"Discord....." The butterscotch pegasus muttered as she fluttered over to his side. The draconnequus slowly sat up, with a weak smile, wincing as he did so.

"Fluttershy, dear. It's such a pleasant surprise to see you here." He croaked. His voice weak and scratchy. Fluttershy felt like bursting into tears and hugging the Lord of chaos, however, she restrained herself from doing so. She had to be strong. For him and her friends. She had to.

"Oh, Discord....are you...okay?" She quietly asked, sitting beside him.

He nodded, attempting to smile again. But he began to hiss through his teeth. He was in agony.
Celestia watched, helplessly, and turned to the others.

"Thank you. For coming here."

"Anything to get Twilight back, your highness. And to help Equestria."

"Of course, Rarity. Getting Twilight back is our biggest priority. Once we have her back, that's Feathertail's defence gone. And we can defeat him once and for all." Celestia said as she glanced out the window. Watching as the sun flickered and grew dimmer. Making the sky grow darker again.
She turned back to the draconnequus next to her who looked as if he was about to give up.
"And we have to hurry. Discord will-"

"I will, nothing. Don't worry about me. Concentrate on getting Twilight and Equestria back." The draconnequus interrupted.

"But-but....you're dying! And we need to-"

"Save Equestria. Not me. Celestia, darling, my time maybe limited now, but it's for the best. Save what is worth saving right now. And that's your land." He smiled weakly to the alicorn, who held back her sobs.

"But...."

"I agree, with Discord. Sister, you cannot bargain with Feathertail. You must get back Twilight. If Discord is still alive after that, then we can help him." Luna stood up straight.

"But..."

"Celestia. Please. Just don't worry, okay? If you're really concerned, just do this one thing for me. And that is to not care about and save Twilight. You need her."

"But....I need you..." Celestia croaked quietly, that only the Discord could hear, and blushed heavily.

Discord opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it. He felt like bursting out his own feelings, but that would be so unlike him. Besides, he couldn't have her now. He was surely to die soon. He didn't want to hurt her. To break her heart.

"I-I...Celestia...I can't. You know we can't." Discord coughed.

"But-"

"I'm sorry." He croaked, holding his head down. Celestia bit her lip. Feeling tears brim her eyes.

No. She couldn't cry. Not now. Crying will show weakness. And she needed to support him. She needed to be strong to support Discord. No matter what.

The hall was silent once more. With the ponies unable to speak. The only sound was the loud hacking from the draconnquus, who spluttered blood as he coughed.

The mares' gazes were met with the sun outside. Watching as it flickered again. Watching as sky grew dimmer again.

"Sorry ta ask right now, but why does tha happen anyway?" Applejack asked.

Rarity shook her head.
"Applejack. You are so clueless."

"Wha? Ah wanna now why it happens? Why's tha sky gettin' darker?"

"I....I formerly apologise. I'm losing the connection with the sun and Harmonic Barrier. Thus making the sun have these random outbursts and the skies grow dark. I apologise on my behalf." Discord croaked, feeling his eyelids grow heavy.
"I'm....sorry..."

"No, it's fine. It's not your fault. You're doing what you can." Fluttershy reassured. Noticing the spirit's sudden drowsiness. She watched carefully as the others spoke about Commander FeatherTail. Celestia had walked over to the other mares so she could speak to them more clearly. Leaving Fluttershy and Discord by the thrones.

Fluttershy turned from the girls to her chaotic friend. Who had his eyes closed, and was currently rubbing his temples.

"Is there anything I can get you?" She asked quietly.

"FeatherTail's bloody corpse and Celestia's magic would be great." He snapped at the mare. She squeaked slightly at his sudden harsh tone. Discord opened his eyes and sighed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm just...so....urgh!" He moaned.

"I know. It's okay. You dealing with a big thing right now."

"Underestimating it a bit. Death is not just a 'big thing'." He sighed.

"Yeah....I know...but you're still going strong. And that's all that matters right now."

"Does it? Fluttershy, dear, I'm not going on strong at all. I shouldn't be alive right now. I'm hanging off a thread. If I didn't take this responsibility, I wouldn't be in this situation.
Yet, Equestria would have be destroyed within seconds."

"Well, you did it for Equestria."

"No. I didn't. I didn't do it for the land." Discord interrupted. Puzzling the pegasus.

"Then why? Why did you help?" She asked.

Discord glanced over to the white alicorn. Who was sitting among the mares. Their conversation wondered from the dreadful near future, to hilarious stories of before. They all laughed and giggled as they joke. It certainly cheered everyone up.
Especially the sun princess. Who giggled sweetly with the other mares. Whose coat seemed to have brightened. Whose mane which fell upon her shoulder had lit up and sparkled. Whose rose musk eyes had finally twinkled.

"I did it to help her."

Fluttershy stared at Discord and turned to where his gaze fell. She gasped lightly, quickly holding a hoof to her mouth.
After a couple of seconds, she turned back to the draconnequus.

"You mean...." Fluttershy trailed off. Happy for her friend.
However, knowing the situation now, she knew that it wasn't possible for the two to be together. The fact that the spirit was dying was the cause. It made Fluttershy sad.
She herself had found love. And was even married. Heck, they were ready to start a family. But it strained her heart knowing that a close friend of hers couldn't experience the slightest of it, simply because of their oncoming demise.

After pausing longer than expected, she glanced back over to Discord, whose head lay upon the arm-rest of the throne.

He was so very uncomfortable.

He attempted to flutter his wings, but they struggled and strained to move. He sighed. His back ached. His head, his chest, everywhere ached.

"Urgh....I'm....so tired...." He croaked quietly, his eyelids closing. But as soon as he did, pain erupted through him.
Fluttershy watched. Staring as he struggled to rest.

She flew over to the others, who were surprised by the mare's interruption.

"What is it?" Celestia asked.

"Well, erm....would it be okay....to help Discord rest? He seems very irritated and uncomfortable. It also looks like he can't sleep." Fluttershy whispered. The mares all turned to the draconnequus, who was wincing from the pain.

Celestia sighed.
"I know. I wish that I could have moved him to a better place, but he can't leave the throne room. The charm....his magic..." She glanced over to him once more. "I'm so sorry." She mumbled under her breath.

"Hmmm. I could place him in a magically induced sleep. It will allow him to sleep without the trouble of pain." Luna pointed out. "However, I doubt he'll be able to rest properly on the thrones. They weren't made to sleep on, and are pretty hard."

"Really, you need to get rid of the arm-rest and make the cushions more plush." Rarity added. The girls watched as Luna's horn lit up.

Discord lifted up his head with a confused look as the arm-rest he had been leaning on disappeared.

"There. Now the both of you can relax better on it. The both of you are weak, and need to rest. You as well, Sister. If you get your magic back with a weak body, it could potentially kill you." Luna said sternly, scowling at the white alicorn who was placing herself on the softer duo-throne. Beside Discord.
She blushed slightly when a leaned against her as she lay down. Feeling his warm body against her own. He lay his head down, leaning on his arms.

"Righ'. We'll be gonna ta one of tha rooms. Jast call us when he arrives." Applejack tipped her hat as the mares exited the hall. Fluttershy glanced over to the draconnequus. Worried that he'll die before they could save him.

"St-....Stay strong....please." She begged, her voice cracking as if she was about to cry. Celestia smiled to the young mare and nodded.
"Thank you." She quickly fluttered off, passing the pink alicorn who weakly walked in.

"Auntie Luna. You said that this would end soon." She managed to croak. She was tired. Tired of being weak. Tired of this. Tired of being tired.

"It will, Cadence. Just hang on a little bit longer." Luna advised. Cadence sighed before nodding. Her gaze falling to the other to immortal beings.

"How's are they?" She whispered. Discord had fallen asleep and seemed reasonably content. Celestia carefully placed her soft, pearl wing around him. Holding him closing to her. It gave her a sense of both security and comfort. Feeling his warmth and his heartbeats against her body gave her relief. Relief knowing that he was still alive. That he was still by her side. Still able to love her.

"They're growing closer. But...that'll be trouble."

"Yeah. I just hope she doesn't make the wrong move. For herself, Discord and Equestria." Cadence commented. She felt sorry for the alicorn. She had experienced many hardships in her life. And when things finally looked brighter, the light was blown out.

"Well, Discord has offered his life for the safety of Equestria. He's ordered her to save everypony but himself. He's sacrificing himself for her."

"I've got to say, it's both brave and sweet. Terrible though. They look so sweet together."

"They do. They always have." Luna said mindlessly. Making the younger alicorn turn to her in confusion. However, before she could even open her mouth to speak, a guard burst through the door. His usually golden armour dented and scratched. He panted and gasped for air as his lungs struggled to expand in his chest.

"He's here!! He's arrived in Canterlot!! Commander FeatherTail is here!!"

Author's Notes:

Yay!! Another chapter out!!!

LIKE ERMAHGERD DISCORD IS MAH FAVOURITE CHARACTER WHY I'M TRYING TO KILL HIM OFF!!!

Anyway, ERMAHGERD EVEN MORE I FOUND A GIRL IN MY SCHOOL WHO LOVES ANIME, AND PONIES AND BLACK BUTLER AND ALL WE DO IS FANGIRL!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Phew!! Sorry! This chapter was just a filler as well.
Onwards! Up and atom!!
Next chapter, FeatherTail comes and bargains with Celestia. And something happens (oh no!)

Thank you for reading and comment below