1055 AD, October 31st

Twilight licked her lips and fought to keep the tremble out of her tone as she called out, “Hello? Anypony there?”

The pitch-black corridor – overtaken by cobwebs and a thick layer of dust – stretched on seemingly forever, the eerie silence her only answer. A plain picture hung next to her – a family; a father, a mother, and two foals, both colts. The glass cover was filthy and made their features difficult to see, but she guessed they were smiling.

SKRASH

Twilight gasped and spun around in the direction of the nose. A half-shattered porcelain vase rolled out from the darkness and stopped inches from hitting her hoof.

The jagged edges were covered in blood.

“Hello?” She whimpered in an impressive impersonation of Fluttershy. “Anypony?” Her ears folded back and she crouched down. “Please?”

She took a step back.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Her rear bumped into something.

Eyes widening in terror, Twilight remained silent as she became aware of harsh, wheezing breaths, impossibly loud in the still air.

She blinked once and swallowed, shrunken pupils flicking to the side as she began to slowly turn her head…

… and her body followed, quick as a blink.

Nothing.

She closed her eyes and sighed in relief, wiping the sweat from her brow.

Splat

Splat

Splat

Twilight opened her eyes and noticed three tiny red splotches on the floor.

She looked up.

“Aiiiiieeeeee!!”

“W-we could… could hear you all the… the way out h-h-here!”

Twilight’s cheeks turned a darker shade of purple as Spike rolled across the ground, pounding the pavement with his fists. “It’s not that funny.”

“I have to agree with you there, Brightlight Twinkle; it was hilarious!” Discord clutched his belly as he guffawed, doing somersaults in mid-air. “Lu-Lu, have I mentioned how much I adore your Nightmare Night side more than the whole ‘argh, I’m a mysterious dream-walker that pukes riddles and half-sentences’?”

Though nopony could see her face under the tragedy theatrical mask with fake blood running from the sockets, Luna was frowning. “I do not puke riddles and half-sentences. I offer words that allow dreamers to find the courage to face their fears. I-”

Luna cut herself off as she sensed several ponies entering the haunted house just behind the group. Grinning wickedly, she magically unsheathed her plastic machete and teleported inside.

“Really, with all her ideas on what’s terrifying to ponies, she should have helped out you five.” Discord shrugged.

Twilight knew he was purposely trying to antagonize them – he got a strange kick out of arguing with her and her friends – so she didn’t rise to it, knowing for certain that her necromancer costume was good.

‘I just hope nopony else-’

“Our costumes are plenty scary!” Applejack huffed.

‘Probably should have expected that…’

Discord cocked a bushy eyebrow in amusement. “Really? A cyborg scarecrow, a vampire, a zombie chicken, and a cannibal butterfly? Kudos to the butterfly, but Flarity, you’re scoring so low with originality.”

“My costume is original, you rapscallion!” Rarity shrilled.

Twilight smiled to herself as she watched Rarity and Discord argue – the latter helpfully summoning a large graph to show ‘Unoriginality in relation to odour’ – with Pinkie and Spike egging them on from the side-lines.

Discord could certainly be a hoof-full at times, but he meant well enough, and he hadn’t gone overboard with a prank in quite some time. It allowed him to actually develop some relationship with her and her friends.

Fluttershy was the closest to him and they often got together to have a bit of tea and biscuits. The shy pegasus even informed them that he was considering opening up a restaurant for exotic foods. Still, she advised not to accept any V.I.P tickets because she told him not to open until he made sure the food wouldn’t try to eat them.

Pinkie Pie also had a blast in his company for their similar – not to mention exasperating – interests, but she had a sneaky suspicion that even she was too zany for Discord at times.

Applejack, Spike, and Rarity had their suspicions, but they were amiable in his company, and even managed to share a joke or two. Really, so long as Discord didn’t push their buttons too much, they were content to leave him alone when he invited himself into their personal space.

Rainbow Dash was the most cynical of them all, something to be expected given her loyalty to her friends. She and Discord regularly had arguments, though the draconequus never took them seriously, and often ended them with a shower of chocolate rain. Since she recovered from her injuries, they seemed to have calmed down, though Twilight wondered when they would start up again.

As for herself, well… the memory of how he had almost ruined her and the girls’ friendship was still fresh in her mind, but some of the sting had been taken off. She felt she could place some trust in him; not as much as she placed in her friends, but at least it was something.

‘I guess time really does heal all wounds.’

Just as she thought to step in when she heard the words ‘fashion’, ‘bomb’, and ‘fracas’ in the same sentence, the purple alicorn took note of a pegasus mare landing not a few feet away from them. She had never seen her before and she was confident she knew every face in Ponyville.

‘Is she new? Pinkie’s going to love this.’

However, Twilight felt her mood go sour when she saw the mare’s eyes. The pupils were elongated instead of round and the sheer coldness and malice in them sent shivers down her spine.

The last time she had seen eyes like those…

“Where’s Luna?” The mare asked as she came closer, the saddlebags at her sides rustling.

Twilight frowned uneasily. “Why do you-”

An explosive gasp cut her off as a pink blur in a bumblebee costume zipped in front of the mare. “Oh my gosh, I’ve never seen you before and I know everypony in Ponyville which means you must be a new pony and I love meeting new ponies because that means I get to have a new friend and throw a party and I love making new friends and throwing parties because it’s the most fun-tacular thing in the whole world next to eating ice cream on top of a mountain of cotton candy with chocolate at the-”

Fwoosh

A collective gasp sounded in the air as Pinkie was pushed back with a rush of wings. The action was so unexpected and sudden that Pinkie fell to the cold pavement with a grunt of pain. She looked up at the stranger with wide, confused eyes.

“Wh-why did you…?”

“Come near me like that again and you’ll be picking your teeth up off the ground.” The pegasus snarled.

Twilight and Fluttershy instantly moved to help Pinkie as Applejack stomped forwards, her expression thunderous. “An’ who in th’ hay do you think you are?!” She stared down the pegasus, eyes blazing.

“You better say you’re sorry to Pinkie before I forget myself in front of everypony!” Spike backed the cowpony up, bearing his needle-sharp teeth.

Unfortunately, the intimidating visage was somewhat dampened by his mushroom costume.

The mare huffed and brushed her aside, ignoring their outrage. “I have a letter for Luna…” She paused and directed her stare at Discord. “And him.”

“Little old me?” The draconequus’ grin seemed a little more devious than ecstatic from witnessing Pinkie’s abuse. “A secret admirer? I have so many of those. Although, they lose points for hiring such a… stick in the mud as the courier.”

The pavement around the mare’s feet was suddenly a puddle of thick, brown mud. She spared an unimpressed look before reaching into her saddlebags and pulling out a scroll.

Twilight’s eyes widened as she recognized the royal seal. “But… that’s Princess Celestia’s…”

The mare ignored her and continued to glare at Discord as he plucked the scroll from her mouth, unrolled it, and summoned a pair of reading glasses. He hacked and coughed up a small frog before reading.

“To Luna and that magnificent, stunningly handsome, charming creature known as Discord, your Princess Celestia is currently unavailable at the moment,” His brow furrowed and his smirk faded. The others immediately perked up in concern. “If you wish to see her once more, then come to Canterlot Castle without the Elements of Harmony. Do not test me – the instant I spot one of the Elements, her head will burst like a melon,” He lowered the scroll. “P.S. Do not harm the messenger or a similar fate will be bestowed.”

“Oh my…” Fluttershy had a hoof to her lips.

Applejack whirled on the mare once more. “Who sent you? Who’s th’ varmint who’s dumb enough t’ mess with the princess?” A mocking sneer was her only answer. “Consarn it!”

“The poor princess…” Rarity turned to her friends as Discord snapped his fingers and a very confused Luna appeared at his side. “Who do you think it could be?”

“Chrysalis?” Applejack suggested.

“I’m not so sure,” Twilight fought back the wave of emotion and allowed logic and reasoning to rule her mind. “Security against the changelings have been stepped up since the invasion and I don’t think Chrysalis would be eager to test Canterlot again.”

“What about tall, dark, and ugly – King Sombra?” Spike put in.

“No, he was destroyed by the Crystal Heart,” Twilight rubbed her chin thoughtfully with a trembling hoof. “But there’s nopony else we know who’s strong enough to match Celestia…”

“Blood and flames!” Luna tossed the scroll aside and towered over the pegasus, the mask tearing from her face to reveal blazing white eyes and bared teeth. “For whom doth thou bow to?! Answer, cur!”

“Sorry, delivering this was all I was told to do,” The mare stuck out her chin defiantly. “Talking’s a bit out of my element at the moment.”

Luna’s horn shone dangerously before Discord suddenly upended a bucket of water over her head. “Slow down there, Moon-butt; remember what our mutual acquaintance said about harming the messenger?”

The princess of the night sighed and nodded, wet hair plastered to her face. “Yes… of course,” She narrowed her eyes. “I suppose you are to return to your master alongside us?”

“I am to remain here to ensure the Element bearers don’t follow,” She cast a sneer at them. “As much as I hate to do so…”

A second later, the mare was immobilized by a pillar of blue light rising from a glyph of the same colour that was cast upon the ground. Twilight recognized it as an Immobilization Ward – a powerful one to boot.

“Does that go against your master’s demands?” Luna growled.

“You’re… pushing… it…” The mare grumbled.

“Technically, we haven’t harmed you and you are staying here,” Discord tapped the top of her head with a smug grin. “Oh, don’t you love loopholes?”

“Come,” Luna removed her serial killer garb as she trotted towards her chariot. “My sister needs us.”

Discord hummed thoughtfully, pursing his lips. “Help the ponies who gave me a full-stone body cast and left me in their garden for the birds to poop on for a thousand years?”

“My sister’s life is in jeopardy and you’re having doubts?” Luna exclaimed with disbelief and rising anger.

“Please, Discord,” Fluttershy looked up at him pleadingly. “Celestia was the one who convinced us to free you.”

“You can’t let her die!” Twilight added desperately.

Celestia was more than her former teacher; she had been like a second mother to her. The thought that she was harmed in any way…

Pinkie bounced up high to look the draconequus in the eyes. “That’s such a meany, not-nice, bad thing to do!”

Discord’s resolve faltered under the pleads and the weight of his own guilt – he was going to give that emotion a stern talking-to later tonight – and he let out a dramatic sigh of defeat and padded forward, each step carrying the sound of a whip cracking.

“Woe is me – I’m so lazy…” As he passed the entrapped pegasus he used his claw to brush her mane back into a silly sweep and left her to grind her teeth and mutter unpleasant words. “Have fun foalsitting.”

“Twilight, Spike,” Luna turned back as she neared her chariot. “I would appreciate you sending a letter to the Crystal Empire to warn of this development.”

“Of course.”

“No problem, princess.”

The six mares and one dragon watched as Luna prepared to take-off, fidgeting as a sense of helplessness overcame them.

“Do be safe, dearies.” Rarity said.

Luna gave a reassuring smile – Discord took the opportunity to give her the bunny-ears treatment – and mumbled a quick order to her guards. The bat-ponies ushered forwards and took to the air, making a beeline towards Canterlot – the city barely visible against the mountains it was built upon. Discord followed close behind, for once using the wings situated on his back, although he managed to leave a trail of sequins, glitter, and paper cranes.

Now alone, Twilight’s friends moved to support her as she looked at the ground anxiously. They loved their princess dearly, but Twilight’s relationship was the strongest. The sense of being unable to help weighed heavily on their psyches.

“She’ll be okay, sugarcube,” Applejack moved her hoof up and down Twilight’s back comfortingly, taking care to mind her wings. “Luna’s th’ princess of th’ moon and th’ only thing that’s strong enough t’ go against Discord are th’ Elements.”

“Or something like Discord from another dimension!” Pinkie put in with a ‘squee’. Her elation ebbed when she noticed the aggravated looks. “What?”

“As much as I dislike Rainbow teaching the little ones her ruffian mannerisms,” Rarity began. “I’m glad she’s with them and not here. No doubt we’d have to physically restrain her from charging off.”

“Sounds like… she… should be… on a leash.”

Twilight shot a scathing look at the captured pegasus before sighing. “Thanks, guys, but I need to get that letter sent.”

Spike pulled out a fresh scroll and a quill; he never went anywhere without them, especially when Twilight became more… excited than usual. “Ready and waiting.”

“Dear Prin-”

“Actually…” The mare managed to get out, the smallest movements requiring a surge of effort. “I… have a… better… idea…”

“And what makes you think we’d listen to you?” Twilight answered with more than a twinge of hostility.

The mare merely grinned.

As Luna’s chariot swept over the rooftops of upper Canterlot, she knew something was very wrong. The streets – usually still full of ponies around this time – were empty, the silence was thick, and there was a sense of foreboding in the air. It became more noticeable as Canterlot Castle loomed closer.

“Land near the gates.” She ordered.

Her personal guard didn’t answer, but did as commanded, slowing their speed and descending until they were gliding mere feet above the lifeless streets. As they approached, their gait slowed to a crawl and the chariot’s wheels made contact with cobblestone, skipping twice before settling into a steady roll. The clip-clop of her guards’ hooves as they landed reverberated off the buildings.

Luna sat up in her seat and observed the broken gates with alarm. “They appear to have been demolished by some great force.”

With a gust of wind, Discord landed, wings folding back up. He stepped forwards and felt his foot sink. Glancing down, he noticed a small depression in the ground, its twin close to the side. There were several other pairs leading towards the gate.

“Well, somepony was working out,” He gestured to the cracks when Luna looked at him curiously. “I’d say they charged from a distance and introduced their mug to the metal bars. Head trauma; builds character, but does a number on the brain power. Unless you’re me, of course.”

“There would have been guards stationed here,” Luna said as she climbed out of her chariot and trotted towards the entrance. “Surely they would have seen the head-on assault?”

“Oh, I don’t doubt they would have seen it,” The draconequus teleported to Luna’s side as she entered the garden. “I doubt that they would have been able to stop somepony strong enough to crack concrete from- whoa!”

Sitting beside the castle’s front doors was a behemoth of a timber wolf.

Its eyes shone bright green and an orange light pulsated from deep in its chest. Wisps of foul breath wafted from its jaws as it watched them, a growl resonating throughout the ground, more felt than heard.

Their attention was quickly stolen however, as a unicorn arrived through the doors. All dark colours with the same draconic eyes, she trotted leisurely along the garden’s concrete path towards them.

“You haven’t harmed her, have you?” The mare said with no small amount of suspicion. “The messenger.”

Luna narrowed her eyes at the mare. “She is restrained, but unharmed. The Element bearers will not leave her supervision,” She took a single step forwards, her form radiating cold anger. “Are you the one who dares to attempt regicide?”

The mare’s eyes flicked back and forth between her and Discord. She was putting on a brave face, but Luna could see she was frightened about facing two powerful beings – one of whom possessing the power to alter reality with but a thought.

“No,” The mare jerked her head in the direction of the castle. “My Mistress is waiting for you in the throne room. I’ll be going with you… just in case.”

“You know…” Discord leaned down, flashing his teeth as the unicorn flinched back. “Unicorn horn tastes absolutely sublime dipped in salsa with a smidge of mint.”

The mare stumbled over her words. “I… Let’s just go.”

After ordering her guards to stay put, Luna followed, her mood darkening as she witnessed the damage done to the gardens. No doubt caused by that mongrel. She gave it a fierce glare and the timber wolf’s single ear folded back as it whined.

When she entered the castle, it was all she could do to keep her temper in check. Not only were the furnishings and architecture in a deplorable state, there were a few ponies sitting around with downcast expressions – ponies who she knew were in the guard. A lot of them had injuries, treated to, but still visible until time took the worst of it away. When they saw her – and to a lesser extent, Discord – they perked up considerably, but it was obvious they had suffered a great blow to their morale.

“What happened here?” She asked. “Who did this?”

The guards shrunk under her gaze. One stepped forward, an earth pony covered in bruises with a single foreleg in a cast.

“Forgive us, your highness; we cannot speak of that. If we do, then Princess Celestia…” He trailed off.

“You needn’t say more,” Luna offered a reassuring smile. “Worry no longer; Discord and I will bring this fiend to justice for the misery she has caused.”

The guards looked more hopeful as she left. It pained her to see them in such a way; they had always been proud and eager to protect them, but then some dastardly creature had to come along, wipe them across the floor, and hold Celestia hostage. Now their confidence and sense of purpose was gone.

Luna swore she would make the offender pay.

“Yoo-hoo,” Discord snapped his talons in front of her face. “Equestria to Moon-butt, come in Moon-butt.”

“Desist!” Luna irritably slapped his hand away. “This is not the time for jokes.”

Discord looked as if she had eaten a foal. “Those words… they inflict pain on my soul.”

“My sister’s life may hang in the balance,” She whispered harshly. “If there was ever a time for you to be serious then that time is now.”

“Serious?” The draconequus waved her off, a pair of googly-eyed glasses appearing on his face. “Who wants to be serious? Unpredictability is the best counter-measure against any foe.”

“And how did that work out against the Element bearers?”

Discord’s glasses vanished as his ego took a hit. He glared at the princess of the night. “You can be really mean when you want to be.”

Luna shook her head in annoyance. “I do not wish to argue; stop fooling about and remain vigilant,” She looked at him desperately, her anxiety breaking through. “Please…”

The worry and fear on the alicorn’s face reminded him too much of Fluttershy. Discord grumbled and looked away, hating how soft he had become.

“Fine…”

Their guide took them to the massive double doors leading to the throne room. She signalled for them to wait before poking her head in.

“Mistress, they’ve arrived,” There was a brief pause before the mare nodded. “Very well,” She turned back to them and gestured towards the slightly ajar doors. “After you.”

Luna brushed past and entered.

She stopped.

Nightmare Moon gave a nod of acknowledgement as she sat comfortably on Celestia’s throne. “Long time no see…”

Discord peered curiously at the black alicorn. He plucked his eyes from their sockets, wiped them across his chest, and placed them back. “Didn’t see that one coming. Although, I really should have,” He elbowed Luna as she gaped in a mixture of horror and disbelief. “Every antagonist comes back for a second round – it’s a pretty popular cliché in movies and shows.”

“How?” Luna choked out. “The Elements cleansed me of your presence.”

Nightmare Moon shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a tough cookie,” Her gaze switched to her right. “Can’t say the same for your sister though.”

Luna’s attention was drawn to the pitiful figure lying at Nightmare Moon’s feet, restrained by chains. The cuffs that were linked by the links were studded with enchanted gems. Celestia’s astral mane no longer flowed and her coat was covered in dried blood. The top half of her horn was a sickly grey and the middle seemed to bulge slightly like a pimple.

Luna’s horror was immediately washed away by a monsoon of righteous fury.

“Thou darest to harm mine sister and threaten her life!” The force of her yell rattled the stain glass windows and almost knocked Discord off his feet. “Foul demon – thou shalt face mine full wrath!”

Nightmare Moon was quick to extend her left foreleg. A silver knife in her grasp was pressed against Celestia’s closed right eye.

The princess of the night froze as ice formed in her stomach. With a great deal of effort, she swallowed her rage, and settled for throwing daggers at the creature responsible for her banishment with her eyes.

“That’s better,” Nightmare Moon gave an infuriating grin. “Oh, and Discord? Don’t try to pull any funny stuff. Celestia’s a bit weak at the moment and all it’ll take is a quick flick of my hoof to stab her brain. Not even an alicorn can survive that, not in a state like hers.”

“Really? Not even something a little bit funny?” The draconequus puffed up with pride. “I’ve been told I’m quite the comedian.”

“Everything you say and do is a bit of a joke, huh?” The alicorn shrugged again. “It’s just sad none of them are actually funny.”

Discord said nothing, but his glare was enough to send chills down Luna’s spine.

Getting over the shudders, Luna spoke, “What dost… What do you want?”

Nightmare Moon adjusted herself slightly, the blade glinting wickedly. “To offer you a chance, Luna,” When the other mare didn’t answer, she continued, “Join me and we’ll rule Equestria side by side.”

“You really think I will take up such an offer?” Luna said coldly. “After what you did the last time? Do you really think I will work with you after that?”

“Why not?” Nightmare Moon questioned. “You didn’t seem to mind working with me when I was on the Royal Court?” She paused, noticing the confusion. “Star Secret – ring any bells?”

Other than an almost imperceptible widening of her eyes, Luna remained still.

Out of the corner of her vision, Luna saw the unicorn mare and three others trot past and move to their Mistress’ side, each of them bearing reptilian eyes and radiating the same unnatural presence. With a surge of disgust, she recognized Dusk – the current head of his prestigious family.

“Have you no shame, Dusk?” She couldn’t help but call out, directing her ire and revulsion to the stallion.

He blinked, his stoic mask breaking in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“Princess Celestia spoke of your mother and father fondly. She told me how she visited you when you were a foal,” She gestured to her tormented sibling. “Look at her. All of you – look at her, look at yourselves, look at whom you serve! She wishes to plunge Equestria into everlasting night! The land will suffer and the blood of thousands will stain your hooves!”

Dusk suddenly looked extremely unsure and the others were looking down with similar expressions. A glimmer of hope surged in Luna’s heart. Perhaps they would seek redemption and aid her instead of the demon that sat on the throne.

Unfortunately, that hope was squashed when the unicorn mare – the one that greeted them in the courtyard – raised her head, stepped forward, and responded in a tone that held no room for persuasion.

“His name is Haze and he’s made his decision. We all have.”

She let the words sink in for a few seconds before turning back and marching purposely to stand at Nightmare Moon’s side. The others followed suite, their confidence seemingly renewed. Luna sighed in dismay.

‘No room for assistance there.’

“Cool speech,” Nightmare Moon chortled. “You just need a few more lies and you’ll be a regular politician.”

The remark set something off in Luna’s head.

Something wasn’t right.

She felt as if she was missing something, but no matter how much she examined her surroundings, she couldn’t place exactly what was making her uneasy. She pondered on it, but ultimately came to no conclusion, and shook her head, concentrating on the task at hand.

“You sure you don’t want to accept, Moon-butt?” Discord turned to her, one eyebrow rose questioningly. “Sounds like an easy deal.”

Luna bared her teeth aggressively. “I’d rather spend eternity on the moon than betray my sister at the behest of this creature.”

He chuckled and gave a single nod. “Alright then,” He turned back to the demon on the throne. “Sounds like she’s made her decision, too.”

“That’s a shame,” Nightmare Moon sighed. She glanced out one of the windows, brow furrowing. “I sincerely hoped that…” She trailed off and looked back. “Never mind. Seeing as I’m not going to be gaining an ally, I’ll have to ask for the both of you to surrender.”

Her demand was followed up by putting pressure against Celestia’s temple and quickly pulling back a few centimetres. Blood was drawn.

“Stop!” Fear grasped Luna’s heart. The fact that Celestia didn’t cry out and the wound didn’t heal instantly just furthered her distress.

“Lie down and allow my soldiers to restrain you,” Nightmare Moon said. “The first sign of resistance and I start stabbing.”

The thought of bowing to her whim once more left a foul taste in her mouth, but for her sister’s life she was willing to cast away her pride. Grimacing, she lay down on her belly and kept her wings furled. To her side, Discord simply fell flat on his face with the sound of one of those infernal ‘whoopee’ cushions.

“One question…” Discord’s voice was muffled as he raised his index finger in the air. “How do you expect to keep me on a leash? In case you haven’t noticed… I’m a slippery one.”

“This is a temporary solution,” Nightmare Moon replied. To her side, the unicorn mare and Haze levitated two lengths of chains with similar gem-encrusted cuffs. “In the meantime, these will have to make do. I’ll just keep this knife where it is… just to be on the safe side.”

Luna cringed as she felt the cold metal begin to bind her body; her wings and limbs becoming heavy as the Equalizing enchantments started to take effect. As soon as they sensed any magical surge dissimilar to the one who enchanted them, they’d release a charge to counteract it. Whoever cast these particular enchantments had made them strong enough to render even her useless for a few minutes – most likely they were made by Nightmare Moon herself.

“Really planned this out, hm?” Discord lifted his face from the floor as Haze began wrapping the chains around his limbs. “Credit where it’s due – I had no idea you were still kicking around all this time. Right under Sun-butt’s nose – I can only imagine her surprise when you finally revealed yourself. Bravo.”

Nightmare Moon frowned, suspicious. “Well, th-”

“And these are the chaps that helped you, hm?” He glanced momentarily at his stallion captor. “They kinda look like you. Relatives? No, they’re much too pretty.”

“They-”

“Ah well, doesn’t matter. How’d you hide an army this large anyway?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The rest of your army,” Discord tilted his head and raised his eyebrows. “Well, I mean surely this isn’t all of them? Counting the one we left in Ponyville, that only makes five. Five ponies against the Royal Guard and an alicorn; that can’t be enough. You think that’s enough, Moon-butt? I don’t think that’s enough.”

“We’re stronger…” The mare binding Luna pulled on the chains harshly, eliciting an angry cry. “Than we look.”

“So you all did this?” Discord hummed in thought. “All of you – in this very room – did this with nopony else? Well, ignoring the timber wolf using the gardens as its personal latrine.”

“That’s correct,” Haze secured the chains and stepped back, relieved to no longer be in the draconequus’ personal space. “Mistress, we’re all done.”

“Good work,” Nightmare Moon gestured to them. “Now, I need to address the public and inform them of-” She paused. “What… are you picking your teeth with?”

“Hm?” Discord lazily picked at his teeth with a suddenly unbound hand. “Oh, some knife I found.”

Blinking, the dark alicorn slowly oriented her head until she was facing her hostage.

In her hoof was a light yellow business card with Discord’s face and the words, ‘You got Discord-ed’ written underneath in cursive.

Luna turned to her companion with an indignant scowl. “You could have done that the entire time?”

“Well, I had to see if there was anypony else to watch out for, didn’t I?” He smirked. “And besides, it makes the rescue so much more extravagant when things seem at their bleakest, hm?”

“Just free us…”

With a snap of his fingers, the chains were gone. Both unicorns backed up, Haze developing a twitching eye as the princess of the night and the spirit of chaos rose to their full height.

“Oh, poopy…”

Author's Notes:

Note 1: Decapitation and complete combustion are perhaps the only things that can kill an alicorn, though this is no easy task due to their incredible strength, robust physiology, and healing factor. At any other point, the knife that threatened Celestia's life wouldn't have killed her even if it did stab her brain, but Luna could see how weak her sister was; her regenerative abilities weren't strong enough to resist the assault.

Note 2: Discord is both less and more sensitive to magical disturbances. He cannot sense individual magical signatures, spells, or ambient magic in an area, but he can sense imbalances from almost anywhere in the world. Twilight has developed a theory for this - the 'Resonance Effect'.

To her frustration, Discord refuses to sit still long enough to make any tests viable for her to back this theorem up.