//------------------------------// // Part 6: The Second Return and the Second Speech // Story: Darkness Awakens 1 : Discord's Side // by Tyler-the-Brony //------------------------------// "Oh Celestia. You sat in the sun too long on your throne." Discord thought to himself as Celestia talked of taking him to Ponyville to have him reformed. The very thought that the embodiment of Chaos itself could be anything other than harmful to Celestia’s natural order made Discord break into silent laughter with himself. Discord would humour Celestia’s idea though. If it meant freedom from this stone suit, even for only a short time, he’d take the chance. Nopony, not even meddlesome Twilight and her kind friend Fluttershy, could hope to change him as he was now anyway. Discord continued his silent laughter all the time he was being loaded for travel and then through the actual flight and arrival too. Soon enough after, Discord heard the hum that sounded his freedom. ** My how much like Celestia Twilight and her friends had become in such a shorter period of time. None of them were any fun to tease anymore. Anger was just too prevalent a reaction from them now. He’d have to find new playthings soon. Discord did agree that using his influence in a stealthier fashion was a bit more enjoyable long term though. Instant chaos being widespread was fun, but it was far more so to watch it boil up slowly under the surface over time. Discord noticed something odd about the ponies this time though. Chaffing away their individual attitudes was easier than ever, but it seemed he could no longer do a single thing to chafe their friendship as a whole to any sort of degree that might make it snap. Even if he couldn’t affect their friendship enough to make the Elements worthless, if he simply infuriated the others enough while keeping Fluttershy calm, he could still make the Elements useless. Stealing the reforming spells certainly was a riot though. Stealing things she desperately needed from Twilight and abusing them in the open always seemed to grind her gears. She was as knowledgeable and yet as dim as Celestia when it came to judging his powers. Fluttershy was much easier to trick this time around too, seeing as actually angering her friends without ‘changing’ who they were was a much more subtle try than his last attempt at deceiving Fluttershy. It didn’t work entirely to the degree he hoped, but the damage was done. The dinner party sealed Fluttershy’s trust, while amping the anger of the others over the limit Discord needed. Fluttershy’s friends comment certainly came as a shock to Discord, but seing that his dam idea came to fruition but a short time later, he brushed it off for the moment. His plan to stop the threat of the Elements came through wonderfully, but it came at a price Discord never expected to have to pay; his one friend. For once, Discord saw something beyond his own actions, and ultimately used his magic for somepony else for the first time ever. An old acquaintance of Discord’s did not like that occurrence at all. ** Just as Discord set off on his own after returning to Canterlot with Celestia, an overpowering darkness obliterated all his surroundings. As Discord scurried about, looking for an exit, a voice echoed about him “You disappoint me Discord.” The voice from Discord’s creation spoke up, sending fear throughout Discord this time. “W-Whatever do you mean? I thought you said to live my life as I saw fit-“ Discord shakily explained, only to have the voice silence him. “Quiet. I told you your duties in life. You are a part of my power Discord. You are the First Creator of Chaos, and of my freedom. I will not have you serve Celestia with the power I saw fit to give you. I have already lost too much of my ultimate plan.” The voice spoke, more worriedly towards the end than the beginning. As Discord tried to call out to the voice again, his voice was sapped from him and his limbs sprung to a solitary state at his sides. Discord silently struggled as the voice grew clearer, “It seems the time for my return must come now or never. I will gather from the residue of Chaotic magic already about. I must gather the others. Why don’t you also rejoin my welcoming party Discord?” The voice sneered towards the end, with a hint of hysterical laughter. Discord silently screamed as he was whipped away into the darkness, while light returned to where he once stood in Canterlot, mere moments ago. It would be many hours before Discord’s absence would be noticed in Canterlot, and by that time, it would already be too late.