Letting go

by Eweeka


The birth

Chapter 5: The birth

Time passed quickly. Fluttershy's belly grew bigger with each month passing by. She has looked after Discord with loving care and concern. They were spending a lot of time together. Discord sang her songs and played guitar for her. Often in the evenings they were stargazing or went for walks or they were just dancing together.

As for Esper, the little unicorn loved Discord and she began to treat him like a father and she was even calling him a dada. They had a good relationship and strong bond. Discord liked a lot to play with his adopted daughter.

Fluttershy was trying her best to make less painful for Discord being in the living world. Now only three weeks left unitl giving birth. She had so little time left with Discord and still she didn’t feel ready to say goodbye to him.

As the time came closer, Discord grew sicker each day and weaker just wanting to end his pain but he stayed for Fluttershy’s sake. Just to keep her happy.

Any of Starlight's spells or Zecora's potions and methods didn't help to improve his health. At best, they helped him feel better for a few hours or a day.

It was morning. Fluttershy was lying next to her husband on the bed and watching him sleeping. As he was sleeping he stopped breathing for a moment. Fluttershy noticed it and she freaked out. „Discord, sweetheart?” she shaked him.

He was just laying there for a few seconds and then took a deep breath gasping for air. „I-I’m okay.”

„You stopped breathing! That was not okay!” She cried as she hugged his neck tightly. „I love you so much, Dissy.”

„I love you too.” He murmured as he huged her back, still feeling tired.

„Nngh...” She suddenly felt a pain in her belly.

„Are you okay?” He nuzzled her cheek worried.

„N-n-no. I... think the baby is coming...” She panted.

„Wait, now?!” He freaked out a bit.

„Y-yes... Please get Applejack, Sugar Belle and Granny Smith. They... They will know what to do... How to help me.”

„Come on. I’m taking you to them.” He tried to pick her up. As soon as he picked her up a little his hands started shaking. Then Fluttershy tried to stand on her legs but she fell on the bed.

„I-I can't walk in this state. And you can't… You can't take me there, I'm too heavy. Go, get them. Once you get to them, Sugar Belle will be able to teleport you here. I, I'll be fine.”

„I said I can take you. I can do it. I can’t leave you alone.” He put her on his back trying his best to ignore the pain. „Just hold on my dear.”

„Discord, we don't have time to be stubborn. I won't be completely alone. Animals will stay with me.” She said softly.

„What if I don’t get there on time? I would rather have you with me.”

„Discord.”

„Okay, fine! I’ll be back, just try to hold on till I get back!” He put her in a more comfortable spot. He quickly set a few pillows for her, making sure she was comfortable.

„Okay, Discord. Go, now.”

The lord of chaos nodded and quickly run out of the door trying his best to ignore all the pain this caused him as he made his way to Sweet Apple Acres.

„Applejack! Sugar Belle! Help! Please!” He soon felt himself about to collapse on the floor, sweating and trying to catch his breath. „F-Fluttershy needs you.”

Sugar Belle asked „What happened?” The rest of the Apple family also joined them.

Apple Bloom asked Discord „Is Fluttershy alright?”

T-the baby is… He panted heavily, having a hard time breathing. „C-coming. Please. There isn’t much time.”

„Oh okay! I can teleport us to her!” Sugar Belle said nervously. „Applejack bring towels! Granny will you go with us? I need your experience and knowledge about giving birth!”

„Why of course I’m a coming. Ain’t everyday I get to deliver a baby.”

„Don’t worry sugarcube. I got this!” Applejack brought some towels ready to go.

„T-thank you.” Discord closed his eyes passing out on the floor as he slowly stopped breathing again as he used most of his energy to get here.

Applejack shouted. „Discord?!”

„Is he stopped breathing?!” Apple Bloom freaked out.

„No! Come on! Ya can’t die now, Fluttershy needs ya!” Applejeck checked his pulse, it was very faint. „Sugar Belle, teleport us now! We ain’t got time now, I’ll take care of him there! You Apple Bloom, stay here with Big Mac!”

Sugar Belle teleported them straight to Fluttershy's living room. Sugar Belle and Granny Smith ran upstairs while Applejack stayed with Discord, begging him to wake up. „Come one, come on! Breathe you idiot!”

„Alrighty, sweetie we all are here.” Granny as fist entered the bedroom and headed over to Futtershy.

„W-where is Discord? I'm scared.” She was sweating and panting heavily. Her waters broke. She was now even more scared and worried. The fact that Discord didn't come with Granny and Sugar Belle to her was a bad sign.

„ Applejack is with him. He’s alright, just really exhausted. Don’t ya worry. Just hold my hoof and lay down.” Granny tried to calm her down.

„Granny, take care of her. I’ll bring some hot water!” Suger Bell rushed to the living room. In fact, she also wanted to check on Discord.

„DISCORD WAKE UP! YA CANT LEAVE YET!” Applejack shouted.

„How is he?!”

„It ain’t go! He’s not responding and I can’t get him breathing again!”

The unicorn checked his pulse but she couldn’t hear anything. „I’ll take him to the hospital! We can’t let him die now! Go and help Granny!”

Sugar Belle immediately teleported herself and Discord to the hospital, praying the doctors could save him. „ Please I need help! He isn’t breathing!”

At the reception desk stood nurse ReadHeart and doctor Greymare. Their jaws dropped when they saw unconscious Discord. Like everyone else in Ponyville, they knew the story of Discord's heroic death so it was even more of a shock to them.
„H-h-h-how? WHAT?!” The nurse's eyes were the size of saucers. The same was for the doctor.

„I'll tell you everything but please save him! He needs help!” Suger Belle begged with tears in her eyes. The nurse and the doctor exchanged glances and rushed to the draconequus.

At the same time, Granny and Applejack did everything to help Fluttershy and distract her from her husband's absence.

„Okay sweetie. I need ya to take deep breath now.” Fluttershy was trying her best to do what Granny told her but she was more and more scared and nervous. „ I want Discord to be h-here! W-where is he?! She cried.

„Um yeah. He’ll be here soon.” Granny was really hoping that what she said will be the truth.

„ Just try to relax, please.” Applejack said.

Sugar Belle told the nurse and the doctor about everything when they resuscitated him. Draconequus gasped in pain after they used a defibrillator on him a third time.

„Thanks goddness...” Sugar Bell fell to the floor with relief. Her hooves refused to stand, from this stress.

„I-it hurts s-so much.” Discord whimpered cowering, still laying on the floor.

Sugar Belle hugged his neck warmly. „You have to be strong. Fluttershy is giving birth right now, she was asking about you.”

He tried to get up but collapsed. „I-I can’t do it. I can’t get up.” He whined.

Doctor and ReadHeart helped him get up. „Poor thing. I think he should stay here for a day or two. He looks so sick.” The nurse said sympathetically.

„T-That won't help me. Nothing can help me. I... I’ll die sooner or later. I think the spell didn't work as it should…”He panted. „Sugar Belle please take me to my wife.”

„If you say so…” The doctor said.

„Please don’t say about Discord anyone. It’s really important.” Sugar Belle asked.

„We won’t.” The nurse promised. „ I’ll go with you. I think you will need my help.” She offered.

„Thank you.” Discord looked at the nurse gratefully.

Sugar Belle after teleporting them all to Fluttershy’s living room went to the kitchen to get a bowl with water while nurse and Discord ran to the bedroom.

„I don’t think I can make it much longer.” Discord said to himself. He truly wanted to be with Fluttershy. He loved her so much with all his heart but the pain and weakness he felt every day in his whole body were getting bigger and bigger.

When they were at the door on the other side of it they could hear a loud cry of pain.

„Fluttershy!” Discord shouted.

„Discord!” Fluttershy cried feeling unspeakable relief at the sight of her beloved.

„Thanks heavens you’re alright!” Applejack smiled.

Discord, can you try to have her relax?” Granny asked.

The pegasus reached a hoof towards him, her eyes were full of tears. „I-I’m here, my dear.” He slowly walked to her and nuzzled her cheek. She clung to him immediately wrapping her one hoof around his waist, with the other, holding him by the paw and resting her head on his chest. His presence calmed her down and the mare looked much more relaxed. Discord kissed her sweaty forehead.

„If you don’t mind. I’ll help you get through this.” Fluttershy and the rest noticed the nure standing by the door. Me and Sugar Belle brought her. Discord quickly explained. He didn't want Fluttershy to find out what really happened. At least not now.

„That's why you were gone?” Fluttershy looked at him. Discord only nodded.

„Granny, I got a water!” Sugar Belle also entered the room.

„Applejack please take care of Esper. She is in her room.”

„Of course Fluttershy. Don’t ya worry about anything.” The earth pony said ,heading to the other room to find Esper.

Sugar Belle handed Granny Smith the bowl and took Fluttershy by her free hoof.

The nurse ReadHeart took the lead. „Okay at the count of three I want you to push, Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy nooded panting heavily. She whined as she pushed, squeezing Discord’s paw with all her might. He bite his lips trying to ignore the pain.

„You can do it, love.” Discord caressed her cheek.

The mare gave him a weak smile while Discord kissed her cheek.

„ Okay, now take a deep breath again and relax.” The nurse ordered.

Childbirth continued for another hour. Fluttershy’s mouth escaped another loud scream as she pushed again then everyone heard newborn baby's cry. The nurse grabbed the baby and started to clean the foal with warm water. „There we go. You have a healthy baby girl.”

„I want to see her. Let me hold her.” Fluttershy wishpered. She was exhausted but also happy.

The nurse wrapped the baby in a warm soft blanket and handed her over to young mother.

The little one had some parts of her look after her mother and her father. She was a draconequus with eagle claws and her back legs were pony's legs in colors similar to Futtershy’s coat. The same was for her face. Her wings looked like Discord's, they had the same shade of blue but with a combination of light pink and purple. Her mane was the same color as Discord's. And the rest of her body was light brown.

„She is so beautiful.” Discord was amazed by his new daughter’s look as he touched her face gently.

„Coming a new life into the world is always a beautiful and magical moment.” Granny wiped the tear from her cheek, hugging Sugar Belle and Applejack who was holding Esper.

„How we should named her?” Futtershy asked Discord. „I want you to give her name.”

Discord was thinking for a moment. „How about Melody?”

„It's beautiful.” She approved.

Discord grined and laid his head on top of hers, closing his eyes.

Our daughter is born... That means I have to keep my promise... even If I won't do this he looks like he will die soon anyway... so it will be best If... I let him go...” At this though she huged him with her one hoof, in the second holding Melody.

Draconequus smiled at her action and hugged her back whispering. „I love you.”

„I know. And I'm grateful for that.” She replied.

Melody opened her eyes for the first time. They were exactly like Fluttershy’s eyes. Eyes that Discord loved so much. „She is truly perfect.”

Fluttershy was already so proud of her daughter. „I know. And I know she will do great things in the future.”

Discord chuckled. „Like her mother.”

„I think the Apple family can go back home. I’ll stay here and make sure that everything is okay with mother and the baby.” The nurse said.

„Okay.” Applejack handed Esper to Discord. „Let us know If you need anything.”

„Thank you for everything.” Discord laid down on the floor. „I’m so tired.” He wishpered as he closed his eyes laying there.