The Disarray Trilogy Part 1: Of Harmony and Chaos

by Ink Blotch

Chapter 9: The Storm

Light trailed through the window of Twilight Sparkle’s bedroom and awoke Monarch. He opened his eyes but immediately regretted it. Monarch had never had a hangover before but never wished to meet one again. “Aw Discord.” He moaned “My head. It feels like an anvil fell on it.”
        
“Don’t joke about that they really hurt.”

Twilight stood in the entranceway of her room levitating two cups of tea in front of her. She had the same morning hair as Monarch and the same hungover look in her eyes that Monarch had.

“Here” She said moving one of the cups to Monarch. “This should help.”
        
He gratefully accepted and halfway through grew a devious grin. He waited for Twilight to drain her own tea before faking a tone of fear and shock. “Oh no! Please tell me you didn’t use the little purple tea bags by the stove! Those had nightshade in them!”
        
Twilight spat her tea out and had a frantic look on her face. Monarch laughed causing his headache to worsen but he thought “Well worth it”
        
Twilight scowled “That is not funny! In fact when you finish come down with me so we can get rid of any nightshade berry tea you have left.”
        
Monarch held a hoof against his head and stopped laughing. He thought for a moment then came to a decision “Ok, confession time.”
        
“What?”
        
Monarch grinned deviously once more. “There never was any nightshade.”
        
Twilight gaped dumbfounded but then remembered what Monarch had said the other day. “We never really would have smashed the eggs. It was a bluff and she failed to call it.” Twilight felt dumb for falling for such a plot.
        
Exasperated she managed to ask “Bu- but then what was the antidote you gave him?”
        
Monarch giggling under his breath replied “Sour milk. That is also why he became so sick afterwards.”
        
Twilight saw Monarchs brilliant plan come together. They got their freedom and nopony got hurt. But Twilight saw one flaw with it. “Why have you told me this? Now I could go back on my Pinkie promise since Spike was never poisoned.”
        
“Because” Monarch said “I don’t want any hard feelings between us. I still think that you will help us.”
        
Twilight smiled. She had been outwitted but she admitted defeat. “Of course I will still help you. The princess will just have to see things my way. I'm sure she could break the spell. She will probably be here any day maybe even hour and now I could send her a letter with Spike updating the situation.”
        
Twilight smiled and looked at her friend. He was crying. She had seen happiness, anger and even fear from Monarch but this was something she had never expected. “What’s wrong?”.

“It’s nothing” Monarch said as he wiped his face. “Its just I'm so happy! Silver is the optimist not me and well I had always thought that we would fail and my brothers and I would die. But now.” Monarch lost control and embraced Twilight.
        
She was shocked but returned the hug and thought “Look at me. A few days ago I wanted nothing more than to make you cry and now I've done it.”
        
“Excuse me Twilight I was wondering if- Oh my!”
        
Twilight and Monarch looked to the entrance way and saw Rarity eyes wide and mouth hanging open with curlers in her hair. “Erm… sorry to interrupt. Don’t mind me.” And she fled down the hall.
        
Twilight and Monarch both realized what Rarity had thought she had walked into. Twilight called to her fleeing friend. “Wait Rarity! This isn’t what it looks like!” But she was gone.
        
“Horseapples.” Twilight muttered.
        
“Hehe” Monarch laughed under his breath. Twilight promptly hit him over the head with a pillow.

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“And you’re sure that’s what you saw?” Rainbow Dash asked annoyed Rarity would even think that about Twilight.
        
“Yes! I am certain I saw the two of them err… Romancing shall we call it?”
        
Rainbow Dash, Rage and Applejack continued to stare at Rarity incredulously while Fluttershy continued attempting to awaken Silver Lining and Pinkie Pie from their shared sofa.
        
“Oh, um excuse me Silver? Pinkie? You need to wake up now…”
        
Like the other times Silver unconsciously waved Fluttershy away with a wing and then wrapped it around Pinkie again in a cuddling embrace. .
        
“Let me try.” Said Rage pushing Fluttershy aside. Then getting as close to Silver’s ear as possible Rage inhaled and then shouted at his largest. “HEY SILVER, FOOD!” but to no avail besides a snort. “Dang that almost always works.”
        
Rarity cleared her throat to gain everypony’s attention. “Excuse me but can we return to the matter at hand? Our other lovebirds?”
        
“Well why don’t you ask them and find out?” The voice belonged to Twilight coming down the stairs Monarch behind her.She looked less than pleased.
        
“Oh Twilight darling um… Yes about up there…”
        
“There is nothing to explain Rarity. Monarch was just having an emotional experience with his first hangover and needed a hug was all.” Monarch behind her blushed a deep red in embarrassment at Twilights fib. “What you think was happening wasn’t happening I assure you.”
        
“Well ok then…” Rarity said still not completely convinced.
        
Twilight however did not care. There was nothing going on between her and Monarch and Rarity would come to realize that eventually. For now she just wanted to begin cleanup on the library in case the princess arrived. The library was a disaster area. Loose streamers had fallen to the floor, snack crumbs were everywhere, etc. But the one thing that caught Twilight’s eye was the sofa which had used to be by the wall was now in the center of the room and lying on in deep in slumber were Silver lining and Pinkie Pie who from what Rainbow Dash said had danced all night sat down to rest and passed out in that position.
        
“Well how do we wake them up?” Asked Twilight.
        
Well” Monarch began “When we want to wake Silver up we usually-”
        
“Already tried that.” Interrupted Rage
        
“Really? Then I am at a loss. What do you guys do to wake Pinkie up?”
        
All five ponies thought but came up with nothing. They hadn’t ever needed to wake Pinkie up before so they were all at a loss. Until that is Rarity spoke up.
        
“Well… we could try a more gentle approach.”
        
Before anypony could ask what that meant Rarity had retrieved a feather quill from a nearby table and gentle tickled the ends of both Pinkie’s and Silver’s noses. Both ponies’ noses twitched and they both slowly opened their eyes half way. Their eyes met and closed again. A second later both pairs of eyes opened wide and both Silver and Pinkie sat up and moved to opposite ends of the sofa.

“Pinkie! I-I can explain!”

“No, I mean I umm.”

“I was tired and must have passed out next to you!”

“You were so warm and I couldn’t help but cuddle!”

Both Pegasus and earth pony looked away from each other deep shades of red. They then looked to each other and both asked in unison.

“Are you free Friday night?!”

Again both blushed but Pinkie said “Y-yes I am.”

“Uh cool, would you maybe want to go on a da- go to the movies with me?”

“I would. What movie were you thinking?”
        
“Maybe Daring Do and the Kingdom of the diamond horn?”
        
“Sounds great. Pick me up at about seven?”
        
“Yeah, ok I can’t wait.”
        
Both ponies turned towards their respective groups. Pinkie’s blush had turned a lighter red and now she had a closed lipped smile while she had her eyes closed and she held her hooves close to her face. Silver Lining on the other hand looked exhausted but relieved and smiled weakly.
        
Twilight watched as Fluttershy and Rarity gathered around Pinkie and giggled and chattered excitedly. Rainbow Dash however was not amused and watched from a distance glaring from Pinkie to Silver. She still did not trust the brothers the way the rest did. It would take time Twilight decided. On the other side of the sofa Rage had slapped his arm around his brother and gave him a noogie while Monarch smiled at the both of them.

“Well looks like its two out of three for us, eh Silver?”

“Huh? Oh you mean you were ‘successful’ last night?”

Rage smirked. “Yeah, I guess you could say I had him playing my song.”

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The clean up had gone by faster than Twilight had expected. They found Spike underneath a pile of sheets that had been used as togas the night before. The library was clean in no time.
        
Rarity looked proudly at the job and how neat and tidy the library was now. “Very good work everypony I would go as far as to say that this library is now fit for a princess.”
        
Twilight then remembered. She needed to send Celestia a new report on the situation. She felt worried at the aspect of what Celestia might say. But she convinced herself that the princess would see things her way. Once she met the brothers and heard their story she would leave them be. Twilight was sure of it.
        
She turned to Spike to tell him to take a letter but before she could Spike let out a deep burp and a rolled up scroll popped out of his mouth and into his hands. Everypony in the room looked expectantly as he read it over in his head. When he finished his smile had slowly turned into a straight face.
        
“Well?” Asked Twilight. “What does it say?”
        
Spike cleared his throat and read aloud. “My faithful student Twilight Sparkle, I have received your message from my guards and Luna, Discord and myself are on route to Ponyville. I shall see you shortly. Princess Celestia.”
        
Spike finished and looked up from the note. “Should I send a reply?”
        
“Yes” Twilight in a rush spewed out her reply. “Dear Princess Celestia, Matters have changed with the Disarray brothers. They are not evil. Under further time spent with them I have determined that they are safe to live in Ponyville and would do nopony harm. I understand that this is difficult to believe considering Discord but it is the truth. I await your arrival. Twilight Sparkle”
        
Spike breathed in and let out a green flame that sent the message to Celestia. Spike turned to Twilight “I hope you know what you're doing Twi. I don’t think I can ever look at tea the same.”
        
Twilight giggled and to Monarch “Should we tell him or not?”

“Why not? But first I have a question Ms. Sparkle.”
        
“Yes?”        
“Why did you call us the Disarray brothers?”

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Time passed and everypony awaited Celestia outside the library. It was nearly noon and they had not received a reply from the princess but were not especially worried. The rest of the morning was spent in laziness. Lounging outside the library in lawn chairs everypony talking to each other on different subjects; the party from the night before, Pinkie’s punch, the cutie mark crusaders, etc. Monarch was the most lax. The once threatening unicorn now just another pony.
        
As he watched his brothers laugh and talk with the other ponies, Rage telling stories of his own bravery and Silver Lining building up the courage to sit near Pinkie Pie. Monarch thought “They will get to have lives. They will not die, they will not be mind slaves, but they will have lives.” Monarch looked at Silver and Pinkie and imagined the both of them older and with a small lavender Pegasus colt flapping his wings and flying for the first time. Monarch looked at Rage and saw him in a police officer's uniform guarding those weaker than him and building his own ego. Finally Monarch looked at himself but saw nothing. “They will not need me anymore. My sole purpose in life was to guide them and watch over them. But when they move on will I be able to?” Monarch considered this and thought but could not come up with a future for himself. He looked at his brothers once more but also saw his new friends. “The then doesn’t matter.” He thought “All that matters is the now.”
        
Monarch? You alright?” Twilight asked with concern.
        
“Hm? Yes I was just lost in my thoughts but it was nothing.”
        
Monarch smiled as the sun was blotched out for a moment. Again for another moment. Everypony looked up and saw the outline of two alicorns coming in for a landing.
        

*****************************************************************************

Discord looked out from his mirror and saw Ponyville below himself and Celestia. Half way on their journey Celestia had gotten a message from Twilight Sparkle after having sent her own. Discord had been unable to read all of it but he had seen parts of it. From what he could tell Sparkle may be his son's free ride away from death. His last resort had failed and Discord was out of options he would have to put his faith in the one who had done him in. Celestia dropped altitude and Discord saw Ponyville get closer and closer. Ponies in the streets stopped and gaped at the sight of both princesses gliding towards the library. Discord recognized some from his last “visit” to Ponyville and he knew all would curse his name. But some good fun had been worth it. Discord had been to busy lamenting on the past that when they landed he was shocked at what he saw. His first thought was “They are so big!”

Indeed the last time he had seen his sons they had been pint-sized but now were fully grown colts. He then noticed who they were with and how casual a scene this had been until the princesses had landed. Still held with shock all nine ponies and one dragon were still lounging when the princesses had landed. But after a moment of shock they all scrambled to their hooves to stand at attention.
        
Twilight approached the princess with a nervous smile. “Princess Celestia, Princess Luna. You’re here! I trust your flight was not too difficult, no storms along the way?”
        
The princess smiled to Twilight and replied “Yes the flight was most relaxing and allowed me to clear my mind before dealing with our little problem.”
        
Twilight’s smile faltered “Princess did you get my message on your way here?”
        
Twilight looked from Celestia to Luna and was met with a sympathetic look. Celestia cleared her throat to get Twilights attention. Now the rest of her friends Disarray brothers in the back of the group had gotten closer to Twilight.
        
Celestia spoke. “Yes I received your correspondence Twilight and I must say your research on the magic of friendship has been most successful if you were able to befriend these three. Even I did not expect this outcome. Which is why it pains me for what I must do.”
        
Twilight felt her friends stand nervously behind her. “What is it you must do?”
        
Celestia’s smile was gone now and instead was replaced by her serious face the same one she had worn when Discord had escaped. “Twilight Sparkle. I am afraid I must kill them.”
        
Twilight felt like she had been splashed with cold water after sleeping. She looked to her friends and saw similar reactions. In the back Monarch had put both of his brothers behind him as if he planned to be a barrier between them.
        
Twilight looked to Luna, she no longer made eye contact and stared instead at the ground almost guiltily. Twilight looked to the princess again. “But Princess you have to understand they aren’t-”
        
Celestia raised a hoof to silence Twilight. More to force of habit than obedience Twilight fell silent. “I have made up my mind for awhile now. They are the spawn of Discord; the most dangerous threat to Equestria in thousands of generations. They must be disposed of.”
        
Twilight found her voice again. “Princess please if you just hear me out I'm sure that your mind will change!”
        
Celestia looked at her student for a moment then nodded her allowance. Twilight began her story with how they had found the Disarray brothers and how they had tricked her. She then told of the roc and how she and Applejack and rescued Zecora and Applebloom. Next she told Celestia about when Silver Lining had saved her and Monarch had gotten rid of the roc. By the time she had finished telling of the diamond dog eating her leg Celestia’s expression had not changed. Twilight left out the parts about most of the party and her own hangover. She had also left out Pinkie’s and Silver’s relationship but everything else to that very moment she told in great detail. When she finished she gasped for breath but was sure that Celestia’s opinion would change. She knew that Twilight would never lie to her about anything.
        
Celestia looked to Twilight and spoke “My decision stands.”
        
Twilight was dumbfounded. But even more so when a familiar voice resonated from Celestia. “Who can you trust Tia if not your own pupil?” Discord said from his mirror. “A lonely existence if you ask me…”
        
Everything that Celestia had been holding back from Discord burst at once. “What do you know of loneliness!? While you lived in the garden considered a work of art you watched ponies fall in love, grow up and learn right in front of you and what of me? Alone for over a thousand years with my sister and best friend both imprisoned for trying to usurp me and maybe even kill me!”
        
Celestia collected herself and before anypony could say anything a white bubble grew from Celestia’s horn and engulfed all of them. It stretched around the library and they could see out of it. “This” Explained Celestia “Is a one way bubble. We can see out but nopony can see in. They will see right through us and only see the library. It will serve as our execution grounds.”
        
Twilight tried to say something anything but her voice was caught. Luna’s however was not. “Please sister I ask once more. Reconsider, Twilight Sparkle is a far wiser pony than most unicorns thrice her age. If she believes the brothers safe then perhaps they are. I do not wish for bloodshed on Equestrian soil.”
        
Luna’s voice was soft and sincere. She wished the brothers no harm. Celestia responded “Luna I feel that I have been patient of your opinions on the matter. But as it stands I am in charge, you have no real power over the kingdom and its inhabitants. Now I tell you once more be silent.”
        
Luna looked at Twilight and Twilight was able to read what her face said “I am sorry.”
        
Celestia brought attention to the ponies at the back of the group. “Now then.” Her horn glowed and a notebook appeared out of thin air. She scrolled through it until she found what she was looking for. She muttered a few words and Twilight heard the sound of shackles clicking behind her. She turned and saw the brothers with gold rings around their feet being forced to step forward. Monarch’s horn flashed orange wildly trying different spells to break the rings to no avail. Silver Lining flapped his wings and flew a few feet before another ring formed around his body clamping his wings in place. Rage tensed his muscles and pulled his legs hopelessly.
        
They stood in a horizontal line in front of Celestia almost like soldiers at attention.
        
There was a sound like a hair dryer behind Twilight and she knew Pinkie’s hair had just deflated. Twilight was in an internal panic. Celestia meant it she was going to kill them. Twilight needed more time she had to think of a way to convince Celestia.
        
Then like a blessing from the universe a distraction came. Three blurs of orange, white and yellow fur sped past Twilight’s legs and went for the gold rings around each of the brother’s hooves. Scootaloo pulled on Silver Lining’s, Sweetie Bell gnawed on Monarch’s and Applebloom tried smashing Rage’s. This took Celestia by surprise and she took a moment before enveloping the crusaders in a white aura and raised them to eye level.
        
Before Celestia had a word in edgewise the cutie mark crusaders were ranting in unison. “We are the cutie mark crusaders! And we will not let anypony princess or otherwise lay a hoof on one of our members or his brothers!”
        
They then went off one by one starting with Scootaloo. “We were watching them from under a bush for Rainbow Dash and her friends to do something awesome!”
        
Sweetie Bell. “Then we saw you fly out of the sky and come down here just to say all of those awful things!”
        
Apple Bloom. “We ain’t gonna let ya hurt our friends.”
        
All of them. “NOT EVER!”
        
Celestia remained confused. She had never met the crusaders before and had no idea how to handle them. Discord once again said from his locket “The innocence of a child is never wrong Celestia. You believe this I know.”
        
Celestia gently put the crusaders back down behind Twilight. “That was… Interesting. But my decision still stands. I shall allow each of you parting words.”
        
Twilight still thought rapidly but came up with nothing. She needed more time so she motioned to her friends to start to buy her time. They seemed to understand why she wanted them to start because Applejack walked up to the three who had been turned around to face the ponies.
        
“Ahm sorry. Ahm sorry fer ever doubting ya. Y’all helped save mah sister and Twilight. I could never repay ya for what you’ve done.”
        
Applejack bowed down and made way for Rarity. “Darlings, it has been wonderful. I had so many fashion designs planned for the three of you; Gala tuxedos, winter wrap up vests, nightmare night costumes. I will make them in your memory. All three of you share a special space in my heart.”
        
Rarity turned fighting back tears. Fluttershy took center and said nervously. “I um… Just wanted to say that well… You three were never all that scary… I mean you did scare me but I never would have wanted this… Not that I don’t think there’s a way out I'm sure one exists but… Oh I'm just so *sniff* sorry…”
        
Fluttershy sniffed and sobbed away lacking the emotional control that either Applejack or Rarity had had. Attention fell on Rainbow Dash. “Well I don’t really know you guys and I still don’t trust you but… I suppose if Twilight says your cool then I guess you are. And nopony should be forced to die.” Rainbow looked away and scratched her nose but Twilight was almost sure she saw a tear at the end of Rainbow’s hoof.
        
Next was Pinkie Pie. She had always thought actions were stronger than words. So with flat hair she went up to each of the brothers and hugged them one by one. When she hugged Silver Lining she held on for longer. When she broke off the two of them stared into each others eyes for a moment and then Pinkie slowly kissed Silver’s cheek. She turned tears filling her eyes as she rushed back to her friends.
        
This was it Twilight had no plan. She had not been able to think of a compelling enough argument for against Celestia. Now she stood before the Disarray brothers. From left to right she looked at them; Silver Lining, Monarch and Rage. They were her friends and she had failed them. She thought of different apologies and farewells to say. None of them she deemed worthy enough. She had to say something. Twilight Sparkle opened her mouth

“No…”
        
Everypony looked at her. “No.” She said again. She turned to Celestia “No!” She yelled at the princess. “I-I won't let you do it! Princess Celestia I beg your forgiveness but they don’t deserve to die! They have done nothing to Equestria and its citizens except save them! I wont let you kill them I just can’t let you.”

Celestia’s shock had betrayed her face and she looked at Twilight in disbelief at her extreme disobedience. Celestia composed herself and now she just looked angry. “Enough of this Twilight Sparkle! You have had your moment and now the time has come.”

Before Twilight could rebuttal she was tossed aside by Celestia’s magic as well as her friends. She stood and charged towards the brothers with no plan. She crashed into an invisible wall of magic. She shoved and pushed the field but knew she stood no chance against Celestia’s magic. All she could do was watch.

Celestia flipped through the notebook once more. Twilight felt her friends move in beside her but her eyes did not move. Celestia found the right page. Twilight heard Pinkie breath quickly and fight back sobs. All three brothers struggled one last time. Celestia read and reread the spell.
“And now brothers born of harmony and chaos. Dimisit.”

When Celestia uttered this word a red serpentine puff of smoke formed in the air. It slithered towards the ground and made for the closest brother. Silver Lining. The smoke slowly wrapped around his leg passing the ring around his hoof. When it reached his chest it wrapped itself around his neck but did not strangle. When it reached his head it found his ear and went in. Silver’s already panicked face turned to one of pain and anguish. He screamed but was cut off mid scream. His face quivered, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed.

Pinkie snapped and showered them all in tears.
The smoke exited through Silver’s other ear and made for Monarch’s hooves. But when there it seemed to change its mind and billowed towards Rage.

Rage was broken. His expression was a mix of anger, fear and sorrow. His usual cocky aura was now nothing but fear. His expression did not change as the murderous smoke climbed up his body and into his ear. His breathing quickened but suddenly stopped and he fell just as his brother had.
        
Monarch was all that remained. His face had no fear only sorrow and loss. He looked to both of his brother’s corpses and tears streamed down his face. He made no struggle against the smoke. He only wept for he had lost the most precious things in his life. He closed his eyes for the inevitable and fell to his knees just as his brothers had.

The magic wall disappeared but the one way bubble remained. The wisp of smoke left Monarch’s ear and dissipated into the air giving off one last hiss. Celestia stood over the bodies. Nopony dared to move.

Then after a few moments of silence Celestia said without emotion “That looked painful.”

Twilight once again felt her world fall around her. She felt like everything she knew was wrong. They were dead. Twilight didn’t know what to do or say.

“That looked PAINFUL!?”

Fluttershy had snapped. “HOW DARE YOU! YOU THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE THE PRINCESS YOU CAN JUST COME IN AND HURT OUR FRIENDS? WHY DON’T YOU-WHY DON’T YOU-Why don’t you…”

Fluttershy trailed off. She realized who she had been yelling at and what power she had. Celestia glared Fluttershy down to a curled position. When Fluttershy was backed down Celestia stood stern and waited for something.

Twilight’s mind was starting to clear. She stared at Celestia and waited. Celestia did nothing but remain motionless. Twilight thought maybe she was waiting for Twilight to say something. “Pri-princess?”

“Hush.”

“But I-”

“Twilight Sparkle please remain quiet for a moment.”

Twilight held her tongue. She felt hot tears roll down her face.

“Silver’s the optimist not me.”

She walked slowly to the bodies lying on the ground.

“He does love her you know.”

Her friends gathered by the bodies as well.

“I-I'm sorry Ms. Sparkle… I sometimes forget that I'm not real.”

Pinkie approached Silver’s body and nudged his wing with her hoof. She then laid down beside and pressed her face against his tears dripping to the ground.

“HI! My name’s Bliss nice to meet you”

Applejack had removed her hat and held it over her heart. Rarity was no longer fighting back tears and let them flow in a silent sob.

“They aren’t our friends so what does it matter?”

Luna stood beside Twilight and whispered “I am so sorry…”

“I couldn’t just let him go! He tried to hurt my frie-” Rage cut off mid sentence.

Celestia’s locket was empty with no sign of Discord.

“Please Celestia don’t call them monsters. They are legitimate ponies just like your little legion of
yes-mares over there.”

Twilight closed her eyes she couldn’t bear to look at the corpses. She felt a hoof on her back. She opened her eyes and looked to see who it was. Celestia stood behind Twilight with what she thought was supposed to be a comforting face. Twilight pulled away from Celestia not wanting to even be near the princess after what she had done.

Twilight backed away and felt her hoof fall on something soft. She had stepped on Rage’s tail.

What happened next would always be imprinted in Twilights mind for years to come. The corpse of Rage let out a loud whinny raised it front hooves up and flailed them causing Twilight to fall back in startlement onto the body of Monarch which had still been on its knees but now collapsed under Twilights weight with a muffled gasp spreading his legs like an X tripping Rage onto his face and kicking Silver Lining in the flank causing his eyes to open and his head to flinch in a way that his and Pinkies lips locked.

There was a whole minute of silence.

Spike broke this silence “WHA! ZOMBIES!” He ran into the library and slammed the door behind him.

Rainbow Dash then asked “What the BUCK just happened?”

Silver and Pinkie became aware of their position and quickly pulled their lips apart from the accidental kiss and blushed a red deeper than Big Mac’s fur.

Rage stood again and whipped dirt from his face. “Are we alive or did you all die? I'm alright either way.”

Monarch hit Rage over the head. Rage winced in pain and held his head. “There” Monarch said “If that hurt you are alive.”

Twilight felt blissful but that ended when the question arose “How?”

“Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia addressed the frazzled unicorn. “I have made a choice I will live to regret.”

“And one I will live to appreciate.” Discord had reappeared on the lockets mirror and was smiling. This smile was different from his usual evil smile. This one was more pony like. “Ms. Sparkle I feel I owe you a debt of gratitude. But then again I don’t know when Celestia’s mind had changed.”

Twilight responded “I uh, your welcome? Forgive me both of you I'm a little confused.”

Celestia grimaced. “At the last moment I spared those abominations and instead used a different spell near to the one I had originally intended. Instead of executing them like I had wanted and still want I instead freed them of their military duties. They now are no longer held to accept orders from Discord, their commanding officer or their prime objective.”

Twilight was ecstatic but felt there had to be a catch. “Princess, what will happen to them now?”

Celestia considered but sighed in defeat. “They shall live in Ponyville under your watch. If they set one hoof out of line they will be severely punished. You shall need this.” Celestia handed over the journal which Twilight now saw had a picture of a checkered cube on the front. “This” Celestia explained “is the notebook of command spells from Discord’s laboratory. They have their freedom but they still cannot ignore these spells. There are spells to control, kill and even slightly modify the three I want you to have it in case of emergency.”

Twilight accepted the notebook but doubted she would ever need it. She didn’t know what to say to Celestia but decided a simple “Thank you Princess I shan't let you down” was enough.

Celestia raised her wings and the one way bubble disappeared. “Come Luna. We must return to Canterlot. Twilight I will leave you to yourself and one more thing.” The princess gave an honest smile. “I would like any lessons they learn about friendship to be sent to me.”

“Ahem.” Coughed Discord “Might I have a word with Ms.Sparkle?”

“Oh very well but make it quick.”

Celestia knelt so Twilight was at eye level with her locket there was Discord still smiling. “Ms. Sparkle… Take good care of my boys. Make sure they write to their old man.”
Twilight smiled to the Draconequus and nodded.

With that Celestia and Luna spread their wings and soared through the sky to Canterlot.

“Now” Thought Twilight “The fun part: Telling Monarch that his brothers are free.”

Twilight turned to her group of friends and was met to the sight of Pinkie holding Silver Lining down (her hair now reflated) and kissing his face over and over while everypony looked at the two and tried not to snicker.

“Well maybe that can wait for a little bit” She thought as she joined her friends watching Silver struggle for air.