//------------------------------// // The Most Peaceful Place in Equestria // Story: Last Ditch // by MaxKodan //------------------------------// Last Ditch Chapter 4: The Most Peaceful Place in Equestria Max Kodan The clearing was nearly silent, with just the right level of background sound: The tweeting of birds, the whispering breeze, the padding of little feet as they frolicked and played. The lone pegasus floated through, looking around the surroundings. She landed and sighed contentedly, beginning to trot around the circumference. A pair of blue birds fluttered down and landed on her wings. Squirrel triplets bounded in front of her, tackling, breaking away, chasing. Two rabbits peeked their heads out of their holes, darted out to grab some tiny carrots that littered the ground, then zipped back into their homes. Fluttershy smiled and laid down near the rabbit holes, peeking in. "Oh, my, no, don't be scared," she whispered quietly to the inhabitants. "It's safe out here, you should spend some time out in the sun." In response, the two white fluffballs reappeared, looked around, then tentatively hopped out. Their cute little noses twitched as they turned their heads to look at the pleasantly smiling pegasus. As she reached out to touch them, the jumped in fear and let out a light screech, then high-tailed it back into their home. Fluttershy pulled back in surprised, and only a moment later she realized that the birds had stopped singing. "Hello again, Fluttershy." The voice was unmistakable. She winced and hunched her head down. The shiver that shot down her spine caused her tail to extend outward. As it did, she felt it brush against something. It felt like it took her several minutes to turn completely around. She held her eyes closed tight the entire time. Another few minutes whizzed by before she opened them. Before her stood the towering form of Discord. She meeped out something unintelligible. In actuality, he didn't look at all menacing. He stood there quietly, eyes filled with what could pass as compassion. He tried to make himself seem smaller, less intimidating. He blinked a few times, waiting patiently. Finally, the pegasus squeaked out something that sounded like an inquiry as to the meaning of his presence. Or something. "Glad you asked." He didn't smile, but he didn't seem angry or threatening. Yet. "Please don't jump to any conclusions about me being here. I'm looking out for your best interests, I swear." He extended a hand gently, not quite half way between them. Fluttershy looked as though she'd fallen into a trance. She was completely paralyzed. He sighed and continued. "Rather, I'm looking out for the best interest of your animal friends here." This got a quizzical eye to twitch, and the soft-spoken pony shifted a little, looking up at her enemy questioningly. "You want to know, right? You want to save them, don't you?" "S-save them from what?" Fluttershy's voice was louder now. It was still a whisper, but it was audible. Discord nodded solemnly and reached his hand a bit closer, biting his bottom lip as he did. "Please, t-tell me...what could possibly be threatening them?" Discord breathed in through his nose deeply, as if what he was about to say was extremely difficult. "The Rot," Discord spoke so harshly that Fluttershy winced again. "What's the...the...?" However hard she tried, something stopped her from saying the next word. She couldn't explain it: Even in her head, the word wouldn't properly form. "The Rot," Discord continued, controlling his voice more this time, "is a disease that had been thought long extinct. However, thousands of years ago, The Rot spread across the land. It left devastating swaths of death cut across Equestria, leaving no living thing behind. It was the worst plague anypony had ever seen. Fortunately, time served to dull The Rot." At this point, Discord began to pace back and forth, folding his arms behind his back. "Ponies worked up an immunity to The Rot." Fluttershy looked hopeful. Behind his somber eyes, Discord felt his domination drawing closer. "Unfortunately, Ponies are the only ones who are immune. All these animals..." he waved his arms widely to indicate the hiding critters. "Would die." "No!" Fluttershy's voice had grown in her shock and fear. She stood up straight and stamped her hooves impatiently, though she was unable to do anything. The thought of being helpless riled her up more, and she started looking around frantically, trying to find an animal to ensure that it was ok. "I won't let it, I'll find a cure! I'll...I'll..." She grimaced and sat down, feeling tears rising in her eyes. "Now now, my dear, don't cry! Fear not! For I have the cure you seek!" He leaned down over her, sweeping an arm wide in a somewhat calming, heroic manner. "The Rot is coming back, but you can stop it, with my help!" "But I-" "Listen!" He swirled his body around her, and came up in front of her, his nose nearly pressing against hers. "I'll give you the cure, and even teach you how to make it. All you need to do...is release me..." Fluttershy shook her head, closing her eyes tightly and trying to back away. "N-no. I'll...I'll go to Zecora. She'll know what to do! I won't release you, I won't!" She shuddered, resisting the very idea of letting Discord loose on the world again. She wouldn't subject the world to that. "She can't help you, she'll only know the legends, not the cure! Only I can help, and you can make that happen! If you free me, I will give it to you! Now go, Fluttershy! Save your little animal friends!" His hypnotic eyes kicked into high gear, boring deep into the pony's. He suggested as hard as he could, a grin spreading ear to ear. He almost had this one. Almost...almost... Fluttershy woke up with a start, gasping for breath and settling on a heavy heave that slowly evened out. She sat on her bed and shivered on every exhale. Angel hopped up on the bed, tilting his head to one side. The winged pony stared at her pet for a moment before lunging out and hugging him tightly. The bunny hardly knew it, but he was the only thing keeping his owner from breaking down in tears.