by G. M. Berrow
The curtain rose, and bright lights illuminated the stage.
“Fifty-six trombones in the pony parade, with two hundred and ten plump hens close at hoof!” sang the ensemble, trotting in time across the stage. A bunch of chicken-shaped balloons bobbed alongside them. “They were followed by rows of crows flying up above the show, it was a dream for all across the laaand!” Discord blew into his trombone and began to play. The music rose, and it was time for Cheerilee and Big Mac’s final duet.
As he marched to the back of the stage for the last formation, Discord happened to glance up at the rafters. The stagehoof was there! The gent was using his Unicorn magic to gently lift a bucket of something, tilting it toward the stage. As soon as he saw the substance catch the light, he realized what it was. Discord dived toward Cheerilee and Big Mac, shoving them out of the spotlight. “Nooo!”
He made it just in time to get an entire bucket of sparkly sneeze dust poured onto him instead. “Achoooo!” Pony Discord sneezed. The audience gasped. Discord looked down at his hooves—which now appeared to be a claw and a paw. He had become his normal self again! He froze on the spot, looking out at the shocked faces of the audience, not knowing what to do. Then he sneezed again, and he was back to his Pony Discord form. Suddenly, everypony onstage was sneezing in time to the music. It was so silly that the audience laughed and started to cheer, stomping in time to the music.
Discord laughed, too. He conjured up some of his draconequus magic to lift the sneeze dust off the actors and made it swirl up above them into beautiful patterns in time to the music. Everypony began their dance again, and Discord took the opportunity to magically lower the culprit from the rafters.
Nopony was more shocked than Discord to see it was Martingale—the real estate pony! Martingale looked around in a panic for an exit, but they were all blocked. Discord smirked and made the pony join in the dance by using his magic to force Martingale to move like a marionette. To the audience, it all appeared as part of the show.
When it finally ended, the applause was thunderous. Discord had accidentally stolen a piece of the show.
A Friend to Ponykind
Discord’s house was bursting at the seams with ponies. The whole cast and half the audience had shown up at the impromptu after-show soiree to celebrate. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were even in attendance, sipping dainty teacups full of apple cider and conversing with Twilight Sparkle and her friends.
As Discord bounced around the rooms, he felt full of pride and happiness. He’d done what Celestia had wished by joining the Ponyville community, and in the process, he’d made some new friends. Discord pushed past Lyra and Berry Punch to the kitchen, retrieved three mugs of cider, and brought them outside to the front garden. Thankfully, the house was now on the actual ground again.
“Martingale! Noteworthy!” Discord called out. “A toast!” He used his magic to pass the mugs over. “Can you believe what we put everypony through just because of our little disagreement? This whole time, Martingale was the one scheming to frame me and get me kicked out of town. I really thought it was you, Noteworthy.” Discord laughed. “I love it when ponies surprise me! Well done.”
“I guess we both kind of were,” Noteworthy admitted. “Sorry…”
“Me too,” added Martingale with a shrug. “I was just so angry when everypony in town started blamin’ me for stuff you’d done around town. I figured the only way to get ya to move back out was to ruin your part in the play.”
“No, it is I who should be apologizing,” Discord said with a bow. “I should have never squatted in this house, and I should have been kinder to the Ponyville Players. I was just so worried that if I wasn’t the center of attention, I wouldn’t be noticed at all. But then I came to realize how pleasant it is not to have everything revolve around you! Who knew?” Discord took a pensive sip of his cider. “Everything is a team effort here in Ponyville. Just fascinating…”
“I was hoping you would feel that way, Discord,” said Princess Celestia, walking over to join them. Princess Luna followed. Discord and the two stallions bowed to the royals. Celestia smiled. “And I have to say, you surprised me, too. Excellent performance in The Singing Stallion, and as a pony as well!” The sisters shared a chuckle.
“Being a pony is not so terrible,” Discord said, rolling his eyes. “But I’m still glad I’m not one.”
“As long as you are a true friend to ponykind, that is enough. It will always be enough.” Celestia bent down and conjured up a swirl of glittering pink magic from her horn. “I believe I owe you something.” Suddenly, an object appeared that looked like a ball carved from stone.
“Finally!” Discord exclaimed. “I’ve looked everywhere for this.”
Celestia wore a baffled expression. “I’m unaware of what this object is, but I know that it means a great deal to you. You only put your Crest of Chaos on your most valued possessions, if I recall.”
“Too right, Princess,” Discord agreed, holding the stone ball close to his chest. He whispered something, and a swirl of multicolored magic enveloped the draconequus and his treasure. When the color dissipated, the object had transformed into a fishbowl! There was a little white and orange fish splashing around inside.
“Quincy!” Discord cried out, gathering it in a tight embrace. “It’s been so long! I’ve missed you.”
Fluttershy noticed right away. She came over and peered into the bowl. “Awww, who’s this little sweetie?”
“My clownfish, Quincy,” Discord explained like a proud parent. “But I like to call him Q. It feels so good to be reunited. I do believe there’s just one thing missing.…”
“What’s that?” asked Twilight Sparkle, turning her attention away from Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Spike, and Applejack.
“Home!” Discord laughed and looked down at the happy fish. “Come on, Q. Martingale found a buyer for our Ponyville house. Let’s go back to where it’s normal.” Then he gave a wink, turned on his heel, and headed in the direction of Chaosville.
As soon as he was out of sight, Discord’s face suddenly materialized in the reflection of everypony’s drinks, giving them all a fright. “Boo! See you for next year’s show, Ponyville Players! This time I better get the lead…or else!” he shouted and then broke into his famous cackle. “Just kidding! But you should have seen your faces!”
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CONTENTS
COVER
TITLE PAGE
WELCOME
DEDICATION
CHAPTER 1
The Open Market
CHAPTER 2
Great Potential!
CHAPTER 3
Home Chaotic Home
CHAPTER 4
The Ponyville Players
CHAPTER 5
Don’t Judge an Audition Before It’s Over
CHAPTER 6
Role Call
CHAPTER 7
No Small Parts
CHAPTER 8
Instrumental to the Show
CHAPTER 9
Bursting Discord’s Bubble
CHAPTER 10
Funny Business
CHAPTER 11
The Pony of Shadows
CHAPTER 12
The Disguise
CHAPTER 13
Discord’s Secret Debut
CHAPTER 14
Showstoppers
CHAPTER 15
A Friend to Ponykind
COPYRIGHT
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
HASBRO and its logo, MY LITTLE PONY and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2015 Hasbro. All rights reserved.
Cover design by Kayleigh McCann
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opyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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First ebook edition: July 2015
ISBN 978-0-316-29513-0
E3
