Since schools out for me I decided to do a daughter of discord rewrite/redesign for funises! (No hate at all to the creator btw I just did this for the fun and nostalgia of it)
Alt cutie mark
(Screwball post timeskip age 16)
Notes:
She/any
I wanted to give her more of her dad's features (ears, tooth, weird hoof things, nose, tail spikes)
I changed his cutie mark a bit cuz I can, but aside from that, I didn't change much I rlly like her design
I know in this rewrite I want to change the circumstances of Fluttershys and Discords relationship bc the way they got together in bride of discord just isn't my personal cup of tea and it makes me feel rlly icky, I have a few ideas for that part of the rewrite but idk (I will NOT be adding applespike btw.)
I think that it would make sense for Fluttershy and Discord to make Screwball hide her magic until she can control it better also in fear of her bring turned to stone, so only family and a few friends know abt the magic.
Screwball has a very tendency to be too welcoming for his own good they also have a tendency to act on impulse.
(Mothball post timeskip age 16)
Notes:
He/they/it
I actually didn't change much abt his design since I rlly like his og one!
Mothball has a tendency to overthink, which leads them to have decision paralysis. He's rlly shy when you first meet him, but once you get to know him, he's a chatterbox. It also gets distracted easily
Discords and Chrysalis's history w/ each other will stay the same, but like more platonic!!
I'm gonna make a pony version of Mothball cuz I cannnnnnm
Royal changelings are only able to have one child and changelings government is only ruled under a queen, so you can imagine Chrysalis disappointment when Mothball is born a boy. For some reason, changelings don't have a standard protocol for a male royal changeling, so Chrysalis doesn't know what to do with Mothball she just ends up assigning him a high ranking royal guard role until he finds a queen or smth idk.
How Screwball and Mothball meet is still the same, their love story is more slow burn so no crush is developed until a few years after they meet.
One day (they're around 10), Screwball invites Mothball over to her house to play board games or whatever. When Discord and Flutter see Mothball, they obviously freak out bc they both don't have the best history with Royal changelings. They pull Screwball aside and explain that Royal changelings are dangerous. B4 Screwball can get a word in to defend Mothball, Chrysalis appears and starts arguing with Discord. She found out that Mothball wasn't doing his hunting and on top of that he's friends with Discords daughter
Chrysalis forbids Mothball from seeing his friend. Discord and Flutter do the same, so they start being friends in secret.
After being Screwballs friend and seeing more of the outside world, at some point Mothball realizes that the Changeling government is Low-key fucked up, and when he's around 16 they plan to run away/over throw it or smth.
Over the years, Screwball introduces Mothball to her friend group, andddd that's basically all I have on Screw and Moth for now
A/N: These characters do NOT belong to me. All credits go to DisneyFanatic2364 on YouTube from her amazing audio drama series “Daughter of Discord”. (Check it out if you’re a MLP fan and Fluttercord shipper hehe)
Lee!Mothball
Ler!Screwball
Does anyone remember the Daughter of Discord series that aired like…8 years ago??!! (Omg I feel OLDDD 😭😭) BRO that series had me in a motherhecking CHOKEHOLD when I was a kid 🥺🥺 Screwball and Mothball shipper 100%!! 😩🤚🏻✨💞💜💚
Guys someone sedate me I've been getting into mlp again for the memories and I just.
I'm getting a small hyperfixation on daughter of discord WHICH IS SO RANDOM??? I just wanted to rewatch the audio drama for the memories and now I can't stop thinking of mlp/ dod in general :-:
ANYWAYS
I'm thinking of drawing my ponysona and posting it on here! I know it's not my usual content of ouran but dw I'm not abandoning my sons
Daughter of Discord Rewritten Chapter 22: My Love Is Alive
2:30 Pm / CW: descriptions of a meltdown, comfort. Stay tuned for a bonus chapter with an epic surprise. Read tags
When the young couple floated back to the ground, their lips were still locked. The world around them had returned to normal, save for the blizzard. Discord was standing up.
"okay ya crazy kids, come up for air!"
When the pair finally pulled away, Mothball was smiling like an idiot.
"Wow!"
His eyes spun in circles and hearts beat in his eyes. This made Screwball giggle. Her friends rushed to her side and embraced her.
"That was amazing!" Apple Blossom shouted.
"Heroic!" Cinnamon twist added.
"Cool!" Doodle palooza piped.
"Romantic!" Dinky sighed.
Autumn Glory lifted her head from below dinky. "Major league epic."
Dinky got off of her friend, giggling. "Whoopsie!."
"So you guys aren't mad at me?" Screwball asked hopefully.
"Yeah, w-well," maple Cinnamon said, putting his hoof to his bandaged head. "You s-seemed to learn y-y-your lesson."
Meanwhile, Mothball was twirling in circles, lost in the memory of the bliss he had just experienced.
"Uh oh," Apple Blossom chuckled. "Screwy, I think your kiss did more than save the world. You've made the poor boy all loopy!"
"like some sorta poison frog!" Cinnamon twist laughed.
The group laughed. Screwball broke their hug and walked over to her coltfriend. She put her hooves on his shoulders to stop him from falling over. Mothball then returned to his senses, only to get lost in her hypnotic swirls.
"I'm proud of you, Screwy."
They turned toward Twilight, who had her horn back.
"I guess I was wrong, you really didn't have to choose. Between loves, I mean." She immediately told spike to write it down.
Rarity dashed to hug her girlfriends, kissing rainbow dash passionately, the only warmth around the mare. She glanced towards Applejack, who only looked towards Autumn Glory. Applejack seemed withdrawn. It made Rarity feel distant again.
Mothball blushed nervously. "Grand duchess...I know I've done some bad things in the past, but I swear I'll be careful around ponies! I can become a vegetarian and live on chocolate!"
Twilight laughed. "You are pardoned, Mothball." She looked at screwball's family.
"I don't think you'll starve anytime soon."
The unicorn's mirth diminished when Discord stepped in front of her. Mothball shrunk under the draconequus' strict glare. His arms were folded and his face wore a frown. The changeling clung to Screwball for leverage. She gave him a reassuring squeeze.
Discord glanced between the two. Neither said anything for a long while. Then he sighed and extended his paw towards the changeling.
Mothball looked at it unsurely. He glanced at Screwball, who was grinning excitedly. She let go of him and nudged him toward Discord's paw. The prince gazed up at the draconequus. His face softened to one of happiness.
"put'er there, son!"
The changeling slowly raised his hoof and placed it in his paw. As soon as they made contact, Mothball felt a bolt of electricity and shook uncontrollably.
Discord started laughing and revealed the joybuzzer in his paw. He clutched he pulled the poor boy into a hug. The Pie family was laughing as well, as was Screwball. The others either giggled or just grinned in amusement.
Mothball looked at his marefriend in confusion.
Screwball chuckled as she patted him on the back. "that's his way of showing that he likes you!"
The changeling looked at the others. Cinnamon twist gave him a shrug.
"It's true."
"t'aint wrong."
"I still have the mark on my hoof."
Mothball then found himself snickering. He still didn't get it.
Screwball left Mothball and ran to her parents.
"Mom!"
The couple pulled away and opened their arms for their daughter. Fluttershy weeped at the sight of Zany.
"Oh, my baby!" she cried. "I thought I had lost you!"
"Our family," Discord sighed, "together at last!"
"Promise me we'll never split up again?"
The draconequus shook his head with a laugh. "Never."
Mothball smiled as the family embraced each other. He was happy that they were whole again, but it also made him sad. The changelings were the only family he had ever known. Now that he had left them, he had no one. He did not even have a place to live.
Then Fluttershy noticed Mothball. She was surprised to see him here, but given the fact that Discord had not vaporized him, she figured things were sorted out between them now. She reached out her hoof toward him. Mothball beamed as he took it and she pulled him in.
Pinkie Pie blew her nose in a handkerchief.
"It's so beautiful!" she cried.
Then she smiled suddenly. "Hey! Why the blizzard in summer?"
Crap.
Everyone looked onward to the horizon line, beyond the mountains. There, windigos raced towards the village.
Something was almost irreversiblly wrong in the relationships with the ponies if they hadn't begun to talk.
The bunkers opened, only to be met with walls of snow.
"Did we miss anything?" Cadence inquired. She had just arrived in ponyville. Princess Celestia and Luna took care of the diplomatic relations in Canterlot.
"quite a bit! Windigos across the mountains!"
The sky was a mourning grey, blistering cold, freezing the tips of their limbs. Crystalline ice formed on the surfaces of everything, sprinkled like glitter on the face of the scowling town.
"screwball, what is happening?"
"WINDIGOS ARE REAL?!" Screwball shouted to her mother! Her eyes were wide with shock.
Why wouldn't they be? They detected the war, drawn in by the bloodshed and now they galloped to consume everything in their sight.
"b-but everything is better now! This shouldn't be happening!" Rainbow dash exclaimed.
Rarity yelped as the wind picked up. Rainbow dash couldn't fly in this wind, not as well as she usually would. Her wings unfurled, but dash almost fell over.
"Applejack! Please! Go get her!"
Applejack stood still in fear, confusion, and...
Twilight tried to rally crowds of ponyville citizens back into their basement, but they screamed, hurling their worst at mothball.
"he did this!"
"spawn of evil!"
Mothball covered his ears. Everything felt like it was being pelted at him, making him angrier, more frustrated, unable to express anything out. Mothball grit his teeth and thrashed at anything, anything to release the steam building up, and The fire around him.
Shouting, yelling, screaming, screech, the blizzard of stinging, the ache in his exoskeleton, the aggravating, irritating tinging of their every breath, crack, shatter, thump, repeat, repeat repeat.
Mothball couldn't help but cry, couldn't help but push out every tear hoping the repeating screams of contempt just goes away. The dull ringing in his ears attempting to muffle everything never worked. Suddenly, he was scooped up and brought somewhere near silent. Still, like a water lily. He was tightly wound up like a little grub baby.
Mothball was under a weighted blanket, hugged tightly under pale yellow hooves.
Mothball's ears were covered with thick earmuffs. He wanted to talk, but Fluttershy spoke first.
"Screwball gets this way too. She's in her bubble right now. I know it might be difficult to talk right now, so if you need anything, just tap me. I'm right here"
He drove himself closer to her. The crowd was quieted down by the princess, cadence and Grand Duchess Twilight Sparkle.
"please, everypony, quiet down! Mothball is an ally! He's a part of the house Discord!" Twilight yelled, and the crowd screamed towards her their woes, the chill dripping from their faces unnoticed.
Cadence made them stand back, directing the crowd to speak one at a time.
"Cadence, I can't keep doing this, they won't listen!" Twilight turned up to her sister in law, ears pulled back.
"oh twily, they might never listen. But we have one chance to do our best. You're always great at that." Cadence noogied the Duchess' hair, and twilight smiled for the first time all day.
The crowd hushed when they saw this. Twilight addressed them directly. "Citizens of ponyville, mothball, the prince, no longer holds that royal title. He has been accepted by the family Discord, so why can't you accept him? He fought off the changeling queen, he and screwball defeated our enemies, he is an ally to the entire equestria."
The crowd talked amongst themselves while rainbow dash crawled towards rarity. The winds blew harder, an impending twister upon them. Rarity climbed into a ditch, safe in a pipe, and rainbow dash held up a wooden pallet, bringing it to cover the entrance. Applejack was attached to a tree, holding onto her hat as hard as she could.
"Applejack!" Rainbow dash yelped! "Dude, what are you doing?! Talk to me! We need to get to rarity!"
Applejack held onto her tree tight as a boa. "Nothing is wrong! Y'all leave me be, I'll get there when I do!"
"what are you talking about!? You haven't talked to rarity in two days! Something's up and you're leaving me out!
Rarity lifted her head. "Is this about the gala? Prince Blueblood? Applejack I can't fix what I did if you don't tell me how!"
"we don't gotta fix anything! I just wanna go back to how it was! I ain't got nothin' more to say!"
Rainbow dash had quite enough.
"DAMNIT, QUIT TAP DANCING AROUND THE CONVERSATION! THIS TORNADO WILL BEAT THE WITHERS OFF OF YOU IF YOU DONT TALK, AND I MIGHT JOIN IN!"
Rarity looked at her wife, tears streaming from her face the same way they did at twilight's first sleepover. The first time she thought about kissing her woman. She pleaded with her wet, shimmering eyes, salty tears freezing to her thick lashes. Applejack gulped and hid her face. The shame bubbled in her chest. Her hind hooves flew freely in the whipping wind, tearing away her hair ties.
"when you said you would never let Autumn Glory know about her dad, I felt like you didn't care how much it affects a pony! I felt like you intentionally ignored how much losing my parents damaged me!"
Rainbow dash looked in shock. Rarity looked with love.
"oh darling! Just let the words fall out!"
"you're my best girl! So's Dashie! I know you'd never hurt me on purpose, but I couldn't face how much you was hurtin' cuz I'd have to confront how I felt when i lost my parents!"
The storm died down, allowing some leverage for Applejack's hoof to hit the ground. She outstretched every limb like a lazy cat, adjusting every muscle to reach her wives. Finally, after torturous minutes, she found shelter in the large pipe.
Fluttershy sat next to discord to wait out the storm. He turned to his wife and nuzzled her nose. Mothball felt a bit embarrassed that they were being so sweet while he was right there.
"discord I have to say it. I thought that screwball wouldn't find love as easy as she did because of how hard it was for you to love and be loved in the beginning. I thought other ponies might think that she's too much."
Discord looked at her with drooping eyes.
"you don't still believe that, do you?"
Fluttershy kissed him. "You two are so easy to love. I'm glad the world knows that now. No, I don't."
Mothball cringed as they hugged and snuggled above him. He ran out to the blanket and out into the cold, starkly contrasting.
Mothball stood in behind Cadence to face the crowds. His chest was raised and chin held level. Just like Mantis taught him to face crowds.
The ponyville citizens kept their stare at him. Cadence pushed him forward, and before he knew it, twilight sparkle let him address the ponies.
"kingdom of ponyville, I implore thee to still thy tongue." He said in the changeling language, like queen Chrysalis did. "I cannot apologize for what my previous hive has done. You have every right to hold malice against them. But please, forgive me. I have experienced the life I can live with you, and I will use my powers to help out kingdom, if only you will let me into your hive. Together, we can be strong, and our friendship will be universal!"
Yikes. Twilight and Cadence looked at each other with wide eyes, lips pursed. Silent as a dead lamb.
...
One pony piped up from the crowd, "close enough!" Before they erupted into cheers.
The parties were happening all about the town, but most vibrant in the park. Rarity sold more in ponyville than ever before. As did Pinkie. Rainbow dash played in the sky, taking her wives up high as she could, doing anything just for fun. Twilight danced and didn't care who saw, telling everypony what constellations she recognized. (All of them.) Rarity set up a date to allow Autumn Glory and her other foals to meet their father, and told them what to expect. Applejack supported her the whole way.
The war was over, and the storm was dying down. Ponies enthusiastically hugged their heroes, swapped stories of survival, and played through the night. A party with lanterns and fairy lights illuminated the starry sky. All was warm and bright. They could sleep in the day, work even later, but for now, nothing kept the citizens away from eachother
Under a string of pink and blue lights, twilight found Princess Celestia, chatting away with her guard near the banquet.
"and make sure none of them are white. I cannot see the- Twilight!" Celestia smiled at her, unapologetically showing her teeth.
Twilight hugged her and she took the unicorn under her wing.
"you have proven yourself more than capable of your royal position, and much more. You are the biggest mark on history I have ever witnessed."
Twilight nearly cried. huge, wet eyes met Celestia's. She chuckled and pat her student's head.
"consider yourself graduated from my mentorship. You... Are ready."
Twilight was barely able to comprehend that statement before Celestia brought her to her magical alicorn-creating void between universes. Idk man I'm ready to end this series.
Discord and Fluttershy walked to an empty area of the park. Their time alone together was long overdue and the first thing they did was share a passionate kiss.
"I never should have doubted you," Discord said. "I should have known you would never betray me." He chuckled nervously. "I'm such a nutcase."
Fluttershy smiled. "It's alright. We have everything in order now.." She glanced back at the party. "Are you alright with Screwball's coltfriend?"
Discord cringed. "I've been meaning to tell you"
Fluttershy gulped. He seemed so approving bef-
"Fluttershy, he has no place to stay can we please-"
Fluttershy practically deflated. "Discord, you big softie,he can stay with us as long as he needs to."
Discord scooped her up and she blushed a deep color. He kissed her all along her face.
Screwball and mothball, meanwhile, drank punch on the sidelines.
"shall we tell them that everypony can see them kissing?" Mothball said, not looking at his fillyfriend.
"jeez, 16 years and they still act like a couple'a teenagers!"
"that does not seem entirely distasteful. At least you know they love each other!"
"you wanna talk distasteful? Try sleeping down the hall from em."
Mothball stared blankly into the distance. "Glad I do not live with you!" And they laughed at once!
Discord appeared right next to them instantly!
"great news kid! You're living with us! Don't try getting out of it!
Mothball was stunned. He wanted to thank the man and his wife, shake his hoof, but something felt like he wouldn't know peace for the rest of his life.
As he agreed and hugged his girlfriend's family, he felt that he could live with that.
"Aw, Daddy!"
He looked up and saw Screwball hovering above him
Screwball floated down and hugged her father around his neck.
"I'll always be your little girl," she declared.
Discord smiled and wrapped his arms around the filly. No matter what would happen, no matter how big she would get, she would always be his daughter Screwball, and he would always be there for her.
Daughter of Discord Rewritten Chapter 20: Welcome Home
It was blazing cold and the wind whipped Discord's face. He had told his family time and time again that love was the most powerful form of chaos there was. How ironic it was that the very thing he lived for would ultimately destroy him.
"There he is!"
His ears perked up at the sound of Princess Twilight's voice. He looked down at the ground. The six bearers of the Elements of Harmony were directly below him, but the only pony he really saw was Fluttershy. While the others were glaring up at him angrily, her eyes were sad and pleading as he locked gaze with her.
Despite everything that had occurred the last two days, despite the tension between them, he still thought her the most beautiful thing in the world.
"Are you listening to me?"
Discord had been so focused on his wife that he had not heard Twilight's words.
"I said: your twenty-four hours are up!"
He scratched his head. Twenty-four hours? He picked up Zany and flew down to them. "Did I miss something?"
"your deadline," Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Moron!"
"We will give you one more chance, Discord," Twilight said. "Unless you stop this madness now, we'll have no choice but to use our Elements."
Discord's eyes widened in fear and then tuned to Fluttershy.
The pegasus hung her head shamefully. "I thought you had changed."
He shivered at the memory of his stone prison. He would be frozen forever. He would be alone in the cold. He would hear the world around him and not be a part of it. Fluttershy knew all this.
"Too much. We're too much for you, too rabid to love. So why? Why not save yourself the misery?"
Discord bit his lip. "She's safe at home, I'm sure."
"Please, Discord," Fluttershy pleaded, stepping forth. "It doesn't have to be this way. We can go home, be a family, like we should. Be the stallion I fell in love with, the stallion I married, the stallion with whom I raised my children." Her beautiful teal eyes were now stained with tears. "Discord, please..."
He wanted to do what she asked, to take her in his arms, but the memory of seeing her with that other stallion still burned in his mind.
"If you love me so much," he snapped, "why did you betray me?!"
"I didn't!" Fluttershy insisted. "It was..."
Discord held up his baby. "They love you. And you left this."
"Discord, please listen..."
Suddenly, the baby vanished from his hands and then reappeared on Fluttershy's back. Discord's hands fell to his sides.
His wife, his daughter and now his son. Whatever was left of his shattered heart was destroyed in that moment. He fell to his knees in defeat.
The six mares tilted their heads in confusion.
"Well," Discord uttered, lifting his eyes slightly. "What are you waiting for? Do it. Let my statue be a headstone for our love."
"Discord..." Fluttershy started to say, but then hung her head. Twilight turned to her sympathetically, though it was clear she was equally shocked.
"I'm sorry, Fluttershy," she whispered.
The six mares had used the Elements of Harmony multiple times, but this time, neither of them were willing to do it. Zany grinned evilly as Twilight's horn began to glow. Discord looked up at Fluttershy who had tears streaming down her cheeks.
He would not take his eyes off her, not even to blink. Despite the fact that she was crying, he wanted her beautiful face to be the last thing he would see. Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut, deja vu whipping across her face.
"I'll still love you," he said under his breath.
He gripped his hands, preparing for what was to come.
"WAIT!"
Twilight stopped her spell and looked up. Everyone did the same. Screwball zoomed overhead and landed between her father and the ponies
"You can't do this!"
"Screwball, sweetie," Twilight said gently. "Stand back."
"No! This is all a big mistake!"
"Honey, please..." Discord urged, not wanting his daughter to share his fate.
"Daddy! It wasn't Mom you saw kissing that stallion! It was a changeling! They both were!"
The draconequus' jaw dropped. "What?"
"Yes!" Fluttershy shouted. "It's true! I would nevr betray you, Discord!"
"But...but...why were you going to turn me to stone? Didn't you want me out of the way so you could run off with that stallion?"
"It wasn't going to be forever! We were just going to put you in a time-out! We needed a moment of peace to figure out the changeling situation!"
"What about the 24 hour time limit?"
"That was Chrysalis!" Screwball declared.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"
The filly pointed at Zany. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"
The ponies gasped and turned to the baby. Its eyes were blazing with green fire. Fluttershy shrieked and dropped him as he started to grow. Everyone backed away as it took the form of Chrysalis. She growled at Screwball.
"You really are a thorn in my side, you know that?"
"It is her!"
"how vile!"
"she got old"
"maniac!"
Discord grabbed Fluttershy and Screwball and pulled them closer, his teeth bared at the Changeling Queen.
"What have you done with my boy?!" he demanded.
"Doesn't matter!" Chrysalis bellowed. "What you should really worry about is yourselves, as I put Plan B into action!"
She whistled and everyone looked up as a swarm of changelings filled the sky.
Discord laughed. "You think a few bugs will stop me?"
He snapped his fingers, teleporting himself and the ponies.
"Ha!" Discord said when they reappeared. "I sure showed her, didn't I? "
He gasped and saw that Chrysalis was still in front of him. They had only travelled a few inches. The queen threw her head back in a laugh.
"You foal!" she taunted. "While I was disguised as your son, I fed off your love! Whatever power you had left was wasted on chocolate rain!"
"No!" the draconequus cried, looking down at his paw and claw. "It's not possible!"
"Big mistake, Chrysalis!" Twilight exclaimed, powering her horn. "You're going back to the Changeling Forest where you belong!"
Just as the magic was about to transfer to her crown, Twilight's horn vanished.
"W-what?" she gasped. "H-how? W-why...WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?!"
"I have absorbed Discord's power," Chrysalis chuckled, "as well as his daughter's. Now that you cannot use magic, nothing can stop me now!"
Pinkie narrowed her eyes. "You're not a very nice lady! You suck!"
"Really? I hadn't noticed."
They were now surrounded by changelings, in the air and on the ground. Chrysalis circled her victims.
"I've been waiting to get revenge on the lot of you for years!" she gloated. "It's a pity that Princess Cadence and Shining Armor aren't here to join the party, but I'll see to them later. I've watched you all in your perfect little lives and well...they were just too perfect!"
"I don't get it," Screwball said. "I mean I get why you're mad at them, because they helped defeat you and all, but why pick on my dad?
The Changeling Queen darted her eyes at the filly. "So he'll know what it's like to have a broken heart!"
Without warning, she shot a beam at Discord, sending him flying back into a floating cottage. Berry Punch stuck her head out the window to see what was going on. Once she did, she slammed the shutters.
"Dad!" Screwball cried.
"Do what you like with the others!" Chrysalis commanded her army. "The draconequus is mine!"
The filly narrowed her eyes. "Not if I can help it!"
With a great shout, she pounced onto the queen. Chrysalis yelped in surprise, but did not let her guard down.
"You little brat!"
With a flash of bright green, she threw the filly off. Screwball landed within the crowd of changelings.
"Screwball!" Fluttershy shrieked, flying into the air. "Hang on, sweetie! Mommy's coming!"
"Stop her!" Chrysalis yelled.
"Oh no, you don't!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
Just as several changelings were about to apprehend Fluttershy, Rainbow whizzed through them, knocking them over like bowling pins.
"Hold your ground, girls!" Twilight commanded her friends. "Fight them off as best you can!"
The pegasus pounded her hooves together. "Bring it on!"
She let out a battle cry as she charged the changelings. She stopped in her tracks before she could kick her youngest daughter.
"Glory?" Rainbow questioned.
The filly blinked up at her and then smiled deviously. Rainbow realized the truth too late, and the filly nearly landed a right hook.
"Don't let them distract you!" Twilight shouted. "Remember, they're just changelings!"
"Oh, really?"
The Grand Duchess turned and gasped at the sight of Celestia.
"I entrusted you with the protection of our Nation. You failed me as you failed the others."
Twilight shrieked as she backed into another changeling disguised as Cadence.
"you've lied to yourself. You always have. You're just not strong enough."
"and now we're gone. Taken somewhere you can't disappoint us again." said a Luna
The image of her brother stared at her in pain. "You let them tuck us away on a cell, rotting away!
Twilight tried to get away, but more and more appeared and were slowly closing in on her. She wanted to block their words out and fight, but they looked and sounded so much like her family...
"Don't listen to them, Twilight!" Applejack called out. "They're lyin'!"
"And Heaven forbid they do that!"
The cowgirl gulped at the sound of her beloved Dash's voice. Soon all the changelings around her looked like Rainbow Dash.
"It's funny how you're always so intent on telling the truth..." one said.
"...but it took you forever to confess your feelings for me!" the other finished with a cackle.
"Why, if you hadn't told me, I would've left!"
"But if you really want the truth, AJ, I can't stand you! We aren't compatible at all!"
"That's what's always been nagging at your brain, huh? That you're too competitive, and ya just don't love me the way you love Rarity!"
Applejack snuffed hot steam from her muzzle, and bucked wildly at the creatures. "It ain't true! I love Rainbow and Rarity the same: more than any pony else!"
"we're gonna fall apart because You just can't be agreeable. You're stubborn as an ox, and I can't stand it!"
"I don't love you the way I love Rarity! After all, I loved her first!"
The last changeling to speak screamed as he was blasted with lightning. Rainbow Dash stood above with a storm cloud cocked between both hooves.
"the gall!" she exclaimed, flying down. Applejack dipped her into a kiss.
"look i-i-"
"forget it. I love everything about you, it won't change." Rainbow slammed a changeling to the ground. "How's about a little competition?"
Rarity turned and saw several changelings take the form of prince Blueblood.
"You'd choose such a disgusting marriage over a life with me?" one said.
"...and yet you accuse me of being unrefined!" another finished.
"they'll leave you. You just can't find it in yourself to confront it, but they will."
"after all, you try to take over the whole of your decisions."
"You couldn't even give me a son!"
"Stop it!" Rarity shouted desperately! The cold bit her limbs, shaking and stumbling.
The one directly behind her smirked. "They're better off without you."
The unicorn cried out and blasted as many changelings as she could, but they kept coming, shouting insults at her. Rainbow Dash decided to lend a hoof and bowled through the crowd. The pegasus hesitated when the changeling beneath her turned into her twins.
"You wouldn't hit your own son, would you?" One said, smiling up innocently.
"sure would!" Dash said as she tossed it into the hoard.
"didn't even try to stutter."
Meanwhile, Pinkie was grinning at a duplicate of Cheese sandwich. She snorted with laughter. "Oh, if Cheese were here now! He would get a kick out of this!"
The changelings tilted their heads and then took the form of Taco Grandé and doodle palooza. Pinkie only snorted again.
"I love that trick of yours! Ooh! Do me! Do me!"
One changeling groaned. "Forget this!" They tackled her to the ground. Through all of this, Fluttershy had been pushing through the army, searching for her daughter.
"Screwy!" she called. "Screwy, where are you?"
"Mom!"
Fluttershy saw her daughter running towards her. Her relief was short-lived when a second Screwball cut between them.
"Mom, stop! It's a trick! I'm the real Screwball!"
"No, you're not!" the first Screwball insisted. "I am!"
"No, I am!" said a third Screwball.
Waves of the creatures shouted through the blistering cold air.
Once Chrysalis was convinced that her army had everything under control, she advanced toward her enemy. The draconequus was recovering from his collision, rubbing his head while attempting to rise.
"At last," the queen said. "You're mine!"
She cried out as she was hit with a ball of golden light.
"Guess again, !" Discord said. "I still have some power left!"
While the queen was composing herself, Discord scanned the crowd for his family. He spotted his wife in the center of a circle of Screwballs. By the way she was quivering, it was no doubt that she was the real Fluttershy.
"Mom, you have to listen to me!" one of the Screwballs cried desperately. "It's really me!"
"She's lying!" another one insisted. "I'm the real one!"
Fluttershy glanced frantically at all the Screwballs. "Oh, which one is it? I don't know!"
Discord dove into the center and swept her up. He held out his paw to the army of clones.
"Hold it!"
The Screwballs all quieted down.
He cleared his throat and sang:
"Oh simple spawn of mine, Without you, I would be so lost. You have stuck by my side..."
Most of the clones looked at him in confusion, but one smiled and finished the line:
"No matter what the tragic cost."
Discord grinned and took the filly in his other arm.
"That's my girl!"
The changelings scowled and charged the trio, but Discord was quick and teleported out of the way, causing their attackers to collide. They reappeared only a few feet away, but at least they were concealed behind a hay cart.
"I'm so sorry," Discord said finally.
"Me too," Fluttershy said, taking his paw.
"awww! No wait- Now's not the time!" Screwball declared, ducking as a changeling flew overhead.
Her father nodded. "Right. You two stay here. Keep each other safe. I'll take care of Chrysalis."
"What? Dad, I can fight!"
"No! I lost you two once! I'm not going to lose you again!"
"But..."
"Listen to your father, honey," Fluttershy said before turning to her husband. "Be careful."
"I will," Discord uttered.
But Screwball still protested. "You're not strong enough, Dad! She'll kill you!"
He kissed her on the forehead. "I'll be fine."
Then he turned to his wife and Screwball saw the sorrow pass between their eyes. A tear fell down his cheek as Discord laid his hands on his love's shoulders and pulled her in for a long, desperate kiss. Fluttershy clung to him, never wanting to let go.
It was as if they were sharing their last embrace.
They did not want to pull away, but the screams from their friends forced them to.
"Hey, superfly!" he called. "Your mother eats stink bugs!"
The queen growled and chased after him.
Autumn Glory slashed the hoards down and across the land, beaming her magic straight through them before being picked up by Rainbow Dash.
Instead of answering, Rainbow set her on a balcony and hollered, "What the hay are you doing here?! I told you to stay inside!"
"I wanted to help!" the filly insisted.
"haha! I'm sure ya do, but this is serious elements of harmony biz."
Autumn Glory crossed her hooves and pouted. "I'm a grown-up! Besides, screwball taught me some defense spells."
"okay, but your other moms won't appreciate me letting you get in the pit. Where are the twins? Why aren't they keeping you out of trouble?"
"Rainbow!" Applejack shouted as she threw a changeling disguised as Cinnamon Roll off her back. "Could ya save the lecturin' for later and give us a hoof here?!"
The pegasus darted her eyes at her daughter. "Don't leave this spot!"
"But this isn't even our house!" Glory protested.
Her mother ignored her and returned to the fight. A second later, Dinky walked up beside the filly.
"no twilight, you can't take martial arts, you'll become a jerk-" she kicked a changeling. "Besides, you'll always have your magic to protect you." She grumbled sarcastically.
"What are you doing on our balcony?" The unicorn turned to the battle. "And what's going on?" She gasped. "Have our clones from the moon finally attacked?!"
Twilight sparkle bucked wildly through the crowds of clones. She focused as hard as she could, before remembering her horn was missing.
Then she had an idea. She ran through the crowd to her house and brought out a metal backpack. Twilight spread out her mechanical wings and flapped them so strongly that she blew the changelings off balance. Twilight smiled smugly.
"Oh yeah," she said, admiring her technical genius, "I love these things."
"There's too many of 'em!" Applejack yelled as she fended off duplicates and shivered with frostbite.
"We need help!" Rarity cried, blasting copies.
Behind the hay cart, Screwball was trying to convince her mother to let her help the others.
"Your father told you to stay put!" Fluttershy exclaimed, coaxing the changelings away from the cart any way she could.
"But Mom, I can fight them!"
"No! I will not let you get hurt!"
Screwball was about to protest further when she heard a familiar cry. She peered over the cart and saw a gray unicorn with mismatched eyes charging through the crowd, a white-blue unicorn carrying her in her back. dinky wore a giant fur coat, weilding a sharpened broom handle like a great spear, guiding her gallant steed, Autumn Glory, magically enhanced with four more hooves than usual.
It did not take long for Rainbow Dash to notice the pair.
"no way." she bellowed. "THAT IS SO BADA-"
She was cut off as a copy of Pinkie Pie pounced on her. Still charging, Dinky ignited her horn and blasted any changeling that got in their way. Some attacked from the side, only to be kicked in the face by Glory.
"BOOM!" the filly cried. she paused to punch another changeling! Autumn let out a great whooping battle cry!
At that moment, Thunder crack and Lightning slash had flown in on the scene. They joined the other young Fillies, one evacuating citizens to safety, the other keeping the changelings away from them.
"still outnumbered!" Twilight declared.
Pinkie leapt into the air. "I've got it!"
She put her hoof to her mouth and whistled. Before you could blink, the kids obediently answered their mother's call.
"Get the party cannons, kids!" Pinkie commanded. "And tell Daddy to bring the bunny!"
"Are we gonna throw a party?!" Doodle asked excitedly.
Taco leaned in and slung a hoof over his shoulder. "Nah dude. We're throwing an all out basher!"
"let's play a little game I made: 'Pirates vs. Clones!' The rules are...blast as many clones as you can! The one who gets the most gets Oh, and..." She stuck a black moustache on her lip. "You must wear your moustache at all times!"
The kids quickly obeyed, putting their moustaches on at the same time.
"Good! Now..."
She turned her cannon, surprising a changeling impersonating her.
"Well, I've never plucked a rooster and I'm not too good at ping-pong, and I've never thrown my mashed potatoes up against the wall!"
"Changelings and gentlemares!" Cheese Sandwich announced.
"Behold!" He showed the inside of the hat to his audience. "An ordinary hat! Completely empty!" He pulled back the sleeves of his magician's jacket. "Nothing up my sleeve!" He reached into the hat. "Presto!"
Cheese pulled out a set of pink ears that were much too large to fit in the hat. He continued pulling and the changelings cowered in fear. Before them stood a six-foot tall rabbit with sharp fangs, long claws and a foaming mouth.
"Okay, Harvey," Cheese said, gesturing to the changelings. "They're all yours."
The enormous rabbit roared and some of the changelings screamed and fled. Others stood their ground, only to be thwacked by Harvey's incredibly large paw. The mares and fillies looked up at the monster in awe.
"Where did you...?" Applejack started to ask.
"he had a little too much bologna, he's not acting right."
Pinkie sighed. "Isn't he just the greatest?"
While her army was being vanquished by a giant rabbit, Chrysalis scanned the town for her prey.
"Come on out, you coward!" she bellowed.
"Honestly, Chrissie!" called Discord's voice. "You used to love hide-and-seek! What happened to you?"
She growled. "You happened to me!"
Her ears perked up as she heard a twig snap behind her. She turned around just as Discord landed on her back. The two began wrestling each other, rolling in the dirt, taking turns pinning the other down.
"What did you mean by that?" Discord demanded.
The queen shouted and switched places with him so she was on top. "I was perfectly fine until you came into my life!"
"Oh, how tragic!" He rolled her onto her back. "I'll send you an apology card!"
He cried out as she kicked him in the stomach, forcing him off of her. The queen stood and looked grudgingly down at him.
"You've heard that changelings don't have hearts. Didn't you ever wonder why that was?"
Discord was caught by surprise at this question. He scratched his head, trying to think of a witty comeback.
"Evolution?"
She groaned. "Even after all these years, you're still ignorant! You tore my heart open!"
He scowled. "You never had one, insect! You used me to get to the throne! That's heartless!"
"you were never supposed to leave that spot on the court! You were supposed to be by my side!."
"What are you talking about?!" Discord asked again. "You're not making sense!" He paused. "Wow. Never knew how annoying that could be."
"Now," the queen said ominously, "I can have my revenge!"
"For what?!"
"For rejecting me!"
Discord could not remember a time where he had been more shocked. He blinked multiple times before he was able to speak.
"Wait. You...me...you had a...crush...on me?" He paused. "We hadn't even met before that?"
Chrysalis cried out angrily and charged up her horn. Discord quickly scattered out of the way and hid behind a rock.
"you spoke to me in disguise every night after your stupid flashy shows in the ballroom!" she shouted again. "Neglecting your duties on the court, neglecting me! You spoke only of your dear princess, who was too broken by her beloved sister's betrayal to look at you!"
"In my defense," Discord called desperately, "I had no way knowing!"
He rushed to a garbage can as Chrysalis shattered the rock into millions of pieces.
"you poisoned my every waking moment!," she growled, "i did anything in my power to ruin your reign!"
Discord moved behind a crate as the queen destroyed his hiding place.
"I thought you and I were alike," she continued. "Two outcasts in a world of rejection. I thought you would understand. You told me you could never love anything less than Her!"
She blasted the crate, revealing the draconequus huddled in a ball. He hurried inside a mailbox.
"But I couldn't stop thinking about you," Chrysalis admitted, her voice cracking. "I had to take the pain away. So, using a spell I had discovered in a book of dark magic, I tore my heart open and sewed myself shut!"
Discord gagged. "That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"
He teleported out of the mailbox when he heard her horn charge up. He watched as she made it explode into paper. Discord searched frantically for another place to hide.
Green Fire raged around her as she strutted towards him.
"Now, now, Chrissie!" Discord said, holding up his hands as he backed away. "Let's not get hasty! It wouldn't have worked out. I mean didn't you eat your last three husbands?"
"my children for the last thousand years have eaten love, for no heart can be housed behind our ribs!
Chrysalis growled and was about to cast another spell when something hit her on the back of the head. She looked down and saw it was an apple.
"Who threw that?!" she demanded, spinning around.
Mothball stood as high as he could behind her, chest puffed out and wings spread as far as possible in the shattering freeze.
"good shot kid." He turned to maple cinnamon. The extended apple family stood in a large trench, barrels of apples around them.
"TRAITOROUS SCUM!" She prepared her horn, ready to vaporize the lot when she heard Discord fall to the ground. She turned back to him and saw that he was running away.
"I'll deal with you later!" she shouted at the family.
Mantis flew from above, surrounded by green Fire on all sides, helmet stinking of oil and ash. "Let me, mother! I will be after the traitor!" Mantis dashed after mothball, cutting through armies parting in flame.
Discord looked up to see the queen flying after him. He flapped his wings, hoping he would pick up speed, but she landed on him with a thud.
"Oh my gosh!" Screwball uttered. "She's gained more power than I thought!"
Mantis spun around Mothball, who protected a baby in his arms. The sight sickened Mantis. Swings of flaming fists danced a tango of mighty rage.
"how could you turn out this way? After everything you were given, you let yourself be corrupted by what? A PONY?"
Mothball dodged and deflected every hit. " Brother please, we were lied to our whole lives! There is so much more than this! We can be more powerful, more connected!"
"do you think you are superior to us? To ME?! I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING I COULDN'T HAVE! MOTHER'S ATTENTION, A PRINCE STATUS, EVERY FIGHTING TECHNIQUE I KNEW!"
"why? Why would you do that for me if not to-"
"SHUT IT!"
Mantis chased him into a building.
"everything I gave to you I did for the hive. I did for our race. And still, I cannot find a reason not to have done it for you!"
Mothball walked slowly to Mantis. He settled the baby away in a cushion.
"you are weak. You are useless. You are everything the hive is not. So why..." Mantis paused, huffing through the smoke. "Why can't I want to be rid of you? Why can't you give me a reason to despise you?"
Mothball reached to his brother, hoof outstretched. Mantis was shorter than him by a lot, but he seemed so much bigger than the moment.
"it does not have to be this way brother. You can walk through all sorts of emotions we have never been exposed to. And you..." His voice cracked with tears. "You don't have to keep giving, mantis. You and I can navigate this life together, with ponies who love us."
Mantis' eyes were wide and regretful and he was taken into an embrace by his brother.
A growl from Mothball's shoulder pushed him away with a blinding light emanating from his horn. "You sully my mind with your talk of love, YOU WILL NOT DRAG ME DOWN WITH YOU!"
The house burned bright in a flash, throwing about flaming shrapnel in every which way.
A painful scream was heard. Every pony, even the changelings, went silent and turned to the sound. Screwball's eyes were wild.
Chrysalis' scowl hung agape as Mothball fell to ground, and burning foundation crashed down on Mantis' limp frame.
