STATIC

The smell was always the first thing to reach him; delicately spiced, with just the vaguest hint of something earthy and sweet. It was a scent unlike that of any other pegasus, and he assumed it was due to how much time she spent on the ground. He didn't mind, though. In fact, it gave his nostrils a pleasurable tickle whenever she was close at hoof.

It wasn't so long ago that his mind toyed with the myriad ways he could kill the Element Bearers, but now … but now. Discord's muzzle curved into a faint, self-deprecating smile. Maybe the rest of them weren't exactly friends, and they'd forever regard him with distrust, but not dear Fluttershy. He found her innocence amusing, but it pricked something in the heart that he didn't even realise he'd possessed.

Normally, they would spend the day at her cottage, drinking tea and eating cucumber sandwiches while that nefarious rabbit of hers looked on disapprovingly. Draconequus or not, Angel Bunny's intimidating stare would be enough to unsettle anypony. This time, however, they were going to his place. Fluttershy hoped that whatever the odd subduedness was that had put a damper on their last few meetings would abate.

It wasn't a home as such, but it was somewhere Discord had found centuries prior and, until he'd met the shy pegasus, he would've named it the one thing in all of Equestria that he considered beautiful. Fluttershy looked into the chasm spilling away into an inky void below with a sense of trepidation. “This is where you like to hang out?”

“You don't like it?” asked Discord, putting an edge of mock hurt into his voice. He wasn't surprised that Fluttershy didn't share his aesthetic sense, but then, this was a mare who would go gooey over vicious, snarling beasts. And vicious, snarling Lagamorpha.

Not wishing to offend her host, Fluttershy said, “Oh, no, it's, um, very interesting. It's just a bit … plain. I mean, there's nothing but rocks for miles around.”

“The word you're groping for is boring.” The draconequus didn't sound offended.

“Well, yes. For you.”

“You're right,” Discord said quietly, his eagle claw hesitating half a yard from her shoulder. He doubted that she would find his touch unwelcome, but he wasn't prepared to push his luck just now. Discord had done his best to repair the rift caused by Tirek's enticements, and Fluttershy had said she'd forgiven him, but there was still that same melancholy in her eyes. “But even the God of Chaos needs a break from reality every now and then. Somewhere he can do some thinking. Or a lot of thinking.”

“What sort of things do you think about?” asked Fluttershy, settling onto the ground and unharnessing the heavy saddlebags. She spread out a check-patterned blanket that Rarity had given her and began setting up their little picnic.

“About the past, mainly,” he replied, sitting beside her and frowning. “And about the future.”

“That's very … cryptic,” the pegasus said, placing a few sandwiches on a plate and handing it to Discord.

“There's a lot in there,” Discord said by way of explanation, tapping the side of his head with his lion paw. He took the plate, examined the snacks placed upon it, then picked one at random and chewed thoughtfully for a few moments. He could, of course, conjure up literally any food – or anything else he wanted – out of the aether, but there was something about hoof-prepared meals that was just better. Maybe it was because of that one special ingredient that couldn't be manufactured from thin air?

Hours passed in a blur of sandwiches, biscuits, tea and idle chit-chat, and the sun soon dropped below the horizon. It was then that Fluttershy understood. The formerly desolate canyon was suddenly alive; harsh blue light shone from the bugs that made clefts in the rock their home, while strange creeping vines wormed their way forth in search of sustenance. Something approached her, a strange blue porcupine-looking thing, and it sniffed at her tentatively. “H-Hello?” she said.

Whether frightened off by her voice or suddenly realising it had business to tend to elsewhere, the porcupine-creature darted off.

“What do you think?” asked Discord, watching the emotions playing across Fluttershy's face.

The pegasus tilted her head slightly in order to get a better look at her draconequus friend. “It's wonderful. What was that … thing?”

“A bristlespine. They're pretty rare in Equestria these days. You're probably the first pony it's ever seen.”

“No wonder it was scared, then,” Fluttershy said with a shake of her head, amused at the notion that there could be a creature out there that found her terrifying. A thought occurred to the pegasus. “Did you … did you bring me all the way out here just to see it?”

“I brought you out here because this is somewhere special to me and I wanted to share it with you,” Discord said, turning away slightly from Fluttershy's gaze. “The bristlespine was just an added bonus.” He got up and walked closer to the cliff's edge. His teeth ground together as a totally alien sensation gripped his soul: nervousness. “Fluttershy, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time. I just don't know how to go about it.” He felt something on his shoulder; Discord turned to see Fluttershy hovering behind him, her wings quivering just enough to keep her afloat.

“You can tell me anything,” said Fluttershy.

Again, the blasted butterflies – ironically enough – in his stomach stopped him from saying those three little words. Was he that scared of rejection? Or did he just not want to have to admit the truth to himself?

“Sorry? I didn't catch that.”

Discord wasn't even aware that he'd spoken, even if it was only to mutter under his breath. “I said, I love you, Fluttershy.”

“I love you, too, Discord. You know that.” The pegasus was confused, wondering why it was such an effort for the draconequus to say those words. Her friends said them all the time to each other. It was no big deal to express your affection in those terms.

“No, you don't understand,” said Discord, his shoulders slumping as a sigh escaped him. Maybe he couldn't read minds, but he was aware of the texture of thoughts, and Fluttershy's were especially apparent to him. “I love you as more than a friend. I-I'm in love with you.”

“Um,” was all the pegasus managed to say.

“It's okay,” Discord said hastily, using a forearm to wipe his eyes. “I don't expect anything from you in return. I just wanted you to know is all.” He sighed again, but strangely, he actually felt good. Maybe nothing would change, but it didn't matter; just getting the confession of his chest was enough, and he felt lighter. Wait, I am actually lighter. “Fluttershy, wha-?”

He was silenced by a muzzle pressing against his own as he was carried into the air. Next Chapter: Wub - Octavia/Vinyl Scratch - Slice of Life Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 23 Minutes