Time's Cruelty

   Twilight and her friends were discussing the strategies they had planned for the war. Discord was among them and he was helping to add his own crazy ideas into the mix.

   "Alright, what plans do we have so far?" Twilight inquired.

   "Fluttershy and I have a few ideas," Discord claimed.

   "Thank you!" Twilight breathed. "Can you share them with us?"

   "Fluttershy?" Discord said turning to her with a grin.

   Fluttershy cleared her throat and pushed her nervousness to the back of her mind. "Well, Discord and I are thinking that we can surprise Sombra by three of us distracting him over here and the others hiding behind the fort wall over there. At the right moment, the others can spring up and surprise him."

   Twilight nodded. "Nice and simple, but I don't think it's enough..."

   Discord was agitated. "How can it not be enough? I think that's all we need. This strategy plan was..." He looked for the right word. "Silly, anyway!"

   Twilight's gaze bore into him. "Coming up with strategies to win a war is more important than you think."

   "Tch, since when?" Discord scoffed.

   "Since a long time, Discord!" Twilight exploded. "Now, stop being difficult for once and listen!"

   Discord gawked in surprise, but closed his mouth and scowled. "Oh, fine."

   "Um, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked. "What do you think we need to add?"

   "I'm sure we can come up with something!" Twilight said, sounding more hopeful than confident. "It just feels... incomplete somehow."

   "I completely get that feeling," Fluttershy assured.

   "Let's meet again another time," Twilight finished. "For now, I think we need to get to practice."

   Most agreed with her and left at once. However, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Discord stuck around for awhile.

   Fluttershy began to blush furiously as she looked up at Discord. "D-D-Discord?"

   "Fluttershy?" Discord worried. "You look like you're burning up! Are you feeling alright?"

   Pinkie Pie giggled to herself. She always knew that Discord had showed the most concern for Fluttershy. He tried to show concern to the others and she knew he cared... in his own way, but it was blatantly obvious he showed it most to Fluttershy.

   "Oh, I'm alright," Fluttershy claimed. "I just tend to get that way when something in the room is... hot, you know?"

   At once, Fluttershy regretted her words and slapped her own hoof over her mouth. Pinkie Pie burst into hysterical laughter.

   If it was possible for Fluttershy to blush even more, she was doing it. "What?! What's so funny?!"

   "That was a good one, Fluttershy!" Pinkie Pie giggled. "Because you think Discord is---"

   "Pinkie! Shush!" Fluttershy cried.

   Pinkie Pie sighed. "Alright. Fine." A smile spread across her lips. "For now."

   Pinkie Pie wasn't sure, but she could've sworn she saw Discord return a blush for only a moment.

   "Alright," Discord said. "Well, I've got to ask Twilight something. Catch you later, Fluttershy."

   Discord snapped his claw and teleported away.

   "Hmm... I wonder..." Pinkie Pie said suspiciously.

   "What? What do you wonder?" Fluttershy questioned.

  In a flash of light, Discord appeared in the dorm where Twilight and her friends were. Twilight was the only one there and she jumped startled.

   "Eek!" Twilight yelped. She sighed. "Discord, warn me if you're going to teleport into my room."

   Discord scoffed which he seemed to be doing a lot lately. "With what? A note that says, 'Hey I'm gonna teleport now. Just letting ya know'? Well, I think that's a waste of my precious time."

   "What do you need, Discord?" Twilight inquired.

   "I just wanted to ask you when we have to meet for more strategy planning," Discord replied. "I'm getting pretty bored of it."

   "Tomorrow, Discord," Twilight answered. "Better get to practicing."

   "Agh!!" Discord yelled. "Fine!!"

   Discord snapped his claw and teleported into his own room. He was alone since no other stallions bothered to share a room with him.

   "Hmm... I've never had any side effects from teleporting before," Discord said with confusion. "Wonder what that fluttery feeling in my stomach is."

   "Fluttershy, how are you feeling around Discord lately?" Pinkie Pie wondered.

   "I don't know," Fluttershy answered. "Very... excited, maybe? That would explain the fluttery feelings I get around him." She paused. "One question, though."

  "What question?"

   "Well... more than one question."

  "Well, I can try to answer them," Pinkie Pie offered. "Shouldn't you be going to Twilight for this?"

   "She seems busy," Fluttershy replied.

   "Well, I can listen to your concerns," Pinkie Pie assured. "I'm here for you, Fluttershy! What are the questions?"

   Fluttershy's head brimmed with questions and they spilled out of her like a breaking dam. She wondered why she felt shier than she normally did, why her heart pounded when she didn't practice on the field, why she lied awake at night and couldn't fall asleep, and why she felt strange to her stomach. She wondered what the feelings she felt when Discord was around were.

   Pinkie Pie grinned all the while Fluttershy asked these questions. "Someone has a crush!" Pinkie Pie sang.

   Fluttershy felt the blush on her face intensify. "What?"

   "Please, Fluttershy!" Pinkie Pie said. "With all those questions, it's so obvious!"

   "Fine," Fluttershy admitted. "I have a crush on him."

   "Aww, on Discord?!" Pinkie Pie cooed. "That's so cute!"

   "But don't tell anypony!" Fluttershy begged desperately. "Please!"

  "Why not?" Pinkie Pie asked, thrusting her lips forward in a pout.

  "If you tell our friends, they might tell Discord!" Fluttershy worried. "Wh-what... what if he doesn't love me back?"

  "With the looks he gives you?" Pinkie Pie said. "Fluttershy, don't worry! There's no way he doesn't love you back!"

   Fluttershy smiled. "Maybe you're right, Pinkie."

  "Of course I am!" Pinkie Pie chortled. "Come on, let's go!"

   "Are you going to help me get Discord?" Fluttershy asked.

   Pinkie Pie thought back to the past of their friendship. Fluttershy hadn't exactly been the daring type. She backed out of many simple things that were a lot smaller than confessing to someone you love them. If Fluttershy couldn't do those things, then Pinkie Pie knew there was no way she would step up to this. But she had another idea in mind.

   "I'm gonna help Discord get you!" Pinkie Pie replied.

   Pinkie Pie grinned to herself. There was no way this could go wrong now.

   Discord was in his room. He was adding checkerboard floor tiles and making things float around the room. It looked much better in his opinion.

   Amidst the chaos, Discord heard a knock on his door. He sighed and snapped his fingers teleporting the knocker into the room.

   Pinkie Pie stood in front of him dizzily. "Okay, I was not expecting that." She shook her head. "But that was fun! Thanks for the ride, Discord!"

   "Of course," Discord said. "What brings you here?"

   "You like Fluttershy, right?" Pinkie Pie asked, playfully raising an eyebrow.

   Discord tried to hide a blush as his eyes widened with shock. "Wh-what?"

   "Please, Discord," Pinkie Pie said. "It's so obvious."

   "Pinkie Pie!" Discord cried. "How did you know?!"

   Pinkie Pie grinned and knew that she had tricked him. "Bingo."

   Discord scowled. "Why, you---!"

  "Well, that is what I came here for!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "I'm going to help you win Fluttershy's love! By the end of this week, you'll be a happy couple!"

  "Really? You'll make us a couple?" Discord asked giddily. He immediately forced himself to stop with a clear of his throat.

  "Duh!" Pinkie Pie piped. "With Pinkie Pie the matchmaker, what can go wrong?"

   "Want me to make you a list?" Discord asked with a smirk.

  "Oh, don't be so nervous!" Pinkie Pie encouraged him. "Let's get started!"

  Discord teleported himself and Pinkie Pie out on to the practice field. He then looked around unsure. "Er... what do I do?"

  "Discord, if you really like Fluttershy, give her a compliment!" Pinkie Pie told him. "Say she looks great today or something!"

  Discord still didn't budge, so Pinkie Pie shoved him out onto the field. Discord found Fluttershy immediately. Fluttershy waved at him and nervously played with her carnation pink mane. Discord laughed and rubbed the area behind his head nervously.

   "Hi, Discord," Fluttershy greeted. "How are you?"

  "Uh... you look... yellow," Discord attempted.

  Fluttershy was confused. "Um... thank you. And you look... brown?"

  Pinkie Pie slapped her forehead and shook her head with a groan.

   "What?!" Discord asked. He genuinely didn't know what he did wrong.

   "That's not what I meant!" Pinkie Pie mumbled to him softly.

   "Well, what did you mean then?" Discord inquired.

  "What's going on?" Fluttershy questioned. She was still confused by all of this.

   "Uh... nothing," Discord claimed. "Pinkie Pie and I were just... talking about... compliments."

   "Why?" Fluttershy wondered.

   Pinkie Pie played along. "Well... uh... Discord and I need practice giving compliments to each other because we never do, so I figured we need to do it more often!"

  Hearing that made Fluttershy disheartened. "So, I was just practice?" she choked.

  "No! No!" Discord exclaimed. "I meant what I said!"

  "Yeah," Fluttershy said, only half-relieved. "It's... um... really flattering to be called yellow."

  "Exactly!" Discord exclaimed.

   "Well... I've got to go," Fluttershy said.

   "Wait, don't go!" Discord begged.

   Fluttershy's spirits rose immensely. She turned around hopefully. "Yes?"

   Discord tried again, but failed miserably. "Uh... I think you look like... a pegasus?"

   Fluttershy's spirits plummeted once more. "Thanks," she said dryly.

   "Yup!" Discord said.

   Fluttershy left in a hurry as if looking for a place to clear her mind through what just happened.

  Pinkie Pie shot Discord a glare. "Discord, you've got to be kidding me."

  "As much as I like to be kidding, I'm afraid not," Discord replied with a smug smile.

  "Discord!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "She didn't understand a thing you said to her!"

   "Well, it's kind of hard to understand when a draconequus tries to compliment you," Discord admitted.

   "Yeah, no kidding," Pinkie Pie said launching into a brainstorm. "Hmm..." Idea danced in her eyes. "Discord, meet me tomorrow! You'll practice complimenting me, so you're ready for Fluttershy!"

   Discord smiled genuinely. "Thank you, Pinkie Pie. You truly are a great friend."

   "Always here to help!" Pinkie Pie assured. "We better get back to practice!"

  Twilight was once more writing in her journal, her quill scrawling words across the page. The words flowed out of Twilight as easily as a river. She wrote:

It’s going pretty good right now. We’re not losing as much ponies as we were at the start. However, now that my niece and her two friends are fighting in the war, I’ve been getting nervous for them. I haven’t been able to sleep well lately and things have been slipping my mind.

Since they came into the war, I’ve been thinking a lot about my friends lately. I’m afraid to lose them. We’ve made so many memories together and helped each other through hardships. We’ve learned so much over the years. I promise as long as this war goes, as long as Sombra still lives, I will never stop fighting for you, my friends.

   Twilight slowly closed her journal with a relieved sigh. It really helped her to release her thoughts.

   She was once more startled by a flash of light and Discord standing in its place. "Next time, I'd appreciate it if you knocked."

   "Sorry, but knocking isn't in my nature," Discord replied with a nonchalant shrug.

   "What is it, Discord?" asked Twilight with annoyance.

  "We're making war strategies tomorrow, correct?" Discord inquired dully.

   "Yes."

  "I was wondering how much more of these... strategies we need."

   Twilight sighed. "Discord, I get you get bored of planning, but they're useful for staying alive. We don't know how much time we have."

  "We'll be fine, Twilight!" Discord was confident. "With my chaos magic, I'll be unstoppable out there!"

   "Chaos isn't the remedy for darkness, Discord," Twilight chided. "You have to understand that chaos does not solve this problem."

   Discord frowned. "Chaos can be a solution," he muttered.

  Twilight sighed. "Goodnight, Discord."

   Discord returned the sigh and teleported out of Twilight's room. Twilight pulled out her strategy to work on the plan. Her quill quietly tapped against the paper as she wrote.

   Discord knew Fluttershy should be on the practice field any moment. It was time for them to discuss their strategy. He was lying on a cotton candy cloud and knitting a scarf while he waited. However, his definition of knitting a scarf was undoing the fabric until that was all that remained. A grin crept across his face as he spotted a certain yellow pegasus rushing awkwardly towards him.

   "Sorry I'm late!" Fluttershy exclaimed. "I tried to come when you called me, but it was a bit complicated!"

   Discord chortled lightly. "No worries, Fluttershy. Even I have those days."

  "Okay, thanks for understanding, Discord," Fluttershy breathed with relief. "What did you need me for?"

  Discord rolled his eyes. "Twilight insisted that we discuss methods for fighting in the war. I think we have enough plans already, don't you think?"

   Fluttershy giggled with agreement. "Most likely."

  Discord cleared his throat, nodded, and fell silent. He lightly blushed. He no longer knew what to say to her. Her beauty captivated him and he felt like speaking was the hardest thing in the world.

   Fluttershy returned the blush with a smile. "So... uh... what do you think we should do?"

   "I don't know," Discord replied hesitantly. "Honestly, I never started any wars when I was evil. I just..." He sounded full of painful, agonizing regret. "Took over for a very long time."

   "Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked.

   Discord came out with a truth he'd never thought about telling anyone. "Sometimes... I still think Twilight and the others don't... completely trust me. I'll never be fully forgiven for my wrongs. What do I have to do to earn it?"

   "Do you really think I've changed?" Discord wondered hopefully.

   "I think you've changed, Discord," Fluttershy reassured him. "In fact, I know you've changed. Ever since proving your loyalty after the Tirek incident, I’ve had full trust in you. I still do. If you ever feel like you need somepony to talk to, I’m right here."

   "Thank you, Fluttershy," Discord said softly. "That means a lot."

   "Now, let's discuss those war plans," Fluttershy finished with a smile. "Maybe, we should fight next to each other."

   "I think I'd like that," Discord told her.

   After discussing their plans, Fluttershy had left Discord alone on the practice field. Discord stayed on the field. He was waiting for someone else to join him on the field. He saw her bouncing eagerly towards him.

   "Are you and Fluttershy done discussing your plans?" Pinkie Pie inquired.

   "Yes," Discord replied. "Now, you're here to help me practice complimenting?"

   Pinkie Pie nodded eagerly. "I even put on some blush for the blushing effect. You'll be even more ready for Fluttershy after we're done!"

   Discord took a deep breath. He had to think of a compliment for Pinkie Pie. He stared Pinkie Pie up and down from her outrageously curly mane to her cotton candy blue eyes.

   "Pinkie Pie, I love your eyes!" Discord complimented. "They remind me of shining sapphires in the Crystal Caves!"

   "Aww, Discord. You're too kind!" Pinkie Pie squealed.

   Pinkie Pie's remark had made Discord feel more confident. He decided to take it up a notch.

   "Speaking of kind, did I mention you're one of a kind?" Discord asked. "There's no one as fun and sweet as you are!"

   "Discord, you're really good!" Pinkie commented. "Just do it around Fluttershy and you'll be set!"

   Fluttershy took a stroll through the practice field. It comforted her and took her mind off of what was happening. When she looked over to her side, she saw an alarming sight. Discord appeared to be flirting with Pinkie Pie.

    "The party only really starts when you come!" Discord continued.

   Pinkie Pie stifled a fit of giggles. "Discord, you're actually really sweet! I can't believe I didn't see this side of you!"

   Discord frowned a bit. "Do you think I'm ready, Pinkie Pie?

   "When you get that date, I'll be so excited!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

   "Me too!" Discord claimed.

   "Woohoo! Let's go!"

   Discord and Pinkie Pie turned to see a saddened Fluttershy standing in front of them.

   "Oh," Discord whispered nervously. "Hi, Fluttershy."

   Fluttershy let out a squeak and rushed away. Discord and Pinkie Pie were alarmed.

   "Should we go after her?" Discord wondered.

   Pinkie Pie nodded. Discord held out his arms and invited Pinkie Pie into them.

   "Just climb in my arms," Discord explained. "It'll be faster that way."

   Pinkie Pie, after a moment of hesitation, climbed into the arms of the draconequus. Discord snapped his fingers and teleported.

   Appearing in front of Fluttershy, Discord jumped at his chance to apologize. However, he realized how awkward it looked with Pinkie Pie cradled in his arms. Pinkie Pie and Discord looked at each other with an awkward stare. Pinkie Pie quickly scrambled to get out of Discord's hold. Fluttershy looked terribly dismayed.

   "It's not what you think!" Pinkie Pie tried to assure.

   "Fluttershy!" Discord cried.

   Fluttershy glared and tears blurred her vision. "Go hold her in your arms and sweet talk to her somewhere else."

   "Fluttershy!" Discord pleaded. "You're just misunderstanding! I don't like her!"

   "Hey!" Pinkie Pie whimpered.

   Discord realized how that sounded. "Well, I do like her, but as a friend. Oh, you know what I mean! Fluttershy---"

   "It definitely looked like you liked her as a friend," Fluttershy said, her voice coated with hurt sarcasm. "Sweet talking to her, asking her on a date..."

   Discord was genuinely confused. "Asking Pinkie on a date? Who put that idea in your head?"

   "Forget it, Discord!" Fluttershy wailed. "Just leave me alone!"

   Discord was filled with shock as Fluttershy sprinted away. The way Fluttershy had spoken to him was unlike her. Fluttershy would never raise her voice to that point, much less say those words to him. Pinkie Pie knew what Fluttershy had seen must've really crushed her.

   Discord sighed and rubbed his head in despair. Pinkie Pie jumped to comfort him at once.

   "Oh, Discord," Pinkie Pie said. "I'm sure it'll be cleared up soon."

   Discord knew a painful truth. "Forget it, Pinkie Pie. I don't deserve her."

   "Don't talk like that!" Pinkie Pie told him. "Of course you do!"

   "But Fluttershy is beautiful, sweet, kind, she's everything I want," Discord replied. "But me? I'm just the draconequus who tried to conquer Equestria. How could she ever want..." He looked at himself and his spirits dropped lower. "This?"

   "Discord, she loves you!" Pinkie Pie told him. "Why would she run off crying if she didn't?"

   "You're right, Pinkie," Discord realized. "Maybe I can win Fluttershy's heart if I just try again."

   Pinkie Pie gave him a playful nudge. "I like your confidence, Discord! Come on!"

   Twilight and her friends all sat together in their dorm. It was nice when they could find the time before bed to have little chats. Conversing as friends was a chance they rarely got anymore, so they made the most of every chat they got together. However, Fluttershy didn't seem quite like herself.

   "I'm glad it was such a success for all of you today!" Twilight congratulated. "It's going great with the Wonderbolts, right Dash?"

   "Yeah!" Rainbow Dash piped. "I love fighting with my team!"

   "Fluttershy. Forgive me, darling. It's just that... you haven't spoken a world all evening," Rarity observed. "Is something on your mind?"

   "I'm fine," Fluttershy replied sadly. "I'd just prefer to be left alone right now."

   The rejection Fluttershy felt was painful. Pinkie Pie knew the feeling of rejection Fluttershy had shouldn't even be there, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything. The feeling dragged Fluttershy down a pit of despair. She felt like she was drowning, but it would take days to finally drag her to the bottom of the pond. Fluttershy didn't feel like she could say anything that reflected her true self.

   "Hey, you okay, Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked. "You sound really upset."

   "Can't you girls see all I want right now is to be left alone?" Fluttershy shot back with a firm voice.

   "Fluttershy. You'd never use a tone like that," Twilight stated. "Tell us what's wrong. Please."

   Fluttershy's heart pounded. Right now, it hurt more than anything. Out of all the bad emotions she had felt before, rejection was definitely the worst. "The only thing that's wrong is that you're not leaving me... alone!"

   Fluttershy looked across the array of her friends. Their faces displayed shock. Fluttershy immediately regretted her actions, but she felt too choked up to say anything in apology.

   "Fine," Twilight said. "We'll leave you alone." Twilight sighed sadly and used the most assuring tone she could find. "Come talk to us when you've sorted it out."

   Fluttershy immediately left the dorm feeling even worse now. She couldn't bring herself to face anyone. Discord had hurt her and she believed that she had hurt her friends too. Twilight came out to chase after her. The two friends stared at each other for a long moment. The silence between them wasn't painful, but it didn't feel the same. Twilight sighed and gave in. She looked at Fluttershy one last time before closing the door with sadness in her eyes.

   Fluttershy tread across the empty base. The stars shined from above and the moon gave a soft, dim glow as if to sympathize with her feelings. She had never felt so alone before. She looked up as she heard a gentle roll of thunder. Clouds crowded together and a drizzle of rain began to fall from the sky. Fluttershy didn't feel scared. Instead, she embraced the rain and thanked it for numbing the pain a little.

   Rain seeped into her coat and mane as she looked across the lonely base. Everyone was sleeping now, except for her. Fluttershy knew she was the only one awake now. All she had for comfort was the moon and stars.

   Fluttershy thought of Discord. What would it be like if they were together at last? She imagined that Discord would be holding her in his arms and comforting her. Discord's exterior turned many ponies away, but Fluttershy was drawn to him. She wasn't attracted to Discord for his looks, but for the way he acted towards her. He made her laugh when she was feeling down and complimented her when she didn't feel good about herself. But she knew it would never come to be now. She learned quickly that her romanticizing was pretend and that it was all a distant dream now. She loved him... but only on her own.