Celestia was rather unsurprised that Twilight and her friends were...upset...about her bringing Discord to them to be reformed. After everything they'd been through, she knew this was asking a great deal, especially of Twilight. It was part of the reason she planned to place Discord primarily in Fluttershy's care. "I know Discord caused some...problems...last time he was here," she began.
"If by problems you mean..." Rainbow began, only to fall silent. She glanced at the others who were there, a confused expression on her face.
Twilight and Rarity both seemed surprised, then thoughtful. After a time, Rarity was the one who spoke up. "Yes, he was...incredibly uncouth," she admitted finally, catching Celestia off guard.
"He provided gallons of chocolate rain without a dollop of whipped cream in sight!" Pinkie proclaimed angrily. "Not one dollop!"
Celestia was rather perplexed that Pinkie Pie seemed to be the only one expressing anger at this point. "Well," she began, "I have brought the Elements with me, enchanted so that Discord cannot steal and hide them again-"
"How'd you manage that?" Twilight asked eagerly.
Celestia sighed internally. She had hoped Twilight would be too relieved at the safety net that provided to ask how it worked. Its actual workings were...embarrassingly simple. "...Brussels sprouts," she admitted finally. "Discord's allergic to them. Touching them - even with his magic - makes him break out in bees. It's their specific magical wavelength, which I've anchored to the Elements for the time being, making it impossible for him to touch them with magic, hoof, or claw."
Twilight's face fell. "Oh..."
"I don't blame him!" Pinkie proclaimed. "Those things are icky!"
Celestia managed a chuckle. Though she couldn't say anything as Princess, she was in full agreement with the party pony...but she'd spent too many centuries convincing parents that the vile vegetable was good for growing foals to protect them from chaos magic to undo it all now with one candid moment. "But where is Fluttershy?" she asked. "I believe she would be able to best begin Discord's reformation."
"How?" Rainbow joked. "By siccing Sapphire on him?"
"...Sapphire?" Celestia asked in confusion, only to be greeted by happy giggles.
"Skreee!"
"Sorry we're late!" Fluttershy called out, racing forward alongside Applejack, Sapphire floating around her head. "The beavers built their dam in the wrong place and were flooding Sweet Apple Acres."
"Quite alright," Celestia replied, examining the jellyfish-like creature that was now floating around her. "And...I assume this is Sapphire?"
"Yes," Fluttershy replied happily. "I hope you don't mind, but...she just wants to taste you."
Celestia blinked. "Taste?" she asked. Though she hated to admit it, this was the first time in millenia one of her own ponies caught her so off guard.
"Sapphire eats energy," Twilight explained. "She doesn't take anywhere near as much since she came out of her cocoon. Apparently, she's learned to feed on the ambient magic in her environment to a certain extent, though she still needs a taste from a pony for a satisfying meal."
"It doesn't hurt," Fluttershy promised. "It's just how she gets a sense of who you are."
Celestia frowned nervously, but couldn't really see the harm. "Well...I suppose-" She gasped as she felt slight pinpricks against her back between her wings, biting her lip as she felt a small amount of her magic and life energy drained out of her. Not enough to really notice - less than she expended lifting her tea cup - but a very unusual experience nonetheless.
"Skree!"
"She says thank you," Fluttershy translated. "And that you tasted really good...like sun on her teeth."
Celestia gathered herself, trying not to show that this was the most unnerving compliment she'd ever gotten...even more so than those given her by that one erotic minstrel in the middle of a world summit 1500 years previously, with Luna struggling not to laugh as the song went on. "You're quite welcome," she said at last. "I leave Discord in your care." Turning, she left quickly, before she could be put any more off kilter by the unexpected behavior of Twilight and her friends.
Discord stretched, yawned, and wriggled as he was released from stone. "Well, it's about time somepony got me out of that prison block. What a-"
"Skree!"
He was cut off from releasing some chaos by that unexpected noise. Turning, he saw something he couldn't believe. Oh, the shape of the creature was nothing special as far as chaos was concerned. There were any number of ways it could be more horrendous, grotesque, and unimaginably terrifying. But he could see chaotic potential, how easily a creature could sow chaos and to what degree, and he'd never seen so much in a single creature before. "What is this adorable critter, and why haven't I ever made any before?" He began tickling it between its teeth with his lion paw. "Coochie-coo! Coochie-coo!" He jerked his paw back as the teeth tried to slam shut on his paw. "Ooh, feisty!"
"Sapphire!" Fluttershy snapped. "Behave. He was just trying to be nice."
Sapphire skreed petulantly, her colors fluctuating rapidly before settling back into a mix of blue and petulant yellow.
"Oh, is she yours?" Discord asked playfully. "Wherever did you get her?"
"Oh, she's from outer space," Fluttershy replied.
Discord froze. "...really? You don't say." He crossed his arms. "So where am I going to be staying during my 'reformation'?" He conjured air quotes of clouds.
"Oh, you'll be staying with me," Fluttershy replied happily.
"Oh, just peachy!" Discord crowed happily, ignoring the confused expressions of the others, and sending a bit of stray magic into a nearby group of beavers, just to get back into a normal mood.
Once inside Fluttershy's cottage, Discord was caught off guard by the kindness and consideration he was shown. Oh, he'd expected it from Fluttershy, but the way the others were being so accommodating - except Pinkie, who kept complaining about some sort of whipped cream shortage. It wasn't long before they all left, leaving Discord somewhat confused.
While Fluttershy was in the kitchen getting tea and cookies, however, Sapphire latched firmly onto his head. He started to scream about getting her off, but paused. He felt as though something was trying to touch his mind. He had his own ability to touch minds - it was part of the 'discording' process - so he decided to humor whoever it was, redirecting his thoughts to make contact.
You hurt Mama? The thought came through loud and clear from the life eating jellyfish latched to his head.
Now, why would you think I'd want to hurt Fluttershy? Discord responded in thought, stretching time so the conversation wouldn't take so long.
Past. You hurt Mama?
Discord hesitated. Well, I suppose what I did might constitute hurting...
You not hurt Mama again.
Discord actually chuckled at that. Or what? he thought back, gathering his magic.
To his surprise, the magic he was gathering was sucked right out of him faster than he could gather it. I eat you.
Discord released his magic, deciding this was not the time to antagonize the magic-eating alien latched to his head. Understood. ...perhaps we can arrange some sort of compromise?
You no hurt Mama, I no eat you.
Fair enough, Discord replied. I won't hurt Fluttershy. Truce?
If not hurt Mama, you not food.
Discord chuckled as he let time return to normal, noticing that Sapphire was still on his head. Turning the mind link off, he saw Fluttershy come in with tea and cookies. "Sapphire!"
Discord grinned widely. "Like my new hat, Fluttershy?"
"Skree!"
After a rather chaotic day of Discord relaxing at Fluttershy's cottage - though making sure nothing he did ran the risk of hurting Fluttershy - Fluttershy's friends joined them for a dinner party, just to see how he was progressing. Discord had a bit of fun animating various things during the dinner - the gravy boat, the candles, and so on - but was rather put out when none of the ponies made much of a fuss. Pinkie certainly found it enjoyable, but even when the others seemed unnerved, they kept their thoughts to themselves. It left him very confused.
Finally, after a time of dinner, he couldn't take his curiosity being unabated any longer. "There's just something I've been wondering girls," he spoke out finally. "I'm rather certain I made a rather horrid impression on you all when we first met. When Celestia set this all up, she expected - and certainly I expected - hostility, if not downright hatred, from several of you. So...what's with the rose touch?"
Twilight shrugged. "Well...after what we saw when the Space Pirates invaded-"
"The who the what now?" Discord asked, confused.
"Evil aliens!" Pinkie hissed. "They came for the meteor!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Discord pointed out.
"Let's just say that after seein' war first hoof," Applejack explained, "the things you did...well, it ain't all that bad in hindsight."
Discord fell silent. "...I see," he said at last. Glancing around, he noticed a picture framed on a nearby shelf. "...Fluttershy, when did you befriend a human?"
"Oh, you mean Samus?" Fluttershy asked happily. "She came to help us fight off the Space Pirates and deal with the Phazon. She's such a good friend. I hope we get to see her again soon."
"Though she's not entirely human," Twilight pointed out. "If I understood her story right, she's apparently part Chozo-"
"Chozo?" Discord demanded in shock. "Are those old featherbrains still fluttering about the stars? It's been ages since I saw them last."
Jaws dropped. "You knew the ancient Chozo when they were here on Equis?" Twilight asked eagerly. "Then you knew the ancient alicorns, too? Please, tell me everything!"
"I'd rather not talk about it," Discord countered flatly. While he genuinely didn't want to relive that part of his life, he also hoped to see Twilight's expression of frustration at such precious knowledge just beyond her reach.
Which is why he was rather disappointed that she simply smiled, took her seat again, and replied, "Alright. Whenever you're ready to talk about it, though, I'd love to hear it."
Discord sat back, struggling to figure out what was going on...and why it left him so flummoxed when Fluttershy welcomed him as a friend.
Unfortunately, his musings were interrupted as Angel came in and managed to charades the message that Sweet Apple Acres was flooding.
Once at the farm and seeing how bad the flooding was, Applejack turned to Discord. "Did you do this?"
"Well, plainly the beavers-" Discord began, hemming and hawing.
"Just a straight up yes or no answer, please," Applejack interrupted. "Is this your doing?"
Discord tugged at the neck of his suit which he hadn't discarded yet. "Well...I suppose there's a chance this is the result of a stray burst of chaos back when I was set free..."
"Can ya undo it?" Applejack continued. "Make it so the farm's all better, and none o' the trees take harm from the flooding?"
Discord blinked in surprise. He had expected anger, accusations, possibly even threats. But instead, Applejack - the one most hurt by his actions - was being completely calm. "Well...yes, I can undo the effects of chaos magic..."
"Will ya promise ta do so by sunset?" Applejack asked.
Another surprise. She didn't want him to fix it right away? "Well, sure, I suppose..."
"And could ya make sure Granny won't drown?" Applejack finished. "She don't swim too good no more-"
Before she'd even finished her request, Discord had snapped his talons and frozen the lake that the Acres had become. "That ought to do it," he said firmly, conjuring numerous pairs of ice skates.
Smiling, Applejack bent over to tie a couple pairs on her own hooves. "I'll hold ya to fixin' it by sundown," she said with a smile.
Discord stared at her, stupefied. "Eh? But...why are you being so blase about me flooding your farm?"
"Because you're being a good friend about it," Fluttershy explained. "You didn't know it would cause a problem, and you addressed the problem as soon as you realized it, and promised to clean up later. That's the actions of a good friend."
"It is?" he asked, still shocked. "It's that simple?"
"Well, you also showed quick consideration of her requests," Rarity pointed out. "Freezing the water so Granny Smith wouldn't fall in."
"That's different," Discord stated flatly, turning away. "...I don't play games with Life and Death..." he mumbled under his breath.
"But really, that's all friendship is at its most basic level," Twilight explained. "Being considerate of others."
"We aren't trying to change who you are," Fluttershy explained. "Celestia may want to find ways your magic can help the country...but we just want to teach you about being friends. And you've already shown a great deal of consideration for me. I saw you redirect those frying pans so they wouldn't hit me while the cottage was rotating in midair...which was kind of fun."
"I missed that?" Rainbow asked, shocked. "Aw, I bet it'd have been like those gravity chambers I keep hearing about!"
"Well, that's different, Fluttershy," Discord pointed out. "Sapphire said she'd eat me if I hurt you!"
"Sapphire!" Fluttershy snapped angrily as the others burst into laughter.
"Not sorry!" Sapphire skreed quickly, setting Discord to laughing.
As the group shared a laugh, Discord realized...it felt good to share a joke with others when they found it as funny as he did. Maybe...maybe friendship wouldn't be so bad after all. "So...that's all friendship is?" Discord asked. "Just...taking others thoughts and feelings into consideration? That just sounds so...easy."
"At its most basic level, it is," Twilight replied. Then she sighed ruefully. "It's when you move beyond the most basic levels it can become a real headache of a learning experience."
"But not one you'll experience alone!" Pinkie chimed happily as she skated on two skates, one on her head and one on her tail with her legs waving in the air.
Discord managed a smile. "Well...maybe it would be worth it," he replied carefully. "...maybe..."
If only the cannon was like this... This is the best version I read of Discord "reformation"
Best explanation I have ever heard. Upvoting... oh wait. I already did. Dang.
Also Discord was cool in this chapter. Congrats.
Want to reform a being of pure Chaos? Just have your friendly neighborhood metroid tell him that if he hurts anyone he's dinner.
Gotta say, I think this is my favorite section of this story. The whole 'putting into perspective' explanation was downright simple and perfect.
6267495 Nope.jpg
No reason to show them and no encounters with them
Brussels sprouts? Of course, that explains everything!
...Though my suspension of disbelief's a bit tested by NOBODY knowing what a Metroid is despite having Samus and tons of data from another world right there. Like, her actual stories and logbooks. Hasn't she TOLD them what Metroids are at least once?
6269182 But Celestia at the very least was aware of what Metroids are capable of, I'd imagine she would be a little more nervous about Sapphire.
Luna and Samus would probably flip their shit.
50 bits says it was "Princess Molestia"
So does this mean that Sapphire can suck up enough energy from Discord to KILL him? How much energy can she eat in one go!?!
6269368
Metroids have no upper limit of how much they can eat in a single sitting. A lone Metroid in a feeding frenzy can devour an entire planet. It'll just keep getting bigger.
6269333
Samus and her logbooks are off world.
Metroids were mentioned, but nobody looked at those details, since Space Pirates were of greater concern.
The only one who ever actually encountered a Metroid - and thus would recognize one on sight - is Luna.
And Sapphire slept through "Sleepless in Ponyville".
6269406 Actually it won't. A metroid can hit critical mass and eventually explode from overfeeding
6269408 Yes, but didn't they see any of her entries on Metroids when she was around?
6269416
Did not know that.
6269423
Why would they? They were in the middle of a war, and had no reason to think they would encounter them.
6269426 After the war, then?
6269430
They were too busy with the rebuilding, and in the case of Twilight - the only one who might ask - Samus' main concern was helping her through her PTSD, rather than showing her more things to give her nightmares.
6269430 Technically Samus told her her story of Tallon 4 and Aether so it was probably mentioned in passing, but no pictures because of reasons
6269521 Still, given that Samus probably mentioned Metroids were gelatinous flying energy-eating things, and Sapphire's a gelatinous flying energy-eating thing, it seems odd they wouldn't put two and two together.
6269521 Or mention her encounters with Metroids on that ship or in the last dungeon.
HA! PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After reading the (nice and friendly; good job internet!) discussion in the comments, I do have to mention one thing.
If the biggest thing stretching people's suspension of disbelief is whether or not the main characters heard of a (previously) irrelevant alien species, then you must be doing something right!
6269544
6269521
6269441 My only thoughts on this entire debate is two fold. First, Ri2 I would like to point out you're arguing with the author AND the other author. The former is writing this story and the later wrote the backstory. While I admit even to me it seems a bit of a stretch, its still a valid handwave that is corroborated by all the evidence. And second, I would like to point to this guy's 6269878 comment. Because so far that is the only problem I've seen with the series. From pretty much anyone. Good Job.
Boy, this is gonna make Samus' return that much more hilarious.
"A METROID can have FRIENDS and reform a CHAOS GOD by threat of death. What's next, I BECOME part-Metroid?"
6269544 true, though I don't think she would've told her to be honest. But you do bring up valid points regardless. Probably a little bit of an oversight indeed. I'll probably fix that with one sentence at some point
6269995 he has every right to ask these questions and in fact I encourage it! They help me to identify plotholes and oversights which I take to heart and eventually plug
6270044 Questions are not the issue. But reading their posts it just sounds like "This should be X because I think it should!" over and over again. Of course I'm sick atm so my tolerance level is currently reading "Zero Fucks to Give." so I might just be being an asshat. I also pointed out I found myself agreeing with their points, but that it sounded like they were whining. The reasons given are kinda weak, but life sometimes is like that. "How did nobody realize this?!" "We just didn't." It's crazy and it sounds stupid, but it really does happen. Still looking forward to Luna meeting Sapphire, since Best Princess actually HAS met one of the bioweapons, or maybe just read reports about them from her troops I cant recall perfectly right now, so I'm expecting some panic there. Luna is well aware of how dangerous the Chozo's superweaon really is...
6269999 oooohhhhhh!
The fact the ponies prefer Discord to the Space Pirates says quite a bit. I love Sapphire laying down the ground rules for treatment of Fluttershy. But will Chaos magic plus Harmony magic cause changes to Sapphire???? Also, the explanation for Brussle Sprouts. THOSE THINGS ARE PURE EVIL!!! Give me Broccoli, Zucchini, and Carrots any day!
6269007 true
6269999 No, you adopt one!!!
6270039 This is pretty much my only complaint with the story. Otherwise it's excellent.
6271130
I will give you the plot reason for this situation.
Samus' reaction to Sapphire will be much more fun if she has no warning about her. Imagine how she'll react if her first notice about Fluttershy having a tame Metroid is being introduced to the little jelly.
6271412 Oh, I always imagined Samus's reaction would be hilarious. Wait, do they even have a way to contact her? What's the GF forces nearby been up to for all this?
6271729
Those events will be part of "Equis II: Duality".
As for the GF Forces...they aren't stationed in Ponyville, at Celestia's request so that Twilight and her friends will have an easier time bringing their lives back to something resembling normal.
6271745 Shouldn't they have been alerted that Fluttershy found an alien in a downed spaceship to make sure it's safe?
6271753
By the time anyone other than Fluttershy knew, Sapphire was already completely tamed and civilized. The only one who would have suggested it was Twilight, who was more interested in first hand study of something new (which brought her somewhat out of her post war funk) rather than asking others for info. By the time any of the others thought that someone in authority should hear about Sapphire, they realized this would probably involve someone in authority taking Sapphire away.
6271789 Hmm. Seems a bit of a weak fix, but all right.
6271814
It's all the behind the scenes logic.
However, the fundamental reasoning for the characters was, "Fluttershy has it well in hoof. Who knows better than her?"
6271827 Someone with actual knowledge on alien life forms?
6271853
You mean someone who can't ask the alien life form in question in its own language what it needs and get an answer? Only Fluttershy can do that.
6271872 I was referring to a xenobiologist but okay
6271881
Fluttershy is an Equestrian xenobiologist.
6271884 I suppose.
This is awesome. Reminds me of the first Fortesshy, back in the beginning.
6271884
The only exception being that twilight is just hwr assistant
On on hand, I hope Sapphire is a SR388 Metroid, I would love to see what Sapphire would like like with all the ambent magic floating around her. I know this was mentioned before but it would be surprising to see her in a pony form for the Alpha stage, its new armor shell forming a sort of helmet. Earth, Pegasi or Unicorn...a metroid with its own style of magic...suddenly I just got the shivers.
On the other hand, seeing Sapphire turning into a Talon Metroid Hunter Class would be pretty cool as well. I can't quite wait for it.
Con: This chapter seems off a little bit, a little less stable compares to the other chapters. I am not sure how to describe it better, but it just seems too loose.
Pro: Otherwise, I greatly enjoyed it. I got some kick out of the whole brussels sprouts gag, as well as Discord and Sapphire’s interaction between each other. And seeing Discord confused for once was a plus. Can't wait to read more.
C&Cs:
"Quite alright," Celestia replied, examining the jellyfish like creature that was now floating around her.
> Put a dash between ‘jellyfish’ and ‘like’.
Discord released his magic, deciding this was not the time to antagonize the magic eating alien latched to his head.
> Put a dash between ‘magic’ and ‘eating’.
When Celestia set this all up, she expected - and certainly I expected - hostility if not downright hate from several of you
> Comma after ‘hostility’. I think 'hatred' might be better here, then put a comma after it.
"let's just say that after seein' war first hoof," Applejack explained
> Capitalize the first word.
"But not one you experience alone!"
> Correction: "you'll".
6269007 I agree wholeheartedly. I have not seen reformation argument yet that was better thought out.
LOLPTCD!
Also I used to do that when I volunteered at the Bishop’s Storehouse with boxes, and occasionally at Deseret Industries when I still worked there and the result I’d get a smile and or was told a funny response.
Now that's a threat I would not take lightly
10456763
... undertale.