Pinkie Pie swallowed hard as she backed away slowly from the group. She never thought she’d see him again, but here he was standing right in front of them. He walked slowly and mindfully over to where everyone stood. The pink earth pony glanced at Princess Celestia’s unconscious form, before looking back up, her eyes meeting the chaos-bringer’s. Her mind raced as Discord stared at her, with only one thought permeating it.

‘What is he gonna do?!?’ she thought, whimpering.

“Well, before we get started, there is one piece of business that I must take care of,” the draconequus said, snapping his fingers.

Everyone’s eyes lit up as they screamed, thrashing about wildly. The lord of chaos couldn’t help but chuckle to himself at the display.

‘As much as I’m enjoying this, there are things to be done. Sadly, this is no time for lollygagging,’ he thought as his own eyes illuminated.

Just as quickly as the phenomenon began it dissipated as the groups dropped to the ground holding their heads, groaning. Princess Luna was the first to her hooves, as she turned to the trickster, her eyes narrowing.

“What did you just do to us?!?” she shouted.

“Be not afraid, dear Lulu. That was just a simple memory reading spell. I’ve read your minds, and I must say, you have all been quite the busy little ponies, haven’t you?” he answered, his grin stretching from ear to ear.

“What do you want here, Discord?!?” the moon princess demanded as she stomped forward, dropping her stance low.

“There’ll be time enough later to discuss that. Right now, I believe you need to send your little puppets off to retrieve the elements of harmony,” he stated nonchalantly, while checking the nails on his left paw.

“Girls, go get the elements! I will hold him off!” Luna yelled as she fired a bolt of magic at the draconequus.

Discord smiled as he swatted the attack away with his right claw, dissolving the ethereal energy. Everyone gasped at the ease in which he dispelled the attack. The smile never left his face, as he took to the air floating right above the group.

“Oh, Lulu, there is no need for such violence. Besides, you seem a little…worse for wear, as it were. You should save your strength. We wouldn’t want you passing out again, after all,” he chuckled.

“Now, now, run along girls. Go retrieve the elements, so that I may be defeated once again,” the chaos lord stated, while putting his left paw over his forehead in a dramatic pose.

“But…Princess, are ya sure?!?” Applejack asked worriedly, turning towards the dark coated alicorn.

“Yes, yes, she’ll be fine, Applejack. I won’t attack her or Princess Sleepy over there, nor their toy soldiers. Now go, this is getting boring,” he promised, waiving his claw dismissively.

“It will be alright, Applejack, go, quickly!” Luna ordered as she faced off with the draconequus yet again.

The element bearers looked at each other, uncertainty plastered on all of their faces. This development was completely unexpected. How did one of their greatest enemies return? What does he want? These questions echoed in all of their minds, before Twilight Sparkle spoke, snapping them back to reality.

“I…I don’t know if my magic works, but the elements are just behind the throne in a secret room. Princess Celestia had them moved there after the wedding. Let’s go, we don’t have much time,” she said.

They nodded, most of them still in a daze as they followed the element of magic towards the far wall. Just as the other elements bearers we out of sight, Pinkie Pie looked over her shoulder, looking at the chaos god with begging eyes. He caught her stare, showing his toothy grin. She gulped again, her throat becoming dryer and dryer with each passing second. He spoke up again, startling her.

“Go on, now, dear Pinkie Pie. We can catch up later,” he assured her, winking.

The party mare whimpered as she turned back around to catch up with Twilight Sparkle and the others. Discord waived his large claw signaling his good bye, as he teleported, his body reappearing draped across the throne. Princess Luna’s jaw clenched in anger as she took to the air to charge him. He simply smiled, putting up a magic barrier. The moon princess slammed into the ethereal wall, crumpling unceremoniously to the ground. The royal guards were by her side in an instant. Discord merely clicked his tongue a few times before shaking his head.

“Lulu, when will you learn? You cannot defeat me alone, especially in your current condition. I told you, I’m not here for a battle. Perhaps a gesture of good will on my part with help ease your mind?” he inquired, while stroking his chin.

“No! I don’t want anything from you! What are you doing here?!? And how did you come back?!?” the younger alicorn screamed in frustration.

“Now, now, have some patience. Everything will be revealed soon enough. As for this moment, how about I give you a helping hoof, my dear?” he said jumping off of the throne.

“What?!?” she whispered.

Discord strolled casually over to where her sister lay. She was still unconscious. And defenseless. He was correct as much as she hated to admit it. She might be able to hold him off if she was at full strength, but she was nowhere near it right now. It was a struggle just to stand. The battle with Twilight Sparkle’s hybrid form was one of, if not the, most intense struggle she’d ever had. She looked over at Spike, whose newfound maturity and resolve melted once he laid eyes on the chaos lord, as he cowered behind the guards. She had nothing left, no more cards to play. All she could do was beg.

“Discord, please, don’t hurt her!” she cried.

“Luna, how many times must I tell you I’m not here to physically harm anyone? Here, let me prove it,” he answered, placing one of his fingers on the tip of the sun princess’ horn.

Before Luna and the guards could react, a violent flash of light, forced them to shield their eyes. Once the light died down enough for her vision to return, Luna gasped as she heard her sister groan. Celestia’s eyes flickered open as rolled herself to a sitting position, shaking her head lightly.

“Huh…where?” she muttered, rubbing her eyes with her hoof.

“Here, let me help you up, Princess,” Discord whispered, gripping the monarch but her sides, helping her to her hooves.

Princess Celestia’s vision was still blurry. She couldn’t place the voice she’d just heard, but the alicorn was in no position to refuse assistance as she cooperated, standing up shakily. As she lifted her head, his form came in to focus. Her eyes widened as she staggered away.

“Wh…what?!? Discord?!? Wh…what are you…” she stammered as the trickster cut her off.

“Hello, Celestia. Yes, it’s me, I’m really here, in all of my chaotic glory. Don’t worry though, your little errand-filly will be back soon with the elements of harmony to put me back in my place,” he said with a maniacal grin.

Luna’s face dropped at his actions. He’d actually healed her sister. The gesture confounded the lunar monarch as she searched for possible motives within her mind, but she couldn’t think any. Why help your enemy? It didn’t make any sense.

‘It…it doesn’t make sense, then…why…’ she thought.

The sound of beating hooves approaching broke her away from her contemplation as they all turned to see Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, each with their respective element. Discord smiled as he eyed the jewels adorning their necks. Twilight stepped forward, gasping at her mentor’s miraculous recovery.

“Princess! You’re alright!” she shouted.

“Twilight! I’m glad that you’re alright as well! We’ll talk later! Right now, you must use the elements to imprison Discord again!” she yelled back, as she ran over to her sister, Spike and the guards, each of them crouching low ready to defend themselves.

The bearers tensed, expecting a sudden move by their enemy. After a few moments, though, none came. Their eyes darted to each other nervously. They’d been silent on their way to retrieve the elements. Twilight found that her magic was intact, and after placing the elements with each of their respective bearers they rushed back to face off against the draconequus. Now that they were about to send him back to his stone prison he seemed almost eager for them to use Equestria’s greatest weapon. He cleared his throat, as extended both of his arms.

“By all means, ladies! Do your worst!” he announced happily.

“Fine then!” Twilight Sparkle shouted as she closed her eyes.

The remaining bearers followed suit, shutting their eyes tight as they began to concentrate. Their bodies began to glow as the ethereal power radiated from the elements. The princesses and soldiers watched Discord closely, ready to pounce just in case he suddenly changed his mind about letting the magical armaments be used on him. Yet, he didn’t move. He just stared at Princess Celestia’s student and the rest of them, his patented grin smeared across his features. The sun monarch was worried now. The light was growing, and she figured that he’d at least be frowning at this point for sure, but he was still stoically smug. What was he hiding? His smile grew wider, snapping her back to reality as she turned her gaze to the element bearers. The light disappeared, and the sound that emanated throughout the throne room made her jaw drop and her eyes widen. It was the sound of shattering glass. Once the light faded, the elements burst apart in a brilliant flash, falling to the ornate floor, a chorus of clinks filling the chamber. She couldn’t believe it. The elements of harmony were destroyed. They were back to their original crystalline forms, and now lay upon the ground lifeless. Her stomach twisted itself in knots as she felt her knees grow weak.

‘No!’ her mind screamed.

Twilight was the first to open her eyes, followed soon after by the rest of her fellow bearers. Their faces dropped as they eyed what was left of the friendship treasures before them. They were gone. Twilight’s mind was still somewhat fuzzy from her recent ordeal, but even she didn’t expect this.

“Huh…what?!? The…the elements, they’re…” she stammered worriedly.

They all looked up as they heard Discord clapping his paws together in mock celebration. Twilight’s eyes narrowed as she stepped forward.

“What did you do with the real elements of harmony, Discord?!?” she shouted.

“Me? Oh, Twilight, dear, those ARE the real elements of harmony. Don’t tell me you haven’t realized it yet. Really? None of you?” he prodded.

“What are you talking about?!?” she retorted angrily.

He walked forward slowly, relishing the moment. Twilight and the rest of the elements bearers shrank before his stature. Once he was in front of the purple unicorn, he leaned forward, his mouth by her left ear.

“It’s very simple, Twilight. You see, I read your memories, remember? I wasn’t scared because I know a simple truth, one that I thought was self-evident,” he said softly.

“What? What truth?!?” she pressed.

“I had no need to fear the elements of harmony because I knew you’d never be able to use them. After all, you aren’t friends anymore…are you?” he answered.

The unicorn felt her heart stop at the statement. She’d learned so much about friendship. About being together and being happy. About how honesty, generosity, loyalty, kindness, laughter, and that special something, that inherent magic that was necessary for friendship. But as she thought back to what occurred over the past nine months or so, she looked over at her friends, and that’s when she realized…

They weren’t.

Not anymore. She’d seen to that with her experiment that cost all of their pets and royal guards their lives. She’d even paid the price with her own life. As she eyed her former friends more closely, it became even clearer. They all looked at each other dumbfounded at first, but those looks soon gave way to ones of defeat.

“He…he’s right. We…we aren’t friends anymore. The…the elements are gone. Girls, I’m so sorry!” she cried as she slumped to the ground putting her hooves over her head with fresh tears falling from her eyes.

For the next few minutes, no one said anything. They just lowered their heads in sorrow at the occurrence. Discord straightened back up to his full height, strolling over to where Celestia stood with her sister and guards. She stood her ground as he approached.

“This isn’t over, Discord! We will find a way to stop you and put you back into your stone prison!” she shouted in defiance.

“But, dear Celestia, you wouldn’t want to even if you could,” he countered smugly.

“What?!? What are you…” she began before he interrupted her.

“All will be explained, but first, why don’t we take this outside?” he said snapping his fingers.

-

Twilight Sparkle groaned as she rubbed her eyes furiously with her right hoof. The flash of light after Discords finger snap had been much more than disorienting. She was having trouble clearing the spots from her eyes as she shook her head violently. She knew it would be difficult, but she had to open them. Willing her eyelids apart, she strained, finally revealing her left eye first, then her right. As her vision came into focus, she noticed that true to Discord’s word, they were in fact outside. She, the other former element bearers, Spike, Princesses Celestia and Luna, as well as their royal guard detail were now in the main courtyard of the castle. As she gazed at her surroundings, she realized that they weren’t alone. She eyed various ponies, none of which she knew, with a variety of different cutie marks. Some wore hats, and had marks that resembled notes pads, others had cameras on their flanks. They were looking at each other and muttering in confusion.

“What? What is going on here?” she wondered aloud.

“T…Twily?” she heard a voice ring out from behind her.

Turning around her stomach dropped as she felt the tears well up in her eyes instantly. She ran towards Shining Armor and Cadence, pulling them into the biggest hug she could muster.

“SHINING! CADENCE! PLEASE, PLEASE REALLY BE YOU!” she shouted through the tears.

“Twilight, we missed you so much!” Cadence said, as she and her husband returned the embrace.

“Twilight?!?” another voice called out.

The three ponies looked up, as Twilight quickly broke her embrace with her sibling and sister-in-law and rushed over, hugging her parents with equal gusto. She couldn’t believe it. They were here and they were right in front of her. She never thought she’d see any of them again, and yet here she was. She’d been given a second chance.

“MOMMY, DADDY, I MISSED YOU BOTH SO MUCH!” she cried, her body now wracked with sobs.

Her parents hugged her tightly, petting the mare’s head as the tears streamed down her face. Twilight didn’t look up, but she felt the pressure of another embrace. She felt Shining Armor and Cadence join in on the family hug, sniffling, telling her how much they missed her. She never wanted this moment to end. After all the pain and suffering that she both caused and endured, her spirit felt truly free. It was as if fate itself forgave her, allowing her peace. They broke their embrace, as Twilight heard another scream.

“BIG MAC!” Applejack screamed as she ran towards her big brother.

“Ah’m…Ah’m…okay?” he questioned as his sibling hugged him.

“Ah don’t know how, and Ah don’t care! Yer back and that’s all that matters!” she exclaimed, matting he coat with fresh tears as he returned the embrace.

“And, I believe that is enough of that. We have some things to discuss, my little ponies,” Discord said, his form appearing in the center of the courtyard.

The ponies gathered gasped in surprise as they shrank away from the chaos bringer. He couldn’t help but smile at their reaction.

‘Everything is going as planned, but this show is just starting!’ he thought as he made his way towards Twilight and the others.

“Discord, what are you doing?!? You better stay away from my family!” Twilight shouted, her stance low and ready to pounce.

“Oh, pardon me, so sorry to interrupt, but I believe there are still some ponies who are eager to speak with you,” he said as he extended his left arm to the side, bowing.

Twilight looked over to where the god was pointing. She gasped at the sight. Standing in front of her was Trixie, accompanied by Braeburn, Applejack’s cousin. She shivered as her eyes fell on the unicorn’s prosthetic leg. The memories of all the injuries and pain she caused came flooding back to her. The mare didn’t know how to react. What would she do? What would she say? Trixie seemed confused about her surroundings, but as their eyes met, time itself stopped around them.

“No…no, this is impossible! You…you’re supposed to be dead!” she shouted, a chill running down her spine.

Trixie backed away as she felt the fear rise within her. The monster that crippled her was standing there staring at her. One moment she and Braeburn were talking in his Apploosan home, and the next she appeared in some sort of open space surrounded by a castle. As she eyed the design, she soon surmised that she was in Canterlot at the castle of Princess Celestia. Her confusion turned to fear as soon as her eyes met her former rivals. How was it possible? How could she still be alive? And back to her normal self! The more she thought about Twilight being back to the way she was before her transformation, the more her anger replaced her fear. Her eyes narrowed, as tears formed in the shivering mare’s eyes.

“I KILLED YOU!” she screamed at the top of her lungs as Braeburn caught her, keeping the crazed showpony back.

“Twilight? What the hay’s goin’ on here?!? And who is that, umm, dragon-lookin’ fella?!?” he inquired.

“My name is Discord, good sir, and we all have many things to talk about! So, gather ‘round everyone! It’s time for a show!” he yelled.

Princess Celestia studied the draconequus closely as she weighed their options. They all could attack, but with her and her sister’s weakened states, the outcome of such a battle was unsure. With all of these ponies around, there also might be too much collateral damage for her tastes. What she needed now more than anything, was information. If there was one thing she knew about Discord, it was that he loved to talk. His arrogance practically oozed from his entire being. If they could get him chatting perhaps she’d learn what his plans were. She straightened up, walking over to him cautiously.

“Everyone, stand down,” she said her eyes not leaving her enemy for a second.

“Well, you have us all here, Discord. Now, what is going on?” she pried, as everyone else approached them.

“Well, let’s begin with a little story. A small, yet exciting tale of a young, bright, scholar by the name of Twilight Sparkle. She was always the curious type. Studying magic, and friendship, but the one thing she loved more than anything else in the world, her one weakness, was books. If it was in a book, she needed to know it. She needed to understand it. And, normally, I imagine this is a fantastic trait to have, especially when you’re the personal student of Princess Celestia. Unfortunately, curiosity, can always come back to bite you, can’t it, Twilight?” he explained smugly.

The unicorn in question turned away, her ears flattening, as she crossed her left hoof across her chest protectively. She felt all eyes turn on her. Discord’s words hurt, as they were forming a wave of despair in her heart. She knew where he was going with this, and it was humiliating, but there was nothing she could do to stop him.

“And of course, once she found a neat little book on teleportation, she couldn’t resist taking it home, and building a few contraptions for herself to try out. But, no, she was too cowardly to try them on her own, at least at first. So, let’s watch what happens when her friend Fluttershy and her pet bunny show up for a visit,” he said, snapping his fingers.

Suddenly, the whole area went dark, causing some of the ponies to whimper. In a few moments, however, a light shined before them as a crystal ball appeared. It was huge, just like in a movie theater screen. Everyone watched earnestly as images of Fluttershy and Angel appeared along with Twilight Sparkle and the telepods. Fluttershy felt the tears begin to flow immediately. She was watching one of the scenes that played itself over and over in her head. She was reliving it.

“No, no, please!” she cried as she ran up to the draconequus.

“What? Shhhh! Were almost at the best part!” he answered, tossing some popcorn into his mouth before turning back to the action.

Tears streamed down Fluttershy’s face as she turned away. She put her hooves over her ears, doing her best to drown out her own screams, but it did little good. She was once again whisked away back to that night where everything changed. Discord didn’t stop there, however. He showed a variety of scenes, including Twilight’s deterioration, the arguments and her former friends’ struggle to stay alive. The worst of it came when Trixie’s injury was on full display. The mare hugged Braeburn shivering. Once the telepod was dropped onto Twilight Sparkle, the whole area lit up again as the crystal ball disappeared. Discord looked at the crowd before him, grinning from ear to ear. Some looked like they were about to be sick. Others murmured among themselves trying to come to terms with what they just witnessed. The former element bearers were crying as were their loved ones. Each tear that fell filled the draconequus with joy. They were the ones that imprisoned him, and now he would make them suffer.

“Discord, this doesn’t answer anything we already knew. So, what are you doing here?” Celestia pressed walking up to the chaos lord.

“Oh, they don’t know everything, do they, Celestia? But, we’ll get to that. Right now, however, I will indulge you, and give you the answer you seek,” he said straightening up.

“It was a dark, dark night, with only little Lulu’s moon shining down on my spot. All of a sudden, I came too. I looked around, excited to begin my reign again, of course, but not before I thanked the one that freed me from my stone prison. After all, who would release me?” he began.

He crossed his claws behind his back as he made his way over to the former element bearers. They all shrank back at his stature, his smile unwavering. Pinkie Pie gulped as she felt his eyes on her. He was looking right at her. She knew what was coming, and there was nothing she was going to be able to do to stop it. He was going to tell everyone the secret that she kept, the horrible lie that she forced deep down within herself. She gasped as he walked right up to her.

“I really must thank you. If it wasn’t for you, I’d never have realized my full potential. But you made it all possible. I am indebted to you, Pinkie Pie,” the draconequus said with a bow.

The party mare felt her hear stop as the beads of sweat that appeared on her brow dripped over her eyes. She hung her head as she whimpered. He said it. Loud enough for everyone to hear. She’d freed him, and now everyone knew it. Other than Twilight’s transformation, this was her second nightmare. The other intense situation that kept nagging at the back of her mind. She’d lied to Princess Luna, and that was out in the open now as well. Rainbow Dash’s voice jolted her out of her trance as she gasped.

“LIAR!” the pegasus screamed as she stomped forward.

“Me? A liar? Hardly! Why don’t you go ask her yourself,” Discord replied.

“I don’t need to! I know Pinkie Pie, and I know that she’d never do this! Right Pinkie?” she said turning to the pink earth mare.

The young flyer’s face dropped when she saw Pinkie Pie’s demeanor. She walked forward slowly, trying to get a better read on her former friend. The other former elements, the princesses and the rest of the ponies present all turned their gaze towards the party planner. She looked back at them. She could see the yearning in their eyes. They all wanted her to deny it, and furiously. As the seconds ticked by, however, no vehement denial came. Rainbow Dash stood in front of her, the pegasus’ begging for an answer.

“Pinkie?” she whispered.

The party planner’s head drooped even further. It was time. The one thing she’d hoped to avoid with all her heart ended up the thing she had to face. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She sighed as she closed her eyes tight, tears dripping from them. This was her responsibility, and she needed to face it. Opening her eyes and standing tall, she cleared her throat.

“Yes, Rainbow Dash. I released Discord. I…I’m sorry,” she said simply as she bowed her head towards the princesses.

The silence of the crowd broke with that statement. She heard their murmuring pick up exponentially. She wanted to bring her head up, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet anyone’s gaze right now. The one thing that did concern her, however, was that she couldn’t hear any uttering from her former friends or the princesses. She had no idea what to expect. She wanted to scream and cry, but she didn’t. She just stood there, ears flat, hanging her head in shame.

‘They…they hate me,’ she thought to herself as she began to sob softly to herself.

The earth pony felt a presence a shadow above her. She didn’t know who it was at first, but it didn’t seem like Discord, as she saw his talons walk out of her sightline. White hooves with golden shoes replaced the draconequus’ feet making her gasp. It was Princess Celestia. She’d never been more frightened in her life. She’d betrayed everything she knew to save her best friend. She gulped as she felt her gaze. As much as she didn’t want to, every lesson on responsibility she’d ever learned permeated her mind. The truth was out now, and she needed to face it. Slowly, Pinkie Pie’s head rose as her eyes met the monarch’s. Her heart broke at the sight. She looked like a mother whose child just told the most terrible lie imaginable. She trembled as the tears streamed down her face.

“How…how could you do this?!? Why would you do this?!?” the sun goddess scolded, tears streaming down her own face.

Pinkie Pie brought her right hoof across her body protectively. She looked around at her former friends and Princess Luna. They all shared the same look of utter betrayal. She needed to give them an answer. She owed them an answer. Summoning all the courage she had left, she straightened up, wiping the tears off out of her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Princess Celestia, it was just…I couldn’t be happy without her. None of us could! We…we may have been breathing, but we all died that night in the basement. At…at least our souls did,” she began as she walked towards her fellow former element bearers.

“Look, everyone kept telling me to talk about what happened. But…I kept thinking to myself, ‘why? It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to me! To any of us! Why keep reliving it?’ and I just…something happened inside me. I…I switched off. I couldn’t…It was like I couldn’t feel anything anymore! But…but then…” she continued as she walked over to Big Mac.

“You came to see me, and…and even with you there, I still couldn’t feel anything. But then you said something, and for the first time in months, I was…excited,” she said.

“Wh…what did Ah say?” he asked.

“Well, you brought up all the good things that we did with Twilight. Like how we beat Nightmare Moon and saved Princess Luna, and how we helped defeat the Changling Queen when she invaded Canterlot, and…and how we defeated Discord too. Even with all of his powers,” she replied as she made a circle in the ground with her right hoof.

“That…that still doesn’t answer my question, Pinkie Pie!” Princess Celestia shouted.

Pinkie Pie sighed, making her way back over to the elder alicorn. She stood in front of her, as tall as she could make herself. This was her burden to bear.

“Well, I…I started thinking about all the things he could do. I…I thought about how he could make things randomly appear, and…and I thought that…well,” she stammered.

“WHAT?!?” Celestia screamed.

“I THOUGHT HE COULD BRING TWILIGHT BACK TO US!” Pinkie Pie countered.

The anger etched on Princess Celestia’s face melted away in an instant. She worked her mouth up and down, trying to say something, but her mind stopped after the earth mare’s admission. The murmuring started up again as the former element bearers, Spike, and Princess Luna approached her. She was showered by looks of confusion. Pinkie Pie shivered as tears streamed down her face. She had no idea what to expect.

“Please, please don’t hate me!” she exclaimed.

Twilight walked slowly towards her, her eyes wide, droplets of water falling from her eyes. As the scholar stood in front of the party planner, she looked down at the ground for a moment before looking back up at her former fellow element bearer.

“You…you did this…for me?” she whispered.

“Yes, Twilight. We…we were shadows of ourselves. There was no end to it. I…I saw what was happening to me and to everyone else. I knew we couldn’t go on, not without you. So, I…I snuck out of the castle at night, and stood in front of his statue. I…everything I felt, every emotion began to boil over for me. I held it in for so long, and…and I guess that’s what released him,” she explained.

Twilight looked at Princess Celestia, her eyes wide. The sun princess’ met her student’s gaze as she cried herself. It was evident that neither of them knew how to feel about this. The alicorn’s stare frightened her pupil, however. What would happen to her? Was she just a product of Discord now? Would the princess reject her? She had so many questions permeate her mind as she turned back to Pinkie Pie.

“Please, I just…” Pinkie Pie stammered as Twilight’s hoof slamming against her cheek cut her off.

The earth pony squealed as her neck snapped to the side. Her eyes went wide in disbelief. Twilight hit her. Twilight Sparkle, her best friend, the mare she risked everything for just hit her. This was a nightmare that she hadn’t even considered. She turned back to Twilight, sobbing, as the unicorn put her hooves around Pinkie Pie bringing the party planner into a hug.

“Pinkie…what have you done?” Twilight whispered, holding her only friend.

Pinkie Pie returned the hug with equal gusto. She hadn’t expected to be hit, but she couldn’t blame her. She’d betrayed everything they stood for as elements of harmony. Their trials, adventures and everything they survived together. But she did it to save her best friend. She was more confused than ever, so she did the only thing she could do right now. She cried. She sobbed into Twilight’s shoulder, letting out the guilt that plagued her through tears. After a few minutes, Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle separated. The earth mare wiped the tears from her eyes, as she turned towards Princess Celestia, bowing.

“I…I’m sorry I released Discord, Princess, but I…I just didn’t see any other way to help! To help any of us!” she said.

“Pinkie Pie…what you’ve done…it’s…I know, Pinkie Pie. I understand. But, look around you. Look at what’s happened!” the sun princess stammered.

“Please, please don’t hate me!” Pinkie cried, falling to her belly, putting her hooves over her head, shivering.

She waited for an answer, but none came. One minute passed, then two, and no answer, no reassurance was given to her, and it only made her cry harder. She felt herself covered in what felt like a blanket, as she opened her eyes. Princess Celestia had draped her wing over her. She looked up at the monarch questioningly.

“No, Pinkie Pie. I don’t hate you,” she said, nuzzling her subject.

“Y…you don’t?” Pinkie Pie asked genuinely.

“No, Pinkie Pie. What you did was wrong, but I could never fault you for the reasons you did it. I have no doubt that you truly wanted to bring Twilight back to us so we all could be happy again,” she explained.

Twilight Sparkle turned away from the pair as she approached Discord cautiously. Her mind needed to understand what happened.

“So, you really brought me back?” she asked.

“Well, of course I did! So, I believe a ‘thank you’ is in order, don’t you?” he said.

“Why? I…I mean, as grateful as I want to be, I…why help me?” she pressed.

“Tsk, tsk. You’re rushing things, my dear. We have plenty more to cover before we address that issue,” he replied.

“’Plenty more to cover?’ what the hay is that supposed to mean?!?” Applejack shouted.

“Well, since you’re so eager, why not start with you! Gather ‘round, gather round everyone! It’s time to start the next part of our little tale!” the Draconequus announced.

The magical orb returned as everyone gathered around it once more. A spotlight illuminated Discord as he cleared his throat.

“Well after Celestia’s pet bug got squashed, the rest of her merry mares came here for shall we say, ‘professional help.’ How good of the princesses to offer such support, right? But, did this aid really make a difference? Let’s find out!” he said.

The area went dark as the orb once again sprung to life. Suddenly, Applejack and Fluttershy’s forms appeared on the ethereal projector screen. They both recognized the scene from that night in the gardens when Fluttershy tried to run away. The scene played out in front of them and the rest of the audience. The two former element bearers turned away, embarrassed as their dialogue filled the air. Once it was over, light once again filled the area as Discord approached the two.

“So, I guess you were lying the whole time about being scared of Twilight, weren’t you? Or did you just make that up to trick Fluttershy into staying?” he questioned.

“Wh…what?!? No! Ah…Ah just…” she stammered as Discord turned to Fluttershy.

“And just what kind of friend are you, hmm? I thought FRIENDS stuck together! Through anything! Apparently not, former element of kindness!” he berated.

“But…I…IT WASN’T MY FAULT!” Fluttershy screamed through tears, her face reddening with each passing second.

“Oh? How about this? Was this ‘not your fault’ either?” he countered.

Darkness fell once again as the Orb activated. At first, they saw nothing, as a faint sound increased in volume little by little. Fluttershy gasped as she recognized it.

‘Singing!’ she thought as she brought her left hoof to her mouth.

Soon, the pegasus’ drunken form danced in the orb while conversing with Applejack, Rarity and an injured Rainbow Dash. The scene played out in front of everyone. The crowd jumped when Fluttershy crashed through the glass. Then she heard her own voice speak, breaking her heart.

“I…I just didn’t want to be scared anymore!”

She felt all eyes turn towards her, the looks of pity reigning down. She felt suffocated by them.

“An entire bottle of wine? THAT’S how you solve your problems? Are you really that weak?” Discord questioned.

“Who are you to judge me?!? Who are any of you?!? Huh?!?” she shouted, turning towards the crowd.

“Wh…Fluttershy, what do you mean?” Princess Luna asked.

I HAD NOBODY! NO ONE! I WAS ALONE! RAINBOW DASH HAD YOU, TWILIGHT HAD PRINCESS CELESTIA, APPLEJACK HAD HER BROTHER, AND RARITY AND PINKIE PIE DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME! YOU WANT TO HEAR ME SAY IT?!? FINE! I’M WEAK! I WASN’T STRONG ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH THIS ALONE, SO I…I…” she screamed.

“I…I was brought here for help, just like Discord said, but…in the end…I was abandoned. No one really cared about me,” she continued.

“No. No they didn’t, did they?” Discord said as he patted her on the head.

“GET AWAY FROM HER!” Applejack yelled as she charged forward.

“Really? Defending her? I figured after all of your fights you really wouldn’t be in her corner,” he stated as the magic sphere sprang to life once again.

All the fights between the earth pony and pegasus were shone in succession. Ponies gasped and whispered amongst themselves during the louder moments. Once the embarrassing show ceased, Applejack and Fluttershy just stared at the ground. They both felt ashamed and powerless to stop the chaos-bringer from making them relive these moments they’d wish to forget. Rainbow Dash walked up to both of them, her ears drooping.

“I…I had no idea things between you two had gotten that bad,” she whispered.

“Well it did, Rainbow Dash. Not that you care. After all, it’s not like you have any loyalty left in you,” Discord countered.

“Shut up!” the pegasus snapped.

“Oh, did I hit a nerve? Perhaps your activities with Pinkie Pie will enlighten us as to the cause of your attitude,” he said, motioning once again to the ethereal sphere.

It ignited once again, showing all of the fights between Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. While Pinkie Pie hid her head in shame, Rainbow Dash looked on, her anger growing exponentially with every word said. When it was over, the crowd turned to the young flyer giving her questioning looks. She immediately took the defensive.

“What?!? She…I…JUST SHUT UP!” she shouted.

“Is…is that…Rainbow Dash, did you really wish that I’d stayed dead?” Twilight asked, walking towards her former friend.

The pegasus stared at her dumbfounded. She was in front of a crowd and still unsure of her feelings. She’d been working through them with Princess Luna, but there were still grand points that she was still debating within herself. After a few moments, Twilight sighed, looking away as more tears streaked down her face.

“Twilight, that’s not….” Rainbow Dash started before the unicorn cut her off.

“Save it, Rainbow! At least you aren’t a liar, but you certainly aren’t loyal!” she yelled as she turned to walk away.

“Wait! That’s not…THE BASEMENT!” the pegasus shouted back.

“The…the basement? What are you talking about?” Twilight inquired over her shoulder.

“Look, when I was in that basement and I got my hoof caught, it was the scariest thing I’d ever gone through. I couldn’t turn around, so all I kept hearing was you…my…my best friend…kicking my other best friend’s tail in. You…you were killing her, Twilight! And…and not only couldn’t I do anything about it, I…I…” Rainbow Dash said.

“You were afraid you’d be next,” Twilight finished, her ears flattening.

It was too much for the pegasus to take. Discord had made her relive every moment of the nightmare that they’d all been through. She slowly dropped to the ground as sobs left her throat.

“Yeah. I…I didn’t want you to try and kill me again! And when you started changing again, I…I…” she stammered as she felt Princess Luna’s wing wash over her comforting her.

Fluttershy was furious. She stomped her front hooves in frustration, yet no one noticed, which just made her angrier. Finally, she screamed as loud as she could before baring her teeth like a timber wolf. Rarity was by her side in a heartbeat.

“Fluttershy, dear, what’s the matter?!?” she inquired.

“THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! RAINBOW MAKES AN ADMISSION AND SHE GETS THE COMFORT OF A PRINCESS! I…I DO THE SAME THING, AND WHAT DO I GET?!? NOTHING! YOU ALL HATE ME, DON’T YOU?!?” she cried as loud as her lungs would allow.

Rarity attempted to console the pegasus, but the animal lover pushed her away, causing the crowd to gasp. Discord walked over to her slowly, his smile finally dropped.

“You know, I believe you’re right, Fluttershy,” he said.

“Oh, what do you know, huh?!?” Rainbow Dash shouted.

“The real question, Rainbow Dash is, ‘Are you really that stupid?’” he countered.

“What?” she asked, confusion plastered on her face.

“Rainbow, Fluttershy is the most timid of ponies. She went through the same experience as the rest of you did. How did you honestly think she’d react to all of this? She even told me once that she was weak and helpless and that she appreciated her friends’ understanding. Did you really think this wouldn’t cause her severe trauma?” he pressed.

Rainbow Dash was unable to answer. Her mouth hung open in surprise. She’d never really thought of it that way, yet once Discord spelled it out for her, it floored her that she hadn’t seen it sooner. Her head drooped as she turned to Fluttershy.

“Sorry,” she muttered.

“I don’t think she wants to hear from you right now,” Discord whispered in Rainbow’s ear.

“Discord, that’s enough! What is the point of all this? What is it that you’re really trying to do here?” Princess Celestia said glaring at the Draconequus.

“What am I trying to do, you ask? Well, have you ever heard the phrase, ‘The truth shall set you free?’ speaking of doing, why don’t we take a look at what you’ve been up to these past few months, shall we?” Discord sneered.

Celestia’s eyes went wide as she looked back to the group of ponies behind her. By this point the former element bearers and the royal guards already knew what had transpired. However, there were many other ponies present. Shining Armor, Cadence, family members, most of which she recognized. However, there were others that she didn’t. Who were they? They weren’t part of the palace staff, so where did they come from? She examined their cutie marks, but they didn’t really tell her anything. They seemed confused, withdrawn, and only spoke amongst themselves. One had a pencil cutie mark. Another had a notepad. What was the connection? The activation of the sphere snapped her attention back to the Discord and his magic. Her mouth dropped at the sight.

‘This…this was the first experiment with the telepod!’ she thought as she brought her right hoof to her mouth.

“Discord, don’t do this,” she requested.

“No, Tia. I will do this. They deserve to know the truth,” he stated evenly as he stood back letting the crowd watch.

It was horrible. Every image of the telepod’s failures flew across the ethereal screen, causing the ponies present to gasp, gag, and even scream in horror. When it came time for the last experiment where the scientist was killed, Celestia forced herself to watch. Tears rolled down her eyes as she saw the beast of her own creating sink its teeth into the poor scientist’s throat killing him. She lowered her head after she saw herself snap the neck of the monster, causing more screams and gasps. Finally, the sphere deactivated, as all eyes turned to the princess of the sun. She returned their gaze, but did not say anything. She couldn’t, no matter how much those eyes begged for her to say that it wasn’t real, and that Discord had made it all up. But it wasn’t. It was real. The look that broke her heart the most was Fluttershy’s. It was one of the worst looks of betrayal she’d ever seen. The Draconequus cleared his throat, getting everyone’s attention.

“Do you see what she did, ponies?!? This is your leader! The princess of Equestria, in an attempt to cure her precious student, sent innocent animals to their deaths! A scientist was even killed! Does she even deserve to be your leader?!? She’s a murderer!” he shouted as he pointed at the elder alicorn.

“Discord, that’s…that isn’t…” she started before he cut her off.

“Oh, you owe me no explanation. However, I do believe you owe her one,” Discord said as he stepped aside revealing a unicorn mare.

The mare had a dark blue coat with white hair and a stethoscope a cutie mark. Tears streamed down her face as she approached the princess. She spoke once she was in front of the monarch.

“How…how could you let this happen?!? You…you knew the danger, and yet…YOU LET MY HUSBAND WORK ON THE PROJECT ANYWAY!” she screamed in anger as she fell to the floor her body wracked with sobs.

The princess was flabbergasted. She had never expected this. Was there anything that she could possibly say that could help? Could she do anything to put her at ease, even for just a moment? She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Finally, the mare rose, running back into the crowd, tears still dripping from her face.

“Way to go, Tia. Is this how a leader is supposed to act?!? Is this how you take care of your citizens?!?” Discord pressed as he walked up to her, his paws behind his back.

She started up at him in defiance, but she had no energy nor standing to oppose him. He was right. In order to save Twilight Sparkle, she’d done horrible, terrible things. And nothing she could do or say would make it right. Finally, she whispered a few words, the only ones she could.

“I…I’m sorry,” she said.

“Oh, good for you! I really felt that one!” Discord mocked.

“This is not a joke, Discord! When Twilight came back, it was the greatest day of my life! I…I felt like a mother who’d lost her child and then that child showed up one day! But…but after she started to change again, I…I got desperate, and…”she explained before a voice cut her off.

“Wait, how…how long has she been back here? Princess, when exactly did my little sister come back to life?!?” Shining Armor said as he and the rest of Twilight’s family stomped forward.

“Shining, please, you have to understand…” she began again before he interrupted.

“How long, Princess?!?” he pressed.

“About…about two months…give or take,” she answered, her ears flattening.

Shining’s eyes narrowed as he grit his teeth. He couldn’t believe it. The princess of Equestria herself, the monarch he served faithfully for years, had just admitted to keeping vital information about his family to herself. He was livid in a way he never thought possible. He was about to say something else when a blur passed his right side. His eyes widened as the shape came into view.

“MOM, DON’T!” he screamed as he ran after her.

The mare tried to tackle the princess but was held back by a few of the royal guards. Shining had enough. Seeing his mother manhandled by his own brothers was too much for him to take. He grunted loudly as he activated his horn, encapsulating the guards in magic and tossing them to the other side of the court yard. He then rushed up as fast as he could and luckily he and his father were able to gently hold the raging mare in place.

“HOW DARE YOU?!? HOW DARE YOU NOT TELL US?!? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WE’VE BEEN THROUGH?!?” she bellowed, as she still struggled to break free from her family’s grasp.

“Please, you must understand, I had a reason I couldn’t tell you. She was like a daughter to me, and…” she explained.

“WELL, SHE’S NOT YOUR DAUGHTER! SHE’S MY DAUGHTER! OUR DAUGHTER! WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD!” she screamed.

“Now, now, I’m sure she has a perfectly good explanation. Don’t you, Tia?” Discord said mockingly.

“The night that Twilight came back, she was beaten severely. We…I wanted to keep her return a secret and within the confines of the palace so it would make it easier to find out who the culprit was,” she answered.

“There! You see? Perfectly good explanation! And it even makes a great Segway into our final reveal of the day, wouldn’t you say, Rarity?” he said, turning towards the unicorn.

“What? Rarity?” Celestia said in confusion.

As all eyes turned to the seamstress, she began to shiver. This was by far her worst nightmare. Everything she’d debated with herself, all those times she agonized over what to do, were now all for naught. She had no choice but to beg their captor to move on without making her relive the horrors she faced.

“Discord, please. If…if you have any decency in you at all, then…please don’t show this. Please, I’m begging you!” she sobbed as she prostrated in front of the Draconequus.

He smiled at her, and using his paw to lift her chin, he leaned in, his mouth right next to her ear.

“No, Rarity. I’m going to make you relive every single second of what you did. And of course, what was done to you. It’s only fair, my dear. After all, you made me relive being sent back into a stone prison, didn’t you?” he whispered, as he straightened up.

“Turnabout is fair play,” he said snapping his fingers, as the orb illuminated once again.

The first scene was a familiar one. The night that Twilight came back. The two unicorns standing there, she heard the words, and that night came back to her. She looked at her hooves, remembering how hard she scrubbed to get the feeling of Twilight’s pounded flesh beneath them off. The crowd once again gasped at the sight of Rarity beating Twilight into the ground, screaming at her. Once the beating ceased and Rarity hugged her fellow unicorn, the orb’s power terminated once again as everyone turned to her. The looks of anger mixed with surprise on everyone’s face told her everything she needed to know. Princess Celestia and Applejack approached her silently.

“It…it was you. This whole time,” Applejack whispered.

“How…how could you do this to her?!?” Princess Celestia roared.

“I…I just…” she stumbled, trying to find the right words as sweat poured from her brow.

“It’s alright. I told Princess Celestia not to pursue it,” Twilight interjected.

“But…why?!?” Rainbow Dash inquired.

“Because…I…I deserved it Rainbow Dash. Everything she said while she was hitting me? It was right. She was right. I…I almost killed you all, and I even beat you and hurt you. This was my fault, and…and I had to pay the price, at least from my…friends,” she explained.

“You’d think after having a coltfriend for a while that she’d be a little less pent up with rage, don’t you?” Discord asked.

“What? Coltfriend? What do you mean by that?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“This,” Discord answered, snapping his fingers.

The sphere started up again, this time showing Rarity and a royal guard in her suite. She gulped as she laid eyes on him again.

“Halberd,” she whispered as she looked on.

After a few moments, they were kissing and soon found their way to the bed. As much as the adult display was uncomfortable, it was still a welcomed change from the more gruesome aspects of the explanations thus far. After a few moments the magic orb ceased showing any images as everyone looked back at Rarity. As she was about to say something, a voice interrupted her.

“You…how could you do this?!?” the female voice cried.

Rarity’s eyes widened as she turned. It was her. Moonbow. Standing right in front of her. She gasped as the mare stalked forward. She had to say something. Anything, but what?

“Moonbow, please, I didn’t know!” she said.

“You were nice to me! And…and it wasn’t because you wanted to honor him for his sacrifice, it was because you felt guilty for SLEEPING WITH MY HUSBAND!” she screamed as she charged forward.

“No, wait, Moonbow, please, he…he never told me!” she pleaded bracing herself for impact.

As Moonbow launched herself at Rarity, her form was stopped in midair by magic. She struggled with all her might to free herself, but she couldn’t as the hold was too strong. Discord broke the spell and stepped in between them.

“Now, as much as I love to watch a good marefight, trust me when I tell you, Rarity did in fact get her comeuppance, so you need not worry,” he stated plainly.

“Discord, please, I’m begging you, don’t!” Rarity pleaded.

Discord just turned to the unicorn and smiled. He brought his paw up slowly as he snapped his fingers, reactivating the sphere.

“No,” Rarity whispered as she buried her head in her hooves.

The scene before the crowd was a familiar one, with Rarity opening the door to her suite. Everyone gasped as she flew backwards, and Twilight Sparkle entered her room. The crowd was littered with gasps and yells of surprise at the fight between the two. Every pony in attendance grimaced at the blows Rarity took at the end of the fight as she surrendered to Twilight pitifully. What came next however was arguably worse. Nothing was left to the group’s imagination as they witnessed Twilight kissing her beaten opponent and then forcing the vanquished unicorn to service her. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie couldn’t believe what they were seeing. It didn’t seem real, but considering how the events had played out so far, this was most certainly true. Moonbow watched on in confusion, and let out a scream once she saw her husband enter the scene with Twilight Sparkle. She cried as Twilight turned to her beloved, kissing him. The orb powered down after that, as Discord turned to the crowd once more.

“Well, I believe you have everything you need now, don’t you? Now, go and do your jobs,” he said, snapping his fingers once again.

The group of seemingly random ponies whom were present for the all of the proceedings were gone. Celestia, as well as her sister and everyone else left in attendance could not believe what they’d just witnessed. Rarity was trembling, as she cradled her head in her hooves. Discord cracked his knuckles as he stretched.

“Well, looks like I’ll have to do some clean up around here,” he said. One by one, Trixie, Braeburn, Twilight’s parents, Shining Armor, Cadence and Big Mac disappeared in puffs of smoke. Applejack screamed as she ran up to Discord.

“Discord, please, mah brother…” she began before the chaos lord cut her off.

“Worry not, Applejack. Your brother is back in the capable hooves of Canterlot’s medical professionals. So, you needn’t worry. Unlike some monarchs I know, I’m not a murderer,” he said with a grin.

“This doesn’t change anything, Discord. We will find a way to stop you and put you back in stone where you belong!” Princess Celestia shouted determination etched onto her face.

What began as a small chuckle turned into a hardy laugh as the master of chaos held his stomach, much to the sun princess’ surprise. Finally, the elder alicorn had enough. Everything had spiraled out of control. Secrets were revealed and explanations given, all of which her spirit and psyche were still reeling from. She’d reached her breaking point. She charged forward, only to stumble right in front of the Draconequus. He quieted down after a few more moments before addressing the sun goddess.

“You still don’t get it, do you? I really thought you’d have figured it out by now,” he said.

“Figured what out?!? What are you talking about?!?” she questioned, her frustration reaching fever pitch.

“Very well. Pop quiz, everyone!” he exclaimed, snapping his fingers.

Graduation caps appeared on all of their heads, except for the princesses who had dunce caps on theirs. This did nothing more than infuriate the monarchs further, but before she could express her anger, Discord spoke up.

“When I was first released, you got the elements of harmony to imprison me again, correct?” he asked.

Everyone present nodded as he continued.

“And what happened after you used the elements of harmony on me?” he pressed.

“Ya disappeared, that’s what!” Applejack snapped.

“And what was the merit of making me disappear?” he inquired.

“What do you mean by that?” Fluttershy said.

“Well, why imprison me? What happened once I disappeared?” he continued.

“Well, everything you did…oh…no…” Twilight stammered as her ears flattened.

Her heart was racing as she backed away. Her breathing became labored as she fell, hugging herself. Discord looked at her smiling.

“She gets it. Granted, she is the scholar of the group, so it’s to be expected,” he said.

“Twilight?!? What happened?!? What is he trying to say?!?” Pinkie Pie said as she and Spike ran over to her.

“It’s simple, Pinkie Pie. You wanted to seal me up again because my magic and I were affecting Equestria. Once I was gone, however, my magic disappeared. So, take the next step, dear. If it was my magic that brought Twilight back to life, then…” he explained.

“Then…then…if you disappear…so will…Twilight…” she answered, lowering her head.

Everyone gasped at the revelation. Celestia’s eyes widened as she clutched her chest. He was right. She couldn’t believe that she hadn’t seen that when he first revealed that he’d brought her student back from the dead. She whimpered as she sat on her haunches. She barely noticed as he walked up to her placing a finger under her chin, lifting her eyes to his.

“What…what does this…” she stuttered.

“It means I win, Celestia. It means I win,” Discord whispered with a smile.

I'm back! Well, I'm healing up pretty well, but I still have a ways to go before I'm back to 100%. Sorry I'm a bit late with this chapter. Hopefully the next one will not be delayed! Enjoy!