Discord laid across Fluttershy's couch, watching her work. She was cleaning things. "I don't understand why you spend so much time cleaning, it's just going to get dirty again."

"Then I'll clean it again." Fluttershy set aside her duster. "Thank you for keeping me company while I tidy up."

"You deserve so much more than mere 'company', dear Fluttershy." He sat up and put his hands on his legs. "Tell me, I already know I'm your bestest friend ever, but surely a mare of your calibre has considered 'other' kinds of company, no?"

Fluttershy tilted her head at Discord like a confused puppy. "I'm sorry, what do you mean?"

"Oh, you know, a 'special somepony'?" His brows waggled with suggestion. "Someone to be friends in the dark of night when I'm away."

Fluttershy began to darken rapidly. "W-well, n-no. I mean... I don't... I..."

"Don't be so shy." He was at her side without traversing the space between, grabbing her side and hugging her close. "It's perfectly natural for any pony to want to have that sort of company, even just once in awhile. Even you, dear Fluttershy, must have some desires."

"No! I mean, I'm just fine." She pushed Discord back a few precious inches. "I'm just fine with the company of friends and my animals."

Discord squinted a little as he released Fluttershy. "Your animals? Oh! Oh... Really, Fluttershy, I would think you're above that." He crossed his arms scoldingly.

Fluttershy did not get what was being thrown at first, peering back at Discord a moment before it clicked and she jumped with the force of it. "Not like that! Discord, thank you for your concern, but I just don't need any of that."

"Oh dear." He tapped a hoof on the ground, actually standing on it in his worry. "That's not healthy. You're repressing your needs. You don't even know what you want!"

"I know what I want, Discord, and I'm getting it." She smiled gently at him. "It's alright."

"Fluttershy, tell me truthfully, have you tried?"

She went dark and quiet.

"Exactly as I thought. You think you don't want it, but you've never even given it a try. Oh, I know!" He clapped his hands together and brought them apart, a small strange cube existing between them where it had not a moment before. "With this, we'll get right to the bottom of things and put a smile right on that darling face of yours."

Fluttershy took a step back. "Discord, tell me exactly what that is." She pointed at the mystery cube and its strange patterns. They seemed to flow when she looked at it, changing slowly and perpetually, but only when it was at the center of her field of view.

Discord set the box down on the ground. "Don't be so shy. Just step up and let it do all the rest of the work. It will explore you and your possible wishes and find what puts a smile on and give you plenty of that." He flashed a triumphant smile. "And you can do it privately, so if you want me to skedaddle for an hour or two while you have fun, you have but to ask."

Fluttershy squinted at the box, trying to figure out some meaning to it when a slippery tentacle flopped free of it and grasped the area around it. Fluttershy shrieked in surprise and hopped back. "Discord, you make that thing go away right now!"

Discord huffed, arms folding. "What, not even going to give it a chance?"

"I don't want to give that thing any chances!" Her expression was changing from shock to anger, stomping her front-hooves.

"Not even one?" His bottom lip poked free in a pout, eyes glistening with fresh tears.

"Away, now..." She glared at Discord with singular desire.

"Oh, very well." He snapped his fingers and the box ceased to be. "Your loss."

The box had not been destroyed. She had asked it be sent away, and so it was.

Author's Note

Our first chapter, more of a prologue really. Let us descend into madness, together! Love, hate, let me know!

You could have your story written by joining the atreon!

Join my discord to chat!