A little over a week had passed since Princess Celestia had tasked Fluttershy with befriending, and hopefully reforming the Lord of Chaos, Discord. That first week had been... stressful to say the least.
It wasn't so much that Fluttershy couldn't handle it... or was scared of the challenge... she wanted to help the Princesses in any way that she could, and stepping up in such a big way could certainly have the potential to boost her confidence.
The real trouble, of course, was Discord himself... as she figured it would be. Despite his only other option being turned back to stone, for however long, he didn't seem to care about truly understanding the fundamentals of being a friend.
Fluttershy couldn't blame him, even for someone as caring as she was, she too found friendship hard at times, especially before she met the girls. But they'd helped her slowly come out of her shell, and she hoped a similar scenario would play out with the Draconequus.
Her initial hope was being slowly chipped away at, however, as she realized just how difficult Discord was truly going to make this. It was his nature, she supposed. After all, she was sure he didn't earn the title of "Lord of Chaos" by being compliant. Still, it would make her life infinitely easier if Discord tried to be, at least a little bit more considerate of others and her.
These worries and troubles strained on Fluttershy's conscious as she made her way around her home, taking care of her daily tasks. She fed her animals, cleaned up after them, fixed their bedding, and dusted the nooks and crannies.
She sat down on her couch with a huff of relief, satisfied that her daily tasks had been mostly taken care of. Her animals would need food again in a few hours, and of course, the more playful ones would need their outside time... Outside!
Fluttershy sat up abruptly. Her flowers! She quickly rushed off the couch and outside, grabbing a watering can from beside the front door. She stopped at a small outdoor spigot that sat right next to her cottage and began filling up the watering can. As the water gurgled into the can, she glanced behind her at the patches of wild flowers and plants that surrounded her home.
Generally, these wild plants didn't need much maintenance from a pony, but with the summer heat beginning, less and less rain showers were scheduled. So, that was the time that Fluttershy took it upon herself to ensure the lovely little flowers still got the hydration they needed.
Fluttershy's special talent had virtually nothing to do with plant life, but she found that she had a knack for caring for them. She wondered if it had anything to do with her talent of caring for animals. The two life forms were incredibly different, but she cared for them the same.
She twisted the spigot shut, and lifted the handle of the very full can into her mouth. Carefully, she began to make her way through her yard, and gently poured a sprinkle of water onto each and every flower. She took great care not to step on any bloom or petal. She wondered if she should sing to them afterwards; the plants always seemed to enjoy hearing her voice.
For the first time that morning, Fluttershy let herself revel in the peace and quiet of her surroundings. The sweet, fresh scent of an early summer morning, the bright blossoms beneath her, the healthy greenery of the grass and trees. It was times like these that made Fluttershy appreciate the patch of land she chose to call home.
As she continued to sprinkle water, she spotted a particularly vibrant flower just starting to bloom in a patch of clovers. She set down the watering can and took a sniff of the flower. It had a unique scent, fresh and citrus-y. The pollen tickled her snout, and she let out the tiniest, squeakiest sneeze.
"Achoo!"
"Gesundheit."
"Ah!" Fluttershy yelped, whirling around her to see where the sudden, foreign voice came from. Only a few paces away from where she stood, lounged in between two high-up branches, was Discord. He wore a pair of dark, shimmering shades and held a sun tanning reflector. Fluttershy wasn't entirely sure, but she thought for a moment the reflection on the board was reflecting a night sky.
"Well, PARDON me, I was only trying to be nice." Discord remarked, flapping the board in an indignant way and raising it higher up on his chest.
"Oh!" Fluttershy stuttered. "I- I'm sorry. You just um... startled me."
"Oh it's alright. I forgive you." Discord smirked, leaning further back into the branch's base that his head was pressed against. Fluttershy wasn't sure how comfortable that could be...
Ignoring his snide comment, Fluttershy turned to her watering pail and began her work again. Albeit a little apprehensively, now knowing she wasn't alone in this space.
Still, Fluttershy enjoyed watching the flowers soak up the water droplets, and knowing they were being cared for brought her a small sense of joy.
In fact, she was so absorbed in her activity that she hadn't noticed Discord had moved from his spot until she heard him speak once more, this time eerily close to her.
"I really don't see why you bother with this." He said, glaring down at the flowers as if they had personally wronged him. He was floating above the ground, as he usually did.
Though, as Fluttershy noted and shuffled away from him awkwardly, he had parked himself mid-air just a little too close for comfort. He seemed to like to push personal space boundaries... especially with her.
"I-" Fluttershy stammered, focusing again on the flowers. "I like watering them; I find it calming. A-and they need it too."
Discord rolled his eyes and surveyed the flowers that sprawled all around Fluttershy's home.
"If it REALLY needs to be done," Discord remarked, a certain grin spreading over his face as he spoke. One that Fluttershy had learned to associate with mischief he was about to unleash.
"Then why don't I just..." With that Discord snapped his eagle claw, a noise Fluttershy knew would only bring her trouble.
A dozen small, oddly colored storm clouds suddenly appeared and overtook the small patch of land around her home. Floating knee-high, they quickly began showering onto the flowers below.
A strange scent arose from the showering clouds, and although it wasn't one she could entirely place, Fluttershy KNEW whatever liquid was pouring from these clouds WASN'T water.
She quickly snapped a look at Discord, trying her best to make a "stern" face. Discord noticed, rolled his eyes (and head) and snapped his fingers again, making the clouds disappear as quickly as they'd arrived.
She sighed, deciding she was done watering the flowers for today. She mulled over the mental to-do checklist in her mind, trying to decide what chore most needed to be done next. She lifted her pail and began walking away.
Which, for whatever reason, seemed to annoy Discord. He floated along side her, and was about to start on some tangent Fluttershy couldn't bear the thought of having to listen to.
"Discord," She spoke, gently but affirmatively. "Do you need something?" She couldn't let the annoyance show; that was usually the reaction he was going for in ponies. She had to be better than that. If Princess Celestia had faith she could do that, than she had to believe that in herself as well.
Discord turned on his back as he floated, and oh so casually folded his arms behind his head. "No." He said flatly, closing his eyes as he drifted through the air.
"I just thought I'd stop by and see how my dear friend was doing." He commented, somehow turning a simple kind gesture into something to be smug about.
"After all, that is how friends work, right?" He asked, opening one eye to stare Fluttershy down.
It was times like these Fluttershy was more than sure Discord knew the answer to the question he was posing. But, asking her such an obvious question was a surprisingly easy way to back-hand a pony's knowledge of a subject.
In particular, Discord was insistent on questioning Fluttershy's knowledge of general friendship.
Fluttershy sighed deeply and replied, not caring to make eye contact as she emptied her watering can and setting it next to her front door.
"Yes, Discord. That is what friends do." She paused, thinking out her next words carefully.
"But I am... a little busy at the moment. I'm afraid I have a lot of things to do today." She finished, finally turning and facing Discord.
He was still floating aimlessly and casually. He turned his head towards her, still carrying an air that this entire interaction was somehow beneath him.
"If you need HELP, you should just say so." He replied. "I can have all of your silly little chores done," He lifted a claw and acted as if he were snapping. Even if he didn't intend an action, his finger snaps made something weird happen regardless. "Just like that."
Fluttershy recalled the "help" Discord had provided before, and not just the tiny rain clouds he'd called just moments ago. She quickly shook her head and gave a weary smile.
"Um, no Discord, really I'm fine to do them myself. In fact, I'd prefer it that way..." She was addressing him kindly, as she always took care to do. But even she had her limits... and there really wasn't a kind way to say: "Well, it's been a real pleasure, but please leave now; you are bothering me."
"Well, why not? I'm offering to HELP you, you know, it'd save you time. Aren't you ponies always worried about time?" Discord groaned. "Such a silly concept, time." He huffed at the last statement. There were many laws of nature he held a disdain for, but time was one of the higher offenses on his list.
"It's not time I'm worried about; I just have too much to do today." Fluttershy replied again. This interaction was really beginning to weigh on her.
"If I may ask, why are you so worried about... seeing me today?" Fluttershy continued, hoping that getting to the root of the problem would help her... hopefully.
"I'm bored; there's really not anything interesting to do in this small town." Discord replied.
"Well, why not visit another town? Far away from here." Fluttershy practically whispered the last bit. She flinched when Discord raised an eyebrow at her.
"Because other towns don't have my ONE and ONLY friend." Discord smirked, pointing, in an almost accusatory way, at Fluttershy. Emphasizing the ONE and ONLY in his statement.
Fluttershy rubbed at her temple and thought for a moment. "Alright Discord, how about this?" Fluttershy pointed to her home as she spoke.
"I don't have very much to do tomorrow, so we can spend time together then, alright?" She asked, quickly adding in another point to help her cause. "B-because it's important as friends to respect each other's schedules."
Discord "sat" upright in midair, and put on an over-exaggerated "thinking" face. After a moment, he stood up fully and grabbed Fluttershy's hoof in a jerky hoof-shake.
"Alright, fine." He let go of her hoof and placed eagle claw and lion paw on either of his sides. "Tomorrow, your place, for some "friendship bonding time", or whatever."
Fluttershy blinked at his... strange idea, but in general agreed to the terms. "And I'll make tea." She replied, smiling genuinely this time.
Discord shrugged, and was gone in a flash- literally. Fluttershy wasn't sure which she was more disturbed by; the way Discord suddenly teleport-flashed into any given scenario... or when he just appeared, from inconceivable places, no teleportation flash, just him.
She shook her head and opened her front door, pulling the mental checklist back out and looking around her home, finally deciding she should deep-clean the mouse-holes and bird feeders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fluttershy trotted about her small living room, adjusting throw pillows to look just right and smoothing out the wrinkles on the carefully placed blankets. She wasn't nervous to have Discord over. He'd already seen her home and made himself more than comfortable in it.
But she wanted it to look presentable to a friend and for the visit they were going to have. She liked things being presentable; it made her feel like a good host. The shrill cry of the tea pot tore her from her thoughts, and she quickly rushed over to the boiling kettle.
As the time drew nearer to Discord's arrival, Fluttershy found herself growing more excited at the prospect of sharing tea and simply talking with him. Conversations with Discord were always a unique experience, as she'd learned.
But hopefully, even as he had put it, this would be a good opportunity for bonding, in a comforting and natural environment. Fluttershy was still unsure, in general, about what exactly the benefit of befriending Discord was. But... well she certainly didn't know more than Princess Celestia, so it was probably best to not question it... out loud.
Once again, Fluttershy became absorbed in the little world she'd made in organizing and prepping. So much so, that as seemed to be ritual for them now, Discord's sudden and loud arrival nearly startled her out of her skin.
Discord appeared by teleporting himself into her living room, with sprays of confetti and particularly loud trumpets announcing his arrival. Fluttershy managed to steady her shocked nerves in time to turn and face the kitchen door way, where she could see the still falling confetti and the floating trumpets.
She breathed a long, shuttering breath and quickly grabbed the tea tray and plate of snacks she'd made the night before. Balancing both as she re-entered her living room she addressed her early guest.
"Oh, hello Discord. I was um... expecting you a little... later?" She hummed, setting down each plate on an end table.
"You never did tell me an exact time." Discord replied, brushing off excess confetti that had landed on his shoulder. He looked at the plates curiously as Fluttershy arranged them on the side table.
"Right, sorry about that." Fluttershy replied. "We can figure out a for sure time, next time." She wasn't certain there'd be a next time. But if today went well, she'd be open to having Discord over again.
Discord floated himself over to Fluttershy's couch, the end table with tea and treats in between them. Fluttershy took a seat on her dark green armchair.
The room was awkwardly silent as Fluttershy lifted the tea pot and gently poured herself and Discord a cup. Discord was the first to break the silence.
"So... is this what friends do? Just sit around and... drink, whatever that is- in silence?" He questioned, his tone somewhat displeased.
Fluttershy handed him his cup, sitting on its own matching saucer. "No. W-well, I suppose friends DO drink tea together, but it isn't usually in silence." She replied, dumping in a few small spoonfuls of sugar into her cup and stirring.
She took a sip of her drink, taking the moment to think of what to say next.
"So... how are you enjoying Ponyville?" She asked, looking up at Discord to read his expression.
He was taking a sip of the drink as well, making a face as he did so. She tried not to react; maybe he had never had tea before?
"You mean my pastel-colored purgatory?" He replied, curling his lip as he recalled the ultimatum he'd been given once he'd been freed from stone.
Fluttershy looked back down at her drink. Oookay, so that wasn't a good thing to ask him... she supposed his reaction made a little bit of sense. After all, his only choices had been either to be turned back into stone or "befriend" the wielders of the Elements.
"Um... right, sorry." Fluttershy half-whispered. Anxiously, she nibbled on a cinnamon scone. When Discord wasn't the one initiating conversation, it was difficult to get him interested otherwise.
"Well, what would you like to talk about? Anything interesting happen to you today?" Fluttershy asked, tentatively. Perhaps a little obvious of an opener, but she'd run out of options.
Discord perked up at this, lifting an eagle claw to his chin, pretending to be deep in thought.
"Why, yes, now that you mention it- I did have something VERY interesting happen to me today!" Discord waved his lion paw in a dismissive gesture. "Of course, interesting things happen to me all the time- just comes with being the Lord of Chaos and all."
Fluttershy giggled at this. Discord's arrogant nature could be just as amusing as it was frustrating.
From there, Discord spun a story that truly could be compared to being on a roller coaster (and not just because it so happened to involve a roller coaster) There were sad moments, happy moments, thrilling and hilarious anecdotes.
Fluttershy wasn't entirely sure how most of it could've been real, or only taken place merely a few hours ago, but she decided not to doubt Discord. At the very least, his interesting story had passed the time. And as Fluttershy listened to his tale, on the edge of her seat, she found nearly all of their tea and snacks had disappeared in that time.
Actually, Fluttershy had only noticed this as she went to pour herself another cup of tea, what was probably her fourth or fifth that afternoon. When she hadn't heard the delicate sound of liquid pouring into porcelain, she looked away from Discord and to her tea pot. She lifted the lid and peered inside, noting how much lighter it felt.
She frowned at this and set the pot back down again, but quickly became reabsorbed into Discord's still un-winding story.
He, however, had noticed her inspecting the tea pot and chose to ask about it. "What's wrong with the pot?" He asked, leaning over the end table and twisting his neck in impossible ways as he inspected the tea pot himself.
Fluttershy giggled again, and placed a single hoof on the pot's lid. "Nothing's wrong; we've just run out of tea." She replied, taking the moment to also notice the emptied plate where piles of baked goods once sat.
"Oh." Discord replied. He unfurled his neck and pulled it back to its regular, irregular shape. "Does that mean our time is up?" He asked, folding his eagle claws over his palm and inspecting them.
"Well, it doesn't have to mean that, but-" It was then Fluttershy noticed the darkening sky outside, the first hints of nightfall making itself known across the pinkish-orange sky. It had just been early afternoon- hadn't it?
"Oh, well, I guess it should, though." Fluttershy winced, realizing how much time had passed, and the other tasks she'd had planned to do after their visit.
Discord merely glanced at the window in response, and rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, it's just Lulu showing off." He commented, levitating his tea cup back onto the side table.
"But, if you want me to leave, I can do that." In an instant, Discord, as Fluttershy knew him disappeared, and in his place was a large pile of red and gold leaves. From it's center, his oddly shaped eyes appeared, along with his crooked grin, a singular fang poking from his upper lip.
Fluttershy was taken aback for a moment, but she quickly began to laugh, a true and spirited laugh. Discord chuckled along with her, and quickly ended the gag, reappearing as he normally was.
"Thank you, Discord." Fluttershy beamed, still laughing.
"Your welcome." He replied, his smug expression quickly dropping. "...For what, exactly?"
Fluttershy continued laughing, her chuckle simmering down as she began gathering up the plates and cups. "For trying to make an effort, you know at being friends."
Fluttershy walked into her kitchen and set the dishes down beside the sink, continuing her line of thought as she walked.
"I'm sure it isn't easy for you, trying to be friends with us. I didn't find making friends all that easy either. But it was nice spending time with you." Fluttershy walked back into the living room and smiled at Discord.
Discord raised an eyebrow at this, taking his time in responding. After a moment, of what Fluttershy could only guess was processing, he replied.
"I'll take that as a compliment. Besides, you're more tolerable than most of your little friends are." Discord arose from his spot, floating his way through her living room. "And anyway, time spent with the Lord of Chaos is the only really good way to spend your time- so consider yourself lucky on that front."
Fluttershy sighed and nodded to Discord as he floated to her front door and opened it. "Either way," she replied, "It was a nice time, and I hope we can do this again some time."
As Discord opened her door- notably what lay beyond was very much NOT her front yard (rather what looked to be a strange mix of a candy store and bath-house) he looked to be in thought for a moment.
"Yes, I should think, being friends and all," Discord replied, shrugging at the "friend" bit. "That we should drink boring leaf-juice and talk about me some more."
"Next Tuesday, then?" Fluttershy asked, taking note of the day of the week she'd spontaneously chosen.
Discord shrugged at this too, and waved a casual paw at her. "Fine then, if you're so insistent on following conventional, so called "days of the week"... I can make that work."
Fluttershy laughed and waved at Discord as he disappeared into his odd dimension. He waved to her as well, and promptly (and a little too loudly) slammed her front door shut.
Fluttershy paused for a moment and waited. Eventually, she walked up to her door and cautiously opened it. Thankfully, her door led to where it was supposed to, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
As she began cleaning up from her visit, she found herself oddly pleased. Sure, there'd been no "ground-breaking" progress with Discord (frankly, she wasn't sure that was possible with him), but he seemed to enjoy spending time with her, and she did too.
That was how most friendships started, so at least they were continuing to tread on the right hoof. Fluttershy made a mental note to remember to have more snacks prepared by next Tuesday. Maybe she should send him a letter asking what kinds of snacks he liked?
Fluttershy knew it wasn't going to be easy, to befriend Discord. But maybe, just maybe, it would all be worth it. She certainly couldn't have predicted the immense happiness being the friends to the girls would've brought.
As she'd learned from being their friend those many months, good things were worth working for.
