Prologue

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Long ago, when ponies didn’t depend much on technology, there deep in the misty part of the ever free forest was a cottage. It was late at night and a pony with pink hair and cream coat was singing her baby filly wrapped in a blanket to sleep while rocking in a rocking chair. She did not notice the window slowly opening and a creature crawled in the room. The creature was tall, had the head of a pony, had two different types of wings, horns, claws, and feet, and it had a long snake tail. It began to fly close to the pony and the filly with a creepy smile on its face. It was about to put its claw on her when the baby began to cry.

The pony turned her head up to she had had red eyes, big furry ears, and two huge fangs. “Discord, it’s naptime for the baby and you entertaining her is not helping.”

Discord rested his head on her shoulder. “I’m sorry my dear Flutterbat. I can’t help it, she’s just so adorable. Please let me hold my little Screwball.” Flutterbat rolled her eyes and gave Screwball to Discord. Screwball fussed a little as she was held by her dad. “Hush little filly, don’t say a word, daddy’s gonna make you a big chocolate bird.” Screwball began to giggle at her daddy. Flutterbat opened her bat wings and flew next to Discord. “Oh my little Screwball. I can’t stop staring at her, I think she’s hypnotized me.”

Flutterbat giggle at the comment. “Hypnotizing powers at five months?”

“Of course my darling. She is the daughter of chaos after all.” The blanket fell off the filly’s head to reveal purple and white swirl hair and a pink fur coat. Screwball’s eyes open to reveal purple swirl eyes. “Plus she does have swirls for eyes. I bet when she gets older, she’s gonna have your stare mix with my hypnotizing powers. Which means she’s gonna be nothing but a trouble maker when she gets older.”

“And let me guess, you’re gonna be proud of that, aren’t you?” Discord nods and wipes a tear from his eye. “Well since you have the baby, I’m gonna get me a few apple from outside.” Flutterbat flew to the door.

Discord flew between them. “Whoa my dear Flutterbat. You know it’s not safe out there. Let me get the apples.”

“Discord. You know I can take care of myself. Now that I’m no longer pregnant, you can’t keep looking over my shoulder to see if I’m okay. When you built your hotel, make sure you built a private orchard within walls.”

Discord snapped his claw and notebook along with a quill wrote that down. “Note taken. Okay darling just be safe out there. I may have put a barrier around the place, but nature still has a scary face.”

“You’re scarier than nature Discord, and I don’t think you’re scary.” Flutterbat then flew out the door and Discord began to play with the baby.

“Where’s daddy?” He covers his eyes and the baby blanks out. “Here I am!” Screwball claps her hooves together. “Where’s daddy?” Screwball then snickered with an idea. “Here I…” Screwball was gone. “Oh dear, my wife is gonna kill me. Screwy! Where are you? Where’s my little Screwball?”

“Boo!” Discord looks up to see a pair of swirls. Screwball was on Discord’s head.

“How did…” Screwball began to climb down his neck and into his arms. “Aww. You really are daddy’s little girl. You look chaotic, you sound chaotic, you feel chaotic, and…” he smells her then gags. “Yep… you even smell chaotic. Someone needs a diaper change.” He snaps his fingers and the dirty diaper is instantly changed with a new one. “You know for a very bad guy, I am such a good daddy.”

Flutterbat came up with a basket full of apples. “Discord, the builder is here.”

“Which means I have to get back to work.” Discord gives the baby to Flutterbat. “Don’t worry my love, once the hotel is built, you, I and our little Screwball will be safe from disapproving eyes and we will all be together forever.” Discord then flew down stairs to meet a changeling. “Let’s see the plans.” The changeling shows blue prints of a humungous castle. “It’s perfect but now my wife needs an apple orchard so that way she can contain herself. You think you can do that?” The changeling used his magic to start drawing on paper randomly then shows Discord. “Good, Chrissy was right when she said you were the best. Now get to work.” The changeling saluted then flew off.

It’s been 18 years, but to Screwball, it’s been three years. Screwball was now at the age where she was learning magic. Discord and Screwball were outside practicing.

“Okay just focus and concentrate.” Discord then made a cotton candy cloud and it rains chocolate milk. “Okay now your turn.” Screwball then focus then clapped her hooves to make a cotton candy cloud only instead of pink it was blue. Discord took a taste. “Blueberry? You always surprise me my little abomination.” He then noogies his daughter and she began to laugh. “Let’s see if it rains out of it.” He hits it and light brown liquid falls out. He gets out a cup and it fills up. “Apple cider? Again bravo my daughter. You make me so proud.”

“Aren’t you always proud of her?” Discord and Screwball look to the cottage to see Flutterbat leaning on the door frame. “Glad to see practice is going good.” Her eyes widen then began to sniff the air. “Is that a blueberry cotton candy cloud raining apple cider?” She tastes the cloud then the cider. “You really do have fruit bat blood in you.” Flutterbat began to hug her daughter. Discord joined the hug.

The moment was interrupted when they heard howling in the woods. Flutterbat smiled so big it covered up half of her face. “The timber wolfs are howling! The zap apples are coming!” Flutterbat began to fly all over place with excitement.

Discord smiles as his wife. He loved her more than chaos itself but not even he couldn’t get zap apples out of its season.

Screwball was looking at where the howling was coming from. “What out there?” She began to walk over the barrier.

Discord noticed instantly and grabs her daughter. “Whoa there little one. We never go out there, ever. Come on, let’s go help mommy get ready for the zap apples.” He walks over to his wife to set up the baskets.

Screwball stops as she still hears the howling in the woods. “Mommy, daddy, why not out there?”

Discord and Flutterbat stop what they’re doing and look at their child. She was really curious of what is beyond the place.

“Discord, what do we tell her?”

“Don’t worry my dear, I’ll handle this.” Discord went up to his daughter and held her in his arms. “Screwball, out there are big fearful creatures that take care of no pony but themselves. Beyond that are creatures called ponies that care for their own kind and destroy others who are different. I, you and your mother are different. They once tried to destroy us but no pony is brave enough to come in deep in this part of the ever free forest. One of the most reasons we stay here. But don’t worry, I will protect you and your mother from those who want to destroy us.”

Screwball cuddled in her dad’s arms. “Okay daddy.”

After the last day of zap apple harvest, they were eating the apples/sucking them dry. While they were eating, a changeling came through the barrier. Discord went up to the changeling then he began to buzz. Discord turns to his family. “It’s ready. Come let’s go check it out.” Discord then snaps his paw and the three of them were transported to a huge castle.

Flutterbat was surprised of this place. “Oh Discord this place is amazing. But are sure that only monsters can make it to the hotel?
“I am sure my love.” Discord poof up pop-up blue print. “The gateway to the hotel is in the ever free forest guarded by your manticore friend, and the barrier is surrounded by the homes of the changelings, curtesy of our friend Chrysalis. Not even the bravest pony of all of Equestria would dare to even look at the place. Come on my family, let’s pack and move to our new home.”

As soon as Discord snapped them home, Flutterbat went up to her room and began to pack her belongings. She was almost done when she found a picture of six ponies at a party. Two were earth ponies, two were Pegasus, one was a unicorn and one was an alicorn. Flutterbat started to cry from looking at the picture. She felt a caw and paw on her shoulders.

“I’m sorry you had to give up everything my wife. I wish I could have shown them I was reformed sooner.”

“It’s okay honey. They have shown that they only care of what’s on the outside and not what’s on the inside.” Flutterbat puts the picture in her suit case. “This picture is to show that they are no longer my friends. Now let’s go to our new home.”

Discord snapped all the stuff away. “You know I could have done that hours ago.”

“I know but it’s great doing things myself.”

Discord giggled at that. “Um, Flutterbat… I’ve been meaning to ask you… can we have another child? I just love children so much so I think we should have another.”

Flutterbat rolled her eyes then shook her head. “Honey, when Screwball is old enough to take care of herself, then we’ll have another child. I want to put everything on Screwball before we add to the family.”

Discord was sad for a moment then understood. “Okay, but I have to warn you, it will take one hundred years exactly to raise Screwball. She is part Draconequus after all and we age really slowly."

Flutterbat thought about it for a moment. “Okay, how about 99 years from now, we have another child? Since you put the immortal spell on me, I think I’ll be okay of waiting.”

Discord thought about for a minute. “Okay my love, by the time Screwball turns 118, she will be a big sister.”

“Speaking of Screwball, Screwball, ready to go?”

The little filly jumped in the room and began to float around the room. “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”

With a snap, Discord and his family moved in to what is now ‘Hotel Disharmony’. No Earth Pony, Pegasus, unicorn, not even an alicorn will ever find them there… or so they thought.

100 years later

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Present day

It’s been a hundred eighteen since the loss of Fluttershy of the mane 6. Twilight is now living in a castle in the middle of Ponyville. Spike was living in sweet apple anchors with his wife AppleJack. Twilight got married to the captain of the crystal guard, Flash Century and had a daughter. Sadly, Flash died in war and her daughter died a few years ago from a sickness that couldn’t be cured in time. Twilight was not only a wife and a mother, but a grandmother. Before her daughter died, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Star Shield. When her daughter died, she took care of him in her castle. As Twilight grew up, she looked more like her sister in-law, Cadence, but a little weaker. She once had five stars around her cutie mark but now there are only four ever since the huge incident. Twilight walks over to the portrait of when she was younger along with her friends. She cried when she saw Fluttershy in the middle below her.

“Oh Fluttershy, I’m so sorry. I have tried so hard to find you to tell you how sorry I was. It seems that you have disappeared from the face of Equestria. What will it take to make you return to us?”

“Are you talking to a picture again?” Twilight turned around to see a dark green unicorn with a light green mane and tail, with a chipped horn and white shield with a blue star for a cutie mark. It was her grandson, Star Shield.

“Star Shield, you are back from your trip. How was Equestria?”

“It was great. I went everywhere in Equestria. From beach in Fillydelfia to the statue in Manehattan. To see Aunty Cadence in the crystal empire, to see Aunt Applejack’s cousins in Appleloosa. Now I’m finally ready to go adventuring in the ever free forest.”

Twilight widened her eyes then flew down to her grandson. “Are you’ve been everywhere? Did you go to Las Pegasus?”

“Yep, those poor suckers lost allot of bits to me for thinking that I can’t play poker. I ended up buying a new scooter to shed with Aunt Scootaloo.”

“What about Cloudsdale? I can give you temporary wings to fly up there.”

“Okay two things, one, I think you’re too weak to perform the spell for that and two, Aunt Rainbow Dash already gave a tour up there with help from Aunt Rarity.”

“What about Niagara fouls?”

“Um… aren’t you forgetting what happened?” He points to his chipped horn. “This is proof that I am the most adventuring pony in Equestria for I don’t care what I lose. Which means I’m ready to go adventuring over to the ever free forest.”

“But grandson, you are still just a colt. Going into the ever free forest is like a suicidal mission.”

“Grandmother, I’m a grown Stallion. I am 21 years old after all.”

“Don’t remind me, it keeps reminding me that I’m old. Well not as old as Celestia I’ll give that. Don’t tell her I said that.”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. Oh that reminds me, is Aunt Pinkie Pie still… down in the dumps from Cheese Sandwich’s passing?”

“Yeah, her mane is still puffed out from that. It’s been 30 years since his passing and she’s still upset. Poor Pinkie Pie, she never got to tell Cheese how she really felt about him. But I know how it feels like to lose a friend you care so much about and you’ll do anything to get them back.” Twilight turns to the portrait again. “If only Fluttershy would be here to see you now.”

“She’s always here grandmother.” Star Shield put his hoof up to her chest. “It’s like when you told me when my mother died when I was young, rest her soul, even though you can’t see a family member or friend, you can always feel their presence around whether they’re dead or miles away.”

Twilight looks up to her grandson. “You have become wise my grandson, stupid from the stunts, but wise from the advice. Okay, be careful in going into the woods.”

“I will, oh you think I should bring Pinkie Pie along to try to keep her mind off of… you know who?”

“I think she would love that.”

“Okay Grandmother, see you again soon.” Star Shield ran through the doors of the castle with his backpack on his shoulders.

Meanwhile, in the ever free forest, a caravan pulled by a Minator runs through trees. He stops as he sees a Manticore in front of him. “Iron Will and family would love to vacation at Hotel Disharmony.” The Manticore step aside and Iron Will gave him a tip. Iron Will ran through a portal and it instantly shows the hotel. He stops at the front door. “Children, front and center!” 10 little minators stepped out of the caravan and lined up. “Now this is a family vacation! What do we do?”

“Don’t make a mess!”

“And?”

“Don’t make anyone miserable but the parents!”

“EXACTLY! BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY! Have fun.” The little minators ran to the door. A female pregnant minator stepped out of the caravan. “And you say they don’t respect me Honey Will.” Honey Will rolled her eyes. Iron Will gives a tip to a pony skeleton. “Make sure you take care of the damages the bugs make on my ride.” The skeleton nodded.

Changelings began to swarm around caravan and took the bags from the caravan and start to bring it inside the hotel. The hotel was filled with all sorts of creatures but the one that stood out the Draconequus that stood on the stairs.

“Welcome to Hotel Disharmony!” Some Timberwolves were playing in a mare-iachi band while Discord was passing out pamphlets to all the guests. “This hotel is voted most safe for the past 100 years. We have all sorts of activities at the pool, at the apple orchard, all leading to my daughter’s birthday celebration.”

A chimera walks over to Discord to get a pamphlet. “We look forward to this every year Discord.” “We just love the safety here.”

Discord nods. Then he sees a suit of armor walking to him. “Sir! We have a plumbing emergency!”

“Plumbing? I’m on it. Mr. Buzzington!” A changeling buzzed on over to them.

“There’s a clogged toilet in room 12.” They all looked up to a huge purple bear.

Discord chuckled as she whimpered. “It’s okay, we all stomach aches Ms. Ursa Major.” Mr. Buzzington look down to his plunger. (Yeah he’s gonna need a bigger one.)

Then all the little minators began to go crazy around the lobby. They began to jump and chew on the furniture.

“Kids! Iron Will told you not make other miserable other than your mother and father.”

Discord began to walk over to his friends. “Iron Will and Honey Will. How wonderful to see you guys here? Your children are beautiful. Just let me clean up their filth. Housecleaning!” More changelings came and began to set up the place.

Once they were done, all of a sudden, all the changelings stopped and looked over to door to see a big dark shadow coming in. Once the shadow was cleared, two creatures stood in the light. One was a dark unicorn named Sombra and the other was queen of changelings, Queen Chrysalis. When they began to walk, the other changelings began to bow.

“Sombra! Chrissy! How are you two doing?”

“Discord, we’ve been doing great. The ali… I mean marriage is going smoothly.” Chrysalis nuzzles Sombra. “Isn’t that right my dark hubby?”

Sombra nervously smiles and nods. Once Chrysalis was gone he walks up to Discord. “How is that you are still in tacked when you’re married to a vampire?”

Iron will walks to them. “Chrissy up at your neck?” Sombra could only nod in fear.

Discord puts his claw on Sombra’s shoulder. “Well my advice for being married for 120 years. Do whatever she says and shut up about it or she’ll suck the blood out of you. Of course that’s for being married to a vampire. But being married to the queen of the changelings? Follow the advice I gave you or she’ll send the entire fleet on you. I know you can just turn into shadow and hide, but with her army, she has more magic than you. So do whatever she says and shut up about it.”

Sombra rolls his eyes. “Okay thanks for the advice.”

“No proble-OUCH!!!” Discord began to rub his rump. “Who dare zap the lord of chaos?!”

A pair huge floating glasses started to laugh. “Guilty, you are jut irresistible, Dizzy.”

“Yes, very amusing Invisible Pony, how long has it been? It’s great to SEE you once more.” Discord, Iron Will and Sombra began to laugh.

“Ah that never gets old.” IPony takes off the glasses then slaps Discord in the face. Discord get serious then tries to slap him. “Missed me.” IPony then bucks him in the stomach. Discord got out his claws and swung three times. “Missed me. Missed me. Missed me.”

Discord then got a hilarious plan. “Alright, you win hold this cupcake."

“Why do I need to…” The next thing he knew, he was being tackled by Iron Will’s kids. Discord, Iron Will and Sombra began to laugh hard.

Their laughter was interrupted by glitter surrounding them and more coming through doors. Some glitter formed into a ball then formed into an earth pony cover in streamers. “Who’s ready to Party?!”

“Cheese!” Everyone cheers as Cheese Sandwich walks in the lobby.

“Cheese Sandwich!” Discord walks up to Cheese.

“Dizzy how’s it going?”

Discord avoid getting hugged by him and gives him a stern look. “I know I gave you the power to conjure up party stuff, but what is with you and glitter. It’s always with the glitter!” Everyone in the lobby was sparkling. Iron Will’s kids were having fun, but the others were all disguised and coughing.

“Sorry, it’s just that I’m so excited for the party! Can I please help with party again this year?”

“Of course Cheese. This isn’t just a regular little old birthday party. My little filly is finally a mare.” He looks up at the banner above their heads. Happy 118th birthday Screwball Discord wipes his eye. “They grow up so fast.”

“Yes 118 years goes by really fast.” Iron Will pats Discord’s shoulder.

“Well enough tears, it’s time to get serious.” Discord stands on a chocolate stool. “Okay friends, I am so glad you are here to celebrate. Another birthday for my sweet little Screwball and another successful year of refuge from them!” Discord conjures up a screen. Flipping photos of ponies. “The main 5 have been growing stronger yet weaker since Princess Twilight used her spell on them. Princesses Celestia and Luna have been going out of country for strange things courtesy of Sombra. Give him a hoof.” They cheer for Sombra. “Sadly that didn’t stop the crystal empire protection system. But the good news is that Cadence is stuck in the empire and no alicorn will ever bother us at the celebration!!!” Everyone went wild through the lobby. “Alright everyone, fun starts in thirty minutes.” He steps down the stool.

Honey Will walks up to him. “Discord, where’s Flutterbat? I need to speak with her.”

“She, along with my son Danny, are with the birthday girl as we speak.”

“DISCORD! GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!”

Discord chuckles as he hears his wife up stairs. “If you all excuse me, right now I must see my wife and little filly.” He heads for the elevator.

“She’s not a filly anymore.”

“You don’t think I know that!” Discord wipes a tear from his eye as the elevator closes.

Screwball is what once a little filly is now a full grown mare. She has her cutie mark of a screw and a baseball. She stares at into a mirror practicing her talk with her dad. “Dad, you said that when I turn 118, I could go out into the world like every other adult that gets to come and go from this hotel. ‘But my little Screwy it’s not safe. Mwaa, ha-ha’” Screwball began walking on the walls. “Dad, 30 years ago, you promised. I remember, we were both eating zap apples, and while mom was away, you specifically said that you gave me your oath.”

Outside her door was a worried mother with a little pony on her back. She had given birth to baby boy named Danny a few months ago. She had recently called her husband to come up here and explain what was going on. Then she heard the parasprites that hung on the doors saying do not disturb. She turned around to see her husband walking toward her.

“I’m here my beloved, what do you need? Apples? A nice bubble bath? Smoothie? Is it my turn to change Danny?”

“I want an explanation.”

The parasprite that hung on Screwball’s door began to snicker. “This is gonna be good.”

“When were you gonna tell me that you and Screwball made a thirty year deal behind my back?”

“Well this is my way of telling you my dear. I promise that this won’t end badly.”

“That’s what you said last time.” Discord glared at the parasprite.

“You do your job. Come along dear we must attend the birthday girl. And whatever you do, don’t over react. I know what I am doing.” Discord opens the door to the room. “Good morning Screwy, happy birthday, my little girl.”

Screwball was hanging from the ceiling and looked down at her dad. “Thank you dad. I know it’s my birthday.” She jumps down to see her baby brother. “Hey Danny, how’s my little brother?” She tickles her brother and he begins to laugh.

“Your mother and I have so much fun planned. But first, why don’t we go have some fresh apples from the orchard, just the four of us? How does that sound?”

She stopped tickling her brother then stares at her parents. “Later… Mom, dad, there’s something we have to talk about.”

“You want to go out to see the world, you can.”

“Aha! I knew you were gonna say that. But dad, you gave me your oath. ‘As a draconequus of chaos, I will…’ Wait what?”

“Yeah, I agree WHAT!”

“I said she can go.”

“Screwball, please tell me he’s lying. You have the senses of lies. So please tell me he’s lying.”

Screwball stared at him then squeals and hugs her dad. “He’s not lying! I can go out.” Screwball ran to her closet, used her magic to pack everything she can in a suit case, turned into a vampire pony (since her mom is one), then began to fly out the window.

Discord caught her by the tail. “Whoa there little one. Where are you going?”

“Oh well I’m going to paradise, and this is stuff that I thought I would need.”

Discord and Flutterbat stare at each other then back at her. “Paradise?”

Screwball turned back into a pony and got out a picture of Discord and Flutterbat at Neigh’agara falls. “Yeah, that place where you two fell in love. Auntie Honey Will says you two were just like, zing.”

Discord began to scratch behind his head. “Well, I don’t know about the zing thing. Where did you find that picture?”

“From you guys’ room. Why don’t you tell me how you two met?”

“It’s actually called Neigh’agara Falls.” Screwball nods in agreement. Discord pats her on the head. “Look, Screwy, I know you’re excited, but everyone has come all over Equestria just to see you for your birthday.”

“I know, they always do.” Screwball sits on the edge of the window turning into a vampire pony. “Aren’t I getting too old for these parties? They’re great, but… I really want to see knew things. Maybe meet somebody my age.” She stares at her parents with a sad look on her face.

“Oh no. Don’t look at me like. Don’t give me the pouty bat face.” Discord sighs in defeat. “Okay there is a village just past the changeling homes. It should be good enough for your first time.”

Screwball thought about it for a second. “Well… it’s not Neigh’agara falls but it’s still technically out there.” She puts her suit case in the closet then hugged her dad. “Thank you for trusting me, dad.”

“Of course my child, I gave you my word.” Discord gave a worried look to his wife.

Suddenly, all of Discord and Flutterbat’s friends came in the room. They all came to Screwball.

Sombra was the first to speak up. “Are you excited for tomorrow?”

“Not as I am excited right now. You are not gonna believe this, but dad is letting me out to see a pony village.”

“What?!” Chrysalis walked up to Screwball. “Discord are you crazy? Are you forgetting what you’ve been telling us? They hate us, they think we are misfits, and they’re REALLY LOUD!”

“Aunt Chrissy, maybe they’ve change. I’m just gonna go down there and see how it goes.”

Honey Will was the first of encouragement. “Well you stay safe girl.”

A pair of floating glasses spoke up. “Watch out for pitch forks and torches.”

“Don’t let anyone scoop your brains out.”

“Maybe stay in an ally, it’s best to not look too close.”

Sombra stopped them all from saying anymore. “Guys stop it. This is the daughter of chaos we are talking to.” He looks straight into her eyes. “But seriously, I think I speak for everyone that if you see a pony with feathered wings and a horn on the head, use your powers to come straight here. Those kind of ponies are dangerous for us.”

Everyone nodded at that. “Okay, Uncle Sombra. I’ll do that.” Screwball walks up to the window and then looks back at her friends and family. “Bye everyone, wish me luck.” She jumped out the window and enjoyed the falls. She turned into a vampire pony and began to fly over waters.

Fluttershy was worried out her hooves. “Discord, I can’t believe you just let her go like that. I mean I’m proud of you but…” She looks around for her husband. “Discord, where did you go?”