My Little Draconequus: Wishing is Chaos

by taterforlife

Secrets Revealed and Secrets Kept

Flippity flap, flippity flap.

Flower, once again free to roam the skies, curled its stem around the handle of a bucket, carrying it over to its master and depositing it into her hooves.

Zecora smiled. "Thank you, my friend. Now I can put this vision to an end..."

She turned to the magical fire at her hearth, where she could see Discord holding Fluttershy, staring down at their friends. She laughed as she noted that all of them looked stunned to see each other, minus the ever-excited Pinkie Pie, not disturbed by the situation at all.

"There's nothing left for us to see, so let us give them their privacy." She took the bucket and poured water over the fire, smoke rising from the cooling coals as she did so. Flower watched the Zebra curiously as she did so, cocking its stem to the side.

"I think we will need to go and see the Princess once they've talked over this mess," Zecora said, laying the bucket back down by the table and going over to the sink to wash her hooves from the coal dust. "Twilight will no doubt be alarmed, and worry that Fluttershy will be harmed. We must soothe her fears, and make sure the situation does not yet reach Canterlot ears."

Flower shivered, rushing over to Zecora in a panicked frenzy, flapping its leaves in her face as pollen clouding up the air from its own rapid movements.

Zecora once again laughed charmingly before giving a gentle pat on Flower's soft yellow face. "There’s no reason to fear anypony, little Flower. I am here, there is no need to cower. Ponies are just not used to flying vegetation; it's not exactly covered in their education!' she laughed.

Flower settled down, and landed on the Zebra's shoulder, nuzzling the side of her face with petals.

"Yes, of course you can stay with me. I wouldn't mind some permanent company," Zecora said, gently nuzzling the flower back with the very tip of her muzzle.

"Now let's just wait for the Princess, so we can help explain this...mess."
 

The first thing she saw was two familiar red-gold eyes staring down at her.

"You know, this is really starting to turn into a running gag for us," Discord said to her as he held her in both arms, just a few yards away from the ground. With a smirk on his lips, his eyes left hers and turned to the six creatures below them.

"~Hello~! Coming in for a surprise visit, ladies?" He then nodded at the dragon. "And Spike."

"Sur...prise...?" was all Twilight could manage to say before Pinkie interrupted.

"Discord! Fluttershy! Oh, thank goodness you're all okay! We thought you were a goner for a second!" Pinkie said as Discord slowly drifted back down to earth.

 When he landed, Pinkie was right there, taking Fluttershy's head by the hooves and smushing their faces together.

"Oh, wow, Flutters! You look so neat!"

"Doesn't she though?" Discord said, bending his neck downward with a perfect 90-degree angle kink in his neck. "Though, I've said this before--I'm extremely jealous of the pouch."

"The--" Pinkie's eyes landed on Fluttershy's stomach, only to gasp. "Ohmygosh!"

Fluttershy, who had been dead silent from shock the entire time, finally yelped when a hoof opened her pouch, only for Pinkie to look inside.

"Oh wow! It's so spacious in there! I think I hear an echo! You could keep so much cake in here!"

It was an odd sensation, having her friend pull on her pouch and open it. Angel Bunny was one thing, but for her friend...

"P-Pinkie!" Fluttershy said, blushing. "I--"

Applejack, who had been staring at Fluttershy with the other remaining ponies and dragon, shook her head and snapped herself out of it. "Uh, Pinkie, Ah don't think you should, uh...Why dont you give 'er some space, huh partner?"

She gently took Pinkie's tail and pulled her back slightly. Pinkie only laughed. "Aww, okay! Maybe later!"

Rainbow was the next to get back to her senses, shaking her head more violently than Applejack had. "Later?!? How can you say that like this is no big deal?!?"

While Discord had been trying to hold back laughter at Fluttershy's discomfort and Pinkie's boldness, he was soon interrupted by a blue blur crashing into him and sending him down to the ground with an "Umph! Ow!"

He rubbed the back of his head while staring up at an angry Rainbow Dash.

"I gave you..." she snarled, "so many chances. So. Many. Chances. We all did." She swept a hoof over all of them.

"And now we find that Fluttershy is a...is a thing just like you?!? What did you do, bub?!?" She smooshed her hoof against Discord's snout. "What kinda sick prank is this?"

"Rainbow!"

Rainbow Dash turned her head to look at Twilight, who had her wings flared out and standing firm on all four hooves, Rarity and Spike merely watching beside her.

"Get off of him, please," Twilight instructed.

Discord's mouth gaped open, staring at his princess friend. But Rainbow Dash wouldn't budge.

"Get...off...?" She growled. "Why would I do that?!? Look at Fluttershy!" She then jabbed her hoof in Fluttershy's direction. "Who do you think did that to her? She's a drac..draco...a thing just like Discord! Isn't it obvious?!?"

Before Twilight could open her mouth, Fluttershy interjected, "Wait! No! You've got it all wrong!"

All eyes were back on Fluttershy, and she whimpered and swallowed before gently taking a tail and wrapping it around Rainbow Dash.

"Wait, Fluttershy, what're you...?"

She lifted up Rainbow and set her down, then offered a hand to Discord.

"Why, thank you, Fluttershy," Discord purred, glaring at Rainbow Dash as he took Fluttershy's amphibious hand and stood up. "It's good to know that at least someone has still been able to keep her cool around here."

Rainbow growled again, but Twilight laid a hoof on her withers. "Just stay calm. We all agreed to be better friends to him, remember?" she murmured.

"Only if he's a good friend back!" Rainbow spat.

"But we don't know if he's been a bad friend, Rainbow."

"We also don't know if he's been a good one, either."

"Rainbow--"

"So, erm, Fluttershy," Rarity interrupted, trying to relax the tension in the air. "Darling...What exactly is going on here?"

Looking back at Rarity, Fluttershy took a tendril of hair and twirled it nervously. "Well, it's...kind of a long story..."

"I got time," Applejack said, tilting her hat back slightly to get a better look at Fluttershy, a gentle smile on her face.

"I think we all do, darling," Rarity said.

"And I think as your friends, we should know," Twilight added, before glancing at Discord. "With the both of you."

Discord returned the gaze full-on, but he couldn't help but doubt Twilight's assurance that all the ponies before him were his friends. In fact, he knew for certain that Rainbow wasn't.

"Discord...?"

He looked back at Fluttershy. "Hmm?"

"...Should you start, or should I?"

"Oh." Discord waved her on. "You start, I'll cover the complicated magical hullabaloo."

Fluttershy nodded, and laid in the grass so she could look at her friends more easily.

"It started the night before last..."

"And so, badda bing badda boom, you got yourself a brand new Draconequus!"

No one seemed to share Discord's grin as he finished off the story, explaining how Fluttershy managed to fly into the air. In fact, they all looked confused--except Twilight. As soon as Discord finished, Twilight was on her hooves faster than a blink, with an urgent look on her face.

"The Wishwell. You have to show it to me," she said, practically shaking with excitement. "They're one of the rarest plant-like magical objects there are!"

"There are other rare plant-like magical objects...?" Applejack asked, looking at Spike.

He nodded. "Oh, yeah. One-hundred and twelve, actually."

"Dang."

"Oh, well, it's really not that different from the flowers it's around. It just glows a little, if you look hard enough," Fluttershy answered.

"Exactly!" Twilight said, a full blown toothy smile on her face. "That's exactly how it's described in Magical Rarities AND The Book of Fake Fauna! They mimic a plant around them so they aren't easily spotted! So where is it? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, it'll probably be the only one I'll ever see! Oh, why don't I have a camera...?"

A camera magicked itself above Twilight and she caught it with two hooves. She glanced at Discord, who quickly looked away and pretended to be looking towards the cottage. A small smile graced her lips. She wanted to thank him, but decided to do it later when he was less prone to embarrassment.

"Well, it's in the patch of  blue flowers by the cottage," Fluttershy said, pointing over to the blue patch in her front yard. "You should be able to--"

Twilight was already off before she even finished, and Fluttershy laughed. I'm glad she's able to be herself even while I'm like this...That she can forget how I look.

The others didn't seem to forget so easily. As Twilight fervently studied the flower, Pinkie suddenly was at Fluttershy's pouch again, this time opening it all the way and inserting herself into it head-on, her legs dangling out. She had done it so fast that Fluttershy gasped. "Pinkie!"

"It's so warm in here!"

Discord was full-out laughing at this point, clutching his stomach. "Oh, I knew she was eventually going to do it, I could see it coming a mile away!" he said, hardly able to breathe from the hilarity of the situation. He had seen a lot of things in his life, but never had he seen a pony-turned-Draconequus hold a pony friend in her kangaroo pouch. It was perhaps one of the oddest things he'd ever seen.

Fluttershy, blushing and biting her bottom lip, watched as her friend adjusted herself and looked out. "You guys should really try this! I wish I had a pouch like this!"

"I know, right?!?" Discord said.

"Uh, Ah think Ah'm good," Applejack said.

"Me as well," Rarity added.

"It does look kinda warm in there..." Spike said. He looked at Fluttershy and she sighed as she looked into his big green eyes.

"Oh, okay, Spike. I think I'm getting used to the sensation, anyway."

"Whoo!" He ran over to her. "Thanks Fluttershy! Ha-umph!" He pulled himself up by the lip of the pouch and made himself comfortable next to Pinkie, who put a hoof up to him.

"Pouch Pals!"

Spike laughed and high-fived her hoof. "Pouch Pals!"

Fluttershy smiled wider. Maybe it wasn't so bad...and they obviously didn't mind her transformation, either.

"Wait a minute."

All eyes turned to Rainbow Dash, minus the occupied Twilight by the flower patch.

"So lemme get this straight," she said, tapping a hoof to her head. "You," she pointed to Fluttershy. "...were worried that it was your fault because of what he..." She jabbed a hoof at Discord, “did? Because that's just crazy talk!"

She flew between the two Draconequui. "I mean, you were the one that was so nice to Discord all the time, and went through all the torture of being his friend!"

Fluttershy gasped. "Rainbow...Please...It wasn’t torture..."

"Yes, Rainbow. I thought we had settled all of this. Calm down, darling, we'll talk it out properly," Rarity said, patting a place next to her.

"How are you guys so calm?!?" Rainbow said. "In case you haven't noticed, our best friend isn't herself! And once again, it's because of him!"

Discord snarled as Rainbow once again jabbed a hoof towards him. "I'd watch what you were saying, if I were you, dear Rainbow," he said, taking Rainbow's hoof and forcing it away from his snout. "I agree that Fluttershy blamed herself too much, but I'm not the only bad friend here..."

"That's a load of bull!" Rainbow barked. "I'm just calling you a bad friend because it's true! I'm doing just fine, thanks."

"Not just you, Dashie," Discord put curtly. "But all of you! Before the whole betrayal! All of you could have cared less about me, and Fluttershy was the only one sweet enough to actually treat me the way I wanted to be treated."

Applejack's ears fell back in guilt, while Rarity cocked a trimmed brow at him and said, "Excuse me? Exactly what kind of accusation are you making?"

Discord opened his mouth, ready to tell them exactly what he had told Fluttershy the other day, when a different voice spoke out.

"The kind that I was telling you guys about, remember?"

Twilight, finished with her observation of the flower and putting the camera and notes in her saddlebag, came trotting back up to him. "We weren't the best with Discord. We didn't really try to see him as a friend. We treated him more like a nuisance than someone we were trying to teach about friendship. We were always groaning and giving him cold looks when he was around. We didn't really do what we were supposed to...We didn't show him that we're his friends."

Discord's mouth had not closed as he stared at Twilight. "Er, what?" he croaked.

"I agree with you Discord. Fluttershy isn't the one who should have felt it was her fault. Instead, it was all of ours."

"Not Pinkie!" Rainbow interrupted. "She, uh...Well, she offered to help Discord when he was sick! And that had been a prank in the first place!"

She had a victorious smirk on her face as Twilight nodded.

"Discord, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to say that nothing is your fault either," she went on to say. "I admit that we weren't as good as friends as we should have been, but neither were you."

"Oh, yes, of course," Discord said, rolling his eyes. "Sheesh, can't take the blame just on your own, can you? You just have to include me as well!"

"Discord..." a soft voice said.

He flinched as he felt a soft hand on his shoulder and looked at Fluttershy.

"I don't agree that I'm the only faultless one, but you know you made mistakes," she said to him softly. "It's okay. Nopony's going to hurt you."

"Hurt me? Hurt me? Pfft, as if that's what I'm afraid of!" he said, shrugging off Fluttershy's hand.

It stung her a bit as he did so, and he immediately regretted it as he saw it in her face.

It was time for him to admit defeat.

"I...Ugh...Sorry, Fluttershy. Sorry to...to all of you, I suppose..." Discord said. "Yes, even you, Rainbow Dash. It's not like I still don't feel any guilt for what I've done. It's all I was able to really think about for days before this happened, and we all know how rare that is for me. I get it, all right? I know I did a lot of things you weren't exactly enthusiastic about, like making you go all across Equestria just to get ingredients for a fake illness I invented, or traipse through a thorny forest just because of some seeds I ate. I know that I still scared ponies and did things you didn't want me doing. But come on!"

He crossed his arms. "You can't expect me to change my ways as fast as it takes for me to snap my fingers. I'm the spirit of chaos and disharmony. I can't just drop everything I love to do just for the sake of all of you! I need some wiggle room, I can't suffocate in all this harmony!" he said, grabbing his ears and stretching them out like saltwater taffy.

"You'd be able to do it if Fluttershy asked you," Rarity said.

"Only because I know she'd let me do something else with my magic," Discord said. "Make her furniture dance and float, make her stairs into a giant slide, making the floor the ceiling and the ceiling the floor! You would all just tell me to stop and go somewhere else! It's as I said to you Twilight."

He turned to her. "None of you wrote me letters, or invited me for a visit. None of you cared."

"Did you care?" Applejack asked. "Because you know Ah'll be honest with ya, Discord. We didn't really think you wanted our friendship, except for Fluttershy's. We thought you were just using us for yer own entertainment."

"Of course I cared!" He threw his hands out. "Why do you think I betrayed you in the first place?!? I didn't just do it just for the power, you know! I thought I could have it all, friendship included! I didn't think I could be myself with all of you guys, and I wasn't sure you all wanted me in the first place. I thought maybe you were all just using me...Using me to help you keep your little country safe, with little to no concern for me. I..."

He hugged himself and looked away. "I don't think I would have done it, had Tirek not offered to be my friend. I wanted power, but I didn't want to be alone. Nor did I want to be some 'pony errand boy'," he said, grimacing. "But I couldn't deny what Tirek said. I couldn't be sure that any friendship I had was genuine. I wasn't sure if anypony truly wanted me around...Not even Fluttershy. Which was a stupid thing to think," he quickly said, putting a finger on Fluttershy's lips before she could even interject. "A stupid, stupid, horrible doubt that I had. It was obvious that you truly cared about me, but my fears kept me from seeing it. You know that."

Fluttershy smiled and nodded. "I'm glad you know that too."

"Well..." Applejack got up and stretched herself out. "Seems tuh me that we all did somethin' we shoulda done better. So maybe it's about time that we put this behind us, the whole Tirek thing."

She looked at Rainbow Dash. "All of us.”

"I know I will!" Pinkie said, randomly grabbing Spike and hugging him to her chest. "Heh, I already have! I mean, we did hug him, right Rainbow? That's what you said!"

They all looked to the sky blue Pegasus, who took a deep breath and sighed.

"You're gonna help Fluttershy out, right?" she asked Discord, flying up to him. "That's why you're here, right?"

Discord blinked, not sure where this was going, putting a paw up just in case he needed a barrier from her. "Yes..."

But alas, she was still too quick for him as she slapped him on the back, stinging it a little. "Good. Because I'd pound ya if you weren't! I'll let you off the hook again," she said. "Since you actually weren't the one that turned her into a draco-whatever. And maybe I'll let you chill with me, one day, as long as you don't drive me totally crazy. Maybe."

Discord raised a bushy brow at this. "Really?"

"Not until after Fluttershy turns back to a Pegasus!" Rainbow said. "Though who knows how long that will take? You're insane, Fluttershy, trying to understand this guy," she said, looking over at her while pointing a hoof at Discord.

“Well, if she's insane for that, than she's closer to understanding him than any one of us will ever be," Rarity said, a smirk on her lips as she looked straight at him. "Wouldn't you say so, darling?"

"Ohoho, Miss Rarity," Discord said. "You don't even know the half of it."

After getting most things talked over and settled, Rainbow was insistent on Fluttershy going on a flight with her.

“C’mon, I heard you up there, having the time of your life!” she said, a hoof on her shoulder in encouragement. “I’ve never heard you sound so excited about flying before! It was beautiful! Ya gotta show me! C’mon.”

She gave her wings a few flaps. “I promise I won’t make ya look bad,” she said with a wink.

“Well...It was pretty fun, the way the magic does it…” Fluttershy mused. “It doesn’t tire me out like flying with my real body does...And I do need the practice…”

She glanced over at Discord, who gave her a nod. “I’ll be right behind you, Flutterbuddy,” he said, putting an arm around her. “Twilight will come too, for extra friendship power. How’s that sound?”

“Oh,” Twilight said, blinking before nodding, not expecting his answer to include her. “Of course! I’m here for you, Fluttershy.” She gave her a smile.

“Oh, well, you don’t have to,” Fluttershy reassured her. “I trust Discord on his own. Not that I wouldn’t appreciate it, of course, I trust you too, but--”

Twilight only laughed. “It’s fine. I’m interested in seeing how you’re doing, anyway. And I could always use more practice myself. It’s what I was doing before I came here.”

Discord raised an eyebrow at that. “That reminds me. What brought you all here, anyway?”

“Oh, I know, I know!” Pinkie said, who had gotten out of Fluttershy’s pouch after she’d had her fun with it, Spike right beside her. “I told them I had a feeling that we needed to come here, because my Pinkie Sense was going off!”

“Oh, the famous Pinkie sense,” Discord said. “Of course. You know, you and I are going to have a good talk about that one day,” he said, poking Pinkie in the muzzle while doing so. “After all, I’m quite intrigued by the mysteriousness of your sixth sense.”

“It’s not a sixth sense, it’s Pinkie sense,” she reminded him, poking him back. “And hey! I just remembered! Discord, when’s your birthday?”

Discord took a second to register the sudden question, before his eyes grew large and he frowned. “...What?”

Fluttershy’s mouth opened slightly in surprise as she realized that she herself didn’t know Discord’s birthday. They had been friends for quite a while, and she hadn’t once thought to ask him. Shame on you, Fluttershy, she scolded herself. How could you have forgotten something so important?

“Your birthday!” Pinkie repeated with a tiny hop. “When is it? I’ve been meaning to ask you so I can throw you a party! I’ll make a file for you and everything!” She pulled out a manila folder from out of nowhere, the tab reading ‘Discord’ in Pinkie’s curly writing. “You’ll need to tell me the date, what kind of cake you like best, and oooh, don’t forget games! I know how much you love games! Ooh, we could do a mystery dinner party! Or maybe a trampoline and pogo-stick party! Or maybe you’re the food fight party kind of guy? C’mon Cordy,” she said, giving him a slight punch on the side. “Tell me all the juicy details!”

Discord stiffened, aware of the many eyes that were glued to him in anticipation of his answer. In truth, no one had ever asked him that question; no one ever cared. But he had hoped that it would stay that way.

A distraction. I need a distraction!

Discord’s tail subtly formed fingers behind his back and snapped them. A heavy wind began to blow. Pretending to gasp, he licked his finger and lifted it up to feel it.

“My my, do you feel that wind? It’s getting strong, isn’t it? Pinkie, as much as I would love to answer that question, I’m afraid if Dashie wants to fly with Fluttershy, they’re going to have to do it now, before it gets too risky. You know how it is, safety first!” A yellow hard hat appeared on his head.

Pinkie’s ears turned down. “Aww!” she whined. “But I really really reeeaaaaally need to know!”

“Perhaps another time,” Discord replied, jumping up and flying before looking at Fluttershy. “Come on, Flutterbuddy, Dashie, Sparky. I don’t want any of you to tire out if the wind picks up, come come!”

“Pfft, you think a coupla gusts of wind are gonna bother me?” Rainbow asked smugly. “Puh-lease. I’ve flown in winds ten times harder than this.”

“Maybe you can, but they certainly can’t,” he said, nodding towards the other two. “AJ, Pinkie, Rarity, Spike...keep your ground,” he joked with a wink, before shooting upward.

Rainbow joined him next, while Twilight watched them suspiciously. “...That was weird.”

“Everythin’s weird, if yer askin’ me,” Applejack said. “Magic flowers, wishes turnin’ friends into other creatures, Discord freezin’ up over his own birthday. One of these days, nothin’s gonna surprise me anymore. But go on now.” She waved them off. “If the wind’s pickin’ up, you don’t wanna have any struggles flyin’. Go on, Fluttershy, go show ol’ Rainbow how ya do it.” She gave Fluttershy a confident smile.

“Oh, yes, you’re right,” Fluttershy nodded. “Thanks Applejack. Are you sure you all don’t mind waiting?

“We’ll watch from down here, darling,” Rarity assured her, getting out a sketchbook and a pencil. “We’ll be fine.”

With that, Fluttershy closed her eyes and concentrated, remembering what Discord taught her. It took her a minute, but soon enough, she was floating, and her onlookers watched with interest.

“Come on Flutters!” Rainbow Dash called out, peeking out at her over a cloud with Discord beside her. “We ain’t got all day!”

“Oops, sorry!” She rose up, Twilight following after her.

On the ground, Pinkie sighed as she put the file away. “I was really hoping to learn about Discord’s birthday. The wind is mean.”

Applejack just snorted in amusement. “Yeah, well, maybe it ain’t the wind that’s the problem. Don’t ya think Discord was actin’ kinda strange when ya asked him? And I don’t mean his usual...strangeness. A different kind.”

“I guess...Do you think he’ll tell me later?”

“Just keep askin’ him, and I’m sure you’ll get yer answer.” AJ smirked, and then looked to Rarity, who seemed to be busy sketching. It was most likely a future outfit for the boutique or something, though what it was, AJ couldn’t tell.

She just shrugged. Ah well. All things would be answered…

She looked up to the sky to watch her friends.

Eventually…

While Rainbow and Fluttershy did some basic warm-up exercises, Discord and Twilight got front row cumulus cloud seats to the spectacle. They had sat there for a few moments, eyes on the Pegasus and the (hopefully) temporary Draconequus as they did a few figure-eights in the sky.

Twilight took this time to assess the current situation, to take all the information given to her and process it. So Fluttershy was a Draconequus, and the only way to turn her back was to ‘understand Discord’, whatever that meant. Currently, Discord seemed convinced that if she understood how her new body worked, she would then come to understand him in turn. Twilight agreed partially with this theory; after all, the Wishwell hadn’t just given her the body of a Draconequus, but the magic as well. And this magic was volatile, almost as if it had its own mind, and the body merely its host. It could act on its own if the body and mind could not could not guide it. Teaching Fluttershy how to handle such a dangerous magic was not only a way to fulfill her wish, but a safety precaution for both her and all those around her.

But that wasn’t all there was to it--Twilight had no doubt about that. She had listened to Fluttershy’s story with the same attention she gave her beloved books, soaking in the details so she could examine and evaluate them on her own time. And if there was only one clear thing about the entire situation, it was this--Fluttershy’s wish was to understand Discord, not Draconequui. Her wish was specific, and it was focused solely on the creature that sat beside her.

As this came to her mind, Twilight glanced at him, her eyes scanning his face and stopping at his distracted eyes. His mouth was a deep, straight line, his ears laid back against his head. He rested on his stomach with his claw rested over his paw, his tail leisurely curled to his side.

While this face was by far the most serious look she had ever seen on him, it was his eyes that really caught her attention. He had a specific target, and he was so focused on it that it was easily reflected in his eyes.

“Rainbow!” Fluttershy’s voice rang. “H-Hey, ahaha! S-Stop it!”

Fluttershy’s face burst into a smile as she laughed, with Rainbow tickling her long, draconic tail as she flew around it, brushing it with her feathery wings and messy multicolored tail.

Twilight didn’t need to look at her directly to see her laugh; she could see it reflected perfectly in Discord’s golden crimson eyes.

It was funny; by all circumstances, she felt she shouldn’t trust the Draconequus. And in a lot of ways, she still didn’t. She wouldn’t ask him to gather up any active villains any time soon, or any other task akin to what Celestia asked of him.

But ever since she saved him from Tirek’s clutches, ever since he gave her the key to the chest, she began to see him in a more positive light. And as she watched him there, his eyes focused on his oldest and closest friend, Twilight realized something else.

She trusted him with Fluttershy.

She had done so before, of course. After all, Fluttershy had always been able to handle Discord when no one else could. Twilight hadn’t felt the need to supervise every tea party they had together, hadn’t snuck into Fluttershy’s mailbox to read the letters he wrote to her every week. But she trusted him with her because she had faith in Fluttershy.

This time, she needed to have faith in Discord, and she found that she did. In that moment, his focus was all on Fluttershy. He followed her every move, his ears occasionally twitching only to her voice. He was dedicated to her, indebted to her.

If Fluttershy’s magic were to stop, if she were to fall to the ground, he would be there to swoop in to catch her. If some giant dangerous monster with wings came out of nowhere to make Fluttershy his dinner, Discord would be there in a literal snap to protect her. If Fluttershy’s magic overwhelmed her at any time, acting of its own accord and panicking her, he would be there to calm her down and help her control the chaos.

Discord cared about Fluttershy; she was his friend, and she had somehow wormed her way into his stubborn ancient heart. He would do his best not to hurt her again, not like he did when he allied himself with Tirek. Not on purpose.

All of this, Twilight could see in his eyes. They weren’t the eyes of a hungry predator after his prey, but those of a concerned and loyal friend looking out for someone he loved.

But there was something else there too--he refused to acknowledge Twilight’s presence. Yet he had been the reason she was up there, wasn’t he? He wanted her with him, for some reason, but he wasn’t sure how to proceed. Was he nervous? Unsure of himself? Or perhaps he was just being annoying again, waiting for her to crack and try to force the words out of him?

Twilight shook her head...No, she couldn’t get frustrated with him, not after she promised herself she’d try to be more patient with him. She had to be more accepting, more open with him. They couldn’t go back to how it was before. That’s what had got them in trouble in the first place.

“Discord, are you okay?”

He blinked at her question, before finally taking his eyes off Fluttershy and instead focusing them on Twilight. “Hmm?”

“You don’t really need me up here,” she said, sweeping a foreleg around. “You could easily control anything that would go wrong. So why did you insist that I come up with you?”

Blinking, he gave a small shrug. “There’s safety in numbers, is there not? Nothing wrong with being extra careful. Why? Do you not want to be here? Because I’m not stopping you.”

Twilight’s ears sagged. Instead of feeling aggravated by his obvious lie, she felt...disappointed. Her voice was softer than she intended when she finally spoke. “Don’t lie to me, Discord.”

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, not used to such a quiet tone coming from Twilight. Why, she very nearly sounded like Fluttershy! “Hmmm?”

She broke eye contact with him, watching Rainbow and Fluttershy fly through rings of cloud. “What do you want to say to me?”

“Say to you? Whatever are you--”

“There’s something you’re not saying,” Twilight said. “Something you’re afraid to talk about. What is it?”

Discord’s lips curled back in a slightly annoyed scowl. “You know, you may be a Princess now, but you’re really starting to sound too much like Tia for my taste. Always talking as if you’re some sort of mindreader, acting like you know what’s going on in my mind.”

This time it was Twilight’s turn to scoff. “Oh please. As if anypony could know what’s going on in that crazy head of yours. I may be a, uh...big fan of Celestia’s…” A bright pink blush overtook Twilight’s face. “But even she can’t predict what you’re thinking. But I just know there’s something you want to say to me and can’t. I just…” She looked at his claw and put a hoof on it. “I just want to know what it is.”

Discord just stared at her for a second, overly aware of the hoof that laid on his claw, another thing that only Fluttershy usually did. He then took a deep breath.

“Oh, fine, Princess. You got me!” He raised his paw up in surrender, and left his other claw under Twilight’s grip. “I do have something to say to you, I just don’t know how to go about it, and I don’t want you thinking I’m some puddle of sentimental mush afterward.”

She laughed. “I highly doubt I’ll ever think of the World’s Biggest Headache as a ‘puddle of sentimental mush’,” she said, lifting up both hooves and making quotations. “That’s more my thing than yours.”

He sighed again, and looked at her sincerely. “I just...I just wanted to say…”

“Mmm-hmm?” She nodded. Discord growled at her satisfied, expectant smirk and her one raised eyebrow.

“Would you stop looking like that? I’m trying to tell you something important here!” he said.

Twilight tapped her hoof to her chin in thought. “Hmmmm….Nah. It’s payback for every time you did it to me.” Her smirk returned.

“Ohohoho, you…!” He grit his teeth, which only made Twilight snicker.

“Come on, Discord. Just tell me! The sooner you do the sooner it’ll be over. Or is that too logical for you?”

He gave her an angry pout. “You know what? Forget it. We’re not friends, and I’m not going to thank you again for saving me from Tirek. I know I had thanked you when I first got out of that blasted bubble, but it was short and I had wanted to expand on that, but now....” He crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out at her.

“You wanted to thank me again?” Twilight asked.

“I wanted to, yes. But now…”

“It wasn’t that much, you know,” Twilight interrupted him. “I mean, I had no idea what Tirek was going to do...What he was going to do to you. And if I think about all the things he might have planned…” A shiver went down her spine. “I don’t care how bad or chaotic you are...I wouldn’t want that on anypony…”

Discord’s arms loosened across his chest and his face softened. “...Really?”

She gave a single nod. “I said I’d be your friend, and I wasn’t going to go back on it. I know I was eager to turn you back to stone the first day we released you, but I saw how much faith Fluttershy had in you. And I could see how worried she was for you even after you betrayed her…” Her eyes flicked over to Fluttershy, who was currently being praised by Rainbow Dash for her newfound athletic stamina. “And any friend of Fluttershy’s is a friend of mine.”

She gazed back at him. “And that includes you.”

Discord couldn’t stop it before his eyes grew watery, and Twilight became slightly blurry in his vision. He sniffed and closed his eyes for a moment to gain his composure. Twilight smiled softly and waited patiently for him.

“...Thank you. Truly.” His voice was low and sincere. “You didn’t have to do any of it, but you did. I’m glad to...to have you around.” His face grew slightly hot.

Her smile turned to a smirk again. “I’m glad we’re friends too, Discord.”

Gah. He hated that smirk. He swore she picked that up from him. He stubbornly looked away from her and back on Fluttershy.

They were silent for a few more moments before he remembered something. “And one other thing, Twilight.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t tell Tia about this. Fluttershy and I sent her a few letters last night, requesting that I stay here with her, but we left out the whole ‘Flutters-the-Draconequus’ part. So be sure to keep those pretty little lips sealed, hmm? No letters, either.”

“...You WHAT?” Her eyes bugged out and her hair stood on end. “You mean Celestia doesn’t know? Discord, this is a big thing that’s happened! The flower in itself needs to be studied, and if something happens, we may need to get the Royal Guard to come here to help with anything! And Princess Celestia might be able to--”

“Anything Fluttershy does is nothing I can’t handle, Twily,” Discord shot back. “The Royal Guard knows absolutely nothing on how to combat unharnessed chaos magic. That’s my role. And if your precious little Sun Horse finds out about this, then what do you think will happen, hmm?”

Twilight stood on all four legs now, no longer feeling so relaxed. “Well, I--”

“I’ll tell you what will happen: Celestia and Luna will make a ginormous deal out of it, and require that poor little Fluttershy come and stay at the castle until she turns back. She won’t be able to be in her cottage, with no chance of finding her little animal friends again until she’s allowed to return. And we don’t know how long this spell will last, so what if she’s there for a long period of time? She’ll be absolutely miserable, Twilight.”

He crossed his leg and steepled his fingers together as he continued. “The six of you can’t be in Canterlot all the time to visit, and she won’t have anything familiar around her. I’d be with her, yes, and I suppose she likes the Princesses well enough, but she’s a homebody, Twilight. She would get homesick and she would miss the rest of you. Not only that, but Fluttershy’s cottage is secluded and private. Thanks to that, she can practice her magic with a lesser risk of affecting anypony else.”

“I guess that makes sense, but Discord, what if something happens and we need her? What if--?”

Discord covered her mouth and shut her up with a paw. “Like I said, Princess--I can handle it. I’m far more than capable of protecting Fluttershy and the town than Celestia will ever be. You may not agree with me, but it’s the truth and I’m sticking to it. Besides...Like I said, the cottage is private. Canterlot? Not so much. Fluttershy won’t be able to hide in the city, and she’ll get noticed if she goes there. Do you want all of Equestria in a panic over another Draconequus? I don’t exactly have a shining reputation, and they'll assume that she’ll act just like me.”

She shoved his claw off of her. “No they--”

“Yes they will, and you know it. You and I and all our little friends may know Fluttershy, but most don’t. I’m not even sure if most know who all the Elements of Harmony’s names are. They might know their faces, but Fluttershy’s face is not exactly the same as it was before.”

“B-But…” Her breathing grew deeper, and a trickle of sweat slipped down her face. “I...I’m a Princess now. It’s my responsibility...to let the others know what’s going on in my town...I can’t lie to Celestia!”

“Woah, calm down there, bookworm!” He summoned a paper bag and handed it to Twilight. “Just the fact that you are a Princess now means that you can keep a secret or two to yourself. You’re in charge here!” he said with a flourish. “And besides, does Celestia tell you of every little problem that arises in the rest of Equestria? Of course not!”

She paused her deep breathing and took her muzzle out of the bag. “I wouldn't exactly call this a little problem, Discord.”

“Perhaps not, but I mean it, Sparkle. We can’t tell her. I’m not even doing this for my sake! ...At least, mostly I’m not,” he muttered. “It’s for Fluttershy! You know she’s better off here with me! Fluttershy doesn’t do well with a lot of changes when she’s all freaked out.” He wiggled his fingers and made his eyes cross. “She’s not like me in that regard. The more we can keep the same for her, then the better she’ll be.”

Twilight swallowed so loudly that Discord could hear it. He started to grin. He was getting to her.

“...I don’t like it,” she said.

“I know you don’t.”

“...Can I just...think about this, for a while? I need...time to wrap my head around everything.”

“Sure, as long as you don’t tell Celestia while you’re thinking about it. I will fight you on this, Twilight. I’ll fight you until you’re sick of my voice.”

“I won’t!” Twilight argued back. “I just..” She sighed. “Can I come and check on you guys, then? Just to help keep my peace of mind?”

“Oh, fine, fine,” Discord said, waving her off as if this were all no big deal. “She’ll probably want to see all of you anyway. But not tomorrow. I’ve got plans for the two of us tomorrow.”

“Plans?”

“Yes, we’ll be taking a little field trip tomorrow. I just decided! The poor thing’s been so stressed lately. She needs a vacation! And I can teach her a few things on the way.” His lips turned to a small grin.

“Discord!” Twilight stomped a hoof in protest and flew up to his face. “You literally just told me that she needs familiarity, that she needs to stay at the cottage! Now you’re asking me to consider lying to Princess Celestia while you two take a vacation?!?”

“Calm down, Sparky.” Discord used his paw to push her head down gently, forcing her to sit back on the cloud and fold her wings in. “It’ll only be for a day, and we’ll be right back. We won’t go anywhere that ponies will be present. Your precious little country will be safe.””

“Where are you even going?”

“Oh, just a favorite spot of mine. Nowhere in my chaos dimension, don’t worry.”

“But what if you need help or if something goes wrong?!?” Twilight said. “You said so yourself--there’s safety in numbers! I know you can handle it yourself, but--”

“Twilight, relax.” He cupped her chin and gave her the most serious look he could muster, making her pause. “Everything will be just hunky-dory, I promise you. I won’t let anything happen to Fluttershy. Trust me; she needs this.”

She stared back up at him for a few seconds. He wanted her to trust him. She knew she should try--she was going to have to. But...it was so much easier said than done.

“...I...I’ll try,” she relented.

“That’s all I ask,” he said, letting her chin go. “See? Aren’t I just the most undemanding friend you could ask for? I never ask for much. I’ve only ever wanted trust and a glass of water!”

He snickered as Twilight glared at him. “Don’t push it, buster,” she warned.

“You know I will anyway, Sparky.”

“Ugh.”

Fluttershy began to feel a bit worn out after about an hour, and the four of them made it back to the ground as the time for dinner approached.

Her hair partially covering her face, she giggled and blushed. “Yeah...Thank you. I’m still not as good as you, though,” she said with a smile.

“Hah, well, I am sorta awesome at flying,” Rainbow bragged, a hoof on her heart. “But hey, keep dreamin’ big. You never know. But that was totally awesome!” She hoof-bumped her rabbit paw. “I’ll have to come back before this spell is over and race you.”

“Oh, well...I don’t know when I’ll change back, but sure,” she said. “I’d like that.”

Rarity, who had finished packing her things, put her saddlebag back on. “Well, Fluttershy, it’s been quite a surprise, but I’ll be back soon as well, to take measurements.”

Fluttershy wrinkled her forehead. “Measurements?”

“But of course!” Rarity said. “You don’t think I’d pass the chance for a challenge like this, do you? A dress for a Draconequus!” She clapped her hooves in excitement. “I’ll make sure it’s absolutely divine!”

“And Fluttershy needs a dress why, exactly?” Discord asked dryly, looking at Rarity somewhat suspiciously. “Do you have a problem with the way she looks?”

“Of course not!” she argued back. “Granted, I’m not quite used to you looking like a Draconequus quite yet,” Rarity said to Fluttershy. “But you’re as beautiful as ever, darling. I just want to try making a dress for you, is all!”

Both Discord and Fluttershy stared at her, stunned. Fluttershy blushed from the compliment, while Discord looked slightly miffed.

“You’ve never called me beautiful,” Discord huffed. “Even though we all know it’s true. Where’s my adoration and praise, hmmm?”

“This isn’t about you, Discord. Besides, Fluttershy is infinitely more adorable than you are, no matter the form she’s in.” She smushed Fluttershy’s cheeks together as she smiled up at her. “And she’ll be even more so in a custom-made dress just for her!”

“You really don’t have to--” she managed to say, despite her cheeks being squeezed together.

“Oh, but I must! I’ve been making designs ever since you went flying! It’ll be a wonderful surprise! I’ll come by soon to make some measurements.”

Discord just stood beside her, hunched over and huffing. “I am so adorable.”

Only Fluttershy seemed to have heard him as she pat him on the back with a smile.

“You’ll have to come the day after tomorrow though, Rarity. Apparently they’re going for a trip tomorrow,” Twilight added. “And speaking of trips, I think Spike and I had better head home…” She smiled as her number one assistant climbed on her back. “Hungry, Spike?”

“Starving,” he complained. “But we got a giant emerald back home with my name written all over it!”

“That reminds me! I have to go help look after Pound and Pumpkin while the Cakes restock the store!” Pinkie remembered as she gasped. “I almost forgot! D’awww. Oh well!”

She bounced back up, then looked at Discord. She shoved a hoof in his nose. “Don’t think this is over, mister. I’ll find out your birthday, no matter what!”

Discord tried not to gulp. Pinkie really threw him off sometimes. Too much for his own liking.

They all then agreed to start making their way back to town for their different reasons--besides, it wasn’t only Spike that was ready for dinner.

“So...I’ll see you all later, I hope…?” Fluttershy said, twiddling her fingers.

Their voices all mixed together as they all assured her they would.

“Of course darling!”

“You know it!”

“Yeah, and we can throw a Draconequus party!”

“Duh!”

“Somepony’s gotta look after ya besides Discord. Ah’ll bring ya some good stuff to eat.”

Twilight smiled, though her nerves were still on high alert from the thought of keeping anything from Celestia. “Nothing between us has changed, Fluttershy,” she assured her.

Twilight then gave her a hug around the torso, and soon all the girls were having a big group hug. Discord rolled his eyes. “So corny, blech…”

Fluttershy giggled and surprised Discord by wrapping her tail around him and forcing him into the hug, making the others laugh.

“Hey!” Discord argued, his face red. “Fluttershy! That’s my thing! I’m the one that’s supposed to grab you when you least expect it!”

He only complained more as they all laughed. He tried to ignore the lightweight, warm feeling in his chest.

Pfffft. Friendship.

The girls all separated at a point in the road, with Rainbow setting off to the sky and Pinkie bouncing hurriedly down the dirt path, explaining quickly that she had to keep going or she’d be late. AJ and Rarity were about to join her when Twilight stopped them.

“Can you take Spike with you?” Twilight said. “I think I need to...take a little walk.”

Rarity and AJ shared a look before looking back at her.

“Sure, but is everything alright, Twi?” Applejack asked as Spike took his favorite place by Rarity’s side. “Still reelin’ from the whole Fluttershy thing?”

“Yeah, amongst the usual crazy stuff,” Twilight joked. “Spike, I’ll see you at home soon, okay? I won’t be long.”

“No problemo,” Spike assured her, giving her a salute. “I’ll have a grilled cheese sandwich waitin’ for ya when you do!”

She laughed, rubbing Spike affectionately on the head. “Thanks, Spike. Thanks girls,” she added, smiling at them. “I’ll see you all later.”

Once they were out of sight, Twilight’s wings flared open, and she flew over the canopy of the forest. As often as she had been in the Everfree, she still liked the advantage she had with wings. It was still creepy in that place, and it was nice that she could just head on over there whenever she wanted without having to trek through all the trees.

When she found the correct spot, she gently flew down and landed in front of Zecora’s hut.

But before she could even knock, the door opened for her. Expecting to see a zebra, she gasped when a blue flower with tiny wings hovered in front of her.

“You again? But I turned you back to normal!”

“Sometimes normal is not always best; it can be good to stick out from the rest.”

Twilight’s eyes landed on Zecora, who made her way to her guest, opening the door wider for her. “Please, come into my humble abode,”  she invited, gesturing towards a chair at her table. “And allow yourself to unload.”

Twilight did as she suggested and sat at the familiar wooden chair. “So...how did you know the flower had…?” she began to ask.

“I think you already know the answer to that,” Zecora said as she shut the door closed and joined her at the table. “That’s why we’re here, to have a little chat.” She crossed her hooves, a serene smile on her face. It reminded Twilight briefly of Celestia--always smiling. Were most wise ponies always so smiley?

She shook the thought off. I can’t get off track. “What do you mean?”

“You and I both know why you are here. Why hesitate? Go on, share with me your fear.”

“...Does that mean I’m right when I suspect you have something to do with Fluttershy’s current...predicament?” Twilight said carefully. “I mean, there’s a Wishwell involved, and I’ve read all there can be read on them; there’s not that much known about them. But what we do know is that it’s not a plant. It’s a solid form of Earth magic.”

Flower flippity-flapped onto Zecora’s shoulder, curving its stem as if it had a hide to sit on. It cocked its head at Twilight.

“And anypony who studies magic knows that Zebras are the only creatures that can communicate with Earth Magic. Has Discord come to talk to you?” Twilight asked.

Zecora laughed. “He has no need to come see me; that’s how it is supposed to be. He knows what he needs to do; the one that needs directions is you.” She tapped Twilight on the chest.

“Huh?”

“It is true that I have put a hoof into all that has occurred,” Zecora continued to explain, taking a pause to sip at some tea. “Though it was not my idea; of that, you have my word. It is the Earth magic that asked me to plant the seed. And as its servant, I made sure to do the deed.”

Twilight graciously accepted a cup of tea after Zecora finished pouring one for her. “So you knew that Fluttershy would turn into a Draconequus.”

Zecora shook her head. “No, and I had no idea what kind of wish Fluttershy would make. But I did not need to; there was too much at stake.”

Her words made Twilight stop mid-sip. Her ears perked up as she straightened in her seat. “Too much at stake?”

Zecora nodded. “As you have begun to learn, Princess, this world of magic is full of mystery….but also fragility. You see, there is a Balance, written with a capital ‘B’. On one side, there is disorder…”

She raised one hoof, and then another, imitating a balance beam. “And on the other, harmony. This is one of the many things that the Earth keeps in check. Without the Balance, this planet’s a wreck.”

Twilight’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Are you saying that we actually need chaos and disorder? Why?”

“Ponies have labeled Discord’s passions as evil and bad. It is very rare that his antics make anyone glad. But if his powers were not necessary, then why would Discord be here?” She tilted her head at Twilight.

“I don’t know,” she answered, eyes now on the table. “I guess I never really thought about it…”

Zecora smiled again, and said softly: “Even he has a purpose, and it is not to cause fear. In the past, he has been quite a harm and has gone astray...but that is not where his destiny lay. If he were truly an evil foe, then reformation would not have been the way to go. But Fluttershy was able to see all that he could be...even when he could not.”

Her voice then turned more somber. “But then he decided to give world domination another shot.”

Twilight nodded. “Which is what lead to Fluttershy making her wish in the first place...Listen, I mean this in the most respectful of ways, but Zecora...I already know all of that. What I don’t get is what that has to do with the Balance, and why it’s apparently...at risk?”

The Zebra was not insulted, more than happy to explain things further for her. “You have seen the depth of Discord’s regret and self-hatred. He was incredibly depressed after Tirek was defeated. Fluttershy, too, was at a loss for what to do. She felt it was her fault that it turned out the way it did, and they avoided each other, for the pain was too hard to rid.”

She paused to take a breath. “The only reason Discord had come to Ponyville all those days ago, was because he sensed powerful magic had come to flow. He thought Fluttershy was in danger, afraid harm would come to her through a dangerous stranger. Do you think he would have gone to her otherwise? I do not think so. He would have most definitely been a no-show.”

“You mean they were supposed to meet anyway?” Twilight guessed.

Zecora nodded, taking another sip to wet her throat. “They usually meet once a week to share cake and tea. But when it came to Fluttershy’s friendship, he felt no longer worthy. It was predicted by the Earth and by me, that he would not show up for tea.”

“Aaaaaaaand this was a threat to the Balance?” Twilight said, not quite buying it yet. “Because Discord was going to stand Fluttershy up?”

Zecora laughed again. “Always the sarcastic one, you are. Oh, Twilight, you have come so very far…” She laughed a few more times before calming down, putting a hoof on her chest. “But the answer is no, my little pony. That is only part of the story. You see, Fluttershy’s friendship with Discord is more important than even Celestia knows...and in time, this will come to show. But Discord’s magic is needed now, more than ever, my friend. His powers and skills...must never come to an end.”

Blink, blink. “You mean...You think Discord would have felt so guilty that he would have stopped using his magic?”

“He would not have stopped it entirely...It would be impossible for him to do so completely. But…”

Her gaze went past Twilight to the far window, where she watched a few leaves being blown by the wind. “He would have eventually cut off all ties with Equestria, including his favorite pony...even if it made him very lonely. He would have refused to be our ally, and all we’d have left, forever…the power of harmony.”

“Really?” Twilight whispered. “He felt that bad?”

“So strongly that the Earth itself could feel his pain; his grief would eventually have driven him insane. But his friendship with Fluttershy…It is a symbol of two forces coming together to become something unstoppable. For with the power of both harmony and chaos, nothing is impossible. For is it not in a struggle that we learn to conquer? Is it not in disharmony that we grow stronger? Chaos has a beauty and a significance all on its own; there is no reason for it to be all alone. Ponies, including myself, have failed to understand Discord, that much is true--but that is what Fluttershy is striving to do.”

Zecora’s gaze stayed on the window for a moment longer, and Twilight paused to wrap her head around her words.

“...So ponies need to be able to understand Discord’s side of things...and Fluttershy’s the one that can make that happen...because their friendship is important to both of them. She can understand him, and even learn firsthand how chaos magic can help the world...and set an example for everypony else.”

Zecora looked back at Twilight, and smiled her approval, nodding. “And the Balance will not go askew, and happiness will come to the unlikely two.”

A smile finally came to Twilight’s face, the fog of her mind slowly dissipating into something akin to understanding. She still wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but she understood the gist of it. But if Twilight was being honest with herself, the last reason was the one Twilight most cared about.

Happiness will come to the unlikely two.

“...And can you be sure that this will happen? Can we be certain that Fluttershy will turn back?” Twilight asked softly.

“That is something only time will tell.” Zecora slid off her chair, with Flower still at her side, and came over to Twilight, a supportive hoof on her withers. “We can’t time it like an alarm clock or the ringing of a bell. But Fluttershy and Discord are a good team, and I have faith that her wish will come true. And I’d like to think that you do too.”

Twilight nodded. “...I do. But I’m worried…There’s not much I can do for them, and they want me to keep it a secret from Princess Celestia. I don’t want to lie to her, Zecora! I never lie to the Princesses.”

She clutched Zecora by the withers. “I understand that this is all important, and Discord actually made sense when he explained why Celestia shouldn’t know, but--”

Zecora was quick to interrupt her, putting a hoof to her lips.  “Hush now, child...There’s no need for your worries to make you wild.” She gently removed Twilight’s hooves from her withers and held them together between her own.

“It is natural for you to be concerned; especially since you are the Princess of Friendship, the title you’ve earned. But I’m afraid what Discord asked of you--I must do the same. But of this, you will not have to take the blame.”

“What do you mean? You think Celestia will find out? Ugh…” Twilight shook her head. “Of course she will. She and Luna, maybe even Cadance! They’re the Princesses! And Fluttershy’s a Draconequus with powers! That can’t possibly be hidden forever. I have to tell them. I can’t just…”

“You can and you must, and my words you must trust.” She put a hoof on Twilight’s cheek, an urgency in her eyes that Twilight hadn’t seen before.

“ I promise you, Twilight Sparkle, that you will not be at fault when this is over and done. I will be the one, when the Princesses come to call, to take responsibility for it all. They too know of the Earth and my duty of service. They will understand after I explain. So please, do not be nervous.”

Tears came to Twilight's eyes.  “It’s hard being a Princess, Zecora. This whole year, all that’s happened...And now this, where I have to keep all these secrets...It’s so difficult.”

Zecora’s heart then overflowed with affection for the young Princess. She had known that Twilight had been through a lot, but she hadn’t expected the tears. Twilight was always such a brave and strong pony...So she couldn’t help but feel sorry that she had put this extra burden on her friend’s withers.

Flower seemed to have felt the same way, for it flitted over to Twilight and brushed a stray tear away from her face, the sensation tickling her and making her giggle. “H-Hey! I’m not a watering can, you know.”

“It likes to be nuzzled, the little Flower does,” Zecora added. “I decided to keep it as company...just because.” She smiled.

Twilight laughed again and nuzzled the flower right on the yellow face of it. “I can see why. I’m sorry I took your wings away, uh...Little Flower, was it?…I didn’t think you liked flying so much!”

With a leaf, Flower seemed to wave it off. As far as Flower was concerned, all was well.

Zecora then gently pulled Twilight into a hug. “I know being a Princess is hard, and I’ve made it harder still. But you know if you ever need anypony to help you with anything, then come to me, and I will.”

Twilight sniffled as she hugged her back, and she was soothed once more. “Thank you, Zecora,” she said after pulling away. “I know you’re only doing what the magic wants you to do. I trust you. I’ll pull through, somehow. It’ll be hard, but I won’t tell Celestia or anypony else. And I’m guessing I need to keep quiet about all you’ve told me from Fluttershy and Discord too?”

Zecora could not resist rhyming with her, and grinned.

“Please and thank you.”

They laughed together as Flower laid down on a pillow by the hearth to rest. The day was coming to an end.

But even as Zecora laughed, she knew that was all that would end anytime soon.

For the journey has only begun.