> My Little Maleficent
>  by KidatHeart5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: First Meeting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Do you know the legend of Sleeping Pony? Let me tell you the story behind it.
Once upon a time, in a faraway land so very long ago, there were two feuding kingdoms. One that wanted to conquer and take lands as their own and another that was very peaceful and filled with magical creatures. A very special creature lived in this tranquil part of the land. His name was Discord. He loved his home very much and played with the creatures all the time. He even played pranks on them. 
A preteen Discord hid in the bushes and giggled as he waited for his trap to spring. He laid a carrot on the path after he carefully set a net beneath the dirt. After he waited a few minutes, a jackalope hopped up and saw the carrot. He was new to Discord’s pranks, so thus least expected it. When he grabbed the carrot, the net beneath him sprung up and held him on the branch of a tree. Discord emerged from the brush, bursting with laughter. 
The jackalope cried, “Discord! You tricked me!” Discord replied as he wiped a tear from his eye, “Well, you should know better than to pick up carrots in the middle of the path.” Just then, three Breezies whizzed up to him and chattered urgently in overlapping voices. Discord waved at them and said, “Girls, girls! I can’t understand a word you’re saying! Why don’t just one of you tell me what’s going on?” 
The first Breezie, Sweetie Belle, began, “We have a huge…” Just then, the second Breezie, Apple Bloom, interrupted her, “Hey, I thought I was going to tell him!” The third Breezie, who was named Scootaloo, suggested, “Why don’t I save the both of you trouble and let me tell Discord?” Discord said, “I have an idea. Why don’t you all tell me what this is all about?” To that, the three Breezies agreed and told him simultaneously, “There’s a filly in the woods and she’s not from here!”
Discord was shocked and asked, “An intruder? Who would dare come here?” Suddenly, he realized that this could be a trick to get back at him. He asked suspiciously, “Are you sure this is not a prank?” The Breezies face-hoofed and then shouted, “YES!!!” Discord took their word for it and flew hurriedly to the edge of the woods.
When he arrived, two Minotaur guards were facing the dark woods with the spears pointed toward the darkness. Discord appeared before them in general attire and commanded, “At ease!” After the guards withdrew their spears, Discord popped out of his outfit and peered into the forest. “Hey, you!” he commanded. “Come out of there!” 
A small, shy voice replied, “I…c-c-can’t. I’m too s-s-scared.” Discord then realized that he had to coax her out of hiding. He smiled, “Don’t be. If you’ll come out there, I promise I will be your friend.” 
The voice asked, “But…w-what about them?” Discord looked back to the Minotaur guards and ordered, “Hey, guys, back up. You’re scaring the filly.” The guards did as he told him. The young draconequus turned back to the woods and coaxed, “It’s okay now. You can come out. Nobody’s going to hurt you.”
The filly whispered, “Are you sure?” Discord nodded, “I’m 100% positive. No harm will come to you here.” When the young filly timidly emerged from the woods, Discord had no idea that their first meeting would change his life forever. He was amazed when he saw the young filly’s yellow coat, pink mane, and blue-green eyes. He had never seen any pony like her. In truth, he had never seen a pony at all before he met her. 
Discord said under his breath, “Oh, my…” He was so lost in his trance that one of the Minotaur guards had to nudge him to snap him out of it. When he regained his senses, Discord asked the filly, “So, what are you doing in this part of the Everfree Forest?” The filly turned her head and answered, “Forgive me. I was only following a cute bunny. It looked hungry, so I wanted to feed it. 
“When I tried to give it food, it just ran away. I followed it here to give it some food.” Discord scoffed, for he knew how much trouble bunnies were; one in particular was named Angel Bunny. Discord had been around since he was born, but he didn’t see why he was given the name “Angel”. He was nothing but trouble ever since he could hop. He wondered if it was the same bunny that the filly followed here.
The Minotaur guards told him to take her out of the forest. Discord complied and led the filly to the outside edge of the Everfree Forest. The draconequus asked her, “Oh, I never got your name. I’m Discord, young spirit of pranks and disarray.” The filly said, “My, what a name you have. I’m Fluttershy, um…a young filly who’s lost her way.” 
Discord chuckled at that and said, “That’s cute.” Fluttershy asked, “What? My name or what I am?” The draconequus answered, “Both, actually. Not that I think your name’s funny. Oh, did I say ‘funny’? I-I meant that it’s a…rather sweet name; suits you well.” 
Fluttershy giggled, “Thank you.” Discord soon took notice of the necklace she was wearing. It had a grayish stone with a streak of rainbow in it. He pointed to it and said, “That’s a pretty necklace. May I see it?” When Fluttershy nodded, Discord held the stone in his claw. 
It burned as soon as he touched it, so he withdrew his claw and cried, “Ouch! What did you do, put it in a fire?!” Fluttershy gasped, “No, I didn’t! It’s not hot, either!” Discord explained, “I think it’s one of those stones I was warned never to touch. It hurts creatures like me.”
Fluttershy said, “It was one of the last things my mother gave me. Well, if it hurts you, I’ll stop wearing it.” Discord was amazed by this sweet gesture and smiled, “That would be nice. Thank you.” The two of them shook hoof and paw as they promised to see each other again soon.

> Protecting the Forest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Soon after the first time they met, Fluttershy and Discord began seeing each other. He’d sneak her into the forest and showed her all around his world. Years passed and their bond grew. Fluttershy even got her cutie mark taking care of the creatures. Then, on her sixteenth birthday, she gave Discord something that was very precious: true love’s first kiss. Alas, something would soon stand in the way of their romance.
Fluttershy soon started visiting less and less, with her brother living at the castle as a squire. Discord couldn’t understand the importance of status and getting ahead in society. However, he was yet to learn. When Fluttershy stopped visiting, he never forgot her. He even spent his days in the forest thinking about her. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, and he would get that chance one fateful day…
Discord flew around the woods, completely free of any thought. He could soar easily without ever thinking of it. Flying always invigorated him when he needed to feel free. When he was above the ground, he felt all of his stresses vanish into thin air. He twirled his way into the clouds and stopped when he was on top of them. He could feel the breeze rushing against his face and the sunlight gave him an ethereal glow. He relished this for a few moments before plunking down onto a cloud and snapped up an exotic drink in a coconut.
But before he could drink out of it, he saw something that caught his eye. He made his drink vanish and moved slowly forward in the clouds in front of him. As he peeked out of the clouds, he saw something disturbing. It looked like a cloud, but it was moving on the ground. Immediately, Discord knew this meant trouble.

Armies of armored unicorns and Pegasi advanced towards the border of the Everfree Forest. Among these vast rows of stallions was the leader, King Sombra. With an evil look in his eye, he shouted to his soldiers, “My armies, we have conquered every last bit of Equestria except for the Everfree Forest! But today, we shall succeed in taking it as ours!” The stallions gave a cheer, but these cheers were soon cut short by a voice that cried, “Not if I have anything to say about it!” 
The soldiers looked in all directions before they looked up to see a creature swooping in out of the sky. He was a most peculiar creature, with a horse’s head, deer antler, goat leg, and a large fang protruding from his lip. As he landed on a rock that stood between the forest and the armies, King Sombra scoffed, “And just who you might be?” The draconequus stated, “I am Discord, and I demand that you leave this forest alone!” The king only laughed, “Your fight is futile, Discord. You cannot possibly win!” Discord smirked, “We shall see about that.”
He threw his arms out and cried out, “I call on those who live in the shadows. Fight with me now!” As if an answer to his request, an army of Minotaurs appeared out of the woods. The armies were slightly stunned at the fearsome creatures, but there were more to come. To their surprise, a Tatzlwurm burst out of the ground beside Discord and gave a shrieking roar to the armies. If that wasn’t enough to intimidate the stallions, Timberwolves soon emerged from the darkened woods! King Sombra, though considerably daunted, gave out the order, “Attack!”
The stallions galloped to meet the creatures of the Everfree Forest. As the battle began, Discord took to the air and saw the field from above. When the armies and creatures met and engaged in physical combat, the draconequus soon was part of the action. He fended off the Pegasi and unicorns with the most unusual things: cream pies, boxing gloves, a wheel that rotated boots, water guns, whatever the works. He only hurt the ponies and was careful not to inflict serious damage on them. However, the same couldn’t be said for King Sombra.
The king used his dark magic to harm Discord’s comrades. As soon as the draconequus saw this, he turned to King Sombra and rushed to face him head-on. The unicorn produced a black blast of magic, but Discord conjured up a bat and hit it back to the king. The blast took a toll on the king as he lied on the ground, unable to move. He could only pant as Discord came up to him and said, “Aur revoir, Your Majesty.” When he grabbed the king’s armored neck, Discord cried out as a blast drove him back. 
As soon as he regained his senses, he looked at his blackened paw. He remembered that one particular stone that could do this to him was labradorite. It was what Fluttershy wore on her necklace the day she met him. He should’ve paid more attention to the armor King Sombra wore; it had three labradorite stones in a column that lined the king’s neck armor. He sighed of relief as the armies retreated when they found that their king was injured. Discord knew that his paw would heal, but he was worried now that Sombra knew of his weakness.

> Secret Rendezvous
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Word had spread throughout the kingdom that King Sombra was seriously injured in battle and possibly dying. As he lied on his bed, he heaved, “Discord…He was the one who…did this to me…Find him…and make him pay…I want him dead or alive…He has a weakness…the stones that line my armor…Use labradorite…to bring him down…”
He coughed and then continued in laborious breaths, “Whoever…defeats him or otherwise…will become king after I die…and marry my daughter…Princess Cadance.” Fluttershy, one of the servants who surrounded the king’s bed, knew that her dearest friend was in danger. Discreetly, she rushed out of the room and out to the Everfree Forest. Nopony suspected she was gone…except her brother. 
Shining Armor was suspicious of her behavior and wanted to follow her. However, he was tempted by the chance to become king. He had started out in the castle as a squire and now was Captain of the Royal Guard. He dearly loved Princess Cadance; if this was a chance to win her hoof, he would gladly bring Discord down. He knew the draconequus had something to do with Fluttershy. He decided to follow her and see if she would lead him to the Everfree Forest.


Fluttershy flew out to the forest in the dead of night. She walked carefully in the woods and whispered, “Discord? Are you here? It’s me, Fluttershy. I’m sorry I haven’t visited in a while, but I need to talk to you.” 
Suddenly, he popped up from behind her and she gave a surprised cry. Discord put a paw to her mouth and shushed her, “Shh! Don’t let anyone know you’re here! There’s been a battle recently that involved ponies.” Fluttershy nodded, “I know. That’s why I’m here. I came to warn you.”
Discord knew this couldn’t be good, so he asked, “What is it, dear Fluttershy?” Fluttershy explained, “King Sombra knows about your weakness and wants you dead or alive. He’s offered to make the pony who could get rid of you king. It’s too tempting to pass up. Oh, Discord, what can we do?”
The draconequus contemplated this for a few moments and then suggested, “I have an idea. Let’s run away together and stay on the Horseshoe Islands for the rest of our lives.” Fluttershy said, “But, Discord…” Discord said, “Too much? How about this? We’ll go somewhere far away and live happily ever after.” 
The Pegasus sighed, “Discord, I can’t go with you. As much as I really care for you, nopony can know that I’ve gone with you. If we run away together, that would mean putting both of our lives at risk.” Discord was saddened by the thought of being forever parted from Fluttershy, but he certainly didn’t want to put her life on the line. It was him they wanted, not her. He suggested, “All right. How about we spend one last night together before we part ways? I’m sure we’ll see each other again after the danger has passed.” 
He smiled weakly, but it was enough for Fluttershy to kiss him on the cheek and say, “Thank you, Discord.” Although he wasn’t comfortable thinking it might be the last time he would ever see her, he knew that he wanted what was best for the pony he loved. Besides, there was something he had been meaning to give her. If he didn’t tonight, then when would he get another chance to confess his undying love for her?


They went to the most beautiful spot in the entire forest. It was near a waterfall and had a tree to sleep under. Nighttime flora dazzled in the glow of night. Though Discord and Fluttershy had been here many times before, it gave off a very special air tonight. They wanted to cherish every moment they had left together. 
They eventually forgot about the dire situation at hand and relaxed to the various nighttime sounds. Fluttershy whispered, “I had forgotten how beautiful it was at night here. I surely won’t forget this for the rest of my life.” Discord told her, “You best make sure not to forget it.” He tickled her and after she began laughing, he did as well. They rolled around the grass and stopped near the water’s edge. 
Then, Discord remembered his gift for Fluttershy. He said, “Fluttershy, I want you to close your eyes. I have something very special I wanted to give to you.” She closed her eyes and opened them when Discord told her to. She was a bit surprised to find that he was holding an oval-shaped rock. The draconequus held out his finger as if to say “wait” and tapped the rock against the edge of the pool. The rock split into two and revealed crystals inside it! 
Fluttershy’s eyes lit up at the marvel of the geode. Discord snapped his fingers and in a flash of light, the geode turned into a heart-shaped pendant that contained the crystals. He smiled as he put it around her neck, “I want you to wear this as a symbol of my everlasting love and faithfulness to you. You have shown me kindness ever since we met. For me, this is the only way I can repay you for that. I can never compensate for all the thanks you deserve. You are very special to me, Fluttershy. 
“This pendant is the only thing that can compare to your beauty.” Fluttershy, with eyes welling with tears, lunged forward and gave him a most passionate kiss. This filled Discord with glee and amazement. He was so dazed in love that he practically fainted from the kiss. Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle. Alas, this moment was to end all too soon.


While they slept under the tree peacefully, a stallion walked around the brush in search of the draconequus. Shining Armor peered from behind the flora and was shocked to find his sister sleeping with Discord. Convinced that she was under the creature’s control, Shining Armor leapt out of the brush swiftly but silently. He stood over the two and walked closely to Fluttershy. Using his magic, he lifted her away from Discord and placed her near himself. The only thing he brought with him was a bag filled with labradorite stones. He took out some small stones and was about to place them near his nose when…
“Stop!” a small voice cried. Shining Armor turned to face his sister as she pleaded, “Don’t hurt him, please!” He warned, “Fluttershy, get away from him. He’s dangerous! Because of him, King Sombra is dying. Would you turn your back on the whole kingdom for this creature?” 
Fluttershy said through tears, “No, but I wouldn’t turn my back on a friend. He’s very dear to me. He only hurt Sombra because he was protecting the Everfree Forest. Do you want to see this beautiful place destroyed by the kingdom you loyally serve?” Something in Shining Armor made him have mercy on Discord and he moved the labradorite stones away from the draconequus. He said to his sister, “If I spare his life, will you turn yourself in? I will have mercy on you when I’m king.”
The young Pegasus asked, “How are you going to become king if Sombra wanted you to bring Discord alive or otherwise?” Shining Armor explained, “I will take something of his, but not his life.” Fluttershy threw her arms around her brother in gratitude. She took off her pendant and said softly to Discord, “Please know that I’ll always love you and remember me by the gift you gave to me.” After she placed the pendant on the root next to Discord’s head and gave him a tearful kiss, she turned to Shining Armor and said, “All right. I’m ready to go back.”
As she walked into the forest, Shining Armor stayed behind to perform one last task. He sprinkled several labradorite stones on Discord’s wings and immediately, the stones began to glow. Shining Armor whispered as he collected the stones in another bag, “There. Now you cannot follow Fluttershy or me.” He disappeared into the brush. Discord was blissfully unaware of the horrendous act until the next morning.

> Spike
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	When the sun’s morning rays reached over the glade, Discord stretched himself and groaned, “What a night, eh, Fluttershy?” He slowly opened his eyes and turned to where Fluttershy was sleeping…or thought she was sleeping. He saw the empty spot and didn’t worry about it until he took a second look. He looked around as he asked, “Fluttershy? Fluttershy, where are you?” He grew more worried when he didn’t see her within of few moments of looking.
He thought of the many possibilities that could’ve happened when he saw something shining on the root of the tree. He picked it up and found that it was Fluttershy’s gift. He knew she would never have taken it off so soon. He concluded that Fluttershy had been kidnapped and took to the skies shouting, “I’m coming for you, Fluttershy!” But just moments of reaching above the trees, an awful pain ran through his wings and he fell back to the earth. He broke the tree’s branches before he landed on the sleeping place. 
As he gathered himself, he said, “I don’t understand. What’s happened to me? What’s happened to Fluttershy?!” Just then, he saw something else shining on the ground. He tried to pick it up, but he felt searing pain and had to withdraw his claw. He saw burn marks on his tips of his claw and realized it was labradorite. 
The thought of betrayal crossed his mind, but he panted heavily as he thought, No, Fluttershy wouldn’t have done this to me. She’s my trusted friend! It must’ve been her kidnapper. They did this to me! He snapped his fingers at the sudden idea of teleporting to her rescue. He concentrated, even snapped his fingers, but nothing happened.
Discord’s heart felt heavy as he realized that not only had he lost the power to teleport and his flight, but also his dearest friend. And now, she was gone forever. He clutched the pendant close to him as his chest wracked with stifled sobs. At the thought of never seeing her again, he wailed in agony, “FLUTTERSHYYYYYYY!!!” This wail didn’t go unheard; it was heard for several miles. When even Fluttershy heard it, she collapsed in sobs as well.


The Pegasus and unicorn reached the castle and Fluttershy confessed to being involved with Discord. After she was taken to the dungeon, Shining Armor was brought before King Sombra. He bowed and said, “Your Majesty, I have come back with the soul of the dreaded Discord.” He took out an orb that had a yellow light within it. The king smiled at this, “You have done well…Now, I may call you my future son-in-law…and *cough* *cough* the kingdom’s…future king.” 
Meanwhile, in the Everfree Forest, Discord had calmed down and decided to walk his way out of the forest. It wasn’t easy, considering that he had flown for most of his life. He eventually found an old castle that was deserted many years ago. He decided to take shelter in it and wallow in his grief. He lied against a broken wall and looked out at the empty view. He felt like there was nothing to do now but stay here for the rest of his life.
Before he could close his eyes, he heard a hooting sound. He looked all around and saw an owl standing on the edge of a broken window. He sneered at it, “Get away from me, you pesky bird.” He pointed his finger at it and yellow magic shot out of it. The magic hit near the bird, but it wasn’t enough to drive it away. It kept circling around Discord as the latter still shot magic at it. Suddenly, a portion of the ceiling collapsed around Discord. 
He groaned and swore at the bird as it flew away, “We shall meet again, you annoying owl! I’ll see to it! I’ve yet to win at this tangle!” He looked at his finger and said to himself happily, “Well, I least I got some magic left in myself.” He would later learn that the owl would make a great ally.


Some time after Discord tried all of his magic tricks, he learned that he still had all but two abilities: his teleportation and most of his flight. He pitied himself for not being able to find Fluttershy. All of a sudden, he heard a desperate sound. He peeked out the broken wall and saw commotion in a nearby field. He conjured up binoculars and saw through them something that was caught in a net…
He realized what it was the moment he saw it. He floated down the wall and close to the field. However, just a few feet within it, his wings cricked again and he made a rough landing. He groaned as he caressed his wings, “Ugh…I’ve got to stop doing that.” He slithered close to the ground and peeked from behind the tall plants. The owl Discord had met before was trying desperately to get free from the net. A few dogs were barking at it and Discord heard the sounds of a pony nearing towards the trapped owl. 
He knew Fluttershy would want him to save the poor bird, so in her honor, he snapped his fingers and whispered, “Turn into a dragon.” As soon as the stallion emerged from the brush, he was frightened by the phenomenal transformation that was taking place. He and his dogs ran away when the owl had slowly transformed into a baby dragon. Discord face-pawed as he whispered, “Not exactly what I had in mind, but okay.” The dragon looked at itself in fright and asked, “What happened to me?!” Discord came out of the brush and explained, “You were going to become owl casserole, so I saved you.” The dragon scowled, “Does saving me mean turning me into something hideous?!”
Discord retorted, “Would you rather that stallion and his friends eat you?” He snapped his fingers and the dragon immediately ended up on a silver platter with veggies surrounding him and an apple in his mouth. The dragon muffled and then spit the apple out. He reluctantly admitted, “Fine. I see your point there. But why did you turn me into a dragon? Why not a bear, a manticore, or even a pony?”
The draconequus sarcastically remarked, “How about a tiny fly?” He was about to snap his fingers until the dragon cried, “No, no, no! A dragon’s just fine. It makes me fearsome!” He did a growl to show that he was mighty. It wasn’t very intimidating, but Discord mocked, “Oh, no. I’m so scared.” 
The dragon said to him in an apathetic tone, “You don’t believe me, do you?” Discord crossed his arms and shook his head, “Not even for a second.” He had to change the subject to the matter, so he asked, “Do you have a name that I can use?” The dragon answered, “Well, I don’t really have one, but I’ve always wanted to be called ‘Spike’.” Discord looked at him ambivalently, “’Spike’?” Spike nodded, “Yeah, it gives a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” The draconequus was unsure about this, but he gave Spike the satisfaction of the name.
Spike told him, “You saved my life, and I know dragons have a code of honor for that. As a dragon now, I am indebted to you and will serve you for the rest of your days. Or mine, whichever comes first.” Discord thought about this and sought to take advantage of it. He said, “Spike, since you are serving me, I need you to be my wings.” Spike looked at him in confusion until Discord continued, “Due to a sudden incident, I cannot fly far anymore. You, however, will do so for me.” 
The dragon asked him, “Are you going to turn me back into an owl for that?” Discord gave a smile and said, “I want you to fly to King Sombra’s castle. Er, you do know where it is, don’t you?” He conjured up a map and pointed it out. He continued, “It’s right over there by…” Spike pushed aside the map and retorted, “I know where the castle is! Just change me back into an owl so I can fly there!” 
Discord smiled and shrugged, “Have it your way.” He snapped his fingers and Spike became an owl once more. He flew off in the direction of the castle as Discord went back to the deserted one. Little did Spike or Discord realize that they were in for a huge surprise.

> Discord's Wrath
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	As soon as Spike reached the castle, he panted as he thought, Finally! I thought I’d never get here! Just then, he heard a fanfare and peeked inside an open window. He looked at the throne room and the hundreds of ponies that were there. Spike wondered, What’s the big hubbub all about? He scanned to his left and saw a blue-haired unicorn kneeling beside two thrones. 
Another unicorn, dressed in religious robes, held out the crown with his magic. He declared as he placed it on the first unicorn’s head, “I now pronounce you King Shining Armor. Our dearly departed King Sombra had bestowed this title on you for vanquishing Discord and sending your traitorous sister to the dungeon.” The crowds cheered as the new king rose up. Spike heard one pony say, “I heard that it was Fluttershy, one of the handmaidens of King Sombra. Can you believe it?” Another pony agreed, “Oh, the scandal! I can imagine how her brother must’ve felt when he found out she was working for Discord.”
Spike gasped at this revelation and soared back to Discord with the news. The draconequus, upon hearing what his aide told him, was far from happy. He said with seething anger, “So, it was Fluttershy’s brother who took her and my powers. He made himself king and falsely claims I am dead. If that isn’t enough, Fluttershy’s now in the dungeon because of him!” He let out a scream of rage as he shot his magic towards the sky.
Meanwhile, Shining Armor was in his bedroom when he noticed an unusual glow. He looked out the window and saw the column of yellow magic bursting towards the sky. He whispered in dread, “Oh, no. What have I done?” 
Discord walked back to the Everfree Forest with Spike flying over him. He was so full of anger that he telekinetically split apart the walls beside the path he was walking on. They returned to the Everfree Forest as a blanket of darkness rolled over it. All of the creatures gasped and backed away from Discord in fear. Just then, a throne rose from the ground and the draconequus took his place. The Minotaur guards then ushered the creatures to kneel before him. As they did so, Discord relished in his new role as Lord of the Everfree Forest.

*****

Some time later, the news had spread throughout the kingdom that a newborn royal was born. Spike, as an owl, relayed the news back to Discord. When he flew back to him, Discord snapped his fingers and Spike reverted back to a dragon. He was in mid-flight, so the aide gave a shout as he fell to the ground. The dragon sputtered as he stood up and wiped the grass from himself, “You know you could’ve let me land first.” Discord smirked, “Oh, where’s the fun in that?”
Spike then told him, “The whole kingdom’s saying that there’s a new baby born, a royal one. There’s going to be a christening for the foal.” Discord suddenly had an idea cooking in his brain. He turned to Spike and grinned evilly, “How wonderful. I think I shall pay a visit to this newborn royal.”
On the day of the christening, ponies from all classes and lands came to celebrate the birth of the newest princess, Twilight Sparkle. She was a sight to behold; she took mostly after her mother. She had the sweetest violet eyes, a mixture of sapphire, rose, and violet in her mane, and a light mulberry coat. Her parents, Shining Armor and Cadance, welcomed each and every guest graciously. However, they weren’t expecting some guests to arrive.
Three familiar Breezies flew into the castle. They bowed to the king and queen and Sweetie Belle said, “Your Majesties, in light of this special occasion…” Apple Bloom spoke in, “…we would like to give the princess our gifts…” Scootaloo finished for them, “…because it’s our tradition to do that for royal foals.” Cadance chuckled, “That’s so sweet of you, girls. You may give your gifts to the filly.” 
Sweetie Belle went first and said, “Twilight Sparkle, I give the gift of beauty.” She blew flower petals to the princess, who was playfully reaching for them. Scootaloo was next and she said, “Twilight Sparkle, I give the gift of being happy for the rest of your days.” When she directed butterflies at the foal, the latter gave a sneeze and then giggled. Apple Bloom came up to Twilight and said, “Miss Twilight Sparkle, I give you the gift of…”
But before she could finish, a sudden gust came into the room. Sounds of thunder were heard as the candles were put out. Ponies gasped as a shadow emerged from the side of the room opposite of the royals. Shining Armor’s heart dropped when he thought, Oh, no…It can’t be. His fears were soon realized when Discord walked up to him and his wife.
Discord looked upon the royal parents and said in a malicious smile, “Well, well.” He stepped towards the royals as he continued, “Quite a glittering assemblage, King Shining Armor. Royalty, nobility, the gentry, and…” He gazed at the Breezies and chuckled maliciously, “How quaint. Even the rabble. I must say I really felt quite distressed at not receiving an invitation.”
Shining Armor replied in an angered tone, “You’re not welcome here.” Discord stood there in silence for a few moments before uttering, “Oops!” After that, he gave a laugh and said, “Oh, dear. What an awkward situation.” Cadance hesitantly asked, “And you’re not offended?” Discord smiled, “Why, no, your Majesty. And to show I bear no ill will, I, too, shall bestow a gift on the child.”
Shining Armor didn’t like the sound of that and neither did the Breezies. Before they could take action, Discord flung the three winged fillies upon a white mattress he had just conjured up. Discord leaned over the infant filly and as magic began trailing from his fingers, he said, “Listen well, all of you! The princess shall indeed grow in grace and beauty. Beloved by all who meet her.” 
Cadance smiled uneasily, “That’s a very nice gift.” But Discord held out a finger and said, “Bup, bup, bup! I wasn’t finished yet.” He faced himself toward the crowd and hands began to glow with a sickly yellow. He continued, “But…before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her hoof on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a sleep-like sleep!” 
Shining Armor quickly rose and pleaded, “Please, no!” Discord turned to him and was very pleased by this development. He smiled, “I liked that. Do it again.” When the king hesitated for a moment, Discord gave him a glare that threatened to cast his curse. 
Shining Armor had no choice but to kneel and beg, “Please. I beg you. Spare her life.” The draconequus grinned in satisfaction and said, “All right. If you put it that way…I will add one more thing. The curse can only be broken by true love’s first kiss.” He smirked evilly at Shining Armor as if to remind him of the kiss his sister gave to him a long time ago. 
As he cast his curse, he proclaimed, “This curse will last till the end of time! No power on Earth can change it!” Suddenly, there was a blast that sent everypony to the floor. As they were regaining their senses, Discord flew away and cried, “Woo-hoo!” Finally, he had gotten his revenge.
In fear of putting his daughter’s life at risk, the king ordered that every spinning wheel in the kingdom would be placed in the deepest dungeon and burned there. Discord knew that the kingdom would be after him, so he planted plunderseeds along the edge of the Everfree Forest and grew vines out of them to keep intruders out. Shining Armor sent soldiers to get past the wall of vines, but Discord enjoyed making fools out of them. He relished every moment the king suffered in sorrow. Unbeknownst to him, the king also tasked the three Breezies with taking care of his daughter and bringing her back to the castle the day after her sixteenth birthday. The Breezies took her to an abandoned cottage, which the young Princess Twilight would call her home for the next sixteen years.

> Caring for Twilight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The three Breezies grunted as they lifted the infant Twilight Sparkle from the wagon. Scootaloo grunted, “This is ridiculous. Why do we have to take care of the Princess?” Apple Bloom agreed, “Yeah, it’s not we can get big or something.” Sweetie Belle reminded them, “Uh, girls? Are you forgetting that we can turn into regular fillies?” Apple Bloom cried, “Oh, right!” 
As soon as they set Twilight down on a stump, they transformed into regular fillies. Sweetie Belle smiled as she looked at herself, “Woo! We are good-looking!” Scootaloo pointed out, “Yeah, but we don’t have our cutie marks.” She pointed to her blank flank and Apple Bloom asked, “Ooh. Is that gonna be a problem?” 
Sweetie Belle suggested, “Well, we can always wear skirts, can we?” Apple Bloom agreed, “I guess we could.” Scootaloo scowled, “Yeah, if we want to look like old ladies!” The fillies went inside as they quarreled about this. In the midst of their arguing, they forgot that they left the princess on the stump. Twilight looked at the owl that swooped in and glanced at the filly. 
After it left, Twilight fussed and Apple Bloom came back outside. She grabbed the princess and said, “Oh! Now, princess, you know you’re not supposed to be by yourself.” She looked all around and continued, “Especially if the meanie who cursed you in the first place is looking for you.” She closed the door behind her, unaware that a certain owl had gathered information for his master.
“So, they’ve taken the young princess to a woodcutter’s cottage in hopes of getting away from the curse?” Discord asked amusedly. He chuckled, “How charming that they’d go so far as to keep her from me. That’s where they are wrong.” He stood up and ordered the owl, “Spike, take me to the cottage. I want to get a good look at their little ‘hiding place’.”
Before night fell, Discord arrived at the cottage. He had to rush back deep in the woods before he could laugh hysterically at the quaint little abode. He had a few more laughing episodes when he saw the house again. After he had his fill of laughter, he walked up to the cottage and looked into the window. He saw the princess looking at him and gagged, “It’s so ugly…could almost feel sorry for it.” 
Twilight only smiled at him; Discord was surprised by this. He was determined to scare her, so he hissed at her. Twilight looked surprised, but again smiled. Discord tried again by making strange faces. Nothing was happening, so he resorted to making scary sounds. He noticed that the fillies were hearing him and they wanted to check it out. He ducked beneath the window and heard Apple Bloom say, “There’s nothing out here.” 
He sighed and only made his eyes and the top of his head visible to Twilight. She only smiled at him and he grumbled, “I hate you.” 


That night, the three fillies slept on a bed together. However, only one occupant of the house was awake. Twilight cried and cried in her little crib. Spike, as an owl, was close by and had to cover his ears. Discord, who was with him, also put his hands to his ears. He snarled, “Seriously, can’t a guy get a little rest around here?!” 
He conjured up earmuffs and sighed at the silence they provided. However, cries from the infant filly cut through the silence of the earmuffs and Discord groaned. He noticed the flowers with the pulpy center and they gave him an idea. He ordered to Spike, “Here, take this to her noisy Highness.” Spike fell backwards when the flower hit him hard. He got up and gave Discord an irked look.
Spike delivered the flower and put it on Twilight’s mouth. As she was sucking on it, the owl used his feet to rock the crib. Spike didn’t need to tell Discord that the princess was calmed down; Discord knew by the silence that the owl had done a job well done. He sighed as he collapsed on the forest floor, “Finally.” 
Soon afterwards, he started visiting the cottage more. Spike suspected that Discord had a soft spot for the princess; the latter always denied it by saying that he wanted to see the fillies make fools of themselves. Once, Twilight was crying incessantly. The fillies were trying to figure out what was wrong with her. Apple Bloom cried, “I know! She’s hungry! Let’s give her some food!” 
Scootaloo pulled some carrots from the ground and put them on the foal. She said, “Here you go, Princess. Eat up!” Twilight blinked at the carrots and her guardians. She began to cry again and the fillies resorted to finding food in the cottage. As they went inside, Discord tsked, “Don’t they know anything about raising foals? Honestly, Their Highnesses should’ve picked somepony experienced in this.” 
He snapped up a bottle of milk and gave it to Spike saying, “I want you to give this to the filly.” Spike, in his owl form, looked at him as if he was smirking. Discord said, “What? I’m only doing this because I can’t stand the noise.” Spike flew off and gave Twilight the bottle. After he left, the three fillies came out and were astonished to find Twilight drinking from a bottle. Sweetie Belle suggested, “Maybe she conjured it from thin air.” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom looked at her in disbelief.
When the fillies got the hang of raising the foal, Discord thought it was getting boring watching them. As a remedy to that, he raised the bar of craziness just to have fun. He even stooped so low as to pull pranks on them. One time, the fillies were playing a game in their cottage when suddenly, Sweetie Belle felt some drops on her. “Scootaloo, stop that!” she scolded her friend. Scootaloo denied, “It wasn’t me! It must’ve been Apple Bloom!”
Apple Bloom shook her head, “I didn’t do anything!” Sweetie Belle was still feeling drops falling on her, so she warned, “If either of you don’t stop it right now, I’m gonna…” Just then, it started pouring on the girls and they started shrieking and running around. Outside, Discord manipulated the weather inside the cottage and was laughing hysterically. “Oh, this is so funny!” he remarked. “I should do this more often.”
Though he didn’t care much about Twilight, he watched her and her “aunts” for the next few years. One day, the fillies were having a picnic. Discord, watching from afar, decided to start a little quarrel among them. With a wave of his finger, he pulled Sweetie Belle’s mane and flung a cream pie on Scootaloo’s face. The latter said, “Oh, it is on!” As the three fillies started fighting, a 5-year-old Twilight Sparkle started chasing a butterfly. She was so distracted that she didn’t see she was about to run off the cliff.
Discord pointed out amusedly, “Oh, look. The little pony is about to fall of the cliff.” Spike, as a dragon, sputtered, “Do something! Save her!” Discord contemplated this and Spike shouted again, “Discord!” The draconequus held out his paw to him and said, “Oh, hold on. Hold on.” 
Just then, Twilight screamed as she fell off the cliff. Fortunately, though, roots from the side of the ledge and ground caught her and carried her to safety. Spike sighed of relief and Discord remarked, “What? I was going to save her, anyway. I just wanted to wait till the last second…for dramatic effect, of course.” Spike looked at him with irritation.
Later, Discord was about to depart for the Everfree Forest when he heard a small voice saying, “Hello.” He turned, but he saw no pony there. In confusion, he looked down and saw the young Twilight looking up at him. He replied in a flat voice, “Oh, it’s you. Listen, I’ve no time for fillies like you, so why don’t you trot back to wherever you came from and…” Before he could finish his sentence, the filly was nudging upwards and urging, “Up! Up!”
Discord rolled his eyes and groaned, “All right.” He grabbed the filly and lifted her up to his head. When she began poking and looking at his horn and antler, he grunted, “No, no! Bad Twilight! This is why I don’t like fillies! Ouch! Don’t do that!” 
He had just about enough of this and set her down. He pointed her to the direction in front of him and told her, “Now go home and don’t bother anypony else.” She trotted off while saying, “Bye-bye.” When she was gone, he leaned against the tree trunk and groaned, “How did I ever come to this?”

> Curious Little Pony
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shining Armor woke from his fitful slumber and decided to take action. He went down to the castle gates and approached the ponies pulling carts of a forbidden kind of gem. “Is there any more in the mines?” he asked urgently. “Just a few more carts of these and the mines will be dry,” a pony answered. “Take them to the forge,” Shining Armor ordered. “I want those put on the armor of my soldiers when I send them out to the wall of vines. Discord must not reach my daughter before we stop him. Labradorite is the only way we can defeat this monster.”

*****

Around Twilight’s 15th birthday, she decided to explore a forbidden area at dusk. Her aunts didn’t suspect a thing and assumed the unicorn was just finding new patches of flowers. However, Discord found out about her true intentions when she approached the wall of vines. He found it rather interesting that she would be so brave as to investigate what was on the other side. He remarked, “Curious little pony. Ironic how the fillies have tried to keep her from me, but she decides to come to me.”   
Just then, he noticed a group of soldiers heading their way. They were about to find the princess, but not if Discord had anything to say about that. He ordered to his owl, “Spike, bring her to me. She must not be discovered by the king’s stallions.” With a snap of his fingers, Spike was surrounded in a ball of light. 
When the king’s soldiers were getting closer to Twilight, they heard a bark. Out of the brush came a brown and white dog. It approached the soldiers and looked at them happily. “Awww!” the stallions said. “It’s so cute! I want to pet it!” 
Twilight didn’t pay attention to what was happening, for she suddenly got caught by a thorny vine. “Wha-Hey! Let me go!” she cried. She tried to pull herself free, but eventually used a magic blast to repel the vine. The soldiers took noticed of a nearby light and decided to investigate. 
Discord whispered, “No, no, no!” He leaped into action by parting the wall of vines. When he got to the other side, he blew a dust on Twilight that put her to sleep and levitated her. Just after he conjured up a cotton candy cloud for her to rest on, he heard the soldiers nearing. Mere seconds before they reached the princess, a burst of smoke appeared before the stallions. Out of the smoke came Discord, who taunted, “And just what are you doing out here? It’s getting late, and your mothers will certainly be cross with you if you miss your curfew.”
The soldiers weren’t intimidated in the least, and one of them shouted, “Get him!” As soon as they galloped towards him, Discord snapped his fingers confidently. Three of the front stallions soon went flying when they stepped on platforms of grass, each with a spring at the bottom. Discord took out a bubble bottle and dipped a wand in it. He blew into it and the bubble was large enough to enclose the soldiers. 
As they hovered in mid-air, Discord tapped his goat leg on the ground three times. A large circle on the ground beneath the soldiers collapsed into a hole. Discord whipped up a pin and before popping the bubble, he uttered, “Oops!”  After the bubble popped, the stallions fell into the hole. With a snap of his fingers, Discord shrunk the hole. He grabbed the edge of the now five-inch hole with his thumb and index finger and pulled it up to reveal a tin can. He swiped his paw across the top and conjured up a lid to seal the can. 
He held it out to the dog and said, “Voila! Soldiers in a can! Nice ring to it, huh?” The dog gave him an irritated look and Discord said, “Oh, don’t look at me like that! I’ve turned you into a lot of animals before: a dragon, a snake, a cragadile, a cute little bunny…” 
The dog still looked at him in annoyance. Discord sighed, “Oh, all right. I’ll turn you back.” He snapped his fingers and the dog reverted back to a dragon. Spike shot off, “A dog?! You turned me into a dog?!” 
Discord said, “Would you rather I turned you into a bunny?” Spike grunted in frustration as his master turned to Twilight and parted the wall of vines. After a minute of Spike’s ranting, the draconequus finally grunted, “I’ve had just about enough of you!” He snapped his fingers and Spike turned into an owl. When Spike kept hooting on, Discord grumbled, “I should’ve just turned you into a bunny.” 


Meanwhile, at the castle, the three soldiers that flew off the platforms of grass returned to the castle with the rest of their comrades in a can. They reported to King Shining Armor in defeat and the king could only express frustration. He grunted as he pushed the items off the table with one hoof. He sighed in defeat, “Now Discord has my daughter. There’s no telling what he might do to her. I don’t know how to break this to my wife. She’s already…” 
When he stopped in mid-sentence, one of the soldiers asked hesitantly, “Um, Your Majesty…May we have a can opener?” Though the request was insensitive at the moment, Shining Armor obliged. Via his magic, he gave a can opener to the soldier and the latter used it to cut the lid off the can. When the lid was off, the trapped soldiers came gushing out like a geyser. After a few moments in mid-air, they came crashing down on their comrades. One of the freed soldiers groaned, “I think I broke my favorite tooth.”
At that moment, one of the servants rushed in the chambers. He told the king in a grave tone, “Your Majesty…I’m afraid the queen is not doing very well.” Shining Armor whispered in shock, “Cadance…”

> Fairy Godfather
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Twilight Sparkle fluttered her eyes open and found herself in a strange surrounding. Another thing she noticed was that she had bits of cotton candy on her. “Eww!” she grimaced. “How did I get this on me?” Just then, a group of bright lights flew towards the princess. She took a closer look and saw that they weren’t bright lights; they were luminous Breezies! Then, she realized where she was: in the Everfree Forest! 
All those stories her aunts told her about it made it sound scary and foreboding. But Twilight knew that couldn’t be true. Fortunately, she had books stored away about the Everfree Forest. She learned that though it hosted terrifying creatures, it also was home to beautiful places and living things. She knew all of the creatures that lived here…even a strange creature called the draconequus. The Everfree Forest sounded so interesting that she had to check it out. Tonight, she got her chance.
The luminous Breezies swarmed around her body and licked the cotton candy off her. They all agreed it was quite delicious. Twilight joked, “You mean the cotton candy or me?” The Breezies laughed and circled around her playfully. She got up and admired every single one of them. Suddenly, the Breezies noticed something to their left and flew off.
She turned in the direction they were facing and saw a tall silhouette behind the trees. She noticed something familiar about the shadow and said to it, “I know you’re there. Don’t be afraid.” The shadow chuckled at this trivial echo of his childhood and replied, “I’m not afraid.” Twilight urged him, “Then come out.” The figure answered, “Then you’ll be afraid.” The unicorn shook her head, “No, I won’t. I promise I won’t be scared.” 
He shrugged, “Suit yourself.” The shadow slowly emerged from the brush and Twilight was slightly stunned that it was a draconequus. However, she put on a brave face and said, “I know who you are.” Discord was not convinced and asked, “Oh, do you?” Twilight broke into a smile and said, “You’re my fairy godfather!”  
Discord was surprised by this and asked, “Err…what?” “Your shadow…” she explained, “…it’s been following me my whole life. You’ve been watching me since the day I was born.” Just then, an owl flew in and landed on a branch. Twilight said, “I remember you, pretty owl.” Discord said, “This is Spike. Perhaps he would like to say ‘hi’ to you.” 
He snapped his fingers and Spike became a dragon. Spike smiled, “Hello, Twilight. I’ve known since you were little.” As he took her hoof and kissed it, she chuckled, “You’re charming and cute when you’re a baby dragon.” She turned to Discord and asked, “So, is this the Everfree Forest?” Discord nodded and slowly answered, “Yes.”
She hopped into the air and squealed, “This is amazing! I’ve never seen the Everfree Forest before! My aunts told me it was awful, but I didn’t believe them! I’m glad I read the book about it and now, I’m here! Tell me, what’s it like to live in such an abundant…” Discord had all he could take of this, so before she finished her sentence, he blew the sleeping dust on her. She drifted off to sleep and levitated almost immediately.
He faced Spike, who had his arms crossed and was glaring at him, and told him, “She’s quite the chatterbox, isn’t she?” Spike suggested, “Maybe she should visit here more often. I like her.” Discord was alarmed by this and refused, “Oh, no, no, no, no! I will not have the daughter of my greatest nemesis traipsing around in my forest!” “Well, she did call you her ‘fairy godfather’,” he reminded him slyly. “I thought it would be nice if you would let her visit the forest to live up to your ‘good’ name.”
Discord blushed when his aide mentioned that Twilight called him her fairy godfather. He gritted his teeth and groaned, “All right! Fine! She can visit here, but only once a week, do you hear?!” Spike nodded, satisfied that Discord, if not reluctantly, agreed to his idea.


Soon after he brought her home that first night, she visited the Everfree Forest once a week as per her agreement with Discord. At first, he didn’t like the idea of the daughter of his enemy wandering around the forest. However, he knew the things she said about him were true. He did watch over Twilight her entire life, and now she knew him. He thought back to that first day they met; not when she was five, not when she was at the cottage, but when he cursed her…
As the weeks passed by, they began to grow on each other. Somehow, in some way, Twilight found her way into Discord’s stone cold heart…although, it wasn’t so much as stone anymore as it was when Fluttershy had been sent to the dungeon. He thought he would hate Twilight for being the daughter of the stallion who wrecked his life. However, he slowly saw that she wasn’t anything like him; she was only more like her aunt Fluttershy. He smiled at the thought as she reminded him more and more about his lost love.
Somewhere between a month or two, Discord and Twilight began exchanging stories. They recollected how the unicorn got her cutie mark. Discord chuckled, “Oh, I remember that day. I was there.” Twilight looked at him with amazement, “You were? That’s right…”
A long time ago, Twilight was practicing her magic with Spike, as an owl, looking onwards. She tried to do a complex spell, but found it to be difficult. Just as she was about to give up, Spike urged her to keep trying. Taking his wordless advice, Twilight tried again; but this time, something completely different happened. When she lifted a prism near the sun, a rainbow shined on her horn and her magic began to expand out of control. Her horn shot many rays around the cottage; one hit Spike and turned him into a rutabaga. The three fillies went outside to see the commotion, only to be hit by three more rays and got turned into books. 
Discord, watching at the edge of the forest, found this funny and cackled at it. “This is priceless!” he laughed. “Why didn’t Twilight do this ages ago?” Just then, a ray of magic nearly shot him. “Whoa!” he cried. “Okay, that was a little too close for comfort. Time to put a stop to this.” 
He snapped his fingers and just like that, Twilight stopped shooting off magic. Spike and the three fillies reverted back to their own selves. By the time the fillies had regained their senses, Spike had fallen over the stump backwards in dizziness from the transformation. He was thankfully out of the sight of the fillies. Sweetie Belle then pointed to Twilight and cried, “Look!” When Twilight noticed that her aunts were looking at her flank, she decided to look, too. It was then she noticed her cutie mark: a six-pointed star with five smaller stars surrounding it! 
She jumped for joy at her accomplishment. Scootaloo grumbled, “She’s lucky she has her cutie mark.” Sweetie Belle nudged her with her elbow and whispered, “Don’t ruin this moment for her!” As Twilight was jumping around, she noticed something in the trees. She saw a deer antler and a goat horn from behind one of them. She thought nothing of it and continued to jump for joy.
It was only now that she recognized the antler and horn and remembered the snapping that made her magic seize. “You must’ve been the one who helped me control my magic!” she pointed out. Discord replied modestly, “Oh, I only stopped your magic burst. You controlled your magic on your own.” She smiled, “I just want to say ‘thank you’.” She put her arms around him; Discord thought it was weird at first, but soon found warmth in her hug. He was, after all, her fairy godfather.


Weeks turned into months, and during one of those months, Twilight got into a mud fight with the Diamond Dogs. Discord watched as he sat on a tree root. When one of the Diamond Dogs threw mud at the unicorn, she dodged it. She turned to see that Discord got hit. Spike was laughing hysterically until a bunch of mud flew at him and covered him. Discord had a mischievous look in his eyes as he grabbed some mud. He smirked, “Oh, you messed with the wrong draconequus.” 
Twilight squealed playfully as Discord joined the mud fight.
Some time after the mud fight, Twilight and Discord were walking about the forest, admiring the scenery. The unicorn couldn’t help but notice that many of the creatures could fly. She wondered why Discord didn’t fly, even though he had wings. She asked, “Well, the other creatures fly. Why don’t you?” Discord replied, “I have wings. They are strong, though not nearly as strong as they used to be.” 
Twilight asked, “What happened?” Discord paused, and then replied reluctantly, “Let’s just say that I’ve been deprived of my flight and teleportation by someone who also took somepony away from me. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?” The unicorn couldn’t help but have sympathy for him, and she decided she would do something to make him feel better. She planned a surprise for Discord and enlisted the help of the other creatures. 
After a few days, Twilight blindfolded Discord and led him somewhere. He smiled, “Where are we going?” Twilight replied, “If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise anymore.” He implored, “Oh, come on! You can tell me! Please? Pretty please…for an ice cream sundae with a cherry on top?” 
She only chuckled, “No!” When they got to the destination, Twilight magically took off Discord’s blindfold. He didn’t know what to make of what was in front of him. It was just a board with a rope hanging from either opposite end. “Err…what is it?” he asked confusedly. Twilight smiled, “It’s a swing. You get on it, push yourself back and forth, and you’ll feel like you’re flying!” 
Discord couldn’t believe it and Twilight had to convince him to get on the swing. Finally, he gave in as he sighed, “Oh, all right. If you insist.” The unicorn showed him how to get on the swing and push himself. At first, Discord saw no point in this, but as he got higher and higher, he took great delight in it. “Woo-hoo!” he smiled. “I do feel like I’m flying, although I’m just going back and forth.” 
Twilight chuckled, “I knew you’d like it!” He kept swinging until his tail got sore. Still, he was happy and told the unicorn, “Thank you, Twilight. You’ve given me a new toy and a way to fly without using my wings.” She replied, “It was my pleasure.” Suddenly, he realized that her 16th birthday was coming up. There was the matter of the curse, but he had loved the filly so much that Discord now took it upon himself to remove it from her. 


That night, Discord slipped into the cottage and went over to Twilight’s bedside. He could see that she was resting peacefully and thought that now was the time to lift the curse before it was too late. He extended his arms and said, “I revoke the curse! Let it be no more!” He repeated this as a yellow light began leave Twilight’s body. However, instead of absorbing into Discord, it blasted him across the room and re-entered Twilight. 
As he regained his senses, he heard the whispers saying, “This curse will last till the end of time…No power on Earth can change it…” His heart dropped when he heard the words he said when he first cursed Twilight. In that moment, he was filled with regret and wished he could take it all back. He whispered, “I failed you, Twilight.” With eyes glistening with tears, he dug his head into the side of the bed as he said, “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…”


Meanwhile, at the castle, a dark figure was conversing with a yellow Pegasus in the dungeon. The door knocked, to which the voice belonging to the figure said, “Enter.” The guard peeked into the dungeon and reported, “The King is gravely ill and has not long to live. He wishes to speak with you.” “Hush,” the voice admonished him. “Can’t you see I’m in the middle of a conversation?”
The guard apologized, “Right. A thousand pardons.” After the guard left, the voice purred while holding a yellow orb, “Once the king is out of the way, all that is left to get rid of is his little daughter, Twilight Sparkle.” Fluttershy weakly protested, “You won’t get away with this!” The voice chuckled menacingly, “I already have, my dear.”

> The Truth Revealed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A week later, Twilight made another visit to the Everfree Visit. Discord was painfully aware that this day happened to be her 16th birthday. While Twilight doted on a griffin, Discord swung on his swing to dull his pain. Alas, it didn’t do any good. Finally, he beckoned, “Twilight, would you come here please?” The unicorn faced him and walked towards him. She sat on the roots of the tree that held Discord and his swing. 
Twilight asked, “Yes? What is it?” Discord sighed as he continued swinging, “There is an evil in this world, and I cannot keep you from it.” She asked, “What kind of evil?” He gulped, “An evil that will stop at nothing to get rid of you.” Twilight didn’t like the sound of it, which made what she would say next all the sweeter. 
“If it helps, I know what I want for my birthday,” she said. Discord asked nonchalantly, “Oh, and what’s that?” Twilight smiled, “I want to live in the forest with you.” He said indifferently, “Well, that’s nice and…” He paused at what she just said and turned to her saying, “What?” He used his tail to grab onto a root and stop himself from swinging. He asked again, “What did you say?” 
Twilight repeated, “I want to live in the Everfree Forest with you.” Discord smiled and thought, Yes! This would be perfect! She won’t have to prick her hoof and fall into an endless sleep! She can stay here with me! He said, “Of course you can stay here. You can stay here for the rest of your life, if you want!” 
The unicorn jumped for joy and cried, “Oh, thank you, fairy godfather! This is the best present you ever gave me!” Discord was happy, and yet he felt a slight twinge of guilt. He knew that this “gift” would keep her from fulfilling the first “gift”, the worst gift he had ever given her.

Deep in the woods outside of the Everfree Forest, Twilight was practicing in front of a tree. She said, “Dear aunts, I know you love me very much and since I’m now 16, I must break this to you. I want to live outside the cottage because I’m capable of taking care of myself. I hope you understand this and I’m grateful that you’ve taken care of me all these years. Yes, that’s how I’m going to word it.”
She began to make her way home until something crashed into her. She heard a voice apologize, “I’m so sorry. I hope I didn’t hurt you too badly.” Twilight shook her head from the shock, “No, it’s okay. I think I’m going to be…” She trailed off when she looked up to see two gorgeous blue eyes, “…fine…” 
A young strapping Pegasus in gold armor helped her up as she still stared at him in amazement. He said, “I don’t think I’ve seen a unicorn mare like you out in the woods. What’s your name?” Twilight blushed and answered, “It’s…Twilight. Twilight Sparkle.” The Pegasus saluted as he gave his name, “Flash Sentry. I was on my way to Shining Armor’s castle, but I’ve never been in these woods before.” 
He blushed as he continued, “That’s probably why I flew into you like that.” Twilight chuckled, “Think nothing of it. I’ve spent my whole life exploring these woods. I can direct you to the castle, if you like.” Flash Sentry beamed, “That’d be great!” Twilight gave him directions and they promised to meet again soon.
Discord watched from behind a bush as Flash Sentry flew off. Spike repeatedly hooted and bumped into him. Discord waved him off, “Spike, shush! Shh-shh! Stop that!” He grabbed Spike and sandwiched the owl’s head between his paw and claw. The owl retaliated by pecking his claw.
The draconequus cried, “Ow! Don’t do that!” Finally being fed up with Spike’s actions, he snapped his fingers and turned him back into a dragon. Spike pointed towards Twilight and said, “That’s it! There’s our answer! He could give Twilight true love’s kiss.” 
Discord scoffed, “Oh, Spike, you should know by now as well as I do that true love’s kiss doesn’t exist. I only put that in the curse to make it unbreakable.” Spike asked, “But what about Fluttershy? Don’t you love her?” Discord became silent for a moment. When he was about to snap his fingers, Spike said, “You can change the way I look, but not the way I feel.” Discord dropped his paw and let Spike walk away.

*****
Back at the cottage, the three fillies were fretting over preparing for the birthday surprise. Apple Bloom ordered, “Come on, guys! Twilight’s gonna be back any minute now!” Scootaloo grunted, “I’m trying! It’s not easy baking a cake, you know!” Sweetie Belle pointed out, “Or decorations.” She held out the poorly-made streamers, to which the other two fillies grimaced. 
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and the girls gasped. Twilight opened the door and said, “I’m back.” The fillies lined up in front of her and cried, “Happy birthday!” Sweetie Belle levitated a cake towards Twilight and said, “I know you were probably expecting more, since today’s a very special day.” The purple unicorn smiled, “I know it is, which is why I want to tell you something.” The girls asked, “What?” Twilight announced, “I’m moving away from the cottage.”
The fillies stood gaping and Sweetie Belle was so stunned she dropped the cake. She cried, “But you can’t go yet! It’s not even sunset!” Twilight asked in half-confusion, “Why, yes. That’s why I need to leave before dark.” The fillies looked at each in defeat and Apple Bloom sighed, “Twilight, I think it’s time we told you somethin’.”


With a panicked and despaired look on her face, Twilight rushed to the woods. In a glade, she called out, “Fairy Godfather! Fairy Godfather, I need to see you right now!” Moments later, Discord burst from the brush and asked alarmingly, “What is it, my dear? Are you hurt? Has there been a fire? Are there thieves about? Let me at them!”
Twilight shook her head and denied, “No, it’s not like that. I need to ask you something.” Discord leaned in closer to her and asked, “Ask me anything you want, dear. After all, it is your birthday.” Twilight looked at him anxiously and asked, “That’s just it. When were you going to tell me I was cursed?”
Discord’s heart dropped and he scratched his neck with his claw. He answered her uneasily, “Oh, um…probably not till next week, a few months from now. Maybe next year?” Twilight continued, “My aunts said it was an evil creature. I-I can’t remember his name. I think it was…” 
“Discord?” he shrugged, finishing her sentence. When he realized what he said, his hands flew to his mouth and his pupils shrank. Twilight asked, now at the verge of tears, “Is that you? Are you Discord?” Discord’s voice became a whisper and he reached out towards her as he pleaded, “Twilight, please let me explain…”
Twilight pulled back from him and choked, “No! Don’t touch me! You’re the evil that’s in the world! It’s you!” She let out a sob as she ran from him. Discord thought to himself, Now you’ve really done it, Discord. You’ve probably lost the only mare who cared about you next to Fluttershy. If she was here…
Suddenly, he realized something and continued thinking, If he was here… Discord called out as he retreated into the wood, “Spike! Find that colt! We must save Twilight from a horrible fate!”

> The Curse is Fulfilled
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	In despair, Twilight galloped all the way to the castle. She knew she couldn’t go back to the cottage where she grew up or the forest she had come to love dearly. Thus, the only thing she could do was to return to the castle where she had been born. There, she was met by palace guards and escorted inside, though they were doubtful of her identity. They brought her to the war room and the lead guard said, “Your Highness, a young unicorn has arrived. She claims to be the princess Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight emerged from behind the guards and said, “Your Highness, do you remember…?”
She trailed off when she saw the figure in front of her. She had never seen a pony like this. The pony had wings and a horn like an alicorn, but the wings were insect-like and the horn was crooked. She had holes dotting her hooves and a hard, translucent midsection and back. She was very dark gray with a dark cerulean mane reaching down to just below her chest. Her most striking feature was her eyes: they were moderate harlequin with dark grayish opal pupils surrounding her slits. 
Queen Chrysalis hovered in enthusiasm and cried, “My niece!” She flew to hug the unicorn and continued, “It has been too long since I last saw you as a foal!” She inspected Twilight’s face and remarked, “You resemble your mother very much. You’ve got her eyes, the purple and rose streaks in your mane…I could go on, but that would be too mushy. Why are you here a day early? Have your incompetent guardians misheard what your father told them?”
Twilight shook her head, “Oh, no, no. They’ve taken good care of me, but when I learned about the curse, I decided to come here on my own.” Chrysalis sighed, “Ah, yes. That dreaded curse, the one that horrible monster Discord has placed upon you.” The unicorn began to differ, “But he…” The queen interrupted, “Oh, let’s not bring him up. Today’s your special day! I’ll have my maid escort you to your room while I plan a surprise for you.”
She clopped her hoof twice and ordered, “Autumn Harvest, take my niece to her room.” She smiled at Twilight, “I’m very certain you’ll adore it. It was once your mother’s room.” Though Twilight was slightly uneasy about the queen, she was excited when she heard that her room had belonged to her mother. When the unicorn exited the room, Queen Chrysalis turned toward the table and quietly chuckled menacingly, “Wait till I have the other surprise prepared for you.”

Meanwhile, the three Breezies flew their way across the land. Sweetie cried, “It’s so good to be small again! Oh, I just love my tiny hooves!” Apple Bloom turned back to Sweetie and said, “Pay attention, Sweetie Belle! We have to find Twilight before the curse is complete! I sure don’t want the king getting mad at us!”
Back at the castle, Twilight took in the room around her. It was beautiful, complete with some portraits of a young pink alicorn, others with a majestic white alicorn, and some with both ponies. Twilight surmised that the pink alicorn was her mother. She read the plaque of one portrait of the pink alicorn and it was engraved “Mi Amore Cadenza”. She read another one and it was imprinted “Princess Cadance”. She took a closer look at the plaque at the bottom of the portrait with her mother and the white alicorn and it read “Queen Celestia with Princess Cadance.” 
Twilight’s eyes widened with amazement as she thought, Is this her? The legendary Queen Celestia? My mother knew her? I need to talk with my aunt! However, when she tried to open the doors, they wouldn’t budge. Twilight thought, Well, whatever my aunt’s planning, she sure wants to keep it a surprise.
Just then, she heard whispers in the room. She tilted her ears in every direction until she found where the sounds were loudest. She went towards the tapestry and the voices whispered, “Twilight…” Soon, she found the edge of the tapestry and pulled it back to reveal a door. She pounded on the door and shouted, “Hello?!” 
The door opened and Twilight saw an earth pony with a moderate cobalt blue mane with very light fuchsia stripes and a light apple greenish gray coat. The unicorn rushed by her and into a hallway, ignoring the maid, who was crying, “Wait! Princess, where are you going?!” In worry, the maid turned to face the opposite direction and whimpered, “Ooh, the queen’s not going to like this…”

In the Everfree Forest, Flash Sentry was still trying to find his way to the castle. Suddenly, he heard a voice shout, “Halt!” Just as soon as the voice startled him, he saw a stop sign hanging from a branch. Flash skidded to a stop in mid-air and asked, “Who put a stop sign in the forest?” Discord slithered into the open in police attire and answered, “I did.” 
Flash asked dubiously, “And just who you might be?” Discord replied, “I happen to be the guardian of this forest.” The Pegasus’s eyes shrunk and he whispered, “You’re Discord.” The draconequus scoffed, “Well, of course I am. What do you expect?” 
Flash cried alarmingly, “Then Twilight’s in trouble! What have you done with her, foul beast?!” Discord looked at him in surprise and defended, “Look, I did nothing to her! I need to find her!” The Pegasus scowled, “You will never harm an innocent mare, you monster!” He charged at Discord, only for the latter to dodge into the brush and reappear again in another nearby spot. Discord said, “Look, it’s not like that! I…” Before he could finish, Flash flew towards him again and Discord dodged once more.
When Flash saw him near the stop sign, he growled and flew at him again. Discord pulled the branch back and apologized, “I’m sorry I have to do this, but…” When Flash drew closer to him, the spirit released the branch and…
THWACK!
Flash was out cold on the forest floor. When Discord landed next to him, he remarked, “Huh. I guess stop signs do make for good defense mechanisms. I might have to use it again someday.” He lifted the unconscious Pegasus from the ground and called out, “Oh, Spike!” When Spike flew in, Discord grinned, “We need a ride.”
Out of the Everfree Forest galloped a purple earth pony with a green mane bunched in humps representing a dragon’s head scales. Spike was pulling a chariot, which was being driven by Discord, in charioteer clothes. In the back was Flash Sentry, still unconscious and strapped to a car seat. Spike panted, “Why couldn’t you turn me into a roc? I could get us there faster in that form.” Discord answered, “The king and his guards will be expecting an aerial attack, so if we want to save Twilight, you had better HYAH!” At the last word, Spike ran faster than he ever did in his life.

When she had reached the bottom of the stairs, Twilight noticed that her right hoof began to glow yellow. Just then, she heard her name again and turned towards the sheets hanging from the clothesline. She walked past them and into a stairwell that led her to a dark part of the castle. This must be the dungeon, she thought. When she came upon a door, the voices whispered her name again and a yellow light opened the door. She gasped at the sight before her.
There were hundreds, maybe thousands, or spinning wheels all stacked up on each other and in ruin. She let her mind trail, So many… Then, she realized that her parents must’ve loved her very much if they went to extreme measures trying to protect their daughter. She walked amongst the broken spinning wheels and saw yellow light enclosing the pieces of a spinning wheel. They levitated and connected each other until it created a whole spinning wheel. Yellow light remained on only the spindle now and Twilight suddenly became entranced with it. Multi-colored rings developed in her eyes as she drew closer to the spindle.
The yellow glow on her right hoof intensified when she raised it near the glowing spindle. She could hear the words first spoken at her christening.
“She will prick her hoof on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a sleep-like sleep. No power on Earth…A sleep-like sleep.”
Discord felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. He was overcome with sudden dread as he unconsciously pulled back the reins. When the sun almost set, Discord knew what had happened. “It is done,” he whispered breathlessly. He put his arms and head on the chariot as he choked, “Oh, Twilight…” 
Bon Bon, the maid Twilight had passed, found the princess lying still on the floor. The earth pony collapsed in sobs at the unfortunate revelation: Discord’s curse had finally been fulfilled.

> True Love's Kiss
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Upon arriving at the castle, Discord turned Spike into a dragon to sneak up near the gates. Spike looked around suspiciously and said, “There are no guards around.” Discord said, “That means he’s waiting for me in there.” The dragon gasped, “If we go inside those walls, we’ll never come out alive.” Discord turned to Spike and said, “Then stay here. It’s not your fight anyway.” 
As Discord pulled Flash, still strapped in the car seat, by the leash, Spike looked at him in an irritated way. He walked behind Flash and growled, “Well, you can’t just leave me here. ‘I need you, Spike. I can’t do this without you, Spike. Pretty please with a cherry on top?’” Discord grumbled, “You know I can hear you.”

The guards marched into Twilight’s room with the Breezies following them. Before the guard could announce their arrival, the Breezies zipped in front of them. They all spoke at once, “It wasn’t our fault! We tried to save her! She wanted to…” The Breezies trailed off when they realized they weren’t talking to the king. They saw an unusual and startling pony leaning over Twilight’s bedside. 
The pony waved her holed hoof and ordered, “Guards, leave. I wish to speak to these three alone.” The guards complied, shutting the doors behind them as the last one left. The Breezies hovered shakily as the pony walked around Twilight’s bed and towards them. Sweetie Belle timidly asked, “Who…who are you, and where’s King Shining Armor?” 
The black pony dramatically put a hoof on her chest and explained, “The king, I regret to say, has passed away, along with his wife, the queen. I am her sister, Chrysalis.” Apple Bloom apologized, “We’re sorry about Twilight, you Highness! We tried to protect her, honest!” Chrysalis pondered at this and said, “Are you asking me to forgive you? I should be thanking you!” 
The Breezies hovered in confusion as they said simultaneously, “Huh?” Chrysalis strode towards the bed, “You see, I knew Twilight would be Cadance’s only heir, so if she fell under the curse, I would be free to take the throne. If you three imbeciles hadn’t fouled up, she wouldn’t be here and Discord would still be in the forest. But instead, she’s now at my mercy and the monster’s on his way here to save her. Ha, ha! How amusing!
“I didn’t know he cared for her the way he cared for his dear, sweet Fluttershy. Thanks to you three, both Twilight and Discord are here, which puts them in my power. Those two birds will be doomed when I throw the fatal stone…” She laughed maniacally as Scootaloo said, “You won’t get away with it!” Chrysalis rolled her eyes and remarked, “Oh, but I am.” 
She zapped a green light at the Breezies that made them fall to the ground. When the Breezies regained their senses, they looked up to see Chrysalis towering over them. She explained, “Now I have made you mute to all but yourselves and each other. Now if you excuse me, I have a certain ‘guardian of the forest’ to take care of.” Before the Breezies could fly after her, the queen locked the door behind her.

The hallway was littered with laboradite; the stones hung from the ceiling and hundreds were laid on the floor. They covered 25 feet in length, enough to make Spike and Discord gawk at the sight. The spirit mumbled, “Shining Armor, you are a cruel stallion.” Spike, who was holding on the leash connecting to Flash’s car seat, asked, “What are we going to do?” Discord smirked at him, “Dragons eat gems, remember?” Spike looked at him dubiously and asked, “But how can I…” 
Before Spike could say another word, Discord grabbed him by the throat, stretched the dragon’s neck, and turned him into a vacuum. The draconequus used his aide-turned-appliance to suck in all of the laboradite. Once he cleared away part of the ceiling stones, Discord skated across the floor as he used Spike to vacuum up the gems. He ducked beneath the stones that still hung from the ceiling, but a few still touched him before he reached the end. He transformed Spike back into a dragon and cheered, “Huzzah! We made it through! And we did it with only a few minor burns.” 
At that moment, Spike belched loudly. This startled Discord and he scolded, “Shush! Do you want to alert the entire castle?” Spike patted his stomach and said, “Sorry. Those stones tasted so good. I don’t understand why you can’t touch them.” Discord groaned as he levitated Flash towards him and walked on, “If only I knew, Spike. If only I knew.”
When they came upon a guard, the two ducked behind a curtain. Discord smiled mischievously and whispered, “Watch this.” The guard turned to see an orange Pegasus floating in mid-air. When he came closer to investigate, he was soon met by a stop sign. Spike emerged from the curtain and breathed, “Wow…I wish I could do that.” 
Still carrying the stop sign, Discord turned to his assistant and chuckled, “It takes the element of surprise, dear Spike.” He pointed towards Flash and continued, “That and somepony as bait.” With the end of his tail, Discord held Flash by puppet strings. He snapped the Pegasus back into his car seat and went onwards. Spike followed, growling that he had to pull Flash again.
Back in Twilight’s bedroom, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom each sat at a door while Scootaloo flew back and forth as pacing. Sweetie Belle worriedly asked, “What are we going to do?” Scootaloo spread her arms out and said, “Well, we can’t have the Chrysalis creep take over Twilight’s kingdom!” Sweetie Belle remarked, “But the only one who can help us is Twilight!” Apple Bloom reminded her, “But she’s asleep! Only true love’s kiss can wake her!” Scootaloo scoffed, “Yeah, like true love can fall from trees.” 
At that moment, Discord, who was at the side of the doors with Spike, woke Flash and dropped him in front of the doors. The Breezies heard the noise and pounded on the doors, shouting, “Hello?! Is anyone there?!” When Queen Chrysalis had cast her spell, it had one flaw: Discord. He was so powerful that he could override any spell. Even though the others couldn’t hear the Breezies, Discord could. 
He groaned, “What are those three doing here?” Spike was confused and asked, “Errr…who?” Discord whispered in disgust, “Her aunts.” Flash, not noticing the car seat on him, heard the pounding and asked, “Hello? Who’s there?” He tried to open the doors, but to no avail. 
Discord sensed the magic surrounding the locks and said, “Well, well, well. His Royal Highness decided to lock the doors so no one could get to Twilight. Very clever, Shiny. However, I’ve got the upper hoof.” He raised his claw to prepare snapping. He chuckled, “Or should I say…claw?” 
He snapped his talon and the doors flew open. Right then, Flash was about to push them open until he fell into the room. The Breezies gasped as they saw the Pegasus rising from the floor. Flash strained as he tried to get up, “Who…put this…seat on me?” Sweetie Belle used her magic to unfasten the seat belt from his torso. He sighed, “Oh, many thanks…”
He was stunned when he saw three Breezies in front of him. He smiled, “Wow. I didn’t think you guys even exist.” Sweetie mentioned, “Oh, there are plenty of us in the Everfree Forest.” Flash looked confused, reminding her that they were mute to him. He looked around the room and asked, “Where am I?” His eyes soon caught Twilight sleeping in her bed. 
He gasped as he trotted towards her, “Twilight!” The Breezies looked at each other and concluded, “He knows her.” Flash looked at Twilight and said, “What’s happened to you? I bet that monster Discord placed you under a spell.” Apple Bloom slowly answered, though no one but her small friends could hear her, “Well…yes and no.” 
Scootaloo spread her arms out and cried, “Don’t you see?! He’s the answer to all of our problems. If we can get Flash to kiss Twilight, we can save the kingdom!” Discord was in total agreement, much to his dismay. He took Spike into the room and stealthily found a place to hide behind the changing screen. 
Spike was in complete awe of the Breezies and whispered, “Whoaaaaa…I’ve never seen them in this form before. They’re so charming and cute! Why can’t you turn me into something like them?” Discord scowled at him and remarked, “Oh, don’t go there. I might just turn you into a Diamond Dog.” Spike immediately zipped his lips.
Scootaloo tapped Flash’s helmet and he looked up to see the Breezies making strange gestures. Apple Bloom was blowing a kiss and then pointing to Twilight. After several moments, Flash figured out what she was trying to say. He asked, “You think I should kiss her…to break the enchantment?” The Breezies nodded their heads excitedly. Flash, however, was unsure.
He said, “I’m not sure about this. I’ve only met her today. Well, if it helps Twilight…I’ll do it.” He leaned in towards Twilight’s face and Discord quietly urged on, “Go on…Go on…”
But just before his lips met hers, Flash looked up and asked, “Are you sure I’m the right one for this?” While Discord face-palmed and growled in agitation, the Breezies shouted, “KISS HER!” Though Flash couldn’t hear them, he took it as a “yes” and gave Twilight a kiss. In anticipation, Discord anxiously uttered under his breath, “Come on…Come on, Twilight.”
Nothing.
Scootaloo grunted, “Great! What are we going to do now?” Sweetie Belle said, “Well, if we can’t save Twilight…” Apple Bloom chimed in, “…then we’ll have to save her kingdom!” The Breezies dragged Flash out of the room as he asked, “Hey! Where are you taking me?! Look, I’m sorry the kiss didn’t work, but…” 
Before he could finish his sentence, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle closed the doors behind him. Discord hung his head low in defeat. Spike was stunned until he said, “I…I don’t understand it. Why didn’t it work?” Discord rose and answered him in a bitter tone, “Because true love doesn’t exist. That’s why.” Spike remarked angrily, “You’re just saying that because Fluttershy’s gone because of you, huh?”
Discord looked at the dragon in surprise. He wanted to admonish him for saying such a thing, but when he thought about it, he realized that what Spike said was true. Discord had always blamed Shining Armor for taking Fluttershy away, but deep within him, he knew that it was his fault for what happened to her. He blamed himself for putting her in danger, for not being able to save her…for falling in love with her. Instead of chiding the dragon’s claim like he originally intended, he found himself admitting, “Yes, Spike…yes…”
Discord slowly walked over to Twilight’s bedside and stared at the still princess. In his anger and resentment, he put the curse upon her to make Shining Armor pay for his misdeeds…to suffer the way Discord did. He took a deep breath and said sadly, “I’m not going to ask you to forgive me. What I did was wrong beyond all reason. You shouldn’t forgive me for what I did to you…what I did to your father. I was so lost in hatred and revenge because I lost Fluttershy not because of him, but rather…because of me. Your aunt stole my heart, but you took what pieces I had left after she was taken.
“But now…” His eyes began to well furiously with tears and he had to stifle his sobs as he choked out, “…now I’ve lost you forever.” Finally, he could take it no more and quickly ordered Spike, “Spike, look away. You don’t need to see this.” The dragon turned away and felt pity for the draconequus, for he knew Discord had his heart broken twice now.
Discord buried his face in Twilight’s pillow and let out the sobs he had kept in not only now, but also when Fluttershy was gone. After he had let most of his sorrow out, he lifted his head to face Twilight. Tears still streamed down his face as he looked at her in blurry vision. He sniffled, “I swear…with every fiber of my being, I won’t anything happen to you, not like with Fluttershy. For her and you, I will always watch over you. Not a single day shall pass when I don’t miss her and you.”
To avoid breaking down again, Discord gave her a fatherly kiss on the horn and whispered, “Good-bye, my dearest Twilight.” As he turned to depart, he heard a familiar voice say, “Hello, Godfather.” He knew that voice all too well, and when he and Spike turned to see who it was, they were delighted that Twilight was awake and smiling. Discord gasped and smiled, “Hello, pony.” Before the moment dragged on for too long, Discord spread his arms out and said, “Oh, what the hay…” He embraced her so gleefully and full of relief that he didn’t want to let her go. 
Spike was the first to notice that something was different.  He saw something peeking from the blankets and said to Discord while the dragon was pointing to Twilight, “Uh...Discord?” Discord was confused until he looked down and glimpsed at something that wasn’t there before. He said breathlessly, “Oh my…Is that…?” Twilight was about to ask until he pulled something from her side: a wing! 
When Twilight gasped, Spike asked, “Are you an…” Discord put his paw and claw on his hips and said matter-of-factly, “Yep. She’s an alicorn, born and bred.” The now-alicorn was stunned and she asked, “But how…?” Discord pondered and then concluded, “I’ll bet that your body absorbed them when you were cursed. I didn’t know you had wings at your christening. You were under a blanket when I first saw you.” 
Upon seeing her wings, Twilight was reminded of something. “Discord,” she said, “I think I know where Fluttershy is.”

Meanwhile, in the war room, Chrysalis was looking out the window, searching for her prey. She was in full armor decorated with laboradites to detain the biggest threat to her power. Just then, a guard appeared before her and reported, “He’s here, my lady.” Chrysalis turned to him and smiled. 
Finally, she was about to make the final move and secure her place on the throne.

> The Final Battle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	As the trio quietly made their way down the stairs, Discord whispered, “Are you sure you know where Fluttershy is?” Twilight nodded, “I’m certain. She’s in the dungeon.” Spike asked, “How do you know that?” The alicorn answered, “While I was under the curse, I had a vision. She was behind bars and, unfortunately, not looking too well.” Discord gasped and remarked, “Then we mustn’t waste any time!”
He marched forward in determination before stopping in front of the grand hall. Spike asked once he and Twilight caught up, “How come you didn’t try to rescue her before when you were at the castle?” Discord stood silent, and then sighed, “I didn’t know if she was even in the castle after the coronation…or still alive. Even if I knew where she was and if she was all right, I wouldn’t have been able to rescue her without my teleportation or flight. If I didn’t have all of my powers, I wouldn’t be able to get her to safety. Believe me, I’ve put her in enough danger. Without Twilight to help me, I don’t want to endanger her again.”
Twilight smiled, “I’ll help you, Discord…not as the princess...but as your goddaughter.” Discord found great comfort in her words and was touched by them. Before he let the moment get too mushy, he cleared his throat, “Well, come on. We’ve got a very special friend to rescue.” 
In a white flash, he was in spy attire and made commando movements alongside the furniture in the hall. As he slithered across the floor, he heard a clinking sound and looked up, only to…
KA-CHUNK!
The heaviness of the metal links prevented him from rising from the floor. When he touched the links, his paw and claw were soon met by a burning sensation. He gave a yell as he retracted them from the only substance that could harm him: labradorite.
Twilight, in worry, rushed towards him with Spike trailing behind her. Before the princess could remove the gem-encrusted net of chains from Discord, shouts of the guards came from all directions. “We’ve got him!” one of them cried. The threesome was soon met by swarms of stallions and Twilight got caught in the crowd. One guard pushed her out of the way and said, “For your own safety, Your Highness.” 
No matter how much Twilight protested, she could not break through the group of guards. Despite the clamor, Discord shouted towards her, “Twilight! Save her! Save her and take her to the Everfree Forest!” Twilight protested, “No, we’re not leaving you behind!” Discord grunted as he was continually poked by the guards’ staffs, “Well, I’m not sure if you have a choice!” Twilight thought for a moment before her eyes lit up and she whispered, “There is one.” 	She teleported herself away, leaving Discord both relieved and saddened. 	
***** 	
After the raspberry flash died, Twilight opened her eyes and found herself in the dungeon. It was as dark and dismal as it was in her vision. She searched the moonlit cells and eventually found the one with a yellow Pegasus inside. The prisoner was facing toward the wall farthest from the bars. From her posture, Twilight surmised that the prisoner was downtrodden. When the princess looked on the mare’s body, she knew why.  
A large shackle was locked around her wings so she wouldn’t fly away, and four smaller shackles were bound on her hooves. All of the shackles seemed connected to the wall on her right. Twilight couldn’t help but pity Fluttershy. She knew Discord’s heart would break and then be filled with anger if he saw his sweetheart like this. She cautiously stepped towards the bars and carefully said, “Hello.” 	Fluttershy yelped at Twilight’s greeting. She turned to face the princess, only for both to be surprised. To Twilight, Fluttershy was a shadow of her former self. To Fluttershy, she was surprised to see an alicorn. The Pegasus timidly asked, “Are…are you my guardian angel?” Twilight answered, “Well, not really. I’m Twilight Sparkle, and I’ve come to save you.” 	
Fluttershy gasped, “Twilight Sparkle? Shining Armor’s daughter? But that makes you…” Her eyes lit up in wonder, “…my niece.” Twilight shrugged, “I suppose so.” The Pegasus’s eyes then welled with tears and a smile spread across her face. She got up to embrace the alicorn from behind bars, but she was stopped by the chains that bound her in her cell. She slowly laid back on the ground in despair. 	Twilight asked, “Did my father do this to you?” Fluttershy shook her head, “After the battle at the Everfree Forest, King Sombra, your grandfather, came back wounded and dying. He said whoever defeated Discord would become king. I went to the forest to warn Discord. We decided to share one more night together before we departed ways. I don’t what came over him, but when he found out about Discord and me, your father threatened to kill him. ‘For the good of the kingdom’, he said. 	
“Usually, he was so understanding, but I guess his loyalty to the crown was greater than my love for Discord. I had to turn myself in exchange for your father sparing Discord’s life. When I returned to the castle, I was thrown in the dungeon by the king’s guards. When he became king, Shining Armor felt that he couldn’t risk a riot by freeing me or visiting me here. It was your mother who was kind enough to visit me. Even after Discord put that terrible curse on you, we both knew that he didn’t do it out of spite, but out of hurt from losing me. I also wanted to forgive Shining Armor when I learned about what he did to Discord.  	
“Your mother Cadance was the only one he confided in, and then she told me. Before the wedding, your mother wasn’t happy with the idea of marrying a supposed murderer, so your father had to explain what happened that night. What he presented to King Sombra wasn’t Discord’s soul, but some of his magic.” Twilight remarked, “So that’s how his teleportation and flight were taken.” Fluttershy looked at her in confusion and said, “But I don’t understand. Cadance said that he had flown away after he cursed you.” 	
Twilight said, “Well, then he must have not flown very far. I think my father didn’t know what powers he had taken from him.” The alicorn angled her horn in front of the lock and used her magic to open the cell door. “Come on,” Twilight said as she used her magic again to unlock the shackles on Fluttershy’s body. She continued, “Discord’s in trouble and he needs your help.” Fluttershy gasped, Discord’s in trouble? Oh, my…” 	
Suddenly, there was a rumble that came from above. Twilight knew then that the situation had become dire. She took Fluttershy’s hoof and said, “Let’s go!” Within a second, the princess teleported the both of them away.  	
Just after Twilight disappeared from view, Spike tried to fend for his master. Discord caught sight of this and exclaimed, “Spike, what are you doing?! You’re not going to help me this way!” Just then, an idea came to him. He smiled slyly and said, “Spike, don’t move.” Spike just stood in confusion as he said, “Huh?” 	
Being continuously poked by the guards didn’t help Discord’s concentration much. He said before he snapped his fingers, “Into a house cat!” In a flash, Spike was turned into a cat. He scowled at Discord while the draconequus grunted, “No, that’s not it!” He snapped his fingers again when he said, “Into a tsetse fly!” This time, Spike transformed into a small fly. Spike retorted, “What now? Do I just buzz in their ears to overcome them?”  	
Discord asked, “Huh? What was that? Oh, never mind! Into a dragon!” When Discord snapped his fingers again, Spike reverted back to his dragon self. Discord face-palmed and said, “Oh, wait! You’re already a baby dragon! Into a full-grown dragon!”  	
Instead of snapping his fingers this time, he pointed to Spike and a beam of yellow light shot from his finger to the dragon. Spike was engulfed in the yellow aura and he steadily grew into a dragon the size of an adult. This, and his much scarier appearance, intimidated the guards…and Discord himself. The spirit said to himself, “Wow. I didn’t even know I had it in me.” 	
Spike roared ferociously and swung at the guards, sometimes succeeding in throwing them against the wall. Thanks to his large state, Spike was now able to lift the net of chains from his master. Discord gasped for air when he was finally able to lift himself up. However, he didn’t have time to gather his strength before many guards surrounded him with labradorite-lined shields. Uh-oh, he thought, this is bad. He conjured up a sphere of magic and threw it at one of the shields. Alas, the labradorite absorbed the magic and Discord cursed himself, remembering that the effect of labradorite on magical creatures extended to their magic.  	
When he tried to find a way out, something snapped at his bat wing and burned it! He gave out a cry and massaged his injured wing. When he turned to see who was responsible, he was met again by a long chain encrusted with the cursed gems. He couldn’t exactly see the assailant because he was repeatedly whipped by the baneful chain. Exhausted and bruised, he fell to the floor and panted. He heard sounds of chains again and turned to see the guards tying Spike in them. Discord looked on in horror as he saw his most trustful aide finally fall to the floor.  	
Just as the guards were rhythmically pounding their shields on the floor, Twilight and Fluttershy appeared at a place that overlooked the grand hall. They looked at the scene in horror as they saw their friends defeated. 	
“Spike…” Twilight gasped. 	
“Discord…” Fluttershy whispered. 	
At that moment, a tall, lean pony clad in full armor approached Discord. The figure raised a hoof to cease the rhythmic pounding. Discord looked at the strange pony and asked, “Shining Armor? You’ve certainly changed since I last saw you.” His eyes shrank when he heard the figure menacingly chuckle, “I am afraid you are mistaken, fool.”  	
The crooked horn glowed a brilliant green, the same color that engulfed the helmet as it was lifted from the head. Dark cerulean strands of mane spilled from the helmet onto the chest and moderate harlequin eyes with dark grayish opal pupils looked upon him. The tall pony said, “I am Queen Chrysalis, the successor to the throne.” Discord scowled, “You’ll never take Shining Armor’s throne, no matter if he wronged me!” Chrysalis only laughed evilly, “Wronged you? If he hadn’t wronged you in the first place, you wouldn’t have put the curse on his charming daughter. Thanks to you, she’s going to join her parents on the other side!”  	
Discord wanted to clarify that he broke the curse, but the revelation that Twilight’s parents were dead left him stunned. He only whispered “You don’t mean…?” Twilight was shocked at this as well. She never got to know her parents, and the last time she saw them was when she was only a foal. This left her in tears and Fluttershy hugged her in comfort. Discord was as devastated as Twilight was, for he knew that he was responsible for the misery that he heaped upon her parents and of which that may have ultimately killed them.  	
While Discord was still trying to make sense of the information, Chrysalis continued, “Yes, Discord, by putting Twilight out of the way, you have helped me reclaim the throne that should’ve been mine ages ago!” Discord snapped back to the current moment and asked skeptically, “What do you mean, ‘reclaim the throne’?” Chrysalis sighed as she rolled her eyes, “Must I share my quite tragic back-story with you? Then again, it could serve your memory. You might not remember me, but I remember you very clearly.”  	
Chrysalis was the first-born of the monarchs King Sombra and Queen Celestia. Back then, the land was happy and prosperous under the rule of its benevolent rulers. Sombra and Celestia had been so in love with each other that they brought forth a daughter with beauty to reflect their love. She had a coat as white as milk, a beryl mane that shone brilliantly in the sunlight, and clouded emerald eyes that were inherited from her dear father. She lived in content and played all around the castle. Unfortunately, her parents loved her so much that she became spoiled.  
When their second daughter Cadance was born, Chrysalis grew to despise the young alicorn. Though their parents shared their attention between the two of them, Chrysalis felt that she should’ve had more. When Cadance began walking, her sister also began making trouble for her. The eldest blamed it on the younger, but her parents always saw through her façade. One day, they had enough and sent her to live with a farmer for a time to learn good behavior. Chrysalis, however, didn’t take kindly to her punishment and ran away into the Everfree Forest. There, her life would change forever. 
When she found her way to a glade, she heard noise and assumed that the farmer was trying to find her. She ducked behind a log and stayed hidden until she heard…laughter. In curiosity, she looked up and saw a strange creature dancing with a pony. She was disgusted by the creature and wanted to take a closer look at the pony playing with him. She was surprised to find out that it was Fluttershy, the daughter of the farmer! She knew the filly was odd, but now she knew why.  
She was about to leave the forest when a Breezie flew up to her. “Another pony?” it asked. It looked at Chrysalis’s wings and gasped, “A princess!” The alicorn’s cold heart did not let her admire the beauty of this simple creature. In spite, she smacked the Breezie to the ground. Her cruel act soon aroused the anger of another, more powerful, Breezie.  
As soon as the hurt Breezie fell to the ground, a dark blue light glowed behind Chrysalis. She turned around and was awed by a more majestic and beautiful Breezie. Her flowing nighttime mane was so long that it almost touched the alicorn. The Breezie was significantly longer than most Breezies, for she stood out from them in her position. What stunned Chrysalis the most was her moderate cyan eyes, which cut through her in righteous fury. 
In a loud booming voice, the Breezie declared, “I, Queen Luna of the Breezies, have seen your horrendous act! You have deliberately harmed an innocent creature that has not wronged you! You have a cold heart, so thus, it must be reflected. I hereby curse you to take the form of your innermost self and display the ugliness that your heart has possessed!” In horror, Chrysalis covered her eyes as Queen Luna surrounded her in blue light. When she opened her eyes again, they were not clouded emerald anymore. 
When she looked at herself, she saw that she now had a very dark gray coat and holes on her hooves. Her beryl mane had now become dark cerulean and she had wings and a torso like that of an insect’s. Her horn became crooked and she had fangs jutting from her upper lip. She could not see her eyes, though they were now moderate harlequin with dark grayish opal pupils surrounding her new slits. Her new eyes suddenly welled up with tears as Chrysalis collapsed to the ground and sobbed. 
Discord and Fluttershy had been absent during the incident, but when Discord bade his friend farewell, he returned to the glade, only to hear crying. The preteen spirit turned to the log and wondered, “That’s odd. Why would a log be crying?” He hovered towards it, only for a blur to zip into the nearby trees. Discord shouted as he flew towards the blur, “Hey, come back! I won’t hurt you!”  
He stopped at the tree line when a young voice cried, “Please! Don’t come any further! I’m ugly now, thanks to that cursed Queen Luna!” Discord chuckled, “Ooh…You must’ve done something to make Old Lulu mad. What did you do?” “None of your business!” the voice shouted.  
Immediately after that, a beam of green light shot from the trees. Discord yelped and dodged it. He heard an explosion and turned to see the log charred and burnt. He turned towards the trees again and heard more crying. “Listen,” he comforted her, “I may not be able to undo the queen’s curse, but I can alter it to make it…easier for you.” He offered an uneasy smile, but it was enough for two glowing eyes to look at him through the trees. “You can?” she said in a tone that was half-hopeful and half-skeptical.  
“Uh-huh.” he nodded. “After all…” he assumed a flashy pose, “…I can do just about anything.” “Oh, really…?” the eyes looked at him in wily interest. Discord flashed into a makeover artist’s outfit and hovered near the trees. “Hmmm….” he contemplated as he put a paw to his chin, “…I think you need a makeover. I can cast a spell that will allow you to change your looks voluntary. Unfortunately, the only form you can’t assume is your original self. I’m afraid Queen Luna’s curse overrides my powers.” 
Chrysalis was disappointed that she couldn’t change back into her old self, but the more she thought about the prospect of changing into other forms, the more she realized that she could use it to her advantage. “All right,” she said. “Commence the makeover.” Discord flashed out of his attire and said, “Well, you need to come out first so I can see you.” A green light flashed above the eyes as she said, “I’d rather stay out of sight.” The preteen spirit groaned, “Ugh, fine. Have it your way.” 
He grabbed a handful of dirt and smiled slyly, “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He opened his palm and blew the dust into the trees. It transformed into a cloud of purplish plaid and everything chaotic. It surrounded Chrysalis for a few moments and then disappeared completely. She decided to test it out by changing her appearance into that of a pony she came across a while back.  
Discord called into the trees, “So, did it work?” “Yes!” she replied. “It worked magnificently.” She stepped out from the trees and Discord whistled, “Now this has got to be one of my finest work yet!” She giggled, “It is.” She turned to leave and smiled sinisterly out of his view, “It most certainly will.”
It took the host family a while to recognize Chrysalis, but when she explained the story, they sent her back to the castle. There, her family was shocked by her new appearance. They knew they could not undo a righteous curse, so the king and queen ordered for her to be kept out of sight. She used her new ability to cause trouble for Cadance by assuming her form. Her plan worked for a while until somepony noticed there were two Cadances. Their parents brought them forth and ordered for them to use their magic. The imposter Cadance faked having a headache while the real Cadance complied. 
When they figured out who was who, they ordered Chrysalis to be banished. Before she could get sent away, however, she switched places with a maid and assumed other forms to stay at the castle. Celestia, heartbroken that her daughter had fallen so far from grace, became ill and eventually died. Sombra, unable to continue on without his wife, attempted to rid himself of any emotion. However, during the spell, he let his sadness slip into his mind and it gave rise to other negative emotions. When he emerged from the chamber, he was corrupt, twisted, and cruel. 
Thus, he ruled the kingdom with an iron hoof and when he learned that Chrysalis still lived in the castle under various guises, he taught her the dark arts. Still, he knew he could not restore his eldest daughter as heir, for he feared that ponies might be repulsed by her ugliness and rebel against the family. Despite this, he enlisted her help in conquering lands. When he had come back from the Everfree Forest injured, he happened to mention Discord. As soon as Chrysalis saw Fluttershy’s reaction, she knew that it was the perfect opportunity to eliminate Discord as a threat to her future rule. 
When Shining Armor was following Fluttershy, he was soon stopped by Lyra Heartstrings. “Where are you going in such a hurry?” she asked. Shining Armor answered, “I need to see what’s going on with Fluttershy. She left the room as soon as the king mentioned Discord.” Lyra retched, “Discord? What an awful name!”
Shining Armor nodded, “I know. He has a mismatched body to go with it.” Lyra quivered, “He sounds like a monster!” The stallion replied, “Yes, he is. He injured the king and now our leader is dying. If Fluttershy has any connections to Discord, she could lead me to him.” 
Lyra said, “You know what I think?” Her gaze shifted left and right before whispering in Shining Armor’s ear, “I think she’s under mind control.” The stallion looked at her uneasily and asked, “Mind control?” Lyra explained while she was walking around him and doing creepy gestures, “Yeah! I hear that he turns ponies into the opposite of their true selves and maybe inanimate objects, and can hypnotize them to do his evil will!” Shining Armor stomped his hoof as he said, “Then he must be stopped!” The aquamarine unicorn said, “And I know how.”
She pulled out a bag from the pocket of her apron and said, “Take this.” Shining Armor used his magic to hold the bag and open it to find grayish stones. Lyra explained, “These are labradorite stones, the only known thing to relinquish powerful creatures like Discord.” He bowed his head and said, “Thank you kindly, dear maid.” When he left the hall, Lyra’s eyes turned into moderate harlequin with slits and she chuckled slyly, “I’m anything but…”

Discord then recognized the glowing eyes in the glade long ago. He couldn’t believe that he helped a potential enemy by giving her an ability that she used for evil purposes. Now his guilt doubled, not just because he helped Chrysalis, but also because he had blamed Shining Armor for everything. His guilt then turned into anger when he realized that he should’ve directed his wrath at Chrysalis all along. “Giving you disguising powers was my worst mistake,” he gritted. He then smiled slyly, “But that won’t stop me from taking them back.”
Chrysalis, unshaken by his words, merely chuckled, “If only you could, but as you see…my armor is lined with labradorite. You virtually have no way of revoking your ‘gift’ to me.” Bitterness filled Discord as he remembered when he couldn’t revoke his ‘gift’ to Twilight. Chrysalis continued, “You know, I really should thank you for getting me this far. Without you, I would be banished far, far away from here instead of being the next ruler of this land.” 
Discord snapped, “You’ll never be queen for as long as I live!” Chrysalis mocked, “Oh? Says the mismatched creature who calls himself the guardian of the forest?” She laughed and then said, “Don’t make me laugh. You’re stuck here…” She raised the chain as she finished, “…in a world where you don’t belong!”
She then struck Discord and he fell onto the steps leading to the thrones. Chrysalis derided, “So tell me: how does it feel not having the powers to get you out of this mess? Face it: you’re trapped here…trapped like a caged mouse.” As the queen was laughing, Fluttershy remembered something. She nudged Twilight, “Twilight, Chrysalis has his powers in an orb. Can you teleport us to it?” The alicorn nodded and transported both of them in a flash.
They found themselves in the queen’s dark chambers. They looked all around, but only found nothing. Fluttershy whispered, “I don’t see it anywh-“ Just then, the girls heard a high-pitched shrill. They walked towards the source of the sound and pulled back the curtain to find a glowing yellow orb. They gasped and smiled pleasantly. 
However, Fluttershy asked, “How are we going to get it out? I don’t see something to open the orb.” Twilight thought of an idea and levitated the orb with her magic. She warned Fluttershy, “You better duck.” Then, the alicorn spun the orb in circles over her head and she grunted as she thrust it toward the wall.
SMASH!
Once the girls were safe from falling glass, they looked just in time to see Discord’s magic racing out the chamber. “Let’s get back!” Twilight said as she held Fluttershy’s hoof again and teleported them back to the grand hall.

Discord suffered blow after blow from the gem-encrusted chain. He could hardly muster the strength to even stand up. He panted heavily when Chrysalis ceased whipping him. A brilliant green glow emanated from her belt and when Discord’s sight adjusted, he saw that it was a dagger. He hung his head low as he thought of how he fought valiantly for the girls, but never got the chance to apologize to Twilight. He also regretted that he would never see his beloved girls ever again. Chrysalis held the dagger in the air and said, “Good-bye, monstrosity.”
Before she could plunge it…
“DISCORD!!!”
The queen was not the only one who heard it. Discord lifted his head to see where that sweet voice came from. Chrysalis’s heart dropped while Discord’s soared when they saw Fluttershy overlooking the grand hall. Seeing his beloved again made him feel lighter than air. It was almost like he was flying.
No, wait…It didn’t feel like that.
Discord looked at himself to see a yellow aura surrounding him and restoring his flight! Chrysalis caught sight of this, too, and turned back to see Twilight with Fluttershy. Chrysalis growled, “You traitor!” Discord said, “No. As I recall, you’re the traitor.” He quickly flew off as he said, “Catch me if you can!” 
Chrysalis gritted her teeth and ordered, “GET HIM!” The guards did everything they could to capture Discord, but he proved to be too quick for them. The girls cheered on and that caught his attention. The draconequus flew up to them and said, “Want to see an encore? Wait till I unleash the beast!” In a flash, he had a huge pair of hedge clippers in his hands and flew back into the battle. 
He evaded spears and arrows while taunting, “Ha, ha! Missed me! Missed me! Now you’re going to have to kiss this!” Using the clippers, he cut the chains supporting the chandeliers. One fell next to the guards and another fell on Spike’s chains. Spike soon freed himself and resumed attacking the guards.
Soon finding herself on her own, Chrysalis used her magic to throw the labradorite chain at Discord. When it caught his tail, Discord gave a cry and turned to Chrysalis saying, “Hey! It’s not nice to pull on others’ tails. Well, let’s see if I can teach you a lesson!” While he was rapidly flying around the room, Chrysalis had to hold on to the chain for dear life. When Discord pulled a few fast spins, she got tied in her chain. 
Discord then made a gun gesture with his finger and shot a blast of light at the lock that held the window bars. The bars fell down and crushed the thrones, something he hoped would pain Chrysalis. He turned to her and shouted, “And now, the grand finale!” He spun towards the window while Chrysalis cried, “NOOOOO!!!” The moment he crashed through the window, he assumed a grande jete. Chrysalis responded in a deadpanned tone, “You’re unbelievable.” 
She felt herself being pulled again as she was carried to the platform of one of the castle’s towers. As soon as she landed very hardly, Discord conjured up medical gloves for his hands and pulled the chain from his tail. He wiped his hands, now free of the gloves, and said, “I believe it’s time for some dirty business." Chrysalis hissed, “I couldn’t have said it better myself!” She shot a green ray at Discord, only for him to split his head in half to avoid the blast. She stood in shock of this as Discord used the moment to trip her with his tail. 
She barely had time to look up before the spirit grabbed her crooked horn and looked her fiercely in the eye. There was silence for a moment until Discord warned, “Do not hurt my friends and family ever again. Turn over the crown to Twilight, or I will see to it that she won’t go so easy on you.” He was about to stand until he said, “Oh, wait. One more thing.” He returned his gaze towards her and added, “Stay out of the Everfree Forest. Got it?”
He didn’t let her respond before releasing her horn and letting her drop to the ground. He was about to fly off the platform until Chrysalis shouted, “NOOO!! I HAVE WON!” She blasted between Discord’s wings and he was about to fall until he looked back and smirked at her. He snapped his fingers just before he fell and Chrysalis looked down to see the now-bare chain wrapped around her holed hoof. She gave a yell as she was pulled down with him. 
They fought in mid-air until Discord smirked again, this time showing the clippers. Chrysalis looked in horror as he pushed her down and clipped the chain binding their legs. As she fell, Discord broke the fourth wall, “What? You didn’t think I was going to let her die, did you? Oh, no. Something much worse.”
With another smirk, he snapped his fingers and a padded crate appeared on the bridge. It shook when it caught Chrysalis and Discord flew down to put the lid on. Chrysalis shouted in a muffled tone, “NO! I HAVE WON! I HAVE WON!!!” Discord chuckled, “’Won’? Oh, don’t make me laugh.”
He slapped a stamp on the crate and continued, “I’ll make sure that you’ll be taken good care of…in the Appaloosan Mountains.” He snapped up a rocket booster and pulled the lever, “Adios, bug queen!” The crate flew farther and farther away while Chrysalis cried, “NOOOoooooooo…!”

> Reunion and Coronation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Discord was still watching from the bridge when he heard, “Discord!” He turned to see two familiar mares trotting towards him. He was very happy to see them both, especially Fluttershy. He raced to hug them both and held them in his arms very happily. It was as if years hadn’t gone by since he last saw his sweetheart. It made him want to cherish the moment forever.
However, they were interrupted by a crash in the castle. They then heard a dragon’s roar and the girls turned to Discord. He was blushing furiously and chuckled nervously, “I suppose we better clean up the mess in there before it gets out of control.” 

Discord brought down his wall of vines and took off his crown. He used the time off to teach Fluttershy how to fly again, since she had only been able to exercise her wings once a week until Chrysalis took over. Discord then invited her and Twilight to see how the Everfree Forest had been once, long ago, when Discord was but a child and his heart was bright. For now, it was again.
Fluttershy and Twilight walked around the forest around dawn and anticipated for something to happen. Just then, an arc of water appeared from the trees. Everything it watered bloomed and flourished, just as the forest had before Discord had darkened it. Discord then walked up to the mares with a hose in his hands. He decided to play with them by spraying water on them. Twilight and Fluttershy laughed and shrieked playfully as they got wet.
Just then, they heard a groan at a distance. They turned and saw a disgruntled Flash being led by three Breezies. Flash grunted, “I’ve walked for miles and I still don’t see what you’re trying to do…” He looked up to see the mares and whispered, “Twilight?” The three Breezies cried, “Twilight?!” Twilight exclaimed, “Flash!” She then squinted her eyes when she saw the Breezies and asked, “Aunts? Is that you?”
The Breezies chattered all at once, “Twilight! Thank goodness you’re awake! How did the curse break?” Twilight, however, was unable to hear them, so she turned to Discord in concern and said, “I can’t hear them, Discord!” Discord held up his paw and claw and said to the Breezies, “All right, all right. One at a time! Now, tell me what happened.”
The rest of the ponies couldn’t hear what the Breezies were saying, but Discord could hear them clear as a bell. As soon as they were done explaining, Discord said, “They said that Chrysalis put a mute spell on them and left them in the room with Twilight so they wouldn’t stop her.” Fluttershy boiled with anger and growled, “That big dumb meanie! That’s a horrible thing to do to a poor, innocent Breezie, let alone three!” Discord scoffed as he pointed to the Breezies, “I don’t know if I would call those three ‘innocent’.”
Twilight said, “Can you reverse the spell, Discord?” Discord dropped to his knees, clasped both hands, and pleaded, “Please, can we keep like this? I think it’s better this way. We won’t hear them chatter endlessly or fight needlessly…” When the two mare glared at him, he sighed, “Oh, fine. There’s no way to convince you otherwise.”

******

Some time later, Twilight walked across the newly-refreshed grass in a pink dress with white and yellow trimming. Discord, Fluttershy, Spike, and the Minotaur guards waited at the throne, where Twilight was to be coronated. Fluttershy gasped with tears in her eyes, “Doesn’t she look lovely?” Discord sniffled with pride, “Yes. She’s going to make us so proud.” Spike jabbed his elbow into Discord’s side and said, “Hey, don’t get sappy now.” Discord remarked, “I wasn’t planning to.”
Twilight stepped up towards the group and bowed. They waited for a few moments until Discord groaned, “Where are those troublesome Breezies? They should be here right about…” Just then, they heard whispering.
“Come on! We’re already late!” Scootaloo hissed.
“Hey, don’t fly so fast!” Sweetie Belle cried.
“Don’t drop the crown!” Apple Bloom said.
The three Breezies then flew up to the group and gave it to Discord. Apple Bloom said, “We present this crown to Twilight Sparkle, for whom we have sacrificed the best years of our lives.” Discord retorted, “You sacrificed the best years of your life! Ha! Think you took care of Twilight by yourself? I fed her, I changed her stinky diaper, I helped get her cutie mark, and I saved her from fa-“
He was cut short by Spike when the dragon jabbed him again and whispered, “Ix-nay.” Discord rolled his eyes and said, “Oh, fine.” Twilight bowed her head as Discord placed the crown on her head while saying, “I hereby name Twilight Sparkle princess of Canterlot and the Everfree Forest. Both kingdoms have been unified. You have your new princess!” The crowd roared into a cheer and Flash, who attended the coronation, merely smiled at her, to which she blushingly returned.
So you see, the story is not quite as you were told, and I should know, for I was the one they called ‘Sleeping Pony’. In the end, my kingdom was united not by a hero or a villain, as legend had predicted, but by one who was both hero and villain. And his name was Discord.
Twilight shrieked, “I don’t know if I can do this!” 
The new princess was trying to fly alongside Discord, Fluttershy, Flash, and Spike in owl form. Discord scoffed, “Oh, pshaw! It’s easy! I haven’t had my wings for years now, and I’m doing great!” Flash said, “It’s not so hard. Just get with the wingbeat!” 
Discord helped Twilight for a bit until she could fly on her own. She laughed gleefully, “Hey, I’m doing it! I’m really doing it!” The group then flew up towards the clouds and saw the setting sun from a high point. 
Twilight gasped, “Wow. It’s as beautiful as you said it was.” Discord smiled, “Of course! Would I lie to you?” He then shouted, “Race you to the other side!” He then zipped just as Twilight cried, “Hey, no fair!” The five of them flew off towards the sunset and they lived happily ever after.


The End