My name is Ginseng. I'm a young changeling from Thorax's pack. Like most changelings I was born within the hive from an egg and assigned a caretaker who raised and loved me. At some point my parental guardian, Panax, decided to move to Canterlot where she had found more opportunities in music and fame. Due to this I left the safety of my hive to join her. Well as safe as it was for a changeling like myself. While yes I did get along with every changeling from the hive I wasn't too welcomed there either. There was something wrong with me... something they didn't completely understand. In fact as I packed my things and joined Panax on the train to Canterlot they almost seemed relieved that I was leaving, but also frighteningly concerned. Would I really be okay out there? Would I need their help?
I assured them that I didn't want their help and that maybe this is just what I needed. It wasn't the fact that they were worried about what the ponies would think about me exactly... After all, I looked like any other colorful changeling of the pack. I suppose it was about how I would take it. Would I be able to live joyfully in a town that barely knew me? A town that barely loved me? Maybe. We'll have to see.
Though there's a lot more to me than what most would notice at first glance. So far in my time living in Canterlot no other creature seemed to really take notice. Who would, after all, if they couldn't understand it? That was until one day I was approached by my future partner in crime...
"You're a changeling, right?"
I perked up in surprise and turned to see a young filly unicorn possibly around my age. She had a light orange pelt and a curly bright red autumn mane. Her wide olive eyes seemed to stare into my soul with only her glasses acting as the invisible barrier between us.
We were both really young when we first met. I had moved to Canterlot along with Panax several weeks ago previously. My wings would usually take me to the Shimmering Lake Park where families of ponies would spend their time together in the shade of trees or on checkered blankets with picnic baskets. Maybe their love had attracted me to it... maybe I just liked the pristine lake itself. Either way I was here and so was she. In fact she was here multiple times. I'd see her daily on a bench with a notepad. Sometimes she would give me a curious glance and sometimes she'd just leave me alone. Today however the young filly finally decided to approach.
I nodded to the other, "Yeah, I'm a changeling... My name is Ginseng. What's yours?"
She readjusted her glasses with green magic, "Little Gimmick. Just call me Gimmick. Come with me for a second." The small pony then made her way through some bushes and disappeared within them.
I gave a confused stare towards the bushes she disappeared in. Was... Was this normal for ponies? I didn't even get a chance to consider what to do before some of the pony's magic wrapped around my tail and dragged me into the shrubs along with this Little Gimmick character.
I soon found myself in a small woodland clearing empty of pony or creature except us. "Welcome to my temporary office of today." Gimmick hummed in a professional manner after dropping my tail from her magical hold, "Please, take a seat." She gestured to a tree stump nearby.
I gave the pony a glare before rolling my eyes. I hopped up onto the stump and decided to just play along for now. Gotta make friends somehow, right? Though I'm not sensing a lot of love from this pony... In fact she had a lot less than others actually.
Gimmick sat down on a pile of stones across from me and cleared her throat, "So. As a changeling you can transform and become whatever you want, correct?"
"Well. There's some training to it, actually."
"Mhm. But! There is a form of yourself. Your original self. One that does not require the use of your magic, right?" She leaned close with a raised brow.
I stiffened. What was this pony going on about? "Um. Yes... There is."
"Then why are you using up your magic?" The little filly smirked as she fixed her glasses once again, "What do you have to hide?"
I blinked in surprise and found myself looking over my body. I was confused. I had every detail a reformed changeling would need. I was colorful, blue, and there were three tear-drop shaped gemstones on my head. There was no hint that I wasn't myself at all. "I have no idea what you're talking about." I automatically droned out with a conveyed voice of both annoyance and frustration, "I'm not using any of my magic right now."
The little pony's eyes suddenly widened, "Oh... You're good."
"Huh?"
"Say that last bit again." The filly urged.
"I'm not using any of my magic right now." I repeated in a steel voice with a stern face to match.
"Oh! Wow! It's so subtle but a normal pony wouldn't even be able to notice! Oh come on, you don't want to be like another Cozy Glow do you?" Gimmick playfully asked.
That was the first time I heard that phrase. Like another Cozy Glow. I have heard stories of the princesses turning three villains to stone, one of those villains I clearly remember being Chrysalis who was the previous queen of our hive before Thorax took over. Every changeling knew about that fact but not a lot of them really cared to learn who the other two villains were. Though there have been rumors that a little pony filly was amongst the villains and punished to be a statue for the rest of her life. That felt outlandish to me. Well... until today.
"Like another Cozy Glow..?"
"A lying, manipulative, misleading young creature. Every tiny pony or creature who lies around here is warned of Cozy Glow's fate. Lying gets you no where after all. It gets you turned to stone!"
I perked up at that, "I don't believe that. Isn't that a bit extreme?"
"Not for the princesses it's not! Come on, I'll show you it myself!" The young unicorn insisted with a gesture of her hoof for me to follow once again.
This time either out of curiosity or out of the kindness for my poor tail I trailed after the filly and found myself going through the entirety of Canterlot until we both ended up at the royal public gardens. It seems we were allowed to go in and see the statues ourselves for educational purposes.
With a smile Gimmick lead me through the maze of varying statues that signified different symbols like justice, harmony, and might. There were others that replicated challenges that Equestria have faced during their most darkest moments or images of well-known ponies that have helped build up to some of the most peaceful eras of pony history. It all went ignored however as my eyes landed instead on the one statue we both came here for. The statue of the three villains.
They were reduced to nothing more but cold, bitter stone. Sure, as "friends" but possibly not by choice. There was an old looking centaur of some sort who cowered behind the others with a frustrated scowl. There was an unreformed Queen Chrysalis lunging forward with the snap of her fangs to whoever was the one that cursed her with this meek infinite punishment. Then, there was Cozy Glow. Cozy Glow was a young pegasus filly with wide eyes and a shocked frown. Compared to the other two villains she stood out the most. She didn't look monstrous or frightening just average and innocent. She looked like a child... because that's what she was. A child. An evil kid who lied and manipulated her way to the top and took it too far.
As I stared at this little filly however something didn't sit right with me. This didn't sit right with me...
"They actually did it." I muttered out in realization, "They actually put a little filly in a stone statue."
"And whose to say they wouldn't put us in one too?" Gimmick inquired.
"Us..?" I turned to the little unicorn.
Her smug expression faltered as she abruptly whipped her head towards me, "I didn't- I mean you not-... Ugh. Fine. Listen. Let me tell you something about my talent. Look at my cutiemark," She gestured to her flank where a picture of a strange square device now sat. It looked like a weird calculator... "Do you want to know how I got it?"
"Well I wasn't interested at first but I guess since you mentioned it now I suppose it wouldn't hurt to know."
The unicorn huffed in annoyance, "It was during a chess tournament. To everyone, I had gained my cutiemark by catching a cheater and winning the games. To me however? I was the one who cheated." She looked at the statue once again to gaze up at Cozy Glow, "With my magic I made my way through the finales. When ponies got suspicious I turned it on somepony else. I made others believe he was the liar and I was the one who caught him in the act. When I won and got away with it this appeared. It's a lie detector. It tells people who is lying and who is telling the truth."
Gimmick smirked as she turned to me and happily clapped her hooves together, "I always know who's a liar and who isn't. Doesn't mean anyone else around me knows however. Though because many ponies see my cutiemark is a lie detector they instantly believe I'm completely honest. I know who is lying and who is telling the truth! That means I'll tell them, right? It's the perfect disguise. The perfect image to represent me... A Cozy Glow. Kinda like you and how your metamorphosis is the perfect deception. Which compliments you well. You know how I asked you to repeat what you said earlier? I was looking for the little changes a creature's face makes while they lie. Your change? It's so small that I didn't even notice it at first! When you tell the truth and when you lie there was no difference... except for the way you flicked your tongue while you talked. I probably wouldn't have noticed it if you didn't lie again! You're the perfect con and the best at it, even! Which comes to my other point. You're a changeling, right? But you're not one of them, are you?"
I hesitated and swiftly scanned that area with my near reflection-less blue eyes. When I felt the gardens were clear enough I let out a sigh and allowed myself to transform back into my real original changeling self. My true form in actuality was a dark nymph with sharp fangs and hole-filled legs. I wasn't as sparkly or as colorful as the ones now roaming Equestria today. I was what most considered evil; a monster among the good. Something that apparently couldn't hide from Gimmick, "This is my true self." I hissed out with my tongue lashing in front of me, "I'm a starving changeling who'd rather take love than share it. I find no joy in sharing it like others do. It's selfish and it's greedy I know... but it feels nicer receiving it than giving it all away. In fact, I find it difficult to trust most with it... just like I find it difficult trusting you with this." I growled as my transparent wings buzzed behind me.
Now that Equestrian ponies were more used to mingling creatures of varying kinds among their cities or towns we changelings can now flourish along with them. That is however if we have gone through a metamorphosis that drastically changes not only our appearances but our entire being. From one bleak stage of love-sucking starvation to the more colorful and lovable one that never seems to get hungry it's no surprise that every creature seemed to prefer the latter.
I never went through this change. No one could figure it out. I was born quieter than most but grew to get along with the others later on. I learned the ways of friendship, I learned about love, and I learned all I could about caring and accepting others as much as any creature yet no one could understand why I never changed. They all questioned and wondered why I out of so many of them stayed the same.
Imagine how it feels for changelings from a pony's perspective. Our metamorphosis is kind of like a cutiemark. If you see a pony with no cutiemark it is seen as strange and off-putting. An outlier from the rest but nothing too alarming. That's how it feels for changelings. Meanwhile for ponies it's not the same. If they see a changeling still in a stage that could be considered... evil... then most would not be comfortable with it. They would be afraid of it.
So I made my own metamorphosis. I made myself a blue and purple gradient of colors that flowed down my equine pelt. My wings became a dark purple while my underbelly a light blue. I looked like any other colorful fully reformed changeling- well except for the fact I took my own liberties and placed three small stones to surround my horn instead of around my neck just to make things creative. It's not fooling other changelings but it's enough to fool ponies, griffins, and other creatures. They don't understand the magic behind our transformations. At least, that's how it went for a while until a young unicorn named Little Gimmick called me out... because the truth was I chose not to be reformed at all.
The filly smiled in ecstatic victory as she hopped up next to me with a new spring in her step, "Ahah! I knew you couldn't keep this a secret from me forever! Don't worry, it's safe with me. I'm good at keeping them... as long as you keep mine to yourself as well."
"Oh don't worry," I transformed back into my more flashy disguise, "I have no reason to tell any creature about that tournament."
"Good. Because Cozy Glows gotta stick together! Right, Ginny?"
"Ginny?" I questioned with another stare.
"Ah, you'll get used to it." Gimmick waved her hoof playfully, "But wanting to know your true self wasn't the only reason I brought you here today, actually."
"Oh really?" I tilted my head towards the other, "What're you looking for from me, then?"
"I'm looking for an alliance." Gimmick offered as she raised her hoof towards me, "Or a friendship I guess. I have a lot of big plans in store and with a changeling by my side it would make things a lot easier. Pretty much what I'm saying is... I could really use your help Ginseng."
I considered the hoof for a moment, "And what's in it for me?"
"You're hungry, aren't you?" Gimmick asked, "I could help you feed... and maybe along the line I can help you get stronger too! More powerful! Together we could shape everything around us to how we want it to be. Come on. We're standing in front of the three most well-known villains in Canterlot. Don't embarrass me in front of them." The little filly joked as she awaited my answer.
Now after everything I heard I didn't really consider myself a Cozy Glow... at first. The more Gimmick talked however the more I was starting to see just how similar we both were. We were lying and manipulating the world around us not just through what we said but with our appearance as well. It was frightening how Cozy Glow's story complemented ours. Yet as I looked at the statue I felt this pit in my stomach that wouldn't go away. In fact it would get worst the more I stared. This was the moment I go into some speech about change and how different we'll be years later from now, right? Wrong. Whose to say that Gimmick and me would change? Definitely not the princesses. If every creature here was certain that a filly like Cozy Glow would never be able to change and remain villainous forever... then what's convincing me that I could become something better? What's convincing Gimmick? After all this I decided I had a new goal in mind. I wanted to fix this. I wanted to change the world around me so I wouldn't be compared to such a villain. I wanted to be powerful enough to erase history.
I bumped my hoof against Gimmick's and from then on a new blooming but dastardly friendship was born.
Gimmick's plans began to take action. We were disastrous children on the loose going from one special event to the other and sneakily crushing them all underhoof. It started with a few pranks at first... A welcoming party for Princess Cadence and Shining Armor had their confetti canons filled with dirt, mulch, bugs, and glitter glue. A concoction invented by Little Gimmick to create the perfect confusion. Then their punch was replaced with stolen vials of liquid "coocoo magic" I liked to call them that would give the guests a random emotion after five minutes of consumption. One moment you'd be laughing your heart out and then the next you'd be a crying mess on the floor. I found this as a good opportunity to suck up some love from distracted coocooed ponies who suddenly turned lovesick for no reason. Their cakes were filled with termites and their presents were ripped apart and stolen only to be found later on hanging from the trees or floating in the pond just outside. We both ran from the party laughing with joy as the both of us managed to escape that royal disaster. They never caught us either! With my changeling magic many saw others doing different things and the blame game was on.
Through several weeks- or months- we continued to sabotage as many parties and holidays we could before meeting up together once again under the statue of the three villains. From there we would talk about the day and just laugh and joke. It was so much fun! I was actually feeling genuinely happy for once and could sense the caring friendship Gimmick had for me drifting out from her. It wasn't entirely genuine but it was there... even if I was just a tool for her plans it was nice to know she cared a little bit.
What I didn't know about these plans however was the bigger picture behind it. Gimmick loved to keep her secrets even from me so she didn't tell me exactly what was the end goal, only that we should do it. So I did. I didn't question it and I didn't question who she really wanted to attract to our little pact. I soon later found out. After all, chaos attracts chaos...
"I'll see you tomorrow Ginny." Gimmick winked towards me, "The Festival of The Two Sisters is tomorrow. It's going to be big! Let's have some fun, okay?"
I snickered, "Yeah! Sure! I'll see you around Gimmick."
The filly nodded before trotting away with her head held high, leaving me on my own next to the statue we'd always seem to gravitate to. I let out a sigh and turned to it with my head resting on my colored hooves. I studied the three villains towering over me with this feeling in my gut. I felt like I had to say something... they were all once alive and conscious after all.
"What is it like being turned into a statue? Are you asleep in there?" I found myself asking, "Or are you awake? It must suck if you're awake."
"Oh believe me they are all definitely conscious in there. I would know," A strange red reptilian tail came across my vision with its white fluffy tip brushing up against my snout as it passed. I let out a sneeze which surprisingly produced a variety of different colored butterflies; some mostly brown. As I watched them they soon gathered together to form the lord of chaos himself.
"I've been in one myself for a millennium or two."
"Discord?" I quickly pulled myself up, "The Discord??"
"The one and only!" The draconequus bowed towards me and with a roll of his wrist summoned a top hat in his paw, "And lately I've been noticing some very creative little troublemakers having a bit too much fun causing a littttle bit of chaos. I have to say, it looks like you two have taken over the mantle haven't you?" He questioned as he placed the hat over my head. It was much too big so it easily fell over my face.
"What do you mean?" I questioned as I pushed the hat back in order to see Discord.
"I mean it's been so long since I've purposefully caused any chaos around here. I suppose you both got bored and decided to just go and do it yourselves! Awww I applaud you for continuing my legacy!" He clapped his talon and paw together while summoning several other hands to clap along with him before making them all vanish in a white flash along with his own, "Though I will admit it's not looking well for me. Everyone's blaming me for what you two do. I told them I didn't do it so now they want me to look for proof! Proof! Can you believe that? I mean sure I guess I could just take the both of you and present you in front of Twilight and say: Here they are! Here's the REAL troublemakers! But that would be no fun, you know? Nothing about that would be fun for you or me. That'd be too easy."
He seemed to visibly droop as he tapped his chin in thought with his... foot.
"Well, I don't know what you're talking about. We haven't done anything chaotic lately." I shrugged as I made myself comfortable on the garden grass.
"Oh really? Then who was the one in this flashback who clearly replaced the party's gummy worms with slugworms and red beetles?" The draconequus questioned as he snapped his non-existent fingers and transported both of us to a party I remember crashing recently. Discord was see-through... I was see-through! It was really strange and disorienting.
Just then, I spotted myself. I was sneaking under tables with Gimmick. With playful smirks we both tried our best to contain our laughter as I transformed into the party planner Pinkie Pie and nabbed several plastic bags of gummy worms. Just as Discord had said I replaced all of the gummy worms with insects and gave the real deals to Gimmick.
A brown unicorn with a dark mane and a twister for a cutiemark spotted us while we weren't looking. He gave off a smirk and turned to the see-through versions of me and Discord as he spoke in a hushed but familiar voice, "Looks like I caught you~"
In another flash of light we were right back at the gardens.
I blinked from the aftermath, "Was that you as a pony?"
"Yeah, handsome fellow ain't he? You weren't as sneaky this time around~!" Discord chuckled playfully.
I looked up at him and shrugged in response, "I thought they looked a bit more lively, you know? The place was getting really boring and they needed something to spice things up! Also we... we were a bit hungry." I smiled sheepishly up at the draconequus.
Discord seemed to pause at this and smile. He slithered up right next to me with pure joy in his eyes, "Say, what's your name kid? As you already know I'm THE Discord. THE LORD OF CHAOS!" Thunder and lightning flashed in the sky behind him.
"My name's Ginseng." I smiled, "It's nice to meet you!"
"Oh and you too little changeling!" Discord patted my head with a chuckle before flying off to slump atop the petrified figures of Chrysalis and Tirek, "Say, since you know nothing about the destroyed parties that you and your friend obviously wrecked do you mind at least telling me why you always seem to hang out around this boring old statue all the time? I swear you both are the only ones who ever come up here!" He playfully pinched Cozy Glow's cheek making my stomach writhe with discomfort.
"We're interested in the villains and their story," I find myself saying, "We want to know why they became evil, how they escaped Tartarus, and how they did it. What goes on in the minds of Chyrsalis or Tirek or a little filly like Cozy Glow that makes them want to conquer worlds? It's so strange and scary but so cool to Gimmick and me. We're hoping to figure them out to see what went wrong but there's not a lot of books about them." I walked up to the statue and tapped my chin in thought just to make my act even more convincing.
"Oh! You want to know more about these three knuckleheads, huh?" Discord couldn't help but laugh as he tapped on Chrysalis' head, "Well this is perfect! Tell you what... since I REALLY enjoyed your harmless pranks on the royals and their snooty guests I won't tattle on you two if you stop and instead listen to what I have to say! A tale of some sort if you'd like~!"
I perked with interest, "Huh? Wait- you're going to tell us a story if we stop destroying parties?"
"I don't see what the harm is in that~! Besides, maybe it'll do you and your friend some good! Maybe you two could do with a history lesson and learn some friendship or whatever yadda yadda peace and harmony. I doubt you two would become little villains like them but you hearing their failures might just convince you to turn over a new leaf and join me in reformation!" With a snap of his claw his draconequus body would transform into something that looked similar to a reformed changeling; colorful, cute, and trusted, "You might just be pranksters now but who knows, what if you try to become conquerors? Hahaha that would just be hilarious...! Right?" His head abruptly appeared really close to my face as his neck stretched out to meet me.
I chuckled, "Yeah. That would be weird to think about. I don't want to be any different years later from what I am now. Besides, imagine me as a villain?? Look out! It's Ginseng the evil-doer!" I hopped up and hovered above the ground with my wings fluttering behind me.
Discord transformed back into his usual draconequus self and let out a booming laugh, "Ahahah! Oh no! It's the tiny and cuddly changeling come to take my love! Not my precious love! I need that! NOOOooOOoo! She's going to conquer EquestriaaaAAaaaa!" He dramatically fell back with a paw against his head as I made my way closer and threateningly raised my hooves.
"When I'm done with you I'll take over and start changing all the laws! First things first! Homework is ILLEGAL!" I firmly announced before laughing as well. My hooves clutched my stomach as I fell back onto the ground beside Discord.
"Ahahah! You really are a HOOT! Much better than that Little Gimmick the other me was just interrogating! She's the brains, I get it. She's a real professional prankster but you're much more fun to talk to!"
I wiped a tear from my eye as I began to calm down, "Hah... Really?"
"Yeah! You know, maybe I can take you under my wing!" He dropped his blue wing in my hooves effectively traumatizing me for life, "I can show you how to cause a little bit of fun and chaos without being too damaging! Creatures like fun and actual harmless pranks after all! It could be like a friendship lesson of some sort! And I can be your wise mentor! Like Starlight is nowdays~ Besides, I don't trust your other friend leading the way. Something tells me she's going to need a bit more work than you."
He turned his body so his back was facing me. Where his wing was there was some sort of three-holed thing. An outlet?
I looked down at the wing which now had three prongs sticking out from it. After connecting the dots I flew up and plugged it right back into place. I was really glad to part from it, "What do you mean by that Discord?"
"Well you see you seem much more innocent than she is. You're like some lackey that got wrapped into some evil no-good shenanigans! Your friend reminds me so much of that little pink villain it's not even funny! Too many red flags, really." He summoned a red flag and began to wave it back and forth in front of me.
Ignoring the lackey comment I spoke, "So..." With a hoof I gently moved Discord's paw out of the way, "She's like another Cozy Glow?"
He clapped his claws together over the red flag to transform it into a book of fairytales. "Exactly like another Cozy Glow~! I'll have to remedy this before she decides to put her brains into world domination instead. Now how about this, we all get together in whatever clubhouse you two have and through the power of storytelling we can get you going as happy reformed little campers!"
Snap! A green tent suddenly appeared on top of me. It dragged me back down to the floor and toppled over. After regaining my senses from my clear confusion I poked my head out through the flaps to see Discord flipping through the pages of his book.
"Of course however I'm willing to make friends. Or get a student! Twilight and everyone else have students nowadays, I think it would be fitting if I did too! So how about it Ginseng? Want to learn how to become a chaotic do-gooder?" He showed off a page of the book which had a colorful drawing of my reformed self with Discord. He was using chaos magic to laugh and dance and from the looks of the image was showing me how to party as well. With a smile the real Discord offered a paw towards me.
My eyes went wide before I started beaming with joy. I shot right out of the tent in a zip! "Yeah!! I would love that!" I took his paw with my hooves and happily shook it, "Though...! There's one problem. We don't have a clubhouse." I hovered back as a nervous chuckle escaped me.
"Don't have a- You two DON'T have a clubhouse??? Well that's not right... AND that's not good for sales! We're going to have to MAKE YOU ONE then! A base of operations if you will for your little definitely harmless fun! Now what would make a good clubhouse for the two of you? Lets see... you both like pranks and chaos and laughter- what if we make it a large bouncy house? No wait, your friend is a unicorn. She'd just pop it. Hmmm... Maybe we could make it underwater? Or create some secret passage? Or-"
"Or we could make a tree house." I suggested with sheepish smile.
"Or we could make a tree house! Perfect! Oh you're going to be the best student of mine ever!" Discord plucked me up and playfully held me up in the air, "But first, I should probably ask Princess Twilight. I'm sure there's some rules or regulations or whatever boring stuff there needs to be for this to work out. Who knows? Maybe you'll get wings just like she did."
"I already have wings." A buzz sounded out to make their presence known.
"Oh you know what I mean! The equivalent of that!" He placed me back down onto the ground and considered me, "Now building a tree house will take a while so until then I'll just tell stories here by this statue until we get it up and running. I'm sure these three would just love to hear their defeat all over again~! But! I will only do that... and I regret saying this... IF you DON'T mess with the festival tomorrow!"
I couldn't help but laugh at that, "Awwww! Discord! You had to ruin the fun!"
"I mean it young changeling! No disastrous pranks! Promise?"
I sighed, "Promise."
"Good! And make sure your friend 100% understands that too! She said she wouldn't but I SAW that shift in her eyes. I can already feel it in her trouble-making bones! She definitely still would!" He suddenly tore a hole into reality and stepped through it, "Now I'm going to go talk to Princess Twilight. I will be seeing the two of you tomorrow, okay? Don't do anything I wouldn't do~!"
"Wow uh okay- I'll see you tomorrow Discord! I'll talk to Gimmick!" I assured with the wave of my hoof before Discord grabbed the top of this hole and pulled it down to close it and restore the space time continuum.
Afterwards I found myself silently sitting there and staring at the spot the draconequus was just at. Did that really just happen? Did he not see through my lies? My playful deceit? Was Gimmick right? Was I a better con than I originally thought? Still, my lies got me somewhere I didn't expect. The Lord of Chaos himself asking to be my mentor? Mentor of what exactly? Chaos itself?
"Am... Am I going to become a chaos lord?" I wondered out loud to the three villains nearby before shaking my head, "Guess I have to go find Gimmick now. We really need to talk..."
With one glance at the three petrified villains I turned and left. What I learned later came as a shock.
Tomorrow had appeared. While the festival itself wouldn't be until later on tonight ponies and creatures of varying kinds were still getting ready for the upcoming event. For now however it was just your usual sunny day. For me it was a lot more.
I found her at the Shimmering Lake Park, "Gimmick! You won't believe what happened last night!" I raced up to the young unicorn who now sat on a bench with an open book by her side.
She smirked in response, "Oh I think I can believe it." With her magic she flipped to the next page.
"Discord came to me last night! He interrogated me a bit but- I think I got him to like me!" I placed a hoof over my chest as I felt the edges of a genuine smile perk up.
"Perfect. I knew you would be able to get the job done." Gimmick shut her book before hopping off the bench.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"I mean I knew you and Discord would get along. You read people well... really well. You make friends easily even when you don't love them back! You adapt. It's in your nature, it seems. You're great at deception and you're great at hiding the truth. I just didn't think it'd go so perfectly well, but it still works for my real plan." She stashed the book away into her saddlebags and instead pulled out a notepad, "The events and the parties were just a kickstart. We needed to create enough chaos to attract him to us and it came together quite well don't you think? He talked to me last night but it was clear he had no interest in me. In fact, he kept talking about how his double was having more fun with you! I think he enjoys your presence a bit more than me so... We'll use that."
"Wait- so... What's the full plan? Can't you tell me it now?" I felt very unnerved but also very intrigued. What was this pony's end goal?
"Well first, let me tell you a part of it. You see, I needed a way to test Discord's abilities. He didn't know about your true form, did he?"
I tapped my chin in thought, "No. He never took notice really. Called me innocent even. In fact- he pulled up a memory of some sort earlier. He was there during one of our parties but as a pony. He had to see us for himself doing our pranks..."
"So it's true. Discord may be powerful but he doesn't know everything. If he knew everything he'd have known you were lying from the very start." Gimmick's joy was clear in her sparkling eyes, "This is BIG Ginny! I needed to see what he could or could not possibly know. With your help I was able to lure him in and catch him with the truth! That truth is he isn't as impressive as we think~! But we still gotta be careful around him..."
She placed the notes in front of me and gestured to it, "So. This is the plan."
I would be lying if I said I didn't feel used. For some reason I even felt betrayed. I don't know why but that genuine moment of possible friendship between me and Discord was now ruined by Gimmick's little notepad. It was all planned. It was all a con made by her and me. It was just... just a building stone to the next step! I know what it was for but some part of me wished it wasn't.
Still, I had to move on. There was a greater goal that the both of us now reached for. I could see it in her eye every time she looked at that statue in the gardens. Together, if we get this right, we could learn how to change history. Either the past, the present, or the future.
For now however I found myself staring wide-eyed at Discord himself. Just besides me was Gimmick who quirked a curious brow in his direction. We did what he asked and kept our pranks far from the festivities. When we weren't sure what to do for the day we had both just decided to sit and wait at the statue with some snacks, videogames, and a good book. Only when the sun began to set did he appear before us.
"Geez! Twilight has been getting a lot more stern lately! It's such a bore! She has this face that's just like; Discord! Don't influence young creatures! Well EXCUSE me for trying to be a responsible draconequus for once in my life!" After reshaping his Twilight face back into his usual Discord face he let out a grumble and crossed his arms in annoyance, "BUT! Thankfully, Fluttershy had appeared to come to my rescue! She managed to convince that snoot of a princess to give me a chance at teaching you two friendship. So, lesson one! Don't call the princess a snoot. It's rude I've heard."
"Duly noted." Gimmick commented as she lowered her book.
"So you've told the princess about us?" I bit my lip in anticipation.
"Oh! No, not just yet! I told her I found the troublemakers BUT! I didn't want her to deal with them. I wanted to be the one to help you little tots grow into big responsible tots! So I refused to give her your name and told her I would only share IF I get to do some friendship lessons, reform you myself, and THEN introduce you to Princess Twilight! By then you'll both be brainwashed into friendship society!" He gently patted my head with his paw.
"... Brainwashed?" I questioned with concern.
"Eh, he's the lord of chaos. He's just kidding around... Maybe." Gimmick assured me before pulling out a blank notepad, "So what's first on the agenda?"
"FIRST!" Discord plucked up Gimmick's notepad and tossed it into the sky where it vanished into a twinkling speck high above, "We are not taking notes for these types of friendship lessons. Instead, I'll be telling you some stories!"
In a flash of light a campfire appeared in between us. Discord happily summoned a counselor's cap for himself and donned us with what looked like girl scout outfits.
"Are you going to pay for that notepad?" Gimmick questioned from the log we now sat on that came with this camp set-up.
I stuck my tongue out and instantly chewed on the fabric of my sash. What is this??? Get it off!
Discord pointed a talon at me, “Young changeling stop chomping at your sash!”
I ripped a piece off and was surprised to find that it tasted sweet. Was this cotton candy? “But I’m hungry.” I simply say as I chew away at the deliciously sugary cloth.
“Oh please! Changelings can’t get hungry! You put that down this instant!” He sternly voiced but with a pout that looked less than serious.
Gimmick gave me a look, “Ginny why are you eating your sash?”
I pulled my head back up and licked my maw, “I don’t know. Maybe because I don’t like wearing it! It’s itchy.”
“So you eat it?”
“.... Yes.”
“Well at least they didn’t entirely go to waste,” Discord snapped his fingers once again to make the campsite and outfits disappear in a blink. In their place was a bowl of popcorn for Gimmick and a stick of cotton candy for me.
“Why don’t we just skip the theatrics and get on with the stories, eh?”
I nodded enthusiastically. Gimmick meanwhile shrugged in response and contently chewed away at some popcorn.
“Now,” He leaned back to sit his body on some invisible non-existent chair, “Let’s start with something they don’t tell you in the history books. Do you two know who Grogar is?”
We shook our head no.
“Of course you wouldn’t. No one really talks about him nowadays! Just his bell.” The draconequus snapped his talon to summon an image of a cracked blue bell pulsing with unknown properties, “The bell that could take magic and deposit it to someone else~”
“Oh!” Gimmick perked up, “Yes I’ve learned about Grogar’s bell recently! It was destroyed soon after the three villains were defeated... but we didn’t learn much about Grogar himself.”
“That’s because Grogar is old news little one!” Discord crushed the apparition with his claws, “He’s been around since before Celestia and Luna were even born! He’s some old goat who ruled with an iron hoof and plagued Equestria in a realm full of monsters and demons. One of those being yours truly~”
I found myself processing what Discord had said... “So you’re like Grogar’s son..?” I hesitantly asked.
“Oh good heavens no! At the time I was just a pulsing abomination trying to take a form that’d be better suited for myself! I never considered Grogar my dad just my creator... But let’s not get into the details of my cruel upcoming. Instead let me tell you about the time King Sombra came back.”
"King Sombra?" Gimmick wondered out loud, "That unicorn that attacked the Crystal Empire? What does he have to do with the villains, Grogar, and the bell? Did Grogar also create him?"
"Nope! King Sombra is just a sad pony with royal frills up his nose and dark magic~! But have you ever wondered how he returned to Equestria a second time?"
Both me and Gimmick perked up at this and turned to one another.
"Well you see it all started when I heard that the former Princesses Celestia and Luna were going to entrust Equestria in the hooves of Twilight Sparkle~!"
The rest of the night continued on like this. We both listened intently as Discord continued to tell his tale of of the villains all jam-packed together and forming an unlikely alliance. He told us how Grogar summoned all of them to his lair and how his plan was for them to make friends so they'd all be able to defeat their greatest enemies together. The way Discord told the story had this tension and severity to it that made me interested for more. However his portrayal of King Sombra was comedic, to say the least. I don't actually believe Discord's interpretation of the dark ruler who enslaved hundreds was some prissy, over-confident showpony, but I still intently listened. What did the villains plan to do? Why was Sombra going out alone? Would Grogar really hold up his end of the deal? And if so... does that mean King Sombra is still out there?
Honestly I felt Discord was making it all too long on purpose just to waste our time away until the sun came up during the celebration. Still, I kinda found myself enjoying the story and how Discord pretended to be hurt in order to get his friends to defeat Sombra by themselves. It was an interesting retelling of events. The moment he said "The end" however was the moment me and Gimmick couldn't stand it any longer. We were exhausted and were glad to depart for the night.
As Gimmick left she gave me this look. A look that definitely said "Hey... Let's talk later." Then she hurried off to who knows where.
I stayed a bit longer to say goodbye to Discord. He responded with a light chuckle, "Aw are you already missing me? You're just adorable! Also I just want you to know~! I asked Princess Twilight if we could use a tree in the park to build our- I mean your treehouse! She's going to be sending supplies and once its all built up we'll get this whole thing going again!"
"Why don't you just use your magic to make one?" I asked with a tilt of my head.
"Well you see that's the thing about chaos magic. It might be able to form many wonderfully silly things," He summoned several black and red cards to shift from palm to palm as he said this, "But it's not stable... or permanent I'm afraid! It changes constantly and if I don't have my complete focus on what I've summoned then it eventually turns well... chaotic~!"
To show an example he let go of the cards in his hands and allowed them to explode into this pulsing pink and purple substance that dribbled along the floor. As it did the grass was suddenly patterned with white and blue swirls. Discord soon snapped his fingers to make the odd goop go away.
"Oh so- if you made a club house but stayed away for too long it'd just... Fall apart?"
"Precisely!"
"... Was that cotton candy I just ate dangerous?" I bit my lip in concern.
"Oh- Ohohoho! No! Don't worry about that Ginseng! It's nothing to worry about!" He waved his hands absentmindedly.
"Are you sure..?"
"Don't worry about it~!"
I stared up at Discord with narrowed eyes, "Are you... Are you going to explain how it's alright to eat?"
"Ahahahah.... Don't worry about it."
"But-"
"Dooooon't worry about it~!"
" Well I still want to know..! After all don't I as your student get chaos magic someday?" I asked almost a bit too eagerly.
"Ahahah! Little one you are just too much! Not every creature can handle chaos magic, especially a changeling, and as much as I like the idea of another chaos user we're... going to have to check first to make sure you can even handle such a power. Oh- and ask for Twilight's permission to test on a child I GUESS... One bit at a time, Ginseng!" He patted my head once again, "Now I think it's about time you get going! Your guardian must be very worried! Don't worry, I'll be able to tell you more of the story once we get that tree house built! I'm sure it'll be soon! Maybe..."
I find myself glancing over at the statue, "Hmm... I dunno. It does take a while to build a whole tree fort... Can't we still have stories here until its built?"
Discord considered this thought as he scrutinized the three villains nearby, "Eh... Are you sure you want to have these stories here of all places?"
I shrugged with a small sheepish smile, "Me and Gimmick find it fitting. Plus no one else really comes up here too."
"Well... I suppose it wouldn't hurt. And who knows? Maybe my good old pals could do with a friendship lesson or two as well! Fine..! After we check out what Princess Twilight has given us for your treehouse tomorrow then we can have more stories here."
My wings buzzed behind me with excitement as I leaped up into the air, "Oh thank you Discord!" I cheered before throwing my hooves around him.
"Ahah- geez. Kids these days! You can't just go hugging the lord of chaos!" He hesitated to hug me back but gently pet the top of my head.
"Well I just did." I smirked before pulling away, "Bye Discord! Thanks for coming when you did."
"Aww! You're too sweet! Bye now!" He waved before his body collected in on itself as he disappeared in a swirly vortex until he was nothing more but a spot of dust.
I laughed and began to make my way out of the gardens with my mind racing of today's story... but as the quiet morning dragged on my steps grew slower. My smile slowly fell and my already blank eyes became even blanker. What was that I just said? Thanks for coming when you did? What's that supposed to mean?? Why did I say that? And why did I hug him?? Was I really happy to be his... friend? No. I couldn't be. I was never happy to be anyone's friend before. I'm not even happy with Panax or Gimmick! Discord isn't my friend...
but I felt he cared about me. It wasn't love, definitely not yet, but it was the start of something. He wanted to be my friend... I could feel it inside him... but did I want to be his friend? Or am I just getting on his good side for the plan??
I... I wasn't sure. I really wasn't sure right now.
So for now I just shook that thought away. I couldn't get distracted. Not right now. No, right now I needed to find Gimmick. I was sleepy, sure, but she looked like she wanted to tell me something...
I might as well get it all out of the way while I'm still young.