You Belong to Me, My Dear.

The day was sweltering. Celestia’s sun had climbed the cloudless sky, bathing the land in heat, vaporizing the moisture from a rainstorm from the night before.

The warm weather made the diverse fauna around Fluttershy’s cottage buzz with activity. Numerous colorful butterflies and beetles and various insects flew and crawled around the overflowing flowerbeds, which in turn drew in the birds looking for an easy snack. Kittens and baby rabbits chased each other and wrestled playfully in the grass, while their parents enjoyed the hot summer’s day napping in the shade.

Fluttershy herself was inside, frosting the last few chocolate-cherry teacakes she had baked. It was tuesday, and that meant only one thing: it was Tuesday Tea day with Discord.

She absolutely loved their tea parties. They would sit together, enjoying treats and talking about anything and everything that took their fancy, with the occasional dimensional shift or reversal of gravity when Discord felt things were getting too normal.

”Oh Discord,” she giggled to herself, remembering the last party, when he had decided he wasn’t in the mood for ordinary tea. He conjured a wheel of fortune with 11 567 different flavors on it, and each spin decided what each sip tasted like. She really liked the wood strawberry, bayleaf and freshly baked bread, and even the photon-cumulus cloud and Thousand Island Algae Surprise were unexpectedly nice. The charcoal-popsickle stick-cotton swab made her tongue dry though, and then there was something called ”beshbarmak,” which wasn’t altogether unpleasant, but Discord choked on his sandwhich and mumbled something incomprehensible when she asked what it was.

It was really so much fun being with him. And they had been spending a lot of time together, he often just popped up to ”see his favorite Flutter-buddy,” and giving her one of his gigantic hugs and nuzzling her mane, until he finally let her go and let her continue whatever it was she had been doing. He helped her with her animals (with varying results), or just kept her company when she went about her business.

But he was not the only one who had taken to visiting her recently. There was also Sylvan Glade. He was the caretaker and landscaper of Ponyville’s parks. They had met a few weeks back, when he came seeking her help with a family of squirrels. They had refused to move to a new tree when the old one had to be chopped down due to a blight.

Since then he would come by her cottage every few days, usually with a question concerning animals. However, lately it seemed he would just visit ”because he happened to be walking by,” or bringing her a potted plant or flower ”to get her opinion” if it would look nice in such or such park. He would linger longer and longer, and he always let her keep the flowers he brought.

Fluttershy was bashful, but she was not completely naive. She could tell the stallion was interested in her. She didn’t quite know what to think of it. He was very nice, courteous and thoughtful. It seemed to her he hadn’t straight up asked her out yet because she was notoriously timid, and being courted too boldly would be uncomfortable for her. She appreciated he was being mindful.

Fluttershy had never really dated. Not only was she very shy, but she wasn’t attracted to all that many ponies in general. She supposed she was the type to find one stallion (or she was pretty sure it would be a stallion) she would date and eventually marry, instead of going out with tons of ponies. Maybe it was optimistic of her to hope she would find her mate in one go, but she didn’t know how else to approach the whole topic.

So what of Glade? He was kind, she liked him well enough, and he wasn’t unattractive either. He was an earth pony in his late twenties, with a solid build from all the heavy gardening work he had put in. He had an olive green coat with a jet black mane falling over his steel-gray eyes. His cutie mark was a weeping willow bending over a calm pond. They had a lot of interests in common, and he had a steady, easygoing disposition, which made it quite easy to talk to him.

But did she want to date him? She wasn’t sure. What would she say if he asked her? The thought wasn’t unappealing, but it wasn’t completely thrilling either. Maybe she should give him a chance? Isn’t that what dating was for, to see if couples would click? Oooooh, but what if he felt more than she did, and she would have to disappoint him, would he hate her for it? She didn’t want to cause him any pain...

Fluttershy was snapped out of her musings by a sharp knock on the door.

”Discord must be early today,” she smiled to herself. He was usually right on time. ”You are right, schedules aren’t chaotic, but it is more important to me to not keep my favorite pony waiting, or have the tea steeping too long. Or too little,” he had told her.

She trotted to the door, excited to see her strangest, randomest, most eclectic friend. But it wasn’t him.

”Good afternoon Miss Fluttershy,” Sylvan Glade greeted with a friendly smile.

Discord was floating lazily in the sky, letting the balmy breeze carry him to Fluttershy’s cottage. The day was perfect for a tea party with his bosom buddy and, in his opinion, best pony.

How he loved their parties together! He had never in his infinitely long life known anyone who made him feel so included and cared for, so calm and excited and happy. It never seized to amaze the Lord of Chaos how anypony could be so kind and patient with him, after millenia of being treated like a nuisance. She actually liked his antics, she laughed at his stories and listened to him without judging or sneering at him.

Also to his surprise, he genuinely enjoyed her company. He actually wanted to sit still and listen to her go on about her all-so-ordinary life and all the little things she thought and did. She was so lovely, so sweet and beautiful, and she was HIS friend! The thought made him swell with pride and joy.

”Ooooh I’m seeing you soooooon my dear Flutter-buuuuuuud~~~” he caroled off-key to the winds, positively giddy to see his friend again. ”I’ll give yoooooouuuuu the biggest huuuuuuug~~~~~”

That was something he had grown very fond of, glomping her and petting her silky mane and velvet coat. She felt like the cuddliest, warmest little bundle of cloud, and her mane smelled like spring flowers. Oh, he could have held her forever, if the tea wasn’t getting cold. Maybe he could talk her into sitting on his lap while they drank it? She didn’t protest when he showed affection, she would have the cutest blush and give him that adorable smile....

He froze.

There he was, above her cottage, watching her. And she wasn’t alone.

There was a stallion at the door. He handed her flowers. And she accepted them. And she blushed. And then she smiled. She smiled the smile. And then he lifted her hoof. And kissed it.

HE. KISSED. IT.

He would have eavesdropped on their conversation if his ears weren’t suddenly keening with a loud sound he couldn’t identify. His breath became fast and shallow. His blood rushed to his head, making him feel hot, and then cold. Clenching his fists he tried to get a grip on himself.

As he watched, they apparently said goodbye, since she closed the door and that.... stallion turned around and walked away. But not before he saw the look on his face. His eyes were glazed, and he had a slight red tint on his obnoxiously grinning face.

On the other side of the door, Fluttershy was trying to calm down. She had been expecting this, but it didn’t make it any easier to not get flustered.

Glade had come with a bouquet of roses this time, not a potted plant used as an excuse to stop by, and officially asked her on a date. ”You don’t need to answer right away,” he had said, ”please just think about it. I really like you Fluttershy and I would be honored if you went out with me. When you have an answer, you know where to find me.” With that, he had taken her hoof and given it a light kiss.

The beautiful flowers, the pretty words and the kiss on her hoof were all very flattering, she couldn’t help but flush and giggle a bit. But she still wasn’t completely sure what to do. She stroked the petals of the roses, deep in thought.

”Who. Was. That.”

Fluttershy jumped in fright at the sudden voice from behind her. Twirling around she searched for the source, calming down when she spotted Discord on the couch, arms folded, eyes squinting at her.

”Oh! Discord, it’s you,” she breathed. ”You startled me.”

”Answer the question,” he replied, ignoring her reaction. ”Who exactly was that... that guy just now?”

”Guy? Oh you mean Sylvan Glade. He’s... he’s a friend,” she said, not quite knowing any other word to describe him.

”Friend? Do all your other friends shower you with flowers,” Discord said, darting a venomous look at the bouquet in her hooves, ”or kisses for that matter?”

Fluttershy blushed violently. ”Well... no. Not really. He um, actually, you know....” she trailed off, feeling embarrassed. She wasn’t good with this sort of thing!

”No I don’t know. Tell me.” Discord demanded.

She hid behind her mane and squeezing the roses she managed to squeak out ”He asked me out!”

Discord stiffened. He had gathered as much from what he saw, but wouldn’t, couldn’t, didn’t want to believe it.

”Asked you out?” he repeated incredulously. Gulping at the dry air, he rasped ”What did you answer?”

”Nothing yet. He asked me to think about it. I’m not sure what I’ll do yet,” she told him, relaxing a bit.

Discord was not at all reassured by that. The fact that she hadn’t said no straight away was clawing at his innards. The very thought that Fluttershy, his dearest Fluttershy would meet this other male, smile at him, laugh with him, could possibly allow him to touch her precious coat, maybe even kiss him on the...... NO. No he WOULD NOT let that happen!

”Tell him no,” he said tersely.

”What?” Fluttershy’s eyes snapped up.

”Tell. Him. No.” Discord repeated through gritted teeth.

She flinched at his angry expression. Why was he upset?

”I, I can’t just turn him down without even considering it! He is a nice pony, he doesn’t deserve that!” Fluttershy retorted.

Discord finally exploded. ”Nice? NICE?! I don’t CARE if you think he’s NICE, you ARE NOT going out with him and that’s FINAL!!!” He shouted, leaping off the couch, glowering at her face.

Fluttershy was speechless for a moment. This was the first time Discord had ever given her an order like this. After a second the thought sunk in, and with that came anger. Friends they may be, but he had no right to tell her what to do or whom to see!

She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin to fully face the Lord of Chaos. ”I can do as I want and date anypony I want! It is MY choice and it is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!”

Her bold declaration left a ringing silence in the room. Fluttershy’s chest was heaving, her eyes stern and determined.

Discord was facing the floor. She could not see his eyes, and for the longest moment he just stood still. Just when she was starting to get worried for him, he spoke.

”None of my business?” He asked in a flat tone. Fluttershy didn’t know what to say or make of his reaction, he was acting stranger than usual.

Suddenly he crouched, slamming his paw and claw on the door, on either side of Fluttershy, trapping her between them. He lifted his head and bore his flaming gaze into her now wide, frightened eyes. He looked furious.

”NONE of MY business?” he repeated, ”well if that is so, I guess I’ll just have to MAKE IT my business!”

And before Fluttershy could say or do or think of anything, Discord lunged forward, roughly pressing his lips on hers.

Fluttershy’s mind went completely blank. She could not process what what happening. Little by little her thoughts pieced together.

”Oh, my! Oh dear Celestia! He’s kissing me! Why is he kissing me?! I’ve never kissed before, what is that long wet thing in my mouth?! No, no this isn’t right! I can’t breathe!” She started whinnying and struggling against his lips. Finally she managed to pull away, gasping for breath.

”Di-discord! What are you doing?!” She demanded.

Discord barely heard her. He had closed his eyes in bliss, slowly licking his lips. The taste of Fluttershy’s mouth, the feel of her soft tongue, the little noises she made, it was the most intoxicating drug he had ever sampled. He looked down at the tiny pegasus in front of him. She looked a bit distraught, but it hardly mattered. She was the most beautiful creature in the world. So perfect and delicate. Irresistible.

He had to have her.

”What am I doing? Something I should have done a looooong time ago,” he drawled, scooping her into his arms and in a flash they were gone, leaving only a bouquet of white roses behind.