//------------------------------// // Act XVI: Mercy // Story: Fade Away // by JoeBobWhitney //------------------------------// Cole laid in his bed, reading a book that Twilight have gave him to read while he was in the hospital. Honestly, he now remembered how boring sitting in a bed for so long could be. He wanted to get up, stretch and start running. Obviously, the free-running he practiced made him a easily bored. Parkour always had you on edge because at any jump or period, you could fall and die. Cole loved that feeling and made him crave more. The action that happened in Empire City or New Marais filled his heart with that same feeling. He enjoyed having the wind slap against his face as he ran across rooftops. He loved latching his fingers onto windows, wall and anything he could hold onto. The freedom he possessed made him happy but now look where he is. In a bed, awaiting the "OK" to leave. He sighed and looked out the window. The celestial body floated in the sky, giving this planet's it's warmth and growth for the plant-life. The sun felt as if it gave off the planet's joyous manner. Maybe, Pinkie needs the sun to be so active. That would be funny if that was true. Chuckling at the thought, he returned to the book. As he read through it, someone knocked on the door. He stopped, placed a bookmark in it and put the book on the table next to him. "Come in." He stated for the pony behind the door. A familiar light blue pegasus was the pony who knocked. "Rainbow. Nice to see you." "You too. So, how has hospital life been?" She asked him, he rolled his eyes and deadpanned at her. "I really want to hit you but my good arm is asleep." He declared. She chuckled at that. "So, how long until who get out?" "About two days. It was just a spear and plus, I regenerate fast." He smirked. "What?" She questioned. He quickly shook his head. "Nothing. So, how is everyone?" The Conduit asked. "Fine. Just sad about you." She explained. He nodded in response. "As I thought. What about those changelings?" "Princess Celestia sent out some guards to take care of them." "Good. Anyway, has anything interesting happened yet?" "Nope." "Dammit." They chuckled and she left as the Nurse said visiting hours are over. He sighed and laid back in the bed. The bed was very comfortable as it wasn't comprised of metallic springs. In fact, they said there was enchanted clouds on the inside. He believed that by experience. He glanced around the honeydew colored room for no apparent reason and went back to his book. The book was getting to a particular saucy part when the Nurse came in. Surprised, he dropped the book at the noise. "Cole MacGrath. You may head home now." She stated. "But, aren't I supposed to stay here for two days?" "Nope. Apparently, that wound healed faster more than we thought. You may go." Cole felt along the area where the wound should be and felt more skin. He shrugged his shoulders and got up. He said goodbye and left surprisingly. He kept walking and headed towards his house when he saw a golden chariot carrying a familiar statue. He remembered that exactly and ran off towards it. He found himself in a field as he saw Celestia talking to them. He walked up to them, surprising them. "Did you miss me?" He asked as he walked up. "Cole! I thought you were going to be in the hospital for a few days." Rarity stated. "Apparently not. Now, Celestia. Why do you have him with you?" He asked, crossing his arms. "Because. We need him." Cole's eye twitched. "What." He muttered. "King Sombra is back." Everyone gasped except Cole, who had a feeling about that. "We need Discord's help if we are to defeat him. He has strengthened and I believe that the Crystal Heart will not be enough. That is why we need to reform him." Cole sighed angrily. "Fine. But, how are we to do this?" "Simple. He has to listen to us or else he get turned into stone again." Twilight spoke up. "Exactly. That is why I'm leaving this up to you, Fluttershy." "W-what?" She asked, hiding behind her mane. "I believe that with kindness and enough of it, you will be able to reform him. Okay?" "O-okay. If you think I can." She stared forward and Twilight fitted the Elements of Harmony on them and herself. "Alright. And here we go!" The Elements began to glow and they floated into the air. Each of the Elements created a swirling rainbow behind them and it released it as it grew. The wave of color hit the statue and pieces began to crack and break off. They were blinded as a immense light shined. Seconds later, it stopped, revealing the God himself covered in pale grey dust. He stretched, bending into strange shapes and stopped as he heard all the bones crack perfectly. "Ah. Much better." He yawned. "There, it is done. Now, I'm sure you have control over this so I expect well. I will see you all soon!" Celestia left as they said Goodbye and Discord waved, holding a napkin in his left hand. Cole rolled his eyes and walked off, heading for Ponyville. "Where are you going, old chum?" He appeared beside Cole, floating with him. "Away from you. I don't want to be near you." "Why Cole-y Wole-y?" He mocked as Cole stopped in his tracks. He cracked his neck and cool blue electricity sparked across his arms. "Discord. I could end you. I did before and I'll do it again if you keep this shit up." He walked away leaving a pouting Discord. He flew back to Fluttershy and Cole went straight to his house. He had been sitting in his house for a few hours, finishing off the book that Twilight gave him when someone knocked on his door. Sighing, he got up and opened it. It was Applejack. "Hey, AJ. What's up?" "Discord's throwing a dinner party. Wants us to come. I don't trust 'em, but Fluttershy says he's reformed. I don't believe a single word of it." She explained. He sighed annoyed, in response. "Fine. Where?" "Fluttershy's." He nodded and she left. Cole closed the door before and put on a different pair of clothing. It was his white and grey T-Shirt and his dark blue Union Jack pants. Putting his Amp in it's sheathe, he left for Fluttershy's. Moments later, he met up with the Elements. "So..." Cole began. "I don't believe Discord is ready to reform yet. I think he's just playing with us." Rainbow suspected, floating in the air. "So? We're trying to help and I'm sure Fluttershy may have made a breakthrough." Twilight spoke up. "Oh, who am I kidding?" She sighed and Cole kept a stern face. "What... the... hell?" Was all Cold said as they walked up to see Discord there in a waiter's outfit, then extended his tongue which turned into red carpet. Cole resisted the urge to go walk off a cliff and went in the house. "Hello! So glad you could make it. Come in! Come in!" He motioned for them to walk in and they did as asked. "May I take your - hat?" He asked, trying to grab Twilight's tiara. She moved away from his grasp. "Hang on to your Elements on, girls. It's going to be a bumpy night." She whispered to her friends. They all sat down and Cole paid attention to everything on the table. Candles, a bowl of Gravy and and a fish container holding a orange liquid. He slumped in his seat and sighed. "As you all know, Princess Celestia hoped we help Discord use his magic for good instead of evil." At that moment, Pinkie smashed her face into her mashed potatoes. "Pinkie Pie, care for some gravy?" "You bet!" "Allow me." He snapped his fingers and the bowl of gravy came to life. It panted like a dog and scratched itself before running over to Pinkie. "Ooo! What a cute little gravy boat you are! Yes you are, yes you are!" It licked her with it's gravy tongue and poured the gravy upon the potatoes. "That's one creepy little gravy boat is you ask me." Rainbow stated. "Oh, come on now Dashie. You're not even giving this a chance. " Fluttershy scolded her. As she said that, the "Gravy Boat" poured gravy all over Rainbow's leg. She jumped up in pain. Cole looked at Discord unamused. He smiled sheepishly. "Hey! That's hot!" "Oops! I'm s-so sorry!" He apologized innocently, hiding behind Fluttershy. "He did that on purpose!" Rainbow declared. "Oh well, I don't know about that, mistakes happen." He started. "Oh look, everypony! Dancing candles!" Candles began to hop around and everyone watched. Then, Rainbow blew some out. "I'm not falling for that!" She exclaimed. "Discord's just trying to distract us-" The blown out candles began to float and hit Rainbow. "Hey! Knock it off! I suppose that's another mistake?" "No, I think you just made them mad." Discord announced. Cole rolled his eyes. She tried to fight them off but were too hard to hit. "There's something fishy going on." Twilight exclaimed. The fish thing then splashed Twilight and then Spike and hopped off towards Cole. He ducked his head as it sprayed the orange liquid at him, it quickly moved on. "Discord!" Fluttershy called out. "Well, it's hardly my fault if the soup tureen thinks the term, 'something fishy', to be offensive." "Not the dress, not t-" Blasted by the fish. "NOT THE DRESS!" "That tureen is only doing what yer making it do!" Applejack shielded her face with her fore-leg. "Now, let's not jump to any conclusions." Fluttershy explained as looked at Discord. He shrugged innocently. "Fluttershy! Can't you see what he's doing?" She knocked off the candles. "He's playing innocent with you so you'll never agree to using the Elements of Harmony against him!" She was then blasted by the fish. Cole growled. "Alright, fuck that tureen!" He then grabbed it with both hands and threw it at the wall, busting it open and leaving a orange stain on the wall. He sighed in relief. "Well, that's a bit harsh, isn't it?" "You see what I'm saying, right Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked sternly. She didn't answer. "Fluttershy?" "You know what I see? I see that Discord is far from perfect but I also see none of you giving him a chance!" "Come on!" They all yelled. Cole just slumped down in his chair and sighed in annoyance. "What's gotten in to you?" Rainbow asked. "Why do you keep cutting him so much slack, seriously?" "Because that's what friends do." She placed her hooves around him. "We're friends?" Discord questioned, feeling a fuzzy sensation in his heart. Whatever or wherever that was. "Why, of course! I can't remember my house being this lively since you came along." Fluttershy admitted. "Oh. Well, I've never really had a friend before." Discord teared up, saying. "Well, now you do." Everything stopped. The candles, the gravy boat and what was left of the tureen. But, a bunny came through the window and started jumping on the table, motioning something. "Now is not a good time, Angel. We're having a dinner party." "Hold up, Ah think he's trying to tell us something." He grabbed a glass of water over himself and pretended to drown. Nobody got was he was trying to do. He then grabbed a apple. "Apple!" Everyone said except Cole. "Applejack!" He facepalmed. He brought over a glass jug of cider and threw in the apple. "Sweet Apple Acres?" Rarity started. He hopped up and down in happiness. "Flooding at Sweet Apple Acres!" Rainbow finished. Everyone turned their head towards the god. "And we all know who's behind that, don't we?" "Who? Me?" A glowing yellow halo appeared above Discord's head. "Oh, give it a rest! What do you think of you're friend now, Fluttershy?" Everyone began to leave leaving those two behind. He shrugged innocently again. Fluttershy and Discord joined, shortly afterwards. They all headed to Sweet Apple Acres and what they saw made their jaws drop. It was absolutely flooded to the trees. "I've never seen flooding this bad! They've built dams before but never like this." Applejack stated as Fluttershy talked to the angry beavers. They squealed at Fluttershy and she gasped. "Such language!" She sighed and hovered over to them. "It's no use. They won't listen to a word I say." Flutteshy admitted. "You see Discord's behind this, right?" Cole asked Fluttershy after being so quiet. "Of cousre I do!" She responded. "Do you all think I'm a silly, gullible fool?" They politely argued about that and Cole face-palmed. "I've just been trying to gain his friendship anyway I can so he'd come to trust and listen to me!" "Hey there, Fluttershy!" Discord called out from the water, as he was being pulled by the tureen like water-skiing. "Want a turn? The water's great!" He was water-skiing on the flood water. What the fuck is up with this guy? Has he have no respect?, Cole thought. "Fucking Discord." He muttered. "Time to see if it worked." She stated as Discord jumped onto land as he neared. "There you are. Such a sight for sore eyes." "As you can see, there's a big mess down here at Sweet Apple Acres." "Oh yes, awful business that." He then began wiping himself off with a towel, seemingly taunting us. "It is awful! This is Applejack's home and it's being destroyed by innocent creatures who would never be acting this way if it weren't for your reckless behavior." She scolded him like a child. "You need to fix this." "Oh. Well, very well. I will fix it if I only ask one thing in return. I ask, that you never use your Element of Harmony against me. As a sign of our friendship." She looked at them and they shook their head while Cole simply stared with his arms crossed, slowly shaking his head. The suspense ended as she accepted this. "I will never use my Element of Harmony against you." Fluttershy removed it and threw it at Spike. He caught it and they looked up at her. "Excellent!" He smirked devilishly. He snapped his fingers and all the water became ice. "There! Much better! I do prefer ice-skating to water-skiing, don't you?" He then hopped on the ice, changing clothes to a ice-skating attire and danced along the ice. As he did a full 360 degree hop, three clone-Discords appeared on the ice, sitting at a judging table. They all gave him a sign of ten points. "Discord!" Fluttershy was angry now, and began to chase after him "That's not fixing it! Why I oughta-" She lost grip and slid along the ice. "Where you going?" He taunted her. "What's wrong, pal?" "Don't call me your pal!" She yelled at him. "Aw, come skating with me and we'll let bygones be bygones." He held up a pair of skates with his tail as Spike quickly rushed to her, holding her Element in claw. "Here you go, Fluttershy! Game on!" "He fixes this or goes back to being stone!" Twilight called out, wearing her tiara Element. Fluttershy began weighing her options, leaving her silent, but then she stood up finally. "I made a promise that I'm not going to use the Elements of Harmony against him and I'm going to keep it." She took the skates in her mouth as Discord laughed at them. "Haha! You see, she wants to have fun with me because we're friends! She can't use the Elements against me 'cause we're friends!" She gritted her teeth. "I'm free forever!" He laughed boastfully. As he went off, her face grew in anger until she snapped and threw away them in anger. "NOT. YOUR. FRIEND!" She threw down the skates. "Who cares?" He spat at her. "I can do whatever I want, whenever I want! I'm Discord, the Master of Chaos!" He teleported to her. "You think you can boss me around? You think I'm just I'm going to turn this back 'cause you say so? Because if I don't, I'll lose the one friend I ever had? WHO NEEDS FRIENDS?" He angrily threw off the outfit. "Friends are useless! You know why? Because if you are my friend, you wouldn't of yelled at me! Friends trust each other you know! And you didn't trust me enough and believe me as a friend! If you did, everything would be peachy!" He declared. Teleporting to Spike, he kicked him making him drop the Element. He picked it up and began to crush it. Pink waves of magic began to be lashed out, cutting perfect slices in the ice. And then, boom. The Element shattered, leaving pieces of gold and pink everywhere. The Elements dimmed and became utterly useless. Their jaws dropped and Rainbow charged at him. Discord moved out of the way of her attack. Cole fired a Rocket and at him and he threw a tree in the way, destroying them both. "This is a new era of Chaos! A reign of revenge! You put me in stone and banished me and now, I'm going to return the favor!" He snapped his fingers and a portal opened up behind him. "Farewell, Cole." Out of nowhere, Cole was hit by a tree, sending him into the portal. He tried to hold on to the ice but it was useless. The blue portal closed, leaving them in shock. Discord smiled darkly at this. "There goes your one way ticket to defeating me." He laughed at them and their hope began to fade. "Friends." He laughed mockingly. "Friends are for weaklings who need support. I need no help in this conquest. Equestria, say hello to your new ruler! Discord, God of Chaos!" His laugh boomed throughout Ponyville, scaring the residents. They all stared in fear as he walked off, snapping his fingers as things turned to hell. "Is this it, the end?" Rainbow asked. "Maybe, Rainbow. Just maybe." Twilight replied, looking at her friends, worried sick.