Sunset Shimmer felt uncomfortable.
It wasn't because she was walking around the empty corridors of Canterlot High wearing nothing but her pajamas. After living in the school for so long, she had gotten used to that. No, her discomfort came from the fact that she was all alone. Darkness enveloped her like a shroud, with only her small flashlight providing any source of illumination. The only sounds she heard were her own breathing and the pitter-patter of bare feet on cold tile. Not even the custodian was around and about; he had already gone home for the day.
But for Sunset, Canterlot High was her home. And that was a sad truth she contended with every night.
"I can't keep living like this," she mumbled to herself. "It's just so, lonely at night. I should really consider moving in with one of my friends. But who? Would the others get upset because I didn't ask one of them? And would their parents allow me to stay even though I don't have that much money? I mean, I wouldn't want to cause them any trouble or anything. I'm not like that anymore."
She continued to voice her thoughts aloud as she approached a small, out-of-the-way supply closet that was marked off with a "Caution: Keep Out" sign. Back when she first arrived in this world, this was her base of operations. It was a secret clubhouse where she would draft her sinister schemes and brief her cohorts, Snips and Snails. But now, it was simply her bedroom.
She opened the door with a creak, revealing a simple sleeping bag, a Rainbooms poster designed by Rarity, and a black stand that held her v-neck guitar. With a heavy sigh, she slung her backpack from her shoulder and took out a simple brown book with her symbol engraved on the cover. She absently flipped through the pages and sighed again.
"No response yet," she mused. "Then again, she must be pretty busy, what with her royal duties and all. And it's not like she's forgotten to write to me." She sighed once more as she put her book away and laid down on top of her sleeping bag. "I just wish I had someone to talk to tonight."
"Wish granted."
A sly, sinister-sounding voice rang in Sunset's right ear. Confused, she got up and turned to see who it was. The sight before her caused her to let out a shriek. Floating in the middle of her makeshift bedroom was a creature she was all-too-familiar with. The head of a pony; the body of all different kinds of animals. It was none other than Discord, the infamous Master of Chaos.
"N-no. Th-this is impossible," she muttered, crawling up against the wall. "Th-there's no way this is real. I-it can't be."
Discord tilted his head. "Hmm. That's, not exactly the reaction I was expecting. Are you alright?"
Sunset didn't answer. She simply continued muttering to herself. "I-it's probably just a bad dream. Yeah, that's it. I just conked out in the library or something. I should be waking up any moment nOW!"
She flinched as she felt a sharp pain in her right arm. Looking over, she saw the fluffy end of Discord's snake tail take the form of a pair of pinching fingers. A dark chill went up her spine, and she began to hyperventilate.
"Oh no. Oh no oh no! Th-this is terrible!" she stammered. "D-Discord has gotten free! H-he's probably already taken over Equestria! I-I have to—"
"Whoa, whoa, wait! Back up, hold your horses," said Discord, cutting across Sunset. "You're Sunset Shimmer, right?"
Sunset gasped. "H-how do you know my name?"
Discord shrugged. "Well, you did cause quite a stir when you stole the Element of Magic a few moons back. How could I not know about you?"
"W-wait, how do you know about that?!" Sunset yelled. "Y-you were encased in stone!"
Discord raised an eyebrow. "You mean, Twilight never told you?"
Sunset blinked. "Never told me what?"
"Why, that I've been reformed, of course. It was Celestia's idea, surprisingly enough."
Sunset's fear slowly gave way to indignation as she glowered at Discord. "Y-you really expect me to believe that? Princess Celestia would never agree to free you. You're a dangerous monster who spreads chaos and disharmony wherever he goes."
"It's true, though. And what's more, I can prove it," said Discord. With a snap of his fingers, Sunset's magic book appeared on her lap. "Twilight knows all about it. Write her a letter; she can vouch for me."
Sunset raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, or you'll just rearrange the letters to make it look like she's vouching for you."
"Maybe the old Discord would've done that, but not me," said Discord. "In fact, I can take you to Equestria right now, if you want. That should prove to you that it's still standing."
"And as soon as I see that it's not, you'll trap me there or probably corrupt me," said Sunset, a surge of determination seeping into her voice. She got to her feet and pointed an accusing finger at the draconequus. "I won't fall for your tricks, Discord."
Discord pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, you're seriously making this far more difficult than it needs to be."
"So what do you expect me to do, play along and bow down to your will?" Sunset asked, folding her arms. "Sorry, but that's not happening. You might've been able to take over Equestria, but my friends and I will make sure you don't do the same to our world!"
"But I don't want to conquer this world, or Equestria for that matter," Discord insisted. "I promise, I haven't changed a single, solitary thing since I got here."
"Oh yeah? Well, why did you come here, then?"
"Well, isn't it obvious? I want to be your friend."
Sunset did a double take. "Huh wha?"
"Just as I said, my dear Sunny," said Discord, brushing Sunset's cheek with his paw. "Do you mind if I call you Sunny? I'm gonna call you Sunny."
Sunset scowled. "As a matter of fact, I do mi—"
"Up bup bup! I haven't finished explaining myself yet," said Discord, placing a finger to Sunset's lips. "Now, as I was saying, it's come to my attention that you and I share some common ground. As such, I thought to myself: 'Hey, I could use a friend who gets me, so why not take a vacation from Equestria and go meet her?' And well, here I am!"
He then struck a pose and caused confetti to rain from the ceiling. Sunset, however, continued giving him the evil eye.
"You really must think I'm stupid," she spat. "I know all about you, Discord. You stand against friendship and harmony. You manipulate ponies to turn on one another so that the world can be your own personal playpen. And now you break out of your stone prison somehow, come all the way here, and spout off this ridiculous nonsense about you being reformed and that you want to be my friend?"
Discord twiddled his fingers. "Well, yes. Everything you just said is correct."
"Uh-huh. And how am I supposed to believe that?" Sunset asked rhetorically.
Discord shrugged. "I don't know. How are you? I mean, I could really use the info to bond with you properly like good friends should."
As he spoke, his elongated body coiled around Sunset as he placed his lion arm around her shoulder. Sunset growled and wiggled out of his grip.
"We are not friends, Discord," she snarled. "Not now, not ever."
Discord's expression drooped. "Aw, why not? We have so much in common."
"No, we don't," Sunset proclaimed. "I'm not like you."
"See, I must disagree with you vehemently there, Sunny," said Discord. "I mean, think about it. I tried to conquer Equestria; you tried to conquer Equestria. I was defeated by the Elements of Harmony; you were defeated by the Elements of Harmony. I changed my ways; you changed your ways..."
"I acted out of jealousy and spite; you're just insane," said Sunset in a flat monotone.
Discord deadpanned. "Very true, but let's try to focus on the similarities, shall we?"
"Let's not," said Sunset, reaching into her backpack and pulling out her cellphone. "In fact, I'm going to call my friends right now so that we can put you back in stone where you belong!"
"Whoa, hey now!" exclaimed Discord, waving his arms frantically. "Th-there's no need for that, Sunny."
"Don't try to play innocent, you tyrant. I will not let you lure me away from my new path," Sunset spat. "I'm happy with where I am now. My friends are there for me, I have a mentor looking out for me, and it's gotten to the point where my classmates actually smile at me instead of giving me disapproving glares. I don't know how you managed to get free or what your game is, but I refuse to let you take that away from me."
"And I don't want to," Discord insisted. "It's what makes us alike. Heck, if you came to me with the same offer, and I knew about every atrocity you've done, I'd still be your friend."
Sunset drew in a short breath and flinched. "S-stop trying to compare us. I-I won't be taken by your lies."
Discord's face clouded with worry. "It seems I hit a nerve with that one. Are you okay, Sunny?"
Sunset opened her mouth to respond, but something suddenly began to sink in. She rubbed her arm and cast her eyes downward.
What if he is telling the truth? she wondered. What if he really was reformed like I was? I'd be no better than the other students at CHS if I turned him down. No, no! I-I can't let him trick me. H-he's just putting on an act. Isn't he? I mean, I know I haven't been to Equestria for a long time, but would Celestia really want to reform someone like him? Th-that's just ludicrous. B-but...
After a long pause, she looked up at Discord. "How come Twilight never told me about this?"
"Search me," said Discord with a shrug. "Then again, she was trying to tell me something before I departed, but I didn't listen. I was just so excited to meet you and become your friend."
Sunset folded her arms. "I-I still have my doubts about that. You and friendship have always been like oil and water. Why, then, would you want to be anyone's friend, let alone mine? It makes no sense."
Discord arched an eyebrow. "Since when have I ever made sense, Sunny? And just FYI, I once thought the same way you did. I didn't think I needed friends to be happy, but I was wrong. I'm sure you know how it is."
Sunset didn't want to admit it, but deep down, she saw Discord's point. Even so, she stood her ground.
"Y-yeah. My friends are special. And they are important to me," she said firmly. "Which is why I won't let you take them away."
Discord sighed. "This really isn't getting us anywhere. I travelled through ten dimensions to meet you, Sunset Shimmer. I'm not going home empty-pawed or taloned."
"Wait, ten dimensions?" asked Sunset. "Couldn't you have just teleported straight here?"
"What can I say? I like taking the scenic route," said Discord. "Listen, Sunny. I'll tell you what I'll do. You doubt my words, right? Well, what if I could prove to you that I was a good friend? And I mean prove it to you in a way that cannot be misconstrued for any of my tricks."
Sunset stroked her chin. "I, guess that sounds fair. But how would you do it?"
Discord opened his mouth to reply, but he closed it again and began stroking his goatee.
"Hmm. I actually haven't thought about that part yet," he admitted. "But if you give me a chance, I'll hopefully figure something out."
He then summoned a calculator and began punching in random numbers. "So, here's what I propose. I'll stay in this world for, lessee, carry the seven, by the square root of pi... What time is it now?"
Sunset blinked and checked her phone. "Um, I have nine thirty."
"Right, thank you," said Discord, entering this information into his calculations. "As I was saying, I'll stay here for, twenty hours, forty-two minutes, and thirty-seven seconds, starting now. If I can't earn your friendship in that time, I'll go back to Equestria, and you'll never see me again. Does that sound fair?"
Sunset raised an eyebrow. "How do I know you'll keep to that promise?"
Discord smiled. "I guess you don't."
Sunset mulled it over for a few seconds. "You're sure you won't leave otherwise."
"I didn't come all this way for nothing."
Sunset sighed. "Alright, fine. I suppose I should take the high road and give you a chance. But if you go back on your word, my friends and I will show you no mercy. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," said Discord, his skin becoming transparent and crystalline. He then reverted back to normal and stretched out his paw. "Let's shake on it, friend."
Sunset tentatively reached out her own hand, eventually accepting Discord's gesture. But as soon as she gripped his paw, his entire body went into convulsions, with sparks flying out of him every which way. Sunset would've recoiled in shock had Discord not been holding her hand so tightly. When he finally did let go, he was laughing.
"Ha ha! Good one, Sunny!" he guffawed. "I do so love a friend with a sense of humor."
Puzzled, Sunset looked at her hand. She was surprised to discover that a hand buzzer that wasn't there before had manifested itself. She looked back at Discord with a blank stare of confusion. "Why did you—?"
"Well, it was too obvious for you to be the victim of the gag. I don't do 'obvious,'" said Discord with a chuckle. "Besides, I thought it might be a good way to show you that I'm not such a bad guy now. Well, I'd better let you get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow. Sweet dreams!"
With a snap of his fingers, he donned a blue nightgown and cap, and a lit candle appeared in his talon. When he blew the candle out, he seemingly disappeared into the inky darkness. Sunset continued to stare into space, trying to figure out what just happened.
"What did I just do?" she mumbled. "And, was it right?"
"Well, we'll just have to find out, won't we?"
Sunset looked up to see Discord still floating in front of her. She arched an eyebrow.
"Oh, right! Sorry, you're supposed to be sleeping now," said Discord with a sheepish snicker. "Right, I'll just, find my own place to get some shut-eye. Goodnight."
With that, he disappeared in a flash of light. Sunset let out a groan and crawled into her sleeping bag.
There's only one thing I know for certain, she thought. Whether he's telling the truth or not, it's going to be a loooong day tomorrow...
thats gonna be very interesting
I curse you from the depths of my despair... I curse you...
Why did you make this!?
Why...
OMG!!!
WHY CAN'T YOU UPDATE FASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????
I WANT MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Poor Shimmy...she's gonna have an ulcer by the time this is over...
The first four paragraphs are a wall of text. Try and space them out a little bit.
Awesome. Also, Please have Discord meeting Human Fluttershy
Tomorrow is going to be one long train wreck that I can't wait to watch.
5277262
Or
"It's what makes use alike." Should be 'us'.
And yay, update! You can't really blame Sunset for being suspicious; a lot's happened in Equestria that she isn't aware of, and this is Discord she's dealing with. And I see no problem with Discord still being his usual self in the human world - aside from not traveling via the mirror, he's, well, Discord. The normal rules do not apply to him.
I do, however, suspect that Twilight will either try to contact her or she will try to contact Twilight in an attempt to verify.
See, Discord. Be evil too long and no one will believe you later.
5278005 Thanks for the advice.
5278164 And thank you for catching that typo.
5278074 Oh don't worry. He will.
5278192 Exactly.
5278287 Glad I could be of service.
Sunset Shimmer is in for a long... long day.
Great chapter.
5277931 I SECOND THIS! I WANT MORE!!!
Aw, poor Sunset Shimmer...actually, the thing with her sleeping in the school reminded me of this:
http://www.deviantart.com/art/My-Bedroom-424839461
5275509
Alright. And after she is humiliated, I imbed a heat knife in her heart.
EDIT: Yay! a new chapter! and it was just as good as the other two. Kinda happy we don't have to wait long, but that can change easily! if you need, Metool, take your time. We're not going anywhere.
A note: When you're going for emphasis within a section of italics, underlining is not the way to go. You actually would write it like a normal word.
Here's an example of emphasis within italics.
Rather contrived but it is for a good cause: entertainment!
5279223
I use bold.
Another fun chapter. Well done.
Happy writing.
Definitely something I'm going to keep tabs on. Also, kudos on Sunny. I call her that too, Discord.
I enjoy your look on this idea and am finding it quite a trove of fun.
5278618
In Keep Calm and Flutter On, there's a couple points when the BGM plays what sounds like a few bars from The Thieving Magpie, which makes perfect sense for Discord.
5278139 I'll take this over yakety sax, just because it hasn't been used 10 thousand times on here.
... and like Sunset, Adagio has no idea that Discord is reformed right? I'm feel sorry for her, almost...
Haven't read this yet for one reason. Every time I look at the title I instantly think of the squeaky 'sarcastic' voice that all the Year 7s (Sixth grade for you Americans) seem to find hilarious. However I will get round to reading eventually, once I have found a way around my natural annoyance at small children, and I feel like it will be worth it.
I'm glad I saw this in the featured box, it looks like it's going to be a lot of fun.
So far, I like this. I think you've captured Discord quite well and I can actually hear John DeLancie as I read Discord's lines.
Awww... This is exactly the kind of story I like. I also enjoy how how you write your Discord, Sunset and Sonata.
Can't wait to see him meet Sunset's friends.
5285649 Yeah, I look forward to having fun with that scene, too.
Guess I'm not the only one who assumes that..
Ah, that moment where you want to tell someone how stupid they're being but then realize they have a point.
...
Talking to yourself? Eh, I do it to.
Oh.
Poor Sunset...
You'll regret that in a minute.
See what I mean?
Relax, he's reformed now, true, she doesn't know that, but the worst he's done is troll Twilight and Cadence in song.
Probably scared shitless, otherwise fine I think.
Not really...
Indeed.
Fair enough.
He WAS, now he's a friend to Twilight and even helped SAVE Equestria.
He could do that, but he won't.
Probably.
Sunset, you're being Wrong Genre Savvy and probably exhausting Discord's patience, he's only got so much of it and while reformed, I'm sure an annoyed Discord is not fun to be with.
Indeed.
He's not INTERESTED in that anymore, Sunset.
Indeed.
Hehehe...
I think she does mind, and why IS Discord always invading the personal space of others? For the lulz?
See?
Not sure how to react to that.
Very much so.
That would be useful, yes.
Oh no?
He has a point.
Best human. That simple.
Let's not be hasty...
This is actually very heartwarming.
Careful Discord, that's risky territory...
See?
Give her a minute and she should be.
He's not acting.
She's a busy pony. *singing* Who's a busy pony? Who's a busy pony? Who is? You is, Twi-i-light...
She was trying to tell you Sunset doesn't know you're reformed.
Make sense? Oh, what fun is there in making sense? (She was just asking for it in my defense.)
See my point?
He's not going to.
Ten dimensions?
Go on...
Good question.
Yes.
That's what's fun about Discord, you have no idea of what he'll do next.
Fair enough.
I sense a joy buzzer in the near future...
Discord just trolled himself? Wow.
Indeed you don't.
Discord happened.
Indeed.
You have no idea.
Looks like Discord's mission of friendship is off to a rocky start.
I don't support the headcannon of Sunset living in the school since coming to the human world. Someone would have to have noticed her by now, and then there's the issue of supporting herself (she certainly doesn't dress like a homeless teenager who has to live off of the money she bullies out of her classmates). If you ever decide to write another Sunset centric story, read some of MythrilMoth's. He has some great ideas for how Sunset has managed to get by.
And suddenly, Discord's ability to do whatever the buck he do desires comes back to bite him in the ass.
I wonder if the Human world of EqG has an equivalent of Star Trek - The Next Generation. If it does, the Humane Six are going to find Discord spookily familiar for some reason!
Okay, I just realised something horrifying:
What if Sunset and co. did trap Discord in the familiar stony prison? How long would it take Princess Sparkle, or Fluttershy, to realise something had gone horribly, horribly wrong? When either of them do realise that, where would they free him? In this human world (is it called 'Earth'? I dunno), or Equestria? If the latter, how would they be able to send the stoned Discord through the portal without a ton of people (especially those who know absolutely nothing about 'magic' and 'alternate world' stuff) seeing that, and possibly calling the police for 'attempted statue theft' or the psychiatry ward about a bunch of school-age girls trying to (and succeeding in entering a statue? Would the statue even fit inside the other statue?
As I said, horrifying 'bad ending' scenario: Discord, trapped in stone due to incorrect assumptions and communication errors, with nopony back home realising this for a while. When Princess Sparkle does eventually visit, Sunset and co. would feel incredibly guilty, Shimmer especially so, due to imprisoning someone completely innocent. This would also make Discord feel like a failure, as he couldn't make friends without being trapped in stone, lowering his self-esteem, which would already be low after the whole "being saved by a pony after being betrayed by my villainous partner after betraying ponykind" event.
Uh...you did change 'a single, solitary thing' - the position of Sunset's book. Contradiction!
Let's...not mention the future Anon-a-miss fiasco, alright? Because everyone will abandon Sunset - including her friends. Oops.
again, totally in character for discord.
Honestly what do you expect discord you're literally the loci of that Dimension Grogar would be the devil