How do you like your dream so far, Twilight?
"What? What's going on?" I asked. The others looked at me quizzically, unsure of how to react.
You know this is just a dream, don't you, Twilight?
"What? Discord? Is this your doing?" I asked aloud. The expressions changed from puzzlement to worry.
Ding, ding, ding! Give the little lady a cigar! Let me show you what's going on!
I heard faint chuckling in the background as everything seemed to melt away once again. I was seemingly back in my hotel room, with Jake/Pinkie looking over me in deep concern.
"Twilight! Wake up! Get up! We need you!" I heard her voice calling me. Twilight's voice in my head urged me to get to my hooves, albeit a bit shakily.
"What happened? It feels like I've been hit by a truck or something," I muttered. I was still struggling to rise to my hooves, feeling a slight dizziness in my head. My mouth felt dry so I decided to get some water.
"We were so worried about you, Twiley! You've been sleeping for five days!" Pinkie stated, seemingly excited to see me back. She hugged me tightly.
"I had a very vivid dream -- that I had been taken from here by Princess Celestia, only to see her transform into Nightmare Moon, then there was a stretch of time where I was ... doing things for her, then another version of me popped in to help me defeat her -- I don't know if this is real or not, Pinkie. Every time I think I'm finally coming to grips with what I think reality is, something happens to persuade me I'm not where I think I am," I said apprehensively. "I'm afraid that this too is just a dream state -- I thought I heard the voice of Discord, but I don't even know what to think any more."
"You're just being a silly filly, Twiley! Discord is running things just fine!" the pink pony chirped happily. It was this happy tone to her voice which was quite jarring, given the fact that her mane and tail were straight flat against her body. I thought I caught her left eye twitch just a little. I frowned deeply and narrowed my eyes.
"Discord! Enough with your tricks!" I shouted at the ceiling of the room.
Oh, you're no fun anymore. I suppose that can't be helped. Why so serious? Why not enjoy your last few days of life?
"I intend to live a lot longer than that, Discord!" I replied. Pinkie looked at me very quizzically.
"Why are you talking to him? He's not here, you know."
"I can hear his voice in my head, Pinkie," I replied.
The pink pony put her right hoof to her mouth and blew a very loud whistle. How does she do that? I wondered. Very suddenly, the door burst open and four men wearing white coats grabbed me and put me in a straightjacket and carried me off to a small white truck. I was so shocked by the suddenness of their actions that it wasn't until I was shoved into the back of the truck and it started moving that I realized I was being taken to an institution.
"Discord! This isn't funny!" I shouted as I heard chuckling again.
"Who is Discord?" one of the men guarding me asked. Almost as if on cue, he materialized in the truck with us.
"Hello, Twilight! Did you miss me?" the dragonequus asked, grinning broadly.
"WAAAH! What -- what -- what's going on here?" the guard asked fearfully. Discord turned him into a medium brown earth pony with a yellow mane and tail.
"I am Discord, and I have need of this lavender unicorn. She will be accompanying me on my travels," he stated flatly, removing my straightjacket with a wave of his lion's paw. The cloth split lengthwise and fell away limply from my body.
"What do you want, Discord?" I asked him in a very annoyed tone of voice. "Is it not enough for you to run this world?"
The dragonequus chuckled again. "Why, Twilight, I need a jester for my personal amusement! You shall serve me in that function -- oh, don't look at me like that! And don't start crying, either! This is the world you know as it is now -- I am a benevolent ruler, trust me!"
"I don't know what to believe any more. If this is your doing, I shall endeavor to end your rule, even if it means sacrificing my life in order to accomplish that task!" I stated quite defiantly.
"Oh, you're no fun anymore. Do not try my patience, Twilight -- I will only tolerate so much disrespect before I lose my temper. You don't want to make me angry -- you wouldn't like me when I'm angry," he threatened in a low tone as he narrowed his jaundiced eyes at me.
"But isn't this world chaotic enough? Haven't you done enough damage? What about Trixie?" I asked.
"Why do you mention her? I suppose if you wish to see her, I can summon her for you -- my guess is that the two of you shall provide much entertainment for me! Brilliant idea!" he chuckled loudly and summoned the azure show-mare to our location.
"What? Where am I?" asked the show-mare, completely confused by her sudden shift of location. She turned and saw us looking at her, a smile on Discord's face, a look of grim determination on mine. She started giggling. "Oh, this is rich! Sparkle? It's been five days, and we were supposed to have another duel three days ago! Oh, you've been fired from your position, I hope you know. They haven't found a replacement for you, but I've been doing my act to substitute for the magic duel. Since you're back, maybe we can duel again!"
"If you two have another duel, it will be at my pleasure," Discord stated flatly. "I have other plans for you two, so no duels any time soon."
We gave him puzzled looks aside from glancing at each other. "Is Gwen still there inside you, Trixie?" I asked.
"Are you Sparkle only or is that human still there?" she asked.
"We are still together, Trixie -- what about Gwen?"
The show-mare started giggling in response. "That weakling is no more!"
"Oh, Trixie, how little you know," Discord chided. "I'll take care of that matter."
Amazingly enough, Discord waved his eagle talon at Trixie and pulled a female human out of her body, then transformed her into a lime-green pegasus with teal-green mane and tail. "Take care, Gwen! Fly, be free!" he chuckled at her. "See? I can do good things every once in awhile," he said to us, grinning again.
"So what do you want us to do for you?" I asked.
"Entertain me, of course," he replied nonchalantly. We were whisked away to his lair, the teleportation proving to be extremely disorienting. Next thing I knew, I was looking at a cityscape from a very high vantage point.
"Do you like it? I have the top two floors of the World Trade Center building number one!" he chuckled.
"Wait -- I thought the towers got blown up on nine eleven," I mused.
"That is a different universe, Twilight -- that one was merely illusory. The towers still stand, untouched. Look around, check out Manehattan!"
"You mean Manhattan?" I asked. Trixie was baffled, trotting around the perimeter and gawping at the marvelous view.
"You underestimate me, Twilight! This is Manehattan! I have crafted it to suit my desires!" he announced proudly.
"So we're in Equestria?" I asked. I didn't know what to believe any more, the constant travel between dimensions causing great confusion within me. I also gawped at the view somewhat.
"Don't be so foolish, Twilight! This is still Earth, but I am transforming it, little by little, until it is completely under my thrall! I hope you don't mind too much."
"I suppose it beats having the world under control of those damned changelings," I muttered. Discord laughed out loud and fell on the floor.
"Ah, hah, hah, hah! That's a good one! Who told you that?" he asked, trying to catch his breath between laughs.
"Nightmare Moon," I replied sullenly. "Why are you doing this?"
"I'm bored -- I needed something to ease that boredom. You and your species are most entertaining -- I think I'll be making this my home now. There's nothing you or anyone else can do to stop me from doing what I want, so you may as well get used to being my jester. You too, Trixie!" he chuckled.