//------------------------------// // A fork in the road // Story: Second chances // by jacob.galvin //------------------------------// Thank you Amethyst Dawn for editing _________________________________________________ A fork in the road “WHAT'S HAPPENED TO ME!?” Discord cried, turning to look at his newly formed wings. “Wow you look awesome!” Pinkie said, poking him with her hoof. "No no no, this can’t be happening! I... I have to go” he said, hastily gliding out the door. “Discord, come back!” Pinkie cried, running after him, Twilight followed. At that moment, the clock on the wall struck midnight. He attempted to teleport, forgetting about the ring on his leg. Discord yelled in frustration as he glided like a black streak through the streets of Ponyville, finally flapping his wings and disappearing into the sky. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME CELESTIA!?” he shouted at the sky, “IS THIS SOME KIND OF CRUEL PUNISHMENT!?” There was no response, he roared like a lion in the Canterlot voice, shattering windows and waking almost every pony in town. “YOU CAN’T IGNORE ME FOREVER!!!” He grabbed the ring with both claws, tearing at it with all his strength. He pulled harder, feeling like his claws were going to snap. There was a sound like cracking stone as he finally broke the ring, sending a ripple of magic through the sky. He dropped the two pieces, which disappeared into the clouds. Discord immediately felt power surge through him. "Now let’s make some chaos" he said with a devious grin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Celestia sat in her chambers, silently watching her grandfather clock; the minutes seemed to last for hours. The clock struck 11.59. Celestia stood up, and walked out to her large balcony. From here she could see Ponyville, such a nice little place she thought. Luna swooped down from seemingly out of nowhere, landing gracefully next to Celestia. "Well sister, I am embarrassed to admit it, but your plan seems to have succeeded, perhaps there truly is good in us all." "I am glad to hear you say that sister, you've have learned a valuable lesson." Celestia smiled. "How do you think he will adjust to life as a commoner?" Luna asked. “No doubt it will be difficult at first, Chaos magic after all is highly addictive, and withdrawal can be… unpleasant. But with the help of my faithful student, I have...” Celestia stopped mid-sentence. Huge black storm clouds were forming over Ponyville, Luna immediately took to the sky, flying in their direction. "I take back what I said,your plan has most definitely failed sister, she called over her shoulder. Celestia could only watch in horror, as the town was enveloped in a black cloud. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discord laughed maniacally as buildings burst into flames around him. Ponies cowered in their homes, watching cautiously out of the windows as he walked past. He wandered casually into the centre of town, vaporizing town hall with a snap of his claw. With another snap he conjured his all too familiar throne, placing it in the dead centre. He gazed up at the sky, admiring his work. The cloud was so thick that it completely blocked the moon and stars. Discord sat down in his throne, and waited. Sooner or later Celestia would have to face him, and when she did, he would destroy her. The irony amused him, 2000 years he had been trapped in stone, and it had only taken him one day to escape and achieve near total victory. What things could he do to Celestia? Trapping her in stone was too obvious, take her wings and horn maybe, trap her in a dimension of pure darkness. The possibilities were endless, "you don't want to do this" a voice said. "Who's there?” he shouted, “come out so I can burn you alive". "There's no one there Discord, it’s just us," the voice replied. "Us who, where are you?" Suddenly Ponyville Disappeared, and Discord was lying on the ground, surrounded by darkness. Twilight and Pinkie raced towards the centre of town, where the source of the clouds seemed to be. “Why didn't you warn us!?” Twilight asked angrily. "Because he seemed like a nice guy, he just wanted to make friends with us," Pinkie replied. “Oh Pinkie how could you be so naive, he manipulated you, and all of us.” Twilight said. But why would he try so hard to be nice?” Pinkie pondered aloud. “I have no idea, but we’re going to find out.” They reached the town centre, and ran smack into a magic forcefield. Twilight shook her head, she could see Discord sitting on a throne, and he appeared to be asleep. She dismissed it as more of his nonsense, firing a magic blast at the shield, It bounced off harmlessly. Other ponies began to gather around the shield, looking in at the strange creature that was causing all this destruction. More unicorns began firing there magic in an attempt to break through, but it was a futile attempt. Twilight's other four friends came rushing towards her. “What the hays going on!?” Rainbow asked, “the clouds have gone nuts!” “I… is th… that D-d-discord?” Fluttershy stuttered, pointing at the sleeping figure. “I'm sorry girls, but Discord got the best of all of us.” Twilight said with a sigh. “Whada ya mean!?” Applejack asked. “Vanishing Act was Discord the whole time” Twilight answered, hanging her head. The four of them gasped, “you mean we spent the whole afternoon making friends with Discord!?” Rainbow asked angrily. Why that no good trickster!” Applejack exclaimed, bucking the shield. “He...he complement me,” Rarity said in disbelief, “he was such a gentlepony.” “You mean all that stuff he said about the Wonderbolts was a lie!” Rainbow growled, flying into the shield with a loud smack. "This time I really am gonna kill him!" She slammed into the shield again. "Rainbow Dash, stop,” Fluttershy pleaded, “you’re going to hurt yourself!" "I don't care! I want a piece of him!" Rainbow said stubbornly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “WHO'S THERE!?” Discord shouted at the darkness. “Celestia, is this some kind of trick!?” A figure stepped out, Discord couldn't believe his eyes. It was him, a much smaller version of him. "Hello Discord,” it greeted him politely. "Where am I!?" He asked. “You’re inside our head" the copy replied. "What do you mean our head?" Discord asked. "Well I am you and you are me, so that makes this our head… Interesting work we've been doing out there don't you think," small Discord said. "Are you making fun of me?" Discord asked. "No I mean it, we worked so hard to make friends, only to ruin it for no good reason, I find that interesting," small Discord explained. "How do I get out of here?" Discord asked. “Well, there are two ways, you can either give up chaos and join me…” Small Discord said "OR EMBRACE CHAOS AND JOIN ME!" a second voice thundered. Out of the darkness emerged a third Discord, it had his body structure, but was made entirely of swirling black smoke, except for two red eyes. “COME WITH ME, WE'LL DESTROY CELESTIA AND RULE THIS PATHETIC WORLD!” “You still have a chance to make things right,” the small Discord cut in. "SILENCE YOU WEAK FOAL, HE HAS BEEN MINE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS!" The smoke Discord boomed. "And in a single day has managed to almost defeat you. Please Discord; you've already won physically, now you need to defeat him mentally," small Discord pleaded. “CHOOSING YOU WOULD LEAD TO WEAKNESS, PERHAPS EVEN MORTALITY.COME DISCORD, YOU DON'T WANT TO AGE AND DIE LIKE A COMMONER!” Smoke Discord said, it seemed his voice was permanently loud and booming. "Your friends are waiting just outside, and I believe that pink pony had a thing for you," small Discord said with a slight grin. “HE IS'NT FOALISH ENOUGH TO THROW AWAY THE POWER OF A GOD FOR SOMETHING AS SHALLOW AS AN INFATUATION!” Smoke Discord laughed. Small Discord looked at Discord. "Make your choice Discord, either way I'm sick of listening to this guy." Discord could only stare at them in disbelief, who are the two of you, he asked. "I am the manifestation of your kindness", small Discord said with a bow. I AM THE MANIFESTATION OF YOUR HATRED AND RAW POWER, the smoke Discord boomed, I AM WHAT HAS MADE YOU STRONG."