>At first, it appears nothing has happened
>Then, without warning, you're blinded by a flash of light
>As it fades, you see Twilight standing where she was before, her body now taken over by an ethereal glow
>She turns around, revealing her eyes to be a blank white, a sight which makes both you and Butterscotch flinch
>Twilight frowns for a moment at your reaction before quickly and calmly trotting over to you
>She looks Butterscotch up and down carefully before breaking out into a broad grin
>"Butterscotch...! It -is- you," Twilight exclaims, her voice carrying a slightly different intonation than usual. "I'm so glad to see you're safe and well."
>She holds out a hoof towards Butterscotch, expectant
>Nervously, Butterscotch removes his hoof from yours, extending it for a simple hoofbump
>However, Twilight responds by pulling her hoof away before tapping the left of Butterscotch's appendage
>She then repeats the same motion from the right
>A flash of realisation sparkles in Butterscotch's eyes as he matches the next few movements, tapping Twilight's hoof from above and below
>After this, he interlocks his foreleg with hers at eye-level, before lowering it down to chest-high
>Looking up into Twilight's eyes, Butterscotch gulps. "...Dusk Shine?"
>'Dusk Shine' nods, loosening his grip and engaging Butterscotch in a brief bro-nuzzle. "Well, actually, it's more accurate to say I'm Dusk Shine and Twilight Sparkle at the same time. Twilight's just been kind enough to let me 'take the wheel' for now, so to speak." The hivemind alicorn looks over to you, intrigued. "And you must be Fluttershy. Twilight's told me so much about you!" He pauses. "...Literally everything, in fact."
>You blush at the realisation of what that entails before nervously extending a hoof
"Oh... Well, I'm Fluttershy. A friend of Twilight's is a friend of mine."
 
>Dusk meets your hoof with an ordinary hoofbump. "Well, I wouldn't say Twilight and I are friends at this point, per se. It's more than that, I think."
>You trade a brief look with Butterscotch, who looks as surprised as you
>Was it possible? Were Dusk and Twilight lovers?
>"When you've been inside another pony, it goes beyond just friendship," he adds, your and Butterscotch's faces going crimson. "She's like..."
>You and Butterscotch lean in, anxious
"Yes?"
>"My CVSBFF, you might say."
>Butterscotch tilts his head. "Your... what, sorry?"
>If this alicorn still had pupils or irises, they most certainly would be rolling at this point. "My Crossverse Sister Best Friend Forever, of course!"
>Your jaw goes slack in shock, unsure how to respond
>Looking over at Butterscotch, you see him in a similar state as the implications of what you two did begin to hit you
"...Sister?"
>Dusk gives you and Butterscotch a knowing smile. "You can feel it too, right? Even though you two can't mind-meld, I can tell you're very close already."
>You begin sweating bullets
"You could... say that."
>"Yeah," Butterscotch adds awkwardly, throwing his foreleg over your shoulder. "Just like brother and sister...!" Nervously, he forces a quiet laugh
>You, in turn, force a grin and a squee
>Dusk looks at you and Butterscotch, incredulous. "Twilight had her doubts about you two." Squinting, he hums in contemplation. "And I think I see why. You're not seeing yourselves as brother and sister, neither of you have the heart to maintain a rivalry, and if you simply saw one another as good friends, you wouldn't be nearly this awkward. And adding in the early morning exhaustion..."
>Your pupils go as narrow as pinpoints as Dusk scratches his chin, while Butterscotch's forelimb tightens its grip on you
>"I can only logically conclude that-"
"I admit it... I confess."
 
>Your voice is shaky, barely past the level of a whisper as you interrupt Dusk
>"Confess? What do you mean-"
>"I... I'll confess too," Butterscotch adds. "I was... We were..."
"...We were bad ponies!"
>The two of you begin sobbing into each-other as Dusk looks on, unsure of how to react
>"Guys," Dusk murmurs, concerned. "It's okay."
>You look up at the alicorn, sensing a softness between the eyes' harsh glow
"You... you promise you're not mad?"
>Dusk nods. "I thought this might happen, actually. I've come across cases in my studies before," he explains, "where twins separated at birth can sometimes fall in love if reunited without knowing their shared family history."
>"Oh..." Butterscotch breathes a sigh of relief. "So, you're not mad we..."
>"Might have made out a little? Not at all. Though, until we understand more about the genetic and ethical implications, you two might want to keep those sorts of feelings in check."
"Um... about that..."
>You sheepishly look away as Dusk raises an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"Well, it's, um... I think we might have done more than just..."
>You swallow hard, girding yourself
"...made out."
>Butterscotch nods, equally humiliated. "We..." He kicks at a bit of imaginary dust at his front hooves. "...got curious."
>Dusk sighs, his face reflecting something closer to disappointment than anger. "Spike, Barb," he calls out, "could you give us a moment?"
>Spike looks up from his comic. "What? Oh, sure, Twilight. Er, Dusk..." He picks up his book. "Dusklight?" The dragon chuckles at the combined name as he begins to move towards the exit
>As Spike leaves and closes the door, Dusk turns back to the two of you. "...How curious?"
>You and Butterscotch whimper, afraid to respond verbally
>"Did you two touch," he asks, gesturing towards his lower body
>The both of you nod meekly, turning red as tomatoes
>"Hrm..." Dusk looks at you carefully, noting your fragile emotional state
>You wonder whether he's going to let up on his questioning
 
>"Did you two... go all the way?"
>As the tears start to flow again and blind you, you open your mouth
"...yes."
>Your voice is barely even a squeak, but it's enough to reach Dusk Shine's ears
>For a moment, you feel nothing but shame and embarrassment
>Then, you feel something else
>A hoof over your shoulder, hugging you tightly
>Cracking open your eyes, you see Dusk hugging both you and Butterscotch, his face calm and stoic
>"I'm not mad." He tightens his grip slightly. "And neither is Twilight."
>For a few minutes, the three of you say nothing as Dusk does his best to comfort you
>You breathe deeply, exhaling into the alicorn's neck
>"You know," Dusk says, breaking the silence, "I never would have expected this from you, Butterscotch."
>Your doppelganger blinks, surprised. "W-what?"
>"Making a move like this," he explains. "Unresolved trans-universal ethics aside, in a way, I'm kind of impressed."
"Actually, um..."
>You focus, trying to speak up.
"I... kind of made the first move."
>"Now I'm even more surprised. And so is Twi," Dusk answers
>You now feel even worse than before
>Moistness begins building in the corners of your eyes yet again
>Dusk pulls back to look at you, noticing your state
>"...I mean that in a good way, of course. We both do."
"Oh..."
>Your mind is put at ease by a slight degree, but many questions still swirl about your head
"What do you mean by 'a good way', though, Dusk?"
>"Well," he answers, "like I was explaining to Butterscotch, you two are very shy, reserved ponies." Smiling, he gestures with a hoof as he continues. "And there's nothing wrong with being a little shy. But the fact you two were able to go this far together, to trust each-other like that..."
 
>With his blank, energy-laden eyes, Dusk looks at you, then Butterscotch
>"It tells me the both of you are really helping each-other come out of your shells."
>You and Butterscotch both breathe a sigh of relief at Dusk's positive attitude towards the whole situation
>"However," he adds, his face turning serious as he looks at you in particular, "Fluttershy, you might want to get yourself tested in a week or two. Butterscotch -could- have gotten you pregnant, after all."
>Your lover shakes his head. "But, um, I... pulled it out. Before I finished."
>"And it's good that you did," Dusk replies, "but my studies indicate the pull-out method isn't foolproof. Pregnancy is still a possibility, albeit a very slim one."
>Your jaw drops and your eyes go wide upon hearing this
>Though Dusk said it was a 'slim' possibility, your subconscious mind begins twisting it into a certainty
>You wonder whether you'll be a good mother
>Whether Butterscotch will be able to be there as a father, or whether he'd leave for the Arrowverse and never come back
>You worry about the possibility of the foal turning out to be ill, sickly or deformed as a result of trans-universal incest
>"...Fluttershy? A-are you okay?"
>You barely hear Butterscotch's concerns as the gravity of the situation hits you
>Overwhelmed by your thoughts, you fall over, fainting on the spot
 
===
 
>"Fluttershy...?"
>A familiar, soft voice reaches your ears
>Slowly, you blink your eyes a few times
>A glimmering blue ceiling comes into view
>Weakly turning your head to the left, you spot a lone, butter-yellow stallion standing vigil over you
"...Butterscotch?"
>Suddenly, the pony wraps his forelimbs around you, hugging you firmly, but gently
>"You're okay," he murmurs, breathing a sigh of relief
>You return the gesture, wrapping your own hooves around his waist
>For a moment, your mind goes blank
>All your concerns are as nothing, lost into the tranquil void of this moment
>Soon, however, a question enters your head
"Butterscotch... where am I?"
>"In one of the spare rooms in Twilight's castle," Butterscotch explains. "Dusk... told me to take you here after you fainted."
>...Dusk...
>Suddenly, your last few memories come flooding back, almost like a bad dream
>Dusk Shine implying your new relationship with Butterscotch could be incestuous
>Butterscotch and yourself confessing your 'activities' to him
>Then his suggestion that you could be pregnant
>You begin to sob quietly into Butterscotch's neck
>Butterscotch responds by holding you tighter. "Let it all out, Fluttershy." He strokes your mane as he speaks. "I'm here for you."
>You let go, burying your face hard into the stallion's neck as you cry outright
>After a few moments of this, you regain enough composure to speak
"B-Butterscotch?"
>"Yes, Fluttershy?"
"I... I don't think I'm ready..."
>You let a single sob escape as you speak
"...to be a momma."
>"Oh, Fluttershy..." Butterscotch strokes your mane again. "We don't even know if you're pregnant yet..."
"But what if I am!?"
>You raise your voice as you speak, your tone carrying a mix of confusion and anger
>Butterscotch pulls his head back a bit, his face expressing shock at your outburst
 
>At that moment, you realise what you've done
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to y-"
>You're cut off mid-apology by a kiss to the lips
>Butterscotch breaks the kiss after a few seconds, pausing to look into your eyes. "If you are... then I'll help you."
>Your heart skips a beat as your voice begins to crack
"You... you would do that? F-for me?"
>"Of course," Butterscotch says, nodding. His face sports a soft smile as he speaks. "I might not be able to be in your world forever," he explains, "but I'll stay back as long as I can to help you and your... um, our foal."
>Utterly surprised, your lip quivers for a moment as you stare back at Butterscotch
"T-thank you."
>You squeeze Butterscotch tightly
"I... love you, Butterscotch."
>"I love you too, Fluttershy," he responds. "And I... I don't care what Dusk or Twilight or anyone else think," he adds, staring resolutely into your eyes. "Right or wrong, I really love you, and I want to be there for you. And if they can't see that, then... then they can just...!"
>"I can just... what?"
>You and Butterscotch gulp simultaneously as you turn to look at the door
>Twilight stands there with a curious look, her aura gone and her eyes back to normal
>You and Butterscotch both try to form the words for a response, yet all you manage over the next few seconds is a bit of useless, fish-like gaping
>Eventually, however, you hear a few squeaks from Butterscotch's direction
>"Then... you can just... um," he says, his voice barely audible, "deal with it...?"
 
>The room is silent for several moments as those present take in what Butterscotch just said
>None seem more surprised than Butterscotch himself, whose jaw now hangs open in shock at what just came out of his mouth
>It's Twilight who eventually breaks the silence with a chuckle
>She calmly walks over to the two of you before looking down at you, then up at your still-nervous partner
>"Butterscotch," she says, trying to gauge the butter stallion's mental state, "you're serious about this, aren't you?"
>You look up at Butterscotch to see his reaction
>After a few second of hesitation, he slowly nods. "Y-yes..." He takes a quick breath, steadying his voice. 'I am."
>Your heart swells at Butterscotch's resolve
>Twilight seems similarly moved as she smiles, placing a hoof on his shoulder
>"You're a good stallion," she says. "I know more than a few ponies who could learn something from you..."
>"Oh... thank you," he answers, blushing
>"However," Twilight adds, serious, "in three weeks, we might just learn whether that's true."
>You raise an eyebrow, confused
"...what happens in three weeks, Twilight?"
>"Dusk and I were able to compare notes and finish some calculations after you fainted," she explains. "We concluded that there is in fact a way to send ponies between the Crossverse and Arrowverse safely. But it's not easy."
>She pops open her saddlebag with a wing, withdrawing a chart of the night sky using her magic
>"To send ponies through the rift," she explains, "they need to be converted into Brizospace-friendly Brizoparticles, then reconverted back into standard particles on the other side. And doing so requires lunar-assisted magic..."
>You tilt your head, vaguely understanding the principle of the matter
>"But the amount of magic needed is so great," Twilight adds, her smile fading, "we can only perform the spell during a lunar perigee-syzygy."
>Butterscotch blinks. "A perigee-sizzy... what?"
 
>Twilight sighs. "A supermoon," she explains. "They typically happen every fourteen moons."
>The gears turn in your head as you realise the implications of this
"So, if Butterscotch doesn't go home on the next supermoon in 3 weeks..."
>"He'll have to wait until next year, yes," Twilight confirms solemnly as she puts her star chart back in her bag. "Butterscotch?"
>You look up to the stallion to see his reaction
>He seems to be staring into the distance, deep in thought
>You try to imagine yourself in his hooves
>What would you do if you were in his universe, and got him pregnant instead?
>You'd want to look after him, of course
>Even if pregnancy wasn't on the agenda, you'd love to spend time with him
>But for a whole year, or more? What about your friends?
>Not to mention all your animals; who'd look after them with you gone?
>The two of you simultaneously heave out a sigh as you consider the situation
>Why couldn't making the jump between universes be easier?
>Being forced to choose like this didn't seem fair
>"I... I think," Butterscotch murmurs, looking first at you, then towards Twilight, "I need to think about this more."
>"Of course." The princess closes her eyes as she speaks, her face serious, yet compassionate. "You have three weeks, so take as much time to think as you need."
>Butterscotch nods. "Thank you, Twilight."
>He looks down at you again, his expression returning to its usual softness
>"Fluttershy, do you think you're alright to head home now?"
"Yeah... I think so."
>As you begin to shift yourself off of the bed, however, Twilight interrupts again. "Oh, one more thing before you go," she says. "I need some samples from you two."
>Your mind immediately wanders to the worst possible places as you hear her request
"S...samples? What do you mean?"
 
>"DNA samples," she explains, levitating a pair of buccal swabs from one of her saddlebags. "I just want to run a few tests, is all. Check your... genetic compatibility."
"O-oh, okay. That sounds good..."
>You eye the swabs carefully
"So, how do you... take the sample?"
>"It's pretty simple, actually. I just swab the inside of your cheek with these," she answers, gesturing with the levitating buds and their accompanying storage vials
>For once, you feel Twilight is right to describe something as simple
>She raises one of the swabs near your mouth, with the other hovering near Butterscotch's face. "Is it alright if I take the samples now?"
"Sure..."
>"Go ahead," Butterscotch adds, opening his mouth
>You do likewise, giving Twilight access
>The swab enters your mouth immediately after, skirting just past the teeth to make contact with the inside of your cheek
>Once there, Twilight scrubs it firmly against the surface for a few moments, withdrawing it not long afterwards
>She brings the two swabs - one from you, one from Butterscotch - in front of her face, examining them carefully before aligning them with the storage vials
>With a pop, the swab heads are ejected into the containers. "There we go. That wasn't so bad, was it?"
>You and Butterscotch shake your heads
 
>"Good," Twilight responds, smiling. "Now, with the swabs sealed up, I can get the cheek cells on them analysed to find your DNA sequences. By cross-checking your recessive alleles, I can determine the risk factors for various genetic disorders for any hypothetical foal you two might have together."
"...hypothetical?"
>You're almost offended by her choice of words, your tone reflecting that fact
>Twilight is taken aback by your reaction. "W-well, I'm just saying we don't even know if you're pregnant yet. And in all likelihood, you're not. Still, it doesn't hurt to check these things, just to be safe."
>Ashamed at yourself, you bow your head
"O-oh... right. Sorry."
>"It's okay, Fluttershy," Twilight assures you. "I can't even begin to imagine how much stress you're under right now. You should get some rest."
"Yeah..."
>You take a deep breath, forcing yourself off of the bed and onto your hooves
"Thank you... Twilight. For everything. And... sorry for, well, complicating things."
>"Thanks," Butterscotch adds, moving to stand beside you. "It was... good to see Dusk again."
>The princess smiles. "You're welcome. Butterscotch, Dusk felt likewise. And Fluttershy, don't worry. I'm sure this will all work out," Twilight answers calmly. "Just... focus on getting some rest for now," she adds.
"...Okay. I will."
 
===
 
>After the two of you say your goodbyes to Twilight, you make your way back to your cottage relatively quickly
>You settle in on the couch, trying to put your mind at ease
>Meanwhile, Butterscotch enters from the kitchen, his hoof looped through the large carrying handle of a teapot
>You smile softly up at him as he begins to pour - one cup for you, another for himself
>You feel the tension within you fade as the soothing aroma hits your nostrils
"Thank you, Butters."
>You carefully reach for the cup, holding it in your hooves before taking a sip
>Butterscotch does likewise. "You're welcome. Do you like it?"
"It's... it's perfect."
>"That's good to hear."
>A brief silence falls between you as you enjoy not only the drinks, but also one-another's company
>Before long, though, you decide to speak up
"So... Butters. Have you... thought about what you're gonna do? If it turns out I'm pregnant, I mean..."
>Butterscotch pauses his sipping. "Oh... Yes, I have." He looks over towards you. "I want to stay and help. It'll be hard, being away from my friends..." Wistfully, he peers away for a moment. "...but being able to talk to Dusk Shine really helps. And I'm sure the others would understand. But all the critters who depend on me..."
>You nod
"I understand. It's hard to imagine how my animal friends would cope if I just vanished for a year..."
>You both stare down at your cups of tea for a moment
>Continuing to contemplate his cup, Butterscotch begins to murmur something to himself. "Maybe I could... hrm..."
"What was that, sorry?"
>"...Oh!" He jolts himself out of his daze. "I was just thinking. Maybe I could ask Eris to fill in for me... if I'm going to be gone for a while, I mean."
>You raise a brow, curious
"Who's Eris?"
 
>"She's a friend. She... used to cause us a lot of trouble," he explains. "But then I befriended her, got her to change her ways."
>Immediately, the pieces came together in your head
"So, 'Eris' isn't a... draconequus, by any chance, is she?"
>"Yeah, she is. She..." Butterscotch catches himself as he speaks. "I mean, he exists in this universe too, then?"
"His name here is Discord. He's... a little rough around the edges. But still a good friend."
>"Huh... Discord..."
>Just then, a mysterious voice echoes through the room. "I'm sorry," it asks, "did somepony call me?"
>The two of you put down your teacups as you look for the source of the voice
>Eventually, you spot it - the painting on the wall
>Or rather, one of the butterflies within, whose face now resembles that of a certain embodiment of chaos
>"Ah!" He grins. "I was wondering how long it would take you to find me."
>The butterfly disappears from the painting in a flash
>A split second later, another flash fills the room, revealing Discord's true form as it fades
>His attention is immediately drawn towards the stallion in the room. ”So, who might you be? Fluttershy's long-lost second-cousin once removed, perhaps? Wait, no. That can't be right.”
>The draconequus pulls out a construction helmet and measuring tape from thin air, darting about him whilst making measurements
“Actually, Discord... Butterscotch is my special...”
>"Hm?" Discord pauses to look at you. "What was that, dear Fluttershy?"
>You focus on your words, resolute
"Butterscotch... is my special somepony."
>Discord's jaw drops, his eyes in complete shock. "You... have a special somepony?"
 
>Suddenly, Discord teleports between you and Butterscotch, stretching out his arms to fetch you both before bringing you together for a group hug
>"Oh, happy day! Fluttershy, you've grown up so fast," Discord says, wiping away a tear of joy
>You think it might be a mock one, but with Discord, it's impossible to tell
>In either case, he teleports away afterwards, moving to the middle of the room
>"I think this calls for a celebration!" He snaps his fingers, transforming the floor into an illuminated grid of colour and the ceiling fan into a disco ball
>Discord himself is now wearing a sequin-studded jacket and flared trousers, completing the disco look
>Pulling a few moves on the dance floor, he notices you and Butterscotch just standing there, stone-faced
>"You two seem awfully glum." Losing the grin, he snaps his fingers again, restoring both the room and himself to total normality. "Is something the matter, my dear?"
"Yes, actually. But... I'm not sure if I'm comfortable talking about it."
>Discord walks calmly over to you, gradually shrinking himself so that he's eye-to-eye with you by the time he's a foot away. "Come now, Fluttershy. I'm your friend," he pleads. "You can trust me."
"Well... Do you promise not to tell anypony?"
>Wordlessly, Discord makes a crossing motion over his chest, flaps his wings for a moment, then conjures a cupcake in his lion paw of a hand before immediately mashing it into his face
"...Okay. I'll tell you."
>Satisfied, you move over to the couch, once again sitting down with Butters
>Discord moves to occupy the armchair adjacent, returning to his usual size
>He summons a mug in the likeness of his face, placing it on the table. "Shall we discuss this over tea?"
 
>You and Butterscotch explain the events of the last couple of days
>How Butterscotch is a stranger to this universe, how the two of you met and fell in love
>You leave out some of the more sordid details, though Discord gains a rough idea of what happened when you get to the part about the pregnancy scare
>Throughout, your draconequus friend listens patiently, occasionally plucking a popcorn-like chunk of solidified tea from his mug to eat
>Eventually, Butterscotch reaches the part about the possibility of him having to make a decision, and the consequences in both universes
>"So," Butterscotch says, "I was thinking maybe I could get Eris... your counterpart in my world... to help look after my animal friends. But I'm... well, not sure if she's up to it, or if she'd agree... It is a big responsibility, after all."
>Discord cracks a wry smile. "You don't have to ask this 'Eris' to find out her answer, you know."
"I'm sorry, but... what do you mean, Discord?"
>Discord rolls his eyes. "Think about it, dear. If what you two have told me is true, then I -am- Eris! And if I'm Eris," he continues, "all we need to do is engage in a bit of role reversal to find our answer!"
"...Role reversal?"
>You're not sure you like where this is going
>"Yes, precisely," he replies, clasping his hands. "Let's say you're the fish out of water. You've crossed over to the Arrowverse and gotten Butterscotch here pregnant."
>He gestures over towards Butterscotch before snapping his fingers, engulfing the stallion in a flash
>When it fades, you see Butterscotch sitting as he was before, but now with an almost comically-oversized belly beneath him
"Discord...!"
>You stare down the draconequus, anger tainting your voice
>Butterscotch looks puzzled at your reaction for a second
>Then, however, he looks down, and his confusion is quickly displaced by panic
>He hyperventilates as you stare down Discord
 
>"Okay, okay... I'm sorry." He snaps his fingers, returning Butterscotch to normal
>Butterscotch breathes a sigh of relief as he notices his restored form
>"Now," Discord adds, his voice taking on a more conciliatory tone, "just so you know, I didn't -actually- impregnate him then. Was just trying to lighten the atmosphere with a little illusion, is all."
>He moves over to your lover, ruffling his mane in much the same way he's ruffled yours in the past
>"But," he continues, "it looks like I misjudged the mood a bit." He looks down at the stallion, his eyes reflecting a genuine softness. "I'm sorry, Butterscotch."
>After a pause, he quietly answers. "It's okay, Discord."
>Following a tender moment of silence, Discord speaks up again. "So, yes," he says, his usual jovial spirit returning, "we'll imagine that you, Fluttershy, are the one over in Butterscotch's world, and you might want to stay behind for a bit longer than expected because of..."
>You see him resisting the urge to snap his fingers again
>"...whatever deeply personal, very important reason." He begins to pace about the room. "But you don't want to leave all your little animal friends out to fend for themselves, do you? So you decide to use the Purple Pony Princess Hotline to send me a -humble- request." He stops in place to look at you expectantly. "What does the message say? What sorts of things would I need to do, how often, and for how long?"
"Um..."
>You think carefully about all the things you do for the animals
>Everything from the major tasks, like splinting and bandaging the broken bones of ponies' pets, down to the minor chores like pre-cracking the oysters for the otters and polishing the turtle shells
>Eventually, you have a coherent summary in your head
"Well... if it wasn't too much bother, I'd ask-"
>"Yes," Discord answers plainly, cutting you off.
 
"I-I'm sorry?"
>You look up at him, confused
>The draconequus merely shakes his head, smiling. "Fluttershy," he explains, "you are my best friend. You've shown me compassion and kindness in ways nopony has ever done before." His voice begins to tremble. "You're the reason I'm a free creature, not some forsaken stone trophy on Celestia's front lawn."
>His emotional outpour catches you off-guard
"Discord..."
>He continues. "To give up a year, even two years of my nigh-infinite lifespan to keep your affairs in order while you're out for a bit would be -nothing- compared to what I owe you."
>Your eyes begin to tear up at his openness
>Rearing up and hugging Discord tightly, you feel a paw-like hand on the back of your head
>"Butterscotch," he says, raising his paw from Fluttershy's mane to gesture towards him. "If your friend Eris feels even half the gratitude towards you that I do towards Fluttershy, she'll help you without a second thought."
>"Y-you really think so, Discord?" Butterscotch's voice swells with hope as he speaks
>He nods. "I guarantee it."
>For a moment, nothing is said
>Then, Butterscotch speaks up again. "Fluttershy?"
>You let go of Discord, turning to look towards the meek stallion
"Butters?"
>"I... I've made my decision."