//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Rescue from the Changeling Hive 
// by EKessler 
//------------------------------//


Rescue from the Changeling Hive

Epilogue


The trip back to Ponyville took all night.  Celestia and Discord's party stopped at Canterlot first, at which time Celestia's guard divided up which ponies they were going to escort home.  Discord obviously was to accompany the ponies of Ponyville, along with the same guards who had assisted him before.  Celestia originally intended to stay at the castle for when the time came to raise the sun, but she rather elected to accompany Discord and his party home.  She left the sun in Princess Luna's hooves for that day.  Discord didn't mind her company.  In fact, he welcomed it, but he wouldn't admit it.
By the time they actually reached Ponyville, about seven rescued ponies in tow (including Screwball), it was sunrise, and they were welcomed by what seemed to be the entire town.  They were gathered at the town square, and there was no way of telling how long they waited, but there they were.  Discord didn't recognize most of them, but he could make out Fluttershy and her friends at the front of the crowd, which did not surprise him at all.  They always seemed to be involved somehow.
Once they got close, most of the rescued ponies ran off from the group into the crowd, and others ran to meet them.  Family or friends, obviously.  He still didn't recognize any of them, but he did take notice of a couple of them.  A gray, cross-eyed pegasus mare had met up with a gray unicorn filly.  Mother and daughter?  Or maybe sisters?  He didn't know, but he saw them embrace quickly, and the pegasus flew both of them into the air, following a rather crooked flight path.  It was actually quite heartwarming and fun to watch, but he kept it to himself.
The sight urged him to take a look at the pink filly he held in his arms.  On the journey home, they were inseparable.  The entire time, he either held her or kept her by his side.  Oddly enough, they didn't talk very much, but they didn't need to.  Screwball was rather upset when he left to fight Chrysalis again, but her smile and tight hold on him when he returned told him everything was alright.  Right now, however, her sight was directed at the ponies that were reuniting.  She still clutched her father tightly.
Discord's gaze was directed elsewhere.  Not too far from the crowd, which was distracted by the emotion of the event, several of Celestia's guards were approaching.  Held in tow were several changelings, all of them restrained by chain.  The guards didn't say anything, but they passed by Celestia, who nodded to them knowingly.  They then continued on their way.
"They'll be taken to the desert," said Celestia out loud.  "They'll be able to find their way home, and they've been warned about returning."  She turned to Discord.  "But I'm sure they don't need to be warned.  Thanks to you."
Discord glanced at Screwball.  "Yes, they won't be bothering us anytime soon."  He felt Screwball hold him tighter as he said that.
She then nudged at him.  "Dad, look!"
He looked to where he pointed, finding Fluttershy and her friends, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, and even Spike the dragon (who was hiding behind Twilight), approaching them.  Fluttershy looked quite gleeful, while her friends seemed a little reluctant.  Discord set Screwball on the ground.
"Um, Discord," said Fluttershy softly.  "My friends and I have something we would like to say."  She nudged Rainbow Dash, who was the one next to her, and was the one who seemed the most resistant.
"Ugh, okay.  Uh, Discord," said Rainbow, "it was…I guess…It was pretty awesome of you to, you know, save the Princess and all.  Yeah."  She sighed heavily, probably glad to have that off her chest.  Fluttershy looked rather pleased with herself.
"And…Ah'm with Rainbow on that," said Applejack.  "Ah think it was mighty noble to put yerself on the line for 'er."
Rarity stepped up next.  "Discord, I know that we haven't exactly…seen eye-to-eye in our time knowing each other."  The "Tom" incident passed through his mind.  "But I agree with Fluttershy when she says that you are to be commended for your part in saving these ponies."
"No kidding!" cried Pinkie Pie, making Discord chuckle.  "I mean, saving the Princess is like, only the bestest thing anypony could do!  Well, actually, I guess that there are two Princesses, and he only saved one, so I guess technically what he did would be one of two of the best things anypony could do…but still!"
"Um, Pinkie, I think you made your point," said Fluttershy much too quietly.  From some miracle, Pinkie heard her, so she zipped her lips shut, still smiling like always.
In the sudden silence, Twilight Sparkle stepped forward, prompting Spike to hide behind Rarity instead.  "Discord, I'm very glad you were able to save your daughter, and that you were able to play a part in getting everypony home safe and sound, especially the Princess.  So, for saving my mentor, and for everything else you've done to help," she held out her hoof to him, smiling, "you have my deepest gratitude."
This was certainly new to Discord.  Except for Fluttershy, and maybe Pinkie, none of them were ever this friendly to him.  And here was Twilight Sparkle, his former nemesis, offering her hoof to him.  He went with it, though hesitantly, as he hoof-bumped her (with his fist).
"Uhh, of course.  Your welcome."  He added a grin as sincerely as he could.  She shrugged off his hesitance with a smile.
Discord then realized that his daughter was being left out of all this.  He knelt down to her level.  "Screwball, sweetie, how would you like to introduce yourself to Aunt Fluttershy's friends?  I'm sure they'd all be happy to meet you."
She looked to them, looking a little uncertain.  "I…uh, okay, that sounds fun."  She trotted off to Fluttershy, who took the liberty of introducing her.
"Girls, this is Screwball.  Screwball, this is Rainbow Dash, that's Applejack, that's Pinkie…"
Celestia nudged Discord and gestured away from them.  She led him a few steps away, out of the fillies' hearing range.
"Discord," she began, smiling, "I would…also like to thank you for your part in all this."
"Well," Discord was shuffling his feet, "I just…wanted Screwball back, and…"
"Maybe at first, but even when she was safe and sound, you went out of your way to ensure my safety, and the safety of everypony I set out to rescue."
Discord wasn't impressed.  "It was nothing, really.  I gave Chrysalis the flank-kicking she deserved.  That's it."
Celestia placed her hoof on his paw, making him flinch back slightly, but he let her keep it there.  "Discord, listen to me.  I know what went on in there.  You could have done far more than you did, but you restrained yourself for the greater good.  You risked your life to save your daughter, my subjects," her face turned ever so slightly red, "and me.  And what's more, you worked to make sure that my subjects would be safe from this threat in the future, without going too far."
"Well...Screwball asked me to go easy on her."  That much was true.
Celestia giggled.  "Okay.  I just wanted you to know, Discord, that I'm proud of you, and I am very grateful that you're keeping your promise to use your powers for good."
"Oh, alright.  Just don't read too much into this, Princess.  I'd rather just put this behind me."  Now he was blushing.
Celestia, smiling, turned to the others, seeing Screwball now in lively conversation with Pinkie Pie.  "Oh, well.  I was going to let you do that, but…"  She smirked at him.  "You know, whenever Twilight and her friends go through something like this, they usually write to me about what they've learned about the magic of friendship."
Discord couldn't help but smirk back.  "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Celestia laughed.
Discord eyed the others, scheming.  "Well, Princess, if you really want me to…"  He snapped his fingers, and in a flash, Spike was between them, quill and paper in hand, and he was clearly shocked.  Twilight and the others looked in surprise, and Celestia just kept laughing.
"AAHHH!  D-Discord, wh-what are…"
"Spike," Discord interrupted, "take a letter."
Spike was shaking like a leaf, and he turned to his friends for help, but Twilight, Fluttershy, Screwball, and the others were all laughing at the look on his face.  Seeing that he had no choice, he put the quill to the paper.
"Ahem…Dear Princess Celestia,
I have learned something very important about the magic of friendship.  It's very important that you're there for your friends…
He turned to Screwball, who was watching affectionately.
…and family whenever they need you.  And sometimes, while we all hate to admit it, we sometimes need to go to, shall we say, great lengths to do so.  Even so, no matter how bad the situation is, if your desire is revenge, you're only going to cause more pain for everypony.  If you ever have to defend your friends, always have their well-being in mind, rather than the desire to hurt others, and you'll always be on the right track.
Screwball then went back up to him.  He held her in his arms, intent to never let her go again.


Your faithful ally,
Discord