The five mares and baby dragon watched as their shy friend approached the lonely draconequus. Fluttershy sat down across from Discord and they started to talk. The group reluctantly headed for the door to their carriage, as Fluttershy had suggested, but Rainbow Dash didn't move an inch. She didn't trust that Discord guy, no matter what Fluttershy said about him. She decided that she would keep an eye on them, in case Discord tried any funny business. Rainbow Dash tensed when she saw Discord stand up and make his way towards Fluttershy.
"Guys! Come back!" Rainbow called with a hushed voice.
"They are simply talking, darling," Rarity said, rolling her eyes as she made her way back with the others.
"No, look!" Rainbow said, pointing towards Fluttershy.
"What the hay?" Applejack said as she watched Fluttershy take Discord's paw.
"What are they doing…?" Spike asked.
Fluttershy and Discord moved to the dance floor and began to dance as the final slow song came on.
"Aww, Flutters is helping Discord get in the spirit of things! This is a party after all," Pinkie Pie said excitedly.
"I think it's more than that…" Twilight muttered, starting to regret letting Fluttershy go. They watched as the two became more passionate in the dance.
"See! Dip-cord's up to something," Rainbow said furiously.
"What do you mean?" Pinkie asked ignorantly. The friends ignored her question.
"Maybe we're just jumping to conclusions. It could just be a dance," Twilight suggested. At that moment, Discord picked up and spun Fluttershy, who was wearing a huge grin on her flushed face.
"Looks like more than 'jus' a dance' ta me," Applejack replied.
"I'm afraid Applejack's right, it appears that our friend is quite smitten with that brute," Rarity said, distain in her voice.
"Gross," Spike commented.
Suddenly, the draconequus and the pony started to inch closer to each other.
"Why I oughta—"
"Rainbow, you mustn't!" Rarity cried as Applejack pulled back on Rainbow's tail.
"Lemme go! Can't you see what's about to happen?" Rainbow said angrily, not taking her eyes off of the two.
"Of course we do!" Twilight replied, "But, look how happy they are."
Rainbow noticed how the two hadn't stopped smiling since they began their dance. She realized that if she caught the two, she would both end that happiness and cause a pretty awkward scene. Rainbow sighed and collapsed on the ground, waiting for the inevitable to happen.
They kissed.
The friends were surprised by how gingerly Discord held Fluttershy as their lips touched. It was as if he actually…cared.
"Aww...that's so cute!" Pinkie Pie said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Perhaps Discord isn't as awful as we thought," Rarity suggested.
"Are you guys kidding me?" Rainbow said. "We're talking about the spirit of chaos here!"
"Yeah, he's the guy that turned you all against each other," Spike argued.
"But, like a good friend of ours once told me, 'sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness'," Twilight said, reflecting back on when Fluttershy had helped that manticore so long ago. "Maybe…maybe Discord really is reformed."
"…I guess you're right," Spike ceded.
"B-but he…she…them…argh!"
"Are ya jealous, Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked, raising her eyebrow.
"What?! Of course not!" Rainbow said, cheeks reddening slightly at the thought. She took a deep breath to calm herself and looked at her friends' expectant faces. "It's just—I've always been there for Fluttershy when she's been in trouble. She was never too good at standing up for herself…"
"Oh, I think I understand what you're saying. You see Discord as a bully, a threat to Fluttershy?" Twilight asked, analyzing the situation.
"Duh," Rainbow said, as if it were obvious.
"And ya feel like you need ta protect her, like when ya'll were fillies?" Applejack continued, with a bit of sympathy.
"Yeah," Rainbow said softly, looking down.
"It's okay, Dashie," Pinkie said, "Sure, Discord made us the opposite of our true selves, and tried to take over Equestria, but Fluttershy changed him. I didn't really believe it at first either, but looking at him now, Discord looks like he's a good guy. We just need to give him a chance, like Fluttershy did."
They all stared at Pinkie Pie for a moment, surprised at how mature she was being.
"Yes, I believe we were all a bit hard on him," Rarity said once she overcame the shock. Rainbow wasn't ready to give up the fight.
"But, what if he's just using Fluttershy? What if—"
"Rainbow Dash, you saw the way he treated her, the way he…kissed her. I don't like it any more than you do, but it looks like he loves Fluttershy. And, it seems that Fluttershy returns his feelings," Twilight said.
"Ugh, why do you guys always have to be right about everything?" Rainbow complained.
"Because we're awesome," Spike replied. Twilight rolled her eyes.
"Whoa girls, weren't we supposed ta meet Fluttershy by the carriage?" Applejack said suddenly. They all looked back and forth at each other before they rushed outside.
Fluttershy and Discord had just pulled apart from their first kiss, grinning like fools and blushing.
"Wow." That was all Discord could say as he stared into Fluttershy's deep teal eyes.
Fluttershy giggled and hugged him. "Thank you for the dance."
Discord pulled her back and looked at her in bewilderment. "You're thanking me? If anything, I should be thanking you, my dear!"
"But, you're the one who asked me," Fluttershy said, tilting her head to the side, still wearing that cute little smile on her face.
"That's true, but you're the one who said yes," Discord replied, tapping the end of her nose with his claw. Fluttershy giggled again, and then stopped.
"Is something the matter, Fluttershy?" Discord asked, concern filling his voice.
"It's just that, well, I said I would meet my friends out by the carriage. I shouldn't keep them waiting too long…" Fluttershy said, looking down. "I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry for, my dear Fluttershy. May I escort you there?" Discord enquired.
"I'd love you to, if you don't mind," Fluttershy added.
"Of course not, I offered. Come now; let's get you to your…friends." He choked a little at the last word.
"Discord, I'm sure they would be willing to be your friends too, if they got to know you," Fluttershy said.
"Yes, if…" Discord sighed, "Never mind that now though, shall we go?" Fluttershy looked up at him with sympathy before saying a simple "let's".
The two walked in a fairly comfortable silence, thinking about what had happened that evening. Fluttershy wasn't sure what how things would be between them after this, but she didn't care. Having him by her side gave her this warm, tingly feeling. That feeling left though when she noticed the empty carriage waiting for her.
"Where are they?" Fluttershy asked, starting to worry.
"Oh, I'm sure they'll be along," Discord said, waving his paw dismissively.
"But, what if they aren't? What if they took another carriage and left me here? What if—"
"Now Fluttershy, you know they wouldn't do that to you," Discord said, "how could anypony do that anyways? You're too sweet to leave behind." He couldn't believe that he had just said that, but at the moment he didn't care. He wanted Fluttershy to be happy.
Fluttershy looked up at him with her big, wet eyes. But, she smiled. Seeing that made Discord's heart glow.
"Fluttershy!" The said pegasus turned around to see her friends running toward her. Fluttershy pulled them all into a hug.
"Oh, I was so worried you all had left without me," Fluttershy said.
"Why would we do that?" Twilight asked.
"I told you…" Discord whispered in her ear. Fluttershy smiled up at him and then turned back to her friends.
"Well, because you weren't here. I thought that you would have been out here by now, but I guess I had made a wrong conclusion," Fluttershy answered.
"Speaking of wrong conclusions, we're terribly sorry Discord," Rarity spoke up. Discord looked at her, clearly surprised by the apology.
"What do you have to be sorry for?" Discord asked. Twilight took over.
"Because of what you have done in the past, we thought that you were still…well evil. We believed that somepony like you could never change. But, seeing you with Fluttershy tonight helped us realize that we had misjudged you. For that, we are very sorry."
"Yeah, we're sorry," the others chorused.
"Does this mean…?"
"Yep yep yep! We're giving you a chance, Discord!" Pinkie said with enthusiasm.
"So don't mess up," Rainbow warned, a slight edge in her voice.
"Oh don't worry, Dashie, I'll be on my best behavior," Discord said lightly. Just then, Fluttershy flew up and wrapped her arms around Discord.
"See? I told you they would grow to accept you too," Fluttershy said.
"That you did," Discord replied, hugging the pegasus back. He suddenly let go of her and turned to Twilight. "Wait a second, you said seeing me with Fluttershy tonight helped you realize that I'm not such a bad guy after all…what exactly did you mean by that?" He glanced toward Fluttershy, who was blushing now like he most certainly was.
"Oh, um, just being kind to her and a good friend," Twilight said quickly. Before anypony could say anything, Twilight added, "Well, it's getting late, so we should be heading home. It was nice seeing you Discord!" She quickly teleported herself and the others into the carriage, leaving out only Discord and Fluttershy.
"Do you think they saw us…kiss?" Fluttershy asked nervously.
"Probably, Princess Sparkle here made it rather obvious," Discord said, "But, if that helped them see that I've given up my evil ways, shouldn't that be okay?"
"Yes, I suppose so," Fluttershy said, feeling a little less uneasy.
"So, till be meet again?"
"Oh Discord!" Fluttershy hugged him again. "I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too, dearest Fluttershy," Discord said. "Now, it's rude to keep our friends waiting. I promise I will visit you soon."
"Pinkie Promise?"
"Pinkie Promise."
Fluttershy smiled and pecked him on the cheek. She hurried into the carriage after her friends and waved to him through the window.
"Goodbye, Fluttershy!" Discord called.
"Goodbye!"
The friends rode home happily, but none happier than Fluttershy. She sighed as she looked out the window, wondering when she would again get to see her friend, Discord.
Some of you wanted to see how everypony would react to Discord and Fluttershy, so here you all go! I hope I didn't disappoint.