Chapter 5

"Fluttershy Pleads With Discord"

Upon reading of Discord's intentions, both Twilight and Fluttershy flew as fast as their wings could carry them to the tree of harmony where the princesses and their guards were struggling to get through to him. By now, Discord was already wanting to end his existence after everything that had happened, but he couldn't. Some of the guards were starting to grow restless as they did whatever they could to try and break the barrier that Discord had created. Even Cadence had alerted Shining Armor to the matter to try and create a counter spell. This didn't sit well with Discord as he now had to deal with the pony who flat out called him a traitor.

"It's no use," sighed the Prince of the Crystal Empire. "I can't seem to break the barrier. He really has a strong grip on it."

"Keep trying, Prince Armor," replied Luna. "There must be a way to get him to come out somehow."

So, Shining Armor and the EUP continued their futile efforts to break the barrier as Twilight and Fluttershy arrived. They ran over to the barricaded Tree of Harmony and Fluttershy looked down in horror to see Discord still standing by the tree, using his magic to keep the barrier up.

"Why is he doing this?" cried Twilight, as she watched along with her fellow princesses. "He shouldn't let something like putting Equestria at risk get to him."

"I'm afraid it has gotten to him," sighed Celestia grimly. "Discord must have been very ashamed for what he did to us and is intending to turn himself to stone. Since the Elements are embedded in the tree, he will remain stone forever if he orders the tree to cast the spell to re-imprison him.

Both Twilight and Fluttershy shared a worried glance with each other, fearing that if Discord could turn himself back to stone, he would never be able to be released.

"He can't do that, Princess Celestia," cried Fluttershy, who was now starting to panic. "Not with everypony like us who loves him."

"Not everypony loves him Fluttershy," remarked Cadence, as she walked over while a group of EUP guards collapsed from exhaustion. "It appears that he is thinking that by turning to stone, he would never be a threat to Equestria again."

"We've tried talking to him in an effort to get him out," sighed Luna, who was starting to grow impatient at the situation. "But our efforts are futile. He is fighting to stay in there and we are starting to lose our patience with him."

At that point, Fluttershy knew that the only way to get through to Discord was to talk to him herself. She was his closest friend and his first true friend for that matter and the only one who would truly listen to him.

"Can I try talking to him?" asked Fluttershy, grabbing the attention of Twilight and her fellow princesses. "He'll listen to me."

"By all means, Fluttershy," replied Twilight. "It's worth a try."

Taking in a gulp, Fluttershy walked towards the barrier where Discord was still using his magic to keep it up. She then took one of her front hooves and banged down on the barrier, causing Discord to stop what he was doing.

"Discord, stop!" cried Fluttershy, her eyes already tearing up. "Why are you doing this to us?"

The master of chaos then stopped what he was doing and looked up at his true friend. He began to see the pain that was forming in her eyes and walked over to her.

"Fluttershy," he said softly, still looking up at her, before talking normally. "This doesn't concern you. You must go at once."

"No, I won't," she retorted, talking through the barrier. "I've learned what you are trying to do and I'm concerned for you."

Discord then started to climb up the stairs and step away from the tree of harmony. He knew that he can still activate the magic and turn himself to stone, but he had Fluttershy in the situation that he was creating.

"Can't you just lower the barrier and talk to us?" pleaded Fluttershy. "I know you are hurting with guilt, but there is a way to get through this by just being open to us. I need you Discord and so does all of Equestria."

"I don't know if I can, Fluttershy," said Discord, nervously. "I put you and all of your friends and family in great danger and this is something that I will never be able to get over. If I turn myself to stone, then I will no longer be a threat to you and your friends. Don't you see that?"

At that moment, Fluttershy closed her eyes and began to cry for her friend. Twilight then came over to place a hoof around her friend's neck for emotional support while Discord watched in sadness.

"Don't you see, Discord?" remarked Twilight, talking in an equally concerned voice while trying to console her friend. "By doing what you are intending to do, you will only cause hurt instead of relief. We can help you get over this, but you need to let us do so. Will you lower the barrier and talk to us about what feelings you have?"

Discord just stood there for a moment and seeing Fluttershy cry in front of him made him realize that he had to face facts and reveal the full truth of the situation. Taking in a deep sigh, he lowered his head and snapped his fingers, destroying the barrier. He then began to slowly walk up the stairs towards Twilight and Fluttershy, without even saying a word. By the time that he got to the top, he was about to console Fluttershy when he felt a sharp pain in his neck.

Then, out of nowhere, he closed his eyes again and fell down to the ground as the EUP guards surrounded Discord and carried him away as Fluttershy gasped in horror along with Twilight. They turned to see that Princess Luna had fired a blast of magic at Discord given the fact her horn was still glowing with her alicorn magic.

"Princess Luna, what did you do that for?" cried Twilight, shocked at what Luna had done. "He came up peacefully."

"I did that as a precaution, Twilight Sparkle," replied Luna. "It was to stop him from doing any more harm to himself."

"Once he awakens," added Celestia, watching the guards carry Discord away. "We'll get to the bottom of this."

So, they all walked back towards Twilight's castle with Discord being carried by the guards. Everypony could see that with Discord subdued, they were now going to get a chance to learn the truth.

But, it was not going to be easy as they all thought.