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// Part 11: Fool's Q 
// Story: DisQord 
// by Midnight Sprint 
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	“Um, Captain?” Twilight spoke nervously. “Don’t you think we should be trying to find a way out this?” The Captain heard the words, but did not respond at first. He let a moment hang in the air, while the two opposing entities considered the playing field. Speaking, Picard only tilted his head minutely, as though refusing to remove his eyes from the board himself. “Unless your own magic can find a way out of this, I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do. Q’s powers are more than sufficient to keep one at bay unless he wills otherwise. I’m afraid that Q is our only real hope here.”

Rarity, somewhat nearby, pressed against the invisible walls preventing anypony or anything from leaving their position. She offered a nervous laugh. “We won’t be in any real danger… will we?” From above, Q dismissed the comment to the Captain and Twilight with a casual wave. “Don’t be dense. Of course you’re not in any real danger. Besides, if you were, it’s not like I couldn’t will it away.” Picard understood all to well, but let it go. Rarity naturally did not feel any more relieved.

Discord hollered from across the field. “You ready over there?” The Draconequus pointed to a spot on the giant tabletop, to which a changeling pawn jumped to immediately. Chrysalis watched as the invisible barrier bumped the little changeling’s butt, boosting it along. If one were to want to avoid such treatment, they would have to move in accordance with the player’s decision, otherwise they’d be forced along by the invisible walls. Q observed the move, and instinctively made a similar movement, pushing a nervous pony ahead towards enemy lines.

Rainbow Dash huffed down to Applejack on one end of the board, “He didn’t even give us Canterlot’s guards as our pawns. How messed up is that?!” Q, again, shushed the ponies, making a comment about trusting him as Discord made another changeling pawn move. The two exchanged minor movements, mostly pressing pawns forward, blocking and preventing actions. When it was Pinkie’s turn to move, she rather optimistically bounced forward. Whether this was out of genuine fun, or an attitude of “There’s nothing else, so it may as well be fun.”, was uncertain.

Eventually, it the more agile units began to see action. Shadowbolt knights darted forward and angled, smiling with confident ambition. Q clicked his fingers, and Rainbow Dash pushed towards the Shadowbolt on the right. At first, she appeared uncertain, but as she recognized the figures, she too donned the mask of anxious excitement. It would be good to put one of those illusions down herself. A Diamond Dog Bishop hurdled across the board, threatening her position of hostility to the enemy Knight. Q responded by sending Big McIntosh forward along the board’s edge, resting parallel to the Diamond Dog. 

Every unique piece on both sides stood strong, while pony and changeling faced off across the battlefield. It seemed likely that the actual danger was in their minds, as Discord was chaotic, but far from explicitly violent. Still, nopony, nor human, nor Q opted to risk it. They all took the choices presented very carefully.

Dash and the Shadowbolt stared each other down, waiting for either one of their commanders to make a decision to push one forward. One move too soon, and the other would fall. The wrong move, or the right sacrifice, and they would be taken out. Fluttershy made a squeak, and warned Dash, as the second Knight approached behind, threatening their other knight, Fluttershy. Q moved Zecora into position, ready to block the Knight from striking Fluttershy, when a Timberwolf Rook darted across the board, running at a full speed bound, before screeching to a halt in front of one of the pony pawns. The wooden wolf reared up, the poor pony cowering in terror, before the jaws clamped down over nothing. 

The wolf occupied the fallen pony’s space, but the pony was not there. Looking off to the side, the pony was now resting on the sidelines in a stone body. Q gazed to Discord with disapproval. Discord, grinned. “What? She isn’t hurt. She just can’t move. They’ll all be fine. What do you think I am, a monster?” He finished, before laughing with glee.

Q spoke. “My dear, Twilight. It’s your time to shine.” He spoke, somewhat regretfully, after seeing how much each of these ponies cared about one another. This was a place of persistent kinship. No matter what the odds or circumstances, almost all of these little life forms cared about each other more than anything. It was almost a completely new experience for Q, though the Enterprise’s adventures had already displayed this sense of camaraderie in the past. 

Twilight, at first, involuntarily marched forward, but then galloped at will. Seeing a possibility, Discord responded by flying the Shadowbolt that opposed Dash towards Twilight, their queen. Seeing an opportunity, Q took Dash, and sent her to attack from behind. Dash flew into the space where the Shadowbolt hovered, and flew through it, busting it into a dissipating blue puff as though it were a tiny cloud. Dash spun, releasing a trademark “Aw, yeah!” of victory.

Discord seemed impressed, for while the game was simple enough, the moves were intricate, especially when considering the players at hand. The board continued for many moves, while the pawns on both sides cleared out. Both Diamond Dog Bishops had been taken from Discord’s side, but Discord had also claimed Trixie, and ultimately Big Mac from Q. Rarity stood across the board, preparing a strike on a Timberwolf rook, while Chrysalis eyed Twilight. Discord, amused, spoke up. “Really, Chryssi?” He questioned. “Fine.” A spot six spaces ahead glowed green around the edges, as Chrysalis trotted forward, laughing. “Finally. You’re mine, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Oh dear. Well, this won’t do at all.” Q looked over his army of ponies and people, and pushed Rarity closer to King Sombra’s positioning. With Discord’s most powerful units pushing the lines towards Q’s army, there was little to protect his own King. The scattered units awaited commands, while Chrysalis was moved back against her will, into to prevent a checkmate coup.

With Twilight ahead, and holes in both forces everywhere, even more units had fallen. Q looked down to Picard, and offered a deadpan expression. “I’m sorry for this, mon Capitan.” Picard felt a bump, as he was ushered to the left, in the vacancy that was formerly inhabited by Twilight Sparkle. Discord, seeing the opportunity, chuckled to himself. Chrysalis was unable to knock out Picard in one move, but two would certainly take him down. Discord sent her forth, placing Queen Chrysalis right next to Picard. One more turn would dictate disaster for either Picard, or Twilight. 

Applejack was currently blocking the first of only two remaining agile units on Discord’s side, while Fluttershy was tasked with weaving around the changeling pawns that had remained surprisingly in tact, though the pony pawns had been all but decimated. Q shifted Picard at a diagonal, forcing Chrysalis to be moved into an equally threatening position. The Queen laughed at Twilight Sparkle. “So, a new friend, is it? What a shame. I can’t wait to see the look on your face when I enslave this one too!” Twilight looked enraged, but was forced to sit and wait. 

Rarity let out a cry, as the last Timberwolf rook approached, resting in the directly adjacent square. It crouched low, expecting the next turn, and awaiting the pounce. Another round had passed, and Discord had shifted Chrysalis into position, ready to bear down on Picard. Twilight had been sent back to attempt to stop Discord from forcing a victory, until the following turn that belonged to Q. 

“Um. Excuse me?” A feeble voice hummed from somewhere on the battlefield. Twilight called back and forth to Rarity, who was certain that her doom was at hand.  All the ponies were shouting to one another over the distances of spaces, while Q sat patiently. “Excuse me.” The little voice cooed again. But again, the humble, polite request for attention had been neglected. Finally, Q clapped his hands, creating a gong beside him, which rang and echoed loudly. All the ponies, people, beings, and creatures stared up at the Q.

“I believe that the modest little Pegasus has something she wants to say.” Q spoke, smiling. The entirety of the board and players all stared down to the board, searching for Fluttershy, finding her standing just under the elevated position of Discord. Beneath her hooves lay a dispersing black cloud with green and purple eyes. She squeaked and retracted her body as all the eyes fell upon her. Looking up to Discord, she smiled sheepishly. Discord’s arms dropped to his side, his mouth agape. “YOU?” He hollered, disbelieving.

“Um. Checkmate. Right?” Fluttershy continued quietly. Twilight Sparkle giggled, and called from across the board. “You did it!” Fluttershy smiled with mixed modesty and pride. Q interjected, “Strictly speaking, it was me, but yes. Never underestimate the quiet ones.” The board disappeared, leaving all the ponies, creatures, and beings on the natural ground once more. Q released the ponies back to Ponyville, and did the same to the villains and creatures. Their stone forms vanishing, and their normal bodies returning to their preferring homes.

The six huddled together, hugging and grateful that all had emerged well. Q grinned to Discord cleverly. “You know, Discord. You should learn to not underestimate others so easily. Especially this one.” He said, motioning to Fluttershy. “You could really learn a lot from that one.” Q added, with a knowing smirk. Discord growled to himself. “Whatever. Enough board games! Just move on to our next trial! It’s your turn to decide now.”

All the ponies gathered around Picard, showing support for one another, and pride in their victory. Q thought for a moment about the heart, fortitude, and intelligence these little ponies had shown. Their determination was as powerful as their dedication to one another. Q looked to Picard, who looked back with skepticism and gratitude alike. Q disappeared, teleporting himself next to the beast of chaos’ elaborate form. He leaned casually on Discord’s side. “Tell me, Discord.” Q began. “What do you know about video games?”