Picnic in the Sky
Fluttershy nervously paced back and forth, playing with the blue ribbon that tied her mane back into a ponytail. “Oh, I don't know,” she said. “Maybe this is too childish? I should put it up in a bun, instead.”
Angel, who was sitting on the couch, rolled his eyes. You look fine.
“Right, right.” She nodded, pausing for a moment…and then her pacing began anew. “But my makeup…maybe lip gloss isn't enough. I have that eyeshadow Rarity gave me, I should use that!”
Angel groaned loudly. If you were going to be such a worrywart about this, why did you even ask him in the first place?
Fluttershy's nervous demeanor finally slipped away as she let out an infatuated sigh. “Because he's perfect,” she said dreamily. “He's my best friend, he's funny, he's sweet…I just want everything to be perfect for him.”
Angel sighed, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. I can't believe I'm saying this, but…I think he feels the same way about you. And he'll be happy no matter what you do or how you look.
Her ears perked up. “You think so?”
I guess, he said. Besides, he'll be here any minute now, so it's a little late to start changing your appearance.
Just as he said that, there was a knock at her front door. Fluttershy gasped, wings flaring out as she jumped into the air. Her legs pedaled for a moment as she was torn between rushing to the door or fleeing upstairs. But after her shock was gone, she went to the door and opened it.
Discord stood there with a wide grin on his face. His fangs, horns, and scales had been polished enough to gleam, and all of his fur looked carefully brushed. “Flutterbuddy!” he said, eyes lighting up and wings fluttering at the sight of her. “You look…you look wonderful.”
She smiled, a little blush rising to her cheeks. “So do you,” she said. “I mean, of course you always look good!”
“Right, and so do you!” He gulped, glanced away…and then thrust a bouquet of pink and teal roses into her forehooves. For a moment she was stunned, both by the gesture and the heavy, sweet perfume that came from the blooms.
“Oh, thank you! They're lovely!” she gushed. She quickly ducked into her cottage and set them in a vase full of water at her table, choosing one of the smaller flowers to tuck just behind her ear. She turned to Discord with a shy smile, and he gave her a warm one in return.
“So, have a fantastic plan to paint the town red?” he asked, twirling a paintbrush and painting a red town in midair. “Or perhaps a nature retreat?” The paintbrush morphed into a gnarled hiking stick. “Or mayhaps a romp through another dimension?”
He paused, then tossed his walking stick away. “No, that sounds more like something I would arrange.”
She smiled, a slight laugh bubbling up from her throat. “I prepared something pretty simple, actually. Follow me, please.” Her wings unfurled as she took to the air, and he followed her with a tilted head.
She guided him to a decent-sized cloud hovering not far above her cottage. She had carefully molded it with her own hooves, and only when they hovered to its surface could they see the picnic blanket she had spread across it. She landed on the blanket and looked at her date…who wasn't showing any sort of reaction yet.
"So…what do you think?" she asked, rocking back and forth on her hooves. Discord was just...staring at the picnic, and it took a few moments before he even blinked. Then he just...blinked a few times.
"Flutters, I...I like it," he finally managed to say after a few more moments of blinking.
"You do?" She beamed up at him.
"Of course!" Before she knew it, she was swept up into his arms and being twirled around as he laughed giddily. "A picnic in the sky is positively wonderful, and just chaotic enough. I should have known you would knock this out of the park! You’re the pony who knows me best, after all." He rubbed the top of her head, ruffling her mane but being otherwise gentle.
She giggled, playfully pushing against his chest while at the same time wrapping one of her wings around his back. “C'mon, we don't want to miss the wind current,” she said, smoothing down her mane.
His eyes gleamed as he finally released her from his hold. “Does that mean you planned a mobile picnic in the sky?” he said.
“Mhmm,” she said, already flying to nudge the cloud into a breeze Rainbow had assured her would be perfect for drifting through town. Meanwhile, Discord sat on the picnic blanket, crossing his legs and drumming his fingers against his knees.
Once the cloud was lazily drifting through the breeze, she sat next to him on the blanket, reaching into the cloud and pulling out a basket she had tucked in there. She set it on the blanket between them, and then…they both sat there, neither of them quite willing to look the other in the eye.
This certainly wasn't the first picnic they had ever shared together, but it was the first one where they were perhaps a little more than friends. Fluttershy wasn't quite sure what she should do differently, or if there was anything different she needed to do at all.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Discord's stomach growled loudly. “Sorry, I shouldn't be stalling when we're both hungry,” she said, opening the basket and spreading its contents on the blanket. Plates of cucumber sandwiches and peanut butter and pickle ones, vegetable plates where each vegetable had been pickled and with plenty of ranch dip for Discord to slather on, and a cheese platter with as much variety as she had been able to give it. “I just…this feels different, you know?”
“I understand completely,” he assured as she poured them both cups of warm mint tea from a thermos. He clutched his cup with both hands like some sort of lifeline, and he smiled at his reflection in the liquid before taking a small sip. “Mmm. But I…I'm glad we're doing this.”
“S-So am I.” After another slightly awkward pause, she nudged the plate of sandwiches towards him. “I know they're not nearly as good as yours are, but…”
“Oh, don't sell yourself short!” he said, snatching one and taking a large bite, his cheeks puffing out. “You're one of the best chefs I know.”
She smiled, even as a light blush dusted her cheeks, and she began to nibble on a slice of cheese. “That's high praise from you. I've sure you've met a lot of great chefs.”
“Yes, but none of them hold a candle to the…as nauseating as it is to say, the love you put into your food.” He swallowed the rest of the sandwich, sticking his tongue out at his own cheesy words. Her nerves relaxed slightly, and she giggled as he juggled a few vegetables before tossing them right into his open maw.
The wind carried them right into Ponyville as they worked their way through their lunch. Discord seemed to enjoy having a bird's eye view of the town…until he sighed, looking thoughtfully down at the ponies below.
“What's on your mind?” Fluttershy asked, polishing off a sandwich.
“It's…not exactly romantic,” he said with a chuckle, scratching behind his ear. “But seeing all these ponies from this angle…” A mischievous grin spread across his muzzle. “It makes me want to pull some sort of prank or trick on them.”
She shifted, then reached into the cloud and pulled out another picnic basket, this one with a blue ribbon tied around the handle so she wouldn't confuse it with their lunch. “Funny you should mention that.” Discord's eyes widened, gaze flicking between her and the basket.
"I’m not usually a fan of pranks, but..." She fidgeted and nudged the basket out to him.
He eagerly opened it, eyes widening at the contents. Slowly, he pulled out two colorful, filled water balloons. "Fluttershy...do I detect the beginning of a rebellious streak inside of you?"
She glanced away, rubbing the back of her neck. "Pinkie helped," she admitted. "After I asked her what fun, chaotic things you might like to do today."
“Still, you've come so far,” he said with an exaggerated sniff, wiping a tear out of the corner of his eye. “My darling Fluttershy, being willing to take risks and spread a little chaos.”
A wicked grin spread across his face as he tossed a water balloon casually in one hand. “Now, who to hit first…ooh, there's Rainbow! I'm sure she'd appreciate a good pranking more than anyone.” With that, he flung the balloon at the pegasus napping on top of a nearby cloud.
“Gah!” Rainbow shouted as the balloon exploded on impact, showering her with cold water. She fell off of her cloud, but her wings quickly flared out, and she hovered in the air, glaring in the direction of the perpetrator.
“Lovely weather today, Dashie!” Discord chirped with a cheeky smile and wave. Fluttershy grinned sheepishly.
Rainbow glowered at him. “Dang it, Discord! The only reason I won't soak you back is because you’re using Fluttershy as a shield!”
Discord gasped, a hand flying to his chest. “So accusatory!” Rainbow grumbled and rolled her eyes, turning to fly away…though even Fluttershy could see the hint of a smile on her muzzle.
Once she was gone, Discord dropped the innocent act and began to laugh. Fluttershy smiled, resting her chin on her forehooves and just…watching him. Seeing him so elated made her feel something warm and airy in her chest, like she could float just like the cloud they were riding on.
“Oh, that was perfect!” Discord said, wiping a tear out of the corner of his eye. “I haven't had the chance for a good pranking spree like this in ages. Now, who's next…?” He peered over the edge of the cloud, his next water balloon at the ready.
He alternated between lobbing them at ponies or simply letting go and watching gravity take care of the work, but in just a few minutes, there were much fewer water balloons and far more soaked ponies wandering through town. Fluttershy couldn't say that she approved, but no one seemed truly angry, and it was wonderful to see Discord so happy.
“Oh, look, it's Twilight!” Discord said in a hushed, conspiratorial whisper, pointing out the alicorn who seemed to be getting ready for some shopping. “Conveniently with no books, or lists, or anything she'll screech about if it gets soaked.”
He suddenly plopped a green water balloon into her hoof. “I think you should have the honors for this one, dear Fluttershy.”
“What? Oh, no.” She tried to put it back in his palm, but he held his hands up and out of her reach. “No, no, no. I…I can't do that to a friend.”
“Why not?” Discord asked, tilting his head with genuine curiosity. “The water won't damage anything important to her. Twilight seems like the sort of pony who'd be neutral at worst towards being soaked. Hay, she'd probably laugh it off and incorporate the memory into some new friendship journal.”
Fluttershy bit her lip. That…all sounded pretty accurate. And so, when Twilight was just walking under the cloud, she scrunched her eyes shut tightly, thrust her hoof over the edge, and let go of the balloon.
Just moments later, she heard a splash, followed by Twilight's cry of shock, followed by Discord's howls of laughter. “What the hay, Discord!” Twilight shouted. “Aren't you supposed to be on a date right now!?”
Fluttershy's cheeks flushed, and Discord's laughter grew a little louder. “I am!” he called back. “And this one wasn't my fault!” He grabbed Fluttershy's forehoof and held it into the air, and Fluttershy herself nervously opened one eye.
Twilight stared at them both with an incredulous look. Fluttershy pursed her lips and gave a small nod of confirmation, and her friend just sighed, shaking her head. “Discord is a bad influence on you,” she said, her horn lighting as she used magic to rid herself of excess water. She gave Discord a stern look…but Fluttershy could see the corners of her lips just barely twitching into a smile.
As she resumed her trek to market, Discord nudged Fluttershy's side with his elbow. “See? Wasn't that fun?”
She frowned. “I don't really like pranks.” She remembered Twilight's cry of shock, and a smile wobbled onto her muzzle. “Although…her reaction was pretty funny…”
“And now you see the joys of pranking,” he said, his expression only a little smug. “Ooh, there's the CMC! They'll love this.” He lobbed three water balloons in the direction of the trio, who all shrieked and laughed upon being soaked, running after the cloud and lobbing balloons of their own.
Discord laughed as most of the balloons fell to the ground long before reaching them, though one lucky shot managed to puncture on his horn, soaking his entire head. Fluttershy laughed so hard she clutched her stomach, while he shook the droplets off of himself and threw more balloons at the CMC.
After more exchanges of balloons, and promises from both sides that this wasn't over yet, the cloud drifted over a building and out of the CMC's reach. Discord sighed happily as they turned and headed in the opposite direction, all of them still soaking wet.
Fluttershy smiled at him, offering a corner of the blanket. “I'm happy to see you get along with them so well,” she said.
He chuckled, using the blanket to dry off his head. “They're good kids. Fun kids.” He glanced at her. “Would you…kids…?” His tongue seemed to have tied itself into knots.
She looked away, her face cherry-red. “I, um…I like kids,” she squeaked. “But, it…it seems a little soon to think about that.”
“Right!” he squeaked in a high-pitched voice, his own face glowing red. “Let's put a pin in that conversation!”
The two of them couldn't quite look each other in the eye, though Discord managed to distract himself by throwing the last few water balloons at unsuspecting pedestrians. Fluttershy went through her breathing exercises until her heart calmed down and her mind drifted to safer, less flustering topics.
“…care for some dessert?” she asked, pulling the last few items out of the food basket. Discord eagerly licked his lips and nodded, making her smile.
The two of them nibbled on chocolate cookies slathered in buttercream frosting, Fluttershy giggling as the frosting smeared across Discord's muzzle and into his beard. When they neared the edge of town, Discord snapped his fingers, creating a gentle breeze that began to carry them back the way they had came over a different part of town.
They soon finished their dessert, even though Discord helped himself to seconds and thirds, and began to talk about parts of the town they could see. After a bit, Fluttershy worked up the nerve to lean her weight against his side. She had done this when they were friends, and he would wrap his arm around her shoulders to hold her close. Even if things were different now, she didn't want everything to completely change.
Though he stiffened up at first, Discord slowly wrapped an arm around her, his wing draping over her back. Smiling, she snuggled into the fur of his shoulder.
The cloud slowly came to a stop at her cottage, lowering itself to the ground thanks to Discord's magic. He hopped off and offered her a helping hand, which she gratefully accepted as she stepped off onto the grass.
“Would you call this date…successful?” he asked, rubbing the back of his neck. He snapped his tail feathers, and her picnic baskets and blanket floated through the air and in through one of her windows.
“Well, I had fun,” she answered as he escorted her to her front door. “And I like you…a lot. That's what makes a date successful, isn't it?”
A smile twitched onto his muzzle. “I suppose you're right.”
They both stopped at her door, shuffling and blushing. Discord rubbed at his arm and looked away, while Fluttershy scuffed a hoof against the ground. She didn't want to see him go, and she didn't know how she could really say goodbye…or how she could invite him in without being awkward.
With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, gathered her courage, and flew up to his head. His eyes widened, and they only got wider when she lightly pressed her lips against his cheek. When she pulled away, she could see the faint smudge of her glittery lip gloss, and more blood rushed to her cheeks.
“Thank you, Discord,” she said, giving him a hug before finally landing back on the ground. “I had a wonderful time.”
“I…welcome,” he responded, the tips of his fingers ghosting over his cheek in disbelief. “Though I should really be thanking you, of course! You're the one who put all this together.”
He cleared his throat and stood a little taller, though she could still see his tail wringing into nervous knots. “If you're free this weekend, it seems only fair to treat you to a romantic dinner in return,” he said.
She beamed at him. “That sounds perfect.”
“I'll pick you up, say…Saturday evening, then?” he asked. She nodded, and his pupils sparkled with delight. “I'm already looking forward to it!”
He stared at her for a few moments, shifting on his feet. Then, he suddenly grabbed her right forehoof and held it up, placing a large, sloppy kiss there before letting go and backing away as though the action had burned him. She smiled, though she bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from laughing.
His own expression lightened at her smile. He waved and turned, as though to walk off…before freezing and pivoting back around in slow motion. “Say…with us dating now…will we still have our Tuesday Teas?”
“Of course,” she answered immediately. “If you still want to, that is.”
His grin wasn't the widest she had seen it, and his fangs weren't the brightest or sharpest. But the way the smile lit up his whole face, even his eyes—it was the happiest smile she had seen on him. “Of course I want to,” he said, voice dropping to a soft, gentle tone he only ever used for her. “I wouldn't miss it for the world.”
With that, he snapped his fingers and vanished in a flurry of cherry blossom petals.
Fluttershy smiled, watching the petals drift away in the wind before turning and entering her cottage. Angel lifted his head, peering at her from his bed next to the couch. So, how'd it go?
In response, she flopped onto the couch and hugged a pillow against her chest, giggles escaping her throat. “Oh, he's just wonderful.” She stole a glance at the vase of roses he had brought her, and her smile widened even farther.
Angel sighed. Knowing Fluttershy, she could be in a lovestruck daze like this for days, maybe weeks. She'd remember to care for everyone, of course, but it meant he would have to listen to her gush on and on about that wormhorse.
…but at least he made her happy. I take that it went well, then, he said dryly.
“Better than well,” Fluttershy said. “We have another date this Saturday.” She squeezed the pillow tighter to her chest. “Oh, I already can't wait! Is this what love is like? Am I in love already?”
Angel sighed. He just had to remind himself that she was happy and that was what mattered.