***

Discord's recovery was swift, even for a chaos god. He stayed in the hospital a total of five weeks, and considering the damage Discord suffered, it was incredible that he survived such a terrible attack. For the poor bringer of chaos was suffering night terrors, severe chest pains, and pure dark magic running through his veins due to Sombra shooting that cursed arrow. In short, Discord was miserable beyond measure.

The doctors and nurses did all they could to ease Discord's pain, and Twilight helped his body destroy the black magic for it was was only a small but fatal dose and would only grow if left untreated. If untreated and able to spread, Discord would become like Sombra when he found his insanity.

Despite all the comfort Discord was given, he was still miserable. The sudden death of Sombra shook him to his core, and what Sombra had told him about Tirek and Fluttershy shook him even more. Discord tried constantly to convince the hospital and the elements that he was in tip top shape, but to no avail. He even tried to escape once, but Rainbow Dash stopped him and assured him that he would be released very soon. Of course Discord would always protest and Twilight would have to stick him with a tranquilizer, well, about five tranquilizers usually did it.

Every night Discord would have nightmares, some Princess Luna would shutter to witness. One dream would contain Tirek and Fluttershy, Tirek would be on his throne with Fluttershy tied up next to him. Tirek would laugh maniacally before bringing the butterscotch colored pegasus closer to him and kissing her. The next dream that Discord tended to have was seeing the whole of Equestria burn in a fiery inferno, and the one who caused it all, Tirek, watched from a hill far away. The final dream was the most unsettling. Discord was fighting Tirek and Discord lost. These dreams were the one reason why Discord stayed awake.

Soon Discord was released and he couldn't have been happier.

***

Back at Twilight's castle, the elements and Discord called together Celestia, Luna, and Cadence for a course of action.

"Thank you for calling us in short notice..." Celestia said as she entered the throne room, "It was rather hard to get here..."

Luna looked tired for she was traveling by day instead of night like she was used to, "Tirek has these brainwashed slaves that he turned into crystal statues...he's made them stronger and more capable to fight with dark magic... " she sighed, "They have tried to attack Canterlot and Ponyville as well as the rest of Equestria, but our national guards are keeping them away from civilians as well as our castles...but we have no clue how long it's going to last..."

"Then we have to evacuate the civilians!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Twilight sighed, "There's no place we can put them, not even Cloudsdale is safe! A good majority of the slaves are pegasai!"

Applejack stepped off her throne, "There must be some way we can protect the ponies of Equestria!" she stamped her hoof, "Ah have a big brother, little sister, an' a grandma an' Caramel!!"

"And you don't think I don't have family?" Rarity growled, "My little sister, my parents, and my Spikey Wikey is are in danger too!"

"I have three sisters, my parents, and Cheese Sandwich!" Pinkie Pie shouted.

Rainbow Dash sprung up from her throne in objection, "I have Scootaloo! I ain't losing that kid!" she said, "I also have parents and Sorin!!"

"I have my brother...who is protecting me...my parents...Cadence...Flash...all of us..." Twilight murmured.

Celestia nodded, "I understand your concerns...and that is why I will not allow you to fight Tirek..."

"WHAT?"

"You have family to protect...if and when and if Tirek breeches our defense, then only then will you be able to fight..." Luna said.

Discord raised his claw, "What about me?"

The princesses and the elements stared at the Draconequus in shock, "Discord..." Celestia said.

"Let's face it...I am the only one who can even stand a chance against him! I know his fighting skills, unlike you princesses..." Discord explained, "And yes, he may be able to take my magic, but I've already lost Fluttershy! There's nothing left for me to lose!"

Luna stepped forward, "Sending you to fight him is the LAST thing we want to do!" she sighed, "Allow us Princesses to battle! Besides, you betrayed us the one time we let you fight Tirek! Do you really think we trust you?"

Discord crossed his arms, "Why not? You don't have anymore options!"

Luna looked down at the ground trying to think, "We...W-We..."

Discord snapped up a chart with a stick, "You don't have a better option...you nor your sister and Cadence know the fighting styles of Tirek, you know nothing of his magic other than his draining abilities, I have nothing to lose, and frankly I'm going to fight for Fluttershy!"

"That is all true, but consider this Discord..." Celestia muttered, "Suppose he drains you of his magic, what will happen then?"

Discord smiled as he snapped the chart away, "He won't, promise! He may be a villain, but he fights fair enough...Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight, please..."

The princesses were silent, they stared at each other and looked back at the Draconequus, "Give us a second to talk about it..." Celestia muttered "Twilight, come..."

Twilight stepped off her throne and fallowed her associates out of the throne room, not looking back one time.

Applejack's eyes narrowed, "What in tarnation are you planning, Discord?" she asked.

"Whatever are you talking about Applejack?" Discord mused, "I have no plan!"

Rainbow Dash crossed her front hooves, "Yeah right! What are you planning you chaotic nut?"

Discord frowned, "What I have planned is a secret...nothing more..."

"Whatever it is," Rarity muttered, "You better bring back Fluttershy..."

Pinkie pulled out a blue cupcake and swallowed it whole, "Yeah, if you don't bring her back we will be so so so sad! Pinkie Promise me right now that you'll bring her back!" her eyes narrowed, "Pinkie Promise it!"

Discord rolled his eyes and crossed his heart, "Cross my heart and hope to fly," he snapped up a pink cupcake and shoved it in his own face, "Stick a cupcake in my eye..." he muttered.

Pinkie nodded, her eyes still narrowed, "Good..."

Suddenly the throne door swung open again and the princesses entered once more.

Discord looked up at Celestia, "So?"

Celestia turned to Luna, Cadence, and Twilight and then back at Discord, "We have reached an agreement," she said, "We agree you are the only one who is capable of fighting him at this present time...if however, you fail in your efforts..."

"Equestria will fall..." Luna finished.

Discord nodded, "I am aware..."

Celestia nodded back, "Very well...you will challenge him at sundown..."

***

The wind blew sourly against Discord's body as he entered the northern part of the Everfree Forest. The shadows covered the chaotic god, hoping to jump start his fears but to no avail.

The whole of Equestria was alerted of the fight about to take place and responded by taking cover and having an evacuation plan. Twilight helped her brother and the rest of the royal guard shield Canterlot and the main areas. by strengthening the spell just a bit. Rarity allowed every pony in Ponyville with no protection to take cover in her boutique, including her own family. Pinkie took all the foals in Ponyville that were fussy or lost their parents and calmed them down with jokes and treats at Sugarcube Corner. Applejack took the other ponies from the farms in Ponyville with no shelter and put them in a storm cellar at Sweet Apple Acres, assuring them that they were safe. Rainbow Dash alerted Cloudsdale and did Fluttershy a favor by placing all of her animals in their homes and in her cottage.

Celestia, Luna, and Cadence helped each and every pony in Equestria find shelter, whether it be in their homes or their own castles. The princesses then set up magical barriers around the rest of Equestria.The barriers of the princesses and the barriers of the royal guards merged together to create one big bubble protecting everything. Everything was prepared for the fight that very well could wipe out the whole of Equestria.

Discord was prepared and ready to fight, knowing full well that if he failed, he would lose Fluttershy and the whole of Equestria. He approached a tall spiky red and grey castle, where a loud barbaric laugh was heard. Discord knew full well who it belonged to, and he wasn't about to give up now. He then sighed, and entered the castle where Tarturus was made.

***

In the dark, dirty, candle-lit, throne room sat Tirek. He sat there, Fluttershy statue on his lap like a dragon guarding a princess.

"So, let me get this straight...you hate ponies...you wanted to SMASH Fluttershy...and now you want to...MARRY HER?" Discord growled.

Tirek gritted his teeth, "I knew Sombra would fail..." he stood up and tossed Fluttershy aside, "That is why I lied to him about my plans...he was merely a pawn in my little game, fed false information...and he gave the information that would make you come back here..." he smirked, "I just said that to make sure you would come..."

Discord teleported back to catch Fluttershy, "You are truly a manipulative fool..." Discord hissed.

Tirek burst out laughing, "Thank you for the compliment..."

"Yeah, well playtime is over..."

"Oh no..." Tirek locked the throne room door with a snap of his fingers, "Not until you join me..."

Discord rolled his eyes, "I've told you know...I've come to stop you!"

"I don't think you'll stop me...not when I make the rules..." Tirek snapped his fingers once more and Fluttershy disappeared from Discord's arms.

"BRING HER BACK RIGHT NOW!" Discord shouted enraged.

Tirek gritted his teeth, "Not until you join me!"

Discord crossed his arms, "Never!" he declared through gritted teeth, "You can't expect me to join you after all you have done!"

"Look, if you join me...you will be free...be free to do what you want!"

"What good is that when you don't have any friends to share that fun with?"

"You don't need those ponies!"

"That is what I used to think!" Discord told Tirek, "But after meeting Fluttershy, I realized that I could do what I want...but if I did, I would betray the only pony I have ever truly loved that loved me back!"

Tirek laughed, "How do YOU know she loves you?"

Discord's eyes began to glow a bright glow, "Because...she's the only pony to stand with me...I was a villain, a bad guy, but after meeting Fluttershy...I DON'T WANT TO BE A BAD GUY ANYMORE!" he shot a ball of chaotic energy at Tirek, who shot a large beam of magic to counter.

"THOSE PONIES HAVE RUINED YOU!" Tirek shouted.

Discord froze the beam in place with ice, teleported above Tirek, and shot a large beam of his energy at him with a direct hit.

When the smoke cleared, Tirek leaped up and grabbed Discord by the neck. He slammed him into the walls and floor until he heard a delightful snap of bone. Tirek then released Discord from his alligator grip, then left, knowing he had something to attend to.

***

Discord groaned as he awoke, it was night time now as the moon shone through the gaping hole in the throne room wall. But something didn't seem right.

Metal floor...

Metal bars...

Metal roof...

It was at that moment his mind registered, Discord was in a cage in a throne room.

And he was not alone.

"Ah...so you're finally awake..."

Trying to sit up created a blossoming pain that came in a massive wave through Discord's entire body, "AGH!"

"I wouldn't try to move...your back is broken..." Tirek growled, "So I know you won't go anywhere..."

Discord moaned as he laid back down.

Tirek approached the cage, "And as an extra measure, I have taken your magic so you can't escape...so...now we can do business..." he smirked, "And before we begin...know what position you are now in, Discord..."

Discord winced in his numbing pain, silent as ever.

"Now then, I will give you two choices...join me...or watch everything you love BURN..." Tirek said.

Out of the corner of Discord's eye, he could see Tirek holding the crystal Fluttershy in his fists.

Tirek laughed, "It's your choice, Discord..."

Discord began to shake horribly as he glared at Tirek, wanting attack him so badly. "G...her...b-back..."

"Join me and she lives..."

Silence met Tirek before he heard, "N-Never..."

"Well then..."

Discord heard a smashing noise, it was like glass only thicker. He knew that it was crystal smashing onto the concrete floor.

"I guess you can stay there and rot..."

Discord could hear Tirek walk away into a long hallway, and then their silence.

In his pain, Discord willed all of his pain away to the best of his abilities to sit up and jump back in terror as he saw a pile of fine crystal dust in front of his cage. Discord outstretched his hands to gather what was left of his love and brought them onto his lap to hug and embrace as the tears gathered and fell in time with his broken heartbeat.

At that moment, something inside Discord changed. Tirek took his one love away and on the way to destroy his friends and the world with it, and you don't do that when Discord was still standing.

"TIREK! IF I EVER GET MY CLAWS ON YOU I WILL MAKE YOU CRAWL BACK TO TARTRUS WITH YOUR TAIL IN BETWEEN YOUR LEGS!"

There was nothing but silence...So Discord hid the dust and curled up to sleep...

***

Author's Note

Hey! This chapter had to be split into two parts! Sorry