Discord's Pride Chapter 3 Preview

With a flash of pink light, the large group of ponies found themself back outside the Palace of Friendship.

"It seems that there are fewer dark corners in the realm," Starswirl remarked, notably surprised by their lack of progress.

"For once, I am rather pleased for a setback," Somnambula stated with a smile. "I can scarely believe how much has changed for the better!"

Flash Magnus chuckled good naturedly. "We almost had to drag Meadow away from, what was it called? A Hospice?" he asked, looking to the modern ponies.

"Hospital," Twilight corrected with a soft smile.

"It is releaving to know such places are as common as you said," Somnambula stated to Fluttershy with a relieved look to her weary face.

"And you wanted to see the part named after you," Mistmane couldn't help teasing, the earth pony blushing sheepishly.

"I'm just confused by the Yaks," Starswirl admitted with a headshake. "I know for a fact scarely any creature dwelled that far into the Frozen North, let alone an entire tribe of Yaks."

"Oh, oh! Prince Ruffuford told me they moved there from the OTHER side of the Frozen North after losing a lot of fights to.....something," Pinkie Pie answered eagerly.

"Something?" Rainbow questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"They don't know if we have a word for them," Pinkie andwered with a shrug. "But apparently, Yaks aren't sore loser. Most creatures get mad about being pushed out of their homelands, but the Yaks actually sound like they liked whoever they were fighting."

"A short war between honorable warriors. If war can't be avoided, I'm at least happy when it is like that," Rockhoof mused solemnly before turning to the sole alicorn of the group. "Tell me, Princess Twilight, do you or your comapnions know of any lands that we might check?"

Twilight looked between the ancient heroes before looking thoughtful. "Well, the Changeling Kingdom definitely doesn't count any more. I don't suppose the Pony of Shadows would try going to Tartarous or the Everfree."

"Hm!?" Starswirl suddenly rounded on her with wide eyes, startling her. "What's this about Castle Everfree?"

"Oh, right, you probably lived there," Twilight realized nervously.

"The Castle of the Two Sisters has been abandoned for just under a thousand years now, after Princess Celestia moved the capital," Sunburst answered in an attempt to be helpful, if apologetic.

"Its gone? Just, left to rot?" Magnus asked, trying to hide how much that bothered him.

"Well, there is still some dusty old ruins left," Rainbow answered tactlessly.

"Why would they ever do that?" Mistmane questioned in confusion. "Were they invaded?"

"No, nothing like that," Twilight answered, biting her cheek as she chose her words carefully. "There were a few cultural and economic insentives at the time for the move, but Princess Celestia told me it was....mainly to get away from old memories."

"Sunny was always the more heartstrong of the two. Still, I'm surprised Little Luna let her go through with that," Meadowbrook mused.

"I fear I will need to have a lot talking with my old students," Strswrl said, his tone heavy with something between knowing and sorrow. "I can only imagine what hardships they endured after we left, to leave behind their home."

The former element bearers shared stealthy looks at one another, none sure how to bring up that particular subject. Or how to properly avoid it until the princesses could explain that very personal story themselves.

"Returning to our goal? As wild as the Everfree could be, it is not the type of darkness our foe requires. And the Pony of Shadows would not risk being trapped within the accursed realm of Tartarus, not matter how much power it might bring him," Starswirl summarized grimly.

"So, we should probably go tell Discord he's gotta get off his flank and find the varment himself," Applejack said in exassperation. "I can hear the jabs now."

"You all have a very....strange relationship with the Draconequus," Somnambula stated carefully.

"Yeah, wait until they seem him with the princesses," Rainbow said with a snicker. She went silent as Starswirl instinctly looked to her with a glare and a glowing horn. "I said that too loud," she realized with a gulp.

"Why did you say it all?!" Rarity hissed in a whisper.

"What do you mean WITH my students?" Starswirl asked coldly.

"Umm, Starswirl? Shouldn't we be worried about-" Rockhoof reminded with a relatively gentle tap on the withers.

"The Pony of Shadows can wait," Starswirl stated flatly.

"I-its nothing like what you're thinking, I swear!" Twilight promised quickly, despite looking awkward. "Just, well, lets just say Discord is an interesting person to invite to a party."

"That....somehow sounds more concerning," Mistmane pointed out, eyeing her comrade cautiously. "Starwirl, we'll have plenty of time to discuss many things with them, after we finished this."

Starswirl took a deep breath as his horn lost power. "Yes, you're right, I shouldn't get too side tracked," he said in self-scolding before resigning himself. "I suppose we must apprise the Mad God of the situation."

"Oh, yes, I'm fine. I just wish they wouldn't call him that," Fluttershy answered. 

"Full honesty, are you sure he doesn't enjoy being called that?" Starlight asked skeptically.

"I don't know. No one has ever called him that before, except as a joke. I just....don't like what it means when they say it," Fluttershy answered.

"Well, a thousand and more years ago was yesterday from their perspective, and they did fight him back when was you know, full tyrant?" Starlight reminded. Fluttershy raised an eyebrow at her, but didn't refute the point. "Anyway, that wasn't what I was referring too."

"Oh? I'm sorry, what did you mean than?" Fluttershy asked in curious confusion.

"Just that you, well, seem a lot less shocked by this than we did," Starlight noted with interest. "I mean, I get he's your friend, but after the fighting stopped, you barely seemed curious about why he's acting so differently."

Fluttershy stared at her expextantly. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand what you're asking?"

Starlight sighed, deciding to be straight forward. "Did you know he was going to do something like this?"