The doors to the castle burst open as Tirek stomped into the foyer, Sonata behind him. "I can't believe that Discord found her! How else would she have known about the Gross Gruesome Gala."
"Actually it's called the Grand Galloping Gala." Sonata corrected.
"I KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED SONATA!" Tirek roared. Sonata remained quiet after that. The siren watched as her master paced around the room. "If Discord makes the vow it could ruin everything, the Elements of Harmony would work again and I'd be getting a one way ticket to Tartarus," he stroked his chin, deep in thought. "I'm going to have to deal with him, but how?"
His eyes lit up as he came to an idea. "The Vow," he chuckled for a bit.
Sonata raised an eyebrow. "The Vow?"
"Yes Sonata, the spell Little Miss Butterfly is under has one weakness. It works like this my dear, if her lover makes the vow of Everlasting Love to another, her heart will obviously break and the spell will weaken her. In other words my dear, if Discord makes the vow to the wrong girl, Fluttershy will die."
"But I thought you were going to make her your queen," Sonata said.
Tirek waved it off. "I was never attracted to her, besides she'd be too stubborn to control."
"But where are we gonna get a mare that looks like Fluttershy? I doubt we'd find a lookalike willing to do this." Sonata said.
Tirek chuckled. "My poor naive Sonata, you forget who I am. This is where you come in."
Sonata blinked. "Me?" she asked, pointing to her chest.
"Of course my dear, I'm going to make you look like Fluttershy. Of course it will take a lot of work, but it will be possible. Follow me,"
Tirek took the sea pony's hoof and led her into the basement. Down there was were Tirek experimented with the magic he had stolen. "Have a seat," he said, pointing to a stone seat on the corner, next to the lagoon, which was a leak from the castle moat.
Tirek picked up and book and flipped through it. "Perfect," He turned to the sea pony and grinned. A golden orange glow appeared in between his horns and shot at Sonata.
The blue sea pony was surrounded in the orange and felt her scaly skin turn into yellow fur and her spikes turn into a long wavy mane.
When the glow disappeared, instead of a blue scaly sea pony siren, was a butter yellow pegasus with teal eyes and a pink mane.
"Now say something, I want to see if your voice is the same."
"Is this good?" Sonata asked, but instead of her own voice, it came out in Fluttershy's soft melody-like voice.
Tirek clapped his hands together. "Haha, perfect. Now I want you to spend the day practicing to be Fluttershy. In other words, practice her shy, kind nature. But not when you're around Discord, he's her lover remember."
"You've got it boss! Oh I mean...I understand."
"Yes, yes, now be a good girl and go practice."
Sonata was about to leave when she remembered something. "But what about the real Fluttershy. What if she escapes before we get to the Gala?"
Tirek chuckled. "I'm locking her up in, this." Tirek said, holding up a glass jar.
Later that night...
Discord and the girls were getting ready for the Grand Galloping Gala. Rarity had made everyones attire (as usual). However, none of the girls were smiling. "It doesn't fell right without Fluttershy," Twilight said as Rarity curled her mane. She was wearing a purple dress, similar to the one she wore for her coronation.
"I know darling, we all miss her," Rarity said, sadly. She was wearing a pale lavender dress with navy blue lace.
"Yeah, I'm gonna miss that girl." Rainbow said, she was wearing a white dress with a hue of rainbow and gold designs.
Twilight turned to see Discord humming as he straighten his tie. He was wearing an orange tux with a white ruffled shirt and a red tie. "You seem very happy Discord. Why is that? We still haven't found Fluttershy."
Discord chuckled. "Don't worry Twilight, I'm sure she's fine. Believe me, I know."
Sitting in the middle of a damp, flooded basement was a glass jar. Inside, was a yellow butterfly with a green body and pink and green speckles on its wings. "It hurts me to lock you up Fluttershy, you would have looked beautiful as my queen. But no, you just had to be the stubborn little thing you are." Tirek said.
Fluttershy scowled and turned her back to him. "Oh, now you're mad at me again. Well I should have expected it, with all your stubbornness. How is it that you're the Element of Kindness?" he mocked.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Fluttershy I just remembered that the Gala's on tonight. To bad you're grounded my dear. If only you can go to the Gala and still be here," he pretended to think about it. "I know, I'll make Sonata go for you," As he said that the disguised siren came out from behind him, wearing a black ball gown.
Fluttershy gasped at her doppelgänger, she looked at Tirek with wide eyes. Tirek chuckled and patted Sonatashy on the head. "We best get going Sonata, don't want your date to think you've forgotten him."
He let out a low chuckle as he and Sonata left the room, locking the door behind them. Fluttershy started to sob uncontrollably. She was so close...
It had been an hour since the Gala started and Twilight was sure that all the guests were there. Discord was still looking around the room for Fluttershy. Ponies were dancing gracefully with their partners. Twilight was with Flash, Rarity had caught up with Fancy Pants and was dancing with him, Pinkie was dancing with Cheese Sandwich, Rainbow was dancing with Soarin and Applejack was twirling Spike around.
To everyones surprise and disbelief, there was a loud knock on the ballroom doors. The music stopped and everypony turned to the noise. Princess Celestia approached Twilight. "Twilight, did you check that everypony's here?"
"Yes, I'm sure all the guests have arrived. I double checked the list. Twice!" Twilight insisted.
Flash Sentry walked over to open the door. "I'm sure it's just somepony placing a prank," he said, grabbing the handles. He pulled the doors open and gasped at who was standing there. He clasped a hoof over his mouth has the butter coloured pegasus entered the ballroom.
All through the ballroom, mouths dropped in shock as Fluttershy walked through the stunned crowd, silent and gracefully. Discord beamed and walked up to her. "And here I was thinking you weren't going to make it." he said.
Discord signalled for the music to start again and the confused orchestra started to play a waltz. However, no one else when onto the dance floor. They just watched as the couple twirled around the tiled floor.
Down by the bank of the castle moat, Buttercup was pacing while Rocky and Tad watched. "Ha!" she suddenly said.
"What?" Rocky said.
"It's good," Buttercup said.
"What is?" Tad asked.
"An idea, a large colossal idea!"
"Sounds big," Rocky said.
"I've got it!" Buttercup pointed to the moat. "Water leaks into the basement right. If there's a leak, there must be a hole. We'll find the hole, make it bigger and break through!"
Tad jumped up onto Rocky's shell. "Buttercup, I think you're forgetting one thing." He pointed to the catfish lying in wait.
"His Majesty's got a point," Rocky said.
Buttercup pondered for a minute. "It's our only chance we have of getting her out. We have to do something."
"Are you insane, who's going to jump into this muck." Tad said.
"He's gotta be a good swimmer,"
"Precisely,"
"He's gotta be small too," Rocky added. Both he and Buttercup knew who they were talking about.
"Teeny weeny, can not be seen."
"And it wouldn't hurt to be green, for camouflage." Buttercup said, smirking.
"Precisely; small, good swimmer, green." Tad's eyes widened when he realised what they meant. "Good grief! You're talking about me! No, no, absolutely not! I am not going in that moat."
"You have to! Fluttershy needs us!" Buttercup insisted.
Tad still refused. "N.O means No, Buttercup."
Buttercup crossed her arms and smirked. "I suppose that special kiss isn't on your mind anymore."
Tad jerked his head around. "What do you mean?"
"I don't think you want Fluttershy to turn you into a prince anymore,"
Tad jumped up. "What are you talking about! I'm going in!" he was about to leap into the moat, when Rocky stopped him.
"Hold mister Knight in Shining Armour. We still need a plan, any idea's Buttercup."
"Yes, Rocky you distract the catfish, Tad you find the hole." Buttercup said.
"What about you?" Tad asked.
"I'll distract them from up here."
Tad rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll do it. If I can find it and if the catfish don't eat me before I get there."
"Relax, I've got your back buddy." Rocky said, diving into the moat.
Once the turtle was in the water he hollered out to the catfish. "Hey you old eels! Come get me!" The catfish spotted him and chased after the turtle, who was surprisingly fast in the water.
"Okay Tad, now go!" Buttercup said.
The frog leaped into the moat. One of the catfish spotted him and started to swim towards him. Tad panicked and tried to climb back out, but the rocks were too slippery. Luckily, Buttercup whacked the fish on the head with a tree branch. "Go now!" she cried.
Tad didn't need to be told twice and swam under water. He reached the wall leading into the basement and started looking for the hole. Rocky was still distracting the other catfish. He swam up to the surface and Buttercup whacked his chaser over the head with the branch. Both fish were now out cold and the boys could safely find the hole.
Tad found it and they started digging through. Rocky pushed his friend through the hole and the frog shot through. On the other side of the hole, Tad shot out of the water and landing with a thud on the stone floor. Fluttershy squealed at the sight of her friend. "Tad!"
"To the rescue mademoiselle," he said, dazed.
Outside, Rocky worked hard to make the hole bigger for him to fit through. Tad picked up the jar and dived underwater with Fluttershy. "Thank you Tad, when this is over, remind me to give you a kiss."
Tad cheered mentally. The frog and turtle swam up to the surface, with Fluttershy in a jar. Buttercup smashed the top off on Rocky's shell and Fluttershy flew out. "I have to get to Canterlot, Tirek's gonna make Discord say the vow to another!" she cried.
Her friends gasped. "Then you have no time to loose Fluttershy. Go! We're right behind you!" Buttercup called out to her as the butterfly flew away as fast as her wings could carry her.
Discord was enjoying a dance with the mare of his dreams. Set something seemed off about her. He approached her about it. "Fluttershy, you seem...I don't know...different."
Sonata panicked, thinking that he was on to her. "Don't worry, once this is over we won't have anything to worry about." she said, snuggling into his chest.
"Yes, yes of course," Discord said, smiling.
In the middle of the waltz, he called out to Twilight. "Twilight! I wanna make an announcement. Stop the music!"
Twilight heard and ushered for the orchestra to stop. The crowd gathered to hear what was going on. No one saw the tiny yellow butterfly trying to get into the ballroom.
Fluttershy could clearly see her doppelgänger with Discord. And with the music stopped, it meant that he was about to make the vow. The vow that was meant for her.
She panicked as she heard loud and clear of her lovers speech.
"Ponies of Equestria, Lords and Ladies, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and all my friends," Discord began.
"I, Discord, the Lord of Chaos have learnt that there is more to life then chaos. I my have lost a great amount of my magic, but I have found something worth all the magic in Equestria. The love of my life, Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness,"
Fluttershy gasped as a stab of pain hit her in the heart. The ponies cheered and stomped their hooves. "No! Discord! That's not me! It's a trick!" she pleaded, feeling her body get weaker.
"Before all of Equestria, I pledge a vow to break all vows. A vow stronger then all the powers of the earth,"
The Mane Five watched, tearing up at the beautiful speech. Pinkie was bawling her eyes out.
"I make a vow of Everlasting Love,"
Fluttershy felt her heart break in two pieces as she let out a wail. "DISCORD!"
"To Fluttershy." he finished.
The crowd cheered for the happy couple. Discord was about to kiss his lover when all the doors and window burst open, blowing out all the candles. Ponies cheers turned into panicked whispers as a familiar centaur stomped into the room.
Discord stepped forward. "Tirek!"
"Haha, well hello my little ponies. Don't even try to hurt me, you don't have all the Element's present. And your Lord of Chaos has pledged his love to another."
Twilight stepped forward. "What are you talking about? Fluttershy is right here!"
"Yeah, Tirek you have no power here. I made a vow, a vow of Everlasting Love!" Discord snapped.
Tirek chuckled. "Oh you made a vow alright, a vow of Everlasting...Death!" A beam of orange light shot out from between his horns and hit Fluttershy, knocking her out.
"Fluttershy!" Discord cried, running to her side. The Mane Five ran over as well, but when the pony's mane was pulled back, they all jumped back in horror and disgust to see a blue, slimy scaly sea pony. Discord stared in disbelief at Tirek.
"You just had to intervene didn't you, because of your stupidity, Fluttershy will die." His voice faded away as he disappeared in a cloud of red dust.
Discord shot his head up to one of the windows. He got us make out a tiny yellow, green and pink butterfly flying away. "Fluttershy!"
He jumped up and pushed past the five ponies. He grabbed a steel sword from the wall and ran out into the night. The Mane Five soon figured out what was going on. "Come on!" Twilight said as they followed him. The remaining guests started to panic as Sonata made her getaway by sliding past them and between legs.
Discord had never run so fast in his life. He desperately tried to keep the butterfly in sight. Fluttershy could feel herself getting weaker and weaker, her vision was getting blurry and she knew she was dying. Tirek's voice echoed through the forest.
"She's fading fast, Discord,"
"If you hurry draconequus, I might let you see her, one last time,"
Down by a river; Tad, Rocky and Buttercup were waiting for their friend. "There she is!" Buttercup cried, pointing to the sky. Sure enough the yellow butterfly was coming their way.
Rocky noticed how weakly she was flying. "I don't thinks she's gonna make it,"
Tad waved his arms around. "This way Fluttershy!"
Buttercup bit her lip. "Come on Fluttershy, come on,"
Fluttershy landed in the middle of a large clearing. Tad, Rocky and Buttercup hurried over and were horrified to see her body lying still in the short grass. Sparkles appeared and the butterfly turned into a pegasus pony, eyes peacefully closed as if she was sleeping. They turned when they heard branches breaking behind them. Discord came bursting through the trees, a panicked look on his face. His tux was ripped and dirty. He spotted Fluttershy lying on the ground.
"Fluttershy!" he ran over and knelt down beside her, cradling her in his arms. "Fluttershy, what have I done to you. I'm sorry Fluttershy. I never saw this coming. Forgive me Fluttershy, forgive me," he sobbed.
"D-Discord?" she murmured, weakly.
"Yes Fluttershy, I'm here," he said.
"Discord, I feel so weak,"
"Fluttershy, you're going to be alright, the vow I made was for you," he sobbed. This couldn't be the end.
"I know," she uttered. She reached out a hoof and touched his cheek. "I love you, Discord,"
She fell limp in his arms, her eyes closed forever. "Fluttershy, wake up. Please Fluttershy, wake up," Discord sobbed. No response.
"No, this can't be. Fluttershy, the vow I made was for you. Please don't leave me Fluttershy, I love you," he sobbed, holding her close to his body.
Her body was so cold, it was like ice. No, he had just gotten her back. He couldn't loose her again. This wasn't how it was supposed to end. But there was no response out of the tiny pegasus.
She was dead.