Prologue: The Beginning

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The sun reaches high in the sky, brightening the day, nearing close to the time of afternoon. The light shining across the lands of Equestria, the citizens of this beautiful land, bipedal, anthro ponies, live in this nation.

And right at the moment, a group of anthro ponies walked into one large area just outside the capital city of Equestria, Canterlot, the area known as the Canterlot Sculpture Garden. This garden is filled with statues of anthro ponies, as well as there is a maze right beside it too.

The group that is walking into the garden, this group is made up of one adult leading eight young children. The adult pony is five feet and six inches tall slender body, magenta fur mare. She has long dark purple or pink long mane, pink eyes, and she wore a green vest with yellow lining, a white long-sleeve shirt underneath with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and she wore a green skirt with yellow flower pattern. Her tail can be seen under her skirt, sticking out at the bottom, it is the same color as her mane. She is known as Cheerilee.

The eight young ponies, six foals and two colts, they followed the adult mare. These young ponies are Snips, Snails, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Twist, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Bell.

Snips stands about three feet and four inches tall, he is a unicorn pony, with a small horn on his forehead. He has grayish opal fur body, moderate orange mane; same color as his tail which sticks out of his jeans, and has black eyes. He wears a black t-shirt with a symbol of a scissors on the front, blue jeans with the leggings rolled up above the hooves.

Snails is a unicorn as well, he stands about three feet and seven inches tall. He has brilliant amber fur, and his mane is moderate turquoise, and has black eyes. He wears a grayish green sweater with a snail symbol on the left side, grayish white jeans, his tail sticking out as well and same color as his mane.

Diamond Tiara is an earth pony; she stands about three feet and five inches tall, and she has pale magenta fur while her mane is pale light grayish violet with white streaks, her eyes are brilliant cornflower blue. She wears what looks like a diamond tiara on her head. She wears a yellow jacket with a brown shirt underneath, a pink skirt with her tail sticking out below it, same color as her mane. She wears yellow hoofed boots, and carries a brown purse with a gold lock on it in her right hand.

Silver Spoon, fellow earth pony and best friends with Diamond Tiara, she stands about three feet and five inches tall, and she has cornflower bluish gray fur while her mane is ceruleanish gray with white cornflower bluish gray streaks, her mane tied back into a braided pony tail. She has grayish violet eyes, and she’s wearing silver eyeglasses and a pearl necklace around her neck with a silver spoon hanging in the middle, she wears a blue t-shirt and a violet skirt, blue hoofed boots as well, her tail could be seen sticking out below her skirt.

Twist is an earth pony, she stands about three feet and four inches tall, and she has light amberish gray fur body, light brilliant scarlet curly mane, she has light fuchsia eyes and wears a brilliant blue violet eyeglasses. Her tail is same color as her mane as it sticks out at the bottom of her pink skirt, and she wears a white t-shirt with twisty candy canes on the front of her shirt.

Apple Bloom is an earth pony as well; she stands about three feet and five inches tall. She has a pale, light grayish olive coat body, her eyes are brilliant gamboge, and her long mane is brilliant amaranth, she also had a cute light brilliant crimson bow on the back of her head, her tail is the same color as her mane. She wears short blue jeans and a yellow t-shirt.

Scootaloo is a pegasus pony; she stands about three feet and four inches tall. Her body coat color is light brilliant gamboge, her eyes are grayish purple, and her shirt mane is moderate cerise. She is wearing a light green short pants and a dark green hoodie with two holes in the back to allow her small wings out. Her tail is the same color as her mane.

And lastly Sweetie Belle, she’s a unicorn pony who stands about three feet and four inches tall. Her body goat is light gray; her eyes are pale light grayish harlequin, and her long mane and tail is grayish mulberry with pale light grayish rose streaks. She is wearing a purple band in her mane, and is wearing a purple jacket with a dark blue belt, a yellow skirt, and underneath her jacket is a white and pink stripe t-shirt.

As the group came into the large garden, Cheerilee spoke, “I want to start our field trip here in the world’s famous Canterlot Sculpture Garden.”

She smiled as her students looked about as they came into the large sculpture garden, walking along the path, seeing many statues of anthro ponies. And an added bonus, just around the corner of this garden lays the entrance of the grant Canterlot maze.

As the group neared a statue, Cheerilee pointed to it with her right hand while stating, “That one over there represents Friendship.”

The statue was of three anthro ponies, one earth pony, one Pegasi, and one unicorn, each of them playing together in fun. Three ponies were gazing at this statue, the three Cutie Mark Crusaders, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom had stopped to gaze up at the statue, Scootaloo didn’t notice as she bumps into her. Sweetie Belle was also wasn’t looking to where she was going and bumps into Scootaloo, bonking her head against the back of Scootaloo’s head, which also made Scootaloo bonk her head against the back of Apple Bloom’s head. Their eyes spinning while dizzy, till they regain focus and glare to each other, likely about to argue until Cheerilee continued talking, causing the trio to quickly catch up to the rest of their class.

“Alright my little ponies,” Cheerilee spoke with a smile, leading her class to another statue, one of an anthro earth pony mare standing proud and holding a flag in her hands, a flag with three golden jewels, and around the statue were stone shooting stars. Cheerilee continued, “This one represents Victory.”

“How cool would it be to have that for a Cutie Mark?” says Scootaloo as she and her friends walked closer to the statue, the statue that represents Victory.

“Cool,” Apple Bloom sarcastically said as she rolls her eyes, than grins at Scootaloo, “If you were actually victoryfull at something.”

“That’s not a word!” Sweetie Belle yelled at Apple Bloom the moment after she heard her friend say ‘victoryfull’, she frowns at her.

Scootaloo was surprised and confused as she asks, “What are you, a dictionary?”

“Girls!” called Cheerilee, catching their attention. The trio stopped arguing as they saw the rest of their class standing by one strange looking statue. The three ponies rush over so to learn about this next statue from their teacher.

“Now this is a really interesting statue,” Cheerilee say as she points her left hand to a statue. A statue of a strange creature, a being that’s definitely wasn’t an anthro pony of any kind. As they looked up at the big statue, that is roughly over twelve feet tall, Cheerilee continued, “What do you notice about it?”

While the rest of the class just gaze up, the CMC trio came forward. Apple Bloom spoke out, “It’s got an eagle’s claw!”

“And a lion’s paw!” said Scootaloo in excitement.

“And a snake’s tail!” leaped Sweetie Belle, landing in front of Scootaloo.

Cheerilee was gazing up at the statue as well; she said after she heard what some of her students answered before, “This creature is called a Draconequus. He’s a head of a pony, and a body made up of all sorts of things.”

The statue of the Draconequus stood on the pedestal, the size of the pedestal was three feet tall, and the draconequus statue on it is at leave twelve feet and six inches tall, stood in a pose like it was singing. Its head is more horse-like, much different than the ponies’ head styles. It has a deer antler on the right side of its head, and a goat horn on the left, one long fang showing in its open mouth, its eyes closed tight, and a snake’s tongue sticking out of the wide open mouth as well, it even has a goat beard, and bushy eyebrows. Its right arm is of a lion’s paw, the left arm is a claw of an eagle, the right leg of a lizard, and the left leg of a goat. In addition, it has a bat’s right wing on its back, along with a pegasus’ left wing, a horse’s mane, and a dragon-like snake’s tail with a tail tuft. The shape of its body resembles that of a snake.

After the good view of the statue, Cheerilee asks another question, “What do you supposed this represents?”

Before other students could say, the first to speak up was Apple Bloom. She said, “Confusion.”

Sweetie Belle went and pushed Apple Bloom to the right, trying to get attention as she said, “Evil!”

Then Scootaloo went and pushed the anthro unicorn student aside as she spoke out, “Chaos!”

Her push was likely of Scootaloo defending Apple Bloom before, but now, after their answers, the trio stood side-by-side, Apple Bloom in the middle, Sweetie to the left of her and Scootaloo to the right.

Sweetie turned to Scootaloo after the pegasi’s answer, “It’s not chaos you dodo!”

Scootaloo pointed her left index finger at Sweetie as she said, “Don’t call me things that I don’t know the meaning of, and it is too chaos!”

“Is not!” yelled Sweetie Belle as they both started to glare at each other.

Just as it seems like they’re about to argue, Apple Bloom placed her left hand on Sweetie’s right shoulder, and her right hand on Scootaloo’s left shoulder and pushes them away from each other. She closed her eyes and stated what she believes to be correct, “You’re both wrong!”

Frustrated, both pegasi and unicorn leaped upon the earth pony. All three of them started to argue and squabble in the dirt, fighting a bit.

Everyone watches the trio arguing, none of them noticed a faint glow showed on the chest of the draconequus statue, it lasted for a second.

Having enough, Cheerilee came towards them. “Actually in a way, you’re all right,” she said, which caused the CMCs to stop arguing. They sat on the ground, their clothes dirty a bit as they look up to their teacher. “This statue represents Discord; which means lack of harmony between ponies,” she continued, now frowning down at the trio. Then she smiled as she said, “In fact! You three demonstrated Discord so well…”

The trio had gotten up; smiling up to their teacher, hope in their eyes as though they were getting a reward for their answers.

“…that you each will write me an essay explaining it.”

The trio frowned, they were rewarded alright, and just not the prize they wanted. They were looking down in shame while the other anthro pony students laughed and giggled behind them.

Cheerilee then turned away, slowly walk as she said, “Now let’s go, and I don’t want any more fighting.”

As the rest of the class follow behind the teacher, walking away from the statue. The CMC right behind, they were quietly arguing to each.

None of them ever heard or even noticed the draconequus statue starting to crack apart.

The statue continued to crack apart, while now the class of the teacher and the students were no longer in the closest area to see it. Then as it neared, a male’s voice was heard within, a quiet laughter.

Then with a sudden burst of magical power, the whole statue burst. White stone shards, millions of stone fragments poured upon the soil.

On the pedestal, the lighting from the burst only last a second, revealing a now living, breathing draconequus. No longer a white stone statue, now stood a powerful being. No longer being stone white, the being regains his natural color. His head is amber yellowish gray, his body color is dark grayish reddish brown, and his tail is moderate amaranth. His mane is very dark gray, and lastly, being able to open his eyes after so long, revealed their light brilliant yellow with brilliant crimson different-sized pupils.
Discord is free, and he enjoyed that feeling after so long.

“Freedom at last!” cheered Discord as he stretches himself, free from his stone prison. He grins as he views the area around him, “Finally, it’s time to bring back the true fun of chaos into this boring kingdom.”

He raised his left talon claw, about to snap his fingers. “But first things first, time to visit my ole neighbour, see why he hasn’t answered my calls these past thousand years!”

With a loud snap of talon claws, he used his great magical power. In a single second, his body flash in a bright light, till it ended, with him gone, leaving behind an empty pedestal within the sculpture garden.

Deep below the mountain that holds Canterlot City and Castle on the side, in the darkest tunnels of the crystal caves. In one of the tunnels, a single second of burst of light, Discord appeared. With that, the tunnels return to darkness.

But Discord, being the powerful creature of chaos, merely snapped his talon. With a burst of magic, he made all the gems and crystals covering stone walls, roof, and even pillars, each one glowed bright like a candle.

He smiled and went to stand tall.

BONK!

Forgetting the fact that this cavern tunnel is not the same as his height, solving the problem, he lowered down and walked on his feet and claws. He moves forward, his body moving left and right like a snake slithering.

“Now then my fellow friend, where are you hiding?” he asked as he goes, travelling through the long tunnels, this place was after all, like a far better maze than the one close to the sculpture garden.

Most creatures would be confused on why the great spirit of chaos was searching for something inside these forgotten tunnels, but the ones who know Discord well, knows that this draconequus has a knack for finding things that do not want to be found.

And what Discord is searching for was a fellow prisoner trapped in stone. Discord had been awake while being stone for the past thousand years, listening to the world around him. Throughout so long, being stone, he was capable of talking to other prisoners locked away in stone, talking through telepathy.

This fellow being has been stone as long as he, and not once had they shared thoughts to each other. Discord had tried multiple times to speak to this being, but never gotten a reply. Curious for so long to find out who this being was, he wanted to meet it right now, before he claims what belongs to him from the beginning.

After walking through the tunnels, eventually arriving to one large, spacious crystal cavern, he stood up, dusting his claw and paw from the dirt, while the gems still glow like candle light.

“This is starting to get boring, where are… you?” he asked as he turned around the next corner, finally finding the statue hidden in these tunnels, and what he found, shocked him to his very soul.

“Do my eyes deceive me?” he asked quietly, shocked and surprised as he gazes upon the statue before him.

The white stone being before him, standing still on the hard ground without a pedestal was a statue of an armored man. The being stood about six feet and four inches tall, and is covered in greatly detailed armor that had been made into stone, chainmail hidden underneath that had been turned into rock, the whole armored knight was a stone statue. With a bulky shape body and the helmet looks more adjustable than the rest of the armor. Around the being’s neck is a very long scarf, also stone colored and looked like it was blowing in the wind, it has the symbol of the crescent moon with stars pattern. There is a long katana sheathe on the left side of the stone sash belt, and held in the right hand grip is a large broadsword-like weapon shaped katana, the blade part looks like an over-sized dog’s fang, and its cross guard looks like a large patch of fur similar to a dog, said patch of fur looks like blowing in the wind, but frozen in place. The statue is standing in a way of gazing upwards at a foe that dared attack him from the air. There was also what looks like cracks on the legs of stone.

Discord moves closer, till the point he was a foot away from it. He looks around the statue, seeing it from different angles, checking every single detail, and recalling from his memories of the time before being turned into a statue.

As he slowly went back and moved closer, looking through the opening part of the stone helmet, seeing that it looks like it can be removed. He wanting to see the face, so he takes hold of both sides of the helmet with his lion paw and eagle’s talon, and slowly pulled it off, the mouth guard that was also part of the helmet was pulled off along with it. With some lighting, Discord saw the details of the head of a human being, the long flat hair. The being’s face expression is of anger and appeared to be glaring upwards, and in front of the angry eyes is a rectangular eyeglasses, and around the mouth area is a goatee, also the mouth was in a form of a frown. Seeing the face, Discord looked more surprised and had accidentally dropped the helmet. It hit the hard ground, but didn’t crack.

“It is you…” Discord quietly said, was speechless. Then he smiled as he went and hugged the statue with his eagle arm, wrapping his arm behind the statue’s neck as though he was doing it with a good buddy.

“It has been so long Joseph! Why hadn’t you return my calls, too busy being stoned? I thought we were pals?” he said, smiling and joking a bit.

In his answer, all he gotten was silence.

With no reply, Discord angles his head so to be looking at the stone statue in the eyes. “You can’t still be angry at me for so long? It’s been a thousand years, let it go and be happy to see me again!” he said, assuming the being in stone is too angry to reply.

Silence was his answer again.

“Hm,” Discord hums as he thinks, looking at the statue, than a thought came to mind and he grin, “Maybe your ears are clogged so bad that you couldn’t hear my questions. Let me just clean them out for you, good ole wind spirit buddy of mine.”

He sticks his left eagle hand into his mouth, covering the talons in his saliva. Once done, he went and pokes a talon finger into the right ear, poking into the stone earlobe, trying to clean any dirt while giving him a wet willy.

Discord grins and chuckles, expecting to hear mental shouts of annoyance through telepathy.

Of course he wasn’t listening for a voice to speak up, the being was a statue. And statues don’t talk with their mouths frozen in place. Beings trapped in stone though, as long the ears are visible, the trapped being is capable of hearing. If the statue has open eyes visible, the being trapped within is capable of seeing what’s ahead.

After all; even though the being turned into a stone statue may be frozen through time eternal. The mind trapped inside is always awake, unless of course the statue had its eyes closed before being turned into stone, the being trapped within could sleep once in a while.

Considering Discord’s mind has been active for oh so many, slept a few times but forced to hear the boring life outside his stone prison. Stuck listening to the boring life around the single pedestal he was stuck in. So maybe talking to an old friend from the past will give some entertainment.

But all he gotten was silence, nothing through thoughts, just empty silence. Discord’s eyes slowly widen a bit as pulled out his talon finger, saw only bits of dust.

“Maybe your containment blocks you from talking to me?” he suggested, assuming such.

Thinking for a moment, he then placed the side of his head against the stone head, left ear pressed to listen through the thick rock. He uses his magic to at least try to sense what the fellow is currently doing within.

Through the silence, he heard a mental sound.

‘Zzzz…zzzz…zzzz…’

Hearing the sounds of snoring caused Discord eyes widen, than he fell onto his back anime style. In a single second, he stood up and shouted at the stone statue.

“YOU’RE ASLEEP WITH YOUR EYES OPEN!” he yelled, both surprised and annoyed. All these years, the trapped spirit he tried to contact through telepathy for so long, and it was revealed he was asleep.

Rather annoyed for such discovery, but started to think. This statue was inside the deep, dark, crystal mines, no lights, which obviously makes it quite easy for the spirit within to sleep. But the being was asleep for over a thousand years?

“Must be one good dream,” Discord said as he raised his talon claw. “Well sorry buddy, time to wake you up, rise and shine!” He then snaps his talons, using his magic to set free the being trapped in stone.

He expected a flash of magic to appear around the statue, waiting for the stone shattered and set free the sleeping being. But nothing happened.

The statue remained the same, boring, stone state. Discord’s powerful chaos magic didn’t affect it.

Discord’s eyes widen a bit, than he frowns and snaps his talons a few times. Some of his chaos magic bursts around, turning the glowing gems into several of items such as chocolate cake, strawberry pies, and some toys. He tried to use his magic to either break or change the statue, but it seems his magic was only bouncing off of it.

“Okay, now this is confusing, even for me,” Discord frowns as he crosses his arms, giving the statue a glare, despite the being inside is still asleep. “Beings turned into stone by cockatrices could easily be free by my magic, so why can’t… no…”

He realized something as his eyes slowly wide, “The elements were used on you; Celly used the elements on her own elemental lords?”

No answer, just snoring through the mental thought.

“Well, time to get some answers,” said the draconequus as he snapped his talon, and a megaphone appeared in his grip. Using his right lion paw hand, he twisted the knob on the megaphone to the highest volume, and slowly raises it up to his face. He wetted his lips with his tongue and held the megaphone close, taking a deep breath…

“WAKE UP JOSEPHIROTH!”

The shout was magnified by the megaphone ten times, and with the area being an underground crystal mine tunnels, the volume got even louder. The whole tunnels shook from the loud voice, echoing throughout; Discord even made himself temporary deaf after. While for the stone statue…

‘Zzzz…zzzz…zzzz…’

With the Canterlot Castle sat on the side of the mountain, over the entrance of the crystal mines. The echoes from within had went through some vents, many anthro ponies who had heard it, only it sounded like whispers. Many who heard it either ignored or looked to another, assuming the other said something.

In one of the tallest towers, one of the royal bed chambers, the room of Princess Luna. Her bedroom is quite large, spacious, and what’s inside is a large a bed that is a bit larger than king-size, at least eight feet wide and ten feet long, and three feet tall, quite big and set against a wall, with two bed-size dressers on each side. There is also a double-door closet, a desk with a lunar night crown setting on it, and a big mirror on a wall, and some bookshelves. A door that leads to her private bathroom and an outdoor balcony with curtains blocking the way, much better than windows. The walls are covered in midnight blue paint; the ceiling of the room was painted to look like the night sky.
And currently, the anthro night alicorn princess is sleeping in bed, wrapped with her big black blanket, which mostly covered her body. Only her head was exposed, resting on big fluffy pillows. Resting on her right side, facing away from the bright sunlight that managed to go through some openings the dark curtains blocked.

There was a small grate, a vent close to the corner of her bedroom. And from it came a very faint echo.

“WAKE UP JOSEPHIROTH!”

The left ear on Luna’s head twitches, moaning a bit as she raised her dark blue furred head a bit, her flowing moderate sapphire blue with grayish persian blue lining mane, looked like it had little sparkles in her mane. The eye shadows are light sapphire blue, and as they slowly open, showing her moderate cyan pupils.

“Josephiroth…?” she quietly asked, had thought she heard that familiar word.

Finding no one in her room who had said the name, she slowly angles her head towards one of her bed-side dressers, which had a small portrait sat. It looks like a family photo, a photo of her time from a very long time ago, with herself, her sister, Star Swirl the Bearded, and four other beings.

The four beings were dressed in armor, but without their helmets, showing their faces, not pony faces. These four beings were in fact not anthro ponies, but what she and her sister and many creatures learned long ago, they’re known as humans. Everyone in the photo was smiling. And each human was doing a small pose for the picture.
One in fiery-like armor was at the bottom of the photo, laying on his right side with his right arm supporting his head. He had short, messy green hair and blue eyes, clean shaven. On the left side of the portrait was a watery-like armored human standing in an elegant pose, was bald with light-red beard and has blue eyes. On the right side was a big earthen warrior covered in dark green armor, he stood tall and proud, has short dark brown hair, brown eyes and wore oval eyeglasses. And the fourth one, the one in between Celestia and Luna when they were young, and with Star Swirl beside Celestia, anyways, the fourth being had long dark brown hair, brown eyes, light brown goatee, and wore rectangular eyeglasses, he had his arms hugging both Celestia and Luna while smiling to the viewer.

It was a very happy time back then; so many fond memories come to mind as she looks at it. Also sadness too, so as Luna rests her head on the pillow once more, she quietly said as she closed her eyes, shed a tear.

“Wish you guys didn’t leave…”

After that one failure and Discord hearing the mental sound of snoring once more while he tries to remove that loud ding sound in his ears. Was temporary deaf for a while, he got rid of the megaphone.

Frustrated, he growled, “Okay, if loud noises won’t work, than how about this?” With a snap of his talon hand, with a flash of magic, he was suddenly dressed in hard working clothes, light blue shirt, wore a yellow hardhat, black goggles, and has a jackhammer in his grip.

“Time to shake that body of yours,” he said with a grin, than he turns on the jackhammer and quickly thrusts it on the statue. He bounces around it, causing the statue to vibrate from the forces.

But after a long while, no cracks showed. And as the jackhammer slowly came to a stop, quieted down; Discord listen for a mental sound.

‘Zzzz…zzzz…zzzz…’

With a flash, all the clothes, hardhat, and jackhammer vanished while Discord growled in annoyance. Walking close till he stood in front of the statue, looking down at the frozen expression etched in stone.

“You know buddy, if I ever see Gary, I’ll make sure to ask him for his secret of waking you up,” Discord said, still frustrated.

‘Zzzz…zzzz…zzzz…’

“But,” Discord said, now grinning as he raised his left talon hand, one finger pointing upwards. “That doesn’t mean I haven’t given up yet, and right now, I’m betting you’re pretending to be asleep. Admit it pal.”

The only answer he got through the mental telepathy was of course…

‘Zzzz…zzzz…zzzz…’

Discord slowly grinned, “Well, since your helmet is off, maybe a kiss from an alicorn princess could awaken you?”

Of course the only answer he gotten for his question was the snoring.

Discord rubbed his beard with his talon hand while looking upwards, “But… considering I cannot allow those two knowing that I’m free… yet. We’ll just have to settle for the next best thing.” He gave the statue a wide grin before snapping his talon hand once more.

With a flash of his magic, he made a small difference to his body. His wings grew and change into purplish violet colored wings. The horns on his head was covered in a blue and golden king’s crown, and on the center point above his eyes stood a long, purplish violet horn, and had red lipstick on his lips.

He stood tall, did some admiration poses. He looks down at the statue with a grin, “How do I look, honey?”

Again, his only answer: ‘Zzzz…zzzz…zzzz…’

“Well time to change that answer of yours, for it’s time to give you the wakeup kiss,” Discord said as he hugged the statue, wrapping his arms around the neck, moving his head close to the always frozen expression, puckering his lips.

Then he thrust forward and kissed the stone statue right on the mouth, kissing deeply while hugging the frozen being tightly.

“Mwah!”

After for about five seconds, Discord pulled back, leaving red lip marks around the stone mouth area, still hugging the statue, grinning down at it, hoping to get an answer.

‘Zzzz…zzzz…zzzz…’

Discord gawked in annoyance, he had hoped that the trapped being would be disturbed enough to awaken, annoyed at least, or at least shouting his name in anger. But he just got that same, boring answer.

He sighed as he let go of the statue, and with his magic, the crown vanished and so did the wings and horn, returning to his normal look.

“Nothing I say or do is going to wake you, isn’t it?” Discord asked, looking down at the statue, feeling a bit sad at the moment. Feeling a bit depress that he couldn’t awaken his old friend, looking down, and seeing the stone helmet. He reaches down and took hold of it with his lion paw and eagle talon, than he slowly puts it back into place on the statue head, made sure it was adjust right and the mouth guard in place.

After a while, a moment thought, he asked, “What are you dreaming about anyways? It must be really good for sleeping during a thousand years.”

Curious to know he placed his talon and paw on the stone helmet, gripping it tightly as he closes his eyes. He used his magic, his great power, to enter the dream of the prisoner inside the statue.

The draconequus found himself standing in a very dark area, he looks around a bit. The darkness slowly lessens, revealing his surrounding, what looks like a forest part of a park, trees spread apart and each standing alone. A few flower patches and bushes, and even a bench, and as Discord looks upward, seeing it to be a foggy sky.
“If this is a dream, than where’s the dreamer?” he asked himself, looking around.

Then he heard a sound that Discord likes to hear, the sound of laughter. It was almost child-like, but the voice was recognizable to the draconequus. The voice of the trapped statue human.

‘Must be playing a dream game, or maybe this is a memory?’ the draconequus thought as he angle his head to see where the voice originated, expecting to see a group.

But he only saw one being, the human, about twenty feet away, and was running further and deeper into this strange landscape. The human wearing what looks like a red and white winter jacket, blue jeans and dark brown boots. Discord knows that the being’s true height matches the height of the statue outside, six feet and four inches tall.

Curious to know, Discord runs after whom he assumes is the dreamer. He couldn’t use his magic while being in the dream, otherwise he might wreck up what’s happening. The spirit of chaos was after all, curious to know what this dream is about.

As he goes, the sound of laughter was heard, almost mostly all around, but the source of it was ahead of him. And the draconequus’s movement liked running through water, slow movement.

And just as he assumed that the human was going to be gone in sight, the man had stopped and had sat down on his knees, facing towards a tree. And as Discord nears, the sound of laughter got louder.

The draconequus reaches out to the human with his lion arm, the paw touching the human’s left shoulder. Discord was about to say something, but before his eyes came a flash of light.

When the flash ended, Discord found himself standing in a large room, standing among a crowd of humans. Being the only draconequus, he was the tallest as all the rest were smaller. None of them even notice him, and Discord saw many of them dressed in various kinds of costumes, while a few just wore regular clothes.

He looks around, seeing the place, one thing came to mind as he realize, “This is a convention, a memory.” He had learned of this convention from the spirit long ago, but now, he was seeing it now.

Many of the humans face were shrouded in shadows, likely not remembered in the dreamer’s memory. Various of voices could be heard, mostly muffled, but turning to look at where most of them are looking to, was a stage with a flat-screen TV on the back, rather large and showing what looks like a duel going on.

A duel monster duel, for on the stage, three people were on, one holding a video camera pointed down at the table that the two beings sat at. The two beings were dressed in costumes, one is unfamiliar to the draconequus, but as he moves closer to the stage, he could see the ole human friend of his.

“Ah, so this was your costume,” Discord said with a chuckle, seeing what Joseph wore. “No wonder your brothers find humour from your costume. What was the being you dressed up called? Aang right?”

Of course he gets no reply from his question; this was after all, a memory.

Joseph on stage wore clothes similar to Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender. He wore what looks like an orange sweater with yellow arm and elbow bands with a red sash from left shoulder to right waist, dark brown pants with dark gray leg guards and black socks. His head was bald with a blue arrow drawn on; he still had a goatee and eyeglasses on. And from closer view, seeing the brown eyes and light brown goatee.

And as he had come close, he heard the human say to his opponent, “Sorry pal, but looks like I win. Five-Headed Dragon attacks you directly with Ultimate Oblivion!”

With that, he won the duel, while Discord recall of this memory, a tale that he had learned from the four brothers. Each of them was doing several of things at this convention, and Josephiroth came to this convention to participate in what was called, ‘Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monster Tournament’. And that he won it.

Discord watches from where he stood, letting the memory play its course. Watching Joseph claim his prize, four secret rare cards.

“This is awesome, I had expected to lose, but looks like I had good luck in the cards,” said Joseph as he gave a victory speech for winning the tournament at this convention. “So I guess the best thing to say is, never give up and always believe in your deck.” He chuckles, “Yeah sounds cliché like in the show, but come on, it’s true.”

And with that ended and he got off the stage, Discord moves closer to listen. He watched as Joseph got off the stage and walked over to a six feet tall skinny dressed up as the Firebender Zuko. This man wore a dark red tunic with a yellow belt, dark red shoulder pads, armguards, leg guards, belt pockets, and a fake sheathed sword hanging on back as well as fake katanna swords hanging on the back. He got dark green hair tied into a ponytail, is clean shaven and wore a black eye-patch over the left eye; reason for the eye-patch is because he doesn’t have what he needed to make the much believable scar.

“Told ya to never give up on your cards, young brother,” the man grinned, whom Discord recognized very well, Garico, the Spirit of Fire.

“Yeah I know big brother, don’t need to rub it in,” Josephiroth replied, he and Garico were just saying a friendly joke to each other. Garico called Josephiroth his younger brother, considering Joseph is bigger than him and had an older-like face. While Josephiroth calls Garico ‘big brother’ was because Garico is older than him by two years, but yet he’s smaller than him by four inches.

Seeing the four secret rare cards in his hands, Garico had asked, “May I have a look at those?”

“Sure,” Josephiroth replied by handing him the cards he had won.

As Garico looked at the cards, Discord lean close to look as well. He saw what looks like four dragons, once more each were of four elements, air, fire, water, and earth.

“Huh?” asked the winning human, Discord notice that he was looking at the draconequus for a second. He uses his left hand, moves his glasses up and rubbed his eyes a bit. Once he stopped, he looked to where Discord stood, but seem to no longer see him. Obviously returning to the way the memory goes, Discord could figure he’s invisible throughout this memory sequence, or saw someone else.

“What?” Garico asked, holding the four cards back to his brother.

“Oh nothing just thought I saw someone dressed up as Discord from My Little Ponies,” Josephiroth replied, he takes the cards back.

This caused Discord to look surprised; he turned around to look through the crowds. After looking through the many, he found one human dressed up in a very poorly looking spirit of chaos costume.

“Hey! My left arm is a talon, not lion’s paw!” Discord called out as he goes over to inspect the costume. “And the wings, sheesh, there are so many errors here pal, you didn’t put much effort into it, did you?”

Of course he didn’t get an answer back while he was ranting at the unknown human. But then recalled one thing, currently the main part of this memory was still happening and he ain’t watching.

And with that, he turned and rushed over, seeing Josephiroth putting his four prized cards into his pocket.

Garico said, “Let’s go find Andy and Albert, the convention is almost over.”

“Yeah, knowing Andy though, he likely got his iPhone full of pictures of people in costumes,” the dreamer replied, and as they both started to walk. He looked to his older brother, “Speaking of which, while I was playing, did you get some pictures too?”

Garico smirked as he pulled it out, and pressed a few buttons. “Oh I did, and you are going to be surprised on what you see,” he said, sliding through photos till came one and held it to his brother.

Joseph takes it and looks on the screen, his expression change from excitement to gawking, “No way, someone dressed up as Sephiroth?”

“Picture tells no lies, young brother,” Garico chuckled. “Maybe tomorrow you can see him.”

“Hopefully before the convention ends in three days,” he replied, out of most Final Fantasy games, Sephiroth is one of his top three favourites, and Garico knows, considering Garico likes Cloud Strife.

Discord had a good look too, seeing the image of the human in the costume of the one-winged angel. He continued to watch as the two brothers go.

As Josephiroth continued looking through pictures, seeing pictures of people dressed up as Mario, Luigi, Wario, the always forgotten named purple plumber guy, Link, and so much more. He soon came to an image of a guy dressed in armor.

“Who’s this guy supposed to be?” he asked his brother, showing the image.

Garico saw and said, “The guy said he was dressed as Gilgamesh.”

“What game is he from?” Josephiroth asked, rather confused since he never heard the name before.

“He appeared in some Final Fantasy games,” Garico said.

He slides through another photo, seeing an image of a headless armored being, “Amazing details, this guy for some reason reminds me of that one character in the Castlevania games… what was the name again?” He thinks for a moment as Garico looks.

“That would be Dullahan,” he stated.

“Oh, kept forgetting the name, considering I hardly play it,” Joseph replied. “It was like over a year ago I played that game, and you have it.” Garico nodded as they continued walking.

Soon coming down to the last picture, of some guy wearing a pyramid on his head. Feeling rather confused, he asked, “Why does this guy wearing a large pyramid on his head... must be bad for the neck.”

Garico didn’t even look, “That’s Pyramid Head, the guy from Silent Hill.”

“Silent Hill?”

Garico looked surprised as he turned to his brother, “You never heard of it? I thought you got the movie?”

“I may have my own personal library of books and movies, but I never seen that one,” he replied. “Heard the title a few times from some of my friends, but that’s pretty much it,” he shrugs, handing the iPhone back to Garico, “so what’s it about?”

“Not going to tell you,” Garico said as he pockets his iPhone. “Get the game or the movie and learn it yourself, don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

Joseph frowns in annoyance, and just as they arrive to the front room of the convention. They saw their two brothers sitting on the bench.

“There they are,” Garico said; getting Joseph’s attention and both of them walk over.

Discord follows behind, and as they neared, he saw what the other two brothers wore.

The one known as Albert, or the Spirit of Water Albertis to Discord anyways, stood about the same height as Josephiroth, six feet and four inches tall. He wore what was similar to Sokka, the Waterbender Tribe of clothes, such as a blue tunic with white fur lining, dark brown pocket belt, dark blue pants, dark brown boots, and a fake black sword on his left side of his belt, and a toy boomerang on the right side of the belt. He was close to being bald, just short blond hair, and has a reddish blonde short pointy beard, he has blue eyes, and in stance, he’s slightly skinny but a bit more muscular than Joseph.

And the other, Andy, or to Discord, the Spirit of Earth Andracus, stood six feet and five inches tall, just an inch taller than Albertis and Josephiroth. He had muscles but a bit of a chubby belly, he has dark brown short hair and wears oval shape eyeglasses, has brown eyes. The clothes he wore are like what Earthbenders wore yellow tunic over green robes, a brown belt around the waist and green bike gloves, he also wore green sandals.

As they went over to them, they saw Garico and Joseph and they both stood up.

“You both ready to go?” asked Andracus.

Garico and Josephiroth nodded, than Josephiroth smiled as he said, “Had won the duel monster tournament, my prize were four very rare cards.” Gary is Garico’s true name; Garico is just the name of being the Spirit of Fire. And Joseph pulls out the four cards to show his brothers.

Andy chuckled, “Why am I not surprised that your prize is four dragon cards?”

“What? You all know that I love dragons,” Joseph said as he puts the cards back into his pocket. He turned to Gary, “Hey, maybe later we could have a little duel; I want to try out these new cards.”

“Sorry Joey, you know that I don’t duel anymore, heck I didn’t bring my cards with me,” Garico said as he looked to him. Then he chuckled as he turned to Albert, “Maybe one day, Chase could learn how to play the game.”

“Maybe,” Albert said, not really a fan of the game.

“It’s possible brother, he may only prefer toy cards. But one day he’ll be interested in duel monster cards,” Joseph said with a smile.

Discord blinked, now recalled some things he remembered about them, they each had something important to them on earth. Andy has a girlfriend and is a college professor. Albert has a three year-old son named Chase, who’s staying with their parents, his wife was… sadly died in an accident. Gary has plans of a wedding with his future wife. But as for Joseph… besides his brothers and his parents, he has only is own home to go back too, his lonely apartment, hardly has any friends, only has a few he talks through the internet, and work at a library.

Discord had learned this from his meetings with them long ago of course, but recalling what happens next saddens him a little. He continues to watch.

“Well let’s not be late, by the time this convention ends, the roads will be busy,” Andy said as the four were about to go.

“Back to the brother vacation campsite and continue the convention tomorrow,” Gary nodded as he said that. They decide to come to this convention as a one week vacation, for all four brothers to get together, while the ladies are either at home or having their own kind of fun.

“Oh goodie, as long as I get a hat or something, big mistake today since the cold winds,” Joseph said while his brothers chuckled. “What?”

“Nothing,” said Albert.

And just as the four brothers neared the exit of the convention, Discord still following behind, a voice is heard.

“Hey you four benders!” called someone.

The first to look to where the caller was Garico and Discord looked as well. Seeing a stall of various items close to the exit, and standing behind it stood someone dressed up as a merchant of olden days, almost in similar clothes to the cabbage merchant from the same show the four brothers were dressed in.

“Oh look, it’s the cabbage merchant,” Garico jokingly said, causing Andracus, Albertis, and Josephiroth to look as well.

“Heh, so it is,” Albert said with a chuckle.

They walk over, and Josephiroth said hi to the merchant who stood behind his stall of merchandise.

“Ah, it’s good to see there are others who chose to dress up as the characters in Avatar like I have,” said the merchant with a grin. “And now, I’m sure I got quality items you fine chaps would like to have.”

“As long as you don’t have cabbages, we can look for a bit,” Andracus said, causing most of them to chuckle. His brothers looked through the items the merchant was selling.

And what the group saw what looked like authentic items from shows, movies, games, and even books, well some books that have the image of the item.

“Whoa,” said both Josephiroth and Garico, they were amazed. Albertis didn’t know most of these items but Andracus, Garico, and Josephiroth sure do.

The items they see were of various things, such as the three sheathed swords from InuYasha, tessaiga, tenseiga, and so’unga, heck even the beads of subjugation, and the sacred jewel, and some clothes like the red kimono that InuYasha wears in the show, and even a cute little plushie toy of Kirara.

Then there were items that are what even the Majora’s Mask is from Legend of Zelda games, like the Master Sword, Hyrule Shield, Hero’s Tunic, Ocarina, Twilight’s Mirror, and heck there were even a plushie of Epona, and a model Ganon’s monster form from Ocarina of Time game. And there was even a model of the Triforce triangles, than again it could just yellow triangles carefully stacked and glued together.

Then there were items from Kingdom Hearts game, such as various forms of one Keyblade, an Organization 13 clothes. Then there were items from Disney, like the cobra staff that Jafar uses in the Aladdin movie as well as Genie’s Lamp. There was a model statue of Mushu, plushie toy of Pegasus, Cerberus, Hydra, so many more, heck even a plushie toy of Mirage from the episodes series of Aladdin. And there is a big jar full of marbles, each labelled with numbers and different colors.

Then there were like tons of different kinds of dragon plushies, like dragons from the Spyro games. There were plushies of Spyro, Cynder, Malefor, Ignitus, Volteer, Cyril, and Terrador. Then there were plushies from the movie and episodes of How to Train your Dragon, such as the Night Fury, Monstrous Nightmare, Terrible Terror, Hideous Zippleback, Gronkle, and the Deadly Nadder.

There were items from Dragon Ball Z movies and episodes, such as a case full of capsules, a scouter, Saiyan armor, Lord Beerus plushie, and the seven star dragon balls.

And there were some items from Reboot, such as Hex’s Mask, the Guardian’s Key-Tool, the Icon badge thing, and even a small toy model of Megabyte.

Then there were like twenty several of life-size masks from Bionicle, including the two masks, the Mask of Life and the Mask of Shadows.

And there were four real life-like scanners, those devices from the show Chaotic. The scanners looked much well than the tin version too, the Mipedian Yellow, Danian Brown, Overworld Blue, and Underworld Red.

Then there was some items like from Slugterra, such as those blaster gun and a case full of plastic slugs of various forms.

Also there were pokemon stuff like pokeballs, great balls, ultra balls, a master ball and other kinds of balls. And there was Ash’s red cap, along with different generation of pokedexes, and the evolution stone replicas, and lastly a mega ring with a mega stone.

And right beside the pokemon items were digimon items, different generation of digivices and digimon cards, along with what looks like a mixture of a digivice and a gauntlet, digi-guantlet?

And there were the seven chaos emeralds and the big master emerald, obviously plastic jewels that look similar to the ones in the Sonic X series. There also plushie toys of Sonic characters from different shows.

Next bunch of items were YuGiOh stuff such as Duel Disks, the seven golden millennium items, and several of rare duel monster cards.

The next group of toy models were several of Bakugan balls, yet these ones look more real than the toys in stores.

The next group of items look like the Deathly Hollows from Harry Potter, the Elder’s Wand, Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility.

There were the twelve talismans, each bearing a symbol of an animal of the zodiac. These stone hexagons shape things looks like real version from the old cartoon show, Jackie Chan’s Adventures.

Then there are the items that looked like they originated from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There were Leonardo’s blades, Michelangelo’s nun-chucks, Raphael’s sais, Donatello’s Bo staff. Other two items were Shredder’s Helmet, and the Sword of Tengu.

Another group of dragon plushies on the shelf close to the others, a bunch of dragon plushies from Dragon Booster, such as the Gold Star, Black Psi, Red Magma, Green Bull, Blue Energy, White Sky, Light Blue Nautilus, Brown Earth, Light Green Scavenger, Orange Control, Purple Pack, Turquoise Sonic, and Gray Bone. And along with the plushies are five gauntlets and five amulets, which are the Gold Star amulet, Black Psi amulet which looks like an eye, Red Flame amulet, Green Fist amulet, and Blue Energy amulet which looks like a lightning bolt.

And there were plushies of the creatures from Monster Hunter, there were the Great Jaggi with a Jaggi and a Jaggia, the Royal Ludroth with a few Ludroths, a Qurupeco, Rathian and a Rathalos, Lagiacrus, Arzuros, Zinogre, Nargacuga, Barroth, Volvidon, Tigrex, Barioth, Gigginox, Khezu, Agnaktor, Amatsumagatsuchi, Rajang, Fatalis, Akantor, Ukanlos, and much more.

Another batch of items that are from a show called Legendz, there was four types of talispods, which were air white, water blue, fire red, and earth green. Then there are three devices that look like three talispods in one form known as a talisdam. Then there was like a box filled with crystals with what looks like beings within, like dragons, big foot, werewolf, manticore, salamander, a crocodile, snake, pretty much various of animals.

And there were other weapons, toys, plushies, clothes, armor, models, like literally so many, especially with the long-sword that Sephiroth wields, Yuna’s staff, Master Chief’s helmet, Rainbow of Light in a heart locket, a three dimensional maneuver gear, Blade of Olympus and the Blades of Exile, sapphire painted blue dragon egg shape stone, and oh so much more stuff.

How Discord, who’s still standing with the four brothers within this dream, knows what these items this merchant was selling? Rather simple, for each items had a sign of the name and what it originated from. And Discord recognized quite a few of the items that he had seen before.

And with a sight of a back door behind the merchant is obvious that he has a lot more items, most likely got several copies of each item that he has for sale right now. Discord looked to the four brothers, to see how they react.

Albertis seem to only recognize a few of the stuff, while he looked at some of the others in curiosity, while his brothers seem to know most of all these items.

Andracus is an anime expert of the trio, as well as several games, and he was marvelling at the sight of the magnificent items such as the millennium items and the blades from InuYasha.

Garico is a Zelda and Dragon Ball Z fan, he had at first was checking out the ocarina, than looking at the small orbs of the seven star dragon balls.

And as for Josephiroth, he is a fan of most of this stuff, but the one thing he love most, were dragons. He’s also a yugioh card collector, which at the current moment, he was staring at the ultra-rare cards, and most of them were dragons. He looked like a kid in a candy store, and that’s when Andracus had notice that his brother was staring at the cards.

And as quickly as Andracus pulled out a rolled out magazine from his pocket, still rolled up, he whack on Josephiroth’s head, not hard, but enough to gain his attention. “No Joey, bad!” he said.

Josephiroth turned to look at Andracus with the look of annoyance, “What the hell man?”

“No cards Joseph; don’t waste your money on more cards,” Andracus said sternly.

“Oh come on, there are so many rare dragon cards here,” Josephiroth complained.

Before Andracus could continue to deny his brother on the cards, Garico spoke out, “Look away from the cards little brother, you already got some today. Besides, look at those dragon plushies.”

“Dragon plushies?” asked Josephiroth as he quickly looked, and saw all the other items, especially dragon plushies, models and stuff. He smiled widely as he looked at the items, “Ooh.”

“As you can, our little brother here is a dragon lover, he collects things that are mainly of dragons,” Garico stated as he looked to the merchant while the others look at Josephiroth.

The merchant smiled, “Well then, it’s a good thing I got dragon items to sell then.”

Joseph was looking at each item with wide eyes and a big smile, looking from one item to another. He definitely is a big fan of dragons, and he looked like he was having difficulty of which one to look at first.

Seeing such made the merchant smiled wider, mainly because he could tell Joseph is going to buy a lot of his items.

Discord continued to watch, and merely glared at the merchant while the four brothers looked at several of items. Discord knew from the tales he had learned, and that the merchant is not human.

Andy reached over and patted Joseph’s back to get his attention “Don’t spend all your money today, the convention only started today. Just buy one item, if you got enough money.”

“If I had enough money? Andy, I saved enough these past months, waiting for this convention to come around,” Joseph said, talking out, more like blurting out in a naïve way, “heck, I have about…”

Garico reached and covered his mouth with his hand, “Don’t say how much you have little brother, after all, the merchant can change the price of his items.” This made Joseph’s eyes widen in shock, and after the Fire Spirit removed his hand, the Air Spirit immediately face-palmed, smacked himself hard too.

“That’s going to leave a bruise,” the Water Spirit chuckled.

The merchant spoke out, “Oh don’t you all worry about the prices, I won’t haggle as long as you bunch don’t. And don’t forget, like your brother said, today is the first day of the convention, and also is the only day that my stall has this.” He grinned as he pointed to a sign right behind him, he stepped away to show what the sign says, 50% off. “This kind of sale only happens today, so buy what you desired the most, for by the end of today, this bargain will end.”

The four brothers looked at the merchant with wide eyes, and Andy asked in a surprised toned, “Really?”

The merchant grinned, “Really, really.”

Discord sighed as he watched; this reminded him of what he had long ago learned, and how a venus flytrap catches flies. The merchant is the trap and the four boys willingly reached in.

As Joseph was taking hold of many dragon plushies and other items, Andy and Gary were looking through several of items. Albert had looked through a few, and decided to buy the twelve talismans with the zodiac animal symbols on them. He waited for his brothers to finished picking what they wanted.

Andy had picked the jar that’s labeled: 626 Experiments, the jar was filled with lots of marbles with numbers; it’s obviously from that old Disney movie, Lilo and Stitch. That wasn’t the only thing he picked up, he had also selected that Key-Tool, the Scouter and Capsule Case, the Bionicle Mask of Life, the Blades of Exile, the Beads of Subjugation, Majora’s Mask, and the Master Chief Helmet.

As for Gary, he went and selected the Master Sword, Hyrule Shield, Ocarina of Time, and the Triforce Model first thing; he is a fan of the Zelda games. He’s also a fan of Sonic, which he picked up the Seven Chaos Emeralds. And he even picked up the Seven Star Dragon Balls case, and then picked the Sword of Tengu, and the 3D Maneuver Gear.

And lastly for Joseph, like a very happy child in an adult body, just went and picked up plushies of dragons mostly, he literally does love dragons. He picked up the group of plushies of the dragon characters from Dragon Booster, How to Train your Dragon, Monster Hunter, and Legend of Spyro. He even picked up the Hydra plushie from that Disney movie Hercules, Dulcy plushie from the old series of Sonic, Mushu plushie from Mulan, and the twin-headed dragon Zak & Wheezie plushie. As for non-dragon plushies, he picked up the Mirage plushie of that character in Aladdin, Lord Beerus plushie, and the Kirara plushie. And after picking up the group of plushies he picked, he went and picked up the Ganon model of that final boss in Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time game, the Cobra Staff which was called Jafar’s Staff from that Aladdin movie, Hiccup’s Crossbow Shield, Shredder’s Helmet from that TMNT 2003 series, and then lastly the Talispods and Souldolls from the anime shows, Legendz.

Seeing the amount, Albert commented, “Holy crap, you sure you have enough money for all that?” Joseph only nodded.

Andy chuckled as he had picked up seven golden items, “Hey Joseph, did you notice these?”

Joseph looked over and saw what his older brother picked up, his eyes widen, “The Seven Millennium Items?!” He moved his right hand, reaching out to touch the Millennium Puzzle.

“Sorry pal, but I plan to get these,” Andy smirked and chuckled, he wasn’t a fan of the game, but he did like the shows. And seeing Joseph frown at him only made Andy laugh, “Well you were too focus on those dragon items.”

Gary was chuckling, “You guys seem to not notice, but look-y here.” He picked up a small black gem thing, his three brothers lean close to inspect.

“Is that the..?” asked Joseph.

“The Resurrection Stone from Harry Potter,” Andy said in surprise, and then he turned and reached where Gary had picked up the stone. He found and picked up a big wand, “The Elder’s Wand?” He turned to the merchant, “You have items like these as well?”

Merchant nodded with a smile, “Yep, and got many more of each one in the back.”

“Heh, I prefer the Invisibility Cloak, and I’m sure my son would like one too,” Albert said as he picked up the folded up cloak.

Joseph chuckled, “You guys can get the items; I prefer the book. And man, feel the cover, it looks so authentic.” He held the spell book up for his brothers to see, he even opened the book to look inside.

As he read, Garico had picked up one of the four devices from Chaotic, the red Underworld Scanner. “He even has chaotic scanners.”

Joseph instantly closed his book and set it with the items he had picked, “Ooh, is there the Mipedian Scanner?” Looking at where Gary had found the scanner, and saw the yellow version, “Sweet.”

“I prefer Danians,” Andy said as he picked up the brown scanner device. As he held it, he turned to Albert, “How about you get the Overworld Blue for your son?”

“Not exactly sure he would like this,” he replied as he picked up the blue device. “What’s this called again?”

“It’s a chaotic scanner,” Joseph said as he pressed a few buttons. “Shows images of chaotic cards.”

“Hm, might as well if you guys are getting your own,” Albert said as he picked up the blue scanner device.

“Well I am,” Gary stated and so did Joseph and Andy. And just as he put the red scanner on the items he planned to get, he saw and picked up a small, handheld device. “Holy, a digivice.”

Joseph lean over and saw it, “Digivice of Season One, your favourite season.”

“It’s original, unlike all the others,” Gary stated as he held it.

Andy reached and picked up a device similar to the digivice, “What season is this from?”

Joseph looked over, than he became confused, “Is that some kind of gauntlet?”

“It is... a new kind of digivice that I like to call the Digi-Gauntlet, interested?” Merchant asked with a grin.

“Nope,” Albert stated as he looked at other devices.

“Yep,” Joseph and Andy said at the same time, than they looked at each other. Considering there was only one Digi-Gauntlet, they both raised their right fists up.

They shake their fists for a moment and moved forth, Andy’s fist still tight while Joseph’s hand made a scissors look. They just did Paper, Rock, Scissors. Andy smirked while Joseph groaned.

“Here you go,” the merchant smiled as he held the Digi-Gauntlet over to Andracus, the Earth Spirit happily accepted and put it into the pile of things he plans to buy.

Joseph groaned while looking around the items, till his eyes widen as he saw a sheathed blade. He pointed at it while looking at the merchant, “Is that the tessaiga?”

“A replica of one, yep,” the merchant said with a grin. “Want it?” he asked and his grin widen as Joseph nodded. He placed the sheathed katanna on the items that Joseph plans to buy.

Before Gary could say or reach for, Albert had taken hold the sheathed blade of Tenseiga, and Andy got hold of So’unga. Gary groaned, till he smiled as he saw the Keyblade. Taken hold of it, he admired its form.

“Man if only I could turn the key part to look like a G, it would be called the G-Blade,” Gary said with a smile.

Joseph had face-palmed after hearing that.

Gary frowned as he looked to his brother, “What?”

His eyes closed while rubbing his forehead, “Just counting how many times I heard you say G-Blade.”

Gary rolled his eyes, till he saw something and smirked as he picked it up, “Oh look little brother, it’s a duel disk?”

“Alright got one at… home?” Joseph had opened his eyes and saw how realistic the duel disk looks.

“It’s not plastic,” Gary stated as he inspects it.

“Oh sweet lord, it looks way better than the plastic version,” Joseph said as he looked at it.

Andy frowned, “What did I say about YuGiOh Cards-”

“It isn’t a card, Andy, so it doesn’t count!” Joseph quickly said as he went and picked up the orichalcos dueling disk. “I always prefer this one; makes it look like an axe was part of the arm.”

“Heh, if you’re getting one, I’ll get one too, this is actually tempting me to rejoin dueling,” Gary said, and that caused Joseph to smile wide. Gary rolled his eyes, “Don’t get annoying again.”

“Heh,” Joseph smiled sheepishly, he had annoyed his brother quite a bit, asking duels after duels long time ago.

Andy had picked up an earth green gauntlet with a fist-shape amulet wrapped around it. “I’m quite surprised you hadn’t notice these gauntlets, Joey. You’re a fan of Dragon Booster, right?”

“I like the dragons in the show, not the Boosters,” Joseph stated as he turned and saw the gauntlet he held. “But still, my favorite ones were the Gold and Black one.”

Gary frown, “They’re the only one known in that old show so far.” He reached and picked up the ruby fire red gauntlet, “I prefer the fire one.”

“No surprised there, while I prefer the energy blue,” Albertis said as he picked up the blue gauntlet.

Joseph chuckled as he picked up the obsidian black gauntlet, “Well, the black one is my first favorite, gold is second. But I’ll get them both.” He sets them with the ones he plans to get.

Discord continued to watch the four brothers decide what they’re buying, after a moment he got a confused look, “What happened to most of those items anyways?” From watching this whole memory play out, Discord had noticed a few odd things, like certain items that the four brothers plan to buy, and he recognized quite a few, but several other items are either unknown to him or something.

The merchant started to count the price total for the items Andracus was getting, and once done, he said, “Now then, the price of the items with today’s bargain sale, it comes to $168.75 dollars.”

“Great,” Andy said with a smile as he pulls out his wallet and pulled out amount of cash, and while he did, the merchant was putting the items into a bag. He then paid the merchant and then took the bag of items he bought, “Thank you.”

Albertis was next; he had his wallet out and waited for the merchant to tally up the price of items he was getting.

“With the today’s bargain, the price of your items is $67.98 dollars.”

“Here’s seventy dollars then, keep the change,” Albert said as he handed the cash to the merchant, and then accepted the bag of items he had bought.

Gary had waited for his turn, and had pulled out his wallet while the merchant counted up the total.

“Yours is worth about $127.82 dollars.”

“Sweet, here ya go,” Gary said as he paid the price and took hold of the big of items.

“My turn,” Joseph said with an eager look, had pulled out his wallet to pay for the total of items he plans to buy.

“And yours come to… $225.25 dollars.”

“Dang man,” Joseph said as he opened his wallet, and pulled out amount of cash. “I’m sure glad that today was the bargain day.”

The merchant accepted the cash with a smile, “You four were just lucky today. So enjoy your purchases.”

Josephiroth smiled as he held the big bag of items he bought, “Oh I’m sure I will.”

Just as it seems that the four guys were about to go, the merchant spoke out, “Wait just a minute.” He was reaching for something under the table for something, the four brothers just watch him in confusion. The merchant pulls out something, a black square box. “Since you four are the first buyers who came to my stall, take these.”

The four brothers went and lean close to see what’s in the box, the merchant opens the lid and inside it were four colorful spheres. The four spheres looked a bit similar to snow globes of sorts, and each one is of colors, reddish orange, brownish green, aquatic blue, and lastly, clear white.

“Spheres?” asked Joseph, just looking at the items with a confused look.

“What are these?” Andy asked as he looked to the merchant.

“Oh just some decorations, had thought that you four seem like good boys, I’m giving these to you for free,” the merchant said with a smile.

“Eh, fine with me,” Joseph said as he picked up the clear sphere orb. After feeling it, “Kinda feels like glass.”

“Huh,” Gary said as he held the reddish orange sphere. “Kinda warm though.”

“Probably because it’s been in the box for a long while,” Joseph said as he put the clear orb into his pocket.

Andy had picked up the brownish green and put it in his pocket, and Albert had taken the aquatic blue one as well. The merchant only smiled as he then put the box away.

“Well then, let’s get going before the roads get busy,” Andracus said, and just as they were about to go onward.

“Wait a second,” Joseph said, his brothers turned to him; Joseph was looking at something at the back of the merchant’s stall. He pointed with his free hand, “What’s that?”

The merchant turned around to look at what he was pointing, so did Joseph’s brothers. Discord continued to watch as the merchant indicated a set of trinkets, things that made Discord’s eyes widen in shock.

“Why these are…” the merchant about to say.

“The Elements of Harmony?!” Discord yelled, the merchant had said the same name and was still speaking. Discord though was focus towards the four brothers, “Oh please tell me this isn’t true! That the elements originated from… wait a minute?” Now he became confused, “I thought those stupid gems came from that crystal tree?”

“No not those, I meant that one beside them, that big plushie,” Joseph said as he still pointed.

The merchant turned and picked up the plushie and brought it into the light so everyone could see. It was a plushie of the Spirit of Chaos, Discord the Draconequus.

“Me?” asked Discord, sounded surprised as he watched the memory played out.

“I thought so, it is Discord,” Joseph smiled as he looks at it. “I want to get it too.” He set his bag of items down and reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

“Why do you want to get that jigsaw thing?” Gary asked.

“Not a jigsaw, he’s more of a unique being, and quite loveable too,” Joseph replied with a smile.

“He’s worth about $20 dollars,” the merchant said as he looked to Joseph. Joseph paid him twenty dollars for the Discord plushie.

“Still looks like a jigsaw puzzle to me,” Gary said as he looked at the new plushie that his little brother bought.

Joseph had picked up his bag after pocketing his wallet and took hold of the Discord plushie. “Well he isn’t, he’s a fun guy from my little pony show.”

“Oh yeah, you’re a brony,” Albert said as they were walking away together, heading to the front exit.

“Heh, thought it was because Discord was voiced by John de Lancie,” Andracus said as they walked through the front doors.

“Who?” Joseph asked as he looked confused at his older brother.

“John de Lancie,” he said again, only getting a confused look from his brother once more. “The guy who played as Q in Star Trek?”

“I still don’t know who that is, and I’m not a Star Trek fan,” Joseph stated as they go. “I like Discord because he’s awesome and adorable.”

Discord smiled as he looks down at him, “I like you too, buddy.” He smiled as he leaned down to hug him, but only phase through as the four brothers headed onward to the parking lot. “Oh yeah, this is only a memory.”

He followed behind, and watched the four brothers putting all their bought items into the back of their van, just right behind the two center seats. Once packed up, Andracus went to sit in the driver’s seat; Albertis went and sat in the passenger seat in front. And both Garico and Josephiroth sat in the center seats in the back.

Discord phased through the back part of the vehicle, getting in so to watch what the four brothers will do next. He smiled as he watches, looking towards Garico as he pulls out his iPhone and was doing something on it. Then he looked to Josephiroth, and saw him reaching behind his seat, trying to grab one of the items he brought.

“Heh, if I knew you were in the mood, my little human, I’ll,” he snickered with a grin, considering this was a memory, the Air Spirit’s hand only phased through Discord’s groin area. But eventually he pulls his hand back, clutching the new helmet he bought, Shredder’s helmet.

He smiled as he examines it, slowly he then removed the mouth guard and then he puts the helmet onto his head. Once on, he puts the mouth guard on, and as soon as it connected. “It fits,” he said with a chuckle.

Garico turned to him, and considering Joseph still wore his eyeglasses, he chuckled, “Oh look, a Shredder Geek.”

Joseph frowns at him, “Oh shut up, Gary.” Garico only chuckled as he went back to his iPhone.

After a moment, Joseph once more reaches for something behind his seat, a black backpack. He took hold of it, and pulled it over to him. He opens it and pulls out his laptop and turned it on and started to type away.

It started to get quiet, only the radio was playing as Andracus was still driving the van down the road, going by other vehicles.

After what it felt like ten minutes, Josephiroth had stopped typing and was sniffing the air, “Odd, why do I smell smoke?”

“Don’t know, hey Andy, can you turn down the heat? It’s getting hot back here,” Gary called over to him.

“Hot back there? It’s getting cold for me,” Albert said as he turned to look, and gawked in shock. “You’re on fire!”

“What?!” yelled both Joseph and Gary, they both turned and saw Garico’s left side pants pocket was indeed on fire.

“Holy shit!” yelled Gary as he tried to pat it down.

“Bloody hell!” yelled Joseph as he had just closed his laptop and stuffed into his backpack, and pulled out a soda bottle. Gary was moving around, trying snuff out the fire that’s burning his pants. “Hold still!” he yelled as he opened the bottle and tried to pour the content onto the fire.

But some reason the bottle just fell out of his grip, and he was holding it one second ago. And after it hit the floor, he looked and saw that his hand looked transparent. He screamed in shock.

“What is happening?!” yelled Andy as he tried push the breaks, but his legs frozen into place. “Gah! I c-c-c-can’t move!” His whole body was turning into greenish stone color. “Oh gooo…” his mouth became still as solid stone as he couldn’t move.

“What the hell is going on!?” yelled Albert, and he tried to grip the steering wheel, but it didn’t budge from Andy’s grip. And worse hit, he was getting colder, than he saw that his hands went goopy like, melting off the steering wheel. His eyes widen in terrified shock.

Discord watches the four brothers struggled in intense fear as they each were being consumed. His eyes widen as he watched the horrific event that was happening upon the four brothers. Their van bumping into other vehicles as it continued at a fast pace.

Garico was screaming in fear and agony as his body was consumed in flames, and the fire has spread around. Josephiroth was yelling in fear as his body seem to be fading, and then screaming as he felt the agony of the burning flame.

Albertis was melting, he tried to do something, but he was slowly becoming a puddle, and water pouring around him too. And Andracus could only move his eyes, and watched his brothers struggle in agony, he felt despair for he couldn’t move to help.

Discord was really wishing he wasn’t here watching this, throughout his life; he hadn’t saw beings just inches away from death, especially through this agonizing display before him. One thing went through his thoughts as he watched on, ‘No wonder they never talked about this event…’

A sound of a train was heard near, and the van was nearing the train tracks too. Garico and Albertis never noticed as they both struggled in fright as they tried to stop such terrible chaos. Andracus heard and was trying very hard to move just to stop the van.

And Josephiroth was the only one who could talk, and he was yelling in fear, “OH SHIT OH SHIT!” He tried to move forward, tried to get pass the flames just to try to reach for where the breaks handle. His body just phased through the seatbelt and he tried to move while he felt his body was burning. He tried to reach for it.

He screamed as their van came upon the tracks, and then train bashed hard into the side. The scream continued as the van exploded, bursting into flames. And with that came a blinding flash of light.

As the flash of light ended, Discord slowly opened his eyes, and was greeted by the sight of the dark forest, with foggy skies and trees spread about. He groans a bit, his eyes closed for a moment.

Watching his old friends experiencing something like that, he wishes he could forget. Discord does love his chaos, the fun kind. But what he had witness, something so deadly-like, gave him a bit of a shiver. He knew that it was because of the merchant that the four brothers came to his world, but never knew how those four had experienced it while it happened.

Opening his eyes, he looked downward as he spoke, “Joseph?”

He had then noticed that the dream version of him was missing, starting to feel worried, he turned his head around, looking to where he went.

And he saw him, running away, obviously in fear, and sounds of whimper. Discord watched him go; he knew that he’ll likely do the same just to escape such a dreadful nightmare. He then started to chase after him, trying to catch up.

“Lord Josephiroth, help us.”

Discord halted, had heard of a new voice. Then he started to notice shadows of beings around the landscape, in several of spots. Each one taking a form of any creature, and speaking in different voices.

“Whatever you come up with, you can count me in.”

Discord realized what it was, “More memories of old friends and foes he had encountered long ago, merely quotes and wording.”

“If we don’t think the needs of the whole team, people will get hurt, even killed.”

Discord listened, but turned and try to find where his friend was, and saw him continue running in this dark forest. Discord started to run after, and as he goes, he heard voices of memories speaking out.

“My people have a saying, ‘Seek the enemy of your enemy, and you will find a friend.’”

“Your courage for my people will be remembered.”

“You won’t be alone in your fight.”

“Lord Josephiroth, we Changelings do not wish you harm. You are the ally against the Alicorns of Madness.”

“I want you to know, I’m willing to do what is necessary.”

“I’m marching into whatever dark pit you want, but not with a fake smile on my face. Nothing positive about grinning like an idiot.”

Just as Discord came close to catching hold of the fleeing human, the man just vanished from his sight. Blinking in shock, he turned and looked around, trying to spot where he was, till he saw where he was, and starting to head towards him, running slowly in this dark nightmare. And it felt like these shadows of beings were slowing him down.

“It is so much easier to see both black and white; gray, I don’t know what to do with gray.”

“I lived a full life, no regrets; I like to make sure the team get the same opportunity.”

“Good, get it out of the way so we can concentrate on being alicorn-damn heroes.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Joey, excellent timing, good to have you here.”

“I beg you… do not do this… please.”

“I know not how this would end, but I will not back down, I can’t. Face me in single combat Josephiroth, let me die with honor.”

“Josephiroth is my Elemental Lord, he has no match.”

“It has reminded me of what is truly important, why I swore to lay down my life.”

“Some souls die in battle, some die in their sleep, and some die for no reason at all.”

And then the whole area became shrouded in darkness, losing sight on everything. Discord was now looking around, trying to spot where he was in world of darkness. Then he heard more voices spoke out.

“In the darkest hour, there is always way out.”

“Pretty soon, blind hope is all we’ll have left… and I hate being blind.”

“There is no reason to exist other than hope that the next day will bring change. And if it doesn’t, there is always the next.”

“An illuminating one, you learn to appreciate the light by living in the dark.”

“It only takes one candle to light a fire. And then the darkness is no more.”

“As the fear in the Titans rose, mine was place by hope.”

“Joseph… in the darkness, fires of hope will set us free.”

Discord felt something against his left hoof foot, and looked down and spotted a lantern. Seeing that it just appeared likely needed to help him in this dark nightmare. He reached down and took hold of it, and with the turn of a knob on the sight, light started to shown on the inside.

Its light started to reveal the surroundings within the darkness, and saw horrors mixed with memories. The skies was still shrouded in darkness, but the shadow beings that linger around became what looks like skeletons of various creatures, a skeleton of an alicorn, ponies, dragons, changelings, anything. And their voices continued to speak out.

“One day there will be payback, for all that my people had suffered, one of us will see that day.”

“So much space, walls of stone. It’s amazing, I wish my friends could see it, I wish Joey was here.”

“I just want to know, is the person I follow to Tartarus and back still in there, somewhere?”

“Lord Josephiroth, my kind only acted in defense, after the ponies attacked, do we deserve death?”

“You must be Elemental Lord, Josephiroth; I heard we got a country to save.”

“I don’t have what you do, that fire that makes someone willing to follow you into Tartarus itself.”

“I understand… Good Luck Joseph, I hope we will see each other again.”

Soon he finally caught sight of where his friend was, and he was being comforted by a big dragon skeleton that seems to just coil around him, humming a tune. Discord started to head over to them, and as he goes, voices continued to speak out.

“You’re picking that thing over us?!”

“I’m still with you Joseph; I make mistakes, like everyone else.”

“You are a great protector, but some things are beyond even you.”

“There seems to be no one to mourn me when I die, you’re the only friend I made in two-hundred years.”

“Won’t do you any good…”

“It was nothing I could’ve handled…”

“Are you here to kill me?”

“When war is on everyone’s minds, all the people are on edge.”

“Does this drone have a soul?”

“Farewell Josephiroth.”

As Discord neared the big dragon skeleton, the humming noise sounded peaceful and motherly. But as the light of the lantern came near, the dragon skeleton started to fade away from the light. Once gone, Joseph’s body was revealed, he was sitting on the ground, hugging his legs to himself.

When the humming had ended, the human’s head rose up; Joseph was now gazing up at Discord. He started to rise up till he was standing on his feet, looking up at Discord with a blank expression.

Discord looks down to the human, a small smile, “Remember me, pal…” He stopped speaking as the human’s body was started to get covered in flames.

His eyes widen as he watched the human was fully engulf in flames, in fear of losing him again in this dreadful nightmare. He tried to reach out to grab him, but in the same instance, a flash of light blinded Discord. He covered his eyes to block out the light.

“Why did you betray us, Celestia?!” yelled a familiar voice that stood near Discord.

The Spirit of Chaos slowly opened his eyes and saw that this area was another memory. Before him lay the wide grasslands which were riddled with scars of battles old, close to being a wasteland. And just happens to be the very area where, after so many decades of healing, this land would one day become Ponyville.

There have been a few mountains around this area as well, while in the present time had only one or two mountains. And right now, before Discord’s very eyes, a battle was waging.

Four armored beings were standing at different spots across this battlefield, and each one of them was glaring upon the being that stood in the center, Princess Celestia.

And as Discord gaze upon Celestia, reminded him of how gorgeous she was over a millennia ago. She stood about nine feet and two inches tall, the tallest Alicorn of the past time. She has a white coat with a hint of pink, and her mane and tail is magnificently long with the colors of pink, violet, green, and cyan eternal. Her anthro body shape was like an hourglass, is more slender-like, but yet muscular. She wore a lovely white silk dress that nearly covered her legs, except the front area, which revealed light purple skirt. She wore golden horse shoes on her hooves, golden armor fauld belt, and she wore golden shoulder armor along with a big breastplate, for the big alicorn has a big breasts size, around H-cup size, likely thanks to her healthy lifestyle, and her size, but good thing that their covered by the white silk dress and golden breastplate armor. She wore golden wrist guards, and in her right hand she held a golden staff with a sun pattern on the top part, it is the same length as her height, and she wore a golden tiara on her head, and a golden necklace with a sapphire blue jewel in the middle. Being an alicorn, she has a two feet long horn on the center of her forehead, and her wings are huge and magnificent, spread out long, at least over sixteen feet wide these angelic wings are. Her mane is as long and flowing, nearly reaching her knee level and her tail is just as long, and both mane and tail seem to be flowing through the wind, yet there was no breeze. And her eyes are purple-pink, like lovely jewels. She stood in a stance as a warrior, her staff in her right hand, clench tight and ready, while her eyes focus towards one of the armored beings with anger and hints of disappointment.

It didn’t help that Discord just kept looking at her chest area, till he covered his eyes and shook his head to look away. He turned to look at the four armored spirits, the Elemental Lords.

To the west of Celestia stood a seven feet tall metal armored warrior, Andracus. He with the power over the element earth, and the skills of a blacksmith and with a very wise brain fills with knowledge. His armor was crafted by him alone, just to match the helmet he had gotten from that convention, he wore his own design of the Master Chief’s Spartan. In his hands though were the Blades of Exile, the chains wrapped around his armored wrists, and he stood in a way that he was ready to charge upon the Princess.

To the south of the Sun Princess was the six feet tall armored warrior, Garico. He with the power over the element of fire and the aid of earth lord that crafted his armor, he wore a fiery ruby red chest-plate, pauldrons on his shoulders, gauntlets, leg-guards and fauld. Connected his shoulders was a long greenish red cape. His head was visible, his wavy greenish hair and blue eyes, he was glaring at Princess Celestia, and in his left arm he held the Hyrule Shield, and his right hand clenched the Master Sword.

To the east stood the six feet and four inches tall aquatic blue armor warrior, Albertis. He is the Elemental Lord of Water and with the aid of his allies and brethren, had crafted the armor of Lagiacrus. With the twelve powerful talismans crafted into his armor, he has no need for weapons.

Lastly to the north stand the six feet and four inches tall green with red lining armored warrior, Josephiroth. His armor was forged by a friend that was design to look similar to the Shredder’s armor, just so his helmet would fit right in, just without spikes. The Air Elemental Lord, a friend too many beings, bears the symbol of dragon royalty on his armor, and wrapped around his neck was a very long dark blue scarf with a crescent moon and stars pattern. Gripping in his right hand was a large broadsword of a katana, the legendary tessaiga.

These four armored beings were known as the Elemental Lords, Guardians to World, and heroes to the races. Each one wields the power of an element, and together they had taken down mightiest of foes. Together, these four beings were known as the Spirits of Order, Discord’s opposites.

Discord had recalled that these four had stalled him long enough till the point Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had gathered the Elements of Harmony and turned him to stone. Discord knew something that they didn’t, something that Celestia herself hid from them. And right now, Discord can guess why they’re angry towards Celestia.
Andracus had charge forward, running at her like a freight train. When he neared, he leaped to slash forward with his two blades.

With quick reflexes, Celestia blocked his blow with her staff, her hooves pressed to the ground firmly so not to be pushed. Right around that same time, Garico had rushed forward to strike her with his blade. Celestia had sensed him coming, and with force of her hooves she leaped upwards and took flight.

And nearly right into the waiting slash downward of Josephiroth’s tessaiga, but she had blocked it and with her own strength, swung him with her staff. As he flew through the air, he quickly flipped around and stabilized himself, floating in the air. Being the Air Elemental Lord had given him the power of flight. And with it, he surges upward, than dived down upon her, tried to use her own sun to blind her.

Celestia shook her head, and then her horn glow a golden yellow color before she teleported herself in the last second. Blinded by the flash, Josephiroth went and collided into his brothers, both of which had leaped upwards to try to strike her, but had been struck by Josephiroth instead.

As the trio collided into the ground, Celestia had reappeared in the air. She stared down at the trio of brothers, all of whom were getting back up.

She was then blasted from behind by a fire blast, in annoyance she turned to see who, and had quickly dodged as Albertis tried to punch her hard in the snout. The Water Elemental was using the power of his talismans as he tried to strike her. Celestia just kept dodging though, trying to avoid his strikes before with precise blow of her staff, she struck him with a downward strike, sending him downward into the ground by the tree brothers.

Garico went to help Albertis up while Celestia descended back to the ground, but further away from the four.

“Okay, who trained her in the arts of combat?” asked Garico, glaring at her.

“Sorry,” said Joseph, also still glaring at her.

Andracus then shouted, “Why did you betray us, Celestia?!”

“I did not betray anyone, Andracus,” Celestia stated as she looked at the four with anger mixed with disappointment in her eyes. “You four had betrayed me and my homeland.”

“No we haven’t you bitch!” Albertis shouted, pointed at her.

“I’m not a dog, Albertis,” she said as she frowns at them. “You all were willing to leave your home to go back to where you don’t belong. You four belong here, Equestria is your home.”

“No it is not! Our true home is on earth and you know that!” yelled Garico as all four brothers were seemed to be ready to charge toward. “Your father promised us a way to get home, how can you deny your father that promise?”

Celestia glared, “Because I didn’t made that promise, and don’t bring him into this. My father is gone, my mother is gone. You four are my closes friends and yet you all planned to abandon me and Luna. How can you be mad at me for doing what is right?”

“Right?” asked Josephiroth, started to sound annoyed. “You tricked us and our friends to betray another…”

“You four are Order Spirits, Discord is Chaos, it is destined that you were to do battle against him. He wasn’t truly your friend,” Celestia stated.

“You’re wrong,” Andracus said to her. “That wasn’t destiny. That was manipulation!”

“Discord was a buddy of mine, and I still hate myself for helping you turn him to stone,” Josephiroth said, still glaring at her.

“I’m sorry you four feel that way for the abomination,” Celestia said with anger. “But he was going to bring chaos and disharmony to my ponies, I cannot allow that. And as well I cannot allow you four to leave us. Me, my sister, and all of your friends, it was best that you four never knew and accepted your fate!”

“Our destiny is not of this, we are not your knights! We have our own life, and we wanted to go home, back to our love ones!” yelled Albertis. “We’ve waited for years Celestia, we’re tired of all this, we just want to go home.”

“You are home,” Celestia stated. “Why can’t you all just see it?”

“No it isn’t, our time in this world had ended a long time ago. We’re no longer needed, and we want to go back home, to our own kind,” Josephiroth said as he pointed his blade toward her. “But now, we can’t, because of you! You sealed Discord in stone because you feared him, instead of trying to befriend him.”

“Discord is not your friend, he was only using you four as playthings!” yelled Celestia, looking to them, still with the look of pity and sadness in her eyes.

“I had met Discord ever since he was a child, back then he was never a chaos spirit. Now he had become one, and you know what he did?” he said, looking to her. “He tried to warn us about your betrayal, seeing all the signs he had shown, and his promises to help us get home. He had the power to do it.”

“And yet you view him as a friend, were you willing to abandon him as much as you planned to do so with me?” she asked, looking to him. “You, who try to make friends with everyone you meet, are you willing to abandon everyone?”

The air elemental lord was silent, looking downward, in shame of such. His brothers though, were still glaring at her.

“Everyone knew we hoped to return home, everyone did,” yelled Andracus, which made Josephiroth realized and nodded to him.

“You betrayed us because you want to use us, just to benefit your nation,” Garico stated.

“I did not betray you! I love you! I don’t want to lose you all,” Celestia yelled, shedding some tears. Then slowly steeled herself, and she gripped her staff in both hands. Her wings spread out to show of intimidation, “But if you four can’t see it, then I will have no choice but to punish you! So please! Just stop this nonsense, and come back home with me!”

Each brother only glared, Josephiroth held his tessaiga in both hands. Andracus tighten his grip on his blades, and Garico raised his shield up, and Albertis was getting ready to use the power of the dragon talisman.

Celestia glared in anger and sadness, had stopped shedding tears. “So be it,” she said, her eyes started to glow white light while her horn glow golden. Gripping the staff with her right hand, she swung it forward, the top sun part pointing towards the four. And with it, she sent forth a solar flare towards them.

“Whoa!” yelled Josephiroth as he and Albertis quickly leaped up in the air to dodge it. Andracus stomped hard into the ground and pushed up a stone wall that burst out of the ground ahead of him, he tried to use it to block the blast. Garico only raised his shield.

The flare struck the stone wall and bashed through, it consumed both Andracus and Garico. As the intense heat of the legendary sun blast, Solar Flare, started to lessen, revealing Andracus had been knocked hard into the ground, surrounded by ashes. And as for Garico, he was already; being the Elemental Lord of Fire had granted him the immunity of such intense heat.

Albertis used the Rabbit Talisman to move at sonic speed, and with the Ox Talisman to strengthen himself, he appeared right in front of Celestia and started to rapidly punch into her. Celestia had tried to block most of the blows, but quite many had struck her in the thighs, stomach and arms, also her wings. He continued his barrage of attacks.

Josephiroth dive down upon her with his tessaiga raised, and upon swinging downward, he yelled, “Wind Scar!”

Swinging forth, he sends forth a blast wave of demonic air strikes downward, heading towards the duo. Just as the blast wave about to collide, Celestia’s horn glowed and she quickly teleported herself away.

Josephiroth came to land by the smoking area, and within moments, he saw his brother. Albertis had gotten up, his armor looked wrecked up, and a few talismans are missing.

“What the hell?!” he yelled at him.

“Oops, sorry, just thought that the dog talisman would protect you,” Joseph said, smiled sheepishly.

Albertis glared, and the visor hole started to glow red while the pig talisman started to glow.

“Oh crud!” yelled Josephiroth as he turned around and tried to flee, but got zapped hard in the rear by Albertis’s eye-laser. “Ow!”

Albertis chased after him for a time, till they both rejoined up with Garico and Andracus. Andracus had moved near Josephiroth.

“Question, how come you didn’t use the Backlash Wave when she did the Solar Flare?” Andracus asked his little brother, sounded annoyed.

“Because it was too powerful and I never learned how to use it,” Josephiroth stated.

In annoyance, Andracus raised his right hand, formed a fist over the air lord’s head, and then hammered down hard, sounding a loud bonk.

“Ow!” groaned Josephiroth as he tried to adjust his helmet.

“Guys, while you were harming Joey, where did Celestia go?” Garico asked while looking around.

As Josephiroth continued to adjust his helmet, Andracus and Albertis looked around. Once he did, he used his power over the air, trying to sense where the sun princess was. Once he did, he looked upwards, his sword clenched in his right hand.

“She’s right there,” he said, gaining the attention of his brothers. Each of them turned and looked up at where Celestia was; each of them got their weapons at the ready.

Celestia was floating in place as her wings continued to flap, her right hand still clenching her staff. While her horn was glowing in a golden aura, revealing six gems that floated around her body.

“Heh, you know those elements will not work on us!” yelled Garico as he pointed his blade upwards.

“Those elements are design to bring balance, not to be used as your own personal weapon,” Andracus stated.

“Please stop!” yelled Celestia. “Don’t make me do this, just drop your weapons, just come home.” She begged, looking down at them.

“We are already balanced, the elements will not work on us,” Albertis stated as he pointed at her.

“We helped create them in the first place, remember?” asked Josephiroth, still holding his tessaiga in his right hand at the ready.

Till he got bonked in the head by Garico’s shield, “We didn’t create the elements, we grew the tree.”

Josephiroth grunted in annoyance as he set his helmet with his free hand back in place, “What’s the difference… oh never mind!” He glared up at Celestia, “If you dare use those elements, Celestia, alone as well, you will be too exhausted and be at our mercy. Are you willing to risk that?”

Celestia was shedding tears, sighed and focus with her magic, “I am sorry, but you four must be brought to harmony.” And with that, she focuses with all her power, her horn glowed brighter and causing all six elements to glow brightly and spin around her.

Her body started to radiate a rainbow-like aura, and started surround herself in some kind of a barrier. With focus, the star gem was put in the middle while the five gems floating around it. The beams of magical energy surge from the five gems into the sixth one.

The elements were working, which shocked the four Elemental Lords. “How is that possible? She is not honest!” demanded Garico, he raised his shield.

“Nor is she loyal!” said Albertis.

Bursting forth from the star gem of magic come the harmonic rainbow blast, heading towards the four spirits.

“It won’t work on us because we are united,” said Andracus, he held his blades at the ready. “We shall not be broken.”

Discord continued to watch as the memory played out, the four brothers standing together, facing against a powerful foe. Admirable they were, defying the Sun Princess and full on belief that the Elements of Harmony would not defeat them.

He watched as the rainbow blast went and consumed all four brothers, forming into a tornado of magical energy. And he saw by the outline of the four brothers, each of them was turned into stone, just like Discord was been before.

As it soon ended, the light of harmony’s rainbow faded revealed four brand new statues of the Elemental Lords. Celestia descended from the skies, her energy exhausted from using the elements alone. As soon as she landed, her horn stopped glowing, and the six gems fell down onto the ground, scattering around a bit.

Celestia also dropped her staff and slowly went over to the four statues, still shedding some tears as she looked down upon them.

“I’m so sorry, I wished there was a better way, but it was the only way to stop your rage,” she said as she looked down upon them. “Maybe in time, you four will fully accept this world as your home…” Her eyes slowly widen as she saw the four statues were slowly vibrating.

Cracks started to appear all over the four statues, and then voices were heard from within, or more like, through the mind, like telepathy, Celestia appeared to not hear their thoughts as she watched the cracks appearing.

‘We are united,’ Andracus said as cracks appeared on his stone-covered helmet.

‘We shall not be broken,’ said Albertis as cracks started to show on his stone-covered arms.

‘We are a balanced force,’ Garico said as cracks started to show on his stone-covered torso.

‘Together, we are in Harmony!’ yelled Josephiroth as cracks appeared on his stone-covered legs.

Discord’s eyes widen as he realized what happened and what is likely requires in the present time. “The Spirits of Order can easily break free as long as they’re united, no wonder my magic wouldn’t break him free,” he said as he watched, than he smiled; hopefully get to watch the fight continue once more when the four spirits break free.

Sadly, Celestia had realized it as well, and discovered a way to prevent them from breaking free. Her horn glowed golden, and her magical aura had surrounded the statue of the Air Spirit. And then with a flash of her magic, she had teleported him.

Considering this was his memory, the flash blinded Discord as well as the scene had changed. Discord had covered his eyes, and when the flash ended, he opened them and saw that the land he now stood in was the Royal Statue Garden, one of many gardens that are within the walls of the old Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.

And it was silent, till he started to hear mental shouts from the new statue that had appeared in the landscape.

‘No... No! No no no no no! This cannot be!’ yelled Josephiroth, no cracks appeared, now just a complete stone statue with a few cracks on the legs. ‘BROTHERS! ANDY! ALBERT! GARY!’ He tried to call for them, but there was no reply.

He continued to shout, yell, and scream for them. It continued on that felt like hours, while no one had heard his plea.

All except Discord, who kept watching as this memory, play out. He watched as any ponies who work in the castle grounds, such as guards or servants and maids just continued on with their duties, like they hadn’t notice a new statue had just appeared. Or if they did, those memory constructs likely assumed it was a newly made statue.

Any who did came near the statue either just looked up at the statue, or bow down in respect, or continued on with their duties.

The memory continued to play out, as Josephiroth’s mental ranting slowly tired, but slowly in came his cries.

Discord just stood by the statue of his old friend, couldn’t do anything for this was only just a memory playing out.

Then as it go, with the sun being set and the moon rises. The sighting of two Royal Princesses was entering the Royal Statue Garden. Celestia in the lead, but behind her was Princess Luna.

To Discord as he sees them, Celestia was gorgeous, while Luna was beautiful as well.

The Moon Princess wasn’t as tall as the Sun Princess, being her younger sister; she stood about seven feet and eight inches tall. Her body fur coat is dark blue; and her mane and tail is long and is moderate sapphire blue with a grayish persian blue aura surrounding, with little white sparkles in her mane that make it look like stars were there. Unlike her sister, her body is more slender build, but yet muscular. She was wearing a blue shoulder-less long-sleeved shirt with black lining, and white crescent moon symbols on the wrists, and her breasts that were covered by the shirt, while not the same size as Celestia, more around D-cup size. She wore a blue long-skirt with a crescent moon symbol on the top central black lining, and the bottom of her skirt had cloud-like black pattern with white sparkles for stars and white crescent moon symbol. She wore sapphire blue horse shoes on her hooves, and obsidian black necklace with a diamond white crescent moon symbol in the middle. She has an obsidian black tiara on her head, right behind her foot long horn. Being an alicorn, she has wings as well, which were currently folded down on her back, but if they were spread out, they were around eight to ten feet wide. Her mane and tail isn’t as long as her sister’s, her mane reaches down to her waist, and her tail is just as long, and both of which seem to have the same effect Celestia has, seem to be flowing with a wind, yet there was no breeze. She has lovely moderate cyan colored eyes, and she has light sapphire blue eye shadows.

Her eyes widen in surprised as she gaze upon the statue after she and her sister stepped into the garden. She walked over to it, and checks it out, not hearing the mental thoughts of Josephiroth trapped within.

‘Luna, can you hear me?’ the trapped Air Spirit called out to her through thought.

“I see the stonecutters had finished making the statue of Joey, what about the others?” asked Luna as she turned to her sister.

“They are still working on them, they had finished this one first and sent it ahead of time,” Celestia said with a little smile. “Do you like it, dear sister?”

Luna smiled widely, “I love it!” She turned to look back at the statue, “They really caught his battle-stance, it looks like would leap right into action upon the sighting of a foe.” She was moving around the statue, feeling it with her hands. Seeing the scarf too, she smiled, “They even added the details of the token I had given to him, must’ve taken those ponies long hours just to get it just right.”

“Oh I’m sure, and as I recall, he never took off such a wonderful gift,” Celestia said as she moved closer to her sister.

“I hope Joey will come visit me tonight, I’m sure he would love to see it,” Luna smiled as she felt the stone scarf. “Those ponies must have a good memory, for it usually takes hours with him posing in place.”

The sun princess sighed, “Sadly sister, he won’t be visiting tonight.”

Luna stopped touching the helmet part and turned to her older sister. Confused she asked, “What do you mean, sister?”

Celestia looked to her sadly, “They had gone home.”

“Home?” asked Luna, slowly moved away from the statue, looking to her sister. “You mean back to their fortresses? They did have a hard time restoring order after what the chaos creature had caused.”

“No sister,” Celestia shook her head. “They’ve gone home.”

After a moment, it clicked in Luna’s mind on what Celestia was saying. Her eyes widen as her confused expression changed to sadness, tears started to show. “No…” she whispered.

Celestia closed her eyes slowly and looked down, this made Luna realized it fully.

“No!” Luna cried out and just leaped upwards, her wings spread out and she flew away.

“Luna!” called out her sister, the sun princess was watching her go, flying up to one of the tall towers of their castle home.

Luna most likely headed to her bedroom, upset by the news. Celestia was now alone in the statue garden.

“She loved you, you know,” she quietly said, slowly turned to look at the statue. “I hope you’re happy,” and with that, she turned and walked away.

Discord had still been watching this whole memory play out, and he was quite shock on what he had witness. Celestia lied to her own sister, had done it in a way to punish the Air Spirit.

Discord heard the mental thoughts of the now sad air spirit, ‘Luna, I’m sorry…’

The memory started to play onward, the days and nights in the scene was going by fast. Kinda reminded Discord when he used his magic to spin the whole wide world to make it look like the day and night were going too fast, he chuckled at the memory, and thought of doing it again to mess with the ponies.

It just kept going, among the seconds it showed ponies visiting the garden, guards patrolling, workers cleaning statues, dignitaries admiring the statue, visitors, and other creatures that come with the ambassadors.

Eventually, the time skip came to an end, to when it appeared to be night time in the summer. All was quiet within the Royal Statue Garden. Even the Air Spirit trapped in stone was quiet, couldn’t even sleep for his eyes are locked in such state.

After a moment though, Discord had notice something in the sky, some kind of stream of white light energy spiraling downward. It eventually landed behind one of the regular anthro pony statues. It didn’t crash or bash, only made a sound of a loud crack.

As the light faded, two beings stood at where it happened.

One of them was an old anthro unicorn pony, while the other is a young, teenage anthro hippogriff, both males.

The old pony stood about five feet and eight inches tall, he has a slightly muscular body but with a little potbelly. He has light gray coat body, but he mostly wore blue robe-coat with yellow stars and white crescent moon patterns, yellow bells lining at the bottom and up the middle. His hooves were visible, light gray colored as well. He also wore a wizard hat with the same patterns as his robe, with yellow bells round the edges and one single bell at the pointy end. His mane is white as a cloud and reaches his shoulder, his beard is longer, nearly reached his waist, he has a tail but it is hidden by his robe. His eyes were brilliant gold, with small round eyeglasses in front of them, and he was gazing at the statue.

As for the hippogriff, he stood about four feet tall, young and slightly slender and yet a little muscular body. His body fur is moderate gamboge color, and his head, neck, and shoulder feathers are black, he has brilliant gold talons and his beak, his wings are the same color. He wore what looks like a black coat with a red shirt underneath, dark blue pants. He has hooves for feet, which were the same color as most of his body, and his tail was showing a black pony tail. His head feathers were a bit messy, close to flat-like, and he wore round eyeglasses, and his eyes were emerald green. There was also a mark on the right side of his forehead. The kid looked surprised and seems to try to regain his balance.

Discord continued to watch as the scene played out, curious on what’s about to happen next.

‘Apparition?’ asked Josephiroth in thought, sounded surprised. ‘Oh Starswirl you ole fool, don’t tell me you forgot that spell is forbidden in Equestria?’ Sounded like he would’ve face-palmed too.

“We just apparated, didn’t we?” asked the hippogriff.

“Yes, and quite successfully too, I might add.” Starswirl chuckled with a small smile, slowly turned to the hippogriff. “Most people vomit the first time.” He was then looking around, making sure not to be sighted.

The hippogriff was groaning a bit, “Can’t imagine why…”

Starswirl started to walk forward, after making sure there were no guards around. As he goes, the hippogriff started to follow. And as they neared, the trapped air spirit had a better view on the forehead, the mark of a lightning bolt.

‘Is that who I think it is?’ thought the trapped being.

“Professor, um, where are we?” asked the hippogriff.

Starswirl was looking around, “We’re in a type of garden, look around and tell me of where you think we are.”

The hippogriff did and had looked at the surrounded, after a moment, his eyes widen and he turned to look at the castle building. “We’re in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters?” asked the boy, sounded surprised.

“Indeed Harry, and know that this isn’t the main destination we needed to be. There is something that I first need to do here,” Starswirl say as he walked on.

‘So it is Harry, hadn’t seen him ever since that stupid tournament thing,’ thought Josephiroth.

“So it is true,” Harry said as he looked to Starswirl. “That you do prank the alicorn princesses.”

The old unicorn chuckled, “Indeed I do, but that pleasantry isn’t needed right now.”

The young hippogriff looked confused, “Then why are we here? And why weren’t we caught by the thestrals?” Thestrals are the ones who work for and as Luna’s night guards.

“Clearly during this time, both princesses aren’t here. Most likely performing a celebration in one of the local villages,” Starswirl said as he walked on slowly.

‘Of course you know they are, otherwise you wouldn’t had apparated here,’ thought the annoyed air spirit.

“So if you’re not here to prank them, why are we here?” asked the boy.

“Hm, had thought a pleasant stroll through the Royal Statue Garden would help set in the mood,” he said with a smile, just furthering confused the boy. Till he chuckled, “But in truth, we’re here to visit someone.”

“And who’s that, professor?”

Starswirl then pointed with his free hand, “Tell me, what you see on this statue?” He was pointed at the trapped spirit.

The hippogriff turned to look at the statue, then started to head towards it, and had stopped a few feet away from it. He looked up at it, “It’s a statue of the Spirit of Orderly Air. Is there something special about it?”

“Indeed there is, but first, tell me on what you know about this Spirit?” asked Starswirl.

The hippogriff just looked confused, “Um, Hermione would be better at explaining about him to you instead of me, professor.”

The old unicorn chuckled, “Indeed she would, but please, tell me what you know about him?”

Harry blinked, still confused, but complied anyways, “He’s one of the four Brothers of Order, they’re often called Elemental Lords, and the Spirits of Order. They’re as old as the alicorns and had united many races.” He then looked up at the statue, “The Griffon Empire is one of the groups who’re very loyal the Spirt of Orderly Air, I had seen many statues of him myself. He and his brothers are also the founders of our school; I’m in the dorm that was named by him, the Zephyrs. And I even met him once, when he tried stopping the Tri-Wizard Tournament years ago, he and his brothers didn’t like it very much. They own fortress cities, and he ruled the one in the far north, the Kingdom of Crystalized Air.”

He then frowned, almost glaring at the statue, “Also he and his brothers abandoned us when we needed them most.”

‘I did not abandon anyone!’ thought yelled the trapped spirit.

“Why do you say that, Harry?” asked Starswirl.

“Because they left our world, gone to their own home, they knew that the Dark Lord returned, and still they left us when they could’ve helped us stop that monster,” said Harry, turning to Starswirl.

‘Kid, I would’ve helped in a heartbeat, but it’s your destiny to take him down. If it wasn’t, I and my brothers would’ve ended him on the day he was resurrected.’

“Interesting thought, but what if they knew it was your destiny?” Starswirl asked as he goes to stand beside him. “After all, one of the three virtues of Andracus is Destiny, so they must’ve known.”

“Well…” Harry said, now started to think about it, before he then said, “It would’ve been very helpful if they stayed behind. Without them, the dark lord only fears you now.” After a moment, “Well you and the alicorns.”

Starswirl gave a small nod, “But what would you say if they never left in the first place?”

The hippogriff turned to the old unicorn, “What do you mean, professor?”

For a moment, the unicorn’s horn glowed an azurish gray aura of magic, and he silently casted a spell. “Now then, tell me of what you see,” Starswirl asked as he was just looking at the statue.

Harry turned to look at the statue, and then gasped in surprised, his eyes widen as he sees what was so special about the statue.

‘What?’ the air spirit thought.

As for Discord, he already knew the truth as he watched this memory play out. So he wasn’t surprised that Starswirl had performed the x-ray spell, showing that inside the statue was a skeleton of the human.

“Is that really…?” asked Harry, now looked very surprised.

“Indeed, sadly it looks like my theory has been confirmed,” Starswirl said with a sigh.

“But why, why has he been turned to stone?” asked the very confused hippogriff. “Thought he was immune to the stone glare?”

“He is, and so were his brothers. So no, it wasn’t the eyes of a cockatrice that had done this, the only thing that would be is the same items that were used on the Spirit of Chaos,” Starswirl surmised.

Harry looked surprised at Starswirl, “The alicorns turned the Elemental Lords to stone? But why would they do this? They’re like heroes to the world, so why?”

“I can think of a few theories, but this is neither the time nor the place to say such,” Starswirl replied.

After a moment, Harry look up at the statue, “Is he dead?”

“No, I do believe he’s very much alive. Victims who caught the gaze of a cockatrice were still alive, during their time of being stoned,” Starswirl stated as he looked at the statue as well. “And unless he had mastered the art of sleeping with his eyes open, he can see and hear us, for his eyes are open.”

Harry blinked in surprised, than he looked to Starswirl, “Wait, is there a spell to set him free?”

‘Nope.’

“No there isn’t, there is a spell to free beings caught by the cockatrice’s gaze,” he sighed. “But for the ones turned to stone by the power of the Elements of Harmony, there are only three ways. One is to use the power of the elements to set him free, and currently the princesses are the only ones who can use that kind of power. The second option is to gather and placed all four trapped spirits into one place, together they’re united and they would break free from the entrapment, sadly I have no idea on where the other three statues are located, and there are hundreds throughout the world. As for the last option, is waiting, he could only wait till the day the effects from the elements is weaken enough, than a surge of power that embodies one of his six virtues. Same thing with the other, Andracus has three virtues, and both Albertis and Garico have seven virtues.”

“So we can’t do anything to help him?” Harry asked; seem annoyed that he couldn’t help the trap spirit.

“Actually, we can,” Starswirl smiled, his horn started to glow azurish gray aura, and the same aura surrounded the statue, and started to levitated.

‘What the hell are you doing?’

“As you can see, spells can still affect him as he is trapped in stone,” he said, just levitated the statue as an example before setting it down.

“Could Celestia use a spell to affect his mind?” asked Harry.

“Only if his willpower becomes weak enough, but if my plan works, he’ll be safe far away from the Sun Princess,” he said, reaching out to take hold of the left stone arm of the statue with his free right hand.

‘Oh God I hope you’re not going to do what I think you’re going to do,’ thought the trapped spirit.

“Teleporting him to far distances will be too difficult, so it would be best to apparition him instead,” he said with a smile.

‘Damn you Starswirl, I hate apparition!’

“I’m sorry my old friend, I know you dislike it, but it’s the only way,” he quietly said to the statue, he then turned to Harry and held his left arm. “Take hold of my arm, Harry.”

‘Did you heard me, or were you just guessing?’

“Yes professor,” he replied and took hold of Starswirl’s arm.

‘Oh god no.’

In that single moment, all three of them apparated, they went spiraling upwards into the sky while leaving nothing behind. The whole scene was spiraling around, twists and turns as the memory just continued.

Discord was lucky; all he had to do was close his eyes. And when the memory of the apparition came to an end, he opened his eyes.

And right now, they were within the familiar tunnels of the old crystal mines in the mouth. The same place underneath where Canterlot will be built. And after the apparition, this time Harry did throw up.

The young hippogriff ended up on his talons and knees and was puking his guts out. He groaned as he had finished, while Starswirl merely had his horn glow, performing the light spell to provide lighting in the dark tunnels.

‘You bloody bastard!’ thought yelled by the trap spirit.

Starswirl chuckled as Harry finished and slowly got up, “Did you know that the spirit within this statue doesn’t like apparition?”

“I can imagine why,” the hippogriff groaned a bit. “Besides, from what I know from tales about him, he did the Sonic Rainboom. So why would he need to do apparition when he could just fly without wings?”

“You’ll likely know when you learn about it in class,” Starswirl replied with a smile, he slowly turned to face the statue.

'It’s because of splinching you bastard! You’re just lucky the spell views me more of an object than a living being.’

“Right now, he’s likely trying to figure out ways to get back at me for that, a few pranks of sorts maybe,” he said with a smile. “We used to do prank wars back in the day.”

After a moment, Harry looked around, “So why here?”

“These crystal mines were abandoned long ago,” Starswirl stated, “the crystal in these caverns have some sorts of immunity against magic. So no matter how hard the Sun Princess tries, she will never find him with magic.”

‘Only pony magic is useless here, why do you think ponies stop coming into these mines in the first place?’

“Then… how did we apparated here?” asked the confused hippogriff.

‘We went through the front entrance with a poorly constructed gate with a no trespassing sign.’

“This place is built like a maze, Harry; the entrance to it is always the exit. The walls block out the magic, the pathway around the walls does not. It would take a being with a powerful mind to truly find him,” Starswirl stated.

“Why not the school?” asked Harry.

“For many reasons Harry, one of them is that the Sun Princess will easily detect him if he was there,” said the old unicorn. “And it would be wise to never mention his whereabouts to anyone.”

“Why?” asked the confused hippogriff.

“The less people who know his location, the fewer chance the Sun Princess will hear it, or anyone with ill intention,” said the old unicorn. Then he uses his right hand and reaches into his pocket and pulled out a sky blue gem-like item.

Harry noticed as Starswirl held up the small item, he asks, “What is that?” In view, it looked like there was a dragon inside.

‘Shiron…?’ asked the trapped spirit, sounded surprised.

“This young Harry, is a Souldoll, these items had arrived to the lands around the same time as the four spirits,” Starswirl said as he held it up in full view. “This Souldoll contains Josephiroth’s loyal and trust-worthy friend, Shiron.”

“Wait, Shiron? Heard Hermione talked about him a few times from those history books. Isn’t he some kind of legendary wind dragon?” asked Harry.

“One of two wind dragons, the other is currently with Shiresea,” Starswirl said. “And they will be waiting for the day when they both awaken.”

Then to adding another surprise for Discord, revealing that not only was the helmet was adjustable, but also the round stone sack buckle with the wind symbol on it, for the old unicorn opened it like as though it was a lid, revealed an empty slot. Starswirl placed the Souldoll inside and closed the lid.

“So when you awaken old friend, bring forth your faithful ally, and the others will know that you have return,” Starswirl said with a smile.

‘Thank you, I’ll forget the apparition for… wait, what do you mean by the awaken part?’

The hippogriff had a confused look, “Professor, you said that because of his eyes are open that he is awaken and listening to us. So how will he be sleeping?”

“With a sleep bewitched spell of course,” his professor said.

“Kay, but why, wouldn’t that just mean that when he breaks free, he’ll still be asleep?” asked the boy.

“Not quite, one of the known methods to break the spell is merely disturb him from his slumber,” Starswirl stated. “And how to do that,” he chuckled, “well, only his brother and a few friends of his would seem to know that one. Josephiroth could spend a week sleeping if no one truly disturbed him.”

Discord’s eyes widen, right now he could learn how to awaken his old friend from his sleeping state within the statue. He listened intently to hear what it would be.

“But why put him to sleep anyways?”

“It is true that he cannot die, and with his eyes wide open, he is awake and listening to the world,” said Starswirl, about to state his reason. “But even though he is a spirit, he would succumb into the madness of insanity; his active mind would break apart with age and being alone for days, months, years, or even centuries. Sleeping will keep him in a dormant state, safe from such torture.”

Harry looked very surprised when he heard that.

The spirit trapped in stone groaned a bit, ‘Oh just cast your spell already.’

“And what does disturb him from his sleep?” asked the hippogriff, than he snickered. “Does he need to be kissed on the lips like that folktale Sleeping Beauty?”

“That would disturb him greatly if his brothers dared do that, but no, Gary wouldn’t do that to him,” Starswirl said as he shook his head. “And no, even a male wouldn’t wake him, he’s secretly a bisexual.”

‘And how in the hell did you know that, and why did you say that out loud?’ asked the now annoyed trapped spirit.

“Oh,” Harry said, sounded surprised by that.

Discord smiled as he watched and listened, “Oh, so enjoyed my kiss, did he?”

“What disturbs this spirit from his sleep is very simple, do something that he really doesn’t like,” Starswirl said, than he chuckled, “And one of the things he doesn’t like while sleeping is explosions.”

‘You know the bloody reason why you damn pony,’ thought the annoyed spirit. ‘It’s because I go boom when someone lights a match in my fart-turned methane filled room. Sometimes I hate being the Spirit of Air.’

“Well I’m definitely not going to do that, besides, you’re still a statue so that’s not possible,” Discord stated as he crossed his arms, now annoyed that there wasn’t an answer on how to awaken the sleeping spirit. Besides if he did the explosion, it would’ve alerted everyone above the crystal mines.

“Wait, then how would anyone know how to awaken him?” Harry asked.

“Either asking the ones still alive when he breaks free, or read his journals,” said Starswirl as he pointed his horn towards the statue.

‘And I would be pissed if someone read my journals without permission.’

“Well goodnight my friend, I hope when you break free, you can forgive this old fool,” Starswirl said as his horn glowed brighter, he was about to cast the spell.

‘Oh don’t worry, I had forgiven you on the day that you told us of Celestia withholding information on Discord,’ thought Josephiroth, looking down at the unicorn.

Then with a burst of magical energy from his horn, he casted the sleep bewitch spell upon the statue, forcing the trapped spirit within into a dormant state.

And with that, the world flashed blindingly in front of Discord, causing him to close his eyes to block out the light.

Discord’s eyes slowly opened, finding he was ejected from the dreams of the sleeping spirit trapped within stone. He sees that he was looking at the stone helmet, his lion and eagle hands gripping it. And the tunnels of the crystal mines still have the candle glowing light he had placed upon the crystals.

He let go of the helmet, and started to stand straight. He then grinned down at the statue, “Well ole buddy, I’m not going to quit until you’re wide awake and happy to see me.”

‘You don’t have to, I’m awake now,’ thought the annoyed spirit within the stone statue, followed by a mental yawn. ‘I really don’t like it when someone invades my mind without permission.’

Realized he was wide awake made Discord smile widely, and then he hugged the statue, wrapping his arms around the neck and had his legs wrapped around the waist, his tail coiling around the legs.

“Finally, you’re awake!” said Discord as he hugged the statue tightly. “Oh I missed you pal!”

‘I miss you too,’ the spirit chuckled as he spoke to him through thought. ‘And I forgive you for going into my mind; you didn’t know I don’t like it… did you?’

Discord stopped hugging and just floated in front of him, well his tail only coiled around the statue’s waist. He smiled as he looked upwards, “Maybe.”

With the silence, Discord could tell that the trapped spirit was mentally frowning. He chuckled, “Oh relax silly, I didn’t know! And if I did, I would’ve awakened you years ago when we had become neighbors.”

‘Neighbors? Weren’t you trapped in a vault underneath the castle?’

“Ooh boy, you sure been asleep for a long-time pal. There is much to tell you,” Discord chuckled as he moved close, smiling as he gazed into the stone eyes.

‘You can tell me later if you want, by the looks of it you’re free as a bird. I take it you plan to turn Equestria into a land of chaos?’

“That’s the plan,” Discord said with a grin. “Need to start soon, before any of those ponies notice my statue is missing.”

‘Well go have fun, but, can you do me a favor?’ he asked through thought.

“For you, anything pal,” Discord replied, he leaned close and placed his left ear against the stone head. “Tell me what you want, buddy?”

‘When you have the time, can you find where my brothers are?’

Discord gave a slow nodded, “That I can do.”

‘Thanks, you’re a good friend,’ thought the spirit. ‘And… I’m sorry for what I and my brothers did to you.’

“Water under the bridge buddy, we’re still friends,” Discord said, smiling widely. He then leans close to whisper, “Maybe more than friends.”

‘What? What do you mean?’ asked the confused spirit.

Discord grinned as he then poof in a flash and reappeared right behind the statue. He patted the stone helmet covered head, “Don’t you worry about it. I’ll see you once I learn the location of your brothers. So toodles!” And with a snap of his talon fingers, he vanished from sight, had teleported away.

Soon all was quiet now; the only thing left with the stone statue was the lighting from the crystals that were enchanted by Discord’s chaos magic. The spirit trapped in stone is now wide awake, and could see what the light from the crystals allow him to see.

After a moment, he thought to himself, ‘Wonder how many hours it’ll be till Discord turned to stone again?’

Chapter 01: Dreams of Relaxation

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‘Three hours, forty-two minutes, fifty-nine seconds,’ thought the trapped spirit, sounded more like a sigh. ‘Three hours, forty-three minutes.’

The stone statue was still in the tunnels of the crystal mines, and the only thing he could do to handle this boredom was counting. The only thing he could see in the tunnels is the paths, holes, and crystals still glowing in the same way of candle light.

The glowing stones were caused by Discord’s chaos magic, so at least he had some lighting to see what’s within the empty mines. He can still hear far and wide, thanks to the winds that blow through the entrance, which sounded like it was several miles through this big maze. With the aid of the wind, he could listen to voices it carries, as long as he was in range.

He also wished he had asked the Spirit of Chaos to take his stone state and put him somewhere outside these mines, that way, he could listen to the voices carried by the winds. If he was outside this blasted mountain, he could be listening from others over miles away from his current position. But with the crystal walls and being in the far depths of the crystal mines, he could only hear the whispers of anyone who came near the entrance.

Sometimes he cursed Starswirl for putting him down here, but knew the old unicorn did it for his safety.

As for the favor he asked for Discord, he really hopes that the draconequus learn the whereabouts of his brothers.

As for the reason of why he was counting, he knew of the outcome of Discord after he broke free. Well nearly, for starters, it’s been a long time since he saw those shows, and by long time, way over a thousand years. He remembered what would happened after thinking about it after Discord had left, kinda wished he remembered it sooner so he could warn him. So he has his memories to remember a few of those shows, and again, heck, the shows would likely never happen at all, since there were so many differences in the world.

‘Three hours and fifty minutes…’ thought Josephiroth, and just as he was about to count the next second, the candle light on the crystal stones faded, returning the darkness within these tunnels.

‘So it’s been three hours and fifty minutes and nearly one second, much faster than me and my brothers spent stalling that spirit long ago,’ he groaned in thought. ‘Then again, factor in the fact that each of us were dealing with our own problems, try to solve the problems in change of landscape, creatures acting strangely, and other criminals. Am I forgetting something… oh yeah, and it was supposed to be my vacation week while Mi Amore Potere does the work.’

After a moment, he thought, ‘Why am I talking to myself? Oh yeah, boredom, I don’t have a second mind like some beings. Might as well just daydream for a bit, or try to get some sleep, maybe try to master how to sleep with my eyes open.’

He remained quiet in thought, while it is still silent all around him in the tunnels. After a moment, he started to think about something, he groaned in thought, ‘How did Discord found me again? Did he do it mentally first or come to my stone body physically?’

After a moment of thinking that, he then thought to himself, ‘Should I tell him about the shows? So far he already knows a few tidbits of it, and the little story-telling which were told to children… maybe he already made a few connections? If he did, would he know that I knew he be turned back into stone after this event?’

He sighed mentally, 'Eh, best stop thinking on such, might as well try to get some sleep again.’

He was starting to feel tired, for some odd reason. He mentally yawned as his eyes are still wide open, unable to close. He tried to keep his mind blank, and still only see the darkness of the tunnels.

After what felt like hours, had a few times thought that Discord might contact him through long range telepathy or something, it finally happen. He slowly went to sleep with his eyes open, without the aid of any spells.

‘Zzzz…zzzz…zzzz…’

Under the night sky, with the moon bright with stars twinkling, were large mountains in the frozen landscape. A few villages lying on top of said mountains, but at one certain location in mountains, steam rises out of one part, steam from the large hot spring.

A big, nicely warm pool of water, which lay closely besides a stone building, a temple that looked like it was carved from the mountain itself, likely made by expert stonecutters. With a few torches on walls to provide lighting, and small waterfalls that pour more hot water down into the warm pool.

And floating in the water, nearly to the middle, was Joey. Not in armor, and the only piece of clothing he wore was red swim trunks. His eyes were closed while just relaxing, and replacing his eyeglasses were goggles.

He was smiling and once in a while, pushes his head back deep into the water, just so it would rise and wash over his face. And then moves his head left than to the right, having his long hair move slowly through the water. He raised his head back up, exposing his face to the cool air.

“Ah… I missed this, the feeling of warm water,” he said quietly to himself. “Water with a hint of…” he slowly pushed his head back down for another wash, till he felt the taste of the water entering his mouth. Notice the taste was different, he raised his head back up once more, “…chocolate?”

Eyes open, and noticed something was blocking his goggles, so he sat up and raised his hands and took hold of his goggles and took it off. And he now noticed that he was sitting in a pool of hot cocoa instead of a hot spring.

“What the?” he asked with a look of confusion and surprised. “This wasn’t part of my dream?” He slowly pushes his feet down to the ground level of the pool and pushes himself up and out of the hot pool of chocolate.

And he discovered his swim trunks were missing, “Gah!” he yelled as he covered his groin with his hands and quickly went back down to cover himself, now close to being waist deep in hot cocoa.

Suddenly he heard laughter to his right, loud, familiar laughter. Eyes wide in shock, he turned and saw Discord standing close by, standing tall, and the hot cocoa up to his knees. Joseph’s mouth dropped and hanged open in shock.

“You should see the look on your face pal, another priceless image for my collection today!” the draconequus grinned widely as he chuckled.

“How did you get in here Discord? How did you breech my mental defense so easily?” asked Josephiroth, still surprised of how Discord was here in his dream.

“And how do you know its dear ole me, oh Joey boy? What if I just a dream construct?” he asked as he waded through the hot cocoa pool, moving till he stand about six feet away from the crouching human.

“Because you’re not one,” he said, now just looking confused. “If you were, I would’ve just dreamt a construct of you, but I didn’t.”

Discord smirked, “Oh really? Are you sure you didn’t dream of my handsome mug?” He grinned as he neared.

“I know because I mastered the power of lucid dreaming for the past thousand years,” he replied, groaning as he closed his eyes and rubbed them with his right hand. “I want to know how you got through my mental defence, how did you get pass the dark forest?”

“That was a defence?” asked Discord, stroking his little beard with his lion paw, looking upward as though he was thinking. Then he shrugged, “I decided to just skip that part and head to the main dish.”

The human looked up to him, “But how? Not even my brothers or the dream-walkers could get into my mind without entering the dark forest maze!”

The Draconequus laughed and patted his back with his eagle talon, “That was a long time ago, Joey, only I knew you were here. So just relax, enjoy this moment.” He then slowly sat down in the pool of hot cocoa, about three feet close to the human, and even though he was just sitting down, the hot cocoa only came up to halfway of his waist.

Joseph sighed and slowly moved himself to sit in a meditation position, the hot cocoa coming up to his chest. Now looking up at Discord, “I am still very confused here.”

Discord chuckled, “And people in the past say you were the wise one, well, closer to Andracus anyways.”

The human rolled his eyes before saying, “For starters, you got into my dream very easily, which was something you didn’t learned before, you couldn’t had learned under four hours. And yes I counted how long you were free, which was three hours and fifty minutes. And then, you’re somehow controlling my dream while I’m supposed to be the dreamer. I’m wondering on how you gain that kind of power to control my dream so easily? And also, why did you remove my swim trunks?”

Discord smiled, “Why should you worry about that silly garment? This is your dream after all, so why?” He looked like he was chewing on something, his cheeks slightly bulging as he does so.

“Memory, trying to remember how it felt like in wearing swim trunks while swimming in a pool, and I hadn’t swam in a pool ever since I came to this world. Hence how I knew this place is my dream from the start, for if it was real, I should be bouncing out of here like a skipping stone.”

“Ah yes, the ups and downs of you elemental spirits,” Discord said, almost muffled noise as he was chewing.

“No talking with your mouth full,” Joseph said a moment after, out of old habit. “And please give back my swim trunks.”

Discord grinned, than he opened his mouth and stuck out his long snake tongue, showing a chewed up mushy red swim trunks.

Seeing such made the human groaned and closed his eyes, “Never mind.”

The draconequus chuckled and pulled his tongue back in and closed his mouth, and continued chewing. After a moment, he then gulped it down, the bulge slowly disappearing in his throat. He licked his lips, “Mmm, quite tasty I must say. And besides Joey,” he grins down to him, “you could always dream up new underwear.”

“First off, it was called a swim trunks,” Joseph said, then moved his left hand to somewhere under the hot cocoa. “And second, the moment I do, you’ll just make them vanish and eat them up like you did a moment ago. And why did you wrap your tail around my waist?”

“Oh just hugging my good friend, it’s not exactly a crime, you know,” Discord replied with a chuckle.

“Not the hug, but it’s annoying with the groping,” the human groaned and slowly pushes the coil tail off of himself, feeling the tuft at the end of the tail feeling around his groin.

But once more, the tail wrapped around his waist, and then pulled closer to the draconequus. “Sorry Joey, but now, we have much to talk about, so best ignore that feeling you feel,” Discord smiled, looking down at him. But slowly, the smile turned into a frown.

“And what do you want to talk about?” asked the human, struggling a bit to remove the tail from his waist, but it seem to just get tighten.

“You knew,” Discord simply said with no humor in his voice. That made Joseph stopped, and slowly turned to look up at the draconequus, who looked down at him with a serious expression. “You knew that I will be turned back into stone. You could’ve told me and I wouldn’t be turned into stone. After my victory, I could’ve gone out to find your lost brothers! But instead, you never told me that Twilight Sparkle returned her friends back to normal and turned me back to stone! So why did you? I thought we were friends?” The draconequus was glaring down at the human.

Joey sighed, forgetting the tail which coiled around his waist and had tighten with each sentence Discord said, if this wasn’t a dream, he would’ve been struggling to get free from the crushing grip. He slowly turned to look up at Discord, looking at his eyes, and then he said, “There were a few many reasons why I never told you. In truth, I forgot all about it. After all, I never saw the shows for a very long time. I had only remembered it when I started to think about it after you left. And even then, I had thought that maybe, this Equestria has a new path of destiny, twists of fate. But it looks like I was wrong,” he sighed, looking down to the water. “I’m sorry for not telling you.”

After a moment of silence, only the sounds of hot cocoa falling into the pool of chocolate like a waterfall. The tail around his waist had less tighten, than moments later, the draconequus wrapped his arms around his head, and with the use of his tail still wrapped around the waist, and he pulled the human close in a big, tight hug.

“I forgive you, but next time, please tell me,” he said while still hugging him tight, was pressing Joey’s head against serpent-like body chest. “After all, we’re friends, aren’t we?” Had stopped hugging tightly to allow the human to move his head, Joey looked up at him.

Joseph chuckled, “Yeah, we are.” Smiled up to him, then Discord allowed some space between them, about two feet apart, and slowly uncoiled his tail from his waist, letting the human relax a bit. “But, want to know one thing about the shows?” Discord looks to him and nodded. “The Discord in those shows didn’t believe in friendship.”

Discord laughed, “There’s more than one type of friendship, my friend. And pony friendship is way to harmonious, boring as Tartarus.” He relaxes in the pool, slouches his back a little.

“To any beings point of view on such,” Joseph replied to that, still sitting at his current spot. After a moment, he looked to the draconequus, “So, what did you do while you were free out there?”

Discord chuckled as he relaxed, “Oh a lot of things... learned a few new ones. But one thing has become real.” He turned to look upwards, towards the night sky, mainly looking at the moon. He sighed, “Equestria has become a boring place.”

He turned to look at the human, “That foolish Celestia believes she’ll bring harmony to the rest of the world…” Joey looked confused but listened. “She has some grand plan for it all. She actually thinks she’ll turn the whole world to her version of harmony. Sounds really ridiculous!” he chuckles after saying it.

Joseph wondered on what kind of plan Celestia was having, but continued to listen as the Spirit of Chaos talk.

“They are all too dependent on magic,” he said.

Joseph chuckled, “Just like you in some sense, you mainly use chaos magic.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Discord replied and patted the human’s head with his eagle talon. “But I literally mean they’re too depended on it. You and your brothers try to bring balance to the world in the past, a perfect blend of order and chaos, magic and technology, etc. etc. etc.” He waved his lion paw three times for each etc. “But ponies, they rely on magic too heavily. They became so easily to fool around with, especially with simple chaos magic. It’s rather sad and disappointing, they improved on magic sure, but they didn’t change at all.”

“For some reason, I’m not surprised,” Joseph said as he crossed his arms.

“Easy to predict compared to the past,” Discord smirked. “Especially for you, with that knowledge of their history inside your mind,” and he knocked on the human’s head with his talon knuckles, sounding like he was knocking on a door, three knocks.

“Depending if I remember each of them,” he replied, didn’t mind that.

“Oh I’m sure you will. But for now, how about a little TV,” and he pulled his talon hand away and snapped his fingers. With a flash, a television remote appeared, and the area seem to tremble and quake, and bursting out of pool edges of rocks and stones, came a huge flat-screen television, a thousand inches. Some rocks and stones fell into the pool of hot cocoa, and the shaking slowly settled.

Both spirits weren’t disturbed by all this, considering this was caused by Discord, and Josephiroth knew this.

“Before we start the show, some refreshments,” Discord said with a grin, and used his lion paw to wave at something to come over.

Considering this was still a dream of his, and yet Discord was in control of it. Joseph turned to see what dream constructs that Discord had summoned. His eyes widen at what he saw.

At the doorway of the stone temple, stood the sun and moon princesses, the two anthro alicorns, and they were nude. He had also notice several difference of these two compared to the ones in his memories of the past, these two were likely of what they look like now.

Celestia grew a few more inches; she now stood about nine feet and six inches tall, the taller of the two alicorns there, and likely always will be. Her body coat was still the same, white with a hint of pink, and her mane and tail is still really long with the colors of pink, violet, green, and cyan eternal. But now, unlike her past self, her body wasn’t an hourglass shape now, she still had muscles, but look a bit flabby, like she never tried to exercise to stay fit. Her breasts were still H-cup size, but now she has what looks like a pot belly, and her thighs and plot was flabby looking too, like she ate way too make sweets. Her horn was still two feet long, and her wings were likely still the same length, and currently folded against her beck. And her mane and tail were at the same length, and her eyes are purple-pink as always. On her thighs were her yellow sun cutie marks.

And as for Luna, she too grew some inches, she is seven feet and eleven inches tall, and her body coat still the same dark blue, and her mane and tail were still at the same length as back then, and still moderate sapphire blue with a grayish persian blue aura surrounding and white little sparkles. Her horn grew a few inches, was now a foot and three inches long, and her wings were still the same wide length as well and currently folded against her back too. And her eyes were still moderate cyan color, and with the light sapphire blue eye shadows. Now that ends with the similarity, now the difference was her body. She still slender-like, but more muscular, she has abs showing too, and her breasts were f-cup size too. On her thighs were her blotches of black with white crescent moon in the middle cutie marks.

They both were also currently nude, no clothes or jewellery on their body. Their nipples were showing, and they were smiling towards them. Both of them were carrying trays, bowl of popcorn on each and stone cups.

Seeing them froze the human for a moment, before he slammed shut his eyes and looked away. He groaned and was blushing a bit at such; he nearly forgot they were dream constructs made by Discord.

“Why?” he asked, keeping his eyes firmly shut, and currently glad that the pool was hot cocoa.

Discord laughed, “Oh to see your reaction mainly.” And slowly both constructs of the alicorn princesses were walking into the pool of hot chocolate, their hooves stepping in, they wade through it, heading toward the two. “Oh relax pal, they’re dream constructs, not the real deal.”

“Please put some clothes on them,” the human asked him, while he had already summoned a new red swim trunk and had them on while still sitting in hot cocoa, he could tell by feeling it. He kept his eyes firmly shut.

“Oh relax and stop acting like you’re a virgin, I know you’re not,” Discord chuckled, just as the two constructs set their trays on the hot cocoa liquid, the trays floating. The sun princess construct moved over and sat on her knees, closely to Discord, smiling to him. While the moon princess construct moved over to Joseph, sitting close to him, and was trying to get his attention. The chocolate staining their lovely coats as they got themselves comfortable.

“I want to honor the memories I have of them, not use them like toys in my mind,” the human replied, frowning as he still kept his eyes firmly shut.

“Even Celestia?” asked Discord, curious as he let the construct of the sun princess massage his back. He picked up the stone cup from his tray and scoops up some hot cocoa and drank it.

“I may still hate her, but I do not want to see her like that,” he replied, then groaned deeply as he felt the moon princess construct hug him from behind, felt her big breasts against the back of his head. He blushed deeply, teeth clenched as he kept his eyes firmly shut. “So please, you made the constructs, put clothes on them.”

Discord chuckled as he watched, then he groaned after what the human asked. He rolled his eyes, knowing that if he doesn’t comply, than Joey will try to take control of his dream and banish the constructs. Personally, he liked having them here, but reluctantly, “Oh fine. Maybe one day you’ll forget your virtues and accept this kind of fun side.”

Moments later, with the moon princess construct still hugging him; he felt the fabric appear on her breasts. He sighed in relief, breathing a bit, “Thanks.” He moved away from her, he opened his eyes to look to the construct, and instantly slammed his right hand onto his face to make a loud face-palm, covered his eyes, “OH COME ON!”

The moon princess construct wore a sexy red bikini, and the sun princess construct was wearing a yellow bikini.

Discord chuckled, “You wanted them to wear clothes, and we are inside a pool, so bikinis will do quite nicely. If you’re still on about, just don’t look at them.”

“Fine then,” Joseph said, slowly opened his eyes, and just look at the construct’s eyes. She only smiled happily towards him; he sighed and reached for the tray. Seeing the bowl of popcorn and a stone cup, he picked up the cup, confused look, “Where’s the drink?”

Discord chuckled, “Either drink from the hot cocoa pool itself, or have some nice, warm, fresh milk.” He grinned as he held the sun princess construct close to him, she giggled and smiled as she gotten attention.

Joseph groaned in annoyance, he pretty much walked right into that. Then after a moment, he suddenly thought of something. He turned to look at him as the draconequus fondle the sun princess construct’s bra covered breasts with his talon hand. “So you have a crush on Celestia, do you?” he asked, mainly looking up at Discord.

“On Sunbutt?” asked Discord, sounded surprised. Then he laughed, “Oh I don’t have romantic crush on her, I just like how big she looks. And look how big her fat plot is!” He took hold of the sun princess construct and raised her out of the hot chocolate pool.

Joseph blinked in surprise as Discord showed him of the sun princess construct’s big, fat, panties covered butt, watched as the warm chocolate drip down her thighs. The chocolate that was staining her coat was slowly coming off too.

The human blushed hard, and closed his eyes, “Forget calling her Sunbutt, she’s more of Thunder Thighs.”

Hearing that made Discord’s eyes widen, he let go of the construct, she yelped while falling into the hot chocolate pool while the draconequus laughed loudly. He held his gut with his eagle talon and lion paws, rocking a bit, splashing a bit as well.

“Oh sweet chaos!” laughed Discord, “I wish I called her that when I saw her, it would’ve been hilarious!” The sun princess construct slowly sat up, covered in chocolate and only smiled to Discord.

Joseph chuckled and shook his head, “So you don’t have a crush on her, like you say, but why do you have her here?”

“Oh just for my own little amusement,” Discord grinned. Then the remote reappear in his talon hand, “Now then, best get the show started.”

“Good, was wondering when it would start,” Joseph said, turning to look at the TV, raised his stone cup to himself, and dreamt up that it was filled with cold diet coke drink. Once he saw that it was filled with black soda, he smiled and took a sip of it.

“Now let’s get the fun started!” and the draconequus pointed the remote at the TV and clicked the button, the big flat screen came on and started to display a memory video.

Right after Discord left the stone statue in the crystal mines; he reappeared above what looks like a small village. He used his magic to do several things, turned the clouds into cotton candy and pours chocolate milk rain, popped every corn on the cornfield into big mounds of popcorn, enlarged all small red apples to the size of beach balls, and had bunny feet turn into deer legs.

And after all of that, he laughed and watched a certain group from where he was, and then teleported himself to somewhere else. He appeared in the corridors of stained glass windows, as part of the windows himself; he remained in place and waited.

After a while, soon seven anthro ponies walked into the corridors. The one leading the group was Princess Celestia herself, and she wore her white silk dress. And following behind her were a group of six ponies; they were Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy.

Twilight Sparkle stood about five feet and two inches tall anthro unicorn mare. Her body is slender build, has a bit of muscles, and she has a pale, light grayish mulberry fur body, her mane was moderate sapphire blue with moderate violet and brilliant rose streaks, her long mane reaches to her lower back, and her tail is just as long. Her eyes are moderate violet, and the length of her horn was eight inches long. She wore a dark purple sleeveless shirt that mainly covers her C-cup size breasts, and connected to the front of her shirt, at the center was a medallion with a purple star in the middle, connected to it was a long dark blue cape, which nearly reached down to her hooves. She wore dark purple wrist-guards, and she has a dark purple belt with long black cloth hanging at the center front and her sides, and she wore dark purple hoof shoes. Barely exposed, on the side of her flanks shows a magenta-pink six pointed star with another white one behind it and surrounded by five mini white stars.

Applejack stood about five feet and six inches tall, and she’s an anthro earth pony mare. Her body is slender but muscular as well, and her coat is light orange, she has three freckles on each cheek, close to her emerald green eyes. Her mane and tail are blonde and tied into ponytails, the length of her mane reaches her lower back, and her tail is the same length. She wears a brown cowboy hat, and she wears a light rose and orange poncho which covers her D-cup size breasts, she wore brown worker gloves, and she wore a brown belt, blue jeans, and has dark brown moccasin boots. Stitched to the side of her jeans were three red apples, representing her cutie mark.

Rainbow Dash stands about five feet and two inches tall, and she’s an anthro pegasi mare. She is lean and is muscular, her body coat is sky blue and her messy mane and tail is rainbow-colored, her mane reaches her upper back and tail reaches the back of her hooves. She has magenta colored eyes, and she wore yellow sleeveless shirt which help covers her C-cup sized breasts, and she wore yellow wrist bands, black short pants, and brown hoof boots. Unlike all the others, she was hovering in the air for her wings flapped, keeping her in the air, her wingspan is six feet wide. Stitch to the left side of her sleeveless shirt is a symbol of her cutie mark, a cloud with a rainbow thunderbolt.

Rarity stands about five feet tall, and she’s an anthro unicorn mare. She is slender build; her body coat is silvery-white, almost like a marshmallow. She has long, violet blue wavy and curls mane and tail, and her eyes are blue, her mane reaches the back of her neck and side, and her tail was sticking out behind her. She wore a lovely pink dress with a golden necklace around her neck, also covered her D-Cup sized breasts, and a golden waistband, and below such is a long black and pink skirt, she wore black gloves, and golden hoof shoes. Her horn is six inches long, and on her golden necklace, waistband, and hoof shoes were cyan diamond in the center, which supposed to represent her three cyan diamonds cutie mark.

Pinkie Pie stood about four feet and ten inches tall, and she’s an anthro earth pony mare. She is lean but also slightly muscular; her body coat is bright pink, and her poof dark pin mane and tail, if her mane was added to the height she would be five feet and five inches tall, and she has light blue eyes. She wore a black tank top shirt that also covered her D-cup size breasts. She wore pink short pants, nothing on her hooves; her poof out tail was sticking out behind her. On the back of her shirt was a stitch in of three balloons, two blue balloons with yellow strings and one yellow balloon with a blue string, it representing her cutie mark.

And lastly there is Fluttershy, and she stood about four feet and seven inches tall, the smallest of the six mares, and she’s an anthro pegasi mare. She is slender and cute looking, her body coat is light yellow, and she has long pink mane and tail, the length of her mane reaches to her upper back. She has teal eyes and looked very shy-like, her wings were currently folded, but if spread out, it would about four feet wide. She wore a nature green silk dress, also covered her D-cup sized breasts. The long dress covered the front and the back of her hoofed legs, but her long tail showed from behind, and her cutie mark on her thighs showed, a cutie mark of three pink butterflies.

As the six mares followed the princess, Celestia was speaking, “I’ve called you here for a matter of great importance. It seems an old foe of mine,” one of the mares, Fluttershy, had stopped as she saw a reflection of one of the stained windows on the floor, she moves over to check it. While Celestia continued speaking, “Someone I thought I, my sister, and the four Elemental Lords had defeated long ago; has returned. His name… is Discord.”

Fluttershy squealed in fright after seeing the image on the window, an image of the Discord in the middle, Celestia above him, Luna below, the Air Spirit in the top left corner, the Fire Spirit in the top right corner, the Water Spirit in the bottom left corner, and the Earth Spirit in the bottom right corner. She rushed to her friends, she hid behind Twilight Sparkle.

“Discord is the mischievous spirit of disharmony,” Celestia continued speaking. “Before my sister and I stood up to him, he ruled Equestria in an eternal state of unrest and unhappiness. Luna and I saw how miserable life was for the earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns alike, so with the Elemental Lords distracting, repelling, and trying to capture them, we discovered the Elements of Harmony; we combined our powers and rose up against him, turning him to stone.”

“All right, Princess!” Rainbow Dash cheered, and used her right hand to show thumbs up.

“I thought the spell we cast would keep him contained forever, but since Luna and I are no longer connected to the Elements, the spell has been broken.”

“No longer connected?” asked Twilight, looked confused.

Celestia led the group to a fancy looking vault door with a six circles and a sun in the middle with a hole in the middle, likely a lock. “This is Canterlot Tower, where the Elements are kept inside since all of you recovered them,” Celestia said as she turned to the mane six, looking serious. “I need you to wield the Elements of Harmony once again and stop Discord before he thrusts all of Equestria into eternal chaos.”

Twilight questioned, “But why us? Why don’t you-”

“Hey, look! We’re famous!” Pinkie interrupted, pointing her hand to one of the stained windows. It depicted of the six anthro ponies using the Elements of Harmony upon Nightmare Moon.

“You six showed the full potential of the Elements by harnessing the magic of your friendship to beat a mighty foe,” Celestia said, looking down to Twilight Sparkle. “Although Luna and I once wielded the Elements, it is you who now control their power.” She then stepped back and spread out her wings widely as she said lastly, “And it is you who must defeat Discord!”

After a moment, each mare look to each other, than Twilight thought for a moment before her expression became serious. She looked up to the princess, “Princess Celestia, you can count on-”

“Hold on a second!” Pinkie interrupted once more, sticking her left hand up for a second, trying to get everypony’s attention. She was looking at Twilight as she said, “Eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain, you guys. Chocolate rain!”

Twilight looked to Celestia quickly and said, “Don’t listen to her, Princess. We’d be honored to use the Elements of Harmony again.”

Celestia smiled, than with her wings folded, she turned around and headed towards the vault door. Leaning down, she angled her long horn and inserts it into the sun lock in the center. Her horn then glowed with magic, and with that the lining of the sun radiated with her magic. She pulled out her horn, and stood tall, and they all watched as the whole vault door glowed brightly.

The mane six were watching with looks of amazement, while Celestia was grinning. The door then slowly opened, revealing inside a glowing room with a pedestal in the middle, on top of which rests a blue treasure chest with a golden lock and encrusted in shiny gems.

Before any of them could do anything, time seem to just froze in place. Each of the anthro ponies stuck at where they stood, still like statues, but not stone.

Then in a flash of light, the twelve feet tall draconequus appeared at the doors to the vault. He grinned and was humming a cheerful tune, and with a snap of his eagle talon, a basket appeared on his arm. He walked into the vault, open the chest which revealed to not be locked. And within were the six Elements of Harmony, each gem part of golden jewellery. Still humming, he took each one and placed them into his basket.

Once all six elements were inside, he closed the chest shut. Then he step out of the vault, still humming, and with both hands, he gripped the basket, and then started to crush it up, mushing it around like he was playing with clay. After a moment, he soon made it look like an actual book.

With that, and a flash of magic, a book suddenly appeared to his right, the real copy. He grinned and teleported the fake book that contained the Elements of Harmony away, and then took holds of the original copy. After a moment of deciding, he just opens his mouth and chuck the book inside. He made a noise that sounded like a paper shredder machine. After the sound ended, he closed his mouth and chewed it up, and then gulped it down.

He smiled and then went back to his position, reappearing on the window and posed, waited. And with that, time resumed.

Rarity was the first one to speak as she looks at the chest, “Ooh. You can keep the Elements. I’ll take that case!”

“Have no fear, ponies,” Celestia said and her horn glowed with magic and she levitated the chest right out and over to the mane six. “I have total confidence that you will be able to defeat Discord with these!”

The moment she opened, it revealed that it was empty. All six ponies gasped in shock, and Celestia dropped the case after discovering the chest was empty.

As they all gawked at the empty chest in shock, Rainbow Dash stopped flapping her wings and landed on her hooves, Pinkie Pie was the first to talk, she smiled as she skipped away, “Oh well. If anyone needs me, I’ll be outside in the chocolate puddles with a giant swizzle straw.” But she didn’t make it out the door when they were snapped shut by one of the ponies’ magic, she awed in annoyance and return to her group of friends.

Celestia was starting to pace around a bit, the mane six still gawking, well Pinkie wasn’t, and she was just waiting. Finally, Twilight spoke, “The Elements! They’re gone!”

Celestia looked very confused, she was pacing around in a circle, arms crossed and pressed against her covered breasts as she think. “That chamber is protected by a powerful spell that only I can break! This doesn’t make sense!”

Sounds of laughter echo through the room, Celestia halted and looked upwards with annoyance. Then they all heard.

“Make sense? Oh, what fun is there in making sense?”

“Discord… Show yourself!” Celestia demanded, looking around, trying to see where he was.

Sounds of chuckling, than his voice was heard, “Did you miss me, Celestia?” and with a flash, on the stained window depicting the draconequus controlling three ponies like puppets, he started to move. He grinned and looked towards her, “I missed you. It’s quite lonely being encased in stone, but you wouldn’t know that, would you, because I don’t turn beings into stone.”

“Enough!” Celestia demanded, now glaring at the draconequus on the window. “What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?”

“Oh, I just borrowed them for a teensy little while,” he replied like it wasn’t important. Then he snapped his lion paw fingers, causing the image on the window of the Elements vanish from sight.

“You’ll never get away with this, Discord!”

“Oh, I’d forgotten how grim you can be, Celestia. It’s really quite boring.”

“Hey! Nopony insults the Princess!” yelled Rainbow Dash and she flew through the air, heading right at the stained window.

She clearly forgot that it was a stain window, so she deserved the smack she gotten when she hit it face first. After peeling herself off it, the stain-glassed Discord enlarged himself on the window.

“Oh, you must be Rainbow Dash, famed for her loyalty, the Element of Harmony you represent.”

Glaring at him, she said, “That’s right! I’ll always be loyal to the Princess!” She blinked in surprised for a moment after Discord had vanished.

But his voice echoed, “We’ll see about that.”

“I can’t believe we’re wasting our time talking to a tacky window,” Rarity said, her snout raised in the air and eyes closed, trying to look regal-like, showing that she didn’t like the draconequus.

Discord appeared in the window closes to Rarity and he said, “The beautiful Rarity, representing the element of generosity, if I’m not mistaken?”

Applejack walked over, frowning at him. “So you know who we are, big deal.”

“Oh, I know much more than that, honest Applejack.”

“You seem to know our strengths too,” said Twilight Sparkle.

“Yes, Twilight Sparkle, and yours the most powerful and elusive element, magic,” Discord stated, pointing at her while in a sitting position in the stain window, “Fluttershy’s is kindness and Pinkie Pie’s is a personal favorite of mine, laughter.” He then laughed out, while the ponies started to hear snickering from Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie!” said Twilight as she looked to her friend.

Losing her control, moving her right hand away from her mouth, she laughed, “He’s standing on your head!” And currently, Discord was dancing in the stain window, scuffling his feet on the image of Twilight Sparkle.

While Pinkie laughed, Celestia demanded, “Stop stalling Discord!” Pinkie shut her mouth to be silent and all the ponies looked at the stain-glassed draconequus. “What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?”

“Oh, so boring, Celestia. Really?” said Discord, rolled his eyes at such. “Fine, I’ll tell you, but I’ll only tell you my way.” Then he started to move around through the glass windows, “To retrieve your missing Elements, just make sense of this change of events. Twists and turns are my master plan, than find the Elements back where you began.” And he went back to the stain window where he hid, and with a flash, his laughter echo as he left the room, the stain glass of himself back in its original place.

Fluttershy looked scared, covered her face a bit with her pink mane, “Can we go home now?”

Applejack looked to Twilight, asking her, “What do you reckon he meant? Twists and turns and ending back where we started?”

“Twists and turns… twists and turns…” Twilight asked to herself, thinking of what the answer to the riddle was. She moved around, eventually stood by one of the clear windows and saw the outside. The moment her eyes saw the hedge maze outside, she realised, “Twists and turns! That’s it! I bet Discord hid the Elements in the palace labyrinth!”

Celestia nodded a little after hearing such, than she looks to them all while saying, “Good luck, my little ponies. The fate of Equestria is in your hands.”

“Thanks, Princess,” Twilight looked up to her with determination in her eyes. “We won’t let you down.” Then she and her friends turned and ran off, leaving the corridors together.

“So those are the Mane Six, eh?” asked the human, taking a sip from his cup of diet coke while watching the TV. He, Discord, and the two princess constructs were still sitting together in a pool of hot cocoa that was once the hot spring in this dream world. “Certainly a colorful bunch, especially the clothes they wear. Do they wear the same clothes all the time?”

“Doubt that, but besides, you and your brothers where your armors all the time, so you can’t really complain,” Discord chuckled, had finished his popcorn bowl while the sun princess construct was massaging his back.

“Not all the time,” Joseph replied, imagining more diet coke appearing in his cup before taking another sip. “It’s just the populace across the land expects us to just appear in our armors, like knights in shining armor, gets very boring by the way. Personally, I like to take a nap while sunbathing in the northern arctic.”

“Ooh, sounds cold,” Discord crossed his arms and his body turned to blue and pretended to shiver. He chuckles after, returning to his normal color.

“What? I’m fond of the cool snow, just wanting to lie in it all day and think about things in the calm and quiet.”

“Sounds boring,” Discord rolled his eyes, he moved his back a bit so to have the sun princess construct massage his lower back. “But anyways, would you agree on Twilight’s choice, believing the elements would be there?”

The human turned to him instead of taking another sip, “Even if I didn’t saw your little memory of you freezing time and snatching the elements and put them in a fake book, the maze wouldn’t been my first choice.” Then he took a sip, after gulping down some, “Speaking from experience, Discord, me and my brothers chased after you for months-”

“Which the mane six broke your record,” Discord chuckled.

Joseph rolled his eyes, “Laugh it up, the point was, that twists and turns is what you did to me and my brothers, leading us to dead ends and prank traps.”

“But not once did I manage to get you guys to split up,” Discord stated as he looked down to him. “I had been hoping to get some of you separate and talk to each of you.”

“And the reason for why we never split up with you around was because you could easily obliterate us.”

“What?” asked Discord, sounded very surprised, he looked to the human and saw him with a serious expression. “You’re joking right? You and your brothers are powerful.”

“Only when we are together,” Joseph said, setting his cup onto the floating tray, than he crossed his arms. He had his eyes shut as he talked, “We were called the Spirits of Order, but like there is a balance in the world, like you or your predecessor before you. Before me and my brothers, there was once just a single Spirit of Order. The reason for me and my brothers being called Spirits of Order is because we each have about a quarter of orderly power in all of us.”

He turned to look up to Discord, “You weren’t split into different individuals, you were the only one who gain the immense power of chaos.”

Discord looked speechless at such, and then became confused, “But still, it felt like you guys were holding back.”

“It’s because we were,” the human said. “Each of us controls a certain part of nature, hence why I control the air. I could’ve just head straight to you in a sonic boom or brought forth tornadoes upon you, and my brothers could’ve done their own techniques as well. Want to know why we didn’t?”

“Why?”

“It’s because we knew you, well mainly because I did and I convinced my brothers to not harm. Despite the fact that you turned parts of Equestria into a place of chaos, and misery to the ponies, we had learned your reason why, and first want to negotiate with you peacefully.”

Discord sighed as he looked away, “And I just kept running away, because I thought you and your brothers would send me to Tartarus, like you did with Tirek and other monsters. I tried to separate you four with traps, just so I could talk to you or Gary; you both are more understanding than the others.” He turned to look at the human, a bit of a sad expression. “If I wasn’t running, then it would’ve…”

“No talk on that, let’s just say all is in the past, alright?” Joseph asked, showed a small smile. “After all, you didn’t know we want to talk peacefully with you, and we didn’t know you were trying to separate us just to talk to the sensible ones.”

The draconequus sighed, “Yeah, true.” Then he turned to him, “So then, you and your brothers knew why I attacked the ponies first?”

“Your target wasn’t the ponies themselves, it was your father,” Joseph said, and Discord growled a bit.

“You guessed right,” Discord growled. “I tried to make him pay for what he did to me, what he had done to my mother. But I couldn’t find him anywhere.”

“It is because that he was already sentence to the hellish pits of Tartarus,” Joseph said, still looking up to Discord.

The draconequus looked surprised for a moment; then he frowned a bit, “Wish I knew that. When I went to the village, most ponies fled and the guards attacked me, I had thought they were sent by him to capture me or something, or maybe some kind of bounty on my head. They labelled me as a monster from the beginning.”

“And in came the idea of turning the pony lands into a Chaos Kingdom?”

“Yep,” Discord nodded, looking away for a moment. “But anyways, hope that bastard of a pony is still stuck there.”

“I did say hellish pits of Tartarus, there are different areas in that land that are designed for prisoners who are banished there,” Joseph stated. “Justice was served.”

Discord smiled a bit, “Good.” Then he became serious and looked directly towards the human, “But, if that pony ever gets out of Tartarus, than I want him, no preventions from others.”

Joseph lean his back a bit, “Fine with me, just depends if he even manages to escape from there. And depending if you’re free by then too,” looking at Discord in the eyes.

“Good,” Discord said, than he smiled and took hold of the human with his arms and pulled him over into a hug. “Now come over here, we still got more to watch!”

The human was placed onto Discord’s lap, being gripped, he asked, “Why not have your construct to cuddle with?”

“She’s too busy massaging my back and the Moonbutt is working on my tail. Besides, I want to cuddle a real being,” Discord grinned as he held him close with lion arm. He uses his eagle talon hand and took his stone cup to scoop hot chocolate from the pool and drank.

Joseph shrugged and reached and took hold of his cup from his tray and drank diet coke, “Well there’s no wrong with that.”

They both watched the TV, seeing that as the memory of Discord’s play out. It showed the mane six rushing to the entrance of the maze, and Joseph had noticed the one, Twilight Sparkle, had said something to her friends.

“Did she just say ‘everypony’ instead of ‘everyone’?” asked Joseph, right eyebrow raised in confusion and a frown.

“She’s not the only one, all the ponies of today say that,” Discord stated, wasn’t really bothered by the question.

The human frowned, “Are the ponies of today specists?”

“Uh… specists?” asked Discord, likely didn’t heard that word.

“It’s like the word racist, but centralized on dislikes of non-pony races. Belief that their own kind is the perfect race in the world, while they view all the others they believe are weak and inferior.”

Discord listened, and frown a bit, “Ponies are generally afraid of the unknown, changes, hence why they’re so boring too. And I do believe that long ago, from listening to them, that Celestia was the one who thought of that ‘everypony’ thing, mainly just to unite all the ponies into one nation, Equestria.”

“But do the ponies of today hate other races? Because if they did, they’re pretty much screwing themselves,” Joseph said in a serious tone. “There are more than the ponies in this whole wide world, heck, what about the unifications?"

“Things change over a thousand years, Joey boy,” Discord said, patting his head with his lion paw hand. “Besides, it’s mostly the unicorns in Canterlot who act like that; those stuffy nobles are even like that towards other earth ponies and pegasi. Then of course, there were a few ponies who abused a baby dragon.”

“What?!” asked Joseph, looking up at him in surprise.

“Oh just watch and you’ll see what I mean,” Discord replied, nodding his head towards the television, while mentally face-palming himself, for forgetting that Joseph loves dragons.

“Fine then,” he said, now looking to the screen with a serious expression, waiting.

As it goes on, it showed in Discord’s memory that he removed the unicorn’s horns and pegasi wings. Then he stated rules, such as no magic and no flight, and rule two is that everypony had to play, or if they didn’t, he wins.

“Smart,” Joseph said, watching as the six anthro ponies step in, and then maze hedges grow between each of them.

“Oh I know,” Discord grinned after taking a sip from his hot cocoa. “Separating them proved way easier than you and your brothers.”

“Not that, the rules,” Joseph stated, Discord looks down to him. “You exploited on their word, ‘everypony’. You are a draconequus, not a pony like them. So in a sense, if you were flying around and using magic in the maze, you weren’t cheating.”

Discord laughed, “Ah yes, that one. It was very helpful to me in the games.” He smiled widely, glad that the human noticed.

Then in came the scene of Discord moving apples, leading Applejack to some part within the hedge maze, and then used three groups of colored apples like puppets, and then said a few lies, getting the earth pony to believe into him, and fall for the hidden trap, hypnosis. Applejack became Liar Jack.

Discord sweated a bit, looking down at the human, knowing that Joseph and his brothers hate mind control magic.

And it showed the same way with Pinkie Pie, using balloons and laughs of children. Tricking Pinkie into believing she was being laughed at, and with hypnosis on her, she became Angry Pie. Next up happened to Rarity, tricking her in seeing a giant diamond, which was really a boulder, she looked like she was denying it, until she greedily accepted it; in the end she became Greedity. Then next was Fluttershy, led away with three butterflies that Discord took a form of, and started to try to trick her. At first it looked Fluttershy was going to win, until she was slowly slipping into believing Discord’s lies, in the end she got hypnotized and became Flutter Cruel.

Discord was mainly watching Joseph, who still watched the screen, the only thing that showed any change of expression was his right eyebrow raised up after witnessing Flutter Cruel.

Next on screen was Rainbow Dash, followed a cloud bursting with rainbow lightning, it leaded to where Discord was. He tricked her that Cloudsdale was falling apart; she listened and showed that her loyalties were towards her home, not her friends. She accepted the wings after getting hypnotized, she became Traitor Dash. And with that, she flew away, thus ending the game.

The hedges went down into the ground, the maze being removed; all that’s left was a crater. Twilight Sparkle looked shocked of the fact that the elements weren’t in the maze. Discord returned the horns and wings, and then summoned a couch and ate popcorn, watching Twilight’s friends arguing. Then after a moment, he showed Twilight Sparkle of the past event, reminding her of the riddle.

“Well?” asked Discord, looking down at the human on his lap.

“Well what?”

“Aren’t you mad?”

“Why should I be mad?” Joseph asked, sounding confused as he turned to look up at the draconequus.

“Well I did hypnotize those ponies, and you and your brothers hate those mind spells,” Discord stated.

The human sighed and shook his head, “If hypnosis was just like mind control, than I would’ve ended up arresting the nagas, changelings, and any other races who uses hypnotism, even ponies who has hypnosis cutie marks.” He looked back at Discord, “There’s a difference between hypnotism and mind control.”

“There is?” he asked, sounded surprised.

“Yep, with hypnosis, which can be used to help others, such as hypnotherapy, or just for show,” Joseph stated. “You’re not controlling them against their will; they accepted your lies in the first place. Celestia had warned them with her talking to them before, and still they believed you, despite you in different forms or controlling apple puppets.” After a moment, “And as for mind control, there are some different methods among mind control, but the kind that me and my brothers hate most, are ones controlling others against their wills. Things like the millennium rod and the imperio curse spell, turning people into actual puppets and forced to do things that they don’t really want to do, and even, controlling their minds, basically mind raping people and make them into slaves.”

“Huh,” Discord said, stroking his goat beard with his eagle talon, thinking about it. “So hypnosis is alright then?”

“It is fine, but it looks like ponies view hypnosis as mind controls as well,” Joseph said with a frown. “Let me guess, after all that, those five ponies believed you mind controlled them,” and Discord nodded, “figures.”

“Oh,” Discord said, he smiled, “so then…”

“Don’t bother,” Joseph quickly said while just looking at the TV. “Hypnosis doesn’t work on me, otherwise the ones who tried to do it to be in the past had managed to capture me for several reasons. Nagas use hypnosis to make their prey willing to be swallowed alive, changelings use hypnosis to have their prey willingly feed them their emotions.”

“Darn,” Discord said playfully, he chuckled and they both went back to watching the TV.

Next few things that happened were that Discord changed the ground to look like a purple checker board pattern. And had many small floating islands, with either just trees or with buildings, and the town hall was floating upside down in the middle of Ponyville. Then the hilarious scene of Twilight Sparkle get trampled on by the galloping herd of deer-legged rabbits, mainly because she wasn’t keeping her eyes on the road.

Discord laughed at that while Joseph only shook his head. Then on screen, the next thing that happened was the day quickly turned into night so fast, in only a matter of seconds.

“I’m glad that I wasn’t out there when you spin the whole planet just to do that,” the human said as he shook his head a bit. “Back then, everyone didn’t notice how me and my brothers felt, but we got sick of it, as well as major headaches.” Discord chuckled at that.

Next on TV showed that the roads became covered in soap suds, and eventually, once the group reached the library, along with ‘Tom’. Twilight getting more agitated of her friends, or more like ex-friends, and soon they discovered the Elements of Harmony were in the book.

“Is that the baby dragon you mention?” Joseph asked, seeing the baby dragon on screen, now known as Spike. Spike stood about one foot and six inches tall, standing on feet and had a little chubby belly. He has purple scales and peachy yellow underbelly scales, and he has green spiny spikes from the top of his forehead that goes down along his spine and to the point of his spaded tail. He has light green fin-like horns on the side of his head, and he has emerald green eyes.

“Yep, that’s him,” Discord nodded.

“Why is a baby draconian living with ponies?”

“Don’t know, but keep watching, you’ll be surprised on what happens later,” Discord said with a grin, taking a sip from his cup.

Then in came the part where Twilight tried to use the elements on Discord, and had failed. She ended up despising her friends, and slowly, without anything from Discord, she turned into Depresso Sparkle. Spike headed back to the library while Sparkle walked home slowly in a de press state. And while so showed buffalo ballerina, pies floating upwards, and an anthro earth pony mare get covered in pepper from a giant pepper shaker, sneezed and fake buildings fall down, and a few houses made of cards, and lastly, a throne on top of a checker pattern hill.

As this happened, Joseph looked up to Discord, “Congratulations Discord, you had defeated that group of Element Wielders. So who’s the new group that turned you to stone?”

Discord looked a bit surprised down at the human, then he said, “Just keep watching Joseph, soon you’ll see.”

The next scene just shocked the spirit of order, as he watched the baby dragon writhed in agony as he burps out green magic flame and out came scrolls of messages. Sure it seems to help Twilight Sparkle in remembering what it’s like in the good ole days of being with her friends. But from all that... Spike was in the most of pain of it.

“Not only the fact that Spike appears to have magical flame which only wyrms have, but Celestia was hurting him by sending messages after messages?” asked Joseph, still shocked of it.

“Oh I know, and I saw that happen when I took a peek through a window. After that, I decided to pay a visit to Canterlot,” Discord said. “But first, I watched Twilight go do something. Something you’re going to hate.”

“And what’s that?”

“Watch,” Discord said with a small smile, cuddling the human close.

The scene changed to show an apple farm, pigs flew by with wings. An anthro earth pony stallion acting like a dog, an old mare dancing, and Applejack chewing and then opened her mouth to an apple core, and half of it appeared.

The next part showed a scene of Twilight Sparkle talking to Liar Jack, than struggling around as Twilight restrained her, and then with the power of her magic on the struggling anthro earth pony, forces her will upon her. Sure it helped Applejack remember old memories, but, it was still mind control. The way how Twilight Sparkle return to normal was thanks to her mentor sending her old messages, memories help of course. But she was forcing them when they didn’t want it in the first place.

The spirit of order was glaring, “She may have been helping her remember old memories of friendship, but there were better methods other than mind rape.” He slowly looked up to the draconequus, “Did she do this to the rest?”

“Yep, but you did say there were types of mind control, right? So what she did was a good kind or a bad kind?” asked Discord, feeling curious.

“Twilight did not turn them into mind slaves, just help them remember memories,” Joseph said, frowning as he crossed his arms, glaring at the anthro unicorn on the television screen. “But I also remember my own experience of such when one of the older generation of alicorns tried to control me, it felt painful, luckily I won, but it was still mind rape.” Starting to relax a bit, “But for now, it looked like she only did it to help her friends, so I’ll give her a pass on that. But if she does mind control magic, than she will be judged.” Then just rest his head on his right hand, “Depending if I’m free by then.”

Discord frowned and crossed his arms, “So she lucked out.” Then he lightly chuckled, “Besides watching them get ‘fixed’, let’s watch what I did in Canterlot.”

And with that, the remote appeared in his talon hand and about to press a button to change the channel.

“Wait a second? If you were in two different places how come you didn’t try to prevent them from doing that?”

Discord chuckled, “I merely made a small duplicate of myself and watch from the background. When I returned to my throne in Ponyville, my copy return to me, and while I was checking his memories, I was interrupted.” Then pointed his remote, “Now then, let’s watch Canterlot in Chaos!” He laughed and pressed a button.

In the old statue gardens that stood close by to the large crater where the hedge maze once stood. Discord appeared, he snickered a bit, his talon and paw fingers tapping each other, already having plans for Canterlot.

“With her and all those ponies busy in that little town, I will pay my favorite princess a visit, maybe make her feel the same thing that little guy felt, as well as make her more like a puppy,” he grinned, chuckled a bit.

And just as he was about to step forward, he was suddenly surrounded by a magenta colored aura of a barrier. His feet still on the ground, but he was surrounded by a sphere of magic.

“What’s this?” he asked himself quietly, then he noticed that he wasn’t alone.

Throughout the area, surrounded him trapped state were the Royal Guards. Each one wore golden torso armor, shoulder pads, and golden armored gauntlets with red gloves, a red belt around their waist and golden fauld and as well as golden leg guards and hoof shoes. On the center of their torso armor and center of the fauld was a blue star. Underneath their golden are was blue silk clothes, which showed at the biceps and thighs. They each also wore a helmet with a mane slot. And three things that each royal guard here had in common…

They each have white coats, their manes and tail are blue, and their eyes are light blue. The stallions stood about between five feet and four inches to five feet and eight inches tall, while the mares stood between five feet to five feet and five inches tall. The stallions are a bit more muscular than the mares, but the mares were more slender build. And for the pegasi, the stallions’ wings were about eight feet wide, while the mares’ wings were about six-seven feet wide. The horns of the unicorns various between four to six inches.

And from a quick count, there were about eighty earth ponies, sixty pegasi, and twenty unicorns among the royal guards. The groups of pegasi flying above in the air, glaring down at the draconequus, each one holding either a spear or a crossbow. The earth ponies carried a short sword and shield or a claymore. And the unicorns, their horns are glowing, ready to use offensive spells.

And lastly, the leader of the group of the royal guards, the captain, he stood about five feet and eight inches tall. He is an anthro unicorn stallion, and his armor was different from the rest. He wore purple torso armor and left shoulder pad, a golden right shoulder pad with a red cloak connected, it covered his right arm. He wore a golden gauntlet with dark blue glove, and around his waist is a brown belt with purple fauld in the middle and golden fauld-sides, and he wore golden leg-guards. He wore no horse shoes on his hooves, but their dark blue. He wore a helmet that allows the mane of his to stick out like a Mohawk, his mane and tail is dark and light blue, and his body coat was white. His horn is six inches long, and his eyes are moderate cerulean, and on the center of his torso armor was a symbol of a shield with a magenta six-pointed star. And currently, his horn was glows a magenta aura; he was the one who put the barrier spell around the draconequus.

This pony was glaring at the trapped draconequus, “I won’t let you anywhere near her Highness!”

Instead of looking annoyed for the interruption, Discord smiled and laughed. After a moment, he looked down at the unicorn who held the barrier, “And who do we have here? Is it a captain of the royal guard, or maybe a knight? I would’ve thought that Celestia told you all to stay out of my way. After all, there is not like anything that any of you can do to stop me.” He grinned, looking at the one who casted the barrier spell, than his eyes angle towards all the royal guards that stood at the attention, ready just in case if the spirit of chaos breaks free.

“A true royal guard never abandon his post,” said the leader, glaring at Discord. “We will protect our Princess from you. Besides, nopony could get through my shield if I don’t want them too.”

“Oh blah-blah, let me guess,” Discord said in a playful tone. “Your special talent is uh… protecting others or such nonsense, am I right? How many ponies do you think will return that favor?”

“Your mind games aren’t going to work on me.”

“Games?” chuckled Discord, smirking. “Oh that would imply if I had a chance of losing. Now tell me pony… that crest on your armor looks very familiar. You wouldn’t happen to be acquainted with Twilight Sparkle, would you?”

“Twily…” whispered the captain.

“Twily?” Discord asked in surprised, and then he laughed once more. “Oh with a nickname like that, you must be some sort of relative, or maybe a boyfriend.”

The captain only glared at the draconequus.

“Oh come now, don’t be like that,” Discord said with a grin. “The more time you spend talking with me, the longer I’m distracted from Celestia and Twily. Isn’t that what you want? Now come on, how do you know Twilight Sparkle? Or, do you rather I go and ask her myself?”

Deciding to humor the draconequus, believing that the monster was trapped in his barrier, the captain spoke, “I’m her brother.”

“Her brother?” asked Discord, than he nodded a little. “Well that would explain it, now pony-”

“Shining Armor,” stated the captain, telling his name.

Discord laughed, “Right on first name bases now are we? We’re already making some progress.”

“Just keep talking, monster,” Shining said with a glare.

“Oh don’t be like that; Shiny,” Discord chuckled a bit, “I’m sure Celestia has told you my name, unless she hasn’t?” Shining only glared and a small growl, this made Discord laughed a bit more. “How funny, Princess Celestia sends her prized pupil to battle me, and she didn’t even think to warn her precious older brother? And all of her guards too? That’s rather cold for a sun princess, would you say?”

Shining glared and grinded his teeth a little, “She told me your name, Discord.”

“There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” asked the draconequus, crossed his arms and smiling down at the captain. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Shining Armor. Now, how about you lower that shield of yours?”

“No.”

“No?” asked Discord, sounded a bit surprised. “Now Shining Armor, don’t you think that is a little unreasonable? Princess Celestia sends a group of mares to try and defeat the very embodiment of chaos, while she hides away in her tower, now does that sound fair to you?”

“I trust the princess, she know what’s right.”

Discord groaned with a frown, “Ugh, how boring, come on lower the shield.”

“No.”

“I’ll give you a cake or a pie or a…” Discord said, thinking of options to give to the captain so the unicorn could release him from the barrier. “What do you ponies like nowadays?”

“I won’t lower this shield, not for anything.”

“Anything?” asked Discord, suddenly grinning. “What about the safety of your little sister?”

“What?” asked Shining, while the royal guards tensed a bit; they know how much Shining Armor cares about his sister.

“Let’s assume Twilight and her friends somehow are able to stop me and turn everything back to the normal way it used to be?” Discord said while stroking his little beard with his talon hand. “Then what’s the harm, you could let me through and nopony would ever know. Even your fellow guards would never remember this moment, with a little chaos magic. But what about if or rather when I win, wouldn’t you want something to keep your little sister, your little Twily safe?”

After a silent moment, Shining was thinking, and then he looked a bit worried. “You promise she wouldn’t be hurt?” This caused almost all the royal guards with Shining Armor looked at him in shock, while some could understand since Shining wants to keep his sister safe.

“You have my word,” Discord grinned, giving a small bow.

After a moment of silence, Shining could feel his fellow comrades looking to him, they silently plead for him to not take the deal from the manipulator. After a moment, he spoke, “I… No! I trust Twilight, she’s stronger than you give her credit for, and she will stop you.”

Most of the guards grinned and some nodded, glad that their captain didn’t fall for the trick.

Discord sighed, “Well then, I might as well say congratulations, for you’re the only one so far to ignore my deals over a thousand years. Only four beings had ever managed to ignore my deals.”

With Discord trapped in his spell, Shining decided to do a bit of interrogation. “And who were those four?”

“Take a wild guess,” Discord said with a frown, crossing his arms. “Besides all those pony statues here, there are four that stand out.”

After a moment, Shining Armor realized on whom Discord meant, “The Legendary Defenders of Harmony.”

“What?” asked the surprised draconequus, “I had heard many titles of them, but that’s a new one for me to hear, must be a new one you ponies think up.”

Shining smirked, “Well then, you should count yourself lucky. I and my comrades had trained ourselves in the secret arts of those great beings. We will throttle you if you somehow get free, which you won’t be.”

Discord grinned, looking down at him through the barrier, “Oh really? I know them best, and I know what they’re capable of. So if you all truly think you know their secrets of combat, than how about you face them instead.”

“Okay, you obviously don’t know, but they’re not around anymore.”

Discord chuckled, “Oh I didn’t mean them truly; I just meant them.” Seeing their confused looks, instead of stating what he means, he reached up and plucked his blue goat horn and held it like a wand. He pointed it upwards and spoke clearly, “Piertotum Locomotor.”

He grinned and put his horn back, while all the royal guard only looked confused. Shining Armor spoke out, “What was with the gibber…”

“GAH!” yelled one of his comrades close by, all the troops turned and saw one of the earth ponies just got punched hard, his torso armor dented with the blow. And he was punched by the stone statue of the Spirit of Earth.

“…ish?” Shining finished his question while the other guards witnessed the other three statues were moving.

The stone statue of the Spirit of Water leaped from his pedestal and onto several royal guards, and started to pummel them, damaging their armors and grabbed one guard and throwing them into another.

The statue of the Fire Spirit jumped down from his pedestal and attacked the closes guards. He attacked the closes unicorns, slamming his stone fists into their guts and tripping them with low sweep of kicks, and then grabbed two and slammed their heads together.

And the statue of the Air Spirit didn’t just jumped from his pedestal, but leaped high, heading and tackling into one of the flying pegasus. After tackling and with quick reflex, push off and leaped over to another and kicked the other pegasi guard with a jump kick. And with that, he leaped off of that guard after the kick and went for the next one.

And the previous statue of the earth spirit was just bulldozing through several. All the guards retaliated after stopped looking shocked, and they tried to stop the statues. But it looked like the statues had their own form of enchantments, likely given by Discord himself when he said those gibberish words.

For magic blast that unicorns fired at the statues just bounced off and slammed into another guard, or reflected right back. Their weapons break when they tried to slash at the arms or legs or like magic, the arrows from their crossbows bounced off and hit others; rather pointless when one thinks about it, their new foes are stone statues. Earth ponies tried to use their own strength break the statues apart, but they didn’t shatter and only damaged their fists or dented their hoof shoes.

It was chaos; four statues were taking down large numbers of the royal guards. Discord was chuckling, for he was protected by Shining’s barrier when many guards that were thrown were slammed face first in the shields, and pegasi who fell had bounced off.

Shining was shocked, and remembering this was caused by Discord, he turned and glared at the trapped draconequus. “You monster!” yelled Shining, focusing his magic to shrink the shield, plan to crush the trapped spirit, “how dare you use them for your own gain?!” Shining had viewed those legendary warriors as heroes, most members in the royal guards did.

“Those are just statues, they’re not real,” Discord smirked, than he raised his lion paw hand, stick out a finger and just poked the barrier wall. It popped like a bubble.

“What?!” yelled Shining in shock, “How did you…?”

Discord smirked as he started to float in the air, hovering in place while his wings flapped. “What? You thought that flimsy shield can stop me? I could’ve gone pass that anytime I wanted.”

Looking at the draconequus in disbelief, he stuttered, “That’s impossible! Nopony can…”

“Nopony,” Discord said with a grinned widely, and Shining Armor’s eyes widen in shock while realizing his mistake. “Now then, time for me to go. Oh and best watch out Shiny, you’re about get double KO, toodles!” And with a flash of his magic, he had teleported himself away, temporarily blinding the captain.

Momentarily blinded, once Shining Armor could see, he saw the statue of the Fire Spirit in front of him and delivered a haymaker punch. It slammed right into Shining’s snout, sending him backwards. And while he went, he saw the second statue, the Air Spirit, dropping down upon him with a diving kick. The moment it struck his chest, slamming hard into the ground, Shining was greeted by the blackness as he became unconscious.

Both spirits continued to watch the TV, still sitting in the hot pool of cocoa, and the two princesses constructs sitting close to the duo, they wanting attention. Joseph was no longer sitting on Discord’s lap; he is sitting about a few feet away from the draconequus. After watching the encounter with Shining Armor, which Joseph looked surprised about.

After a moment, he asked, “The statues, did you enchanted them before using that spell?”

Discord chuckled, “Nope, not me. In fact, those spells were placed there by Luna herself, her magic residue were part of them. Most likely she didn’t want them to be destroyed, don’t know why though.” He shrugs as he drank another cup of hot chocolate.

“Anyways,” Joseph said as he held his stone cup of diet coke, taking a sip. “I now wonder what other lies that Celestia told to her ponies, because that title ‘Legendary Defender of Harmony’ is a new one to me.” He shrugged after, and relaxed, the moon princess construct moved closer to him. “Besides all that, why were you going to the castle for anyways?”

“Besides causing chaos, I wanted to check Thunder Thigh’s vaults,” Discord grinned, snickered after saying the new nickname of the sun princess. “I thought, what if there was a possibility that one of your brothers was in Canterlot.” He sighed, “Sadly, none of them were. I couldn’t find them anywhere, nor could I sense them.”

Joseph sighed, looking down a bit. “It’s alright; you did your best, thank you for trying anyways.”

Discord reached over with his right lion arm and took hold, hugging him, trying to comfort the human. “We’ll find them, Joseph. Someway, somehow, they will be found, and you four can be together again.”

“I just hope they’re alright,” Joseph said, smiled a little. “But yeah, one day, if or when I do get free,” he turned to look at Discord, “I will get you free.”

Blinked in surprised, Discord asked, “You will?”

“I will try, you deserve to be free just like I am,” Joseph said with a nod. “No matter how difficult it will be, I will find a way.”

Discord smiled to him, “Thanks, till then, we could still spend time together in dreams.”

“That’s true,” the human nodded, Discord let go of him. “But eventually things will get boring at times”

The draconequus grinned, “Oh don’t you worry about that; I got a few things covered.” Joseph turned to him with a look of confusion; Discord nodded his head towards the TV, silently telling him to watch.

Return to watch the big screen TV, they saw of Discord encountering Celestia, and had quickly disabled her by making her horns and wings vanished, hypnotised her to act more like a pig and trapped her in a giant chocolate cake, she was oinking while eating too. Discord had been holding Celestia’s horn in his talon hand, since it was a key for certain locks. Then Discord went and see the moon princess, discovered she was deeply asleep; still, Discord decided to be kind enough to just put earmuffs on her ears so she would sleep all day.

Then he headed to one of the secret vault, a safe within Celestia’s very bedroom. He teleported there and went to her closet, and threw out clothes before she reached a vault door with a solar sun lock, just like the same vault doors for the elements in the tower. He pushed in Celestia’s horn and made the horn radiate with a golden aura of Celestia’s magic.

With that, the locked vault doors opened wide, and Discord was greeted with several of items within. And it only had like jewellery, old clothes, a secret cake stash in an ice box, and few objects and gifts given to her from friends. There was also a portrait in the back, of her family and friends.

As it seem like he didn’t found any interesting items, Discord was about to leave the vault, until he notice a small stone item on a shelf. A hexagon-shaped talisman, he reached over and plucked it from the shelf. In the view, it showed the symbol of a sheep.

After a moment of checking it, Discord grinned and opened his mouth and chucked it in, and he gulped it down.

To the viewers who were still watching the TV, the human was staring at the draconequus in wide eyed shock.

Discord snickered a bit, “Does that tell you something, Joey boy?”

“You found and ate the Sheep Talisman of Astral Projection?” asked Joseph, still shocked after learning that. Slowly looking away, still surprised, “No wonder how you got in my dream so easily.”

“Yep,” Discord chuckled. “I remembered Albertis talked about those talismans, and that the sheep allows the wielder to leave the body, move around like a ghost and enter other person’s dreams.” He grinned, “And with it currently inside my tummy,” he emphasized that by patting his stomach, “I could use its power while being a stone statue.”

“Still, wow,” Joseph said, still surprised by that. Then became alerted, he turned to look at Discord, “But there are risks with that talisman, it means your body is currently empty, any lost spirit could steal it!”

Discord laughed, “Oh come on Joseph! I know that already! Besides, no spirit could handle my handsome body with the most brilliant mind and loads of chaos power at the disposal. Most likely the trespassing spirit would ditch the body after experiencing ten seconds of insanity.”

Thinking about it for a moment, than he sighed, “If you say so. Just know that Albert would be annoyed if he found out, and Shendu will be majorly pissed.”

“Heh, what they don’t know, doesn’t hurt them,” Discord smirked, had picked up both bowls of popcorn from the floating trays and throw both bowls into his mouth and chewed them before gulping them down.

“Albert likely won’t mind, but it’s going to be Shendu who will be mad, he tends to know if the talismans get destroyed. That Dragon Sorcerer is very attached to them, you know, he only gives the talismans to the ones he truly trusted.”

“I know so, and now watch; here comes the final part.”

And with that, they both continued to watch the TV. In the memory, Discord headed back to Ponyville, which was currently now the capital city of chaos, which he plans to make it. He sat on his throne, grinning, laughing and drinking a glass of chocolate milk, but drank the glass instead and threw away the cylinder shape of chocolate milk away, and it blew up later.

Then in came Twilight Sparkle and her friends, each of them were carrying their elements.

“What the heck are they doing?” asked Joseph, sounded confused. “They lost the right to be wielders; the elements won’t work for them.”

The scene started to play, Discord letting the group to try again, believing it won’t work. But then the whole group were rising up, their elements were glowing, and then with a burst, a blast of rainbow energy surges out and consumed Discord, returning him into his old statue state.

And with that, the show on the TV screen came to an end.

“That’s impossible…” the Spirit of Orderly Air said, looking shocked at the screen. “It’s not possible… they lost the right of being the chosen wielders when their friendship had shattered. Even if they fixed with the mind spell, the elements shouldn’t have worked for them…” After a moment, his eyes widen further, “Unless…”

“Unless what?” asked Discord, feeling curious.

“Those elements are not perfected, that’s why Andy was so annoyed when the elements were first used! Their losing their true purpose, their being weaken,” said the human. He turned to Discord, “Were the elements ever returned to the tree?”

Discord shook his head, “Nope, they were mostly in the vault of the castle ruins and then the vault in Canterlot. Why do you ask?”

“Because the elements are weakening, eventually soon they will be used by any being, even without the trait the element requires,” Joseph said; now looking frighten. “Once they get into that state, they can easily be corrupted, turning them from Elements of Harmony into… into…”

“Into what?” asked Discord; he feeling a little worried.

“Elements of Hegemony,” the human whispered. “It’ll become a weapon of mass destruction.”

Discord looked shock at that, now just as worried as the human. “Does Sunbutt know this?” he asked.

“I really hope she doesn’t,” Joseph said, setting his cup down on the tray. “If she does, than it could be her goal and…” After a moment, he turned to Discord, “You said the elements were in vaults mostly, right?” Discord nodded, “Then in most likely hood, she really doesn’t know and just keep them close by believing it will defend her nation from terrible threats.”

“Well that’s good,” Discord sighed in relief. Smiled a bit, “But say, what would the Elements of Hegemony do anyways?”

The human closed his eyes and slowly leaned backwards, laying down into the pool of hot cocoa. His head was about to dive in, but felt the gentle arms of the moon princess construct. His eyes still closed, he said, “I do not want to think about it.”

Hearing that, Discord shrugged a bit, “Alright then. So just want to relax for a bit, and maybe later, I practice in trying to help you get out of your body with Astral Projection?”

“Sure,” Joseph replied, just now trying to relax. “Just know, using the talisman is easy, trying to learn it without using or any other special items it is still hard as hell.”

“But you still can learn it from me, right?”

“No,” the human said, Discord groaned in disappointment. “But you are able to use the talisman to kick me out of my body.”

“Ooh,” Discord grinned at that. “So then no training to help you get out of your body, just tell me when you feel like exploring the real world like a ghost.” Then there was a sound of a stomach growl from him, “Now I’m getting hungry.”

“How can you get hungry in a dream? And besides, you ate both bowls of popcorn,” Joseph stated, now slowly leaning back up into a sitting position, opening his eyes and looked to the draconequus.

Discord grinned, “Well, the popcorn wasn’t the only snacks we have here.” He wrapped his right lion arm around the sun princess construct’s waist.

The human’s eyes widen a bit, right eyebrow raised, “So that’s the main reason you brought the constructs here? Why?”

Discord teeth showed as he grinned, “Because I know you like watching it happen.”

“So you already know I like vore?”

“Of course I knew that, little Joey,” Discord grinned, looking at the human while holding the sun princess construct. “I also know by a fact that you tend to be a willing prey, till you’re burped right back out. I know a few of your friends just love the idea of keeping you inside their tummies for long nights. And maybe, even in other ways of vore too.”

Joseph blush a little as a few images came to mind, he groaned as he closed his eyes.

Discord chuckles and said, “Your silence shows your answer, admit it pal.” He hugged toe sun princess construct like a doll, whom giggled and happy to get the attention. His smile widen when the human slowly nodded, “And speaking of which, what are the ones you don’t like anyways?”

“Hard, as in chewing them apart…”

“Ah, the most fatal kind,” Discord stated, kinda guessed that already. He then thought of something as held the sun princess construct in his arms, he looked to the human, and asked, “So, between what your old knowledge compared to my special event, were there any differences?”

The human sighed as he relaxed a bit, the moon princess construct still sitting close. He closed his eyes and thinks for a moment, trying to recall how that show went; once he did he spoke, “Basically all are the same, except a few differences.

“Like…?”

“In the show, Fluttershy didn’t get fooled by that Discord’s tricks, and so that Discord cheated by altering her mind with his chaos,” Joseph stated, didn’t saw Discord looking a bit surprised by that. “And whole Canterlot scene wasn’t in the episode. And one pony was missing, a creation of that Discord, a chaos pony that goes by the name, Screwball, she only appeared for two seconds.”

Discord didn’t mention that he was tempted to just forcefully change Fluttershy; reason why he didn’t was mostly to not anger his friend if he ever saw it. Still, it was difficult but he managed to have made Fluttershy become Cruel Shy. “Hm, I was thinking of making an earth pony of chaos, but I wanted to deal with Canterlot first. So… if I hadn’t gone to Canterlot, this Screwball might be with us.”

“Cute gal, little crazy,” Joseph shrugged. “You likely can still create her when you get free, or just make your own dream construct of her.”

“Eh,” Discord shrugged, but had noticed. “Maybe, but curious, is that all the differences?” Joseph nodded. “Then why are you so shocked of the ponies still being able to use the elements? Spike? And the part when Twilight fixing her friends?”

“The cartoon was a children show, mainly for six year old girls who like little ponies,” the spirit air slowly state, his eyes closed, frowning as he does, “it was of fantasy, not real, just mares learning friendship merely for young children to learn. It filled with comedy, drama, and great characters.” His eyes opened as he looked to Discord, “This world we live in; it is real, it is not a fantasy, and it’s not centralized on just ponies. This world is full of life, rules, the people, and its own beauty. This world is not a cartoon show. It is unique.” He sighed, his eyes closed, “I just hope it doesn’t share the same fate.”

“Hm,” Discord thinks about it after listening, than he chuckled, “Oh relax pal; it won’t be the same as the other.” He grins.

“Maybe, I just hope that ponies follow the old laws, because if they had turned the mind control spell into a regular learning spell, I will be annoyed,” Joseph said. After a moment, he sighed, “But now, despite the fact that there are similarities between this timeline with the show, I am now loaded with tons of questions about many things.”

“One day you’ll get those answers, so till then, just have fun and relax,” Discord grinned, than after a moment of thought. Still holding the sun princess construct, he asked, “Curious, what would you had done to them if you were the spirit of chaos?”

After a moment, Joseph still sitting at where he was, he had closed his eyes while thinking. After coming up with an answer, he sighed and said, “Just know this Discord, from known knowledge I have on you, you never taken a life.” He opened his eyes and looked at Discord, serious expression, “Throughout my time in this world, me and my brothers had defeated many mighty foes, been in wars, most of which are sent to Tartarus to spend time for their punishments. Very few were killed by us, and in an honest answer, it’s not something I want to remember. We had mostly showed the light of us, and kept the darkness hidden.”

“But you guys don’t kill without a very good reason, right?” asked Discord.

Joseph nodded slowly, “Either a very good reason, or if the foe truly desires it.”

Discord recalled one thing, when he first travelled into the human’s mind defense, the dark forest maze with voices of memories. One of those voices said:

“I know not how this would end, but I will not back down, I can’t. Face me in single combat Josephiroth, let me die with honor.”

He thought, and he asked, “Duels to the death?”

Joseph nodded, “Yes, at times honor dictates, but I always show mercy to my foes, till they truly desire.”

“Good to know, but still, what would you do to those ponies if you were me?”

After a minute, he said, “If I was the Spirit of Chaos, I would’ve teleported all six of them, scatter them around the world in places so far flung that they’d spend years just getting back to Equestria. Or there’s the option of turning them into infants, or maybe into little puppies, or turn into trees. Basically to the point they wouldn’t be able to teamwork together for several years or new wielders are found.”

Discord held the sun princess construct with his tail now while his eagle hand gripped a small notebook and was writing it with a red pencil crayon with his lion paw, taking notes for future ideas. After that, he asked, “Kay, keep going. What would you do to them?”

The spirit of order sighed, “First off, the six elements are six virtues. And the opposite of virtues are vices; and that…”

“Already did that Joey boy,” Discord stated with a smirk. “I hypnotized them into their opposite selves.”

“That’s what you did,” Joseph said, his eyes closing, “but not what I would’ve done. I turned the weaknesses of the Elements against themselves.”

Discord gained a confused look, he asked, “The Elements have weaknesses?”

“Elements, Virtues, Vices, each have their own weaknesses,” Joseph stated, “me and my brothers know this, and we each have our own virtues, we know the weaknesses and strengths of each one. But we’re not talking about mine; we’re talking about the Elements of Harmony.” After a moment, he sighed, “Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, Friendship, all six of them can become vices easily. Honesty can become tactlessness, carelessly blurting out information that can get others hurt or killed. Loyalty can become blind, divided, leaving one with no choice but to betray one side or the other. Generosity can be perverted into demanding you bleed yourself dry, giving and given even when it’s kill you. Kindness can smother. And Laughter can leave you incapable of taking anything seriously, or make you heartless about other people’s suffering. And then Friendship, the name of the sixth element when five beings are gathered in unity with the sixth being, that being whose represents the magic of friendship, the heart of it.” He lightly chuckled then, “That can become into which all those knives are driven.”

Discord looked very surprised, but still wrote it all down in his notes. Joseph continued.

“What I would’ve done to those Element of Harmony wielders, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle, is give them a nudge into that kind of direction. I wouldn’t make Applejack lie, I would’ve made her unable of keeping her mouth shut, always saying anything that comes up into her head, things she obviously don’t want anyone around her to know how she feels towards any of them. Then I fill Rarity with guilt over her own desires, till she headed right to the poorhouse from giving so much to try and compensate for all those needs. Flutter Cruel may seem hilarious in a way, but no, turn her kindness to beyond the usual limits it goes, till she drove all her friends away with her smothering affection. The cruelty you put on Fluttershy, I would’ve given that to Pinkie Pie, leaving her laughing joyfully at everyone’s suffering. As for Rainbow Dash, from what I can recall from the old shows, I would have inflamed her loyalty to mindless fanaticism, and then let her pick her own banner to follow to destruction. And lastly, Twilight Sparkle, the sixth being that represents the Magic of Friendship, the heart of it all, if she lasted through all of that, I would have amplified till its bearer was a shivering addicted wreck, torn to pieces between her self-destructing friends. And with all the bearers had been rejected by their elements when they’re consumed in the dark side of those Elements, I would take those elements and return them to the Tree of Harmony, and seal up the place so no ponies would get to it again. And with that, victory would be in my gasp.”

Discord looked very surprised as he stopped writing, while Joseph looked to him, a small grin. “That’s what I would’ve done, if I was a Spirit of Chaos instead of Spirit of Orderly Air.”

Discord chuckled, smiled a little, “Huh, maybe if you told me your ideas at the beginning, those six wouldn’t even dare take hold of those elements again.”

“I didn’t plan those ideas at the start, I tend to think first,” Joseph said, looking to the draconequus. “But like everyone, even I have flaws, forgetting things and such.” Discord nodded a bit.

“Yeah, I know, you told me,” Discord said with a chuckle, than his stomach growled. “Now then, enough worry talk, its dinner time.” He looked down at the sun princess construct that is still in his arms.

The sun princess construct was still smiling, happy to have such attention from her master. She turned to look up at him, and saw his smiling face. Then his mouth slowly widens, and with a forward thrust, her line of sight was the uvula, and the back of her master’s throat.

To Discord, his mouth closed around the construct’s neck, his cheeks bulging while his tongue licked all around the construct’s head. His hands gripping her chubby sides, her arms hugging herself, squishing her big melon orbs a bit more and her legs firmly against each other, and her wings nicely folded up against her back, she was willing to be gobbled up.

And Joseph and the moon princess construct continued to watch as Discord swallowed, his mouth open up to take in Celestia’s neck and shoulders. His lips pressed on the white fur while he sucked on it a bit, licking as well before taking another gulp.

And by then, a bulge showed in his throat, the sun princess construct’s head, while Discord’s mouth had expanded while taking in her breasts and arms. He then lifts up the body till it was right above him and upside down. He took another gulp, pulling more of her into his mouth while his throat bulges outward some more. Her belly came into his mouth, and with that, his snake tongue, squeezing out between his lower jaw and the construct’s body, and it kept coming out and slowly spiraling upward along the anthro body, wrapping the long tail against the construct’s legs.

Once the tongue reached the hooved feet, he opened his mouth wide and retracted, and literally pulled the rest of the construct’s body right into his mouth. His cheeks bulging outward as more pushed in. Eventually, the moment the hooves came in, his mouth snapped shut, and only the construct’s long mane was sticking out between his lips.

He grinned, his cheeks bulging while he hummed a little, enjoying her taste. Seeing the tail, he slurps it all right in like spaghetti. And with that, he closed his eyes and swallowed hard.

GULP!

A loud gulp was heard as his cheeks shrank and the bulges in his throat expanded outward as the chest area, than the waist, and then the thighs showed while the body continued downward. Eventually the last bulge of the construct’s hooves showed while Discord’s cheeks were now flat. The bulges in his long throat continued downward.

Soon the bulges reached his flat stomach, and it slowly expanded as it accepted the construct’s body. Once his neck was flat once more, his belly was nicely big, round with a few bumps showing, and quite full feeling too.

Discord grinned as he licked his lips, eying the human and the moon princess construct. “Mmm, she was delicious, but I still hunger,” Discord said, his tail tuft showed as it came out of the hot cocoa pool, and it was slowly moving towards Joseph and the construct.

“Considering you’re the one who created her in my dream, you can have her.”

Smiled, Discord said, “Glad you’re sharing.” And before the moon princess construct did anything, Discord’s tail tuft seem to grew a mouth of its own, it opened wide along with the tail to show a gaping hole within. And it struck fast, engulf the construct’s whole head.

The moon princess construct was summoned to serve the Spirit of Order, so when she was grabbed by another, she started to struggle. She tried to grip the tuft mouth as its lips were wrapped around her neck. She rise up on her hooves while her wings shot outward, nearly hitting the human, who just sat there and watched.

Discord snickered as his tail grew longer and with the tuft keeping a firm grip, his tail started to wrap around her like a snake. Slowly, her arms were pushed down, along with her wings being forced to fold against her back, pressing the arms against her side. While it continued to coil around her body, it also lifted her up, her legs kicked about, splashing the hot cocoa around and her long sparkly tail swished around.

Joseph blocked the splash with his left arm in front of his face, eyes closed. Once the splashing ended, he opened his eyes and looked, seeing that now the moon princess construct was now in the air and close to Discord’s body, his tail was long and coiled around the big gal. And with her restrained, the tail tuft mouth started to proceed.

The mouth slowly engulfs the neck, and soon vanished into the coils while swallowing the rest of the struggling construct. The struggle becomes less and less, and eventually the tuft was seen at the bottom, it engulfs the hooves, and it slurped in the last bits of the tail. With that, the tuft closes up and looking normal. Till a sound of gulp was heard, and with that, at the top, bulges showed and moved upwards, than going along the coiled up tail.

While so, the coiled tail unwraps from the end part of the tail, revealing bulges of the body of the moon princess construct. It rippled through the long tail, gulped down fast with the struggling construct. Soon the bulges went under the hot cocoa as the tail went back under.

Joseph had been watching; was enjoying the show, he still sitting at where he was. But then, he felt something coiling around his waist, before he could say anything, he was pulled towards Discord, right into his arms.

Discord grinned as he hugged the human against his big bulging belly, “Can you massage my belly please?”

“Uh… sure,” he replied, his body pressed against the big belly though. Then he felt it enlarge slowly, pushing him away as the second construct joined the first. Now getting tightly pushed against Discord’s belly as the draconequus was still hugging him. His face pressed against the belly, “Can you let me go first please?” His voice was muffled a bit, but Discord seem to know what he asked, he let go, he even uncoiled his tail from the human’s waist.

As he pulled back a bit, “Thanks.” And with that, he looked at Discord’s belly, seeing it was now much bigger and bulging. Both alicorn princesses constructs were struggling around inside.

Discord grinned at his human friend, eyes half closed as he lay down, his legs and tail rise up and showing. The draconequus now floating in hot cocoa, he moved his arms behind his head. “Best get started, Joey,” he said, grinning to him. “They might vanish before you start.”

“You created the constructs, they’ll vanish, but anyways,” Joseph said, showed a small smile. He slowly stood up, revealed that he has his new red swim trunks on still. Seeing that he did, he sighed a little, glad that Discord didn’t took it. He waded through the hot cocoa, moved close to Discord’s left side.

Once he was close, he placed his hands onto the side of the belly, and started to massage slowly. The belly was huge, but he got time, and had started the slow work. He rubbed, feeling the belly, and felt the constructs inside moving around. At one point, saw a face imprint of the moon princess construct appeared, seem to know where he was. It made him flinched a little; he nearly forgot that it was just a construct. But anyways, moving his right hand over the imprint, he rubbed a little before pushing the imprint back in, now just showing the bulging surface of the draconequus belly.

Feeling a bit impatient, Discord moved his right lion arm away from his head, enlarged the hand and gripped Joseph’s waist. The human stopped and turned to him, but was then thrown upwards.

“Hey!” yelled the human as he was sent upwards, than he came back down, landing upon Discord’s big belly. The moment he landed, he sank deeper as though he was on a trampoline, the belly squished outward around him.

After sinking deeply, reached the end, it pushed back upward, making him bounce upward, heading back up in the air for a moment before coming back down, landing onto the belly. He bounces up and down on the belly a few times till it finally ended; he simply lay down on top of the belly, almost like he was hugging the big belly with his arms and legs, and his torso covering where Discord’s belly button was.

He groaned a bit, slowly raised his head, looking to Discord’s face, he was grinning while with his arms behind his head, just relaxing. “Was that necessary?” he asked.

Discord chuckled, “Yep.”

Raised right eyebrow as he looked to him, “Why do I get a feeling you got a different plan?”

“Because you know me so well,” Discord grinned, eyes half closed. “Look behind you.”

Confused, Joseph did so, and had noticed that his legs were gone. For a second he recalled the fact that his legs were holding tight, same as his arms before, mainly because he didn’t wanted to be bounced. Then he noticed the reason why his legs were missing.

He was waist deep in Discord’s belly button, and it was trying to suck him in. And then he felt his legs inside the belly were grabbed hold by the two constructs within. He tried to keep a firm grip with his hands, but slowly he became chest deep. Losing his grip, he was now shoulder deep.

Hearing the draconequus quietly laugh, Joseph looked at him, “Of course you do realize, this means war.”

Discord laughed, then moved his eagle arm, talon hand going and took hold of the human’s head. “And I won the first battle tonight, have fun with the ladies,” he chuckled, and then pushed the human deeply. He quickly pulled his hand back before the human could grab with both, the human did try, but failed, and moments after his arms were sucked right in. Then his belly button let out a small burp.

“Excuse me,” Discord chuckled and patted his big bulging belly with his lion hand for a moment. “Well my pets have fun with him. And Joseph…” he whispered, rubbing his belly slowly, enjoying the feeling as the human struggled inside, trying to get away from the two constructs. “…no matter what, you belong to me. And no one will take you away from me,” he grinned, and now lay back. He closed his eyes and just float in the pool of hot cocoa, enjoying the feeling as the human inside playing with his two constructs, or they trying to playing with him.

Chapter 02: What in the Fiery Pits of Tartarus Happened?! Part 1

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Author's Notes:

Greetings everyone, I am very sorry for not posting a new chapter for the longest time. In truth, Chapter 2 was actually going to be a much longer chapter, but it is more fitting to split it into two chapters. There was a lot of things happening in this chapter.

For you see, I was trying to make one chapter per episode of Season Two (or skipped episode or merged multiple into one future chapter), but this one has multiple events planned which I think I have split the chapter equally into two parts.

Thanks to you all that patiently waited for the chapter, and I will try to continue to make more chapters. Definitely not taking more than a year to complete one. I will try to post the next part some time soon. For now, I hope you all enjoy this part one of chapter 02.

Also as a side-note, this detail here is rather important for chapter.
Talking: “Hello.”
Thinking: ‘Hello.’
Ghosts Talking: “Hello.”

That’s basically it, as for why posting this chapter today. Well besides taking a while to edit this chapter, today is also my birthday and I feel happy for making this chapter and then spending time with my family.

So, have fun reading this chapter and I hope you all have a good day.

A week or two has passed since the day Discord broke free and then sealed in a stone statue-like state. As in, a regular Tuesday in Equestria. And currently as of right now, it was a bright sunny morning, with anthro ponies of Equestria getting themselves ready for their day all across the land. Including the ponies such as the unicorns that dwell within the capital city on the side of the tallest mountain in Equestria; Canterlot City, with the royalty castle close to the tip and was the center of the city itself.
But currently elsewhere that was close to this wondrous city, just far below, close to the base of its mountain. At the base, with mostly forests, tall grass and bushes, and an old stone path that leads to a road that goes up to Canterlot, a road for wagons and chariots, while there were also stairs for those that don’t need to use the road. But, there was also one stone path that leads to an old, forgotten mine entrance. The mine that had the sign above it that reads ‘Crystal Mines’. And its entrance was old rusty metal bar gate with rotten planks of wood boarded in place.
All was quiet and peaceful with the sounds of nature, such as birds tweeting and squirrels foraging for food. The animals in this area felt safe, nothing was wrong within this area, nor smelled and heard anything from that old forgotten mines.
Nothing physical in appearance, but a ghost-like draconequus’s head that popped out a small hole in the rotten boarded gate. The transparent head of Discord looked from left to right, seeing the area mostly clear. Once he was sure, he smiled as he pulled his head back through that small hole.
And seconds later the ghostly spirit of chaos walked out of the mine entrance, humming a cheerful tune. The twelve-foot-tall draconequus was grinning as he stepped out in the sunlight, enjoying that mental feeling of sunlight’s rays shining through his transparent body.
“Ah, back in open space of light inside of those cold dark tunnels,” Discord spoke with a smile as he then started to stretch his arms, legs and tail while standing in front of the entrance. As he stretches his arms behind his back along with his ghostly wings, he continued, “Now then, what should I do? So many options to do. I could go spy on the princesses, or the mane six in Ponyville? Ooh maybe bring chaos to pony dreams and other things! Ooh, sounds fun,” he chuckled as grinned now, finished stretching himself. “Since Moonbutt sleeps during the day so to keep her dream walk capabilities most active during the night, maybe I could start with…”
*Growl…*
He immediately looked down at his flat gut, hearing that loud gurgling growl. Like the rest of his ghostly form, it appears transparent, but also slightly darker. Realizing the truth in this case, Discord chuckled with a grin and started to rub his flat belly with his lion paw-like hand, “Ooh yeah, I nearly forgot about you pal.”
Closing his eyes, he reared his head back while clenching his mouth shut and puffing his cheeks a bit. After that moment, he thrust forward and spat out his long snake-like tongue, along with the armored being of the Spirit of Order, who was currently wrapped up and tied with his tongue.
Finally outside of his belly, but also the oddest part was that now Josephiroth wasn’t naked but covered in his spike-less shredder armor and his sheathed tessaiga on his left side of his waist, and his lunar scarf around his neck. His armored and scarf also appeared to be covered in saliva, and currently hanging upside down, and Discord’s long tongue still wrapped around him, and mostly licking around parts of his armored body without unwrapping from his body.
“It is about time you let me out,” he groaned as he blinked his ghostly eyes, and had notice the sight of bright light and nature all around.
Discord sucked as he then unwrapped his tongue, causing the ghostly orderly spirit to fall but in a sense of instincts, had immediately flipped in the air and landed upon his feet. Discord retracted his tongue back into his mouth, closed and moaned in delight as he licked his lips, “What? You felt so good inside me, my tummy loved your company so much that I forgot.”
Josephiroth turned to look up at the ghostly spirit of chaos, frowned as only his ghostly eyes and eyeglasses were visible thanks to his helmet that he now wore. “You kept me in there for who knows how long, especially with those two dream-constructs of yours trying to play with and massage me and…”
“And they vanished right after they were done too,” Discord interrupted him as he started to pick his fangs with his eagle talon-finger. As he does so, he looks down at the ghostly spirit of orderly air, “Odd, why are you covered in armor? Weren’t you in your underwear while my tummy showed you its affection?” he asked, sounded confused and his right eyebrow raised.
Joseph could already feel his ghostly armor on his body, so used to it like it was second-skin, he didn’t bother looking down at his arms. He merely sighed and shook his head a little before replying, “You dragged me out of my own body, since the armor was on me in my statue body, it is considered part of my body, my armor and any undergarments I wore when I turned into a stone statue became spectral along with my spirit the moment I was pulled out of there.” After a moment of looking down at himself after that explanation, a thought crossed his mind, which he said, “This also means one thing.”
“What?”
Joseph raised his head as he looked up at the ghostly draconequus with a smirk, “It means that when you visit anyone’s dreams, you are not allowed to eat them.”
“What?!” Discord gasped in shock, his eyes widen before giving him that puppy dog-look, “Are you seriously going to deny me all those tasty treats?”
“Yep,” Joseph nodded as he had his eyes closed, for he knew that look all too well. “You now have the power to pull people from their bodies, which you had done with me. If you pulled anyone out of their sleeping bodies, they either end up in a coma or act like an empty husk with no soul inside.”
“Right, ‘accidentally’,” Discord said with a smile and making quote-marks with his claw-like fingers, and then looked away from his friend.
Hearing it, Joseph groaned and if he didn’t wear that mouthguard part of his helmet, then Discord would’ve saw him frowning. He had now realized the truth, that Discord didn’t forget that he was Discord’s belly. “You did it on purpose…why?”
“Oh I have my reasons,” Discord replied as he grinned and clasped his hands together as he looked to his buddy. “But still, if say that person enjoys being eaten just as much as you do, but I spit them back out before their dreams end, would be okay?”
“Dream come true for them, but yes, as long as you don’t pull them out of their bodies. For if you do, then they be in the same state as us, and not only that, but they will also see us too.”
Hearing that made the draconequus wondered, then a smile come to mind as he said, “But if we did pull a being out of their sleeping bodies, the body would be empty, meaning we could take control of it, yes?” As ideas of possessing Celestia or Twilight Sparkle’s bodies so to cause chaos comes to his mind, enjoying the ideas that flow, such chaotic wonders.
Joseph sighed as he shook head, he could tell Discord was having chaotic thoughts. It is best to nip those ideas in the young draconequus’s mind before it gets too tempting for him. He stated, “If you did that, then you’ll be stuck in that person’s body permanently.”
“Wait wut?” Discord immediately asked as his thoughts were derailed after hearing that. He looked down at the spirit of orderly air and immediately asked, “What do you mean by that?”
“Think about it, where is the Sheep Talisman currently?”
“In my belly, which recalling the flavour, it needs salt.”
“In your stone body’s belly, Discord,” Joseph stated as he turned his head to look up at him. “The Sheep Talisman allows you to leave your body and be a specter, allowed to enter dreams of those who’re asleep. Since the talisman is inside your body, you have the power to kick a being’s soul out of their bodies, or what you had done with me, pulled me out of mine, thus making them into specters. But here’s the detail, your body is your source, the holder of the Sheep Talisman, so in a sense, it is also your anchor. If you take control of a different body, say like mine while I’m currently outside of it, then you would be trapped inside for you had severed the link to your original body.”
Discord cringed a bit at the thought of that, then wondered for a moment, trying to think of something like a loophole for it. Once he got one, he grinned as he said as he reaches to hug Joseph to his side with his lion arm, “But I do have you to help me, ole Joey boy.”
Joseph shook his head and replied, “No, because I don’t have any connection to the Sheep Talisman, which is in your stone body. In order for me to have that power of the Sheep Talisman, I would need to take control of your body, which is literally filled with chaos magic. You already know what would happen the moment I or anyone go into your body without you, right?”
Discord sighed as now his fun little idea was kicked out of the window. “You would’ve gone insane, especially with my failsafe I got set up inside my body.”
“Yep,” Joseph nodded, and then asked, “Besides, do you really want anyone to hijack your body?”
“Doubt any could, but no, for it is my handsome and gorgeous body, my pride and joy!” Discord started with a proud smile. “My form is far more unique compared to the other draconequuses!” He let go of his buddy and made a proud pose.
Joseph nodded his head as he agreed with him. Mainly because the Spirit of Chaos had changed the looks of certain parts of his body to make himself unique compared to the rest of his race.
And as he looks up at the draconequus, whom continued to admire his body and making poses. Josephiroth had noticed something through Discord’s ghostly body while looking upwards. Noticing something odd on top of the mountain, but some trees blocked his view.
So as Discord continued to do various poses and complimenting himself, Josephiroth walked away and would then stand on the stone path and looking up at city up on the side of the mountain. The moment he saw it, he spoke in surprise confusion, “What in Tartarus?”
Discord stopped doing what he was doing and turned to see where Joseph went too. Once he saw where his human was, closer to the old path that leads to a flat long road around the mountain and the stone stairs separated that goes straight up. Instead of walking, Discord floated through the air on over. Once he landed on his behind him, he followed Joseph’s gaze, and saw the capital on the side of the mountain.
Seeing it had confused on why his buddy sounded annoyed and seems to be giving a glare up at the mountain. He asked, “Surprised to see Canterlot City for the first time? Guess I didn’t show you a good view of it in dreams.”
“Not fully, but what I’m wondering is how that is up there,” he replied, frowning as he sounded confused but also annoyed. “I can see the details, its clearly built on the side of the mountain, not carved into it, but built on the side. Are those ponies crazy bold or stupid to willingly live up there?”
“I know that it desperately needs some chaos to make it not so boring,” Discord said as he gave the city itself a bored look. But confused and curious, he looked down at the human to ask, “But considering you’re not lustrous me, what do you see wrong with it?”
“I see loads of problems with that city,” Joseph said as he glared up at the city. “It is so similar to the one in the old kids shows, but again, this isn’t a kid show! It is stupid, childish, way too colorful and poses way too many risks!”
“I still don’t see what’s wrong with it besides need some magic of chaos.”
“Discord,” Joseph calmly said as he turned his head to look up to the draconequus. “In terms of logics and order, try to understand this. That city is built on the side of the mountain; not carved nor dug into it, it was built on its side. And most likely they keep it clinging to the mountainside with magic, maybe pillars built within its foundation to act as support structures, which are high priority targets for those that want to destroy this city. But even with that support or magical spells, that city and the castle itself along with every item, food, and lives on it, all of that combined weight. If there is a spell to make the whole place weightless, then it needs a constant recharge to full power the magically charged rune crystals in order to keep it active and if shattered they must have more just in case. But even so,” he groaned as he clenched his fists before pointing at the mine entrance nearby with his ghostly right hand, “There are freaking mines within this mountain, a giant molehill! That combined with the city itself on the side, the weight itself would cause the mountain to collapse. And if miners did dig down and not just upwards, then this place is a destined gigantic sinkhole!” He placed his ghostly gloved hands on his visors and grunted, “So idiotic! So illogical! Where is the counterbalance to keep the whole place stable?!” He struggled when trying to figure it out before taking his hands off his visor and merely pointed with his right hand up to the city, “That city is a hazard, not a safe place for anyone to live in!”
“Hm, well unicorns are rather prideful among the many pony races, they likely built the place just to laugh at all the non-magic users, mainly to laugh at the belief on physics,” Discord said with a shrug. “From what I know, they think of themselves as the master race.”
“Arrogance and foolishness will get them nowhere, especially if they continue with the lies that their ancestors had done,” Joseph said as he closed his eyes and shook his head, lowering his arms. “I mean seriously, are they trying to mimic a Cloudian city or something?” he muttered as he still couldn’t believe that these ponies are so stupid to make this place. He continued muttering, “This isn’t a kid show, there are so many differences in the past, there needs to be an answer for this and not chalk it up to simply say magic…”
Not hearing the muttering, but did heard the first sentence, Discord asked, “The movement of the celestial bodies? That little historic story of how your brother revealed the truth to the whole wide world about the solar system we all live in?” He started to scratch his chin and twirl is small beard. “The unicorns of old did have a grudge towards Andracus for a time, right?”
Joseph gave a nod as he now remembered those memories, but still annoyed of the city, but feel a little better to have something on his mind now. He replied, “Yeah, they couldn’t do anything towards him except telling lies and such, that’s all they could do as they couldn’t match the strength of us Spirits of Order, and even so, they didn’t have any proof otherwise. They fooled a lot of ponies; earth ponies, pegasi, thestrals, kirins, sirens, seaponies, and bicorns… ooh boy,” he shook his head slowly as he remembers, “They were all really upset towards those unicorns, of all those scams and lies just so they can get free food and be treated like royalty…I’m very much sure that if the alicorns weren’t around to guide those races, the unicorns might’ve became extinct, or at most, be considered a minority of today, or at worse, very low numbers. And considering their pride and grudge, they never did try to ask any of us for protection.”
“Ah, well besides al that, wonder who it was that designed it in the first place?”
“I have no idea who had made the designs,” Joseph said, still annoyed about it. “But whoever made the designs of this world’s actual Canterlot City and Castle, they must’ve flunked college and bounced on their heads on every step of the stairway, for they are a complete and utter moron.”

“ACH-CHOO!” sneezed the sun princess all of a sudden, she was sitting on her throne in the royal throne room. She was wearing her royal dress, her crown remains on her forehead, and she started to rub her nose with her right hand.
“Bless you your highness,” spoke a male voice, being her schedule advisor, Kibitz. He stood near her throne, he has a bone-white fur coat, dark gray mane and tail, both of which tied into a ponytail, and gray eyebrows and moustache. He stood about five-foot-four-inches tall, a little skinny, but he wore a red and dark gray tuxedo suit with his cutie mark etched into the shoulders, that of a golden pocket watch, and he carried an actual one in his right pocket. He wore spectacles and was currently holding a scroll. “Are you feeling alright?”
“I’m fine Kibitz, thank you for your concern,” Celestia replied as she smiled down to him. “Please continue, what else is on the schedule for today?” And as he started to list what her schedule duties were of today, she thought to herself, ‘Strange, why do I feel like somepony insulted me?’

Discord chuckled, figuring out who was the one who designed but wasn’t going to say who, but merely state a simple fact, “Well, it is the capital now.”
“That’s sad,” Joseph sighed as he shook his head. “They got other options, and if the world is following the show plotline, there is a perfectly good castle in the Everfree Forest, which they must’ve abandoned. Heck, they could rebuild the old alicorn fortress kingdom and use it as a capital…if they could find it.” He sighed once more before speaking as he walks forward, “Well let’s go.”
As he neared the old stairway, he came to a stop as he gazes at it. It was wide enough to allow four ponies to walk up side-by-side. The stairs are also the fastest way to get up to the city entrance itself instead of the flat road that likely would take much longer.
And Josephiroth was looking at these stairs for a moment, seeing every detail of what appears to be a normal-looking stone stairway, made of white carved bricks with some cracks, but completely stabled and could handle the weight, especially ghostly specters that don’t weigh anything at all.
But the armor specter looked at those stairs like as though it was a hidden enemy, which did confused Discord as he watches him. He then turned and started to go for the long road as he spoke, “Let’s take the scenic route, maybe see some natural sights-” he stopped speaking the moment he felt his long spectral scarf ends were grabbed together and suddenly pulled upwards, pulling the armored specter off the ground.
Considering it was still wrapped around his ghostly neck, it would feel tight. But being a specter, there was no harm at all. Still, he looked upwards and saw Discord gripping his scarf while floating up into the air.
“No need to walk on those boring steps, we can fly,” Discord spoke with a chuckle, grinning as he goes upward. Then as they go, he looked back down, “Or did you forget that little detail, air spirit?”
In truth; he did, mostly because of one detail. He replied as he was being pulled along, “I never learned how to float around as a specter.”
Discord laughed as they flew towards Canterlot City, he continued to pull the armored specter behind him. “Seriously Joey?” Discord chuckled as he grinned down at him. “This is just like flying, you know your method of flying, it’s just that really.”
“Good to know, I never forgotten how to fly physically, you can let go of me now, Discord,” Joseph replied but Discord didn’t let go. The armored specter sighed and just looks ahead, watching the scenery.
Eventually they arrive to the top part of the stone stairway, just at the end of same road that spiraled the mountain. It looked like both exits merged together and goes along as a stone pathway, which it was connected to a train station as well. Going along the path and instead of going into the station, the pathway leads to some nicer looking areas with bridges, a river, like a small park. And ahead lies the main gate into the Canterlot City itself.
Still, Discord didn’t land, possibly waiting for Joseph to add something else to what he said earlier. So, Joseph continued, “It’s just because I never experience being a ghost before. I’m used to just willing my body in an instinct like way really. Ignoring one of the laws of physique, you know gravity. All I have to do is ignore gravity and I could literally float around and walk in the air or focus with my power to fly faster in the air, similar to how Ki works but a little different. But you’re saying being a ghost, it is to just simply ignore gravity?”
“See, you’re learning already! And we got another thing in common buddy, we both ignore gravity!” Discord chuckled as he grinned, he landed his feet upon the stone pathway. Then he tugs the armor specter’s scarf and pulling him in front, the moment he let go he reaches with both arms and wrapped around his waist, pulling him into a hug.
As this area did have anthro ponies, civilians and guards. They never notice any difference to the scenery, nor felt anything when they move through the pair of ghostly spirits.
“Thanks for telling me, and it makes loads of sense really,” Joseph replied, feeling his back against Discord’s chest as being hugged. “At least I won’t need to worry about walking around. Now, can you put me down please?”
“Hm…nah! You feel comfier, a bit plushie-like,” Discord joked with a grin. He still hugging the armored specter so closely, like as though he was holding a teddy-bear.
Joseph groaned a bit, “Seems like another new thing to learn, despite wearing the armor, it isn’t really armor when it and the wearer are ghosts.”
“Obviously,” Discord stated as he now started to walk onward, or more like skipping as he goes along. “Anyways, first up on our little da- tour, we’re at what is called a train station.” He nearly said ‘date’ but looked like the human didn’t notice.
Joseph could only turn his head to look, since his arms pinned to his sides and his legs hanging, he was still pinned in a tight hug. All he could see was ponies waiting at the train station. The station itself looks fanciful and very colourful-looking, but besides that, it was mostly adult ponies who’re either waiting or speaking to each other. The adult ponies are between the height of five-foot to five-foot-and-six-inches tall, and there were young ones, mostly fillies, they were around three-foot-tall. And most of the ponies he could see were mostly unicorns, with very few pegasi and earth ponies. But there were three golden armored guards in the area, three royal guards, or day guards by the symbol of the sun on their chest-plates.
As he looked at the three guards, they are standing at attention, they more focus to their duties. Joseph notices several details; besides the fact the trio were of one unicorn, one pegasi, and one earth pony. Besides the details of their race and matching golden armor, and heck they’re stallions; besides all that, they also had the same snow-white coloured coat bodies, and their manes and tails are blue, and their eyes are same colored as well.
After a moment of seeing such, Joseph spoke, “Either they’re triplets, or they got enchantments on their armor. Despite gold is incredibly useless for combat, unless they boost its defenses and with some spells for protection. But to make the guards look alike…that’s rather pointless. Not only it would confuse their enemies, but they will confuse each other as well, unless their helmet visors have an enchantment so to allow them to see their allies’ true colours? Hm, wonder if they improve that enchantment from an encounter with changelings at one point in time?” he questioned as he observes them. The guards looked very well disciplined, they were focused on their duties and keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
Moving his lion-paw, Discord gripped Joseph’s helmet covered head and turned him so to face the train station, “I said train station, take a good long look at it and tell me what you see,” Discord said, keeping a firm grip as well so the armored spirit wouldn’t look away.
Joseph rolled his eyes and decided to give his answer as he now looked at the station. “Discord, you do know I had seen trains before, right? Heck, there are trains long time ago, basically all the nations have one. I’m pretty sure you rode on some of them and… what in Tartarus?”
He had asked that for he saw the train coming into the station, and it was very colourful too. The locomotive, the leading part of the train has heart-shaped windows and heart-shape patterns on it. Behind it are six train carts, or more precisely, five train carts behind a coal cart. At the very end was the caboose, and each part of the train was very colourful…too colourful.
Discord grinned as he knows that it wasn’t the color that his human noticed immediately. He knew the key difference of the train of the modern time compared to the ones in the past. He asked, still grinned, “Well?”
“It’s a steam engine,” Joseph said as he looked at it in disbelief. “What the heck is wrong here? They converted all their electrical and solar powered trains into steam-engine?! That is a major downgrade, what in Tartarus?!”
Discord shrugged and then set the armored specter down onto his feet, now letting go of him as he spoke, “I don’t get it myself, but besides all that, it looks way too boring, stuck to a track. When I get my own train, I’ll have it with no tracks!”
Joseph groaned, he placed his right hand upon his forehead as he could feel a headache coming on, internally questioning on why Celestia downgraded the trains in her nation. The steam engine is slower compared to the ones that were used back then. Thinking more of it made the headache feel a bit worse. He spoke, as he walked off, going along the stone pathway, “Let’s just go.”
And Discord followed right behind with a smile and skipping along. They phase through ponies that walked the same path.
“Ah, such a wonderful, beautiful morning,” spoke a noble unicorn mare as she sat on a bench with her friend, a fellow noble unicorn mare. They not see a pair of ghostly spirits walked by them.
“Oh I most certainly agree,” replied her friend with a smile. “Princess Celestia’s sun makes every morning most enjoyable.”
The armored spirit had immediately halted as he muttered, “What?” His attention now focussed on the conversation between the unicorn mares while Discord continued along, leaving him behind.
“Oh I agree with you on that,” spoke the first unicorn with a smile as she relaxes on the bench. “With her sun, the warmth and shine make today a good day to be outdoors.” She gazes up to the clear sky.
While the armored spirit looked at them, slowly getting annoyed as he listened. While Discord, who has skipped alone into the city, had stopped as he realize he was alone. So he turned to look where Joseph was.
“Don’t forget the moon though, ever since Luna’s return, her nights have gotten so much brighter and more beautiful, especially the light from her moon,” her friend spoke with a smile.
“Not really, didn’t notice any changes there,” said the first unicorn mare as she rolled her eyes. “She may have made it less dark and dreary, but the princess is the expert of the two, she knows what’s right.”
“Luna as well?” Joseph asked as he felt annoyed. His hands clenched now, and just as their conversation continued, he felt Discord’s long snake-like tail wrapped around his waist and pulled him right over to the ghostly draconequus.
“It is rude to spy on others ole Joey boy,” Discord said in a fake scolding tone, smirking as he patted the armored human’s head before setting him back down onto his feet once more.
“Did you know?” Joseph asked as he turned to look up at Discord. “That Celestia and Luna are continuing the lie the unicorns of old had told to the rest of their nation and tried to with the rest of the world?”
Could now see why he was annoyed, Discord patted his head, “Oh relax pal, sure I knew but there isn’t really anything wrong about it. Let the ponies believe what they want to believe.”
“It is still a big freaking like,” Joseph said, still annoyed as he crosses his arms. He looks up, facing the sky, not looking directly at the sun, but he did notice its odd movement. It had moved quickly, like as though it was tick-tock on a clock. “Aw crud…did she gain enough magic to move the planet?”
“You’re a specter now, Joseph. You won’t be getting a migraine headache over it,” Discord replied as he walks away.
“True, but now I can see how that alicorn fooled the ponies,” Joseph said as he started to relax and follow the draconequus. “Wish she would just tell the truth instead of lying… oh I really hope they didn’t do any book burning throughout the history. If they did, I am going to be so pissed.”
“Don’t know, I never bothered with history. Maybe they stored the books somewhere, maybe stored away in ancient ruins… who cares really,” Discord said with a shrug. “I’m not much of a reader, but the books are quite tasty to eat.”
“I care,” Joseph said, Discord turning to him. “Back in the Kingdom of the Crystalize Wind, I enjoyed spending countless hours in the library, man I loved that place,” he chuckled, smiling a bit, remembering old memories of it. “I would at times read books for the children, as well as fixing any old books, organizing the shelves and even cleaning.”
Discord smiled a bit, “Oh I remember that, I remember listening to you when you read that Garfield book. You have good acting voices for the characters, and sometimes you get help from others to do an acting scene for others. Like that one time about Darth Vader and you said that line, ‘No Luke, I am your father.’ I was tempted to use that line on some ponies while I was freed.” Discord chuckled a bit as well.
“Oh I remember, I also remember you would chomp into some of those books. I had to replace them, but kept some of them as well, as something to remember,” Joseph replied, seeing Discord smiled sheepishly and looking away. “Anyways, let’s continue the tour,” Joseph said as he walked onward.
“Sure,” Discord replied, smiled as he followed behind, glad to help him feel better. But now he wonders on what would happen next.

Several minutes after both ghostly spirits came into one of the entrances that lead into the large city of Canterlot. They pass through several ponies, ponies wearing fancy and/or noble-like clothes, and at times seeing royal guards doing patrols. Discord was smiling as he walked beside the Orderly Air specter who looked left and right, mostly seeing the people and buildings with his own eyes.
The buildings of Canterlot are both big and colourful, way too colourful actually. Joseph had at one point stated that it felt like he was walking through a circus; Discord laughed a moment after. The walls were painted with fancy patterns, very colourful, and so were the roofs, at times the roofs had like white stars too. Most buildings appeared to be round-shape with their roofs shaped like cones.
Even though he was just a spirit looking about, he couldn’t help but take off his eyeglasses with his right hand and used his left-hand thumb and index finger to rub his closed eyes. He sighed and kept on walking with the ghostly chaos spirit.
When they reach what seem like a city-square, in the center of the city with all these large buildings. And having to walk over a bridge that had a small river, which the spirit of orderly air assumes that was put there for an artistic setting.
‘It’s like they’re trying to make their city into a giant art project,’ he thought to himself as he and Discord walked over the small bridge.
And then the two spirits arrived into what looks like a large marketplace, before it seems like it would’ve been the city-square because it’s so close to the center of this city. But they weren’t close, by the looks of it; the spirits were still in the south-part of the city, in one large area of which being a marketplace.
The moment the two ghostly spirits entered the wide, bustling crowd within the market, phasing through the ponies. Never being noticed by anypony, just spirits viewing the mortal world, and luckily for the two spirits they could still locate each other considering they’re taller than the ponies.
And most nobles move around in pairs and making sure there is space between them and other nobles.
“Ooh, what is this?” asked Discord as he floated towards one stall.
Joseph turned his head to look, seeing him float over to a stall, inspecting a few objects that looked the same. Then he heard Discord asked the same question as he floated over to another stall. The ghostly spirit looked confused for a moment; it reminded him of a very curious child. Then he face-palmed as he remembered that it is Discord; he always does this when he’s curious about some kind of object, it also gives him ideas for any magic he plans to do later on. Like for an example, look at a deck of playing cards, then he uses his chaotic power to create a large building made entirely of cards.
So basically Discord had gone to view the items, so Joseph was thinking of just waiting for him to finish. He was about to go stand by the center of the marketplace, where it had a lovely fountain in the middle and a statue in the middle of the fountain, a statue of Princess Celestia. Compared to what Joseph saw of what Discord made within his dream long ago, instead of looking sexy, this statue had Celestia dressed in a fabulous gown, kneeling down, and had like foals around her. The statues of colts and fillies hugging and getting attention from the caring and loving statue princess, it was rather nice to look at.
He looked down into the fountain, seeing that the water was crystal clear as well as having a few fish swimming around and a bit underwater plant-life. Whoever does the work on the fountain had really taken good care of the fish as well.
He turned around and viewed around the setting, seeing Discord yet at another stall, viewing other items. It was rather nice right now; Joseph chuckled a little, smiling under his mouth-guard.
Until his smile was changing to gawking shock as he had saw something on a couple of ponies before he blurted out, “What in Tartarus?!”
Discord heard his yell and floated on over to his pal, carrying some kind of ghostly bag underneath his lion arm. He looked down to him as he arrived, “What’s wrong now?” And then he noticed his eyes, it was now a glare, directed at someone. So Discord turned his head to look at who he was staring at.
A couple of unicorn ponies, a mare and a stallion walking together, chuckling and having a good time; they’re Fancypants and Fleur Dis Lee.
Fancypants stood about five-foot-and-six-inches tall; slightly muscular build and protruding chest. He wore a black gentleman suit with a white button-up shirt underneath and a purple bowtie, black pants, and his natural fur coat color is light gray, the color of his hooved feet were light azure. His eyes are light azure colored as well, and so were his stylish mane and his moustache, and he has an eight-inch-long horn on the center of his forehead. A hole in the upper back of pants with his tail poking out; it was the same color as his mane. He had pulled out a golden pocket watch with a gold chain that leads to the inside of his coat. On the top part of that pocket watch had the mark of three yellow crowns with purple gems in the middle.
And Fleur, she is five-foot-and-three-inches tall; she is slender and gorgeous with D-Cup sized breasts. She wore a whitish blue silk sleeveless dress that covers her breasts, waist, shoulders and her thighs. Her arms and legs and her neck are exposed, revealing she has a light gray coat. She wore light blue heel shoes on her hooved feet. She wore a gold necklace with a large fist-sized purple gem in a socket that connects to the gold necklace, it seems mostly rest on top of her breasts. She wore whitish blue silk gloves that cover her hands and about half-length of her arms. She wore a whitish blue sun-hat over her long, light magenta-ish gray with heliotrope-ish white streaks mane. The length of her lovely mane flows down to the back of her lower waist, nearly touching where her similar colored tail that is protruding outside of her dress. Her eight-inch-long spiral horn is uncovered and has the front part of her big hat face upwards; her horn is on the center of her forehead. There are two holes in her big hat that allows her ears to poke out of. And her eyes were pale light grayish violet, and she has pale light grayish violet eyeshadows. Underneath her right shoulder she carried a blue purse with its strap over left shoulder. Her blue purse has the symbol of three fleur-de-lis symbols; two small ones are lavender color, and the big one colored gold.
Discord recognized those two immediately, he had saw them in the past few years, during his previous time of being a statue before he was released and resealed. Those two are married celebrity couple, well Fancypants is, and his wife is a supermodel. Those two had used their free time to stroll together in the Royal Statue Garden, which the garden and the maze are open to the public. Those two are ones of the top nobles of Canterlot, ones of highest popularity of the city, just a few notches below the Princesses.
Those two are nice, boring ponies; Discord had some plans on what kind of pranks and anything else he would’ve done on those two at times. They’re very nice duo, so why was the ghostly Spirit of Orderly Air glaring at them like as though they commit great atrocities?
Confused, he looked back down at the ghostly armored spirit, and he asked, “What’s wrong, Joseph?”
Joseph was still glaring at the duo; thanks to the distance they couldn’t hear the couple speak to each other. But he can guess that the two were shopping and Fancy checked his pocket watch for the time. They both had started to leave, and he still glared at them as they go, smiling together.
“Hello? You in their Joey?” asked Discord as he used his talon hand and knocked on the human’s head, making empty thudding sound. Joseph instantly looked up at him with annoyance, Discord chuckled, “Finally got your attention, why were you glaring at those two?”
“You didn’t saw the object?” asked Joseph, right eyebrow raised in confusion.
“What object?”
Joseph went back to glaring at where the couple went; they were now gone from the marketplace. “The emerald around her neck,” he stated.
Discord still looked confused, he used his talon finger and pick at wax inside his left ear. “So? It’s just a big fancy gem, no doubt a delicious snack for any dragon that sees it,” Discord replied, started to get bored.
The human turned to face him, seem surprised about it, he asked, “You…have no idea what that emerald is?”
Discord pulled out his talon finger, seeing it to be a ghostly wrapped up chocolate bar. He took off the wrapping and pushed the wrapper into his mouth before he flicks the chocolate bar away. Its poof out of existence once it was several feet away from the ghostly draconequus, and all Discord did was chewing the wrapper in his mouth like as though it was gum, his right cheek bulging a bit. As he chewed, he looked down at the human with a raised eyebrow. As he pressed the chewed wrapper to his right inside cheek, he replied, “Should I know it?” Then he went back to chewing his wrapper.
Joseph’s eyes had widened in disbelief as he looked up at the Draconequus, then after a moment of thinking. He asked, “Dreh hi mindok faal Dovah Tinvok, faal Thuum?”
Discord forcefully gulped down his chewed wrapper, the small bulge of it disappearing as it goes down his ghostly throat. Discord was a little surprised as he looked down at him, he said, “The first words you said were a bunch of gibberish, but ‘Thuum’, that word I recognized.” He moved closer, he wrapped his talon arm around the human spirit’s waist and held him close. He leaned his head, looking at the armored spirit’s eyes, then he asked, “Where I remembered that word was hearing it from my mother when I was a child. How do you know that word?” He mostly held Joseph close to make sure he tells him the truth instead of trying to back away. This was important.
Joseph still looked up to him, then he replied, “Thuum is what the language of the dragons is called. All the dragons that live under the protection of Dovah Ulokuun and the seven Dovah Drog; Dovah means Dragon in Thuum, Ulokuun is a word used for both Empress and Emperor, and Drog means Lord or Lords, for Lord’s the word is Drogro, and it’s Ulokuunro for Empress’ or Emperor’s.”
Discord blinked in surprise, so now he knows what it means. He smiled, “So you know the language of my mom’s race…wait what am I saying, of course you do, considering how old you are!” He still held Joseph as he stood back and twirled around a moment.
Joseph only frowned a bit as the ghostly duo twirled around phased through anthro ponies walking around in the marketplace. He was only a little bit annoyed for being called old, but Discord was right.
Discord stopped twirling around before setting Joseph back down, he asked, “So you know every single word of the Dragon Language, right?”
“When I first met the dragons so long ago, I eagerly learned their language. I never forgotten, I made sure the language was burned into my mind,” Joseph merely stated, he did love dragons after all.
Discord chuckled, having a big smile, he asked, “Well then pal, hope you know this one. Because right now, from my childhood, there was some words that I heard of that confuses me. Someone called my mother… Kah Vahdin. So, do you know it?”
“Kah Vahdin means Pride Maiden,” Joseph once more merely stated.
Curious, Discord asked, “And Pride Maiden is?”
“A possible consort for a Dovah Drog, or to be more precise, a Kah Dovah Drog,” he stated once more, but now with an added sigh. He continued though, “A Vahdin is one of many that are capable of joining Dovah Drog Sosinmaar, or to be more precise, Dragon Lord’s Coven, a Coven for dragons means harem, or if you know the version for ponies; herd. If a Vahdin was chosen, then the Vahdin becomes a Reg, it is the word for Lady. If a Vahdin of that Dovah Junaar, which means Dragon Kingdom by the way, wasn’t selected by that Junaardro Drog, again which means Kingdom’s Lord…”
“You know you could’ve just said ‘add in ro or dro to mean apostrophe s’, it be a whole lot easier.”
Joseph merely gave a deadpanned look before he continued, “If the Dovah Drog of that Junaar did not pick the Vahdin. Then the Vahdin has a chance to find love with either a Goraas of that Junaar, Goraas is the word for Youth which is for male version of a Maiden. She has that option, or they find love with a fellow Vahdin, or she could leave that Dovah Junaar and go to another Dovah Junaar or somewhere else. Could even find love with another Dovah Drog in a different Junaar or find a possible chance that Goraas have with the Dovah Ulokuun.”
Recalling what Joseph said for that last word, Discord raised his left eyebrow as he asked, “Why not a Dragon Emperor? Don’t they have a chance with him besides the Dragon Empress?”
Joseph blinked up at him, then he sighed and would’ve used his right hand to rub his forehead if his helmet wasn’t stuck on. He replied, “When we get the chance, I’m going to teach you Thuum and the History of the Dragon Kingdoms.”
“Oh no!” yelled Discord as he immediately let go and backed away, placing his hands on his cheeks in horror. “Please no schools!”
Joseph looked up at him with a confused look, “I’m technically your only teacher, and it would actually help pass the time of boredom in the future.”
Immediately Discord’s mood changed with a big smile as he cheered, “Yay! Now my answer if you please.”
Joseph cleared his ghostly throat for a moment, not really needing too since they’re ghosts, he did so anyways. “To understand what I mean is simple; there has never been a Dragon Emperor, it has always been a Dragon Empress. The ruler of all dragons is the Queen, the Empress of all Dragons in the existence. And the one who could stop any chaos that happens among the Dragon Lords. Even by becoming her mate, you are not labelled as an Emperor; instead you’ll either be called Empress’s Lady or Empress’s Lord, or in Thuum, Ulokuunro Drog or Ulokuunro Reg.”
“And if a dragon finds love with a pony?” asked Discord.
“As I recalled, that’s allowed. A dragon can choose anyone to love, their decision, no one else really has anything against it,” Joseph stated. “Of course, whoever that lucky being is to gain the attraction of a dragon he or she loves, they would still need to get a blessing from Dovahro lafaan, lafaan is Thuum word for parent. And if accepted, then the non-dragon creature would be titled, Dovahro Liin, Liin means mate in Thuum.”
“Good to know,” Discord said with a smile, “maybe next time I’ll attract a few dragonesses myself… or dragons,” he muttered quietly to the last part, smirking down back down at Joseph, said so quietly for the ghostly human unable to hear it or assumed he said something else.
“No surprises there, draconequus and kirin get just the same amount of attraction like any other dragon do,” Joseph merely stated.
“I see, and how about you and your brothers? Do you four get any dragons flying after you, wanting to add you into their coven or their hoard of treasures?” Discord asked with a playful smirk.
“Several times, but my brothers hadn’t dated anyone,” Joseph stated before he looked down in thought, ‘besides, they have love ones back home waiting for them.’ He sighed a bit, still having memories of his old home world, earth.
“So your brothers didn’t date, but did you?” asked Discord, curious to know.
After a quiet moment, Joseph looked back up to him and replied, “Yes, I dated, and I remember each and every one of their names over all these years. My last lover is Shiresea, or maybe she’s still currently around in this time. She is a dragoness,” he merely stated that last part, so Discord would know of who Joseph was talking about. While the spirit placed his right hand on the chin of his mouth guard and his left hand under his right elbow, he thought to himself, ‘Wonder how she is doing, hope she’s doing well. It’s been so long; maybe she moved on and found a better husband? If so, good for her still, it has been so long since we last had our date. Maybe we’ll see each other someday; hopefully her mom doesn’t eat me out of anger for being gone for so long. Thinking of Shiresea… wasn’t there something about my sash belt long ago?’ as he thought that, he was slowly looking down at his sash around his waist, seeing the buckle close to his right side, seeing the symbol of his wind element. He tries to remember what was hidden inside the secret compartment of it.
‘He’s obviously thinking of her,’ Discord thought in annoyance, looking down at the ghostly spirit of orderly air in his current thinking pose. Discord remembered hearing that name from before and getting confirmation that Shiresea is indeed a dragoness made it clear that there is a possibility that she still be around. If so and Joseph gets free, then he and Shiresea might get back together. Discord growled a bit at the thought, seeing that Joseph seem to not have heard him when he started to look down at his sash belt.
Discord remembered one little weakness of Joseph, when he starts thinking and talking about something else, he’ll end up losing focus of the original goal. He knew that if Joseph decided to write a book, he has a high chance of getting writer’s block out of it too, if his focus was on something else.
“So what was the reason for that gem that couple have?” asked Discord, smiling as he knew he snapped the ghostly human out of his current thoughts.
Joseph’s eyes immediately widen as he had remembered the reason why he was angry before he started to explain about the Thuum to Discord. “Gah!” he yelled as he realized, quickly turned around to glare in the same old direction. “Aw crud, I forgot all about it.”
‘Till I reminded you,’ Discord chuckled as he stood beside Joseph once more, smiling down at him. “So, what’s so special about that gem?”
Joseph turned his head to look up at Discord, he replied, “That gem was the Volbur Faziigolz do Tarvok Jen.”
Discord sighed as he rolled his eyes before saying, “In Equish please, Joseph.”
Joseph sighed before he stated, “Chaos Emerald of Greed Purple.”
Blinking in confusion, he grinned as he looked down at Joseph, “Chaos you say? You mean that jewel is secretly a chaos gem?”
“Emerald,” Joseph corrected him. “That is one of seven Chaos Emeralds.”
“Seven Chaos Emeralds, so basically a chaos version to the Elements of Harmony?” asked Discord, grinning widely, thinking that Joseph and his brothers had also decided to make the opposite of those elements.
“No, they’re not a version to the Elements of Harmony,” Joseph said with a deadpan look. “The Seven Chaos Emeralds are a set of emeralds, ones of several objects my brother Gary had bought from that merchant long time ago.” He stated, knowing that Discord had saw that vision.
Discord remembered and groaned, “Oh, well sorry if I forgot, you and your brothers were certainly greedy, buying all those items.” Seeing that same deadpan look once more and could tell he was frowning underneath that mouth guard, Discord chuckled, “Please continue explaining what those are.”
He sighed before he continued, “The emeralds can turn thoughts of the carrier into power, warp time and space with a technique called ‘Chaos Control’. And for Dragon Lords, it boosts their power, but also their control over their inner desires. And a Dragon Lord can use that power to help younger generation of dragons who suffer under the addiction for certain things. Hence is why the Dragon Lords are named after Gary’s seven vices; Pride, Greed, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony, Lust, and Wrath. Like the example I used during previous explanation; Kah Dovah Drog which means Pride Dragon Lord. Basically, those gems help the Dragon Lords control their inner vices as well as help younger generation of dragons from the vices. Pride Dragon Lord helps dragons learn humility instead of living on their pride all the time. Hence why my two brothers, Gary and Albert, are nearly so close to the same; Albert with Seven Virtues and Gary with Seven Vices…as well as the fact they’re Spirits of Orderly Water and Fire.”
“Interesting, and so that’s the main reason your brother gave the Dragon Lords those emeralds?” he asked, rather interested in the idea of gathering all seven emeralds for him to use. “So how powerful is the dragon if he gathered all seven?”
“Powerful as you, but the power doesn’t last long either. After use, the seven chaos emeralds will go back to either my brother or to the previous Dragon Lords who owns them, or to the Dragon Empress, she can decide on the seven new Dragon Lords if the previous ones were unworthy of them or if any of those Dragon Lords were killed by something.”
“Okay and there is no safeguard for what if the Dragon Empress decides to use all that power?” asked Discord, wondering why that she gets all seven after their used.
“It’s because the power inside a Dragon Empress completely neutralizes the chaotic energy within the chaos emeralds. The moment she comes within range of those emeralds, they become powerless,” Joseph merely stated.
Discord’s eyes widen as he immediately leaned his head backway from Joseph, shocked upon learning that fact. He whispered back, “You mean the Dragon Empress could easily stop me having my fun if the alicorns had decided to go get her for help?”
“No because you’re the embodiment of chaos, the Spirit of Chaos,” Joseph continued. “A Dragon Empress has the power to disable any powerful magical or chaotic item. All it takes is for her to get into the range of those emeralds and they just deplete all their energy in an instant. And besides, I doubt Tiamat would’ve helped the alicorns anyways. She doesn’t like the alicorns very much.”
“So you know the name of the Dragon Empress?” asked Discord.
Joseph nodded, “Tiamat was or still currently is, the Dragon Empress of the Dragon Kingdoms. If she isn’t now, then it is one of her daughters who took up the role of Dragon Empress.”
Discord had a sudden thought after now knowing about the power of that emerald Fleur wears around her neck. “So if those emeralds are so special, why did that pony have it?” he asked.
“That’s what I want to know,” Joseph stated as he turned his gaze back to that same spot before, where the two anthro ponies had left. “This is bad; those Emeralds also help the Sovut-Bah with their problems of controlling their growth.”
“Equish please,” Discord asked with a sigh.
“Sovut Bah is Thuum for Drago-Wrath,” Joseph stated as he looked back up to Discord. “Drago-Wrath is a dragon with a special ability, speed growth. Depending on the type of the Drago-Wrath, like which vice is its strongest, if that dragon collects anything that involves with their chosen vice, then they’ll have sudden growth spurts, growing larger and faster, but the drawback is losing their intelligence. As they grow bigger, they start to lose their mind till the point when they become a mindless out-of-control Drago-Wrath who’ll do everything to satisfy their vice. With the help of the Chaos Emerald that works with that certain Dragon Lord, it can help the Drago-Wrath dragon regain control of their body and shrink back down to their normal height and back to their minds. A Chaos Emerald could also help a Dragon who has Drago-Wrath to grow larger and fast and still keep their intelligence.”
“Wow,” Discord said, amazed by that information. He chuckled, “It is pretty chaotic if there is one out there, hopefully not if it truly sounds bad.”
“It is, for dragons that’re in Drago-Wrath could literally lose their minds, basically become dead inside,” Joseph stated. “It’s sad, if a dragon child who has Drago-Wrath doesn’t get help to fight his or her vice, then they’ll grow to a big size if out-of-control, to the point they lose themselves, unable to come back to their true selves.” He sighed sadly a moment after, “All I can really do is pray, for if a dragon does go into Drago-Wrath and that Chaos Emerald of Greed Purple isn’t around to help them, what I pray for is that the dragon gets reminded of one of their fondest memories.”
“Fondest memories?” asked Discord.
Joseph looked back up to him before he continued, “It’s a best-known method for a dragon to regain their intelligence and ignore the vice while in Drago-Wrath form. All it takes is for the dragon to remember a memory they’re most fond of.”
After a moment of thinking about it, Discord thought about his memories he likes the most. Most of which are from his younger days, after remembering some he smiled, chuckled, “Well Joseph, enough talking about such for now, you can explain to me about Thuum and Dragon History another time. We still got a big tour of Canterlot right now.”
“Right,” Joseph replied while he nodded. He turned to face Discord, the ghostly Draconequus had turned around as well and was about to walk away and Joseph would follow. But the wind spirit had noticed one thing, he asked, “Why are you carrying a carpetbag under your arm?”
“Oh this?” asked Discord, taking the strap of a big bag off his shoulder and held it in both hands, showing it to Joseph. The carpetbag had several kinds of color patterns, like a rainbow, but mostly has Discord’s colouration. But it also has a symbol pattern, a symbol that is a black outline of a circle and inside it is like a dot with eight arrows pointing in different directions, that was the Chaos Symbol. “Found it in that one stall, decided to create my own,” he replied with a grin.
“Huh, so you plan to make yourself a bag of holding in the future?” asked Joseph as he started to walk.
Discord put the strap back onto his shoulder before he followed behind him, “Bag of holding huh? Maybe I will, except I prefer it in this form instead of your version, I don’t want to carry a big bag on my back.”
“My backpack version of the Bag of Holding is just a lesser version, a spell enchantment on my old backpack,” Joseph stated as he and Discord phased through other anthro ponies, nearing a different exit of the marketplace. “I’m fond of my backpack hence why I don’t replace it with any other form of bag. It still holds all my things, especially my items from Earth. As for where it is right now, in my old bedchamber within the Kingdom of Crystalize Wind, kept it in a secret vault with other objects of mine. Only I know the code and password to unlock the vault, so I don’t need to worry about it.”
“Well do you remember?” he asked, and Joseph nodded, Discord grinned. “What’s the answer?”
“Nice try,” Joseph said as he looked back up to him as they walked. “Besides, I could give you an older code or password; I tend to change the vault’s code and password once a year. It used to be about once a month before I changed to once a year.”
“Oh Joey boy, it has been well over a thousand years since you last did so. What are the chances of someone spending all that time working on opening it?” Discord asked with a little grin, and heard Joseph groaned and would’ve tipped over if he wasn’t so well balanced.
“Now you’re making me worried,” Joseph stated as he groaned. After a moment of thinking, “And the only ones who know me well enough so to guess the code and password to unlock the vault were my brothers, my friends, a few nobles I know well enough to considered good friends too, and my advisor, and knights.”
Seeing that he was starting to get worried, Discord patted his ghostly helmet-covered head, he chuckled, “Oh relax pal I’m pretty sure that without you around, your fortress kingdom likely fell into sweet, sweet chaos, into such disarray that no one could find that vault.”
“I seriously hope that didn’t happen,” Joseph said in a serious tone as he looked up at Discord. “If my kingdom fell into disarray all because I wasn’t around meaning they become too dependent on me. Besides me there is a council that helps maintain order of the Kingdom. Besides that, I and my brothers had been working hard throughout the hundreds of millenniums to get most of the world independent. To the point this world doesn’t need us anymore; they wouldn’t need us guiding them nor need us to be their shields against the unknown, heck even not needing us to be referees for peace treaties between nations. I don’t know what happened to the rest of the world now, but back then, a few nations had started to not become dependent on us, and pushed themselves forward, united, helping each other.”
“Well, I don’t know what happened to the other nations pal,” Discord stated as they both kept on walking. “Maybe one day we’ll know, but till then, let’s just enjoy our time we have together.” He grinned and chuckle, placing his paw hand on Joseph’s helmet covered head and patted it.
Joseph sighed and nodded, “You’re right.”
“Oh I know I am, am I ever wrong?” Discord asked with a big grin.
Joseph chuckled, “I could say one or two, but eh. Anyways, I would suggest that you be careful when you create your Bag of Holding one day. Depending on how much space you put into your bag of holding, if it’s a regular one, then there is a big chance of it getting overloaded, or if a sharp object pierces it from outside or inside, the regular bag of holding will rupture and be ruined, and the contents will be lost forever in the void.”
Discord cringed a bit, that is a risk to be concern about. “Well I guess I need to make my bag of holding have strong and yet flexible layer to be resistance to any piercing,” Discord said as he patted his ghostly bag.
“Like I had said, a regular bag of holding has those flaws,” Joseph said as they both walked along the street, phasing through crowds of anthro pony citizens of Canterlot. “There is special bag of holdings, like my backpack, and other bags that are enchanted with any forms of protection. There is even a type of bag known as a bag of tricks; clowns, jesters and funny characters tend to use that type of item if they had found it that is, to pull out any item they want for anything they need it for, like pull out a cannon that shoots confetti.”
“You’re talking about that laughter pony, Pinkie Pie, aren’t you?” asked Discord, raised right eyebrow.
“Does she have a bag of tricks?” Joseph said, now back into his thinking pose as they walked on. “Sure in some ways, in the old shows on earth, her capabilities, more specifically, getting items she needed could be easily explained if she has a secret bag of tricks on her. Or maybe someone tried to create one but gave such powerful enchantments to a living being instead of a bag?” He still thought about it till he remembered one other detail, he quickly looked back up at Discord, “When you make a bag of holding, make sure you do it right on the first try. Failure will result the Bag of Devouring.”
“Bag of Devouring?” asked Discord, looking confused on what that item would be, till he thought about it. “So basically it’s like a mimic disguised as a treasure chest? It eats anyone who tries to open it?”
“Basically,” Joseph nodded in reply. “If an animal or a food is put inside such a bag, it has a chance of being swallowed over time. Even a person reaching inside to retrieve any stored item would get dragged in and swallowed. The bag of devouring will act as the bag of holding, but every hour it has a chance of swallowing whatever it holds. Any animal or plant inside it that gets swallowed is transported to the creature’s stomach, digested. If you store an inedible item like money, tools, furniture, then instead of being swallow, it would spit those objects right back out.”
“Ooh, so it’s like a protection for the bag. It keeps my stuff safe and devour any thief who tries to take my things,” Discord said with a chuckle. “And I could easily escape the creature’s gut myself as well. And it wouldn’t be able to digest immortals either, so it’s a win-win.”
“Technically you’re a living bag of holding yourself, Discord,” Joseph said as he looked up to him. “Don’t know why you want one since you could easily store anything inside you, heck you used your power to create objects and even pull out items. And you even had me inside your gut for a long while.”
“Ooh, thanks for reminding me on that,” Discord grinned as he licked his lips. “I’m getting quite hungry, so how about after this tour, I could snack on you for a bit?”
“Depending on what happens later, Discord,” Joseph stated as he crossed his arms, facing forward as they walked together.
Discord chuckled, grinning at the idea, and then he said, “Anyways, I just like the idea of having my own bag of holding. It is useful at times, to carry all of my things. And like you had said, I could carry you inside it too.”
Joseph sighed a bit and kept on walking, till his eyes locked on some kind of item that could be seen through the window of a store they were about to walk by. Seeing it froze him before he yelled, “HOW?!”
It was so sudden and loud that Discord leaped high in surprise before he floated back down. He looked down at the ghostly human in annoyance, “You didn’t need to shout! What is it this time?” But instead of replying, Joseph ran into the building, phasing through its walls. Discord had luckily grabbed hold the end of Joseph’s ghostly lunar pattern scarf and got pulled in behind as well.
Once inside the store, which after viewing the objects around, Discord could tell it’s a Pawn Shop. He held the long scarf still, following to where Joseph was standing. He was standing close to the window, gazing down at a pedestal that holds what looks like a bowling ball.
The bowling ball was about a foot-long diameter, orange color, crystalline sphere. Inside that sphere has five red stars, and for some reason Joseph was gazing at it.
After a moment, Discord remembered seeing it from the vision. Joseph’s brother, Gary, had bought seven of these orbs, except they were the size of marbles at the time.
Before he could ask, Joseph explained, “This is called an Orb of Shenron, there are seven orbs in total. It was originally called a Dragon Ball, but the name was change because…” he didn’t continue for he could hear Discord snickering.
“Dragon Ball?” snicker Discord. “You’re telling me that there are a group of orbs called Dragon Balls? Oh goodness me, are you serious?!” And he started to laugh about it.
Joseph would’ve laughed too, if this wasn’t a very serious matter. “Oh get your mind out of the gutter,” Joseph said, Discord still laughed a bit before he finally finished, he still snickered a bit. “This object and six others of it were renamed the Orbs of Shenron, two reason. One, it is used to summon the Dragon God, Shenron. And the other reason, same reason why you laughed. Anyone who heard the power these orbs hold had often search for them, which had often annoyed any dragon too when asked for it, unless they asked the dragons of the Sahlos Dovah Drogro Junaar, Sahlos is Thuum for Lust.”
Discord laughed again, “Guess those adventurers got what they had wanted. They searched for the Dragon Balls,” and he laughed outward again before he managed to continue saying, “and they got what they were asking but not what they wanted.”
Joseph had taken off his eyeglasses with his right hand and used his left-hand thumb and index finger and rubbed his eyes.
After he got all that laughter down a few notches, still snickering a bit, Discord chuckled as he asked, “So what’s so special for the Dragon-” he giggled a bit, “I mean the Orbs of Shenron?”
Joseph was looking up at him, hadn’t put on his eyeglasses yet. He waited for a moment before he put his eyeglasses back on and adjusted them a bit, keeping his gaze on Discord as he said, “The Orbs of Shenron were intended to be a thing of extraordinary magic and power, something to be revered, not for the ease of their method, but for the dream of never having to use them.”
Discord raised his right eyebrow, had finally stopped laughing now, but now getting curious of these bowling ball size jewel. “Because they summon some kind of Dragon God known as Shenron?” he asked.
Joseph nodded, hadn’t blinked yet, he said in a serious tone, “Shenron has the power to grant one wish to a being who had summoned him from the orbs, but only when all seven orbs are gathered into one place.”
Discord’s eyes widen at that, he asked, “Are there rules for getting the wish?”
“The reason it was so coveted is because any wish one makes to Shenron can be granted,” Joseph replied, still in a serious tone. “There are no drawbacks, every wish to Shenron can be granted to what any person desires. If a being desires immortality, then that being will forever be immortal, unable to die. If the being desired to be the king of the world, then he becomes the king of the world. If a being wishes for an immortal being to be mortal, then that immortal will be mortal.”
And by that, Discord flinched, certain immortals have their own weaknesses, but to suddenly have the ‘unable to die’ trait gone, then they start to become paranoid for they wouldn’t desire to risk their precious life.
Besides that, heck if an evil tyrant had gathered all seven orbs to make such a wish, then it would be a big problem to not just the mortals of the world, but also the immortal spirits.
‘Heck if Thunder Thighs had known of these things, she could’ve made a wish to strip me of my chaos magic. Even trap me inside the boring body of a pony,’ Discord thought, feeling a shiver go down his spine at that thought.
Discord looked back down at the five-star Orb of Shenron before he asked, “Had these things been used before?” He understood the seriousness of the matter with these orbs now.
Joseph nodded as he turned to look down at the orb as well, he replied, “Before my time being sealed, the Orbs of Shenron had been used three times, and only three times.” He sighed, eyes closed, “But it is here in this store instead of being kept safe in a vault within one of the seven fortresses throughout the world. It means someone used them in the past.”
“The summoning of Shenron must be so powerful that even I and the alicorns would’ve sensed,” Discord said, and Joseph nodded. “When he appears, what are the signs?”
“When Shenron is summoned, he looks like a giant green wyrm with glowing red eyes. His appearance in this world will cause the skies across the world to darken till it is pitch-black and the only lighting are the orbs and his powerful form,” Joseph replied, recalling what had happened before.
Discord listened, gave a small nod, “It happened about six-hundred years ago I believe, while I was part of the decoration of that boring statue garden. I had thought Sunbutt was so drunk that she forgot to raise the sun. It had only lasted for about a few minutes.”
“So the Orbs of Shenron had been used about four times. And since the world seems to still be in balance in a sense, nothing was drastic,” Joseph stated, sighed a little.
Discord nodded, then a thought comes to mind, he looked down to Joseph before he asked, “If Shenron was so powerful, how come you and your brothers didn’t summoned him so to send you guys home?”
“We did,” Joseph sighed sadly. “It was during our first year in this world, during our time long ago, trying to control our powers. But we gathered all seven of them, and summoned Shenron. We wished for him to send us back to our home dimension, Earth.” Joseph sag his head downward, his eyes closed, “But Shenron couldn’t grant it.”
“Did he say why he couldn’t?” Discord asked, secretly relieved that it seems to be impossible to grant considering how powerful Joseph claims Shenron is.
“It’s because me and my brothers are displaced beings,” Joseph replied. “We were sent to that world because of another being, the merchant from that convention long ago.” He clenched his fists, feeling angry right at the mention of that being. “That merchant is secretly powerful and can somehow block the power of Shenron or at least direct it to a different earth.”
Discord blinked in surprised at that, so there is a different earth?
“By us being displaced beings in this world,” Joseph said as he opened his eyes and looked upwards now. “Our world is just a speck of dust in the huge, grand dimensions known as the multiverse. There are alternate worlds to our Equestria, and hundreds of dimensions of other worlds. The multiverse dimensions are infinite!”
Discord watched as Joseph closed his eyes once more, his head still tilted upwards. “Shenron can grant the wish, but that blasted merchant will redirect our path to our home dimension to a different earth, or to an alternate Equestria!”
Joseph yelled in anger before raising both of his arms and slammed them upon the table, of course being a ghost, no sound was made. “RAH! All because we were greedy…”
Discord watched as his friend grieved over this, feeling a bit sorry for bringing up that old memory because of his curiosity, after all, he didn’t know his and the spirits whole history, the only way to know is to ask them and they be willing to tell, if they view you as a friend, or they’re alright with speaking about it. Still, Discord rubbed the back of his head, thinking of how to calm the spirit before eventually just patting his back with his lion hand.
As it seems the armored specter was calming down, he likely still angry towards the merchant at the moment. Discord was still curious, and he asked, “Well you explained the first wish, but what about the other two wishes?”
Joseph sighed before leaning back up, once he felt better, he replied, “The second wish was made by Starswirl, but during the time of his youth, during which his name was Little Star. He desired to learn everything; knowledge, magic, science, anything jut to cram all of it into his young brain. But he also knew that by ponies’ lifespan, he wouldn’t get to learn everything of our world, but he did learn the information of the Orbs of Shenron. He gathered them in secret so the Alicorns would never know, and because of his journey outside the unicorn territory, the other unicorns who listened to the alicorns had grown suspicious of Little Star. Till he gathered all seven, he summoned Shenron, and he got his wish granted. What he gotten wasn’t the knowledge of everything; he didn’t want it all too just appear into his head, he wanted to learn, to read, to study and make theories of anything he would learn. What his wish was Immortality, for he no longer fears death, no longer fear the rage of the alicorns of his time, he could study and experiment on things he learned. One of the things he did after that is remove his Cutie Mark, and that made most alicorns furious and his fellow unicorns called him a heretic and a traitor before banishing him from their lands, his home and all his journals and books burned to the ground. Not welcome in any of the equine territories because by alicorn law, he was a heretic, a monster. But he has found sanctuary in my fortress, and in time, he changed his name to Starswirl. The bearded part came in when he grew older and written many spell books, especially because of his facial hair spell, he wanted to appear old, old and wise.” He chuckled a bit, and continued, “He was a good friend of mine, and friends with my brothers as well. He did venture out to their fortresses, and even gone to other nations and met with dragons, taurens, gryphons, etc. And during such times, he adopted the names, Gandalf, Dumbledore, and many other names.”
Discord looked surprised, so Starswirl the Bearded is immortal. He remembered seeing that vision before finally speaking with the human on that day previously, he asked, “So he’s immortal and somewhere in the world? He likely still teaching at his school, are you planning to visit that place one day?”
“When I’m free, possibly, I do want to see the fate of Hogwarts, and who’s likely the new principal of it,” he replied, looking up at Discord. “And Dumbledore a.k.a. Starswirl will most likely not be there anymore. He’s a wanderer; his limit of staying in one place could range between fifty to a hundred years. Besides me and my brothers and the alicorns of old, no one else knew Starswirl was immortal, and he kept that a secret. I doubt Celestia and Luna knows about him being immortal. Heck he possibly mastered the arts of transformation magic and is currently disguised as a non-pony somewhere. Anyways Discord, let’s get going, we’re not done seeing the rest of Canterlot, still rather annoying it’s on the side of a mountain.”
Then Joseph, being a specter, phase right through the table, shelves and items that they hold, went through the wall and window and back outside in the streets. Discord followed right behind, still carrying his ghostly carpetbag under his arm, he asked, “Kay, but what about the third wish?” He walked along beside the ghostly human spirit, at times the two phases through several ponies walking in the street.
The spirit crossed his arms before he replied, “The third wish happened during the time before the Civil War of the Alicorns happened, it happened during the time when an alicorn; Ordo. Ordo happens to be the Latin word for Order, and you know how most alicorns tend to behave. Ordo believed he’s supposed to own me and my brothers because we’re the Spirits of Order. He failed countless of times; he even made a love poison for one of his mares to drink while looking at a photo of my brother, Albertis. Poor Yandere Heart, she was more in love with Ordo, but he got her to chase after Albertis. Wished Yandere Heart overcame that potion and went back to Ordo and ‘punish’ him for what he tried to make her do.”
“What does Yandere mean?” Discord asked him, feeling curious and the fact that ponies tend to have names that represent something, to be part of their personalities.
Hearing that, he looks to Discord, and he said, “Yandere is a type of person who can be both loving and sadistic at the same time. Essentially, if you notice the sign of a yandere, pray the yandere isn’t attracted to you. For if they love you, but you don’t love them, then they will try to force you to love them or they’ll try to remove the ones you love, even eliminate all your friends and family just so to have to themselves. Beware of that type of being,” and he gave a little shiver, and so did Discord. He continued, “Anyways, Ordo had sent her after Albertis while he went after me, trying to keep things peacefully, we talked, until he tried to mind control me with one of his spells he knows, basically mind rape me,” he grunted in annoyance, he definitely doesn’t like Ordo for that. “My will was stronger, and I defeated him in combat. But during that time, Yandere Heart who had been sent after my brother weeks before Ordo did what he did towards me; she had failed countless times. Till Albert flat out told her he doesn’t love her and never will. She had gotten into her head that the only way to make him hers is to somehow become like us.”
“Did she wish to become immortal too?” Discord asked, wondering if he might one day encounter this crazy mare.
“No, her wish was different, and it affect the whole pony race,” Joseph replied as he kept on walking along. Discord leaned close, really curious on what kind of wish it was that affected. After a moment of silence, besides many ponies they pass were talking to one another, Joseph continued, “She wished for all ponies of the world to be bipeds, and by doing so, every alicorn, unicorn, pegasi, earth pony, kirin, thestral, sirens, seaponies, and bicorns were turned into anthros. Reason why anthros, she forgot what our race is called, so she went with biped.”
Discord leaned back in surprise, before speaking out, “So you’re telling me that everypony here weren’t born anthro ponies, but were turned into anthro because of a wish one mare made?” The specter spirit of orderly air nodded his head, Discord continued, “Wow, that definitely change a lot of things, how big were these ponies before they were bipeds, what were they before what they are now?”
Joseph tapped his mouth-guarded chin as he remembered as he kept on walking, and Discord following close behind, leaving one street to an avenue. He spoke out, “They were quadrupeds for starters, more like Saddle Arabian Horses to be precise, but much smaller. Horses are measured in hands instead of feet, or what ponies called it ‘hooves’ for measurement. Four inches is one hoof, so three hooves equal to one foot. And being quadrupeds, they’re mostly measured up to their withers and not the top of their heads. Hm…so they were about,” he thinks hard for this one, trying to remember.
When he did, he continued, “The usual estimate height for adult pony mares were around six-hooves tall back then, which is two-foot tall. But with their necks and heads, estimation would be ten-hooves-and-two-inches, which would be three-foot-and-six-inches tall. For adult pony stallions, they were around seven-hooves tall, which amount to two-feet-and-four-inches tall. But by including their neck and heads, they’re thirteen-hooves-and-two-inches, which is four-foot-and-six-inches tall. As for the alicorns, who’re naturally bigger than the ponies, were usually around ten-hooves tall, which are three-foot-and-four-inches tall, but again by including their long necks and head, they are around fifteen-hooves tall, or five-foot in height.”
Discord stared at him with wide eyes; Discord was twelve-foot tall; so by his estimation with hooves, he would be thirty-nine-hooves tall. Same with Joseph being six-foot-and-four-inches tall, he would be considered nineteen-hooves tall. Discord reaches into his carpetbag quickly and pulls out a ghostly pegasi pony mare doll that would match the same height that Joseph had described, set it down by his feet. “You’re telling me they were this tall?!” Discord asked in shock, there was definitely a size difference.
Joseph nodded, and Discord picked up the doll as he said, “But their bite size?!” Instead of keeping it, he emphasized by putting the whole doll into his mouth and chewed softly like it was candy.
“I know,” Joseph replied, “to add another comparison; Saddle Arabian Horses ambassadors to Equestria are generally the same height as Celestia, fifteen-hooves tall. But they tend to grow up eighteen-hooves tall, which is six-foot, but add in their neck and heads, they be around twenty-four hooves or eight-foot tall.”
With Discord’s cheeks bulging as he chewed, he then opened and started to blow a pink gum bubble, shaping a pony’s head before it popped, covering most of his face with gum, using his snake tongue to pry the gum off and back into his mouth and chewing again, he spoke, “So thanks to that wish, the ponies produced minotaurs in later generations?”
“The Minotaurs are called Taurens; and no, they existed back then, not after the ponies lost their quadruped forms, they exist in their territory that is closer to the Saddle Arabia. They’re generally peaceful, closer to nature just like the tribes in the Africa continent, well me and my brothers call it Africa, the Tribes there call it Ica, each of their tribes are named like Zebrica, Konica, and there are a few more,” Joseph stated, “but we’re getting off the subject, basically that wish that Yandere Heart transformed all Equestrians into anthro ponies that you see today, mares having breasts on their chest, stallions needing to wear pants to cover their sheathes and sack, and besides hind hooves becoming their main legs, their front hooves turned into two fingers and one thumb hands.”
“I see,” Discord replied as they continued while he chewed his gum. More questions were coming into the draconequus mind, wondering what he should ask. Maybe about the civil war of the alicorns, he was about to ask. But a sudden shout had caused Discord to swallow his gum.
“Let go of me! I don’t want to be gelded!” yelled an anthro stallion as he was being dragged by two royal guards, gripping him by his arms and dragging him into the hospital.
One royal guard spoke, “You had three chances Golden Hooves; and you even refused to take the role of a stud. We’re just doing our job,” and as the stallion still begged, they went in and his yelling did cause a scene in the street, but in moments.
“Well that’s odd, wonder why they drag him to the hospital instead of jail for breaking a law?” Discord asked; feeling confused until he saw his buddy covering his groin and leaning in place like as though he was kicked there. “Why are you doing that?”
“It’s because they said an awful word…” Joseph said, sound a bit fearful, he would’ve continued until two anthro unicorn mares walked through them while saying.
“Serves that coltcuddler right, thinking he should only love stallions instead of mares,” sneered one of the two mares, the other giggled.
“Mmm, I like it when you sound so tough, so dominating,” the other mare said before the both of them shared a loving kiss before walking onward.
After a quiet moment between the two, Joseph said as he straightens himself, “I hate this place…”
“Mind telling me, I’m lost here pal,” Discord asked, “for starters, what’s gelding?”
“You been active longer than I have while stone; and you never once listen to screams from hospitals or any stallions whimpering over their loss?” Joseph asked as he looked up at Discord in surprise and confusion.
“I only heard yelling from mares when they pushed out babies, if they had windows open,” he replied. “Other times their just quiet, still it also been a long time I heard of coltcuddlers, I did see quite a several fillyfoolers making out when they walk by my statue.” Coltcuddlers is gay of two stallions in love, and Fillyfoolers is lesbians of two mares in love.
Joseph blinked in surprised, then he sighed and patted Discord’s back, “Buddy, I’m so sorry to tell you this, but gelding is basically vasectomy for ponies, cutting the balls off.”
Discord gasps in shock and fright as loudly as he cupped his owned hidden groin while crouched down in place. He stared at Joseph and the hospital in horror. All Joseph could do was giving him a sad look while nodding his head.
“In the ancient time, the equines do geld as a means to prevent two stallions of being in love, putting fear into them if they continued to refuse to have sex with mares,” Joseph said, telling Discord of its purpose. “During that time, the population was had like ninety percent of mares and ten percent of stallions. So to prevent the stallions from dying out, they created herd groups that are the starting era for equines with herds as well. During that era, they didn’t have Sperm Banks, luckily my brother Andracus known how to construct one for the equine, and with that, the law of gelding was removed and Andracus was a hero to stallions everywhere. But still,” he slowly turned to face the hospital. “By the looks of it, they brought back the old tradition and removed the cryobank that would be very beneficial for them. They brought back a tradition of if a stallion refuses to make a herd, they have the option of becoming a stud, and if they refuse to become a stud…. they be gelded and then put into hard labor. If I was that stallion, I would’ve fled the country the moment that old tradition was back.”
“Let’s get away from this cursed place,” Discord said immediately, Joseph nodded, and they ran off. They would’ve flown like specters, but chose to run away as fast as possible, just wanting to get away from such a terrible place that would allow gelding.

As the two spirits got at least a mile away from the hospital, and somewhere else in Canterlot City’s streets. They slowed down; Discord had pulled out a bottle labelled bleach and dumping it into his right ear, trying to cleanse his mind from the thoughts of gelding. It was now best to just not think about it. So once Discord had finished and put the bottle back into his ghostly carpetbag, he had noticed something nearby. Something that made him smiled.
“Say Joseph, do you remember that card game you and your brothers tend to play when you get together? The duel monsters or something like that?” he asked while looking down at the ghostly human with a toothy grin.
Relieved to not think of that word, and thinking of something positive, he smiled, “Yes, the card game is called Duel Monsters; originally Yu-Gi-Oh! Because of the labelling, but it’s easier to just call it Duel Monsters card game.” He then thinks about it, and smiled, remembering the time his brothers would get together once in a while, share stories of what the previous days that had happened, and how things in their areas are. And at times play card games like poker, but eventually evolved into playing four-way duel, Albert got interested and since Joseph has tons of cards, he provided him the cards. Of course during that era, most of technology hasn’t invented yet, no duel disks, so card game on a hexagon-shape table tends to happen. “Mmm memories,” Joseph quietly said, thinking about it.
Discord grinned, knew that would work, and he continued, “Well remember when I was young, I found your stash of cards?”
“Yep, I do,” Joseph nodded as he looked up at Discord. “Your mom brought you to me in my castle, asking me to look after you while she attends her duties. You were exploring through nearly all of my things until you found my stash of cards. Considering how young you were, we played the memory game, you were mostly fond of dragons and spellcaster cards.”
Discord smiled and chuckled, “Yep and I wanted to learn how to play your card game, but speaking of what you said, why did my mom leave me with you? Wouldn’t she have hired a babysitter instead of asking the Lord of the Crystalize Wind, or put me in a Day Care with the other children?”
“Unlike other races customs, dragons tend to have someone they trust and is the strongest to look after their hatchlings,” Joseph replied as he looked up at the ghostly draconequus. “Your mom trusted me to take care of you, and protect you, and I was basically the strongest being in the kingdom. Reason for this; who would dare try to kidnap a child from a powerful being? Dragon Lords and Ladies or Dragon Guardians have usually taken the role of looking after the hatchlings. It is also at times done so for the old and wise dragons to teach the young ones on basic things until their mothers come for them. As for why I accepted the duty, you know I’m fond of dragons and I learned their culture, it was an honor and I dare not break your mom’s trust in me. And I had my advisors or one of my trusted knights to do my duties when I either needed a break or to look after you and any other hatchlings under my care.”
That’s right, Discord’s mom wasn’t the only dragoness who chose to live in Joseph’s kingdom, and so were other dragon families. Discord did have a few childhood friends when living there, ah fond memories of how he enjoyed bragging to his friends when he told them he had the Lord of the Crystalize Wind as his foalsitter.
“So Discord, besides traveling down the path of memories, why did you ask about Duel Monster cards?” he asked, feeling curious. “If you wanted to learn how to play the game now, it would be a whole lot easier to do in dreams instead of doing it as ghosts.”
“Actually I was wondering on the fact of why you and your brothers didn’t introduce the game instead of hogging it all to yourselves as a poker game?” Discord asked with a small grin, crossing his arms, wanting to know.
Joseph groaned as he looked down and rubbed the back of his ghostly helmet covered with his left ghostly gauntlet hand as he answered, “Actually we did, it happened around five-thousand years ago actually. We had thought that generation was ready to learn and play our type of game, many of the young youths at the time enjoyed the game immensely…that is until one nation turned the cards into weaponry.”
“And how did this one nation turn harmless cards into a weapon?” he asked, having a look of confusion once more.
“Well…remember the seven millennium items my brother had bought from that cursed merchant, the golden items with an eye on each of them?” Joseph said as he described them, Discord nodded his head and Joseph continued, “Well remember this key detail, when I and my brothers came to this world, we lost most of the items we had bought from the merchant, but by loss, it was more like they didn’t existed yet. Anyways, the nation had crafted and brought forth the millennium items, we called them the Egyptians, but they were a tribe of Rakshasas and Canis Lupins, their home was Catro Egypt, so still Egyptians. They crafted the items, but by doing so, they revived an old titan of darkness, titans of old are very dangerous, destructive by the way, they mostly don’t choose names, so people of Catro named him; Zorc. We sensed him and the items and rushed there to stop the threat, while people of Catro suffered under the darkness of Zorc, spreading like a plague, his goal was the death and destruction of the whole world, and he couldn’t be reasoned with, he saw me and my brothers as mere insects to squash, and yet we’re the ones that were damaging him. Tartarus cannot hold that monster, any form of prisons or seals will not stop him, so the only thing we could do was purge him. Then, the young Pharaoh, Atem, also knew this fact, he and his court used the millennium items against Zorc, they couldn’t stop the dark one until we arrived, and they assisted us in taking him down. It ended up becoming a battle between Atem and Zorc, and the young pharaoh had summoned their Egyptian Gods; Obelisk the Tormentor, Slifer the Sky Dragon, and Winged Dragon of Ra.”
“Egyptian Gods? I remember seeing those cards, how are they real?” Discord asked, sounded more confused and wondering how these millennium items made the cards into weaponry.
“The millennium rods had Zorc’s energy, along with untold amount of sacrifices that were made into their creation,” Joseph replied. “With the power of the millennium items, they brought the monsters on the cards to life.” Discord’s eyes widen in surprise to that, so that’s what he meant of using the cards as weapons. “Of course, in order to keep the monsters materialized in the world, energy from the user is sacrificed, go beyond their natural limit and the summoner would die. Pharaoh Atem had summoned three of most powerful beings of the game. They were named Egyptian Gods, but were more like Titans themselves, like Zorc…young titans I guess. They fought with us and in the end, Zorc was destroyed. But from his death had brought forth a realm that is now dubbed the Shadow Realm. It isn’t similar to Tartarus or Hell or the Underworld; it was more of a hidden land, a hidden world where all the monsters from the cards now dwell. With Zorc’s demise, and the monsters that been summoned from the cards vanishing, going into their new homeland, the Shadow Realm. But sadly for the poor Rakshasa Lion, Atem, who went beyond his limit, his body died but his soul had merged into the millennium puzzle. The Egyptians performed the burial, and the new Pharaoh took his place, a Canis Lupin Jackal named Seto. But it wasn’t over; judgment had to be made towards the ones who created the millennium items, and because of what happened; the millennium items couldn’t be destroyed, the creators of those cursed items were banished to Tartarus. Then the next thing that had to be done is collect every single duel monster card in the world.”
“Why take away the cards from everyone else? The Egyptians were the ones who did badly with those cards,” Discord asked.
“Anyone with powerful magic, anyone who could perform a summoning. All they needed was a duel monster card and they could summon the monster from the Shadow Realm,” Joseph stated, he sighed and continued, “My favorite game had become a new summoning ritual for anyone who strong enough in magic, or a group of magic users. Anyone with magic in them, depending on their limit, could summon a monster from the Shadow Realm. And the millennium items, besides the puzzle is sealed in the Pharaoh’s Tomb, the other items were sealed away, hopefully to never be found, and there has been Guardians set in place, protecting the items and making sure no mortals never take possession of them. The millennium items each have a unique power that the wielder can use at will, but those items make it easy for the wielder to summon a monster.” And he took a deep breath and sighed, “And so, because of that event in history, I and my brothers have now become guardians of the cards, making sure they’re never to be used for summons. Out of the four of us, I was the one to take care most of the cards, including the Egyptian God Cards.” He looked up at Discord then, could tell what Discord was thinking as he had a worried face, “And no, you and the other children that played with those cards didn’t summon any, your magical energies were too low, after all, you were children at the time. And as for the idea of destroying the cards, easy to rip them, but very painful towards the ones that are connected too.” And then he relaxed, “At least we don’t have to worry, me and my brothers are careful with the cards, we never used our magic to summon any of them, just simple card games. And I have placed my cards in the same place I keep my stuff so…as for my brothers, not sure where they keep theirs. So Discord; did you still wanted to learn…how to…play…”
His eyes slowly widen as Discord wasn’t standing there, but on the other side of Joseph. Reason why, what Joseph was now seeing was a Game Shop advertising duel monster cards. Discord was previously blocking his view of the shop, but now with Discord moving out of the way, he could see it.
Discord chuckled with a grin as he walked towards the shop, while Joseph still stood where he was, staring at the advertising posters in shock. “Well Joey boy, looks like I can get my own cards, let’s shop!” Discord cheered as he carried the carpetbag under his shoulder before he, being a ghost, had walked right through the doors.
When the shock ended, Joseph rushed right through that door before yelling as he sees single duel monster cards on the shelves, each one asked for a different price while there are booster packs, “They raided my vault?! They stole my cards and made copies of…!” Discord covered his mouth with his lion hand.
“Most of the cards among you and your brothers are common right? And you keep most of the dragons, Synchro, XYZs, and pendulum cards, right?” Discord asked, and Joseph nodded his head. Discord grinned before letting go, “Then take a look, see if there are any rare dragon cards around here. And just so you know, I don’t see any.”
And the ghostly spirit of orderly air did so; he went and looked at most of the cards. After a while, he was slowly calming down, he then muttered “My brothers’ vaults must’ve been raided, someone took their cards and…and replaced human-looking monsters with pony versions.”
Indeed, for what he sees of Warrior Cards are anthro earth ponies, unicorns were the Spellcasters and the pegasi are the Winged-Beasts. He was starting to slowly be relieved by the fact that some of these cards are completely new, but he felt sorry for the monsters of the Shadow Realm if they see their new cards that wouldn’t look like them.
After a moment, he then saw what had halted him. He looked at two cards on the shelf, before he said, “Okay, I know he’s going to be annoyed if he saw that, but I know the other is going to be giggling at the adorableness?”
“Oh, and what’s that?” Discord asked as he came by, and then saw what the two cards that Joseph was looking at. They were Dark Magician and Dark Magician Colt.
The Dark Magician looks like a unicorn mare wearing Dark Magician robes and carrying her scepter. And Dark Magician Colt looks like Dark Magician Girl, but in male version of clothes.
Discord chuckled, “Think that’s funny, then come take a look at the Red-Eyes Black Dragon one,” he grinned while Joseph froze, for Joseph’s vault is the one holding those cards.
But instead of seeing cards, Discord had placed him right in front of a large poster. Confused, he examined it, seeing that the poster was advertising a new booster pack of cards that would eventually come out in a few months; a booster pack that is going to contain the rare card…Lunar-Eyes Moon Alicorn?
“What?” asked Joseph, looking surprised by this, heck by the looks of the card itself in the poster; it looked like a feral version of Princess Luna, in a battling pose. It was a Dark-Type, and instead of Dragon, it says Alicorn. The ghostly spirit blinked his eyes in confusion, “Okay, that is really odd, it’s like they replaced Red-Eyes with Luna, but they should know Luna exists, she’s a princess.”
“Oh there’s a card of Celestia too, oh Joey boy,” Discord snickered as he made a ghostly booster pack of cards appear in his talon hand after reaching at the booster pack shelves. As he was opening it, he said, “I believe it was called Solar-Eyes Sun Alicorn, which would replace the Blue-Eyes, right? Oh look, I got some Discord cards!” He cheered and waved the nine ghostly cards in front of Joseph’s face, and he could see that several of them are of Discord as different poses; Spell, Traps, Normal Monster, Effect Monster, Ritual Monster, Fusion, etc.
“Still, who created the…oh,” Joseph said till he looks the other way and saw another poster right beside the first, this time showing what looks like an anthro pegasi holding very rare cards in his hand. Joseph looked at the being, and he muttered, “Pegasus huh, wearing the similar red suit and same hairstyle that also covers his left eye, and his name is Max Million? He’s the pony version of Maximillian Pegasus.”
During his muttering, Discord put his cards away, but then froze as he saw a certain card on a shelf. Gone his happy joyful moment as he moved closer towards it, inspecting it closely.
While Joseph still gazed at the poster of Max Million, seeing that similar expression he had seen from the anime show of old. And the only way this guy could’ve gotten the cards were… Joseph growled, “Shade you little jackal, I’m going to strangle you if he has the freaking eye.”
Then he heard Discord growled before he turns and flew right out of the store, he looked really angry for what he had seen. “Where are you going, Discord?” Joseph called after him before running after him.
In the shop, as colts and fillies that enjoyed this game had been browsing around. The colt picked up the same card that Discord was looking at, before bringing it to the shopkeeper. He asked, “Sir, how much is it for the Felgrand Alicorn?”

The Spirit of Orderly Air followed right behind the Spirit of Chaos, nearly catching up to the specter that had come to a stop in front of a large fountain that rest in the middle of a wide area in front of a cathedral in Canterlot.
Finding Discord leaning his ghostly hands on the stone railing around the fountain, growling, angered, trying to calm down. The ghostly human walked towards him, he asked, “Discord, did something upset you?”
“Something certainly did,” Discord growled, angered still, then he felt the ghostly spirit’s hand rubbing his back. Discord spoke, “I just wanted to be away from that awful shop.”
“Discord, as a friend, I want to help you, I care about you,” Joseph calmly said to him. Discord looked to him as the ghostly human sat down on the side of the fountain railing, looking back up at him. “You can tell me what had upset you so, but only if you want to.”
Discord growled a little, then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before then turning around and sitting beside him. “All the dragon cards were replaced by alicorns, which would mean one thing,” Discord said to him.
“By the looks of it, but why would that make you…oh,” Joseph replied before he then realized why Discord was so upset. He sighed as he covered his visor with his right hand for a moment, “They either got the idea of him from the history books, or they just came up with…”
“What is the dragon called that is Light Attribute, cannot be Special Summoned except from the Graveyard, and only if it was sent there from the field, if that card is Special Summoned; Target one monster in your Graveyard, and this card gains attack points equal to that monster’s level times two-hundred,” Discord said in a serious tone, looking down at Joseph, telling him that he memorized the description of the card before leaving.
“The dragon paladin card known as Felgrand Dragon,” Joseph replied, before looking back up at Discord in surprise. “Wait what? They actually replace Felgrand with him?” he asked and with a nod from the draconequus, Joseph had his face in his hands, “Oh that is messed up. That alicorn was sent to Tartarus, he was judged and guilty for his crimes. The ponies must’ve seen the history books of him, what crimes he committed. But they’re treating him as a paladin?”
Discord nodded and growled, “Yes, and right now, I do not want to think about my father, I just want to have a good day with you, and not have it ruined by the thoughts of him. So before we stop talking about it, I want to know fully. Is he trapped in Tartarus forever, is there any way for him to somehow escape?”
“There’s no way anyone could escape Tartarus, not on their own at least,” Joseph replied, looking up at Discord while crossing his arms. “In order to even escape they must somehow get past the wardens and the guard dogs, there are hellhounds and Cerberus guarding the place; and it’s impossible to escape a hellhound if it has your scent, and Cerberus will go after anyone who dared tried to escape Tartarus. The wardens are the Guardians of Tartarus, assign to keep the prisoners within and face their punishments. The crimes that alicorn had committed is a life sentence, and the other inmates who have lighter sentences then he would avoid helping him.”
Discord looked down at him, remaining the same expression before he leaped upwards and smiled, “Well isn’t that a big relief! Now, how about we go do some more exploring, shall we?”
“Sure,” Joseph replied as he stood up as well. He looked up at the sky, and blinked in surprise, “Huh, by the position of the sun, the time sure is going by fast, by the looks, it’s past lunchtime now.” And he held his right hand upwards; blocking Discord’s snout that had leaned close to give his helmet covered head a lick. “Nope, I am not on the menu, besides, you been eating things all morning.” And he pulled his hand away, seeing that it was covered in ghostly drool, he wiped it off on his left shoulder pad.
“Oh but I’m just so famish, I’m skin and bones Joey, I need to get some meat on my bones,” Discord said, making himself look so skinny at the moment. Then in a mere moment Joseph poked his belly, he returns to his normal shape. “Fine, I’ll have you as my bedtime snack again,” Discord muttered, grinning as he turned away.
“Depends, we sure have loads of time like this, but right now, I just want to see what else had changed, and so far, most of things aren’t good,” Joseph replied; he did learned that Celestia and Luna are lying about the sun and moon cycles, then the discovering of one of the nobles carrying a Greed Purple Emerald that should be with the Greed Dragon Lord, then the discovery that the dragon balls had been used at least once, the technology in the world had seriously downgraded to the point that these ponies are definitely too dependent on magic and had brought gelding back, and then the duel monster cards. He wondered and worried on what else he would learn that had changed in this world.
“DONG!” a loud sound close by; it ranged once, signifying as one pm in the afternoon. Both Joseph and Discord turned to face the cathedral. It had sounded loudly, while they view the cathedral. It wasn’t overly big, it’s roughly the same height as any three stories building, with a single tower in the middle and the windows are glass-painted, certainly colorful. They also had some trees growing around it, nearly growing besides the building. There are stairs leading to the front doors.
“Well, time to see what other changes they had made during my sleep,” Joseph said as he started to walk towards it. And as Discord followed right behind, Joseph said, “In the old days, cathedrals were built not as a religious purpose, but a place for people to find safety, shelter, and sanctuary. At most, priests reside here; they follow the nurturing magical energy called Light. They teach to those with souls of purity, people who wish to learn. There are also paladins, unlike that fallen faker, paladins stand for peace, truth, love, and justice. They aid those lost in the darkness, suffering from pain and despair, providing their Light, their kindness. With the power of Light, they brought protection to those that needed; to help guide those away from the dark path of anger and hate.”
As the two spirits phased through the wooden doorway, coming into the main hall of the cathedral, Joseph continued, “The Light is quite powerful as well, but only works for those who have a good, pure soul, beings that want peace, not war, and they fight for peace, freedom for all. As for what I seen of what the Light was capable of, there are…”
“Glory to the Princess!” yelled one stallion, halting Joseph’s words and the two specters watched as what they see standing in the room were.
“Glory for the Princess!” yelled several Stallions of Mares, there must’ve been close to fifty in the room. By headcount, there were forty-eight members kneeling on the stone floor and each one wore what looked similar to golden royal guard armor, yet the gold seems to be painted on them, so it was difficult to tell what kind of metal they had used for their armor. Each of them must be between five-foot-and-four-inches to five-foot-and-ten-inches tall.
The pegasi wore golden-colored lightweight armor with some white silk robe that covered their arms, legs, and the rest in armor, and they wore helmets that covered their heads. Their wings are armored plated as well, but if they’re supposed to fly, it either means their metal is lightweight or there are enchantments on their armor to make it lighter. There were at least sixteen of them.
The earth ponies wore golden-like bulky heavyweight armor with some white-colored armor, almost stone-like in some parts of their body. Again their armor is quite bulky as well, and they were the tallest of the bunch. There were at least sixteen of them.
And the unicorns also wore golden-colored lightweight armor, but mostly chest armor, gauntlet, and hoof-guards, the rest they wore white silk robes with gold or red lining, they wore hoods that covered their heads, but their horns were visible. There were at least sixteen of them as well.
Discord quietly muttered to Joseph as they both watched, “I did not see this bunch before, either they were out of town or they’re brand new.”
“I am but a humble servant!” continued the main speaker, who revealed to be a heavily armored paladin-like knight. With no wings means that this pony wasn’t a pegasi, but because of his armor that covered his entire body, it was difficult to tell if he’s an earth pony or a unicorn. He stood five-foot-and-ten-inches tall and wore white steel armor that had golden intricate pattern; large shoulder pauldrons, armored gauntlets, and leggings and he wore chain white silk sash on the front and a cape on his back. He wore a helmet, the visor covering his snout easily, but no eye-holes either. And yet, he held a staff that was bigger than he in his left armored hand, the staff was long and had a cross at the top with a golden sun around it. In his right hand looked like a tome, a large book, and it was open, but he wasn’t even facing it.
“I stand ready to serve!” cried the armored ponies, and yet they were still kneeling, as though they were praying.
In the background, behind the leading armored paladin, standing on the pedestals were four statues, each one of the Orderly Spirits, each of them standing in different poses, like prayer stances or welcoming. The statues weren’t side-by-side; they stood around like a circle, standing with the speaker. And above and behind them was a large circle painted glass window with a sun, and a beautiful, artistic design of Princess Celestia herself.
“I obey without question!” called out the leading speaker.
“Obedience without hesitation!” replied the praying armored ponies.
The speaker raised his staff upwards and towards the middle, pointing skywards as he continued, “I am ready to die for her!”
“Only in death does duty end!” yelled the fully devoted armored ponies,
“For Equestria’s Heavenly Light!” yelled the speaker loudly, causing his armor’s lining to glow, like he was using light magic in some way to make it so.
“For the Nation of Ponies!” yelled the armored ponies, now they all rise to standing position, not nearly at the same time, but still in a praying motion as before.
As the speaker brought his staff back down, he continued, “Faith is purest when it’s unquestioning!”
“Faith is all that matters!” said each of the armored ponies.
“None can withstand our faith!” yelled the speaker once more.
“The enemies of ponies cannot stand before us!”
The speaker continued his speech, “Without purity, we are lost. From true doctrine never waver. Praise the Princess.”
“And strike down her foes,” said the armored ponies.
“The Princess protects,” the speaker said.
“The Princess is with me, and I shall not fear!”
“And so as proclaimed and decreed by holy writ!” yelled the speaker, bringing his staff down, making a loud thud on the stone floor. Sounds of that large tome closing as he yelled, “In the Princess’s name!”
What they were seeing is some kind of religious practice, and the way this place was set up, it was more like a church, and these knights or paladins view Princess Celestia as the Light, the Holiest One; their Goddess. And the way they have the statues in the room standing like as though they were her humble, obediently loyal servants, waiting for her to call for them.
“Huh, well buddy, it looks like that had changed too,” Discord said, still surprised by what he had just seen. But there was no reply from his friend. He turned to face, and look down, finding the ghostly human laying on the floor like as though he had a heart-attack, but had only fainted.
“Now when was the last time I saw you fainted like that, oh Joey boy?” Discord asked to himself as he looked down at his unconscious friend. He did try to remember in all of his memories, did he saw the spirit of orderly air faint.
He chuckled as he adjusted his carpetbag over his right shoulder before he bent down and picked up the unconscious armored human ghost into his arms, as he stood up, grinning; “If only wedding bells were ringing. I think we had enough of Canterlot for one day, time to take ya to my current home.” And he phases through the wooden doors, carrying his friend.

End of Part 1