The friendship between Fluttershy and Discord has grown into something more, but neither of them had realised that until the arrival of a new pony to Ponyville changes everything
This history is a continuation from the ending of the series and the events of the S10 comics (not necesary reading them, but recomended). It will explore the love betwen Fluttershy and Discord, from them realising and admiting their feelings to how their relationship evolves with other subplots of dangers that might come cause this is Equestria. It will also feature the other final ships: cheesepie and appledash, although the last one will take some time till it becomes something, but it shall be expected. But mostly fluttercord.
Several moons had passed since the Main 6 defeated the Knights of Harmony and Equestria had experienced one of its longest periods of peace with only a few minor threats. Many things had changed, but some things never change...
"Hey, wait for me!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she swiftly flew towards a picnic blanket where Fluttershy and Rarity were sitting with Applejack also on her way there.
Now that Twilight lived in Canterlot and with the various responsibilities they all had, there were less opportunities to spend time together. Obviously, they kept meeting each other often, specially Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rarity as they all lived in Ponyville, and there were times when they would hang out to do things such as playing softball (some of them more than others) or going to the spa, but it was difficult to balance their schedules to do something the six of them, and Spike of course. That's why they decided to have a picnic once a month that they would all attend to chat and catch up.
No matter how busy they were, they always managed a day to clear a day in their schedules for such occasion and, until now, none of them had ever missed it. On one occasion, Twilight was unable to leave the castle do to her princess duties, so the rest of them decided to bring the picnic to Canterlot. What mattered was that they spend that day together and this time wouldn't be exception.
When she saw Applejack, Rainbow started to fly faster in order to get to the blanket before her, Applejack noticed this and sped up as well, when Rainbow saw her accelerating, she flew even faster and so on until they both reached their mazimun speed. And just when Applejack was about to sit down, Rainbow landed next to her braking with her front hooves and sitting at the same time as her competitor.
"I won!" she exclaimed.
"Not everythin' has to be a competition, Rainbow," the cowgirl said.
"You are the one who started running," Rainbow replied.
"Only because you sped up first," she paused. "However, I got here first."
"In your dreams!"
"Enough you two," Rarity interrupted. "you and your childish competitions," she sighted. "some things never change."
"Indeed," Rainbow said glancing at the unicorn's overly elegant outfit.
"For your information, Rainbow, I just came from a fashion event in Manehattan and didn't have the chance to change outfit as I didn't want to keep you waiting, if I had known that I'd be the first one to arrive, I would had stopped by the boutique in order to change myself into a more casual clothing."
"I'm sorry for being late, Rarity, I've had to settle a dispute between a beaver and a woodpecker," Fluttershy apologized.
"I was delayed by a last minute problem in the farm," Applejack said.
"And the Wonderbolts' training has lasted longer than I thought," Rainbow Dash added.
"Oh, it's okay darlings, I guess we've all been a bit busy lately."
"That's true, but nothing in Equestria would stop me from coming to our reunion," said Rainbow while raising a hoof.
"Same here sugarcube, although there are still two of us to come to call it a reunion."
As soon as she said that, there was a confetti explosion and Pinkie Pie appeared carrying a box full of cupcakes exclaiming, "Hello everypony! Here comes Pinkie!"
She sat next to Applejack and left the box on the blanket.
"Sorry I'm late, who would have though that these Friendship Picnic Day cupcakes would take so much time to bake?" she said as she opened the box showing 7 cupcakes each of them with the colors of their manes and their cutie marks on them (in Spikes case, his silhouette).
"Well, I guess Twilight and Spike are the only ones left to come," Applejack noticed.
"Do you think something may have happened that kept them from coming like the last time?" Fluttershy asked.
"I hope not, these cupcakes aren't suitable for take out," Pinkie Pie said.
"Then how'd you-?" Rainbow started asking, but was interrupted when Twilight teleported in front of her with Spike.
"There was a problem with the city pipes and everything almost was flooded," she said. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting for too long."
"Actually, we've all been a little late," Applejack said.
"Not me" Rarity pointed out.
"I'm so happy to see you"
They all hugged and everypony took the cupcake with their mane color and they started catching up.
"How's life in Canterlot, Twilight?" Rarity asked.
"Everything's going fine, there usually aren't many setbacks. Except for today. Fortunately I have the help of my number one assistant," Twilight said pointing at Spike and he waved his claw. "Although I still don't get used to all the ponies treating me so formally"
"It makes sense, you are the ruler of Equestria after all," Rainbow said.
"Even so, it's good to spend time with a group of ponies without having to hear the words 'your highness' all the time," they all laughed at her comment. "What about you? Anything new?"
"Oh, oh!" said Pinkie who had something she was dying to tell to her friends, but Rarity was faster to speak.
"I just finished my clothing line for yaks and I will soon be opening my boutique in Yakyakistan."
"You're wonderful," said Spike with a dreamy look. "I-I mean... it IS wonderful that you've achieved all that in such a short time," he rectified with a slight blush.
"Why thank you Spikey Wikey. I've also begun a new collection of clothes for changelings, although I still have to solve a tiny problem there is with the transformations," she remembered an incident when Ocellus, who was modeling for the collection, turned herself into a bug-bear ripping the dress she was wearing.
"Yeah, that was funny," Pinkie said and they all gave her a strange look. "but listen what I have to-"
Applejack didn't hear her and started talking. "That's great Rarity. We've also been busy in Sweet Apple Acres, as ya'll know, it recently was the Zap apple season and it's been one of the biggest harvest we've had in years."
"Cool, what I wanted to say is-"
This time, Pinkie was interrupted by Twilight. "And, how's the animal sanctuary going Fluttershy? The last time I was there, there were quite a few animals. Isn't it too much work?"
"Oh, not at all, I have more time to take care of them since I'm not a teacher anymore and I also have Tree Hugger's help now, as well as Dr. Fauna's."
"That's great, but I also have a superdupergreat new that I want to-" Pinkie tried to continue but was interrupted once more, this time, by Rainbow Dash.
"That's all well and good girls, but surely doesn't sound as cool as being the Wonderbolts' new sub-captain!" she announced as she took of into the air to emphasize.
"Hey!" Pinkie pouted.
"I'm so happy for you Rainbow, why didn't you tell me the other day when you helped me with that flock of runaway parrots?" Fluttershy asked.
"I didn't know then, they just told me, that's why I was late," Rainbow explained.
"Girls," Pinkie tried in vain to call their attention.
"I'm so happy for you sugarcube," Applejack said.
"Girls!" Pinkie repeated, she was starting to get impatient, didn't they understand that she would explode if she didn't tell somepony soon?
"It's so good to hear that, we know how much it means to you," Twilight said.
"Yes, it's wonderful" Fluttershy added.
"You certainly deserve it darling"
"I'm sure they'll soon make you captain," Spike assured.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure, Spitfire is a great captain," Rainbow said.
Pinkie was about to blow up, her face was turning red and there was smoke coming out of her ears with the sound of a boiling kettle.
"GIRLS!" this time she finally caught everypony's attention. "Will you listen to me?"
They all apologized for not having heard her before.
"What I've been trying to tell you is that I have the most wondertastic news in the history of good news."
"So? What is it? What could posibly be better than being sub-captain of the Wonderbolts?" Rainbow asked curiously.
"Weeeeell, it happens to be that..." she started.
"Yes?" they all asked approaching the pink earth pony.
"Cheese and I..."
"You're getting married?," Spike asked.
"Yes!... wait, what? No, it's... still a bit too soon for that," she blushed. "What I'm trying to say is that Cheese Sandwich and I are going to open a party shop together!" she exclaimed as she fired her party cannon. "and we will also sell all of the gags from Cheese's factory."
"Sounds great," Applejack said.
"Being owned by the two best party ponies in all of Equestria it will totally be 20% cooler," Rainbow added.
"What about your job at the Sugarcube Corner?" Fluttershy asked.
"I've already talked with Mr. and Mrs. Cake and they're okay with it, now that they have Sugar Belle's help, they won't need me anymore, but there's still so much to do before we can open the shop: drawing the plans of the building and build it, decorate it, fill it with all of the gags and party items... oh! and finding a name, our shop needs to have a name. And in the meantime, I'll continue working at the Sugarcube Corner."
"I'm glad you're all doing so well."
"It's surprisin' how much one can do when you don't have to go save Equestria all the time." Applejack said.
"True, everything has been extremely calm lately," Twilight admitted.
"Extremely boring you mean," Rainbow said. "don't get me wrong, being a Wonderbolt is great and all, but I still miss going on adventure and kicking the bad guys butts like in the good old days."
"You and I have different concepts of what 'good old days' are," Rarity said and Rainbow shrugged.
"I understand what you mean, Rainbow, I sometimes miss our adventures too," Applejack admitted. "Explorin' faraway places..."
"Meeting other creatures..." Spike said.
"Learning about their cultures..." Twilight followed.
"Their clothes..." Rarity continued.
"Their food..." Pinkie said.
"And meeting all those cute little animals" Fluttershy added.
"See? I new you missed it as well," Rainbow said triumphantly.
"But what I miss the most is living in Ponyville and being able to spend more time with you guys."
"We too, darling, but even though you don't live in Ponyville anymore, we still see each other often."
"Like today, for example," Applejack said.
"And tomorrow at Maud and Mudbriar's wedding," Fluttershy added. "You can come, right?"
"Of course."
"That's a relief," Pinkie said. "because you're the one supposed to marry them and who would marry them if you didn't come?"
"That reminds me that I still have to give the finishing touches to my outfit," Rarity said.
"Maud loves the dress you made for her," Pinkie told her.
"I'm glad to hear that," she answered forcing a smile, certainly that wasn't the dress she felt most proud of.
When Maud had been to her boutique to pick out a dress, Rarity had prepared several dresses she thought she would like.
"This one is my personal favorite, it has some blue gems that combine with your eyes. So?" she pointed at the mannequins. "Which do you prefer?"
"I like this one," Maud answered with her usual monotonous voice pointing to a dress that was none of the ones Rarity was showing her.
It was a broken white, long-sleeved, low-rise dress wich was on a table with cutouts and other unfinished dresses.
"This one?" Rarity asked unconvinced by her choise. "I hem... well, it's one of the previous designs I discarded for the collection... I mean, if you like it... I... suppose I could add a little more volume to the skirt, put some gems on it..."
"It's fine as it is."
"I... you... eh, it's fine as it..." Rarity stuttered for a moment before regaining her composure. "Err... of course, it is your dress after all, but... are you sure you don't want me to add anything to it? Like some embroidery or lace... or something!
"There is something."
"What?" Rarity asked anxiously.
"A pocked for Bolder," Maud answered.
"A pocket... a pocket for..." Rarity mumbled while trying to calm down, then she forced a smile and said, "Of course darling! I'll add a pocket... for Bolder."
She personally thought that dress was an insult to fashion, but if Maud liked it... at least the bridesmaids' dresses were more pretty.
"I'm superexcited!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"To think that you didn't like Mudbriar at first," Twilight said.
"I didn't, but then I realized how happy he makes my sister and that makes me happy and he's not so bad when you get to know him."
"It must be nice having somepony to share everything with," Fluttershy said.
"It is," Pinkie confirmed. "I'm sure one day you'll find somepony who complements you just like Cheese complements me, like... like two halves of the same cupcake," she said raising her cupcake and then she ate it all at one piece.
"Thanks Pinkie, but for now I have enough with my animals."
"That's what I thought about my parties, you never know," Pinkie said. "And, what about you?" she added addressing to the rest.
"Right now I'm too busy with the farm to think 'bout such things," Applejack said.
"Same here, and for me to be interested in somepony, he would have to be at least half as awesome as I am," Rainbow Dash said.
"Oh. How could anypony reach such a high bar?" Applejack joked.
"Very funny," Rainbow said sarcastically.
"What about you Rarity?"
"I think for now I'm going to focus on my career, although I'm opened to the possibility of starting a relationship if it is with the right pony," the unicorn said.
"Like prince Blue Blood you mean?" Rainbow Dash asked and Rarity winced at the mention of that rude.
"Or Trenderhoof maybe?" Applejack added.
"I'll admit I may haven't been very wise in the past when it comes to stallions, but I was young."
"Rarity's right, we all make mistakes, but you never know when you might meet your better half," Spike said.
"Thank you Spike, see? He gets it," Applejack and Rainbow exchanged ironic glances, which Rarity didn't notice so she continued with the topic of the conversation. "What about you, Twilight?"
"Me? Are you kidding? I'm a princess."
"So is Cadence," Rainbow pointed out.
"Well, yes, but I'm the ruler of Equestria," Twilight replied. "besides, there's no pony that interests me in that way."
"Oh, really? What about that guard from the Cristal Empire?" Rarity asked with a knowing smile. "What was his name...?"
"Stop it!" said Twilight with a slight blush.
They spent the rest of the afternoon chatting and laughing, unaware that they were being observed from the distance.
Fluttershy was at her cottage getting ready to attend the wedding, she was wearing a simple green dress and a flower on her mane. She was about to go when Discord appeared in front of her making her squeal.
"Happy anniversary!" he exclaimed joyfully.
"Discord, you scared me, what are you doing here? Our tea party is tomorrow," Fluttershy said.
"Have you forgotten? Today marks eight years since we met."
"You mean when you turned me and the rest against our elements and made Ponyville the Chaos Capital of the World?"
"Well, if you put it that way, it doesn't sound like something to remember," Discord recognised. "But you were my very first friend, so the day I met you seems to me like something worth celebrating."
She smiled gently. "That's so sweet of you, but don't you think it would be better to celebrate the day we became friends?"
"Oh! I also have that date marked on the calendar," he said unfolding a giant one out of nowhere.
One of the days was circled in red and had his and Fluttershy's face drawn on it. Seconds after the calendar was unfolded, small hearts appeared on the appointed day between the two drawings that were already there. Seeing this, Discord, who had no idea of where they had come from, hastily yanked on the calendar and then released it causing it to fold up an disappear.
"If you didn't remember today's date, then what have you dressed so elegant for?" he asked, he just realised she was wearing a dress and, to be honest, she looked beautiful.
"Today is Maud and Mudbriar's wedding," she clarified.
"Who?"
"Maud is Pinkie's older sister, you've met her a few times."
"Oh yeah, the rock obsessed pony. I guess that means you're busy," he dramatically said making her feel guilty.
Then she came up with an idea. "Hey! Would you like to come to the wedding as my plus one?" she asked.
"As fun as the wedding of those two might sound," he said sarcastically. "I think I'll pass. Don't get me wrong, I do love spending time with you, weddings just aren't my thing.
"Didn't you attend to Big Mag and Sugar Belle's wedding?"
"Well, yes, but that was different, after all the drama of Hearts and Hooves day and the rather chaotic proposal, I just couldn't miss it. They even let me add my 'personal touch' at the end."
"Are you sure you don't want to come."
"Absolutely, you go and have fun, but first I've got a present for you."
"A present?" she asked with surprise. "But you don't have to-"
"I insist," Discord interrupted. "Now lets see, where...?" he scrutinized the room in search for the perfect spot. "Here it'll do," he said framing his fingers and looking to a wall with nothing around.
"What are you...?"
In front of the wall was Fluttershy's bunny pet, Angel. Seeing him, Discord pushed him away with his tail. "Out of the way, furball."
Once he had free way, he snapped his fingers and a strangely shaped purple door appeared on the wall. " Ta-da!" he exclaimed opening the door, inside there was a coat rack and a couple of shelves.
"A... closet?" she asked surprised, that didn't seem like something Discord would make.
"That's what it seems, right? But if you do this..."
He closed the door and knocked five times with a specific pattern, when he opened it again, inside there was now a blue vortex.
"It's a portal that leads to my house," he explained. "As you know, it isn't very accessible, let's say, and with this, you'll be able to come and go whenever you want."
"Oh, Discord, you really didn't have to."
"I find it fair considering that I can appear here at will."
"I really appreciate it, but I don't have any present for you," Fluttershy said.
"Oh, that's all wright, having you use it to visit me is enough to me."
He closed the door when some curious squirrels came dangerously close to the vortex, then knocked again. "Although, I would appreciate it if you kept the portal closed when you're not using it, I wouldn't want any of your little friends to enter it by mistake," he then turned to Angel, who was staring at him unfriendly. " Specially him," he added.
The bunny stuck his tongue to him and then beckoned to Fluttershy.
"Oh! You're right, I have to go now if I don't want to be late."
They said goodbye, then Discord disappeared with a flash of light and she flew of.
Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Twilight, wearing a purple and fuchsia dress, was making sure there weren't any tasks left so she could go to Ponyville.
"Maybe we should check the list one last time, just to be sure," she said.
"We've already gone through it six times, it's all done," Spike assured her.
"What about the meeting with Manehattan's delegates?"
"That's tomorrow, we better go now or else we'll be late."
"It's just that I'm getting the strange feeling that I'm forgetting something..."
"That's probably just your imagination."
"I guess you're right."
They both headed outside the castle where there was a pegasus-drawn carriage waiting for them.
"I still don't understand the carriage thing, we both have wings!" Twilight said.
Spike just shrugged and they both got into the carriage to head to the location of the ceremony.
When they arrived, the rest of the guest were already there, all of the Pie family was there, even Marble, the youngest of the Pie sisters, she had gotten a special permission from her university to assist. The wedding was held outdoors under a rock arch carved by the Pies.
Pinkie and her other two sisters were the bridesmaids, they were wearing matching dresses in different colors; Limestone's was lime green and her hair was pulled back in a low bun, Marble's was lavender with a matching ribbon wrapped around her main, Pinkie's was sky blue and her mane was tied back in a bun and had a bow on it, also blue. Mudbriar was dressed in a grey tuxedo and Maud was wearing the dress Rarity had "made" for her and was holding a bouquet of almond flowering sticks.
Twilight occupied her position under the stone arch and Spike went to sit with the others, just then Fluttershy arrived and sat in the free chair next to him. Seeing everypony was there, Twilight began the ceremony.
"Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Mudbriar and Maud Pie," she started.
"Technically, it's more correct to say the bride's name first," Mudbriar pointed out.
"Oh, my bad, I'll... start over again. Ladies and gentlecolts, we are gathered here to celebrat-"
"Technically, it's said we are gathered here today," Mudbriar interrupted again.
Twilight growled slightly with annoyance, then began her speech again. "Mares and gentlecolts, we are gathered here TODAY to celebrate the union of Maud and Mud-"
"Also, technically the term 'mares and gentlecolts' wouldn't be accurate since Spike is a dragon," Mudbriar interrupted her for the third time.
Several interruptions on technicalities later, they finally reached the bows.
Maud was the first to speak in her usual deadpan voice tone. "Since the day I met you I've known you were the pony I would want to spend the rest of my life with. I remember it as if it had been yesterday, it was a sunny day although partially cloudy, I had gone for a walk with Bolder..."
Her speech was long and tediously detailed and Mudbriar's was no better, by the time they were done, all of the assistants were either asleep or wished they were, the only one listening enthusiastically was Pinkie, while Limestone, at her side, was grimacing with exasperation. After they both said 'I do', Mudbriar placed a chain around Maud's neck from which dangled a ring with a fragment of igneous rock in the centre.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
The moment they kissed, Pinkie shot confetti with her party cannon waking up everypony who had fallen asleep.
After the ceremony, there was a party at the square in front of the town hall, obviously organized by Pinkie Pie with Cheese Sandwich's help, to which the bride and groom didn't attend, they stayed on a nearby hill which had a perfect view of the celebration, just like they had done on Maud's birthday.
Pinkie and Cheese had taken over the dance floor, it really was better to give them space, their dance moves were pretty crazy although they were very synchronized, as if they shared the same mind, which, definitely was the impression they sometimes gave. Pinkie's other two sisters watched them as they spun through the dance floor.
"It's great that she found somepony who complements her so well," Marble said happy for her sister.
"I still can't believe Pinkie got a coltfriend before me," Limestone said.
Starlight had also attended the wedding along with Sunburst and the Great and Powerful Trixie, they both now lived with her in what used to be Twilight's castle, she was wearing a turquoise dress and Trixie was wearing a purple one with silver moons, while Sunburst was wearing the tunic he always wore. Twilight was standing next to the dance floor watching Pinkie and Cheese as did an extravagant dance, seeing her, Starlight went over to chat with her.
"Twilight!" she called her.
"Starlight!" the alicorn exclaimed when she saw her and they both hugged. "It's been a long time. How's everything going at the school?"
"Everything's going great, it's been a very quiet year and so far no student has tried to take over the school," they both laughed.
"I'm glad to hear that, I wish I could come more often to see how things are going, it is my school after all."
"Don't worry about that, I know you're busy with your princess duties and we are managing pretty well by our own," Starlight reassured her. "You put me in charge for a reason," she added with a wink.
While they were talking, Spike arrived and turned to Twilight saying, "Hey Twilight, do you have your wedding gift? We didn't leave it on the table."
"The gift... The gift! I knew I was forgetting about something!" she exclaimed calling Rainbow Dash and Applejack's attention.
"She has forgotten to bring a present," Spike explained.
"That's it? I thought it was something serious," Rainbow said playing it down.
"It is something serious! Who comes to a wedding without a present?" Twilight replied. "We have to give them something! And what do you mean by saying I am the one who forgot? You forgot about it too.
"Nope, mine is here," Spike said raising a gift-wrapped box.
"Then, I'm the only one without a present? Great!"
"It's no big deal, we can say it's from both of us."
"No way! I'm not taking credit for somepony else's gift, but what do I give them with such a short time?" she asked to herself bringing a hoof to her head.
"If it's so important to you..." Rainbow said just before taking off at full speed.
She returned after a few seconds had passed holding a stick she had found somewhere.
"Pinkie, do you have wrapping paper?" she asked to the pink pony who was still dancing.
"I always have wrapping paper," she answered without stopping dancing.
Cheese spun her around and tilted her back into Rainbow's direction, then, Pinkie pulled a roll of orange wrapping paper out of her mane, handed it to her, and they continued dancing.
Rainbow wrapped the stick with it and held it out to Twilight. "There, now you've got a present."
"Are you kidding me?" Twilight said starring at her in bewilderment.
"What? You preferred a stone?"
"What kind of present is this?"
"Come on! Mudbriar loves sticks, it's the perfect gift," Rainbow said, Twilight still looked at her skeptically, so she added, "Do you have a better idea?"
"Fine," Twilight finally said taking the stick with her magic.
After the party, Maud and Mudbriar left in a carriage pulled by to stallions for their honeymoon in Caninia, but not before Maud threw the bouquet which ended by chance on Derpy's hooves, who just happened to be passing by.
Fluttershy was on her way back home when she heard a bird call for help from a nearby mountain. She tried to get there as fast as she could, she was a few meters away when she saw a red bird whose wing had been trapped by a rock that must have had fallen in a landslide, and there was another rock about to fall. She tried to reach as soon as possible, but she wasn't fast enough and her dress was hampering her, she was halfway there when the rock hurtled toward the helpless little bird.
Luckily, it was surrounded by a purple magic aura before it landed, the pony which it came from was an orange unicorn with green eyes, his mane was black with a reddish black wick and his cutie mark was formed by three paw prints. Fluttershy stared at him in surprise, she was sure she had never seen him before, after leaving the fallen rock aside, he levitated the one trapping the bird.
"Are you okay, little friend?" he asked raising him with a hoof and, with the other, he examined the wing that had been trapped. "It doesn't look broken, can you fly?
The bird nodded and flew off happily. Fluttershy, who had witnessed the whole scene from where she stood, approached to talk with the mysterious stallion.
"That was impressive," she timidly said.
He seemed surprised at hearing her voice, it took him a few seconds to answer. "It was nothing, anypony would had done the same," he said rubbing his arm with his hoof, after that there was an awkward silence.
Fluttershy was the one to brake the ice, "I don't remember seeing you in Ponyville before, are you new in town?"
"Yes, I just moved here from Fillydelphia, my name is Tamer Whispering," he answered quietly.
"My name is Fluttershy."
When he heard that name, his expression completely changed.
"You're Fluttershy?" he asked, his eyes wide open. "The Fluttershy?"
"Uhm... yes," she answered a bit confused by his sudden change of attitude.
"It's so good to meet you," he said with excitement.
"You know who I am?"
"Of course I do! I've heard a lot about you and your friends, I've also read The Diary of Friendship and I've admired you since then, you're an inspiration to me," Fluttershy blushed, nopony had ever said something like that to her before, she never thought of herself worthy of admiration. "You really can understand animals?"
"Yes."
"How do you do it?"
"I really don't know, is something I've always been able to do."
"I wish I could understand them," Tamer said dreamily.
Fluttershy smiled, Tamer seemed very nice even though she usually didn't feel comfortable meeting other ponies. They continued chatting as they walked, they happened to have a lot in common apart from their love for animals, they stopped when they arrived to a house almost at the outskirts of Ponyville.
"This is where I live," Tamer said. "I hope to see you again soon."
"Me too."
After saying goodbye, Fluttershy continued down the road until she reached her cottage, when she arrived she saw it was sunset already, she was surprised on how quickly the afternoon had passed with her new friend. She had enjoyed talking with Tamer and was looking forward meeting him again, maybe next time she could introduce him to Twilight and the others, she was sure they would get along.
The next day, Fluttershy spent most of the morning at the animal sanctuary helping a mountain goat to recover from a bumpy fall. After that, she went to the tea shop to buy some tea for that afternoon.
When she was leaving the shop, she bumped into Pinkie Pie, who greeted her enthusiastically.
“Fluttershy! What a coincidence to see you here.”
“Pinkie, you came to shop too? I didn't know you liked tea.”
“I didn't come to buy anything, Cheese and I are visiting all stores in Ponyville looking for ideas for our Super Cool and Absolutely Great Ultimate Party Planning and Gags Shop or SCAGUPPGS,” said Pinkie, somehow managing to pronounce the acronym as if it was a real word and, seeing Fluttershy's bewilderment, she added, “Yeeeeah… we’re still thinking of a name.”
“And where is he?” Fluttershy asked.
“We've split up to cover double, he's over there, in the fan shop,” Pinkie said.
She waved at Cheese with her hoof, he had a giant fan blowing at his face, he waved back at her, then she turned back to Fluttershy. “And what are you doing here?”
“Discord will come this afternoon to my place for our weekly tea party and, seeing I had little left at home, I’ve come to buy a box.”
“Ooooh riiight, for your ‘tea party’,” Pinkie said with a knowing smile.
“That's what I said, why did you make quotation marks?”
“For noooo reeeason”
“And why are you talking like that?”
“Oh, you know… just oddities of mine. Anyway,” she changed back to her usual cheerful tone. “Do you want to come with me to the next store?”
“Sure.”
They both headed to the flower shop, which was the closest one.
Along the way, they stumbled upon Applejack's apple stand.
“Hi Applejack,” Pinkie said.
“Hi girls, what are you doin' here?”
“Oh, you see,” Pinkie Pie started narrating very fast, “Cheese and I were visiting all shops in Ponyville to get inspiration of our Superduper Store of Awesomely Great Party Planning and Gag Selling or SSAGPPGS (we're still thinking of a name) and when I went to the tea shop, I found Fluttershy who was buying tea, I asked her if she wanted to come with me to the next shop and she said yes, so we went to the flower shop and, on the way, we met you… now that I think about it, I didn't get to enter the tea shop,” she added pensively.
After Pinkie's monolog, Fluttershy heard a familiar voice behind her.
“I didn't expect for us to meet again so soon,” it was Tamer Whispering.
“Tamer!” Fluttershy happily exclaimed when she turned around. “You have to meet my friends,” she pointed at the two earth ponies. “These are Pinkie Pie and Applejack. Girls, this is Tamer Whispering, he's new in Ponyville.”
When she heard that, Pinkie gasped dramatically. “There's a new pony in town AND I DIDN'T NOW IT!? That means I haven't thrown him a ‘Welcome to Ponyville' party!” she said to herself, then, she turned to Applejack and Fluttershy. “Don't let him go, I can have it in ten minutes.”
After saying that, she ran towards her coltfriend. “Cheesie, we’ve got a partymergency!”
“What did just happen?” Tamer asked confused.
Once the party was ready, she announced it to everypony in Ponyville, in most cases in the most unexpected ways…
She surprised the ponies coming out of the flower shop by poping out from among the flower pots and shouting, “There's a new pony in town!”
Then, she disappeared back into the pots just to reappear from a fireplace several streets down. She came out of a cake in the Sugarcube Corner, out from the fountain of the School of Friendship, out of one of Rarity's drawers and fell from a tree at Sweet Apple Acres.
She announced it coming out of barrels, windows and a bell, she repeated the process until she had told everypony.
She even flew with the help of some balloons to the Wonderbolts’ headquarters to invite Rainbow Dash, who was flying at high speed through the training circuit when she saw her appear in front of her.
“There's a new pony in town!”
“Whaaaahh!” she shouted while falling backwards because of the sudden braking. “Pinkie? What are you doing here?”
“Somepony just moved to Ponyville and I had no idea, can you believe that?” Pinkie said.
Then she started to talk so fast that it was hard for Rainbow to understand everything. “And since he’s new in town, Cheesie and I decided to throw him a welcome party and I've already invited everypony, but I thought that if you're done with your training, you might like to come. So… can you come?”
“Cheesie?” asked Rainbow raising an eyebrow putting Pinkie off for a moment.
“You can come or not.”
“Sure. But before, I have to finish the round through the circuit you just interrupted.”
“Oky-doky, see you there then,” after saying this she descended until she disappeared through the cloud, Rainbow rolled her eyes with a smile and returned to her training.
Just like Pinkie said, the party was ready in less than ten minutes, and she even had time left to drag the confused honor guest in front of the town hall, where she and Cheese Sandwich started singing.
“Welcome, welcome, welcome
A fine welcome to you
Welcome, welcome, welcome
We say: How do you do? ”
They both shacked both of his hooves from opposite sides crossing his arms in the process, then, Pinkie sang alone while Cheese played a giant drum.
“Welcome, welcome, welcome
We say hip, hip, hurray! ”
They both sang together again.
“Welcome, welcome, welcome
To Ponyville todaaaay ”
They finished the song by kneeling on their back hooves and raising the front ones into the air.
“Wow,” that was the only thing Tamer was able to say.
Then, Pinkie pulled a megaphone out of her mane. “Attention everypony! Let’s give a warm welcome to Tamer Whispering!” she announced.
“You've got to meet everypony,” she cheerfully added as she pulled him towards the crowd. “These are Daisy, Rose, Lily Valley, Cloud Kicker, Caramel, Blues, Lira and Bon Bon, Derpy, Lucky Clover, Carrot Top, Cherilee, DJ Pon-3, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, doctor Hooves, Octavia…”
“Is she always this intense?” Tamer asked to Fluttershy and Applejack as Pinkie Pie listed names unstop.
“That's Pinkie,” answered the cowgirl.
“You haven't seen anything yet,” Rainbow added flying towards them, she landed and held a hoof to the newcomer. “Rainbow Dash, sub-captain of the Wonderbolts, sure you've heard about me.”
Applejack smiled and rolled her eyes. After that, Rarity appeared and greeted him with elegance, Pinkie kept saying names at full speed.
“Do you think she'll take much longer?” Rainbow asked.
“I had no idea there were so many ponies in Ponyville,” Fluttershy said.
“…Mayor Mare, Big Macintosh…”
“What is she doing?” asked Trixie, who had just arrived with Starlight and Sunburst.
“She's introducing me to the ponies in town… more or less.”
“Oh. You must be the newcomer,” Trixie guessed. “In that case, let me introduce myself, I am the Great and Powerful Trrrrixie!” she raised a hoof to give emphasis.
“And these are Starlight and Sunburst,” she added pointing at them less enthusiastically.
“Nice to meet you, I'm Tamer Whispering.”
“…and these are Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, aaaand this is Cheese Sandwich,” Pinkie finished putting a hoof around Cheese.
The party continued with music, balloons and confetti, lots of confetti. After a while, Tamer slipped away from the crowd, Fluttershy went after him.
“Aren't you having fun?” she asked him.
“Oh. It's not that, the party is great and everypony is so nice, but it's a little bit overwhelming, I don't like to attract attention.”
“I understand, I don't like being in the spotlight either, I used to be much more shy, I was afraid of speaking with anypony who wasn't one of my animals, but my friends helped me to gain confidence. It was thanks to them that I had the courage to fulfill my dream of having an animal sanctuary”
“I'd love to visit it, if that's okay with you.”
“Why, of course.”
They both smiled. They remained silent for a while, though it didn't last much because soon Pinkie appeared behind them from out of nowhere.
“Here you are! Come on, it's time to play to pin the tale on the pony,” she announced as she dragged them back to the party.
That afternoon, at Fluttershy's cottage, she was catching up with Discord while they had their tea.
“Rainbow has been named sub-captain of the Wonderbolts,” she said excitedly.
“Good for her,” Discord said.
He really didn't care, he didn't get what everypony liked so much about those Wonderbolts. A bunch of pegasi doing somersaults in the air, big deal! But he didn’t want to say anything because he new Fluttershy liked them and she seemed proud of her friend, so he remained silent and took another sip of his tea.
“And Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich are going to open a party planning and gag shop.”
That seemed to get Discord’s attention.
“Finally an interesting shop! I wonder if they will want my help, I'm pretty good at interior design, you know?” he said standing up and materializing a color palette with different patterns, some plans of a building which had strange shaped furniture and inverted stairs, and a pencil appeared behind his ear.
Fluttershy giggled. “I'm sure they would appreciate your ideas.”
“Well, of course they would, I have very good taste.”
He sat back down on the sofa and all the interior design stuff disappeared.
“By the way, how did the wedding go? Was it as boring as I predicted?” he asked before materializing a crystal ball in the air and a turban typical of fortune tellers on his head.
“Well… I wouldn't say it was boring…”
“Then it's a yes,” he assumed.
He knew Fluttershy well enough to know that she was too kind to admit out loud how dull the ceremony really had been, because he was sure it had been dull.
He then snapped his fingers getting rid of the costume.
“Oh! And on the way back home, I met Tamer Whispering, he just moved from Filliedephia.”
Discord couldn't help but laugh at the name. In his opinion, most ponies had ridiculous names (except for Fluttershy, of course), but his one was in another level.
“He has a special talent with animals as well, he saved a bird from a landslide, it was a luck that he was there or I wouldn’t had been fast enough to save him.”
“Uh-huh,” he just said as he dipped in the tea the crust of a sandwich that Fluttershy had cut off specially for him.
“After that, we were talking and it turns out we've got a lot in common apart from our love for animals.”
“How nice for you,” Discord said taking a sip of tea, with that, the liquid turned green without him noticing.
“You should meet him, I’m sure you’d like him.”
“Sure.”
Discord was starting to get tired of that conversation, why wouldn't she stop talking about that guy? Come on! He couldn't be that great and, for some reason, there was something in the way Fluttershy talked about that pony that bugged him.
“And how's little Sparkle doing? Already overwhelmed by the responsibilities of ruling a kingdom?” he asked to change subject, which worked.
“Not at all, she's doing a great job, although she's always very busy.”
“That's a shame, I miss her panic attacks,” he made a projection screen appear with Twilight hyperventilating on it.
Fluttershy didn't find that funny, a glance from her was enough for him to make it disappear. “I was just kidding, I'm glad she's evolved and matured becoming a better pony and all that stuff.”
She shook her head smiling. Sure Discord could sometimes be exasperating, but she enjoyed spending time with him and, deep down, he was a real sweetheart.
Several days had passed without any remarkable problem.
Twilight and Spike had gone to the School of Friendship to check on how things where going, she had been really impressed by how well Starlight and Sunburst were running it. Besides, the teachers they had hired to teach the classes that Twilight and her friends used to were doing a great job.
Applejack had been to Appkeloosa to visit her cousin, Pinkie and Cheese had been occupied planning parties for several ponies' birthdays on consecutives days, Rainbow Dash and the rest of the Wonderbolts had been preparing a new routine for an upcoming event and Rarity had gone to Yakyakistan in order to supervise the construction of her boutique that would soon be ready for its inauguration.
Fluttershy had also been very busy because many animals had caught a cold, even though they weren't at the time of the year when they use to be the most cases, Dr. Fauna took them to the sanctuary to recover. Luckily, it didn't last for too long and most of the animals were already cured.
Talking in general, everything was going fine, but peace can't last long.
It was a day like any other when it all started to go wrong.
Discord was at his house in Chaosville. Spike, Big Mac and him had agreed to meet that afternoon to play Ogres and Oubliettes, but right now he had nothing to do and was bored so he decided to go see Fluttershy.
He teleported to her cottage and found her flying around, seemingly to be looking for something, she was so distracted she didn't even notice him.
“Not even going to say hi?” he joked calling the yellow pegasus attention.
“Discord! Sorry, I didn't see you.”
“I already noticed that, what are you looking for anyway?”
“Recently, there was a cold epidemic among the animals of the zone and has affected a group of pukwudgies from the Everfree forest. It's not anything serious, but there's a tiny problem when they sneeze.”
Just when she said that, there was a sneeze coming from upstairs followed by a similar sound to what arrows make when they hit something and Angel came down with two spikes stuck in his tale, to which Discord snickered.
“Every time they sneeze, they shoot spikes in all directions, that’s why I keep them upstairs,” Fluttershy explained as she took the spikes out of the angry bunny and covered his tail with bandage. “Angel was watching them while I went to see Zecora to ask her for a potion to prevent them from sneezing, but now I can't find it and I've looked for it everywhere. It must have fallen on my way here and I can't take care of them if they don't stop shooting spikes.”
“Can't you just go ask Zecora to make more potion?” Discord suggested.
“To prepare it she needs leaves of pimentonic herb and she’s ran out of it.”
“I suppose I could help you with this pointy situation.”
Fluttershy looked at him hopefully. “Can you help me find the potion?”
“I was more thinking of creating you an armor, but I guess that'll do,” he said popping in some sort of metal detector but with the image of a potion in it.
Naturally, that was all for show up as he could perfectly just summon the lost potion from wherever it was. However, he didn't have time to do that because at that very moment, Tamer showed up carrying a bag with something inside.
From the moment he saw him walk through the door, Discord knew he didn't like that guy a bit.
“Here you are! I've been looking for you, you dropped this before,” Tamer said taking out from the bag a little jar with a red liquid on it.
“The potion! Where did you…?”
“It must have had fallen off when we collided, by the moment I realized it, you were already gone. I went to the sanctuary to give it back to you, but you weren't there.”
Fluttershy remembered how, when she was returning from Zecora's house, she was in such a hurry that she didn't see Tamer coming and they bumped into each other. As the two of them spoke, Discord's gaze shifted from one to the other repitedly.
“And who are you supposed to be?” he asked a bit bugged.
Tamer, who hadn't noticed him till now, startled at the sight of the strangest creature he had ever seen.
“Oh, I'm sorry. Discord, this is Tamer Whispering. Tamer, this is-”
Before she could finish, Discord teleported right in front of him and shook his hoof with his lion paw. “Discord, Lord of Chaos and Fluttershy's best friend,” he gave special emphasis to the last part.
While his smile might had seemed friendly, his gaze was saying otherwise.
Just then, the sound of a sneeze came from upstairs followed by the sound of spikes hitting wood.
“I’d better give them the potion, I'll be right back,” Fluttershy said before flying upstairs with the jar on her hooves.
Once she was gone, Discord's expression darkened, he pulled Tamer's hoof, which he was still holding, pulling the confused unicorn closer to him.
“Listen up Tamer, whatever it is, I'm okay with you being friends with Fluttershy, I understand the whole ‘multiple friend’ thing and all of that,” he said motioning with his eagle claw, then, he leaned his face closer to him and added in a threatening tone, “but let me make one thing clear to you, I am Fluttershy's best friend.”
To his surprise, Tamer didn't seem to be intimidated. “You don't have to worry, I'm not trying to replace you as her best friend or anything,” he said in a rather calm voice. “I actually want to be more than just her friend, if you know what I mean.”
After saying that, he let go of the draconequus’ grasp and went to the bottom of the stairs by which Fluttershy was already returning. Meanwhile, Discord stood stunned on the spot with a puzzled expression on his face.
“Did it work?” Tamer asked her.
“Luckily, yes.”
“I'm glad to hear that,” he said heading to the door.
“You are leaving already?”
“Yes, I still have some things to unpack.”
They said goodbye and Tamer went on his way.
“Isn't he lovely?” Fluttershy said to Discord.
“Yeah,” he answered sarcastically looking disdainfully to where Tamer had left.
Yep, not a bit.
Meanwhile, in Ponyville, Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich had already found the perfect location to their party planning and gag shop (yet to be named), it was an empty plot next to the Sugarcube Corner. Now they only had to build it.
And, for that, they met in a cafe with Hard Hat, who they had hired for the construction. He was currently showing them the plans for the building he had made as a first concept so that they could give their ideas. He still didn't know what he had gotten himself into.
“This would be the part where the customers would be,” he pointed at it in the plan with his hoof. “This would be the back room, then, this part and the second floor would be for domestic use; this would be the kitchen, the dinning room, the bathroom and three bedrooms here, here and here. Of course, this is just a first concept so feel free to give your ideas.”
Pinkie Pie looked thoughtfully at the plan. “Weeell… it's okay, but something's missing.”
“What is it?” Hard Hat asked.
“We would like the shop to have two different levels to fit more gags,” Cheese answered.
“Sure, if we change this part…” Hard Hat modified the plan with a pencil. “…the shop would win more height, and the staircase would go here.”
“Oh! Oh! Can it be a double one?” Pinkie asked.
Hard Hat erased the stairs he had drawn and substituted it by a double staircase.
“Yeah, and in the center we can put a sliding pole to get down like in a firestation,” Cheese said.
“Umm…”
“Good idea!” Pinkie exclaimed. “We also need a secret party planning cave.”
“A what now?” Hard Hat asked.
“That's where you plan the parties, silly,” Pinkie answered as if it were the most obvious thing in Equestria.
“The secret entrance could be over here,” Cheese said pointing somewhere in the plan.
“Yes. And, oh! Here we could add some balloons,” Pinkie said drawing them with some colored pencils she’d pulled out of thin air.
“And the sign at the entrance could have some colored lights,” Cheese said drawing them with one of the pencils.
“Good idea! And the entrance feels a little dull to me. What about a cake-shaped door?” Pinkie proposed.
“Or piñata-shaped,” Cheese continued.
“Or balloon-shaped.”
Once they started with the brainstorm, there was nopony who could stop them.
That afternoon, in the world of Ogres and Oubliettes.
“I don't trust that pony,” Discord said absently as he shot an arrow at an skeleton-card.
“Who?” Spike asked making him realize he had said that out loud.
“That Chistering guy or whatever,” he answered getting his name wrong on purpose.
“You mean Tamer Whispering? I met him the other day when Twilight and I visited the school, he seems nice.”
“He might seem like it, but I assure you he's not to be trusted,” Discord said bowing momentarily at the little dragon's level.
Seeing his obvious dislike towards the unicorn, Spike and Big Mac exchanged complicity glances.
“Oh, I see what’s up,” Spike said with a knowing smile. “You're jealous.”
“Ey-yup,” Big Mac confirmed.
“I'm not jealous!” Discord replied offended by the insinuation. “What reason could I possibly have to be jealous of that two-bit unicorn?” he added scornfully, not realizing that way he was just confirming their suspicion.
“I mean, he has become quite close to Fluttershy, it’s understandable if that bothers you.”
“I'm perfectly fine with Fluttershy making a new friend, I learnt my lesson with what happened with Tree Hugger,” Discord assured, although it didn't convince them.
“Yeah, right. It's cleat that those two are on their way to being more than just friends and it's also clear that you're not ‘perfectly fine' with that.”
“He also used that expression. ‘More than just friends’, what does that even mean?” he asked crossing his arms.
“You really don't know what that means?” Spike asked.
“No, should I?”
Spike thought for a moment in the best way to explain it to him.
“Just so you understand, Pinkie and Cheese are more than just friends.”
Judging by the look on his face, he had understood, but he soon returned to his nonchalant expression to scoff at he idea.
“Oh, please. Fluttershy would never be interested in that guy, she's better than that. I almost feel sorry for him, to think he could have a chance at all,” he mocked faking contempt.
“You sure about that?”
Spike's comment made him hesitate for a moment.
“Yeah, well. In the remote case that that happened, why would I care in the slightest?” he asked crossing his arms and looking away.
Big Mac and Spike stared at him, the level of denial was huge.
“What?” Discord asked.
“You really expect us to believe that, don't you?” Spike asked raising an eyebrow.
“You know what? I've got better things to do that listen to your nonsense,” Discord said.
He was fed up with Spike’s insinuations, he disappeared leaving them alone.
“Just because you can’t see what's going on doesn't mean everypony else doesn't see what's going on!” Spike yelled at him knowing he could hear it.
He then crossed his arms and looked around, then he realized. “Um… How are we going to get out of here now?”
Discord reappeared in Ponyville and started to walk around muttering to himself. “Jealous? Me? That's the dumbest thing he's ever come up with. Jealous.”
He walked past the cafe where Pinkie and Cheese were still coming up with crazy ideas for their shop wile Hard Hat banged his head on the table.
“What if we put two slides instead of stairs and ask Discord to put a spell on them so they slide up instead of down?” Pinkie Pie asked modifying the bunch of doodles that once had been a plan.
“Great idea! And instead of a normal lamb, we can put a disco ball,” Cheese followed.
Discord didn't pay attention while he continued reaffirming the absurdity of the idea of him being jealous, he felt the need to argue all the reasons why Spike and Big Mac were wrong, but rather trying to convince himself of it.
He was doing that when he saw the pony, of which he was not jealous, coming out of the antique shop. He rapidly disappeared from his field of vision, the last thing he wanted was to start a conversation with that guy.
He reappeared a few feet above on a cotton candy cloud created by himself, far enough to be out of sight, but still close enough to watch him. He was carrying the same bag from that morning.
Discord’s eyes followed him as he walked away from the shop, there was something about that pony that made him want to turn him into a potato, he decided it was because he didn't trust him. That’s why he didn't like the idea of Fluttershy having feelings for him, which obviously she didn’t, and he decided to make sure to keep it that way, he would make sure to be there whenever Tamer was with her to prevent them from getting closer.
He convinced himself it was to protect her, and wouldn't admit that the thought of Fluttershy being in love with Tamer caused an unpleasant feeling on his chest which he couldn't identify.
On their part, it took them most of the afternoon, but Spike and Big Mac managed to get out of the game. After going all over the place trying to find the end of the board, they finally found a door with a sign that said ‘EXIT’ on it.
They went through it and appeared in Ponyville next to the cafe where, yes, Pinkie and Cheese were still coming up with ideas, each of them crazier than the last one. Their outfits from the game had disappeared, both returning to their usual appearances.
“Remind me to never make Discord angry while we are in a dimension he created,” Spike said.
Discord appeared in the animal sanctuary surprising Dr. Fauna, who dropped the clipboard she was carrying.
“You must be the Dr. Fauna I’ve heard so much about,” he said in a friendly way.
Fluttershy had told him how she had been helping her with the sanctuary, but till now he hadn't met her in person, or rather, in pony.
“Yes, that's me and…” she looked at him for a moment. “I guess you are Discord.”
“Himself,” he confirmed. “I'm looking for Fluttershy, is she around?” he added without paying attention to the expression on her face.
She pointed with her hoof towards a group of trees near the waterfall. Looking over there, his expression turned of annoyance when he saw who was with her.
Keeping his friendly voice, he thanked Dr. Fauna, who just smiled awkwardly at him, then he teleported himself materializing between Fluttershy and Tamer.
“Fluttershy! Just the pony I was looking for,” he said enthusiastically, then he looked at Tamer with displeasure. “And… you."
“Discord! What are you doing here?” Fluttershy asked. “It's not that I’m not happy to see you, but you had never come to the sanctuary before.”
“Oh, you know, I didn't have anything to do so I decided to come and visit my dear friend Fluttershy.”
“Actually, it was my idea,” his double with spectacles said after appearing next to him.
“You shut up,” the original said pushing him out of sight. “And what's he doing here?” he added pointing his thumb at Tamer.
“The pukwudgies have cured from the cold,” Fluttershy explained caressing a purple one next to her. “But I thought it would be better to keep them a few days in the sanctuary to make sure they've fully recovered before returning them to the Everfree forest, Tamer has helped me to bring them from my house.”
“How nice of him,” Discord said sarcastically narrowing his eyes as he forced a smile.
“I should be going now,” Tamer said and, before leaving, he added addressing to Fluttershy, “About your question earlier, I'd love to go.”
“Great, see you then,” she said smiling as she waved him goodbye with her hoof.
“Go where?” Discord asked.
“This afternoon, Rainbow is doing an aero display with the Wonderbolts in Canterlot, we'll all go to see her and I asked Tamer if he wanted to come.”
“Sounds fun, I'm in,” Discord said faking excitement.
“I thought you didn't like the Wonderbolts.”
Discord grimaced, Fluttershy wasn't going to buy that all of a sudden he wanted to go see what he called ‘flying braggarts’, he remained quiet for a moment trying to come up with a good excuse.
“And I still don't, but I still want to go to cheer for Rainbow Dash, I'm also her friend, you know?”
“Oh, of course.”
She was surprised that he wanted to attend something he considered boring just because Rainbow was on it, specially knowing that they weren't specially the best of friends, but she decided not to question his reason and she was also glad that he'd accompany them, she always had fun with Discord.
“I'm sure Rainbow will be happy that you come,” she added.
“What's Discord doing here?!” Rainbow exclaimed when she saw the draconequus arrive to the stadium with the rest.
That afternoon they all had gone on the train to Canterlot, Discord sat strategically between Fluttershy and Tamer. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Cheese Sandwich and the CMC came with them as well.
When they arrived they met with Twilight, Spike and Rarity, who was already there for her Canterlot boutique. Together, they went to the stadium where the aero display would take place.
There, they met with Rainbow Dash, who was wearing her uniform. She had gone to greet her friends before the performance, to her surprise, she saw Discord with them. It's not that she disliked him, but when he showed up it was usually to cause trouble and the last thing she wanted was for him to do one of his tricks while they were flying.
“Okay, what are you up to?” she asked him.
“Is that a way to talk to a friend? To think that I came here just to see you do your air stunts,” he said pretending to be ofended.
“Riiiight…” Rainbow said still suspicious, then she flew up to face him. “This is my first show as sub-captain and it's very important to me, so don't try do any of your tricks or I'll do a Sonic Rainboom right into your face,” she added pointing threateningly at him with her hoof.
“I wouldn't dream of it,” he said innocently an angel halo appearing on his head.
“I should go back with the rest, the show is about to start,” Rainbow told the others.
Before leaving she made a gesture to Discord with her hoof to tell him that she would be watching him.
Once she was gone, they all headed to the bleachers. Discord's gaze passed to Tamer who was walking next to Fluttershy, the halo on his head shattered like glass and disappeared as he narrowed his currently red-glowing eyes.
“Still going to deny you’re jealous?” Spike asked flying next to him.
“I'm not, but I don't trust that guy,” Discord said.
“Why not?”
“He's just so…” he paused to find the right word, annoying?, irritating? “Suspicious,” he finally said.
“What do you find suspicious about him?” Spike asked pointing at Tamer who was having a conversation with Twilight, Fluttershy and Rarity about the boutique the last one was opening in Yakyakistan, completely oblivious to what they were saying.
“Somepony who appears out of nowhere and happens to have the same interests as Fluttershy? Come on!”
“Well, that's how most couples are made.”
“They're not a couple,” Discord replied sounding more annoyed than he intended. “And they won't be if I can help it.”
Spike raised an eyebrow.
“But it's not because I'm jealous, I'm doing it for Fluttershy, she's too innocent to realize he's trying to trick her into fall in love with him and then he'll betray her once he gets what he wants.”
“And that is…”
“I don't know yet, but I'm sure is nothing good,” Discord answered focusing his gaze once again.
“You do realize how ridiculous that sounds, right?” Spike said.
He didn't get an answer because the draconequus’s attention was once again focused on keeping Fluttershy and Tamer apart, he hurried to take the seat next to Fluttershy before Tamer could, but it backfired because he sat on the other side next to her.
“This is not going to end well,” Spike said to himself as he watched the scene.
On the other side next to Discord sat Pinkie Pie followed by Cheese Sandwich. Perfect, he thought crossing his arms, he couldn't quite decide if he found them more cloying or annoying.
Attending the aero display hadn't been as bad as Discord had thought it would be, it was worst.
First, Cheese and Pinkie wouldn't stop making puns about the stunts, he liked puns more than anypony, but even he had a limit and those two had managed to reach it.
He could see Dashy's ego swell from where he was, he could already hear her bragging about her Upside Loop or whatever at he end of the show. And, there where two pegasi in the row in front of him that kept making a fuss with each movement she made, like it was the most amazing thing they had ever seen and were dressing as if they had just come out of the gift shop from a Rainbow Dash theme park.
On top of that, that whole thing was absolutely boring to him, he had to control himself not to use his magic to spice things up.
If all that weren't enough, between flips and pirouettes, Tamer had managed to get annoyingly close to Fluttershy. When he noticed that, all of Discord's attention went to try to find a way to separate them.
He first thought of using his own tail to pull Fluttershy closer to him and away from Tamer, but he decided it wasn't a good idea because then he and Fluttershy would be… it wasn't a good idea. He tried to push Tamer away, but he couldn't reach him without Fluttershy noticing. He also thought of using his magic to lengthen the bench, but discarded the idea because everypony would notice that.
As he tried to come up with something, his gaze remained fixed on them, once again he felt that strange feeling in his chest. They were a few inches from each other, now their hooves were touching and she… was she blushing?
Discord clenched his fists involuntarily, he was so distracted that he didn't hear the gasps of the ponies around. Without realizing it, he got trapped in a rage spiral, although it wasn't quite rage, it was a different feeling which he couldn't identify and that oppressed his chest.
It was Fluttershy's voice that snapped him out of his trance, she said something he didn't quite hear about some clouds. It was then that he looked back at the circuit on top of which a bunch of weird-looking green clouds had appeared, they looked unstable and small flashes of light could be seen inside of them, also green. He only was able to see them for a few seconds because in the moment he looked at them, they disappeared.
Once the show was over, they all met with Rainbow dash at the exit of the stadium, it was almost time for Twilight to lower the sun and raise the moon. Rainbow was angry about the incident with the clouds and the first thing she did was confront Discord about it.
“Which part of ‘no tricks’ did you not understand?!” she scolded flying to be at the level of his face. “We've had to modify the end of the routine to avoid crushing into those weird radioactive clouds of yours.”
“That wasn't my doing,” he assured raising both his claw and paw. “My clouds are made of pink cotton candy, they're not green."
He actually wasn't completely sure about it, he certainly hadn't intended to create those clouds and he never had used his chaos magic without realizing it before, so it could had been him, right?
“You really expect me to believe that you had nothing to do with it?”
“If Discord says it wasn't him, I believe him,” Fluttershy said putting a hoof on his shoulder.
Discord looked at the pegasus smiling warmly at her show of trust, no matter what happened he could always count on her. She always believed in him, even when nopony else did.
“Come on! Who else would do something like that?” Rainbow asked still not believing the draconequus’s word.
When he heard that sentence, a thought crossed his mind and he instantly looked in certain orange unicorn’s direction.
“What matters is that nopony was harmed, I'll investigate this incident to find out what may have happened,” Twilight intervened.
She talked in a calmed and impartial way, it was obvious she had learned to deal with this kind of disagreements as the ruler of Equestria.
“We'd all better get some rest.”
They all agreed with her. The ones that had come in the train headed to the station, all of them except for Discord who was still looking at Tamer thoughtfully.
“Aren't you coming?” Fluttershy asked him.
“I think I'll return to my dimension from here” he answered.
He actually wanted to speak with Spikes without her knowing. He thought about it for a moment, doing that meant that he wouldn’t be there during the train ride to meddle between Fluttershy and Tamer, but it was just a ride of half an hour, not like she would fall for him with that.
“Oh, well. Good night then.” She said a bit disappointed.
“Good night.”
Twilight went in the opposite direction towards the castle next to Rainbow Dash, who would be staying there for the night. Spike was a few steps behind them when, to his surprise, a lion paw grabbed him and took him to a hidden spot. Twilight and Rainbow didn't notice it and kept walking.
“So you don't think Discord had anything to do with it either?” Rainbow asked incredulously.
“I think that we shouldn't jump to any conclusion until we are sure of what or who did it."
“I'll tell you who did it,” Discord said grabbing the confused Spike by the shoulders. “Camel Twistering.”
“Who?” Spike asked.
“That ridiculous unicorn who's trying to trick Fluttershy.”
“You think Tamer Whispering created those clouds? Why?”
“To incriminate me, of course. He’s realized I don't buy his lies and is trying to get me out of the way by causing trouble knowing that everypony will think it was me.”
“Do you realize how paranoid that sounded?” Spike said.
“You may not believe me now, but it's a matter of time before he shows his true colors and you all see the phony he really is.”
With that, an idea came to his mind and a lightbulb appeared above his head, he smiled mischievously as a plan started to form in his head. All he needed was somecreature able to get on his nerves till he showed his true face; somecreature irritating and capricious who enjoyed annoying others, and he knew just the furball he needed.
Discord went to Flutterhy's house to convince Angel of helping him annoy Tamer. He wasn't there so Discord assumed he was in the animal sanctuary with Fluttershy, he'd have to think of a way to talk to him without her realizing it.
He appeared in the sanctuary and looked around searching for the bunny, the place was bigger than it seemed.
Just then, he heard a voice behind him, it wasn't Fluttershy, but he instantly recognized it as the owner had a very particular way of speaking.
“Oh, hiii. Are you, like, looking for something?”
Discord turned around to look at the owner of the voice, Tree Hugger. Fluttershy had told him she was helping her to take care of the animals in the sanctuary, with something she called “auditory therapy”, whatever that was.
“I have the feeling that we've seen each other before, maybe in another life?” she said.
Here we go again, he thought. How could she never recognize him? He literally was the most unique creature in all of Equestria!
“Discord? Spirit of chaos and disharmony? Fluttershy's best friend? I almost sent you to another dimension, remember?”
“Oh, yeah,” she said with a lazy smile, remaining silent for a moment staring at the infinity. “You're looking for Fluttershy, I assume,” she finally said.
“Actually, I’m looking for the fur- uh… I mean Angel. You do know who he is, right?”
“Of course! He's over there,” she said pointing in the bunny's direction.
Discord look to where she was pointing and there he was next to some trees with wooden platforms, Fluttershy was near to where he stood, on one of the platforms, but she wasn't alone.
“What's he doing here again?” he said to himself when he saw Tamer talking to her.
“His name is Tamer Whispering, he just moved here from Filliedephia,” Tree Hugger said when she saw him staring at the orange unicorn.
Oh, so she does remember him.
“They spent a lot of time together lately,” she added.
Tell me about it, he thought, his gaze still focused on them. They where brightly chatting as if they'd know each other for years.
“Since when are they so close?” he asked out lout without expecting an answer.
“I think since that train ride from Canterlot a few days ago,” Tree Hugger answered anyways. “Their spiritual energies have been vibing attuned ever since.”
Discord slapped his forehead with his lion paw, cursing himself for his decision of not going on that train, then he looked back at the two ponies. They seemed to be having the time of their lives.
What are they talking about that's so funny? he wondered, his red pupils started glowing dangerously and turned green.
“Uh… dude, it seems like your chakras are, like, a little bit disturbed,” Tree Hugger said when she saw it.
“I’M PERFCTLY FINE!” he yelled turning to look at her, his pupils were back to red but still glowing.
He realized to late that he had raised his voice too much and they had heard him. He disappeared before they looked in his direction, luckily they didn't see him.
He reappeared on top of a nearby tree he looked down and saw Angel, his ears had perked and he was looking around, he probably had heard him too. Then, he looked at Fluttershy, she seemed confused as well, she was looking to where now only stood a confused looking Tree Hugger. This was his chance. He teleported himself with Angel a few meters from their position.
At first he was scared to suddenly find himself in a different location, but when he saw the draconequus he realized what was going on. What did he want now?
Discord pretended to be surprised to find him. “Oh! If it isn't my favorite bunny. How’s it going?”
Now it was clear to Angel that he wanted to ask for a favor and, judging by the excess of flattery, it must be something big.
Not buying his charade, Angel crossed his front paws and asked him what did he want and, even though Discord couldn't understand what he was saying, he got the memo.
“Ok, here's the deal,” he then said going to the point. “I want you to go bother that Taker guy so that he looses his temper and Fluttershy sees he’s not that goody two-shoes he pretends to be, but a liar trying to take advantage of her kindness, and she seizes to be vaguely interested in him.”
Now he understood what was going on, Discord was jealous and wanted him to help him get rid of the competition and he respected that. But if he wanted his help, he'd have to offer him something in exchange.
And Angel was an expert on getting what he wanted, and he didn’t need to talk for that. He pretended he didn't want to help him knowing Discord would try to convince him. And he did.
“Come on! I'm sure you too want to get rid of him, he’s spending a lot of time with Fluttershy and I know you don't like to share her attention,” Discord said.
Angel shrugged to show him he didn't mind.
“Aren't you worried of what he might be up to?”
Angel just looked at him with a poker face. He did care about Fluttershy's safety, but he was sure that all that stuff about Tamer being evil was just an excuse he had made up not to admit his jealousy.
That's when Discord realized it, the little bunny was trying to negotiate. He actually didn't mind as long as he did what he wanted him to.
“Would you do it for a Scooby Snack?” he joked dressing with a snap of his talon with a blue shirt under a white sweater, an orange ascot and a blond wig, a box of what seemed dog treats hovering next to him.
Angel looked at him with a confused look.
“Just kidding,” he snapped his fingers again making the costume disappear and replacing the box with a carrot. “Now for real, if you help me, I'll give you a carrot.”
Angel raised an eyebrow, as if he would do it for so little.
“Two carrots? Three? Four?” Discord asked as he made them appear.
Angel pretended to think about it and then shook his head.
“How about a bucket full of carrots?”
That was actually tempting to accept, but Angel new he could get a better deal out of him, he gestured upwards with his paw in order to tell him to improve his offer.
Discord growled in annoyance, he was starting to get fed up with the demands of that little tyrant, he had no idea of how Fluttershy put up with him. Then, he remembered a story she had told him about the time Angel tried to sneak into the supply room from the sanctuary.
“And what about some concentrated carrot extract?” he said materializing a jar of said substance.
Angel smiled, that's where he wanted to go.
“So? Do we have a deal?” he asked holding out his lion paw which lit up with blue fire.
Ignoring the visual effects, Angel shook it, then jumped to grab the jar which hung in the air not far above. Afterwards, Discord teleported them back to where Fluttershy and Tamer stood, far enough for them to remain unseen.
“Now's your turn to fulfill your end of the bargain. Go there and act like the annoying bunny you are. And don't let Fluttershy find out I asked you to.”
Angel nodded and ran towards them as Discord teleported himself to the top of a nearby tree with a mischievous grin. Now, he just had to wait for the cat to be out of the bag.
And so he did, for a while. But everything seemed to be very calm down there, so he decided to peek through the foliage and see why hadn't the unicorn snapped yet. When he did, he couldn't believe what he saw, Tamer was petting Angel who was tapping the ground with his paw in delight. That traitor.
“He seems to like you,” he heard Fluttershy say.
Great! Now she liked him even more thanks to that traitorous little furball.
He waited for Angel to separate from them to have a little talk with him.
“What was all that about?” he asked angrily leaning out from the top of the tree. “You where supposed to make him look bad in front of Fluttershy and you’ve done the opposite thing.”
Angel shrugged, he was going to do it, but it turned out the stallion new the perfect spot to scratch him behind his ears and he decided to let it go. Besides Discord, had already given him what he wanted, it wasn't his fault that he was so bad at deal making. And in his opinion, Tamer was way better match for Fluttershy than Discord. Then, he hopped away ignoring the complains of the angry draconequus.
Scammed by a bunny, unbelievable. The only reason why he hadn't turned him into fluff was out of respect for Fluttershy, but he would not let that go.
He had wasted his time negotiating with that ungrateful furball all for nothing, but Discord wasn't going to give up so easily. Angel wasn't the only annoying creature he knew.
“‘The Great and Powerful Trrrixie! Student Counselor’… no not that.”
Trixie was in her school’s counselor office, she had changed the decoration for it to look ‘more great and powerful’. The place was full of magic items; interlocking colored handkerchiefs hanging from the ceiling, decks of cards, boxes filled with smoke bombs and other magician items, and the walls were lined with posters from her past performances. The room in it's whole looked a bit too ornate.
At the moment, there wasn't any student in need for her advice, so she was spending her free time thinking of an official title.
“‘Trixie, The Great and Powerful Student Counselor’ or perhaps ‘The Great and Powerful Student Counselor Trixie'? Which one would be more…?”
Her trail of thought was interrupted by the sound of somepony teleporting behind her.
At first, she thought it could be Starlight or Sunburst, that was until she heard him speak.
“How about ‘Trixie, The Egocentric and Self-centered Student Counselor’?”
She winced “Oh, no,” she said.
Trixie knew that voice all too well. She turned around and, sure enough, Discord was there snooping through her stuff.
“I love what you've done with this place, it sure captures your essence,” he commented looking one of the posters in which Trixie appeared with some fireworks in the background and a sentence saying ‘I'm better than you'.
“With your face being all over the place, if you left, I doubt anypony could tell the difference,” he joked.
“Uh-huh,” she said with an unimpressed look on her face. “Why are you here again?”
“You are without any doubt the most annoying pony I know.”
“I don't know if I should take that as a compliment coming from you,” she said sarcastically.
“Yeah, well, the point is that I want you to use that natural annoyance of yours with Chatter Twistering.”
“With who?” she asked.
“That pony who just moved from I don't know where and spends glued to Fluttershy all the time.”
“Tamer Whispering?”
“Whatever. Will you do it?”
Trixie looked at him with suspicion. “Why?”
“I want you to make him angry so that he exposes himself as the manipulative liar he is,” his casual tone dropped an octave in the last part and he narrowed his eyes as if he was in front of him.
“Ooooh, now I get it,” she gave him a mocking grin. “You're jealous.”
“I'm not jealous! Why does everypony say that?”
“Cause it's so obvious, everypony knows that you're obsessed with that mare.”
“I’m not obsessed!”
“Come on, you can't even keep a conversation without mentioning her name.”
“That's ridiculous,” Discord replied crossing his arms like a child that's loosing an argument.
Trixie ignored it and continued. “In my opinion, you shouldn't pick on that pony just because Fluttershy likes him. Not like you had a chance anyway.”
“I haven't picked on him! I'm telling you he's bad news,” he protested raising his voice.
“Uh-huh,” she just said not buying it.
“You know what? Forget it. You're even worst than that bunny,” he said angrily before disappearing with a gust of wind leaving a mess in the office.
Trixie rolled her eyes and frowned. As if somepony could be more annoying than him.
Later that afternoon, somewhere else in Ponyville, Fluttershy had finished her chore list from the sanctuary and decided to go to the market to buy some supplies that they had almost ran out of. Tamer had gone home because he had things to do, so she was alone, which Discord would had though was a miracle.
There weren't many ponies shopping so soon she was done. She was about to return to the sanctuary when she stumbled upon Rarity and Pinkie Pie.
Turns out Rarity was out looking for inspiration. On her way, she had met Pinkie, who was bored because Cheese had gone to Baltimare guided by his Cheesy Sense to light up a party celebrated there, “This is something I have to do on my own,” he had told her before leaving. He always got dramatic when he was going somewhere, that was one of the things she loved about him.
Naturally, Fluttershy joined them and the three of them kept walking while chatting. Well, Fluttershy and Rarity walked and Pinkie jumped next to them.
“We just came across Tamer Whispering, he seemed to be on a hurry,” Rarity said.
“Oh, yes. He said he had something to do,” Fluttershy recalled. “He's been helping me in the sanctuary this morning. He's very kind,” she smiled.
Rarity gave her a knowing smile. “I see you two have become pretty close.”
“Yes, we…” Fluttershy paused when she saw her two friends sharing a smile and then looking back at her. “Why are looking at me like that?”
“Do you like him?” Rarity inquired.
“Of course I do, he’s very nice,” Fluttershy answered oblivious to what Rarity had actually meant.
“What she meant was if you have a crush on him,” Pinkie explained.
“I think he's nice, that's all…” she answered with a mumble, she didn’t seem very sure though.
“You can tell us. You do have a crush on him don't you?” Rarity insisted approaching the yellow pegasus who instinctively recoiled.
“No… I…”
“Come on! You two would make a great couple,” Rarity said.
“Yes! You have a lot in common, like Cheese and me,” Pinkie corroborated. “You both love animals, you're both kind…” she started naming stuff they had in common.
They both where too excited to notice her friend’s discomfort.
“Don't be shy, darling.”
“Tell us!”
Fluttershy didn't know how to answer to her friends' insistence.
“I don't know!” she finally yelled, she then lowered her tone and hid behind her mane. “Sorry. I just… I don't know.”
They both exchanged a look realizing they had been too pushy.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Rarity said putting a hoof on her shoulder. “We are sorry. Pinkie and I got carried away, we shouldn't had insisted so much.”
“We got so excited that we didn't notice we were making you uncomfortable with our questions,” Pinkie added.
“But we shouldn't have pressured you like that. Can you forgive us?”
“Of course I do,” Fluttershy said hugging them.
“And from now on, we won't ask you about your love life,” Rarity promised. “Unless you ask for advise,” she added with a wink.
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” they both said at the same time doing the gestures from the Pinkie Promise.
They remained silent for a while until Rarity spoke changing subject
“Say, Pinkie. How's the construction of that party shop of yours going?”
“Parties and gags shop,” Pinkie corrected her. “And well, not long ago we met with Hard Hat to see the plans and he said he had to finish another project before starting the construction,” she seemed to think about something for a moment. “He also said something about having to erase all the nonsense from the plans. I don't know what he was talking about.”
Fluttershy and Rarity, knowing of Pinkie's crazy ideas, exchanged a smile.
“Have you thought of a name yet?” Fluttershy asked.
“Not yet. I was thinking of Cheesepie's Super Bombastic and Wonderful Party Planning and Gags Shop. Get it? Cheese Sandwich and Pinkie Pie, Cheesepie.”
They spend the rest of the walk discussing possible names for the shop, until they had to separate, Rarity had to go to her boutique out of a sudden wave of inspiration, Pinkie went to the Sugarcube Corner and Fluttershy returned to the sanctuary with the supplies she'd previously bought.
None of them mentioned the previous subject again, but despite that, Fluttershy couldn't help thinking about what they had told her. They had a point, she and Tamer had a lot in common, it would just make sense for them to be a couple and, to be honest, she did feel something for him. Even so, there was something that kept her hesitant, but she didn't know what.
On the other hoof, Discord was back in his dimension. His plan to annoy Tamer Whispering had ended up annoying him instead.
Neither Angel nor Trixie had been of any help and he couldn't think of anypony else, which was weird because there were a lot of ponies he considered annoying, although most of them were Fluttershy's friends and a lot of them were just annoying to him so he didn't even bother asking for their help. From what he had heard of him, Fluttershy's brother seemed to have the natural talent of drive others nuts, but he didn't know him and, even if he did, he doubted he would want to help him with his plan.
He had ran out of ideas when it occurred to him: if he couldn't make Tamer show his true nature, he'd find out what he was planning and expose him to everypony, specially Fluttershy. Until then though, he'd have to make sure he didn't make any move on Fluttershy. He'd also have to make sure Tamer didn't find out about his suspicions.
