As the Grand Galloping Gala draws to a close, tensions linger from Discord and Fluttershy's fight. Discord, nervous and remorseful, is afraid to approach her. Meanwhile, Fluttershy regrets yelling at him, even while knowing better.

The good news: Fluttershy knows she can set everything right again.

The bad news: it's going to require her to come to grips with old wounds.

Editing duties courtesy of nanashi_jones.

After the gala, things return to normal quickly. Yet it seems like there are some things that need to be talked out.

At least, Discord feels that he should.

Short little thing that came to me after the 'Make New Friends But Keep Discord' episode.

Enjoy.

Being a god's friend comes with certain benefits. Being a god's only friend comes with massive cost.

This story is the unholy spawn of my imagination, a TV Tropes Fridge Horror entry, and "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" by Harlan Ellison. Rated "Teen" to be on the safe side. Criticism is welcomed.

A brief moment between friends.

Discord is attacked by a mysterious pony with frightening power. He is left in the woods young and frightened. Fluttershy finds the infant Draconequus and takes him in. Fluttershy cares for Discord, and Discord comes to love the pegasus. When Twilight finds a new threat and alerts the Elements, Fluttershy realizes that it is the same mysterious pony who deaged Discord. Can they get Discord back to normal? And until they do, how bad can raising the Lord of Chaos possibly be?

Things are hard in Ponyville for Fluttershy and Discord; mainly because of Discord. But when magic starts to go on the fritz and eventually starts failing altogether, it's up to the main six and the Draconequus to find out what's causing it and, more importantly, how to fix it.

This would be a lot easier if anypony trusted the King of Chaos to begin with, but with bigger problems on the horizon, some things will have to wait to be dealt with. Like trust. Or loyalty. Or friendship.

Of course, sometimes what we think isn't important to deal with right now, is exactly what's needed to prevent things from getting far, far worse.

Discord has been away for a couple of months due to some royal duties from Celestia. Cause of this he hasn't seen Fluttershy for quite a while. Now that he has some free time might as well catch up.

(takes place immediately after Make New Friends, But Keep Discord)

Fluttershy returns from the Grand Galloping Gala with Discord at her side. Emotions peaked, she starts reflecting on the events, realizing that maybe she did things too. Was Discord really the only one who did something wrong?

They start to talk, and Discord eventually proceeds to ask an extraordinarily odd question that Fluttershy didn't expect to hear.

Lately, Discord had taken up gardening.

It was, admittedly, an unexpected hobby for the spirit of chaos and disharmony to pick up. But he'd easily justified it to himself--and everypony else who dared question--with the answer that chaos is being unexpected, and that true chaos is doing things that no one would have guessed, and so he was living perfectly up to his own nature.

He had created six unique varieties of flowers; they were completely unique to his little garden. Nowhere else in Equestria did one grow.

It's Fluttershy's birthday, but all of her friends are busy! ... Well, all but one of them, and he's going to make sure it's the best birthday she's ever had.

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New cover art created by melissathehedgehog. Also with a reading by Dr. Wolf!