Discord never stopped looking for his wife, Fluttershy: who disappeared after she went to an important conference in Baltimare...nearly two years ago....
Discord never stopped looking for his wife, Fluttershy: who disappeared after she went to an important conference in Baltimare...nearly two years ago....
But when the case goes cold after the first few months of her disappearance, Discord takes it upon himself to continue with the search. And he will not rest until he finds her; Dead or alive.
It was a rainy day in Ponyville. The pegasi had scheduled the rain about a week before, but it would still be a few more days before the sun would shine once again.
On this particular rainy day, Discord finally convinced his wife, Fluttershy, to get out of their cottage and go for a nice walk. Hoping that the fresh air and bright sunshine would lift her spirits and cheer her up, but the weather proved to be anything but pleasant. For it only seemed to have dampened her already darkened mood.
The last couple of years have been worse than a living Tartarus for Fluttershy, and after everything she’d been through, she finally built up enough courage to leave the safety of her home and return to the outside world once more.
She was a strong mare, and no pony knew that as much as Discord did. Everypony in town sympathized with her, and although they showed nothing but kindness and compassion toward her since she returned, none of them had truly known what she had gone through.
Discord held a magical force field around them to keep them out of the rain as they walked toward the Ponyville Clinic, but it did nothing to lighten the somber mood the couple was already in. It was a silent, yet awkward walk for the two lovers.
As their destination drew closer, Fluttershy found it harder and harder to walk toward the towering, almost intimidating, white and pink building. However, the stitches on the scar of her recently operated wound on the side of her barrel hindered her every movement, making her stiff with each step she took. She felt like she was just getting farther and farther away from her destination, then closer to it. Approaching it not only felt a little frightening for her emotionally but physically uncomfortable as well.
Seeing her start to struggle both physically and emotionally, Discord broke the silence between them and softly asked, “Are you sure you don’t want me to teleport us to the doctor?” Feelings of worry and care for his wife deeply entwined into his words and voice.
Fluttershy shook her head, “Nurse Redheart said that walking would help heal my wounds. I can do this,” Fluttershy answered, giving him a small smile.
Discord could hear the strain in her voice. He didn’t want her to go through more pain than she already had. “Let me carry you on my back at least, you may hurt yourself,” he offered kindly, dropping on all fours so she could climb on his back.
Fluttershy gently placed her wing on the worried draconequus’ shoulder, trying to reassure the former Lord of Chaos. “I’m okay.”
Upon reaching the hospital, a nurse quickly guided them to the psychiatric ward of the clinic. After a few minutes of sitting in the waiting room, a beige colored earth pony with an orange mane and wearing a white medical coat, approached the couple to introduce himself. “Hello, Mrs. Fluttershy. I’m Dr. Tranquility, your designated psychiatrist. Please come in.”
The psychiatrist room was very similar to all the other hospital rooms Fluttershy had spent time in the last weeks, the same dull white walls, however, had motivational posters hanging everywhere. A nice beige carpet covered the rooms floor, its welcoming softness underneath Fluttershy’s hooves reminded her of the grass on her cottage garden, setting her mind more at ease. A comfy red chair sat next to a glass table with the classic psychiatrist sofa right in front of them. At the back of the room, the doctors’ dark wooden table and chair held a vase with a single white tulip in it. Its leaves swayed in the cool breeze coming through a nearby open window.
Despite still being part of the hospital, the room emanated a calming and relaxing feeling. It had to, for it was in this room that the patients would endure the pain of recalling and sharing their horrible memories, in hope of finally achieving peace once again.
As the couple entered the pleasant room, the doctor dragged an additional chair with his mouth for Discord to sit. “Please, make yourselves comfortable,” he said, placing the new chair beside the sofa.
Once everypony had settled, Doctor Tranquility shut the door and grabbed his notebook and quill. “So, Mrs. Fluttershy, we are here today to try and help you cope with the PTSD you developed after your… traumatic experience, correct?”
Fluttershy numbly nodded in agreement.
“Well, it is my belief that the best way to face, and eventually overcome any kind of problem is sharing it with supportive friends and family, so I feel it would benefit if you could share your experience with us, as well as Mr. Chaos’ account of what he was going through during your absence.” The doctor said, gesturing to Discord. “But don’t worry, if either of you find it too difficult or don’t want to recall any specific events, we can take a break and skip that part, alright?”
Fluttershy nodded again, swallowing the nervous lump in her throat. She felt Discord put his arm around her in comfort.
“We can begin whenever you’re ready.”
Fluttershy took a deep breath and began to tell her tale.
It was a pleasant, cool night in the coastal city of Baltimare. I was attending an annual meeting for members of the Equestrian Society of the Preservation of Rare Creatures. The meeting had dragged on a bit later than I expected, but it was a pleasant event nonetheless. I left the conference room later that afternoon.
The big city felt like a maze to me, as I only have been here a couple of times before, and I soon found myself lost. I spread my wings and took off into the sky, hoping to try to find any recognizable landmark, when I heard somepony call me from a distance.
“Excuse me, are you Fluttershy?” A light grey pegasus asked me from the ground on other side of the street. His cyan blue mane and cutie mark of three silver stars seemed vaguely familiar to me, but I couldn’t really remember him.
“Y-yes?” I replied as I landed in front of him.
“Thank Celestia, I need your help!” The stallion pleaded.
“What’s your name?” I had to ask.
“You don’t remember me? I’m Star Struck. I was one of Photo Finish’s assistants when you worked for her as a fashion model.”
That’s why this stallion seemed familiar!
Now that I was familiar with this stallion, I let myself relax a little. “What’s the matter?”
“My pet cat is sick, I tried calling a vet but everypony is asleep! You’re good with animals, right? Could you come with me and help my cat?” He asked desperately.
I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to follow him, but it would be hard for him to find a vet this late. After pondering for a few minutes, I decided to help him.
“Alright, but I should go home and tell my husband first…”
“No! There’s no time! You must come now!” he grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away.
“I should at least send him a letter...he’ll be so worried…”
“My cat doesn’t have that kind of time! Please! Time is of the essence! He’ll die if he does not get medical help!”
With some hesitation, I relented and let him guide me away. The grey stallion led me toward a somber neighborhood, the tall apartments of the central district leaving way for smaller, crumpled up houses. As we reached the end of a dead end street, we arrived at a simple, yet cozy looking house.
The stallion grabbed his keys with his wings and opened the door, beckoning me inside with a hoof. “He’s in the basement, I left him there because it’s warmer.”
As I navigated through the dark house, I found my way to the stairs that led down into the basement. I descended the stairs and looked around the room but couldn’t find any trace of the sick cat. “He doesn’t seem to be down he...” The sound of a door slamming shut took over the words I was speaking, but then I figured that Star Struck just shut the door to prevent the cat from leaving from wherever he was hiding. As I continued to walk around, looking through shelves or anywhere a frightened sick cat might hide, I was approached from behind and felt a soaked piece of cloth was press against my muzzle. I tried to fight back, but his grip only got tighter and tighter as my mind slowly slipped away...
I had no idea how much time had passed when I gained back consciousness. There were no windows in the basement I was in, so I didn’t even know if the sun was still up or not. I tried to get up from where I was lying on the floor, but I couldn’t seem to move my legs. When I looked down at them, I saw that all four limbs had been tied together with rope. The rough material it was made of scratched and pulled at my coat painfully. I tried to untie them using my teeth, but the knot was too tight and the rope harshly poked the insides of my mouth.
Hoping that there was somepony else in the house other than Star Struck, I called out for help.
“Help! Is anypony else here?! Please help!”
“There’s no pony else here, Fluttershy.” A dark sinister voice said from the shadows. I flattened my ears in fright. Hearing his voice in the darkness without being able to physically see him washed an icy dread over me.
“Why are you doing this?” I cried. "I already promised you that I would help your cat!"
Star Struck emerged from the shadows with a wicked grin on his face. "Oh Fluttershy, don't you see? There is no cat."
My brows furrowed in confusion, "What?"
He chuckled darkly, "That's right. You are so gullible, not to mention predictable. All I had to do was mention an animal in distress and you would follow me anywhere I go."
I was stunned. "But...why?"
"Ever since I first saw you working as a fashion model under the eye of Photo Finish, I became obsessed..."
I didn't need to ask what it was he became obsessed with...
I tried to protectively cover as much of my body with my tail as I could. Never had I been so grateful for my tail extensions.
My mind blocked out the rest of what he was saying, as I was too overcome with my own thoughts and emotions to pay attention to anything else.
“...And now you’re mine...” he finished with what sounded like a predatory growl. Before I could fully come to terms with what was happening...he attacked. He was a lot stronger than he looked and with my only means of defense tightly bound together, I....I couldn’t fight him. I still tried to wiggle and struggle out from under him...but he slapped a hoof hard across my face and I blacked out....
Back to present:
Fluttershy had to stop. She had a hoof over her mouth to keep from crying out from the pain and horror her memories from everything that had happened to her brought, and were still bringing two years later. Tears rushed down her face as she chocked out a sob and buried her face in Discord’s chest, who gently wrapped his arms around her, trying to protect her from the cruel world around her.
Both the doctor and her husband didn’t speak a word. Understanding that she needed to get everything out that was pent up inside. It was all part of the healing process.
They all knew, however, the road to healing for Fluttershy was a very long and bumpy one.
Fluttershy finally pulled away from where her face was buried within Discord’s fur, now soaked from all her tears. Fluttershy wiped her eyes with a hoof. “I...I’m sorry...I’ve barely started and I’m already crying.”
“There is absolutely nothing to apologize for, my dear Fluttershy.” Discord said firmly but gently. He put a claw under her chin and gently tilted it up so he could meet her eyes. “That’s why we’re here. Anypony that had to go through what you did would be the same way. Maybe even worse.” He pushed back a strand of pink hair that fell over her face behind her ear. He then put his hands on both sides of her face and brought her face to his to place a light kiss on her lips. Fluttershy seemed to calm down under his gentle and reassuring touch, but she still buried her face into Discord’s chest fur. She wasn’t sobbing anymore, but instead, she was hiccuping along with a few sniffles. Why did she always get hiccups after bawling her eyes out?
“I think, Mr Chaos, that you should tell your side of the story while Mrs. Fluttershy here calms down.”
Discord nodded solemnly, his paw still lingering on her back in comfort. He could feel his fur jump whenever his wife hiccuped.
Discord took a deep breath and began to recall his experiences.
I paced around the house with unease pricking at my skin. Fluttershy should have been home by now. The conference she was attending had been earlier in the afternoon.
But that had been hours ago.
The train to Baltimare was not very long, as Fluttershy had left our home earlier that morning. She had reassured me that as soon as the conference was over, she would get on the next train to Ponyville. I looked out the window and could see Celestia’s sun setting over the horizon. Tonight was the Summer Sun Celebration, And everypony in Ponyville gathered in the Town Square to celebrate and watch Princess Celestia lower the sun, and Princess Luna raise the moon. However, I was I no mood to celebrate.
Princess Twilight also had a role in the Summer Sun Celebration. At the precise moment both the sun and the moon were balenced with each other in sky, she would burst into the sky to mark the peak of twilight. I sighed heavily as I looked to the upside down counter-clockwise clock hanging on the wall. Which did nothing to ease my concern.
“Don’t panic, Discord,” I told myself, “I’m sure that there’s a very logical reason Fluttershy’s not home...Wow, never thought I would say that. Maybe she went right into town from the train station for the celebration and just forgot to tell me...Or maybe she just stopped by to see her friends...” I tried to convince myself that that was the case, but I knew deep down, that that wasn’t even a possibility.
I made a deal with myself. If Fluttershy was not home by the time the celebrations were over, I would then take matters into my own claws...
Hours after the celebration came to an end, and everypony had retreated back to their homes for some much needed sleep. But sleep was the last thing on my mind. Fluttershy was still not home.
The first thing I did was teleport myself to Twilight’s castle. The gemstones that made up the structure reflected the moonlight Luna’s moon provided, making them sparkle. I knocked on the door with urgency and didn’t stop until it was opened by Twilight herself. “Discord?” she said as she rubbed her eyes with sleepiness, “What are you doing here? It’s three o’clock in the morning!”
“Have you seen Fluttershy? Is she in there with you?” I stretched my neck to look around her to the inside of the castle.
“What?” Annoyance clearly evident in her voice. This is why she had been woken up from a peaceful sleep? To be asked about the whereabouts of her friend? Really?!
“What are you talking about, Discord? Fluttershy is at that conference for the ESPRC. You know that.”
“Yes, but she should’ve been home by now.” I said, trying to relay the sense of urgency of the situation to her.
Twilight yawned, “She probably wanted to stay and explore the sights of Baltimare for the day. I’m sure she will be back in the morning.” But just as I opened my mouth to dismiss the idea, Twilight slammed the door with a hasty ‘good night!’
I teleported to the other’s places of residence and was ultimately met with the same results. Rainbow Dash had been the crankiest of the six, who had made her feelings of irritation at being woken up quite prominent. Marking Rarity a close second. The only pony who seemed to be genuinely concerned was Applejack.
“Yer right, it’s not like Fluttershy ta not tell ya of her plans. Even if it was the las’ minute. She would’ve at least sent a note to ya or somethin’. I’d wait till mornin’ though, ya can’t do much tonight anyway. If she’s not back by then, come back, ya hear?”
I am grateful that Applejack was the only pony to take my worries seriously, but I was also disappointed that she hadn’t done anything about them. She had a point though, there wasn’t anything either of us could do at the moment.
Except wait. And I hated waiting.
However, before I teleported back home, I thought I would play a fun and innocent joke on the three mares that seemed to have completely fallen off the wrong side of the bed rather than simply getting up from the wrong side...
I teleported to each of the said mares’ doorstep. On each door I pinned three ribbons; one blue, one red, and one white.
I pinned the blue ribbon on Rainbow Dash’s door.
‘ 1st Place: Crankiest ‘
I pinned the red one on the entrance to Rarity’s shop, the Carousel Boutique.
‘ 2nd Place: Crankier ‘
Finally, I pinned the third one, a white ribbon on Princess Twilight’s castle door.
‘ 3rd Place: Cranky ‘
I smirked to myself as I imagined the looks on their faces when they came across their ‘prizes’ tomorrow.
I couldn’t bring myself to sleep, nor did I want to. I sat up all night staring out the window, hoping that at any moment I would see Fluttershy walking up the path that led to our home. But I never did. As soon as I saw the first glimpse of the sun peaking over the horizon, I teleported straight to Sweet Apple Acres and frantically knocked on the door. It wasn’t surprising when a bright eyed and bushy tailed Applejack opened the door.
“Howdy, Discord. What ya doin’ here this early in the mornin?”
“Fluttershy did not come home last night, Applejack. You told me to come straight here if she didn’t, remember?”
Applejack’s ears flattened and a look of pure terror washed over her. Last night was one thing, but now a full twenty-four hours have passed. I didn’t fail to notice the sudden change in Applejack’s demeanor. She went from bright and cheery, to scared and anxious quicker than I could snap my claws.
“Where did Fluttershy have her critter meetin’ at, Discord? Was it here in Ponyville?”
I shook my head, “No, her meeting for the ESPRC was held in Baltimare.”
Applejack put a hoof to her chin in thought, “Hmm, a’right; I reckon you go to Baltimare and search there. I’ll round up the other gals and any pony else who wants ta help, ta search Ponyville.”
I eagerly grabbed her hoof and shook it with much enthusiastic gratitude. “Oh, Thank you Applejack! I know that with everypony’s help, along with my magic, we’ll find her quickly!”
And with that, I teleported away.
Back to present:
As he was talking, Discord felt a small tap on his chest. He looked down to see Fluttershy looking up at him with shiny, big, round, teal eyes. They were no longer red and swollen and the only evidence she had been crying were the dried tear streaks down her cheeks. “Thanks Discord, but if you don’t mind, I would like to continue now.”
Discord gently wrapped his paw around her buttercream hoof, “Are you sure darling? I don’t want you to feel pressured to talk about anything you do not want to.”
Fluttershy softly shook her head, “Thanks Discord, I appreciate it, but this is something I have to do if I ever want to heal.”
“I understand that Fluttershy, I just don’t want you to think you have to reveal everything all at once. We are more than willing to take a break as need be. We can always come back another time. Don’t feel like you have to do it all in one sitting, okay?” He cupped her face in his paw and claw and gently placed his lips on her forward in a soft kiss. He pulled away and pushed a strand of pink hair that fell over her face behind her ear.
Fluttershy blinked gratefully at him. Then she looked at Dr. Tranquility to continue from where she left off.
Flutershy’ POV:
I groggily opened my eyes. For a brief moment, I thought I was back at home, lying beside Discord in our bed. I instinctively shifted over to snuggle in his warm fur...
The clattering sound of metal chains brought me back to the harsh reality.
I looked down and noticed that my rope bindings had been replaced with heavy metal shackles, which clasped and locked themselves around all four of my hooves. At least making it easier to stand up.
But as soon as I did, I was met with searing pain and almost collapsed from the intensity of it. My body suddenly felt very sore and it became very difficult to even push myself back up to my hooves from where I was doubled over in pain. I could also feel a large bruise beginning to form on the right side of my face from where Star Struck had struck me. Eventually, I succumbed to the pain and collapsed once again on the cold hard basement floor.
It was then I noticed the small amounts of blood trickling down my back legs. My eyes followed their path until I came across the tiny red puddles on the floor next to me.
The tears never stopped flowing, and neither did the self blame.
How could I have been so stupid!? I should’ve known better than to follow a strange stallion I’ve never met, even if there was a poor little animal in trouble. I should’ve told him to go see Dr. Fauna or some other vet pony. I’m such an idiot for letting him trick me so easily! I should’ve suspected something wasn’t right when he led me down into the basement! Those ponies back from flight camp were right to tease me; I truly am a weak, helpless, and naive little filly and I always will be... Everypony was right to call me a weak flyer, I couldn’t even fly away when I had the chance.
I kept screaming and reprimanding myself over and over again in my head. My legs couldn’t hold me up any longer as they crumbled beneath me from pain and exhaustion. I buried my face in my hooves as I sobbed even harder.
Oh, Discord; I am so sorry. It’s because of my foolishness that I’m not at home with you right now...”
I was too caught up in my own sorrow and anguish to hear him come up from behind. It wasn’t until I heard the sound of the chains around my hooves being loosened that I became aware that he was there. I held my breath in anticipation as I felt the chains release their hold on me, and as soon as they did, I launched myself into the air as fast as I could with no hesitation. With just as much speed, I flapped around the basement room, Desperately looking for a way out. There were no windows, but I did see the door that had led me in here just twenty-four hours earlier. I dove forward and stretched my forelegs out in front of me, hoping that by doing so it will somehow help me fly faster.
I had no other choice but to try to bust the door down.
Rainbow Dash could bust down doors In her sleep, as well as a lot of her other talents. I on the other hoof, have no muscle at all. I got a bruise on my foreleg from kicking a stone after getting scammed by Flim and Flam last Hearth’s Warming! A stone!
I was so close! I didn’t blink, afraid that if I did, the door would be gone.
I must’ve, because I felt Star Struck tackle me from behind and push me down. Causing me to crash land onto the concrete floor. I landed on my stomach.
I winced at the new found pain shooting up my back leg.
I felt his body standing over mine before I saw his face leering down at me. A wicked grin was plastered on his face, “Oh dear oh dear oh dear,” he tsked, “it seems you’re hurt. Don’t worry my little flower, I’ll take all your pain away... but first,” he held a steak knife in his mouth. “Let’s make sure you can’t go anywhere, shall we?”
I cried out as I suddenly felt a searing burning pain on my left side. I couldn’t move, nor did I want to. I could feel the warm blood seeping into my fur as it trailed down my back and onto the floor, forming a pool around my hooves. Then, just as agonizingly, the pain moved to my right side. I was gasping for air by the time I felt him pull the knife out of me. I turned my head enough to see him holding the knife in his mouth again. Only this time to see the blade glistening with my blood.
Star Struck spit the knife out. Then in an uncharacteristic move, gently helped me to my hooves. I stood up on shaky legs and he gently took my hoof guided me to the stairs that led to the door that I had just been attempting to escape to. Why would he stop me from escaping only to let me go?
Just as he led me through the door, something caught the corner of my eye. I turned to look in that direction and what I saw chilled me to the bone...
My once beautiful vibrant yellow wings that were now red with my blood, sat limply on the floor.
It was then I realized with horror that Star Struck had used that knife to cut my wings off my body to prevent me from flying as means of escape.
After we left the basement, he led me up some more stairs. When we got to the top, he sharply led me into a small narrow bathroom. Just big enough for a sink and a bathtub.
Star Struck closed the door behind him and locked it. He walked over to the bathtub and turned it on, water shot out of the overhanging nozzle. He put his hoof in the path in the water while adjusting the temperature of it. When he was satisfied with it, he removed his hoof and shook the water off. He glanced at me and tilted his head to the shower, “Get in.” He said in a demanding voice.
I did as I was told and stepped in. I couldn’t help releasing a long sigh as the hot water hit my bare, injured back. And I couldn’t help but close my eyes at the feel of the water as it rained down my face. I sensed a shadow fall over me and my eyes flew open to see Star Struck in the shower with me! Right in front of me! I couldn’t help but let out a gasp at seeing his body uncomfortably close to mine.
I saw him wrap a grey feathered wing around a bottle of body wash and squeezed some of its contents onto his hoof. He put the bottle back down and began to rub it in between his front hooves until it was white and bubbly. Before I could fully comprehend what was going on, he started to gently wash my body. Everywhere his hoof went, soap followed. On my back, on my sides, and over the wounds where my wings used to be. I winced as the soap made them sting. He rested both his hooves against my chest for a moment, feeling the soft skin underneath my fur. He stepped even closer to me as he slowly slid his hooves under me and down to my stomach. I took a sharp intake of breath as I felt his hooves caress my bottom and give it a light squeeze.
I suddenly felt cold, slimy lips on my neck and I felt myself being pushed down until I felt the hard, cold, wet floor of the shower on my bare back. I became numb to the feeling of the hot water pouring over us as Star Struck began to once again, rape me while in the shower.
