//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 Fear of Chaos and The Dark Lessons // Story: Showy Chaos // by HeartfireFirebrand //------------------------------// I woke up and I looked around the room trying to get my bearings. It looked like a medical wing in a castle. The sound of something outside heading to the room, I hid under my blanket. I then saw the mismatched creature enter the room, I screamed as I tried to get up, only for the pain to prevent my movement. I closed my eyes as the creature approached, I prepared for the end. I waited for several moments before I realised nothing happened. A soft and calm voice said “There is nothing to be worried about. It’s just your friendly Draconequus, Discord.” I opened my eyes and curled up into a ball, scared of who was in front of me. I heard all the stories of him, about how he enslaved Equestria, how he burned ponies alive. I felt like I was in a cage. He put his claw on my shoulder “Don't worry your safe, I just hope you recover quickly.” My eyes opened wide as I saw the Lord of Chaos with a genuine smile plastered across his face. I begged “Please, don’t hurt me.” He frowned as he asked “Why would I hurt you? Am I scary in some way?” I replied nervously “You're King Discord, you burned ponies alive for the fun of it and pick their bones clean once they're nice and cooked.” Discord looked away from me for a few second before saying “I am not like that anymore.” He turned to me smiling and said “I’m going to take care of you until your injuries recover.” I was confused and to add to my confusion I saw a tear drop to the floor as he spoke. He was nothing like what the stories told me. I asked nervously “Um King Discord, where am I and why?” He replied “Please call me Discord and as for why you are here, you were badly injured by a crowd. I am taking care of your wound and giving you a safe place to stay.” I stared at him for a few moments. He said as he put a platter of food next to my bed “I have to go, don’t leave you bed you still have to recover from your injuries.” I felt bad for being scared of him when all he showed was kindness but I couldn't shake that feeling of dread. Discord. I step out of my home, thinking on what Trixie had said. I had to speak with the princesses so I teleported to Canterlot and begin on phrasing my questions as I walked. I probably should've asked about what happened in the last thousand years I was gone that caused ponies to be fearful of me. I wasn’t watching were I was going and a unicorn bumped into me. He shouted “How dare you bump into me, I’ll have you...” He saw me and ran shouting “I’m sorry, please don’t turn me into a squirrel.” I shook my head, there was once a time I would revel in the fear of ponies but now, I despised it. By the time I got to the castle I still had no idea what to ask. I entered the castle and then looked around to find no trace of the princesses. I asked one of the royal guards and he informed me they had travelled all the way to the Crystal Empire. I teleported to the Crystal Empire train station and waited for the Princesses to arrive. I waited for 10 minutes before a voice shouted “Discord, what are you doing here?” I replied “I am here to ask you a question but since you are all the way up there I’m sure my question can wait.” I looked behind her only to find to find my first friends. I saw Rarity standing at the back looking down, I couldn’t help but glare at the unicorn much to the princesses confusion. Celestia asked “Why are you glaring at Rarity.” She had frowned at me. I had an idea why, I was a reformed villain and Rarity was a guardian of Equestria. I replied angrily “She used dark magic against another pony and I am now taking care of that pony in my own home!” Celestia asked looking behind her “Is this true.” Rarity didn’t move at all. Rainbow, Twilight and Spike nodded. Celestia said “Sorry Discord , I have misjudged you again, I will answer your question after we resolve this issue.” I calmed slightly and asked “Why are you here, anyway?” Celestia said “Sombra’s back and he's headed here. I could only assume for nefarious purposes. I fear for the Crystal Empire.” I said as we started to walk toward the castle “ I don’t think that’s an issue Celestia, he has been reformed like me.” Celestiafrowned as she continued walking, she couldn’t believe what I had just said. I noticed that except Rarity, the Elements of Harmony didn’t believe it either. Applejack said “Ah can’t believe it, Sombra was bitter to the core. He was worse than you, Discord.” All of them except Rarity nodded at the remark. Rarity opened her mouth trying to maintain her composure, “Discord is right, the resulting damage from my outburst would have been much worse had Sombra not confronted me.” Me, Celestia and Luna looked confused at the white unicorn. We walked on in silence until we arrived, the shock of that event rendering us speechless. All 10 of us had arrived at the Castle and were immediately escorted to the throne room. I was finally glad to have some real time to admire the castle. When we entered the throne room. Prince Shining Armour was deep in thought much to his wife's worry. Shining looked up and with all the restraint he could muster said coldly “It’s good to see all of you, even you Discord.” I felt the venom in his words. Celestia asked “We saw Sombra heading to the Crystal Empire and we were all concerned except Discord. He believes Sombra’s been reformed.” Shining said “Discord is correct, he has.” He then shouted “Sombra get out here now, before I drag you down here, the princesses are here!” I watched everyone who came with me get defensive at Sombra's presence. He then walked down and bowed to the Princesses. He said as he bowed “Princess Celestia and Luna, My apologies for my past mistakes. I hope I can get a second chance.” We were all in shock at Sombra’s behaviour. Celestia said with a soft smile “I’m glad you have reformed, I have to give credit to the Crystal Empire for reforming one of their greatest tyrants.” Sombra nodded and returned back to Shining’s side. Celestia said “Thanks you for your time, I am glad all is well we must take our leave. We walked out of the palace, Rarity was still looking down at her hooves hoping to be ignored. I couldn’t handle seeing the look of sadness in her eyes. I heard a sudden shout from somepony behind me “Wait!” I noticed it was Sombra. He was panting as he cursed about all the stairs he had built during his reign. He said after a few moments “I am here to teach Rarity how to use dark magic.” Everypony plus one dragon frowned except Rarity. Sombra said “I am not here to corrupt her like that, I understand you want your friend to be rid of it’s influence and to be honest so do I. However, worst case scenario she may never be able to remove the dark magic from herself. I hope by teaching her should that worst case scenario arise, she will not be a danger to anyone else.” Celestia said much to everyone’s surprise “Very well, but should I catch wind of any funny business Sombra, you will be banished to the froze wastes again.” Sombra nodded at the statement. When we arrived at the train station there was several minutes before the next train arrived. I asked “Celestia, what did you tell ponies about me during the last one thousand years. Celestia said slightly worried’ “I told them you were an evil tyrant who took over Equestria and did many other horrible acts. I’m sorry Discord.” I smiled sadly “Don’t worry about that, you were protecting your ponies and after Tirek I still have a long way to go. I have only been truly reformed for a little over a week.” I teleported home, hoping to speak with someone who may understand me.” I sit there looking at my extensive injuries and feel unnerved at being totally useless for multiple weeks. Discord teleported into my room and I would have jumped had I not been injured. Discord asked “Do you think I am a monster?” I thought for a while on the question, he certainly looked monstrous but I knew he had treated me with kindness. I said “No, Discord, you are the only one who was really kind to me in my entire life.” He smiled as he looked at me. He said “Thank you, I have never really been good at this whole friendship thing. I have never really had any friends until recently and I put them in danger because of my own arrogance.” I said “Your welcome, and don't worry about it. I ‘d be more than happy to be your friend. I haven’t had any before.” Discord simply smiled and gave me a light hug, I felt relaxed as I had finally found a place to belong.