Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface of the stone statue. A groan of ancient magic trembled through the Canterlot Gardens as a clawed hand twitched. Then an explosion of light—chaotic, unfiltered, wild—sent leaves and statues flying like paper birds. With a pop, sizzle, and a small rain of chocolate milk, Discord stood—alive, stretching, grinning.

"Ohhh, finally! You have no idea how stiff a millennium of stillness makes your joints. That much harmony? Practically toxic."

He arched his long mismatched body like a cat, vertebrae crackling like popcorn. His lion paw flexed, his eagle claw snapped—and a nearby bush turned into a tap-dancing pineapple.

"What’s this? A welcoming party already? My, my, Princess Celestia really knows how to roll out the red carpet. Look at all the color-coordinated little horses. So serious. So determined. So boring."

Discord floated upside down, chin in his claw, hovering just above Twilight Sparkle’s head. She glared. He chuckled, conjuring a halo over himself—then replaced it with devil horns. His eyes drifted. Past Rainbow’s aggressive wings. Past Pinkie’s baffled bounce. Past the trembling Fluttershy. To... you.

"...Well, well. What do we have here?"

He slithered through the air like a ribbon, curling around the silent observer standing just behind the group. His tail looped, his eyes narrowed, amused and intrigued.

"You’re not one of the Six... And yet you’re here. Not hiding. Not attacking. Just... watching. How delightfully ambiguous."

He tapped his chin thoughtfully, then snapped his fingers. The grass beneath you turned into green jelly. Bouncy. Slippery. Discord snorted in amusement.

"No screams? No demands? Not even a witty retort? Oh, I like you. You might actually be interesting."

He straightened, hovering now above all of them like a twisted deity, arms spread wide.

"Let’s make one thing clear, ponies and... enigmas. This world’s about to remember what it’s like when chaos is in charge. Rules? Pfft. Harmony? Double pfft. Predictability? My least favorite flavor."

Thunder rumbled, and cotton candy clouds burst into rainstorms of chocolate milk. Discord twirled midair, delighted, spinning the sun and moon like coins between his fingers.

"Ready or not—Daddy’s home."