The Canterlot throne room was filled to the brim with filled ponies. They were all shouting, scolding, and pleading at once to Princesses. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence. Even Shining Armor was there to accompany his wife, however he was in his royal guard uniform and he was to keep the peace between the ponies and princesses. He command both the princesses guards and the crystal empire guards for this task. But this mob of ponies were not ordinary citizens with usual compliments. These ponies were families of the mane six.
Twilight's parents were there, looking less polished and very much panic-stricken. They were trying to shout out a reasonable plan to the Princesses awhile calming the crowd around them. Spike accompanied them in this task. There was a light purple, rainbow named stallion in the mob. His name was Specturm Dash. He was Rainbow Dash's father. He and Rarity's father were trying to get closer to the Princesses in order to yell them on why they didn't protect their daughters. Rarity's mother, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were holding back the fathers. Granny Smith was doing the same thing, only with more gusto and force. It took all of Big Mac's and Apple Bloom's strength to hold her back.
But most of the crowd was made up of Fluttershy's large family. And this crowd was lead by the family patriarch: Count Batula. They had the loudest and most passionate complaints, and they were not afraid to show it. Especially Count Batula. The only ones were silent and patient in the crowd was Discord and Stellar Eclipse. Discord's serious gaze was focused on Celestia and Luna, as if waiting for their plan to begin. Discord's lack of chatter worried Stellar and it also made the wheelchair pony wonder if he could help Discord.
Princess Cadence,awhile on her throne on the left of Celestia,was trying to answer each question and demand of the pony mob. But it was useless. Celestia and Luna were calm and emotionless on their throne. They eyed the mob with integrity and humility.
They looked at each other for support before Luna announced in her royal Canterlot voice "SILENCE!" Then Celestia reared into the air and landed upon the ground with force and speed.
The sound of Celestia's mighty front hooves along with Luna's royal Canterlot voice made the crowd speechless and quiet. The mob's attention was now on Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
Celestia cleared her throat before explaining "My subjects, we understand your strife and your pain. The Princesses and I are going through it too. Not only is Equestria's most heroic defenders missing, more importantly, your children are missing. They are your children first. This is why we are doing everything in our power to get them back. As soon as possible."
Count Batula interrupted in his Transylvanian accent "Then why couldn't you protect them?!"
Celestia turned her gaze gracefully towards Count Batula. He was slightly crouched over and panting from his outburst. Mavis placed her front hooves over his shoulders, comforted him in her Transylvanian accent "Honey! Please..."
Celestia's hard expression softened a little when she saw the sadness in the parents' eyes. She responded peacefully "You're right. We should have protected them. I should have protected them...but like all parents, we must have faith in our children to defend themselves once they are out in world on their own. We all had faith that they had the ability to protect themselves from monsters and villains. For they wield powerful magic in their veins and...they have each other. Because they are together, they will stay safe...for now...in the clutches of this kidnapper. This is why we need a plan. And I know how to start this plan. Discord?"
Discord silently came forward from the crowd and walked towards Celestia's throne. The mob almost cowered at his presence. Celestia turned her face towards Discord and told him "Have you sensed any magical imbalances since the disappearance?"
Discord responded seriously "I have...they're coming from the Saddle Arabian deserts."
Celestia asked in a deep tone "Are these magical imbalances caused by...dark magic?"
Discord gave her a small nod,"Yes."
This made the ponies in the throne room gasp a little and mutter to each other.
Discord ignored the ponies in the room and continued hid conservation with Celestia, "However,this dark magic isn't equestrian magic. It is a magic I've never sensed before. At least, not in this dimension anyway."
Princess Luna innocently asked Discord "This enemy is from another world?"
The murmuring in the mob increased. The parents, especially Fluttershy's parents, began to let out small screams and shouts. Discord turned to Luna and said "Indeed Luna. This is why I believe that he's the kidnapper in the scenario. But more importantly, I should be the one to hunt him...rescue the girls...stop the scoundrel once and for all."
Celestia, Luna, and Cadence looked to each other quietly as if having a private council with each other. They have never seen Discord so...serious. They have never seen him so determined...so focused...but also full of revenge in tone. Celestia and Luna thought this was because of this enemy kidnapped his new best friends. However, Cadence knew Discord was acting this way because the new threat kidnapped Fluttershy. Discord couldn't be left on this mission alone.
The Princesses nodded to each other before Celestia announced "Very well Discord. We grant you the honor of rescuing Bearers of Harmony. However, there are some conditions you must follow. First, you need some pony to travel with you."
Discord questioned "May I choose who?"
"You may." she answered.
"Then I choose Stellar Eclipse." he said.
Stellar Eclipse stuttered loudly "W-W-What?! D-Discord?!"
Discord didn't spin around to face his friend, he remained in the direct gaze of Princess Celestia.
Celestia continued to explain to Discord "You must also promise Discord...no matter what this villian does...do not terminate him. Only take away his magic. Do you understand?"
Stellar Eclipse and the pony mob awaited for Discord's response. The Lord of Chaos was still and silent. He had a very hard yet non-expressive look on his face. Celestia's eyes narrowed and her frown deepened in order to show Discord that this condition was crucial.
He finally uttered out "I understand Princess."
Celestia then announced "In that case...Discord, I grant you permission to..."
"Discord shouldn't be the one to go!"
Discord quickly twisted around to look for the outburst in the crowd. Celestia looked past Discord's shoulder to see what the draconquees was looking at. The other Princesses followed in Celestia's lead. The crowd split apart for Discord and revealed Diego. He was standing by the stain glass depicting the history of how the mane 6 defeated Nightmare Moon. The werepony was also standing by Count Batlua and Mavis.
Diego took a step forward and snarled "Princess Celestia, I should go. Rarity and the others are not in The Saddle Arabian deserts."
Mavis tried to reach out to Diego and softly whispered "Diego. Calm yourself, please."
Diego barked "No! I know what I'm talking about! Yes your majesty,their scent is coming from the east and towards Saddle Arabia. But their scent is also coming from high in the clouds. It's coming from a place of evaluation. They're in the eastern mountains, not the desert."
Discord immediately stomped over to Diego, and brought his fearful chaotic face against Diego's forehead. Discord scowled "Are you questioning me? You over-sized reject poodle!"
Diego's red eyes began to glow and he snarled his fangs in response to Discord's insult. This made Discord's eyes glow and growl back at the werepony.
Count Batula got in between Discord and Diego and harshly scold "That's enough! Both of you!"
The two rivals gave each ice cold glares before retreating to their original position. Cadence intervene with "Perhaps there is a solution to this dilemma."
Cadence flew off her throne and landed in between the two arguing parties. She then proposed "While Discord and Eclipse search in Saddle Arabia, Diego will search in the mountains."
She turns to Diego and asks "However Diego, I do insist you have somepony accompany you on this journey." She scans the room and her eyes land on Spike, "And this somepony...or some dragon...should be Spike."
Spike exclaims "M-Me?!"
Diego's face brighten and his giant furry began to way like a little puppy tail. He immediately grabbed Spike in his arms and gave his pal a noogie. He then said happily "Oh boy! This is going to be so cool, right little buddy? Don't worry Princess Mia Amora, you can count on us!"
Cadence giggles in response "Oh I just knew that you two would be up for the task."
Spike struggled in Diego's grip, trying to find a way out. He let out while gasping for air and personal space, "B-But Cadence."
Then Spike finally popped out of Diego's arms and landed in front of the pink alicorn, "Are you sure? I mean, are you really sure that this a good idea? Sending me and him on this mission?"
Cadence lowered her head to Spike's eye level and sweetly whisper "With Diego's nose and your natural instinct for direction and for reason, I know that you two will be able to find the others in no time. Plus, both of you really care about Rarity and the others. Spike..."
She placed one of her wings on Spike's shoulder and continued with "Let love guide your way."
Spike cocked his head to the side and added "Huh?"
Cadence answered his question with a smile and a slight giggle. She lifted her wing her head from Spike and proclaimed to the crowd "My fellow ponies, have faith in our heroes. For they will guide your children back home."
Discord quietly commented "Heroes?"
The ponies cheered with glee and stomp the ground in applause. They gave their congrats and good luck to Spike,Diego, Stellar, and Discord before they left the throne room. As the new heroes were about to do the same,Cadence stopped Discord. She was flying at his eye level...with a soft smile on her face.
She then gently explained to him "Discord. I know that we don't know each other very well, but...I hope you know that I have a deep amount of faith for you for this journey. You will succeed. Twilight and the others are lucky to have a friend like you. Fluttershy is lucky to have some pony like you."
Discord's eyes widen and his ears perked up in shock. He wasn't expecting this alicorn to say something like this to him. Especially, that part about Fluttershy. He thought to himself What does she know?
Cadence continued with "Let love decide your actions Discord. When you lose faith, have faith in love."
Cadence flew away from Discord, and landed by her husband. Discord gave Cadence a surprised yet suspicious look before following Stellar Eclipse out of the throne room.
Shining Armor whispered to Cadence "Um honey? What did you mean by 'let love decide your actions'?"
Cadence replied with a soft smirk on her face, "As the Princess of love, it is my duty to advise and help my subjects when they're in love."
Shining Armor nodded his head in agreement "Oh that makes more sense..." But then he realized, "Wait?! Discord's in love?!"
Cadence responded to his remark with laughter. And she slyly walk away and joined the other Princesses to the room behind Celestia's throne.
Shining Armor immediately trotted for his wife and asked "Discord's in love?!"
The only ponies that were left in the vast and grand throne room were Count Batula and Mavis. The brown regal batpony was still lingering in front of the stain glass portrait of Nightmare Moon's defeat. His red eyes focused on the Fluttershy silhouette in the portrait. His beautiful little mouse...all alone...frightened. He looked away, trying to hold back his tears and contain his sobbing. He lightly placed his hoof on the stain glass window and slightly dragged on it's surface. He felt so hopeless and weak.
"Darling?"
His furry pointy bat ears perked up at the sound of his lovely wife's voice. Then he felt the warm touch of her gorgeous large wing cover his back and shoulders. He looked to the side of him and found his Mavis staring at him...with tears in her teal eyes.
She cooed at Count "She'll be alright darling. She's strong. She's a Batty. Discord will bring her back." Then she softly wiped away the tears on Count Batula's cheeks, "Have faith."
This made her husband sob and muzzled into Mavis's shoulder and neck. He cried out while wrapping his bat wings around her "Oh Mavis!"
Mavis silently cried with Count Batula and wrapped her other giant wing around his shaking body.