True Love

Chapter 2 Canterlot

(Three Days Later)

  Fluttershy glanced worriedly at her animals as she placed the saddle bag on her back.

  "Are you really sure you can take care of them Spike?" She asked.

  "Don't worry Fluttershy! This will be easy! There is no need to worry about your animals. There in good hooves....well claws in this case." Spike replied with confidence in his voice which just made Fluttershy worry more about the animals.

Fluttershy opened her mouth to speak again but was interrupted by her friends who were waiting for her at the front door, all packed and ready to go.

  "Come on Flutters! We're gonna be late!" Rainbow shouted from the door.

  Fluttershy nodded and quickly started grabbing an extra bag of personal things she needed before heading to the door but stopping in her tracks and turning back to Spike.

  "Make sure you feed Angel exactly what the list says. He is a very picky eater and will not eat it if it's not perfect!" She said as the bunny hopped over to her with pleading eyes.

  "Yeah I know Fluttershy. Just go, I have everything under control." Spike reassured.

  Fluttershy patted Angel on the head with her hoof as he hugged her leg. "Angel, be good for mommy while I'm gone okay?"

  Angel just nodded and hugged his masters leg tighter before releasing it and bouncing away. Fluttershy was about to turn around when she stopped and looked at Spike again.

  "Oh! Don't forget about his tail! He likes it too be just perfectly fluffed!-oh and harry is sick! so you gotta-"

  Spike started pushing her out the door with annoyance in his eyes. "Fluttershy, just relax, they will be fine. I promise."

  "O-okay if....if you say so." She said as she started walking out the door, Spike no longer pushing her.

  "Oh wait Spike! If you could-" Fluttershy didn't get to finish as Spike slammed the door, cutting her off, her hair blowing back slightly at the force of it closing.

  Fluttershy sighed and Rarity put a hoof on her shoulder making her glance up at her.

  "Relax darling, I'm sure Spike will take very good care of your animals for you, there is no need at all to worry." Rarity said with a smile and a pat to her head.

  "Guys we need to go, the train will be here in ten minutes!" Twilight said as she glanced at the sky and back at them, shuffling her hooves in worry of being late for the train.

  The others nodded and began to follow Twilight as she started to trot at a fast pace and Fluttershy was about to follow when she heard a loud crash and the sound of a cat screeching in distress.

  "On second thought! Maybe I'm just stay home!" Fluttershy suddenly declared, and was about to dash back, but Rainbow grabbed her tail and started to drag her away.

  "Wait! Please! My animals!" She fussed trying to crawl back. Rainbow just rolled her eyes and continued to drag the desperate pegasus along.

  They all started heading down the dirt path along the Everfree Forest till they crossed the bridge of Ponyville. Along the way they had to stop from a couple of stallion who were pulling an extremely large carriage full of some sort of dirt which slowed them down. Twilight kept getting worried and was relieved when they made it just in time as the train pulled up.

  Rainbow was finally able to let go of Fluttershy's tail since she stopped trying to head back and gave a sigh of defeat. Twilight and the others except for Fluttershy and Rarity who were getting the dresses for the Gala into the train to take to Canterlot. Once they all had gotten in, along with many other ponies who looked like they were going to the Gala as well as for they had dresses packed as well in dress covers.

  "ALL ABOARD FOR CANTERLOT!!!!" A stallion called from out of the train entrance. The stallion looked around before pulling out a watch to check the time before raising a bushy eye brow and placing it back into his pocket and looking around for any passengers again.

  Satisfied that that was all, he went back into the train with a nod and went to start the train. The six had taken there seats in the back of a cart, all sharing except for Fluttershy, who was sitting by herself in the seat behind where Rarity and Twilight were sharing a seat and next to her on her left was Rainbow and Pinkie, and Applejack decided to take her own seat as well and laid back into a corner, raising her hoof to tip her hat over her face.

  In a couple minutes, one stallion came over dressed in a blue suit and hat a small white and blue striped cap came and started checking everyone tickets. Soon he came to them.

  "Tickets?" He asked, his voice and face showing no emotion as he spoke.

  Twilight smiled and levitated six train ticket's to the stallion who grabbed them from her and scanned them thoroughly then looking around at the six.

  "Are these all with you?" He asked, not taking his gaze of the tickets.

  "Yes sir!" Twilight said, giving a small smile.

  The stallion pulled out a stamper and stamped each ticket before handing them back.

  "Thank you sir!" Twilight said taking back the ticket with her magic and placing them away.

  Fluttershy jolted slightly as the train started suddenly and sighed as she watched Ponyville slowly start disappearing from view as the train started to go faster and faster every minute. She felt so nervous right now, but she wasn't sure why.

  Fluttershy started thinking about Discord again, and if he was going to be there. She was really hoping he was. She couldn't stop hoping that she would be able to dance with him, unlike last years Gala.

  Oh she would love to be in his arms, to feel him twirl her around. Even though she never really danced that much, she was still hoping for it. She wanted to be able to feel his body pressed against hers, his long slender yet strong looking body rubbing against her whenever they moved.

  Fluttershy blushed at the thought and started rolling circles along the windows frame. She had never thought of a stallion like this before. It was a very strange feeling. Whenever he was around, he made her excited and happy, his silly tricks and child like behavior always made her laugh and smile. She just loved being so close to him whenever he visited her for tea.

  She wished that they would spend more time together on their hang outs, and she wanted them to be more than just once a week. She has really missed him and it's been very hard not to think about each and everyday. When he would visit her cottage, he always made it lively and crazy, which she loved. At least she got a letter from him every other day or so.

  Fluttershy thought she was weird for thinking this but, she thought him handsome. But..it also made sense in a way to her as well, seeing that she has always found creatures fascinating, and Discord was a whole mix up of all different kinds of animals which made her all the more interested in him. She had developed her first crush on him a few months ago at there last recent get together, something seemed to have snapped.

  She always tried to deny it, not wanting to think of such thing of her friend, but she soon started to feel something strong in her chest whenever she thought, heard, or talked about him. Anything about him filled her heart with something strong and passionate. She had also been experiencing strange...urges...when she was around him quite a few times.

  Fluttershy clutched her burning stomach as she laughed. She kicked her hind legs from loss of control,  and fell off the seat she was sitting on. "O-oh Discord! that has to be the funniest thing you ever done!' She giggled, taking in deep breaths to get air back into her lungs. Discord was over for his regular visit and as usual, telling her all types of jokes and weird rhymes and riddles with her, and she would talk about how she was doing and what had recently happened while he was gone.

  Discord chuckled to himself and smiled sweetly at the mare. "Indeed it was!" He replied to her, wiping away a tear from laughing as well.

  "Oh Discord, I just love our afternoon teas, you always know how to make me laugh." She smiled up at him, to which he returned with a warming gaze.

  "Well you know what they say, if you can make a mare laugh you can...um...uh never mind..Anyways! how have you been my dear?" He asked, his tail wagging like a dogs as he leaned his elbow down on the kitchen table, his chin resting against it.

  "Oh I've been doing alright, how about you?" She replied casually with a small shrug, ignoring what he said earlier.

  "Oooh it's been the same, every day just...boring!" He groaned, running a paw over his face and his eyes rolling back.

  "Oh? why is that? I thought you loved your new home." She asked, taking a sip of her tea.

  "I do! I mean I love being able to spread my chaos without any pony complaining, and I do have fun but..I don't really know actually...it just feels like somethings missing and without it I can't decide what to do and nothing seems interesting..." He mumbled while his fingers tapped on the table as he thought.

  Fluttershy's eye brows furrowed at Discord's answer and she thought for a moment before a small smile formed on her lips. "Well, maybe you need some company, or a pet perhaps?" She suggested tilting her head at him.

  "Hmm, meh! I already have pets and the Smooze I conjured up..." He shrugged and stretched his back, levitating in his chair.

  "Hmm, well...maybe what your missing is...is..." She blushed suddenly at the thought that popped suddenly in her head and smiled mischievously, to which Discord noticed, causing a strange skip in his chest at the sight.

  "Well, what?" He asked, waiting for her suggestion.

  "Maybe what you need is a mares company...l-like a...m-marefiend?" She asked, confused at a slight pang of hurt she felt from mentioning something like that to him.

  Discord's eyes widened and he suddenly spit out chocolate milk that he had just conjured up while he had been waiting. "Wh-what?! ME!? a marefriend?" He sputtered before bursting into laughter, and rolling around in the air. "Me? me in a relationship?! HAHA! that would just be ridiculous! I don't mind friendship but I think getting a marefriend now is out of the question."

  Fluttershy giggled slightly at him. "Why's that Discord?"

  "Well I'm just not interested in the whole thought of romance and mooshy kissy wissy stuff like that." He said, waving a paw in the air.

  "If you say so Dissy." She shrugged and took another sip of her cup.

  Discord felt his eyes widen and then furrow in confusion before he looked at her strangely. "Dissy?"

  "Sorry, what did you say?"

  "Why did you call Dissy?" He asked wondering.

  "Oh I'm sorry! do you not like that? I just thought it was a good nickname for you." She quickly replied.

  "It's fine my dear it's just you've never given me a nickname before." He said, a smile creeping it's way across his lips.

  "I see...but you know..." She grinned as a plan formed in her head. She never showed her teasing and fun self around anyone but him, mostly since his crazy silliness rubbed off on her. "It would be really cute if you were in a relationship with somepony..." She whispered, biting back her grin as she noticed the warning glare from Discord.

  "Fluttershy...don't even think about it..." He growled low in warning.

  Fluttershy pretended to not hear him and brought a hoof to her chin and tapped it as if in thought. "Hmm...maybe you and Twilight...you would make a an adorable couple!" She teased, knowing that she was playing with fire.

  "WHAT!? Twilight?! UGH! don't even put that picture in my head! stop it!" He covered his ears and gagged which made Fluttershy's chest rise in triumph. This was the first time ever since the last Gala that she was able to tease him and get him this angry.

  "Are you sure? Hmm how about Celest-" She suddenly gasped as Discord flashed in front of her and immediately covered her mouth with his paw and his eyes were bright burning embers before her name could fully leave her lips.

  "Do.Not.Even..." He growled shaking his head.

  Fluttershy decided to keep on pushing him and pulled his paw away by holding it between her hooves, to which caused Discord's ears to fall back and he glanced at his paw that she held with a strange look in his eye and he seemed to be breathing faster. "Oh I know! how about princess Luna!-"

  Discord snapped out of his small trance and pulled his hand away and glared daggers. "THAT'S IT!!" He barked, causing Fluttershy to squeak before quickly jumping off her chair to run, not able to hold back her giggles as well as screams of fright as he chased her, too determined to catch her to think about using his magic at the moment.

  "Oh can you imagine it Discord?!" She called from behind her tauntingly. "You and Luna sitting in a tree eating a romantic dinner and giving kissy faces?" She continued which caused Discord to growl louder and double his efforts to catch her, this time making her squeak in fear as he quickly jumped on top of her and they went tumbling around the cottage and into the living room floor.

  She let out a small umph! as he came on top of her, holding her down firmly and crushing his snout against hers in a snarl. "Do not ever put such images in my mind again you little..." He said before gagging. "Ugh really Fluttershy? I'm gonna have nightmares for a week!" He complained, rubbing his eyes with his paw.

  "I'm sorry Dissy, I couldn't help myself." She giggled, blushing and feeling a little bad for doing that to him. Then she looked up into his orb eyes and felt something flutter in her stomach and she suddenly felt really hot. She felt her face flush as the fur of his body brushed hers and she realized the closeness of there faces. Her heart started pumping hard and fast against her chest, and she felt her breath become heavy as his eyes seemed to pull her into a deep pool of sudden and unfamiliar desire.

  Discord seemed to notice this as well, Fluttershy seemed to look different....she looked so bright, and so...so...beautiful? Her eyes seemed to sparkle and drown him in a teal sea wave, but before Fluttershy could spot the blush he felt that started filling his cheeks, he quickly pulled up and backed away from Fluttershy and laughing nervously. Fluttershy had to shake her head in order to clear her clouded mind and started sitting up. Discord then bit his lip and looked away as Angel came up and started bugging  Fluttershy for his food.

  'Am I blushing? why am I blushing!? and more importantly what was that!?' He questioned in his mind, feeling his heart pound wildly and his body was still warm at feeling her pressed so firmly against him on the floor.

  At the same time Fluttershy was wonder about what she just felt as well. 'Oh my....I...what's going on? Wh-why do I feel so hot? And why is my heart pounding so fast!?' She gulped as she glanced at Discord, immediately looking away as the sight of him caused her heart and blood to race more.

  Soon after that day, she had started to realize that she was.....falling in love with him. And it wasn't just a simple attraction. She was certain and sure about what she was feeling but there was a common fear that he wouldn't ever return her feelings back.

  Fluttershy suddenly snapped out of her deep thoughts as the train came to a halt as they arrived at Canterlot's train station.

  "We've arrived at Canterlot! Next stop.....Phillydelphia!"

  "We're here already?" Fluttershy whispered to herself.

  Twilight and the others were already getting up from their seats and grabbing there saddle bags. Once again Fluttershy helped Rarity bring the dresses that she made along with them as ponies started leaving the train cart. It took them a while to get out since they were in the back of the cart and the ponies were lining up to get out.

  They finally came out and they looked around at the train station. Suddenly a few guards approached Twilight and bowed before her, surprising her at the sudden appearance, even after all this time being a princess, she still wasn't used to being escorted by the royal guards.

  "Your majesty! We have been sent by Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna...to escort you and your friends to the castle." The guard in front of the other two guards said to her.

  "Oh! Alright then!...come on girls!" Twilight said joyfully. The others nodded and followed her as the guards rose and started to lead them to the castle where Celestia and Luna waited.

  Twilight was surprised to see so many ponies from Ponyville coming for the Gala, from what it seemed. Last time there were only a few ponies she recognized from Ponyville.

  "Oh I just love Canterlot! I really hope to live here someday...but...for now I enjoy being near my best friends in Ponyville." Rarity said with awe and sweetness in her voice, and winked at a stallion who she caught gawking at her beauty to tease the silly stallion.

  "It is very beautiful indeed. I did grow up here as a filly, so this place feels so much like home and brings back so many memories of me and my brother and the times we shared as foals." Twilight also remarked.

  "Eh....this place is ok." Rainbow mumbled and shrugged.

  They walked for quite a while, especially since almost every citizen in Canterlot seemed to be shopping and getting ready for the gala that was soon to come.

  They finally arrived at the castle where two guards opened a large gate that prevented anyone unwanted entering. There was a small screeching sound as the large bar gates opened. The guards lead them through and up to a large staircase where they went down a long way till they came close to the great castle doors.

  Two guards were at the doors and noticed the other guards who gave a nod of approval to them and they looked at Twilight before giving a bow of respect and opening the doors for them. They entered the large castle and Rarity became overly excited and started admiring the large decor of the grand halls of Canterlot castle. It seemed like they were walking forever until they finally reached the throne room that was opened.

  Celestia and Luna were talking with a mare with bundles of paper work around her, wearing glasses and talking with a stone personality. Celestia noticed the guards entering and a big smile crept on her face as she spotted her star pupil and her friends.

  "Leave us..." Celestia said to the mare with glasses who was about to protest before sighing and nodding, walking off with the paper work.

  "Twilight Sparkle! I'm so glad you were able to make it!" Celestia embraced her pupil who had ran to her, past the guards to hug her mother figure.

  "I'm glad we could make it too princess!" Twilight said giggling.

  Celestia broke the hug and smiled at the guards."Thank you sir's. please...take a break an enjoy yourselves."

  The guards seemed to get excited to finally have a break from there exhausting day of work and bowed to the Princess before walking off with a smile.

  "Hello my friends! I hope you all don't mind helping us make this years Gala more exciting." Celestia said as her sister walked next to her.

  "Oh it's our pleasure princess!" Rarity said, eye glimmering with joy.

  "Well I'm glad. I want this Gala to be more social and exciting without anything too crazy occurring, we had quite a few complaints the last few Gala's. We have a lot to do though. But for now, I think you would all like to get settled and see your rooms for the next few nights." Celestia explained, nodding at a guard who had stayed to come forward.

  "Please escort Princess Twilight and her friends to there chambers." Celestia commanded softy.

  The guard nodded and turned to the six ponies to start leading them out.

  "When your all done getting settled, I would like to have you all join me for dinner this evening." Celestia requested before they all nodded and started leaving the room.

  Each one of the six got there own personal room to stay in. Each was a very decent and large sized. There was a large queen sized bed in each and the room was decorated in beautiful curtains, flowers, and rugs.

  The bed cushions were soft and comfortable, the sheets were silk and warm, on the four posts of the bed, there were thin drapes that were tied to the post in case of need of extra privacy.

  Fluttershy had a room at the end of the hall, around the corner from where her friends slept. Her bed had red velvet sheets and covers and roses were in vases on the bed stand and a small table close to the door. There was a small balcony with a beautiful view of the royal Canterlot gardens.

  Fluttershy took in all the fanciness of the room and placed her bags down on the bed before running a hoof over the soft bed. She sighed and got on top, laying on her back, her forelegs spread out as she closed her eyes. It was gonna be a long day tomorrow, so she was gonna need lots of rest for what was to come.

  She decided to take a small nap before dinner. She still had an hour before evening so it wouldn't matter. She felt like she was being a big burden for staying in one of Celestia's guest rooms, but whenever she tried to reject anything they always insisted that she take it so she gave up.

  Once again Fluttershy's thought were of Discord, and she smiled with a blush as she drifted off to sleep. Her dreams hot and romantic as she slept peacefully in the silken bed.