Short Fluttercord because I can't concentrate on my longer stories right now. · 12:10am Dec 22nd, 2015
She had cried herself to sleep.
It had been a hard day, harder than usual for the pegasus. She found social situations difficult to deal with at the best of times, but helping Twilight welcome dignitaries from neighbouring countries was something she was in no hurry to do again. She was no good at announcing her presence in a commanding and welcoming voice, like Twilight and Celestia were, and she was even worse at the small talk that followed. She sensed Twilight felt uncomfortable at these kind of events too, but it was part of being a Princess, and Fluttershy had no desire to be one.
Which was why she felt like such a fraud when a noble from Maretonia who sat next to her at dinner began to ask her about friendship magic. Yes, she was one of the elements, but she didn't have the same grasp of the field as Twilight had. Twilight was a genius, that was why Celestia had taken her under her wing and trained her as a student. Fluttershy knew about kindness, but she felt extremely uncomfortable trying to explain magical concepts to a noble unicorn. She would have much rather talked about squirrel feeding habits, or how parrots chose a mate. But how could she convey such things to the ponies at the table?
The final straw came when she heard a stallion mouth something to his companion across the dinner table:
"Don't concern yourself with that one, my dear. Very pretty but it seems there's nothing going on upstairs."
Fluttershy excused herself and told Twilight she wasn't feeling well. If she had lingered she would have seen Rarity unceremoniously pour wine over the noble's head and call him an "uncouth barbarian."
Rarity had actually caught up with her at the exit to the castle and asked if she wanted company home, but Fluttershy had refused. She just wanted to go home and have a good cry. She was no good at society dinners and what Applejack referred to as "schmoozing." Applejack didn't care much for those events either, but unlike her, Applejack was able to brush it off.
When Fluttershy arrived back at her cottage, she had peeled off her formal outfit and collapsed into bed without turning on the light. The soft quilt felt welcoming and non-judgemental and she had cried until she was too tired to stay awake. The stallion's words felt like a punch in the chest. It just solidified all the fears she had about herself; that she was awkward, and stupid and weak.
She woke up before the sun was above the horizon. A scuffling sound came from downstairs.
"Angel?" she called. She looked to the right and spotted the rabbit, still fast asleep in his own bed. Maybe one of the iguanas needed some extra time under the warming lamp. She groaned and pushed back the quilt. She didn't even remember crawling under it the night before. She yawned and made her way down the stairs. Her heart still felt heavy but the thought of tending to her animal friends, those who needed her, cheered her a little.
She felt confused when she reached the bottom of the stairs. There were no animals looking at her expectantly. The iguanas were still in the next room, sound asleep. She gave the room a once over again, maybe there was a bird on top of those bookshelves or...
Bookshelves?
She looked again. The two tall oak book cases had not been there last night. From floor to ceiling they were covered in books. Where had they come from? Why were they here? She began to move closer so she could read the spine, and was startled by a miniature Discord leaping off the top of one of the bookcases and floating down using a tiny parachute. He landed right next to her and quickly returned to his full size with a popping sound.
"Hey, Flutter Nutter!" he said in greeting. "Whaddya think?"
"You did this?"
She felt confused. Why was Discord giving her books? Twilight was the smart one. Twilight was the one who used to live in a library. Twilight was the one who spent so much time in libraries she practically lived in them anyway.
"No, the boogey mare did. Of course it was me!" He was trying to sound slightly sarcastic and nonchalant but Fluttershy was a very empathic pony when it came to her friends, and she detected a bit of nervousness coming from the draconequus.
He's worried I won't like it.
It wasn't that she felt ungrateful about being given a gift, it was more that she feared she wouldn't know what to do with it. Discord was watching her with fretful eyes, even though he was still smiling.
"Go ahead," he said. "Check it out."
Fluttershy supposed it couldn't hurt. She moved closer to the bookcase and read out one of the titles on a spine:
"The Migration of Whales by Ernest Hoofmanger." A book about whales? She could certainly get behind that.
"Yes, and...and..." encouraged Discord.
Fluttershy read another: "On the Origin of the Species, by Clydes Dalewin?! Oh my goodness!"
Fluttershy suddenly realized what she was looking at. Discord had given her a library consisting entirely of books about a subject she was interested in. "Oh...Discord...I..."
"Yes?" His tail twitched nervously.
"It's wonderful! I love it so much!" Before he could reply her hooves were around him and her muzzle was buried in his chest feathers. "Thank you," she whispered.
He cleared his throat. "Ahem...yes, well."
"How did you know?"
"Know what?"
"How I was feeling?"
"Fluttershy, I'm Discord. Like it or not I can detect when disharmonious feelings are present. Usually I take delight in it, but...I..."
He felt his back feathers stand to attention in embarrassment as he realized he didn't know how to finish the sentence. He could also feel dampness against his feathers where he knew Fluttershy was crying. Instead he started again. "I just want you to know you are smart, Flutter Nutter. Just because you study a different discipline to Twilight and me doesn't make you an airhead, and I know you're not going to give me permission to give that stallion who said so a new home orbiting the planet, so just...can I do this for you?"
She released her hold on him and before he could react, flew up and kissed him on the cheek. She blushed at her sudden boldness but the draconequus was grinning. He reached out for her and she melted into his embrace once more.
Discord's paw ran itself through the mare's silky mane. It had been a while since the closeness of another being could make him feel so warm and complete.
"Thank you, Discord," repeated the pegasus. And she knew she wasn't just thanking him for the books.
"You're welcome," he said. "So which book would you like to explore first? The one about whales comes complete with sea spray."
*GOBBLES THIS UP FASTER THAN A RAINBOOM*
YES
MY CONSTANT HUNGER FOR FLUTTERCORD, SATISFIED ONCE AGAIN BY THE GREAT AND POWERFUL WOOLLY!
Loved the concept of this one. We've all been there and I just really love how Discord is awkward and bashful without being ooc. And Fluttershy's feelings were portrayed so well, that it makes sense that Discord would be able to sense it. Fluttershy WOULD do this.
Really, Discord and Rarity make a fantastic team as Fluttershy's bodyguards. I know people think Rainbow has that role but...Nah.
I really love this you should post this story
Very
Yes
3634943 What they said
3635166 And this
And just hnnnnngggggggg
Wooly, how can you be so consistently good at Fluttercord? I swear
(happy tears, I swear)