//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: The Plans Have Left the Building // Story: The Impossible Choice // by FireMaster //------------------------------// ~ April 17th, 1020 ME ~ ‘9:07am‘ "Time for that chat now Twilight. You owe me this after yesterday's fiasco." Things had slowly settled down as the night went on, so Blazing did earn himself a little sleep, but the remnants of the events from the day before were still quite an unsettling reminder that he was a target. The Ursa minor had been a rude awakening to what lies in Equestria, but Sombra was that ten fold. No being should have that much power, not even the princesses as far as Blazing was concerned. This was one of many thoughts running rampant through his mind while sipping some morning coffee. Now it was time for some answers. "Blazing I don't think anything I say will make this sound any better but I truly have been genuine with you in our interactions. I am still going to do everything in my power to help you get home. I know I'm responsible for you being stuck, and maybe it was wrong of me to keep this a secret, but you had taken on a lot as it was. How was I supposed to tell you that maintaining balance in our world has something to do with you. " "You could have at least warned me that I was an Equestria VIP that could expect craziness to ensue around every corner. Being in control of everything is never a good thing Twilight because that's when things start to get out of control. If we can't trust each other with this kind of information I could have died yesterday! I'm pretty sure the only reason I didn't was because he had some disgusting plan of using me for whatever he desired!" "Don't talk like that, Blazing. I know we just met, but I don't want to hear talk of losing you... we're friends, and friends stick together." "Maybe but I've never heard of friends that lie about things that could potentially hurt the other." "Hey you two! I may be a young Dragon, but I have enough sense to say this is pointless! You have way bigger problems than bickering." That was enough to silence the room. No evidence had come in from army patrol investigations on the whereabouts of Sombra or what was coming down the pike. Celestia had personally requested higher security as a form of deterrence, but that was unlikely to stop any major threats. "What is normalcy around here? For a nation with hardly any wars you guys don't seem to live the peaceful lives I would have imagined." "Well you're right about one thing, Blazing. When things go down in Equestria it usually happens around me or one of my-” "-Sorry to interrupt, but I'm just going to take Chase here for a second to have a little chat with him back on Earth. He's been quite the little pony for stirring up chaos!" A hand reached out from behind Blazing's chair at the table, tipping it backwards into a portal that appeared out of thin air and dispersed just as quickly as it formed. Spike and Twilight stared at the empty spot in the dining hall for a moment before Twilight let out a single word in a yell. "Discord!!!" "Ah, finally I get to meet the man of the hour! The human himself!" There were a lot of things for Blazing to process. For one his chair was hundreds of feet in the air and he was sitting on top of the statue of liberty. For another when he looked down, his old body was right where he left it. So many brain functions were firing that asking why whatever just talked to him called him Chase was low on his priority list. "I'm human... I'm human!" Behind him a disfigured being floated above him. It was a mix between many different animals that didn't go together, and if that wasn't strange enough it was also wearing shades and munching on popcorn. "Yes... now I don't have the next millennium… actually I do, but you don't so let's cut to the chase. Huh good one... oh I know right." Discord pulled out a world record pair of scissors, and then promptly put them away, opting instead to pull a scroll out of thin air. Instead of reading off of it, he flipped it upside down, breathed on it and sent it away in a puff of smoke. "Look I don't know if I should hug you for bringing me home, or punch you for putting me in a life threatening position, but could you please get us down from here?” Chase asked. "Unfortunately Mr. Waters, we aren't here to stay... You can call this a vacation of sorts so we can have some privacy for a few minutes." "No! Uh-uh! You are not taking me back, no way! You don't just flash my past before my eyes and steal it again. That's beyond-" "-Chaotic. I know I get that a lot. It kind of fits in my job description. Now where were we... ah yes Chase I have greatly enjoyed watching you since I helped nudge you in the right direction a few times. Destiny seems to be rather fond of you, and I wanted you to know that I think you add some real powerful flavor to Equestria. So different from the average pony!" "Now you wait here just one moment-" "-Ah buh buh buh" Discord zipped up Chase's lips zipper style, and threw the key over his back shoulder. "None of that Blazing. I do like that name by the way. It suits your pony form nicely. Back to business. We are invisible to the outside world; merely appearing as an eagle. I am not all knowing but I, being the lord of Chaos, do know that you are essential to balance. Chaos would become boring if I was forced to live in a world constantly in such a state... I have learned that, and as such you were brought to Equestria by the Princesses with a little magical interference by... you guessed it me! (Fireworks go off behind Discord). Cutie marks give ponies a destiny; a life in which they do what they love, but are guided towards certain events. Your past isn't of Equestria, so you don't have a traditional path, but your earning of a cutie mark links you to that world. Your future isn't set in stone, but you now represent the existence of both a choice and a destiny. I will confirm to you that those seeking power want to use your rare abilities, but they also are afraid of you. You're an unknown in which they don't know your limitations. Chaos has been talking too long however and must get back to something less orderly than this conversation. It is not my place to share what is coming but know this; it is coming, and you must be prepared to face the foe because without you in the picture the future of Equestria is rather bleak. The odds went from about 95% chance of living in a wasteland to 50% upon your arrival. Also I think you and Twilight make a cute couple... May the force be with you." With that Chase's mouth was released, and Discord vanished into thin air. Hopefully there wouldn't be any more encounters with him again, but at this point Chase was just happy that Discord left him on Earth... even if he was on top of the statue of liberty. Chase began making plans to climb down from his position on the torch when he heard a sound that reminded him of the transporter from Star Trek. "Ah man..." Chase started to slide down the side of the torch's flame when he suddenly saw himself start to dematerialize. "Damn." And just as quickly as he arrived, Chase disappeared from Earth and reappeared just above the ground in Twilight's private dining room. He fell on his haunches surrounded by the main six yet again, and put his hooves over his head. Just end this torture already. 'Twilight Sparkle' When Discord left with Blazing I couldn't help but let out some frustration. For a man reformed from his destructive past, he never fails to be the most unpredictable being in Equestria, and there's no telling where they went. Things really seem to be getting out of hand, and Ponyville's always a hot spot for magical activity so that means something. I felt it important to let the element bearers know what was going on in case things went south, but Pinkie let me know that she had a twitchy ear which meant somepony was saying something important. My fears were short lived when a message popped up with upside down writing. "Yup this is from Discord alright." All of my friends looked at me expectantly, and Fluttershy asked, "Well... what does it say?" "Hello friends it's time for who wants to be a milliomare. I'm your host Chaos! Don't worry about your human friend and I, we are totally not safe having a boring chat! However if you must worry, he will be back in Twilight's castle in about pi minutes which will not repeat mind you. Since I can't be specific enough, know that I am sharing information that could change the course of history... trust me I have experience with doing that. This is National level information, but it would be too simple of me to just share it with the highest leadership, so I'm using this as an opportunity to meet our off world guest; very disappointed you haven't introduced me by the way. Signed Dis cord is on fire." Suddenly the message turned to ash as if it had been burnt by a campfire and blew away in the wind. "Ah think it's bout' time we paid Blazing a visit." Applejack concluded. "Or time for me to give Discord a scolding." Fluttershy squeaked. "That's the funny thing about time... do we ever have enough?" Twilight continued. "That's why we have each other silly." Pinkie finished. Pinkie's right! we look out for each other... We have done incredible things together. The time lasts a lifetime when we support each other with our strengths and its all the more valuable. I think a letter to Celestia is in order. Hopefully my mentor isn't mad at me for interrupting her busy schedule so much... wow she must be having a horrible time managing things right now... "Ladies, I know we all have lots of work to do, but I think it may be time we take a trip to Canterlot. Pinkie's sense has really been a doozy in a good way today, and if Discords message is anything to go by Blazing needs to be there as well. Its time for answers; time for a plan. You with me?" "You know we are Twilight. Lead the way and I will be right behind you." (Rarity) "Yeperoni." (Pinkie Pie) "I'm in!" (Rainbow Dash) "Yuuup." (Applejack) "I suppose as long as somebody takes care of the animals." (Fluttershy) "Then here we go."