Sunset Shimmer, a name the other Element Bearers only knew from the stories they heard in the past from the Princess of Friendship, was in a magic-induced coma since two days and their best friend Twilight wouldn't calm down. She was searching through every shelf of the library in her castle for any book that may help with whatever she needed. The five friends weren't really sure what exactly.
Even Spike had his claws full, he and Cadence made it their task to remain at her side until this infamous mare hopefully awoke from her worrying state. And to keep an eye on the lavender alicorn.
But they were told not to worry by the crystal princess.
Fluttershy and Rarity had their weekly spa session in this very moment. It was a last chance for them to escape the everyday-life before Hearth's Warming Eve. Soon their fellow ponies would take a break to celebrate the foundation of Equestria with family and friends in tranquility, love and friendship.
"Fluttershy, darling, I'm always positively delighted when it is you who invites me to the spa. Celestia knows I need it from time to time with my workload. But I have one question dear..." Rarity started slowly, lying on her stomach while Aloe, one of the spa owners and hard-working earth pony mare, massaged her shoulders.
"Yes?" the shy pegasus inquired curiously in her soft voice, relaxing in perfectly tempered water with a nice smelling scent made of ice orchids and honey.
"What is Discord doing here?!" the white furred unicorn exclaimed in sheer irritation.
The draconequus in question wore a for him very plainly colored bathrobe that looked suspiciously like a certain fashionista with white plush and a royal purple curled hood. Across the chest was written: 'Do it fabulously, Darling!'
The business mare saw that and was too surprised until now to say something, but enough was enough, "And stop mocking me!"
Discord pulled the cucumber from his mud mask and glanced in amusement at the annoyed pony from his chair, "Moi? I would NEVER do that to Fluttershy's friends! I'm redeemed, don't you remember? I decided to get to know you others better at my best friend's request. So here I am, thinking like a Rarity, looking like a Rarity and even behaving like a Rarity!" With a snap of his fingers a giant drama couch appeared and he threw himself on it while dramatically declaring, "Oh! How hard it is to be generous in life! I feel like my deeds are never appreciated by the ponies who matter the most to me! It is simply the Worst! Possible! Thing!"
Fluttershy couldn't contain it any longer and giggled cutely. Aloe held a hoof in front of her mouth to suppress her own laughter, before excusing herself, feeling like it would be wise to give their best customers a little space.
The Lord of Chaos celebrated with raised arms, "Success!"
"Darling! Do you think this uncouth behaviour is funny?!" the unicorn wanted to know in dramatic despair.
"O-oh! Sorry Rarity, but Discord means no harm. He really tries his best to earn our friendship... and forgiveness," she replied kindly.
He nodded eagerly his head, "She is right. I learned my lesson and besides, I did something that should have caused Tartarus to freeze over. I saved Tia and her sweets induced flanks, as well as her side-kick, Sunny Two!"
"Could you please never speak again in such a manner about Princess Celestia's... posterior?" Rarity requested politely.
"I think this description fits quite well. I mean you can literally see how the plot thickens!" the draconequus joked.
"Discord-"
"I mean it is your decision if you find her bootyful. Everypony has different tastes," he continued. The Bearer of Generosity could have sworn that her eyelid did more than to twitch.
"Discord..."
"Yes?" he inquired innocently.
The blushing butteryellow pegasus winced at being the center of attention all of sudden before she answered, "That's not very nice to talk about the princess like that, especially now."
Rarity's eyes softened immediately and the draconequus rolled his own, "If you insist. I still can't believe it that Purple Smart didn't mention my heroic deeds in front of you." He was sincerely insulted.
The unicorn mare did an unladylike snort at being reminded of his gloating before they entered the spa, "Oh please! How do we know that you’re not simply trying to impress us with filigreed tales? Twilight told us everything after her return about what occurred in the mirror world, and that you had a helping role in it on some instances, I admit. But I find it very hard to believe that you stalled the legendary Windigo king himself in a stand-off and bought Princess Celestia time to rescue Princess Sunset Shimmer."
The trio switched locations during the conversation. They left the warm up room, and moved to the sauna to let their sore muscles recover. Searching for gems, even with magic, and taking care of animals were much more stressing activities for the body than somepony might think.
"P-Princess Sunset Shimmer?" Fluttershy asked in surprise.
The fashionista looked almost offended, "Why, of course! She is the daughter of Princess Celestia, this makes her by default royalty. I can't WAIT to meet this mare! Granted, she stole our friend's crown in the past, but I'm willing to forgive her if Twilight says she changed. I wonder what kind of pony she really is."
Discord mumbled something to himself and chuckled.
Before they could continue the sauna door opened and a refreshed looking Rainbow Dash entered. The daredevil shouted behind her in gratitude, "Thanks for the hooficure, Lotus!"
Rainbow Dash turned around just to witness the smuggest expression she ever witnessed upon her fashion-loving friend's muzzle. It shouldn't have been possible, "R-Rarity?!" She screeched in panic and glanced to her left, "Fluttershy?!" What are you girls do-Discord?!"
The aforementioned Spirit of Chaos floated around the athlete with a judging expression on his face, "My, my, it seems something has changed about you, my chromatic friend. Is it your mane? Your hooves? Or maybe this adorable wardrobe?"
The winner of the Best Flyer Competition and all around pony of action looked extraordinarily flushed, having been caught in a moment of weakness. The tortoise looking green slippers on her hooves along with a purple bathrobe, draped over her freshly groomed coat, made her score of 'awesome points' sink to a new low in front of her friends. Or so the pegasus feared in her mind.
"Ohhhh Rainbow Daaaash~" Rarity sang with way too much glee, "I can't help but notice that you are participating in, how did you and Applejack call them? Oh, yes! 'fru-fru activities'."
The skyblue pony in question chuckled nervously, "W-what are you even doing here? I thought you had your spa day always every thursday."
Fluttershy replied instead, "Uhm, that was kind of my doing. Sorry Rainbow, I asked Rarity if we could meet today. You see, I met Discord after he came back from the mirror world and-" The suddenly appearing frown on the speedster's face worried the shy mare, "Dashie? What's wrong?"
The athlete snorted in distaste and anger, much to the confusion of her friends. Her planned attempt of saving her reputation was forgotten, "Sorry, I just can't stand being reminded of my counterpart right now. I would love nothing more than to show her my opinion of what she did. I'm bu-" Rarity coughed, "really peeved that she abandoned one of her best friends. She is supposed to be the Element of Loyalty for Luna's Sake!"
Rarity hummed in agreement, "True. Our counterparts didn't cover themselves in glory indeed. But I fear we don't have much room to complain either."
"That should be interesting. Do tell," Discord added curiously.
Shame made itself known in the unicorn's voice, "I don't like to dwell on the past, but I felt myself reminded of the Royal Wedding after we were told about Anon-a-Miss. When Queen Chrysalis disguised herself as Princess Cadence nopony knew something was amiss, except Twilight. She is our friend and we didn't believe her, thinking that she acted like an overprotective little filly who didn't want to share her older brother's attention."
Rainbow cringed hardly, "Yeah... not our proudest moment."
Fluttershy lowered her head and ears, "We were awful. Even worse is that we didn't suffer any mind control, unlike her brother." She gasped, "Do you think Sunset Shimmer reminded her of what we did to her?"
Rarity shrugged her shoulders, "Who knows. But we chose a stranger above our friend, like our counterparts chose not to support theirs. I have to confess that I was blinded by the opportunity of making a dress for royalty and the sentiment that a princess couldn't do wrong, but that is no excuse."
Discord laughed joyfully, "Oh, that is just precious! What a wonderfully chaotic coincidence that such an event happened in both worlds!" He noticed the silent glares of the mares around him, "Well, some ponies don't seem to be able appreciating the irony."
The shy pegasus lay down and mumbled to herself, "If there was only a way of helping everypony..."
Her chaotic friend overheard it and added neutrally, "What makes you say that my dear? Star Flank said it herself loud and clearly that she can't simply look past what they did and I'm certain Sun Flank Two will be in anything other than in a good mood when she wakes up."
He nearly said 'if', but did stop himself in time. A Windigo's touch was no laughing matter, even for him.
Fluttershy was a little surprised that somepony heard her, but replied no less in her timid way, "Uhm, I'm not sure, but I think they need a little push in the right direction. They are confused and angry at themselves, but have no way of showing how serious they are about apologizing as long as Twilight and Sunset refuse to meet with them."
"Well, duh! After the stunt they pulled I'm pretty sure those two have every right to be sour," Rainbow Dash said, stating the obvious.
Discord stroked his goatee thoughtfully, "So you think some outside help might break the ice between both sides? Is that what you are getting at?"
He had to admit that he didn't like at all how the humans treated Sunset Shimmer, but who was he to talk? After his latest betrayal, which nearly doomed all of Equestria, refusing to offer a second chance couldn't be his course of action. The amber unicorn and he were like redemption buddies!
Discord already planned to open a club. Entrance only for former psychopaths who wanted to conquer Equestria for themselves of course.
The animal caretaker tilted her head slightly in confusion, "Perhaps? Twilight told me that she had the impression how my counterpart showed the most remorse, but I know myself and-"
A literal light bulb appeared above the draconequus, "Hold it! I have the greatest idea!" He lifted the squeaking mare up in his paws, "You are nearly as brilliant as me!" Letting her down, "Now, if you would excuse me, I have plans to execute, wars to win, cupcakes to bake and chaos to spread. Toodeloo~!"
The three friends had a bad feeling about this.
Rarity ended the pregnant silence, "I think we should call it a day. I fear the heat is getting to me."
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy couldn't agree more.
His name was Discord, Agent Discord, the mission clear. But how should he start?
"What would Fluttershy do?" he asked himself like it was the most important question in life. Right after the second most important question in life: “Did I feed the cotton candy bunnies in my garden?”
The disguised entity stood in front of Canterlot High School, the scene of crime, ground zero, the place where he would start his investigation! Yes, he could have used his magic to stal-look at what the humans were doing right now in his very own discordovision set before he came to this world, but where would be the fun in that?
This place was thin on magic, so he couldn't do whatever he wanted like it was the case on Equus. Well, challenge accepted.
But because the God of Chaos knew his appearance would draw unwanted attention, he took the most, Discord nearly gagged, ordinary disguise he could come up with. He was dressed as a janitor, wearing dark blue overalls, a color matching oversized cap that covered his face in the right angle and on the black belt around his waist, the janitor's greatest allies in his opinion.
A screwdriver to make the screws loose, extra strong tape to kidnap whoever you wanted, a wrench to look like he knew what his new job entailed, a whistle for pursuing suspicious strangers, you never knew when someone new appeared. And most importantly, his plunger. It would serve its purpose when the time was right.
But he chose to stay true to his earlier human form, for now. Besides, every good spy knew that the janitor was NEVER the subject of interest. It was perfect.
"OK boys, time to look for what we came for. We'll do it nice and clean," Discord said without a hint of emotion, the transformed man meant business.
"Excuse me!?" the tape exclaimed despite lacking a mouth in a smooth and posh feminine voice very much like a certain fashion designer, one only he could hear.
The Lord of Mischief was sincerely flustered, "And girls. Sorry."
"It is alright dear. I know this grotesque gray does nothing for my feminine image," she replied more calmly.
"Good, good. Now you need spy names." He looked at the tape, "You are Madam Manacle," then pointed at the whistle, "Lieutenant Grumpy." Next was the screwdriver, "Screwy," then the wrench, "Captain Ironpants," lastly the plunger, "and you shall be known as Purple Bookhorse the Second."
"Wait, why do I get-"
Discord rudely cut the plunger off, "Less talking, more searching! Any questions?"
"Aye! Wha' ar' ye talkin' about ye dirty landblubber!? Ye never sai' anythin' to an' of us about findin' anythi' in this forsaken bay! I hav' hal' a mind to keelhaul yer wort'less carcass!" the like a stereotypical male pirate sounding wrench added in very broken sentences.
"STOP TALKING LIKE A MAGGOT! WE HAVE A MISSION AND OUR COMMANDER IS COUNTING ON US!" shouted the whistle like a grumpy drill sergeant shortly before his retirement.
"Duuuude! Your negative attitude totally ruins my vibes! We should all meditate and think about the reason why Dizzy here gave us the ability to question our existence," the Screwdriver replied like someone on the most questionable of substances.
"Why do I even exist in this cruel reality without hopes and dreams which could be accomplished through science and friendship?! Notwithstanding, I can't deny the fact that I have no functioning body parts nor a neural system I could call my own to act on my thoughts," the highly intelligent, but sometimes masochistic plunger voiced lastly in a saddened tone. It was difficult to read her sometimes.
"Do we really live? Or are we only the products of an insane god to help him in his times of boredom and solitude? We may never know as long as we are what we are. But we are in for a riiiide!" Screwy replied in his own unique way.
"WELL! SUCKS TO BE YOU! LUCKILY MY LIFE ISN'T SO FULL OF SHIT LIKE YOURS! LITERALLY! HA!" Lieutenant Grumpy commented in sadistic glee in the direction of the panicking plunger.
"How crude! Lord Discord, I hope this 'internet' didn't corrupt your choice of words for the worse! What would Fluttershy think?" the tape scolded harshly.
The draconequus in disguise shrugged, "Don't worry Madam Manacle, I'm not a fan of such words. As for my dear friend... she would probably blush, or squeak, maybe hiding behind her mane. And then she would scold me like you are doing right now. Why do you think only I can hear you? How would I gather information if everybody could?"
His allies had no reply.
Discord looked around. The whole school area was covered by a blanket of snow and ice, a light snow shower providing a calming winter day. Everything appeared to be in order.
It was scary.
"STANDING AROUND WON'T BRING US THE NEEDED INTEL! WE HAVE TO INFILTRATE THE ENEMY BASE! GO! GO! GO!" Grumpy urged madly.
Only mere moments after the team entered they could all feel the gloomy aura that haunted the building.
"Woah! This place gives me the chills!" Screwdriver ended the silence in amazement.
"The inviting embrace of coldness. Oh how I wish I could feel it, or pain, or heat, or anything at all. Hmm~ pain..." Purple Bookhorse the Second stated blissfully.
"That was the last time I experimented with human humor. You are a disgrace for everything funny and chaotic with your love for self-induced harm. At least I found a few good jokes," The 'janitor' said with a shaking head. He shuddered suddenly, "That is if you dodge some of these websites they have."
"Aye. Th' dark side o' Haytube. Man' sailors lost the'r cours' in its dark and mud'y depths," Captain Ironpants muttered quietly.
"SIR! WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT ORDERS?!" Whistle asked obediently.
"Isn't it obvious? We are searching for human Fluttershy of course!" Discord replied immediately.
"Why her?" Madam Manacle inquired unsurely.
The disguised draconequus' eyes were filled with purpose, "Fluttershy was the only pony who ever tried to approach me after Tia ordered my release. And even if she did so at first because of the task she received from good ol' Sunbutt we became friends later on." His head was raised in confidence, "After Tirek, everypony saw me as a nothing more than a security risk and backstabber, but not her. Now it is time to r-re-repay-" he cringed, "-my debts. That is why we will help human Fluttershy with Sunset Shimmer, do you understand? This will bring me A LOT of buddy points with pony Fluttershy and the others! My plan is foolproof!"
"Dude, that doesn't make any sense and this is coming from a real tool," Screwy added in confusion.
Discord raised his finger in victory, "Exactly! Isn't that wonderful?!"
The D-Team, so they called themselves on the chaos god's request, searched high and low. Be it on the top of the roof, in the air shafts, the gym, or the secret fridge in the teacher's room. No Fluttershy was to be found. They even peaked into the classes, nothing.
"I can't believe it! Where is she?! I can't just appear besides a human I don't see, they don't have any magical signatures to track!" Agent D lamented angrily.
"Lad, yer appear' once in human Celestia's offic' where yer found those dirt' mutineers. Can't yer do it agai'?" Ironpants suggested.
Agent D crossed his arms, "No can do. I just tracked down Sparkle's magical signature that time. Even as a human Equestrian ponies have still their own magic, it is just sealed away."
Discord loved it to discuss his plans and opportunities with unlikely peers who could understand him, if brought on the right track. At least he could bring inanimate objects to life on Earth, otherwise he would have to suffer boredom alone. A sin in its own right.
"Milord, is that how you found those teenagers before the Windigos got to them? Their magical signature?" Tape wanted to know.
The leader of the operation sighed, "I can only find them if they grow ears and tails. They are humans by birth and don't have any Equestrian magic in their souls. It is already difficult enough to locate them when they have their pony appendages. I simply found it curious why so many Windigos appeared at one place and it was a good choice to check, if I dare say so myself." His smugness was tangible.
Purple Smart was convinced he could find them in time, because he was who he was, but the truth was much more dangerous for the human girls' lives when the Spirits of Hatred attacked them. But nothing happened anyway, so he was fine.
"Guys, I have an idea. We should totally check the door where these strange looking humans in suits are standing around," Screwy added in a relaxed tone.
There they stood, two men in black, in color as in clothing, seeming to draw in the light around them. "How did I miss that?" Discord thought dryly.
The Great and Powerful Trixie was nervous and satisfied at the same time. Two days since the reveal of Anon-a-Miss had passed and things had changed dramatically. Nearly half of the victims were told in confidence who stole their secrets by now from what she heard, and lawyers could earn themselves a golden nose with the potential amount of charges.
Truly, she couldn't deny that it made her happy knowing that a few of the greatest victims decided to bring their issues to court.
The expressions on the hick's and the drama queen's faces after the first students told them that they decided to sue the families of the three girls behind the account was priceless! Yes, after she calmed down the Great and Powerful Trixie had sadly to admit that her judgement may have lacked in the past concerning Sunset Shimmer, let bigots be bigots, right?
But a girl could dream.
The source of her concerns stood in front of her like a judge, jury and executioner in one person, District Legal Counsel Chrysalis, bane of the Canterlot City School District.
It was Wednesday and in three days the holidays would begin. Hopefully this woman didn't want to give her an early 'present'.
"Do you know why I called you to this unusually timed meeting Ms. Lulamoon?" A polite cough was heard, "Oh, and Officer Armor of course."
"N-no? Maybe you want to tell Trixie who gave Anon-a-Miss her secret?" Trixie asked hopefully.
Chrysalis smiled wickedly, "Not even close my dear. Besides, we both know you that you are already well informed." The lanky woman put a cellphone in front of Trixie. "Would you please take a look at this interesting piece of footage?"
The teenager could have sworn that her throat went dry as a desert. On the screen was a video that showed how she activated the trapdoor under the Rainbooms shortly before the finals of the Battle of the Bands started.
But something wasn't right with this video, where was Twilight Sparkle? Trixie was sure that she fell in, too.
Teal eyes bored into girl before her without mercy, "Interesting, isn't it? Had you really thought you could get away with such an act and escape me? Did you expect to dodge my trusty workers? No, I know exactly what you did." At the end of the sentence she nearly purred evilly.
Sweat started to appear on the stage magician's forehead, "I-I-that isn't how it looks like! I swear!"
Chrysalis hit the table with a fist, which nearly gave Trixie a heart attack, "Don't you dare mock my intelligence! You think you can just walk around in MY school district and harm other students' lives?! I will show you who holds the leash in this city!"
Shining Armor scowled at his 'partner', "Miss Chrysalis, that is enough. I don't think scaring Ms. Lulamoon half to death will do us any good." He switched his sharp look to the nervous and fearful student in question, "Now as to you. What you did there was assault, potentially battery resulting from negligence. I don't think you truly planned to harm them severely, but you risked it anyhow."
Before Trixie could defend herself the legal counsel continued, "Please enlighten us, what kind of excuse do you have? This fall was nine feet deep and if only one of them landed unluckily enough they could have ended up with broken bones, maybe the neck. You nearly caused a fatal accident!"
Her eyes widened in shock, she never thought about this possibility, "I'm sorry! I just wanted to win the contest! You have to believe me, I never meant to endanger them!" letting her stage persona slip.
Chrysalis walked around the teenager like a predator around its prey, slowly, "Being sorry doesn't change what you did, what you could do in the future. What happens the next time you want to win a contest at all costs? Another act of sabotage? Maybe then with lethal consequences for the fool who runs against you? No, you are mine now."
Shining Armor chuckled nervously at her choice of words, feeling like he had walked right into a mob movie, "What she means is that we decided to let your punishment be a chance to learn from your mistakes without landing in community service or juvenile prison. Originally I planned to ask the students on the footage if they wished to press charges against you, but Miss Chrysalis had another idea, if perhaps a little unorthodox. But her rehabilitation rate is very close to 100% from what I know."
Whether gathering garbage or collecting dirt, the not so Great and Powerful Trixie's mind would comply, "Trixie will do anything! But please don't tell her parents about it, they would never understand! Especially Trixie's dad!"
The teenager had already enough problems with her dream of becoming a stage magician. Her father, a well-respected judge in his own right, had more than a few concerns regarding her future job choice. In his words, "My own daughter won't end up as a clown who lives from showing hocus-pocus!"
She would try to sell them an excuse like a school project if they asked.
The legal counsel's grin was much too wide for her face, "Excellent. Not that you had a choice of course, but it is nice to know that we are on the same page. I will send you more information after Christmas. You will adore the place, it is my own little kingdom of troublemakers who need a... special form of education." Trixie gulped hearing that, while Chrysalis shot a glance at Officer Armor, he didn’t need to know the truth.
The latest addition to her hive, Blueblood, needed a partner, and Trixie would be perfect. This runt would soon learn not to test her patience for too long. Furthermore, she gave her word to the ambassador that his son would learn to behave accordingly. And who needed a military school to teach discipline when her special students, her little drones, were so obedient? Her little Changelings learned to obey, to blend in, to become whatever she needed so they could keep her well apprised about what was happening throughout her schools, her hive.
Now there were a few lingering concerns, but first...
"There is something I like to address, Officer Armor," Chrysalis said seductively.
"W-what?" the sudden change of atmosphere caught the young man off-guard. Trixie felt creeped out by it.
"I can't help myself, but admire your hard work since the start of our collaboration. You don't need Dean Cadence. How about-"
"OH! Look at the time! I should prepare the material for the next student. Please wait here," Shining Armor interrupted, feeling uncomfortable.
The two women looked after the escaping man until the door was closed and the sound of his rushing steps vanished.
The legal counsel chuckled in amusement, "Too easy." She switched her focus back to the younger girl, "I'm certain you noticed something about the footage I showed you, right?"
"W-well, Princess-"
"Princess? So this mysterious double of Shining Armor's younger sister wears a royal title? Interesting," Chrysalis said curiously.
This revelation baffled Trixie immensely, "You know about her?"
The woman laughed openly at the student's dumbfounded face, "Surprised? I said it once, didn't I? Nothing in or around our schools happens without me knowing about it. I must say the transformations and resulting conflicts during the Fall Formal and the Battle of the Bands were very interesting. Who knew that such a mystical force as magic could be real?"
"If the government knows about magic, then how are the Rainbooms still running around unsupervised?!" the Confused and Shocked Trixie exclaimed.
"Who said anything about the government? I’m just the district’s legal counsel," came the simple answer.
"Huh?" was the only thing she could say.
"The Dazzlings, whoever or whatever they are, tried to mind control innocent students with their powers and those girls stopped them, for that they have my gratitude. My first- and foremost duty is it to protect the school district and its students, a task I take seriously, even creating my little group of students to help me watch over them. They are for the biggest part former troublemakers to be precise.” It was as if the woman stared into Trixie’s soul, “I take this task seriously, as do all of my children, as will you." She paced back and forth behind her chair, "Nobody except me and my most trusted workers know about the truth. It would be a shame if something happened to them, even if five of the group failed one of their members miserably because of a few little spilled secrets. I don't know where Sunset Shimmer and the other Twilight Sparkle are right now, but it isn't relevant to me anyway, not yet."
The magician sank in her chair and stared in shock at the floor, "I... Trixie doesn't know what to say. Most people outside of CHS simply believe that everything what happened here in the last months were consequences of a gas leak or well-made special effects."
Chrysalis grinned knowingly, "I'm a pragmatist and realist, girl. If my subordinates show me undeniable proof, I believe them. Officer Armor doesn't need to know that his little sister has, however that is possible, a twin running around somewhere. I checked his family's background and they never had identical twins. I'm certain there are many facts I still don't know about, but I'm a patient woman. Now go, your second chance in life will begin soon."
The teenager tried to leave, but the legal counsel stopped her, "Oh, Ms. Lulamoon? Just as a little reminder, don't even think about telling another soul about this conversation. It will be our little secret, understood?"
Trixie nodded her head fearfully and left without another word.
Chrysalis sighed and looked out of the window, facing the direction where Canterlot Park once was. The government thought that it was the victim of incendiary, saying that some lunatics were responsible and would soon be brought to justice. Oh if they knew what she knew.
What kind of fire would only burn down a specific area and nothing more? No, she was confident that magic was once more behind this. The woman was at home during the great storm two days ago and saw the golden circle at the sky and what followed. Worse, one of her subordinates reported ghosts of all things. He swore on the grave of his dead uncle that he wasn't drunk and certain what he saw.
She wasn't paid enough for this.
Her mind wandered to Sunset Shimmer, the former bully of Canterlot High, while she waited for Thorax to announce that Officer Armor had arrived with the next student. Such teenagers were always the prime targets of her interest. She could speak from her own experience and laughed internally when she thought about the 'crimes' of this girl.
How adorable. Chrysalis had been at least ten times worse during her prime. She had however been more subtle about it, after all, queens didn’t get their hands dirty, that’s what minions were for.
She had been the very definition of a 'Queen Bee' in school. The student body and teachers alike whispered her name in fear and nobody could stop her. They didn't call her Queen Chrysalis for nothing, it was a name well earned, and a badge of pride for her.
In another part of CHS appeared a well-known Lord of Chaos out of nowhere.
"Dude! That woman has balls!" Screwy commented intelligently.
"Milord, I think you should warn the Equestrians that this human is close to finding the portal. I don't doubt that she searched for Twilight's and Sunset's whereabouts, even if she claimed otherwise," Madame Manacle voiced her opinion worriedly.
"Are you kidding? I reached my good guy quota for the century in the moment I stepped between Sunflank and Balthi. Helping Humanshy is just a bonus. Good will from my side, a sacrifice I'm ready to give," Discord answered proudly. "I don't do all the dirty work for these colorful vegetarians. Besides, she is not a power hungry shapeshifter, so it is nothing to concern myself with."
"SIR! I THINK I FELL IN LOVE! THIS WOMAN IS AS UNFORGIVING AS A BULLET IN YOUR HEART!" Grumpy declared faithfully. If he had his will she could blow his whistle the whole day.
"Calypso..." Ironpants muttered with an unreadable tone.
"There you are!" a new voice shouted in annoyance.
Discord turned his head and froze, Vice-Principal Luna had found him. He hid his face behind the cap, but luck seemed to be on his side. She didn't look up from her clipboard.
The tall woman focused on the sheets of paper in her hands when addressing the man, "You must be the requested substitute janitor while Mr. Proper is on leave after the accident he suffered during his last cleaning session. I know, it isn't really the time to call for new staff on such a short notice before Christmas, but we are in dire need of a new janitor since the amount of vandalism has increased significantly."
"Revolution! Down with the corrupt system! Molten cheese for everybody!" Screwy shouted to his not existing heart's content.
The draconequus used magic to change his voice, now sounding much deeper, "So I heard madame. If you tell me where exactly I'm needed I will start right away."
Luna pointed with her finger to their left, "The women's restroom has a broken toilet, but don't worry, there are no students in there right now while classes are in session. I’m sorry to be so brusque, but I have a lot on my plate since the truth was revealed about, well, I'm sure you know what I mean."
"Yes, Anon-a-Miss. Horrible what happened there. Don't let me stop you Vice-Principal Luna, I will do my job and leave you to your own," Discord assured with rolling eyes, not that she saw it.
She left with an eye-twitch when the name of the MyStable account was mentioned.
"I hoped this moment would come. Your purpose will be fulfilled, Purple Bookhorse the Second," the God of Chaos whispered in glee.
"My intellect tells me to run, but I don't have legs! Curse you, plunger hating nature!" Bookhorse exclaimed to the heavens.
Lyra Heartstrings raised her hand to open the restroom door. It had taken a bit of begging to get a hall pass as Miss Cheerilee didn’t like her classes interrupted. Thankfully she’d reluctantly allowed her to run to the restroom, but not before telling her to make it quick.
Though before she could open the door an angry manly voice came out of the room, luckily for said man she couldn't hear the screaming girl.
"How do you like that?! Do you have enough?! Are you ready to surrender?!" screamed the unknown voice in fury and a touch of insanity.
"Please! Master Discord, I apologize if my attitude caused you distress!" Plunger answered in a half drowning voice.
"Next time you should think twice before you turn someone into a statue! You are lucky that Fluttershy prevents me from going after the original!"
Wait, what? Statue? And what had Fluttershy suddenly to do with all that? What original? Many questions were in Lyra's head, but her bladder needed a quiet place, and fast!
"You abuse me, because you can't go after Princess Twilight?! Help! He is insane! Worse, I feel violated and somehow I don't mind!"
"YOU SHALL BE MISSED SOLDIER!" Grumpy commented, saluting mentally.
The voice cackled madly, "YES! Beg for my forgiveness!"
A loud splashing sound came from the restroom.
"Oh please! Please! Please! Please! I need to gooo! And why is a man on the girl's toilet anyway?!" the mint colored student thought in panic. Oh how her stomach revolted!
Finally the door opened and Lyra felt like a monster just stepped in front of her. A giant of a man, taller than even Principal Celestia. He was clearly wearing the working clothes of a janitor. In his right hand a completely wet and abused plunger, with a lot of scratches on the surface of the rubber-made bell, as well as the wood.
But the worst were his eyes, unforgiving yellow orbs with unequally sized blood red pupils. An unnervingly toothy smile graced his features.
Then the stranger spoke, "You can go now. I repaired the little troublemaker. But maybe you can help me..." squeezing her shoulders with an uncomfortable force, his tone grew serious, "Where is Fluttershy?"
"M-music r-room, 107! Rainbooms! Band practice! Pleasedon'thurtme!" she pleaded and squeezed her eyes shut.
Lyra stood still, waiting. After nearly a minute the girl opened her eyes in fear, just to see nothing. The man was gone without a trace, like he never existed in the first place.
She whimpered and looked down, it seemed she didn't need to go anymore.
BonBon would never let her live that down.
Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy tried to spend some quality time together with their instruments after already having finished their classes for today, but the results were more than below the expectations.
The chromatic athlete sighed in disappointment, "It just isn't the same."
Pinkie nodded in somber agreement, "Yeah, without the others it's just not as fun as it was used to be. And I feel like I lost my punch to bring joy and laughter these days, no matter what I try." Her hair was less puffier than usual.
Fluttershy put her tambourine on a nearby table, looked in sympathy at the young party planner and hugged her friend briefly for moral support, "It's not your fault, Pinkie Pie. Most people simply have to deal with some issues right now and can't laugh that much in their situation." She stared down in pity, "I feel sorry for Applejack and Rarity, I hope they are alright."
Only two days, and still... the aforementioned duo, with the permission of Principal Celestia because of their special situation, were staying at home for the remaining three school days with their families.
The news of Anon-a-Miss true identity spread like a wildfire in Canterlot City.
The fashionista's parents were lucky as it could have been possible, since most of their clients lived outside the country. The few they knew in town were separated in their opinion. One group didn't want to conduct business any longer with people whose family reputation was tainted, whereas the rest didn't really like it, but accepted that this happened. For them they were children, just children, no matter how misguided.
Then there was the matter with Sweetie Belle's punishment. Rarity demanded to be present when Cookie Crumbles and Hondo Flanks talked with her little sister.
Applejack's family was another case entirely. The bulk of their products were sold at the markets in and around Canterlot, most of whom bought the Apples' products for their high quality.
But a lot of CHS' students, victims of Anon-a-Miss, were related to those paying customers.
Many of them immediately decided to buy their apples and other produce from now on somewhere else after what their children had to endure. Eight lawsuits were on their way, and more would surely follow. Sweet Apple Acres had already lost too much money to stay out of the red, and if that continued for too long they were in dire trouble when it came to holding onto Sweet Apple Acres.
The Flim and Flam Emporium already had its greedy eyes on their land to expand.
Fluttershy knew that these consequences were the fault of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They sowed what they reaped, a dark cynical thought for her, but an unwanted truth she had come to terms with in the last two days. She could understand that Rainbow Dash decided to cut her ties with her biggest fan for the time being, but she didn't like it.
Deep down Rainbow blamed herself the most for what happened with Sunset as the supposed-to-be Element of Loyalty, or so she explained in private. The teenager needed to vent her frustration and the very purple-haired freshman who betrayed her was the best target in the moment. It was saddening in Fluttershy's eyes.
"That sucks! I wish we could somehow do something, ANYTHING! Applejack told me that her cousin Braeburn and her grandfather Grand Pear offered to donate something, but those mules wouldn't accept!" Sometimes the Apples' pride and stubbornness caused the chromatic girl to despair.
Pinkie glimpsed at the clock and her eyes widened in shock, "Already this late?! Sorry girls, I have to go now. I promised Maud to help with her Christmas rock decorations this year. Bye!" A silhouette of dust was the only reminder that she had been there.
"I guess I will do... something." Rainbow Dash groaned, "Whatever, I'll make some phone calls and see if I can convince a few people to spare AJ's family."
The shy girl smiled encouragingly, "That is very nice of you Dashie."
The teenager laughed falsely, "Well, I already screwed up my relationship to two of our friends, if I can even call myself that anymore. It can't get much worse, right? So I guess I can at least help the others," she commented sarcastically and left.
Fluttershy hated it when her childhood friend wallowed in self-pity.
She glanced to her right and walked to her backpack, the item it contained always causing her hope and distress at the same time. Taking the item out Fluttershy stared at the imprint upon the bookcover, Sunset Shimmer's symbol of a two-colored sun, "We should have listened to you."
The timid butter skinned human wished there was something they could do, but a more important question was on her mind: 'Did Sunset even want to see them again?'
"Psst!" a new voice hissed from somewhere.
Fluttershy hid behind her backpack, "H-hello? I-is someone there?"
"Down here!" replied the clearly male voice. It was familiar, but why?
She looked at the source of the conversation and froze. Normally it would have been Fluttershy's dream to meet a living talking flower, but one summer Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie convinced her to play the game 'Darktales' with them. The poor dear could never look at flowers the same again after going through every single timeline.
What happened next didn't help her nerves at all. The little strangely brown and white colored sunflower with yellow and red eyes in front of her feet said joyfully, "Hey! I know it has been a while since our last meeting, but it's me, your best friend!"
She opened her mouth widely, screamed, making barely a sound and fainted on the spot.
"Hmm... I saw many things in my long life, but I never would have thought that I witness the day when Fluttershy doesn't like flowers," Discord said utterly baffled.
Fluttershy could have sworn that she just had the worst nightmare.
"Oh wonderful! You are awake!" someone said from her left.
When her vision cleared she recognized her surroundings immediately. It was CHS' infirmary. A tall man looked down at her, she knew him, "M-Mr. Discord?! What are you doing here? W-why am I in the infirmary?! Did something happen? W-where is the f-flower?" she fired one questions after this confusing awakening.
With a big smile he asked in honest confusion, "What flower?"
Fluttershy blinked.
Discord did as well.
She blinked again.
He didn't miss a beat and did it the second time, twice.
"N-nevermind," she muttered timidly.
"Nevermind what? You make no sense!" he exclaimed, still smiling.
She tried another approach, "W-where is Nurse Redheart?"
"Oh you mean my lovely assistant? Why, she is right there, see?" the God of Chaos replied chipperly.
Fluttershy nearly jumped in surprise. A somehow very gray looking Nurse Redheart was standing in front of the bed she was lying upon. The nurse outfit was gray instead of white and her hair which was in a bun didn't look better. Redheart's eyes were pits of purple helical vortices. It looked scary.
"What happened to her?! Is she OK?!" the girl queried in panic.
"I don't know what you are talking about, she is fine. You can ask her yourself, tell her nurse." Discord ordered kindly.
The woman bowed and stated in the most monotone tone, rivaling Pinkie's older sibling, "As you wish Your Handsomeness." She switched her focus to the girl, "I am fine, as His Excellence just said."
Fluttershy gave him a deadpan glare.
The man coughed in defeat, "OK, you got me. There is the slight possibility that I enslaved her free will so that I could wait for you to awake in peace and quiet."
"WHAT?!" she shouted in horror.
The Lord of Mischief held his hands in a calming manner, "I'm kidding! Sheesh, I thought you humans appreciated dark humor. But enough of the nurse, we are here for you!"
Discord snapped his fingers and he reappeared in a big armchair, wearing a suit, small round glasses, with a clipboard in his hand and a pencil in the other. Right beside a completely lost Fluttershy.
It seemed to her that Pinkie Pie had found her match when it came to being random.
His tone was suddenly very calm and professional, "I hereby declare our first session open. Tell me, how did you feel after Sunset Shimmer nearly died because of the Windigos and your negligence?"
She whimpered.
He noted something on the paper, "I see. It seems my question was too direct, let us try something else. Are you sincerely sorry for what happened during the Anon-a-Miss incident?"
"YES!" She blushed in embarrassment at being so forceful, but something told her that this man didn't mean any harm, "Mr. Discord, sir..." Another thought entered her mind, "Uhm, I just wanted to thank you for saving us. Principal Celestia told us how you were from the same world like Sunset and Princess Twilight. What kind of pony are you, if you don't mind me asking?"
Much to her confusion he laughed wholeheartedly, "THAT was a good joke! I knew you had it in you girl! And just Discord is fine."
"T-thanks?" Fluttershy didn't know what to make out of the response.
Discord stayed in his act, it was inspiring, "Don't mention it, I'm just doing my job. I can tell that we don't need any more silly questions and can go straight to the results. Here, free of charge."
The girl looked at the paper in front of her and squinted with her eyes. Was that a dancing rubber chicken?
"Now tell me. What are you ready to do to get back in the ponies' good graces? Just say the word my dear," the God of Chaos wanted to know.
Fluttershy closed her eyes and thought carefully about the answer. What was she ready to do?
Since they day they abandoned Sunset Shimmer she had always a bad feeling in her stomach. Something about the whole story always felt fishy, but the girl had never the courage to speak up. No, it was easier to swim with the stream than against it. She mostly followed the majority of the girls blindly.
A huge mistake.
Then there were all the restless nights she suffered because of the crushing guilt of her conscience, now much worse after Sunset's innocence was proven right.
Consequences she surely deserved after being so cruel. The decision was clear.
In the end her heart made the decision, "Everything."
A whiff of madness. A decision based on something completely unpredictable and unstable as fickle emotions. The God of Chaos and Disharmony couldn't help himself but smile in expectations. "Your wish is my command."
The duo disappeared and nothing remained except the unconscious body of Nurse Redheart.