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Chapter 5

The changelings looked upon the Doctor as he passed. There was a twinge of fear in the atmosphere, but it was a respectful fear. They all knew he had spared them when he could have just as easily made them die. Compassion, it was a very new concept to them.

Suddenly a scream was heard in the distance; the Doctor took off at a full sprint towards the noise. He could hear the hive now, and the name they shared was a bad sign... Discord. Under the orders of Twyll the changelings in the area joined the Doctor in his sprint. The angry buzz of insect wings resonated through the air.

The Doctor was nearing the location, the increasing number of unconscious changelings told him enough. They were no match for Discord. A magical net of energy soared above the Doctor bringing down half of the aerial changeling squadron following him, the magic itself zapping them into unconsciousness. In fact, Discord hadn't done any permanent harm to the changelings thus far.

Discord's voice could be heard "Your like gnats, so annoying." The Doctor witnessed Discord clearing the area around him with a quick blast of wind.

The Doctor addressed a changeling beside him "Tell Twyll to call them off for a minute. I need to have a word with Discord." The Doctor approached the fray and the changelings slowly peeled off.

"Ah... The Doctor, I was looking for you." Discord snapped and reclined upon the throne he had just created for himself. " I wanted to add a new challenge to the game we are playing."

"So it's a game now? What happened to you trying to kill me the first time we met?"

"I only moved one pawn Doctor, if I truly wanted you dead I would do so myself. No, I'm having so much fun watching you cavort around Equestria hunting legends. You know even if you had all the elements you couldn't win, I am still above their powers."

The Doctor saw the collapsed form of Luna and Celestia on the ground. " So, if you deem us of so little a threat why come? And if this is your game what's the challenge?"

"Oh, I just planted a few seeds of darkness... Nothing much. Luna will begin feel their pull quite soon. Just because I don't see you as a threat doesn't mean I'm going to ignore you... besides everyone needs a little chaos, its fun."

"You will undo what you have done to her!" The Doctor shouted at Discord.

"And you think you have the power to make me?"

The Doctor was done with mercy, this creature did not belong in this world and it was causing too much harm. He knew it was madness to assault Discord but he did anyways. The Doctor charged forward and leapt towards Discord and the throne. Before he could make contact the throne dissolved in a cloud of smoke and Discord slipped to the side.

"You're going to have to be faster than that." He taunted his head inches from the Doctor.

A power flared within the Doctor and time momentarily froze. He wheeled, taking Discord's head by its horns. Time resumed as he forced it downwards into the ground.

Discord rebounded from the sudden impact and backed away rubbing his jaw. "Time magic? That's impossible! And cheating!"

Before Discord could do anything to stop it the power flared up again. The next blow he received was a powerful buck that bent him over the Doctor's hooves, the wind nocked from him entirely. The changelings took the opportunity to swarm on the uncollected and unprepared Discord. The Doctor motioned to one "Keep him busy, if he is continually staggered he shouldn't be able to use his magic. Have Twyll keep me updated, I have to get something."

Discord was overwhelmed and unable to use any sort of magic due to the massive and coordinated effort of the Changelings. The Doctor ran, he had a certain pouch to collect from the Tardis.

~

Discord was bruised and beaten when the Doctor returned several minutes later. Celestia and Luna had been moved from the immediate area and were being looked after by Twyll who had arrived at the scene. The changelings were clearing out, knowing Discord was too hurt to do anything major. As the battered Discord saw the Doctor he sat up as he was approached.

"Come back for more Doctor?" He stumbled a bit as he approached. "My death can't undo what's been done to Luna. I couldn't undo it even if I wanted to. Besides..." Discord grabbed the sonic screwdriver from somewhere, seemingly unharmed, and tossed it at the Doctor's hooves. " I know you... Doctor: a word for healer... you pervert the name. Armies flee in your name, and you have caused more destruction and harm than I could ever hope to. But here, despite your accomplishments, I hold the power.

"You must relinquish that power. You must relinquish your hold on the inhabitants of Equestria and leave this land."

"Oh, Doctor... I could go with you, and I could relinquish my powers, but where is the fun in that. And also..." Discord gave a quick snap and a large sphere of energy came up around them, isolating them from the world outside of it. "I came up with a solution to your time magic. If you are so intent to defy me It seems I will just have to remove you from the board!" Discord shakily began to stand up.

"Then so be it." The Doctor lunged at Discord who in his battered state was unable to move away. A hoof connected with Discord's jaw and he fell back from his half stand.

"Oh what a polite opponent not even giving me the chance to stand first." Discord sarcastically taunted spitting up a little blood. "It seems at least you are set on not killing me, why Doctor, can't handle any more deaths weighing down your conscience?"

"Shut Up!" The Doctor pried open Discord's mouth as he stood over him. The pouch that was brought was opened, and a single sliver of the weeping angel stone fell down Discords open mouth and throat. A hoof was pressed down, forcing Discord's maw closed as he coughed once before swallowing the stone.

"Just as your seeds of darkness cannot be undone neither can this! I will come for you in three day's time, if you have not restored the kingdom to normal by then..."

"A pebble is supposed to scare me?" Discord interrupted

"It's much more than stone, and it's already part of you. The Doctor threatened removing himself from Discord allowing him to stand.

"I will consider your offer and withdraw Doctor." Discord took flight. "But don't make celebration plans just yet." The barrier of energy dissipated as Discord flew away.

Twyll took notice and yelled "After him!"

The Doctor made eye contact shaking his head. He spoke with her mentally "I have given him his options, let us find if he is willing to see reason."

She ordered her changelings to stand down.

"You are far too generous to that monster."

The Doctor stayed silent letting her see the error in her words

"I... I see. Let us hope then, hope that he will change his ways."

~

The rest of the night went smoothly, and Twyll could not find any hint of the darkness that Discord had supposedly planted. Celestia and Luna had indeed learned a lesson before Discord struck because between the two rested a crystalline orb. Twyll told him a recount of what happened.

While she was interrogating him the changelings had tried to confuse and separate the sisters by turning them against each other. They had changed forms and even gone as far as planting false memories. But despite how hard her changelings had tried they could not get either of the two to betray the other. They were Loyal to each other the whole time. And just as the Doctor had turned the tables on her, the sisters were receiving the element between the wails of changelings.

The girls had run off while their captors were incapacitated. By the time the Doctor had finished his exchange with Twyll Discord had already struck. The girls had been overwhelmed easily by his power and Discord was just finishing with his task as the first changelings arrived to raise the alarm.

"One element closer. But what good will it do? It took nearly thirty changelings to keep him occupied while I was gone for three minutes..."

"If it is an advantage you seek I have heard legends of great bands of power, stored in the towers of the Crystal Kingdom. Amongst them are the solar bracer and the Lunar greave. It is said they can only be worn by those meant for a greater purpose. Perhaps they will lend you the aid you need."

"Thank you Twyll. For now we should take what rest we can, you have a long journey ahead."

~~~

Short chapter, but it addresses something important. The Doctor himself has a horrible past, and for a long time he was a pacifist due to it. But slowly his character has been changing throughout the show. His current incarnation is very fond of justice, even if it is brutal.

Discord found himself fortunate enough that the Doctor was in a generously merciful mood. If the Doctor didn't have a larger plan in place he may have allowed the Changelings to end Discord.

Here is the current element of harmony count off.

Shared by the sisters Luna and Celestia: Laughter, Loyalty

Owned solely by Twyll who is just learning the virtues herself: Kindness, Honesty

Generosity and Magic/Friendship (considering the title Friendship is Magic) are still unaccounted for.

Thanks for reading, leave any comments, concerns, and error fixes below! Feel free to chat with me. And sorry for the nearly two week wait on this chapter.