Thirty Minute Pony Stories

Discord and I shared an awkward silence. He looked comfortable enough, levitating in that reclined position and waiting patiently, but my mind was racing for something to say, some way to express what I was thinking.

“I just…I don’t know what to do,” I said at last.

Discord chuckled. “And you expect me to tell you?” 

“Well, yes. You’ve taught me so much, but now I’m just left wondering what I’m supposed to do with it all.” 

“To be frank, I don’t feel qualified to answer that question. My own attempt to save the world ended in failure, remember?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Why do you think that is?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I’m asking you, why did my attempt to save the world end in failure?”

“Well, I’d say it’s because you fought Princess Celestia head-on. You tried to take control from her by force.”

“Interesting. Go on.”

“Well…the problem with this is that they just fought against you to keep that control. They still thought it was their destiny to rule the world, and they still thought they were creating harmony, so they fought to defend that ‘harmony.’”

“I see. In other words, fighting the Takers is an exercise in futility. Then the way to end the disastrous story they’re enacting on this planet is…”

“I guess it would be to teach them everything you taught me. Make them see that the world before their rule was not chaos, and what they created in its place is not harmony, and that they will destroy the world if they carry on like this.”

“In other words, to change their minds. To change the way they think.”

“Yes.”

“It sounds to me like you know what to do.”

He grinned.

“Wait, me?”

“That’s right.”

“You want me to…but, I’m not a teacher. You’re a teacher. I can’t do this without you.”

“Oh, I think you can. I can’t change the path ponies are taking on this planet. I’m not a pony, you see, and the only ones who can change the path of the ponies are the ponies. The changing of minds among ponies must start with ponies.”

I opened my mouth desperately to rebut him, but nothing came out.

“Teach a hundred ponies what I’ve taught you. Encourage each of them to teach a hundred. If you reach enough minds, maybe this world has hope for it yet.”

When I arrived the next day, Discord was gone.

—-

I stumbled out of the room we’d been using, and saw that guard in the hallway, the same guard I’d seen at that same post every day I’d come to meet Discord. I’d never said a word to him, nor he to me, but against my better judgment, I approached him now.

“Where’s…” was all I could get out.

He kept his eyes forward and his expression unreadable.

“Princess Celestia destroyed that monster. For good this time.”

He said no more. We parted ways without another word.

So, here I am. All I have as my weapons are these quills and this ink, but I wonder if I’ll really be able to carry out Discord’s last wish. Will my efforts be enough to change the course of the world? I suppose only the future knows.

Krizak Comments!

A very thoughtful take on how things might appear from the other side, with Discord presenting his own point of view regarding balance versus chaos. It was very well-reasoned; I could see why it was so influential to the narrator here. Very telling that it is an idea that can only win through being taught, not by force.