//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Return of Harmony Part 2 (Last Edited: 9/29/2022) // Story: Resurrection: Isekai of Equestria // by JackofEquestria //------------------------------// December 6, 2020 Canterlot Sculpture Garden Discord laughed manically as Jack and Twilight watched helplessly. “And what are you laughing at!?” Pinkie snapped uncharacteristically. “Oh, you ponies are just the most fun I've had in eons,” Discord cackled. “Well, quit it!” Pinkie snapped again. “You'd better think before you laugh at the Pink...ie Pie!” “Oh, yeah?” Fluttershy asked with a malicious smirk. “Well ha, ha.” “What the Hell’s going on here?” Jack asked himself as his friends continued to bicker. “Uh... Rarity?” Applejack asked tracing a hoof against a large boulder. “This here diamond of yours? Twilight said we should split it six ways since we, uh, found it together.” “HI-YAH!” Rarity cried knocking Applejack away with a karate kick. “Try it, punk. He's mine. All mine! Ya! Ya! Ya!” “Twilight!” Jack shouted, having reached the center of the commotion. “Jack!” Twilight exclaimed. “Thank Celestia!” “What’s going on?” Jack asked. “I have no idea!” Twilight exclaimed as their friends bickered. “Everypony’s gone crazy!” Discord chuckled from the couch he’d summed, shoveling popcorn into his mouth. “It's just too entertaining.” “Stop it, Discord,” Twilight snapped. “You're not playing fair.” “Were you expecting him too?” Jack asked. “Well at least someone gets me,” Discord snarked. “The house always wins for a reason. Of course, it’s not fair.” “How are we supposed to find the Elements of Harmony when you took away the labyrinth before we could get to the end?” Twilight asked. “Oh, wait, did you...?” Discord burst out laughing. “How funny! You thought the Elements were in the labyrinth?” Discord snapped his finger and the landscape gave way to a flashback of Discord explaining the rules. “Twists and turns are my master plan. Then find the Elements back where you began.” In a flash, they returned to the present. “I never said they were in the labyrinth,” Discord gloated. “Damn,” Jack muttered. “He got us.” “But...but...” Twilight protested. “Keep trying, Twilight Sparkle,” Discord said. “Maybe the magic of friendship can help you,” he added mockingly. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have some chaos to wreak.” Snapping his fingers Discord vanished and a maelstrom of chocolate milk erupted from the sky. “Chocolate milk?” Pinkie asked. “I hate chocolate milk!” “What?” Jack thought. “Since when….” “She’s been corrupted,” Emerald Jack explained. “Apart from Twilight Sparkle they all have.” “Ugh, I just want to go home...” Twilight complained. “Wait a minute... Home! "Back where you began!" The Elements must be in... Ponyville!” Ponyville was visible in the distance, and it was clear from the floating buildings Discord was already having his way. Nonetheless, Twilight was determined. “Come on, everypony. I'm certain this is what Discord's riddle really meant. If we get back to the library, I have a book that I just know can give us a clue. Ah!” A stampede of bunnies with cartoonishly long legs hit Twilight like a bus. “Good boy, Angel,” Fluttershy praised. “Mama's so proud.” Jack was unnerved by Fluttershy’s cruelty, but an abrupt shift from day to night reminded him there were more important things to deal with. “Wow, Ah can see so much better now,” Applejack said as the road became slick as grease. “Whoa!” she exclaimed slipping into the others. “Ah meant to do that.” Night shifted abruptly into day revealing what had happened. “Wah! Ahh! Whoa!” Twilight exclaimed. “Discord's turned our dirt roads into soap!” “Speak of the Devil,” Jack muttered as Discord skated by. “Beautiful, isn't it?” Discord asked, pointing toward floating houses being pelted with chocolate rain. “This is the new and improved Ponyville, and these are only my first of changes.” Twilight sighed at another out-of-character remark from Pinkie Pie. “Picture it,” Discord said. “The chaos capital of the world.” “I can't picture anything,” Twilight said. Day had yet again succumbed to night. “It's too dark” “Well, wait a few minutes and you'll see it in the beautiful light of day,” Discord said. “Or not.” Again he vanished. “Ponyville, the chaos capital of the world?” Twilight asked. “Not if I have anything to say about it.” “Don't worry, you won't,” Fluttershy cackled. “I’m sure we’ll figure this out, Twi,” Jack said. December 7, 2020 Golden Oak Library That night lasted longer than the others, but by the time they reached the library, it was daylight again. Twilight wasted no time ushering everyone inside. “Okay, we're here,” she panted. “Everyone please, please, please just go inside, please?” “Ah absolutely refuse,” Applejack said, her coat fading as she went inside anyway. “With pleasure,” Fluttershy said, trampling Twilight’s flowers. Her coat faded as well before she went in. Twilight sighed as she watched the color leave Pinkie’s coat as well. She had trouble with Rarity who thought Twilight was out to steal the boulder she’d now named Tom. To Jack’s surprise, Twilight resolved this dispute by smashing Tom through her wall. “Careful, Twilight!” Rarity said, her coat fading. “You'll ruin his beautiful finish.” “Oh, for the love of...” Twilight couldn’t finish her thought. “Twilight, what's going on?” asked Spike. “Why does everybody look so...gray?” “Don't ask,” she said, scooping Spike onto her back. “I need you to help me find something.” “Hey, Twilight, what's soaking wet and clueless?” Fluttershy asked, holding a tin bucket. “Fluttershy, I've had just about enough….” Jack and Spike dodged, but Twilight was soaked as Fluttershy emptied her bucket on her. “Your face!” Fluttershy jeered, slamming the bucket over Twilight’s head. “What's happened to everypony?” Spike asked. “Ah guess you just bring out the worst in us, Spike,” Applejack answered. “Ugh. No time to explain,” Twilight said. “We've got to find the reference guide to the Elements of Harmony before somepony does something she'll regret!” “The Elements of Harmony?” Spike asked, clamoring up a latter. “Oh, I know exactly where that book is. Found it!” Jack’s heart sank as Fluttershy snatched the book and started a game of keep away. This wasn’t going anywhere, and he knew it. “Where are you going?” Emerald Jack asked as Jack slipped out. “Finding Discord,” Jack answered. “Congratulations!” Discord called from the streets. “You found me! You didn’t seriously think I could resist watching the famed bearers of the elements tear each other apart, did you?” “I guess that makes sense,” Jack said, calmly lighting a joint. “Oooh you sound overly confident,” Discord giggled. “You must have a strategy.” Grinning weakly as the marijuana entered his lungs Jack nodded. “Something like that.” The Chaos of nature had many perks beyond simple combat. He had control over all manner of plants dead or alive of course, but he also controlled how his body reacted to those plants. While it might take half an hour for some to feel the effects of weed, he needn’t wait. His eyes shot emerald, and he lunged. “This again?” Discord sighed, blocking Jack’s attack with a palm. “How disappointing.” Unseen by Discord Jack pulled a pack from his pocket, ripping it open he threw it past Discord’s hands scattering dozens of acorns around Discord’s face. “Eat shit!” he cried as the seeds exploded into splintery shrapnel. As the sawdust settled Jack prayed to whatever deity governed this universe that his attack had done something. “Perhaps you aren’t as boring as I thought,” Discord said plucking several splinters from his torso. “I can’t remember the last time I was hit with a physical attack. What was it you said?” he asked with a smirk. “Eat shit?” The peach color drained from Jack’s skin as he covered his mouth with both hands. “Bwah ha ha ha!” Discord howled, rolling on the floor. “Did you actually think…? I’m not… I’m not a fecalphiliac you know! You actually thought I was going to… HA HA!” “You’re not even taking this seriously,” Jack panted. “Oh, don’t sell yourself short,” Discord chuckled. “You are by far the most threatening of all the nonthreats here.” “What can I do?” Jack asked himself. “None of my attacks do any damage. The only thing I haven’t tried….” “Don’t even think about it!” Emerald Jack screamed. “You know what that spell does.” “What do you think Discord will do if he isn’t stopped?” Jack asked. “I don’t think there’s another way.” “Move!” Twilight shouted from the library. “Look out, here comes Tom!” Jack turned to see the giant boulder crashing through one of the windows, Twilight and the other bearers marching out behind brandishing the elements. Apart from Rainbow Dash, whose element was worn by Spike. “Well, well, well, I see you've found the Elements of Harmony,” Discord laughed. “How terrifying!” “Discord!” Twilight called. “I've figured out your lame riddle. You're in for it now!” “I certainly am,” Discord agreed, through three layers of sarcasm. “You've clearly out-dueled me, and now it's time to meet my fate.” Summoning a pair of sunglasses he continued, “I'm prepared to be defeated now, ladies. Fire when ready,” he said materializing a bullseye over his stomach. “Formation, now!” Twilight commanded. “Eh,” the girls muttered as they gathered around her. “Rainbow Dash, get over here!” Twilight demanded. Spike gulped from behind Tom and scampered over. “All right let's get this over with,” Twilight said. Her eyes and Element glowed with pure white light. “Looks like we won’t be needing that spell now,” Emerald Jack said. Discord looked on nervously as the elements began to resonate and the bearers floated around Twilight. Not for long unfortunately as the light fizzled out after a few seconds and the girls came crashing down. “What's going on?” Twilight asked, peeling herself off the ground. “Mine's workin',” Applejack lied. “There must be somethin' wrong with yers.” “I HATE the Elements of Harmony!” Pinkie yelled. “Hmph!” Fluttershy chucked her element to the ground. “Garbage.” “MINE!” Rarity declared, swiping the artifact with the speed of a cheetah. “Sorry, Twilight,” Spike said, discarding Rainbow Dash’s element. “I guess I'd better get back upstairs and clean up the library. Good luck with all this– whoa!” he tripped over Fluttershy’s outstretched hoof. “Oops, sorry, Rainbow Crash,” Fluttershy chuckled. “Bravo, ponies, bravo!” Discord clapped sarcastically. “Harmony in Equestria is officially dead. Discord rules, Celestia drools.” He skated down the soapy rad laughing historically. “It's your fault it didn't work,” Pinkie accused no one in particular. “Who are you talking to?” Twilight asked. “Any of you!” Pinkie answered “ALL OF YOU! I'm outta here!” she stormed off. “Ah better go, too,” Applejack said. “Ah've got new better friends waiting fer me at the farm.” Without so much as a word Rarity began rolling Tom away. “Yeah!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “I'm sick of you losers.” “FINE!” Twilight called after them. “Leave! See if I care! I don't need you guys either! With friends like you, who needs...” the color slowly faded from her coat, “enemies...?” shedding one last tear Twilight lost all hope. Jack on the other hand hadn’t given up. Bolting away, Jack steeled himself for what he was about to do. Cutie Mark Crusader’s Clubhouse “Are you sure about this?” Emerald Jack asked as Jack pulled out his phone. “There’s no other way,” Jack sighed, pressing play on his phone’s video camera. “If you girls find this video it means I did it,” Jack said. “I defeated Discord and things have gone back to normal. I’m sure your sisters have told you about him. But that victory has come at a cost….” Ponyville: South Residential District Leaving the message in the Crusader’s Clubhouse was more a matter of convenience than anything else. It was close to the eye of the chaos storm so to speak and that was where Jack was sure he’d find Discord. When the girls found it they’d surely share it with their sisters who would inform everyone else who the message concerned. Jack barely recognized the streets around him. The ground had been replaced with checkerboards, most buildings were floating in the sky, buffalo did ballet dances around him, and, in the center of it all, Discord sat on an ebony throne. “Discord!” Jack called, holding one hand behind his back. “You again?” Discord asked. In a flash, he was right in front of Jack. “What’s the genius strategy this time?” “Just this!” Jack cried lunging with his knife in one hand, the other still behind his back. “You disappoint me,” Discord sighed. With a snap of his finger, the sharp blade turned into a butter knife. Casting the knife aside he yanked the M9 from his pocket with his and started blasting with his free hand. Discord rolled his eyes and plucked the bullets from the sky with the speed of a Dragon Ball Z character. “Are you even trying?” he asked. Jack smirked and revealed a forest green orb in the hand he’d hidden behind his back. “What are you…?” Discord asked. Jack crushed the orb in his hand and a brown sigil appeared over Discord’s stomach. “This spell!?” Discord gasped. “But you’ll…!” “I know,” Jack said lifting his shirt to reveal a matching sigil on his own stomach. Discord held his hands up as his fingers slowly turned to wood. “You’re suicidal!” Jack grinned, dropping his gun as his fingers turned to wood as well. “I’m a man who’s already lost everything once.” Discord flinched as the wood crept up his arms and legs. “I’ll die before I let that happen again,” Jack said. “It’s for the best really. I’ve brought about so much suffering to those around me and the only thing stopping me from going insane is weed. I promised myself I’d protect the friends I’ve made in this world, and this is how I’m going to do it.” By now the wood was closing around his torso. “You’d throw away everything for friends?” Discord spat in disgust. “Why?!” “Because they’re worth it,” Jack answered, as the wood reached his neck. “Yer worth it too!!!!!!” Jack strained his neck to see the Crusaders behind him. “What are you doing here.” “We were hiding in Apple Bloom’s house when you left your phone in the clubhouse,” Scootaloo explained. “We watched saw your message and followed you here to stop you!” Sweetie Belle said. “Ya can’ do this!” Apple Bloom said. “We won’t let you!” they declared latching onto Jack’s wooden legs. “Stop!” Jack exclaimed as the wood reached his throat. “If you hold onto me, You’ll…” The girls’ hooves slowly turned to wood. “We know.” “Girls please let go!” Jack exclaimed. “What a twist,” Discord sneered. “What’s it gonna be? Will you damn them along with us?” Jack stared down at the girls as the wood crept up to his lips, glancing at Discord and back down to the girls the wood was now at his nostrils and to their knees. The look in the girls’ eyes pierced his very sole. There wasn’t a hint of fear only fierce determination. In an instant, the wood around Jack and the Crusaders disappeared and he collapsed on the ground, drained of energy. Despite having achieved their goals the Crusaders had no time to celebrate. They could only tremble helplessly in the face of Discord. “A valiant effort truly,” Discord said, freed from his woody prison. “But now it’s over.” “Not so fast Discord!” Twilight called, standing firmly alongside the other Elements. Their coats back o their original hues. “Get back girls!” Rainbow Dash shouted, ushering the Crusaders to shelter behind a cotton candy bush. “You just can’t get enough, can you?” Discord said. “Ya couldn' break apart our friendship fer long,” Applejack declared. Applejack’s element glowed and she struggled as Discord dragged her towards him. “Oh, Applejack,” Discord said. “Don't lie to me. I'm the one who made you a liar.” With Zero effort he pulled Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie in the air along with her. “Will you ever learn?” Twilight vanished in a purple flash making Discord flinch as she appeared between her friends and freed them from his grip with a bubble shield that returned everything inside to normal. Jack was struggling to stay conscious at this point, but he wanted to see what would happen. “I'll tell you what we've learned, Discord,” Twilight said as Discord rolled his eyes. “We've learned that friendship isn't always easy, but there's no doubt it's worth fighting for!” “Ugh, gag,” Discord responded. “Fine, go ahead. Try and use your little Elements. Friend me. Just make it quick. I'm missing some excellent chaos here.” “All right, ladies, let's show him what friendship can do!” Twilight exclaimed. “Wait-wait-wait!” Pinkie exclaimed taking a gulp of chocolate rain before returning “God damn it, Pinks!” Jack muttered as his consciousness slowly faded. The last thing he saw was an explosion of Rainbow and Discord crying out in distress. December 7, 2020 Royal Canterlot Hospital Jack’s eyes fluttered open as a ray of sunlight hit his eyes. Rolling over he found an open jewelry box containing heart shaped amethyst brooch on a night table. Next to it was an infusion pump leading to an IV needle stuck in his right arm. He panicked at the site of it and was about to rip it out and run for the hills when he felt pressure holding his free arm down. “I wouldn’t if I was you,” said Shining Armor, his glowing horn revealing him as the culprit. “Fear it or not that needle is saving your life. “What do you mean?” Jack asked. “That spell you used was a curse,” Shining Armor explained, with a disapproving glare. “They come at a cost, but I’m guessing you knew that before you attempted it. What were you thinking?” “I saw how Discord had corrupted Twilight and the others,” Jack explained. “I didn’t think the Elements of Harmony were a viable option, so I did what I thought I had to.” “Suicide!??” Shining Armor spat. “You tried to cast a curse that would have cost your own life! Does living mean so little to you!?” “I guess not,” Jack shrugged, nodding to his pants hanging on the door. “Could you pass me the bag in my pocket?” Shining Armor plucked the small Ziplock baggie of weed from Jack’s pants and levitated it into Jack’s free palm. “Twiliy… the Elements of Harmony were able to reverse their corruption and return Discord to stone,” he explained. “They’re at the castle getting medals for defeating Discord. That brooch is on the table is yours. Since you were wounded….” “I’m getting a Purple Heart?” Jack asked as he rolled his weed in paper. “Can you get my lighter from the other pocket?” Shining Armor yanked the Zippo from the pants and dropped it on Jack’s stomach. “Thanks,” Jack said, lighting his joint. “You’re lucky to be alive,” Shining Armor sighed. “Even more lucky you won’t face tribunal. Why in Celestia’s name did you leave a suicide note in your friends’ clubhouse? They had to be hospitalized because there was tree sap in their blood. Which brings me to why you’re in here.” “Lay it on me,” Jack said, before blowing a smoke ring. “Do you even care that you got your friends hurt?!” Shining Armor asked in exasperation. “You’d have told me if their injuries were serious,” Jack said. “They’re lucky it only got up to their hooves!” Shining Armor shouted. “Almost all of your blood has been replaced with tree sap! Your body rejected what little actual blood you had left! If you’d attempted that spell without the Chaos of Nature, you’d be dead!” “I could be but I’m not,” Jack sighed. “Get your act together!” Shining Armor shouted. “The Elements of Chaos and Flash Sentry’s rebels have been quiet since the Battle of Canterlot, but they won’t stay quiet. I need you ready and I need you not to be a liability.” He gave one last glare before shutting the door behind him and leaving. “FUCK!!!” Jack shouted. “You did this to yourself,” Emerald Jack said. “I don’t care what I did to myself,” Jack hissed mentally. “I wanted to protect my friends. I was willing to give my life to keep them safe, but I only got them hurt. I didn’t even defeat Discord, Twi and them did that while I struggled to stay conscious! I’m fucking useless!”