FANG For a FANG

Chapter 4 Dance Of A Lifetime

“And that was the last time we ever saw each other, the events afterwards along with Gilda, and my life after I left that party would change everything once… I met… him… fluttershy grinned.

…

A car rolled up to the outside of a club that was blasting the sound of music. Boom, boom, boom, the music was loud. All around were people waiting to get in, some already dancing in their spots.

Fluttershy and Gouda got out of the car and headed their way there. Everyone's eyes widened at the sight of her, making her flinch. “No, you can do this; they're just eyes,” she reminded herself as she calmed her mind and strolled across the parking lot. Her white dress was in stunning contrast with everyone else. The crowd mostly wore dark colors and were usually dressed casually. There were a few in suits, but they were mostly security by the looks of it.

Gilda and Fluttershy walked right past the line; she noticed some of the grumpy looks she was getting from the crowd for cutting, but she kept close to Gilda.

“Name,” grumbled a guard.

“Gilda, she’s with me. Put it on my tab,” she said and flipped the guard a coin. He caught it and undid the red tape, letting the two in.

Once inside, the music was louder than anything Fluttershy had ever heard. A live DJ was playing her music, tapping to the beat as she went.

The crowd was filled with dancers on the first floor. A bar sat in the back, and there were stairs leading to a second floor with booths and gambling games.

“So why did you want to come here?” Gilda raised an eyebrow.

“I needed a break, and this,” she smirked, “is just what I needed.” She said before joining the crowd. With her white dress and rosy pink hair, she stood out like a white flower in a field of dirt. While her nerves tried to tug at her every which way, she ignored them and spat, “What are you looking at?” before catching the beat of the music and pining and locking into the DJ's groove.

Gilda rolled her eyes and went upstairs, not caring what happened to her.

As she danced inside, a fancy bright red car rolled up on sight. The driver jumped out of it and ran over to the side letting out who ever sat I. The back.

The guard lowered his sunglasses curiously of who the new comer was, only to jaw drop at the sight. “You,” he whispered, before turning around and quickly undoing the red tape. Letting the man in with no questions asked.

…

Fluttershy was now dancing with a drink in her hand, spinning around in circles, never noticing a figure walk through the door. She tripped over her own feet and fell back, only to be caught by someone dressed in a bright orange suit, complete with an elaborate purple tie and gloves.

“Ha, well I know girls fall for me all the time, but this is a bit ridiculous,” said a deep yet crackly voice.

Fluttershy’s eyes shot wide, her jaw dropping as she looked upon her savior.

He had blood-red ruby eyes that almost seemed to stare right through her. She was starstruck, unable to move an inch. His cold black hair had white streaks in both it and his beard. A curly mustache sat below his lips, and an old-fashioned goatee completed his look. He pulled her back to her feet with a snicker that sounded anything but friendly. Yet his grasp on her was strong; it never hurt once, as his hands seemed to mold to her form easily. “It’s just a joke, sweetheart.” He grinned, showing a fang-like tooth.

Just by the sight of him, Fluttershy could tell he was dangerous, and yet, there was something else beyond those eyes. Something she strangely recognized, despite the grotesque color. It was as if she could see herself in them, yet she didn’t know why.

“Tell me,” he said as he removed his grasp. She immediately wished he hadn’t. She had never felt so warm. “What’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?” He tilted his head. “That’s a nice dress you’ve got on,” the man continued, drawing closer to her. He was tall—exceedingly tall. She barely stood at his chest. She swallowed a shudder as her mind went blank for a moment. “Hello, anyone in there?” His eyebrow raised. “Or are you one of those airheads?”

That did it. She snapped back into place. “I am not you asshole.”

“Ohhh,” he pursed his lips, “feisty,” the man grinned with a nod before whispering, “I like that.”

Fluttershy now glared into his eyes as she set aside the advice she had gotten from her friends. “Come on, Fluttershy, you can do this,” she reminded herself.

She returned his smirk with one of her own and set a hand on her hip. “I needed a break from my life; I figured I could find one here.”

“Is that so?” He tilted his head in the other direction. “Well, if it’s fun you’re looking to have, why not count me in?” He bowed slightly extending his hand out towards her. “Care for a dance, my dear?”

“I wouldn't mind,” she said, placing her hand in his purple leather glove. Externally, she was as smooth and confident as ice. Internally, she was screaming to herself, “Oh my god, how in the world did I get here? Dancing with a guy like this? I don’t want to judge a book by its cover, but he’s far from the nice guys I usually like. Ooo, but he’s got a charm to him; he can’t be all bad, can he? And what about me? Why, why did I do this? This is soooo stupid. I want to run and hide. Yes, that is what you should do. You should bolt for the hills and go home; you’ve already come far enough!” she squeaked with every footstep until they reached the center of the dance floor.

“I’m not dancing to that garbage. Why not play some real music?” he snapped his fingers.

The DJ heard the snap across the room and looked up. At the sight of the man, his eyes shot wide, and his mouth dropped. He pulled the song that was playing at the time and retrieved an old record player, grabbing a record from a dusty shelf.

As it played, an old-school jazzy hip-hop song filled the air while the man wrapped his arms around his dance partner. “Let’s see if your Feistiness can also do a few moves,” he said with a mischievous grin as he pulled her around. They stepped into the beat easily, with a saxophone playing over the air, accompanied by a powerful drumbeat, followed by a piano and guitar duet. He spun her around and lowered his hands to her hips. She kept her arms around him, surprised by the speed of the dance, as he asked with a raised eyebrow, “Not bad, first time?”

“No, just wanted to see what you could do,” fluttershy remarked before grabbing him and taking the lead. She broke free from his grip, dancing almost like a ballerina, only for him to grab her arm and spin her back into him, so he had his arms around her again. “Okay, now you’ve really got me intrigued,” he chuckled as their hips moved in unison. Her lips curled into a wider smile as he spun her back, and the two began stepping toe to toe, never missing a beat, perfectly in sync.

Up ahead on the second floor, a voice grumbled as footsteps approached the edge. “Who changed my music?” barked a dark shadow, with eyes similar to the man’s but filled with anger. His eyes widened at the sight of a man in an orange suit dancing with a woman in a white dress. They looked like light in a sea of shadows as they danced. The man above narrowed his eyes and raised a cigar to his lips. “Of course, it had to be you,” he whispered as he watched the two continue.

Fluttershy was enjoying herself as she laid her hands on his chest. The man spun her around, and as a final touch, just when the music came to a climactic end, he dipped her. The two stood for a second, ignoring the crowd as their eyes locked together, their chests rising and falling at the same speed, completely out of breath.

“Great show, Mr. Grogar,” said a voice from above.

He pulled Fluttershy back to him before fixing his suit. “Please,” he said with a roll of his head, as if stretching his neck. “Mr. Grogar is my father,” he chuckled. “Discord will always do, old friend,” he growled as he looked up.

The shadow above entered the light as he began to step down the stairs. “Yes, quite,” he muttered bitterly as he approached. His hair was similar to Discord's—long and wavy, almost like flames. But he had no white streaks and no facial hair. Yet his eyes were the same color as Discord’s; they were also far colder and lifeless.

“Just the man I wanted to see,” Discord said with a hint of sarcasm, as if mocking the man.

“Yes, I’m sure,” Sombra glared.

“Oh, how I miss the days when you and I used to argue about music all the time,” laughed Discord.

Finally, Sombra’s cold demeanor broke, revealing a crooked smile. “Since when were you let out?”

“A few hours ago; it’s actually why I’m here,” he said as he approached Sombra, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I wanted to chat,” Discord laughed, before looking back over his shoulder at Fluttershy.

From her perspective, she watched as the man’s entire focus shifted away from her. The knot in her stomach told her she wasn’t happy about it. She wanted to continue their dance. But as he glanced over his shoulder at her, it was clear he had had his fun and was now done with her. He looked at her as if she were merely an object of less value—like a toy given to a child to keep them entertained only to be tossed aside when something else came up.

Sombra cut the tension with a clap of his hands. “Get my music back, and bring us some drinks,” he smiled as he and Discord headed their way up the stairs. Fluttershy watched as the man she was so infatuated with for a moment disappeared into the shadows above. “Discord,” she whispered, a shiver coursing through her body, one that she couldn’t tell if it was good or bad.

Gilda walked down the steps, never noticing the two who walked past her. “Okay, well, it’s getting late; time for you to go home, Cinderella.”

“Fluttershy,” she corrected Gilda.

“Whatever. Look, if I don’t get you out of here, we’re both in trouble. I may have lied about getting you in; only members get a discount. Come on, before the security kicks us out.”

Fluttershy choked on her own surprise before rushing out alongside Gilda, hoping to find no trouble.

...

While Fluttershy and Gilda escaped, Discord and Sombra continued their chat.

...

Discord and Sombra walked into his private office, with a waiter behind them carrying drinks.

The office had a straight view of the party below through one of the closed windows; the other was lit by the moon and the city outside, serving as a backdrop behind the desk. Discord glanced at the stain-covered bed off in the corner but said nothing as he took a glass of whatever was in his cup and sat down across from Sombra.

Sombra cleared his throat as the waiter headed out, closing the door behind them. “So, how the hell did you get out?” he asked, swishing his drink around in his hand.

Discord grew a sly smirk as he settled back in his seat. “A previous fang who wanted out paid my bail.”

Sombra lowered his eyes and scoffed. “Luna, huh?”

“Yes, she apparently paid my bail in hopes that I would work with her. With me in charge, she hopes to get out of whatever contract she made with Tirek. I told her, ‘Once a fang, always a fang,’” he said, showing off his own. “Before agreeing with her.”

Sombra snickered at that. “You’ll never let her go,” he muttered lowly before taking a gulp of his drink.

“No,” Discord shook his head. “However, I will renegotiate her contract once I take back my stance.”

“So what are you doing here then? Shouldn’t you go to the boss?”

“He’s not your boss; I am,” Discord squinted his eyes and warned the man before returning to his laid-back attitude. “And I am no idiot, my old friend. Tirek will definitely try and keep his power,” he said as he raised his glass to his lips. “But my family's names are all on the documents. I can freeze the bank account and put a stop to his funds with a snap of my fingers.” He said before taking a sip.

“So why haven’t you? Why did you come to me instead?” Sombra muttered, emotionless.

Discord stifled a laugh before diving in. “I may have most of the cards, but I fear he holds my aces. If I make a move, he’ll come after me. I doubt his loyalty; you, on the other hand…” Discord took another sip before continuing, “I am sure you have only grown stronger in my absence.”

“You’re here to see if I’m still loyal to you?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Well, can you blame me? In the ten years I was gone, not one of you tried to visit me in the stony lonesome or pay my bail, despite your success,” Discord spread his lips wide. “Even though,” his eyebrows sharpened, “I’m the one who raised you from the dirt,” he growled, his lips morphing into a frown.

Sombra remained still and silent as he stared at the man across from him. With a deep breath, he avoided Discord’s gaze, turning his head away. “A civil war will not bode well. I’m staying out of it.”

“And when the time comes to choose, because it will happen,” Discord said almost robotically. Sombra turned his gaze, finding a bored expression on Discord’s face. “What’s he planning?” he asked in the same tone as before.

“Something big.” Sombra shifted in his chair. “Something that, if it goes according to his plan, could change the very nature of this town for good. We’d be rich beyond our wildest dreams—same with you.” Sombra grew a smirk. “He’s about to do something you always wanted to do—well, sort of.” Sombra chuckled. Discord’s eyes shot wide at that, but he tried to hide it by lowering them back. Too late; Sombra already saw. With a grin, Sombra showed his own fangs as he leaned forward on his desk. “This isn’t the right time to do this. Lay low, Discord; keep in the shadows, play your part, and I’m certain you’ll get everything you ever wanted,” Sombra said before he raised his glass again.

Discord broke eye contact with a head shake before gulping down the rest of his drink and slamming the glass down on the desk. “The fangs are mine, not his,” he hissed. “And I will rule this city, not him,” he growled.

Sombra's laughter rose from the depths; his entire chest shook. “I missed you, Discord,” he said as he tried to regain his composure. He shook his head, grinning as Discord's scowl grew darker, making Sombra wince in amusement. Once he gained control of himself, he cleared his throat and settled back in his chair. “For old times' sake, how about I get you a room and a couple of girls of your choice?” he proposed.

Discord groaned but managed a smile despite the fury in his eyes. “What about that girl in the white dress? She one of yours?” he asked as he got to his feet, fixing his suit.

“No, I never saw her before tonight.”

“Too bad,” Discord said as he headed out the door. “I would have paid double for a night with her,” he darkly chuckled before finishing his sentence with, “Don’t worry about it,” as he stood up.

“Discord,” Sombra called out in a sing-song voice, “You know I can’t just let you leave after everything you said.”

Discord gave a low laugh before looking over his shoulder. His gaze alone tested Sombra on his words, as if to say, try it, see what happens, I beg you. He watched as Sombra closed his eyes and looked the other way, as if to say, go ahead, I’ll look the other way just this once.

Knowing full well Sombra could change his mind at any moment, Discord took off out of the club as quickly as possible. He tore through the front doors and stomped to his red car, getting in the back and telling the driver to get going.

“So, how’d it go?” Luna asked as she drove.

“As well as you think. I got some useful intel,” he said as he pulled out his phone, which had been recording the whole time. “Now’s the part where you and I renegotiate our deal.”

Luna looked back, sweat forming on her brow. She then returned her gaze to the road, her lips quivering as she whispered, “Forgive me, sister. Forgive me…”

“Fluttershy…”