//------------------------------// // Ch. 3 The Exit Clause // Story: Family of Discord [OLD] // by Sonic Gamer //------------------------------// As the ponies surrounded Discord and Mothball, one of them noticed something. “Hey, wait a minute,” that pony said. “This changeling isn’t in disguise.” “Oh, I get it,” Dr. Hooves responded. “You had one of your subjects disguise himself, and you pretend to be his prisoner so you’ll get us by surprise. Am I right?” “Discord,” Mothball said, “they think you’re a changeling in disguise.” “Yeah, kinda gotten that,” Discord replied. “Stop!” an African accent was heard. It was none other than a zebra named Zecora. “If he is changeling, we’ll soon see, though I believe he is not what he appears to be.” “Zecora!” Discord responded with excitement, “This is who I was talking about, Mothball. Zecora, you must listen to me.” All the ponies pointed there spears at Discord before he could say anything. “Beneath this sand, no changeling hides. For it reveals the truth inside.” Zecora then rubbed some dirt on Discord. When Discord was covered, his body starts glowing. Everypony backed away from what they saw. “What does it mean?” Derpy asked. “The meaning is far worse I see, for it is we who should not be.” Zecora explained. “I’ll explain everything,” Discord responded. “I’m sure you can,” Zecora replied, “but let’s not talk here, for the changelings will soon draw near.” “An alternate reality, you say?” Zecora replied to Discord. “Yes, and I need your help to find out how to reverse it,” said Discord. “Hoof the contract to me, for I will find the exit clause with origami.” Zecora then took the contract, and did origami on it. After that, a new message was formed. Discord picked it up, and read the new message. “‘True Love’s First Kiss’?” “Keep reading.” “‘If not fully satisfied, true love’s kiss will render this contract, noll ‘en voin’? Zecora, you did it!” He then hugged Zecora. “Oh thank you, thank you, thank you! If me and Fluttershy share true love’s kiss, I’ll get my life back!” “You are welcome, my friend, we will be waiting all of this to end.” “But, how are you gonna get a kiss from her?” Mothball asked. “I don’t know,” Discord answered, “but I’ll come up with something.” One of the resistance ponies showed up with some knews. “The Mane Six has returned!” Over the horizon, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends can be seen. Discord was excited by the sight of his wife, Fluttershy, and started running towards her. “Fluttershy!” He exclaimed as Fluttershy reacted. “I’m so happy I found you!” But, Fluttershy screamed in fear as Discord was charging toward her. “Hey, back off!” Rainbow Dash commanded as she kicked Discord in the face. Discord then fell to the ground. “Ouch! What was that for that for?!” “Haven’t you heard of personal space, pal?” Rainbow Dash demanded. “None of you know who I am, do you?” “No,” Rainbow Dash answered. “Ah don’t reckon,” Applejack said. “Sorry, Darling,” Rarity said. “Doesn’t ring a bell,” Pinkie Pie said. “I never even seen your species before,” Twilight said. “A-am I supposed to?” Fluttershy asked, shyly. “Just as I thought,” Discord replied, looking down. “Alright everypony,” Twilight called out to the resistance. “we need to plan our attack on Lord Tirek.” Discord walked up to Fluttershy to speak to her. “Fluttershy, I need to talk to you,” he said. “Y-yes?” Fluttershy timidly replied. “Look, I know you don’t know me, but… we’re married.” “Excuse me?” “Hear me out. We were at our son’s cutie party, and Pinkie’s triplets ate the cake, and there was this annoying filly who kept saying ‘Roar for me, roar for me!’, then I smashed the cake that the Tri-Pies ate, and the next thing I knew it, my son-in-law became king of the changelings!” Everyone looked at Discord like he was crazy. “Right? Who’s with me?” Rainbow Dash then chuckled. “Wow, I must’ve bucked him harder than I thought,” she said. “I mean, could you imagine a pony marrying a… what are you exactly?” Everyone then laughed, agreeing with Rainbow Dash. “Just as I thought, no one believes me,” Discord muttered. A changeling servant used a horn to announce something. “Our meeting will now start!” he said. “You may begin, my lord.” “Thank you,” Tirek replied. “Some ponies like to see gauntlet as half empty, however, I like to see it as half full. Y’know, we’ve captured a lot of prisoners in our days, and one got away. No big deal. It doesn’t matter to me. It’s not like it’s the end of the world.” He then got up from his chair. “Actually, now that I think about, the one who got away was Discord, and if he shares a kiss with Fluttershy by tomorrow, it will be the end of the world, our world, MY EMPIRE!” He then took a deep breath, calmed down. “Anyway, as I was saying, I like to see the gauntlet as half full.” He then made fire floating over his palm which freaked out the changelings. “Is it getting cold in here? Would anyone want to warm up by the fire? Toast your buns?” All the changelings quivered in fear. “Anyone cold? No one's cold? No? Then, can anyone come up with a plan to capture this draconequus?!” He pointed to one of the changelings. “You!” “Uh, bait?” the changeling said. “No, he’s too smart for that!” He then pointed to another changeling. “You!” “Threaten him?” the changeling said. “Ugh, how did I get these guys?!” He then pointed to one last changeling. “You?” “Maybe we can hire a bounty hunter?” the changeling suggested. Out of rage, Tirek used his fire magic on the changeling, burning him to death. The changeling was now a pile of ash. “Actually, not a bad idea.” Tirek called to General Mantis who stood in attention. “I need a bounty hunter, and if ponies claim that all are created equal, then I know just the pony!” He then made an evil grin.