//------------------------------// // Freedom Incarnate, or the Future of Chaos // Story: Freedom Incarnate, or the Redemption of Chaos // by Spirit Wind //------------------------------// I opened my eyes and saw Canterlot castle covered in grey, and nopony was moving except for me. Time seemed to have stopped completely, even the objects floating in the air were suspended. Shortly, I noticed Screwball standing in her usual chaos-forming pose opposite Discord, who had changed his appearance drastically. Discord no longer appeared to be the mish mash of animal parts that he used to. Instead, he looked like a regal Alicorn, just like Luna and Celestia, but he was still recognizable. His grin is the same no matter what he looks like, the same goes for his scowl. Screwball was a bit different, not as much as Discord though. Her hair was flattened to her head and laid out in neat lines of changing color (the shades were different). The most striking difference was her eyes, instead of being the swirly orbs they usually were, they were normal. Since her eyes were normal, that ended up making her pose all the more direct and impressive. At least I thought it was impressive; It still wasn't the regular Screwball though. After enough looking around, I finally decided to begin splashing the world of energy within me. Waves of energy started to pour out, coloring the world again. When it reached each of the ponies in the room, it stopped shortly to fill them each with color. I made sure to fill Screwball with enough to turn her back into her usual self, and I also made sure to prevent Discord from absorbing any energy at all. Soon, I sped up the release, allowing it to cover the entire world. Washing color back into the grey land, and slowly bringing time back to moving. Everyone except Discord in the throne room were slowly regaining their senses and shaking their heads in confusion and exhaustion. All that I had left was Discords massive energy reserve which could tip the world in any direction. Instead of just releasing it into Equestria, I split a large portion of it between me and Screwball. This part of the energy didn't bring along any changes to us physically, but joined with our already set energy. If I did put in all of Discord's energy between us, we would've been changed, and not in a good way; there wouldn't have been enough to change us into alicorns, but enough to mutate us into... other things. Finally, whatever energy that wasn't my own I launched out of Equestria, the world wouldn't be itself without the pegasii controlling the weather after all. All I really needed to do was to reset the balance of chaos. With that out of the way, and all of the overflow energy gone, I waited for everyone to get back to normal. Well, everyone but Discord. "It did we, Spirit!" Screwball announced before pounce-tackling me in laughter. Of course she'd be the first to react, she was the only one with enough energy to match my own. Her happiness was very catchy, and soon I was laughing with her. Everyone else started racing towards us and began celebrating, and Celestia entered the throne room. The regal form of the Princess hushed everyone's chatter with a flap of her wings. "Spirit Wind," She began, I gulped, "Not only did you disregard my lessons on control, but you broke into my castle once again." A pause to increase tension further, Screwball wouldn't let go of my neck, so I was having a hard time breathing for two reasons. "And you ended up ridding us of Discord permanently. Job well done, my little pony." She finished with a smile. Cheers broke out once again. One voice did rise above the crowd though, "Do you know what this calls for? A PARTY!" The familiar party mare appeared from Celestia's mane. I was sure I only returned what she had before, but Pinkie Pie has a chaos energy all her own. One whirlwind later, the entire populations of Ponyville and Canterlot were stuffed into the Canterlot Throne Room. A large party was going on in celebration of the defeat of Discord... again. (That was on the sign) Normally, I would enjoy the festivities, but I was exhausted from the fight and the outcome, so I wanted to rest. I found Screwball swinging a bat around at the piñata field. "Hey, Screwball, will you come with me for a bit?" I asked, still exhausted, but with an unknown energy. "Sure, oh. Hm?" she responded. I led her out to the balcony of the large party hall (a very long ways away from the party). "Up what's?" "Well..." I started, approaching her side as we looked out at the colored night sky, "If I remember, you said next time I wanted to kiss you, I'd have to ask. So..." I actually was interrupted as SHE kissed me, and of course I returned it. No taste can compare with hers, and no way am I going to tell you anything about it. Too soon, though, we broke apart and she said, "Ask just can you, kiss we when choose to get I only." Her smirk was the stuff of gold, and I wouldn't trade her swirly eyes for anything else in the world. "Then I get to choose the next time you get to eat a jelly filled donut!" I replied jokingly, while snatching her beanie off of her head and jumping off the balcony and into the sky. "Fair no, hey!" She replied chuckling. I was soon pursued into the sky by a mare who was once thought of as only trouble, and the only mare able to keep me at her side. +++ "And that was how I met your mother. And how I saved Equestria too." Spirit concluded his story spoken towards the three children sitting upon large mushrooms in the forest located just outside of Ponyville. "Wow..." "Heh" "You're too mushy dad." Each of the children hopped up and chattered about different parts of the story. Unknown to any of the children, Spirit was being watched from a hidden part on the edge of the clearing. Soon, he was pounced on by the blur. Screwball landed on top of Spirit, a cheerful grin on her face. He returned the grin. "Met we how of story the children the telling?" Screwball asked, already knowing the answer. "Heh, yes, and I still remember every detail." Spirit replied, "Including our deal." Screwball chuckled. "Well?" She asked. "Well... can I kiss you?" Spirit asked in response. Screwball's only reply was locking lips with him.