Chapter 18: Tonight It Ends
Sure enough it was Strong Wood. Every pony gasped in horror but they were still frozen so they couldn't do anything. Strong Wood glared angrily at Discord.
"You weren't supposed to do that," Strong Wood said.
"When did you get a horn?" Discord asked.
"A few months ago actually," Strong Wood informed him. "My wings were traded for a horn by someone with dark magic the day after I was rejected. I knew it would come in handy later on."
"Then it was you who framed Gus Tenor," Discord realized.
"Oh course it was me!" Strong Wood exclaimed. "I knew if I framed him Fluttershy would come to me. And now that I have her I refuse to loose her to a devil's child!" Discord's eyes burned with rage. No one called him that! He struggled and tried to reach Strong Wood but he didn't have the strength. Strong Wood smiled wickedly at him. He turned to Fluttershy and levitated her closer to himself before bolting off stage and taking her with him. He headed for a secret passageway to the caves, which he had found earlier on. He opened it and ran inside all the while dragging Fluttershy along for the ride.
Discord eventually was able to stand up and slowly managed to walk off stage. He then quickened into a run as his power started returning to him. He found the spot where Strong Wood had fled and followed after him.
"Hey! I can move my claw!" Spike exclaimed. Twilight raised and lower one of her hooves.
"I can move my hoof!" Twilight declared. She the tried to lit her horn and after a few minutes succeed. "My magic's staring to work again."
"Great!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she straightened out of her wings. "Now let's go get that Strong Wood!"
Discord lit his claw and continued to walk deeper and deeper into the cave. He then heard a scream and ran towards it. He looked around frankly for her but to no avail. He then heard sounds of struggling coming from above him. He looked up and saw Fluttershy bound, gagged, and caged. He flew up to her and grabbed the bars.
"Hang on," Discord said. "I'll get you out." He magiced a key, opened the cage door, and pulled the gag off her mouth.
"Discord stop!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "It's a trap!" No sooner had the words left her mouth then a cuff locked itself around Discord's neck. Fluttershy gasped in horror and Discord screamed in pain. Strong Wood walked out of the shadows levitating the chain which the cuff was attached to.
"Hello Discord," Strong Wood said wickedly. "We've been waiting for you." Discord struggled as he tried to get the cuff off his neck but it hurt his claw or paw too much. He then realized what it was.
"Labradorite," Discord muttered. It was the one thing that could harm a draconequus and the deeper caves were full of it. He turned to Strong Wood and he pulled on the chain causing Discord to groan in pain.
"Stop!" Fluttershy cried. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you should love ME!" Strong Wood exclaimed. "Not this monster! Not Gus Tenor! Me!" He paused. "So here's how this works. You can either profess your love for me and I let him go. OR you can refuse me and I'll kill him." During that monologue Discord had been slowly falling to the ground due to his magic being drained. Strong Wood then cuffed Discord's paw and claw and pulled back on the chains on all of them. That earned him several more cries of pain from Discord. Fluttershy started crying.
"Stop it! Stop it please!" Fluttershy pleaded.
"Say you love me," Strong Wood said.
"Why make her lie to you to save me?" Discord asked. That only made Strong Wood pull harder and made Discord cry out more.
"No! Stop!" Fluttershy screamed. "Stop please!"
"I'll stop when you say you love me," Strong Wood responded. "And promise to stay with me to death till us part."
"Don't do it, Fluttershy," Discord said. "I'm not worth it. Don't waste your life on him." Strong Wood pulled on the chains.
"Quite!" Strong Wood said harshly. Strong Wood looked into Fluttershy's tear-filled eyes.
"You try my patience," Strong Wood said. "Have you made your choice?" Fluttershy looked from Strong Wood to Discord before taking a deep breath.
"Yes I have," Fluttershy said.
"Where did they go?" Twilight asked.
"They probably went into the caves," Luna answered. "Follow me."
Strong Wood lowered the cage and the unbound Fluttershy.
"Now what is your choice?" Strong Wood asked. "Me or him?"
"Strong Wood," Fluttershy began gently. "I want to you know you're not alone. And I care about you." She kissed him briefly which startled both the males. Strong Wood looked at her questioningly.
"Do you really?" Strong Wood questioned.
"Yes I do," Fluttershy said. "And I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend to you."
"Stop right where you are!" one of the cops exclaimed. Strong Wood looked up and saw fifty constables and Fluttershy's friends surrounding them. Fluttershy backed away from him and went to free Discord. The cops had their horns lit and aimed them at Strong Wood.
"Strong Wood, you are under arrest for first degree murder and kidnapping," one of the cops explained. Another cop put a device around Strong Wood's horn. "Take him away boys!" The other cops surrounded Strong Wood and escorted him out. Luna helped Fluttershy free Discord from the cuffs. Once they had freed him, Fluttershy hugged Discord and he returned it fully.
"Don't worry, my dear," Discord said. "It's over."
Was anyone surprised that it was Strong Wood? Or was it painfully obvious the entire time? Please let me know.
Anyway, the epilogue is next!