All Twilight could hear was silence.
Not surprising the metal box has been enchanted to be the perfect prison. No sliver of sound or beam of light could penetrate it. It was the least that could be done to contain the most dangerous being in the world. That, and the shackles around her neck and hooves, as well as a inhibitor around her horn. She, the Princess of Friendship, former ruler of Equestria, savior, hero, companion, sister… and then the Harbinger of Winters, the Bane of Everycreature… stood there, alone, with her thoughts.
“Well, this is really depressing.” Suddenly, upon hearing this, her eyes shot open to gaze upon the slim, mismatched form of a Draconequus.
“D-Discord?” She spoke in disbelief. “Why.. why are you here? HOW are you here?”
“Oh, are you referring to the ‘impenetrability’ of this prison?” The Spirit of Chaos chuckled as he gave the wall of the box a knock. “Oh, Twilight… since when did I ever play by the rules?” He let out a chuckle.
Discord’s cheerful mood did nothing to raise the mood of the room. Twilight stood silent once more, having to answer to the uninvited guest’s antics.
“Right, the silent treatment…” Discord then sighed. “Fine. If you won’t speak, then I will. I am here to offer you a way out.”
Upon hearing that, Twilight became surprised. She raised her sights, planting her gaze upon him. “Yeah, you heard me. The angry masses get the socially acceptable version of revenge and you get a second chance.”
“What are you ta..”
“It’s quite simple really.” Discord chuckled to his own ‘brilliance as he interrupted her. “Actually, borrowing from the writer did with Celestia in his other story. They would see me give you ‘what you deserve’…” He used air quotations to accent that. “…all the while moving your TRUE mind and body to another world.”
“…Discord.” Twilight’s head then slumped back down upon hearing that last bit.
“I was thinking… earth pony for a change for you.” He enthusiastically stroked his chin.
“Discord…” Though very much so humbled, there was annoyance in her tone.
“Maybe something with the same color scheme as that one filly that idolized Rainbow Dash. OH, and 3D CGI this ti..”
“DISCORD!” Twilight yelled, silencing the small metal room once more.
Now, Discord was the one that stood silent. Twilight just took a breath and looked down.
And so they stood there. Twilight didn’t dare utter another word, while Discord was thinking things over. First, he looked confused, second, exhausted, bordering on defeated, and, lastly, his brow tilted in the middle as he clenched his lion hand.
“It really isn’t fair.” Discord spoke up with anger in his tone, and, upon hearing it, Twilight’s lip quivered as she turned her head away from him. “You and the girls went to such lengths to teach me that everyone, no matter what they have done, deserves a second chance if they are willing to work on it. This… this isn’t what Fluttershy would have wanted…” Though he spoke with conviction, that last bit made him quiver.
Twilight, yet again, took the time to say anything. “…Fluttershy is dead because of me.” When she finally did speak, she didn’t dare look at Discord.
“And are you the ungrateful little bastard that personally took her life?” Discord sounded almost condescending as he crossed his arms. “I didn’t think so.”
“She…” Twilight began to shake a little. Her teeth began to clench as tears began pouring down her cheeks. She was holding herself back… but then… “She died because of me!” She yelled as her eyes poured out. “So many… died because of what I did…” After her initial outburst, her tone began to calm down. “And… do you know what the worst part is?”
Discord didn’t speak, wanting to hear out what she had to say.
“The worst part… on some level, on a horribly… horridly practical level… I did the right thing.” Again, her head was lowered. “So many ponies… creatures from various nations are now standing together just because they had to set aside their differences to fight me…”
She was crying. She stopped talking, awaiting judgement from Discord, but no words came. And then… single lion paw was rested upon her cheek, directing her gaze upwards. “You know, they are the ones that should be on trial, not you, right?”
Now Twilight was the one looking confused. “I mean it. You were just this one shut-in bookworm that wanted to make her mentor happy. You were learning about the magic of friendship, you were helping so many… you were… you ARE a good pony, Twilight. But sadly, this disgusting, wretched world that looks like something out of a war nerd’s twisted fantasy, had to come down and ruin you. All those creatures, like ungrateful angry toddlers, clambering onto you, yelling ‘I want I want I WANT!’ And then they have the nerve to blame you for their misdeeds..”
The chains rattled a little as Twilight raised a hoof to Discord. As soon as he felt a hoof on his chest, the Spirit of Chaos looked down to the imprisoned former princess. “…is this why you suggested this type of punishment in particular?”
“But of course.” He spoke more confidently. “Just outright killing you or condemning you to Tartarus would not be productive in the slightest. This way, there is at least hope that one day you can walk free.”
“And… you really think that I deserve it?” She blinked in disbelief. “After… everything I’ve done?”
“OK, this might be, again, from another story I was in, totally unrelated, but-” Yet again, even in the most dire of moments, Discord continued his trademark fourth wall breaks. “I’ve been told once it’s not how much you screw up, it’s what you plan to do to make things right. What you are doing right now warrants a second, third, fourth and twenty fourth chance.”
Upon hearing this, Twilight couldn’t help herself but smile, if only a little.
“But not today, right?” Now he sat beside her. “Now, you have to appease the public? Be the big bad at the end of the story for the hero to beat and everyone can live happily ever after?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate or mutter when answering. “The world has changed so much… and, if everyone is to go forth, together, united… the only way to do so is without me.”
Though her conviction was unquestionable, her heart was still broken. No words at the moment could mend it, so Discord just opted for setting a hand to her back, pulling her in for a hug. It was the least he could offer her.
Indeed
My friend did such a great job writing the backstory for me I felt like my drawing is inadequate for it. I still needs to learn a lot more to do better in the future.
Hopefully yall enjoyed it…