//------------------------------//
// chapter 12 Flash backs 
// Story: LUCKY CHAINS 
// by discordjediknight 
//------------------------------//

Let's skip ahead to the night of that concert, shall we? It's where we really left off.
Discord ran after the Pinky Pie doppelgänger. Cherry saw him follow and threw a potion at the ground to create a smoke screen, so she could get away. Just then, Chrysalis blasted a powerful bolt of magic and sent several trees flying. Discord seeing the blast coming dived in over cherry pie and protected her as he growled in pain. Cherry's mouth dropped at the sight of it. But only for a moment, as it gave her the chance to escape aging.
Discord fell over to the ground. Ugh, this is never gonna work, he grumbled in anger. Then an idea occurred to him. "They're never gonna trust Discord, that's for sure. But." He snapped his fingers and morphed into a gray unicorn. His eyes irises might have been red, but his eyes glowed a bright yellow. "Hmm, all I got to do now is disguise my magic spell. Hmm, how to." He took a few steps, and then the idea hit him. He pulled out the chains he was going to put on the runaways. Instead, he snapped them around his own wrist. Suddenly, his magic was gone. He felt it. Just like when he felt it gone the time it was stolen.
Now it just harbored deep within his body and he could not activate it due to the shackles on his wrist. Heh, what an odd feeling this is, he said as he marbled at himself. But he had no time to dwell on it. As he heard the footsteps of the other officers approaching, he began to run into the shadows after him. she watched carefully and curiously as the few ground officers ran past her. She then decided to do something she felt was foolish. But she had to know.
She quickly took after the running gray pony. Discord not having any magic couldn't detect her following him. She tackled him to the ground and just in time as aj jumped out of the bushes. She waved her light around the ever-free forest. "You." discord tried to yell. But she stuck her hoof in his mouth to shut him up. Discord releasing, the other cops around stayed silent.
A noise up ahead caught their attention. ” This way” one of them yelled as they Sprint towards it
Once they were gone discord threw her off of him. “So it's you, the pinky clone.” He whispered as he took a fighting stance.
She huffed at that. 
"Ok, . So what's all this about, discord said as he grabbed another set of cuffs from his back pocket."
"You… she sighed. You saved me not once but twice now. Why" she asked.
"That's simple, you have justice to face." He replied. "How did you know I was a clone? How do you know I'm not Pinky?"
The gray pony showed a toothy grin. "If you were pinky pie, you'd be breaking the fourth wall."
"What fourth wall," she asked.
"Never mind that. You under arrest." Discord launched at her, but she kicked him back, he tried to use his magic to split past her but found he was unable. He felt his stomach being kicked into his ribs. He never felt such pain. It was so painful it knocked the wind right out of him as he collapsed to the ground.
"What's your game, cop?" She yelled at him. Discord took a moment to catch his breath, aging feeling the shock wave of pain from her kick.
"Those three. The three you gave full power back to. They will never trust Discord the cop. He coughed a few times as he stood up. So I plan to bring them back, but not as enemies of the state. They're my responsibility. I must gain their trust somehow. And reform them."
The air grew quiet for a moment only interrupted by discord, small wine in pain as he tried to take a step away from the pink pony.
A loud laughter escaped her mouth, sounding just like pinky pie if more deranged.
"Oh my god. You are... hahhahaha. You really think. Ha ha." She could barely get a word out of her, laughing.
Discord's expression showed his annoyance at the pink pony's laughter.
The clonekept laughing for a moment and found it difficult to gain composer aging, but after a few more giggles she did so when she noticed Discord's expression.
"Oh." She took in a deep breath, trying to gain her composure once again. "Oh, ok, you're serious. You really think you can reform the three greatest villains in all of Equestrian?"
"Glad you find that amusing." Discord lunged at her with the handcuffs aging. She didn't kick him this time, she only evaded him and with a slight tap of her hoof he fell off balance with a thud he landed in the dirt.
"You're not used to being a pony, are you?" She asked. Discord shook his head not in response to her but from the pain he felt in his stomach aging from landing so hard on the ground.
"What. What are you…" he said as he tried to stand up.
"I mean one, most ponies walk on FOUR hoofs. Tho we can, it's not often we stand on two hoofs. And for another, I kicked you pretty hard. You're not used to being in pain for more than a mere second. Why not use your magic to heal?"
Discord got up, rubbing his head with his hoof. "Uhh. Kinda left the keys to these with a friend of mine. I'll unlock them after I reform the others. He told her..."
"Wow, way to think ahead. "The pink pony uttered
"Gee, thanks," he said sarcastically. "Now just put these on and wait for the cops to return, will you? He said, trying to hand her a pair.
"Really, you think that's gonna work?"
"Uhh, I'm kinda out of options." He shrugged.
"Look, you're not going to be able to do much like that. So how about I make you a deal?" Discord's expression didn't change, but he gave a slight tilt of the head to gesture to her to continue.
"I'll help you and you help me." It was Discord's turn to laugh this time.
As he did so, she continued. "You free me of my debt. No jail time period, and then turn me into my own pony, and ill help you try to reform... "She held up her hoofs and gave them a little shake to gesture how ridiculous she thought it sounded. "The big three villains."
Discord stopped laughing, but couldn't hide his amusement. And why would you do that? Wait, turn you into your own pony. What are you talking about?

"I don't want to be a clone anymore. You have chaos magic, you can turn me into whatever I want."

"No."

"And why not."

"You seriously don't know how powerful chaos magic is, do you? I don't ever want to use it aging."

"Why, 'cause you hurt that little Pegasus back there?"

He glared at her. When she said that.

O"k, okay, look." She said and put the cuffs around her. She then split the chain, so they could at least move. "Now I'm your prisoner. Trust me now. All I want is for all of this mess to be over."

"Yeah, well, it's your mess."

"Exactly!" She shouted.


Along pause came between the two of them.
"I'm kinda responsible for it two, aren't I?" The tone of her voice had much sorrow in it. As a frown was clearly visible on her face.
She took out a bottle from her bag. It wasn't labeled but Discord instantly knew what it was. Discord tried to take a step towards her but stopped releasing he shouldn't stand on 2 legs anymore. He stood on all 4 and then took a step toward her. He set a hoof on her shoulder. She turned her head back to him. Even as a pony on all fours, he towered over her. "Well, then it's a… "
Suddenly his eyes widen as a shock of pain fell threw his body and he collapsed to the side of him coughing up blood. 
She squealed. I didn't kick you that hard. Suddenly she noticed the glow of magic in his eyes.
"Oh, that's it."
"What is?" he said trying not to lose consciousness from the pain. "Your magic. This form is not made for chaos energy. No creature is except the lord of chaos himself. And you're not yourself. Here. take this." She said and he looked down at her releasing she was handing him the anti-magic potion that she held in her hoofs. He tried to grab it with his hoof but then collapsed aging he rolled over to his back coughing up more blood and magic.  
Pinky clone eyes widen at the sight of him. She quickly popped off the lid of the bottle and poured some down his throat.  The taste of the potion was that of dirty gym socks. He gaged and wanted to spit it out thinking he might vomit. But she forced him to swallow it.
Within the next minute of the liquid hitting his stomach the pain ceased threw his body. He looked at her. She still held the rest of the potion within her hooves and stared at it. He dropped his gaze to the bottle cap. He reached over for it and stuck the cork back over the opening catching the pink pony off guard. She looked over at him. "Well, I saved your life. Now you've saved mine. "
She gave a small sad yet hopeful smile. 
"I've been a pony before but never had this happened."
"You never had anti-magic handcuffs hold your magic at bay either."
"He rolled his eyes and continued. As I was saying. You have a deal." He took his hoof off the bottle. She put the bottle away in her cloak and helped him to his feet. "Come on we can't stay here Once you heal up well go after the 3 most wanted." She gave a slight chuckle. 
To this Discord gave a slight nod. She grabbed another transportation magic potion and dripped it on the floor allowing the two of them to disappear.





A few days passed letting Discord heal. He sat at a little table a teacup in his hand. he was quickly getting used to his pony form and the chains. he kept them flung around circling his back. One thing he knew was that he couldn't go out in public looking like a criminal on the loose.  So he stayed in the hotel room. Dangling from his neck was the golden butterfly shape locket. A newspaper sat on the table in front of him. The front page headline read chrysalis spotted near Haysberg. The town he just so happens to be in.
The door opened up and the Pinky clone walked in caring a paper bag of supplies for the road. She set them on the counter as she coles the door. 
"We got into trouble. Chrysalis is now on the front page." She said holding up another newspaper. Discord only nodded as he held up his. He tossed it over and sat back in his chair looking out the window. A storm was starting to gather outside. 
"Well, it means she's out here." She replied pulling out a map. "The next town over is this one but more than likely Shell takes the back roads and skips town
Gerr There's no way to catch up to her." The clone shouted in frustration. Discord only sipped his tea as he stared out at the grey clouds that became darker and darker in the distance.
"You got any ideas?" Pinky Clone sighed as she asked him.
"Yeah, we know where she's going. If we run we might be able to catch up. But we got to leave now. " A loud sound of thunder came from above their heads. 
"But Discord if someone sees those chains." 
Discord grabbed a cloak from the closet and tossed it over him concealing his chains. 
"Let's go", he remarked back to her,  She only nodded and they headed out on their way. As they did the thunder grew louder and louder yet not a drop of rain fell.  A few hours passed by as they entered the woods staying off from the roads travelers would normally use.
Once she was sure no one could hear them Pinky was the first to break the silence.
"So what's up with that necklace? She asked. Discord shrugged with a grin. "It was gonna be a birthday gift for a friend of mine." He chuckled." But now…  "
He stopped walking for a moment. A look of sadness filled his red eyes. "It doesn't matter.' he tore off the necklace and tossed it on the ground. before He continued his path. " I'm never going back to pony villa. Those three will be two recognizable there. Once we befriend them ill have to keep them out of trouble. The best place to go would be somewhere not in the friendship alliance. Hmm, probably Griffen Stone. Or the zebra lands. " He shrugged.
"So you're not gonna go back and give your friend that gift." 
"Nope. What about you? Are you gonna stay with me and the three worst villains in history? Or are you gonna take off aging once they're reformed?"
She  tilted her head a bit." Huh, I hadn't thought of that. Most likely ill just stay with you. I mean." She stopped. " I don't really have anything else. " She picked up the necklace and examined it. The craftsmanship was amazing. Something only the Lord of Chaos could have created.
Discord stopped and over his shoulder at her. 
"If I may. How does A? Pardon the term. Pinky Pie clone ends up with a potions book stealing gems anyway, And what were you gonna do with the top three baddies in all of the world? "
The Pinky clone opened the locket viewing the happy for ends inside.  In a somber tone just above a whisper, she asked “Have you ever wondered what's the reason you existed? "
Discord gave no response. But he knows he did wonder that a few times before. He wondered if he was created to be pure evil. If Chaos was just that. Evil. and if he embodied was he evil?
The wind blew as the roaring thunder grew over their heads. When the thunder died down she finally began her story.



"It all started that day. I wasn't just any clone. I was the first clone. We found out that the more clones you make of some pony, the less and less they have of their selves until they are stripped of nothing but the bare personality of the pony. I however, kept every memory I ever had. I remember the past. Tho, their names are a little fuzzy. I remember the good times I shared with the princess and her little friends. I remember hanging out with the sisters and working on the rock farm. I even remember the day I got this mark on my flank." She said with a little giggle and a somber smile.
"But here's where it all comes to the truth. I didn't do a single thing. None of those memories." She grits her teeth as her tone became angrier and angrier. "None of it was me. I was nothing more than a copy of someone else." A flash of lightning struck the sky.

"Clones are nothing but magic. And so under the guidelines of magic, they have their use but should always be undone. Most pony spells are not strong enough to sustain a clone for very long, even with the duplication pond. However, pinky pie is no ordinary earth pony."
Discord nodded at that." She's the element of laughter and happiness. She always had that strength within her, long before she was connected to the element. That strength gives her immense power, tho she doesn't realize it." Discord stopped. "All the elements of harmony have emitted power, And when put together they rival even my own. It's no wonder why a pinky pie clone would last as long as you have. "
The clone nodded with a frown. She sat down. "Ponies all have a mark to show their skills. It shows the magic within one's own heart. A special skill, one to make the world better, apparently. "
She dropped her head almost in her lap.' It was only by accident that I didn't have the spell undone on me. You see after eating too much sugar at a party I fell asleep in a bail of hay on a wagon. And when I woke up, I wasn't in pony villa. So I was never even at the dry paint test to find the original pinky. I only know that because of the fourth wall. 'She shrugged. Discord grinned at that.
"I woke up in the mainhatten of all places. And I was pinky pie. The party pony. What else could I do but throw parties? And that's what I did. I went to one party after another. Some I planned myself, some I just went to. But what's the point of a party? For some reason, that was the one question, I didn't have an answer to. She gave a small smile. Even tho I was pinky pie. I don't know what it was. But I started to feel homesick. Of all things, homesick. For a home that wasn't mine. The answer to what parties are for is simple. To make people smile. To have fun with your friends and family. And I soon felt homesick for a family I barely even knew. So I left mainhatten and went back to the farm where pinky pie grew up. I tried to throw a party and have fun with my so-called sisters. But they thought I was pinky pie. Which I guess they weren't wrong. But they didn't think of me. At that party, I realized I am just a clone of someone I didn't even know.
But partying was all I did know, so that's what I went back to. I wanted to make friends and maybe have my own family. I wanted to see happy faces and hear their laughter. And even tho I did have many friends from the constant parties I threw, I soon realized that they weren't real friends. Especially when it turns out I didn't have any money and found myself in debt from the constant partying.
I found myself on the streets. No job. No friends, family and No party. What made it even worse was when a little filly ran up to me, recognizing my mark. He wanted the element of a laughter autograph. He wanted pinky pies autographs, not mine. I did give it to him in exchange for a few bits, so I could eat that night. But that is when I realized. My mark, the mark that was supposed to make me stand out among other ponies. One that marked my own talents. My mark was not my own. It was not me. I was a clone!!!"
With the word clone, another bolt of lightning struck the clouds as thunder passed by.
The clone winced as if she was in pain, tears threatening to fall down her cheek. "And if I'm a clone, then what's the point? But there had to be a reason why I still existed, right? So then I thought well, maybe if I could just change my mark. If I could make it my own. And show the world I wasn't a pinky pie clone then…" she paused as a smile crept across her face. Tears began to dwindle down.
With a few sniffles, she continued. "Then I could finally be a real pony. Not just some clone. So I heard of Starlight and tried to find her, but that left me no luck. I also tried asking several powerful unicorns to help with again no luck. I was desperate to find any way I could to change my mark. And find one of my own. That's when luck struck me. I was on a subway train and I met a zebra. Zeeky I think her name was. It definitely had a z."
"Zecorah," Discord answered.
"Hay that's it."
Discord rolled his eyes.
She wiped her eyes clear from her tears." Well, zechorah was there handing out healing potions to anyone willing to take them. She actually did this quite often. I went up to her and asked about the strange vials and jars she had, and she was more than happy to explain, She told me about how there were many potions that could mess with cutie marks. But that it be a bad idea. She didn't want me getting cutie pox. For the first time in my life, I was interested in something other than parties. And even tho, I only was interested in it in hopes that it could change my mark. I was fascinated by it.
it's funny. I never even thought about what mark I would want. What my special talent would be. Would it be something else to do with parties? Did I even want that? Since I didn't really want anything to do with pinky pie again, I don't think I'd be happy with that."
Discord stayed very quiet as he listened to her tell. Continuing his way to hopefully find Chrysalis.
"Soon the thought of potions was all I could think about. And so I went to the library. And I read all about potions. The entire sector of potions books. I studied every single one of them until I knew them all word for word. But not one said anything about how to change a cutie mark. The pinky pie clone then looked up at the sky. As it began to sprinkle a bit.
One night while sleeping under a table at a bar, I then heard about a legendary book one with unique and powerful magical potions from some of the Colts. Surely if there was a magic potion that could do something bout my mark, it would be in there. So I went on a quest of the book.
Clone Pinky reaches into her cloak and brought out her magic potions book, inside of it said property of Azzazale. I traveled the world searching for this book for several seasons of the show."
Discord chuckled at the 4th wall break.
"Finally, I found it. Some old guy was selling it. The same shop where Trixie found the alicorn amulet. Of course, I was happy he had it. But I didn't have any money for it. But I needed it. I wasn't going to let a stupid thing like money stop me from having it. Not when I was so close to accomplishing my goals. So I may have robbed a bank. And using my vast knowledge of potions, I pulled it off quite easily."
Discord finally turned to her with a disappointed look in his eye.
"I only took what was needed for the book". She spat out nervously, releasing what she just emitted to steal in front of a cop. "Anyway, I got my hands on the book and looked through it. The Book of Azzazale." She stopped and fell to her knees. And you know what I found in that book.
Discord's only response was a slow blink. His face motionless
"Yep, that's right. She said as the tears filled her eyes once more. Nothing. Not a darn thing. That was it. "She said as her body began to shake trying to hold back the tears.
"My last hope. Gone. I would always be just a clone. A clone of a party mare. I hate parties.
" She whipped away some of the tears before they could fall out." And if I'm just a clone, what point was there? '
Discord could feel a frown cross his face. But she said, trying to collect herself and failing to do it. "There was one thing in it, I found. An anti-magic spell that will dissolve all forms of magic. She shook her head. I stole all the ingredients. And sat there and brewed the potion. My debt rising out of control. I made the potion and poured it into a cup. And was determined to take it. "
Suddenly tears broke out along with the rain. 'But when I had the cup in my hands. Fright came over me. I felt fear. Fear for the first time. Fear of that potion. Fear of being gone. I didn't have the guts to take it."
She hugged her book tightly. "I found out I didn't want to disappear. But then why. What was I supposed to do? Didn't really know. But I knew one thing. I wasn't about to go to jail. I am alive. I had this drive in me. This drive to do something with my life. Even if all ill ever be is a pinky pie clone. But the debt I raised is far too high. And with no way to pay it, ill rot in prison for sure. So that's when I got the idea to steal just what I needed out of the dragon lands. They have plenty of gems to spare. And all they do with them is eat them anyway. They wouldn't miss one or two."
She tilted her head a bit. "Or a thousand." She muttered.
"That's when you showed up and ruined my plans."
Discord shrugged at that. "My plans were simple that night. I was going to rob the fundraiser. No, it wouldn't be enough to clear my whole debt, but be enough to keep me going. You all had a good turnout."
Discord crossed his arms at that as he stood on two legs once more. "And then when I saw the big three, I got another idea. Take them instead. I could use them as a way to get more cash. My plan was to demand a million bits for the return of the three most wanted criminals back to prison. And if I didn't get the money, I'd set them to lose with full power to do whatever they like in Equestrian. While they tore apart the land, I'd be free to take my money and go. And, hopefully, figure out what to do with the rest of my life once I made my getaway. I was gonna go to griffin stone. Since it still refuses to be part of the friendship alliance. That was my plan. How stupid was I?" She laughed a sad laugh.
Discord walked over to her and gave her a reassuring hug with one arm. "And now you're gonna help me reform them. That can be your purpose." The clone smiled at him. "And you know what. I can tell ya, pinky pie definitely isn't capable of any potion-making. And come to think of it. While you do have a striking resemblance to her, you are nothing like the pinky pie I know. No you, your own pony, that's for sure. Hmm, and while your mark might be the same, your heart surely is yours and yours alone. All you need is a name." Discord put the other hoof to his chin. "Hmm, a name, what to name you. '
"I don't know, but we'll think of one now come on, the mud is almost as worse as that time I stepped in cherry pie due to Pinky's dumb prank." He chuckled to himself.
"Cherry pie". The clone muttered. Discord turned to her." It's a long story."
" No, I mean cherry pie. I kinda like that. I mean, after all, pinky is tenacity, my mother. She did create me. Cherry pie. That will be my name." She smiled at Discord.
Discord shrugged. "Ahh come on, there got to be a better name than that. I think of something" he said and pushed her a little to get her moving, aging.





"He never did think of anything, and the name just stuck." Twilight crossed her arms. 'Ok and what about the others" she asked. Cherry nodded. "I never said I was done. It would be a long road before we caught up to the three of them and reform them. Eventually due to a small issue at a grocery store, discord was arrested because I stole a few apples. He stuck up for me, and I was gonna get him out any way I could. Only before I could even put my plan into action, he was already out. He made a deal with some guys in the jail cell.
Apparently, Flim and Flam heard him singing and really wanted to make him a big star so that they could get lots and lots of money. Discord agreed to it if they could get him out. And that some of the profits went to charity. I didn't like the idea at first, but soon it became a great cover-up as Discord started looking for the big three on the run. Soon we found them and Discord did something even I wasn't expecting. He let them join the band. And not just them, but other criminals. We even broke out a few from Maximum prison just to give them another chance at life and join the band.
And soon I found myself happy once aging. Now, I wasn't a party pony pinky pie clone. It was Cherry. And even with this stupid mark on my flank. I was myself, with my own story, my own friends. My own chains that brought me down to earth. So you can believe how hard it was for me to watch the one who started it all to grow sicker and sicker day by day. Then while looking at the locket that Discord gave me. Believing he'd never have a chance to see them aging, I had an idea. What if we went back? Discord laughed at it at first but when a concert request for lucky chains came from ponyvill I was able to convince him to give it a shot.
And now look at where we are. Now he's sick. Hell, he's dying even, if not dead already, all because of me. I am the one who killed Discord Fluttershy. I'm sorry."

Fluttershy and her friends took in the story as if it was a bag of rocks being thrown at them.

"Well, I hate to say it after that, but with a confession, I got no choice." Applejack sighed as she walked over with a pair of handcuffs.
"Cherry Pie. you're under arrest for the attempted murder of Discord."

Twilight stood dumbfounded for a moment. But nodded. "You'll be put to trial."
" Wait!" Said a voice called out. It was the queen of the kirn.

"I'm sorry, but she is a clone. Which means whoever made her is responsible. "

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying pinky pie must be under arrest. And discord for his hand to play in all of this."

"What but…?"

"But nothing. The question now is what do we do? Do we turn him back to stone? Someone with his kind of power."

"He's nearly dead!" Rainbow yelled.

"And perhaps he should be along with this clone. As for Pinky Pie, she should be arrested and sentenced to life in prison due to her involvement and lack of eye on the situation for eleven years."

Pinky Pie gasped and then did a Rarity fainting.
Rarity looked at her friend and didn't blame her. Unfortunately, she was in too much shock, otherwise shed faint herself.

"And all the others at play? "Twilight asked.

"We're a democracy. But since this issue is of the world's highest threat alert. I say when the trial is run. The leaders of the world shall vote on their fates. "

The group turned to Twilight, who was the leader of all this.

"I agree. The vote for discord and the level 4 threats shall be held by a fair trial, and voted by the leaders of the kingdoms." Twilight then looked down as a wave of tiredness and shock fell from her face.