And there you sat, in a circle with Chrysalis, Diamond Tiara, Rumble, and the twins.
"So, what are we doing exactly?" Rumble was the most confused.
And quite frankly, now that the lesson had "begun", you were confused as well. What was going on exactly? "Um, I think we're just supposed to interact with each other."
"Well of course we are." Chrysalis says in a pleasant way. "We're obviously being judged, so let us all play nice so we can move on quickly to the next lesson."
"Not so fast!" Diamond Tiara raised her hoof to stop Chrysalis, her eyes pointed right at the twins. "I see an opportunity!"
Opportunity? Was that business speak? Why was she looking at the twins? Even worse, she then looked at you with a smirk. What did you have to do with opportunity?! "Uhhhhhmmm....why are you looking at me like that?"
"Why do you think? If you're going to be my future husband. I need to see how good you are with kids since we're gonna have a few of our own" She said in a near snooty tone.
Wait..wut?! You were stunned. Was she telling you to be a father? As you stood there, stunned. Rumble was giggling. He knew you had been "told" before by Diamond Tiara. But being a daddy? He may have found you cool before. But the cool factor was washing off. "Uhm, umm..I don't think that's the point of the class"
Chrysalis however, could tell this would turn into a never ending argument if you didn't comply. so she started to walk over to Pumpkin and Pound cake. "Anon, my dear brother, it's not that difficult. Here, watch this. Come here you precious little things." She neared Pumpkin first, but as she did, Pumpkin started to crawl back and whimper. Chrysalis stopped, and quickly attempted to try picking up Pound. But that too caused an upset. "A-ahrm...hrm. I think they might be a little cranky today."
"Cranky? Hmph." Diamond Tiara wouldn't accept any reason for you no to try and neared the baby foals herself. She then smiled at them and gave them a happy and motherly "Come here little guys." And just like that, the twins giggled, smiled, and hugged onto Diamond Tiara almost like she really was their mother.
“Woah, that's weird. I thought Nymous would have been able to do something like that." Rumble commented.
"As I said, they were cranky. And only for a few moments it seems. Besides..." Chrysalis gave Rumble a very soft yet alluring look. "I'm just a little out of my element is all. If it was,say, you I was babysitting. You'd do everything I told you and be a good little trooper." She bats her eyes at him. "Right?"
Rumble gulped, blushed, and saluted. "Yes ma'am"
Diamond Tiara noticed Rumble's action when Chrysalis spoke to him. She found it impressive. Before, when she was mean, she had to yell at ponies to get them to comply. "Wow, Nymous, how did you do that?"
"The same way you did my dear" Chrysalis said with a gentle smile and a genuine tone "You just have to know how to be a parent, with a little skill in subtle persuasion. Well, now that we can all see we're getting along. Anon, why don't you show us that fatherly skill of yours."
Goddammit. Did you really have to do this? Discord was probably going to tease the fuck out of you after this. Chrysalis may be trying to speed things along, but..… Well… It would probably make Fluttershy and Diamond Tiara happy.
"Alright, alright." You stretch your legs about a bit to get yourself ready. "I got this!"
You walk over to the twins, smiling at them. Diamond Tiara points to you happily announcing "Look Pumpkin, Pound. It's your uncle father, Anon. Why don't you say hi?"
You sat right in front of them with a cheerful smile. "Hey there little guys! Here I am, Anon the hero colt, here to bring smiles and happiness!"
The twins are silent. they look at each other, then back at you as they stick their tongues out. "blllllffft"
W-what?! Flurry Heart cried when she saw you. And these two won't even give you the time of day?!
Diamond Tiara stared at you with a hard stare "..What...was that?" she said in a cold and distant tone, already disappointed in your abilities.
"U-uhm. Hold on, hold on." You made a funny face and waved your hooves about. "C'mon fellas, don't you want to smile for your buddy, Anon?"
But they didn't react the way you hoped, they just turned away and went back to Diamond Tiara. While Pound was fully sick of your shit, Pumpkin was shaking just a little in fright, something Diamond noticed.
Chrysalis however, was just dumbfounded at how bad you were. Sure she failed too. But she only chalked that up to them being cranky for a moment. "Anon, not to sound rude, but surely you can do better than that?"
Wut? "HEY! NOT LIKE YOU DID ANY BETTER!" You yelled, aggravated.
Chrysalis didn't stoop to your level however, she merely looked to the side, ignoring your burst of anger. "There's no need to shout. Especially since they were obviously not used to being in this class, they were cranky."
"..For all of two seconds?! If that's the case why don't you-"
"Anon!" Diamond Tiara burst out at you. "Are you yelling at your sister?! WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE ARE YOU SETTING BY YELLING AT YOUR SISTER?! OF ALL THE NERVE!"
And that stops you dead in your tracks. "B-but.."
"Don't ‘but’ me, buster!" Diamond Tiara goes back to the twins and gives them all a hug. "I'm so sowwy Anon is being a doody head. he just took sour grouch pills this morning. Do you both think you could do him a favor and try to put up with him? Pwease?"
The twins just let out little baby noises and hugged Diamond with their soft baby legs.
Rumble just sat there and cringed "..Ohhh, this is worse than I thought" he said to himself "They're already like one of those old pony couples who just yell a lot. Man, being the hero colt is rough sometimes. No wonder he got all angry when we wanted to be one too."
You just stare at Chrysalis, annoyed. Not hateful. Just annoyed. You weren't THAT bad. Babies just hated you...for some reason. They hated her too! Why do you always lose these things?!
"C'mon, Anon. I won't tolerate a bad father. Show everypony what you got!" Diamond Tiara half cheered, half commanded you to get your rear in gear.
Ok then. "Alright, here I go. I-I'll do it this time..." You just walk over to the babies, feeling rather defeated, and sit right in front of them. "Hey, look. I know you both don't like me. And I know I stink. I mean, I don't know what to say or how to act to get you two like me, but if you don't like me, I understand. I can be a bit of a jerk sometimes and-"
And then… They looked at you with pity, and crawled over to you and hugged onto you. Were they hugging you because you did good? Or were you that pathetic?
"Well,erm. That's not exactly what I'd do if I was a parent. and I NEVER EVER expect you to say something like that to our foals but. A-at least they like you now. Good job, Anon. Just work on how you talk, ok? Because I know you're no failure. I don't date absolute failures." Diamond Tiara did not fully approve of your approach. She can't really think of any time she's ever seen you so down. In fact, as she thought more about it, it made her feel something awful. "I didn't make you feel bad...did I, Anon?"
"Huh? Um..no no. It's nothing you said, Diamond. There's just a lot on my mind. I just haven't been feeling myself lately." That was only half true. Chrysalis treating you like dogshit and Diamond following up on it did make you feel rather terrible.
And it really sucked because you thought Chrysalis would ease up on you at least for today. But perhaps she was also sore at you for asking this favor of her.
"Well see, this is where me as a wife comes in!" Diamond Tiara walks over to you and gives you a hug, along with the twins. "To help cheer my prince up whenever he's down. And, after class, I want you to tell me what's been bothering you. No secrets."
Ok, now you felt a little better. At least she cared. As for "no secrets"...woo, you do wonder how long you'd have until eventually she knew. And would she still accept you when she did? No, for now you'd forget about that. She wouldn't have to know for a long time. Not until Chrysalis is reformed. "Alright. You got it."
As Diamond hugged you, she saw Rumble giving you and her an odd look. She looks back at him with a mean stare "What are you looking at?!"
"N-nothing!" Rumble turned away, he was actually just wondering what the hell was so wrong and why you seemed so unheroic.
"That's right nothing! If you even think of one bad thing about my Anon then I'll make you regret it! You got me?!" Diamond Tiara barked as she continued hugging you. She hugged you tighter and tighter as she grew angrier.
Suddenly Rumble completely understood why you were like that now. Diamond's anger, expression, and the fact she's rich was terrifying him to no end now. "Y-yes ma'am"
"See Nymous? That's how it usually goes with me. Even after I became a nicer pony, some ponies sometimes need a little meanness so they stay in line." Diamond Tiara nodded, proud of herself for what she just did.
Chrysalis, as usual, enjoyed the method. It's probably why she approved of Diamond Tiara's coupling with you at some level. Her potential and ability to be so demanding and get her way was a positive in her eyes, "Indeed, terrific job, Diamond Tiara. I'm afraid I am a little too frail to act in such a way. That's why I'm glad that you can handle yourself in ways I cannot. And protect my little brother from ones who'd take advantage of him or make him feel bad."
Diamond Tiara, of course, approved of such praise. "Thanks, Nymous, that's why you're an awesome future sis in law. You understand things and me so well." Diamond Tiara giggled triumphantly as she let you go from her ridiculous grip "So, how do you feel now, Anon?"
You fall over backwards, blue in the face as Diamond puts a hoof to her mouth in mild shock as she says sheepishly "O-oops. I think I squeezed too tight. S-sorry, Anon"
Meanwhile, at the other end of the class. The parents and Mrs. Muffin Top observe.
Which of course, calls for a change of perspective.
You are Discord, the greatest father in the universe. And as such, you decide to dial back the events through your perspective. If only to show how others feel about the whole thing. That's a thing, right? "So, what exactly is the point of this again? I already know my son, and I suppose by some sort of extension, my daughter are the best ones there."
"Discord, weren't you listening? This isn't about anything like that. We're going to see how all the children interact and um...what do we do again, Mrs. Muffin Top?" Fluttershy was a little confused on the finer details of the lesson.
"It's very simple, don'tcha know. We observe the foals and see what they do, absorb it, and understand it so we can better raise them, while also getting to know one another. Hun, you'd be surprised how well you can get to know somepony with a little conversation." Mrs. Muffin Top said as she looked upon Anon and the other foals.
"I really don't see the point in all this. Yes, there may have been a few issues before. But I know my daughter, I know my husband, and I know myself. This lesson is pointless." Spoiled Rich stresses. You mostly agreeing with her, silently. You were pure perfection after all, even had a lead on ole buggy McInsectoid.
"Well, I hate to sound contrary, but you didn't know I entered our real names" Filthy says, as a way to show her she didn't know him enough to know he'd do such a thing.
"Mmnnn...I guess that's true. But my point still stands" Spoiled however, would not falter.
"Now hold on for a moment. As I am quite the expert on making points. If your point did indeed stand then there wouldn't need to be a correction from your husband. Therefore, I conclude that the validity of the point is quite incorr-" Time Turner, who lives on science and facts, is stopped cold in his explanation as Spoiled gives him a demonic death glare. She was not pleased that some pony she never heard of was correcting her.
"Finish that sentence. I dare you" She challenged him. A challenge even Time Turner was aware enough not to take.
"Yes, perhaps I should in fact, check my calculations again.....erm..Or rather, stay silent altogether...perhaps forever" Time Turner backs off and keeps his mouth shut.
You found it odd, of course, that this scientist didn't have interest in you at all. No surprise or anything. But you'd think he'd be rushing up to you to study on the great king of chaos. Yeah, you could get behind Spoiled on what she thinks of him. He was rude. How could he not take notice of your grand majesticness.
"...Scary" Thunderlane mutters under his breath before looking back at the foals, hearing the babies' cries. "Oh man, that's weird. Those foals don't really seem to like Nymous or Anon much. Weird, he's the hero colt, isn't he?"
"Oh dear. You don't think we should go to them, should we? What if they need a diaper change or a hug?" Mrs. Cake was immediately worried when she saw her little ones whine.
But just as immediately as they whined. They stopped when they seemingly looked at Anon with suspicion. Well that's no good, how is he supposed to be stealthy in his chaos making if even babies can figure him out?
"O-oh. I guess it's ok now. Look, they stopped crying. I wonder what happened..." Mr. Cake wondered. "Hrn, maybe we should...aww. Look at that" When Mr. and Mrs. Cake saw Diamond get a nice hug from the babies, they couldn't help but find it adorable.
"Mrs. Rich, Diamond Tiara is really a natural born mother. Our little Pumpkin and Pound look very happy just being near her." Mrs.Cake commented, looking lovingly at her children's happiness.
Spoiled Rich was not expecting any kind of kind comment towards her at all, especially after she threatened Time Turner. "Well, thank you. She is my child after all. A natural born leader, future entrepreneur, and in years to come, a loving and wonderful mother. Hrnnn..." Spoiled Rich continued to observe. She was considering it a good blessing that the twins loved her daughter so much. To her, it meant she'd be a good mother indeed. "Your children...they....If I had to compliment them, well, they have excellent taste and are rather adorable."
"Thank you. We do our best to teach them what's right even if they are a little too young to understand." Mrs. Cake says.
"I don't know, honey, sometimes I think they understand a little too well. W-which isn't a bad thing. I mean, just look at Pound Cake. He's going to either be an athlete, or a really good baker like us. And with these classes...erm " Mr.Cake said, stopping for a moment to thing. Any sense of danger he felt was gone now that his children seemed so happy. But when he noticed Mr. Rich being a little tense, he began to feel curious about it. "Is there something wrong, Mr. Rich?"
"Huh? O-oh" He was staring at Anon. in his mind, he kept wondering how innocent Anon's and his daughter's relationship really was. He wants to support it, it's a prime choice after all. Oh yes, Anon is top notch. But it seemed he was just worried that one day, things would move too quick, and it'd slip by right under his nose. As it should be really, the idea of love does seem to usually go about in such a way through it's machinations. "Nothing, just observing. Just as our fine teacher suggested"
You looked over to Thunderlane, who was looking at Rumble. It was like a big ball of nothing, just extras to fill in a number quota. "Are you going to say anything? Because I do believe we are supposed to be talking or chatting or something. I don't know"
"HUH?! Oh erm...umm..I..." This pony, Thunderlane, he seemed afraid of you. Good, might be a great target for later. SOMETHING has to come out of this disaster.
"Oh come on. Out with it!" Was he really this boring?
"Umm...." But he wouldn't speak. Typical, couldn't handle your greatness.
"Discord...You don't have to be so abrasive. Here, try being softer. Like this!" Fluttershy walks over to Thunderlane and greets him with a gentle greeting. "Good Morning, Thunderlane. I've noticed your little brother is getting along with Anon and Nymous and everypony else. Isn't that wonderful?"
Thunderlane immediately calmed down. Now Fluttershy? He could handle that. "Good morning, Fluttershy. Yeah, It's pretty cool that he seems to be getting all friendly with your nephew. He's the hero colt, right? That's pretty cool"
"Oh yes. I don't know what to make of it at times, but as long as he's safe and happy. Then that's all that matters to me and-" But then she's stopped
Suddenly, everypony's attention is on the foals when Anon shouts something. You readjusted your ears to get exactly what it was, but as things seemingly began to calm down with Anon hugging the foals and entering a depression, you now realize what was going on.
Chryssy. She was bullying Anon, and Anon was just taking it. That little filly was defending the bug while making Anon feel bad. Probably on accident of course, She was too into him to consciously crush his feelings. Chryssy is quite the manipulator indeed, just not as good as you are.
You stop to look at Fluttershy, who was ignorant to what was going on. they all were. All they saw was what looked like Anon trying to be a father, and succeeding in a miserable way as it seemed the foals only now accepted him by him appealing to their pity.
You felt it, raw anger. How dare she! Anon was one of your best friends! And therefore was yours to mess with! She wasn't even doing it in a fun way. She was just ignoring her own faults while exploiting his. It put you into thought on how Anon could be such a doormat to her.
Did it...hurt you? Maybe. But perhaps this class was teaching you something after all. Anon, from your own experience anyway, was missing a lesson that if you had not learned, you'd be alone. Free, but alone.
Fluttershy...dear Fluttershy. She put up with all your shenanigans when Celestia let you free.
She put up with so much. She only wanted you to be comfortable and happy. And then you threw it all away for an ice rink. You thought she'd fold, but she didn't. And that's when you realized having fun...alone...was never really fulfilling. There's no point without an audience. Whether it be with a wonderful pony friend or a human, who deep inside, is capable of as much chaos as you are.
Anon, he was missing that one key element. Oh, what is this? What in the wide wide world of Equestria is this? You were having a Twilight moment. Ewwww! Let's call it a Fluttershy moment. Yes, muuuch better. "Ahrm, Mrs. Muffin...thing. I hope you won't mind delaying the lesson for a moment, it appears I have to use the little Draconequus’ room. I won't be long."
"Oh, well, alright. We don't really have a bathroom in the classroom, couldn't tell you why. But if you take the door to the baking cla-"
You didn't have time for any of that. You just teleport into a dimension of emptiness and make a call on that human tech thing called a "Codec", which again, calls for a perspective change.
You are Anon. And you are still dazed from that hug. And still feeling like crap because you just couldn't win.
...This sucks. Why can't you just win?
"!"
Wut?
"!"
What?
"!"
Was that? Was that thing still in your ear? Even laying there, you instinctively bring your hoof to your ear. It was Discord.
"Well well, Anon. Don't respond. Think of this as a message that I hope gets into your titanium skull. First and foremost, I'm disappointed in you. Are you ready for Chryssy's hive to be reformed? Probably. But reforming her? Nope. You're terrible at it. And trust me, I know what I'm talking about. See, like you, good natured Fluttershy let me do whatever I pleased when she first started to 'reform' me. I admit, getting her to promise not to use her element was genius and a pivotal part in my plan to rule Equestria. And, it would have worked if it wasn't for something else she did. Don't play coy, you are as big a fanatic of our world as every other idiot from that dimension. And trust me, right now? You're below even them. Simply for the fact that a crucial element to possibly reforming that contemptible bug has been in your memory this entire time and you missed it! You missed it, Anon! Terrible really, I'd expect more from you.
“Anywho, since I can't stand watching you just lay over and give up, I'll give you the answer. When it came time to have a skating duet with Fluttershy, she instead put her hoof down. Oh, she did. She kept her promise, but without her to be entertained and laugh with, there really was no point in creating chaos for myself anymore. I mean, what good is messing with ponies if you don't have somepony to share it with? That's where you and me are, Anon. I share my good taste of ruining days with you because I know you have the sense not to care about EVERYTHING like ponies do. And yet, when you finally have a chance to use a lesson you learned from our 'show'. You instead lay there and give up. I for one, Anon, am sick and tired of it. Grow a backbone! Or I'll shove one into you. And trust me, you won't like that at all. Anyhoo, before I go..." Discord's tone went from fatherly with a dark tone to gossipy. "I have one last thing to say. And I know you'll agree with this, but isn't Thundercrane and Bumble really boring? It's like you could just shove them in the background and nopony would ever notice. Why are they even here, really? Their parents? Pffft, you have to be REALLY boring if your own parents have to send you into a dump like this. Nod if you agree, or shake your head if you're just an idiot."
You slowly nod.
"I knew you'd agree. Now then, don't let this be a waste of breath, Anon. If you don't push back where it matters, and just keep folding, even once more, you'll never get ahead of the game. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few pounds of soap to eat. I told myself that this was a Fluttershy way of teaching you something but it tastes oddly purple, be back in bit."
And the line closed after that. But he was right, no reason to even question it. Sure, you wanted to be friendly to Chrysalis to teach her, you wanted to protect her. But you knew Discord was right, he was actually right. Chrysalis would never respect you if you didn't push back. Even with Celestia's plan, if you don't push back, you'd have no way of getting to Chrysalis in her eventual rage if she will never pay attention to you when you need her to the most.
Ok..fine. You knew what you'd do first. She said the twins were fussy when she tried to hug them. So, being a little deceptive yourself, you'd show her that you could outplay her if you so wanted to. But you wouldn't do it for fun, you'd do it to make a point. And most of all, you wouldn't let up. No matter what.
You get up from your daze, plan in mind. First, you look over to a worried Diamond Tiara. Aww, she looked upset that she choked you in her hug. "Aww, come on Diamond. Don't look at me like that." You give her a cheerful smile. "If you thought you hurt me or something. well nah, you didn't. I'm the hero colt, remember? I'm stronger than that. And besides." You give her a boop on the nose. "You're too cute to frown like that."
Diamond blushed deep after what you said. It was always a pleasure for her to be complimented like that. "Really? You think I'm cute?"
"Well duh, come on. That's one of the reasons why we're together. And hey, given how you handled..." Moment of truth number one. You grab Pumpkin gently and pull her over. You prepared yourself for her whining, but she didn't. She still gave you that look of pity though. Egh, it'd be fine. You had something in mind. "These little guys, I'd have to say you'll definitely be the best mom ever too!"
"Oooohh!" Diamond Tiara was swaying to and fro as she brought her hooves to her cheeks. "He'd think I'd make a great mom!" She squealed.
Adorable. You'd dare a kiss, but not in front of the Riches. Instead, you then look to Rumble. "Hey, Rumble. You mind doing me a favor?"
"Y-yeah? What's up?" Rumble seemed a little reluctant. The whole situation caught him off guard due to how quick everything was. And he was a little envious as well from how Diamond treated you compared to him. Though, if it came to mares, he so wanted to be cuddled by Chrysalis.
"This is up. Mind holding on to her for a sec?" You carefully pass Pumpkin to him and hope she doesn't make a fuss. She doesn't as Rumble complies and takes her. In fact, she looks even happier than before, perfect.
"Awww" You heard Diamond coo.
You take a look at Pound as well, who has crawled back to Diamond Tiara and began to hug onto her. Now then. "Hey sis, why don't you get in on some of this? The babies aren't fussy anymore. And I bet Diamond would love to see your nurturing in action"
There we go. If you were correct, those babies were gonna get fussy again real soon. It sucked you had to use them for this experiment. But Discord was right, he had to be, season 3 said so.
"Keep calm and Flutter on" was circling your head. Just the mere mention and comparison to how you and Chrysalis are was giving you a sudden new drive. This drive, this determination you now felt, it was sudden due to the fact that you didn't have much time left. And it was the only thing you had left that made sense.
Chrysalis took notice of the foals happy nature, though she had no idea what you were thinking. She thought you were being serious, and Chrysalis, her pride rather, couldn't allow absolute failure like that when it comes to infiltration. She felt that this time, it'd work, and they wouldn't fuss. "Thank you very much, my little brother. Come here little one, mother Nymous is he-ahh!" When Chrysalis went to take Pumpkin from Rumble, she immediately started to wail and cry.
As she stepped back in surprise. Pound joined his sister in crying as he hid his face in Diamond's chest. Well well....guess it wasn't the fact they were cranky or fussy.
"Oh sis, I'm so sorry. I-I guess they don't like you." You sounded like you felt sorry for her.
You didn't. You needed a certain reaction from her.
"Don't like me? I'm sure that's not it, in f-" But before she could even finish her sentence, they started to cry louder when she approached again. When she stepped back, they started to calm down.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. It looks like they really don't like you. Dang, that must feel pretty bad. Huh?" In all honesty, it probably didn't. But you had to make her feel something without looking insensitive.
"I feel...a certain...hmmm" But what you didn't realize is that what the feelings she's feeling is rage. Rage that a couple of brats somehow didn't see her as motherly as she felt she could be. A mother of a hive can't control two baby foals? She thought it was utterly ridiculous. She wanted to make another approach, but she could feel their feelings, they really just didn't like her. They were making a conscious thought to not like her, she couldn't fathom why. "Surely it can't be that. Everypony likes me. You, small colt, you like me, don't you?"
...That was odd. She was talking like a mix of her disguise and her usual self. No, did...was this working? Or was it something else?
Rumble gulped and blushed "M-me? Erm, yeah! I like you! D-do you like me?"
"Of course no-" But she stopped. She stopped because you and Diamond were still staring. She nearly slipped up, enraged that mere babies seem to be able to look through her like she was glass. "Erm, I do. I do like you."
Rumble nearly fell over. "R-really?!"
"As a friend of course." Chrysalis regained her composure and patted him on the head. "I like all good little colts who know how to listen and are good and kind"
"Oh..." Rumble was still blushing, but his heart was devastated.
You looked back at the adults, watching as Discord warped back in with bubbles coming out of his mouth. Wow, he was serious about the soap thing.
"Nymous, are you ok? You're acting a little weird. You're not upset because of the foals, right? It's not their fault. They don't know any better." Diamond tried her best to console Chrysalis.
"Yes..yes I know. I'm alright. No need to worry" Chrysalis looks at you with a quick death glare. She figured it out, that you did it on purpose. Not like it was tough.
At first, her stare frightened you. But only at first. Discord entered your mind, his words, and all those failures. All of them seeming so much worse after realizing you fucked up such an important detail for so long.
Maybe...she would have been reformed if you had done it sooner. Now all you had was hope that sooner or later, she'd realize she couldn't push you around anymore. At least, you hoped she couldn't. So, you return the stare right back, and it surprised her. But only for a moment when she noticed the adults were stepping back towards the group.
Mrs. Cake and Mrs. Rich seemed to be conversing with each other about something. Odd, you didn't think those two would get along. Only Time Turner hung back, taking care to observe and listen to everything that was happening.
"Well now, I think today was a successful pair of lessons, don'tcha know. In just one morning, we've already made more friends than what we all started with." Mrs. Muffin Top said with a cheerful smile.
Wut? "Huh? It's over? Wait, isn't this a parenting class? What does friends have to do with anything?"
"Well, that was the point of the first day, hun. We can't very well have a class until everypony is comfortable with everypony else. I know it may sound confusing now, but think of it this way. Watching foals get along help stallions and mares get along. Especially when the foals are their loved ones. I'd like to think that most everypony here has learned that lesson." Mrs. Muffin Top gave a happy nod as she looked over to Mrs. Cake and Mrs. Rich, and then over to Discord. Could she see that he helped you out? In his face? Nah, she can't be that good. Or she'd have mentioned something about Chrysalis. Still...it looked like maybe she may have been subtly on to something.
"I admit, I didn't think anypony else here would have been worth my time. But you, Mrs. Cake, and your husband of course, you both seem to click very well to me. At least, given the interactions of your children and our daughter." Spoiled Rich said, in her dominant arrogant tone.
Mr. Rich felt like he needed to step in and tone down her words a little. "What she means to say is that we would like to invite you and your wonderful family to dinner tonight. Maybe talk a little business on the side. Barnyard Bargains and all its affiliates are always looking for the next big thing."
Mrs. Cake giggled, but declined the business offer. "I'm sorry, Mr. Rich, we do appreciate the offer, but I think we'd just like to be friends rather than business partners. Oh! And if you don't mind., I'd like to bring a few of our specialties along for dinner. That way, if you decide to have us cater any party your wife and yourself might have, you both will already have a favorite in mind"
"Yes of course, that would be mighty fine of you both" Mr. Rich agreed to that much.
"I'm just glad everypony got along so well. Oh! But Discord, did you learn anything today?" Fluttershy asked him, with a wide gentle smile on her face.
Discord stopped for a moment. It looked like he was conflicted on how to answer. But when he felt Fluttershy poke his belly, he looked down to see that she was still waiting with a smile still on her face.
"I know you learned something good. Come oooon. Say what it was. I really really want to know!" Fluttershy was eager to hear what Discord learned today.
Discord groans as he looks to the side, rubbing his cheek. "Can't I just write a letter or write in a journal about it?"
"Oh? So you did learn something then?" Fluttershy got him to admit he indeed learned something. Not what it was, but that he at least learned it. And considering how he helped you, you knew what it was already.
"It's alright, Aunt Fluttershy. You know how Dad is."
The class ended.
It seemed the Riches got closer to the Cakes. Thunderlane and Rumble? They didn't really improve, they were barely noticeable. Chrysalis? Egh, she left without much of a word when class was over,she didn't seem too pleased. For now, that'd be fine.
Fluttershy was of course, happy. She seemed pretty glad that Discord did in fact learn something, even though it wasn't what she was expecting. She was a little worried for Chrysalis as well, she felt something may have been wrong, but Chrysalis assured her she was just tired.
Mrs. Muffin Top was heading back to the inn. She told everyone she was glad that they were closer as friends, she could really step up the lessons for tomorrow since today's lesson was a success.
As for you? Well, Diamond wanted to have a word or two with you before going home with her parents. In fact, you opted to follow her along to her door at least, telling Discord you'd meet up with him later. You wanted to talk to him more about what he had told you, you of course also gave Fluttershy a hug and a goodbye.
That should be everything, right? Huh...you hoped Time Turner realized class was actually over for today. Because he may have missed that, he was still inside waiting for whatever he was expecting to happen to still happen.