> Redemption (reprised)
>  by G4PONYTales
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Previously on...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“...too much trust in Discord and the effect friendship would have on him.”
Twilight’s eyes widened on cue.  
“He has betrayed the ponies of Equestria and joined forces with Tirek.”
Everypony gasped in unison.
“How could he do this?!  I thought our friendship meant something to him.”  Twilight glowered.  “I thought he changed.”
Now all eyes were on Twilight.  The musical tension had broken into silence.  Even the footage of Discord and Tirek had stopped.
“What?”  Twilight looked behind her, then back.  Cadence shuffled with uncertainty.
The sisters shared a glance, and Celestia's horn began to glow.

"Half day, half night… strange weather patterns… out of control plants. I think we know who we're up against."
"That's… me! From the past!" She turned to Celestia.  "When Discord's plunderseeds were destroying Equestria!"
Celestia nodded solemnly.  
"But… why are you showing me this now?  Waa there a clue about him that I missed or something?"
"Watch Discord in this scene", Celestia replied.
Twilight silently watched herself interrogate Discord alongside her friends, and blinked in surprise when a few of them nearly turned him back to stone - until Fluttershy intervened.  What was the point of watching all this?
"Why don't you ask your zebra friend…"
"But Princess Celestia… I don't understand. Why did you take me here?" Her eyes darted.  "Nothing seems to have changed.  I couldn't find any clues Discord was hiding or anything!"  Panic rose in her voice.  "Is that bad?" 
"No Twilight, you are absolutely right.  There was nothing Discord was hiding.  Which means there was no reason to be suspicious of him - except for the plunderseeds, which you had no way of knowing.  This scene shows how cautious you always were about him, from the very beginning. To the point of interrogating him without proof."  But at this, her gaze hardened.
"...the only means with which we can defeat Discord and free the citizens of Equestria..."
"Twilight Sparkle," said Luna, "you may grow old enough to realize something deeply important."  Her eyes closed solemnly.  "Seeds from the past might be dangerous from the start." Her eyes opened, wizened and soft.  "But, with enough love and care, might become something beautiful."
Turning to the flashback, Twilight saw no beauty in Discord's plunderseeds.  No charm in his antics.  But there was something in the way her friends carried on.
"Our friendship…" Twilight's voice wavered, soft.  "It keeps us together through tough times, and helps us to right wrongs."
Nod.
"But that's something Discord clearly isn't capable of." Twilight glowered, remembering the present.  "I must have had some instinct not to trust him from the start.  Because in the end, we gave him friendship.  But he threw it all away.  He clearly hasn't changed!"
Instead of speaking, the sisters exchanged glances.
"Cadence", said Twilight.  "You were with me that one time, right?  Don’t you remember how obnoxious he was being?”
“Listen Twilight… I was with you, and how you feel is understandable.  And I can’t put myself into Discord’s shoes.  I also can’t pretend that everything he did was okay.  But now that I have a bigger picture of what’s going on… I can’t help wondering, are you sure you two are friends?”
Everything vanished.

"Oh no…… that sounds like…….  DISCORD!"
…….
"Stay?!  With me?!  Now's not really a good time.  Though I'm sure you already knew that…"
…...
"When I was with you Twilight, I understood most of your frustration.  And I won't deny I felt the same way.  But I also wasn't fully aware of the situation."
"Isn't that what friends do for friends?  Unless of course, you're not my friend."
"[gritted teeth] No that is not what I'm saying."
…...
"Why were you so upset with him anyway?"
"Cadence, he was annoying us both.  Weren't you there?! He was driving us both INSANE!"
Cadence looked startled.
"Sorry." Twilight regained her composure.  "I just don't understand how I could have played any part in this.  So I got a bit annoyed with Discord's antics.  And got upset with a few things he did.  And… accused him that one time.  Who is to say we weren't friends? That my friendship wasn't enough for him?!"
"You're getting worked up again, Twilight."
"Sorry."  Twilight looked down in shame.
Celestia continued.  "Over my years of watching you grow, I have observed a tendency of yours to worry.  You were so serious about your studies, and I wanted you to apply that to making friends.  Did you not learn over the years, the importance of friendship?"
Twilight nodded, gaze rising.  
"When I used to coltsit you", Cadence said, "would you not say we were friends?"
"Of course." Twilight's voice was soft.  
"Would you not say we enjoyed doing things together, and were there for each other?"
"Of course, Cadence.  I was grateful to have you around."
"See, these are wonderful things", Cadence said.  "We adored each other.  Enjoyed one another's company.  Now tell me Twilight.  And be honest, please.  Could you ever say the same thing for Discord?"
The flashback continued in the background.  Her no was barely audible.  "But I thought it was enough, being friends with him", she said softly.  "And he still had Fluttershy."
"You always had a tendency to worry, Twilight.  And you've developed a sensitivity for your friends." Celestia's gaze was soft, unstern.  "But did you ever even consider, at all, applying that sensitivity to Discord?"
……….
"...... And I said to myself… 'Discord, your friend Twilight says that she's your pal, but she never writes or pops in for a visit."
The alicorns watched past-Twilight deny Discord's accusations.  Claiming she had never thought herself "too good for him", which had been a lie.  And doing nothing to console him otherwise.
"See Twilight", said Cadence, "once again, I didn't say anything and maybe I needed to.  When you deny Discord's allegations and say you're friends, you sound very… superficial.  Now, if it were me, you'd be going out of your way to make me believe that isn't the case." She glanced at the flashback.  "At the time, I probably thought Discord was messing with you, and you were annoyed.  And I'm guilty for not doing or saying anything.  But now that I've seen how your friends treated him during the plunderseeds incident, and all your ongoing hostility towards his very presence - even with the benefit of the doubt he was really sick - and what happened with Tirek, things are starting to click more.  listen to what he's said.  That you 'say you're his pal', but never got him to believe otherwise.  Until the magic flower incident, which was only done to get rid of him."
This time, Luna spoke up. 
"Over the years since my reformation from Nightmare Moon, I grew to learn that it takes two ponies to commit to a relationship.  When my sister missed the signs of my misery, her contribution faltered along with mine.  We lost touch of one another while I retreated so deep into my pain, that it was too late for Celestia to hear me out." Her gaze was solid.  "Twilight, you had thought your friendship meant something to him.  Yet you missed the signs of him being left out when they were obvious.  Glossed over them.  Claiming to be friends when you clearly had no intention of holding up your end of the bargain.  
"...visit with Cadence didn't go quite the way I expected.  But in the end, I realized that when you're with a good friend, even the most chaotic experience can bring you closer…."
"And in the end," Luna continued, "you hardly call him a friend, much less him a friend, much less acknowledge the signs."  Her gaze grew solemn.  "I think it's time you know what the real question is,Twilight.  Did Discord's friendship mean anything to you?"
Everything vanished.

They were back at the castle.  
"How could he do this?! Twilight spoke with the knowing and guilt of what she had done, but the words came automatic.  "I thought our friendship meant something to him!"
To which a disappointed Celestia softly, solemnly replied: 
"What friendship, Twilight?"