Discord paced around his room, he had teleported Fluttershy home hours ago, but he couldn't settle down. The panic rising inside him had him on edge. Fear gripped his heart, usually he was the one who caused fear in others, never feeling it himself. Yet here he was trying to sort out the confusing emotions rolling through him.
Love? How could it be, how could I have fallen in love with her?
It couldn't be true, he had just imagined it or maybe he was ill after all, but the more he tried to argue against this strange feeling the more it persisted.
Of all the things to happen to him in his eternity he never imagined he'd end up falling in love….
He stopped pacing and threw his arms into the air, literally.
"Oh listen to yourself Discord! You are not, I repeat NOT in love with Fluttershy. You are just...just...just overjoyed that you haven't lost her friendship."
He picked up his arms with his tail and smiled. Yes that was it, he had been over thinking everything and had simply misinterpreted the strange feeling in his chest as love. See, there was no way the Lord of Chaos could ever be falling in love with some pony, so you're not in love with Fluttershy!
That stupid, persistent little voice whispered.
But, what if I am?
He frowned and looked over to the small fame he treasured, it was a picture of him and Fluttershy. He picked it up and stared at the mare.
"Yeah see there's no way you could be falling in love with this...sweet, kind…beautiful…oh no…" He lowered his ears as he continued to stare at her. Even a picture of her caused his heart to skip a beat and his face to grow warm. No! He set the picture face down with more force than he had intended. Shaking his head viciously.
It was impossible, he couldn't be turning that soft. Friendship was one thing, but love was another for the master of chaos. He snorted, convincing himself to stop with all this nonsense and to get some sleep. He floated up and buried himself under his covers determined to get that mare out of his mind.
Her soft laughter rocked him to the core, he wished he could hear that laugh for all eternity. Then she flew over to him and smiled lovingly at him. He felt his insides melt as he stared into her beautiful, teal eyes.
She kissed him on his nose and giggled when he blushed. Then she sank down next to him and nuzzled his chest fur sighing contently as she curled up beside him.
Discord wrapped his tail around her protectively and to help keep her warm as she rested.
"Hmm, Discord…" She whispered, he lowered his head and pressed his nose to hers.
"Yes darling?"
She smiled up at him and gently kissed his snout.
"Tell me you love me."
Discord opened his mouth to speak and suddenly found he couldn't. Fluttershy lay there waiting, but no matter how hard he tried his voice was gone. Suddenly she looked heartbroken and as she began to cry she disappeared.
No, no, no, no, no! Fluttershy wait! I do love you! You hear me I love you! He shouted in his mind.
"Yes, but do you love her as much as you do me?" Discord turned to see a larger and more intimidating version of himself. It was how ponies used to see him, there was no doubt when you looked at this monster he was none other than the Lord of Chaos.
The larger him reached out and grabbed Discord in a crushing grip.
"Tell me, can you really give me up for her? Why bother when you know I'm all she'll ever see?" Discord struggled in the creatures grip, he tried to yell however his voice was still gone.
"Give it up! You'll always be nothing but a monster in their eyes. Especially dear little Fluttershy, all she feels for you is pity." Discord pulled fiercely against the claws that held him.
No it wasn't true, Fluttershy was his friend she cared for him, she did!
"Ha! Friend, you actually believe that? You should know better than to fight your true nature, after all look at what you did to them."
Discord saw an image of Tirek as he held his friends in that awful cage and he just stood there doing nothing to help.
"You really think you wont turn on them again when a better offer comes along? How will dear Fluttershy feel then? Do you think she'll forgive you a second time? Think she'll ever look at you with kindness again, let alone love? What if you were to confess your love to her and all she sees is the monster you really are, all the horrible things you've done in the past? You'll lose her forever and I'll be all that's left!" The monster laughed. Discord turned angrily on the other draconequus. He used all his strength and managed to free himself yelling loudly.
"You're wrong! I will never betray Fluttershy again! I will protect her with all my power, no one will ever hurt her so long as Discord is breathing! You hear me? Never will anyone hurt the mare I love! I love her and I'll do whatever it takes to prove to her that I love her more than being you!"
The larger Discord laughed as he faded away.
"We'll see..."
Suddenly Discord was unable to levitate and he fell to the ground.
He jolted awake and surveyed his surroundings breathing quickly. Then he groaned and rubbed his eyes.
These nightmares were getting ridiculous, how was he supposed to get any comfortable sleep?
"Where is the Princess of the Night when you need her? I'm her subject now too." He grumbled frustrated at having yet another restless night.
He sighed as he thought of his dream, all the things he had heard and said. He couldn't hide from it any longer, his heart hurt with the happiness and pain the truth brought him.
What he had proclaimed to his other half was the truth. However what his other self said also rang true, how could he abandon his true nature, even for a beautiful mare like her? As tears filled his eyes, he covered his face in misery.
"I love you Fluttershy. I love you with all my heart and I'll never be good enough for you."