//------------------------------// // Malevolent Squirrel // Story: When The Wind Changes // by Symphony //------------------------------// A/N: Edited. Edited by frieD195. I really am spoiling you with another chapter, aren't I? Twilight Sparkle was enjoying the peaceful and quiet atmosphere of her library all on her own, since Spike had left to help Rarity with her work. She giggled as she thought of how lovestruck the little dragon became when he had seen Rarity for the first time. Even after all the years they had spent in Ponyville, he was still following her around. With the silence and the newly acquired spare time, Twilight was reading a book about long-distance teleportation spells. She didn’t even have any reports to write about the subject but there’s nothing wrong about being well-read in it if she would someday be given an assignment about it, right? Just as she was about to read the preparations for the spell which included using a few objects, a heavy pounding on the door rocked through the library. Twilight lost her focus on the book, groaned and started walking towards the door ready to give the perpretrator a piece of her mind. She swung the door open to see none other than Big Macintosh. It was a pleasant surprise to the rather bland day she was having. Mac, however, was staring up in the branches of the tree while saying something under his breath. Strange. She harrumphed, making Macintosh jump and look down at her with a sheepish grin. ’‘What were you looking at?’’ Twilight glanced up to where Big Macintosh had been staring. She couldn’t see anything but leaves and branches. Mac looked around while working his jaw. He had to think of something. Fast. ’‘Uhm... Squirrels?’’ A snicker was heard from a branch. Twilight looked up to see once again, nothing. ’‘Laughing squirrels.’’ Mac nodded slowly. ’‘Very unusual.’’ He sighed in relief as Twilight shrugged. ’’So...’’ Twilight rolled her eyes. ’‘Did you need any help, or..?’’ She asked expectantly, it was nice being in the workpony’s company even when she didn’t know him very well. ’’Oh... Ah... Ah just wanted ta ask ya about somethin’...’’ Mac gulped. This was it, make or break. ’’Ah was wonderin’ if...’’ His heart was pounding and he was sweating bullets. This was much harder than what he thought it would be. Twilight cracked a smile and leaned towards him, making him even more nervous. ’’Is yer library an oak or..?’’ Twilight frowned. That wasn’t the question she was expecting to hear from him. A pained groan came from the same branch as before. But this time, both Macintosh and Twilight looked up. Twilight arched an eyebrow and eyed him. ’‘Squirrel?’’ ’‘Nnnope. Bird.’’ Mac straightened his yoke, still sweating bullets. ’’Ah... Ah guess Ah’ll be goin’ then... An’ Ah hope.’’ He glared at the shrubbery of the tree. ’‘Those dang birds an’ squirrels vamoose outta here...’’ He narrowed his eyes. Twilight made a mental note to ask Applejack about her brother’s mental health. A childish raspberry was heard and Mac groaned and facehoofed. The lavender unicorn faked a smile and backed towards the door slowly. Big Macintosh turned away from the door and started walking away. Discord scowled. There was no way in Tartarus that he would allow the workpony to leave without asking her. He fluttered down silently behind him and smacked him in the back of the head. Macintosh whipped around and shouted a few very unflattering and descriptive words. The door flew open to reveal the librarian with her mouth hanging open. ’‘What did you just say about Cranky Doodle Donkey and my brother?’’ She shouted. Macintosh winced as he could feel the temperature rise when her horn started glowing. He had to think of something again, but this time much faster. He nodded firmly once and walked towards one of the walls of the library. He squinted as he inspected the trunk of the tree, tapped it three times and ended the ritual by licking the tip of it hoof and holding it over his head to feel the direction of the wind. ’‘What are you doing..?’’ Twilight asked, still a little irritated but at the same time interested of what he was doing. Macintosh grinned slyly as he turned around and positioned himself in front of the tree and took a few breaths. He shifted his body-weight onto his forelegs, reared up onto the aforementioned limbs while kicking out with his hindlegs with all of his might. A strained grunt escaped his mouth. The entire tree shook violently and a cracking sound was heard from where the kick was delivered. Loose leaves and branches rained down onto the ground surrounding the ponies. A sudden yelp of shock came from one of the branches and somepony fell down from the tree. Twilight Sparkle could recognize that armour anywhere and those crimson eyes of the pony revealed the identity of the pony as soon as she saw him. ’‘Discord...’’ She groaned and facehoofed. Discord made an innocent smile and placed a hoof to his chest in a ‘who, me?’ fashion. Macintosh trotted up to the downed spirit as smug as ever. ’‘You, my friend, have some very powerful hindlegs...’’ Discord complimented to the workpony, who’s chest puffed out in pride. He turned his head towards Twilight Sparkle, who was thoroughly unamused about the entire situation. ’‘Discord, what were you doing in my tree?’’ She snapped, making both of the stallions flinch. Big Mac started looking around to look anywhere except at the lavender unicorn. ’‘Helping a friend...’’ Discord groaned as he stood up while shaking a few leaves out of his mane. He pouted as he noticed a small dent in the armour. Big Macintosh started whistling innocently as Twilight turned his gaze to him. ’‘And what could you help, Big Macintosh of all ponies, with?’’ Discord sighed heavily and rolled his eyes while rolling his shoulders. Twilight was being kind of oblivious. Big Macintosh stared down at his hooves, not daring to look up at the mare. ’‘Why don’t you ask Romeo here?’’ Discord motioned towards the workpony, who froze the very moment Discord lifted his hoof. Twilight’s mouth became a perfect ‘o’ shape as she realized what they had been doing, and failing so far with. ’‘Mac...’’ She said in a tiny voice. ’‘Eeyup?’’ ’’Is that what everything was about?’’ She walked closer towards the giant. Big Mac’s ears splayed back and he looked away from her. ’’...E-...Eeyup...’’ ’‘ALRIGHT!’’ Discord exclaimed and clapped his hooves together, making two ponies glare at him. ’‘Mac, get to the point of this so I can blow this popsicle stand.’’ Discord faked a yawn and lifted a hoof to his mouth. ’‘Well then...’’ Macintosh took a deep, shaky breath. ’’Ah w-was wonderin’ i-i-if ya’d like tah go to th-th-’ Grand Gallopin’ Gala with me?’’ Big Mac smiled sheepishly. Twilight’s jaw dropped, making Discord attempt to surpress a guffaw with next to no success at all. Twilight worked her jaw, trying to wrap her mind about the situation who had just occured. ’’...Yes...’’ She squeaked. Discord lifted his forelegs and hollered like his favorite hoofball team had just won the championship. Big Mac’s eyes widened in disbelief. ’‘R-Really..?” She nodded. ’’If this is a joke, it ain’t funny...’’ Mac narrowed his eyes. Twilight groaned and rolled her eyes. ’‘This isn’t a joke, I’ll go with you.’’ She stated. Macintosh’s eyes grew even wider than before and a small smile grew on his face, which turned into a grin. Discord nodded and turned around, eager to get away from that sappy situation as fast as possible. He trotted off down the street, leaving the two ponies to talk about what they could expect. He spread his wings, stretched them and took off in full tilt back to Canterlot. He had some planning to do. That planning couldn’t wait for another day as the plan itself would be set in motion in two days. He grinned sadistically as he got the perfect idea. This is going to be interesting. ----- The Royal Alicorn Sisters were sitting in their throne room, listening to some of their subjects coming to them with a proposition or an idea that would benefit society. Luna was pretending to pay attention, as her mind was somewhere else. Celestia was patiently explaining for the third time about how she couldn’t make the sun a little darker than what it already was. A sudden commotion from the hall outside made everypony turn their head towards the gigantic doors leading into the throne room. Luna thought that she heard a very familiar voice. Celestia had also heard the voice and groaned. She really didn’t need this right now. The doors flew open and as soon as they opened, a now very familiar goldish-grey alicorn slid inside the room without any difficulty. He was singing, or what in this case would be exclaimed as ‘screaming from the top of his very lungs’. ’’My friend’s got a marefriend, man! I hate that bitch!’’ Luna understood that the task he had been sent to help Sir Macintosh with had been fulfilled. He could have been a little more discreet about it, though. Celestia facehoofed and adressed the crowd. ’’My little ponies, I am sorry for this interruption, but-’’ ’‘HAH! BUTT!’’ Discord interrupted her. Everypony, except for the guards and the Princesses gasped at the behaviour of the unknown pony. Celestia groaned and cleared her throat. ’‘As I was saying, I am sorry for this interruption but...’’ She stopped her sentence and glared at Discord, who whistled. ’‘Court will continue as it has been for the last few hours. However, Princess Luna will escort this fine, young, gentlecolt...’’ Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. ’’To his quarters.’’ Luna whispered her thanks to her older sister and walked down to Discord. Discord cantered happily behind her. Luna flicked her tail onto Discord’s snout. ’‘Hey!’’ Discord exclaimed, but when he saw Luna’s expression as she winked and rolled her left shoulder. Discord’s frown was turned upside-down in record time. Instead of escorting him to his room, they made a small detour toward Luna’s room.