Chapter 9
To say that everybody was on edge would be a gross understatement.
Starscream was enough to deal with as it was, although the ponies trusted him just a little bit more than the Autobots did. However, as soon as the Protectobots brought in Discord, and started giving him medical treatment, things turned downright controversial. The ponies demanded that Discord either immediately be turned to stone, or left to die in the wilderness.
When the Autobots asked why he deserved such things, the ponies explained that Discord was once the cruel ruler of Equestria, and that it was not until Celestia, Luna, and the Elements of Harmony themselves came along that his reign of terror ended. The Autobots at first agreed that he should be dealt with. However, it was pointed out that Discord had not actually done anything yet currently, nor had he shown any ill will toward them yet. It was also reasoned that as an "innocent" organic, it was the duty of the Autobots to make sure that no harm came to Discord. Ultra Magnus added that if they kicked him out, the Decepticons might find him and interrogate him until he told them the location of the base.
Ultimately, despite the objections of the ponies, it was decided that Discord would stay at the base, and be looked after. Bandages were set upon the burns that covered his body, and he was laid down on a makeshift bed in one of the spare rooms. He stayed there, not bothering to cover himself with his bed sheets, blankly staring up at the ceiling with a small frown on his face.
All of the guards the group currently had at their disposal were tasked with guarding him, and were ordered to act should he try any mischief. That night the ponies had much trouble sleeping, expecting the world around them to go completely insane at any moment. But by morning, the laws of physics were still in power. The ponies were confused. At first they expected that Discord had escaped, prompting Celestia, Luna, Shining Armor, and the Elements to run to his room and opened the door to confirm this. They were wrong.
Discord was still laying there, motionless save for his slow, calm breathing and the occasional blinking of his eyes.
Celestia closed the door and turned back to the others. She gave a frustrated sigh. "Why hasn't he done anything yet?"
"Surely he aims to catch us off guard." Luna suggested.
"Yes, of course! That has to be his plan."
"Or maybe those burns he got weakened him, and he's not willing to challenge us yet." Twilight said.
"Or maybe you should talk to him." Optimus said.
The ponies gave a yelp of surprise. None of them had noticed the Autobot leader come up behind them.
"Talk to him, Optimus?" Celestia said.
"That is what I said, Celestia."
"You expect him to just tell us why he is behaving so… out of character?"
"Celestia, you have described Discord as a cruel tyrant obsessed with conquering Equestria, and yet he has not shown one sign of being evil. Perhaps he has turned over a new leaf."
"Discord turn over a new leaf? Oh Optimus, I never took you for a comic!"
Optimus had his hands on his hips, and was looking down at Celestia much like how a parent would be expecting an explanation out of their child.
"You're serious?"
"Your only chance at getting any answers about Discord is to talk to Discord himself."
Celestia reluctantly looked down at the rock floor, kicking a small pebble towards the wall.
"Talk to Discord, and then come down to the war room. We are planning a mission." Optimus left and disappeared down the dark hall.
Everypony traded nervous glances amongst one another. With some hesitation, Celestia, Luna, and the Mane 6 entered Discord's room. The draconequus still hadn't moved a muscle. They surrounded his bed, four on either side. Discord didn't even so much as shift his eyes toward them in acknowledgement.
Celestia cleared her throat. "Discord."
No answer.
"Discord! We want answers."
Discord lazily looked to Celestia, then back at the ceiling.
"We know what you are planning. Now tell us, and we might spare you any agony. What is your plan to take over Equestria?"
"What would the point of that be?" Discord calmly said without shifting his gaze.
"Do not play us for fools, villain!" Luna yelled. "We know that you are planning to spread eternal chaos!"
Discord turned to face the princesses. He had a serious, very uncharacteristic look on his face. "Chaos? You honestly think all the mayhem I caused in my lifetime was chaos? No, that was not chaos. That was tomfoolery. A bunch of bad jokes."
For the briefest moment, the ponies felt a twinge of concern for Discord.
"Discord, are thou… okay?"
"No. No I am not okay, young Luna." Discord looked back up at the ceiling.
"Are you implying that you do not intend to spread chaos?" Celestia skeptically said.
"Yes," Discord answered, "My days as the Spirit of Chaos are over. I'm… I'm done."
"We shall see. Applejack, is he lying?"
Applejack looked closely at Discord. She studied his breathing patterns, muscle movement, and came to a conclusion. "He's consistently showing no signs of lying, your majesty. I still don't trust him, but I think he's actually telling the truth."
Celestia still wasn't satisfied. "Why the sudden change of heart, Discord?"
"What I have seen… what I have learned…" Discord spoke as if he was a veteran who just returned from a brutal and bloody war. "Celestia, have you ever wondered what it would be like if for your whole life you thought you were the top of your game, the best at what you did best, and then suddenly someone came along and proved you to be nothing more than a second- rate joke?"
Celestia was surprised at this response. She raised an eyebrow.
"That is why I do not intend to spread chaos anymore, Celestia. Because there is no point. Out there, there is an entity that is better at spreading chaos than me. And it's not even the same kind of chaos! When I spread chaos, all I ever really did was unleash a series of never ending pranks. Nopony was ever actually harmed, it just made life miserable. But what the Decepticons had showed me…"
"What did they show you?"
"…Unicron."
"Um, pardon? Did you just say "unicorn"?"
"No, not unicorn. Unicron."
"What of it?"
"Unicron is a monster of impossible proportions, capable of unimaginable death and destruction. What I saw was merely a memory from that Galvatron fellow. But it all felt so real. So… terrifying."
The ponies nervously glanced at one another.
"Celestia, can you do me a favor?"
"Eh… yes?"
"Kill me."
"WHAT?" Everypony cried out.
"Please! End my suffering! I cannot go on living knowing that I am not the true incarnation of chaos! END ME!"
Celestia was at a loss for words. "I- I, but… no."
"Do it!"
"I will not kill you Discord." Celestia opened the door. "Come along everypony, Optimus is expecting us in the war room."
Discord continued begging as the ponies quickly left the room. "NO! Don't go! Please, put me out of my misery! At least use the Elements of Harmony on me! AT LEAST USE THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY ON ME!"
Celestia closed the door and ran to catch up with the others.
As soon as they were gone, a lone figure stepped out from the shadows of the opposite end of the hall.
Starscream's curiosity had been piqued. 'Elements of Harmony, huh?' He thought to himself. 'They must be very powerful weapons to be able to stop such a hated and supposedly powerful foe.'
The guards who had been present earlier were gone now, participating in the meeting down in the lower levels, leaving Starscream free to enter Discord's room. He did so, and lowered himself into a sitting position next to the draconequus.
"Hm? Who are you?" Discord nonchalantly said. Starscream was mildly surprised that he had managed to recover from his earlier outburst so fast.
"I am Starscream. Don't worry Discord, I am an ally."
"What do you want?" Discord asked in a bored manner.
"I couldn't but help overhear your previous discussion, and I was hoping you could shed some light on a few confusing topics."
"Like what?"
"Tell me, what is so special about these… Elements of Harmony…"
Elsewhere…
Optimus Prime sat at the head of the stone table. At the opposite end was Princess Celestia. Occupying the seats in between on either side of the table were Luna, the Mane 6, Shining Armor, Cadence, Spike, Witwicky, Ultra Magnus, Kup, Hot Spot, Skyfire, and Silverbolt. The royal guards flanked the walls on Celestia's side. After a short wait everyone else began filing into the room. They stood against the walls, waiting.
"Is everyone here?" Optimus said.
"Everyone, except for that slagger Starscream." Springer said.
"Be careful who you say that to."
Everyone looked to the room entrance. Starscream walked in, and took a seat at the table.
"Where were you?" Arcee suspiciously asked.
"Up in the hanger," Starscream answered, "It took me a little longer to get down here than the rest of you."
The Autobots eyed Starscream for a moment.
"Now that we are all here, I would like to bring our attention to the purpose of this meeting." Optimus said, standing up. All eyes and optics looked to him. "I will cut to the chase. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the possibility of a covert infiltration mission in Canterlot."
"Covert infiltration? You mean like sneaking in?" Rainbow Dash asked with a hint of excitement.
"That is exactly what I mean, Rainbow Dash. To take on the Decepticons head on right now as we are would be suicide. However, if a small team could sneak in, and cripple them from the inside, we may have a chance at winning this war."
"And I trust that you have a plan for such a risky mission?" Celestia inquired.
"Yes, yes I do. Perceptor, do you have the map?"
"Yes Prime." Perceptor stepped forward and laid out a large map that depicted Canterlot, the Everfree Forest, Cloudsdale, and Ponyville.
Optimus began explaining his plan.