This story is a sequel to Your Years in Review
Discord's plan to destroy the Pegasi's Unity Crystal sees incredible success in spite of the odds stacked against him... with unintended, multiverse-resetting side effects that will leave reality to never be the same again... or will it?
Return of Return of Harmony is the Season 2 premiere within the PortalSparkle AU, revealing the truth behind this new continuity and focusing on Discord as he emerges from his stone prison all over again - alongside gaining new perspectives on the events within Return of Harmony from ponies like Princess Luna and her new faithful student. All the while, Portal Bump, woefully unprepared, is stuck in the middle of a situation she could never hope to grasp.
This is by far the most ambitious story in the entire AU, focusing on many different characters and adapting an entire Season Premiere from the original FiM. It was an incredibly tough writing process, but in the end is something I'm incredibly pleased with.
The PortalSparkle AU is a very self-indulgent New Game+ for the series, focusing on introducing new characters and exploring new stories in Equestria & beyond that occur alongside the main series of events while still respecting the universe, characters & lore setup in the normal Friendship is Magic. Unless stated otherwise, you can expect things to play out much similarly to the normal show.
Yes, it's an OC x Canon AU.
Cover is drawn by me.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
SeleneUnderTheStars / LunarZoe - Creator of Syntax Error and Selene Moonlight, Proofreader
IAmMuToo - Proofreader
Chromafang - Proofreader
:3
PEAK WRITING IS HERE!!!
Wow I was busy and I saw this minutes after it released but couldn't read it for three hours and wow I don't have any words
HOLY SHIT!
Alright, now that I've properly read this. Poor Discord. The years have not been kind to him if he's hesitant to be himself. Still, that G5 tag does seem to imply that our protagonists from that era may have been sucked into an alternate past with him, so I'm curious to see where that'll go. But for now, I'm actually hoping that our silly draconequus won't be repetrified this time around.
12212397
Hey so, is there some point, when Portal becomes more involved with Twilight's group? It's getting kind of boring seeing her constantly get sidelined doing nothing important. It's almost like she's becoming an afterthought...
Also, Twi-Twi? Really?
12212476
👀
Playing right into my hooves...
12212523
How queer, I could swear I just finished proofreading this xD
12214209
hehe yea :3
PART 2 IS RELEASED EVERYPONY!! Get reading, it's a BIG one!!!!
I feel sad for Discord. And I don't think Portal Bump problems where dealt with, they are still there to ressurface at other moment.
I really doubt that Harmony can fulfill its wish of keeping things the same as the previous universe, especially since Discord has to relive all of the good and the bad from his past, but I do appreciate that it has a close relationship with him, since he understood his role long ago.
Though, now that Bumpy has now accidentally stepped into the limelight...
I am very curious to see if we'll get an element of bravery.
Nice mixing of g4 and g5
12214388
For as fun as the PortalSparkle AU is, I have much more interesting things planned for her (But she is an honorary 7th member of the Mane 6 now! This'll be elaborated on in the next story.) - hence, I can tell you that Portal Bump isn't going to become an Element of Harmony herself... but you have nearly exactly clocked onto what she would be - Courage.
12214631
I’d say this quote describes Bumpy quite well.
This has definitely been worth the wait! A great way to begin the second season!
Having it be a reset of the original G5 timeline is a premise I don't think I've ever seen before, and could give way to many wacky and existential scenarios! I just can't help but feel slightly bad for Discord. He just wants to do the right thing, but is really bad at it.
I think you've created one of the most prolonged forms of torture. When will they finally realise that they feel exactly the same way about each other?!
Anyway, this has been a great read so far. I can't wait to see where you take this next!
Bro, this is the part where you let Portal go WITH her!
Either way, though, I'm absolutely eating this up! Season 2 is starting off strong!
12217255
But what exactly does that achieve? We get a Portal Bump that follows Twilight and the girls as the others help save the rest of the Mane 6 and… then Portal does nothing after that.
The most she could do at all in this hypothetical is be involved in restoring Rainbow Dash (and this was something I considered during the planning for this fic) - Portal is not an Element so she can’t be involved in defeating Discord, all she’d be able to do is watch from the sidelines as the Mane 6 do all the work and I don’t find that very compelling.
Plus… this was her first time doing anything like this and she was thrown immediately into the deep end. Not everyone is born a hero… some need to be made.12217860
I mean, yeah!
Just seemed like a weird way to turn the narrative. We had that whole speech about feeling left out only to be sidelined again afterwards, kind of feels like going back on everything.
Just a thought though! Not a big deal IMO!
12218102
Yea, I reckon I probably could have made it more clear that she was in no (mental) condition to return to the fray, the comment was all fine! <3
I've edited the dialogue to have a quick little mention that should clear that up.