Discord smiles brightly as he fly's through the air in his love boat, car, rocket thing. His mind races as his thoughts turn to the beautiful Pegasus waiting for him in Ponyville. He pulls on the controls of the vehicle turning it into a loop de loop, he glances out the window and he sees Fluttershy's cottage down below, he grins as he lands, he marches up to the door, and then turns around at the sight of the letter on the door. Discord hops back into his vehicle, his mind a buzz with the Pegasus waiting for him in Canterlot. He quickly turns the key and the boat launches back into the sky turning toward Canterlot.
"Of course she's in Canterlot I'm such a...." Discord suddenly feels light headed, he puts his talon up against his face. He moves his talon away from his face as the sensation subsides he glances at his talon, his eyes widen at the sight of the gold energy flowing from his fingers, he glances up at his vehicle, it begins fading in and out, before finally vanishing, leaving Discord flying through the air at the speed he had been flying. But Discord was dizzy and didn't notice that his vehicle had disappeared, what he did notice was the trees he crashed through as he fell from the sky. He felt the branches collide with his body and he felt the trunks he bounced off of but mostly he felt the ground as he slammed into it sliding a few yards before coming to a stop in his new personal trench. Discord opens one of his eyes, he looks around his eye showing his annoyance. Okay why did that happen? He looks over at his lion paw bent into the air in front of him, his golden energy blood dripping onto the ground, he tilts his head at the sight. Huh.... I wonder if that has anything to do with it? If I remember correctly Fluttershy said blood was important for something. A wave of lightheadedness over takes Discord, he closes his eye, but right before he loses consciousness he hears hoof steps approaching, he try's to open his eyes but they refuse to open, he begins slipping away but he hears a voice before he completely blacks out.
"Looky what I found." A high pitched voice squeaks.
Right Outside The Changeling Throne Room
Princess Celestia gives a gentle nod of her head and the Captain of the royal guards shouts to his men, who then blow open the throne room doors, with a blast from their horns. The royal army rushes through the open doors their weapons at the ready, the unicorn's horns glowing. they all stop as they gaze around the room and see a pile of cotton candy that looks like it had been swept up in a hurry, a half mopped up puddle of chocolate milk is spread across the floor. the ceiling has a giant hole in it, a pillar is smashed, large polka dotted logs hang in the air, and a confection chandelier hangs in several pieces from the ceiling. The captain of the guard walks up to Princess Celestia, he salutes at her, she nods in acknowledgment.
"Your majesty there is no sign of Queen Chrysalis, Lord Sombra, or any changelings for that matter." The captain gives his report while looking around confused, Celestia looks around concern on her face.
"Thank you captain please continue your sweep of the hive." Celestia says, while sighing deeply, the captain salutes and marches off. Princess Luna walks up to her sister, placing a hoof on her shoulder.
"What art thou thinking sister?" Luna asks looking at the concern on her sisters face, Celestia looks at her sister and frowns.
"They have left." Celestia looks down at the ground. "Did they know we were coming?"
"Impossible we told not a soul, not even Princess Twilight and her friends." Luna glances around the room at the large mess across the room, Celestia's eyes narrow.
"I believe I know someone who could know the impossible." Celestia says gesturing toward the mass of cotton candy in the center of the room. Luna looks at the mess and back at her sister.
"Sister we mustn't jump to conclusions, we must focus on what we know." Luna says patting her hoof on Celestia's shoulder. Celestia looks back at her sister and gives a small smile.
"Your right sister we must focus." Celestia's smile turns to a frown. "But where could they have gone?"
Meanwhile In The Middle Of Some Forest A Few Miles Away
The changeling empire marches through the forest, thousands of changelings march in single rows of five, a very large changeling wearing armor with blue cobweb hair poking out from the back of his helmet leads the march at the front of the army. Rows of changelings march behind him until their broken up by another large changeling this one smaller then the first massive changeling this one is still larger then the other changeling's he wears no armor but his hair is long and silver, after more rows of changeling's the forces are broken up once more by Queen Chrysalis riding on a throne with a canopy, the throne is being carried by a group of ten changelings, Sombra stands to her right, next to her throne. A wagon pulled by three changelings follows close behind the throne, Tirek's charred body lays in the wagon some nurse changelings stand over his body, one applies some glowing green goo to parts of his body. Behind Tirek's wagon is more rows of changelings, Captain Night Fly stands behind them, and one more large changeling follows the last group of changelings, this one is also female, she's barely taller then the drones, her golden hair almost touches the ground, and her body shines brighter then any other changeling. Queen Chrysalis sighs and Sombra turns to look at her.
"Ugh this is soo boring." Chrysalis whines laying down in her throne, her head bent over one arm rest her hind legs dangling over the other. Sombra raises an eyebrow at the undignified position the queen as taken. She looks like a large child. Sombra shakes his head as he looks away from the changeling queen giving an annoyed sigh, Chrysalis's ears perk up at the noise.
"You're the one that decided not to fly." Sombra says studying the marching formation of the changelings, Chrysalis raises an eyebrow at him.
"Well if we flew you'd either burst into flames, or have to walk by yourself." She puts a hoof to her chin. "Oh also Celestia would see us and attack."
"Right I forgot about her." Sombra sighs looking down at his bandaged hoof. Seems my blade doesn't just negate Discord's healing powers. He glances over at Chrysalis observing the wounds across her body. "I guess we aren't in a position to fight princesses right now."
"Are you just realizing that now?" Chrysalis asks straitening her top half back into the throne, her hind legs still dangle over the arm rest. "I mean it was your id-.... I'm sorry your informants idea to leave my beautiful hive." Chrysalis says pouting, she crosses her hooves and bends back over the arm rest with the last statement, Sombra rolls his eyes with a huff.
"Regardless, the Princesses were coming to attack, if they had arrived while Discord was still there, or if he had stuck around." His eyes narrow as he bears his teeth. "We would've lost."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I just don't like the idea of going to the old hive again." Chrysalis says uncrossing her hooves reaching over her head trying to reach the floor of the throne. Sombra looks over at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Old hive?" Sombra asks, looking into the upside down face of the queen. Chrysalis turns to look at him and then laughs.
"Ok wow, first you don't remember why we left now you don't even know where we're going?" Chrysalis sits back up in her throne and tilts her head back in laughter. "You're so adorable when you're clueless." Sombra glares at her.
"Just shut up and tell me where we're going." Sombra demands, Chrysalis frowns at him but then just shrugs her shoulders.
"As I said we're going to the old hive, its been abandoned for centuries now. So it's probably full of Celestia knows what, but it's built into the ground so it's a much better hiding spot then the current hive." Chrysalis sighs at the thought of the beautiful beehive shaped building she had spent years crafting with her subjects.
"What does it look like?" Sombra asks turning his head back toward the front of the forces.
"You'll recognize it when you see it." Sombra raises an eyebrow.
"Recognize it?" Sombra asks staring back at her, Chrysalis stares back at him like his heads on fire.
"Yeah you've been there before fifteen hundred years ago when you met my mother and me." Chrysalis states raising her own eyebrow. Sombra tilts his head at the news.
"We've met before?" Sombra asks putting a hoof to his chin, Chrysalis rolls her eyes a frown appears on her face.
"Well I guess it wasn't that important I don't remember why you wanted to talk to my mother, however I am hurt you forgot me, after all..." Chrysalis locks eyes with Sombra, her eyes half lidded. "I remembered you." For some reason that comment makes Sombra's uneasy. He quickly diverts his eyes, he looks back at Tirek.
"So what are we going to do with sleeping beauty there?" Sombra asks, trying to change the subject as he points to the centaur in question. Chrysalis looks back at Tirek and sighs.
"We'll just set him up in the infirmary until he wakes up." Chrysalis says shrugging her shoulders. Chrysalis suddenly twists her head to look at the front of the army as it comes to a stop. The giant blue changeling quickly buzzes back to the mobile throne as he lands he bows his head, now that he's up close Sombra can see just how large he really is, this changeling is slightly larger then a Manticore, his torso, legs and head are covered in thick plate armor, he has three pairs of large insect wings on his back, his large body must require the extra lift to fly.
"Your majesty we've arrived at the old hive." The large changeling salutes his queen.
"Thank you General Stag Beetle." Chrysalis waves her hoof and he fly's back to the front of the army. Chrysalis stomps her hoof and the large silver changeling and the small gold changeling fly over landing in front of their queen they bow just as General Beetle had.
"Yes your majesty?" The two leader class changelings say in unison, Chrysalis gives them a pleased smile.
"Lieutenant Lightening Bug, Colonel Dragon Fly, I need you two to search the surrounding area to make sure theirs no new holes in my hive." Chrysalis speaks in a regal tone, but her words make the two changelings glare at each other. Chrysalis clears her throat getting their attention she glares at the two of them. "Now!"
"Yes your highness." The two changelings speak in unison once more, they take off at the same time but fly off in different directions around the nearby mountain. Suddenly Sombra and Chrysalis turn at the sound a high perky voice.
"O your majesty! Lord Sombra!" Night Fly shouts as she fly's up to them a smile on her face, Sombra blinks as he sees her purple hair is no longer braided but simply tied back in a ponytail. Why would a changeling care so much about their hair.
"Ah Night Fly I was hoping you'd fly up here." Chrysalis says smiling at her, Night Fly giggles and waves her hoof.
"After I saw Lightening Bug's little golden mane fly past me I knew you'd need me next." Night Fly puts a hoof to her chest in pride.
"Your instincts are sharp as ever Night Fly I need you to come with me and Sombra." Chrysalis says walking off of the mobile throne, Sombra melts into the queens shadow so he can follow her into the sunlight, Night Fly skips after them humming a happy tone. After a few minutes of walking they arrive at the front of the army, Sombra looks out of the shadows at the mountain in front of them, it's just a normal mountain except for the dark green changeling cave at the bottom that they are currently standing in front of. As Chrysalis walks into the shade Sombra emerges from her shadow to stand next to her.
"So what now?" Sombra asks looking at the cave and then back at Chrysalis. Chrysalis chuckles before looking at Sombra.
"You Somy are going to use your powers to search the hive to see what, if anything we have to deal with." Chrysalis says pointing into the dark cave in front of them, Sombra just stares at her, an annoyed expression on his face.
"Somy?" He asks raising an eyebrow, Chrysalis and Night Fly both laugh at Sombra.
"I'm sorry Somy do you not like your new nickname?" Chrysalis asks in a joking tone.
"Oh dear my queen I don't believe he does." Night Fly Replies in mock sadness.
"Whatever shall we do." Chrysalis says putting her hoof over her face in a dramatic fashion, as the two of them continue mocking him, Sombra turns to the cave mouth, he huffs. So that's why Chrysalis wanted her to come. Reaching out into the darkness with his magic Sombra scans the interior of the hive quickly, soon he turns back to Chrysalis clearing his throat to get her and Night Fly to stop laughing.
"There's only one life sign in there that's not a tiny bug, although it is a big one." Sombra says dryly.
"Oh great what massive creature took up residence in my hive." Chrysalis exclaims annoyed.
"I meant big for a bug." Chrysalis raises an eyebrow at Sombra. "It's a changeling."
"What!?" Chrysalis exclaims in surprise, she turns her head focusing her hive connection into the structure, but she can't feel any changeling presence in the old hive. "Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure." Sombra says rolling his eyes. Chrysalis whistles and a drone comes flying over, Chrysalis points into the cave and the drone salutes and fly's off, shortly after he disappears into the cave Chrysalis can see blasts of green energy blasting in the cave. Soon a cloaked figure tackles the drone out of the cave throwing it across the grass at Chrysalis's feet. The cloaked figure stands on it's hind hooves everything above its knees are hidden behind a ripped black cloak. The figure moves a black hoof out from under the cloak, the hoof holds a makeshift spear made out of a stick and a stalagmite tip. Chrysalis glares at the figure, she charges her horn with power the figure spins the spear in his hood pointing it at her. Sombra rubs his chin watching the scene with amusement.
"Ok enough of that little one." Night Fly is suddenly behind the figure, she pulls the hood off of its face. Chrysalis, Night Fly, and even Sombra gasp at the sight. The cloaked figure is a changeling drone, except his eyes are like Chrysalis's except red instead of Chrysalis's green. His horn is nothing but a bump on his head, if you can call it a horn. The drone's eyes open wide as he takes a good look at the creature behind him and the queen in front of him.
"Y-you look like me?" The drone stammers looking from Night Fly to Chrysalis.
"Of course we do silly , we're changelings like you." Night Fly chirps happily, the drone stares at her confused.
"What's a changeling?" Chrysalis and Night Fly just stare at each other and then back at the drone.
"It's what you are." Chrysalis says stepping toward the drone, his eyes widen at her statement, a smile pops up across his face.
"What? I am? I can't wait to tell-!" The Drone shouts happily but he stops mid sentence. He looks between the two female changelings standing near him. "Uh I'm sorry but who are you anyway?" Chrysalis's eyes widen in surprise.
"I am Queen Chrysalis."
"And I'm Captain Night Fly." The drones eyes widen again.
"A Captain and a Queen!? Oh my goodness I'm so sorry for my rudeness my name is Bug Bite, it's a pleasure to meet you." Bug Bite says excitedly he bows down once to Chrysalis and then again to Night Fly, Chrysalis stares at the drone.
"You have a..." Chrysalis begins but she is cut off by a sudden voice.
"Your majesty I've captured a pony intruding nearby." Chrysalis turns to see General Stag Beetle carrying a pony in his hoof, Chrysalis takes a step forward to look at the mare Stage Beetle is holding. She's a young adult earth pony, her fur is a light purple, her hair is red with pink streaks, her eyes are a light brown color. The mare is quivering in fear, her eyes darting between General Stag Beetle and Queen Chrysalis. Chrysalis looks her over once more and notices that she is holding a brown paper bag full of vegetables. Hmm just a pony walking home with her groceries. Suddenly Chrysalis hears a shout and turns her head.
"Cherry Blossom!" Bug Bite screams as he jumps through the air his spear head colliding with Stag Beetles helmet, causing him to stagger backward dropping the mare. Night Fly quickly runs over to check on Stag Beetle as he rubs his head. Cherry Blossom runs to Bug Bite's side gripping his fore hoof tightly with her own. Bug Bite smiles at her before spinning around to glare at Chrysalis. Chrysalis returns the glare her eyes burn in anger.
"You dare to stand against your Queen!?" Chrysalis shouts bearing her teeth at Bug Bite, Bug Bite grinds his teeth.
"No one hurts my wife or they answer to me!" Bug Bite shouts glaring at Chrysalis. Chrysalis, Night Fly, Stag Beetle, and Sombra all of their eyes widen as they stare at him in surprise, they all open their mouths at the same time.
"WIFE?!?!"
Two Days Later: Canterlot Castle East Hallway
Twilight Sparkle sits on a bench in the hallway, she occasionally looks up from the book she's reading to stare down the hall at the door to Fluttershy's prison room. She continues reading the book in her hoof A History Of Chaos Magic, she turns her head at the sound of hoof steps, she smiles at the sight of the princess of the sun.
"Oh hello princess Celestia where have you been?" Twilight says closing her book and standing up off the bench, Celestia gives her a smile.
"I had some important matters to deal with." Celestia says, before glancing down the hallway at the prison room. "How is she?"
"Oh well Fluttershy's doing fine only one out burst since the war meeting." Twilight says quickly and nervously. "O-of course she's been sleeping a lot since then to." Celestia raises an eyebrow at Twilight before walking past her and gesturing for her to follow, Twilight follows her down the hallway.
"I will speak with her, see how she is doing." Celestia says opening the door to Fluttershy's room, she tilts her head in confusion at the sight in front of her. Fluttershy is covered in the blanket sleeping peacefully, but what's odd is that she's floating in mid air her body bent in a way that makes it look like an invisible person is holding her princess style. Her head and fore hooves are leaning up and to the side like their resting against this invisible person. Celestia can see she's holding something in her hoof but the blanket is obscuring the view, so she can't tell what it is. Celestia just looks at Twilight for an answer Twilight rubs the back of her head nervously.
"Well she's been doing that for awhile, she keeps waking up for a little while but then the ring glows and then she passes out again." Twilight says looking up at her floating friend. "I scanned the ring hoping to find some answer but I can't seem to figure it out."
"Her dreams are powering Discord." Twilight's eyes widen as she turns to the princess.
"What?"
"Dreams are the most chaotic part of anypony, the ring must put Fluttershy to sleep so that her dreams chaotic energy can power up Discord." Celestia says narrowing her eyes at the ring Fluttershy is wearing, Twilight looks at the princess with concern.
" So Discord's using Fluttershy as some kind of battery?" Twilight asks raising a hoof to her chin.
"Yes it would seem so." Celestia puts a hoof to her chin as well. "But in all the time I've know Discord he's never needed to charge."
"So what do you think he's doing?" Twilight asks looking back at Fluttershy, concern etched on her face.
"Discord seems to be building his power for something." Celestia grinds her teeth. "I just pray that he can only take the power from her dreams and not Fluttershy herself." Twilights snaps her head back to look at the princess.
"What if it is?" Twilight nearly shouts fear entering her voice, Celestia looks at Twilight a stern expression on her face.
"We don't take the chance." Celestia turns her face toward Fluttershy her horn and the ring glow golden, the ring moves slightly before suddenly replacing the gold glow with a red glow. Small bolts of red lightening crackle around the ring before focusing into a single large bolt that shoot's out striking Celestia in the chest sending her crashing into the door to the hallway. Fluttershy opens her eyes suddenly as she falls out of the air back onto the bed, she sits up and looks around the room. Fluttershy looks at the princess Celestia with concern.
"Oh my goodness what happened?" Fluttershy asks holding her hooves up to her face, Twilight raises an eyebrow at the small Discord plushy Fluttershy is holding In her right hoof. Celestia stands up off the floor brushing some soot off of her breastplate.
"A certain Draconequus." Celestia glares in Fluttershy's direction, Fluttershy can tell she's not actually glaring at her but the look unnerves her anyway. Fluttershy thinks about the princesses words and looks around the room for Discord, her face slightly angry as she has some words to say to him for whatever he did to Celestia. Fluttershy is confused when she can't find him, she turns back to the princesses with a raised eyebrow.
"Discords not here." Fluttershy says both sad and confused, Twilight stifles a giggle.
"Well techiancally he is." Fluttershy looks at her friend confused, Twilight points at Fluttershy's hoof, she follows the hoof and her eyes widen and her face goes red as she sees the small Discord plushy she's holding in her hoof.
"O-oh well that's..." Fluttershy says flustered, looking down at the bed, her eye keeps wandering back to the doll in her hoof.
"Fluttershy you must tell me everything you know about what Discord has been doing these last couple of days." Fluttershy turns at the stern voice of Princess Celestia. Celestia is looking at the Pegasus with the same concern that she had when Discord was first released. Fluttershy looks back down before starting.
"Discord said he accidently gave Chrysalis the idea to summon someone more, and he wanted to go fix it himself before she could do anything too bad, but when he came to stop her instead of Tirek like he thought it turned out she summoned Sombra, who used his dark magic to craft some blades that could hurt Discord, he said they were about to kill him, I told him he'd get out of there safely." Fluttershy's eyes begin to water.
"But I haven't heard from him the last couple days." Her face brightens once more as she closes her eyes and smiles. "But I know he's ok, when I'm sleeping he feels so close that I can touch him, and when I'm awake I can feel him whenever I touch my ring."
"I see." Celestia looks at Fluttershy her face not giving away what she's thinking, She turns to Twilight and smiles. "Well Princess Sparkle why don't we give Fluttershy some time to rest she looks tired." Fluttershy and Twilight both raise an eyebrow.
"Your majesty I don't feel-" The necklace suddenly glows with golden energy, Fluttershy looks down like she just heard a cry for help, then she suddenly closes her eyes and falls over onto the pillow, she pulls the Discord plushy to her chest as a smile appears on her face. Twilight looks at her friend with concern, but then follows princess Celestia out the door into the hallway.
After walking a way down the hall Celestia turns to look down at the shorter princess. Twilight feels her gaze and turns to meet the princesses stare.
"I want to believe Fluttershy Twilight." Twilight eyes widen at the princesses words.
"Then why don't you?" Twilight asks looking down at the ground sadly.
"The same reason you don't." Celestia says looking at Twilight with narrow eyes, Twilight returns her gaze with wide eyes.
"I trust Fluttershy I just don't-"
"Trust Discord?" Celestia interrupts.
"Exactly!" Twilight shouts, she then looks away sadly. Celestia looks at her pupil with a knowing look.
"Fluttershy believes everything he says." Celestia sighs deeply. "But everything she's telling us was told to her by the chaos god himself, the trickiest creature to ever walk Equestria."
"The only way to know if we can trust him is if he comes and talks to us." Twilight says, before sighing deeply. "And I don't think he'll do that, he prefers to do things in a stu... pid... compli...cated... way." Twilight's eyes widen as her mind jumps back to what Fluttershy said about Discord's complicated plan to defeat Tirek with the tree of Harmony. Celestia looks at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Twilight are you alright?" Celestia asks reaching out to her student with a fore hoof. Twilight is snapped back to the present from the sound of Celestia's voice.
"Oh um yes Princess I'm fine." Twilight says hastily, she looks away from the princess. "Its just that..."
"What is it Twilight?" Celestia asks placing a hoof on Twilights shoulder.
"Well..." Twilight begins, trying as hard as she can to avoid eye contact.
"You can tell me anything Twilight, what is it?" Celestia asks a smile appearing on her face Twilight smiles back nervously. Twilight takes a deep breathe and opens her mouth to speak.
"I believe Discord!" Celestia's smile disappears as her eyes narrow at Twilight.
"Except That."
Somewhere In A Random Cave In Some Random Small Mountain That Is For Some Reason In A Random Forest That May Or May Not Be The Everfree
Discord groans, the lightheadedness fading once more, he opens his eyes and looks around the cave he's in. He's laying on a large pink blanket, a large puddle of golden energy is shimmering around him, but doesn't seem to affect the blanket. The cave is small and has even less space to move in due to all the pink medical equipment crammed into it, it all looks functional but Discord doesn't think any of its been used. He looks down at his wound on his side, smiles that it's finally been bandaged up, he sighs happily as he checks both his hands and sees they've been bandaged up as well. Discord can't remember most of the last couple... minutes? Hours? Days? Discord couldn't tell how long he'd been laying in this cave but he could till it hadn't been more then a couple days. He remembers coming in and out of consciousness, but he'd just get lightheaded again and pass out, every time he did he'd only dream of one thing, Fluttershy. He smiled happily as he remembered the dreams, not much happened he'd just hold her in his arms for minutes or hours, most of the time she just slept in his arms but once or twice they had talked, nothing important just talked. Holding her had made him feel better like holding her gave him strength, he tilts his head in confusion, every time he held her it actually did feel like he was regaining strength.
"I wonder why?" Discord asks no pony but the wind. He looks down at his paw, deep in thought, so deep in thought that he didn't even notice the pink party pony hop into the cave.
"Oh good you're up!" Discord flinches at the sudden voice, he looks up and bears his teeth in defense, he relaxes when he realizes who it is.
"Oh hello Pinkie." Discord says dully, then he raises an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"
"I've been taking care of you silly." Pinkie Pie squeaks happily. Discord rolls his eyes as he realizes why he's felt so weak the last couple days.
"How long did it take you to bandage my injuries?" Discord asks flatly, Pinkie Pie laughs nervously while rubbing the back of her head.
"Well first I threw some 'get well soon' parties, after those I couldn't figure out why you weren't getting better so I needed to find out what happened, so I went to fimfiction and caught up on 'The Tag Team From Tartarus' it wasn't until chapter five that I figured out what was wrong, I didn't know you could get hurt, actually I didn't know you couldn't get hurt either, so I had to remember all the wonderbolt survival training Rainbow Dash did so I could bandage ya up." Pinkie Pie smiles brightly after her bout of exposition, Discord just blinks at her. Why is it I am the lord of chaos and yet there's still a creature that's more confusing then I am?
"Anyway Pinkie thank you for helping me but I should be fine on my own you can go." Discord says, wanting to get on his way once more. Pinkie Pie just blinks at him and tilts her head raising an eyebrow.
"I can't do that Princess Celestia told me to find you." Discord looks at Pinkie Pie blankly.
"Well you found me.... Now what?" Pinkie puts her hoof to her chin and thinks hard.
"I... don't..... know.... The princess didn't tell me that part." Pinkie Pie and Discord just stare at each other for a minute before bursting into laughter.
"And old Tia yells at me for being cryptic!" Discord laughs, he clutches his side as his wound flares up, but he keeps laughing anyway. Pinkie Pie laughs with Discord her grin wide.
"Yeah she's all like don't listen to Discord he can't be trusted." Pinkie Pie bursts into laughter while rolling on the floor, she doesn't notice that Discord has stopped laughing.
"What did you say?" Discord says stunned, Pinkie Pie stops laughing and looks at Discord.
"Oh did you not know Celestia doesn't trust you?" Discord averts his gaze from the pink pony.
"No I knew, I just didn't think she'd say it out loud." Discord says sadly, Pinkie Pie frowns at her friends frown.
"Don't take it too hard almost no pony trusts you." Pinkie Pie said it to comfort her friend, but it only made Discord feel worse. He looks at the party pony smiling at him.
"Do you trust me?" Pinkie Pie gives him a big grin, Discord returns the smile until.
"Nope." Discord's smile drops at this comment.
"What?" Discord asks in disbelief.
"I don't trust ya, I mean you did betray us to Tirek, and you vanished right after Chrysalis summoned Sombra, and most importantly you got Fluttershy thrown in jail." Discord's ears twitch at the last idea on Pinkies list.
"What?" Discord asks his eyes widening, Pinkie doesn't need to ask what he means.
"Well that necklace you gave her made her act really mean to the princesses and Celestia said she could be even more dangerous then you so she locked her in one of the guest rooms." Pinkie Pie looks at the ground sadly, Discord does the same, but he lifts his face up at Pinkie's next comment. "She believes in you more then anypony."
"Yeah she believes in me more then I do." Discord says a tear entering his eye. I gave her that ring to keep her safe. How did she use it in that way? Is the ring also the reason it felt like I was getting stronger when I held her in my dream? What the hell kinda ring did I make? I wish chaos magic wasn't so uncontrollable when I'm not using it.He looks into Pinkie Pies eyes. "Why did you help me?"
"Cause we're friends silly." Pinkie Pie smile brightly.
"But you don't trust me?" Discord raises an eyebrow.
"Nope." Pinkie Pie's still smiling.
"How does that work?"
"Because I like you."
"You do?"
"Of course ya silly billy filly."
"I don't get it Pinkie you don't trust me, but you still call me a friend?" Discord says his confusion obvious in his voice. Pinkie's face falls in a blank serious stare.
"I like having friends." Discord's eyes widen at the serious voice Pinkie Pie is speaking in. "Trust is something your friends have to earn. But friends don't have to believe everything their friends say, what matters, what makes someone your true friend is the knowledge that they'll be there for you when you really need them. That you can count on them and they can count on you." Pinkie Pie smiles and returns to her normal happy voice.
"And despite everything that's happened, despite the fact I don't trust everything you say, I know you'll be there when we really need you." Pinkie Pie's eyes go half lidded and she gives him a big grin. "Especially Fluttershy." Pinkie Pie wiggles her eye brows suggestively. Discord blushes and looks away once more.
"Thank you Pinkie Pie that means a lot." Discord says smiling happily. He looks down at the ground as a thought crosses his mind. "I've been causing Fluttershy a lot of problems haven't I?"
"Yep." Pinkie chrips, once she sees Discord's frown Pinkie Pie tries again. "But you cause ponies trouble all the time so don't worry about it."
"Thank you Pinkie." Discord says this half heartedly, just wanting the mare to stop trying to make him feel better.
"You're welcome Discord." Pinkie Pie says a big grin on her face. Discord moves to stand up but is surprised when a pink hoof pushes him back down.
"What are you doing?" Discord asks surprised, Pinkie Pie smiles but also glares at him.
"If you move to much before the wound heals you'll just open it again. " Pinkie Pie says a little to happily, Discord rolls his eyes.
"Okay nurse Pinkie how long do I have to sit here?" Discord asks slightly annoyed, Pinkie Pie looks down deep in thought.
"Probably another couple days." Pinkie says after a minute of contemplation.
"What?" Discord nearly shouts, Pinkie just puts a hoof over his mouth to prevent him from talking.
"Yep and not too much magic either." Pinkie Pie says smiling, Discord looks flustered.
"B-but Fluttershy's got to be worried sick by now!" Discord exclaims. "There's gotta be....something... I can... do."
"Huh?" Pinkie Pie says tilting her head to side at Discord as a smile crosses his face.
"I'll use the connection with the ring to communicate with her through her mind!" Discord exclaims his smile turning to a grin.
"You can do that?" Pinkie Pie asks raising an eyebrow.
"Well I think so, we've connected through some joint dreams the last few days so maybe I can talk to her without putting her to sleep." Discord says crossing his legs and putting his hands together.
"Think that'll work?"
"Well it's worth a try." Discord says closing his eyes, Discord hums quietly as he begins feeling the chaos of the world flow through him, he can feel all the magic around him, he breathes deeply expanding his range trying to find the chaos held by the ring.
"Is it working?" Discord's focus is broken as he's dragged out of his meditation. He glares over at Pinkie Pie who just holds up her hooves confused. Discord closes his eyes once more, he quickly expands his aura again, begins searching for the ring, soon he can feel the familiar chaos energy of the ring. Discord smiles and reaches out with his mind to make contact with the ring, just before he does he gets snapped out of his mediation again by a very loud familiar voice.
"IS IT WORKING!!!" Pinkie yells through her mega-phone right in Discord's ear. Discord jumps in surprise smashing his head on the cave ceiling, he falls back down to the ground clutching his head. Pinkie Pie just rolls her eyes. "I know you can't feel pain."
"Yeah well I can feel annoyed." Discord grumbles lifting himself off the floor. Pinkie Pie smiles at him excepting an answer.
"Well is it working or not? You were really zoned out that time I called for ya like eight times before I busted out the pink-a-phone." Pinkie says happily holding up her mega- I mean pink-a-phone.
"It was until you interrupted me." Discord says annoyed.
"Oh so should I...?"
"Stop talking? Yes." Discord says bluntly.
"Okie Dokie Lokie." Pinkie Pie chirps happily, she gives Discord a salute and pretends to zip her lip. Discord smiles awkwardly and returns to his mediation position.
"Okay third times the charm." Discord says sighing heavily before closing his eyes. In no time at all he has relocated the source of the ring. Now let's see if we can even talk through this thing.
Canterlot Castle Fluttershy's Room
Fluttershy and Twilight sit at small table set up on the terrace, Fluttershy is smiling happily as she talks with her friend, Twilight is smiling as well but is a bit uncomfortable because of the talk she had with Celestia earlier. Twilight looks at Fluttershy as a thought crosses her mind.
"Hey this is the longest you've been awake." Twilight says happily, Fluttershy tilts her head in confusion.
"Huh, I guess you're right. I wonder why I was napping so much?" Twilight looks around nervously, wondering if she should tell Fluttershy her theory.
"Well I think Discord was using the chaotic energy from your dreams to fuel his power." Twilight says nervously and avoiding Fluttershy's widened gaze. Twilight winces at the overly protective outburst that Fluttershy always goes into when someone accuses Discord of something, but instead she hears.
"Oh that makes sense." Twilight widens her eye and looks at the content smile on Fluttershy's face.
"You're not mad?" Fluttershy looks confused and a little sad at her friends words.
"I'm relieved." Twilight tilts her head in confusion. "I was so worried when I saw Discords blood I thought he'd lose to much and he'd... he'd...." Fluttershy shakes the thought out of her head.
"But if my energy kept something terrible from happening to him then I'm glad I could help." Twilight just stares at her friend in amazement.
"You're amazing Fluttershy." Fluttershy blushes and looks away, Twilight's lips start moving again but Fluttershy is distracted by a different voice.
"Fluuuuttershy..." A spooky but familiar voice says out of nowhere, Fluttershy yelps in surprise and looks around frantically for the source of the voice. Twilight jumps at her friends sudden noise.
"Fluttershy are you ok?" Twilight asks concerned, Fluttershy opens her mouth to speak.
"Fluuuutershy... it's meeeeee." Fluttershy's eyes widen and a small smile appears on her face.
"Discord..." Fluttershy whispers, which for her is nearly silent, Twilight tilts her head and raises an eyebrow.
"What did you say?"
"Oh, um, I..." Fluttershy stammers awkwardly avoiding Twilights gaze.
"Send her awaaaaaaaay I need tooooooooo taaaaalk to yoooooouuuuu." Discord's spooky voice echoes through the room.
"I'm just really tired could you come back later Twilight? I think I need to lay down." Fluttershy says looking down at the ground, Twilight looks at her skeptically but shrugs her shoulders.
"Okay Fluttershy I'll bring you some dinner later. okay?" Twilight speaks while standing up from her chair and turning to leave.
"Oh yes thank you Twilight." Fluttershy gives her friend a smile as she leaves the room.
"Wow you're a lot better at lying then I remember." Discord's voice says dropping the spooky accent, Fluttershy huffs and looks around the room.
"Oh stop it, now where are you?" Fluttershy's slightly mad expression turns to one of confusion as she can't find Discord anywhere.
"I'm in some random cave somewhere sitting on a blanket covered in my weird golden blood stuff. But enough about me I want you to close your eyes." Discord's voice utters quickly, Fluttershy tilts her head.
"Why do you need me to close my eyes?" Fluttershy asks, while sitting down on the bed.
"Just do it it's a surprise." Fluttershy begins closing her eyes slowly. "Oh wait first ya gotta cross your hind legs and put your fore hooves together."
"What why?" Fluttershy asks giggling slightly.
"Trust me it's a good surprise." Discord pleads at her.
"Okay, okay." Fluttershy smiles and gets into the position Discord told her to, next she closes her eyes, all she can see is black. "Um, Discord?"
"Just one second." Fluttershy feels something pulling at her mind.
"Discord what are you?" Fluttershy asks concerned.
"It's ok, just let me take you." Fluttershy blushes at the way he phrased that, but she nods and lets the force pull her. Suddenly she can't feel the bed or the air from the window. The darkness behind her eyelids is replaced by a familiar flowery meadow with a bench. She looks around at the meadow, she remembers talking with Discord here and this is also where all her dreams have been taking place the last couple days, her face reddens at the thought of all the dreams where Discord had been holding her realizing that they weren't dreams but some kind of connection between the two. Sudden her visions goes black again she would have been scared that she lost her connection to Discord, if she couldn't feel a scaly talon and a furry paw covering her eyes, she smiles.
"Discord?" She asks slyly already knowing the answer, she can hear Discord make a fake gasp from behind her. Discord moves his hands from her face and bends over her to look her in the eye, upside down.
"Aw man how did you know?" Discord says in mock innocence, Fluttershy just grins.
"Well it was a lucky guess you know how many lord's of chaos I know." Fluttershy says in a joking tone, her and Discord share a laugh. Discord bends his body through the air so he's in front of Fluttershy his head and body turn one-hundred and eighty degrees so their right side up facing at Fluttershy.
"You're probably wondering what's going on huh?" Discord asks rubbing the back of his head, Fluttershy smile slyly at him.
"It has something to do with this right?" Fluttershy asks holding up the ring around her neck, Discord smiles and nods at her observation. This mare really knows how I work.
"That's right." Discord says smiling even wider.
"So what's going on? Did you defeat Chrysalis and Sombra.... and Tirek?" Fluttershy asks her face and voice full of concern, Discord looks away ashamed.
"Unfortunately no." Discord hangs his head. "Sombra surprised me and I couldn't keep fighting them with my wounds." Discord puts a claw up to his chin. "Well I could have kept fighting through the pain, but sense I collapsed from blood loss two hours later chances are things wouldn't have gone my way if I had."
"Well at least you're ok." Fluttershy says tilting Discord's head back up to meet her gaze, Discord stares at her shining teal eyes. The look in her eyes and the gentle smile on her face eases Discord's shame and warms his heart, yet he can't help but feel a little sad, a frown appears on his face.
"I don't deserve a friend like you Fluttershy." Discord says breaking eye contact, his pupils turn to look at the ground. Fluttershy puts her hoof on the side of his head, drawing his eyes back to her, a tender smile across her lips.
"You let me decide that." Fluttershy says her eyes becoming half lidded. Discord's eyes widen as he suddenly reaches out and grabs the sides of her face, Fluttershy jumps from the sudden movement.
"My turn." Discord says a mischievous grin appearing on his face, before Fluttershy can attempt to say something Discord closes the small gap between them and kisses her passionately on the lips. Fluttershy's eyes widen at the sudden kiss but they quickly flutter closed as she wraps her hooves around Discord's neck. They stand there in a tender embrace for a minute or two before breaking apart, both of their faces are red and Fluttershy quickly looks away embarrassed by Discords gaze. Fluttershy leans her head against Discord's chest and nuzzles his fur, she closes her eyes and sighs contently.
"I'm glad you're here Discord." Discord chuckles.
"You know I'm not actually here right." Discord feels a small hoof lightly thump his side, Discord chuckles. "Ow."
"Don't ruin this okay?" Fluttershy asks looking up at him, Discord can't help but smile at her.
"But I'm not you know?" Discord speaks snickering at her, Fluttershy huffs and pushes off of him with one hoof.
"Well when are you getting here?" Fluttershy asks, while pouting and semi glaring at Discord, Discord just chuckles again.
"In two days I should be back up to one hundred percent. Then I'll meet you in Canterlot." Fluttershy frowns at his answer.
"It's really gonna be that long?" Fluttershy asks looking at the ground sadly.
"Don't worry my sweet I'll keep in contact through this mediation state we're in." Discord says grinning big, Fluttershy looks up at him with big pleading eyes.
"You promise?" Fluttershy asks her eyes beginning to water. Discord just keeps grinning.
"Of course my sweet." Discord says reaching out a talon and stroking her mane, she leans into the touch and smiles. After a minute Discord takes his talon out of her hair causing Fluttershy to frown.
"Right now my sweet I must teach you something important." Discord exclaims, Fluttershy just tilts her head and raises an eyebrow.
"What's that?" Fluttershy asks putting a hoof to her lips, Discord just grins at her confusion.
"I'm going to teach you how to control chaos magic!" Discord shouts happily, Discords giant grin causes Fluttershy to grin awkwardly back at him, sweat starts forming on Fluttershy's brow.
In The Old Changeling Hive Infirmary
Cherry Blossom stands in a empty dark room with her fore hooves crossed, she's looking disapprovingly at PonySage86's twin brother. He shifts his weight from one hoof to another under her gaze. He's sweating profusely avoiding her stare, after a minute he throws his hooves in the air.
"Fine I'll fix it!!"
"Thank you." Cherry Blossom smiles happily.
In Cherry Blossom's New Refurnished Rest Area
Chrysalis looks around at the room she's standing in, she remembers the old changeling infirmary, it was a large black stone room with stalactites dripping goo adorning the ceiling, and rows upon rows of black slabs of rocks shaped like beds all draped in cobwebs. Now she looks at Cherry Blossom's newly refurnished rest area, all the goo dripping stalactites have been removed, the rock slabs have been moved into a stack to form a large series of book shelves, the walls have been painted like a forest of cherry blossom trees, the ground is covered in a bright white carpet, with several floral rugs around the room. around the largest floral rug are four couches and six easy chairs forming a circle. Chrysalis would've cringed at the sheer amount of girly stuff in this once horrifying room, if it wasn't for the fact she was laughing hysterically at the sight before her, sitting up on a pink floral fold out couch is the mighty Tirek, his lower half is covered by a fuzzy quilt designed with hearts and pink roses.
Tirek sits there scowling at the laughing changeling queen, he occasionally glares at a nurse changeling with pink eyes and hair that is checking his vitals. Tirek glances out the corner of his eye and turns to look at the lord of shadows standing in the corner, Sombra stands there staring at Tirek, his face is neutral and unwavering. Tirek turns back to the nurse changeling as she puts a red heart shaped bandage on the spot she just drew blood from, hearing a grunt Tirek turns back to Sombra, his eyes haven't changed, but his mouth is quivering as it fights the urge to bend into a smile, Tirek growls at his comrades and shakes the nurse changeling away from him before she can measure his blood pressure.
"This is no laughing matter!" Tirek shouts slamming his fists into the couch bed, the force of his punch causes the bed to spring up and try to fold back up into a couch. Chrysalis bursts into another fit of laughter as she looks Tirek who is scrunched between the mattress and the couch, it makes him look like a Tirek taco. Sombra looks away and steady's himself against the wall he shakes violently trying to stop himself from laughing.
"Oh I beg to differ!" Chrysalis shouts, clutching her side as tears start forming in her eyes. The nurse changeling fly's up to the queen and bows.
"The patient is fully recovered your highness." The nurse changeling says grabbing her bag off the floor. Chrysalis stops laughing and looks at the changeling in front of her.
"Oh, um, yes thank you Lady Bug your dismissed." Chrysalis says, while wiping her eyes. Lady Bug bows her head once more before buzzing through the large black and pink curtains covering the exit to the room. Tirek's taco bed suddenly bursts into flames, Chrysalis and Sombra look at the fire, it rages for a few seconds and begins fading away, as the flames go out they reveal Tirek, who is standing in the ash with a scowl on his face. Tirek opens his mouth to yell his fists clenched at his side, before he can speak a stern voice catches his attention.
"You had better replace that." Chrysalis and Tirek raise their eyebrows at the lord of shadows, who just stares at them blandly.
"What!?" Tirek shouts bewildered, Sombra just continues staring with no emotion on his face.
"We are staying in someone's home, it is polite to replace what we break." Sombra states in a flat tone, Chrysalis's eyes widen at Sombra.
"This is my home!" Chrysalis shouts confused, Sombra turns to her and raises an eyebrow.
"Last time I checked two other ponies are letting us stay in their home." Sombra states somewhat smugly, Chrysalis narrows her eyes at Sombra. Sombra gets a slight smile at the annoyed expression on Chrysalis's face, he turns to look back at Tirek and Chrysalis joins his gaze.
"So... wanna tell us what happened?" Chrysalis asks raising an eyebrow at Tirek, Tirek growls and clenches his fists once more.
After Tirek Tells Them The Events Of The Train Sequence.
"How did you get beaten by a single pony!" Chrysalis shouts throwing her hooves in the air, Sombra sighs.
"Clearly I overestimated his power if a single element could defeat him so easily." Sombra puts a hoof to his head and slowly shakes his head as he speaks. Tirek growls while grinding his teeth.
"Or perhaps you underestimated the strength of the these ponies!" Tirek shouts stomping a hoof on the floor, Sombra puts a hoof to his chin in thought.
"Perhaps." Sombra looks over at Tirek an annoyed look in his eyes. "Or perhaps someone shouldn't have run off before eating something other then a dogs power."
"Technically three dogs." Chrysalis interjects, Sombra glares over at Chrysalis.
"Thank you, Chrysalis." Sombra groans at her.
"You're welcome Somy." Chrysalis says happily, while smiling, Sombra flinches at the nickname but ignores it for now.
" Well clearly we need a plan." Tirek says, ignoring that the other two had been talking to each other, Sombra rolls his eyes at Tirek.
" I already have a plan, you idiot." Sombra says dryly, Chrysalis raises an eyebrow, while Tirek growls in anger.
"You do?" Chrysalis asks skeptically, Sombra looks at her annoyed.
"No Chrysalis I've just been sitting around doing nothing the whole time since you revived me." Sombra says sarcastically.
"I knew it!" Chrysalis shouts pointing a hoof at Sombra, Sombra intensifies his annoyed look. "Here I thought you'd be helpful and yet you haven't even been thinking of a plan! Why did I revive you anyway!?"
"Yes why did you?!" Sombra shouts in response, Chrysalis takes a step back, surprised by his outburst.
"What..?" Chrysalis replies dumbly, Sombra glares at her.
"You revived me Chrysalis, but why?" Sombra asks, his own curiosity obvious through his glare. Chrysalis's surprised expression is replaced by a mischievous smile, her eyes half-lidded, Chrysalis steps towards Sombra and leans in close to his face. Sombra's eyes widen as the changeling queen positions her muzzle an inch away from his own.
"Because I like you Somy." Chrysalis chirps happily, she walks past Sombra, she flips her tail in his face as she walks out the curtain doorway. Sombra just stares at the curtain swaying from her departure, his mouth hanging open, and his eyebrow raised. That... that stupid... idiotic... be-. Sombra is interrupted from his thoughts by a certain centaur.
"If you two are done talking can we get back to planning?" Tirek says, clearly not paying attention, Sombra's eyes narrow as they glow with anger, he bears his teeth and grinds them together.
"GRR! I'm surrounded by morons!" Sombra shouts in annoyance, Tirek raises an eyebrow.
"What?" Tirek asks confused. Sombra begins walking out the room, his body glowing with black flames.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!!!" Sombra screams, before exploding into darkness and vanishing into the walls.
"Uh...ok?" Tirek asks confused as he looks around the now empty room.