//------------------------------// // Discorded? // Story: Soren the Alicorn Part 1: New Beginnings // by KingNyroc15 //------------------------------// When the seven mares ran up to Octavia's house, they saw that her front door was left open. Knowing that the high-class mare would never allow something like this to happen, the girls became worried. They quickly ran inside and noticed a strange sight: Octavia and Vinyl were each on separate couches, sleeping. Applejack and Fluttershy walked over to the two musicians and gently shook them. Within seconds, the two mares slowly opened their eyes. "Wha-What happened?" Octavia asked. "We were about to ask y'all the same thing," Applejack replied. "Wow, that was crazy," Vinyl added. "Soren looked like he was having some kind of personality crisis. He talked to himself, said something to me and Tavi, then we were woken up by you girls." "Soren must have used the same sleeping spell that we used on him," Luna explained. "We do not know why he would do such a thing, but we can only guess it was for your own protection. We must find him, and we believe we know how." As Luna started leading everypony outside, someone shouted "No!" Eyes widening, the mares turned around to see Fluttershy standing there, looking down with her eyes closed. "Fluttershy?" Twilight said. "I-I can't do this anymore," Fluttershy said. "I'm tired of all the danger." "Fluttershy, it's goin-" "She's right. That colt's a danger magnet," another voice said. Everypony knew that this time it was Applejack talking. "Princess... although I'm with Fluttershy on this one, it don't mean I ain't helping to fight against these Shadow Horses. It just means that I can't do this dangerous junk with Soren no more. Sorry." "And I'm sorry too, girls," Pinkie Pie said. Princess Luna, Twilight Sparkle, and Rainbow Dash were all completely surprised and shocked that one-by-one their friends were turning their backs on Soren. "How can you all betray Soren like this?!" Rainbow Dash shouted at the four mares. "Ever since he showed up, Soren has always helped us, and now you won't help him in return?! What kind of friends do that? Fluttershy, he saved you from those shadow creatures. AJ, he helped your cousin and the sheriff protect Appaloosa. Rarity, he told you to go find help right before he got possessed, which protected you as well! He even saved the princess when Night Wing attacked and helped me when I was badly injured. Even though he hasn't helped Twilight or Pinkie yet, we all owe it to Soren to help him when he's in trouble. I'm out of here." When she finished speaking, Rainbow Dash walked outside. Luna and Twilight looked at their friends before the two walked outside to meet Rainbow Dash. Octavia and Vinyl Scratch were still silent even after that entire event unfolded. -------------- The three mares went to a stage in the town. Soren had performed on this stage on more than one occasion. Luna planned on using magic on the microphone to track him. This should work because Soren had used his magic on that mic the most. Once Luna started using her magic to triangulate Soren's location, she immediately found a trace. While maintaining her horn's glow, the princess began leading Twilight and Rainbow away from town. As they left Ponyville, the mares noticed that the trace was leading them to the Everfree Forest. Twilight gulped but held her confidence. The mares looked at each other, nodded, and ran into the dark forest. As they continued to follow the trace, Luna noticed that it was fading. They all began running as fast as they could before the trace disappeared completely. The trace led them to the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. At the end of the magical trace, they found themselves at the shrine of the Elements of Harmony. What they saw there shocked Luna and Rainbow, and nearly terrified Twilight. They didn't find Soren...instead they found another pony. This pony had a grey coat, a black and red striped mane, and a cutie mark that resembled a black gem broken in two by lightning. When the pony looked at Twilight, Rainbow, and Luna, they saw that he was an alicorn as well. They assumed it was Soren transformed. "Finally you all showed up," he said in a calm voice. "You girls took forever to arrive." "Who are you and what have you done with Soren?!" Luna yelled. "Now, now, I don't think Soren deserves to speak with his traitorous friends. His weak, scared, betraying friends." Luna was silent. Why did the trace lead us to this pony? It was supposed to lead us to Soren. Unless...could it really be him? As Luna was thinking to herself, the alicorn continued to spit out insults. Finally, Luna whispered to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow nodded her head and began to talk back to the alicorn. "Hey, buddy, does the name Nyroc sound familiar?" she asked him. "Why that's us!" he replied. "Now if you all will excuse me, 'Nyroc' wants to be alone." "That's it! We know you did something to Soren-" "Nyroc," he corrected. "Whatever. Don't make me force you to tell us where Nyroc is." "Is that a threat, Rainbow Dash? Well I accept your challenge, but on one condition. You have two minutes to attack me before I fight back." "Rainbow, don't to do this," Twilight pleaded. "We can find Soren without having to fight him." "I do not think it is that simple, Twilight Sparkle," Luna interrupted. "This pony has done something to Soren. I instructed Rainbow Dash to fight him so maybe we can find some answers." Before Twilight could respond, Rainbow Dash flew straight at the alicorn and kicked him in the face. To her surprise, he didn't flinch, nor did he have a mark or bruise on his face. Without losing her confidence, Rainbow continued to pound on this alicorn as he refused to react. Meanwhile, Luna was explaining something to Twilight. "Soren is technically discorded just like your friend, the Doctor, was, except 'tis different for Soren. That is not Soren, yet it is. This pony...this 'alicorn'...is Soren's discorded half. Soren is here, yet missing. How this came to be, I have no idea, but we must find Soren...wherever he is." Luna continued to watch Rainbow Dash attack the alicorn without hesitation. Her two minutes were about to end. --------------- "Where am I?" Soren breathed as he woke up. He looked around but couldn't see anything, for it was pitch black where he was. Soren waited for his eyes to adjust and eventually a white light appeared. He walked towards it and saw that it was a wall of some sort, although it wasn't entirely flat. After a few seconds passed, it began to show something ...something important that was happening. Soren looked at the picture and saw an aerial view of the shrine of the Elements of Harmony. Not only that but he saw Twilight, Luna, and Rainbow Dash. Soren also saw what looked like him, except the pony had different colors. How am I seeing all of this? I'm in an unknown location and yet I'm seeing my friends somewhere else. Soren continued to watch what was happening. There was a different version of himself (which he deducted when he saw that the pony was an alicorn). When Soren heard the alicorn talk, he soon realized that it was the voice that was talking to him earlier. At least I'm not in my own head again. Soren looked around again and saw that he was actually in a cave. He turned back to the scene on the wall. Who or what is this pony? Does it have an evil plan? Soren saw that the alicorn had started fighting Rainbow, only he wasn't fighting back. The alicorn was taking the hits like they were nothing. After seeing enough, Soren turned away from the picture and tried looking for a way out of wherever he was. It didn't take long for Soren to start getting lost in the maze-like cave. Soren started comprehending the situation again to give himself some inspiration. Before he could finish repeating the situation to himself, Soren heard a voice. "A lost alicorn viewing his discorded doppelgänger? That's new." Soren turned towards the voice, and saw another pony. He was a brown earth pony with a dark brown mane and soul-piercing blue eyes. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" Soren asked. The stallion moved past him to watch the scene at the ruins. Soren was surprised to find out he went in a circle. "Doesn't matter. Why is there another version of you? Two of the same ponies in the same exact moment in time can cause major problems, not that I really stop problems anymore." "That pony is like an evil half of myself," Soren explained. "He might be planning something, but I don't know what." "Is that all? Well, why don't you do something about it?" Soren didn't like that this pony thought the situation wasn't very serious. "Because I'm lost in this cave!" The brown stallion put a hoof to his chin as he thought about Soren's other half. "It seems like this discorded spirit managed to make a body of his own." The stallion then took out a weird tool and pointed it at Soren. Upon seeing said device, Soren's eyes widened. Why didn't I recognize him sooner? He's the Doctor!