The land around them became forested, heat came in even though the trees covered most of the sun. For some reason, this seemed too familiar to Discord. And then he heard some voices, and a faded memory came into his head.
"Why are there so many trees covering the sun?," he remembered asking. He must have been three or four because he looked way shorter than he usually was.
"Eh, i guess the Spring Alicorns's may have overdid their work," said a female voice, who liked quite a lot like a draconequus. "Hey maybe we should head out there and ask them to take leaves down."
"Isn't that the Fall Alicorns's job?," he remembered asking.
"Spring, Fall whatever," said the female draconequus. "Heck just cause I'm freaking Princess of Centaria doesn't mean i have to be so
casual."
"You always say that as an exuse for slacking off," he remembered saying.
"Me slacking off? Please, that's Clover's job," said the female draconequus.
"Again, exuses," he remembered saying as he smirked.
"Pffth, whatever Discord. You want be Prince Casual, fine by me," said the female draconequus. "But i sure hope you aren't too casual for hugs." He remembered being hug by her, but who was she?
"Sis!," he remembered saying. Sis? But why had he called her that? The memory faded before anything else happened.
"You okay?," asked Fluttershy as she walked alongside a zoning out Discord.
"What, oh? What do you mean?," asked Discord, looking at the pegasus.
"You seemed to be, zoning out," said Fluttershy.
"Yeah uh," started Discord, but thought, what could he say? Even he couldn't make sense about what had just happened. Weren't you the one who said there was no fun in making sense? A voice said in his head. Dang it! He hated it when something he said was backfired by something he said. Wait does that even make since? Uggh! This was all too confusing to take in right now. It wasn't like the heat from this place wasn't affecting him. And just as he suspected, it began to affect the others.
"How long till the next village?" Rainbow whined as she flew low, the heat weighing upon her.. "We've been walking on for hours."
"You mean we've been walking on for hours," said Applejack. "Ya have been flying and not placing a single hoof in the ground. You shouldn't be complaining how your hooves hurt."
"Uh, I'm talking about my wings AJ," said Rainbow. "Anyone with half a brain would know that."
"Are you suggesting I'm dumb?" said Applejack giving Rainbow a stern look.
"I'm just saying you should know what I was implying." said Rainbow.
"Well if it's too much trouble why don't ya take your poor wings back to Equestria?" said Applejack.
"Duh because you totally need my awesomeness to survive this place," bragged Rainbow.
"We have alicorn magic, dracunaquus magic, and a dragon who could contact Princess Celestia in case of emergencies," reminded Applejack. "I think we'll do just fine without you."
"Oh so now I have to leave just because I asked," said Rainbow. Both mares stopped, glaring at each other as the others groan for another one of their usual fights began.
"Well if it's such a problem maybe ya should leave," Applejack finally snapped.
“You’re the one with the problem. Why don’t you leave?” Rainbow retorted.
"Cause I ain't bragging about myself." said Applejack.
"I'm this close to taking their mouths away,"
"Just don't," said Fluttershy. "It'll only get worse. Trust me, I know."
"Uggh can you two stop fighting?" Rarity complained. "The heat of this place is already tiresome enough."
"Oh, so that's the problem Rarity," Applejack rounded on her. "You being tired and hot while our homeland is getting destroyed?"
"Well, how can you simply think in this heat?" said Rarity. "Though I'm not surprised that a farmer doesn't know heat when there is."
"Can all of you just shut up?" interrupted Discord [Suggested rewrite: Discord interrupted].
"Oh, sorry are we annoying you," said Rainbow. "Then why don't you go back to the Canterlot Gardens if it's such a big problem.”
"Rainbow Dash now that's a bit too harsh don't you think?!," yelled Fluttershy defending her friend.
"Oh don't worry dear, I think maybe I should just blast her there and see how she likes being a monument," said Discord.
"QUIET!," yelled Twilight, turning around and stomping her hooves in front of her friends, grabbing their attention. "In case you don't know, Fighting and arguing won't get us anywhere. Just forget about it. Please, for the sake of Equestria."
Rainbow, Applejack, and Discord stopped but gave themselves menacing glares as the group continued on their way.
"Now, if my calculations are correct," said Twilight. "There should be a village nearby. Now if they pose a threat, we avoid them and run away. The last thing we need is a war. Got it?"
Her friends nodded, sighing in relief as the crisis between her friends was averted. The group continued to a town which was larger than Torrid's, also much brighter. According to the map this place was known as Mothia. It was getting darker than what the place usually was , and the group was getting tired (except for Discord because heaven knows how that guy doesn't get tired). Torrid had told them to stay away from anyone and any place, but for all Twilight knew it could be another lie. For instance, how could friendship not exist here? She was sure that the Phoenix Pegasus had been pulling her leg. There was not a single possibility that was true.
"I think we should camp in that village there," said Twilight.
"Can't we camp out here?" asked Applejack. "I mean, it would be safer than being in that strange village."
"Yeah, and I wouldn't want to be called ‘pet’ or stared at and get driven mad," said Discord. "If you guys want to go with more crazy ponies, go ahead. I'll stay here. Last thing I need is break absolute chaos in there."
"But wouldn't it be a little dangerous for you to stay here by yourself?" asked Fluttershy concerned.
"Don't worry, my dear," Discord chuckled. "Nothing can scare me, believe me. Plus I have the power to bend reality, I'm more than sure I could handle myself." He snapped his fingers as a campsite appeared with a small fire and a tent. Everypony groaned and rolled their eyes except for Fluttershy.
"Okay," said Fluttershy calmed down a little. "I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Don't you worry your little head," said Discord. "You should be the one worried. Even I don't like the looks of this place."
Twilight was more than happy to agree, not knowing if the Spirit of Chaos could control himself and not break havoc upon the village. Not to harm his feelings though she knew she couldn't, but Celestia telling her he would be helpful was nothing but bullshit. He hasn't done a single thing for them. Maybe Princess Celestia only told them to bring him along so he wouldn't try to turn Ponyville, make that Equestria into the chaos capital of the world. Uggh sometimes she wondered why Princess Celestia had even thought of reforming him. Has he ever used his magic for good? No. All he does is annoy her, get on her nerves, and put her life at times in danger. Sometimes she thought if she actually cared about friendship. She meant, it was pretty easy for him when he had betrayed them to Tirek. But then, she thought, sure at times he may get on her nerves and be a little, reckless. But, who was she to judge? She was the Princess of Friendship, and sometimes she felt like she wasn't when she thought of those nasty things about him. Sure he's still learning and makes mistakes, and so did she. He has Fluttershy to guide and help him at times, and she had Princess Celestia who had helped and guided her. He-
really was just, doing things like she was. So they agreed and the Mane and Spike walked over to Mothia.
***
Discord had been aimlessly wandering around his campsite, looking for any small creatures to play with. (And by 'play' he meant laugh at them while they ran and kept slipping on soap) He snickered at the thought. But then he realized something. Ever since entering the Outlands, not a single animal or insect or anything living besides the plant life (which was strange to how it could survive since barely any sunlight came in and it was a desert here) and those pesky Phoenix Pegasi. Discord growled at the thought of them, the a sneer made its way n his face. Maybe he should pay them a little visit, have some fun while he was at it. After all, who would stop him?
You traitor!," a stallion had said. "You think you can fool us with your act? We all know sooner or later you will backstab us all again!"
The hurtful words and insults echoed through Discord's head, as they slowly made way to his heart, slashing daggers at it. What was he thinking? It wasn't too long since his-
Don't say it! Don't say it! He stopped himself before he said the word. And don't think about it either! But he couldn't help but let the memories rush in. So much pain and misery he had caused, and he still does, and still wants to! Sometimes even he felt as if he was confused, stuck in a maze not knowing which path to take.
"What does it matter anyways, they'll always see me as a monster no matter which path I take," said Discord to himself, letting out a sigh He kept talking around, exploring the area, then his ears perked up at a branch snapping. Turning he followed the sound, as his talons filled with a yellow aura.
"Who's there?!," asked Discord as he felt on walking where the sound was.
"Um, D-,d-,discord is that you?," asked a soft voice.
Discord stopped for a moment and cocked his eyebrows. "Fluttershy?" He followed the voice back to his campsite and looked at the butter coated pegasus sitting near the fire.
"Oh uh, hey D-,discord," said Fluttershy as she turned to him.
"Fluttershy?," asked Discord. "What are you doing here?"
"I uh, just wanted to talk to you," said Fluttershy.
"Oh are your precious friends bothering you my dear?," said Discord smiling. "Maybe the whole 'magic of friendship' crap from Sunbutt really is nothing but baloney." He snapped his talons as a piece of baloney with the word "friendship" on it appeared. Usually he would have expected a giggle from Fluttershy but instead he got a stern look.
"How dare you insult my friends and our Princess like that?," asked Fluttershy with a stern tone.
"Correction: she is your princess, not mine," said Discord. "I don't live under the democracy of no-fun Sunbutt."
****
Unbeknownst to Discord Torrid had been creeping around, her flames nothing but a flicker as she carefully stood hidden behind the trees, inspecting the draconequus.
Looks just 'ike her brozer thought Torrid. Crimzon eyez, bat wing, snake tail. Only zing mizzing iz hiz white hair on 'im but guezz it fell out. She slowly and carefully reached into her saddlebag and grabbed a small potion. It had a red liquid in it which she silently slid it behind Fluttershy's, or rather her little spell like Fluttershy, and grabbed her marionette cross, and pulled the strings to her little puppet.
***
"Still that isn't an exuse for you to be selfish," said the fake Fluttershy.
Discord groaned and rolled his eyes as Fluttershy lectured him once again. As if Twilight's lectures weren't enough.
"Hey I uh, brought you something," said fake Fluttershy as she pulled out a small vase with red liquid inside it.
"Is that punch?," asked Discord. "You know I'm not really a fan of juices, a bit to plain. But punch is good because it is a mixture of all sorts of fruits that don't even look alike combine into a single liquid. You know, sometime you ponies can be chaotic."
"I got it from Mothia and decided to bring something for you and talk with you so you wouldn't be alone," said Fluttershy smiling.
Discord took the vase and gulped it entirely, vase and all. "That was very kind of you my dear but oh,what can I expect from the Element of Kindness herself?"
Fluttershy froze for a moment, a blank look filling her face. "I have to go," she said as she scurried off.
Well that was weird thought Discord. Suddenly he felt a searing pain burn inside him, gasping out for air. He collapsed on the ground, clutching the grass as he gasped even more. He began to lose consciousness as a very VERY familiar Phoenix Pegasi appeared into view.
"And he iz ztupid az well," said Torrid. Discord couldn't even talk back as more pain came in. All he could do was growl at her ad glared, before another sharp pain came in and he couldn't fight it off. He lost consciousness and Torrid sneered at this. Her smile grew wider as she realized just how skinny the draconequus was, seeing how light he must be. Grabbing a net she had brought with her she pulled Discord in and flew off, being slowed down a bit but not too much.
****
"Okay let's see here, hmm I guess this is it," said a unicorn mare as she walked through the woods. Then she heard cackling fires and snickers from somewhere.
"What in the name of Lucena?," said the mare as she followed the sound. Her eyes grew wide as she saw Torrid dragging behind-
No. It, it couldn't be. The mare stepped back. How? How had he come back? Had he remembered? Had her spell worn off? And how long had it been since, then? Maybe she, her friend, wasn't talking crazy when she said he brother would stop his reign, using an army to do so. Was it really happening? If so then she had to find the others. She eyed a campsite and decided to go there and investigate.
"Oh Akiko I hope ya weren't talking bullshit when ya said those words," said the mare as she teleported to the campsite. If she helped the draconequus, then Torrid would have beaten her with her army. But if the draconequus really was who she thought, then maybe, just maybe, Centaria would once again be itself.