//------------------------------//
// Aftermath 
// Story: The Butterfly Pegasus 
// by Fizzyberries302 
//------------------------------//

News of Fluttershy's return spread throughout Equestria like wild vines. Almost every town, city and village celebrated the Element of Kindness's return and the defeat of Tirek, but no town celebrated as much as Ponyville did. Once Fluttershy's strength had returned, she, her friends and Discord arrived at Ponyville in the golden chariot pulled by six armoured Pegasi stallions, and were immediately greeted by a smiling crowd showering her in flowers, candy, welcome homes and praises towards Discord and his heroism. 

When Fluttershy stepped out of the chariot, all her animal friends, including Angel Bunny were there to greet her. "Angel Bunny!" Fluttershy cried, holding her hooves out for her precious bunny. Angel squeaked in happiness seeing his owner was alive, safe and home, scampering into her arms for a hug. 

Discord knelt down beside Fluttershy, wrapping an arm around the pegasus. "Looks like I wasn't the only one who missed you, butterfly," 

At first, Fluttershy thought he was talking about her animal friends until Discord pointed to three pegasi ponies standing in the centre of the crowd. 

They were a middle-aged mare and stallion, along with a young stallion, no older than seventeen. Fluttershy gasped as Angel scampered off to allow Fluttershy to run towards the three ponies. 

"Mom! Dad! Zephyr Breeze!" she cried, galloping towards them, while Discord and Angel Bunny watched from afar, smiling from ear to ear.

"Fluttershy!" they cried joyously, hugging her. 

Mrs Shy burst into tears, her glasses slipping down her muzzle as she held her daughter like she never wanted to let her go again. "My baby, my sweet little filly, you're okay!"

"You gave us a right old scare sis," Zephyr Breeze commented, looking like he was about to tear up as well.

Mr Shy patted his daughter on the head as he looked up at the Lord of Chaos, turned hero of Equestria. "You saved my daughter's life, Lord Discord,"

Discord raised his claw. "Pish posh, there's no need for formalities. Your daughter means more to me than chaos itself, in fact, while we're on the subject, there's something I'd like to ask you in private, sir."

Mr Shy beamed, having a feeling he knew what Discord had in mind and gladly went with him away from the celebrations for a chat.



Fluttershy didn't see Discord for the remainder of the day, not that she could go look for him herself, she was being swamped by admiration and joy in every direction. The rest of the Mane Six were practically smothering her after being separated for so long. During this time, Fluttershy went on to explain the whole story about what had happened to her while captive.

"Eugh!" Rarity cringed. "He tried to force you to marry him? How horrid!"

"Agreed, next to Tirek, Discord looks like a real gentlecolt," Rainbow added, suddenly looking shocked at her own words.

Pinkie grinned. "Is that what I think it is? Dashie's finally excepting Discord is right for Fluttershy?"

Rainbow flushed embarrassed. "N-No... I still think he's a jerk b-but... I mean, next to Tirek... he's..."

"What does it matter?" Twilight said, "He saved her life and broke the spell. In all my life, I have never seen anybody look so happy than Fluttershy and Discord, and don't get me started on how crushed he was when Fluttershy was apparently dead. They're soulmates."

Fluttershy blushed. "Thank you Twilight, I'm just so happy to be home."

"We really are happy that you're home, sugarcube. That Discord has done a right tootin job with ya. Ya know," Applejack grinned wickedly, "Ah think he might be poppin the question soon, don't ya think Flutters?"

"Wha-what!" Fluttershy stuttered. "Applejack, it's... don't you think that's a bit... soon?"

Applejack shrugged. "He almost lost ya once Fluttershy, ya really think he's gonna risk losing ya again?"

Rarity squealed. "Oh please let me be the one to make the wedding dress Fluttershy, i already have so many ideas, and you'll be marrying your soulmate and -"

"Then can I plan the reception!" Pinkie cheered.

"Girls!" Twilight shouted, exasperated. Fluttershy had apparently taken up being a turtle, curled up into a ball of embarrassment. "Fluttershy's not even engaged yet. We don't even know if Discord is going to propose."

The other mares giggled like fillies. "I saw Discord talking to your Dad Fluttershy, maybe he was asking for his blessing?" Rainbow said with a wink.

Rarity nodded, approvingly. "Very proper indeed, and how polite. He's definitely going to be asking for your hoof in marriage Fluttershy."

Fluttershy squeaked, blushing redder than ever. Twilight just rolled her eyes, giving up. "Girls, seriously. I know I said they're soulmates, but that's a little too far. Look at Fluttershy, she's so embarrassed right now."

"Almost exactly how you look whenever you talk to Flash Sentry, Twilight?" Rainbow teased.

It was Twilight's turn to blush. "Excuse me? We're just friends!"

"Friends don't look at friends like the way Flash looks at you." Applejack pointed out. She then pointed a hoof into the crowd, "See, he's doing so right now. Why don't ya go talk to him?"

Twilight blushed crimson. "Girls, really! I don't think -"

"HEY FLASH, TWILIGHT WANTS TO SPEAK WITH YOU!" Rainbow hollered at the top of her lungs.

"Rainbow!" Twilight cringed as Flash Sentry walked over to the flushed princess. 

"I hear that someone wants to talk to me, how ironic, I was just about to come over hear myself to ask you for a dance, Princess Twilight," Flash said smoothly.

"It's just Twilight, Flash," Twilight groaned, as her friends giggled behind her.

Flash smirked and held out his hoof. "So is that a yes or a no to a dance?"

Twilight blinked and immediately felt like she was about to explode when she realised what he had just said. She could hear her friends behind her hissing, "Do it, do it, do it!"

She rolled her eyes and took Flash's hoof. "I'd love to," she said, blushing badly, and went with him over on the dance floor.

The Mane Six cheered quietly and high-hooved each other. "The ship has sailed! The ship has sailed!" Pinkie cried, waving a sailors hat around, "Flashlight is canon, now all we need is a Fluttercord moment for the audience reading this fanfic. That's what they came here for after all!"

The rest of the ponies looked at her weirdly. "What are ya talking about Pinkie?" Applejack asked.

Pinkie gasped dramatically. "You really can't see them? They're right there, they're all celebrating that the ending chapter is finally here! I heard that the author has been absent from the website due to some life problems and writing her first proper novel, she's only back to finish the fanfics she's uploaded and hadn't gotten around to finishing," Pinkie shrugged. "Can't say I blame her; family troubles, friend troubles, writing practice, further studies, her autism - whooo weee, now I'm getting flustered." Pinkie chimed, fanning herself with the hat. "Too bad you can't see them yourselves, anyway, back to the story. We still need the Fluttercord moment we're waiting for, but first, we need Fluttershy and - hey, wait a minute, where is Fluttershy?!"

The Mane Six whirled around, realising that Fluttershy was no longer there. "What the heck, where did she go?"

"Maybe she ran off to hide somewhere, or maybe we went to find Discord while we were distracted by Pinkie." said Rarity, looking around.

Pinkie grinned sheepishly. "Oopsie, maybe we should leave it alone for now. Give her some space, and let the readers see the rest now. Come on, I wanna know what happened to Tad, Rocky and Buttercup. They just disappeared from the plot!"

Her friends rolled her eyes, and followed Pinkie into the crowd as the scene cut to Fluttershy.



Fluttershy ran towards the safety of the field with her animal friends, completely embarrassed, hopeful and excited. Was Discord really planning to propose to her? According to Rainbow Dash, he certainly was, it was good that Pinkie had another fourth wall break and she was able to escape from them.

Finally, she was able to rest and relax for the first time since she was captured. Until...

"Well if it isn't the butterfly pegasus?" said a smooth voice from above her. Fluttershy looked up and beamed warmly like a mare in love when she saw the love of her life hovering above her. "Where have you been all my life?"

Fluttershy giggled and rolled her eyes. "You never change Discord,"

Discord frowned. "I believe I have changed Fluttershy, after all it was me you came to your rescue and broke the spell. I'm no longer evil thanks to you, little butterfly."

"That's not what I meant Discord. I think you've always been this perfect, you just never had the chance to show it. This is the real you, the stallion I fell in love with."

Discord smiled and landed in front of her. He picked her up and pressed his lips to hers. Fluttershy kissed him back with passion and the couple broke away soon after. "The feeling mutual, my dear. I have a surprise for you."

Fluttershy blushed, remembering what Rainbow Dash had said. "S-Surprise?"

"Yes my dear, a surprise. Why do you look so flustered all of a sudden, am I too devilishly handsome for you?" he grinned, slicking his black mane back.

"Show off, I'm fine. Pinkie had another of her fourth wall breaks earlier."

Discord nodded, understanding. "Ah the great skills of Pinkie Pie, it amazes me how she's able to perform such chaos and she's not even a draconequus."

"Maybe she has draconequus ancestors?" Fluttershy guessed.

"Yes, yes, but I'm not here for Pinkie's heritage. I'm here to take you to your surprise. Hold on tight, I'm teleporting us there."

Fluttershy held onto his chest and Discord snapped his fingers, teleporting them to Fluttershy's cottage. He had repaired it to its former glory, but there was something different about it. Fluttershy gasped at the sight of her cottage. 

"Surprise! Tirek may have done some damage when he captured you, so as soon as I got my chance after getting my magic back, I fixed up the place. I hope you don't mind, but I added some touches."

The cottage looked very much the same as it was last time Fluttershy saw it, but there were added rooms climbing up, sticking out at odd, crooked angles with several chimneys rising up, smoking from fireplaces. "I expanded it to suit the both of us if that's alright with you. I even added a theatre! I hope you like it,"

"Discord... it's lovely!" Fluttershy cried, happy that she was home again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. "Oh thank you, thank you!"

Discord hugged her back and put a finger to her lips. "There's more though, on the inside."

As he said this, the front door opened and a red carpet rolled out, coming to a stop in front of them. Discord snapped his fingers again, and the pair were suddenly dressed formally. Discord wore a black and purple striped tux, while Fluttershy wore a beautiful peacock themed dress, complete with a feather tucked behind her ear. "Shall we, my dear butterfly."

Fluttershy smiled, that was all Discord needed to see.

He led her into her cottage. A beautiful dinner was set up in her living room, complete with scented candles everywhere. 

Fluttershy felt tears well up in her eyes. "Discord this is... I don't know what to say..."

"I know, it's mushy, isn't it. Oh well, I'm too tired to care. What's say we dig into this feast Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy nodded. "That would be great Discord. I love you."

"I love you too, butterfly."

As the evening went on, the pair chatted throughout dinner and all through to dessert, and Fluttershy had forgotten all about what Rainbow Dash had said. Fluttershy was halfway through her tiramisu when Discord cleared his throat, tugging at his collar nervously. 

"Fluttershy, listen... this dinner, it wasn't just because we never got to go out on a date. I wanted this evening to be special because... well... after losing you, I don't ever want to go through that again."

"Discord, you could never lose me."

"I know, but... I wanted to make it official," he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. Fluttershy's eyes widened. "I had to ask your father's permission first."

He opened the box, revealing a beautiful silver ring with a small pink butterfly. "Fluttershy, my butterfly Pegasus. I love you so much more than chaos. I lost you once before, I don't want to be apart from you ever again. Will you marry me?"

Fluttershy gasped, tears spilling from her eyes as she clapped a hoof to her face. "Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Discord, I'll marry you!" She ran around the table and kissed him passionately. She sobbed as Discord placed the ring, that was attached to a chain around her neck, his own tears falling down as he stared down lovingly at his fiancee.

"You've made me so happy Fluttershy,"

Fluttershy looked up at him with a smile. "Will you love me Discord, till the day I die?"

Discord scoffed. "A silly question, my dear. I'll love you much longer than that Fluttershy, much longer than that."