Chapter Text
“You've helped me grow strong, you've provided the means by which I can obtain Princess Twilight's magic, and now you are no longer of any use to me!”
Tirek laughed as he readied himself to absorb and steal Discord’s magic. Fluttershy looked in horror having just been betrayed by Discord and watching him get betrayed… It was terrible to see. She never wished for this to happen.
“N-no Tirek sto-“
A pained scream escaped Discord as some of his magic became untethered from him. Lashing out and aggressively latching onto Tirek. A shrill terrified scream escaped the Centaur. Before crazed laughter filled the air. A blast of magic shot from him.
“DISCORD-!”
But it was too late as Fluttershy and the others were slammed against the back of the cage. In a split moment before hitting the back, Fluttershy had grabbed Spike and braced herself to take the brute of the pain. A pained scream shot from her as metal bars dug into her side.
“Fluttershy-!”
Discord’s cry rang out as the draconequus materialized right next to the cage. She felt his warm lion paw and griffin claw grab hold of her hoof, feeling all the magic that was drained from her returning. Glancing up to look at Discord’s face she could see his fear clearly as he looked at her and her friends. She tried to ignore the tremble that he had as well as he gently held her hoof.
“D-Discord…”
She muttered, coughing ever so slightly. Spike groaned in pain ever so slightly from where he laid against her.
“Discord… W-We need to move from here…Please… Please get us away from here, away from Tirek… Please.”
She tried to keep her voice level as she spoke. Her kindness and compassion drove her to seek any sort of safety for them. She watched as Discord’s eyes looked back into her own, before he sighed, nodding quietly as he snapped his claws. The group all laid on the floor of her own cottage. The cage once holding them now left alone outside of Ponyville.
“Fluttershy… I-”
“Not now… Not now Discord.. We’ll talk about this later but… but for now hel…help me check on the others.”
She struggled getting up, ignoring her body’s cry of pain as she took Spike’s unconscious body in her wings and limped her way to the couch, setting him ever so gently onto the couch. She turned quietly after setting him down to move towards Pinkie who was closest to her. Discord had a knocked out Rainbow Dash in his arms and had materialized a fainting couch to lay her upon. Hesitating as he did so. She noticed this as concern hit her face.
“Discord.. What’s wrong? Is Rainbow Dash ok..?”
“O-Oh! Oh don’t worry about it Fluttershy! I’m sure it’s… just me imagining things!”
That didn’t quell her growing anxiety. She could tell he was lying.
“Discord… No more secrets or lies or deception. Yes! I am aware that it's all the same thing but… PLEASE, tell me what is wrong with Rainbow Dash.”
“Fluttershy… it’s… not just Rainbow Dash. Apple Jack and Spike are also… uh.. What’s the word you ponies would say? Infected?”
Her body froze as she heard the words leave Discord’s mouth. Infected? Her friends? Infected with what?! When did they get sick? Oh Celestia… Oh Luna… What in Equestria is allowing such misery to fall upon her friends.
“Wait… Wait infected? Whadya mean Discord???”
Pinkie’s voice broke the silence causing Fluttershy to stumble backwards in surprise. She hadn’t noticed the pink pony had woken up.
“And how come only they’re infected??? I mean we ALLLLLL got hit by that blast of magic! I mean, I don't doubt that every pony in all of Ponyville didn’t hear it or feel it themselves!”
“I… Well uh Pinkie Pie, I don’t know. I can’t well feel the…”
“Feel the what???”
Pinkie's voice pondered as she tilted her head to hear Discord's response.
“I can’t well feel the Chaos magic that became unclaimed by Tirek from my being in you two. I mean I knew Fluttershy and I would be fine if something like this happened but-”
“Wait wait wait wait… What do you mean you and I would be fine? Discord…”
Fluttershy’s tone went dark as she knelt down to give a hoof to Pinkie to help her up.
“I-I-I-I mean Fluttershy! We’re friends! I would never let any actual harm befall you! Why else would I hand sewn those garments for you as a gift! They’re threaded with pure Chaos, not to mention the amulet you’re wearing under it… and also my special tea blend, you know Mad Tea Party that you love to have in my dimension? That is infused with Chaos as well.. “
Flutershy blinked her aqua eyes at Discord while raising a brow.
“OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! So You think it’s cause all three of us have a form of Chaos magic in all of us! I mean that makes total sense! I would even say it’s… a Pinkie Sense! Haha!”
A soft groan came out from Discord and Fluttershy at that pun as Pinkie laughed herself silly.
“So… It’s… It’s because we have forms of chaos magic within all of us and that’s why we’re unaffected but… what is going to happen to Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Apple Jack and…”
She looked quietly to the sleeping Spike.
“Spike… Oh Twilight is gonna be so worried once she finds out…”
“Speaking of Twilight! Tirek ran off didn’t he?! Isn’t she in danger?!”
“Oh I wouldn’t worry about that Pinkie.”
Discord began with a sad chuckle.
“... I wouldn’t worry about Tirek… I would worry about the untethered Chaos Magic… Normal ponies and other creatures… Aren’t meant to handle Chaos Magic at such a high velocity. I’m surprised these four aren’t progressing to Tirek’s point…”
“OH! Oh! Oh!!!!! Maybe - Maybe it’s because of the Elements of Harmony????”
“No.. I don’t think it’s that Pinkie…”
Fluttershy muttered as she knelt down to try and pick up Rarity and take her over to her chair. She winced with slight pain as she brought her over to it before setting her down gently.
“Well what do yooooou think it is Fluttershy?”
“Well… I just have a gut feeling that they’re gonna be sick. I honestly do fear that our friends will get to that point that Tirek experienced but I’m determined to heal them by all means necessary…”
“Fluttershy I don’t think it would be exactly possible-”
“And you’re going to help me Discord. It’s the least you can do for everypony… After all you did partially cause this by betraying us.”
“I-”
Fluttershy glared at Discord with such a ferocity that it couldn’t help but make him stiffen and nod.
“Good… Now.. Pinkie Pie, please help move Apple Jack into my room. I got to make some herbal tea for when they all wake up.”
Pinkie Pie bounced to attention before grabbing Apple Jack b the scruff and throwing her over her flank. She proceeded to bounce up the stairs with glee. Fluttershy walked into her kitchen, leaving Discord alone in the living room with the three unconscious bodies of her friends. Once alone she slid down her wall to just hold onto her knees with her front hooves. She tried her best to be quiet in her crying. She’s had practice after all because of her parents favoring Zephyr Breeze growing up. She had to be quiet with her crying or it’d upset him.. Or he’d use it against her.
Unbeknownst to her though, the nightmare was only beginning.
