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// Chapter the nineteenth - The penultimate peril 
// Story: Into The Void 
// by Doctor Whooves PhD 
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 Chapter the Nineteenth – The Penultimate Peril 
The two ponies got up and began running through the castle. Statues were destroyed, windows were broken, and several pieces of furniture were strewn carelessly throughout the royal palace.

“Come on, Derpy, I can feel Discord’s presence! We must hurry! Run like you’ve never run before!” The Doctor called as he galloped.
“Everypony always says that!” Derpy said, frowning at the cliché. “When have YOU ever ran this fast?”
“Well, a while ago, I had to escape an extremely perilous and, might I add, incredibly tenacious apple seller.”
“… Fair enough,” Derpy sighed in disbelief.

As The Doctor and his companion ascended the royal tower, the bright white marble walls of the castle began to darken. The brave ponies hurried up the gleaming spiral staircase. At the top was a small picket fence. Confused, The Doctor poked at it.

“Careful, Doctor!” Derpy warned.
“What? It’s just a little garden fence, what could possibly be behind it?”

He nudged it open and walked through to this new room, Derpy following him warily. Discord was riding around on a small unicycle giggling, juggling many pears with impeccable skill. The petrified forms of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were stood near the back, their fearful expressions frozen in time.

“Oi, we found you!” The Doctor yelled at the Draconequus, causing him to lose his concentration and fall to the ground, pears raining down. 

Discord span around and got up as quickly as he fell. “Doctor! It’s so good to see you! I trust that your journey here was most exquisite!”
“well, not really!”
“Oh, come now, did I really cause that much of a bother? What did I do that was oh so troublesome?”
“Hmm… Well, you overthrew the monarchy, plunged Equestria into eternal chaos, messed with time and space, and corrupted nigh on everypony for starters!”
“Oh, so boring you are, Doctor. Can’t you see that this is all in good fun?”
“Good fun?” The Doctor stamped the ground with anger. “This is madness!”
“That’s debatable,” Discord chuckled, “Now, if there isn’t anything else so incredibly important, would you mind directing yourselves towards the exit?”

The Doctor glared at Discord. “Oh, we’re not leaving.”

“Beg pardon?”
“We’re not leaving until you’ve been defeated, and harmony has been restored to Equestria!”
Discord cackled wildly. “Oh, that’s cute. You really think you can defeat me?”

Discord’s voice suddenly shifted to a powerful, malicious tone. His eyes blazed with a wicked flame of rage.

“ I have so much strength inside of me, you have no IDEA what I’m capable of!” The Draconequus barked. He flew to the ceiling, and encased himself within a horrible aura.

The Doctor turned to Derpy, and smiled courageously. “Well, Derpy, This is it!”
“We can win this!” Derpy cheered back.

The Doctor and his assistant galloped into battle.

"ALLON-SY!”