The Mare and the Draconequus(Plot Twist)

Chapter Nine: A Whole New World Part 3: Fluttershy and Discord
(Here’s your Fluttercord, and a surprise guest!)

“Oh, Angel,” Fluttershy let the tears fall freely now. She’d been holding them back for, well only Celestia and Faust knew how long, and she couldn’t take it anymore. Not a single suitor had felt even the slightest bit of right to her, and now Starswirl had told her the news. Laws of Saddle Arabia, if the Princess, Pegasus or Unicorn, had not chosen the suitor in the appointed time then the Princess, one or the other, had to marry the Royal Vizier. “I can’t marry him... Not Sombra, not anypony,” she sniffed as her tears fell into the fountain water.

A sudden rustling in the bushes made her gasp and nearly jump out of her fur and feathers. She heard fireworks, and... laughter? She rose to her hooves and began following the source of the noise, with a reluctant Angel behind her. The moment she reached a clearing, though keeping clear by hiding in the soft and tall green grass she gasped with surprise and her eyes widened. “Why is that water... brown?” she noticed the pond was thick looking and the color of mud. Or milk that’s not white.

Suddenly, without any warning, a figure popped up out of the mucky water. He was disfigured, in every meaning of the word, and she had never seen a creature like him before. He had a blue goat’s horn with a deer’s antler. His face was gray furred and pony shaped, but with a neck long like a giraffe’s. His lower body had brown fur, minus the lion’s arm and paw and the eagle’s arm and claw. His legs were mismatched as well. One was a brown furred one with a cloven hoof and the other was a green dragon’s leg. His tail was a red snake’s tail. His eyes were yellow with misshapen cinnamon red pupils, and he had a tooth sticking out of the side of his mouth.

“Snorkeling in chocolate milk can get boring,” so it wasn’t mucky water, just chocolate milk. “But ice skating...” with a white flash the chocolate milk had disappeared and the scenery turned into a frozen skating rink. Ice covered where the grass had previously been and instead of a swimsuit now the creature wore a skintight black, white, and red suit with black ice-skates. “Never gets old!” he declared and flying pigs, literal pigs with Pegasus wings, began flying/dancing around him as he skated.

“How did he do that?” Fluttershy asked as she felt something odd in her chest, and her flank as well. On her Cutie Mark.

Looking down her eyes widened and she gasped softly at the sight. Her Cutie Mark was the three pink butterflies that symbolized her Kindness as well as her gentle nature. But as it was pink, it was glowing a soft white as well. Almost slow flashing, but it seemed to be urging her towards the... towards the creature. He began having fruits and vegetables dancing around him as well as the pigs, with cotton candy clouds that were raining chocolate milk circling the entire commotion.

As Fluttershy continued to stare at the creature with awe and wonder, she had not noticed the giant and much more moodier cotton candy cloud that hovered above hers and Angel’s heads. It cracked with lightning and both the Pegasus and rabbit were drenched in the sticky chocolate milk. She yelped and the rabbit screamed, giving away their hiding spot. She dove behind the tree the moment the creature turned, and
she was to scared to move away or even run. Her heart felt like a lump, and somehow in her throat.

“Alright, whoever you are, we can do this the easy way or the Discord way,” the creature spoke to her. She was silent. She heard him crack his fingers. “Alright, but you asked for it,” she felt the tree behind her turn into a puddle of goo. Some of it actually got onto her, sticking into her mane and coat. It did not settle well with the chocolate milk. She yelped as he used his magic to levitate her closer to him. This did not settle with with Angel.

The rabbit tried to attack the beastly creature, but ended up getting turned into a stuffed rabbit. She stared at him with wide eyes and an agape mouth. “What? He was going to hit me,” the creature defended.

“Can you turn him back?” he raised a bushy white eyebrow at her.

“You mean you’re not scared of me?” she looked at him oddly.

“Should I be?” his eyebrow went higher but he snapped his fingers nonetheless and Angel was back to normal. He instantly ran to Fluttershy and into her hooves.

Though now the creature had his arms crossed over his chest, with a raised eyebrow, patiently tapping his cloven hoof. “Don’t you know it’s rude to spy on others?” he changed the topic, more or less.

“Sorry,” she whispered, blushing just a bit. He snapped his fingers again and the chocolate milk and goo was out of her mane, coat, and tail. She was clean and spotless again. That was when Discord got a real close look at the Pegasus mare.

She had cotton candy pink hair with a buttermilk colored coat and three pink butterflies for a Cutie Mark. Though the three were currently glowing a magical white. Was that part of Pegasus Royalty? He inwardly shrugged. A thousand years must have changed Saddle Arabia more than he originally thought. What was the rest of Equestria like? He could only wonder. But it was his eyes that caught the Draconequus off guard the most. They were the most beautiful shade of teal he’d ever seen, and under the Luna moonlight they sparkled like diamonds. Not only were her eyes beautiful, but the mare herself was beautiful. “Perhaps, if we could start over,” her voice was soft and gentle, and smooth like honey. He felt his heart do a flutter(intended) in his chest.

The mare held her hoof out to him. “I’m Fluttershy, what’s your name?” she asked with a soft smile, ignoring the rabbit’s protest. He shook her hoof with a lion’s paw.

“I am Discord,” her smile grew, as did the white shining of her Cutie Mark but neither paid any attention to that.

“How did you do that?” she asked after he let go, which took him two minutes to do.

“What?” she pointed to the ice.

“That, with the milk and the ice. And the, flashing,” he chuckled.

“My dear, Fluttershy. I am Discord, Draconequus of Chaos itself. I can create things out of thin air and make them disappear just the same. Chaos has no limitations,” she looked interested.

“I’ve never heard of a Draconequus before,” he flushed, just a bit.

“I’m not exactly a well known creature,” he shrugged.

“But you’re so interesting, so many different creatures and I haven’t even seen Starswirl or Sombra perform magic like you can,” he smirked and did a low bow.

“Thank you, my dear, you are quite intriguing yourself,” she blushed. “Would you like to see more?” he offered. She nodded, and for the first time in forever(intended) she felt as though her wings could be spread. That she was no longer a royal bird in a cage, but a Pegasus pony with a friend.

It felt like hours, in which it had been, that they had spent together. Discord had not been lying when he said that Chaos had no limitations. The entire garden wasn’t even a garden anymore! The grass had been turned into peanut brittle, with the stone path ways turning to soap(he made sure it didn’t touch the brittle), with cotton candy clouds filled with chocolate milk hovering about, and the flying pigs as well. Even the statues were floating above their heads.

“So, tell me, Princess,” she giggled when he used his new nickname for her. “What made you decide to come out into the gardens?” her ears lowered.

“I came outside to think a bit, happens a lot,” she smiled softly.

“About what, if I may ask?” his eyes were curious and they looked like puppy-dog eyes, in which this case he used his magic to make them look that way.

She sighed deeply. Although she’d only known him for a few hours, she felt like she’d known him for years. He was more of a friend than Cadence had ever been, and she’d known Cadence her entire life. “About the whole Royal part. The wedding planning,” Discord nodded with a smile.

“The wedding of Prince Shining Star and Princess Cadence,” she looked at him confused, nearly dropping her cup of chocolate milk with whip cream and rainbow sprinkles.

“Huh? She finally picked a suitor?” Discord raised an eyebrow.

“But of course, Shining Star has been with her for the same amount of time we’ve been together,” Fluttershy blinked. She had not expected that. Wait a second...

“How do you know that?” his eyes widened. Dang it! He mentally slapped himself, literally. Now he had a headache. He did not want to lie to Fluttershy, for she’d been kinder to him than any other pony. More than even Shining Armor and Twilight when they didn’t run away or cower in fear at the sight of him. But he couldn’t give anything away. His heart clenched with the next words, that although it was not a total lie, it still felt wrong.

“Chaos,” he tapped his temple. “When I came here I decided to watch around the Palace, so nothing bad happened. I saw Cadence and Shining Star leave on the magic Carpet,” she nodded slowly. That... actually made sense.

But Discord was not finished yet. “Who else would be married?” he looked at her curiously. She blushed.

“Before meeting you, I spoke with Starswirl... It’s past the time that Cadence was meant to choose a suitor. And by Saddle Arabian Law, if the Princess has not chosen a suitor by the appointed time then the Sultan must choose for her,” he clenched his paw/claw.

“Sounds rather unfair if you ask me,” she smiled sadly.

“Life’s unfair,” she shrugged. “But that’s the way it is,” she added. “My point is, since Cadence refuses all and Starswirl and I suppose the Law is concerned about the Vizier’s life, the next Princess has to be wed to the Vizier. Saddle Arabia Law,” she looked down at her hooves, not noticing how Discord’s eyes burst into flames with rage.

Discord may not have known the mare for the longest of times, but this was something else. He’d only ever felt jealousy one time in his immortal life. That was a thousand years ago, and it hadn’t even been... between him and a mare. Just the normalcy the ponies had that he didn’t. The Law couldn’t honestly force the poor mares to marry the Vizier could it? He blew a raspberry, making her look back up at him. “Please, I am Discord. Lord and Master of Chaos, I could easily take away your problem if I wanted,” Or if Shining Star wished it. He twirled his eagle finger in his beard, thinking deeply. He was rather manipulative when he wanted to be. He could do it. But then again, Shining Star had promised to wish him free once he made his second wish. But Discord did not hold his breath, not every pony kept their promises.

She looked at him almost hopefully, but then shook her head wildly. “No, no I couldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be right,” his jaw hung.

“You want to marry him?” he couldn’t bite back the jealousy in his voice but thank Chaos that she didn’t notice it.

“Of course not! He’s scary in my opinion,” he had to press both hands and both feet and his tail to his mouth to prevent the snort of laughter from escaping.

“But I couldn’t abandon my duties like that. It would be unfair. Cadence tried that, and that didn’t end to well,” she looked up to the Luna sky. “By Luna, I just wish something else,” she closed her eyes. If Cadence could find her suitor, perfect or not, then they would not be having this problem. Fluttershy refused to blame Cadence for it, but she wished things could be different. And by things she meant the Law. She sighed deeply and sadly, tears nearly brimming her eyes but she forced them down.

“Fluttershy?” Starswirl’s voice echoed through the gardens. Both turned their heads to the source of the voice.

“I have to go,” she stood to her hooves.

“Well, why don’t you let me talk to your Starswirl friend?” she raised her eyebrow.

“Are you sure you would talk and not put some kind of spell on him?” he pressed his paw to his chest, above his heart, in false hurt.

“I’m offended Fluttershy, do you really think my demented, Chaotic mind would spurn me to do something like that?” she giggled.

“Yes,” he laughed.

“Fair enough,” he raised his hands in defeat. “But I want you to have something before you go, and if you can return to the gardens,” in his hand, with a white flash, appeared a large golden box with a line running through it. It would open, but later. He placed a string with a golden key on end around her neck and gave her the box.

“What is this?” she asked, about to open it but only to be stopped by the lion’s paw.

“A surprise, no spoilers,” he warned.

“I can’t accept this,” he shrugged. “I could give you a million more, but this has the most meaning,” she smiled softly.

“Thank you, for the gift... and for listening. Nopony’s ever listened to what I have to say before,” he looked at her shocked.

“Honest Apple?” she laughed.

“Honest Apple,” she confirmed.

“Well, nopony’s ever listened to me before,” he confessed. She smiled at him with sincere eyes.

“Well, you have a friend who will listen to you now,” her Mark glowed brighter as they shared a smile, but neither noticed.

“Fluttershy!?” Starswirl’s voice was urgent now.

“You know I do find that rather unfair though?” he raised an eyebrow. “I’ll need to find you a gift with the same amount of meaning, something you can’t poof up with a snap of your fingers. Come on, Angel,” she looked back at him before fluttering away. “I’ll be back,” she promised.

“Wait, do it again,” he held a small machine to her lips.

“I’ll be back?” she said, and out came the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger. She blinked, surprised and watched Discord fall to the ground, clutching his stomach in laughter. “I don’t get it,” she laughed as she flew away to find Starswirl.

Discord rubbed a tear from his eye after his laughter ended, then he sighed both happily and sadly. “She’s perfect,” he whispered, waving his hand and making a mirror with her face appear on it. “And I’m...” another appeared but this time he just saw his own reflection. “Imperfect,” he looked down at his mismatched feet, downhearted.

“Imperfect? Have I taught you nothing?” he jumped like a frightened cat and landed in the tree. He thought he’d never hear that voice again. That almost angelic voice, though Fluttershy’s was more beautiful. He looked down and saw the amused face of his very Mistress, Chaos.

“You taught me how to love Chaos,” he admitted, climbing down.

“And?” she pressed, unearthly green eyes looking into his own misshapen ones.

“‘And how imperfect is perfection in disguise,’” she nodded with a soft smile. It was one of the Alicorn’s favorite quotes.

“Now, it seems the other part of the deal has come to be,” he looked at her with a scowl as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“She’s to be wed to Sombra,” he spat the name as though it was poison on his tongue. Actually, it might just have been.

“But my boy, when has that ever stopped you?” she challenged with a sly grin.

“Never,” he confessed.

“Now, you can sit here and mope or do what you would have done a thousand years ago,” she made a horse’s riding crop appear in her own hoof. “Giddy up, Draconequus!” she slapped his feet with it, making him jump. “Move it!” she ordered, watching in amusement as he flew off. “And just to make sure nopony gets any thoughts,” she tapped her hooves together and the garden returned to normal.

“Don’t this bring me back, you making messes with Mama’s magic and Mama cleaning up after you,” she rolled her eyes and looked up to the sky. “Oh, Eris. He’s growing up,” she began to cry with a smile. “My little Draconequus, off to destroy the dark crystal one...” she waved her hoof in front of her face. “Ooh... Love is in bloom, with mostly handsome grooms. Fluttercord, I ship it!” she grinned, disappearing in a flash of green and white. And just for Fluttershy, some pink. Oh, how love was indeed in bloom, but what if the Moon nor Sun shown over either flowers, only Shadows? Whatever would happen then?