“Incendiary creature?” Fluttershy stammered. “A fire breather? So she is part dragon? Oh… my!”
“Fire breathing…” Sugarplum’s words drifted off. “Not sure about dragon. Drake possibly. Do you know what a drake is? Like a dragon, but smaller.”
“I know a little about dragons. Twilight Sparkle has Spike. He’s a dragon. And he’s adorable. I’ve always liked baby dragons.” Fluttershy paused. “I was caught off guard by the foal in the basket I think. Really she is quite cute. Whatever she might be. I think my reaction was because of surprise. I’m really OK around dragons and other creatures. I’m friends with a manticore and one of my best friends is a draconequus.”
The paperwork was minimal and Fluttershy’s bundle was content to continue her stay in the basket. Sugarplum, being the caregiver that she was, was more than happy to walk Fluttershy home, basket held in levitation, following a quiet path that mostly avoided town. It didn’t take them long to arrive at Fluttershy’s cottage at the edge of the Everfree. She pulled the blanket away and kissed the foal goodbye, right between her horns.
“Remember to send in the paperwork once you have a name for her. I wish you both the very best of luck. I really must be going if I am going to make the next train. I will be back to visit in one month. Goodbye!”
“Goodbye,” Fluttershy said, waving with her wing. “And thanks again for everything. You have been so very nice.” Fluttershy watched as Sugarplum turned to go. “And your cutie mark is inspiring! It is so nice to know there are ponies like you in the world.”
Sugarplum turned her head, nodded, and said “Thank you” as she departed.
Fluttershy lifted up the basket, the handle in her mouth, and started toward her front door. Her animals began to gather around, watching, looking intently.
“So you actually did it.” The voice was silky and mildly sarcastic. “And now, there is something else I have to compete with to get your affection.”
Fluttershy gently set down the basket.
“Discord, you don’t have to compete to get affection. The more of it that you share, the more of it you have to give.” Fluttershy looked wide eyed at the draconequus as he came around the corner. “You are my friend. And you will continue to be my friend. As long as you do not misbehave too badly.”
Discord smiled. “So,” he stated. “What did you get?” He bounced in place with obvious glee.
“It is a filly.” Fluttershy’s said softly. “Female.” She said bluntly.
“There is something you are not telling me, my dearest Fluttershy.” His gaze fell down to the basket. “May I?”
Fluttershy began to shuffle her hooves nervously. She bit down on her bottom lip and her ears fell back.
“It can’t be that bad.” Discord paused as he suffered one of his rare serious moments. “Deep breaths!” He said, a grin returning. He reached down and pulled back the blanket.
He drew back with a sudden sharp intake of breath, clutching his breath, his eyes going impossibly wide. He wheezed loudly.
“You didn’t warn me it was going to be so adorable!” He shouted. “Hurgh!” He hurghed. “What is it?”
Fluttershy let out the breath she had been holding. “I don’t know.”
Discord lifted the strange creature out of the basket, holding her up to look at her better. “She’s almost like me! She has some of my good looking features! And just look at that tail! Almost three times as long as her body when it is uncoiled!” The foal gurgled and began to drool a bit. Fluttershy took to the air and hovered near, getting a much better look at her. She had spots, places where there were patches of scales on her soft silky coat. Her mane of feathers went from her ears to halfway down her neck. Some of them were mussed and needed preening. “I am suffering from a very strange feeling!” Discord announced. “I have no clue what it is, but it kind of hurts. In my chest.” He looked over at Fluttershy. “I get it sometimes when I look at you. Or when you are mad at me. And I worry that you will no longer be my friend.”
Fluttershy looked at Discord, and he quickly looked away from her. There was a loud gurgle from the strange foal’s stomach.
“I think she’s hungry.” Discord said, stating the obvious. “Can I feed her?”
“I dunno…” Fluttershy said. “You know, I never even asked what it was that she ate. Sugarplum told me she was an omnivore. I wonder if she eats gems like Spike? I’m already becoming a bad mother.” Fluttershy began to fret.
“There is a packet of papers tucked into the side of the basket, between the basket and cushion. I’m sure everything you need to know is in there. Try not to worry my dearest Fluttershy. Come on. Let’s take her inside and see if we can’t find something she likes.”
“Discord?”
“Yes, Fluttershy?”
“Thank you.”
Discord cringed slightly. It happened every time she said those words. Something inside of him twinged, something unknown, but he always felt a little bad about all of the terrible things he had done.
It wasn’t long before they had the foal situated inside Fluttershy’s cottage. She was sitting in the middle of the floor on her blanket, murmuring and blowing raspberries. Angel was watching her from the corner. The aged rabbit wanted nothing to do with the unknown creature.
“Sweet Apple Acres Apple Butter!” Discord shouted in triumph! “It’s healthy and nutritious.” He stated matter of factly. He was holding a spoon in his griffon like claw and was clutching the jar in his tail.
“Apple butter?” Fluttershy asked.
“We can at least see if she likes it,” Discord said in a confident tone. “Besides, ponies love apples right?”
Fluttershy sat on the floor next to her foal. “OK, Discord, try to see if she will eat some. Apples are good for ponies. She’s part pony. The papers said that she can eat almost anything.” She made a gesture at the papers scattered over the table.
Discord glared at the lid, causing it to unscrew it self and clatter to the floor. A nervous squirrel scampered away, chittering angrily.
“You watch your mouth mister! There are foals in the room!” Fluttershy leveled her gaze at the squirrel, who had taken refuge behind the sofa and was now looking sheepishly at her.
Discord jammed the spoon into the apple butter and wiggled it around. “Want some apple butter?” He asked in saccharin tones. He held the spoon in front of the foal’s muzzle.
She sniffed, leaning forward a bit, her grey draconic eyes crossing slightly as she studied the offered food. A forked tongue slithered out, checking the taste.
She lunged forward with alarming speed, her mouth opening wide, revealing not one, but two rows of teeth, one behind the other. Lots and lots of little jagged teeth. There was a loud “CHOMP!” and Discord was left holding only half of a spoon. The foal chewed thoughtfully, her eyes closed, pleasure on her face.
“I’m going to need more spoons…” Discord uttered in astonishment.
Fluttershy could say nothing as she sat there, frozen in shock.
“Omnivore,” Discord said thoughtfully. “I suppose a silver spoon is a nutritious meal for a growing foal that needs minerals to grow up big and strong.”
“Oh… my!” Fluttershy finally stammered. “Baby was hungry!” She looked at the foal, was waiting for more food, beaming, her long ears perked forward.
“Num!” The foal said.
“Num indeed.” Discord agreed. He held out the remaining bit of spoon carefully pinched between his claws. “Claws are not food.” There was a faint quaver in his voice.
The foal’s tongue shot out of her mouth, wrapped around the spoon handle, and then disappeared back into her mouth. A faint crunching noise could be heard.
“Should she be eating spoons? What if she chokes? Or if the metal cuts her? Is it safe?” There was a faint hint of panic in Fluttershy’s voice.
“Relax my dear…” Discord snapped his claws, causing a pile of spoons to appear on the floor next to him. “Oh look!” He exclaimed, snatching up a golden spoon. “This is from Celestia’s dining table. I’d recognise this gaudy thing anywhere!” He dipped the spoon into the apple butter and then offered it to the foal, who gladly took it with a giggle. “And eating spoons off of the floor is the least of your concerns right now Fluttershy, so don’t worry about that either.” He fed the foal another apple butter covered spoon.
Many spoons later, the foal was slowing down, content to mostly just lick apple butter from the spoon rather than eating it. Her face was surprisingly clean, given the sticky nature of what she was eating. Her tiny little tummy protruded, her claws resting on her paunch.
“And I think she’s about done.” Fluttershy smiled at the foal, a warm feeling in her heart. This was pleasant. A foal… And Discord. Her home was always full of life, but at this moment, more so than ever.
The foal began to smack her lips and rub her tummy. Her face scrunched.
“She looks uncomfortable,” Discord said, his eyes narrowing. “Perhaps too many spoons?”
The foal wiggled, and continued to smack her lips. Her eyes clenched shut. She fell over on her back and flapped her tiny mismatched wings.
“Does she need to be burped?” Fluttershy asked.
“Maybe,” Discord answered. “I can do that I suppose. After all, I was the one who stuffed her full of spoons.” He scooped the foal up and clutched her to his chest. She was warm. Her coat was soft and velvety, and stood out in sharp contrast with her rough scaly patches. Her breath was coming in gasps. He began to pat her on the back, just between her wings.
Nothing happened. He continued patting her back for a while, and then switched to stroking her, his lion’s paw gently stroking down her knobby spine. Her stomach gurgled loudly, a strange resonating draconic gurgle, low in pitch, and somehow terrifying. Fluttershy began to back away, her eyes wide, her wings flared slightly.
“Don’t disappoint me little one!” Discord said with a smile. “Just let it out. What’s a little belching between draconic entities?” He shook her slightly, bouncing her up and down. She whimpered, a sound filled discomfort and pain. “Just let it out and you’ll feel better. There there.” Her tiny claws dug into his flesh, and her body tensed.
“She’s a fire breather!” Fluttershy warned. “When she finally lets go there is going to be fire! Lots of fire!” Her voice rose in pitch from panic.
“Got it covered.” Discord said. “She can’t hurt me, and I’ll contain the flames if there is any sort of ignition. You may want to take her outside in the future if I am not here.”
The foal was trembling now, straining, her eyes clenched shut, and a single tear rolled down her muzzle.
“Just let it go little one.” Discord said soothingly.
There was another ominous gurgle followed by a shrill cry from the foal.
A loud trumpeting blast came forth, not from her mouth, but from her backside. High pitched, a squeal born in the foulest depths of Tartarus, rising in pitch with every second…
And then, ignition. Blue and purple flames erupted from her backside, bathing Discord in a foul flatus driven inferno. The room filled with the terrible smell of sulfur and burning draconequus hair.
Discord’s protective bubble was filled with fire, blue and purple flames filled the bottom of the sphere.
And then, as suddenly as it had started, it was over. The foal was sniffling a bit, a look of relief on her face.
Discord stood there in stunned disbelief. All of the hair on the lower half of his body was gone. He was smoking slightly. singed, his mouth open in an “O” of dawning horror.
“Are you OK?” Discord asked, a slight panic in his voice. “Did you get burned?” He hefted the foal into the air, and turned her backside towards him so he could get a better look. “Ah, good! Scales back there, in a vital area!” He breathed a sigh of relief.
The foal had a second wind. Quite literally. There was a pealing squeal that rose in pitch until it was a sound that only certain animals could hear, the mating season of bats was rudely disrupted, and there was another gout of blue and purple flames.
“I have made a terrible error in judgment.” Discord stood there, still holding the foal. “Note to self. Never point this end at self ever again.”
Fluttershy stared at Discord’s hairless visage, her eyes wide, her mouth open.
“Not one word my dearest Fluttershy. Not one word.” Discord cradled the foal and looked down at her. “If anything else had done this to me, I would have rained fire down upon them. I would have made the oceans boil. There would be swarms of locusts and plagues of lice! But you, you’re adorable. So I’ll let this slide.”
The foal let out a contented sigh, and yawned, revealing her teeth. Her forked tongue lolled out, and she licked away a stray glob of apple butter from her nostril.
He held her out to Fluttershy. “I believe this is yours,” he stated. “I think the worst has passed.”
Fluttershy rose into the air, hovering, and took the foal into her forelegs. The foal immediately grabbed ahold of a hank of mane in its claw and began to giggle.
“I’m going to have to teach you to go outside when you do that.” Fluttershy cooed.
Discord snapped his claws, and then snapped again. He began to snap frantically.
“It’s not growing back!” He shouted.