//------------------------------// // Prompt #508: Reset // Story: Ponywatching // by ThunderTempest //------------------------------// It was all gone. Everything that Spike had ever known. Canterlot, Ponyville, the Friendship Castle, and everypony that he had ever met. He’d only survived because of his innate resistance to heat. He trudged through the ashes of what little remained of the world, resigning himself to a life of being alone. That was when he came across someone that he never thought he’d see again, but in retrospect, was pretty obvious that he would. Discord still lived. The god of Chaos was standing on the small hill where Fluttershy’s house had once rested, staring with an almost lifeless gaze out into the wasteland. Spike’s claws grabbed onto Discord’s shoulders. “You,” growled Spike, through his more reptilian face, “you can fix this, Discord. You can bring everypony back, put everything back the way it was, right?” A grin spread across Discords’ face. “Well, of course I can, but I don’t see why I should, little drake. After all, I’m free now. No more nagging from Celestia to be good, no one to stop me from doing whatever I want to. Completely free! The perfect kind of chaos,” said Discord, “So I don’t see why I need to help you. Begone, Spike.” “No more Fluttershy,” said Spike, “No more friends. Ever, Discord.” Discord paused for a moment, before blowing a raspberry. It floated off on the winds. “I got along just fine without friends before, I can do it again,” said Discord, “granted, it may take some time to adjust, but I have all of eternity in front of me. Time is the least thing I have to worry about.” “No Fluttershy ever again, Discord,” said Spike. It was no secret that the god of chaos had been fond of the pegasus. “No more tea parties on Tuesday, no more tormenting Twilight, no more,” “Stop!” cried Discord, “I get it. My time with you and your little pony friends has changed me in ways that I didn’t think I could be. I’ll bring them back.” Discord lifted his paw, and was about to snap it, but Spike grabbed it first. “I want your word, Discord. No funny business with this. Set everything back the way it was a couple of days before this whole thing started,” growled Spike, looking Discord straight in the eyes. Discord grinned. “Of course. I, Discord, Give my unimpeachable word that I will do exactly as Spike the Dragon has asked, and revert everything in the world to an earlier state, and prevent this from occurring again.” Satisfied, Spike let go of Discord’s lion paw, and Discord snapped two of the digits. A flash of light engulfed the world. When Spike managed to clear his eyes again, he almost couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It was Equestria again, but as he knew it. Ponies walked the streets of Ponyville. Overhead, Spike could see a few pegasi clearing the clouds and setting up the weather for the day. “It’s back,” murmured Spike, “they’re all back.” “You see?” said Discord, “exactly as I said I would.” Spike reached down and tried to pick up a flower, only to find that his claws passed right through it. “Discord, what have you done?” “Well, you said exactly as it was. So there’s already a Spike running around. So you’re now just a ghost. I’d say that you have, ooh, maybe an hour to look around before the world recognises that you’re not a part of it anymore,” said Discord, a grin fixed on his face, “I may have to keep the letter of my word, but almost never the spirit of it, and don’t you ever forget, I’m the god of Chaos, Spike.” Discord chuckled as Spike ran off to see his friends. He didn’t think it would be nice to say that absolutely none of the ponies could see or hear or even interact with him in anyway whatsoever. Well, the kid would figure it out soon enough, anyway. Discord smiled, and opened a door in mid air and walked through to Fluttershy’s house.