Dreams of Discord

Fluttershy returned to her cottage and started to prepare herself for bed. Princess Luna's story had opened up her eyes to one thing: she had to tell Discord about her feelings. Obviously, there was no truth to the tale, but even the idea of someone being able to love someone like King Sombra gave her new hope that a relationship with Discord was not out of the realm of possibilities.

"I'll talk to him tomorrow morning." Fluttershy said to no one in particular, pulling back the sheets of her bed.

As she climbed into bed, she shut her eyes to sleep. Almost instantly, she was alert again. What if Discord didn't feel the same way about her? What if he stood there and laughed in her face? Or worse yet, what if he became angry and didn't want to be her friend anymore.

Her heart was in her stomach again. She could take him rejecting her feelings; but the very idea of him not wanting to be her friend anymore made her sick. The Lord of Chaos never had a single friend before her; in fact, though it did seem too boastful, her friendship with Discord had reformed him. If their friendship was lost, he would likely turn around and be back to his villainous ways.

"No. I couldn't do that to him. I couldn't ruin our friendship." Fluttershy whispered in the dark.

Telling Discord the truth was pushed to the back of her mind. Turning on her side, Fluttershy closed her eyes again to sleep as tears started to stain her pillow.

As she was told, Fluttershy went to the castle of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia in Canterlot the next morning. A guard took her to Luna's bedchamber where the princess of night was standing by her window. She turned when she heard the door open and approached Fluttershy.

"So, you have returned for the rest of the story?" Luna asked.

Fluttershy bowed low. "Of course, your Majesty."

Luna used her hoof to lift Fluttershy's head. "Did the start of my tale give you any thought as to what to do?"

Fluttershy turned her head away, trying to avoid eye contact with her princess. "For awhile it did. I was planning to tell Discord how I felt, but...well...What if he doesn't love me in return? What if he doesn't want to be my friend anymore? He's good now, and if he doesn't have the one friend he can count on; what would happen to him then?"

Luna gave a gentle smile and a brief nod of the head. "That is a great concern, Fluttershy. Still, have you thought of the possibilities if he did return your feelings?"

Fluttershy burrowed her brow. "Not really."

"Discord has never had somepony ever love him in such a way. I've seen the way that he looks at you, my dear, and I wouldn't be surprised one bit if the feelings were mutual. You just said that the loss of your friendship might undo all that's been done; but what if you telling him the truth doesn't break your friendship and only strengthens something that might already be there?"

Fluttershy finally managed a smile and sat down. "I'd really like to hear the rest of your story, Princess Luna, if you don't mind."

Luna chuckled and continued on with her tale about Princess Elanor and King Sombra.

As the days passed, the talks of peace between Canterlot and The Crystal Empire went well. Although Elanor was still finding the visiting prince to be a rather rude guest, she did her best to distant herself from him.

One evening, Elanor had difficulty sleeping and wondered the halls of the castle. Often, it was silent in the evenings; but this night, Elanor heard the sound of loud sobbing. She could tell it was an older pony, but the occasional whimpers and heaves gave the impression of a filly or colt.

Following the cry, Elanor found herself at Prince Sombra's bedchamber door. Gently as possible, she pushed open the door and saw the most shocking scene. Sombra laid in bed; sobbing hysterically, with his head buried deep into his pillows, which did nothing to muffle the cries.

It was so late at night, that Elanor thought that Sombra was just in the middle of a terrible nightmare. It would be rude to wake him and she was not ready to be insulted by the prince again; besides, an unwed mare in the chambers of a sleeping stallion? No, that would just cause a scandal. As she started to close the door, Sombra stopped his crying and began sniffling.

"Come in, if you must." Sombra said.

Elanor looked up and down the hall before stepping inside the chamber. "I'm very sorry, Prince Sombra, but I heard you crying. Are you well?"

Sombra quickly sat up and wiped the remaining tears away with the back of his hoof. "It was a nightmare. Nothing more."

Elanor arched her eyebrow. "Pardon, your Majesty, but if you were asleep; then how did you know I was here when I didn't make a sound?"

Sombra gave a frustrated sigh. "Perhaps my homesickness is getting the better of me. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to get some more sleep."

Of all the mule-headed stallions. Elanor growled and began to leave the chamber.

"I miss him." Sombra said quietly.

Elanor turned back to Sombra. "What was that?"

Sombra sat on the edge of his bed, his back facing Elanor. "He never gave me the time of day. My sisters and brother were more precious to him than I ever was. As a colt, I'd ask if I could sit on his shoulder. "Not today. I believe I must've slept on my arm the wrong way." He would tell me. As I would leave, I would just notice out of the corner of my eye that he was lifting all of my siblings onto his back and shoulders. He never loved me! He couldn't even make an effort to pay me mind! There were some days when I hated him so much, that I wanted to risk exile and show my true feelings! Would you like to know what he said to me as he died?"

"I suppose that I would." Elanor nearly whispered.

"He said "I am sorry. I wish that I could have loved you more." Just to hear that he loved me even a little; that he was sorry. Why couldn't he have said these things when he was alive? Why couldn't he give me the chance to tell him the same?"

Sombra began to cry again and Elanor stood there, frozen in shock at this admittance. What was she to do? Sombra had been so cold and hateful since he first arrived; and now he stood here baring his feelings to her; a near stranger.

Out of instinct, Elanor walked up to Sombra and hugged him. Sombra stopped crying and became stiff; unsure of what to do. He didn't have much time to think about it, before Elanor released him and left the chamber.