Chapter 1

Autumn leaves crunched soundly under her hooves and piles of snow glistened as she trotted through her garden, shivering slightly. Fluttershy hummed quietly to herself as she watered her plants, finally finished with feeding all of her animals. In a desperate attempt to make Angel eat his last carrot, the pegasus had tripped and sprained her hoof. Yes, she was angry at her pet for a small time, but she knew that he had never meant to hurt her and had forgiven him. The bunny quickly gobbled the carrot after the fall.

Wincing a little every time she added weight to the hurt hoof, Fluttershy decided to use her wings as a help. When she flew a little in the air, she flinched as she felt someone pull her into a hug.

"Who…?" she gasped, but her answer came sooner than intended when the creature that hugged her revealed to be Discord.

"Surprise!" he laughed. "Caught you off guard there, didn't I?" He smirked when he noticed her blush.

"O-oh, I suppose…" she shrugged it off and smiled up at him. "What are you doing here? Didn't Celestia call you to her castle for five months of chaotic-harmony magic tests?" Discord rubbed the back of his neck.

"Are you not happy to see me?"

"No!" she exclaimed, sorry for doubting him. "I could never feel that way to a friend. I was just curious." Fluttershy's ears twitched a little when she thought she heard him mutter something, but ignored it.

"Yeah, a friend…" Discord had murmured too low for her to hear. Shaking himself he added, "The five months are over, silly. Didn't you keep watch on your calendar? Or…" he turned away from her, secretly smiling. "Or have I become something of your distaste?"

The pegasus gasped when she heard this. "No! No Discord, never. I guess I was just so used to hoping you back that I… I started to think that you wouldn't come back…" she turned away, blushing.

The draconequus shook his head and chuckled softly, bringing her into another embrace. "I know, I am simply joking, my dear. Now how about we do something fun together?"

Fluttershy felt flustered for a moment, but her head cleared again when he let her go. "Sure? I mean… I guess we could take a walk through the forest… the safe part anyway. Since the snows have been very benign lately, it's beautiful this winter."

"Indeed you are." He sighed dreamily.

"What?" she jerked her head up, confused at what she thought he said.

"W-what?" Discord stammered, clearly embarrassed that she had heard him. "I-I said… i-indeed it is… what did you think I said?" His moment of embarrassment was over when she was the one feeling flustered again.

"O-oh," she flushed a deep red, "nothing. So… do you want to take that walk now?" Fluttershy used the idea as an excuse to get him to not ask any more questions, but it didn't work.

"What, my dear?" he smirked, moving closer to the pegasus. "What did you think I said?"

She shied away from him and nearly fell backwards if it hadn't been for his tail, catching her and lifting her up so that she was nearly inches away from his face.

"N-nothing!" she spoke in desperation, trying hard to struggle from his grip, but he was too strong. "Really Discord, it was nothing."

His grin broadened wickedly as he continued to fluster her. "If it has you this worked up, then it's clearly something. What did you think, my dear?"

Fluttershy held her breath, but then let it out in a long sigh, knowing she had to tell the truth. "I thought you said that… that I was beautiful…" she trailed off.

"But you are, my dear!" he set her down gently and began to walk towards the forest. "Now, I believe I have tortured you enough with the question," he winked, "so how about that nature walk?"

Still blushing slightly, the pegasus followed her draconequus friend into the safe part of the forest. The trees burned brightly with the stunning arrangement of icicles and snow blanketing the top of each branch as they continued deeper into the Everfree. Fluttershy gasped joyously as she noticed a Star Spider crawling out from under a rock.

"Hello, friend!" she spoke cheerily.

Pausing, Discord turned to her.

"What is that?" he asked.

"A spider." The pegasus giggled at his recoil in disgust.

"I still don't understand why you insist on enjoying those… those things! I don't know any pony that would. Besides you." He muttered the last part.

Fluttershy laughed a little stronger. "Don't worry. Mr. Spider here is just waiting for some of those pesky flies to land in the web." She straightened and continued, not noticing how dreamily Discord was staring at her.

Walking behind her in silence was so interesting. He would watch as the little pony stopped every so often to talk to a groundhog, muskrat, or even a mouse. She's so adorable! He thought.

Her mane was very well kept, so soft and well-groomed. Strangely enough, the creature felt that he could stand forever and be lost in the depth of her beautiful, hypnotizing teal eyes. Even though she would never feel the exact same about him, and even though Discord might not have admitted it, he loved her ever so much.

. . .

Fluttershy clopped into her house. Arriving in her living room and collapsing on the warm couch gave her instant relief from her two hour walk with Discord. Slowly, she closed her eyes and rested.

The pegasus gasped when she noticed the draconequus in front of her, looming down over her.

"Are you tired, my dear?" he asked.

"Oh my, yes." She sighed. "That walk really got on my hoof muscles, but also my shoulders. I feel so tight." Hoping that a sleep would ease them up, she closed her eyes once again.

Fluttershy's eyes snapped open once again when she felt Discord's thumbs on her back muscles, moving them in rhythmic circles.

"Dis-Discord, you know y-you don't h-have to do that…" she struggled to get her words out, a little uncomfortable with him sitting so close. Don't act like that! He's your friend.

"Nonsense my dear." Discord gazed down at her, smiling. "You've gotten so many knots in your shoulders. No wonder you feel tight."

The pegasus knew that fighting the draconequus would only make it harder for her. Once he had made up his mind, it was made up. Maybe just a little longer…

Discord stared down in triumph at Fluttershy. So beautiful… no! Stop it, Discord. You cannot go all soft like that for a pony, even if she is your best friend… He sighed. Suddenly, it hit him. Am I…? The chimera dismissed the thought. He couldn't be falling in love with her. He just couldn't.

After a while Discord pulled away. He noticed that she had been sleeping for nearly twenty minutes. Smiling softly, he picked her up gently and teleported to her room. Reluctantly, he set her down and put the covers over her, chuckling as he noticed her pull a pillow to her side and clutch it.

Teleporting once again, he arrived at his castle in the Everfree Forest. It had been a while since he'd seen the place, as he was with Celestia for five months. Finally, Sun Butt can't keep me on a leash here. He flew up to his bed which was perched on the ceiling and slid under his blankets.

Before he closed his eyes, he used his magic to lift a picture frame. In it sat Fluttershy, her chest rising and falling ever so lightly as she slept. He sighed and continued to watch her frame through this one-way window.

After a few minutes he set the picture back on his nightstand. No need to get too caught up in that wonderful… caring… darling wif-… WHAT?! The draconequus instantly shot up and jerked his head from side to side as to see if anyone had been around and possibly read his thoughts.

"Now I know I'm truly going insane…" he sighed out loud, face-palming himself.

But after a few moments of thinking, he realized the truth. It slammed against him with all of its might as he widened his eyes.

"Goodness, I've… I've fallen in love with her!" Discord gazed ahead and half closed his eyes dreamily.

Suddenly it hit him. He was going to do anything to make her his, and he was not going to take no for an answer.