That night, Scimitar entered the hotel room he and his dad were staying at and walked in on him cackling loud and hard with Greengear watching.
"THAT WAS GOOD! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED! IT WAS LIKE THEY KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING AND HELPING ME DO IT!"
"Dad, I think we should stop." Scimitar said.
Tartus continued cackling, but he stopped suddenly. He looked at his son and stared at him.
"Oh, dear." Jade said.
"What?"
"We're going too far." Scimitar said. "I think we should just tell them the truth."
"Kid, you don't know what you're talking about." Tartus said. "We've already done a lot to mess with them. Not only is Dawna gonna be too scared to tell anyone, but Discord is out of our way since he revealed his magic and his little cat that can grow to the size of a bear."
"I think it's more of a bigger cat, actually." Leaf said.
"What, like a puma?" Emerald asked.
"Yeah, there you go." Leaf replied.
"Dad, none of this is right." Scimitar said. "There's major distrust between the schools, Sunset was really upset, and people were almost hurt.
"And how is that any of our concern?" Tartus asked. "And while we're at it, why do you even care? You've been more chatty here than in any other world we've visited. I just don't see..." He paused before giving an even sterner glare. "What did you just say?"
Scimitar didn't answer. He stayed silent.
"You... said... Sunset was upset." Tartus continued with concern. "Why did you list that with the other stuff that seemed to bother you?" He then chuckled softly. "Oh, this is too rich."
"What?" Leaf asked. "What's so funny?"
"Birdbrain." Jade said. "Isn't it obvious? Sounds like Scimitar has a little crush on the hero girl."
"Son, you've got to get ahold of yourself." Tartus said. "What will she say if she learns you came from a petri dish? I bet she'd..." He then caught sight of a slight clench on Scimitar's lips. He then knew. "You already told her. Oh, Scimitar, you just love messing with me, don't you?"
"Okay, yeah." Scimitar said. "So I like her. Is it that bad?"
"Of course, it is." Tartus said. He then pulled out the Golden Apple and made it glow. Several different forms of yellow light escaped from it and made different constructs that followed his words. "Listen, you're simply not compatible. She's a hero, and you... Well, I don't even have to say it. I didn't breed you to simply care for others, especially girls. Why ruin the natural order of things?
"If you're talking about falling in love
Then I'm busting a gut
The son of a villain liking a hero
It's a kick in the butt
There's no room for having a heart
So put those feelings to rest
I'm your daddy, your flesh and blood
And father knows what's beeeeeeeeeest
If you fall in love, you'll ruin the dance
Between the good and the bad
You must back out while you still have the chance
If you do not, then you'll go mad
Falling in love is a big mistake
Don't fool yourself for goodness sake
Bad guys don't admire. We don't fall
We don't infatuate at all
WE DON'T HAVE FEELINGS WE'RE WILLING TO SHARE
Bad guys don't caaaaaaaaare
You've got to remember your important role
The next generation of vice
So take back the heart that she stole
It's wise to think twice
What kind of pension will you earn
When you care for girls or animals or emotions
How much have you yet to learn
We don't have time for devotiiiiiiiiiioooooooon
True love doesn't apply to our kind
We cast the curses. We don't extract
Get it through your young, stubborn mind
I know all this for a definite fact
Don't let whatever they say stick in your head
Forget about what she has said
SO SHE'LL CRY OUT HER EYES
SO LOVE DIES
SO SHE'LL BE WRECKED
HER FEELINGS UNCHECKED
SO WHAT IF HER VERY HEART TURNS BARE
BAD... GUYS... DON'T CAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE
BAD! GUYS! DON'T CARE"
"MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO BE THE BAD GUY ANYMORE!" Scimitar shouted. That statement bought him silence in the room. "You heard me!"
"Oh, no, he didn't." Verde exclaimed.
All the yellow constructs dissipated while Tartus put on a very disappointed and angry expression.
"Choose your next words carefully, boy." he growled.
"It's ridiculous!" Scimitar said. "Only a complete dunce would go this far! We've been from one world to another making deals and backstabbing other people! If it takes this much effort for whatever you want, then I'd rather stay the way I am where I am. It's less complicated."
"I really did hope you'd back off from this, Scimitar," Tartus said in a disappointed tone, "But if you're going to act like a child, then you will be treated like one. You are to remain here until we are ready to leave this world. Jade, Emerald, and Leaf will come with me to the final event tomorrow morning."
"What?" Scimitar asked. "You can't make me stay!"
"I can't," Tartus agreed, "But Verde can. Verde, keep an eye on my son."
"Yes, sir!" the big, green man said.
"You can't do this!" Scimitar shouted. "This world does not deserve whatever you have planned!"
"What do you know about this world?!" Tartus shouted.
"Apparently, more than you... you DUUUUUUUUNCE!"
"THAT'S IT!" Tartus shouted. "I have been patient with you, trying to be a good father and compromise our dealings, but you have become out of control! Remember, I made you, so I can also refine you! So once we get to our next world, the first thing I'm going to do is wipe away all your memories of this world so you do not rebel against me again!"
And with that, Scimitar stormed off into another room and slammed his fist to a wall.
"Careful, kid. You'll put a hole with that punch."
"Hey, forget you, Creeper! You don't know what I'm going through!" Scimitar threw an angry glare at a little, red dragon inside a birdcage.
"Are you kidding me?" Creeper asked. "The two of you were arguing so loudly, I'm surprised the other guests didn't hear it. I could hear you from here. And, perhaps we can help each other."
"What?" Scimitar asked.
"It's like this." Creeper said. "You want to be free from Tartus, and I want payback on him for breaking his promise to bring back Lord Kul'as. Also, I want the Golden Apple."
"Why, so you can use it to revive your old boss?" Scimitar asked. "Look, I'm not so sure I trust you either."
"Look, how about this then: you let me out, I'll keep a lookout for Tartus' turkey, we get that Discord guy since he's the only one who can match Tartus, we make it to the Friendship Games, we stop Tartus, you save the day, and I'll get the Apple. And, as an extra incentive, if I get the Apple, I promise not to mention this world to Lord Kul'as. Deal?"
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't. But right now, I'm your only option."
Scimitar took a moment to think. After a few seconds of hard thinking, he made up his mind.
The next morning, in Discord's mansion, the kid of chaos laid back on his bed staring off at the ceiling. He kept snapping his fingers making living balloon animals, cotton candy clouds, and jelly-filled bubbles appear out of thin air. Black Tie, Discord's butler, walked in and saw Discord brooding on his bed.
"Still not going to the final event of the Friendship Games, are you, Master Discord?"
"Not if Crystal Prep's going to be there." Discord answered. "Besides, if anything goes wrong, everyone will blame me for it or ask me what's going on even though I don't know myself. I may be magic, but I'm only human."
"Of course, sir." Black Tie said. "But I think you should go anyway."
"Are you just saying that to get me out of your gray hair, Black Tie?" Discord asked.
"Not at all, sir." Black Tie answered. "Look, Master Discord, when your parents won that lottery and hired me as your family's butler, I was nervous at first; especially when you've been expelled from different schools over and over and over and..."
"Okay, I get it!" Discord shouted. "What's your point?"
"My point is this." Black tie said. "I've seen your parents work hard on getting you to school, I've seen you work hard to get out of those schools, but I've never seen anyone work this hard to stay around. If you would rather be alone than with your friends just because of a grudge between you and Crystal Prep, then I'm sorry, sir, but you're dumb for thinking that."
"Okay, that last line put you on thin ice," Discord said getting up, "But, I suppose you're right. I should go on over and at least apologize for my meltdown."
"DISCORD!"
Discord jumped up in shock when he heard his name shouted so loud. Suddenly, the computer club from Canterlot High ran in much to Discord's surprise.
"Here's a new thing, it's called 'knocking'!" Discord exclaimed.
"Sorry, but you need to see this." Ricky said. "Where do I rest my laptop?"
"On the duckway." Discord answered.
"What's a duckway?" Marty asked.
"About four pounds!" Discord exclaimed. "Hey-Oh!"
"Oh, cute." Aaron said sarcastically. "Real hilarious. Meanwhile, something's rotten in the Friendship Games."
"What do you mean?" Discord asked.
"It's your magic." Ricky said. "There's an outside source triggering your anarchistic skills to sabotage the events."
"Word of advice," Discord said, "If you start the day using fancy-pants words, you're going to end up a very lonely man."
"He's saying something's making your powers act up during the games." Joe said.
"Wait, what?" Discord asked in shock. "How?"
"I don't know." Ricky said. "We've been spending the games trying to track it down. We thought we had a lead at the Tri-Cross Rally, but our method failed. But last night, something's been bothering me. And now, I found it. Show him, Devastator."
Suddenly, the laptop screen revealed a video of the teachers during the race. They were watching Discord cover Applejack with a blanket when Tartus pointed at the chairs at the other side of the track. The teachers turned to where Tartus was pointing and saw as the chairs start to glow.
"Yeah, so?" Discord asked.
"Look," Ricky said, "Tartus told them to look at the glowing chairs, but they weren't glowing until everyone looked. Somehow, Tartus knew what was going to happen, which has only one explanation..."
"What, you think Tartus is responsible?" Discord asked. "I know he's a few balloons short of one of Pinkie's parties, but why would he do all that?"
"I'll tell you why."
Everyone looked and saw Scimitar entering the room with Creeper on his shoulder.
"Nobody's heard of knocking anymore." Discord said. "Well, what do you want, Sunset's boyfriend?"
"Boyfriend?" Scimitar asked in a surprised tone. "No, no, you're mistaken. Why, did she say I was?"
"Focus, Casanova!" Creeper proclaimed. "We've got work to do."
"Hey, what's with the gecko?" Joe asked.
"GECKO?!" Creeper asked loudly in anger. "I'll have you know, you Masque-human counterpart, I, Creeper, am a well-respected servant to Lord Kul'as, and I will not take disrespect from..."
"Let's just say we both want to see my dad stopped." Scimitar said.
"You want to help us?" Ricky asked. "Why?"
"My reasons don't matter at the moment." Scimitar said. "Right now, you should know that I have some information for you. I don't know what his overall goal is, but I know what he wants with the Friendship Games."
"All right, pal." Discord said. "Spill it. What's he planning?"
Scimitar leaned in and whispered stuff into Discord's ear. The more that Discord heard, the more his face looked worried. When Scimitar was done, Discord could barely breathe.
"Discord?" Ricky asked. "Are you okay?"
"WE NEED TO STOP TWILIGHT!" Discord shouted in panic. "LET'S GO!"
Before anyone could ask, Discord ran out the room and everyone followed. When they got out, they saw a giant roller-coaster with tracks down the road. Discord was in the front cart getting the engine started. The others got in separate cars and waited before the ride began to move rapidly.
"Come on." Discord thought to himself. "I've got to get there before it's too late."