//------------------------------//
// The Return 
// Story: Bride of Discord 
// by DisneyFanatic23 
//------------------------------//

	So far, the Gala was a success. Even the snobbiest of ponies were enjoying themselves. While Pinkie Pie kept the entertainment going, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were hanging with the orphans, who were eager to see them both.
"I wanna be just like you!" they kept saying to either one or the other.
"Aw, shucks," Applejack blushed.
"Think big, kids," Rainbow said. "With a lot of practice and guts, you can go anywhere!"
"Girls," Twilight interjected. "Have either of you seen Fluttershy? It's almost time for her to go on."
"She wasn't in her room?" Applejack asked.
"No, I've checked."
"She's probably in the garden. Ya know how she feels more comfortable with the critters."
"I'll go get her," Rainbow volunteered.
Indeed, Fluttershy was in the garden, warming up her voice. She was so nervous, she felt like it was going to crack.
"Oh, what am I doing?" she muttered to herself. "I can't go up in front of every pony and sing."
"Why not? We all know you're great."
She turned to see Rainbow Dash in her Wonderbolts uniform. She embraced her with a smile.
"I'm happy to see you."
"Really?" Rainbow asked. "Because the others told me that you haven't been very happy lately."
Fluttershy glanced down at her hooves. "Well, um..."
"They say it's because you keep having nightmares about Discord?"
She looked up at her with serious eyes. "It was different. In my dreams, he usually just holds me and laughs. That's what I dreamt he did last night, but this time, he was..." She shivered. "Stroking my mane and...I was letting him. I didn't even put up a fight. I..."
Rainbow put her hoof around her. "Hey, it was just a dream. You've got to hang loose. This is a party! That reminds me. It's time for your song."
"Oh, I don't really feel like singing..."
"Don't tell me you've still got stage fright! Come on, don't you remember how you helped us all with that hurricane?"
"Singing's different from flying."
"You're a great singer! You were able to sing that pet song with me."
"That was when I was only around you and the critters. But there are hundreds of ponies here, watching me and..."
"Don't worry. I'll be right there to support you. We all will."
Fluttershy gulped. "Okay."



Discord was bored with the entire scene, though he had to admit this year's gala was much more interesting than last year's and the year before. Still, there just wasn't enough chaos! So to entertain himself, he pulled a few pranks on the posh ponies, like making a hare appear in the punch bowl, but he could not draw attention to himself until the time was right.
He looked around the room and noticed that the little dragon Spike was attempting to get a dance with Rarity. He rolled his eyes. Give it up, kid. It's never going to happen. Though he had to admire his persistence. Meanwhile, that party pony Pinkie Pie was unknowingly making a fool of herself.
"I'm the P to the INKIE to the P to I to E," she sang. "And while I'm at it ponies, WON'T YOU PLEASE BE FRIENDS WITH ME?! I'm Pinkielicious!"
It was then that Twilight pulled the microphone away. Thank you! Discord silently said to himself. You finally do something right!
The princess tapped the mic, getting every pony's attention.
"Mares and gentle colts," she addressed, "welcome to the Grand Galloping Gala! I hope you are all enjoying yourselves."
A cheer erupted from the orphans. The Lord of Chaos grunted. Why in the world did they invite a bunch of annoying little brats?!
"Well, there's more to come," Twilight continued. "We have a wide range of entertainment planned for you tonight, including an air show from the Wonderbolts."
The crowd stomped their hooves and the Wonderbolts flew up and bowed slightly. Discord simply yawned. I might as well do it now, he thought, but the alicorn kept talking.
"But first, we're going to hear a song from a very good friend of mine. Mares and gentle colts, the Element of Kindness herself: Fluttershy!"
Oh, goody! The little wimpy pegasus is going to sing! This ought to be hilarious. Then he noticed the awestruck looks on the stallions. What are they staring at? Discord followed their gaze and dropped the glass of chocolate milk he had been drinking.
The yellow pegasus was walking nervously up to the mic. She wore a flowing, translucent green dress with white daisies braided in her smooth pink mane. It was the first time in years that Discord had seen the Element of Kindness. His mirror did not count. And she was...she was...
He shook the thought out of his head. It was just a momentary lapse.
Fluttershy looked out towards the audience and felt her knees buckling. Then she noticed her five best friends and the Cutie Mark Crusaders in the front row, giving her assuring smiles. She glanced over at the pianist, who nodded and played her starting note. Her voice was weak at first.
"Can...any pony..." she cleared her throat, "find me...some pony to...?"
She stopped in panic. Sweetie Belle saw her plight and sang, "Love!"
The pegasus looked at her with thanks. Then the pianist started playing. As her cue approached, Fluttershy grew more nervous, so Sweetie Belle leapt up onstage and nodded to her with assurance. This made her more confident and she sang a little louder.
"Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet..."
The unicorn filly sang backup, "Take a look at yourself!"
"Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord what you're doing to me.
I have spent all my years in believing you
But I just can't get no relief, Lord!
Some pony..."
Sweetie Belle urged the audience to join in. "Some pony!"
Fluttershy started to smile. "Some pony..."
"Some pony!" sang her friends.
"Can any pony find me...some pony to love?"
The ponies stomped their hooves and cheered. Fluttershy blushed.
"You're doing great," Sweetie Belle whispered. "Now sing louder, and with more feeling!"
She took a breath and did so.
"Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat..."
Others in the audience started singing. "She just keeps losing her beat!"
"I'm okay, I'm alright."
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo joined them onstage. "She's alright, she's alright!"
"Ain't gonna face no defeat!
I just gotta get out of this prison cell!
One day I'm gonna be free, Lord!
Some pony..."
"Some pony!"
"Some pony..."
"Some pony!"
"Can any pony find me...?" Fluttershy pulled the mic off the stand. "Some pony to love?!"
A wide grin spread across her face as she continued singing. Soon the audience was nothing but background vocals and she was lost in a world of her own. In the spur of the moment, she flew high into the air.
"She works hard!"
"Every day..."
"Every day!"
"I try and I try and I try!
But every pony wants to put me down
They say I'm going crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
Got no common sense
I got no pony left to believe!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
Discord watched her performance in astonishment. Was this the same pegasus he had met in the labyrinth? Was this the same pegasus who ran at the sight of butterflies? Who hardly ever uttered an audible word? Was this pony singing in that strong, confident voice, spinning circles in the air, shining in the spotlight, really the 'weak and helpless' Fluttershy?
He watched as she danced during the interlude. Every move she made was delicate and graceful, not a single flaw present. It made him sick. I have to put a stop to this!
The three fillies started singing again, "Find her some pony to love..."
The audience joined in, "Find her some pony to love..."
As they repeated the line, Fluttershy kept twirling in the air, forgetting all her troubles. For the first time in her life, she felt happy.
Then she felt something grab her hoof and spin her around, but she was so lost she thought nothing of it. She did not even hear the screams from the ponies. It was after her mysterious partner had dipped her that Fluttershy opened her eyes and her smile disappeared.
Standing over her, holding her in his arms, was the very object of her nightmares.
"My dear Fluttershy, I had no idea you had such a lovely voice!"
She was frozen in place and had lost all knowledge of speech. She could not even scream. A cry from a familiar voice broke her out of her trance.
"Get off of her!"
Rainbow Dash cut between them and protectively moved her friend behind her.
"What?" the draconequus shrugged innocently. "We were only dancing."
"Discord," Twilight growled between her teeth.
"Ah, Twilight Sparkle. Or should I say your highness? Surprised to see me? Well, it certainly has been a while since last we met. Sorry I didn't send you a postcard." He glanced down at the fillies onstage. "Well, if it isn't my three little saviors!"
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hid behind their sisters, while Scootaloo sought protection from the closest adult, Pinkie.
"Stop stalling, Discord!" the princess bellowed. "Why are you here?"
"I thought it was obvious. I've come to take over Equestria!"
The crowd gasped. The orphans cowered in fear and huddled around Applejack.
"Ha!" Twilight smirked. "You should have stayed in hiding, Discord! Now that you've revealed yourself, we can turn you to stone!"
"Oh, really?" Discord said. "As I recall, you need the Elements of Harmony for that."
"Yes! Exact..." She then looked around at her friends and realized that they weren't wearing their necklaces. Then she remembered that they had stopped wearing them after a year when they figured Discord was never returning. She felt foolish now.
But she stood defiantly. "We don't need the Elements of Harmony to teach you a lesson!"
Light enveloped Twilight's horn as she prepared a spell. Discord raised an eyebrow.
"You're kidding, right?"
She shot a purple beam at him to show she wasn't kidding. He swatted it away as if it were a housefly.
"You really think that's going to stop me? Have you forgotten?"
He then snapped his eagle talons and Twilight's horn disappeared.
"Hey!" she cried. "Give that back!"
"Really, Twilight Sparkle? Are you as big a stick in the mud as Celestia?"
He snapped his fingers again and a puddle of mud appeared beneath the alicorn's hooves. Pinkie Pie snickered.
"Stick in the mud! That's funny!"
Twilight groaned and used her wings to pull herself out. "Just you wait until Princess Celestia gets back! She'll give you your just desserts!"
Discord clutched his stomach as he laughed. "What's the matter, Twilight? Can't run a kingdom by yourself? You need Mommy Celestia to come and make everything all better?"
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "No pony insults my friends and gets away with it!"
She charged toward him, but he only had to step off to the side to dodge her. Rainbow hit a pillar, almost causing it to fall.
"Have you ponies learnt nothing from our last encounter?" He cackled. "You even thought I was gone for good!" He looked towards Fluttershy. "Except for you, my dear."
The pegasus was stunned. "How...how did you...?"
She tensed as he took her chin in his claw and said lowly, "I've been watching you."
Rainbow regained consciousness and stood between them again. "You touch her one more time and you're gonna get it, Dipcord!"
He held up his paw and claw. "Very well. I have other things to attend to anyway." He turned to Twilight. "I'm afraid Celestia won't be able to help you, given her current predicament in," he used air quotes, "Saddle Arabia."
The alicorn tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"
He chuckled and snapped his fingers, causing an image to materialize. The crowd gasped as they saw Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadence sitting in a cage, their horns missing from their heads. Shining Armor narrowed his eyes at Discord.
"What have you done with my wife?!"
"She's perfectly fine, I assure you. So is her foal, by the way, though it would be a shame if something were to happen to her mother before her birth."
The prince's eyes widened. "Her?"
"Yes, you're having a girl! Congratulations and blah, blah, blah!"
"If you hurt Cadence...!"
Discord snapped the image away. "Wouldn't dream of it, but if any of you ponies even try to defeat me in any way, your princesses get it! That includes the unborn one!"
In a flash, he was wearing a tie and standing in front of a map of Equestria.
"Now for the weather! Today's forecast is cotton candy cloudy with a chance of chocolate milk! You know what? Might even be raining cats and dogs! Hope every pony gets home safely!"
With a final triumphant laugh, the draconequus disappeared and lightening struck indoors. The crowd glanced outside as it started to rain chocolate cats and dogs. Every pony screamed and ran out of the ballroom in panic.
"Every pony!" Twilight commanded. "Calm down! Everything is under control!"
No pony listened and they started flocking outside.
"Keep it together! Stay inside until further notice! I..."
But the crowd took their chances and hurried home through the chocolate storm. Even the Wonderbolts dashed out of there in fear. Only the orphans, Shining Armor, the palace guards, the princess and her friends remained.
"Applejack, Rainbow Dash!" Twilight shouted. "Get the orphans down to the cellar! They can stay there until the storm blows over. It's not safe for them to return to the orphanage."
"Copy that," Rainbow saluted as she and Applejack began escorting the frightened fillies and colts out.
"Fluttershy, you keep an eye on Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Don't let them out of your sight."
The pegasus nodded. She was scared out of her wits, but she was willing to protect those three at all costs.
"I'll round up the guards to help all the citizens of Canterlot get inside," Shining Armor volunteered.
"Good idea, Shining Armor," Twilight said. "We'll rendezvous in the throne room in an hour! The most important thing to do now is to keep calm!"
As every pony set on their tasks, Twilight hung her head. How could she have let this happen? Equestria was in peril because she had not been prepared. Even if she did have the Elements of Harmony, she could not power them without her horn. Some princess I've turned out to be.