//------------------------------//
// Belle is still clean 
// Story: Chaos Mark Crusaders: RotE Episode 8 
// by Dream Volt 
//------------------------------//

	Things had gone really well.  We didn't get our cutie marks, but for once we didn't even get dirty, much less covered in tree sap.  It had been the smoothest crusade ever.  We might have upset a few ponies, but most of them even laughed it off.  Even the ones that seemed real upset didn't stay upset that long.  Discord was frowning.  He almost looked cute as a little colt, even with the mismatched eyes.  But he frowned and snarled way too often.  There are also a bunch of other faces Rarity said are improper for a young lady to make, but Scootaloo and Applebloom make them all the time.  Personally I think they look really cute making some of them.

"I don't get it.  There are at least half a dozen times things should have ended in a disaster, but somehow it all worked out perfectly."

"Ah knew it."  Applebloom pointed a hoof at him  "You were up to no good."

"Oh it wouldn't have been my sort of disaster, really just more in line with your normal sort of chaos, overturned wagons, broken windows, that sort of thing."

"We do break a lot of stuff." Said Scootaloo

"So what."  Said Applebloom  "You was still up to no good."

I blinked.  "But he already told us that.  That he was looking for chaos, I thought we were taking his advise because we could outsmart him."

"And we totally did."  Scootaloo then grinned.  "Hah."

"Oh please it was more like…"  Then he blinked, and smiled  "Yes, in fact it was exactly like that.  I was hoping for a far more entertaining day, but I think if I can get you three your cutie marks it will be very useful to me."

"Does this have something to do with the three marks you know about but we haven't discussed the rest of the day?  What's going on?"

Discord frowned.  "I thought you were the dumb one.  I mean that was hours and hours ago, but they still didn't notice it."

"Oh yea, I totally forgot about that."

"You're trying to maple lip us, ain't ya." Applebloom leaned in toward him, glaring.

"What?" Discord blinked

"I think she means manipulate."  I then looked up.  "Maybe."

Scootaloo laughed.  "And you say your not a dicionary."

"Hey."  I turned and gave Scootaloo a cross look

"Anyway I do know about your silly little marks, but I'm sure there just part of some ridiculously boring pony disease I could care less about."

"Now we don't want your help no more."  Applebloom then spread her hooves like she was gonna fight.  "So don't you go bothering us again."

"But what about…" I began

"Ah don't care.  If we get in trouble we get in trouble.  It would be way worse if we keep helping Discord."

"And now a good decision, really?  Really?"

"Applebloom's right." I said

"You're a jerk, and we don't want you around.  Though if you don't tell Rainbow Dash that would be great."

Then Discord laughed.  "Oh, now I get it.  Okay, lets try a little compromise.  I want to hang around you three in the hopes that you'll do something interesting, but I promise not to say a single word to any of you unless you talk first.

"Well, ah guess that ain't so bad."

"Yea, the tickle is sorta odd but not bad." Said Scootaloo

"Okay, but don't like mime anything neither." I added

"Ooo, mime.  Thanks for that.  I forgot how many ponies hate mimes."

Then he stomped a hoof and was gone.  I was pretty sure he would be miming in the town square tomorrow.  Ratity and I both thought they were funny though.  I mean what's wrong with mimes?