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                          Family                           
                     -by Captain Wuzz-                     
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                         Chapter 1                         
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Chapter 1
"You're my family, Fluttershy."
The pegasus felt the words mumbled against her shoulder as she lay under the blanket with Discord. His paw was wrapped around the middle of her dainty frame and his muzzle was pressed into her upper back. Outside a chilly wind blew hard and strong and the windows rattled. She was glad she had a warm body wrapped around her.Fluttershy turned to face Discord and began to ask him what he meant by family, but she realized the draconequus was still asleep. He was breathing steadily and he looked rather peaceful. She didn't want to disturb him.Instead she gently ran one of her delicate hooves along his long muzzle and softly kissed the end of his nose, then she rolled back onto her side, listening to the sound of the wind.
After about a minute she felt him mumble into her shoulder again: "Don't leave me."
She turned to face him again. "I'm not going to," she whispered. Discord shifted and wrapped his arm tighter around her.
"Are you awake?" she asked him.
"Mmmhmm," said the draconequus without opening his eyes.
"What did you mean by I'm your family?"
"Did I say that out loud? I guess I must have."
Fluttershy ran a hoof down his feathery chest. "Did you ever have a family?" she asked.
She felt him stop breathing for a few seconds then he sighed.
"Not that I'm aware of." Then he chuckled. "I bet someone somewhere is wondering what the heck happened with regards to my genetic ancestory. I'll bet it keeps them up at night. I imagine that lil' ol' me is probably the subject of some professor's book somewhere. I bet he or she is wondering how...you know..."--he snickered--"all those animals did it."
"So you don't know how you came to be?"
"Nope. I also don't have a belly button."
He prodded her own belly button with his paw playfully.
"That's awful."
He cocked his head at her in confusion.
"The not having a family thing, I mean. Not the lack of a belly button."
"Oh it's not so bad," he said a little too quickly. "What about you? I don't believe you've ever talked about your family. I'm assuming you have one?"
"I have a brother, but it's been years since I've seen him. He works in Manehattan."
"Any other relatives?"
"I have an aunt. She raised me."
"I've never heard you speak of her."
"I...we don't get on."
He raised an eyebrow. "Intruiging."
"Not really. It's a long and complicated story," said the pegasus.
"Quid quo pro, Clarice," said Discord.
"Who?"
"You tell me things and I tell you things," continued the draconequus. "If you tell me about your aunt, I'll tell you what I meant."
Fluttershy moved closer and nuzzled his side. Discord shivered, but it wasn't from the cold. "There isn't much to tell," said Fluttershy. "She doesn't approve of what I do. She thinks helping animals isn't a proper career because there isn't much money in it. My brother went to Manehattan to be a high-flying business pony. She thinks I'm an embarassment."
"Oh, I would love to meet your aunt," growled Discord, holding her tighter.
"She lives in Cloudsdale. She rarely visits, but if she does, she will get to meet you."
Fluttershy suspected that her choice of romantic partner would be yet another thing her aunt did not approve of. She sighed. She always felt she had to hold herself to high standards when all she really wanted to do was relax at home with her animal friends. Now that she had a mate, snuggling in bed on cold mornings was another thing she really wished she had more time for. She still got letters from her aunt asking her why she hadn't pursued the modelling career, or asking when she was going to find a nice stallion and have foals, or saying that someone as pretty as herself should not have been getting her hooves dirty cleaning chicken hutches and bathing dogs and cats.
But all of the things Fluttershy loved were things her aunt did not approve of. The pegasus was certain that one of the things she loved most of all was yet another thing her aunt would add to her growing list of disapproval. She nuzzled the object of her affection's face. "Now you have to tell me what you meant," she said softly.
Discord hesitated. Then he said: "What does family mean to you?"
"People who are meant to love you and support you."
"I thought that was friendship."
"Yes, it is, but..."
Fluttershy paused. Defining the difference between friendship and family was hard. It was more than being related, as she knew some foals were often adopted into loving homes. She didn't feel accepted by her family, despite the blood ties.
She shifted upwards, so that her face was level with Discord's. "Why do you consider me your family?" she asked him.
"Well, you and the fillies," said Discord. She knew he was referring to Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
"Okay, why us?"
"Because it's the first time like I feel I belong," he said. "You truly accept me for what I am. The girls think I'm funny. We're like their cool aunt and uncle. And you...and you..." He pushed a wayward strand of pink mane away from her face.
She moved closer and kissed him softly. He gently cradled her head in his paw and talon and returned the kiss. They pulled apart and he nuzzled her gently on the forehead.
She pressed her face against his chest and inhaled the stormy scent of his feathers. He understood, he made her laugh. He cared about her. She felt more accepted by him than by them.
"You do realize," he said to her, "That I'm already planning multiple pranks for when your aunt next visits..."
"Discord!"
"Oh, my dear. The mock outrage is quite becoming of you, but be honest now. Doesn't the idea of turning her into a chicken for the day and having you take care of her raise even a little bit of a smirk?"
Fluttershy couldn't help herself. She snorted into his feathers.

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                         Chapter 2                         
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Chapter 2
Fluttershy hummed to herself as she prepared the last of the morning feed for the animals. The ferrets were doing their hilarious backwards dance outside as they watched her through the window.
"Just a minute!" she laughed. She carried the buckets of food outside and was instantly surrounded by her animal friends. Rather than being greedy and fighting over the food, they all waited their turn, with some birds even perching on her arm as they waited. She could see the mail mare coming up the path and she wondered if there would be anything interesting today.
Discord stirred slightly and reached across the bed for Fluttershy. His eyes were shut and his paw fumbled this way and that trying to feel for soft fur or silky mane. He opened one eye and sighed. She had gotten up early again. With a snap of his fingers the pegasus was back in bed.
"Discord!"
He grinned, but then his face fell. Rather than looking slightly annoyed at him as he had expected, she looked worried.
"What's up Flutters?" he asked.
Very slowly, Fluttershy raised the letter she was holding between her hooves. Discord reached for it, conjured up some reading glasses and read it out loud in a mare's voice:
Dearest Fluttershy,
I will be visiting in exactly two days. In your last letter you mentioned a coltfriend and I would very much like to meet the stallion in question.
I am catching the 10:30 from Cloudsdale and will arrive sometime mid afternoon. I trust the cottage will be in order.
Sincerely,
Aunt Cloudia
Discord chuckled. "And I thought I was the only one in your life who arrived uninvited."
Fluttershy let out a whimper. She was staring up at the ceiling. Discord began to worry.
"What's wrong?" asked the draconequus, wrapping part of his snake-like body around her.
"I told you about my aunt," said Fluttershy, peering out from behind a coil. "She's a perfectionist. I'm going to have to clean the cottage, and get my mane done, and make sure all the animals are clean and..." She was hyperventilating now.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. That sounds way too much like...'organisation' for my liking. Why do you have to change the way this place is just because a family member is visiting? This is your home."
"You don't understand! Everything has to be perfect or she'll be cross!"
Discord blinked at her.
"Why don't you tell her to buck off? It's not like she can break your door down."
Fluttershy sighed. "It's not that simple, Discord. She's done a lot for me. It would be ungrateful of me to turn her away".
"Hmm." The draconequus stroked his beard as he thought about the situation, then he tightened his hold around the pegasus and whispered in her ear: "Well, you know, I'll be right here beside you if she decides to get cross. I've got your back, Shy." He felt the pegasus relax a little in his embrace and he continued, "rest assured if she does anything to make you feel bad she'll end up in a ball pit filled with parasprites that have just had a mud bath in molasses!"
"No, Discord!"
He sighed and uncoiled himself. "I didn't think you'd go for that but I felt it was worth a shot."
"I do want you there," said Fluttershy. "In fact, I really want her to meet you, but I also want you to be polite."
Discord's right eyebrow popped off his face onto the bedsheets. "Must I?" he scowled, picking up the white fluffy object and smacking it back onto his forehead. "She doesn't sound like the most fun pony in the world."
"That's not the point. She's family and I want you two to meet, and that means best behaviour."
"What if she's impolite to me first?"
"Then rise above it. Be the better person."
Discord snorted. "Edit myself, you mean." An eraser appeared in mid air and began rubbing away the draconequus' facial features.
"It's just for a little while," said Fluttershy. "We all have to edit ourselves from time to time, not just you. That doesn't mean you can't be yourself, it just means don't be antagonistic, even if she is."
"Sigh. Fine. How long is she staying for?"
"The letter doesn't say." Fluttershy began to breathe rapidly again. "I haven't swept the floor! It's still covered in feathers from when I last fed the parrots indoors and there are muddy pawprints in the hallway!" She was on the verge of hyperventilating again.
"Hey! Hey..." said Discord gently, putting a paw around her. "Relax. As much as I hate organisation, I can get rid of the mess with a snap of the fingers. Then you have more time to be Fluttershy and not worry."
"Oh...thank you," she said softly.
Discord tilted his head at her. He had expected the pegasus to be happier about this. Instead she still looked worried. He snapped his fingers anyway and the cottage was clean once more. He could always mess it up again once her aunt was gone. He grinned at the thought and looked down at his marefriend. She didn't look anymore relaxed or relieved. Why was she so troubled about this? She had scolded dragons and manticores...she even scolded him sometimes. Why was her aunt such a threat? Discord decided he already didn't like her. A pony who insisted on cleanliness and made Fluttershy a nervous wreck was never going to be on his list of favourites.
The day of Aunt Cloudia's visit, Discord appeared on Fluttershy's doorstep, his fur and feathers brushed until they were shiny. He knocked on his marefriend's door. Normally he just materialized within her cottage, but she had told him to knock this time because it was the 'polite thing to do.'
"The sooner this is over with the better," he muttered to himself.
"Come in!" called Fluttershy. "We're in the kitchen!" Now that was unusual. He had expected her to answer the door with her aunt beside her. Tentatively he pushed the door open and stepped inside the house. He walked through into the kitchen.
Fluttershy was sat at the table with a greyish pink mare with white hair styled in a tight bun that was held in place by more hairclips than Discord could count. She had her back to the draconequus but turned around as she heard her neice say brightly: "Hello, Discord!" Fluttershy looked slightly relieved to see him , and it prompted a tug in his chest. One of the things that had always drawn him to the pegasus was that she was one of the few ponies who seemed to derive joy from being in his presence. He was so distracted by this happy thought that he almost forgot about the stern-faced mare sitting next to Fluttershy. She quickly reminded him of her presence, however, when her first words directed towards him were: "This is your coltfriend?!"
Discord bowed with a flourish, the tips of his antler and goat horn almost touching the ground. "Madam!" he said brightly. "It is indeed, I! Fluttershy's bodacious beau!" He moved forward to take Aunt Cloudia's hoof and plant a kiss on it, but he quickly tore her arm from his grasp.
"Unhand me this instant!" she shouted.
Discord looked up at Fluttershy desperately.
Help me.
But Fluttershy's expression seemed to be mirroring his as she looked back at him.
"Fluttershy," began Aunt Cloudia, "You made no mention in your letters to me that this 'Discord' of yours wasn't a stallion."
Fluttershy gritted her teeth in a tense smile. Really, how many Discords did her aunt think existed in the world?
"You mean," gaped the draconequus, "you've never heard of me?"
"Oh, I've heard of you," continued Aunt Cloudia. "I just never for one second entertained the thought that when I heard my neice was seeing someone called 'Discord' that it would be you. Fluttershy is a refined young lady!" She turned to the younger pegasus. "Why was I not told about this?"
"Honestly, Auntie. When I told you his name was Discord I assumed you knew who I was talking about."
"Yes, well. When you assume you make an ass out of 'u' and 'me' both. And we all know how ignorant asses can be." Fluttershy looked absolutely mortified and her face was now the colour of Big Mac's fur.
Discord's tail twitched once and his smile was frozen in a rictus on his face. "I...I'm part ass," he said through gritted teeth.
"That much is obvious."
Fluttershy was suddenly overcome with the desperate urge to find a paper bag to breathe into. Her aunt really was playing with fire now. She had asked the draconequus to be polite, but she knew he had his limits, as everyone did. She hadn't forseen her aunt being quite so rude to him, but she supposed she should have.
Discord cleared his throat and tried again. "Er...It appears we've gotten off on the wrong hoof here, I think. Why...why don't I sit down and um...we can...talk? How was your trip from Cloudsdale? Run into any cumulonimbus?"
Cloudia narrowed her eyes as the draconequus approached the table and pulled out his own chair to sit on. Discord mused that Aunt Cloudia was nothing like Applejack's grandmother. This had less to do with the fact that Cloudia was younger and more to do with her reaction towards him. The first time he had been properly introduced to the matriarch of the Apple family by Fluttershy, Granny Smith had let out a long, low whistle, winked at Fluttershy and said: "Hooie! He's a big one, ain't he?" Fluttershy had blushed and giggled and led a grinning Discord into the Apple family home where they had all sat around the dinner table eating pie. At one point Granny Smith had ribbed him and asked him what it felt like to be the oldest person at the table, which prompted a rare belly laugh from Big Mac.
No, Aunt Cloudia was nothing like Granny Smith. Granny Smith was fun. This matriarch seemed to only regard him with cold suspicion. Discord would have liked to admitted to himself that he was used to this from ponies, but the truth was he wasn't. He hated it when ponies still shunned him. His eyes darted back and forth between his marefriend and what he now considered to be a ridiculous harpy sitting next to her. He couldn't see much of a family resemblence. Cloudia lacked Fluttershy's soft features and her mouth was a thin, stern line.
"Auntie," said Fluttershy. "Discord has been a dear friend of mine for years now. And...we grew closer." She put her hoof on her mate's paw and his eyes softened slightly, even though he was still glaring at Cloudia. "I promise you Discord is a very sweet guy once you get to know him. He's funny and caring. All that stuff that happened in the past is just that...the past! Plus in the past Discord had no friends and he was alone. Now he does. He needed friendship just like I did. It saved him like it saved me."
Discord's ears flattened a little against his head in embarrassment at the recounting of his lonely history.
"Stallions don't change Fluttershy, you know that," replied Cloudia. "It's a moot point, anyway! He isn't even a stallion!" She gasped. Fluttershy was reminded briefly of Rarity's fainting couch. "How many other ponies know of this...this...xenophilic relationship?" She blurted out the words with an air of scandal and her eyes narrowed again. "Is he...taking advantage of you?"
"No!" shouted the couple in unison.
Cloudia turned to her niece again. "I'm disappointed in you, Fluttershy. You can do better than this. You mustn't think you can't, dear. Remember what I said about confidence? Whatever happened to that Apple boy? 'Big Fruit' or whatever his name was."
"Um...we didn't have much in common," said the younger mare. Her aunt looked flabbergasted.
"What could you possibly have in common with him?" She pointed a hoof between Discord's eyes.
"Quite a bit, actually," said the draconequus snarkily. "For instance, we both know what it's like to be woefully misunderstood by other ponies. Exhibit A."
Cloudia missed Discord's dig at her and continued her diatribe at Fluttershy. "What would your parents think about all this if they were alive today? Living on the ground is one thing, but living with riff raff? Sleeping with the riff raff! If you're not careful, young lady, people might start to think you're a whorse."
Fluttershy was now trying desperately not to cry. She wanted more than anything to shout I'm not a whorse! I'm not a naive idiot! I have my own life and you haven't even tried to give Discord a chance! But her thoughts were interrupted by a low growl from the draconequus who was now staring at Cloudia with a nearly murderous intent.
The growl resulted in a dramatic shriek from Fluttershy's aunt. "Did you hear that? He threatened me! How can you possibly say this animal isn't dangerous?"
"She never said I wasn't dangerous," said the draconequus. Fluttershy facehooved. There was no way he was going to earn her aunt's trust after that statement.
"Listen!" cried the pegasus, before things could get worse. "I...I think maybe we should have a time out and all go for a walk or something. Maybe get some fresh air."
"That's a delightful idea!" said Cloudia "I will see you in an hour's time. I can't possibly stay here another minute in this brute's presence. Hopefully he'll be gone by the time I get back!"
"I...meant we could walk together...nevermind." The last word came out as a squeak.
"You and I are going to have a talk later, Fluttershy," said Cloudia. "A lady to lady talk." Fluttershy shrank further in her chair.
With that, Cloudia shot Discord another highly suspicious glare and headed down the hall and out the door.
As soon as she was gone, Discord conjured up a punching bag with Cloudia's face on it and started scratching and biting it. It deflated almost instantly.
"I can't stand her, Fluttershy!"
"I know..." whispered the pegasus. "I find her difficult to cope with too."
"So get rid of her! Or better yet, let me get rid of her." He wiggled the fingers of his talon and there was a maniacal gleam in his eye.
"Discord..."
"I promise I won't banish her to another dimension or anything. I could turn her into a queen termite and she could lay eggs all day while worker termites poke at her butt, or maybe she'd be more suited to being a sentient aubergine."
"No, Discord. That's cruel."
"She's cruel."
"I can't just get rid of her!"
"Why not? She can go home."
"Because!"
"Because? You're not putting forward a terribly good argument, Shy. Put some back into it! What reason could you possibly have for letting that contemptible mare stay here another hour?"
"Because she's the only family I have!"
Discord looked like he'd been stung. He took a step backwards and Fluttershy realized her error too late.
"No, wait! I didn't mean it like that, Discord," she said. But she knew how sensitive he was, and now he was going to pretend like everything was fine when he was really upset. Discord had too much pride.
"Didn't mean it like what?" he said. "I don't know what you're talking about you silly cuckoo clock." He was smiling but his eyes seemed to be searching hers frantically. "I just meant that she's toxic as tartarus."
"Discord..."
"Actually, I think it's best I sit this one out. If organisation and peace is what you need then me being present isn't going to help."
"But she said she wanted to meet you!"
"Oh, Fluttershy. I know what ponies are like. They say one thing and mean another. Trust me on this, it sounds like me being here would just make things worse for you."
He had a point. Her aunt was meticulous and she had to admit Discord and her aunt crossing paths again might not be the best idea. But she also wanted him by her side and to reassure him that he was wanted and needed. Now because of his pride, that likely wasn't going to happen.
"Discord..." she began again.
"It's okay Flutters," he said. "It's all good, girlfriend. I'll come back when this whole Aunt business is over. You have your family time."
And he vanished.
"Oh dear," whispered Fluttershy.

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                         Chapter 3                         
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Chapter 3
Fluttershy was beginning to worry. Aunt Cloudia had been gone for over an hour. Not to mention she was sitting alone at the kitchen table with all the ill feelings hanging over her and only the sound of the ticking clock to keep her company.
Why did things have to be so difficult? She sighed to herself.
Okay, no biggie. All I have to do is ride out the next few days and then she'll leave and things can go back to normal. Within certain parameters of normal.
A sharp knock at the door shook her from her thoughts.
"Auntie? I'm coming! Hold on one second!" She hurried to the door and pulled it wide open, only to be met with no one. Well, at least no one at eye level. It took her a few seconds to realize there was a chicken just beyond her doorstep looking rather shocked.
"Discord you didn't!" she squeaked, looking down at the bedraggled bird.
Now, let's not jump to conclusions here. It's possible that this is just an ordinary chicken that has wandered away from the hutch area.
But it didn't look like one of her chickens. She knew them well and the colouration and feather pattern of the one in front of her didn't match any of them.  This chicken was more of an off grey colour with a tinge of rosy glow in the feathers.
Fluttershy swallowed hard.
"Auntie?" she asked, feeling rather foolish.
Something seemed to stir in the chicken and it quickly came to life and uttered a loud "Pyuck!" It then began to run in circles, making the most dreadful sound.
"Pyyyuuuuccccckkkk!!!"
"Oh, no..." Fluttershy suddenly felt furious at Discord. Usually shen she told him not to do something he listened to her. However, it occured to her that she had not explicitly told him not to turn her aunt into a chicken. In fact, she had laughed about it with him in bed just a few days prior.
"Oh, Horsefeathers!" she shouted.
The chicken suddenly stopped its ellipsical dane and looked directly at her with a hard glare.
Fluttershy suddenly felt furious.
"Yes! That's right! Horsefeathers! I swore, so what? What are you going to do about it?"
The chicken lunged forward and pecked her hard on the shins, causing the pegasus to leap backwards in surprise. She could just imagine the scolding she would be getting rightnow if the chicken could speak in her aunt's voice:
I told you that beast you let into your heart and your bed was bad news, didn't I? If you had gone out with a nice, normal stallion none of this would have happened. Why don't you ever listen to me, Fluttershy? If it wasn't for me then where would you be?
She felt the tears threatening to come to the surface but pushed them down. Then she picked up the chicken, went back into the house and closed the door.
She placed the chicken on the kitchen table, where it continued to glare at her with cold, hard eyes; eyes that she knew were judging her. Ever since she had been a filly she had felt under scrutiny. Her brother was the powerhorse of the family, working in the city. He was the example, while she, like her friends had chosen to follow her heart. But her aunt had done so much more her and she felt she really couldn't throw all that back in her face.
Fluttershy sighed, walked over to the cupboard, got out a bag of millet and poured some onto the table.
"I have to go and feed the other...feed the animals, Auntie. I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Pyuccck!" The sound was angry.
"Well I'm sorry but I have to. They need me. I promise I'll just be right outside and I'll come straight back in." And she turned her back on the chicken and headed out the door with the rest of the millet.
It was dusk by the time Fluttershy entered the house again. The millet seeds she had poured on the table were gone, and Cloudia looked almost disgusted with herself. The pegasus began to make a bed for the chicken. She wasn't about to tell Aunt Cloudia that she had to sleep in the hutch with the other chickens, she knew how terrified her aunt would be. She rolled up a clean tea towel and wrapped it around a cushion from the sofa. That would do. Cloudia could roost there for the night. Fluttershy was now exhausted from the days events.
"Sorry Auntie, but I think I'm going to have an early night."
The chicken clucked indignantly. "I know, but I'll be able to think clearly if I have a good night's rest, and you'll be warm and safe in here."
She disappeared up the stairs.
Unfortunately sleep didn't come easily to Fluttershy. She lay awake trying not to feel angry at both Cloudia and Discord. It was like nobody listened to anything she had to say. She rolled onto her side and was just contemplating whether or not to write Discord a letter, when she heard Cloudia make a sound like a groan.
She threw back the bedcovers and was down the stairs quickly. "What's wrong?"
Cloudia continued to make a strangled groaning sound. Fluttershy reached out with her hoof to stroke the chicken's back and was rewarded with a swift peck. Cloudia's cries increased.
"I don't understand!" cried Fluttershy. "I wish I did but I've never had a pony in my house that turned into a chicken! If you'd only let me help you..." She reached out again with her hoof and this time Cloudia's neck feathers ruffled up and her tail spread into a fan shape. Fluttershy gaped. She had seen this type of behaviour before.
"Auntie, are you...?"
The chicken clucked once. Fluttershy steeled herself and grabbed Cloudia, lifting her up so she could see the cushion. Yes, she had been right. There was an egg. Cloudia had been exhibiting the signs of a broody hen. The chicken lay its body flat like a fluffy pancake but its feet pedalled in empty air as Fluttershy held it aloft.
She removed the egg and placed Cloudia back on the cushion where she spread out like a feathery water balloon.
"I guess you'll have to get used to that until Discord changes you back," said Fluttershy.
The chicken lifted her head sharply.
"He will change you back! Despite what you think Discord is a good person! Do you really think I would choose to share my life with someone who would do things to hurt me in a relationship?"
A fast chattering sound.
"Yes, I know he used to do bad things, but that was before we were together and he was completely alone in the world. He didn't even know what friendship meant. And you know what? Before I met him I felt lonely too. Not lonely for friendship--I'm lucky enough to already have friends. No, I was lonely for someone to be closer to. I wanted a mate. And now that I've found one that makes me happy why can't you be happy for me?" She realized she was yelling and the chicken had shrunk further into its makeshift nest.
Fluttershy's eyes softened. "Sorry," she said. "It's just so frustrating. I'm upset with Discord too. I didn't want him to turn you into a chicken. I didn't want any of this to happen. All I wanted was for you two to get along. Sometimes it feels like no one listens to me!"
She crossed her forelimbs on the table and rested her head on them, trying not to cry.
Fluttershy awoke with a start. She hadn't even realized she had dozed off and now sunlight was streaming through the windows. She rubbed her bleary eyes and peered down at the nest. Cloudia was gone.
Fluttershy felt a chill and turned to see that the front door was wide open.
"No!" How the heck had she opened the door?
"Angel Bunny," she said. The rabbit glared at her from his warm spot near the fireplace.
Shut the door, it's freezing.
"Did you let Cloudia out?"
I don't care about your stupid chicken. He waved his paw apathetically at her. So what if I did. Her groaning was driving me nuts.
The pegasus hurried outside. "Cloudia!" she called, fear clawing at her heart.
Thankfully she didn't have to look far. To her utter relief she found her aunt pecking at the ground about 10 feet away from the bridge that led to Fluttershy's cottage.
"There you are! It's cold out here. Why don't you come inside and I'll make us some breakfast." She waited for a response from the chicken but it had suddenly frozen and was looking over at somewhere beyond the bridge.
"Are you okay?" asked Fluttershy "I..."
She suddenly froze too. She had seen a flash of red in the bulrushes. There seemed to be something within them that was moving in a way that almost looked like gliding. Then the birdsong in the area stopped. Fluttershy suddenly realized what was coming.
"Auntie!"
It was like an explosion when the fox emerged from the undergrowth and shot across the bridge right for Cloudia.
Fluttershy's aunt let out a cry of terror and began to run as fast as her chicken legs could carry her. She even flapped instinctively, trying to get off the ground, though being a chicken she couldn't of course. Fluttershy saw a greyish-pink blur shoot past her followed by a red streak.
Cloudia's heart felt like it was going to burst as she ran for the safety of a barrel near Fluttery's fence. The chicken scrabbled franctically, trying to gain purchase as the fox closed in. It slowed down as it reached the barrel, getting ready to pounce as it watched Cloudia with its golden eyes.
"Stop!" screamed the pegasus. The fox turned to look at her.
"Mr. Fox!" said Fluttershy. "Please listen. I know you're hungry, but could you possibly eat something else? I have some fish I've been saving for my friend Harry but you could have it instead? This isn't even a chicken! It's a pony that's been turned into a chicken!"
The fox looked at Fluttershy as if she'd grown a second head.
"I know how it sounds, but it's the truth! Could you live with that on your conscience? Eating a pony?"
Cloudia peered over the edge of the barrel. She was trembling like a leaf.
The fox seemed to be considering its options. It gave Aunt Cloudia one lingering look with its amber eyes and then nodded at Fluttershy.
"Thank you, Mr. Fox. I'm proud of you. Now, let's go get that fish for you."
She picked up Cloudia who kept eyeing the fox nervously as Fluttershy placed her between her wings and walked back to the house. "I'll be right back," she said, turning to the fox, but to her surprise it had vanished.
"Huh, that's weird. Oh well, I'll leave the fish on the doorstep and I'm sure he'll come back for it."
She closed the door and put Cloudia back on the cushion, but this time she carried her to the living room and placed the cushion near the warmth of the fireplace. Then she opened the door to the basement and went to find the fish she'd been keeping on ice for Harry.
She was halfway up the basement stairs with the fish in a brown paper bag when she paused. She could hear the faint but unmistakable sound of somepony crying. She put the bag down and hurried up the stairs and into the living room, where she found Aunt Cloudia, no longer in chicken form crying into the cushion.
Fluttershy ran towards her and embraced her. "Oh, Fluttershy!" wailed the mare. "I'm so, so sorry. I had no idea. I'm so sorry..."
"I know," whispered the pegasus, her eyes filling with tears.
"You are amazingly competent at what you do, you know?" said Aunt Cloudia. "I've never seen anyone be able to communicate with animals like that. You saved my life."
Fluttershy squeezed her aunt. "I'm just glad you're okay."
"No, Fluttershy. I'm glad you are. And...and I'm sorry about what I said about your life. I'm not happy that I got turned into a chicken, obviously, but you were right. I've been changed back."
"Discord isn't the most constant of people. Except when it comes to me. I know he loves me. I said some things to him that may have hurt his feelings before you...before you got turned into a hen. I was just feeling stressed about everything."
"I see."
"I'm not happy about what he did to you either. In fact, he's going to get a talking to, but I know why he did it."
"After you talked down that fox, I don't doubt it. However, Fluttershy. I...I think I'm going to cut our vacation short."
"You are? Why?"
"I need to think about a few things. I just hope you know I care about you, young lady. And while I believe you when you say you know what you're doing, that doesn't mean I won't worry. If he ever tries anything you know you can rely on me."
Fluttershy squirmed a little but said nothing. She'd take whatever victories she could get at this point, no matter how small.
"If...if you're sure." said the younger pegasus. Cloudia had already moved towards the kitchen where her bag was.
"Yes, I'm sure," she said. She picked up her bag and hugged her niece. "I think I need to give you two some space to...talk about things."
Fluttershy nodded. She had a feeling that wasn't the only reason her aunt was in a hurry to leave, but she didn't feel like arguing.
"I'll write you the moment I get back," said Cloudia. "Take care of yourself."
The moment Cloudia was out the door Fluttershy shouted "Discord!"
The air billowed slightly, then her mate flashed into existence.
"You called, my dearie?"
"Don't you dearie me! You're in trouble buster."
Discord's ears flattened fearfully for a spilt second but then pricked upwards defiantly. He put his hands on his hips and scowled. "Wait a minute! You know what? I refuse to feel guilty about this one!" He pushed his talon against her lips before she could argue. "For one thing, Fluttershy, your aunt is insufferable!"
"I..." she couldn't muster an argument.
"And furthermore," continued the draconequus, who was now literally wearing a hole in the floor by pacing. "I did exactly as you said! I was nice to her! Better than nice! Why, I didn't even have a buzzer in my claw when I shook her hand. Did you know how hard that was to resist?"
"I know she was awful, but I said to rise above it!" She couldn't help but feel angry. Why didn't he ever listen to her? Why did he have to get upset at her aunt being so rude? He usually laughed off ponies who were mean to him.
"I did! Until she made the mistake of insulting you."
"You didn't have to do that to prove a point!"
"Didn't I? You must admit your aunt running across the garden when I chased her was pretty hilarious." His talon slammed over his mouth too late.
"That was you?!"
"Er...yes? But I wasn't going to eat her. I just wanted to give her a fright!"
"That was so mean! And it scared me, I thought she was going to be killed!"
Discord looked uncomfortable and he sighed. "Okay, I really didn't mean to upset you. I just...you don't get it, do you?"
"What don't I get?"
"I...I just couldn't stand how awful she made you feel about yourself! How she was upsetting you for merely existing". He clenched his paw and talon into fists. "Y'know, I've always wondered why you can't see what others see. Why you can't see what I see-- he ran his paw gently across her cheek. -- and now I know part of the reason why." He looked furious.
"Fluttershy, you're amazing. And you don't see it. She's been tearing you down. You...you have friends. You have family and you still think there's something wrong with you. That you're not good enough."
He put his paw on her chest and she breathed in deeply as the first sob overtook her.
"Please let me rebuild what she's torn down in here."
Fluttershy felt tears roll silently down her cheeks.
"Please let me be your family."
She buried her face in his feathery chest. "You are," she whispered.
He held her as she sobbed. His feathers were a mess, and wet with tears but he didn't care anymore.
"I'm sorry," said Fluttershy. "I really didn't mean to say you weren't family. That isn't what I meant at all. I was just speaking about being related."
"It's okay, Shy. Look, I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to scare you so bad. I just wanted to give that miserable old coot a taste of her own medicine. Have her rely on YOU for a change."
She smiled into his feathers. "It may have actually worked."
He grinned.
"But Discord..."
"Yeah?"
"Ask me next time."
"Will there be a next time?"
She smiled up at him. "Hopefully not."
He ran his paw gently through the strands of her mane, then lifted her up in his arms.
"I can't believe I didn't guess you were the fox," she said, shaking her head.
"Fluttershy, surely part of the reason you mated with me was because you thought I was a fox."
"Very funny."
He nuzzled her cheek and carried her upstairs.