//------------------------------// // After School Discussion // Story: Tales Of Friendship // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// Another day at the School of Friendship was coming to an end. Classes were over, and the students were either heading to the library to get a start on their homework, or going to their dorms to relax for a while. Starlight Glimmer was inside her guidance counselor office, another successful day of work behind her. After her... eventful stint as acting Headmare, she was glad to have returned to her regular position. 'Back to the norm.' She thought. 'Not that being acting headmare wasn't exciting, but I think I'm going to stick with being a guidance counselor. It's a lot less complicated...' Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Come in!" Starlight called. Starlight glanced at the door, expecting it to open, and was caught off guard when Discord appeared beside her in a flash of light. "Ahh!" She yelped. "What?" Discord asked. "You said 'come in'." "Hi, Discord." Starlight rolled her eyes. "What brings you back to school so soon?" "It just occurred to me that I've never seen your little guidance counselor office before, even with my visits over the last few days." Discord said airily. "I figured I should go and take a look." He glanced around the room. "Rather... quaint, I must say." "Thanks." Starlight smiled. "I decorated it myself." "Of course you did." Discord nodded. "I'm glad you're here, actually." Starlight admitted. "There's something I could really use your help with." "My help, you say?" Discord was briefly surprised, then smug. "Well, of course. What can the all-powerful master of chaos do for you, my dear Starlight?" "First, you can come with me." Starlight opened the door with her magic. "Ugh, walking." Discord groaned. "It's not far, trust me." Starlight assured him. "Fine..." Discord grumbled. He followed Starlight out the door, ducking downwards in order to pass through. As Starlight and Discord walked through the hallway, some of the students noticed Discord, and took care to avoid him. "Looks like you really left an impression on these kids." Starlight noted. "Not surprising." Discord smirked. "I like to think I always make an impact wherever I go." "Yeah, no kidding..." Starlight snorted. "By the way, I trust you recall our little agreement yesterday?" Discord inquired. "Agreement?" Starlight repeated. "You know, when you offered me the job of vice-headmare?" Discord clarified. "The next time you get made acting headmare, I expect you to follow through on it." "A promise is a promise." Starlight shrugged. "Just so long as promise me you won't appoint any more substitute teachers without my knowledge. Your choices didn't take being dismissed so well." Flashback... After driving Discord to leave the school (for the moment) Starlight had summoned Iron Will and Cranky Doodle Donkey to the headmare's office (which had been restored to its normal state upon Discord's departure). "I'm sorry, gentlecreatures, but I'm afraid your services will no longer be required." Starlight announced. "Now hold on just one second!" Iron Will bellowed. "Iron Will was promised ample compensation for his work as a substitute teacher!" "Whatever you were promised, it wasn't offered by an official member of this school's staff." Starlight declared. "Besides, our teaching positions are strictly voluntary, meaning there is no 'compensation' at all." "That Draconequus lied to Iron Will!" Iron Will growled. "Iron Will hopes he has a good lawyer..." "Good luck with that." Starlight rolled her eyes as Iron Will departed. "But I was planning on testing those kids' friendship skills by having them polish my hooves and wash my toupee!" Cranky scowled. "Where am I going find somecreature to do all that now?" "You can get all that and more done at the spa." Starlight retorted. "But there's always such a long line!" Cranky complained. "But at least you get professional work." Starlight said testily. "Goodbye, Mr Donkey." Cranky departed, muttering and grumbling as he did. "Two dismissals in one day." Starlight sighed. "Not sure if that makes me a good principal, or a bad one..." The present... "Well, from the sound of things, that could have gone better." Discord said nonchalantly. "I trust the Dragonsneeze tree didn't take its dismissal as badly?" "I didn't hear any complaints." Starlight deadpanned, recalling how she'd simply teleported the tree out of the school. "I think it was okay with my decision." "So it all worked out, then." Discord grinned. "Excellent." "Here we are." Starlight stopped outside another door. "The matter I need help with is right in this room." "Okay." Discord rubbed his mismatched claws together. "Whatever problem you have, it shouldn't take very long for me to fix it..." As they entered the room, Discord found Twilight and her friends (including Spike) inside. They had entered the teacher's lounge. "Uhh... what's this?" He asked. "Ah, Discord. Good." Twilight smiled. "We weren't expecting you so soon, but at least now we can get this out of the way fast." "'Expecting me'?" Discord asked. "What... oh, I get it." He glared at Starlight. "There is no problem, is there? You tricked me!" He broke into a smile. "I'm impressed." "Sorry for the deception." Starlight declared. "But I wasn't sure you'd be willing to come otherwise." "And for what reason did you deceive me, exactly?" Discord demanded. "We were hoping we could all have a little discussion concerning your behavior over the last few days." Twilight announced. "Seriously?" Discord frowned at Starlight. "That's why you wanted me to come with you?" "We talked about it yesterday, and we all agreed that it was a matter we needed to discuss." Starlight shrugged. "There really is no need for this, at all." Discord said defiantly. "Fluttershy already gave me quite a stern talking to about those matters just last night." "It's true, I did." Fluttershy nodded. "In fact, I had to promise to hold every tea party for the next month, just to appease her." Discord declared. "So the matter doesn't really need to be discussed further..." "Well, I'd say the matter does require further discussion." Rarity said haughtily. "You can't just send ponies to the edge of civilization on a whim and expect that to be the end of it." "Oh, that?" Discord scoffed. "That was just me doing you all a favour." "A favour?" Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Yes, indeed." Discord nodded. "I know you've all been so busy with this new school of yours lately, so I figured you'd enjoy going on an adventure together, just like old times." "Exploring that big, dark cave was kinda fun!" Pinkie admitted. "There, see?" Discord grinned. "And while you were doing that, I was helping Starlight out with the school. You should be thanking me!" "Don't push yer luck, pardner." Applejack glared. "From what we've heard, some a' yer 'help' coulda wound up hurtin' the students." "I assure you, they were in no real danger whatsoever." Discord claimed. "Even when you summoned a Bugbear to chase the students?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Well, nopony would know this, since Starlight blasted it away, but all it would have done when it caught the students was give them some last place noogies." Discord claimed. "No real harm there, am I right?" "Guess we'll just have to take your word for it." Rainbow said skeptically. "Besides, there was no harm done in the end." Discord insisted. "Not for the school, nor for all of you on your false friendship mission." "Tell that to my mane." Rarity pouted. "And, for your information, I used the same kind of protection spell Celestia used to protect the Elements of Harmony on the map." Twilight told Discord. "Just in case you were thinking of trying that particular trick again sometime." "Oh, you wound me." Discord clutched his chest dramatically. "Repeat performances just aren't my style. I couldn't call myself the Spirit of Chaos if I were predictable, could ?I" "Now, let's move on to the real matter at hoof: Starlight told us the reason why you did all that." Twilight announced. "... Really?" Discord said, attempting to sound nonchalant. "I didn't think gossip was her style..." "In this case, it was." Starlight declared. "Starlight came to us not long after you'd left." Twilight continued. "She told us you went to all that trouble because you felt left out." "Well, can you really blame me?" Discord pouted. "In all of the time this school has been open, not one of you ever saw fit to invite me over." "I did think about it." Fluttershy admitted. "But I thought you wouldn't be interested in going to a school." "As for the rest of us, we were a little busy actually running this school." Rainbow pointed out. "That, and yah don't really lump in 'spirit a' chaos' and 'school' together." Applejack added. "Not unless you're talking about a school for chaos spirits." Pinkie added. "But I'm pretty sure Discord's the only one around, so that would be kinda pointless." "My point still stands." Discord said stubbornly. "Perhaps if one of you, my so-called friends, had seen fit to invite me over, that unfortunate business over the last few days could have all been avoided." "We could have gotten the same results if you'd actually told us you were feeling left out." Twilight retorted. "Oddly enough, this isn't the first time I heard that." He glanced at Starlight. "But I stand by my argument. Nopony ever seems to invite me to anything." "Gee, wonder why?" Rainbow sneered. "If you wanted to be a part of this school, you could have just asked." Twilight continued. "We would have at least considered it." "...So, if I asked to be a part of this school right here and now, you'd consider it?" Discord smirked deviously. "Not quite." Rarity frowned. "Well, now you're just sending mixed messages." Discord grumbled. "Twilight just said-" "That if you had asked before, we would have considered it." Twilight clarified. "But after what ya cooked up to try and make yerself a part of the school, we're not so sure." Applejack added. "Oh, so we're back to that, are we?" Discord scowled. "After what just happened, we're more than a little concerned about allowing you access to the students." Twilight admitted. "You didn't exactly make the best first impression on them, did you?" "That's up for debate..." Discord said petulantly. "Surely you can understand how we wouldn't be comfortable having a teacher that our students aren't comfortable with?" Fluttershy offered. "I suppose." Discord shrugged. "So if you still want to be a part of this school, you're going to have prove that you can be trusted with the students." Twilight summarised. "Am I making myself clear?" "Oh, I get it." Discord scowled. "This is some kind of behavioural blackmail, isn't it? Holding the promise of a treat over my head, so I'll be convinced to be a good little Draconequus?" "That's not what this is." Starlight protested. "It's a good dose a' reality, is what it is. Ya want something in life, ya gotta work for it." Applejack declared. "That's never really been my experience." Discord smirked. "Well, that's how it works for the rest of us." Rainbow pointed out. "You think I just became a Wonderbolt from out of nowhere?" "Maybe." Discord shrugged. "Never paid much attention to that particular story arc, to be honest..." "And I didn't succeed in building a fashion empire overnight." Rarity declared. "It took a lot of hard work to get there." "And I had to work hard to be the best party pony in Equestria." Pinkie added. "Learning everypony's birthdays, favourite food, favourite colors, favourite party games... It took a lot of serious effort!" "Effort, you say?" Discord frowned. "Not something I'm familiar with, to be honest..." "We're not saying it's hopeless." Fluttershy said fairly. "There may still be a chance for you to play a part in this school." "And I think I know which part." Rainbow smirked. "How about we put you in some remedial friendship classes?" "Or perhaps we could assign one of our fine friendship tutors to help you refresh yourself on the basics?" Rarity added. "Oh, come now." Discord scoffed. "I'll admit I might make one or two slip-ups every so often, and I may have gone a little overboard over the last few days, but I'm still more versed in the ways of friendship than your students. It wouldn't be fair to them, having a classmate who is far more experienced outshining them at every turn. And who's to say I wouldn't end up tutoring the tutor?" "Yeah, sure." Applejack narrowed her eyes. "Cuz yer always thinkin' a' others first an' foremost." "It's my curse." Discord joked. "Believe it or not, we didn't want to talk to you just so we could call you out over the events of the last few days." Twilight announced. "Or bait you with a possibility we don't intend to ever make an actuality." "Then why did you want to talk to me?" Discord asked. "So we could discuss our options." Twilight told him. "None of us are happy with what you did, but knowing the reason why you did it helps." "And you're still our friend." Fluttershy added. "This school is all about spreading the virtues of friendship, like forgiveness." "Guess we wouldn't be very good teachers if we didn't practice what we preach." Applejack said reluctantly. "So this isn't some kind of extra-harsh disciplinary hearing?" Discord asked. "You're not going to try and give me an eternity's worth of detention?" "Honestly, Discord." Rarity sighed. "After all the time we've known each other, do you really believe we'd be that vindictive?" "Depends on the pony, to be honest." Discord shrugged. "I doubt Pinkie Pie has a vindictive bone in her body." "Aw, thanks!" Pinkie smiled. "Being vindictive isn't really in any of natures." Twilight stated. "Besides, recent events notwithstanding, you haven't been causing as much trouble as you used to, Discord. In fact, you've even been doing some good lately. I heard about what you did for Big McIntosh and Sugar Belle this Hearts and Hooves Day." "Oh, did you?" Discord glared at Spike, who had an almost unbearably smug expression on his face. "Awfully big mouth for such a little dragon..." "Guess Starlight's not the only one that likes to gossip." Spike chuckled. "I think we're getting a little off-topic." Starlight spoke up. "Yes, we are." Twilight nodded. "And from what I understand, the topic is a deal of some sort." Discord added. "Not the word Ah'd choose." Applejack frowned. "What I'm hearing is that if I am somehow able to prove myself, you'll consider letting me play a part in this school, if I still desire to." Discord summarized. "And do you?" Starlight prompted. "Well, I never did get the chance to be acting headdraconequus, or vice-headmare." Discord shrugged. "And I do so hate leaving things unfinished." "How about we take things one step at a time?" Twilight suggested. "If you're willing to put in the effort to make amends for what happened, and prove yourself, then we could think about getting you a position at this school. Part-time, at first, or possibly a guest teacher, then we'll see how that goes, and come to a final decision." "Sounds like a lot of work." Discord frowned. "But won't it be worth it at the end?" Fluttershy asked. "Perhaps." Discord shrugged. "Then again, if ya wanna back out, feel free to." Rainbow smirked. "It'll jest mean yer admittin' ya can't cut it." Applejack teased. "Oh, we'll see about that." Discord rose to the bait, his pride suitably wounded. "You want me to prove myself, then I'll prove myself. Mark my words: one of these days, there'll be a class taught by yours truly, with students galore eager to learn." "That is what every teacher wants." Twilight nodded. "Maybe someday, you'll actually get there." "Why thank you." Discord grinned. "Really. I'm touched that you're all so willing to give me this chance." "It's not like it's the first chance we've given you." Fluttershy pointed out. "You've proven yourself before, and we know you'll prove yourself now." Not everypony in the room shared Fluttershy's belief, judging by the awkward looks on their faces, but they were at least willing to give Discord a chance. "This school is all about acceptance." Twilight declared. "As friendship teachers, we can do no less. But if you really want to thank somepony, it should be Starlight. It was her who gave us the whole story, after all." Starlight smiled. "I'm starting to think all this gossip about me isn't so bad after all." Discord winked at Starlight. "You've given me a lot to think about. And I thought after the excitement of the last few days, this would be a slow afternoon." "So did I." Starlight agreed. "Still, I know when to leave before I've outstayed my welcome." Discord joked. "Though I hope you'll at least look over that list of suggestions for improving the school I provided?" A scroll appeared in the air, unfurling into a long list. "...Yeah, we'll do that." Rainbow said awkwardly. "I do like the sound of that ambidextrous marmoset mascot!" Pinkie grinned. "See? It's just full of good ideas!" Discord smirked. "Well, I think I'll head back to my office." Starlight declared. "Please, allow me to escort you." Discord offered. With a snap of the Chaos Spirit's claw, both he and Starlight appeared in the hallway outside. "Thanks." Starlight said flatly. "That saved a second or two." "It's the least I could do." Discord smiled. "Especially after you just did me such a favour. While I can't say I'm pleased with being tricked into it, I am glad that we were able to iron out all those misunderstandings. I do appreciate your assistance." "That's why I'm at this school." Starlight declared. "It's the job of a guidance counselor to find the root of their subject's problem, and help them resolve it. "I wouldn't call it a 'problem', per se." Discord shrugged. "More of an issue, really..." "Whatever you prefer to call it." Starlight shrugged. "At least we're on the right track to resolving it." "Indeed." Discord nodded. "Just wait, I'll prove that I'm suited for this school." "I'm sure you will." Starlight nodded. "In your own unique way." "As a matter of fact, I've already put together a few ideas regarding what teaching position would suit me." Discord conjured up a scroll, which unfurled into another very long list. "Let's see... I could be an art teacher, music teacher, home economics teacher, shop class teacher, interpretive dance teacher..." Starlight rolled her eyes again, and chuckled. The day was far from over...