//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: A helping paw? Or was it claw? 
// by SweetCookie 
//------------------------------//

"Fluttershy...?"

Discord looked at the pegasus from where he sat about to pluck petals from a rose he had poofed up. His confusion and surprised expression went monotone and slightly sad. He turned his attention towards the rose instead of the mare beside him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came looking for you Discord. I was worried about you all afternoon, and I-"

"Save your breath, I should be the one concerned with you."

"But Discord-"

"Let me talk first Fluttershy. I left your cottage out of sadness and frustration since you know how long I've spent on patience, what with patiently waiting to be set free from stone. I was just so tired of not being heard out and having to wait for a lot longer than I would have hoped, and I'm sorry if that frightened you in any way."

"It didn't, and I've forgiven you hours ago too. Discord-"\

"In fact, I'm sorry about misinterpreting what you were trying to tell me! I didn't mean to leave you confused and concerned, I just-"

"Discord. You don't need to worry yourself with a big apology. But, I have to ask: Discord, do you Love Me?"

"W-what kind of a question is that? What made you come up with-"

"Discord, you left after saying what the Love of a Draconequus is to a pony."

Discord's attempt to not know what the young mare was telling him was plain as night is different from day. Sighing, Discord's uncomfortable face turned to that of a calm but serious face plastered with worry. He knew that she had pieced together everything, if not with the help of the orange farm pony. Discord shifted from his spot to make room for Fluttershy, concerned she may have been tired from flying for too long. Fluttershy took the offer by the hoof and sat close beside him, giving him a gentle pat on his shoulder out of comfort.

"T-the truth is Fluttershy, and I have no idea how to say this: I've developed some feelings for you. I don't know how and I don't know why, but somehow I love hearing your sweet singing voice, feeling your pink fluffy mane when you allow me to touch it, seeing you smile at your animals, hearing your contagious laughter, and getting lost in those lovely blue eyes of yours. I'm already new to the whole concept of Friendship, and this sort of feeling is so...foreign for me. My years of isolation had never taught me to love another as my equal, let alone how to properly love a pony with all the kindness and patience she deserves, but now I know I may have screwed up any of my chances."

"I don't think you did..."

"But, my dear, now you know what I was trying to tell you. Evidently you might have figured it out on your own, but I understand if-"

"Don't say anything else. I don't want you to hurt yourself with your own words."

"But-but I cause nothing but chaos..."

"And that's what I love about you."

"You always say that."

"But that's not the only thing I love about you."

"You...love other...aspects of me?"

Fluttershy nodded, sighing and taking a deep breath as she mustered up the courage she needed to speak what she really wanted to tell him for a while.

"Discord, I haven't been honest myself. I don't want to be your friend because I don't see you that way entirely anymore...Don't say anything, just let me explain. You see, I don't want to be your friend, because I see you as something more. I love the way you make me laugh, I love the way you try to show kindness and friendship to others, I really love your compliments, I love everything about you."

"Fluttershy..."

"Discord, this is why  I should be apologising. I was blind to all the signs you've given me about your affections for me. I should apologise for causing the misunderstanding despite that being rather petty for the both of us, and I'm sorry for not telling you sooner and let you grow impatient with love."

Fluttershy got closer to Discord, the young mare hearing her heartbeat in her ears. She was plastered with a bright pink blush over her bright yellow coat and if one would see her eyes, they would be shining with love and kindness and hope. Discord was granted the benefit of looking into her eyes, eyes that he has fallen in love with. Discord himself seemed to be blushing, and he had a sort of glow you'd see a love-struck pony have, if not he was actually glowing. Fluttershy looked into Discord's hopeful and love-struck eyes, and after a moments silence she mustered up the courage to say something that is so simple yet so important and so magical to hear and say.

"Discord?"

"Yes?"

"I-I-I lo-"

"Fluttershy, you don't need to say it."

"I-I don't?"

"Because I want to say it for you my dear. I Love You."

Fluttershy's blush increased and her heart seemed to flutter in her chest. Discord gave the pegasus a warm and loving smile, any form of worry and fear of rejection disappearing from his unbalanced face.

"I love every aspect of your kindness, I love hearing your laughter, I love everything about you my dear."

Fluttershy gave Discord a loving and warm smile, all her usual insecurities disappearing from her mind as it was replaced with love and happiness and warmth.

"Discord, I love how you help make me more confident, I love the chaos, I love everything about you just as much."

Both were stripped away of their fears, insecurities, uncertainty and concerns, love seemingly replacing every uncertain emotion with a content one. Discord brought both his paw and claw up towards the mare and enveloped her into a warm and loving embrace, Fluttershy returning his more than welcomed hug by wrapping her hooves and wings around him in a gentle and loving manner. They stayed that way for a while, Discord resting his chin on her head, and with as much courage as he himself could muster, he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. Fluttershy looked up at Discord with a heavy blush and a face that contained a welcoming surprised expression, Discord chuckled and soon afterwards Fluttershy giggled with him. To Discord's equally welcomed surprise, Fluttershy mustered up courage to plant a gentle kiss on his cheek, both never seeming to stop smiling.

Both turned their attention towards the setting sun, the sun giving a warm and gentle glow across the Orchard as it made way for the moon and the deep blue night sky that sparkled with stars. The yellow, pink and purple glow seemed to have given the now new lovers the perfect atmosphere to not only apologise but confess their hidden affections for one another. Discord and Fluttershy continued to hold each other in a warm embrace while they watched the sun set over the Orchard. After a moment of watching the sunset in all of its grace and beauty, Discord chucked a bit and turned his head towards Fluttershy.

"My dear, shouldn't we get back to looking after your animals?"

"I think we should Discord. You can stay the night on the couch if you would like."

"My dear, that would be wonderful. Can I cook up some pancakes for dinner tonight? Multiple stacks on me!"

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt one little bit."

"My dear Fluttershy the only thing that will be hurting us will be our stomachs stuffed with breakfast!"

For the entirety of the night, Discord and Fluttershy worked around the clock on different shifts to take care of Fluttershy's animals, and true to Discord's word he did cook up a lot of pancakes, possibly around 5 stacks of 10 pancakes. They ate most of it and continued to eat throughout the night until Fluttershy was content with leaving the animals for the rest of the night so she herself can sleep. Handing Discord a pillow and a blanket, both greeted the other a warm and wonderful evening before going to bed.

Turns out, the day wasn't so bad for Fluttershy and Discord, and both were graced with pleasant dreams, something that made Discord plan to visit Princess Luna before she fell asleep for the morning. For Fluttershy, she was glad Discord came around today at all, he ended up giving the biggest helping paw with her animals she could ask for. Or was it claw? Honestly, it was a question with an answer she wouldn't be able to get 100% of the time, whispering something before she drifted off to sleep.

"I love you Discord. Always."




The End~