A Friend In Need
The six of them slowly approached Fluttershy’s doorstep, anger brooding in their mind. Twilight Sparkle stepped up to the challenge, and knocked on her door. Their respective Elements were at the ready, having never left their side. Nobody answered the door after a few seconds, so Twilight began to knock again, until Discord teleported into the area and jumped her from behind.
“Discord!” She screamed, her thoughts clouded by rage. She stared at him with cold eyes.
“Twilight, my dear.” He began, suave as ever. “You simply must learn to let loose once in a while.” He orbited around her for a second, her gaze unflinching.
“Where’s Fluttershy!?” Rainbow Dash blurted out.
Discord gasped a mocking gasp. He put his avian claw to his chest and put on his signature show for the five of them, only receiving the same reaction as the other times. But that didn’t stop him from taunting them, anyway.
“You think I hurt Fluttershy? I would never do anything to hurt her. I’m being reformed, don’t you know.” He paused. “…In fact, she’s right here.” He motioned for them to go inside, drawing attention to Fluttershy herself, feeding Angel some carrots.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me…” Discord trailed off, yawning a massive yawn. With a snap of his fingers, he changed into a pair of bright blue pajamas. One more snap, and he was gone. The six dashed into Fluttershy’s living room, startling the unaware pony. She dived behind the nearest, trying desperately to hide.
“Fluttershy!” “It’s just us!” Applejack asserted.
“Oh? My…” She whispered. She poked her head above the couch; her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. The rest of the Mane Six were present, wearing their respective elements. The sixth member of their gang was Spike, holding Fluttershy’s element for her. She refused to wear it, because she believed that not wearing it would foster trust between her and Discord.
“Fluttershy, we came here to talk to you about Discord.” Twilight said evenly.
This caught Fluttershy’s attention. Her ears perked up, and she looked at Twilight like a kid looks at a TV.
“Yes, Twilight?” She said, barely audible.
“Fluttershy…” She began. Everyone could tell she was struggling to find the right words.
“You gotta stop trusting Discord!” Rainbow blurted again.
“Thank you, Rainbow.” She remarked, rather passive-aggressively.
Fluttershy frowned. She had hoped that they would see things the way she did after last time, or at lease leave them alone, but it looked like she would have to fight some more.
“But we just have to show him some friendship! He’s making great progress, too!”
“But he’s the same old meanie as before!” Pinkie chimed in.
“Yeah, Fluttershy! Nothing’s changed! He can’t change, because he’s Discord!” Rainbow added.
Fluttershy felt the tiniest spark of rage ignite in the deepest recesses of her mind. She felt herself growing tired of fighting her best friends, but she suppressed the thought and continued.
“But… please, just let me help him!” She pleaded.
The others faces became flushed with various emotions. They could see that she was as strong and tenacious as ever, when she needed to be. Her goals were set in stone, but the rest of them knew this needed to be done.
“Darling…” Rarity began, but she felt herself losing the words to continue.
“Fluttershy, please listen to us.” Twilight took over, stepping forward, so that their faces were centimeters apart. “Discord… can’t change. Chaos is all he knows. He’s been lying to you this whole time!”
Fluttershy’s emotions were weighing her down, trying to force tears from her eyes. He thought of her best friends betraying her like this was simply unbearable to her. She sniffed away at the tears, unable to continue with her argument.
Everyone else saw how distraught she was, so they crowded around her, trying to console her. Their hearts were in the right place, but all of this unwanted attention fried her already frazzled nerves even more.
The tears began leaking out of her eyes. She crouched down, holding her hooves above her head, trying to shield herself from the world.
Everyone else took a step back when they saw her break down. They shuffled around uncomfortably, unsure of what to do and say.
Eventually, Twilight spoke up.
“M- maybe we should come back later…” She said uncertainly.
“Good idea… Twilight” Rainbow said.
They began making their way out of her cottage, not saying a word to each other. They each cast an awkward glance in her direction as they walked out the doorway. Spike was the last out. As he walked out, he clutched the wooden frame with a claw.
“Oh Fluttershy…” He muttered, before leaving her to her own devices. They begrudgingly trotted to their homes without another word.
Fluttershy eventually recovered from her frayed emotions. She slowly stood up, carefully observing the house, making sure nobody was there.
She made her way outside, searching for Discord. Sure enough, he was sleeping on a cloud, hung between two trees nearby. She nervously made her way towards him, careful not to wake him up. Before she was within touching range, his arms snapped wide open.
He yawned a massive yawn, as she jumped backwards in shock. He turned his head casually, barely noticing the pony huddling up before him. She slowly unfurled herself, as the God of Chaos half-heartedly scanned his surroundings.
“Oh Fluttershy. It’s just you…” He drawled.
“Um, yes… I was just wondering if… you were being honest… when you said you were reformed?”
“Hm? Oh yes! You’ll find that I am changed Draconequus. I have sworn off chaos forever!” He preached. Any other pony could tell he was lying, but Fluttershy didn’t seem to pick up on it.
“Oh? Well, I’ll just take your word for it… It’s just, the other’s don’t think you’ve changed, and I was trying to tell them-“
“Is that so?” He interjected. “Well, maybe I should have a word with them…” He said absently. A snap of his fingers, and he was gone, leaving Fluttershy to wonder whether or not he has really changed or not…