Chapter Twenty-Seven:
End Game

	The scene around her melted away. Applejack was gone, the bathroom was gone. Twilight was alone in the darkness once again. The coveralls were gone, she sat on the floor naked, exposed to whatever this dream would throw at her. The one comfort she had was at least it wasn't freezing cold. Slowly she got up from the non existent floor, turning around. There had been a voice in her head, she knew she'd heard it.
	Suddenly behind her she heard footsteps approaching, forcing her to turn around. There was a hint of fear swelling in her gut, who could it be? Discord appeared from the darkness. The fear in her gut turned to rage at the sight of him. The only thing that stopped her from going after him was the calm look on his face, his mellow demeanor.
	“Good evening Twilight Sparkle.” He smiled, before quickly covering his eyes. “For heaven's sake child, put something on.” With a snap of his fingers Twilight was wrapped up in a luxurious robe, her bits concealed away from his crooked gaze.
	“What do you want Discord?” Twilight kept her voice low, trying her best too keep her emotions in check.
	Discord kicked his legs up so he was lounging in thin air. He was flipping through the Draconquus Bible, chuckling to himself. “Did you even read my book? It was hilarious.”
	“I didn't really have time too since I was running for my life.”
	“That's a pity, because there is some comedy gold in here. My finest work, here read this.” Discord turned the book upside down turning it around so that Twilight could read it.
	“It just looks like gibberish.” Twilight screamed, her voice echoed all round her.
	“What? Oh yes, I forgot.” Discord snapped his fingers and the words on the page seemed to invert as if Twilight stepped through the looking glass. As everything shifted the words became clearer. Not only were they upside down, but they were backwards as well. It didn't help that the handwriting set it apart as a different language. “Ah ah ah, no reading it to yourself. Read it aloud.”
	“O-walttag-ooof-I-M. Twilight-iza-bo-okn-erd.. It's still gibberish, Discord. I really don't have time for this.” Twilight was starting to breath heavily, wanting to wake up and spend just a little bit more time with Applejack before she turned.
	“Oh alright. It's all these different derogatory things about you. Oh what a goof I am. Twilight is a book nerd, and my favorite.” Discord started whispering. “Twilight is a virgin.” Covering his mouth and giggling like a school girl, obviously pleased with himself.
	Twilight blushed, pulling at the hem of her robe. “Cut the crap, Discord. Just tell me what you want?” Twilight's voice trembled, all she could think about was the infection and wondered if it already took her and this is how she's going to spend the rest of her time on the earth, being tormented by Discord.
	“Oh yes, I brought you here to tell you that you've won. You've managed to figure out the true meaning of friendship, which, as per our agreement means that you won.” Discord pushed his fingertips together making them into a triangle before he pressed them to his lips. “Hmm, I never understood why villains did this. If you ask me, it makes me feel more foolish than menacing.”
	Twilight rolled her eyes and sighed. “I won? Does that mean everything will go back to normal now?”
	“Oh Twilight Sparkle, you're so hilarious. Nothings changed,  don't your remember where you are?”
	“What are you talking about, Discord?”
	“You're still at the Friendship Means Family Festival. Actually taking part in one of the amusing additions. One of my design. I was so overjoyed when Princess Celestia came to me with the task of coming up with something special this year. Thus I concocted this.”  Discord held up a bottle of a swirling blue and black liquid. “It's a potion that will test your friendship to the utmost limits...well at least the limits in your mind, which I have to say was quite a bit...deeper, and more intriguing then I could have imagined. Applejack, really? Don't tell me, you kissed a filly and liked it?” The teasing tone only forced the blush on Twilight's face to intensify.
	“So...what you're telling me is that I'm still at the festival? Everything that happened, it wasn't real.” Twilight's voice caught in her throat. There was a mix of emotions battling in her mind. The feeling of anger for Discord's deception, but the overwhelming joy that it had just been a nightmare of sorts.
	“Twilight Sparkle,” There was a tone of grandeur in the way he spoke. “The key to friendship is sacrifice. Each and every one of your friends was willing to do whatever they could to keep you safe. Not because you were the...” He paused for the shear pleasure of making air quotes.  “chosen one. Not because you were the only one that could solve my little game. No. They did it because they cared about you. There was no limits to what they would do to keep you safe and that, my dear, is friendship.” 
	Twilight parted her lips to speak, but Discord cut her off. “Once you dropped the guise of protector, savior, if you will. You remembered the true essences of friendship. You sacrificed yourself to save someone you loved.” Discord started a slow clapping rhythm. “Bravo. I don't know how you command such loyalty, but I'm impressed.”
	Twilight finally spoke. “I...don't command their loyalty Discord. It's not about whose in charge or who has a crown, or even who is the smartest. It has nothing to do with sacrifice. It has to do with love...not just who you love, but who loves you. If you love someone then there's nothing you won't do for them and vice-verse.” Twilight Sparkle reached out her hand, tracing it through the air to conjure up the images of all of her friends. “I forgot that, I was too busy worrying about failing them, that I didn't focus on saving them.” Twilight reached up touching the images of her friends, watching them ripple with her touch. “They're the greatest friends any pony could ask for.” Twilight lingered on Applejack's  face for a long time. “I don't deserve them. But I am glad to have them.”
	Discord sniffled and wiped his eyes on a handkerchief. “I've never heard something so beautiful. I aspire to have friends like yours someday. Maybe even a certain princess...”
	“After the crap you put me through tonight, I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.” Twilight snapped.
	“Fair enough.” Discord raised his hands, chuckling. “Perhaps you should wake up now and join your friends. They're waiting on you to start the final night of Friendship Means Family Festival.”
	Twilight felt an excitement surge through that she was going to see her friends and family again. She closed her eyes and hugged her body, feeling a warmth surge through her. When she opened her eyes again, Discord was inches away from her, preparing to kiss her. Twilight flailed away, falling back onto the non-existent floor, but it still hurt her backside.
	“Discord!?” Twilight clenched her fists screaming at him.
	“Oh right...yes...shoo shoo. Get out of here.” Discord snapped his fingers and everything went black again. Twilight was falling into the abyss under her, when the darkness swallowed her up, she was locked in a world of comfort.