Note: Felt like giving you guys another chapter ealier than usual. so here's one about Discord.
This happens two days after the former chapter and made after the episode "Keep Calm and Flutter On"
A small problem at Sweet Apple Acres had arrived, a beaver and its family happened to decide they wanted to build a dam in the orchard and thus flood a large section of the apple trees. Something Applejack is not happy about and got into a fight with the beavers in an attempt to make them leave and allow her to break down the dam but when that didn't go anywhere. Darn vermins refused to let her near the dam without the threat of them sinking their teeth into her legs, so she decided to ask Fluttershy to help her out. Heading to the cottage, Applejack forgets about her own problem for a moment when she finds Fluttershy having a staredown with Soldier's girlfriend and Engineer standing beside them; looking unsure how to solve this.
Now more hesitant since she knows that only a few things can make Fluttershy do the Stare. One of them is somepony has been stupid enough to harm her animals and from the looks of it: that's exactly what Zhanna did. Fluttershy's pet bear has a hoof print on its back and whimpering cowers behind the yellow pegasus. She approaches this tense scene between pegasus and earth pony, asks Engineer wary. "What in tarnation is going on?" First there she notices Engineer's son standing fearfully behind his father.
"Zhanna attacked Fluttershy's bear as she's used of doing that in her former home." Engineer replies back softly, glancing to the two trying to make the other bow down to the others will. "Understandable Fluttershy got angry and until recently been arguing with Zhanna that hurting eh... Harry, is not okay."
Applejack nods and figures that Zhanna did not understand why it's not okay if she has been used to fight bears before coming here.
She watches the two's staredown, not daring to get in between and much to her relief, Zhanna is the first to break the stare and the bigger earth pony leaves with: "Zhanna will not hunt small pony's bear." Good to know that kind Fluttershy is the one with the most powerful Stare, would've been terrifying if Zhanna could stare everypony down to submission.
Fluttershy stares after her partner's sister for a few seconds, then collapses into a state of disbelief and panic. "That was the most intense argument in my entire life! Never have I met somepony else with the Stare! I wanted so much to run away!" She cries with hooves over her head from that staredown with Zhanna.
Harry growls softly and Fluttershy turns to him, reminded why she kept her ground. "I know, she would've hurt you further Harry." She pets the bear. "But…" Fluttershy trembles in fear. "Zhanna is a scary pony…"
Applejack sympathizes with Fluttershy, Zhanna is quite the intimidating pony but she has a HUGE problem: her tress are drowning! "Fluttershy." Applejack gets the pegasus's attention, she trots past Engineer. "I have a problem with a beaver, darn vermin is flooding half of the apple orchards!" The last Applejack almost yells out in her frustrating, forgetting that Fluttershy has just survived a confrontation with Soldier's girlfriend who happens to be Heavy's younger sister.
"Oh my." Fluttershy gasps quietly, she does not like Applejack calls the beavers vermin but she can sort of see why her friend got angry at them. "Do you want me to speak with them?" She asks and Applejack nods. Fluttershy turns to Engineer's son who has understandable sought cover behind his father when Zhanna attacked Harry and ruined the moment she had with this very sweet colt. "I'm sorry but my friend needs my help. Maybe some other time I can teach you about bears?" She suggests as she wouldn't mind teach Sungust more about animals. Other than Dr. Fauna, no other pony has been able to keep up with her when she first gets started on talking about animals.
The colt, still in shock from the whole confrontation between her and Zhanna nods slowly. Does shake the shocked stupor off when his father puts a talon on his back. He swallows then speaks with a trembling voice. "C-Can I v-visit you a-again?" Fluttershy nods he indeed can and eyes Engineer there nods in agreement that Sungust can come on a visit again, the father then turns and with: "See you later" The two leaves, Sungust gives a small wave. "Bye." Letting her have her full attention to Applejack's problem.
**The apple orchard**
Fluttershy works as a mediator for Applejack and the father beaver named Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth, she politely tries to convince the huffy beaver that he can't have his dam here. It takes a while but the father beaver finally agrees, with only a single and a rather easy condition.
Not that Applejack understands a word what the beaver is saying, all she hears is that annoying chitter. "What's he going on about now?" She demands. Fluttershy turns and smiling explains what the beaver have said "Good news. Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth has agreed to take his dam apart and move it."
That is about time and Applejack exclaims, eyeing her poor apple trees being underwater and that will sooner or later kill them as apple trees are not made to get this much water all the time! "My apple trees are so waterlogged, I can practically hear them gargle!" The beaver starts complaining, at least that what Applejack think this vermin is doing. Fluttershy translates for her. "But he says first you'll have to apologize for calling him "a nuisance"." Something Applejack finds stupid and exclaims annoyed at this beaver. "He's lucky I didn't call him a vermin!" and the beaver response equally angry, and she might have kicked it and probably got bitten if not Fluttershy flew in between, keeping both from going at each others throat. Fluttershy did gasp at what the angry chittering beaver was saying. "Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth! Such language!" and shoots Applejack a glare as if it was her fault the beaver used such language. Applejack realizes that unless she gives in, this area will stay flooded. "Fine, fine." She sighs and says as genuine she can. "I apologize." The beaver's rude behavior didn't change though as it blows a raspberry at her and Applejack is this close to kick the darn thing! Fluttershy stops her from making that thought reality though, which might be for the best as the beaver does break down its dam and allow the water to leave the orchard. Letting out a sigh of relief that this is over, Applejack thanks the pony that helped her resolve this. "Don't know what I would've done without you, Fluttershy."
"Glad I could help." Fluttershy replies and about this moment, Rainbow Dash appears beside them, shouting. "Hey, slackers! Double time it on over to Ponyville, would ya?! We're all waiting on you!" and she speeds off again. Fluttershy exchanges a brief look of confusion with Applejack before both rushes to Ponyville to see what all the trouble is about. This trouble proves to be Princess Celestia who has brought the statue of Discord and reveals much to Fluttershy's great surprise that she is the pony the princess thinks can reform the Spirit of Disharmony.
"I realize that this is a tall order." Celestia says to her in the princess's way of admitting this is a lot to ask one timid pony. "But I wouldn't have asked if I weren't confident you could get him to use magic obediently of his own free will." Fluttershy eyes the statue of Discord, the creature that turned Ponyville into the capital of chaos and also turned her and the rest into their worst self. How can somepony like her reform a chaotic being like him? "You really think I'll know best how to do that?" She asks the princess doubtful she is the best for this job. Princess Celestia gently lifts her chin so their eyes meet. "I do." The princess says so genuinely that Fluttershy feels confident she can do this task.
Celestia really wishes she could stay and aid Twilight and her friends, but she has to welcome Queen Novo in order to show she and Luna are serious in their wish to form an alliance with the surrounding countries. "I must return to Canterlot for a royal summit." Celestia flies over to her caret and is confident Fluttershy will do her best in reforming Discord and that the Spirit of Disharmony won't cause much trouble now she has cast a spell that keeps him from snatching the Elements of Harmony again. It is a good thing he has lost most of his powers, otherwise, her spell might not have worked. "You may release Discord when ready." She tells the bearers of the Elements and the pegasi guards takes her back to Canterlot.
Twilight Sparkle doubts releasing Discord is a good idea and although she has lost a bit of faith in her teacher choice about her being a worthy princess, she does still respect Celestia enough to do this task. Letting out a sigh, Twilight eyes the statue but is not ready to release him just yet. At least not until those of the bearers that are immune against his mind-bending spell are around. "We should get the others, we might need them for this one." She suggests and moves to find them, does stop when all of her friends speed off as if she gave them a command and not a suggestion. Twilight lets out a small sigh, doing her best to hide the hurt she feels about this change… the change Celestia did…
From the shadows, a Shadow Pony is watching the turned humans and the bearers gather around the statue of Discord. It does not make any move to approach or meddle, simply watching, waiting for one of their creation to be released once again.
Unaware of this unwanted attention, Twilight levitates each necklace to its bearer. "Okay, guess it's time to get started." She eyes the turned humans. "If he starts causing any trouble, you should be able to fight him without the threat being turned into your dark selves." They nod, Soldier does a salute. She then turns to her friends. "Alright, let's do this." and activates the magic to release Discord from his stone prison. The Elements start to light up and send a beam of their color to her crown, with each Element made contact, she fires the rainbow beam at Discord.
The stone cracks and in a matter of seconds, Discord is free once more. He roars in a rather epic way up to the sky, to then break it into a loud yawn and stretching out as if he just woke from a long nap. The mercs are not impressed, Scout the least. "I thought he would be more, well intimidating. Not something Medic could make when too drunk!" Soldier and Engineer chuckles, Spy expression is stoic but he too is quite amused by that remark, does turn into annoyance when this so-called Spirit of Disharmony starts complaining like a spoiled child. "Well, it's about time somepony got me out of that prison block. What a relief!" He snaps his lion paw and a nearby squirrel gets turned into a huge and very grumpy looking one, reminding Scout of Heavy if someone was stupid enough to steal his lunch.
The ponies minus Zecora gasp at the sight and Twilight demands Discord angrily. "What do you think you are doing?!" and Discord response as if he has no idea what he has just done. "Why, stretching, of course." He replies and continue doing his exaggerated stretching out. "When you're a creature of chaos, stone bodysuits aren't your typical go-to fashion choice." And again his snaps his finger, this time the bird side and a rabbit turns into a Mr. Hyde.
"Make that bunny cute again! Now!" Pinkie Pie demands Discord but he only laughs and pets the brutish looking rabbit. "He's adorable the way he is." The rabbit chomps after him and Discord moves away, blowing a raspberry at his creation. Discord turns back to the bearers of Harmony, remarking. "You know what else is adorable? You ponies truly believe that you can reform me." He moves over to Fluttershy, on purpose making her feel really uncomfortable by staring at her with a magnifying glass as if she's some interesting species. "And that you're putting your faith in this one here to make it happen." He teleports beside her, now dressed as a old grandmother. "Makes me wanna pinch your little horsey cheeks..." Which he does but a green pegasus stallion forces him away from Fluttershy by tackling into him and puts himself between the two. "Get your jigsaw body off the pony! We didn't permit you to make contact!" The stallion tells him in a commanding tone. Discord notices a silver necklace around the stallion's neck and feels a bit annoyed of what color it is. "Oh why do all bearers of Courage have to be so boring?" He complains and might not be able to turn this one away from his element but it does not stop Discord from teasing this second Courage bearer. "Did Celestia chose one of her soldiers?" He drums on the helmet. "The last bearer was a soldier too." and swiftly teleports away from the now ticked off stallion. Making the bearer grab empty air instead.
Discord appears again, this time lying on the hippogriff, asking this other wielder of the silver necklaces. "How did you return back to Equestria? Shouldn't you all be back in your own world? Doing whatever you do over there."
Engineer jumps startled and for a moment do consider bucking this Discord off but after have seen the whole teleportation gimmick, he doubts that will help. So instead he simply replies the creature chilling on his back. "You sounds like you didn't expect to see us again, even though we have never met." The spirit of Disharmony teleports away and startles Engineer once again when he appears right beside and pulls him into the weirdest
one-arm hug ever.
"Where are my manners? Names Discord, the Spirit of Disharmony and Chaos, and you are?"
"Uhh... call me Engineer." He replies unsure about this whole situation. Is relived when Discord finally lets go of him and instead turns to Spy with the cold remark: "Hello again Spy, thought you were out on some grand mission, leaving behind your poor family." The last Discord says in a heartbroken manner to the not one bit amused Zecora who frowns quietly at him.
"How'd you know about that?!" Twilight Sparkle demands and Discord bends over to her, meeting her eyes with his upside-down head. "Being turned to stone doesn't make me deaf, and being their proudest creation, the Shadow Ponies have kept me updated on the current situation." And to everyone's shock, he points to a cluster of trees. "The news of you trying to reform me has really caught their attention." In the shadows stands a Shadow Pony, watching them with its glowing white eyes. It does disappear when Soldier charges at it but Discord points that it has only changed location, now it is standing on a roof.
"Oh don't worry, they are not planning on attacking." Discord assures Twilight and waves up to the watching Shadow Pony before turning back to her. "Although I admit it makes me roll my eyes they even allow this."
This is the reason why she thinks this is a bad idea!
Discord is created by the Shadow Ponies, his loyalty belongs solely to them and she doubts the Shadow Ponies will allow Discord to join their side. "Well, maybe we should spare ourselves the hassle and just turn you back to stone!" Twilight Sparkle snaps back.
Discord snicker, for he knows that even though Twilight Sparkle has sort of lost faith in Celestia thanks to her latest choice— wasn't really much of a choice as Celestia simply did what Harmony requested as he does with Disharmony by playing along to this silly reform thing the bearers has going.
Won't stop him from teasing Twilight about it, though. "Oh, you wouldn't dare turn me back to stone and risk disappointing your precious princess." And clearly, he hit a nerve from how he can sense the alicorn magic around her. He smirks down to her. "Already embracing the powers she gave you, I see." Her eyes wide in shock and in fear of the power giving to her, Twilight Sparkle looks away and the magical aura fades.
Her friends notice and Rainbow Dash flies up to his height. "Try us, Dip-cord!" As if showing her loyalty will prove nothing has changed. Before he can throw any remark back that things have changed, Fluttershy steps forward; speaking with way more anger than he has ever heard her. "You think you can treat poor defenseless animals like that and get away with it?!" He sort of find this shy pony showing teeth incredibly adorable like he had a finger in it. Oh, they grow up so fast. Fluttershy flies right up to his face, thinking she has the upper hoof in this power play. "You'd best watch your step, buster, or I'll give you... the Stare!"
She put this right on the silver platter, he just has to do it. "The Stare? Oh no, please, not that! Anything but your disapproving eyeballs!" He cries in a sarcastically fear before bursting into laughter, he laughs so hard he can barely breathe.
And when she gives him the Stare, he pretends it is really affecting him in a very exaggerated manner. "Stop! I can't take it anymore! I'll do whatever you say! Because..." Until he can't take it anymore and burst out laughing again. Leaning up against the hippogriff still laughing. "You are hilarious!" His laughter do stop when Engineer steps away from him and he drops flat to the ground, getting up; Twilight Sparkle tells him hard. "If it turns out we need to use our elements against you, I'm sure we can convince Princess Celestia it was for a good reason!" He rolls his eyes, and do highly consider just teleporting away and cause trouble somewhere else. But he guesses he can play along, for now at least. "Alright, fine." He snaps his eagle claws and the rabbit and squirrel return back to normal. "Well, it looks like I know where I'll be crashing while I'm being "reformed."" He remarks to Twilight, greatly doubting that will happen as he clearly knows where he belongs on the two sides and it is not the ponies side that's for sure.
He teleports Fluttershy into his arms and messes up her hair, grinning. "With you Fluttershy, it's going to be so much fun." For him at least.
And it's about there Fluttershy doubts she can live up to the task princess Celestia gave her.
**At Fluttershy's cottage**
"He may be horrible, but that doesn't mean we have to act the same way." Fluttershy explains to her friends while doing her best to clean up her room. "We should at least try to be hospitable." Most of the others do not look convinced. Oh, that reminds her that Discord needs a place to sleep while being here and the only place he can get is Angel's favorite spot. So turning to her headstrong bunny. "You don't mind giving up your favorite spot on the couch, do you, Angel Bunny?" He does and Angel rushes over to the couch and tries to get the chilling Discord to leave but has to give up and grumpily leave.
Fluttershy does feel a bit sorry for Angel but is sure he can handle it. She flies over to Discord, asking nervously. "Oh, I'm sorry about Angel. Are you alright?"
Discord, barely have noticed the rabbit gives the owner of that rodent a sweet fake smile. "Oh, yes. Thank you, Fluttershy, for your concern. If only your friends could be as considerate..." He gestures to the others watching him with great hostility in their eyes. Rainbow Dash, as always the one who blows up first. "Don't listen to him, Fluttershy! He's just trying to drive a wedge between us like he always does." And to his pleasured surprise, the soldier stallion proves to be amusing when he shouts out: "Then we will make Engineer remove the wedge and glue it together!" He begins to stomp around as if to find said glue and several of the others stare after him while wondering if they should tell him it was only a metaphor. Discord chuckles and must say: "I think I am going to like that one."
"Great then you wouldn't mind being his new roommate? He's used to dealing with crazy crap from his former roommate." Scout remarks and is not sure if he would like if the two become friends or Soldier would piss Discord off as well. Would at least give them a reason to turn him back into stone. Soldier trots over to him when hearing this. "I'm still roommate to Merasmus! And I do not share the house with one of Medic's experiments!"
Hearing that name again catches Discord attention, he teleports up beside Soldier. "Uhhh, you know old Merasmus?" He asks excitedly. "How is he doing? Last time I saw him, he, Celestia and Luna turned me into stone. Is he still limping? Quite proud of that Ursa Major trap." And he gets kicked right in the face by this stallion. "I didn't permit you to touch me!" Fluttershy flies down and stops Soldier from hitting him again, not that it matters much to Discord. He blows his finger, the hoof mark on his face disappears, and he teleports back to the couch. The rabbit has to leap away before he landed on it.
Rainbow Dash shoots him a glare. "Whatever you are thinking, we won't let you turn Fluttershy against us!" and he replies as if he has no idea while in reality that is sort of his plan. "Now why in the world would I ever try to do a thing like that?"
"So we won't be able to use the Elements of Harmony against you." Spike remarks from his spot behind Twilight, he's still afraid of Discord and would prefer they just turned him into stone and leave him deep inside Everfree forest or something.
"I never thought of that..." Discord muses.
Rainbow Dash do not believe him for a second. "You big liar!"
And Discord replies on that by turning himself small. "Now, look who's a liar. Anyone can plainly see that I'm not big at all." He turns into normal size again and accidentally hits a nearby lamp, it falls and breaks onto the floor. Fluttershy stares at the broken lamp in horror as if it's the worst thing ever, so rolling his eyes, Discord fixes it— into his own style. Now the lamps look like him with a tutu and the light bulb in hand, much better than the former boring form. "There, all better." He notices that the rodent has tried to take the couch again, so he whips it away by the tail and claims the whole couch once again.
This is getting hard to watch, more so when none of them are able to do anything about it. "It is hard to watch so I will leave you in peace." Zecora heads out with Spy close behind, adding to the yellow pegasus. "But do call if you need aid for other taming techniques."
Rainbow Dash agrees. "We'll be outside." and along with the rest, head outside.
Twilight Sparkle does stop halfway and asks Fluttershy worried. "You sure you're okay with this?" Adding quietly. "I'm asking as a friend."
Fluttershy lowers her head in embarrassment that she, like the other of the friend group do at times has trouble seeing their friend behind the crown Celestia has given her. Letting out a sigh, she replies Twilight. "I know it's not gonna be easy, but Princess Celestia's counting on me. And..." She muses and does gain a bit more confidence in her voice of the idea she has to solve this problem. "I think I actually know what to do."
"You do?" Twilight asks surprised but in a good way. And Fluttershy explains her plan. "I think the key is to befriend him. Being kind to him and letting him be my house guest is probably the best way to do that." She hears her friends words but does somehow doubt it is a good idea for she is currently watching Discord torment Angel Bunny by keeping the couch away from the bunny. But ignoring that scene, she asks her friend. "And you really think that'll work?"
"I think it's worth a try." Fluttershy replies.
Twilight will respect her friend choice and allow her to try this plan of hers out. "Okay, but if you need us, all you need to do is whisper "help", and we'll be back here with our elements." To then turn her attention and voice to Discord. "So watch that goat-legged step of yours, pal!" and Discord has the gall to summon a pair of fancy chairs, pretending to have a tea party with the very bunny he tormented seconds ago. "Look at me! I've practically reformed already." He exclaims, Twilight shoots him a glare and after have to give Fluttershy a look she worries about her, she leaves.
**Golden Oak Library**
Twilight Sparkle has gathered the others so they can discuss what to do if Fluttershy's plan doesn't work out. She has an idea on how to reform Discord and suggest a spell that can do just that.
"Hold up, how do you mean by 'reforming spell'?" Scout asks as he does not like the sound of that. "Do you mean 'poof' and he agrees with our point of views?" For that sounds very much like how the Sirens turned their personalities on their heads.
Now he said it like that, it does sound pretty bad. "Never thought of it like that…" Twilight admits. "But now that I really think about it, this reforming spell is no better than when Discord turns ponies into their worst self."
"But we are doing this to turn him good." Rainbow Dash objects, not fully able to see why doing this is such a bad thing.
Spy sure can. "So in your words, as long the one has good intention, it is alright to turn someone into someone they are not?"
"Sounds a lot like brainwashing." Applejack muses and can see why the turned humans have such an issue with it. According to Twilight, several of them got turned into their darker self by the beings called the Sirens. And thinking about it, it also sounds very much like what Discord did to them and if they did the same thing to him. Wouldn't that make them the bad guy? "We shouldn't do that spell. It will make us just as bad as Discord." She tells Twilight.
Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes. "Fine..." Although she thinks doing this spell would've saved them all the hassle but she guesses she can see their point.
With the 'reforming' spell not an option, they have to figure out something else if Fluttershy's attempt to tame Discord by befriending him does not work. Pinkie Pie is the one who came with another solution. "Why don't we do the same your brother did in the Crystal Empire? He was able to harm the Shadow Ponies with his Element." She walks over to Scout, taps his silver necklace and it lights up.
Twilight has almost forgotten about that ability! "That's it!" She eyes the mercs. "You will be able to keep Discord in check and make sure he does not do anything stupid. If he shows signs he is a lost cause then we will have to turn him to stone again."
Letting go of his itching wing; Scout replies Twilight. "Sounds better than the reforming spell" He did notice the quick scratching pulled out a few feathers but he's busier on how uncomfortable he feels just thinking about how his mind was chained from the songs of the Sirens.
After a bit discussing, the mercs agree on checking up on Fluttershy in shifts, starting with Scout.
Pinkie Pie decides to go with him and the two return back to Fluttershy's cottage, where the pink pony explains the plan they came up with. "And that's how we are going to help you out!" Pinkie Pie finishes.
Scout's nods and offers Angel Bunny a carrot he brought on the way, taking notice the rabbit do look quite stressed. "Discord giving you trouble slugger?" He asks the rabbit there jumps up and down, squeaking angrily. The rabbit then jumps onto his back, glaring at Discord who is chilling on the couch. Scout knows from back when he was roommate to Fluttershy that the couch is Angel's favorite spot. "Oh so the big mean— whatever he is— taken your favorite spot?" Scout asks Angel.
Discord opens his eyes, annoyed by the one going by the name Scout is mocking his appearance. "Fluttershy said it was alright, isn't that right dear?" Before the pegasus could reply though, this Scout is quick to retaliate. "All her guests get the couch but at least I know how to share, isn't that right Angel?" The weird looking pegasus eyes the rabbit with a grin. "You like me better than big old meanie Discord." The rabbit glomps his neck while glaring at Discord. The draconequus snorts, it's not like it bother him that a rodent likes someone better than him. "Oh, why don't you take Angel and saves me the trouble." He points out annoyed and grabs another piece of paper to eat, does spit it out when Scout does just that in such a cheerful manner.
"Mind if I take care of slugger here? He seems like he could need a quieter place and saves you from worrying too much."
Fluttershy only has to think about it for a moment as she has taken notice that Angel and Discord do not get along and she knows Angel likes Scout. "Alright." She fetches the food for Angel and is curious where Scout is living now. "Where do you live now? You're not sleeping outside are you?" Scout laughs shakes his head. "Nah, I got my own place now; near Everfree forest, and even if I didn't have a place, it's not like you could offer me the couch since your new roommate is determent to keep that all for himself." She can't help but giggle from how he said it, more so when it is true. She does notices that Discord does not look happy about it so she quickly stops laughing as she is trying to make him feel welcome. "Now there Scout, don't insult my houseguest."
"Oh surely the biggest prankster in the world can handle some teasing." Scout grins to Pinkie Pie who starts jumping up and down, saying excitedly. "We should invite him to a small game of pranking – oh oh, maybe this time he—"
Fluttershy quickly stops Pinkie before she gives Discord some bad ideas. "What about we wait doing this?" She asks Pinkie Pie with a weak smile and hoping the pink pony got the hint. Fortunately, Scout did as he says. "Don't give the bad guy any ideas, got it."
Pinkie Pie nods and after have removed Fluttershy's hoof, she suggests. "We can help you buy some more food, doubt Twilight will appreciate Discord eating all the papers around town." Fluttershy do admit it is weird seeing Discord snacking on paper but maybe that's just him being himself, still, she does appreciate the offer. "Sure, we could also put Angel at Scout's house in the meantime." and turns to Discord. "I'll be gone for a while, so you just make yourself at home while I am gone." She did not see the mischievous grin on his face, her full attention is on her going out shopping with her two friends.
Scout did sense the emotions coming from the draconequus and that was one of the reasons why he suggested taking care of Angel, no one, not even a spoiled rabbit deserves getting tormented by an all-powerful creature with no sense of moral. And he is pretty sure Angel is relieved to be out from the cottage as well.
After have put Angel off in his small apartment, Scout and Pinkie help Fluttershy with the groceries shopping.
In Sugar Cupe Corner, while Pinkie Pie prepares a cake for Fluttershy, Scout is wolfing down some muffins he brought. It did cut off the edge of his raving hunger, but it's pretty sure he has to buy something else soon. He does wonder why he's so hungry all the time, is he running low on love? Who knows, but that he can worry about later and buy another muffin to eat as the two girls leave.
When done with the shopping they carry back the goods but all stop startled when they find the cottage up in the air and spinning around. "Maybe you shouldn't have said he should make himself at home…" Pinkie Pie remarks to Fluttershy and the pegasus replies hesitantly. "Maybe… but I think giving him space to be himself will help a lot on reforming him."
But Scout knows better, he is, after all, one who has grown up with a bunch of brothers and all of them tested their mother's boundaries. "Uh no." He tells Fluttershy and points up to the spinning cottage. "You can't let him do whatever he pleases! Do you think my mother let me and my brothers do whatever the hell we wanted? No! She gave us boundaries and if we broke them we got a solid smacking for it!"
"But… I'm not his mother..." Fluttershy retorts weakly, winching slightly away when Pinkie Pie tells her hard. "But friends shouldn't treat each other like this either! I never pull pranks on you because I know you don't like them." Well, she can sort of see the point in that. "But…"
"You can't let him push you around, Fluttershy." Scout tells her and takes flight. "Let's go, I will help you tell him this is not okay." Fluttershy eyes Pinkie Pie who nods encouraging to her. After a moment of hesitating, Fluttershy follows Scout up to the spinning cottage. Inside they find Discord, still chilling on the couch while everything else gets thrown around the spinning cottage and when spotting Fluttershy, he asks. "Are you sure this isn't overdoing it?" But in such a tone and gives Scout the emotions that he is not afraid of retribution of his actions. "You said to make myself at home while you were gone, but I wouldn't want to overstep my bounds."
Scout turns to Fluttershy, sensing she is about to allow him but a look from him; she is reminded that he cannot play her around like this.
Scout and Pinkie Pie are right, if Discord has to be her friend, he has to know that some things she does not appreciate. "You are overdoing it." She tells him as hard she can from how fearful and nervous she feels at the moment. Discord opens his eyes surprised. "Oh? So you don't want me to be myself and help me to reform?" He asks in a tone that makes her feel she cannot do this job. Fluttershy is very close to giving in, so she is very thankful Scout is there with her.
Oh, cheap shot! "Hey! The reforming thing is up to you, not her!" Scout snaps back, baring his canine teeth at this jerk manipulator, something that reminds the BLU side of him on how his dad was during the War Games and that still leaves a bad taste in his mouth. "Her job is simply to help you out to decide if you want to be on our side or not. So put down her house this moment or you going to have a problem with me!"
Discord laughs, not at all feeling treated by him. "You are going to pick a fight with me? You're funny, for really:" Discord stretches his head out so his face is only inches from Scout's. "What can a misformed pegasus like you do to the embodiment of chaos?" That does it! Scout pulls out his bat and swings it right at Discord's face. the draconequus head gets thrown back to the couch where he stares shocked at Scout's bat which has the aura of the Element of Laughter.
Scout swings the bat over his shoulders, smirking amused at the dumbfounded expression on Discord's face. "Yeah, I'm kinda of a big deal. So unless you want your head turned into a pancake, do what Fluttershy tells you."
Caressing his jaw from the hit he took. "Fine." Discord grumbles and puts the cottage back onto its rightful place.
Not the way she would've done it but it got Discord's attention and now taking this whole reforming thing a bit more serious. Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy tells her new roommate his first boundary. "I don't mind you doing a bit of chaos in my home. But you can't throw it around like this."
Well, this is starting to get annoying but he comply on Fluttershy's request as this Scout looks more than ready to hit him over the face again. It leaves Discord very grumpy as it seems he cannot do whatever he wants as long Fluttershy has those with silver necklaces around.