The Most Chaotic Night Ever!-An MLP Fanfiction

Chapter 18-The Pursuit Of A Dream

"Oh my, that's dawn, isn't it? It seems I've kept you up all night, dear Fluttershy." Discord sipped his hot chocolate, and as he lowered his cup a small smile came to his lips. "I'm sorry for that too."

"You don't ever have to be sorry for something like that, Discord," Fluttershy assured with a smile, touching his arm with her hoof that wasn't holding her own hot chocolate. "I'm always here for you, and it's never trouble to talk to a friend in need."

The two friends were currently sitting on Fluttershy's sofa, where they had been stationed most of the night while they talked with an intimacy only best friends can share.

Discord smiled just a little more to himself at Fluttershy's sweet reply. "Thanks." He took a deep breath as he set down his mug on the coffee table before them and then clasped his claw and paw together. He twiddled his thumbs and glanced up. "Erm, Fluttershy...might I ask you a teeny tiny favor? This whole evening of me showing up here in utter distress, all the big talking, the emotional confessions, the occasional tear or two or a few dozen that might have been shed, um...that thing where I got lost in a dramatic rant about how I think tea parties must be the greatest tool of diplomacy ever conceived and how if I ever act like a selfish jerk again just say the words 'cucumber sandwiches' and I swear that will snap me out of it.... Can, um...can we just keep all of those details to ourselves? I've never been that vulnerable with another person before, and it's not something I'd care to have become public knowledge if I can help it." He shrugged, looking down and blushing a little. "I've got a reputation to maintain, after all."

Fluttershy smiled and removed her hoof from his arm. "Of course, Discord. It'll all just stay between you and me. I'm just glad you got everything off of your chest and that you felt comfortable enough to come to me. I didn't realize you'd been feeling so bad lately."

Discord shrugged, smiling a little more. "Yeah, I've been letting myself get pretty worked up-probably a little too much. I do tend to be a bit dramatic, after all. And what happened with Tirek was sort of a dramatic situation anyway." His grin picked up on one side as he took up his mug again. "And of course you're the one I come to, dear Fluttershy-if I'd trust you with the knowledge of my loopy new attraction to Celestia, I'd trust you with anything." He chuckled and sipped his hot chocolate again.

Fluttershy smiled more. "I'm happy to know that, Discord." She took a sip of her own hot chocolate and then glanced at him hesitantly. "Um...speaking of Princess Celestia...do you think you'll go talk to her and Luna next? I'm sure they must be worried about you."

Discord let out a deep sigh and frowned a little. "You're right. I should go talk to them. I'll leave soon to do that. It's just..." he swallowed, "Celestia found me alone with Luna, and I'd just hurt her sister, even if it was an accident. What if Celestia doesn't trust me anymore? Or what if she's disappointed in me? Or what if she doesn't want me to be her escort now? O-Or, um..." he blinked and smiled sheepishly as he added, "or, uh...what if...Luna's upset? Heh, um...you know, either oneof their opinions concerns me." Discord cleared his throat and looked down with a light blush.

Fluttershy's gaze warmed. "Well, you won't know what their opinions are unless you go talk to them. But I think they'll understand it was an accident. I can't imagine Princess Luna would hold a grudge against someone for having a bad nightmare. And Princess Celestia is a very good judge of people. She'll know you meant well, and she'll probably just be glad to see you're safe. And if it'll make you feel even better, along with apologizing to Luna for hurting her, you could apologize to Celestia for worrying her. I'm sure she'd appreciate that."

Discord nodded. "I suppose you're right. I'm just getting myself all worked up again, and the point now is to get myself past all of these doubts and to a better place. The best thing to do is to face the music, apologize for my actions, and go from there, just like I've done with you now." He finished another sip of hot chocolate and nodded to himself.