My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Discordian Troubles

Chapter 3

It’s Worse

Discord reappeared on top of a mesa with Eris. She dropped down and tried to run back to Canterlot but Discord snapped his fingers, trapping her inside a bird cage.

“Mommy!” she called out, hoping Dash would hear her.

The cage hovered up to Discord’s face. “Save it, you little twerp! Your ‘mother’ is not coming.” Eris didn’t believe him and tried to break out. Discord grabbed her face and made sure she looked into his eyes. “Your ‘mother’ never truly loved you.”

Eris didn’t believe that. Dash loved her more then anyone around.

“your mother only loved you because she was afraid of you.”

“no…” Eris’s eyes turned soulless and began turning all sorts of different colors. “no, that’s not true…”

“your mother took you in because she was ordered to. She raised you because she was afraid of what would happen if you turned against her.” Eris stopped fighting back and let her eyes continue to change. “She never truly cared about you. She only used you for herself. Rainbow Dash is a big fat liar who never truly cared about you.”

Eris gave up and, though Discord’s manipulation, accepted it as truth. “Mommy…” she said in monotone. “…is a big fat liar… who never truly cared… about me…”

Discord smiled evilly. his little spell took better then he expected. “Yes. Rainbow Dash never cared.”

“Rainbow Dash… never cared…”

“she deserves to pay for kidnapping you.”

“She deserves… to pay… for kidnapping… me…”

Discord lifted up a finger and placed it on her forehead. A quick flash of light followed, blinding out the camera.

“ERIS!” Dash yelled, bolting up from her bed. Pain racked her body, forcing her to fall back. Her yell woke Shadow up from a nap he took at the foot of her bed.

“Dash! Are you okay?”

Dash tried to get up but pain shot though her again. She fell back “what happened? Where’s Eris? Did they get Eris back? Is she okay?”

“calm down.” Shadow patted her on the forehead, calming her down. “calm down.” Dash looked at him, still worried about Eris. “Eris is… she’s gone, Dash. Discord took her 7 hours ago. They haven‘t been seen since.”

7 hours. Lord knows what Discord did to her. Dash’s mind ran scenario after scenario of what Discord would’ve happened to Eris. Her heart sank low when she reached the last one. “I have to save her.” Dash tried to get up again but pain shot though her yet again. Shadow comforted her as the doctor, who just overheard it, walked in.

“I’m afraid you’re not going anywhere.” he said. Dash looked at him with somber eyes. “in fact, in a few months, you won’t be able to go anywhere.”

“wa--” she sat up with Shadow’s help. “what are you talking about?”

The doc used his magic to pull up a chart. “well… I’m afraid you have Ponius Medurus.” both Dash and Shadow raised a eyebrow in confusion. That sounds made up. “I know it sounds made up; the pony who named it wasn’t… all there when he discovered it. We just call it Pony Decease.”

“Pony Decease?”

“it’s a rare decease that attacks the body from the inside, slowly and painfully shutting down all organs until the host… well, dies.” Dash’s heart sank even further. She can’t be sick. Not with Eris gone.

Shadow can’t believe it either. He doesn’t want Dash to die. They were just going out. “is there any cure?”

The doctor shook his head ‘no’. “I’m afraid not. It’s incurable and...” the doctor’s voice droned out as a stunned Dash just sat there. she couldn’t believe it. These past 6 months have been a nightmare. First her mom days, then her brother dies, then some stern social worked wants to take Eris and Scoots away, then Eris gets taken away by a vengeful spirit. Now, to top it off, she has a incurable decease that‘s going to kill her. When did her life become the universe’s punching bag? “…usually, it’s genetic. Was there anyone in your family who contracted it?”

She didn’t know anyone else in her family. She just found out she had a brother with Soarin’ and… “my mom…” she distantly said. “that’s what killed her. My mom had it and she didn’t tell me.”

“I see.” the doctor walked to the door. “I wish I could do more to help.” he knew what her next question was. “you have 2 weeks, at best. The virus progressed quite a ways. It progresses quickly though physical activity.” he walked out, leaving both them behind.

Dash broke down and cried as hard as she could. Shadow grabbed her and comforted her. She couldn’t believe that she was going out like this. Why was this happening to her?

“you think Rainbow Dash is going to be okay?” Fluttershy asked Marble as they walked to the ship.

“I sure hope so.” Marble replied, looking back at the hospital. “She’s gone though so much these past few months; all of it bad. You‘d think that just once she‘d have some good things happen in these past few months. Even I didn’t have this many horrible things happen to me.”

Fluttershy looked to the hospital and got a sad look. Why is Dash suffering this much? Who decided she was to be a magnet for heartbreak?

(unfortunately, that’s me. She was just chosen out of the blue. Hell, all of this stuff comes out of the blue.)

Cadence stretched as she was finally able to leave the hospital. Armor walked out with Glade in a stroller being pushed by him. “Finally. I’m able to leave. Can‘t wait to lose all this baby weight.” she groaned as she stretched. She looked back to Glade and smiled. She walked over and kissed him on the forehead. “This is your first time out in the world.”

“it took 11 months, 2 invasions, a amazing wedding, and one GREAT night…” Armor joked. Cadence playfully shoved him when he said that ‘great night’ part. “but in all seriousness, we did make a cute baby. Though he’s not nearly as cute as his mother.”

“Aw. Armor.” she cuddled up next to him and he hugged back. “hmhm. You know you’re not gonna be touching me for a long while, right?” Armor looked at the camera with a confused and defeated look. “I just went though a whole lot of pain. You’re gonna on embargo for a LONG while; least till Glade is 4.”

“Aw, man.” Suddenly, a pony ran by them as fast as she could and up towards the mountain. Something about her felt familiar to both of them.

“Dash!” Shadow ran out but realized it was pointless and stopped not 20 feet away from them. “Dash…” he sighed and kicked a rock into a trash can.

“Shadow?” Cadence walked over to him. He noticed her and sighed. “What’s wrong?”

“It… it’s Dash. She’s feeling heartbroken on losing Eris to Discord.”

“I don’t blame her.” Cadence said in a mean monotone, remembering what Chrysalis did to her back at her own wedding.

“but… that’s not the half of it.”

“?”

“Dash… just found out she has a incurable decease. She’s gonna die in 2 weeks.” Cadence gasped in sadness at that. Armor felt bad. Even Glade, who was only a week old, cried at the story.

“are you sure it’s incurable?” Armor asked.

“unless your wife or any other Alicorn can cure… what did he call it, Pony Decease? No.” Shadow sighed as he sat down. “when did her life start turning into a soap opera? When did it start to fall apart?”

Armor and Cadence looked at each other, not sure what to say. They weren’t even with Dash when it started to turn into a Lifetime movie.

Celestia looked out of the window of her room to the sky and sighed. So much chaos and heartbreak has happened in these past 2 days. But, one big thought on her mind is Eris. Why would Discord abduct her? She didn’t have use over her powers; Dash made sure of that. Unless, of course, that was all for naught and Discord got rid of whatever Dash had in place.

A loud commotion from the courtyard got her attention. Orion and it’s crew were down there, along with the pony natives and one unexpected story.

“SHE‘S DYING!?!” everyone exclaimed, having just heard Shadow explain what happened. Scoots took the news the hardest.

“unfortunately, yeah.” Shadow lamentably said. “it’s incurable and it’s going to kill her in 2 weeks.”

“well, why not have the princess’ cure it?” Fluttershy asked.

“It’s incurable, ‘Shy.” Lina said with a groaning sigh. “If it’s still called that, I don’t think the princess’ can cure it.”

“well, we’re from off-world so we may have a spell that can cure it.” Req suggested. “of course, I can’t make any guarantees.”

Scoots didn’t want to believe this. She sadly looked up at the mountain.

A long serpentine figure watched the mountain top from high in the air. It snickered and disappeared in a flash of light.

In a corner of the top of the mountain, far enough so anybody hiking won’t find her, Dash curled in a corner and cried. She lost her daughter, she’s gonna lose another, she’s gonna die. Why is her life turning out like this?

“Dash!”

Scootaloo’s voice echoed though the mountain, grabbing her attention. “Dash!” Dash got up and wiped her eyes. “I-in here.” she tearfully said.

Scootaloo poked her head down from above the corner and found her. “there you are.” Scoots jumped down and hugged her. Immediately, she started crying. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me you were dying?”

Dash gasped in fear. Shadow must’ve told her… must’ve told everyone. “I… I didn’t know until now. But… I think it’s what killed my mom. The doc said it was genetic.”

“Dash… we could help you.. The princess’ could try to heal you. Req and the others could’ve tried their spells on you. You could’ve tried anything to deal with this instead of coming up here.” she tearfully looked up at her. “do I mean nothing to you, Dash? We’re all we have for each other. We both lost our parents and our brother. We need to help each other.”

Dash looked away, not wanting to look Scoot’s directly. She knew, in her heart, she was right but… after all that’s happened, she’s wondering if she should listen to it.

“I knew you were a irresponsible parent but this is a new low.” they both looked to see Manni walk up to them. Naturally, she arrived having not heard anything. “taking a Pegasus incapable of flight up onto the top of a tall mountain where one wrong move can kill her. Tsk tsk tsk. That’s low.”

“Go away, Manni. I had enough happen to me today.”

“hmm… I saw. Just think, if you were a better parent, then your child wouldn’t have been kidnapped.”

“SHUT UP!” Scootaloo yelled. “it’s your fault Discord is out in the first place! If you didn’t try to take us, then he wouldn’t have been released!”

Manni, like before, ignored her. She’s so stubborn, she doesn’t listen to children. You’d think she would, since she works in child services. “come now, child. I’ll take you to a better family.”

“are you deaf or something?” Dash asked, walking over. “She said no! now, if your THICK skull can absorb that, go away and leave us alone!”

“no. you’re a irresponsible parent and your children must be taken to a much better family.” Good grief, she’s worse then Frank Burns from M*A*S*H. and he’s as evil as they come. Dash picked up a rock and tossed it to her. It hit Manni in the head. She held where it hit and snarled. “You did not just do that.”

“So? Like you said, I’m a ‘irresponsible parent‘.” Dash turned back to Scoots, leaving Manni to get angry. “bitch.” that broke whatever seal Manni had on her anger as she attacked Dash, pinning her into the ground. “Get off me!” Dash kicked her off, making Manni brush right by Scoots. Scoots backed up, slipping a hoof over the side. She flapped her wings to regain her balance; and she would’ve too, if she wasn’t pulled at her tail by a hand.

The filly screamed as she fell over the side and towards the city. “SCOOTALOO!” Dash ran and jumped over the side after her. Manni ran to the edge and watched them fall. “oh, no…” she gasped. She ran down the mountain the way she ran up.

“Help!” Scoots yelled as she fell. Oh, she so wishes she could fly right now. Dash fell after her and tried to flap her wings when she felt pain in her left one. She forgot that that one was broken.

“Scoots!” Dash called out. She reached out and was able to grab her. They looked to the ground, which was quickly getting closer. “never imagined we’d go out like this.” she said. Scoots chuckled softly then began to laugh. “not something to be laughing about.”

“I was just thinking back to a few months ago. You jumped to kill yourself and I jumped after you to snap you out of it. It was thanks to that we met Eris.”

Dash had forgotten all about her suicide attempt. If she didn’t try to kill herself, she would never have found Eris. And it was after that when… Wait. That’s it. Her life started spiraling out of control when she jumped to kill herself. And now, she jumped to save Scootaloo. Maybe now, her life might flow normally now. For at least 15 seconds. They held each other close and waited for the end.

Suddenly, they felt a pull and stopped falling. They slowly opened their eyes to see themselves in a magic cage cast by Armor. He slowly set them on the ground. Both Pegasi took a breath of relief before falling back.

Shadow suddenly ran up and hugged Dash. Dash blushed in embarrassment for a moment before he let go and smiled at her.

“What happened?” Armor asked. Sora and Luna ran up. “we saw you fall. what did you two do up there?”

Celestia arrived just as the bitch Manni herself arrived. “ask her!” both Scoots and Dash angrily looked Manni. “she suddenly attacked us on top of the mountain while trying to take Scootaloo. Again.”

Celestia angrily looked at the social worker. “is this true?”

Manni gulped. Celestia was talking to her and she’s angry. “un… well… being the irresponsible mother that she is by letter her climb all the way up there, I tried to convince Dash to let Scootaloo go so I could take her into custody. That didn’t go over well.”

“good grief, she’s worse then Frank from MASH.” Sora sighed, tapping her forehead.

“and instead, you put her in danger by knocking her off the mountain.” Celestia continued.

“I didn’t knock her off the mountain. She was pulled off.”

“now that’s a lie.” Dash angrily said.

“actually… she’s right.” Scootaloo said, not wanting to take the bitch’s side on this one. “Something did pull at my tail.”

“Well, who…” Shadow stopped and looked up. those there looked up at the mountain to see a serpentine figure disappear. “Discord?”

“it can’t be.” Celestia said. “he would never resort to killing.”

“he’s out for revenge.” Armor said. “And we saw that he’s not holding back not long ago.”

Celestia didn’t want to agree with him but the evidence shows that Discord isn’t pulling any punches now. But, she had more immediate concerns to deal with. “that still leaves the fact that you attacked Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo on top of the mountain, knowing full well what would happen.”

“I was just doing my job.”

“your job?” Dash angrily repeated. “if you were doing your job, you would listen to Scoots. She doesn’t want to go with you! She wants to stay with me… even if it is going to be for 2 weeks.”

That’s when Celestia came up with a good idea. “you know… I heard that there is a adoption agency down in Manehatten. You could ask them to give you full custody of Scootaloo.” Scoots happily took a deep breath and Dash smiled. Why didn’t anyone tell her sooner?

“you can’t do that.” Manni exclaimed.

“can and did.” Luna said, handing Dash a scroll. “just give this to whoever’s in charge and let them take care of the rest.”

Dash happily took it. Maybe when she gets Eris back, they’ll be able to do the same for her. Manni snarled and angrily walked off.

“just what is her problem?” Sora asked.

“who knows?” Dash sighed. “maybe she’s just really in love with her job.” she looked at the scroll and snickered. She hugged Scootaloo and spun her around. Things are finally looking up for her.

Celestia was happy for her but couldn’t help but think about that figure they saw for a split-second. It could’ve been Discord, but he’s not one to kill. He likes to have fun at others expense as long as he could. Something was terribly wrong. She felt it in her gut.