Chapters The First Dream
It was not unusual for Fluttershy to have regular tea times with the Lord of Chaos, Discord. It was also not unusual for the two to laugh & talk together, as they each consider the other to be a very good friend. Still, isn't it funny, or perhaps remarkable even, that the most usual of unusual circumstances can become absolutely, and without a doubt, unusual. Such a thing happened on a Tuesday, when Discord and Fluttershy were having tea together at Fluttershy's cottage; as it was difficult to have tea at Discord's home in the Realm of Chaos.
"Then, I told them that standing in the middle of a glass of lemonade upside down is quite routine for me. You should have seen the way their eyes bulged right out of their heads." Discord said, finishing his story.
Fluttershy giggled. " Oh Discord, your stories are always funny."
"Thank you, Fluttershy." Discord sipped at his tea. "At least one pony around here appreciates me." He mumbled, partially to himself.
"Oh, but it isn't just me who likes your stories, Discord. I've told everyone your stories here in Ponyville, and they just love them."
"Well, that's because you are telling them. Not me. Everyone likes you, my dear Fluttershy." Discord said.
Fluttershy blushed at the compliment. "Thank you, Discord."
"Well, I must be off." Discord stuck in his teacup in his mouth and swallowed it whole.
"Same time next week?" Fluttershy asked with a smile.
"As always." Discord responded.
Fluttershy got up to gather the tea tray, but accidentally knocked the table. Her teacup was about to shatter on the floor, and both she and Discord rushed to catch it. They were both stunned when their lips accidentally met.
Fluttershy gasped and pulled away quickly, blushing severely. "I-I'm so sorry, Discord. I didn't mean to kiss you." She stammered.
The two stared at each other for a moment, eyes unblinking and unwavering. As though they had just seen each other for the first time and each were looking at a stranger. Discord was the first to snap out of the trance, and he shrugged his shoulders.
"It was no problem, Fluttershy. A simple accident, that's all." Discord said, nonchalantly.
Fluttershy lowered her head, still recovering from her embarrassment. "Yes, an accident."
Nothing more was said and Discord left the cottage. Fluttershy picked the teacup off the floor and carried the tray to a counter top. Her lips were still tingling from the kiss, in fact they were almost warm. Was this what it was like to be kissed? In truth, this was Fluttershy's first one. She knew it would happen eventually, but never imagined in a hundred years that it would come from Discord, the embodiment of chaos. Still, she didn't feel surprised by the event. In fact, she was completely numb. It was as if the kiss had drained her emotions and left her a blank slate.
Fluttershy squealed when she felt someone tap her back hoof; she looked down to see Angel Bunny, who had his arms folded and was tapping his foot impatiently.
"Yes, Angel?" Fluttershy said.
Angel quickly pointed to his puckered lips, and then continued tapping his foot.
"Oh, you saw that?" Fluttershy asked, and Angel nodded rapidly. "It was nothing really. Discord himself said it was an accident."
Angel raised an eyebrow, as if to question the sincerity of Fluttershy's explanation.
"Of course it was an accident! I would never kiss Discord. We're friends, nothing more." Fluttershy insisted.
Angel gave Fluttershy another look, but Fluttershy ignored him and went upstairs to bed. In the morning, she thought, this whole thing would be forgotten and she could get on with her life.
The doors to the chapel opened, and Fluttershy took in her surroundings as she walked down the aisle. Seat after seat was filled with family and friends, even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna took time from their hectic schedules to attend the wedding. In front of her, were her flower fillies: Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Bell who were happily prancing down the aisle, as if the excitement from being flower fillies was all new to them. At the very end of the aisle, she saw her five best friends; Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash all dressed in identical pink dresses with big grins across their faces. This was probably because they were just as happy as she was. She also saw the back of her groom, his tall form dressed in a suit of all sorts of abstract patterns. A little loud for Fluttershy's taste, but she didn't care one bit. She was in love and that was all that mattered.
Finally, the bride reached the end of the aisle and looked into the face of her groom, her Discord, who was smiling eagerly. He bent down to her level and got close to her ear.
"I love you, Fluttershy." Discord whispered.
Fluttershy screamed and woke up in a cold sweat. Angel, who usually slept at the foot of her bed, popped his head up and gave her a concerned look.
"I'm all right, Angel. It was just a bad dream." Fluttershy said quietly, and Angel drifted back to sleep.
Fluttershy had lied; it wasn't a bad dream. In fact, it was one of the most pleasant dreams she had in a long while. That's what upset her, why would she find marrying Discord pleasant? He was a friend. Just a friend. That kiss surely had nothing to do with it, because it meant nothing to him and especially not to her. No, this dream was absolute nonsense and she would never have it again. Or, that's what she hoped anyway.
Fluttershy had trouble sleeping after her dream. For hours, she tossed and turned, trying to clear her mind. By the time Celestia had raised the sun, Fluttershy had only gotten an hour or two of sleep. She somehow managed to drag herself out of bed and feed her animals their breakfast, before making some for herself. Later in the morning, she walked over to Twilight's castle for her and her friends to discuss the birthday celebration for Princess Skyla, the filly of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor.
"Fluttershy!" Twilight shouted.
Fluttershy's eyes suddenly opened and her head popped up. "What? What is it?"
"I was just asking you if you'd be in charge of the petting zoo for the fillies and colts?" Twilight asked.
"Sure, I'd love to." Fluttershy said, yawning shortly afterwards.
"Are you all right, darling?" Rarity asked.
"Oh, I'm all right. Why do you ask?"
"Well, you seem a bit...er...tired." Rarity said, choosing her words carefully.
"Tired? That's a bit of understatement, don't you think? She can barely keep her eyes open!" Rainbow Dash said.
"What's going on, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.
"I just had a dream and had trouble getting to sleep after it. That's all." Fluttershy explained.
The other ponies looked at Fluttershy in disbelief. They had known Fluttershy for a long time, and she never had any trouble sleeping over any sort of dream before. Still, if she didn't want to talk about it, then they weren't going to force her.
Fluttershy managed to make it through the rest of her day. When the time came for bed, Fluttershy worried about having another dream about Discord; but her exhaustion was too overwhelming. The moment that her head hit the pillow, she was fast asleep.
Fluttershy gave a small yawn as she woke, it had surprised her that her new little colt had slept through the night. She walked over to his bassinet, excepting to see his peaceful, sleeping face peeping through his blankets; instead she found it empty. She frantically looked everywhere in the room; under the bed, in the closet, even on the ceiling (in case his wings had suddenly decided to start working). She rushed downstairs to find her husband, hoping he would have some idea as to their child's whereabouts. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she breathed a sigh of relief. Discord sat at the breakfast table, holding their son. Fluttershy quietly approached him and kissed his cheek.
"He was fussy. I hated for him to wake you." Discord whispered.
"Oh, he was probably ready hungry, that's all." Fluttershy whispered back.
Fluttershy and Discord shared a small smile as they looked down at their son. A beautiful cross between his parents; the face of his mother, and the wings of his father. A product of their unusual love.
Fluttershy gave a little yelp when she woke. Another dream about Discord, and this time she actually had his child. Why did this keep happening? She never had dreams like this before, not since that kiss. What did they mean? She didn't have romantic feelings for this Discord. She couldn't have feelings for Discord. No, there had to be a way to get these dreams to stop or at least find out why she kept having them; and the only one Fluttershy could think of to help her was Princess Luna, the princess of night.
A few weeks passed, and soon it was the day of Princess Skyla's birthday. It was held in Ponyville's park, so that all the fillies and colts would be able to play games and enjoy Fluttershy's petting zoo. As the cake was being served, Fluttershy wondered away from the festivities to search for Luna; who she found by herself at the pond.
"Princess Luna?" Flutttershy asked quietly.
Luna turned to Fluttershy and smiled. "Hello, young one. Is there something you need?"
"Well, actually, I was wondering if you could tell me about dreams." Fluttershy said.
Luna gave a small chuckle. "You certainly have come to the right place. I will tell you what I can."
"Well, about a month ago, I accidentally kissed someone. Since then, I've been having dreams about the someone that I kissed. I've dreamed about marrying him, having his children, growing old with him."
"Well, I'm not one to speak about affairs of the heart, that's usually a matter left to my sister. However, it seems to me, as though you have some very special feelings for this someone."
"Oh, no. No, no, no. I can't have feelings for him. I just can't."
"Why not? Is it so terrible to love someone?"
"Princess Luna, you don't understand. This someone...It's Discord." Fluttershy finally said.
Luna faced the pond again. "I see."
"Your Highness, I like Discord as a friend. To find myself in love with someone like him; it's impossible. We are so different. Our love would never be accepted."
"Is that what this is? You are so afraid of other's opinion?"
Fluttershy felt her heart sink into her stomach. It hit her. She was not just afraid to accept her feelings for Discord, but she was more afraid of what everyone would do if they knew. She, the element of kindness, did not want to be judged by others. Let alone Discord, who was already despised by most of Equestria, despite all of his efforts to be good.
"Princess Luna." Fluttershy ran over to Luna and hugged her, crying into her chest. "I'm so confused."
"Sometimes, dreams are only feelings realized. I know this must be frightening for you, Fluttershy; but the dreams won't go away, until you realize that you perhaps have fallen in love with Discord."
Fluttershy sniffled and released Luna. "I just can't. Our differences are too great for us to be together."
Luna seemed to ponder for a second, before wrapping an arm around Fluttershy. "Perhaps if I tell you a story, it would help you to make a decision."
"What kind of story?"
Luna led Fluttershy towards the lake. "It's an old mare's tale. One that my mother use to tell me and Celestia. I do think it will help you."
"What is it about?" Fluttershy asked.
"Well, it's about King Sombra."
Fluttershy's eyes went wide with surprise. "Sombra?"
"Yes. It may surprise you, child, but this is a story about how King Sombra, a terrible and cruel creature, once found love."
Princess Elanor cared nothing for politics. She saw them as trivial in comparison to the other duties of a royal. Still, she knew there was nothing she could say or do when her father, King Badar, insisted on a meeting between him and the king of The Crystal Empire, to talk of peace. She would have to play hostess as her mother, Queen Kalinda, was away for the entire month.
Badar and Elanor waited in the throne room for the arrival of King Azhaire. They'd been waiting almost an hour before Elanor's patience wore thin.
"Father, this is useless. King Azhaire is not coming." Elanor said wearily.
Badar looked down at his daughter from his throne. "Be patient, Elanor. We will give him another half an hour. This meeting is important. There's been much hostility between our kingdoms. "
Elanor opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it quickly. She knew her father was right; that this fight had gone on too long.
Suddenly, the doors to the throne room burst open. A male unicorn, not much older than Elanor, with the grayest of coats and blackest of manes, entered and bowed.
"Your Majesties." The unicorn said.
Elanor and Badar shared a look. This was certainly not Azhaire. Perhaps, he was a messenger or a servant.
"May we help you, sir?" Badar asked.
The unicorn smirked. "You don't know who I am then?"
Badar shrugged. "I fear we don't."
The unicorn chuckled and bowed again. "I am Prince Sombra. The heir to The Crystal Empire."
The shock must have been evident on their faces because Sombra gave a hearty laugh.
"I see that my father has failed to mention my existence. No need to be embarrassed, he tends to do this often." Sombra explained.
Badar gave Elanor an unsure look before addressing Sombra. "Where is your father, Prince Sombra?"
Sombra frowned. "I'm sad to say that my father took ill and died en route."
Elanor gasped and Badar shook his head sadly. There was absolutely no reaction from the young prince, however. His face was completely blank.
"You have our condolences, young prince." Badar said.
"I have come to this meeting in his stead. I trust there are no objections, as long as peace is still the objective. " Sombra said, as if he hadn't even heard Badar.
"O-Of course it is. Please, if you'll follow me to dining hall, we will be happy to feed you after such a long journey." Badar said.
Badar stepped down from his throne and Sombra and Elanor followed him out of the throne room.
"I haven't had the pleasure." Sombra whispered to Elanor.
"Princess Elanor." Elanor whispered back.
"The pleasure is mine, princess." Sombra said.
"Your Majesty, may I ask you a question?" Elanor asked, and Sombra nodded in response. "Why are you not sad? Your father has died."
"I cannot pretend to mourn someone that I will not miss." Sombra said quietly and Elanor gave him a horrified look. "Understand, princess. Not everyone loves their parents."
Sombra left Elanor and hurried to catch up to Badar. Elanor couldn't have been more appalled by Prince Sombra's coldness. Yet, she could have sworn that she caught a glimpse of something in his eye; something that he did not want anyone to see. A deep mournful look.
In the park, the sun was starting to set and all of the party guests had left, save for Fluttershy and Princess Luna.
"So, Princess Elanor felt that Prince Sombra was just pretending to be cold?" Fluttershy asked.
"Precisely. Do you remember when you were chosen to reform Discord, Fluttershy? Do you remember how everypony felt he was unkind and unable to change? You saw something else. You saw that he was lonely and in desperate need of love. Sometimes, the ones able to see the best in those that others deem different, are perhaps simply having a case of "love at first sight."
Fluttershy blushed briefly before looking up at Luna. "Will you tell me the rest of the story, your Highness?"
"The sun will soon be down, I must tend to my duties. Come to see me tomorrow at the castle, and I will tell you more."
Fluttershy gave a small smiled and left Luna alone by the pond. Luna looked down at her reflection and couldn't help but imagine a scornful look from Elanor. In a fit of rage, Luna splashed away the illusion.
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.