Passed the Will Save
Discord eyed the quiet reminder of his friendship with Fluttershy. He truly wished his magic hadn’t manifested it, but it was what it was. Tirek quietly waited for his decision, having offered partnership and freedom in exchange for helping the centaur drain Equestria of its magic.
It was something that grated at him. Ever since he willingly set aside most of his antics for the betterment of ponykind (mostly Fluttershy,) he’s had a constant, demanding itch.
Addiction is a powerful thing, and Discord quickly discovered this after his so-called reform. No longer could he create miracles and games on his whim. No longer could he have fun with any passerby he wished. His days had devolved into semi-blurred snapshots that might as well have been identical for all he cared. Truly, if he hadn’t befriended Fluttershy, it would have ended either in his victory or repetrification.
But now he could escape that. Tirek’s words hit every single issue Discord had had for months. Oh, he enjoyed his time with Fluttershy, but so far everyone else at best tolerated him. He had offered to share in his fun, and got glares or semi-polite (mostly fearful) declinations in return. The ponies got everything, while he got nothing.
Really, it should have been a no-brainer.
Which is why he was quite surprised when he realized he was struggling with the decision. After all, this wasn’t a real choice. Help Tirek, Tirek helps him, be free. Except for some reason something was nagging at him, and it looked suspiciously like Fluttershy with her ‘I’m very disappointed’ stare. She was asking him to think about this, and to make what was, to her, the right decision. Why was he even humoring that?
Because if I don't, I'll lose the one friend I ever had?
Discord felt a cold shiver go through him. Those words he had once spoken in mockery now echoed through his head with fear. Had he truly changed so much, all just for one pony? Tirek was right about one thing, something about him was shackled, but he found himself unable to get rid of it. He wanted to. He could, easily, but something told him that he shouldn’t. It was whisper quiet, but blaringly loud all the same.
A wave of pain and nausea washed over him.
“I’ve made my decision,” Discord said softly, looking at Tirek.
“I promise that you won’t regret it,” Tirek said with a sinister smirk.
“You know...” Discord pressed his fingers together. “...I’m not so sure.”
===
Celestia was on her usual evening stroll through the palace grounds when she saw something that made her heart skip a beat. There, in its old spot, was Discord’s former statue.
She ran up to it without delay, thinking that somehow, Discord had forced Twilight and her friends into reimprisoning him. Or, more chillingly, Tirek had somehow done this. She flared her horn, checking the statue for the magic that had done this. She would easily discover either the cool water of the Elements of Harmony, or the searing heat of Tirek's magic.
There was nothing. As far as she could tell, it was just a statue.
“What do you think?” asked Discord behind her.
Celestia, despite her age, couldn’t help but flinch. There was a curse on her lips for his startling intrusion, but she held it back. “It’s certainly a well done recreation.” She paused. “Might I ask what the occasion is?”
“Nostalgia, I suppose,” Discord said. He floated up to it in scrutiny for a moment before rubbing a stony elbow with his thumb, smoothing out an imperfection. “There.” It was a perfect replication of his first prison, which had him frozen in a cocky, amused laugh.
“I suppose you might want to remember the old times,” Celestia said with some strain, remembering what was, to her, to be several unpleasant decades.
Discord was silent at this.
“I hope you haven’t been neglecting your search for Tirek in favor of...sculpting.”
Discord waved dismissively. “Don’t get your quills in a quandary, Celestia. It’s already done.”
Celestia’s eyes widened. “You’ve already found him?!” It had been less than a day, after all, and Equestria was a fairly big place.
“Found, confronted, and soundly defeated. Tirek is having fun in Tartarus once more.”
“That’s wonderful! I knew I was right to trust you.” He was silent. “You don’t sound very triumphant.”
“Frankly, I don’t feel triumphant.” In fact, he didn’t sound like Discord at all.
There was silence for a minute as Discord stared at the statue.
“You know that, despite our past, you can talk to me if you want, Discord.”
Discord snorted. “What, so you can psychoanalyze me and try to nudge me onto the righteous path of harmony and friendship?” He sneered at her. “I’m not your little student, Celestia. You have no power over me.” Celestia opened her mouth with a scowl, but Discord continued speaking. “Besides, it’s not like I haven’t already given in.”
Celestia stared at him for a moment. “What do you mean?”
He glared at her accusingly for a moment. “Let me ask you a question. When was the last time you did something so contrary to your nature, that you felt physically ill? You felt like you had committed the gravest of sins? That if the powers that be decided you should die, you really couldn’t come up with an argument as to why you should live?”
“That...is a very serious question, Discord. I suppose the last time was…” She thought back to a red and gold unicorn, lost in another world due to Celestia’s temper. “About fifteen years ago. May I ask where this is coming from?”
Discord pressed his lips into a line. “Who am I?”
Celestia tilted her head slightly. “You’re Discord.” At his gesturing for her to continue, she followed with, “The Lord of Chaos and Dishar- oh. I didn’t realize you would...react like this. I’m sorry, I didn’t even consider...”
He frowned at her before sighing. “No. You had nothing to do with this, not really.” He grumbled some more about friendship. “Tirek offered me an alliance. All I had to do was help him consume Equestria’s magic, and in return I would have free reign to bring chaos to all once again.”
Silence, followed by Celestia’s smiling.
“You really have come a long way.”
He threw up his hands and started shouting. “And that’s the problem! I shouldn’t have! I’m Discord! I bring terror and confusion to all I see! I have power over all reality! That’s what I do. If I truly, desperately wanted to, I could rule this world and nopony would be able to stop me. Not you, not Twilight and her silly Elements of Harmony, and certainly not the pathetic armies of the world.
"I had an out, Celestia. I could finally tear off this leash that I put around my neck. I could cut loose and enjoy myself again. I could make all of you my little minions with just a snap of my fingers. So tell me why, Celestia. Why did I give all of that up? How can I be the Lord of Chaos and Disharmony if I don’t cause disharmony? Why does the thought of Fluttershy’s disappointment make my chest hurt? Why will I miss the rare chats with Twilight about magic? Why do I get nauseated when I think of you scowling at me again? TELL ME WHY!”
Celestia watched, eyes wide as Discord caught his breath and stared at his shaking claws. She had never seen him like this before, fur on end, limbs trembling, eyes wide with...fear.
She stepped forward and embraced him in a hug, and he didn’t stop her.
“I don’t know what’s happening, Celestia,” he said quietly. “I don’t know what these feelings are.” Slowly, uncertainly, he hugged her back.
They stood there for several minutes in silence, with only the crickets and the wind as company. Eventually, Discord slithered from Celestia’s grasp, and floated up to sit on the statue.
“Is this really what friendship is like?” he asked.
“Sometimes,” Celestia said. “Sometimes we make sacrifices for others, just because we know that if we don’t make those sacrifices, we will lose those we love.”
“I’ve...never really had to do that,” Discord mused. “Even when I unfroze the farm for Fluttershy, it didn’t really cost me anything.”
“That’s the most wonderful thing about friendship. It isn’t about exchanging favors or things. It’s just pure, giving choice. It’s helping them for no reason. It’s complimenting them just because you can. It’s dimming yourself so they can shine bright.
“It’s changing yourself for the better, giving up a vice, striving to fight for them, and even laying down your life, just because you know that doing so will let those you love carry on.”
“Love?” Discord said, his voice faint.
“Yes, Discord. Love.”
He stared off in the distance, seeing something for the first time. “Oh.” He was silent for awhile longer, rubbing his claws together uncertainly. “I think I like it.”
Celestia smiled. “I would certainly hope so. There’s a lot more in your future.”
He perked up questioningly.
“Have you told Fluttershy yet?”
He frowned. “Not yet.”
“You should go to her. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you.”
He thought about it, thought about her smiling face, and how happy she would be that everything was alright. He thought about next week, when they had another tea party planned. He thought about it, and wondered if he could do something similar with the others.
He also suddenly remembered what he was shouting at Celestia just moments ago. He was the Lord of Chaos and Disharmony. Could he really be that while still keeping his friends?
The answer was no, at least not as he knew it. It would mean an end of his existence, figuratively speaking. Fluttershy would never tolerate him if he tried to retain his old title.
The pain returned, and he hated it, but didn’t try to dissuade it.
So Discord made a choice, and just like that, he was only the Lord of Chaos. It wasn’t as painful as he thought it would be. Without the disharmony, chaos was a bit harder to do, but…
For his friends, he would figure something out. After all, what kind of chaotic being would he be if he just stayed the same?
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I’ll be honest, I thought this would be way darker and sadder.
Not too shabby. I like it.
Chaos doesn't have to be disharmonious, after all life is chaos and order in equal-ish measures. You'll be fine Discord, but good on you for making such a choice.
11003764
Precisely. Much like shadow and light, chaos and order are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other.
You know, Discord, going against your very nature to do something you wouldn't normally do could be seen as an act of chaos all in itself.
I found this really interesting good job
I admit, not the direction I expected it to go...but a very powerful direction none the less. It also reminds me of the episode where Discord tried to be orderly, and Fluttershy then had to be chaotic. The same sort of message, but in reverse.
Aw, this was a nice lil' read. It's quite charming to read an AU where things are a little bit better.
On the other hand; one could argue that being a spirit of chaos and disharmony, Discord going against his core nature is very much in line with his core nature.
Well done! Have an up vote & a follow. The thing about Discord is that he is a spirit of chaos & disharmony, so giving that up should have been more of a sacrifice for him. This really helps to show that.
This is a very accurate sounding Discord. Almost too accurate.
This felt like a perfect finishing touch, it's almost like he's baffled that she said that while also wondering if she's telling him the truth in the same line. This is a very well-thought out and crafted fic, SpectralFury! Thanks for writing this!
That works! I saw it rather differently here.
This went deep and emotional, all of which is amazing of how you did it! Really dives down into what Discord could have felt and it's nothing short of being absolutely grand! Nice work with it all! Hope ya didn't mind, but I just had to make a reading of this discordant fic of yours!
Audio Linkerloo!: https://youtu.be/oNAaBhdLr7Y
(I don't mean to offend anyone with this comment in any way!)
This is pretty emotional. That's good. I like emotional.
With that description and start I was almost expecting a Discordant Harmony "Discord just poof, dissapears" thing, This was much sweeter, but the pain is still very much there, thanks to that very same expectation (nice bait and switch with the statue there btw)
Wow that is something else here it looks like Discord caught Tirek but apparently he's been having a lot of emotional thoughts and everything why is he feeling like this even Celestia was even surprised why he asked that and she told him he actually care for is friends and I like the conversation between these two it's really nice this was a pretty good story keep up the good work
Excellent work, well done.
This was beautiful! Well done, and thank you.
I'm kinda surprised this didn't end with a more literal and tangible consequence to giving up his magic, like in Discordant Harmony.
Actually there was another reason why I think Discord should have NEVER taken Tirek up on his offer. Think of the world with Tirek ruling it. There is NO chaos, only despair. It is nothing if not Lawful -- the exact opposite of the Chaos that Discord offers. It is a world completely staid.
Very nice. Wonderful feel to Discord’s emotions.
Yo wow Whoever thought that discord has so much emotional feelings after he captured tirek then he's very confused good thing Princess Celestia help them getting through this it's very nice man just a little heads up maybe you should put a alternate universe tag on it
IMO Discord is not Chaos. he is Discord.
It is an important distinction. A few well placed discordant notes can serve to emphasize a greater harmony.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/dissonance-in-music-definition-examples.html
I'm kinda disappointed.
I liked this. A lot. Discord doing the right thing and re-imprisoning Tirek in Tartarus, is simply Discord being Chaotic and Disharmonious to his own nature. You can't get more Chaotic and Disharmonious than that! Friendship IS Magic. It would tip the scales so that Chaos and Disharmony would work in favor OF Harmony. And if, as it seems, Discord Loves Fluttershy, well what is LOVE but a very special kind of Friendship where you put your Special Somepony's needs before your own simply because you Love them more than you love yourself? I think Cadance would applaud. In fact, I think that moment shook her all the way up in the Chrystal Empire.
This story isn't as cool as Twilight going head to head against Tirek, but I think it's actually better. Think you can do a great one where Celestia Doesn't decide to retire!?
Greetings. Your reading has been completed and can be found below. I hope you enjoy.
11004989
I know she wasn't there, but that really should have been Cadance's line.