A harsh phone ringing broke Fluttershy out of her haze. She sniffled and with her mind still hazed, but more aware, she realized a couple things. One was, she was on her side curled into a ball, her neck feeling gross and sticky as did her hand. Second, her body felt weak, she was still in the same spot and it was much darker outside. It was early afternoon when she was walking to the store, now it was dark, the ground wet and air thick.

Her phone wouldn't quiet, the person calling being persistent, so she sat up, her mind still foggy and answered without checking who it was.

"Hello?" She internally winced at the scratchiness of her voice.

"Oh, thank fuck! You idiot, where are you?! Are you okay?" It was Chrysalis. Her voice was equal part relieved and annoyed.

Fluttershy wasn't sure why she was asking. It was hard for her mind to clear, the mugginess of outside fucking with her senses.

"It's...not that late is it?" She asked slowly. She removed the phone from her ear and it was nearing midnight, when she checked the time. She was surprised-or would be- that no one had found or mugged her.

"Fluttershy...what's wrong?" Chrysalis' voice held concern.

Fluttershy didn't speak for a moment, her mind not quite there yet. She was so tired.

"I'm...I thought I was near the park close to the store. It's dark."

She heard Chrysalis let out a breath. "Is there any way you can go to a landmark? Discord went out looking for you and Sombra took my car to look."

Fluttershy didn't reply but she tried moving. Her legs tingled from being bent towards her for hours. She used the shrubbery she was behind to help her up. Her legs felt like jelly but she could stand.

Looking around, she saw a small gas station.

"I'm...a few blocks from a gas station. It's green and beige."

"Alright. I'll let them know and one of them will get you." Chrysalis hesitated for a moment. "I'm going to stay on the phone until I know they got you."

Fluttershy made a noise of acknowledgment but didn't speak. She began to trudge down the sidewalk.

The further she walked, the more her heart began to beat wildly, a cold chill running down her spine. The air was warm, but the darkness along with the surrounding greenery made her apprehensive.

She continued to look around her, paranoid about seeing someone.

She stood against the wall under the light once she made it, not allowing her back to be turned. She didn't like the scent of gasoline, she remembered faintly, a memory coming to mind. Her back slid down the wall, screams ringing in her ears, not there, but not gone.

"Fluttershy? Still there?" Chrysalis' voice broke through and she looked to her phone.

"Fine. I think I see one of them." She hung up. She knew she'd get scolded, but she couldn't care. Even with Chrysalis on the other end of the phone, she didn't feel safe.

A little while after, she heard a motorcycle roar near as it pulled up. She looked up, knowing that custom bike anywhere.

Discord took off his helmet and walked over. He too, had worry etched in his face. His eyes widened at her neck.

"Fluttershy, what happened?"

He crouched in front of her, obviously making himself look smaller. She wondered what he saw.

She shook her head, but reached out and only then realized why her hand and neck felt disgusting. Her hand and under her nails, her blood was drying, some spots still wet since her neck hadn't closed up.

He stayed silent for a bit but thinking, he stood, grasping her forearms gently to help her up. His hands felt cool despite the muggy weather.

She was surprised she allowed him to touch her.

He made her get on first and in a soft voice he spoke, handing her the helmet.

"I need you to wear this. It's just till we get back."

She looked to his eyes, her own still drooped. She nodded.

She barely remembered the drive back. She knew during the drive she buried her face in his back. She might've even nodded off, she wasn't sure.

Fluttershy had a passing thought as they parked. 'Why do I feel even more tired now that I know I'm safe?'

"Fluttershy. Can you walk?" She looked up to the soft tone of Discord's voice. Nodding, she tried.

Once they made it inside, Chrysalis was going up to them, panic on her face as she saw the state Fluttershy was in.

"What happened? Why're you-Discord, what happened?"

Fluttershy glanced up and saw Chrysalis was in Discord's face, his own face contorted in annoyance.

"Chrissy, I'm not sure what happened. Let her get back to being...eh-normal before we ask. IF we ask. Might not be wise."

Discord added, though his body was tense, he tried to sound calm.

Chrysalis' nostrils flared, her green eyes glowing. "You don't get to decide that. Come on, Fluttershy, let's get you cleaned up."

Chrysalis grabbed her arm and suddenly the green light ran up her body again.

Fluttershy's face scrunched as she saw the black hand turn pale. 'Familiar.'

She looked to Chrysalis and froze. Her eyes went wide as in front of her, she saw her mother.

Fluttershy's body began to tremble, tears welling largely and falling down her cheeks.

"Fluttershy?" Chrysalis asked, though Fluttershy made a strangled noise as Chrysalis' voice sounded like her mother.

She reached out to touch Fluttershy, but Fluttershy flinched away.

She felt a strong arm wrap around her, Discord's scent hitting her like a heated blanket.

"Chrysalis. We'll talk to her later. I'll get her cleaned up." Discord's voice was quiet and calm.

Chrysalis didn't reply, but soon after she let go of Fluttershy, she returned to her true form.

Fluttershy tried willing her body to relax as Discord set her on the counter as he took a warm rag and began to gently clean her neck.

He hummed.

"Need anything, my dear?" He seemed to be speaking in whispers. Fluttershy hadn't realized how much it helped relax her, just the change in tone.

He placed a bandage on her neck but stayed silent, waiting for her response.

Fluttershy leaned her head forward till it rested against Discord's chest. She could hear his heart beat pick up as his body tensed.

"I don't...Can I..." she stumbled her words. She was scared. She knew she shouldn't be, now that her mind had time to clear and she was calming down.

A flare of anger flashed through her though, a fury not felt in a long time.

Fluttershy gritted her teeth, using both arms to clench onto Discord's odd shirt and she ground out,

"I just want to be happy again," She trembled but not from fear and anxiety, "I'm sick of being like this. That-that-that- THING took it away. I...I want to mourn! I-I-I'm so-so..SICK of being scared! Of being sad! Of the fucking nightmares!" Her breath shuddered.

She felt him rub her back. "How you worded it. Never mind." He hummed. He seemed to be waiting till the anger left her.

It didn't.

Fluttershy wasn't an angry person. Truly.

But she felt like each step she was taking was like trudging through slime. She couldn't get her feet under her. No time to mourn. No time to process. No time to just adjust. Then this weird magic, Vampire stuff happens and it makes her think she's a monster.

Fluttershy buried her face into Discord's chest.

"Calm down, Fluttershy. Calm." She tried saying over and over, trying to take deep breathes, purposely breathing in as much of his scent as she could.

"Why should you? Be angry. Fight, kick, scream. Be frustrated."

Discord shrugged, saying it like it was natural.

She looked to him with wide eyes. "What? B-but if I-I hold on to-to the anger...no one-no one deserves that."

He fought the urge to snort. "No one is THAT guiltless. If you ask me, being the bigger person is overrated."

She paused to think. She searched his eyes for any kind of lie. There was none.

She went to open her mouth, but she squeaked when he lifted her from the counter.

"Now." He said, "I have a marvelous candy and snack hoard in my room. We can put on something to watch and maybe if you spend enough time in there," he looked at her pointedly, one brow raised, "maybe you won't keep stealing my pillows."

She blushed, as odd as it was, already beginning to feel better. Movies and sweets was normal .

It was mundane.

She was still angry. She was still scared. But...maybe she just needed a rope to pull her from the slime pit she was sinking in.

She looked up at Discord as he carried her to his room, plopping her on the hammock which was covered in pillows and a thick blanket.

Yeah...maybe.