//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Discord's Story // Story: Ponies Playing Doom // by obake //------------------------------// "It started out innocently enough. As soon as I promised you all that I was going to reform, and that friendship is magic, I became disillusioned. I, Discord, reformed? Let's just say, that I no longer felt like the lord of chaos. I was merely a..." shivers, "good citizen. "But then I met John RoMareO and Carmacintosh, and the devil inside me grinned. Helping create Doom was my rebellion against society. I was standing up to the world, shouting obscenities and being rude. And the best part of it was, I was not at risk of being turned to stone. "However," Discord paused. "The high I got from being a game designer eventually wore off, and I was no longer amused just to simply help create another game." He turned to Carmacintosh. "You remember those days you'd walk into my office, only to find the work I was doing was overzealous. I adorned my desk and laptop with demonic symbols and gruesome imagery. You were used to that type of thing before, but never to this extent. You must have thought I was either gleeful about my job, or that I had simply gone mad. But it was neither. I was making things ready for a very special spell." Discord turned to Celestia. "Don't blame either John for their errors. They are good stallions who have, and will do, great work, I'm sure. The Doom games themselves have no ill intent or bad consequences. However, my heart when I was helping design them was far from well-intentioned. I had always had a tinge in me that wanted to get back at you, Princess. Not just by creating an innovative, rebellious new game, but by causing the most trouble Equestria has ever seen. I wanted the world by storm. "King Sombra had nothing on my plans. I was about to open up a dimensional rift that would forever change Equestria. I thought I was going to smile when I looked into the world I had just opened...but, once I saw the grim fire-scape filled with horrible demons and weary souls, how sad and devilish it really was, I felt..." Moments passed in silence. Discord sighed. "I felt compassion, not for the demons or those in the fire-scape, but for all you ponies. Even I wouldn't send such unsavory monsters to this world, no matter how much I wished for your destruction. Celestia was about to speak up, but Luna raised her hoof to silence her. Instead of Discord continuing, Applejack asked "So if you had a change of heart all of a sudden, why didn't you close the portal back up?" "Well," said Discord, embarrassed, "you see, the portal itself was directed towards the head honcho of the Doom universe, almost like a phone call with video feed, and I didn't want to be rude and just hang up..." All of the other ponies, including Fluttershy, either grimaced or gawked with open mouths. "You stayed on the line with the Icon of Sin!?" shouted Rainbow Dash. She was in too much shock to kick the lights out of Discord, which he found some solace in. "You idiot!" said Twilight. "How could you!" yelled Spike. "Ponies, ponies, please." said Discord, "give me a chance to explain. The Icon of Sin possessed me to keep the spell going at that point." "Where is she?!" shouted Rarity. The rest of the ponies continued bickering, until, all at once, they realized that Rarity was not there! "Was that any of you?" asked Fluttershy. "No." replied Rainbow Dash. The rest of the Mane 6 (sans Rarity, of course) shook their heads. "It wasn't me." said Princess Celestia. Everypony looked at Luna. "What?" she said, incredulously, "Rarity and I sound nothing alike!" "I didn't cause that either." said Discord. He wondered... Suddenly the double doors to the room bursts open, and dozens of pinky demons ran in. Everypony stood guard. The Princesses revved up their magic, Rainbow Dash and Applejack snarled and prepared to charge. Discord, seeing the opportunity, quietly said "Buh - bye" and teleported out. RoMareO saw and replied "Fiddlesticks!", before he and Carmacintosh got ready to kick more demon butt. Meanwhile, in the Doom universe. "Oh, where is she?!" said Rarity, her mane ruffled and her expression pouting. "I don't know." replied the Marine. "We have to go after her..." "We can't! Not until either a bridge raises or the nukage is drained!" "I'm going in." said Rarity. "No, you'll never survive!" the marine said, grabbing the pony by her shoulders. A lightbulb appeared and lit over Rarity's head. "That's it!" she said. The marine looked at her and the lightbulb still hanging in the air with befuddlement. "Sorry." said Rarity, using her magic to make the light bulb disappear. "I've kind of gotten used to doing that when I think of something." Rarity went to the edge of the platform. The marine reached out again to try and stop her, but was surprised that Rarity did not jump into the pool. Instead, she was using her magic to... Light blinded the marine's eyes for a brief moment. He stepped back, thinking he heard Rarity in pain. Instead, he was met with the sight of her having butterfly wings. "It's a long story," she said, "but I had this spell used on me once, and...secretly taught it to myself." She giggled, but could not hide the embarrassment in her tone. Otherwise, despite the rancid, smelly, and ugly surroundings, she remained nonchalant. "Try to bring me a rad suit." the marine said, as Rarity flew towards the door opposite of them. She looked back, puzzled. "Sure thing...though I didn't think you of all people would be concerned with your attire at a time like this." She gave the door a swift kick, causing it to veer upwards. "No," the marine said, trying to explain himself, but Rarity was off into the next room, the door closing behind her, before he could utter another word.