Sweet Apple Acres.
Home to the Apple family. And is where a red stallion and a purple dragon wait patiently inside the barn for their third member to arrive. Big Mac walks to the window to looks for any signs of their friend as Spike lay across a hay bale waiting patiently. Before long, Discord appears before them a flash of light.
"Sorry, I am late guys," Discord said as he pulls out a pocket watch and opens it up to which it falls apart send springs flying, "I lost track of time."
"It is okay Discord," Spike jumps off the hay bale and greets his friend, "Everypony can lose track of time now and then."
"Eyeap." Big Mac added smiling at them and joins them at the center of the barn,
"Now then, Boys. Where did we leave off last time?"
Spike puts a claw to his chin before snapping his claws, "I believe we were going to invade the tyrant Freezer castle to rescue Princess Pear."
"That would be correct."
With a snap of Discord paw, the three of them find themselves in a land of paper wearing their roleplay outfits. Discord is an archer, Spike is a mage, and Big Mac is a swordsman. With looks of determination, they look onward to see the castle of ice chests guarded by Freezer's minions the Icicles. "Now then to ARMS!" Discord pulled back his bow, Spike started to charge up his staff, and Big Mac lifts his sword. "CHARGE!"
Meanwhile at Fluttershy's front door. Pinkie Pie has arrived with a box of treats on her back. She was told to bring an order of cupcakes here for Fluttershy's teatime with Discord. Pinkie and the girls believe it is only a matter of time before they start calling it date time with Discord. She hops to the front door and knocks happily. "Fluttershy, it is me your best friend Pinkie Pie. I am brought the cupcakes you asked for." she waited for a replied but when none came after five seconds she started to get worried, "Fluttershy?" she knocks on the door harder before it opens up on its own, "Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie called out into Fluttershy house from her doorway. "You here?"
"Yes." A small voice replied within the house.
Pinkie Pie enters the house, "I came by to drop off your order of cupcakes for your teatime with Discord." She stops in front of a tea set and notices that the teacups are half full and were cold. Also, only half of the cookies were eaten. Something is wrong but she couldn’t put her hoof on it. It was then that she slowly started to notice the change in the atmosphere here. Typically, Fluttershy’s house is filled with light and little critters running all over the place. But not today. Today it is a mess, with the shades drawn, leftover food across the table, and no signs of life. "And why is it so gloomy in here?"
Without missing a beat Fluttershy replied from the stairs to greet Pinkie, "I have no idea."
Pinkie smiled when she saw her friend, but it quickly turns into shock, "AH! Fluttershy, You."
"Yes?" She said slowly coming down the stairs,
"I mean you look fine just like every other day, but you are giving off a...” She scratches her head trying to think of the word, “How do I put this?"
Once at the bottom of the stairs Pinkie Pie could see her friend better. But not in a good way. Fluttershy is a complete mess. She has red eyes with lines of tears on her cheeks. Her feathers on her wings are no longer straight. And don't even start with the rest of her. Rarity would scold her friend for what has happened to her mane and coat.
They stared at each other in an awkward silence before Fluttershy spoked up, "Down in the dumps?" She suggested,
"That is one way to say it. What happened?"
The boys had returned to the barn for a break of their roleplaying adventure. Discord was patting off some snow and slime off his outfit before looking at his bow as it broke in half. “That going to cost some gold but not as much as you guys.”
Big Mac grumbles to himself as he pulled out an arrow in his helmet before his shield fell off his side along with a piece of his armor. Spike was no better as half of his outfit was destroyed, “Did you had to make the fortress so difficulted?” he said before his staff broke in half,
“What? I thought that you guys were getting used to the usual adventures, so I decided to take it up a nock.” He said grabbing an apple from a box, “Now how are we going to save the princess now? We don’t have enough gold to repair our gear.” He juggles the apple between his hands in thought before tossing it back with the rest, “I wonder how much we can get if we raid a dungeon? What do we have to sell anyways?” He said while making a small bag appear before him as he looks through it. Discord pulls out different potions and items that they have gather throughout their adventures.
"So, Discord,” Spike spoked up, “how did it go?"
Discord looks back at Spike before pushing the bag to the side, “Terrible Spike. I mean really. How could you fall for the sirens trance? She was half your size. I thought you would have known better. Also, it happens two minutes ago, how could you forget?"
Spike drags a claw down his face in embarrassment, “That is not what I meant.”
“Oh, are you referring to how a swarm of pink spiders poison Big Mac to death while I was being eaten alive by a fifteen-foot troll.”
"Can we not talk about that,” Big Mac said shivering at the memories, “They were everywhere. Also Discord you know what we are talking about."
He thinks about it. They could be talking about how we were trying to get more ponies to join us in our roleplay, but they already know about that. So that can't be what they are talking about. The only thing that I can think of that he has told them about would be about-
"Oh... OH! That." He smirks,
"Well?"
Discord chuckles to himself, "Well, after my cunning strategy, I have discovered that she is indeed single."
"And?" Big Mac pressed,
"I have also discovered that she is interested in somepony."
"Let me guess you have no idea who this pony is." Spike finished,
Discord crosses his arms in a pouting manner, "Hay, I was doing my best trying to keep a straight face when I was fishing for information." They smile at him causing him to blush, “It was very hard mind you!”
"SO how did you find this information?"
"I am glad that you asked Big Mac,” He said looking back in the bag, “So, you see I first showed her a list of mares I am interested in,” He quickly looks back them, “not including her name mind you. And from there I ask her if she was interested in anypony,” He then pulls out a bomb from inside it that was lit for some reason. Quickly he tosses the bomb outside to which it explodes. They all look outside to see a very angry Applejack looking back them with a face covered in black with a small creator in ground in front of her, “Sorry about that!” He said snapping his fingers fixing the damage, “Now, where was I?”
“You I ask her if she was interested in anypony?”
“Right. It was so simple that I amaze myself at how easy it was to get that info from right under her nose." He smiles at his own cunning not noticing the look of concern on his friend's faces. Discord then found a big diamond and went to the corner of the room to sell it for some gold.
Spike and Big Mac shared a look with one another before Spike spoke up, "Ah, Discord."
"Yes, Spike?" Discord said while getting the gold,
"I think you just did a Derpy."
"Eyeap."
Discord turned around to face them confused, "What are you talking about? I found out that she is available, didn't I?
Spike rubs the back of his neck trying to figure out how to say this, "Well yes; you did but... amum... ah... Big Mac, help me out here."
"She probably thinks that you don't like her."
Discord drops the bag of gold in shocked, "WHAT! HOW! WHEN! WHY!"
Spike closes his eyes and rubs the bridge of his nose trying to think of how to tell him, "Discord you showed her a list of mares you are interested in, without including her name in it."
"And your point iiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssss..." Discord eyes widen in terror. For it was at this time that he realizes that he has indeed done a Derpy.
The boys shared a knowing look before Discord screams, "WHAT HAVE I DONE!"
"Hold it Discord." Big Mac said stopping Discord from snapping his fingers to teleport away.
"WHY! I must apologize to her!"
"SO, you are going to tell Fluttershy that you like her?"
"Well, I..."
"Yes?"
"Okay, I see your point there." Discord slumps on to the floor dejected, "But what am I supposed to do now?"
"Well, right now you need to get your head on straight," Spike said. Discord pulls off his head, shakes it a bit and put it back on, "Now then. You need to tell Fluttershy that you like her without telling her directly."
Discord turned to the only stallion in the room that has a marefriend, "Big Mac, you have a marefriend; how did you do it?"
Big Mac gets nervous as he remembers at how he started dating Sugar Belle, "I am not sure you want to do what I did."
"Tell me, anyway," He gets onto the floor in a begging position. "I am desperate."
Big Mac looks at his friend before he gave in, "Well, I tried to tell her my feelings in a song and ended up destroying her bakery."
There was a moment of silence before Discord spoke up. "And she's still in love with you?"
"No, she right out rejected me, until I built her a new bakery. She gave me a second chance, and we have been dating ever since."
"Hum," Discord puts a claw to his chin thinking about it, "It is a bit flashy with effective results. But I don't think that Fluttershy would want me anyway near her animals if I did something to them."
"You know maybe what you need is a mare's point of view on this," Spike added,
He turns to face his scaly friend,"What are you going on about?"
"Well if you talk it over with a mare. Maybe she can give you a better idea of how to handle this. I mean we do have a Princess of Love after all."
Discord claps his hands with joy, "You are right! How did I forget about that?" Discord snaps his fingures and everypony is out of the cosplay outfits. "Sorry to cut this short, but I have a princess to meet."
Discord snaps again and disappears in a flash of light right before a small squad of stallion appears at the entrance to the barn, "We have arrived to save the Princess!"
Big Mac and Spike look at each confused until they got what they meant. "Sorry guys," Spike said, "We are done for the day."
"What! But I was sure that we would arrive on time."
"Did you forget that the time changed earlier," Big Mac asked,
The other stallions glared at the leader as he shrinks in fear, "Hee... oops."
Meanwhile, inside Canterlot's medical ward.
Princess Celestia stands worried next to a Doctor Pony as he was looking over a patient.
"Will he be alright?" The princess asked looking at the guard pony lying unconscious on the bed,
"I believe so your highness." A doctor pony said, walking away from a medical bed where another guard pony lay passed out, "Though I can't begin to understand why so many of our guards are fainting on duty."
Celestia looks to her left to see at least six more guards in similar states across the room. Small sweat of guilt rolls down her face as she remembers how they ended up here. But the Doctor doesn't need to know that, "I have no idea. Please keep me informed about their wellbeing."
"Of course, your highness."
Once outside the room, Princess Celestia meets her sister who came shortly after hearing the news. The two of them start walking down the hall before Luna speaks up, "How are the guard doing sister?"
"They will be fine. Nothing that a little R&R can't fix."
"I see and how pray are you fairing in courting a stallion dear sister?"
She sighs lowering her head, "Not as well as I hope Luna. Every guard that I have ever trust and cared for, is now unconscious in the medical ward. Just because I ask them if they were in the market."
Luna thinks about what she just said but came up with nothing. And shakes her head, "I must get used to today's words. But I believe that you are now back at square one once again?"
"That is correct."
"Maybe you did something wrong in your approach."
Celestia looks offended at her sister's words, "Luna! I may have been out of the game for a few hundred years, but even I know how to court a stallion." she straights up to stand proudly,
"Is that so?" A small grin come to Luna's face, "I can think of seven reasons to question your claim."
Celestia rolled her eyes at that, "So I am a little out of practice. However, I am still certain that I can court any stallion that I set my mind onto."
Luna's smile never faltered as she stares at her, "Is that so sister?"
"Yes! In fact, to prove my claim to you. I will successfully court the next stallion that I see."
"Oh, Princess Celestia," Discord said popping into existence in front of the mares, "Just the mare I wanted to see."
Celestia stares at him, hoping that he didn't hear what she just said earlier. She looks to her sister to see that Luna needs to work on her poker face. She can tell that it is taking every bit of her might not to fall over and laugh at her current predicament. Not wanting to get her sister the satisfaction that she is right, Celestia takes a breath and gives Discord her best monkey smile,
"Is that so Discord? And how may I be able to help you?"
Discord floats lazily in the air next to the sister, "I was wondering if you can assist me in a little experiment I am going to be conducting."
"What kind of experiment?"
"Courting a pony."
"WHAT!" Both sisters shouted,
Discord boops Celestia with his loin paw hushing her up, "Relax sun butt. There will be no touching or anything dirty during the experiment. I want to see if you can help me get better at courting a mare."
She looks at him confused before slapping his paw away, "You do know that there is a Princess of Love for that? Why come to me?"
Discord huffed at that statement and looked away, "Did that and Shining Armor doesn't want me anywhere near Cadence after he heard me." He looks back at them, "Honestly it is as if he thought I was trying to take her away from him,"
She puts a hoof to her face in thought, "And what about Twilight and her friends?"
"Too busy."
Celestia didn't want to put up with any more nonsense today; and wanted to just send Discord on his way, "Well Discord I am sorry but-"
"She will be glad to assist you in your experiment." Luna interrupted,
"LUNA!" she screams her sister's name.
"I thank you, Celestia. I will be back tomorrow to pick you up." Before Celestia could say, anything Discord was gone. She looks back at where Discord was and back at her sister several times trying to come up with words to say but she got nothing. So, she settles on glaring at her younger sister.
"Luna, why did you do that?"
Luna gives a cheeky smile to her sister, "Didn't I hear that you would court the next stallion that you see?"
"Discord is not a stallion." She huffs at her,
"But he is a male. And you did say that you could court any stallion that you set your mind to."
She turned away from her sister, "But I do not see Discord that way anymore. And I am just fine with courting stallions. Thank you very much. I don't need his help."
"Seven. Stallions. Sister." Luna said slowly and firmly.
Celestia sighs and looks to the floor, "Okay, maybe it could help both of us. But nothing is going to happen between us." Celestia leaves her sister behind to attend days court, not seeing the smirk on her little sister's face.
"Did she already forget that I can visit her dreams?"
"It is okay Fluttershy. Calm down," Pinkie Pie comforts her sad friend by rubbing her back on the couch. Fluttershy just finished telling her about that had happened earlier with Discord and how he sees her. It is a very delicate situation, and Fluttershy needed her help, "I am sure that there is a perfectly good reason why you weren't on Discord list."
She lifts her head off her hoof and looks sadly to her friend, "But I thought we were growing so close together," Fluttershy sniffs and looks at the floor, "I thought that maybe if I had enough courage, I could date him."
"Well, don't feel too bad, Fluttershy." Pinkie jumps on the couch make the shy mare jump a little before settling down on the couch. "A lot of mares go through what you are going through." She quickly gives her friend a much-needed hug,
"Really?"
"Yes," Pinkie broke the hug, "Did you know that most of the time when it comes to dating a stallion. He doesn't know that a mare likes him unless she does something so obvious that anypony could see?"
"Really?"
"Yes. And since you are a shy pony. I don't think you have sent any correct signals to Discord that you like him."
Fluttershy looks at the floor dejected, "What do I do?"
"Well, you have three options," Pinkie lifts Fluttershy's head up, "One you can straight out tell him that you like him."
"AH!" Fluttershy backs away and starts to hyperventilate,
"Wait! I am not done yet! Please don't faint Fluttershy."
"Okay," She starts calming down, "I will try."
"Okay. Option two. You can have a friend help you out to let him know that you like him."
Fluttershy puts a hoof to her chin in thought. If I did that then I won't have to tell Discord that I like him. But then he will have to hear that come from another pony and not from me. He might get the wrong idea. No, I got to be the one to do it. But how? "What is option number three?"
"That would be slowly telling him that you like him."
"I think that I like option three."
"Good choice."