//------------------------------// // Chase Me // Story: Let Yourself Fall // by Briarberrybones //------------------------------// The darkness of night was steadily creeping over the sky as the day began to close. Luna’s moon was beginning to rise full and luminous over the outer edges of Ponyville; playing conductor to the early spring cicadas and crickets who hushed the land with their symphony. Storefronts had long since closed and most everypony was settling to rest in their homes. The night, however, had just begun for Discord. Alone, he slinked back through the streets to Fluttershy’s cottage. He easily could have just snapped himself to her doorstep in no time at all, but he took to walking this evening to prepare himself mentally. As he went, he conjured up a doppelganger of himself to fill the silence. “Nothing about it has to be awkward,” his double mused, floating above him. “We’re just enjoying a nice evening together over dinner. We’ve done this countless times before!” “You’re right, me!” he replied. “We just need to focus on enjoying ourselves and appreciate the time we’re spending with Fluttershy.” With that, he gave himself a high five and snapped his double away. He approached the stone bridge on the farthest edge of Fluttershy’s property and thought, “As long as I keep that in mind, absolutely nothing could go wrong about thi-.” He cut himself short as he neared the top of the bridge and caught view of Fluttershy’s cottage. She was sitting outside, close to the tree line of Everfree Forest. An ounce of confidence had slipped from him as he took everything in. She looked like a shining, pale star against the dark backdrop of the forest… and she was waiting for him. He lowered himself to all fours as he gingerly crept forward. Why did his limbs feel so heavy? “It’s alright. You’re not scared. You’re not scared of Fluttershy. You’re just spending an evening with sweet, lovely… enchanting Fluttershy,” He really wasn’t helping himself, but he kept trudging on. She faced away from him, but her sensitive ears knew someone was coming up behind her. “Discord!” she said gleefully as she turned. Oh, sweet Scorpan, her eyes could’ve been the death of him then and there and he would’ve died completely happy. Luna’s moon reflected in them perfectly like mystic pools of teal and starlight; it was making it hard for him to focus on anything else. “Um, Discord?” she asked. He shook his head. “S-sorry, my dear. I’m just feeling uh… fuzzy in the head lately. But um…why are you out here by the forest instead of closer to the house?” Fluttershy gave him a mischievous smile and stood up. “Well, I’ve picked a very special and secret spot for our picnic tonight, but in order to find it…you’ll have to play a game with me.” Discord perked up at that. He very much enjoyed games and Fluttershy’s lack of nerves at the moment began to calm his as well. “Well then, pray tell, dear. What is this game you have in mind?” “In order to find our secret picnic spot…” she paused just to tease and watch him lean in with anticipation. “You’ll have to…” Discord was getting visibly antsy. He grinned and waited for her instruction. “Catch me!” she squealed, leaping just a few trots away from him. Discord was genuinely surprised. “Catch you? Do you mean for me to chase you?” “That’s right! But I have rules, mister,” she said playfully digging a hoof firmly in the dirt. Discord liked where this going. He loved it when Fluttershy let down her shy, reserved little walls and showed her more playful and cunning side. Although he actively tried to coax it out of her, he didn’t always get to see it, but adored it when he did. “You have to give me a ten second head start, and no magic will be allowed,” she taunted and began leading him closer to the trail head into the forest. Normally, he wouldn’t like the idea of Fluttershy being in the forest after dark, but in this circumstance, she wasn’t alone and he wasn’t above breaking her little rules should they get into any real trouble. “I solemnly swear to you, my dear, that I will uphold your ruling,” he bellowed dramatically and placed a claw to his heart. “Very good…you can start counting." With that, she turned tail and hit the trail running. All the while, she remembered a bit of Rarity’s advice and summoning and pinch of boldness, gave her hips a little extra sway as she galloped; her rosey tail flashing like a long, taunting flag. Discord readied himself promptly. “1…2…3…4…” He shuffled on all fours like some great cat preparing to pounce. “…5…6…7…” She was beginning to disappear from view, but his eyes were locked and fixed on that tail of hers. “…8…9…” She turned on the first corner and he sprang. He felt like a bat out of Tartarus, and it was wonderful! He was at the first corner where she’d turned but halted when he realized he could no longer see her. “Fluttershy?” he whispered worriedly. He was reassured when he heard her giggling up ahead. Or was it behind him? Maybe above? “What in the-.” Fluttershy peaked around a tree not far ahead and gave him a wave, but only long enough for him to notice. “Over here!” she taunted. Discord was on the tree in an instant, but when he looked around it, she was already gone. He heard another giggle farther ahead, and then farther ahead after that. “How is she doing this?” Truth be told, Fluttershy was no stranger at all to the forest grounds nearest her home and this wasn’t her first time playing this game. She'd often played it with Angel Bunny and many of her other animals. She was in her element and watching Discord get turned around trying to find her in the dark thicket was a little too amusing to her. After a few more minutes of playing cat and winged mouse, Fluttershy realized that they were almost at their destination and decided to ease up on him just a little. Discord was huffing and panting like a worn dog. Fluttershy had truly bested him this time around. “Alrighty, Fluttershy. Reveal to me your secrets. Where are we going and just where are you?” he jested. He was dumbfounded, but he was having fun. Fluttershy was just above him, perched on an overhanging branch. She was starting to ride that high of confidence again and readied herself to take another bold leap. She didn’t know why, but as Rarity had told her just the day before, the moment felt right. “We’re almost there,” she sang above him. Discord heard that loud and clear and started looking around wildly for where it could be coming from. She sounded like she was everywhere and all around him. “And I’m right here.” At that Fluttershy dropped upside down and planted a delicate peck on Discord’s cheek before disappearing back up into the leafy ceiling. Discord froze. Just for a tick, you could have thought he’d been turned back to stone if not for the trembling claw reaching up to meet where her lips had met his face. He sat back on his haunches, mouth agape in shock. Another giggle broke him from his trance and then he heard her sing-song voice again. “Oh, Discord?” He turned to his right, where it most certainly had called from and the sight before him sent a violent shiver up his body, igniting him back to life. On a small ridge, only twenty paces or so away, Fluttershy stood against a thick wall of willow tree vines. She was looking at him with that familiar, bashful glint in her eyes that he knew so well. Once she had his attention, she turned and parted the vines behind her, but kept a half-lidded gaze on him over her shoulder before sliding into the foliage. She deliberately left her flank outside the curtained wall for just a half a second more…then gave her tail a graceful little flick…beckoning him… and disappeared. Discord gulped and obediently followed.