A baby cry interrupted Fluttershy's storytelling and she exclaimed, "Oh dear, that's your sister."
Screwball groaned, "Do you have to go? Can't Daddy get her?"
"Now Screwy, you know your father needs his rest, he's going to have a busy day tomorrow."
Discord suddenly popped into the room with a pale yellow pegasus with a messy black mane in his arms as he said to his wife, "Oh, let the kingdom fall for all I care, my family is more important!" he started tickling the baby and said in baby-talk, "Isn't that right, my little Perplexity?"
The tiny filly giggled and so did Screwball.
Fluttershy gave an annoyed look and started to lecture, "Honey, we've talked about this."
He countered, "Fluttershy, you shouldn't have to take care of the kids by yourself."
"But your rest is important because you have that meeting tomorrow, remember?"
The draconequus sighed, "Yes, you're right…"
Screwy asked, "What's so important about that meeting anyway?"
Discord told her, "Nothing for you to be concern about, it's just grown-up stuff."
"Is it about that threat King Sombra did that might start a war?"
Both her parents gapped at her before frowning as her father inquired, "And how would you know about that, young lady?"
Screwball blushed as she admitted, "My friends and I might have hiding in the throne room when you got the message…"
They groaned with Discord face-palming.
Fluttershy sighed, "Why do the seven of you always do this?"
Their daughter shrugged, "We're kids. We get bored easily."
Discord gestured after he handed their other daughter to his wife and directly told their eldest, "Well you and your little friends will certainly not be permitted in to listen in on us during the meeting."
"Aw, but that's when all the good stuff will happen!"
He crossed his arms, "This is not a game, Screwball, if Sombra makes good on his threat we are in serious trouble."
The princess gulped, "How serious?"
Fluttershy stated, "It's not for you to worry about, sweetie."
"That's right, it's Mommy and Daddy's problem."
"But it will be my problem once I become queen."
The king and queen exchanged bewildered looks. For as young as their daughter was she held a wisdom that exceeded beyond her years.
Discord pointed, "That might be so, Screwy, but you're not queen yet and this matter shouldn't concern you."
"I suppose you're right, what I should do is focus more on my soon-to-be arranged marriage to Mothy…" she smirked.
Her father let out an aggravated groan, "You just had to bring that up! I only reason I let that stupid agreement happen was because Thorax brought his little pest of a brother with him on a visit and the two of you hit it off so well we thought it was smart way to strengthen our kingdoms but I never once thought you would actually want go through with it!"
Fluttershy giggled, "Well, honey, you should have realized that Screwball and Mothball would have liked being together that you could have called off the deal before it was too late."
"Besides, he's the perfect choice to be my Prince Consort, he's already a prince so he knows how to handle the pressures of castle life and he has great negotiation skills. You got to admit it, that's not a bad resume for a twelve-year-old."
Discord just grumbled.
"I still wish we can get married at sixteen…"
"Oh no! No! Eighteen is where I draw the line missy."
"I have to agree with your father, sweetheart, sixteen is much too young to get marry even if the law says you can…"
Screwball sighed and flopped down on her bed and requested, "Can we get back to the story now?"
Her mother said, "Alright," and turned to her husband, "Dear, could you take care of Perp?"
"Of course, dearest." taking the baby back.
She stated firmly, "But once she's calmed down, you need to go back to bed."
"But darling, even if I do that you know I'm never going to be able to sleep without you."
"Can you try?"
"I can, but you know it won't do any good not since…"
"I know…" she flapped up and kissed his cheek.
"I just don't want to end up close to losing you like once before."
She slightly smiled, "And I don't want the same to happen to you like before…"
Screwball asked, "Can we skip to that part of the story, Mom?"
Fluttershy chuckled, "No, Screwy."
Discord motioned, "Besides, you never know whose listening in and enjoying the story, so they'll get lost if you just skip ahead." he leaned his head toward Screwball and kissed her forehead, "Good night, my little mischief-maker."
She smiled, "Night, Daddy."
He turned back to his wife with a grin, "And I'll be waiting for you…"
Fluttershy smiled as he popped out.
Screwy exclaimed, "I still can't believe you had no idea he and the king were the same!"
"Well, your father was good at hiding it and the fact that he acted so different in his true form verses his cursed self. He was more playful and carefree and he did intrigue me with him being a mesh of animals that I cared for."
"So Daddy thought he couldn't get you by being a draconequus but the opposite was the truth!"
"That's right… And I'll never forget the night I realized my attraction to him…"
He watched her sleep as she seemed so peaceful he hated the idea of waking her up. But he knew it had to be done and gently nudged her. She slowly stirred but did not wake. The story of a prince kissing his princess awake from an enchanted sleep came into mind but it would been very improper since he was in his true form right now and had to remain strictly professional. The last thing he wanted to was to scare her away since he was lucky enough that she came near him at all!
He began to gently nudge her again. This time she did wake up.
"Oh! Discord, you're here."
"But of course my dear, I wouldn't be anywhere else."
"I didn't think I would see you again and so soon." she got up from her bed, "I'm afraid I don't have anything to offer you right now but if you would come back next week, I'm sure I'll have something."
"Sadly, my dear, I cannot bend the rules on this, either you can give me something to match my fee or I'll be force to leave."
"No! No, please don't go!" she pleaded rather loudly much to the both of their surprise.
She thought, Oh my… I didn't mean to sound desperate just now…
Discord was thinking, I guess I was being a bit harsh… maybe I should tone it down a bit… He addressed her, "Now, now, my dear, don't you fret so we'll think of something to make this work." he pretended to look around the room then his eyes settled on the ring on her vanity. There it is… He moved to it and picked it up and asked, "What about this little beauty?"
"Oh no! I couldn't!"
"Oh?" he furrowed his brow in confusion, "I was under the impression you didn't like jewelry."
"It isn't that. But that ring was given to me by the king after he was nice enough to give me a magic mirror that let me see my family." she showed him the mirror and continued, "It would be very ungrateful of me to give away his gift."
That sweet, beautiful… but he had to put his admiration aside and had to force himself to play hardball with this. "But it's the only thing that can meet my price and you said so yourself, that he would banish you if you didn't finish the task."
She looked down in sadness.
He floated to her and softly stroked her mane and she did not object to the touch instead she felt comforted by it and she never wanted him to stop. He said, "I want to help you but I can't without the proper payment. You understand, don't you?"
She nodded, "Yes… I do. It's like ponies need food or clothes… but first you need the money…" she sighed, "Take it…"
In moments they were back in the room full of straw as Fluttershy spun the spinning wheel and Discord put the straw in making it turn to gold. He noticed that she was staring at him strangely since they got there. He inquired, "Is… everything alright? You've been staring at me more than usual tonight."
She flushed, "Was I staring? Oh my, I'm so sorry…" she turned away in embarrassment.
"It's alright. I am abnormal after all, so ponies can't help but stare at my looks."
She fiddled with her mane, "I've been meaning to ask, but… what are you? That is what species are you? I've seen and read about many creatures but never had I seen a being like you…"
"To put it simply, my dear, I am a draconequus."
"A draconequus?"
"I'm impressed; you got it on the first try."
"Are there more of you?"
"Alas… no."
"Oh no… What happen?"
"There's nothing to tell really, just that I'm the last of my kind and that's all there's to it."
"That's so sad and it sounds so lonely too… to be the only one of your kind…"
Discord slightly looked away, "Yes… I suppose it is…"
Fluttershy touched his paw and he looked back in surprise. She looked up to him with warm eyes making him feel very confused.
"You don't have to be alone anymore… once we're done turning all the straw to gold, I'm going to tell the king I don't love him and then… maybe once I'm back home you can come visit me and maybe we could…" she blushed and shyly turned her head away.
Discord started to gap as he got what she was trying to ask.
No! It can't be! It's impossible! She can't be falling in love with me like this!
But as soon as she said the next words his suspicions were correct.
"I hope that we could… court…?" she looked on with anticipation.
Discord's mouth was ajar at this point and was completely speechless.
She quickly added, "Oh! I understand if you don't! I'm not as special as you are and you only came here to turn this straw into gold but maybe we can…?"
"I have to go." he stated and he teleported away without saying goodbye.
Fluttershy frowned and told herself, "Oh, way to go, Fluttershy… you scared him away... Now he'll never come back…"
Discord popped into his room and started breathing heavily, this was too much for him to absorb all at once. So he did get Fluttershy to like him, just not in the way he thought. He turned to his mirror and examined his face and body.
"It's just not possible… How can she fall for such hideous? I'm a zoo merged into one animal, that's not attractive at all! I just don't understand it!" he flopped down onto his bed and tried to go to sleep but his thoughts lingered to Fluttershy and how she looked at him tonight.
Oh, Fluttershy… what have you done to me?