> Fluttershy: an Anastasia Au
>  by halloweennut
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was a time, not very long ago, where everyone lived in an enchanted world, full of grand things, and harmony and friendship echoed through the land of Equestria. It was the night of the Grand Galloping Gala, and the Ponyville Palace glowed with lights and various ponies from all over poured in through it’s doors. It was a celebration of Celestia’s and Sombra’s 1000 year rule, and the blissful return of Luna.

The most joyful of all the ponies there were Princess Twilight, and the Grand Duchesses, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. They pranced around their father’s feet, giddily laughing at his attempts to snatch them up. He was only able to grab Fluttershy, who screeched in laughter as he tossed her in the air. Celestia laughed at her children’s and husband’s antics, and smiled down at her sister.

“Truthfully, sister, I’ve never seen you so happy,” Luna said, her voice brimming with surprise and a tinge of joy.

“I don’t believe anything could go wrong. I have my six wonderful children, my sweet Sombra, and now, I have you back, little sister,” Celestia replied, bowing her head to nuzzle her sister. She pulled away after a minute. “But it saddens me to have to leave them and Sombra here when I have to return to Canterlot, sometimes for weeks-months at a time.”

“Why don’t you bring them?”

“They’re so young, I don’t know if they could handle the constant travel, especially little Fluttershy. But,” Celestia smiled, “I had some very special gifts made for them. You will probably remember them from long ago.”

“You don’t mean…”

“Yes.”

“But they’re only fillies-could they handle that much responsibility?”

“They will in time. But for now,” Celestia’s horn glowed, and a jeweled chest floated from behind her chair, “they serve as keys for something else.”

She turned her attention back to the dance floor, and beckoned her children to her. They abandoned their game with their father, and galloped up the raised dais to their mother. Twilight flew to her, still a little clumsy with her wings, and nuzzled under her chin. The rest of the girls followed suit in a large mass of giggles.

“What is it mother?” Twilight asked. The rest nodded, Pinkie jumping all over the place.

“Is it a surprise? I love surprises! Is it a cake? Oh! No! Cupcakes? Magical artifacts that will be an important plot device for when we’re older?”

Everypony looked at her bewildered.

“Pinkie, that sounds ridiculous,” Rainbow Dash said, zipping around Celestia’s throne to perch on the top piece above her head, “Wonderbolts tickets would be cooler. At least 20 percent.”

“Rainbow Dash, it wouldn’t be that!” Rarity said with a toss of her head, one eye on the glittering box, “Mother is the ruler of Equestria, she probably has a reserved box for their shows!”

“Oh right….”

“Then what is it?” Applejack said, all the while trying to get the pink bow out of her hair. Celestia laughed, and gently adjusted the bow.

“I have a gift for each of you,” she said, her horn once again glowing as the the box floated up. Rainbow flew down to where the rest of them had gathered on the floor. They all stared up at it, eyes wide. The box opened and they all gasped. Inside were five necklaces with glittering gems, and one tiara. Between them sat a small, crystalline box with 6 ports that matched the shapes of the gems: one diamond, one balloon, one apple, one lightning bolt, one star, and one butterfly.

“Oh pretty!” Twilight exclaimed.

“They’re divine,” Rarity said, edging closer to the the open chest, “But what’s in the smaller box?”

“You’ll see,” Celestia responded, and the necklaces and tiara were magicked into the air. They each settled on each of their necks and the tiara settled behind Twilight’s horn. Celestia lifted the crystal box out of the box and placed it on the floor between them.

“This is where your other gift comes to play. Each of your necklaces, and your tiara, Twilight, serves as a key to open it. Go ahead, see what happens.”

They each gathered around the box to their respectful ports, Fluttershy lagging behind a little, nervous. The necklaces and tiara began to glow, and they linked into the ports. The box opened, and music began to play.

“It’s a music box! And it plays our lullaby!” Fluttershy exclaimed.The girls smiled, enchanted with their gift. Discord, unseen by everypony, peeked out from behind one of the tapestries, and stared curiously at the scene before him. He thought it needed a little more…chaos. But before he could even snap his fingers, a guard came around the corner, forcing him back into hiding.

“It’s for when I’m away in Canterlot, so you can pretend that I’m singing you to sleep,” Celestia smiled, and began to gently sing.

“On the wind
Cross the sea
Hear this song and remember…”

The girls nestled in closer to her, and began to sing along softly.

“Soon you’ll be 
Home with Me 
Once Upon a Warm Summer…”

Fluttershy glanced down at her necklace once it was released from the port.

“It has writing on it!” she said, and her sisters looked at their respective jewelry, excited. Celestia grinned, and Luna couldn’t help but smile.

“Read what it says, darling,” she said fondly, nudging Fluttershy’s head. She brought it up closer to her eyes.

“Together…in…Canterlot…”

They all broke out in large grins and jumped on their mother.

“Oh thank you, thank you thank you!” they exclaimed in unison, and soon fell into a fit of giggles. Soon Sombra returned to the dais, and joined with his happy, and now complete again, family.

But, they would never together in Canterlot. A dark shadow grew over the party, silencing all, and vanquishing all the lights there. Ponies gasped in silent horror, and delicate glasses dropped from hooves and magic alike. The creature made it’s way through to the dais, the crowd parting in his wake.

“Tirek!” Sombra hissed through clenched teeth. Tirek tore his cloak from his shoulders to the floor. While in one of his weaker forms, he was still massive-larger than Sombra. The little Princess and Duchesses hid behind their mother’s feet and tail as she stood to confront the terror before them. Luna came to stand next to her, looks of determination on their faces. Sombra galloped down the steps to Tirek.

“How dare you come here,” Sombra exclaimed, “Leave at once!”

“And why should I? I am becoming more powerful every day! I rival even your dear, sweet, Celestia,” Tirek said mockingly. Celestia spread her wings, and flew above the crowd, horn glowing. The young fillies gasped in alarm, and raced behind Luna.

“Tirek! My sister and I banished you once, we could easily do it again! Leave at once, and no harm shall come to you.”

Celestia scowled at him, and both Sombra’s and Luna’s horns began to glow. Tirek backed away a few feet.

“Fine! But I banish you with a promise! Mark my words, Celestia, your precious family will suffer horribly within a fortnight! I will not rest until you grieve, forever!”

And with that, he shot down a chandelier and disappeared in a puff of smoke. It crashed with a shatter, glass and candles flying every which way. Ponies screamed and began to panic, running from the mess of tangled metal and glass and out of the ballroom.

“Ponies, please be calm! It was nothing but a harmless threat!” Sombra yelled over the crowd, trying to calm them but to no avail. Celestia, still above them all, cast a powerful spell, and a large light burst from her horn. The crowd stopped, shocked.

“Be calm, my little ponies! Tirek may have threatened us, but he will not prevail, this I promise you,” she called to them, floating back to the raised dais to her sister and daughters. They peered from behind their aunt’s legs before running back to the safety of their mother. Sombra was very quick to join them. They smiled down at them, all of which but Fluttershy had stopped shaking. But the both of them couldn’t banish the look of worry from their eyes.

Two Weeks Later

Tirek had grown only more powerful, and soon amassed an army of horrid creatures- Changelings, Diamond Dogs, and Griffins.

And he kept his horrible promise.

Soon all of Ponyville was besieged by him and his minions, the main focus being the castle. The servants and royal family ran as fast as they could, never pausing for a moment. Guards flew and ran around them, firing through the glass windows or diving through them to attack whatever was there. Sombra and Luna led the way, both firing spells as fast as the could. Sombra carried an unconscious Rainbow Dash, who had been knocked out by a piece of debris. Celestia followed closely behind, keeping the rest of her daughters together and safe.

Fluttershy ran as hard as she could. She was almost out the door when she realized something was missing.

"My necklace!" she cried, and just as quickly turned, running past her mother.

"Fluttershy, come back!" Celestia called after in a panic. She turned, and began running after her. "Sombra! Luna! Take the girls to the train! I’ll be back soon!"

Sombra could barely hold himself back from running after, but the cries and pushes of Luna and the whimpers of his daughters got him out of the palace.

Fluttershy ran, screaming at every crash around her. She soon found the door to her and her sisters’ nursery, and pushed them open. Celestia pushed her out of the way, quickly closing the door behind her. Fluttershy opened the jeweled chest, pulling out the necklace and clasping it around her neck. She was about to grab the music box too, when suddenly there was a slam against the window, shards of glass landing around their feet. A diamond dog grabbed through the window at them. Celestia went over to her daughter, draping one of her wings and fired a shot at the dog. He was only stunned for a moment. Fluttershy shuddered and began to cry as she and Celestia stepped back. There were thuds and cries from the door, blocking their only escape. They were trapped.

“Normally I don’t get involved. or want anything to do with you ponies,” a voice echoed from nowhere, “but I really detest Tirek”

A snap was heard, and the diamond dog at the window was gone, but the problem at the door remained. Another snap, and the snake-like figure of Discord appeared. Fluttershy’s eyes went wide, and she hid further behind her mother’s feathers.

“Discord!” Celestia claimed, “What are you doing here?”

“Saving your royal flank, what does it look like?” he snapped in response, “Those mutts and bugs are going to get in here any minute. I’ll hold them off, but then I’m out.”

“But how are we supposed to escape?” Celestia asked, slightly panicked as the thudding increased. Discord looked around the room quickly, before noticing small marks on the wall.

“The servants’ passage! Quick!” he said, prying open the small door, and shoved them through. The music box slipped from Fluttershy’s hoofs, and she reached out to grab it back.

“My music box!” she cried as Discord slammed the door, and with a snap, sealed it up. The doors and window burst open with a flood of dogs and changelings. Discord, although all sharp claws and talons and the power of chaos, was overcome, and soon lay unconscious on the floor, talon draped over the crystalline box.

Soon enough Celestia and Fluttershy were outside, and were running to the train station. Tirek watched from the uppermost roof of the castle at the two of them before jumping off. He landed with a crash behind them, grabbing Fluttershy’s tail, and dragging her towards him. She screamed, and Celestia turned, her face etched with horror.

“You’re coming with me, little duchess!,” he yelled, raising her up to eye level. Fluttershy’s wings began to flap harder than ever, trying to get away from the monstrosity before, her eyes clamped in terror. There was a bright light behind her eyes, and she felt herself fall. She opened her eyes in panic, and upon seeing the ground become increasingly close, her wings snapped flat to her body, despite the need to fly. She started to scream, but soon felt a familiar pair of hoofs around her. She looked up to see her mother’s face in pure unbridled rage, her horn glowing dark with a magic she had never seen her mother do. Celestia shot a powerful blast into Tirek’s chest, pushing him backwards. Still holding onto Fluttershy, she flew higher, and with a mighty swish of her head, another shot rang out from her horn. But this time, a portal opened up behind Tirek , and began pulling him in. He looked behind him to see the depths of Tartarus, and attempted to get away from the portal. But he could not; the portal was stronger than he.

His powers could be visibly seen being taken from him as his body once again became tiny and weak. He grabbed and clawed at the ground, but to no avail. He lost his hold, and was sucked into the portal. There was another flash, and the portal disappeared. Celestia, breathing heavily, flew back down to the ground. She gently set down Fluttershy, her horn no longer glowing. Fluttershy could easily see that the spell had taken a lot from her, and nuzzled against her leg. All of a sudden, a piercing howl echoed around them, followed by more barks and yelps, and the rhythmic fluttering of insect wings. 
Fluttershy cried out, spurring Celestia from her daze. She gasped, and using her wing, nudged her child in the direction of the town.

“We must go! Now!”

They ran as fast as they could to the station, ponies were pouring from everywhere in waves and nopony could hear one over the other. The train was slowly starting to pull from the platform, despite the protests of many ponies who desperately needed to get on the train. Fluttershy and Celestia ran after it, but Fluttershy could no longer keep up, her legs and wings on the verge of giving out.

Two royal guards were reaching out from the caboose. Luna, Sombra, Rainbow Dash, and the rest of the little fillies were inside the cart, being tended to by doctors. They were able to grab Celestia, and pull her onto the train. Celestia, having heard the cries of Fluttershy, turned and nearly lunged off the train, trying to grab her. They were able to grab each other’s hooves for a moment.

“Hold on!” she cried, trying to levitate her daughter from the tracks and to her, but the strain of the previous spell impeded her. Tears started to stream down her face. “Grab onto my hoof!”

“Please don’t let go! I can’t -” Fluttershy screamed as she tripped on an uneven board in the tracks, falling down. She crashed, hitting her head, and didn’t stir. Celestia’s eyes widened, and she tried to get off, but the guards held her back. She fought against them, but was too weak.

“Fluttershy!” she screamed, shaking with sobs, as her beloved daughter was taken from view as a massive flood of ponies poured onto the tracks. “Fluttershy!”
.
.
.
.
.
So many lives were destroyed that night, and what had always been was gone forever for the Royal Family. And their Fluttershy, their beloved little Grand Duchess, was never seen again.
> A Rumor in Ponyville
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ten years had passed since the attack on Ponyville, and much had changed. After the attack, Celestia and Sombra cast a powerful spell, one that monitored strong bursts of magic outside of the royal family. Diamond Dogs were locked away in their own mines, and the changelings were exiled to the wastelands outside of Equestria.

The Royal Family had permanently left Ponyville, never to return, not even for clothes or toys. The Palace, once a grand, sparkling beacon, was almost in ruin. The windows and doors were boarded up, never again to be brightly lit, and the towers and balconies were beginning to crumble from neglect. Hardly any pony dared enter it.

All of this had a lasting effect on Ponyville. To them, a certain joy had left them along with the Royal Family. As the elderly matron of the Apple looked over the crowd of ponies in the marketplace, Granny Smith could easily see the difference in them from ten years ago. While they all looked and acted the same, something had definitely changed. And it certainly wasn’t from the overcast winter weather.

“Ponyville is gloomy…,” she rasped slowly. Cheerilee, walking past with a small group of fillies and colts, nodded.

“Ponyville is bleak…,” she sang in response.

“My beard and tail are frozen from standing here all week!,” cried out Hayseed, whose graying hair had turned into blocks of ice and icicles from him fervidly trying to take care of a plant near town hall. Others, noticing the three singing, joined in.

“Since the royal family left us, 
Our lives have been so gray
Thank goodness for the gossip
That gets us through the day!
Hey!”

Slowly, everypony joined in, some grabbing the newest issue of the local newspaper. They began showing each other the front page article. Shining Armor, confused by the sudden musical number, tried to make his way through. He was late enough as it was; he didn’t need to be stuck in a flash mob.


“Have you heard? There’s a rumor in Ponyville!
Have you heard what they’re saying on the streets?”

Caramel ran in front of him, displaying the front page. It was all about the missing duchess, and had a photograph of her when she was a filly.

“Although the family went away, one daughter must have been to stay!,” he sang, more to the surrounding ponies than Shining. He sidestepped around the yellow stallion and others, and made his way past the marketplace

“The Duchess Fluttershy!” everypony sang, only to be interjected by Silver Shill.

“But please, do not repeat!”

Suddenly everypony was moving in a huge flock, dancing with each other, surrounding Shining Armor and causing him to trip. Why did he even arrange the meeting in the trader’s building?

“It’s the rumor
A legend
A mystery!
Something whispered in an alleyway
Or through a crack!”

Shining pulled out of the crowd, and snuck through a stall to the other side of the marketplace. Only to wind up in another singing crowd of ponies.

“It’s a rumor that’s part of our history!”

Trixie, the formerly great and powerful, stood shout-singing from her stand full of small, glittering snow globes, each with a small figurine of the Duchess.

“They say the royal family will pay a royal sum to somepony who can bring their duchess back!”

Shining Armor finally escaped from the massive throng and arrived at the trader’s building. He galloped up the steps to the landing, swinging his head side to side, looking for his…business partner of sorts. A sharp whistle came from behind him.

“Pssst! Shining!” a gray unicorn hissed. He was wearing a coat made of different swatches of fabrics, covering practically his whole body and dragging on the ground.

“Discord!”

Discord shushed the other, and both ran inside the building. Inside were many sales ponies, each selling not so legally obtained goods. That is, things looted from the abandoned palace, or knock-offs of actual belongings of the royal family. The Flim Flam Brothers were the more pushy of them all.

“Three bits for this painting! It’s genuine, I swear!” the first of the two said, thrusting the painting in the direction of the two. Both could easily see the very recent brushstrokes on the canvas surface and pushed past, only to be interrupted by Flam.

“Prince Blueblood’s pajamas, friends; buy the pair!” he sang, levitating the pair in front of them, but they had left at ‘Prince Blueblood’. No one wanted those- no one. Lily Valley was the last one they ran into, holding up a large, black and red cape.

“I got this from the palace! It’s lined with real fur!” she sang excitedly, waving her hoof in front of the cape. Discord grabbed a corner of it, and held it against his chest.

“It would be worth a fortune, if it belonged to her!” They all sang in agreement. Discord gave her a bit, and took the cape with them. They walked quickly out of the trading floor, and into a back room.

“Well, Discord, I got the theater,” Shining said, using his magic to readjust his coat, following the other up a flight of stairs. “ I don’t see how this scheme will help me though.”

“Look, all we need is a girl!” Discord responded, shedding the coat. As it slid off, he transformed back into his normal self, and tossed the garment to the side without a care.

“I was sent to find the Duchess, not just anypony off the street!” Shining hissed, running to walk side by side with Discord. The draconequus sighed, and leaned down, wrapping an arm around the Captain of the Guards’ neck.

“Your moral code is wonderful, Shining, but think of it! How many butter-yellow pegasi with pink hair are there? It’ll be a cinch to find one just like her, maybe even find the actual duchess!” he said, leading the other up more flights of steps to a small, practically trashed loft.

“You can go back home to Canterlot, and your pretty little princess fiancee, and back to being big brother to the other princess…what’s her face…-” “Twilight.” “- Twilight! And the magic sensor will be lifted- hopefully- and I can go back to being Lord of Chaos! We’ll have three tickets out of here, one for you, one for me, and one for Fluttershy!”

He left Shining’s side, leaping to the open window.

“It’s the rumour, the legend, the mystery! It’s the Duchess Fluttershy who will help us fly!,” he sang over the town before teleporting back to the unicorn’s side again. “ You and I, friend, will go down in history! We’ll find the girl to play the part and teach her what to say! Dress her up, and take her to the city!” Discord snapped his fingers, keeping his magic usage small enough so it wouldn’t trigger the sensor. A small crystalline box appeared in his talon, and he waved it in front of Shining’s face.

“Imagine the reward her dear old mother’s going to pay!” Discord sang, quickly stuffing it into a small briefcase, “Who else could pull it off but you and me!”

He pulled the unicorn to the window, and looked out over the crowds below.

“I’ll be rich!”

“I’ll have the girl!” Shining sang in response.

“We’ll be out!” the other countered.

“We’ll be out!” Shining reared up on his hind legs. Discord wrapped his lion’s paw around him, and they both leaned out over the balcony.

“And Ponyville will have some more to talk about!” they both sang in unison, before Discord launched both of them off the roof and into the snowy streets below. The ponies below were still wrapped up in their song.

“ Shh! Have you heard? There’s a rumor in Ponyville!
Have you heard what they’re saying on the street! Hey”

The ponies devolved into small clusters, each talking about their own theories on the disappearance of the duchess, every so often interrupted by somepony yelling ‘hey’. Discord and Shining ran after a random hay cart, jumping aboard. Suddenly the ponies started singing and dancing again.

“Have you heard? There’s a rumor in Ponyville!
Have you heard? Well what do you suppose!
A fascinating mystery!”

“The biggest con in history!” Discord sang from the cart, waving a hat he pulled from nowhere in the air as they traveled from the market.

“The Duchess Fluttershy!
Alive or dead?”

“Who knows? shh!” Silver Shill shushed, before returning to his stand. Everypony went back to their normal activities, suddenly quiet save for random chatter.

A few minutes later, Discord and Shining hopped off the cart near the older part of town. They weaved through the alleys as they made way for the theater, avoiding most ponies as Discord refused to turn into a unicorn, claiming that doing it again would set off the sensor.

The theater wasn’t in the best condition, to say the least. It was weather worn and needed a coat or three of new paint. The shingles and roof were crumbling slightly, and hundreds of flyers and posters covered the walls.

"It’s awful," Discord stated, eyeing the building up and down. Shining Armor groaned in exasperation.

"Look, I got the theater, and it’s the best I could’ve-" Discord pressed a talon to the unicorn’s lips, shushing him.

"Excuse you, I wasn’t finished," Discord said, removing his talon and walking toward the theater. "I would think that a Captain of the Royal Guard, not to mention fiancé to a princess, would know better than to cut off their elders when they’re speaking."

The other did not say a word, his face deepening into a scowl.

"As I was saying…I like it!" Discord finished with a grin.

Shining moaned and just hoped that this ordeal would all be over soon.

> Journey to the Past
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	A few miles from Ponyville, just a few miles into the Everfree forest, but still safe enough to live in, was an orphanage. It was a run down structure that lacked any sort of color other than a faded gray/blue and a muddy brown. The roof was sagging from age and a snow pile that was accumulating from the falling snow. The property was bordered by a tall iron fence, rusted and bowed out in a few places.

The windows were empty, some with a few curtains and random toys and dead flowers. However, the windows above the front door were lit up with the faces of a dozen or so small fillies and colts of all different ages. They were waving, and calling goodbye to one of the best ponies they knew, Flowing Grace, as she and Chrysalis, the orphanage owner exited the building.

Flowing Grace, or Gracie, was an elegant, soft spoken, yellow pegasus with a long pink mane that was tied back in a ponytail. She wore an old, green, tattered coat, with a long purple scarf tied around her neck. Her hat barely kept her ears warm and was loose despite the amount of hair tucked under it, and her boots were so worn down that her hooves were barely above being frostbitten.

She had become like the mother of all of them in the ten years she had lived there. While she couldn’t necessarily stand up for herself, she found it easier to help those younger and smaller than her, especially animals. Every mouse, squirrel, or any animal she came across she took care off. They absolutely adored her, save for Chrysalis. But since she was now 18, she was too old to stay.

“I got you a job at a cherry farm in Dodge Junction. You go straight down the path until you get to the fork in the road. Go left,” Chrysalis snapped as she slowly trudged her way down the snowy path towards the young mare. But Gracie was too busy waving and calling goodbye up to the children. “Are you even listening to me?!”

Startled by the sudden outburst, Gracie let out a small shriek, shrinking back a few feet. “Y-yes, I’m listening, ma’am.”

Chrysalis growled and grabbed the end of her scarf with her magic, dragging her to the gates.

“Ever since you came here, you have made yourself impossible to get adopted,” she ranted as Flowing Grace struggled to keep up with the larger mare and keep waving goodbye. “You’re a flighty, nervous little pegasus that brings in animals every other day that insists that she has a family.”

The scarf came loose, and magically dangled in the air as Chrysalis ranted on. 

“For the past ten years, I’ve fed you, I’ve clothed you, put a roof over your head!” she threw open the gates with a overly dramatic toss of her head. Gracie lowered her head, nudging the snow with a hoof, knowing the next part of the rant as the changeling turned back towards her. “How is it you don’t remember who you are, yet you can remember every pony and animal that comes in and out of this place without a clue?”

“Oh, but I do have a clue!” Gracie exclaimed, reaching inside of her coat, and pulled out a golden necklace with a bright pink butterfly gem set in the middle. It was a strange coincidence that it matched her cutie mark.

Chrysalis groaned. “I know!” she smiled, too sweetly, and lifted up the trinket with the tip of her hoof, “‘Together in Canterlot’. So, you want to go to the capital to find your family?”

She dropped her hoof, still smiling saccharinely as Gracie smiled and nodded in response.

“Oh little miss Gracie,” her face sank back into a scowl, and she flew behind the other, and began shoving her out the gate, “It’s time you learned your place, in life and in line. No one will be as kind to you as you are to them!”

She tossed the scarf into Flowing Grace’s face. “Together in Canterlot!”

Chrysalis slammed the gate, and laughed heartily as the young mare watched on sadly, stuffing the scarf in a pocket. She looked longingly up at the faces up in the window of the only home she knew, before turning away, starting her trek in the snow. It was the farthest she had been from the orphanage in the past ten years. She had been found as a little filly on the outskirts of Ponyville near the train station, after the attack on the palace. She had hit her head hard, and couldn’t remember anything. Nopony had recognized her, or those that could’ve were gone, fled in a panic. She had lived in the orphanage ever since. While she knew part of her was going to miss the place, she knew it was not a real home, and now she was free to find her real one.

And Chrysalis, to be honest, was really a big dumb meanie when it came down to it.

“Ponies can be kind,” Gracie muttered to herself as she approached the fork, “I know she’s just saying that to be cruel. I will never stop being kind.”

She flew up to be eye level with boards on the sign. One pointed in the direction of Dodge Junction, which she knew was a long trek. The other pointed to Ponyville, where she had been found.

“She said go left…but I know what’s left,” she said turning away from the left facing sign, “I’ll be Flowing Grace the orphan forever. But if I go right…”

She flew to the other side, starting to fly down the path, “Maybe I could find…whoever gave me this necklace. They must’ve loved me.” She pulled the necklace from her coat, cradling it in her hooves. She let it drop against her chest with a sigh.

“Oh, this is crazy! Me? Go to Canterlot? I can’t possibly! But if my family is there…oh dear, what do I do? Which way should I go? All I need is a sign, a hint! Anything!” she called out into the woods before sinking down to the ground, and sat on the trunk of a fallen tree. As she sat waiting for her sign, a small white bunny popped out of the snow. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he grabbed the end of the scarf, and pulled it out of her pocket. Flowing Grace saw something move out of the corner of her eye, and turned to see the bunny begin to run behind her, the scarf trailing behind him.

“Oh my goodness! Little bunny, may I have my scarf back? I’m waiting for a sign,” she said gently, trying to grab the trailing end. The bunny skirted away from her hoof, running out of her reach. The pony got up, running and sliding in the snow after the bunny. She managed to grab the other end with her hooves. The rabbit ran around her in circles, despite her cries of protest, tying her hooves together until-
Woosh!

She spun around on all four hooves, losing her balance, and fell into a snowbank. She watched as the bunny went down the path to Ponyville, waving the scarf in the air tauntingly. She sighed, and flapped her wings to get into the air.

“A bunny wants me to go to Ponyville? That’s-” she paused with a slight gasp. She fluttered back down to the ground, walking towards the the critter, who had dropped the scarf, and was looking up at her expectantly.

“I can take a hint,” she said quietly as she smiled softly and kneeled to gather the scarf in her hooves. She looked down the path ahead of her. The snowy road seemed to beckon her. She slowly stood, eyes never leaving the path. She started to softly sing to herself for encouragement.

“Wings don’t fail me now
Courage don’t desert me 
Don’t turn back now that we’re here…”

She cautiously stepped forward, leaving the scarf half gathered in her pocket as the small bunny grabbed hold of the end again, pulling her forward. 

“Ponies always say life is full of choices,” she continued, looking back from where she came for a second as she walked farther and farther down the road, “No one ever mentions fear. Or how the world can seem so vast…..”

She stopped, and scooped up a hoof-full of snow. Smiling, she threw it into the air. 

“On a journey to the past!”

Suddenly a carriage rushed by, covering Flowing Grace and the bunny in snow. As it sped away, she flew out of the cold pile, undeterred by the snow lodged in her coat and boots. She flew forward down the road, eyes wide at every possibility rushing through her head of what she would find. 

“Somewhere down this road, I know somepony’s waiting,” she sang, returning back to the snowbank as the rabbit popped up out of it. “Years of dreams just can’t be wrong!”

She grabbed the bunny in her hooves, cradling him and gently stroked his fur as she continued to sing. 

"Arms will open wide
I’ll be safe and wanted
Finally home where I belong!”

She flew to the ground, placing the small creature back on the ground before returning her attention back to the journey ahead of her. 

“Well starting now I’m learning fast,” she sang walking farther from the bunny, “On this journey…”

She paused slightly, looking back at the rabbit behind her before nodding her head at him with a smile. The rabbit ecstatically leaped to her, following her stride. 

“To the past!”

As they continued on, they came across a small farmhouse, smoke curling from its chimney. A small family was playing out front. The two small fillies, excited to see a new face along with a small rabbit in the middle of winter, ran over to Gracie and began to chase after the bunny, running in circles around the mare. Their parents and Gracie laughed at their antics, however Angel, which was what Gracie decided to name him, while thinking this was fun, was growing unamused. 
Flowing Grace started back down the path as the children stopped chasing Angel, turning to wave goodbye to them. They waved back, the youngest calling out a farewell. Angel lingered for a second, hoping that maybe he would get a treat, before returning back to Flowing Grace.

“Home, love, family,” she sang sadly as she watched the family disappear inside their home, “There was once a time I must of had them too..”

Looking forward, she noticed Angel had come across a small group of squirrels, two of which were trying to play with him. She knelt down in the snow behind him, smiling at the sight. 

“Home, love, family, I will never be complete until I find you!” she sang, this time full of confidence as she scooped Angel up, and flew into the air, spinning around in joy before landing again, and started walking with a jaunty pace. 

“One step at a time! One hope, then another! Who knows where this road may go!” she continued, hopping up onto a fallen tree to cross a small brook. Angel leapt from her back, running across. She took off her hat, shaking her hair free from the hat’s confines.

“Back to who I was,” she sang, dancing across the log, cheerfully pressing the hat onto her head. “On to find my future! Things my heart still needs to know!”

She flew off the log, over the small crowd of woodland creatures that had been drawn out by her voice. Flowing Grace landed in the snow, and began to prance up the last stretch of the road to the peak of a hill, kicking up snow and spinning. 

“Yes, let this be a sign 
Let this path be mine 
Let it take me to my past!
And bring me home…”

Flowing Grace flew up into the air, and finally saw the roofs of Ponyville below, and the sparkling towers of the palace in the distance. She swept off her hat, spreading her arms and wings wide.

“At last!”

As the last note echoed over the town, she landed back on the ground. Angel jumped onto her back and they galloped down to Ponyville. The snowy path faded into cobblestone as they entered, and ponies were traveling up and down the streets. The sight of a hundred new ponies put Flowing Grace slightly on edge. Never really leaving the orphanage had made her unaccustomed to large crowds. She felt herself backing away before Angel tugged on her ponytail. She looked back at him and he pointed forward into the town. She nodded, and stepped into the fray.

The town was strangely familiar to her, and she somehow found her way to the train station. She shook it off, thinking that maybe she just remembered from when she was a filly. She had been found near the train station, after all. Flowing Grace stepped onto the platform, and got into the shortest line to one of the ticket windows. 

“Um, sir? One ticket to Canterlot, please,” she said quietly to the porter once she arrived to the front. He was an older stallion, who looked overtired, gruff, and like he did not want to be there.

“Twenty bits,” he said, glaring down at the mare. 

“Twenty bits! I only have two…,” she gasped. That seemed steep for a simple train ticket. 

“No bits? No ticket!” he snapped, slamming the window shut. Flowing Grace and the older mare behind her gasped, while Angel jumped onto the windowsill, pounding on the glass to try and get the porter back. Flowing Grace sniffed, trying to hold back tears. How was she supposed to get there now?

“Pssst!”

Gracie turned around to the older mare. She was wrapped in multiple shawls, and her white mane shot out from her hood in thick tufts. 

“See Discord. He can help!,” she whispered, eyes darting left and right. Gracie leaned closer to her. 

“Where can I find him?” she whispered in response, excited. Angel jumped back onto her, eyeing the older mare suspiciously. 

“At the old palace, but you did not hear that from me!” the mare responded, shaking her head.

“Oh,” Gracie said, turning back towards town as the older mare ushered her away with whispers of ‘go’. “Discord…”

She quickly said thank you to the older mare before galloping back into town.
> Once Upon a Warm Summer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	To say that the auditions for Duchess Fluttershy were going well would be a complete and utter lie. The coffee had run out halfway through viewing. 50 actresses, and Discord could sense Shining Armor’s patience and stamina wearing down. And he couldn’t blame him. 

So far, out of those 50, only 10 were actually pegasi. Of those 10, three were naturally yellow with pink manes. The rest of the actresses were either earth ponies or unicorns, some with horrible die-jobs and fake wings, and some didn’t even try. For Celestia’s sake a griffon showed up. A griffon. Discord had half a mind to just turn back into a draconequus and scare everypony- and griffon- out. But that would put a wrench in his scheme. 

“Nice, nice, very nice. Okay! Um…Thank you!,” he called out to the actress as she trotted offstage. He crossed out her name with a flourish. 

“I look like a duchess and I dance like a feather!” she called out before disappearing behind the curtain. 

“O-kay,” Shining muttered,” Next, please!”

A slightly older pegasus slowly walked onto the stage, a long brown fur coat trailing behind her, a cigarette holder protruding from her lips. Once she reached the center, she flew a few feet into the air. She wheezed, gasping for air. 

“Mother it’s me,” she said, dropping the coat to the ground, revealing a shorter version of a sailor’s dress, “Fluttershy.” 

She waggled her hips, and took a long drag off the cigarette. 

"Oh brother,” Discord murmured as he crossed off her name, and Shining slumped onto the desk with a moan. 

Later as the two exited the theater, Shining sighed, going through the photos of the girls.

“Well, Discord, we’re done for. I’ve no more money now, we no longer have the theater and still no one to pretend to be Fluttershy,” he said tossing photos into the air and shoving a few in the other’s face.

“Oh, don’t be such a downer. She’s here somewhere right under our noses!” Discord replied, leading Shining down the alley, “Remember, one look at that box and Celestia will think we brought the real Fluttershy.”

They bustled down the path, narrowly avoiding a yellow pegasus as Discord continued. 

“Before she can realize what’s happened, you’ll be on your honeymoon, and I’ll be free!”

Flowing Grace stared at the strange two, before turning back to the few ponies in front of her. She had gotten herself lost, and had no idea which way to go. She had tried asking for directions, but had clammed up before she could even get close enough to them. Angel impatiently tapped his foot on her back, as though trying to urge her forward. 

“Um, ex-excuse me?” she practically whispered. Fortunately, it was loud enough for the ponies to hear. They turned towards her, and seemed to glare her down. She started to murmur an apology and back away, but Angel slammed his foot hard onto her back. She stopped backing away and continued. “I’m looking for the Ponyville Palace?”

“It’s that way,” one of them said, with a nonchalant wave of his hoof, “Don’t even bother. No pony lives there anymore.” 

Despite his statement, Gracie quickly found her way there. The palace was beautiful, even though somewhat dilapidated. She couldn’t shake a sense of familiarity as she wandered around the outside, trying to find an entrance. In her daze, she barely noticed as Angel hopped off her back and through a boarded up window until she heard the sound of clattering wood. 

“Angel!” she whispered, running to the window. “Angel, where are you?”

She leaned against the wooden boards, peering inside for a minute before trying the pry the boards away. A tough pull, and they flew off, sending Gracie to the ground and landing with a shatter. She landed with a cry. 
Back inside, Shining Armor looked up from his tea in surprise. From his years of training, his ears were finely tuned to hear even the most quiet sounds. 

“Did you hear something?”

Discord looked at him sideways from behind his glass of chocolate milk and shrugged, “Nope.”

Shining Armor set down his glass with a sigh and got up, leaving the room with Discord not far behind him. 

Meanwhile, Flowing Grace had made her way inside, and was exploring the castle. The rooms were mostly dark, very little light filtered in through the windows. Cobwebs and dust covered almost every surface. Tables, chairs, tapestries, along with other objects, laid in disarray. 

“Hello? Anypony home?” she called out into the emptiness. She looked up a flight a stairs to see Angel on the level above her, waving her over with his paw. She galloped up the steps to catch him. Being alone in that place put her on edge. But at the same time, it felt like she had seen it before. Once she had caught up with the white rabbit, they both traveled down the hallway into a small parlor. 

The room was covered in large paintings and tapestries, and hoof-carved tables and chairs were scattered about. A long table covered with delicate plates lined windows. Everything was covered in a fine layer of dust and cobwebs. Flowing Grace gentle flew up, just a foot off the ground, her wings sending webs and dirt flying. She picked up one of the small plates on the tables, wiping it off with her hoof. Once clean, it shone, shining her reflection back at her. For a moment, she thought she saw something else on the porcelain- the figure of an older stallion lifting a small pegasus up in the air, both dressed fit for a ball. She shrugged and placed the plate back on the table. Angel looked up at her curiously. She shook her head once or twice before walking back towards the door where a small vase stood in front of a mirror. It was painted with delicate swans, bears, and twisting vines of flowers.

“This place…it’s strange. It’s like a memory from a dream,” Gracie said slowly, tracing the gilded wings of the swans. She began rocking back in forth. 

“Dancing bears, painted wings- Things I almost remember…And a song somepony sings, once upon a warm summer,”she sang, swinging away from the vase to the door. She left the room, and headed down a flight of steps into what was once a grand ballroom. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, just barely glittering in the light from the tall windows on each side of the room. Just above them were large paintings of elegantly dressed ponies dancing. She shed her coat, hat and boots on the landing, leaving them in front of a large painting.

“Somepony holds me safe and warm,” she continued, flying into the air, wrapping her arms around her, “Horses prance through a silver storm. Ponies dancing gracefully- across my memory!”

She spun, and flung her hooves out towards the dance floor. In a giant burst of dust, the paintings came to life, the couples danced, floating down to the floor below, or even landing next to Gracie herself. The elegantly dressed figures bowed and curtsied towards her, and she bowed back. She flew down the steps herself, landing among the others. Gracie spun and danced, trying to soak up as much as she could. Angel watched from the top of the steps, confused as to what she was doing. 

“Somepony holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm!” she sang again as the large painting from the landing came to life. Five ponies, about her age galloped down the steps to her, while the remaining three slowly descended. They swarmed around her, giving her necklaces, bracelets, and the purple alicorn placed a small tiara on her head. “Ponies dancing gracefully- across my memory!”

As the five ponies were swept away with dance partners, Flowing Grace spun again, and suddenly was wearing a long, golden dress that glittered and felt lighter than air. She found herself being grasped in the hooves of one of the stallions from the paintings, leading her into a dance.

“Far away, long ago! Glowing dim as an ember!” she sang as she danced from partner to partner, ignoring the large space opening around her as ponies moved, bowing to a gray unicorn, and two white and blue alicorns. “Things my heart used to know! Things it yearns to remember!”

The tall gray unicorn stopped next to her, and her partner left. The unicorn gently took her, and slowly danced with her. He looked kind, and strangely like the figure she saw in the plate just minutes before, but something in her mind felt she knew something more than that. 

“And a song somepony sings!” she slowly sang as they stopped. He stooped and gently kissed her forehead. She stepped back a few feet, curtsying. “Once upon a warm summer!”

She stooped down to kneel on the floor, head bowed as the three smiled down warmly at her. 

“HEY!”

Everything burst to nothingness, the ponies disappearing back to their paintings, and the dirt and webs returned as Flowing Grace was startled from her dream. She looked up to to the source of the voice to see a strange creature and a white unicorn standing at the top of a set of stairs near the back.

“What are you doing in here?” the creature shouted, pointing at her. She gasped, and sprung to her hooves, running towards the landing.

“Hey!” Discord yelled, flying off the steps to the floor. Shining Armor galloped after him. The draconequus chased her up the landing trapping her in front of the painting. “Stop! Hold on a minute.”

He heard her whimper as she turned to face him, her pink mane, covering her face. 

“How did you get in….here…” he stammered out as she raised her head to look at him. She was by far one of the loveliest ponies he had seen. But not only that, as she stood next to the painting, she stood side by side with the figure of the Duchess Fluttershy.

And they were practically identical.
> Chapter 4: Her Royal Highness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




Discord felt his jaw drop as he continued to stare at her. She shuffled, nervous under his gaze as Angel stepped in front of her, raising his paws in a defensive stance.  Shining Armor galloped up the steps, coming to a sudden halt next to Discord. 

“Excuse me, miss, but-” he started before Discord stopped him, quickly wrapping a paw around his face. 

“Shining, do you see what I see?”

Shining threw a cursory glance towards the mare before turning back to the draconequus, “No.”

Discord grabbed his chin, pointing back towards the girl and the portrait. Within seconds Shining saw the resemblance, and 	gasped. “Ah, yes!” 

By that point Angel had had enough of them just standing there, and ran up to Discord, throwing fast, but adorably harmless punches into his legs. Discord considered kicking him away, but since he seemed to belong to the mare, decided against it. 

“Are you D-discord? A-and sorry about Angel...” she said, voice soft as she stepped forward. Discord grabbed the rabbit, tossing him onto his partner’s back. 

“Cute,” he hissed before turning back to her, suddenly genial and ran up the steps up to her, “Perhaps. It really depends, my dear, on who’s looking for him.” 

“Oh, um, I’m Flowing Grace, or Gracie,  and I need tickets!” she said enthusiastically, before quieting down to a slight whisper as Discord began circling her. “They say you’re the, um, pony to see, but I’m not supposed to say who…”

He merely hummed in response, continuing to examine her. She looked about the same age as Fluttershy, and looked very much like her. A sudden clearing of a throat broke him from his stare. 

“What are you doing? Can you please stop staring at me?...Unless you’re part...um...vulture...then I apologize,” Flowing Grace said, staring up at him and scuffing the floor with her hoof. 

“No, I do apologize, Flying Grace-” “It’s Flowing Grace.” “Yes, okay, it’s just that you look an awful lot like…” he moved to gesture at the painting behind her, but stopped, and pulled Shining to his side. “Nevermind. You said something about tickets? And I would imagine a passport, too, if you’re looking to travel across Equestria these days.”

“Well, yes!” she said, her voice joyful as she flew into the air, “I would like to go to Canterlot.”

“Ah. Now, Gracie-right?-, you seem young, won't your family worry?"  he asked, stroking his goatee. If she had family anywhere in the area that would look for her, it would add unneeded conflict to his situation. 

"Well, no, not exactly...I was found wandering when I was eight years old...I’ve been an orphan for the past ten years," she said, gently shuffling from side to side.  

“So, nothing from before then?”

“No, I have very few memories of my past,” Flowing Grace said. She touched the necklace around her neck, unseen by Discord who had turned back towards Shining. Shining looked from Angel, who decided he actually liked him, and up to Discord, eyes darting to the mare.

“She’s the one we need, Shining,” he whispered. “It’s perfect.”

“But I do have one clue,” she said, snapping Discord’s attention back to her, “and that’s Canterlot.”

“Canterlot,” he parroted with a quick roll of his eyes.

“So, um, can you help me?” she asked, hopeful. 

“Well, we would absolutely love to,” he said, drawing out the syllables. “In fact, we are going to Canterlot ourselves.”

He snapped his fingers, and three tickets appeared. They were old tickets to a circus, and utterly worthless. 

“I have three tickets here,” he continued, waving the tickets in front of her face. She reached out absentmindedly, trying to grab them, but he pulled away quickly. “Unfortunately, one of them is for her. Fluttershy.”

He gestured behind her up toward the portrait. Her eyes settled on the small yellow filly, and her heart sank.

“Oh,” she replied, crestfallen. Shining placed the rabbit on the floor and joined Discord on the other side of the mare. Both of them began leading her up a flight of steps to the left. 

“As Captain of the Royal Guard, I have been given the mission of finding and reuniting the Duchess Fluttershy with her family,” Shining said, “Discord has offered his assistance in the matter.”

“And you do look like her,” Discord said. 

“The same teal eyes,” Shining added. 

“The same nature,” Discord continued. Flowing Grace looked at the both of them in confusion. 

“She’s the same age, the same physical type,” the unicorn finished. 

“Wait, are you trying to tell me that you think I’m the Duchess?” Flowing Grace said, bewildered at the two of them. They stopped in front of a small painting of a white alicorn, whom she recognized as Princess Celestia, and six fillies, including Fluttershy.

“All I’m trying to say is that we’ve seen hundreds of girls and not one of them looks as much like the Duchess as you!  Look at the portrait,” Discord exclaimed, pointing up at the painting, specifically at Fluttershy. 

“No offense, but this sounds...well, crazy,” Gracie said, backing away. 

“Trust me, I’ve seen crazy,” Discord snidely said. “But consider this: you don’t know what happened to you.”

“No one knows what happened to her,” Shining commented, “Not to mention that her only family is in Canterlot.”

“And you’re looking for family in Canterlot!” Discord exclaimed, sliding an arm around and leading her back towards the painting. “You can’t tell me you never considered it.”

“That I could be royalty?” she responded, pressing a hoof to her chest in awe. Shining and the draconequus both nodded. “Well, I don’t know...it’s hard to think of yourself as a duchess when you’re sleeping on a damp floor...but I guess every lonely filly would like to think she’s royalty.”

Flowing Grace stared up at the portrait dreamily. She couldn’t lie- she had liked to pretend she was a princess when she was little. It had helped when she felt alone. But thinking that she actually was? Never. But seeing the painting...it was too much of a coincidence that they looked alike. But it was probably unlikely she was the Duchess. 

“And one little filly is,” Shining said, snapping her out of her dreamlike daze. Discord sighed, and began dragging him away. 

“Really wish we could help, but the third ticket is for the Grand Duchess Fluttershy,” Discord called out as he lead the unicorn down the steps. He heard the mare sigh as she disappeared from view. “Good luck!”

Flowing Grace stepped closer to the painting, looking up at the alicorn and the six fillies at her hooves. She couldn’t put her hoof on it but...something did feel familiar. She thought maybe their talk was getting to her. But she had to get to Canterlot still. She held up the necklace in her hoof, it’s familiar weight comforting. She had to make a decision.

-------------------------

“Discord!” Shining hissed, “Why didn’t you tell her your plan? She’s perfect!”

“All she wants is to go to Canterlot. Why give a third of the reward away?” he hissed back. 

“I still say that we’re walking away too soon,” Shining replied as they began to cross the ballroom. 

“Don’t fret, Captain, I have it all under control. Just walk a little slower,” Discord whisper. He started to countdown. “Three...two...one….”

All of a sudden, the mare cried out, “Discord!”

Said draconequus smiled, holding back a laugh as Shining sighed in relief. “Right into our hooves…”

“Discord, wait!” Gracie called out again as she ran down the steps, Angel following close behind. 

“Di-did you call me?” Discord turned, gesturing toward himself, trying to look and sound innocent. 

“If I don’t remember who I am, well, um, then who’s to say I’m not a princess or duchess, or whatever she is...right?” the pegasus said. Discord stroked his beard, and hummed. 

“Hmm...go on.”

“A-and if I’m not Fluttershy, the Princess and her family will know right away and it will just be an honest mistake.”

“It’s plausible,” Discord responded. Oh how she had played right into his scheme. Beautiful.

“But if you are the Duchess,” Shining added, “then you’ll finally know who you are and have your family back.”

Discord chuckled, “You know, he is right. Either way, you get to Canterlot!”

“Right, of course!” Gracie said, ecstatic. She flew into the air, and held out her hoof. Discord shook it, finalizing the agreement. He let go, stepping back a few paces. 

“May I present,” he said loudly and grandly as he and Shining bowed, “her Royal Highness, the Grand Duchess Fluttershy.”

Flowing Grace giggled, and scooped up Angel. “Oh Angel, we’re going to Canterlot!”

“The rabbit stays,” Discord said, glaring down the bunny as it stuck it’s tongue out at him as the group began to leave the hall. 

“What? But he’s the first friend I made since leaving the orphanage, and he’s only a little bunny!”

“The rabbit does not go.”

“I say he’s going...please?”

“I’m allergic.”

“Come on, we have a train to catch,” Shining called as the two of them kept at it. 

As their debate continued, a small purple dragon awoke, high in the rafters of the room.  A small, golden, triangular shaped necklace began to lightly glow next to him. 

“Wha- huh?” he mumbled as he leaned over the side to see the group. “Huh…Sorry buddy, Fluttershy is probably dead… Or maybe just unlikely to be found. Like Twilight said once.”

The necklace began to release wisps of dark smoke, forming the shape of a breezy, but had more characteristics of a bat and a bug than their real life counterparts. It flew to the side of the dragon. Spike saw it from the corner of his eye, not really acknowledging what it was for a moment. 

“Am I right? I mean, how could that be…” Spike continued as he turned to face the form next to him. It took him a second to start screaming in surprise. Suddenly hundreds more of smoke breezies poured from the necklace reaching eagerly to the pegasus, only to vanish in a puff of smoke as they ventured too far from the necklace. Once he stopped screaming, Spike turned to the necklace. 

“Oh really? Just because that thing woke up after all this time, I’m supposed to believe she’s Fluttershy?” Spike said, staring the necklace down. He despised that thing.  It kept him chained to his ‘master’ forever. All of a sudden, it began to glow and shake violently. 

“Okay! I get the message! Stop glowing and doing the smoke thing!” he exclaimed, waving his claws at it. He paused, amazed, and turned back towards the mare. 

“If that thing has come back to life, than that must mean that that’s Fluttershy! And that’s her!” he exclaimed happily. “If only I could tell Twilight…”

The necklace shifted, wrapping it’s chain around Spike’s ankles. He looked down, and tried to untie his leg from it. Suddenly, it took off like a rocket, dragging Spike along with it. 

“Whoaaaaaaaah!” Spike managed to yell as he plummeted to the floor. He tensed, ready to crash into the marble, but it never came. He and the necklace both disappeared below the stones, leaving nothing but a few displaced cobwebs and scales. 

As they descended deep underground, Spike recognized his surroundings as Tartarus. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach as they grew closer to one of the cells. He could see a slumped, bony figure kneeled on the floor. Spike reached for the chain, hoping to get free before they landed. But it was too late. They landed with a loud thud as scales scraped against the floor, Spike sliding into the bony side of the prisoner. He looked up, hoping that the figure hadn’t noticed him. But as soon as the thought went through his head, a bony hand grabbed his neck, lifting him up towards the emaciated face of Tirek. 

“Ah, Spike, come to visit?” the creature rasped as the dragon writhed. He dropped him on the floor without a glance. Spike snarled up at him as disgust filled his face.

“Tirek, you’re looking well. And by well, I’m mean you look like a corpse. How are you even alive?” he snapped. He stood up, brushing off his tail. 

“You are interrupting my solitude. Get out,” Tirek said, standing up to his full height. “Unless you are here to report something? I felt the dark forces stirring.”

“I don’t have to tell you anything,” Spike said with disdain as he turned away from him, raising his nose to the air. Tirek lifted a hoof, and pushed Spike to the ground. 

“Need I remind you of what will happen to a certain princess if you disobey,” Tirek growled, as he placed a hoof in the center of the dragon’s back, applying slight pressure before lifting it off. Spike got up once again, and puffed out his chest, trying to look as big as he could.

“Now, is there something you wish to tell me?” Tirek said, glaring him down. 

“Fluttershy was found today. Alive. She’s going to Canterlot, and your curse is going to be broken. I guess curses just aren’t what they used to be, huh?” Spike said, snarkily. 

“WHAT? ALIVE?” Tirek yelled, seething with anger. He began to pace, hooves cracking down on the floor, sounding like thunder. Spike jumped from his path, the necklace dragging behind him. “That brat!”

He grabbed Spike once more by the neck, not realizing he was squeezing him in his anger. “It’s because of her and Princess Celestia I’m here! My curse unfulfilled!”  

Spike gasped for air, clawing at Tirek’s hand. Tirek dropped him on the ground, and continued pacing. Spike rubbed his neck, only to find the bony hand of Tirek still there. He withheld his scream, only to hear Tirek groan, and began to wail. 

“I’m falling apart! The years spent here have turned me into nothing more than a corpse. I’m a wreck!” he cried as he slumped down to the ground. Spike rolled his eyes at the melodrama, and walked over to him. 

“Considering if you’re dead, I guess you still look alright,” Spike said half-heartedly as he pushed the hand into place. Tirek glared at him through the corner of his eye before raising up to his knees. 

“If only I hadn’t lost that amulet...It tied me to the world above, getting me power,” Tirek growled. Spike looked at the necklace tied to his ankle.

“You mean this one?” he said grumpily, raising his leg so it no longer dragged on the floor. Tirek gasped, pulling it off of his ankle. 

“Where and how did you find it?” he demanded as he tied it around his neck. 

“After we made that deal. In the palace courtyard,” Spike replied, rubbing his ankle. “You ranted about it for awhile remember? Something about it being from someone who betrayed you, yadda yadda, now used for evil, yadda yadda?”

But Tirek was ignoring him. He stroked the amulet, chuckling. “My old friend, together again. Finally, I’ll get my powers back, Celestia will suffer, and the little duchess will DIE!”

The amulet flashed, sparking with dark red lightning. Spike jumped away from Tirek, shouting in surprise. He crashed to the floor, staring up at the creature as electricity crackled in the air. The floor cracked around him, and decrepit changelings began to creep from it. 

“In the dark of the night I was tossing and turning,” Tirek rasped, a look of fake fear crossing his face, “And the nightmare I had was as bad as can be -”

Spike tried to move as Changelings circled him, and more poured from the stone, as though hatching from dormancy, along with skeleton-like diamond dogs.  A dozen or so picked up Tirek, tossing him as he continued. 

“It scared me out of my wits,” he sang as he was suddenly dropped, falling into pieces, “A corpse falling to bits!” 
His head bounced, landing right into Spike’s claws, and still sang. 

“Then I opened my eyes
And the nightmare was...me!”

He snapped himself whole again, pacing the room once more towards, a small elevated platform.

“I was once the most powerful creature in all Equestria,” he sang, placing the amulet on the platform. “When the royals banished me they made a mistake!”

The amulet oozed red smoke once more, this time forming a sort of portal. Through it, Tirek could see Flowing Grace running to catch a train. He watched, scowling as she hopped aboard with the help of a brown unicorn.

“My curse made each of them pay! But one little filly got away!” he sang, slamming a fist onto the the table. “Fluttershy, beware, Tirek’s going to escape!”

He angrily swiped the smoke away, and grabbed the necklace. The changelings and diamond dogs, now all awake, joined together, and started singing. 

“In the dark of the night evil will find her
In the dark of the night just before dawn!
Aah…”

“Revenge will be sweet,” Tirek continued, before the others joined in, “When the curse is complete! In the dark of the night-”

“She’ll be gone!” Tirek sang. The necklace glowed, and Spike could see him growing larger, despite how he was being manhandled by some changelings. “I can feel that my powers are slowly returning!” 

Changelings swarmed, around him, holding a tattered black cloak, and a bottle of what looked like grey liquid, as he stepped in from of a mirror.

“Tie my cloak and a dash of smoke for that smell!” he commanded. As they did so, the mirror showed not his reflection, but that of Flowing Grace’s. She seemed to mock his motions as he straightened his cloak and hair. “As the pieces fall into place, I'll see her crawl into place! Goodbye, Fluttershy, Your Grace! Farewell…” 

He swiped away the changelings, and the floor beneath him broke away, revealing a set of winding stairs, which he and the remnants of his army descended. 

“In the dark of the night terror will strike her!” the Changelings chorused, as Tirek interjected, “Terror’s the least I can do!”

“In the dark of the night evil will brew,” the dogs sang back. Tirek growing larger still, pushed them out of his way as he continued to thunder down the steps. 

“Soon she will feel that her nightmares are real!” Tirek sang out triumphantly as the creatures swarmed around him. “In the dark of the night-”

“She'll be through!” Tirek shouted over them as they continued.

“In the dark of the night
Evil will find her
Find her!
Ooh!
In the dark of the night terror comes true.
Doom her!”

“My dear, here's a sign -” Tirek sang as they reached the bottom, and the others joined, “It’s the end of the line!”

“In the dark of the night…” the creatures chanted, surrounding Tirek as he placed the amulet into a pedestal, “In the dark of the night…”

“Come my minions, rise for your master,” Tirek sang, waving his hands over the necklace as red smoke poured from it, forming more smoke breezies, and began to swirl around the changelings and diamond dogs, turning them into smokier, darker, and more dangerous and demonic versions of themselves. “Let your evil shine! Find her now, yes, fly ever faster…”

Spike could only watch in fear as the smoke creatures began to fly, around the staircase, and out into the world. Even as smoke they still chanted, growing louder and faster as they flew higher.

“In the dark of the night...
In the dark of the night...
In the dark of the night!”

“She'll be mine!” Tirek howled into the air as the last of the creatures flew out. 
> On the Road
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Early the next morning, Gracie, Discord and Shining Armor had boarded the train to Canterlot.  The train flew over miles of tracks, sending snow ricocheting in every which way as the train plowed through its banks.   Flowing Grace watched as the landscape sped past, gingerly toying with charm around her neck as Angel happily snuggled on her lap. Shining Armor sat across, quickly drawing up passports, glancing over at Discord as he occasionally made the pointed sneeze in Angel’s direction. Discord sat next to Gracie, looking somewhat uncomfortable in pony form- then again he never was.  He paused in his efforts to convince her that he truly was allergic to the bunny, and watched as she fidgeted with the necklace. He groaned, annoyed. 

“Pleeeease stop fiddling with that thing,” he said, “It’s not very...duchess-y.”

She jumped, not realizing she what she had been doing. “O-oh. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. I just know more stuff about duchesses than you, dear.”

Flowing Grace appeared to shrink back a little, gently tightening her grip on the bunny in her lap. Shining Armor shot him a look that said ‘that was rude, apologize to her’. Discord stuck his tongue out at him, and turned back to her. 

“I’m just trying to help, okay?” Discord said begrudgingly. She turned back to him, not really making eye-contact. 

“Discord, do you think I’m royalty?” she asked, voice soft. He nodded solemnly. 

“Of course,” he replied, patting her on the head. 

“Then are you...really in a position to give me orders?”

Discord froze, certainly not expecting that. For someone so shy and, well, innocent, she was witty. Shining Armor let out a laugh at the dumbstruck look on his face, and the hesitant look of triumph on her’s. 

“Well she certainly has a mind of her own,”  Shining said, finishing the papers with a flourish of his quill. Discord simply humphed, but he would give Flowing Grace that.  He got up with a scowl, and left their cabin, more likely than not to cause some sort mischief. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later on, Discord re-entered the cabin to find Gracie alone next to the window, quietly reading a book. The bunny and Shining were not in their previous seats, so he unceremoniously plopped down in the seat across from the mare, turning from pony to draconequus as he did so. 

“We got off on the wrong hoof,” he said, snapping her attention away from her novel. She nodded, placing the book at her side. 

“I agree! I think we should maybe try to start again?” she asked with a smile. Discord looked at her, confused. 

“Is that an apology? If so, I graciously accept,” he nodded. 

“Um, not exactly? I was only agreeing that we started off wrong. There’s really no need to apologize, I think?” she responded, sitting up straighter. 

“You think?” he said. “Do you want me to apologize?”

“I never said that,” she said quietly, but urgently. “I just-”

“Maybe for the sake of this arrangement,” he cut her off rudely,” we shouldn’t talk until Canterlot.”

Discord settled back comfortably into the cushions, and was fully content to fall asleep right then and there. Gracie sniffed, trying to hold back tears. 

‘Don’t cry, Gracie, he’s just rude and unreasonable and it’s no reason to shed tears over,’ she thought to herself. She rubbed her eyes, and turned her gaze back to the window, where the vast snow-covered farms and apple fields of were tapering off into forests and mountains. But the silence seemed tense to her.

“A-are you going to miss it?” she cautiously broke the silence. Discord opened one eye.

“What-your talking? While you do have a nice voice, I can’t say I will.”

“Thanks, I guess...But no, I, um, mean Ponyville,” she answered, correcting herself. He stretched forward from his reclining position.

“Nnnnope.”

“But wasn’t it your home? Won’t you miss it?”

“It was a place where I once lived, and regrettably for over a decade. End of story,” he said curtly, throwing himself back into the cushions. “Is it just me, or do you think these cushions could be softer?” 

“The cushions are fine,” she said quickly to get back to the original subject. “ So you must intend to make Canterlot your home?”

“What is with you and homes?” he snapped, not even bothering to open his eyes.  She stood, not even wanting to answer as she moved toward the door. Well attempted. Discord stretched his legs and tail out in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. Gracie spread her wings, flapping them to gracefully jump over him. 

“I-it’s something that every normal pony wants,” she said. “ And i-i-it’s-”

“Oh it’s what?” he snapped again.

“I-it’s something I’ve always dreamed of having, what many ponies dream of h-having,” she stuttered. He laughed. 

”If you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly a normal pony, your highness, and I never dream of such things,” he snidely remarked, nudging her chin, “Unlike some orphans with nothing.” 

Flowing Grace gasped at the remark, tears springing to her eyes, and Discord almost immediately regretted it. She bit her lower lip, and he recoiled at the sudden opening of the door, and could only watch as Shining and Angel walked in. 

“Oh no…”

“Discord? Gracie! Oh my Celestia, what did you do now, Discord?” Shining Armor exclaimed, rushing to calm Flowing Grace. Angel hopped onto Gracie’s back soothingly patting her head while shooting daggers at him. He backed up a few feet, getting closer to the door. 

“Don’t you dare run off! Apologize to her!” Shining hissed. Discord tensed, before slumping in defeat. He floated back to her side. 

“I’m sssssssssssorry for what I said!” he said, quickly rushing through it. She sniffed, looking at him from behind her mane before quickly moving past them both. 

“I-I-I need to get some air,” she practically whispered, hurriedly going through the door and down the hall and away from them. 

“Discord, what the literal hell!” Shining snapped, turning back to him. “What is your problem? Did you forget that we need her or something?”

“No I haven’t forgotten that, thank you very much. I may be old, but I still have my wits about me,” he replied. “Well, most of them, anyway.”

Shining Armor groaned. “Please use the rest of your remaining ones, and try to be civil. You act like a school-filly sometimes-” he gasped. “You like her!”

“What,” was all Discord could deadpan. 

“You have some weird unspoken attraction to Gracie,” Shining said, shoving a hoof into Discord’s chest. "That's why you've been acting like a jerk! It's not exactly the best way to flirt-"  Discord broke him off with a mix of disbelief and disgust.

“How dare you! I would never!” he snapped his tail in the unicorn’s face as he walked to the door, quickly turning once more into a pony, and mumbled something about pretty little ponies, and questioning the sanity of his partner. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Shining Armor, once he found and settled Gracie back into their compartment safe and sound, trotted down the halls, part in search of Discord, part of old habits of patrolling down hallways to keep the royal family safe. And since they had ‘her royal highness’ aboard the train, the instinct kicked in. Especially since Grace had been so upset because of Discord- he would be doing the same if it were Twilie or any of the duchesses. 

“Shining Armor- er, Captain?”

Shining spun around to face two members of the Canterlot Royal Guard, who immediately saluted once he faced them. He gave them a quick one in return. 

“Silver Shield and Arrow Quiver! What are you doing on the train? You were stationed in Appleoosa,” Shining Armor questioned.  The duo straightened up, and Silver saluted again. 

“There have been reports of magic usage that edged on crossing the threshold, sir, and we were sent to Ponyville to investigate, sir!”

“Ponyville is about 40 miles back. Now why are you on the train?” Shining repeated. Arrow Quiver saluted, and continued after Silver. 

“We tracked the high level target to the train, sir, but now it appears that it must have just been you. Er- sir. But why are you on the train?”

Shining tensed slightly, not wanting to let them know of Flowing Grace. “I’m heading to Canterlot to give my report to their Royal Highnesses.”

“But why not just send it via magic? Oh- uh- sir!” Arrow replied. Silver nudged him hard in the ribs. 

“Don’t question the captain! He’s been out here for well over a year, and you do know that he has a fiancee back home right?” Silver Shield hissed. Arrow winced, nodding before turning back to Shining. 

“Sorry, sir!”

Shining nodded his head. “Apology accepted. Return back to your posts- well, cabin for now. I expect to hear your report soon.”

The pair nodded with a salute, before turning around and heading down the train. The unicorn watched them until they disappeared behind a sliding car door, before running breakneck back to his own cabin, only to ram straight into Discord.

“What’s the rush, oh captain my captain?” he said, shoving Shining off with a hoof. “Why are there guards on the the train?”

“Because of you! You’re magic usage almost crossed the barrier and got us caught! So try to keep a low profile...we should probably move too, just in case…,” Shining replied. 

“The baggage car will do very nicely,” Discord said. “I’ve hidden in them more times than I can count!”

Shining nodded, and the both of them hurried for their cabin.  The unicorn quietly, but quickly slid open the door, not wanting to disturb Gracie, who was contentedly curled up, asleep. 

“Get Gracie up,” Shining whispered as he levitated their bags from overhead. “I’ll meet you both at the baggage car.”

Before Discord could argue with the order, he was already out the door. He groaned, and turned back toward the mare. Angel had already woken up, giving him probably one of the most threatening stink-eyes he had ever received from a bunny, and had gone to the window. Something was out there, bright and fast and the small bunny didn’t trust it one bit. It looked like some weird cross between a pony, a beetle, and maybe even a corpse, and there were hundreds more just like it. Angel, unseen by Discord, who was grabbing the remaining bags, snarled at it through the window, squeaking as mean as he possible could. The thing looked at Angel before ramming itself at the window, growling and snapping it’s jaw. Angel gasped, sprawling backwards and running to hide behind Gracie. 

“Hey, Gracie, wake up, “ Discord said, trying to shake her awake. She murmured, and curled up more. Despite the fact that this was utterly adorable, he continued to try and wake her. “Come’on! Waaaaake uuuuup!!!!”

He gave her a shove, and she woke up with a start, wings unfolding in surprise, and whacking Discord hard on the nose. He let out a startled yelp, and fell backwards into the cushions, raising a hoof up to his nose. 

“Oh! Discord! I’m sorry,” she said, turning to face him, but quickly turned her attention to their missing luggage. “Um, where are our bags?”

“Shining has them- we’re moving to a different car. Dear Celestia, I think you broke my nose!” Discord exclaimed, herding her and the the rabbit out of the car. 

“But it was just my wing…” 
> Destruction on the Ponyville Express
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Shining Armor quickly hurried Discord and Gracie into the baggage car, shutting the door behind them. In hindsight, they probably could have stayed in the warm comfort of the passenger cars closest to the baggage, but with Discord’s almost near blatant disregard for staying undetected and Shining, not wanting to use his position any further to lie his way through situations, thought hiding in the unoccupied space seemed like a good solution for the time being. 

“What I tell you?” Discord smiled, flopping onto random bags. “It's perfect! And I must say, this is far more comfortable than the seats!” 

Gracie looked unsure, and shivered in the newfound chill, pulling her coat closer to her body. Shining immediately grew concerned, shedding his warmer coat and throwing it over her. 

“Is everything alright?” Gracie asked, delicately curling up on a bag near the door. Shining nodded, ruffling her hair. 

“It will be. Discord is just being…” he wanted to say an idiot, “Discord. Stay warm.”

He quickly turned on Discord, who had been looking on in concern, but quickly attempted to retain a look of aloofness when faced with a miffed Captain of the Guard. 

“Is she alright?” he quietly asked, eyes quickly glancing at her. 

“She’s going to freeze, Discord,” Shining hissed, “Unless you can think of something brilliant, per the norm.”

“Well, magic, especially a heat spell is out of the question,” he replied, stroking his goatee. “ And I doubt that the conductor would be willing to let us crash with him…” 

The spirit of chaos snapped his fingers. “I have an idea. Don't freak out on me.” 

“What are you doing…” Shining trailed off, watching as Discord, who looked uncharacteristically pale and nervous, curled around Gracie and Angel. The pegasus turned pink, and started to shift. 

“I'm literally a furnace, Miss Gracie,” Discord explained. “Sorry if it was too sudden, and consider it a...better apology.” 

“O-oh! Thank you!” she stuttered, slowly relaxing into the heat.

“Captain, if you wish to stay warm, I fully suggest to come join the cuddle pile. We’re going to sing songs later and become the best of friends,” Discord said with a yawn, settling his head down on the ground, curling slightly tighter around Gracie like a shield. Shining, shocked from disbelief, shook his head and stood close. 

“I'd rather stand guard. Old habits,” he replied. “I'm sturdier than I look.” 

“Suit yourself, oh Captain, my Captain,” Discord yawned yet again. “Suit yourself…” 

The two fell asleep quickly, Gracie burrowed into Discord’s side to get as much warmth as possible - not to mention him being surprisingly soft - feeling very safe. As for Discord, he could sleep anywhere and had, so a baggage car in a moving train wasn’t far of a stretch.
A few hours later, however,  a sudden jolt brought the duo awake; Shining barely able to keep his balance. Blearily, Gracie raised her head from the warm feathers on Discord’s wing. 

“What? Are we in Canterlot?” she asked. Discord unraveled himself, standing her on her hooves. 

“Not possible. At most we're halfway,” Shining replied. “You two, stay put.” 

With a quick apology, Shining took his coat, and raced into the passenger cars. Not wanting a frozen duchess-icle, Discord stood close, but not the too-intimate-why-did-I-do-that close as before. Gracie unconsciously filled the gap, pressing against him. Discord’s nose scrunched, but he didn't have the heart to push her away. By Celestia he wished there was something to fill the silence. Fortunately that came in the form of Shining Armor, who quickly entered. 

“What's going on?” Discord asked. “ I swear I did nothing.” 

“The tracks were destroyed,” Shining replied. “Completely obliterated.”

“But...but how?” Gracie asked, stepping towards him. Shining shook his head. 

“All there is is minor traces of magic. Strong, too. The damage was done hours ago.” He replied, taking up their bags. “There's a town close by. We won't be able to take the train for a while, so we can stay there until we can think of something.” 

Discord nodded, and wordlessly shifted into a normal unicorn, but looked uncomfortable. Popping his neck, he grabbed the remaining bags and slipped open the car doors to the outside.  While there was less snow than Ponyville, it was just as cold, and they could just barely see the town in the distance. The train tracks held a different story, however. Smoldering remains of wood and iron twisted up to the sky in a nightmarish sculpture; it smelled like sulfur and singed fur. Gracie gasped at the sight, a hoof flying to her mouth. 

“Who would do such a thing?” she whispered, staring at the wreckage. 

“Someone who really hates trains, if I had to guess.” Discord replied, stepping close to the tracks. Something felt off and familiar about this, and it sunk in his gut like a brick. He felt a hoof grab his foreleg, and he turned to see Gracie looking nervously at him. 

“Don't get too close! You might get hurt…” she said. He nodded, and after one last look, he pointed her towards town. 

“Let's get to town and to some real beds, eh? It's still almost midnight, and I'd rather you not become a pumpkin, your highness,” Discord said with a low chuckle. Gracie smiled and nodded with a small laugh of her own, enjoying the idea of a real bed as they left the train alongside a sea of other passengers into town. 

----

“Are you serious?” 

Spike looked up from the small pile of rocks he had shoved together on the floor to Tirek, who glowered at the image the necklace was projecting. Peering at it, it showed three ponies, including Fluttershy, walking into a cozy looking inn. 

“What?!” 

Tirek growled loudly, swiping at the image, and nearly threw the amulet across the room, stopping himself before he could. He still needed the wretched thing. 

“Can't follow a damned order correctly, a few miles of track later and it would have been perfect! Three birds, one crash! The Duchess, the Captain, and dear Discord- dead!” Tirek shouted, slamming his front hooves down hard in the ground, leaving two round imprints in the bedrock. The amulet slowly fed him more and more power, and he kept growing stronger. Spike looked on in fear as he picked it up. 

“But next time...no mistakes…” 

----

With the train to Canterlot out of commission from town, the group had no choice but to head east of their destination, and into the northernmost part of the Everfree Forest where Shining knew there would be secure transportation to Canterlot. Fortunately, due to the uncontrolled magic of the forest and the Pegasi of the surrounding towns, the area was warmer, with little snow. In the distance, the group could see the country’s glittering capital. At the sight of it, Shining felt a weight fall from his shoulders, and with it came the promise of seeing Cadance again. As they waited for the next carriage to come by, Gracie watched as he nervously trotted back and forth down the road. Curiously, she glanced over at Discord. 

“ Why is he acting so...flighty?” she asked. Discord glanced over and smirked. 

“Oh he's just pining away over his beloved princess Cadance,” he explained, watching as Shining jumped at the sound of her name. “They're engaged, you know. Hasn't seen her in months.” 

“That's so sad…,” she responded. “At least they'll see each other soon.” 

“Very soon, actually,” Shining stated, coming to a stop next to her. “ We have to see her first.” 

“Why? Shouldn't we go to Celestia first?” she asked, as Discord attempted to communicate ‘please stop talking’ to Shining by making quick slicing motions over his neck. 

“No one claiming to be Fluttershy can appear before her until they've met Cadance. It's a test to see if she really is the Grand Duchess,” Shining explained, staring back up at Canterlot. 

“What, but I...Discord…,” she turned in shock to Discord, who began to twiddle his thumbs. 

“Yeeeeees?” he drawled, attempting innocence. 

“You never said I had to prove I was Fluttershy,” she stated, slowly growing frantic. “Dress up, look nice I can understand, but I couldn't possibly lie! I don't know if I can do this anymore!” 

Without another word, she ran down the path, stopping halfway across a bridge crossing over a small stream. Shining and Discord quietly stood next to her on either side. 

“We should have told you sooner, and for that I apologize, Gracie,” Shining said. 

“How am I supposed to learn an entire lifetime of a-a stranger?” she cried, looking at him. 

“Gracie, there is nothing back in Ponyville. You can't change the past,” Discord replied. “Believe me; been there, done that.”

He rested a taloned hand on her shoulder. “I, and our Captain, are more than willing to teach, my dear. Are you ready to become her royal highness?” 

Flowing Grace looked between the two and sighed, staring down at the stream underneath. He was right - all she had back in Ponyville was an empty memory and nothing. She looked up and smiled. 

“I'll try.” she replied. Discord clapped his hands. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, start your training! And may the best duchess win!” 

Shining led her off the bridge. “Do you know anything about her- I mean, your royal highness?”

She shook her head. 

“I suppose we'll begin there,” he replied, and began to sing. “You were raised in the palace in Ponyville.”

Gracie tried to imagine it, and replied. “The palace in Ponyville? Really?”

“Yes, that's right!” Shining responded. “You went flying when you were only three!”

“Flying! Me?”

“And the clouds…”

“They were white!” Discord interjected, only to receive an odd look from the two. “I’m trying to help here.”

Shining quickly continued, leading Gracie from the bridge. “You and your sisters made faces and terrorized the cook!”

“Threw him in the brook!” Discord sang, jumping onto Shining’s back.  Gracie laughed at the thought and sight, especially when Shining knocked the draconequus to the ground. 

“Were we wild?”

“Wrote the book!” Discord cheered, grabbing her shoulders. 

“But you'd behave when your father gave that look!” Shining replied, giving the best impression of a stern King Sombra, causing Gracie to shy back a few inches alongside Discord.  The draconequus leaned forward with the best comforting smile he could manage. 

“Imagine how it was!”

Shining moved to Gracie’s side, flinging a hoof over her shoulder. 

“Your long forgotten past!”

They began to herd her forward off the path. 

“We've lots and lots to teach you and the time is going fast!” They sang in unison. 

“Alright...I'm ready!” Gracie cheered, delicately leaping up into the air. Shining leapt unto a fallen tree, offering a hoof help her up. Discord followed, summoning a stack of books on Gracie’s head. She wobbled, keeping them balanced. 

“Now, wings held back and head up tall,” Shining instructed, carefully walking backwards. Gracie unfolded her wings, and held her head up. 

“And do not trot, but try to float!” Discord added, floating past in the air, giving the books a gentle nudge forward. 

“I feel a little foalish,” Gracie said, moving her head gently to accommodate the books movement. “Am I floating?”

“Like a little boat!” Shining comforted, stopping halfway across.  

“You give a bow,” Discord said, quickly demonstrating. Gracie excitedly copied, keeping the books on her head. 

“What happens now?” she asked. 

“Your hoof receives a kiss!” Shining stated. Discord took Gracie’s hoof quickly placing a kiss on top of it, before levitating the books from her head to Shining’s. 

“Most of all remember this!” the two sang shepherding her forward on the tree bridge.  

“If I can learn to do it, you can learn to do it, “ Shining sang, gracefully walking backwards as Discord monitored Gracie, making sure she didn’t falter - but she seemed like a natural from the get-go.

“Something in you knows it!” Discord cheered, gently nudging her chin up, keeping her from looking down at the stream far below her.

“There’s nothing to it!” Shining continued. “Follow in my hoofsteps, shoe by shoe!”

“You can learn to do it-” both Shining and Discord sang, before Discord stopped, his ear picking up something in the distance.

“Wait, I hear the carriage!” Discord exclaimed, craning his neck backwards to see the approaching vehicle. “We’ll continue this there!” 

He quickly grabbed the two, and teleported back to their luggage in the nick of time and back into his pony disguise. The carriage was fortunately empty, and breathlessly, Discord collapsed onto one of the seats, raising a hoof to his two, vaguely dizzy companions.

“Remind me,” he said, slowly steadying himself, “Never to teleport, and transform at the same time. Sweet Celestia, my molecules are messed up right now.”   

“We can always start back up again at the next town,” Gracie suggested. Although excited about the process of learning to be a duchess, she didn’t necessarily want to learn it all in one day. Discord coughed, and with a wave of his hand, seemed right as rain. 

“Don’t you worry, your highness, I’m fit as a fiddle. And trust me, we will have plenty of time to review,” Discord responded, and with a snap of his claw, a long list of names and pictures appeared. It rolled halfway down the aisle of the carriage, and Gracie’s mind boggled. Shining patted her back, remembering when he had to memorize the family tree as well.

“Next, you must memorize the names of the royalty,” Discord paused. ”Although it doesn’t matter; they get announced at literally every function, not going to lie.”

Shining nodded, and pointed to the more interesting, and living, section of the family tree. “Now here we have Thunderlane.”

“Shocked Bulk Biceps,” Discord stated.

“In the flank.”

“Oh!” Gracie gasped, staring at the two pictures with concern before Shining pointed to another photo of an earth pony.

“And dear old cousin Braeburn loves his apples!”

“Got it Gracie?” Discord laughed, watching as the pegasus attempted to memorize faces and names as quickly as they were fed. 

“Not really, no!” Gracie said, as Shining listed more names. 

“Big Mac!”

“He was…?” Gracie asked, for Discord to bluntly answer: “Big!”

“Count Yankee Doodle?” Shining asked.

“Had a…?”

“Wig!”

“Prince Blueblood!” Shining smirked, listing the name of one of the least favored cousins of the Duchesses.

“Wears a feathered hat!” Discord laughed. Shining leaned closer to the two, about to impart the best of the royal gossip he had heard through the grapevine. 

“I hear he’s gotten a little fat!”

“And I recall his yellow cat!” Gracie exclaimed, jumping happily from her seat, fluttering gently in the air. Shining looked at Discord in confusion. 

“We haven’t told her that,” Shining whispered. 

Discord shrugged. “I didn’t even know he had one.”
> And We Danced
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few days and a few miles later had them at a different lesson - flying. Gracie knew very well how, it was just the ‘being miles above ground and subject to crosswinds’.  Closer to the ground- she could handle, but staring down a cliff face...didn’t alleviate her nerves. Discord, being the other member who could fly stood next to her, while Shining waited on the ground.

“I’m right here beside you. You just have to land like a swan. Or a princess...duchess...some kind of graceful something,” Discord comforted. “It took me a while to learn, and from what I hear, Princess Twilight has trouble flying too.”

Gracie nodded, somewhat comforted, and alongside Discord, jumped from the cliff, swallowing her fears.

“If you can learn to do it, I can learn to do it!” she sang, slowly growing more and more comfortable in the air, but occasionally looked down. She was managing to hold her own, and while Shining could see her struggle at times, she was combating the winds and her fear nonetheless expertly, and he cheered her on.

“Don’t know how you knew it!” Discord replied, tilting her chin up from the ground to look ahead of her.

“I simply knew it!” she cheered, slowly coming to the ground to land. “Suddenly I feel like somepony new!”

“Gracie you’re a dream come true!” Discord and Shining sang. Discord quickly landed next to her, scooping her up and spinning. They were a step closer in the right direction, and Gracie was brilliantly feeding into his plan.

That didn’t explain why he felt...guilty.
---
Soon enough they found themselves an hour’s ride from Canterlot, and the glittering city cast it’s shadow down on the small village they were staying in on the mountainside. The town was modern and chic, a small little tourist vacation spot with elegant touches of times past - old storefronts housed cafes and boutiques with fashions straight from Canterlot and Manehatten. Gracie wasn’t sure how they were affording the hotel room they were all sharing at the end of the main stretch, as far as she could tell from the golden decorations and rich brocade curtains hanging from the the walls to the finely dressed ponies, this place was more expensive than all the rubies in Equestria.

“Don’t worry, as Captain of the Guard, Shining gets a few special privileges,” Discord said when she expressed her concerns. “Plus, as much as he disapproves, I can be a good hypnotist.”

“Oh, I see,” Gracie replied, slightly relieved, but somewhat unhappy with the thought of Discord manipulating ponies.

“I know, hypnotizing ponies is wrong,” he said. “I know that look on your face. It’s only a little! Besides, this isn’t the cheapest place in town, and believe it or not, they overcharge, just to milk every bit from a pony’s wallet. Basically, I’m like Robin Hood here.”

“You sure?” she asked, scanning the sea of ponies for Shining Armor. Seeing them in finery she could only dream of, she tugged her coat a little tighter around her. Angel, who had been hiding in her coat, squeaked at the sudden tug. She muttered a quick whisper as Discord began to speak again.

“Yes,” he sighed, looking down at her. “If it will make you feel better, I’ll do a little extra influence so maybe a few other ponies who need it will….eh….get the same benefit as us.”

It wasn’t that he was selfish- scratch that, he was very selfish indeed, and if anyone said otherwise they were a worse liar than he. But to see Gracie smile at him with happiness and pride almost made the fact he was helping other ponies not so bad. He started when he suddenly felt her hoof on his artificial one.

“Thank you Discord,” she smiled. He fought the flood of red threatening to hit his face - why it ran there he had no clue - and hoped she couldn’t see it under his dark fur. However, he couldn’t help the small smile that crossed his face. There was spurt of sharp laughter across the room, and Gracie automatically jumped, and shrank back a little. Discord looked at her, curious and confused at her reaction, to watch as she hid behind her hair, just ever so slightly, and gently tug at the fabric of her sleeve. He looked at the source of the laughter to see a group of finely dressed mares, giggling. It wasn’t possible they were laughing at her, though. Then again, he knew very well how ponies could be.

“Alright I have our keys! One for each of us,” Shining cheered as he finally arrived back to the group. “Room 410.”

“Shining, my dear Gracie should go rest for later tonight. Do you mind escorting her up? I have to run...an errand,” Discord said, levitating the key into a pocket in his coat. “I’ll be back soon though.”

“What errand?” Shining asked, picking up the bags. Gracie looked up at him with a look that asked the same thing. Discord smiled.

“You’ll see, Captain,” he replied, nodding before turning to Gracie. “You go rest - all we’ve done is travel,  I- we don’t want you to get sick.”

Before either could answer, Discord was gone in a flash, and didn’t return for a few hours. He ran into Shining first, who told him that they would hold the lesson on the roof - no pony really came up there, so he would be safe to be in his normal form. He curiously looked at the bag he levitated in the air, and told Discord that Gracie was in their room. Discord hurried there, nearly jumping from his skin in excitement, and knocked. Gracie soon opened the door, slightly bleary eyed from sleep.

“Discord? Is everything alright?” she asked with a small, cute yawn.

“Yes. I...I have something for you, actually,” he replied, all but shoving the bag into her face. She gasped, grabbing it from the air.

“Oh, Discord! You didn’t have to!” Gracie exclaimed, pulling the folded fabric from the bag, eyes shining bright.

“Well, I wanted too, and once I want to do something I tend to stick to it,” he said, leaning against the door jam. “And we couldn’t have you dressed in rags, little Cinderella.”

She gasped, holding out the silky, pale blue and green dress in front of her. It was the loveliest thing she had ever touched, let alone owned. It was soft and flowing, and had small vines and flowers embroidered along the hem. Discord couldn’t help but smile at how ecstatic she was.

“Go on and change and meet us on the roof- it’s our last session before review and the final exam,” Discord said. “I’m not sure what Shining has planned, but, hey! Should be more fun than learning how to hold a fork royally.”

Gracie laughed and nodded. “I’ll be up in a few minutes. Oh, thank you Discord!”

She wrapped her hooves around his neck in a quick hug, before ducking back inside the room, closing the door with a gentle click. Discord stood, shell-shocked, as it registered in his mind the fact that she had hugged him, unused to the feeling. She wouldn’t have done that if you were in your regular form, his mind hissed, but he pushed it aside, quickly heading up to roof, slowly feeling the weariness of holding the pony form slip away as he returned to his draconequus self.

The roof was high above the streets of the busy town, dotted with small lanterns just beginning to glow in the late sunlight and potted plants all along the walls, alongside small tables and comfortable chairs. You could see the vastness of Equestria from their view, from the Everfree to the just barely visible lights of the eastern cities. Discord knew that the view from the top of the mountain, probably from the palace, was even better - that was where his throne had been, all those years ago - and one could see all of Equestria if you looked hard enough.  Shining was sitting in one of the chairs, staring out into the horizon and drinking a cup of coffee.

“Thinking about Cadance?” Discord asked, startling him, causing him to nearly spill his coffee. Relieved it was simply his partner, Shining placed his cup down on the table.  Discord took a seat across from him, curled up in a coil.

“More like when aren’t I?” Shining sighed. “I’m in deep.”

“She is the princess of love and affection, or something, right? It only makes sense,” Discord replied, summoning a cup of tea for himself. Shining nodded, and cast his gaze back to the sun.

“She’s just a few miles above me, instead of one hundred away. It’s comforting knowing that we’re both watching the sunset so close together again,” Shining said.

“Watch out, your sap is showing,” Discord said with a feigned look of distaste. “I really don’t know how you ponies do that…it’s-”

There was a small cough, snaring both their attentions away from the sunset to the roof entrance. Gracie stood there, nervously shifting and adjusting her skirt. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun, out of her face, and the dress billowed out behind her, not enough that it dragged, but looked effortlessly caught on the air. She looked ethereal; like something from an old mare’s tale that stepped from the forest. Discord felt himself freeze, breathless, and with no clue why. Shining smiled, casting a look at him from the corner of his eye, before heading over to Gracie.

“You look wonderful, Gracie! You look ready for a ball,” he said. She smiled sheepishly, and couldn’t help but twirl, just to imagine dancing. “And so you shall learn to dance for one as well.”

He lead her closer to Discord, who snapped from his reveries and stood. “Should I instruct?”

“No, no, no,” Shining said, gently pushing Gracie toward him. “I’m a better instructor than a dancer, so it shall be you.”

“There’s a little bit of a height difference,” Discord backpedaled. Shining stared him down. “Okay, okay, I’ll dance.“

He turned to Gracie and bowed as low as possible. “My lady, may I have this dance?”

“You may,” she replied with a giggle, curtseying back. He bent forward, gently taking her hoof in his paw, and placed his talon on her side, her other hoof resting on his shoulder. Discord, looked down as Shining counted off the beats, not out of nervousness, no, but because it had been a few millennia since he had waltzed, and he didn’t want to screw up, especially in front of Gracie.  

“Discord, look at her, please, she needs direction more than you. You’re leading, remember.” Shining commented.

“I’m out of practice,” he muttered, looking at Gracie.

“Well, I’ve never learned! We’ll just be awful together then, won’t we?” she laughed, and Discord couldn’t help but laugh back.

“I doubt you’ll be awful for long,” he replied. “You look amazing. I mean, the dress looked nice on the hanger, but...it looks better on you.”

“Well thank you!” she replied, bashfully nodding her head. He slowly began to move them across the roof, spinning and carefully avoiding plants and chairs. Shining Armor stopped counting, and sat down to watch them dance.

“It’s one-two-three, and suddenly, I see it at a glance,” he sang softly to himself, watching as both Gracie and Discord grew more sure in their steps, Discord elegantly spinning her around. “She’s radiant, and confident, and born to take this chance. I taught her well, I planned it all, I just forgot…”

Shining focused on how Discord looked down at Gracie - like she was more spectacular than a sunset and more special than one. And Gracie, for her part, looked like she had never been happier than when she was dancing with him. Cadance had rubbed off on him - and he had accidentally played matchmaker.

“Romance…” he sang, slightly worried. “Shining, how could you do this? How will we get through this? I never should have made them dance…”

Discord and Gracie slowed to a stop in the middle of their impromptu dance floor, but did not move from their positions. Gracie was framed by the sun in all her glory, and Discord couldn’t help but stare.

“You’re a quick learner,” he said slowly, trying to memorize every detail in that moment. She hummed in thanks.

“I feel a little dizzy though,” she replied, feeling her face flush, from what, she didn’t know.

“Same. Good thing we stopped, then, huh?” he said with a half grin. “Probably from spinning.”

“Yes,” she replied, dropping back down to have all four hooves on the ground. She paused for a moment, looking back up at Discord.

“Gracie, I…” he started, and slowly moved closer. She stepped forward as well, eyes half shut, when there was a loud noise from the stairs. Discord, startled[bl][bm] from the interruption and too tired to return to a pony form again, gently patted her hoof and teleported away just as a group of ponies loudly made their way onto the roof, leaving Gracie alone. Shining wanted to go after him, but seeing Gracie stand dumbfounded was all he needed to stay there.

‘The poor fools are in love, aren’t they?’ he thought to himself, gently herding Gracie away from the crowd, and down back into the hotel, just as the moon began to rise at the sun’s departure.
> Enter: The Princess 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	That night three ponies huddled together around a fire, sad but unwilling to say their mind. Princess Twilight Sparkle stared blankly at her book, looking at the same sentence on repeat. In the ten years that had happened since the Ponyville attack she had grown up considerably, more comfortable with her wings and magic than before, but the unsettling burden of a title crept in the back of her mind. Next to her was Applejack and Rarity, her sisters since as long as she could remember. Applejack was strong and stubborn, as always, and being taken into the royal family never changed a thing about her or her roots. Rarity was lovelier than she had been as a filly, but time and graciousness has softened her shell. Although adopted to be her companions and friends, they were family nonetheless. But that didn’t ease the discomfort of silence. 

“Where…,” Rarity started, unsure of whether or not she wanted to continue, but the quiet was becoming insufferable. “Ahem, where is Pinkie and Rainbow Dash?”

“I think Pinkie is with Cheese Sandwich somewhere in the city, probably partying, and Rainbow is flying, as usual,” Twilight replied, closing her book and placing it on the ground in front of her.  

“As usual,” Rarity repeated, and glanced out the window. “I hope they come back soon. It’s getting dark.” 

“Can we just talk ‘bout this already?” Applejack suddenly said loudly, startling the other mares. “We all know why they ran out like that, and we all know why none of us has said a word for hours.”

“Well, maybe I don’t want to talk about it, Applejack!” Rarity snapped in reply. “I don’t want to accept it yet.” 

“Girls, please!” Twilight pleaded. “I know the decision is hard on all of us, but we have to accept it eventually. The search had been going on for years now with no results! Just heartache and ponies doing it for money.” 

“But what ‘bout Fluttershy? What if she’s still out there and alive? Are we just going to let her go like that?” Applejack replied. 

“Rainbow hasn’t forgiven herself since we were fillies, and Pinkie is trying to stay optimistic, but there’s only so much partying and a coltfriend can do,” Rarity added solemnly. Twilight lowered her head sadly. 

“I know. Maybe the ballet tomorrow will lift everyone’s spirits up, and maybe it will help change her mind about calling off the search,” Twilight said, slowly brightening. “Of course! She loves the Crystal Ballet!”

She hopped onto all fours, fluttering her wings in excitement. “We have to make sure everything goes perfect for tomorrow night - then she’ll be sure to change her mind!”

“You sure, Twi? Just because it may cheer her, and all of us up, doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll up and change her mind,” Applejack said. 

“But it might help,” Rarity replied, standing up as well before trotting to the door. “I am going to go find our sisters, and let them know so we can plan everything accordingly!”

---

The next morning found Discord, Shining, and Gracie pulling into Canterlot on the early morning train. Gracie nervously toyed with her necklace and smoothed out the skirt of her dress. Discord gently placed a hoof over her’s, snapping her attention from the habit. 

“You’ll be fine. Relax, and go with the flow,” he said as soothingly as he could. If he was honest - and he rarely was - he was just as nervous, but time taught him how to keep a poker face on in adversity half the time. 

“But what if I-” she started, only to be shushed by Shining. 

“Don’t start second guessing yourself,” he said. “You got this.”

“Besides, we’re here,” Discord said. “It’s now or never.” 

They exited the train to the incredibly busy train station and beyond into the city streets - if Gracie had thought that the town they stayed in was busy, then Canterlot must be hectic! Of course, she had spent most of her life around Ponyville, and that wasn’t exactly a metropolitan hub. A few blocks and a cab later found them at Shining Armor's quarters, close to the castle.  They only spent a little while there, just long enough to settle in before they were back into the city, this time to just outside the castle itself, and both Gracie and Discord felt their stomachs lurch - nervousness? Excitement? Nervousitement? Neither wanted to linger on it long, especially since Shining was knocking on the gilded door of the grand house in front of them. 

It opened moments later,  revealing a blue and white unicorn maid. She gasped, quickly recognizing him and hastily curtsied before ushering them all in. Angel nearly was locked out, if not for the saving grace of his owner’s long pink tail. They were led to a cozy parlor overlooking a small garden, which, if it was later in the year, would have been luxurious. The same maid came in with a tea set, filled with the brim with tea cakes and other pastries, and she told them that Princess Mi Amore Cadenza would be with them shortly. 

Discord nodded and looked over at his companions; Gracie was nervously perched on the edge of her seat, but Shining- Shining was biting at the bit, from apprehension of seeing his fiancé for the first time in months, or fear that she would see through their scheme, or both. He couldn't blame him. He felt nervousness creep up and down his spine as well, mostly for reasons unknown. If anything went wrong, he was a snap away from safety.  But that would have to wait - the door opened, revealing Princess Cadence. For a moment she stood still, back and neck straight, the very image of royalty, not a feather or strand of hair out of place. That moment lasted all of two seconds before she and Shining collided like two trains heading in opposite directions. Discord and Gracie looked at each other, unsure of what to make of the sight. 

“Shining Armor! What are you doing here? I didn't expect you back so soon!” Cadence laughed, pulling back from her fiancé happily. Shining nuzzled her cheek. 

“Miles are no barrier for me,” he whispered. She laughed again. 

“You cheeseball…” 

Discord coughed into a hoof, snapping their attention from one another to the other ponies in the room. She blushed, and both took a step from one another. Shining stepped forward and cleared his throat. 

“Ahem- may I introduce her royal highness, Princess Cadence,” he announced. Discord and Gracie bowed in response, and in turn, the disguised draconequus stepped forward. 

“And may I present, her royal highness, the royal Duchess Fluttershy, “ he said, looking back at Gracie. She shyly walked closer to the princess,  and he looked back to Cadence to gauge her reaction. The reaction was split second: her pupils dilated and her breath hitched slightly, but it was just that. No big reaction. Then again, she had seen dozens if not thousands of girls claiming to be Fluttershy, but who had looked so close to her than Flowing Grace? 

“Ah, is that so?” she said, and walking around Flowing Grace. “She certainly does look like her…” 

The mare in front of her was the most authentic looking contender for Fluttershy she had seen in a long time and a quick, silent detector spell showed no signs of illusions. But the poor thing was so nervous! It was hard to tell if she was an actress playing the part or just like that normally, just like the filly she foal-sat so long ago. The mare curtsied, and Cadence smiled, waving her hoof. 

“There’s no need for that! Please have a seat!” She said motioning to a large, cozy chair in the center of the room. She sat down, relaxing slightly into the velvet, and Cadance sat down across from her. “Now, I’m going to ask you a lot of questions, so this is going to take a while.”

“I-it’s fine! We don’t really have any plans other than this for today!” Gracie chirped, her voice mellow and sweet. Cadence was taken aback once again - her voice was even more authentic! Then again it had been years...She shook her head, and levitated an empty tea cup. 

“How do you take your tea?” Cadence asked. “This isn’t the first question for the test, just being polite.”

“Of course! With honey, please,” she replied, gratefully taking the cup when it was offered. Cadence took a sip from her own cup, and turned her attention back to the supposed royal duchess. 

“Now, let’s begin…”

The questioning took over an hour, ranging from family to events, to literally anything that Fluttershy would have known, until it came to the very last question. Cadence didn’t particularly like this one, not because she knew that it would determine the the real one, but because she herself didn’t completely know either. 

“This is the very last question,” Cadence said at last, setting down her teacup with a clink. “How did you, and Princess Celestia, escape the Ponyville Palace. Shining Armor froze in his spot behind Cadence, eyes wide as he stared at Discord, who’s jaw sunk at the question - they hadn’t even thought of teaching her that! Even Angel pressed a tiny white paw to his forehead at the misstep. Discord pressed his head on the mantle of the grand fireplace at the far end of the room. 

‘Well, game over,’ he thought. ‘How could you forget that?’

Meanwhile, Gracie’s eyebrows furrowed in concentration. It was true that they hadn’t taught her that, but something tugged in the back of her head and she couldn’t let it go. 

“There was somepony...somepony in the palace...they just appeared out of nowhere and...and they opened a wall...I’m even quite sure if they were a pony…,” she said softly, turning her head to look outside to the last rays of sunlight. She laughed. “But that probably sounds a little silly! Ponies opening walls. But I was so little, and if I’m honest...it’s a blur…”

Discord stared at her the entire time she spoke, his mouth and throat going dry. He quickly excused himself, exiting out into the garden. Shining Armor relaxed, pressing against Cadence as she nodded in approval of both answer and of Discord. He missed Gracie’s worried smile as he escaped into the garden, all the while that fateful night raced through his head on a loop. The small filly clinging to Celestia, the servant’s entrance, the large blue eyes looking at him - the same ones that watched him go into the garden. 

‘By Celestia, that’s really her,’ his mind raced. ‘That’s Fluttershy.’

---

“So...did she pass?” Shining asked, looking between Cadence and Gracie. The princess nodded. 

“She answered every question!” She said cheerfully, picking up the tea tray. “Shining, come with me. Please excuse us, my dear.”

Shining looked at her, confused but followed her, anyway, into the hall beyond the parlor. Once outside, she placed the tea tray down on a small table and turned to him, worried. 

“Didn’t you get the message?” She asked, stepping closer. 

“What message?”

“Princess Celestia cancelled the search yesterday!” Cadence whispered. “There have been too many imposters...it’s brought more strife to the family than she wants…”

“No! I’ve been travelling from Ponyville since we found her!” Shining whispered back. “Oh my Celestia...there’s no chance we can bring her to even meet her? I’m so certain that she’s...she’s real.”

“No…,” Cadence sorrowfully replied. “And she is the closest mare I’ve ever seen to Fluttershy…”

She suddenly perked up. “But…”

“What is it?” Shining asked, noticing that look in Cadence’s eye when she got up to something - devious or good natured, it ended up working one way or another. 

“The Crystal Ballet is showing tonight...and we, including Aunt Celestia, never miss it,” she replied, moving past him with a wink. “And I always save you a few tickets...say, three…”

“Cadence, you are incredible,” he swooned, nuzzling against her cheek. 

“I know,” she said. “Go tell your friend, I’ll tell ‘Fluttershy’. Besides, I want to get to know her more, and I doubt she has a proper outfit for the ballet - on my insistence I’m taking you all out tonight before the show...consider it a welcome home gift.”

Shining Armor kissed her cheek before running out into the garden. Discord was, for lack of a better word, melodramatically leaning against a fountain, staring at his reflection in the water. 

“Discord!” He called, snapping the disguised unicorn from his reflection. “She did it! We’re going to the ballet, where we meet Celestia, and 
everything continues without a hitch!” 

“But, Shining Armor, there’s-” Discord hissed urgently, cut off before he could finish as Gracie excitedly ran into the garden. 

“Discord! Shining Armor! Can you believe it?” She happily chirped. “Cadence is taking us shopping and to the ballet! I can’t believe I passed!”

“I can...I can definitely believe it…” Discord said, staring down at the mare only minutes ago he never would have thought to be the Grand Duchess Fluttershy, safely returned home.
> At the Ballet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Luna had already raised the moon and cast the stars across the warm, twilight sky, when the group, lead confidently and triumphantly by Cadance, exited the first of many stores. Discord already felt his patience begin to wane, despite the new, navy blue suit that suited his pony form well. He knew how many shops were in the city, and how long they had until the ballet - exactly enough to hit too many shops and get ready. But Shining Armor seemed happy about it, and Gr- Fluttershy was so excited that she lost her nervousness. Cadance had already bought her half a closet of clothing, porters trailing behind them, and an outfit to wear while they shopped. It was an elegant mint green dress that, apparently, had been designed by one of the other duchesses themselves. Discord hoped she was warm enough, since she seemed to press herself closer to him as they exited onto the street, and thought of nabbing something from the bags, when - and he was starting to become slightly concerned with how many times this had happened during this whole venture - Cadance, after buying some roses from a street vender, started singing, but was that something to be surprised about anymore, really?

“Welcome, my friends, to the city,” she sang, levitating a flower to each of them, nestling one into Shining’s jacket lapel, all the while “casually” bumping Gracie into Discord’s side. “Here, have a flower on me. Forget where you're from - You're in the Capital! Friends, come! I'll show you how we joie de vivre!”

Gracie had barely a moment to put Discord’s flower into his breast pocket, the red bud a startling pop against the blue, before Cadance grabbed her and Shining’s forelegs, pulling them out into the street. Discord felt her grab him and, nervously unwilling on his part, was pulled along as well, quickly trotting to catch up. 

“Canterlot holds the key to your heart,” the princess continued, and the group was quickly joined, for some reason, the flower vender and a random, well dressed stallion. “And everypony plays a part.”

“Just stroll two by two down  what the french call la rue!” they sang in unison, stepping in time with rest of group. It soon seemed like other ponies from the street were joining in, pausing whatever they we doing - shopping, walking, etc. - just to have part in a musical number, joining in for the last phrase. “And soon everypony will be singing to you!” 

Cadance weaved them expertly through a crowd of singing and dancing ponies, which seemed to continue for blocks, pulling them into various boutiques and shops as she lead them away from the shopping district. They ended up in front of one of the popular clubs in the city, the Bijoux, run by Sapphire Shores and her dancers, the Diamonds. The club was nearly in full swing, the floor littered with Diamonds and dancing couples all the same.  As soon as they got a table, Cadance grabbed Shining Armor, pulling him onto the dance floor. He stumbled, looking flustered, and obviously out of practice with the fast-paced steps. Discord and Gracie couldn’t help but laugh, Gracie placing a hoof on Discord’s foreleg to keep herself balanced.

“No wonder he didn’t want to dance,” Discord chuckled, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing by waiter. “He’s awful.”

“No worse than you, Discord,” Gracie teased, gently poking him in the side. 

“Hey! I’m not too bad, your highness,” he shot back, growing quiet as the music shifted to something slower and softer. He had half a mind to ask Gracie to dance, when a stallion gently pulled her onto the dance floor. He hadn’t even heard him ask her to dance! All he could do was watch as they floated across the floor in time to the music. 

“Canterlot holds the key to her past,” he softly sang to himself once he was alone, holding his glass up in salute to her.” Yes, Duchess, I've found you at last. No more pretend, you'll be gone…” 

He felt his throat and chest tighten with an indescribable discomfort at the solemn thought of losing her back to where she belonged. The glass dropped back to the table with a soft thud. 

“That's the end…”
---
Discord paced in front of the opera house, waiting alongside Shining Armor. There too many things in his head, and no one solution to solve them all. Should he tell her? Probably. But which truth? Which lie? What would be the consequence? The most startling thing coming to his mind over all of these was how he had never thought about things like that before. It all came naturally! 

“You keep pacing like that you’ll wear a groove into the pavement and ruin the suit my fiancee graciously bought,” the Captain of the Guard said. “Bit for your thoughts?”

“It’s just...ugh!” Discord groaned, turning to face him. “It’s Gracie.”

“Alright…” Shining replied, stepping over to him. “You’re worried about her meeting Celestia, then.”

“Well, yes...and no,” Discord said. Shining shook his head, placing a hoof on his shoulder.

“We trained her well, she can do this!” he said. Discord shook him off. 

“No, she’s the real thing! She’s actually Fluttershy,” he hissed, leaning closer. “Her explanation on how she escaped? I was there! I opened the wall!”

Shining paled, jaw dropping in shock. He looked around him, making sure no one else heard. “Then...we really brought her home...my mission actually completed...We have to tell her.”

“And tell her what, exactly? Oh so, you’re actually the missing duchess, and we were just using you to fulfill our own needs, but never expected this outcome? Gee, that’ll work Shining,” Discord said, tapping on his horn.  Shining frowned. 

“Better than let her live a lie,” he replied. “You’ll have to tell her.”

“But…”

“They’re here,” Shining interrupted, watching as Cadance’s carriage pulled up. The princess had insisted on helping 'Fluttershy' get ready, in part to get to know her better and get a better feel of the mare. “You better think and think fast, Discord.”

Shining Armor turned back to the carriage, smile brilliant and adoring as Cadance stepped from the compartment, glittering like a crystal - properly so, being the heir apparent to the Crystal Empire and surrounding territories -, wearing a sky blue gown embedded with small, snowflake shaped crystals, and a golden wool shawl to shield her from the cold edge of night air. He stepped over, moving in front of the coachman to offer his hoof in helping her down. Cadance kissed his cheek with a grin, and stepped beside him to allow Gracie from the carriage. 
Discord was and had never been a great judge of beauty. Gracie had always been lovely, from her satin-like coat and sparkling eyes to the very kindness that set her apart. Maybe it was because he had come to terms with the fact, at that very moment as he watched her step to the ground, shimmering like a piece of morning light stolen from the sky, that he was unmistakably falling in love with her. And once again, the tightness in his chest came back, but he shoved it down, and walked over to her.

“You look lovely,” he said, gracefully bowing. “You outshine dawn.”

Gracie smiled, raising a hoof to her cheek. “Thank you. You look handsome as well.”

“You can’t say I don’t clean up nice, huh?” Discord laughed. “You can thank her highness for that.”

“Oh hush,” Cadance replied. “It was my pleasure. We should head inside - I have to get the family box and you should get to your seats, as well.”

“Right. We should be able to see your box from our seats,” Shining replied. “Though I may prefer to watch that than the ballet.”

That received a collective groan from the group, along with a few elbows to his chest, before they ascended the steps in the already crowded opera house.
---
Cadence woefully detached from Shining Armor, and began to head up to the royal box. The area was coveted by all - for it’s view, the excellent sound, the proximity to power, all of it. Unfortunately it was closed to anyone save Celestia’s family and on occasion a few of their guests. A wooden door was it’s entrance, delicately carved with the cutie marks of the royal family, added as they were earned, at least in the crown princess and duchess’s part. There was, however, a small space at the very end that remained uncarved. Cadence frowned at the sad spot, but was optimistic that it would be filled soon, if her gut told her correctly. 

A Lunar guard bowed at her arrival, and opened the door for her, revealing her beloved uncle Sombra sitting in the foyer. It was richly decorated with various insignias and encoutrement of both Equestria and the Crystal Empire, gold and silver and blue, all warmly lit by candlelight. He looked up at her and smiled. 

“Ah! My favorite niece has arrived!” he cheered, beckoning her over before tightly hugging her. He had gotten older since Ponyville, or at least looked it, ever so slightly despite being immortal. There appeared to be lighter streaks in his air, and line of worry and sleeplessness ringed his ever glowing, ever sharp eyes. 

“Uncle, I’m your only niece,” Cadance laughed, gratefully returning the hug. “Why aren’t you seated with the girls yet?”

“Waiting for you, to simply put it but…” Sombra trailed off. “Things are...tense.”

“Tense?”

“Since Celestia called off the search,” he replied in a hushed tone,” the girls have been, understandably, upset, so have I and your aunts. And they’ve gotten an idea in their collective head that if everything goes perfect tonight and their mother cheers up, they can...talk her into restarting it.”

Sombra sighed, and moved to the curtain separating them from the seats. He peered around it, carefully spying on his family. Celestia looked down on the crowd with benevolent grace, but he knew how much her heart was hurting, how it had been hurting for ten years. The girls were uneasy themselves, trying to look and be cheerful, for appearances and for their plan, but more importantly themselves. Luna looked serious as usual, but she always had her emotions on her sleeve.  

“But it’s taken a toll on all of us…” 

“I know, uncle, I know,” Cadance replied, pulling him back. “That’s why I need to tell you something.”

“What?” he asked, eyes going wide. “What have you-”

He was interrupted by the curtain being pulled open, revealing Twilight. 

“Dad, the shows about to start- Oh Cadance! You made it!” she said cheerfully, rushing over to nuzzle her cousin.

“Of course! I’d never miss this for the world!” Cadance replied. “Let’s get seated shall we?”

She sent a glance back at Sombra, but couldn’t communicate that she had found what could’ve been the last cutie mark to be carved on the door.  Meanwhile across the opera house mezzanine, Shining Armor lead Discord and Gracie to his box, once again the privilege of being captain of the guard and royal fiance having perks. The took the two plush seats in front, letting Shining take the back, much to his chagrin as he actually enjoyed the ballet more than many would assume. But he allowed it, the side effect of having a matchmaker for a lover being that he attempted to facilitate some sort of romance between the two. 

Gracie fidgeted in her seat, unable to fiddle with her necklace as usual. She had taken it off for the first time in years and despite the flowing dress she felt oddly naked. To distract herself, she began looking around the room, trying to catch sight of Cadance and her family. To her surprise, a pair of opera glasses levitated in front of her muzzle. 

“Here,” Discord said, while pointing in the general direction of the royal box. “This should help.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, and raised them to her eyes. She immediately saw Cadance, who was leaning over to whisper something into the ear of a mare with curly, wild pink hair, pinned expertly under a bright blue fascinator. There was something very familiar about her that she couldn’t place, but chalked it up to seeing multiple portraits and pictures and being quizzed on her name time and time again, and quickly remembered her as Pinkie Pie. The same familiarity and conclusion happened for the rest of the duchesses and the princess as well. But when she got to the matriarch of the family, alongside her husband and sister, she froze, unable to see them clearly - the lights were going dim. 
If she didn’t feel nervous before, the butterflies in her stomach might as well have turned to rabbits.  While her eyes locked on stage, watching the intricate moves of the dancers, she couldn’t pay attention. She wanted to look at the royal box, but at the same time, couldn’t, and took to fidgeting the hem of her skirt. Gracie felt Discord’s paw rest on her hoof, gently squeezing it. The dark must have been deep enough where he could shed his disguise for a few minutes. 

“You’ll be fine,” he whispered. “I got you, my dear.”

Gracie felt some comfort from the words and the soft paw holding her hoof, but nerves are nerves, after all. When the lights went up for intermission, the rabbits came back in an honest to goodness stampede. Shining had already disappeared, presumably to find Cadance and then come back for them to escort them to the family box, but Discord had another plan. 

“Come on,” he said quietly, already back in disguise as he headed out to the hallways. “Let’s go to the box.”

“B-but what about Shining Armor?” Gracie panicked. “Shouldn’t we wait for him?”

“He’s probably making out with Cadance, let’s be honest,” Discord deadpanned, causing the pegasus to blush. “Personally, I believe we should take agency and go forward.” 

“I don’t know...but okay…,” Gracie said, following slowly behind. She hoped that Shining and Cadance would meet them halfway. But as they weaved through the elegantly dressed groups of ponies, there was no signs of either pony, and soon she found herself in front of the door to the Royal Box. Gracie felt her heart in her throat, and she began to backpedal, both physically and mentally. Discord noticed, releasing the door handle from his magic to go to her. 

“Gracie, you’ll be fine,” he murmured, gently holding her hoof in one of his. “Just stay right here, breathe, and I’ll go introduce you.”

And with that, he disappeared behind the wooden door, not noticing, however, that the door bounced off the doorjamb, leaving it open just enough for Gracie to peer inside. 
> Tonight We Are Betrayed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Discord inhaled and exhaled slowly: he had to be careful about this, and everything that came out of his mouth had to be perfect, sincere, and true to a degree. Well more than true - this was the real Fluttershy he had waiting behind the door. Unfortunately, Cadance and Shining were nowhere to be seen in the parlor to the royal box. Instead, he found himself face to face with King Sombra and Princess Luna, and just beyond the partially parted velvet curtain her could see one or two of the duchesses.  

His mouth, strangely enough, ran dry at the sight, but they hadn’t noticed him. But he wasn’t a draconequus of inaction, so Discord cleared his throat and stepped forward. Both of the them turned to him, and Sombra stood up, almost defensively. 

“Your majesties,” Discord said, bowing deeply and trying not to sound mocking in his address to them both. “ I insist on a moment of the Royal Family’s time.”

“For what, may I ask?” the King asked. The question was barbed yet soft at the same time. Discord slowly rose from the bow. 

“I have found her Royal Highness, the Grand Duchess Fluttershy,” he said sincerely, and tried not to smile. But Luna must have seen the faint uptick in the corner of his mouth, and scowled. He cursed how perceptive she was, and had always been. 

“We will see no one!” she snapped. “Let alone some cheap trick.”

“Cheap trick?” Discord exclaimed. How dare she! “This is the Grand Duchess Fluttershy, I swear. She is waiting right outside of you’d just let her in.”

He made his way to the door to let Gracie - no, Fluttershy - in, when a voice he hadn’t heard in years rang out from behind him. 

“That is quite enough.” Princess Celestia commanded, appearing from behind the curtain in all her glory, her children peering behind her. “We will see no one.”

“Please, your highness-,” oh how he hated to beg, let alone to Sunbutt. “We’ve come all the way from Ponyville-”

“A claim we have heard thousands of times before,” Luna interjected. “Let us guess: she’s been in hiding? Or in a coma? Living in the woods with all the woodland creatures she befriended in her youth?” 

“Or is it just some, poor, young mare you’ve conned into a part like dozens beforehand?” Celestia glowered. “Groomed to fit a role, charmed by you and the thought of the reward I promised? Or is she just like you, not caring if you break a broken family’s heart?”

“N-no! She’s not like that! It’s not like that - I’m not like that! Not anymore,” Discord explained, or at least tried. “But she’s the real thing! Please, Celestia, believe me.”

“Do not address me like we’re close,” the Princess said, horn glowing. “I refuse to be lied to, and my family will no longer be put through any more torment. Get out now.”

This was a side of Celestia he had only seen a few times, and each time became more frightening. Staring up at her in his smaller pony size, surrounded  by equally angry, equally upset, equally powerful ponies would have made anyone die in fright, but the look in her eyes - such a sad, hurt look...it shook him nearly to the core. 

But before anymore reflection could be made on his behalf, Discord found himself rudely picked up in golden magic, and thrown indelicately out the door, landing face first at the hooves of Gracie. With a groan of pain, he looked up at her for sympathy, for a question, for anything. But what he got was a look akin to Celestia’s. Where the princess’s shook him, the mare in front of looked at him with such disbelief, such disgust, such disappointment and such sadness that he wanted to drop dead right on the spot. 

“You used me.” Her voice was so quiet he could hardly hear her.

“Gracie…?”

“You used me! And I fell for every word you said!” she exclaimed, her eyes welling up with tears. Gracie turned angrily and began to walk away. “I can’t believe I let you, I can’t believe I let myself.”

“Wait, please-” Discord pleaded, trying to catch up with her.

“And for what? Their money?” She turned on him, and got within a hairsbreadth of his muzzle. “You can summon anything you wish, why would you need the money?”

“Well, originally, it was more of a power and manipulation move, but it’s not like that anymore! I swear!” he tried to explain, but all her got was an angry snort as she turned away. In a desperate move, he grabbed her hoof, turning her back toward him. “But not anymore, because you really are the duchess!”

“Discord, please, I’m tired of you lying to me!” 

“I’m not lying! The night of the siege, the strange creature opening the wall - that was me! That was real!” Discord said with a desperate smile. “Please believe me.”

“No! I don’t care if it was real or not, I don’t care of whatever you say is the truth or not, just leave me alone! I’ve had enough!” Gracie tried to wrench her hoof away as Discord attempted to beg and plead and bargain once again, and when that failed…

<b><i>SLAP!</i></b>   

The sound of her hoof resounding off his cheek echoed in the hall, gaining the attention of a few patrons, and Cadance and Shining Armor, who were just returning from getting refreshments. But all they saw was Gracie bolting down the hall, out of sight, and Discord standing in shock in the middle of it all, clutching his reddening face. He wanted to follow her, but his hooves were frozen to the floor. Looking down for a moment, he could see ice crystals forming around his fetlocks, and wasn’t surprised.  

“What happened? What did you do?” Shining Armor demanded, trotting to him quickly as Cadance, fearing the worst, ran back to the royal box. “Why didn’t you wait for Cadance and I?”

“I...I thought…,” Discord stammered, not reacting as Shining stamped the ice away from his hooves. “I told her. I told her everything. She knows this was a ploy, she knows I was using her. She knows I think she’s Fluttershy, and she is! But she doesn’t believe me, not anymore.”

“Discord…,” Shining sighed. “You really messed this up.”

“But I will make it right,” the spirit of chaos said with determination. “They will believe me, and they will know it is her.”

“And how? How are you going to do that?”

Both Shining and Discord turned to see an infuriated Cadance stomp her way to them. 

“How will you prove that you’re not just some conman?” the princess asked pointedly, jabbing a hoof into Discord’s chest. “And you!”

Shining Armor shrank as she turned to him.

“Why would you work with him? What drove you to this? You don’t need the money!” she hissed. He hung his head. 

“I know it was wrong - but I was getting desperate,” he quietly explained. “Every lead went cold, every spell foiled, and I missed you more than anything. I hoped that working with him...I could get somewhere. I didn’t want anything to do with the con -”

“He hoped that the real Fluttershy would show up to an audition to get to her family, or at least try to use my magic to locate her, but,” Discord interrupted,”with the magic ban, I have to retain a low profile.”

“Why would you need a low profile? You’re just a unicorn,” Cadance asked. Discord shook his head. “Not a unicorn...Shining who did you bring into this?”
---
An hour later, the show ended, although eight ponies couldn’t remember what had happened in the second act. The Royal Family had been too upset to really watch the show after the unicorn came into their box and had to spoil their evening. The Duchess’ and Princess’s plan to keep their mother in a fair mood, which had already been on the verge of failing in the first place, lay in shambles, and Celestia just looked ahead from the rest of the family, lost in her own thoughts. Sombra tried to think of anything and everything to snap her out of it, and Luna, upset for her family and sister, had left after the confrontation, mumbling something of seeing to the dreamworld and taking care of her domain. Cadance was silent, stressed by the truths she had been told and the inevitable betrayal on her part coming as soon as they entered their carriage. 

“Driver,” she said quietly,” I am staying at the palace tonight, can we stop by my apartments to pick up my things?”

The driver nodded curtly, and closed the door behind her as she entered the carriage, disappearing around to the front. Cadance settled down next to her uncle with a sigh, and looked at her cousins, who were either trying to conceal disappointment badly, or anger just as badly, picking at helms of skirts or rubbing a stand of mane neurotically. Her uncle was looking sadly at his wife, and she just watched out the window as the opera house was pulled out of view as they slowly ascended into the sky. 

And then her view was of the opposite wall of the carriage as it suddenly careened right, and began flying faster than the driver normally would’ve, and should’ve gone. The rest of the family was thrown topsy-turvy in the carriage as well. Once righted, Sombra banged his hoof on the the small window-door to the driver. 

“What is the meaning of this? I demand you slow down immediately!” he shouted, trying to pry the door open, only to have it pulled shut under his hoof. “Ugh!”

Celestia craned her head out the window at her side, blinded momentarily by the harsh, cold wind that buffeted against her. The driver was flying at a speed that no normal pegasus should be able to fly.  She called out to him, and he slowly turned his head to her. Instead of their regular driver, she saw the once familiar face of Discord. There was a flash, and the pony body was gone, replaced by the drake-like one of the spirit of chaos.

“Discord! What is going on?” she shouted, horn glowing threateningly. He scowled and suddenly they were landing, and the princess was thrown once again to the side of the carriage. She righted herself, and looked at the rest of her family. Pinkie and Rarity looked sick to their stomachs, Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked ready to fight, and Cadance...Cadance wouldn’t meet her eye, guilty. She looked outside, recognizing the house not as the princess of love’s, but of her fiance’s. “Cadance? What are we doing here?”

“Auntie Celestia, don’t be angry,” the young mare prefaced. “But there is something you need to know.”

Before she could continue, and before Celestia could demand an answer, the door of the carriage opened harshly, revealing Discord. Sombra growled and tried to lunge at him, but with a snap of a talon, found himself pressed back into the seats.

“I’ve already been attacked enough tonight, thank you very much, and that was me disguised as a conman,” Discord said, monotone, before turning to Celestia. “And you, Sunbutt, are going to chill for one whole minute.”

“You...were the conman? Why in Tartarus would you bring a fake Fluttershy? As some cruel joke?” she hissed. So much for chilling. 

“She wasn’t fake!” Cadance interjected. “She’s the real Fluttershy!”

“Cadance, Discord is a trickster and a liar! He’s probably fooled you,” Celestia reprimanded, gaining a groan from the chaos spirit. 

“My gods, it’s not like I helped get you out of the siege or anything. You’re welcome, by the way,” he said.” But this is legitimately her. Just look at her! Look at the necklace she has! And guess what she vaguely remembers? The aforementioned siege! And that was without any influence on my part! And she has amnesia, to top it off, so for her to remember that out of everything is something.”

Celestia looked between her niece and the spirit in disbelief. “But, we searched Ponyville extensively…”

“Did you check the orphanage? Because that’s where she’s been,” Discord replied. The family looked at each in shock - they assumed that anyone would have recognized her and brought her to authorities. “Look, I know things have gone horribly for the past few years. I know people have used you, and that I have tried to be one of those people - but that was before I fell- before I realized the mare I found was your duchess. And things have gone just as badly for her.

“Just...go and talk to her, and then you can cast your judgment,” he finished. Sombra and Celestia looked at each other, unsure of whether or not to do it. They had been lied to too many times, and despite the speech from the most unlikely sources, they were unsure of whether or not to truly trust him. There was a soft click, and suddenly a small blue box was in front of their muzzles. 

“Our music box!” Twilight exclaimed. “I thought... it was lost forever…”

“It plays our lullaby,” Rarity softly cooed, gently enveloping it in her magic and pulled it closer to her and her sisters. “It only works if all keys are there though, right?” 

Celestia nodded, looking at the box nestled between her daughters. 

“Then, maybe it’s worth seeing if it is her,” Pinkie said, rubbing her pendant with a hoof. “Then we could play the song! And then it might trigger her memory!” 

“Please Ma? This is possibly the last chance we have,” Applejack asked, solemnly. Celestia looked at the pleading faces of her children, then to her husband, who nodded, then to Discord, who wasn’t looking at them, instead looking forlornly at a dark window in the house. She sighed.

“You’re all right,” she said. “But I will see her first before any of you do. To make sure it isn’t a trick.”

“I don’t think it is,” Cadance said. “ I ran multiple spells when I first met her. There were no illusions, nothing.”

Celestia said nothing, but stepped down from the carriage and past Discord. The rest followed like ducklings behind her into the house. Discord stayed in place and watched as the window lit up, and saw the shadowed form of Celestia in the room. She entered as Discord was watching down below and softly lit the lights, just in case the mare that could have been her child was asleep. But instead she found an empty room, with no signs of life in it save for a few bags from a few shops around the city, an old tattered coat, a wilting flower on the boudoir…

Next to a familiar, glittering pendant with a shining pink gem in its center.  But the mare who it belonged to was long gone. 

“Fluttershy…?”