The Idol Of Draki

Epilogue: At The Cottage

"How could she interrogate you like that?" Fluttershy ranted, flying back and forth as her cottage gently spun around her. The moment they'd teleported, she'd insisted on Discord spreading some chaos to center himself. "You told her you didn't know anything, it was obvious you were uncomfortable. At the very least, she could've taken a moment to assure you that she wasn't going to hurt you, instead of terrifying you!"

"I'm pretty sure she was going to hurt me." Discord corrected from his spot on the floating couch, calming petting Angel Bunny with his tail. Neither were in the mood to terrorize the other. "And I suppose I can't really blame her -- I've done a lot of nasty things to her in the past, most of which she never even got a proper revenge for."

"Discord, no one is going to hurt you." Fluttershy swore, metaphorical fire in her teal gaze. "Not while I'm here."

Discord blinked in surprise. Everypony and their dog knew how wildly protective he was of her, but even he didn't realize that the feeling was mutual. He supposed that she'd just never really had the opportunity to protect him before now.

Despite everything, he couldn't help but feel happy knowing that his favorite Pony would do something like use the Stare on Celestia just to protect him. Nocreature had ever defended him like that before.

"You're really not going to use it?" Discord asked, gesturing to the satchel hanging from the end of the couch. "You could ask me anything -- anything at all -- and know for certain I was answering truthfully. Any secret you've ever wanted to know about me, and all you'd have to do is ask. I wouldn't mind, I know you won't hurt me." It was true. He wouldn't particularly like it, but he'd be okay so long as it was her.

"That thing was made to enslave, I'm not using it on anycreature, much less my best friend." Fluttershy shook her head, perching on the back of the couch. "I trust you to be honest with me when it counts, but everycreature is entitled to their secrets. If I want to know something about you, I'll ask, and I'll accept if you don't want to tell me."

Discord wasn't quite sure what to say to that, so he didn't respond. They fell into a thoughtful silence, until he broke it by absent-mindedly saying. "The Pillars."

"What?" Fluttershy asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"The Pillars created the Tree!" He explained, lifting her off the couch and into the air with him, grinning in growing excitement. "If anycreature knows why the Idol can affect young Harmony, it would them."

"Do you think we should talk to them?" Fluttershy asked, leaning into Discord's hold. "Maybe we should just hide the Idol and-"

"If it was found once, it can be found again. Besides," Discord grinned, and suddenly they were in safari gear (even Angel), in the middle of someplace that definitely wasn't Equestria, "we've never gone on an adventure by ourselves before! This is gonna be fun."

Securing her satchel, trying not think about what it held, Fluttershy followed Discord into parts unknown to solve the mystery of the Idol.