//------------------------------//
// Confronting the True Evil 
// Story: You Gave Me Nothing! 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 2
“Confronting the True Evil”

After teleporting from the hilltop, Discord found himself at the gates of Equestria’s basement determined to find Tirek and release his frustration on him.  Discord knew that he had to be careful however, since Cerberus was on duty and that the three headed dog was more vigilant after seeing his mistresses’ imprisoned here.  Upon seeing him, Discord knew that there had to be a way to get past him.  

“How do you distract a three headed dog?” he thought to himself and with a snap of his fingers, he transformed into Princess Celestia, although he had trouble trying to walk like the eldest of the alicorn princesses.  

As soon as he approached the cell where Tirek was, Discord opened Celestia’s wings and flew over to the three headed dog.  Thinking that it was really Celestia, Cerberus bowed to the disguised Discord and backed away from Tirek’s cell, allowing him to pass.  Discord then landed and walked up to the cage, bearing the depowered centaur inside.  Tirek had just coldly turned down an offer to be free and learn the magic of friendship, which sealed his fate and that he would spend the rest of his life in this prison.

“What are you doing here, Princess?” he huffed, his back turned from Discord’s attention.  “Have you come to persuade me again to befriend you pathetic ponies?  My answer is still no, now get out of here and leave me alone!”

“Why do you think I came here to offer you friendship?” asked Discord, talking in Celestia’s voice.  “I’ve come to bring you a message from Discord.”

Discord knew that if he was going to truly confront Tirek, he would have to get Tirek to turn around and face him face to face.  

"Lord Tirek," said Discord in Celestia's voice, still stamping the front hoof. "I order you to face me at once!"

The weakened centaur would not move and using a carbon copy of his superior's magic, Discord forced Tirek to face him and this only made Tirek more annoyed as he was now staring at the supposed pony whom he had imprisoned in his place along with Luna and Cadence.

"Princess Celestia," he said mockingly. "I know why you are here.  Have you come to gloat in front of me after my defeat? Had it not been for your youngest princess and her friends, I would have conquered Equestria as my own. So, if you are here to mock me, do it now and leave before I decide to take your magic again."

When the disguised Discord refused to move, Tirek snarled and attempted to activate his magic draining powers, but found that he couldn't do it. He tried again, but he failed and growled in frustration.

"What have you done?" he snarled, trying to still activate his draining powers. "What did you do to my powers?"

"Don’t you remember from the last time we were here? It's not what I have done," replied the disguised Discord. "You lost your powers when you were returned here and you will never use your powers ever again."

But Tirek remained defiant, still determined to finish what he had started. He wanted to take the powers of the elder princess of Equestria again, but he couldn't and learning from what happened the last time Equestria’s four princesses were here, he was still denying it. Tirek then began to focus all of his frustration on one particular ex-acquaintance, not realizing he was standing before him.

"You merely think I can never use my powers ever again, mare?" snarled Tirek, still remaining in denial about what had happen to him. "Had that pathetic fool Discord remained at my side, then I would never had lost them to begin with."

It was at this point that Discord decided to shed his disguise and extract his personal revenge on Tirek. After closing his eyes for a moment, he unfolded the large alicorn wings and glared at the weakened Centaur, chuckling slightly.

"If you are referring to Discord," chuckled Discord, starting to transform. "Then does he look something like this?"

At that moment, Discord shedded his disguise of Celestia and transformed in a slow and sinister way and Tirek watched as the body of Celestia melted and Discord rematerialized into his old self. Once he was fully transformed, he stuck out his lion paw and placed it on his ex-partner's throat. Tirek snarled at this and attempted to break himself loose of Discord's grip.

"I wouldn't waste your time struggling," seethed Discord, his grip growing tighter. "I am going to make you pay for what you made me do to my friends."

"Friends?" asked Tirek, a mocking smile coming onto his face. "You mean those pathetic equines who brainwashed you into believing the magic of friendship?"

Discord didn't take this well and used his magic to stretch out his arm rapidly and bang Tirek against the back of his cage very hard, finally releasing his grip on him.

"You are weak minded, Discord," chuckled Tirek, sensing that he could make Discord betray Equestria again. "Just like my brother, Scorpan.  Why I used you once and I can use you again. Join me again, Discord, and you can reclaim your greatness. Unless, of course, 'pony errand boy' is the role you've always still wanted to play in this world."

But Discord was not going to fall for that trick again. He knew very well that the last time they had this exact conversation, it was the moment that Discord became an enemy of Equestria again. Instead, he remained defiant, simply staring down at Tirek.

"I don't associate with you, anymore," retorted Discord, glaring at Tirek.  “I should never have listened to you, Tirek.  You turned me into a monster and made me hurt my friends! These ponies gave me a second chance and you made me turn against them.”

“Mind your manners," retorted Tirek mockingly, getting back onto his feet. "Just set me free and I will once again give you friendship and freedom to create the world of chaos that you set out to desire.  Isn’t that what you were born to do?  To turn Equestria into a land of chaos?"

A part of Discord wanted to submit to Tirek's offerings again, but Discord would not let himself betray Equestria again and hurt all the ponies he had made friends with. He was going to finish what he had set out to do. He snapped his fingers and three long chains and shackles came onto three of Tirek's legs and the centaur struggled to move.

"Is this your answer?" cried Tirek, struggling to move because of the chains that now held him. "To have me shackled like the criminal that I am? I gave you friendship and freedom to do whatever you want and this is how I repay you?"

With those words, Discord began to grow angry and feeling that he was being mocked at by this creature, he finally said the words that were heard throughout Tartarus.

"Friendship?" replied Discord, his voice rising. "You didn't give me friendship, you didn't give me freedom, you didn’t even give me magic, YOU…GAVE…ME…NOTHING!"

And at that moment, Discord, with glowing red eyes, raised his eagle claw and rose Tirek into the air, with only the chains around his legs holding him down from going any further up and two more chains appeared, shackling him on both of his arms. Tirek struggled to get himself free, but it wasn't going to be possible.

"Release me at once, Discord!" snarled Tirek, his eyes still locked on Discord. But, Discord was not budging and kept Tirek airborne.

"It's not going to happen, Tirek!" snapped Discord, still holding his grip.  I was a fool to believe your lies about friendship and I am now going to finish what I had set out to do!”

Discord continued to levitate the demonic centaur for a few moments, but then he realized something that made him regret what he was doing.  Discord asked himself whether this is what Fluttershy would want, to see Tirek suffer severely for what he did.  

Yes, he was angry at Tirek, but actually physically harming him would mean absolutely nothing.  It would cause more pain and suffering for Discord and his friends, which was something that they didn’t need right now. 

The glowing red eyes disappeared and he released his grip on Tirek, throwing him down to the floor of the cage very hard.  

“Why should I do this to you?” sighed Discord, magically getting rid of the chains that were around Tirek’s wrists.  “It would mean nothing.  This is where you belong now, in the depths of Equestria with only that three headed dog for company.”

Without saying goodbye, Discord snapped his fingers and disappeared, not wanting to do any more harm…