Chapter Text
Fluttershy was sitting on her grass green couch, leaning against the cushions, taking her time making a list of groceries in need.
It was nearly Hearth's Warming Eve, only three more day to the grand holiday. The snow hadn't arrived yet, Cloudsdale decided to reveal their epic snowy view at the very last moment. Afternoon sunshine went through the window pane, leaving square patches of light on wooden floor of her cottage. Some robins, crows, squirrels and minks cuddled each other, napping in the nests on the climbing frame. Angel the bunny nuzzled her, lying prone on one of the cushions, half falling asleep.
Usually at this time of a year, Fluttershy would hurry herself anxiously to all the chores left in her sanctuary, making sure everycreature who didn't hibernate can have what they needed when she was off, and trot through the market for all the ingredients or flower decoration that could be used in the Health's Warming party in Twilight's castle.
But, Twilight now stayed in Canterlot hosting the Royal HWE Banquet, and this year Rarity accompanied her as a consultant as well as a second-in-command. Pinkie and Applejack arranged their family together for a holiday trip to Manehattan. Rainbow Dash was occupied by a get-together with the Wonderbolts.
Everypony had their plan.
In addition, Fluttershy had two apprentices in her sanctuary lately, students from the School of Friendship. One of them was a griffin, who didn't celebrate Hearth's Warming Eve like ponies did and volunteered to stay be on duty, which meant her didn't need to hurry around.
She was planning to meet her parents for this rare holiday of leisure, then realized because of the letter they sent that her parents had departed for Las Pegasus, aiming at the newest clouds sample exhibition. So she was on her own, with her animals friends by her side.
This kind of lone occasion hadn't appeared for a long period of time since she became closer with the grils. Not that she didn't enjoy solitude and quietness, it just largely reminded her of those days she firstly moved to ponyville, not knowing anypony, having to give herself a pep talk before shopping for goods, with only a few bunnies and butterflies to talk to. She spent several Hearth's Warming Eves alone at that time, until Rainbow Dash decided to move to Ponyville's air space.
Habit was indeed a powerful thing, which made the usual tolerable loneliness become a little unbearable. She seemed to no longer be accustomed to being alone during grand holidays, generally started to enjoy a lively jollification scenario on which she could chit-chatting with acquaintances and besties.
I really change a lot, most possibly in a good way. She said to herself.
Although she still could manage to spend the Eve and the holiday by herself. A simple dinner with Angel, main course would be pepper hay fries and baked beans, with a lettuce salad as side dish and an apple sauce muffin as dessert. Angel always liked a good lecttuce salad, and she favored the beans and muffin most. She added the lacking ingredients into the grocery list she was making.
It was at this moment that a vague thought flashed through her mind, there was somepony who could be with her if she ever wanted or asked.
Or she would rather say, some draconequus.
Discord had been quite busy lately, though no one exactly knew what he was busy about. Everypony just shrugged and said it was Discord being discord. Fluttershy had asked him personally at their last tea, but the reply she got was a mysterious smile and a simple "You'll see".
Fluttershy regarded Discord as a close…no, as an intimate friend. There was traits that she found appealing and intriguing on Discord. His devious grinning when plotted something potentially nice, his talented humor when it came to conversations and activity planning, his unique perspective of perceiving the world, his profound wisdom of magic and history. The more she understood him, the more she realized the difference between them and what hard moment he must have been through to be friend with a pony like her. Thus, she enjoyed and appreciated every second they spent together. The tea parties weren't just light-hearted relaxation, they also occasionally talk about everything that existed deeper inside them, about how Discord had witnessed the ceaseless changing of pony's reality, about how Fluttershy had established her way of life and the power of kindness through hard work, firm belief and sincere behavior.
She blushed a little, adjusting her posture to make herself sit in a more comfortable way, and spared a hoof to gently stroked Angel's fluffy fur. The bunny was fully asleep now.
She did sometimes babble about him with pure happiness when she was alone with Angel the bunny, and might mention one time or two of considering pushing this relationship one step forward to being each other's better half. Despite the fact that her intrinsic shyness and tenderness no longer constantly held her back, she still unable to express her subtle feelings directly to the one who provoked them, so she always just took a deep breath and let things happen in the way they were meant to happen, left this to fate.
"I assume you have some room for a guest this instant?"
Speak of the devil and he will appear. Think of the draconequus and he would emerge.
Discord's sudden emergence surprised Fluttershy, not to mention he didn't even revealed his whole body, only stuck his head out of a sparkling portal.
"Of course, Discord. You are always welcome here." She sat up straight at once, with a smiled and eyes narrowed, a genuine happy facial expression.
Discord was pleased by her reaction. He pulled his entire self out of the portal, picking Angel up with his thumb and index finger, ignoring the abruptly-awaken bunny's swear and fury, put it aside and sit on its original position himself, which was closely next to Fluttershy.
“So what's the matter?” Fluttershy waved to Angel, who sighed and hopped into her forelegs, trying to find a comfortable position again. She moved a little to spare more space for Discord on the couch. "Do you need anything?"
"Oh nothing particular!" Discord made an exaggerated denying gesture, leaning against the couch cushions as well. "I was attending to my…important chaotic business and such, then thought I could drop by and pay a little visit to my dear gal pal."
"Welcome, then! Wait a second, let me get you some nectar, your favourite!" Fluttershy flapped her wings and jumped lightly off the couch, gently putting Angel down, "Angel, please keep Discord company, will you? I'll get you some carrot juice, too"
"Your secret fruit tea recipe, I certainly won't say no to that!" Discord started to hold Angel on his lap. The bunny grumbled and stomped a little, but eventually settled in calmness.
Fluttershy soon came out of the kitchen with a tray on her hoof, and put it on the tea table. A cup of jasmine tea with honey, a glass of peppered kiwi juice with spinach concentrate, a dish of creamed carrot juice. Each one of them now holding their favourite beverage, relaxed.
"Say, today is quite quiet in here. Aren't you usually running around all the time before Hearth's Warming Eve?" Discord savoured his nectar for a few sips, asked about the unusual atmosphere.
"Well, the girls all have some other plans, so I guess this holiday can be a simple lone time for me to enjoy…" Fluttershy hesitated, wondering if inviting Discord over now would be too abrupt.
"Ugh, classic lofty protagonists." Discord criticized. He thought for a second, then quickly devoured his drink, uttered in slight excitement: "I've just got the most brilliant idea! What if you come to my realm for Hearth's Warming Eve?"
Fluttershy was surprised. She fidgeted with her mane and slowly replied: "I…I am surely glad to! But I thought you were uninterested in pony festivals…would it be too troubled for you to host? I don't want to bother you too much."
Angel jumped from the draconequus' lap to the ground and snorted, hopped away.
"Miss Shy! I'm almost hurt because of your outrageous underestimation! How can a small festival party for two bothers me?" Discord dramatically raised his lion paw and covered his mouth. "Good thing I always have a big heart." Then he snapped his fingers, a plastic heart model literally popped out of his chest in an exaggerated manner, just like those cuckoos in an antique clockwork clock.
"Ah! " Fluttershy was stunned by this scene, but reclaimed her composure in half a second and sighed with mild amusement: "Oh Discord!"
"You know, this joke could be much better if I use a really heart." Discord put the plastic heart model back into his chest with a hard push.
"But that will be too scary for me." Fluttershy giggled. "Thank you for caring about my feelings."
"You are welcome." The draconequus did a perfect gentlecolt etiquette bow, raised his voice as if announcing an award on Equestria Games. "Long story short, prepare to meet your best Hearth's Warming Eve ever!" He stretched his arm and threw out a handful of confetti, disappeared with a slight sound of pop.
The confetti didn't vanish after his departure. These little things fell on the ground, seemed to be crunchy. Some of the animals resting in the living room was waken by the sound and rushed to have a bite on these, telling her in various squeaks and tweets that the confetti was made of dried apples and pears.
Fluttershy chuckled a while before continuing who she was doing.