//------------------------------// // Guys Night // Story: Let Yourself Fall // by Briarberrybones //------------------------------// Inside Twilight’s castle, Spike, Big Mac and Discord were settling in and preparing everything for the night’s round of O&O. Spike was still beaming ear to ear as he organized his notes; a little too wide for Discords liking. Fluttershy was clearly upset when she left and didn’t know how in Equestria Spike could be so chipper! “All right spill it, Spike. What did she ask you that could’ve possibly made her so upset that made her take off like that?” he sternly asked. Tiny flames were beginning to dance in his pupils, but Spike remained unfazed. “Oh, nothing, nothing,” Spike replied, neatly lining up all his pieces of parchment. “She was just asking about you.” “Me?” he asked in surprise. “Mhm, she was curious if you ever talked about her with us.” Spike shot him a mischievous smirk. “I told her you did.” Discord cocked an eyebrow at the young dragon. “Well, that’s an odd thing to ask. Why would whether I talk about her with others concern or worry her? Oh, no. Is that wrong? Have I embarrassed her again?” He anxiously bit his claws. Spike knew Discord was still new to many basic pony norms when it came to relationships of all kinds, he’d come a long way, but he wasn’t quite there yet. He also knew that Discord’s concern for Fluttershy was always genuine, and he couldn’t have him thinking he’d done her wrong here. “No, no, no, Discord, You’re all good!” Spike assured. “It just means she likes you is all!” Discord scrunched his lip into a quizzical glare. “Well, that’s not news. Of course, she likes me! I like her as well! Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to go with friendships?” He crossed his arms in annoyance at how Spike’s answer still didn’t answer his question as to why Fluttershy was so frazzled when she left. Spike put a claw to his temple. “No, Discord. She LIKES you.” He tried to put as much emphasis into the word but could see it was still flying right over Discord’s head. “And?” He uncrossed his arms to usher Spike to continue explaining whatever it was he was trying to explain. With a groan, Spike looked to Big Mac for a little help, but all he offered was a shrug. “Ya know, Discord. Sometimes I can’t tell if you truly are inept or you’re just playing dumb.” By the way Discord was still looking at him blanky, he still couldn’t tell which it could be; perhaps both? With another little groan, Spike turned his chair slightly to face Discord. He was trying to look as serious as he could while sitting in a thrown that was clearly too big for him. He put his two claws together and pointed them towards his clueless friend. He was going to have to put everything plainly to get anywhere here, he’d concluded. “Discord, look. When I say she likes you, that’s obvious. You guys are close, good friends and everyone knows it. However… sometimes, not always, but sometimes when two friends are close for a long while, their friendship starts to change, but that’s a good thing!” he added. “It becomes a different kind of ‘like’ is what I’m getting at.” Spike paused to make sure Discord was still following. Big Mac was also listening intently, curious to see if he’d actually get it. “This new kind of ‘like’ is a more um… romantic kind of ‘like.’ ” At the word “romantic”, Discord visibly started to shake and tried to deflect. “That’s, that’s, that’s absolutely preposterous, Spike!” he sputtered. “Fluttershy feeling romantic towards me? That’s downright silly! This a very good joke, Spike. I’ll admit you’ve got me good, but it’s time to call it off.” Spike’s face fell into a small frown. “Discord, I’m not joking! I honestly wouldn’t joke about something like this, and I have pretty good reason to think that Fluttershy does in fact feel that way about you!” He paused. “And I don’t mean to pry, but I think you feel the same about her, and that’s okay!” Discord was so red in the face, he looked like he’d been dipped upside down in strawberry syrup all the way to his shoulders. He wanted to protest again, but knew he’d been trapped. He instead just rotated his head like an owl to face the back of his chair in silence. He dared not let anything slip that could further prove Spike right. He rarely was ever at a loss for words; he was panicking and knew that his lack of a response probably wasn’t helping his case. Spike and Big Mac shared a worried glance for their funny friend. “Discord, I’m sorry to put you on the spot like this, but you know it’s okay to feel this way, right? It’s natural and it’s okay to let yourself fall a little." Spike began again, “I wouldn’t have told you this if I didn’t think it may actually be good for you and Fluttershy. She was asking because she wanted to know if she’s on your mind often and she ran away because you likely flustered her, but in a good way!” Discord’s ear drooped. He knew full well that Spike was spot on… about him at least. “Discord, we all see the way you look at one another. Everyone can tell just how happy you make each other. I’m sorry, but it’s actually kinda obvious,” Spike chuckled sincerely. Discord never thought that there’d be a day where he’d have to admit his inner most feelings like this. Again, he wasn’t the best when it came to social norms and pony habits, but ever since that day he’d helped Big Mac and Sugar Belle with their Hearts and Hooves conundrum, he had made a realization. It was a realization that had come crashing down on him like a falling piano. It graced him in the way a cyclone graces a barley field in spring. Unsuspecting, then all at once in one long, violent caress up his body and squeezed his heart. He truly didn’t know what to do with himself afterwards and he still didn’t. All he knew is that he had the undying need to be close to Fluttershy; to protect her, touch her, and make sure she was always as happy as could possibly be. Her grace and kindness, paired with her ferocious love and understanding had knocked him completely off his feet. There were days he wondered if she may be the physical manifestation of Mother Nature herself, his one other love aside from chaos. Although it wasn’t obvious at first glance, the two were one in the same; making the one true balance across all dimensions of existence. He held all this so true and close to his heart, and now to hear that his little goddess of spring may see him the same way; it just made him spiral more. Discord still didn’t dare look at his friends when he finally spoke, “I just…I just don’t know what to do, Spike.” He knew there was no use in trying to hide anymore. Spike and Big Mac fell deathly silent at how pained their friends’ voice sounded. With a shaky sigh, he finally turned to face them, “I just…I just don’t want to hurt her again. I’m so afraid that I might do something wrong again. I just don’t know if I’m right for her. I’m certainly not worthy of her! I think everyone knows that at least.” “Discord!” Spike and Discord looked to see Big Mac practically on top of the table, glaring straight into the draconequus’ watering eyes. With a booming voice, the likes that neither had heard from him before, the stallion spoke. “You likely will hurt her! She likely will hurt you! At some point or another it’s bound to happen, but that’s just how relationships go! Romantic or otherwise. Sugar Belle and I don’t always see eye to eye, but if we’re always trying to better ourselves and one another, it doesn’t matter. The few bad times are always outweighed by the good ones and makes it all worth it in the end. ” He sat back in his thrown chair with a snort, still glaring at Discord. "Sugar Belle and I also have our differences. Most of the time I don't feel like I deserve her, but I'd do anything to keep her smiling. As long as we both know that, than what other ponies think of us doesn't mean anything." A fierce need to not let their friends fall into self-deprecation may have been a pretty strong quality in the Apple family’s bloodline… Discord was startled, but he heard Big Mac’s words clearly. “But what if… what if I tell her and it ruins the good friendship we already have? He stuttered, now looking down at his nervous, twiddling claws. "What if she's so embarrassed, that she doesn't want me around anymore?" It was Spike’s turn to set him straight again. “Just because your relationship with Fluttershy might be changing, it doesn’t mean that what you have isn’t there anymore. In fact, it’s supposed to strengthen it. When all goes right, ideally, your… romantic life partner is supposed to be your best friend.” Spike was careful not to use words like “husband” or “wife”. He didn’t want to fluster and overwhelm Discord more than he already was. Discord perked his ears at that. Perhaps, just maybe, this all was really meant to happen then? “You lads really are great pals. Thank you for all of…this,” he rotated his claw, gesturing to the three of them. Inside, his belly and heart were filled with literal and figurative fireworks, but he still felt he needed to keep up a somewhat cool façade for what he was about to ask. “So um… my boys. Let’s say best case scenario, that Spike is right that Fluttershy does ‘like’ me. What do I even do with that knowledge? What do I do now? I don’t even know what to do with my hands on a normal day!” At that, both of his claws sprouted stick-like arms of their own at the wrist and began trying to slap each other like rowdy siblings. “They’re just impossible!” “Well, you should probably start with a date,” Big Mac spoke up. The thought of himself and Fluttershy on a date had Discord blushing and lightheaded again. He could see it now. Fluttershy in an elegant, green gown sitting across from him over a candle lit dinner, prepared by himself of course. He’d take her anywhere she wanted, give her anything she’d ask, it didn’t matter. He was more than willing to wrap himself around her little hoof, more so than he already was. “That’s right,” Spike chimed in, breaking Discord’s daydream. “It should be somewhere you can both be yourselves and have fun. Candles and ambiance can set the mood but enjoying yourselves is the most important part! It’s like a hang out, but um… more special.” Big Mac nodded to the dragon in agreement. “All you have to do is ask her!” A thousand windowpanes shattered in Discord’s head. He was so enraptured in the fantasies of enjoying a date with Fluttershy, that’d he’d forgotten the most important step prior to all of it; asking her. “Oh, sweet Scorpan! Fellas, how could I even go about that?” He slid his palms down his face in exasperation. “It’s a little easier said than done, but in short, ya just, uh… ask her,” Big Mac offered. “Yes, but what if she says, no?” Discord pleaded, waving his arms. Spike gently pushed them back down with a warm expression. “She’s not.” “But what if-” “She’s not. We’ll help.”