Fluttershy felt her legs weakening as she pushed herself to run faster. She could still hear him crashing behind her and it was the fear of him catching her that kept her running. She looked up and saw the light of the moon piercing through the trees up ahead. She smiled, it was an opening, the trees were thinning.
I did it! I made it! I-
She burst through the trees and had to skid to a halt. She stared up at the mountain in horror, she was trapped! She had been running in the wrong direction! She must have gotten turned around at some point. She groaned in frustration and gasped as she heard him growl behind her. She turned and watched as the changeling came through the trees and growled at her. He had morphed back to his normal self and was glaring at her, then he grinned as he noticed the blockade.
"Nowhere to go pretty...no come over here and be a good girl. I promise I won't hurt you...much." He laughed when she flinched. She thought about her options, flying seemed pointless. He had wings and could easily catch her, or just use his magic. She would have to stand and fight...but fear began to creep in. She was already weakened from the pointless running and he was twice her size!
He jumped at her and she tried to dodge him, but he managed to wrap his arms around her. They fell to the ground with him on top of her, she cried out and he laughed.
"Come on now dear...I bet I can treat you better than that beast would…"
She gagged and tried to buck him off her, however she didn't have enough force and he only laughed as he held her down. She shivered when she felt his hoof run along her back, he grinned wider and whispered in her ear.
"Are you ready to have some fun my darling?"
His hoof moved to her flank and she cried out again in fear, tears running down her cheeks as she tried to kick him away from her. He grinned and smacked her with his hoof, almost hard enough to knock her out again. He growled at her and hissed,
"I don't care what Black Widow plans are...first I'm going to take my reward, something that is rightly owed to me for following that vile…" He growled again and Fluttershy began to cry harder, but that didn't prevent her from fighting him. She used all the strength she had to try and get him off her. However her struggles only ended in tiring her more and making him laugh harder. He ran a hoof along her back leg and feeling his twisted hoof caressing her fur made her cry out. She kicked her leg, trying to shake his touch off, but he only tsked her.
"Now is that anyway to treat your new lover? Come on darling...give us a small kiss…" He leaned towards her and she gagged, turning her head away. He used his hoof to turn her face back and glared at her.
"Come now...I thought monsters were what made you hot? After all you were all too willing to allow that beast to touch you! He put his filthy paw on your beautiful fur...so why not me?"
Her eyes widened as she realized that this creature had spied on her and Discord during their time together! That was how Black Widow had found out that the two were so close. He grinned at her again and tried to nuzzle her behind her ear.
"So come on then my pretty new toy…I think we've waited long enough for this." He laughed and she shut her eyes tight, trying to fight the panic in her heart. He reached for her flank again and a loud roar shook the earth.
The changeling was struck under his chin, sending him flying away from Fluttershy. She gasped and looked up to see his long body crouched over her as he growled at the changeling in warning.
"Discord!"
Discord's entire vision was a red haze. Never had he felt such rage and a desire to kill, but one look at this filth touching his love and he had lost all sense. He stood over her now to protect her from the other male. However he had every intention of ripping this creature apart.
"Don't you dare touch her." He snarled at the changeling who was regaining his footing. He looked over at Discord and fear briefly flashed through his eyes. Then confusion, then anger…
"Damn her! She couldn't even do this right!" He shouted and glared at the king. Discord growled again and took a step towards the changeling. In turn the other male lowered his head as his horn began to glow with his magic.
Discord snickered, this pathetic thing thought he could harm him? Discord, the most powerful magic bearer to ever live! He growled at the changeling and then lunged for him claws out. He slashed and managed to catch the changeling in the side, he cried out in pain and the sound satisfied Discord more than it should.
The changeling looked at the bleeding cut then growled at Discord and fired a burst of magic. Discord waved his claw and sent the burst towards the trees, this was too easy. He snarled at the creature again and looked over to Fluttershy who was shaking as she watched them. He thought of this male standing over her, holding her down as he touched her and Discord's blood began to boil again.
He turned his gaze back to the changeling and his anger must have been evident in his gaze for the changeling's own eyes widened in fear. He began to back away and swallow, then fired another shot at Discord. Again with the same result, Discord sent the burst in another direction, now the changeling was getting frustrated. He glanced at Fluttershy and grinned, realizing what he planned to do Discord jumped towards her. He managed to get in front of her just as the magic made contact, striking him instead. He growled in irritation and looked back towards the changeling. He had taken off into the sky trying to escape while Discord was distracted.
"Oh no you don't…" Discord hissed and took off after the changeling. He didn't hear her calling his name. His mind was too clouded with the anger raging inside him. He caught up to the changeling easily and grabbed its tail, he used all his strength to hurl it towards the mountain. The changeling flew through the air with amazing speed and crashed into the rocks. Discord grinned and went to finish the job.
Fluttershy cried out his name again, but it was no use Discord wasn't listening to her. She heard her own name being called out and looked up to see Flash flying at her.
"Flash! Please, you have to stop him!" She shouted and Flash looked up as Discord hurled the changeling into the mountain and flew after him. He was frowning and then looked at her worried.
"I don't think he'll listen to me now. He's too angry...I've never seen Discord like this, when he saw that changeling attacking you he snapped...I don't think he'll listen to anyone until he's killed that poor creature."
She gasped and looked to where the two had disappeared to. She had to stop him, the changeling may be horrible, but Discord couldn't kill him, then he would be no better. If Discord succeeded in killing the other male out of anger, he would never forgive himself. He would truly have become the monster he's worked so hard not to be.
"We have to try! Flash come on!"
They both flew towards the pair, hoping that they reached the king in time to stop him.
Discord grinned at the crumpled creature, he would make sure this thing could never hurt his love again. He walked towards it and seeing the angry king caused it to crawl away from him. Discord kicked out his leg and it struck the changeling in the side, sending it flying again. It cried out when it slammed against the rocks again. In his red haze, the cry of pain went unnoticed by Discord. He growled at the creature as he reached out and gripped its throat. He noticed that the changeling's wing was torn and he growled as he moved to the edge of the cliff. They were high enough that if he dropped the changeling at this height, there was no way it would survive.
"You never should have touched her...now you're going to pay." He hissed at the changeling who looked down and then turned its eyes back to Discord.
"Please...Don't...I was only following her orders!"
"I don't think so...you weren't following any orders. You were planning on raping her and then getting rid of her weren't you?" Discord growled, his eyes narrowing and glowing a deep shade of red. The changeling swallowed, but didn't answer. Discord shouted,
"WEREN'T YOU!?"
"I'm sorry! Please don't!" The changeling shouted and Discord growled again.
"It's too late to apologize...I won't let you hurt her ever again." His grip started to loosen from the changeling and it cried out in fear.
"DISCORD STOP!" Her shout pierced through his haze and he turned his head to look at her.
"I have to Fluttershy...I can't let him hurt you again." He whispered as his gaze returned to the scared changeling.
"Please Discord, don't do this! There's another way!"
"No...there's no other way. This brute will pay for what he tried to do…"
"If you do this you'll only prove all your old fears true! You can't become a monster!" He stopped as he had been about to open his claws again. He turned to meet her gaze and he watched as tears filled her beautiful eyes. He froze as he saw the fear in her eyes...it wasn't fear from before, from having this thing touch her. She was staring at him as he held the changeling…
She's afraid of me!
The sudden thought brought a halt to all his anger as his gaze returned to the changeling he held. He looked down and realized what he had almost done in his rage. He growled and threw his arm back, throwing the changeling on the ground behind him. Flash rushed forward and tied the criminal up.
"My king...you should teleport me back right away so I can lock him in a cell and alert the men we found the queen...Also we still need to find Black Widow…"
Discord only nodded as he continued to stare over the edge of the cliff. He snapped his fingers, but didn't turn as Flash and the changeling disappeared, too caught up in his own dark thoughts. He had almost given into his basic instincts and killed another creature. He had lost his temper more times than he could count, but he had never harmed another soul...what had happened to him?
Have I truly become a monster?
He felt a soft hoof touch his paw and he looked down.
He knelt and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him. She happily came into his embrace and nuzzled the fur on his neck, wetting it with her tears. He pulled back and crushed her lips under his. Pouring all the fear and despair he had felt when he had lost her. He wanted her to feel how desperately he needed her and how deeply he loved her. She pulled away first, taking a deep breath. Then she moved closer to him and nuzzled him under his chin.
"I knew you would find me…" She whispered and it made him smile. His hold tightened and he whispered back,
"Nothing could have stopped me...oh darling I was so afraid. Afraid I had lost you for good...I'm so sorry. I should have realized sooner that it wasn't you."
"I'm just happy I was right...I knew you would see through her."
He chuckled and pulled back to stare into her gorgeous face. How he loved this mare,
"No pony could ever replace you my dear...not even a really good look alike." He pulled her closer and captured her lips with his own. She sighed and leaned into the kiss, he was just grateful that she was letting him touch her after what she had just witnessed. He pulled back groaning and looked to the cliff again.
"Oh darling...I don't know what came over me...I was just so angry when I saw him touching you and heard you cry out...I almost...maybe I really am a-"
"Don't you dare." She scolded him and he turned to look at her surprised.
"But...Fluttershy...you saw what I did...I had every intention of killing him...I would have without a second thought had you not...how can you still believe I'm not a…"
He stopped as pain gripped his heart. He had just proven to himself that he wasn't good enough for her. He was, at heart, exactly what he had always claimed to be...a monster. She placed her hoof under his chin and made him look at her again, he was surprised to see her smiling at him.
"Discord, you were simply trying to protect me. Yes you may have gotten out of hand, but it is understandable why...I'm sure many other males would act the same way as you did. In fact, having so much experience with animals I know they would. You were trying to protect your mate and it clouded your judgment. In the end you didn't go through with it, you didn't have to listen to me, you chose to...and I'm so proud of you." She whispered as she leaned in and kissed him again. He groaned and crushed her against him, he buried his claws in her mane and held her against him. She moaned in response and held him tighter as well.
He deepened the kiss, enjoying the way she softened beneath him. Realizing that he had come so close to losing her set his heart racing. He growled and picked her up bridal style. She squeaked, but didn't protest as she continued to smile at him. He grinned at her and snapped his fingers again taking them to the castle.
He had flashed them into the throne room, where all her friends would be waiting for news. When they saw the flash and noticed Discord standing in the center with Fluttershy in his arms they gasped.
All the mares came running towards him, shouting a million questions at once. He chuckled and spoke for his love.
"I know that you have many questions, but my darling needs to rest. I think it's best if I put her to bed and you can discuss things with her tomorrow...is that alright with you Fluttershy?" He purred the last part and she blushed at the sound of his voice. She simply buried her face in his fur and nodded against him. He smiled at the group and turned to leave the ballroom. That was when he noticed the rest of his servants standing there smiling at the pair. He grinned and spoke to them as well,
"Thank you all for your concern and men...later we will have to continue the search for Black Widow...maybe her companion can give us some clues as to where she may be hiding. The queen is tired though, so I'm afraid it will have to wait until after I get her to bed." The group smiled wider at the title he addressed to Fluttershy. They bowed as he walked past, still holding Fluttershy in his arms. He met Flash in the hall and looked at the stallion.
"The changeling is in the cell, but refuses to speak to us...I figured that once you're ready he may be more agreeable with you present…" Flash cleared his throat and muttered,
"Considering your last encounter and all...my king, my queen." He bowed to them and walked away. Discord could tell that Flash was also disappointed with the way he had behaved. Later he would have to talk to the stallion, but for now the only thing that mattered was the mare in his arms.
He continued walking and as he moved further down the hall he felt his blush deepening. Finally, Fluttershy noticed that he had walked past her chambers.
"Um Discord?" She whispered and looked up at him, he could feel her gaze on him even though he continued to stare ahead. He didn't answer her as he continued to walk towards his destination. Finally he came to his own chambers and used his magic to open the door and shut it behind him. He continued to his bedchambers and towards the bed.
Without saying anything he sat her on the edge and turned from her. She watched him curiously as he lit a fire in the hearth and kept his back to her. His heart was racing, finally allowing the fear and anger from earlier to settle inside him. He had been so close...so close to losing her. If he hadn't gotten to her in time, that thing would have...he gave a strangled cry as he imagined finding her body, cold and lifeless.
"Discord?" She whispered from his bed again and he closed his eyes. Trying desperately to fight against the current rushing through him. He snapped his fingers and a soft, satin nightgown appeared in his hands, he turned and went to her again.
"Here, change into this darling…" He rasped and it was his voice that finally gave him away. She looked up into his eyes and he knew she could read the fear in them. She stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him in a tight hug.
"Hush now...It's okay my love...I'm here."
His emotions stormed through him and he let the gown fall to the floor as he wrapped his arms around her. He buried his snout in her mane and cried against her neck.
"Fluttershy...I'm so sorry darling...I should have gotten there sooner. I should have realized that she was a fake from the beginning...I should have…"
"You should stop blaming yourself for everything. None of us realized that those two were imposters...no one has for a long time…" She whispered and he pulled back to look down at her, confused by what she meant.
"For a long time?" He asked and she nodded, tears filling her eyes again.
"I think they may have...she told him to get rid of me like the real...oh Discord I was so afraid!" She shouted and buried her face against him, clinging to him tighter. He knew what she hadn't said, those two had killed the real Princess Fleur and King Blueblood to take their places. How long had they been planning this and why? He knew one creature that may have the answers, he would have to send word to her as soon as possible.
He began to stroke her mane as she cried against him, feeling her body shake. She had been comforting him and now it was his turn, she was finally realizing how close she had come to being taken away from him. He pulled back and cupped her face, gently wiping away her tears. He smiled softly at her and place a soft kiss against her lips.
"Hey, it's okay my love...like you said you're here now...you're safe. I won't ever let anything hurt you again. I promise you…" He kissed her again, this time putting more passion and fire behind it. She gave a soft moan and it sent his blood racing, he reminded himself of his vow not to touch her again until they were married, but…
"Fluttershy...darling..." He whispered against her lips and stopped, trying to gain control of his emotions, but it was a losing battle. He groaned as he moved forward, forcing her to lay back on the bed. She shivered beneath him and it made him growl in response. He pulled back and looked down at her. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, he loved her with all his heart and he had almost lost her tonight...not just to the changelings...from his own actions.
"Fluttershy...I'm sorry you had to see...I never want to frighten you again...I'm sorry if I-" She placed her hoof over his lips stopping him. She was smiling up at him and he caught the amused glint in her eyes.
"Discord...did you think I was afraid of you?" She whispered and he froze, that's exactly what he had thought.
"But...you...I saw the fear in your eyes darling. You were afraid of me...weren't you?"
She giggled and shook her head smiling sweetly at him.
"Oh Discord...that's why you looked so upset when you started to call yourself a monster…"
He flinched, but nodded anyways, yes he had been about to call himself a monster. It seemed like each time he started to deny the fact, something would remind him otherwise. She turned his face back to her and gave him a soft kiss before continuing.
"Discord I wasn't afraid of you...I knew that if you went through with your plan you would never forgive yourself. I was afraid that you would end up hurting yourself so badly that I would still lose you in the end. My love...I was afraid of losing you."
He stared at her incredulously as her words sank in. His heart began to ache as he understood what she meant. If he had actually killed the changeling tonight, after his anger had left he would have been devastated by what he had done. He would have retreated into his own mind and shunned everyone else away. Determined to protect them from him, and yes...in the end he would have sent her away, forced her to leave if he had to. She would have lost him to his own fears and the shadows he chooses to hide in.
"Fluttershy…" He whispered as tears filled his own eyes. She smiled up at him and whispered against his lips,
"I love you Discord...I never want to lose you. To anything...even your own fears."
He groaned and kissed her deeply as he pressed his body against hers, enjoying the warmth that radiated off her. He ran his tongue along her lips and she opened for him. His tongue delved into her soft mouth as he relished how sweet she was. He buried his claws in her mane and held her still beneath him. After everything that had happened tonight, he felt a desperation like never before. He moaned again as he felt her own tongue run along his. He was lost and there was no coming back, he needed her and nothing was going to stop him.
"Fluttershy…" He groaned against her lips as his claws moved along her body and she sighed in pleasure, his claws stopped when they touched the soft fur on her exposed thigh. He swallowed and wondered if he should really be doing this...after all she had been attacked earlier by that brute. Would she really want the same thing from him right now?
Her eyes fluttered open at his hesitation and she looked up to meet his eyes. She must have read the question in his eyes, for she smiled sweetly at him and whispered in a deep husky voice that sent shivers down his spine.
"Discord...please...love me…"
He growled and kissed her again, all hesitation gone. He grinned as he caressed her soft fur, enjoying the mewling sounds she made. He chuckled and cupped her cheeks, making her open her eyes again.
"Darling...what are you doing to me? I made a promise not to touch you and yet here we are again...it seems that when I'm with you all rules fly out the window."
She smiled at him and he jumped when he felt her tail wrap around his waist and tug. He didn't even know ponies could do that, he blushed as he noticed the heat building in her eyes.
"I didn't know you were one to play by the rules Discord." She rasped and her voice sent him over the edge. He growled as he crushed her mouth with his again.
"I'm not…"
They were snuggled together in his bed, as they had been each night. Discord had told her that she had spoiled him too much, now he couldn't sleep without her near him. She was laying on her side with her back against his stomach and her head against his chest. He had his arm wrapped around her holding her against him as he slept, keeping her sheltered against the cold night. She enjoyed the feeling of his warm fur against her back and how soft he was, he was wonderful to cuddle with. She could hear his soft snoring as he slept and the sound made her smile, she knew that she should be getting some rest, but she couldn't sleep.
Although she was safe, wrapped in her lover's arms, she couldn't get her mind to shut down. Everything that had happened recently seemed like a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from.
It had been a month since Black Widow had escaped and there was still no sign of her. Discord was growing more frustrated, but had finally decided that she had simply gone into hiding again. He had sent word to Queen Chrysalis about the pair and the queen was expected to arrive sometime this week.
Fluttershy sighed softly as she worried about the future. Not only was there still this fear that Black Widow would come back, she also had her wedding coming up. As excited as she was to finally be marrying her love...she was still nervous about it as well. After all, once they were married she would officially be queen. All the servants had started addressing her as such and the title still made her feel a bit uncomfortable.
She sighed again and felt the arm holding her tighten and she heard him chuckle.
"What's wrong my love? Having trouble sleeping?" He whispered and the sound of his voice sent shivers through her. She snuggled closer to him and whispered,
"A little...just thinking about everything...about how we still can't find her and Marrow doesn't seem to know anything that would be any help."
Discord had learned the name of the changeling in a response from Queen Chrysalis when she had also informed him that she would be arriving to pick up the criminal. He was her subject after all and so her responsibility. However the queen was also unhappy to know that they still had no idea where her daughter was.
"There's nothing to worry about my love...she's gone. Probably off in a cave somewhere trying to decide where to go next. If she's smart she'll head back home, but I doubt that. However, the point is, you shouldn't be worrying about it now my darling. You should be thinking about happier things…" He ran his nose along her hair and she could sense he was grinning.
"Like our wedding…" He whispered into her ear and when she didn't respond he leaned up on his elbow and looked down at her. She turned her gaze away and tried to hide the blush in her cheeks. He turned her face to his and he was frowning at her, she hated the flash of hurt that sparked in his eyes.
"Fluttershy...you are excited about our wedding, aren't you?"
"O-of course I am...I j-just…" She stopped, realizing that her stuttering wasn't very convincing and Discord felt the same. He frowned further and turned away from her, laying on his back.
"I see...so it's not Black Widow that's keeping you up...it's becoming my wife."
She hated the hurt in his voice, so she rolled over and looked at him. However he kept his gaze averted and refused to look at her. She sighed and spoke in a soft voice, choosing her words carefully so as not to give him the wrong idea.
"Discord...it's not becoming your wife that's worrying me...I can't wait to be your wife! I love you so much and want nothing more than to be with you…"
"But?" He prompted, still not looking at her. She sighed again.
"But...but I'm still worried that I won't be a good queen...how can I be when I know nothing about it...I know that this is a conversation we've had before…"
"More times than I'd like…" He muttered, finally turning his head back to meet her eyes.
"I can't help it Discord...I love you, really I do, but...but what if you're making the wrong choice?"
"What?" He asked as he sat up fully and stared down at her as if she had lost her mind. She looked up at him, noticing the anger creeping into his gaze, so she did the only thing she could think of. She dove under the covers, hiding her face from him and although he was frustrated with her, he also chuckled.
"Discord...what if I'm a bad queen?" She whispered from under the covers. He sighed and then did something he had never done before. She looked up as his head slid under the covers with her and his nose touched hers.
"Darling, I don't know how many times I have to tell you this...but you will make a wonderful queen. Look at how my servants already adore you, they think you are the cutest thing to walk this earth. While I agree with them completely, I also know you are the kindest creature alive. Fluttershy, you will look after our subjects with that heart of gold you possess and they will love you as much as I do. Trust me my love, you could never be an awful queen, it's just not in your nature...now I would like to stop having this argument with you."
She felt slightly better at his words, but nothing could completely take away her nerves. He must have sensed that she was still worried for he sighed and pulled his head out from under the covers. She frowned and then gasped as she felt his tail curl up and push her out also. He used his tail to push her against his side as he curled around her, smiling softly at her.
"Stop worrying so much my love...everything will be alright...you know why?" He asked as he nuzzled her and she smiled at the affectionate touch. She giggled and whispered,
"Because you said so?"
He chuckled and nuzzled her behind her ear, making her sigh and relax against him, once more enjoying the texture of his soft fur.
"Close...everything will be okay because we'll face it together." He whispered into her ear and the gentle words made her eyes fill with tears as she smiled and snuggled closer to him. He curled around her in a protective circle, like a dragon protecting its treasure. She sighed and felt him gently kiss her forehead.
"Go to sleep my dear...tomorrow is going to be a busy day for you."
"Tomorrow?" She asked sleepily, slowly fading into her dreams. He chuckled as whispered,
"Yes...since you are growing more nervous by the day I can't risk you changing your mind, instead of next month...our wedding shall take place tomorrow."
"Oh okay...tomorrow then."
…...
"WHAT!"