A dull knocking echoed inside the apartment’s walls. Flash Sentry groaned and buried his head under the pillow, desperate to muffle the intruding noise. Just ignore it. Whoever’s out there will just leave when nopony comes to answer. To his dismay, the pounding on his door persisted and seemingly grew louder. After failing to return to sleep several times, Flash poked his head from under his blanket and glared at the nightstand. His mouth curled into a frown at seeing the time displayed by his alarm clock.
“12:37,” Flash muttered, striking the mattress with his hoof. “Who visits at 12:37 in the morning?!”
Dragging himself out of bed, Flash stared listlessly at the interior of his apartment. A void of darkness littered with indistinguishable shapes greeted him. The moonlight that filtered through his curtains did little to improve visibility.
Flash grimaced, scanning the walls. Now, where was the light switch again? Try as he might, he could not penetrate the fog of exhaustion. He inched along the perimeter until his foreleg inadvertently brushed against it.
Light flooded the room and refracted through the crystalline walls, illuminating every corner of the apartment. Flash’s eyes burned while the blur of furniture slowly shifted into focus. A dull throb gripped Flash’s skull as the knocking quickened.
Flash growled and flung open the door. “Alright, whoever you are, there better be good a reason for waking me up at this hour and-”
Flash felt the words die in his throat as his brain short-circuited. He stared at the white unicorn on his doorstep. A few moments passed before Flash regained his ability to speak. “Is that really you, Captain?”
“Yes, Flash. It’s me,” Shining Armor whispered, “Now, please, keep it down! Any louder and you’ll wake the neighbors!”
Flash blanched, then leaned out of the doorway and frantically scanned the adjacent apartments. To his relief, the windows were still dark and the night air was silent. Flash had no desire to concoct an explanation for the presence of a member of the Royal Family at this hour. He sharply turned to Shining.
“What are you doing here?!” Flash hissed. “It’s the middle of the night!”
“Cadance banished me to the couch,” Shining mumbled, examining the crystalline flagstones comprising the front walk.
“Oh. I’m…”—Flash wracked his mind for the appropriate response—“sorry to hear that. But that still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here!”
“Well, you’re the only pony I know with a couch,” Shining Armor replied sheepishly.
Flash glanced at the maroon sofa resting near his window, then back to Shining Armor. “Hold on, you can’t expect me to believe that! Your parents are full-time professors at Canterlot University.”
“Yes.”
“You’re part of the royal family.”
“Uh-huh.”
“You live in a fully-furnished castle a hundred times bigger than this apartment.”
“That’s right.”
“But you don’t have a couch.”
Shining rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I do actually…”
Flash shot him an expectant look.
“Y’see, it was a gift from dad after I was accepted into the Academy. And I meant to have it shipped up here when me and Candence moved out here. But with all the work that goes into keeping the Crystal Empire running I just sorta, y’know, forgot.”
Flash rolled his eyes. “And I’m the only pony you know with a couch.”
“Well, apart from my parents.” He let out a nervous chuckle. “And the last thing I wanna do right now is catch a train to Canterlot and explain all of this to them.”
Flash gave Shining a blank, unamused look, struggling to maintain his stony façade as beads of sweat formed along his superior’s brow.
Finally, after several tense moments, Flash’s face split into a knowing grin. Shining smiled back, punching his Lieutenant’s shoulder then crossing the threshold into the apartment.
“Very funny, Flash. You really had me goin’ there.”
“Come on, I’d never do that,” Flash said as he shut the door. “Besides, I still owe you for covering for me back in Ardent Shield’s class.”
“Oh, right. How could I forget? She wouldn’t settle for anything but the best from us,” Shining Armor remarked with a nostalgic grin. He glanced at graduation photo by the alarm clock then turned to Flash. “Whatever happened to her? Last time I was in Canterlot I couldn’t find her anywhere. Least of all she wasn’t making her mid-afternoon rounds.”
“You didn’t hear?” Flash asked, earning a puzzled look from Shining Armor. “She retired.”
Shining Armor’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me! She’s barely older than my parents! There’s no way she’d retire that young!”
“That’s what I though too, but I guess things change.” Flash trotted to the closet and pulled out his spare blanket, then tossed it to Shining Armor before flicking off the lights and climbing back onto his bed. “I ran into her at the train station while I was bringing up my stuff. She said something about having had enough of Canterlot and the ‘stuck-up tossers in charge.’ I heard she bought a farm down in Mexicolt and is doing alright for herself.”
“Huh.” Shining fell to his haunches. “I never pictured Ardent settling down as a farmer.”
Flash shrugged. “Me neither.” He collapsed onto the pillow and waited for the warm embrace of sleep to whisk him away. It never came as a morbid curiosity gnawed at back of his mind and denied him that rest. I’m going to end up regretting this, aren’t I? Flash groaned then looked over to Shining Armor who was fluffing the sofa’s armrest. “What exactly happened between you and Cadance? I thought she seemed quite reasonable.”
Shining’s eyes widened with terror. “’The inferno hath no fury.’ You’ve only ever experienced a fraction of her rage, but she saved all the rest for me…” He shuddered, then rose and hobbled into the kitchen. “Do you have anything to drink? I really need something for my nerves after, y’know, everything.”
“Check under the counter. I keep some booze under there for just this sort of occasion.” Flash yawned and sat up. “There’s also ice in the freezer.”
“Thanks,” Shining replied, igniting his horn. The clinking of glass rang throughout the apartment as several bottles floated to the coffee table. He returned to the sofa and eagerly filled the glass with an amber liquid. Raising it to his lips, Shining Armor drained the contents in a single gulp before turning to Flash. “Anyway, the second you were gone she—”
As the map’s viewing portal dissipated, Discord sighed contentedly. The first day of Korosensei’s vacation had far exceeded his expectations. Regardless of possible repercussions lying ahead, Discord didn’t care anymore. The satisfaction of witnessing Twilight Sparkle’s emotional meltdown was worth it.
“I wonder what tomorrow will bring.” Discord’s expression darkened within just as the words left his mouth. “Oh, right, everything will be over then. Korosensei will resume his teaching duties, I will return the mirror portal with nopony the wiser, and life in Equestria will go back to normal.”
Discord grimaced, slumping against the backrest. “It’s a shame, really. I would have liked to visit Korosensei after his little sojourn is over. If only the Princesses didn’t hog the portal for themselves, it would be so much easier,” he remarked bitterly.
Then in a flash, he bolted upright with a manic grin quickly spreading across his face.
A snap of his fingers warped Discord back to his laboratory. He swiftly donned his coat then hurried to the blackboard where a battered green tome rested on the floor nearby. Scooping it up, Discord brushed off the thin veneer of chalk dust that had settled on it, then consulted the index.
“Ah, there it is,” he muttered, before flipping to the third chapter. Hidden within its yellowed pages were the schematics for Starswirl’s mirror portal, a treasure that would leave Canterlot scholars salivating. Hastily scrawled notes lined its margins. Most of the words had faded to the point of unintelligibility excepting only a warning penned in crimson ink accompanied by an arrow pointing to the device’s power source.
Reading over them, Discord cracked a cocky smirk. “Do not handle under any circumstances. Must not ne removed,” he scoffed, pulling tight a pair of latex gloves over his mismatched limbs. “What does he take me for? Some kind of magical neophyte?”
Grabbing a wrench off the table, Discord turned to the portal with a wicked glint in his eyes. “Now, time to see what makes you tick.”
“-and that’s not even the worst part!” Shining Armor ranted while refilling his glass. “Cadance is taking me couch shopping tomorrow!”
Flash rolled his eyes again. “Is that really so bad?”
“Yes, it is!” Shining Armor insisted. “Cadance knows how much I hate furniture shopping so she’s going to draw it out as long as possible!” Downing the rest of his drink, he slammed the glass onto the table. “She’s going to drag me to every store, look at every model, check what material they’re made of, ask about financing options-”
Flash held out his hoof. “Hold on, why would financing matter?” he asked, cocking his head to the side. “You’re royalty. Aren’t you just going to charge it to the Treasury or something?”
“We can’t anymore.” Shining groused. “The Council placed a monthly limit on royal expenses and we’ve already used ours. That couch is coming out of my pocket”
“Wait, what?” Flash straightened up. “Why would they do that after everything the Princesses have for-”
“Princess Luna spent half-a-year’s worth of taxes to buy several arcade machines and upgrade her gaming room,” Shining Armor growled.
“Oh…”
Shining shook his head and attempted to pour another drink only to find the bottle was empty. He frowned and set it aside before uncorking a new bottle. Iridescent liquid flowed into the glass and mixed with remaining drops of the amber alcohol. Shining Armor dropped in a fresh pair of ice cubes then took a long sip.
Sadness and frustration washed over Flash as he glimpsed the collection of empty bottles resting atop the coffee table. His gaze drifted to the latest victim of Shining’s bender, a square-based bottle with a neck coated in red wax. Well, so much for my Appleloosa Bourbon. No big deal. It’s not like I was saving it for a special occasion. Flash exhaled slowly through his gritted teeth. Calm down. It’s not all bad. At least I still have the crystalberry schnapps…for about another minute. Feeling his optimism slip away, Flash collapsed against the backrest.
“Anyway, do you know what visiting to all those stores will get me?” Shining asked, his voice strained and manic.
“A comfy couch?” Flash replied dryly.
“NO!” Shining roared back, startling Flash out of his stupor. “In fact, it’ll be the exact opposite! I know how Cadance thinks! After torturing me all day, she’ll just order a Ypperlig from Yak-Yakea!”
“What’s a Ypperlig? Wait, buck-” Flash punched the mattress, cursing his inability to keep that question mental.
Shining whipped his head around, revealing an unhinged smile. “Oh, I’ll tell you what a Ypperlig is. It is suffering given upholstery. It was created by yaks who were bitter about losing the Battle of Sarlagiin Lake so they decided take revenge and did so in the most painful way possible. They created it to be uncomfortable knowing that, one day, Yak-Yakea would rise up and inflict it’s reasonably priced agony upon Equestria. They created it knowing that, one day, I would mess up badly enough for Cadance would exile me to one. They created it knowing I would suffer.”
Flash stared blankly at Shining. “Don’t you think you’re blowing this a teensy bit of proportion. I mean, it’s just a couch.”
“Weren’t you listening?! It’s not just a couch! It’s a torture device!
“Okay, let’s take a step back,” Flash groaned as a dull throbbing gripped his skull. “What’s the worst that’ll happen when you get that couch? A few nights of rough sleep. That’s it. Besides, look on the bright side. It’s from Yak-Yakea so it won’t take a huge bite out of your wallet.”
“Oh, that’s what you think,” Shining chuckled ruefully. “What the Ypperlig spares you in upfront cost, it makes up for with a mountain of chiropractor bills. It took weeks for Bulk to work out the kinks!”
I give up. Flash threw up his hooves. It’s official: my boss is nuts. Yawning, he glanced over at his alarm clock. “We really should get to bed. There’s a long day ahead of me.”
“You’re probably right,” Shining Armor sighed then re-corked the schnapps bottle. “We’re heading out at 0700 hours. First stop: Quills and Sofas in Ponyville…” He stopped. Eyes shining with devious intent, he slowly looked up at Flash.
A shiver raced down Flash’s spine. Oh buck.
Shining gave him a warm but calculated grin. “Why don’t you join us, Flash? My sister will be there and-”
“No.” Flash said. But then he paused. Toyed with the idea for the briefest instant. “Just no.”
Shining’s smile twisted into a frown. “Why not?”
Flash inhaled sharply then straightened his posture. “Permission to speak freely, sir?”
“Flash, we’re off duty.”
“Yes sir, I know that, sir. Permission to speak freely, sir?”
Shining shot him a glare, but Flash kept up his stony facade.
After a minute’s stalemate, Shining relented. “Granted.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Flash slumped against the bed’s backrest. “Your sister’s crazy. Certifiably certifiable.”
“She is not!” Shining retorted. “Eccentric, sure, but crazy?”
Flash shook his head in disbelief. “Don’t you remember our double date?”
“Of course I do! You two seemed to hit it off quite nicely. It was a great success!”
Those words hit Flash like a runaway cart of bricks. For the second time within the hour, he had to seriously question the sanity of his commanding officer. “In what conceivable universe did we ‘hit it off?’”
Shining cocked his head. “I don’t follow.”
Flash massaged his temples. “Do you remember what happened after the date?”
“Sure,” Shining said. “The train wasn’t ready for our return trip so we waited at Twilight’s castle. She went to make us tea while we were in foyer and…” A look of sober realization dawned on him. “Oh. Right.”
Try as he might, Shining Armor couldn’t stifle the triumphant grin that now spread across his face. When Cadence had proposed the double date, Shining had been doubtful. But each stage of her plan had gone perfectly. A beautiful, sunny day. A wonderful meal at the best café in Ponyville. A joyful smile on Twilight’s face. He chuckled internally. Just according to plan.
Flash broke stride and bowed before Twilight. “Your highness, thank you for allowing me entrance into your residence whilst travel preparations are being completed.”
“Please, Flash, there’s no need to be so formal,” Twilight said, a coy smile on her face. “Call me Twilight.”
“Very well then, Twilight,” Flash smirked. “Thanks for letting me stay here.”
Twilight giggled. “It’s no problem at all. This big castle gets so lonely sometimes…”
Guiding her guests through an archway, she lead them into a parlor with a large couch and coffee table. A bookcase packed with old tomes stood next to the window.
Twilight gestured to the couch. The three of them exchanged skeptical glances, then all squeezing together into the couch. She smiled and trotted off down a corridor. “While you’re all waiting, I’ll go fetch some water for tea.”
Shining usually hated being in the middle seat, but he felt contentment wash over him as Cadance snuggled his shoulder. He let his mind wander, marveling at the crystal lamps jutting from the walls. His thoughts drifted back home to the Crystal Empire. In two short weeks, they’d be hosting the Winter Gala, and all Shining wanted was for his bro Flash to have a partner. Cadence was right, he thought with a smile, The two of them sharing their first dance at our Royal Gala, it’s meant to be.
“What’s this?” Came a voice at his side, breaking into his reverie.
Shining looked up and found Flash picking a scrapbook off of the coffee table. Its cover looked like a glitter fairy had thrown up all over it, with an unmistakable starburst insignia emblazoned on the front.
Shining cocked his head. “Hey, isn’t that-”
“My scrapbook of friendship memories!” Twilight remarked, returning with tray of biscuits. “I was wondering where I put it.”
Flash rotated the album in his hooves. “Mind if I take a look?”
“Sure, if you want to.” Twilight rubbed her forehooves together. “I don’t know why you would want to, though. It’s just a collection of old photos and trinkets though.”
Flash just smirked, opening the book.
Twilight smiled and squeezed in between Flash and Shining Armor.
The first couple pages were scenes from Twilight’s fillyhood. Twilight crouching inside a fort made of books. Twilight playing catch with her brother. Twilight asleep with her Smartypants doll.
Twilight’s cheeks reddened. “Can we please stop?” She pleaded, shrinking back into the couch. “This is embarrassing.”
Cadance gave her a reassuring smile. “Everypony has a few memories that embarrass them, right Shining?”
“Huh?” Shining said.
“You know, like last week?”
“No,” Shining replied a little too quickly, “I don’t remember anything embarrassing from last week.”
“Of course you remember! When we went and bought those schoolgirl outfits, and-“
“Nope,” he said through gritted teeth, “I don’t remember that at all. And neither do you.”
“Oh! Uh, hey, there’s more stuff over here in the photo album.” Twilight said, turning the page. “Let’s, uh, let’s talk about this, and not, uh, whatever the heck you guys were just talking about.”
“Oh,” Flash said, “It’s a picture of Princess Celestia.”
“Yeah,” Twilight said, “I got her to sign this picture when I first enrolled in her school.”
“Why is it so big?” Cadence asked. “It covers the whole page.”
“I know, right? She doesn’t usually give out big headshots like this, but she did it as a special favor for her most faithful student. See?”
The inscription read, “For my most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.”
They turned the page. More pictures of Celestia. One of filly Twilight and Celestia posing together in the Astronomy tower, a pained expression on Celestia’s face. Celestia giving a lecture at the front of a classroom in Canterlot. A blurry shot of Celestia with an annoyed expression on her face, her hoof stretched out to cover the camera lens.
“Whoa,” Flash said, “What’s the deal with that last one?”
“Oh, that. Uh, Celestia didn’t like me taking so many pictures of her in class. She said it was a distraction. Which is why I had to get creative.”
They turned the page.Celestia at the beach eating a chocolate banana. Celestia coming out of the shower. Celestia rubbing sponge cake all over her body, an look of ecstasy on her face.
Shining’s eyes bulged at the sight of these candid photos of their dear leader, a pit forming in his stomach.
“Yikes,” came Flash’s voice from the other side of the couch, but Twilight didn’t seem to notice.
A sudden and painful jab in Shining’s ribs. “Did you know about any of this?!” Cadence hissed in his ear.
“No,” he turned, “I had no idea!” Shining Armor glanced nervously back at Flash and Twilight.
“How did you even get these?” Flash asked.
“Oh, you know, a camera I got for my birthday.” Twilight waved her hoof in the air.
“Well, yeah, I figured,” Flash said. “I meant the candids.”
“Oh that was easy. You’d be surprised at how many stealth spells there are in the library’s Restricted section.”
Flash blinked twice then turned. “Does the Princess know about this?”
“No, but I don’t think she’d mind.” Twilight’s expression brightened, a manic smile appearing on her face. “In fact, Princess Celestia would be impressed that I learned those spells at such a young age. She’d probably hire me on as a professor at her school. Maybe I’ll even get tenure.”
“If you say so,” Flash said. The next page hosted more candid shots of Princess Celestia along with a memento, a living, writhing swatch a of pink, green, and blue cotton candy-like substance, just barely held in place by peeling tape. Flash’s jaw dropped. “Is that… Princess Celestia’s tail?”
“Yeah,” Twilight sighed wistfully. “There’s a funny story behind it. The first time I tried to cut off a snippet my scissors passed right through. Most ponies think the Princesses’ tails are just enchanted to look like that but it turns out they are really ethereal. It was challenging to find something that could cut it. Eventually, after many more long weeks in the Restricted section, I created a cutting charm and cast it on some scissors. So when Princess Celestia was asleep, I went into her chambers and cut a piece off for myself.”
She rose from the couch. “Now that I think about it, those scissors are probably upstairs in my study. I’ll be right back. You’ve got to seen them for yourself. You’ll be surprised how sharp they’ve stayed over the years.”
“Sure.” Flash gave her a stiff nod. When her back was turned, he looked over at Shining. Flash’s eyes were screaming.
Shining could only muster a weak smile of reassurance.
As Twilight climbed the first step, the faint whistling of a tea kettle rang out from the kitchen.
“Oh! I, uh, actually I just remembered something incredibly important!” Flash declared, shutting the scrapbook and springing up from the couch. “The conductor wanted to me to, uh, do a security sweep. Yeah. Have to, uh, have to make sure the train is safe.” He swiftly donned his helmet and bowed to the present royalty. “Twilight, thank you for having me over. Captain, Princess Cadance, I’ll see you at the station.”
Twilight frowned slightly. “Are you sure you can’t stick around for the tea?”
“Duty calls!” He executed a hasty about-face, then cantered to the exit without sparing a glance back.
As the castle’s doors closed, a dull thud resonated throughout the foyer. Twilight lowered her gaze to the floor. A frown tugged at corners of her mouth. “Well, that was… unfortunate.” She then turned to Cadance and Shining Armor. “Anyway, what kind of tea do you want?”
“Now I remember,” Shining Armor groaned. “You should be glad I was able to talk Cadance down.”
“Talk Cadance down from what?”
“You know. Casting a love spell on you two.”
A look of horror dawned on Flash’s face. “No! No no no no no!”
“I know, that’s what I said. ‘No love spells on close friends or family. No exceptions’. It almost didn’t work. You know how she gets.”
“No!” Flash shouted. “I don’t know how she gets!”
Shining’s voice raised an octave. “’Come on, Shining. You know you want to Shining. Do I have to break out the whip, Shining? Don’t make me put that schoolgirl outfit on you, Shining.’”
Flash’s eyes and mouth widened further. “What the buck am I hearing!?”
Shining blinked. “I dunno. A loving relationship between two consenting adults.”
“But it’s just so… weird.”
Shining shrugged. “If you say so.”
“Hm. Well, I guess you did me a solid keeping me from getting involved with that level of crazy.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I ever got with your sister, I’d be going against the advice Pa Sentry gave me every time I’d leave the house. Did I ever tell you about that?”
“No,” Shining replied slowly. “What did he tell you?”
Flash shifted back to his haunches. “Boy!” he said affecting an Appleloosan accent, “I say, boy! Don’t you go stickin’ yer pecker in crazy, y’hear? Don’t you ever go stickin’ that there pecker a’ yours in crazy!” Flash assumed his original pose and accent. “And you know what, I never did.”
Shining leaned back into the couch, his expression warping into one of shock. “How old were you when he told you that?”
“That doesn’t matter,” Flash said with a dismissive wave. “You’ve met my Pa, right?”
“Of course, Splash Sentry. The Old Warhorse. Hero of the Whinnyapolis Disaster.”
“You remember his wings? How they got all those scars on ‘em?” Flash asked, gesturing to his own wings.
“Yeah. From his fateful battle with that shark,” Shining said matter-of-factly.
“Shark don’t do that kind of damage.” Flash slipped back into his Appleloosa twang. Despite only using it in his youth, he now found it difficult to fully drop the affect. “Those scars came from a mare.”
Shining blinked. “A mare?”
Flash nodded grimly. “The way Pa tells it, it happened while he was on shore leave in Baltimare. Pa was at a bar with his drinking buddies when she walked in the room. One thing lead to another and they ended up shacking up for the night. Then things went sour. Pa had to set sail in the morning and she didn’t take too kindly to that. He tried letting her down gently but then the machete came out and-”
“Hold on,” Shining held out his hoof. “A machete?! Why did she have a machete?”
“Well, that’s the thing. Turns out she was part of some expedition to the Tenochtitlan Basin and got separated from her team. Apparently, it left her with abandonment issues but I don’t know. The way Pa tells it, she was just crazier than a shithouse rat.” Flash shrugged. “Anyway, she chased Pa around the room and got some licks in. He had to jump through the window to escape. Pa didn’t stop running ‘til he reached the Whinnyapolis where the docs patched him up. Pretty sure ya know the rest.”
Shining shifted awkwardly on the couch. His mouth opened and closed several times but nothing came out. He looked down at the floor then back to Flash. “So,” he began, turning the words carefully, “you’re not interested in my sister anymore…”
“Yeah,” Flash replied, his voice returning to normal. “That’s the long and short of it.”
“Damn,” Shining said. “Welp, I’m gonna hit the hay. Busy day ahead of me and all that. Gotta get up bright and early.”
Flash couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of those words. “You’re planning to wake up on time?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?” Shining shot him a puzzled look. “I’ve only had a few drinks. I’m not even buzzed.”
“A few drinks?” Flash scoffed. “I hate to see what it takes to get you plastered.”
“What’s so funny? Look, I only drank from a few bottles…” Shining’s eyes widened as his gaze swept across the table. “Oh. Guess I went a little overboard.”
“Yeah.”
“You know that I’ll pay you back, right?” Shining asked, embarrassment palpable in his voice.
“Don’t worry about it. I rarely have the time to drink anyway,” Flash remarked, his body sliding off the backrest and crashing onto his pillow. He threw the blanket over his head with his dregs of strength. “G’Night Captain.”
“Night, Flash.” A rose-colored magical aura enveloped the light switch and flicked it off. Darkness swallowed the room as the magical glow dissipated. After finally hearing Shining’s head hit the armrest, Flash let out a sigh and drifted off to sleep.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Discord gazed at mirror portal. His painstaking work was about bare fruit. A myriad of wires, bolts, and ruined tools littered the surrounding floor. All that remained inside the gutted device was metallic cube supported by a network of pipes.
Discord glanced down at the tome then back to the portal. The power core was finally within reach. As he ran his paw over the cube, a stinging cold raced up his arm. “Orichalcum? What could possibly need that level of insulation?”
Cocking his head, Discord noticed a gap in the cube’s welding. He flashed an excited grin and jammed a crowbar into the opening. The cube creaked and groaned as the front panel was violently pried off.
“Let’s see what’s behind door number three!” Discord growled, his arms burning from exertion.
Brilliant purple light flooded the laboratory as the panel clattered to the floor. The overhead lights flickered wildly before shattering. Discord stumbled back then conjured a pair of tinted goggles.
Shielded from the brightness, the source was revealed to be a crystalline orb no larger than an apricot. Discord blinked, unable to believe his own eyes. “No, that can’t be right…” The blood drained from Discord’s face. “I haven’t seen one of those things in eons…How did it end up here?”
As he stared dumbfounded, the missing puzzle piece finally fell into place. “It all makes sense now,” Discord chuckled disbelievingly. “I always knew something was strange about this thing. Genius or not, there was no way Starswirl should have been able to pierce a dimensional boundary. No mortal should have, and now I know why.”
Discord frowned. The spectre of doubt loomed over Discord. The answer was undeniably clear yet it seemed too unreal. “There’s only one way to be sure,” Discord muttered, peeling off his gloves. He marched up to portal and paused. A bead of sweat trailed down his cheek.
Casting apprehension aside, Discord thrust out his claw and grasped the orb.
Discord instantly felt his body become weightless. The laboratory and all of its equipment crumbled away as an inky void swallowed him whole. Discord floated through the infinite expanse with only distant glimmers for company.
Then, everything came rushing back after a mere second. Discord blinked then looked around the lab in a stupor.
“It’s definitely the real thing…” he mumbled, leaning against the wall. A triumphant smile spread across Discord’s face as he gazed down at the orb.
Things are about become a lot more interesting.