Chapter 1: The witch
It felt as if centuries had passed since that tragic day. In fact, it was only three months. Three awful months after Discord died. Despite Twilight’s spell that allowed Fluttershy to talk to him one last time, despite carrying in her belly the new life that Discord had given her and despite taking care of Esper, the little unicorn she found two weeks after Discord’s funeral and decided to raise as her own, she still missed him badly. Despite the passage of time, the pain and longing for the lost love didn’t become any less bearable. They could have a happy and peaceful life. Together they could raise Esper and their unborn yet baby. She could give him happiness he had never experienced before. But it was impossible now. Everything was lost. According to what Twilight said there was no way to bring someone back to life. But Fluttershy refused to give up and was still looking for a way. For anything.
It was evening already. Esper was sleeping peacefully in her playpen and Fluttershy was reading the newspaper. There wasn't a lot of interesting informations, but one of them caught her attention. Magical service announcements: "Do you have any desire that you want to fulfill or maybe something in your life has gone wrong and you want to reverse the course of events? Come to me. For a small fee I will help you as much as I can."
The photo on the left showed an old female cat. Probably a representative of the same species as Capper was. Fluttershy decided to pay the witch a visit the next day. In search of a way to restore her lost love life, she met several charlatans and liars. She wasn't sure that this witch would be different, but she wanted to try anyway.
The next day at the morning Fluttershy left Esper at her parents' house, explaining that she needed a day or two for herself, and then flew to the swamp where the old cat is said to live.
The feline known as Esmeralda was helping other ponies with what they have desired. Not that many came in fear of the payment but some ponies took the chance to try witch’s services. As Fluttershy approached, she was able to hear the two creatures talking.
„Why of course you will get that mare you love. Who needs a princess of love when you have a feline with potions and spells. Take this my fellow pony and it shall do the trick.” She gave the pony a potion and instruction.
The earth pony walked past Fluttershy, holding the love potion in his bag.
„Interesting. Zecora wouldn’t give anyone love potion. She would say it’s immoral,” she thought. The pegasus smirked at the memory that hit her suddenly. The memory abut CMCs and their famous adventure with love potion.
„Um....goodmorning. I hope I didn't bother you...” She said hesitantly. Fluttershy looked closely at the cat. She was old. Maybe 50 years old or even more. The wrinkles under her eyes showed her age. She was also a little shorter than Capper. Her fur was a dark brown color with a lighter spot around her mouth and almost black stripes above her eyebrows. She was wearing maroon hood decorated with deer horns on top of her head. In her left hand she held a walking stick decorated with carved symbols which Fluttershy didn’t understand. 
The witch looked at her with her green eyes. „Hello there. My name is Esmeralda. And you must be Fluttershy, the element of kindness which fought that chimera. It is quite a pleasure to meet you.” She walked over to Fluttershy and she shook her hoof with her paw in a friendly gesture.
The pegasus was shocked and suprised by the cat's knowledge. "H-how do you know that? It happened weeks ago and you must be new here.”
„Well what kind of sorceress would I be if I couldn’t read ponies so easily. It is quite a story for sure.” She pulled out a seat for her to sit on. „Why don’t you take a seat, my child. You must be exhausted from the travel.”
„It wasn't that exhausting. But I bet you also know that… I didn't fight the chimera... I was just runing from her... him... um them. S-someone else fought the chimera and the monster. Fought and... and died.” It was still hard for her to talk about it.
„Well, yes I know you didn’t quite exactly fight it and that’s why you’re here, you lost someone dear to you. Is that correct?” The witch took a cup of coffee and she was sipping it.
Fluttershy was sitting there quiet for a moment, staring at the floor and looking for the right words. „Y-yes. It... it was Discord. We... we were friends for years but since last year... I felt... I feel something more towards him. And now he is gone. He sacrificed himself...” She was trying her best to not cry in front of the witch.
„Yes, he sacrificed himself to save you and your friends. I can see in your eyes what deep pain this even had brought onto you and your friends. I’m guessing your not satisfied with the princess of friendship just bringing him for one moment like a heartwarming eve comes.”
The mare didn't questioned how does the witch know about it. „She only casted the spell once... One week after the funeral. I won't see him again for the rest of my life.”
„I see. Do you wish to only see him or having around in physical from as well?” She asked running the finger in circles on the edge of the mug she held in her paw.
Fluttershy’s ears perked up. „Physical? But Twilight said there's no way to...”
„Oh please. The princess could bring anyone back if she only wanted. She is afraid of doing so because it would break the laws of nature. I frankly really don’t believe in such foolery.”
Fluttershy was even more confused. „B-but she showed me books with descriptions about how the greatest wizards have failed and died.”
„That was them this is me, my child. I have never failed before and I won’t fail now. But this is a draconequus we speak of bringing back to life. It will be much harder. You know, I guess you’re right I suppose I cannot help if you do not desire it.” She slowly turned her back the Fluttershy and looked out the window. „It is quiet a shame that a creature like him had to pass on.”
„N-no... he didn't have to pass on. The stupid monsters killed him!!!” Fluttershy shouted. If the chimera didn't find the medallion, he would be here!” She started tearing up as the memories of these events came to her mind. „He would be safe and sound! I want him to be here. I want to hear his voice, to look into his eyes, I want to hug him!!!” The pegasus painted heavliy after her outburst, staring at the witch.
Esmeralda grined a bit and gently pated her head. „Your wish shall be granted then. But I will need a few things in order to help you.”
„What things exactly?” Fluttershy asked. The hope raised within her.
„I will need his body for starters.” She said as she walked over to a shelfs and took out a book.” I will also need that old medallion. If you still have it of course...”
Fluttershy’s face went pale. „B-b-body? H-his body?” She stuttered.
„Of course. Unless you want his soul to be in someone’s else body. I can’t bring any creature back to life without their body. I will also need blood of a manticore, scales of a dragon, and something that he held dearly while he was alive.”
„ I-I want him to be draconequus. I love him the way he was and looked. Well... I... I can get manticore blood. Scales of the dragon also aren't a problem... I’m not sure what for Discord was really dearly... Maybe my letters to him. I have all of them.”
„Well then I’ll need you to bring these to me. Don’t forget that medallion as well.” She put the book back in its place and then sat down at the table again.
„The medallion is destroyed. And its parts are probably in Canterlot. But...I'll get them.” She said with confidence in her voice.
„Good. I can restore him once you bring everything. I shall wait for you then I’ll get everything else ready.”
„Okay. I'll promise I'll bring them tomorrow!” She said as she rose from the chair, ready to leave the hut.
„Perfect! Take care and I shall see you at night tomorrow.”
Fluttershy’s heart was beating really fast. She didn't want to waste any moment. She had so many things to do. Straight from the witch's hut she flew to the Everfree Forest in search of manticore.
Luckily for her, finding manticore and convince it to give her a some blood wasn't difficult. After telling the creature why she needs its blood manticore gave her some of the scarlet liquid. From the Everfree Forest she flew to her cottage preppared one of her letters to Discord. She put the letter and the vial with manticore's blood in the bag.
Then she visted Canterlot Castle. Luckily for her Spike was there and greeted her as first. After exchanging greetings and the latest news, Fluttershy asked Spike directly for his scales. She didn't say anything about why she needed them, except that it was something very important and she was in a hurry. Spike without asking for more details gave her what she came for and wished her a nice day.
The only thing left to do was to get the destroyed medalion. She had no idea how to go about it. Even though she was no longer shy and her confidence was much greater, she was still not good at things that required stealth. So breaking into the Canterlot secretly and stealing the medallion wasn’t an option. Asking Twilight for permission to take the damaged medallion was also out of the question. Twilight would start asking uncomfortable questions about why she needed this artifact. If she had told her the truth, Twilight wouldn’t have allowed to bring Discord back to life. There was only one idea left in her mind. She decided to ask the birds and several other small animals to steal the medallion. No one would suspect forest animals of stealing anything from the royal castle. Especially a magical artifact. She explained to the animals where magical items are kept in the castle and described what the remains of the medallion she needed looked like. Now she only had to wait few hours more.