We hadn't seen Speedy in days. The doctors had found his room empty and had called for us at once. We searched all over town. Where could he have gone?

I walked back into the library after another day of searching. Spike looked down from the ladder he was on. "Any luck?" I shook my head. "It's been almost a week. Why would he just disappear like this?" Spike climbed down the ladder and gave me a hug. "Don't worry Twilight. He's out there. You guys will find him." I hugged him back. I don't think I would keep going if Spike wasn't so optimistic about finding Speedy. He tapped me on the shoulder. "Let me...go." Typical. He just couldn't take affection, could he? I let go of him and he backed up. He looked like he was about to-

BELCH!

A letter materialized and dropped to the floor. I picked it up and opened it.

Twilight

I'm sorry I have not written sooner, but I had to know more about the situation. I need you and your friends to get to Canterlot as fast as possible. It's Speedy.

Speedy? The princess had found him!

Within an hour I had gathered the others together and we were on the train to Canterlot. I looked out the window as the scenery changed. "I can't believe he's in Canterlot." I turned to the others. "How did he get there?" Rainbow Dash, who was laying across one of the seats, sat up. "We were searching all over Ponyville and everywhere nearby. He couldn't have gotten out of town without us noticing him." Applejack was pacing up and down the aisle. "I can't stand the thought of him trying to go anywhere. What with only three legs." There was a sniffle from the back of the car. We all turned to see Fluttershy in a corner seat, doing her best not to cry. Applejack's ears lowered. "I'm sorry Fluttershy. I didn't mean to-" I stepped forward and motioned her away. Every pony went about her own business as I approached Fluttershy.

I sat down next to her. "Hey. How are you?" She wiped away the few tears on her cheeks. "I...I'm not sure. I'm scared for Speedy, but...I'm happy that the princess found him too." I smiled. "I know. But we'll be in Canterlot before long and you can see him. You do want to see him, don't you?" Another sniffle and a nod. I gave her a hug and left her on the bench.

I joined the others. Rarity had brought her invention with her. She had it sitting on the bench next to her. She also had rarely taken an eye off of it since we left. Whenever one of us came close to it, she would cringe, waiting for something awful to happen. I joined her and looked over at the cloth-bundled item. "You know that no of us are going to touch it right?" Rarity glanced at me. "I know. It's just that this is a very special piece. I want to make sure it gets to Speedy in perfect condition." I leaned back and looked out the window as the mountains passed by. "What do you think Rarity?" She turned to me. "Hmm?" Before I asked again, I made sure none of the others, especially Fluttershy, were listening. I leaned in close. "How do you think he got to Canterlot? Applejack had a point. And even in a wheelchair, Speedy wouldn't have been able to get anywhere before we found him." Rarity looked puzzled by the whole idea. "It is indeed a mystery. But I'm sure we'll find out once we get there."

We jumped off the train before it fully stopped. And then we ran through the city until we reached the castle grounds. We found the princess waiting in the front garden. She was sitting next to a fountain. She stood as we approached. "Thank you all for coming." I moved to bow, but she shook her head. "There is no need for formalities right now. This is a very delicate situation we're in." What was she talking about. Fluttershy stepped forward. "Is something wrong with Speedy?" The princess lowered her gaze. "I'm afraid so. Follow me."

As we moved into the castle, the princess spoke. "I was on my way to visit Speedy when I noticed him rolling down the road in a wheelchair. I followed him all the way to the Everfree Forest." We all stopped in our tracks. I was the first one that got her voice back. "The Everfree Forest? Why would he go there?" The princess shook her head. "That's the question I asked myself. And so I followed him. I followed him right to an area of the forest that only Luna and I have ever seen." Applejack spoke up. "Then how did Speedy find it?" The princess began walking again and we followed. "He had help. This area is where Luna and I decided to hide Discord."

We all froze again. Fluttershy began to shake. "D-D-D-Discord?" Celestia nodded slowly. "We hid him away from the world, where he could never do any harm." Rainbow flew in front of the princess. "So how did Speedy know about it?" The princess lowered her head. "I'm not entirely sure. But I have my theories. Twilight, Fluttershy, if you could follow me. The rest of you can wait here." I followed the princess as she began to descend a staircase. I looked around. "Isn't this the way to the old dungeons?"  She nodded. Fluttershy looked around nervously. "Why are we down here?" The princess stopped in front of a door. "Because I saw no other choice. He never ran away. I brought him here." Her horn lit up and the door unlocked.

Was the princess actually telling us she had put Speedy in the dungeon? We stepped through the door. The room we were in was small, but lit. There were only two things in the room; a lantern and another door. This door had a barred window. I glanced through the bars to see another lantern and...a mirror? The lantern only lit half the cell. I looked into the darkness. "Hello?" The laughter came instantly. It was a familiar laugh. But it couldn't be. And then those yellow eyes appeared in the dark. "Hello Twilight." I jumped back from the door. "It can't be!" More laughter. "Oh, but it can. I see you brought me some visitors Celestia. How thoughtful."

How? Discord was supposed to be imprisoned in stone. How could he be here in the dungeon? And what about Speedy? The princess' horn lit up again and the door began to open. I stared at her in horror. "What are you doing? You can't let him out!" Without a word she walked into the cell. A sigh came from the darkness. "She isn't. I don't have any powers. It's pointless for me to escape." Discord without powers? Celestia looked at us and nodded. I slowly walked into the cell. Fluttershy followed me, but stayed next to the exit.

I looked at the princess. "What about Speedy. You made it sound as if you had him in here. Not Discord." Discord's laughter echoed through the cell again. "How wonderful! You haven't told them! Do I have the honor of showing them the surprise?" The eyes closed and something that sounded like gagging emitted from the dark corner. It finally turned to the sound of gasping. "T-Twilight? Fluttershy?" Fluttershy took a step forward. "Speedy?" A sigh of relief. "I'm so glad to see you. I've been stuck in here for so long." A pony stepped forward into the lantern light.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Speedy. Except...different. He was slightly taller, more muscular. As he stepped fully into the light, my shock only grew. Four legs! And a blood red quill for a cutie mark! Fluttershy's hope turned to fear. "You're not Speedy." He turned to her. "It's me Shy. It's really me." I stepped in front of him. "What happened to you?" He turned in a circle and then posed. "What do you think?" Was he actually proud of this? I looked into the darkness. "What did you do to him?" The gagging noise came again, but it was from Speedy. He closed his eyes and seemed to be in pain. After a moment though, he stopped. His eyes opened to reveal the same yellow eyes of Discord. And then he opened his mouth. "I gave him a new life." Discord's voice.

I heard Fluttershy beginning to cry. "You monster." Discord looked at her. "You want to know the best part Fluttershy? He let me in willingly." She began to sob even harder. "No! NO!" Another convulsion and Speedy returned to us. "Shy. You don't understand. He's given me so much." Fluttershy's tears stopped instantly. Her eyes widened in terror. "You...you actually let him in?" Speedy seemed confused. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Fluttershy backed away and then ran out of the cell. Speedy stepped forward. "SHY!" He began to run for the door when his feet bound together. I looked at the princess to see her horn glowing. She closed the door and released the magic. Speedy stood up and turned on the princess. "Let me go." The anger in his eyes was obvious. And his voice seemed to have taken on an unfamiliar edge. "I need to talk to her. Let me go!" Celestia said nothing. Speedy turned to me. "Why would she run?" I felt a tear roll down my cheek. "Because you've been poisoned again." I exited the cell with Celestia right behind me.

The door closed with a solid 'thud'. I didn't look back as Speedy called after me. "You think he's taken me over don't you? That he's in control? He has no power over me!" I stopped at the second door. I looked back to see Speedy looking through the barred window. I shook my head. "If that's what you think, then Speedy doesn't exist anymore." The door began to close. When there were only inches left, I saw those yellow eyes once again. He didn't say anything. He only smiled. Next Chapter: Let The Chaos Out Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 41 Minutes