Mending Hearts:Fluttercord

by atomicpuffin


Chapter Ten

The garden was exactly the same as when he had gone after her...when he had lost her.

That was a month ago…

Discord lay on his stomach, his head resting on the soft grass. Normally he would despise the tranquility of the garden.

Now it was all he had left of her.

The smell of the grass and flowers reminded him of his love so he refused to get rid of them, no matter how they caused his heart to ache.

I'm doing the right thing...she'll be safer and happier if I stay away…she'll have no trouble forgetting me with time...

Discord had to tell himself this everyday for the past month. Everyday, when the barrier warned him that his former friends and lost love were trying to get in to see him.

The hardest part had been when he heard Fluttershy call his name. He had to lay his ears against his head and shut his eyes to fight the urge to run to her.

He felt his eyes begin to close now as he thought of holding her in his arms again, hearing her tell him she loved him…

But it was only a fantasy.


Ponies ran everywhere, screaming. Discord watched in horror as their homes crumbled and chaos rained down on the Crystal Empire. He looked up at the monster attacking...it was him.

He flew up to stop the creature and it only laughed as he passed through it.

"You foal, you can't stop me, no matter how much you tell yourself you've changed...I'll always be apart of you and not even your pretty pony can change me…"

"Discord!" He turned to see Fluttershy yelling at the monster, who turned on her and laughed as he sent his magic flying at her.

"Fluttershy! NO!"

"ENOUGH!"

There was a bright blue flash and everything melted away and Discord was left standing by himself.

Luna materialized out of another flash of light.

"Discord…" She stood there staring at him.

He crossed his arms and frowned at her.

"Well it's about time Princess, where have you been? You know this isn't my first nightmare...I think someone is falling down on their job."

She glared at him, but took a deep breath and said in a very calm voice.

"No, but this is the first one you do not deserve."

"What no thee or thou? I thought that was your favorite way to speak."

She simply glared at him again,

"It will be easier for me if I don't have you making jokes at everything I say."

"Make what easier?"

She looked at him with so much scorn he actually flinched.

"Why have you been sulking inside your castle like a coward?"

"A coward? Sulking? I have done nothing…"

"Oh so you do not hide behind your barrier? Refusing to so much as speak to the ponies; sister and myself included, who you saved from Sombra?"

He snorted and turned from her.

"Saved? Please it was me who was attacking them remember not Sombra."

"You would not have done so had he not forced your hand. You branded the collar to save a pony's life, a nobler act there is not."

He rolled his eyes, she couldn't give up the theatrics completely it seemed.

"Oh yeah, real noble...saving one, while putting thousands of others in danger. Forcing them to flee in fear as their homes were destroyed..."

"It is noble...if it is for love." Luna countered

His ears dropped again and he sighed,

"Just leave me alone Lulu...nothing any pony says will change what I did...I attacked innocents...I showed what my power is truly capable of...how I truly am evil…"

"Enough!" She shouted again in anger, her eyes glowing white.

"Since you refuse to listen to reason I will simply force you to see the truth!"

The area he was in swirled again and he was back in the Crystal Empire, but now it was fully restored. He had used his magic to fix everything he had destroyed, shortly after leaving Canterlot.

"So what? I know it's no longer in ruin, it doesn't change that I was the one to destroy it in the first place."

Luna flew past him and hit him in the head with her hoof.

"Ouch! Hey!" He flew after her as she made her way to the castle. When she landed she simply looked back at him. He landed and opened his mouth to tell her he didn't appreciate being knocked around in his own dreams.

He stopped when he saw his friends and the princesses all standing around the restored Crystal Heart with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.

"I don't understand. How could Sombra force Discord to do his bidding?" Princess Cadence asked the group.

"King Sombra used an ancient evil even Discord couldn't counter. He conceded to the binding to protect Fluttershy." Twilight explained.

Princess Cadence nodded as she looked at the sad pegasus.

Discord felt his heart ache when he saw the way Fluttershy's head hung and that her eyes had lost their spark.

"Why show me this? What is the…" Discord stopped when Cadence spoke again.

"Well, we're all just lucky then that Discord was smarter than Sombra…"

She smiled as she looked at her husband,

"Then again I don't think there's a creature around that's more clever than he is. He always has a back up plan for his back up plans." She laughed and then looked around confused.

"Actually where is he? I would like to formally thank him for restoring the city."

The others all exchanged sad looks and Fluttershy whimpered her eyes filling with tears.

"He...he's locked himself inside his territory and refuses to let any of us see him." Twilight put her hoof around Fluttershy as she said this. Cadence looked to Princess Celstia,

"Why? Why would he hide, when it was he that stopped Sombra?"

Princess Celestia shook her head,

"Sombra told Discord that it was his own chaotic nature that caused this destruction and not the orders given to him by Sombra. Discord took this to heart and has announced that he will no longer have contact with ponies in order to protect us from him. Nothing we say seems to reach him in his misery."

Discord had seen enough, he turned away and tried to leave.

"Enough of these petty images Lulu...you can't trick me into changing my mind. No matter what your opinions are, the fact remains. I attacked all of you and I caused all the destruction left behind."

Luna glared after him and the empire once again melted away.

"You're right about leaving destruction behind you Discord, but you're wrong about where."

He stopped as he stepped through a door and found himself in Fluttershy's cottage. He turned on Princess Luna,

"Now you're playing dirty Luna...and that's my job."

His ears perked up as he heard crying and knew who it was. He refused to turn around.

"No! Take these phantoms away...don't you think I have suffered enough?"

"No..not nearly as much as you've made her suffer." Luna indicated behind him.

Stupidly, he turned and saw Fluttershy laying on her couch crying into her hooves. Leaning against the arm of the couch was the same photo he had found himself staring at lately.

"Discord...why...why would...you leave me?" She whispered between sobs and Discord instinctively reached for her only to pass through.

He turned on Luna growling.

"Why!? Why torture me with these visions!? You are supposed to stop nightmares not bring them!

"You think I like that I had to leave her? That to protect her I had to hurt her! That she'll never know how completely and hopelessly I love her! That I'll never know if she even loved me back..." He said the last in an anguished whisper.

Luna just stood there and let him rant at her. Then she closed her eyes and smiled.

"I see…"

Then slowly the vision changed and Discord saw him and Fluttershy laying in her garden.

He stopped and watched the two of them, this was shortly after she had reformed him and they had become close friends.

Fluttershy was watching in fascination as Discord wound the flowers into a small necklace. Then when it was finished he placed it over her head and she blushed.

"Thank...thank you Discord, it's beautiful."

"Pretty ponies deserve pretty things. It's just a small present for my dearest friend." He said as he took her hoof in his claw making her blush more. Then he stood up and sighed,

"I hate to leave you Fluttershy, but duty calls and if I'm late Tia lectures my ears off."

He pulled his ears off in emphasis and she laughed.

"Okay I'll see you soon though right?"

He bowed,

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it for all the chocolate milk in Equestria." He disappeared and once he was gone Fluttershy stroked the flower necklace with her hoof.

"Oh my…could I be...but he is so adorable..." She blushed again and a smile slowly spread across her face.

The image shifted once more and this time he saw Fluttershy and Rainbow in the garden.

"Fluttershy are you falling in love with that monster?"

This must have been why she was so upset when she had rushed to see him.

"He's not a monster!"

"That doesn't answer my question!"

"YES OKAY I LOVE HIM!" Fluttershy shouted at Rainbow.

He felt his heart begin to swell with joy. She loved him! She had actually said she loved him!

"Does that answer your question?" Luna walked through the image causing it to dissolve behind her. Discord just stood there stunned, then he said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Was that real?"

Luna raised her eyebrow and opened her wings as everything began to shimmer around him.

"Why don't you stop cowering in your castle and go find out for yourself?"

He reached for her and everything began to fade.

"No wait I need to know! I need to know!"


He sat up suddenly and looked around to see he was back in his own garden. His heart was pounding so hard he felt that it would break through his chest. He stood up and lowered his barrier.

He had to know if the vision in the dream was true! He flew into the air towards Fluttershy's cottage.

If it turned out it was nothing more than a trick to make him come out of hiding it wouldn't work, he'd go right back. However, if it turned out she did love him back…

He had to know the truth, he flew faster not even thinking to use his magic to teleport.

He landed on the edge of the forest and looked out at her cottage.

There was a light flickering in the window so she must still be up, but he hesitated on just going to knock on the door.

After a month of ignoring her, she was more likely to kill him if he just showed up and started demanding answers.

He decided the best plan was to make himself invisible and to peek in. He flew over to her window and saw her laying on a rug in front of her fireplace.

She looked even more beautiful than he remembered, if she didn't love him it would be even harder for him to forget about her now.

She sighed and looked over to the same photo from his dream. She reached for it and tears filled her eyes as she looked at the picture of him.

Discord watched in astonishment as she began to quietly sing to herself. He couldn't hear through the window so he teleported inside and listened to her lovely voice, as she sang from her heart.

"In a perfect world, one we've never known.

We would never need, to face the world alone.

They can have the world, we'll create our own.

I may not be brave, or strong, or smart, but somewhere in my secret heart.

I know, love will find a way.

Anywhere I go, I'm home.

If you are there beside me.

Like dark, turning into day.

Somehow we'll come through, now that I've found you.

Love will find a way...

Discord sat on his haunches, his head down, and ears back. He made himself visible again and replied with the words filling his own heart.

"I was so afraid.

Now I realize.

Love is never wrong, and so it never dies.

(Fluttershy gasped and looked over meeting his eyes.)

There's a perfect world, shining in your eyes.

And now I know that you feel it too, the happiness I feel with you.

I know, love will find a way.

(She flew into his arms, crying against his chest.)

Anywhere we go, we're home.

If we are there together, like dark turning into day.

Somehow we'll come through, now that I've found you.

Love will find a way...I...know...love...will...find...a...way…"

He lifted her chin and placed his lips over hers, releasing all the passion he had denied the past month. She kissed him back with the same intensity.

Then he pulled away sighing, which quickly turned to a wince as she hit him in the stomach, hovering in front of him now glaring.

"How dare you ignore me for a month! A MONTH! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I'VE BEEN?"

She shouted and her eyes were burning with so much anger. She was too irresistible. When she let her anger boil to the surface she was so chaotic! He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in for another kiss, this time she struggled, but not for long. As soon as she had melted against him again he pulled back slightly and stroked her mane.

"I'm sorry Fluttershy...so sorry…"

"You're not going to disappear again are you?" He could hear the smile in her voice as she nuzzled his chest.

He chuckled,

"Don't worry my dear, I'll never leave you again."

"Good...Discord...why...why did you…"

"I'm so sorry my love...I let my fears rule me again."

He set her away from him, it was hard to concentrate when she was in his arms.

"I've always been afraid that I'll never truly change my nature, no matter how much I may wish it. So when I heard that I may have lost control and deliberately attacked others…

"I panicked. I never wanted to hurt any pony ever again and I figured the easiest way to ensure that, was to lock myself away."

He put his paw against her cheek and she rubbed against the palm.

"Even though it felt like I was cutting out my heart, I knew I had to protect you, so I left…"

He grabbed both her shoulders again and when she lifted her teal eyes up to his, he swallowed nervously.

This was the moment of truth, why he had come to her.

"Fluttershy...do you love me?"

Her eyes widened and she seemed stunned speechless, not something that was hard to do with her, but still. Discord sat there waiting, every second that ticked by caused his nerves to fray even more.

After what felt like an eternity, she answered him in the oddest way...she started laughing…

"You wound me darling." He chuckled as she fell to the floor holding her stomach.

"I'm...sorry it's...it's just...I didn't think I needed to tell you...I thought the answer would be obvious!" She beamed up at him and he laughed before grabbing her and kissing her again.

Pure joy radiated through him as he held her close. Never had he thought he'd be so lucky to love such a beautiful mare and to have her return his love.

He pulled away and nuzzled her ear making her giggle.

"The answer may be obvious my dear...but I'd still like to hear the words."

She kissed his nose and giggled again when he blushed.

"I love you Discord."

"And I love you my sweet Fluttershy." He whispered as he gave her another tender kiss.


They were laying in front of the fire. She was snuggled against his side as he wrapped himself around her, his heart filled with eternal bliss.

This moment was truly perfect. Well except…

He turned his head away and sighed,

"Discord? What's wrong?" He smiled down at her and quickly nuzzled her mane, enjoying the way the silken hair tickled his nose.

"I was just thinking about how perfect this moment is…"

"That's not exactly a reason to sigh like that."

"Well...it is when...when you can think of a way to make it better…" He looked away again a deep blush spreading across his face.

She lifted her head, intrigued now.

"What's that?"

He turned to look at her again and his eyes reflected the fire's light. The intensity in their depths caused Fluttershy to blush also.

Discord leaned down and touched his nose against hers.

"Well sweetheart...here we are curled up together...in front a romantic fire...completely in love with one another...so what more could I want but…" He stopped and grinned at her but didn't continue.

She was shivering with anticipation, waiting for what she hoped was coming...but he just continued to grin at her.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Well?"

"Well what my dear?" He pulled his head back and stared at the fire. Watching her out of the corner of his eye.

"What were you going to say?"

"I was going to say something else?"

She started shaking, and he was enjoying her frustration immensely.

"Yes you were! I mean...I thought...I thought you were..."

His smile got wider,

"Thought I was what my dear?"

She looked away from him and whispered, blushing deeper.

"Oh...nevermind…it's not..."

He lifted her head back up with his paw and gave her a gentle kiss.

"Were you perhaps hoping I was talking about this?" He pulled his claw from behind his back, she hadn't even noticed him hiding it. She gasped as he opened his curled fingers and sitting in his palm was a small velvet box.

Tears filled her eyes as he opened it to reveal a ring nestled in the center, the gemstone was the same color as her eyes.

She looked up into Discord's eyes as he smiled lovingly at her and wrapped his tail tighter around her.

"I love you Fluttershy...I never want to go through another day without you by my side...

"You are my other half, my soul mate...I love you more than I can ever fully express, but I want to spend an eternity trying. Without you I'm a cotton candy cloud with no chocolate milk…" This cause a watery giggle to escape from her.

"I can't promise I'll behave completely all the time, but for you I'll certainly try…

"Fluttershy, say you'll be mine forever...marry me?"

She smiled up at him, then laughing she tackled him.

He laughed as he wrapped his arms around her,

"Am I to take that as a yes?"

"YES! YES! YES! Oh Discord I love you so much of course I'll marry you!"

Then there were no more words between the two as they shared the first of many more passionate kisses.