It was a normal day in Ponyville. Mysterious black vines were steadily encroaching on the townsfolk, Twilight Sparkle was neither a princess nor in possession of wings, and Discord was there. He had been reformed a few weeks back courtesy of Karkat and the Crystal Republic's Room 101. No one but them was really sure what had happened, because what happens in Room 101 stays in Room 101 (book a trip today!). Karkat was in the middle of negotiating a treaty with Princess Celestia that, for reasons unknown, involved a marriage between Luna and Aristotle, who was already in common law marriage with Kate accidentally. He was feeling sadistic towards his "brother". Oh wait, there were mysterious black vines steadily encroaching on Ponyville and consuming all in their path, weren't there?
It turned out that the vines were evil Discord's fault, as opposed to the current, kind of all right Discord they had now. They were meant to eat some sort of magic tree that had sprouted the Elements of Harmony. Discord, being the trickster we all know and sort of like, hadn't actually given the Mane Six any of this information, instead telling the Man Six, who rushed off into the Everfree Forest to fix this, dragging a protesting Spirit of Chaos with them. After observing the Magic Tree of Doom's, as Sweetie Belle had named it, condition, the Man Six were forced to beg, cajole, and steal the Elements of Harmony from their Bearers. The Mane Six had learned a lesson in staying friends after their initial reasons for friendship had disappeared, and the Man Six had gotten interested enough in the Everfree Castle to start planning an expedition into it with the (former) Element Bearers. Just as Discord had planned. That sly devil.

Author's Note

Hey guys, it's me again! The title doesn't have much to do with the chapter this time, but the chapter sets up some things I needed out there. Namely, the lack of Princess Twilight, the political situation Karkat's in, and the furthering of a subplot I've had planned for some time now. Let me know what you think, and give suggestions for future stories. Be seeing you!