//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Equestria's Imperfections 
// by fluttercordlover232 
//------------------------------//

Fluttershy's eyes fluttered open as the light of day hit her face. She yawned and sat up in bed, raising her forelegs in a stretch. As she did, her eyes drifted over to the still sleeping form of Discord. Still in the same position he was in the night before, with his back to her.

As she slid off the bed to begin her day, she heard a ruffle of the sheets and a long drawn out sigh, which almost sounded content. Fluttershy took this as a good sign.

"Honey, are you awake?" She turned to look over her shoulder "How are you feeling? Any better?" She asked as she walked over to his bedside. However, what she saw made her heart drop.

There was no moonlight now to convince her otherwise, his mane was completely gray, along with his goatee, his bushy eyebrows, and probably the tuft of his tail. His lion paw was still that very very light yellow as the night before. His eagle claw was the same shade of light yellow as his lion paw. The fur that made up his head and neck was a lighter shade of gray, not quite white yet. Fluttershy realized his mane was now the same shade of gray his head used to be, and his once blue horn on his head was now as white as his deer antler.

Fluttershy couldn't hold back the small gasp that escaped her lips as Discord opened his eyes. That concerned Fluttershy the most. His once mesmerizing red and yellow pupils where now a foggy white. It reminded Fluttershy of what everyponys eyes looked like when Tirek..stole all their..magic...

Oh no.

Discord saw the fear in her eyes. "What's wrong Fluttershy?" Pure exhaustion evident in his voice. He reached his eagle claw out to her, only for her to back away from him, looking absolutely terrified.

Confusion and hurt were in Discord's eyes as he looked at his wife. Fluttershy saw this and immediately felt bad. She didn't mean to step away from him, it was the shock that scared her. Poor Discord had probably thought she was afraid of him. Fluttershy shook her head to clear it and trotted back over to Discord. 

"I'm sorry honey, I didn't mean to back up from you like that." She said as she nuzzled his cheek with her own. Discord giving off a throaty sounding purr as she did. "Forgive me love?"

"Of course my love." He gave her a quick gentle kiss on the lips. "But why did you..?"

"I was just really startled." She sighed. "Do you remember how my eyes were white and foggy after Tirek took all my wing power?"

Discord shamefully lowered his head. "How could I forget?" He said with shame. "That wouldn't have happened if I didn't give you to him." He said with a low growl. "But what does that have to do with...?"

He was cut off by a cry from the other room. 

Fluttershy gave an apologetic sigh, but before she left to tend to Cachi she turned back to Discord, who was trying desperately to keep his eyes open.

"No no honey, don't fight it." She stroked his cheek gently, his eagle claw laying on top of the hoof on his cheek. "You need to succumb to the demands your body needs to recover." 

She was pleased to see that he let his eyes close and his claw slowly slid down from her outstretched hoof until it fell gently to his lap. She chuckled slightly and used her teeth to pull the covers up closer to him. She gave him a kiss on his forehead, but reeled back in surprise when her lips touched the burning hot skin.

Fluttershy had hidden her anxiety for the sake of Discord, but she couldn't hide it any longer. Luckily, Discord was asleep, so he couldn't see the panic that was rapidly forming on her face. She turned and left the room quickly.

She entered her son's room and flew over to the crib. "I'm sorry sweetie." She apologized sweetly to her son as she picked him up. "I think something is really wrong with daddy."

Cachi didn't seem to be listening to her as he flapped his tiny wings and glided out of Fluttershy's grasp. Little arms outstretched, he laughed happily as he flapped out of the room. Fluttershy chuckled as she shook her head and flew off after her son. His laughter echoed of the walls of the castle.