//------------------------------// // Discord Visits // Story: Discordian Nights // by Pegashy //------------------------------// “Fluttershy? Fluttershy, are you awake, dear?” A strange softness welcomed Fluttershy as she groggily opened her eyes. Midafternoon sun streamed through the window into a small, but beautifully decorated, bedroom. She still could barely believe what had just happened earlier. “I think I’m fine…” “Oh, good. Do you want anything? There’s a leftover daisy sandwich from lunch on the table there , but if you want anything else, just call for Coco Pommel.” With that, a cream-colored pony began to leave. Fluttershy looked around. “W-Where am I?” “Oh, that’s right, poor dear.” Coco Pommel turned around. ”You’re in one of the palace’s guest bedrooms. Discord decided you should be brought here to rest a bit. Right now he’s in the library if you want to see him.” “Oh, um… That’s okay, thank you. I think I’ll just eat some lunch and leave.” Fluttershy grabbed a plate with a daisy sandwich on it off of the small table next to her. “Okay then. When you’re done you can just leave the plate there.” Coco Pommel closed the door and Fluttershy could hear her hoofsteps as she walked down the hall. Discord looked through the shelves of scrolls again. He didn’t enjoy reading a lot, but it was a way to pass the time. “Is there anything interesting in this library, like an adventure story?” Discord shoved yet another scroll back into a shelf and slumped into a chair. The door to the library opened and Coco Pommel appeared. “Sir, Fluttershy has woken up. She’s in the guest room right now.” With that she left, having other things to do. “Well, I better go and talk to her then.” Discord got up and walked down the hallway to Fluttershy’s room. “Fluttershy?” He opened the door a crack, peeking through. Fluttershy walked to the door. “Discord? Why are you here?” Fluttershy looked at him with a surprised look on her face. Discord walked in and sat in a small leather chair. “I just wanted to talk to you. My draconequus state is a bit… startling, but I hope you’ll still accept me” “I’ve seen many different kinds of strange animals, but I’ll admit I’ve never met a draconequus before though.” Fluttershy gestured to him. Discord looked at her hopefully. “But, Discord, Why did you invite me of all mares to lunch? You could’ve asked anypony!” She asked with a curious look on her face “The truth is that…you were the nicest pony I’ve met in a while!” Discord’s face reddened, and he looked down at the floor. Fluttershy nervously stepped forward and put her hoof on his paw. “To tell the truth, it will take some time for me to get used to this you, but one day it may work out. Just, for now… Baby steps, okay?” She smiled at him and began to leave. Just as the ornate wooden doors closed, Discord scowled. How could she walk out like that on him? He was the sultan! Snapping, he conjured a black cloak and returned to his pony form. It seems he would be paying Fluttershy a visit tonight. Fluttershy was just blowing out the last oil lamp in her house when someone knocked on the door. She turned around and walked over to the door. “Discord!” Fluttershy’s eyes grew large as she opened the door. “W-What are you doing here this late?” Discord, in his pony form, grinned sheepishly. “I- I.... was bored, so I was going to ask if you had any extra scrolls I could read. I’ve already read all the ones at the palace, and the market’s closed after sunset.” ‘Oh, okay…. I have a few on a little shelf here.” Fluttershy gestured for Discord to come in as she went over to a little shelf by a window. She lighted a lamp and took a scroll out. “This one’s Daring Do and the 4 Thieves, is that okay?” Discord smiled. “An adventure story is exactly what I’ve been wanting! This will be perfect.” Discord grabbed the scroll excitedly. Fluttershy thought for a moment. She knew what happened to the other mares he took an interest to. Suddenly, she had an idea. “Do you want me to read it to you?” Smiling slyly, Fluttershy took the scroll back and sat down on a small wooden chair. “I can just read it myself….” Discord trailed off. He hadn’t been read to in a long time, and it may be nice to be read to again.“....Okay then, but only for tonight.” He sat down. Fluttershy nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure. In a town in Ponersia, there lived a mare named Daring Do…. In a town in Ponersia, there lived a mare named Daring Do who lived with her son, Quibble. They were quite poor, so she moved clouds for a living. One day as she was trying to move a particularly stubborn raincloud by a nearby forest, she noticed a group of four ominous-looking ponies coming towards her. Thinking they were robbers, she hid on top of the cloud as they trotted past. They stopped by the edge of the forest where a large group of bushes were. The richest-looking pony stepped forward, and Daring Do made him to be the leader. He loudly said, ‘Open Sesame’ and the bushes parted, revealing a small entrance to a cave. Daring Do waited on the cloud until they came out. Before they left, the captain said ‘Close Sesame’ and the bushes shut, hiding the entrance. They then galloped off in a cloud of dust. Daring Do was curious as to what was in the cave, so she flew down and said ‘Open Sesame’. The bushes opened and she entered the cave. She walked down a small hallway to a room full of gold and jewels, and wasted no time in filling her saddlebags with gold. She left the cave, saying ‘Close Sesame’ before leaving. When she got home, Quibble couldn’t believe how much gold she had. He quickly ran upstairs to get a scale to measure it with. The next day, the 4 ponies returned and Daring Do again watched them. “We have been discovered,” The commander said after leaving. “We must find the pony who knows our secret or we will surely be undone. One of us must go into the town disguised as a merchant and find out.” He pointed to one of the ponies. “You will go, and report back to me tomorrow.” The pony nodded, and left. “I think that’s enough for tonight… it is getting late” Fluttershy rolled up the scroll and put it back on the shelf. “But…. What about Daring do and her son? What will happen to them?” Discord said anxiously. “I’ll read the rest of it to you tomorrow morning. In the meantime, you should go back to the palace.” Fluttershy gently nudged him towards the door. “Well….” Discord thought for a moment and looked at Fluttershy, who had crossed her hooves. ”fine. But this is still a one time thing!” Discord surrendered and finally left, frowning. Now he would have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out what happens!