- Story by Jeremy Whitley, Art by Brenda Hickey
Discord is having a hard time sleeping, and when his powers activate unintentionally during one bad nightmare, wrecking havoc on Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle calls in the help of Princess Luna to see what is wrong with Discord's dreams. After zapping him to sleep, Luna finds that while Discord's mind is as chaotic as his normal self, his inner psyche tries to latch him down, forcing him to think in an orderly, business-like fashion. Luna helps to free Discord from this, trying to see what is really going on with him.
They come to a hallway of doors, where one particular door is locked up with numerous warning signs on it. Luna wants to investigate that one, but Discord refuses to, instead going into other doors marked with the cutie marks of the Mane 6. In each of these, his actions, while well intentioned, turn into catastrophe for that pony. Luna suspects what is behind the locked door, finding that it belongs to Fluttershy. Inside, in a more tranquil setting, the two watch as another version of Discord prepare to take Fluttershy and the Cutie Mark Crusaders on another wild adventure. Luna realizes Discord cares deeply for Fluttershy and the Crusaders, but that's why Discord considers this nightmare the worst of all: as a being of chaos, he thinks it's in his nature to eventually betray others, as happened with Tirek, and that he'll hurt the people he cares about when he does. Luna notes that caring for others is not a bad quality, and can help empower others to do good and to change themselves. Discord takes this to heart, and lets his concerns about harming Fluttershy go. Later, Discord helps to repay Luna's favor by joining her on her balcony to keep her company.
This issue provides examples of:
- Blue-and-Orange Morality: Discord states he isn't inherently evil, he's chaotic. His nightmares stop when Luna makes him take his own advice — while he's harmed ponies in the past by using chaos for evil, he's not destined to do so anymore if he doesn't want to.
- Chaos Is Evil:
- Invoked — the whole plot ultimately stems from Discord subconsciously believing this to be true. Luna even outright invokes the trope by stating that "Order is good!" early on, which is the current page quote.
- Subverted — The plot is ultimately resolved when Luna convinces Discord that being "chaotic" and being an inherently evil creature are not synonymous, something she can only do after accepting that fact for herself.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Discord fears he has this as a result of being a being of chaos.
- Continuity Nod: This story calls back to several past Friends Forever stories, including Fluttershy and Discord, and Luna and Pinkie Pie.
- Endless Corridor: What Luna takes Discord through to see what is wrong with his dreams.
- Fourth-Wall Observer: Discord seems to be aware that he's in a comic book. Luna, however, isn't.Discord: Oh, so this is going to be a philosophical issue. Great.
Luna: Issue?
Discord: Never mind. - Full-Name Ultimatum: Luna gets Discord to stop dallying and open the locked door by calling his out as "Discord P. Sullivan!" This is likely a joke name, since Luna credits her humor lessons from Pinkie (from their Friends Forever teamup) to come up with that.
- Home Field Advantage: Discord seems to be just as helpless in his dreams as anypony else, a disadvantage that Luna obviously lacks. That being said, he's still able to prevent her from entering his dreams against his will, explaining why she never just exploited this during his original villainy.
- Lampshade Hanging: At one point Luna directly asks if an out-of-place scene was a reference she didn't get; Discord denies this, it was apparently just random. They also note that Luna shouting "Discord P. Sullivan!" came out of nowhere, but they agree it somehow felt right.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Luna and Discord find out they have a lot in common when it comes to reflecting on their actions in the past and worried if they can honestly change for the better.
- Patrick Stewart Speech: Luna delivers a rather impressive one —Luna: Now, you listen to me, Discord. Care does not make you weak. It makes you strong. Ponies accomplish more through care than they ever thought possible. With enough care, you can change the world. Care enough and you can even change yourself. I did. The old me is still there. I still get jealous, but I remember how much I love my life and that's enough.
- Power Incontinence: Discord's insomnia severely hinders his control over his powers, essentially making him repeat his actions from "The Return of Harmony" without realizing it.
- Reference Overdosed: Discord's mind is like that of a child flipping through television stations, carrying a lot of parodies and references with it.
- Ship Tease: In the dream of working for "Ms. Celestia", it's implied he is married to Fluttershy and the CMCs are their children. Also the fact that he dreads hurting Fluttershy the most.
- Took a Level in Badass: Luna. She and Celestia used to be helpless against Discord, without the Elements of Harmony; now she's capable of just zapping him asleep mid-sentence, not to mention her Home Field Advantage (see above) over him in the dreamscape. Granted, Worf Had the Flu in terms of his recent insomnia, but still...
- Twist Ending: The Reveal that Luna is struggling with the same self-doubt issues Discord was turns a lot of her actions in the comic on their head.
- Your Mind Makes It Real: Discord may be the greatest Reality Warper in Equestria, but even he requires Luna's help in navigating dreams where he can't fully control his powers.
