The royal castle doors flew open to reveal six ponies running to Celestia on her throne. "Princess Celestia," shouted Twilight. "we came as fast as we could." Right after she said that, she had a severe case of deja vu, and a puzzled look was etched on her face.
What broke Twilight's deja vu was Celestia's expression. Instead of grim, her face was bright and happy. With a slight grin, she walked towards the six ponies. "Do not worry, my little ponies. There's nothing bad happening at the moment."
"Then what did you call us for?" Rainbow Dash asked, slightly irritated. It was obvious she was ready for some action, though action never came.
Before the princess could answer, Pinkie blurted, "Ooooh, maybe we're having a party! 'Cause we saved Equestria from Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, and Sombra! Oh, I knew I should have brought my party cannon!"
Celestia gave a small chuckle. "There's no party, Pinkie, but Discord is apart of this."
Rainbow growled. "Discord! That sleazy jerk! How could that not be a problem?!"
"Rainbow, please. Not in front of the princess herself," Rarity said, putting a hoof on the pegasus' tense shoulders.
"Hmph," she scoffed. "Fine. But he's just lucky he's not dealin' with me right now!"
With a giggle, Celestia said, "I don't think he will be." Her horn glowed a bright yellow as the room was enveloped in light. When the light dimmed down, a familiar statue was right between the princess and the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. Very familiar...
Everyone realized who it was at the same time, but Pinkie was the first to gasp. Actually the only one to gasp. The other five just had their mouths open in shock. "Whooooa! That's Discord!" Pinkie yelled.
It was in fact Discord. Well, it was actually Discord as a statue. The very sight of it brought back horrible memories of their escapade with the spirit of chaos.
Celestia nodded. "Yes, this is Discord. And I am about to give you six the greatest task I can ask of you."
"What is it?" Twilight asked, ready to help her mentor.
"Reform him."
"What?!" chorused the six ponies.
"Reform him," Celestia repeated. "You see, I've found out that the entire reason Discord escaped the first time was because three little fillies were showing disharmony right in front of the statue. I'm deeply worried something as simple as that will happen again and release Discord once more. I figured that if he was reformed, he wouldn't have to be a statue and could live in harmony with all of the other ponies, making everyone happy, even Discord! Who better to reform him than the Elements of Harmony themselves?"
"Princess... I..." Twilight was too shocked to say anything coherent after that. She shook her head slightly and began anew. "Princess... I don't even... This is an awfully large responsibility you've bestowed on us..." She was conflicted; After all, Twilight was ready to help Celestia no matter what, but Discord had broken up her friendship with her friends, albeit for a little while. She wasn't sure if she could even stand a minute in a room with the monster.
"You don't actually think we'll do anything with the jerk, do you?!" Rainbow fumed. "Sorry Princess, but I'm never helping him!"
"Rainbow!" Twilight chided, though she felt a twang of guilt. She felt the exact way, but at least she wasn't that blunt about it right in front of the princess.
"Uh, Twi'? I think Rainbow's got the right idea," Applejack said. "Discord did some mighty bad things to us. I don't think we can "reform" 'im."
"I agree," Pinkie and Rarity said in unison. They looked at each other in slight shock, but then nodded and returned their gazes to the group.
Celestia raised an eyebrow. "And you, Twilight? I'd be fine if you wouldn't want to; I understand, due to the circumstances."
A tear went down Twilight's face. "I'm truly sorry Princess... but I can't..."
She nodded understandably. "Well then, it looks like I'm going to have to do this. Thank you for coming here to at least discuss this."
"I'll do it."
The six of them turned to the voice, who was none other than Fluttershy. Fluttershy took a step back from the gazing eyes and repeated, "I'll do it," in a much softer tone.
The princess' eyes gleamed excitedly. "You will?!"
"Y-Yes."
"Terrific!" she yelled a bit too loud. "But... are you sure? I'd be perfectly fine if you didn't want to."
"Of course I'll do it..." she said.
Rainbow nearly burst. She flew as swift as a rocket to Fluttershy's face, their noses connected as Fluttershy backed up. "Don't you remember what that scum did to you?! To all of us?! That jerk made you a jerk, and you can just forgive him that easily?!"
Fluttershy whimpered, and then gave a gulp. Shakily, she said, "It... It wasn't t-that easily... B-but everyone deserves a-a second chance..."
"And he deserves it?!"
A nod came from Fluttershy.
"Rainbow Dash!" yelled a glaring Twilight.
Rainbow huffed, and she reluctantly backed away. "Fine, do what you want with Discord. But don't say I didn't warn you."
"Thank you very much, Fluttershy. You have no idea how much this means to me," said Celestia. "Now then, walk towards the statue."
Another wimped came from Fluttershy, but she inched towards the statue nonetheless.
"Discord will no doubt try some tricks once he is free. Thankfully, I will be able to neutralize his powers for two days. Please try to reform him before then, or you six will have to put him as a statue again for a week before I can do this again as I don't have enough power to revert him as a statue. I am able to free him from his immobile state, however." She turned to Twilight. "You have the Elements of Harmony with you, don't you Twilight?"
"They're in a safe place in the Library," Twilight replied.
"Good. But just to be safe, put a protection spell on them. There's a slim chance Discord might break free of my neutralization spell, and I don't want him doing anything with the elements."
"Got it Princess!"
Celestia turned back to Fluttershy. "I will also put another spell on him to where he can't be ten feet away from you. I don't want him running off. Now then, are you ready Fluttershy?"
"Yes," she answered simply.
"Good." Her horn started to glow again, but this time, the room flashed a bright black somehow, as it was hard to become possible. But it happened, nonetheless. Once the light faded, a lone draconequus stood where the statue was. Discord was released.
He blinked and looked around. When he noticed he was in the castle, he gave a chuckle. "Really, Celly. Did you honestly think releasing me in the castle was a good idea? Where's Luny? I want her to see this."
"Not so fast Discord! If you've noticed, nothing chaotic is happening," Celestia said.
He looked around once more. "Huh. I guess you're right. Well, I can fix that!" He shook his hands together as if warming them up.
"Nothing chaotic is happening," she repeated, "because you can't do anything chaotic."
The spirit of Disharmony stared at her, then chuckled. "Honestly. Celly, I know you're the jokester out of you and Luny. Quit kidding."
Her wry smiled left even the Elements of Harmony uncomfortable. "I'm not kidding."
The penny dropped. Discord looked at the six ponies, and they nodded, supporting Celestia's claim. He chuckled. "So you put a spell on me! Big deal! A spell like that can't last forever!"
Pinkie bounced up. "You're totally right! 'Cause the princess said she can only use it for two- MRPH!"
"Shut. Up. Pinkie," Rainbow said tensely as her hoof was covering Pinkie's mouth.
Discord laughed even heartier. "Two what? Weeks? Months? I can outlast it! Truly, it was completely idiotic to release me. To think you'd actually give me another chance! Whew! That's too much to laugh about!"
"Why I oughta..." Rainbow started.
"You oughta be quiet, Rainbow," said Applejack.
"The bearer of Honesty telling the truth to the bearer of Loyalty! What a shocker!" His laugh grew some more so that it shook the entire room.
"You oughta beat 'im up," Applejack said, changing her sentence.
"Please." His laugh finally receded. "I may not have my powers at the moment, but I can hold my own against some ponies."
Twilight glared at Discord, and then turned to Fluttershy, where she put a hoof on her shaking shoulder. "Are you sure Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy gulped. "No... But I'll st-still do this..."
"Do what? Scare me to death with your bunnies and rabbits? Oh, I'm so scared!" He droned on sarcastically. "Oh my me, somebody he-" His sentence was cut off by a yellow glow of magic.
"I can still use a spell to keep your mouth shut, you know," Celestia said. "You will spend the day with Fluttershy, and she will teach you about kindness and friendship, and that is final."
Discord gave a hum that was probably a huff and folded his arms. He gave a striking glare at the princess.
Celestia paid no heed to it. She turned to Fluttershy and said, "Remember, Fluttershy. If he somehow gives you any trouble, contact me immediately."
Rarity said, "We'll be of help, too, if you need it, Fluttershy."
Fluttershy gave a slightly less shaky nod.
The princess turned to Discord. "Now then, be nice Discord."
Discord merely rolled his eyes.
Celestia turned to the six mares. "You may be dismissed."
With that, the seven of them left, though Twilight just couldn't shake an ominous feeling from the back of her mind...