembered a song he overheard the Elements of Harmony sing together earlier before he snapped and returned to his former self. Discord inhaled slowly, closed his eyes and sang in a scratchy, broken and monotone voice.

”A true, true... Friend...” He coughed, ”helps a friend in need... A friend... Will be there to help them see...” Discord wrapped his arms around himself and laid down. ”A true, true friend helps a friend in need...” He felt a few tears make their way down his features as he cupped his talons over his face. ”To see the light... That shines...” Discord sighed miserably.

”...From a true... true friend...” His voice echoed through the void that was his prison. Discord never thought that he would deserve to be imprisoned, but strangely enough, he felt enough remorse to accept his fate.

”You never give up, do you?” A voice echoed in the void and Discord's ears perked. It was Celestia. ”I remember that you told us that you could still hear us, even when you were imprisoned...” She paused. ”I may not know what drove you to fall back to your old ways just like that.” Celestia sighed. ”But I thought that you should at least know that Fluttershy misses you, even after what you did to her and her friends.”

Discord sat up at that. He bit his lip and looked down. ”She told me that and of course I was shocked at first, but after she explained it, I understood.” Celestia paused again. ”She told me that you had come to her on almost a daily basis to talk to her about pretty much anything. She appreciated your frequent visits. She certainly do miss you, Discord...”

It felt like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water on him, then punched him. Discord sighed heavily and continued listening to Celestia's message.

”Even when it would be hard to believe, she actually requested that I would allow you to be freed again, and she would try harder to change your ways. I let her down easily by explaining that I couldn't take the risk a second time.” Celestia explained. ”That's what I had to say to you.”

Discord wanted to call out to Celestia and ask her to stay for a while, but he knew that she wouldn't be able to hear his request. ”One more thing, Discord...” Celestia spoke up. ”You may have a visitor coming from Ponyville tomorrow...”

Silence.

Celestia had finally left him to be by himself in his prison again. One could say that his imprisonment was like a slumber, but he was aware of what happened around him. He closed his eyes and focused, and after a while he felt grass grow from the floor beneath him. As he opened his eyes, he looked up to see a blue cloudless sky with a dark blue sun shining down on him.

Discord focused, and before his eyes a butter-yellow body of a pony started materializing in front of him, along with a long, graceful pink mane. Finally, two sea-green eyes appeared. The pony stood immobile with a distant look.

”I guess you will keep me company for a while...” Discord smiled sadly. The clone looked at him, not making a single sound. ”Well sure, I still have to work out the kinks and perhaps give you a free will, but it'll do for now.” He took a step toward the clone, who just seemed to be confused.

”Now, how about we have some tea, hm?” Discord said as he turned away from the clone and started walking in a random direction. Not realizing what else to do, the clone took a few careful steps to follow Discord.

Discord looked back to the stumbling clone and smiled. Perhaps his prison wouldn't be as bad as it was before...

Extended Ending - Broken

An older, frail mare walked slowly down the path she had walked several times before in her life. A younger pony walked next to her, helping his grandmother with everything she needed help with. He supressed a shudder as he saw the imposing statue of a mismatched monster frozen to stone mid-charge. It didn't matter on how many times he had seen it, it still gave him the creeps.

”Thank you, dear.” Fluttershy smiled and adjusted the glasses perched on the edge of her wrinkly snout. ”I can move on from here by myself. You can go on and take a walk around the garden, I know that you're not comfortable around Discord.” The stallion sighed in gratitude and gave his elderly grandmother a soft hug.

Fluttershy ran a hoof through her gray mane and looked up at Discord. She coughed to her hoof before she cleared her throat. ”Good morning, Discord. I assume that you slept well?” Fluttershy knew that no answer could come, but it had become a habit.

”Oh please, I never get proper sleep whilst I'm still cooped up in here!”

Fluttershy sighed and pushed her glasses back up. ”Usually I would continue talking to you for a while, but I am afraid that we will have to keep it short today...” Fluttershy held up a hoof and coughed at it. ”The doctors say that I shouldn't be up and about too much anymore...”

Fluttershy turned her head and saw her grandson watching her from a distance, waving his foreleg for her to come over. She sighed once again and her head dropped as a single tear fell from her snout to the grass below. ”This could be the last time I come out to you like this... So I guess that this is it. Goodbye, Discord...” Her grandson came to her aid and helped her stand up and walk away from the garden.

”Fluttershy? Where did you go? No... She was supposed to be here longer! I-.. Oh, who am I kidding...”

"Where is she?” Discord groaned within his prison void. ”She should have been here by now...” He sighed. He knew that Fluttershy had passed her best days as she went on her older years. Discord decided to attempt and sense the elemental seals holding him.

He closed his eyes and let out a long breath as he was able to sense the magical leylines around him. To his own horror, he felt the seal from the element of Kindness to be weak and flickering. Discord went in full panic and started lashing out against the other seals in a desperate attempt to break out from his prison as soon as possible.

”No, no, no... No! No! NO!” Discord gritted his teeth and focused to release one single powerful blast of magic at the seal. His talons started shaking in exasparation by the time the charge was ready. Tears which he fought to ignore rolled down his cheeks as the blast went off, successfully shattering the remaining seals. Discord felt consciousness drag him out of the void as the stone collapsed around him.

Discord fell to the ground next to the base of the statue, breathing heavily. He felt the blades of grass against his body and the scent of freshly cut grass invade his nostrils. As soon as he had regained his composure, he raised his eagle talon and snapped it, teleporting to the Ponyville General Hospital.

After a gold flash, he stood in the waiting room in a hospital. He lifted the nearest nurse in the scruff of her neck and brought her to his face. ”Where. Is Fluttershy?” He growled through gritted teeth. The nurse gulped.

”I uh... I can take you there in a minute...” Discord snarled. ”I-I-I mean... I can take you there right now! Just follow me, sir!” The nurse stuttered and Discord released her. She started walking down a hallway and motioned for him to follow her.

(Listen for extra feels)

Discord was numb. He couldn't feel anything in his body, his movement felt slow and clumsy. He had a stone in the back of his throat that he couldn't swallow away. The disinfectant smell of the hospital was overbearing. The nurse stopped and looked up at him and said something. Discord couldn't make out what it was, it just sounded like white noise. Discord looked inside the room to see the remaining Elements of Harmony and the princesses inside the room, staring at Discord in horror mixed with rage.

Discord walked inside, not saying a single word. Luna prepared to stand up and see him off, but Celestia moved her hoof onto her younger sister's and shook her head. Discord felt and heard his own heartbeat as he saw the little pony he saw as his only friend lying motionless on a small hospital bed, covered in tubes and different wires. A few more tears rolled down his face as he took a seat next to the bed. Fluttershy stirred and looked around the room, then to Discord.

”I... must be seeing... things...” Fluttershy wheezed and coughed. Discord felt a pang in his heart at her words, but he shook his head.

”No... I'm re... Really here, old friend...” Discord bit his lip and tried to compose himself.

”How nice of you...” Fluttershy laid back in her bed and coughed. Discord winced at her cough and nonchalantly wiped a tear off his face.

”You're the only friend I have...” Discord whimpered. ”You're the only one who actually cared for me after everything I did to you and your friends, not to mention what I did to the princesses...” Discord shivered. ”And when you're gone... I'll have nopony again... I'll be all alone again... Who knows what I will do this time? A monster shouldn't roam free...” Discord buried his face in his talons, but looked up as he felt a hoof to his shoulder. He turned his head to see Fluttershy patting his shoulder comfortingly.

”Now don't you ...go around saying that...” Fluttershy took a deep breath. ”You're a good pony... You've just had a very rough past... I'm sure that if you would be able to... Talk things out with a certain somepony you would... be able to work things out... and start over again...”

Discord turned to Celestia, who nodded solemnly. ”Well... It wouldn't hurt to try...” He relented and Fluttershy smiled. The minutes went on, simply a minute felt like an hour for the gathered ponies and the spirit.

After another few tense minutes, Fluttershy finally spoke. ”I... think... it's time...” Fluttershy sighed. Discord held her hoof and she held his talon, but eventually he felt her grip weaken as her eyes slowly closed and a last breath came from her mouth, followed by complete silence.

Discord felt a cold shiver run down his spine and his mouth fell open as the little pony he cared about slumped back and lay still. His hearbeat increased as a cold panic latched onto his senses. He calmly and gently placed her hoof back on the bed and patted it once, then stood up and walked out from the room. He closed the door behind him and turned to a wall.

He punched the wall with all his might, creating a massive hole. He threw punch, after punch, after punch as the tears flowed from his eyes. As an aura encased around his talons, impairing his movements, he screamed and fought against it at the best of his abilities.

Something broke inside of him. It hurt and burned like never before. A final roar came from him before he gave up and slumped against the wall. He raised his talons to his face and sighed. He stood up and walked to the nearest window and opened it, then slithered through it and flew off toward the horizon at his personal top speed.

He had to get away. His mind begged for it and he complied. He looked back to the small, cozy town one last time before he slowly raised a talon, took a deep breath and teleported away to the distant.

Author's Note

lol what am i even doing anymore