In a rush of feathers and fur, Discord landed on the ground next to a sign post. Looking over the sign's content, he noticed what could only be the name of the town in front of him, Pineton.
He snorted at the name, for it was such a cliché. Well, he was no one to talk, he did live in a land of horse puns. Still, chuckling under his breath he walked forward into town, and what a town it was. At first he had compared it to Ponyville, but boy was he wrong. Ponyville was no where near this diverse, and while the only ponies he saw were earth ponies, this did not lessen the variety of beings. Donkeys, Mules, Cattlekind, Goats, and Sheepkin were all creatures he saw walking about in the early morning light. While no one galloped away screaming, they did throw him a few confused looks. It seemed like the tales of the tyrant Discord had never reached this place.
As he walked through the village, he grew ever closer to the surge's origin, and with every step he grew more nervous. Thoughts of what could give off such a powerful surge filled his head. Had another alicorn been born, or was there someone absorbing magic like Tirek? He hoped for the former, despite its unlikeliness. A new alicorn, naturally born or ascended, would not give off such a powerful magical signature. He was so distracted by his musings, he did not realize that he was right in front of the origin of the surge.
Directly in front of Discord was a tavern, which, according to its hanging sign, was called the Lucky Ox. It looked a tad aged, but it was obvious that it was the only place to buy drink in the entire village. If the individuals entering and leaving were a clue, then this was obviously the social center of the village. As he entered, passing buy a sleeping pony who would obviously regret waking up that morning with such a clear view of the sun, he only got a few glances his way. The occupants were either too drunk or too unconscious to actually care about what they saw. He strolled right up to the bar and sat on one of the high stools, crossing his arms while staring at his reflection in the mirror that hung behind the selection of ales and beers. He only looked away when a mug slid right under his snout. Discord looked up.
"I haven't ordered anything," He said in confusion.
"Mhm." The bartender, a stout earth pony stallion, replied. "From the lad in the corner, said to give a free drink to the first walking zoo to come through the doors."
Looking over to where the bartender had gestured, he saw a cloaked figure sitting at a small table in the dark corner of the tavern. A plate of still steaming bacon and eggs was sitting untouched before the figure. Grabbing his mug, Discord stood up from his stool and casually walked over to the table, taking a chair and sitting in it, facing the stranger. As he sat, the figure pulled his hood back, revealing the smiling face of a battle-scarred zebra stallion.
"Discord, its been so long since I last saw you, how have you been?" Asked the zebra with a strangely familiar accent.
"Do I know you?" Was Discord's reply, eyebrow rising in response to the unknown zebra's familiarity with him.
"Hmf, well, I'm not really surprised that you cannot remember me," Said the zebra, turning his head to the side, his smile transforming into a smirk. "It has been a very long time, and I have taken a new form, after all."
"I think I would remember meeting a shapeshifting zebra, but I have only met one or two normal zebras in my whole existence," Discord's eyes narrowed. "You are not one of them, who are you?"
"Relax Discord, I'm not here to hurt you," The zebra said, his smirk slowly turning into a frown. "I am here to warn you, though."
"And what makes you think I'm going to listen to anything you say?" Discord snarked.
"Because its your life on the line, oh Discord the Traitor," Was the zebra's reply.
It took all the willpower he had not to reel back in shock at that title. No one in the world knew about it. He stared at the zebra, narrowing his eyes at the smirk that slowly creeped back onto the strangers face. No one in THIS world knew about that title. All at once the memories flooded back into him, and he remembered the identity of the stranger. He collected himself and shot back his reply.
"You're one to talk about betrayal, Ubtao the Deceiver."
"Oh, so you do remember me, how nice," Ubtao smiled. "And here I was thinking that that you couldn't remember your dear old friend Ubtao.
"Why are you here, no one should know how to find this place?" Was Discord's only reply.
"Its hard not to notice when one of us suddenly loses their power, only to gain it again just as quickly. You should have been more careful, Discord."
"I assume you're not the only one to notice that," Discord sighed.
"Who didn't notice?! I mean come on Discord, were you trying to get the attention of every being in the multiverse?" Ubtao threw his hooves up in exasperation. "And for the record, I'm not the first one here, I'm the first one here that cared about your sorry butt."
"So there are others, then?" Discord asked.
"No one important. Hazoret is cultivating faith among the jackals to gain more power to protect her children, as always, and I hear that Bahamut has some interest in the dragons of this world, but that's not why I'm here. Discord, the others know you're here," Ubtao had worry on his face, something that was a rare sight to any that knew him.
"Impossible, they can't, they should still be trapped!" Discord exclaimed, worry creeping down his spine.
"Things have changed at home Discord, and many an event has taken place that has released some of our former comrades. Its a small number, but when you're talking about us, you know numbers don't really matter."
"They're coming for me, aren't they?" Discord whispered, looking down into his mug.
"Maybe, I don't really know, most of them still have duties back home, but there are some that might try to kill you. The one I'm most worried about is Entropy, but the barrier is still keeping him from leaving. What you did to him was no small thing, Discord," Ubtao said with a shake of his head.
"You betrayed them too, you know," Discord snarled, pointing a talon at the zebra.
"Yes, but I'm not the one that helped the Lord trap them," The zebra shot back.
Both beings sat at the table in silence for several minutes, Discord sipping his ale while Ubtao munched on some bacon. As the morning rush started, with groups of travelers descending from their rooms for breakfast, the taverns main room slowly grew fuller and fuller. Half an hour of silence passed before someone spoke. "Ahem."
Both looked up to see a barmaid, a sky blue mare, staring at them with obvious nervousness.
"Pardon me sirs, but we, uhm, need the table for the rush. I don't mean to be rude, b-but unless you're going to order anything we, uhm, need you to leave," She explained, inwardly cursing her coworkers for forcing her to do this.
"Oh no bother, my dear, we were just leaving anyways," Ubtao assured. He reached into his bag and drew out several silver coins. "For your troubles."
The barmaid took the coins with trembling hooves.
"Thank you kindly good sirs, may your day be blessed," She exclaimed, bowing in thanks before turning around to continue with her duties, a smile on her face.
Discord turned back to look at his old friend before saying "well, you heard the lady, lets get on the happy trail."
Ubtao raised his eyebrow at the Draconequus before sighing. Pushing his chair back he stood, and with his friend exited the tavern. The town was now fully awake with the midmorning sun. The farmers market was alive with shouts of vendors selling their fresh produce, with baskets full of fruits, vegetables and meats. The strange duo traveled through the market, heading for the same place Discord had landed. Only a few blocks from the town's entrance, Ubtao looked up at the Draconequus, who was whistling a jolly tune while looking about the village.
"For someone who has just be informed of their own death, you are quite cheerful," He remarked.
"What kind of Lord of Chaos would I be if I acted as expected," Was Discords reply. "Besides, you've only informed me of a possible threat, not of my imminent ceasing of existence. I dealt with Entropy once, I can do it again."
"You were more powerful back then, and had the help of one of the strongest beings in the multiverse," Ubtao deadpanned. "Now you are weak, and the Lord will not aid you. Perhaps, a thousand or so years ago, you could match Entropy in battle, but now challenging him would be a death sentence."
"Well you're just a regular drop of sunshine aren't you?" Discord snarked. "Have you come all this way just to assure me of my end?"
"No, I have not. There is something else I must tell you," Was the zebra's reply. "I told you that others felt what happened, and I was not lying. This world has not felt the presence of the divine, and the immortals of the multiverse are looking at it to find new worshippers and pawns."
"Oh, you wouldn't happen to be talking about you self would you?" Asked Discord. "I've heard about how you go around acting like your one of them. Wasn't that your part of the bargain, a claim to a plot of land for you and you only."
"I won't lie, I have been gaining worshippers among the zebra folk, but I am not the only one," Ubtao sighed. "I've already told you of two of them, and more will be coming. Watch yourself, Discord, for the dawn of the age of Gods on Equus draws ever closer.