//------------------------------// // Bonus: It's Only a Flesh Wound // Story: Not another One-Shot-Ober // by Admiral Biscuit //------------------------------// This is a spiritual sequel to AShadowOfCygnus' Twilight Sparkle Gets Stabbed in the Back. I highly recommend you read that first, because this will make more sense if you do. If you don't, I guess the title gives away the main plot point, at least. It's Only a Flesh Wound Admiral Biscuit “Discord!” His blood turned to ice. He knew that voice—hated that voice, incidentally—and he also knew that the owner of that voice ought to be dead. A cold feeling of dread gripped him. He dared not turn . . . but he dared not not turn. A moment's reflection caused him to realize that he was completely fucked no matter what he did, so he might as well see it coming. He turned to face four foot nothing of pissed purple pony. “Twilight Sparkle! What an . . . unexpected surprise. I thought you were—“ “Dead?” He tilted his head in a minute nod. “I'm afraid not.” “But . . . the knife.” There was a bright flash of teleportation magic, and the knife appeared between them, its blade coated with the rust-red stains of Twilight's blood. “When I regained consciousness, it was there beside me.” She set it on the ground between them. “I'd advise against touching it. Probably has a pretty powerful curse on it now.” “When you woke?” Discord furrowed his brow, then snapped his fingers. “Celestia found you, didn't she? I knew she would. I was looking for her, but she wasn’t in her throne room. It must have been frightening, knowing that you were seriously injured; you were probably hallucinating from blood loss. . . .” “I was not. I know what I heard.” Her eyes blazed. “So don't pretend it didn't happen. Have a little respect. You're the avatar of chaos, not of lies. That was Sombra, and he's dead.” Twilight took a step towards Discord. “Nopony came. You could have gotten help, but you didn't. I lay there on the floor and bled out, and then I died. “Dying sucks. You don't even know how it feels.” “Please. I've been turned to stone by the Elements of Harmony.” “And I've been turned to stone by a cockatrice, so I am familiar with the process, thank you very much. “The first time I died was when I attempted to cast Starswirl's unfinished spell.” Twilight closed her eyes at the memory. “Now I know why it was unfinished—it killed him before he could write down the final section. I suspected as much . . . but I didn't believe. “That was mercifully quick. One moment I was there, and the next moment I was gone. Not this time . . . this time I got to experience my body failing, got to feel my power leak out with my blood, until there was nothing left. “And then I came back, for my purpose has not been served. Not yet.” “Your purpose?” “Friendship.” Twilight glared at Discord. “Have you ever wondered why ponies rule, and not, say, dragons? Or dragonequuses? Because nowhere in your shriveled little heart does it occur to you to ever do anything selfless. Did I know I might get stabbed in the back? Yes, I did. Did I try to make friends anyway? Yes, I did, and I'll have you know that before I came over here, I forgave my would-be assassin.” Discord breathed a sigh of relief. “So do you forgive me, as well? I feel that I have just learned a valuable friendship lesson.” Twilight shook her head. “You have not yet. But I forgive you just the same.” She examined her hoof, then looked back up at Discord. “You can only hope that Fluttershy feels the same. That she is willing to forgive someone who she thought was our friend that gloated while watching me die.” Twilight picked up the knife in her aura and idly flipped it around in the air. “When Fluttershy's mad, she's scary.”