Authors notes:Thank you Amethyst Dawn for editing, and SongBrony for making a revised edition.
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Peace or power
Twilight blasted the shield furiously with her magic, but there was no effect. Fire raged in the distance, Ponyville would be lost if it wasn't stopped soon. Twilight cursed herself, this was all her fault. She hadn't been smart enough to uncover Discords plan and now everypony else was suffering because of it. Discord appeared to twitch slightly, which infuriated Twilight even more, he was sleeping peacefully, safe inside his shield, while Ponyville burned.
Thunder cracked loudly overhead, as the black clouds continued to swirl. Rainbow continued to bash angrily against the shield, while Fluttershy pleaded with her to stop. Twilight would have expected Fluttershy to be the one crying, but instead it was Pinkie Pie. She was sitting on the ground, sobbing quietly, her hair had gone limp.
"Pinkie Pie, what the heck's the matter with you!?" Twilight asked.
"This isn't him," she muttered.
"What are you talking about!? Of course it’s Discord!" she replied angrily.
“He's not like this Twilight, Discord is nice, not super-duper mean and scary. He’s changed. I saw it in his eyes." Twilight groaned in frustration, it seemed Pinkie had finally broken mentally.
Through the thick cloud came a black streak, which flew over the raging fire, extinguishing it with magic. "Princess Luna!" Twilight cheered, if anyone could get through this shield, it would be her. Luna landed next to Twilight, "oh princess, thank goodness you're hear."
"Greetings Twilight Sparkle, I apologize for the damage my sister has caused, I warned her that nothing good would come of releasing Discord," Luna replied.
"Wait a minute, are you saying that Princess Celestia let Discord free!?" Twilight asked, shocked.
"I am afraid so, Celestia believed that this creature could be turned from evil, if he were able to make friends. Clearly that has failed, and now he must be stopped.” Twilight couldn't believe what she was hearing, how could Princess Celestia do something so dangerous. Then another thought hit her, was that why Discord attempted to befriend them, was the Princess’s plan actually working, up to a point? If so maybe Discord could be reasoned with, if only they could get through his shield. "Stand back,” Luna said forcefully, “I'll get through this enchantment, then finish that creature once and for all, something my sister refused to do all those years ago."
“Don't hurt him!” Pinkie cried suddenly, “he's not a bad guy! Please Luna!"
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"Be reasssonable Dissscord", the smoke creature hissed, its voice had lowered in volume, but was still no less threatening. It wrapped its long fingers gently around Discords head. "You know you love chaosss, and making those weak foals sssuffer is ever so much fun.”
“Are you really gonna trust this guy?” Small Discord asked, “I mean just look at him. Is this the type of draconequus you want to be?"
“Be sssilent weakling, I am what true power looksss like." Discord brushed the smoke creatures hand away.
"What makes you think the ponies will forgive me?" He asked small Discord.
"Well you've met them, don't they seem like the forgiving type?" Small Discord replied.
“Tsk tsk tsk. If they were forgiving, why is it we had to change our appearance? If they were truly forgiving, we would’ve ssstayed as the creature we are. They will never forgive usss.” Smoke Discord said quickly, “they have alwaysss mistrusted us. But we can have our revenge, join me and we will tear the ssskin from their bodies".
“Listen to him. Skinning your friends? Is that something that you would want to have happen?” small Discord asked. “Think of Princess Celestia. Remember when you two were young? You would lay in the grass and watch the stars. You would chase each other around playing tag. When she and her sister would fight, you were there to comfort her.”
The smoke creature snorted. “Sssilence! Those memories are meaninglessss. She betrayed you. She turned you into ssstone for being who you truly are. You would have had your revenge if it weren’t for those six poniesss. It’s their fault you’re being put through the liesss the weakling is feeding you.” he said.
Small Discord didn’t falter. “When you walked through Canterlot, being stared at for being different, did Celestia turn you away, reject you for being different? No. She stayed by you and stood ever closer to you. She was there for you. Then this monster reared its head and caused you to do all that you did. It’s not your fault Discord that you were turned to stone all those years ago. It’s his.” He said, pointing towards the smoke creature. “Think of Pinkie Pie. She forgave you, and she knew who you were even before you revealed yourself. What does that show?” he asked.
Discord looked at Small Discord. “That…that she is my friend…but what about the other six? Won’t they still hate me? What about Rainbow Dash? I told her the truth about her idols, and now that she knows who I am, won’t she think I lied to her for my own amusement?” Discord asked.
“Of courssse she will.” the smoke creature said. “She is going to try to hurt you because of the truth. She won’t forgive you. She never will. Join me, and you can keep your pink friend” he said with a grin.
“Discord, there is an important lesson about friendship you need to know. When one friend makes a mistake and it takes all their friends away, he must be able to show that he made a mistake and show that it hasn’t changed who he truly is. Celestia gave you her second chance. The other ponies are sure to do the same.” Small Discord explained.
“Enough of thisss nonsense. With me, you will have unlimited power. You will be a god in Equestria, something friends could never give you.” the smoke creature said.
“What good is being a god if nopony likes you? Think about that when making your decision.” Small Discord said.
Discord looked at both of the creatures who stared at him. I’ve been alone for 2000 years. Celestia gave me the one thing I truly wanted. A chance to make friends. But I used to be a god. Not just any god, but a god with immense power. Nopony could stand in my way, not even Celestia.
He looked at the two figures in front of him and closed his eyes. When he opened them, Small Discord stood next to him, dragon claw on his shoulder. “I knew you would make the right choice.” He said with a smile.
“Are we still in my mind?” Discord asked.
"Of course we are, but you just turned the lights on" Small Discord smiled.
“Is that creature dead?" Discord asked.
“Of course not, he’s just buried. Every mind has one of him and one of me, but your version of him was way out of balance." Small Discord replied.
"How can I keep him out of my mind?" Discord asked.
"I think you already know the answer to that my friend." The white began to fade, "well so long Discord, come back and visit me sometime, bring your friends too!"
Suddenly Discord was back in Ponyville, lying in the dirt. He looked around, ponies were standing around in a circle, looking at him through a magic shield. Discord looked up at the sky, the black swirling clouds were gone, replaced by the beautiful full moon. He could see Twilight Sparkle and her friends, along with Celestia's sister, there was Derpy and Lyra, and that lunatic stallion who had talked to him at great length about Cyberponies and holes in time. But there was only one pony that he wanted to see, the pink pony who had believed in him. He saw her sitting on the ground crying, mane and tail dead straight, which almost caused him to drop dead from his heart breaking.
Discord stood up, then immediately fell down. His second attempt was successful, he stood up, feeling ashamed as every pony stared at him in horror. “I'M SORRY,” he declared in the royal Canterlot voice. “I DIDN'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN. I TRIED TO FIT IN, BUT LOOK WHAT I'VE DONE.” The shield vanished as he fell to the ground, sobbing. Ponies cautiously approached him, whispering to each other. Their looks turning from horror to pity. He looked up, to see familiar faces looking at him questioningly. Princess Luna approached him,
"LOOK AT THE DAMAGE YOU HAVE CAUSED CREATURE, she boomed at him.
"Please don't hurt me", he pleaded. “I never wanted anything bad to happen…”
“LIES!” she declared. “I have seen who you really are. A creature of chaos. 2000 years trapped in stone hasn’t made you change one bit. I’m going to do what my sister should have done when she released you!” she said and sent a magic bolt at him.
“Luna please! Stop!” he begged. He soared into the sky dodging bolt after bolt that was thrown at him. “I have changed! I don’t want to be the ruler of chaos anymore!” he said. He looked for Pinkie Pie and found her looking at him, tears streaming down her face. This gave him pause, and bolt hit him in his back. He fell to the ground with a loud thud.
“NOOOO!” Pinkie exclaimed in horror. She rushed over to his body and fell on top of him weeping. Luna and her friends walked up behind her. Twilight walked up and put a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.
“Pinkie…I’m sorry. I did what I had to"
Luna kneeled in front of Pinkie. “I’m sorry. But he was a terrible creature. He would’ve wreaked havoc on Ponyville and Equestria for all time if this hadn’t happened.”
Pinkie raised her head. Who are you to decided that he hadn’t changed, and that he deserved this?!” she yelled, distraught. “You weren’t with him. You didn’t see how kind and nice he was to all of us.” she said, softer now. “He helped Applejack when she needed it, he brought two mares who loved each other together, and you deem him unworthy of living?” she said, adding as much malice into her final words as she could.
Luna lowered her head. “I was only doing what was best for Equestria. I wasn’t going to let another age of chaos ensue over us.” She said as she rose to her feet and walked away. Pinkie Pie put her head in the crook of Discord’s neck and cried silently.
“HE ISN’T DEAD!” a booming voice shouted over the crowd. Twilight and the rest of the ponies looked around in shock. Pinkie rose her head.
“What do you mean he isn’t dead?” Rainbow asked to the mysterious voice. “A bolt hit him in the back. And who the hay is this?”
Celestia flew from the clouds and landed in front of Pinkie Pie and Discord. “It is me, young one. He isn’t dead. I can feel his life force, she said with a small grin on her face.
“Whaddya mean? Ah may not be no Unicorn, but Ah know a magic bolt when Ah seen one.” Applejack said.
“And it hit him right on the back, your highness. How could one have possible survived the magic from it?” Rarity asked.
"My sister doesn't have anywhere near enough power to destroy Discord.. Though in his now powerless state, he is much more vulnerable.
“But Princess? Why go through all this trouble? Why allow Discord to trick us, Twilight asked.
Princess Celestia looked at her favorite student. “Would you have trusted him if you knew who he really was?
Twilight lowered her head. “No, Princess. I wouldn’t.”
Celestia walked over to Pinkie Pie and Discord. She knelt down and put her horn to Discord’s head. With a bright flash, Discord slowly started to open his eyes. He looked up to Celestia and gave a small smile. “Thank you.” he said quietly.
“I knew the real you would awaken. All it needed was a reminder.” she said with a smile. “It’s good to have you back old friend.”
“Discord! Oh I’m just so so happy that your'e ok!” Pinkie Pie shouted happily. Her mane and tail returned to their usual puffiness. She held him in a tight hug.
Discord returned the hug. They let go of each other, and Discord looked at the ponies around him. “I know that what I have done in the passed was wrong…could you ponies ever forgive me?” he asked.
Rainbow looked at him. “I guess so. But you’re still a jerk for what you said about the Wonderbolts!”
“Ah guess so. Ah mean, you did help me out buckin apples this mornin.” Applejack said.
“I think I can too. I mean…Everypony deserves a second chance..” Fluttershy said.
“Don’t worry darling. We forgive you.” Rarity added.
Twilight looked at Discord and sigh. “I forgive you too. You have shown me something very important. That even those who have done dark things in the past can still be subject to change for the better, and that everypony deserves a second chance.” she said with a smile.
Celestia gave Luna a nudge. Luna walked forward and looked at Discord. “I’m sorry for what I tried to do. I only was doing what I thought was best for my ponies. I truly meant to kill you she said, feeling ashamed.
“Think nothing of it Luna. I know you were doing what was right at the time. Besides, I've survived far worse.” Discord said. Luna smiled at him and walked back to her sister.
Speaking of second chances… Discord thought to himself.. I wish there was something I could do for that filly that I hurt.
Discord stood up and took Pinkie Pie’s hoof. “You want to make some cupcakes? I’m ravished after all that has happened tonight.”
“Yes! And while we’re at it, let’s throw a huge party for you!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Why that would be marvelous! I haven’t been to a party for a very long time.” Discord said happily.
“Then let’s get started silly! No need to waste time talking about having one when we could be making one!”
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The next day a huge celebration was held for Discord in the town center.Rainbow and Fluttershy sat next to each other hoof in hoof, Rarity had gone off to talk to Photo Finish about getting her designs sponsored in one of Canterlot’s famous cat-walks, Applejack was talking to some pony with spikey hair about something called the empty colt. Discord and Pinkie spent the whole day together,now able to enjoy each others company without worrying.
Twilight walked up to Princess Celestia,Who had organized the event, with Pinkies help. “Excuse me Princess?” she asked.
“Yes my faithful student?” Celestia replied.
“Sorry for not trusting your judgment earlier. I just thought that Discord had come back to wreak havoc and take his revenge on us all. But I do have one more question… How did you know that he wasn’t going to wreak chaos after he was released?” Twilight inquired.
A smile grew on Celestia’s face. “I didn't.”she said.
"If only all of Equestrians enemies could be won over with kindness", Twilight said jokingly.
Well now that you mention it Twilight, there is another enemy who I plan to visit."
Who, Twilight asked, intrigued.
"No doubt you recall the events of your brothers wedding"
"Oh princess, you cant be serious," Twilight said shocked.