Discord chuckled softly as he watched the various ponies deal with the things he'd unleashed across the land as his way of letting them know he'd returned. As he did, he carefully watched the six ponies who showed signs of using the Elements recently, knowing they'd be the ones sent against him...though he already had a plan to change that up. But first, he wanted to get to know them a little by seeing how they dealt with his unexpected.
Up in the sky, the wielder of Loyalty - Rainbow Dash - was pitted against the cotton candy clouds that rained chocolate milk. Her reaction proved...disappointing. Seriously, charging in to try and break up the clouds without even noticing that they were a different color? And once stuck, she had no way of freeing herself. He could only shake his head in resignation. Headstrong, and little else. He'd have to give some thought about how to have fun with her, though if she liked a fight that much, Dagon could use the exercise...
Applejack - the wielder of Honesty - was pitted against her farm going out of control. Corn popping in the fields, apples growing gigantic, animals mutating to devour the crops...her reaction showed more promise. She first got her family under shelter, then began searching for some aspect of the mess she could control, and started reigning things in bit by bit as best she could. It was a futile exercise, but at least it showed some critical thinking skills. Discord wondered how Miss Honesty would handle Boethiah...
In the center of the small town, Discord had unleashed a giant crab - specifically, the one who'd been body swapped as a result of the first wish Discord had granted - to start wrecking things, specifically pointing it towards the building where the wielder of Generosity - Rarity - lived. It had charged in, fruitfully trying to grab clothes it could wear (apparently it retained the human sense of modesty). Of course, this resulted in destroying many of the outfits and terrifying Rarity's little sister, leading to...
...Rarity donning a yellow jumpsuit and attacking the crab with levitating swords? Discord revised his opinion of the prissy one. Maybe she could be fun after all. Hircine could be fun...
The wielder of Laughter - Pinkie Pie - took one look at the raining chocolate, hailing cheese, and snowing whipped cream (Vaermina had come to enjoy whipped cream in many ways, leading to Discord finding multiple ways to provide it) and...put on a bib. She then began to swim in the puddles, guzzling the milk and chomping the cheese and cream like it was the world's biggest party. Discord knew Sanguine was the only one who could handle her...and they'd both love every minute of it.
He then turned to the wielder of Kindness, Fluttershy. Given she surrounded herself with animals, he'd decided to see how she handled some truly terrifying creatures, and unleashed a few - no more than a dozen - servant Daedra in the area. Looking over, he searched for signs of the destruction they would cause...and found a tea party. Remembering his own such events when he was younger, he knew Jyggorath would enjoy this one.
He then turned to the wielder of Magic - Twilight Sparkle - as she stepped out of a library and tried to brute force reverse his enchantments. He then laughed to himself as he heard her complain about her fail-safe spell failing. He wondered which little librarian would come out on top? And her assistant, a dragon among ponies...looked like Malacath could participate, too...
He then flowed back towards Canterlot as he saw them responding to a summons there. It was time for his grand entrance.
Discord watched and listened in silence as Celestia explained his story here. It was rather interesting to hear her perspective, and even more amusing to see her face fall off in response to finding the Elements gone.
And then she said it. "But this doesn't make sense!"
He knew he'd get no better cue than that. With a wicked chuckle, he spoke to them all. "Make sense? Aw, what fun is there in making sense?"
"Discord!" Celestia snarled, getting into a defensive stance. "Show yourself!"
Chuckling, he chose to inhabit the stained glass image of himself. "Did you miss me Celestia?" As he inhabited it, he began to flow along the windows. "I missed you." He smiled as he waited for her response.
"What have you done with the Elements of Harmony?" Celestia demanded irritably.
"Oh, I just borrowed them for a little while," he teased, making them vanish from one of the stained glass windows to make his point.
"You'll never get away with this!" Celestia hissed fiercely.
"So grim, Celestia...you really should get that stick out of your plot." Deciding to be cheeky, he made himself appear amongst them and pulled his staff of office - the Mad Psijic - out from under Celestia's tail. "You'll never get ahead in this game if you don't know how to have fun." He quickly took stock of everyone's reactions to what he'd just done. Celestia looked absolutely mortified, as did Twilight. Rarity had fainted dramatically. Fluttershy was bright red. Applejack looked torn between offense and amusement. Rainbow Dash was trying not to laugh, as was Luna off behind that pillar where she apparently had been preparing a sneak attack. Pinkie Pie...wasn't bothering to hide her amusement at all as she rolled back and forth on the carpet laughing her tail off. "See?" Discord pointed out as he picked up the discarded tail and gave it back to its owner. "She certainly knows how to have fun!"
"Thank you!" Pinkie called out eagerly as she reattached her tail, making the others give her odd looks.
"But we really should have all the players present to hear the rules," Discord continued, snapping his talons.
In a flash of light, Luna and Spike appeared amongst the gathered ponies. Spike let out a scream of fear and hid behind Twilight, while Luna took a battle stance.
"Leave my sister out of this!" Celestia roared, her mane billowing upward as she focused her magic.
"Why? She was involved last time," Discord pointed out bluntly. "Besides, it's not like I'm asking anything too strenuous." He waved his staff.
Nine gateways appeared, one in front of each pony and dragon, coded specifically to their energy.
"You want your Elements back. You can't beat me without them. I'll let you find them." He grinned widely. "Through those gates are the realms of nine of my most powerful subjects. Find them, face them, and gain the Elements from them."
"But there are only six Elements!" Twilight called out. "There's three extra!"
"Oh, someone here knows basic math!" Discord cackled. "Your Elements have been disguised. Your quests in the realms of my subjects will lead you to nine artifacts. Once you have those artifacts, they'll lead you back to my Realm, and I'll tell you more there. Of course, there's only one more rule to this game."
He lifted his staff, and the world outside the castle seemed to vanish. "Either everyone plays...or the game is over." Lowering his staff, the world came back. "So are we in? Or would you rather leave the world as is, with me unstoppably at the reigns?"
Before anyone else could speak up, Pinkie voiced her opinion. "Girls! Eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain! Chocolate rain!"
Discord chuckled eagerly. "Oh, you are such a treat..."
As he expected, it wasn't long before the ponies and dragon stepped through their individual portals. The games had begun.
What is it with people pitting crabs against Rarity?
Irony, perhaps?
sorry not sorry
Ooh, tough choice. I'll stick my vote in for Pinkie and Sanguine first, just because.
Edit: Beat the poll link lol, quite a few people did by the look of it.
I vote Twilight vs. Hermaeus Mora first.
Twilight and Hermaeus Mora first please!
pinkie
then twilight
folloewed by spike
then rares
thean applejack and finally RD for the mane 6 with luna and celestia last
Pinkie and Sanguine first.
I would please like either Spike, Pinkie or Rainbow first. If you don't mind that is.
As MOST reading will know of Seras Victoria, I'll just leave at our comments are the same.
Also, Pinkie Pie - Sanguine
There's also the straw pole link, people.
I say do it in the same order Discord got to meet them gives a little bit of order of what to expect but still leaves the good bits a mystery for us to read, or another way would be order the submitted to Discord's rule save for Jyggy of course as his spot is fixed
I like all of the pairings except a few. Rarity shouldn't be against the Hunter. It just doesn't feel quite right. I realize that you referenced Kill Bill for her, but that would never associate her with Hershey to me. She's probably the hardest to place. None of the other princes really fit, unless you were to pit her against Clavicus. She's established in the fandom and the show as wanting to be a Canterlot Elite and have her name in lights and such. Clavicus could easily manipulate that and would be kinda interesting.
I can understand why RD was pitted against Ambition, though it seems kinda off. I would almost pit her against Mephalia, since she seems the kind to break up friendships and such. It would essentially be like pitting Loyalty against something trying to break her loyalty.
I can understand why you sent Celly to Life, but she could also be sent to Azura. I do have a feeling, though, which would be that Nightmare Moon is going to appear, which would be interesting, especially if she met Mehrune.
This may not be the most popular vote, but can we get them in the order they lost their minds to discord in the show? With the others and twilight mixed in?
I know that question doesn't make the most grammatical sense, but do you understand what I'm getting at?
(And yes, I know that there's a poll, just wanted to add my two cents.)
Twilight and Mora!! TWILIGHT AND MORA CAN SHE HANDLE ALL THE BOOKS!?
Dear God...
Yeah that's about right.
I say Spike first. For some reason I wanna see the little guy get his chance at being a badass.
...
Please say he's gonna get his chance at being a badass?
I wonder if the Crab's name was Bill. I just hope Rarity doesn't Kill Bill, that'd be sad.
Looks like Twilight's fail-safe safely failed.
Too bad only Pinkie and Discord managed to understand the tail end of the joke.
I say Spike. He doesn't get enough screen time as is.
Wait. Where's Nocturn in the list?
7877401 I liked the Kill Bill one... but then you just had to force it. GOD DAMNIT, SANS!
Well, that was refreshing. I certainly can't wait how it all plays out.
And I vote towards Pinkie going first as well. That will be fun!
YES! Crab man returns!!!!
EDIT: Found it
I want to see Luna go first verses Discord's girlfriend
7877474 ?
7877474 You do realize that that's just a list of the Princes that are facing off against the ponies, right? There's only 9 ponies and I-forget-how-many Daedric princes, there's bound to be a few left out.
Honestly? I'm not sure how to feel about this chapter. Perhaps I just don't have the right mindset.
7877320
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/rarity-fighting-a-giant-crab
I voted in the poll before reading-(Celestia), but this line...
I'm sincerely hoping rarity goes next.
Ah, Rarity. When things threaten her sister, she is always prepared to battle without honor or equinity.
I vote Rainbow. Save Rarity for near the end.
I had to stop reading. I had to stop. Why in the name of all that is unholy is the Merchant Mudcrab (a) giant, and (b) attacking Ponyville instead of selling his wares? Not that he actually had any wares in Morrowind, but you get my drift. He is a merchant. He should be devastating their economy, not their town.
Now with that off my chest, back to reading.
LUNA! I want to see how this one ends.
Oh, Discord's really pulling out all the stops this time.
I like how you implemented the 'Rarity fights a giant crab' meme.
Let's go with Applejack first.
7877388 No she will explode into a pile of books, be resurrected, and then read the books she exploded into.
That and they will likely start a book club.
either twilight or luna first.
I say Spike first. He doesn't get enough positive screen time in the show.
7877872
Nah. Twilight is a librarian. She specializes in sharing knowledge. Mora, on the other hoof, is a horder of knowledge. I wouldn't be surprised if Twilight gutted the ****** ****** like a pig and took over his Mantle. "Twilight Sparkle, Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Friendship" has a certain ring to it.
Oh, who would I be if I didn't vote for Hermaeus Mora v. Twilight first? I love that guy, and Apocrypha will likely send Twilight into absolute convulsions.
(If you've not seen Apocrypha before - I highly suggest looking it up. It's pretty unique, even as far as the Daedric Realms go.)
luna first please
personaly i'd like to see luna and vermin first followed by rarity and hircine then rainbow and dagon, but I can't vote on the rest.
I want Spike first.
I like the order you set it as
Spike First
Pinkie Second Last
Spike first,then twilight
I wanna see celetia more red then ever!!!!
Why is it that I always find myself wishing to thumbs up this (these) stories (they're all so good) when I've already favorited, tracked, and thumbed up the story?
Twilight vs Hermaeus Mora. Failing that, either Spike vs Malacath or Rarity vs Hircine.
i wanna see pinkie out glutton sanguine...
Pinks vs sanguine first.....the rest well spike second i guess
Luna - Vaermina Because I think if Vaermina agrees to eat nightmares instead of dreams after Luna defeats them they can share the work at night and get along, and maybe Discord gets to wake up snuggled between them. I can also see Vaermina unleashing Nightmares and Luna defeating them and the two of them having a blast at facing an equal at their craft.
7877378 Got to agree, Clavicus seems like a better match up against Rarity.
I also want to suggest the Crusaders ending up with Azura and Nocturnal so they have someone watching over them while their sisters are busy. I can see Azura brushing manes and Nocturnal teaching patience with lockpicking or something to keep them entertained and out of trouble. Maybe Clavicus Vile, if nothing else I can see him letting the Crusaders play with Barbas.
I was going to vote Rarity and Hircine first, but someone made a convincing argument for Twilight Sparkle and after your latest chapter of her story. Twilight Sparkle first.