//------------------------------//
// Follies 
// Story: The Nutcracker and the Chaos King 
// by DisneyFanatic23 
//------------------------------//

	Discord sighed as he gazed down at the sweet mare lying on top of him. She looked as if she was sleeping, but he knew better as she was clinging to him and nuzzling his chest affectionately. He smiled as he ran his fingers through her mane, enjoying the softness of it.

After their long, passionate kiss, they had collapsed on the couch and spent the next hour or so enjoying each other's warmth. His heart sank at the thought that Fluttershy would eventually come to her senses and this glorious bliss would end, but this thought only made the moment last longer as he would tighten his grip on her. If this was a one-time thing, he might as well relish in every second of it.

He wasn't dreaming. His angel was here in his arms and he had no intention of ever letting her go.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy was lost in her own sensations. She had not expected things to go this far, let alone that she'd be taking pleasure in them. She kept trying to remind herself that this was a monster that had done terrible things to herself and her friends. Yet here she was in his arms, the two of them curled up on the marshmallow cot, which Discord had expanded into a couch so there could be room for them both. Whenever her head told her to stop this madness, the warmth and softness of his embrace would lure her back in.

It was as Discord had said earlier. For a moment, they were the only two in the world and nothing else mattered.

Then Discord had another disturbing thought. What if this was a trick? Was she just playing with him to get the upper hoof against him? He looked down at her worriedly and felt he had to make sure her feelings were genuine.

"Fluttershy?"

"Mmm-hmm?" she moaned, not moving from her position.

He bit his lip. "Do you…still think I'm…a monster?"

She lifted her head and looked up at him sympathetically. Then she raised her hoof and stroked his cheek, making Discord close his eyes in contentment.

"Just because someone looks like a monster," she said, choosing her words carefully, "doesn't mean they are one."

He opened his eyes, his worry returning. "But…even if I didn't look like this…would you…would you still think that?"

She blinked and kissed his cheek. "Anyone would act monstrous if…if they had never been shown love."

Discord smiled and brought her lips to his. Then he slowly sat them both up and pulled away as he looked at her hopefully.

"Do you love me then, Fluttershy?"

She became pale. "I…I…"

His smile vanished and his ears drooped. She averted his gaze.

"This…this all happening so fast…"

"I see," he said, sadly turning away.

"No, Discord," she pleaded, touching his claw. "What I mean is…I…I might love you…in time, but…well, there's so much we don't know about each other and…"

"Then tell me," he said, taking her hoof and cupping her chin. "Tell me about yourself."

She blushed. "Well…actually…I was thinking that…you would…"

His sadness returned. "Oh. You…you don't wanna know about me…"

"But I do. How did you come to be…like this?"

"Well," he said, twiddling his fingers. "There's not much to tell, really. I lost my parents when I was very young. In fact, I don't remember them at all, really. Everywhere I went ponies would either laugh at me or run in fear. The magic I possessed didn't exactly help."

He sighed. "So you're right. I guess…no pony ever loved me."

"Cadence did though, didn't she?" Fluttershy asked.

Discord scowled. "Why bring her up?"

"I mean she must have cared for you at least a little. She did make you her royal advisor, didn't she?"

"Yes, but that was out of pity. It just so happened she liked my ideas for improving the political system. But she never really cared for me. She obviously preferred the younger, handsomer type! I'm not as old as I look! I'm not even thirty yet! Tell me. Does the beard throw you off?"

"I thought you didn't love Cadence."

"I didn't, but she was the first pony to ever show even the slightest amount of kindness towards me that I thought…" He stopped suddenly and shook his head. "Well, doesn't really matter anyway."

He smiled as he took her hooves. "Because I have you now."

"Discord…" Fluttershy started to say.

"So what about you? What's your story?"

"Oh, um…well, back home I lived with my parents and little brother…"

"What did you do in your spare time?"

She looked shyly away, her hair falling over her eye. "Oh, nothing special, just…the occasional gardening and taking care of injured animals I found in the forest…"

"Really?" Discord said, scooting closer. "What kind of flowers do you like?"

She shrugged. "All of them, especially tulips, roses, carnations…"

He snapped up a bouquet made up of these three types of flowers and handed it to her. She looked at it suspiciously.

"Um, last time someone gave me flowers…it didn't turn out so well."

"Oh, right," Discord chuckled awkwardly, poofing the bouquet away. "My bad."

Then he grinned brightly and took her hooves again. "You know? Once we're married, you can have a whole garden to yourself, filled with whatever plants and animals you desire, even those that don't exist!"

Fluttershy blinked in astonishment. "Really?"

"Really! You can have your own patch of green where you can spend all day rolling in the grass, smelling the flowers and playing with the animals of your choice!"

She blushed and glanced at the floor. "That sounds wonderful, but…"

"I mean it! Just tell me what you want and I'll give it to you with a snap of my fingers! I could give you the world on a string! The world, Fluttershy! The whole world will be…"

"Discord," she said gently. "I don't want the world."

He frowned slightly. "Oh. Then…what do you want, my angel? Just say the word and it's yours."

Fluttershy bit her lip in nervousness. This was it: the moment to test her theory.

"You say that if I married you," she said slowly, "you would take care of me…"

"I would," Discord insisted. "I'll be as good a husband as I can be!"

"Even so, you can't just be a good husband. You have to be a good person. In other words, if you want to marry me, you…you have to be a good…king."

She shut her eyes, waiting for him to explode in rage. When nothing happened immediately, she opened one eye and saw him tilting his head in confusion.

"What do you mean by that?"

She sighed. "Discord, I…I can't be with someone who has every intention of hurting the ponies I care about. Shining Armor…"

He dropped her hooves and stood up, groaning as he brought his paw to his head.

"The nutcracker, the nutcracker, the nutcracker!" he shouted. "It's always about the nutcracker! That's what this is all about, isn't it? You're doing this to save him, aren't you? You want me to spare him so he can steal my throne!"

"No, Discord!" Fluttershy said quickly. "I'm not asking you to give up the throne! Keep it if you want, but don't let other ponies suffer for it, especially Shining Armor and Cadence! If you let them go, allow them to live in peace…"

"SO THEY CAN COME BACK WITH REINFORCEMENTS LIKE NUT BOY DID LAST TIME?!" he bellowed, making her jump back in fear. "I already spared Shining Armor's life once and what did he do? He came back to destroy me!"

"But if you give them a place where they can live happily, if you prove you can be a good king, then they won't try to destroy you."

"I doubt anything can make them change their minds!"

"Maybe if you didn't keep so many ponies imprisoned here…"

"If I release them, the first thing they'll do is start an uprising! Or did you forget that at least half those slaves are freedom fighters?!"

Fluttershy narrowed her eyes and stood on the couch. "They wouldn't be planning such things if you were kind to them!"

"Suppose I did what you asked and set them free, what makes you think they'd believe I'd changed?!"

She reached out and touched his claw. "I'll help you."

His eyes were glistening that she could've sworn they were filling with tears.

"But…" he choked.

"Promise me you will at least try to be a good king."

He gazed deeply into her wide, pleading eyes.

"If I did this," he said, sitting back down beside her, "and…tried to change…would…would you accept my proposal and," he took her hooves, "be my queen?"

For a moment, Fluttershy hesitated. Marrying the Chaos King would not only put her in a dangerous position, but could prevent her from ever seeing her family again. On the other hand, if he really did try to change his ways, she could convince him to let her visit. Either way, this was her only chance to save her friends.

Who knows? She thought. Maybe he will change.

So she nodded and whispered, "Yes."

Discord smiled brightly. "Really?"

She held up a hoof. "If you promise you'll try to be good!"

"I do!" he exclaimed, lightly kissing her hoof. "I promise. If it'll please you, I'll try, my love." He sighed. "Oh, you have no idea how happy you've made me!"

He pulled her in for another kiss and Fluttershy couldn't help but smile. Kissing him was both strange and exciting. While one part of her brain was still telling her how wrong this was, nothing else in her life had ever felt so right.

She believed him when he vowed he would change. She could tell by the way he was passionately embracing her that he felt something for her and that he truly would do anything to make her happy.

Maybe being married to him really wouldn't be so horrible.

At first, neither of them heard the door bursting open, or Spike shouting:

"Your majesty! The Diamond Dogs have come back with…"

The dragon froze when he saw the display before him. The guard peered in and his jaw dropped.

"Your majesty!" he exclaimed.

The couple turned to the door. Fluttershy squeaked while Discord growled.

"I THOUGHT I GAVE YOU SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO DISTURB US!" he boomed.

"Err, yes," the guard said warily, "unless it was an emergency."

"Well, what's the emergency?!"

The Diamond Dog nudged Spike forward, but the dragon was still in shock.

"Uh…" he stammered.

"Well, out with it, boy!" Discord bellowed. "Can't you see I have important matters to get to?!"

"Ahem," Fluttershy coughed.

"What?!"

She gave him a warning look and tilted her head toward Spike.

"Oh, yes," Discord said, clearing his throat. "Spike, would you be so kind as to tell me what the trouble is?"

The dragon shook his head back to reality. "Right! Um, I was sent to tell you that the Diamond Dogs have captured the nutcracker and his companions."

Fluttershy gasped and Discord grinned.

"Really?" He released Fluttershy and stood up. "Where are they now?"

"The dogs are holding them in the courtyard," Spike replied, "awaiting your orders."

Discord chuckled as he rubbed his hands together, his eyes flashing red. "Finally! Revenge will soon be…"

"Ahem!"

He turned back to see Fluttershy glaring at him with her forelegs crossed.

"Oh," he stammered. "Uh, I mean…"

He glanced between his minions and his bride-to-be, biting his claw, unsure of how to handle the situation. He had made a promise to his love, but he also didn't want to lose his crown. She had assured him that no pony would overthrow him if he treated them justly, but she couldn't see the future. What if Shining Armor took advantage of his freedom? Not only would he come after Discord, but might separate him from his queen! He couldn't throw away everything he had worked for, especially now that he had found happiness with Fluttershy.

He couldn't risk letting that happiness be destroyed.

After reaching a decision, he smiled and said to the dragon, "Go tell the Diamond Dogs to keep them in the courtyard, but make sure they are securely bound. In fact, have them bring all our prisoners to the courtyard, the princess included."

Fluttershy stood in fright. "Discord, you…"

"Don't worry, my darling," he said, taking her hooves. "I haven't forgotten my promise to you. And to prove it to you, I will release them all once our ceremony is over."

"You promise?" she whispered. "You won't hurt my friends?"

"I promise. I promise that I will not hurt your friends."

He kissed her softly before turning back to his minions. He saw that Rover had arrived as well, his eyes widening at the scene.

"Rover," Discord chirped. "Good, you're here."

"I, uh," the dog stammered, "just came to say that the new prisoners are getting restless and…"

"Yes, yes. I just told Spike here that I want you to keep them in the courtyard and bring all the other prisoners there too."

"What?! But sire, we might not be able to handle so many…"

"That's an order, Rover! I want them all to watch."

"Watch, sir?"

Discord clapped his hands together. "We're going to have a wedding!"

Rover blinked. "What?"

The Chaos King took Fluttershy's hoof and brought her forward. "Say hello to my fiancée!"

"You're marrying that pony?! Your majesty, are you sure that…?"

Discord gritted his teeth. "Need I point out that once Fluttershy and I are married, she will be your queen?!"

"Oh!" Rover exclaimed, bowing. "A thousand apologies, my lady!"

"That's better. Spike, get the dressmaking ponies! Tell them they must prepare my bride for the ceremony!"

"Um, Discord?" Fluttershy piped.

"Yes, angel?" the Chaos King replied with a smile on his face.

"Could…could you send my friends Rarity and Sweetie Belle up here?"

He blinked. "Who?"

"My dolls. I'd like them to help me get ready. Rarity's especially good when it comes to fashion."

He leaned toward her and whispered, "This isn't a trick, is it?"

"Oh, no! I'd just…feel a little more comfortable if my friends were here to help me. I'm about to get married, after all."

"Well, I don't know if I…"

"Please? It's all I ask."

"It actually sounds like a reasonable request," Spike said.

Discord stroked his beard and then shrugged. "Well, I don't see any harm in it."

Fluttershy smiled. "Thank you."

She surprised him with a peck on the cheek, making a goofy grin appear on his face. He brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and sighed.

"I'll see you in a few hours, my love," he whispered.

He kissed her one last time before departing out the door.

"Discord?" she called, pointing to her back. "One more thing?"

"Oh, of course!"

Discord snapped his fingers and Fluttershy's wings appeared back on her body. She was about to thank him when she saw the guard inserting a key in the lock.

"Wait!" she called. "You're still locking me in?"

"Oh," Discord said, smiling awkwardly. "Yes, that. It's not that I don't trust you, darling, but I really can't risk some pony bursting in to rescue you or the off-chance that you start having second thoughts. It's really just a precaution, dear! Love you, bye!"

He shut the door before she could say anything further. After turning the key in the lock, Discord sighed dreamily against the door.

"I'm getting married…"

"I don't believe it," Spike said in awe. "You actually got her to like you! Guess I owe Cheese Sandwich ten bits."

"What was that?"

"Nothing!"

"That's what I thought. Come on, boys. We've got work to do."

As he, Rover and Spike started their way down the hall; Discord put his arm around Rover and muttered:

"Gather as much wood as you can. Build two piles around two long stakes. Make sure there's enough space between them so Nut Boy and the princess will be out of reach from each other."

The Diamond Dog grinned mischievously. "As you wish, your majesty."

Spike had heard the command and widened his eyes once he realized its implication.

"But sir," he protested, "didn't you promise Fluttershy that you wouldn't hurt her friends? Doesn't that apply to Shining Armor and Cadence?"

"Uh-uh!" Discord said, holding up a finger. "I promised that I wouldn't hurt her friends. That's why Rover here will be lighting the match."

"Wow, Boss!" Rover laughed. "You really had me going there! For a second, I was worried you'd gone all sappy over a girl!"

He quieted down when Discord shot him a glare.

"Oh, I still have every intention of marrying her," he declared. "I'm just not going to be a pushover who does everything his wife tells him to do! No. I only have to make her think she has control over the situation."

"But won't she be mad once she finds out you burned two of her friends at the stake?" Spike inquired.

"Oh, that can be easily fixed. I'll just tell her it was a relapse. After all, she can't expect me to change overnight. A little begging and pleading and she'll be putty in my paw and claw once more! I can keep my marriage and my crown!"

"Won't she get suspicious though? I mean if you keep doing bad things and then apologize for them…"

"What are you?!" Discord snapped, sticking his snout in the dragon's face. "A marriage counselor?!"

"N-n-no," Spike stuttered.

"Then stop acting like one! Now go get the dressmakers like I told you!"

"Yes, sir!"

As the dragon ran off, Discord rubbed his hands together with a chuckle.

"This is a great day, Rover!" he declared. "Not only will I have my revenge, but a queen who loves me! And no pony will stand in my way," his eyes flashed red as his chuckle grew darker, "ever again!"


	
Fluttershy paced around her cell, wondering if she had made the right decision. There was something suspicious about Discord's promise that he wouldn't hurt her friends. Why was he having them watch the ceremony? Was it really so he could prove his sincerity by releasing them in front of her? Or was it so he could show every pony that he had won her?

She recalled the way he had spoken to her, how he had looked her in the eye and held her hooves. She wanted to believe him, but something at the back of her brain was sounding an alarm.

She stopped when she heard the door open. Her heart leaped with joy when Rarity and Sweetie Belle were tossed into the room.

"Girls!" she exclaimed, rushing towards them.

The dolls looked up and shouted, "Fluttershy!"

"You're okay!" Sweetie Belle squeaked as the three embraced each other.

"He hasn't hurt you, has he?" Rarity inquired.

"I'm fine," Fluttershy replied. "But there's something I…"

"Enough talking and get to work!" Rover commanded as he tossed in a basket. "The dressmaking ponies will be up soon and his majesty wants her ready within two hours!"

As he slammed the door, Rarity looked at Fluttershy questioningly.

"What did he mean by that?"

"And what's with the haircare products?" Sweetie Belle asked as she examined the basket.

"Well, um…" Fluttershy started to say.

She was cut short when a vanity appeared in the corner of the cell.

"What in the…?" Rarity questioned.

"I'll explain while you two do my hair," Fluttershy said, seating herself before the mirror.

"Do your hair? While I would love to brush your mane for a change, darling, what's the occasion?"

The pegasus gulped. "My wedding."

Sweetie Belle dropped her basket and shouted the same response as her sister:

"What?!"

Fluttershy grinned awkwardly. "Funny story…"

"But…but who?" Rarity inquired. "Who are you marrying and…what happened to your necklace?"

"Well," Fluttershy said softly, "long story short, Discord asked me to marry him and…"

"And you said yes?!"

"Geez, Fluttershy!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. "I'm all for impossible romance, but this is just crazy!"

"Why would you say yes?! You don't…love this creature, do you?"

Fluttershy looked at her dolls sincerely. "It doesn't matter if I love him or not. I agreed to marry him so that you and the others would be safe. Besides," she said with a blush, "he's actually kind of…sweet."

Rarity raised an eyebrow. "You're not serious, are you?"

"Girls, think about it. Discord is powerful. If Shining Armor tried to destroy him, he'd only destroy himself. But if I marry Discord, if I can tame him even in the slightest, he might spare all of you."

"But why does he want to marry you?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I thought he wanted the princess."

Fluttershy gazed back in the mirror. "He…he says he loves me."

Rarity shook her head. "Darling, monsters like him would say anything to sway some pony to their side! You don't really believe he meant what he said, do you?"

Fluttershy hung her head as she pondered this.

"Nevertheless," she whispered, "it's the only way I can save you."

Rarity and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other, not liking their mistress' answer.

"I think you should get started on my hair," Fluttershy said, lifting her head. "No use making him mad."

Rarity levitated a brush out of the basket but hesitated.

"Don't worry, Rarity," Fluttershy said with a smile. "I know what I'm doing."


	
Not far from the palace, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were trotting slowly down the gingerbread path. The younger pegasus looked up worriedly at her sister, whose head was hanging low.

"You gonna tell me what's wrong?" Scootaloo asked for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Nothing's wrong," Rainbow muttered mechanically. "What makes you think something's wrong?"

"Well, for one thing, we've been walking for the past few hours instead of flying. I thought you'd be excited. We're together again, aren't we? And we no longer have to worry about that big bully!"

"Yeah. Sure."

Scootaloo tilted her head. "Why did he let us go, anyway?"

"I don't wanna talk about it."

The filly scowled and blocked her sister's path. "You're gonna tell me why you're sulking. Now!"

Rainbow looked up at her sister and sighed. "Oh, Scoots. Getting you out of there wasn't easy. I…I did some horrible things…things to ponies who didn't deserve it. They're…they're all gonna suffer because of me…because I didn't want to lose you, Scoots."

She hung her head again. "I know you've always thought of me as a hero, but the truth is…I'm a coward. I've never done anything valiant in my life."

Scootaloo smiled and lifted the mare's chin. "Hey. You did all that stuff for me. It might've been bad stuff, but at least you had good intentions."

"Yeah, but at what cost? About a hundred ponies are either enslaved or up for execution because I ratted on them! I was the Chaos King's number one spy, Scoots!"

"But you're not his spy now, are you?"

"No. He doesn't need me anymore, remember?"

The filly smirked. "So that means you don't take orders from him anymore, right?"

Rainbow tapped her chin in thought. "Right…"

"Soooooooo?"

The older pegasus looked down at her sister and grinned.

"Oh, you little genius, you!" she exclaimed, giving the filly a noogie.

"Well, I learned from the best!" Scootaloo said proudly.

"Come on, squirt!" Rainbow said, pulling her sister on her back. "We've got a wedding to crash!"