One Last Cup Of Tea Before I Go
''Discord, would you be so kind as to pass me the sugar?''
''Why of course. Here you go Fluttershy.''
''Thank you.''
Discord and Fluttershy were having tea in the afternoon as they often did. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day outside as birds flew past the window, chirping happily. Both of them were very fond of these peaceful moments every now and then.
''So how was your day so far?''
''Oh, the usual. A little chaos here, a spot of disharmony there. All in a day's work, as ponies say.''
''So long as you don't overdo it.''
''Oh don't worry, I've learned my lesson. I’ve been shown how wonderful the magic of friendship is and I’ve reformed myself. Now I only use my magic for the good of Equestria. And maybe a bit for my own amusement every now and then.’’ Discord said with a smirk. ‘’And besides, not a single thing will make me miss our teatime. Not changelings, not parasprites nor ancient magic-draining conquerors. Woe for the poor fool that dares to try to keep the Spirit of Disharmony from spending time with his best friend.''
''Why thank you Discord.'' Fluttershy said with a smile as she handed Discord a small plate filled with various biscuits. ‘’Would you like one?’’
‘’Certainly.’’ Discord said as he selected a particularly tasty-looking one filled with sweet strawberry paste. ‘’Did you make these yourself?’’ He asked the pegasus before biting into his treat.
‘’Oh yes. I asked Pinkie to show me how to make them.’’ Fluttershy said as she watched Discord finish his biscuit. ‘’So, umm, how was it?’’
‘’Simply marvelous, my dear. Do keep making them.’’
Fluttershy didn’t say anything, and there wasn’t any need to. Discord knew that she was pleased from her sigh of content and smiling face.
''Hello Fluttershy. I hope I'm not too early.'' Discord said as he appeared out of thin air in a flash.
''Oh no, you're just in time. I just finished making the tea.''
''Wonderful!''
Discord took a seat on the couch as Fluttershy brought him a cup. As he went to take the cup from the pegasus he noticed her hoof shivering slightly.
''Fluttershy, are you alright?''
''I'm fine, no need to worry. It's just slightly cold this time of year.''
''But it's summer. And I haven't messed with the temperature either.''
''I guess I just get cold more easily than other ponies.''
Discord looked at his pegasus friend with a worried look. ''I'll take your word for it. But if there's anything I can do, do tell me.''
''I will. But enough about me. Care for a biscuit? They’re strawberry filled, just like you like them.’’ The pegasus said as she held out a small plate filled with biscuits.
‘’Oh wonderful. Thank you, my dear.’’
‘’You’re welcome.’’ Fluttershy said before putting the plate down and sitting down herself.
As his friend sat down, Discord had sneaked a peek at her. She was still the same pink-haired meek pegasus as always, but Discord could see a couple of wrinkles on her face. The years were slowly catching up to her, but Fluttershy did her best to look presentable, even if she didn’t go out much.
The kettle let out a whistle to signal that it was ready. Fluttershy lifted the kettle off of the stove carefully with her trembling wings.
''Is there anything I can do to help?'' Discord asked as he poked his head into the kitchen.
''I'm almost done. You can *cough* just have a seat.''
''You are sounding worse by the day. Have you been to a doctor at all?''
''I went to see a-*cough*-a doctor just a few days ago. It's just a cold that I have, no need for you to worry.''
''Seems to me that you've had that cold for years now.''
Fluttershy smiled as she set the kettle down. As she turned to address the concerns of the draconequus she was stopped by a very violent coughing fit.
''Fluttershy?'' Discord asked with worry. Then he saw drops of blood fall to the floor with each cough. ''FLUTTERSHY!''
Discord quickly ran up to the pegasus and grabbed a hold of her. Then, with a snap of his claws, they both vanished.
''I'm sorry about this. I should've told you earlier.'' Fluttershy said weakly as she laid on her hospital bed.
''Fluttershy, I...I'm at a loss for words. When did it get this bad? And why didn't you tell me?''
''I didn't want to bother you with my problems. And I didn't want to endanger the peace of our teatime. I'm sorry.''
''No, I'm sorry. I can tear apart the fabric of reality and reshape it as I see fit and yet I'm seemingly powerless to aid you when you need me the most.''
Fluttershy gave Discord a little smile and reached out to hug her friend.
''It's okay. Even spirits of chaos are allowed to have moments of weakness.''
Discord embraced Fluttershy and hugged her tight.
''And besides, the doctor might return any minute now with good news. I'm sure this is just some nasty disease that can be taken care of with the right medication.''
As Fluttershy finished her sentence, the door of the room opened and a doctor walked in.
''So, what is my diagnosis, doctor?''
It was as if the world itself was in mourning on that day. The sky was dark and there was a chill in the air as wind carried brown and yellow leaves with it far away from the cemetery. As the leaves travelled through the cemetery they blew past a group of ponies gathered around a grave. The priest finished his speech and the coffin was lowered as everypony around it threw roses on the coffin.
It was a small funeral, but all of Fluttershy's dearest friends and family were there. Fluttershy’s parents had passed away a few years earlier, but Zephyr Breeze was present. He had become a famous stylist with multiple salons and his own brand of haircare products. But today, he was not Zephyr Breeze the Stylist. Today, he was Zephyr Breeze whose beloved elder sister had passed away, and he made no effort to hide his sorrow as tears flowed down his cheeks and he sobbed audibly.
Rarity had dressed in her custom-made mourning gown and wept silently. Much like Zephyr, she had been massively successful with boutiques in all the major cities and multiple lines of clothes and accessories under her own brand called The Rarities. She had gotten married as well, but her husband had stayed in Canterlot to run the day-to-day stuff so that she could take the time to mourn the loss of her friend.
Pinkie Pie didn't hold anything back as she cried her heart out. She still had the Cakes and their children around, and even their children’s children. But while babysitting the latest additions to the Cake family and helping to run Sugarcube Corner kept her busy and brought her much joy, that all seemed distant at this moment as she watched one of her closest friends being laid to rest.
Applejack held her hat in one hoof and allowed tears to flow from her closed eyes. Granny Smith had passed away many years ago; but before she had slept away she lived to see Big Mac and Sugar Belle get married, and for Apple Bloom to move to Manehattan with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to make the Cutie Mark Crusaders into a bigger organization. Applejack herself had married a year ago and moved to Appleloosa to let Big Mac and Sugar Belle keep Sweet Apple Acres.
Rainbow Dash tried her best to keep up her tough appearance, but everypony around knew that this was hardest on her. She had been promoted to Captain of the Wonderbolts after Spitfire had retired, and she was known all throughout Equestria as an awesome and widely respected aerial acrobat. But as much as she had enjoyed the spotlight, she had enjoyed the time away from it more since that allowed her to de-stress and spend time with Fluttershy.
Twilight used her magic to wipe tears from her eyes with a handkerchief as she held Spike close. The dragon had grown to the size of an adult pony as the years had passed, but while he looked to be in his prime, that time had long since passed for everypony else. Even Twilight showed signs of aging. Alicorns could choose whether or not to age, and Twilight had chosen to let herself age naturally so that she wouldn’t outlive her friends. She had taught Starlight everything she knew about friendship, and was planning to anoint her as the next Princess of Friendship once she felt that she had lived for as long as she needed.
Celestia and Luna were also present, dressed in traditional Equestrian mourning gowns, but without any royal guards. Perhaps they felt that an escort was not fit nor needed for a funeral. Beside the two sisters stood Discord, the Spirit of Chaos, who had a black tuxedo on him. Much like Pinkie Pie, Discord was weeping very openly. The pony that he had cared for the most in his life had been taken from him, and despite all his might he could not bring her back. Inside he felt both sorrow and anger in equal measures. He had stayed by Fluttershy's side from the moment that she had heard of her condition from the doctor, and was there when she closed her eyes for the last time. She had told him to move on and make new friends, but he didn't want new friends. He wanted Fluttershy back. He needed her to be there for their tea time. He needed her to be there as a pillar of support for him. But she was no longer there. All of his memories of Fluttershy swirled around in his head and they did nothing to stop the tears from streaking down his face.
As everypony started to leave, Discord stayed behind with Celestia and Luna. The two sisters stood in silence as Discord watched the coffin at the bottom of the grave, tears still flowing from his eyes.
''I'm glad you two got my message.'' He said softly.
''Are you sure about this? I mean, your letter was so straight and to-the-point that we had to wonder for a moment if this was some new prank of yours.'' Celestia said.
''Indeed. Thou hast often sent us a scroll with some form of joke in it, so receiving one like that was quite unheard of.'' Luna chimed in.
''I think I'm done with pranks.'' Discord said as he turned to face the two alicorns while wiping his tears away. ''Did you find what I asked?''
''We did, but we don't know it it'll work.''
''It will. I'll make sure it does.''
''Thou art sure of this?''
''I wouldn't have asked this of you if I wasn't sure.''
Discord walked around the royal sisters to the other side of the grave and with a snap of his claws, he transformed.
''I'm ready. Do it.’’
The princesses looked first at each other, then at Discord.
''There is most likely not going to be any way to reverse this. You'll be stuck in that form forever.''
''That's the plan. I don't want the spell to ever be broken. I want to be with Fluttershy. That’s why I asked you two to help me. All I ask is that you grant me my final wish.''
''We shall do what we can. It is the least we can do for thee after Fluttershy passed away.''
''Thank you.'' Discord said and closed his eyes.
The two alicorns summoned their magic. It swirled around their horns and as they brought their horns together, their magic combined and formed a ball of rainbow colors.
''Farewell, Discord.''
''Goodnight.''
Discord said nothing as the rainbow ball floated closer to him. When it was a hair's width away from him, he allowed one final tear to leave the corner of his eye. Then the ball touched him.
As Celestia and Luna left the cemetery, the wind blew a few more leaves away. The leaves passed Fluttershy's grave, but her grave now had a tombstone. It had the sorrowful face of a draconequus with a single tear flowing from one of its closed, stony eyes on it along with an inscription.
Here rests Fluttershy
The Element of Kindness
Beloved friend, caretaker, godmother
Dearest friend of the Spirit of Chaos
Always missed but never forgotten
You were strong, you were brave
You held on for the sake of others
But your strength waned, your body gave up
It is okay
You can rest now
