A near half-hour had passed, and there was still no sign of him. Nothing to indicate he had made it out. No signal. No letter. No—
Just then, a chaotic burst of magic flooded the bridge and earned the attention of everypony present. Fluttershy gasped, her hooves rising to her agape mouth, eyes wide with hope. With stunted fear. Silence suddenly flooded the bridge, and every last breath was held as the portal swirled and grew, until finally, in a bright flash, there appeared the withered draconequus to every conceivable eye.
He flopped flat on the metal floor, chin crashing first as he practically melted.
“Discord!” Fluttershy cried, the tears she had managed to keep in for so long finally bursting free. She couldn’t help herself. She spread her wings and flew forth from the center table.
A rush of bodies slid to his sides, Fluttershy being the first with shocking speed. The remaining members of the Council reached him quickly, from Twilight, Spike, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. Bon Bon broke away from the table but did not approach Discord, choosing instead to stare from a distance.
“Oh, we were so worried! Do not, I repeat, DO NOT do that to us again, Discord!” Fluttershy exclaimed, moments before giving in and nuzzling the side of his face. Cradling his head in her hooves, Fluttershy was rapidly panicking at the lack of reaction from the draconequus to seeing his friends.