Episode 47: Of Discord and Dragons
“Spike,” Twilight said with an air of finality. “You need a break.”
Spike paused, having been poring over the Cutie Map. “What d’you mean?”
Twilight indicated the Crystal Empire. “You thought that the Crystal Empire was under attack, but it was just a friendly changeling. You thought Starlight was going to take over the town, and she hasn’t. You thought Trixie was up to no good…”
“And to be fair, you thought that too,” Spike pointed out.
“Not the point,” Twilight insisted. “The point is, you’re running yourself ragged. You’re seeing threats everywhere… and I feel it’s because you haven’t had the chance to properly relax.”
Spike chuckled. “You remember those times when we were younger, and I was the one telling you to relax?”
Twilight smiled fondly at the memory. “At the time, I hated the idea. But… you were right. But now, you need to follow your own advice.” She drew closer. “You remember that game you and Shining loved so much? Ogres and Oubliettes?”
Spike couldn’t help but look up wistfully. Sending his wizard character Garbunkle on quests and adventures… “Those were good times,” he admitted.
Twilight’s grin widened. “I’m glad you think that,” she noted. “Because, I did some asking around, and wouldn’t you know it? Big Mac loves playing that game too.”
Spike’s eyes widened. “Big Mac’s a role player?”
Twilight nodded. “So are Star Wing and Jackknife. And…” she paused before adding. “And Discord.”
Spike’s smile faded. “Wait, so… you want us to do a… ‘guys’ night’ with Discord?”
“Consider it a… business part of the vacation,” Twilight replied. “Last time, Discord turned on us for Tirek because Fluttershy was pretty much his only friend. I’ve tried to connect with him, but… he’s not exactly…”
“He’s not your type, right?” Spike asked.
Twilight grimaced. “You make it sound almost romantic. Don’t make it sound like that.”
“Sorry.”
Twilight cleared her throat. “Anyway… I’m hoping that he might find some common ground with you and Big Mac.”
Spike chuckled again. “So, you want me to relax, and yet you also want me to keep an eye on Discord.”
“Please?” Twilight gave him puppy mare eyes. “I’d be really grateful.”
Spike sighed, but grinned. “You’re cheating… but it’s working. Alright.”
Twilight grinned brightly. “Thanks.” She turned back to her room. “I’ve still got some packing to do: my friends and I are going on a goodwill trip to Yakyakistan, so it’ll just be you guys for the night.” She smiled back at him. “I know you won’t let me down.”
Spike saluted. “You can count on me, Twi.” Though he let his smile drop as soon as her back was turned.
##
If Spike was being honest with himself, he didn’t really know what to think of Discord. His only real interaction with the guy had been seeing him regret siding with Tirek and giving Twilight what she needed to help Star Wing defeat Tirek. Ever since then, he hadn’t really kept tabs on the spirit of chaos.
Briefly, a surge of guilt raced through him. Should I have been watching him? I know the Princesses took his magic, but they also said he could earn it back if he kept doing good deeds. What if, when he thinks he can get away with it…
A further stab of guilt forced the dark thoughts down. I can’t keep seeing everyone as potential enemies. Twilight raised me better than that. I have to stop being angry and paranoid all the time.
With those thoughts strengthening him, he was able to see Twilight and her friends off at the train station, before turning his attention to the draconequus, who watched the train - with Fluttershy - roll off over the horizon. He didn’t stop waving until the train was long gone and out of their sight. Even then, he kept his back to Spike and Mac, Mac himself further back and scraping his hooves across the ground with a hum.
For a moment, there was silence between the three guys. Then, a voice spoke out.
“Brr!” Star Wing dropped down on top of Spike, her wings fluttering so she could stand gently on his head. “Did winter come early or something? The reception here’s frostier than the Frozen North!” She hopped off Spike and skipped over to Discord. “Hey, Discord! How goes the program?”
“Program?” Discord summoned a magazine and gazed at it. “Oh, wonderful! A fascinating article right here.”
Star snatched it and perused it herself. “Oh, yes, very interesting,” she noted, before gasping. “It says here you’re up to 80 good deeds. Almost there to getting back some of your power.”
Discord chortled. “Well, helping out around Fluttershy’s cottage and helping the children with their projects can build up over time.”
“Sounds like you’ve been busy,” Star Wing agreed. “Need a place to unwind?” She sauntered back towards Mac, passing Spike with a coy grin. “I’ve got quite the evening planned~” She stopped by Spike. “And keep that mind of yours out of the gutter! I’ve told you before…”
“I’m too young for certain things,” Spike grumbled in a monotone. “I’ve heard.”
“Luckily for you,” Star said, “What I’ve got is family friendly and fun for all ages!” She spun in the air. “Reckless revelry, daring dances…”
“Fedoras?” Discord asked curiously.
Star flashed her own horn and a fedora and jacket appeared on Discord’s body. “Only the finest of fedoras!” she declared happily. “Right, Mac?”
“Yup,” Mac replied with a small grin.
Discord hummed, glancing at Spike, who shrugged. “That does sound fun, actually…” he sighed and stretched. “Alright, you’ve convinced me! Tonight will be the best night of your lives, and not just because you get to bask in my greatness.”
Star zipped over. “Easy, buddy, I said family friendly!”
“That was family friendly!” Discord teased. “Now whose mind is in the gutter?”
Star’s horn flashed and balanced a trash can on her head. She glanced up like it totally wasn’t there before humming. “Touche, Sir Discord, Touche! You’ve won this round!” She teleported the trash can away. “See you all tonight! Twilight’s library. The fun starts at sundown!”
“Technically, the fun starts when I arrive,” Discord replied. “But I’ll make sure it’s around sunset.”
Star laughed. “Oh, I love that song!” she said, walking off and shaking her flanks as she recited said song to herself. “Party don’t start till I walk in…”
Spike sighed. “Well, this is going to be interesting.”
##
That night at sundown, Spike entered Twilight’s library… to find Star had completely changed things up.
Back when Spike was younger, he and Shining Armor had played Ogres and Oubliettes with dice and paper.
But now, Star Wing had created a small medieval field, complete with small statues of the various creatures that Spike remembered encountering.
Big Mac and Discord were already there, but they had been changed into costumes; Big Mac was dressed like a viking, with iron armor and a massive broadsword, while Discord was garbed in a green robe and white wig, wielding a bow and arrow.
“Welcome, Sir Spike!” Star declared, herself dressed in a hooded assassin’s robe that barely hid a belt and two bandoliers weighed down with an inordinate amount of throwing knives. “Or should I say… er…” she paused. “I don’t suppose you already have an avatar in mind, do you?”
Spike sheepishly pulled out a foldied bit of parchment that had been worn and crinkled by age. “Well…” he said. “When I was younger, I played this. I had this wizard character… Garbunkle.”
Star immediately shot over and seized the parchment. Giving it a quick readover, she declared, “Excellent,” and waved her horn once more.
In a flash of light, Spike found himself dressed in magician robes, with a pointed wizard hat and beard covering his face. A staff with a green gem was clutched in his claws, and black combat boots covered his back claws.
Spike stared down in awe. “This… it’s exactly like how I imagined Garbunkle.”
Star was still checking his stats. “Oh, level 30 with skill points in Intellect and Perception? Very nice.” She spun. “Well, Sir Garbunkle, welcome to Spiketopia, a world where evil reigns supreme, but a small band of warriors must stand tall against the darkness!”
Spike couldn’t help but chuckle. “Just like old times,” he mused. “So, who am I working with?”
Star indicated Big Mac. “This is Sir McBiggen, a Level 27 Black Knight unicorn from castle Chadwick.”
Big Mac stood tall. “When my king aligned himself with the evil Squizard, I would not besmirch my honor!”
Star turned to Discord. “Discord’s better known as Captain Wuzz is a Level Ten Archer, and you have the pleasure of speaking with Nyxeris of House Whinny-Fred, a Level 30 assassin rogue and the bane of all thieves and bandits that prey upon the innocent of Survivor’s Way.”
Spike glanced around the field again. “So… how is this going to work? Normally, we roll the dice and…”
“Oh, we get the chance for that,” Star (or rather, Nyxeris) replied. “Observe!”
On cue, several of the statues came to life, marching on the group.
“Stand and deliver!” one of the statues declared. “You risk the wrath of the mighty Squizard! Lay down your arms and surrender, and the Squizard might show mercy.”
“Alright, Garbunkle,” Nyxeris said. “You just joined us, so you get the first choice. What do we go for?”
Spike checked his list of spells, and experimentally fired one of his flame spells. As he did so, he saw a faint outline of a dice rolling with his spell.
Unfortunately, as the flames struck, the number ‘3’ blazed bright, and the statue only stumbled a foot or two before glaring.
“Death it is!” the statue declared, before running forward and swiping at Spike with a sword.
Spike/Garbunkle yelped and held up his staff. But as the statue’s sword struck his staff, a ‘10’ flashed through the air, and Spike just barely managed to deflect his blow.
He wasn’t as luck as the second guard ran up to him. As a red ‘1’ shone bright against his staff, it was knocked from his grip and he gasped as the sword ran down his arm, leaving a nasty cut.
Yet… Spike didn’t feel any pain. Though the cut looked like it should’ve been agony, all he felt was a twinge of annoyance that his first enemies had done so much damage.
“Don’t worry,” Star/Nyxeris assured him. “I’m looking for us to have fun, not get horrible maimed. Speaking of which… HAVE AT THEE!” She withdrew two of her throwing knives and launched them. With a ‘10’ and a ‘5’, she nailed the statue in the throat, and sent it stumbling backward.
At the same time, Discord/Captain Wuzz then fired off an arrow. With a perfect ‘20’, it landed right between the eyes of the second statue, and the statue broke apart into stone.
Spike couldn’t help but grin. “Thanks, Captain.”
Discord chortled. “I don’t suppose that could count as my 81st good deed, could it? Covering for my friends in a fight?”
‘Friends?’ Spike pondered the term. Discord did seem to be a lot more friendlier than he remembered. Maybe…
Star’s laughter cut Spike off from his thoughts. “A little hard to consider it a ‘good’ deed, considering we’re not in any ‘real’ danger. This is just for fun. Don’t worry about your program.”
Spike resisted flinching. This was it. This was where Discord promptly started causing as much trouble as possible.
Spike remembered Shining complaining about players like that. Players who just proceeded to hurt, destroy or overall cause trouble to the game environment.
Spike bit back a sigh as the group continued onward. “This is probably going to be a long session.”
##
But, as it turned out, it wasn’t.
Though Discord did look disappointed about how this wouldn’t affect his good deed rating, he still contributed to the team’s efforts. More than once, his arrows were the difference between Spike’s character Garbunkle living or being knocked out of the game early.
And as the adventure continued, Spike marveled at how Discord had changed. Gone was the malicious trickster that had turned the Mane Six into cruel discount versions of themselves and turned them over to Tirek. In his place was a snarky but honestly funny companion - one who had a quip ready for any situation, usually accompanied by an arrow to anything that was threatening them.
As they battled their way to Princess Shmarity, Spike couldn’t help but think, if this was a real adventure with actual stakes… he wouldn’t mind having Discord as a companion. In fact, he could see what Celestia had been thinking about releasing him.
He did incredibly as Captain Wuzz. One could only imagine what he would be like in an actual fight.
Stats
Page generated in 0.033 seconds
Total duration
996 users online
1,381,644 hits today, 2,167,270 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Thanks very much for getting this chapter up. REALLY liked the work going into the exchanges, characterizations and future chapter set-up. REALLY liked how Twilight got Spike to agree to join in on that O & O game as well as Night/Star also joining in (and, yeah, it makes sense that she would design that magic program for the game so that none of her fellow players got seriously hurt). All in all, Spike getting to spend time with Discord, Mac and Star in that game was quite enjoyable and also provides some subtle foreshadowing for this universes Season 6 finale, as that involves Discord helping out when there IS real danger. Also appreciated that you liked that stuff about helping out around Fluttershy's cottage and helping the Crusaders with their projects adding up to 80 good deeds already enough to use it. The playful jab at the Discord/Twilight shippers of old early in the chapter was also appreciated.
For later on, after Discord gets back the first percent of his power, Discord can observe that, capturing Chrysalis AND upgrading Tartarus's security, while currently tiring doing both of those in such a short order, both qualified as good deeds (meaning that he already got his start on getting back the second percent of his power AND that, even with only one percent of his power back, he can now comfortably do two good deeds a day).
Because of that, he is already up to two percent of his power by the time this universe's version of "Discordant Harmony" and MIGHT be up to THREE percent by the time the Season 7 finale rolls along. I could see a slightly humbled version of Discord being a big help in that adventure with the Pony of Shadows as well as Luna (as both Discord and Luna could, along with Starlight, act as living proof to Starswirl that his "once a villain, always a villain" stuff just isn't true (Luna in particular as Starswirl would be more likely to listen to one of his former students.
And, of course, Discord finding out, from helping all those civilians escape unharmed during the Storm King's invasion as well as invoking Karmic Trickery on the Storm King's troops that, even with three percent of his power back, doing a hundred good deeds in three days is still pretty tiring (even if it pays off by allowing him to get back the fourth percent of his power - he still thinks it might be a good idea to get back down to the two good deeds a day deal). Of course, keeping it down to two good deeds a day would make it so that, at best, Discord would only be up to twelve percent of his power at the start of Season Nine (powerful enough to be a BIG help in adventures, but NOT powerful enough to pull off the Grogar disguise) and still keep it so we get THE REAL Grogar in Season Nine and possibly up to twenty percent in the final battle with Grogar and his Legion.
Anyway, really looking forward to more of this.
Im intrested how a evel 10 archer is keeping up wit a party thats in the high 20s to 30. Much easier on the rolls, not as hard on Armor classes, Crits classifiication and dodge etc?
11775510
Probably has to do with his sub-class, whatever it is.
11775450
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. Really glad you're enjoying.
I love your system for Discord getting his power back, and am very glad you enjoyed my references to it.
I am a little nervous about Season 7, since I'm not quite as sure what the Dragon Six will be up to until the time comes for them to take on the Pony of Shadows, but I'm definitely excited for the movie and Seasons 8 and 9.
And the idea of Discord helping out and even showing Starswirl that not every villain stays a villain is an awesome idea that I really wish they had incorporated into the show, but now I can't wait to try and incorporate here.
Thanks as always for reading. I hope to share more soon.
Until then. 👋
11775510
11775558
Druid Circle of the Wild sub-class (or it's equestrian equivalent); I imagined that Discord would like utilizing wild magic as a sort of parallel to his old chaos magic, and the unpredictable nature of the circle of the wild would work to his benefit.
11775586
You're extremely welcome.
As for possible ideas for Drake Six adventures in Season 7 prior to the return of the Pillars and the Pony of Shadows, I know at least two of them could involve alternate versions of "Triple Threat" and "To Change a Changeling" : in the case of the former, making sure Ember and Thorax meet much sooner and the meeting goes as well as possible (though Night might get a bit jealous when Ember and Thorax start getting along too well). In the latter case, picks up immediately after the end of Triple Threat with the Drake Six helping out against the few remaining Chrysalis loyalists who are kidnapping assorted sapient beings and stealing love that Thorax mentioned in "Triple Threat".
As for a possible version of "The Fault of Our Cutie Marks" (which could be the next episode or the episode after that, the Drake Six could be helping out the Crusaders in helping out Gabby (as well as Gallus and Gilda and three other OC Griffons of your choice) in this universe.
For a possible bit in this version of the movie, it could be mentioned that Shining Armor and Flurry Heart are still back at the Crystal Empire (Shining trying to make sure the Crystal Empire isn't left unprotected and Flurry Heart being sick [with Shining, Sunburst and other Crystal Empire based guards helping look after her])
Another possible bit for this version of the movie could have Night suggesting they split up into three groups of four (two of the Mane Six and two of the Drake Six) to combine strength in numbers with covering more ground - Night and Pinkie, plus one of the other Mane Six and one of the other Drake Six heading to the Dragonlands to get help from Ember and her troops, Twilight and Spike, plus one of the other Mane Six and one of the other Drake Six heading to the Changelings' territory to get help from Thorax and his Changeling with Rarity, Diamond, Rainbow and Jackknife heading out to talk to the Hippogriffs) - Night reasoning that she and Twilight will be the ones Tempest is going to be after (meaning if they AREN'T on the team looking for the Hippogriffs, it will buy the team that IS more time [plus, if she and Twilight are on separate teams, that will force Tempest to go after two different targets and buy more time still] AND if she and Twilight are going to talk to powerful allies the heroes already have, that will turn up the heat so to speak on the Storm King).
11775711
These are wonderful ideas. Thank you. 
Funny thing about Night possibly being jealous is that she's polyamorous (that is to say, she doesn't mind her lovers having multiple relationships, as long as everyone knows about the relationships and are cool with each other.). Though, I could see some interesting drama with Spike getting nervous about her possibly getting jealous, only to get shocked when Night admits she doesn't mind, leading to her explaining her viewpoint)
I also love your idea for the movie, as it answers a whole bunch of questions that the movie left hanging. Part of me also wonders if the Storm King should be mentioned as having kept an eye on Equestria and noticed their alliances with the dragons and changelings, and thus he adapts his equipment to be able to handle the dragons and changelings, so that the arrival of the hippogriffs is what tips the balance in Equestria's favor (since Jackknife did successfully hide the hippogriff's location from them)
I feel we can also tie the movie into Season 8 by maybe having Pinkie and Night recruit the yaks while on their way to get the dragons, Diamondback recruits some more diamond dogs, and Swift and Fluttershy recruit the griffons. With all seven races working together against the Storm King, they realize how their teamwork led them to victory, leading to Twilight and the respective leaders of the other races coming together to try and form a school where all the races can work together, and as a result, grow even stronger bonds of friendship that will contribute to the races managing to take out Grogar when he comes knocking.
11775788
You're quite welcome. And the additional ideas are pretty good as well. Thanks very much for that.
11775872
Always happy to share.
11775880
A possible couple for "Fault in Our Cutie Marks" if you do use that one:
1. When asked how she can be good at so much stuff, Gabby can admit that "Griffons DO have a fairly respectable list of potential abilities. I mean, we can fly like Pegasi, have comparable strength to Earth Ponies and, while we don't have telekinesis like unicorns, we DO have claws with opposable thumbs, meaning most Griffons ARE essentially two-and-a-half-thirds of a rookie Alicorn (emphasis, admittedly, on "rookie"). So, griffons CAN actually learn to do A LOT if they have the heart and work ethic to try and stick with it.
and 2. As the Drake Six are helping the Crusaders and Gabby and her group of griffon friends, one of the other members of the Drake Six can notice Spike and Gabby getting along REALLY well and good-naturedly tease him about it.
Another possible Season 7 Idea could involve "A Royal Problem" with Spike and Night helping out Starlight in sorting things with Celestia and Luna (Spike talking to Celestia, Night chatting with her mother Luna and both helping Starlight deal with things without resorting to her magic).
A possible one for the final battle in the movie:
Discord: (after making it to the fourth percent of his power and as the Yaks, Hippogriffs and Griffons arrive to help out in said final battle) Okay, Storm King, as they say in the human world, it is on like Donkey Kong! (produces an entire construction site and transforms himself into a double sized gorilla and conjures up a massive volley of explosive barrels that he AND Night start telekinetically flinging at the Storm King)
Night/Star: (putting on a Mario hat) Mama-mia! (gets in close enough to grab the Storm King while he is still reeling from a few of the explosive barrels, spin him around and throw him) So-a long-a, Storm King!
A possible one for the final battle with Grogar and his Legion:
1. At the appropriate point,
Discord: Well, I'm back up to twenty percent of my power. That SHOULD be enough to make me a match for most of the members of the Legion individually - except for Grogar himself, obviously. And MAYBE Tirek if he's absorbed enough power.
Your choice of one of the Drake Six: Relax. We've got this. We've been working with the other Dragons, Griffons, Hippogriffs, Yaks, Changelings and other species for over two years for this reason.
11776240
More great ideas.
I can definitely see Night teasing Spike about him and Gabby, and even try to give him The Talk:
Night: Well, Spike, it seems you've finally reached that age where a male dragon finds one of the greatest treasures in life: the treasure of love. Or maybe lust; the two are siblings, you know.
Spike: Night, you really don't need to do this.
Night: Oh, but I must, Spike! For so long, I've said you were too young to understand many of the lustful and lovely things we've encountered in our adventures. But now, I see that by coddling you, I have only left you ill-prepared for the adventure that awaits you and Gabby. We don't want you to make the same mistakes Swift's mother did, do we?
Swift: Huh?
Spike: Night, please stop.
Night: When two souls meet and care deeply for each other, powerful urges sweep over them...
Spike: STOP!
And meanwhile, everyone in the background will be cracking up at how Night's trying to sound like a wise and old mentor, when she's essentially Pinkie in dragon form.
Also, I love the idea of Night helping Luna out, and maybe even tackling Starlight when she tries to switch their marks.
Starlight might even have a moment where she groans, "Oh, sure, 'getting tackled by a paranoid dragon' was the only thing left on my to-do list today!' considering Spike spent plenty of time being prepared to jump her when she did things he thought were potentially evil.
For the movie one, considering Mario is said to say, "So long-a Gay Bowser,' would it be uncouth if Night said, "So long-a, Gay Storm King!"?
11776341
Thanks for the comments and additions. And yeah, that last one might be a little crude, but the Storm King would have more than earned it, especially if Night makes it clear afterwards that she was referring to the "lame" meaning concerning that phrasing (especially since she, herself, is by her own admission, bi).
11776364
👍
Agreed. Thanks for the feedback.
11776365
You're welcome. And Happy Holidays to you and your family and friends.
11776401
Thank you.
Happy Holidays to you and your family and friends as well. 👍