Fluttershy was desperately trying not to have a panic attack. Starlight had been gone for a while now and the shadows seemed to be growing in the room. Once she was sure she’d actually seen one move but when she double checked there was nothing there but darkness. Still, she shifted closer to Discord, trembling softly. He wrapped his fabric tail around her hoof and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"I never thought I'd feel uncomfortable here," said Rarity, voicing what everypony was thinking.
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash muttered, her wings flapping about as she nervously looked around. "This place is giving off some seriously creepy vibes; like the Castle of the Two Sisters."
"Oh, Rainbow Dash, you insult me. My home is much nicer than that old ruin."
Everypony gasped and twisted around. Standing there, her mane and tail waving of their own accord, was Evil Twilight. Fluttershy skittered backward and nearly trampled Discord. Despite his look and size, he bravely stepped forward to protect her, his arms folded as he stared at the new threat.
Twilight looked just as horrible as Applejack's earlier description. Her purple eyes were similar to a dragon's, the pupils thin black slits, the sclera glowing and outlined in magical blue half circles. Her horn also glowed blue and her mouth had fangs like a viper. She was as tall as Princess Celestia, the lower half of her body a purple so dark it appeared as if it were part of the shadows she emerged from. Her cutie mark was different too. Instead of one large eight pointed star there were four; two pink, two a lighter purple.
"What's the matter?" she asked as she stalked towards them. "Not happy to see me?"
"Not particularly," said Applejack bravely, she and Rainbow Dash taking up a defensive stance in front of the others.
"Well, that's rude," Dark Twilight said, still advancing. "I'm just here to talk."
Discord snorted. “Sure you are.”
The alicorn looked down at the draconequus and sneered. "Patchwork materials? That's a nice look for you, Discord -very fitting- but I'm afraid it painfully fails to intimidate. So soft and cuddly; what more can one expect from a useless stuffed animal."
"Discord is not useless!" Fluttershy cried, bravely taking a step forward.
Twilight smiled evilly. "You would say that, wouldn't you, Fluttershy?"
"You leave her alone, Twilight!" said Pinkie Pie, whipping out her party cannon and holding it at the ready.
Twilight looked like she'd just swallowed a lemon. "It's Midnight, actually. Midnight Sparkle."
"You know, all this fake pleasantry talk is becoming a bit of a bore," said Discord, looking at his stuffed talons. "Why not save us all the misery of an upcoming monologue and get to the reason you're here, Midnight Sparkle. Seriously though, what kind of villain name is that? It's not even terrifying."
"Discord, not helping!" Rainbow Dash said through clenched teeth.
"Yeah, you're making her mad!" said Pinkie Pie.
Midnight was indeed grinding her teeth together, her eyes fixated with hatred on the doll. "You know," she muttered, "you're right. Why waste time inviting you all to join my Master's cause when I know it's pointless? You'll probably bore me to death with some tripe about the ‘Magic of Friendship’. Like that’ll help."
"That's rich coming from you!" said Rarity.
Midnight smirked. "Well, if you all believe in the friendship we have, why not join me? Together we would be-"
"Oh can you just attack us already?"
Midnight snarled at the interruption and sent a blast of raw energy at the draconequus. Fluttershy scooped Discord into her hooves and dived out of the way but not before her wing got clipped from the attack. She cried out, landing painfully on the floor.
"Fluttershy!"
"That's it!" Rainbow Dash bellowed, zooming towards the alicorn, the others close behind.
Discord crawled out of Fluttershy's arms. "Fluttershy! Are you alright?"
"My wing," she hissed.
He quickly scrambled to her side, giving it a swift look-over. "You'll be okay," he muttered before his tone turned with a harsh reprimand, "What were you thinking?"
Fluttershy smiled. "I couldn't let anything happen to you."
Applejack’s cry of pain caught their attention and the two looked up just in time to see her slam into the opposite wall.
"I've got to help," Discord muttered.
"What? No! You don't have your magic!"
"I can at least distract her as a moving target."
"Discord, no!"
But the draconequus had already run back into the fray. Fluttershy watched as her friends each tried and failed to bring down their former friend.
Pinkie Pie was throwing every kind of cupcake she could think of; several hit their mark, stuck to Midnight's coat and hair. One had even hit her in the eye, the pink frosting oozing down the side of her purple face. Applejack had rejoined the fray, her rope tied around one of Midnight's wings. Rainbow Dash swooped in and out of dives, smacking the alicorn on the back of the head every time she was distracted. Even Rarity was throwing things with her magic, going so far as to thrust a vase towards the villain’s head. Discord could randomly be seen slithering in and out of view, smacking at any part of her he could reach. They were all too close for Midnight to get in a good shot without possibly hurting herself so she resorted to flailing and bucking with her legs.
Fluttershy was just about to join the fray when Midnight blasted everypony away with a shield and disappeared. Fluttershy looked back and forth to see where she went when suddenly somepony seized her from behind. She screamed as she was lifted onto her back hooves, the long forelegs of Midnight Sparkle securely wrapping around her torso, pressing her uncomfortably against her stomach. A rope made entirely of her magic latched around Fluttershy's neck, slightly cutting off her air as she instinctively squirmed.
“Everypony STOP!” Midnight commanded, tightening her grip on Fluttershy.
The pegasus cried out in pain and fear.
“Fluttershy!” the others shouted.
Discord started to run towards them but Midnight pulled on the magical rope, lifting Fluttershy so she was barely touching the floor. Her eyes bulged and she squirmed uselessly.
“One more step,” Midnight warned, her eyes trained on the draconequus, “One more step and I won’t hesitate to remove her head.”
Discord froze. Fluttershy’s cheeks glistened with tears.
“You wouldn’t!” Rainbow Dash rasped.
“Twi-light,” Fluttershy wheezed.
“Shut up!” the alicorn bellowed, squeezing her middle painfully. “Twilight is dead!”
Fluttershy whimpered. “Please.”
Discord growled. “What do you want, Midnight?”
“Insurance,” she answered.
“Let her go,” Applejack demanded.
Midnight laughed. “Like any of you could stop me! No, I think I’ll keep her. King Tirek will be more than happy to adopt her into our little family. But I’m not completely heartless. Before we say goodbye, I’ll grant her one last request. What will it be, Fluttershy?”
The pegasus looked around at her worried friends. Already they sported injuries. If they tried to fight again, they’d fail. Midnight had made it quite clear she wouldn’t hesitate to kill, given the rope currently wrapped around the pegasus’s neck. Fluttershy didn’t know how long Starlight would be in the Mirror World but if sacrificing herself meant giving the others a chance, then she knew what she had to do. Her eyes landed on Discord. She could almost see his worry and fear through the plastic eyes.
“I’d like to kiss Discord,” she decided. "Please."
“WHAT?!”
The cry came from everypony in the room except Midnight. Discord’s jaw had practically dropped to the ground. Midnight elicited a quiet chuckle in Fluttershy’s ear.
“Fair enough,” she said, releasing her from her legs but keeping the rope around her neck. “But make it quick.” Fluttershy tried to go to him but the rope immediately burned into her skin. “He has to come to you,” Midnight sneered.
“You can’t be serious?” Rarity and Rainbow Dash cried together.
“Fluttershy and Discord?” Applejack gasped.
“Eh, I saw it coming years ago,” Pinkie Pie said with a shrug. "Never thought Fluttershy would instigate it though."
Fluttershy ignored their comments, instead looking down at the doll, pleading for him to come to her. Midnight tugged on the rope, eliciting a small, painful whimper. It was enough for Discord to finally take action. Blushing furiously, he scurried across the floor and leapt into Fluttershy’s waiting hooves. His paw and talon violently shook as he reached out, cupping the sides of her face.
“Fluttershy,” he muttered, both with tenderness and terror.
Heart pounding in her chest, Fluttershy gathered her courage. She couldn’t back out now. Trying her best to ignore the stares of their friends, she boldly declared “I love you” before kissing the stuffed animal right on the mouth.
The kiss was nothing like she’d imagined. She’d always hoped to taste his actual lips; though the fabric surface wasn't all that bad. It was still soft and somewhat pleasant. The kiss also didn’t last as long as she’d hoped, for after a moment of passion Midnight pulled on the rope so hard that Fluttershy dropped Discord, her hooves instinctively going to her neck as she choked.
Discord’s body was glowing and growing before he hit the ground. Just as his true form was being revealed, Midnight looped her forelegs once again over Fluttershy’s chest and leapt backwards.
“Fluttershy!”
Her tears flew from her eyes, Discord's voice being the last thing she heard before Midnight’s magic encased them completely in shadow, teleporting them away.
They reappeared in the center of the Canterlot throne room, the pegasus immediately struggling in her captor’s arms.
“Let go of me!” she demanded, her vision swimming in tears.
Surprisingly, Midnight relented, setting the little pony back on her feet. The former Princess of Friendship extended the rope into a muzzle, the pink magic hooking around and clamping Fluttershy’s mouth shut. Without a word Midnight tugged on it, forcing Fluttershy to follow. The pegasus shivered in fear and humiliation, her large eyes frantically taking in her surroundings with each step they took.
The throne room was dark, massive curtains blocking out most of the sun's rays. Tall candelabras bathed the room in flickering candle light, causing the shadows to dance. A huge throne occupied the dais once housing those of the royal sisters’, its structure dark and menacing. The whole place looked like something out of a nightmare. Tirek was absent but the flutter of wings alerted the two as three horrifying alicorns swooped down from above.
Fluttershy would have screamed if she could.
Daybreaker, Nightmare Moon, and Heartbreaker were all bearing down on her, their eyes like fire, their grins sharp and mocking.
“What have we here?” Daybreaker asked. “Only one, sister dear?”
“You dare fail the Master?” said Nightmare Moon.
“He will be most displeased,” Heartbreaker snickered, her eyes flashing hungrily at the thought.
Midnight ignored them, pulling Fluttershy past and securing her hooves and neck within a set of chains attached to the floor. She released Fluttershy from her magic and the pegasus immediately started thrashing against her bonds, her wings beating uselessly at her sides. The chains rattled and the princesses laughed.
“Awww, how cute,” Heartbreaker mocked.
“Let me go!” Fluttershy begged, her tears thick and fast. “Please!”
“Miss Fluttershy?”
The pegasus gasped as Lord Fancy Pants came trotting into the room, looking worse for wear. His hair was unkempt, his monocle had a slight crack in it, and his jacket was dirty and rumpled. A few cuts were on his face but he still held the same kindness in his eyes that he had the last time they met.
“What is going on here?” he challenged the princesses.
Fluttershy whimpered as Midnight rested a wing across her back and pulled her close.
“We’re just bonding, Fancy,” she said. “And unless you want to join her, I’d suggest you get the king right away.”
Fancy Pants looked like he wanted to argue but each of the alicorns charged their horns in silent warning. He sent Fluttershy an apologetic glance before bowing to the princesses and leaving the room.
“He looks like he’s handling things well,” Midnight smirked.
“As well as can be expected,” Nightmare Moon replied with a shrug. “The only reason he hasn’t been transformed yet is because we need him to keep the rest of the nobility in line.”
“Like any of them could stand up to us,” Heartbreaker chuckled.
“Any who do live to regret it,” Daybreaker said ominously, glaring at Fluttershy.
The doors of the throne room suddenly burst open and an undignified squeak escaped the captured pegasus as Tirek entered the room. He was large, menacing, and carried himself like a king as he stormed down the hall.
“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded, stopping before Midnight. “I thought I told you not to return without the others. You’ve only brought one!”
“If you would allow me to explain-”
Tirek slapped Midnight across the cheek. The alicorn painfully hissed from the whiplash but otherwise held her ground.
“That’s for insubordination,” Tirek snapped. “Now, explain yourself while I decide whether or not to rip off your wings.”
Midnight wiped the blood from her mouth before bowing humbly to the centaur. “Forgive me but I felt it more frugal to bring you the key to an all-powerful ally; one we can use more than those weak ponies you call my friends.”
Tirek glanced over at Fluttershy who remained silent, her fear blocking her voice.
“Go on,” he said.
“This mare is the key to obtaining Discord,” Midnight revealed.
“Discord?” he said with some surprise. “That fool is still around?”
“Yes, he is and he is weak,” Midnight spat, staring scornfully at Fluttershy. “He’s in love- with her.”
All eyes turned to the small yellow pegasus at this revelation. Unable to stand the attention, Fluttershy fell to the ground and tried to hide herself behind her wings, her body trembling helplessly. Tirek’s horrible laugh filled the hall, shortly followed by the mocking cackles of the evil sisters.
“That monster actually fell in love?” Nightmare Moon chortled.
“Oh, and that’s not the best part!” Heartbreaker giggled. “She’s also in love with him! I can feel it all the way over here. It’s one of the strongest I’ve ever felt.” She scrunched her nose. “It's disgusting!”
“Indeed,” said Daybreaker, her eyes flashing callously. “Only one with a defect could love some thing like Discord.”
Fluttershy’s eyes scrunched closed, their words just as hurtful as actual knives striking her heart. She had to remind herself that these ponies were not her friends. The princesses would never say such harsh things. They would be accepting and supportive…wouldn’t they?
“We can use this, Master,” Midnight continued, her eyes gleaming, enjoying the scene. “Discord will come for her. With his magic by your side you will be unopposed! All will bow before you!”
Tirek rubbed his beard in thought, his yellow eyes stirring as they stared down at the small trembling pony. During their scheming Fluttershy could hardly breathe she was so scared but, at the thought of Tirek corrupting Discord, she managed to find her confidence.
She rose from the floor, gazing unafraid at the tyrant. "I forbid you to touch him!" she cried, flaring out her wings.
Her defiance was taken with a grain of salt. Each of them laughed, Tirek being the loudest of all. Fluttershy's ears fell but she refused to let her stance waver.
The centaur leaned down, amusement dancing within his dark countenance. "I'm afraid you're in no position to make demands."
"That may be true," she agreed, "but you're nothing compared to Discord! His magic could wipe the floor with you! Literally!"
A small tick near Tirek's eye was the only indication her words had irked him. Fluttershy silently congratulated herself, thinking Discord would be proud.
"Your confidence is amusing," he said, "but not realistic. It is I who rule this world, not Discord."
"If that's true, may your reign be a short one!"
"Can we play with her now?" Daybreaker asked, circling around Fluttershy from behind. "Surely such disrespect warrants some kind of punishment."
"It does indeed," Tirek muttered, unable to hide his anger this time. Daybreaker licked her lips but her Master held up a hand, preventing her from pouncing. "She will be punished, Daybreaker, but not by any of you."
The princesses looked rather disappointed, Daybreaker staring hungrily at Fluttershy with glaring eyes. The pegasus shivered, her chains rattling as the last of her confidence withered like a plucked flower under a scorching sun.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, her voice barely loud enough for Tirek to hear.
"I'm going to teach you a lesson," he grinned, thrusting out his hand.
Fluttershy gasped as a black magical thread slammed into her chest, its tendrils seeping straight through to her heart. It felt like her soul was on fire, the poisonous invasion flowing through every last inch of her.
The pain reached its apex. Fluttershy couldn't hold back any longer.
She began to scream.
The moment Midnight and Fluttershy began to disappear, Discord lunged forward but he was a second too late. They were gone.
“NO!”
He roared, the furious cry a combination of all the different animals he portrayed. His fists slammed into the floor as he closed his eyes, his mind spiraling into a cacophony of panic and despair.
His Fluttershy -his precious, darling Fluttershy- was gone.
The anguish he felt at the loss of his beloved quickly transformed into desperation.
“I have to find her!” he cried, wildly leaping to his feet.
Before he could snap his fingers, Applejack’s lasso wrapped around his wrist. He whirled around, snarling at her.
"LET GO!"
“Don’t think yer the only one who wants to rush off and rescue her!” she said, voice raw and eyes glossy. “The truth is that wouldn’t do anypony any good! I don’t know how but she managed to free ya with that kiss, knowin’ you’d be more useful in a rescue as yourself than as a doll. Don’t waste her sacrifice.”
“You expect me to just sit around and do nothing?” he demanded, his voice dangerous and low. “I can easily defeat that alicorn without any of your help!”
“But where is that alicorn taking her?” Applejack demanded.
“It doesn’t matter!”
“It sure as apples does!” she snapped. “She said so herself; she’s taking her to Tirek, the centaur who easily captured and stole your magic!”
“My guard was down last time,” Discord said, his paw lifting again. “This time, I’ll be ready. This time, I won’t be fooled.”
He snapped but nothing happened. He snapped again. And again. No result.
"Um, is that supposed to happen?" asked Pinkie Pie nervously.
Discord let out another roar of frustration before punching the nearest wall. The stone immediately cracked.
"D-Discord?" Rainbow Dash cautiously probed.
He could feel their concerned stares. Growling, he angrily stared down at his hands.
"Curse you, Amity! I've been away from chaos for almost twenty four hours," he bitterly explained. "That infernal spell prevented me from absorbing anything. It's going to take me at least an hour to refill my reserves. Stupid Pillars! Stupid Rainbow!"
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash complained.
"Not you!" Discord snapped. "The Rainbow: Amity's beloved weapon. I swear, I hate that thing! Every time it slams into me, it takes about a day to replenish what it washes out. Do you know how torturous it was, being a statue and feeling that pitiful amount of chaos the Rainbow left and never being able to use it? She left it there to mock me, I know she did! It was to be a taste of what I once had; a taste that could never be satisfied. Being the doll was just as bad. All the chaos surrounding me and I was unable to touch it. Well, I can touch it now! And once I've absorbed enough, I'm going to obliterate every living thing that prevents me from reaching Fluttershy!"
"Hang on there, partner!" Applejack bellowed, shoving her front hooves into his chest.
Discord angrily pushed her away. "Save it, AJ; I'm not in the mood."
"You can't go obliterating everypony," she argued, unfazed by his snarl.
"Yeah! Some of those meanies are our friends!" said Pinkie Pie.
"They were never mine!"
"Even Twilight?"
Discord froze. Starlight Glimmer had returned, her gaze filled with reproach as she stepped away from the other ponies behind her.
"I know why you're hurting," she said, walking over to him.
"No, you don't," he growled.
"I do," she countered. "I came back just as Twilight and Fluttershy disappeared. I saw it happen. She kissed you, just like I suggested."
"What?" Discord whirled around, temporarily thrown from his vengeful thoughts. "You-"
"Well, you clearly weren't going to tell her how to break your curse," she defended. "I figured I'd help move things along. I've known about you two for months anyway."
"You've…known?"
"Well, I suspected," she corrected. "Neither of you were that good at hiding it."
"Um, none of us saw it," Rainbow Dash countered, folding her hooves.
"I did!" Pinkie Pie cried, bouncing up and down between Starlight and Discord. "One hundred percent approve of it too, just so you know!"
Discord pushed her back. "Thank you, Pinkie, but that still doesn't-"
He froze.
Standing near the mirror looking scared and confused, was-
"Fluttershy?!"
He bolted across the room almost as fast as teleporting, scooping the terrified pegasus up into his arms. She screamed and began to flail.
"Help!" she cried.
"Let her go!"
Several hooves latched onto Fluttershy and forcefully removed her from Discord. The draconequus snarled but before he could attack, Starlight stopped him with a spell.
"I’ll turn you into a plant if you don’t release me at once, Starlight!" he bellowed.
"That's not your Fluttershy!" she shouted right back in his face, throwing her hoof out towards the yellow pegasus currently whimpering under Rainbow Dash's protective wing. “Yours was just taken by Midnight Sparkle, remember?”
Discord felt like he’d been sucker-punched. He stepped back, taking the time to really study the small yellow pegasus. She looked the same but there was something…off. He smelt the air. The scent of her shampoo was lavender instead of strawberry. She wasn’t his. His heart broke all over again.
"Another dimension," he finally muttered, noticing the doubles, wingless Twilight included. An amber colored unicorn with a fiery red and yellow mane was with them, eying him distrustfully. He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Forgive me, my dear," he said, speaking to the Mirror Fluttershy. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"I-It's okay," she said shakily, a tiny amount of curiosity sparking through her fear as she looked him up and down. "Pardon me for asking but, what are you?"
Discord blinked before puffing himself up in an impressive stance. "Why, I am Discord, Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony; a draconequus."
"Are there more of you?"
"No," the amber unicorn answered before he could. "Thank Celestia for that too; one was more than enough."
Discord scowled. "And you would be?"
"Sunset Shimmer," she introduced. "Twilight’s other student."
Sunset Shimmer. Sunset Shimmer. A tiny light bulb appeared over his head, a small display of chaos; still not enough to save Fluttershy but an improvement just the same.
"Sunset Shimmer," he smirked. "Not the same pony that broke old Kay-Kay's heart some odd years ago?"
The amber unicorn's eyes flashed with surprise before narrowing. "How did you know that? You were still a garden gnome last I saw you."
"Being turned to stone doesn't affect my hearing. Celestia would visit often, sharing her woes- me being one of them. I can't tell you the amount of sob stories I've heard, not just from her either. Never thought I'd meet another of her failures though."
"Hey, she didn't fail me! I failed her!"
She gasped, jaw dropping. Clearly she hadn't meant to admit that to the likes of him. Discord grinned. She scowled.
"You better watch what you say," Sunset warned. "Unlike your friends, mine still have the ability to turn you back into a stuffed animal."
"Is that a threat?" Discord growled, showing his jagged teeth.
"Nopony is threatening anypony!" Starlight cried, jumping between them. "In case you've all forgotten, we're still in Equestria! We need to get back to Discord's dimension before Midnight returns!"
"This isn't over, Shimmer," Discord whispered before sauntering out with the rest of the group.
"Don't take it personally," he heard Starlight say, "he's just trying to vent his feelings."
Discord snorted but held his forked tongue. Starlight was right; they needed to get back to the safety of his own home. He didn't appreciate Sunset Shimmer's immediate judgment though. Her friends obviously looked to her as something of a leader because all of them were eyeing him with distrust. Even Fluttershy looked wary. He hated seeing that look on her face. He had to remind himself that she wasn't her. His Fluttershy loved him.
"Do y'all really walk around naked," Mirror Applejack asked, shakily trying to figure out how to walk on four legs.
“We’re ponies,” said Rainbow Dash. “Clothing is optional.”
“But I’d be more than happy to whip something up for you once we’re safe,” Rarity offered.
“That would be much appreciated,” said Mirror Rarity, attempting to walk. “I’ll even help- oof!”
Like the others, Mirror Fluttershy tried to move forward but tripped. Before she hit the floor a pillow appeared beneath her and she looked up at Discord with wide eyes. He sent her a small, hopeful smile. She hesitantly returned one.
"Thank you," she quietly muttered.
He nodded. It was a start at least; maybe by the end of this she would trust him. He didn’t like the idea of being at odds with Fluttershy, no matter what dimension she came from.
The other Mirror Ponies continued stumbling and tripping while trying to move around.
"This isn't going to work," Sunset muttered, reluctantly looking up at Discord. "Can we teleport to your dimension?"
Discord shook his head. "It would reject you if you tried. I would have to teleport you in and I don't have enough chaos stored for that yet."
"Then how are we supposed to get there?" asked Mirror Rainbow Dash.
"By using the door, of course," he said with a raised eyebrow and folded arms.
Sunset Shimmer rolled her eyes. "And where is this door?"
"Back at Fluttershy's cottage."
"It's on the edge of the Everfree Forest," explained Starlight.
"You guys have an Everfree Forest?" Mirror Twilight asked, looking nervous. "Is it magical like ours?"
"Very,” said Rarity. “It's unnatural too.”
"You know, I take offense to that!" said Discord.
"You would," Sunset grumbled.
Discord hissed at her. "I'll have you know the Everfree Forest is technically my plot of land."
"Since when?" asked Rainbow Dash, voicing the others' surprise.
"Since I rescued all of you from the changelings," he answered, booping her nose. Starlight coughed. Discord rolled his eyes. "Oh, you know what I mean. Anyway, Kay-Kay turned the whole forest over to me. All of you are more than welcome to build a home there. I currently have two residents."
"Two?" questioned Rarity.
"Zecora and Fluttershy. Celestia was more than happy to draw the territory line so it included the home of my first friend. Fluttershy was perfectly fine with it too."
"And we need to get there," Applejack reminded.
"Right," Starlight muttered, turning to Sunset. "If you channel your magic with mine, I should be able to teleport us. Everypony come close."
They all bunched up together, Discord floating directly over the backs of his friends. Starlight and Sunset charged their horns before joining the tips together. There was a flash of light and everypony vanished before reappearing in front of Fluttershy's house.
Or what was left of it.
Discord stepped away from the others, his eyes wide with unprecedented shock. The house looked like it had exploded from the inside out. Many of Fluttershy’s things, burnt and broken, were scattered throughout the yard. Discord’s cloven hoof bumped into something and he looked down. It was Fluttershy’s teapot, cracked down the middle. The draconequus reached down wordlessly and picked it up, caressing its fractured surface. Countless tea parties flashed through his mind like a movie on fast-forward, the teapot shiny, white, and dearly loved. Discord felt something bubbling up inside his chest; a raging anger he hadn’t felt in a thousand years.
For a moment his eyes glowed red.
“I’ll kill him,” he whispered, his voice sounding nothing like anything the ponies had ever heard. “That pompous sniveling centaur is dead. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
Rainbow Dash nervously flew past into the wreckage to where the kitchen used to be. After a bit of rummaging she called out, “The portal’s still here!”
“Of course it is,” Discord snapped, hugging the teapot to his chest.
“Discord,” Starlight hesitantly began but he silenced her, placing his tail tuft over her mouth.
“Let’s go,” he growled.
The ponies followed the seething draconequus into the mess, carefully stepping over the scattered pieces of Fluttershy’s belongings. Discord kept his emotions from openly raging, letting them simmer under his skin. He could not believe anypony would do this. Fluttershy was the kindest, sweetest, most harmless pony in the world. The only reason anycreature would destroy her home was if they were pure evil. Yes, before he was reformed he’d picked up her house and spun it like a wheel but he'd never actually broken anything. He was just having a bit of fun. This; this wasn’t fun. This was destruction spurred by hatred. And Discord was smart enough to know that even though it was done by Midnight Sparkle she was just the puppet. Tirek was the mastermind behind this. And he was going to regret it.
Discord kept vigil as the ponies entered the safety of his realm, his eyes scanning the surrounding area and skies for any possible threat. He almost wanted one of the alicorns to show up- almost. But he held in his anger. Starlight was the last to go through, giving him a worried look.
“I’m right behind you,” he assured.
He took one last look at the cottage, finally noticing the mournful animals at the edge of the forest.
“I’ll fix this,” he promised them, “And I will get her back.”
The animals said thanks in their own way and Discord nodded to them before entering the portal, Fluttershy’s teapot still clutched in his hands.
The ponies were gathered in his front yard, smartly staring at his house rather than the purple void swirling in the background. Discord wordlessly entered, leaving the door open for them to come in.
“Is this… normal?” Mirror Twilight asked as she and her friends nervously looked at the chaotic scenery.
“For me it is,” Discord said, his voice a little clipped. “Make yourselves at home. I’m only going to stay until I’ve absorbed enough chaos to end all of this.”
“Shouldn’t we come up with a plan?” asked Starlight.
“You can plan,” he said before leaping into the tunnel slide that would take him to the rest of the house.
He slid down, ignoring the ponies’ shouts of protest. He was not in the mood to talk to any of them. He wanted -needed- to be alone right now.
He was hurt, angry, and terrified. Fluttershy had been taken directly to their enemy, had probably already been changed into some horrific beast, and he seemed to be the only one who cared! Her house had been destroyed and the only thing the others thought about was finding the portal. Couldn’t they see that he wasn’t okay? That none of this was okay?
Discord growled as he wandered down the hall, walking past the doors on the sides and ceiling until he reached his room. He opened the red door and slammed it shut, stepped onto the ceiling before walking up the wall to the floor. He placed the teapot on his dresser right next to a picture of him and Fluttershy before collapsing onto his bed. The blanket on top was a patchwork quilt Fluttershy had made for him two Hearth’s Warmings ago. The draconequus pulled it to his chest and curled up, finally releasing what he’d kept hidden from the others.
His sobs were hard and deep, his chest heaving painfully, his heart aching within. His mind spiraled into horrible scenarios of Fluttershy being tortured, tranfigured, and murdered under Tirek’s hands. Each thought increased his sobs, his body curling tighter and tighter around the quilt, his head burrowing into the mismatched folds. He stayed that way for what felt like hours, the sorrow slowly transitioning towards vengeance.
He was just beginning to spiral down a path he could never come back from when there was a timid knock on the door. He stiffened, refusing to move. Whoever it was he would just ignore.
“Discord? Are you in there?”
His heart stopped a moment and he sat up, staring at the door with wild hope. He knew that voice.
“Fluttershy?” he called.
“Um, yes,” the timid voice replied. “But, not the one you’re probably thinking of.”
Discord’s hope crashed and burned like a kite in a sudden nonexistent wind. He had half a mind to send her away but he couldn’t bring himself to do it; she was still a Fluttershy.
“May I come in?” she asked.
Discord snapped his tail and the door opened. Mirror Fluttershy stood in the doorway, her expression, at first, one of confusion. Discord watched silently, curious as to what she would do at the sight of an upside down bedroom. To his surprise, she smiled and stepped inside. The door magically closed behind her. She looked up at him, her teal eyes radiating with a kindness and concern so equivalent to his Fluttershy that all the annoyance and anger festering beneath his skin simultaneously fled. Still, his caution remained.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, still curled up in the quilt.
“I wanted to see if you were okay,” she said. “The others told me not to but I couldn’t stop myself from coming down to look for you. They told me your room was the red door. I’m sorry if it has any hoof marks on it. I’m not really used to being a pony.”
Discord snapped his fingers and suddenly the pony was gone, replaced with a rather beautiful human woman. Her skin was buttercream, just like Fluttershy’s coat, and her eyes and hair were styled the exact same way as his pony’s. He’d clothed her in a green dress with pink butterflies across the bottom; he wasn’t sure if the clothing she came in would have followed her through the mirror so he figured he’d do her and himself a favor. She was incredibly attractive; he couldn’t stop himself from admiring her curves. Some part of him questioned why he would have such feelings but then he remembered that making sense of things was silly. So what if he was attracted to her? She was a Fluttershy; she could be the ugliest fish in the ocean and he’d still find her beautiful.
“Oh!” she cried in disbelief, looking down at her dress. “Did you…?”
“It’s easier to talk to you without you looking like her,” he said, forcing himself to look away from her bosom.
“Is it… temporary?”
“You’ll stay this way as long as I’m alive and since I’m immortal…” he let her finish connecting the dots.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled gratefully. “Thank you. Being a pony was an interesting experience but I’m glad to be back in my own body. I’ve always wondered what it would feel like to be a different animal. I’ve even wondered what it would be like to be a tree.” She grabbed her hair and started tugging on it. Discord found the clearly nervous habit adorable. “You probably think that’s weird,” she mumbled.
“My dear, have you met me?” he asked, gesturing to the room around them. “You’re standing in an upside down bedroom in a realm made of pure chaos. Considering becoming a tree is right up my alley.”
She laughed and Discord relaxed at the sound.
“Is there a way for me to come up there with you?” she asked, her eyes staring up at him hopefully, curiously.
Discord blinked and then smirked, snapping his fingers. Mirror Fluttershy let out a little squeak as she was suddenly flipped upside down and lowered onto the floor next to Discord’s bed; her dress, magically of course, did not flip up over her head during the journey.
“Oh!” she breathed, glancing up and seeing the ceiling and door she’d just been standing in front of. She looked over at Discord, her eyes shining. “That was amazing!”
Surprised yet pleased, Discord’s tail slightly wagged. “Well, I’m glad you think so.”
Fluttershy smoothed out the folds in her dress. “Um, may I sit down?”
“Certainly."
Once seated she turned to look at him. “I know it’s a silly question to ask but, are you okay?”
He blinked, once again surprised by this creature. Just like his Fluttershy, her inquiry was not meant to pry but to express kindness. She was extending him an invitation, to voice his thoughts freely without judgment, and, in that moment, he knew he could trust her.
“I’m really not,” he admitted. “I finally learned how Fluttershy feels about me and then I had to watch her get ripped away. I couldn’t do anything; my magic was bound by a curse. Fluttershy set me free. It was the last thing she did before…” He paused, his throat temporarily closing up. He cleared it and shook his head, his ears drooping. “I can’t help but imagine what Tirek is doing to her. He can transform anypony into any kind of monster he wishes. I haven’t seen him do it firsthand but Starlight’s account of him turning ponies into wyverns and the reality of Midnight Sparkle is pretty substantial evidence. I don’t know what I’ll do if I see her changed like the others. I… I’m afraid…
"I’m afraid of myself, that I’ll react by reverting to the villain I once was. She reformed me, you know. Thousands of years of living, being hated and despised by everypony, and she comes along with her infinite kindness and changes everything. She offered friendship, I accepted, and it’s been the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. I owe her so much. I care about her more than anypony. If she’s hurt… I’m afraid of what I’ll do.”
He paused, his thoughts returning to the vengeance he'd been thriving in before Mirror Fluttershy’s interruption.
“I want to kill him,” he confessed, unable to look at her. “I want to inflict every possible pain imaginable and toss him into the fiery pits of the darkest circle of Tartarus. He destroyed Amity’s Tree. He transformed and enslaved the princesses- who I am secretly very fond of but don’t tell anypony I said that! He destroyed Fluttershy’s house and ponynapped her. And now he’s probably torturing her. I don’t know what devil he made a deal with but their power will not be enough to save him from what I have in store.”
After a heavy pause, Mirror Fluttershy bravely reached out and touched his eagle arm. Discord’s dark gaze lightened somewhat as he looked at her. Her expression was chaotic, a mixture of both understanding and reproach. It was mesmerizing.
“Thank you for sharing your feelings with me,” she said. “I can understand the desire to protect those that you love. But I also know that acting on revenge eventually leads to grief. I may not be your Fluttershy but I do know that I could never support you giving into your anger. I’d rather see you fight and defeat Tirek alongside the others and leave his punishment up to the princesses. I wouldn’t want to lose you to the darkness currently fueling your thoughts. I wouldn’t want to see you fall prey to the same evil that’s clearly consumed him. You’ve risen above that. Don’t go back to it.”
Discord felt as if a bright ray of sunlight had just exploded into his mind, instantly obliterating every vengeful shadow he had. He glanced down at Mirror Fluttershy’s hand before covering it gently with his lion paw.
“Thank you, Fluttershy,” he whispered. “I…really needed to hear that.”
She smiled warmly in return. “You’re welcome.”
Discord chuckled slightly, releasing her hand and looking down at the patchwork quilt. “You remind me of her, you know. You both have the same eternal kindness.”
Mirror Fluttershy blushed, her rosy cheeks quite adorable as she tried to hide behind her hair. Discord chuckled again.
“Are you going to be okay now?” she asked, staring down at her lap.
Discord took a moment to think about it before nodding. “I really think I will be…can you give me a few minutes to process this profound clarity you’ve managed to present?”
“Oh, of course,” she said, standing up and pushing her hair back away from her face. “If you could, um, help me back down to the door, I can give you some privacy again.”
“I’d be delighted to, my dear,” he sincerely said, snapping his talons together.
She floated upwards, flipping gently around until her feet touched the ceiling. She giggled, looking back up at him, her eyes sparkling.
“Thank you.”
“No, Fluttershy,” he muttered as she opened the door, “thank you.”
She sent him one last smile before closing it behind her, leaving him alone.
Discord rested his chin on the mattress, deep in thought; thanks to Mirror Fluttershy he could finally think clearly. He needed a plan, that was certain; one that could not fail. Every detail had to be carefully thought out and dissected. And so he began to scheme.
Contrary to popular pony belief, he was not just a carefree spirit. When desired, he could be just as strategic, just as calculating, as Twilight. The only reason he’d failed twice in his hostile takeovers was due to not considering the possibility of failure and making a contingency plan for that. But this time he would. Why? Because this plan involved Fluttershy and Twilight, his beloved pony and a very dear friend. He could not -would not- fail them. Every point had to be covered down to the last detail. And this time he was sure to succeed because he wasn’t going to do things alone.
Conjuring a phone out of nowhere, the Lord of Chaos dialed a well known number. It rang twice before someone answered.
“It’s me,” Discord said. “I need your help.”