Fluttershy swallowed and squared her shoulders. It was too late to go back now. Stepping off the train, she looked up at the vast crystal palace in the distance and began making her way through the streets of the Crystal Empire.
It had taken three whole days of intermittent crying and conversing with her animals to come to this decision. Normally when faced with a problem she’d single out one of her friends but this was a matter none of them knew about; simply because of how they all felt about Discord. There was only one pony Fluttershy could think of that would be able to look past her dislike for the draconequus to give the advice she so desperately craved.
It took half an hour but she finally reached the palace entrance close to midday. The guards recognized her from previous encounters and nodded, allowing her access. A herald ran ahead, announcing her presence and, moments later, Shining Armor appeared.
“Fluttershy,” he greeted warmly, “what brings you here?”
“I, um, just really need to see Cadence,” she muttered. “That is, if she’s free.”
“You caught her at a good time,” he said, leading her down the hall towards the throne room. "She just got out of a meeting." Pushing the door open, he called out, “Honey, you have an unexpected visitor.”
Fluttershy stood frozen on the other side of the door. She was terrified. What if Cadence said it was hopeless? What if she laughed at her? What if she believed Discord had manipulated her emotions so that what she was feeling wasn’t genuine? What if-
“Fluttershy?”
The yellow pegasus gasped and glanced up, hiding mostly behind her mane. “Y-Yes?”
Shining Armor frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Y-Yes,” she peeped.
“Okay,” he muttered, unconvinced. “Um, you can go on in.”
“T-Thanks.”
Come on, Fluttershy. You can’t turn back now. Remember why you’re here. For you. For Discord.
That last thought was the final push she needed. She stepped through the door.
The throne room of the Crystal Palace was not as grand as that in Canterlot but that suited Fluttershy just fine. The crystal walls gleamed and almost sang as she walked down the carpeted center of the room to where Cadence sat in her crystalized throne. The pink alicorn looked surprised as she drew near.
“Fluttershy!” she smiled, hopping down to meet her. “When Shining Armor said I had a visitor I honestly expected it to be Twilight. What brings you here? Is everything alright in Ponyville?”
Fluttershy hid even more behind her mane as she answered very softly, “Everything is fine. In Ponyville, I mean.”
She could feel Cadence’s eyes on her. She shrunk down further.
“I see.” A comforting hoof reached out and touched her shoulder. She looked up and found a compassionate smile on Cadence’s face. “Do you want to talk about him?”
Fluttershy gasped. “How did you…?”
The princess’s smile deepened. “I am the Princess of Love, remember? If not a threat to Ponyville, why else would you come here individually to see me?”
“Oh. I guess that makes sense."
Cadence gently laughed before beckoning her towards a door off to the right. Fluttershy followed, somewhat confused. Inside was a completely different setting than the throne room, the smaller space holding two comfy lounging sofas and a table in between. A large set of shelves lined the far wall, covered in a collection of sweets that would make Pinkie Pie’s entire day.
“Can I get you anything?” Cadence asked, heading over to the shelf. “Chocolate? Cake? Carrot éclair?”
Fluttershy blinked. “Um…?”
“Comfort food,” Cadence explained. “It tends to help with conversations of the heart.”
“Oh… um, a carrot éclair would be great,” Fluttershy said.
The princess placed one on a plate and carried it over to the table with her magic. “Please, take a seat,” she invited.
“What… is this place?”
“A private anti-eavesdrop chamber to see clients such as yourself,” she said, sitting on the couch opposite her. “I don’t feel it appropriate to discuss one’s love life in the throne room for all to hear. Matters of the heart are sacred.”
“That’s very considerate of you,” Fluttershy said, both relieved and grateful.
“Thank you,” Cadence smiled. “Anything you say here will never leave this room. I don’t have any expectations either. You can tell me whatever you want and I’ll do my best to listen and give advice as needed or wanted.”
The pegasus relaxed further, put at ease by Cadence’s quiet reassurances. “Thank you. I… I confess I don’t really know where to start.”
“Just say whatever comes to mind. The heart usually takes over once the conversation picks up.”
“O-Okay.” Fluttershy looked down and hid behind her mane. Closing her eyes, she opened her mouth and everything came pouring out.
“It started a long time ago, the attraction, that is, but I don’t think it really developed into anything else until after the Tirek incident. I mean, I’ve always held a love for animals but I never thought I’d actually fall for one. Not that Discord is an animal - well, he is but he’s sentient like ponies - and he’s the nicest, most incredible draconequus I’ve ever met. I mean, he’s the only one but - that is- what I mean is - I couldn’t ask for a better stallion - I mean, draconequus - oh, am I even making sense?”
She looked up to find Cadence staring at her in disbelief. Fluttershy’s cheeks burned and she lowered her gaze, tears burning her eyes.
Here it comes.
“Y-You’re in love with Discord?”
She whimpered and nodded, hiding behind her mane, waiting for the princess’s ridicule.
Silence stretched between them and then, to her surprise, Cadence’s hooves wrapped around her. Fluttershy accepted the embrace, a sob of relief escaping her trembling lips. The princess gently squeezed her shoulders. This reaction was what the pegasus had desperately been hoping for: compassion and understanding.
“I’m so sorry for my earlier reaction,” Cadence muttered. “Forgive me?”
“O-Of course,” Fluttershy said at once, living up to her element. “I know it’s unbelievable.”
“Actually, when I really think about it, it’s not,” she gently countered. “You were the one to reform him, correct?”
“Yes.”
“And I assume that turned into seeing him on a more frequent basis?”
Fluttershy nodded. “It started as just exchanging letters back and forth. Then we began having tea parties once a week. We’ve still kept up with those things but lately he’s just been showing up at different times.”
“Especially after the incident with Queen Chrysalis?”
Fluttershy paused in thought. Come to think of it, Discord’s visits had increased since then. Not that she minded. Shortly after the rescue he’d privately confessed that the whole reason he’d accompanied Starlight, Trixie, and Thorax on their mission was to save her. She’d felt so special that night and had rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek; the first of many.
“I think that was when they became more frequent,” she said finally. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m just trying to get a feel for how long these feelings have been developing for you,” Cadence answered. “And for him? Has he reciprocated your feelings?”
“In some words, yes.” -Fluttershy blushed and looked away- “B-but mostly in actions.”
“Oh?”
She fiddled with her plate. “As an animal caretaker, I’ve had years of experience recognizing the attraction and mating rituals in all kinds of creatures.”
“And Discord has displayed some similar animalistic tendencies toward you?”
Fluttershy nodded, her whole face turning a dark shade of red. “He strokes my mane and n-nuzzles me. Sometimes he rubs the side of his body against mine like a giant cat. And when we’re spending an evening together at my cottage, he’ll coil himself around me like a snake or dragon guarding his hoard. And all of it has been really… nice.”
Cadence grinned. “Receiving affection from the one you’re attracted to usually is.”
“But he’s not a pony!” Fluttershy said, looking at her desperately. “Is it wrong, Cadence? Please tell me it’s not!”
“Oh, Fluttershy, does it really matter to you?”
“Of course not!”
“Then why do you need me to validate your feelings?”
“Because I need to know that it’s possible.” Fluttershy looked down at her hooves, her heart constricting. “A few days ago I finally mustered up the courage to confess how I felt about him and asked if he felt the same way. Oh, Cadence, why would he say that he loves me and then cruelly say that it’s impossible?”
Her voice cracked and tears began to blur her vision.
“I love him so much,” she confessed. “Why would he say that he can’t have me when he already does?”
The pegasus sobbed, hiding her face in her hooves. After a moment a handkerchief was placed in her hooves and she gratefully glanced at Cadence before dabbing her eyes.
“I-I’m sorry,” she hiccupped.
“There’s nothing you need to apologize for,” Cadence consoled. “Every feeling of the heart is accepted here.”
“T-Thank you.”
The princess hugged her with her wing before retracting it and sitting back. “Can I give you some advice?”
“Please.”
“There’s obviously some obstacle in Discord’s mind preventing him from fully accepting an intimate relationship with you. There’s possibly several. What you need to do is reaffirm your feelings and encourage him to share his fears. Then you need to dispel them any way you can. He’s never going to allow what both of you want if he’s afraid.”
Discord, afraid? Never in her life would Fluttershy have tied such an emotion to the draconequus! Discord was the epitome of confidence.
“What in Equestria could he be afraid of?”
“That’s up to you to find out.”
Fluttershy studied her. There was something in the way she’d said that… “You know, don’t you?”
The Princess of Love sighed. “I have an idea but I’m not going to voice it. It’ll be more beneficial for you to get a clear answer from him than a suspicion from somepony else.”
“Oh.” She looked away, disappointed. “Okay.”
“But Fluttershy? The only way he’s going to open up is for you to be firm in your love for him. He has to feel how much your heart is committed to being in an open relationship with him. He has to know you are willing to sacrifice everything to make it work. Would you be willing?”
“Of course!” she said immediately. “I love him! I want to spend the rest of my life with him.”
Cadence smiled. “Then let him know that.”
Fluttershy stood up. “I will. Thank you, Cadence, for the advice and for listening. I don’t think my friends would have been as…understanding.”
Cadence stood up too. “I’m always a crusader for love, no matter what form it takes. I’m happy for you, Fluttershy. Your love for Discord is one of the strongest I’ve ever felt. I’m rooting for you!”
“Thank you.”
Fluttershy bowed to her respectively. Cadence enveloped her in a comforting hug.
“Can I make one more suggestion?”
“Of course.”
“Try to tell your friends. You girls have an unbreakable bond. It might take them time, but I know all they want is for you to be happy. And if Discord makes you happy, they’ll come to see, understand, and accept him just as you have.”
Fluttershy nodded hesitantly. “Thank you, Cadence. I’ll try. After I convince a certain draconequus how much he means to me.”
Cadence sent her an approving smile. “Good luck. And come back if you need an ally. I’ll always stand in your corner.”
The two shared one last hug and then Fluttershy departed, her heart filled with determination and hope.