"Twilight? You down here?" Spike stood at the top of the flight of stairs that led to a dimly lit expanse of a room he liked to call "the Dungeon". The crystal walls reflected what little light that emanated from below, coming only from the various candles that dotted the room. It was meant to be a study, but being what one could loosely call a basement and being where the resident princess preformed her self-dubbed "experiments" gave it a gloomier atmosphere. Well, perhaps "gloomy" wasn't the right word. Spike often found himself dreading traveling down those stairs, which is why he was currently calling down from the top. Where there was light.
"Yes, I'm just working out a few things!" Twilight called back, still unseen. "What time is it?"
"Like eight o'clock. In the morning," he answered, worry tinging his voice.
A few moments of silence reigned before Twilight spoke again.
"I'll be up in a few, okay?"
Spike sighed and shook his head. He walked away toward the kitchen, off to start boiling water for the coffee Twilight would surely want once she returned to the "real world". He hadn't seen this kind of behavior from her since before she'd become a princess -- and he couldn't say that it was something he missed. She'd been down there all night, ever since he'd brought up the date. Twilight had mentioned something about coming up with a proper plan, and Spike couldn't help but worry about the implications.
He still couldn't wrap his head around why Twilight would even want to go on a second date with somepony she didn't like. It seemed pretty simple to him; if you didn't like somepony, you don't go out with them. Right?
As he turned the dial to lit the stove, he furrowed his brow. Something was definitely wrong, but after Twilight's recount about Celestia a few days ago... he wasn't sure who to turn to. He didn't want to start a fuss by going to Rarity and the others, and he wasn't sure how well Luna would receive another letter by dragonfire. He carried a copper teapot over to the sink.
As cold water filled the pot, Spike could hear Twilight's hooves on the smooth, crystal floor.
He might just have to wait it out.
Fluttershy waited patiently at her kitchen table for Discord to arrive. It wasn't time for their weekly tea yet—no, that would be two days from now—but she expected him anyway. It had been two days since his date, and she hadn't heard a thing from him since Friday afternoon. Plus, there was that secret he was keeping from her, and she couldn't let him get away with not telling her for too long, could she?
In many ways, Discord was like the little brother she never had. He was still learning about the social constructs of the world, and was quite foalish if she was to be honest with herself. She cared for him very much—too much sometimes, perhaps. She was a bit worried about how the date had gone, for both him and Twilight, and wondered briefly where he was. Surely, he hadn't stayed the night with her. There would be no way Twilight Sparkle, studious and proper Twilight Sparkle, would let someone stay the night so soon? Even if he was allowed to stay, how would they even-
"Eep!" Fluttershy squeaked. Her face glowed red.
Stop thinking about that, she thought to herself. Being a pervert wouldn't help anything. It wasn't like it was any of her business anyway. It wasn't her job to know how two different species would-
"Stop that!" she yelped.
"Stop what?"
"Ack!" Fluttershy nearly fell out of her chair. There, across from her at the table, sat Discord. "Discord, you frightened me!"
"I'm ever so sorry, my dear. I'll try to be more careful in the future," he apologized. He snapped a tea kettle and two teacups into existence. A steady stream of steam rose from the kettle. "I've brought the tea this time, so no need to get up."
"Why, it isn't Tuesday, Discord," Fluttershy said, head cocked to the side. Now that really was strange. No teasing? No fuss?
"Oh, it isn't? Well, let us have tea anyway, shall we? I don't think they ever made a law against tea on Sundays, do you?" He gingerly picked the kettle up by the handle and poured tea for the both of them.
"Is something wrong?" Fluttershy asked. Oh, but there was no question about that. He seemed... calmer. No, that wasn't the word. He seemed deflated.
"Now why would you think that?" He took a sip of his tea.
"You're acting strange," she answered. She grasped her teacup in her hooves and took a small, careful sip.
"How's that new? Do you forget who I am? I'm not exactly what one would consider normal, now am I?" He gave a small, wry smile.
"I mean, you're acting different. You don't seem the same today," she clarified. And now he was avoiding talking about it. Something had definitely happened.
"I'm just tired. I stayed up all night; it really wasn't a good idea. I feel like I could sleep for days." Another sip.
"Speaking of last night," she began. This was it. "How'd it go?"
"What, the date? It was fine," Discord answered quickly. "You doing anything special today? I wouldn't like to bother you all that much, but I really am exhausted. I don't think I'll be able to get home quite yet. Would you mind if I crashed here for a bit?"
"No, not at all." So it hadn't gone well at all. He had been so happy when she accepted his invitation... what exactly could have happened? She knew that he secretly had pretty thin skin for an age-old being of chaos, but he just seemed... absent.
She watched as he got up from his seat and slunk out into the living room. That couch was pretty much his now—Angel wouldn't even touch it.
"Would you like a blanket?" she called after him. "And you didn't finish your-"
"No, I'll be fine," he interrupted her. "Thank you for your hospitality, Fluttershy."
He didn't say another word.
Fluttershy frowned. What had happened? What could have possibly gone so terribly wrong that he'd be this upset? Had Twilight said something? Had they had an argument? Maybe he'd just been disappointed? Oh, she'd probably gone off all about her books again, hadn't she? Rarity had always told her that Twilight would be the boring type on a date. Had it turned out to be true? Maybe Discord had just realized that he wasn't as in to her as he had thought...
She shook her head. Something didn't sit right with her. Discord usually bounced back quite easily from things like this—it had to have been something more serious. Maybe... maybe she should go see Twilight...
"Discord, I'm going out. I'll be back soon," she said as she walked into the living room.
Discord was laying lengthwise on the couch, back facing her.
"Alright," he murmured.
With a final sigh she walked out the front door, hoping Discord's troubles were of the trivial variety.