It was yet another day in the Country of Chaos in the State of nowhere's-ville. Discord, sitting on his large and horrifically uncomfortable chair, found himself dealing with that most irritating nemesis. Yes, it was more frustrating than those two ponies who kept trying to beat him. They actually had some power and broke up the monotony of winning easily. Made him work for it. But today Discord was once again bored.

Normally this would spell doom for those around him, and in many ways it would have been so. This was not a strange day though. This was a good day. This particular day, after wandering off to find something to do, Discord found something interesting.

Seated deep inside a mountain of chocolate he'd found a hide-away, a stronghold of one of the more powerful of the unicorn sorcerers. Starswirl's own collection of notes, ideas, and even some of his experiments.

Discord wandered the chamber, plucking various doodads, confusing bits and bobs, and even a few thingamajigs off the tables and inspecting them. The papers didn't concern him, not at first. What caught his eyes, figuratively this time, was the mirror sitting in the back of the cave. It was a simple thing, and he'd almost walked past it until he'd seen what it showed. A wave of his paw and an explanation appeared in the air.

'Hello, it looks like you're trying to identify this item. Would you like me to scan it for you?'

"Of course I would, why else would I bring you here, you useless scroll?" the chaotic being muttered with his arms crossed over his chest.

'Full body mirror. Several spells overlapped in the following order.

1: Veil-sundering

B: Scanning of end-point inhabitants.

2: Transformation spell. Target: traveler. Reference for transformation: nearby life forms.

4:Mana Battery, charge time-varies based on local mana saturation. Current saturation will charge in approximately five years, two months, and six days.

Discord sighed. He could easily snap his talon and charge the spell, but that wasn't interesting. It would just send him to wherever the old codger had last been. Discord wasn't interested in the sloppy seconds of dimensional travel. If he was going to do this, he'd be popping the trans-dimensional cherries of worlds himself, thank you very much.

Unfortunately, that meant understanding exactly how the old unicorn had found the worlds. Slithering up to a nearby bookshelf, he tapped his chin in thought while ignoring the crowd of books chanting 'pick me, pick me!' Seeing one he thought may serve his purpose, he reclined nearby as the book recited its contents to him in the voice of a large minotaur. Why ponies bothered reading when half the books on the planet would read themselves to anyone who would listen was beyond the Lord of Chaos.

After a few minutes of listening, something that was harder for Discord to do than he'd ever admit, he slapped his talon and paw together and rubbed them in anticipation. He snapped his talon to open a portal to another world and entered with a pirouette.

Or at least he would have.

The portal fizzled, kicking the surprised draconequus out with the sound of an echo snapping. Lifting himself up off the ground in shock and irritation, Discord snapped his talon again, giving it a second go. When he received the same result, he did something he hated doing. He sat down and tried to ponder out what went wrong.

'It seems you're attempting trans-dimensional travel. Would you like some help?'

Discord glared at the scroll for a moment before sighing in frustration.

"Fine, but don't expect a raise."

After nearly a full day of, ugh, straightening out his understanding of how the connections between worlds worked, Discord had finally managed to find his first world. He quickly decided that a deserted planet that had no sun, no air, and nothing interesting was not one he'd claim as the one he first found, and promised to claim the next planet as his first foray into trans-dimensional travel.

Unfortunately he had to make that promise about seventeen more times. It turned out there were possibly just as many 'duds' as he was calling them as there were actual planets out there. Some of these duds were uncomfortable even to him. Even Discord was inclined to stay away from a magic-void like that one place he found. It seemed to suck the very energy out of the air around him, leaving him feeling lightheaded and nauseous.

After finally finding worlds with other beings, he ran across an interesting idea. Worlds that existed in fiction in that dimension could be found existing in other dimensions. So he read, he learned, he watched, and the most difficult part of it all was he didn't cause chaos wherever he went.

It wasn't that he didn't want to, it was that he didn't need to. Ponies were creatures of order but many of the beings he came across were creatures of chaos, creatures of change and transition. It warmed his three hearts to see it; to see beings who not only lived in chaos, but thrived on it. Why couldn't ponies be like this? Why was his home so...ordered?

"Princess Celestia's coming to Ponyville!"

Discord jerked to a halt at the name, though the title attached was new. He turned to the nearest television on his path, watching as ponies ran all over trying to set things up for their sovereign. Then he saw her. It hadn't been that long, maybe a week since he'd seen the white mare making moves on his over-sized chair. The two big ponies had already claimed the sun and moon, wrenching them from his total control. He could still move them, of course, but it required a certain amount of effort now and sometimes he just couldn't be bothered with such things.

"...and for every realm of fiction...oh by the wars of the Old Ones, this world knows my own as cartoon," he muttered, watching the television intently. This would require further study. Lots of study. Maybe he could put some of the things he'd learned to use when he got back home?

It was a relatively normal night for a young man. He was sitting in his apartment, talking to friends after a particularly long day at work. The young man, a one Max Logrun was currently regailing his friends and aquaintences with his latest encounter during his work as a sales rep at a nearby store.

"So I said, no seriously, I said that I didn't have any of those in stock, right? And this customer, he just looses his mind!" Max said into his headset. A few friends chuckled at the shared experience, many having had to deal with customer service at least once I their lives.

"The guy starts screaming for a manager, calls the cops even, and the officer that shows up arrests him for public disturbance! I'm almost crying because this is just getting so out of hand, the manager is apologizing to everyone around me, and the cop has the guy on the floor in handcuffs, while the customer is still screaming about how he's going to attack me, and destroy my car. The cops making note of all of this, as these are actually threats at this point. The guy is finally dragged off when two more cops show up to help the first, and he's still screaming, vowing to burn down the store for this 'indignity'."

Max grinned as another friend began his own tale, this one having to do with a project gone horribly wrong when the installers arrived at a house- through the front of the building. Before he could really focus on the main part of the story, a distraction arrived. A fresh message box popped up with a name and a question.

Discord: Ever read on Multi-verse Theory?

Take-it-to-the-Max: For every work of fiction, or for every action or decision, there is a world that exists where either that fiction is a reality, or another decision or action was taken at that point.

Discord: Good, so you're not completely lost in this idea. Do you think it's true?

Take-it-to-the-Max: No reason to believe it's false. Just because something can't be proven with current tech doesn't mean it's not true.

BTW, ever watch Star Trek? one of the actors, Q. His VA was the same as Discord's. Q was hilarious, too. Loved the mariachi band on a space ship.

Discord: I have in fact made myself knowledgeable on such characters. It's been a very eye-opening experience. I have to say though. I've learned that I hate Fate.

Take-it-to-the-Max: Don't get too deep, man. Drowning in philosophy is a terrible way to go.

"Max, you still there? We're headed over to grab some pizza at Marcus' Pizza Vault," a voice called over the headphones.

Max grinned.

"I'll join you guys in a bit, I'm curious about who just contacted me. Guy using the name Discord."

"I thought you dropped that brony stuff?" another chided.

"I'm not a brony, dammit," Max said with a groan. "That shit's all over the internet, you can't tell me you can't identify a few of the characters. Before you say anything, Tim, you're a lying bitch. You can't tell me you don't know a few of the names."

A few denials were issued in response, followed by many more jeers now targeted at another friend. Many began logging out, wishing their friends well and promising to grab some pizza for those unable to show up. Max brought up the conversation again, seeing a few more lines had been added.

Discord: I have to ask though. If you had a chance to alter history, would you do it?

Discord: What's your thoughts on alternate timelines, as well? Is it safe to do something like that, or would the paradox shatter the world?

Discord: Hello? Oh I see, not interesting enough for you? Here I thought I found a fellow lover of the strange.

Take-it-to-the-Max: Sorry, friends on voice chat. I don't know if I'd change anything. Maybe in my own history, but if you go back to far, you may not be born. Butterfly effect and all that. A single small change in the distant past can have more impact than throwing a bomb into a time-portal set to three weeks ago. The farther back you go, the farther back you make the changes, the less likely things will turn out the same. As for being safe? I like to think Time's a bit more durable than that. Dr. Who.

Discord: Ah, the timey-wimey stuff. Yes, interesting how that works out. In some ways it reinforces itself. In other instances, the future or past are re-written.

Discord: What do you think of Discord, the guy from MLP?

Take-it-to-the-Max: Odd guy. Seemed bored more than anything else. Not my fav char or anything, but he was funny. Nice to see biggest horse get taken down a notch or two.

Discord: Do you think a single person could alter the timeline for that show?

Take-it-to-the-Max: Easily, especially if they were early enough.

Discord: What about at the very beginning?

Take-it-to-the-Max: Like first episode? Sure, I guess. Not sure how Big White would take it but-

Discord: No, like before Moony went Loony.

Take-it-to-the-Max: Oh god, easily. May not even recognize the end result. If they did it right, may be able to stop her from losing herself to whatever happened.

Discord: I want to try an experiment.

Discord: Let's play a game! You have 72 hours of energy to survive on, and have that long to find a source. Best sources are obvious, but you could easily find a way to drag that energy out if you found supplements.

Take-it-to-the-Max: What the hell are you on?

Discord: I'm high on life, my friend. The possibilities, the changes, the Chaos!

Max blinked in confusion. The chat system he was using didn't allow for words to flash different colors.

Take-it-to-the-Max: How did you do that? I only know how to change text color.

Discord: Simple, my friend! I want it to flash.

Before he could respond, a talon reached out of his computer screen and grabbed him, yanking him forward.

Max did not scream like a little bitch, and he'd fight anyone who said otherwise.

After nearly a week of searching for him, they'd found him back on his throne. Celestia and her sister, Luna, made their way up to the mismatched creature, Elements of Harmony in tow. They were ready for anything he'd try, ready for anything that could await them at this latest engagement.

"Tia, I''m confused," Luna whispered, staring ahead at the throne.

On it lounged Discord, head hanging off the seat of the chair while his tail hung over the back. In his grip and the reason for the mares' confusion was a book. Discord, master of chaos and disharmony, was reading.

In absolute silence.

Celestia shuddered at the sight. What horrific creature could hold the Discord's attention? As they approached her confusion grew. Lovecraft? When did Discord read romance novels?

"Have you ever thought yourself a master, only to have it revealed to you just how little you truly understand a topic, Tia?" Discord said as he flipped another page.

"So many with nothing. No powers, no magic, nothing but will to live and make their changes and they cause more change than I do. Longer lasting changes as well. I found Starswirls Hidey-hole bee-tee-dubs, learned how to visit other worlds and everything. Found someone who will make this interesting. I could have left of course, or tried something else, but I want to put my lessons to use. I want to see if I can cause chaos without actually going around attacking order. So I found a friend. He got caught up in customs, but he'll be along soon enough. Equis doesn't agree with non-magical creatures, you know."

"We will stop you this day, Discord, and your ally will fall as well!" Luna shouted, three of the Elements of Harmony glowing as she held them before her.

Discord just chuckled.

"Oh, but that's the fun part. He's not on my side. If you play your cards right, he may end up on yours. Or if you fail too many diplomacy rolls, maybe he'll be an enemy? Maybe he'll die, or maybe he'll end up trying to destroy the world? It's out of my mismatched limbs I'm afraid, and for some reason that gives me a real chaos-boner. Oh I'm getting giddy just thinking about it! For the first time in as long as I can remember, I really don't know what will happen as a result of this."

"You see, I'm not certain I've really lived up to my title. I've caused havoc, yes, but is it really chaos? Or is it just disasters that I'm leaving in my wake? Chaos shouldn't be good or evil, it just is. That's what I've learned, little fillies, and it's why I'm going to get an A on this project.

"Even if you kill him the moment you see him," Discord said, finally looking to the approaching mares "I still win."

"Now, we all have places to go, people to see, a world in chaos to restore and all that jazz. So whenever you finish charging your magic doohickeys, just hit me with your best shot and fire away."

Donning a blindfold, the draconequus pulled out a strange device and tapped it, causing the metal thing to start blaring music of all things. Still, the two had come too far to be put off by such foolishness. With a grunt of effort, Luna and Celestia poured magic and will into their respective elements, seeking to contain the chaos he had wrought on the land. A rainbow beam of energy lashed out at the unconcerned creature and for a moment, Celestia's heart knew doubt. Would they not work? Was that why he was so unconcerned?

When the light faded, Discord was nothing more than a statue, albeit a statue in a strange pose, as if he was pondering life's great mysteries. It left a bad taste in her mouth, and moments later her sister voiced her own concern.

"He knew it would turn him to stone," Luna muttered, staring at the newly formed statue. "He knew it, yet he still did nothing to stop it. Does he truly care so little for his own safety? Or was he that certain of his ally's victory?"

"I do not know, Luna," Celestia said with trepidation. "We will prepare for this, creature that Discord summoned but in the meantime we have work to do. The world needs our help."

It was nearly two years after the defeat of Discord when Celestia received the notification of a strange creature saturated in chaotic magic being discovered. It was not with a report of towns burning, of animals being twisted or apples changing into oranges for no reason. In some ways, she actually doubted it was the ally Discord had predicted. Still, she was taking no chances. She had the report passed to her sister, unfortunately rousing the Lunar princess from her sleep to see to this threat. Stepping into the castle dungeons, she and her sister were less than impressed.

"It's been asleep the entire time?" she asked the guard.

"Yes, your grace. We found it near the Statue in the castle gardens while on patrol. I do not believe I have ever laid eyes upon such a creature before, but it does seem like something that could be expected from the beast," Iron Heart said.

The creature was currently chained against the dungeon wall, its black skin shining in what little illumination there was available by torchlight. Its forelegs were splayed and held against the wall, leaving its rear legs laying uselessly on the stone floor while its head hung limply against its barrel. A blindfold was over its eyes, preventing it from identifying its surroundings or using any ocular spells or abilities while a suppressor was clamped to its horn. Finally a muzzle was clamped over its mouth, though fangs could just barely be seen poking out from its lips.

"I believe it is a, a shape shifter. They are extremely skittish, but I don't think I've ever seen one of this size," Luna said cautiously, moving up to the cell's bars for a better view. "There isn't a name for them at the moment I don't think. Tia, it's saturated with Discord's magic. This is the one he mentioned."

"Than I humbly request we destroy it before it awakens," Silver Blade said, levitating a sword in his magic. The unicorn guard made to open the cell and move closer when Celestia stopped him with a hoof.

"We know nothing of this creature, nor of his relationship with Discord. The draconequus was acting strange when we last found him and specifically said that even if we destroyed the being at its discovery, Discord would still win. We need more information."

With that, Celestia grabbed a nearby bucket of water, splashing it over the creature and causing it to sputter awake with a start.

Max came to with a jolt, coughing and choking on water. He'd been woken up that way only twice before and knew exactly who it was that often did so.

"(Dammit, James! I said I'd beat your ass if you...)"

The words died on his lips as he registered the fact that his mouth was clamped shut. Not only that but it felt...wrong. Everything felt wrong and it was way too cold. He shifted, hearing metal clinking and rattling with every movement. His neck was way too long; it shouldn't feel this way. A quick check of his memories put the blame squarely on the last thing he saw before blacking out.

'You son of a bitch...' he thought as he remembered the talon bursting out of his computer screen.

"Have you checked the creature for anything of interest?" a female voice called out from ahead of him. To his confusion he felt his ears twist in the direction of the sound, further cementing his theory that Discord had, in fact, done something to him.

"We did a cursory check for weapons but none were found," a male voice answered.

A strange tingling sensation washed over the confused male for a moment before another voice spoke out.

"There is something in the right hip. I think it's some sort of pouch or compartment. Silver Blade?"

"On it, your grace."

Piercing agony struck Max the next moment, the feeling of someone twisting his fingers backwards emanating from his thigh. It intensified several times as whatever was pulling on him tugged harder before a clattering sound was heard, several small objects hitting the floor. The pain subsided and Max choked on his pain, twisting himself to try and move the part that was hurting so badly. It likely just left him more exposed, but at this point he was so lost he didn't even know his species.

"Odd, I do not recognize the script on these coins, nor on these...things...of what material are they crafted?" the first female voice spoke again.

The second female answered.

"I do not know. I've never felt it before, and it has a strange spell on the black part here. There's another one on this small metal piece here. It's much more complex though..."

"Certainly feels like no spell I've ever felt before."

"Shall I take the items to a linguist, your grace?" a gruff male voice asked. Max made special note of this voice, it was the one that brought pain.

"Discord mentioned the other being originating from another world. I doubt it would be something you could find easily. You may, but we do not expect any real headway to be made in deciphering the language. I believe we are ready to start."

Whatever was on his face was removed, allowing him to answer the questions of those keeping him captive. The question was, who was it behind the bars? It could have been the pony sisters like he suspected, but then again...

"What are you?" the second voice asked.

Max sputtered out a few garbled sounds before working his jaw, attempting to get used to the strange shape. Rolling the weird tongue around in his mouth, which almost reminded him of a serpent's tongue except it wasn't forked at the end. Rolling his tongue over his elongated mouth and finding fangs, he was surprised to find himself growling at the thought of Discord.

"I asked what you are, creature. Can you understand me?"

"I...do. S-eak har- now. Mouf, body wong. Mouf long, ton wrong, fass, face mess. Was Human, now not know," Max sputtered out in broken English. It was difficult, but he hoped he got his point across.

"Are you allied with Discord?" the older female voice asked.

"Ally? I beat him, kiss ass, piece o' sit, bur in hell and fuck hi-self with ca-tus!" Max roared, thrashing about slightly while still unable to see. Oh just let him get his, whatever he had now on that son of a bitch. He'd find out if you could pluck someone's eyeballs out without fingers.

There was silence for a moment as his reaction set in.

"Do you know that word?" the older female asked.

A male voice stuttered out a negative, while the younger female turned the question to their captive.

"We are unfamiliar with some of these terms. What's a ca-tus?"

Max sighed, realizing he was going nowhere soon. He shifted again, attempting to take some of the strain off of his legs. They were starting to cramp.

"Cactus is plan. Plant. Long, tall, gree-green. Many spike. Painful," he answered.

"My guess would be he is requesting that Discord copulate with said plant your majesty. I, I am aware that it was a common request during his reign that he do so with various objects that would bring discomfort," a male answered. It was the first male, the one who hadn't caused blinding pain to the lost human and Max nodded along with his guess. The guy was on the money.

"How did you end up in Discord's focus?" the younger female asked, directing the conversation once more to Max.

"I talk to per-on on co-pu-er. Name Di-cord. Not know who was, talk abou- tings like tie-line, -ultiverse, an canging -istory," Max struggled out, attempting to corral his new tongue. Unfortunately it was proving elusive and uninterested in cooperating with its master.

A racket outside the cell was met with hushed voices and Max found his ears focusing on the voices. Even with directional hearing, he was unable to pick out the voices. After they finished, most of the audience apparently left, leaving Max pinned to the wall without so much as an explanation. His ears drooped in irritation before perking back up. Someone had opened the cell door and stepped inside.

"You say Discord sent you here to alter the timeline. Why would I not just kill you to preserve it?" the voice asked.

Max blinked in shock at the venom with which the words were spoken, but the soft volume gave him an idea of who it was.

"Selesia, yes? Is impor-an even if mean civil war, sister going mad, and spending mille-i-a alone?"

Two hooves suddenly we on his barrel, pressing him against the wall.

"What do you know of our future, creature?" Celestia asked in dangerously.

"One I say, can't take ba-k. Sure want this pat-?"

The hooves slipped off of his barrel, and the cell was silent once more. The blindfold was finally removed, causing Max to blink several times as his eyes adjusted to the light. Before him, a white mare with a flowing pastel mane of several colors was staring deep into his own eyes.

"Speak," Celestia commanded him, and so he did.

"This place, it li-like book from home," Max explained. "I read bits and parts, not all but some. Also hear many speak of it. About how moon-sister go mad, from monster taking mind and body or loneliness I dunno. Story set way in future, think Discor- saw it. Not like Fate, said so hi-self. Want change, put me here. I have find way to sur-rive here, I already change tings. You know now, maybe stop it? Is keeping time-ine worth losing sister? Long, long time to be alone, Pri-sess. Dis 'ting Disco make me, I not know anyting 'bout it. I hear once feed on love, but how? Love not have amount. How eat what can't quan-fy? Absorb, or need to pull? Scare me, and can't do any-ting abou- it."

Celestia was silent, not answering his question. She stared at him, as if demanding he change his story, or change to the truth as she hoped it to be. Such a hope was to be unfulfilled. Instead she slumped, her wings sagging and her ears splaying.

"Do you know why Discord chose one of your kind? The thing you were before, I assume it was the strange creature on one of those cards. I think it had a picture of an strange creature's head."

"My license, yes was what look like. He lazy. Find idea, want do it then. Grab sumbody nearby. I tink dat it," Max responded, wiping his tongue along his muzzle to test it a bit.

The mare sighed in frustration. With a burst of magic, Max fell to the floor, the restraints releasing him to be supported by his alien muscles. Seeing him struggling to stand up, the mare flared her horn, lighting up his body and setting him on his stomach.

"I will ask one more thing for now. What were those things in your side?"

Max scowled, twitching different muscles as he worked to figure out his new form.

"I tink was stuff that in my pock-es before. Had stuff, cards and coins. Maybe put in closest have to pocket like dis?"

With that the white mare left, leaving Max alone in the cell. He shifted repeatedly for the next few hours attempting to learn how to move his new body. When he finally found a way to reach that damn statue the ponies likely turned Discord into, he was going to kick it in the balls. Such an action required being able to stand, though. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Max set to work on learning the ins and outs of being a quadruped.

That night, after taking her final meal of the day and finishing her new duties in the castle she shared with her sister, Celestia retired for the night. Lowering the sun did not leave her feeling relieved of the weight of responsibility. Instead her mind was awhirl with questions. Questions she dreaded to find the answers to. The stallion, strange as he was, was so out of place in his own body she was almost forced to admit the possibility of his story. The two alicorns had experienced a lot of problems with their ascension, as much of their height and power had come suddenly as well as the addition of two brand new forms of magic to learn about. What would she have acted like if her entire body was foreign to her? She would likely have no control over it until she spent time learning the basics of movement and muscle control again.

What truly drove her to madness though was his words on her sister. She'd never thought of it but having it spoken of so plainly she could already see it. Luna arrived alone while Celestia arrived with an escort. During dinner the servants would constantly see to her, while her sister fed herself. Slipping in quietly before bed, she saw the emptiness of the Night Court while her own court was backlogged weeks into the future. Jealousy was what the stallion had said drove her sister to madness, jealousy and loneliness. What was she to do? Could she really watch her sister descend to madness for the sake of preserving a timeline that was likely already damaged?

Celestia eventually retired for the night, laying upon her bed as these questions plagued her mind. She retired to her bed and wrapped herself in her blankets, but sleep would not find her that night.