Prologue

"Tea and Cucumbers"

Maka-baka

~ Prologue

Fluttershy rushed down the pearly hallway of Canterlot High. Her long, green skirt flailed behind her as she ran, the hem flapping in the human-generated breeze. She skidded to a stop at her classroom, her rubber boots making hesitant squeals against the tile floor. She flung her creamy hand to the doorknob, flinging it open and stepping into class.

An instant amount of heat resided onto Fluttershy's cheeks. She felt every student in the classroom's eyes burning into her skull, especially the one's of her instructor, Mr. Perriwinkle.

"Twenty minutes late," the old teacher stated gruffly, his pale, white jaw tight. He looked at his bony wrist, which held a tiny, brown watch, to add effect to her scolding. "Is there a reason for this, Miss Shy?"

"Oh... Um, I-I'm really sorry, Mr. Perriwinkle," Fluttershy began, clutching her fingers together sheepishly. "It's just that... well, I woke up late, 'c-cause my alarm didn't go off... And-"

"After school detention."

"What?!" The girl's turquoise eyes practically ejected from their sockets, knees locked together. "W-why- T-this is my f-first time-!"

"We have a strict policy about being late, Miss Shy. It doesn't matter if you've never been late before, the rule still counts. You'll stay after school when the rest of the kids are dismissed until five PM. Do I make myself clear?"

"Y-yes... Mr. Perriwinkle," Fluttershy sighed, defeated.

"Take your seat."

The pink-haired girl walked glumly over to her seat next to Rainbow Dash and Lyra, shoulders slumped into her white tank-top. She sat with her eyes glued to her maple-wood desk, sulking at the thought of detention.

Detention! How disappointing, she thought glumly. Never once have I had a detention in all my life. Now just for being a couple of minutes late...

Fluttershy followed the grain imprint of her desk with her finger, while Mr. Perriwnkle continued with his dull speech - the one he was giving before Fluttershy walked in - about neanderthals and their evolution.

The class went by as fast as maple syrup dripping off a thirty-stack high pancake. All the while, the shyest adolescent in the class envisioned things that would happen to her in detention: being beat up, someone flipping her skirt, perhaps getting another detention in that detention for whatever reason. She shuddered at those thoughts, though she was overreacting.

When the bell finally did ring, everyone was allowed to walk to their next class except for Fluttershy. Her worn out teacher, seeming especially exhausted this morning, gestured for her to come over to her desk, and she followed dutifully, groaning silently as she prepared herself for another lecture on promptness.

"Erhem," Mr. Perriwinkle cleared his raspy throat, not in such a way to draw attention to himself like most people who went "erhem" did, but to actually get some of the gruff out of his tone. "Miss Shy, you may call your parent and let him or her know that they need to pick you up at five today."

Fluttershy blushed at those words. Despite the fact that she was eighteen-years-old and about to advance from high school to college, she still had not yet received her driver's license. Her Driving Ed teacher had stated that she swerved too many times, but in her fairness, that was only because there were a lot of animals in the road that day.

"Well? What are you waiting for? To be late for another class? Go down to the office and call your mother."

This was a paradoxical order. She was going to be late regardless. She started towards the door when her instructor grabbed onto her shirt. Fluttershy spun her head around.

"Hall pass?" he said earnestly, waving a white, filled-out pass in front of her.

Fluttershy sighed, taking it and finally marching out. Anger didn't usually build up inside of her like that, but she was so exasperated today that she felt she needed some way to take it out, and that way was by making the most noise she could with her feet.

Rainbow Dash raced up to her, wild multi-colored hair flying. She placed two hands on Fluttershy's shoulder, a cool and surprised look on her face.

"Um... Is there something you need, Rainbow Dash?"

"That was awesome!" Rainbow cheered, magenta-rimmed eyes bursting at the seams with excitement.

"What was?"

"Your detention. Out of all people in CHS, I never thought you'd get one! Congrats!"

"I don't really think it's an achievement, Dashie," Fluttershy mumbled sadly, in Rainbow's nickname.

"Aw, buck up, Flutters," Rainbow replied, transforming her rapid, excited patting into a comforting rub, and returning the nickname. "It's only one detention. I mean, it's not like you're getting expelled." Her game face morphed onto her again, with a hint of boasting in it. "I almost got expelled once for shooting gum into Miss. Harshwhinny's hair. It was a perfect shot! I mean, I didn't even think my air projection could travel it that far..."

"Um, Dashie?" Fluttershy interrupted in a caring voice. "I think you're gonna be late for class... I'd love to hear your story some other time, though."

"Yeah. Good call." Rainbow Dash gave her best friend two more pats on the back. "See ya later, Flutters!"

And she was alone again. Everyone had made their ways from first period to second, and now Fluttershy was alone at the locker bay. She walked past the rows of beige-colored lockers, gripping the paper pass she was holding between her sweaty palms. She realized she was nervous about calling her mother - her mother always wanted her to do good in school, to not make any trouble. And that she had. She had apparently made trouble.

Sooner than she would have liked, the bubblegum-haired teenager was at the door of Principal Celestia's office. A shiny, painted on sun displayed this proudly, welcoming students in. Nervously, Fluttershy grabbed for the metal door handle, seeming colder today than it used to be, and opened the door.

Principal Celestia was writing down something on a piece of paper, like usual. A computer sat on her desk, next to a heap of disorganized pieces of other vague paper, probably third semester progress reports. When she heard boots clopping silently on her floor, though, she looked up with a dull smile.

"Oh, good evening, Fluttershy," the principal suddenly brightened up, offering a warmer grin. She gestured a pale hand toward an open seat by her desk. "Please, take a seat. What is it that you need?"

Fluttershy squeezed into the seat, her fingertips trembling, nearly crushing the paper under them. "I-I need to c-call my parents... if that's alright?"

Celestia looked at her with a sort of surprised expression. "Well, of course," she accepted, with wide, purple eyes. She knew the girl was always one of the quieter and shyer ones, but she never expected she'd been this scared to ask someone something. "Dear, are you feeling alright?"

"Um... Y-yes, Principal Celestia... I just have a lot on my m-mind, is all." Fluttershy stood up awkwardly, trying to dab some of the beads of glistening sweat off her forehead away with the back of her hand. She padded towards the old-fashioned phone, one that still hung on a receiver in the wall, in the office. She took the handset carefully, dialing the numbers with a skinny finger.

You're overreacting, Fluttershy, she told herself, facing away from the leader of the school. It's just detention. You've never had one before. You're mom will be totally okay with it.

The dial rings of the phone were gone. It was replaced by a sweet, pleasant voice, the one that belonged to the student's mother.

"Hello-?"

"MOM I'M SO SORRY PLEASE DON'T KILL ME I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET A DETENTION I PROMIIIISE," Fluttershy wept into the transceiver uncharacteristically, causing the principal to jump out of her seat. Tears were flowing from the pupil's eyes, her voice struggling to remain steady.

"Honey, honey calm down," the other pleasant voice urged in a motherly way. "I can barely hear you... Take a few deep breaths, calm down..."

Fluttershy held the transceiver away for a minute, her chest rising and falling. Her heart beat still pounded rapidly in her throat, as she batted away at some of the stray, salty tears that burned her cheek on the down.

"Now what happened?" Butterscotch, the name of her mother, asked when she had finally become relaxed and herself again.

"I-I-" She was still struggling on the shaky voice thing "-I got a d-detent-tion..."

There was a queer silence in the room.

"Fluttershy, what happened?"

"I got in t-trouble for n-not being on time... 'cause ya k-know, the whole incident w-with the alarm clock."

Another silence.

"What time do I have to pick you up?"

"Five... O'clock... P-PM," Fluttershy quickly added randomly, feeling a bit more relaxed now that that was all out of her system. There were no more words after that. The line went dead, and the teen returned the phone back to its holder.

"Well... that was interesting," Celestia commented, another dull look overtaking her face, but some amusement lingering in the irises of her eyes. "Sweetheart, this is your first detention, correct?"

"Um... Y-yes, ma'am."

"You seemed pretty nervous about it." Princess Celestia offered another hand toward the chair. "You needn't be, though. It's really not that bad. Sure, you'll sometimes have those kids that like to shoot wet spitballs and punch each other in the gut, but those are rare. I doubt you'll get them. So don't to be scared, alright?"

"Um... Yes, ma'am," Fluttershy repeated, tugging at the hem of her skirt uncomfortably. "So... uh... what are those papers for?" she asked absentmindedly, hoping to steer away from the discussion of her punishment.

The principal looked up with a smile. Fluttershy has expected her to not tell her, scold her for being nosy even. "We're getting a new janitor at school."

The pink-haired girl forced a smile, hoping to at least pretend she had enthusiasm stored inside her. Getting a new janitor wasn't really a big deal. "Well, that's pretty exciting."

"I'm just filling out the paperwork." Celestia let out a tired sigh as she continued. "I never thought one role would have so paperwork to complete."

"What do you mean?" Fluttershy pondered curiously.

"Maybe you should head off to second period now," Celestia said, ignoring her question and cramming the already unorganized papers into a crevice into the desk. "You've already called your guardian, so it's best you start out."

"Okay. Thanks, Principal Celestia."

"You're very welcome, Fluttershy. Here..." The pale-skinned women bent down, retrieving something from another drawer in her wood desk. She planted a tiny slab of paper down and started to write something down in purple ink. She handed the pass to Fluttershy. "Hall pass."

"Thank you." Fluttershy forced a smile for the school's "ruler," and started out the door.

Chapter One

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"Tea and Cucumbers"

Maka-baka

~ Chapter One

Fluttershy sat in the stale room, tapping her fingers together anxiously. Every time the clock ticked, she'd look up with wide green eyes, wondering if it was time to go yet; it never was. Minutes didn't pass fast enough. Seconds didn't pass enough. The air was stuffy. What if she suffocated in here? First detention then death? That would not be a good combination!

"Um... Miss? Are you feeling alright? You're sweltering like a pig," came a velvet voice.

Fluttershy's thoughts were put on pause with this voice. She looked up at the busty teacher who was sitting at the desk, a small novel pinched between her navy blue fingers. Her hair, which seemed to sparkle like the stars, flowed down her shoulders. She stared at the anxious adolescent with worried but annoyed teal eyes.

"Um... Y-yes, Vice Principal Luna," the girl replied after awhile, swallowing a hard lump in her throat.

"Well then perhaps you should stop sweating. You're getting the desk all wet."

Fluttershy looked down, pink hair following. Indeed, she had made a very small - but still visible - puddle on the wood. Blushing, she could hear the muffled roar of other detention students laughing beside her.

"Settle down," Luna ordered in a rough voice, all velvet gone. Instantly, all the sounds stopped. The delinquents returned to their semi-activities; crumbling paper, chucking that paper at people, carving their name's into the desks, texting underneath the tables. Even Luna had a book to read.

Fluttershy felt bored. Time wasn't passing fast enough. And worrying certainly wasn't going to make the clock turn faster...

"Hey... Psst!" hissed a voice.

Fluttershy turned around in her seat, seeing a guy with green dreadlocks behind her.

One of the Eco-kids, she thought, thinking back to a time when she used to be a part of that club. That is, when she first enrolled in CHS.

The kid passed her a crumbled up note, snickering to himself and a kid who appeared to be behind him. His emerald eyes displayed mischief. Fluttershy hesitantly unwrapped the crinkled note, squinting her eyes to be able to read what was written upon the paper.

I really like your beaches, wanna shake your trees.

Blushing with a tiny gasp, the two boys laughed behind Fluttershy, slapping their knees tightly. The line was from an old song by Steve Miller, a perfect pickup line for hippes like themselves.

Perverts, Fluttershy growled to herself, crunching the note and shoving it into the crevice of the desk she was sitting at. She could tell this was going to last a long time. Glancing back up at the analog clock, she saw that the hand had only moved two minutes beyond the face. Aggravated, she slammed her head into the desk.

Time remained as slow as a snail making its way along a dusty trail. Nothing productive was happening.

Maybe this is good though, Fluttershy thought to herself, trying to make things up to be optimistic. I mean, it could be a lot worse, right?

"Oh my god!"

A shrill voice sliced through the girl's thoughts. It belonged to the same person who had yelled at her before: Vice Principal Luna. The dark-skinned women was now standing up, hands clasped on either side of her face.

"W-w-what's going on?" Fluttershy turned frantically to girl beside her, who had minty green hair flowing down her shoulders in addition to brilliant yellow eyes. The girl, who had presumably gotten a detention because of her weird obsession with magical ponies that existed in a different realm, was also standing up, eyes wide.

"Those two jocks were just punching each other in the stomachs and the one just threw up a glop of blood!" Lyra said, grabbing Fluttershy's face and pointing her towards the action. Indeed, a brown-haired boy was hunched over, hands over his stomach, regurgitating large amounts of blood from his mouth. The other boy who stood beside him had a pained expression, almost as if he was about to cry.

Principal Celestia was talking about this sort of thing earlier... Fluttershy thought, a bit disgusted by the puddle of the boy's red liquid on the floor. Had I really been so distracted with my concentration on the clock that I didn't hear them punching each other?

Luna swiftly transformed from her surprised state to a more courageous one. She pointed to Lyra with a sharp finger.

"Get the nurse! Quickly! There's no time to waste." She shot around and pointed at a young red-headed boy named Snails. "You go with her!" Then, she dashed to the sink that was in the corner of the room, tugging on the lever of a paper towel dispenser. Nothing came out.

"Fluttershy! Where are you?" Luna spotted her. "Go get some paper towels from the supply closet."

"M-me?" Fluttershy asked, pointing to herself, frazzled by the whole arrangement.

"Yes you! Come on! While you're at it, get some Febreez," the vice principal commanded. "It's going to start reeking in here."

The pink-haired student nodded before running out the door. The supply closet wasn't very far from the detention room, so she would be back in a jiffy. Squeaking to a stop in front of a door that read, quite obviously, "Supply Closet," she twisted the golden handle. It didn't budge in the slightest.

Locked. Dammit!

She kept trying to no avail. She couldn't even get it to move an inch.

"Come on, you dumb door!" Fluttershy pouted, not wanting to run back to the classroom empty-handed. It seemed that was the only option though. Looked like she would have to listen to Luna's sharp voice yelling at her for a while...

Suddenly, the door popped open. Fluttershy, who had been standing in front of it, fell backwards onto her butt, eventually flopping onto her back, legs sprawled in front of the open door.

"Excuse me?" someone said. She couldn't see, though. Her eyes were closed from the impact and surprise.

That was a new voice, the pupil thought to herself, trying to get her astonished eyelids to creak open. Who said that?

The anonymous voice's slight concern turned into laughter. It was a hearty laugh, scratchy though, like it belonged to an older member of society.

Fluttershy finally got her eyes to open. The figure in front of her was blurry but eventually cleared itself out. It was a man, by the looks of his broad shoulders and most of all face. A silver beard hung from his chin, branching out into tiny grey stubbles on the rest of his face. His hair was the same color, though it looked like more of a teenage douchebag's hair cut than an adults. His red eyes, the sclera being a strange hue of pastel yellow, were aimed towards the ground... or, it seemed that way from her angle.

"S-sorry, sir. I didn't mean to-" Fluttershy began, but was interrupted by the man.

"What are you apologizing for? You didn't do anything. I should be apologizing for hitting you with the door. But I won't." He laughed again, leaving the adolescent on the floor looking confused. "Oh, and you should sit up. I can see your underwear."

"W-what?!" Fluttershy flushed crimson, sitting upright quickly and tugging on the hem of her green skirt to cover all that she could.

"Ha! That's precious. Look how red your cheeks are!"

Is this guy for real? Is he even an adult? Maybe he's just a big kid... Fluttershy stood up, patting her skirt from the dust on the floor and tugging it to the maximum point again just to make sure. "Um... excuse me, sir, but are you a student here?"

The man finally stopped his laughing, but a sly smirk still creased his face, displaying a snaggle tooth that stuck out from his upper set of teeth. "No. I'm a janitor. Didn't you see the badge?"

Awkwardly, the girl squinted her eyes, leaning slightly into his uniform, which she hadn't quite noticed until now. Indeed, a silver rectangle with the words "CHS Custodian: Discord" etched onto it.

"But I've never seen you around here before, Discord," Fluttershy said promptly, leaning away.

"Well, I'm new."

"Oh... You're the new custodian Principal Celestia was talking about, right?"

"Was she talking about me?" The cleaner laughed again. He leaned down towards the girl. "I think she has a crush on me or something."

Fluttershy giggled awkwardly, not putting much effort into it.

This is creepy. Why am I still talking to him? I have to get paper towels. How do I get away?

"Oh! Now before I forget, you were trying to get something out of this closet, correct?" The man asked.

"Oh... Um... Yes. Paper towels, please. And I'm kinda in a hurry. A-and Febreez."

"Hurry? You should never be in a hurry. It makes you mess up." The man walked into the closet, pulling a stack of cardboard brown paper towels and a bottle from a shelf.

"Well some kid threw up blood. And Vice Principal Luna doesn't want it to smell."

"Ah. She should have just called me. Eh. Who cares? Less work." He chuckled to himself then turned his eyes towards Fluttershy. "Here, catch!"

And before she knew it, the paper towels that had been in a neat pile fluttered all over the place, falling on the tiled ground, in addition to the Febreez bottle landing with a "clunk" and a "swish" of the chemicals contained inside.

"Oh!" Fluttershy said, crouching down, retrieving the items that had fallen.

Why didn't he just hand them to me? Why'd he have to throw them?!

The man's laugh was heard yet again from behind. Fluttershy could hear him saying "nice... very nice..." but she wasn't sure why. It made her confused. Why was this man so... immature?

Fluttershy stood up from collecting the items, scowling silently at the custodian for throwing them. Still, she said, "thank you" and made her way back to class, with the faint sounds of grunting behind.