Curiosity...

I watched Discord crack his neck as we headed up to my abode. He shrunk again to fit in the space more easily. Incer's playful banter came back to me and I couldn't help but ask the obvious.

"Can you shapeshift into anything?"

"Of course, Pinkie Pie. Butterflies, balloons, buffalo... And it doesn't even have to be all of me at once. One time I made my tail so big it blocked up the throne room." He trailed off, remembering another time, long before I was even born.

I guess it also kind of gave me my answer. I giggled, feeling silly, friend's didn't think that way of other friends. I caught Discord with an eyebrow raised, but he didn't comment. To this I was a bit embarrassed. What if he knew what I was thinking? Fizzle pops.

"Incer!" I called, "Do you need help getting your stuff up here?"

The blue-maned pony peered over the top of the staircase as we ascended. He glanced at Discord before addressing me.

"Well, I told the movers to go to the other place, but maybe I can get to them before I incur a fee."

"Wow, you better be quick!" I said, smiling, "We'll figure out dinner when you get back!"

"Alright Pinkie. Have fun you two." I could feel Discord tense beside me, looking for an insult. I only heard the past conversation about things happening overnight and my insides got all twisty.

"Get outta here," I laughed, "or you'll never catch them!"

He nodded, and dashed out of the apartment.

"I think he likes you." Discord mumbled, and I shook my head.

"Just as friends, I think." I grabbed his paw, "Let's do this!"

Discord let me drag him into a seat, and he procured some snacks from thin air.

The snacks were almost gone, and Pinkie Pie didn't seem to notice. Not that it was an issue. I was learning about my enemy.

"Incer worked at a nearby rock farm until he really wanted to learn about the rocks, not just why we moved them around. He went off to become a student in Rock Engineering. It was really super duper hard math stuff, but he liked it. Can you believe it? Anyway, one day he got his cutie mark because he really was the best around at doing that stuff. I hadn't seen him for a long time, but now he's back and I'm really excited that we can catch up."

"Very interesting. So you two had... rocks in common?" I asked, curious as to what the blazes one did on a rock farm.

"Yupper doodles!" She chimed, reaching into the empty snack bowl. "Ooo let me get more!"

I shook my head. It probably wasn't important anyhow.

"You know Pinkie... We don't really have to keep doing this. I feel I already know a lot about you."

"But I don't know a lot about you!" She threw over her shoulder while rummaging through her cupboards.

"I suppose that is true." I rolled my eyes, I really didn't want to talk about myself. I wasn't exactly the nicest guy around. If Pinkie Pie knew the old me she might not be so inclined to be my friend.

"What do you like to do? You don't really seem into parties all that much." She talked into the fridge.

"I liked the one you did for me. When I was... Well, before I was turned into stone, parties mostly meant a bunch of uptight losers sitting around and sucking up to others. Dreadfully boring."

"That sounds awful!" Pinkie called before pulling out some leftover cupcakes. She trotted over to me and held the plate up for me to chose.

"It was." I murmured, choosing a poppy seed cupcake. "That was when I decided to see how big my tail would have to be to fill the throne room."

She giggled, she was always smiling like that. She may have thought it was funny, but the ponies at the time certainly didn't. Her eyes glittered as she unwrapped the cupcake she'd chosen - a mint chocolate chip creation - and popped the whole thing in her mouth. We talked until Incer came back, and I waited until the stallion went back downstairs to direct the movers.

"Do you want to be his special somepony?" I asked, and her eyes widened before she turned to face me square on. She shook her head, staring at me.

"Good. I... I need to go." I zapped away to inhale my Poison Joke. This time, in embarrassment and relief. She was so oblivious. Thank chaotic impulses. I inhaled deeply - perhaps she never would see me as more than a friend.

But... would she ever think of me as more than a friend if I never gave her reason to? I sat up on my elbows, looking at the forest. How does one woo a mare? A bird flitted through the air. Ponyville could be rather dull at times. I sat in the sunshine, thinking. I could get her something... but what? Flowers? Chocolates? Promises I don't intend to keep? I frowned, that last one was not an option. Another bird came out of the forested path leading to Ponyville. And a yellow filly out came after, hovering behind. Fluttershy. Maybe...

"Fluttershy!" I appeared beside her

"EEP!" Her wings snapped to her sides, and my lion paw reached out and caught her.

"Hello there." I grinned, and her eyes widened.

"Uh... hi there." She smiled softly, reshuffling her wings as I set her down. I frowned, maybe this wasn't a good idea. "Can I help you?"

"That remains to be seen." My eyes narrowed and she smiled, eyes shifting back and forth. I shrugged, snapping us into her house.

"I would like some help, but only if you keep it a secret." I said, snapping until we were both comfortable. Tea, biscuits, settled on the couch. Ahh.

"Oh, um. Thank you. I can keep a secret, as long as it doesn't hurt yourself or others."

I raised my brow, "Code of conduct? Interesting. Yes well... I think I... I have feelings for somepony. I do not know how to let her know. The las-" I choked on my tea. "You're a young mare, what do you suggest?"

"You have a special somepony, oh my goodness," the lemon-hued pony smiled. "That's lovely! It really depends on the mare. Can I ask you a question?"

I nodded, taking a sip of my tea, shifting uncomfortably. Fluttershy would keep her promise, that much I was sure. Still bothered me that I needed her help.

"Why didn't you ask Pinkie Pie?"

Oh harmony. I found the tea leaves in my tea to be very, very interesting. They swirled around each other without my command.

"...Discord, do you like Pinkie?"

I glanced up at her, no anger or fear written on her face - though the latter was certainly on mine. I swallowed uncomfortably, and my movements felt difficult, like wading through molasses. I looked out the window, refusing to look at her, and nodded quickly.

"Oh. Um... well... Pinkie has never been with anypony before."

My head snapped back to look at her. Fluttershy wasn't saying anything about the match or that I would be awful for her friend.

"Fluttershy, I..." I felt tears prick my eyes, "Thank you."

She smiled and nodded.

"What are friends for?"

I gave the filly a hug, and tried not to get her wet with my tears. Maybe friendship really was magic. I put her back on the couch, and rubbed at my eyes.

"I don't know if Pinkie is ready for a relationship either, Discord. I think you two... I'd never thought of who she would do well with, to be honest."

"...Have you met Incer?"

"Oh my goodness, is that why you're here?" Her eyes widened.

"What?" My heart rate soared, what was she concerned about?

"Um.. well... when they were foals, they promised... Pinkie Promised that when they got older and... oh dear." She saw my look and continued, "If they hadn't found their special someponies, they would... get together and raise foals."

No.

No, no, no, no, no, no. My teacup landed on the carpet, spilling the liquid all over her carpet.

"Discord! It's okay, really, they just don't want to be alone if they are old."

"I'm old, Fluttershy. You know I'm at least a thousand years old, but I lived before I was turned to stone. Harmony, what if she really - what am I saying, of course she wants foals. What if we can't... what if I can't give them to her? She barely knows enough about me and I'm already thinking about foals."

I shook my head, letting it fall into my hands. Pinkie decided to promise herself to her friend if they didn't find anyone? Why did he ever have to show up? And they are living together now? Tears welled up, unbidden. This was doing nothing to show off my masculine prowess in the least.

"Discord? Do you think Pinkie cares?"

I raised my head slightly, eyes shifting to look at the mare from the corner of my eye.

"Pinkie Pie wants foals, eventually. She will eventually be with somepony. That doesn't mean that it won't be you."

I nodded. Pinkie's clause was in case of the very unlikely event that she wouldn't find anypony else. And Fluttershy was right. It could be me. It should be me.

"Thank you, Fluttershy. You know Laughter is my favourite, but sometimes you need Kindness to find it again."

She smiled, "I know. And I know you won't hurt her, because we're all friends."

I nodded, the concept of friendship came with definite perks, "What do I do? I don't want to tell her outright... I'm... I'm afraid. If she maybe thought of me in a different... er... more romantic light..."

Fluttershy smiled, "You will do fine. Offer her whatever makes her happy as long as it makes you happy too, and I'm sure everything will turn out just fine."

"...What if it doesn't?"

"Everything will be alright in the end. And if it's not alright, it's not the end."

Ugh, gag. I smiled back at her anyway, zapping the carpet stain away and (sort of) fixing her chipped teacup. I thanked her again, asking her why she was being so nice to the 'big dumb meanie'. She blushed, obviously she didn't know I'd heard about that.

"Well... You didn't see Pinkie after you were turned to stone. She didn't understand. But I think she understood you more than anypony else. Perhaps that is enough. No stallion I've met is right for Pinkie. You... seem to understand her. And you care for her?"

I shifted uncomfortably. Why did mares always look for the "L" word? I wasn't even certain what that was anymore. Did I have to know everything to pursue her?

"I care for her in a way that I cannot describe."

That seemed to be enough, for it kept her quietly nodding. I refilled my tea and took a sip. Fluttershy certainly was accepting. Perhaps it pertained to her Element. Neither of us spoke for a while. The animals in Fluttershy's care came and went, excepting the pigs - though I doubt they'd forgive me for the wings. Angel, the little jerk, just kind of glowered at me from under the table.

"I am sorry... for calling you that." The mare murmured.

"I was being a villain. No need to apologize." It was true, to some extent.

"Still... I need you to know that we will never forgive you if you hurt her." Her eyes locked into mine, and I swallowed. If the Element of Kindness was this fierce, I had no doubt they would do their utmost to seal me away - or worse - if Pinkie couldn't access her Element.

"I..." Her seafoam eyes bored into mine, "I would never be able to forgive myself."

"...Treat her right. I will side with you if you two need me."

"I... I need to go." I poofed out of her house and into mine. The yellow mare was willing to take a stand against her friends to... help me? What the blazes was it with ponies when it came to friendship and love? Did love trump friendship? Or was it just an extension? Chaos help me, I had no idea. Ponies were such a curiosity. Now, how to get Pinkie to realise I was right for her?

A/N: Please Rate and Review! I love getting your comments or thoughts on what will happen next!