Chapter 4: Demon's First Steps
A day has passed since Discord was first registered. Since then, he has been getting used to the simplicity of everyday teen life. Sure it was a strange position for him, but it was a small price to pay if he was to return home. That is unless he was willing to cooperate with his new companion.
Danny on the other hand, did not expect such a heavy responsibility. Maintaining this creature in human's clothing wasn't exactly peaches and cream. Discord was more of a pest than a pal, and Danny was more along the lines of a babysitter. Trying to keep the demon under wraps without some secret government convoy coming to possibly torture him for interrogation.
But that didn't stir in Danny's mind one bit as him and Discord strolled through the halls on their way to class. The corridors were flooded with noisy teens, gossiping nonsense as usual. They all then began to stare at Discord as he was waltzing on by.
“Ah, my first day at school as an ordinary human.” Discord chimed beside Danny.
“Yeah,” Danny replied. “Like no other human has snow white hair and an overgrown incisor hanging out of his mouth.”
“Oh come now, Danny my boy.” Discord glanced at the students. “I guarantee your kind here can find me all so cherishing. Don't you?”
“You do understand you're in a high school? Not on the Hollywood red carpet.” The demon raised an eyebrow at that remark. “So don't expect a royal treatment as a new student. You're here to learn, not boast.”
“Since when did you turn into my mother?” Discord replied
The boy smiled. “When you started whining like a baby the moment you got here. Now are we going to class or not?”
Discord harrumphed like the child he was.
As the two kept on walking down the hall, they seemed to be turning a lot of heads. Most of the students glanced at Discord especially. Gossiping amongst themselves with whispers and giggles.
“Why are these humans so interested in us?” Discord asked.
“Like I said,” Danny shrugged. “It's not every day a dude with white hair and funny teeth shows up at our school.”
Finally, they catch the attention of some posh cheerleaders.
“Hey, Danny!” one girl said to the two gentlemen. “Who's your friend? Shouldn't he be back at the zoo? I don't think they allow walking snow owls at school.”
The other girls joined in a laugh, oblivious to Danny's self-esteem in ruins. Although, Discord didn't take that comment lightly. If he was to do some good, he can start by silencing those who dare call him out.
“Funny, huh?” Discord gave a smug at Danny.
He then snapped his fingers very sly and suddenly, a nearby water fountain began to glow slightly. The nozzle redirected itself and flashed a burst of water at the sassing squad. At that, they screamed and were suddenly dripping wet from head to toe. Their hair sticking to their heads with soggy strands, with mascara running profusely from their eyes.
Discord felt pretty good with his handy-work. While Danny was obviously surprised, but also a little amused at the hilarious sight. They then left unashamed, leaving the local pep squad to wallow in their own humility. As well as their own damp uniforms.
“How's that for funny?” Discord said, with his signature malicious grin.
Danny chortled. “Okay, I'll admit, That was pretty funny.” He then looked at him curiously. “But... why did you do that?”
Discord looked over at the human for a moment.
He shrugged. “What? Can't a God of Chaos pull a prank once and a while? It's what I do for a living. Besides, no mortal should ever cross paths with a master of chaos.”
“Yet, I'm a mortal too.”
“Look, are we going to this puny class of yours or what?” Discord huffed before picking up the pace.
Danny was still chuckling to himself, thinking back to that vengeful “accident”. Yet, he was rather dumbfounded by his friend's mischievous act. It might have been just a harmless prank, but Danny felt as though Discord was hiding something.
But either way, it was still pretty cool.
***
“Good morning, class!” the teacher called out. “And welcome to world history.”
The two boys managed to reach their first period; which ironically was both their homeroom. Students flatly stared at the teacher up front, clearly unamused to actually listen to anything he teaches. Instead, had this hankering to ditch class and smoke hemp till their pre-shambled brains finally quit on them.
Even Discord was in no mood to participate in class.
“Now, I understand this is world history.” the teacher continued. “But I couldn't help but notice we have a new student with us today.” All eyes pointed to Discord sitting idly confused beside Danny. “Young man? What's your name?”
The demon goat in disguise remained silent. That is until his friend jabbed him on his side and said, “Dude, aren't you going to introduce yourself. After all, you are a new student.” Discord glared at Danny, who replied with a smug grin adorned on his lips.
Discord groaned.
He then stood up from his seat with a beleaguered expression. All the students, as well as the teacher, took in all his features. They were more than surprised by his abnormal dentures and hair, and even the bright red eyes that hid behind his locks almost sinisterly.
He sighed. “My name is... Reginald. Reginald Dickinson.”
All the teenagers in the class then began to snicker to themselves.
“Class!” the teacher barked. “Grow up already.”
Discord was very much confused at their laughter.
“Was it something I said?” He then sat back down in his desk, looking over to Danny. “What is with you and your kind?”
Danny shrugged. “Beats me. A lot of these folks aren't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.”
“Why were they laughing about that name?”
The boy leaned in, whispering into Discord's ear. His eyes widened all of a sudden and he cocked his head at Danny.
“Well...” Discord mused. “I can see why they are not the sharpest knife in the drawer.”
Then the teacher began his lessons. “Okay, class.” He wrote on the chalkboard. “Let's begin toady's lesson with the French Revolution. If you would be so kind as to turn to page 34 in your textbooks, please?”
Like the zombies they were, the students glumly listened and did as the man said. Danny was about to do the same, until he noticed Discord sighing with boredom once again.
“You alright?” Danny asked the spiritless man.
“Oh no, nothing is wrong.” Discord replied, his sarcasm purposely visible. “I love to learn about the entire human race just to become a goody-goody know-it-all.” He slumped over his desk.
“Hey, this is what school is like. Now, I don't know much about what your world does in terms of education, but I have a good guess that it pretty much works the same. So just buck up and listen. Besides, it might be fun.”
“But why?” Discord argued. “How is this snooze-fest supposed to help me use my powers for good?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Boy, you humans are so pathetic.” Danny raised an eyebrow. “Do you not recall my quest? About using my powers for good? Or are you just as dimwitted as these other monkeys?”
“Mr. Dickinson.” Discord was almost startled when he heard the teacher call his fake name. “I understand you're a new student and all. But I expect more from you.” The teacher approached his desk, looming over him with absolute authority. “You should know better than to talk in the middle of class.”
“Oh! H-He was just asking if he could borrow a pencil, Mr. Evans.” Danny cut in. “He forgot to bring one to school.”
“Two hours in detention for you, Mr. Gilroy.” Evans replied unexpectedly. Danny's eyes widened.
“What!!? What did I do!?”
“That's for interrupting me when I was talking to your friend over here.” He then looked over at Discord. “As for you, Reginald. You've also earned yourself two hours in detention.”
He then hobbled on over back to his desk. From the look on Discord's face, Danny knew he was beyond exasperated at Evans's threat.
“Now, if we can continue without any distractions...” He continued his lecture up on the board.
“Well this sucks,” Danny sighed quietly. “Guess we'll be seeing each other after school, huh Discord?”
Discord grinned evilly. “Oh, but I believe our mentor might not make it today.”
His nefarious smile was once again in motion. His beady eyes narrowed at the teacher about to fall victim to another one of Discord's tricks. Although, Danny already got the heads up as to what his friend was about to plan.
“Don't do it. I know what you're thinking.” Danny whispered.
“Too late.”
Danny's pleading resulted in failure when Discord snapped his digits.
“Oh no...”
“... and that's when Napoleon, led his troops out of Russia, to-” Evans was still doing his job when he turned back to his chalkboard and noticed a large childish drawing of a monstrous dinosaur.
The students were too zoned out to have notice its appearance. But Danny saw the whole thing; right when a bunch of floating chalk sticks scribbled on the blackboard at the speed of light. He was having a bad feeling about this, and he feared it would only end worse.
“Okay, very funny, kids!” Mr. Evans remarked sarcastically as he picked up an eraser.
But before he could even touch the illustration with his tool, he could've sworn he heard a growling noise come out of the chalkboard. Of course his speculation didn't prove him wrong when the poorly drawn fossil moved.
The teacher was already in shear panic. It stared daggers at him with its beady dotted eyes. Then with one horrendous roar, the teacher ran out of the class screaming like a banshee. Leaving the students paralyzed with fear in front of the beast. Another violent roar, and every single student stampeded out the door. Screaming as equally terrified as the panic-stricken professor.
All was left was a frightened human and an all so pleased demon kid laughing hysterically.
“You're right,” Discord chuckled at Danny. “This is fun!”
While the trickster was about to bust a gut, Danny glared at him harshly.
***
Soon after a long hard day – and narrowly escaping the arrival of the police – Danny walked home right after his third period, dreadfully annoyed at Discord's heinous act. He stomped down the sidewalks with Discord, who floated aimlessly beside him.
“Well, I must say, Danny.” Discord sneered. “This day turned out swimmingly today, has it not?”
The human barely responded.
“Your kind is just a hilarious bunch.” He laid on his back in mid-air with his arms behind his head. “Yep. I think I'm going to like here.”
There was still no answer.
“You've got the grand gift of silence, Danny. Prey tell, what is up with you today?”
Danny stopped dead in his tracks. He produced a troubling sigh, then remained silent for a while. Discord just hovered alongside the human.
“Where do I start?” Danny mumbled. “Oh, I know. Probably because of that little stunt you pulled today!” His voice was nearly screeching.
“What? Are you talking about that prank back in homeroom?” Discord scoffed. “Oh, don't worry about that, my dear boy.” He tugged on Danny's cheeks playfully, despite his protesting retreat. “I'm sure they'll be fine. Possibly in a few days or so, depending if their therapists can fix everything.”
“I doubt that.” Danny replied flatly.
“Well, what else am I supposed to do?” He then disappeared and reappeared on a rooftop of a local house, leaning up against a weather rooster. “If you're memory is as pathetically feeble as your so called 'teacher', I'm the God of Chaos.”
He then teleported himself beside a stop sign.
“Meaning, I bring chaos and disharmony wherever I go. Kind of like my job.” He rubbed his fingernails on his shirt before appearing right behind the human.
Danny sighed deeply while pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Look, you're in a human world where it's already a shit-hole. I don't care if you're satan himself.” He continued walking down the street. “And what was that about using your powers for good?”
“What do you mean?” Danny questioned as he was slithering up and about like a kite.
“Back in homeroom, you said something like that.”
“Hmm... funny. I don't think I ever remembered anything about that.”
“Well I do. What was that about?”
“Oh, that!” Discord pretended to recall. “As I told you before, Princess Celestia has ordered me to fully reform my abilities in this dwindling planet. Apparently, I'm supposed to be fixing this world by practicing my powers to be more sincere.”
“So in other words, you were sent here to turn this place into something more friendly; something actually peaceful to live in?
“That was the notion.”
Danny thought to himself for a second as he maintained his pace. Over the last few days with this creature, Danny of course wasn't up for keeping him on the DL. Not when his insatiable desire for foolishness nearly got himself into some hot water. But despite all that, maybe he could at least try to show him how to be a good person. What with him being human and all.
Besides, if this Celestia character wants him to practice his powers for good, maybe Danny could help. It may not have been an adequate plan to commit to, but if it meant getting Discord of of this rock and back to wherever the hell he came from, he was up for the challenge.
“Hey, Discord.” Danny said. “What if I can help you. With using your powers I mean?”
The demon chuckled. “You? A mortal? Please don't make me laugh.” Danny was about to open his mouth. “No really, don't make me laugh. I wouldn't want to bust to a gut.” He laughed his ass off as he inflated himself like a balloon and popped.
“Well if this Celestia person you were talking about, says that you need to do this, then maybe I can help.” Discord brought himself back together. “I understand this isn't any of my business...”
“And it isn't.” Discord interupted.
Danny narrowed his eyes as he continued.
“But I think you need my help more than anyone here.”
“And why should I let you assist me with this task?”
The boy looked him in the eye. “It's what friends do for each other.”
Discord halted his flying act; frozen in the air. He looked at Danny with no ugly expression or even positioning his brows in a look of sarcasm. No, he stared at the human with surprise.
“You... really think of me as a friend?” he queried.
Danny shrugged a little. “Sure. I mean, even though we've just met and all, I would consider being pals with you.”
“But what about all those pranks I pulled today?” Discord landed back on his feet. “The fountain, the chalkboard monster. Does not of that even anger you at the slightest?”
“It did.” Danny plainly replied. “But you can't always dwell on the past, when you can run towards the future.”
There was nothing to be said from Discord. He didn't open his mouth, but could only faintly produce a cherishing smile. First it was a kind little pegasus pony, now a plain old human calls him a friend. Rather unexpected after his constant tomfoolery, but this human seemed to look past all that. He felt a great deal of happiness swell his black heart.
Danny couldn't help but smile as well.
“Come on.” He gestured his head. “How 'bout we call it a day with a little video games? Tomorrow, we can get started on your training.”
“I... I'd like that.” Discord replied happily. “But I'm totally going to beat you at Call of Booty!”
Danny chortled as they ran back to his house.
“Oh boy.” he laughed. “You have a lot to learn.”