Author's note
You know, you can always go to a forums by a friend of mine, Billy Arratoon. You don't need to log in or sign up, just post whatever you want. Just ask VISION-KING, he will know how to get there.

Mystery Guy, the idea to discord Spike involves a suggestion by Billy Arratoon.

Neros, I will be sure to tell the creator of Golden Heart that you said that.

Also, to Guest, no plans to make a fanfic about Dani right now or in the future.

Chapter 5: Discord's Plan

As Golden Heart left the group earlier to check on the decorations and such, Twilight's group head outside to the castle grounds to look for a tree for Hearth's Warming Eve. Nyx and the CMC giggles happily while trotting Winona, anxious to the last thing needed.

"Why do I have to pull this thing?" Spike mumbles to Twilight as he is pulling a wagon to put the tree in. Big Macintosh came along with an ax to help chop a tree down as well as to assist Twilight. "Big Mac here is strong enough to do so."

"I know but it's empty right now. No worries, once we get a tree, he will help." Twilight promises Spike. The group stops by the first tree which is a small one, "So how about this one?"

The little fillies look at the tree carefully, imagining an ornament hanging from it...that cause half of the tree to get hung down from the weight. Nope! Won't work!

"Nah, too skinny," Apple Bloom said while shaking her head.

"Right, this tree won't work, mommy. We need a better one. Come on!" Nyx insists. Twilight looks at the tree oddly, but shrugs s she moves on. Big Macintosh groans a bit while going with her.

"You know, I do recall seeing a tree somewhere and..." Spike begins to say but frowns as he saw that Twilight wasn't listening, she is hanging near Nyx, paying attention to her. "Aaaand, once again, I am ignored."

Now don't get Spike wrong. He likes Nyx but feels a bit jealous because Twilight is spending more time with her. Before the filly's arrival, it was usually him and the purple unicorn but now...it's like he never existed to Twilight, always playing together while he stayed behind to do some work and such.

---

The Demon Pony watches Twilight through the window in sadness, feeling guilty about the argument that he had with her a few minutes ago. If only she knew the truth, the purple unicorn wouldn't lash out at him...or maybe he was the one who was being the jerk. Now it's like his chance of love and being a normal pony again is million miles away further.

Soarin' chose this time to enter the room and join his master. He notes that the Demon Pony is looking at Twilight, making him smile a bit. His master wants to be with her.

The Demon Pony sighs and walks off, spotting Soarin' as he said, "Oh, hey Soarin'..."

"I saw you looking at Twilight." Soarin' said with a grin. "She is a beautiful unicorn, right?"

"Yeah...and I'm hideous."

"Eh, not to mention ill tempered."

Luckily for Soarin', the Demon Pony didn't hear him whisper the last part. He spots something by the rose on the table and picks it up: Twilight's present. With a frown, the master demands, "What is this?"

"It's a Hearth's Warming Eve present." Soarin' answers. The master growl and put the present back onto the table hard before storming out to the balcony. He despises that most time of the year, even gifts are a bad memory. Soarin', undaunted, check the tag to see who it is for, making him smile. "It's for you, Master. It's from a very special pony."

The Demon Pony came back into the room, looking puzzled. Who in her right mind would give him a present since he hated Hearth's Warming Eve? He asks, "Applejack?"

Soarin', secretly grinning, answer, "Nope."

"Pinkie Pie?"

"Uh-uh."

"Rainbow Dash," The Demon Pony guess next.

Soarin' chuckles then said, "No."

"Rarity?"

"Not even close."

"Well then, who is it from?" The Demon Pony asks Soarin', the master has run out of guesses. What filly would give him a Hearth's Warming Eve gift?

Soarin' smiles as he answers, "It's from Twilight, duh."

"From Twilight? Well, why didn't you say so?"

The Demon Pony came over to the present and takes it, smiling eagerly. Twilight gave him a present. He prepares to open it but Soarin' gasps and stops him in time.

"Don't open it yet!" Soarin' exclaims in alarm.

"Why not; it's for me, isn't it?" The Demon Pony asks Soarin' with a frown. Why shouldn't he open the present now since it is for him?

"It's not even Hearth's Warming Eve yet, that's why." Soarin' points out causing the Demon Pony to growl in annoyance. "Look, Master. I know how you feel about Hearth's Warming Eve, but when a filly gives a colt a gift and vice versa, it's a way of saying 'I care for you' or 'I love you'."

"Really, Soarin'? Gee, I never thought about it that way before. But I don't have anything to give Twilight."

"Well it's not too late to give Twilight a gift."

The Demon Pony sighs. He hates Hearth's Warming Eve but Soarin' is right. Twilight does care for him enough to make a gift on a holiday that he despises. But then again, perhaps the Demon Pony was wrong to forbid it in the first place. After all, it was his own fault for angering Princess Celestia and causing the curse to be set on his castle and everypony in it in the first place.

Perhaps it's time to allow Hearth's Warming Eve back, setting aside his hatred. The Demon Pony said, "Well, I guess I could get Twilight a little something..."

The Demon Pony heads back into his room and saw Golden Heart come in. The alicorn notices the gift in his hand, asking, "I suppose that's for you, huh? Going to throw it away Mr. Hearth's Warming Eve hater?"

"No...I'm going to keep it. Listen, I need some advice though I only met you and you were sent by the same one who cursed me because of my selfish nature in the first place. What could I give someone like Twilight?"

Golden Heart looks surprised by the question then smiles a bit. So, Ben Mare is going to allow Hearth's Warming Eve after all, wanting to give Twilight a gift. Perhaps he is learning to love and care further after all, especially since his new gray coat is changing back to normal.

"Well, if you want to give something to Twilight, you must show her how much you care, how much you were wrong about the holiday." Golden Heart said to the Demon Pony thoughtfully, "Perhaps a song or something."

"A song...yes, of course!" The Demon Pony said with a smile. "I know just the person who can make that happen."

---

Discord was playing his masterpiece in his room, not suspecting any interruptions or problems, thinking that he has the master under his control. That is until the Demon Pony in question came in with Golden Heart.

"Discord; Discord, stop that noise right now!" The Demon Pony orders Discord, much to the chimera's shock and anger. How dare he demands to stop the 'noise' that is his masterpiece?

"Noise; Noise; this is my masterpiece! And who is that foolish foal with..." Discord begins to ask in outrage. But the Demon Pony glares at him seriously while growling while Golden Heart just frowns at him. This causes Discord to change his attitude quickly and bow. "Forgive me, master. Tell me, who is your new friend?"

"My name is Golden Heart, an alicorn servant of Princess Celestia send to see Ben Mare has found his true love yet." Golden Heart explains to Discord who glares at him with one eye open. "Your master has a request for you."

"I want you to compose a song; it's a present for Twilight." The Demon Pony explains with a smile on his face, much to Discord's shock and disbelief.

"What? Twilight," Discord ask in disbelief. He saw that his master's coat is changing back to normal. The chimera is losing his discord control over him! The Demon Pony is being his old self again!

"And make it happy!"

"And no tricks, Discord. The princess warned me about you and I'm keeping an eye on you." Golden Heart said to Discord sternly. "Any trick and you will pay the consequences."

"Wait, happiness is so..." Discord begins to protest, but frowns as the Demon Pony and Golden Heart leaves the room, "…depressing. Ugh! What's next, love song? Wedding marches; Oooh, it's that girl and that Nightmare Moon filly's fault! They came and ruin everything I've worked hard for!"

Dexter and Fluttershy look out the window to see Twilight's group checking out another tree. The purple unicorn asks while glancing at it, "Will this one work?"

"Too wiggly," Apple Bloom said with a frown.

"Too wiggly," Nyx said in agreement. The alicorn filly points to another tree, "How about this one?"

"It's much too flashy." Apple Bloom cringes as she covers her eyes from the flashy tree.

"This might do." Scootaloo said as she smiles at one tree...but Big Macintosh, who goes over to it, send mud right onto it by mistake along with onto Nyx, Apple Bloom and Sweetie, much to their annoyance.

Nyx, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, said at once dryly, "If it weren't so splashy." Scootaloo smiles sheepishly at that.

After the muddy trio cleaned themselves off, Nyx glances at a short time while saying, "Too short."

"Too tall," Sweetie said while looking up at a tall tree.

"Too clean," Apple Bloom remarks while nodding to a too clean tree.

"Too smelly," Scootaloo gags as she holds her nose to keep away the smell from a tree.

"This one is strangely obsessed with tubs of jelly!" Nyx said puzzled while glancing at a tree that has tubs of jelly on it.

"Hey, are we looking for a tree or doing a musical number?" Spike asks the fillies in annoyance.

"Sorry, we need a song 'ta put us in 'de mood." Apple Bloom said with a shrug to Spike, "Sounds familiar though."

"Dexter, Fluttershy!" Discord snaps and blare his organ, making the two Pegasi yelps in alarm. "Pay attention, pace while I think!" Dexter and Fluttershy nervously did as their boss order, pacing while he thinks. "That filly is evil, I tell you."

"Uh, evil as in casting spells on someone's brother, getting rid of bride's maids and being mean to someone's friends?" Fluttershy ask Discord nervously.

"I got no idea what you're referring to, but you're wrong! I mean Twilight is pulling him from my grasp, filling his heads with dreams of love, hope and Hearth's Warming Eve! Ugh, gag! It disgusts me!"

"Well, what are you gonna do about it, Discord?" Dexter asks his boss in concern. "You can't stop or steal Hearth's Warming Eve."

"Well, not in your current condition, anyway." Fluttershy points out meekly.

"You're right, Dexter and Fluttershy. I cannot stop or steal Hearth's Warming Eve. But that doesn't mean that I can't stop Twilight." Discord said with an evil smirk.

The two little Pegasi looks more worried. Their master has an evil smirk, not good. That means trouble or chaos involving anyone in the way of his plans, along with everypony else in the castle!

---

There is only one more tree left on the castle grounds and the ponies are arriving at it now. Twilight giggles while saying, "Well, my little ponies, this is the last tree."

"Wow...yeah." Sweetie said, looking at the tree oddly. "I really like its...fir?"

"What are you, a tree expert?" Scootaloo ask Sweetie with a frown. "That isn't a tree; this is a weed that wishes to be a tree."

"Yeah, Twilight, Ah don't think 'dis tree is good enough." Apple Bloom said in concern.

"But we looked at every tree on the grounds. We gotta go with this one." Nyx said in concern. Twilight nods in agreement as she signals Big Macintosh who prepares to chop it down with the axe.

"But it's more 'dis way than dat."

"It will do. Go ahead, Big Mac." Twilight said with a nod to Big Macintosh. The colt nods as he held the axe in his mouth, ready to chop at the tee.

But as Big Macintosh begins to chop, the colt cringes as his head begins to hurt, saying, "Ouch; Got a headache!"

"Oh, sorry, Big Macintosh. I will send Spike to get a saw if it helps."

"Come on, why do I have to get a saw?" Spike protests to Twilight while frowning. "Can't you send Nyx? She is quick enough to do so and get back."

"Because I don't want my daughter to cut herself on that thing; besides, why are you complaining about? You were complaining about not doing much so far." Twilight points out to Spike who frowns a bit.

"Are you sure, mommy?" Nyx ask Twilight in concern. "I mean what if Spike forgets his mission and just go after Rarity. I saw how he gave her goo-goo eyes to her."

"Hey, HEY! I can get that saw for Twilight without being lead astray!" Spike snaps to Nyx in annoyance. "You should at least trust me better."

"Shucks, no worries, it's okay, don't worry yourself none, Spike." Big Macintosh insists. "Don't wanna put you out; Nnope."

"Well, mah big brother is right." Apple Bloom said with a nod. "He is one used 'ta having headaches before, 'dis won't be a problem."

"Well, okay." Twilight said with a shrug as she signals Big Macintosh to continue. The colt prepares to go back to work but stops again.

"Got any oil? Maybe a little massage," Big Macintosh said, making Twilight roll her eyes at this. "But if not, I can take it. Go on, whatcha waiting for? Actually..." The colt gave the axe to the purple unicorn. "Knock yourself out. Don't get headaches for you, none; Lucky you."

"Really, Big Mac, we can get a saw." Twilight said to Big Macintosh with an annoyed sigh.

"Come on, I can go get a saw and give Spike a break if he wants to hang with mommy more." Nyx insists with a smile.

"You're just saying that because you don't trust me to get it and come back!" Spike snaps to Nyx in frustration. "Rarity is...yeah, the most beautiful white unicorn and...ahem! I can get it, no problem!"

"Shucks, come on, who needs a saw? I said go ahead with the whacking, hitting, etc. No pony's stopping ya." Big Macintosh insists with a shrug.

"Wait, hang on." Spike said as Twilight hush Big Macintosh. A slow, melodic song is playing from the West Wing.

"What is that music? It's beautiful." Twilight said in amazement.

Inside Discord's room, the chimera plays his organ in a slow melody with plans to lure Twilight and her group in this room. He smirks while saying, "All right, not for a piccolo and a flute." Dexter and Fluttershy nods as they play their instruments though high-pitched and in a terrible way. The two ponies can do so well but are nervous right now.

Winona heard the music and follows it, the other ponies but Big Macintosh and Spike follows her while Sweetie exclaims, "Winona! Wait!"

Big Macintosh watch them go, shrugging as he sat down on his hunches while saying, "Shucks, don't worry yourself about me none. I will sit here. The snow is fine. Yyep," A pile of snow lands on him however, "Little wet. Not complaining none."

In the room, Discord smiles evilly while saying, "Yes my dear...come to me..."

"Winona, come on!" Nyx exclaims as she, Twilight and others follow Winona to the West Wing.

"Who is playing that music anyway?" Spike asks in concern, wondering who is playing that music. It's coming from the West Wing. Could it be the Demon Pony? Can't be, he doesn't play music, can he?

---

Discord kept playing his organ and sure enough, Winona came in and begins chasing Dexter and Fluttershy, both yelps as they fly to get away from the puppy.

"Winona?" Twilight ask as her group came into the room, looking for Winona. "Hello?"

"Well, doesn't look like anyone's here." Apple Bloom said with a shudder. "Sure is creepy though."

"Right, maybe we should go." Scootaloo said nervously.

"Winona? What's wrong?" Twilight asks as she and the others saw Winona cornering two foals in the room.

The puppy barks a bit as he licks Fluttershy and Dexter, making them chuckle a bit. Spike notices them and ask, "Whoa, who are you two?"

"Oh hello. We haven't met yet." Twilight said with a smile to the two Pegasi who flew and land in front of her, looking away from her slyl. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, this is Nyx and Spike. And who are you two?"

"My...mynameisfluttershy," Fluttershy mumbles shyly to Twilight.

"Uh, pardon?" Nyx ask Fluttershy puzzled, not hearing her as she speaks so softly.

"My...mynameisfluttershy."

"Oh, sorry, we can't hear you, what is your name?" Twilight asks Fluttershy, making the filly whimpers a bit. "Oh sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"Uh, we can go if you want to be alone." Nyx said to Fluttershy and Dexter who nods meekly. The yellow filly Pegasi turns as the alicorn looks to Spike. "Well, that's weird."

Suddenly Fluttershy gasps excitedly as she flew up, "A baby dragon!" The yellow filly rush over to Spike, pushing aside Nyx. "Oh! I have seen him before but never this close before! He is so cute."

"Well, well, well." Spike said to Twilight with an amusing look.

"Oh my, he can talk too! I have never have a talking dragon talk to me up close before! This is so wonderful...I don't know what to say!"

"Well, I guess we can trust you enough." Dexter said with a smile. "My name is Dexter...this is my filly friend Fluttershy."

"Hi everypony," Fluttershy said with a smile.

Winona glares at the two foals while Twilight said, "Relax, Winona. They are friends. We heard the most beautiful music that brought us in here. Was it from either of you two?"

"Oh us? You thought it was us? Oh no," Dexter said as he and Fluttershy blush in a flattering kinda way. "Not really, it was..."

"Ahem, if you please, it was from me." Discord, who was quiet the whole time, spoke up, causing Twilight, Nyx and Spike to turn and gasp upon seeing him. The chimera bows. "I am Maestro Discord, court composter, your most humble servant."

"Oh, good evening, Discord. My name is Twilight Sparkle." Twilight said to Discord with a smile. "This is my daughter Nyx and my dragon assistant Spike."

"Oh yes, of course, I know about you three. The whole castle is talking about you."

"Huh. Call me crazy but you look different." Spike said with a frown. "Most of the castle servants are either foals the ages of kids or babies...but you look like some sort of mixed up creature, not a foal at all."

"Well, there's the Demon Pony." Nyx said thoughtfully.

"You will find that not everyone is a foal here, you two." Discord said with a smile. "So I heard you're planning a Hearth's Warming Eve gala. A wonderful idea, little Twilight; It's the very thing to break the dark and gloomy past of our master. But to do so, this must be the grandest celebration ever. Have you got the gifts?"

"Yyep," Apple Bloom said with a grin.

"Food?"

"Got it," Sweetie said with a smile.

"Garlands, ribbons, wreaths," Discord ask as if making a checklist of stuff for Hearth's Warming Eve preparations.

"Got those too," Scootaloo exclaims with a smirk.

"Spangles and 'fandangles; Trinkets, trimmings, trappings and such?"

"Oh yeah, we got the all!" Nyx chirps happily. "I don't think we're missing anything."

"What about...the tree," Discord ask with a sly smirk. The little ones look surprised and concerned. The tree is the only one left.

"See? Told yew, Twilight," Apple Bloom said to Twilight with a frown.

"Yeah, mommy, we still need a tree to finish it up." Nyx said with a sigh.

"Well, we did find one." Twilight said in concern. "But..."

"It's on the piddling side of puny," Scootaloo remarks with a deep frown.

"But...we can still use that tree, right?" Sweetie asks Discord sheepishly. "I mean, it shouldn't be a problem?"

"Sure...if you don't mind having trouble decorating or putting presents under that thing."

"Yes, I agree with Scootaloo, I doubt that tree would be any better." Discord said then has a pretend thought. "Here's an idea, have you thought of looking in the Everfree Forest? Why, here's a tree in there any better than you can dream of!"

"Better?" The CMC ask together eagerly and with smiles on their faces.

"Mommy, can we go, mommy? Please?" Nyx ask Twilight hopefully. Dexter and Fluttershy gasps, looking terrified as they look outside to the direction of the Everfree Forest. The place looks scary and dangerous. "We got to go!"

"Are you crazy? Don't you remember? The Everfree Forest is dangerous and easy to get lost in!" Spike protests to Nyx in concern.

"Right and besides, even if that isn't the case, we still can't go. I promise the Demon Pony that I wouldn't leave the castle grounds, I gave my word." Twilight said in concern. The Demon Pony, on the first day here, made her promise not to go leave the castle grounds no matter what. He will be furious if she breaks her promise just to get a tree.

"Oh, yes, I suppose you should. There is a profound lesson here." Discord said with a shrug. "Keeping your word is much more important than bringing joy to another after all."

"Wait, you're discording what I said."

"Oh, no, I am not. I agree with you 00%. Just look after yourself, let the master do the same here. Never mind that the tree was his favorite part of Hearth's Warming Eve."

"Odd that he would want a tree since he forbids the holiday," Spike said suspiciously. The dragon wonders why Discord is so anxious to get Twilight into the Everfree Forest as well as Nyx. Something isn't right here.

"Please, Twilight, please," Sweetie ask Twilight as she and her friends gave puppy dog eyes look to the hesitant Twilight.

"I don't want Mr. Demon Pony to be sad if he doesn't get a tree." Nyx said in worry.

Twilight look at the forest while saying, "The place looks dangerous. Oh, I don't know..."

"Miss Sparkle, you are in more danger in this very room, I assure you." Discord said with a chuckle. Spike became more suspicious. "Besides, if you get back in a hurry, I'm sure that the master will never know that you left. So technically, you won't be breaking your promise as long as you come back."

"Well, all right. Let's take the sleigh, Nyx. If we hurry back, we will be back by nightfall." Twilight said with a sigh. Discord does have a point. If she leaves to get a tree and come back, it won't be breaking a promise, right?

"Yay; we're going to get a tree!" The CMC and Nyx cheers excitedly.

"Bye Discord. You will keep my secret."

"Of course, the master will never know a thing." Discord said with a hidden smile on his face. Of course, he's lying; the villain will see to it that his master will find out...one way or another.

"Bye, Fluttershy, Dexter." Twilight said to the mentioned two ponies who smiles at her.

"Oh, bye," Dexter said as he wave a hoof to Twilight as she, Nyx, Winona and the CMC leaves the room. Of course, the colt saw that a frowning Spike is still in the room. "Err, Spike? Don't you want to go?"

"I don't trust Discord at all." Spike said with a deep frown. "He's up to something and I know it."

"Oh, you have any right to not trust me, but can you trust Twilight or Nyx?" Discord asks Spike slyly.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, have Twilight ever appreciate you...or ever spend a lot of time with you?"

Spike pauses a bit then sighs, "Well...before Nyx came along, it was always me and her...but when she came, Twilight has always spend time with her adopted daughter than me, leaving me neglected and for me to do all the work and that."

"Oh yes, how sad. Something what Twilight did shouldn't go unpunished." Discord remarks with a shrug as his eyes turn hypnotized. "Perhaps you should make sure that you should teach them both a lesson that those two will never forget."

"No, I can't."

"Oh you will...because the truth is, you deserve better..." Discord uses his music on Spike, discording him making him feel...neglected. The chimera said, "Now then, go with them and take this."

Discord hands a capsule to Spike who looks at them and is struggling from being discorded. The baby dragon, "What's this?"

"Timberwolves of course! Once they find the tree, release them and kill Twilight and Nyx."

"No, I can't! They are my family."

"Family, ha! You are a slave to them! Twilight always spend more time with Nyx, having a close relationship that you two used to have! Give in to your anger and jealously, you don't need those ungrateful ponies around!" Discord exclaims evilly.

Spike then growls, giving in to his anger and jealously of Nyx's close relationship with Twilight. Soon the baby dragon is turned gray with a dark glow around him due to his anger. Fluttershy and Dexter gasps in fear as Spike laughs madly.

"Now go on, Spike, or shall we call you Lorcan Hyde to suit you better?" Discord asks Spike with an evil smile.

"Yes, yes! Ha ha ha," Lorcan Hyde in a different voice laughs as he goes off singing of how great it is to be '"alive'. Dexter and Fluttershy look nervously. If the Everfree Forest doesn't kill Twilight and her friends, the new and improved Spike could!

"Fluttershy, Dexter!" Discord exclaim to his helpers making them gasp before the two ponies turn to them. "I want you to follow those three. I don't like the look that baby Dragon gave me. It's as if he suspects me of trying to discord Master Ben. Even if he's Lorcan Hyde now, there's a possibility he can be change back and can also expose me either way. I want you two to make sure that Twilight, Little Miss Nightmare Moon, and the Mini-Me Dragon...don't...come...back...EVER!"

"Yeah, but...but...Discord, Twilight seems so nice." Dexter said to Discord nervously and in fear.

Fluttershy nods as she begins to speak, "I agree, besides Nyx seems really sweet and-."

Discord interrupts Fluttershy as he shouts, "THOSE ARE MY ORDERS, YOU WHIMPERING PEGASI...That is, of course, unless you want someone...else to play your solos?" The two ponies whimper in fear. Even if the threat of not having their solos won't force them to do this, their boss's anger and threat can!

"Come on, Dexter."

"Uh...uh...Aye aye, Discord. We're going, we're going!" Dexter said as he and Fluttershy rush out of the room to follow Twilight's group.

No solo is worth causing trouble and sadness to everypony else who wants Hearth's Warming Eve.

Author's note
Oh no. Discord tricked Twilight into breaking her promise and discorded Spike into making him want to kill her...as well as force Dexter and Fluttershy into making sure that none of them can come back.

Fluttershy: That big...dumb...meanie!

Dexter: I know.

Me: In the next chapter, Soarin', Caramel and Golden Heart find out that Twilight's group left the grounds and goes after her. The Demon Pony finds out that she broke her promise and wants to go after the mare, though Discord tries to convince him not to, trying to tell him 'don't fall in love'. Read, review and suggest.

This chapter has references to the ponies' actual series.

The song sung by Lorcan Hyde is from 'Jekyll and Hyde'.