//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: D1ZK#rI) // Story: Rainbow is Magic Season 2: Disharmony, Disruption, Discord // by aceotaku //------------------------------// “Who, or more precisely WHAT, are you?” Spike asked as he and everypony gazed up at the strange creature before them. The creature in question chuckled as her held a bony claw over his chest. “Name’s Discord, Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony, the true original ruler on this land until your beloved PRINCESSES snuck in while I was sleeping and brought....ORDER to my masterful madness.” He sneered the word like it was something truly revolting. “And then they had the GALL to freeze me in stone before I could even get started on sprucing up what they ruined!” He chuckled. “However, that’s all water under the bridge now, I’m back now and I’m ready to continue where I left off! Oh I have SO many WONDERFUL ideas for this place!” Rainbow spread her wings wide, feathers glowing with magic. “I have no idea where you brought us or why you feel like this insanity is, IN ANY WAY, a positive thing, but we WILL stop you! Now return the Elements of Harmony at once!” Discord tutted in disapproval. “Oh come now, must we REALLY resort to violence so soon? You just got here after all....” “Where ARE we, anyway?” PInkamena droned with a glare. “Oh?” Discord put a massive paw over his chest in mock surprise. “Don’t you recognise your home? I do admit, I may have done a TINY BIT of renovation.....” The girls gasped in surprise as they looked around, as they saw beyond the checkerboard patterned plain of grass lied the town of Ponyville, though it was an odder sight than before. Several buildings either hung high in the air or walked around literally like excited puppies, leaving trails of dug up earth in their wake. The great tree that severed as the town library now stood tall, spiralling upwards several feet in the sky. A few ponies in town screamed as they tried to escape the madness and several others could seen looking like stick figures drawn from crayon, staring at themselves in horror. “Ponyville!” Twilight gasped. “How dreadful!” Applejack paled, mock fainting dramatically. “oh wow!” Fluttershy grinned wide. “This is really neato!” “It is NOT neato!” Rainbow Dash scolded, gazing at Fluttershy angrily. “Do you think those ponies are ENJOYING having their homes and lives ruined like this? NO! This is going to leave many ponies traumatised for weeks, at least, if we fix this, if we even CAN at this point! Now does any of that sound FUN, to you!?” Fluttershy frowned and shook her head. “I-I’m sorry Rainbow, I-I just...” The rainbow-haired Pegasus shook her head. “No, no, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell, I’m just...really stressed out.” Discord hovered in the air as he lay on his back, shrugging. “I don’t know why you have such a problem with this; I figured you six out of ANYONE would appreciate my artistry.” Pinkamena slowly looked up at the creature, glaring harshly and icily. “Why. Would you think that. And please say it in a sensible manner, you FREAK.” Discord grinned wide, merrily. “Oh come on now! You six are hardly what I consider typical of the harmonious nature of ponies: why, Rainbow Dash, you’re the ebst example of your chaotic nature! You’re a Pegasus who was destined only to fly and play with the weather, but you taught yourself to wield magic in a way most unicorn mages could only dream of!” “Wait how do you know that?” Rainbow tilted her head, confused. “You’ve been frozen in stone since before I was even born.” Discord merely laughed wryly and knowingly with a wink. “Oh I have my ways. And then we have little Applejack, a mare from a long line of farmers who by right should have been just like the rest of her family, not to mention a tomboy, but now she acts as a fashion designer and hair stylist who acts the most stereotypically girlish of you lot!” “hey!” Applejack stomped a hoof. “there’s nothing wrong with being ladylike! And I don’t have to be a farmer, either, I can live my own life!” “Twilight here’s the exact opposite!” Discord continued, pointing at the mare in question. “She enjoys farming even though she should be an adept of magic! Heck, she’d probably put Rainbow Dash to shame!” Discord casually floated to the side as Rarity leapt at him, causing the unicorn to crash to the ground. “Ow.” The mare muttered before getting up, glaring at the twisted monstrosity. “Why are we just letting this weirdo talk!? I say we bust him up right now, Elements or no Elements!” “How uncharacteristically aggressive of you.” PInkamena muttered. “Are we absolutely positive you’re supposed to be Kindness?” “And that is exactly the point I was getting at!” Discord proclaimed, his arms outstretched. “You six are the most chaotic bearers of the Elements of Harmony I have faced, I don’t understand why you don’t want to live in my new world! Don’t you girls think it will be just fun!?” Rainbow Dash glared. “Look, all I see is that the world is completely twisted and unnatural from how it’s supposed to be, and you’re the one doing it! We’ll stop you, come Tartarus or high water!” Discord shrugged. “Very well, it seems you girls need to be taught a lesson. Allow me to show you EXACTLY how WONDERFUL your precious Order is.” He snapped his fingers, the six mares vanishing in a flash of light, leaving Spike behind. -------------------------------- Rainbow Dash looked around herself, wide eyed as she found herself hurtling through space. Her eyes widened as she spied Discord in front of her. “Discord!” “You snooze you lose honey.” The creature said cheerfully, effortlessly moving ahead of her at a rapid pace. “You gotta keep up if you wanna catch me!” Rainbow Dash struggled to fly after him, determined not to let him escape. She had to get faster. Faster. Faster! No matter how fast she flew, she never could keep up, and little by little, even her goal was forgotten in the name of speed. ---------------------------- Applejack groaned, looking around herself. She was in her family’s farm, for some odd reason, and she was a filly too. She just couldn’t understand but her head felt heavy and foggy, like she just woke up from a deep sleep. She tried to remember...it was getting hazier...it was something important “Applejack!” she heard her father call out. “come help me over here!” The earth mare blinked. “Comin’, Pa!” yeah, that must be what it was: helping her family on the farm, like she’s supposed to. She trotted off tohelp her dad with the farming, any other thoughts forgotten and discarded. ------------------------------------ Fluttershy looked around her, her smile slowly falling as jeers, laughter and cruel names filled her ears. She cried, trying to tell herself it was okay, that it didn’t mean anything, but her voice was drowned out by the sheer cruelty around her. She had to hide. She just needed to stay out of everypony’s way.... ---------------------------------- Glittering gemstones surrounded Rartiy as they lined the silken dresses of various beautiful mares. “Come on, Rarity! Join the fun!” “Nuh-uh! No way!” The unicorn argued, inching back. “Nothing about this is fun at all!” The mares spun around her, her eyes soon filled with spiralling visions of blues, pinks, yellows an various shining, glittering gems. “Don’t be like that! You want to be beautiful! You want to be a princess!” Rarity struggled and shook her head, groaning. “I...I don’t...I...I....” “You want to be the centre of attention! For handsome stallions to admire you!” “I....” Rarity’s eyes flung open, spiralling in a trance. “I want to be beautiful....” ----------------------------- Twilight looked around herself, surrounded by several books about magic. “Let me go please...” she said softly, gazing up at the intimidating figure before her. “MY friends need me...” The figure of Princess Celestia gazed down at her, judgingly. “You may go once you have finished your studies. Don’t worry, your friends won’t distract you from what’s important, because you don’t have any.” “I...I don’t...? A-are you sure? I as positive....” “Now Twilight, don’t you want to learn powerful magic, to be my student?” “I...I..I’m not sure...I THINK I did but...” Celestia smiled. “Just study. Don’t worry, I’ll be here to help you if you need it.” “Th...thank you Princess...” ---------------------------------- PInkamena.... Pinkamena....smiled. --------------------------------- Spike looked about himself in shock as he got up. “Wh-where are they!? What did you do to them!?” “Oh, they’re fine, they’re fine!” Discord said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Those mares are just fine, they’re in town right about now reevaluating their life choices, I think you’ll find their new outlooks quite...enlightening.” Spike growled. “I-if you hurt them I’ll...” “You’ll what?” The mixed up, chaotic creature raised a challenging brow. “You can’t DO anything, you’re just the sidekick. Just run along and sit tight, leave me be.” Spike growled and turned, heading off to find the library, hoping Rainbow was okay. Discord sighed contentedly as he flew up high in the sky. “Well that was fun. Quite a change of pace, I must admit, but enough dawdling, time for me to REALLY stretch my...what would you call these, wings? Oh you left, well, I’m calling them wings. Time to stretch my wings, my arms, my legs, my various internal organs I may or may not even have or require to live! Now’s MY time, after thousands of years of slumber, I, DISCORD THE DISCORD, can strut my stuff!” various musical instruments appeared around him, filling the air with music as he began to sing. “Oh, today’s just so wonderful I feel like chuckling. Ha, ha, ha, ha. I feel all fuzzy inside like a duckling full of TARAAAANTULAAAAAS And now that I’m free Today It’s going to get WEIRD!” He hummed a tune to himself, hopping along a line of trees, each one transforming randomly at his footsteps. A umbrella, a flamingo, a giant pineapple, a snowglobe, and much more. He gazed down at the animals of the town, laughing to himself. “Oh, look at these creatures Not enough features Cats should breathe fire Beears should sing choir!” An ursa major sat up from deep in the Everfree, singing a choir tune as it looked completely confused and frightened. “Very nice!” Discord complimented, lifting a barn into the air, prompting a shout of alarm as it swung, spun and exploded in midair. “Look at this tower Under my power Look at these people PUNY AND FEEBLE!” Discord sat on a cloud, looking serious. “Look, I’m just poor Discord trying to save you From the delusions society gave you Gravity’s a lie! And so is the sky!” The world beneath spun upside down to illustrate his point. “Trust in my all knowing, all seeing EYE!” Gold coins floated from wallets, bags, and even the local bank, collecting into a blob of the stuff that Discord swam through, grinning jubilantly. He gazed into one, pushing it closer to show it has his face printed on it. “Look at this money! Who’s that honey!? Look throughout history How could you miss me? Seriously, I’m all over the place! Look at this weather I could do better Mandelbrot rainbows! Screaming tornados!” he laughed to his tune as he filled the horizon with distorted rainbows that were painful to look at and several flaming tornadoes that sported screaming mouths. He grinned as he spotted someone drinking a mug of coffee. “Look at that loser drinking coffee! hmmmmmmmmmmmm! Now it’s decaf!” The unfortunate passerby spat his drink in shock. “Ha ha Ha! ha ha ha hah! Look at these people Calling me evil Right back at ya But you can’t stop me! BAH DAH BAH DAH BAH DAH DAH! Now everything you know has disappeared It’s gonna get weird...” Discord laughed as he snapped his fingers, the wave of chaos and madness spreading from the small town, outwards to the rest of the world... ---------------------------- Luna and Celestia chased down the halls of the palace as they dodged foul smelling globs of the melting structure, looking frantically for their quarry. “Limestone Pie, you will halt and tell us what you have done to the Element Bearers!” Luna demanded. “How coud you willingly serve Discord!?” Celestia called out, looking angry. “You do realise he’ll likely turn on you once he’s done with you!?” Dr Prankie’s voice jeered. “yeah, well, even so, his inevitable but unexpected betrayal will be TOTALLY hilarious, and Equestria’s looking WAY more fun now, so WORTH IT!” Suddenly a giant balloon dog smashed through the wall, bearing Dr Prankie’s face. “And that’s Dr Prankie, NOT Limestone! I forged my own PHD I’ll have you know!” Luna glared. “Fine, if we must battle, we will!” However, suddenly, Luna found herself transmogrified into a massive, starry maned whale, Celestia becoming a small, perplexed kitten. “ooh! This is one for the album!” Dr Prankie grinned, pulling out a camera and snapping a shot with herself grinning over the two transformed princesses. “See!? Isn’t this FUN!?” Luna merely glared as Celestia used her small claws to poke a hole into the madmare, sending her flying further down hall with a mocking cackle. “That accomplishes nothiiiiiing! I’ll just come baaaack!” Luna snorted in annoyance. -------------------------------- At one Equestria’s best prisons, three prisoners sat in their room. “Pa?” “What is it, daughter o’ mine?” Bruised Bad Apple looked to her father. “Pa, why do ya look like Princess Celestia?” Rotten Bad Apple chuckled, sitting on a chair as he strummed a banjo, looking exactly like the aforementioned Princess. “Well, it’s probably one o’ them there ‘ancient evils’ ya hear about sometimes, running amok, causin’ mayhem an’ the like.” “So wouldn’t it be a good idea to take advantage and break out?” Bruised asked, her form changed to resemble Prince Blueblood. “Well, we could, but do ya REALLY think Equestria’s gonna be a safe place right now? Ah mean, assumin’ mah theory’s right, there’s a being powerful enough ta change ME into the most powerful pony in our land, doin’ tartarus knows what to th’ community, and yer sayin’ we should, what, risk encounterin’ such a bein’ just so we’re NOT safe in prison? Ah ain’t a gamblin’ pony, so Ah ain’t takin’ a risk like that.” His gorgeous mane shimmered in the air as he shook his head. “Nope, we’re stayin’ here where it’s safe.” “Hey pa?” His banjo suddenly spoke up. “What is it, son o’ mine?” “Why are ya playin’ me?” Worm-Eaten Bad Apple pointed out. “Well that’s cause mah real one turned into a rattler an’ slithered off, an’ would YOU try an’ get it back?” “Uh, no sir.” “Good. Now tune yerself up, Ah feel a song comin’ up...” ------------------------------------ Spike burst through the door of the library, looking frantic. “Rainbow Dash!” “Spike!” a familiar, though unexpected voice called out. “What are you doing!? You interrupted my reading time and I lost my place!” Spike’s eyes narrowed in confusion as he tilted his head. “Twilight....Sparkle?” The purple unicorn trotted over, rolling her eyes annoyance. “Yes Spike, it’s me, like it’s always been.” “Are you...are you serious!? Where’s Rainbow Dash!?” “Rainbow Dash...? She’s probably out there flying, as usual Spike, you know, trying to get into the Wonderbolts or some nonsense.” Spike paled in disbelief. “ARE YOU KIDDING!? Why would she be doing that, she’s not interested in that, she’d rather read a book than go to a Wonderbolts show!” Twilight tilted her head. “You hit your head or something, cause you’re obviously confused, that’s definitely me you’re described, not Rainbow Dash. Look, just come inside and we’ll talk about it.” “NO!” Spike snapped. “You’re sitting here acting LOCO while Ponyville, nay, Equestria itself is being torn apart by Discord!? We NEED you and the others to help stop him!” “Discord? Who the hay is that? Look, Spike, Ponyville’s fine, you just ate some bad gems or something...” “Look outside your window! Your door even! You’re one of the Elements of Harmony!” He hissed in annoyance. “Look, just come with me to talk Rainbow, we need you! Your FRIENDS need you!” Twilight frowned. “I don’t have friends Spike, you and the Princess are all I need. Now come join me and we can read this really great book I found.” Spike glared angrily. “No. I need to find Rainbow, and you need to...I dunno, think about what you said.” He turned, giving her once last spiteful look. “Some friend you were.” He ran out the door, calling Rainbow’s name. Twilight frowned in though, staring at where the dragon had been...then shrugged dismissively. “Fine, more tea for me. Now let’s see if I can find my place again....”