Discord smoothed the front of his light blue jacket and stared at his reflection. For the umpteenth time, he made sure his black and white polka dot bowtie was crooked and checked his watch.
“How’s it going in there?” he called.
“Almost ready!”
Discord scowled before muttering under his breath, “That’s what she said twenty minutes ago. Seriously, how long does it take to put on a-”
The door to the bathroom opened.
Discord forgot how to breathe.
Fluttershy emerged wearing a stunning blue gown that resembled the wings of a blue morpho butterfly. The bodice looping around her front was black with little white speckles and there were slits in the blue fabric on either side for her wings. Black shoes covered her feet and a beautiful butterfly gem pinned up half her hair to the back of her head; the rest fell as it normally did to the side of her face. Discord even spotted a hint of makeup, her eyeshadow making her eyes pop more than they usually did.
"Is it too much?" she asked, nervously shuffling back and forth.
Discord picked his jaw up off the floor and shook his head.
"You look stunning, my dear," he rasped before clearing his throat. "Remind me to give Rarity a bonus tip after tonight."
Fluttershy giggled into her hoof before eyeing him up and down. "She did a great job. On both of us."
Discord examined himself again. "She did, didn't she? Normally I do my own clothes but she really nailed my taste! And made me look good next to you."
"You would look good even if I wasn't," Fluttershy smiled.
Discord grinned. "Why, thank you. Shall we go?" She bit her lip before looking down at the ground. His grin quickly faded. “Shy?”
“I’m sorry,” she muttered, shaking her head. “It’s just, everything is going to be different after tonight.”
Discord’s frown grew a little more. “You know, we don’t have to do it tonight. There will always be other times.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “It’s not that I’m afraid of them finding out. It’s more of me being sad that I won’t have you all to myself anymore.”
Discord smiled, his tail wagging slightly behind him. “My dearest Flutterbutter,” he said, leaning down, “You’ll always have me to yourself.”
She smiled. “You know what I mean.”
“I do,” he assured. “And while I have loved our secret rendezvous, I know how hard it’s been keeping this from your friends.”
“Are you okay with going public though?” she asked, placing a worried hoof on his arm.
“Shyfly, nothing will please me more than to see the chaos this will surely unleash!” he laughed.
Fluttershy giggled. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
“As long as you are.” She nodded, smiling up at him. “Then let’s go rock the boat!”
He held out his arm and Fluttershy accepted, chuckling from a combination of excitement and nerves.
A moment later they teleported to Canterlot Castle, reappearing right next to Princess Celestia and Twilight on the red carpet.
"Hello, Discord," Celestia said, completely unfazed.
Discord's inward frown at her lack of response quickly morphed into a grin at the annoyed look on Twilight’s face.
"Greetings, Kay-Kay," he said, tipping his black top hat to the taller princess. "I hope you don't mind that we skipped the line."
"Actually-" Twilight began but Celestia gracefully cut her off.
"Please, Twilight, allow me. It's always nice to see a friend, Discord. Oh, is your plus one Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy blushed as she sheepishly waved. "Hello, Princess. Hello, Twilight."
The purple princess was staring between Discord and Fluttershy, her mouth opening slightly as she looked back and forth at their matching outfits.
"Are you two…?" she asked.
"Indeed we are!" Discord said happily, looping an arm around Fluttershy's neck. Her blush deepened but she smiled happily up at him, confirming Twilight's assumption.
The purple princess’s wings flared away from her body. "How did I not notice?"
"Perhaps this is a recent development?" said Celestia, rather amused by the turn of events.
Discord shrugged. "If four months is a recent development."
"What? Huh? How?"
Discord chuckled as Twilight continued to sputter incoherently. "I think we broke her."
"Oh, dear," Fluttershy muttered. "Um, Twilight? Are you okay?"
"Twilight, I can manage if you need a minute to step away," said Celestia, glancing at the long line of waiting guests.
Twilight sighed. “A moment would be appreciated. Thanks, Celestia.”
She gestured to Discord and Fluttershy, the two following her to an empty space away from prying ears.
"Am I the last to know?" she demanded, rounding on the two of them.
Fluttershy shook her head emphatically. "Oh, no! The only one who knows is Rarity and that's only because we asked her to make our outfits."
"I offered to do them myself," said Discord, "But Fluttershy said Rarity would have an ulcer if she didn't get the opportunity to do a matching order for two of her best friends."
"I didn't exactly say that," said Fluttershy, "But I did think she would be upset."
"And I’m sure you would’ve been right," Discord sighed. "I don't know which she was more excited for: us being together or her making our ensemble."
Fluttershy giggled.
Twilight continued to frown. After a moment, she said, “Why did you wait so long to say anything? We’re your friends!”
“I wasn’t ready,” Fluttershy stated, bravely standing tall despite Twilight’s demanding tone. “This was a very big step in our relationship and I wanted to grow comfortable with it before throwing the reactions of everypony else into the mix.”
“Conquering one layer of anxiety at a time,” Discord said, smiling proudly at his favorite pony.
Twilight looked between them, still bothered.
Discord scowled. “If there’s something else on your mind, Princess, you might as well say it.”
Twilight flinched. “I guess I just don’t understand why you would want to tell everypony at the Gala instead of in a more private setting. Aren't you worried about what ponies will say?”
“I wanted to prove to myself that it doesn’t matter what anypony else thinks,” said Fluttershy. “What matters is my personal feelings for Discord.”
“And I’m in it for the chaos,” he said with a shrug. “I could care less what other ponies think. And, while I do respect the Bearers of Harmony, Fluttershy’s opinion is the only one that truly matters.”
“I guess you're right,” Twilight muttered.
Fluttershy dug her hoof into the floor. “So, are you okay with it? With us?”
Twilight sighed. “Honestly, when I really think about it, it's not too surprising. I think it’s okay- but it’ll take me a while to get used to it.”
Fluttershy beamed and hugged her around the neck. “Thanks, Twilight.”
The purple princess smiled. “You’re welcome.”
She glanced up at Discord in silent worry. He understood what she was trying to say. Creating a mini Discord, he quietly whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry, Twilight. I promise I’ll always take care of her.”
Twilight nodded and left to return to Celestia's side, leaving Discord and Fluttershy to enter the grand ballroom.
Rarity was the next to spot them, having arrived before the others to greet her date for the evening, Fancy Pants.
“Fluttershy! Discord!” she called, waving them over. “Oh, you both look absolutely divine!”
“All thanks to you,” Fluttershy complimented.
“Oh, it was nothing, darling,” Rarity smiled. “It was a thrill to do it!” She then leaned in and muttered, “How did Twilight take it all?”
“As well as expected,” said Discord, taking a sip of chocolate milk from an upside down glass.
“She needed a moment but I think she's okay with us,” said Fluttershy.
"I'm sure she is."
Rarity then introduced them to Fancy Pants who genuinely accepted their relationship with surprising interest and grace.
“Fluttershy! Rarity!”
The two mares turned to see the rest of their friends heading their way. Discord waited for the moment. He didn’t have to wait long. Pinkie Pie was the first to notice the matching outfits, followed quickly by Applejack. Rainbow Dash was the slowest to understand the implications.
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” Pinkie Pie squealed, hopping up and down. “I am so super duper excited for you guys! This calls for a party!”
“Pinkie, we’re already at one,” Applejack reminded before turning to Discord with a raised eyebrow. “This isn’t one of those pranks of yours, is it?”
“What?” asked Rainbow Dash.
Applejack ignored her.
“No tricks, no pranks,” Discord assured, looping his arm around Fluttershy and kissing the side of her head.
Fluttershy happily blushed.
Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. “No way!” she shrieked, shooting several feet into the air. “You two?”
“Uh-huh,” Fluttershy said with a nod.
“For how long?” asked Applejack.
“Four months, give or take,” said Discord, enjoying the mixture of emotions from their friends a little too much.
Pinkie Pie, with her usual enthusiasm, was already rambling in the background about how she’d seen this coming for years and was so happy to finally see it in real life. Applejack was quietly trying to digest everything she’d just learned, and Rainbow Dash was trying to understand what Fluttershy actually saw in him.
“I think they make the perfect couple!” said Rarity, coming to their defense.
“Seriously? Discord isn’t even a pony!”
“I’ll have you know that I'm part pony,” he said. “And what does it matter to you anyway? You’re not the pony I’m dating.”
“Well, yeah, but-”
“I like Discord just the way he is, Dashie,” said Fluttershy defensively.
Discord beamed, squeezing her hoof.
“But-”
“Leave it alone, Rainbow,” said Applejack. “Fluttershy is old enough to make her own decisions and we, as her friends, should respect that.”
“Thank you, Applejack,” she said, smiling up at Discord.
“That doesn’t mean I’m not hurt to only be learning about this now,” the cowpony said. Fluttershy’s smile wavered and Discord inwardly sighed. “Mind explaining all the secrecy?”
"I needed time," said Fluttershy, looking down at her hooves.
"And that should be good enough for all of you," Discord said, a hint of warning in his voice.
Rainbow Dash looked like she wanted to argue but Discord's glare and the others' acceptance of Fluttershy's response held her tongue.
Unfortunately there was still a slight awkwardness in the air and Discord could sense that Fluttershy needed a minute. The chords of a song began to play and he took the opportunity to whisk her away.
He steered her towards the dance floor but ponies were already starting to stare so he guided her out the open doors into the garden.
The second they were in the fresh clear air, Fluttershy released a series of quick, shallow breaths. Discord scooped her up and rubbed her back until she calmed down.
"Thank you," she muttered.
"Anytime, my dear," he said, gliding them further into the garden.
Luna's night was beautiful, the stars and moon glistening in a partly cloudy sky. A slight breeze ruffled the tree leaves and the faint sound of music floated through the air from the ballroom. A few pony couples were in the vicinity but at the sight of Discord they quickly scattered.
"Do you want to stay out here the rest of the night?"
Fluttershy shook her head. "Not the whole night but definitely for a while."
Discord set her down on the grass. "What would you like to do? Possibly reenact that memory you shared of your first experience at the Gala?"
He popped up a picture of Fluttershy laughing maniacally with lightning flashing behind her.
"I don't think I want to traumatize the animals again," she said with a weak smile.
Discord looked at the picture longingly. "Another time then. I do hope to see this side of you in real life someday. But, for now, the shared memory will suffice." He folded up the picture and tucked it into his inner jacket pocket.
Fluttershy shook her head, smiling at him before her hoof gently scuffed the ground.
"Actually, there is one thing I really wanted to do."
Discord's ears perked up. "Oh?"
Fluttershy's cheeks darkened. "Would you mind if we…danced? In the garden?"
Discord had to silently laugh at himself. For a moment he'd thought she was going to ask him to participate in a very different activity. Silly fool; that was more his way of thinking than hers. Still, dancing could be just as sensuous when with the right partner.
Taking her forehooves and gently lifting her up, he smiled and said, "It would be a pleasure, my dear."
Snapping his tail, he magnified the song from the ballroom and began to lead her in a gentle waltz across the grass. Fluttershy smiled and confidently followed his lead; they’d been practicing the dance moves together for at least a month. While both of them were surprisingly good dancers, they had to adjust to each other; Fluttershy in particular had to get used to being within a paw and talons rather than a pair of hooves.
“You look beautiful tonight,” Discord muttered after he pulled her back in from a spin.
Fluttershy smiled. “Thank you.” After another beat she quietly admitted, “I wanted to do this last year with you; dance at the Gala, I mean.”
Discord gently dipped her back, a sheepish smile on his face. “Yes, well, I kind of ruined the night by letting my wrath get in the way.”
“It was kind of cute seeing you so jealous,” she giggled.
“Of Treehugger? Please,” Discord scoffed. Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. He coughed. “Well, alright, I suppose I was.”
“Not that you had anything to worry about,” she muttered.
“I’m just glad you agreed to go on a date with me.”
“I’m glad you asked.”
“And to think it took a conversation with Big Mac and Spike during an O&O game to get me to realize my feelings. I have you to thank for my friendship with those two. They may be sidekicks but they’re surprisingly good friends.”
Fluttershy beamed. “I was so happy to see things working out between you three.”
“I’m just sorry it took you getting kidnapped by changelings for me to actually confess my feelings.”
“While that was a terrifying experience, I’m glad you did after things settled down.”
The dance came to an end and Discord gently dipped Fluttershy back. “Me too,” he muttered.
He leaned in at the same time her hoof came up to touch his cheek. They shared a tender kiss, their eyes fluttering closed. When they pulled away, Discord thought he was staring into the face of an angel. Fluttershy was glowing, her teal eyes sparkling with joy. She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
“Exquisite,” he muttered, cupping her face.
She leaned into his touch, kissing the pad of his paw. “I love you, Cordy.”
He nuzzled the side of her head. “I love you too.”
Fluttershy’s happy smile suddenly held a hint of mischief as she fluttered back down to the ground and grabbed his eagle wrist with her tail. Discord raised a curious brow.
“Shy?” he questioned.
She looked back at him over her shoulder with slightly lowered eyelids, an encouraging grin on her face. She tugged on his wrist and began to walk towards a more secluded section of the garden. Discord’s eyes widened and he almost tripped in his haste to keep pace with her. A thrill of excitement coursed through every inch of his chaotic body and, in that moment, he felt like the most fortunate creature alive.
“Don’t you think we should follow them?” Rainbow Dash asked as they watched Fluttershy lead Discord into the shadow of the trees.
“Only if you want to see something you’ll regret for the rest of your life,” said Applejack.
“Awww, but they’re so cute together!” Pinkie Pie gushed.
“And passionate!” Rarity swooned. “That kiss!”
“Come on, girls,” Twilight sighed, smiling slightly. “We’ve pried enough; best to leave them alone.”
And they did, much to Pinkie Pie and Rarity’s disappointment.
Needless to say, Fluttershy and Discord never returned to the party.