//------------------------------//
// The Quest 
// Story: If Solaris had a Text-to-Speech Device 
// by Jay David 
//------------------------------//

Understandably, Flash was looking more than a little tired from his recent experiences. Standing outside the great chamber where Solaris resided, the stallion was contenting himself with a simple cup of tea, sipping only occasionally as he processed all he had seen and heard thus far. Every once in a while he'd glance in the direction of the doors, but never once went in. But this moment of quiet solitude was soon to be interrupted by, who else, Discord, who arrived beside him in his usual teleportation, arms folded and looking like a sulking child. "Hmph! Guess nopony wants a draconequus around for some heartfelt daddy-daughter talks."

Flash had to use all his strength not to raise an eyebrow to that. "Really? Who'd have guessed?"

Discord looked down to him with a frown. "Why are you even here, Sentry? It's not as if somepony with Solaris' level of power actually needs protecting."

Flash looked to him. "I am of the Royal Guard. Tasked with the protection of others and the wellbeing of Equestria. Standing watch over its creator and founder is a worthy task even if it's not actually required."

Discord rolled his eyes. "Ugh! So sickeningly chivalric! No wonder people thought you'd be a good match for Princess Bookworm!" Flash ignored him, but Discord, scratching his chin and pondering what had been said, started to develop that mischievous look that all who knew him could see meant trouble. "Say...you know, if you truly want to be of aid to Equestria, there are better ways of going about it than just being a giant skeleton's babysitter."

"And what, pray tell, would you suggest?" Flash asked, clearly expecting some sort of oncoming fool's errand from the chaos-lover.

Discord, giving the guard his utmost attention, gave his answer. "Tell me, little stallion. Have you ever heard...of the Alicorn Amulet?"

Flash finally looked to him, but it was with an expression of understandable suspicion. "Only as rumour. Some sort of ancient artefact, yes?"

Discord nodded. "Indeed it is. And a pretty impressive one too. It gives its wearer enhanced power, far beyond what they'd normally be able to achieve."

Flash narrowed his eyes. "Wasn't it also something that gave quite a bit of trouble to Princess Twilight a while back?"

But Discord simply waved him off. "Pfft! That was just because it wound up in the hooves of a vengeful attention-seeker. I have far better plans for it!"

"Not exactly the most reassuring of claims, given what your plans usually look like," Flash commented.

Discord ignored his skepticism for the time being. "Well this plan...is to use it to restore Solaris to his former self!"

Flash stared at him for a while, not quite sure if he believed him. "Solaris? The guy you very obviously don't like?"

"Oh, sure, we despise each other's guts," Discord clarified. "But that doesn't change the fact that him being back in working order and actually able to be of some use to Equestria would be an unprecedented boon to you lot." He looked to the side and smirked. "Plus, let's not forget, having his restoration be a result of something I did would be a thorn in his side for the rest of eternity, and that would be oh so delicious to me."

Flash nodded. "There it is. I figured you weren't just doing this out of the goodness of your heart."

Discord seemed legitimately offended by the remark. "Hey now! I'm a changed draconequus! Annoying Solaris is just a bonus! I really do mean to help you little four-leggers."

Setting his tea aside for the time being, Flash looked to Discord fully. "Well then? Let's see this amulet in action. Bring it in."

Here, after all the confidence and bravado, Discord's expression started to crack, showing just a hint of embarrassment. "Well...you see..."

Without even a full explanation, Flash got the message. "You can't, can you?"

Discord's shoulders slumped. "Look, it's not my fault, okay?! After it was used last time, Twilight went to great lengths to make sure it couldn't be used by so-called 'nefarious' forces. And since I was likely still on her list at the time, chances are she consulted Celestia about making it Discord-proof too."

Flash sighed. "So...you're about to ask me to do this, aren't you?"

"A mortal hid it, a mortal must find it," Discord conceded. "And besides, won't bringing Solaris back from the dead pretty much make you the hero of Equestria? The one who brought back ponykind's highest of high?"

"If you're hoping to play on my ego, you're wasting your breath. I took this position to serve, not to cover myself in glory and fame."

Discord facepalmed himself. "Uuuuuuuuuugh! You are infuriating, do you know that?!" He took a breath, then spoke in a calmer tone. "Fine then. Don't think about fame and recognition, think of the Princesses." After seeing Flash cast a small measure of confusion his way, he explained. "Luna is in there right now, talking to a literal skeleton of her father. Don't you think it would be better to actually have him with her and her sister? Because frankly, this arrangement is barely one step up from visiting him at an outright grave."

Flash looked to him in silence for a time, then glanced over to the doors. After a solid minute of quiet had passed between them the stallion sighed. "...You're right."

Discord practically beamed at that. "Well, I usually am."

Ignoring him, Flash continued. "Celestia and Luna deserve their family back together. If this quest you suggest will make that happen, then it's at least worth a shot. And as you say, I pledged myself to serve the princesses."

Discord then rubbed his ands together. "Better get to it then, little pony."

But Flash shook his head. "I need to prepare. There's no telling what I'm walking into with this. I'll need backup." A small smile came to him. "Luckily, I've got a few names I think I can call on for help."

After hearing that, Discord turned to the doors again. "And as for Solaris, it probably for the best he just think you're on vacation or something, No way in Tartarus he'll accept anything if he knows it comes from me."

Flash looked back to him. "I'll need to find somepony to take my place while I'm gone."

To that, Discord developed a rather devilish grin. "Oh, I think I have just the fellow for that."