"Twilight?! Are you nuts?!"

Rainbow's words were loud and to the point, as Twilight expected of her. She turned, looking her cyan friend right in the eye, and saw that there was genuine shock there. Looking to each of her friends, it was obvious from the looks on their faces that they too were utterly aghast at what she had just said. Twilight let out a sigh, opening her mouth to explain herself, but before she could, Rainbow flapped her wings and shot forward, getting close to her before speaking loudly.

"This is the bad guy we're talking about! We've gotta use the Elements on him!"

Twilight turned, seeing Discord, who had conjured up a large and comfortable-looking chair to lounge on. As he sat there, he looked to the two mares with amusement plastered all over his face.

"Oh, don't mind me. I do so love seeing friends have their little spats. So, I'll just sit here and watch, if it's all the same to you."

The young unicorn narrowed her eyes at those words, but her expression softened considerably as she looked back to Rainbow.

"Rainbow...I know this sounds like a bad idea, but I think it’s worth a try."

The pegasus scoffed at that.

"But why? You've seen what he's done to Canterlot, right? What he's done to Ponyville! We gotta fight him!"

Twilight’s face became more steely after hearing her friend's reaction.

"I don't like having to fight people, Rainbow. If I can get us through this without having to resort to some kind of battle, I'll consider it a worthwhile effort."

From the look on Rainbow’s face, it was clear that she was not convinced of that plan, and a cursory glance of her friends seemed to suggest that they were of the same mind on this. Letting out a long sigh, Twilight looked her pegasus friend in the eye, speaking softly.

"Rainbow...I lost the chance to talk down an enemy once before. I don't want to lose that chance again."

Immediately, a look of confusion crossed Rainbow's face. But, as time went on, she seemed to struggle to remember what it was that Twilight was taking about. But Twilight knew all too well, as images of a dark and corrupted moon princess filled her mind, along with her failed attempt to sort things out peacefully. After a while, a look of understanding was born on Rainbow's face, followed soon afterwards by a look of guilt. Looking away from Twilight, the young pegasus seemed to be struggling with all this, and so looked past her friend to Discord, who simply smiled and waved at her. Frowning at this, Rainbow looked back to Twilight before letting out a sigh.

"Alright...we'll do it your way."

Twilight smiled, giving a nod of appreciation before gently placing her hoof upon her friend's shoulder. Rainbow smiled back, but it was only a small one, and as Twilight looked past her, she saw the rest of her friends, all of whom seemed to share Rainbow's begrudging acceptance of the situation. Spinning around, Twilight looked upon Discord once more and began to walk towards him. Seeing this, the draconequs got up out of his chair and snapped his fingers, making it disappear. However, shortly after having done that, the spirit began to convulse, shaking about in an uncontrollable manner. Twilight watched this, confusion crossing her face, as Discord struggled to get himself under control. When he finally stopped shaking, he let out a grunt of annoyance.

"Again?! Why now?"

But, after he spoke those words, his eyes shot open, and his head turned towards the unicorn before him.

"...You? You're the one I sensed?!"

Twilight gained a look of shock as Discord's words sank in. That's right. He can detect magical imbalances. Then...can he sense how I've been affected by the power of my future self? Or...or is it the changes to the timeline that he can sense? Before she could speak to enquire further, the spirit himself began to ask questions of his own.

"How did you do that? No mere pony has sent my senses spiralling out of control like that before, not even alicorns."

His eyes narrowed.

"So tell me, my little pony...what are you?"

Twilight's eyes darted left and right, a look of worry upon her face, as her mind wracked itself to look for a suitable answer.

"I...I'm the bearer of the Element of magic. Maybe that is what you're sensing?"

Discord watched her carefully, thinking over what she'd just said to him, before looking away and stroking his goat-like beard.

"Hmmm...maybe you're right. Those wretched Elements always did mess me up in the past. Oh well, never mind."

Twilight had to resist the urge to let out a sigh of relief. If he can sense that I'm different to other ponies, that could be dangerous. It could push him away from what he's supposed to be, maybe even make him worse. And Equestria has already suffered enough from his magic. So, clearing her throat, Twilight opened her mouth to speak to him, only to be stopped when Discord raised a single clawed hand to silence her. Although annoyed by this, Twilight nevertheless remained silent as her opponent snapped his fingers, leading to yet another bright flash of light. When it died down, Twilight saw that, not only was there another big chair for Discord, but another one had been conjured up for her as well. As the spirit took his place within his own chair, he gestured to Twilight's, silently inviting her to sit with him. Needless to say, the young unicorn was not entirely comfortable with this, especially with that sly grin Discord gave. That smile always sends a shiver down my spine, every time. Even so...he seems willing to talk, so that's a plus. Sighing, Twilight walked over to her chair and sat in it, all while her friends watched from nearby with concern on their faces. After some silence, Discord finally spoke up.

"Tell me, Miss Sparkle...would you care for some tea?"

Another snap of his fingers caused, as expected, a whole tea set to appear out of nowhere. Twilight glanced at it briefly before shaking her head.

"Thank you, but I'll pass."

Hearing that, Discord shrugged his shoulders.

"Suit yourself."

Snapping his fingers yet again, he made a new cup appear in his hand, filled with fresh tea, and began to drink. Clearing her throat a little, Twilight spoke up.

"So...first thing's first...are you actually willing to come to some sort of agreement with us?"

The spirit put down his cup and tapped his finger against his chin a few times.

"Hmmm...I'll admit, it's an interesting notion. Most of the time, you ponies just either beg me to stop tormenting you or, in the case of those meddlesome princesses, simply demand I stop. Nopony's ever actually tried negotiating with me before."

A smile crept onto his face.

"It's something new, I'll say that much. So, Twilight Sparkle...let's see what you've got."

Twilight nodded at that. Okay, he seems willing to listen. That's a good first step.

"Alright then. First question...do you have any friends?"

The smile immediately vanished from Discord's face after hearing that question, instead replaced with a look of confusion.

"Friends? Why in Equestria would I want friends? I'm the master of chaos! I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, and I never needed any friends to do it."

Twilight frowned slightly.

"Maybe so...but haven't you ever wanted somepony in your life? Somepony you can share your interests with or, maybe...just have fun with? Without tormenting them in the process?"

Discord looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Look at him, it's almost as if I've just spoken the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"That...is the most ridiculous thing in the world!"

Called it.

"I've lived for countless ages, little unicorn. Not once have I ever needed somepony in my life, not as a friend, nor as anything else...except to play with on occasion."

Those words caused Twilight to frown.

"Discord...friendship is an important thing to have in your life. To have somepony to open up to...to have somepony who...who...who matters to you more than yourself."

This time, it was Discord's turn to frown.

"In all my dealings with you ponies, not once have you ever regarded me as anything other than a nuisance. If I were to go to one of your people now, and offer to be their friend...they'd say no, and you know it."

The young unicorn looked away. I can't deny that. After everything he's been doing to Equestria, if he were to make that offer, most would probably run screaming from him. Maybe...maybe he's just not ready for friendship right now. But, she was stopped from thinking any further on that matter when Discord spoke up again.

"Tell me, Twilight...what pony would ever be willing to speak to me as anything other than an enemy?"

Twilight looked to him, her face one of seriousness.

"I'm speaking to you that way, aren't I?"

Discord opened his mouth, ready to offer some kind of counter-argument, only to stop dead in his tracks with the realisation of what had just been said to him. He stopped for a moment, pondering Twilight's words, before eventually turning back to her with that same sly grin as before.

"Touché, Miss Sparkle...touché."

Twilight smiled at this reaction. Point to me, it would seem. However, that elation was short-lived as Discord's own smile faded somewhat, with him folding his arms and looking away from her.

"But my position still stands. I see no reason for friendship, Twilight. So I'm afraid you're going to have to do better than that if you want me to stop my fun time."

The young unicorn gained a look of concern, prompting her to turn around and look upon her friends, all of whom had been watching this exchange with baited breath. Even Pinkie Pie was sitting unusually still, as if watching some suspenseful performance at a play. Looking back to Discord, Twilight let out a sigh. Guess I'm going to have to go for plan B then.

"Discord...if you are unwilling to allow friends into your heart...then how willing would you be to accept...a truce?"

The spirit turned to her, his ears perking up somewhat. The look on his face screamed "tell me more", which Twilight gladly did.

"You are chaos incarnate. You are neither good nor evil, despite what your actions would lead ponies to believe. You are out for one thing and one thing only...your own amusement. Self-interest is what you exist for, and I think I can come to a suitable agreement if I play to that."

A dry chuckle escaped Discord’s lips after hearing that.

"Aha! Trying to get all conniving and under-hoofed, are we? How very...un-Celestia. I like it! Do continue!"

Twilight's mouth twisted up into a smile before, as requested, she did indeed continue.

"You want a place where you can be free and untethered. A place where you can use your power to bring yourself as much amusement as you please. But, if you were to do that around most places in Equestria, your goal of amusement would no doubt bring misery to everypony around you. So what I propose...is for you to dwell someplace where that won't be an issue."

Discord raised an eyebrow.

"And where, pray tell, would that be?"

Twilight regained her earlier look of determination.

"The Everfree Forest."

At those words, Twilight had gained Discord's full attention, as the spirit seemed rather taken aback by that.

"That old place? Filled with all those dangerous beasts and primordial plants where the growths, weather and animals are all beyond the control of any pony?"

A moment or two passed before a look of sheer joy crossed his face.

"Why didn't I think of that?"

But, before he could say anything further, he was stopped by a raised hoof from Twilight. Although annoyed at being stopped like that, Discord nevertheless kept quiet as the unicorn spoke up.

"You should know, there are places within the Everfree that I think you should refrain from going to."

Discord raised an eyebrow, prompting Twilight to continue.

"The castle of the two sisters and the surrounding area is a very special place to us ponies, so you probably shouldn't go there. In addition, there's a zebra named Zecora dwelling in that forest also. Leave her be, please."

As Twilight stopped speaking, Discord waited a few moments, perhaps expecting her to speak again. When she did not, the spirit began his reply.

"So...you want me to use me to amuse myself by spending the rest of eternity in the Everfree, staying away from your special places and just leave you ponies alone? Forever?"

Twilight nodded.

"It's the best option for all of us. You get to have as much fun as you want in a place we ponies rarely, if ever, go to, and the rest of Equestria becomes free of your influence. What do you say to these terms?"

That same sly smile crept onto Discord's face once more.

"You know...this does make sense. It's well thought out. It accommodates me and you ponies. It helps you to avoid a fight with an immensely powerful foe. This really does seem like the perfect logical solution to all of the problems we have here."

Twilight broke out into a wide smile, her heart filling with hope. But, as Discord looked back to her, a dark look covering his face, that smile faded. The spirit leaned in closer, speaking in a hushed and low tone.

"And that...is why I will not be accepting your offer.”