Lunch and a letter.
Fluttershy was having a peaceful lunch with her wife Rainbow Dash, inside their cottage that they shared. It was an intimate lunch with both of them sitting really close to one another and casually caressing each other. The serenity of the moment was what kept the lunch so perfect. Then it all went to Tartarus when Discord decided to show up uninvited.
"Fluttershy!" Discord cried out. He had fake tears streaming from his eyes and was being overly dramatic, "I had a relapse again and did something bad."
Rainbow Dash sighed, "Seriously? You come here uninvited and ruin our lunch to admit your wrong doings as if it was really news worthy?" She wasn't too fond of Discord's random appearances and untimely interruptions.
Fluttershy frowned at her wife, "Oh Dashie, please don't be mean to him. He is trying to better himself and needs all the support we can give him. Isn't that right Discord."
Discord chuckled, "Oh yes, that is right, I need your support Fluttershy." He was enjoying how angry Rainbow Dash got at his intrusions, he was, after all, a world class prick with no bucks to give.
Rainbow Dash grew angry, "Discord, why is it that every time I am trying to have a nice and quiet moment with my wife, you feel the need to interrupt it with something stupid?"
Discord displayed signs of feeling hurt, "Well... it's because Fluttershy is my only friend. I am sorry that you can't be secure enough with your relationship to allow her to be friends with me... after all I am one sexy beast."
Rainbow Dash chuckled, "As if I would have to worry about Shy leaving me for an ugly bastard as yourself. I mean seriously, you are the worst looking thing in Equestria, a timber wolf would have a better shot at Shy than you."
Fluttershy was fed up with the arguing, "Enough! You both are acting immature, I want you two to stop this nonsense or I will... I will... yell."
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Twilight was having a nice picnic style lunch with Pinkie Pie. She was still upset from the prior experiences she just went through. Having to read a letter from an ex, that gave her an invitation to speak with him privately, and then seeing her marefriend being beaten was distressing. "So the baking is going well, I'm confident by the end of your training today I can feed you a delicious cupcake," Twilight softly informed.
Pinkie was still saddened by being defeated, "Yeah, well that is great news, but where is Spike? I thought he would be joining us for lunch?"
Twilight looked down, "Spike is... dealing with something, I need to tell you something my love."
Pinkie was a bit worried at the sudden shift in Twilight's mood, "What is it my princess?"
Twilight looked up with sadness spreading through her face, "It's about Flash... he sent me a letter and I didn't know what it was about. I opened it up and read it ... it was an invitation to meet with him privately when he gets off work tonight."
Pinkie chuckled, "Is that all? Don't worry Twilight I trust you. I know you love me and I don't fear you accepting an invitation to speak with a stallion in private... I know you won't cheat on me."
Twilight sheepishly smiled, "Well that is the thing... I didn't accept the invitation and Spike decided to make it his personal mission to get it through Flash Sentry's head that there is nothing to talk about."
Pinkie laughed, "I would pay to see that, imagine Spike acting all manly."
Twilight giggled a bit, "Yeah I just... don't get why he is suddenly trying to reach out to me. I don't honestly care what he has to say, I have you and that is enough to make me the happiest mare ever."
Pinkie blushed, "Oh Twilight, you make me the happiest Pinkie in all Equestria."
Twilight smiled, "Well let's get to eating, it seems you will need all your strength to keep up with the others huh?"
Pinkie frowned, "I ... I will get stronger... I will be tough and you will be proud of me Twilight."
Twilight rubbed Pinkie's face gently, "I already am proud of you my love."
They had no words left to speak and ate their sandwiches in silence while enjoying the view of the gardens they were located at.
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Spike was searching the castle high and low until he found Flash Sentry. Luckily for Spike, Flash Sentry was alone and the man to stallion talk could take place. Spike approached Flash Sentry, who seemed not enthused about Twilight not being with him.
Spike looked him in the eye and stood tall trying to seem intimidating, "Yo, Flash, I think you need to leave Twilight alone."
Flash chuckled, "What do you mean pipsqueak? I haven't done anything to bother her."
Spike got angry, "Don't play dumb with me. I saw your stupid letter and heard her reading it out loud. Listen I don't know what happened to you, or care honestly, but one thing I do know is you will not ruin Twilight's happiness."
Flash became angry himself, "Oh and you think Twilight is happy being with that baker slut?"
Spike was shocked at the hostility the pegasus had, "Actually, 'that baker slut' has made Twilight happier than anything ever has before. I have known Twilight since I was hatched from an egg, and I have only seen her this happy because of her relationship with Pinkie."
Flash became even more agitated, "I don't care how happy that stupid pink pony can make her... I can make her happier and give her foals without resorting to some magic. I am better for Twilight, and she will see that."
Spike shook his fist angrily, "No! You will not continue pursuing Twilight and potentially ruin her relationship. You had your chance and waited too long."
Flash got dangerously close to Spike, "What if someone stole your love interest away? What if that happened and because of something you had no control over? Would you be this adamant about letting it go?"
Spike chuckled, "Well... I would be upset obviously, but if Rarity was really happy with somepony else... I would have to deal with it. Part of loving somepony is wanting them to be happy, and if you really love Twilight then you will understand that she is happier without you."
Flash Sentry laughed at Spike's face, "You stupid fool, I bet you don't know do you?"
Spike became infuriated, "Know what?"
Flash smiled darkly, "Rarity has been seen with Applejack in a romantic capacity."
Spike chuckled, "Nice try, making up lies to piss me off. If they were going out I would know about it."
Flash grinned, "Really? So then how come I, and handful of guards that were on break, caught them filly-fooling freaks making out in the Canterlot Gardens?"
Spike lost his nerve, "I... I don't know... how did you?"
Flash felt like a winner, "It was easy with them being so into each other, and losing themselves in the moment, that they didn't even notice us walking by."
Spike felt crushed, "No... it's not true... it can't be,"
Flash frowned, "It is... go ask Twilight, and maybe you can convince her to speak with me since I was at least honest with you." He was hoping that Spike would be grateful enough to persuade Twilight into coming to meet him.
Spike started sniffling, "I will ask her... but I won't try convincing her to meet with you... just because I may be suffering, doesn't mean I want others to suffer as well."
Flash grew quiet and ignored the dragon since he was of no use to him. He was pissed off that his ploy to gain the dragon's favor didn't work out, and instead he might have solidified his chances of not gaining an audience with Twilight. He watched Spike walk away depressed and thought of how he could get rid of the baby dragon without getting his hooves dirty.
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Steel Wall was eating lunch alone, he never ate with cadets or anyone beneath him. "That damn mare... I can't help but feel like she could actually make it, if she tries hard enough." He was slowly leaning towards accepting the mare as an actual cadet and treating her better. It was still bugging him that some mare would break tradition so recklessly, it wasn't right in his opinion.
He was eating a salad that was well rounded with proteins and vitamins to keep his aging body up to standards. "I hope I am not getting soft in my age... because I don't feel like retiring just yet." He chuckled at the notion of giving up being the most badass guard in Equestria for some cushy old pony life. Still it bothered him that he was slowly getting older with each passing year, and one day his body wouldn't be able to keep up with demand.
He needed a successor to help him but he didn't know of any guards who were physically impressive and mentally disciplined like he was. "Well there was Shining... but he had to go get himself married to that princess," he grumbled to himself. "Wait there was that snappy young cadet Flash something... he has the potential but he isn't all that impressive."
He continued eating his salad and looked over his plans for the day. He was still going to teach about the importance of armor for the day and if anypony had complaints there was always legalized beatings through sparring. "Though that Pinkamena sure was impressive in combat... if only she was a stallion and mentally disciplined... she would make a hell of a guard."
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"You did what?" Fluttershy angrily yelled at Discord after his confession. "How could you Discord? You don't know how much you hurt Twilight doing that," Fluttershy sadly stated.
Rainbow Dash got really angry, "You really are a piece of shit! Twilight may be a lame egg head at times but that doesn't mean she deserves, anything close to, what you did to her."
Discord was really sad now, "Well honestly I don't feel bad about it ... I mean she has Pinkie now, right? So technically I did a good thing, right?"
Fluttershy shook her head, "No! That isn't a good thing... you toyed with her life and it could have ended badly. It still can..."
"How?" Discord inquisitively interjected. "I mean they both are together and seem happy."
Rainbow Dash felt pity for Discord, "You really don't know do you? Flash is most likely going to try and patch things up, and when she finds out it wasn't really him at the wedding, how awkward do you think it will be for every pony involved?"
Discord rubbed the back of his neck, "I never really thought about all that..." He was slowly coming to terms with his reckless behavior. "Well... I mean... I just... wanted to get back at her."
Fluttershy turned away from Discord, "I want you to leave my house Discord. Until the situation is settled, you are no longer welcome here."
Discord shed a small tear, "I understand... I will be going now." Discord started flying away slowly. He flew through an open window and into the sky above.
Rainbow Dash looked up into the sky and cursed herself for what she was about to do. She flew after him and whispered to him, "Listen Discord, I don't like you but for some reason Shy does. I know she is mad at you right now, and has the right to be, but I will try talking to her for you. Just stop being such a prick to others and constantly being a nuisance... and this won't happen again."
Discord raised an eyebrow, "Was this supposed to cheer me up or piss me off?"
Rainbow Dash chuckled, "I honestly don't know anymore, but hey, if you want to help... don't make the situation worse. I can't be held responsible if Shy permanently bans you from the house, if your actions lead to something terrible happening."
Discord grew silent and watched as Rainbow Dash flew back down to Fluttershy. His past crime could lead to the downfall of his friendship with Fluttershy. He wasn't sure how to fix it besides obliterating Flash Sentry and getting himself into more trouble. He knew of one way to help make things better and it was easy to do. He was going to stop Celestia from meddling into the relationship, and potentially splitting up the lovebirds.