//------------------------------//
// Delights 
// Story: Precious Blood 
// by DisneyFanatic23 
//------------------------------//

	"So, what can you tell me of this Count Discord?" Starlight asked her niece on the carriage ride to Discord's castle the next evening.

"W-Well," Fluttershy stammered as she tried to think of what would be safe to tell. "He, um…has an excellent sense of humor."

Starlight huffed, which told Fluttershy that this wasn't impressive to her.

"He also…plays piano."

"Oh!" her aunt exclaimed, mildly interested. "Have you mentioned you've been taking singing lessons?"

"N-No, I…"

"You should consider doing a duet this evening! Being a connoisseur of music, he'll certainly appreciate your voice! What languages does he speak?"

"I…I haven't asked."

"He must at least speak Prench! What self-respecting noblestallion wouldn't?"

"We've only spoken in Romane-ian…"

"Come now, Fluttershy! He must think you dim-witted!"

"Oh, I don't think he…"

"Ah, we're here!

The carriage came to a halt and the door was opened by Double Diamond. At first, Fluttershy thought he and Party Favor had taken them to the wrong castle. It was so much brighter, or at least the outside was. The stones had turned from black to light gray, and all the curtains were open, so light flooded the outside.

"Goodness!" Starlight uttered, glancing up at the castle in confusion. "Did he redecorate?"

"It's not as creepy as before," Party Favor muttered to Double Diamond.

"Stop mumbling, Party Favor, and knock on the door."

The unicorn stallion sighed as he used his magic to move the knocker. A minute passed and the door was opened by Rarity, who was smiling brightly. The stallions' jaws dropped at the sight of her.

"Oh, good," Rarity said, opening the door wider. "You're right on time! So good to see you again, Lady Fluttershy, and you too, Lady Starlight!" She frowned as the gentlecolt servants entered. "And what are these?"

"Our servants," Starlight replied, "Party Favor and Double Diamond."

"H-Hi," Party Favor said with a nervous wave.

"Bună," Double Diamond greeted.

Rarity sent them a scowl as they walked past and slammed the door in frustration.

"We were not aware you were bringing…others."

"Did you really think we'd come here without proper escorts?" Starlight said with a raised eyebrow. "I will forgive the irregularity last time my niece was here, but from now on, she is not going anywhere alone again!"

Rarity glared at the other unicorn mare and forced a smile.

"No matter," she said through her teeth. "I'm sure we'll manage. Right this way, please."

The hallway was different too. There were several landscape and still life paintings, as well as some portraits of stallions looking like Discord's pony disguise, but with variations so they would seem like different ponies.

"Your master has elegant taste," Starlight commented, her tone suggesting slight resignation.

"Thank you," Rarity stated, thinking of nothing else appropriate to say.

The rest of the trip down the hall was silent, and long. Rarity was looking warily at the two stallions ogling at her while Starlight was glancing around, judging the décor and Fluttershy was biting her lip, trying to keep her nervousness at bay. She kept thinking something was going to go terribly wrong, something that might cause such disaster that either her aunt might never allow her near this castle again or that some pony might get hurt.

"Ah, Lady Starlight!"

Fluttershy had nearly forgotten what Discord's pony disguise looked like, so for a second she was taken aback by the handsome gray unicorn waiting in the main foyer. Her aunt seemed surprised too, for Fluttershy could see her fanning herself out of the corner of her eye.

"Oh, uh…" Starlight stammered, shaking her head. "Count Discord, I presume?"

"It is, indeed," Discord said, taking her hoof and kissing it lightly. "It is a pleasure to meet you at last, doamnă."

Starlight turned pinker at his deep, masculine voice. "Oh my."

A chill ran down Fluttershy's spine as Discord's red eyes turned their attention to her.

"And you, Lady Fluttershy," he greeted with a slight purr. "Such a delight to see you again."

She waited for him to kiss her hoof too, but he did not advance.

"Do I have permission to kiss your hoof, domnişoară?" he whispered.

"Oh!" Fluttershy squeaked, holding out her hoof. "Y-Yes."

Discord took his time with Fluttershy's hoof. He wanted to savor the sensation of being able to hold it. He kept his eyes on her as he raised it slowly to his lips and let them linger on her skin for three seconds, making her shiver at his touch.

She didn't know why she was feeling this way. She had always been skittish around him, but this was different. Was this because he was in a more appealing form? This thought made Fluttershy frown. Was she really that shallow?

Her sudden displeasure seemed to break the spell upon them both, for Discord finally noticed the other two guests. He dropped Fluttershy's hoof in alarm and straightened up.

"And who are these…gentlecolts?"

"They're our escorts," Starlight stated, raising an eyebrow. "Is there a problem?"

Discord glanced back at Rarity, Twilight and Pinkie, who Fluttershy had only just noticed were present. Pinkie's bright smile didn't waver, Twilight shifted uncomfortably and Rarity held a murderous gaze.

"No, no!" Discord said hastily. "Not a problem! It's just…my maids aren't used to having…stallions over."

Starlight blinked. "You mean you don't have any male servants?"

"Only Spike, but he's a dragon, and not even of age."

Starlight glanced suspiciously at the three mares and cocked her head at Twilight.

"Weren't your eyes red?"

Fluttershy looked at Twilight again and she too realized her eyes had changed to a deep purple.

"You are mistaken, doamnă," Twilight said coolly. "My eyes have always been the same color. You just saw them in a different light."

Starlight stared at her for a moment and shook her head. "Yes, perhaps."

"Shall we proceed to the dining room?" Discord offered, glancing at the stallions. "Though I'm afraid the table is set for three."

"That is alright. They don't usually eat with us anyway."

"Oh. Well, then. Perhaps some of my servants can get them a bite to eat in the kitchen."

He looked at his friends. Rarity was shaking her head insistently.

"I'll do it, Master!" Pinkie piped, stepping forth.

"Me too," Twilight volunteered.

"Come on, boys!" Pinkie exclaimed, wrapping her hooves around both stallions' necks. "We're gonna have some fun!"

Party Favor and Double Diamond cringed as the pink mare dragged them out of the room, Twilight rolling her eyes as she followed them.

"They'll be alright, won't they?" Fluttershy whispered to Discord.

"Of course," he replied with an assuring smile. "I told you. We don't harm your kind."

"Fluttershy, don't whisper!" Starlight huffed. "It's unladylike!"

"That's quite alright, doamnă," Discord said, winking at Fluttershy. "I find your niece's little mutterings delightful."

Fluttershy looked away to hide her blush. Discord glanced at her neck.

"I see you still have my necklace. I thought you would've thrown it out by now."

Her cheeks turned redder as she touched the butterfly pendant. "It is lovely."

"I couldn't agree more."

She could tell by his seductive tone that he wasn't referring to the necklace.

"That reminds me," he said, conjuring an emerald necklace out of thin air. "I have yet to return this to you."

"I'll take that," Starlight said, levitating the necklace into her purse.

When she turned back, Fluttershy and Discord were staring meekly at each other. She was utterly bewildered by this couple's strange familiarity.

Discord coughed. "If you'll follow me…"

He led them into the dining room and Fluttershy noticed this room was different too. The vases along the walls were now filled with an assortment of flowers and instead of one small chair and a throne at the ends of the table, three chairs of the same size stood around one end. Discord pulled one out for Fluttershy to sit in and pushed it back in once she was settled. Then he immediately took his own seat at the head of the table, forgetting to do the same for Lady Starlight. The unicorn scowled at him as she was forced to seat herself.

"What would you like to drink?" Rainbow asked as she came up to the mares.

"Goodness!" Starlight shrieked. "Do you let all your maids walk around like that?!"

She gestured toward Rainbow's black suit and tie.

"In such masculine attire?! It's preposterous!"

Rainbow narrowed her eyes. "I've just decided I don't like you."

"My servants," Discord interjected, holding his foreleg in front of Rainbow, "can wear whatever they please, as long as it is within the law. Tell me, doamnă. Is there a law against a mare wearing a suit?"

"Well…" Starlight stammered. "It's just…improper!"

"But will she get arrested? No. So I don't see the problem here."

"Do you have any chamomile tea?" Fluttershy asked Rainbow.

The multi-colored pegasus smiled. "Of course, my lady." She scowled back at Starlight. "I'll just get you some cyanide."

Starlight's jaw dropped as Rainbow stomped into the kitchen.

"She's joking," Discord chuckled. "I think."

"What an incredibly rude mare!" Starlight exclaimed.

"You shouldn't have insulted her." He smiled at Fluttershy. "You don't mind Rainbow Dash wearing a suit, do you, domnişoară?"

"Not at all," Fluttershy replied. "I think it…suits her."

She winced at her terrible pun, but Discord laughed.

"And here I thought you didn't have a sense of humor!"

She felt a smile pull at her lips.

"Yes, well," Starlight coughed. "That horrible display aside, Count Discord, do tell us how you came about this gorgeous castle!"

"Hmm?" uttered Discord, his focus still on Fluttershy.

"Your castle. Has it been in your family long?"

"Huh? Oh! Yes, yes. It's been in my family for…nearly seven hundred years." He turned back to Fluttershy. "Now, my dear, I wanted to ask…"

"Our family goes back to the 1200's! Why, my great-grandfather fought in the…"

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Discord said, waving his hoof. "Domnişoară, I understand you have an interest in music. May I ask…?"

"Oh, yes! Didn't I tell you in my letter? Fluttershy has been trained by the world-famous voice instructor, Octavia Melody!"

"Oh!" he exclaimed, looking excitedly at Fluttershy. "You can sing?!"

Fluttershy glanced down at her hooves. "A little. I'm not very good."

"I'm sure you're wonderful! You really must…"

"My lord, where did you get these chairs?" Starlight asked in awe. "Such fine craftsmanship! Are they imported?"

At this point, Rainbow had returned with the drinks. She whispered to her master:

"I wasn't kidding about the cyanide."

"I have a better idea," Discord smirked as turned to Starlight. "Err, doamnă, you seem quite tense." He leaned forward and locked gaze with the unicorn. "Why don't you…relax a bit?"

Starlight opened her mouth to respond, but found she was unable to speak. Her mind was cleared of all words as she stared into the Count's swirling eyes. It didn't take long for her eyes to swirl around too. Rainbow placed her hoof over Fluttershy's eyes so she wouldn't be affected by accident.

"It's rather hard for your niece and me to get better acquainted with you constantly interrupting us," Discord said in a low, soothing voice. "Why don't you just remain quiet for the rest of the evening and eat your dinner without interference?"

Starlight nodded absent-mindedly and the spirals in her eyes disappeared. Rainbow lowered her hoof.

"What did you do to her?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.

"Forgive me, my sweet," Discord apologized, though his smirk indicated that he was not sorry for this, "but I couldn't stand her voice a jot longer. Don't worry. She won't be harmed, though the rest of the evening will be a haze to her, which means…"

He grew in size as he changed into his true form. Starlight didn't even bat an eyelash.

"Oh, yes!" he exclaimed as he stretched out his mismatched arms and legs. "Much better!"

"So she won't remember you like this?" Fluttershy inquired.

"No. I'll make sure of it when the evening is over. You can give the lady her drink now, Rainbow. You didn't really poison it, did you?"

"No," Rainbow said as she set Starlight's water down. "But I was tempted."

"Don't be so mean to Auntie Starlight," Fluttershy pleaded. "She may seem…unbearable at times, but…"

"But?" Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow.

"She's a…" she hesitated. "She has a good…well…she raised me, anyway."

"Boy. And I thought my parents were bad."

Fluttershy opened her mouth in protest, but Rainbow was already walking away, muttering something about hoping Starlight would choke on her salad.

At first, Fluttershy wasn't happy about her aunt being in a trance the whole evening. It defeated the purpose of Discord trying to impress her. However, as the evening progressed, she found the absence of her aunt's voice…relieving. Without her comments, Fluttershy was able to talk freely with Discord, and was only now realizing this was the first time a male suitor was talking to her and not her aunt.

"So tell me more about your singing," Discord said as dessert was brought. "What sort of songs do you sing?"

Fluttershy blushed as she fiddled with her chocolate pudding. "Oh, um, you know, just…songs."

He smirked. "Shy when it comes to singing, eh? Or are you just shy in general?"

She chuckled slightly. "I'm really shy."

"No!" Discord exclaimed in exaggeration. "I never would've guessed! Then again, it's not like your name is Flutterconfident!"

He winked at her, and Fluttershy burst out laughing, nearly spitting out her pudding. Starlight didn't respond to the situation, just ate her dessert quietly.

"You really have a wonderful laugh," Discord complimented with a dreamy look in his eye. "Why don't you laugh more often?"

"I don't know," she said, looking at him in awe. "I suppose I've…never had a reason to."

His wings flapped in delight at the fact that he was making her laugh.

"So what now?" Fluttershy asked as Rainbow Dash cleared the table of their dishes.

"The others are in the ballroom," Rainbow replied. "We set a little something up."

Discord rose from his seat and held out his eagle arm. "If the young lady would allow me to be her escort…"

Fluttershy smiled as she slid her hoof in the crook of his arm. His happiness was short-lived when he straightened up and she lost his grip on him. He looked down at her curiously. He had been aware of their difference in height, but he had expected Fluttershy to close the gap by flying up to his level.

"Sorry," she said, grinning apologetically as she took his claw in her hoof. "I forgot how tall you were."

Discord chose not to bring up his concern and put on a smile. "Right this way, domnişoară. Come on, Lady Starlight."

Starlight mechanically rose from her seat and followed them at a moderate pace. When Discord opened the double doors to the ballroom, Fluttershy gasped in awe. This room had also been transformed. The ceilings were lined with streamers tied to the chandelier, candles adorned the walls to give the room a brighter gleam, and garlands of roses hung all around. Twilight, Party Favor and Double Diamond were sitting in the corner, listening to Pinkie Pie's tuba demonstration. Upon hearing the doors opening, the stallions turned and screamed at the sight of Discord. One look into the hypnotic depths of the draconequus' eyes and the stallions were struck into dumb silence.

"Aw, man!" Pinkie pouted. "I was hoping you wouldn't have to do that! Ponies are so boring when they're in a trance!"

Fluttershy glanced between Twilight, Pinkie and Discord. "Couldn't you two have done that?"

"Hypnotize ponies, you mean?" Twilight replied. "No. My observations have shown that hypnotic powers are a male function."

"That doesn't seem fair."

"Actually, I think it balances things out," Rarity said as she and Rainbow Dash joined them. "After all, we mares have our own powers of persuasion."

She demonstrated by flipping her mane at the stallions. Even in their stupor, they could not resist sighing in awe.

"Yeah, yeah," Rainbow said, waving her hoof. "We've also got these babies!"

She held up her hooves menacingly at the stallions. They immediately closed their mouths.

"You see," Rarity said, "there's really no need for us to have hypnotic powers."

"'Cuz we have super enticing good looks and super pony strength!" Pinkie snorted. "Not sure why males need the hypno-eyes though. Maybe it's because they're not as good-looking!"

"Ahem," Discord coughed. "Why don't we have some music? Where's Spike?"

"He's helping Applejack clear up in the kitchen," Rarity replied. "They'll be along."

"I'm sure they won't mind if we start without them," Twilight said. "Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity, why don't you play us something?"

"Now's your chance to sing for us, Fluttershy!" Discord exclaimed.

"Oh no," Fluttershy muttered, her mane falling over her eye. "I can't…"

"Please?" he asked, giving her a pleading look.

"I…I've never sung in front of so many ponies before…"

"You don't have to sing if you don't want to, darling," Rarity assured her as she sat at the piano.

"I can sing," Twilight said, standing up to join the others.

Twilight had a pretty voice that mixed well with Rainbow's guitar, Rarity's piano and Pinkie's harp (they had begged her to play something more docile). Fluttershy sat quietly with Discord, Starlight, Double Diamond and Party Favor as they listened, though the last three didn't seem to be paying attention. Pinkie glanced between Fluttershy and Discord, knowing the latter couldn't keep his eyes off the pretty pegasus.

"Why don't you two dance?" she suggested.

"What?!" Fluttershy squeaked.

"Oh, no, no, no!" Discord insisted, clearing his throat.

"Come on!" Pinkie urged.

She jumped away from the harp, grabbed hold of the couple and pulled them onto the dancefloor.

"I can't…" Fluttershy stammered.

"This really isn't necessary…" Discord protested.

But Pinkie had already shoved them together so that they were hoof to hoof.

"Don't be shy, Discord!" she chuckled. "That's Fluttershy's job!"

She bounced away so she could return to her harp. Every pony was looking at the couple expectantly. Discord stared down at Fluttershy, and she up at him. She looked down at her hooves and he looked away. It was hard to tell who was more nervous.

"Fluttershy, I…" he stammered, biting his lip. "I have a confession to make. I…I've never actually…danced before."

"N-Neither have I," Fluttershy murmured. "I mean…I've had lessons, but…I've never actually danced with a…a partner before. At least," she blushed, "not a…not a…"

He smiled in understanding. "Then this will be a new experience for both of us. I have attended a few balls though, so I believe it's something like…" He reached out to touch her but hesitated. "May I?"

"Oh. Yes, you may."

He took her right hoof in his claw and placed his paw on her waist. Fluttershy wasn't sure how this was going to work with their height difference, until he lifted her off the floor, making her shriek, so that she was flat against his chest. She gripped his lion arm for balance and glanced up at him in fear.

"I won't drop you," he whispered. "Now, I believe, we twirl around, like this."

He stepped to his left and began swinging her around the room. Fluttershy was amazed at how light she felt in his arms, but then again, she was much smaller than him. Discord laughed joyfully, for this was the closest he had ever been to her since their first meeting. As Fluttershy started becoming more comfortable and turned her attention away from how high she was off the ground, she laughed along with him.

Spike and Applejack entered the room and stopped in their tracks as they took in the scene before them.

"Wow," said Spike with a smile. "Looks like things are going well."

"I…don't believe it," Applejack murmured.

The music and the couple currently dancing put Spike in the mood to dance as well. Unfortunately, the mare he wanted to ask was sitting at the piano. He glanced sideways at the only vampire mare who wasn't preoccupied.

"So, what do you think?" he asked. "Should we join them?"

Applejack looked down at him in shock. "Uh…I'm not sure that's a…"

"Come on, AJ! Have a little fun once in a while!"

He grabbed her hoof before she could protest and hastened her to the dancefloor. Since he was shorter than her, it seemed impossible to waltz. He lifted her hoof over his head and spun beneath it, making Applejack chuckle.

"Okay, okay! But I'm leading!"

He shrieked as she lifted him up, but laughed as she spun him around playfully. Those who watched them and weren't hypnotized couldn't help but laugh too.

"How cute!" Fluttershy giggled.

"Indeed, my dear," Discord said, wriggling his eyebrows at her. "Your adorableness is too much to bear."

She glanced at him curiously as he dramatically put his paw to his chest. "Oh, my heart! It's killing me!" He grinned. "Oh, that's right. I'm undead."

Fluttershy couldn't stop giggling. Her cheeks ached from how high the corners of her mouth had risen. She couldn't remember a time she had felt this giddy, and it was strange feeling this way with a creature who had wanted to drink her blood over a week ago.

Discord was entranced by the jubilant beauty in his arms. Her laugh echoed in his ears, making them flap gleefully. Her smile brought warmth to his un-beating heart, and her eyes…if he didn't know any better, he'd say she was the one with hypnotic powers.

As the song reached its close, he surprised her by twirling her under his arm. He silently used his magic to make sure she wouldn't fall. When he brought her back in, he slowly moved her into a dip, so that they could gaze at each other properly. Fluttershy's face was flushed from the exercise and she was panting heavily.

"Oh my," she breathed.

She gasped as his paw gripped her back, arching it upwards.

"Not bad for my first time, eh?" he said in a voice so low it made her shiver.

His eyes wandered to her lips, which were open to release every heaving breath. They were almost welcoming him, and despite himself, he was leaning towards them.

Fluttershy stiffened when she realized what he was trying to do and flung her hoof to his mouth.

"I think we should take a break," she said quickly.

Discord sighed as he brought them both up. "Yes, right."

He set her down and they returned to their seats by the instruments. Some of the others had decided to rest too, but Rarity and Pinkie continued playing the piano and harp quietly.

"What did happen to your eyes?" Fluttershy asked Twilight as she sat beside her.

"Our eyes turn red when we're feeling most savage," the lavender unicorn explained, "particularly when we're thirsty or angry. Our eyes always change when we transform. As for me, I was still in my newborn stage. The charm Zecora gave me managed to stop me from changing, but it didn't eradicate my thirst completely."

"I notice you aren't wearing it."

"I had to take it off. Garlic isn't as dangerous to newborn vampires. It can suppress them, but not harm them. Now that I'm a full-fledge vampire, it's dangerous for me to wear it."

Fluttershy looked up at Discord. "Your eyes don't change. At least not when you're angry or thirsty."

"I think we've already established that I'm different from normal vampires," he explained, scooching closer to her. "Then again, I've had no cause to be angry or thirsty around you." He looked away guiltily. "Since our first meeting, that is."

Fluttershy gripped her neck as she had a frightening thought. "You mean…you can still get…thirsty? I mean…when you're with me?"

He frowned as he understood her concern. "I would never harm you, if that's what you mean. I've lived long enough to learn self-control."

"And as I said," Twilight whispered, "he can't touch you without your permission."

"What about all of you?" Fluttershy asked abruptly.

Rarity's hooves pounded on the piano and Pinkie's harp string snapped. All the mares were silent.

"You don't have to worry about them!" Spike exclaimed, waving his claw. "They're as harmless as sheep, especially AJ here!"

He gripped Applejack's hoof and she looked away in response.

"It's true," Twilight nodded. "I'm still new to this, so I can't be sure how I'll fair without the charm now. Rarity and Rainbow have been at this for a while, and Pinkie…well…" She leaned towards Fluttershy and murmured, "After what happened when she first changed, she hasn't hurt any pony since."

"But why is Applejack…?" Fluttershy started to question.

"The most controlled? Well, my theory on vampires when they change is that all their characteristics are enhanced and what they become as vampires depends on what they were as mortals. For instance, I think those Sirens I encountered were accomplished singers before and vampirism gave them their special powers. In our case, Rainbow is the strongest of us all because she was strong in life. Pinkie is the fastest, Rarity is the most beautiful, and, if my theory is correct, my magic is the most powerful. Next to Master Discord's, of course. So, because Applejack was so stubborn before she was…"

"I'm not listening to this," Applejack said gruffly as she stood from her seat.

"I didn't mean to…" Fluttershy called to the orange mare as she left the ballroom.

"Don't take it personally," Rainbow snorted. "She does that a lot."

"This party's getting gloomy," Pinkie groaned. "Let's crank things up a notch!"

She and Rarity started the music again and Discord asked Fluttershy for another dance. She could not deny she was having a delightful time. Whenever they took a break from dancing, they would talk. He would ask her about the flowers she liked and was amazed how much she knew about them. She would not only list their scientific names, but their lifespans, where they were most commonly grown, and whether they were perennial or annual.

"And tulips?" Discord asked, leaning on his paw in interest.

"You mean the tulipa," Fluttershy giggled excitedly. "They're perennial, and even though they're popular in the Neightherlands, they actually originated in Turkey."

"You don't say!"

"And they're quite easy to grow. Just plant them a few weeks before winter and they'll be blooming in the spring! Why, if I ever had a garden of my own I'd be sure to…"

She paused as she locked eyes with Discord.

"What's wrong?" he asked in concern.

"Nothing, I…" she stammered, looking down at her hooves with a small smile. "It's just that…no pony's ever really been interested in this sort of thing. Or anything I say, for that matter."

"Really?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "That's a shame. You have quite a lot to say."

She gazed up at him in amazement. "Yes. I guess I do."

The evening went on until Fluttershy realized it was nearly midnight and that she and the others, whom she had momentarily forgotten, should be getting home. Discord led them all to the door and gave the hypnotized ponies a few last commands.

"Now, when I snap my fingers, you will forget all that happened tonight. Rather, you will remember having a wonderful time here and that I was a very hilarious host."

"Discord!" Fluttershy scolded, biting back her laughter.

"You don't think I was humorous, my dear?" he smirked teasingly. "Or was all that laughter just to be polite?"

She blushed. "Just…don't make her consent to…you know."

"I wasn't going to, my dear. Though it doesn't hurt for her to have a good opinion of me."

He snapped his fingers and quickly changed into a pony. Starlight, Double Diamond and Party Favor blinked out of their trance.

"Well, it's been a pleasure, Lady Starlight," Discord said with a bow. "I hope you will consider coming again sometime."

"Oh, uh," Starlight stammered as she curtsied. "Yes, yes. Would the evening after tomorrow do?"

"Splendidly. I will see you then." He smiled at Fluttershy and bowed. "My lady."

Fluttershy curtsied in return, unable to conceal the redness in her cheeks.

"Come along, dear," Starlight ordered.

Once they were back in their carriage, Starlight was glancing down at herself, her face filled with confusion.

"Well that was a…interesting evening." She put her hoof to her head. "But that horrid he-mare must've put something in my drink! Everything's a haze!" She looked curiously at her niece. "What are you smiling about?"

Fluttershy didn't think it possible that her face could flush any deeper. She coughed as she straightened up.

"Nothing, Auntie. I just…had a good time."

"Yes," Starlight nodded. "You and the Count seemed to…get along well. Tell me, dear. Yesterday, you wouldn't have anything to do with the Count. Today, you're…well, you're smiling! What has caused this sudden change in behavior?"

Fluttershy glanced out the window. "I wish I knew, Auntie. I wish I knew."