I awoke to the sounds of birds chirping and talk outside. I groaned, and looked at my surroundings. I was in my clothes from yesterday, and forgetting to bring any clothes, was in need of an outfit. I then noticed there was someone munching on a bowl of cereal at the desk seat. She waved at me, and greeted, "Hello. I noticed you last night sleeping in my spot."

"Oh, this is yours?" I immediately got out of the bed and was up. "I'm so sorry, I just-!" She laughed at me, and continued to eat. With her mouth full, she said, "I assure you, it's no problem. I'm just not used to the top bunk." She set her bowl on the desk and got up, extending a hand for me to shake. "I'm Jackie, sophomore. I'm actually your age, but I skipped ahead."

"Oh, I'm Mary." I shook her hand back. We both then turned to her clock. She sighed, "Can I look at your schedule?" I nodded, and pulled it out of my back pocket. She looked at it, and then looked over her own. "Oh, I see. We both have the same homeroom and first classes. I'm taking a Mythology course first period with you. It's actually really fun. The teacher's Mrs. Romore, the principal. I'm sure you've met her."

"I have. And…what's Mythology like?" She opened the door for me and I followed her out, since I was already dressed. Jade explained, "There's really no curriculum for it. She usually makes up stuff as we go 'cause it's an elective; easy credit, if you ask me." I laughed at that. "But she gets really into this one mythos that comes from a group called the Equalites. She claims no one's heard of them but her. Everyone knows she's just making that one up."

Her voice cracked at the last sentence, almost as if she was hiding something. I ignored it, and asked, "So, where do you guys get food around this place?" She pointed to a nearby building, and replied, "That's where you want to go; that's the MainBuilding. There's where the principal's office is, cafeteria, and most of the main classes."

We walked there, and found the cafeteria rather quickly because of the beautiful smell of food wafting from it. I found out that all our meals would be made here, and that we could have whatever we wanted. I got a pop tart and some yogurt, which was pretty light, even for me. But because I was so late getting up, there were few students there and we had to race all the way to the WestBuilding. That's where Mythology was.

Finishing up my breakfast, I threw whatever was left in a nearby trashcan and me and Jackie both went into the Mythology class. I sat next to her, and noticed a familiar someone next to me. It was Charlie, and he was now wearing a brown shirt and a yellow hoodie over it. He waved at me, and I waved back.

"Alright, students," Principal Romore said, getting everyone's attention as she entered the classroom. "All of you should know who I am, so we can skip introductions. Today, and for most of the early school year, we'll be learning about the Equalites. Now, the Equalites were composed of three different races, so they believed. Now, there were regular people, then there were the mages, and finally, we have the angels…"

"Five hundred years.

"Five.

"Stinking.

"Hundred.

"Years."

"I-it could always be worse…"

"Worse? Name one way how Discord, who's viciously guarding the Elements from us, has thrown nature totally out of whack, and is even mutating poor defenseless ponies out there even more than he has now, could be worse?"

Silence was all Fluttershy could think and say. Rainbow Dash sighed, and opened up one of the soda cans that they had on reserves. She had to admit, there were some perks to having hands. But she was done with the perks of being human and immortal. She knew that being immortal meant living forever, and that meant that Discord would toy with them forever.

"See?" RD pointed out her friend's prolonged silence. "This is why I only let you in here. We get weekly visits from Discord….Heaven knows why he still comes. He knows I will protect you mercilessly. You're the first friend I came searching for, and we'll survive this together."

At least, Rainbow hoped they would. They were trapped in Fluttershy's cottage, thanks to her for boarding up the doors. Fluttershy no longer looked after any animals; they were all mutated by Discord, and were vicious, mindless monsters. It was any luck if anypony got in. But boy, did they try.

"Hey!" RD turned to the door. She heard an unfamiliar voice, and whoever it was was banging at the door. The rainbow-haired girl stood, and grabbed her only weapon: an old sword. Her wings made her intimidating to some creatures, so she spread them out. She shouted, pointing her sword towards the door, "Show yourself!"

Whatever was on the other side of the door soon did, and busted open the door. Like RD, it was a former pegusi, because it was humanoid and had wings. She had yellow wings, and orange-red hair that looked like fire. She was wearing a yellow tank top, and instead of wearing regular pants, she seemed to be wearing a whole-body uniform that's top half was tied around her waist. Rainbow Dash identified her in an instant. "Sp-Spitfire?"

"Shh!" the Wonderbolt shushed her. "Discord knows my name, but I don't think he spotted me. Or any of the other agents of chaos…" RD knew that's what people called Discord's lackeys. They were those who wanted him freed from stone a long time before, or poor ponies corrupted into working for him. She put her sword down, but still gripped it tight. She asked, "How do I know you're not one of them? And why are you here?"

Spitfire decided it would be best to answer the first question. "Discord has reached Cloudsdale. Some helpful unicorns put an enchantment over it long ago…but five hundred years have really worn it down. Pegusi have been trying to hold off Discord's chaos. Even our team…we need everypony's help. Are you in?" Again, she found the sword at her chest. Rainbow Dash asked, slightly irritated, "Why should I help you? Just so I can give up everything I care about again?"

"RD, we know the story. We know what happened to you. It wasn't your decision; you were at Discord's will. Your friends all were. Come on, RD. Your real hometown needs you. You can even bring 'Shy if you want." Rainbow turned to look at Fluttershy. Tears started to form in both the friends' eyes. RD nervously said, "F-Fluttershy, come with us…it'll be safer…"

"N-No…" her friend weakly said back. "You…go and fight for your cause. I'll be brave. I know I can be…" RD gave a look that said, "you sure?" Fluttershy nodded, and she watched as RD and Spitfire flew off, the Wonderbolt stating, "Hurry! There isn't much time!" Fluttershy, for what seemed like forever, saw the dying landscape outside. Up above and in the distance, she saw Cloudsdale, falling apart and being attacked by a black swarm of probably some of Discord's deadliest creations.

After seeing the horrifying sight, she closed the door. She soon got the door re-boarded up, and quickly got back in the corner she was hiding in. She said to herself, "I'll be as brave as I can…and let my spirit die alone…"

I heard a bell ring, almost sounding far-off. I shot up from sleep soon enough. The class was deserted, except for Mrs. Romore, who was straightening up some books on her desk. She immediately noticed me, and exclaimed, "Oh! You're awake! Don't worry; I'm not disappointed in you. You're mom told me you had narcolepsy. I'll just write you a pass for next class."

"Really?" I sounded a little too ecstatic. My narcolepsy, now that I know what it's called, hasn't gotten in too many bad situations, considering it just appeared recently. But, I'm glad somebody has my back through it. She replied, taking out a purple slip from her desk, "Sure, sure; it's no problem. But I'm sure the next teacher will have a problem: Mrs. Bonaparte. You shouldn't worry, though. Her friend, who helps her run the class, usually helps Mrs. Bon chill out."

"I…really should be heading to this dreaded teacher, then." The principal nodded and smiled at me, and handed me the purple slip that gave me an excuse. I headed on my way to the next class. I went all the way to the MainBuilding, and I had to be quick. I got to the History room, and quickly found a spot next to Charlie fortunately, but unfortunately, I interrupted the entire class.

"Miss Jacobs!" The teacher, who I indentified as Mrs. Bonaparte yelled. "Would you mind telling me why you are late?" Someone swooped in behind me and took my purple slip. I would've thought it was a student; she was a dirty blonde, like me, and had a white streak through her hair. She wore all light teal, tank top and capris matching. She looked at my slip in admiration. "Bon, she's got a slip." She whistled as she looked at the signature. "From the principal too; nice job, kid."

"Lyra…" Mrs. Bonaparte groaned, pulling out a hand. "Give that slip to me. You are very lucky you have Mrs. Romore as your first class." Lyra, since that seemed to be her name, ran to Mrs. Bonaparte's side and slapped the slip into her hand. Class resumed, and I took this time to note the History teacher's appearance. She was a brunette, but her hair was also black to one side. She wore a dark ruby dress suit and I noticed a light yellow shirt poking through.

"Psst!" someone whispered to me. I turned to see Charlie, and he smiled. "Are you okay? You sort of passed out in Mythology."

"I did." I whispered, trying not to interrupt the lesson. "I just found out I have something called narcolepsy. But…what's the History teacher's deal?"

"Oh, she's real nasty. Luckily, she has Lyra-she insists we call her by her first name- to keep her calm. Plus, how do you think somebody as crabby as that became a Mrs.?"

"Oh. Well, it makes sense…." Silence surrounded us until I thought of a new subject. "Okay, new question: Why do you, a sophomore, have all the same classes as me, a freshman?"

"I dunno. Ask Principal Romore if you're so curious." I shrugged it off and sat through the rest of the class, taking any notes I could with paper lent from Charlie. I heard the bell ring, and we got out of class. As soon as we were in the hallway, Charlie looked to me, and stated, "You know, you can sit with me and my friends at lunch today. Also, I glanced at you schedule while you were asleep; Looks like this is your free period. Most students use it to do what they want."

That gave me the opportunity to sleep so my thing wouldn't get in the way of classes; or mean teachers, for that matter. I ran to my dorm and leapt on top of the bed, starting to sleep my worries of narcolepsy away.

"Fluttershy…Oh, Fluttershy….it's been a while, hasn't it?"

Silence.

"You know what I've noticed after about five centuries? That you haven't been doing your job."

More silence. Like she would want to talk to him anyway…

"Your job is to take care of the animals, right? Maybe I should send some animals to be taken in your care…" Now she dreaded she had stayed silent, which is exactly what he wanted. She whimpered as she started to hear growls and roars coming from behind the front door. "You've dealt with the manticore before, haven't you? And you should know from what Twilight has told you that the Ursa Minor is just a big ol' softie…"

"G-get them away!" the frightened Fluttershy yelled, backing up to the wall. She could hear vicious howls, and could see the beasts clawing at the boarded-up doors and windows. The boards looked like they would fly off at any second.

"You're going to have to choose, Fluttershy…" he sing-songed. He flashed in, right next to the frightened Pegasus. He ran a lion paw through her hair, and whispered in her ear, "Give me everything you care about, everything you stand for, and I'll make the monsters go away; it's as simple as that."

Fluttershy hated when he tried to deal with her. He knew she was strong, from the moment she was alone in the labyrinth. The Pegasus stated, her voice calm and keeping its flow, "Discord...I face against you, every day. I don't think those monsters out there could be any worse than you." Discord growled a bit under his breath, the roaring and vicious noises outside disappearing.

"Maybe you didn't get the point after all these years; sometimes, good little mares need to be PUT IN THEIR PLACE!" It all happened so fast; something came through the semi-boarded door and put itself around Fluttershy. She thought it was a unicorn at first, using a force-field around her, but her closest unicorn friends were too far away to help her. She thought maybe RD had come back to save her, but last time she checked, the battle in Cloudsdale was still raging on.

Discord flashed out before either of the two could see what had blocked her corruption. Fluttershy opened her eyes and saw…Big Macintosh, to her utmost surprise, groaning as the corruption tried to overtake him. She gasped, "Big Mac!? Wh-what are you doing here?"

"I…I came back for you…" Big Mac groaned, trying to keep strong against his body turning grey. The light faded, and Fluttershy saw blotches of grey all over his body, and from the look on his face, they must've hurt more than a kick to the crotch. She had to be quick. She ran to the kitchen in fury, and picked up the medical kit she kept there. The yellow Pegasus started to put gauze around the areas his skin was grayed, and kissed a spot on his forehead where it was desaturated. She asked, "Do you feel any better?"

"I do now…" he laughed as the desaturated spot she kissed faded away, taking away a great deal of the pain.