Discord was out in the garden setting things up for his date with Fluttershy. He tried to ignore the quiver the word 'date' caused to ripple through him. He chuckled to himself,
"Discord you are turning into a big softy."
He stepped back to look at his work. He had set up something simple for them, just a small table set under a gazebo. He was going for romance, but wasn't sure he had quite gotten it right.
"Hmm, it's still missing something? Ah!" He snapped his fingers and vines wrapped themselves around the gazebo. Then just because he couldn't help himself, he added roses that followed a checkered patterned. He smiled,
"Well she can't expect me to leave everything normal all the time."
"Discord!"
He started turning at the sound of her voice.
Speaking of said pony.
"Fluttershy, you're early, I wasn't-oof"
She landed so hard against his chest she knocked him over with the force. He was laughing when he felt something wet against his fur and realized she was sobbing into it.
"Fluttershy! What's wrong darling?"
He sat up with her still clinging to him, crying uncontrollably. He took her face in his paw/claw and made her look at him.
"Please, tell me." He wiped away some of her tears waiting for her to calm down.
"I...I...Rainbow…" She broke down again and cold fear sliced through him.
"What's happened, is Rainbow Dash hurt? Is she in trouble? Fluttershy you have to tell me or I can't help."
He was trying desperately for patience, and although Rainbow was not his favorite pony she was still his friend. If she was in trouble he needed to know about it.
"Fluttershy?"
"She...she...she called you a monster!"
He froze, this was not what he had expected and the relief was so great he couldn't help it, he laughed. Fluttershy pulled her head out of his grasp and yelled at him.
"Discord! This isn't funny!"
"No you're right, it's hilarious! I'm sorry my dear, I didn't mean to laugh but...well we both know Rainbow Dash isn't my biggest fan. I thought that something serious had happened."
He lifted her off him and stood up still chuckling as he walked to the gazebo, so much for it being a surprise.
"But...but...she…"
"It doesn't matter my dear, although I think the word may have been harsher than warranted, it's just the way she is. No harm done." Fluttershy shook her head still crying.
"But...she also..."
Oh come on, he loved this mare but sometimes she was so exasperating.
He walked back to her and took her hoof.
"Alright my dear. Tell me what's really wrong and I'll do what I can to make it better."
She stared up at him, her mouth opening and closing, but no words came out. She shook her head several times, still sniffling. He told himself once again to be patient that she'd eventually tell him. Suddenly she stopped shaking and her eyes widened when she met his eyes.
"Discord…"
"Yes dar-"
He was cut off as she threw her hooves around his neck and kissed him. He stood still for maybe a second before embracing her back, not even questioning the sudden change in her, too happy to have her in his arms again. When she pulled away and hovered in front of him, he sighed.
"That's better, no point in worrying now is there my dear? Well since you're here we might as well eat early!"
He clapped and turned away only to have her hoof on his shoulder stop him. He turned his head and raised an eyebrow at her. She was once again hiding behind her mane. When she looked up at him again he swallowed.
Her eyes were shining with the same emotion they had that morning, almost like a faint spark of hope.
"Discord…tell me you love me…"
She whispered and for a second he had to make sure he wasn't dreaming. It was the same way she had whispered it before.
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Oh Celestia no! Not again, come on Discord don't cower now! You can't lose her!
"Fluttershy...I...I…"
He stopped again panic firmly wrapped around his heart.
Why couldn't he just say it!? He knew he felt it, so why couldn't he overcome his fears and say it?
He watched helplessly as her eyes misted once again with tears.
"Fluttershy I...No Fluttershy wait!"
Too late she had turned from him and was heading back to the Everfree. He cursed himself and covered his face, he was so stupid! He couldn't just stand there and let her believe he didn't love her. He had to catch her and tell her the truth. He wouldn't lose her again.
"Fluttershy wait!" He flew after her, grateful that he knew where she was heading.
Fluttershy I'm so sorry! Please let her listen to me!
Fluttershy continued to run blindly through the forest since her wings had given out. She ran until her legs gave out as well, crashing to the ground exhausted she gave into the heartbreak and sobbed loudly.
Rainbow was right! He doesn't love me! I was foolish to give my heart to some pony that doesn't want it!
She laid her head in her hooves and continued to cry. Feeling a sudden chill wrap around her, she shivered and looked up. Fear enveloped her as she realized she was in some unknown part of the forest, in her blind rush to get away she had strayed off the protected path.
She whimpered as she stood up, determined to get out of the forest and away from it's dangers.
And Discord... She thought miserably.
Before she could take a step she heard deep laughter behind her.
"Well, well...I didn't think you would make it this easy my dear." She swung around and tried to scream, but a black shadow wrapped itself around her mouth gagging her.
"Ah-ah, we wouldn't want your draconequus friend to spoil the surprise now would we?"
She stared in utter terror at a laughing King Sombra.
It wasn't possible, she had seen him destroyed by the crystal heart! They had all seen it!
"I bet you're wondering how I'm here my little pony...hmm all in good time. For now you and I have to head on our way. Need to get things ready for the party."
He chuckled and Fluttershy shivered unable to move from the fear racing through her blood.
King Sombra's horn flashed black and another shadow materialized next to him. It morphed taking shape before settling into...Fluttershy's eyes widened even further.
It was an exact copy of her!
Oh Celestia! The Rainbow I talked to! It wasn't the real one, oh what a foal I am.
She closed her eyes as tears began to flow in streams down her cheeks.
"Go relay our invitation to the Lord of Chaos, after all we can't start the party without the guest of honor."
He laughed as the shadow disappeared again. He then turned his attention back to the pegasus he held captive. Fluttershy shivered again.
"Come my dear, we have much to do."
A thick black smoke surrounded them as they disappeared.
Where is she? Where is she?
Discord kept screaming in his head as he flew down the path, he should have caught up to her by now. She wasn't a fast flyer so he should have seen her already, unless…
He stopped suddenly looking to his left at the rest of the forest.
Unless she hadn't taken the path. He was about to race off through the forest when he saw her fly out of the forest ahead of him.
"Oh Fluttershy! Thank Celestia you're alright."
He flew to her his arms outstretched to embrace her. His arms met nothing but air, surprised he looked up to still see her in front of him. Had she moved out of his reach? He wouldn't blame her if she did.
"Look Fluttershy, let me explain, I didn't mean to hurt you I just panicked...I...I'm so sorry." He stretched out his arms and she pulled back again so he let them fall to his sides. That was it then, he had truly lost her this time. Worse than when he had betrayed her to Tirek, this time he had broken her heart completely.
"Fluttershy…"
The tears beginning to form stopped when he heard her laugh. His ears perked up and a shiver ran through his body. This wasn't her usual sweet laugh, it sounded contorted and ugly, nothing he would associate with his sweet Fluttershy.
He looked up to see her smirking at him,
"Oh look at how low the Lord of Chaos has truly fallen, begging and whimpering at a pony for forgiveness."
He recoiled, that was nothing like his Fluttershy. Suddenly his eyes narrowed and he took a small sniff of the air. What met his nostrils made his hackles raise and his lips curl back. Gone was the sweet aroma of roses, replaced with something like smoke.
"You're not my Fluttershy! Who are you really, some changeling?"
The Fluttershy laughed,
"Oh! If only you were so lucky!"
Discord swiped at the creature with his claws only to stare in horror as they passed right through it. Once it had materialized untouched, it began to laugh again. Discord growled at the thing, whatever it was.
"What are you doing here, disguised as Fluttershy?"
It sneered at him again, he wished it wouldn't make such nasty faces while looking like Fluttershy, it made him sick.
"I'm here to invite you to a party. Hosted in your honor, by my master. You'll need to hurry though clocks ticking away."
"What if I refuse the invitation?"
It flew within an inch of his nose.
"Oh I wouldn't do that, not if you want to see your precious pony again."
Discord's eyes widened in horror,
"Fluttershy?"
"Oooo, look who's a smart draconequus. That's right and if you truly care about her you'll go to the outskirts of the Crystal Empire, from there my master will find you."
Then the Fluttershy copy snickered as she disappeared in the wind.
Discord fell to all fours, gasping for breath around the pain and fear gripping his heart. Someone had Fluttershy. HIS Fluttershy. They had her and they were using her to lure him to them. He lifted his head and snarled.
If they want the Lord of Chaos, that's exactly what they'll get...