The darkness surrounded me both physically and mentally. I sat in the corner of the cell staring at the lantern next to the mirror. After a week in the dark, the light was starting to become blinding.

Quit your bickering.

And there was the mental darkness. "What else can I do?"

I'm glad you asked. I've been meaning to tell you about the perks to having me as a part of you.

"Oh joy."

Your appearance was just the beginning.

"Really?"

I know you've heard of me. You know what I'm capable of.

"What use are your abilities with my body? I'm not magical."

It doesn't matter. Now get up.

Reluctantly I stood. Without asking, I walked towards the mirror. I looked at my reflection. It was hard to recognize the pony I saw at first, but I knew it was me. And I looked great. I smiled.

That's right. You know it's an improvement. And now I need you to do something.

I kept staring at my reflection. "What?"

Look in the corner. Turn that rock into something it isn't.

I turned to see the rock he was talking about. It was a decent size. But what was I supposed to do?

Turn it into something it isn't.

"How?"

Try.

I shook my head. Why could he never be straightforward? I stared at the rock. How could I do it? I might as well just wish for the moon. I had no magic.

Make it change!

My head began to ache. My stomach grumbled. How long had it been since I had eaten? Food. I needed food. There was a brilliant flash of light. I looked down at the rock. But the rock was gone. In its place was a sandwich. My eyes widened in awe.

Very good. And a perfect choice. If I had a stomach, I would be hungry myself.

I picked the sandwich up and bit into it. Delicious. "How is this possible?"

For me, anything is possible. And now the same goes for you.

I smiled. Anything possible? Maybe I could even get the others to see that I was right. With this power I could make Celestia see that I was still good.

That's the spirit! In fact...why not prove it to them now?

Perfect! But first, I needed to get out of this cell. I walked over to the door and looked out. The outer room was deserted. Of course no guards to use within earshot. There was no need. Celestia herself had put up the security for this dungeon. No keys or anything. So how to get out? I paced around the cell. I noticed the half-finished sandwich lying on the floor. I had made that out of a rock just by wanting it. So...

That's it! You've got it!

All it was was a matter of will. I want to be in that next room. I closed my eyes and repeated it in my mind. I felt something. I opened my eyes to see...lightning, dancing across my body. There was another flash of light and I found myself in the next room. I did it!

The lightning's new. But it does add a nice effect. Also, we need to be out in the hall.

I concentrated on the hall. Lightning, flash, done. I was there. I couldn't help smiling. Not even Celestia's wards were enough to stop me! I began to laugh. What's more, Discord began to laugh with me. And we didn't stop, we only got louder. Our laughter soon echoed through the hall. And that's when we heard the guards.

There were four of them. They came down the stairs and stopped in front of me. I didn't move. I just smiled. "Hello there!" One guard stepped forward. "Who are you? What are you doing down here?" Hmm...It seemed Celestia had kept my presence here a secret. I shrugged my shoulders. "Oh, you know. Just out for a stroll." The guards stepped forward in unison. Their leader was within hoofsreach of me. "You're coming with us." I smiled. An idea popped into my head. I opened my mouth. "Of course I am. You were just about to take me to see Celestia. I'm an old friend of hers." All four pairs of eyes that had been glaring at me now appeared to have glazed over. The leader saluted to me. "Of course sir. We can't keep the princess from meeting with her friends." He turned and walked away, the rest of his group following after.

Nicely done. You have a natural talent.

I smiled and followed after the guards. We were soon in the main hall. I admired the design of the place. Of course there were so improvements that could be made. I looked up towards the throne. It was empty. "Guard, where is the princess?" The guard turned back. "I believe she's upstairs sir." I nodded. "You can all go back to your posts now. I'm sure I can find my way from here." All four nodded and exited the hall. I looked around to make sure no other pony was nearby. The lightning crackled around me again and I was gone.

I literally popped into the library. The lightning over my body settled down just as I noticed the shocked Celestia looking at me. I grinned. "Good evening." She seemed at a loss for words. I walked over to a shelf and began examining the books. Quite the collection actually. The silence continued for a minute or so. I got bored with the books and turned to Celestia. "Either say something, or I'll go and find somepony that actually has a tongue." That snapped her out of it. Her eyes narrowed. "How did you get out?" I shrugged as the lightning crackled again. I appeared right in front of her. She took a step back. I sat down. "Just like that. I've learned a few tricks while you had me locked away." She shook her head. "Discord's hold on you is stronger than ever. Speedy, you have to stop this now. I'm doing everything I can to fix this." Now it was my turn to shake my head. "You think I want this fixed?" She looked taken aback.

I began to pace in front of her. "You keep me locked up down there like I'm some sort of monster." I locked eyes with her. "Do you really think that I'm that bad?" She sighed.

It was at this moment I felt a chill in my head. I began to gag. Great. Guess who wanted some talk time? I shuddered as I felt something take over. It was always so weird when Discord took over my body. I still heard and saw everything, but I had no control over my mouth or limbs. I watched as Celestia took a few steps back. "Your powers have returned." Discord turned us away from her. "Of course. You didn't really think that my powers were stuck in that stone prison, did you?" We turned around again. "And this is only after a week. Give me another one and my powers will be tenfold." Celestia's horn lit up. "You won't get the chance to know." Discord laughed. I felt the energy flow through our body. What was he about to do? I watched as Celestia's horn faded away. Her whole horn! She looked up at her head and then back at us. I heard gagging. And then I felt as if I was being thrown forward. I blinked and realized that I was once again in control.

Finish her.

I froze. Celestia looked around the room. Could she hear him too?

She will never be this weak again. Finish her!

His voice echoed. He was projecting his voice from my head. And I could see why. Celestia stood where she was, the fear growing in her eyes. Had she ever been this scared before?

What are you waiting for?

I'll tell you what. I've never harmed a pony before. What do I get out of it?

Speedy, Speedy, Speedy. Don't you understand? With Celestia gone, you can rule Equestria! You can have everything you've ever wanted.

Everything I ever wanted. I thought about that. I had the perfect body. What else though? The answer was instantaneous. The perfect mare. Fluttershy. I needed to see Fluttershy.

Focus on the mare in front of you.

I looked at Celestia. I narrowed my eyes. Her horn reappeared in a flash of light.

What are you doing?!

"I have to see her. Now."

NO!

It was too late for him to act. I had already pictured Fluttershy and I was gone.

The light faded and I was in a guest room. I looked around. There she was. She was lying on the bed, crying softly. She hadn't seen me appear. My mind was racing. What should I do? "Um...hi." Fluttershy sat up and looked at me. Nothing was said. We just stared at each other. I smiled. She slowly got up, but didn't come near me. "What are you doing here?" I took a step forward. "I wanted to see you." She turned away from me. "Why?" What? I needed a reason to see her? I shook my head in confusion. "I missed you Shy. I want to be with you again." She lowered her head, still facing away from me. "I...I can't." I felt my eye twitch. "What?" Her head slowly turned until I could see her face. "You're not the same stallion I fell in love with." Not the same? "What do you mean? I am the same. " She spun around, the anger flaring in her eyes.

I actually took a step back. I had never seen Shy angry before. And then she yelled. "The same?! Look in that mirror and tell me that you haven't changed!" I glanced over at the mirror in the corner. I saw my reflection. The same reflection that I had looked at in my own mirror. "I see the better me." Her reflection appeared next to mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that she was right next to me. A tear rolled down her cheek. "All I see is Discord." I felt a sharp pain in my head. I closed my eyes. "Shy, you don't understand. I was nothing before." She turned to me, the tears coming faster. "You were everything to me." My expression hardened. "If I was everything, then why didn't you come to the hospital after I woke up? Ashamed to be the mare of a three-legged pony?"

I never saw the hoof coming.

She was standing over me. "I never came because I didn't want to see you in pain! I couldn't bear to see you hurt! For weeks I couldn't stop crying because I was worried about you!" I shook my head to clear it. "You...you hit me." Her tears were flowing freely and dropping to the floor. "You had friends, a place to call home, a mare that loved you! What do you have now?" That pierced my heart. It echoed in my head. I slowly stood up and stared at the mare in front of me. I felt a single tear roll down my cheek. The guest room disappeared in another flash of light and I was back in my cell. I collapsed to the ground and closed my eyes.

What are we doing back here?

I need time to think. I need time alone.

We could do that somewhere that doesn't have bars on the window.

I don't care. There's no point.

What? One punch to the head and you've changed your mind?

She's right about me. About you.

I'm here to help you Speedy.

Lies. Everything had been lies.

And where would you be without those lies?

I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. My head began to ache. I could see a green trail of smoke come out of my mouth. It floated to the mirror and seemed to go right through it. And then the mirror began to glow. Discord appeared as if he was in the reflected room. I looked around, but saw nothing. He was only in the mirror. He locked eyes with me. "Well? What would you be if I hadn't picked you up?" He stepped back and I saw my own reflection. It was me! Three-legged, no cutie mark Speedy! Discord stepped back into view. "You are useless without me! Rejected by the princess, your friends, and now the one mare that loved you. But with me you can be respected, hold power, and do anything you want."

It was at this point that my mind began to clear somewhat. Having Discord out allowed me to think for once. He was speaking some truths, but they were distorted. "You're right. I was nothing." Discord smiled. "So shy waste away in his cell?" I smiled back. I knew what to do. "They've pushed me away. It's time to push back." Discord chuckled. "Revenge on your former friends?" I shook my head. "I was thinking on a larger scale. Perhaps...Ponyville?" His eyes glowed in excitement. "Brilliant!" He faded from view and the green smoke appeared again. It went right down my throat and I could feel Discord in my head again. I looked at my reflection to find I was whole again. I stood up. "Why don't we drop in on Celestia one last time?" I could sense approval, but that was all. Discord was too busy with his own thought of chaos to hear me.

I was back in the library. And there was Celestia. To my surprise, Twilight was with her too. The minute they saw me both their horns began to glow. Things wouldn't end well if they used their magic. How could I stop them though? Why couldn't they just sit still for a moment? And so they stopped. They actually froze in place as if they were statues. I felt even more joy from Discord. I looked between the two ponies. "I've come to say goodbye. And I won't have you two trying to stop me. I'm leaving whether you like it or not." All they could do was blink. I walked towards them. There were two tables that had books and scrolls littered on the tops. They had obviously been studying up on my predicament.

I picked up a book on the Elements of Harmony and laughed. I turned to them and tapped the cover. "You really think you'll find your answers in these dusty old things?" I dropped the book in front of Twilight and looked at the other table. I flipped through the scrolls and found a map of Equestria. I looked it over for a moment before turning it to Celestia. "Soon I will rule all of this." I traced my hoof from one end of the map to the other, ending at the Everfree Forest. I locked eyes with Celestia. She blinked. I laughed again. "I hope you enjoy your last day of freedom." I released the magic and let them fall to the ground. With that, I was gone.

Finally we get to have some fun!

You were pretty quiet back there. I would have thought you would help me out with those two.

I was busy planning the upcoming chaos! I was daydreaming about what we could accomplish together.

I flashed into existence in the center of town. I was standing on top of the town hall. I was in the perfect spot where nopony could see me. Perfect.

Aren't you going to reveal yourself? Claim your right as their new overlord?

That's not the way I do things. It's one thing to let the ponies know what to fear. But what happens when that object of fear is unseen? They can't run. It's pointless to hide. The chaos that will occur from an unknown terror will be brilliant!

I looked around. The sun was just going down. There were still plenty of ponies out and about. An audience. And now for the big opening! One by one I watched as ponies would head for a door. And one by one, every door in Ponyville disappeared. It was too funny! I watched as they ran around trying to make sense of what had happened. What next?

Might I suggest something?

I listened as he laid out the idea. I smiled. I looked down at the confused ponies. Flashes of light popped everywhere as every pony's mane turned became daises. Screaming followed. I collapsed in fits of laughter. It didn't help that Discord's laughter made me laugh harder.

The evening continued with flying cupcakes, clouds falling to the ground, earth ponies floating into the air, and house walls becoming dominoes. I was ready to push them over when I spotted something in the distance. There was enough moonlight to tell that something was coming from Canterlot. I could guess who. "We need to disappear."

I materialized in the clearing where Discord's body stood.

Why did you bring me back here?

The last place Celestia would expect us to be is at your old prison. So we wait here for a while. If she gets close, we go somewhere else. Until then we sit back, relax, and celebrate a wonderful start to chaos.

And what a wonderful beginning it was. And things will only get better.

I smiled. I looked up at what few stars were visible through the forest canopy. Discord was right. It could only get better from here. I heard the sound of hooves behind me.

What?!

I turned around. Celestia and Twilight had understood my code. They had arrived with the others. And the Elements. And now Discord knew what I had done.

You! How dare you rebel against me!

I ignored him. "Thank you for coming. We're in for a long night I fear. He won't go easily." I gagged. I didn't fight it. Soon I was only a spectator as Discord took over. "I won't go at all!" Celestia stepped forward. "The Elements bound you once, and they can do it again." Discord laughed. "Now, now. Don't be hasty. Imprison me and I take Speedy with me." Could he do that? Had this all been in vain? I saw the doubt in the others eyes. They weren't going to do it. They wouldn't risk it. Discord gagged and I was thrown back in command of my body.

I looked at each of the mares. "I know you think that you can save me, but you can't." Twilight stepped forward. "Speedy, we're going to save you." I shook my head. "He's too far into my mind. Lock him away and he'll drag me along." My eyes fell on Fluttershy. "But you need to do it."

How bold. How heroic. How sickening! Sacrificing yourself to save Equestria? Please.

I knew the consequences. Having to spend eternity with Discord wasn't exactly the best, but I had dealt with him this long. I'm sure I could stand a few more years before losing it. And at least I wouldn't have to worry about growing old. I would be  a statue. Nothing preserves well like a sturdy hunk of rock.

Rock....

I couldn't. Could I? Was it possible?

What are you doing?

I turned to Discord's stony prison. I smiled. "Let's turn this rock into something it isn't." The statue began to shudder. And then it slowly began melting.

No! My beautiful body! Stop!

I could feel him try to force me. But it was too late. The magic was working. And then I felt something. The icy cold prick that Discord's presence. It was fading. Was I actually destroying him? No. He was leaving... He was getting out of my head! I saw the smoke trail out of my mouth. It sat in front of me and expanded. It formed a barrier between me and the statue.

I. Said. STOP!

The magic was redirected towards me and I was knocked across the clearing. I landed in front of the others. And awkwardly too. I had landed on the side where my leg was missing. I was back to normal.

I felt dizzy, I was seeing double, and the edges of my vision were going black. I looked up at Fluttershy. Her image was growing dimmer by the second. I lifted my head. "Now."

I saw a brilliant light. I knew what it was. And just as I blacked out I could hear an unearthly scream. Next Chapter: Second Chance Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 27 Minutes