Wednesday, 11am – Discord's Room, the Four Stallions
"Boy are we happy to see ya'll safe and sound sugar cube!" Applejack said through a mouthful of pancake. Breakfast had arrived very promptly.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yes, why wouldn't she be?" Discord echoed. He was rather put out that the other six were now camped out on his morning with his best friend who also happened to be his new wife – accidental, secret wife though she might be.
"Well," Spike cleared his throat "You could say the rest of us had a bit of a rude awakening this morning!"
"That is the understatement of the century!" Rarity groaned, shifting the icepack on her forehead.
Applejack sighed "Ah'm afraid we got ourselves caught up in a heap o' trouble last night and… well it might be we did something real dumb!"
"Now we don't know that for sure AJ." Interrupted Rarity.
Fluttershy looked concerned "Oh dear, whatever's happened?"
"Well last night we… oh! I can't even say it!" The white unicorn buried her face in her hooves.
"Me, AJ and Rarity got ourselves arrested," Spike said bluntly "We spent last night in the cells."
"And they're accusing us of… of… of roughhousing!" Rarity wailed "Oh the shame! The ignominy! I can never show my face in polite society again!"
"Oh no!" Fluttershy was horrified "Are you all ok? I feel just terrible that we never thought to come and look for you!"
"It's alright Fluttershy," Twilight sighed "I think we all took our eye off the ball last night."
"And by "eye off the ball" she means me, Rainbow and Twilight passed out in the room of the captain of a professional sports team and then barfed in his bathroom full of flamingos and we have no memory of how we got there!" Pinkie explained helpfully.
"You mean you can't remember last night either?" Said Fluttershy.
"Nope!" Pinkie shook her head "Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch!"
"Who is this sports captain?" Fluttershy asked, wide-eyed.
"His name's Jet Stream," Twilight said through gritted teeth.
"So," Discord asked innocently "You don't even know how the three of you came to be in the quarters of this – what was it again – Jock Strap?"
Rainbow smirked "I think that mighta had something to do with him and Twilight being such good amigos – am I right, Twi?" She held out her foreleg for a hoof bump but the purple Alicorn slapped it away "Rainbow Dash!"
"What?! We partied with the Cloudsdale Wingers, that's pretty cool."
"Let's just never speak of this ever, ever again," Twilight groaned "That goes double for you Discord!"
"Oh Princess," He batted his eyelashes at her "I am the soul of discretion. You can rest assured that your indiscretions – however entertaining I may find them – are safe with me."
"Hey!" Twilight said, her face suddenly suspicious "Just what did you get up to last night anyway? We know they spent the night in the drunk tank," She pointed at AJ, Rarity and Spike who all coughed and looked embarrassed "And we were at Jet Stream's party, but where were you two?"
Fluttershy and Discord studiously avoided looking at each other.
"It's all a blur," He said quickly "Generally speaking it was a wild night of drink and dancing, but the specifics elude me. All I know is that in the morning we woke up back at the hotel. Isn't that right, my dear?" She nodded hastily, dropping her eyes to the floor.
"So let me get this straight," Twilight sipped her detox smoothie "You two don't remember anything either?"
Fluttershy shook her head "I'm just not used to alcohol."
"So the two of you got separated from the group and ended up coming back to the hotel together?"
"Well I don't remember much after the bar, but I guess we must have done," Fluttershy said and Discord nodded.
"Yes darling, as far as we have been able to deduce, that seems likely," He smirked at her and she gave him a warning look.
"Well, you sure had us worried!" Said in Rainbow.
"We were beginning to think you two had run off together!" Said Rarity; provoking general laughter.
"Well here we are, slightly fatigued but otherwise safe and sound." The Draconequus snapped, not pleased that everypony else seemed to find the idea so amusing "So all's well that ends well," He finished smoothly "I guess the memory loss is the only small hitch."
Fluttershy gave the tiniest squeak, pressing her hoof to her mouth.
"Yeah," Dash took a long pull of her breakfast martini "But what were you doing? Don't tell us you were having a tea party all that time!"
"Dancing." Said Discord at the same moment as Fluttershy said "Talking."
They gave each other a brief glance "Dancing and talking." The Draconequus said hurriedly "You know how the time just disappears when you're having fun."
The yellow Pegasus made a little choking noise into her teacup.
Twilight looked from one to the other, a little frown on her face "Well thank goodness the two of you didn't get into as much trouble as we did last night," She said finally "We've got to figure out what to do about the charges these three have to answer tomorrow and I've still got the soiree to attend whilst I figure it out."
"Charges?" Fluttershy and Discord said together.
"Yeah," Said Applejack "The pony we had a tear up with wants to press charges, says we started it!"
"Of all the nerve!" Rarity cried.
"Just a minute," Spike said "Now that we've found Discord, why do we have to worry about this? Can't you just snap your claws and make it go away?" He demanded of the Draconequus.
"Well it's rather embarrassing," For once the trickster god actually did look uncomfortable "Something is… interfering with my powers."
"Discord can't use his magic at the moment," Fluttershy began to explain "Because he – " She stuttered to a halt as he shot her a pleading look "Don't tell them about the time sphere thing!"
"Er… that is… because he's… um… not feeling too well." She finished lamely.
He looked so downcast that she flitted over to him and stroked his shoulder "There, there Discord, don't worry." She soothed "I'm sure your Chaos magic will be right as chocolate rain in no time!"
"I don't know Spike," Twilight rubbed her chin "Even if we could just magic all this away would that really be the right thing to do? I mean, we don't even know what happened. If there was only some way we could find out!"
"Well, Ah'm no magician," Applejack said slowly "But there must be some ole' spell that can show ya the past? Surely that wouldn't be wrong?"
"I guess not and there probably is such a spell, but all my spell books are back in Ponyville and the main archive is in Canterlot," Twilight groaned "But we don't have time for that! I don't even know where to start looking and without Discord's magic I can't get there and back in time to still make it to the summit soiree tonight."
"Well darling," Rarity said cautiously "Do you have to go?"
"Of course I have to go! Princess Celestia is counting on me, it's my royal duty!"
As the others argued back and forth about the best solution, Fluttershy clasped her hooves together worriedly "Oh! What are we going to do?" She fretted.
"I suggest we try and forget about it my dear," Discord said putting one arm around her shoulders "At least for today, anyway."
"How can you say that when our friends are in trouble?" Demanded an outraged Rainbow Dash.
"Well as you've all very eloquently pointed out there's not much any of us can do about it tonight, but tomorrow," He grinned "By then I should have my magic back and I can transport you anywhere you wish in a split second. Or I could just turn your accusers into novelty soaps?" The ponies glared at him "Stuffed toys?" They glared harder "Glove puppets? No?" He shrugged "Oh, you're no fun!"
"But tomorrow we have to go up in front o' the judge!" Applejack objected.
"Yes, but not until the afternoon," Twilight reminded her "We'll have the whole morning to try and fix things. Discord, you may actually have a point."
"How very generous of you to concede it, your Highness!" He said sarcastically, folding his arms and sticking his forked tongue out at her.
"Don't get too used to it!" Twilight said wryly "Now, I suggest we all try and relax and recuperate as much as possible. It's going to be a long night."
By unspoken agreement the group split apart after breakfast was finished and everypony went off to recover from their hangovers in their own way.
Rainbow Dash, Pinkie and Twilight decided to go and sit by the hotel pool to try and unwind. Rarity, Applejack and Spike went to their rooms to get some rest, Rarity still grumbling under her breath about her room's lack of a terrace.
"Why don't you grab a towel and come with us?" Rainbow urged Fluttershy.
"Oh, no." She glanced back at the Draconequus, who was languishing on a sun lounger "I think I'll stay here, just for a little while."
"Come on Fluttershy," Dash grimaced "Just because you're close, doesn't mean you have to be joined at the hip."
Fluttershy shifted from hoof to hoof. She hated having to lie to her oldest friend but she knew if she didn't, Rainbow would just bulldoze right over her objections.
"It's not that! I just think he's upset. You know," Her voice dropped to a whisper "About the magic thing."
"Tell him to stop being such a big foal and get over it!"
"I couldn't do that, it would hurt his feelings!"
Dash rolled her eyes disgustedly "Well if you get bored holding his talons you know where we are." She flipped her mane and trotted off.
"Ah Rainbow Dash, the soul of tact." Discord said as she came back out onto the terrace.
"Did you hear that?" She looked mortified "I'm sorry!"
"Think nothing of it my dear." In actual fact he was secretly pleased to overhear her stand up for him, a petty victory but a victory nevertheless "Why… didn't you go with her?" He asked curiously.
She looked at him and took a deep breath "Because I think I need to stay with you."
"Oh yes?"
"To see if we can figure out what happened."
"Ah. Yes, quite."
"We need to see more of those time spheres," She said "Why didn't you want me to tell Twilight and the others about them?"
He winced "I don't want Princess Practical prodding and poking me with spells all day long, trying find out what happened last night!"
She looked worried "But if we can see more of what happened then maybe it could help them."
"Look, I told you I can't control it alright?" He said sulkily "I don't know what the flashbacks will show us when they do happen, so better just keep quiet as long as you want to keep this a secret too!" He held up the talon with his wedding ring on it "If we did see something helpful we can always tell them about it."
"I guess so," She sat quietly for a moment "And maybe if you can get rid of all that time you absorbed, your magic will come back. You said that seeing me eat the cherry triggered the first one. Maybe I can trigger more?"
"It's possible I suppose," He scratched his head with his eagle talons.
"And then your magic will come back, won't it?"
"I fervently hope so!"
"In that case," She looked pleased "Shall we go?"
"You want me to go outside the room?" Discord looked worried "Where are we going?"
"Well we've got all this time together so we may as well enjoy ourselves," She gave him a heart-melting smile "And you did promise to show me the sights."
Wednesday, 1pm – The Strip, Las Pegasus
Just half an hour later they were walking down the Las Pegasus strip. Fluttershy was wearing a silk scarf that she had grabbed from her room knotted loosely round her neck to conceal the ring on its delicate chain. Discord sported an enormous pair of dark glasses in deference to his headache.
He felt slightly at a loss. He'd had all sorts of things planned, but that had been before all this marriage business and now he didn't know what to do with her. Every activity he could think of seemed either too raucous or too self-consciously romantic.
"Oh fiddlesticks, why is this so awkward?" He thought, watching her from behind his shades as she read the guidebook she'd borrowed from Twilight "I suppose at least I know I've not lost my touch when it comes to creating havoc. This is the most mayhem I've caused in one evening for some time and I wasn't even trying!"
"So my dear," He said "Las Pegasus is your oyster, what do you want to do?"
"Well," She looked at the guide book again "I've never been to Prance but I've always really wanted to see the EiFoal Tower and they have a replica here."
"Absolument cherie, mais pourquoi?"
"I always thought it sounded so romantic!" She said with a little sigh, then hurriedly added "I mean – uh – not that I want to do romantic things with you! Oh, that sounded bad, I meant… not that I don't … but…"
"Of course not Flitterflutter, perish the thought," He said generously, then peered at her "But I thought you were afraid of heights?"
"Oh I am, but if my hooves are on something solid I don't mind so much." She said, without even a tinge of hurt pride. It always amazed him how she was never embarrassed to say things like this. If he had been frightened of anything, he would rather be boiled in oil than admit to it.
Without his magic they had to walk. Discord was appalled "How you can actually enjoy this is a mystery to me," He complained "Why do all this unglamorous trudging when you could just get there instantaneously?"
She giggled at him "Not everypony can teleport you know! Some of us have no choice but to go on hoof."
"But if you want to go somewhere all you need do is ask." He said, affronted.
"Oh I wouldn't want to be a bother," She shook her head "Besides, if you get somewhere too fast, you miss seeing the beauty of the world around you."
Discord raised an eyebrow at the crowded city street that surrounded them but decided not to argue. It wasn't beautiful per se, though it was interesting; plenty of chaos going on here. He shrugged "Maybe it's not so bad, I suppose…"
Fluttershy saw his sceptical expression and smiled to herself. Weird as it was, she found that she actually rather enjoying herself. Even the whole marriage mix-up, trying to work things out together was kind of…fun.
She found herself almost feeling sorry he'd suggested bringing the others too… or had he? "There was a moment when I thought he might be suggesting we go on our own, did I read it wrong?" She thought "I wish I hadn't said anything … then I'd know what he meant. Oh, I'm being silly anyway – of course it's more fun with the girls and Spike here. I'm just glad they aren't here right now, that's all!"
She was in such a good mood, it wasn't until they had nearly reached the first level of the tower that her nerves kicked in "I d-didn't r-realise it would be so high." She said in a small voice, staring downwards "You c-can't tell from pictures how b-big it is, c-can you?"
"We can do something else if you like, darling?"
"No." Her face set in a determined frown "I chose it. I've always wanted to see it and I'm going to do it!"
But he could tell she was already regretting her decision as they reached the first level viewing platform. She could barely bring herself to look down or even go near the railing.
"It s-sure is a g-great view from here." She stammered unconvincingly, then looked dejected "I s-suppose you think I'm a terrible c-coward!"
"You? Never! Until very recently you're the only pony who wasn't afraid of me!" Discord nudged her and she gave him a tiny smile "Don't be worried Flitterflutter, I promise that if by some freakish accident you do fall and if, for some inexplicable reason, your wings fail, I'll catch you; I promise. Magic or no magic!"
"OK," She inched closer to the railing, finally managing to stand next to it and look out at the view properly by gripping onto his lion paw with all her might "It's very windy up here, isn't it?"
"Somewhat," He said between clenched teeth, as she crushed his arm.
"W-why didn't you want to g-go outside the room?" She asked, trying to distract herself from the vertigo.
"Oh – that. Well… er…" He hesitated, then decided honesty was the best policy "I'm just a little… concerned in case we see something that makes the time flashback thingy happen again."
She turned to him in surprise "But I thought we wanted you to have another flashback, so we can find out what happened?"
He fidgeted uncomfortably "But what if it shows I did something awful? Something that makes you stop liking me?"
"It won't. You wouldn't!"
"You've said that before."
"It's different now. You're different… I can feel it."
"But what if you end up hating me?"
She smiled up at him, her fear of heights momentarily forgotten "Discord I promise; whatever we see, I won't hate you."
"Oh, and you know that, do you?"
"Yes. I do." She stood on her hoof tips and kissed him on the cheek.
He didn't even have time to process the surprise because immediately a wave of sickness swept over him. The raging headache came back with a vengeance and suddenly he knew... it was going to happen again.
At the same instant, the tower they were standing on lit up like a Hearths Warming tree, sparkling magic racing along its surface as Discord spat out another glowing sphere. It rebounded off the railing, pin-balling around inside the tower's steel framework in front of the other horrified sightseers.
"Darling! I swear, it's not you!" He said desperately, both of them instinctively ducking as it went singing over their heads "I promise that your kisses are very far from being nauseating!"
"You think that's what I'm worried about right now?!" She screamed.
They were both cut off as the time sphere ricocheted off a cast iron girder at speed, slamming into the pair of them like a meteor.