A missing Draconequus and a broken mind.

Warmth surrounded Twilight completely enveloping her whole body. Every inch of her was warm and she felt like every single muscle in her body had managed to relax all at the same time. She genuinely could not remember the last time she felt so peaceful, that was of course only because she hadn't quite pulled out of her dream world enough to remember every other morning as of late. Every morning Twilight woke up in the combined bliss of having a blanket and either fur or soft feathers covering her entire body with the singular exception, her horn which stood out into the cool morning air like an arrow.

Warmth poured into Mortem in a concentrated stream as his conscience returned from the best of his regular dreams. He could feel a soft, slightly squishy and amazingly fluffy mass cuddling itself against him. He could also feel that his wings had, as they did every night, even creating themselves if need be, extended themselves from his back and enlarged their feathers before wrapping around the only creature who could draw such a reaction from the normally callous stallion. "Good morning Twi." He said in the same soft voice he normally did drawing his wings tighter about her and moving an arm to her face.

Twilight heard the voice and much like what happened the minuet sleep ended for her partner the world snapped back into focus and she with a great deal of happiness registered her surroundings. Next she felt a hand against her cheek, she followed the path it softly suggested and found herself looking into the semi-squished smiling face of the god she loved. "Morning Mortem" she said the final syllable higher as it was caught up in a yawn like it normally was. Another thing right on cue was the slight further tightening of the embrace bringing the bodies of the two closer to one and other.

Mortem had to stop himself from burying his face in Twilight's neck when she yawned. He was not one to squee openly but nothing brought him closer than half awake Twilight having to deal with her body requesting more sleep. Mortem had lived a huge amount of time, since before Celestia and Luna had actually set some order to time, as such he considered himself a decent authority when he declared the mare he was in bed with the cutest entity that has ever existed without any close competition whatsoever. Having calmed his mental Twelve year old, he pulled the mare, who having since composed herself was just as beautiful as she was adorable, in for a soft short and sweet kiss. "I love you Twilight."

Finally having dealt with the heartfelt but practised morning activities Twilight decided to go of scrip somewhat. She reached her head up and lightly bit into her partners neck  before pulling back and giving him the most seductive look possible. "I think we have a good hour or so before dawn, show me how you love me Mortem." Twilight had no pet name for Mortem but when she said his name in this context it drove him crazy. Twilight them began to move her body even closer to his pushing her form right against him leaving pretty much no gaps.

"Gladly." He uttered already his voice was already heavily coloured by arousal and Twilight was pulled on top of his body from where she locked lips with him and magically sent the blanket flying across the room. Twilight new from past experience that whilst they could, unlike most couples, do it with the blanket, it was ultimately pointless and far to hot. Whilst this was happening Mortem snaked a suit tie from a nearby dresser and slid it under the doorway before and then then tied it in a Windsor knot over the doorknob. He very much hoped the Princess' would know what that meant as he was pretty sure every pony else around did.

Five minuets later Spike had heard some noise from Twilight and Mortem's room. 'Odd, for getting up they really are making a lot of noise.' he he decided to surprise them with breakfast in bed and hopefully resolve whatever problem was causing them to make such a racket. he quickly whipped up a salad for Twilight and some Pancakes that they would share. He also ate a quick bite himself which consisted of a handful of mixed gems that he kept a large bag of in the kitchen at all times. With a spring in his step he headed towards Twilight's bedroom complete in his intention to pay his sister/ mother figure a good deed.

Any Pony else in the house would have known what that tie meant. Any Pony else but not spike. Despite being a full thirteen years old now and being reasonably well versed in the ins and outs of sex even if he was a virgin. In spite of all that no one had told him what a tie over some pony's door meant. As a direct result spike simply shrugged figuring someone was trying to play a prank and entered the irresponsibly unlocked room fixing his eyes on the bed and immediately regretting every decision that had lead up to this point in his life. His eyes shot open wide, his mind went completely blank and he could have sworn all the moisture was vacuum out of his mouth and throat. Completely unsure how to react knowing if he turned back he would be spotted immediately he stared dumbly at the pair.

"SPIKE." Twilight shrieked when she heard the door open and the young dragon stood like an idiot staring. She was utterly mortified, no pun intended. It was one thing for her friends to overhear her in these circumstances it was quite another to have the creature that was like a little brother to her walk in on her whilst going at it fairly hard. Mortem sheathed himself once more before he noticed the intrusion at which he completely froze staring daggers at the little dragon. Mortem and spike normally got on fairly well as Mortem had prioritised the friendship to make his relationship with Twilight less awkward. Today however the look from the god to the adolescent drake was enough to stop a full grown rhino dead mid charge.

Spike was completely stunned by what he saw and not in a good way. Part of his was worried by the concern in Twilight's exasperated voice. This was then replaced by a very freeing threatening look from Mortem and then he registered the slight look of pleasure on Twilight's face at the final movement between the two of them. He quickly came to his senses, put the tray down, shot them an apologetic look before pelting out of the room. The sight he had just seen danced before his still wide eyes as he darted away. He ran as fast as his fairly little legs could carry him to the kitchen where he poured himself a very stiff drink and decided to pay the Princess a visit with hopes of forgetting the sights he had seen with the houses other princess.

The six parts of the Elements of Harmony, the God of Death and the rulers of Equestria where stood outside the gate to Discord's chaos realm in the centre of ponyville. Finally it was time and both Celestia and Luna's horns glowed spinning the sky around to have it placed at the start of the day with the sun bruising the horizon as the moon tucked itself away behind the opposite horizon. Without a word the nine of them slipped through the veil that was now in serious danger of falling apart even with Mortem's earlier magical intervention. A whirling sucking feeling took them one by one as they headed through being dumped unceremoniously out the other side near Discord's house.

Everyone stabilized themselves Mortem having special difficulty being the only one the path finder magic didn't help. "Once we get him back I am forcing him to make this place more compatible with me." He growled having finally got himself mostly under control. No one replied as a sombre mood had settled over the present company since after Twilight had delivered the new plan. realising he should probably shut up as well, Mortem started to fly towards where he knew the serpent no doubt would be. Whilst he flew the other winged ponies followed suit and the others floated along willing the intrinsic magic of the place to take them in the direction of their friends.

After a while they reached a place from which they could see the box and the serpent which was eyeing them evilly from it's position coiled around the chains that covered the box. "Okay is everyone sure what they need to do?" Twilight asked her friends with evident trepidation in her voice. Without waiting for a response she decided to run over the plan once again regardless of everyone having memorised their roles perfectly. "First Mortem will get it's focus and transfer his death magic." She looked to him and he nodded mentally preparing himself knowing losing a lot of his power would not be a pleasant experience. "Next Celestia and Luna will grab its attention and bait it into hitting the box." They both also nodded having briefly discussed between themselves how best to do this before leaving Twilight's castle. "Next I will blink me and Fluttershy into the box to try and retrieve Discord, whilst you all do whatever you can to distract it and buy us time." Everyone else nodded and Pinkie brought out the barrel of an impossibly large cannon from her mane. "Right, Mortem you're up. Oh has everyone got their earplug in case it tried the sound wave thing again." Another round of nods.

Without a word Mortem disappeared coming back into existence about halfway between the girls and the serpent. "I must say you are quite the creature aren't yo-..." Mortem started up hoping to enrage the creature.

"I said for you all to leave before. Do not make me repeat it." The serpent sliced it's way into the conversation cutting Mortem off.

Mortem was slightly glad the creature was already aggravated but hid it behind an annoyed mask to elevate the situation further. "How dare you talk over me RUNT." He spat, internally cracking up at how much of fool he sounded. He watched, satisfied he had succeeded, as the serpent writhed in frustration before once again opening it's maw and charging a spell. Mortem acted faster channelling as much of his power as he could into a beam spell, forcing it through Lucerne, it shot out hitting the beast directly in the neck. He had expected it to feel bad, but not this bad. He could feel a cold force pulling at him and he could only describe it as feeling as is everything he was being forced out of him. It took just over four seconds for him to lose as much magic as he could survive losing and when he reached that point the beam broke off. Celestia and Luna instantly appeared before him knocking him back with a radiant wave of magic. 'Thank god they are here, I don't know if I even could bait that thing now.' Mortem gave in and allowed himself to fly backward slowly feeling his power return as he watched Twilight worrying about her.

Celestia and Luna moved as they had discussed throwing insults and superlative spells at the creature hoping to fill it with rage, it seemed to be working as it had dropped magic and was now simply lashing out which the two Princess had no trouble dodging. After about thirty seconds flying around and winding the beast up it did what they where waiting for. Cold rose as it drew in all of it's power and both Celestia and Luna moved to in-between the now estranged creature and the box. As the creature was blinded by its rage it simply fixed its gaze the pair and unleashed its terrible power hoping strike the creatures who tormented it. Celestia and Luna vanished just as the beam was about to hit them destroying the wall of the box behind them.

Twilight new it was time and Teleported herself and Fluttershy into the opening in the cube as the others moved to the creature with Celestia leading the assault with a bolt of pure energy. The serpent didn't even notice the two intruders as it rounded on its quarry hoping to be more successful this time.

Twilight kept watch over the entrance and cast her eyes about hoping to spot Mortem, she eventually did and was reassured to see that he was back to himself at least partially and was joining in with the assault on the serpent. He was making himself useful by cutting in the way of any attacks using Lucerne to block them. Fluttershy however had dashed straight into the box and immediately recognising the shape within threw herself onto Discord.

"F-Fluttershy?" Discord said now completely confused. The visions had gone to be replaced with what he wanted most of all but knew he couldn't ever have. "Fluttershy, I thought you didn't want to be friends with me any more." His voice was ringing with hurt but even still her returned the pegasus' hug bringing her closer to him filling his empty aching soul with warmth.

"Discord, I never meant to ignore that letter. Just with everything that happened that day I forgot I had it. I never wanted to lose the friendship I have with you Discord." She paused taking a breath and trying to figure what best to say. She noticed Discord's eyes upon her watching intently with days old hurt and a glimmer of hope in the. "Dissy I... I..." Fluttershy fell silent unable to say it due to her shy nature, as she failed to talk Discord's eyes became more desperate and he opened his mouth to speak giving Fluttershy an idea. She slammed her head into his and kissed him as hard as she could even flaring her wings out with the force of the Gesture.

Discord was again stunned but very happy. 'She is kissing me, Fluttershy is kissing me.' His brain called out in ecstasy at the kiss. He was so distracted that he almost forgot to kiss back, almost. Returning with passion Discord pulled the beautiful kind mare before him into his arms even tighter than before trying to show just how much he was enjoying what she was doing. As they made contact Discord felt his powers flowing back into him and felt himself growing stronger under Fluttershy's touch which to him felt infinitely right.

Fluttershy adored being held by him and it was even better not that they where kissing but she knew she needed to make the situation at large known. Without really wanting to, she pulled away from the kiss and looked straight into Discord's red and yellow eyes. "I love you Dissy but we need your help, right now." Discord gave her a quizzical look and she realised he likely had no idea what was happening have been sat in this box. "Discord whatever happened to you, it had made more than this box. There is a huge monster out there and we need your help to defeat it."

Everything clicked into place for Discord. He had been wondering how Fluttershy and Twilight, who he had just noticed, had destroyed the wall but now it made sense. He realised with a sickening feeling that the dark magic he had been practising whilst in the throws of despair must have been forming something to defend his isolation so it could continue to grow. "Arg" Discord's musings where interrupted by a familiar scream.

"Mortem." Twilight yelled lifting off of the box's entrance and flying towards her wounded colt-friend. He had dived between Pinkie and an attack so she could reload her party cannons for another barrage, he had sliced the energy bolt but due to having to reposition just to get their had rushed the slice. One of the halves had hit the centre of his wing leaving a huge wound as it passed through. Twilight new she had to help him and hoped she would be there in time as she saw another attack building in the serpent's maw.

With no thought of self preservation she flew towards him focusing only on protecting him. Mortem however was watching the creature intently. He realised what Twilight was doing just as the creature did and with a sickening feeling watched a beam start to build as the serpent turned its head towards the oblivious alicorn. With no thoughts of self preservation he appeared before Twilight knocking her back and tried to ready Lucerne to defend himself but wasn't fast enough. The beam hit him right in the chest and he screamed as it tore into him. What magic he had left did a reasonable job of protecting him but by the time he got Lucerne up his was already nearing death.

Twilight watched in horror as she was flung backwards. Mortem had completely absorbed the magic for over a second before he was able to stop it and send it back to the creature. When the danger was over his wings, one tattered and destroyed from the previous attack, folded away and he started to fall. Twilight flew to him hoping to be able to help him just as she heard it.

A growl escaped the box quickly followed by the creature that had produced it. Discord emerged his eyes reading pure fury as he looked to the serpent. Noticing the growl as well, the serpent turned to the source and almost seemed to recoil at the look in the eyes of the truly mad looking Chaos Lord. Discord charged his hand with all of his magical power forming an enormous sphere of energy. Without hesitation he threw it at the serpent. Upon impact the orb exploded into a huge cloud of chaos. Discord then contained that cloud harvesting from it his own power bringing himself to his complete former glory. Finally having completely destroyed the creature he turned his head down to here Twilight was holding Mortem's limp lifeless body in the void.

Knowing what had to be done Discord teleported to them and moving a kicking and screaming Twilight out of the way, he focused what power was left from the creature he gave it over to Mortem. The power orb collided with his chest entering in the mass of scarred and burned tissue that was left by the late serpent. As he absorbed the power his body convulsed and he screamed.

Pain seared through Mortem's senses when they reactivated, his brain fettered with the images of himself dying on Twilight's hooves he screamed aloud venting some of his regained magic to rain in the power he could feel flooding through him. After he had controlled himself he opened his eyes wide, seeing Discord and an absence of the serpent he assumed the battle was won and teleported them all out of the Chaos realm into the Friendship Castle's Throne room. As he practised the magic he could feel his body tearing itself up and questioned whether that had been a good idea.

Every pony landed on a heap on the floor with the exception of Discord, Twilight and Mortem who where all of the same vertical level. Every pony else however where scattered about the room. Both of the royal sisters where tangled in the roots of Twilight's old house hanging from the Ceiling. Rainbow dash was hanging off the back of her own throne. Pinkie Pie had materialised in mid air but had landed on one of her party cannons which then proceeded to fire coating one wall in the sticky confetti that she had been using to distract the creature. Rarity was perched on one of the upper window sills, she rather uncharacteristically, deftly jumped to the ground. Them much more her character started Fretting over her cracked hoof. Apple Jack had appeared above spike falling onto the Dragon who was quick enough to catch her bridal style lighting blushes on both of both of their guises. Discord had landed on Fluttershy's throne perfectly sitting and Fluttershy had then promptly fallen on him, with him pulling off the same move as Spike only pulling her closer and kissing her.  Mortem landed directly onto the map table flat on his back and Twilight sat besides him. Everyone bar Mortem seemed in perfect health with the partial exception of Rarity's hoof which she was still weeping over. Mortem however was bleeding heavily from the huge wound to the chest he had sustained from the serpent.

Twilight looked to him and felt her heart seize with a mix of guilt and sorrow when she saw his injuries. 'If I had stayed he would have been fine,' her brain berated her and she knew it to be true. He would have been even with the previous injury able to defend had that beam been aimed at him. Twilight threw her hooves around his neck and started to sob into the fur cursing herself and wishing she could turn back time and save him. Unbeknownst to her Celestia had free'd herself from the roots and was now observing the spectacle. She was amazed to see a dark magic seep out of Mortem's body and start to stitch up his wounds. Without even leaving a scar, his chest was reconstructed leaving the plate of furred flesh visible through the hole in his shirt. "Twi, I need air." Came his strangled cry.

Twilight started having genuinely believed she had lost the stallion she loved so to have him talking to her in a stable if somewhat strangled voice replaced her cause for tears with a new one. She loosened her embrace she registered the words which was a full second later and as she did she could feel the stress she hadn't even noticed melt away.

Discord and Fluttershy where somewhat aware of what was happening but where much more involved in the whispered, low conversation they had struck up once Discord had pulled back from the kiss and given Fluttershy a slightly worried look. "Did you mean it Fluttershy, do you really love a fool like me." Discord's voice dripped with pain which leached into Fluttershy at the slight.

"Of course I do Discord, I am so sorry I never got that letter to you." Fluttershy meant her words and whilst she was aware she shouldn't be blaming herself for what happened she couldn't help but feel bad. "If I had been a good friend and had read your letter this could have all been time we spent together." Fluttershy had not intended to pour out her feelings like that but having just told the pony, 'Draconequus' her mind corrected, she loved how she felt her emotional gates where swinging by the hinges.

"Don't even think that for a second Fluttershy, this was my fault all of it." Discord buried his own worries far more concerned about saving the feelings of the mare he loved than he was with his own peace of mind. "I should have confronted you about my feelings not written a stupid letter. If I wasn't a coward you wouldn't have had to endanger yourself to save me from myself." Discord was having similar problems filtering what he said as he felt completely safe with Fluttershy now that he knew she shared his feelings.

"Not to mention I wouldn't have nearly died. Twice actually." Fluttershy had been preparing to speak when Mortem had cut in with a cruel, cold voice. Discord looked guiltily to his brother whilst Twilight and Fluttershy glared at him. Mortem flourished under their disproving looks and a grim smile appeared on his face. "However it was done for love. That makes it worth while." His voice was a lot warmer this time and once he was sure the two mares had forgiven him and any internal crisis Discord may have been having was resolved, he continued. "Treat her right this time Discord or I won't be the one flirting with oblivion." He wasn't seriously threatening the draconequus' life but it still caused a slight stiffening in Discord.

Another pair that was an absolute mile away from Equestria at that point was Apple Jack and Spike. "Thank y'all kindly spike, would have been a nasty fall." Apple Jack said looking awkwardly up at spike from his Dragon hug/ catch.

Spike realised how odd it must look that he was still holding her but was having great difficulty motivating himself to actually put her down. 'Especially with big adorable green eyes like those.' Spike then very quickly put her down so she wouldn't notice the rising pink in his purple cheeks. "No problem AJ, you're my friend I am not just going to let you fall am I?" Rarity audibly huffed at that comment having had to make her own way down from a greater hight. Apple Jack was slightly amused by the stuttering Dragon and her indignant friend and was about to reply with another thanks but then heard Twilight sob and returned her focus to the map table watching the somewhat touching scene unfold between them. Before Mortem ruined it by being cruel to the still clearly hurting Discord.

Discord himself was going to bring out something snappy as a reproach but felt all his slight aggression towards Mortem fall away when Fluttershy leaned her body towards him. He looked down at her in complete wonder confused as to how a creature as beautiful and kind as her could have fallen in love with him. He hugged her to him and rested his head on hers gently. Discord hadn't realised it until now but he was horrifically tired and could think of nothing better than sleeping with Fluttershy in his arms, so that is what he did. Falling asleep on the spot.

Fluttershy looked up towards the Draconequus and was surprised and slightly humoured to find him asleep after only a twenty or so second lull in conversation. Giggling slightly at his dopey sleep face she turned to face Mortem who seemed to have noticed and was having much the same reaction whilst gathering Twilight up to him and cuddling her. "Mortem, if you wouldn't mind." Mortem realised immediately what Fluttershy wanted so he moved them both to to her cottage's bedroom making sure Discord appeared about a foot to the left of the bed thus causing him to fall onto the floor.