//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Equestria's Imperfections // by fluttercordlover232 //------------------------------// Fluttershy watched as Discord got up from the table and walked toward the swinging door leading into the kitchen. He pushed it open and disappeared inside. Fluttershy let out a small sigh, but soft enough that he wouldn't hear. It was true that Discord was overly confident and self absorbed sometimes, but he was as stubborn as a mule when it came to his flaws. Especially, if some pony were to see. Even though Fluttershy and Discord have been married for over three years, and he trusted her completly, he still tended to try and hide them from her. Although Fluttershy often got annoyed at him for this, she also understood why he did it. The former 'Lord of Chaos' firmly believed that flaws were a sign of one's weakness and limitations. He didn't have anything against flaws or anything, it was just his own opinion. Discord's true nature had been the exact opposite of that. He knew he had changed for the better and wanted everypony to know that, but it would sometimes come to a point when Discord would say it was "putting his guard down." He didn't want to show that he completely abandoned his old ways, but at the same time he wanted everypony to accept him. He liked to think of it as a chocolate milk filled cotton candy cloud. You could have refreshing chocolate milk, and sweet, super fluffy cotton candy, but only together and with the perfect balence of each can you have a perfect chocolate milk cotton candy cloud. Too much or too little of one or the other doesn't taste as good. It's the best of both worlds, so to speak. As Fluttershy sat there, continuing to think about this, she heard a loud clatter coming from the kitchen that snapped her out of her thoughts. It sounded like some of her pots and pans fell to the floor. Thinking it was Angel scrounging around looking for food. "Now Angel, I've told you plenty of times before that if you want a snack you have to ask me politely first, not make a loud mess in my kitchen." She said without getting up from the table. Hearing his name, Angel hopped out from the opposite side of the room and tilted his head, confused at what his owner just said. Fluttershy gave a small frown when she noticed Angel standing on the other side of the room giving her a confused look. Fluttershy became even more puzzled. She said, "b-but..if you didn't make that noise..then..who...?" She trailed off for a second, suddenly realizing who it could most likely be. "Discord?" She called out nervously. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ After a few moments of unpleasant silence, Fluttershy flew into the the kitchen. Discord was collapsed on the kitchen floor. Fluttershy gasped and immediately landed beside him. "Discord!" He was unconscious, Fluttershy put her ear to his chest, she was relieved to hear his heart beating and to see his chest steadily rising and falling with each breath. "Oh thank goodness." Fluttershy breathed in relief. She gently nuzzled her head against his cheek, "Discord?" She said gently. He groaned and opened his eyes. "Flu-Fluttershy? What happened?" He slowly stood up to all fours. "I don't know, I was just sitting at the table and heard a loud noise in the kitchen. I thought it was Angel Bunny looking for a snack, but he was all the way across the other side of the room." She told him. "Are you okay?" She said as she put a hoof on his shoulder. "Yes, I-I think so." He said. Fluttershy put her hoof down and looked at him with concern. "Y-you mean, you don't remember what happened?" "No, not really." Discord slowly got up to stand on two feet. Fluttershy hovered next to him to help him if he needed it. "Are you sure you're alright honey?" She asked one more time. Discord slowly nodded in response. "I'm fine darling, really." He said kind of tiredly. Fluttershy wasn't entirely convinced, but she didn't say anything. "Discord, I..I really think you should go back upstairs and lay down for a little bit." Fluttershy said nicely. "Nonsense, I'm perfectly fine my love. I just had a stumble, nothing more." He gripped the edge of a nearby counter as he said this, in which Fluttershy took notice of. It's almost like...he's using it to...to keep his balance... Fluttershy shook that last thought from her head, now she knew she was overthinking the situation too much. Discord was right, she does worry too much! At the same time however, something was kicking her inside, telling her that she had every right to worry... She ignored the feeling and looked up at her husband, who still had his lion paw gripped to the counter. Fluttershy noticed that Discord hung his head down and had his eyes tightly shut, and his face was contorted in pain. Another headache perhaps...? Fluttershy could tell he was trying to hide this from her. She sighed, and said nicely but sternly, "Honey, I really think you should go lie down, at least for a little while. Pretty please?" She said that last part with her signature move, which was with half of her face hiding behind her mane. For she knew how it affected Discord, he always found it so adorable and would always give in to whatever she wanted. "Oh sweetheart, you know I can't resist that cute, innocent face! Sweet Celestia! Look what you've done to me! The Lord of Chaos has become the Lord of Softies!" Fluttershy smiled as she thought back on that memory. Even after all these years, he would still fall in her trap of submission and admitting defeat. "Come on honey, go upstairs and I'll meet you there as soon as I finish cleaning the dishes, no doubt your bowl of oatmeal will need some extra scrubbing!" She giggled and flew up to Discord and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Go on my love, I'll be right there." Fluttershy said kindly. "Alright." Discord mumbled reluctantly, and headed for the stairs leading to their bedroom. "I'll be up there in a minute my love." She called softly.