Twilight Sparkle and Rarity board the train leaving Canterlot; the two are silent due to Spike's decision yesterday and how Princess Celestia and Luna weren't bothered by his stunning determination to remain Dragon Lord than to relinquish his title to Princess Ember.
Meanwhile, in Ponyville, Fluttershy is trotting to Sugarcube Corner to greet Pinkie Pie and have her gather their friends swiftly for a Friendship Meeting; she hopes that Pinkie Pie doesn't think twice until Applejack and Rainbow Dash are inside the Castle of Friendship. When she entered the store, Pinkie Pie lunged at Fluttershy, causing her to shriek loudly. Pinkie hugs her tenderly and lovingly; she stops when she sees Fluttershy instead of Rainbow Dash.
"Sorry, Fluttershy," Pinkie giggles at her blunder and helps her up. "I thought you were Rainbow Dash; You see; we're doing pranks on each other at unexpecting moments!"
"Oh.., say, Pinkie. Can I ask you a favor?" Fluttershy asks quietly and yet confidently.
"Okie-dokie-loki," Pinkie summons a tray of cupcakes out of nowhere and gorges them in one bite. "Want one?" Pinkie offers a golden yellow cupcake with light pink frosting and sprinkles.
Fluttershy smiles at her friend's kind gesture and softly declines the offer; she takes a deep breath before speaking. "Mind grabbing Applejack and Rainbow Dash; I need you three at the Castle of Friendship for a consequential meeting."
Pinkie gasps excitedly. "Wow! A forum of importance without Twilight and Rarity?! Are you going to announce your love interest with Discord? Are you considering about planning a surprise, chaotic birthday party?!" Pinkie gasps. "Holy Moly! I don't even know Discord's date of birth!" Pinkie gets sidetracked by her anticipated session with her friends regarding Fluttershy and Discord since the two spend quality time together.
"Wait, Pinkie! I didn't explain the-" Fluttershy watches Pinkie darting to Sweet Apple Acres first to retrieve Applejack. "reason." She reddens about the concept of her and Discord as lovers.
Applejack is in the northern orchard of Sweet Apple Acres with Rainbow Dash, Big McIntosh, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo for a crucial assignment; gathering apples to make delicious apple cider three days before cider season. Applejack promises Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo to have their own barrel if they help the family.
"This is awesome! Working with my sister, one of my best friends, and her family!" Scootaloo shouts with glee; also, she'll have a barrel like Rainbow Dash after they complete the job together.
"Remember, after this, we gotta sort the apples, the good from the bad, then we can make the cider, understood, Dash?" Applejack leans down, preparing to race Rainbow Dash like the Running of the Leaves.
"Loud and clear!" Rainbow Dash stretches her wings, preparing to take outrun Applejack to buck many trees filled with apples down into the buckets they placed.
"All your marks, get set-" Applejack inhales deeply. "G-"
"GIRLS!" Pinkie shouts loudly to grab every pony's attention. "And Big Mac," Pinkie Pie knows better to address her cousin since he's not the same gender as the others around him.
"Hay-ah, Pinkie Pie," Applejack turns to greet her friend.
"Hey, Pinkie. No pranking today; I'm helping Applejack with an important chore," Rainbow licks her lips, tasting the soon-to-be apple cider.
"Fluttershy needs us at the Castle of Friendship! It's vital!" Pinkie shouts; she hopes Rainbow and Applejack can drop their activity to hear what Fluttershy needs to say.
"Can it wait, Pinkie? I need to get these apples down for cider season," Applejack replies; Granny Smith always throws a fit whenever the apples don't get collected according to schedule.
Pinkie stomps ahead of Applejack and Rainbow Dash; her eyes are narrow as Pinkie uses her right hoof to dig deep into her mane, pulling out a stash of glowing pink sugar cookies.
"Uh, what are those?" Applejack and Rainbow Dash ask their friend out of curiosity.
"Hyper-Cookies!" Pinkie declares and noms on one; her mane and coat produce an aura of pinkish energy like she's going super. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Big Mac step back to observe in awe and wonder. Pinkie's eyes turn white with lightning roaming around her body. "Hyper-Pinkie!" Pinkie darts with pinkish lightning trails behind her.
In a moment, even Rainbow Dash is envious of Pinkie's fierce speed, Pinkie Pie bucks all the trees, assembles all the apples then divides the good from the bad. Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac become dumbfounded by Pinkie's urgency in ending their labor within a minute. There's a mountain pile for all the bad apples grown while the good apples remain in buckets. Pinkie Pie rockets past the Apple Family to deliver the good apples in front of the barn house, where Big Mac runs to make the apple cider.
Pinkie returns swiftly. "You two, come with me!" Pinkie snatches Applejack and Rainbow Dash before allowing them a chance to respond.
"Daaaah!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash shout when Pinkie grapples them, whisking them away.
"I wonder if Pinkie Pie is a long-lost cousin of Discord instead of our family," Apple Bloom said, dazed at the events displayed by Pinkie's prowess.
"Eeyup," Big Mac concurs with Apple Bloom's statement.
Fluttershy mentally prepared herself to clarify what Discord revealed to her last night, especially about Spike preserving his position as Dragon Lord and Discord becoming the Ambassador for the Dragon Nation; she expected her friends would comprehend Spike's decision to be among his kind and understand the core values of being a Dragon, not a vicious demon like how she characterized them to be.
Pinkie Pie bursts through the castle's doors while holding onto Applejack and Rainbow Dash; the two are silent due to Pinkie's astonishing feat due to sugar cookies. Pinkie slowly puts her friends down and reverts to herself.
"Dash, remind me to bring Pinkie Pie over for cider season," Applejack whispers in Rainbow's ear.
"Duly note," Rainbow whispers in Applejack's ear.
Fluttershy would be impressed by Pinkie's antics; however, spending time with the Draqonecuus changed her perception of unpredictability. She's glad her friends arrived.
"So, Flutters," Rainbow Dash turns to her childhood best friend with curiosity. "What's on your mind?"
"Yea, and where's Twi and Rarity?" Applejack thought those two would be at the castle by now.
"Yea!" Pinkie giggles. "Where's Spike?"
"Oh, you see.., about that..," Fluttershy takes a deep breath. "Spike won the Gauntlet of Fire; he is now the new Dragon Lord."
"WHAAAAAAAT?!" Pinkie Pie grabs the backends of her mane in shock. "WE NEED TO CELEBRATE HIS MONUMENTOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHEN HE ARRIVES!" Pinkie Pie reaches to pull her party cannon at absolutely nowhere.
"What Pinkie said," Applejack concurs with Pinkie's statement.
"WOW!" Rainbow Dash shouts in excitement. "Spike will prevent those monsters from waging war on our lands!"
Fluttershy now understands Discord's standpoint of affirming Dragons as monsters since she and they never met most of them; hearing her best friend calling Dragons monsters feels uncanny and unnerving. She frowns that Rainbow would claim Dragons as heartless creatures hellbent on ravaging territories wherever they go.
"Girls," Fluttershy grabs her friends' attention. "Spike isn't coming home to Ponyville."
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack shout in horror.
"That's nonsense! Why would he stay with those monsters?! They're going to bully him and disregard his title as Dragon Lord, and I should know; Twilight, Rarity, and I stood our ground against these teenage Dragons who wanted to brutalize us for stopping their advances," Rainbow said, reflecting the memories of the Dragon Migration several years ago.
"Dragons are super-duper scary!" Pinkie Pie remembers seeing titanic Dragons flying, breathing fire, and causing damage with their smoke.
"Fluttershy, how did you know all of this? Who told you about Spike winning the Gauntlet of Fire?" Applejack turns to Fluttershy when the girls hear spooky laughter and thunder.
Discord descends from the mini storm clouds and lands on Rarity's comfort couch, eating chocolate mint ice cream. "It was moi," Discord throws his ice cream away. "I told Fluttershy the great news about Spike's progress."
"They're not great, Discord. Spike has chosen to be among monsters instead of coming home," Applejack says; she is considering going with her friends to the Dragon Lands to rescue Spike from creating an awful decision.
"THEY'RE NOT MONSTERS!" Fluttershy shouts, defending the entire Dragon species from harsh accusations. The way Fluttershy angrily expresses herself surprises Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie.
"Fluttershy..," Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie step back from Fluttershy's outburst.
"WHAT?!" Fluttershy snarls at her friends like an animal.
"This is not like you..," Rainbow Dash remembers how Fluttershy reacted about watching the Dragon Migration and her refusals of not going to watch the events.
Applejack turns to Discord, eating his buttered popcorn. "Stop using our friend as your puppet, Discord. It isn't funny!" Applejack assumes Discord of manipulating Fluttershy to voice his justification.
"Sorry, Applejack. What Fluttershy's doing has nothing to do with my Chaos. It seems you've upset her for reasons I know."
Fluttershy huffs and closes her eyes. "Girls, if you truly believe that all Dragons are monsters, that would include Spike, right?" That question jolts her friends tremendously.
"Oh boy..," Rainbow Dash sees her flaw in her statement of accusing Dragons of monsters; she feels guilty for putting Spike in that category.
"Wow. Flutters, that was.., deep..," Applejack feels awful; she should know better than to judge. "I guess if we're calling all Dragons monsters, we are putting Spike among their ranks."
"Girls.., are we.., monsters?" Pinkie asks her friends due to their remarks.
"Well, more like misguided of not knowing most of the Dragons and setting your records straight based on few occurrences," Discord answers Pinkie's question. "Each of you believed that Dragons are ruthless, cruel, heartless, and monstrosities."
"Shucks," Applejack face-hoofs herself in shame. "I can't believe I assumed than getting to know more of Spike's kin."
"Maybe that's why most Dragons hate us; we're giving them a bad name..," Pinkie's mane deflates, for she detests making anyone upset regardless of species.
"I called them lame, especially mocking Spike in a bad comparison," Rainbow Dash reflects more on the insults she spewed, including at Spike when it seems it was all fun for her.
"You don't think he's holding a grudge based on what we did to him that seems harsh now..?" Pinkie Pie asks her friends with nervousness and dread.
"I can guarantee each of you that Dragon Lord Spike wants to improve his nation; there is no ill will in his manner," Discord comments; he finishes eating the chocolate mint ice cream and starts consuming half of the couch. "Ah, nice and crunchy."
The girls sigh in relief; they are joyful that Spike is looking to improve the Dragon Lands and become a better ruler. Starlight Glimmer strolls down the corridors hearing the commotion and listening to Spike's crowning achievement of becoming Dragon Lord.
"So, we won't be seeing our favorite Dragon no more?" Starlight wants to know everything her friend will endure during his reign.
"Well," Discord speaks before any of the girls would come up with suggestions and theories. "Spike will endure training to become the Dragon version of himself since he's a Pony in a Dragon's body. I expect him to bring some of his companions for visitations, to allow both nations to fellowship in peace, get to know each other, and have fun."
"I'm going to miss him in the castle; however, I'm grateful that Spike has found his calling in life than being a prisoner in a castle like the Princesses everyone reads about in Fairy Tales." Starlight smiles, knowing her Dragon friend will do well in his next chapter in life. "I hope to see Spike soon."
"That you will, Starlight. I'm monitoring Spike's progress," Discord replies proudly.
"And why is that, Discord?" Applejack asks; she believes Discord is up to no good when it comes to his chaotic nature.
"Yea? Why are you spying on Spike?" Rainbow demands to know about Discord's antics and motivation.
"Ah, well, you see," Discord holds his chuckles; unfortunately, his lion's paw fingers grow mouths and laugh for him.
"What's funny, Discord?" Applejack doesn't trust Discord; she finds him untrustworthy ever since the Lord Tirek incident.
"Yeah!? Why are you laughing?" Rainbow chimes in; she wants answers from the laughing Draqonecuus.
"My apologies, everyone," Discord opens his chest like opening a safe's door, pulling out a camera to take a snapshot for his album. "You see, I'm preparing to take a snapshot."
"For what exactly?" Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Starlight asks in unison.
"I renounce my citizenship in Equestria because Spike dubbed me Ambassador of Dragons!" Discord prepares to take the snapshot.
"SPIKE DID WHAT?!" Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Starlight shout in shock. Discord took four different snapshots. Applejack's mouth opened wide with her eyes open; Rainbow's eyes were closed with her jaw hanging loose; Pinkie Pie was laughing in shock; Starlight's mouth made an O with her eyes shut.
"Oooohohohooo, these are keepers," Discord puts the photos in his album for safekeeping.
"Why would Spike make a reckless decision like that?" Applejack asks loudly, which offends Discord. It's another sign of some pony not believing in him.
"Applejack, Discord was the first to show support to Spike; you should have more confidence in what your friend decides," Fluttershy says, defending Spike and Discord.
"Not to be rude, but, Discord is the only creature that can get a hold of Spike and has easy access, unlike Celestia and Luna, who are preoccupied with their royal affairs in Canterlot," Starlight adds to Fluttershy's statement after analyzing Spike's possible viewpoint.
"Be glad you won't see me often in Equestria, Applejack," Discord is aware of Applejack's resentment, the honesty after a betrayal. "As I mentioned, I renounced citizenship, indicating that I no longer live here nor oblige to Princess Celestia," Discord starts poking Applejack's chest with his eagle's claw index finger. "Un-like-you," He jabs her three times before Applejack bites Discord's finger off.
Applejack snorts, fixing her gaze on Discord in annoyance.
"So, what happened with Twilight and Rarity?" Starlight asks Discord. She wants to know how they feel about Spike becoming Dragon Lord and him as Ambassador of Dragons.
"They're on their way here. Twilight and Rarity slept over in Canterlot after returning Spike-less. They seem bitter at Spike's decision for longing answers and to be with his kin. You can say possessiveness leads to obsession, and obsessions know no bounds."
The girls are clueless about Discord's statement, except for Fluttershy, since she knows the truth.
"Well, with that said, I must get going. I have some packing to do," Discord is wearing a Hawaiin shirt and sunglasses. There are two suitcases next to him by the door. "Sayonara," Discord waves bye and leaves the Castle of Friendship.
"Alright, Dash. Let's head back to the farm. I'm sure Big Mac needs the extra horsepower for the cider," Applejack leaves the Castle of Friendship.
"Coming," Rainbow Dash soars in the air, flying to the barn house at Sweet Apple Acres.
"I better head back; the Cakes may need me," Pinkie Pie leaves after hugging Starlight and Fluttershy.
"With Twilight and Rarity possibly coming here later, mind staying with me for a while, Fluttershy?" Starlight asks since she doesn't want to be alone in the castle now that Spike is elsewhere in the Dragon Lands.
"Sure, I may need to level down Twilight and Rarity for overthinking their rationale over Spike's decision, especially informing the duo about Discord becoming Ambassador.
Starlight smiles. "Thanks, Fluttershy."
"What are friends for?" Fluttershy smiles at Starlight.