Chapter 9

"Under Scrutiny"

Still looking tense at each other, Discord and Scorpan both walked towards Princess Celestia who was sitting on her throne, looking down at them. Once they were in front of her, she lowered her head and closed her eyes for a moment almost as if she was trying to think what she wanted to say. After a moment, she sighed deeply and then looked back up at the two creatures standing in front of her.

"I appreciate you both coming in such short notice," said Celestia. "My subjects are demanding that Tirek be severely punished even if it is against my better judgment. It turns out merely returning him to Tartarus was not enough after all that has happened."

Scorpan was not surprised about this at all. He had experienced the horror of what his brother had done when they were younger. Had he not met Starswirl the Bearded and become inspired to befriend the ponies of Equestria, he would have ended up just like his brother: a tyrannical dictator of Equestria. He knew that as long as Tirek was alive, the influence was still there as well as the bad memories of that period of time.

"I can understand, Princess," sighed Scorpan. "My brother needs to be punished for what he did to you and all the ponies of this great land. As long as he is alive, he is a danger to Equestria and I know that you and I will not tolerate another episode like this."

Celestia knew exactly what her old friend was talking about and she stepped off her throne and walked past the two creatures towards the stained glass windows which Discord had repaired. She most looked up to the depiction of her youngest equal's coronation, which had been melted by Tirek and repaired by Discord.

"I'll do anything to help you rid ourselves of this nightmare," continued Scorpan as Celestia looked at Twilight's window. "After what Tirek has done, I don't even consider him a brother anymore."

Discord was amazed by Scorpan's attitude that was being played out in front of him. Somehow Discord knew that had he had the willpower that he needed, then he would have avoided this whole situation in the first place.

"I can see why you are saying that," replied Discord, as he watched Scorpan say those words. "He lied to me about offering something more valuable than friendship. I believed him and look what happened, I helped him hurt so many ponies. All because I wanted to be free to do whatever I want."

To prove to Scorpan what he was trying to say, Discord snapped his fingers and produced a puppet version of himself and the princesses as well as Twilight's friends and dangled them before Scorpan's eyes. After a moment, Celestia then turned back towards them with her face still forlorn with thought over what needed to be done with Tirek.

"This is something that I have never done in a long time," she sighed, walking back towards them. "I have decided that Tirek needs to be brought back to Equestria to face justice for what he has done."

"How do you propose we do that?" asked Scorpan, knowing that something was going to be done. "Tell me and I will do anything to help you do so."

Discord was slightly hurt by this and knew that he had to play a contribution to this as well. For he was the one who was brainwashed into believing Tirek's warped philosophy and felt that this was his chance to finish what he had started. After a moment, Celestia revealed what needed to be done.

"I need one of you to go to Tartarus and bring Tirek here," she said to them. "You will be accompanied by several of my guards for protection from Tirek's magic draining abilities. Even from Tartarus, he can still drain magic to anypony who gets close to him."

Both Scorpan and Discord looked at each other for a moment as they both wanted to go to Tartarus and bring Tirek back. They both had animosity towards Tirek and wanted nothing more than to see him suffer for his crimes both past and present. However, Scorpan could see that Discord was the most determined and silently gave into Discord's intentions.

"I will go to Tartarus," said Discord, breaking the silence and transforming into a police officer, twirling a baton. "Because I have a few choice words for that liar."

Celestia could see that Discord was becoming far too hotheaded, fearing that Discord would take matters into his own hands. But at the same time, she could see that Discord wanted revenge for what Tirek did to him and knew that he had to be restrained from attacking or even destroying Tirek before he faced those he attacked.

"Discord, if you are going to volunteer, then you must realize that I want Tirek alive," ordered Celestia, sensing Discord's anger slightly rising as he shedded his police disguise. "To this end, I will have Canterlot's ex-captain of the royal guard accompany you to Tartarus."

The doors then opened and flanked by two guards, Shining Armor entered the throne room in his royal guard armor much to Discord's irritation and anger.

"What is he doing here?" he retorted, as he was looking at the pony who called him a traitor. "He called me a traitor, Celestia! How could you expect me to be with him?"

But, Celestia stood steadfast with her decision. Her mind was made up and Shining Armor was going with Discord to not only protect him, but keep him in check in terms of his anger and behavior.

"I'm doing this for your own good, Discord," said Celestia firmly as Shining Armor saluted her. "I don't want you taking matters into your own hands. If you go alone, then somepony would have to take Tirek's place and that somepony would be you. Do you want that, Discord?"

Discord had to stop and think about this for a moment and knowing that he had been punished enough for his own crimes, finally gave himself into doing what Celestia had wanted him to do. Although he wasn't happy that Twilight's older brother had to go with him.

"No, Celestia, I don't," sighed Discord, feeling defeated to an extent. "I just want him and I to meet face to face, creature to creature. He needs to pay for what he did to me and all of you."

"I understand that, Discord," replied Celestia walking towards him. "But he needs to be punished according to the laws of Equestria. You must understand that."

Discord reluctantly agreed with Celestia and after a brief glance at Scorpan, he followed Shining Armor and the royal guards out of the throne room beginning their mission to bring Tirek back to Equestria.