//------------------------------//
// The Battle of Canterlot Peak 
// Story: Discord's Rise 
// by legomaster00156 
//------------------------------//

Clover woke up on the castle walls the next morning. He couldn't quite remember why, until he saw Starswirl looking over the mountain beside him. The pegasi had brought about a thunderstorm on the mountain today, and the wind blew his Master's white beard around, despite the stallion's stoic appearance.
"S-sorry, Master, I must've passed out-" Clover said, getting to his hooves. Starswirl shook his head, smiling.
"You did well in helping me, Clover. You cast a great many spells while we were setting up defenses, many of them very major ones. It's only natural for you to have gotten tired," Starswirl said. "Don't worry, I finished the defenses for us. The teleport lock of yours was very well made, and I tested it to ensure that it covers the entire mountain. Well done."
"Tested it? But you're allowed to teleport," Clover said.
"Yes, I know. I selected one of the students at the Academy to attempt to teleport, and they confirmed their inability," Starswirl responded.
"I do believe Discord will be better at magic than a foal," Clover said irritantly.
"I then confirmed it with a professor," Starswirl said, smiling. Clover breathed a sigh of relief.
"The barriers have been set up, all the way to the peak? Have we blasted out any attack positions in the rock?" Clover asked.
"Yes, the barriers are set up. If you get closer, you'll see them faintly. We were lucky enough to need to blast out very few holdings in the mountain; the natural stone can support a few ponies at each spot by itself," Starswirl answered.
"So, now all we do is wait," Clover said, taking up a position beside his watchful Master.
"Yes. Now, we wait."
----------
As detailed in the plans, unicorn guards were set up all along the borders of the teleport lock. Nopony oustide of the Princess, Clover, Starswirl, and the guards were permitted to teleport b the spell. Clover and Starswirl stood at attention together, on a rocky outcropping a few hundred feet above the ground. They, and all other watches, had a scroll to be sent to Captain Swiftblade upon sight of Discord.
"Master," Clover said, getting Starswirl's attention. "How do you know Discord will strike today? He's been holding off for weeks, possibly months. Hay, he might have noticed us founding this place."
"I know, because if anything, Discord is confident. We are challenging him with our defenses, and he will accept it or prove his cowardice. The second is something I don't expect he shall do," Starswirl said.
"This is a gambit, then, to lure him into the open," Clover said. Starswirl nodded. "Hm. Let's hope it- oh, nevermind."
He had been interrupted by a figure teleporting far below them, and at least half a mile away from the mountain itself. The teleport lock had successfully repelled Discord, and Clover could only manage a smug smile as he imagined the spirit's frustration. His grin melted when the figure quite obviously looked straight up at them. Clover couldn't make out anything Discord said from their distance, but he was sure that was for the better.
"Alright, the scroll is sent," Starswirl said, snapping Clover back to reality. "Come, let us meet the other unicorns at the beginning."
They both were startled as the very rock they stood on shrunk back into the mountain, and they fell before they could teleport to safety. Starswirl didn't even make a sound, though, and with a serenity that was very unbecoming of the perilous situation, grabbed hold of Clover and teleported.
The two were instantly transported to the beginnign of the mountain path, where the other guards were also beginnign to gather. Clover had to test the ground to overcome the sensation of falling, and rubbed his back where the rocks had scratched it.
"H-how did you know he'd do that?" Clover asked.
"I didn't," Starswirl answered simply.
"Have I ever mentioned how amazing you are?" Clover asked, adoration evident on his face.
Captain Swiftblade teleported in after a few seconds. He was a much more fit stallion than the average unicorn, and some even suspected him of having out-wrestled Earth-ponies. His platinum armor was the only evidence of his status, a gift from the Princess herself.
"Everypony is assembled. Good," Swiftblade said loudly. "The enemy has been spotted, and will be here in mere minutes, if that. Battle strategies have been discussed already. Everypony, get to your battle stations immediately! Teleportation, now!"
The very brief meeting concluded with dozens of pops, as the guards popped to their designated battle stations. Swiftblade, Starswirl, and Clover had chosen to stay at the forefront, luring Discord onto the chosen path.
"Quake is dead, then," Swiftblade said, keeping his eyes trained forward. His tone bore no discernable emotion.
"That is correct," Starswirl answered.
"She died in battle against this very creature?" Swiftblade asked.
"Correct again," Starswirl answered.
"That is a shame. She would be very useful in this battle. You will be capable of compensating, I hope," Swiftblade said. Clover looked to his side, but Swiftblade still had a passive expression on his face. He shifted his gaze back forward.
"We will find out when that creature in front of us advances," Starswirl said, drawing his companions' gazes to the figure in the distance, just outside of the teleportation lock.
The draconequus began his advance. With mere wristflicks, the stone behind him rose up to form a wall, following behind him. He bore a sadistic grin, which they could see even from several yards away.
The ponies attacked. Starswirl began his restrainment spell, but unlike last time, Discord was prepared. He batted at the air, as if throwing off chains attempting to wrap around him. Cloverteleported into close combat with Discord, stabbing the spirit with his horn viciously. He was nonchalantly kicked to the side.
Swiftblade, the only pony formally trained in military procedure, used his magic to summon a lance and a longsword, which floated by him with his levitation magic. As soon as Discord had advanced close enough for Swiftblade to meet his eyes (it took a while, with the other two mages slowing him down), the lance rushed forward, and the sword flanked with it. Discord's eyes widened when the sword slashed across his shoulder, causing a deep gash from which a black liquid flowed. None of them could tell whether it was blood or some other substance, nor did they really want to know.
Discord recovered quickly, and with a slash with his claw from several feet away, Swiftblade cried out in pain. Blood flowed from a slash across his face. He looked at Starswirl, and they nodded.
"Clover! Fall back!" Starswirl ordered.
With that, the three ponies teleported to the next junction. It was halfway between the base of the mountain and Canterlot. Along with a half-dozen soldiers, a single Healer had been placed at each junction. She began tending to Clover's wounds, while Starswirl nursed Swiftblade's horrible cut. No matter what he did, though, the wound would merely reopen a second later.
"Let me guess. You can't fix me?" Swiftblade groaned, rubbing his temple and finding the blood still running.
"I am afraid not," Starswirl answered.
"Oh, well, I'm a tough old stallion - well, maybe not as old as you. I'll just stick to good old blood clotting to keep me alive now, eh?" Swiftblade gave a hollow laugh, and turned back to face the lower portions of the mountain.
The three stallions remained silent, as the Healer retreated further up the mountain. The soldiers, three to a side, hid behind illusionary boulders. Soon, Discord rose up on the horizon. The approach was different to their expectations, considering he literally rose up out of the stone... behind them. It was the soldiers' cries that alerted them. They turned around to dispel the illusionary stone, finding the soldiers trapped with half of their bodies in the stone.
Discord was laughing maniacally ahead of them, causing instant responses. Rather than reusing the same tactic, Swiftblade began charging the wicked draconequus, while Starswirl and Clover blasted Discord with ranged spells. Discord prepared to sidestep the Captain as easily as he was shielding himself from the spellwork (an ease which worried the unicorns), but he did not anticipate a sudden teleport from Swiftblade and Clover. They teleported to either side of him and kicked him hard with their hind hooves. His momentary pain was enough for Swiftblade, who reconjured his lance and drive it into Discord's side.
"Teleport!" Clover yelled.
Once again, the ponies teleported to the next junction. They had not the time to go back and help the trapped ponies until the plan was complete and Discord had fallen. This junction was the closest one to the city of Canterlot itself, but the barriers would lead Discord onto a different path: a rocky, untravelled path straight up the mountainside, towards the peak where the final battle would commence.
The soldiers and Healer assigned at this post were surprised by the arrival of the three stallions, as they were not due for at least another 10 minutes. Soldiers immediately began asking questions
"Is everything going alright?"
"Captain, is that blood on your face? Is it... your blood?"
"Where are the soldiers of the last junction?"
"Why are you here so early?"
"Do you need healing?"
"Attention!" Swiftblade ordered. The ponies stopped talking, standing at attention immediately. "Better. How, the, Discord is putting up a strong fight, so we are going through our hit-and-run plan with a bit less hit and a bit more run. Discord may appear anywhere, at any time. Be on constant alert, and let everypony know if you see him. Starswirl, Clover, are either of you in need of healing?"
"Captai, the blood on your face suggests that you are in much more dire need," one of the soldiers pointed out.
"I can take care of myself plenty well, thank you," Swiftblade said. "But we need these two in prime condition if they are truly planning on fighting-"
"Discord!" a soldier suddenly yelled. The ground beneath his feet suddenly turned into a razor-sharp spike and jutted into his chest. His eyes widened in his last moments of life.
The soldier had given enough warning, though. A simple magical energy beam shot from every one of the soldier's horns, aimed at the draconequus who had just walked up the path. Swiftblade summoned his lance and sword from the bottom of the mountain, directly behind Discord. When he leaped back to dodge the magic beams, he yelled in pain as the two weapons impaled him. He snapped his fingers, shattering both of the weapons without a thought, and removing the shards from his body. The black substance which was almost definitely his blood flowed from the gaping wounds. Discord, enraged, lashed out with his magic. Swiftblade screamed as his horn shattered.
"The Captain is wounded!" Clover yelled. "Teleport, now!"
Clover dove and grabbed hold of Swiftblade's hoof, as the ponies around him teleported to the next junction. He had a different destination in mind, teleporting directly inside Canterlot. He appeared in the throne room, the wounded Starswirl standing beside him at attention. Princess Platinum and Oak were, as expected, already there.
"Oak, Swiftblade is wounded severely," Clover gasped. "Heal him and keep him here until the battle is over."
"You are no less than forcing me to abandon my position, with no higher authority," Swiftblade growled.
"You can't teleport, you can't cast offensive spells, you can't even effectively charge with your horn. All you have is that nasty little stub, and you need attention. You can't tell me that doesn't hurt," Clover challenged. "Oak, help him!"
"Let him fight, if he still desires it," Oak said stubbornly. He didn't even move from his place beside Platinum.
"Princess Platinum, please help me! Get him off of the battlefield and have Oak heal him!" Clover pleaded. He'd expected this type of behavior from Oak, and he hoped Platinum would be different.
"No," Platinum answered simply. Even Swiftblade seemed surprised.
"Oak, you're the best Healer in all of Equestria! If anybody knows how to help him, it's you!" Clover shouted.
"Yes, I know how. Medical attention can be served after the battle, along with everypony else injured," Oak said.
Clover shook his head, while Swiftblade just seemed surprised. When Clover looked up again, though, he noticed something he did not just a moment before: both Platinum and Oak had shades of gray to their coats and manes.
"You've been charmed," Clover said, baring his teeth. He stepped out protectively in front of Swiftblade, his horn glowing with prepared spells.
"I am going to suggest that you do not commit treason, foal," Platinum responded. Oak took his own place to protect her.
"Oak, I think we both know you're not as skilled as I am," Clover growled. "Your grandfather taught me everything I know."
"Must this really happen?" Swiftblade asked, raising an eyebrow. "I do appreciate the gesture, but a battle is hardly worth your effort when a much greater one lies outside."
"I think Starswirl can handle his battle well enough. Your soldiers are well trained. I think, though, that protecting the city itself is important, as well," Clover answered. "What do you say, Oak? Duel. Here, now. You lose, you heal him. I lose, and there's not much more I can do for Equestria."
"I would be happy to," Oak said. He grinned sadistically.
----------
Starswirl's battle had not been faring nearly as well as Clover hoped. They were but one junction away from the final battle at the peak, and not only had Clover not rejoined him, but the soldiers were falling to Discord's wrath much quicker than was comfortable. Discord didn't seem interested in killing them, though, as his desired target was quite obvious: Starswirl himself.
Starswirl stood his ground as Discord advanced. He teleported to avoid a boulder behing hurled telekinetically, landing behind Discord and stabbing him with his twisted unicorn horn. Discord attempted to slash at the aged wizard, but Starswilr reacted too quickly, leaping backwards to avoid the lion claw.
"Ok, soldiers, fall back!" Starswirl ordered.
The three remaining soldiers teleported with him to the next junction. The Healer at this junction immediately set to work on their wounds, while Starswirl cared for himself. The rain was even more vicious the closer to the mountain peak they appeared. Starswirl was actually wondering if the pegasi were doing this on purpose, to either help or hinder the battle.
"Starswirl, we are suffering heavy losses," a soldier warned.
"I know," Starswirl answered. "Recoup as best as you can. We may have mere seconds before he appears again."
"Yes, sir," the soldier responded, going to take his turn at the Healer's magic.
About half a minute passed, giving the unicorns a chance to prepare for the coming draconequus. Discord then showed his pony-like head, advancing smugly on the horizon. With a snap of his fingers, he enveloped himself in flames. He then pointed his palm towards a small cluster of soldiers, a jet of fire leaping from it. The soldiers cried in surprise, but were fast enough to cast a shield charm that they avoided the attack completely. The other soldiers retaliated swiftly, launching magical beams towards Discord. It was among the weaker attack spells known to unicorns, but it had the advantage of being easy to cast. He was struck on the chest by a few, dodging the rest.
"Your tricks are getting old, Discord!" Starswirl yelled irately.
"Oh my, I'm not getting predictable, am I?" Discord asked, flying next to Starswirl casually. Starswirl flinched away from the flames, covering himself in a shield charm.
"Far too much," Starswirl warned.
He shot a powerful jet of water at the fire. Discord wasn't worried as it came at him. He was surprised, therefore, when what Quake couldn't dispel, Starswirl's magic blew right through. He felt himself hurled backwards into the cliff face. He growled, diving at Starswirl with a claw. He was interrupted by a vicious series of lightning strikes from the soldiers, which came within an inch of his head. His momentary distraction gave Starswirl the chance to attack again, imprisoning Discord in a cage of stone bars.
"Teleport, now!" Starswirl ordered. The soldiers nodded, and teleported directly back to Canterlot. Starswirl did not join them, or even teleport yet. He faced Discord in his cage of stone. "I find it difficult not to despise you," he said.
"Oh, the feeling is mutual," Discord agreed. "Why did you bother? You know I can snap my fingers and escape."
"Because I felt a little bit of diplomacy is in order. I don't want to kill you; I cannot bear to take a life without good reason," Starswirl answered.
"You actually think you can kill me? I've killed your friend, after all," Discord said casually.
"Yes, you did. And right now, I am furious. You cannot see it on my face, maybe, but I think the world may be better off without you in it," Starswirl said calmly. "Yes, I believe I can kill you. I also believe that I will kill you if you do not turn around and take your chaos away from our nation."
"This is a very dull conversation," Discord drawled. He gave an exaggerated yawn, before touching the bars. They turned to water, and he stepped out. "Well? Run, old stallion. Run for your life." Starswirl backed up cautiously, before his horn glowed.
He teleported to the final junction immediately: the peak of Canterlot Mountain. The wind and rain whipped at his face viciously as he stood on the sharp, snow-covered rocks. A large stone obelisk was at the center of the peak, with each of it's three faces decorated by the symbols of a different nation. The founders of Equestria had been the ones to set it up. Starswirl wasn't actually entirely sure what they'd created it for, as Clover and the Princess had never spoken to him about it.
He looked down over the edge, seeing Discord gliding casually up the set of stone stairs. Discord wasn't paying attention at all. Starswirl had managed to avoid wounds at the last junction, so he merely cast defensive spells in his single minute of peace. He stood resolutely by the obelisk as Discord finally stepped onto the snow-covered peak.
"My, my," Discord said. "If I couldn't fly, that walk would have been exhausting! Why do you ponies build such massive sets of stairs?"
"To help others with their weaknesses," Starswirl answered steadily. "Pegasi and unicorns alike can reach this peak easily, but Earth-ponies have no such luck. The climb would be brutal for them, if we did not create an easier way."
"Oh? You put out all that work for your friends?" Discord asked, snickering. "The same friends who turned against you?"
"The friends you turned against us," Starswirl accused. "You have charmed the leaders of both the Earth-ponies and the pegasi."
"Oh, no, no, no! I would never charm anypony!" Discord said, gasping. "I just implanted-"
"A single thought," Starswirl completed. "And that thought was 'Don't trust them', wasn't it?"
"Indeed. Our minds think very much alike, don't they?" Discord asked, stepping closer with a wicked grin on his face.
"That is where you fall short. You assume that everypony is like you. I would not do half the terrible things that you do," Starswirl said, narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, come now," Discord said disbelievingly. "We all have a little chaos in our hearts. Only some of us have the power to harness it properly, though. Don't say that you wouldn't like to see the world I could bring about."
"I wouldn't like to see it, and this I am certain of," Starswirl answered.
"Then why are we still speaking? The only way I'm leaving your world is through death, and I would like to see you accomplish that," Discord challenged. Silence greeted him. "Well? What are you doing?"
More silence. It would be unwise to tell his opponent what he was really doing: stalling.
----------
Back in the throne room of the palace, Captain Swiftblade had wisely retreated against a wall. Sparks and flames were shooting around the room. They were both competent teleporters, so attacks rarely landed. Oak was trying to get closer to Clover, but if he got within a few feet Clover would teleport again. So far, the battle was doing very little to either side, despite an enormous amount of collateral damage. Swiftblade could see that they were both getting tired, though. The strenuous casting of spell after spell was taking it's toll on them both. The Princess watched the battle from the other end of the room with a cold, silent gaze.
Oak suddenly yelled in pain as clover teleported directly above him, and cast a paralyzing spell. An electric shock ran through his body, and he was suddenly unable to feel his legs. Clover followed up with a sleeping spell, touching his horn to the back of Oak's neck. Although Oak attempted to fight it, he was already tired from the battle. His struggle ended as he fell into a peaceful rest. Clover climbed off of the Healer, and turned to the Princess.
"The battle is finished," he announced solemnly. "When I wake him, can I have it on your word and his that Swiftblade will be healed of his injuries to the extent of the unicorns' abilities?"
"You have my word," Princess Platinum said. Her voice remained level, despite her lover having just been bested. "Captain Swiftblade?"
"Yes, Princess?" Swiftblade said, stepping forward and kneeling. Whatever Clover had just done for him, he was still his Princess' soldier. Clover's assistance made carrying out the next order that much harder, though.
"Arrest him," the Princess commanded. "He is charged with treason and direct assault."
"What?" Clover exclaimed. Swiftblade turned, and nodded.
"I'm afraid my duty is first to my Princess," Swiftblade said. He suddenly lunged at Clover. Clover barely had enough time to recognize the danger and teleport away.
----------
Clover landed just below the peak. He'd made a minor miscalculation in his destination in the chaos of the moment. He heard the sounds of battle above him, and began running quickly up the steps.
Discord and Starswirl had engaged in full-on battle, with no more junctions to escape to.  Starswirl focused on lightning spells, the rain coating Discord's body making every shock that much more painful. Discord, meanwhile, was mostly fighting defensively. He used his terraforming abilities wisely. He nearly managed to drop Starswirl into a pit at one point, but Starswirl had been unsurprised and evaded the hole.
Clover ran up the steps, only to have a green ray shot at his horn. He was then casually blocked by a wall of solid stone. Discord didn't even flinch. Clover attempted to teleport past the rock, but he howled in pain as rather than popping into the battle, green loops clamped onto his horn and sent a powerful jolt through it.
"No teleporting! I've had enough of that!" Discord's voice bellowed over the wind and stone.
"Why did you not attempt that earlier?" Starswirl asked, raising an eyebrow as he cast a shield spell.
"Because the chase was still on," Discord answered, smiling.
"You're toying with us," Starswirl said.
"Of course. Did you think this was really a war? This is foal's play, and I daresay I'm older than any foal," Discord answered.
"Then why have you not killed me yet?" Starswirl asked.
"Because I'm waiting for the right moment," Discord said, chuckling.
He closed his eyes for half a second while laughing. His moment of weakness shone through, and Starswirl immediately took advantage of it. Discord shrieked in pain as a lightning strike illuminated the cloudy sky, going directly through the draconequus' ancient body. It zapped him from head to toe on it's path to the ground, magically guided by Starswirl's horn. Discord crumbled to the ground, heaving. Just seconds later, the stone wall obscuring Clover's vision of the battle shattered, with Clover's horn glowing brightly on the other side. Starswirl turned to look at his apprentice proudly.
"Master, he's not dead yet!" Clover warned.
Starswirl had no time to respond. A single stone spike rose from the ground, impaling the old stallion. Had he been watching, he would've had the time to raise another shield. His eyes went wide as the spike pierced through his chest. He coughed hoarsely, his horn glowing for one last spell.
Clover turned, enraged, towards the wicked spirit of chaos. He charged him and jabbed his horn through Discord's chest. Discord rolled over weakly and pushed the unicorn off, taking one last chance to teleport away before he was truly killed.
"NO!" Clover yelled, hurling an enormous fireball where Discord had laid weakly a second ago. Tears ran down his face as he galloped to Starswirl. "Master? Please tell me you can be healed!" Starswirl gave another weak cough.
"No," he said weakly. "It pierced my heart. I'm only alive... because... I..."
"Master?" Clover asked, nuzzling Starswirl.
"Clover... I have... a last... command..." Starswirl whispered.
"Tell me," Clover said faithfully.
"Eques... tria... fell... Find... the... alicorn," Starswirl said. He drew in a deep breath. "Please."
Clover paused. How could Starswirl be certain of their existence? They only had the word of the zebras to go on. He pulled away to look Starswirl in the eyes and answer. They had closed.
"Master?" Clover said. Tears began flowing from his eyes. "Master?"
Only silence answered him. He held back his further tears, and took a large breath. He looked to where the fireball had melted straight through the fire and ice, then at the stone obelisk.
"I'm sorry, Master," he said, without looking at the body again. "I swear to you, when your task is completed, Discord will die." He kept his eyes trained on the obelisk. "I hope it works as well as we hoped."
He threw a sudden beam at the obelisk. Normally, stone is strong, tough, and enduring. This was not the case. As soon as the magic hit it, the stone prism shattered. An invisible wave stretched outward, affecting the minds of everypony in the entire land of Equestria. It was a telepathic message, sent out by the largest sending stone ever created by Clover. It bore three words: a message for every race.
"Equestria has fallen."
After he recovered from being the one hit strongest by the wave, Clover withdrew the stone from his Master's body. Not daring to look at the hole, he set the body on the ground by the broken stone. The snow would bury him, and the stone would mark his place.
Clover took one last look over the world, from his place atop the highest peak. He could see tiny specks in the distance, where Cloudsdale ponies were panicking at the message. He could not see the Earth-ponies far below, though he expected their reactions were similar. He briefly wondered if he really should have shattered the sending stone. Perhaps there was still hope of fighting back, without depending upon a myth.
Clover sighed, and teleported off the peak. Equestria had fallen, and in it's place, Discord rose.