//------------------------------// // Wishing // Story: The Diary of Discord Wimp // by ThePianoMan //------------------------------// “I’m very happy being me, although…” -Joy It was not an ideal weekend for Discord’s friends. For the most part they were silent in their seats as Andee drove them downtown in his autocar that was usually for his work. The dragon had cleared the tools and parts out of his plus sized autocar and replaced the detachable seats, that still smelled of dust. None complained about the smell nor the tools that still floated around. Andee checked the rear view mirror constantly to look at his son. “You okay back there Spike?” Spike finally looked up from the stack of Flash Magnus comics that he had brought along for Discord. “I’m okay.” Andee felt a sting in his heart. The way his son said it, he couldn’t believe him. “Everyone else?” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy nodded. Twilight adjusted her glasses, focused on the papers in front of her. “I think I have all the make up work that Discord needs.” Redheart smiled from the front passenger seat. “Thank you for that, Twilight.” She sunk into her seat and tried to hide the tissue she wiped her eyes with. Andee reached over and held Redheart’s shoulder. “Hey, he’s gonna be alright. He’s strong, just like his mother.” Finally, a smile found its way onto Redheart’s face. “Thank you so much for doing this. You didn’t have to.” Fluttershy stared out the window at the passing autocars and pedestrians. She was the most quiet of them all. It was aquietness that went beyond her usual behavior. Rainbow could tell her friend was being excessively quiet. “You okay? You’re not worried are you? I know how you can be sometimes.” Fluttershy gave Rainbow a short lived smile. “Doc sounds like he knows what he’s doing. Discord seems to trust him. It’s just…” “Just what?” Rainbow asked. Fluttershy sighed. “I’m not sure. I’ve been thinking about something. He wrote a poem, and it was…” Rainbow snickered as she whispered, “Was it enough to make you blush?” Fluttershy hid behind her hair and stared out the window again. “No. It wasn’t like that. He just said hello. I think he was just being nice.” “And your song,” Rainbow played with a pair of sunglasses she’d found on the floor, trying them on and lowering them as she looked at Fluttershy, “I suppose that was just you being nice?” Andee brought his autocar to a halt between the white lines of a designated parking spot. “Alright everyone.” He pulled out an envelope. “Here’s our visitor passes. Don’t lose them.” He handed out a green laminated badge to everyone before tying his own around his neck. He smiled at Redheart. “Ready?” Redheart took in a deep breath. “Alright, let’s go.” The cream colored building they were parked at the base of was labeled by bold black letters, UniPhysics Laboratories. The process of entering wasn’t as much of a nightmare as the group had anticipated. After meeting with the secretary at the front desk, a unicorn in a lab coat came along with two security officers to guide them to their destination. The unicorn and guards led the group down a long hall and to a door that had been tagged with spray paint. Spike read the red tagging. “Hooves, burn in tartarus. Huh. Should we be concerned by that?” Redheart sighed. “He’s not exactly a popular character, wherever he goes. But, he’s one of the best.” She tapped a hoof against the door. A loud crash and bang was followed by a hollering Doc. “Come in!” The unicorn in the lab coat rolled his eyes as he motioned to one of the guards who produced a white and metallic key card. The unicorn used his magic to slip the card into an opening which triggered a buzzing sound. He opened the door and gestured for everyone to enter. The lab was an absolute mess. Trays and tools were scattered all over the place along with carts that were flipped on their sides. All the beakers and flasks were piled in a corner across from the pile of manuals and burners in the other corner. Strange fixtures hanging from the ceiling twisted together with ducting and pipes that all led to a white rectangular containment tank that was roughly the size of a train car. Dashing about it all was Doc in his own filthy lab coat. “Nothing is where it ought to be! How am I expected to work under these conditions. No quantum harmonizer? Bah! What sort of lab doesn’t have a quantum harmonizer?” He whipped around and scraped off a set of goggles, leaving behind a shadow where the goggles had been. “Ah-ha! Miss Redheart and company! Discord’s doing very well. I think I might have figured out a possible solution to help our draconequus friend. And, I believe it’s all thanks to his friends. Specifically Twilight.” Redheart walked straight past Doc and up to the tank. “His magic, is it out of control?” “I think that might be the problem I overlooked in the first place.” Doc flipped a chalkboard over that was covered with equations and drawing. “I’ve been looking at this the wrong way. I was so distracted with controlling Discord’s magic by suppression, that it never occured to me to let him freely expel his magic in periods.” Twilight’s face lit up. “Starswirl’s law of Perpetuating Source Dynamics! By letting off energy, it can prevent it from building up and becoming volatile.” “Uh,” Rainbow blinked in confusion, “can someone please speak in a language I can understand?” Twilight adjusted her glasses as she addressed Rainbow. “You know what happens when you mix vinegar and baking soda, right?” “It bubbles over, like those volcanoes we made in kindergarten.” Rainbow responded, rather proudly. “Precisely!” Twilight went on. “Now, when you put a cap on it, what happens?” She answered her own question. “It builds up pressure until either the cap blows off or the container,” Twilight didn’t finish that thought, “well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” “Can he see us?” Fluttershy flew up to the glass window on the tank. Doc shook his head. “I’m afraid not, my winged friend. He can’t hear us either. The glass is mirrored on his side and the containment module is sound proof. It helps Discord feel isolated.” Spike frowned. “That sounds horrible.” “On the contrary,” Doc stepped up to the glass window with everyone else, “he is a bit more forth-coming with his magic when no one else is around. It helps with getting him to let off pressure as it were. Come take a look, his powers are quite fascinating.” “Oh, my.” Fluttershy stared off into the distance across rolling hills of checkered grass. Trees appeared to be growing in curls and other perplexing shapes. Pink clouds filled rivers with thick brown rain. A windmill spun around in a circle while its propeller remained stationary. “It’s bigger on the inside.” Upon Seeing Discord floating in the center of it all, listening to music on his tape recorder, Fluttershy smiled. Twilight pressed her nose up against the glass. “It is bigger on the inside. But, that’s impossible. That’s along the lines of transdimensional physics, which is pure theory!” Doc hummed as he nodded his head. “Yet, here it is. I had hoped that, one day, Discord might be able to create such a space for me in a stabilized form. For a pet project of mine, but I’m rambling.” He reached for an intercom pad and held the button down. “Discord, your friends and mother are here.” Discord’s eyes popped open as a look of worry swept across his face. He snapped with his paw, and everything around him reverted back into a plain white room with a cot that hung from the wall by two chains. Discord pulled a newer looking collar from under the pillow on the cot. The chrome collar was a little bit larger than the old one and far less discreet. Doc released the intercom button. “I made some adjustments for the collar. It’s more properly insulated and can withstand stress from Discord’s magic better.” Fluttershy didn’t like it. “Why did everything disappear like that?” Redheart gave a heavy sigh. “He’s not super comfortable showing his magic to other people.” Once Discord had his new collar on, he held down the intercom button on his side. “Okay. I’m clear.” Doc nodded as he moved over to a control panel and forced down a heavy switch. A hiss came from the tank as the side door depressurized and opened up. Discord carefully made his way out, tugging a bit at the collar. “Hey everyone. Mom.” He met Redheart with a hug that lasted as long as she held onto him. “Hey Discord.” Spike held up the stack of Flash Magnus comics. “I figured you’d get bored, being all cooped up in here, so I brought you these.” Rainbow reached into a saddle bag she brought. “We put together some tapes for you as well. Spike said you liked older stuff, so I found some of the better stuff that I thought you ought to know.” “Thank you, guys.” Discord’s eyes began to well up, but no tears came out. “I can’t wait to get out of here.” Doc flipped through the pages a realty catalog that was propped up on a metal cart. “That time would come sooner rather than later if I can find a reasonable house that's suitable for my needs. Let’s see here. Ah ha! This one is only a block or two away from your residency. Ooh! And, it’s right next to power lines. I’ll have to talk to the city about tying directly in. I’m sure my uppers will sort that out for me.” He marked the page and closed the catalogue. “Wherever I end up, I’ll set up the Faraneigh magic containment tank so you can pop on by, once a week, to stretch your powers out in a safe environment.” “Wait!” Rainbow interjected. “How is it that you can afford all this?” Doc waved his hoof through the air. “Military contracts and the likes. There is a downside, however.” “Such as?” Andee stepped into the conversation. “Results.” Doc gagged on the word as he wiped his tongue with the sleeve of his lab coat. “While they appreciate my efforts to repurpose military developed technologies for civilian use, they still expect success as it were. Science is not always what you expect, and failure is just as revealing if not more than revealing as success.” Seeing that the group was talking off in the corner, and Twilight was answering all of Spike’s questions about the lab, Fluttershy stepped to the side with Discord who had begun looking through the tapes. “Are you okay?” Discord smiled at Fluttershy. “I’m better now that I can see my friends.” “So, we’re friends?” Fluttershy asked. Discord shrugged. “You don’t think we’re friends?” “I don’t mean it like that. I was just wondering-.” Fluttershy went quiet for a bit, thinking. “We’re friends. I’m just not sure if I know you that well.” Discord nodded. “I understand.” Fluttershy eyed the tank. “Why do you hide your magic from others?” Discord tried to respond, but he found that his words were catching in his throat. “I don’t- uh-.” He didn’t finish that thought. Giving up, he resorted to a simple shrug. “You don’t want to hurt others. Is that it?” Fluttershy inched closer and rubbed Discord’s arm. Discord stopped fiddling with the tape he was holding. “I think you know more about me than you give yourself credit for.” He tensed up at the sensation of Fluttershy rubbing his arm. It hurt to see nothing but sincerity in her eyes. “Nobody understands. No matter what I do to fit in, it never works. I hate this stupid collar. And, I wish I wasn’t different. I just want to fade into the background so the world will leave me alone. I wish I never had these stupid powers. Sometimes,” he faltered only for a split second, “I wish I was never born.” “No.” Fluttershy practically death gripped Discord’s arm. “Don’t talk like that.” She couldn’t mask the frown growing on her face. “You don’t have to be like everyone else. If you do that, you won’t be you. You’ll be just like everyone else. Discord, I wish you could understand. I wish you could understand how amazing your gifts are. And, I don’t believe there could be another person that’s strong enough or brave enough to live with the powers you have.” “I’m not brave.” Discord shook his head. “I’m afraid of everything. I’m afraid of losing control. I’m afraid of hurting others and being turned to-.” “To stone?” Fluttershy asked. Discord nodded, avoiding Fluttershy’s eyes as he held back the memory of his latest episode. "I know what it's like to be afraid of everything." Fluttershy backed off a little. “Are you afraid of me?” “No.” Discord interjected, a little loudly. “I just don’t know you all that well.” Finally, he smiled. Fluttershy smiled back. “You know, you’re magic is pretty amazing.” “Really?” Discord crossed his arms. “So, this doesn’t freak you out?” He snapped his claws and his head began to spin in circles as he made goofy noises. Fluttershy giggled at the display. “No. It’s really silly, though.” “Silly?” Discord held up one of the tapes. “You want silly?” Snapping again, he inserted his now spinning claw into the tape as he rested one of his paw’s digits on the exposed part of the reel. Nothing happened. “Hm.” But as he opened his mouth, the music poured out, “All around the,” he shut his mouth as Fluttershy began to laugh. Discord opened his mouth again, “Rock and roll is all they-.” Fluttershy pushed his mouth shut and let it fall open again to release the music, laughing every time. “How do you come up with that?” Discord eventually put the tape down. “Definitely not my joke. I’m sure some exterior forces from another universe are about ready to smite me with the power of,” he gave an over the top gasp, “copyright infringement!” Fluttershy’s laughter calmed, but her smile had been cemented into place. “There you are.” “What?” Discord asked. “There you are.” Fluttershy repeated. “There’s the real you.” Discord cocked his brow. “How do you know this is the real me?” Fluttershy looked through the tapes Discord was looking through. “Because, you’re happy.” Discord wasn’t exactly smiling wholeheartedly, but somehow she knew. “Here.” She picked up a cream colored tape with a white label that had been written on in pink. “Rainbow Dash and Spike helped me make this one for you.” Discord looked the tape over and smiled. “Thank you.” Fluttershy brushed Discord’s arm. “I know I can’t actually do magic, but if it means anything, I promise I’ll never turn you into stone.” “It means something.” Discord ejected the tape he was listening to earlier and put in Flutter’s tape for later. “Are you afraid of me?” Fluttershy tilted her head as she watched Discord in an odd manner. “No, not that I’ve seen you now.” ***** Fluttershy smiled out the window of Andee’s autocar. The world seemed brighter. “Miss Redheart? Does Discord like animals?” Redheart hummed from the passenger seat. “I don’t know, to be honest. We still have that pig that needs a home, but I don’t really know. Why?” “Just thinking of a trip we could make to the animal shelter.” Fluttershy explained. Redheart hummed again. “It could be good for him if you guys did something like that with him.” Rainbow leaned in to whisper to Fluttershy, “Or just you and him.” Andee grumbled as a beeping sound went off while he tried to focus on the street. “I’m sorry Redheart, could you find that for me?” Redheart picked up a pager from a cup holder. “Here you go.” Andee looked at the pager the moment he came to a full stop. He shook his head. “Who is it?” Redheart asked. The pager went off again. “Donna.” Andee slid the battery cover off and popped out the battery before dropping the pager back into the cupholder. Redheart glanced back and forth between Spike and Andee. “Everything okay?” “Yes.” Andee spat out. “Everything is fine.” He looked in the rearview mirror at Spike and sighed. “It’s gonna be alright.” “Woah.” Rainbow whistled to herself. “Not awkward at all.” Twilight coughed a little, and gradually fell into a fit of laughter that became hysterical. Spike and Andee followed suit, more so laughing at Twilight’s suffocating laugh. Redheart covered her face as she cracked as well. Rainbow and Spike laughed at each other when each of them snorted and wheezed. Andee clumsily searched for the controls to the autocar’s radio. Redheart helped him, ordering the dragon to keep his eyes on the road and not crash. The laughter faded under the music that filled the autocar. Fluttershy continued to smile out the window as she thought of the day. She was tempted to sing along with the lyrics but held back, nervous of everyone’s attention. There was one time she felt brave enough to sing in front of others. Thinking of that moment, Fluttershy whispered to herself, “I wish you could be here to see this.”