Discord had never felt so frustrated in his life. In fact, he had never felt frustrated before. Usually, he would fix his frustration by using his magic, but Tirek had stolen the most of his magic. He paced around the library, while his friends watched him. "Discord calm down," Twilight said.
Discord jerked his head around at the alicorn. "Calm down? WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN CALM DOWN. TIREK HAS KIDNAPPED THE LOVE OF MY LIFE AND WE'RE GONNA DO NOTHING EXCEPT SIT HERE AND PRAY THAT THINGS WILL WORK OUT. IF I HAD MY MAGIC I'D OF FOUND HER BY NOW, BUT NOOO. TIREK HAS STOLEN MOST OF MY MAGIC, ROBBING MY ABILITY TO FIND HER!"
The Mane five winced as his voice echoed off the walls. Discord then slumped down to the floor and sobbed. Twilight felt a tear down her cheek and she stroke her friends back. She had been wrong about him not having at heart when she met him, would a heartless monster sob over such an event. "Discord, I know your upset but the guards are doing everything they can to find her."
"They need to try harder, I can't imagine what horrors Fluttershy must be going through, what if she..." he broke down again into harder sobs.
The other ponies watched, giving him sorrowful looks. Rainbow looks away, trying to block out the crying. She felt guilty that she had judged him for his past, she felt guilty that she didn't trust him even after he was reformed. Now she felt sorry for the draconequus, the state he was in, was proof that he did indeed have a heart. A tear fell down her tough girl cheek.
No one was fairing well without Fluttershy. After news had spread around Equestria that an Element of Harmony had been kidnapped, and several ponies had their magic stolen a great depression had struck Equestria. No one had any luck finding clues to where Tirek had taken Fluttershy.
Discord sat up and wiped his eyes, his eyes now glowing with hate for that monster. "I'm done with being a sitting duck, if no pony's gonna find her, then I will. When I do find that jerk, I'll be ready. But I need your help."
Twilight dumped a tub of blue powder into a bucket of arrows. "I can't believe we're doing this," she said.
"Then start, I have to practice somehow." Discord said, tying a blindfold around his eyes.
"Oh no complaints here, I think this is going to be loads of fun." Twilight said, sarcastically.
"Tirek will never give her up without a fight." Discord said, picking up his bow. Since he had been robbed of his magic, he was going to get Fluttershy back the old fashioned way.
"I know, I'll call the girls over," Twilight turned to a tree. "You girls ready yet?"
From behind the tree, the four ponies trotted out, dressed as Tirek. "Twilight why do we have to dress up in these monkey suits to have Discord shoot arrows at us?" Rarity complained.
"The guards are busy enough as it is, we have to use somepony." Twilight explained.
"But what if we get hurt?" Applejack asked.
"Girls, calm down. They're harmless!" Discord called, waving an arrow around, but instead of a pointy end, it had a small cushion, covered in the same blue dust.
The four dressed up ponies looked at each other. They knew they didn't have any other choice. If they wanted to help their friend, they were going to have to play a part in this. Twilight brought out an hour glass. "Okay Discord you have 15 minutes to shoot as many times as possible. Girls, when I start counting, you start running, then I'll take away the blindfold,"
Twilight picked up the glass and faced her friends. "Three...two...one...Go!" she cried, taking away the blindfold and tipped the hour glass over. The girls started running in all directions and Discord started to shoot at them with the dusty arrows.
To everyones surprise, Discord hardly missed a single shot. Blue dots appeared on the costumes in all places, on all four ponies. "Time!" Twilight cried.
The girls all walked back, all puffed out and covered in blue dots. "Unbelievable," Twilight uttered. She turned the draconequus, who was playing with the bow. "When did you learn to shoot like that Discord?"
"I took up archery when I was a kid," he explained. "Also, I've had lots of practice."
"Wow, so...would you mind telling us your motives for this exercise? How is this gonna help find Fluttershy." Twilight asked. The other ponies nodded, all wanting to know why Discord made them into living, walking targets.
Discord dusted himself off. "Well, when I do find Fluttershy, there's no doubt that Tirek will be far behind. I have to protect myself as well as her somehow."
The ponies shrugged. "Good point, now I hope you don't mind, but we're gonna go to the spa and get cleaned up." Twilight said.
Discord waved his paw. "Yeah, you go do that. I've got some more practice to do."
The ponies trotted off and Discord gazed into the trees. "Don't loose hope, Fluttershy. Wherever you are, I'm going to find you."
Sonata had to duck in order to stop herself getting hit in the head with a candlestick. "That pony's getting on my nerves!" Tirek snapped, tossing the table over.
Sonata trembled under her masters tone of voice. "M-master Tirek, if I may ask. What's the point of marrying Fluttershy anyway?"
Tirek calmed down enough to speak. "Well Sonata, by marrying Fluttershy I will have the upper hoof over every pony. See for the Elements of Harmony to work, the bearers all have to be present or else the Elements are useless, meaning they can't stop me in my take over. By taking Fluttershy as my own, I'm also taking Equestria's only means of protection. After all, no pony would dare try to usurp me when I have a Bearer as a hostage. But if those ponies want her back, they'll have to offer their magic to me," Tirek explained
"But can't you just go back and take the magic right now?" Sonata asked.
"I tried that already, the thing is my dear. Once you steal something, you spend your whole life fighting to kept it. By making Fluttershy mine, I will rule all of Equestria and their magic will be mine forever."
Sonata nodded, satisfied with this answer. "Ooooohhhhh, I get it now."
"Now if only I can convince her to be my bride, then everything will me perfect." Tirek grinned.
Discord lay on his stomach next to the stream by Fluttershy's house. His tears joining the water in the stream as he gazed at his reflection in the water. It was night and Discord couldn't sleep. The worry for his love was overbearing for him. As he played with her Element, he remembered the day when they shared their first kiss. He missed her even more that he was laying in her garden. The ruins of her beautiful cottage were behind him, he refused to look at them, knowing that it was a permanent reminder of the tragedy that had occurred.
"I thought I'd find you here Discord," said a low voice. Discord jumped and spun round, seeing Princess Luna standing there.
"Oh, it's you. What do you want Luna?"
"I heard about what happened to Fluttershy,"
"Thanks, just what I need. Salt in the wound."
"I also know that you love her,"
"Did you come here to rub it in my face?!" Discord snapped.
"Discord! I did not come here for that, I came here because I know where Fluttershy is." she said, with a hint of excitement.
Discord's eyes widened and he stared at her in shock. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, I found where Fluttershy is!" Luna said, gleefully.
Not wasting a minute, he picked himself up and grabbed his bow and arrows, which had been laying next to him on the ground. "I'm going to find her," he was about to leave when he realised he had no idea where she was. "Where is she?"
"Fluttershy is held in the garden of the Black Castle, it's located North of Canterlot." Luna explained.
"Thank you! Luna your a gem!" he cried and took off it the direction of the train station. Luna watched as he raced off, smiling.
"Good luck, old friend," she said, before disappearing into the night sky.
Discord was more determined then ever to get to Fluttershy. He looked down at the Element of Kindness in his paw. "I'm coming Fluttershy,"