“We have do it now. It’s his only chance for survival”, a male voice said insistently.
“But how can we? We would most likely be dooming him ” a female voice cried desperately .
Discord's eyes drowsily opened. They revealed two tall and blurry outlines looming over him.
“If he stays here with us, his life is already doomed!” the male voice said.
Discord tried to move his body only to find that his limbs were wrapped tightly together. He tried to struggle against the wrappings only to have some gentle pressure exerted on his body and to be gently swayed back and forth.
He stopped struggling as he closed his eyelids again and enjoyed the motion of swaying back and forth.
“I know Ouro’s” The female voice replied sadly “I’m just scared for.. for my... our-” The voice started to crack and faded to a whisper and then nothing.
“I..I know Tiamat” The male voice replied softly though the anger was washed away to be replaced by melancholy. “I am scared for him as well.”
Discord felt something soft lie on on his forehead.
“But there's really no other way, if we want not just our species to survive. but want him to have a chance as well.”
“We’re all scared for him.” another male voice said softly, having the same lulling tone of sadness. “He is after all, our baby brother.”
“He’s a seventh son of a seventh son and within him dwells the spirit of Chaos .” an older woman's voice rasped. “But more importantly than any of that, he is my grandson! He will be fine.”
“But won't he be lonely? I mean if what King Atulase says is true about what he’s going to do to use ....well he’s..just a baby.” a fourth male voice said.
What’s going on here Discord thought. He tried to open his eyes, to better understand the situation, but it was as though his eyelids had cinder blocks weighing them down and couldn't open them.
He felt something around him loosen, and he could feel himself being moved before another tightness enclosed his body again.
“I have a few parting gifts for you last , my grandson, safe passage....” the older female voice rasped.
Discord felt a firm pressure placed between his eyes and then he could feel his world slowly floating away as his muscles relaxed and went limp and his mind started to go blank. The elderly female voice could have said more but he couldn't catch the rest.
He was aware of more voices around him, some were different voices to the ones who had been talking, but they all seemed far away and he couldn't focus on what they were saying.
He was also vaguely aware of moving, but perhaps that was just his mind playing tricks.
Unaware of what time had passed, he felt himself placed in something soft and a fluffy object wrapped tightly around him.
Discord also sensed that the area he now occupied was gradually getting darker. Almost like the sun had set but in minutes not in an hour.
He had almost let sleep claim him when he heard the faintest but unmistakable sound of a scuffle on the edge of his hearing and then a female's scream sliced through his mind.
“NOOOOOOOO”
He eyes flew open like two stretched elastic bands returning to their regular length. He was in darkness, even though there was a ray of light, the darkness was absolute and consuming. The next was the chill that seemed to seep into him, like water seeping into sand. Finally and most disturbing of all was the silence. It was completely quiet and it seemed to him to give new meaning as to quiet as the grave.
Then a sound, quiet, far away but distinct nonetheless. Clip, clop,clip,clop.
He could feel himself begin to shiver. He didn't know why the sound was scary, but why was he shivering?
Closer and closer came the sound and further and further Discord drew himself into the material behind him.
The thought struck him that if someone were to peer through the hole, Hewould be completely exposed.
Just as he was going to take action, the light disappeared and was replaced by a blue eye.For a second the eye showed shock, that seemed to mirror his own, but it was quickly replaced by a hot fury.
He could feel himself starting to shake and tears began to blossom at the corners of his eyes. Deep in the blue eyes pupil, he could see the vague reflection of a small figure.
Discord could feel the first of his tears begin leak from his eye, and as that happened something in the blue eye shifted to something resembling sorrow. or perhaps pity.
“You’re on your own...kid” a masculine voice said. It seemed to echo, whether it was in his head or around the area, he didn't know. The eye was replaced by a dark blue glow, and then a circular object wedged itself into position, with a grinding sound, sealing Discord in complete darkness.
_____________________________________________
Discord eyelids shot open with the speed of lightning revealing wide and altered red and yellow orbs. For a while, all he did was stare at the ceiling trying to slow his breathing.
“Well, that wasn't as bad as previous nights.” Discord whispered as he wiped a river of sweat from his brow. “it was worse.”
This dream had been unlike any other he had had. Usually his dream started with him in the cave and then ended when the eye closed off the last source of light in the room. That was still the case in this dream. Now however, there was more to the dream.
There were others present, at least four but there could be more; and they seemed to be concerned about some baby. Why would they be worried about?
Another strange aspect of the dream was the names. What were they again Tirmate and Moours or something like that , and mention of some king.
It also seemed that he was in a different location than the cave he went to sleep in.
His hands fell from his face to arrive on his chest, only they never made it there. Instead of hands falling on the reassuring warm fabric that made up his sheets, they fell on something firm and cool.
Intrigued by what the something was, he lifted up the object from its resting position on for an a studied evaluation.
From the dim light that penetrated his room, he was able to make out that the object was rectangular and it had quite a weight to it considering its size.
Discord removed his eagle talon from the object and snapped his fingers to allow some sunlight to enter.
The sun rays caused the shadows to run and dissipate.
As soon as the light fell on the object, Discord let out a horrified cry and threw the object as far as he could. It hit the opposite bedroom wall with a sound between a squish and a thud.
Discord pressed his back hard against the bed's backboard. “Am I still dreaming? is this another dream?” he whispered. Because if it was, he was quite ready to wake up now.
Although, if this was a dream, he had no idea why he would be dreaming of the ruined book from the museum. But if it wasn't a dream, how in Equestria did the book get into his room?
Silence filled his room. Funny, Discord thought, he would have expected some the whispering voices to return as they had before at the museum.
Was there really anything there or due to the dream, were his nerves getting the better of him?
Nerves or not, he thought, am I really scared of something that I eat any other day? Discord grudgingly detached himself from the the bed's backboard, and tentatively crawled his way to the edge of his bed.
Once at the foot of his bed he perched there, took a deep breath, and looked over the edge.
There was the book lying where he had thrown it just moments ago. Although it wasn’t the book he was expecting.
Instead of the old rotten book that he had thought he had thrown, there was with the yellow and black book, with a title printed in big bold white letters “How To Court For Dummies”.
Discord didn't know if he was shocked, confused or relieved that the ruined book wasn't there, he chose the latter.
Hopping down from his bed he picked up the fallen volume, dusted it off and inspected it.
“Why didn't you disappear?” he mumbled to the book as he looked at it and then at around his, once again normal, room.
A folded slip of paper fell out of the book, and drifted lazily to the ground.
“What could that be.” Discord mused, as he knelt down and picked up the piece of paper. “Wait, what day is it to day.” The dream and book now completely out of his mind.
Discord summoned a calendar, it floated in front of him. He did a quick inspection of the calendar most of the days had red frowning faces. However one day lacked Discord’s frowning face and instead was decorated with a fireworks explosion and at the center of the explosion was drawing of a yellow pegasus.
“It’s today! It’s finally here.” Discord cried happily. “Our get together day-me ..and ..Fluttershy.” Discord trailed of into a whisper , and slowly blushed.
Discord still couldn't believe he was in love. He, the lord of Chaos, in love.It was crazy, and with all the ponies his heart fell for, it was Fluttershy, the element of kindness.
He looked down at the note he held in his hands. Last night while reading the courting book he had decided it might be preferable to make notes just in case his dreams shocked him to badly so that he would remember nothing in the morning.
Lucky I did that Discord mused.
He was about to open the letter when a thought struck him; it was not the first time this particular thought had come to him as throughout the time he was reading last the night the thought had recurred, but now that it was the day it seemed stronger.
Should I be doing this, he thought. Fluttershy was the most beautiful,kindest,most tolerant mare he knew. So what could she see in him?
“First sensible thing you said all day.”
Discord turned toward the voice.
Somehow, perched on his left shoulder, was a pink brain that donned a mortar board on his crown. and mimicked his own facial characteristics.
“Aren’t things perched on shoulders supposed to have a set of wings and a variation of horns or halos?” he asked the brain.
“I am not one of your consciences, I your brain, but I guess that’s not so obvious to you since I’m not in your skull.”
“So why are you out of my skull?”
“So I can talk some sense to you face to face, or I suppose as the case may be face to nerve tissue, seeing as how you never listen to me when I am cooped up in your head.”
“And what sense.” he made a gagging motion at the word “could I be interested in listening to?”
“what about her?” Discord asked wearily.
“You should be grateful to still have her friendship, after everything that has happened. How could you possibly risk it? It's the most important thing to you in Equestria why would you gamble it on a hearts whim?”
“And how could you possibly know she’s the most important thing to me?”
His brain raised an eyebrow. “You’re joking right. Do you remember who you're talking to? You really are slow without me in that noggin of yours.”His brain continued “To get back to my point, what would Fluttershy ever see in you Discord” his brain continued.
“My charm, good looks and sense of humor.” Discord repeated
“Good looks really” His brain replied sarcastically. “ When has anypony, save for yourself or a copy of yourself, ever complimented us in a positive manner on our looks. Do I even have to remind you that we spent the first part of our childhood in a cage, which reminds me, you have never told Fluttershy about your past have you?”
“She knows it already, I took over Equestria an-.”
“I am talking about before that.”his brain said cutting him off.
“It’s not important. What’s past is past.”
“Perhaps, or maybe you're too scared to talk about your past because you're afraid of how that beautiful mare will react to it.”
“By the way” His brain said changing subjects “ Do I have to remind you how beautiful Fluttershy is.”
Discord slumped on the end of his bed in defeat, giving a clear message that he did not have to.
“I think I will so you can get it through your thick skull. She’s like an angel that has flown from the heavens to grace the ground she walks on.”
Discord turned his gaze down to the ground. “I am just a sideshow carnival freak in denial about his looks, who developed a crush on a mare far out of his league.” He said melancholically
Discord took the brains silence as consent.
Discord gave a sigh “I would make a terrible special somepony.” before cupping his face in his hands.
“Heck, you're not even a pony” His brain added.
“But you do love Fluttershy” a soft voice said.
Discord and his brain turned their attention to his right shoulder where hovering there was a red heart,in the shape of a hearts and hoofs days card, it too had Discord’s facial appearance but it also had a familar set of yellow wings.
“Great are my kidneys going to show up next. And what’s with the wings?” Discord questioned his heart.
“To answer your questions in order I don't think your kidneys will make an appearance, however they may have something to say about your eating habits, secondly the wings” His heart stretched out both yellow wings. “Well I am not entirey lsure myself but, I can guess that since Fluttershy was the one that gave you me it's only right that a part of her would live in me.”
His heart ruffled his wings behind his back. “Now with thoughts answered you can answer me a question like, why are you even listening to him!!” Discord’s heart gestured his wing tip to his brain.
“Why wouldn't he listen to me, I am his brain! and he listens to me more then he listens you, if he’s ever listened to you!” the brain retorted.
“All right let's compare the times he’s listened to me and how he felt afterward and what happened when he listened to you”
“all right”
“Don't I get a say in this.” Discord asked.
“No.” both figures said
His heart turned to Discord, “ How did you feel when you gave the animals the gift of speech so they could take to Fluttershy, or when he traveled back in time with her so she could see the creatures of the past” Discord’s heart pointed a single wing tip at the brain “ that wasn’t your brain that gave him these idea it was your heart.”
Discord heart turned to him for confirmation. “right?.”
Discord nodded. “Right”
“And how did you feel after?”
“I felt great, just seeing FLuttershy happy was better than all the chaos in Equestria”.
“do you hear yourself!!.” His brain cried.
His heart smiled. “Now how did you feel, after you listened to him over there.” he pointed to his brain with a wing tip.
“O come on you can’t deny spreading chaos throughout Equestra was fun.” his brain rebounded.
“until I was turned into a lawn ornament for a thousand years.” Discord said.
“Hah, if you had just moved out the way of that rainbow beam you wouldn’t have had spent that time in stone.”
“And whose job is it for motor control?” His heart added, with a smug grin forming on his face.
The brain didn’t reply to that.
“Or whose bright idea was it to gang up with Tirike, and betray Equsetra,only for him to betray us and give us guilt pangs of our actions?”
“Oh come on, how was I supposed to know Tirike would steal our magic.”
“Maybe you should turn that hat into someone that actually represents you”. A flash of light illuminated the top of the brains mortarboard, and once it dissipated, the mortarboard had turned into a dunce cap.
“Other than insulting my intelligence, What's your point here?” Discord asked his heart.
“My point is,” His heart said, turning his attention back to his owner. “that perhaps you should stop listening, to what you call a brain and start listening to this.” His heart pointed its wing tip over his upper left side.
“Puff how corny can you get.” His brain muttered.
Discord ignored the comment.
“You think I have chance?” he asked his heart.
“I don't believe this!!” his brain cried. “You're actually listening to him, use some sense an-”
“Did you just seriously say have some sense.” Discord asked his brain.
The brain's eye widened realizing his mistake. “all I meant was….”
Flashes of light surrounded the brain, and when it was gone, he had a suitcase on either side of him, and his dunce cap was replaced with a bowler hat.
“I’ll write you up a recommendation.” Discord told his brain.
“wa...you cant..I..wa” His brain stammered.
“Don't let the door hit you on the way out.”
“What do..” his brain was interrupted by door slamming into his face.
Discord turned his attention back to his heart, dismissing the door as well as the brain from existence as he did so.
He repeated his question “Do think I have chance?”
His heart smiled “I think you have more than chance” his heart replied confidently. “ i mean who else laughed at our jokes, or even like our complaints, heck who even tolerates our complaints for a long period of time.”
“So you really think Fluttershy would like me more then a friend” Discord asked hopefully. “ yes I do, but..” his heart pointed to the envelope, “perhaps in this one cass it would be prudent to follow the rules instead of going of on our intuition.”
He looked down at the envelope. “You do realise, if what I am about to do goes south, my brain won’t be the only organ out of a job.” Discord said not turning to face his heart.
“Trust me, if this turns out badly, you'll have to have a heart transplant, because I am going to be shattered.”
Discord stared at the paper for a while longer in silence; he did not need to turn his head to see that his conjured heart was no longer there.
He sucked in a deep breath and unfolded the paper, and inspected the list.
-Give her gifts,things she would like. example (flowers, chocalates, etc.)
-Set a romantic seating, that she enjoys. (Treat her, take her out for dinner, if optional make dinner.)
-Make her feel special (compliment her on looks or what she's wearing. )
- Once the mood is set, and you believe the moment right ,tell her your true feelings for her, this may take many attempts so simply redo proves steps to until you believe the moment is right.
“Well the first few should be easy enough”. He lifted his eagle talon in preparation to summon a bouquet of roses.
A thought struck him and he lowered his hand.
“I guess if i'm going to do this I should do it right and by the book.”
He chuckled at the a stray thought that entered his mind. My Fluttershy what have you done to me, first you teach me friendship, then I fall in love with you and now I am following the book's instructions.
Discord leisurely made his way to the window,and surveyed the Canterlot gardens.
A grin spread across Discord’s lips. “And the best flowers in all of Equestria are right on my doorstep.”
The was a sudden flash of light be side him, he turned to see a sour faced stomach frowning, at him.
“Can at least feed me first before you start anything it grumbled”
_________________________________________
“Red.., no white...,no variated…., no…. blue!”
Do blue roses even grow naturally, Discord thought to himself.
He was in the process of picking his bouquet for Fluttershy, a seemingly simple task was his errant thought, but Discord soon encountered troubles in choosing which flower to pick.
Discord inspected the rose bed again, looking to see if it did indeed have any blue roses. Not seeing any he decided picking the other three types of roses would be better than bringing just one type.
He inspected his newly picked flowers happily, but his joy soon faded and was replaced by doubt.
“Maybe I shouldn't just pick roses, it could about presumptuous.” Discord mumbled.
He surveyed the other the flowers that surrounded him. Until his eyes spotted some bright yellow daffodils.
Whether it was because the color reminded him of Fluttershy or if it was desperation to add to the bouquet, he did not know, but Discord started adding the delicate yellow flowers to his bouquet.
He spied some small white hanging flowers growing under the daffodils.“A couple of snowdrops wouldn't hurt either”, he said as he picked the drooping flowers.
Discord noticed a delicate aroma, a more persistent one then the other smells of flowers in the garden.
He moved the bouquet from his lion's paw to his prehensile serpent's tail.
He snapped his lion paw, transforming into a bloodhound, keeping his Discord colors and features, the flowers were still wrapped around his now red dog tail.
Head held high he sniffed the air, with his purple nose, trying to locate the fragrant smell above the others.
With two strong sniffs Discord found the smell. He smiled and let out a howl of triumph and bounded after his prey.
It took him a few moments of running, mostly through nadering flower bed, for Discord to find the freager out smells whereabouts, but his endeavours paid of.
In a flash of white light the bloodhound was gone and in its place was the spirit of chause.
Discord looked down his finding confused.
“how can something so small produce such a strong smell.” He mutter.
The flowers that were producing the strong aroma were at the very least unusual. They grew on straight thin stalks, and were about as long as one of his eagle talons, with colors ranging from yellow and pink to purple, blues and whites. The Flowers seemed to resemble a wand with the flower petals replacing the stars that decorated all around. He had a vague memory of seeing some of these flowers in Fluttershy’s garden, what had she called them ? pieasipthes….tiaspthes?
He shrugged the he could solve that problem at a later data.
“And what’s the harm in picking a few of these just to make the bouquet smell a bit better.”
About five minutes later Discord had picked the flower bed clean of all the pungents flowers, as well as a few of the neighboring beds.
Discord looked happily at the freshly picked bouquet, it had been quite some time since he had done this type of thing without using his magic and though it was a minor thing he could not help feel a small bubble of pride well up at his accomplishment.
As fast as his joyful emotion came, it almost as quickly went, leaving a frown and uncertainty etched on his features.
The flowers were indeed lovely, and that was saying something seeing how it was coming from him, but they were all contrasting sizes. The roses and daffodils towered over the snowdrops, like skyscrapers towered over the ponies of ManeHattan and other arrangements.
Odd, ordinarily I wouldn't care about this sort of thing, he thought, and then a chuckle emitted from his lips, ordinarily, I would not be picking flowers.
“Cadance is right, love does make ponies do chaotic things.”
Snapping his fingers the snow drops and other small flowers grew to the size of the roses and daffodils.
“It's still missing something.” He mused, pulling his beard gently.
“Maybe some lilies,or perhaps some lavender; I couldn't go wrong with a cactus or two. Or perhaps I should pick some dandelions ! What those are weeds aren’t they.. then maybe.”
“WHAT THE HEY ARE YOU DOING!!!” a voice roared
Discord turned around to face the owner of the voice. A couple of feet away stood a very angry looking, brown stallion unicorn, dressed in the traditional green overalls every Canterlot gardiner wore, holding an unusually large gardening trowel.
The gardener’s eyes moved from Discord to fall to what he was holding.
“DID YOU JUST PICK MY HYACINTHS!” Unicorn yelled, his brown color changing slowly to red.
“Hyacinths” Discord cried “ that’s the name of these flowers, thank you so much a... uhm ..I’m sorry I didn't get your name? what is it.”
The slow flush of red that was covering unicorn face turned into a total wave of crimson . “ FOXGLOVE, Chrysanthemum.”
Discord frowned in confusion. Is Foxglove Chrysanthemum his name , or does he spout out flower names when he gets angry.
He soon had his answer in the form of one purple unicorn stallion and one white earth pony stallion. Both dressed in the same Canterlot gardeners uniform as the brown unicorn that, not so quietly, fumed.
“What is it Willow Snip? ” The purple unicorn asked, presumably Foxglove.
The now named Willow Snip pointed a trembling hoof at Discord. “What do you think Foxglove, Mismatched is up to his tricks again.”
The term mismatched was the term a lot of Castle staff used to talk about him. Both princesses had discouraged the use of the name due to some sort of civil code,but he did not mind it was a better and more creative name than what he had been called in the past.
“What did he do this time?” the white earth pony named Chrysanthemum groaned,.
“Did he add poison jokes to the garden again.” Foxglove asked, checking around for the blue magic flowers as he did so.
“ or did he turn dandelion heads into actual lionheads.” Chrysanthemum added.
“Do you really think that I would pull the same trick twice my flower named friend” Discord cried.
“Worse” Willow Sniper said, pointing a hoof to what Discord held in his hands. The two other gardeners followed their friends hoof and their eyes widened as they saw the flowers.
Stunned silence descended on the three ponies, who were looking at him as if he had suddenly grown an extra head.
“He..picked.. the ..flowers.” Foxglove said slowly and quietly.
A few seconds passed then Chrysanthemum spoke “he picked the flowers” he said in an oddly calm voice.
Another few seconds passed.
“HE PICK THE FLOWER!!!!!” Chrysanthemum and Foxglove inhaled. Like they were convicting him of murder.
“Yes, it was me, Discord, spirit of chaos, that picked your Lovely flowers.” Discord said putting a lot of emphasis on the word love hoping to defuse some of tension.
“You better have a good reason for doing that.” Willowsanape growled, leveling his gardening implement like it was a spear.
Apparently the compliment did not work.
“Well, I could tell you” he said coyly, “but you probably won’t believe me so really there’s no point..”
Foxglove and Chrysanthemum, seemingly from nowhere, pulled out their own gardening tools which looked oddly bigger than normally gardeners tools. They pointed them at Discord.
Deja vu, Discord thought. Insults and being threatened with gardening tools. Throw in some torches and a few more ponies, I’d be in childhood all over again
“Well since you've asked so nicely, I plan on picking these flowers for the Pony I love” Discord said, strangely feeling oddly lighter inside for telling some other pony.
Silence descended on the group as the three gardeners tried to process what he had just said.
“You're right I don't believe you” Will Wisp said.
“So much for being Honest” Discord mumbled.
“Why are we even bothering to ask him, whatever he tells us will be a lie.”Foxglove stated.
“Unless he decides to put those flowers back in the ground, I say we see how well his magic works if he’s got few holes in him.” Chrysanthemum said.
Discord blinked in surprise at the stallion’s words, he had hardly ever been threatened before, for obvious reasons,let alone by group of gardeners. But it wasn't the threat that startled him, all though the longer he looked at gardening implements the ponies were holding, the more they seemed to be more at home in an armoury than a greenhouse. What surprised him most was the fact that he was being threatened over a bunch of flowers.
Discord pulled his beard in mock thought. “Tempting offer.”he finally said. “But I am going to say no.”
The gardners brandished their weapons causing the sun to glint off their points.
“But listening to your compelling argument , I believe these flowers should be suitable , without any other additions for others.”
And then disappeared in burst of white light.
Not a moment too soon, for where Discord was standing sprouted three gardening implements.
___________________________________
In the Canterlot kitchens, the royal chefs were hastily finishing of the banquet for the food tester , who would be approving the choice of food for the celebration tomorrow.
“THE RECIPE STATES STIR IN A FAST, CLOCKWISE MOTION; YOU CALL THAT FAST, I'VE SEEN TREES GROW FASTER THAN YOUR STIRRING!!!” A dark brown stallion, dressed head to hoof in a white chefs’ uniform , yelled at a light green earth pony, dressed in similar attire, who was busily stirring a bowl full of a brown viscous substance.
“Y-y-yes, s-sir, Grater Rollers sir.” the earth pony stuttered as he increased his pace causing the contents in the bowls to slosh about.
“AND WHAT THIS!!!” Grater roared, storming over to a where a tangerine colored pegasus was squeezing blue icing onto a cake. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”
The pegasus dropped the icing bag to the ground instantly.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING”
“I-I-Im adding icing to the cake.”
“THE RECIPE STATES YOU’RE TO SPREAD THE ICING NOT SQUIRT IT, DO IT AGAIN!!”
“R-right way sir, I will just get a knife an-”
“I MEAN RE DO THE WHOLE CAKE!!”
The pegasus’ face turned white and when he spoke his voice was meek“B-b-but that will take-”
But Garter had already moved on. He soon spied a brown unicorn busily chopping up some fruit and vegetables.
“and what do you think you're doing.” Garter asked in an unusually gentle voice.
Apparently the unicorn had missed Grater’s outburst and took false comfort in his soft tone.
“I'm just chopping up some mangoes to add to the salad.”
“Mhmm” Grater said, examining one of the chopped mangos “you know what would make these mangos actually edible.” Greater said calmly.
“HMM,Excuse me sir?” thinking he had misheard.
“IF YOU ACTUALLY BOTHERED TO SKIN THEM FIRST!” and he threw the mango at the unicorn. It made impact with unicorns face with a squish and lightly oozed down his shocked features.
Grater turned his back to the unicorn in rage and advanced to the center of kitchen.
“ AM I THE ONLY THE ONLY COOK HERE , THAT KNOWS WHAT TO DO IN A KITCHEN!”
No pony responded.
“WELL I AM I?”
“N-no chef Grater.” Some of the cooks mumbled; the rest seemed to have taken a sudden vow of silence.
“WELL THEN, GET BACK TO WORK !! We only have 6 hours to finish the last of the preparation for the food tasters! We’re already going to have to work through the night to prepare the assorted menus, that the tester chose, but that won’t mean a thing if we only have hors d’oeuvres and a main course to show them which means we'll only have a limited amount of choices of food at the celebration, which means the guests will get bored by the food, which we'll get the princess angry at us for not doing a better job of preparing the food for the celebration, which is the biggest celebration of the century. Which will lead me to get furious at all of you ! DO ANY OF YOU WANT THAT TO HAPPEN?”
“No Chef Roller!” the other cooks cried out.
“THEN GET BACK TO WORK, AND STOP MESSING UP ON THE RECIPE!”
“yes Chef Roller” the cooks yelped and turned back to their stations.
Grater Roller watched as the ponies returned to their stations.
“Excuse me”
Chef Roller turned around to see, to speak to the voice.
The speaker who owned the voice. was a grey pony in the formal chefs’ attire , wearing a red neckerchief , and chefs hat somewhat bigger than usual.
“What is it!!” he barked. Usually, when Grater lost his temper the pony he was yelling at would grovel or cower. But this pony was unfazed, by his temper, and as Grater looked into his red pupils,he could have sworn he saw amusement, then the eyes did something odd, they began to swirl with yellow, green and blue.
“I was just thinking that perhaps it would be a good idea if, I were to check on the food that is prepared, to see if there needs to be any addition ” pony said in an musical tone.
Grater smiled at the pony's voice it was so hypnotic, he would do anything for that voice, and besides the pony did have a good point; one of these half baked cooks probably screwed something up, so why not send this cook to check and make sure everything was in order.
How could a pony with such a musical voice do anything wrong.
“Thank you.” the grey pony said. and walked out the doors. As soon as the doors closed behind him there was a loud clatter.
The pony came back to Grater clanking along with a bucket stuck to his left back hoof.
“You will tell me where the finished dishes are being held.” a little assertion had crept into the voice this time, but the eyes were still the same and besides it was lovely voice, thought Grater.
“I will tell you where the finished dishes are being held” Grater repeated.
Will pointing to the door to his right and the grey pony started walk toward it,clanking as he went.
The other chefs watched in bewilderment as the pony disappeared through the doors. They were too far away to see the pony's eyes, but they saw what transpired between the two stallions.
Chef Grater shook his head,like ridding himself of water in his ears; the second the door swung shut behind the pony, his head lifted to see the rest of the staff looking at him.
“What are you looking, at I thought I made my instructions clear!!!”
_____________________________________________
Once the grey pony heard the door shut behind him he was engulfed in a white light.
When the light disappeared, the pony was gone and in his place was a draconequus wearing a grey ponies’ chefs hat, and the bucket that was stuck to his goat leg.
Discord kicked his goat leg around trying to rid himself of the bucket. After a couple of kicks it flew off and slammed itself against a table with a clatter, causing the contents on the table to shiver a bit from the impact.
Discord was slightly struck at the variety and the amount of food gathered on the table.
But then he smiled “I’m sure they wouldn't notice if a few platters went missing” he mused
He took off his chef's’ hat, reached inside of it with his lion paw and rummaged around in it for a few seconds before pulling out a blue cooler.
He clicked the open the cooler and started tossing in all sort of delicacies and the plates they were on. From salads and soups, to desserts, turkish delight and macaroons to everything in between. Miraculously., the cooler managed to hold all the food.
After Discord took more than half of the tables’ contents he clicked the cooler's lid shut and stuffed it back into his chef's hat.
And then teleported away in a flash of white.
A couple seconds later he teleported back, and took the white table cloth that the food was on in his hands.
“Fine dining deserves a fancy table cloth” and he pulled the cloth.
The food wobbled dangerously near the edges of the table but didn't fall.
“Wow, and that’s not even using any magic.” Discord said with more than a bit of shock in his voice.
He stuffed the table cloth into his hand as well.
A thought occurred to him and scooped up a bowl of towering spaghetti. He placed one end on the table and walked backward to a window; the window had a view of the gardens, there were no gardeners in sight as he turned his way to the window, all the while turning the plate counter clockwise allowing the spaghetti to fall to the ground, leaving an edible line in his wake.
When he got to the window, he opened it wide and threw the plate like a frisbee. It arced over the garden and then out of sight, all the while the long strand of spaghetti fell marking the plants trail.
That should give them a false trail, he thought.
Now what else did the book say? He leaned out the window and conjured up the list and scrolled down it.
“Flowers check,food check..romantic setting… wish they made that about many specific!” Discord mumbled.
“I mean I just learned that I am in love with Fluttershy yesterday, now this book expects me to know about romantic settings.”
Discord frowned in deep thought, trying to think of what he could do about the setting. He was just about to give up and take his chances without it when a couple of pink blossom petals floated past his gaze.
An old memory sprouted up just like the couple of petals, and an idea of where he could take her blossomed from it.
“I just hope that in 1000 years no pony has made it into a tourist attraction, or put a settlement on it.”
________________________________________
Usually Fluttershy’s cottage was surrounded by her menagry of animals and the air was filled with their various sounds.
However whenever Discord visited Fluttershy, most of the time there was wasn't a beak, whisker or anything of her animals, to signify his arrival. Most likely they had to hide or run away during the draconequus presence not wanting to be part of his shenanagins.
So it was no surprise ,to Discord, when he materialized at Fluttershy’s cottage and found no sign of the animals.
Even if the animals were around tweeting, snorting and making various other sounds associated with the animals,he doubted he would have heard them.
Discord held the flowers he picked for her in his hands, nervously. Perspiration started to snake down his long neck. His eyes stared at the red wood door, which was only a foot away from his face. That door usually filled him with a feeling of comfort and excitement. Now all he felt was nervousness and caution.
Come on Discord! Just knock on the door! he told himself.
He raised his lion paw. And held it there.
Discord original confidence of telling Fluttershy his feelings for her had diminished to nothing as soon as he had teleported himself to her house.
“Come on it’s a simple act, you have done it a thousand times before. Just knock on the door.” he murmured to himself
And gave the gentleist tap on the door.
No one came to answer.
After a couple of seconds he repeated the motion, a bit louder this time.
Knock, knock, knock, knock “Fluttershy.”
He paused when no one came. Then counted.
Knock, knock, knock, knock: “Fluttershy.”
Knock, knock, knock, knock: “Flutt-”
He stopped mid knock, having got into an odd rhythm with it. As the door opened, time seemed to slow for Discord as the whole situation began to come clear to him,
Just play it cool, he told himself, that thought process lasted about 3 and a half seconds until his mind was turned into a nervous wreck, and his thoughts started to branch out into tendrils of worry.
What should he say to her, Discord thought. How should I say it to her, are the flowers enough, should I have brought some chocolates, does my breath smell bad, maybe I should have eaten some peppermints, did I even eat breakfast, is there still time to teleport away ,boy Fluttershy is opening the door extremely slowly.
Discord quickly closed his eyes, just before the door opened all the way. With his mind in such a stressed jumble, he wasn’t thinking things through.
He thrust the bouquet of flowers in the direction of the doorway and turned his head as well
“FLUTTERSHY-WHEN- YOU-SMILE-OR- HUG-ME-IT FEELS-LIKE-YOU-TURN MY HEART- INTO A MARSHMALLOW. WHEN-YOU-GET-ANGRY AT ME-,FOR GETTING IN A FIGHT WITH ANGEL,-THE-WAY-YOUR BOTTOM LIP-STICKS-OUT-MAKES YOU-LOOK- ADORABLE. I LOVE HOW YOU CAN HAVE BEAUTIFUL CALM EYES ONE MINUTE, AND THEN HAVE HARD COMMANDING EYES THE NEXT. WHEN YOU USE YOUR STARE WHICH MIGHT I ADD MAKES YOU LOOK LOVEABLE AS WELL. I HAVE NEVER FOUND ANY PONY BEAUTIFUL,BECAUSE I DON’T UNDERSTAND BEAUTY THAT WELL UNLESS IT HAS CHAOS IN THE MIX, BUT I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PONY IN ALL OF EQUESTRA,WHATEVER YOU DO IS BEAUTIFUL AND ELEGANT .WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY FLUTTERSHY IS THAT I LOVE YOU AND WILL YOU BE MY SPECIAL SOME PONY.”
Well that wasn’t over the top at all, Discord thought to himself.
For a couple seconds no one spoke then. Great job you’ve probably frightened her out of her wits, she might have fainted, blowing any chance with her.
Fearing the worst, Discord peeked open his eye to look at the thing in the door; to his great surprise ,yet relief, it wasn’t Fluttershy. Instead it was her poorly named bunny, Angel.
Who had an expression of utter bewilderment on his face, well- as close to bewilderment as a bunny could muster.
Discord was the first to recover his wits.
“Oh. it’s you, do you mind fetching your owner Cottontail today for our get together, I have few things I want to discuss with her.” he said in a casual tone masking his previous actions in the garden.
Angel’s shocked expression soon changed to one of great astonishment, to one of anger, to blind fury. As his emotions changed, so did the colour of his face starting as a mild pink on his white cheeks that slowly spread to cover the rest of his face turning it red as an apple. Then Angel’s face started to turn shades of red from apple red to beet root red.
Discord couldn’t help but laugh at the bunny.
That was a bad move! This was the final straw for Angel who slammed the door on the draquonequss long snout.
Discord fell on to his rear cupping his face, dropping the flowers in the process.
“One of these days Angel! one of these ” he said, in a nasally voice.
Although it was odd, he thought, he and Angel might not get along, it felt good telling someone his true feelings toward Fluttershy; it was like a burden had been lifted from him. Though in saying that there was the added burden that Angel would tell Fluttershy and possibly ruin any chance he would have.
He removed his hands from his face and summoned a mirror to survey the damage that Angel had done.
Discord’s face was as flat as a pancake, he grimaced at the sight. He summoned a deflated green balloon, he placed it to his lips and began to blow. In two breaths the balloon was a foot high and 4 feet long. Satisfied by the size he began twisting the balloon into a shape that resembled his face before Angel had closed the door on it.
He then bumped his head out of the way to place the green balloon in it’s place. When his original head left his neck, it turned into a regular grey balloon. Discord then snapped his fingers and a pin appeared, he brought the pin to his green plastic balloon ear and lightly pressed it . There was pop and Discord’s original long snout with all his abnormal features were back. He looked down at the grey balloon floating next to him, that was once his head and pressed the pin against it. The balloon took off through the air going in all directions till it ran out of air and ceased to exist. It was then Discord thought he heard an all too familiar soft feminine voice at the door.
“Was there anyone at the door Angel?” Fluttershy muffled voice sounded from behind the door.
Discord then readjusted himself preparing himself for her imminent arrival.
“ O I could have sworn I heard a knocking at the door?” Fluttershy said.
That little pest Discord thought. And he hammered on the door once again.
“Oh, it sounds like someone’s here” Fluttershy said in her usual bright tone. “ Oh, um, Angel could you please move away from the door.” she said timidly.
Great I get a do over, he thought,you won’t get another chance like this so just act how you usually do and give her the flowers.
Discord tied his lion’s fingers around the bouquet, hoping to have some reassurance from them but all he felt was air and felt less reassured than before.
“Flowers” he said, dazed as he looked down at his empty paw. “ where are the flowers?” he said his voice slowly slipping into panic.
Discord swung around frantically. Often repeating the word “Flowers” in a frenzy.
“Uhm, Angel could you stop pulling on my tail.” Fluttershy’s voice questioned, Discord froze and then spun around, hearing Fluttershy’s voice and hearing the creaking of the door as it started to open. Then he spied at the basis of the door was the bouquet.
Discord lunged for the flowers just as Fluttershy opened her door completely.
It was lucky Fluttershy did this or else Discord would have most likely have to summon another balloon.
The force of Discord’s leap sent him over a startled Fluttershy’s head and rolling into her cottage, coming to a sudden stop when he hit the cottage wall and lay there upside down, tail fuzz drooping on to his face.
Fluttershy whirled around to see what had flown into her cottage.
Relief came over her when she saw it was Discord.
“Disc-” Fluttershy then stopped her relief replaced by confusion. Though the confusion was not directed at Discord, he had done weirder and more questionable entrance before. One time floating down her chimney, in a chimney sweepers outfit complete with chimney sweepers sweep, whistling an odd tune. Another time coming out of her toilet in a snorkel and mask. The confusion was directed at a weird crackling sound that came from her back hooves.
Fluttershy turned down again to see what her hind legs were on, causing more crackling.
When she turned her 90 degrees, she looked down and saw a bouquet of flowers, although flowers were a little trampled they were still quite beautiful.
In a flash of light Discord appeared in front of Fluttershy.
“Oh, would you look at that flowers! I wonder how they got there?” He said hastily. “Perhaps our animals gathered them for you, or someone just dropped them out of thin air, or maybe some flowers grew legs and wrapped themselves in cellophane and deposited themselves at our door. Crazier things have happened in this town before. Most of the time not involving me.”
Fluttershy gave Disord a confused look, and then raised one of her eyebrows.
Discord hastily picked up the flowers. “ Anyway they are pretty ruined now, not that it is your fault mind you,they most likely arrived this way. I will just dispose of them and we can start our get together, Flutters”
“Discord?” Fluttershy questioned,stopping him in his task of disposing of the bouquet,“are those flowers for me?”
Discord grinned nervously, “ O-of course they are for you. I mean they were at your front door. I mean unless they were for Angel or one of your other animals.”
“I mean, are the flowers from you, Discord?” Fluttershy clarified.
“Well aahh..” Discord looked sidelong at the once nicely picked flowers, now crumpled and covered in a little dirt. “Yes” and then second guessing himself, “No.” Then he paused and blurted out, “ Well, what I mean to say is that they were,but no aaa…..” he trailed off; in the process of his speech he had swung the flowers wildly causing them to lose more of their petals and making them look even more dishevelled.
“They’re not exactly the flowers you’re used to seeing.” Discord admitted sheepishly. “But you have to believe me when I say they didn’t always look this...well like this.” he said gesturing at that the flowers.
“So I’ll just get rid of these and then we ca-”
“What ,Discord, stop!” Fluttershy said a little louder than usual.
Discord stopped mid-motion of throwing the flowers away, one foot and his tail in the air both hands cupped around the flowers, looking like a garden statue.
“I don't want you to throw them away, Discord; the flowers look so beautiful.” .
Discord frowned and turned to her. “ I know you’re the epitome of kindness Fluttershy, but you don't have to comfort me about a couple of flowers.”
“But I’m not; I really would like the flowers.” Fluttershy said with a slight tinge of red to her cheeks.
Discord blinked. “Really? you would still like these.”
Fluttershy nodded and smiled. “Yes ”
Discord was unsure what to do next so he just stood there awkwardly swaying on his feet for a few seconds, before he thrust the bouquet at Fluttershy awkwardly. “ Here you go I guess.” Discord mumbled nervously.
Fluttershy carefully took the flowers in her hooves with a smile. “Thank you” she said shyly.
She inhaled the delicate aroma of the crumpled flowers. “They smell wonderful.” she said.
“You're just saying that” Discord said cooly. Though inside he was the complete opposite.
“No, really they do.” Fluttershy then took a closer look at the flowers. She realized that some of the flowers, the usually small flowers, like the snow drops, were now double their normal size, but she chose not to question it. “And look, some of these flowers aren’t that badly damaged; I mean look at the tulip, or daffodil and these hyacinthes and roses look..” she trailed off “there are roses in here” she said more to herself than Discord.
“Yes” Discord said. “I didn’t know which flowers you would like best so I just picked them all”
“You picked these?” Fluttershy said a little shocked.
“Don’t sound so shocked, my dear, I can do things without my magic.” Discord said a little proudly.
Fluttershy raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “ Where did you pick these flowers exactly.”
“Oh you know, in a garden where they would have been picked eventually.” Discord said a little too casually.
Fluttershy kept her eyebrow raised then let it fall. She knew Discord well enough to know that he had done something. But she chose to let it slide. It was a small thing she rationalized and they were very nice flowers after all.
“I’ll just put these in a jar then I’ll get the tea cups out, the tea pot’s already out if you would like to make yourself comfortable.”
Fluttershy turned around and flew to her kitchen, admiring the bowkay as she did so.
Discord smiled as he walked into Fluttershy’s cottage. As soon as Fluttershy had entered her kitchen he let a happy squeal and did a flip in joy.
When he landed he said in the loudest whisper he dared use “She likes them, she truly likes them.”
Then a flood of pain erupted from his tail. He whirled his head around in a 90 degree angle to see the cause and scowled at the little white bunny hopping up and down on his tail, pushing all his force into each leap.
He quickly retreated his tail from Angel s endless attack and turned his body around fully to face the white hare.
“You know, for a pet that is supposed to be the embodiment of kindness you really are not that kind.” Discord said, caressing his serpents tail as he did.
Angle stuck out of his tongue in response.
A smirk spread across Discord’s features, “You see that wasn’t very kind, Angel, but allow me to show you the maning of kindness.
Angel was lifted up in the air, he gave a sudden start from surprise, which was quickly stilled when a carrot was shoved his moosh.
“You see Angel, that was kind of me to give you carrot, I didn’t have to,I could have given you one of my soaks but I did’ent . So why don’t you fly off and enjoy it.”
Before Angel could mumble out a reply, Discord started twisting Angel’s ear with his lions paw, like someone would twist a rubber band. With each twist came a creeking sound; after a couple of seconds, Angel’s ears were curled flat and only held in place by Discord’s paw.
Satisfied, Discord walked to a window and opened it with his free hand before releasing Angel’s bunny’s ear from his thumb and forefingerume.
The ears twirled around like a propeller and lifted Angel bunny into the sky. He was floating a good six feet in the air, then a sudden breeze took him and he was blown off down the road.
“Bon Voyage, Angel. See you in a couple hours or so.” Discord said waving the bunny off with a white hankerchief.
The bunny just glared at the dragoneques and waved his paws in anger. Seeing as his mouth was full of carrot.
Discord smiled and closed the window. That takes care of him for a little while he thought to himself.
Just then Fluttershy flew into the room with a tray of cups and a tea pot.
“Here we go” she said placing the refreshments on the coffee table, totally oblivious to what had just transpired seconds earlier.
“So what types of jobs have you been doing for the festival tomorrow?” she inquired pouring out some tea into a light pink teacup and handing him the teacup and saucer.
Discord had a quick image of the ruined book flash through his mind. But he shook it off and said. “Oh you know the usual things that I have been doing for the past 2 weeks, clean up a few things here, move a few things there, attach a giant lense up here, same old stuff.”
Fluttershy raised an eyebrow at the giant lense but chose not to comment. If it was something of importance or deep interest Discord would tell her.
“Anything big transpire since yesterday’s letter that you sent me.” Discord asked her.
“O you know same old and same old, all though Angel did seem bit more excited just as you arrived.” Fluttershy said with a pensive frown. “Speaking of whom, where is he? Did he go out?”
Discord said with a small grin. “Yes actually, he just left, he must of been in hurry because he flew out of here.” He managed to hold back his snicker.
“That’s odd, usually Angel tells me when he’s going out. I hope everything's okay.” Fluttershy asked a little worriedly.
“I am sure Angel’s fine Fluttershy.” Discord said casually. “ He has an annoying way of popping up”
“I guess..”Fluttershy said uncertainly .
“Anyway, on a whole other topic, I was wondering if you wanted to go somewhere else for our get together, Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy lifted her head. It wasn’t a surprising thing for the two of them to be going to a different locations for their time together. “ That would be all right with me, what did you have in mind, Discord, your chaos area again
“No, it’s not there. I am taking you to a far more secluded area.” At least I hope it s still that way, he thought to himself, come to think of it I hope they’re in bloom as well.
“O well it sounds interesting.” Fluttershy said, her tone slightly confused. “ Could you tell me more about this area.”
Discord shook his head. “Nope.” then a box, pink with a yellow tie appeared in Discord’s spot. “It’s a surprise”he said,popping out of the box, along with confetti and streamers.
As quickly as Discord promised, they had arrived, they disappeared in a flash of white light.
“So when do you want to leave for this new spot?” Fluttershy asked.
“How about right now, we can take the tea to go.” Discord said snapping his eagle talons, making a green open box appear over Fluttershy’s teaset, a green lid appeared over the box as well and fell on top of it enclosing Fluttershy’s teaset, before the box disappeared.
“O before we head out we should probably dress for the weather.” Discord snapped his fingers, and both Fluttershy and Discord were in winter attire.
Fluttershy was wearing a pair of forest green earmuffs. A peach pink hat with green trim and a green pompom on the top. A green scarf wrapped around her neck like a boa constrictor, with wild flowers and vines embroidered in it in shiny pink thread. She also had on a pair of green snow boots laced with pink laces, and decorated with an arrangement of coloured flowers.
Discord wore a dark blue with red and yellow polka dots, woolen tocque with ear flaps, his horns protruding from the hat covered his grey ears. He also had a cherry red scarf, with pink clouds sewn into it. Finally he wore three winter gloves, a bright blue fingerless one on his tail, a green fingered coloured one on his eagle tail, and a cinnamon brown open fingered one on his lion paw. He also had foot wear on; a green lizard leg had a snow shoe strapped on and his goat leg had a ski strapped on.
“Is where we are going supposed to be cold?” Fluttershy asked inspecting her attire.
“Only temporarily” he confidently said.
Fluttershy chose not to question Discord’s response, trusting it to make sense when they got there.
“So are we ready to go?” she asked.
Discord was about to confirm Fluttershy’s question when he caught sight of the inside of Fluttershy’s kitchen spying his bouquet of flowers in a natural decorated porcelain vase.
An idea sparked in Discord’s mind.
He levitated one of the red roses, that wasn’t badly damaged, out of the vase and into Fluttershy’s mane between her head and ear, that was covered by the earmuff.
Fluttershy cheeks turned the kind of red you would find on a peach. “Uhm...D-Discord what’s this for?” she said in an oddly quieter and shyer tone than she hardly ever used around Discord. Her eyes wandering to the flower.
“I thought since it’s so odd for me to bring anything to are get togethers, and since you liked the my flowers so much that you would like to have one with you for the rest of the day” Discord said. “ and besides you look…..” Discord paused nervously trying to find the words “...nice” he finally said.
Discord’s goat leg magically detached from his body so it could kick him in the rear, for what he said; he let out little grunt of pain at the action before the leg reattached itself to his body.
Nice he thought, nice!!! why didn’t you say gorgeous, or radiant, or splendid or ….well anything other than nice.
“Thank, you.” Fluttershy said quietly.
“Pardon?” Discord squeeked, partly from shock but mostly from the pain of being kicked.
“For what you said, that I look nice, it was well nice..” she clarified.
“well aa…” Discord said still his squeeky tone. He then cleared his thoughts and coughed a few times, to return his voice to its usual pitch, while at the same time buying him some time to respond with a good answer. “anytime”
An odd stillness fell between the two before Discord cleared his throat.
“Well I think we’re all set unless there’s any last minute things you need to do, Shy?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “No, I’m ready to go.”
“Well then let’s be off, Oh wait, one more thing could you shut your eyes I want it to be a surprise for you when we get there.”
“Well... uhm... ok.. then.” And she closed her eyes.
Discord waved his paw over Fluttershy eyes to see if her eyes were closed. Then he conjured up a photo album full of cute baby animal photos which would normally cause Fluttershy to awww at them, to double check if her eyes were closed.
Discord just flipping the page with a baby panda and his mother.
When Fluttershy asked. “Uhm Discord I don’t want to rush you, but are we there yet?”
Satisfied, Discord vanished the picture book away and said, in his enthusiastic tone.
“Momentarily, my dear.”
And he snapped his finger, there was a flash of light and then the two were gone.