//------------------------------// // Choices // Story: The Nutcracker and the Chaos King // by DisneyFanatic23 //------------------------------// The Diamond Dogs cackled as they bound the nutcracker to the stake. He gazed down at the pile of wood surrounding him and knew what was up. He wished the nutcracker curse hadn't taken his magic, or else he would've been out of there in a jiffy. Throughout the courtyard, more ponies were being brought in chains. Applejack gasped when she spotted a familiar group. "Applebloom!" she shouted. The guards holding her chains prevented her from rushing to her sister. "Ah, let her go!" Rover said nonchalantly. "Let 'em have their sappy reunion while it lasts." The dogs released the rebel leader and she didn't waste a second. After a few stumbles, she reached her sister and embraced her as best she could without choking her with the chains. "What's goin' on, sis?" Applebloom asked. "Why are we all here?" "I don't know," Applejack said, wiping away the tears. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. I came to save ya, but…" "It's okay. Ya tried. At least we're together now." Shining Armor turned to his right when he heard a familiar grunt. He gasped when he saw who the Diamond Dogs were tying to the other stake. "Cadence!" The princess met his gaze and cried, "Shining!" "They're going to kill you too? But I thought Discord wanted to marry you!" "So did I, but he said he had another mare in mind." "Another mare? Who?" "I don't know. He didn't say her name." The nutcracker sighed. "I'm sorry, Cadence. I swore I would return for you, but I let you down. And now…Discord's won." She looked at him empathetically. "No, he hasn't. Not completely. He failed to drive us apart." She reached out her hoof out as far as she could from under the ropes. Shining Armor did the same. "Shining!" another familiar voice called. The nutcracker turned to see his sister being dragged into the courtyard. "Twilight!" "Shining, the Jewel of Kindness! It's the only thing that can stop Discord!" "Fluttershy's necklace?" "No, Shining! The Jewel of Kindness is…" "Hey!" Rover shouted. "Shut her up!" The dogs tied a gag around Twilight's mouth, preventing her from finishing her sentence. Meanwhile, Discord was watching from the shadows, smiling in triumph. Spike ran up to him and tugged on his cape. "The bride's ready, your majesty," he said. "She's waiting in the back." "Good," the Chaos King said, rubbing his hands together. "Showtime!" "By the way, are those dolls gonna be sticking around?" Spike asked, looking down at his feet with a blush. "Cuz the tall one's kinda cute…" "Yes, yes, whatever," Discord grumbled, waving his paw. "We'll decide who stays and who goes later. I mean I have to keep some servants, don't I?" He took a deep breath and stepped out to the head of the crowd. "Hello, my loving subjects!" he greeted. The ponies quieted down as they turned to glare at the Chaos King. "It's so nice of you all to join us on this happy occasion!" "You dirty rat!" some pony called from the crowd. "You don't deserve that crown!" cried another voice. "What've you done with Fluttershy?!" Applejack demanded. "You can kill us, Discord," Shining Armor shouted, "but it won't help you earn the ponies' respect!" Discord huffed. "I don't need your respect! Your pathetic little opinions are nothing to me! I only care about one pony's opinion and you're all about to meet her!" "What are you talking about?" Cadence asked. The Chaos King smiled and lifted his arms dramatically in the air. "This day marks the beginning of a new era! Today, we will be making a slight change in government!" "Didn't ya already do that when ya took over the place?!" Applebloom spat. "Smart aleck," Discord groaned. "No, no! This day will be different, for today, we will be adding a new member to our cabinet, so to speak. Today, my loyal subjects, you will have a queen!" The ponies whispered to each other in confusion and alarm. "Oh, don't worry," he continued. "You'll like her. For she is the sweetest, most beautiful pony you will ever meet! And you lucky ponies will get to witness our glorious union!" "Who in their right mind would agree to marry that varmint?" Applejack murmured to her sister. "You!" Discord cried, pointing to a tall, orange pony wearing a coxcomb on his head and an accordion around his neck. "Ham Sandwich!" "Cheese Sandwich," the stallion grumbled, as if he had said this a hundred times. "Whatever. Can you play a wedding march on that accordion?" "Well, I once did this wedding in Gumville…" "PLAY!" That jumped the jester into playing the march on his accordion. Discord snapped his fingers to make a long, red carpet stretch across the courtyard. "My people!" Discord exclaimed, pointing to the far end of the courtyard. "Behold, your new queen! Queen…Fluttershy!" "What?!" Shining Armor and Applejack exclaimed as they followed every pony else's gaze. Fluttershy walked slowly into the sunlight. Discord's breath was taken away as she seemed to glimmer. She wore a sparkling white gown with glittery pink butterflies decorated along the hem. Her hair was up in a high ponytail and a light, translucent veil fell gently over her face. Rarity and Sweetie Belle carried her train, making the occasional glances at the pair of Diamond Dogs pointing spears at their backs. Fluttershy looked around in shock at the crowd of ponies, particularly at Shining Armor and a pink mare she assumed to be Cadence tied to two stakes with firewood at their hooves. "Fluttershy!" the nutcracker called. "What are you doing?!" "Are you out of yerr mind?!" Applejack shouted. Many other ponies called out similar things. Some murmured to each other, wondering why this mare was going through with this. "Maybe she's under a spell." "I say she's a traitor!" "I think he put her up to it with threats!" She wanted to deny these accusations and shout the truth, but she didn't think it would be much use. She turned her attention forward and decided to explain everything after the ceremony. Discord was smiling brightly at her, his paw and claw over his heart. He truly looked excited and Fluttershy might've been too, had it not been for the hundreds of imprisoned ponies surrounding her. He took her hoof and led her up the steps. Then he knelt down and carefully lifted her veil. "You look beautiful," he breathed, kissing her lightly on the forehead. "Discord, what is all this?" she whispered, looking out at the crowd. "Why, they're here to watch, of course. A royal wedding is a big occasion." "Yes, but…why are Shining Armor and Cadence tied to those stakes?" "Oh, don't worry, darling," he winked. "I'll set them free once the ceremony's over. The stakes are just for…insurance." She looked at the nutcracker and then back at the Chaos King. "So…if I don't go through with this, you'll…" "But you won't, will you?" he said through his smile, pulling her closer. Fluttershy glanced nervously back at the crowd. "But you'll let them go as soon as I say 'I do,' right?" "As promised, dearest," he said, raising his paw, "I will bring them no harm." After a few more glances, she gulped and nodded. "Let's…continue then." "Good girl. Spot!" The short Diamond Dog skidded in front of the couple with an open book in his paws. "Dearly beloved," he recited to the crowd, "we are gathered here today…" "I can't believe she's doin' this," Applejack murmured as Spot continued his speech. "Isn't that the mare we caught with the cap'n?" Applebloom asked. "Eeyup," Big Macintosh nodded. "I'll bet Discord cast a curse on her!" Applejack declared. "There's no way she could be doin' this willingly! And look! She's not wearin' the necklace anymore!" "What we gonna do?" Applebloom beseeched. "We gotta stop this!" The rebel grunted as she tugged on her chains. "Ugh! I really gotta start wearin' hairpins!" "Hey!" the filly exclaimed as she glanced down at her hooves. "Wha…?" Applejack looked down at her own hooves when she felt the shackles open up. "What in the…?" "Shhh!" a small voice whispered. They turned their heads to see no pony there. "Stay cool," the voice said in Applejack's ear, "and wait for the signal." The rebel smiled as she recognized the voice and nodded. "If anyone has any objections…" Spot said. The crowd roared in protest. Discord sighed in annoyance and snapped his fingers, zipping every pony's mouth closed. "Nope!" he chirped. "No objections here! Just skip to the vows!" "Do you, King Discord, take this mare…?" Spot continued Shining Armor struggled in his bounds, determined to stop this ceremony. He didn't care what happened to him, but he couldn't let Fluttershy suffer a fate worse than death. He froze when he heard a "Pssst!" behind him. "Hold still!" a raspy voice whispered. The nutcracker looked back at the empty space and raised his eyebrow in confusion. "Come on, you didn't really think I'd leave you hanging, did ya?" He smiled and shook his head. "…for as long as you both shall live?" Spot said. Discord grinned down at Fluttershy as he took her hooves. "I do." "And do you, Fluttershy, take this…Discord, to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?" Fluttershy could not find her voice. Discord's loving gaze urged her to say the words. But as she looked back at her friends bound and chained… "Uh, Miss Fluttershy?" Spot said. "What?" Fluttershy said with a jump. The dog tilted his head towards Discord. "I believe the words are 'I do?'" She looked back up at Discord, who was biting his lip in worry. "I…" she stammered. "I…I…" Discord flashed the crowd an awkward smile and then knelt down to his bride. "Darling, what's wrong?" he whispered. "Discord, I'm sorry, but…" she uttered, shaking her head. "I just can't do this!" He stiffened. "Why not?" "This…this is just wrong! I can't marry you! Not like this!" "Yes, you can," he insisted, taking her face in his hands. "You must! Please, Fluttershy…" "I can't marry you when there are strings attached!" she shouted. Discord's eyes flashed red and he scowled. She yelped as he grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Say 'I do,' or I will KILL EVERY PONY HERE!" "Let her go, Discord!" They turned and gasped to see the nutcracker free from the stake, his mouth unzipped and his sword at the ready. "Your reign of tyranny ends now! Ponies, for freedom!" A series of battle cries rang out as the ponies burst from their chains, which had mysteriously been unlocked. The Diamond Dogs were taken by surprise as their prisoners overcame them. "What?!" Discord shouted. "How did…?" His answer was given as Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo materialized in front of them, each holding a set of keys. "Lose something, your majesty?" Rainbow smirked. "Rainbow!" Fluttershy exclaimed in delight. "Traitor!" Discord growled. "Oh, no, your majesty," Rainbow said, twirling the keys on her hoof. "Don't you remember? You laid me off earlier today. How can I betray you when I no longer work for you?" "Spot! Get them!" Spot dropped the book and leaped at the pegasi, who vanished before he could get close. He landed on the ground with a thud. "That's it!" Discord declared as his claw burst into flames. "These ponies are all going to burn!" "Discord, no!" Fluttershy cried, tugging his paw. "You promised!" He sighed as he extinguished the flame. "You're right. Diamond Dogs! Kill them! Kill them all!" "No! You said…" "I said I wouldn't hurt them. And I won't, darling. The Diamond Dogs, however, made no such promise!" Tears started welling up in Fluttershy's eyes. "Discord, please! This is wrong!" "They attacked us, dearest! This is self-defense!" Suddenly, a cherry pie splattered onto the side of Discord's face. "What the…?" he said, scanning the courtyard. "Who threw that?!" On the other side of the battlefield, he spied three fillies of the same shape but different colors standing on top of one another. "Good shot, Cherry!" the blue one on the bottom cried. "Take that, ya big bully!" the red one on top yelled. A pink mare, four gray mares and a brown stallion in a black brimmed hat appeared behind the triplets. "Alright, Pies!" Pinkie shouted. "Ready!" The Tri-Pies bounced off each other and each held up a pie. The dull, expressionless ponies behind them each lifted a colorful rock. "Aim! FIRE!" Discord shrieked as a wave of pies and rock candy came hurdling towards him. He grabbed Fluttershy and pulled her out of range. "Pinkie!" Shining Armor called as he fended off a Diamond Dog. "You guys made it just in time!" "And guess who we bumped into on the way over here!" Pinkie piped. "Soldiers!" a voice shouted. "Attack!" The nutcracker grinned as tin soldiers came pouring in from all the quad's entrances. "I think the cavalry's here!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed before hitting a dog with her shoe. "Shoot!" the Chaos King cursed under his breath. "Discord, stop this!" Fluttershy pleaded. "I can't let you…" She was cut off as Discord abruptly lifted her into his arms and rushed to the nearest exit. "What are you doing?!" she screamed. "Getting you to a safe place!" he whispered harshly. Shining Armor saw Discord slipping away with Fluttershy, but he was too far away to follow them. "Applejack!" he called. "Yeah?" the Resistance leader responded after bashing two dog heads together. "We gotta make our way down the courtyard and stop Discord before he gets away with Fluttershy!" "On it!" She saluted before doing a backflip into the air and landing on a Diamond Dog's head. She hopped from head to head, knocking their owners down in the process. Unfortunately, the last head was Rover's, who was waiting for her. He grabbed her back hoof and tossed her to the ground. Applejack looked up at him smugly. "We really gotta stop meeting like this." "Oh, I'll make sure it stops," Rover said, raising his club. "For good!" Before he could strike, he suddenly stiffened and dropped his weapon. He cried out as he clutched his crotch. Rainbow Dash materialized in front of him and knocked him down with a blow to the chin. Applejack grabbed her whip to fend off incoming attackers. "Glad ya came back, partner," she said to the pegasus. "Yeah," Rainbow laughed awkwardly as she kicked a dog in the gut. "Sorry about the whole backstabbing thing. I wasn't lying when I said Discord had my sister." The rebel smirked. "I was wrong about ya, Dash." The pegasus shook her head. "No, you were right. I am one," without looking, she punched a dog in the face, "bad," elbow to the stomach, "girl." And a final blow in the place below. On the other side of the battlefield, Cheese Sandwich was rushing towards the Pie family. "Pinkie!" he called. "CHEESE!" Pinkie gasped. The couple zoomed into an embrace. "Did ya bring the cannon?" he whispered. "And protection!" she chirped, slapping a blue helmet on her husband. Then Pinkie brought out a small, light blue cannon which made Cheese smile. He squeezed himself inside. "Ready?" Pinkie asked, lighting a match. "Aim!" Cheese exclaimed. "FIRE!" The stallion let out an excited cry as he rocketed across the courtyard, knocking Diamond Dogs down like bowling pins. General Flash Sentry was backing away from a pack of enemies, as was Twilight. Neither of them saw each other until they collided. They shrieked and turned to face the each other, his sword out and her horn glowing. They paused for a moment and then laughed awkwardly. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, miss," Flash insisted. "No, it was my fault," Twilight said with a blush. They were brought back to reality when Diamond Dogs started closing in on them. General Flash stuck his hoof out protectively in front of Twilight. "I'll hold them off," he said. "You make a break for it and…" He was cut off as their enemies pounced without warning. Flash raised his sword but before he could strike, a bolt of pink energy shot the dog nearest to him back. Confused, he watched as that same bolt took out the others one by one. When they were in the clear, Flash glanced at Twilight, who was blowing out her smoking horn. "Wow," he said in awe. Twilight blushed as she absent-mindedly twirled a strand of her mane in her hoof. Spike was pressed up against a wall, watching the battle before him. He wasn't sure whether he should get involved or run. After all, he wasn't a soldier, even though he was working for the bad guy. "Oomph!" Rarity cried out as she was knocked back against the wall. "Oh, you brutes!" "Um," Spike said with an awkward smile and wave. "Hey." The doll looked down at him and cringed. "Uh…" Their attention turned to the Diamond Dogs closing in on them. "Oh, I knew I should've brought high heels," Rarity said, levitating her slippers. She didn't get the chance to hit them as a whip wrapped around the dogs' legs and toppled them over. Spike's eyes widened when Applejack leaped on top of them. "Rarity, the cap'n wants us to get to the exit over there!" the rebel declared. "Discord went out that way with Fluttershy!" Rarity nodded and dashed off. The dragon was left frozen as he stared at the strong, confident earth mare before him. His jaw dropped when she momentarily removed her hat to swipe the sweat off her brow. She shook her head, allowing her long, straw-like mane to snap back and forth like a whip. She looked down at him with emerald green eyes and smiled. "You okay, little guy?" Spike nodded dumbly. "Uh-huh." She slapped her hat back on. "Stick with me. I'll help ya get through." She ran close to the wall where there was less danger. For a moment, Spike just stood there in awe. Then he smiled and smoothed out his clothes. "Whatever you say, ma'am!" While flying overhead, Rainbow spotted one of the tin soldiers being overpowered. He was a light blue pegasus with dark blue hair and he swung his sword helplessly as if this were his first battle. Feeling sorry for him, she dove into the fight and threw out her hooves in all directions. When the enemies were down, she finally took a breath and faced the soldier. His mouth was open in amazement. Then he gave a mischievous look. "Hey," he said coyly. Rainbow scrunched her nose. "Yeah, I don't think so." She bolted back into the air. "I'm Soarin, by the way!" the stallion called. "Don't care!" she shouted back. Shining Armor was almost at the exit when he was suddenly tackled. He reached for his sword but was flipped over and met with a pair of violet eyes. "Cadence!" he breathed. "Oh, Shining!" she exclaimed, moving in to kiss him. "Not yet," he said, putting his hoof to her lips. "There's still Discord to take care of, and it's not as easy for him to stab me when I'm wood. Come on. Our only hope of defeating him is if we get you to your throne." "Right," Cadence said, standing them both up. "Come on. They can't have gone far!" Discord was moving so fast that Fluttershy was practically flying in his grip. Once they reached the throne room, she tried to break herself free. "Discord, stop!" she shouted. "Please! You're hurting me!" He finally came to a halt and released her foreleg. She gently rubbed it as she glared at him. "Discord, this madness has to end," she said in a low voice. "You promised you wouldn't hurt them!" "And I'm not, dearest," he assured her, reaching out to caress her face. She slapped his claw away. "Don't you 'dearest' me! Do you really think I'm that stupid?! You were going to kill them anyway, weren't you? As soon as I said 'I do,' you were going to burn Shining Armor and Cadence, weren't you?!" "Fluttershy, you must understand." He fell to his knees. "If I let them live, they'll stop at nothing to destroy our happiness!" He took her hooves in desperation. "I did it for us!" "Humph!" she huffed, jerking her hooves away. "I was willing to give you a second chance, and you continued doing evil behind my back! You're never going to change! Not as long as you're wearing that…that thing!" She pointed angrily at the Chaos Amulet. Discord held it protectively. "What are you saying?" She sighed. "I'm saying you must make a choice, Discord! It's either that amulet, or me." He blinked. "What?" "That amulet is making you do awful things, and all because you wanted power! I can't marry someone who loves power more than his own wife!" He seemed truly hurt by this declaration. "Darling, you don't seriously believe that, do you?" "Well, if you had a choice between me and that amulet, which would it be?" He opened his mouth, but choked on his words. After a while, Fluttershy turned away from him in disgust. "If it's that difficult a decision," she said coldly, "then I'll make it easier for you." "Fluttershy, wait!" "Goodbye, Discord." "Please, Fluttershy, I…I love you." She crossed her hooves as she started flying away. "I don't believe you." She shrieked as she was suddenly spun around to face him. Discord's eyes were glowing red and his teeth were gnashing together in fury. "Who says I have to make a choice," he sneered, giving an eerie grin, "when I can have you both?!" "If you don't step away from her now, you'll end up with neither!" He looked up at the group standing before him: Shining Armor, Cadence, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, Applebloom, General Flash, Twilight and even Spike. Discord greeted them with a maniacal laugh. "You all really think you can stop me? Me?!" "Get to the throne," Shining Armor whispered to Cadence. Discord chuckled as he watched the princess rush to her transformed throne. "Go ahead. Sit on the thing. See what good it does you." Cadence paused and looked at her love in concern. "It's a trick." "We have no other choice!" Shining Armor declared. She nodded and seated herself in the throne. Light pulsed through the gem above as it slowly changed from a butterfly into a heart. Cadence opened her glowing white eyes as the crystal heart's magic pulsed through her. Everyone was blinded by a white flash that spread across the room. When the magic reached the outside, the ponies and Diamond Dogs ceased their fighting and dropped their weapons. When the light had diminished, the Chaos King's throne had been eliminated and Cadence's had been restored to its former glory. The Sugar Plum Princess was adorned in a glittering purple gown, a crystal crown of the same color sitting around her horn which had returned. She looked at Shining Armor and frowned. He glanced down at his still wooden body. "I guess you still have to kiss me for this one," he shrugged. "Of course," Discord cackled. "That was the spell!" The ponies were aghast when they saw that Discord had been untouched by the magical blast. "But you should be gone!" Cadence declared, rising to her hooves. "Or at least mended!" "You're forgetting, my dear!" he taunted, holding up his pendant. "Nothing can counteract the magic of the Chaos Amulet! Sure, you can break a few of its spells, but not the amulet itself! Now that the Jewel of Kindness is gone, I am invincible! You may have won back the Land of Sweets, but I at least get a consolation prize!" Every pony gasped as Discord swept his arms around Fluttershy and began backing away. "You can keep the kingdom!" he sneered. "I don't need it anymore! Fluttershy and I can start a kingdom all our own!" "Discord, let me go!" Fluttershy screamed, attempting to break free. "Turns out you're going to get what you wanted, dear. Your little friends get to live in their happy land, and we get to live in ours! Every pony's a winner here!" "No! Stop it!" "Let her go, Discord!" Shining Armor commanded, drawing his sword. "There's only one way you're getting away with her!" Discord's eyes glowed brighter. "A duel to the death?" The nutcracker nodded. "Let's settle this rivalry once and for all!" "Very well." Fluttershy shrieked as she was sent hurdling back to the wall. She tried to move, but found herself paralyzed. Discord ripped off his cape and summoned a sword. Some of the others, including Cadence, rushed to assist the nutcracker, but he held up his hoof. "This is between him and me." Discord chuckled darkly. "Couldn't have said it better myself, Nut Boy!" More ponies and some Diamond Dogs entered to see what the ruckus was about. They all watched as the two foes clanged swords for what might be the final time. "You may have taken my kingdom," Discord growled, "but you will not take my love from me!" "Funny," Shining Armor grunted as he blocked Discord's blow. "I believe I said something along those lines when you took Cadence from me!" "This is different!" "You're right. It is different. Because Cadence and I actually love each other!" "You saying I don't love Fluttershy?!" "That's why you want to marry her? You think you love her?" "I don't think! I do love her! And she loves me! At least she will! And we're going to be happy! You hear me?! Very, very, happy!" For a moment, the nutcracker almost felt sorry for him. Despite Discord's mania, he sounded like he believed what he was saying. "Do you even know what true love is?" Shining Armor asked as their swordplay continued. "It's about caring for some pony more than you care about yourself! It's about being honest and compassionate towards each other! It's about making sacrifices not so you can be happy together, but so the other can be happy! I've crossed realms and risked my life for Cadence! What have you ever done for Fluttershy?" Discord let out a furious cry and dropped his sword. He held out his paw which was glowing red and magically tightened Shining Armor's throat. He lifted the nutcracker into the air with a murderous growl. "Don't you compare your love for Cadence and mine for Fluttershy!" he snarled. "I may be a liar and a fink, but I mean it when I say that I love Fluttershy more than life itself!" As he gasped for breath, Shining Armor glanced between Discord and Fluttershy, who was still frozen against the wall. Then he glared defiantly at the Chaos King as he raised his sword. "Prove…it." Using all his strength, he thrust it past his enemy. Discord spun around when he heard Fluttershy's scream and dropped the nutcracker. The blade was hurdling toward Fluttershy, and thanks to him, she was unable to move! "Dude, are you nuts?!" Rainbow hollered. "Fluttershy!" Discord shouted. "NO!" Fluttershy closed her eyes, waiting for the blade's impact. When nothing happened, she opened them and saw the sword dangling inches away from her, encased in yellow energy. A collective sigh was heaved by the onlookers. However, their relief was short-lived when they saw Discord, holding out his paw and keeping the sword in place. He had saved Fluttershy, but something wasn't right. Discord should've let the blade drop by now, but something was holding him back. As he trembled, the golden aura around the blade suddenly turned red and started inching towards Fluttershy. Then it turned yellow again and moved away. "What's happening?" Sweetie Belle asked. "It's the Chaos Amulet," Twilight said in fear. "It's corrupted him to the fullest now. He's deciding whether he should save Fluttershy or…" She could not finish. "But why?" Spike beseeched. "Why would it do that?" Twilight gulped. "The amulet tends to destroy anything that gets in the way of its wearer achieving ultimate power." "And Fluttershy…" Applejack whispered as the pieces started coming together. Discord struggled to keep his hold on the sword as two voices argued in his head: Let it stab her. She's caused you nothing but trouble. Don't do it! She's the only one who understands! She pretended to like you just to save her friends. She cares for you! She wants to help you! She wants to change you! Back and forth, the blade went, the color changing along with its direction. Fluttershy looked up at him and he gazed into those eyes that were once filled with sympathy. Now they were filled with terror, and it broke his heart. Go on. Kill her. Don't you want ultimate power? Discord narrowed his eyes in determination as he tried to gain control over the sword's direction. "Not…any…more!" Once the decision was made, he let the blade fly.