Corruption is Magic

“Please Shining, we need to rest.” Princess Cadence begs as she walks behind Shining Armor who wears his guards armor and swipes at the undergrowth of the Everfree forest. Twilight had been searched for everywhere in the past two days since Celestia was informed of her disappearance, the Forest near Ponyville however was not searched besides by her friends. “Shining!”

“I’m sorry dear but I can’t, Twilight needs me.” Shining says as he swipes at the plants in his way, cutting them down to just above his knees.

“You have been going through the entire night when we arrived. You need sleep.” Cadence desperately says as she follows close behind him. “I know Celestia told you to not rest till she is found but she wasn’t being Literal.”

“I’m doing this because my sister needs me.” Shining says as he takes another swipe at the plant’s as he walks slowly onwards.

“Yes but would Twilight want you to run yourself ragged like this?” This question causes the stallion to pause for a moment before resuming his cutting. “So that’s it… You're willing to ignore how Twilight would feel so you can get her back.”

“I have to Cadence.”

“And what if she isn't here?”

“She has to be here.” Shining angrily says but sighs and looks back at Cadance who looks at him in shock and surprise. “I’m sorry… it’s just… this is the only pace she could be. You saw the letter too, even Discord didn’t know where she was and this is the only place that makes sense… with things being weird in here.”

“I hope for your sake you’re right.” Cadence says looking up through the canopy to see the sun high in the sky.

***

“I have told you this before Discord, if you do not give us anything to work with then Luna and I will need to seal you in stone again.”

“You don’t think I realize that sun butt.” Discord says rubbing his temples as he paces around the throne room of the Castle in Canterlot.

“Then tell me what I want to know, Twilight is missing and you are the root cause.”

“I can't, I'm sorry. I really am sorry but if we get her back then so much I have done will be undone.” Discord says in a determined but also desperate voice.

“Discord, doth thou really not see thee predicament thou art in. What could possibly give thee pause?” Luna asks in anger as she looks at the being of chaos.

“You think I'm scared of being in stone? I’ve been there before, it’s painful… but if I try to go and get Twilight back… I will get too much attention on me and anything you do will be child's play compared to that.” Discord says as he rubs his hands together never once making eye contact with either Princess but instead he looks at the floor.

“What kind of pace has she ended up in?” Celsetia pleadingly asks to which Discord flinches when he hears her voice.

“It… It’s called Fire’s pit, or also known as Hell. It is like Tartarus but Tartarus is of Faust’s creation… This world though… It makes that place a playground. The air is toxic and ash falls from the smoke and toxic clouds, the ground burns with the heat of a furnace and the liquid most prevalent there is magma that rolls and boils constantly.” Discord explains as he shivers slightly at his explanation, slowly slouching as he does so.

“That sounds horrible, but it’s all the more reason to bring her home.”

“I’m sorry Tia, Twilight might not be herself anymore.”

“What do you mean, tell me Discord!” Celestia shouts as she gets to her feet.

“People that end up in that world… they slowly become corrupt… twisted versions of themselves. Take all the worst aspects of living beings and double that, put it in a world and that’s the inhabitants of that world.”

“Thou thinks dear Twilight fell to such beasts. Do not make us laugh, thou has little faith in-”

“I have faith in her.That’s why I didn’t say she probably is dead, though it might be the better option to hope for. That world twists a person, sure she might be the same Twilight in some places but she won’t be the same. If we get her back we would have that and much more to deal with.”

“Much more?” Celestia asks, confused and Discord stops to finally look at her.

“There is something you need to know… When I suddenly came to this world and started causing Chaos… I had just been teleported here from that world. I caused mayhem because it was my wish. I wanted my own little world to take from being pristine to being rotten to the core, I also didn’t want anyone from that world to interfere or get in on the action so I had a stipulation in my wish where this world would be cut off from the rest. I also wanted it because… I betrayed someone there… someone who would make me wish death would take me.”

“So what you are saying is, Twilight is gone… she is in this new world and could very likely be turning evil and you could save her but you don’t want to.” Celestia says and Discord nods

“If I try to bring her here then I’d have to have my wish be dropped… that would mean this world is accessible by that world again. People here would be able to summon those in that world and they would sow corruption and evil in the world. Link Sombra, or Chrysalis but many many times.” Celestia shudders at the thought and sighs as it leaves her.

“I… If you are telling the truth, Discord then… I… I can’t allow us to take the risk. It pains me beyond belief but we can’t risk the safety and harmony we have built up over the years.”

“Tai!” Luna says loudly with shock in her voice.

“Luna, sister… we need to think of our ponies… no, the world as a whole.”

“So thou would toss dear Twilight to the wolves!?” Luna shouts in anger as she uses the Royal canterlot voice very slightly.

“Luna, this is about ensuring stability in the world. Twilight would want us to do this.”

“No, Thou art giving up on thy faithful Student. Doth thou not have faith in her?”

“I do Lu-”

“It seems not dear sister.” Luna snaps before turning to Discord who takes a step back from the furious Luna. “Thou might not be afraid of sister dearest but thou should fear us.” Luna growls as she lights her horn and with a swift and anger filled flick of magic tosses her crown before Celestia’s feet. Soon followed by the rest of her regalia. Celesita however watches in stunned silence as the dark princess does this.

“If this is thou’s friendship and Harmony then we wish no part in it. Twilight is a dear friend to us, a sister in all but blood and name. If thou would toss her away then thy view is clear to us.” Luna spits as she turns away from Celestia.

“Sister wai-” Celestia says but when una snaps around the tears in her eyes and anger has the rest of Celestia’s words die in her throat.

“Don’t, we do not wish to hear thou’s words, Celestia.” She growls and turns back around and departs from the throne room. Leaving Celestia in tears and wondering what has just happened.