Chapter 3: Tensions

Discord sat at the small wooden table and coughed awkwardly. He twiddled his thumbs and was doing his best to look innocent. But it was so very very difficult. Especially since he could feel the heat of Angel’s glare burning on his skin.

Yes, the rabid rabbit had managed to catch those chickens alright, Discord noted, glancing at the angry Angel. And it did not appear to have been easy for him. There were feathers and bits of seed plastered all over the rabbit’s previously well groomed furry coat. It would take more than a few good brushes by Fluttershy to return him back to his normal well kept self.

It was hard to play innocent when the warm enveloping scent was very prevalent in this room. Discord had hoped it was constrained to Fluttershy’s bedroom, but upon them reaching the tea room, he was dismayed to discover that the scent had followed them here. He was almost 100% sure that this scent was somehow coming from Fluttershy but she was not showing an indication that something was out of the ordinary. Or was she?

“I still can’t believe how the chickens escaped,” Fluttershy wondered as she balanced on a stool, “Lulu was always really clever. I wouldn’t doubt that she could figure out how to lift the latch. But the lock too? I’ll have to think of something else.” Fluttershy turned to Discord, “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about it?” she asked innocently.

Far too innocently Discord considered. He shrugged. “What can I say Flutters. You just raise some smart poultry.” He quickly caught a seat cushion that Angel lobbed at him and placed it quietly on the table. He glanced over at Fluttershy as she turned her back toward him and instantly regretted it. Did-did her butt ever look that big? He couldn’t drag his eyes away fast enough from her luscious posterior. I just want to grab those two cheeks and squeeze them like bongo drums

The lecherous thought horrified and aroused Discord. Fluttershy is my friend!!! He screamed internally, stomping on the image of himself playing the drums. He felt his sleeping giant come back to life and he quickly tried to think of something else to distract him. It had been very difficult to hide his initial erection. Thankfully Fluttershy had been distracted when Angel broke through the door trying to enter the house after Discord. The rabbit’s angry squeaks and growls bought Discord enough time to think of the least attractive thing he could think of. He couldn’t think of anything less attractive than a bald man who flew through space and wore a bright red suit and it did the trick to calm the bulge.

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How stupid does he think I am?

Fluttershy made a face at Discord’s lie about the chickens escaping. Yes, I might be naive, but I am not a dummy, Fluttershy thought irritably. She thought about shooting back another question but decided against, instead attempting to concentrate on reaching the clay tea kettle she stored on one of her upper shelves.

Normally, Discord would be offering to help, but he was acting aloof. Fluttershy grumbled. I’m trying to fight a heat to spend time with my friend, and he’s acting like he doesn’t even acknowledge what I’m doing. Fluttershy felt a pang of guilt at the harshness of her thoughts, but she felt it harder to filter itself with how warm the room felt. Even though the kitchen was much more open than her bedroom, she still felt suffocated by her raging hormones. She was able to grasp the handle of the tea kettle with her mouth and pull it gently from its resting place.

Fluttershy hopped down from the stool, being careful to neither trip nor drop her kettle. She expertly carried an old clay pot by the handle. She trotted slowly toward the water pump to fill up the tea kettle and noticed Discord not even facing her. She breathed a sigh of relief. At least he’s not all over you today. That was the last thing that could help her.

Actually, why isn’t he all over you today? Fluttershy paused. The thought was correct. Normally Discord would pop in and out of existence all around her. But he was strangely complacent, sitting at the table like a school filly in a classroom. This bothered her. You should hit him.

Fluttershy was shocked at the foreign thought. What? I could never hit him. She didn’t know where this thought came from, but she was instantly suspicious.

Well you want him to pay attention to you, don’t you? The voice egged her on. It sounded like her own thoughts. She did want him to pay attention to her. And it seemed to bother her more than normal that he wasn’t. Well, maybe I could touch him a little bit. That would be different. Fluttershy admitted. Different is not always bad. Two can play at his game. She smiled smugly.

She trotted by nonchalantly and as she was about to pass him, Fluttershy opened her wings and let the feathers drape and drag lightly over his back. She instantly regretted it as every feather bristle that touched his fur sent a burning wave down the rest of her wing and to her chest. She quickly withdrew her wing as she felt her breath and pulse quicken. What was I thinking? Fluttershy exclaimed, confused by her brashness and the effect it had on herself. And why do I want more?

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The seat cushion almost launched itself clear to the other side of the room as the touch of the feathery softness of Fluttershy’s wings brushed his shoulders. His knees jerked up and he quickly slammed them down before he flipped over the table. Discord bit down on his taloned hand to prevent himself from gasping. He quickly swiveled his head after Fluttershy to see if she noticed, but she had already walked past him. her wings folded in, as if she was unaware of her actions.

Of course she is unaware. Oh my Celestia, Fluttershy what are you doing to me? Discord inwardly groaned. His friend’s gentle, nonchalant actions almost blew his cover - literally. The pillow rested like a top hat on top of his dragonhood, and it took both hands to push it back down, being careful to push down on the pillow and not actually touch his rod.

Angel was fuming over in the other chair and Discord resisted the urge to poof the rabbit out of existence. The last thing he needed was to draw Fluttershy’s attention toward them. He crossed his mismatched legs awkwardly. He coughed.

“Well, if you don’t mind, if you could reach the cups from the top shelf while I pump the water, that would be nice.” The pillow shot to the other side of the room. The thought of Fluttershy pumping anything at the moment was tantalizing in a way that he did not want to dwell on.

“Of course! I can do anything!” Discord quickly stood and turned away from Fluttershy, not wanting to watch her hooves use the lever to pump water.

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Fluttershy smiled with some relief as Discord sprang into action to finally help her. Her voice had shaken earlier, but she was pretty sure he didn’t notice. She looked eagerly at the water pump. I bet some cool water would really help calm this down. She placed both of her hooves on top and pushed down gently only for the lever to not move. She pushed down a little harder. It didn’t budge.

“Huh.” Fluttershy observed, inspecting the lever, “Discord?”

“Yes, my dear?” she glanced towards him to see his head up in her cabinets.

“Do you know anything about water pumps?”

“...water pumps?” There was a snort and a chuckle. “Fluttershy, do I look like I do much physical labor? A creature of my ability-”

Fluttershy cut off his boasting. “Well do you have any lubricant?” She felt bad for interrupting him, but the heat in her loins had jumped to her face and nothing sounded better than a splash of cool water.

She heard a loud thump and quickly looked back toward her friend. She noticed that Discord was now holding his head. “Owwwww” he moaned, rubbing his head.

“Are you alright?” Fluttershy asked sympathetically.

“My heads hurts,” Discord groaned, rubbing the egg sized lump on his head between his mismatched horns.

“Oh here, let me look at it-”

“No!” Fluttershy stopped dead in her tracks at the forcefulness of his no. He didn’t look at her and she stood there quietly. He’s never really yelled at me before. She thought sadly

Oh man. Did I just yell at her?

An awkward silence continued as the two best friends quietly tended to themselves. Fluttershy solemnly retrieved tea cups and attempted to pump water with little success. Discord tried to whistle but his lips were dry and all that came from them was a sigh. Even Angel seemed slightly disturbed by the silence and he looked with concern at Fluttershy.

Fluttershy was profusely sweating now. At least during their stilted conversation, she had a chance to try to focus on something else and what she was going to say. But now, the crushing silence was little reprieve to the creeping heat. “Goodness, I’m so hot,” she finally gasped, using a feather to try to fan her bright face, “Angel bunny, can you grab an ice pack for me?”

“I can get one,” Discord offered quickly, sitting up from the table, “if I can have one too. It is pretty warm in here.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Oh, there should be some in…” She paused, remembering that Angel had brought most likely all of the packs to her bedroom. “Um..oh, I think they’re in my bedroom actually.”

Discord grinned, almost appearing too happy for an opportunity to escape. “Say no more! Be back in a jiffy!” And before she could protest, with a snap of his fingers, he disappeared in a poof of blue jelly.

Fluttershy resigned herself and flopped herself down next to Angel, being careful not to slip on the blue jelly. “Oh Angel, I just don’t know what is going on,” she moaned, burying her head in the mesh of her feathers, “why is Discord being here making me feel so weird? He’s not even a pony.” Angel tittered angrily, but patted her head sympathetically. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with being a draconequus,” her voice echoed from her makeshift feather fort, “But in the bedroom-”

Fluttershy’s head shot up so quickly she knocked Angel Bunny clear off the table. “DISCORD! He’s in my bedroom!!!” She quickly gasped. She quickly turned and scooped up Angel Bunny, holding the dazed rabbit eye to eye, “HE IS GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT EVERYTHING!!!” she panicked, dropping the rabbit and bolting for the stairs.

Angel regained his bearings and attempted to follow his caretaker but found he could not move. He looked down to see himself waist deep in blue jelly. Man, I really hate that Draconequus he thought as he began to eat his way out.

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Discord poofed into existence right outside of Fluttershy’s bedroom door. Already, his head was feeling clearer and he could think easier having some distance from his friend. If she is really is causing all of this to happen, Discord thought discontently, I might have to cut our tea party short until I can figure out from a safe distance what is going on. The thought of leaving Fluttershy made his chest ache slightly but he ignored it as he pushed his way into Fluttershy’s room.

He looked around, trying to find the ice packs when he spotted the pile under the blankets. Discord hesistated. I really shouldn’t be snooping in her room a little angel Discord rebuked in one of his ears. A small demon Discord popped out of his other ear. Hey, the pegasus gave us permission to be here. so lay off feather head.

Oh you’re such a dick, you pointy earred freak!

Bite me!

Discord put his fingers into both of his ears, smushing both of the Discords into his ear drum. “You guys aren’t helping,” He muttered to their muffled cries. He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Although, the dashing version of me is correct. I did get permission to be here.” His eyes glinted mischievously and without another thought, he yanked the blankets off with one fierce tug. The maliciousness vanished and he cocked his head in confusion.

Fluttershy had been correct. There was no other pony here. But she very well could have made one out of the pile of room temperature ice packs. Discord poked cautiously at the bottom of the pile with a talon and then gave a small squeak when the pyramid tumbled downwards. After a series of soft plops, he smugly observed his handiwork.

The ice packs lay scattered all over Fluttershy’s bed. He thought about knocking a few onto the floor when the corner of a leatherbound rectangle caught his eye. He reached over and yanked at the corner, pulling it from its hiding place underneath the ice packs. Discord looked at it curiously.

“noitcudorpeR ynoP fo snoitcnuF laicoS dna lacigoloiB ehT” he read outloud. Discord paused. That doesn’t sound right. He looked at the book again, screwed his goat horn a quarter inch, blinked and then read again “The Biological and Social Functions of Pony Reproduction.”

He smiled. “Well that makes a lot more sense,” he confirmed, tapping his horn proudly. And then his smile froze. “Wait…” He read it again. “Why does Fluttershy want to know about pony reproduction…”

He stood there dumbfounded. Any train of thought he was carrying had veered off course and crashed. Mental police men and ambulances were trying to help carry the stray thoughts off the train but there was a lot of thoughts that would need to be collected before this segway made any sense to anyone but Discord.

He spotted something leafy green and carefully pulled out a long, thick carrot from underneath the book’s prior hiding spot. “What’s this?” he questioned, examining the vegetable. Yes, ponies were vegetarian but this seemed like an awfully big carrot for Fluttershy to fit in her mouth. Did the carrot smell like Fluttershy? Discord leaned forward and curiously smelt the carrot.

“Discord, I -WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

Author's Note

The next 1-2 chapters will have a mature warning ahead of time. (I'm so desperately trying to keep within at most a week between updates)