Dark and cold, it was the only thing Discord was introduced to. He had already located the hideout within the Badlands with no trouble. He slipped himself inside without being detected and snooped around. Discord looked around and noticed a desk with a map lying there, that map was of Equestria and showed information on where he was going to strike next, Discord thought perfectly as he could us this to his advantage, however, it wouldn't matter because turning in Fright was his top priority. In case you didn't know, Discord had successfully slipped into Fright's hideout where there were a few changelings patrolling the corridors. He followed the corridors, left, right, left, right, right, left, up and down... What? This place was more disorienting than his home and that was in another dimension!
It got to a point where it was quiet and Discord began to hear his own breath, he wasn't loud, it was because it was that quiet. He noticed a room that was illuminating a distant white light. As he peaked his head through the frame of the door, he saw Fright working on something. Now was his time to strike.
Fright was occupied with manufacturing canisters that would dispense his fear spell, but he was stopped when he noticed both his wrists in shackles, this, of course, surprised the demented scientist, realising what just happened to him.
"What?!" He questioned, unknown to why he was in shackles.
"I'm afraid we're going to have to put your little science project on hold, Fright," Discord mocked.
"Discord..." Fright calmly turned around to approach the Lord of Chaos, his hands still cuffed. "I was wondering when you'd be showing up."
"Yes, well, I was busy. The Lord of Chaos can get caught up in a few things that can be rather tiresome." He said, yawning.
"I assume Celestia sent you to imprison me. Am I correct?"
"Indeed you are, my horrific little monster."
"Then I must congratulate you on your success. I have been bested by the master of chaos, captured by the most powerful being in all of Equestria." He praised the draconequus.
"Oh, why, thank you!" He said, teleporting a top hat on his head only so he could remove it and take a bow as if he was finishing a performance on stage. "But enough flattery, it's time to turn you in."
"Very well," Fright acknowledged Discord's command, this somewhat surprised him.
"What? You mean just like that? You're not going to yell for your guards to come and rescue you or try to offer me a deal that will break you free?"
"What could I possibly offer you that you don't already have?"
"Fair point."
"Though, I do wish to ask you a question."
Discord teleported a couch and a table as he poured himself a cup of tea. "Fine, but do make it quick, I don't want to keep Celestia waiting any longer."
"It interests me on how you became friends with Twilight and the others in the first place, after all, you are enemies."
"Well, Celestia granted me a second chance to use my magic for good and at first, I was against the idea, but that's when little and delicate Fluttershy opened my heart." He said, squealing.
"It appears that you've taken quite the interest in this Fluttershy."
"Why wouldn't I? She's my first ever friend, she's really kind and she's offered me so much about friendship," Discord quickly snapped. "Hey, wait a minute, you're stalling!"
"I'm not stalling, I'm asking you questions because I'm curious to know how a sadistic and cruel God that can wreck the land into chaos became so soft for his friends."
"Soft?!" He screeched. "I'm not soft! I'm the Lord of Chaos for crying out loud!"
"You used to be the Lord of Chaos, but now you are just another mere servant towards Celestia and the other three princesses."
"I am no servant! I'm not doing this because Celestia ordered me, I'm doing this for my friends." His voice turned to a whisper. "But between you and me, it's mostly for Fluttershy." He squealed.
"And what if something was to happen to Fluttershy?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if she was hurt? In pain? Struggling because she can't handle her fears! She was afraid of you, remember?"
"Yeah, was!" Discord growled. "You're starting to bore me, Fright!"
"I know your fear, Discord. It's Fluttershy, she's your weakness, if something was to happen to her then you'd feel lost within a void of guilt knowing it was your fault because you didn't save her. You'd feel powerless which is another thing you fear."
"Enough!" He bellowed.
"As you wish, but I do have one more question."
Discord sighed in irritation. "And what's that?"
"What's going to make you regret putting me away?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Has it never occurred to you before that every villain escapes? Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon for a thousand years and she returned to take Equestria back to the night! King Sombra resurfaced from darkness to seek vengeance and turn the crystal ponies into his slaves, Lord Tirek was imprisoned in Tartarus, but because of that three headed mutt, he escaped causing mayhem and destruction. And then there's you. You were put into suspended animation, turned into stone. You escaped because of three annoying fillies who were arguing and then you were released, turning your gaze to the whole land and turned it into your playground with your rules, however, you were stopped by Elements of Harmony, but foolishly Celestia granted you another chance to be reformed."
"What are you getting at, Fright?"
"My point is, you can banish me to the moon, lock me in Tartarus or throw me in another dimension, but I will return! You cannot escape vengeance, Discord! You cannot escape pain and you most definitely cannot escape fear. You can lock me up, but I will escape and then I will turn to your little friend Fluttershy. She's afraid of me, she could have stopped me back in Manehatten, but she couldn't because she was scared."
Discord was all ears, taking in Fright's warning.
"Imagine it, seeing her take a whiff of my fear spell as she drowns in her own nightmares, she will suffer all because you didn't heed my warning."
Discord just stared at Fright looking rather petrified to what he had said. It was true all villains do break free eventually and Discord didn't want to put Fluttershy at risk, either way, he was going to put her at risk no matter what.
"I know Fluttershy means the world to you, and you can prevent this from happening. You just have to simply release me and allow me to carry on with my plan and I assure you, your beloved friend, Fluttershy will not be harmed and if you were smart you'd know not to interfere. I'm not asking you to join me, Discord, I'm asking you to sit this one out and in return, Fluttershy will not be harmed."
Discord was broken, Fright had crawled into his mind and began to pull back the layers of his brain.
Endlessly, Discord began to think and it was painful for him thinking, save Fluttershy by making a deal with Fright, but put the whole land of Equestria in danger, or lock away Fright only for him to submerge from his prison to make his dearest friend suffer. What should he do?
Canterlot
Two hours had passed since Discord left to pursue Fright. In short notice, a letter was teleported in front of Celestia. She was sitting on her throne as she opened the letter from Discord which surprised her. As she read the letter, she felt numb, her eye swelling up with tears.
Quickly, the mane six hurried towards Celestia as she called upon them to tell the most, unfortunate news.
"Princess," Twilight approached and stopped in front her throne. "What's wrong?"
Celestia's lips felt sealed like an envelope, blocking her words from being heard. She finally opened her mouth and spoke. "It's Discord."
All ponies gasped, Twilight and the rest were furious. They knew he would do this, they knew he would betray them once again, they knew he would go back to his cruel self.
"I told you Discord would betray us! This is just great!" Rainbow Dash spoke in a sarcastic tone.
Fluttershy was heartbroken, her eyes tearing up. "Wh-Why would he do this?"
Before this could go on any further, Celestia stopped the conversation from advancing forwards. "Discord hasn't betrayed us."
The six mares all blinked at each other, puzzled. If Discord didn't betray them, then what did he do? What was so urgent that made Celestia call upon them?
Rarity spoke. "If Discord hasn't betrayed us then what has he done?"
Hesitancy flowed through Celestia, again, she wished to keep this information to herself, but she needed to tell them. She sniffled.
"I'm afraid... Discord is gone."
Celestia's statement only raised more questions, they had no clue on what she meant by 'gone.'
"What do ya mean, princess?" Applejack raised her head, lifting her hat in worriment.
"Discord... he's... he's..." Celestia couldn't finish her sentence, she was finding trouble in speaking and the six could see that due to her stuttering as if she was stunned.
Instead, Celestia levitated the letter Discord had sent them. They all read the letter.
The letter was read out loud by Twilight.
"To my life changing friends,
For many years, I have lived in a chaotic and rude manner, I was ruthless and brutal and I can't forgive myself for that. When I was offered a second chance, I never realised friendship could offer so much and each of you showed me that through honesty, loyalty, generosity, laughter, magic and most importantly... Kindness. Fright has exposed a weakness of mine and that weakness is my greatest fear, capturing him will do nothing as he will find a way to escape from any sort of prison. If I took him in, Fright told me once he escapes he will unleash pain and terror upon you all and he said he would make... He said he would make Fluttershy suffer the most, going into every little detail on what he would do to her. I couldn't allow it, he offered me a deal, if I didn't interfere with his plans he would bring no harm to her. Although I am putting the whole of Equestria in danger by not stopping him, I can't bear the thought of all of you getting hurt. I don't know if what I'm doing is kind or selfish, but if you know the answer then I may never hear it. You will never see me again and it pains me because I see you more than my friends, I see you as my beacon of hope, a catalyst that allows me to regain my strength. I am sitting this one out and you should too. Friendship can't save this one.
Your sincerely, Discord.
P.S Thanks for putting your faith in me, although, I have failed you."
Stunned, stupefied and incoherent, Twilight was almost heartbroken to what she had just read, all of them were. They never thought that Discord would think so highly of them. Not only that, there one chance of finding Spike was gone, thrown out the window. Now Fright could move on with his plan and put Equestria in danger. Everypony felt numb, hollow and sad.
Most of their attention went towards Fluttershy who was crying, her eyes streaming tears live a river of depression. Discord had left them to hide, but through an act of kindness to keep Fluttershy safe. Although he has put Equestria in danger, he was thinking of his friends and it didn't seem right to be mad at him, but Twilight was feeling both sympathetic and enraged.
"Ah... Ah, don't believe what am hearing..." Applejack said.
"He did this for us," Pinkie Pie spoke.
Fluttershy continued to cry as she was comforted by Rarity.
"He-he did this for me, *hic* he did this for all of us, and now he's gone. All because he *hic* was frightened of what would hap-happen to me." She continued to cry.
With Discord gone, Fright was advancing further to breaking out every demon in Tartarus and Twilight couldn't stand here and just feel sorry for Discord any longer. She quickly turned to Celestia in a demanding manner.
"Princess, Fright is heading towards Tartarus, any moment he could be breaking out the whole prisoners, he still has Spike with him. Every time we waste he's getting stronger. Who knows what he could be-"
From out of the blue, that same harrowing and ear melting noise played, destroying the ears of the mane six and Celestia along with CMC. The stained windows of glee and delight had once again turned into nothing but blackness. Fright's face appeared, however, half of his face was concealed by darkness as he took refuge under his hood. His jaw showed nothing but disgust as the stitched and bandages showed horror. Fright announced his presence rudely. He spoke in his cold and disturbing voice. The announcement had begun.
"Luna, get the fillies out of here," Celestia ordered.
Luna turned her attention towards the three fillies and quickly took them out of the throne room.
This little announcement of Fright's seemed to be happening only in Canterlot's throne room.
"Are you afraid, Twilight? You should be. I saw your face when I mentioned your assistant, your dragon friend when we were in Manehatten. He has become your weakness, an anchor that's sinking you deeper into the ocean. Can you see him? Can you see the fear that I see within him? You have exposed your own weakness; it's your friends, you may seem them as your strength but we all know if something was to happen to one of them you'd be left weakened, Discord has already fled in terror as I uncovered his worst fear, and now your punishment begins. I present to you, 'Your Greatest Failure!'"