//------------------------------//
// Ch. 3 Wanted/Unwanted 
// Story: Mutual/Unmutual 
// by Cluttermane 
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Chapter 3: Wanted/Unwanted

Spring woke in a cell, groggy and exhausted. He felt a deep thirst, hunger, and pain all compete for his attention. Through the haze of pain and want, he noticed that he was not alone. Three other creatures shared his cell. They appeared to be other changelings, though they seemed to be in just as much duress as he was.

He tried to stand, but found that he was too weak to do so. The other changelings were asleep, and he resolved to rest, miraculously sleeping, and rather soundly. The next thing that woke him was the sound of a guard knocking on the cell. All the changelings had woken, as food was being given. One of the changelings nudged some food to him, having realized that he was awake.

"What is your name, stranger?" the creature hissed.

"Sp...Spring." Spring could barely speak, saving his energy for eating the strange mush that was offered to him.

"We are changelings. I am number 88. This is 26. We were exiled to this prison for having radical ideas. We thought you were brought here for impersonating a real pony, until we discovered that you were one."  The creature known as 88 had a more pleasant voice than the changeling queen, and spoke with tones far softer than Chrysalys had when addressing Spring.

"Where am I?" Spring asked quietly.

"The changeling hive. That is all I am allowed to say. Please rest. We are not your enemies. If you could, I would like to ask you about the outside world." 88 seemed to have a vested interest in Spring, and even rested next to him while he ate, watching him intently.

"Outside? Have you never... been out...side?" Spring attempted a verbal courtesy that he was quite used to, but took great effort at the current moment.

"No, I have not. Many changelings live and die without so much as seeing what is outside of the caves. But please rest. You have been through a lot. Starvation is a cruelty that we rarely visit upon even our enemies." she said, over explaining the situation. Spring only managed a nod before resting indignantly on his plate of mush.

*** In Ponyville ***

Discord had been having a hard time resting. Which is to say that he didn't sleep. He often spent his time recovering his energy by engaging in some of his favorite relaxing activities. Some of those activities were indulging in pure chaos. Other such activities included watching Fluttershy as she went about her day.

That was a relatively new development. He had never really rested in such a way, but in these days of peaceful repose he had discovered new aspects of his inner life. Or perhaps old ones. It was hard to say.

In fact, a lot of things had become hard to tell. There were glimpses of remembrance. Persistent threads of thought that had once been swallowed by the enduring chaos of his mind. Discord truly grew concerned, neither willing to share these changes, nor entirely able to tell whether the changes were even good for him.

It was during one of his "rests", as he watched Fluttershy in the garden, that she had questioned him.

"You've been awful quiet lately. Usually you just say what you think. Is there something that you are afraid to tell me?" she asked in her mild and tender way.

"Hmm? Oh, yes. Watching you makes me happy." he said with an absent but genuine smile.

Fluttershy returned his smile, and replied.

"Why does watching me make you happy? Usually when people are together, they talk and interact. Lately you just sit in silence. I'm glad that you like watching me, but I miss our talks." her words were earnest, and potent enough to rouse him from his reverie.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I've been so busy that I..." he began to say before Fluttershy interjected.

"Busy? You're with me almost all the time. Are you going out at night?" she asked with genuine concern in her voice. She trusted Discord implicitly, but she wondered what he could be getting up to at such odd hours. Part of the peace in their friendship was knowing that he was always nearby.

"Oh no, my dear. I spend some odd times making sure that things are running smoothly. Call it a deal between me and Celestia. She expects me to pull my weight, _obviously_ because she is not nearly so capable as 'moi'. I've been keeping an eye on some of her enemies, and it keeps her off my back. She has made a startling number of enemies, which is amusing given that... oh, but I'm rambling. Tell you what, I'd rather not sacrifice my time with you. I'll take a night off soon. Then I can properly spend time with you."

"Well, I don't want you to shirk your duties, but does Twilight kn..." it was Discord's turn to interject.

"Oh pish posh. Twilight would have an aneurysm if she knew... ahem." Discord had began his retort with a thick layer of sarcasm before clearing his throat, and speaking in the kindest voice he could muster.

"We wouldn't want to worry Twilight's little head over nothing." he placed a hand over his chest in a delicate manner to underscore his words. He snapped back to normal in an instant.

"But really, her mind would snap. And yet, you could probably come with me. I trust you that much." he said to her with no pretense in his voice. Extending a hand out to her, he waited for her to approach. She nudged his palm in a sign of acceptance before responding.

"I would love to go with you, as long as I wouldn't get in the way. I hate to think of you doing so much hard work alone." And it was true. She really did worry for her friend. She did also want to know what he was doing. It wasn't that Fluttershy didn't trust Discord, but rather that she felt nervous about whatever Celestia had him doing. It might even be more true that she didn't entirely trust Celestia to treat Discord fairly, and that he could be putting himself in danger. Despite the fact that Fluttershy may not be able to do much to defend the impressive Discord, she would still feel better to have her fate tied to his. She got a tingle as the thought crossed her mind.

"I won't tell anyone. Please take me with you." she implored. Discord smiled at her confident gaze. He saw the confidence in it, but also the admiration. It was those looks, and that proof of their closeness for which he now persevered. He knelt and softly picked up her hoof in a gesture of kindness before speaking.

"I would love nothing more than to have you accompany me, my dear. But it will be dangerous." He watched her face to read her reaction as she spoke.

"I'll brave any danger to be by your side. That's how I feel about you." she said, feeling vulnerable yet confident in revealing her emotions. A deep blush came over her as she wondered what he would say in return.

"Why, that's the nicest thing I think I've ever heard. And especially about me. Fluttershy, I..." Discord began, before being interrupted by an especially irritating and ill timed knock on the door.

"I wonder who that could be." Fluttershy said as she snapped out of her emotional moment and went for the door.

She opened the door to see a tall and stern earth pony. He spoke seriously and with a desperate tone.

"I am looking for my brother. Please tell me that you've seen him. I know that he was coming to see you." the pony said. Fluttershy was taken aback, but responded.

"I remember seeing someone here a month ago, but I get so many visitors. Was your brother Spring Scholar?" she meekly asked.

"Yes! Was he here?! Where did he go? He's been missing this whole time!" the stallion pushed his way in and looked around. Fluttershy was knocked on her hindquarters and was trying to recover as the interloper barged in. Quickly, Discord intercepted the desperate pony rather quickly.

"And what makes you think you will find him here? He left of his own accord, and wandered off." Discord didn't seem too eager to entertain this pony, nor his questions.

"Look, I'm not here to fight or accuse. I just thought I might find him here, or near here. I won't cause you any trouble. I am just out of options. I've tried every other place but here, knowing that he was on his way. He tried coming here many times and lost his nerve each time. Or so I thought. I'm glad to know that he was here but I have to know where he is now." The earth pony spoke effusively, though he maintained his stony demeanor. Discord interceded and spoke.

"Well, we would love to help you, but we barely know a thing about you or your brother. We know your brother's name, but not yours. We know that he came here, and that he wandered off, but not much more. Why should we help you when we know so little?" he retorted.

The Earth pony paused for a moment before speaking.

"My name is Autumn Shepherd. My brother came here to get your advice. I told him that there was no need, but he was convinced that he was not good enough to help me with out plans. Our dreams. But none of that matters if he is in danger. I must find him."

Fluttershy had taken the time to get back on her hooves, and listened intently to the poor pony's story.

"Of course we'll help you", she said with a reassuring calmness. "We wouldn't feel right about your brother being in danger because of how things went between us. Right Discord?"

He snuffed at the question, but it may as well have been a yes.

"Good. We will start our search in the morning." she replied cheerfully.

"I am in your debt for even agreeing to help. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart." The earth pony, who had once been forceful and insistent, was now shedding tears. 

Discord was upset for many reasons, especially as _yet another moment_ between him and Fluttershy was summarily ruined, but also that he would have to be dragged into this nonsense. After all, he knew only a little more about Spring's fate, but enough that finding him was a triviality. Besides, the plan had not yet come to fruition...

*** To be continued.***