YMMV / Broken Spirit

• Cry for the Devil: Discord, full stop. He nearly gets beaten to death in the first chapter, and it isn't pretty. He strays into Woobie territory when we learn about his past in Chapter 7.
• Heartwarming Moments: Discord and Fluttershy's interactions, especially in later chapters, are adorable.
• Hilarious in Hindsight:
  • Fluttershy redeeming Discord is now canon, as of the episode "Keep Calm and Flutter On".
  • Fluttershy's idea of a pet for Discord? A two headed dog! Now if only he would go to the Trader's Exchange in "Trade Ya!", there is a cutie.
• Moral Event Horizon: An In-universe example. If Discord's conversation with Twilight in chapter 15 is anything to go by, he seems to view his accidental murder of King Aegeus and Queen Astraia as his personal crossing of it. To the extent that he basically flat out tells Twilight he's a bad person in spite of trying to bring his adoptive parents back.
• Nightmare Fuel: Discord's injuries…aren't described pleasantly.
  • Then there's the utterly horrible version of Discord in Fluttershy's nightmare. It's telling that when Discord comes into the dream and "saves" her, he's genuinely disturbed by the thing. It's also implied that this isn't the first time this has happened.
  • Discord gets a severe case of blood poisoning in an early chapter, and Twilight suggests turning him back to stone as a last resort. Celestia immediately shoots the idea down. Her reasoning is that Discord may just die in the stone, or even be stuck in pain forever, unable to die.
  • Then there's the basilisks. Sweet mother of God, the basilisks.
• Tear Jerker: Lots of 'em.
  • Twilight's Heroic BSoD after nearly killing Discord is both saddening and a bit frightening, given how deep she sinks into depression. Luckily, she eventually recovers.
  • Just try to read Chapter 6 without wincing. Poor, poor, Discord.
  • The entirety of the scene in Chapter 13 in which Discord comes to clean to Celestia about murdering their parents definitely qualifies. Especially the ending of the scene.
  • Discord confronting Luna in about the murders also qualifies.
• The Woobie: Based on everything she’s been through, Princess Celestia could very well qualify for this trope. Let’s review shall we? Growing up, she was forced to imprison Discord, who was essentially the love of her life, although it was for the preservation of Equestria, the story heavily implies that she feels a tremendous amount of guilt for it. In addition, she has to live with the knowledge that Discord was responsible for the death of her parents and has keep this knowledge a secret from her younger sister, who viewed Discord as a brother. She also has to banish Luna as well, which causes her to feel even more guilt. And this is all before the story began. Throughout the story, it’s clear that Celestia really wants for Discord to reconcile with her and love her again, but his resentment over his imprisonment, and his guilt over murdering her parents, causes him to act coldly towards both her and Luna. Until the 13th chapter that is.
  • Luna counts as well. Even Discord displays pity for her at one point and calls her a "misunderstood, frightened mess".
  • Jerkass Woobie: Discord. He's been through sheer hell, but he's not what you'd call "gracious" toward others.