//------------------------------// // Bring Them Home // Story: Somewhere Next to Normal // by halloweennut //------------------------------// When Starlight arrived in Canterlot, it was already well past nightfall, and Twilight and the others were already there, waiting by a carriage large enough to fit all of them, and immediately felt her stomach drop. Why would Celestia need all of them, and why send a coach unless it was extremely urgent? “Does anypony know what’s going on?” She asked as she approached the group.  “Not at all - Celestia said that she needed us to meet her, and quickly,” Twilight explained, shifting a sleeping Spike on her back.  “Just as we got a mission from the map too!” Pinkie interjected.  “And to think we would have a normal day at all,” Starlight replied with a laugh. “We should get going if we want to find out what’s wrong.” The group nodded in agreement, and hopped up into the carriage. It sped away from the station, taking them quickly to the gates of the castle, all the while the ponies caught Starlight up to speed - map request and letter wise. It wasn’t long before they entered the throne room, and stood before both Celestia and Luna.  “It really must be urgent if both of them are here!” Pinkie whispered, quickly bowing with the rest of the group.  “There is no need for that, my little ponies,” Celestia said, stepping closer. “In my opinion we’ve grown too close for that kind of formality.”   “Princess Celestia, we got your letter - what’s wrong?” Twilight questioned. “Has something escaped from Tartarus?” “Or something from a thousand years ago come back? That’s classic!” Pinkie asked. “Ooh! Or both?” Celestia and Luna shook their heads.  “No, not as far as we know,” Celestia replied. “But something strange has occurred.” “According to reports,” Luna explained. “ Ponies have been disappearing for years now. But it has been brushed off since the numbers were minimal. But recently the numbers have increased, and it is starting to spark worry.” “I have sent out some of my best guards to investigate, but so far, there have been no answers,” Celestia added. “And today, four of them went missing while searching out in the western region of Equestria.“  “Wait, the western region?” Twilight asked. “Like, the Undiscovered West?”  “Yes...do you know something about this?” Celestia pried. She nodded.  “Earlier today, the map summoned us to a problem in the west!” Twilight exclaimed.  “To the U-undiscovered West, specifically, “ Fluttershy added. “Do you think the two are connected?” “It would seem that way, I’m afraid,” Celestia nodded. “There is hardly ever such as thing as coincidence from my experience.”  “Well girls,” Twilight said, turning to her friends with an unsure smile. “Looks like we’re going to the Undiscovered West for one whole big mission!”  “Actually can you not?” A disembodied voice echoed from a stained glass window. The group turned to see the stained glass appearance of Discord  staring down at them.  “Discord! What are you doing here?” Fluttershy called, somewhat annoyed at his snooping. He flinched and snapped his fingers, appearing at her side.  “Well, I got your letter about the west and being summoned by Tia-dear, and naturally I was curious. And concerned. Curicerned, if you will,” he explained.  “But why?” Celestia asked. “I’ve sent them places before, and the map has summoned them to potentially dangerous situations before - why the concern now?” He froze, and fought the urge to snap away and leave that question unanswered. But, everyone was waiting for an answer to a very good question. Discord sighed, and pulled down from nowhere a map of Equestria.  “I’m concerned because right where you’re going potentially lives someone, or at least his descendants, who probably hate my guts and are probably dangerous,” he explained, drawing a circle around the region in the Undiscovered West. “I’d rather not have anypony harmed on my account.”        “But why would they dislike you that much?” Twilight asked. “You’ve only been out for a year!”  “Someone could very easily grow to hate me in half the time. I'm not all that likeable. But I’m referring to pre-statue, post-Equestria take over, Twilight,” he said. “It’s not something I’m particularly proud of nowadays. And the who is someone who used to be...I don’t know, a yes-man? I suppose in today’s terms part of my court…” “You had a court?” Rarity exclaimed. It didn’t fit the picture that had formed in her head about Discord’s reign. “That doesn’t make sense!” Twilight interjected. “When I saw the past, you were by yourself!” “What fun is there in making sense?” He replied. “Even villainous despots and tyrants need a court of supporters - for some reason there were enough that did. I only had the throne in the middle of nowhere for dramatic showdowns. Besides, I didn’t need them all the time, and at that point, when Tia and Lulu got the elements, most of them wised up and jumped ship.” “Some supporters,” Rainbow said snidely.  “They flocked to the most powerful thing - a.k.a.: me,” Discord continued, and tapped at the circled region of the map. “But this guy...obsessed with power. And himself, more importantly. A grade-A narcissist, but good at his job I supposed. Granted I don’t even remember what I made him do, but he was good at it. I often commended him for his loyalty and ability. Unfortunately because of that, he demanded a reward for his ‘loyal service’. “ --- ‘My Lord,’ the unicorn said, bowing deeply. ‘I, your humble servant, beg of you for a favor.’ ‘A favor for what?’ Discord replied, staring down at him. ‘I’m not exactly the giving type, sir.’ ‘A reward, to be specific,’ he said, ‘for my labors and work at your command.’ ‘Why should I?” ‘You praise me for being good at what I do.’ ‘So I do… well, what do you want then? Land, wealth? Chocolate rain? Can of fake snakes?’ ‘No- I want immortality.’ ‘What.’ ‘I wish to become immortal for all of time!’ The unicorn’s request was met with resounding laughter.  ‘Ahahahahaha! Woo...that was funny- but seriously, what could you dare to ask for?” The unicorn stood tall. ‘I was not being funny, my lord.’ ‘My gods you’re serious,’ Discord raised himself to his full height. ‘ I don’t care how good you are at whatever task I ask of you - I do not give, I take. And there’s only enough room for one narcissist hot-head and that, my good sir, is me. Now go.’ The unicorn, indignant, bowed and turned to leave.  ‘But before you do go…’  Discord snapped his fingers and a large dark cloud appeared above his head.  ‘Have a drink!’ ---     “I basically laughed him out of court, looking like a drowned rat,” Discord ended. “Didn’t see him much after that. From what I pieced together, immortality was something he had been trying to figure out or at least get for all of his life..”     “But could that have anything to do with the missing ponies?” Twilight asked. He shrugged.      “I have no clue.” “And what if his line died out or moved from the area?” “True, but-” “Then you have no reason to be concerned, Discord!” Twilight said. “You don’t have to worry!” “There is the whole ‘ponies going missing thing’ that kind of puts me on edge, but I suppose I’ll have to ignore that as well?” He replied, his voice sharp.  Fluttershy placed a hoof on his hand, and he relaxed slightly.  “Discord, we’ll be fine! And if anything happens, you know right where we are,” she said calmly. He nodded. That was true, but the idea of having to play knight in shining armor wasn’t exactly his shtick - he’d do it none the less if it came down to it.  “Discord, if you’re concerned about their well being, why don’t you accompany them?” Celestia suggested. “Having someone with your abilities could prove useful, and take the edge off my mind as well.”  “Are you sure, sister?” Luna asked. “We do not want a repeat of the Tirek incident.”  “I’m right here and I learned from that! And I’m fairly certain the Chrysalis incident makes up for that, Lulu.” “Luna, neither of us can go with them, and Discord is the only other person powerful enough to protect them if the issue arises,” Celestia said. “It could also provide a helpful lesson for him as well.” “Again, right here, and I’m sure I will,” Discord huffed, sliding down to the polished floor, leaning against Fluttershy for support. “Well, what say you all? You are going to have to deal with me, after all.” “I don’t see any problem,” Rainbow said, “As long as he doesn’t slow me down.” “Ya make it sound like he didn’t almost beat ya at a race last week, Dash,” Applejack smirked. “Ah don’t mind him comin’ along either.” “I think I speak for everyone when I say that Discord would be welcome to join us,” Twilight said with a curt nod. Starlight looked at the draconequus from the side - she hadn’t really interacted with him much, but he had glared at her at one point when they were talking about the village ordeal - he probably wasn’t keen on the idea of her having held Fluttershy hostage, not to mention everypony else. And while they were the part of the group that rescued everyone from Chrysalis, and had bonded,  Starlight wasn’t blind - she figured out pretty quickly who was the group favorite.      “Well I suppose that settles it then!” Discord clapped. “I finally get to tag along on one of your adventures, and not as an antagonist! I promise not to cause too much trouble - Scout’s Honor!”     He mock saluted, a colt scout uniform appearing on him, spurring a few laughs. He snapped his fingers, and the uniform disappeared, only to be replaced with an outfit reminiscent of Daring Do.      “When do we leave?” He asked, excited.      “Tomorrow,” Celestia said. “Its too dark to venture out into a potentially dangerous situation.”     “But we went into the Everfree forest in the middle of the night when Nightmare Moon was doing her thing!” Pinkie said, before looking sheepishly at Luna with an apologetic look on her face. “Not to mention all the other times we went to protect Equestria being well-knowedly dangerous!”     “I know, Pinkie,” the Solar princess chided. “But one of the members of your party is already asleep, not to mention that I think the rest would appreciate a good night’s rest.”     Said group nodded and muttered in agreement, and Pinkie realized that she had a point, not that she could’ve held up a decent argument against her, and plus, she was kind of too pooped to party.  “Your normal rooms are at the ready, and Starlight, just follow Twilight, as yours is right next to hers,” Luna said. “Sleep well, my friends.” --- Celestia found Discord meandering in the garden later that night.  She had known Discord for a long time, and while most of it wasn’t on good terms, she still was concerned for him just as much as she would anyone else.  “Celestia, my dear, you aren’t the Princess of the Night,” Discord said, without even turning around to see her. “And I can’t say I appreciate the following.” “I know,” she replied, stepping to his side. “I thought you would despise this place.” “Oh I do, but,” he said,”it’s not without its charms. You should be asleep. Want me to sing you a lullaby? Or get you a glass of milk, perhaps?”   “You should be asleep too,” she argued. He laughed and shook his head.  “I don’t sleep.”  “You’re nervous.” “What could I possibly worry about?” “You’re going on the first mission I’ve personally allowed you on since Tirek, alongside the only ponies you care about,” she flatly stated. “You fear failure and repetition of old habits.”  “I hate you.” “You only hate me because I tell the truth.” “Be as lowly as the rest of us and lie for once, Sunbutt.” She sighed, “ I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear, but you needed to. Your friends trust you again. I trust you, for some reason. Fluttershy trusts you. You don’t want to disappoint her, do you?” His head snapped toward her at the mention of the pegasus, but snapped it away, nodding however in assent. “I don’t. Not again.”   “You’ve changed a lot, Discord,” Celestia added. “You aren’t the draconequus from a thousand years ago.” “I’m not,” Discord replied, looking out into the distance. Did he miss the power, the control, the chaos? He wouldn’t readily admit he did. But somethings, like Tuesdays, flying, and freedom made them belittle their rank in his head. “I hope it’s a good thing.” She nodded. “I have faith that everything will be alright, and that you will help bring them home.”