Sweet Feather Diet

By the time Discord woke, the afternoon sun had shifted high in the sky, casting long golden beams through the cottage window and into his eyes. He groaned, throwing a paw over his face as he blinked groggily. The sun's warmth had seeped into the cushions beneath him, making it impossible to ignore. With a yawn, he stretched lazily across the couch, half of his torso dangling precariously off the edge.

For a moment, he simply lay there, staring up at the ceiling and enjoying the peace. But as his mind cleared from the haze of sleep, he realized something was off. The cottage was too quiet.

"Fluttershy?" he called out, his voice cracking from disuse. Silence greeted him. He waited a moment longer, listening for the usual sounds of her bustling about the cottage, humming to herself, or chatting with her animal friends. But there was nothing.

The stillness in the air made him uneasy. Fluttershy was always up by now, tending to the animals or preparing tea, but now the cottage felt... empty. Suspiciously so.

He snapped his talons absentmindedly to poof himself upright—but nothing happened.

Discord scowled, trying again. Another snap. Still nothing. His magic was still gone. A flash of irritation crossed his face, but he quickly smoothed it over, reminding himself that he needed to play this carefully for Fluttershy’s sake. She couldn’t know about his predicament.

He stood up and stretched his long, inharmonious body, taking a moment to compose himself before he ambled toward the door, peering outside. The sweet sounds of the sanctuary drifted toward him—the rustle of leaves in the breeze, the faint chorus of various animals in the distance. Fluttershy was out there, no doubt tending to her beloved animals.

Discord strolled out, wandering a bit aimlessly until he spotted her near the chicken coop. She was hunched over, stuffing fresh hay into the nesting boxes, something about her demeanor struck Discord as... off.

A strange look crossed Discord’s face as he watched her. Fluttershy, normally the picture of serenity, looked tense. her body stiff with agitation, her ears perked at every little sound, and though she was tending to her animals as usual, there was a stiffness to her that didn’t sit right with him.

"Good afternoon, my dear," he called out, breaking the silence. "Sleeping Beauty finally awakens."

Fluttershy jumped, nearly dropping the bundle of hay she was holding. "Oh! Discord!" she exclaimed, quickly spinning around to face him. "I-I didn’t realize you were up."

"Clearly," Discord teased. "You seem rather jumpy. Busy morning, I take it?"

Her eyes flickered away from him, and she quickly forced a smile. "Just… the usual. Taking care of the animals."

Discord raised an eyebrow. He could tell when she was lying; he’d spent enough time around her to recognize the small, subtle signs. The way her wings tightened at her sides, the nervous darting of her gaze. Something was definitely wrong.

"Ah, I see," he drawled, his voice low and curious. "So you left me snoozing the day away while you handled everything? Should I be touched or offended?"

Fluttershy’s smile faltered for a brief moment before she quickly recovered. "I didn’t want to disturb you. You seemed like you needed the rest."

Discord cocked his head, scrutinizing her closely, noting the tension in her shoulders and the way she avoided looking him in the eye. He didn’t like it. Something was gnawing at her, but she wasn’t telling him what.

"Speaking of rest," he began, circling her in a lazy spiral. "I was wondering if perhaps I could stay here just a bit longer, my dear Fluttershy. I find myself still feeling just a tad… under the weather."

She stiffened. "Oh… you want to stay?"

"Mmm," he hummed, nodding dramatically. "Yes. Just for a teensy while longer. I’m sure this illness of mine will pass, but for now, I fear I’m far too weak to return to my own little abode."

Her eyes widened with concern. "Illness? You’re still not feeling better?"

He put on his most woeful expression, placing a paw to his forehead. "Alas, no. I think a few more days of your care and attention may be in order… Perhaps some more of that delightful tea you make? A warm bed? Maybe even a story or two before I sleep?"

Fluttershy swallowed hard, her mind racing. She didn’t want to turn him away, but his presence would make keeping her secret so much more difficult. What if he noticed something? What if he found out about what she had done?

But she couldn’t say no. Not to Discord. Especially if he really was unwell.

"Of course," she finally said, her voice tight. "You can stay as long as you need."

"Oh, how splendid!" he smiled, clasping his hands together. "I knew I could count on you."

Fluttershy forced a smile in return. "I’ll… make us some lunch."

They headed back to the cottage together, Fluttershy walking slowly, trying to calm her anxiety. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Discord was watching her more closely than usual, his constant gaze burning into her back as he trailed along behind her.

Once inside, she set about preparing lunch—nothing too extravagant, just some sandwiches. As she placed the food on the table, Discord lounged nearby. His claws drummed a slow rhythm as he observed her.

As they sat down to eat, Discord wasted no time. Fluttershy watched as his sharp teeth tore through his food with relish, but then her eyes shifted down to her own plate, her stomach twisting painfully. The sight of the food made her feel nauseous. Hunger clawed at her insides relentlessly, but this—this wasn’t what it wanted.

"You’re not eating," Discord said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Fluttershy flinched, poking at the food on her plate. "Oh, um… I’m not really that hungry."

"Not hungry?" Discord echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Are you feeling alright?"

She forced a light laugh, waving her hoof dismissively. "I think… I’m just tired. It’s been a busy morning."

Discord’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t press the issue. Not yet, anyway. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, letting the silence settle between them like a thick fog. Watching her with that same strange intensity that made her squirm in her seat.

Fluttershy could feel the weight of his skeptical gaze, but she kept her own eyes fixed on the table, forcing herself to remain calm. She had to keep it together. She couldn’t let him suspect anything.

How was she going to live like this? How could she hide this terrible, unnatural craving? Every day, she’d have to be careful, keep herself in check, and pretend nothing was wrong. But what if she couldn’t? What if it happened again?

Discord broke the tense air with a loud yawn, stretching out dramatically. "Well, my dear, this has been a delightful meal, but I do believe a nap is calling to me. Key to a speedy recovery and all…"

Fluttershy nodded silently, watching as he strode off back into the living room, her mind still swirling with dread. Once she was sure he was settled, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She couldn’t tell him. She couldn’t tell anyone. But how much longer could she keep this up?

Fluttershy stayed seated at the table, her eyes locked on the untouched food in front of her as she became lost in thought. The pang of hunger in her stomach had grown sharper. It wasn’t a sandwich she wanted. Her body rejected the very thought of it.

As she stood and began tidying the table, an idea crept into her mind. Her eyes flicked to the window, watching the sanctuary outside. The food she prepared for her carnivores was out there. Raw meat, ethically sourced from animals who had passed naturally—ones who died of old age or illness. She had always prided herself on making sure no harm ever came to her animal friends, even when feeding the predators in her care. But the thought of taking some for herself made her stomach twist in disgust—and yet, deep down, something else stirred.

She slowly and deliberately made her way to the door. Discord was already sprawled out on the couch again. She glanced at him cautiously as she quietly reached the door, slipping outside into the fresh afternoon air.

The sanctuary was quiet now, most of the animals lazing about after being fed. Fluttershy moved quickly, her hooves carrying her towards the back storage shed where the food was kept. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts—this was wrong; she shouldn’t be doing this, but… what choice did she have?

She reached the shed and paused, looking around to make sure no one was watching. Her wings fluttered nervously as she slipped inside, the smell of fresh hay and animal feed filling the air. But beneath that, the faint, metallic scent of meat lingered, pulling her to it like a magnet.

Inside, stacked neatly in cold storage, were the packages of raw meat—just enough to feed the carnivores she looked after. Fluttershy hesitated, her hoof trembling as she reached for one of the packages.

Her breath caught in her throat as she pulled it out. The weight of the raw meat in her hoof was heavy, almost unbearable. She could feel her stomach churning with an odd combination of revulsion and desire. The sight of it made her mouth water in a way that horrified her.

"What am I doing?" she whispered to herself as she clutched the package tightly between her hooves. This wasn’t who she was. She couldn’t—she shouldn’t—

But the hunger clawed at her, agonizing, insistent.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she tore open the package, and the smell of the raw meat hit her like a wave. Her body reacted instinctively, her mouth practically salivating as she stared down at the flesh.

No. She couldn’t.

But she did.

Fluttershy tore into the meat, her hooves shaking as she devoured it with a desperation that scared her. Each bite felt wrong, unnatural—but also so terribly satisfying. The hunger that had been torturing her finally eased, replaced with a sickening sense of relief.

When she finished, she dropped the packaging, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She stared down at her hooves, stained with blood, and the sight made her sick.

How had she come to this?

Her body trembled as she wiped her mouth, her mind whirling with disgust at what she had just done. But beneath the horror, a glimmer of hope flickered. Maybe this would work. Maybe if she fed herself this way—secretly, away from everyone—she wouldn’t have to worry about losing control again. She wouldn’t have to worry about hurting anyone else. No more animals would die at her hooves.

She just had to keep it hidden. From Discord. From her friends. From everyone.

The only problem was how to get through meals with Discord without raising suspicion. He was already watching her too closely, asking questions she couldn’t answer. She couldn’t let him see the truth.

“I’ll figure it out,” she quietly reassured herself. “I have to.”

With shaky hooves, Fluttershy carefully cleaned up the mess she had made, wiping blood off her mouth and hooves and discarding the empty packaging. She made sure everything was in its place, that there was no trace left behind, and then she slipped back out of the shed, closing the door quietly behind her.

As she walked back to the cottage, her body felt strangely heavy. The hunger pangs had gone, but the weight of what she'd done lingered. She glanced up at the cottage as it came into view, seeing the soft glow of the window where Discord was resting inside.

She couldn’t let him find out. Not ever.

Fluttershy took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves as she opened the door and stepped back inside. Discord’s awkward, sleeping body still draped along the couch as he snored, unaware of the secret she had buried.

She wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to keep it that way.