Chapter Text
The immense power of the elements shook Fluttershy to her core. She had felt this overwhelm once before, but the shock still made her feel like she was going to pass out. She related it to how she felt the very first-and only-time she road a roller coaster. It was that unpleasant, floaty gut feeling you got as you were hurtled down the tallest hill. The feeling that made her staple her eyes shut and wonder if she was dying. Rainbow Dash had relayed countless times how cool and powerful the elements had made her feel; Fluttershy wished she could relate. Instead she was resisting the urge to throw up and hoping she’d be able to walk herself home when this was all over.
What *this* was, was unbridled chaos. Discord, the spirit of disharmony, was sitting upon his throne in front of the six elements. He had turned Ponyville into his personal playground, and brainwashed the elements into less appealing versions of themselves in an attempt to secure his freedom. What he didn’t account for was how much faith Twilight had in her friendships. Now they stand free of Discord’s spell, using the elements to re-captured him. The process was quick, just a few seconds. She saw flashing lights behind her eyes and her head felt light, and before she could wonder how high up she was, her hooves were back on the ground. She breathed in and out, then opened her eyes.
The world had returned to it’s natural state, without any of Discord’s special touch. Homes were back on the ground and the showers of chocolate rain ceased. No longer was Ponyville occupied with ballet dancing buffalos or long-legged bunnies. She smiled for a moment, feeling accomplished and glad she wouldn't have to fear slipping on a path of soap. They did it!
“Hey,” the familiar rasp of the element of loyalty filled the air, “Where’s Discord? Because i’m pretty sure he should be right there.” she pointed ahead of her.
Where a petrified Draconequus should be standing was nothing. The relief and accomplishment they had felt washed away and confusion rose in its place. As far as they knew, he should be sat in front of them grey and unmoving, but he wasn’t there. Panic.
“Oh this can’t be happening!” Rarity shrieked, “We used the elements! The big rainbow, the flashing lights! He should be right there!”
“This don’t make a lick uh sense, we did the whole shebang! Where’d he go?”
“He’s a coward, he probably dipped and is cowering in a corner somewhere. I think we showed him what’s what!”
“Dipped? So that means he’s out there drinking chocolate rain? without ME?”
“Girls!” Twilight announced their attention, “Let’s calm down. The elements worked and from what I can tell order is restored.” She tapped her chin with a hoof. It would make sense for him to be in the position he was last, but sense was something Discord didn’t follow. She hummed in thought. They didn’t really know how the elements worked in carrying out their punishments. They could have done a number of things with him, especially if a stone imprisonment was something they decided wasn’t suitable anymore. “It’s possible the elements had other plans for him this time, if he’s not here, they had to have done something with him.” She scanned the area, looking for any sign of him.
“Twilights right, maybe the elements did all the heavy liftin’ and hauled him back to Canterlot for us.” Applejack’s southern drawl supported Twilight’s case, “the vermin already caused so much trouble, it’s the least they could do!”
The tension in the air lifted, and everyone seemed to be reassured. Everyone except Fluttershy, who hadn’t pulled her gaze from where Discord should have been. Thoughts and emotions swished inside her head as she studied the barren plot of land. Anxiety swelled at his absence but she felt guilt, too. Thinking of tight spaces made her feel like she was suffocating, but being encased in stone? she couldn’t imagine the emotional and mental anguish she’d feel, let alone the isolation. She knew a punishment was needed, He’s evil, but through her thoughts there was a lingering feeling that just didn't feel just.
“We should head to back to Canterlot, everyone. I’m sure Celestia can tell us more about how the elements work and what happened here.” Twilight moved past her friends, heading towards Ponyville, “Besides, the train ride will give us some much needed rest.”
“And I need to start planning my ‘Farewell Chocolate rain’ party!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing alongside Twilight, excited to start organizing the celebration. Fluttershy followed them closely, but she couldn’t muster the energy to match their emotions. She couldn’t quite pinpoint it, but something felt *wrong*. She said nothing the whole ride back to Canterlot.
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“He escaped.” Celestia didn’t meet twilights gaze as she spoke, she stared out of the throne room window. “I knew this was something that could happen,” She sighed deeply at the revelation that her old friend-her brother-had evaded his sentence.
Twilight stopped in her tracks as she approached the princess, the palace floor uncomfortably cold under her hooves. “So…he’s free? But everything went back to normal, I don’t understand,” Twilight shook her head in disbelief. Her head swiveled to the large doors behind them, her friends on the other side, completely clueless as to what Celestia had just told her. She frowned deeply as she felt the tension rising in her temple, so defeated she could cry, “We did everything right,” She looked back to her mentor, “You’re certain he’s not encased in stone at the bottom of Tartarus?”
“I could feel when luna had escaped, I could feel when Discord had escaped, too. My connection with the elements is getting weaker, but if my brother had been re-imprisoned, I would know.” It wasn’t exactly a straight answer, and maybe not even one the princess could rely on, but it was an answer she believed. She had no reason to think he wouldn’t have been punished in the same manner. She could see the very podium he had resided on for the last thousand years; it was as empty as it was this morning.
“You and your friends will bare the elements at all times. I’ve placed a protection spell on them, I won’t make that mistake again. If Discord tries to seize them he won’t be successful.” Celestia pulled her eyes from the palace garden, meeting her students distressed gaze, “The six of you did all you could, Twilight. Discord is extremely intelligent and knew the elements were working, I would have been surprised if he stood there and accepted his fate. I’m proud of you, don’t fret that.”
Silence fell between them. Twilights eyes glued to the floor; She felt relief that the princess wasn’t disappointed in her, but that didn’t stop her from being disappointed in herself. She felt useless and helpless. She couldn’t move her legs. she couldn’t take the steps she needed to take to get to the door, to tell her friends that they had failed, that Discord had escaped them at their best. They had no idea where he was now, and he could be *anywhere*. Looking for him would be impossible in every sense. His chaos was gone, along with him.
all they could do is wait.