“That didn’t count,” Twilight said with a growl. “We are doing this all over again tomorrow. And this time we are NOT doing it in the future.”
Starswirl frowned at the purple alicorn, as she paced back and forth on the dirt road. The fading light were stretching both their shadows long. “But I did make a friend...” Starswirl said.
Twilight ground her teeth, “Do you actually think you and Scorpan are friends? You basically tricked him into betraying his brother! And I bet he doesn't care more about you than any other ‘cute pony’!”
Starswirl shrugged, he couldn't really argue with that assessment. “How long until the spell ends and we are returned to my time?” he asked.
Twilight sighed deeply, “Half an hour... more or less. Not enough time to do anything but wait.”
Starswirl sat down on the road. “Well, when we get back lets have some coffee and chocolate. Then we can decide this argument with a game of chess.”
Twilight sighed, “I would like that.” She gave him a tiny smile.
---------
Clover spun the wheel that controlled the metal construction’s levitation field. She watched the crystal orb slowly sink to the ground, landing with a gentle thud. Putting her hoof on it, the white and pink light within seemed to intensify. Heart hammering, Clover quickly rolled it over the thick carpet, towards the newly lit fireplace. She would smash both the orbs into it, and the fire would take care of the rest.
Clover rose up on her rearlegs, holding the orb over her head. “BANZAI!” she shouted and hurled it into the fire. The room filled with the sound of breaking glass as the crystal container broke against the stones of the fireplace. The fire blazed up in a frenzy, and waves of heat flowed over Clover’s body.
“Woooow” Clover said, her voice full of awe. “That’s sooooo cool!”
Hurriedly she ran over the the other orb and lowered it just like she had with the first. The darkblue magic within, bubbled and spun in what seemed like, complete peace. Clover rolled it over to the fireplace and lifted it. She stopped for a moment, looking into the roiling white and pink flames. This was it, Clover the Clever, the hero of the ages was about to take her place in history.
Then there was a popping sound behind her, followed by a voice she knew all too well. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?”
Clover felt cold dread down her spine, but she had come too far to stop now. “I am sorry Uncle Swirly, but this is for Clover the Clever!” And with those words Clover tossed the second orb into the fire.
----------
Starswirl watched the orb fly through the air, as if in slow motion. All that work, heading right for the fire. Wait… why was the fire pink?! Don’t tell me...oh dear. The second crystal orb exploded inside the fireplace, darkblue magic mixing with pink flames. The room started to shake.
“What's happening?” Twilight shouted as she held on to him for balance.
“I don’t know!” Starswirl shouted back. “Clover mixed your’s and Pinkie Pies’ magic with each other. But that shouldn’t be possible! It doesn't make any sense.”
“Oohooruggu buuuut whhhhaaaaat fun is there iiinnnnn making sense?” the fire gurgled.
Clover shrieked in panic and galloped away from the fire, screaming, “IT’S ALIVE!”
“Alive… yeeeessss! But not yet complete!” the fire hissed as it rippled with every color imaginable.
Starswirl nudged Twilight in the ribs, her wide eyes turned and met his. “What?” she asked.
“Try talking to it,” Starswirl murmured.
“Why me?” Twilight hissed back.
“You’re it’s mother, aren’t you?”
Twilight’s eyes went wide, and her jaw dropped open. She slowly lifted a hoof and pointed to herself.
“Yes you,” Starswirl confirmed. “And Pinkie Pie too… you really ought to tell her.”
Twilight just continued to gape at Starswirl, her brain clearly not processing anything. Starswirl sighed before turning back to the fire. “Greeti-”
His greeting was drowned out as the sound of a drum roll filled the room. The flames coalesced into a strange elongated shape. Stepping out of the fireplace, it spread it’s newly formed arms wide. The drum roll ended. “TA TA!” it said, in a new happy sounding voice.
Twilight gaped at the creature, “Discord?!”
“Discord? Hmm, I suppose that’s as good name as any,” the thing said. “Yes, I AM DISCORD! Lord of… hmm I suppose I need to think of a good title.” He made a snapping sound with his claws. Every inanimate object in the room came alive and began running up the walls.
What in bloody tartarus… What kind of magic is this?! Starswirl spun on the spot, trying to take it all in. Then he noticed years worth of research journals flying out the window. “NOOOOOOOOO!” he shouted and flung himself after them. But before he could do anything, Discord snapped his claws again, and they were outside. Looking around, Starswirl couldn't help but to notice that his beloved tower was now a banana.
Starswirl gaped at the giant fruit that used to be his home. Feeling numb, he could only think, Well that explains why my tower was gone in the future…
Discord placed a claw on Starswirl’s shoulder, “No need to thank me, it was my pleasure! BruhahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” The creature took a step off to the side, “Now if you excuse me, I have a world to improve!” And with another snap of his claws, he was gone.
Clover rubbed at the back of her neck before looking up with a sheepish smile. ”Whoops.”
“YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!” Starswirl roared, he was up in an instant, rushing the younger unicorn.
Clover shrieked and ran around Twilight, trying to keep the alicorn between herself and Starswirl. Twilight just sat in the grass, her mouth still hanging open as the two ponies darted around her.
Clover ended the stalemate by flinging a hoof-full of dirt in Starswirl’s eyes and then galloping away into the darkness. Starswirl rubbed at his eyes as he shouted profanities after her. He turned around and looked at Twilight, “Don’t just sit there we must go after that creature!”
Twilight blinked and met his gaze. “It’s no use! Discord will reign as the Lord of Chaos for roughly 500 years before Celestia and Luna are finally able to defeat him.” Twilight lifted a hoof and pointed to the sky. “Look he has already turned the sky green and the clouds into crabs.”
Starswirl glanced at the sky and saw that Twilight was indeed correct. He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, “Well then… I think I know what to do.”
Twilight tilted her head to the side. “What?”
“I’m going to timetravel away from now and rebuild my tower. I refuse to live in a land that is not going to make sense.”
“But what about all your research? All your journals?”
A pained expression came over Starswirl’s face, “Well… I believe I will cry manly tears over them later.”
Twilight grimaced, “I am sorry about all of this.”
“Don’t be Twilight Sparkle. In these two weeks you have taught me something very valuable.”
“I have?” Twilight asked doubtfully. Then her eyes widened, “Wait… you do intend to tell me where in time you are going to travel, right? So I can find you.”
“Nope” Starswirl said with a grin, as he turned and trotted off. He heard Twilight calling out after him, but he ignored her. They would meet again soon enough, since the time he planned to travel to, was in fact only a couple of thousand years ahead.
Because in that time, there lives at least one pony that is not a complete nincompoop.
THE END