//------------------------------// // Things Are About To Get Real // Story: Little Orphan Apple Bloom // by AlleyCat124 //------------------------------// “Fluttershy?” Discord asked gruffly. “Yes?” she answered sweetly. “You agreed that if I got all those stupid requests done the right way we could spend the day together.” “I did say that.” “So why is the orphan brat with us? OW!!!” He shrieked has he lifted himself out of hooves reach from anymore of Apple Bloom’s punches. “Discord, be nice.” Fluttershy countered, not bothering to look back at the two creatures walking behind her. “She hits me and you’re telling ME to be nice!? OW! KNOCK IT OFF!” “Alright Apple Bloom, he’s had enough. No more hitting.” Fluttershy lightly scolded. “ANYWAY,” Discord emphasized, floating back down to the ground, “why is the brat with us?” “Can you please stop referring to me as “the brat”? Apple Bloom added, putting her own frustration to the mix. Once again ignoring the banter behind her, Fluttershy returned to Discord. “You’re right, you finished your work the right way and I really appreciate it. But we can’t just leave Apple Bloom by herself. And besides, you didn’t actually do your work until I had to sit down in front of you and watch you do it. So, I think this is a good compromise, don’t you?” she looked back at Discord, smiling a not so innocent smile. He couldn’t help but grimace, finding the truth in those words (as much as he really doesn’t want to). He couldn’t help but add a small petty, ‘It wasn’t part of the agreement…’ Fluttershy decided to ignore it for now, turning to Apple Bloom. “What would you like to do today?” she asked. Before she could respond, Discord interrupted. “Ah ah ah. Today is still MY day. You may be coming along but part of the deal I made with Fluttershy was “I” get to decide what to do.” He huffed, crossing his arms, clearly not budging on this. Fluttershy couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at Discords comment. “Wasn’t the deal to spend the day together? It wasn’t agreed that we would only do what YOU would like.” Discord raised his hand in objection, only to drop in. He snapped his fingers and a small static screen appeared in front of them. Taking a remote out of nowhere, he pressed the rewind button; this morning and the previous day going in reverse. After a few seconds he pressed play on a scene with him and Fluttershy face to face, Apple Bloom watching from the corner of the room. While Fluttershy didn’t look fazed by Discord bringing up a recording of their actions, Apple Bloom sure as heck didn’t. “Alright, Flutterbuddy. I’ve decided what I wanted to tomorrow.” “Y-yes?” “Tomorrow I want to spend the whole day together.” Discord couldn’t help but grunt at the screen. He summoned a small basket of tomatoes and started chucking them at the screen, only for the tomatoes to go through the screen and hit the past Discord in the face; past Fluttershy and Apple Bloom looking up in surprise. “Hey! What’s the big idea!? Knock it off!” Past Discord yelled through the screen at present Discord. “Be quiet! I’m only in this position because of you!” Present Discord yelled as he continued to throw tomatoes through the screen. At some point the past Discord ended up summoning his own tomato ammo and started chucking them at present Discord, starting a full on tomato war. Sometime during the exchange, Fluttershy had proceeded to grab the remote that Discord discarded and pressed the power button, making the screen disappear along with past Discord. “I wasn’t done!” Discord pouted. “Yes you are.” Continuing like nothing happened, Fluttershy grabbed a flyer from under her wing and showed it to Discord. “Besides, I already figure out something we could do together!” Fluttershy smiled, face a little shy as she handed the flyer to Discord, hoping he would like the idea. Noticing Fluttershy fidget as she handed him the paper, he took the flyer from her wing and read it over, eyes going wide as he continued to read. “Ogres & Oubliettes LARP-ing at Rainbow Falls?” Discord questions, peaking over the paper at Fluttershy who was fidgeting more under Discords questioning gaze. Apple Bloom came back up to the small group, momentarily put off to the side to avoid any wayward tomatoes. “What’s Ogres & Oubliettes?” Discords eyes get wide again as he looked at Apple Bloom. “You’ve never heard of Ogres & Oubliettes!?” Fluttershy couldn’t help but look at Discord quizzically. “Discord, you only found out about that game only a few moons ago.” “That’s hardly the point, Fluttershy. The point is, I’ve heard of it.” Discord gave factually, turning back to Apple Bloom. “Ogres & Oubliettes is an amazing adventure game where you can be anything and anypony you want and get to kick some squid tentacle butts!” In a snap, he was in a completely different outfit, along with a new hair style. He had a long actively flowing blonde mane and bushier eyebrows; his clothes consisted of a forest green tunic with bows and arrows strapped to his back. Apple Bloom was too surprised by the transformation too even make fun of it. “And apparently they are having a week long Ogres & Oubliettes live action roleplaying being hosted at Rainbow Falls! But-“he stopped his explanation and turned back to Fluttershy. “You’ve never really seemed interested in something like this.” “I’ve never played it before, so I really can’t know if I like it or not. But I also know you love that game, Discord. I thought it would be something fun to do together.” She explained, adding a small smile accompanied by a blush. Discord couldn’t help be giddy inside with the thought that Fluttershy was thinking about him. He smiled in response. “Then let’s be on our way, shall we?” he raised his fingers to snap them there. But Fluttershy stopped him with a hoof on his arm, making Discord stop what he was doing. She turned to Apple Bloom. “Apple Bloom, would this be something you’d be interested in trying. The event is going on for a week, so if you’re not interested and want to do something else, that’s okay. Discord and I can go another time.” She explained gently. She didn’t want Apple Bloom to feel left out. Besides, this was HER Christmas get a way. Apple Bloom should enjoy herself as much as she can. She could feel Discord about to disagree with her, but a gentle squeeze of her hoof on his arm kept him silent. Apple Bloom rubbed her chin in thought. She’s honestly never heard of this game, or even played anything like it. She wasn’t sure if it was something she’d be interested, but the thought of being anything or anypony she wants appealed to her more than anything. “Let’s do it!” She agreed happily. Finally able to get going, Discord didn’t hesitate to snap his fingers, bring them straight into the middle of the event. Apple Bloom looked around in awe at all the stands and tents surrounding them; all selling their own specialty goods; weapons, food, knick knacks, and even an alchemy tent. In the distance she could see ponies and other creatures fighting each other with weapons. At first she was surprised, but when she noticed that they weren’t in any danger, she took another look and realized they were fighting fake enemies with fake weapons. And the most notable thing was everyone was dressed up. She was surrounded by people dressed in different style clothing befitting their own avatars and matched the setting for the game. She couldn’t help but fidget. She was not dressed for the occasion. “It’s not right.” Fluttershy and Apple Bloom looked at Discord, who was eyeing the setting with a critical gaze. “What do you mean, Discord?” Fluttershy asked, confused. “I thought you would be more excited?” “But look at all these ponies! Fake potions!? Fake weapons!? Fake fighting!? None of this is believable!” he exclaimed, deflating a bit in disappointment. Apple Bloom was confused. “Uhm….wuzn’t it all fake the whole time…?” Discord didn’t reply. Instead he perked up, eyes filling with a realization, followed by a mischievous grin. “It doesn’t have to be.” He answers slowly. Hopeful expectant eyes turned to Fluttershy. Nothing but confusion filled Fluttershy’s face, until it slowly sinked in what Discord was asking. “Oh no, Discord. You tried this before and it ended badly. Last time you did this you sent three ponies to the hospital.” She chastised. “C’mon Flutterbuddy! I learned from last time. I promise that this time no pony with get hurt. This way everypony will leave today experiencing the best LARP-ing experience of their lives!” he pouted, getting on his knees in front of Fluttershy. “Please.” Fluttershy couldn’t help but cave at the ‘please’. Discord never says please. Only when it’s something he really, really, REALLY wants. She heaved a sigh. “If anypony gets hurt Discord, I swear to Celestia…” “Don’t worry! I got this.” he bounded up and started cracking his fingers…..literally. Before shaking them to put them back to normal. Apple Bloom was completely lost. “Fluttershy, whutz goin on?” All Fluttershy did was give her a reassuring smile. Despite her warnings to Discord, Apple Bloom could see an excited glint in Fluttershy’s eyes that suggested she was also excited for what Discord was about to do. Fluttershy turned back to Discord. “At least give every pony some warning, please.” He gave her a dead stare. “Well that’s not fun.” Fluttershy gave a dead stare of her own. Sighing in resignation, Discord summoned a blow horn. Coughing a few times to clear his throat, he proceeded to talk into the blow horn. “Every pony and creature at Rainbow Falls, may I please have your attention?” Eveypony turned around at Discords loud voice, waiting for him to finish addressing them and seeing what he wanted. A giddy grin filled his face as he lifted his hand, waiting to snap. “Things are about to get real.” And with a snap of his fingers, they were enveloped in a white light.