Black smoke cleared, ponies left.

The wounded Nightguards were carried off to the hospital, the dead ones' closest relatives were being told the news. Shining Armor and Twilight, after being informed by Choking about the whereabouts of the missing Bearers, were dissipating the stasis spell cast by Nightmare Moon.

All in all, there were no victims of the entire incident outside of about twenty guards and Guiding Light's changelings... and one traitor, forgotten and unforgiven.

By almost everypony.

A week after Nightmare Moon's defeat, Discord, wearing a maid outfit just for the shocked looks of the villagers, was sweeping an unremarkable spot in front of the Golden Oaks library castle or whatever the thing was called now. He didn't seem to mind that his efforts only brought dust and grime onto his pan and whistled while he worked. Whatever he was doing didn't take him long and with a bag full of dust he disappeared in a flash.

The obsidian temple where he reappeared held fairly unpleasant memories for him. This was a place where he felt vulnerable but if one wanted his fun to continue, one needed to take certain risks. Out of nowhere he summoned a red button and slammed his hand into it repeatedly.

*Ding ding ding*

Black flames swirled in front of Discord in response to the sound every hotel receptionist knows.

"What do you want?" said a deep voice when the fire settled and frowning Void appeared.

Even Discord had to consciously stop the shiver running up his spine when yellow, glowing eyes focused at him. His smile was too forced this time.

"You owe me a favor, remember?"

"Sadly, I do."

Discord poured the dust out of his bag and snapped his fingers. The ash stormed and formed a body of a bronze-coated unicorn with sandy blonde mane and broken horn.

If it was possible through his midnight black coat Void would have paled as his mind put two and two together.

"Call his soul here," Discord smiled. Void's reaction reassured him slightly.

"First, what do you want with him? He has been through a lot and-"

Discord put his hands up.

"I just want to show him something and offer him a deal."

Void knew this couldn't end well, especially thanks to his recent involvement with Choking Darkness.

Sighing, he let the blue shadows of the dead envelop him. As much as he didn't want to submit Blazing Light to whatever Discord wanted, peace with the god was more important, especially with Luna and Celestia being currently very weak.

The blue tempest around Void gradually cleared up until only one shadow remained.

"Give us some privacy, please," Discord's sweet tone made Void scowl even more but he disappeared.

"Hello, my favourite source of amusement."

My sudden intake of breath feels like cold water running through my every vein. Shaking my head, I look around.

"Whoa. What? Why am I all blue?"

"No idea. Try to cheer up and it might go away," Discord ruffles my ghostly mane.

I don't like this.

Sombra's voice somehow feels heavier. Maybe because both of us are really dead now.

What do you mean?

It's Discord.

There could be a better reason but no matter what I can't think of one.

"What's going on?" I ask, "No offense but the one time a god set her mind on me I burned to death. Not cool, I have to say."

"Let's say," Discord mused, "I intend to improve the impression. How would you feel about returning to the world?"

Is he for real? I might see Chokey again!

I still don't like this.

Couldn't care less.

"Deal! What do you want from me?"

"Nothing. Just do your thing, it's fun to watch."

Not even you can be this stupid.

Don't you understand? This is my chance to be with her again. I don't have to do anything. It's just because Discord loves to watch me get dragged into stuff. Honestly, I don't care if I have to walk through dragons this time. I WILL stay by her side... as long as she wants me to.

I'm not dissuading you from anything. I'm coming as well.

Why? I've gone through... no, just no.

I've seen the error of my ways. Yeah, totally.

"What now?" I ask Discord.

"Close your eyes and you'll wake up in Ponyville. Your little bat friend returned back to Canterlot after Luna was stopped."

The only change my closed eyes make is that I see only darkness instead of black obsidian.

How will you get to Canterlot without money, magic or anything. I can help.

NO!

You will trust him but you won't trust me when I say bullcrap?

He didn't try to kill me!

I don't want to either. I want to study you. The reason all this is even possible is because the magic of alicorn of Life remaining in you from Scream's spell allows it.

And what will happen after you're finished studying? You pop out, make an immortal body and enslave Equestria.

You can't stop me anyway. I'll help you reach your marefriend, give you magic rivaling Luna's and let you live your life for as long as you want. You will be able to protect her from anything Discord throws at you. When you die I'll stay hidden, recuperating for few centuries and then I'll return. I couldn't care less about material wealth and influence, I just want knowledge.

He's right. Punching things won't help me if Discord decides to put me through some sort of torturous adventure for cheap giggles.

Deal.

Something cold touches my back and I can feel my coat getting wet. I'm standing in front of the Ponyville library, snow setting on me.

Go to the train station and order a ticket. I'll do the rest.

Without the keys I would have to break into our house in Ponyville, currently belonging to Bright Eye, and risk attracting attention. So... the plan is to find Chokey without alerting guards to my presence, talk to her and decide what to do with Luna trying to kill me.

The crunching of snow under my hooves is soothing as I reach the train station. It turns out the next train to Canterlot passes through in about half an hour. It is time to test if Sombra is at least somewhat useful. The salespony behind the station counter smiles at me trainedly.

"One ticket to Canterlot, please," I smile back, trying to keep my composure.

He blanks off for a second.

"Here it is. Have a nice trip!" he presents the piece of paper and waves me off.

Mind control sure is useful.

Getting second thoughts? I can give you any mare you desire just like that.

I don't know in which part of my head you are but I won't hesitate to bash it with a hammer if you try something like that without my permission.

Heh heh heh.

Time to enjoy the ride. The slow thumping of the train sends me to sleep almost immediately.

The door to Chokey's apartment resonates with my knocking.

"Coming!"

My heart flutters. It's here. Everything I have ever hoped and cared for is behind this door.

"Yes?" Chokey opens the door.

There are two things I don't remember. She has her wings back. Well, not her wings but a blackfire one on one side and a phoenix one on the other.

The second one is her blank stare when she looks at me.

"Hey! It's me, Blaze," I grin nervously and hug her, "What happened? You got your wings back! I-"

"Sir, calm down! I think you knocked on the wrong door," she pushes me away.

My confusion obscures the pain in my chest as her hoof pushes through me and the place she touched turns to ash.

I cough. Trying to speak reminds me of my last seeing Luna and the dry coughing sends out just more ash. I look pleadingly at Chokey. I don't know what I'm asking for, I just want things to be what they used to.

Color drains from the world and time stops.

"Oh," Discord appears in the grey world, "I forgot to tell you your friend Void wiped her memories of you."

"Why would he do that?" for some reason I'm able to speak to him.

"Well, she couldn't deal with losing you so he gave her the choice of giving her new wings and allow her to forget you completely. She agreed."

"She... did that... willingly?"

"Of course. After all, the only thing you brought her was pain."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"And spoil the surprise? Don't be silly."

He disappears and an echoing laughter accompanies my body turning back into black ash.

"You should have seen the look on your face."

Discords laughter rings through my fading senses.

"Priceless!"

Author's Notes:

Thanks for sticking around. Here, have a last kick in the balls.