>There was one thing that was bugging you during your return.
>Holding the Discorb up to your face, you wondered just how it knew about the restaurant.
 
“Knowledge. from. the. past. still. remains. but. lacks. context.”
 
“So you just guessed that it would work out?”
 
“I. used. your. memories. to. judge. you. seemed. to. enjoy. such. things.”
 
>So the Discorb retained all the memories from when you first took hold of it, but had no idea behind the meaning of any of them.
 
“I. understand. restaurants. now.”
 
>Oh?
>And what life lesson did it manage to pick up?
 
“I. desire. food.”
 
>You shook your head slowly, a slight smirk at its response.
 
>As you thought more about it, you realized this newfound intelligence could prove to be a dangerous development.
>The Discorb would still have memory of all your actions, but none of the reasoning behind them.
>This had to be dealt with before it acted on anything its seen you do before.
 
>Nightmare Moon was sitting on her throne as usual, humming a strange tune.
>You cleared your throat to get her attention.
 
“I need to go back to Equestria.”
 
>You were a little tired after the meal, but you could not delay these lessons.
>She arched an eyebrow at your uncharacteristic request, usually it was her ordering you into there.
 
>“And might I inquire the reasoning behind this?”
 
“Training, nothing major. Any town with low guard presence will do.”
 
>Your brief reply raised more suspicion, but she did not push for further answers.
>With a slash of her horn, she sundered reality.
>Nodding your thanks, you leapt through.
 
“Alright Dis, lets go over this slow.”
 
>It was a little dark out when you arrived on the edge of some town.
>All you had to do was walk the Discorb through the steps while imprinting your reasoning on it.
>Ponies were probably settling in for a good nights rest, but a little more starlight wouldn’t hurt them.
 
>They should be out enjoying such a wondrous night instead of sleeping it away.
 
>You laughed quietly to yourself, Nightmare must be rubbing off on you.
>Slowly approaching the town, you began your education of the Discorb.
 
“Do you know what a pony is, Dis?”
 
“Small. horse. powered. by. candy. entire. body. comprised. of. marshmallows.”
 
>It was shining brightly in a smile as it answered you.
>It was close enough for now.
 
>Picking up the pace, you started jogging until you got a fair bit inside the town.
>Darkened buildings surrounded you.
 
“Now what should I do at this point?”
 
“Blast. the. buildings!”
 
“While a correct answer, you’re missing an important part of it.”
 
>The Discorb sat in quiet thought as went through its memories, the mass of light quickly pulsing.
 
“Check. for. occupants?”
 
>You gave a round of applause.
>Such steps were crucial before the blasting could commence.
 
“Get their notice, then give them something to panic about.”
 
>Fireworks shattered the quiet night atmosphere as they screamed toward the stars.
>Thundering explosions quickly grabbed the attention of the whole town.
>A pony from a nearby house saw you and quickly ran back inside.
 
“See, those are the annoying ones that don’t run. Disregard that building for now and try to find another one.”
 
>As more and more of them left their homes from the disturbance, you saw a few of them start running away in a mad panic when they saw you.
>Pointing the staff at the now vacated domiciles, the Discorb quickly picked up on what you wanted it to do.
 
>From brick and mortar to graham crackers and frosting in one easy step.
 
“Why. must. we. not. harm. ponies?”
 
>You bit your lip as you considered your words.
>This was an important lesson you didn’t want to screw up.
 
“Dis, we’re not good people. Everything we’ve done so far isn’t for some just cause or greater good, and we’ve certainly acted like that. But involving innocents in this fight will not further our goals. In fact, it would only hamper our progress.”
 
>The Discorb slowly churned in its crystal container, listening intently.
 
“Those who don’t wish to be swept up in this conflict will run, or avoid us somehow. They pose no threat to us, all they want is to survive and we shall let them. But those who commit themselves against us have to be dealt with. If we do not harm them in the process, we deny a reason for others to join them.”
 
>There was a perfect example right here in this town.
>Nobody was trying to fight against you, only fleeing.
>But it you tried attacking one of them, they might band together for mutual protection.
 
>You’ve never once had to fight any kind of organized civilian militia during this whole insurrection.
>Though there was resistance from ponies early, when your powers were weak and you were still a mysterious threat.
 
>As your infamy grew and your actions became widely talked about, your mercy did not go unnoticed.
>Ponies started learning that so long as they avoided you, they would be safe.
>As that knowledge spread, there was less and less opposition with each successive raid.
 
>They were never cornered and forced to fight, you always gave them a means of escape.
>The few that dared stand against you were dealt with in non-lethal but flashy manners in front of as many onlookers as possible.
 
>The fact that all the damage you caused would be reversed, meant they never really lost anything.
>There was little reason to try and fight you.
>While some Manehattanites would probably like to tell you some choice words, you were powerful enough that they couldn’t do anything anymore.
 
>You allowed the peaceful nature of ponies to work in your favor.
>It also kept your consciousness somewhat free of guilt.
 
“Satisfying. justice. with. a. clever. ploy. how. interesting.”
 
“Do you see now why we leave them alone?”
 
“I. understand. by. not. causing. permanent. injury. you. leave. them. unmotivated. to. struggle.”
 
>The Discorb was giving the feeling of nodding as it processed this new information.
 
“Once. they. return. to. normal. you. can. harvest. their. chaos. again. this. is. very. devious.”
 
“Hey, we’re the bad guys. It’s expected of us.”
 
>While you weren’t exactly satisfied with how you had to explain it, the Discorb seemed to get the gist of it pretty well.
>There was no need to terrorize this town any further, so you began getting ready to depart.
 
>“What a touching and heartfelt explanation, Anon. I always knew you had a clever brain in that head.”
 
>You shook slightly as a voice you haven’t heard for a very long time addressed you.
 
>“Where’s the hug, Anon? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about your old uncle Discord now, have you?”
 
>The draconequus was standing behind you in all his mismatched glory.
>You had not known true fear for a very long time ever since you held the Discorb.
>But the thought of standing against the one who held mastery over the craft of chaos made you seize up.
 
>Discord had taken a particular interest in you when you arrived, bringing you interesting magical items from time to time and asking you to tinker with them.
>Back then you had no idea why he always got excited whenever you managed to activate them.
>You were more confused with how you could even use them at all as a non-magical being.
 
>After your experiences with the Discorb, the purpose behind them became very clear.
 
>“What’sssssss with the fear?”
 
>He flicked his tongue out like a snake as he slithered through the air to you.
>You could do nothing but stand there paralyzed.
>Was he working with the princesses?
>Is this it?
>Is the long ride over for you?
 
>“You know I got a VERRRY interesting letter a month ago about an old relic of mine.”
 
>Discord stood next to you as he hooked his eagle arm around your shoulders in a friendly manner.
>He was talking to the air as he snapped his fingers and made a piece of paper appear in his free hand.
 
>“To be honest, I actually forgot about that little crystal I made so long ago. It was back in my younger years and those were all just kind of a blur now. If I remember correctly, I put quite a bit of oomph into it as well.”
 
>The paper turned into a butterfly and flew away into the night.
 
>“I didn’t pay much attention to the letter since nobody could ever use my magnificent creations right. But then I remembered my dear nephew, Anonymous.”
 
>You weren’t actually related to him in any way, and you never understood why he always claimed to be.
 
>“Oh come on now, don’t look so confused. We’re as much of kin as could be! What else could possibly be the reason you can utilize such wonderful magic like me?”
 
>That was incredibly shoddy logic, but considering it was Discord, it was one of the more sensible explanations he could have come up with.
>It didn’t make it any truer though.
 
>“I received so many letters from Celestia about your progress! It made for quite an exciting read as I made my way back here from my vacation.”
 
>He spun you around and firmly gripped your shoulders, staring at you squarely with his contrasting eyes.
 
>“Give it up.”
 
>Huh?
 
>Discord shook you firmly, his face hard as stone.
 
>“Give. It. Up.”
 
>You didn’t understand.
>He’s never been this serious before.
 
>“Listen, Anon. The only reason I’m telling you this is because I really like you.”
 
>He leaned in very close.
>You could feel his breath as he continued to stare you down.
 
>“As a friend, and now as a fellow practitioner of chaos.”
 
>Discord pulled back suddenly, a weak smirk on his face.
 
>“You have to realize that villains don’t win here in Equestria: Nightmare Moon, me, Chrysalis, Sombra, Tirek, we’ve all tried and failed. The odds aren’t just stacked against you, Anon, the entire deck is rigged.”
 
“But-“
 
>“But this time will be different? Anon, it won’t be, there is only one winning side. I want to save you from the same fate I had, just give it all up. You can’t win in Equestria, the world doesn’t work that way.”
 
>There was a force building up inside you, a swelling defiance at your predestined demise.
 
“Will you try and stop me if I refuse?”
 
>There was a defeated sigh as Discord let go of you.
 
>“No.”
 
>He had a glum expression as he backed away from you.
 
>“I can tell by that look in your eyes, I had that same spark as well. You can try and fight fate, Anonymous, but they will defeat you. Even if you beat them over and over again, on the cusp of your victory, in their darkest moment, they WILL defeat you. Evil never prevails, that is the way of the world.”
 
>Your fear had hardened into stern resolve.
>All that hard work, all that struggling it took for you and Nightmare Moon to claw your way to this position of power.
>You would not have it be all in vain!
>By your very life you would not have her fail!
 
“You know little of MY world, Discord! We will prevail!”
 
>There was a fire like never before rising up within you, igniting your soul in blazing passion.
>You slammed the pommel of the staff on the ground in a resolute strike.
>Victory or death!
 
>“I see I’ve failed. All I’ve managed to do is feed your bravado.”
 
>Discord let his shoulders slump as he lifted up his arm.
 
>“Make sure to take care of the Discorb for me... Adios...”
 
>With a snap of his fingers, he vanished in a white flash.
 
>You let out a frantic gasp as you collapsed to your knees.
>Like a drowned flame, your determination flickered out.
>Doubt quickly smothered you.
 
>It was all true, everything he had said, you’ve seen it firsthand.
>That was just the way of the world.
>Friendship was magic, and harmony reigned over all.
>Your bright surge was over now, and all that was left was inky mire.
 
>Tapping the staff against the veil, you waited for extraction as you lay kneeling on the ground.
>The Discorb was utterly quiet, its swirling multihued mass gradually spinning as it processed everything that had just happened.
 
>There were no ponies around to watch you as you lurched into the murky portal.  
 
>“Anonymous?”
 
>Nightmare Moon seemed astonished at your terrible state.
>Seeing her raised your flagging spirit slightly.
>It was like a beam of moonlight cutting through an ashen miasma.
 
>Scoffing at yourself for such ridiculous symbolism, you handed her the Discorb.
 
“How much time will it take before we can make our final move?”
 
>She waited for a long while before responding, analyzing your deadpan expression.
 
>“With no further complications, I should be able to finally unravel its secrets within a day.”
 
“I will retire to my quarters then, Nightmare. Good morning.”
 
>Your gloomy mood followed you all the way to your bed, keeping you awake as you watched the unchanging night sky through your window.
>A question you asked yourself a while ago resounded in your head.
 
>Would your heart waver at the last second?