What could it be?
The elegant light bathed throne that once belonged to Celestia was now shrouded in unnatural darkness. It was no longer occupied by an Alicorn. Where the Sun Monarch once sat was now seated a Draconequus. He slouched in his marvelous throne while tapping his claw on the grand arm while deep in his thoughts. Discord had enslaved ponies for his amusement, turned all four princesses into stone and even corrupted the Tree of Harmony into a Tree of Disharmony. There was nothing left to stop him.
It wasn’t an easy plan but with a bit of help with some greedy Diamond Dogs the dirty work practically took care of itself. He had bought their loyalty with the promise of precious gems. What he gave them however was just another of his cruel tricks. Before they carried out their first labor he had cursed them. They saw him granting the valuable stones to them for their efforts, but in truth all he gave them was common rocks. Not a single one of the poor hounds saw past his deception and even after eight years it still brought a grin to his face.
Discord had it all. He had the throne, the kingdom and everything in it. Everything he wanted and everypony he wanted was his for the taking. He won and yet he felt somehow unfulfilled. There was something missing. He couldn’t quite make out what he didn’t have but the void was all too clear. He turned his head to the window and glanced at the chaotic world outside; his marvelous world crafted in his own image.
“What am I missing?” Discord muttered to himself with a groan.
Discord was roused from his thoughts as the grand doors to his chamber opened. Two of his altered Diamond Dogs entered. Between them was a pony hiding beneath a heavy cloak and hood.
“We’re sorry to interrupting you, Lord of Chaos.” said one of the guard dogs. ”We’ve found this pony snooping around the castle.”
He snapped out of his thoughts and into reality. ”Somepony snooping?” He growled as he turned to face the two guard dogs and a mysterious clothed pony. “Sneaking into my castle…who would be so brave and yet dumb enough to be snooping in my castle to face certain punishment?”
Discord raised his clawed hand and snapped his talons. The cloak fell from the figure and his eyes fell on the face of a pony he had not seen in a long time. Discord found himself looking into the face of Fluttershy.
“Well, if it isn’t my old friend Fluttershy.” Discord said with a cold grin. “What brings you here?”
Fluttershy didn’t respond. She remained silent while staring at him with a sad expression.
“Your king asked you a question!” one of the hounds snapped as he grabbed the back of her neck and squeezed.
Fluttershy grunted in pain but refused to show weakness or fear. She refused to yelp or protest. The Lord of Chaos just watched a while as the dog continued to fail at getting an answer from the mare. Discord soon grew quite irritated with the display and equally impatient with the growing incompetence of the guard.
“Enough you numskull mutts!” Discord shouted at the dogs. ”I didn’t give your permission to hurt her!” Discord paw and claw departed from his torso and each grabbed an ear of a dog. The detached hands then forced the two ensnared heads together rather sharply. The hounds both yelped in pain and the one who was holding Fluttershy let go of her tender flesh.
Discord’s hands flew back to his wrists and screwed themselves back onto his body. “I’ll deal with you two later, for now leave me alone with my new….guest.” he said with a cold tone.
The Diamond Dogs fled the room while groaning in pain. Clearly there was no pride left in the once powerful pack.
“So…” Discord said calmly as he began circling around her. ”Why did my guards have to find you sneaking around my home? Is my front door not good enough for you?”
“I'm sorry...I...I...” she began to stutter. Fluttershy take a deep breath as she gathered her courage. She refused to show fear to the tyrant. ”I...I just want to talk to you.”
Discord leaned closer and his walking became slithering. His body coiled around her as he sniffed and inspected her. When he failed to find anything suspicious on her body he paused in his small journey. His eyes fixed themselves on hers.
“Fine. Talk away but this had better be with my time.” Discord said more in a composed tone. “I have a lot of chaos planned. I didn’t leave much room for unexpected guests. Now my guards on the other hand; I bet they’d love to chat if I find you boring.” Discord slithered off her body while his tail flicked her chin. He put himself back on his throne and his eyes became cold as he watched her.
Fluttershy slowly gulp and tried to relax. She refused to give Discord the satisfaction of her fear. ”I want things back the way they were...before… well...to your old self.”
Discord’s cold stare turned into an amused one.
“Oh this request never gets tired.” Said the new King of Equestria. “I happen to like myself for who I really am. I’m merely following my heart. What’s so wrong with that?”
“What’s wrong with that? Look around you. You’ve turned everypony into slaves, turned all the princesses into stone and sent massive chaos throughout Equestria! That’s...That’s…”
“Fair.” Discord interrupted with a flat tone. ”I call it fair.” He spawned a crystal orb and let it slowly orbit around his paw. ”They trapped me in stone and first thing they do when I came out is try to make me use my powers for their own plans; for their Equestria. Did any of you really think that I would just take that injustice and insult quietly? At first I played nice but soon they all were treating me like a slave who was just there to do them favors. I was just another tool for them to use whenever they pleased.”
“I'm sorry...I….I never thought of it like that.” Fluttershy softly apologized as she bowed her head down.
“But you’re thinking about it now, aren’t you?” Discord retorted as he tossed the crystal orb towards her. As it flew it left a trail of smoke and had fully dissolved before striking her chin. ”Look at me. Right into my eyes. I earned this, my dear Fluttershy.”
“You're not a monster” She said quietly.
Discord let out a small smirk.
“I know that. There’s nothing monstrous about what I’m doing. I’m merely taking my throne back.” The King of Chaos flicked her chin with his tail as he spoke. A subtle hint of amusement escaped his voice.
The timid Pegasus sighed her sadness. There was nothing she could think of left to do. Discord had clearly made his choice and it wasn’t going to change anytime soon, if even at all.
“I’m sorry...I wasted your time...Lord Discord.” Fluttershy sadly said, bowing to him before turning to leave.
Discord thought back to the days before he ruled Equestria. He could never forget what they’d shared together. Even if it wasn’t as much trouble as he could cause he was content with Fluttershy. If only he could kept both Fluttershy and his kingdom. But he couldn’t, could he? Certainly not now. He made a choice and now the decision felt heavy. Did he made a mistake? Was the crown on his head worth the hole in his heart? There could be a possible solution to make it better, a Queen. Yes; that was what he was missing in his life. Someone by his side loving him for entity and sharing the beauty of chaos. What would he be without one? A dead end in his life. No line. No descendants. No future. But with a queen, he could start a family that could enjoy everything he loved dearly while ruling with a chaos fist. His entirety will live on as long he’ll live. And right in front of him was the only candidate he’d consider.
Before she could reach the door Discord used his magic to turn her around and pull her close to him.
”No, stay awhile...this is actually interesting.” Discord spoke calmly as he grinned like a fiend.
“W-What?” Fluttershy stammered as she stood visibly stunned by his request.
“You came all this way to my doorstep so why the rush?” Discord asked. He paused for an answer and when it never came he continued. ”Unless you’d rather be in the company of my guards?”
The timid Pegasus slowly gulped and shook her head; knowing how guard dogs would likely act.
“Good answer...They tend to get...well, never mind about that.” Discord spawned two teacups front of them as well as a steaming kettle which generously filled both cups. ”Take it.”
Fluttershy was slightly confused and frightened at Discord’s sudden change in tone. Discord was not exactly famous for showing kindness after taking the throne. For a moment she saw a glimmer of the Draconequus she once knew but had to question whether or not it was real. She slowly took the tea cup and started looking at her reflection in the mellow brew.
Discord loudly chomped on the end of his teacup before slowly sipping it.
“How is that obnoxious rodent? Angel, who treats you like a doormat and food dispenser?”
Fluttershy didn’t respond back to him. She let the silence hold dominion.
“Seriously now?” Discord chewed the rest of his remaining teacup hearing a small explosion in his throat. ”I asked a question and I get nothing?” The Draconequus rolled his eyes. “After telling me that you’d rather visit me than the guards you contribute to the conversation with nothing to say.”
“He's...gone.” Her voice cracked as her eyes began drip liquid regret into her tea. ”I have no one left.”
“Oh. He ran away? Such an ungrateful creature.” Discord slithered beside her and wrapped his arms around the mare. Fluttershy slowly raised her foreleg to push him back. “And what do you mean by ‘I have no one left?’ You miss having me around! Why else would you come all the way out here for me?”
Fluttershy shook her head.
“He’d passed away. I only came to try to convince you to turn things back they were before you took over Equestria. I want it back. I want our friendship back. I have nothing left but memories of us!”
Discord paused as he backed away. He was growing weary of her tiresome request.
“So...you’re telling me...that you want me to turn everything back. Now you want me to turn everything back...now that you lost angel?” His eyes became narrow as he stared into her eyes. ”You waited until after you lost your rabbit before you came to ask me? Now that you need me: You’re suddenly around waiting me to use my powers...that sounds very familiar. Almost like something two Alicorns once said to me.”
“It’s not like that.” She replayed as she slowly stepped back.
“Well my dear Fluttershy, you thought wrong! You think I’ll let a…selfish pony make me chose her request over my kingdom?”
“B-But what can you gain with the world in chaos? I mean you’ll have fun but you’ll be ruling it all alone...with no friends.”
“I don’t need friends. I have my kingdom in order.”
“But...everypony needs somepony. Tell me; you’ve felt like something has been missing haven't you?” Fluttershy gently took his paw.
“You don’t have any proof.” He pointed out yanking his paw from her.
“The way you talk. Your voice echoes your loneliness.”
Discord couldn’t decide whether to call the guard dogs to take her away or claim her as his queen and be done with it. It was in her nature to see past his coarse exterior but he could not let her get under his skin. Especially not when his plan depended on getting under hers.
He let out a fiendish chuckle. “You’re right. I’m lonely.” He slowly closer to her and gently dragged his claw along her back; sending chills as it moved. ”It’s tough of the top. I deserve a companion. I deserve a mate. But where oh where in my kingdom should I look first? Oh, I know…why not under my own roof?”
“I-I don’t understand.” Fluttershy stuttered as she tried to focus on anything other than the claw.
“A king who rules alone is sad situation indeed; but a king without heirs is downright tragic.” His claw glided up her shoulder and along her neck. ”You already know I’m very lonely...I can’t hide that from you. But don’t worry about me. I have a solution for everything.”
“What?”
He lift her chin by his claw and slowly leaned towards her ear.
“My queen.” He softly whispered as his claw traced her mane.
Fluttershy let out a small gasp. ”M-me! A q-queen?!” She asked as she stepped back from his presence.
The tyrant suddenly vanished and appeared behind her. He gently laid his hands on her shoulders.
“With my queen by my side we’ll have no pony stopping us from doing whatever we want. There will be no one telling us what to do…and it will be a rule worth living.”
The notion echoed in her head. To be his queen was a surprising suggestion and yet to be confronted by it made sense. She did trot right into it. As her mind raced for something to say she kept going back to the same two words. Why me?
“T-This so sudden Discord.” The timid mare finally said as the weight of the situation fully settled.
He gently began to rub her shoulders as if trying to make her more relaxed. ”Maybe. But why say no? You’ll have everything you want in my power.”
“But I couldn’t betray my friends.”
“Those naive friends you have that never appreciated your kindness? The ones who treated you like nothing but a doormat?”
Before he could glide his mismatched hands into her mane again Fluttershy pulled away from him once more.
“No...they love me and I love them” Fluttershy said as she fought to not fall sway to his words and wiles.
Discord calmly drew closer and lifted her chin to look up at his eyes. Discord had made up his mind. He had to have her. This was what he was missing. He needed her but he could not simply take her. His queen needed to not just sit beside him but to also smile with him. Every trick in his arsenal was fair game.
“I can give you more than love than ever if you would only accept.” Discord said in a calm and polite tone as his eyes shifted colors inconsistently.
Fluttershy knew why his eyes had changed their hue. This was part of the spell he used to warp the minds of ponies. This was the spell once used on her friends. She tried to look away but could not bring herself to avert her gaze. She could not even blink. Her mind felt lighter and at ease as it began to slip under his power.
“No..I…”Fluttershy fought to block him out. She couldn’t lose her mind like this. She refused to give in but could feel her resolve failing.
“Love me my queen of chaos” the Draconequus softly said as he leaned closer. He drew into her personal space and carefully pressed his lips against hers.
He’d deeply missed the sweet kiss of hers. That single moment confirmed that this is what he had been missing. Discord needed nothing except for his precious mare to wear a crown. Fluttershy couldn’t help but to return the kiss. The trance compelled her but also a small part of her heart wanted him. She silently admitted that she still harbored feelings for him. In that moment she found strength. She could not love him like this. With a solitary jolt she broke from his embrace.
“No! This isn't right” Fluttershy said angrily. ”Ponies are supposed to fall in love; it’s not something you can force. Otherwise you’ll just end up hurting each other.”
“Oh please.” he said as he snapped his claw. Fluttershy blinked and found herself seated on a throne with a crown adorning her head. ”I couldn’t possibly hurt my love. I want to treat you with the love and respect that such a goddess deserves. Remember back before all this? We had something real special before you stopped coming to see me.”
“Yes...we did.” Fluttershy softly admitted. ”But now i just don’t know if this is love or if it’s just another trick to get what you want.”
Discord place his paw over his heart and got down on one knee. ”Why would I lie about something like this?” Discord asked with a sincere tone.
Fluttershy removed the crown on her and resolved to reason with the new king. ”You caused so much trouble for everypony. How could I believe that you’d truly love me like I loved you?”
The tyrant slowly strokes his beard thinking how to best show her. He thought and thought of what to do to prove his words. He needed to win but he clearly had to do it in a way that showed he cared. No hypnotic trick could do that. He smiled as an image crept into his head. He had no tricks to lean on but he did have a memory.
“Let me show you something. Something that maybe you forgot about.”
Abruptly in front of her she saw a grand mirror appear. The glass shimmered and her reflection was gone. It began to show an image of a lake reflecting the moon and stars. The water was surrounded by wildflowers that were not common to Equestria. A gentle and warm summer breeze drifted through the mirror. Past the mirror she saw a setting sun out the window, but in the magical portal the moon was at its apex. She couldn’t believe it was still there and untouched by the spreading chaos. Memorious flowed into her. She could vividly picture many evenings they enjoyed there; especially their first kiss without being pressured.
“Our Night Mirror.” Both said softly.
“Y-You remembered?” Fluttershy muttered as she came down from the throne and stepped closer to the image.
“I could never forget what we shared together. I see it as if it was yesterday. I wouldn’t dare lay my chaos in that place. It’s to precious to me the way it is...like you are.”
Her precious memories were followed by her smile. She could never forget the past but the present came back. She frowned thinking of how much things really changed for Equestria since Discord took the crown. All the things she couldn’t bear to think about turned her memories sour.
“It was before you changed.”
Discord growled as she looked away from the mirror. His claw glowed and she was lifted from the ground. Patience was slipping away like sand through his claw. His eye twitched and the mirror exploded. Fluttershy was flung to the wall. In the mirror’s place was a small crystal orb that shimmered the way the mirror did.
“I’ll say it once. I’m being nice to you my love.” He groaned. ”Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave.”
Fluttershy stared at him with a terrified look. All thoughts of him still being the kind Draconequus had shattered when she hit the wall. Discord the gentle giant was gone. All that remained was Discord the monster.
“I knew it. You don’t really love me.” Her voice began to crack as fear seized her heart.
“You're imaging things. I really love you.”
The terrified mare started to slide down the wall and cower. He could see her visibly shaking. He knew that a show of power had made things worse. Anger would solve nothing. He needed to relax and stop showing her his rage. He sighed and continued to look down at the mare who was now tightly curled up into a ball and whispering to herself.
”It’s not real...it’s not real.”
“It’s very real my dear” he calmly said as he stepped towards Fluttershy. The crystal flew to his side. Discord knelt down and gently uncurled the trembling mare. ”Look how happy we’ll be.”
The terrified Pegasus kept her eyes shut and shook her head. ”No, I won’t look!”
“If not your eyes then your mind will do just as well.”
The chaos trickster slowly pushed the orb into her head. The blackness was replaced by an image of herself and Discord looking very happy together. Beside them was their three children playing together in a lovely garden filled with mysterious plants she never seen before in her life. She blinked and found herself in the field rather than looking into it. The serenity, the warmth of the sun, the sound of laughing children and the almost intoxicating peace was more than she ever felt when she was a filly. She could look at her memories of her friends and animals without regret but rather with a happiness to have had known them. Even the thought of Angel made her smile.
Suddenly she was tackled by the loving three children. Fluttershy looked down at the one hugging her on the left. She was an Earth Pony filly with a pink coat. Her mane mixed with purple and white swirls matched with her eyes. On top of her head was a propeller hat. On the right was another Earth Pony filly who had a light cerulean coat. She had a light cobalt bluish gray mane and moderate fuchsia eyes. Out of Fluttershy’s mane popped out a tiny babbling miracle. Fluttershy gently took the third child into her forelegs and beheld a foal hybrid with a brown coat and black mane. He had swirling red and light red eyes and a lone fang sharp tooth. Like his father he had a lion paw for his right front leg and two mismatched wings and a snake tail.
There was only one conclusion she could reach about the precious ponies vying for her attention.
“My little ones...my babies…” she softly muttered.
Discord place his talons on her shoulder leaning a bit towards her. ”This could be our family. They could be our happy children."
The young foal in her legs softly yawned and gently nuzzled her before drifting off to sleep.
Fluttershy couldn’t help but tear up of the thought of being a mother. She would sometimes wonder what it be like. She always imagined it would be like taking care of her animals but more precious and personal. She brought the foal close to her hugging him tightly. She never want to let him go.
“My little Screwdriver.” she softly said as if she had done so countless times.
“We love you mama.” The pink filly said.
“Very much.” The other filly said.
The children clung to her as if she was their entire world.
“Please don’t leave us.” The pink filly begged.
“We’ll miss you.”
Tears started to fall as she held them closer. Even if it wasn’t real she didn’t want to let go. ”I won’t. I won’t ever leave you Screwball. Screwloose. Screwdriver.”
“What do you say Fluttershy? Would you want a family?” Discord asked.
Her mind raced. In the midst of everything Discord could possibly do was this. In the middle of all his chaos and all his selfishness was this. Being a mother…having a family…this greatly outweighed her fears and worries. For the first time Discord sounded genuine; it was as if the thought of children calmed his wild heart. Maybe, just maybe Equestria would be calm again.
“Yes. I would” the gentle mare whispered as she nuzzled their foals.
The mismatched creature grinned as things fell into place.
“But on one condition” the Pegasus softly said as she looked up from the children nestled into her.
He slowly changed his reaction to a slightly confused one. ”And what might that be?”
“Will you please turn everything back to normal? I want to raise our family in this type of this world. Not one filled with chaos.”
Discord had felt a small crack in his mind as he heard it. He was so close that time and yet she still kept firm. With a snap of his talon the serenity of the peaceful field was gone and replaced by the reality of the castle. Fluttershy went from sitting with their children to standing on her hooves.
“They be fine with chaos. After all they’re my spawn with chaos blood in them.”
“B-But so will my blood. They be part of me too. I want to raise them up to be good foals. Please Discord.” she quickly replied as she looked up at him with teary eyes. ”Please let me have this…and I will be your queen.”
“That’s my girl.” He quietly said as he wiped away her tears. ”I’ll start arranging our wedding tomorrow night. Everypony shall know the new Queen of Chaos.”
Fluttershy slowly backed away from him.
“Will...you free my friends and make everything normal again?”
He let out a mischievous laugh. ”You still think I would agree to it? You thought wrong! Look all around you Fluttershy. Everything is all mine. My opponents are my slaves. The Princesses are stone and harmony as they knew it is dead.”
Fluttershy didn’t know what to believe anymore. She just saw Discord as the loving creature he once was and in an instant the beast was back. She could see a glimmer of hope but the futility was once again overwhelming. The shock was just too much. What could she believe or trust? Moments of silence between them became minutes. Discord slowly bent down and gently traced his talon through her mane
“Can’t think straight? Let me help you relax and clear your mind…it’s the right thing to do.” He spoke as he leaned closer
Before she could respond she felt his trance spell again. What’s the use of fighting his magic? There was no bastion from him or the uncontrollable chaos. She slowly let herself slip through despair and into his spell. Something was odd this time though. There was a tiny something in her mind that seemed to be a shield. There was something amidst the chaos that kept her from falling completely into the abyss. Discord withdrew his claw and she exhaled heavily.
“Now, who do you love again and what’s normal?” Discord asked patiently as he stared into her eyes to see if his plan worked.
Fluttershy slowly rose up looking at him with a warm smile. ”You.”
She tackled him with a big hug slowly nuzzled him. ”I love you Discord. Everything is normal; especially chaos.”
One thought burned in the Draconequus’ mind. He had finally done it. His carefully structured scheme worked. He now had a queen to complete in his life. He truly smiled for the first time in many years as he began to slowly stroke her mane with his paw.
“My lord of chaos.“ The hypnotic mare said as she nuzzling him more.
“My queen.” He replied while slowly leaning towards her. Discord softly kissed her for the first time in years.
Fluttershy returned the kiss as if to say how she never stopped loving him. She held him in the liplock as if to say that she would give him forever and a day.
“I can’t wait to be a mother.”
“I know you’ll be a very great mother and queen. Shall we get comfy in our throne sweetheart?”
Fluttershy nodded in response. By the snap of his mismatch hand he spawned up a throne for her with butterflies on top matching her cutie mark. It also bore a bright coated yellow and fluffy cushion.
“Yay.” She softly shouted as she hopped up onto her throne and got comfortable.
He appeared beside her on his own throne. ”I hope you're comfortable. This is a lovely beginning for us as well as a new age of chaos.”
“I am...my love.”
They both gazed outside of the perfect view of the beauty of chaos. Discord had finally had everything in his life. His kingdom was finally complete. Nothing could ruin this perfect moment in life.
Fluttershy took a deep breath and sunk into her seat. She looked at his crown and could see her reflection.
She watched her eyes slowly dull as the last speck of her element faded into nothing.