Fluttershy had a fairly peaceful morning with Discord. She made them a light and refreshing breakfast, promising him oatmeal once the animals were fed. She was stirring the hot meal now, thinking back to the almost painful conversation from earlier. She got to learn a lot about his past, how he felt betrayed by the two Princesses. She told him about her experiences having a crush on Rainbow Dash during flight school, and all the problems she had there.

So Fluttershy, why are you in love with Rainbow Dash?

The question Discord asked her rang in her head again. She was ashamed to admit that thinking back to how the past few weeks had been, it was harder to answer. She only faltered for a moment though, ready to defend her love. Her own answer repeated in her uneasy mind.

There are so many reasons why I love her, too many to count. She is my protector. She has always defended me from anypony that threatened to cause me harm, even risking injury herself. She’s my best friend. She always supported me, tried to push me forward into being a better pony. She accepted my faults, and looked past them to see me. Discord, she’s my other half, all the parts of me that aren’t fully there. My Dashie, she completes me.

Her explanation repeated in her mind, making her smile. She was proud that she was so confident in her love, she hadn’t stuttered once, even when talking to The Discord. And she felt the sincerity in her words, giving her hope in them mending their relationship. Until Discord gave his two bits, that is.

Well, that is rather quaint of you, dear. But I just don’t see it. Some protector she was, making you hurt yourself like that. Accusing you of infidelity to the point of mental anguish! Putting your authority down in front of everypony, including me! Why, if you ask me, she seems to be all the nasty, angry little bones you are missing from your sweet little body.

Fluttershy had gotten upset at the words. She felt her blood pressure rise at such things. She excused herself to preparing the oatmeal then. But after a moment to cool down and reflect on his side of things, she started to doubt herself again.

Am I really just fooling myself? I know I love and care for Dashie, and she does the same for me. But is that enough? she thought sadly as she stopped stirring and looked out a window. No! He can’t be right. Can he? I mean, years ago, I excused ponies walking all over me as natural, when it was anything but. She pondered some more, sitting down. But what Rainbow and I have is different. Isn’t it? It’s real, it just has to be, to make me feel this way.

She was harshly pulled out of her thoughts by the smell of something sweet burning. She gasped as she hovered in the air and picked up the pot, trying to avoid the oatmeal that had boiled over. She simultaneously turned off the stove, turning her head when she heard someone enter her kitchen.

“Yoo-hoo! Hello again Fluttershy. I thought I smelled burnt oatmeal, and wanted to check on you. Make sure things were, going fine.” Discord stated, a sly smile on his face, delighting in her thoughts.

Fluttershy avoided eye contact with him, covering her eyes with her mane. She looked down, embarrassed by such a rookie mistake. “Uh, yes. Everything is ok Discord. I’m sorry I burnt the oatmeal.”

Discord was already hovering the pot to him, a spoon in his claws. “No apologies needed. I love my oatmeal burnt!” he eagerly looked to his treat, giving the yellow pegasus a quick wink. “Thank you.”

Fluttershy smiled then. She must have been doing something right. He was using his pleases and thank yous, and sincerely so. “I better go pick up some groceries for dinner. Why don’t you make yourself completely at home? I won’t be gone for more than an hour.”

Rainbow Dash had been up most of the night trying to find the right spells to forcefully reform the baddie, Discord. She had a mean head ache from sleep deprivation. The distraught mare needed a break from all the books, and she took a flight once her three other friends came over.

She was pretty aggravated, and sleepy to boot, but just the thought of Discord spending the night with her mare friend in their house made her so uneasy, she couldn’t even think of sleep now. She was flying fairly low to the ground, going at a slow and steady pace when something yellow that was trotting rather slowly back from town entered her view. Her eyes widened in surprise and worry as she zipped down in a flash, her famous rainbow trail behind her.

She had a bit of a rough landing, but managed not to fall, a cloud of dust swirling about them. Fluttershy had flinched at the unexpected landing, coughing the dust while waving it away with a hoof. Rainbow Dash had an uncomfortable smile plastered on her face as her mare friend glared daggers at her. “Hehe, sorry about that.” Rainbow Dash hunched over slightly.

Fluttershy’s eyes softened once she was able to catch her breath. Things had been running wild since Discord was out under her care, and an unexpected scare like that was probably the last thing she needed. She also decided the last thing they needed was another fight, so she tried to be understanding of her mare friend’s brash behavior.

The yellow pegasus even felt a smile on her lips once she got over her initial annoyance, her timid nature getting the best of her as she hid behind her mane. “H-hey Dashie. I missed you.” She said in a quiet voice for only her lover to hear.

The words brought a big smile to the prismatic pony, although seeing Fluttershy acting shier than usual threw her for a loop. She maneuvered her head, almost bird-like, to peak under the pink mane and brush muzzles briefly, feeling her own cheeks get hot. “Hey. I missed you too.” She sat down, letting Fluttershy get comfortable. “I was worried to death about you. I can’t imagine how awful it must be to have to share a roof with that animal!”

Fluttershy felt her chest tighten. She never liked hearing harsh words. Especially when using animals as an insult, and especially hearing those words from her Dashie. She really felt that maybe, Discord was just misunderstood, and she really could change him to good, if given support. Unfortunately, she truly felt alone in this endeavor. But she did her best at one of her greatest talents, and faults: keeping her mouth shut and not letting others know how she felt.

Rainbow’s eyes were practically bulging out. “It’s driving me insane, knowing that monster is alone with you! He hasn’t hurt you in any way, has he? I couldn’t find a trace of either of you the other day!”

Fluttershy groaned inwardly, feeling torn, as Dash’s complaints were drowned out. She knew her love meant well, and that she was just worried, and rightly so. But she really did have faith in her mission, and felt like nopony had faith in her, feeling lowly all over again. She tried to force a smile to ease her stressed out mare. “I already told you Dashie, things are just fine.” She hadn’t even realized she stopped her beloved mid sentence. “He has actually been very polite. We have been talking, and I have gotten to know him quite well. I think I have a much better understanding of the whole situation.” She did her best to explain.

Rainbow Dash still could not believe her ears. And in her already exhausted state, she wasn’t reacting as best as she should. “Are you bonkers Shy?” She placed her hooves on Shy’s head, inspecting her face. “He didn’t do the old mind control trick, did he? There is nothing more to know about the sleaze ball, except that he is 100% evil! No ifs, ands, or buts about it!” she stated, matter of fact, not realizing her tone growing frustrated, or volume rising.

The ground loving pegasus did not appreciate all the rude comments. She pushed the hooves off her face, standing up and getting ready to walk away before things got really heated. She felt her frown grow. “You are acting like a baby, Dashie. I know it’s hard to trust him after all he’s done, but for the final time, trust me!” She shut her eyes and started trotting away. “I got to pick up some groceries. Please take care of yourself.”

Rainbow Dash was struck dumbfounded for a moment before flying in a flash and cutting her off. She needed to keep her Fluttershy safe, at any cost. They all knew to what lengths Discord would be willing to go, and she herself experienced the horrible feeling of mind control. “Hey! Shy, settle down and talk to me. I don’t like you two being left alone together, there’s no way for me to protect you.”

Fluttershy exhaled sharply, feeling the weight of the world crushing her with each word. “Well maybe I don’t need protection from him. Maybe, he just needs some kindness.” She felt her eyes water slightly.

Rainbow Dash tried to talk some sense into her mare friend. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you are going soft on our enemy, taking too much of a liking to him.” Rainbow Dash ignored the angry look she was getting, continuing. “You do need protection from that Spirit of Chaos.” She landed on the ground and stomped her hoof. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I know what’s best for your safety Shy, and it’s not him.” She could see it on the yellow face, as Fluttershy tuned out her words, and she felt her tired anger rise.

Dash made some grunts, scuffing the ground again. “Shy, if you really think you can reform what is his true nature for evil, you’re crazy!”

Fluttershy felt her fur rise at that. “How could you say that to me? You know how I felt about ponies thinking that of me!” she yelled.

Rainbow reared her head back, remembering. She bit her lip, not daring to talk back as she felt her heart ache at the single tear that trialed down a yellow cheek.

Fluttershy sniffled once, quickly wiping the tear away. No more being bullied, no more keeping those feelings inside and hidden. she chanted in her mind. “I know everypony in town thinks what I’m trying to do is suicide, a lost cause. But I believe in me, and I believe that the true friendship we all share can perform miracles, and that no one, not even the Spirit of Chaos, is immune to its magic!” she felt her body shake from her yelling. She shut her eyes tight, “So maybe it’s you and the rest of you neigh sayers who are wrong, who, who are a little nuts!” Trying to stand firm on shaky hooves, she tried to control her breathing. She felt a strange mixture of pride and shame, feeling like she should walk tall, while trying to avoid eye contact as she walked past her.

Rainbow felt her mouth hang open from shock. “Did she really just insult me and all the ponies of Ponyville?” she wasn’t sure if she was dreaming, rubbing the side of her face. She felt her head burn from frustration, feeling like she could collapse. “Whatever Shy. You’ll come crawling back once you see his true colors. And I’ll be there to send him back to his stone age. Try not to lose it living with him.”

Fluttershy stopped, sparing a glance. “I’m trying not to lose you in all this madness, but you aren’t making it easy Dashie.” She said, brutally honest, and full of hurt.

Rainbow Dash flinched, feeling like she was just slapped in the face. She clearly saw the despair on Fluttershy’s face, and cringed at her mare friend’s little comeback. And although her pride was telling her to leave, her heart was calling out to her lover. She ran as fast as she could, closing the distance instantly. She held Fluttershy tight, “I don’t want to lose you babe. But if something did happen, and to know I could save you from him, but didn’t, it would kill me.”

Fluttershy let herself be held for a few moments, running her hoof up and down her lover’s back. She tried to remain strong, having faith in her duties. “I don’t need saving this time Dash. I just need your faith. It’s all I am asking for.” She looked into her eyes, watching them sparkle from the held in tears. She wanted to kiss her then, but felt like things were too tense still. “Take care of yourself.”

Rainbow Dash felt her forelegs go limp as she let her marefriend go. “Be safe Fluttershy.” she felt her voice falter. She watched her walk away, turning around and taking to the air. She was breathing heavily, barely able to stay airborne. Why can’t I just make things right between us? I’m so sick of all this drama. I wish we could go back to our happy days.

I swear, things have just been going from bad to worse, ever since my birthday.”She slowly made it to her cloud home. She trudged her way past her pet, and fell on her bed. She let out a sigh of defeat, covering her eyes with her wings. “I swear if he does anything to her, I’ll make him pay.” She saw her world spin, as her eyes shut, and she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Fluttershy sat alone on her little patio table outside her home. She was watching the sunset, not having the energy to go inside where it was warmer. She did it, she had done the impossible. Timid little nopony Fluttershy had single hoofidly reformed one of the biggest baddies in Equestria, the same guy who managed to even get the best of Celestia herself, reigning Lord of Chaos, Discord. She sighed again as Luna’s beautiful work painted the sky.

She should have felt happy, she should have felt proud, she should have been walking on air. She was recognized as a town hero, again, this time completely on her own merits. She gained the royal thanks of the Princesses. And she gained a new, powerful, while still mischievous friend. In a nut shell, she saved the world from never ending chaos, and saved Discord from a life of imprisonment and loneliness.

She rested her heavy head on the little table where she often drank her morning tea with the animals. The thought of Discord no longer being alone brought a small smile on her face, but she hadn’t felt this alone in a long, long time. She remembered the whole fiasco of reforming her new friend. The crazy dinner party felt like it was from a cartoon. And although she did like her house coming to life, like she told him, she didn’t like the way it did harm to her friends.

She screwed her eyes shut at thinking of the poor Apple Family, and of poor Sweet Apple Acres being frozen over, and her poor little beaver friends being possessed. She took in a sharp breath as what pained her most about that day entered her mind yet again, that single question that had ruined what should have been her most triumphant moment.

Do you all think I’m a silly gullible fool?

Their reaction was enough to break her heart, and bring tears to her eyes, even now, days after the fact. She sniffled and hid her face in her fore legs as her tiny mouse like cries were smothered. “They truly did think I was a fool. All of them, even Rainbow Dash. And what’s worse, they tried to cover up the fact.” She complained to herself. “They can’t even say it to my face. They probably didn’t want to upset poor little Fluttershy.” she said bitterly.

She sniffed and stopped for a moment as she saw the sad little Angel Bunny cuddling her leg. She smiled again, picking him up and letting him cuddle in the crook of her neck. “I know Angel can be a hoofful too, but when you really need him, he’s there.” She thought to herself as the fluffy tail tickled her nose and made her sneeze.

She thought a lot of Angel Bunny during the dinner party, when everypony was pointing their hooves to Discord. She felt bad for him then, like he was a neglected and misunderstood child, who was acting out for all the wrong reasons, and just needed a little love. Her motherly instincts kicked in then, and her Element of Kindness took over, as she admitted in front of them all that she considered Discord her friend.

Why do you keep cutting him so much slack? She could still hear Dash’s words so clear.
She gave her lover a hard look, hoping she could read between the lines. Because that’s what friends do!

She remembered the shock on all their faces, Dashie’s the most. Then more of her mare friend’s words came to mind. What do you think of your friend now, Fluttershy? The way they all turned their backs on her, and she had to follow, being ignored by them all the whole race there, even Discord not making eye contact with her. He was too busy gloating to her other friends.

She heard the thumping of tiny rabbit paws on her table, and saw Angel making signs. She looked to where he was pointing at and saw her studious friend walking onto her property. The unicorn had a warm smile on, but her eyes looked weary. Fluttershy couldn’t force her smile at the moment, but she stood up and met her friend half way.

Twilight still looked wearily, her eyes scanning the area for any mischievous chaos that called for her attention. She finally locked eyes with the saddened pegasus, a new spark of worry poking at her mind to see her friend looking so down. “Hello Fluttershy. I’m sorry I haven’t been here sooner. The whole Discord thing took a lot more attention then I was prepared to give, especially with Celestia letting him stay here a few days more.”

Fluttershy tried to forget about the things she was thinking about before, tried to forget how even when Discord had admitted he was reformed, everypony, even Celestia, looked away, unbelieving.

Twilight seemed distraught when her usually pleasant friend didn’t show her expected kind demeanor. She tried to focus on her surroundings to notice all the animals calm, but in a sad sort of way. They are probably reflecting their caretaker. Twilight casually thought to herself. She cleared her throat and looked to her yellow friend who was in a haze. “May I have a seat, and we can talk for a little bit?” Twilight asked, concerned for her friend.

Fluttershy had snapped out of it at the words. Her cheeks flushed as she rushed over and pulled out a chair. “Oh my, yes. I’m so sorry Twilight, where are my manners?”

Twilight tried for a comforting smile, already calculating how Discord must be behind this saddened pegasus. “Oh, don’t be sorry, it’s quite alright. You must have so much on your mind. You accomplished a big thing, reforming Discord. And you are still having him as a house guest. I would be forgetful too.”

Fluttershy was already feeling annoyed, everywhere she went, she was followed by the accusing eyes of everypony, telling her to be distrustful of her new friend. He hadn’t been doing anything wrong, besides a little prank or poking fun, which wasn’t against the law. And she knew Twilight would be the one to look for the first reason to send him packing.

“Well, Discord has been a pleasure spending time with. It’s everypony else that has been stressing me out.” Fluttershy explained in a grumpy tone. She was not in the mood for more drama, and didn’t even feel the need to apologize for Twilight’s shock.

“Well, how are they stressing you out Fluttershy?” the studious pony asked, truly concerned by the change in her friend’s behavior.

Fluttershy gave an annoyed snort, pausing for a moment before explaining. “Nopony is giving him a chance, and it just isn’t fair. He has been on his best behavior. And everywhere we go, there is somepony there, trying to give us a hard time.” She finally took a seat, her shoulders hunched over and head hanging low. She felt another head ache coming.

Twilight looked down, feeling bad. She knew what her friend had said was true. “I know it’s hard Fluttershy. But you can’t expect ponies to just change their view of him in one night, after all he has done. Not everypony is as kind and forgiving as you.” Twilight was surprised again to hear her timid friend scoff.

Fluttershy rested her head on the table, rubbing her temples. “Everypony took to Princess Luna rather quickly, they even threw a party for her.” She said bitterly as she scuffed the ground in agitation. She slowly locked eyes with the purple unicorn who was trying to process the information she just heard. She picked her head up. “How is it any different?”

Twilight scratched the back of her head, weighing out the similarities and differences. “Well, I can’t speak for everypony here in Ponyville, but…” she tried to smile at her friend, who was expressionless at the moment. “I had known all about the folk lore with Luna. And not only did I see the physical changes when the evil spirit left her, but I felt the change we created in her.”

Fluttershy remained quiet, unmoving. She wanted to hear her friend’s reason fully.

“But with Discord, I’m just not sure he is as sincere. It is in his nature to be chaotic” Twilight tried to reach her hoof over to comfort her yellow companion.

Fluttershy smoothly pulled her hoof away, looking past her, toward the moon. “My animals can break their nature to attack each other when they are with me, and with my care, understanding, and trust.”

Twilight rubbed her chin in thought. “Well, maybe he may be like your animals, ignoring his true nature with you. But he won’t always be with you Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy paused for a moment. “It is true, he won’t always be by my side. But by being his friend, we have to truly believe him and trust him.” Fluttershy looked Twilight in the eyes, her own blue ones shimmering in sadness. “Being meek, quiet, and shy is in my nature. It’s even in my name. But that didn’t stop me from being friends with all of you. And that was because of the magic we make, when we share that connection.”

Twilight looked at her hooves, trying her best to take comfort in her friend’s firm beliefs. “I really hope you are right Fluttershy. I truly hope so.” Twilight felt her ears droop at seeing Fluttershy take a deep sigh, looking more in despair. She had almost forgotten how hard things were for the kind pegasus, even before the wild card, Discord, was thrown into her life.

She looked around, as a certain pegasus came to mind. “So Fluttershy, off topic. How are things going between you and Rainbow Dash? To be honest, I haven’t seen her since Princess Celestia came to show her approval of Discord’s reform.”

Fluttershy’s whole body language saddened even more at the name, her facial expression showing a hint of bitterness. She couldn’t help the slight whimper that escaped her lips before her words had a chance. “I have been spending everyday with Discord, so I haven’t seen any sight of her. Not even her rainbow trail. She wants nothing to do with him. Of course, you know that.”

Twilight looked puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”

Fluttershy looked up at the night sky again, deep in thought. “I have spotted you everywhere we go. I saw you through Rarity’s window when we tried on different clothes.” Fluttershy saw the guilty pony blush. She half smiled the memory of all the funny jokes Discord was making while in all manners of outfits. Although Rarity seemed a little displeased with their fun. She recalled her fashion forward friend enjoying the challenge of properly fitting their magical friend in a vibrant, blue tux.

“I saw you being discreet outside of the Sweet Apple Acres, and again by the West orchard as he tried various apples.” She couldn’t help the small smile at Twilight’s caught in the act look. “And how could you think you could spy on us with both Discord and Pinkie around?” Fluttershy leaned more on the table, feeling more comfortable, and patting her friend’s hoof, trying to bring the same comfort to her. “Don’t feel bad though Twilight, we aren’t mad. Pinkie just had to introduce our new friend to everypony in Ponyville. It seems as if our energetic friend is the only pony really trying to get to know Discord. I suppose the chocolate rain helped.”

They both giggled at that. “At least you are showing some interest in his reform, even in your-” she paused a moment, her manners coming back, “peculiar way. But Dashie, oh dear, she wants nothing to do with him. And as long as I am near him, and on his side, she wants nothing to do with me. I really think she hates him Twilight. And it tears me up inside, seeing her so full of disdain, when he really is trying so hard.”

Twilight understood, trying to think of the best way to help her friends, feeling her own heart go out to the sad pegasus who looked to the ground, defeated. “I’m so sorry Fluttershy. Have you two tried talking, just the two of you? I know things weren’t exactly on the best of terms before we called the meeting at the park.”

Fluttershy shut her eyes, determined not to cry again. “She doesn’t trust me you know.” She chuckled for a moment then. “I mean, of course you know, how silly of me, you were all there for her birthday party.” Fluttershy gave her friend a cold look, still wanting to talk about how none of them trusted her, yet knowing she should just let it go.

Twilight’s ears drooped at the understatement. “Yeah, it’s hard to tell just how much of that night was the alcohol talking, and how much was Dash. Trust is a tough thing to build when life is tough, or when you are scared.”

Fluttershy gave out a snort of a laugh. “Yeah, well, us Cloudsdale Flyers know plenty about a tough life. And I am an expert on being scared. Why doesn’t she understand Twilight? I went through so much of that with her, not just by her side to comfort her, but as a fellow victim. I have known her for so long, loved her for so long. I mean, look at all that we have gone through, just the six of us. I think that warrants some trust!” Fluttershy felt the head pains coming back even stronger now. “And now I wonder, if my love and devotion is even enough to keep us together. It isn’t looking good.”

Twilight felt her heart breaking for her shy friend. She got up from her seat and hugged Fluttershy tightly. Shutting her eyes and holding on stronger as she felt her sobs, the timid pegasus couldn’t hold out anymore. “Shh, it’s ok Fluttershy. Let it out. I know it’s hard, I know. ” Twilight rubbed her back and stroked through the soft mane until the tears subsided once again, leaving as quickly as they came.

Fluttershy’s eyes were looking red, but Twilight had to admit, even in her saddened state and with tear stained face, she still managed to have that subtle beauty about her. The Canterlot native noticed how she started to look fearful of the darkening night, so Twilight lit up the flowers, the bugs, and the whole night with her magic, giving it a safe feeling. “I know it must be so hard for you Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash just isn’t as good at these feelings as you. She may act confident, but I think at times, she is even less confident than you or I. Plus, I think our fast flying friend has always had trouble sharing the attention.”

Fluttershy nodded in agreement, looking down to Angel Bunny, who was sleeping beneath the table. She smiled softly, those two were truly very similar. “You certainly hit the nail on the head with that one.” She stated quietly, taking a moment to rub her head again.

Twilight took the silence as a sign to continue. “But remember, this is Discord, and not everypony will be as quick to forgive as the Element of Kindness herself. Rainbow Dash was under that spell the longest. You must remember how awful it was to be controlled like that?”

Fluttershy had put it out of her mind, her already forgiving Discord for his past misdeeds. But remembering the ordeal, it sent a shudder through her spine, making her quiver.

“I think Rainbow Dash may just need some time, maybe even a very long period of time before she can start trusting him. But you are right about one thing, she should be more trusting of you. She shouldn’t let the fact you two are friends come between your love for one another. I think she just needs a little more time to sort things out. Give her that time, she will realize just how important you are to her.” Twilight held Fluttershy’s hoof then, smiling as they made eye contact. “Now I know I am not the authority on love, I mean, I am still learning about friendship. But she would move mountains for you Shy. I’m sure she will learn to tolerate our new companion to be with you.”

Fluttershy managed a bigger smile, at hearing Twilight refer to Discord as our companion. She felt her chest swell in happiness. “Well, she will have as much time as she needs. Tomorrow, Discord leaves back to Canterlot, and I will be heading to Foalrida to visit my mom. I haven’t had a chance to tell her yet, since she has been avoiding me. Will you tell her, when you see her? So she doesn’t think I up and left with Discy.”

“Discy?” Twilight questioned, puzzled.

Fluttershy giggled her first real giggle that day, trying to hide it behind her hoof. “I am trying to figure out cute little pet names for Discord, something only I can call him by. Do you think he will like it?”

Twilight’s eyes were bugged out, as she bit her lip, one ear twitching. She had to remember to breathe. “Fluttershy, I am the completely wrong pony to ask that to. Cause I have no idea.”

They both started to laugh then, both thinking of Discord’s reaction to the pet name. Twilight calmed first, leaning closer to her yellow friend. “Where is Discord anyway?” she whispered.

Fluttershy rolled her eyes, smiling. “Well, Pinkie came by in the morning. She said Dashie had canceled their weekly pranks, so she wanted to know if we wanted to join. I wasn’t in the mood, but it was certainly Discord’s thing. I told him I could use some time to relax, made them both promise to be on their best behavior, and sent them off to their fun. That was hours ago. They must be having a blast.”

Twilight was in shock. Discord alone with Pinkie?! This is a recipe for disaster! she thought as she ground her teeth in nervousness. “Well, I best be going then. Make sure those two crazy kids aren’t you know, literally turning this town upside down.” She pity laughed at her own joke as she started off toward town, before stopping dead in her tracks and looking back to her quiet friend. “Oh, and Fluttershy, thanks for basically saving the world. And Discord too I suppose. I never should have doubted you. I’m sure Rainbow will come around, she hasn’t left any of us hanging before.”

Fluttershy smiled gratefully, although she was sure Twilight hadn’t even seen it. She was very thankful to have such a good friend like her. “Thank you Twilight Sparkle, I needed to hear those words more than you know.” She shivered again, finally feeling the cold night air nip at her once she was out of her mini depression. She gently woke up her, at the moment, snuggly rabbit and carried him in her long tail. “Well Angel, at least I got an apology from one of my friends. And without even having to pester her. I love it when things fall into order so easily.”

She thought about making Discord’s favorite snack, cucumber sandwiches, and preparing by hoof some delicious pomegranate juice, as a nice way to spend their last night as house mates. Until the next time he visits! I do so love having my one on one time with him. She giggled to herself when he admitted, dramatically so, that he did indeed love the cucumber sandwiches. I do believe it is the best part about being reformed! She could still hear his voice. A new glimmer of hope came into her. Things would be easier, when he went back home, to start mending his relationship with the Princesses. And she had a weekend to talk with her mother, someone she could truly trust judgment on her relationship woes. “I mean, she has known us as long as we have been alive. She hasn’t led me wrong before. I hope you are ready to see my mommy Angel baby.” She nuzzled her rabbit, letting him hop off as she went to prepare the food.

Rainbow Dash woke up to the sun hitting her face, she did a long stretch, coupled with a long yawn. She cleared her scratchy throat and rubbed her sleepy eyes, enjoying the relief the stretch brought her sore body. Shy was spoiling me with all those massages. I could really use one now. She dropped to the floor, doing a few sets of wing ups, grunting. She did some more stretches for her whole body, then finished with some regular push ups. She felt nature calling, shook off the sweat she was starting, and headed straight for her bathroom.

She looked out her window after stepping into the cloud shower, sighing sadly. “Another beautiful sunny afternoon above the clouds, courtesy of Princess Celestia. Yay.” She said flatly, as she thought again of a mare who in her eyes, out shined the sun. A light bulb suddenly flashed in her head as she thought of the Princess. Her eyes grew huge, with a smile that was even bigger.

She smiled happily into the strong and steady stream, letting her mane and head get soaked. “Oh my gosh! Discord left to Canterlot this morning! Which means my Shy will no longer have that sleazy, good for nothing, chaos loving, wacko hanging around her! Now I can be with her 24/7!” The epiphany made the blue pegasus’ heart soar at an altitude much higher than she was now. She took a quick shower, giving excited squees and calls of awesomeness the whole time. She flew out of her house, giving her tortoise a quick and happy noogie before flying at almost sonic Rainboom speeds to the cottage. She was there in under two minutes.

She nearly crash landed, barely avoiding the bushes and now upset animals. She shook the leaves from her mane, looking around to see if Fluttershy was feeding her animals, or tending her garden, like she usually would at this time. Some of the animals gave her dirty looks, obviously upset about the intrusion, and possibly still holding a grudge from her drunken stupor. “Just drop it, will ya. It’s me, Dash! I feed you all the time, remember? Let me just go say hello to my marefriend.”

She hopped over to the door, feeling as light as a feather, and looking like she was copying Pinkie’s signature stride. She gave three good hard knocks, nervously fixing the way her mane fell over her face, to give it that just got out bed looking this good look. Her anticipation grew when she heard hoof steps coming closer, the turn of the door knob, and squeaking of an opening door.

She felt like she jumped out of her coat when Pinkie’s bright expression suddenly appeared. “Dashie! So wonderful to see you! Where have you been all morning?” Pinkie was somehow vibrating in place, excited as ever. She was wearing her baker’s hat and apron, a little flour in her mane.

“Uh, asleep. What are you doing here? Where’s Shy?” Rainbow questioned, letting herself in. Spike crashed into her suddenly, also a little flour splattered on his scales.

“Hi Rainbow Dash. I thought you would have been here earlier. Come to help with the animals?”

The cyan mare was confused, sitting on the floor. “What’s going on here?”

Spike had a look on his face, as if he just realized something bad. “Well, you did get to talk to Twilight last night, didn’t you?” Pinkie hopped behind him, smiling and nodding rapidly.

“No, I didn’t get the chance to visit yesterday, I was busy training. Where’s Fluttershy? I want to see her.”

Spike tapped his claws nervously, about to speak, when Pinkie was in between them. “Ohhh! Now I get it! You didn’t know that Fluttershy left town? Yup, she took the first train out of here at dawn, same as Discord! She had Spike take care of the animals again, since he always does such a good job.” She messed up his green spikes, making coos at him. “So I dropped by to make him a big gem cake, and make sure he gets to eat it this time!”

Spike suddenly had a dreamy look on his face at the thought of his cake. “Oh yeah!” he licked his lips. He shook his head. “She even took Angel, so that’s one less headache for me.”

Rainbow Dash clutched at her chest with one hoof, while going threw her mane with another. “You mean she left to Canterlot with that bozo? How could she do this to me? Why didn’t she even say goodbye?”

Pinkie lightly tapped her frantic friend on the foreleg. “No silly! Discord went to Canterlot, Fluttershy took the train the opposite way to see her mother. Isn’t she just the most precious little daughter? You always must find the time for your family!” The baking master lectured.

Rainbow Dash lowered herself to a lying position on the floor, not feeling like she could sit or stand at the moment. Her feelings were hurt. “I can’t believe she never told me. Didn’t even say goodbye. I mean, I would have gone crazy thinking something bad had happened to her. And she couldn’t even spare anytime to say goodbye to her mare friend?” Rainbow Dash spoke to herself aloud.

Pinkie and Spike looked to each other, both frowning. Spike remained quiet as Pinkie tried her best at cheering her friend up. “Don’t be sad Dashie. The trip will last under a week. She will be back home in no time! She missed you too, you know.”

Rainbow fought the wetness in her eyes as she looked up. “She did?”

Pinkie gave her friend a hug that was strong enough to show concern, but not squeeze the air from her lungs. “Well duh! Of course she did. She seemed even sadder than you now, when she didn’t see you at the train station.” Pinkie frowned when she noticed her last statement didn’t help her friend feel any better, making her even more glum. “I suppose she thought Twi had told you the news last night. Maybe you should go talk to her.” Spike nodded in agreement.

Rainbow slipped from the hug. She didn’t really feel like doing anything now, not even a work out. But she did want to get the full story. “Good plan guys, thanks.” As she turned from them, she heard Pinkie’s excited plea for making her some breakfast since she just woke up. Rainbow Dash politely shook her head no, faking a smile. As she slowly walked from the cottage, ignoring all the animals there, she felt her mood worsen. I’m really not hungry anyway.

She decided to fly, at a casual speed for casual ponies, which meant super slow for her. “Damn it all! Why did Celestia need to bring that dumb old Discord back? We could have worked things out so much easier if we didn’t have that old fiasco. It just burns me up knowing he is playin’em all for saps!” She growled under her breath, flying higher as the memory of what happened that afternoon flashed in her mind.

“I swear, things have just been going from bad to worse, ever since my birthday.” She slowly made it to her cloud home. She trudged her way past her pet, and fell on her bed. She let out a sigh of defeat, covering her eyes with her wings. “I swear if he does anything to her, I’ll make him pay.” She saw her world spin, as her eyes shut, and she drifted to an uneasy sleep.

She felt like she was only out for a few moments though, as a ruckus woke her. She opened her eyes, to see herself in a large room, and started walking towards what she somehow knew was her desk, feeling incredible rage. She wasn’t sure why. Her thoughts of Discord left her mind. The only thing on her mind was the one pony that happened to be in front of her.

Fluttershy was in a sweater, standing in front of her desk, looking at the papers she just wrote. Things felt warm, the fireplace was roaring, basically the only light in the dark room beside the moonlight that barely came in. Yet, despite these things, Fluttershy was shaking like a leaf. She was cowering even, and it looked like she was hiding something behind her back.

For some reason, this made the stronger mare all the angrier. She snorted, standing up from her desk. She looked around, noticing the place a mess. Papers everywhere, writing on the walls, books all out of order. Her eye twitched, “Isn’t this dumb filly supposed to keep things clean?” she thought to herself. She felt her breathing get heavier as she saw her pitiful state. She saw those blue eyes glisten with tears, heard her lover try to make out words, only whimpers escaping.

She could not believe how much that pitiful excuse of interaction pissed her off right now. “How do you like it?”

Fluttershy turned around, as quick as a whip.

“How do you like it?” Rainbow smiled slightly, squinting her eyes at her. “What are you doing down here?” she questioned.

“I-I don’t remember.”

“Maybe it was about Angel?”

Fluttershy continued to look at her, full of fear. She crept a little closer, Dash’s magenta eyes flashing to the item behind her. “It-it’s A-A-Angel. He’s sick. He n-needs.”

Rainbow Dash was done with her lover’s stuttering as she slammed her fore hooves on the ground, and slowly and intimidatingly, walked towards her. She couldn’t stop the mile wide grin on her face as she saw the instant fear, as tears began to well up for the yellow pony, and she scampered back some. She remembered, that awful little thorn in her side of a rabbit. How he had been acting so sick, and strange since the snow had been falling. “And what should be done with him?” she said, in an almost concerned voice.

For each step Rainbow Dash took, Fluttershy took another back, keeping the bat under her wing now. She tried to answer, only a cry coming out, until she finally muttered, “Uh, ah. I don’t know?”

Rainbow Dash felt like laughing at the obvious lie. “I don’t think that’s true.” She suddenly raised a hoof, making her companion flinch. She continued her almost predatory walk toward the frightened pony. “I think you have some very definite ideas about what should be done with Angel.” She pointed that hoof toward herself, feeling her control of her anger slipping. “And I’d like to know what they are.” She could feel the mocking expressions of feign concern and comfort she was giving her marefriend. And it delighted her.

Fluttershy took bigger steps backward in the giant study. She was starting to choke from fear, feeling pain from the mocking. She now held the bat in one hoof, truly fearful her lover was going to do something to her. She started having shallow breaths as she forced words out. “Wha- I- I think, maybe he should be taken to see a doctor.” Her shaky voice managed to say.

Dash’s fake concern, soon turned to a face of insult and anger. “You think maybe he should be taken to a doctor.” With each word, the cruelty on her face showed, the enjoyment in her eyes. She was still walking towards the butter colored mare.

Fluttershy was now holding the bat in two hooves, her small wings flapping just strong enough to take most of her weight off of the ground as her hind legs shuffled back. She was trying to seem bigger than she was. “YES!” she managed after some more small cries, the tears now falling.

Rainbow smiled at those cries, feeling a warmth in her heart for them. “When do you think MAYBE he should be taken to a doctor?” with each word, her body language was more aggressive, her wings flaring out to mentally prevent escape of her dear Fluttershy.

Fluttershy desperately clutched the bat to her chest, eyes darting around for the fastest way to gain distance. She was shaking violently now. “As soon as possible!” she said in a high pitched, fear filled voice.

Rainbow’s wrath for her lover was almost at disbelief for her right now. She didn’t know how she wasn’t choking her at the moment. “As soon as possible!” Dash copied in an insulting impression of her marefriend, her tongue sticking out teasingly for a moment.

Fluttershy was turning pale, as if she may be ill. “Dash!” the cyan’s face changed as if she cared for a moment. Fluttershy was dripped in sweat now, her breathing quick and labored. “Please!”

Rainbow had her tongue between her teeth, already feeling the urge to strike, yet still waiting. She even looked cool and collected, like a lion killing a mouse. “You believe his health might be at stake.” She bit her lip and raised her eyebrows teasingly.

Fluttershy nodded quickly. “Yes.” Her voice more desperate.

Rainbow had that sick smile on. “You are concerned about him.”

“Yes” came another cry.

The cyan face suddenly turned dark as she pointed her hoof to herself again. “And are you concerned about me?” the words were emotionless.

Fluttershy was on a verge of a breakdown, still walking back. “Of course I am!”

“Of course you are!” Dash yelled back, accusingly. “Have you ever thought of my responsibilities?” Her jaw was firm, and her veins in her neck were sticking out as she clenched them.

Fluttershy was shaking her head, too afraid to break eye contact. “Oh Dash. What are you talking about?” she sobbed.

“Have you ever had a single moment’s thought about my responsibilities?” her pink eyes were glowing red as she slapped her fore hooves together loudly. She kept on smacking them together, making the other pony flinch. “Have you ever thought a single solitary moment about my responsibilities as Captain of the Wonderbolts and Element of Loyalty until the first day of Spring? Protector of this world to its citizens?” she spat out, angrier with each cry Fluttershy gave. “Has it occurred to you that I have agreed to look over everypony in Equestria?” Her mane was a mess, disheveled, as her brows wrinkled even more in anger.

Fluttershy finally felt a step to the stairs, her one way out.

Rainbow Dash continued on her tangent. “Does it matter to you at all?” Her voice was booming and echoing in the large room, rage behind every syllable. “The Princesses have placed their complete confidence and trust in me, and that I have signed a letter of agreement.” Her face was turning red with rage. “A contract! In that I have accepted that responsibility.” The aggressive mare could hardly breathe now after that, each step heavier and bigger.

Fluttershy had started hovering above each step now, her hooves shaking wildly as she held onto the bat for dear life.

“Has it ever occurred to you? What would happen if I failed to live up to my responsibilities?” her voice seemed almost in sorrow then as it cracked.

Fluttershy was finally holding the bat in front of her, in some sort of weak offense.

Rainbow Dash began to yell in a way that would make any voice sore. “Has it ever occurred to you? HAS IT!” her own body began to shake from the power of her words, as she felt the urge to tear the pony in front of her to shreds.

Fluttershy was grinding her teeth in a scared frown, her eyes puffy from all the tears. In a feeble attempt, she weakly swung the bat in front of her. “Get away from me!” she ordered, hovering barely above the ground, looking away.

Rainbow’s eyes grew even wider from the challenge as she changed her approach to that of a crouch, ready for an attack, looking up with excitement in her eyes. “Why?” she asked in a calm, quiet voice.

Fluttershy held the bat out in shaky hooves. “I just want to go back to my room!” she managed through her frantic sobs, pleading. Fluttershy was even more terrified to see that those once loving eyes were now empty.

Rainbow stopped her approach for a moment, dead in her tracks. “Why?” she cocked her head to the side.

“Ah- a- well. I’m very confused!” Fluttershy cried, nearly out of breath. Her voice even managed to rise in pitch. “I just need a chance to think things over!” she continued to lean forward with the bat out in front of her.

Rainbow started her stalk again, ferocious. “You’ve had your whole bucking LIFE to think things over.” Rainbow had a look of disbelief at what kind of response her marefriend had given her, she was walking more normal, less on the attack or defense. “What good is a few minutes more going to do you now?” her voice cracked, rage fueling every muscle and nerve. So much hate in her eyes. She followed Shy up the stairs, continuing with that toothy smile.

Fluttershy swung the bat again, this time, with a little more force. “Stay away from me!”

Rainbow Dash had not even flinched as it went past her eyes. She started to hover too, raising her fore hooves above her head, humorously portraying a monster in her mind.

“Please!” another swing. “Don’t hurt me!” she begged as she swung again, with even more strength.

With each swing, Rainbow Dash felt her smile widen and her fore hooves shake above her head, trying to catch the bat. She shook a hoof, her eyes lighting up. “I’m not gonna hurt ya!” she delighted in the screams of no, and please, and stay away from Fluttershy as she picked up her pace. She was faking comfort again. “FLUTTERSHY! Darling. Light of my life.” Each swing was harder and closer to her face, yet still unfazing. “I’m not gonna hurt ya. You didn’t let me finish my sentence.”

Dash’s heart beat picked up as the distance began to close, and she would nudge her head back and forth to dodge the bat. “You didn’t let me finish my sentence. I said I’m not gonna hurt ya.” Her smile grew just a bit more. “I’m just gonna bash your brains in!” she had a look of awe, as if wondering why her yellow love could not understand this simple concept.

“I’m gonna bash them right the buck in. Haha!” her forelegs were so expressive.

Fluttershy was swinging at full force and repeatedly now. “Stay away from me! Don’t hurt me!”

Rainbow just chuckled all the more. “I’m not gonna hurt you.” Her voice sounded as if she were telling a foal there was no monster under their bed. She reached for the bat after every swing.

“Stay away! Please!” Her heart beat so loudly in her ears.

“Stop swinging the bat.” Dash ordered her forelegs out as if to give a hug .Her eyes had shifted from the terrified face to the bat right in her reach. Her eyes rose up to Fluttershy again, empty, her smile opened, her tongue hanging out. She wanted that part of her that brought pleasure so many times to be a symbol of fear. “Give. Me. The. Bat.” She repeated again and again, mocking her playfully.

Fluttershy had stopped crying, and was aiming for hits now. “Stop it!”

“Give me the bat.”

“Stay away from me.” She was on the edge.

“Stop swinging the bat.” Lines were getting blurred, all she could see was Fluttershy and the bat.

“Please stop!”

Every swing pushed the cyan mare forward.

“Give me the bat.
No!
Fluuuutershyyy!
No please!
No no no!
Give me the bat.
Stop it!
Give me the bat!”

Back and forth they yelled until Fluttershy finally managed to nick her right at the tip of her hoof. Rainbow Dash yelped as she kissed it and started to curse under her breath. She looked up to see Fluttershy swinging the bat full force, it coming down on her as fast as an avalanche. She couldn’t react. There was a blinding pain, then just darkness and silence.

Everything she had just done was mixing with thoughts of Discord, thoughts of her friends, places from her past, her father, feelings of love, fear, regret, hate and pain. She felt flight, then Fluttershy. Her rage was zapped right out of her, as if sucked into the vacuum of space. She was still in darkness, all alone. But she felt her hot stinging tears from remembering every cruel detail of what she just put her beloved through. It was as if she had no control of her body. No control of her feelings. Just pure blind rage and unnerving hate.

She could barely breathe, the pain in her skull very real. She could feel her eyes moving, yet saw nothing. She felt her own body, but felt nothing around her. She was utterly alone with what she had just done. She had just tried to murder her Fluttershy. The tears kept coming, she didn’t know how long.

Then she heard a deep and ominous laughter, malicious in its intent. Her eyes stung as the great pain in her skull went away. She began to make out yellow orbs, a sickly pale yellow. Soon, a crimson red formed in them, a gleam was born. She recognized them as eyes. “His eyes!” she said, as if sick to even think the thought of him.

“Hahahaha. Bravo! Bravo to our wonderfully awesome Rainbow Dash! Encore, encore I say! That was quite the marvelous performance of love turned to hate.” His face formed with each word, his paws manifesting and applauding.

Rainbow Dash could finally see her shaken hooves in front of her face. She realized just how hard she was breathing. Then she felt that hate in her heart toward the misshapen creature. She flapped her wings as hard as she could, hooves reaching out ready to strangle. With each flap, the face only seemed harder to reach, as his smile grew and the laughter was getting louder and louder.

Rainbow Dash felt her tears of pain and anger fall freely from her face. “Come over here and fight me you coward!” she screamed with all her might. All of a sudden, she could not move. All of Discord was in front of her now, looking menacing. With enough will power she dove at him, passing right through. She went in for tackles, bucks, swipes, anything. She did it over and over again, his horrible laughter ringing in her ears. Her eyes burned from the tears, as she collapsed in a heap in front of him.

He was laughing as if he were mad. He fell down too, covering his eyes with his lion paw. He stroked her mane, making her jerk her head away, bringing pain. “Come now Rainbow Dash. Even you aren’t that dumb. You should know by now that plain physical attacks can not hurt lil ol me!” He floated slightly above her now, leaning his head back on his arms. “And Celestia knows you don’t have any friends here!” he mocked.

Rainbow was trying so hard to catch her breath and regain strength. “This is just a dream. Just a horrible, awful nightmare, like last time. Luna! Luna can you hear me! I need your help!” she was barely able to yell, her voice gone raspy. She was already out of breath, she was yelling so much during her attack.

“Stop it Dashie. All that, that wonderful spectacle you put on for me, was not a dream.” His smile widened at her suffering.

Rainbow covered her head from him, she felt ill. She was heaving, dry hacking, as if she may throw up. “Y-you’re lying! It has to be a dream. Otherwise-” she was rubbing her head almost painfully now. “-what I did was for real. It can’t be!”

Discord sat up, stroking her from head to tail, making her shudder. “There there Rainbow Dash. It wasn’t happening in the real world. Imagine that!” He lowered his head to see her peering from her hooves. “You have only been asleep for two minutes now. You weren’t in your dream state yet.”

Rainbow Dash still felt sick. She managed to sit up, not wanting to lay before him. Her legs were wobbly, like a foal. “What the hell was all that then? What did you do to me? To Fluttershy?”

Discord made a tiny yellow silhouette appear in his paws. “I have done nothing to her, I can assure you. I have been on my best behavior in regards to her.”

Rainbow was feeling stronger by the second. She even managed to scoff at his statement. “I can’t trust your assurances.”

Discord let the tiny yellow figure flutter about him as he looked back at the rainbow pegasus. “Always with the flattery with you Dashie.”

“Don’t call me that. Where are we?” she said flatly.

“We are in one of my favorite destinations of the mind. Your subconscious.” He was slowly going in a circle around the pegasus.

“My subconscious? Why Discord? Why did you make me see that, make me do that?” she felt the tears fall again. Her heart was aching.

Discord began to laugh again, making the blue pony’s skin crawl. “I didn’t make you do anything. I just opened up one of the many little doors in this part of your mind. One you have been scared to death of. One you keep locked in chains.” Thousands of doors flew past them, making the rainbow mane whip about. There was one at the end, sinister looking in every detail.

Rainbow felt her heart rate pick up, she was breathing quickly. She didn’t want to admit he was right. “No!”

He started to grip her in his body, the way a snake does a mouse. “Yes! Oh yes my colorful pony.” The yellow figure danced between them as he moved his face closer to hers. “Every since that night you lost control, every since Fluttershy tried to chew off her poor little wings! Oh, it is terribly sad. She is such a sweet little thing. She deserves somepony better.”

“Don’t talk about her!” Dash screamed. Discord’s body began to tighten, squeezing her. She was having trouble breathing. He held out his dragon claw, letting the tiny figure dance on it. Rainbow focused on it.

“Oh I will continue to help you realize Rainbow. Deep down, you are no good for her. You have always known it, always felt it. Fluttershy is a saint, putting up with you. I should know, the stories she tells me!”

Rainbow was struggling to break free, crying. “Stop it!”

The yellow figure began to do twirls on the tip of Discord’s claw. Faster and faster it went. “I honestly don’t know how you became an Element of… Friendship! Yuck. When deep down, you are rotten. And you truly know it, it is always in the back of your mind. That one day you will lose yourself to that raging beast, and…” With another claw, he crushed the yellow figure into dust, which landed in Rainbow’s face. “Being near you will end her.”

Rainbow wailed as Discord let her go. She was shivering in place as he floated above her. “That’s why I am trying to save Fluttershy. For you see, friendship, and love, is for suckers. Everyone in this world is no good, only caring when it is convenient. Although, I must say she is one of the better ones. When I get back into control, maybe I will keep her, as a pet.” He gave a slimy laugh. “Well, that was all I needed to see. I have done enough damage around here. It was nice, a little one on one time with you Dashie.”

Rainbow woke up in a fright. She fell out of bed, and ran straight to her toilet, and began blowing chunks. She was covered in a cold sweat. After cleaning out her mouth, she crawled back to bed, looking at the time. “It’s only been eight minutes?” She sat there, for hours. Unwilling to fall back to sleep.

Rainbow was surprised she was already at the library. She was feeling sick again, from the memory. She took a moment to compose herself, before knocking. She could hear Twilight’s voice calling from inside.

“Come in! It’s a library!”

Rainbow shook her head, rolling her eyes as she opened the door and let herself in. Twilight was reorganizing the books in the library. Rainbow noticed how nice her mane and tail were brushed, and how her friend had a spring in her step. “Hey Twilight.” Dash said with a frown. Twilight turned around, and Dash thought how much better she looked without the bags under her eyes. “You’re looking pretty nice today. It must be lack of Discord in your daily diet.”

The purple unicorn laughed, holding her sides. “Well, I can sleep much easier now. You have no idea how bad I was stressing last night, Pinkie and him were vanishing everypony’s left horse shoe! I can’t believe Fluttershy let Discord out to prank.” Twilight shook her head at the memory.

Rainbow’s eyes grew at the thought. “Those two were alone together, pranking? And the town is still standing?” She sat down and scratched her head.

“I know, I marveled at the idea too. So what can I do for you Rainbow Dash? Here to check out some new books?” Twilight asked, hopeful. She already had a bad feeling.

“Yeah, I just found out right now that Fluttershy packed up and went to Foalrida. How come nopony told me?” she asked, concerned, not in the mood to nerd out over Daring Doo.

Twilight clicked her tongue. “I was hoping you would drop by like you said you would. I would have figured out a way to go to your home, but as I said before, I was a little preoccupied.”

Rainbow walked to the nearest sofa and threw herself on. “Yeah, well, I wasn’t really good company yesterday, or the past few days. But I had no idea Fluttershy was making plans to leave. I fear she is taking this trip to get away from me.”

Twilight frowned at the mopey pegasus. She trotted closer and placed a comforting hoof on her back. “She isn’t trying to get away from you Rainbow. The two of us had a little chat last night. She was hoping you would come and visit her. I think she wants to see you too.”

A flash of hope shined in the magenta eyes. “Yeah, you really think so?” she smiled slightly at her friend’s nod. She placed her head on a pillow though, “I couldn’t go see her Twilight. Not with that guy around. He just, I dunno, brings out the worst in me. It pisses me off to no end that he hangs around her, using her!”

Twilight hopped on the sofa next to her friend. “We all still have to be on edge, until we are sure that his friendship is genuine. But that doesn’t mean we have to stop spending time with Fluttershy. Where have you been Rainbow Dash? Nopony has caught a sight of you in days! Well, except last night with Pinkie.”

Rainbow rubbed her temples. “I just couldn’t be around him. So I took off close to Rainbow Falls each day and just, worked on my routine. Working out is all I could do to keep my mind off of them, together.” She said in disgust. She looked up to see the surprise on Twilight’s face.

“All the way to Rainbow Falls? Each day?” she asked, in awe.

The cyan mare gave a little smile, proud. “Not quite all the way, just close to there. I know, a far flight. Like I said, it was the only thing I could do to keep them out of my mind. Every time Fluttershy and I met up, it was another fight. So I decided to just stay away until he was gone. I can’t be near him Twilight. Being near him, it brings out the worst in me. He does something, he hates me.” She confessed, hanging her fore hooves off the sofa.

Twilight looked puzzled, then worried. “What do you mean he does something to you?”

Rainbow Dash gave a big sigh. She hadn’t mentioned the trip in her mind to anyone yet. She looked to her friend. “It isn’t easy to admit Twilight. But-” she thought back to all the times the unicorn was there for her. “I know I can trust you. That afternoon, before the dinner party,”

Rainbow Dash had finished her horrible tale, opting to lying down on the sofa. Saying what had happened aloud, knowing one of her friends knew how twisted it was, physically drained her. She could not even make eye contact now, she felt tears welling up, ashamed for her thoughts.

Twilight’s ears were plastered to her head as she stared blankly at her hooves, deep in thought. “That is awful Rainbow. That sounds like one of those horror movies you love to watch. You mean to say he has the power to tap into your mind, and access your thoughts like that?”

Rainbow still refused to look into the lavender eyes, fearful of seeing what her friend thought of her. She could only nod.

“Let me just ask. How much of that was your actual thoughts and fears, and how much was under the influence of Discord’s power?”

Rainbow felt something in her click. She hadn’t thought of it like that. Maybe it wasn’t all her? She knew the fear and the sheer anger was hers, but she could scarcely believe that she would go as far as to try and murder her. Then again, I never thought Fluttershy had thought about suicide. What’s to stop me from thinking about murder? she thought, sadly. She finally faced her friend, still teary eyed. “I’m not sure. I know, ever since that bad night, I have always been afraid. What if I ever tried to do something to her, because I lost my temper? What if that night, I hadn’t reeled myself in? I came so close Twilight. I stood over her, tearing her down for no good reason. My hooves were itching for a fight that night. What if I had-” with each word, Rainbow became more distressed, cringing.

Twilight jumped to her side and shook her. “Don’t think like that Rainbow Dash! I know you, the real you. You wouldn’t have hit Fluttershy. That night, on your birthday, you were as mad as a loon. Your rage was directed at all of us! And the way you screamed at Fluttershy was frightening, it made me quiver.”

Rainbow was on the verge of crying until she was shook, but her friend’s words of what she thought was like a knife to her heart. “How is this helping my case?”

“I agree, you do have some bad temperament issues that you need to work on. But even when you were at your worst, you were even drunk, you never raised a hoof at her. You never even shoved her.” Twilight tried to reassure.

“I bucked a table to pieces!” she retorted, ashamed. “And the things I said, I may as well have slapped her in her face. I think that would have done less damage.”

Twilight removed her hooves from her friend, shaking her head. “Don’t talk like that Rainbow Dash.” The unicorn gave a stern look, which was very affective. “I don’t know how much was manipulated by Discord, and how much was you. And I don’t think I am qualified to help you with this. Maybe that pony who you are going to see for help?”

“Her. Yeah, she would be a good pony to talk to. She said she didn’t want to stay here in Ponyville while Discord was around. I couldn’t blame her. I will write to her tomorrow, tell her the coast is clear, and set up a session.”

Twilight smiled. “I’m proud of you Rainbow. Just remember, you can always come to any of us when these problems arise.”

Rainbow lifted a fore leg for a hug, which she got. She shut her eyes and let the relief wash over her. “Thanks pal. Can I ask you a favor?”

Twilight was still being held in the strong one legged embrace, but managed to twist her head to look into the magenta eyes. “What is it?”

“Can you watch over things? I think I will be leaving tomorrow evening, after my shift. I need to take a trip too.”

Twilight squeezed herself out of the hug, hooves still on Dash’s leg. “You’re not going to spy on Fluttershy, are you? If she wants alone time with her mom, let her have it.”

Dash looked away, not wanting to make contact. “Maybe I just want to visit my dad. Besides, I won’t bother her, just drop by and make sure she is safe. I worry about her making such a long trip alone.”

Twilight studied her friend to make sure she was sincere. “Alright, don’t go doing anything brash. And try to get a good night’s sleep for your trip.”

Rainbow snorted at the thought of sleep, something she used to thoroughly enjoy. But she agreed on its importance, especially since she would be flying a long ways in order to catch up with the train. “I’ll do my best. Thanks again Twilight.”

Rainbow Dash had been flying for two days now. She was soaring through the skies, although slower than last time. Her saddle bags were a constant weight, although small. She knew that with this time of year, there would be plenty of clouds to rest on so she wouldn’t need to pay for a room. She packed a thick sleeping bag, her constant flying doing its best against the wind chill during her trip. She also wore a thick scarf Rarity had packed, since she had trouble finding the ones she owned.

She landed on a cloud, wiping her runny nose. She shivered a bit. She enjoyed the sunshine above the clouds as she grabbed a smaller cover to wrap herself in. She also brought out her trail mix, water, and map. She refueled as she checked her position. She sniffled a bit. Alright, I am making pretty good time. I’d say just a few more hours until I reach dad’s condo. And then Mrs. Shy’s home is only thirty minutes away flying time. Boy oh boy, am I ready for a super hot shower to help these sore wings.

She let the sun warm her as she finished the last of her food. She thought she had packed enough, although such a long flight was hungry work. She decided to set her clock for one hour, thinking she deserved a nap. As she shut her eyes, she felt the butterflies in her stomach at the mere thought of crossing paths with her mare friend again, and the fear if Fluttershy told her parents about the birthday fiasco, and she had to talk to them. She put her troubled thoughts aside and let sleep wash over her, for the first time in what felt like ages, it came easily.

She saw the most vivid yellows and pinks swirl around her, with leaves and petals being carried. The most beautiful wind to carry her to flight, that wind she rode through the sky led her to a beauty of a pegasus. The pegasus that felt at home on earth smiled that small smile. The most stunning eyes struck her out of her flight. She let out a soft tune, and even though the words held no meaning, the sound was full of love and caring. She landed gracefully, the earth feeling almost as soft as clouds beneath her hooves. She felt as light as a feather, her smile growing.

The earth goddess with wings turned her head to fully face her. Rainbow Dash could make out the flowers in her mane and tail. She could smell the beauty of fall on her. Her breath caught in her chest as one word rolled off of her tongue so easily. “Fluttershy”

The yellow mare stood up and walked toward her, as if under water, her mane and tail floating upwards. There was such kindness in her gaze as the earthly pegasus tilted her head to one side. Rainbow Dash found her heart pounding as she raced toward her. She stopped, not even a hoof step distance between the two.

Rainbow took in her scent as she was mesmerized with her beauty. She could feel her love pouring out to the pony right in front of her. She raised a hoof, still a little hesitant to touch her. She brought it close, and the butter colored mare swiftly rubbed her cheek against it, shutting her eyes. The feel of her soft fur made the cyan mare giggle.

Rainbow Dash continued to pet the side of her face, sometimes stroking her hoof through the wonderful mane. She brought her face close, resting her forehead on her lover. “I missed you baby.” Fluttershy’s smile grew a bit more, as she nuzzled her face all over Rainbow’s. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

The smile turned coy as she shut her eyes, scrunching up her nose and shaking her head no, teasingly. Rainbow cocked her head, confused, until the tip of the pink waterfall that was a tail flicked her on the nose, Fluttershy turning on a bit and skipping away. Rainbow gave way for the chase, jumping up high and gliding sometimes, enjoying the soft wind in her feathers. She purposefully stayed just in hoof’s reach, enjoying the silly fun, until she finally pounced on her prey.

Fluttershy laid on her back, mane laying this way and that, her eyes resting on the skies. Rainbow Dash had her chest and forelegs lie over the yellow body like a blanket. Their eyes connected, and Rainbow Dash was overwhelmed, unable to say or do anything for a moment. Her face softened as she nearly closed her eyes all the way, afraid the pony beneath her may vanish if she did shut them. She then bent her head low, little by little. She could see Fluttershy’s smile, feel her chest rise and fall with every breath. Felt her body grow warm with their contact. Soon those soft lips puckered up, and they connected with a kiss. It felt like fire works were going off in her brain, her body felt so hot, like it was on fire. It was a simple kiss, no tongue or lust, just lips pressed up in devotion.

“I love you.” The athletic mare said once her lips were free. As she opened her eyes, Fluttershy opened her mouth, as if to say something. Rainbow Dash listened intently, waiting to hear those same words back. Suddenly, the harsh sounds of an alarm where the only sounds that came from her mouth.

She woke up to the sound of her alarm ringing next to her ears. She yawned and did a big stretch after hitting it. She sighed, already missing the feel of dream Fluttershy held in her embrace. It was probably the best sleep she had in a while, since her birthday at least. Something about these wild clouds always comforted her, she often imagined it felt like being held by a mother. Not that she remembered how that felt. For once, her dreams were peaceful.

“Well, that’s enough of that. Time to get back to the skies!” she stated to herself in new determination. She jumped off the cloud, doing a casual dive before letting loose her wings and going at full speed. She wasn’t planning on taking anymore stops. I’m gonna do it! I’m gonna win my girl back, make everything right. She will see, they all will, how can they not see how important she is to me?

Rainbow Dash arrived at her father’s home. She hoped he got the letter she wrote right after her talk with Twilight days ago. She dropped her saddle bags, happy for her back to get some air. She eagerly knocked, and waited.

The door was answered quickly by Flash. He had a look of surprised joy. “Dashie! My little girl! You’re here already?” He engulfed her in a big hug, lifting her off her hooves.

“Yeah, its awesome old me! I missed ya pops! Didn’t you get my letter?” she asked. She also tapped his nose lightly with a hoof to let him know she wanted down.

Flash put his daughter down, messing up her already wind blown mane. “Yeah, I barely got the dang letter an hour ago! I had no idea you’d be arriving so quickly!” he said before picking up her bags and letting her in. He tossed them on a chair as he took a seat on his lounger, tilting his head toward the sofa.

Rainbow smiled at her father, in her cocky way. She flew to the fridge, got herself a pop, and threw herself on the sofa. “Really, literally an hour ago? I sent that days ago! Talk about snail mail. I was taking my time too! I should have delivered it myself and saved on the stamp!” she joked as she popped the top, letting the orange fizz tickle her nostrils before she delighted in the citrus flavor.

“Well good thing you came today. If you had showed up tomorrow, you wouldn’t reach me for a week. Me and some of the guys are going on a long and well deserved camping trip! It’s gonna be a blast!” he alerted her, taking her half drunken bottle and chugging the rest down for himself.

Rainbow gave him a dirty look before returning to the fridge to get another. “Really. Well, I hope you guys will have fun. You deserve it! Where’s your marefriend?”

He leaned back in his seat, a smile on his lips. “She has a business trip for two weeks. So it couldn’t be more perfect timing.”

A burp escaped Flash. He covered his mouth with a hoof, saying excuse me. He rubbed his scruffy chin, looking at his daughter. “Not that I don’t enjoy having the fruit of my loins here to visit her dear old dad, but you never said in your letter what the visit was about. And where’s your yellow shadow?” he had always joked about Fluttershy like that, ever since they were fillies. She was always slightly behind his daughter it felt like.

Rainbow’s expression changed from happy to sad at the question. She put her soda down, clearing her throat. She ran a hoof through her mane, looking at the different pictures hung on the mantle. Her heart ached a bit when she saw the group picture her lover, their parents, and Minerva had taken against the coast from their last visit. “Uh, well…” she stiffened her lip, not wanting to cry in front of her dad. But he was one of the few ponies in the world who she never had to hide from. “I screwed up big time dad.”

Flash felt like he just received a blow from the new champ. Nothing hurt him more than seeing his child suffer like this. He clenched his jaw, seeing her hold back tears made him want to cry. He slowly got up from his spot to sit next to her. “Tell me everything kiddo.”

Flash had his wing draped over her like a cover, she was pressed against his side. She had cried in the beginning. She buried her face in his side, ashamed to start explaining. After five minutes of holding her, telling her it was alright, she finally composed herself and told him everything from the thoughts she had, to the party, to Discord. He was overwhelmed to say the least. Every couple goes through their ups and downs, it certainly isn’t good when one doesn’t trust the other, now throw in this supernatural creature of chaos. Where do we start? He thought to himself.

Rainbow finally brought her head out, eyes still red. “I know. I’ve been awful! What am I supposed to do Dad? How am I supposed to make it up to her?”

He rubbed his chin in thought. “This is a tough one. Well, firstly, I have to say good job to talking to a counselor about things. That’s a big step I’m sure little Shy appreciates.” He gave her flick of the ear, making her shove him playfully. “How this whole Discord thing goes, I don’t know if I can even begin to give advice on that. But I certainly understand where you are coming from. I wouldn’t trust that guy either. I read the stories.”

Rainbow nodded in agreement. She looked down, sadly, still lost in thoughts.

Flash cleared his throat. “That birthday party, yeeesh! Dashie, I wish you had talked to her, or somepony more seriously about these feelings before it escalated to that.” He saw his daughter flinch. He slung his foreleg over her shoulders, making her strain to sit upright. “You do know you are an extremely amazing pony, the sky’s the limit with you. I doubt there’s anything you couldn’t do, if you put your mind to it. And I’m not just saying that because you’re my daughter. Sometimes I’m speechless from the things you’ve accomplished. And I’m not the only one, I’m sure Fluttershy feels very much the same way.”

Rainbow looked down, blushing slightly. “Yeah, she has worshiped me since forever. She always believed in me.” She smiled at her dad. “You too Dad. It’s just, lately, I feel like I’m not good enough for her. I’m, I’m scared she will find somepony better.”

Her father sighed. “I just can’t wrap my mind around it Dashie. She loves you so much, I can tell. And I know you love her too. You keep thinking somepony better, or whatever Discord is, will come along and steal her. But you got to give Fluttershy more credit than that. I mean, I have never seen her give you a reason not to.”

“I know, I know. I just can’t help but feel like, she deserves better.” She admitted.

The stallion sighed again, he looked to the lovely picture he had in the middle of the mantel of his dearly departed wife.I wish your mother was still here, she would know what to say. He thought to himself. He closed his eyes, trying to think of what she would say. “Fluttershy deserves to be happy. And so do you. You both deserve the best. So just become the best. You have done that with everything else kiddo.”

The cyan mare looked at him, slightly confused. “How?”

“You be the best damned marefriend you can be. You give her love, support, fun. You’ve already been doing that. You listen to her, help her along her way, you encourage her to be better. And you trust in her, to be faithful, and do the same for you. You almost got it all down, except for the last one.”

“It’s so hard.” She said in a quiet voice.

“Let me tell you something. Before we had you, your mother and I had similar problems. She used to accuse me of cheating, even when my eyes were only on her. I laughed it off at first, but after a while, it hurt. It sucks when you love somepony with all your heart, and they think you will just up and leave them. Like all your love and devotion doesn’t matter. I talked to her seriously one day. I told her she was pushing me away, making me feel like I was nothing to her. When a guy starts to feel like that, that’s when his mind starts to wander. I wasn’t gonna act on it, but it did make me feel like it wasn’t worth it anymore. I told her, she may not trust the mares that I come across everyday, but she had to trust me.” He told the story sternly, reliving the feeling.

He looked to his daughter, who looked like she was frozen still by his words. “You have good reason not to trust Discord, but that doesn’t mean you can’t trust that yellow filly to do the right thing.” He removed his wing, and turned to face her, placing his hooves on her shoulders. “And until you can, you keep on thinking about why she fell for you. It sure as hell wasn’t because of trust issues. It was because of the real you. The pony that’s happy, that’s full of life, that isn’t afraid to soar, and loves so openly.”

Rainbow continued to stare her father in the eyes. She felt the truth in his words, and felt the power over her life that she hadn’t felt in a while. She placed her hooves over his, gripping tightly. “You’re right Dad. I’m gonna give it my best. I’m gonna make her the happiest damn mare in Equestria!”

Flash had to laugh. She really was his daughter, a little him. “You go do that slugger!” He gave her a fake punch to the chin before catching her in another bear hug. “My little baby, she’s growing so fast!” he started with the kisses all over her face, making the proud pegasus squirm, complaining.

Once he loosened up his grip, she hugged him back. “Thanks Dad. I love you.” She hugged tighter.

Flash felt a smile grow so big, it hurt his face. He knew those two fillies could do it. “Love you too Dashie. How about we go out, and have some fun daddy daughter time? After a long flight, I’m sure my hard hitter is hungry.”

Rainbow Dash smiled gratefully at the mention of food. “Sounds good to me! Let’s do it!”

Rainbow Dash felt pretty good staying at her father’s home for the night. “I really got to make more time to visit, I miss late night movies with the old guy. It’s great spending time with Dad, like the good old days.” She thought pleasantly as she started her flight to Fluttershy’s new family home. She had a big breakfast, some of her old stallion’s famous omelets, and a stack of pancakes as big as her. Although she didn’t want to wake up so early, it was fun helping her Dad finish his packing.

She took a deep breath, trying to get ready for the next big step in getting things right. She let out a sigh of relief when her father told her Sunburst would be going on the trip, so she wouldn’t have to deal with his fury, at least at the moment. She snapped out of it when she realized she was already at the home. She felt her stomach knot and her hooves shake as she landed. She gulped, wiping the sweat she told herself was from the flight.

Okay, stop freaking out over nothing Rainbow Dash. Flutters will be more than happy to see you. She will find it so sweet that you took such a long flight by yourself. Sunburst isn’t here to explode. And Sunbeam, uh, she... Her breathing got worse. Sunbeam’s gonna kill me! No! We are going to talk like the full grown mares we are. I’m going to formally apologize. And we can put this whole horrible mess that has probably aged me behind us and live happily ever after.

She put on her serious face as she tried to think of all the things Fluttershy fell for her for. “Be cool, be calm. Just be you. We all make mistakes, this is me trying to fix them.” She raised her hoof, feeling a pang of anger to see it shaking so. She held it in the air for a moment, seriously debating flying away. “I can go back to Dad’s. Wait a day. I know where he hides the spare. I mean, I wouldn’t want to intrude. Maybe drop a line first?”

She focused on the white door that had a sun etched into it. She took another deep breath, trying to stop her disobedient hoof from shaking. “Come on Dash! She deserves this. Just do it! You’ve done way harder before!” She shut her eyes tight, ears flicking to a sound she tried to ignore and quickly tapped the door. She found it odd that the door felt soft and warm.

“Ah! Rainbow Dash!” she heard a feminine voice yell. The multi colored pony felt something catch in her throat when she slowly opened one eye to see Sunbeam holding her nose with both hooves, looking quite angrily at her. “Mrs. Shy! Did I, did I just,” she faced hoofed herself as she dropped to the floor, those angry eyes getting narrower and harder. “knock on your face?” she finished the question she knew the answer to in despair.

Hello all! Long time, no update. And I deeply apologize for that. Life has been crazy, time was scarce, and some inspiration was lost, and finally rekindled. I already have some of the next chapter written, and am determined to have it up in a week or so. So this chapter covers quite a bit. When watching the keep calm and flutter on episode, I thought it was pretty mean when Shy asked her friends the question, and they couldn’t even answer her, so I wanted a little tid bit of her inner thoughts with that. I also had lots of nice Discord last chapter, so I wanted to show some of his nefarious side in this one, showing just how much he could mess with someone. And yes, I heavily relied on the scene from Kubrick’s The Shining. I love it, that scene with Jack, Wendy and the bat is one of my favorites, and I feel as though it went so well with Rainbow’s inner thoughts and fear on if she ever lost complete control of her anger. I hope it showed how damaged she was from the whole ordeal. While giving her good reason to hate Discord, since in the show she never seems to want anything to do with him. Will Sunbeam beat the daylights out of Rainbow Dash for knocking on her face? Will Spike finally enjoy a gem filled cake? Find out next chapter. I promise to do my best to be pushing out work that I see good enough for you all periodically. Hopefully every other week. I hope you liked this long awaited chapter, and feel free to let me know how you think it came out. And who else thought the Shining scene was too funny. Thank you all again for reading, and remember to live and love life every day- The Queen Baby