This story is a sequel to School Daze

Cheerilee and Screwball expected a quiet Ponyville vacation. But Discord's back, and he's come for the children. Can Screwball and the Ponyville teens overcome the Lord of Misrule in their worst nightmares?

A fic placed within the universe of "The Chess Game of the Gods"

I was a video game programmer.

My career revolved around taking an idea for entertainment, programming it into existence, and making sure it ran smoothly.
You see, a game is only entertaining when it has rules. Rules that define risk and reward. Rules that set boundaries. Rules that, under no circumstances, should be broken.

Even the most open of sandbox games still have limits and I suppose one might even consider 'life' the biggest, most rewarding game of all.

So imagine my surprise when my skill set rewards me with an extra-dimensional house guest appearing in my closet who wishes to take my troubleshooting ability to the most extreme definition.

You see, Discord has started a Game. A Game that involves hundreds if not thousands of humans (or other critters) being drawn into a world I had previously only believed to be fantasy. Each of these Pawns in turn have (more often than not) a patron deity, their Game Master if you would. The Pawns cause mischief or engage in heroism, the Patrons gain influence and power, there may be a wish involved, and Discord gets entertained. None of this directly affects me however.

What does affect me is The Watcher (my visitor) needing me to keep an eye on this world for him, for reasons I can't completely comprehend yet. For Discord to agree to my involvement, I must also deal with Rogue Pawns and their Uninvited Patrons who would disrupt and destroy his Game in ways even he dislikes, since he and the other Game Masters can't become implicitly involved. Apparently it gets messy when they do that.

My reward for complying with both of them; a new body gifted with fantastic abilities, and the chance to explore a world I had only dreamed of and watched from afar.

The price of my failure; the potential end of everything, including the Gods themselves.

I am Alif.

I am the Arbiter.

I can't afford to lose.

In a moment of weakness, Chrysalis had more than a taste of Shining Armour's love. 11 months later, Twilight Sparkle finds herself a brand new niece by way of 'A small foal in a basket on my door step'.

Special thanks for the picture by Awilldrawforfood1
Now edited with DoomManta.

Tired of being alone, Twilight Sparkle makes a risky deal with Discord to get the stallion of her dreams. He turns out to be everything she ever wanted, but soon she begins to see that every deal has its catch...

Twilight slowly falls in love with Discord after unceremoniously being banned with him outside of Equestria. She learns to live with him as they encounter monsters on their perilous journey to find a place to belong outside of Equestria. Twilight must hide her weakness from Disco, and when he discovers it, he accepts who she is.Meanwhile, Twilight's friends go in search of her... Unfortunately, Celestia is upset that they haven't destroyed each other yet, so she sets a great trial over Dizzy... he must take care of the mane 6, as foals... Celestia thinks that she has this in the bag, but... DOES SHE?

We had never meant for it to happen. It was all just for fun, maybe a few laughs. It was just a game after all... just a game...

Discord, Tirek, and Grogar have been friends for longer than any of them will care to admit. But friendships tend to fade with time. What will happen when Discord's old friends release him from his stone prison? Will they relive their glory days? Or will they finally get fed up with each other? Inspired in part by the blog Discorderlyconduct on tumblr.

Going to have some adult humor in it, so if that isn't your cup of tea, I'd suggest passing on this one.

When a being lives a life of immortality, said being tends to become lonely, bored, and generally manic depressive...when TWO beings are immortal, said beings tend to become inseparable and the meaning to eachothers' existence. When—and stay with me now—THREE immortal beings are in contact, jealousy and rivalry is quickly spawned. When FOUR (count'em! F.O.U.R.!) immortal beings are forced to coexist, each with very different views on life and reality, love is sparked, hatred to grown, mettle is tested, and wars are waged...when one of these immortal beings spawns a split-personality dark side, all hell is reigned upon Equestria in a Cataclysm which is foretold to occur once every ten millennia.

Your body will be unprepared.

Please please please spread the word of this! I really spent more time on this than I have on anything, and it would be very appreciated if I could receive more than just a simple comment. Like...a review. What you liked, or disliked, and if you want, some critique. Also, tell me of any spleling or grammer mistakes and such. I will hugged you if you did, :D

Rate, favorite, and watch me, because that would be awesome!
I mean, um...if that's okay with you...that is...

Supposed to be read in addition with 'MLP Laboratories- The Outbreak'. Not in chronological order. The 'MLP Laboratories: the Outbreak' -Level at the beginning of each 'Freak Show' episode indicates between which two episodes of the main storyline it taking place.

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Twilight and her friends struggle to escape the treacherous world created to exploit them. But what is real, and what is merely a nightmare? Who are these ponies, where are they, and when? But most importantly: Will they be able to fight for their freedom- and to survive their horrible adventures?

After breaking free of his stone prison, Discord had some time to go about his business before anypony could get organized. A little chocolate rain isn't the only chaos he managed to produce.