//------------------------------//
// Confronting Discord 
// Story: Journey of the Spark 
// by LordMalevar063 
//------------------------------//

Discord sits upon the throne, drumming his fingers against the armrest. Celestia is laid out upon the floor in front of him as well as the Changeling queen Chrysalis.

"Time's almost running out," stated Discord. "A valiant effort from your little subjects, Celestia, but not good enough. A shame that the game had to end so soon. I'm afraid your kingdom now belongs to me."

Just a few feet away, a stained glass of Discord scoots into the window next to Discord's throne.

"Oh, congratulations, Discord!" said the moving Stained Glass Discord. "I knew you could do it, you're so cunning!"

"Oh, why thank you, Discord!" said the real Discord, taking to his glass-self. "I must admit this was a brilliant plan."

"And it couldn't have come from less of a handsome mastermind, Discord!" said the Stained Glass Discord.

"Oh, stop it, you're making me blush!"

"Ugh... I won't let you..." grunted Celestia, weakly crawling.

The Stained Glass Discord fades away. Then Discord jumps up from the throne and walks towards Celestia very slowly.

"Stubborn until the very end," Discord said to his fallen opponent. "I cannot deny I'll miss our little spats of fun together but all good things must come to an end. Goodbye, Celestia." The Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony snaps his fingers, allowing a bright yellowish glow to emanate from his hand. Discord begins reaching for Celestia's horn, preparing to tear it off.

Suddenly, just before Discord touches Celestia's horn, the doors to the throne room open.

"Discord! Let. Her. Go!"

Twilight and her friends burst right in the throne room, ready to fight.

"Impossible!" whispered the Changeling Queen.

Discord holds up a hand, frowning at Chrysalis. He looks to Twilight and smiles sweetly. "Well, well, well, Twilight Sparkle! So good to see you made it out of your impending doom. And look, you brought the whole gang! But I suggest you notice the current standing. You are over there and I am aaall the closer, over here... where one snap means the sun's blotted out for good!"

Rainbow Dash was angered. "Why you-!" Rainbow Dash makes for a dash to Celestia, but Twilight stops her, holding her wings down with magic.

"Patience, Rainbow. After all, there's no need to fight when we've already won."

Discord blinks, then chuckles, rubbing his finger inside of his ear. His grin becomes less sweet. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I misheard. You've won?"

Rainbow Dash grunts, punching at the magic that is holding her wings down. "Yeah, we won!"

Twilight rolls her eyes, turning off the spell. Rainbow Dash instantly shoots in the air towards Discord, staring him down.

"We followed all your lame rules," Rainbow Dash said. "We found Twilight, and we brought her back just like you said!"

"But not within the time limit: 4 days, I believe it was?" Discord chuckled. "Look for yourself." Discord points to the window, the sun beginning to rise.

Applejack and Rarity look to each other in dismay. "We… we didn't manage?" Rarity gasped.

"All that work… all fer nothin'?!" asked Applejack.

"And don't suspect that I cheated, little ponies," Discord chuckled again, "I gave you ample time. I stayed within the confines of the castle. Every rule that we discussed, I followed. Now it's time for me to claim the prize and should you try to stop me, well… I'd hate for you to bring out the worst in me."

The group looks at Discord in anger. Twilight bites her lip and begins to think. She suddenly comes to the conclusion. "Now wait just a second! If what you've stated is true, one of the rules of the game was that you could not interfere, correct?"

"If you're trying to have me disqualified for what the Changelings did," said Discord, "Then you're wasting your time! Don't pin the actions enlisted by Queen Holes-a-plenty over there on me."

"But you did interfere… with me," Twilight pointed at herself.

"I beg your pardon?" said Discord, innocently.

"While you may not have affected the overall game, you interfered with the objective," Twilight stated. "You claim to be a fair player and yet you twist the rules so that you are the one who always wins. Let me ask you this, Discord… how can you have won the game when you've done nothing but meddle with it? You tried to force me away. You tried to hurt my friends. You tried to take someone very special away from me. I won't lose. Not today and especially not to the likes of you!"

"Is that a threat? You simple minded ingrates! I am Discord! Master of Chaos and Disharmony! Every twinge of fear, every selfish feeling, gives me power. Do you really think you're a match for ME!?"

"Then fight back!" Twilight shouted.

The smile flits off of Discord's face, taken aback from Twilight's comment. He slithers not too far away from the group. His demeanor becomes darker and more serious. "So you want me to fight, do you?" asked Discord, in a low tone. "Very well. I'll give you a fight that you will NEVER forget!" He stood up and snapped his finger.

From outside, the citizens of Canterlot stare up into the sky confused as dark clouds begin to roll in.