//------------------------------// // History Repeats // Story: Acceptance // by _Al_Coda_ //------------------------------// The laughter grew louder as lightning struck the earth “Oh what to do with these precious little ponies” Discord asked himself A strong gust of wind blew open the doors. Sunny’s eyes widened in shock; she carefully made her way to the door before being blown back by the current. Her friends quickly ran to her side, and they all pushed their way to the door In another bright flash a creature of pure chaos appeared in front of them “Now isn’t this a fun surprise, the five ponies I've been absolutely dying to meet are all cluttered in one salon” he clasped his hands “Ah Sunny it is great to see you again” he said with a fake smile across his face “Yes, it’s um…lovely running into you” Sunny said straightening her posture He looked at the other ponies standing around Sunny “So, these are the friends that helped you bring back magic I presume” Zipp flew up, meeting Discord face to face “What it to you?” she asked Discord waved his paw and laughed “Well I just wanted to thank you for all your help” “What did we help you with?” Izzy asked, tilting her head slightly “Well, with magic back in Equestria, I’d like to play a little game” he gestured towards the bright house “and it all begins at your absolutely extravagant hideout” “What’s this ‘game’ about?” Hitch said taking a step forward “Meet me at the top of the lighthouse and I’ll explain it to you” he said before spreading his wings and taking off Sunny quickly ran out the doors “Come on, we have to go see what he wants,” she said turning and trotting in the direction of the bright house. Her friends stood and ran after her “What do you think this game?” Hitch asked “I don’t know but whatever it is it can’t possibly be good” Pipp said still in her bright attire, “Ugh I really shouldn’t be running in this dress” she wined “Pipp! This is not the to worry about dresses,” her sister called from the sky “we’re dealing with a chaos dwelling monster for crying out loud!” “Well hold on Zipp, ‘monster’ is a bit of a strong word,” Izzy said softly “we still don’t know his motives, or what he really wants, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions so quickly” Sunny nodded, “Izzy is right, we shouldn’t be too quick to judge others, I mean that’s how the three pony tribes got separated in the first place” Zipp rolled her eyes “Whatever, can we try and fight this guy” Hitch shook his head “I don’t think that would be the best idea, and anyway violence isn’t always the answer, we need to talk to him first and try to get him to agree with terms” Zipp let out and exaggerated sigh “Fine.” Sunny looked back at Zipp “Thank you.” she looked forward again only to see they had reached the bright house and stopped her sprint, Izzy, Hitch and Pipp crashed into her from behind and Zipp landed beside them wearing a smirk on her face “Smooth landing” she teased Sunny paid no mind to her comment and made her way to the crystal doors. “We have to get up to the unity crystals” she said as she placed her hoof on the door and looked back at her friends signaling for them to follow her. They stood and huddled around her, pushing through the doors and quickly making their way up to the roof where the crystals were kept As they reached the opening to the crystal room Sunny stopped placing her back against the wall and her hoof on the hanging curtain “Alright he could show up at any moment,” she slightly moved the curtain peering into the room, “Just keep your guards up girls...” she looked back over at them “and Hitch of course” she added Hitched rolled his eyes and made his way over to Sunny “Alright, you ready?” he said holding his hoof out Sunny glanced at him before letting out a deep sigh, tapping her free hoof with his “As I’ll ever be” Zipp joined the duo, “Then let’s do this” Sunny nodded and pushed open the curtain and they all ran inside; they stalked around the room looking for any sign of their intruder, Sunny turned to the crystals they seemed to be undisturbed, so she doubted Discord had shown before them, “Hello?” she called out “Is anybody there?” Suddenly in a flash of light the lager chimera stood in front of them with a grin on his face, “Oh, finally you're here,” he said, seeming tense and annoyed “took you long enough.” he mumbled to himself before making his way over to Sunny Sunny looked at him with anger in her eyes “Okay Discord, what’s this game your playing?!” She yelled He stood in front of her, his smile falling for a moment before he spoke “Well, I just want to play a game of hide and seek,” he turned away from Sunny and gazed at the glimmering rainbow in the center of the room “except your little crystals are the hiders.” Before Sunny could reacted Discord snapped his fingers and the crystals vanished “For love of Equestria! What just happened?!” Sunny exclaimed Zipp flew to her side “What did you do to the Unity Crystals Dip-cord!” Discord chuckled softly to himself “You know Rainbow Dash used to call me that” he whispered to under his breath “What was that?” Zipp asked Discord with raised brow He looked back at Zipp “Hmm, oh nothing important” Sunny’s gazed softened at Discord statement, even though she could barely hear it. She sighed looking over to the center where the crystals once stood then back at Discord “Where are the crystals?” she asked calmly “Don’t worry the power from the crystals is still giving magic throughout Equestria, they just aren’t giving off the little rainbow light, now all you must do is find them before your time runs out” Sunny frowned “How much time do we have?” she questioned she was uneasy as she waited for the answer Discord summoned a large hourglass and a marker. He wrote on the glass as he spoke “Okay, Okay, I’ll give you 48 hours, and if you can find the crystals by then I will cease my chaos and go back to my home in the gardens, but if you don’t then...let's just say I would prepare myself if I were you, just in case” He was about to set the hourglass down to start the time before Sunny put her hoof out for him to stop, “Wait!” she yelled “The crystals could be anywhere in Equestria, how are we supposed to find them in that short of a time!?” Discord held the hourglass firmly in his claw, “Oh yes of course, I should probably give you a hint” Izzy, Hitch and Pipp join the three, “Yes that would be more helpful if you could give us something to work with” Hitch said standing by Sunny’s side “Yes, I can’t just send you off into Equestria with nothing but your wits” Discord cleared his throat and locked his gaze on Sunny before continuing “If you want to find what you seek listen to what I say, something somewhere in this house will help guide your way. A gift from a friend will help save you time, and the unity crystals you will soon find. But you better find those crystals soon, because the fate of Equestria lies with you” and with that he smiled flipping the hourglass and setting down on the floor he snapped his paw and vanished before any more could be said “Wait, what does that mean” Sunny shouted, the only answer she received was the faded laughter of her foe