First published
After 'reforming' Discord, Chaos has finally left the land of Equestria, or has it? Screw Ball, Discord's daugther, is ready to step up and bring Chaos back to Equestria. As a parting gift, Discord gave Screw Ball a horn. She's spent her time in the Everfree Forest, bidding her time. Now is the time to strike.
For every good, there is a bad. For every deed, there is a sin. For every friend, there is an enemy. I am that enemy. I am that sin. I am Screw Ball. I am the daughter of Chaos.
“*Sigh* I miss being mischievous. When are we going to have some more fun again, Daddy?”
“Now, now, my little abomination. Our time will come soon enough. After all, good things come to those who wait. Or in this case something quite chaotic.”
“He he, that sounds so cruel. I love it!”
Most ponies in Equestria know about the King of Chaos, Discord, but most ponies are kept in the dark about the fact that he had a daughter. Her name is Screw Ball. Upon the taming of Discord, he used his powers to grant the Earth pony a horn. Screw Ball, now a unicorn, hid in the Everfree Forest, biding her time until her existence was nothing more than a rumor. Celestia searched endlessly for the filly, but found no trace of her. Discords rehabilitation had been an act, Screw Ball knew this. There was no way to contain Chaos. But, she decided that if her father really did leave the throne up for grabs, that would make her the Princess of Chaos.
“Princess of Chaos?” She said aloud, savoring the title. “What a rotten name. It’s perfect!” Screw Ball started plotting a way to continue her dad’s legacy. He had left some pretty big shoes to fill, seeing how he had almost taken back Equestria if it hadn’t been for those six friends. Screw Ball remembered how Discord had done it, too, reversing their personalities and causing one to bicker about another. Screw Ball had to chuckle at the thought. Self destruction was the ultimate form of Chaos.
“Wait, that’s it!” the little unicorn exclaimed aloud. “If my old man can change those fillies personalities, I can change their elements!” She chuckled again. The laughter grew into maniacal laughter.
“Who goes there? Young filly, beware! This is no place for a youth. Danger is near, forsooth!” Screw Ball hadn’t thought of attracting attention. After all the Everfree Forest was a place no pony ever went. It didn’t matter if she was caught, she had her plan and was ready to put it in action. Now she needed to do research. Boring, she thought to herself.
“Sweetie Belle, is that you? Silly unicorn, go away, shoo.”
Screw Ball teleported to Twilight’s Library. As she thought, no pony was home. The “mane” six were in Canterlot with the other princesses. “Just you wait, Twilight” Screw Ball started with a growl in her voice. “I’ll create a test you’ll never pass!”
End of Chapter One
Discord’s cage was nothing far from your average prison cell. A toilet, sink, bed. However, he made it his own by changing the gray stone walls into graham crackers, the toilet water was fruit punch, and the bed was a king sized water bed.
“Guards.” Discord tried chatting them up. “Oh guards. Can’t you just let me out. mean old Celestia doesn’t have to know.”
One of the two pegasus guards replied, “Discord, you duty is to supply magic when needed. All other times you stay in your cell… I mean room.”
“I know that. But my ‘room’ is just so small. I think I need to… expand!” With a snap of his hand the whole prison block was now graham crackers and other candy.
“Discord, change that back!”
“Or what? Celestia will imprison me in stone again? You both need to relax. Here let me lighten your work load.” With another snap the guards went rocketing to the ceiling.
“Discord! This is your final warning! I will fly, gravity-impaired, all the way to the Crystal Empire and tell Celestia herself if I have to!”
“Oh, please be quiet. Your silly little threats are a waste of Oxygen.”
*Snap* The mouthy guard’s mouth vanished. Both guards wings had been removed also.
“Ta ta, now. No need to show me the door, I can take it from here.”
The guard who was silent in this endeavor had only one remark on this event, “This is why we were ordered to reframe from speaking to him.” The mouthless guard could only reply with a big sigh.
Discord walked out the door to find a wall of guards blocking the exit. With a simple snap of his fingers he willed the floor to become a soapy mess. Every guard started to slip and fall as Discord floated out of the castle on a cotton candy cloud.
“That was simple enough. Now for my revenge!” Discord took a deep breath and let out his classic maniacal chuckle. He headed towards Ponyville the settle an old score with Twilight Sparkle. Little did he know he was about to meet a different unicorn.
End of Chapter Two
Screw Ball’s studies took her all around the tree house. She looked in old books of ancient magic, to newer books that Twilight had just finished and left off the shelves. What she found was exactly what she had hoped for. Starswirl the Bearded’s unfinished spell that Twilight had finished. With it she would be able to swap all of the cutie marks again and cause major havoc. Only one problem. Each element had to be in close proximity to cast the spell. Since Twilight had her element with her in Canterlot, the spell was useless at first glance.
However, Screw Ball was able to modify the spell with Starswirl the Bearded’s elemental creation spell to make new elements of the opposite nature. Since Twilight was so generous to just leave the other Elements of Harmony on display in the Library, she could copy the essence in each and reverse it, but she needed some pony with the opposite nature of each filly to donate their power.
While brainstorming ideas for donors, Screw Ball was startled by the shrieks of several fillies and colts. She turned to the window and saw pink clouds and brown rain. Screw Ball whirled around in time to watch the door open upward towards the sky instead of normally on its hinges.
“Daddy!” Screw Ball shrieked! Discord had entered with fury in his face, expecting Twilight, no doubt. His expression melted quickly upon seeing Screw Ball.
“Aww, my little abomination! It’s been far too long! What are you doing here? Where’s Twilight Sparkle?” Screw Ball explained Twilight’s transformation into an Alicorn and the meeting of princesses in the Crystal Empire.
“Honestly, how am I supposed to make a big entrance with my return when no pony is around to see.” Discord said glumly.
“I thought is was great, Daddy.”
“Aww, thanks my little sour apple. You haven’t explained why you’re here though.” Screw Ball explained her new role as Princess of Chaos was to return havoc to Equestria. While listening Discord’s grin grew wider and wider and his eyes got wetter and wetter. With a sniffle he choked, “I’m so proud of you! Already plotting like me. Alright, I’ll help you in your quest. I’m sure this plan will get quite chaotic. Oh, what good fun this will be!”
“Yay! Thanks Daddy! Now we need to go to the mountains. Not only are the minerals for the new Elements there, so are the first donors!
End of Chapter Three
“Okay Daddy, find some holes. I’ll get the gems.”
“Sour Pop, you need to explain why we’re doing this first.”
“Okay, promise me you’ll work while I talk though.”
“Ha-ha, okay. I promise.”
“Well, I remember that Rarity was captured by some doggies here awhile back. They wanted all of her gems and captured her to find more. The opposite of Generosity is Greed. The perfect donor! We also need a source of power for the new elements, but gems have too much order with their Carbon chains. The gems will be the bait for the Diamond Dogs. We need metals for the- ” Screw Ball was cut short by an explosion of dirt.
A Diamond Dog jumped out of the ground, “Gems! Jewels! So pretty. So Shiny!”
“Hi, mister!” Screw Ball greeted the dog with a big grin. “Can you get the rest of your friends up here so we can steal your power for an Element of Greed?”
“Um, sweaty. That may not have been the best choice of words.” Discord suggested.
“Pink pony find gems like white pony. I take you to bosses. Draconicus stays here.” Before Discord could protest the Diamond Dog and Screw Ball burst threw the surface and disappeared in a cloud of dust. Once again, the father and daughter were separated.
The Diamond Dog took Screw Ball to his leaders. He explained how Screw Ball had collected gems just as “Miss Rarity” had. At the name of Miss Rarity the three leaders cover there ears and whimpered.
“No! Not another pony!” The green eyed leader exclaimed. “What do you want little one? Just take what you want and leave!”
“Well, since you asked, I’d like your power’s of greed and some metals, please.” Screw ball said, again giving the biggest grin possible.
“What?! No gems?” The biggest leader asked. “We hate metal, take as much as you want. We throw it all in that rubbish pile.”
“As for our powers…” The smallest leader addressed Screw Ball. Suddenly all three leaders barked at once, “Forget it!”
Screw Ball headed to the trash heap, but continued to convince the Diamond Dogs, “You’ll be able to get revenge on Rarity for taking all of those gems. Doesn’t that sound mischievous!”
“No. We’d like to keep our powers. Actually, what would happen if you took our powers? I don’t understand this whole thing.” The green eyed Diamond asked.
“Here let me show you!” Screw Ball picked up a piece of Onyx big enough to fit in the diamond shaped indent of the previous Element of Generosity. She switched the power sources and began the spell. All three leaders glowed along with the old gem and the onyx. The spell took only half a minute to complete. The dull piece of Onyx now glimmered and shined as if it was meant for the tiara.
“I don’t feel any different.” The smallest dog observed.
The green eyed Diamond Dog didn‘t seem so pleased, “But she cast the spell without our consent! Diamond Dogs, grab her! Put her to work!”
Screw Ball quickly picked up four more metals and quickly teleported to the surface. When she reached the surface she looked around to find a wonderful sight. Discord had made the mountain out of chocolate and ice cream.
“Surprise!” Discord jumped from behind a sprinkle the size of a big boulder. “A reward for your first success, my little abomination!”
Screw Ball, out of breath due to having to cast two very difficult spells one right after the other, could only let out a small, “Yay,” before collapsing.
End of Chapter Four
“Huh, Screw Ball, you sound just like a… I mean my first and only friend, Fluttershy.” Screw Ball didn’t reply. She had fallen asleep, her face in a pile of whipped cream.
Discord thought to himself for awhile. What would Fluttershy think of me for doing this? Can I really hurt her like this? Screw Ball is my daughter and I should help her, but I’ve taught her nothing about friendship like Fluttershy has taught me. All of these thoughts crossed in Discord’s brain. He had to make a choice: Screw Ball’s new rein as a Chaos Princess, or keep Fluttershy as a friend.
“They locked me in a cage,” Discord thought aloud. “Some friend.”
Several ice cream explosions occurred around Discord. The Diamond Dogs were back, and all had stern faces.
“Pony comes with us!” A Diamond Dog declared at Discord.
Discord simply snapped his fingers and each Diamond Dog was trapped in an avalanche of whipped cream. He then scoped up the sleeping filly and flew to what he taught was a possible donor for a Disharmony Element.
End of Chapter Five
When Screw Ball woke up, she was on Discords back with a complementary bag of peanuts in her hoof. He was flying at a decent speed, slow enough and steady enough not to have woken her up. She was still groggy from casting the Elemental Creation spell, then having to teleport through solid ground (or was it ice cream).
“Ah, I see some pony’s awake. Have a nice nap?” Discord asked.
“Sure did!” Screw Ball replied.
“Well good. We… I mean your going to need that energy to cast the spell again. I’ve taken the liberty to find us… I mean you another donor!” Discord informed her. Screw Ball noticed her father’s choice of words. He was trying his hardest to make her feel like she was the leader now, but it was obvious, even to the filly, that her dad was a born leader. Giving up the crown isn’t going to be easy for him, she thought.
“Oh, thanks Daddy!” Screw Ball finally replied. “Who is it?”
“A close friend of mine told me about this person. She learned how to be ‘assertive,’ but at the cost of her kindness. I thought if any pony could do that, they would be perfect for an element.”
“It sounds so cruel! It’s perfect! But, Daddy, I thought you were the only one able to change those six pony’s personalities.”
“Hmm, yes, that thought troubled me for a time as well, but it just goes to show how weak those ponies are when they aren’t together.”
Screw Ball took some time to ponder this fact. Discord understood and dropped the conversation. If Screw Ball was to succeed, she would need to separate the fillies so they couldn’t use their Rainbow Spiral attack. If it had stopped Discord and Nightmare Night, it would have no problem effecting a normal unicorn.
“We’re here!” Discord announced. “Passengers, thank you for flying Air Discord. Please use the complementary parachute placed on your backs. We hope you enjoyed your flight and please be safe on your decent.” Discord was right. Screw Ball could feel a parachute now strapped to her torso. Discord vanished into thin air. Screw Ball was now in free fall towards what looked like a maze. She could here a muscular male voice over an intercom projected throughout the maze. Her decent was directed straight for the middle of the maze where a crude stage was place. She read “Hedgeman Center” on a sign near the maze.
With all of her thinking she almost forgot to pull the ripcord. Luckily, she had enough time to launch the chute, but her speed wasn’t slowing down in time for impact. She was going to crash straight into the stage!
“I gotcha!” Discord yelled up to her. He was standing on stage now with his arms wide open. The catch was a little painful on the sore fillies muscles, but she wasn’t going to complain. The fall was fun and the catch was way better than a face full of stage floor.
“Sorry, dear. Next time I’ll be less chaotic, okay?” Discord sounded sincere. There wasn’t a single hint of sarcasm which normally filled his words.
“That was fun,, Daddy! Do it again!” Screw Ball squealed to ensure her dad that everything was fine. With a smile on each of their faces they looked around for the pony they were looking for.
“Wait a minute. Daddy, you never told me who, or what we’re looking for.”
“Oh, sorry, my little abomination. He’s a Minotaur. Half man, half bull.” Discord explained.
“You’re darn right I am!” It was the same voice Screw Ball had heard earlier. “Hi, I’m Iron Will. Are you tired of being a doormat?” Iron Will asked, not expecting an answer.
Discord replied by morphing into a doormat and saying, “Yes, but that’s not why we’re here.”
Screw couldn’t help but giggle. Iron Will didn’t find it too funny. “You laugh at me?! I wrath at you!” The bull charged at the unicorn. Screw Ball was to intimidated to move. She was paralyzed by the brute force Iron Will had. Discord simply pushed Screw Ball a few inches to the left.
To Screw Ball’s amassment, Iron Will didn’t redirect his approach and ran right through the foliage walls of the maze. “How… ?” Screw Ball started.
Discord answer her, “Minotaur’s can’t handle direction change while charging. Another fact, my little abomination, bull’s hate red.” Discord snapped his fingers. A puff of smoke revealed a newly placed sombrero and red cape on Screw Ball. “Have fun! Oh, and don’t forget, be chaotic!” Discord said and flew to the roof of the stage. A bowl of popcorn magically appeared in his lap. Of course, he started eating the bowl.
Focus, Screw Ball thought. Iron Will seems to be easily agitated. The cape seemed a little overkill, but Daddy knows best. Iron Will charged again, “Don’t be shy. Look me in the eye!” Screw Ball remembered the female voice from the Everfree Forest and how she rhymed like Iron Will did. She was too distracted and could barely dodge the charge. Iron Will’s horn snagged at the red cape. “When some pony tries to block. So them that you rock!”
Screw Ball was feed up with this now. She new there was chaotic magic in her somewhere. She concentrated to find it. She prepped her cape to dodge effectively. Iron Will charged the cape instead of Screw Ball. She moved her cape to reveal an anvil. Iron Will ran head first into the anvil and was knocked out instantly.
Discord laughed manically, “Hahaha, classic, Screw Ball, classic. Who rocks now Iron Will?” Screw Ball was confused. Had she placed the anvil there? Was chaos different from magic in the sense you don’t need spells? Had Discord simply placed the anvil there? Then there were immediate problems: creating the Element of Hatred and having another elemental donor.
“Daddy, can you get the Element of Kindness?” Screw Ball asked. Discord obliged and held the Element towards Screw Ball. She cast the spell and, once again, Iron Will, the Element of Kindness, and the chunk of Copper from the Diamond Dog’s mine glowed. The metal now shined as if it had been thoroughly cleaned and replaced the gem to create the Element of Hatred. Once again, Screw Ball passed out after the spell was completed.
End of Chapter Six
Screw Ball over did it again, Discord thought. He didn’t want to believe it, but he had to come to terms with what had just happened. Screw Ball was able to use the universal power of chaos, just as Discord could. Why was he surprised? Screw Ball was his daughter after all. Without her horn, though, there was no way to channel the power. He pondered how much power she could handle. She could handle a drop from high in the sky, the g-force while falling, have a fight with a Minotaur, and still cast a spell that only Starswirl had ever completed.
Screw Ball started to squirm. Was it possible she had already recovered? This kid’s stronger than Twilight, Discord thought. But is she more powerful that the Magic of Friendship? Discord planned to train her, push Screw Ball to her limits, fill her with chaos and adrenaline.
“Daddy, which thinking about?” Screw Ball asked inquisitively. Discord hadn’t realized it, but Screw Ball had climbed on his back, ready to fall to the next donor. “We need to head out now and find the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 before it gets dark.” Screw Ball continued.
“Now, now, let’s not get a big head. A little filly like you need rest, right? We… I mean you’ve had a big day today and need some rest.”
“Why do you keep doing that?” Screw Ball asked.
“Whatever do you mean?” Discord asked. He knew the answer all too well. But, his efforts were wasted.
“You try making me feel like I’m the only one doing work, Daddy. Your selling yourself short. You help a lot and I want you to know that.”
Discord couldn’t help but shed a tear. “Look Screw Ball, when I’m gone it’ll only be you to rule Chaos. I’m just trying to prepare you for that day.”
“But you’re not gone yet!” Screw Ball protested. She seemed quite upset by the topic. “You’re here with me now. And that’s all that matters!” Screw Ball was on the verge of tears.
“I’m sorry, my little abomination.” Discord started. He pulled Screw Ball off his back and gave her a comforting hug. “I didn’t mean for you to worry. And you’re right, but so am I. I’m here now and we both need our sleep.”
Screw Ball couldn’t help but smile on each emphasized word Discord uttered. Discord changed the stage into a giant bed. With a yawn from Screw Ball, Discord tucked her in and said good night. Discord couldn’t help but yawn, too. But he had to stay up and protect his daughter.
It was too late, the yawning became contagious and Discord started nodding off. Before he could go to bed, though, he had to make sure Iron Will wouldn’t wake up and disturb Screw Ball’s beauty sleep. He turned the anvil Iron Will was resting on into a medieval catapult and launched Iron Will somewhere into the maze. What could go wrong, Discord thought was he closed his eyes.
End of Chapter Seven
When Screw Ball woke up she was on Discord’s back. He was flying at a slow speed so Screw Ball could sleep.
“Where are we going, Dad?” Screw Ball asked.
“Ah, some pony woke up. I decided to get an early start on the hunt for the Brothers since you were so eager last night.” Discord replied. Screw Ball remember last night far too well. After regaining consciousness she didn’t feel normal. She felt like she could keep going, like she had to do more. The excess power had filled her lungs and heart, making her think and breath at a rapid pace. She didn’t want to feel that way again, uncontrolled power taking a mind of its own. If only she could control it…
“You did excellently yesterday, Sour Pop!” Discord continued, as if he read Screw Ball’s mind. “With a little more training you’ll be just as good at Chaos as your Daddy, Discord.” So it was me who materialized the anvil, Screw Ball thought. Training sounded perfect. Without it, she stood no chance against Twilight and her friends. But, she wasn’t worried. She had Discord on her side. Nothing could stop them.
Discord took a sharp dive. “I see them, Screw Ball. Can you?” Sure enough the odd contraption was driving on an old dirt and gravel path.
“I sure can.” Screw Ball replied. She looked closer at the two sales ponies. They looked straight at her with scrunched faces. “Um, but I don’t think they’ll sell us any cider.”
“Well then, its time for the assertive approach.” Discord said. He picked up speed, Screw Ball could tell by the added wind in her face. But the sales ponies picked up speed, too. Their contraption puffed black smoke into the air. “So it’s a race they want.” Discord observed. “What fun is that? I’d prefer ice skating.” With a snap of his fingers, Discord changed the path into a frozen lake.
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 started losing traction. But, with the press of a button, spikes sprouted on the wheels, and the chase continued. “Drat. Screw Ball, can you handle this situation. This could be good for your training.” Screw Ball didn’t see how stopping a super fast cider maker was training, but she had the perfect plan.
She agreed with a giggle and turned the wheels of steel and rubber into wheels of cheese. The S.S.C.S 6000 lost traction, spun out, and crashed into a nearby tree. Watching the spill, she felt sorry for her actions. But it had to be done. It was all worth it to redeem Discord and become Princess of Chaos. She checked Flim and Flam, they seemed to be fine, no broken bones, no scrapes. The were dazed from the crash, the perfect time to cast the spell. With hast she used a sliver of Zinc for the Element of Deception.
“How does my little abomination feel? Are you going to pass out?” Discord asked gingerly.
“I’m fine, Dad. I think I am getting better at controlling Chaos. Let’s take inventory on what we have right now.” Screw Ball looked at her haul: the Elements of Greed, Hatred, and Deception along with a piece of Nickel and Titanium. The only elements left to counter were Loyalty and Laughter.
A chill went down Screw Ball’s spine. She couldn’t believe the risk she was about to take to make these Elements. A grin spread across her face from ear to ear. Discord couldn’t help but ask, “What’s so funny?”
Screw Ball turned to face him, her pupils were tiny, like an insane pony. “We’ll have to go to the Crystal Empire now, Father.”
End of Chapter Eight
Screw Ball couldn’t stop laughing at the genius plan she had created. She made Discord guess who the targets for the new elements were. All of his guesses were wrong. “Can’t I have a hint?” Discord asked.
“Nope. Have you given up?” Screw Ball replied, obviously excited about her plan.
As they flew towards the Crystal Empire on Discords back, Screw Ball explained her plan. “We need the donors for the Elements of Betrayal and Sorrow, right father? Well the only pony I know who has betrayed another is none other than Nightmare Moon.”
Discord couldn’t believe what Screw Ball was suggesting. How in Equestria we’re they supposed to turn Luna back into Nightmare Moon then immobilize her to receive the power.
“After Betrayal,” Screw Ball started treating the fact like it was an easy task on her to-do list, “We have Sorrow. You may not know this, father, but Pinkie Pie isn’t always so happy.” Discord noticed Screw Ball had stopped calling him “Daddy” and was now calling him father. What was that all about? Was this change due to the increased Chaos power?
Screw Ball continued, “She had a depressed stage in her life where she felt her friends were abandoning her. That’s how we get the last two Elements. And what luck, they’re already in the same place.”
Discord’s brain was jam packed full of questions. Where could he start? “Screw Ball, can I ask you more about your process in all of this?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, good.” Discord took a deep breath, “How do you plan on turning Princess Luna into Nightmare Moon, how do you plan to stop Nightmare Moon after you summon her, how will Pinkie Pie revert to her depressed form, and how are we to avoid guards and the “mane” six?!”
“To answer your questions in order,” Screw Ball started, “We attack and convince Princess Luna that she needs to become Nightmare Moon on her night shift, where every pony is asleep. Then we travel to Pinkie Pie’s bedroom, which will be the only time she’s not with the other fillies, and convince her into depression.”
This whole plan sounded cruel. Too, cruel. Discord wondered if Fluttershy really had softened him up. Discord needed to know more, “Sweetie, you still haven’t told me how you plan on changing the two of them.”
“That’s the surprise, father.” There she goes again. “Besides, what fun is there in making sense.”
End of Chapter Nine
The pair made it to the Crystal Empire at sunset. They had only minutes to get into position and launch the assault. Screw Ball’s heart raced with adrenaline from anxiety and power.
“Where do you want me to land, dear?” Screw Ball noticed Discord had started using more affectionate nicknames for her. She disliked that, but she was too polite to correct him.
“If you can, at the very top of the tower.” She pointed to the structure in the center on the Empire where the Crystal Heart was contained. Discord flew to the top and looked around, no pony saw them in the twilight of the sunset.
This was perfect, Screw Ball thought. Celestia and Luna are both working, leaving this hiding spot wide open. The guards also rotated shifts, so there was no chance a guard could have spotted them. However, for insurance, Screw Ball cast a mirage spell over Discord and herself. Now they played the most boring game, the waiting game.
Celestia came back first from lowering the sun. She traveled straight to her chambers as the new guards took their positions. Luna flew back from the moon moments later. She didn’t see either Screw Ball or Discord as she landed on the balcony to watch over the Empire. So far so good. Screw Ball lowered her mirage and pulled up a sound barrier around Princess Luna so that neither the guards nor the other ponies in the tower could hear the fight. Only one thing left to do.
Screw Ball pounced on Princess Luna , holding her down so she couldn’t get away. Luna called for help, Screw ball could see she was using her loud, third person voice to call out. Screw Ball concentrated on using a memory spell, countered in into a memory loss spell, and touched her horn to Luna’s. Suddenly Luna stopped crying for help. Her eyes glowed of pure light, her mane grew as large as Celestia’s, and her body sized increased as well. She was now Nightmare Moon. The passed years had been erased from her brain. She truly believed she was still locked on the moon and the Elements of Harmony hadn’t shown her the error of her ways.
Nightmare Moon was more powerful than Screw Ball had imagined. Nightmare Moon was able to shatter the sound barrier placed around her and was able to blindly scream to the night sky, “We shall engulf the land in Eternal Darkness!” This was bad, every guard turned and looked up at the hostile princess. They took flight and pointed their spears at Nightmare Moon.
One guard opened his mouth and declared for Night Mare Moon’s surrender. She didn’t even acknowledge him and was able to whip every guard out of the sky with one flick of her mane. The guards flew back up to face her again. This time she turned around and shot a beam of condensed magic over a wide range. It made contact with every guard, sending them to the ground. Each one lay unconscious after the blast.
This was Screw Ball’s chance. She cast the spell to absorb Nightmare Moon’s powers. The Titanium was ready, but Screw Ball couldn’t seem to pull Nightmare Moon’s power to it. It was like Nightmare Moon simply willed the spell not to affect her. This was bad, Screw Ball would have to weaken her before taking her power. But how would she be able to counter an Alicorn?! The situation seemed hopeless.
In a flash, Nightmare Moon was pummeled off the balcony of the tower. Screw Ball looked over the edge and saw Discord had pulled Nightmare Moon off the balcony and crashed to the ground with her in a body slam. Nightmare Night was dazed from the speed and force with which the attack had been carried out.
Screw Ball quickly teleported to the ground level and cast the spell. The Titanium was fused with the power and placed in the tiara. “We’ve done it father!” Screw Ball said, looking up at Discord. She only now noticed that Discord had gotten pretty scratched up from the fall. He was looking back up at the balcony. Screw Ball followed his eyes to see Celestia peering down at them.
“Screw Ball, go find Pinkie Pie. I’ll distract Celestia.” Screw ball put on a brave face and ran for the tower entrance.
“Be careful, Daddy.” Screw Ball whispered. But, it was too late. The Draconacus and the Alicorn began there battle.
End of Chapter Ten
The fight was brutal. Discord and Celestia both had mastered aerial combat. This meant the two had to rely on magic and chaos. Celestia’s controlled beams were potent and devastating when they made contact with Discord, however Discord was able to land multiple, unpredictable attacks on Celestia. It was almost a dance in the sky. When Celestia would shoot at Discord, he was forced to dodge and attack before Celestia’s guard was back up. When Discord launched an assault, Celetia had to block it with her magic and was forced to attack and keep the pressure on Discord. Neither side budged, just what Discord hoped for. He needed to buy Screw Ball as much time as he could. “I know what your planning Discord.” Celestia finally addressed her opponent.
“And what, pray tell, is that?” Discord loved playing dumb.
“Stop playing dumb Discord. I know you broke out of Canterlot, the guards sent a mail mare with a letter explaining everything.”
Discord couldn’t help but laugh hysterically. He rammed Celestia with his mis-matched horns. She blocked with her long Alicorn horn. “You only know part of the story, my sweet Celestia.” Discord saw no reason to keep the plan a secret. “Yes, I did want revenge on Twilight Sparkle for imprisoning my in stone and then capturing me, using my chaos whenever necessary. But what you don’t know is that my daughter, Screw Ball, wants to embrace chaos to redeem the throne and rule Equestria with wonderful Chaos.”
“Who are you trying to fool, Discord” Celestia interrupted. Discord was shocked at the accusation. Celestia read his expression and continued. “You declared that you were willing to make sacrifices to keep your friend Fluttershy happy. She was miserable in your Chaotic environment.
“I remember, but I never wanted to be imprisoned!”
“I see.” Celestia backed away from the stand-off, wearing a serious face. “So that’s it. You wish to have friends and Chaos, but you feel as though you never get to see your friend and aren’t able to use the amount of Chaos you want.” That was it exactly. But there was more.
“No.” Discord replied. “I want to see my daughter happy.”
“But you haven’t been able to teach her the lesson you’ve learned about friendship.” Celestia was too smart for her own good.
“It’s different. Screw Ball’s my only family. I should support my family, no matter what the cost.” Discord explained. Celestia smiled.
“That is true, but look at my sister. When she wanted every pony to enjoy her night and occupy more time in the sky, I couldn’t let her. I had to try and teach her equality, and…”
Discord understood, “You had to banish her to the Moon, because she wouldn’t listen. You left her unchecked for one thousand years and she focused on revenge instead of the lesson.” Celestia nodded.
“Go now Discord. You have a choice to make.” Celestia flew to her sister and started mending her erased memories with a spell. Discord started off for the tower. “Oh, and Discord,” Princess Celestia called out before he went to far, “I’m sorry I made the same mistake twice. I didn’t mean to exile you like I did my sister. If you make the right choice, I promise things will be different.” Discord nodded and continued his walk, unsure of how to approach the conflict.
End of Chapter Eleven
It took Screw Ball longer than she thought to find Pinkie’s room. She used a mix of stealth and silence to inspect every room. She even walked in on a sleeping Fluttershy and Apple Jack. When she found Pinkie Pie she put on her acting face and proceeded with her plan.
“Pinkie Pie, wake up.” Screw Ball said loud enough to raise the filly. Pinkie responded with a yawn and a giggle, “Morning already? What was the deal with Princess Luna? She was all like, ‘RAWR! Darkness!’ Oh, hey who are you? You know who I am. Hey wait, your not a crystal pony. Then again I’m not a crystal pony.” She spoke with so much energy and she had just gotten out of bed. It was a shame she would be sluggish after the transformation.
“Pinkie Pie, I don’t know how to tell you, but your friends left in the night without you.”
She interrupted with laughter, “Don’t be a silly filly, my friends are across the hall.” Screw Ball cast a mirage spell on Pinkie Pie. Now she would see what Screw Ball wanted to. She couldn’t have Pinkie running room to room so she elevated her a little so she would stay put. “Pinkie Pie, they aren’t there! Go check.”
Pinkie Pie went through the motions in the air, running from room to room and opening doors. Her head dropped down as she walked back to Screw Ball. Pinkie Pie addressed her, “Didn’t I just over sleep, they’re waiting for me outside, right?” Screw Ball shook her head and opened the curtain next to her. Outside, in reality, it was a dark night, but in Pinkie’s mind she saw that it was morning. Her friends were climbing aboard the train heading back to Ponyville. Pinkie’s lip started to quiver. Tears swelled in her eyes.
Screw Ball did a double take at the window. Discord’s fight had stopped and Celestia was mending Nightmare Moon’s mind. She was running out of time. Where is my father, she asked herself. She looked back at Pinkie Pie. Her hair was effected by gravity, now straight. She wore a frown and glared out the window. Screw Ball had her distracted with the image, so she cast the final elemental spell.
The Nickel filled with the fillies Sorrows and was attached to the previous Element of Laughter. Screw Ball released the filly of her mirage spell and left her in her room. Screw Ball needed one more Element: The Element of Magic. She crept to Twilight’s room at the end of the hall. She walked in and saw the crown on the bedside table. She walked up the table, quietly picked it up and trotted out of the room. How ever, she tripped on something in the dark, waking the young princess up. Upon further inspection it was Spike’s tail. She ran as fast as she could to the most open spot she could find, the balcony.
Twilight called out, “Stop! Thief! She’s got my crown!” Screw Ball glanced behind her the six fillies were following her. Pinkie had gained her gravity-defying hair back and was chipper as ever in the chase. Screw Ball reached the balcony, “Dead End,” Twilight smirked, as if she had already one. Screw Ball looked down at the crown. She remembered how just moments ago she was helpless in the fight with another Alicorn, how could she beat this one and her friends? She had the Elements, that was true. She had one option, but she would have to… wing it. She grinned at the pun.
She concentrated on all of the Elements of Chaos and the Element of Magic. She copied the ant magic power to her own body and used Starswirl the Bearded’s unfinished spell to also fuse with herself. The result left the Elements of Harmony’s empty tiaras and the Element of Magic and Laughter on the floor. The Elements of Chaos had fused into a single tiara, just like the Element of Magic. The metals formed some sort of gem, Cubic Zirconium. Only the power of Chaos could do something as weird as to turn metal into jewels, Screw Ball thought. But, that wasn’t all that happened.
Screw Ball felt power flow through her veins. She couldn’t stop smiling, it helped to flex every muscle to released the overwhelming power she had recently obtained. Around her hooves were pink feathers. She turned to her flank and say her vision of her cutie mark was blocked by outstretched wings. She was now, truly the Princess of Chaos. Her heart beat like a drum, fast and furiously. She couldn’t control the power she had to get rid of it somehow. She unleashed a little on the ponies obstructing her goal.
The result was a massive ray of condensed Chaos magic. The six fillies ducked and the beam hit the balcony behind them. The seven began to fall. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy caught their other friends. Screw Ball was all alone. She had no friends, no Discord right now. Frustrated she focused on the anatomy of her wings and used Chaos to speed up the learning process in flying. She was able to land on the ground with a thump, better than a fall like Nightmare Moon.
Speaking of Nightmare Moon, she and Princess Celestia were gone. That meant two more Alicorns were able to join the opponents at any time. The ‘mane’ six landed while Princess Screw Ball observed the absence of the princesses. In the ruble of the balcony were the Elements and empty tiaras.
“Stand back girls,” Twilight cautioned. She levitated her Element of Magic back to her, placed the gem in the tiara, and placed it on her head. “Without your Elements you can’t…” Twilight paused. She looked as if she was in deep thought. “Actually, from my journey to the human world, I found that our friendship doesn’t need amplifying gems to work. Alright girls, formation!”
Screw Ball hadn’t considered the fact that they didn’t need there elements. Besides the crystals amplified the magic of friendship. She had the ultimate Chaos amplifying gem on her forehead. The power the ‘mane’ six would have would only be a fraction of what the elements could give them. The only way to match Screw Ball’s power was to unite the Elements of Harmony again. She looked around the ground and didn’t see the Element of Laughter. She looked at the fillies getting into formation. Pinkie Pie was holding her Element. Each pony had a stern face, determined to hold their ground.
Screw Ball knew they couldn’t be her, so she decided to toy with them a little. “Why would you attack me? I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“You stole my crown and had one of our Elements of Harmony, not to mention you turned into an Alicorn.” Twilight started.
“Ah, but you have both Elements back.” Screw Ball interjected. Her power was building up again. She had to burn some of it off.
She started trotting in circles. “Are you okay?” Twilight asked.
Screw Ball couldn’t respond. If she lost her focus on her power she would unleash another attack. She didn’t want that, not yet. To get rid of excess energy she turned some of the street lamps into candy canes. At least now she could talk.
“The fillies weird Twilight” Rainbow Dash observed. Had she seen the candy canes?
“I agree. What are you doing here? Who are you?” Twilight asked.
Screw Ball ignored her questions. If she gave Twilight the answers her fun would be over for sure. “Your not going to still attack me, are you?” Screw Ball pretended to be frightened.
“No we just want to know what your doing here. How did you become an Alicorn? Please, we need to know more.”
Just them a figure blocked out the moonlight. It wasn’t hard for Screw Ball to figure out who it was, but the other ponies looked into the sky with a question on their face. Discord landed next to Screw Ball, still trotting. He held the remaining Elements of Harmony.
“Discord!” The group shouted. “I knew he wasn’t reformed!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, talking before thinking, as usual.
“Discord, would you mind telling us what’s going on, um, if that’s okay.” Fluttershy whispered.
“Fluttershy! It’s obvious! Princess Celestia told us Discord broke out of the Canterlot Castle, remember!” Rainbow Dash shouted, forgetting Fluttershy’s fragile feelings.
“I reckon he went and took our Elements of Harmony while we were here.” Apple Jack put another piece to the puzzle.
“But girls,” Twilight started, “That doesn’t explain how that other filly became an Alicorn.”
“Maybe it has something to do with that beautiful gem she’s wearing.” Rarity observed.
Screw Ball’s power overloaded again, causing patches of the road to change into a checkered-board style. “I can explain everything,” Discord started. Screw Ball looked at him. He wouldn’t look her in the eyes. What was he planning?
“And why should we trust you?” Rainbow Dash asked, obviously perturbed.
“Dashie, give him a chance. Someone who can make cotton candy clouds that rain chocolate milk can’t be too bad.” Pinkie Pie answered for Discord.
“Thank you Pinkie Pie,” Discord said. He snapped his fingers and a low laying cotton candy cloud spawned. Pinkie went to town on the cloud. “Where do I start.”
By this time Screw Ball had started hovering and galloping in the air. Nothing helped she tried levitating multiple objects, juggling them. It could buy her some time, but not much.
“This is my daughter, Screw Ball.” Discord turned to face her, but still wouldn’t make eye contact. Discord retold the story of how both of them traveled Equestria gaining the Elements of Chaos and how they were going to use them to gain revenge and the throne back. No pony interrupted him. Discord had their full undivided attention. “It was a lot of fun,” Discord admitted, “but it’s over Screw Ball. I haven’t taught you important lessons in life, like friendships.” Discord’s eyes started to water. “It’s time to stop. Let’s go home and live our life. We’ll make new friends. I can teach you how friends make your life better. Please?” Discord was getting choked up.
Screw Ball couldn’t believe what he was suggesting. Just give up? Was it that easy? “Father. I understand now.” Screw Ball started. “I know why you left the throne. I know now what has to be done.” She stopped moving and planted her hooves firmly on the ground. Discord ran to her for a hug. Discord received the wrong impression.
Screw Ball launched a concentrated blast of Chaos at Discord. “Your weak, father. Corrupted. Chaos needs a new ruler. A Princess of Chaos. I don’t need friends to increase the quality of my life. I don’t need anyone! Not even you.”
Discord didn’t reply. He was badly hurt from the assault, but he used his last energy to hand the other Elements of Harmony to their owners. The ponies accepted the tiaras and formed a boundary around Discord. “This ends tonight, Screw Ball.” Twilight promised.
End of Chapter Twelve
Screw Ball’s raw strength regenerated quickly. She launched several, small beams of Chaos at the fillies. The winged ponies were able to dodge, but the other’s took the attack with no protection. Good, Screw Ball thought, keep them apart. They can’t use that Double Rainbow attack if they aren’t in their Heart Formation.
Screw focused on the grounded ponies first, since they weren’t as agile. However, a purple shield blocked Screw Ball’s next attacks. Twilight’s doing no doubt. Screw Ball had no choice but to charge Twilight. Twilight released the spell to meet Screw Ball. Both fillies locked there horns. Screw Ball had trapped herself, immobilized, susceptible to any attack.
Screw Ball felt a tug at her waist. Upon examination, Apple Jack’s rope had appeared. Screw Ball was pulled from the stand off with Twilight and was roped over and over again. Layers of rope now covered her wings. Screw Ball used her Chaos to turn the rope into licorice and buck Apple Jack so hard it sent her flying. Screw Ball flew into the air to observe every pony. She saw that Rainbow Dash was absent.
As this observation was made, Screw Ball heard the noise of the sound barrier being broken. Immediately, she was hit be an object traveling at a stunning speed and was launched towards the ground at a small angle. Screw Ball created a pile of pillows where her impact would be, but her fall was still rough. She looked back at what had hit her and say a ring of colors. She had been hit by a Sonic Rainboom Tackle! But, again, Rainbow Dash was no where near the Rainboom.
Screw Ball panicked. She say no sign of the fillies. When she did they had already formed their Heart Formation. They levitated into the sky. Screw Ball had to do something. She didn’t want to be turned to stone. She launched a giant wave of Chaos at them. Nothing happened. Screw Ball looked around desperately for something, anything to save her. She say the place where the balcony had been. Three figures loomed over the battle: Princess Luna, Celestia, and now Cadence. How long had they been watching?
It was hopeless. Even if Screw Ball could counter the Double Rainbow attack and knock out the ‘mane’ six, she would then have to face the three Princesses. Twilights eyes glowed with pure white light. The Rainbows launched from the pack of ponies. They swirled around Screw Ball, constricting her movements. Was this the end? Screw Balls lack of movement caused her power to build. She could feel her eyes burn, as if they glowed with light as Twilight’s did when she cast the attack. She touched each rainbow with her front hooves and started to turn to stone. She felt her front legs go numb.
“No!” She exclaimed. She used her power to send a shock wave through her hooves. The stone broke and the Rainbows vivid colors faded to several shades of black gray and white. When the entire faded colors reached the six fillies they collapsed. They weren’t used to using that much power in an attack. Screw Ball looked up at the three princesses, now descending. It wasn’t fair, Screw Ball thought. I’m all I have in this world and they have several ponies.
Screw Ball realized the connection she had just made. They were more powerful than her because they had friends. She was weaker because she had no allies. She considered the fact that she was wrong. Screw Ball wanted to search this unexplored world of friendship. Besides, if Discord had betrayed her for it, them it must be worth an examination.
It wasn’t that simple, however. Without moving her powers had stockpiled again. She wanted to surrender, but she had to attack something to release energy. The crown, she thought. She tried to remove it, but the crown was fused to her head. The princesses drew closer. If she fired Chaos, they would retaliate. If she didn’t she wouldn’t be able to hold in the power and something worse may happen.
She tried to speak to the princesses, convince them that she had seen the error of her ways. When she tried to talk she lost focus of the contained power and a beam was shot at Cadence. The blast caused her to fall out of the sky and land with a hard ‘THUD.
“Oh my Celestia, I’m sorry.” Screw Ball tried to apologize. “Please, let me surrender.
“I’m afraid we can’t.” Celestia declined.
Screw Ball’s eyes grew wide. “What do you mean? Please, don’t turn me to stone. I don’t want to be cruel anymore. I want friends and family. I want to lose this power I want to live!” Screw Ball started to cry.
“You’ve caused to much damage her. Punishment needs to occur. I hope you understand.” Princess Celestia and Luna started flying in a circle above Screw Ball. Is this how they turned my father to stone, my daddy? Screw Ball thought.
Screw Ball closed her eyes and excepted her fate. She had just wished it was all a dream. But no, it was really happening. She looked up at the princesses, their horns glowing, ready to cast their spell. She looked at the six fillies. They were dazed, but still cautious of what was happening. Princess Cadence was the same.
She looked at Discord. He had turned to watch the process. His thumb lay on his middle finger, ready to create a noise. A noise Screw Ball had come to know as a sign of Chaos, a sign of joy in her life. The sound it made this time sounded no different. If Screw Ball was to live life as a block of stone from now on, that was the perfect last noise to hear. She stared back at the princesses, they all exchanged glances. Screw Ball nodded her head. The sickening sound of rock hardening around her made her want to pass out, but she stayed strong and smiled until the last hair on her mane was stone.
End of Chapter Thirteen
“It’s all my fault,” Discord explained to Princess Celestia. “If I had raised her properly I could have prevented this.”
“Do not blame yourself,” Celestia reassured Discord.
“Easy for you to say, Princess,” he used heavy sarcasm in her title. “You blamed yourself with Nightmare Moon and forgave her, why can’t you see the same thing has happened to Screw Ball and me!”
Celestia looked at the ground. Discord knew it was a low blow talking about her sister like that, but it was necessary to get Screw Ball back. “I see know you are right,” Celestia agreed. “I felt as if I should have taken better care of my sister so she would be less jealous, just as you felt you should have shown more affection and friendship to Screw Ball.” Discord nodded.
“It seems you’ve convinced me Discord. Guards, bring in my student and her friends.” Celestia ordered. Slowly the ponies filed in. Another guard brought in the Screw Ball statue. Discord felt a tear run down his cheek. It had only been a few days since she was placed in stone, but just seeing her in his shoes made Discord feel like he failed as a father. He vowed to be a better father after this.
Celestia talked to the fillies and explained why Screw Ball should be released. Every pony understood and trotted into formation. The stone disappeared and Screw Ball was left standing and smiling. A few moments passed and she looked around, confused. Discord ran to hug the filly, but Celestia called out before he reached her.
“Discord. You and I both know some sort of punishment has to be taken here. What do you plan to do about it?”
Discord needed no words to tell her his plan. With a snap of his fingers Screw Ball’s wings and horn were gone. Discord also removed the Element of Chaos. “Now Screw Ball. You can have those back when you… I mean we, learn how to be friendlier.” Discord looked at Celestia to see if the punishment was satisfying. She wore a smile and nodded her head. “Do you understand, Sweetie?”
Screw Ball looked up and Discord, smiled, and replied, “Sure thing, Daddy!”
-I do not own any characters written in this Fan Fiction, they are all owned by Hasbro and were created by Lauren Faust.
-Prologue quotes were taken from dBPony’s Daddy Discord intro.