Meanwhile…somewhere off screen in the actual My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic television show…
“Unacceptable! Inconceivable! Totally ludicrous and utterly not in the way I like!”
A certain draconequus made this annoyed announcement as he lounged on a sofa in Twilight Sparkle’s friendship castle library, flipping through what appeared to be some comic books (five to be exact).
“Twilight, come on! I’m telling you, he’s in there and he’s going through my stuff! My comics! Help me!”
“Okay, okay, relax, Spike, we’ll take care of it. I should have known Discord would be back soon…”
These words from a certain young dragon and a certain young princess respectively sounded from the hallway as both parties clearly approached the library.
Discord, however, paid the voices no mind. He just kept flipping through his comics with a shocked scowl upon his features. “One cameo. A CAMEO! It’s outrageous! I am Discord—as Tirek (who I notice DID get a comic) might say, I am legend! I ought to send letters! I ought to boycott the whole mess! I ought to snap my fingers and put infinite holds on all things pony until this is injustice sorted out! Really!”
And now finally Spike and Twilight entered the library.
Spike pointed at Discord, dashing over to him. “You see, Twilight, he’s here, he’s making a mess, and worst of all he’s into my comics!”
Just as Spike was about to pick up one of the five comic books surrounding Discord, though the draconequus quickly picked him up by the foot with his tail, effectively stopping his progress. Discord grinned at the baby dragon. “First of all, yes, of course I’m here, young Spike. I’m visiting the home of a friend.” He glanced over to Twilight (who was already rubbing a temple with her hoof). “I hope you’re doing well, Twilight Sparkle, and that you didn’t miss me too much.” He chuckled.
Twilight smiled back at him, lowering her hoof. “It’s nice to see you again too, Discord.”
Discord nodded politely. And then he went back to talking to Spike. “And second of all, I am not making a mess in here, I am merely making myself comfortably chaotic.” He gestured to all of the tossed aside library books and the piles of quills and scrolls (and ice cream cones and funny hats) littering the floor around him.
Twilight came forward more, her smile growing more understanding. She looked to Discord. “That’s good, Discord. I’m glad you’re making yourself feel more at home in my home. Just make sure to restore the usual order before you go, all right?”
Discord nodded with a smile. “Of course.”
“And maybe put me down?” Spike asked dryly.
Discord lowered the baby dragon to the floor. “And as for the final accusation regarding Spike’s reading material, I’ll have both of you know that these five books aren’t his comics, they’re mine.” Discord gathered his comics close again.
“Yours?” Spike raised an eyebrow, dusting himself off.
Discord nodded smugly, lounging on the couch again. “Yes, and I happen to have gotten them from that Enchanted Comic shop you mentioned once, Spike.”
Instantly, Twilight and Spike’s eyes went wide and they backed up considerably from Discord.
“Discord,” Twilight started, trying to keep her voice level as she held a foreleg in front of Spike, “Put down the comics and step away slowly. You don’t know what they’re capable of. You could get sucked into one of them or worse!”
Discord just sighed, kicking back (upside down) and flipping through a few pages of one of the comics. “No, no, I know what you’re talking about, Twilight Sparkle, but trust me that can’t happen with these. The dimensions are too well aligned, nature abhors a vacuum in which two of you might exist simultaneously on a physical plane, and besides these are enchanted in a ‘different’ way than Spike’s were. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Twilight still hesitated, though her posture did relax a little. “Are you sure?”
Discord nodded, glancing to her and Spike again, and resuming an upright position, holding his paw high. “I’m as positive as Applejack is honest. It’s perfectly safe.” He rolled his eyes. “And come on, Twilight, even if I did want to bother you by sending all of us on another random misadventure, first of all I wouldn’t pick anything as risky as a comic enchanted to suck us inside, and second of all that whole bit has clearly been done already and you know how much I hate repeat performances and copying others.”
Twilight still gave him a curious look but then finally lowered her arm from Spike and nodded. “Okay, Discord. I believe you.”
“In that case, can I see one of your comics?” Spike asked with interest, smiling a little.
Discord held up his tail to block him though and shook his head with a grin. “Oh, no, no, Spike, I’m afraid these are for my eyes only as an official traveler in time, space, and multiple dimensions. Believe me, reading what’s in these would not be good for you. And the same goes for you, Twilight Sparkle.” Discord glanced to the princess of friendship, his grin growing.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Okay…but then why are you here Discord, and why are you reading them here?”
Discord sighed dramatically. “Because I just finished the whole series, and I have a literary complaint, and you’re the best person I know to go to with one of those, bookish princess Twilight.” He chuckled.
Twilight sighed, her look becoming dry. “Discord, I’m not really sure what you’re getting at.”
Discord’s own look became dry now, and he tossed the final comic down on the sofa again. “Haven’t you ever read a book and had a serious problem with the content and authorial choices, Twilight? Well, I just finished these comics, and I’m none too pleased with a distinct lack of something in them. So I figured I’d run the whole thing by you since I’m sure you’ve had experience criticizing literature. Simple as that.”
Spike stepped back. “Uh, if this is going to turn into an ‘academic’ thing, I think I’ll just settle for reading one of my comics in the corner over there and leave you two to it.” Spike headed to the side of the room, snatched up a Power Ponies comic from the floor, then sat on a cushy pillow and proceeded to flip through the book.
Twilight, meanwhile, moved closer to Discord, an eyebrow raised and a smile starting to form. “Wow, Discord, you actually read these closely enough and cared enough about the stories in them to have formed a critical opinion? And you want to have a professional, academic, serious discussion about it? With me?” She was practically beaming right now.
Discord rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “In a way, yes, though I’m not including any citations, and it’ll be more of an emphasis on my big complaint than on any original argument.”
Twilight sat down before him. “That’s okay, Discord, the point is you’re trying. Besides, I haven’t had a good literary discussion with anyone in a while.” She held her head high, a determined look coming to her features. “As you might say, ‘fire when ready.’”
Discord shook his head with a grin. Then he glanced at the comics, and then he glanced up. “Okay…” he sighed deeply, “let’s say…utterly hypothetically…that someone were to produce a series of stories based around a common theme—for lack of a better theme, let’s pick…heroes of friendship. And these people who were to produce these stories—hypothetically, let’s say, in comic form—announced that there would be six of them. And so each comic started to come out, and there was one about Pinkie Pie…one about Rainbow Dash…one about Applejack…one about Rarity…one about dear Fluttershy of course…and then the sixth comic went and came out, and it was about…Spike of all people!”
“A comic book about me?!” Spike’s smile picked up as he looked to Twilight and Discord. But then he pouted (specifically to Discord). “Hey, what do you mean ‘of all people’?”
“Spike for the sixth comic?” Twilight, meanwhile, raised an eyebrow at this suggestion of Discord’s and considered. “Well…honestly, it would seem strange to me.” She glanced to her dragon friend (who already had his mouth open to object). “No offense, Spike—I really do think a story like that about you would be wonderful. It’s just…logically if they were going to make a series of six stories and they chose each of the girls…it seems like I would be the sixth choice, just to keep with a consistent pattern.”
“THANK! YOU!” Discord held out his arms. “Finally, a pony of reason—I knew I could count on you to agree with me, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight looked to Discord again and raised an eyebrow at him. “Agree with you about what?”
“Agree with me that leaving out a central subject choice when you’re making a series with a theme is just poor form!” Discord picked up some of the comics, flipping through them again. “There is such an omission here in these that I can’t stand it. It’s practically insulting. And inexcusable, or at least I can’t imagine what excuse they could possibly have for the direction they went with these things.”
Twilight rubbed her head, but did her best to keep her tone patient. “Discord, maybe you could explain to me what the example you just gave has to do with those books and what those books are about exactly, and then I’ll understand better why you’re so upset.”
Discord sighed deeply again, looking from cover to cover of his five comics. “Well, I can’t be too specific, Twilight, or it’ll really give the cosmos such a tummy ache. But…okay, let’s go in this direction then. Suppose someone decided to do a five part historical-fiction series on the most famous villains in Equestria.” He looked to her, suddenly moving close. “Quick, name the first five villains that come to mind as subject matter!”
Twilight blinked, stepping back a little. “Uh…well, Tirek…um…Nightmare Moon…Sombra…oh, Chrysalis…and, uh…uh…” She put a hoof to her chin.
Discord’s jaw fell and then he gestured to himself, his eyes wide. “And ME! ME! Discord! Come on, you remember—I ravaged the land with chaos a thousand years ago, broke the personalities of you and each of your friends, gave you the biggest hard time between my reform and the season four fina—I-I mean, between my reform and the defeat of Tirek, including everything from dark magic vines to a tatzulwurm attack! I’m really not only the last bad guy you’d think of for a bad guy series, but you couldn’t even think of me at all on your own?” He sighed, dramatically resuming his place on the sofa and dropping his head back onto the armrest in a forlorn manner.
Twilight blinked but then smiled and moved closer. “Discord, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. But if anything, it’s a compliment to you that you didn’t come to mind right away—really. When I think of you now, I don’t think of a villain. I just think of you as a friend regardless of your past.”
Discord sighed, sitting up a little. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Really?”
Twilight nodded. “Of course. And, um…well, you have to be really good at friendship to have made that happen, because your legacy as a villain really was one of the greatest in Equestrian history. Right, Spike?” Twilight glanced to Spike.
“Huh?” Spike blinked and looked up from his comic. Twilight gave him a little bit of a look, and then Spike nodded, glancing to Discord. “Oh, uh…yeah. After all, you did so much bad stuff in the past—for people to overlook that entirely and see you as a friend first, well, that’s almost a more impressive command of the magic of friendship than Twilight has.” He smiled.
Twilight raised an eyebrow at Spike, giving him a bit of a dry look, but then rolled her eyes as he went back to reading his comic. She shook her head and turned her attention to Discord again, smiling and nodding at the draconequus. “That’s right, Discord. If anything…you’d probably be a good contender for that sixth spot in a heroes of friendship series considering everything you’ve been through lately.”
Discord perked up quite a bit as these assurances. He chuckled, sitting up a little more and glancing at his outstretched paw. “Yes, well, I have proved rather impressive as a good guy now, I suppose. And I did pack a strong villainous punch back in the day.” He snapped, making some fruit punch appear in a glass to drink.
Twilight nodded. “Of course, Discord—you’ve had talent at both things, even if you’ve realized you’re happier being better at friendship than at evil. And I would have thought of you eventually for the villains series, I was just a little on the spot.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Is that what those comics are? Stories of the villains of Equestria?”
Discord nodded, crossing his arms over his chest and glancing at the comics scattered around him once more. “In a sense, yes?”
“And…the villains they focused on, the four I said were four of the ones that they chose?” Twilight inquired further.
Discord sighed and nodded once more. “Yup.”
“So who was the fifth one they chose if not you?” Twilight tilted her head to the side.
“The Sirens.” Discord slouched low on the couch with a pout, arms crossed over his chest as he glanced at one of the comics. “Bunch of tone deaf fishy hacks if you ask me.”
Twilight couldn’t help but smile and shake her head. “Discord, there’s no need to be jealous.”
Discord scoffed, rolling his eyes. “I’m not jealous, I’m just saying…well…how in the world could my legacy, my presence, my accomplishments be overlooked in a project like this even regardless of the person I am now?” He scowled down at the comics and then glanced over to Twilight. “Come on, Twilight Sparkle, you can’t tell me you wouldn’t be at least a little miffed if someone really did choose to publish a heroes of friendship comic like that and left you out.”
Twilight considered, putting a hoof to her chin. “Actually Discord,” she finally replied, “I wouldn’t mind it at all.”
“Oh come on,” Discord waved her off with a skeptical smirk, “even you’re not that modest, Twilight. I used to see how you were about getting proper recognition from Celestia for all of your perfect schoolwork. And you’re still a pony just like everyone else—you’re seriously expecting me to believe you wouldn’t have a problem with being that cast aside?” He gave her a bit of a dry look
Twilight merely smiled back at him though and shrugged. “Who says I would be cast aside? Or that you’ve been cast aside, Discord?”
Discord blinked and raised an eyebrow.
Twilight explained. “Discord, I’m a princess. And I know, even if it makes me uncomfortable, that there are going to be books written about me and projects done on me and historical investigations into my life, and I’m sure quite a few of those things are already underway. But the girls and Spike probably won’t get that, so I think I’d welcome someone doing a project focused on them over me.” She smiled more. “Discord, in a way, you’re more famous than any of those other villains because of your reform…so maybe instead of including you in a project like the comics, whoever wrote them would rather explore you in a different, more thorough way. And in fact already multiple scholars have.” She raised an eyebrow. “Have you ever actually gone through the Canterlot library archives? Do you know how many books on dark magic and villainy you’re mentioned in? And, after all, for a thousand years there was technically a statue of you on the castle grounds in memory of your chaos.”
Discord blinked, considering the argument. “Well…yes, I suppose all of that’s true.” He looked at her curiously again. “Do you really think I might get explored in a larger way?”
“Sure, why not, Discord?” Twilight shrugged, still smiling.
Discord looked forward, twirling his beard in thought and mumbling to himself. “You know…that’s not a half bad theory. Perhaps in an actual episode they might…” He suddenly quickly cleared his throat and addressed Twilight again. “Yes, well…point taken, princess. Perhaps they will explore my origins and history in a larger way later on. Maybe something akin to a production of sorts in a form featuring audio and visual and musical aspects…?” He chuckled to himself (Twilight merely looked confused at the private joke), and then Discord raised an eyebrow at her again and couldn’t help a curious if smug grin coming to his features. “And do you really think I’m the most famous villain? I mean really, Twilight Sparkle, do you?”
Twilight nodded, her smile growing. “I think a person could make a pretty sound argument for that statement, yes. After all, you’re the only villain whose a regular part of Equestrian society now—ever since your reform, there’s more known about you than any villain in the nation’s history.” She considered more…and then smiled more. “In fact, in a way, a person could argue that a comic for those other five villains was necessary, and one for you wouldn’t have served a purpose.”
Discord tilted his head to the side, intrigued. “How so?”
“Well,” Twilight shrugged again, “when it comes to Sombra or Tirek or the Sirens or Nightmare Moon or the Chrysalis, we can’t get first hand accounts from them about their lives and origins either because they’re gone or they’re banished or imprisoned. So a little historical research and speculation on their origins and the circumstances of their lives would be good for everypony to know. But when it comes to you, Discord, you can tell us anything we need to know about your past, your present, or your future, and you’re more than willing to share those stories because you’re our friend.”
“Yes…” Discord’s grin grew. “Yes, I could just tell you everything about myself, couldn’t I? Oh, all of us have a past, but I have a present and a future just as glorious as any existence I had in the good old days!” He beamed considerably.
Twilight nodded, smiling warmly. “Exactly Discord.”
Discord couldn’t help sighing though and slumping down again, looking at his collection of comics. “Still though, it would have been nice to be included in this too… A little tome just for me and about me.”
Twilight sighed, maintaining her patience in the face of his pouting (which she expected would clear up soon as long as she didn’t feed into it).
Spike, meanwhile, just shrugged and spoke again up as he turned a page in his comic. “Discord, if you really want a comic and you have so much to say about your past and your present and your future, why don’t you just make one yourself? I’m sure you could do it.”
Discord’s eyes went wide. And then he smiled brightly and flew up! “Write my own comic! Take matters into my own hands! Yes, why not? Fiendship is Magic #6—Discord! Penned by Discord! Art by Discord! Lettering by Discord! Fantastic cover and variants of Discord in multiple flattering poses all done by Discord!” Suddenly he flew down toward the friendship princess, grinning. “Twilight, you’re the expert on books, what do you think? Regardless of all of my fame and the many history books about me and any future multimedia odes to my brilliance and the fact that I’m here to tell my story anyway if anyone asks about it, would it be in poor taste for me to make a comic of my own all about me and my exploits?” He beamed.
Twilight blinked, a little taken aback at first, but then smiled warmly and shook her head. “I think it would be a great project for you, Discord. Have fun with it.”
Discord chuckled and then gathered up his comics and landed on the ground just past her, facing in the direction of the door. “Very well! Ta ta then, Spike and Twilight! I have a legacy to immortalize before others inevitably do it before me!” He gave them a wave over his shoulder and then jaunted out into the hall, talking to himself excitedly. “Stupid comics, overlooking me…only a CAMEO! Please, I’ll show you! I’m going to have my own comic! With blackjack! And hula-hoops! In fact, forget the comic!” He started laughing raucously to himself and then sighed. "No, but seriously, still totally doing the comic," was the final thing that was heard before a snap of his fingers sounded and he was gone.
Twilight and Spike had just watched him go.
Spike broke the silence that remained in his wake, an eyebrow raised and his comic lowered now. “Twilight…sometimes I really worry about that guy.”
Twilight sighed but smiled. “I know, Spike. He’s…incredibly different. And most of the time I’m not even sure what he’s talking about…so I just kind of smile and do my best to be a friend to him and get him through. But he means well now, and that’s what matters most.”
Spike nodded and shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.” He glanced at Twilight. “Do you think either one of us wants to know what those comics were that he had?”
Twilight shook her head. “I think it’s better we stay away from it, Spike. I’m getting sort of an ‘alternate dimension’ vibe from the situation, and messing around in those always gets very complicated.”
Spike nodded. “Oh yeah. I don’t want to end up a dog again. Or hunted down by Sunset Shimmer as a crazy she-demon, or those Sirens.” He shivered. “I’m definitely opting for just sitting here reading my comic.” He grinned and buried his nose in the book again.
Twilight smiled at him. “I think that’s best too. Have fun, Spike.”
“Hey Twilight?” the baby dragon hesitantly glanced up from his comic once more.
Twilight nodded. “Yes?”
Spike shrugged, glancing down. “Would you really think a comic about me would be interesting?”
Twilight’s smile warmed. “Of course, Spike. And I would be the first person in line to buy it.”
Spike smiled, his eyes bright. “Oh. Thanks, Twilight.”
Twilight smiled back at him.
CRASH
A clear raucous noise sounded from outside. Twilight dashed over to her window and looked down.
Spike put aside his comic and stood up. “What is it, Twilight?”
Twilight stepped back from the window and sighed very deeply, her look and tone dry. “It’s Discord. He’s down in the center of Ponyville…and he’s got everyone either running blackjack tables or using hula-hoops…” She sighed even more deeply, “And Pinkie Pie’s loving it.” She rubbed her temple with her hoof and then turned and headed toward the library exit. “I’ll be right back, Spike.”
Spike couldn’t help chuckling. “At least you were right about one thing, Twilight—Discord’s definitely present enough in our lives that no one has to wonder too much about what he’s doing.”
Twilight shook her head but couldn’t help smiling. “Very funny, Spike.” She sighed, pausing by the door. “I don’t know, even if there’s a mess to clean up a lot of the time and even if his surprise visits really are surprising, having Discord as a friend has sort of grown on me.”
“Yeah, me too.” Spike shrugged…and then his smile grew a little hopeful. “Are you sure we can’t go down there and just enjoy the hula-hoops and stuff for a little while though?”
Twilight grinned at him over her shoulder and then gestured forward. “Hop on, Spike. But only for five minutes.”
“Awesome!” Spike put aside his comic and dashed over to climb aboard Twilight.
“And stick with the hula-hoops over the blackjack, all right?” Twilight added, giving him a bit of a look, her grin and an eyebrow picking up on one side.
“You’ve got it!” Spike gave her a thumbs up and winked at her. “Hey,” Spike’s eyes brightened, “do you think Discord will let me read his chaos comic when he’s done making it?”
Twilight laughed softly. “I have a feeling he’ll send autographed copies of it to all of us once he’s done making it, if I know him.” And then Twilight proceeded out of her library and toward the exit of her castle. ‘Come to think of it though,’ was her last thought before dealing with Discord’s mess in the town, ‘I guess we don’t really know much about Discord’s origins. But I think that subject might be something interesting to look into one day. I hope we get to soon, either by reading his comic or even by having an adventure to learn more about him.’ Twilight made a mental note to seriously consider getting the full, non-history book story of Discord’s life soon in whatever way possible—the life of a villain from a villain’s perspective. From her experiences so far in her own life, Twilight had a feeling it would be a complicated story and then some…and one that would bring everyone closer as friends in the best of ways.
The End (?)