The mane six (plus Spike) all had met up at Fluttershy’s cottage about an hour after sunset, for the Everfree Forest was especially dangerous after dark. They were all tired, dirty, and worried.

“If Dip-cord was telling the truth, then what if the Timberwolves came back and-and-” Rainbow Dash wondered. “Ate her!”

“We might never see her again!” Pinkie Pie screamed out loud.

Right at the moment that Pinkie had said that, Discord and Fluttershy opened the door into the cottage.

“I’m home!” Yelped Fluttershy, and immediately everypony crowded around her, crying and giving her hugs.

“Oh Fluttershy! We thought we would never see you again!” Pinkie sobbed.

The mob of ponies finally separated after a few moments. Discod simply rolled his eyes. Everypony was happy that their yellow pegasus friend was safe, including Discord, but yet nopony was happy to even see him.

Fluttershy sighed. “And we owe it all to Discord who brought me back.” she said happily.

The other ponies looked at her like she was crazy. “And yes, I am saying the truth. Now, sit down so we could tell you what happened.” She gestured towards the ground and everypony obediently did so. Discord randomly made a couch appear to sit on, and got himself comfortable.

“I'll tell what happened just now, while you, Discord can tell what happened a few days ago, okay?” She told him sweetly.

“Um,” He paused. He was afraid to anger the ponies and make them think he was lying as he told the story. He sighed. “Very well,” Discord succumbed reluctantly.

“Good. Now I’ll begin.” Fluttershy took a deep breath. “I-I was picking up and spreading branches, to protect my house from further Timberwolf invasions, and I saw a stray branch in the shade. I went over to pick up, but then something punched me in the rear. It laughed maniacally, and so, I started running. After about ten minutes I was rapidly decreasing in speed, and he caught me in an topless, invisible box, about fifty feet high! T-The thing that had chased me around was a huge, demon pony, with a black body and tattered wings. He mistook me for an earth pony, and I used that to my advantage. I flew up and out of the invisible box, just fast enough to get away from his black hooves. But I was tired, and when he was only, about, seven or eight feet away from me, Discord came in. Discord recognized the demon pony as Dark Age, the Lord of Darkness. He defended me, a-and they were about to start a fight over me! But then I convinced Dark Age to back of by telling him about the Timberwolf incident, and Dark Age stopped yelling. He apologized for misunderstanding that Discord was not deemed to be called a Lord, and he went off. Then we started flying back, but because it was getting dark, Discord used the last bit of his energy to teleport us here.” Fluttershy smiled up at Discord, who reddened slightly.

“Fluttershy, I just know him well. Dark Age and I were very close when we were younger, and both being “Lords” we considered each other brothers, much to the dislike of the precious princesses. We both wrecked havoc, and thus, we both learned about each other, like brothers. Alas, I can’t do such anymore, but it was still nice to see ‘ol Darkos still around.” Discord explained.

“Very well,” Fluttershy sighed. “But now it’s your turn.” Discord stiffened, and Fluttershy gave him an encouraging look. Shakily he started his story.

“Well, Fluttershy had insisted we go outside, and so we did. And, well, after a while my sides started to hurt, and to, um, comfort myself, I settled down.” He skipped the details, much to the consent of himself and Fluttershy. “I….awoke to the sound of screaming, and, realizing that it was from the one and only Fluttershy, I ran off to the sound of the scream. There, I found Fluttershy, cornered, and so I let out a "roar"…” Discord stopped. He didn’t want to brag in front of all these ponies.

“And he slashed an entire Timberwolf in half!” Fluttershy squeaked. The ponies just sat, mouth agape, listening to every word.

Discord gulped. “Yes, I-I did, and then when tackling another one, the last Timberwolf came up behind me and just….tore at my leg.” He wiggled his goat hoof, then continued. “Even so, I managed to destroy both Timberwolves, and after that, I...well….” Discord tried to finish.

“He passed out.” Fluttershy finished bluntly

Discord looked over the ponies, all mouths agape. “Now what are you ponies all staring at? Hmph! Rude!” He suddenly gave out a snort as Twilight shook her head and looked him straight in the eye.

“We’re not trying to be rude, but,” She began.

“The fact that you would save somepony other than yourself is practically unbelievable!” Rainbow Dash finished, and Discord gasped. “Yeah, you heard me! You’re always messing up someone’s fun! Like with Cadence and Twilight, that time with the Tree of Harmony,Tirek-everything!”

“Really? You blame me for all your troubles? Even after all we've been through? My, my seems like nopony’s going to get along around here, now are we?" Discord retorted, and both beings snarled venemously at each other.

Before anything happened to cause a certain I-hope-you-get-better party, Pinkie jumped in. “Hey! How about we have some cupcakes?” She exclaimed happily, with a platter of cupcakes in her hooves.

Rainbow looked towards the cupcakes and politely grabbed one. She sighed. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome! Does anypony else wish to have some cupcakes?” Almost all the others nodded and took one, except Discord. Pinkie noticed the draconeqqus’ frustrated face.

“You want one, Discord?”

“Oh? Um, yes, Pinkie, that would be delightful, very much indeed. Thank you.” he mused, and Pinkie Pie felt slightly relieved to see him be himself again. She didn’t like for anyone to be unhappy around her famous cupcakes.

Snapped out of her daze, Rarity asked: “I am sorry to be impolite, but I am finding this quite hard to believe too.”

“Darn tootin’,” AppleJack agreed.

“Yeah, I mean, well, it’s...it's...oh, I don’t know!” Spike flailed about.

“I think what everyone’s saying is that we haven’t really seen you ever doing something beneficial to another pony, Discord. I mean, you’re usually onto some sort of trick, even after our all our adventures we've been through together!” Twilight simply answered for everypony.

“Well, since my magic had been busted up until a few mere hours ago from some, magenta beam of light-” He looked down at the color of Twilight’s horn, the same color as before! “You!” He snarled at her. “You were the one that shot that, that laser at me! How dare you?!?” Discord looked ready to pounce, and Twilight was clearly scared by the draconeqqus’ angry tone of voice.

But before Discord could pounce, Fluttershy stepped in. “Discord, calm down! What are you talking about?”

“I am talking about her!” He pointed a claw accusingly at Twilight. “You were the one who caused me to crash in here!” Discord narrowed his eyes. “I don’t get how you ponies could get away with such a thing, I mean, just a couple of hours before sunset, you decided to send a-a laser at me!” He practically screamed. Discord was furious.

Twilight’s eyes suddenly widened when Discord mentioned the time of day when the beam almost hit him. She looked at him blankly before shaking her head.

“Well, Princess?”

“Discord, let me just say that I’m sorry. The beam that came towards you wasn’t on purpose, it was just an accident. I was practicing a freezing spell, and since my aim was just a little off, it must've caused the beam of magic to bounce about until it bounced up and out of the library.” Twilight apologized.

Discord scoffed. “Still! Why was your aim off, hmm? And, anyways, if what you say is true, that beam could’ve frozen me!” he wailed

“Well, I guess I just got distracted. Plus, that freeze magic would have only lasted about a minute or so, but saying that you were up in the air...” Twilight muttered.

“That could’ve hurt me!”

“It seems so, but, just don’t think I did it on purpose, okay?” She worded sincerely.

Discord could tell that she was being truthful and sincere, so he backed off. “Very well then,” He grumbled. He looked around. Clearly nopony wanted him there, and it seemed that the ponies just wanted to talk to Fluttershy. “Well, then, it seems that I am not wanted here. I will be leaving, goodnight.” He declared emotionlessly and glanced downwards. “If you need me, I’ll be upstairs.” Discord teleported out of the room.

“Good riddance,” AppleJack whispered to Rarity and the uptight mare softly snickered.

“Oh dear.” Sighed Fluttershy.

“Why the down face, Fluttershy?” Pinkie asked.

“Well, Discord’s just been frustrated with some things and right now it doesn’t look like he’s been feeling better. I mean, he’s quite in pain. That’s why he got so mad at you, Twilight.” Fluttershy explained to Pinkie.

“Really? Pardon me but he don’t really seem like he’s the one “in pain”. But Fluttershy, truthfully Ah think you should just leave him alone. You’re making him sound like something he’s not!” AppleJack disagreed, shaking her head.

Sharply and quickly, Fluttershy retorted: “And let you ponies bully him?”

Everypony sat silent for a moment as Fluttershy looked expectantly.

“You may not be the Elements of Kindness, but you still can be nice!" She scolded sternly. “All you ponies tell me things that you don’t even do to be nice!” her voice lowered as she continued in a mumble. “And, well, I don’t think anypony is going to get along here; it seems we’ll all have to change- including him.” Fluttershy pointed her head upstairs.

“Argh! That’s it! I am tired of this! Can’t you see that we don’t want to get along with him? He's not good with us anymore! Not like he used to be! So please stop trying to force us to get along agin! That’s not nice either!” Rainow screamed at Fluttershy, purposefully loud enough for Discord to hear. “That’s the truth!” She dashed out of the cottage, smacking the door shut behind her.

“Rainbow! I’m not trying to make you be friends with him! I just want you to stop fighting!!!!” Fluttershy cried, galloping outside of her cottage as she tried to keep up with the cyan pegasus. Seeing no luck, she ran back into the cottage sobbing.

“Fluttershy! Are you-?” AppleJack began, but was interrupted by another one of the butter-colored pegasus's wails.

Fluttershy faced her friends. “I am not trying to make you be friends with him! I-I just want you to stop fighting!” Fluttershy sobbed, as she ran upstairs.

Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, Spike, and AppleJack stood speechless for a moment, then quietly exited the cottage. They knew to give her some space, and besides, today had been a very exciting and busy day for the shy pegasus. They went home silently. Today was the most argumentive day they’ve encountered, ever since Twilight and the changeling invasion.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Fluttershy ran into her room, sobbing loudly. She quickly turned on the lights and focused herself on Discord, her eyes swollen from her crying.

“Fluttershy-!” Discord began, but before he could even asked what happened, for he hadn’t been actually listening, she ran straight into him and cried.

“I-I tried to get them to stop fighting with you! I tried but-” Fluttershy sobbed.

Discord hushed her. He knew that they hated him, in fact, it seemed as if all of Equestria hated him now, even after he proved himself to be reformed after Tirek's defeat. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around the pegasus and they sat there for a long time, until Fluttershy finally released him.

“You don’t have to try so hard, Fluttershy,” Discord faced her. “I am hated by mostly everypony on Equestria, besides Darkos and you.” He also looked downcast, somewhat depressed too.

“I know, but didn’t you tell me that the ponies used to love and tolerate you as a regular pony?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes, they did, but ever since….” Discord couldn’t finish.

“You went crazy, but that’s only because you didn’t have anypony who loved you anymore. I’m pretty sure I would be like that if nopony were to love me too.” She took a long pause before she continued. “And well, s-somepony...somepony...” She almost couldn’t get herself to say it. “does….love….you…..” She looked up at him sheepishly, her face obviously showing her embarrassment and thoughts as bright as day.

Discord snorted. “And who would that be, dear Fluttershy? As if anypony would love me...” Discord grumbled.

“Well, that pony is….um......m-me.” Fluttershy squeaked; Discord’s ears perked up and he looked her straight in the eye. Fluttershy was blushing heavily, and after giving a knowing smile, Discord slowly pulled her in, and kissed her. Fluttershy did not resist his kiss, as her feelings were finally known, but only within this secret of Discord and her.

After what felt like an eternity the two finally pulled apart.

“Does this mean that...you like me back?” Fluttershy asked. Discord nodded. “Then…let’s just keep this as our...little secret. You know, um, since my friends aren’t exactly…” Fluttershy continued.

“Yeah, I know, but anyways” Discord yawned. “Let’s get some sleep.” And with that he teleported out of the room, and onto the couch downstairs.

Fluttershy collapsed onto her bed. “Goodnight,” She whispered, and the pegasus fell fast asleep.

Author's Note

Ooh! A relationship we have now, do we?
By the way, please note that I originally wrote this in Google Docs, so some words are not italitized, like when Discord says "Thank you" to Pinkie Pie. Stay tuned for Angel's reaction....and more stuff!