Chapter 1

“Dearest Princess Celestia,” began Twilight. She observed Spike writing her words down as she said them. “Friendship, although powerful…” SLAM! Twilight jumped as Spike fell to the floor. He instantaneously began to snore, providing Twilight with relief that harm did not come to the baby purple dragon. “Guess that the letter can wait until tomorrow then…” Twilight whispered to herself. She let out a sigh. If they hadn’t of stayed up late the last night then she could have sent a letter to the Princess tonight. Oh well, tomorrow is as good a day as ever to catch up on her task. She dropped her head onto her pillow and couldn’t be bothered to pull up her sheets as she was pooped from a rough day of running around for her friends. Her eyes began to slowly droop down until she was fast asleep.
KNOCK! KNOCK! Twilight shook herself awake. “Coming!” she yelled. She blinked as her eyes had to adjust to the sudden change of lighting.
“Twilight! Hurry! We all need your help! Something’s happened at the farm!”
“Alright! Hold up! I’m coming!” Twilight tumbled towards the door. She was greeted by all her friends. “What are you girls doing here?” She noticed that AppleJack had a look of terror frozen on her face. Her cheeks showed signs of a recent stream of tears. Twilight became worried that something serious had happened. She went to ask what but she was interrupted by Pinkie Pie.
“Twilight! Follow us.” She looked up and tried to hide a tear and attempted to continue to speak but she couldn’t make the words. The group then lead Twilight back to Sweet Apple Acers and they were greeted with Big Macintosh’s corpse skewered through a scarecrow’s post, the pole going up his anus and through the top of his skull. Blood ran down the pole and was collected in a puddle of blood and faeces at his feet. Big Mac’s face was frozen in a terrified expression, and his eyes stared out towards the barn. Twilight wasn’t prepared to face something so traumatising. She assumed that she was required to go to the farm to assist with apple buck season or to help mend a broken leg at worst.
“Who could have done this?”

Chapter 2

A blinding light appeared before these six ponies. “What the hay?” cried AppleJack, concentrating on the light. “I think I can see somepony somewhere in there.” She was correct about something being in there; however, its silhouette was that of a bipedal standing creature. A hoof stepped out of the light, followed by a lizard’s foot.
Everypony had a look of disbelief on their faces. There he stood, Discord with a cocky smirk occupying his face. “No! That can’t be Discord somepony pinch me!!!!!” blurted out Twilight.
“So be it…” Discord said as he gripped Twilight’s shoulder between his talon’s claws as hard as he could and ripped a chunk of skin and flesh off, exposing part of her shoulder blade.
Twilight screamed in pain. “What was that for?” she demanded from Discord, as she brought her hoof up to cover the fresh wound. All ponies fell silent in fear of a similar incident occuring to them.
“You asked and I obeyed, so now you owe me a favour.” Discord grinned. Rainbow Dash was suddenly filled with courage.
“But, didn’t we kick your butt last time we met?” blurted out Rainbow Dash who was still a bit surprised at Discord's newfound aggressiveness .
His expression became serious. “Listen Rainbow Dash,” he began, “I am a master of illusions and am the spirit of disharmony and chaos. Faking my capture is a sure-fire way to cause chaos amongst you ponies.” Rainbow Dash’s face became red with rage, but she could not find anything to say. Discord cleared his throat, “Now, everypony, we play seriously. My last game was a test. This game is real; therefore, don’t any of you ponies expect to survive its many challenges.”
“Oh yeah? We don’t want to play,” replied Pinkie. Discord grabbed her by the ear and lifted her up. The bottom half of her ear ripped from her head.
“You don’t get a choice!” roared Discord as he tore off the rest of Pinkie’s ear and kicked her to the ground. “And only one of you ponies can play anyway. Twilight, why don’t you choose for me?”
“I’ll do it Twilight! This’ll be easy!” Rainbow Dash said enthusiastically as she began to stretch for the challenge. “What game are we playing anyway?”
“I nominate myself,” Twilight shouted. Discord’s eyes lit up.
“Really? How interesting… although that was to be expected. Your friendship is strong, I see. Hmm… Exactly how strong it is will become apparent over these challenges. Seeing as I am here right now, I might as well start your challenges.” He turned to face AppleJack. “My dear AppleJack, how can you trust others…”
“It’s my game, so you should be talking to me!” shouted Twilight.
“Oh sorry everypony, I forgot the rules.” Discord explained. “Rule 1: There are only two rounds for each pony. Rule 2: Only Twilight chooses if the pony it is for takes the punishment or if she takes it herself.”
“Punishment?” asked Twilight.
“Rule 3: The punishment will be hinted at by me; however I will not give you an exact idea as to what you must do. If you incorrectly punish yourself, the other pony will receive the punishment regardless. And finally Rule 4: Twilight must disfigure herself, unassisted. Now where was I? Ah, yes. AppleJack, how can you trust others to be honest when you can no longer hear?”
AppleJack looked at Discord in confusion. “I can hear perfectly fine. What point are ya tryin’ to make here?”
“Are you going to take the punishment Twilight?” asked Discord.
“Yes. I will take the punishment.” She sighed. Everything went quiet. “What’s happening Discord?”
“Hmm? Oh yes. You must disfigure yourself. Nopony can help you.”
“I won’t do that unless you tell me what I have to do!” And as soon as Twilight spoke that last syllable, AppleJack’s ears burst, spraying blood all over everypony. AppleJack screeched in pain.
“What? I can’t hear no more!” she cried out. “Discord! You did this!”

Chapter 3

“I am merely following my part of the bargain.” He casually announced. AppleJack tried to read his lips, but she found it too hard. Blood was steadily oozing out of her new ear holes. AppleJack felt faint and her face began to become pale. She had to hold onto Rainbow Dash just to stop from collapsing. “You might want to stop yourself from passing out, as it is your turn again after I’m done with every other pony.” Discord let out a chuckle. “Next up is Pinkie Pie. So, Pinkie, would you think it funny if this bone were to break?”
“Bone, what bone? Wait! Do you mean my funny bone?” asked Pinkie, still shaking from AppleJack’s sudden ear explosion. Discord appeared not to listen and seemed to be more interested with something else.
“What else could you break?” replied Twilight. “But don’t worry. I guess that I should take your punishment.” She lifted her hoof from her shoulder and observed the exposed bone. It hurt unlike anything; however, she would now have to break a bone deliberately, unassisted. She galloped over to the barn in a search for tools that could aid her. She found a sheet to cover her shoulder wound and searched for the most painless way of breaking her funny bone. She saw a plough, a rake, a shovel and an anvil. Twilight ran over to the anvil and readied herself for the upcoming pain. She imagined scenarios of failing. Not only would she have hurt herself, Pinkie would also have a broken funny bone. Twilight tried to slow her breathing. She then closed her eyes. 3. 2. 1. She slammed her leg into the anvil, instantly shattering her wrist, missing the funny bone completely. Twilight let out a bloodcurdling scream. She checked her hoof. It was drooping down at an unnatural angle. The site that she slammed it had become a darker shade of purple. Panicking, she began to slam her hoof into the wall. She tried to break her elbow, but her hoof kept on flailing about and getting in the way. Eventually Twilight passed out from shock.
Twilight awoke with her friends crowded around her. She let out a sigh of relief. “I just had the craziest dream.” she said. She went to wipe the sweat off her head but the pain in her wrist came back, as well as the sudden realisation that this most certainly was not a dream. Twilight then remembered that she did not manage to break her funny bone. “Pinkie! Are you okay?” she screamed. The pink pony hopped into view.
“What’s up Twilight? I’m fine. You broke your bone, so he would have no reason to break mine, right?” replied Pinkie Pie. All of a sudden, Pinkie’s arm was raised into the sky. “HELP! WHAT’S GOING ON?!? YOU DIDN’T BREAK YOUR ARM?” screamed Pinkie Pie. Apples began to fly towards her arm; some hit it, while others hit her face. An apple smashed into her nose, breaking it. Apples bounced off her arm until a large crack was heard that echoed throughout the many fields that occupied Sweet Apple Acers. Pinkie Pie’s arm was now broken, but the apple assault had yet to cease. With her arm being battered into an unnatural position, her bone tore through her skin, showing everypony the damage that was done. The apples didn’t stop until only a small tether of skin connected her arm to her body. Blood was squirting everywhere, mixing with Big Mac’s and AppleJack’s in a sickening puddle of dark red. Pinkie was thrown at the ground, instantly knocking her out and ripping off her arm in the process. AppleJack turned to face Twilight.
“Yet again you ruin everything. Shows how much you care for your friends.” She said as she turned around and trotted off.

Chapter 4

“No AppleJack! I tried all I could!” But her efforts to inform AppleJack of the truth were all for nothing as her ears were destroyed and she didn’t look back. Suddenly Discord appeared in a white flash before the ponies. He looked down at the unconscious Pinkie Pie.
“Looks like you didn’t complete that last challenge, eh?” he said triumphantly. “You really need to actually try to save your friends, but I kind of like your self-preservation style. Keep it up and you just might survive until the end.” Twilight looked down at her broken wrist. Self-preservation? She tried as hard as she could to break her funny bone. How could she miss? “Alright! Next pony to face Twilight’s judgement is…” Discord studied the ponies carefully. The only ponies remaining were Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity. He fiddled with his goatee as he pondered the decision that he needed to make. Suddenly, he let out a soft, evil chuckle. He pressed his fingertips together. “Now, Rarity… are we ready for our challenge?” but before she could reply Discord continued his speech, “My dear Rarity, when you have got nothing left to give, sometimes you would lend a hand, or in your case a hoof?”
“Stop it Discord! Please!” Rarity screamed, believing that she would receive some sort of disfigurement. “I’ll give you anything! Just leave us alone!” Discord let out a sigh, but just wouldn’t stop torturing these ponies.
“Rarity, we need to work together!” insisted Twilight, “we won’t be able to pull through this otherwise!”
“But whatever do we do? He told me to lend you a hoof. What does that mean?” Rarity said, panicking.
“Lend a hoof… lend a hoof…” Twilight repeated, her mind racing, trying to deduce what it was that Discord meant. She closed her eyes and brought her hoof up to her face. She instantly grabbed it and winced in pain as she had forgotten again about her broken wrist. Rarity glanced up at Twilight holding her hoof and her eyes widened up.
“Twilight! That’s it! Lend a hoof! Give away a hoof!” Rarity suddenly realised what he had meant and hung her head low. “I think he wants you to amputate your hoof.” She sighed.
“What? My hoof? But… but… my… it’s not fair! Why does it have to be me?” She cried out. Discord chuckled in delight. Rarity turned to Twilight.
“Please Twilight… without my hoof, my fashion days would be over. I would become hideous and the world would forever know me as the missing hoof mare.” She raised a hoof up to wipe a tear that was forming in her eye. Twilight took a deep breath. She lifted the shovel out of the barn with her magic and steadied it above her broken hoof. She went to turn her head, but she remembered what had happened last time she didn’t look. Twilight lifted the shovel just a meter higher and she could feel her breathing becoming rapid. Her heart was beating a million miles per hour. This is it, she thought to herself, no turning back now. She thrust the shovel into her arm, burying itself only half-way through. Above Twilight’s screaming was the audible crunch of broken bones cracking at the site of the impact. She removed the shovel to prepare it for another go. Tears were streaming from her eyes and blood came spurting out of her arm. She sent the spade down a second time, this time completely severing her hoof from her arm. Discord looked at her in disbelief.

Chapter 5

“Wow Twilight. Your efforts so far should be commended. You cut off your own hoof to save Rarity’s, but does it feel worth it?” he asked with a sympathetic look on his face. He gave Twilight a match. “Use this to cauterize it. We can’t have you dying from blood loss now, can we? You still have… hmm… seven more challenges to overcome.” Twilight lit the match with her good hoof and held it up against the wound. Her arm sizzled but the bleeding eventually slowed down enough for her to cover it with a sheet. Rarity hugged Twilight.
“Twilight, you don’t know how much that meant to me. Thank you!” she said in appreciation of Twilight’s sacrifice.
“I can’t keep doing this. I’m going to have to pull out… It’s too much.” cried out Twilight.
“But you don’t have a choice, after all, you did nominate yourself to go through my little game.” replied Discord.
“You know what Discord? Go to hell, and take your game with you! I’m leaving!” Twilight hobbled off back towards her house accompanied by three of her friends. Discord snapped his fingers. The path the ponies were about to take became a never-ending road that appeared to go on forever.
“Go ahead! Leave my game! Travel this path to your death for all I care!” Discord was furious.
“Fine! Goodbye forever Discord!” screamed Twilight.
“Um… Twilight! What about AppleJack and Pinkie Pie? We can’t just leave them behind!” asked Rainbow Dash, concerned. Twilight slowly turned to face Rainbow Dash. Sparks were emanating from her mane.
“What about AppleJack and Pinkie Pie?” Twilight demanded. Discord grinned at the chaos he had started.
“Well… you see… Pinkie…” Rainbow Dash began. Twilight’s eyes stared into hers, destroying all of Rainbow Dash’s confidence in providing her with a reasonable explanation to stay and help her friends, rather than walking off never to be seen again. There were reasons, however Dash’s mind kept on drawing at blanks and Twilight’s death stare didn’t help either.
“TWILIGHT!” shouted Pinkie Pie, recently awoken by a burning spark from Twilight’s mane. “Look at yourself Twilight! You’re becoming the very thing that you’re against! That’s almost as crazy as… well, if Rainbow Dash were a cupcake or something, right Dash?” Rainbow Dash nodded in approval. “You see Twilight, your friendship is magic, and that’s the very thing that we need right now, a good friend!” And with that Twilight’s mane was extinguished and her spirit was lifted.
“So, Twilight! Are you staying or are you leaving?” Discord asked, almost certain that she would leave her friends.
“I’m ready for your next challenge Discord! Do your worst!” replied Twilight enthusiastically. Discord was genuinely surprised, so surprised he even choked on his breath.
“Impossible! I won’t allow this! There must be cheating somewhere! You should have pulled out by now!” Discord blurted out. He took a deep breath. “Never mind that. We must wrap this game up quickly. Whose turn is it? Oh Fluttershy! Come on down!” Fluttershy squeaked as her name was mentioned. “Okay Fluttershy! You have an advantage over earth ponies, so would you be kind and level the playing field?” Twilight examined Fluttershy carefully. What did she have that no earth pony would have? Of course! Her wings! But Twilight didn’t have wings, but she did have a horn. That must be what Discord meant. Twilight plunged her horn into the ground and jerked her head to the side in an attempt to snap it off, but all she was doing was digging a hole. Unicorn horns are hard to break, as they are a part of the skull.

To be continued...