Twilight and Caseyjack were floating inside of the Books and Branches library, courtesy of Twilight, because the library itself was tumbling end-over-end. They were looking for any loophole that would allow them out of their contract. They had to work quickly, because Rarity and the others were distracting Discord and they didn't know how long they would last...

----

Rarity played a song of wistfulness. Of things long past, of things yet to come. It spoke of trials and tribulations surmounted, of new challenges yet to be. But most importantly, it spoke of hope. Hope that they would defeat this foul creature, hope that they would return their humble town to normal. Hope that, someway and somehow, this too shall pass. Rarity exhaled, finishing the piece.

Discord clapped gleefully. "Oh, that was beautiful! Now do Raining Blood."

Rarity's pupils dilated as she began the fast and furious song, wincing when she approached the first truly quick part.

----

"Here!" Twilight exclaimed, "if Discord is defeated in a no wings no magic rock-off, the contract is rendered null and void!"

"Guess it's up to me, then," Caseyjack mused, "let's save Ponyville!"

----

Rarity dropped to her haunches as she finished the blistering song, dropping the guitar as well.

"No more," Rarity whined, "my hooves can't take any more..."

"Well, then, my little pony, I'm afraid you've just-"

"Hold on just a minnit there, pardner!" Caseyjack yelled as she approached with Twilight, "Ah challenge you to a rock-off!"

Discord raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah! No wings, no magic!"

Discord grinned evilly at that, producing a double-necked guitar out of thin air. Caseyjack produced her own guitar from her back.

"Then let us begin..."

Discord and Caseyjack started playing a familiar melody, Discord accentuating his part with a dropping sliding scale.

Discord went to Ponyville, looking for a soul to steal

Celestia said nay, but the line was grey, so he was willing to make a deal

He came across a young girl sawing on a fiddle and playing it hot

So Discord jumped up on a hickory stump and said, "Girl, lemme tell you what"

"I bet you didn't know it but I'm a fiddle player, too

And if you care to take a dare I'll make a bet with you

Now you play a pretty good fiddle, girl, but give Discord his due

I'll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul cause I think I'm better than you"

The girl said, "My name's Jackie, and it might be a sin

But I'll take your bet, you're gonna regret, cause I'm the best that's ever been!"

Jackie, rosin up your bow and play that fiddle hard

Cause chaos reigns in Ponyville and Discord deals the cards

And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold

But if you lose, then Discord gets your soul

Discord opened up his case and said, "I'll start this show,"

And fire flew from his fingertips as he rosined up his bow

And as he pulled the bow across the strings, it made an evil hiss

And a band of demons joined in and it sounded something like this!

Caseyjack and Discord were neck and neck. Discord then thrashed something that would've likely broken a few strings on a regular guitar. Caseyjack responded with a rapid-fire phrase of her own. Discord then shredded staccato, his hands literally on fire at this point. Caseyjack followed with a thrashing of her own. Discord tore up the neck with his playing, where Caseyjack did some shredding of her own.

When Discord finished Jackie said, "Well, you're pretty good old son

But sit down in that chair right there and let me show you how it's done!"

Fire on Cantermount, run, boys, run

Discord's in the house of the rising sun

Chicken in the bread pan picking out dough

Granny does your dog bite?

No, child, no

Discord and Caseyjack were neck and neck yet again, Discord firing out a quick phrase. Caseyjack, getting the hang of this, shot out a rapid-fire riff. Discord and Caseyjack went on like this, trading riff after shred after thrash, Discord's sounding spacey at some point.

Discord then started playing at an improbable speed, glowering at Caseyjack as she cut him off, playing just as quickly. Discord cut off Caseyjack, cut off by Caseyjack. Their cut ins were shorter and shorter until it was down to a single note.

Discord-

Caseyjack-

Discord-

Caseyjack-

Discord-

And Caseyjack played the last note as the drums came back in.

Discord bowed his head as his better had been proved

He laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Jackie's hooves

Jackie said, "Discord, come on back now if ya ever wanna try again

Ah done told you once, you son of a bitch, I'm the best there ever been!"

Fire on Cantermount, run, boys, run

Discord's in the house of the rising sun

Chicken in the bread pan picking out dough

Granny does your dog bite?

No, child, no

Caseyjack played out the end of the song, then took her hat off and waved it in the air, whooping.

"Ah just beat your butt, Discord! Release us from that contract, pronto!"

Discord glowered. "Oh, fine. You win." and snapped his fingers, returning Ponyville to normal.

"You know, Discord," Flutter Tesla said, "if you wanted to play with us, you could have just asked..."

"Who said I wanted to play with you?" Discord growled.

"Because you could have just made us pay you a severance fee," Flutter Tesla replied, "but instead you created a situation where at least one of us had to play with you,"

Discord glared at Flutter Tesla, then looked down.

"Who knew that Discord would be a big softie!?" Pinkori exclaimed.

"Softie!? C'mere, you.." Discord roared as he leapt into Pinkori, the girls laughing as they wrestled in the grass of Sweet Apple Acres.