The Calm Before The Storm
Author's Note
Hello people,
Thanks to https://www.fimfiction.net/user/92616/Alexandrite+Ward, I got permission to write this sequel/prequal. It’s just a little something I came up with. I think it turned out well. Hope you like it!
The Calm Before The Storm
Discord paced outside their bedroom door anxiously. His paw and claw clasped tightly together behind his back as he walked back and forth. Every few seconds he would glance up at the wooden door with worry.
“I’m sure she’s fine, Master.”
Even though Rarity’s words were meant to be comforting, Discord didn’t feel any less reassured.
Shortround, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Derpy, all sat on a green couch that was directly across the door of topic. Although they all tried to act nonchalant for their master’s sake, on the inside they were itching with restlessness.
“Yes, Master. God is watching over Fluttershy. He won’t let anything happen to her, or the child,” the dwarf stallion reassured.
At Shortround’s words, Derpy looked up at Rarity with curiosity etched on her face, “Where do babies come from, Rarity?” the hunchback asked with adorable eyes that were full of sweet innocence. Discord momentarily stopped pacing as the room dropped into awkward silence.
Rarity cleared her throat, “I’ll tell you when you’re older.”
Discord was about to start pacing again, when his ears instinctively perked up at a sound that was coming from the other side of the door.
The sound of a newborn foal crying...
His friends all got up from the couch in anticipation. They were prickling with excitement and nervousness at meeting the newest member of their little family. But nopony was as nervous as the Phantom of the Opera himself. By this time, the crying had stopped and all was silent again. Discord didn’t know whether to take that as a good sign or not.
Luckily, he didn’t have to think about it for long. The door opened and a Mid-Wife stepped out.
“Madame Fluttershy has delivered a healthy baby girl and are both doing well. You may go in when you are ready,” she whispered before walking away completely.
A girl...I have a daughter...
He could hardly believe it.
He was a father.
“Congratulations, Master!” The peg-legged mare gave him a pat on the back.
“Oh, I can’t wait to make little pink dresses and other outfits for her!” The older mare squealed with the adorableness and the excitement the idea brought.
“And I’ll read her Bible stories, and teach her to read and write when she’s older. Just like the Monks who raised me had done.” Shortround beamed.
“She’s a foal, not a Nun!” Rainbow Dash said fiercely.
“One can never be too young to learn the ways of God.” Shortround defended with pride.
As his friends continued to chat amongst themselves about their own skills they could contribute to his daughter, Discord’s mind was overwhelmed with troublesome thoughts.
What if I am a terrible father?
What if she is afraid of me...of my looks..
The latter was the one that terrified him the most.
All of his friends were looking at him expectantly. Eagerly waiting for him to open the door to let them all in.
Discord grabbed hold of the door knob; but before he pushed it open, he turned back to his friends. “Wait here. You can come in in a few minutes.”
Shortround, Rarity, Derpy, and even Rainbow Dash, looked disappointed at having to wait longer. But they quickly nodded their heads in understanding. Discord closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath, before gently pushing the door fully open and walking inside.
Immediately as he entered, the Phantom could feel that the atmosphere in their bedroom had become still and tranquil. It was so overpowering that he felt like God would strike him down if he so much as made a noise louder than his own hoofsteps.
The light in the bedroom was dim. It wasn’t too dark, nor was it too bright. Being evening, the light outside complemented the degree of light that was inside. Discord quietly closed the door behind him and slowly made his way toward the bed at the far end of the room.
Fluttershy looked up from the pink bundle she was holding when she heard the door shut. When she saw it was Discord, she smiled. However, her smile faltered when she noticed that he was hesitant to come closer, and seemed cautious with every step.
Fluttershy beckoned him closer with hoof. “Come in, come in,” she whispered gently, “It’s alright,” she reassured him.
Slowly but surely, Discord reached his wife’s bedside. Fluttershy looked exhausted. Dark bags sat under her eyes and she was drenched in sweat. Her hair was messy, and had become plastered to her head due to all the sweat.
Even in this state, she was still an angel of beauty.
He leaned his head down over the bed until his lips met hers in a gentle kiss. When they broke apart, he gently stroked his claw into the lucious pink strands of her mane.
“How are you feeling?” He asked sincerely.
“Exhausted,” Fluttershy breathed, “but wonderful.”
Discord moved his gaze from his wife to their new little bundle of joy. A sleeping pegasus foal was bundled tightly within the pink blanket. She had a soft buttercream coat like Fluttershy, and a jet black mane just like his own. With tender care, he threaded his fingers into her delicate thin strands.
He felt tears well up in his eyes as he turned to look at his wife, “She’s perfect...” he whispered.
Fluttershy smiled, “Do you want to hold her?”
Discord did not take his gaze off of his daughter as he nodded in response to Fluttershy’s question. Too overcome with emotion to speak.
“Take your mask off first.” She instructed.
Discord pulled his gaze from his daughter and looked at his wife with surprise. A glimmer of unease and panic in his eyes. He brought a paw up to his face to touch the smooth surface of his mask.
“My...my mask? Why?”
“When she looks at you for the first time, I want her to see the real you.” Fluttershy looked at him directly in the eyes, “All of you.”
Discord felt sweat start to form on his forehead as he let the panic that was shown in his eyes take over his face.
“But Fluttershy...What if she becomes frightened by it and starts to cry? What if —“ Fluttershy stopped him by putting a hoof on his paw.
“She won’t, Discord.”
“How do you —“
“Mothers intuition.” She smiled. “You trusted me, Discord. Trust your daughter.”
There was no point in arguing. He used his tail to pull up a nearby chair to sit down next to Fluttershy’s bedside. He sat down and sighed in defeat as he reluctantly undid the tie on his mask. Once it was off, he held it in his paw and stared at it in hesitance. With another sigh of defeat, he casually dropped it on the bed.
Fluttershy handed the baby over to Discord, “Use one hand to support her head and the other to support the rest of her body.” She instructed as she guided her husband’s hands to the proper placements.
As soon as she was in his arms, he felt his heart expanding. Once upon a time, he thought he could never love one pony to the extent he had for Fluttershy. True, he had Shortround, Rarity, Derpy, and Rainbow Dash; and he loved them dearly, but it wasn’t the same kind of love like he had for Fluttershy.
In those few moments since he first met his newborn daughter, he already loved her just as much as Fluttershy.
Very carefully, he used a claw to move some of the blanket from her face so he could get a closer look.
“She’s so beautiful...” his voice rasped with emotion, “Just like her mother.” he said as he looked at his wife.
Fluttershy could only smile.
Just then, the baby’s eyes opened to reveal irises the color of rubies. Discord held his breath as she looked at her father for the first time, his disfigured flesh exposed.
He closed his eyes in anticipation for the wail that was sure to come.
But it never came.
His eyes flew open when instead, much to his great surprise, the baby squealed with delight and smiled up at her father. She shocked him further by reaching a tiny yellow hoof up to the disfigured side of his face.
Discord lovingly held her hoof to where it was on his face and closed his eyes as he let the feel of her little hoof on his mangled flesh seep through him. He could not stop the tears from running down his cheeks as he looked over at Fluttershy. “She’s....she’s...” he sobbed, too overcome with happiness to finish.
Fluttershy grinned, “Told you.”
Once she was secure in his arms, he allowed himself to relax into the chair. Never once taking his eyes off the little bundle.
“What should we name her?” Discord said as he looked at Fluttershy.
Fluttershy thought for a moment, “I’ll let you decide that.” She spoke softly.
Discord thought about it as he looked at the sweet face of his new daughter. It didn’t take him long to pick out the perfect name.
“Melody.” He said.
“I love that, it’s a beautiful name. Where did you come up with that?”
“It’s more like how. Well, even though it was your father who technically brought us together, what brought us even closer was our love for music. Which quickly grew into love for each other. Not only was she made from the love we have for each other,” he gestured to their daughter, “but of the melodies we created together.”
Fluttershy eyes were swimming with tears from the words he had just spoken. “Oh, Discord, that’s the most beautiful thing you have ever said.”
Discord only smiled as he leaned forward and met Fluttershy’s lips in kiss. Just as they broke apart, the door to the bedroom opened and Shortround, Rarity, Derpy, and Rainbow Dash, entered.
“Sorry, Master. We know we should have waited for your word, but we just couldn’t wait any longer.” Rarity apologized.
Discord didn’t say anything, nor did he need to. For they already knew just by his demeanor that he was not upset with them at all for coming in unannounced.
“Meet our daughter, Melody.” He said as he slowly and carefully revealed the baby to his friends.
His friends all clustered around the baby to look.
“Aww!” They all said simultaneously in soft voices.
“She’s adorable, Master!” Rarity said with a big smile.
“Indeed, a true gift from God.” Shortround testified.
“C-c-c-can I h-hold her, M-M-Master?” Derpy asked with pleading eyes.
Discord sat up straight and looked at Derpy nervously. He glanced at his wife, who gave a small nod in approval.
Very slowly, Discord handed Derpy the baby. Showing her where to place her hooves under the foal for proper support. Just as Fluttershy did for him.
Derpy held her with a bit of awkwardness, but nevertheless, little Melody looked secure in her arms.
“S-s-s-she’s got your eyes, M-M-Master.” Derpy observed when Melody’s eyes opened.
Discord gave a small chuckle.
He was a little worried how their daughter would react to his friends. True, he was genuinely shocked on how she reacted to him, but would she react the same way to his friends? After all, they had worse facial disfigurements than he did.
He sighed in relief when Melody giggled with delight at seeing the four other faces before her.
Having decided she held her for long enough, Derpy handed her back to her father with great care. Discord re-took the baby in his arms and passed her back over to Fluttershy, who was glad to have her back in her arms once more.
Feeling they overstayed their welcome, his friends exited the bedroom. Leaving the new parents alone together.
Not long after they left, Fluttershy let out a great yawn.
“Get some sleep, Angel. You’re exhausted.” Discord said gently as he took Melody out of her arms. Fluttershy meekly nodded and didn’t protest as Discord quietly carried their daughter to the crib on the other side of the bed and gently placed her inside. He then walked back over to Fluttershy and gave her a soft kiss on her head. “Get some rest, my love.” He whispered.
He started to leave but was stopped by a quiet voice.
“You’re leaving?”
Discord turned to look at the bed his wife was resting in, “I must. You mustn’t be disturbed.”
“Stay with me? I always sleep better when you are next to me.” She said barely above a whisper.
Discord smiled tenderly, and willingly obliged his wife’s request. He walked over to the right side of the bed and climbed in beside her. He gently pulled her to him and she sighed in bliss as she snuggled further into his hold, instantly feeling more relaxed.
He softly brushed his talons through her soft velvet hair and heard her sigh in satisfaction at the touch.
Fluttershy glanced up at her husband’s face from where her’s was buried in his chest. “How does does it feel to be a father?” she asked with a gleam in her eye.
He looked back down at her with the biggest smile on his face. “It’s the best feeling in the world. Even better than seeing Don Jaun Triumphant being performed.” He whispered with joy.
Their whispers quickly fell into silence as they both fell asleep in the comfort and protection of each others arms. Dreaming about the future ahead.
