Strife of Discord

I don't own MLP

Summary: Twilight Sparkles has made many mistakes in her life, but this is by far the worse: Using a reforming spell, she has erased the mind of Discord, leaving him a blank slate, confused and weary of a world he knows nothing of. The mane six and the Princesses must now prove to the now-named Strife he can have a place in Equestria. Amnesiac-Discord reinventing himself.

Regular Speak

Thoughts and Flashbacks

Demonic or Animalistic Speak

Demonic or Animalistic Thoughts

The hardest part about being an Alicorn isn't the agelessness, or the godly power, or even being a royal everyone looks to for guidance. No, the real problem was being all three of the races at once.

The normal pony, race regardless, has the five basic senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. However, each subspecies had potential of a sixth sense. The Pegasi could sense and tell weather patterns, be they magical manipulations of the weather or completely natural. The Earth Ponies could sense various things in the earth and plant life: Was the ground fertile, was there a reservoir nearby, was the volcano active, was the mountain stable, were the plants healthy, and so forth. The Unicorns, even if they were robbed of their own magic, could detect magic like a metal detector and even 'read' it: see the intent and emotion put into a work of magic.

But when you interlink all three of these senses, giving an Alicorn eight senses, it created a much greater awareness for the nigh-immortal equines, practically a ninth sense onto itself. From their castle, they could sense many great events or disturbances in the world with ease, be they magical or natural. Sometimes these sensations came so clearly that they dreamt of them as 'visions'. While they couldn't see or tell the future in the truest sense, they were aware of some things that were going to happen before they inevitably did.

Right now, the assault on their senses was simply mind numbing, as if a great earthquake was rattling the very foundation of their inner worlds.

If not for the seriousness of it all, Celestia would have laughed a bit when she teleported directly into Luna's room, making her already alarmed younger sibling jump about in shock and nearly blast Celestia through at least five castle walls. As it was, Luna stood there, au naturale before sighing in relief and discharged her horn as she registered it was merely her sister. Normally, she would have apologized for being jumpy, but the unsurprised look on her sister face said it all: They didn't have the need or time for apologies in this instant.

"Did you sense that as well?" Luna asked, her eyes still a bit wild from just waking, even as she used her magic to don her royal regalia. If they were to depart like she expected they would, it wouldn't do to cause a panic if there was none yet by making all the ponies wonder why their princess was walking around in the nude.

"Yes, Sister, though...I'm not sure what to make of it," Celestia answered with a frown as they came to the window, both staring out at something a mortal eye could not perceive..

"We should depart for Ponyville, to ensure HE is not setting malevolent mischief upon the Element Bearers," Luna suggested with a frown. While she did support the idea of attempting to 'reform' Discord, she was skeptical of it ever going smoothly. After all, turning someone from evil to good was simple, if difficult. Trying to make chaos work and coexist with harmony? That was complicated. Like the little puzzle cube she had discovered some months ago: the V-9 cube, if she remembered correctly.

"It's not his mischief I'm concerned about," Celestia said evenly, her sister nodding in understanding.

Every ability their senses granted them culminated into a rather interesting skill: they could read a pony's mood, personality, and etc without even actually meeting them, all by the texture, nature, and behavior of their magic- all of which painted an image of the pony in their minds.

Twilight Sparkle: A twinkling light of curiosity and dedication that shined and dimmed with her mood swings.

Applejack: A steadfast and firm tree bearing fruit for any that would reach for it.

Rainbow Dash: A lightning bolt that flipped through colors of emotions as quickly as it could run, or fly in this case.

Rarity: A thin blanket of snow, sharing a beautiful look with the world while not smothering it.

Fluttershy: A small and gentle light that was so easy to miss but so soothing once found.

Pinkie Pie:...Strangely, a piece of pink gelatin that could be off putting, but watching it jiggle could make anyone smile.

Celestia and Luna both pictured one another as gentle rivers of, respectively, gold and silver under their appropriate celestial orbs.

Discord, on the other hoof, was a hurricane. A massive cyclone that dwarfed everything and anything that approached it, ripping apart all that was built in his wake and turning every pony's world upside down…a storm with no eye, no calm at its center, and seemingly no end. It was, in a form, chaos itself. Just like him. Merely being in his presence the first few times had been disconcerting to them, ages ago. Over time, they had grown used to the mental cyclone they endured when combating him, to pushing their way through utter madness. Even in his stone prison, they could still sense the edges of the contained storm, lurking about for their true freedom.

And now it felt like nothing was there. Not changed, not subdued, not even fading. Something like Discord didn't just blink out of existence entirely, not to their extra senses.

"Ready?" Celestia asked to Luna, who nodded wordlessly as they crossed horns. Normally, they would go by chariot, but this was far too important and possibly too dangerous for delay.

With a great flash, they teleported to the outskirts of Ponyville, with a small concealment spell to keep most ponies from noticing them.

And regretted it the instant they arrived.

They had been wrong, so very wrong.

Discord wasn't gone, nor was his presence. It was just that his presence radiated...nothing. All the mischief, all the insanity...it was all gone. But just because the aspects of the hurricane had vanished, didn't mean it was truly gone.

No, in retrospect, that was too simple.

It was as if the storm had suddenly stopped, for no real reason. And with it came an uneasy and oppressive feeling, like the mass of the storm was condensing and bearing down on their mental fortresses…as if all that hundreds of millions of tons of metaphorical clouds was now trying to press down on the Alicorns from every angle.

It was like the Hurricane turned into an Ocean right before their eyes, waiting to see if they would be crushed or suffocate first.

Not that most ponies could sense it, thankfully.

Still, these two, so in tuned to their mystic senses, could only share an uneasy stare and wonder just what had happened to their greatest and oldest foe.

"Sister...," Luna wheezed lightly as they started to acclimate, a layer of sweat forming on her brow.

"I'm fine...," Celestia said through gritted teeth. Her taller frame actually seemed to work against her in this case, with more area for the...ocean to bear down on.

After a few minutes, the shock had worn off, leaving them lightly panting. They were used to the Hurricane. The Ocean was something new.

"I don't like this," Luna said with a scowl, looking in the direction of Fluttershy's cabin, just up a nearby creek and through some bushes. Their teleportation was a bit off, "Discord has never felt like this before."

"And yet, it is definitely him," Celestia said with a frown, eyes hard as she tried to find the source of this presence. As always, there was none. It simply was there, without cause or end, "Just like water and ice are the same substance in different forms, this is definitely Discord's power."

Neither of them liked that. Suddenly changing an Immortal, a long lived being who had found a state of mind they were comfortable with was nigh impossible without a serious event in their life- very hard to do to someone that has seen common and strange things for many thousands of years. Sure, the levels at which they did things might change, but the sisters always knew that Discord would be a creature of Chaos until the ending of time. They just didn't think he was dead set on being a creature of Disharmony.

So, in the short time since she had left Discord in the hooves of the elements...what had happened to him?

They braced themselves as they neared the cottage, preparing themselves for whatever they might find.

To their astonishment and unease, everything looked strangely normal, at first glance. But it became increasingly obvious that this was not so. Fluttershy's home was also home to numerous woodland creatures that would normally be scurrying about the grounds or sitting up in the trees. But there was not a sign of any of them. The quiet was eerie and foreboding, as if a great predator was nearby. As they reached the house itself, they scowled in concern as they heard something though the door.

The soft sobbing of a young mare.

With a tentative knock on the door, they waited. It opened to reveal, not Fluttershy, but a very somber looking Applejack. She blinked in momentary surprise before frowning sadly. She knew what had happened, it seemed.

"Applejack? Who is crying? Where is Discord?" Celestia asked in concern. The farmmare decided to show instead of tell, opening the door a bit wider.

Inside the small cottage, three other mares were busy comforting a distraught Twilight Sparkle, drenching the floor with her tears. Pinkie Pie, her mane deflated, was giving her a weak, half hug. Rarity was stroking her back, occasionally wiping some tears away. Rainbow Dash was sitting just in front of her and to the side, placing her forehead against Twilight's in a silent show of support

"...Twilight?" Celestia called in concern and shock.

Her faithful student flinched at her own name before raising her tear drenched face. Luna breathed sharply, seeing the hoof-shaped bruise on Twilight's cheek. But that wasn't what had Celestia concerned. It was Twilight's expression. It was an expression she had come to know over the years of teaching her protégée. It meant: I'm so sorry, I bucked up big time and I can't fix it, please don't hate me.

"Princesses," A soft but upset voice called, prompting Twilight to bury her eyes in her hooves once more.

The Alicorn turned and saw Fluttershy, having come from around the corner of her home. They stared at each other for a moment, the immortal mares taking in the unfamiliar steel and anger in Fluttershy's kind eyes. She motioned for them to follow her and walked off, slowly. They glanced back at the group in the house, Applejack nodding for them to go. Her green eyes said it all: They had to see this.

With growing unease and dread, the two followed after the ground-preferring Pegasus. She had stopped briefly after walking out of view, waiting on them obviously. She silently led them down the stream running beside her home, their unease skyrocketing as they saw the center point of this situation.

Discord sat at the edge of the stream: Upright, elbows against knees, head in his hands, tail lying lazily on the ground, wings unmoving. He just sat there, his back to them, staring at seemingly nothing.

Fluttershy fearlessly walked up to him and patted him on the back.

"...Discord," Luna called after a few seconds of patience.

Celestia narrowed her eyes when he failed to respond.

"Discord?" Luna asked, louder, confused by him ignoring her.

Celestia carefully took in the image of Fluttershy, shivering as she held back her own tears.

"Discord!" Luna yelled, glaring lightly at his back.

Celestia's eyes went wide as Fluttershy gently nudged him, "No...," She whispered in denial.

"Hmm?" Discord called, raising his head from his hands, holding his neck straight and high as he slowly turned to face them, standing at his full height as he towered over them. Both sister's felt the Ocean trying to condense itself on their backs as they took in those hollow, mirthless red orbs that had a distinct lack of yellow sclera.

All Fluttershy did was keep her head bowed with a pitying smile

After what felt like an eternity, he spoke four words that would haunt them, "Do I know you?" He asked in cold annoyance.

"Discord...is that you?" Luna asked in disbelief.

"So everyone keeps telling me," He answered carelessly, crossing his arms as he watched them carefully.

"Discord...these are the Princesses, Celestia and Luna," Fluttershy answered softly, motioning to each respectively.

Celestia was actually a bit perturbed with the way Discord's eyes lit up with recognition and...anger? "Oh, so that would make you the one I have to thank," He mused darkly, sarcasm dripping from his tongue, "For sicing on me that psychopathic little horned menace who ripped my brains out?"

Celestia was only faintly aware of them moving back towards the cottage. Discord always made sure to walk behind them, keeping everyone in view- even Fluttershy. He did not fly, float, or anything else. He simply walked, his cloven hoof and draconic claws leaving their unique prints in the ground. His scowl was ever present and whenever he caught the sisters looking at him, it would deepen. It was disturbing, almost unnatural and abnormal to see him acting so natural and normal.

"I'm not taking another step closer to that little manic," Discord declared loudly while they were still a fair distance from the cottage. Loud enough for Twilight to hear and let out a choked sob.

"Was...is that really necessary?" Luna asked slowly.

Discord tensed in rage as his tail snapped about, circling around a nearby fence post and crushing it violently.

Celestia and Luna stared with wide eyes at the outburst. Fluttershy didn't so much as flinch.

The other five mares ran out the door to see what had caused the commotion, Twilight's eyes red and running out of tears.

Upon seeing the violet unicorn, Discord's tail pulled itself off the fence, his scales grinding off sawdust before breaking the entire thing in two.

Twilight gulped and lowered her head while Rainbow flew up in outrage, "Hey! You can't just go around destroying Fluttershy's place!" She yelled in anger.

Discord raised an eyebrow, looking down to the other Pegasus, "You're Fluttershy, right?" He asked tonelessly. Fluttershy nodded calmly, "...Sorry," He said after a moment.

"It's fine, I needed to replace it anyway," Fluttershy answered, sighing as she sent a look to Luna.

"But-" Rainbow Dash spoke up, only to get the beginnings of The Stare directed at her.

"It's Fine, Rainbow," Fluttershy repeated, emphasizing each word.

Rainbow plopped down, a bit subdued, looking between Fluttershy and Twilight with a conflicted look.

"I'll...help ya repair it in the mornin, 'Shy," Applejack offered absently.

"Thank you, Applejack," Fluttershy said with a small smile.

"...It's kind of sad when the guy with forced amnesia knows that a conversation is getting nowhere fast," Discord pointed out dryly.

Twilight took a deep, ragged breath as she took a few steps forward, "Discord, I-" She started, only to stop as she saw that Discord purposefully move a step back for every one she moved forward.

"Anything you want to say, you can say it from there, Koprophage," He spat off with a glare. Celestia and Luna had to suppress a shudder as they felt the Ocean pressing down harder.

"Enough," Celestia spoke up with a firm yet gentle voice. Discord raised an eyebrow, as if contemplating challenging her, but let the silence reign. The solar monarch sighed as she turned to her faithful student with sad, concerned eyes, "Twilight, please. Tell me what happened," She urged on, feeling Discord's gaze on them. Thankfully, Luna was keeping an eye on him while Celestia kept her attention on Twilight.

Twilight kept her head bowed in shame, looking more miserable than she had since the Canterlot wedding, when no one believed her that the fake-Cadence had been evil. After a moment, she finally spoke, "I...I came over with the girls, to see how Discord was improving. He wasn't-"

"He was," Fluttershy interjected, sharp and cold, leaving no argument.

"I thought he wasn't," Twilight changed quickly; "He...wouldn't stop changing everything, causing chaos like he always did. All the while, he tried to play it off as nothing. E-eventually, I thought that Fluttershy couldn't change him, so...so...-" Twilight shook as she struggled to go on.

"She used a reforming spell on him that she brought along," Applejack stated bluntly. She sent Twilight an apologetic look, but news like this was best told bl-

"You did WHAT?!" Luna asked in disbelief, nearly sending them flying, her head snapping back as Celestia's eyes went numb and wide.

Discord rose a brow, noting to not get his ears too close to her.

"A...reforming spell, the Lanthanapping one to be precise," Twilight answered, her voice subdued.

"Why..." Luna cut herself off to look to her sister, "How did she even get access to THAT spell?!" She asked in disbelief.

"It was in a rare book for memory spells, one I gave her to help retain knowledge better," Celestia asked automatically, "Twilight, why THAT spell?"

Twilight shivered under those eyes, those disbelieving eyes that would condemn her if not for their relationship, "He...he was eating all the other spells! I barely managed to copy down this one before the page vanished, let alone read the full warning!" She explained desperately.

"Umm, Princesses?" Rarity asked respectfully, "Forgive our ignorance, but I know that "reforming" spells are used to help ponies forget horribly traumatic events or help criminals change their ways...and while it is normally willing, I doubt that in this case of extremes, that a lack of consent is the only issue at play with this particular spell," She said curiously.

"Lan-tha-nap-ping," Luna said in distaste, drawing out the word, "It was, in my time, a spell that was only used in the most unredeemable and foul of cases: Rapists, cannibals, filly molesters, mad wizards of great power. Beings that were either unable or refusing to change their horrid ways. It was an...attempt to avoid the death penalty and find something less cruel than Tartarus."

Celestia sighed deeply as she gathered her wits, "This...spell is a complete and utter memory wipe of a creature."

"So...he has amnesia?" Rainbow summed up.

Celestia shook her head, "No, amnesia is curable. Memories are forgotten or blocked, but they are still there. This is a complete clean state. It was used for a short time before we began to realize that it was essentially an execution and reincarnation all in one blow," She stated, looking down at Twilight with disappointment.

"I...Princess, I didn't know! I swear, I thought...I thought...," Twilight pleaded, but could feel her own self disgust over the matter take hold.

Pinkie Pie, mercifully, produced a bucket for Twilight to vomit into, the others leaning away in surprise.

Celestia took a deep breath as she turned to Discord, still standing there with his arms crossed…still as a statue, ironically enough. He watched Twilight, completely unaffected by her sorrow, probably taking some minor enjoyment out of it. With a shake of her head, Celestia did the only thing she could think of, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to go like this. I never thought she would do this, or that you wouldn't be able to stop her," She apologized.

"I'll take that as a compliment to my...former skill, I suppose," Discord said with a sigh as well, "Can you tell me where my home is?" He asked tiredly.

Luna shook her head as she walked up to them, "As you may have ascertained, your prior self was not on the best of terms with us," She explained sympathetically, "If you had a dwelling to call your own, it is unknown to us."

Discord raised an eyebrow, looking at them cautiously, "What does that mean for me, exactly?" He said warily, looking ready for a fight or flight situation.

Celestia and Luna shared a look, nodding in agreement, "You past actions never warranted this, Discord," Celestia assured solemnly, "Between this and everything else, you owe Equestria nothing."

"However," Luna spoke up, "Due to the nature of your race or powers, we would request that you stay in our kingdom while you retrieve your bearings," She requested.

"My race OR powers?" He asked blankly, wondering if he should be offended by that.

"We're not sure if they are linked or not, to be honest," Celestia answered honestly, "You may not realize it, but you can do great harm to others or yourself. We merely want you nearby to aid in preventing and minimalizing...accidents," She warned, partially lying. She doubted his powers would turn on himself, even by accident, but she couldn't be too sure.

Discord remained very suspicious of them for a moment before nodding slowly, "And where do I stay?" He asked cautiously.

"You can stay here, with me," Fluttershy spoke up, joining the three with a small smile.

"Thank you, Lady Fluttershy, that would be of much help," Luna said gratefully.

Discord raised an eyebrow, looking at her cottage skeptically, "I'm surprised I even fit in that thing when I awoke," He commented.

"It's not as small as it looks," She assured gently, "Now, I need a moment with my friends...," She added on, a frown forming on her face as she turned back to her cottage, Twilight no longer expelling her breakfast, thankfully.

"So...no cure?" Discord asked evenly to the Princesses, his gaze daring them to lie.

Luna shook her head in apology, "While I am not as up to date on all modern advances as I would like, the mental realms have always been one of my specialties: If there is a reversal, Equestria does not know of it yet," She explained.

He hummed, seeming to mull over her words for a moment, "Then how, exactly, do I still know how to speak and walk?" He asked, one part skeptical and one part curious.

"A mercy of the Lanthanapping is that it only erases memories, not actual knowledge," Celestia explained with a dry smile, "But as you don't remember learning or using any of it..."

"I'm not actually aware that I know it," Discord said with a sigh of annoyance.

"Meaning you may stumble back into knowing how to use some of your powers with time and practice," Celestia added on comfortingly.

"Though, your vocabulary seems a tiny bit off," Luna informed to Discord's interest, "You called Twilight a Koprophage, an insult from the more ancient language of Dragreek. While I am not encouraging the use of the word, the modern term is "Shit-Eater,"" Luna explained.

"Did you HAVE to explain that part to him?" Celestia said with a sigh.

"Well, I thought it best to inform him his terminology might be a bit irregular," Luna answered with a shrug.

"...I have many questions, but I can't bring myself to care at the moment," Discord admitted after a moment.

Twilight, meanwhile, flinched under the hard stare of her normally kind friend, "Fluttershy, I-" Twilight started, only to have a hoof over her mouth.

"Stop," Fluttershy said with a tense breath, "Twilight, I understand what you were trying to do and I still consider you my friend. That said, I don't think I'll ever forgive you," She said sternly, making Twilight wilt a bit, "Regardless of who it was or what he did, you took a creature under my care, the home I made a sanctuary to all creatures that need it, and decided that since my method wasn't progressing fast enough, that you had the right to do something so violating and scarring as to force him to change everything about himself. And in that sense, you killed him," Fluttershy said without remorse.

"But she didn't-!" Pinkie and Rainbow spoke up, only to get a low-grade Stare sent their way.

"The Princesses said it themselves: An execution and reincarnation. Everything that he ever was and everything he could have been is gone," Fluttershy reminded with a scowl, "Discord, as we knew him, is essentially dead. We may not have liked him, but we don't kill another sentient being just because we don't like them," She chastised before looking down at Twilight, her sternness melting into sadness, "Twilight, the only reason I am still your friend...is because you already know what an awful thing you did," She said softly. Twilight gave her a thankful yet broken smile, "Now please, go home," She requested, glancing at Discord out of the corner of her eye.

Twilight nodded as she rose shakily, Rarity and Applejack helping her up. The unicorn looked at the pink maned Pegasus with more shame than all the naughty fillies in the world, "I...I didn't want this, Fluttershy. I just...didn't want you to get hurt...," She apologized as she slowly trotted away. Rarity and Applejack gave Fluttershy brief nods as they walked the unicorn home.

Discord all but growled in his throat as he moved out the way, keeping a good amount of space and even the princesses themselves between himself and the mare, who was painfully aware of his actions.

Pinkie gave a small, sad smile as she looked at the three immortals, "Normally, I'd say it's time for a birthday party, but...well, I guess this isn't the time for one," She said awkwardly.

"A birthday party?" Discord asked with a raised eyebrow.

Pinkie chuckled sheepishly, "I'm a party pony, but...it's no fun if no one will be happy. I-if you want a late one later, just give the word!" Pinkie Pie added on, trying to sound cheerful, "No-now, I think I need to go check on the Cakes..." She said as she walked, not pronked, away.

"...You all make it sound like I wasn't a nice guy, but all of you seem really down about this," Discord noted in confusion.

"I will not sugarcoat it, Discord, I have hated you at times," Luna spoke up with a sigh, "As have my sister and these mares. But we have never had the desire to kill you, or for you to suffer in such a fashion," She assured.

He nodded idly as he watched them leave, "...What's going to happen to her?" He asked coldly.

Celestia took a long, suffering sigh, "Discord, I know you are angry, but that mare is my student and like a daughter to me. I will deal with her, I promise, but please give me time to process all of this," She requested, almost desperately.

The flash of sympathy on his face, something that the real Discord would have never shown, made the situation all the more real to her, "Oh...," He said awkwardly, before scowling, "Fine, I have plenty of free time, apparently," He allowed as Celestia nodded in gratitude.

"Sister? I'm heading back to the castle. I think I need some time alone," Celestia said with a sigh.

"And I need to return to my slumbering. I shall be with you shortly," Luna assured with a smile as Celestia walked off a bit before vanishing in a flash of teleportation.

"...You sleep in the day?" Discord asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nocturnal, I take care of the kingdom at night," Luna answered without missing a beat.

"Hmm, must get lonely," Discord mused conversationally.

"...It used to, but there are more ponies up and about these days," Luna answered with a scowl at her own memories of the past, "Discord-"

"You keep calling me that, but my brain just doesn't react to it," Discord commented offhandedly.

"If you had another alias, you never mentioned it," Luna informed with a raised eyebrow, before continuing, "We'll be checking in soon to see how you are doing. Please be a good guest for Lady Fluttershy," Luna requested before vanishing as her sister had.

Discord snarled to himself once he was alone, "If she comes at me again, I'm taking her horn."

"We'll...make sure she knows to try and avoid you," Rainbow Dash said nervously, making Discord jump around, forgetting she was still here. His tail nearly took her head off, "Easy, easy! Sorry!" She said quickly, seeing from the wild look in Discord's ruby eyes that he was very much on the defensive. She flew slowly up to him, sighing as he barely relaxed, "Discord? Er...whatever you're going to call yourself? I know you don't know me, so I just want to make something clear," Rainbow said, looking conflicted and upset over all of this, "I don't approve of...whatever the Tartarus Twilight did to you. None of us do. But I'm Loyalty, and that is something very important to me," She said with a stern face, "So even if I and the others take Twilight's side in future argument, don't think we're agree with this...please?" She requested.

"...I'll try to remember that," He said with a raised eyebrow, watching as she flew off at a steady pace.

"Thank you," Fluttershy said as she stood near him.

"For what?" Discord asked, tilting his head.

"For not lashing out. I know you have every right to, but...that wouldn't help anypony right now, least of all you," Fluttershy said soflty.

Discord let out a long, suffering sigh, "Fluttershy, I'll be honest? At this point, I'm just too tired to stay angry," He informed in resignation.

Fluttershy nodded in understanding, "Well, come along inside then. I'm not sure if you'll sti- if you'll find the couch comfortable, but it's the best I have for something of your...size," She informed, motioning to his great height. With that said, she gently took his hand and led him back to the cottage.

Discord had an even line for a mouth as he stared at his lion paw, being pulled by the equine hoof. She was an interesting one. The other four had stayed with his mind-butcher and the Princesses seemed to be still processing it, but this one stayed with him constantly. She genuinely seemed to care about him, for whatever reason, despite that his former self seemed to have a bad reputation.

Of course, he noted how everyone, even Fluttershy, seemed to dance about the topic of who "Discord" really was and what he did that was so bad.

Something he'd have to look up. Along with what the bukko his species actually was.

End of Chapter

And there we go, first chapter of Strife. Discord, regrettably, is essentially dead for now. For now because he's Discord, he's a Chaos God, and he's Discord.

So, yes, the soon-to-be Strife is very, very cautious due to Twilight's mindrape- cause the only other word for that is mind-death. Still, he isn't lashing out at everyone right now, just at Twilight. Not to say he trusts them, they're just on his wait and see list. Over the next few chapter, we'll be seeming him adjust to his new life while Ponyville adjusts to having him around and the Princesses deal with the lose of one of the only constants in their long lives.

One of the biggest things in this fic is going to be Discord's, not Strife's powers. More exactly, him rediscovering them which will lead to...interesting things.