I took in the scent of the forest, gliding down through the quiet night, passing between the thick trees, banking around a heavy branch before my hooves landed on the ground.
Folding my wings, I took a deep breath, listening to the sounds of the animals, the brushing wind, the sound of the village above and in the distance.
I took the chance to get down to the ground to see how it felt while Luna was busy with a meeting with our small astronomers guild. Okay, so it was just one unicorn doing it so the guild might be stretching things a bit, but still.
Not to say that the ground levels were anything approaching safe, plenty of things the size of ponies that thought we would look tasty.
So solo excursions were still discouraged but I wanted to feel what it was like for a little bit.
In a couple of days survey work would start along the river. We could start expanding.
I took another deep breath, listening before I felt something and turned my head towards the left, “...Discord.”
The draconequus poked his head out from behind a thick tree, “You noticed me!”
I smiled and nodded, “Heard you I think,” I said and turned towards him.
Discord floated out from behind the tree, shrinking as he moved closer to keep looking the same size.
“Almost never had a pony notice me,” he said, “Well, there is Pinkie Pie.”
“She’s a special case,” he then continued, growing to full size, “I‘m surprised my main monkey. You don’t seem unhappy to see me?”
I shrugged my wings, “I know you've been around Nocturnis since the beginning.”
Discord looked at me in surprise, his eyes growing several sizes, “You do!?”
I smiled at him, “Of course I do. Fluttershy lives here, I know you have been staying with her since she got her own place.”
“Oh.”
“Besides, nothing to be angry about,” I said and looked at him again, “If our roles had been reversed, I’m not sure if I would have been as restrained about things. Seeing somepony we live afraid like that, needing to hide…”
Discord didn’t say anything, he just watched me before he nodded, “Chaos magic is no longer working on you.”
“I guessed that,” I said and sighed, “The decursing, right?”
Discord nodded, “Yes,” he said and floated up again before smiling, “This means I can stop hiding!”
“This is not a license to cause chaos for my ponies,” I told him firmly, “They have enough difficulties as is. Fluttershy has found a place she’s happy, don’t ruin it for her.”
He paused and then floated back down, “Oh.”
I sighed and shook my head, “Discord, I’m not saying stop being you. Just don’t riskponies’ lives. This place is dangerous enough as is.”
Discord flashed out of reality and I blinked before looking up to find him curled around my horn like a snake, “Ah, but wouldn’t that be predictable?”
“Not really, you don’t really hurt ponies,” I said and then shook my head to shake him off, “Just consider if what you do will make Fluttershy sad or not.”
He flashed back to his normal form, landing with a flip, applauds appearing from somewhere as he bowed.
“A good point, battsy!” Then he snapped his fingers and were gone, leaving me in the dark forest.
Discord.
To say that he worried me wasn’t even half of it. Yes, he was much better now, especially with Fluttershy around but…
…Fluttershy wouldn’t be around forever.
Or maybe she would. If Discord had anything to say about it Fluttershy was likely to outlive all of us, Alicorns or not.
That’d be interesting.
…Sunset…
I glanced up towards the direction of the village. If Discord could help Fluttershy, could he do so for Sunset as well?
I’d give him anything.
But it was all a theory. I had no real idea if he could do anything like that in the first place.
Pushing that thought from my mind, I took another deep breath, taking in the scent of the forest. Nothing dangerous, but…
Being on the ground like this definitely made me nervous. Quite a bit actually. I spread my wings and threw myself into the air and landed on a branch a couple of meters up.
That’s better. I immediately felt safer.
I really hope that doesn't develop into a phobia or anything. That’d suck.
There was a buzzing of wings and Amber landed before me, “Sir.”
“Amber,” I said, giving her a nod, “I think I’m about ready to head back now. I didn’t detect anything, nothing around.”
Amber shook her head, “Nothing dangerous.”
I had of course asked her to make sure the area was empty of predators before I went down. I’m not quite that dumb.