"Dessie...Dessie? Time to wake up sleepyhead." I found myself slowly waking up. As I did, my eyes were met with the most beautiful mare. She giggled at my drowsy expression and gently brushed my mane with her hooves. "Glad to see you're waking up. How are you, my charming stud?"
Blushing immensely, I got up and brushed myself off and tried to act casual about this. “I’m doing great, babe.” I then decided to change the subject a little. “ I see you’re getting better with your levitation and cloud walking spells,”
Violet began to giggle with excitement. “Yeah, isn’t it great? Now we can spend our free time in the clouds together.” She abruptly kissed me on the lips. It surprised me a little at first, but I didn’t resist - how could I? I thought about how this would be the perfect moment to ask her...the question.
As we separated, I began to gesture in a way that obviously implied I had something to say, but my nerves suddenly got to me - especially after looking into those beautiful sapphire eyes and that cute, curious expression. Why couldn’t I ask her? I had to man up and say it. “Violet...” I began in the most nervous tone. “I...,”
“Des! Violet! Please, come quick!” We both heard our names being yelled desperately. We both observed over the edge it was Discord - by himself.
We both descended down to our friend - our hooves held together during the flight. “What’s wrong, Discord?” I then began to ask what I was hoping was nothing. “Where’s Posey?”
“I...I think....” Discord was trying hard to seem calmer than he was letting on, but Violet and I already saw past this ruse. “They took her!” He shouted; tears running down his face.
“What!” Violet exclaimed, “Who? Why?”
“Discord,” I started, “you weren’t the only one that lived in Everfree, we’re you?” All he could do was shake his head. “What happened?”
Rubbing the tears away, he told us what happened that day. “It was just another day. I escorted Posey just outside the border to play with the more peaceful creatures - she really is cute when she plays with them. As we were finishing up, she hugged me and told me how much she cared for me.”
Aww, I knew she could say it.” Violet said in joy. It lightened the mood for a second because I could see a smile on Discord. However, that smile soon deteriorated.
“As I told her what she meant to me - how I wanted to focus on her and put aside the relationship I could have had with Fluttershy - I felt a dart hit me in the neck.” Violet and I were a little surprised to hear that. “This was the first time in the three years I spent in the Everfree Forest that I had let my guard down. The exact location of my pursuers was a mystery to me, so on instinct, I grabbed Posey and dashed for the barrier as quickly as I could before the dart’s toxins could take effect.”
“But you made it back?” Violet asked in confusion. “ Who did this? How did they get Posey?”
With a sorrowful expression, he continued. “I didn’t make it; not on my own. As I was weakening from the dart, Posey saw we wouldn’t make it and called her animals to help me, while she stayed behind. I could still hear the words she told me before I blacked out - ‘I’m glad I was able to save you, my love.’ When I woke up, I was inside the shield; alone.” Discord soon began to show signs of self-loathing.
“I didn’t save her. I finally found some pony I wanted to give everything for, but I couldn’t do it. I was supposed to be her hero...” we soon saw Discord hit the ground with his lion paw, “but I failed!” He cried out. “I’m a loser! I’ve always been one! I’m so sorry Posey! I just wanted to be someone great for you...someone who could actually deserve to be loved by you!”
He started crying. It wasn’t like the soft tears I had seen in him; this time he looked broken. We wanted to comfort him - to tell him that everything was going to be fine - but we didn’t know how to handle this.”I think I’ve heard enough sorrow, Discord.” Suddenly, we saw Cadance and Tempest coming out of the shadows. For the first time since we met her, Cadance wasn’t acting comical or teasing; she was serious.
“Its true, you have messed up, but sitting here sulking will provide no help for you. We both know what their goal was. I can sense her love; she lives Discord.” She had his full attention. “You and I both know where she is; the valley of the Everfree deer.”
These deer were vaguely familiar to me. I remembered from my dreams that they were the only species - aside from Zecora, the zebra - that welcomed the Everfree as their true home. Though, I couldn’t recall them being too friendly to outsiders until Twilight and her friends showed them the magic of friendship. From what I could tell, they never changed their ways in this universe; at least not yet. While I would consider it foolish to think this from my previous world, here I knew our enemies could be swayed to join us. Here I knew we could befriend them; that they were more than savages.
“We’ll be leaving shortly, I suggest you three pack plenty of supply for this quest.” I had a look of surprise that she was letting us go - a look she quickly read on me. “I don’t believe it was a coincidence that an element of harmony was taken. You two - the scions of unity - are going to be very important. I can feel it.”
Tempest approached Discord, and while I expected a harsher tone, it was very sympathetic. "I know what it's like to feel too weak to protect those you are in love with. Help Desert and Violet prepare and meet us by the outside. I will not allow you to lose her, and I know you are too strong and brave to allow it to happen either." As she walked away with Cadance, Violet and I brought Discord with us to prepare for our next adventure.