The joy of flying
A wave of pure terror washed over Fluttershy as she saw the two ponies standing before her. Well, one was standing, the other was floating. "Hi Fluttershy", Rainbow said weakly.
"Yes, hello Fluttershy", the brown stallion added.
“I..I..I,” was all the shy pegasus could manage.
"Oh for the love of Celestia, please don't scream,” the stallion interrupted. "Rainbow Dash, your friend appears to be scared out of her mind, is there something you would like to say? Some comforting words perhaps?"
“Uh yeah, Fluttershy this isn't what it looks like, this guy isn't what Twilight warned us about" Rainbow assured Fluttershy.
“Bu… but he…” She pointed to the red field surrounding Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah, that's kinda my fault, could you let me go already, I'm not gonna fly away.”
Discord released his magical grip, causing Rainbow to hit the ground with a thud.
“Fluttershy, I believe Rainbow Dash has something to say to you,” Discord said
"Maybe we should go inside", Rainbow offered.
"Oh, okay then" Fluttershy said kindly.
“I guess I'll take my leave now” Discord said proudly, as he was walking away, Rainbow put a hoof on his shoulder.
“Thanks for doing this, I think I'll be alright from now on,” Rainbow said with a smile.
"No problem my dear, sometimes all we need is a little tough love" Discord said, returning the smile.
"What was your name again?" Rainbow asked.
"Call me Vanishing Act," and with a flash he lived up to his name. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy walked in to the cottage, while Discord sat on a cloud high above, telepathically watching the two of them.
Rainbow walked into the living room and collapsed on the couch. Fluttershy rushed over, "oh goodness are you alright Rainbow?"
“Yeah I'm fine, rough morning is all… Hey Fluttershy, come sit next me,” Rainbow patted the seat next to her.
She obliged, sitting down next to Rainbow. "So what did you need to tell me?"
“Uh this is kinda awkward, and I don't wanna freak you out or anything but…” Rainbow began.
Fluttershy put a comforting hoof on Rainbows shoulder. “Look me in the eyes Rainbow,” she said sternly, “we've been friends for years, and I guarantee that whatever you have to say won’t affect that.”
“I...well I ummm, I LIKE YOU,” she blurted out.
"You like me” Fluttershy repeated, slightly confused. "Well gee Rainbow I like you too."
Rainbow groaned and face-hoofed, "no I mean I like you as more than a friend."
Fluttershy's face lit up with understanding, "oh, you mean you like me in the other way."
Rainbows cheeks turned a deep shade of red, "yeah something like that" she muttered. “Look I know it’s weird alright, but I can’t help it, and it’s been eating me up for a long time. So now you know, that's the end of it, I've gotta go.” As she stood up to leave, Fluttershy put her hooves around Rainbows waist, pulling her back down into a gentle kiss.
“Well I guess you’re not the only weird one,” Fluttershy said sweetly.
High up on his cloud, Discord pumped his fists in the air. “Yes yes yes!” he cried, “eat that Applejack.” He located her mentally, she was in the town library, talking to, Discord shuddered, her. The ambitious purple unicorn who had defeated him. But what were they talking about? He concentrated harder.
“I dunno Twi, he just seemed a tad weird ta me,” AJ told Twilight.
“Weird how?" Twilight queried.
“Well he just kinda just appeared outa nowhere with no explanation, just sayin he wanted ta help me work," Applejack explained.
"Maybe he's just a nice guy, is that so hard to believe?" Twilight asked
"Nah, I guess not, but still, somethin didn't feel right about him, and he said he'd been readin Rainbow Dash's mind…” She was cut short.
Twilight gasped, "really!? A real life mind reader, right here in town!?"
"Twi, I think yer missin the point" AJ tried to stop Twilight’s excited chatter.
“Oh wow a mind reader!” Twilight interrupted, “think of the research possibilities!”
Discord stopped listening, it seemed his cover was safe for now, but he decided to wait a while before gloating to Applejack.
Maybe if he took a walk through town, an opportunity for good would present itself. But he didn't want to risk being recognized by Applejack, with a quick pulse of magic, his coat changed from brown to dull white, his mane from grey to bright chestnut brown, and his cutie mark from a pair of masks to a single light grey cloud. Oh what the heck he decided, swapping his unicorn horn for that of a set of pegasus wings. He shot into the air, doing a flip, and flew towards Ponyville at a speed that made Rainbow Dash look amateurish. It felt so liberating to actually fly after so long, with his mismatched wings. He had been able to hover, but true flight had been impossible. Now he streaked through the sky, obliterating the clouds in his path, a cool breeze on his face.
More memories began to surface. "Your wings are so pretty Celestia, not like my ugly things" he said, spreading his large bat wings.
"Aww, you’re not ugly Discord,” Celestia assured, “besides I think they're pretty cool looking".
"Wanna race?” he asked her excitedly.
Discord flew faster still, trying to get the images out of his head, only to smack head first into a grey pegasus.
The impact sent them both crashing to the ground, momentarily stunning Discord. He lay there with his eyes clenched shut, his glasses lay somewhere nearby. “Well this is it,” he thought, “not even one day and I've already killed somepony!” Killed was the wrong word he decided, at the speed he was going, splattered would be more accurate.
"Are you okay", a strange voice asked. Discord opened his eyes slightly, as not to scare the pony away.
“Huh?” was all he could manage.
“My bad, I guess I didn't see you," The voice said apologetically.
“Could you find my glasses?" he muttered. He heard hooves running away, only to return a moment later.
"Here you go" the voice said, dropping the glasses on his chest. He put them on; remarkably they were still intact, strong magic he guessed. Discord opened his eyes, and almost yelled loudly in surprise. Just inches away from him, was a pair of wonky golden eyes.