The Beauty And The Beast - All Magic Comes With A Price

  Fluttershy sobbed into her hooves, longing for the arms of her father around her for comfort, to hear the sound of her friend Rarity's voice. She longed the walks in the garden, the castle that held all the memories of her long gone mother. It was like this every morning and night, she would cry herself to sleep quietly and then wake up in a mess.

  Fluttershy dreaded every day staying in this blasted castle. The Dark One was very cruel, always making her do the impossible and not caring at all if it risked her life. She had wanted so bad to be brave and hold her ground, but now she feared for her life and how things would end up soon began to crumble her.

  Fluttershy hadn't had one good decent meal and could tell that she was loosing weight. Her mane was a complete mess and looked very dull in color, she smelled terribly and had quiet a few bruises. For some reason Fluttershy didn't find herself caring about the dramatic changes in her health, in fact some part of her was wishing for death.

  Fluttershy didn't know it was going to be this bad when she came, she thought she would just have to work for him and do it right and know that she's doing this to save her father, her friends, and her kingdom. But as the passing two weeks went by, any hope of surviving, staying strong and brave were complete gone.

  Fluttershy choked in sorrow and wrapped her arms around herself tightly, imagining the arms of her father, her mother, anyone to take her away from this dark hell hole.

  Fluttershy jumped with a gasp as the now familiar sounds of an iron door opening echoed in the cell. She immediately stood up wiping away her eyes and flipping her hair in her face to hide any sign of crying.

  Coming in from the entrance was the Dark One wearing an annoyed scowl on his face. He entered and stood facing her and crossing his arms.

  "You know...I never knew how much the castle echoed till I brought you to my castle." He said plainly with clear annoyance. "You've been crying so much your gonna create a flood!" He complained and threw up his arms. "It's become impossible for me to spin or play my organ with you crying like a foal!" He continued and finished with a glare.

  Fluttershy felt her cheeks heat up with anger at how he didn't care that the tears she shed were for her lost family. "Well I'm not the one who took someone to work their bones off and rot! you beast!" Fluttershy hissed and The Dark One seemed slightly surprised that she was standing up to him. "I lost my one and only father because of you! I have no friends and I'm all alone!" She yelled and Discord waved his paw.

  "Yes, yes whatever but the crying must stop." He said and held his hands up to his ears. "And need I remind you that it was you who agreed to come with me in the first place?" He replied with a fake sweet smirk.

  Fluttershy opened her mouth to talk back but stopped herself in order to not go too far and do something she would regret, but she doubted things could get any worse than they were right now.

  The Dark One clicked his tongue in annoyance and groaned before sighing and waving his claw in front of her. "Here..." He whispered and in a swirl of black smoke a large, white plush pillow appeared in his hand. "Perhaps this will help you?" He asked and Fluttershy blinked at him confused.

  "Wh-what? that's...for...m-me?" She asked, fearing he was just taunting her.

  "I'm not so beastly now am I deary?" He hissed and threw the pillow in her face.

  Fluttershy stared blankly at the pillow before looking up at him. There was no joke, no prank, no nothing, he was actually giving her a pillow?

  "U-um...th-thank you..." She murmured before sighing in relief as the Dark One turned to leave. "Perhaps now I can get some sleep in this pit..." She grumbled and The Dark One laughed before turning around.

  "No-no-no! it's not to help you sleep my dear! it's to help muffle your loud cries so I can actually get back to work!" He snapped and Fluttershy flinched at his loud voice that made her hair fly back.

  "Well I can't help that! You wouldn't understand what it's like to lose a family! to lose your friends! Your a heartless monster and a freak!" She snapped, once again feeling anger towards the creature.

  The Dark One halted from leaving and his claw seemed to grip the door frame rather hard, enough to cause it to slightly scratch the stone. He slowly turned from his position and glared at her with piercing golden orbs. "Excuse me?" He asked menacingly and Fluttershy walked back as he suddenly started to approach her in a swift move and had her pinned against the wall.

  "Let me make this clear..." He growled and Fluttershy stared up in fear and shook at what he might do to her. "You don't know me...you don't understand me...so don't tell me what I do and don't understand!" He hissed and pushed away from her.

  Fluttershy gasped as he moved away and she cowered into the corner she stood next to. The Dark One glared at her with daggers and was pleased to see her fall in fear of him. She didn't understand nothing! He felt more pain than just losing a parent, and he had no friends, any friends he had were dead.

  The Dark One was about to say something else but suddenly there was a strange sound echoing down the walls of her cell and he looked behind him. Fluttershy heard it too and looked up from the corner at the sound.

  "Wh-wh-what was that?" Fluttershy asked and The Dark One growled before turning around and marching out of the cell and down the hall, leaving her cell open.

  Fluttershy got up cautiously and walked over to the door, looking down the hall and out of curiosity she started walking down the hall where The Dark One left.

  He knew what he was doing was dangerous, and he also knew that none that crossed the great powerful sorcerer lived. He wouldn't have come here if it wasn't the only option he had left. He had to save her, she was everything to him and if he lost her he would never forgive himself.

  It had taken him forever to get here. There was many traps he had trouble getting past undetected. He had broken into a lot of places, and he had to say that this dark one was clever.

  He went through mazes, booby traps and flying pigs with ease, and he was cursing himself for accidentally missing a simple glass vase. It seemed the Dark One wasn't to be seen to which he was grateful for and could now continue on his quest.

  The mysterious stallion crept through the dark corners of the long halls and reached the large doors where he pushed them open slowly, trying to keep quiet. Once the doors were open, he placed his hooves on his bow and arrow, prepared for anything as he entered the room. He looked everywhere carefully, listening for any sounds of hoof steps, or voices.

  Lucky he heard none and began searching around the room. He glanced along the large wooden cupboard, looking for the object he was hunting for. The stallion groaned to himself and sighed in annoyance, wiping the sweat from his brow. He couldn't find it anywhere and was about to search another room but then he caught in the corner of his eye just barely.

  He felt great relief and his muscles relaxed at the sight of the magical wand. It was the only thing that could help her, and after long agonizing nights he found it. He rushed over to it and put his bow and arrow to the side as he slowly put his hooves out to grab the magical item.

  He sighed as no protection spell shot him back as his hoof touched it, picking it up from it's holder and gripping it firmly. Now he finally had it, he had to get out of there now and get to his wife before it was too late.

  "Stop!...right.there." A voice growled and the stallion felt chills of fear go up his spine and with dread he slowly turned to face the voice.

  The sight before him was indeed a fright, but he couldn't let that fear show so he stood his ground. He had to be brave and quickly reached for his bow and arrow.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you deary!" The Dark One warned and Shining Armor halted from grasping the end of his bow but kept it there. The Dark One smiled sweetly causing Shining Armor to look at him confused, expecting him to be angry than having a kind smile as he did now, but behind that smile held something dark.

  "Now! I know your a good stallion so will you be so kind as to give me back what belongs to me?" The Dark One asked, his hands clapping together. The stallion eyed the sorcerer with caution and his eyes flickered to the side as he spotted a yellow mare. Fluttershy was peeking from the corner and was trying to keep out of sight from the Dark One.

  Shining Armor then smirked as he stroked the bow softly picking it up from it's holder. "No...I don't think I will." He said simply and The Dark One frowned raising an eye brow.

  "Are you sure that is wise?" The Dark One hissed sending a smirk back.

  "Oh no I don't think it is wise at all actually." Shining Armor chuckled while reaching back to grab an arrow and placing it on the string to aim at the Dark One. "But you know...as I'm sure you know that with magic, you can do anything." He whispered and The Dark One laughed, throwing his head back.

  "You have clearly not had any experience in magic before deary! If you don't know how to use magic, it can do very nasty things to you!" The Dark One chirped and Shining Armor glared before aiming right for the chest of The Dark One.

  "Then I'll have to find someone who can help me use it." Shining Armor replied and The Dark One took a step forward, making the stallion step back two steps.

  "How do you know your gonna get away with it hmm? I don't know if your completely stupid or very brave because...no one steals from me." The Dark One growled and the stallion gulped.

  "This bow...is magic...no matter what it always hits it's intended target." He said and pulled back on the string farther. "All I have to do is let go and I'll be on my way." Shining Armor explained and The Dark One laughed again.

  "Then make it good..." He hissed and Shining Armor released the arrow sending it shooting after him only for him to disappear as the arrow came to The Dark One's chest.

  Shining Armor looked everywhere with caution for the sorcerer, waiting for him to pop up and jump him when he noticed the arrow he shot was still flying in the air. Fluttershy gasped when the arrow was shot and was even more surprised that she was actually worried for The Dark One's life. But she was now fascinated with the arrow that seemed to circle the room before it shot behind where The Dark One was and gasped, raising a hoof to her mouth in shock as the arrow impaled his chest.

  Shining Armor felt fear for only a second when the arrow had turned towards him and went forward, but when it went passed him he had spun around to see the Dark One grunt as the arrow was stuck in him. Shining Armor sighed in relief and nodded at the Dark One, quickly making his way to the window.

  "I'm not as dumb as you think. Thank you for the wand." He mocked with a salute and was about to go out the window but it shut closed. Suddenly the Dark One appeared in front of him with a bright grin on his face as he ripped the arrow from his chest, no sign of a wound or any blood as he did.

  "You clearly didn't do your research!" The Dark One said, Shining Armor too surprised to react as the Dark One kicked him onto the ground, keeping his leg on his face. "I'm the Dark One....and everyone knows that all magic comes with a price." He grinned and knelt down to his level. "And in your case....your price....is me." He growled and Shining Armor felt a shiver of dread fill his being as suddenly everything went black.

Past

  Discord held his mothers hoof tightly between his hands, feeling deep sorrow and putting up a hard fight to keep his tears at bay. She had gotten worse over the past few years and now he believed that this was the end for her. They had lived peacefully for three years now, but they still struggled with money and Discord wished they could pay for a physician, but selling wool didn't make a good profit.

  Carrot Top's ragged and struggled breathing was more than Discord could take and he felt himself breaking inside. Carrot Top was smiling at Discord, despite how weak she felt she kept her grin and reached a shaky hoof to wipe away the escaping tear from his face.

  "Discord....I want you to stay strong for me okay?" She said hoarsely and Discord choked on a lump in his throat, looking away.

  "How will I?...your all the family I have left. How will I manage without you? P-please don't go..." Discord replied miserably and Carrot Top felt a few tears of her own drip from her face.

  "Shhh...." Carrot Top hushed with a smile and stroking his cheek again tenderly. "Even when I'm gone Discord, I will always still be in your heart, and when I am gone...just think about me and I will be watching you, I promise." She whispered and Discord leaned in as she wrapped her forelegs around his neck, releasing his sorrows that were muffled by her shoulder.

  "Discord! Discord I came as soon as I could!" A voice suddenly said as the front door to the cottage was pushed open and shut before Starlight Glimmer came running over to where she saw Discord with Carrot Top. Starlight slowed down panting heavily and coming to the left side of the bed, opposite to where Discord was and knelt down.

  "Ah....my dear child, I was afraid you weren't going to make it here." Carrot Top smiled and Starlight smiled back kindly.

  "How could I not? You have been so kind to me, your both the family I never had." Starlight whispered fondly to the sick mare and she smiled at her.

  "I'm glad you are happy with us...just as I hope your happy when you marry my son." Carrot whispered and took Starlight's hoof that had a simple iron band around it. They weren't able to afford a ring, so they were able to spare a few bits for an iron ring after asking the blacksmith to make it for them.

  Starlight blushed and looked down giggling, squeezing the mares hoof. "I'm sure I will be...." Starlight said and Carrot Top gave her a soft smile before looking over at Discord.

  "Discord...ever since the beginning, when I found you alone in that forest I saw you as family. When my husband died, I had something missing inside, and having you around healed my broken heart and I thank you for letting me spend my years with you as your mother. Even though you aren't my son...you will always be so in my heart." Carrot Top said and Discord smiled before nuzzling her gently.

  "You will always be my mother...." Discord murmured and pulled away when Carrot Top suddenly started coughing rapidly, raising a hoof to her mouth and straining as every cough came.

  Starlight immediately helped Discord pull her up and handed her a cup of water to drink, and her coughs began to calm down and Carrot Top took long breaths.

  "Starlight..." Carrot Top said hoarsely before clearing her throat and grabbing her hoof in her right while taking Discord's claw in her left one. "You have been so kind to us, and to my son. You have been so helpful and your such a good young mare, and I thank you for being with us...with my son." Carrot continued after pulling her hoof to Discord's claw where she wrapped them together tightly. "You have no idea how much your kindness meant to us....and I hope you will have a good life with Discord. I love you my dear..." Carrot Top whispered and Starlight felt a few tears fall from her eyes and she smiled.

  Carrot Top started coughing once more and they worked together to help her again and when it calmed down, Carrot Top had sighed in exhaustion and started to fall asleep. Discord and Starlight watched her the entire time patiently for the time to come and not too soon, her breathing came to a stop and she lay completely motionless on the bed. Starlight put a hoof to her mouth and started to release the sobs and Discord reached over the small bed to encase her in his arms for comfort.

  Starlight welcomed his hold and wrapped her hooves around him as well, feeling his tears cover her neck as he cried with her silently. They would never forget Carrot Top, and as they held each other they prayed that things would work out and they would be happy as Carrot Top wished them to be.

  "I'm really gonna miss her...." Starlight cried softly into Discords chest and he nuzzled her mane while rocking her silently in his arms.

   "I know......" Discord whispered back while glancing at his mother before clenching his eyes shut, letting the rest of his tears fall. "I know....."