//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Living Nightmare // by fluttercordlover232 //------------------------------// Fluttershy was lying on the floor, and she was not moving... "Fluttershy!" Discord ran over to her and fell to his knees beside her. He immediately began searching for a pulse, and was relieved to feel one. Although it was weak, it was there. He then put his ear to her and felt an even greater relief when he felt the steady rising and falling of her chest as she breathed. "Oh thank Celestia!" Discord breathed as he put a paw on his chest to slow his racing heart. He brushed aside the strands of hair that fell over her face and tucked them behind her ear. He gently shook her shoulders, trying to rouse her. Fluttershy's eyes slowly fluttered opened. As soon as she realized that she was on the floor, she immediately got to her hooves. Discord stood close to her and was prepared to catch her should she faint again. "Fluttershy are you okay? What happened?" He asked with concern. "Nothing, I just tripped is all." She turned away from him and headed for the kitchen. That excuse did not convince Discord for one second. "Maybe you should lie down for a bit..." He said as he watched her walk off so soon after collapsing. "Oh no, I'm fine." She answered a little too quickly, which only worried him more. Discord watched her go with a frown plastered on his face. He flew to the couch and sat there waiting for her. "Hey Fluttershy, it's a lovely day outside. I was thinking we could..." Discord was cut off by a crashing sound in the kitchen. He immediately flew into the kitchen to find tea spilled all over the floor, little tea cakes splattered everywhere, and tea cups lay in broken pieces on the floor. However, that was not what concerned him. What concerned him was Fluttershy, who was once again collapsed on the floor. "Fluttershy!" Discord ran over to her and picked her up. He brushed off excess pieces of glass off her, and as gently and carefully as he could, removed the few that found their way into Fluttershy's soft coat. After he got them all out, He moved her away from the shards of broken glass and spilled tea and carried her to the other side of the kitchen. By this time, she was starting to stir. Discord gently placed her on her hooves. "Alright Fluttershy, what's going on?" Discord asked sternly. Fluttershy shook her head to rid herself of the dizziness she was feeling. She walked away from her coltfriend's arms once again, but she didn't get far when she started to sway on her hooves. It was only a matter of seconds before he was there, just as Fluttershy lost her balance and fell into Discord's outstretched arms. He took this moment to closely examine her. She had deep dark circles under her eyes, and her once bright teal eyes were cloudy with lack of sleep. Her face was pale, and her ribs were just starting to show through her buttercream coat. "Fluttershy, when was the last time you had any sleep? For that matter, when was the last time you ate anything?" Discord asked softly but with a serious tone. A tiny snore from the mare in his arms gave him his answer about the sleeping problem. He sighed deeply. "Alright Fluttershy. Lets go, I'm taking you to bed." Fluttershy's eyes immediately popped open as soon as he said that. She hurried out of his arms and went to grab a broom and a dustpan to clean up the remnants of their would-have-been tea party. "I'm fine Discord, really. Just a little tired that's all, nothing I can't handle..." "How long?" Discord knowingly asked. She stopped in her tracks. "W-what?" She stammered. "How long has it been since you had any sleep?" "I..I don't know what you're talking about..." "Don't lie to me Fluttershy." He gave her a serious look. Fluttershy stared at him, completely taken aback from the tone of seriousness in his voice. He was right of course, she couldn't lie to him. She sighed in defeat and put the broom and dustpan down. "Three days.." She mumbled so quietly that Discord almost didn't hear her. "Three days!?" He said shocked. "I just... haven't been all that tired lately." "Oh come on Fluttershy! You're almost as bad a liar as Applejack!" He flew over to her and put is hands on her shoulders. He got down to her level so that way she could meet his eyes. "What's going on Fluttershy? Why haven't you been sleeping?" Discord asked gently. As Fluttershy was looking at him; she could see that true, genuine concern was etched on his features, and his eyes sparkled with so much love and worry for her. She felt tears start to well up in her eyes. She lowered her head so as to avoid his gaze and felt the tears slowly start to fall. Discord put a claw under her chin and tilted her head up so she was looking up at him. "Please tell me." He whispered as he tenderly wiped away the tears that were rolling down her cheeks. Fluttershy sighed and nuzzled against his chest, she immediately felt Discord's arms wrap around her in a gentle hug. She took a deep breath. "I haven't been sleeping because I've been having these really scary nightmares..." "And you will not go back to sleep for fear of them coming back." Discord finished for her. Fluttershy nodded against his chest. Discord sighed, now he understood. He pulled Fluttershy back from the embrace and looked into her eyes that were just begging to close. He cupped her chin in his claw and gave her a tender kiss on her lips. He pushed back some of her rosy pink mane behind her ear and began to softly stroke it. He felt her lean against his chest once more and heard her give a contented sigh as he looked out the window. Discord was surprised to see that he had been at her cottage for much longer than he had originally thought, for the sun had already gone down and it was starting to get dark. Luna's moon wasn't even at it's peak yet. "Would it make you feel better if I stayed with you tonight while you slept?" He felt her give a small nod against his chest. "Good. Let's get you to bed my dear." Discord whispered as he gently picked her up and carried her up the stairs to her room. Fluttershy was already fast asleep before he even got to the top of the stairs...