Chapter 5: Hats Off To Discord
A few days had passed since the Hearths Warming party, and things had settled into a pleasantly quiet state throughout Ponyville. In fact, it seemed just a little too quiet, which might have been why Fluttershy found herself humming a soft little tune to herself as she fed Angel Bunny his lunch (a bowl of meticulously sliced carrots), just enjoying the peaceful atmosphere that had settled over her homestead.
Knock, knock, knock.
Of course, peace and quiet never did last very long - something that Fluttershy knew all too well. Still, her contented smile didn't waver as she moved to answer the front door. She had a feeling she knew who was waiting on her doorstep.
The first thing the softly spoken pony saw upon opening the door were those familiar boots she had made, and she had to look up to see the familiar face of the Draconequus who wore them. Discord was holding a moderately large blue present box wrapped with a green ribbon in his mismatched appendages. He looked a little uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry that the Hearths Warming party ended up being a little bit… well, me," he said, hanging his head. "Guess I should leave the festivities to Pinkie Pie in future."
"Oh, don't be like that, Discord," Fluttershy told him reassuringly. "I know you meant well, and I think everypony's stopped having cider-related headaches by now."
"All I wanted was to make you the guest of honour at my party. I thought that would be a fitting Hearths Warming gift for you, but… Well, I thought I'd try something a little closer to what you got me. It's not much and I know it's a little late now, but… Happy Hearths Warming, Fluttershy," Discord concluded, offering her the box.
Intrigued, Fluttershy set the box down before her and pulled the ribbon away, lifting the lid to reveal…
"Oh, Discord!' she gasped as she pulled out the wide-brimmed hat decorated with multicoloured shirt buttons arranged in a pattern that resembled her and Discord, the two seeming to be holding hands/hooves in the image. "This… This is…"
"Nothing special, I know," Discord said, looking at his talons glumly. "I guess I've still got a lot to learn about-"
"This is exactly what I wanted!" Fluttershy declared, rushing forward to wrap her hooves around her friend's waist.
"It is?" Discord said, a little bewildered. "You mean you'd rather a half-decent hat I made without my powers than being an honoured guest at a party?"
"But of course!" Fluttershy told him. "Parties are always fun, but something like this is a keepsake - one that's made with love, thought and a little of that Discord charm! It makes me think of you and reminds me that you're thinking of me!"
Hearing this, Discord glanced down at his boots, feeling that they warranted a similar description. Fluttershy had no doubt made them for him with a lot of thought and plenty of her signature kindness.
"Well, there you go, then! Even when I get friendship wrong, it turns out right!" he said more cheerfully.
"Or maybe you never got it wrong in the first place," Fluttershy said with a knowing smile as she released him, taking her new hat in hoof and placing it atop her head.
"Oh, I don't know about that..." Discord murmured, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Well, the important thing is that you're always trying to improve," Fluttershy told him warmly. "Say, you know what goes good with a new hat? A nice hot cup of tea!"
"You read my mind!" Discord said, having already been planning to invite Fluttershy over to his place of residence for their annual tea party. "And it so happens that I picked up a simply marvellous cake yesterday! So… shall we?"
A couple minutes later, Fluttershy set out with her friend, wearing her own snow boots along with her new hat, walking in stride with the Draconequus. "Tell me more about that marvellous cake," she pleaded eagerly, only now becoming aware of how hungry she was.
"Well, it's a chocolate cake made to look like a rock, topped with green frosting to give the impression of being moss-covered…"
The End
