The group stood in a silent circle around Discord's statue. Scootaloo looked at each in turn, thinking they weren't nearly as intimidating as she'd thought. Gilda could be a little scary when she lost her temper, but Spike at least was a friend, and the other three were just annoying.
Five of them had been given a necklace to wear while the sixth, Trixie, had been given a tiara. Unlike the Elements of Harmony, they were cut like normal gems, each a different size and color. Scootaloo’s was a small circular emerald. She noticed Spike holding his own ruby, staring at it hungrily.
"Now then," Crystal Ball whispered, "the guards shouldn't be back for a while, but we still need to hurry."
"Where are the guards?" Spike asked. As far as Scootaloo knew, he wasn't aware of Crystal Ball's real identity, but he still mistrusted her.
"Inside the castle. I made them believe Celestia had come to guard the statue herself," she answered with an irritated glance at Spike. "Now, as I was saying, we should hurry before anypony sees us. Trixie—"
"The Great and Powerful—"
"Interrupt me again and The Great and Powerful Trixie will be eating her own hat. Understood?" Crystal Ball hissed. Trixie stepped back fearfully, nodding weakly. "Trixie is our sixth element. The spell is set up so that she activates the rest. When they light up, don't fight them, just let the magic take its course." She nodded at Trixie to begin.
The Great and Powerful Trixie bowed her head as her horn began to glow. A moment later the gem on her tiara began glowing, and Scootaloo felt a tingle run across her coat as her own gem reacted.
A wave of emotion washed over her and she ducked her head as the light flared brighter. She saw Rainbow Dash in her mind, looking down at her with a smug smile. A second passed and their positions were reversed with Scootaloo looking down at a hurt and confused Dash.
The light flew up from her necklace, meeting with the power of the other elements, each a dark, grey tinted color of the rainbow. The light writhed and twisted high in the air for a long moment before coming down on top of Discord's statue.
Scootaloo fell back as a wall of noise coursed through her, shaking her to the bone. She rolled, covering her eyes as the power kicked up a cloud of dust. After several confused seconds, the light and noise drew back into the center of the circle, leaving her to lie on the ground, head spinning and ears ringing.
She twisted to look back at the others. Standing between them on a pile of broken stone was Discord.
*****
Minutes later, Discord was sitting in the darkest corner of Canterlot castle. Almost everypony was on the train back to Ponyville. Chrysalis had her own job to do, and Scootaloo...
“You can count on us princess. I promise, we won’t let Discord get free!”
“If that’s not the perfect cue,” Discord said, “nothing is.” He smiled as everypony turned to him in shock. Three, two, one...
"Discord!" Celestia shouted, horn humming dangerously with golden power.
"Celestia, oh how wonderful to see you again," Discord gushed, flying closer to the small group with a warm smile. "How have you been this past year?"
"Discord, what have you done with the elements?" she demanded.
"The elements? Oh, I haven't done anything with them. I mean really, the same plan twice in a row? Do I seem so boring?" Discord rolled his eyes.
"Yeah right, hand 'em over!" Rainbow Dash bent low and pawed at the ground, ready to charge the draconequus.
"I really didn't take them. Promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly," Discord fluttered his arms for a moment before pulling a cupcake out of nowhere, "stick a cupcake in my eye."
"Well, I guess that's settled then," Pinkie Pie said with a satisfied nod.
"Pinkie!" Five voices shouted in unison.
Discord laughed and snapped his fingers. With a flash, he was at the head of the room. "I will tell you though, the one who took the elements is one of your dear and trusted friends."
"You're lying!" Dash snapped at once. "Our friends wouldn't do anything like that."
"Oh Rainbow Dash, always so loyal." Discord was suddenly crouched next to her, leaning an arm across Dash's back. "And so ready to jump to conclusions. I didn't mean poor little Scootaloo."
"Scootaloo?" Twilight asked, casting a confused glance at Rainbow.
"Yes, Scootaloo," Discord said, standing on Twilight’s other side with another flash. "She's one of the ponies who freed me."
"He's lying," Dash insisted again, her voice hardly more than a whisper.
"Oh you ponies, so easy to use. I thought to myself, in all of Equestria, who would be the easiest to manipulate? Who could I use to arrange my escape once again? Obviously the best answer would be ponies far away from the Elements of Harmony, but where's the fun in that?" Discord choked up, doubled over with laughter. "It was just so easy. The ponies you care about most, your "best friends" freed me." He wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. “Oh, the tragic irony of it all.”
"We aren't falling for your tricks again," Twilight said. "Our friends wouldn't do any of that, and you can't make us fight amongst each other any more."
Discord smiled again. "We'll see about that. There's a pretty easy way to check. Just go ask her yourself. She's still out there in the statue garden."
Dash glanced toward the door uncertainly.
"You see, she finally seems to have come to her senses. Too late of course. She's taking it very hard."
"Taking what hard?" Rainbow demanded.
"Being the Element of Betrayal. It was easy to justify at first, after all she did feel betrayed. But now..." Discord shook his head. "Well, I should be off. Chaos won't cause itself." With a final flash he was gone.
Rainbow Dash acted first, galloping toward the doors at full speed. The others were right behind her.
*****
Scootaloo sat quietly in the garden, barely visible in the dim moonlight. Her eyes were red, but she'd stopped crying by the time Dash found her.
"Scootaloo?" Dash asked softly, edging closer. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm so sorry," Scootaloo said.
Dash's head dropped as the last hope that Discord had been lying faded.
"He just left me here," Scootaloo continued shakily. "I thought he was my friend, but as I soon as I stopped listening he left me."
"Why would you listen to him at all?" Rainbow asked. She heard the others catch up behind her, but they didn't speak.
"I didn't at first. But he was so nice, and he promised to help me stay with my friends, to stay out of the orphanage."
"Orphanage?" Twilight whispered.
Scootaloo's head hung lower. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought he was my friend. But after he was free..." She trailed off and nodded back with her head. Dash glanced down and froze, staring at a spot of color on Scootaloo's flank.
It took her a moment to make it out in the moonlight. A heart, but made of pink fire. She recognized it from the play she'd been a part of several months back. The heart from Hearth's Warming Eve. The fire of friendship.
The heart on Scootaloo's flank was split in two by a jagged crack.
"I'm so sorry," Scootaloo whispered again.
Dash turned back to the group. "Princess?"
"Yes, Rainbow Dash?" Princess Celestia asked in a neutral voice.
"I know this looks bad, but every one of us were tricked by Discord. It's... well, we did stuff we never thought we'd do."
The princess looked back at Scootaloo and nodded. "I will take that into consideration. For now though, I'll have to ask that she stay here until we get the whole story. Meanwhile, Twilight, you and your friends should start searching for the Elements of Harmony. You have the help of any unicorns employed at the castle, of course."
Twilight nodded and nudged her friends to follow, leaving the princess alone with Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo.
"So what happens now?" Scootaloo asks.
"Now you'll come with me," Princess Celestia said. She smiled warmly at the scared filly. "And don't worry too much. You aren't the first pony Discord's managed to trick. Things will work out."
Scootaloo nodded and followed behind the princess, a dejected and defeated look on her face.
I told you, Discord whispered to Scootaloo, A helpless filly manipulated by the big bad Discord. They'd eat it up in a heartbeat. Scootaloo nodded silently as they made their way to the castle.
Plot twist!
wow just wow !!!! scoots you clever girl!!! keep it up this is awsome!!!!
Oh boy!
This does not look good.
What is Discord planning to have Scootaloo do now?
924419
After looking at the past few chapters, I realized my plan for the next few chapters wasn't as good as what I could do, so I spent some time planning them out again. Thanks for asking though.
Oh, I've been in agony since the last chapter and its cliffhanger. You release a new one and leave us with not even 1,500 words and ANOTHER cliffhanger?
You're a sadist.
WAT?!
This just keeps getting better.
How is that POSSIBLE?!
Best cutie mark ever
Scootaloo : "Zis will be ze last time you see me."
Haha, I knew Scoots was tricking them! This is the story that made Scootaloo my favorite of the CMC.
932841
Oops, thanks.
Awww Scoots cutie mark is a symbol of her betrayal? Poor Scoots :(
Wow. So Scootaloo's talent is betrayal? But... but... Wait. I know. After everything is said and done Scoot's Cutie Mark will mend won't it? So all that is left is to wait for the element showdown between Harmony and Chaos! Three friends, two foes and one stupid brat against six friends? Oh, this is just fantastic!
Damn I didn't see the TWIST until I saw the comment and read the last paragraph again haha.
OH SNAP, Discord must be planning something BIG....
I mean for one thing... where are the other Elements of Chaos in the castle statue garden ?
That cliffhanger ending makes me feel a bit worried for both Celestia and Rainbow Dash... as I feel that it maybe Discord's planning a trap from within or in other words...big things come in small sizes.
Still, nice update overall as it seems that the fun is just beginning for Discord and his elements. I can't wait to see the surprise looks on the Elements faces when they see who they're facing against.
Please do keep up the good work upon such a great tale like this one.
Called it, Discord will totally win this.
And it's so very satisfying to read
Thank goodness. For a second I thought you were going to end this before it even got started. Scootaloo is really coming into her stride with betrayal.
Mwahhahahah. You people think that Scootaloo will be good again. Well, what if she decides to either escape with Discord if he loses or wants to get turned into stone too?
That would make nice background for sequel when she is de-stoned after years pass
Calling it the other way, since there is no Dark tag on this.
It is too late. Discord is too entrenched in her mind. Her every action is now geared toward acts of betrayal.
CHAOS HAS WON!
images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120507201816/villains/images/e/e4/My_little_pony_friendship_is_magic_2x01_the_return_of_harmony_part_1_17_discord_gloats-1024x576.jpg
Discordant: NOT directed by M. Night. Shmamalan.
The way I see it, there is one major flaw in Discord's plan. Though he currently controls Scootaloo, she's going to betray him eventually. After all, he did make her the Element of Betrayal.
I AM LOVING THIS!!!
You have a story that would make m. night shamylon proud.
Betrayal sctootaloo FTW!!! I am loving discord as well, he i soooo evil. scotaloo is my favorite non background pony and you make me love her even more. I expect an update soon, or you might end up waking up with hooks through your body and have to rip them out to survive.
Well, waddya know, I was thinking they would take the whole chapter to free him. And they did it at the very start! Bravo.
932873BTW, you just know Scootaloo's cutie mark is still gonna be there when Discord's defeated. I wonder how life will be like, having bacstabbing the best thing you're good at...
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Enter Scootaspy!
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wow! that ending! holy crap. Man, I really really love this story. I thought perhaps we had reached the climax already and we were nearing the conclusion. BUT OH! THE PLOT TWIST.
I'm curious about the cutie mark, is it fake? I mean it probably is fake but I dont know i can't take anything at face value anymore cause of that plot twist.
eagerly waiting next update.
Discord has definitely taken the title of "Magnificent Bastard" in my mind. Wondered how he would retain her loyalty without completely making her a pariah.
Lovin' it!
Is it wrong that i actually want Discord to win? Just because I absolutely love Scootaloo?
Please let scoots become an evil mastermind, defeat discord after he takes out the princesses, and betray everyone again by becoming the evil overlord of equrestria...... It would be a mindfuck nearly worthy of Doctor Who.
That ending! And that Cutie Mark! I really hope that's her actual Cutie Mark, not a Discord trick. My love for this story just increased exponentially.
933151 I'm in that boat, too. Maybe I'm just tired of the good guys winning all the time. I'm that guy who's still waiting for the rabbit to get to eat the Trix. Like this.
932861 Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
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Well...I uh...wasn't expecting that.
OOOOHHHHHHHHHHH NO HE DIDN'T.
Hello plot twist just when you have us thinking Scootaloo is on the side of harmony again you surprise us. What are Scootaloo and Discord planning? When will the girl's find out who the other's that freed Discord are? Has Scootaloo really become a villain for good? Looking forward to reading more and having these questions answered.
I squee whenever you update discordant. like srsly. best story ever. i'm not much of a writer, but i can tell, holy crap, this is well-written, with all them plot twists and cliffhangers. and you write the characters just so well.
keep it up. don't make us wait so long next time udjzhflksadfauelif
I was waiting for this I knew you weren't going to let me down on this story. Great twist too. I wasn't expecting that
I'm going out on a limb here and say that that Cutie Mark is probably fake. Discord could easily have magically "painted" it there. I think it was said at some point that no magic could make one appear before its time.
This is in no way me refusing to admit my favorite CMC could possibly end up unhappy. Nope! Literally zero chance of that here... Well maybe a little.
This is among my favorite Scootaloo stories across the interwebs, up there with Transcendence and Under Your Wings. If I had a seal of approval, you'd get it.
933438
Magic? No. Actions, like betraying your nation, your friends and your lifelong idol all in one move? Buck yea.
Though I'm not sure what Discord's current actions count as. Or maybe the cutie mark has an alternative interpretation.
932773
Speaking of plot, wouldn't Celestia know to check Scootaloo's loyalty, seeing as she's the Element of Betrayal and all that?
Anyway. My prediction - some uncontrolled factor works against Discord(like how he neglected Spike's letters as a factor in his cannon appearance) - he's not perfectly omniscient. I would say Rarity's escape, but Discord already predicted that. It's probably going to be a character then - lets look at all the agents in play:
Discord - some unknown internal conflict? Arrogance?
Trixie, Gilda, Diamond Tiara, Chysalis, other Elements - will all probably play their normal roles.
Luna - Still could be convinced, but Discord has turned her against Celestia. Maybe the Elements could talk her out of it?
Celestia - Lots of experience against Discord, again, see above about prempting some of his plans. Though Discord has learned some lessons.
Rainbow Dash - see Scootaloo. Might realize her mistake(or Celestia will point it out when she gets the whole story).
Scootaloo - The big one. Could be found out or convinced by Celestia or Rainbow Dash at this point, betray Discord out of her own volition. CMC are also a potential factor.
CMC - They're not in canterlot, but they might change things later on.
That or the author decides to do something like Past Sins - Scootaloo wins but gains power, realizes her mistake and sets it right. But that kinda feels like a cop out as Discord has taken out opposing incentives.
i for one hope that scootaloo takes on a whole new personality and starts to become un-caring
awesome chapter by the way
i dont care much about cliffhangers
Discord said Chrysalis had her own job to do... I'm suspicious of this Scootaloo they found in the garden...
I love this story. At first I thought "Wait Discord just left all of them there? Without saying anything?"
Then Scootaloo at the end there. ...Awesome.
I really want Discord to win this actually.
P.S. This is my own taste mind you, I'll admit it, but I imagine it would be ironic if Magic was the center element to BOTH sets.
Sweet mother of everything.
Scootaloo's gone full blown Anakin Skywalker!
I DID THINK it was rather weird that Discord would put so much work into her and then betray her on the spot. It felt too weird.
So what does her cutie mark MEAN?
ANd I wonder how the ponies will react when they see that's a REAL cutie mark and NOT some paint job.
Trixie is ironic for an element of standing alone. When the crowds and cheers and praise are what she uses to validate herself. If she KNEW she was the 'great and powerful trixie' she wouldn't feel the need to validate it to every town she went to.
And ironically, many of the elements of chaos shown here AREN'T inherently evil anymore than the elements of harmony are actually inherently good!
Loyalty to a complete monster isn't a good thing.
Friendship with the wrong people can be a bad thing.
Laughter can hurt as well as heal.
Truth can be as destructive and liberating.
Etc, etc.
Likewise, the elements Discord has created as NOT inherently evil. But IMHO he's too blind by his own ego to realize that.
Like the rainbow of darkness to the elements of harmony's rainbow of light.
I wonder if Discord is just going to discard Diamond Tiara now that she's served her purpose. And I wonder how Silver Spoon would play into it, Diamond Tiara's only taste of friendship! (Since signs do seem to point to Silver genuinely caring for her.)
Such a shame that scootaloo has so whole heartedly embraced the element of betrayal.
932995 Not yet! The Elements still exist, and we have not seen what happened to Luna yet. There is still much to do!
932995 she's gonna betray discord next. She is the element of betrayal.
Damnit Scoots!
Scootaloo is "heartbroken", Discord is free and the mane 6 and Celestia still don't know who took their elements(but we do). Awesome.
934168
In the show, Twilight finally turned grey when she gave up on her friends and was getting ready to leave them. Twilight is the element of magic, and friendship is magic. In a way, by breaking her friends, he broke her. Trixie pushes everyone away with her ego and all around unpleasant attitude. She doesn't want friends, she wants fans.
Damn, Discord did betray Scootaloo, that really su-...*reads last part* Scootaloo you clever little filly. That's why she's my favorite of the CMC. Is it bad that I want Discord to win.
So the thicken plots.
Wow... at first I was disappoint. Then I was amazed. Discord really is a genius! And he gave Scootaloo her cutie-mark, as promised - she's not a blank flank anymore and she uses her talent... nice =3