> The Contract.
>  by SirTreeofarbor
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Contract is Sealed. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

An eye peered into the blackness of space filled with emotion and wonder at first, but quickly becoming fearful of what was happening in the worlds of yonder.


Twilight was scribbling down notes furiously as she watched stars explode, planets change orbit patterns for no reason and the moon itself begin to spin faster and faster over the last few weeks.


In fact, everything was going wrong at an incredibly fast rate. Everything from earthquakes to forest fires were happening more often and with greater force.


What killed Twilight is that neither she nor anypony else even had a clue as to what the cause was. She and her friends even tried to use the elements to try and fix the unbalance in the world around them, but found them useless and for some reason faded in terms of magical power.
Why is this happening? I mean what could cause this..... or who? Twilight thought while poking her quill on the book she was writing in.


Twilight paused in thought, and her quill stopped as she looked away from her telescope. Twilight then heard a loud crash and quickly ran to look down her stairs. She panicked slightly as she thought another random and horrid event was happening, but only to find Spike in a pile of books at the foot of her stairs rubbing his head and groaning.


"Spike try to be careful I need to think about all this," Twilight said with a sigh as she walked down the stair and began to pace.


Spike watched, debating if he should even try to get her out of “The Pace,” but decided instead to take a lunch break as he grabbed a large tub of ice cream, and began sticking his face into it.


"Something has to be causing these odd events. Things like this do not simply happen. Not to mention this mystery has not only stumped me but the Princesses themselves! Ohhhh think Twilight, what or who could cause such things to happen and then make them irreversible? What pony has the power to cause such chaos?"


Twilight paused, "Spike we need to get to the Canterlot Gardens!"


Except Spike was already lost in a battle against a tummy ache at this point laying on the ground and reacting to Twilight statement with a low groan.  


Twilight sighed before yelling, "Fine, I will have to go by myself!"



_



"Let it still be there let it still be there let it-," Twilight gasped as looked at a floating chair, a mismatched figure and the cake that he was munching on as he stared up at the stars.


"Oh, hello my little element of magic. Wonderful night for a star storm of chaos isn't it,” a familiar voice said that Twilight recognized in an instant.


"Discord! I knew you were behind this," Twilight yelled in fury.  


"Oh please, nature is speaking here. A natural cycle is becoming clear. This world has been in order for much too long. It is time for nature's chaos to sing its song," Discord articulated with an amused smirk on his face.


Twilight felt confusion fall on her face as Discord looked at her and chuckled. She sounded just as befuddled as she looked when she spoke, "Wait, natures chaos? You mean you expect me to believe that you have not done any of... this?"


Discord chuckled as he spoke with a hint of annoyance in his voice, "Why yes, I have only been free for like, ten minutes? What is the point of making a masterpiece only to have it ruined in ohhh... not too long now."


Seemly for added effect the sky above the garden was suddenly changing colors to a reddish hue.


Twilight looking up into the sky as a meteor shower began raining down from the heavens as Discord continued his monologue, "Not that any of this matters. Soon this plane will be destroyed, and I will have to move on to another more plane of existence. I doubt it will be as fun as you ponies and your silly morals and such, but I just feel like letting it all end in one big bang. So enjoy the show."


A set of two popcorn buckets appeared. One grew legs and walked over to Twilight, which she ignored.
Twilight processed what Discord said and decided to ask some questions she could only hope Discord would answer. Looking at Discord she noticed he looked bored in a small way.
The more she thought about it the more she realized that everything depended on getting him to not only explain what was happening, but stopping it. But how would she be able to do such a thing when the being before her was Discord….


"Let it all end? You mean you can stop all this? How are you even free?" She said, and at the same time hoping he would respond.


She watched his smirk grew as he responded, "Oh, look at you talking with little old me. Trying to save your little world while it crumbles around you. Talking to me like it even matters. Even if I could stop this world from ripping itself apart, what interest would I have in doing so? As for how I am free I am going to simply inquire, why you are even asking that question? After all, your little elements are not longer holders of any power. Why would they have the power to keep me trapped any longer?"


Twilight gritted her teeth. She had to believe there was a way to stop what was happening around her; however, she was not sure whether to trust Discord at this point. Should she ask him for help? Should she try once again to use the Elements? Or perhaps the princesses were already solving the issue?


Discord was clapping, "Oh look at you, you’re all conflicted," he said with light mirth on his voice.


Suddenly appearing behind her, he rubbed his chin while at the same time grabbing it and turning it upward before stating, "You only have a bit of time left if you wish to talk to me, and you had best do it quickly. Either way I get amused, so decide what you wish to say to me."


Twilight felt her mouth hang on its jaw as she realized that an asteroid was taking up a large part of the red night sky, and getting larger as Discord laughed whilst rolling around on thin air.


"You should see the look on your face! Priceless!"  Discord managed to chuckle out while continuing to roll around on nothing.


Twilight was going to have to think quickly. She had to try and get Discord to stop the end of her world since any other options had been exhausted, which Discord knew. She focused her mind for a moment preparing to try and reason with the god of unreason.


"Discord I know you enjoy this plane of existence. Why not try and save it? After all, you enjoy pranking us, changing the landscape and a long list of other activities," she said with a calm and collected voice.


"Mainly due to the stone prison. You see, the second I stop this cycle the elements would gain their power back, and I am sure you ponies would love nothing more than to stonify me. On a different note you are a rather amusing pony little Sparky. This is a rather nice first. A pony who wishes to save her little world by reasoning with an ancient being that represents everything but reason."


Discord was hard to read but he looked to be considering something before continuing, "Let me ask you something before you even say another word. What are you willing to give me that will make stopping this train wreck worthwhile? And since this is a game, there are rules. This is a game of two players. I am not asking what this world could give, I am aware of that. I am asking what YOU can give me. You're the one trying to make the deal, now act like it."


Twilight felt her calmness evaporate replaced by panic. He acted like this was a deal over a box of cookies instead of the fate of everyponies world.... Cause that was all it was worth to him, she realized. She looked up into his misshapen stare and realized she had his attention for the first time ever. His eyes showed slight signs of interest in what she had to offer.


"Well, I can offer you my element of magic," she said with uncertaintly.


"Not bad but you're going to have to do better, quite simply I will have freedom either way at this point. In a different plane sure, but freedom nonetheless," Discord said with his annoying smirk still shining in the red hue of this odd night.


Twilight quickly looked up at the sky and felt not only panic build, but dread also as the asteroid was speeding up now. There was no time to think, and looking at Discord’s smirk she realized how little he cared for the world around them both.


"Anything! My home, my magic, whatever it is you wish to take just do it and stop it!" Twilight yelled in a panicked voice.


This seemed to please Discord as he smirked and snapped his fingers summoning an incredibly long scroll, which appeared before Twilight. It was too long to read in about the sixty seconds she had to look at it.


"Dramatic isn't it? It has been thousands of years since I had a soul-binding contract with another being. After you sign on the dotted line step into my office and the deed is done," he said while snapping his fingers again, which caused a quill to appear as well as an otherworldly door that was oddly simple in design and jet black in color.
Twilight looked up one last time watching as the flaming ball of doom approached before hurriedly grabbing the quill and scribbling her name on the scroll. As soon as she finished signing, the scroll disappeared and reappeared in Discord's hands.


Twilight quickly ran up to the odd door as it slowly creaked open. She paced in place while Discord simply hummed to himself, making her even more uneasy.


"Ladies first," Discord said as he cut right in front of her as the door finally swung ajar. He then turned around and kissed her before falling backwards into the doorway while laughing.


Twilight simply stood in utter shock.... until a shock wave blew her into the doorway that seemly lead to the blackest of voids.


Somehow, whilst falling, she found herself able to comprehend that the god of chaos had taken her first kiss, and at the same time enjoying the lingering thought of how nice the kiss felt.


Then darkness overtook her.

> The Fine Print. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight was staring at a door. A door that looked completely jet black, if not for the big red and yellow eyes that were on it, which were misshapen and staring at her. Suddenly the door opened and strings flew out around Twilight, dragging her to a figure that she realized was Discord.

He had a paper in his hand that he opened and shoved in Twilight's face that read, "You are mine." He then leaned down, and his lips touched hers. Suddenly the door slammed shut.

-


Twilight felt herself fall into a cold body of water, and quickly woke up in an angry, muffled scream. She quickly swam up to the surface before teleporting to the bank of the river she found herself in.

Moments after shaking her mane out and taking a few heavy breathes, she heard Discord laughing. Looking around she spotted him on the other side of the river while also noticing it was the middle of the night.

Luna’s full moon was just hitting the center of the dark sky, which was filled with stars. She spotted a shooting star quickly streak across the sky, which reminded her a little of what had just been avoided.

Twilight felt the events of yesterday hit her and moaned. She felt angry for having to sign that contract, but her anger was somewhat fading as she simply was too tired to stay mad for long.

This was real. She had made a deal with Discord, and there he was over there laughing at her. She felt her teeth grind together as Discord appeared right in front of her.

He nonchalantly replied, "You were sleeping for so long I decided to speed things up a bit. Mainly becauseyou have to pay up part of your debt with that element of yours," Discord said while snapping his fingers and turning the river behind him into a river of milk.

Twilight groaned. She may have made a deal with Discord to save Ponyville, and the entire world for that matter, but with it she and her friends would have no way of stopping Discord from running amuck and ruining everything.

Twilight determined she had to read the contract to understand the full nature of what it was she had given up, along with the terms and whatnot.

"Umm, before that, may I read the contract in greater detail?" Twilight asked while poking her hoof into the ground. Now that the rush of the world ending was gone, she felt nervous and scared about what she may have just done when she signed that paper.

Discord chuckled before replying, "What, you mean you did not have time to read it? And here I was so impressed that you would be willing to make a contract with me, which I must admit is a nice change from being a garden ornament, but that is beside the point... No, you cannot. The contract clearly states that you cannot read the contract after it is signed and sealed," he stated as the contract appeared in his hand as well as a bottle of white out, which he then used to quickly cover nearly every part of the document before turning it around into Twilight’s face.

Twilight moaned. The only statement that was visible was: Due to the terms of the contract as decided by the Ancient Discord, you Twilight Sparkle hereby give up any rights to read this contract after the signing and sealing kiss.

Well that explains the kiss at least, Twilight thought with a light blush. "How am I supposed to know what the contract entails if I can't read it?" Twilight asked with an exasperated sigh.

Discord ran his fingers along Twilight's chin and lead her eyes into his. With their gazes fixed on each other he replied, "Well it’s not my fault you were in such a rush to get to the sealing kiss. Besides, you could have taken as much time as you needed. The policy for contract signing makes you unable to die after you sign the contract and before the sealing kiss, and here I thought you would know all this. After all, you were so eager to try and make a deal with me. Regardless, you will just have to trust me when I refer to our little soul binding agreement," Discord said with a slight smirk gracing his lips.

He talked with an incredible amount of smugness in his voice, which irritated Twilight. While at the same time, she could not help but be flustered by his fingers under her chin and the accusation that she had rushed to get the kiss.

Twilight pushed his hand away while beginning to stare at the ground and said, "I-I how was I-I mean,” she stuttered before perking back up and glared at him whilst boldly stating, “This is not a fair contract! I do not even know the terms of the agreement. I mean you can just hang that contract over my head for-" Twilight paused with horror slowly creeping onto her face while Discord leisurely put a finger to her lips and completed her thought.

"Anything,” he declared with finality. “Well, to be fair you offered up anything. I seem to remember you yelling that in a panicked voice as you overreacted to a world-ending asteroid over your head,” Twilight pouted at this before he finished, “and now you sound panicked that this is hanging over your head."

For added effect he held the contract over Twilight before continuing, "But there is no going back now. You already agreed to this. Besides, you have quickly become the only pony I have talked with for so long. Mainly cause the looks on your little pony face is always fun to look at," Discord said with a small chuckle while still using that smug as possible as voice. "But do not worry. You're not going to be harmed. You have too much potential and hold my interest too well for that," he announced with a real smile gracing his visage.

Twilight felt herself blush despite her best efforts to stop herself. He was talking as if he somehow liked her, and again she thought back to the kiss the two shared. Despite the fact that it was a sealing kiss, therefore not a true first kiss from love, it still had a massive effect on Twilight because she could feel a sort of energy from Discord, a passion perhaps. Even the fleeting idea that Discord was directing that passion towards her flattered her.

Not to mention she was always hungry for knowledge, and it would be a lie to say she was not interested in what he had to share in terms of magic. No, stop thinking about that, Twilight chided herself. You're in the worst possible position right now. You're under Discord’s thumb, and what's worst is you have no idea what the terms are while you’re under his thumb... in fact you could be under this contract for the rest of your life.

Discord noticed Twilight looked depressed and floated around in the air for a moment to think before he summoned a cupcake and placed it in her hoof. "Now, now,” he began admonishing her, “do not be sooo sad. I promise this contract will be worth your while in ways you cannot yet foresee. Knowledge and magical power abound where I plan to take you. Plus, if it really eats at your poor little pony soul, I will allow you to see those silly little friends of yours," he said with what for a second sounded like a bit of concern.

No, that can't be. Stop thinking those things Twilight. This is Discord! Knowing him, any feeling you think he has is fake.... Then, why do I feel warm when he sounds concerned for me? This is like a high school crush, Twilight berated herself. I have barely even talked to Discord and already I am flustered like a little foolish filly.

Twilight was brought out of her thoughts by a loud commotion coming from Discord. She looked over to him and saw that he was stuffing loads of popcorn in his mouth from a gigantic bag and munching with gusto. It was enough din to wake the dead where before the only noise had been a few crickets. At this she gave him a withering scowl.

He paused in his endeavors to inhale his snack to carelessly retort, "What? You looked so conflicted, so dramatic. How can one not watch drama without popcorn?" Discord said with a smirk on his face before continuing to gorge himself.

Twilight sighed as she conceded, "Fine, as per my word I will go and get the element of magic." With that Twilight teleported away from Discord while hoping to use the time she had to collect the element to also put efforts into collecting her thoughts.

Not to mention talking with Celestia before she got the element would be a good idea. Perhaps with her help she could find a loophole in Discord's contract.

That was her only hope at this point.
Not to mention talking with Celestia before she got the element would be a good idea. Perhaps with her help she could find a loop hole in Discord's contract. 

That was her only hope at this point.
> Confessions, Terms, and a Restroom Break 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight looked up at the grand entrance of Canterlot. This was it; she had to find the Princess.


She simply began walking across the bridge under the golden arch that made up the entrance, before asking one of the many nearby guards where they had last seen Celestia. They directed her towards the Canterlot  Tower.


Toward the Elements... Twilight had to avoid giving Discord her element, but how? She had to hope that her teacher had the answers to set things right, and remove her contract with Discord.


-


Twilight rushed into the Star Swirl the Bearded wing and ran right into Celestia with a scream. Her Princess staggered slightly as the smaller Twilight collapsed in a panting heap. 


"Oh, what brings you to Canterlot at this hour Twilight? You look panicked,” Celestia noted with concern after picking herself back up. “Is everything alright?"


Twilight took a moment to catch her breath and right herself before responding. "Princess I need your help Dis-." All of a sudden she felt heavy and her voice faded for a moment before she could explain her situation. "Princess I have a issue with Di-." It happened again before she could tell Celestia about her contract.


Her head began to hurt as she stuttered, panted, and groaned as she tried over and over again to tell her Princess about the contract, only to fail each time as her voice faded.  


At this point she entered a fully panicked state and began screaming into the air and running around in circles, that is, until she heard something coming from the depths of her mind.


With a slight chuckle the voice began speaking to her, Look at you dropping your little promise with me, and just not long ago we even shared a kiss, yet you wish to spill the beans and get away from me? That is, ever so sadly for you, covered by a certain contract, which will keep you from speaking about itself. The voice snickered, and she realized it was Discord's voice. She looked around and found he was in the room with her, but invisible to everyone except her.


Twilight felt her mouth fall open and eyes go wide. Only to realize her Princess was staring at her. "Umm, I have to go to the bathroom. I will be back in a second Princess," she said without a second look at Celestia, and ran to the closest restroom while locking the door behind her.


Only to scream once again as she saw Discord looking back at her from a mirror with an amused smirk on his face. "Oh Celestia! Don't do stuff like that!" She yelled in an annoyed voice.


Discord simply walked out of the mirror, and began twisting around Twilight with his longer snakelike body while putting his eagle claw under her chin, and bringing her eyes to stare directly into his. She expected to be hypnotized for a moment, but Discord was doing no such thing.


Twilight felt herself blush while he just stared back at her for a few moments. He seemed serious with his gaze unwavering and his eyes full of intellect as well as a fiery passion. She found herself staring back and absorbing the odd features of Discord face. Their details were odd but had a charm about them, and she felt the fact that she found herself thinking in that direction was peculiar of her.


"Umm Discord what are you-," Twilight shuddered as Discord grabbed her cheeks to stop her from talking.


"Twilight, darling,” Discord emphasized, “I think we need to talk for a moment about our little deal... I simply find myself wondering why you would try so hard to get out of a soul binding commitment? After all you are an honor bound pony are you not? Where does that loyalty and honor go when it does not suit you?" Discord said while playing with her checks.


"It goes with my friends! My mentor! This world! You forced me to sign a contract to gain my loyalty. How far did you really thing that would take you?" Twilight asked with an expression of anger.


"About as far as I could throw you, which is pretty far actually. I can throw you into greater power. A world of wonders awaits you with if you travel with me. Why would you not wish for that?" Discord said with a slight confusion in his voice.


Twilight paused... she found her obsession with magic tempt her, but that was all it was, a nagging want. However, it wasn’t powerful enough to persuade her to Discords side. "Because I have a feeling I would not be happy being your slave," she said forcefully.


Discord seemed taken aback by that statement, "My slave! You are not even close to a slave. You have too much potential to just be my shoes or my coat. No, you are something much more, and a great,” he paused for a moment before continuing,  “great value to me.... Tell you what, I will prove to you that you're not a slave by... umm, hmm, I have it all planned out I will umm..." Discord was scratching his head at this point, "I will have to see what I can do about that."


Twilight shook her head, "I would be surprised if you did find a way to do so." She then looked down at the body wrapped around her and felt awkward, "Umm, can you get off me?"


Discord looked back at her after being pulled from his thoughts, "Hmm, is there a issue with me being this close to you?" he said with a smirk on face, "What if I fancy it?" He began patting her head as if she were a pet.


Twilight just sighed at this. She actually did not mind his antics as much as she claimed. In fact, she thought they were in good taste. After all she was used to Pinkie's antics, which overall gave her light amusement, or at least they would if she was not under a contract and the relationship was not forced. "I would ask why you even fancy it while telling you once again to get off me," she finally voiced in an annoyed tone.


"Hmm, and what if I said I fancy you then decided to not get off you?" Discord replied with a smile.


"I would tell you to sod off," she severely rebutted.


Discord sighed, "Why does gaining your ponies trust have to be SO hard. I mean I already saved your world by resetting the balance more or less, and honestly you have paid very little overall for me to do that.... I mean really," Discord was talking in an annoyed whine, and Twilight simply rolled her eyes.


"You talk as if trust is just simply handed out freely. Trust usually means you accept risks from the other person but believe they will not do you harm out of goodwill. You not only used the end of the world to not only make me sign a contract, but to use me like a pawn!" Twilight was yelling in anger at this point as Discord reeled away from her.


Discord's face looked odd to Twilight, and she realized for just a moment it showed sadness. Before she could stop herself she felt something akin to sorrow burrow into her chest, and realized just how little Discord understood anything about friendship, trust or real relationships.


He quickly unwrapped himself from her and simply floated around and began to pant in anger. The room began to warp around him as if the room itself was breathing with Discord, and Twilight felt fear build up within herself as she worried that he would lash out at her. However, slowly and surely the madness stopped and Discord calmed down, and started to realize where he was again.


"You know Twilight I have no idea if you bring out the best in me, or the worst... Regardless, you never need fear that I will strike you." Discord waved his lion’s paw as if the matter was over now, "Oh, and meet me in the room of the elements so we can talk over that element of magic of yours after you’re done stuttering to Celestia."


At that Discord disappeared leaving Twilight with mixed feelings about the entire ordeal. She did not have much time to think about it, however, as Celestia began to bang on the door and ask if she was all right.


Twilight let out a long sigh, which seemed to be becoming routine.  Today was bound to be a long one.
> Lost Strings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight walked out of the restroom to see her mentor's concerned look face. 

"Is everything alright Twilight? You seemed panicked when you were talking earlier, and now you look shaken somewhat. May I ask what ails you?" Celestia said her voice taking on a hint of worry. 

Twilight was a bit shaken, seeing Discord get angry at her lack of trust had been a frightful ordeal, but it also only made Twilight even more interested in his past. While she knew that her mentor had given her enough information for her first encounter with Discord she now found the information she had about him lacking. After calming herself and hopefully removing any signs that she had been effected by the events in the restroom she spoke. 

"Princess, may you tell me of Discord's past in greater detail? Where did he come from, what is his overall propose, and his goals?" Twilight inquired now calm and focused in a quest for knowledge that she needed as soon as possible.

Celestia looked at Twilight seemly distant, her mind traveling back in time, then as she came back her eyes regained focus. "I am assuming you are interested in his origin to better understand how his magic works?" Twilight nodded "Discord is something from beyond, a creature with a propose only known to himself. He is by far the oldest being that you will be likely to ever have seen, and is the oldest being I have seen as well. I wish I knew why the Elements could not reform him or kill him, the fact that the Elements, our most powerful magical objects cannot slay Discord nor reform, him means he has power not of the world as we know it," Celestia was pacing now thinking of the far past. "I studied what Discord was for a long while before fighting him, but was not able to find much. I never did tell you this, but we accepted his rule for a long time even if he annoying, inconsiderate , and odd we respected him for what the most powerful being in our world. However eventually he played with earthquakes, floods, and planets going out of alignment for a short period of time. While it only lasted for a few weeks, then stopped, me and Luna had had enough, and despite Discord claimed he had nothing to do with the event we knew he was the only one with the power to be able to do such a thing."

Twilight was deep in thought Celestia were specking of sounded like the ones that happened not so long ago.... Wait.... How did she know about the recent events but not Celestia? Twilight felt herself facehoof in her mind, why had she not realized near the beginning of her earlier tale with Celestia that her princess was acting as if nothing had happened and how odd that was considering what had happened. It should have been her first question when she last talked to Discord. Twilight realized that Discord had somehow not only had not only stopped this events from happening but removed them from everyponies mind. Why did not simply quell the rebellion that was raised against him by removing the memories of his foes?  Celestia's story was raising many more questions than answers, and Twilight NEEDED to know what had happened. Not only that but Twilight also realized she had no idea why the elements faded into first place nor did she understand how Discord's saving of her world even effect the elements....

 Urggg my head hurts.  

Celestia paused as if lost in her own thoughts and then spoke, "In fact when Discord was released I was surprised when he only turned things into candy. I thought he would destroy everything like he tried to so long ago... perhaps he did not have the power anymore... Or perhaps he got tired of it over those few weeks. He was always claiming that he could never harm another being, and that we owed him much more than we know... I admired him once in fact he is what inspired me to learn of magic, but the fact that he even had the power to effect the balance of things so simply with his magic, to cause the planets to nearly crash into another instead of his normal antics which we often put up with is what cause all of ponydom to hate him. Not the antic's that you have seen, even if they did not help his reputation...." Celestia paused looking off in the distance and then looked to Twilight, "Sorry I tend to ramble when I think this far back, for a long time he simply took to turning things to candy and amused himself with fairly harmless tricks for a long time, at least harmless compared to the what he did near the end... Anyway Twilight I hope that helps you with your studies, but now I must leave you, I have some duties to attend to..." Celestia walked away from Twilight looking distant, and oddly sad.

Twilight felt her mind spin, with both questions and confusion.  Discord had once been a just ruler? The idea seemed odd. What was even more odd was the idea of Discord roaming freely because he only annoyed ponies instead of harming them, but supposedly crossed that line and forced Celestia and Luna to act.

The story was very confusing and broken, and for the first time ever Twilight wished to see Discord, and have him explain.


-


Twilight slowly walked up to the double doors whose seal's had somehow been broken with Discord leaning on them from the outside looking oddly serious. 

Twilight decided to talk before he could speak up, she had several questions, and allowing Discord to take the lead of the conversation was a bad idea if she wished to have some answers. Only to have Discord teleport behind her and put a finger on her lips as soon as she opened her mouth. 

"Before you say anything, I must confess I do not wish for you to feel like a slave, and as a show of goodwill , and perhaps a dream that you may one day come to return my interest in you. I give you the fully restored, and sadly fully functioning Elements of Harmony, and what's more you are free to go and get your friend's and use them as you see fit on me," Discord said this while the Element's appeared before Twilight each glowing with their magical power. 

Twilight felt her mouth fall agape. She had never expected such a thing from Discord and as she looked at him she noticed Discord had a defeated look on his face, and felt pity rise in her chest, as well as some sorrow. "You mean this is not a trick? Not a deal? No string attached? These work now?" Twilight said her voice uncertain. 

Discord simply nodded and slinked away. Looking as if he was certain  Twilight had made her mind up. For the first time Twilight could not help but to wonder about the being before her. Not only for what a mystery he was in terms of magical powers, but he felt for her. Was he really willing to be frozen in stone? To give up his freedom because she felt like a slave to him? Because of what she said to him? Because he wished for her to be happy? 

Twilight was quite simply taken aback, for the first time she was actually seeing something akin to true consideration from the being before her, and she for the first time felt a conflict in what feelings she had for him, as well as what the conflict those feeling had on what path she would take.  

"Why would you put yourself at risk in this case? I am not sure I understand." Twilight was talking in a uneasy voice unsure of what Discord would say.

Looking at her Discord simply thought for a moment, "Because I suppose I feel you are worth the risk, not in terms of logic or what I could do with you cause if I was only thinking about that your happiest would not matter, but because I... fancy you...., and hearing you say that you felt like a slave ummm... felt bad," Discord said in a uncertain voice as if this was all new to him, as if he had never truly felt before.

Twilight felt herself curse for asking that question as soon as she heard that answer. Turning him into stone was no longer a option, her feelings would not allow it.  
 

> Dust in the Wind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight was unable to turn Discord into stone, not when he had willingly gave her the option to do so. 


Why on earth did he have to do that? Twilight could not her feelings from effecting her, and she felt her hate for Discord ebb. Twilight sighed while she did not harbor any like towards Discord she could not dislike him. Not only that but the fact that Discord had given her this choice made it clear to Twilight that he was not fully a manipulative jerk, and that logically he could be being if he was given a bit of trust. As these logical gears turned in Twilight's head, and well as mixed emotions of dislike and gratitude she tapped her hoof on the floor of the hall the emanating repeatedly as Discord watched, his gaze steady. 


"Discord I find I cannot turn you into stone if you offer up yourself so willingly. Surly you did not expect me to do that if you handed me the Elements...." Twilight and while any doubts that the act of goodwill was a trick when a look of confusion, then joy crossed Discord's face. 


 No one could fake that not even Discord, Twilight though as she realized this was the first time she actually believed the feelings Discord were showing were genuine instead of a facade.   


Discord began to float towards her, "Well this is a confusing surprise, here I hand you what you wished for so badly just a while ago, and you refuse it. You should be the God of Chaos, not me cause your morals are so weird." Discord said while summoning several pieces of cake, and dancing clockwork machines that began dancing. "Now let's cerebrate!"


Twilight sighed "Ummm Discord could you please put off the cerebrations for just a little longer? I have  some question's that I think you know the answer to," Twilight was simply trying to be polite, his antic's were starting to not irritate her as much as they had, not to mention a certain pink pony had a habit of doing similar things...


Discord's face drooped for a moment as he removed the festive atmosphere, "I suppose we do have to get things settled a bit in terms of what you owe me for saving the entire world and all." Discord said in a sigh. 


Twilight gritted her teeth,  Not two moments after I decide not to turn you into stone you hold THAT over my head again. Ok Twilight focus at least you have his attention, which means you can get some answers. But what should you start with? Twilight looked at Discord, and found herself wondering where he came from one again. 


"Let's just forget about the contract for now, we can deal with that later," Twilight said in annoyance, "Instead I wish to know about your past. Where are you from? What is your purpose in this plane of existence? You said earlier that you were going to leave this plane if ours was destroyed? Why did you restore the ele -" Twilight stopped as Discord put a finger to her lips.


 And why does he never respect my personal  space?  Twilight thought blushing slightly in embarrassment.  


Discord backed up and summoned two chairs as well as a bubble pipe for himself taking a seat, "I see we are in the mood to get personal I see," Discord said with a smile plastered on his features as Twilight blushed. She had to admit Discord had a flare for the dramatic that she found charming, and she felt herself smile back at Discord as he began to raise his chair up into the air and stand upon it, however his face was getting serious as he began his story of origin.  


"Now then Twilight my dear, allow me to share with you my past. Or to be exact what I am allowed to tell you, higher beings than I created me on terms that I am not able to break in a similar fashion to how you were unable to talk to your princess about your deal I am not able to talk to you about mine."  Discord said whilst pacing in the air.


Twilight felt her eyes widen. Discord in a agreement  that he actually followed, it boggled Twilights' mind. She felt herself already getting lost in Discord's story, his voice was different when he talked of the past like he was very uncertain about it for some reason, as if he had never told the story of his past. 


 That is actually pretty likely, Twilight thought. 


"Ummm I am not exactly sure what else to tell you... hmmm, I suppose I should talk about my purpose in terms of what I do for this world. Now you see I am the over-viewer of this plane more or less, and am responsible for making sure things are in balance.... However my contract expired about thirty seconds before you talked to me," Twilight felt her jaw drop. 


"Wait wait wait you mean that you did not stop what was happening to my world cause you were thirty seconds late? Not only that but you keep balance?" Twilight said in confusion.  


"Twilight dear, these contracts for me are a source of magical power quite simply eons ago I sighed my life for this plane, and was finally done. But then you came along bouncing around offering something I never expected, a new purpose. As you know Twilight I am not quite like you ponies, soon after a contract ends I fade away, my powers run dry and I become nothing but dust in the wind. While I admit I acted as if I had nothing to lose when you signed the contract I will concede that it was the other way around. I had everything to gain, and I know this no other pony would have been willing to make a deal with me. Not that this changes the fact that you are debt to me," Discord said with a smile. "You signed the contract and therefore I made the terms so I still have you in a soul binding agreement. Oh and I kept balance in a rather lose sense really my contract said not to let the world blow up but never said anything about my antics," Discord gloated, proud of himself.


Twilight sighed so she had actually been taken advantage of much more than she thought before.... but now she realized Discord looked nervous as if she would be angry that he had told her the truth... Not to mention from what he was saying his life may have been over had Twilight not signed. For some reason Twilight could not get too upset, partly due to the fact he had given her a choice not long ago, and partly because she would do the same to save herself if she was in the same situation. 


"What about the elements, and why did the world fall into such disarray so suddenly?" Twilight questioned a look of interest on her face.  


"Well nothing lasts forever, magical objects fade and grow weaker as they are used more. Oh and your "world" is just one big magical object that is just linked with the elements. Which is why I had no choice in terms of restoring one or the other. Restoring the world around you is the same as "fixing" the elements much to my distaste," Looking at the elements in disgust. "You have no idea how much I hate those things they make me feel like... myself," Discord's voice had grown dark for a second and chills ran down Twilight's spine. 


Twilight thought about it for a second and realized how odd that sounded could he mean that he felt like himself while he was in stone?  What does that mean?


"Umm Discord what do you mean about that?" Twilight asked a bit fearful of doing so. The tension in the air had grown heavy in a instant, and she was not used to that dark tone in Discord's voice.  


Discord suddenly realized what was happening and he quickly snapped out of it, "Oh nothing dear, anyway we have to get to Ponyville quickly now after all we have things to do," Discord said suddenly joyful as Twilight felt slight confusion at the mood change. 


"Umm do what exactly?" Twilight asked poking her hoof into the chair under her as Discord floated over her and patted her head affectionately.


"Why you need to pack your things of course, we have to go to some different planes of existence to get you settled in terms becoming my student," Discord said as if he was talking about the weather.


Twilight simply felt her mouth fall agape.

> Unturned Statues
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight stood in shock as Discord floated around the hall laughing. 


"You make such funny faces when you get surprised," Discord laughed out suddenly grabbing Twilight's cheeks and pulling them up in a smile and then took the liberty to pick up Twilight and turn her upside down as she screamed.


"Discord what are you doing?" Twilight yelled as Discord began throw her comparatively small body in the air catching her. 


"Just playing around with my new student, anyway I am going to send you home to pack your things now Twilight. Get any lose ends tied up before we leave this dreadful place say goodbye to your friends, get your home sold and all that jazz. Cause we are leaving this dull plane of existence!" Discord was incredibly joyful sounding but Twilight was not as pleased.


"Discord I can't just pick up and leave!" Twilight yelled as she was thrown up in the air, only to fall on her rear as Discord was taken aback by that statement. 


"Ohhhh I forget that you ponies have attachments to your "friends" tell you what. If it really means that much to you, beloved one, we can stay in this daft little backwater world, but only if I get a promise that you will not turn me into stone. After all would you turn this lovely face into stone?" Discord said he turned his head upside down making Twilight laugh at his odd charm.


"Ok ok. I promise I will not let you be turn into stone, but why do I have to be your student? Why do you even need a student?" Twilight stopped talking as Discord placed a finger on her lips, then said "Why do you always do that when I start asking questions?"  


"Because all will be learned in due time my dear, regardless I think something has come up. So you, do whatever it is you do in your spare time while I take care of business." Discord said as he disappeared leaving Twilight to wonder what she would do, she decided to try and talk to her friends as well as Spike about what had happened, and turned to leave the hall , deciding for some reason to take the elements with her. She felt her feelings begin to swell within her as she admitted to herself that she liked Discord more than she would ever like to show to anyone, especially Discord. 


_


Celestia was standing in the near silent Canterlot Gardens the only sounds being the rustling of the trees around her as well as some birds that had just woken up this dawn. She had felt something she had not in a long time when she was talking to Twilight, she felt a presence she long cast away in stone with her sister, someone she now hated but once admired, Discord.


She stood for several moments looking at the spot where Discord should be, as a statue replaced by what was to Celestia a chilling sight. The statue of Twilight was standing there it's stone face full of happiness with a scroll before her. It was overall a masterpiece of a statue in terms of detail and what it portrayed, however Celestia was not the least bit charmed by it as much as she was terrified. 


"It is rather beautiful isn't it?" A voice suddenly whispered right behind her. A voice she recognized instantly as she jumped.


Discord was standing right before her as she turned around popcorn in his hands as he began munching away. As Celestia began to speak, " Discord! What is the meaning of this?" Celestia found herself yelling at this point, full of a rage she had not felt in ages. 


"Oh that little piece of poetry forever captured in stone? I would be honored to explain everything to your highness, after all I did take the time to remove your memories so we could have this talk. I may as well restore them," Discord sounded incredibly smug as Celestia's face began to show horror.


"You really mean you got a new contract? How? Wait... Did our contract expire?" Celestia felt the gears in her head turning and realized slowly what must of happened. "You mean we failed?" 


"Well what did you expect? Was there any other outcome possible with the actions you two took? Claiming I had no place in this world, as if it was your choice to decide where I should be able to go. Regardless that choice was the wrong one and I had to clean up your mess, and I only did that because of a certain student of yours," Discord teleported to the Twilight statue and patted it's stone head, "I mean this only happened yesterday, but yesterday never happened for you, I had to make sure that your memories were removed while I took care of those little elements of yours." Discord was chuckling at Celestia still enjoying his bag of popcorn as she shuddered in anger.


"That can't be possible the magic required to remove my memories as well as Luna's is greater than anything you have been  able to do before, even if it was only for a day it is beyond you, perhaps you could do it to a common pony but to us that is impossible. You couldn't even do such a thing when your creation contract was still giving you magical power. Not only that but there is no way Twilight would ever sign a contract with a monster like you!" Celestia's horn was glowing now, she was tired of talking and was more than willing to try and shut Discord up. 


"Well she is your student, and you once signed a contract with me. Also you forget that Twilight has lots of potential, she could even take your position one day. Just like you took mine by using that little loophole," Discord was talking in a dark tone now, and Celestia felt her will to fight ebb slightly, "I have felt more powerful from a single contract from one little purple pony than I have from you two Royals, then again she did give up everything, which is something you did not do in your contract," Discord was rubbing the chin of the statue and Celestia once again shuddered. 


"You never were the true ruler of this world, it was never your place! We took it from you because we deserved it more than you! You never understood what feeling was what friend-ship was, and you made everypony miserable while you were in power, and we decided that waiting for you to step down was not a option," Celestia was stomping her hoof now and her horn fired a magical beam at Discord only to be avoided as Discord teleported to avoid it. Then reappeared a magical orb in his hand that he suddenly threw at Celestia which hit her squarely in the head. She felt as if her head was having a nail hammered into it as images flew into her mind, and she began to fade in darkness as she fell to the ground.



_



Celestia slowly woke up and yawned, and looked out the window to see a world of cakes and floating buildings, the sun suddenly disappeared and was replaced by the moon only to be replaced by the sun again as she got up and stretched her small frame. She realized what she was going to do today. She was going to try and get into magical school with her little sister Luna. 


 And what a wonderful day it is! Hopefully the weather stays this nice over the next fifth-teen minutes.


The being she admired most for his magical power would be judging her potential like he did with every pony that wished to enter his school, and if she was lucky very very lucky.  


 I hope I get a contract! Celestia thought as she jumped up and down waking her nearby sister up who moaned. 


"Come on Luna we need to get going before it rains more whipped cream!" Celestia yelled, "We do not what to be late for our tests, do we?" 


Luna simply rolled her eyes, " Celestia I understand that this is important and all but can I sleep for five more-" Luna stopped talking as Celestia used her magical power to pick up her little sister and drop her out of her bed.


"I guess not." Luna sighed. 

> The Ones Cast Aside
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia quickly got ready while Luna staggered around never having been able to get a good sleep at the best of times. After quickly getting ready and finally getting Luna presentable they both flew out the door from the floating house they called home. The town of Ponyville was a town made of many oddities ,houses floated on solid ground, cakes appeared and were sometimes enjoyed by the ponies nearby and similar happenings were occurring, but all of these were normal events for everypony, and failed to even interest Celestia or Luna.  

After flying for a short time they began to see their destination in the horizon, it was a massive manor slanted slightly as if it would fall over with a slight push. It was a fun house full of mirror rooms fake doors and other tricks, and of course Celestia and Luna got lost as soon as they entered the building. 

After what felt like forever to Celestia they finally found what they were looking for, a large set of double doors oddly plain in a house that was otherwise full of mismatched color. Celestia sighed and took a moment to collect herself.  A sign next to them said in simple black letters Testing center

 This is it, everything I have learned comes together in this moment. I just need to- Celestia was dragged out of her thoughts as the double doors suddenly opened, and a booming voice began to speak from inside. 

"Well come in, I do not have all day to wait for you ponies to stumble in," Sitting before them was a mismatched figure lf sitting in a leather chair and smoking a bubble pipe, sitting in a office of sorts, filled with papers, and scrolls that littered the floor. Two large seats sat before his large desk, which were soon filled with the two Alicorns   "Now then, why are you both here? Ah don't tell me, you two wish to dive into the mystical world of magical power, and in many ways wish to be like me, a magical ruler of this little world. You practically Celestia crave for power, and admire me because I hold great amounts of it. You miss Luna are just along for the ride as always, " the being said sounding slightly bored. 

Celestia felt her mouth fall open, and began to speak after a second of thinking, "Actually we were hoping to just enroll into the academy of mystics," Celestia said while taking a look at a bored looking Luna who looked uninterested in what was happening. 

"Ahh well close enough, so let's get on to your test, where do both you see yourself in ten seconds?" Discord asked with a smirk on his face. 
Both alicorns just looked at each other in confusion, this was there first time ever meeting a creature like this, and the question that he asked to them had to have been a joke of some sort, a test to get into the best magical school in the land had to be more serious than this. Luna spoke up with a question, "Umm Who are you?"

"How about a riddle instead? Answering such silly question is not my cup of tea. I am cold and unfeeling, much like stone, I have a face, but only one face. Time is still for me and me alone. I stand forever till I am but a pebble, worn by the world around me. I am not of nature, someone made me pose for them. What am I?" The mismatched being said while floating around.  

Luna and Celestia both raised their eye brows, neither of them saw the point of answering this creatures riddle, nor any gain from it. But then the creature before them began to snap his fingers, the world bended around them was warped by his power, an inky blackness began to enter the room, and suddenly there was nothing but the creature before Luna and Celestia, as all three of them hovered around. 

Both ponies felt their mouths fall open as they realized they were in a different realm, and both of them knew only one being in the world they lived in had that power.

"Your Discord!" Celestia yelled as Luna looked around clearly impressed with the darkness around her. 

"Not exactly the answer I was looking for, but it is close enough," Discord said as he floated towards both ponies and put his one of his arms on each pony. "But that is beside the point, I know that you two have vision, and more importantly you crave power. I am impressed how much magical potential you each have, in fact you two could be what I am looking for, after all looking after this backwater realm is so dull. It is time for me to move on to bigger, and better things. But there are some ... issues with that plan. Which is why you two are here, to become my students, under certain terms and conditions of course..... Or I can just leave you both here, in this darkness forever," DIscord had a huge smile on his face at this point as he looked into each ponies terror filled eye's. "Just kidding of course." Discord said as he began laughing loudly. 

Both Luna, and Celestia sighed, but they looked at each other for a moment. Then Luna spoke up, "Ummm I am not sure we crave power, we just umm have a idea for what things should be like. Also why do you wish for us to be your students? And what do you mean by terms and conditions? It sounds like you will get something in exchange for us," Luna sounded slightly nervous to Celestia, and she could not blame her, Discord while admired was known for sometimes being unfair, and harmful to individuals on a whim, not only that but while he indeed come down to mess with ponies not many got to see him in person, as he was most always at a distance, pulling strings. Therefore he was a being surrounded by mystery. But they both knew they needed a contract with him for what they both had as a dream. To be legends in the realm of magical power, and here was the creature that could do anything, before them, asking them to be there students. 


While each of them had their concerns, they both knew this was the chance of a life-time, and Discord knew what they wished for, his powers allowed him to read any-pony like a open book just as the legends said, and while he may of been joking both Luna and Celestia knew that if they refused to accept  whatever deal Discord proposed, they both knew Discord could leave them here .  

"Well of course you have to give something up for the power I offer, namely you both have to offer yourselves up for a time as my students, and that means listening to me, and doing my bidding, but I promise you will learn how to care for your little world over time. I will warn you however, it will be a long time before you each can do what I need of you, and what I need of you is to take my place as ruler of this realm. If you sign this contract, and you never become ready for this task, that is not my problem, the unworthy perish. The worthy thrive. Now do you two feel worthy?" Discord asked his voice booming in the nothingness around him. 

Celestia was in the moment, she was born for this. How could she be unworthy? "I am worthy!" Was what she yelled in a voice that she tried to make sound self assured.  

Luna looked unsure for a moment, but her older sister's waiting gaze gave her the strength to nod. 

And so the pact was as good as made.


-


Celestia suddenly opened her eyes and staggered up in a panic and cold sweat, and looked around, Discord being long gone. She had dreamed about the signing of the student contract, something she had not dreamed of in ages. Then she felt it her mind began to whirl around some more the magic from Discord's orb still effecting her as it began to put yesterday in her head once again, and now she realized why he had forced her to relive her signing. 

This was all her fault. She was a failure as a student, as a teacher as anything. She felt the cold realization hit her.

She had been unworthy. She looked at the place where the statue was, and felt if possible even colder, the image of Twilight that was looking away before was now looking at her mentor with cold stone eyes, filled with disapproval. Celestia began to run away from the statues judging stare.

 I have to get to Twilight, I have to tell her what happened yesterday! I have to get her back! I will not be a failure! I will NOT!      

> Let the Wary Rest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun was high in the sky, and Twilight realized that it had only been a day sense she had signed her life away. She had the large chest containing the elements floating beside her, the magical barriers that Celestia had placed on them were shattered, which once again caused Twilight to wonder about of Discord's nature.   

 Now that I consider this sort of thing I wonder how it was like to live under Discord's rule, I need to ask the princess that next time I see her.... Or I could ask Discord.... Twilight thought her brow furrowing, she was starting to wonder what stories each would tell. She knew that believing, and trusting her mentor was the logical thing to do, but Celestia did say that she once admired Discord, and now that Twilight thought about it she did cut the conversation once she asked about Discord, something her mentor had rarely  done, and she only seemed to cut thing short once Discord became the subject, but she was willing to wait for Twilight to come back from the restroom, however it could of been coincidence, and Twilight did have to come to terms that she over thought plenty of things. 

Then there was the matter of Discord giving the elements to Twilight, something that made her uneasy, because while she was starting to trust him, she was very aware that he was manipulative. Perhaps he was banking that she would not turn him into stone out of pity if he offered her the chance. Twilight thought of the conversation she had with Discord in the restroom, how taken aback he was when she said she felt like a slave, the more she thought about it the less it seemed like Discord planned any of this, and was trying to actually gain her favor.  Plus he could of just hypnotized her...


Twilight threw the open her door, only to have it hit a unseen object  as she started to walk in the doorway, which caused it to fly back into her face.  


Twilight felt her hooves come up to her face as she fell to the ground tear welling in her eyes as she yelped in pain. Another creature on the other side of her now closed door was also moaning in pain, and Twilight knew exactly who it was from the sounds of pain.

"Spiiikkeee, why did you slam the door on me?" Twilight yelled as the door creaked back open revealing the baby dragon, who was sprawled out on the floor with a large bump on his head. 

"You slammed it on me!" Spike yelled with a groan. "At least I know your ok now, I was about to leave and look for you. Where have you been.... in fact where did you even head off to? Was there a emergency, is that why you have that chest behind you?" Spike said still rubbing the bump on his head while staring at Twilight with concerned eyes.

Twilight inwardly sighed, even if she was able to explain this to Spike, and she could not due to the contract, it would be a long and hard story for her to tell. She did not wish to reveal to her friends that she was in such a situation anyway. Mainly because she knew they would not be able to make a difference, at this point her fate was decided, she had already come to the conclusion that turning Discord back into stone was not acceptable, and Twilight realized that she felt some hope in Discord, it was only a little hope, but she had to believe it was worth pursuing. 

"Let's just say today was a long day Spike. I need to get some sleep, I have been running around all night, and I am sure you are in need of rest as well." Twilight said as she staggered into her home, throwing the truck of elements inside the door. 


Sadly fate decided that rest was overrated it seemed, as Twilight found Discord laying on her bed smoking a bubble pipe and reading a ancient looking book. 

"Oh Twilight, what a surprise.  I am just making myself at home after conducing some business," Discord said while looking up from his book, with the same old smirk he always seemed to wear. " That looks rather painful let's fix that right up," Discord said as he suddenly floated right in front of Twilight and licked her face his snake like tongue.   

Twilight just felt herself shudder as he swiped he tongue over her face, but felt the bump she had suddenly disappear as well as the pain from it soon after. In fact it felt oddly comforting, but as suddenly  as it started Twilight felt Discord remove snake like tongue and acting like nothing had happened, was back in Twilight's bed. 

Twilight just shook her head, as she walked to the side of her bed. She was exhausted, and at this point she did not care if this was the most powerful being around. She was getting her bed back. 

"Discord, get off my bed," Twilight said as she began to push a hoof into his side and push him. Discord was quite heavy and large however, and took up the entire space of her bed. Twilight was irritated, and not in the mood for any games. 

"Bite me," Discord said in a sing song voice while sticking his tongue out at her. "I mean really you ponies are so rude, here I am helping you with your horrid life endangering wound, and you wish to  evict me from such a comfy, and nice smelling bed. Have you no shame," Discord said nearly laughing while he spoke.  

Twilight had enough, "You know what, if you what to sleep with me so bad then why don't you just say it? Now MOVE OVER," Twilight said in a stern voice, and felt a feeling of satisfaction as Discord was clearly taken aback by her accusation, only for him to smile once again. 

You know me so well," Discord said in a joking voice clearly intent on playing along with what Twilight had said much to her annoyance.  He began to shrink changing his size until he was small enough for Twilight to have some room to lay down.

Twilight sighed regretting what she had said just a moment ago. If she was in a normal state of mind, she would have never considered even laying down in a bed with Discord, but at this point she felt her body beckon her with heavy limbs and eyelids, and Twilight quickly decided she did not care, and flopped down on her bed, and almost instantly began to sleep. 


-


Celestia was in a panic the elements were missing, and not only that, but she felt weaker. 


Discord had done something to her. She had tried to teleport, and it had not only failed, but caused a crippling headache. She felt light-headed as she commanded her guard to summon her chariot. She needed to find Twilight, and make sure she was ok. that was what mattered. To make sure her student was ok, and if she could to release her from Discord's clutches, but that was more simply said than done. 

She kept feeling memories flood her mind again, and again. As her chariot was beginning to lift off the ground she felt a small whisper off the winds that seemed to ask.

 And what if you fail? It was Discord, sending his regards, even now.


Celestia gritted her teeth." Discord, I have ruled this world for centuries, I bested you in order to do so, because you were a cruel being that used contracts to do your bidding, you never allowed ponies to have a choice, that was not heavily in your favor. Making us your slaves with fake promises, and created fears. " Celestia spoke softly in the wind. 


However no sound returned to her aside the soft blow of the wind, and much to her horror the sun suddenly disappeared, and was replaced by the moon. 

The message was clear. Discord was once again in power. 

Dread for the first time in thousands of years filled Celestia, as well as something much more painful, a feeling of hard regret. 

> The Nightmare, and the Myths
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight found herself looking into a dark void, fog suddenly appearing as eerie noises seems to reach out from the depths, noises Twilight could not begin to describe. She looked around her, searching for some form of comfort, but found none as the fog seemed to close in around her, forming shapes, as Twilight watched in horror as the shapes became her friends faces, distraught looks were gracing the features on their ghost like figures as the fog slowly solidified into stone, all of the new formed statues looking as if it were in a great pain, and one figure in particular caught Twilight's eye.  Discord was right in center of Twilight's vision, made of stone with the same look on his face when the elements had hit, those elements  that Twilight used to do that to him. 


 What was it like being trapped in stone for so long, and why do I feel just as distraught over the idea of Discord being in stone as much as my friends? Why do my eyes fixate on him? Maybe because he actually was the one turned into stone for so long... Twilight thought as she slowly worked thru her raging emotions. She could not stare at the statues before her floating on the dark nothingness that made up the ground below them, and she turn away only to see some the more statues, of more ponies. 


Twilight felt he heart beat speed up as she turned around again only to find the statues closer to her with hands out stretched moving towards her at a steady pace. Twilight panicked and ran into a gap into the void beyond taking a look over her shoulder, only to run into a closed door. Gasping and falling to the ground Twilight recognized the door before her in a instant. It was the door she sighed the contract in, and she once again gasped as the door began to open with a slow creak.


Twilight found herself looking up as the figure that captured her imagination, a figure she felt she never would fully understand, yet she wished to try. She felt herself looking up at Discord who for the first time in her life looked somewhat noble to her as light flooded in for the door behind him, and he forming the light into a orb threw it that the floor, causing the dream in Twilight's mind to warp. The fog was removed from her dream as the void around her was changed into what appeared to be her home. This left Twilight staring at Discord mouth agape, only shaking herself out of her trance after Discord began to stare back. 


"So you can enter dreams, just like Princess Luna." Twilight muttered while Discord walked from the door way as cheerful as could be. 


"I am surprised you did not expect me do such a thing, my dear. After all watching as you tossed and turned in your sleep fighting demon was far too much for my poor heart to take." Discord said dramatically causing Twilight to roll her eyes, even if she was grateful that he had taken it upon himself to release her from that nightmare. "Also I wrote the book on dream entering and changing, or as I like to call it, dream surfing, point is rate I taught Luna the basics of that skill when she was under my tutelage, ahhh those were the days. When Celesta and Luna were small, tiny, meek and weak. Anyway I doubt you find such topics interesting." Discord said offhandedly with a light smile on his face as if remembering times long past, which reminded Twilight that she was dealing with a being older than she could imagine. 


Discord taught Princess Luna to do that? That must mean... Twilight thought, her machine like mind realizing what this must have meant.


"You taught Luna? That means you taught Celestia, right? That means.... you were there teachers?" Twilight asked suddenly, jerking Discord out of his trance.


"And here I thought you wished to rest you mind, but instead of being thankful for my work you only ask more questions, I even prepared my glories entry so carefully," Discord said while placing his hand on his chest and looked away from Twilight in a dramatic flair that she was becoming more amused by. Causing Twilight to smile lightly.
"So you did," Twilight said in a light happy voice causing Discord to slump and mutter.


"Those were the days I try to remember without sighing, cause at the time they were fun, they were meant to take over my position in this world, but noooo Celestia had to be so impatient, and of course Lune being the star struck secret sister lover she is would believe anything Celestia told her, I mean really the idea that I would lie to them about something that would crush this world that I crafted into dust. The idea that I would ever betray my students.... ok maybe I could understand why Celestia would think that..." Discord was sounding bitter, and was in the middle in a rant soon Twilight did not even know what Discord was saying as he began to speck in a muttering tone. 


However Twilight had gotten a glimpse into a relation-ship she would have never considered. As she watched Discord mutter and talk to himself she began to realize that he had a emotional investment of some sort in the world around him, and at this point she was not surprised. She realized that she was beginning to relate to him much more, and while she was unsure before that he was a being in that he felt the same emotion she could. 


Just as she was about to try speck Twilight heard something and  Discord stopped in his tracks. 


"Oh seem like someone has found us sleeping together," Discord said with a smirk on his face. 

-

Twilight opened her eyes finding herself in her bed, back in the real world with Spike screaming in her face. 

> The Test
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia could not stop the past for over taking her, whatever Discord had done to her was powerful she felt a shortness of breath, and began to slump in her chariot seat, barely able to stay conscious.  She tried to stand and wake herself up, however that turned out to be a horrid idea as a gust of wind hit her, and being nearly unable to stand in the first place she stumbled and found herself falling out of her chariot , and ended up falling into the dark forest below.


Then everything was black. 

-

Celestia woke up in a bed ,and slowly began to get up and stretch she had been up late last night studying . She trotted over to her desk and looked at the six objects on her table, the objects she would study in the hopes of defeating her so called mentor Discord. 


She took a deep breath as her anger began to rise. Here was a figure that she once admired, that she thought was filled with wonder, if a bit uncaring.  However he was a unfeeling monste, she had listened to the lies that he had to say to her. 
That had created the world around them, that he was a being of some other more "truthful" plain of existence, and that without him the world would not be able to controlled, unless the two Alicorns were trained he claimed. Yet she, and her sister already were able to control the sun, as well as the moon without much effort, and Discord had only stated they knew very little of what the world was truly like...


Then he proceeded to show Celestia what he thought of her ideal, by revealing the so called truth. 


By saying that there was no purpose to the world like she knew there was. That there was no morals  like she knew existed.  He called her emotions, and ideals false idles that she worshiped, and claimed these meant nothing. Things such as being honest were nothing to him, and it carried over in how he acted. He even stated repeatedly that he had no feeling about the world that he claimed to understand so well, and that he only did it out of a agreement he was forced into long ago, much how the sisters were according to him, and he showed them the dead worlds beyond  the portal, or at least they were dead to Celestia, she watched as beings without feeling or life in their eyes devoted there tiem to destruction, and despair. How she watched as the ideals she had were nearly crushed that such beings were even allowed to be real in different worlds, how fire and death ruled those places, and how Discord simply accepted it even saying he would not be surprised if the world he promised Celestia and Luna turned to what she saw in other realms.


Celestia felt herself think of the one thing that Discord had said that had inspired her, and while she hated him for this she also had to admit she would be utterly filled with hopelessness if she did not hear it. 

He had said long ago, "A purpose is hard to find, really you have to find it on your own, you must craft it in the recess of your mind, I never had a choice really, but you two will in a way for better or for worse."


Celestia felt a headache begin to take her, but her only response was to bang herself on her desk to fix the pain with yet another, she was not in a proper state of mind, and she knew that, she knew the truth Discord had shared with her as well as Luna crippled both their minds, the visions Discord shoved into them just because they were innocent, and did not know what they were asking when they asked what the truth of feeling was....  and he answered what the truth was that they were a mistake, and he showed how deadly ideals, and feelings could be by showing the two what they caused. Discord had warned them before they were shown, but she was foolish back then, she wished to know everything, and anything, and he was very right, she hated him after.


But she would craft her own purpose, she would prove to Discord that a world based on the ideals she and every pony had could work, and so she studied the objects before her that smelled of power and sparked with hope. 


She would create something worthwhile, but she had to removed the being that crushed dreams, that had no morals, and no true emotions, only cheap and fake ones.  


She had to beat Discord, and make sure no one traveled into that red door ever again, his only purpose was to corrupt the innocence of beings anything else was stuff he did to try, and feel something, and she could not have such a being in her ideal world.
-

Twilight slowly got out of her bed, and began stretching as Spike was running around out  room running down the stairs, and yelling for Twilight to follow him. Twilight looked at Discord, and watched Discord smirk , as the door to Twilight's room suddenly locked shut locking Spike out of the conversation.


"That was rather rude to threat a baby dragon like that, he is just worried about me," Twilight said trying to use her magic to teleport to Spike only to for a few sparks to fly off her horn uselessly which caused Twilight to sigh loudly.   

Discord raised a eyebrow, and yawned. "He is lucky I did not zip his mouth shut, it has been centuries since I have taken a good nap." Discord said while rubbing his eyes. "Well I think that it is time to make you the offer I made to my other students, now keep in mind this is your choice, but consider it a test in one way or the other. The door that appears is the door that I call Truth. That is what I told my other students what I did not tell them, because I admit I felt less for them was you would never be the same if you learned what it was." Discord said while getting up and doing the moon walk as a new red door appeared behind him. Creaking open, and reminding Twilight just how ominous it really was. Discords voice was also dead serious, a tone that sent shudders down Twilight's spine.  


Twilight raised her eyebrow realizing what Discord had just said, "That door it leads to the truth?." Twilight said trying to ease her shaky voice as her excitement was raging within her.


"Well yes, but there is always a price to knowing something," Discord said watching as Twilight eyes widened, "It contains the truth, the world as I see it, in all its glory, just keep in mind I have... some issues understanding emotion, so I never really understood why my students were so changed by it, but all of my student's wished to know and asked, so I always make them the same offer," Discord said as he wrapped his body around Twilight once again. "The question you have to ask yourself now is it really worth knowing? You see everyone before was willing to pay the price in full, and part of that was hating me." Discord said with a sad smile as he looked at Twilight. 


Twilight simply stared at Discord as he stared back at her with his uneven eyes, and horned face, " If I go into that door, you think I would hate you, how does that work isn't it my choice? " Twilight said raising a eyebrow.

"What? Did you expect the unknown to be what you thought was ideal? Trust me every student I have had walk into this door, and every student that has hated me, hated me for pulling them into the light that turned out to be not so pretty, of course they gained a lot, power wealth and so on, but everyone that was entered was chanced,"Discord was talking with vigor, and Twilight was taken aback she felt her love of knowledge fighting within her, telling her to step in the blood red door before her. But something in her heart was telling her this was a test, a test all before her had failed for some reason or another. For her it was a easy choice but she could she how stations and mares of the past would travel in that red door and become something else, and the thought of even possibility hating Discord for her choice was not something she wished to risk.


"Then why would I even consider that choice? I like liking you," Discord however slowly smiled, as Twilight blushed, she had admitted it, she liked Discord. 

"So you are not going to seek what unknown power lurks beyond? Aren't you ashamed that your knowledge was unable to save the world? After all if you gain this knowledge you could be the one that brings complete harmony and peace to your little world, so why not take the leap into the pound with Luna and Celestia,and craft this world as you see fit. Why care about hating little ol' me?" Discord said his tone full of wonder. 

Twilight felt her brow furrow as Discord played to her guilt, but quickly found it was washed away by one thought,Discord has not had anyone try to be his friend has he? "Discord,to be honest I am not sure what to say to you. But sometimes you have to stop thinking about what is the logical, and so called right thing to you in your life and take a chance, because that is what relation-ships are a chance to get to know each other, and to better each other not just yourself." Twilight said with he voice overwhelmed with emotion.  

Discord simply smiled, and in that smile Twilight shall more warmth from Discord than she had seen. Then he suddenly leaned down toward her causing Twilight to freeze as he hugged her. While she was frozen she felt herself get pushed as gently as a pony could, and before her mind processed what was happening she heard the door open suddenly behind her. 

"Wha-" Twilight was quickly cut off by Discord quickly letting her go into the darkness, and before the doors suddenly slammed she she could of swore she shall Discord crying. 

Then familiar darkness surrounded her.