Bride of Discord

The Advice

The next day, Discord felt a disturbance in the force field and teleported to the front to see what was causing it. Knocking furiously on the invisible dome was Zecora.

"Oh, that's right!" he exclaimed. "I gave you an all-access pass."

Zecora shouted something. Discord cupped his ear.

"What?"

She pounded angrily on the wall. The draconequus chuckled.

"Oh, right."

He snapped his fingers and a hole appeared in the wall, allowing Zecora to slip through.

"Thank you," she muttered.

"So what brings you here, neighbor?" Discord asked cheerfully. "Come to borrow a cup of sugar?"

A cup of sugar materialized in his paw.

"Thank you, but the reason I came by was not for sugar, but for Fluttershy."

He twiddled his fingers. "Oh, um"

"I simply want to talk, perhaps take a walk?"

"Must you speak in rhyme every single time? Oh great! Now you got me doing it! Though seriously, how do you manage that? Do you like rehearse in the morning? There is no way you could be improvising all of that. It's impressive, but"

Zecora cleared her throat. "Fluttershy?"

"Oh, yes! She's in the garden. I've been following your advice, you see? I made her a garden, brought all her animal friends, and she hugged me afterwards!" He sighed. "You wouldn't believe how great things have been going! We're even friends! She said so herself! It's not quite what I had expected, but it means I'm one step closer to marrying that wonderful, beautiful"

A laugh from the zebra reminded him of her presence. He blushed as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Um, I mean"

Thinking quickly, he snapped his fingers and teleported them to the garden. The pegasus was feeding the ducks

"Fluttershy!" Discord called.

She turned her head.

"You have a visitor."

She blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

Discord stepped aside to reveal the zebra. Even though she and Zecora were not that close, Fluttershy was thrilled to see a familiar face and rushed to embrace her.

"But I don't understand," she said as she pulled away. "I thought I wasn't allowed any visitors."

"Well," Discord said slowly as he tried to come up with an excuse. "Zecora isan exception. After all, there's no harm in being neighborly. I'll leave you two alone then."

After he had vanished, Zecora smiled at Fluttershy.

"I am glad to see that you are well, my dear, but I am afraid it is the concern of your friends that have brought me here."

The pegasus gasped. "Are they alright?"

"They worry for you, and I will admit I did too. And this is why you must tell. Does Discord treat you well?"

"You'd be surprised at how kind he's been!" She gestured to their surroundings. "Look at what he's done!"

"Hmm," Zecora mused. "I told you he was not as bad, but tell me. Does he make you glad?"

"Oh, yes! You were right. So far I've been happy, except"

She looked down, her hair falling over her eye. Zecora lifted her chin up.