The Captive of Discord

      The Mane6(Mane5 for now) were thoroughly prepared for their dear friend rescue: each of them took an object that they would use as a self-defence in case of emergency. Some took a pitchfork, some a pocketknife, and some decided to limit themselves to their skills. Everyone gathered at Twilight's house when she was just leaving. "Transform?" Rainbow asked. "And roll out," said Twilight while closing the door as quiet as possible. "Where are you going?" Sounded suddenly. Every one turned back. In the not yet completely closed door, a boy of about thirteen with lilac skin and green hair sticking up like a comb was visible. Small scales were visible on the backs of the hands and on the ears. He was wearing pale blue pajamas and holding a pillow in his hands, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Are you going to save the world again?" He perked up after asking that. "Oh Faust, Spike," Twilight sighed and looked at her little foster brother, "Go back to bed please." "But I wanna go with you! Can I go with you? I will be helpful!" "Spike, this is dangerous. We can handle it ourselves. So just stay home, okay?" "You're always saying that!" Spike stomped his foot angrily. "Right now it is really dangerous, little bro. Our friend is in danger, she has been kidnapped by a very dangerous criminal, and if you'll be there it's gonna be futile." "Well that's not fair! You're always hanging out with your friends and nevef taking me with you! We've only spent an hour together yesterday, you've left to prepare to this stupid operation anyway!" "Spike! Uh, Spike, if it makes you feel better, we'll try to finish this quickly." “I really want to believe this,” Spike muttered offendedly, and said out loud, “Go already. You've already started to piss me off."       With these words, the boy turned around and walked back into the room with an “offended” gait. Twilight and her friends were shocked by his behavior. There was an awkward silence. After five or six seconds the Smart Girl turned to others and, awkwardly smiling, said: "W-Well, he'll change his mind about it, don't worry. Let's go already."       The girls looked at eachother and nodded. The whole group was walking in silence, but Twi couldn't get Spike's words out of her head. "I piss him off..," she thought, "But it's not my fault, is it? I must pay attention to every one I love and he is not an exeption. What if he won't see md as sis sister anymore..? Don't be silly, Sparkle! He's still a child, he'll come to his senses."       As you've already guessed, the atmosphere during the walk wan't too good. Finaly our heroes made it to the ill-fated circus tent. The entrance to it was still guarded by those tall figures in cloaks, periodically driving away stray cats and dogs or people on a spree who decided to get inside. Five friends approached the enterance, ready to defend themselves just in case. But the figures didn't even shudder. They... didn't move at all. One of the friends tried to poke them in the shoulder, but there was no reaction, only a quiet wheezing. It was as if it was completely empty under the cloaks. Plus, a strange aura emanated from them, as if sucking the joy out of passers-by. Five friends essily passed them by, not paying attention on their fear.       They saw the same insides of the circus tent, though the viewers' seats were empty and arena wasn't lit. They came closer and crossed the barrier that separates viewers from performers. Suddenly a spotlight above them lit all the girls. Spotlights started to turn on one by one, litting small spots of the arena until the last one turned on, revealing to girls that one person they found guilty - Discord stood with his back to them and as soon as he got visible he turned around to face his guests. His hat was covering his head yet again. "Look who's here!" He spread his arms. "Ladies, didn't you know? We are not letting our guests in yet. Wait until morning and then..." "Don't you dare trying to fool us again, Discord!" Twilight suddenly interrupted him, making him shudder, "We know who you really are and what have you done, your tricks won't work on us!" "Oh... So now you are aware of who I am," The magician's facial expression became similar to that of a typical arrogant count, "Oh well, it makes things easier. Discord von Chaos!" Discord curtsied. "At your servise." "Let's put aside these formalities, Discord," Twi took a step towards him, signing her friens to stay where they are, "Now tell us where's Fluttershy and what did you do to her!" "Now!" Rainbow added, holding up her clasp-knife. "Ladies, ladies! Calm down. I've told you many times I have nothing to do with this. I have no idea where your friend is and you're already acting like Candice trying to ger her bros busted. Now if you excuse me, I have a show to preapere for. Arrivederci."       With these words Discord turned 180 dergees around drammaticaly and headed into the darkness. He was going to snap his fingers unnoticed by everyone, but he couldn't make a singke step into the dark before one of the girls realised that today cannot be any show according to the judgment of to schedule. "You bucking liar!" Dash dashed out of the group and threw her unfolded clasp-knife at the magician as hard as possible.       The knife hit Dee in thd back of his head, making him trow his head forward. Somehow this small object slipped through the magician's hair and touched the brim of his hat so much that it flew off his head and fell to the floor. The girls gasped in terror. They saw what the magician was hiding this whole long time - his big, terrifying, absolutely asimmetrical horns. Then there was a horrifying silence, everyone freezed in terror, awaiting for something. A scarry organ music played out of the blue, then a scary laughter that got louder with every second was heard as Discord slowly turned his head to them, still staying in the same position. Corners of his lips had stretched into the crooked evil grin. In his eyes there was a pure madness. "You should've think twise, Speedie!~"       He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers. All exits were shut locked. The edges of the arena were enveloped in a scarlet flame, standing like a wall, the organ music was amplified. The heroines huddled together in fear. "Through fallowed halls with a ritual of flame," sang Discord, walking to the center, "Stoking the child that bears my name. Back to the start, at nightmare's heart! Take to the stage so I can play my part!"       He stopped exactly in the center of the arena, opposite the five girls. Waving his right hand to the side, the magician summoned his magic wand. "The troupe gathered here, showtime is near. Vessel beware, fall into terror I will teach you fear!"

      Saying Singing that, Discord smoothly lifted off the ground and soared into the air, as if on wings. The girls watched in horror, unable to move, numb with horror.

"I, standing higher

Adding fuel to the fire

Hear the crowd roar

Hear them screaming for more!

NOW TAKE A BOW!"

      Discord pointed the wand at the girls and five scarlet rays of light burst out of its end, which entwined the girls and some unknown force forced them to kneel in front of the distraught magician, who almost stuck out his tongue in delight and madness.

"LEAVE THE AUDIENCE WOWED!

Carry high lantern light

Now we join in the nightmare!"

      Twilight tried hard to break free from the magic fetter and somehow help her friends to do so. Her struggles were hopeless - this horrible magic power pressed her from every angle not even letting her straighten up and making her bow before his Magesty. Discord smoothly got down to her, still smiling creepily. Top part of his face was hidden in the shadow. At the same moment Twilight finaly managed to free her left arm but the magician immediately grabbed it and squeezed it tight, making a girl gasping from the fright.

"Here in the hollow"

      Discord pulled her arm up, making this poor girl stand up.

"Join the dance and follow~"

      He was looking straight into her eyes, so Twilight could clearly see the madness, excitement and, worst of all, bloodlust in his gaze. And his smile... That smile didn't even belong to him, but to the real devil himself. The girl shuddered just looking at his creepy face.

"Burn the father!

Feed the child!"

It sounded from everywhere, as if an otherworldly choir was chanting its deity during a ritual.             Suddenly, two huge wings spread out behind Discord's back: the right one was purple with webbing, the left one was blue, covered with thick, disheveled plumage. He threw Twilight away from him and, flapping his wings, soared up. In addition to the rest of the horror, he had a long, scaly urass tail with a white tassel at the end. The pillars of flame dissipated for a moment, but after a second they recovered and even became higher.

Burn the father!

Feed the child!

Burn the father!

Feed the child!

Burn the father!

Feed the child!

"Through fallowed halls with a ritual of flame," Discord extended his arm forward, forcing all of his opponents off the ground, "Stoking the child that bears my name," he clenched his palm into a fist, causing all the girls to huddle together and cry out in pain, "Back to the start, at nightmare's heart!" he abruptly waved his hand to the side and the girls flew straight into the fire. Another second and they would have been engulfed in flames, but, to their surprise and relief, they froze in the air a few centimeters from the fire, "Take to the stage so I can play my part," Discord opened his hand, after returning the girls back to the center, and they fell back to the ground, "The troupe gathered here. Showtime is near! Let my performance move all to tears! Come to the fair! Vessel beware! Fall into terror, I will teach you fear!       Discord hovered over the arena, occasionally wagging his tail. The circle of pillars of flame was narrowing, giving no chance of escape. The girls were trapped. The hellfire of nightmares is about to engulf them and no one will be able to save them.

"Spotlights are beaming~

Here in the dreaming..."

      Discord raised his right hand and folded his fingers, ready to snap them.

"Audience SCREAMING!"

      The wizard's grin was already turning into a terrible, predatory grin. He was laughing. He laughed so terribly and loudly that one might have thought that this was not the same calm and polite magician. It was as if he had been replaced by some demon from the underworld. Another second and there will be a fatal click that will separate the five from their friend forever.

BURN THE FATHER!

FEED THE CHI-!

"Discord!"

      Discord turned his head to the sound's direction and looked down. Fluttershy, standing at the support post, behind which the terrified Smoothie was also hiding, looked at him with horror and tears in her eyes, as if begging him to stop. The smile disappeared from the magician's face. He lowered his hand. Flames started to fade, fire faded completely when Discord was back on the floor. Kind girl walked out of shadows towards him. Magician looked embarrased, he felt guilty for loosing him mind so easily. Fluttershy grabbed his top hat and gave back it to him, petting magician's hand. "Thank you..," he said quietly, accepting his hat back. ''Fluttershy!" all girls rushed towards their long lost friend to hug her. Everyone laughed happily, somebody even bursted into tears. Twilight grabbed Flutty's shoulders. "Are you alright? Are you good? Did he hurt you?" "No, no, it's okay, Twilight. I'm fine." "Thanks Celestia," she sighed in relief, "This... That monster! He dared to hide you away and lied to us!" "Twilight, he's not a monster. He's just a magician." "What kind of magician is that!" interrupted Rainbow, " He tried to kill us!" "He didn't mean to, he merely got scared." "Scared?! Haven't you noticed what he was doing with us here?! It is us who really got scared! Even me!" "Ladies, ladies, calm the hay down," mumbled Discord, looking away and spinning his wand in his hand. Suddenly Rainbow rushed towards him and hit his hand so hard that in a brief pain and confusion he dropped his magic wand, which Dash catched in the air. As she ran back to her friends, she yelled "I got it!" and broke it against her knee. Discord looked at her... in confusion. Not in fury, just confusion, as if saying: "Excuse me, are you a dum-dum?" "D-Dash! Why?" Flutty cried. "To be sure!" "You've lost, Discord. Let's go, Fluttershy," Twilight looked at her startled friend, "We can go now. He cannot hurt us without his magic wand. He's nothing without it." "Oh, is that so?" Discord made an offended face, "Nothing? Are you so sure about that?"       Magician snapped his fingers. The exact same moment a giant bat chrushed into Twilight's face. No, not even a regular bat. A fruit bat. Smart girl screamed in fear. Creature hissed at her. "What a bizzare coinsidence, is it? Of course it isn't. Too bad you broke my wand, that's for sure," Discord frowned, "But it never was the source of my power. Look around! It's not Harry Trotter, even there the wand is not that important! I can do whatever my sinful soul desires! I can burn the nightmare fire again!" Snap. Flames surrounded Mane 6 again. "I can put it out!'' Snap. Black thunderclouds began to form under the circus dome. Thunderclaps were heard, lightning flashed, and very soon a terrible downpour poured down, washing away the flames instantly. Somehow, the water did not touch the terrified girls, and the rain ended as soon as the fire went out, ''I can do anything! Anything! I can even destroy everything here, for Grogar's sake!''       Discord snapped his fingers once again. This time a loud bang was heard, even Discord shuddered in unnatural way. Everyone looked behind Dee's back, he did the same. One of the spotlights fell off the supporting pole, fell to the ground and burst into flames. The girls screamed in unison. "W-What have you done?!" Twilight yelled at him. "It wasn't me..." "Stop fooling around!" "Come on, I'm terrified as much as you are! Ok. Don't panic! I can fix it! I can-!" Discord snapped his fingers. But nothing happened. Magician snapped again. Nothing. Meanwhile fire was rapifly spreading everywhere. "No... No!" Discord snapped his fingers several times, trying in vain to fix everything, and then stared in horror at his trembling hand, "It... It can't be happening. Where are my powers?!" "C'mon! Stop this fire already! It's not funny!" "Twilight, it's not his fault!" Fluttershy cried in tears. Noone coukd predict such a catastrophy, even Discord himself. A creak was heard above his head. "Look out!" Rainbow Dash rushed towards Discord, grabbed him by the collar and dragged him aside. A burning piece of rebar fell to where the wizard was standing a second ago and stuck its sharp end into the floor. Discord looked there, startled, and then at the sportsgirl. "You... You saved me." "Thank me later, okay? That doesn't mean I trust you, just don't wanna be responsible for a dead body here."       Rapid steps were heard. Panting Smoothie ran to them. His face was covered in sweat. Discord came closer to him, realising that he wants to tell them something. Smooze struggled but reached his friend's ear and whispered something to him. Magicians expression was like if he just learnt some sacret knowledge. "This is bad... Run. Everybody run away from here! Now!"       He didn't have to ask Mane6 twice. They all rushed towards the exit, Fluttershy anxiously looked over her shoulder at Discord and Smoothie running after them. The fire engulfed the entire area above the dome, including the seats for spectators. Fortunately, exits weren't completely blocked by flames, so Mane6 managed to get out of there just in time. However, magician and his friend were not so lucky - a few meters were left until their escape when Smooze suddenly tripped over the piece of wood and twisted his leg. "Discord, w-wait!" Smooze tried to get up and continue running, but the pain in his leg didn't let him stand higher than a couple of inches. "Smooze!" Discord rushed to help his friends. He helper him to stand up but then his gaze was caught by flames. Fire had engulfed everything on it's way: audience seats were birning, supporting poles, fabric of the circus tent. The circus really looked like a living Hell. In magician memories this place was still unfinished building around which builders were busy doing their job. When Dee was five or a bit older his father always told him that one day it would be a big beautiful theatre and one day his son would own all of it when he's older. Discord believed him and was always waiting to this day to come. Even when his fake friend Tirek caused his father to lost all trust in his son, his father never broke his promise and young man kept waiting and hoping. And now, after so many years, magician's first perfomance happened so recently here, but now it's all dying in a fire. Were all these years of waiting worth it?..       Yes. Yes they were. He's been to many different places, went through many hardships. And most importantly, he had his best friend with him - Smoothie. He had never give him up, never betrayed him and never revealed his secret. This is the treasure Discord couldn't even dream of. And he definetely couldn't afford loosing it. Discord grabbed Smooze's shoulders tight, making him uncomfortable, and as he dragged him closer to exit he trew him forward. Smoothie got out safely. Discord, panting, smiled at him and for the last time looked up at the falling piece of building above him...       Outside our heroines were greeted by an abbulance, police and firefighters. By the way, Spike who was still in his pijam, jumped out of the firetruck and ran to his "big sister". The moment Twilight saw him she rushed towards him for a hug. "Spike! Spike, little brother! How... How did you get here and how did you know...?" "I followed you when you were leaving. But these wierd looking figures didn't let me in so I stayed outside. And then I saw fire and called for help." "Spikie," Twi smiled, "You're our little hero."       All girls, except Fluttershy, came ti hug their scaled saviour. She looked at misfortunate enterance and fire with smoke in it which was blocking the view. Her heart was beating like crazy, her soul was unease, because there inside still were left ones who she got closer with during the last few days(even tho it sounds strange). Smooze, hardly saved, falls to her feet. Fluttersy was startled but she helped him get up and sit down on the ground. "S-Smoothie! W-Wait, where's..?       Suddenly the top of the circus tent bursted in flames, boom! The tent staggered and all it's foundation started to collapse with a terrible screetching and rumbling. Everyone attended watched it in terror, and Fluttershy screamed in horror. "Discord!" She was ready to run right into still burning ruins ti save him, but her friends realised what's the matter real fast and caught her, not letting her do so, "No, no! Discord! He is still there! He's still there!" "Go find a safier place. We'll save your friend," half of the firefighter crew rushed to find the missing man while other half was, what a surprise, fighting fire. "P-Please!.. Be carefull!.." "Fluttershy, darling," Rarity hugged the poor girl, trying to comfort her, "Calm down. I have no idea, how did that old man deserved your compassion... but he will be okay. Promise," Fluttershy nuzzled into her, crying, "Everything will be okay."