//------------------------------// // Discord // Story: ...And Then Everypony was an Alicorn. // by Wanderling //------------------------------// "I say, what a lovely morning! The sun is shining brightly, the air is crisp, and all of the dear little Elements of Harmony are running around and panicking like the world is ending." Discord sat atop the town hall, tapping his goatish hoof along to a tune that was running through his ears. The draconequus winced suddenly, and plucked one of the notes out of the air. He popped it into his mouth and chewed. "Mmm, like I thought, the key was off," Discord sighed heavily and made an adjustment to the floating notes. "Much better. Da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da, daaaaa-daaaaa daaaaa-da-" A loud shout interrupted him. "Discord!" He peered over the side of the building. "Ah, Applejack. What seems to be the problem?" Applejack stomped her hoof and scowled up at Discord. At least, it was probably a scowl, the ground was rather far away. "You come down here Discord. Ah bet this was your doin', huh?" The chaotic creature suddenly appeared next to Applejack. "My dear, I have no idea to what you might be referring to." He snickered and walked around her, taking in her wings and horn with a smirk. Applejack snorted. "Yeah, right. An' ya know nothin' 'bout magicking up body parts either," the orange mare narrowed her eyes. "Ah distinctly remember that you took away the horns 'n' wings of the others when ya did the whole maze thingy. Why would it be so hard t' believe you could give 'em too?" Discord sighed dramatically. "It doesn't work like that at all." Applejack just wore a steady frown. "Shall we go to the Library then?" It was not a question. Discord snapped his tail and teleported them into the middle of Golden Oaks. "Landsakes Discord! Can't ya give a mare some warnin' next time ya teleport 'er?!" Applejack staggered, her face tinged slightly with green. For a few, brief, delicious seconds, chaos and disorder besieged the room, as the other five Elements and Spike fell over each other in surprise. After everypony had disentangled themselves, Discord drew himself up and bowed with a flourish. "Hello my dears, how wonderful it is to see you all again." That being done with, he conjured up a chair to sit down in. "Discord! You were behind this?" Twilight looked uncertainly at the draconequus, who was sprawled over his chair in a jumble of limbs. "Of course not, Twilight Sparkle. You think I'd still be here if I was?" "That's a total lie, Discord!" Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof at him in accusation. "Nopony else has the power to completely mess things up like this!" Discord raised an eyebrow. "As much as I would love to take credit for this masterpiece, I cannot. I would very much like to shake the hoof of whoever it was that caused this, ah, event. I do love the touch with the animals. Alas, I do not know the identity of the spellcaster. I would, however, like to draw attention to the fact that only you, your immediate families, including that little orange filly for some reason, and the animals of Equestria are awake." "Why should that matter?" Rainbow Dash snorted. "Someponies like to sleep in some mornings." "I might matter Rainbow - normally all the other farmin' folk'll be up early to set up the market stalls." Applejack frowned. "If they ain't up yet, somethin's wrong." Discord chuckled. "Well if you hadn't worked that out before, I've overestimated your intelligence, Applejack." Applejack just gave the draconequus a flat glare. "I'm just saying - horns and wings sprouting from everypony is a pretty obvious sign that not all is well." The glare continued. "So, this has something to do with the Elements of Harmony?" Twilight interjected. "That, or your little necklaces negated some sort of, extended sleeping spell before it was actually due to end." "Ooh, maybe it's giving me time to arrange a massive 'Congratulations You're an Alicorn and so is Everypony Else' party?!" Pinkie squealed, clapping her hooves together. "I really need to learn how to summon confetti now." "Er, maybe not right now Pinkie, you don't want to explode a second time. But if the Elements are involved with waking us up - how are you awake Discord?" Twilight said. Discord shrugged. "I just am." "Right." There was a pause. Spike decided to visit the comics section and not get involved. "What are we going to do now?" Everypony looked at Rarity. "What? I'm just saying, standing just here waiting for the Princess to reply to that letter would be awfully dull. Why don't we make use of our time and, well, try out our new skills." She fluttered her wings a little to emphasise her point. "That might be a good idea... but what about the rest of the townsponies? Shouldn't we go out and wake them up so they don't panic?" "Twilight, darling, they'll panic anyway. Whether they wake in five minutes or five hours." "B-but, if they don't wake up, they won't eat, if they don't eat, they'll starve, and if they starve, they'll, they'll-" "Twilight. If they don't wake up soon, then we'll go and help them. Otherwise, why not make use of the fact that they are safely sleeping and utilise the space in town to practice these new abilities. If we can use them, we can help more. Alright?" Rarity laid a consoling hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Yeah Twilight, you were using way too many commas there." Pinkie appeared on Twilight's other side, tutting. "What?" Pinkie shrugged and went to speak to Discord. "Well, alright Rarity." Twilight smiled at her. "Sorry for panicking, heh." "No matter darling. Besides, I really want to fly again. Properly this time, without the risk of falling to my doom." Rarity shuddered slightly. Twilight rolled her eyes. She cleared her throat to get everypony's attention. "Seeing as we're stuck like this for the foreseeable future, it might be a good idea to learn how to use the magics we aren't familiar with. Um. I guess if we get into threes - one Unicorn, one Pegasus and one Earth pony, we can teach each other efficiently." "Dibs on Twilight!" Rainbow called out, and promptly landed next to her. "What, she's the more powerful unicorn." Rarity hmmphed and went to stand next to Fluttershy. Pinkie followed her, leaving Applejack with Twilight and Rainbow. "What am I supposed to do then?" Discord raised an eyebrow up with his paw. "Oh. You can, watch or something I suppose?" Twilight said. "You could stay with Spike and let us know when Princess Celestia replies?" Discord sighed. "Well, I guess this is what happens to ex-villains. They're reduced to messengers." He collapsed backwards onto the chair with despondency. Twilight rolled her eyes. "You don't have to do anything. Why not read a book?" "You'd like that, wouldn't you, Sparkle." "It was just a suggestion. We're going outside to practise now. Try not to damage anything too badly if you have to stay in here. You think you can manage with him, Spike?" "Hm? Oh, yeah, I guess." Spike looked up from a comic. "Just, don't be too long, Twilight." "Come find us if you need to, okay?" And with that, the Element Bearers left the Library. "So," Spike looked at Discord. "You're the Spirit of Chaos, huh." "Yes, that is correct." Discord leaned back in his chair and yawned. He was already bored. "Um. You ever heard of the Power Ponies?" "Can't say I have, no." "Oh, well, it's these comics, and they're good. Yep." Spike twiddled his thumbs nervously. "..." "You, er, wanna read one?" "Oh, why not? Might take the edge off the boredom." "Great, this is the first one. Um, here." Discord stretched out his claws. "Let's see - The Power Ponies: Beginning. Imaginative." "They get better." Spike assured him. Discord sighed and began to read.