//------------------------------//
// Chapter 25: Life Goes On Toast with Butter 
// Story: Lost Fate 
// by Fluxxdog 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 25: Life Goes On Toast with Butter

Winter came to Ponyville much as it did every year. Discord never returned, but he was not forgotten. Life has a way of growing around the past.
Spring came with the wedding of Sledge and Ivy. The Apples put on one heck of a shindig to celebrate. Slipwind was his Best Stallion, and Ivy had Lily Belle as her Mare of Honor. Of course, the wedding was upstaged a bit when, during his speech, Slipwind proposed to Rarity. Naturally, everypony knew this would be the most extravagant wedding Ponyville would ever see.
Lookout had things going her way also. She took position as assistant manager for the Ponyville weather team. Not much later, she took over as manager when the Wonderbolts accepted Rainbow Dash into their ranks.
With no word from Discord, Cantrip worked as a research assistant with Twilight, though he knew it was so she could monitor him. That worked fine for Ink Nose, who enjoyed his company. She could tell they had feelings for each other, though he never seemed to act on them. Finally, a couple weeks after Rarity and Slipwind got married in the summer, she decided to take initiative asked him.
“Do you want to go out on a date?
“No.”
She was devastated. “What do you mean no?! We’ve been dancing around this for a long time! I know you’re interested, you know I am, what’s the problem?”
“It’s not finished. Discord hasn’t returned. Once this is finished, I have to answer for the crime. And if he doesn’t show up soon, I’m going to have to follow his trail. It’ll be difficult, but I have to bring this to a close. I don’t know what my punishment will be, but if it would take me away from you, I’d rather you not have a broken heart because of me.”
“You’re a fool.” Cantrip pulled back. “You think I don’t know that? Why do you think I spend so much time with you? I know that at any moment, you could be taken away and I’ll never see you again. I’d rather have you in my life for a moment than to never have you at all!” He couldn’t tell if she was on the verge of crying or slugging him.
“Then let me finish this. I promise you, once this is done, we’ll try to have a future together.”
“Promise?”
“I Pinkie Promise.” He went through the motions, making her laugh. He knew Twilight was not a vindictive princess, but she did believe in fair punishment. If things went well enough, perhaps they could do something.


When he started making plans to find Discord, he finally returned. Cantrip was on his way to Zecroa’s to ask about some ingredients for Twilight when the draconequus appeared before him. Cantrip was rather overjoyed to see him. Then he noticed Discord’s face. It was if someone he knew had died.
“Discord! I’m glad to see you!”
“You won’t be.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let me tell you a tale, my little pony. You deserve to know everything.”


“Where's the Book, Unslaadein?!” Discord showed his true form, that of Chaos Unleashed. Only the strongest minds could witness it and retain their sanity.
Unfortunately, Unslaadein was among their number. "I have consumed it. I hunted it down and devoured it!"
“What would possess you to do something that crazy? And why give a page to Celestia?”
“I am Unslaadein. The First Dragon. The Eternal Guardian! And I hate it! My fate was handed down to me without my consent. I am cursed to watch the world rise and fall!”
“So you want vengeance? That's it? I’m disappointed.”
“Discord, you cannot be that foolish. Why would you do anything?”
The spirit took his usual form. “You… You did all this because you were… bored?”
The dragon smiled as he did so many times before he collected payment. “Oh yes, and now I will have some more fun.” Before he could react, Unslaadein grabbed Discord and swallowed him. He had consumed destiny, and now he had eaten chaos. It turned out chaos was rather tasty, like chocolate-covered carrots dipped in honey.
“Found it!” Suddenly, Discord was in front of him with…
“The book! NO! GIVE THAT BACK!” He swiped at Discord only to have his claw strike a sudden slab of… candy?
“Looks like those candy rocks were good for something after all. You’ve been rather naughty, Unslaadein.” The dragon tried freeing his claw from the sticky slab as Discord continued. “I don’t like doing it, but there’s only one thing I can think of as punishment for you.” With a snap of his fingers, the candy rock started growing over Unslaadein’s arm, covering him. “You’ll be trapped like this for the rest of your days. Covered in candy. Don’t worry though, you won’t be watching the world pass you by. Your punishment is that of those who seek to harm this world and its existence.” With his clawed hand, he pulled a zipper from out of nowhere.
“No… NO! NOT TARTARUS! I’LL NOT GO!” His struggling was apparent and useless. The candy was starting to cover his head. “I’ll break free and come after you! I’ll make you suffer in every way imaginable! I’ll find your fr-” He was cut off as the candy covered his mouth.
Discord just snapped his fingers and placed Unslaadein in Tartarus, never to be seen again.


After that, all he needed to do was discover who had the missing page. After putting the book in a safe place in the Gap, he traveled back in time. It was likely Twilight's time travel had something to do with it, maybe allowing someone to escape Tartarus. After all, with Cerberus distracted, it was possible that it wasn’t only Tirek who escaped. When he investigated, however, Cerberus started chasing him! Cerberus must have thought he was trying to do something nasty. He couldn’t believe it, Discord was responsible for allowing Tirek to escape. The irony was not lost on him.
Rather than cause more problems, he decided to stick around Canterlot, watching everywhere he could until he could find Cantrip. He saw Cantrip walking to his drop-off point, briefly glancing at the paper. All Discord had to do was wait and see who picked it up.
It turned out to be Discord himself! He had gone back in time two months prior to the theft to set everything up. Ordering the donuts so guards would be distracted, the note about letting Twilight in, the bits, the instructions. To be honest, he was surprised he would use others to do this, but then again, what did he expect? This was Discord he was dealing with. Expect the unexpected! Or not, it was equally as valid.
Once he had the page, he simply had to wait to return the page to the book. Time can pass easily enough, though he did oversleep by 4 days. As he went to put the page in, he noticed something. Cantrip’s name was on the page. It was part of the rewrite. When Cantrip glanced the page, it bonded to him somehow. It was no longer about Twilight. It was about him.
Which meant Cantrip would be unwritten when he returned the page.
“In the end, none of this is your fault. Unslaadein bears the responsibility. Once I return the page, however, you’ll likely be, well, unmade. I don’t know what’ll happen exactly. I came so you could say your goodbyes.”
His life would be nothing. His family would not have him. His research pointless. At least he didn’t have to worry about the one pony he had fallen for. He wouldn’t have existed to break Ink Nose’s heart. Cantrip looked like he was just ready to jump off a cliff to end the pain. “They’re not necessary. If I’m undone, they wouldn’t remember me. I never existed for them to know.”
“Well, I hadn’t thought of it like that. I’m sorry. No pony should have to experience this kind of pain. Goodbye, Cantrip. I promise I won’t forget you.”
A book of pure life appeared in Discord’s hands. For the first and last time, Cantrip viewed what could only be explained as the summation of reality. Discord opened it to where a page was missing. Hesitantly at first, he placed the page on the book. The pages of the book shone brilliant white until it consumed his vision. The last thing he saw was… pink?