Something Missing
It was Tuesday morning and Fluttershy was on her way to the market. She was picking up new food for her animal friends. The lizards had new babies to feed, and they weren't old enough so hunt for crickets themselves, so Fluttershy would have to buy some. She was trotting along the path, humming softly, when she heard Rainbow Dash's voice above her.
"Hey, Fluttershy!"
The yellow pegasus looked up to see her rainbow-haired friend. "Oh, hi, Dashie." Fluttershy said happily. "Where are you going?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I was on my way to get some food for the reptiles." she responded.
"Twilight invited all of us over to her house for a picnic. She already has a yes from me, Pinkie, Applejack, and Starlight. After you I just need to go to Rarity's."
Fluttershy looked down at her hooves, embarrassed. "Sorry, Dashie, but I can't. Today is Tuesday."
"Oh," Rainbow Dash said understandingly. "Wait, what's on Tuesday?"
"Tuesday Tea. You know, with Discord."
Rainbow Dash furrowed her eyebrows. "Um, who's Discord?"
"You know who Discord is. You're friends, remember?"
"Yeah...Okay. Well, I guess I'll tell Twilight no, then." the cyan pony said, eager to get away.
"Also tell her that I am very sorry I couldn't make it."
"Suuuuure." For a moment, neither pony spoke. "Well, gotta dash." And with that, Rainbow Dash flew off, presumably toward Carousel Boutique. Fluttershy watched her fly away. I don't know what's gotten into her, she thought. Pretending she doesn't know who Discord is. This is probably another one of her silly pranks.
Fluttershy continued on with her shopping, trying to push thoughts of Rainbow Dash's confused face out of her mind. The more she thought about it, though, the more it seemed that Rainbow's confusion as to whom exactly Discord is was genuine. Fluttershy decided not to dwell on it for too long, because she knew Discord, and Discord never missed Tuesday Tea.
She was walking by SugarCube Corner when Pinkie's head popped out of the bushes. "Hiya, Flutters!" she exclaimed happily, making Fluttershy jump a few feet in the air and stiffen up. "Oh, Pinkie, it's only you." she breathed a sight of relief. "What are you doing in those bushes?"
"I accidentally dropped my can of sprinkles out of the window!" Fluttershy decided not to question this. "Hey, are you going to Twilight's picnic today?" Pinkie asked.
Fluttershy shook her head. "Like I told Rainbow Dash, I have Tuesday Tea time with Discord."
"Discord? Who's he?"
Not Pinkie, too. "Never mind." Fluttershy said, suddenly feeling very sick. "I should be going now. I have to get food for my animal friends."
"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie said enthusiastically, going back down into the bushes.
Fluttershy walked over to Carrot Top's vegetable cart, her head hanging. "Three carrots, please." she mumbled, but this time not out of shyness.
"Miss?" Carrot Top asked. "Are you alright?"
Fluttershy looked up and forced a smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Three carrots, please."
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Fluttershy opened the door to her cottage, almost expecting Discord to jump out and surprise her, but no such luck. Fluttershy sighed in disappointment, then set her saddlebags down on the kitchen counter. She started making the tea, praying that she would have it done before Discord came. It wasn't like he would mind, though. He loved conversing with her, even if it wasn't over tea.
Fluttershy sat on the green couch that Discord loved, running her hoof over the fabric and occasionally fluffing the pillows to keep herself occupied. Once the kettle starting whistling she quickly set the silver tray with fancy china and the kettle, along with a cup of sugar. She put the tray on the small wooden table in between their chairs. She sat down in her chair, waiting patiently. Somehow for the ten minutes she sat in Discord's spot, she hadn't realized that the pillows no longer carried his scent.
Fluttershy had waited for almost an hour when she starting felling nervous. Discord was usually so punctual. This wasn't like him to be so late. What if something terrible happened? What if he got trapped under something heavy or got seriously injured or something like that? Fluttershy took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Calm down, Fluttershy. Maybe Discord just lost track of the time. I'll bet Twilight knows where he is. She stood up and was about to walk out the door, but decided to write Discord a note in case he came while she was gone. She set it next to the kettle, where he would be sure to find it.
Fluttershy trotted down the dirt paths anxiously, looking around a few times to check if Discord was anywhere in sight. She never saw him but kept checking, only to be let down each time.
After what seemed like forever, she reached the Friendship Castle, where she saw Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Starlight, and Applejack laying on a quilt on the grass. Twilight looked up as Fluttershy approached. “Oh, Fluttershy!” she said, sounding surprised. “Rainbow Dash said you weren’t coming.”
Fluttershy blushed. "Well, I didn't come for food, if that's what you mean. I just wanted to know if you've seen Discord anywhere today." Twilight and Rainbow Dash shared a look. "He's usually on time for Tuesday Tea, but today he's very late. Do you have any idea where he could be?"
"Fluttershy..." Twilight started. "There is nopony we know named Discord."
"Yes there is! He's a draconequus and the Lord of Chaos. He used to be evil when he took over Equestria, but after we turned him to stone Princess Celestia asked me to reform him, and now he’s good. You’re friends with him, Twilight. Don’t you remember?”
"I think you need to sit down for a minute, Fluttershy. You need to drink some water, too."
“Stop it, Twilight!” Fluttershy snapped. “Stop pretending he doesn’t exist because he does!”
"Fluttershy," Twilight said, her voice starting to rise, too. "Stop being foolish! There is something wrong with you and we need to fix it!"
"You stop being foolish!" Fluttershy yelled, tears starting to stream down her face.
"There is no such thing as a draconequus, and there is no such thing as a Lord of Chaos, and Discord is a figment of your imagination!"
"NO!" Fluttershy cried, sitting down on the grass and starting to sob. "No, no, no, no, no! He's real, he is..."
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Fluttershy's eyes snapped open. At first she was confused as to where she was, but then she realized that she was in her bed. The familiar feeling of her face against Discord's soft fur and his hand running through her mane came back to her. The next thing she felt was that her face was all wet, apparently from her tears she had been unknowingly shedding. She wrapped a shaking hoof around her lover's torso and cried a bit more, this time out of happiness that he was still with her. "Discord." she whispered, saying his name over and over.
"Fluttershy?" Discord asked, bending down to his wife's eye-level and moved her hair away from her face. "Are you alright, darling?"
"Oh, Discord," Fluttershy sighed, placing a kiss on his snout. She buried her face in his neck. "The dream. It was terrible! Please don't go away and leave me here!" Discord smiled, and stroked her silky pink hair. "I could never leave you, my dear."
Fluttershy shivered as he gently nipped at her ear. "I promise."
"Thank you." Fluttershy said, closing her eyes. As much as she didn't want to sleep and risk dreaming that same horrible, dream, she knew she needed it and Discord would pester her about it until she finally slept. She yawned and let sleep take her away.
Discord looked down at his wife sleeping soundly. I wonder if I should tell her that I made her immortal after the wedding, he thought. Hmm, nah. He rested his nose on the top of her head and slept with her.