//------------------------------//
// What Could Have Been (Twilight) 
// Story: The Disappearance of Chaos 
// by LiveLife 
//------------------------------//

I invited Fluttershy over because I thought that she could do something.  She's good with animals, right?  Well, Discord also asked for her, but, eh.  She will obviously be able to help a dying draconequus, right?  I was sadly misinformed.  

Fluttershy came over to my Palace, accepting the invitation.  She came in, and I decided not to waste any time, so I brought her straight to the room where Discord lay.  I didn't tell her one crucial detail -- that Discord lay dying in the room.   I made her promise not to run.  She went in, and her body was rigid.  Fluttershy asked what was wrong, and trying not to upset her anymore,  I said, in a detached voice, that a creature had attacked him.  I must have offended her, because she started yelling at me.  Worst of all, she used The Stare on me.  I won't go into detail about it, it's too horrifying.  If she hadn't released me, I would still be there, under her spell.

Once I was released, I ran into my room and wrote a letter to Princess Celestia, saying that Discord had died.  I kept it, feeling as if something was missing, though I didn't know what.  I leaned back in my chair, feeling exhausted.  

I stayed there for a long time, deep in thought, until Fluttershy finally came in and told me that Discord was dead.  She was wearing her Gala dress, but it seemed more, mature, in a way.   It had a white piece of cloth on the back.

"There is something else that you must know,"  Fluttershy said to me, her head held high.

"What is it?"  I asked, thinking that it might be an apology.

"I am pregnant."

I felt stunned.  I stood there with my eyes crossed, trying to figure something out.

"Who is the father?"

"Discord."

"Oh...congratulations!"

"Thank-you,"  Fluttershy whispered, her voice covered in depression.  "T-Twilight?  What can I do?"  Fluttershy, who had been holding it together surprisingly well, finally broke down in tears.

"I don't know, Fluttershy,"  I responded, truly lost for words.   "I really don't know."

"Oh, Twillight!"  she sobbed, rushing into me, crying on my shoulder.  "I-I promised him that I would stay here, that I would raise our child!  But how?  I can't see a future without him!  How can I raise a being that will be the god or goddess of Chaos without him?  I just don't know what to do!"  

Fluttershy took a deep breath and looked around the room.  "I'm afraid that the pain and misery will be too much for me to handle," she admitted finally, not looking at me. 

I sat there shocked.  Although she was easily scared, Fluttershy was one of the strongest ponies that I knew.  If she was feeling overwhelmed, that was a problem.

"Well...um..."

"Don't worry Twilight I didn't expect you to answer...you never had this happen to you!"  Fluttershy's eyes filled with tears and she fled the room.

"Wait!  Fluttershy!" I raced after her.  Half and hour later I gave up the search.  I walked to my study and plopped down on the chair, exhausted.  

I looked at the letter that sat on my desk and realized why I had felt that it was not yet finished.  Well...I had better add about Fluttershy...but I can't tell Celestia the truth!  But I can't lie completely either...I had better tell about how she was when she first came in!  Yes!  There we go!

I sent the letter to a messenger and asked him to send it Princess Celestia.  The words still rang in my head.  

Dear Princess Celestia,
If you are holding anything important right now, I would suggest you put it down, else you drop it.
Well, Princess, I would like to sadly inform you that Discord has died.
I swear on my friend's lives hat this isn't a joke.
He was attacked by a strange creature in the Everfree, and he just kept getting worse.
Fluttershy was with him when it happened, she's pretty shaken up, but otherwise okay.
Celestia, if you need anything, please let me know.
I am here for you.
Sincerely,

Princess Twilight Sparkle

I know that I have played a few pranks on her, so I had to put that it wasn't a joke.  Why I put that I can help her is a mystery.  I can't even help my friend, much less my mentor. 

After giving the partially nonfactual letter to the messenger, I went to my room and laid down.  My body was ready for sleep, but alas, my mind was still whirling like a tornado. 

What is wrong with Flutteryshy?  She has never been this troubled before...did she really love him that much?  Well...obviously she loved him enough to have a child...but enough to think of suicide?

I was tossing and turning, not able to stay still.

What about me?  She seems furious with me for no reason.  Doesn't she know that I'm grieving too?

I gave up on sleep.  Untangling myself from my covers, I walked to the room where Discord lay.

I used my magic to open the door, and noticed for the first time the swirling motion of my magenta colored aura.  Celestia once told me that the aura of a unicorn makes him or her special.  That had brought up a lot of questions, the main one being, "What if two unicorns have the same color aura?"

Celestia had to think about this, but ended up answering, "That will never happen.  Even if they appear the same color, there is still a difference in the tone, shade, etc."

I finally opened the door, and saw nothing.  Well...nothing except the bed, and the lamp, and the table.  No body was anywhere to be found.  Surprisingly, that brought tears to my eyes which had been dry prior to this.

It's just the dust!  I thought, trying to cover something up.  It's not because I didn't get to say goodbye, or anything.

Yes, it is. I couldn't lie to myself any longer.  I didn't get to say goodbye to the one I love.

Once thought, the idea kept growing.

I used to fantasize about us going on a date, and then coming back for a cup of coffee, or, in Discord's case, a cup of chocolate milk.  Then, when he had to leave, he would kiss my cheek.

The tears flowing down my face didn't seem enough to compromise for the loss I felt in my heart.

I was going to ask him out, but then he asked Flutterhsy...things went down-hill from there.

I recalled all of the events that had led up to this moment, and most weren't all that great.

I even already named our child Pandora.

I finally broke down sobbing.  The weight of the memories and the death of my secret love was too much.  I broke the window and grabbed a piece of glass.  I looked at it, and saw the shimmering lights that flickered in the lamp.  I saw the door, and knew that Spike was somewhere out there, sleeping.

I brought the glass closer.

I remembered my friends, especially Fluttershy.  I remembered Princess Celestia, Cadence, and Luna.

I dropped the glass, and it shattered.  I used my magenta aura to fix the window.  I went to the bed and laid down, hoping to meet Luna in my dreams.