“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...