Predictably, this is all Discord's fault.
Twilight knocked on the door of the cottage. "Fluttershy? Fluttershy! I've got that volume on manticore physiology you were asking for!" Pulling the book out of her saddlebag, the Princess waved it in the air as she barged right into the cottage. After all, Fluttershy had asked her to bring the book over as soon as possible.
Any further shouting was instantly preempted as all three of the room's occupants stopped dead into an awkward, icy silence.
Twilight stared at the scene before her.
She took a long, deep breath.
"Fluttershy."
The quiet pegasus smiled divinely. "Yes, Twilight?"
"Why are there two of you?"
Fluttershy looked across the table to Fluttershy. "Well, you see--"
"Why is one of you human?"
Fluttershy looked back to Fluttershy, and set her teacup down. "Hello, Princess. It's good to--"
The door to the kitchen burst open with a bevy of fireworks and fanfare. "TADA!" Discord twirled around before presenting a silver platter to the two Fluttershies. "My special Two For Tuesday Tangy Tuna Taquitos!" He froze, posed leaned in with the platter still in his claw.
"Discord," Twilight pronounced direly.
"Twilight," Discord shot back. His eyes narrowed dangerously. "You've got a lot of nerve coming here. Three For Thursday Toasted Teriyaki Turnips isn't until later in the week."
Twilight's eye twitched.
Both Fluttershies shifted uneasily as Discord smiled wider. And wider.
There was a long pause as Twilight closed her eyes and counted to twenty - and Discord's grin outgrew his face.
Without opening her eyes to look, the Princess started again. "Discord. Since I assume this is your fault, I would like to know why you have the human Fluttershy here."
"Um. Actually? That's because of me?" The pegasus raised a hoof, volunteering to take the blow. Twilight's eyes popped open just so she could look incredulously at her. "I told Discord that it might be a good idea for him to have more friends than just me."
"Indeed she did!" DIscord lept into the conversation joyfully since it wasn't his fault anymore. "Fluttershy very helpfully pointed out that more friends are better - so I did the only logical thing." The draconequus beamed happily, motioning at the human Fluttershy and the multiple bright neon arrows pointing to her. "I got more Fluttershy!"
Twilight's eyes narrowed. "How many Fluttershies are there here right now?"
"Just the two," Discord swore on a copy of the Principia Discordia.
The pony Fluttershy nodded to confirm. "He did also bring Saddle Rager here but, um. Discord can be a bit frustrating at times and, well..."
Both Fluttershies shrugged.
Clicking his tongue, Discord shook his head. "It was very unkind of her to act that way, so I put her back."
"And he cleaned up everything afterwards," noted the pegasus helpfully.
Twilight again took a moment to bring herself back under control. "Fluttershy?" She paused as both of them turned their heads to her. "Human Fluttershy. Did Discord bring you here willingly?"
The human shifted in her seat, eyes daring back and forth between the alicorn and the draconequus. "Well... mostly? He just asked me to pull his finger." She quickly appended her statement before Twilight could light her horn. "But it's okay! I would have said yes if he'd asked. I've wanted to meet myself for a long time."
"It's been a wonderful tea so far," the pegasus confirmed.
Slowly, Twilight relaxed. "And I presume you're going to take her back home again afterwards, Discord?"
The draconequus nodded, paw over his heart and claw in the air. "I swear it. Just the afternoon, and before you say it I take offense at the idea that I'd ever do anything to harm her."
That was enough for her - Twilight let out a deep sigh of relief. "Alright. Sorry for freaking out a little."
"Oh no, it was completely reasonable," the human confirmed. "In fact, you handled it quite well. I'm sure that Sunset would have been much more aggressive about the problem."
"That is true," admitted Twilight.
An awkward silence settled on the room. The most awkward part, of course, was Discord as he stared intently at Twilight. Every moment that passed, he leaned farther forward to glare at her until he eventually was horizontal to the floor.
"Um." Twilight held the book out to Fluttershy. (Either one, she wasn't picky at this stage.) "I'll... just be going then."
Discord reoriented himself as relief spread across his face.
It was immediately ruined by the human speaking up. "Oh, do you have to? We haven't had the chance to catch up in quite a while." She shifted slightly in her too-small chair. "The other Twilight is a wonderful person, but you're both very different."
Discord shot an angry glare at Fluttershy for the suggestion, only to have the other Fluttershy smack him scoldingly with her wing.
Twilight shook her head. "It's okay, we'll catch up later on. You were right - I should probably go let Sunset know what's going on so she doesn't try to start a crusade to rescue you." She paused with a frown. "Actually, did I ever tell her Discord was reformed? I'm not sure I did."
"Yes! You should tell her that!" Discord opened a door behind Twilight - one that led to a random bathroom inside her castle - and shoved the Princess through it. "Tell her hi see you later arrivederci!" He slammed the door behind Twilight before she could do more than open her mouth.
Discord let out a sigh of relief, slumping against the unattached door.
Fluttershy looked to Fluttershy - and both broke out into wild giggles.
"She had no idea!" The pegasus practically fell out of her chair with laughter.
The human wasn't much better, doubled over as she giggled uncontrollably. "Not a clue! Discord, you were right, this was a wonderful prank."
Smiling broadly, the draconequus bobbed through the air back to the table. "It was, wasn't it? You know, I was worried she was going to catch on at the end there - but no! Nothing! And she won't until you tell her."
All three let out a happy, satisfied sigh.
"Well!" Discord raised his claw to snap. "Now that it's over with I'll just switch you two back to your appropriate bodies and--"
"Um. Actually? Could you maybe not yet?" The pegasus stretched her wings out. "I'd really like to give flying a try."
"And I'd like to see what I could do with hands," noted the human with a wiggle of her fingers. "I bet they're great for giving pets."
Smiling broadly, Discord hovered over to Fluttershy. "For you? Anything." He sealed the little agreement with a kiss on her cheek.
Across the table, the other Fluttershy cleared her throat. "Um, Discord? Wrong one."
He looked back and forth between the two. "Oh... darn it."
