Fluttershy and Discord always have set plans for Hearts and Hooves Day. Fluttershy spends the day with her critters and friends and Discord avoids the mushy love by playing Ogres and Oubliettes. Then Fluttershy's plans change, and Discord has no idea how to deal with it.

I own nothing.

It was the day before Hearts and Hooves Day, and the Ponyville marketplace was packed as ponies hurried around collecting last minute things for their plans the next day. Among them was one yellow pegasus with long sweeping pink hair, who was shopping in the less-packed animal feed section.

The young mare was consulting a list. "Just the carrots for Angel left," she said to herself. But as she approached the carrot stand, two levitated into the air, making Carrot Top shriek and cower under her counter.

The carrots then proceeded to point at each other, then waggled up and down experimentally, before two red and yellow eyes appeared beneath them, so they appeared to have carrot-eyebrows.

"These look like two good ones, Fluttershy," said a disembodied voice.

"Discord!"

The rest of the draconequus appeared, and the carrots fell off his normal bushy white eyebrows. He caught them and handed them to the pegasus.

"What are you doing here?" Fluttershy asked, as she took the carrots and peered over the counter of the stall to check on Carrot Top.

"It's Hearts and Hooves Day tomorrow," Discord reminded her. "And this year Spike and I have plans to turn Twilight's entire castle into a giant epic Ogres and Oubliettes game, so I came early to hash out some plans."

Fluttershy cast him a questioning look as she tried to fan Carrot Top, who appeared to have fainted. "Does Twilight know about this?"

"Our playing Ogres and Oubliettes, or turning her home into a living game board universe?" the Chaos Lord asked innocently.

Fluttershy gave him a withering stare.

"It's alright! Twilight knows Spike is hosting, and I've already promised to have everything back to normal by the time she gets home."

"Hmm. Well, alright." Fluttershy had finally managed to revive Carrot Top, and paid her for the two carrots. Carrot Top thanked her before quickly packing up her stall.

"How lucky. You managed to get your carrots right before she closed!" Discord remarked.

Fluttershy wondered whether he realised that he was responsible for that, but shook her head. Discord would always be Discord, no matter how many times it was pointed out that his chaos sometimes freaked ponies out.

"So what are you doing today, my dear?" he asked her.

"I'm just making sure I've got everything for tomorrow," Fluttershy said, adding the carrots to her saddlebag.

"Oh? Big plans?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "Just my usual ones. I like to make a special breakfast for all my critters, then I go out with the girls and we give each other a couple of small gifts."

"That sounds like fun!" Discord said, as he started following Fluttershy out of the marketplace.

"It usually is."

Suddenly a young earth stallion stepped out in front of them. His coat was dark green, and his mane and tail were a very dark brown, twisted into dreadlocks, with thin lighter brown streaks running through them. "Fluttershy," he said by way of greeting.

The shy pegasus looked around and her soft smile grew suddenly wide, her teal eyes shining with surprise. "Lu!"

Discord stared on as his companion hugged the earth pony.

"Discord, this is Lu," Fluttershy said as she pulled away. "I met him when I went to see the Breezie migration. Remember Tree Hugger? This is her brother." As she spoke she shot him a look that Discord interpreted (correctly) as a reminder not to behave in the same way as he had done when he had met her hippie friend.

So Discord bit back his scowl as Fluttershy turned back to Lu.

"Lu, this is Discord."

"Yes, I'm one of Fluttershy's closest friends," Discord cut in, dragging the pegasus under his arm.

"Yeah, Fluttershy's mentioned you a couple of times," Lu said. "And my sister told me all about that party where you were going to send her to another universe or something? Sounded pretty sick, dude."

Discord's right eye twitched.

The other two however, didn't notice. Fluttershy was already eagerly asking Lu what had brought him to Ponyville.

"Well, I've been wanting to come study the Timberwolves in the Everfree Forest forever, but I've just always had something on, y'know? So, finally I had like a month free where I wasn't working on any project to save rare, endangered magical creatures, and I managed to get every dog in the shelter I run for sick and injured dogs a home, and I thought, now I can go study Timberwolves! And while I'm in Ponyville, I can stop in and see Fluttershy. So here I am."

"Wow," Fluttershy said as she gently wriggled out of Discord's embrace. "You're really going to go into the Everfree Forest and study Timberwolves?"

"Yeah," Lu shrugged.

"Really?" Discord cut in. "Aren't you worried about being ripped apart, eaten alive and dying a long, horrible, gory death?"

"Discord!" Fluttershy exclaimed, looking scared and shocked.

"I'm just wondering."

"Nah, man," Lu replied. "You just gotta give out the right vibe. Timberwolves are just big dogs, and you just gotta be on the same wavelength, y'know? Totally zen, and all that."

Discord blinked. He was having the same strange feeling he used to have when talking to Tree Hugger. Lu spoke in the same sort of dreamy, mystic, nonsensical way. It was grating on him.

"So Fluttershy," Lu said, turning back to the pegasus. "I was wondering if you just wanted to catch up tomorrow."

At this, Discord narrowed his eyes at the earth pony, but the other two took no notice of him.

"I would, but I'm sorry Lu, I have plans."

"You're going to make a big fancy breakfast for all your critters, right?"

"Mm-hmm," Fluttershy nodded.

"I'd love to help you with that. And it's been forever since I've seen Angel Bunny. I miss the little dude."

"Well…"

"And then we can go out before you meet up with your friends."

"Um…okay…"

Discord was feeling ignored, and he didn't like it. "Well, I see the two of you are clearly busy making your plans!" he snapped. "I need to get going too. The Ogres and Oubliettes Deluxe Castle Edition isn't going to plan itself!"

He vanished.

Fluttershy stared after him in confusion, while Lu commented, "He's a cool guy. Does he always glow green when he disappears like that?"

Discord appeared right beside Spike, who jumped and caused a massive inkblot over a list he was double-checking for Twilight.

"Agh! Discord! Don't do that!"

"She has plans!" the draconequus burst out. "She has Hearts and Hooves Day plans with him!" He waved his lion paw and made the inkblot disappear.

"Huh?" said Spike, glancing from the restored parchment back to Discord. "Who's got plans with him?"

"Fluttershy!"

"Right. Okay. And who's 'him'?"

"Lu."

"Who's Lu?"

"Tree Hugger's brother!"

Spike scratched his head. "Discord, would you mind making sense for once. I'm not following."

"Fluttershy and I ran into Tree Hugger's brother outside the marketplace, and he asked her out! And she said yes! WHY? What does she see in him?!"

"Tree Hugger's brother… oh, you mean Lu?"

"Yes, that's what I said," Discord snapped.

"Well," said Spike. "He is an animal conservationist, so they've probably got a lot in common."

"He asked if he could help her feed her animals. Puh-lease!"

"Yeah, they both love animals…"

"He said he was dying to see Angel Bunny again!"

"That is kinda weird. The bunny's almost as picky as Opal…"

"He's going out with her and the girls!"

Spike sighed. The draconequus was not listening to a word he said. He slid off his chair and went to find a whistle. By the time he got back, Discord was in full freak-out mode, describing a yellow pegasus with brown hair and lavender eyes.

The tirade was only brought to a halt by Spike's piercing whistle. Discord stared at the young dragon.

"First off," lectured Spike, "just because Fluttershy agreed to see Lu Hugger tomorrow doesn't mean she's thinking of marrying him, and I guarantee you she's not wondering what their children will look like!"

Discord crossed his arms. "You don't know that."

"I do," Spike said firmly, "because I know Fluttershy. And so do you."

Discord huffed and sulked.

"Besides, it's not like it's affecting you, is it? You weren't planning on seeing Fluttershy tomorrow. Why does it matter if Lu Hugger does?"

Discord scowled. "Because it's a Hearts and Hooves Day date! Which means Fluttershy will probably become his special somepony, and then they'll get married, and she won't be Fluttershy anymore. She'll be Flutter Hugger! And that doesn't even make any sense! You can't hug a flutter! It's a verb! And besides, what's a lu?"

"It's short for Lu Pine," Spike muttered.

More huffing and scowling, and Spike heard the draconequus mutter something about 'waking up with fleas' under his breath.

Spike sighed. "Listen, Discord. Remember when you tried to get Fluttershy's attention when she went to the Grand Galloping Gala with Tree Hugger? If you try and mess up her date, she's only going to get mad at you. There's nothing you can do about it now. Just come over tomorrow, we'll play Ogres and Oubliettes and you can forget all about Fluttershy and Lu. Then he'll leave and things will go back to normal."

"He won't leave!" Discord shouted. "He's here for a month researching Timberwolves!"

"Well then," Spike said, "he'll be in the Everfree Forest most of the time and Fluttershy will barely see him."

Discord paused, and suddenly cheered up right away. "You're right. He'll be in the Everfree Forest most of the time. And it would be completely plausible if he got eaten by a carnivorous hippopotamus!"

"No, that's not what I… wait, what?"

Discord laughed. "You're right, Spike. I was worried about nothing."

"I don't think there are any carnivorous hippopotamus living in the Forest…" Spike said cautiously.

Discord turned away and said breezily, "Really? I was sure I heard about one moving in there recently."

Before the dragon could reply, he vanished.

Spike stared at where the Lord of Chaos had just been standing. "Uh-oh."

Lu showed up bright and early on Fluttershy's doorstep the next day. As she opened the door to greet him, Angel Bunny flew through the open door and tackled the stallion in a hug.

Fluttershy chuckled as she followed her beloved pet outside. "I've never seen him greet someone so enthusiastically."

Lu laughed. "I'm honoured, little dude," he said, ruffling the rabbit's ears.

"Come on in, I'm just getting set up," said Fluttershy, opening her door wide. Lu followed her in, with Angel Bunny riding on his back.

Meanwhile, across town, Discord had popped into being outside Twilight's castle and rung the bell. Spike opened the door.

"Discord! You're early, Twilight hasn't left yet. She's in the library reading."

"Oh well. Should I come back later or…?"

"No! It's fine. She probably won't notice."

"Ah." The draconequus' ears sagged with disappointment. "Good."

Discord was dragged inside by the dragon. "I do still have to finish my chores," Spike was rambling, "but then I'll be free. Hey! You couldn't help with that, could ya?"

"Why not?" Discord sighed, and snapped his fingers, not so much to be a good friend or so he could hang out with Spike, but because he didn't see the point of anyone doing chores.

He was wishing sometime later though that he hadn't, because having nothing he had to do meant Spike was keen on spending the time before Twilight left with Discord – which had most definitely NOT been the draconequus' plan. He had hoped by showing up early to be turned away for another hour or two, and so give him a very plausible excuse to sneak over to Fluttershy's and see how she was getting on with that insufferable Lu character. Now the only chance of that happening was if he persuaded the dragon to play Hide and Seek, and he somehow didn't see Spike falling for that.

Spike had guessed as much, and was hoping to keep the Chaos Lord under his watch and so out of too much mischief. He suggested they read some comic books, which Discord did not have a lot of patience for, but he managed to find a couple about the world of Ogres and Oubliettes, which at least piqued his interest somewhat, and they were able to while away an hour or so before both of them got hungry and went to the kitchen to make something, which turned into a fun disaster.

After a solid forty-five minutes, Spike cast his eye around the kitchen, which now resembled something like a bomb site having a highly disorganised yard sale.

"Who knew baking cookies could be so dangerous?"

"Never underestimate the power of raspberries and onyx," Discord advised, taking another tray of smoking black dough from a dangerously glowing oven.

Spike nodded vaguely. After a silence, broken only by the sound of Discord turning his paws to fans to clear the smoke from his raspberry-onyx cookies, he said, "Twilight's going to kill me when she sees this."

"Never mind," Discord said cheerily, waving one of his fans. It changed back to an eagle's claw and he snapped his talons, setting the kitchen back to rights. Then he grabbed one of the blackened cookies and tossed it into his mouth, crunching. "Perfect," he said. He swallowed, then gasped and used his still-a-fan limb to cool his tongue. "But hot!" He summoned a glass of milk and threw it in his own face. "Ahhh…"

Spike shook his head at the Chaos Lord's antics.

"Spike!"

They both looked up as Twilight entered, closing the flap of her saddlebag with her magic.

"There you are. Oh, and Discord. Hi."

"Hello, Twilight."

The alicorn shot a glance at Spike, who said, "He's being good, Twilight."

"Oh, I promise, Princess," Discord put in, a halo and angel wings appearing on him for added effect.

Twilight frowned. "Okay. Have fun, you two. I'd say make yourself at home, Discord, but I've seen your home, so please don't. I'll be back in a few hours."

She waved goodbye and left.

As soon as they heard the huge front door close behind her, Discord tore off his angel wings and threw away his halo and caused both to vanish. "Now, time for the fun!"

Spike and Discord had a very enjoyable time racing around the transformed castle that afternoon. Though Spike couldn't help but notice that almost every enemy Discord conjured up and then tore through was some sort of tree or dog, or some hybrid of the two. He wisely chose not to say anything, but instead be glad that at least Discord was taking his feelings out on magical paper cut-outs and not on the real inspiration for these characters.

By the time all their foes were vanquished, Owlowiscious – who had been instructed to keep watch for Twilight's return – had flown in through the window and was hooting urgently at them.

Discord only just managed to snap his fingers in time for the incriminating board game world to vanish and teleport himself and Spike to the entrance hall before Twilight stepped through her front door. The two guys smiled innocently at the alicorn, which widened when she shot them a suspicious look.

"Everything alright here, boys?"

"As you can see, Twilight, your home is just as you left it," Discord said, waving his eagle claw around the place.

She nodded. "Thank you, Discord. Did you guys have fun?"

"Oh yeah! It was awesome!" Spike cheered.

Twilight smiled. "I'm glad. Now Spike, wasn't I going to help you with something?" She grinned at her assistant, who jumped up in eagerness.

"Yeah!"

"You're welcome to stay and help us, Discord," she said, as she and Spike started to head toward the kitchen.

"Thank you, Twilight, but I have something of my own to do," he replied.

She nodded and smiled at him. "Alright. Happy Hearts and Hooves Day."

Discord grimaced and disappeared with a pop, and the alicorn and dragon set off on their mysterious task while the draconequus went to his.

Fluttershy jumped as the Lord of Chaos materialised in front of her.

"Agh! Discord!"

"Sorry, my dear, didn't mean to startle you."

Fluttershy put a hoof to her chest to try and calm herself. "It's alright."

"I just wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?"

The draconequus fixed her with an uncharacteristically serious look and said sombrely, "Why don't we celebrate Hearts and Hooves Day together?"

Fluttershy paused, not expecting that.

Discord continued to watch her, waiting for an answer.

"Well…" Fluttershy said, unsure how to explain, "you've never really been a fan of Hearts and Hooves Day. You've said you can't stand all the 'mushy love nonsense'."

"I know," Discord sighed. "But I was just thinking… You celebrate with all your other friends. And your critters. Why not me?"

Fluttershy looked at him and said quietly, "I never thought you wanted to."

"Well I do," Discord huffed, crossing his arms. "I am your friend, aren't I?"

"Of course! Discord, I would love to celebrate Hearts and Hooves Day with you!"

This gave the draconequus pause, and he cocked his head to the side, puzzled. Fluttershy seemed to be waiting for him to speak. After a while, he did, his voice soft and almost pleading. "Why did you agree to go on a date with Lu Hugger?"

Fluttershy gently took his paw and gazed at him earnestly, hoping he could see the truth in her eyes. "Can I tell you something, Discord?"

He nodded.

"Hearts and Hooves Day really isn't that big a deal to me."

Seeing his frown, she continued.

"For me, I love the day because it's an excuse to spoil my friends – my loved ones – and I love that there's one day in the year where we're reminded to celebrate the ones we love. But I want to remember that for the rest of the year as well – like I do every Tuesday when we have our morning teas together.

"It should never be a day to feel lonely, because it's a reminder to appreciate those we've got. I'm very sorry if I made you feel lonely, Discord."

Discord looked at his own paw, wrapped in both her hooves, as he was unable to look her in the eye right then. He cleared his throat, then managed to say, "So Lu Hugger is just a friend?"

"Yes," said Fluttershy. "Which is what I told him today."

At this, Discord looked up. "You did? Wha…why…?" He realised he was stammering and quickly shut his mouth.

Fluttershy grinned at this. "Even I realise why he might have asked me out on Hearts and Hooves Day."

"Oh."

They were silent for another moment, both staring down at the floor. Then Fluttershy squeezed Discord's paw, which she still held, and the draconequus looked at her. The pegasus smiled shyly.

"Would you like to do something together for next Hearts and Hooves Day, Discord?"

Discord beamed, his warm, bubbly personality immediately resurfacing. "I would love to, my dear. Although," he laughed, "I'm not sure how Spike will like losing another member of our Ogres and Oubliettes team."

"Well," Fluttershy smiled, "maybe we can think of something to do all together."

Discord nodded, and impulsively swept the little pegasus into a hug. When he realised what he was doing, he set her down quickly, noticing that her cheeks now matched her mane. "Uh…" he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I'll…I'll see you on Tuesday."

"Alright," said Fluttershy, also avoiding his gaze. "See you then."

"Goodbye little bunny," Discord called to the scowling Angel, who watched them from Fluttershy's couch.

Fluttershy smiled at this usual departing greeting, and the draconequus vanished. Her smile slid off her face and she sighed. She then looked over at the angry rabbit and said sternly, "You better get used to him, mister. He's going to be around a long time."

Angel crossed his arms and tapped his foot disapprovingly, but Fluttershy didn't notice. She smiled as her thoughts wandered. "Yes…a long time…"

Not my best ending, but I hope you enjoyed the story anyways. Have a happy Hearts and Hooves Day everypony! Love to you all (but especially those who review ;) )

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