//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Bit For Your Thoughts? // Story: Let's Dance! // by PrincessTwilightSparkle1 //------------------------------// Let’s Dance! ~Chapter 2: Bit For Your Thoughts?~ Discord couldn’t forget that look on Twilight Sparkle’s face nor get that tone she had used out of his mind. It was the sound of somepony who was just going through the motions, and that didn’t sound like the Twilight Sparkle he knew at all! The Twilight he knew was always so spunky and full of life. As soon as Twilight had flown off back to her castle, the Draconequus snapped his talons and instantly appeared in his house within his chaotic dimension. He was deep in thought. With a flick of his tail, Discord was transported into the high branches of his Thinking Tree. There, he continued to ponder what he could do to cheer his friend up. Discord was at a complete loss of what to do in this situation. Dealing with the feelings of others did not come easy to him. Discord stroked his goatee with his talons, waiting for some possible solution to present itself. As luck would have it, Discord was going to have tea with Fluttershy the next day. It was their scheduled day after all. Perhaps he’d get some answers about Twilight’s strange behavior... Discord then had a realization. The mood had become far too serious for his tastes. Discord snapped his claws and disappeared from the branches of his tree, then reappeared on the ceiling in his living room and started pacing. The next day… Tuesday afternoons are usually the highlight of Discord’s week. On this day, however, the excitement of spending it with his closest friend and confidant wasn't there. This had Fluttershy more than a little concerned. “Discord?” Fluttershy paused to gather her thoughts on how best to address the issue at hoof. She settled on the most direct approach. “Is there something bothering you? You know you can always talk to me about anything. That is...if you want to…” She trailed off, allowing her long pink mane to fall into her face. Discord exhaled deeply and slumped over, resting his elbows on his knees. “Fluttershy,” Discord began hesitantly. He took a deep breath before starting again. “Fluttershy, my dearest friend, I fear I am in a bit of a pickle.” Discord, on instinct, snapped his fingers and transformed his body into something resembling his usual self and a pickle; all green and lumpy. He snapped again and was, at once, returned to what passes for normal for the Lord of Chaos. “There is somepony whom I've taken a liking to and I have no idea how to tell her.” Discord slumped over in his seat once again. A sunny smile crossed Fluttershy’s face at her friend’s revelation. “Oh? And who is this pony you've taken a liking to? Um...if you don't mind telling me that is…” She began fidgeting with the ends of her mane which had fallen like a pink curtain, obscuring a portion of her face. “Perhaps it will help you feel better if you told somepony?” She looked at Discord hopefully. Discord smiled in gratitude at Fluttershy’s offer of a friendly ear. “Well, alright…” He sighed again. “It’s...TwilightSparkle…” He mumbled out, but Fluttershy heard him clearly. This elicted an excited gasp and a happy flutter of her cheery yellow plumage. “Oh my gosh! This is wonderful news! Have you told her yet? Does anypony else know? Have you asked her to go t--” Discord cut her off mid-rant with a well-placed paw to her muzzle. “Yes, yes. How exciting.” He said with an eye roll. “As for your questions, no, I have not told her yet, nopony but you knows, and I haven’t asked her to the little --” He stuck his tongue out and pretended to gag. “--Hearts and Hooves Day shindig you girls are putting together yet because I haven’t told her I like her yet!” Discord blurted out. “I was hoping you’d be able to help me in figuring out how I would go about doing just that.” Discord slumped over once again after venting out his frustrations. Fluttershy got up off the sofa she was sitting on, walked to where Discord was sitting, and placed a comforting hoof on his shoulder. “I would love nothing more than to help you with this, Discord.” Her face held a warm, encouraging smile. “The first thing you should do is…” Meanwhile, at the Castle of Friendship… Twilight Sparkle had returned from her trek around Ponyville and was now sitting on her throne, slumped over with her head resting on the map table. The exhausted princess let out a deep sigh followed shortly by a very unprincess-like yawn; mouth wide open for all to see. And, indeed, somepony did see. “Oh my. You must have had quite the day to be yawning like that.” It was Starlight Glimmer. She giggled when a light pink blush appeared on her friend's face out of embarrassment to have been caught like that. “Do you want to talk about it?” She offered. Twilight hesitated for a moment; opening and closing her mouth as if trying to decide whether or not to tell Starlight the part of the day before that included a very confusing encounter with a certain Draconequus. Twilight took a deep breath to get her bearings straight. “I've been getting these strange feelings lately.” Twilight stated. Starlight quirked her eyebrow up. “What kind of feelings? If you don't mind my asking.” Twilight thought it over for a moment. ‘Starlight brings up an excellent question.’ She thought to herself. ‘What are these strange feelings I've been experiencing?’ Starlight was growing increasingly concerned about her teacher and friend. “Twilight? Are you alright?” Twilight was startled out of her internal monologue by her student's worried tone. “Huh? Oh…Starlight…Sorry about that. Got lost in my own head for a moment. And about your question, I…I really don't know what it is I'm feeling…” This surprised Starlight. For the relatively short time she's known Twilight and studied under her, she's never known the princess to NOT have an answer to a problem. But like with any problem, whether it be learning a new spell or figuring out complicated emotions, the best way to figure this out was to take it one step at a time. “Okay then…” Starlight said after recovering from her minor shock. “Maybe you could answer a question for me, Twilight?” The only response Starlight got from Twilight was a nod of her head. “My question is this: Is there anypony in particular that you get these feelings around?” Starlight Glimmer had a hunch what was going on with Twilight, but needed her to answer her question first. Twilight Sparkle gained a pensive look on her face. She tapped her hoof against her chin in thought. “Well…there is one…he isn't exactly a pony per se…” A frown formed on Twilight's muzzle. “...but I doubt he shares the same feelings…” Her shoulders slumped in defeat and her head once again made contact with the map table. Starlight gave her mentor a look of sympathy and wrapped her forelegs around the downhearted mare in a comforting embrace. “It'll be okay, Twilight. Things like this often have a funny way of working themselves out. Don't give up just yet, okay?” She gave Twilight her most reassuring smile. Twilight returned the smile, albeit a little shakily. “Thank you, Starlight…I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't talked me off the ledge so to speak.” She tightened the hug. “That's what friends do, right? And besides, it's the least I could do after everything you've done for me.” “Oh, Starlight.” Twilight squeezed the Unicorn even tighter. You don't have to do anything for me. Just knowing I could help in any way I can is enough for me. I do appreciate it though.” Twilight quickly released her grip when she realized her student wasn't making any noise. She also noted that Starlight had turned a deep purplish-blue from lack of air. “Oh my goodness! Starlight, I'm so sorry!” Starlight sputtered and coughed as she tried to suck in some much needed air. “It's… *cough* “...okay…” *gasp* “...Twilight.” Twilight checked Starlight over with her magic. Once it was determined that nothing else was amiss, the princess let out a sigh of relief. “I really am very sorry for squeezing you so hard, Starlight.” “Hey.” Starlight Glimmer placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. “I said it was fine and I meant it.” Twilight giggled. “I know. Oh!” She suddenly remembered something. “Starlight, you said earlier you have a couple of questions for me. What was the second one?” “That's right! I did. I was just curious about who it is you have a crush on?” Starlight grinned. Her question got quite the reaction out of the lavender Alicorn before her. Twilight blushed a bright red in response to this question. “What…Huh?” She stuttered. “What are you talking about, Starlight?” “What you've just described to me is that you have romantic feelings for a certain individual. So, who is he?” Starlight's grin grew larger, almost predatory. Twilight sighed and slumped her shoulders in defeat. “It's…Discord…” She mumbled out; her blush only spreading and causing her to more resemble a tomato rather than a pony. Starlight's grin was replaced with a look of surprise. “Discord? Wow…Honestly, I wasn't really expecting that…How did this come about?” Twilight though about it for a moment. “Hmm…I really don't know how it happened…” “No matter.” Starlight pulled Twilight into a hug. “What matters is what you plan to do about it.” Twilight was in deep thought again. “Well, there is the ball coming up. I guess I could always tell him then…” And so, the two mares set to work coming up with the perfect plan to woo a certain Draconequus.