Fluttershy grabbed another stone with her tail and threw it towards Grogar, but he defended himself with a force camp. As he got up, he grabbed Fluttershy with his magic and dragged her towards him. Discord gasped.
“Fluttershy!” Discord exclaimed.
His whole body ached and was wounded as well. Despite that, he was willing to protect Fluttershy from his father. Just when he was about to help her, Grogar put him inside a floating magical camp. Discord snapped his fingers, but nothing happened. He was still inside.
“Don´t bother trying, Discord. You´ll be trapped there as long as I want.”
He turned his head back to Fluttershy and smirked at her.
“Well, look who´s back. Instead of running away when you had your chance you came back for him. I had the feeling you would do that.” he chuckled. “Foolish, but I must say, I admire your guts. A single pegasus with no magic dared to challenge me to get her friend back. Brave mare, even more than Gusty.” he said while putting his cheek next to hers.
He smiled amused at how Fluttershy tried to keep her head away from his.
“Still, your act of bravery was in vain. You wasn´t seriously thinking that you´d defeat me with stones, did you?”
“Of course not. I know I can´t defeat you on my own.” Fluttershy replied angrily.
“Which is one of the reasons why you came back for Discord.” he chuckled again. “You put too much trust on him, dearie. Even if you had him by your side, you wouldn´t still be able to defeat me. He´s not more powerful than me, no creature is.”
“Well, Gusty wasn´t as powerful as you but she managed to defeat you.”
Grogar scowled.
“Careful mare… Your life is at stake. I told Discord that if he didn´t obey me, you would be the one to pay the consequences. And he didn´t listen. You do not want to anger me.”
Despite being threatened with death, Fluttershy remained steady. Grogar walked towards Discord.
“Since you didn´t obey me, your little friend is going to pay your actions with her life. However, I´m going to give her an opportunity to save herself.”
Both Discord and Fluttershy widened their eyes surprised. Whether Grogar had in mind for her, she knew she was going to have to choose carefully. Grogar could kill her with just a blow from his bell in an instant.
“As you heard, it is not too late for you. I can save you from a really painful death.” Grogar explained to her. “All you have to do is choosing the right answer.”
Fluttershy raised an eyebrow.
“And what are my options?”
“Either you can die… or you can submit to me.”
Fluttershy widened her eyes. She frowned deeply.
“If you choose the latter, you´ll be able to see Discord.” Grogar added.
“Do you really think that I´ll fall for that? If I hadn´t thrown that stone, Discord would be dead already!”
Grogar chuckled.
“You never fail to amuse me with your intelligence. But I might let him live if you accept me as your emperor. So, what is your answer?”
Fluttershy darted her eyes from side to side, thinking on what to say next.
“I´m waiting…” Grogar rushed her.
Fluttershy looked at Discord. He was with his paw and claw on the force camp. Just like Fluttershy, he was at crossroads. On the one hoof, he wanted Fluttershy to live, but he also knew that if she submitted to Grogar´s will, she´d be miserable for the rest of her life. As for him, he didn´t care. He knew that sooner or later Grogar would kill him.
Seeing that Fluttershy did not answer, Grogar started shaking her. Fluttershy closed her eyes.
“You´re driving my patience. It´s that simple. Choose me or it´s over for you.” Grogar ignited more his horns to emphasize his words. “What. Is. Your. Answer?
Fluttershy opened her eyes. She spit on Grogar´s face. He closed his eyes and complained, releasing both Fluttershy and Discord.
As soon as Grogar opened his eyes, she saw Fluttershy running towards Discord, who was reaching his lion paw to her. He took her again with his magic and dragged her towards him. But in this case Fluttershy, grabbed the biggest rock she could find with her tail. She waited until she had a good distance to cause the maximum pain as possible. Finally, she threw the rock, directing it to Grogar´s right knee. Once it hit him, Grogar fell to the ground, complaining in pain and struggling to get up. This time Fluttershy was able to reach Discord.
“Are you ok?” she asked while hugging his neck.
“Not really, no.” Discord replied. “But I think I feel better now.” he smiled sweetly at Fluttershy.
Fluttershy smiled back at him. She took a quick look at Grogar. He still couldn´t get up.
“Do you think you can take us somewhere safe?” Fluttershy asked him.
Nervously, Discord looked at his claw.
“I hope so.”
Just after Discord said, Grogar threw them a magical blast. Fluttershy closed her eyes and hugged Discord´s neck tighter. Fortunately, they disappeared before the blast could reach them. Grogar growled frustrated.
Fluttershy and Discord reappeared. They both had their eyes closed. Slowly, Discord opened them, realizing that they weren´t in the same place. This time, they were surrounded by trees, and what´s better, Grogar wasn´t there. He sighed in relief while wiping the sweat of his forehead.
“That was close…”
He noticed that Fluttershy was still snuggling against his neck.
“It´s ok. We´re safe for now.” he reassured.
Fluttershy opened one eye and looked around her in surprise. Then, she hugged his neck with a big smile on her face.
“You did it!”
“Well, partially. I intended us to go to my dimension, but apparently we ended up in the middle of nowhere instead.” he looked at his paw and claw a bit panicked. “I hope this isn´t a sign!”
“Well, considering that you´ve been through and the fact that Grogar has just hit you in the chest, I wouldn´t be surprised if your powers aren´t working as you expected…” Fluttershy suggested.
“Oh great. What was left.” Discord said frustrated.
“It´s ok. I think what you need is rest.” Fluttershy noticed the bruises around his neck and the scratches all around his body, which broke her heart completely. But she knew that she couldn´t break in tears in front of him, so she shook her head and shook it off. “And maybe a remedy of pain too.” Fluttershy smiled nervously. She looked around and noticed a rock. “Ok, let´s do something. We´re gonna go to that rock. Can you get up?”
Discord tried to stand up, but he barely could. He fell on his stomach. Then, he shook his head with a tired face while looking at Fluttershy.
“Maybe you need a little help.” she approached Discord. She put his right arm on her back and held it with her wings. “Try now.”
Discord tried again. This time he managed to stand in three legs, even though he was shaking.
“Ok. Now, take a step.”
Discord nodded. He took a small and fast step with his lion paw and lizard leg. Then, he took another with his buffalo leg.
“That´s it. You´re doing a great job.” Fluttershy reassured him.
The process wasn´t easy for Fluttershy either. She had very little strength left, which she spent on throwing rocks at Grogar. Just like Discord, she was shaky, and her body hurt. Discord noticed that and looked worried and Fluttershy.
Finally, they reached the rock.
“Ok. You´re gonna stay here and rest.” Fluttershy put Discord on the rock. She sat down while panting. “Meanwhile, I´ll look for some herbs to relief the pain. I´ll also search if there´s a cave we can hide in.”
Fluttershy shivered at the thought of having to get up again. She didn´t know if her body would handle it.
“Come on Fluttershy. You can do it.” she told herself.
She took a deep breath and stood on four legs. She took a few steps that felt like walking on needles. She stopped walking for a few seconds.
Seeing the difficulty that Fluttershy was having, Discord bit his lip.
“Are you sure you can do this on your own?”
“Of course!” she lied while smiling sadly back at Discord.
But at that moment, she collapsed. Discord stood in four legs and slowly, he reached at her.
“No, you´re not.” he told her. “I think you´re even in a worse state than me.”
“Oh, it´s not that bad.” Fluttershy denied it sweetly.
“Yes, it is!” Discord insisted. “Fluttershy, you have no magic! You´re pushing yourself too much.”
“But I need to find a place for us to hide.” Fluttershy replicated.
“We need to find a place for us to hide.”
“You´re saying you´re come with me?”
“Oh yes I am!”
“But you can barely walk!”
“Neither can you!”
Fluttershy lowered her head.
“No, no. But you cannot waste your energy. Equestria needs you!”
“And you too!”
Fluttershy broke down in tears. Discord widened his eyes.
“Whoah, whoah. Are those tears? No, no. I won´t tolerate seeing you cry. This calls for an immediate conversation.” he helped Fluttershy to sit on his lap. “Now, spill the tea.”
Fluttershy sniffed
“Oh Discord. I feel so powerless.” she sobbed. “I want to help Equestria but without my magic I can´t do anything. How will I fight Grogar if I can barely walk? I know I can get it back if I retrieve his bell, but in this state…” she sobbed. “It´s impossible! And the Tree of Harmony can´t help us this time.”
Discord looked away sadly.
“And I´m asking myself. Why me? Why did I have to be the survivor?” she sobbed. “Why didn´t my friends have the same luck? Why does Equestria´s fate have to lie on a helpless and cowardly pegasus?”
Discord scoffed.
“Helpless?! You threw Grogar to the ground twice! Without any magic! With just stones! Do you realize that? I´ll say, just for that, you´re the strongest and bravest pony in Equestria in my eyes.”
Discord dried Fluttershy´s tears.
“Ok, you might not be able to fight Grogar physically right now, but you still can come up with ideas to defeat him. I know you have it inside. Do you remember the tea party in which I almost disappeared? You knew exactly what to do. And you didn´t need any magic! Did you?”
“I… guess not.” Fluttershy replied in a whisper.
“Exactly. All you needed was your brain.” he put his finger on Fluttershy´s forehead. “Besides, you have fantastic ideas! The Sweet Feather Sanctuary is an example. Or those deep conversations that we had on our tea parties.” Discord caressed Fluttershy´s cheek as he spoke. Fluttershy held his paw with her hoof. “And let´s not forget that stare of yours.” he nudged her playfully. “I noticed how you subtly did it at Grogar when you first talked to him. And I can tell he was really intimidated.”
Fluttershy blushed while chuckling.
“What I mean Fluttershy, is that you´re already helping Equestria. You still can do something. But for that, you also need to take care of yourself, just as I need resting.”
Fluttershy dried her tears and hugged Discord, without him expecting that.
“Thank you.” she whispered calmly.
“You´re welcome. Now.” Discord helped Fluttershy to get down his lap. “Let´s find a place to hide together.”
Fluttershy nodded in agreeance.
“Ok.” she smiled.
But just when the two friends were about to get up with the help of each other, they heard a rustling in the bushes. Immediately the two of them hugged each other frightened, expecting a big monster to come out. But for Fluttershy´s luck and Discord´s misfortune, it was Angel Bunny. Both Fluttershy and Angel gasped surprised.
“You´ve gotta be kidding me…” Discord muttered.
“Angel! Come here!” Fluttershy exclaimed almost in tears of joy.
The bunny jumped into Fluttershy´s wing, snuggling his head against hers.
“I´m so glad to see you here safe and-” Fluttershy stopped talking when she realized that Angel wasn´t home nor in the sanctuary. “Oh dear! Is that why you´re here? Has the sanctuary been attacked?”
Angel Bunny shook his head. Fluttershy sighed in relief.
“Ah, thank goodness. But if it´s safe in there, why are you here?”
Angel´s tummy roared.
“Oh, you´re hungry. But I´m pretty sure I left food to all of you before leaving.”
The bunny shook his head.
“No?” she asked confused. She kept on interpreting Angel´s gestures. “I forgot the carrots?”
Angel nodded.
“Oh dear… How could have I forgotten that?”
Discord raised an eyebrow.
“Is that why you´re here? Instead of staying somewhere safe with enough food, you went into the forest to look for carrots?!” he asked upset.
Angel Bunny´s ears perked up when he heard Discord´s voice. He frowned at Fluttershy while pointing at Discord.
“Oh Angel, please, be understanding.” Fluttershy said upset. “We´re wounded, have had to dealt with four psychopaths, lost all my friends and all we have left is each other!”
After hearing those words, Angel felt ashamed.
“Besides, Discord´s right. You should have stayed in the sanctuary instead of going out looking for carrots in the forest.” Fluttershy looked up. “What made you think you could find them in the forest anyway?” she thought aloud.
Angel looked at Discord, who smirked smugly at him. He inflated his cheeks angrily. He threw his fist to the air. Discord in response started making mocking faces at him. Angel also made mocking faces at the draconequus.
“Speaking of the forest… That means that we´re not far away from the sanctuary!” Fluttershy exclaimed excitedly while turning her head to Angel and Discord, who immediately stopped mocking each other and looked away discreetly while putting their arms behind their backs. “Can you take us there?” Fluttershy asked Angel.
The bunny pointed at his mouth, as if he asked if they weren´t going to get any carrots before leaving. Angrily, Fluttershy did her stare. Angel shivered and obeyed. Discord held his laughter. They both started walking, holding each other.
“Wasn´t expecting you to do that with him.” he raised an eyebrow slyly.
Fluttershy sighed.
“Desperate times call desperate methods.”
“You should do that more often to him.”
“Discord…” Fluttershy said angrily.
“Ok, ok.” Discord said somewhat disappointed.