"What do you mean you're not going to help me?" Discord shouted at the yellow eyed Midnight that stood before him.

"Just what I said. You may have helped me out, possibly even have created me. I never asked for your help, or even to be created. I'm my own independent being now." Midnight smirked as a pair of sunglasses appeared on his face, an evil smirk spread across his face. "Deal with it."

At this point Discord was starting to become very annoyed. He had planned on creating the new Midnight with his chaos energy so that he could in turn remove the power buffer Celestia had placed on him. This way, they both could cause massive chaos all over the world without worry of Celestia or any other pony getting in the way. Discord closed his eyes, rubbing his chin in thought as he gauged how much power he had left. Although his energy was low he could still feel it slowly coming back. Before transforming into Midnight, Charles had nearly pulled all of the chaos energy from Discord. Although Midnight had almost killed him by draining almost all of his power, he stopped before that could happen, was that the good Midnight who thought to do that, or did the evil Midnight just want to torment him further.

"So tell me again Midnight." Discord began but stopped as Midnight spoke up.

"Call me Flame, If what you told me is true, then being called by my last name would make things far less confusing." He smirked.

"Very well then Flame, Why won't you help to release my seal so that we can cause some serious chaos." Discord grumbled.

"For several reason." Flame began. "The first is this, Celestia is carrying my foal and I honestly would rather it be born before we start anything. Despite being split into two different beings, I do still have some type of chivalry and kindness. Two: I can't release your bonds anyway with my current level of power. This is going to take time to replenish, So when the time comes for me to release you, we will both have at least enough power to defend ourselves, and three: I don't trust you." He chuckled causing Discord to groan out throwing his hands into the air.

"Seriously? After all the trouble I went through to even create you, you're going to sit there and tell me you don't trust me?" He gawked.

"Eeyup, so shut up and have a seat. If you want to be released from that spell we both need a lot of power to help that along. Meditation is key in pulling in more chaos energy quickly." Flame snarled. "And would you please tell that idiot to go somewhere else. I can't concentrate with her constantly doing stupid shit to annoy me." He snorted looking to Screwball.

"HEY! Noone calls me an idiot and gACK *THUD*" Screwball had begun to defend herself, floating over to Flame as she was speaking before his wing shot out, the bend catching the little purplish pony at the throat before being slammed hard into the ground, Flame standing over her as he lowered his head slowly toward hers while speaking.

"Listen to me you little snot, I won't take shit from anyone, what I say goes, my word is law here. Regardless if you or Discord create me I am still my own being, and from this standpoint I am the most powerful being here. So unless that changes anytime soon, I suggest you shut the fuck up and do what you're told." He snarled to the now petrified pony being held down by his wing. He stopped for a moment as he looked at her, now helpless and scared. A grin spreading across his face as he lifted his wing from her throat. She coughed a couple times rubbing her throat as she slowly began to get to her hooves. He continued watching her as she floated from the ground turning to head away, his eyes never leaving her flank, that was until Discord stepped between his sight and Screwball, his arms crossed, and a snarl across his face.

"Don't even think about it." Discord growled causing Flame to snicker.

"And what are you going to do ya old fart? Your powerless against me rig..... *BAM*" Flame was sent reeling backwards and through a tree, he skidded to a stop on his back. After a couple seconds he regained his sense and jumped up, his fire mane and tail a roaring inferno as he took an offensive stance.

"Looks like I underestimated you old man." Flame cackled as he scraped the ground with his forehooves, fire bellowing from his nostrils as he breathed.

"I may have had a hand in creating you, and you may be more powerful than me or my daughter, and she still annoys the hell out of me, but that doesn't change the fact that she is somepony I created and care for. I will not stand by and watch you take advantage of her for any reason as long as I still breathe." He growled as the two began to circle one another.

"Ah but you see, that is where you're wrong. I will do as I please, I answer to noone. So if I want to have a little fun with that little retard, I will, and there is nothing you or anyone else can do to stop me." He smirked, "One final thing, you won't catch me by surprise again, the next thing you see however, WILL BE THE AFTERLIFE!" He roared as he took off like a bullet hitting Discord hard and sending him several hundred yards backwards through the densely wooded area. Trees snapping like twigs as he flew through them. Discord finally skidded to a halt through the dirt of an open area, wounds clearly visible all over his frame as he groaned out from the pain.

Flame made his way quickly to the fallen God of Chaos as he leaned down pressing a hoof to his chest. He gave an evil smile as venom seeped from his words. "Now then God of Chaos, I think I'll take what is left of your power, don't worry though, I'll be sure to take care of your daughter next." He began to laugh loudly as the yellow glow of chaos energy was being forcefully pulled from Discord.

"N-no, I......I won't let you..........harm............ Screwball!" He snarled as his taloned hand grabbed a hold of the leg pressing against his chest. His other arm quickly deforming then reforming as a large metal rocket fist as he launched it from the ground with tremendous force right into Flame's face. Flame was launched into the air before reaching to top of his trajectory arch then came falling back to earth. Before he hit however he was caught by Discord and Screwball. Flame was out cold as they lay him onto the ground in a heap. Discord snarling at him as he pulled a foot back and kicked the Alicorn square in the gut sending him back a few feet.

"Screwball, I hate to have to ask you this, but can you give me what chaos energy you can without hurting yourself. I need to fix this idiot so he doesn't continue pulling these stunts." Discord snarled at the lifeless Alicorn.

Screwball nodded as she came over to Discord wrapping him in a gentle hug, the yellow glow of the chaos energy could be seen as it began to flow from her into him. After a couple minutes she fell to the ground exhausted. Discord reaching down and giving her head a gentle pat as he walked over to the Alicorn pressing a talon to his forehead and sending a massive jolt into him. Flame's eyes opened slowly as the yellow glow of chaos energy swelled within him. He slowly stood up and looked around before looking to Discord.

"What is your command my king?" He spoke out as he knelt down before him. Discord gave a wicked smile as Flame rose looking forward into nothing, his entire demeanor in a trance like state before Discord placed an arm over Flame's back giving him a gentle tug as they began to walk.

"My friend, we have much to accomplish in a very short amount of time." He chuckled as the three of them began to walk through the forest.

"Midnight? Is that really you?" Rarity asked as she bolted toward him but stopped as three little blurs busted past her tackling the dark Alicorn to the ground.

"UNCLE MIDNIGHT!" The three shouted with glee as they all tackled him to the ground hugging him. He let out a hardy laugh hugging the three back.

"Girl's! It's good to be back to my normal pony self. I missed you all." He chuckled as he was let go and stood up again, Rarity trotting over and giving him a hug and kiss.

"It's good to have you back darling." Rarity smiled nuzzling him.

"How did you turn back into a pony?" Sweetiebelle asked looking up to her uncle.

"Yea, did you have to battle a manticore to do it?" Scootaloo asked while flapping her tiny wings.

"Did you get Zecora to brew up a magical potion to turn you back?" Applebloom added smiling.

"Now girls. I'm sure your uncle will be more than willing to answer your questions after he has dinner. If he is anything like a unicorn then I am sure he is positively famished." Rarity smiled while nuzzling Midnight.

"How'bout ya'll come over to the farm. We had a mite large harvest tehday and could use a few extra bellies teh help get rid of some of it. Ah bet Big Macintosh an Granny Smith are cooking up a heap'o vitals right now." AJ chuckled.

"No complaints here." Midnight chuckle but stopped as his gut let loose a loud growl causing everyone to laugh.

"I guess that settles the issue." Twilight giggled as they began to file out of Rarity's boutique headin toward Sweet Apple Acres.

"It's so good to finally get back into my pony form." Midnight sighed happily as he stretched his wings wide before wrapping Rarity and Twilight up with them and pulling them to his sides.

"I'm glad as well darling, although I will miss seeing you as a human from time to time." Rarity gave a half hearted smile looking away slightly.

"Well you won't have to worry about that." Twilight smirked causing everyone to look at her. "After all of my testing on Night I came to the conclusion that her will turn into his original human form at least once a year, if not more. It depends on how often he uses his magic."

"Well that is surprising." Rarity giggled looking up at the shocked Alicorn.

"Yea Twi, how did you come about that conclusion?" Midnight asked, curious himself.

"Well, after all the times we have spent fighting the forces of evil and doing things that involved magic. Your natural magic level has been forced dry on almost every occasion. Your body since it's transformation wasn't used to pulling in so much magic after using it all up. Your body felt as if it had reverted back to your human state of being and when the magic flow began fill up It caused your body to force an immune response. That is what caused you to revert to your original form. Just using to much magic before your body could properly replace the lost magic."

Midnight stopped in his tracks for a moment as his face became strained in thought. Twilight stopped just in front of him before talking. "Night? Something wrong?" She asked.

"No, nothing. I keep getting this weird feeling that I'm forgetting something important but can't remember what it is." He sighed but stopped as Twilight looked at him in confusion.

"Night, you're and Alicorn again. You shouldn't have any trouble remembering anything. Are you alright?" She asked as she trotted back to him, a worried expression across her face.

"I'm fine, but it's strange I feel like I'm forgetting something. It's just a weird feeling ya know?" He sighed as he began to walk again to catch up to the group heading toward the Apple families farm.

"Well, ah'm sure ya will remember after getting a bite teh eat. A good country, home cooked meal will do ya right." AJ smiled giving a wink.

"Country? Oh no darling, my delicate taste buds would simply mmmmmPH!" Rarity was quickly silenced as Midnight covered her head up with his wing.

"Quite complaining princess. Yer gonna eat a good home cooked meal and yer gonna like." Midnight teased before releasing her.

"Well I never!" Rarity harrumphed tossing her nose up as she trotted beside Midnight.

"So are ya gonna eat the meal the apple family has so nicely offered or do I have to stay at AJ's to make up for your inhospitable tastes?" He chuckled giving a wink to AJ. Rarity just went slack jawed at the comment before looking from Midnight to AJ as AJ spoke up.

"Heh, sounds good teh me Night. Ya can stay with me for a few days till ol sourpuss gets her tail out of a bind. No worries Rar, ah'll keep'im company." AJ chuckled trotting up and giving him a kiss only to cause Rarity to sputter.

"Fine, i'll have dinner with everypony. But I won't enjoy it." Rarity complained.

"This meal is fantastic darling. I have never had such a wide variety of, well, southern cooking before. It is absolutely divine." Rarity chirped happily as she grabbed a second helping.

Midnight sat back giving a chuckle around a piece of cornbread he had just taken a bite out of. The others just smiled as they all sat there eating and enjoying each others company. What they didn't know though was that, standing outside of the home looking in through the window was Discord and Flame. They spoke quietly to one another as they continued watching.

"That is your enemy my boy. When the time is right, we shall strike. But until that moment comes, you will need to gain much power and prepare for that battle." Discord chuckled.

"Yes my king." He spoke out quietly in a monotone as they both disappeared from sight. It would be a short time before all of the pieces fell into play, and then, Chaos would rule.