Disclaimer: I don't own MLP.
Heart and Hooves Day hadn't been the kindest of holidays to Rarity. She had always longed for a romantic evening full of at least memorable moments if not eternal love. Well, she was finally being given a memorable moment.
She'd wanted to create the perfect evening for Ponyville's lucky couples with dancing and fine dining, but had managed an unforgettable nightmare. Worst yet, she had singled hoof-edly endangered everypony she cared about because she was too greedy to recognize the great gift she had in their friendship.
And now the safety of all her friends teetered precariously on Discord's shoulders.
Rarity was standing dumbstruck by what appeared to be Discord covered in flour pretending to be a windigo. Was this meant to be her saving grace, or was this just chaos playing yet another cruel trick on her?
It all seemed a confusing blur as Discord ushered Starlight toward the mansion. Rarity didn't know if she should play along or even if this was part of a bigger plan Discord had concocted. Had the Casting Stone done something?
Discord threw open the doors to the mansion as Starlight ventured forth.
Well, windigo levels of madness had been what Starlight asked for and that's what she was getting. Rarity wasn't certain how the entire ballroom had been turned on its head, but her 'windigo' had done just that.
A wicked smile grew on Starlight's face as she basked in the chaos of the wedding guests. Rarity knew she shouldn't feel so relieved, but as Starlight abandoned Fluttershy and Limestone to the night Rarity felt her guilt finally ease.
Rarity glanced at Discord; he seemed calm and in control. She tried to breathe more steadily as she put her trust in Discord's composure.
They stood in a ballroom of unbridled disorder. Everypony was either engaging in an argument or snubbing their noses at somepony else. What the context of the fighting was about couldn't be deciphered over the noise of the discourse itself. Rarity simply marveled at the apparent hatred with her mouth slightly ajar.
Starlight had no problem understanding the situation it seemed. She levitated the Casting Stone just a mere few inches from Rarity. Had the seamstress been more confident in her own magic she could have snatched it from Starlight's aura, but for now the dangerous relic remanded in the hooves of a mad pony.
"They're fighting again; delightful but . . ." Starlight glared back at her two chaos magicians. "Why? You better not withhold the truth from me."
"You wanted windigos," Discord offhandedly commented as he curled up next to Rarity only to flinch when he noticed how close they were. Discord stood and took a step away from Rarity before addressing Starlight again.
"In order for me to be here, ponies have to be at odds with each other, no?"
"That may be so," Starlight spat. "Still, I want absolute control. This could be the work of chaos and not dark magic."
"If only all ponies understood the difference." Discord whispered to Rarity before speaking up. "I assure you, no chaos magic was used."
Rarity quickly scanned the faces of the ponies around the room. While there did appear to be chaos, no pony seemed particularly in mortal danger. Seeing as everything seemed to be going according to Discord's desire, Rarity knew it was safe to play along.
"Chaos magic can't produce a windigo as you must know," Rarity smirked. "I've delivered a windigo courtesy of your Casting Stone. This is all under your control now."
From the corner of her eye Rarity could see Discord staring at her. He didn't seem all too interested in the mess he was making as much as the interesting fact that Rarity had embraced his idea so quickly. Rarity felt unnerved by the fact that she was holding his attention so intently; the draconequus must have as well as Discord quickly averted his gaze.
"Bring me Princess Twilight!" Starlight huffed. "And settle this mob or else I'll suffer this place to crumble to the ground!"
"No! We'll get you what you want." Rarity turned to Discord with a harsh whisper, "How are you doing this?"
"With the magic of friendship," Discord cooed, taking one of Rarity's front hooves in his paw and planting a firm kiss on it. "And hopefully a little something else."
Rarity felt her whole face flush at the gesture as she watched Discord grimace in response to his own actions. She wasn't expecting such behavior from him even knowing him as a trickster. If this was part of his plan Rarity failed to see how it benefited their plight.
Before Rarity could think to question Discord's remarks, Starlight's words cut between them.
"Bring me Twilight! Do it now!"
"At once!" Discord withdrew his paw from the designer as if he had touched a hot plate before rushing out to the center of the ballroom floor. "1, 2, 3 all eyes on me!" Discord laughed as the lights dimmed and the ponies all quieted.
Starlight stiffened beside Rarity but otherwise made no other move.
"You ponies have lived at odds with each other for many moons!" Discord wiggled his digits above the ponies as if casting a spell over them. "And your secret hatred for each other has summoned me; a windigo! And all that historical junk you all probably still remember as it's only been like, what, a few days since your last dispute. . ."
"Hurry up!" Starlight stomped a hoove.
Discord snorted at Starlight's interruption.
"Sorry, Starlight, your newly enslaved mythical monster didn't know he had a time limit." Discord waved for Starlight to come to him. "Clearly our new princess is before us, and I am undone. "
"Where's Twilight!" Starlight didn't step forward, clearly, she was skeptical.
Rarity felt her heartbeat quicken as she watched the draconequus take a sweeping bow to Starlight.
"Please, come take your place here as the new ruler and princess of Equestria." Discord's words raised a quick cheer from the surrounding ponies.
"How did he organize all this," Rarity's grouse caught Starlight's attention as the sorceress glanced at her. "That is, I'm surprised the Casting Stone worked so fast and, and it already made you the princess of Equestria."
Rarity quickly bowed her head to the sorceress and the rest of the wedding guests followed her example.
Starlight smiled slowly taking the steps that led her to the center of the ballroom. She seemed content at the moment and distracted enough to leave the Casting Stone floating next to Rarity.
"My subjects . . ." Starlight droned on.
Rarity looked to Discord who winked back. She nodded knowing the obvious next step in the plan. Rarity took the stone with little effort and watched as the draconequus gestured for her to take it back outside.
The night air had managed to get even colder as Rarity noted that she could now see her breath. That didn't matter though. She had the stupid stone and had saved the day. This was going to end the nightmare!
"Miss Rarity?" A voice spoke out.
"Who's that." Rarity was excited to see her favorite little dragon crouching next to the manor steps. "Spike! Do you know who you are?"
"I think so," he reached out a hand. "Your master said there was a gem I could have."
Rarity's eyes shifted from the dragon to the stone and back.
"I don't have a master, but I'm guessing you mean Discord. Go ahead and take it."
Before the stone could be handed to the dragon Fluttershy and Limestone approach the steps. Limestone quickly nudged the young dragon aside to collect the stone in her hooves.
"Miss Rarity," Fluttershy looked fit to cry. "I was so afraid for you, and for myself also I must guiltily confess."
"I shan't bother admitting as much," Limestone frowned, keeping her attention on the manor door. "But I admit my trust in you has increased at the return of the Casting Stone to my family."
Rarity had only been half-listening to the group as she had been fully expecting the spell she cast to end.
"Okay, we saved the day. I don't know how, but now Starlight can't hurt anypony and this horrible chaos world can go back to normal."
"That's not completely true," Spike mumbled while maintaining an agitated glare at the earth pony beside him. "Chaos magic is still tearing the world apart, I think."
". . . you think the world is being torn apart . . ?" Rarity froze at the ghastly thought.
"Your master is worried about it no doubt."
"Not My Master!" Rarity took in a sharp inhale. "What did Discord tell you to do with the stone? Clearly that's the way out of this mess."
Spike glared to the earth pony still withholding the gem from him.
"Lord Discord entrusted me to get the stone back to him."
"Well, why couldn't I have just taken it to him. I was standing right there; it would have been faster." Rarity mused slightly disappointed in having to take this extra step to get home.
"He is assured that with your rescue and the stone's safe return to his being he'll be able to undo the chaos spell you cast. It's best if you keep your distance."
That was all Rarity needed to hear. She snatched the stone from the former rock farmer and floated it back to Spike.
"So this is all planned out, and he's going to fix it?"
"Yes, my lady. Your master surmises that this stone must be where you stored your chaos magic. He needs it back at once. I'll be heading back inside where I will-"
"Please," Rarity interrupted. "I don't need a lengthy explanation; I'm getting a headache, just get it done."
Spike took off for the back of the mansion while Rarity positioned herself between the dragon's escape and Limestone. The earth pony was obviously upset, but she couldn't be allowed to interfere with whatever Discord had planned.
"Trust me Limestone, this is for the good of Equestria."
"Move or I'll be forced to take action against you." Limestone had death in her eye, but Rarity wasn't going to back down.
The unicorn couldn't blame anypony around her for not understanding the severity of the situation they were in. Limestone honestly believed that she was doing the world a favor by taking that stone, but that didn't matter.
"Limestone I don't expect you to understand-"
"I said move."
Rarity stood her ground.
"Please, ladies, please don't fight." Fluttershy could be heard stepping back, but Rarity couldn't be bothered to see what the pegasus was doing.
Limestone suddenly reared up ready to stomp Rarity out of the way. The unicorn released a quick yelp before dodging the attack. Without missing a beat, Limestone was galloping after Spike.
Rarity quickly followed in pursuit, focusing her magic on the mare's tail but failing to hold the earth pony back. That came as no surprise as Limestone was far stronger than any spell Rarity had ever practiced, but it felt worth the try.
It was time for a slightly different tactic. Rarity's special talent had been finding stones, and scanning her surroundings she found several gems hidden under the ground.
They would doubtlessly be easier targets to move than an earth pony.
Halting, Rarity trained all her energy on every gem, rock, or sizable mineral buried under the lawn. With great effort, she pulled every stone she could up from the ground. There wasn't much force to their momentum, but the gems managed to trip Limestone as they created a sizable dust cloud.
Unfortunately, Spike stumbled in the assault as well.
Rarity gasped as she dropped to her knees. She'd never done a spell-like that before, and the excursion may have even caused her to sweat. She couldn't allow herself to stay rested though.
Aching as she got to her hooves, Rarity rushed forward but was unable to make heads or tails of the situation. She could hear Spike yelp for help, but she couldn't place him in the dust cloud. Rarity felt panic grip her at the thought of losing the stone or their chance to go back home.
Rarity summoned whatever strength she had left to set the tip of her horn alight. She could just make out Limestone towering over Spike with flared nostrils and a growl.
"How dare you!" Limestone again raised her front hooves as if to crush the little dragon. "You are just trying to keep the stone for your own evil purposes!"
Rarity didn't have enough magical will left to move Spike and she knew she'd never be able to reach him in time. However, Spike was not smushed, instead a flock of lovebirds swarmed around the earth pony. Limestone stumbled swatting at the group of peeking birds.
"Where?" Rarity turned to see Fluttershy extending a hoof to help steady her stance.
"Please hurry and save Equestria," the pegasus helped stabilize her unicorn friend as she staved off her lightheadedness. "I doubt such a disruptive flock of birds will be ignored by the Wonderbolt patrol for long."
"I promise you two trips to the spa, Fluttershy." Rarity shook the wooziness from her head and focused her attention on the dragon coughing from the dust. "I'm ready for this nightmare to be over."
Rarity quickly took the Casting Stone in her teeth, as undignified as it was, before plotting a course for the servant's entrance she'd used before.
"No, Wait! I have to deliver it!" Spike was trying to slow her, but the contrivances of Discord's plan seemed pointless.
It wouldn't matter who brought him the stone, Discord was just dragging things out. In fact, instead of having her bring the silly thing to Spike, Discord should have just asked her to bring it over to him. They could be home already if not for this shenanigan with Limestone and Spike!
Rarity bolted through the door without any care as to who saw her. It wouldn't matter if Applejack tried to kick her out again or if Mr. Cake and Plaid were waiting for her. The moment Discord got his magic back she could make up for all the trouble she'd caused.
Inside the main ballroom, Starlight was still reveling in the wedding guests' praise. They all seemed content dancing around and celebrating whatever lie Discord had gotten them to believe.
Rarity waved a hoof in the air until she finally made eye contact with her chaotic date. She held the Casting Stone up for the draconequus to see. Oddly, Discord's expression wasn't a happy one, rather he looked shocked, even scared that she had been there.
As Rarity pushed her way toward him, Discord tried to back away through the crowd. He waved a paw across his neck gesturing for her to not continue in his direction, but Rarity had committed to ending this and nothing was going to stop her.
Discord turned to flee through the party-goers just as Rarity managed to get a clear path to him. The draconequus froze as Rarity stomped a hoof down on the tip of his tail. She wasn't going to let him run from this.
"Discord, we're out of time for any more games," Rarity scolded around the stone in her teeth, but quickly lightened her tone. "I know you meant well when you did all this for me. Please, I don't need a perfect love story, let's end this before somepony gets hurt."
He looked shocked as he glanced back at her. She couldn't tell what was going through his mind, but Discord held an expression of deep contemplation.
"Why-why are you here?"
"Does it matter," Rarity dropped the gem from her mouth so as not to mumble anymore. "I have the stone; I've got your chaos magic."
"No, Spike's supposed to bring it to me; I don't want to be near you."
"Well, I-I can understand that." Rarity shook the memories of what she saw in the casting stone from her mind. "You should be spending this day with Fluttershy or at the very least among our friends at the Couples' Prance. I'm sorry I wasted your time-"
"No, just, go back outside where you're rescued. Leave the stone and go outside." Discord was straining his point, but Rarity could tell there wasn't any sincerity in his words.
"Listen, I've had some time to think tonight and you were right. I was so focused on what I thought I wanted that I didn't even appreciate the love I already had: my friends. Discord, thank you for not letting me be lonely for the first time on Hearts and Hooves Day."
"Please, Please don't thank me."
"And I'm honestly happy you thought of giving me a fashion show date since it's the best guess you could make about what I might like."
Discord clenched his talons over his chest obviously affected by her words but still seemingly missing her point. Rarity continued.
"You've proven to be a good friend, Discord, and I want-"
"Stop! Just Stop Talking!"
The room paused at Discord's outburst. He snatched the stone from Rarity just as Starlight turned to witness the disruption.
"I don't want to be near you! I don't want the feelings of this insipid fantasy! And I don't want to love you!"
Everypony stood silently, the situation foreign to them and confusing even for the two at the center of it.
Rarity inhaled sharply as she watched Discord's search eyes come to rest on the casting stone.
"I just want to go home." Discord snatched the stone from the ground.
"Well," Rarity felt her mouth become very dry. "That ought to do it then."
Discord struggled to keep his focus on the gem in front of him as a sudden loud thunderclap rocked the entire mansion. The ground seemed to quake as party guests were once again thrown into a panic.
"What is happening?!" Starlight demanded, but even she was overwhelmed by the frantic atmosphere.
"Is the world being torn apart!" Rarity tried to get Discord's attention, but he didn't break his concentration. "Please hurry."
Rarity watched as quickly Discord's expression became one of distress.
"I can't feel it."
"Feel what?!" Rarity stumbled forward as she wobbled closer to hear his response. The draconequus extended a paw to help stabilize the unicorn which she quickly accepted.
"I can't feel chaos in this stupid rock."
"Where did it go!?"
The candles in the room began to be blown out, plunging the ballroom in eerie darkness. Rarity felt her own fear rising as she drew closer to the draconequus. As if by instinct, Discord's tail wrapped around the unicorn shielding her from the insanity of the guests around her.
"I didn't want you to be in here because it puts you in danger. I still have to figure out how you trapped chaos magic in the stone . . .though . . . I must applaud, your ability to make things more chaotic, my love. I mean - No I Don't Love You!"
Discord quickly pushed Rarity away from himself before dropping the stone to take a firm grip of his head.
"I am not a cliché love story!"
Watching Discord's sudden strange behavior, Rarity finally understood what was wrong with him. All his attempts to distance himself from her was to prevent whatever spell she'd cast from affecting him.
"I was able to use that stone to see the past by making a wish." Rarity levitated the stone back to her former date prompting him to hold it again. "You just have to desire something hard enough; it will do it!"
"That's not how chaos works, I already told you that it's not about what you want."
"But earlier I used the stone by thinking about what I wanted."
"My dear, that's called dark magic . . . oh, wait . . . I don't think we found chaos at all."
Rarity looked around the room at the various ponies who were all going to perish because she wanted the perfect romantic fantasy; a desire chaos wasn't too keen to deliver on.
"Why did I have to want this!?" Rarity felt tears build in her eyes. "How did happily ever after become this?"
Just as the words left her mouth and idea hit her.
"Happily Ever After; that's it?!"
Discord slouched down beside the designer as she mused aloud.
"I wanted a happily ever after, chaos wanted obviously chaos- the only way to end this is with a traditionally chaotic ending. A fairy tale finish."
Discord sighed, his concentration focused on her but not so much on her words.
"So what's the plan, my love?"
"Dare I say: true love's kiss," Rarity frowned for a moment. "I'm going to have to kiss you."
(A/N) Hey, my live time readers! Looks like our world is being tossed about by chaos too! Pandemics are never fun but I hope this chapter gave you a little distraction for a while. Please upon leaving the story remember to wash your hands, cough in your elbow, stay home if you're sick or have no pressing matters to attend to, and embrace chaos. Sorry to post way after Valentine's day and White/Pi Day, I am a horrible schedule keeper I know. Please forgive me. Honestly, I'm going to try and end this story with the next chapter. Look for an update in about 2 months as I am very slow at the writing thing.
Please stay safe and be smart.
