Fluttershy passes

>The soft breeze on moonlit nights never gave her chills.
>He wouldn’t let them.
>She had suspected some things had been different as time wore on.
>She felt like her younger self more often than she felt her golden years wearing her down.
>How much time had he stolen just to be with her longer?
>A year?
>Several?
>Whenever they were together, it seemed as if time slowed to a crawl.
>They had spoken of it at once before.
>She made him promise that he wouldn’t interfere with the natural order of life.
>It was a heart wrenching moment for him to be told what to do, let alone give his word as his bond to his only friend.
>To watch her grow old.
>To be with her until the end.
>It would be foolish of her to have thought the embodiment of chaos wouldn’t bend the rules in his favor by a small margin.
>In the stolen moments, it caused a revelation in Discord.
>Where in her younger age they would make merry and joyous tea parties and laugh and play, he savored the time he could for every cheerful remark, every quiet chuckle.
>The concept of ‘quality’ time with Fluttershy finally had meaning for one such as him, ageless and inevitable.
>There was nothing in Equestria that could compare to the feeling he had when Fluttershy was smiling at him.
>Even now as she lay in his arms, basking in the full moon’s glow.
>They both knew.
>Fluttershy turned her head up, her tired eyes half closed and looking into his.
>Discord felt his cheeks moisten for the first time in centuries.
>They weren’t some goofy substance or turn into flapping birds.
>True tears trailed down his face.
>Fluttershy weakly lifter the tip of her wing to brush them gently away from his eyes.
>”Discord... Will you make me one more promise?”
>He felt a frog try to replace the lump in his throat, swallowing both.
>”It’s not going to be more rules, is it?”
>Fluttershy gave him a weak smile.
>”Promise me you’ll be happy.”
>Discord choked.
>”Promise me that you’ll still be the wonderful creature you are. That you’ll find other ponies to make memories with.”
>Discord could feel it was coming.
>Fluttershy was slowing down, and her wing curled in against her side.
>”For you Fluttershy, anything.”
>Fluttershy slowly closed her eyes and leaned toward him.
>Her lips pressed a gentle peck on his cheek.
>”Good night, Discord...”
>Discord held her tightly as she relaxed against his chest.
>He counted three soft breaths, then stillness.
>”Good night, Fluttershy.”

>Discord slowly descended back to the ground with Fluttershy cradled in his arms.
>He went to the window of Twilight’s castle.
>Twilight had been awake in her study when she heard the footsteps.
>She turned and saw the bundle in his arms, but something told her what she didn’t want to ask.
>Instead she closed her eyes and let a few tears roll down her cheeks.
>She had been ready for a few years, now.
>Fluttershy was the last of the mortal elements to pass on.
>Below the castle, she had constructed a mausoleum for her friends.
>Discord carried her down the steps silently, solemnly.
>Together, they laid Fluttershy to rest in a crystalline coffin full of flowers.
>”Discord.”
>He turned from the resting body of his beloved pegasus to look at Twilight.
>She gave a soft flap of her wings to lift herself to his level, then gave him a hug.
>Discord broke.
>Utterly shattered.
>”It’s okay.”
>Sorrow poured from him in cacophonous wails, shaking the walls of reality itself.
>Twilight tried to comfort him as he vented his grief and let his sadness erupt unchecked.
>Several minutes passed until he was able to coherently speak.
>”You can stay here in the castle if you don’t want to be alone.”
>”How are you so okay at a time like this?!”
>Twilight choked her own tears down.
>”Discord, I’ve had to come to terms with this for all of my friends, year after year. First it was Rainbow Dash, then it was Rarity, and Applejack, then Pinkie Pie. I know you gave Fluttershy extra years, and I thank you for making them so wonderful for her, but I’ve had to prepare for when it finally happened.”
>Twilight almost sounded angry.
>”You’re not the only one who is alone, now.”
>Discord thought about what she meant.
>He remembered Spike had been absent from the castle.
>Something about returning to the Dragonlands and being with Queen Ember.
>Celestia and Luna had passed the throne to Twilight, and let themselves age naturally.
>There were huge pilgrimaged events of mourning for their passing.
>Equestria largely rested on Twilight’s shoulders after that.
>Discord looked at Twilight and sighed.
>”I never thought about how you would be at a time like this. I’m sorry for being so selfish, Twilight.”
>She continued to hold her emotions in check and nodded.
>”My company might not be as easy going at Fluttershy, but...”
>Twilight gestured you the stairs leading up.
>”I’ll always be here, if you need a friend.”

>Discord wandered into Everfree Forest.
>His natural sense called him toward a hidden grove.
>”I know you’re out there. It’s not like you can hide your presence from me when you’re alone.”
>A snarl came from the bushes.
>”What could I possibly want with wasting my time entertaining YOU, Discord?”
>Discord held his hand out.
>Chrysalis stared at him.
>”I want a truce, and to have you come to Twilight’s castle.”
>She laughed.
>”What makes you think I would even want to call a truce? I will never stop-“
>”Chrysalis, it’s been decades. Please, you swore revenge on Starlight and she died years ago.”
>She faltered a moment.
>”Yes, well, that doesn’t change what happened!”
>”Does it change how we’re some of the few immortals left? Do you really want to stay out here, forever, preying on what you can in squalor and bitterness?”
>Chrysalis hissed.
>”What has made you suddenly so profound, Discord? Did you lose your pet pegasus and now you’re grasping at anything you can for comfort?”
>Discord’s rage flared.
>He didn’t use his magic.
>He used his bare hands.
>He was on her in the blink of an eye, strangling her.
>Chrysalis was shocked, spitting and coughing as her hooves tried to push his arms off.
>”I promised her I would try to stay as wonderful as she remembered me. I promised her I’d make new friends and memories.”
>His grip tightened.
>Chrysalis was getting weak.
>”That’s why I am offering you a chance not to be like me. To come in from the cold and find something worth being around for.”
>Chrysalis’s eyes were glassy.
>”I can’t will myself to simply expire. I cannot move on to be with those that have. I am the very definition of an immortal natural law of nature.”
>He threw her down, coughing and gasping for air.
>”If I have nothing, I still have to ‘be.’ It is the penultimate contradiction to exist without purpose, without reason. I am the absence of reason itself, embodied.”
>She was able to regain some of her composure and stood up slowly.
>”After attacking me like that, you think I would trust you?”
>Discord clenched his fist and turned to leave.
>”I would hope you don’t choose to provoke me when you do come, lest Twilight think ill of me for destroying you.”

>Several weeks passed.
>Chrysalis approached Twilight’s castle from the forest.
>A large contingent of guards stood in her path.
>Twilight was waiting behind the flank.
>”What are you doing here, Chrysalis?”
>”My my. Such a greeting. I thought Discord might actually have something to offer, but now I see my faith in him was utterly misplaced.”
>Twilight looked surprised.
>”Discord invited you here?”
>Chrysalis moved closer.
>Twilight stood down her guards.
>”Why did Discord invite you here?”
>Chrysalis paused for a moment.
>”...I struck a nerve with him when he approached me. Truthfully, has Fluttershy passed?”
>Twilight didn’t reply immediately, but slowly nodded.
>Chrysalis looked somber, giving a light exhale.
>”My condolences.”
>Twilight looked even more surprised.
>Chrysalis scowled.
>”Do you think me truly heartless? Incapable of such emotions as compassion?”
>As she grew more irate, Twilight’s guards stepped forward.
>Her horn flared and buffeted them back.
>”I am tired, Twilight Sparkle. Discord made his point clear, and I am tired.”
>Twilight took a step closer.
>”Tired of what, Chrysalis?”
>She gave a sigh and hung her head.
>”Being bitter, and full of ire. Hatred is tiresome. I thought long on Discord’s words, and I had to admit he was right.”
>Twilight tilted her head in slight confusion.
>”I would rather coexist than remain alone. It has been decades without having anyone else to talk to, as myself.”
>”Then, you really are offering peace? You won’t attack us anymore?”
>”Conditionally, yes.”
>Twilight narrowed her eyes.
>”What conditions could we possibly entertain for your promises of peace?”
>”I want my children back.”
>”Your children? You don’t mean-“
>Twilight stared at her.
>”You really think words like ‘give’ and ‘queen’ are meaningless? Yes, you simple minded pony, those drones, the endless swarm, MY children did not merely appear. Each and every one of them, reared and nursed by my hoof, born from my very womb.”
>Chrysalis bore down on Twilight with rage and tears in her eyes.
>”Again, you think me a heartless cretin? Do you NOW understand why I have spent decades with bitter hatred for what you and your friends did to me?”
>Twilight retreated back.
>Chrysalis faltered in her anger, collapsing down to her knees.
>”Let an old mother have her children back, please.”