Chapter 7
"A screw and baseball cutie mark?" Luna asked for clarification.
"Yes, do you remember a filly with that cutie mark?" Twilight asked, Luna frowned.
"We cannot say we remember a filly with such a cutie mark" Luna responded. Twilight sighed.
"Looks like we have no leads" Celestia said.
"We will keep an eye out for this pony, now if you'll excuse us we have some royal duties to attend to. Farewell." Luna said as she headed out.
"What do we do now?" Twilight asked.
"There's nothing we can do now, we should go check up on Discord" Celestia responded. Twilight nodded in agreement.
"They should be at Fluttershy's cottage" Twilight reminded. Celestia's horn began glowing and a bright flash caused them to appear in Fluttershy's cottage.
"Is this the place?" Celestia asked.
"Yes. Fluttershy?" Twilight called out, looking around. Celestia shook her head.
"Twilight, you see what you can do about Discord, I'll go to canterlot and see if I can find any leads on the intruder from before" Celestia said as she flashed away. Twilight headed outside and looked around.
"Fluttershy!?" Twilight called out, she was getting worried. Maybe Discord was faking it and trapped them or something. Twilight heard rustling in the bushes and flinched, she turned and prepared for Discord's possible attack. To her relief, Fluttershy emerged from the bushes.
"Fluttershy! Thank Celestia you're ok." Twilight sighed as she approached Fluttershy. Fluttershy grabbed Twilight and began shaking her.
"Twilight! It was horrible! Discord! Pinkie! Screwball! Rainbow!" Fluttershy yelled.
"Fl-Fl-Fluttersh-sh-shy! Wh-What's wrong?" Twilight asked in between the shaking. Fluttershy stopped shaking Twilight and took a deep breath.
"Discord trapped us" Fluttershy said more calmly.
"What!?" Twilight exclaimed.
"Discord set a trap for us and put a spell on us. We were all so afraid." Fluttershy said more calmly.
"Screwball? Spell?" Twilight asked. Was Screwball the one they were looking for?
"Yes, he placed a horrible spell on us" Fluttershy said, turning away as if she was afraid of seeing Twilight.
"What spell? Did he hurt you? Where are the others?" Twilight asked worryingly.
"Oh don't worry about them" Fluttershy calmly said, not turning to Twilight. Twilight was confused.
"I thought they had a spell on them" Twilight asked confusingly. Twilight felt rain begin dropping, that's weird because the sky was clear a few seconds ago.
"We do" Fluttershy responded in a low tone. Twilight could've sworn she saw a dark mist coming from Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy?" Twilight asked, backing up a bit. Fluttershy turned to Twilight, she looked very upset.
"Please come quietly, I don't want to hurt you" Fluttershy whispered.
"If I wasn't so careless, I wouldn't need to find another copy" Celestia kept telling herself as she looked down the stack of books and scrolls. She was prepared to just give up, but she felt she caused this mess and now it was her duty to fix it.
"Trying to find another copy?" A taunting voice asked from behind. Celestia immediately turned and was shocked, it was the pony from before.
"You!" Celestia yelled.
"You? My name is Screwball for your information." Screwball said, pretending to be hurt. Screwball dodged a beam Celestia shot.
"You made the mistake of returning, Screwball" Celestia said, looking very mad and shooting another beam, which Screwball dodged again.
"Hostile much? For 'peace and harmony' ponies, you sure seem to love attacking others." Screwball laughed, dancing around to easily dodge all the beams Celestia was shooting.
"Hold. Still." Celestia hissed, still shooting beams. Screwball was laughing really hard.
"The Princess of the Sun, losing her temper, this is rich!" Screwball laughed. Celestia was so mad that she was grinding her teeth. Celestia shook her head, her anger would be her downfall unless she calmed down. Celestia took a deep breath, carefully took aim, and shot a beam at Screwball.
"Ow!" Screwball yelled when the beam hit her leg. Screwball looked at Celestia in shook.
"You will no longer make a fool of me" Celestia said. Screwball looked down at her wound.
"That… hurt…" Screwball said in a low tone. Celestia saw a dark aura escape Screwball's wound, was this what she thought this was?
"Oh no, have you've been…?" Celestia asked. Screwball looked up at Celestia, Screwball looked extremely mad.
"That… HURT!" Screwball yelled as the dark aura filled the room like fog. Celestia looked as the dark aura covered all the walls and floor, causing the whole room to look as if it was painted completely in black paint.
"This is… Discord's magic?" Celestia asked.
"I'll make you pay!" Screwball yelled louder as she shot a dark colored beam at Celestia. Celestia barely had time to dodge it.
"No doubt about it, you're using chaos magic" Celestia thought out loud. Celestia felt something grab her hooves, when she looked down she was shocked to see the dark aura was grabbing her legs.
"Can't dodge it this time" Screwball hissed as she shot a beam. The beam hit Celestia's leg, causing her to bend in pain. Screwball laughed.
"An eye for an eye right?" Screwball laughed. Celestia looked at Screwball, her face didn't show a hint of pain.
"Where did you learn this magic?" Celestia asked. Screwball, with a smile, looked confused.
"You mean you don't recognize it? This is pure chaos magic. Who else showed me this?" Screwball said with a wicked smile on her face. Celestia shook her head.
"Pure chaos magic is very manipulative, you're going to lose your sanity if you don't cease" Celestia said, slowly standing up.
"I know" Screwball nonchalantly said.
"Then why do you continue?" Celestia asked, looking around the room, it was still covered in the dark aura.
"I can't help it, that's what Discord told me to do" Screwball responded.
"Discord told you to do this?" Celestia asked.
"He told me to 'capture Princess Celestia', sadly he also said to keep you alive" Screwball sighed. Celestia frowned, was he faking the whole time?
"Has the spell worn off?" Celestia asked.
"I guess, although he did seem a bit off" Screwball said.
"Off? How?" Celestia asked.
"Come quietly and I'll tell you" Screwball taunted. Celestia frowned but looked at her situation. She couldn't beat pure chaos magic without the elements of harmony or her sister, and by the sound of things Screwball didn't want to do this but she felt she has no choice, and if they continue fighting Celestia will likely be defeated and Screwball will be corrupted.
"Alright, I surrender" Celestia said and bowed her head. Screwball tilted her head.
"You're… trying to trick me right?" Screwball asked.
"No, I want you to take me to Discord" Celestia said. Screwball arched an eyebrow.
"Alright fine, but no tricks or I'll really give you a leg wound" Screwball threatened.
"Pinkie, I haven't seen you all day" Rarity greeted. Pinkie had just knocked on Rarity's door with a special task.
"Hiya Rarity!" Pinkie greeted with a smile.
"Would you like to come in, I could use the lift" Rarity said as her eyes rolled, she didn't need to be reminded of Sweetie Belle's outburst.
"Actually, can you come with me?" Pinkie asked. Rarity gave a confused look.
"How come? You need help?" Rarity asked. Pinkie shook her head.
"Discord told me to bring you" Pinkie said with an innocent smile. Rarity gave a disgusted look.
"Ugh, no thank you. I'd rather stay here than go see that ruffian." Rarity said as she turned and began heading inside. Rarity felt Pinkie grab her tail.
"Please?" Pinkie went.
"Sorry Pinkie, there is nothing you can tell me to change my mind" Rarity said, pulling her tail and making Pinkie spin around.
"It'll be fu- erm… interesting" Pinkie corrected, her ears dropping a bit.
"The answer is no Pinkie" Rarity responded, turning to Pinkie with a stern look. Rarity flinched when Pinkie's mane deflated and a few tears began leaking out.
"Alright" Pinkie sighed. Rarity now felt bad.
"Pinkie, I-" Rarity began.
"Looks like I'll need my party cannon" Pinkie said in a low tone.
"What's got into you Rainbow!?" Applejack yelled, throwing another apple at the flying Rainbow.
"If you just came like I asked you, I wouldn't be doing this!" Rainbow yelled, diving again and Applejack dodging her.
"Ah' told you no!" Applejack yelled back, running behind a tree.
"I don't like this anymore than you do!" Rainbow yelled down, trying to find Applejack. Rainbow saw the lasso heading for her but she didn't have time to react as it tied her up and brought her down. Applejack emerged from the tree and tied her up.
"Then why are you doing this?" Applejack asked, a mad look on her face.
"Discord told me to do it" Rainbow responded, struggling in the rope.
"Discord? Why are you listening then?" Applejack asked.
"I- I can't help it, it's like… I know it's wrong but… I just can't help it!" Rainbow yelled as she started glowing with a dark aura.
"What in tarnation?" Applejack asked as she backed up. The dark aura covered the rope and snapped it into two, freeing Rainbow.
"Sorry, but you should probably run" Rainbow said with a genuine look of sorrow on her face. Applejack backed up a bit, then took off running. She wasn't running away of course, she was trying to lure Rainbow into another trap so she could question her.
"Alright, once I hear her, I'll use my lasso and" Applejack thought until she was cut off by Rainbow tackling her. Rainbow held a hoof over her with a smile.
"Heh, that was kind of fun" Rainbow admitted, holding Applejack down.
"Yah' forgot Rainbow?" Applejack asked. Rainbow tilted her head a little.
"Forget what?" Rainbow asked.
"Yah' can't beat be at wrestling" Applejack said as she kicked up, sending Rainbow flying back. Applejack again used her lasso and grabbed a hold of Rainbow.
"Crud!" Rainbow grunted as she fell again and began struggling. Applejack looked at Rainbow, the dark aura wasn't coming this time? Applejack didn't risk it, she turned and took off running. Maybe the others can help.
"I'll deal with yah' later!" Applejack yelled. She could hear Rainbow groan loudly.
"Thank you again for the tea Zecora, it's always a pleasure talking to you" Luna said with a smile.
"I insist the pleasure is mine, it's always nice to say what is on your mind" Zecora replied, taking a sip of her tea.
"We must depart now, my sister wants me to investigate a pony with a baseball and screw cutie mark" Luna said, standing up.
"Good luck on your quest, I wish you only the best" Zecora said as Luna headed outside. Luna flinched when she felt a familiar magic source nearby. Was this… Discord? Luna quickly and quietly ran towards the source, the closer she got the more sure she was it was him. Just as she reached it, she placed a spell on herself that allowed her to hide in the shadows, literally. Luna jumped between the shadows of trees and rocks until she finally found him, Discord. He was standing on a boulder, staring straight up at the sky, but when Luna began approaching him Discord turned directly at her direction.
"Luna, I told you already you can't sneak up on me like that" Discord sternly said. Luna expected this to some extent then stood out from her shadow form.
"Discord, what are you doing here? I've heard my sister has sent you to be reformed, but you're supposed to be with the elements." Luna said, looking a little mad. Discord turned away from her.
"I can't go back to them" Discord said.
"Why not?" Luna asked.
"I… did something bad…" Discord said, trailing off.
"What?" Luna asked more loudly. Discord turned to her, he looked miserable.
"I frightened Fluttershy, and now I'm sure they hate me now" Discord said, looking away as soon as he said that.
"Frightened her?" Luna asked.
"I raised my voice by mistake" Discord said. Luna was really confused, this wasn't Discord standards. In fact, he would've LOVED frightening ponies, not to mention 'doing something bad' was usually much worse for Discord.
"You don't usually feel guilt Discord" Luna reminded.
"Well I do!" Discord yelled. Luna was confused, until she noticed something. Something weird. Discord's magic felt like it was cut in half.
"Discord, did my sister weaken your magic?" Luna asked.
"They placed a spell on me" Discord responded.
"A spell? Explain." Luna ordered. Discord wiped away the tears he was hiding from Luna. Luna was one of the only ponies that are actually tolerant towards Discord because she remembers how Discord was BEFORE becoming the spirit of chaos. He felt like he could trust her.
"Alright" Discord began.
Before you ask, yes Discord WAS insane the last chapter and now he's wimpy. Why you ask? Here's a hint, it's NOT multi-personality disorder. You'll figure out what happened next chapter. Also, Pinkie's party cannon FTW! :D