//------------------------------//
// Failsafe 
// Story: A Chaotic Calm 
// by Betty-tea-dead 
//------------------------------//

As much as Discord dispised confining himself to rules and regulations- for the game he was about to play, he needed to make a special exception. 

It would do no one any good if he unraveled his own existence. Or worse- throw the very precious, yet suffocating present into disarray. As much as he wanted to tear away from it - the unfamiliar comforts of his current situation held a vice grip on his heart.

He only needed a brief vacation from it all. Something to take the edge off. Nothing more.

As such- he was willing to go as far as to utilize a pony spell. Something concocted from a dusty old tome from Starswirls personal library. He never knew a pony as stiff and rigid as him- it was no wonder Twilight worshiped him so. As he trailed a talon over the yellowed pages, he imagined her squealing with delight - tapping her hooves excitedly on the floor as she rambled away on her vast knowledge of Equestias unfun ponies.

He makes a note to show her perhaps the spellbook someday in the future. It'd work as a bribe or even to soothe her prissy temper should he ever upset her. Not that it was particularly difficult to upset her.

The spell itself wasn't particularly difficult. But it was entirely useless to those wishing to make significant changes to this thing or that. Discord grinned a snaggle-toothed smile as he poured over the irritatingly boring details. The spell itself actually enforced the concept of a paradox. If Twilight had used a similar spell- it was no wonder why nothing disastrous had happened.

This spell would keep him tethered to his own past. And there was a delightful failsafe built-in - in the event that he was to cause harm to another, his little trip to the past would end immediately. This little detail suited him just fine.

"I only want to blow off a little steam - not steam somepony!" Discord chuckled. "But a single hour! I suppose that's better than the measly minute Twilight got..."

Well. He did want to play it safe. Discord was certain he could make that single-hour count. By Celestia's glorious mane- he'll even make it the best hour of his life!