Under Her Wing

by Tinyweasels


Chpater 11 - A Thrilling Visit and a Discorded Discourse

Chapter 11 – A Thrilling Visit and a Discorded Discourse

A week later Rainbow stood at the train station, waiting on the platform. Ponies began to disembark the train and she heard her name shouted.

"Rainbow!" Scootaloo exclaimed, rushing up to her.

"Scootaloo!" Rainbow replied with equal enthusiasm as she picked her up and hugged her.

Moments later, Lady Golden Meadow arrived, a bit winded trying to keep up with Scootaloo. Now that Rainbow was recovered she could greet Lady Golden Meadow the way she had been taught when she was young. She smiled and did a curtsy.

"Welcome to Ponyville, Lady Golden Meadow and Scootaloo," she said with a smile.

The matron smiled when she saw that Rainbow had remembered her manners. "We're pleased to be here, Rainbow Dash."

"Thank you so much for having us visit, Rainbow!" Scootaloo said excitedly as she hugged her hero again.

Rainbow put Scootalo on her shoulders and the matron smiled up at Rainbow; there was such joy and pride in her eyes.

"Rainbow, thank you for the kind invitation. I must say it was a nice and welcome surprise. Your friend Princess Twilight is most kind," Lady Golden Meadow said in delight.

Rainbow crouched down, still balancing Scootaloo on her shoulders, so she could hug the matron. "You're welcome and thanks for coming along. The porters will send the luggage to the castle. We'll get you settled in and then if you feel up to it after your trip we can start having fun. Twilight's an awesome friend and she loves visitors."

The matron hugged her back. "It’s all so different from the time when I knew you. You don't know how happy I am to hear of all the great things you've done here, Rainbow. You've grown up so much."

"Hey, I owe a lot of that to you. You could've just treated me like an alien freak like most other ponies did, but you didn't." Rainbow gestured around to Ponyville. "Everything I've accomplished is due in part to you, so this is my way of saying thanks."

The matron sniffled and wiped her eyes with her handkerchief. "Thank you, Rainbow. My job feels thankless at times. It does feel nice to be appreciated now and then."

"Hey, it’s the least I could do for the pony who did the impossible."

Rainbow suddenly remembered that she still was carrying Scootaloo on her shoulders. "Oh hey—sorry Scootaloo. Didn't mean to go all sentimental there. Let me show you guys around town."

As the tour progressed, Rainbow told them various things about Ponyville; it seemed everything of note was related to some battle or disaster. "Come to think of it, Twilight’s brought more chaos to Ponyville than Discord has. It was a sleepy little town where nothing ever happened before she got here. Now the town's unofficial nickname is 'Panicville.'"

It didn't take long before they got to the castle and both her guests stopped in awe.

"Yep, welcome to the castle of Princess Twilight Sparkle," Rainbow said.

"It's amazing!" Scootaloo said, bouncing on Rainbow's shoulders in excitement.

"And you two get the royal treatment while you're here."

The two royal guards out front nodded as she and the others passed. The doors opened and inside was a huge crowd of ponies.

"Welcome to Ponyville!" the crowd shouted and balloons and confetti showered them.

"Did I forget to mention the surprise party?" Rainbow said with a laugh.

The two newcomers were overwhelmed as seemingly all of Ponyville greeted them and when the princess of friendship approached they both bowed.

"Thank you for your great generosity, Princess Twilight Sparkle," Lady Golden Meadow said.

"Please, no bowing. No need to be so formal here. We're all glad you could make it. Rainbow was looking forward to you both being here. I hope we live up to your expectations."

Scootaloo's eyes were wide with excitement and she wore a smile almost too big for her face. "It's already the second most incredible day of my life, Princess!"

Twilight smiled warmly at the little pony. "Well, we'll do our best to make your every day here one of the most incredible days of your life."

Lady Golden Meadow was a rather reserved upper class mare, so she stayed at the back of the crowd, mostly in the company of Rarity and Apple Jewel. Scootaloo however loved being the center of attention and that smile hadn't left her face the whole time.

Rainbow waited until the initial introductions were done and the whole of Ponyville had met her before she led Scootaloo away from the main party and brought her into the throne room. Scootaloo’s face lit up when she recognized Rainbow’s friends she’d met in passing in the hospital.

"Everypony, meet my friend Scootaloo!" she said as she brought her forward.

There were hugs and warm greetings from her friends and Scootaloo didn't seem alarmed by the presence of Discord.

"Scoot, this is Rarity's sister, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Jewel's sister Apple Bloom," Rainbow said as the two stepped forward.

"Hi, Scootaloo! It's great to meet you," Sweetie Belle said with great enthusiasm as she hugged Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom just looked curiously at Scootaloo for a few moments. "We've met before," she said.

The room went quiet and all eyes turned to her.

"When did you meet Scootaloo before, Apple Bloom?" Rainbow asked.

"It was in Canterlot, in the sculpture garden on the day Mr. Discord escaped that first time. Me and Sweetie Belle were there on a fieldtrip and we met some other foals that were on a trip there too and we got to talkin' and for some reason we got into a misunderstadin' of some sort and next thing I know the three of us are in a tussle before Miss Cheerilee had to break up the fight. After all the crazy stuff started happenin’ later, I ain’t surprised that y’all don’t remember."

Scootaloo's eyes went wide in astonishment. "Oooh, I do remember that! We were on a class trip from the orphanage. Oh, I'm so sorry about that. I don't recall what we fought about, but I'm sorry for fighting."

Apple Bloom hugged her. "It’s okay, I'm sorry too. Nothin' to worry about."

Sweetie Belle joined the hug and smiled. "I'm sorry too," she added with a cute squeak in her voice.

"What a small world," Scootaloo said as the three remained in a hug.

Rainbow glaced over to Discord to see him with a blank look on his face and a hand over his mouth as if he had been shocked by some revelation. He sank into one of the thrones and just stared at the three foals. Scootaloo began retelling the others about the plunge and Rainbow's heroic rescue while Rainbow kept glancing over at Discord, who remained quiet and thoughtful. Twilight had apparently picked up on it as well, and after Scootaloo's story she suggested to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle that they introduce her to the other foals at the party. The three rushed off laughing and smiling, and when they were gone Twilight closed the door.

While she was normally annoyed by him, Twilight's look showed concern this time. "Discord, are you okay? Do you remember them from that day?"

He was silent for a while, just staring at the door they had gone through. "Not until just now. I felt conflict, chaos and discord near me at the time, but at the time I didn't know or care what had set me free, but now it's plain as day. The three of them did it. What are the odds that the ponies that freed me would be sisters to two of you and the third a friend of Rainbow's? It can't be chance, can it? Is fate mocking me... or is it giving me a chance to make amends?"

"Can't fate do both?" Pinkie offered with uncertainty.

Discord made a small smile. "I suppose it can," he replied, then vanished.

Twilight made a growl of frustration at his sudden departure then everyone turned to Fluttershy and she shrank under their scrutiny.

“I-I promised him that I wouldn’t say what’s wrong," Fluttershy said. "I can only say that it’s not something bad, sort of.”

Rainbow frowned. “That isn’t very reassuring.”

“It’s about a bad thing he did in the past, and he’s starting to see the consequences on a personal level. That’s all I can say and please don’t ask me to say anything more,” Fluttershy said, her voice getting softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

“He already told me about that, but he won’t say what he did to change what,” Rainbow said.

“I know,” Fluttershy whispered.

Rainbow sighed and hugged her friend. “Sorry, Fluttershy. I'm not mad at you, just at Discord. I know you’re trying to help him."

"He's just very confused and uncertain right now."

Apple Jewel just gave an annoyed grunt. "If that varmint understood friendship, he'd know that this is just the time that you go to your friends for help."

"He really is trying, Apple Jewel. He really is."

"I know, I know. It just is frustratin' that he's always runnin' off. If he wants ta get things off of his chest he needs to just sit down with us and talk."

"I'm doing my best, girls," Fluttershy pleaded and broke down into tears.

The others gathered around her in a group hug.

"I'm sorry too, Fluttershy," Apple Jewel said.

'I-I know you mean well, but you really do have to be patient with him. He'll tell when he's ready."

While they were pondering these things, they heard a loud cheer and the volume of the merriment increased from the other room. Curious, they exited the throne room.

"Dad! Gilda!" Rainbow exclaimed and made her way through the crowd and hugged her father.

"Hey, honey. Sorry to drop in unannounced, but our work in Canterlot was done earlier than expected."

Rainbow hugged Gilda as well and smiled. "Good to see you again, Gilda."

"Yeah, you too, Dash," Gilda said, with a note of pleasant surprise.

Pinkie Pie rushed through the crowd and a moment later a giant banner unfurled: Welcome back to Ponyville, Gilda! We're glad you're not a big mean meanie pants anymore!

Since the party had already been in full force when she arrived, Gilda was able to bypass the whole hard feelings thing. She was hugged by most of Ponyville, which was quite awkward for her, judging by her face.

The crowd suddenly parted, and there stood Fluttershy. She and Gilda eyed each other like it was a wild west showdown. The crowd went silent as they approached, Fluttershy’s glare meeting Gilda’s scowl. They stopped when they were face to face.

“Hello Gilda,” Fluttershy growled.

“Fluttershy,” Gilda replied with an equal growl.

Fluttershy suddenly rushed forward and hugged the grumpy griffin and making a cute “squee!”

“Welcome back, Gilda. All’s forgiven and I think it’s so wonderful that you and Mr. Dash are a couple. You’re so cute together!”

The crowd relaxed and the party resumed. Eventually Rainbow was able to get her dad and Gilda away from the crowd.

"So was that a warm enough welcome for you, Gilda?" Rainbow asked with a laugh.

The disheveled griffin did her best to quickly groom herself to make herself more presentable. "Yeah, I wasn't expecting a welcome as enthusiastic as that."

"Well, when this town throws a party, they go all in."

Fullbright looked up at his daughter with a smile and hugged her again. "That last letter meant a lot to us, Rainbow. It took a big weight off our minds."

Gilda hugged her as well, which surprised Rainbow. "We really appreciate it, Dash. You know I'm not good expressing myself, so thank you."

"Hey, it’s okay. Your happiness is all that matters to me."

Her father took her hands in his hooves and looked up at her with a smile. "Rainbow, when we have some time later there's some stuff we want to talk about with you,"

"Sure, but by the look of the party it may be a while," she said with a laugh.

As the party wore on, she noticed her dad looking around the crowd, like he was searching for something.

"Looking for somepony, Dad?" Rainbow asked.

Fullbright nodded. "Yeah, I was hoping to meet Discord."

Rainbow did a double take. "You want to meet him?"

"Sure. I've wanted to meet him ever since he first escaped."

On cue, Discord suddenly appeared beside them, causing Fullbright to cry out in alarm.

"Oh, I just happened to be passing by and heard somepony wanted to meet little ol' me," Discord said with a big smile. He snapped his fingers and was suddenly wearing oversized sunglasses, a white feather boa and in his mouth was a long black cigarette holder with an unlit cigarette in it. Around them appeared a bunch of pony photographers taking pictures. Discord posed a few times, then he snapped his fingers and the photographers vanished. "I vant to be alone," he said in a huff.

Rainbow just rolled her eyes and looked to her dad with a wry smile. "Still looking forward to meeting him?"

"Moreso," he replied with a laugh.

Discord snapped his fingers and his outfit vanished. He looked from Rainbow to Fullbright with a smile. "The resemblance is uncanny. Surely you must be Rainbow's father."

"I am her father, and don't call me Shirley."

Rainbow made a snort of laughter, shocked that her dad would make that joke with Discord .

Discord, for his part was taken aback, unaccustomed to ponies joking around with him. He smiled widely and looked to Rainbow. "I see where you get your sense of humor."

Rainbow relaxed as her dad laughed.

"It's a real pleasure to get to meet you face to face, Discord," Fullbright said, extending his hoof. Discord gave a look of surprise as he shook it.

"I have to ask, why? Most would prefer to go their entire lives without ever meeting me."

Fullbright took a deep breath. "During my misspent youth at the University of Canterlot, where my majors were flying, drinking and mares, in that order, I did occasionally attend classes, and history was the only one that held my interest; I have to admit, you were always an interesting aberration to the pristine and orderly land of Equestria. I had the notion that you were an engine of societal change. You were needed just as much as the Elements of Harmony."

Fullbright paused and when Discord gave no indication as to the accuracy of his theory, he continued.

"If a system runs too long without adjustments then complacency and ennui cause it to decay. There needs to be something to shake things up now and then and you are that necessary force. Are you familiar with the human comedy troupe Monty Python?"

"I memorized their entire body of work."

"Okay then, my belief is that you are Equestria's version of Confuse-A-Cat, or Confuse-A-Pony in this case. You shock us with your craziness for a little while and then get put back in your box. That’s why you come and go from history instead of staying around. I would go so far as to say that those times you fought the princesses and Elements of Harmony, you intended to lose. Your task had been completed.”

Rainbow was surprised in that Discord seemed to be genuinely pondering her father’s words rather than just brushing it off like most conversations ponies had with him. Discord snapped his fingers and a graduation cap appeared on Fullbright’s head.

“Very observant, Fullbright Dash. If I took over the world and threw everypony into a maelstrom of permanent chaos, they would eventually adapt to it. The system I used to destroy order would become the new order and I would become the establishment. So chaos becomes order and order becomes the new chaos. I would become the new Celestia and Celestia the new Discord. If that isn’t the stuff of nightmares, I don’t know what is,” Discord said, shuddering at the thought.

Fullbright did a triumphant hoof pump. "But that still leaves the question of what has changed? You’ve stuck around far longer than you usually do. What does it all mean?”

“I wish I knew. I'm still struggling to understand that question,” Discord admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. "Now indulge my curiosity. I'm surprised you're familiar with Monty Python. It seems too 'human' for most ponies to really understand."

Fullbright laughed. "It was part of Rainbow's human cultural education that my wife and I wanted her to have. Azalea tried to teach Rainbow about politics and history, but I've always been of the opinion that if you want to understand a culture, you need to understand what makes them laugh," he laughed again. "That poor mare, she endured so much for us."

Rainbow laughed too. "At least with Python she could get a few of the jokes. Not like that Three Stooges film festival we went to."

Fullbright laughed harder as Rainbow excused herself, letting Fullbright and Discord resume their discussion. She found Pinkie Pie and hugged her.

"Pinkie, thanks for the awesome party. You made everypony feel welcome. I owe you big time," she said with heartfelt gratitude.

Pinkie giggled and hugged her back. "It's okay, Rainbow. Nothing makes me happier than making others happy. When Fluttershy and Gilda can be at the same party and both are having a good time, then I know I did my job right."

Rainbow tracked down the other guests and found Lady Golden Meadow in another room, having tea with Rarity and Apple Jewel; Scootaloo played with the other fillies in the little group of friends consisting of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Silver Spoon and Diamond Rich. At least Scootaloo wouldn't feel too out of place as a blank-flank as among the five of them—only Silver Spoon had her cutie mark.

Rainbow mingled for a while, just savoring the general joy of the celebration. However, when she saw her father and Gilda begin dancing she felt a stab of anxiety, and it wasn't just because Gilda rivaled Twilight for the title of worst dancer in Equestria. She recalled her father’s words about how they wanted to talk to her about something. Her mind leaped to a likely conclusion: Marriage.

She had to sit and ponder the implications of that.

Eventually Fullbright came up to Rainbow and sat beside her. "Thank you for introducing us, Rainbow."

"You're welcome, Dad. Discord can be weird sometimes, I wasn't sure he could keep it together long enough to have an actual conversation."

"It was so odd, talking to someone who's virtually a force of nature. Are you two friends?"

That made Rainbow pause. "Uh, well, I'm not really sure. I guess, sorta. He's not making it easy."

Fullbright shook his head. "Honey, you certainly have an interesting group of friends."

"Oh, speaking of interesting friends, you should meet Zecora. She's a zebra alchemist who lives in the Everfree Forest."

Fullbright looked thoughtful, rubbing his chin with a hoof. "Zecora, you say? Ages ago I met a zebra alchemist named Zecora. She had a mystical spiral cutie mark and talked in rhyme."

“Yeah, that's her. She had a rhyming accident a year ago, so she just talks normally now."

Fullbright gave his daughter a skeptical look. “How exactly does one have a ‘rhyming accident’?"

“Twilight and Apple Jewel went to visit her and she started a rhyme about 'ponies of purple and orange' and got stuck because she couldn’t think of a rhyme for either. Twilight, being a huge nerd, was eventually able to come up with ‘burple’ and ‘sporange’, which are actual words, but too much time had passed and the context for them just didn’t work. It wasn’t pretty. On the other hoof, she's a lot more informative now that she doesn't have to limit herself to things that rhyme."