My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Discordian Troubles

Chapter 8

Into the Badlands

The dark knight Tsylatac reappeared on top of a mesa and tossed Babs to the ground. She hit face first and rolled a few feet. She mumbled as she rose her head, mouth full of dirt. She angrily spit it out and snarled back at the knight.

“What was that for?” she angrily exclaimed. “why did you kidnap me? And where are we?” she looked up at the sky and noticed that it was orange. And everywhere she looked, it was red sand. She had a good feeling where she was. “Is this the Badlands? Why did you bring me into the Badlands?”

The knight raised her hand and shut her up. “please shut up. If you must know, I mean you no harm.” Babs couldn’t tell if he was lying or not. That helmet was making it difficult. “but… I do have something I need you to help me with.”

“HA! Like I’m going to help you.” she wasn’t going to help destroy the world for his sake.

The knight sensed this. “but it’s to save this world.”

This knight wants to save the world? From what? And why? There was something screwy going on here and there was only one way she was going to get an answer. “save the world? How?”

The knight disappeared and reappeared beside her in a flash, surprising her. “Listen carefully.” he mysteriously said into her ear as his cape fluttered in front of the camera.

“Ow! Req exclaimed as Amelia wrapped her wrist. Both girls were on Orion’s deck with Amelia bandaging the beat-up goddess. Jax, Riku, and Zel were also there. They had some bandages but they weren‘t as beat up as Req. “ugh. First that knight guy beats the snot out of me, now that girl with the scythe. Is there something about me that they hate so much, they don’t even ask me to try and change it?”

“maybe they just hate you for being you.” Amelia said with closed eyes.

“maybe. But there was something about that knight from the train. Something familiar. I can’t put my finger on it. But I do know there was something familiar about him. Like I know him from somewhere.”

The shop that the girl destroyed to get that sword was, as everyone suspected, destroyed. There was nothing left.

“Dang.” Trixie whistled. She looked at her box which had the amulet. “glad I bought this when I had the chance.” she walked out of the crowd and down some streets. “this may complicate things.” she muttered. “that Garble fella Golden Day told us about may’ve been injured from that explosive attack. There were some dragons and ponies wounded when it exploded. Garble could’ve been one of them.”

She looked to her right to see some fillies and colts cowering behind a box, afraid that this might happen again. Trixie looked back at the box with the amulet then back to the kids.

*Ding*

A light bulb went off in Trixie’s head. She had a good idea on how to get their spirits up. And she had a good power boost for her to use. She had to make sure it was all right for Luna, anyways.

Golden Day looked out the broken window of his office down to where the shop exploded. In all his years in charge, he never expected this to happen. After that explosion, Dash quickly left to go help but realized too late that her friends didn’t need it. Mostly due to the fact that the battle went by faster then you can say ‘princess Celestia.’ when she left, Day delved into his memories of his time with Shine. She clearly had his stubbornness so he was going to have to explain everything.

“but… will she like what I have to tell her?” he muttered.

“tell me what?” Dash angrily said as she walked back in.

Day sighed and looked back. “you came all this way for a explanation, didn’t you? Why I left you and your mother?” Dash angrily snarled at him. Guess that was it. “I was scared.”

That was something she never expected to hear. “Scared? What do you mean scared?”

Day glanced away from her and sighed. “when it was me, her, Comet Skies, and May Day, we were inseparable. The best of friends. Me and Shine married and moved to the Gryphon Kingdom, both to get a new start on life… and to find a cure for her decease. Then… Shine got pregnant with you.” Dash angrily frowned. “I was afraid about being a father. I didn’t know the first thing about being a dad so… out of fear, I ran. I didn’t want to be a father.”

“So just like that, you left us!?” Dash snarled.

“…… after that, I ran into Geo, a Earth Pony who was a geologist. We fell in love but, like with Shine, she got pregnant with Soarin’. I tried to be a good father but it was too tough. I left her and found myself here in Manehatten. I made sure I didn’t fall in love but also found myself being a popular member of the community, eventually becoming the mayor.”

Dash couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He left two families because he was afraid? Is he kidding her or something? “I don’t believe this. You left me, and Soarin’, because you were afraid!?! Is … are you insane!?”

“I admit, those were decisions I regretted.”

Dash angrily scoffed and kicked at his desk. “You bastard! You just up and abandoned us! If you stayed, then maybe mom would still be alive.”

She died? That was something he should’ve expected but he still didn’t want it to happen. “let me guess. It was from her decease?”

“yeah. And I didn’t know about it until I got the letter saying she was dead. And just 2 weeks ago, Soarin’ died during the war with the changelings, leaving Scootaloo all alone.”

“Scootaloo?” he asked. He hadn’t heard that name before.

“Soarin’s adopted daughter. He took her in when her family died in a fire. And with him dead, I’m trying to adopt her, but this annoying unicorn Manni is trying to prevent me from doing so for a reason she’s not saying.”

“I see…” he looked at his desk and at a picture of him and his friends from his childhood. He couldn’t believe Shine was dead. And his heart sank knowing that Dash is all alone right now. He wanted to make right with Dash somehow. And he could only think of one thing. “can I… can I see this Scootaloo?”

Dash was surprised to hear him ask that. “s-sure. But why?”

“to help repay my leaving you when you were very very young. It may not be immediate but I will do what I can to help you adopt her.”

Inside, Dash was happy he’s going to help but she is still mad that he left them all. “Fine.” she angrily said. “and just so you know, it’s too late to apologize. You had 19 years to do so.”

Dash turned to leave when Day stopped her with a question. “Wait.” she stopped and looked back. “Shine’s decease. Do you…”

Dash lamentably nodded. “I have 12 days left. And I don’t care if it’s short. I’m gonna love that squirt. And I’m gonna get the other one back.”

She left with her father not far behind. “other one?” he muttered.

“hello?” Babs nervously called out as she walked on the mesa. “h-hello?” nothing but a shrieking wind answered. “I-is anyone out there?” She continued walking until she reached the edge of the mesa. “well, that’s just great.” she turned around to head to the other side, and hopefully a path down, when she ran into someone’s leg. “ow.” she rubbed her nose and looked up to see a monster standing over her; a monster with multiple body parts.

“and who are you?” Discord asked, looking down at her.

Babs shook in fear as she looked up at him. He’s so intimidating. She shook her head and gathered herself. She remembered the worst memory in her mind and worked with it. “the name is Babs Seed.” she said in a intimidation voice. “I hate my life and I hate my family. I heard you escaped and I was hoping I could become one of youse.”

“Babs! Oh, my Babs!”

Babs’ mother has been crying every since the kid was kidnapped. Applejack left after it happened to tell everyone what happened and ordered the foals to stay there.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Seed.” Applebloom sympathetically said, rubbing her back. “my sis and her friends will get Babs Seed back or die trying.”

The mother sniffled and wiped her eyes. “you think so?”

“Are you kidding us?” Scootaloo exclaimed. “some of her friends are so powerful, they can overpower Princess’ Celestia, Luna, and Cadence.”

She had to admit, that was pretty impressive. But still… “I just hope Babs will be okay. Just who was that… thing that took her?”

The fillies all looked at each other. “We don’t know.” Sweetie Belle said. “that’s the problem.” she sighed. “I just hope they aren’t hurting her, whoever took her.”

“but we will get him back.” Dash said as she walked up. “no question about it.”

“Dash!” Scootaloo happily exclaimed. She ran over and hugged her, much to her surprise. “so? Am I Scootaloo Dash now?”

“eh…” Dash scratched the back of her neck.

Scootaloo’s eyes half-closed. “what happened?”

“Manni, who else? She replaced Celestia’s letter with a threat.”

Scootaloo snorted and let go. “just what is her obsession with me?” Dash shrugged, not knowing the deal herself. Scoots then noticed a unknown Pegasus walking towards them. “un… who’s he?”

Dash looked back and sighed. “someone I never thought I’d see again.” she walked over to him. “this… is my father. Golden Day.”

“your father?” Scoots gasped. “but you told me he was dead.”

“I said he was dead to me. I never said he was 6 feet under.” she angrily said to his face. After what he pulled, he saw that coming a mile away.

He painfully shrugged it off and turned his attention to the orange filly. “so… this is my potential granddaughter?” he asked.

“yep. Considering Manni ever lets up.”

Day thought for a moment. “Dash. When we left, you said something about a ‘other one’. was there another you were going to adopt?”

A shiver ran though Dash’s soul as she thought about that day. It was a nightmare more like. “she was… Eris was… taken from me. And now there’s no chance at getting her back.”

“Dash…” Scoots nuzzled up next to her. “Don’t say that. Of course we’ll get her back.”

“I know, squirt. But…” Dash couldn’t speak any further. Her voice was cracking from fear that she would never see Eris the same way again.

Fireworks exploded over the park downtown, drawing Ponies, Gryphons, Dragons, and Changelings to a just-made stage. On the stage stood a certain show-mare with a all-too familiar costume.

“Citizens of Manehatten, come and be amazed as the GREAT and POWERFUL TRIXIE gives you a show like no other!”

Some members of the crowd clapped but they heard about Trixie being a show-boat. And half didn’t even hear that she was married to the princess of the moon. Among the crowd was the guide they were all looking for, and Marble who didn’t want to be with his sister at the moment. He’s still peeved that she’s engaged to his archenemy and carrying his child.

“Prepared to be amazed as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs feats unimagined and never before seen by mortal eyes.” someone in the crowd weakly said ‘whoo’, signaling Trixie that she needed to go turbo. “and did I also mention that I had a powerful and magical object to power up my spells?” she said with a snicker. They did not and were now keen to see what object she had. Trixie used her magic to make the Alicorn Amulet appear. “gotta make sure this is safe for Luna, anyway.” she muttered to herself before putting it on.

As soon as she did, she felt a surge of energy rush though her and literally, literally, felt her eyes turn red for a second. “whoa. That was… odd.” she shook her head and went on to put on a show.

“Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie summons a powerful beast from the Realms of Tartarus!” the realms of Tartarus? What, is she crazy? She wasn’t even planning on pulling moves like that; she’s not even sure where that thought came from. Not even the Princess’ can pull a move like that. Why’d she proclaim she could? She had no choice but to do it. Hopefully, the Alicorn Amulet can pull it off.

Trixie concentrated and the amulet glowed red. A spark appeared in mid-air then quickly exploded out. The audience covered their eyes to block the bright glow. When it passed, they unblocked their eyes and gasped in awe.

Cerberus roared to the sky and snarled at the crowd. Granted, it was the size of a Chihuahua but it was Cerberus none the less. Trixie was amazed she actually pulled it off. “it worked?” she muttered to herself, still stunned. She glanced to the crowd, remembered she had a crowd, and went back into character. “and there you have it; The Great and Powerful Trixie is capable of summoning a beast from the Realms of Tartarus.” she quickly sent it back before it could cause trouble. “now, for my next trick, I’m going to need a volunteer! Anyone?”

Nobody raised their hands or hoofs. Trixie rolled her eyes and used her magic to pull one, a red dragon, out and onto the stage. “thank you for volunteering, good sir.”

“Sir?” he exclaimed in surprise.

“may I ask your name, good sir?”

“un… Garble.”

“Okay, G--” Trixie stopped mid-sentence. Wasn’t that the same name of the guide Golden Day directed them too. “Garble?” she repeated.

Req had her face buried in her right hand with her pointer finger on her forehead. Manni was forcibly put in a chair by Gilda and wrapped in magic chains ala Shadow. She tapped her forehead and sighed again.

“why…. Why do you hate Dash? Why are you going out of your way to make sure Dash doesn’t adopt Scootaloo?” she asked.

Manni stayed silent and tore her head away in a huff. Gilda got angry and pulled hard on the rope. “You better come clean, you little witch! This is my best friend your messing with!”

Manni opened one eye and looked at her. “I don’t want to say. It’s personal.”

“PERSONAL!” the 3 of them yelled in anger.

“IN what way…” Shadow started. “…did Dash do something to you that made this come from you!?” Manni kept silent.

Just then, Dash and Scootaloo ran in, laughing and hugging each other. “IT FELL THOUGHT!” they happily exclaimed.

“what do you mean?”

Scootaloo smiled and fell to the floor. “you are now looking at Ms. Scootaloo Dash.”

Shadow smiled, ran over, and hugged her and Dash. “oh, that’s great! Congrats!” Req and Gilda looked at each other with a smile then back to them. Manni couldn’t believe her ears. “How did it happen?”

“well, it turns out that Golden Day, the mayor of Manehatten, is my father.” Dash said.

“we know.” Req said. “Gilda filled us in.”

“well…” Dash wasn’t affected by that; she knew Gilda would fill them in sooner or later. “…he felt bad for abandoning me and mom when I was only 2 that he was willing to do anything to make up for it. Well, after I decked him in the cheek…”

“he deserved it.” Gilda said.

“…we went to the adoption agency again and we were able to clear things up with his good word and the REAL letter from Celestia. Now, Scootaloo is officially my daughter.”

“that’s great.” Req said with a smile. “also, about your dad, did you forgive him?”

“Buck no.” Dash exclaimed. “He abandoned me and mom when I was just a toddler. But…” she bet down and nuzzled her new daughter. “… this is a good start.”

“yeah, yeah. Congrats.” Manni distantly said. “You’ll get to be the girls’ mother for 10 days.”

Scoots rolled her eyes. “shut up.” Dash laughed and the two high-hooved.

The door to the cabin opened and Trixie walked in. “guess who I found?” she said in a sing-songy matter. She used her magic to pull in Garble.

“un… what’s going on?” a VERY confused Garble asked.

Req and Dash gave her some mean stares. “what?” Trixie asked.

Half an hour later…

Discord and Eris hovered above the city, Babs in Discord’s clutches.

“This is the place?” he asked.

“Yep.” Babs said. “that’s Manehatten. And that’s where your pursuers are right now.”

Eris chuckled. “well, only one thing to do now.” she evilly said.

“what?” both Discord and Babs asked. Eris snapped her fingers before she answered.

Garble, having heard the entire story, thought about helping them. During that entire explanation, most of those there went out to get everyone back to the Orion, leaving Requiem, Trixie, and Dash to explain the story. Dash told Scootaloo to head back to her friends and stay there, knowing that there’s gonna be a big to-do coming soon.

“so… let me see if I got this straight. You want me to lead you into the Badlands to find a escaped Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony so you can put him back in the statue he broke out of or destroy him completely, AND free the baby Draconequus he brainwashed?”

“hmm-hmm.” mostly everyone said. There were some members missing as they were still in town.

“mmm…” Garble thought long and hard about the pros and cons. On the con side, he could get turned into a frog. Or worse. On the other side, he would be considered a hero by helping them. So many options and so many things that could go wrong. “mmm……………………………. Okay.”

“you’ll do it?” Hiccup asked.

“sure. Why not? I don’t want the world turn into a puddle anyways.” the group silently cheered and some high-fived. “BUT… it’s going to cost you.”
*record needle scratch*

“Beg pardon?” Halo asked.

“you heard me. You’re going to have to pay me.”

“PAY YOU!?!” Lina exclaimed. “We’re asking you to help save the world and you’re worried about your next paycheck!?”

“gotta make a living.”

Lina’s top almost blew off and she almost threw a fit but Gourry was able to get her outside in time. At the same time, Spike and Rarity came in. “What’s with Lina they both asked.

They noticed Garble and they noticed him then… “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?!” the 3 of them yelled.

“you 3 know each other?” Aura asked.

“we had a run-in when I was still a baby!” Spike growled. “treated me like crap and almost had me break a Phoenix egg.”

Rarity took over. “And, to top it off, when he found out me and Spike were having a baby, he laughed at the notion and nearly broke the street he was pounding on out of laughter.”

“it’s still funny.” Garble said with a cracked voice. He cleared his throat and chuckled. “well, in this case, it’s gonna cost you extra.”

“EXTRA!?!”

“hey hey hey. I got my head stuck in a tree for a week thanks to these 2.”

Thunder that sounded like a cat’s long meow rolled outside. “fine. Deal. Whatever.” Twilight said. “where’s Pinkie and Marble?”

“still downtown.” Trixie said. “I saw him at my performance but I didn’t see Pinkie.”

Lightning the color of green beans crashed down. “well, they had their chance to get back.” Satoshi said as he ran out.

Pinkie looked up to the sky at the dark clouds that suddenly appeared. “that can’t be good.” she gulped.

“We should probably find shelter.” Diamond suggested.

“but what about Marble?” Pinkie asked.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” he said as he ran to them. The trio went inside the apartment building to cover themselves from the storm. “everyone’s gonna be mad when they find we aren’t with them.” he said.

“we can explain, right?” she suggested.

The sound of screeching metal got their attention, as well as everyone’s in the city.

Satoshi ran up to the wheel and flicked a few switches when the screeching metal sound caught up to them. “Holy… that’s a bad sound.”

“No argument.” a groaning Spyro said, rubbing his ears on one of the masts.

“where’s it even coming from?” Lloyd asked, looking around trying to find the source.

Sora looked up to the sky and blinked. “Found it.” she said in a normal tone. Everyone looked in the direction she was and gulped.

Begin Song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzL4IA16k78

Koloktos/Molderach - Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword OST

A massive golden robot formed just over the city, with parts of it’s armor still floating around. Once the body was finished, the armor clutched on. 6 arms shot out of it’s torso, each wielding a large curved blade.

“That Koloktos from Skyward Sword?” Bahamut casually asked.

Fully formed, the larger-then-in-the-game Koloktos swing it’s right arms down at the city, destroying a few streets.

Eris evilly chuckled. “destructive chaos is best chaos.” she swung her arm and the robo swung it’s blades across rooftops. Eris laughed again at that sight. Discord and Babs looked at each other with a slight pang of fear.

“take a good look at the city, kiddies, cause we’re taking off.” Satoshi said as he powered up the ship.

“but what about Pinkie and Marble?” Riku asked as Satoshi pushed in a few buttons.

“they’re big ponies. They can look out for themselves until we get back.” Applejack said.

The propellers spun up and instantly spun at high speed. “they’re gonna have to. Can’t let that robot destroy the city.” Satoshi said as he grabbed the wheel.

The Orion lifted out of the water and up into the air. This caught the attention of Eris, who commanded Koloktos to attack.

And he complied. The 12-story robo moved though the city and towards them.

The ship wasn’t completely out of the water when the robot arrived and swung 2 of it’s 6 blades.

“INCOMING!” Edge yelled, referencing to the swords.

“Windy Shield!” Zel, Lina, and Amelia exclaimed. A see-though green shield appeared over the ship and protected them from the attack. It caused the ship to shake though but it gave them enough time to get into the air.

Orion quickly entered space-flight mode and shot off like a rocket down the river.

“dammit.” Eris snarled. “fine. If they’re too chicken, get back to destroying the city.”

Koloktos replied and turned back to Manehatten.

“that’s one big robot.” Pipsqueak gulped as he and the other CMC members watched from the farm.

Orion flew overhead and hovered just a few feet above them.

“Ya’ll be good to Mrs. Seed now, ya hear me?” A.J. said.

“We will sis but you might want to focus on that thing!” Applebloom exclaimed, pointing to Koloktos as it neared the center of town, swinging it’s blades around.

“and he would’ve been destroyed by now if you didn’t decide to stop and say bye.” Satoshi said. He pulled back on a throttle, lifting the ship up.

“well, sorry.” A.J. sarcastically said.

The ship turned to the city and blasted off towards the robot destroying it.

Koloktos swung it’s blade down on a fountain when a series of cannonballs struck it in the body. It turned to see the ship barreling right towards it.

“what idiots.” Eris sighed as she snapped her fingers.

“anybody remember how we beat it in the game?” Jax asked.

“un…. Think you went for the chest.” Req guessed. “think that’s it’s weak spot.”

They all looked and saw that it was a different color then the rest of the body. “the chest.” everyone said.

The Orion fired it’s cannons again, getting it’s full attention. Koloktos turned towards them and readied it’s blades and exposing it’s chest.

“Bad idea, Muchacho.” Shadow joked.

“Req!” Satoshi yelled. She nodded to him and ran up to the bow. She pulled her sword and spun in a 360 as Satoshi fired the main guns.

“Seraphim Blade!”

The cannons fired the large beam of green light towards the robot with Req added her spell into the mix. The two combined and formed a more powerful attack. It struck the machine in the chest, making it stagger back.

“Cloak of Fire!” Jax yelled.

True to it’s name, the ship was enveloped in a cloak of fire. It speed right towards the automaton and rammed right into it’s chest.

The ship burst out it’s back and over the mountains into the Badlands.

Koloktos creaked then exploded, it’s pieces evaporating before then hit anything in the city.

End Song.

“Well, that was anti-climatic.” Discord said as he, Babs, and a furious Eris disappeared.