“Do you accept this gift I am about bestow upon you, Twilight Sparkle?
“... I do, Princess Celestia... I accept your gift.”
“Twilight, wake up!”
Twilight shook awake in her bed, Rainbow Dash standing beside her. She was having that dream again. Shaking her head, she looked out the window of their hotel room they rented while they were in Manehatten. The sun was beginning to sink beneath the highrises. An EL train thundered close by.
“Princess Luna said she wanted to meet with us after sunset, right? In her note?” Twilight nodded. She gave her head one last shake before leaving with Rainbow Dash.
====
The two mares walked down the streets of the big city, the sun still setting in the distance. Twilight insisted on going alone, but Rainbow Dash, insisting it was so she could ask Discord to turn her and Rarity back to normal, managed to convince Twilight to allow her to come along. Looking around the mammoth city, they could see it was quite vacant as well, just like Ponyville. Numerous royal guards were stationed and walking up and down the streets in patrol, stopping for the alicorn as she passed by. It made Twilight feel uneasy sometimes, now that everypony gave her a salute or a bow every time she crossed their path. Maybe it was just something she needed to get used to.
“It's been years since I've been to Manehatten, Twilight. It hasn't changed a bit.” Rainbow Dash looked around the city excitedly. “We should totally come here sometime... y'know, all six of us, after all this is over?” Twilight said nothing. She knew Rainbow Dash was doing her best to keep a straight face on things, like Pinkie was back home in Ponyville. She knew Rainbow Dash feared for the missing Applejack.
“I've been waiting, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight and Rainbow Dash both turned and saw Princess Luna, flanked by two guards, walking down the street for them.
“It's time for us to meet with whom we came here for.” she said in her dignified voice, turning for them to follow her.
“How long have you been here, Princess?” Twilight asked, coming up beside the larger alicorn. “Why do we need to meet with Discord?”
“Duh!” Rainbow Dash called. “I have a horn when I SHOULD have wings!” huffing, the blue pony trotted up beside them. “That punk should be able to turn me back, right, Princess?” Luna said nothing. They walked silently through the streets, more and more ponies bowing to the trio, Twilight doing her best to ignore this.
Finally, as the stars had only just started to appear, Luna spread her wing to stop them. Motioning across the street, they saw a droll looking pub with a handful of ponies coming in and out, a large, chipping wooden sign reading 'The Green Dragon'.
“That's where he is.” Luna said. “He goes there most every night.” Stepping closer, the trio could see it have a number of other ponies (and other creatures) inside. Looking around inside, they saw it was much larger than they initially thought. The crowd was giant. A griffon and minotaur were shooting the breeze at the bar while a rugged looking stallion that Twilight recognized was once a sergeant at Canterlot when Shining Armor joined the academy when they were young.
“I figured Discord would stick out like a sore wing.” Rainbow Dash huffed. Just as they started up the steps to the second floor of the pub, Twilight heard it;
“You can drink your fancy ales
You can drink them by the flagon.”
Twilight narrowed her eyes and made he way to the top of the stairs, Luna and Rainbow Dash rushing behind her.
“But the only brew for the brave and true comes from the Green Dragon.”
The three saw Discord sipping a tall glass of ale, watching a couple ponies and a diamond dog play a game of pool, each giving the other sharp glances with each crack of the stick. Discord turned slowly to them, a smug grin on his face.
“It's about time you got to me.” he sneered, taking a deep gulp from his flagon. Rainbow Dash huffed at the draconequus' antics.
“Why am I not surprised to find you here getting lit?” she growled. Discord on waved her off as he finished his ale.
“Oh please, Rainbow Dash,” he said, giving a small belch. “I'm the embodiment of chaos and disharmony... it'll take more thank a few ales to get me drunk.”
Twilight rolled her eyes as Luna stepped forward. “I'm sure I don't need to tell you why I'm here, Discord.” she said in her proper tone, Discord yawning at her. “Equestria is in peril... chaos is running rampant... we need you.”
“Really... or do you just want me to save Equestria so you and Celestia can go about your business with the Grand Galloping Gala?” he sneered, the alicorn unfazed by his remarks. Seeing he hadn't made her budge, Discord gave Luna a nasty grin. “By the way, princess,” he went on in his oily tone “I don't like you like this... maybe show everypony what you really look like, I think they'd get a kick out of how cute and tiny you really look.” Luna narrowed her eyes at this just as Rainbow Dash gave an angry huff, stomping forward.
“Listen!” she spat. “Equestria is falling apart! I've been turned into a unicorn! Applejack is a dragon!” Rainbow Dash frowned at this. Discord ordered another ale as she frowned.
“That horn looks good on you, Rainbow.” he smirked. “I think you should keep it.” Glaring, Rainbow Dash made a leap for the draconequus, only form him to disappear, the blue unicorn crashing into the table, Discord's ale splashing all over her.
“Oh come now, Rainbow Dash, don't be so up tight-”
“Discord, stop!”
Most everypony in the tavern turned to see Twilight step forward, a scowl on her face.
“Tirek is threatening Equestria and Applejack has been transformed into a dragon and is missing.” Twilight snapped, stepping closer, glowering at Discord. “We want you to help us, Discord, but I won't stand for you taunting us.” Discord only folded his clawed arms.
“Or what, 'your majesty'? You'll thrash me?” Leaning forward, his eyes barely inches from hers. “Shall we settle this hoof to hoof?” giving his eagle claw a snap.
In a flash of light, Twilight now stood in the center of a boxing ring, everypony and creature in the pub (except for Luna, whom was missing) shouting and gambling. Even Rainbow Dash watched in amusement. Darting around her was Discord, throwing mock jabs at her.
“Discord, what is going on?” she groaned, completely unamused.
“Oh come now, Twilight!” Discord called, hopping about. “Think about it! The daring duel between the fearsome Discord, spirit of chaos and disharmony, and the newly anointed Princess Twilight Sparkle!” Discord taunted, giving Twilight's wings a slight whip with his tail. “The masses will speak of our battle for eons to come!” Tossing a few more jabs, the pub growing louder and louder with cheers, Twilight only rolled her eyes. “C'mon and take a buck at me, Twilight. We both know you want to!” Twilight closed her eyes lazily and released a deep breath as Discord went on. “FIGHT BACK! This is supposed to be brutal!” Opening her eyes, Twilight fired a small burst of magic into Discord's belly, causing him to double over. In a flash, Twilight spun around and gave a swift kick to Discord's face, knocking him out of the ring and into a table where a few diamond dogs were playing cards, splashing the lot of them with beer as their chips flew about the room. Everypony else cheered, Rainbow Dash smugly collecting a hefty sum of bits from a rather sour looking griffon.
“Ugh... you kicked me... you actually kicked me.” Discord massaged his chin in disbelief as he climbed back to his feet. “Celestia never kicked me-”
“I'm not Princess Celestia.” Twilight announced proudly, unable to hid the triumphant look on her face.
“Indeed not.” said Discord, giving the young alicorn princess a mischievous smirk. “You're much easier to provoke... how fortunate for me.”
=====
Luna paced outside the pub, knowing Discord was up to some kind of magic. He teleported her outside after Twilight began to speak to him, but she was certain Twilight could handle herself. The cheering inside must have meant Discord must have really cooked up some crazy setting upstairs. Just then, a loud crash followed by even louder cheering came from the building. Flapping her wings briskly, Luna peered through the window to see Twilight in the center of a boxing arena, smirking down at the collapsed Discord, the princess unable to suppress a grin herself.
Gliding back down to the street, Luna reentered the bar and strolled calmly to the top floor where Discord had restored the arena to a simple dining area, everypony having returned to their drinks.
“So Discord, have you a little more humility?” Luna taunted, Discord rolling his eyes as he ordered another ale.
“Very well," he sighed "I will tell you what I know-”
“And get this thing off my head!” Rainbow Dash called, pointing her hoof to her forehead. “I cannot.” Discord said, Rainbow Dash staring in disbelief. “You and Rarity both were altered by a magic far different than mine. It would be so difficult and time consuming to restore you both, I would lose interest less than half way through.” Rainbow Dash glared at him as he sipped his ale. “However, I'm sure if you use your Elements, you can find an easily way to turn yourselves back to normal. They were what made you both like this after all, are they not?” Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to speak, but Twilight stepped forward.
“How did you know they were changed by the Elements of Harmony, Discord?” she said suspiciously, Discord giving his eyes another roll as he turned back to his drink.
“Twilight Sparkle, you forget, I'm the embodiment of chaos and disharmony.” he took another sip. “I can do all kinds of neat tricks nopony else can.” Smirking, he turned his head all the way around, which made Twilight and Rainbow Dash jump and Luna narrowed her eyes. “I can hear the Elements right now... you left yours back at your hotel room, Twilight... in a suitcase... and my dear Rainbow Dash, you didn't even bring your Element with you from Ponyville... It's still with all the other five.” Rainbow Dash only turned her back to him, putting her nose in the air.
“So what? It's not like I need it right now-”
“You most certainly do need it, Rainbow.” Discord cut in. “Even by themselves, the Elements are powerful objects. They can be used as weapons or they can be used to save and soothe those around them.” Rainbow Dash turned suspiciously toward the draconequus.
“How do you know all this?” she asked, Discord tutting at her.
“Why not tell them both, beloved Princess Luna?” Discord said slyly. Twilight and Rainbow Dash both turned to her, Luna looking to the floor. The look on her face said it all.
“Long ago,” Luna began “the Elements of Harmony were not relics... but actual beings... Discord was once the Element of Laughter.” Twilight and Rainbow Dash both gasped as Discord took a deep gulp from his glass. “Even I... I was the Element of Kindness... we all defended Equestria and all other lands from so many evils with little effort... then there came one we all had to stand together to face...” “Sombra.” Twilight said, Luna nodding.
“It was at the Crystal Empire, a kingdom we knew very little of... Ruled by the crystal king and queen, they were very secretive and interacted with little of Equestria. Nevertheless, we all knew a kinship with the Crystal Empire, there was no strife between our kingdoms and factions... but then he came...” Luna growled quietly as she thought of the evil usurper unicorn king. “King Sombra slayed the king and queen and decimated the entire crystal army... it was a day we all remembered and did our best to hide from the history of Canterlot... much to the everlasting shame of Master Starswirl-”
“Starswirl was an Element of Harmony?” Twilight blurted suddenly. Luna nodded.
“He was the Element of Honesty... which is why it killed him to cover up what happened-”
“Please continue with the story, Princess.” Discord said sharply. “It's getting to the good part.” he said with a nasty grin. Luna closed her eyes tightly.
“We all, the six Elements of Harmony, gathered and fought through Sombra's massive army of soulless golems he created from the crystals of the empire. His powers were growing more and more by the minute. We weren't certain of what he was building his power for, but we could not let him achieve is goal.” Discord took another gulp. “Mustering all our power, we were not able to kill Sombra but we were able to cast him into endless shadows... but with his final breath, he cursed the Crystal Empire to share the same fate...”
“And the boy...” Discord said as he finished his ale, Luna looking away toward the moon. Sure enough, Rainbow Dash blinked confusedly, but Twilight knew they both spoke of Zerus, Luna's lost pupil.
“After that, we went our separate ways, except for my sister and myself... and Equestria has carried on for more than 1000 years.” Discord stretched, his arm popping off and scratching his back.
“So, you need me to help you, then?” Discord groaned, giving a stretch as his arm joined to his side once more. “I'll say this, you will need the Harbinger Blade if you want a chance at fending off Tirek.”
“The what?” Rainbow Dash pondered.
“The Harbinger Blade? But why?” asked Luna, a look of pure confusion on her face.
“Because, Twilight and I believe the same thing.” Discord said as the four began to make their way down the stairs. “We both believe the good General Tirek is not acting alone.” Both Rainbow Dash and Luna looked to Twilight.
“I can't explain it.” Twilight began as they stepped out into the cool night. “It's like there's a whisper... Something telling me he's not alone... it's kinda scary.” she said. The moon was full that night, glowing all around the unusually quiet town.
“As for Applejack... someone close to her must place her Element of Harmony on her... it's likely the only way.” Discord continued. Rainbow Dash smiled weakly at this.
“Well, she is my best friend... I know I can snap her out of it easy.” Everypony smiled. They really believed they had a chance.
“Welp, that's it for me.” Discord said. “I'm going on the lam to see if I can't dig up anymore info as to what hijinks is going on here. Have fun, my little ponies.” With that, he glided up into the air and disappeared. The three didn't say anything else to each other as they walked on through the town. Even if they believed in themselves and were full of hope, they still knew it would not be easy. It wasn't until Twilight and Rainbow Dash arrived at their hotel that anypony said a word.
“Princess Luna?” Twilight asked. “Discord was an Element of Harmony, right?” Luna nodded silently. “Then... why did he... y'know, turn against Equestria?”
Luna only started off. Twilight thought it was better not to pry.
“Because, Princess Twilight... Discord and Starswirl were very close...” she whispered, remembering the last few years of Starswirl's life long long ago.