Discord was sitting on the corner of an alleyway the morning after he had given Fluttershy the daisies. Usually e liked to remain on the benches, however the rich ponies did not like to see him in daylight. He ruined the aesthetic. So instead of remaining in the sunshine, he sat in a shadowed alleyway. He was not begging, per say, but sometimes spare bits did fly his way.

He was a vagabond, but this city was one of his favorites to visit. Though, notedly, he had spent an increasing amount of time in the city due to the discovery of a certain somepony. He sighed; if only.

The night he had run into her first was the night of a grand party. He knew that where a party was held, food could be found, so he had gone with high hopes. Instead he had found a fragile little creature, but so lovely. He had not meant to approach her, but something had compelled him to do so. Now he sent her flower after flower, stolen from the finest of gardens, to remind her of the place where they had met.

In truth, he was not certain why he was pursuing her. All he knew about her was that she was unhappy in her marriage. It was nothing unheard of, many of the upper crust ponies married for money instead of love or happiness, so still he was uncertain of his own motives. Perhaps it was because, despite his monstrous appearance, he had a kind heart that could not stand to see a gentle soul weep so. Perhaps it was because he had fallen for her...yes, perhaps.

But even if he had, what could become of it? He had nothing, was nothing. Discord had some magic, but what could chaos magic, something rooted in confusion and unhappiness, do for a kind pony? Besides, it could not offer her the life she had now. She had also refused his advances, shut out all of his words. It was over, and yet never begun.

Discord flipped his tail, bored beyond all measure. His life had no purpose, no meaning, no reason for existence. His magic did little to entertain him and his lifestyle, though rooted in freedom, was restricted by poverty, which drew from his grotesque appearance. Lately, he felt as though a spark of life had come into him, as if he had hope. His drive became pursuing Fluttershy, attempting to become her friend. If she could have nothing to do with him, that hope was quashed. No matter...

Still, he had one last trick before he could give up on this venture completely. Tonight was the gala at the opera house where all the elite would be. It would be expected for all of the elitist couples to attend, especially considering that the opera to be performed was a romantic one, chosen to celebrate the 50th show performed there. Discord had to be there as well.

That same morning Fluttershy awoke with a fresh determination. Tonight was the gala party at the opera house. She and her husband would have to attend. As custom, she would wear her wedding dress to the opera as a symbol of her newfound marital status. She took great care to do her mane as well. When she had finished styling herself, she went to her husband's room. Fluttershy knocked on the door.

Trend called for her to enter, and she did. As she entered, he turned to look at her. Smiling, he remarked:

"Ah, that old custom. Well, you do not have to wear it darling, if you do not wish. It did not much suit you the first time around now, did it."

He meant this as a light comment, and not only as a criticism, however it was clear to the mare in the room that he had rejected her once more. She sighed and turned to leave but then-

"Darling, you will come to my room tonight will you not?"

Fluttershy turned and blinked at him.

"...well..."

"You are my wife. I should not even need to ask. It's been more than a month, you know."

"I know."

"We can leave the opera early."

"..."

That night Lord Trenderhoof arrived late with his wife in tow. Everyone gushed over the little wife, how well she looked, how radiant she was, all of the things that they should say. Ponies asked her if she would have a foal soon; these things were, after all, expected of her. Fluttershy simply blushed as all of these questions were answered for her by her husband, her unappointed spokespony.

"Why my darling lady is looking well tonight, is she not? Of course, that is just what I told her; I told her: 'darling you look simply radiant tonight!'"

"And of course we would love to have a foal soon! Why, then the family would be complete, do you not agree? Just the other day was speaking to her about it. And of course we would prefer a little colt, but would not a little filly be just as sweet?"

Fluttershy almost sneered at him, something she would never have even thought of before today. How dare he speak of family and foals when he was the one galloping about with another mare? How could they expect to be a loving family when he was never in the house? Still, Fluttershy took a breath and said nothing. How could she?

They went inside during the first act of the opera, fashionably late. The Lord Trenderhoof and his Lady Wife took the topmost seats on one of the balconies to the left of the stage. The Lord Trenderhoof had little interest in the opera, singing in another language hardly seemed sensible at all, but he enjoyed being at the opera. At the opera, all eyes could be on him; they watched him because he was handsome, successful, and had a lovely wife. He enjoyed this greatly, without a doubt.

Fluttershy cared for none of these things. She did not enjoy being gazed upon and judged; she did not enjoy having a handsome husband, if it meant other mares having relations with him. Money and "success" meant nothing to her. Family might have meant something to her, might have held some value, but not since her late grandmother died. She had no family since then.

Suddenly, the Lady Fluttershy leaned forward, her eyes trained on something of great interest. There, just entering the dark opera house, was Discord! He was wearing a makeshift suit and remained just in the shadows. Fluttershy blinked once or twice, but he still remained; he was really here. She saw him look around until he found her, and stared at her with some great interest. Her heart began to beat quickly, and a blush rose to her cheeks. He was here for her.

Just as quickly, she realized where she was. The opera house was the most public of places for ponies like her. What she did her made a statement; anything she did here would quickly be judged and either praised or condemned. Leaving without her husband would mean, quite literally, that she was going to leave him. Still, she, for some reason, wished to go with Discord, if only for a moment. How could she leave without anypony knowing?

Fluttershy made eye contact with Discord once more, communicating her lack of ideas on how to escape. He winked and disappeared to the outside of the opera house. She knew instantly that he would wait for her; he would always wait for her. The second part of the act began with a grand aria, once more performed by the wonderful Coloratura. Her song communicated her grand loneliness and the lack of hope she had in a lost love; how she would trade her current life for a dream any day. Fluttershy began to tear up at this notion; it touched her.

"Las memorias ya regresan-

como un fuego de atras

Como amor recordado

cuando el mundo mio fue—!"

An usher appeared by her side at the end of the aria. She got up from her seat and met the usher behind the seats at the entrance of the box. He handed her a rose and she took it in her hoof. Glancing back momentarily at her husband she kept the rose and left the box entirely. Trenderhoof turned to find her gone only seconds later. The opera attendees looked around to find her, but she had already escaped out the back where no one could follow her. In her heart she knew the choice might have been considered morally wrong, but she also knew that this is what she wanted.

Discord held her hoof and together they flew, yes flew! (how scandalous really, for a lady), from the opera house towards the park where they could speak privately.

They arrived at the park, which was expansive, and sat beneath a weeping willow towards the center of the area. The park seemed to glow in the moonlight. Each moonbeam was captured in the single dewdrop present upon every blade of grass. The wind was silent that night and the slightest chirp of the grasshopper could be heard. The city was silent tonight; everypony had fallen silent in the wake of the midnight hour. It was in this tranquil place that Fluttershy now sat, her wedding dress beginning to dampen upon the wet grass. Discord was curled beside her, smiling wistfully.

He did not ask her to stay with him. He did not question her motives for leaving from the opera house to go with him. In turn, she did not ask him why he had come for her, how he seemed to know where she would be. Instead they basked in the silence of the night; the beauty that silence could have. Neither asked what they relationship was; they did not give it a name out of respect for one another, out of respect for their individual freedoms.

Fluttershy lay down next to Discord. She cuddled close to him and kissed him gently upon his furry cheek. The smell of the slums upon his fur did not bother her; his appearance gave her no fright and she payed no mind to it. Instead, her kiss transcended these things. Discord felt her touch to his very core. He smiled gently and protected her from the night's chill.

They lay together under the moonlight all of that night and Trenderhoof was left at the opera wondering what happened to his wife.