//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The Maid // Story: The Melody of Love // by Sapphire Rose 12 //------------------------------// Fluttershy arrived inside the house. The triplets hugged her altogether. "Fluttershy! Come play with us!" Sweetie Belle begged. "Yeah, we're bored!" Scootaloo added. "Of course," Fluttershy agreed. "What would you like to play? We can---" She was interrupted by a knock on the door. The triplets hopped up and raced to answer the door. It was eventually Scootaloo who answered the door. "That must be the maid," Discord said, walking over to the door. The poor white unicorn dressed in a maid's uniform was shaking in fear. "Why are you so late?" Discord asked her with a scowl. "I had quite a hard time trying to find my way," the maid said. "However, let's get to work. My name is Rarity and I will be your personal maid." "I hired you a whole two days ago," Discord said. "Finally." "Quite sorry, dear," Rarity said. "Ooh, who are these cute little fillies?" "Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle," Fluttershy replied in delight. "They're just so fun, aren't they?" "They look like they behave well," Rarity said. "Hello there." "You're the maid?" Scootaloo asked. "Yes, I am," Rarity confirmed. "Yes!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "Now, I don't have to clean my room anymore!" "Yes, get to work on cleaning the girl's room, my room, and the nanny's room," Discord ordered. Rarity sighed. "I get paid," she reminded herself. "Oh no," Fluttershy said. "I clean my own room. You don't need to do mine." "Oh, thank you!" Rarity said, relieved. Rarity walked down the hall with her duster and was out of sight. "You clean your own room?" Discord asked. "You're the nanny." "That doesn't mean I can't clean," Fluttershy replied. "In fact, learning to clean made my job a lot easier." Discord sighed. "When can I kick this mare out?" Discord wondered to himself. "Sing us a song, Fluttershy," Scootaloo said. "I wish I had your voice," Apple Bloom told her. "It's so quiet and comforting." "Alright," Fluttershy agreed. Fluttershy began to sing them a song. Her voice was beautiful and comforting. The triplets began to sing along. Discord watched in awe. The mare's voice was so sweet. How could it be? She was a nanny, not a singer. His aversion to Fluttershy still lingered, but something about her voice made it go away. Almost. "Maid Rarity?" Fluttershy said, entering Apple Bloom's room. Rarity had just finished Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle's room and had moved onto Apple Bloom's. She dropped her duster. "Oh! Sorry, you startled me." Rarity used her horn to pick up her duster and begin dusting once more. "I was wondering if I could talk to you," Fluttershy said. "Of course," Rarity said, intrigued. She stopped dusting and turned to Fluttershy. "What's bothering you?" "I don't think Discord likes me," Fluttershy admitted. "What makes you think that?" Rarity inquired. "He's always groaning whenever I offer to do something for the triplets. I thought that's what he needed me for. And he says that I'll never be like their mother. He knows that's what they've always wanted, right? So, why can't he accept me to take care of them? He hired me." Rarity was a mite surprised. "I don't know much about nannying or draconequui for that matter. But he's probably just jealous that the triplets are spending more time with you." Fluttershy went into thought. Could that be it? Was Discord acting so upset because the triplets wanted to spend more time with her? She knew that Discord wanted to be there for the triplets since their parents disowned them. But he wasn't sure if he could do it. Fluttershy wanted to make sure the triplets loved Discord. "They should be more grateful for Discord," Fluttershy said. "He took them in and if he hadn't, they'd probably be living in the orphanage. If they're lucky! Maybe they would've been abandoned as foals." "I'm afraid gratitude doesn't work that way," Rarity replied. "Gratitude can only come if they really see them as a blessing. Do you think the triplets see Discord as a blessing?" Fluttershy hesitated. "No." "What can we do to change that?" Rarity asked. They both thought for a while. How could they change Discord's ways? "I've got it!" Fluttershy said. "I'll teach Discord to do what I do! I can teach him to cook! I can teach him to play with the triplets! I can teach him everything I know!" "Great idea!" Rarity exclaimed. "I'll go tell him right now," Fluttershy said. "Discord?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes?" Discord asked, frowning at the mare's presence. "I'm going to help you," Fluttershy told him. "Help me what?" Discord scoffed. "Help the triplets like you," Fluttershy said. "I know you don't like me, but you just need to give me a chance. I can help. Really. I'll teach you." Discord was intrigued at her kindness. Why would she want to help him? He was just a draconequus with no one that loved him. But Discord wanted the triplets to be easier on him than they were. "Okay," Discord said, reluctantly. "Great! Let's get started!"