"Strawberry?"

"Nope, cherry."

"You're lying!"

"I am not! See for yourself."

Vallery removed the blindfold and saw that Discord was correct.

"You cheated!"

"Wha-huh? I beg your pardon? Me? Cheater? Why I would never do such trickery!"

"Yeah right," she mumbled and passed him the blindfold.

They both hung upside down, their tails wrapped around a tree branch. Discord wrapped the blindfold around his eyes and bit into an apple that Vallery had picked from his tree.

"Huh, mhmm, okay..."

Vallery waited for his guess.

"Grape."

"You're such a cheater!"

He took off the blindfold and looked at her in confusion.

"My dear, what makes you think so?"

"Oh gee, I don't know Discord, maybe it's the fact that you've gotten every apple right while I haven't gotten any."

She crossed her arms and pouted.

"Now, now, my dear. There is no need to throw a tantrum."

"I most certainly am not throwing one."

"You most certainly are too."

"Are not!"

"Are too."

"Are not!"

Her tail suddenly lost grip and she slipped off. Discord grabbed her left hind leg, she looked up to see him giving her a 'I told you so' face. She hooked her tail back on the branch and rolled her eyes.

"Thank you."

"Your quite welcome my dear, you might want to throw your tantrum on the ground next time."

"I wasn't-"

He shoved a talon over her mouth.

"No need to apologize my dear, let us go on to our final round."

He put the blindfold on for her and picked out a random apple, then he put it in front of her mouth. She took a bite.

"Oh wow, mmm, this is good," she mumbled with the apple chunks in her mouth.

Discord watched her in admiration as she took another bite.

"Wow, Discord you have to try this flavor."

"With pleasure."

He bit into the other side of the apple.

"Hmm, you're right, wow okay-what flavor is this?"

"Beats me, this is your creation, remember?"

"Right, I knew that."

They bit into the apple together.

"So my dear what flavor do you think is it?"

"You tell me."

They continued to bite into the apple, Vallery still had on the blindfold. Discord moved the apple towards himself, Vallery tried biting into the apple, only to realize she was biting into the air. Discord moved her tail closer to his with his right hind leg. She found the apple and took a bite.

"You should really make more of these!"

"Oh but of course, I'll be sure to do that."

He moved the apple away and watched her search for it.

"Discord where is it?"

"If you want it, you'll have to look for it."

He moved the apple closer to himself, Vallery reached forward with her hooves.

"Nah ah my dear, no cheating."

"Since when is using my hooves considered cheating?"

"My game, my rules."

She sighed and replied, "Fine."

She opened her mouth and reached forward, Discord put the apple out of reach. She continued reaching forward until she bumped into him.

"Am I warm?" she quivered, slightly turning red.

He dropped the apple, then reached forward and removed the blindfold, revealing her emerald eyes.

"Oh my dear, you are on fire."

He slowly lifted up his claw and caressed her cheek gently. Vallery closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, Discord widened his eyes in astonishment.

"Do you not-urm...feel uncomfortable?"

She opened her eyes slowly and answered, "Of course not...why would you assume that?"

"Well my dear, I'm not the most appealing character here..."

"Looks mean nothing to me Discord, you should already know that," she said, closing her eyes again.

"So...you don't mind?" he inquired, stopping suddenly.

"Of course not, please continue."

He continued to softly touch her cheek, she smiled as he did this.

"May I ask you a question my dear?"

"Anything."

"Would you ever...leave me?"

Vallery opened her eyes and saw Discord's pessimistic expression.

"Oh Discord of course not, why do you ask?"

"Just curious... But even if I did something dreadful? Would you leave me then?"

Vallery clicked her tongue.

"But of course not, all we have to do is sit down and have a little talk as to why you did what you did. Why must you come to such conclusions?"

"I-I was just wondering..."

"Are you...doing something bad? Are you having such thought?"

"What? Oh, no, no, no my dear! I just wanted to know if you would ever leave me here...alone."

"Of course not Discord, you've made a huge impact on my life. You're a part of me now, a part I never wish to lose, no matter what the cost."

"Oh my dear don't-"

"Flatter you? Oh come now Discord, you should know me already."

She gave him a wink, along with a friendly smile. He began to laugh, Vallery following him. Suddenly a loud crack interrupted them, they both stopped laughing and looked up. The branch they were hanging from was about to snap.

"Darn, I guess that means no more wood shavings for me," Discord announced, still looking up.

"You? Are you kidding? I've been eating s'mores after seven all this week!"

"Oh my dear, quit being so arrogant."

"Excuse me?"

"Forgive me if I'm wrong my dear, but I don't suppose I have to repeat myself?"

"That's not what I meant!"

Suddenly the branch snapped. Discord immediately grabbed Vallery and pulled her close, shielding her from the fall. He grunted on impact, nonetheless he quickly picked up his head to check on Vallery.

"Are you alright my dear?"

Vallery slowly picked up her head to look up at Discord, her eyes wide with his speedy reflexes.

"You were so quick to act," she answered.

"I was only acting on instinct my dear, now are you hurt?"

"Of course not, thanks to you."

"Oh my dear I apologize, it was my fault for-"

She suddenly pressed her forehead against his firmly.

"Thank you."

He widened his eyes and blushed brightly.

He gulped and replied softly, "Your quite welcome my dear."

He closed his eyes and pressed back, Discord cautiously wrapped his arms around her to bring her closer.

"It's remarkable," she stated suddenly.

Discord pulled away and asked in discombobulation, "What is?"

"You of course!"

Discord put his paw on his chest, her words made his heart flutter.

"M-me? Remarkable? Y-you?..."

Vallery giggled and explained, "You're very remarkable, it's just such a shame that ponies love judging a book by a cover. You're such a compassionate and caring creature, even though you never received the compassion you deserved. Your friends must be so proud."

She put a hoof on his cheek.

"You are one incredible book Discord."

He put his claw over her hoof and looked at her with watery eyes.

"Oh my dear, I really should be thanking you."

"No need to do so. I'm just telling the truth."

She winked at him and smiled.

"Well my dear, I think you've flattered me more than enough today. Where would you like to go?"

He grabbed her hooves and squeezed them excitedly.

"Oh Discord it really doesn't matter, I finally got to see Manehatten, so I think it's your turn. Where would you like to go?"

"Doesn't matter, as long as you're with me my dear."

She blushed and tried to hide it, but he still held her hooves.

"Well, to be honest, I'm really excited for the gala."

She grinned widely and shook her flank with excitement.

"Oh my dear you should be, I am too...well kind of."

He let go of her hooves and crossed his arms.

"You really need to cut the tough stallion act. You should know that I know you already."

She snuggled up under his neck and closed her eyes.

"Perhaps my dear...perhaps so," he agreed with a smile.

He relaxed and began to stroke her mane.

"So do you know how to dance my dear?"

"Of course I do, my parents taught me. They always wanted me to be prepared if I ever met a stallion."

"Oh is that so?"

"Yeah, I don't mind, I love dancing. Do you know how to dance?"

Discord blushed slightly at her question.

"Yes...but I am a bit out of practice my dear. The last time I danced was when I was asking Twilight Sparkle and Princess Cadence for a glass of water."

"You were dancing for a glass of water?"

"Urm-long story."

"How I would've loved to see that."

Suddenly, Discord jerked up and Vallery fell off his chest. His entire body wiggled out of control.

"Discord?" Vallery said with concern in her voice.

He stopped suddenly and fell down on his knees.

"That is definitely not good."

"Discord, what's wrong?"

"I have to tell Twilight..."

He lowered his ears as he got up.

"Discord, do you mind telling me what's going on?"

"I can't-ugh! Look, I just have to go talk to Twilight."

"Well then I'm coming with you!"

"No you're not, you must stay."

She rushed by his side and stomped her hoof.

"I am going with you!"

"No you are not, I'll be back in a bit."

"Why can't I go with you?"

"My dear it can be something dangerous. The last thing I want to do is put you in harm's way."

"We'll face it together, I'm your friend and I have to stick by your side! I don't want you going alone because-"

"Vallery!"

She was taken aback, that was the first time he said her name...and yelled at her. He sighed and took a knee, then her picked her chin up.

"Look my dear, whatever this may be can be perilous. I don't want the one thing that is most precious to me in this world to get harmed. I would never be able to live with myself, not even if my friends comfort me. It gives me great composure to know that you're safe. My dear you are not an amazing book."

Vallery looked down in shame at the last part of his speech.

"You are an admirable book."

She looked back up with astonished eyes.

"My admirable book..."

A tear rolled down her cheek and fell onto the cotton candy ground.

"Do you understand my dear?"

Vallery suddenly kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Yes...I understand, be careful Discord."

His heart stopped beating for a moment, he had to take a few seconds to realize what had just happened.

He slowly wrapped his arms around her tightly and whispered in her ear, "I will."

With a snap from his claw, he disappeared. Vallery sighed and looked down.

"Please come back safely..."


"Do you suppose it's Tirek?" Rarity suggested.

"No, of course not. Cerberus has been on high alert ever since. Whatever it is, we have to warn Princess Celestia," stated Twilight.

"Gather around me," demanded Discord.

They all huddled around him and he hugged them all. They appeared in front of Celestia's throne, the guards quickly stepped in front of the princess to protect her.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed and galloped towards her.

Celestia stood up and signaled her guards to move aside.

"Twilight! What's wrong?"

They embraced in a hug.

"Discord has sensed a magical imbalance, isn't that right Discord?"

Twilight pulled away and looked at Discord.

"Yes, yes I have," he answered, stepping forward.

"How bad is it? Will I have to send Shining Armor's troops towards Ponyville?"

Discord rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Well it wasn't too bad, but I didn't want to take any chances...not after Tirek."

He looked down in shame and sighed. Celestia smiled at his improvement.

"You've ameliorated so much since Tirek's banishment, I am most impressed with you Discord."

She nodded her head and smiled, making Discord blushed with embarrassment.

"Yes yes Celestia, you've made your point several times already," he said, crossing his arms.

She chuckled and kneeled down to Twilight's height, then whispered, "Just to be indubitable, make sure 'my point' is clear when you're with him."

She winked at Twilight, they both giggled as Celestia stood up. Discord rolled his eyes with annoyance and sighed.

"Yes yes, it is just all too funny with two princesses around."

"Hello everypony."

They all turned to see Luna flying towards them.

"Well would you look at that..." Discord mumbled under his breath.

Everypony greeted her except Discord.

"Well if you get any more senses, let us know," Celestia commanded Discord.

"What about this one, aren't you going to do anything?"

"Of course, that is why I'm sending Flash Sentry and a few others to go around parts of Equestria. They will report suspicious activity to me."

She signaled the guards to give the orders to Flash Sentry.

"Can we do anything princess?" Twilight inquired.

"No Twilight that is all."

She looked up at Discord and stated, "Thank you for coming straight to us Discord. Your actions may have given us an advancement to the enemy."

"Right..."

"Twilight and her friends must be-"

"Yeah yeah I get it. I may love praise but only every now and then. Now if you'll excuse me, I left Vallery worrying about me."

He lifted his paw but was stopped by Fluttershy.

"Thank you Discord."

She hugged him quickly and flew back to her friends. He smiled at her warmly before he snapped. He appeared in the living room and headed towards the hallway.

"Hey my dear I'm back! Sun butt decided to send out some guards instead of having herself go and-"

When he turned around the hallway, he saw Vallery sprawled on the floor, sobbing.

"Vallery! What happened?"

He flew towards her and put a claw on her shoulder, only to have it be slapped away.

"My dear, what's wrong?"

She stood up and whipped around to face him.

"Was that your plan all along? To mold me into what you made her?"

Discord was more shocked than confused, she yelled at him with a great deal of hurt and rage.

"My dear, what are-"

"Don't you dare talk! After what I saw, your voice is the last thing I want to hear..."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke and her voice was shaking.

"My dear..."

"I said not to talk!"

Her voice cracked.

"My dear...tell me what you saw...seeing you in this state is killing me..."

She looked down and whispered coldly, "Good..."

Discord felt a sharp pain in his chest when she said this.

"How could you do this?" she asked, sobbing.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about...please...tell me?" he begged, tears starting to form.

"I gave you a chance, but you went and threw it...this castle may have been your creation, but you once told me that it was my home."

"I-it still is."

"No."

Vallery looked up into his eyes.

"Not anymore..."

She walked past him and headed towards the door. Discord quickly snapped and he appeared in front of her.

"You said you would never leave me!"

"If you saw what I had seen, then you would've taken your word back too."

"You can't leave!"

"Oh yeah? Why?" she mocked and passed him.

"What stupid excuse or statement will have me stay with a-"

Discord had shut his eyes. He couldn't hear her say it, her of all ponies would be devastating.

"I love you!"

Vallery stopped in her tracks.

"Please...my dear...don't leave me..."

Silence fell into the room as he waited for her reply. The only sound that was heard, was a single tear that fell from Vallery's cheek and onto the floor.

"Stay away from me..."

She opened the door and walked away, leaving Discord to rot in his castle...alone.


I AM SO SORRY FOR TAKING FOREVER. My duck is not letting me write, he likes to sit on my keyboard and peck at the screen. And I am also so sorry for writing this chapter! I hate it too! It's also very short, I apologize for this too. It's just I wanted everything to be answered in the next chapter!