//------------------------------// // Chapter One // Story: Adapting // by RarityTookManehattan //------------------------------// The lavender figure sneaked through the solemn streets of Ponyville, her mane flapping behind her as she trotted briskly. The dawn light, barely glimmering over the horizon, lit up the branches of her destination. The giant crystal star residing on the top of the castle reflected beams of the dawn light, making the area around the palace just a little brighter. A giant pink banner, hanging from a golden pole on the side of the castle, flapped serenely in the light breeze that propelled itself down the streets. It was the same breeze that made the trotting figure's hair dance around her head wildly. The figure, a young teenage filly by the name of Dinky Doo, reached the golden front steps of the castle. The massive egresses would make too much noise in the waking moments of the day; the whole of Ponyville would wake and form a disgruntled mob within seconds. So she scampered to the back entrance that he had taught her. The slightest thought of him sent tingling sensations up and down her spine. She reached the back of the giant, crystalline tree that supported the castle and spotted the keyhole, perfectly shaped for a unicorn to fit their horn inside. She shoved her horn into it eagerly, her excitement getting the better of her - and winced as it bumped painfully against the back of the indent, pressing harshly into her head. She powered up a jolt of magic, sending it into the slot. It lit up with a fiery golden light, and a door swung open a few feet to the left. Dinky quickly slunk into the doorway, sliding the hatch shut behind her. A spiraling staircase, made entirely of pure amethyst, flourished out of the ground at her hooves. She began to gallop frantically up the stairs, her desire to see her love too much for her to bear. The steps seemed endless, and her feet slipped a little on the smooth crystal. By the time she reached the top of the staircase she was a little less energetic than before and breathing much harder. She was a regularly active filly, but over twenty flights of stairs at top speed can drain the life out of just about anypony. She slid into the hallway, accidentally bumping into a tapestry. It began to descend to the floor - but Dinky caught it with her magic, holding it aloft for a moment to see the story woven across its surface. It held the elements of harmony and their bearers facing a horde of sleek changelings, whose carapaces were stitched in black thread with shiny silver dots covering them. Ah, generic Elements carpet. She hung the piece back on the wall and continued her quest in search for him: that little dragonet that had grown up so much recently, now tall, slender (but, she remembered with a smile, still wingless). Dinky sighed as she imagined him holding her softly, nuzzling her neck... She almost missed his room. Luckily Spike was just leaving to find her, and they bumped nose to nose, their lips meeting. The couple had kissed many times before: after all, they were both growing up and Dinky was almost out of school. Only one more year... Either way it still felt as magical as their first moment. The lavender magic protege and the purple and green messenger had their lips locked together, kissing passionately. Spike slowly pulled her into his room, where they resumed their romance on the bed. After making out for another minute or so, their lips broke apart. They smiled at each other lovingly and Dinky curled up against Spike's warm chest. She dozed off as he played with her blonde mane, twirling it in between his claws but making sure not to tangle it severely - lest he would have a rather angry pegasus mother and unicorn filly both ferociously combing out Dinky's twisted locks... Wait. Pegasus mother. Spike swore silently as he started to rouse her. She mumbled incoherently as he flattened his spikes with a few swipes of his claw. They had been cuddling for a little over an hour, and the sun had risen significantly in the sky; its beams broke through the window and shone upon the two youngsters. Spike pecked her cheek quickly before prompting her out of bed. She moaned quietly and got to her hooves. In the corner she spotted a traveling cape she had left there from a previous visit and slung it across her back. With a kiss on his cheek in farewell she sped out of the room. Through the window Spike caught a glimpse of a mare flying haphazardly through the air towards the crystal palace, a stormy collection of thunderclouds surrounding her head. Dinky raced down the steps to find a place to hide. Derpy stuck her tongue out as she tried to concentrate, flapping her wings and propelling herself in a slightly zigzagged path towards the castle. She wasn't the fastest flyer in Ponyville, it was true, but where her daughter was concerned she was willing to cross the whole of Equestria if necessary - and this particular morning Dinky was missing from her room... again. The filly had been visiting Friendship Castle very often over the past few months. Initially, Derpy had been fairly lenient. Why shouldn't her daughter go visit her little dragon friend every now and then? Gradually, though, he had become less "little" - and after a while he transitioned beyond "friend" territory. Derpy shuddered in disapproval. Her daughter may have become a teenager, but that doesn't mean she was old enough to - BAM. Derpy, lost in her thoughts, had obliviously flown straight into one of the upper rooms of the castle. A small chunk of crystal fell to the ground with a tinkling smash, the wooden frame of the window hung down in a splintered wreckage and a small metal flagpole on the roof was bent sideways. Derpy surveyed the damage nervously, unsure whether to leave it and awkwardly float away or admit to Twilight Sparkle that she'd caused it. From the ground a familiar draconequus looked on with curiosity. He stroked his beard, bemused at the fact a pegasus had just flown head-on with some force into the castle of oh-so-mighty friendship. The grey pony started to fly away from the wreckage uncertainly, seemingly sneaking away from possible retribution. Well, he couldn't have that. If somepony was vandalizing the castle then it was his responsibility to find out why... and possibly join in the fun. "Good evening, my little pony," Discord greeted as he appeared next to the grey pegasus with a flash. She jumped a little guiltily and then frowned in confusion. "Evening?" she repeated, looking up at the sky uncertainly. Discord looked up too. "What? Oh, my mistake. It's morning. Must tell Loony to start mixing things up a bit," he commented. Derpy looked a little confused again, but shook her head as if to clear it. "Um, have you seen a unicorn anywhere? One who looks a bit like me?" she asked. Discord glanced Derpy up and down, from the bubble cutie mark to the eyes which pointed in different directions, and decided he most certainly hadn't seen anyone who looked like this pony. "No," he admitted to Derpy, who looked crestfallen. "But I have seen something most interesting: a pegasus using herself as a pony battering ram to destroy the castle of friendship!" With a snap of his fingers he was sat on a huge wooden battering ram, which pulled back as if to hit the castle's walls only to turn into a cloud which Discord sat on contentedly. Derpy looked extremely guilty. "I-I didn't m-mean to," she stammered, blushing with embarrassment. Not only had she caused so much damage to the castle through her own carelessness, but even now she couldn't help but stutter when trying to explain herself. What kind of role model was she for her daughter? She glanced at the floor, ashamed, but was surprised when she looked up to find her dragon-like companion looked nonplussed. "It was an accident? Well, that's disappointing. Still, top points for some excellent chaos - even if it was unintentional." He snapped his fingers again and some mini Discords appeared holding up the numbers 7.5, 8.0 and 7.5. A silver medal appeared around her neck and a bouquet of roses landed in her arms. She glanced at them with a slight blush and a small smile - nopony had ever complimented her for causing damage before. "What's your name?" she asked Discord in her slightly ditzy voice. He looked shocked. "My name?" he repeated. "My name! I thought everypony knew my name. I am Discord! Lord of Chaos, bringer of Disharmony! Well, not so much these days, but you know what I mean." He paused, then added a little grudgingly, "What about you?" "My name's Derpy." She beamed before remembering why she was here in the first place. "Sorry, but I need to go... I really need to find my daughter." Discord nodded exaggeratedly solemnly and vanished with a flash. Glancing up at the bit of the castle she crashed into, Derpy was shocked to see it was already repaired and wondered whether this Discord had somehow fixed it. She smiled a small smile and clutched her bouquet of roses. She sniffed them and then recoiled in surprise. They smelt like blueberry muffins.