A certain ditzy, cross-eyed pegasus fluttered about amidst the clouds high in the sky above Ponyville. Strapped loosely around her body was a large mailbag nearly overflowing with a plethora of paper and packages. So filled in fact, that it drooped beneath her hooves as she flapped her wings with all her might just to stay aloft. Inside it were countless letters addressed to residents living in and around Ponyville, heart-shaped containers filled with chocolate delights, and even the occasional piece of jewelry that someone daringly chose to send via the mail system.
When it came to delivering mail, Hearts and Hooves day was the busiest day of all.
Squinting at a piece of paper, her tongue sticking out ever-so-slightly, she double-checked the addresses on the next batch of deliveries, then gently lowered herself onto a grassy patch in front of Fluttershy's cottage. She felt the warmth of the sun blanket her as she took in her surroundings, listening to the sounds of birds chirping and squirrels scurrying about as she walked towards the small woodland cottage.
The day was absolutely gorgeous.
But time was of the essence, so she walked up onto the porch, pulled out the article to be delivered, and triple-checked its intended recipient by holding it at varying angles toward her misaligned eyes until she was absolutely certain it was correct.
The letter itself was very pink and had the name 'Fluttershy' written exquisitely upon it, though the sender's name had been omitted. It had even been sealed with a heart-shaped piece of wax, still warm to the touch, and somehow felt extra soft in her hooves as she admired the craftsmanship for such a simple thing. Nevertheless, she admired it for just a few more moments before dropping it off into the mailbox, knowing fully well that there were hundreds more waiting to be delivered elsewhere. A postmare's job was truly never done.
In her backyard garden, Fluttershy saw a shadow from the mailpony taking off into the sky. A small surge of anxiety suddenly overcame her at the prospect of receiving a letter from an unknown source, and an unknown reason. It wasn't exactly common for her to receive letters in the first place, either. Did she owe somepony money? Was she being delivered bad news of some sort? The possibilities buzzed around in her mind as she wiped the sweat from her brow, put down her trowel by the flowers she'd begun planting, and walked around to the front of her cottage to retrieve it.
The mailbox opened with a small creak, and she was surprised to see the extravagantly-decorated letter addressed to her name. She pulled it out of the box and held it in her hoof, eyeing the heart-shaped seal in the center. Upon realizing the date, yet another surge of anxiety overcame her. To any other pony, of course, such a letter would have been a welcome surprise at first sight. But to Fluttershy, it only brought worrisome questions. That was, until she read it.
Dearest Fluttershy,
In all the time we've known each other, I can say with utmost certainty that every waking moment we've spent together has been sweeter than the last. You are the most kind, most thoughtful, and most pleasant pony I've ever had the pleasure of calling my friend. You've always been there for me helping me realize so many things about myself, despite my many flaws.
And so, upon this special day dedicated to expressing such feelings, I'd like to do that now.
After the many moons I've spent getting to know you as a friend, I've come to realize something. Something I'd never expected to feel. And that feeling is love, to put it bluntly. Love for your kindness, love for your thoughtfulness, love for your gentle timidness, and love for the confidence you may not always feel, but I know you have. In truth, I think I've felt it all along, but it has only been recently that it dawned on me, and I don't want to keep it to myself any longer. You deserve to know.
But I'm also afraid of making you uncomfortable. Despite feeling this overwhelming urge to express this to you, I know how much anxiety it may cause, to be put into such a powerful position over another's feelings. So, I've decided to remain anonymous in this heartfelt outpouring, and allow you to decide how to continue, if at all. Please do not feel it necessary to pursue any actions upon receiving this letter, and please accept my most sincere apologies if this causes you any stress, in any capacity, for any reason whatsoever.
With Love and Kindness,
Anonymous
Fluttershy felt a wave of warmth wash over her as she read through the letter, a smile growing larger on her face with every word. It was the nicest, most affirming thing she'd ever received from somepony. So nice, in fact, that by the time she'd finished reading it, her knees had begun to feel weak and she gently collapsed onto the ground in front of her mailbox, clutching the letter with both hooves as she continued admiring it from on top of the dirt.
The sounds of hooves clopping on a nearby pathway filled her ears, and she saw Rarity walking up the path towards her cottage, who she was expecting, as it was their customary Hearts and Hooves day tradition to spend the afternoon together at a café.
"Fluttershy?" Rarity called out from behind her, her voice growing more curious as she came nearer. "Why are you laying around in the dirt in front of your mailbox?"
On any normal day, Fluttershy would have been embarrassed for being caught off guard like that, but today, the ecstasy of receiving her letter overpowered everything else. "I was just...reading the mail," she replied.
"Alright..." Rarity's voice trailed, still confused at Fluttershy's behavior. She peered around her and noticed the letter. "If I may I ask...what are you reading?"
"Oh, it's nothing," she replied out of instinct, stuffing the letter away in her mane as she returned to her hooves.
"My apologies darling," replied Rarity. "I can be a tad too prying sometimes, can't I?"
The affirming words her secret admirer had written about her echoed in the back of Fluttershy's mind, giving her the confidence to open up a little bit.
"It's okay," she said with a timid smile, giving the letter to Rarity.
She began reading it. Immediately, her eyes widened in surprise as she scanned through the words written on the paper, and a grin gradually grew across her face.
"Oh," said Rarity. "Oh. Oh my. This is absolutely delightful, Fluttershy. You have a secret admirer!" she exclaimed, quite loudly.
"A secret...admirer?" asked Fluttershy, as if the word wasn't even in her vocabulary.
"Oh yes, very much so," continued Rarity, her voice giddy with excitement. "I've read countless novels about romance, and I've read countless novels about mystery," Rarity continued as she excitedly tapped her hooves on the ground. "This combines the two of them in the most beautiful way possible!"
"Romance? About me?"
Rarity simultaneously smiled and rolled her eyes, placing a hoof around Fluttershy's shoulder, pulling her inward, her voice growing softer. "Of course, darling. It was only a matter of time until you caught somepony's fancy. And by the looks of it, they're quite fond of you. And literary, at that." Rarity almost swooned over the letter herself as she gave it a second glance.
Fluttershy felt another wave of happiness wash over her, causing Rarity to be forced to keep her propped upwards.
"So, what are you going to do?" Rarity asked as she got Fluttershy back onto her hooves.
"Oh, I don't know," she replied. "Maybe I should just keep the letter and wait until they send another?"
Rarity looked at her, dumbfounded, searching for the right response. "I suppose that might work for some, darling. But in this case, I'm afraid the onus is on you. Whoever this secret admirer is, they've made it very clear they're just as shy as you are."
Fluttershy looked at her blankly.
"Almost as shy," Rarity corrected herself.
"But...what if..." Fluttershy stumbled for words.
"If what? If you love each other too much?" sighed Rarity. "Sometimes you astound me, Fluttershy, darling. Sometimes..."
In truth, the prospect both terrified and delighted her. All her life, Fluttershy had spent so much time giving most of her love and attention to her animals. She loved them just as much as she loved her friends, so the idea of giving extra love to somepony else felt almost selfish.
But the long and cold winters with most of her animals going into hibernation had always left her feeling rather lonely, and the prospect of having somepony to sit around the fire with on a chilly winter afternoon, sipping tea and having intelligent conversation -- it seemed quite nice. She'd never really even given the idea of romance much thought, but part of her was beginning to think it might be time to consider it more seriously.
Fluttershy glanced at the letter one more time and couldn't help but smile again. "Will you help me?" she asked meekly.
Rarity's eyes lit up, as if she'd been waiting in anticipation for those exact words. "Absolutely, darling. Come with me. We have a long day ahead of us."
"The first rule of seeking out a secret admirer is to always remain open to the possibilities," said Rarity. "You never know who it might be, so it is absolutely paramount that you leave no stone unturned."
Fluttershy stood awkwardly beside her in the middle of Ponyville, surrounded by dozens of its residents as they walked to and fro.
"Now," continued Rarity, walking toward a wooden bench, "I want you to sit here with me and do one of my absolute favorite things: pony watch."
"Pony watch?" Fluttershy replied as she sat down next to her.
"It's quite simple," said Rarity. "We watch as everypony walks about the town, and then secretly try to guess what they're doing, and why."
"Isn't that a bit...intrusive?" asked Fluttershy.
"It's only intrusive if you act on it, darling," she replied. "Here, watch me. This one, with the stylish scarf? That's somepony who knows how to dress to the occasion."
"But it's not even cold outside," said Fluttershy.
Rarity seemed flummoxed, as if the statement in this context made no sense. "Yes, but...it's in style."
Fluttershy had no response to that.
"Oh, alright," continued Rarity. "I suppose fashion isn't on the top of your priorities, no offense intended."
"None taken," replied Fluttershy.
Rarity observed the crowd around them for a few moments. "Hmm...what about that one over there?"
"The one carrying that heavy cart?"
"Yes! They seem awfully strong. And handsome, too." Rarity gazed perhaps a couple seconds too long.
Fluttershy seemed less interested. "I don't know...what if they hug too tight? Or feel too bulky?"
Rarity had to stop herself from letting her mouth go agape. "I suppose those are...legitimate concerns..."
They continued observing until another potential suitor caught Rarity's eye. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Do you see that one over there? The handsome one? With that stack of books?"
"Um..."
"He just came out of the library," continued Rarity. "Now that to me is a sure sign of somepony who is well-read. That could very well be your secret admirer."
As they watched him continue on his way, however, he came closer and the stack of books Rarity had referred to turned out to actually be a stack of comics.
"Or," Rarity said whilst gently pulling Fluttershy's gaze in a different direction, "he may just be some random pony."
"So, what you're saying is...he might be my secret admirer, but he also might not be?"
"Correct," replied Rarity, seemingly unaware at the ridiculousness of her answer.
Fluttershy broke free from Rarity's half-embrace. "I don't think this is right for me. Isn't there another way? Something easier, and with less...decision-making?"
"Hmm," Rarity pondered for a few moments. "Yes, but we'll need help. Follow me."
Fluttershy followed Rarity as they trotted through the town and towards its outskirts, keeping an eye out for potential secret admirers on the way. It wasn't long until they were standing in front of someplace very familiar.
"Twilight's castle?" asked Fluttershy.
"I believe she may have a way to track the letter's sender, so to speak, using a spell of some sort."
"Why do you think that?"
"When in doubt, ask Twilight," replied Rarity.
That certainly seemed easier to Fluttershy than trying to guess at random, so she agreed and they knocked on the front door.
Twilight answered shortly afterward. "Fluttershy, Rarity! It's so nice to see you. Are you not having your usual Hearts and Hooves Day afternoon outing?"
"We aren't," replied Rarity, "as there's something much more important that has arisen: Fluttershy has a secret admirer!" she exclaimed loudly, again.
A smile lit up on Twilights face as Fluttershy blushed. "That's wonderful!"
"Isn't it?" replied Rarity. "And we were wondering: might you have a way of tracking who it came from?"
"It doesn't have a return address?"
"It appears that whomever sent this letter wanted to remain anonymous," said Rarity, trying to contain the excitement in her voice.
"Hmm," pondered Twilight. "Yes. I do know of a spell that Cadence had mentioned a while back. I'm a bit rusty on love-related spells, however, so you may have to bear with me."
"By all means," said Rarity.
Twilight invited them inside, allowing the door to close shut with a loud thud as they trotted hastily to someplace more more conducive to messing with magic.
"Love-related magic is tricky," said Twilight as they made their way through the long halls toward her library. "I'm usually quite comfortable with complex spells, but this particular categorization has always eluded me, so I hope I'm able to be of assistance."
"That is absolutely fine, darling," said Rarity. "We'll get to the bottom of this mystery sooner than later, I'm sure of it. And any help along the way will be much appreciated."
They arrived at the library and Twilight immediately began magically levitating several dusty books off of her shelves, piling them onto an already messy table. She then began sifting through multiple books at once, making several odd grunts and other weird noises. "I know it must be here somewhere," she mumbled to herself as Rarity and Fluttershy watched her with patience and curiosity. "Ah ha!" she exclaimed, holding a tattered piece of parchment. "Here it is: a spell for pinpointing the true location of love's desire. Neat!"
Twilight returned to her hooves and carefully read through the spell, then focused her thoughts and magic on the love letter that had been placed onto the table beside it.
"Are you ready?" asked Twilight.
"I suppose so," Fluttershy replied meekly.
Twilight took that as a yes, and cast the spell on the letter. It immediately became engulfed in a fiery pink aura and levitated into the air for a few moments. Then it spun around a bit, rotating back and forth, as if it were looking for something.
After just a couple more seconds, however, it shot straight through the air directly toward Fluttershy, attaching itself to her face.
"Get it off me! Get it off me!" Fluttershy shrieked, desperately trying to scrape the letter off with her hooves. It refused to be detached as it flapped about wildly, practically glued to her forehead.
Twilight smacked her own forehead, immediately realizing her mistake. Meanwhile, Fluttershy had begun galloping around the room, frantically whacking her wings against herself as she did so. But the letter was relentless in its efforts to follow her wherever she went.
"I know what happened," sighed Twilight. Yet another love spell gone catastrophically wrong. "I used a spell that indicates where love's desire is directed toward, not sourced from."
"Oh, that would make sense," said Rarity, casually watching Fluttershy roll around on the floor several paces away from them. She tried to hold the letter in her hooves while laying on her back, but it kept breaking free in its attempts to be on her face. "It's indicating that the love letter addressed to Fluttershy is...directed to Fluttershy."
"Precisely," replied Twilight.
"Help me!" Fluttershy called out desperately. The letter was completely covering her vision as she continued to flail about wildly on the floor.
"Oh, sorry," replied Twilight. She immediately cast a reversal on the spell, which caused the love letter to fall harmlessly to the floor at Fluttershy's hooves. She then took several steps away from the letter, trying to catch her breath after having been mercilessly attacked by a piece of paper.
"That didn't work," said Fluttershy, exasperated. Her mane had become a tangled mess.
"Well," said Rarity. "Maybe there is an opposite spell? Or something?"
"I'm afraid not," said Twilight, shifting nervously. "At least, not that I know of. And to be honest, I'm afraid I might mess things up worse than I already have. Love is kind of chaotic in nature."
"Oh, poo," said Rarity. "I suppose we'll have to find another way, then."
"Maybe we can just...I don't know...try again some other day?" asked Fluttershy.
"I suppose so, darling, but if romance novels have taught me anything, it's that love should be spontaneous. Instinctive."
Fluttershy sighed. Apparently she was basing her help from somepony whose advice stemmed from romance novels. "I ...suppose we can give it one more try."
"That's the spirit," replied Rarity.
"If I may suggest," Twilight said as she began closing some books, "try seeing what Pinkie Pie has to say. If anypony is spontaneous and instinctive, it's her."
"Pinkie Pie?" They both asked simultaneously.
Twilight shrugged. "She might not be a romantic, but she's also got an 'in' on everypony in this town. And probably most of Equestria, come to think of it..."
"That does sound like a promising idea," said Rarity, grabbing Fluttershy's hoof in excitement at the prospect of continuing the Hearts and Hooves Day scavenger hunt this day had become.
After but a few brief minutes later, Fluttershy and Rarity had arrived at Sugarcube Corner. Inside, dozens of nervous customers were lining up to buy heart-shaped cupcakes and various Hearts and Hooves Day-themed pastries. Nearly all of them, of course, were there because they'd forgotten to buy gifts in the days prior. Pinkie Pie herself was zipping between the kitchen and the front counter at ridiculous speeds just to keep up with the demand.
"Pinkie Pie?" called Rarity.
"Yes?" Pinkie replied briefly, before disappearing behind a swinging door into another room.
"Could we..." Rarity's voice trailed as Pinkie Pie continued taking orders and retrieving goods while simultaneously having a conversation. "Could we speak to you for just a few moments in private?"
"Sure thing!" she replied, spending two seconds to take a couple bits from the latest customer, throw them into the cash register, go back into the kitchen to restock the cupcake display, and put up an 'on break' sign on the counter. She quickly escorted them into another room, much to the dismay of the ponies who were still waiting in line, watching the clock tick by on the wall in front of them.
"So, what can I do for you?" Pinkie said instinctively. "Sorry...I've been selling a lot at the counter today..."
"Actually darling, we do need something," said Rarity. "Well, Fluttershy does."
Fluttershy thought that Rarity needed this as well, in a vicarious sort of way, but decided that thought was better left to herself.
"Would you happen to know who may have written this letter?" asked Rarity.
Fluttershy pulled the letter out of her mane and gave it to Pinkie Pie, who began studying it intensely.
"Hmm...pink parchment, curly writing, exquisite grammar...did you write this, Rarity?"
"Who? Me? What, I--Certainly not! I mean, not certainly. I very much like Fluttershy, but not like that." Rarity blushed. "I'm sorry, Fluttershy. I meant no offense."
Fluttershy simply smiled. "None taken."
"Ohhhh," said Pinkie Pie, "This can't be written by you, Rarity, because the paper is infused with magical energy!"
"I beg your pardon?" Rarity replied indignantly. "I may not be a maestro of magic, but I certainly know a thing or two!"
"Sorry," continued Pinkie Pie. "I meant special magical energy." She sniffed the paper up and down with her nose. "Yup, that's the stuff alright. I smell it all the time whenever my Pinkie Sense goes off."
"You...smell the magic?" Asked Fluttershy, perturbed and intrigued at the same time.
"Sure do!" Pinkie Pie replied joyfully. "I'd recognize it anywhere there's something crazy about to happen. Side note: did you know that good things smell like strawberries and bad ones smell like swamp gas?"
"What does the letter smell like?" asked Rarity.
Pinkie Pie sniffed it again, very thoroughly. Her face contorted into a mixture of content and disgust. "Hmm, it smells like...blueberries, pickles, rutabaga, walnuts...and a hint of lime."
Fluttershy and Rarity were stunned silent for several moments.
"Wait..." Pinkie Pie's voice trailed as she went in for another whiff. "And also mint. Specifically: lavender mint."
Fluttershy was impressed. Both at Pinkie Pie's incredible abilities and her secret admirer. Lavender was one of her favorite scents, even if it was hidden within a cacophony of others.
"But...What does that mean?" asked Rarity.
"I have no idea." Pinkie Pie stared at them blankly, smiling.
Suddenly, the realization hit her like a softly padded ton of bricks. Fluttershy immediately took the letter from Pinkie Pie and placed it back into her mane, trotting out the door in a hurry, leaving Rarity and Pinkie Pie behind to stare at each other.
"Do you know what she just left for?" Rarity asked, confused.
"Nope!" Pinkie Pie replied succinctly, rushing out the door moments later to attend once more to her duties.
Fluttershy trotted quickly back to her cottage as countless thoughts buzzed around in her mind. She felt anxious and nervous and excited all at once, bundled up into one big ball of emotions. It was nauseating, but she also couldn't help but smile as she came closer to returning home. The anticipation was overwhelming, her heart pounding with each and every step along the way, causing her to trot even faster.
Somehow, she felt like whoever had written the letter was going to be waiting for her, even though she had no logical reason to believe so. And as she neared the cottage, trotting rapidly along the forest path, she supposed that's what Rarity meant about love being spontaneous and instinctive. As she reached her home, Fluttershy jumped up onto the porch and burst the front door open, expecting to immediately be presented with her secret admirer.
But, after a quick scan of the room, she saw nopony. Not even Angel Bunny, who would have normally been demanding cuddles and her affection by now. The nervous smile on her face quickly dissipated as she began feeling let down by her own anticipation, her heart still beating like a hummingbird as she slowly began to relax. She began to wonder if her instincts were wrong, or if her secret admirer was someone she wasn't even expecting. Or worse, nopony at all, and that this had all been some kind of cruel joke.
Fluttershy sighed, falling into her favorite chair. "Oh, why can't you just appear..."
But then, in a poof of magic and whilst wearing a blindingly pink tuxedo, he did.
"You rang?" said Discord.
Fluttershy looked at him and felt woozy. Shocked and bewildered by his sudden appearance, the words on the letter echoed in her mind as she stared at who had been behind them all along. Her heart suddenly began pounding faster again, stronger with every beat until they began drowning out her hearing with their thuds, making her feel light-headed.
Looking directly at him, everything clicked into place immediately. And in a moment of pure joy, she sprang straight through the air and flung herself at him, wrapping both her hooves and wings around his body in a soft and warm embrace, hugging him as tightly as possible.
"Oh, Discord," she replied before nuzzling into him even further. After all the years of friendship, all the time they'd spent together, she never truly realized just how much he meant to her. And how much she apparently meant to him as well.
The embrace seemed to go on forever, but as her heartbeat slowed it eventually did.
Fluttershy looked at him, then glanced away. "I um...I don't know what to say."
"There's no need," Discord replied softly. "You can say as much or as little as you'd like. Any amount is fine by me."
But she wanted to say something. "I'm just so..." Her heart was practically overflowing with the desire to say so many things, but all that could come out was: "Happy."
Discord smiled as he wrapped himself around her, not too tightly, but just enough to provide a gentle embrace.
"As am I," he replied.
Fluttershy found herself expecting a joke, or a funny gag, or something. But instead, there was nothing. Just the warm, heartfelt embrace of someone she cared deeply about.
"I should have known it from the start," she chuckled to herself, her heart finally beginning to slow down to normal. "I can't believe it took me an entire afternoon to figure out you'd just be waiting for me right back at home."
"Love is blind," Discord replied, poofing a cane and blindfold onto himself to exaggerate his statement.
She laughed, genuinely and wholeheartedly, completely unabashed at expressing herself as her inhibitions dissipated. And so in that moment, she realized why she loved Discord. He was the silliest, most uninhibited, secretly-a-romantic draconequus she'd ever had the pleasure of calling her friend. Discord exemplified many of the things she was not, but often wished she could be, and that gave her every reason to be herself around him.
