//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Options (Edited) 
// Story: Our Chaotic Melancholy 
// by Edensola 
//------------------------------//


CHAPTER 1: OPTIONS


Near the Ponyville schoolhouse, Cheerilee was currently leading her class back inside from a short trip to Sugarcube Corner. She wore a smile on her face as she happily opened the door for her students while they all muttered and continued to talk amongst themselves. Cheerilee chuckled softly before stating "Alright everypony, make sure to take your seats, break's over. We need to continue our lesson on Manehattan history here shortly." She closed her eyes with a slight pause, "After that little trip it should be easier to pay attention."

Rumble groaned as he rolled his eyes entering the schoolhouse as did majority of the other students.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom giggled somewhat before Scootaloo raised a brow at Ms. Cheerilee while they stood in front of her, filled with playful curiosity. "Why do we need to learn about Manehattan anyway Ms. Cheerilee? It's not like we live there or anything."

Cheerilee smirked at Scootaloo before shaking her head. "Ah ah ah, you never know Scootaloo. It's best to educate yourself as much as you can, there's no telling when you'll need information. Perhaps someday you'll visit Manehattan and use it there, you see?"

Scootaloo rolled her eyes with a smug smile as she proceeded to trot into the schoolhouse and Apple Bloom followed.

Cheerilee took a moment to glance around at her surroundings, ensuring no ponies were left behind. She smiled softly to herself at the sight of an empty dirt road, and the beautiful Ponyville scenery surrounding her. She took a moment to admire it all as she looked at certain areas one by one. First she peered over at the Ponyville houses in the distance, listening closely as the birds chirped overhead, and the ambience of voices echoed from the small town. Then she peered at the small area of trees with bushes surrounding them, there was also the small beady head of a draconequus sticking out from one of the bushes staring right at Cheerilee, and the mare simply smiled at it. Then she looked at the rolling hills to the left, before her eyes snapped wide. Cheerilee immediately looked back to the bushes but found there was nothing there. She raised a brow, slightly puzzled as she'd wondered if she were just seeing things. Was she starting to lose her mind?

"Mish Cheerilee, you coming!?" called out a worried Twist with her familiar lisp.

Diamond Tiara almost immediately snapped at the little filly. "You Dolt! You just costed us more free time!"

Cheerilee was still focused on the bushes outside the schoolhouse as she peered at them with a somewhat worried gaze. A puzzled and slightly distressed expression adorned her, but eventually she shook it off and then called back out to her students. "Sorry about that class, now anyway, let's get started!" It was likely best not to worry about it; like Diamond Tiara briefly mentioned, it was a waste of time. 

The class of fillies moaned and whined as Cheerilee simply proceeded to the board, and left the schoolhouse door open as well.

From outside the schoolhouse, back at the bushes near the trees, the small draconequus then poked its head out once again. It's eyes were wide with curiosity as it focused on the peculiar building, its candy apple red irises centered on the structure. It then looked past the open door and watched Cheerilee as she taught, cocking its head to the left as she did so, as if curious about the mare. Its expression soon started to grow more infatuated as it continued to look at Cheerilee, biting its lower lip as its eyes widened further in a curious manner.





Cheerilee looked upon her class in delight as she ran her hoof over a diagram she'd plastered across the board. The diagram seemed to be an actual layout of Manehattan, with some certain areas encircled by chalk. She smiled as she'd stopped her hoof at the far right corner of the diagram. "So, let's see if you've all been paying attention to my lessons. Can anypony tell me the history behind this area?"

There was only silence, accompanied by the sound of hushed coughs and a groan here and there.

Cheerilee's expression sunk as she sighed heavily. "Class, you all need to pay more attention. We're going to be having a test regarding all we've learned about Manehattan history by the end of this month. I know it doesn't seem interesting now, but just try to bear with it okay?" She asked pleadingly as the class simply stared back at her with bored expressions. Obviously, they weren't very enthusiastic.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon then began to whisper to each other as the whole class soon started to follow suit.

Cheerilee should've just yelled at all of them and told them to be quiet, but she didn't. She actually just proceeded to her desk and sat down with a solemn expression. She crossed her forehooves atop the desk and then moaned in complaint, shaking her head. As she looked upon her class she puckered her lower lip somewhat. "That's the last time I attempt to use Sugarcube Corner as a motivational reward." She then did a faceplant on her desk and a stack of papers, causing them to fly all over the place, but she really didn't care at this point.

As the class continued to talk to each other with total disregard for the lesson, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom were actually discussing what they'd be doing to hopefully achieve their Cutie Marks after school today. Something that always got them excited. 

Scootaloo seemed confident as usual, placing a hoof on her desk and smirking at her two friends cockily. "I say we go back to Sugarcube Corner, I had the strongest feeling that if I ate just a few more cupcakes, my Cutie Mark would appear! I was scary good at it!"

Apple Bloom suddenly looked puzzled as she peered at Scootaloo. "Well it's not like eating cupcakes is hard er anythin'."

Sweetie Belle looked to both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo with a pondering expression.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom then erupted into argument about what the best path to take towards their Cutie Marks would be. Scootaloo was entirely convinced hers had something to do with gorging on cupcakes. Apple Bloom was convinced she just enjoyed eating them. 

Sweetie Belle sighed heavily as she leaned her head atop her hoof and peered towards the front of the class. But what she saw caused her to let off a piercing cry as she pointed at the creature, shrieking with fear. "M-Ms. Cheerilee! Look out! T-There's a ... a scary monster!"

The rest of the class then stopped talking, wondering what had Sweetie Belle so worked up as they too looked towards the front of the class. They all then began to scream and panic as they scurried to the back of the classroom, tripping and stumbling along the way.

Cheerilee of course raised her head almost immediately after Sweetie Belle screamed. She couldn't help but feel clueless as she looked at her class scurry towards the back of the class in dismay, it actually took her a bit to process any thoughts in her head. She then followed their gazes, looking towards the side of her desk and downward. There sitting at the far side of her desk on the floor and simply looking up at her was a wide eyed baby draconequus. Cheerilee looked at it with a dumbfounded expression, not entirely sure if she was seeing things again. "Eh?" Was all she could muster up.

The baby draconequus then bounced off its feet, levitating in the air as it got in Cheerilee's face. "Hiya!"

Cheerilee screamed as she stumbled backwards out of her chair and onto the floor.

The rest of the class erupted into a volley of screams as they panicked and ran for the door.

The baby draconequus could only giggle as she raised her claw and paw to the air and yelled out. "More sweets?!" Suddenly within the classroom chocolate rain began to pour seemingly from out of nowhere.

Cheerilee cringed at the sight but was happy to see that the class didn't need her to shout instructions in order to make their own way to safety. They all just panicked, running straight for the open door and most likely straight to Ponyville right after. 

But Cheerilee then noticed the draconequus's expression saddened as it looked at the now empty classroom. It lowered its arms and then simply remained solemnly in the air, with a deep expression of melancholy. It'd happened again.

Cheerilee raised a brow at it curiously as she observed it. It was a truly mesmerizing creature, but her heart ached when she saw its expression, such a deep sense of everlasting sadness. She then began to approach the draconequus cautiously, before speaking up in a reassuring tone. "H-Hey now, it's alright..."





Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom trotted hurriedly towards the center of Ponyville with the other students. Obviously; most ponies took notice of the panicking fillies and colts. Applejack in particular rushed over to aid them as she saw them trotting down the beaten dirt road. "Hey wait a second y'all!"

Apple Bloom stopped as she turned and then rushed over to her sister. "A-Applejack! You have to hurry!"

Applejack raised a brow at her little sister. "What is it, what's wrong?"

Scootaloo was catching her breath but spoke anyway. "I-It's Miss Cheerilee, she's in danger! A draconequus invaded the classroom!"

Applejack still seemed pretty confused. "A what now?"

Applebloom protested. "A draconequus! It's a weird monster thingy with a bunch of different body parts!"

Applejack blinked a bit before sighing heavily, then nodding to her little sister. "Alright, I'll go check this out with Twi and the others, y'all get on over to the farm ya hear?" She then raised a hoof in direction to Sweet Apple Acres.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded as they'd caught up with Sweetie Belle and immediately headed for the direction of the farm.

Applejack was a little skeptical about the story of this draconequus, but realized it must have been something serious to have panicked the little fillies and colts to this degree. She then made her way to the library, it'd be best to enlist the aid of Twilight and the others before heading to the schoolhouse, but she had to hurry, every second wasted was another second Cheerilee was supposedly in danger.





Moments later, the mane six wielding the elements of harmony as well as accompanied by Discord, rushed into the schoolhouse with serious expressions.

Twilight was the first to speak. "Miss Cheerilee! We've arrived, are you alri-" Twilight's eyes widened as her brow raised at what she was seeing. She seemed a little surprised and confused at the same time.

Discord simply crossed his arms and shook his head.

Cheerilee was absolutely fine, although the classroom was a disaster, she was sitting at her desk with a cheerful smile. She had the baby draconequus sitting on the desk in front of her as they both shared a milkshake and Cheerilee was attempting to get to know the creature. "Is that so hmhm?"

The baby draconequus nodded and giggled. "Mhm! And it even had three heads!"

Cheerilee soon peered over at the mane six as well as Discord with a surprised look then a smile as she chuckled somewhat "Why hello there you all, I'm sorry, did my students cause you to worry?"

Twilight muttered with an irritated tone. "Uhm... well yeah..."

Fluttershy then fluttered over to Cheerilee and the baby draconequus with an infatuated expression before running her hoof down the draconequus's mane affectionately with a squeal. She spoke in a barely audible tone. "Oh my goodness; why aren't you just the sweetest little thing. Look Discord, it's a baby you, e-except a girl?"

Rainbow scratched the back of her own mane before shrugging a little. "Wait a second, so there are multiple Discords?"

Discord gasped with an offended expression. "Of course; although our numbers have dwindled over the countless millennia; we're still around!" He then began rubbing his chin. "But to find another here is truly quite fascinating, I honestly believed I was the last one in these parts of Equestria. But nonetheless-" Discord then snapped his claws as a cage appeared around the baby draconequus. Discord then levitated the cage over to himself with a modest expression. "-We must get rid of it." 

The baby draconequus shrieked in fear as it attempted to poof out of the cage and make an escape, to no avail.

Cheerilee also looked somewhat overwhelmed with fear in that moment as she hurried over to Discord. "W-Wait! Get rid of it? Why must we do such a thing?! It's only a baby!" 

Fluttershy scowled angrily at Discord before placing her hooves on her hips, demanding "Discord, put down that cage and let the little draconequus go this instant!"

Twilight then cut into the conversation with a heavy sigh. "No, Discord's right everypony, we can't keep it here. I'm sorry Cheerilee, we have to take it back to the outskirts and release it there."

"P-Please don't send me back out there!" The baby draconequus pleaded with the ponies.

The mane six then eyed it as their expressions worsened dramatically.

Rarity looked to Twilight with a puzzled expression. "Come now darling, I know nothing about these draconequus creatures but must we truly be so cruel? Look at the poor thing, it's scared senseless." 

Twilight sighed heavily as she seemed a little reluctant to explain.

Applejack couldn't help but feel compelled to ask as well. "Yeah I mean, shucks y'all, this is like sending a little filly out on its own aint it?"

Discord burst into laughter. "Bahahahahahaha!"

Everypony besides Twilight eyed him menacingly as they'd wondered what exactly was so funny.

Rainbow got in his face with an annoyed look. "What the heck is your problem Discord!?"

Discord then glared at Rainbow with a serious expression before raising the cage in front of the rainbow maned mare. "A Draconequus is not a pet, they're left to fend for themselves in their adolescence for a reason. You see, we are abandoned by our parents at a young age in order to develop that sense of individuality that draconequus possess when they reach adulthood. It is not uncommon you silly little ponies, it's how it's always worked. We live or we perish, but we absolutely cannot grow up alongside family figures! To do so will produce nothing but well...chaos! Bah, not saying that's entirely a bad thing but, for you all, it could be quite catastrophic if I must say so myself."

Pinkie Pie was currently licking the floor of the classroom as she'd suddenly looked up and raised a brow at Discord. "But why?"

At this point it was Twilight who cut into the conversation, in order to explain to her friends as well as Cheerilee. "Draconequus have been shown to harbor very peculiar traits when raised according to past history. Traits that can rapidly spiral out of control, which is why in the past draconequus were actually hunted in order to ensure the safety of all the races of Equestria. We all know Discord here is goofy and charismatic, now imagine if he wasn't, imagine if he was angry, filled with rage, and overall violent."

There was a looming silence as Pinkie gulped at one point.

Twilight nodded. "Exactly..." Twilight then looked to the baby draconequus in the cage with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry little one, we have no choice here, you've gotta go back to where you belong."

The baby draconequus shook her head as tears filled her eyes. "P-Please! All I want to do is not be lonely anymore! I can't go anywhere without being kicked out by somepony like you! Please I'm not like what you say, I-I swear!" 

Fluttershy whimpered as tears filled her eyes and her lower lip quivered. "P-Poor thing..."

Cheerilee then pleaded with the mane six. "Please you all, there must be some other way! Anything but this!"

Twilight sighed heavily before shaking her head at Cheerilee. "I'm sorry Cheerilee, this is the only option we've got."

Cheerilee looked down saddened as she remained silent.

The mane six then followed Discord as he took the cage and they made way for the Everfree Forest.

The baby draconequus curled up in the cage as she simply quieted down, she'd been through this process multiple times and was all too familiar with what'd occur next.

Cheerilee although reluctant to see this take place, sighed heavily as she trotted steadily behind the others. 





As they arrived at the edge of the Everfree Forest, Discord opened the cage for the baby draconequus as it simply slithered out and then began making its way into the veiled woods solemnly.

The baby draconequus kept its gaze on the ground as it sniffled, but soon peered up at the towering trees for a moment. She took a moment to regard the ponies and fellow draconequus behind her, but then continued into the shadows of Everfree. 

This utterly crushed Cheerilee, although she was a pony, she loved younglings. She loved teaching them, taking care of them and ensuring they were safe. It was times like these that made her often wonder why she didn't have a foal of her own, probably because she still couldn't find herself a certain partner she'd wanted to remain with for the rest of her life. As she looked upon the little baby draconequus venture off into the Everfree alone and with nopony to take care of her, her heart ached painfully. Her eyes were wide with tears as her lower lip quivered and she wanted nothing more than to chase after the poor creature and tell it everything would be alright. But she knew that wasn't true, she just watched, watched as it disappeared into the black forest, back into the wild.

Twilight looked to Cheerilee with a saddened expression herself. "I'm sorry Cheerilee, this was the only choice we had."

Cheerilee's expression darkened as she simply lowered her head, and made her way back towards Ponyville. 

The rest of the mane six then sighed heavily as they nodded to one another, each of them going back to their previous business. Discord followed Fluttershy back to her place of course.





Later that night Cheerilee simply laid in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The rest of the day had been miserable for her, she barely knew the creature, and its appearance was most certainly abrupt and random. But still, she couldn't bring herself to accept the fact she'd just let it go out on its own even with all the dangers out in the open world. She couldn't bring herself to believe that everything would be alright even though they were basically telling it that it was meant to be alone for many years to come. Cheerilee couldn't accept any of it. She tossed and turned in her bed until she'd finally managed to close her eyes. 

Of course things wouldn't end so simply though, for looming outside her window was a familiar figure in the night.

The baby draconequus remained there, floating in the night sky as it peeked through Cheerilee's window, longing for that companionship the mare was willing to give her. Even at the cost of her own safety.