//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 - Whipped // Story: Broken Spirit // by Cryssy-miu //------------------------------// It had been a month now. A month since the two ponies learned the shocking truth about the spirit living in their world, a month since the shattered bones and lacerations. Yes, the slices on the spirit's limbs, the shattered bones, and the physical pain was repaired... .....But emotions couldn't possibly be anymore shattered, possibly unrepairable. After being released from the clutches of Discord's nightmare, the two young ponies had been lost, bewildered, frightened, horrified; far too many emotions, every one of them feeling as if it was destroying them. The hardest task probably had to be curbing the newly bloomed fear of the spirit; the one that had killed the King and Queen. They couldn't look conspicuous, but Discord wasn't stupid and caught on that something was up every time Fluttershy stayed at least two feet away from his cot rather than smother him with snuggles. Celestia had come to see him, but every time Discord heard the clopping of the royal slippers he feigned sleep, and the ever considerate princess wouldn't ever wake a sleeping, sick creature. He didn't wish to see the princess; for all he knew she had probably set up that 'accident.' Yet, when he thought that, the velvet lips against his to keep him alive flashed in his mind. Finally released from the hospital, not having to worry about fabricating a lie to keep from seeing Celestia, the spirit left with the girls. They seemed quieter than usual. He knew Twilight didn't particularly like him, but this was still odd behavior. Reaching Ponyville, Fluttershy finally spoke. "I..I have to do some shopping today, and the doctors have advised you start exercising now," she told her companion, who was currently juggling clouds. "I'm going to leave you at Sweet Apple Acres while I'm gone." An indignant snort sounded from the throat as the mismatched creature shook his coat, pursing his lips. The last thing he wanted was to spend any time with the little hill billy. His eyebrows faltered over his eyes, one raised as he smirked. Of course, other than expanding the size of apples he hadn't really tried chaos out on a farm. This could be fun~ Twilight parted ways with the two of them in town, trotting back to her library as both pegasus and draconequus reached the gates to the placid, homely little farm. Applejack was already there, smiling at Fluttershy, scowling at Discord. "Mornin' Fluttershy!" Applejack greeted, barely mumbling a dull hello to the spirit by her side. "Ah see yer here early, hm?" She glared as Discord coldly brushed by her and settled into a soft pile of hay. "Thank you so much for agreeing to look after him, Applejack," Fluttershy expressed gratefully, nuzzling the southern pony's face with her own. "I hope he won't be too much trouble for you. You can let me know if he is..." A small chill rode down the butter colored spine as she approached her companion, hiding her face behind rosette locks of hair. He glanced at her inquisitively and she forced herself to relax. This was stupid. She shouldn't be afraid of him. She had been with the creature for almost a year already! Gently, Fluttershy nuzzled his face, heart feeling lighter even though he batted her away. "You be good," she warned him, giving him a light poke to the belly and smiling as he covered it with a twitching smirk. She missed those days... "I'll be back soon." Giving the creature a final nuzzle, she turned to bid a good-bye to her friend and issued a final warning with a scolding, wagging hoof that Discord, of course, only ignored. The draconequus sat there in the straw and sticks, chewing on a strand of hay and twirling it on his tongue as he eagerly conspired of all his wonderful, chaotic ploys to launch on this dreary, tacky little farm. Soccer balls instead of apples perhaps. Or maybe some tennis balls? Oh, or grape fruits – really throw them off! Turn the fluffy white ducks to rubber? The pond to soap? "Discord." With an insufferable sigh, the multi beast turned to the southern earth pony with a look of utter boredom. An ear tilted inquisitively when she stood by a tree with low branches. Applejack glanced up at the tree and then fixed her stern slits of wrath on him. "Now, ah'm not gonna be settin' too many rules, but the rules ah do set ah expect ya to follow them. Ya don't and they'll be hay to pay." The pony grit her teeth at him, gazing venomously where the careless creature was merely rolling back and forth in the soft hay, taking the strands into his teeth and sucking on the sweet, floury, wheat taste. Knowing there would be little to no success at getting him to buckle down and listen to her, she went on, hoping he'd at least make a half-hearted attempt to pay attention. "This here's mah farm, and it's the livelihood of mah family. It's where we grew up and it's our lives." She loomed closer to the lazy spirit, forcing him to take a step back and stumble into the golden hay. "And you ain't allowed to mess with it!" Discord just sat there with a benevolent smile, secretly hiding his belligerence. The moment that pony turned, this farm would scream chaos. He went back to chewing hay. "Ah know ya can't do anything too strenuous, so ah'm sticking ya with helpin' to get them apples off the tree. Ah think you can do it; Apple Bloom will be helpin' ya." Her glare deepened, and by now the smoldering, emerald eyes were nearly against his slightly apprehensive, crimson flecks. "She's mah baby sister and if y'all treat her badly or do anything to her.." Her voice trailed off, the ghost of the threat not even reaching the spirit's ears. Applejack moved back to the low branched tree, and Discord watched absently, attention mostly diverted to a bug, as the pony bucked off a fair sized branch from the tree with a snap. She plucked off the leaves and held it tightly clenched between her teeth. "See this here? This is a tree branch." Discord snorted. Okay, perhaps he wasn't 'one with nature' like she or Fluttershy was – and to be honest he'd turn most tree branches into licorice or candy canes if he had the chance, but it didn't mean he had no clue what a- A thundering crack split the ear, causing both him and ponies probably miles away to flatten their ears in a desperate attempt to protect them from deafening sound that reverberated the moment the stick in Applejack's mouth snapped against the tree. Discord's mouth opened enough for the hay to fall out in horror as he stared at the split in the large tree trunk, and then back to the southern pony. Applejack was as pleased as peaches to see that unlike before as he twiddled hay and rolled in the bale she now had his complete and undivided attention. "And this branch here hurts." She once again walked towards the frozen spirit, and he snapped back into reality enough to once again scramble back, falling clumsily into the hay with a soft, plush, plop. "Y'all don't follow the two little rules ah set for ya, and you'll be feelin' this here branch. Got that?" His head was high, as if he was trying to avoid a blade being pressed to his throat, and the speechless spirit could only really nod. "Good." Discord flinched again as she struck the tree once more, somehow creating another small split that easily would have created damage if it touched skin. "Now go on – git to work!" Applejack was pleased Discord hurriedly untangled himself from the hay and flew to the orchards. Discord's insides burned with rage and embarrassment as he soared through the farm, nearing the endless line of apple trees. What right did the ponies have to degrade him so? It wasn't bad enough that he had to submit to Fluttershy's lighthearted tickling punishments and now he was being threatened to be thrashed with trees? Oh, what next? Sent to bed without dinner? Actually, Fluttershy had done that one time. If that pony came after him with the whip he could simply show her her truly was boss. After all, meager supply of magic or not, he had the power to stop her, even injure or kill her. When it came down to it though any attempt to full out harm one of Celestia's royal subjects would definitely warrant an eternity in stone once more, if not the death penalty. Plus, when the thought of harming Applejack crossed through his mind so did a pair of bright, mournful, pleading blue eyes screaming his betrayal. That was almost as bad as stone. Swallowing his pride, Discord descended into the orchards, scanning the area for a miniature version of the hill billy pony. He spotted a bright satin bow on a tiny head and stubby yellow body. He landed. The chagrined, sun yellow pony was futilely kicking her stubby little legs against a trunk, glaring up with annoyed amber as her attempts were unsuccessful. This tree really didn't want to give up its apples. "Well, it's gonna!" With an angry yell, Apple Bloom struck the tree once more, her wide orbs lighting with glee as the fruits of her labor (literally) finally tumbled off their branches, encased in a golden glow. Confused, the young filly watched, astounded as they floated over her head, and into the palm of a certain draconequus. "I'd watch the bucking if I were you. Don't want to break your leg now, do we~?" Apple Bloom stared up at this towering, weird looking mismatched creature with body parts of seemingly every species on earth. She hadn't ever seen Discord before, even though he and Fluttershy sometimes came to the farm. For the most part, she'd catch sight of the scaly, wiggling tail, or one of his odd feet before she'd be sternly shooed off. He was quite a sight. "Ya must be Discord!" Apple Bloom was surprised she didn't feel any fear as she cheerfully trotted towards the multi beast loitering by the tree and gnawing on the apple. Perhaps it was because she was one of the braver fillies; maybe she just found him too silly looking to be scary. "Ah'm Apple Bloom." "So I was told.." Discord's voice was painfully heavy with boredom, his ruby pupils rolling about in exasperation as he glared at all the trees he needed to de-apple. Apple bucking with a baby pony and prohibited from causing any chaos. Sigh. "D'ya want me to show ya how to apple buck? Well, ya need hooves – oh, ya got hooves!" The filly stood back, awkwardly admiring the peculiar goat leg and clopping hoof in the dirt. "Really, it's just a matter of kickin' hard! If yer legs are startin' to hurt, well that just means ya done a good job!" The spirit's flat eyes watched the little brat as she stuck her hoof into the tree, shaking several apples off, causing them to tumble into a barrel at her side. She repeated the process with the next tree, and a barrel was full before Discord even realized it. "However, if ya feel like yer legs are startin' to break you may wanna stop to catch your breath." The little hayseed gave him a goofy grin, to which he shrugged off with coldness and disdain, flying up to the tree and casually using magic to pick off the fruits from the leaves. Apple Bloom bit her lip. "Well, usin' magic is all well and fine, but ah think Applejack meant for ya to gain a work out in this. Ah didn't hear much, but she tells me ya got hurt somehow." The spirit's eyes glazed with venom, the apple clutched in his paw smashing to the ground in yellow goo from anger. "Yes, by the attempted murder of your psychotic princess – don't remind me." Apple Bloom opened her mouth to defend the princess, but she instead tightly shut it instead, glad she had to excuse to get away from the hostile creature to slowly back up and buck another tree. His cold red eyes glared at her, causing shivers to ride up and down her spine. "Ya know, apple buckin' can be fun if ya give it a try." Apple Bloom suggested meekly, her limbs trembling so much as this spirit glared at her that her kicks were clumsy and ended up barely scraping the tree. "I do it all the time, and it'd be good fer ya since yer still a little sore. Plus, mah sister gets real mad at slackers..." "Finding an easier way to do this dreadful task is not slacking," Discord snapped at her, causing the filly to slightly cower. He paused, considering and watching the fruits as they were dislodged from their clinging branches. After several minutes of gazing at the trunk with curiosity, Discord landed on all fours in front of the trunk. He noticed Apple Bloom's eyes on him and hesitantly struck out both legs, like lightning. Apple Bloom's eyes widened as every fruit fell into the barrels below, and just about every leaf was shook off the thick branches. He was strong. She let out an excited whoop, bouncing on her hooves and looking at the draconequus in admiration. "That there was the coolest thing ever! Yer real strong!" Discord blinked, gazing up in time to get a leaf in the eye. Shaking it off, he gazed at the leaves around, decorating the soil, and a grin snaked over his muzzle. The draconequus had never really tested his physical strength, always doing everything by magic. Apparently though, he was strong enough to impress the kid so that said something about him. "Ya should probably watch the strength though," Apple Bloom suggested, twiddling one of the leaves in her hooves. "Shaking all the leaves off might affect the tree's growth. Just kick the base of the tree hard enough to shake them apples off. With the rate yer strength is goin' we should be done in no time!" Discord inwardly snorted at that, eyes roaming the rest of the orchards with doubt and annoyance. Yes, it sure seemed that way. Although the spirit had to admit that it was just the teeniest bit nice to be able to, well, move again! After being cooped up in bed for a month he was finally able to move freely again. A familiar twinge of pain pinched the nerves where the spirit's healing cuts were. Discord grimaced, his shaking goat leg faltering off the tree as he stumbled slightly, eyes squinted shut. His head prickled with a thousand needles and the newly healed limbs began to ache slightly as well. Apple Bloom seemed to catch onto this. "Take a break fer a little while," she suggested, somehow having summoned enough courage to lightly pat the tensing spirit's back as he gave several heaving pants into the sour dirt. "Ah know you still aren't feelin' too well. If ya want, I can show ya around!" The sweaty, heavy, gray lids opened, mismatched pupils rolling up to look at the little hayseed by his side, a friendly smile on her face as she offered her hoof. He didn't take the hoof, rather backing up from it, but he did push himself up on all fours and followed the kid out of the orchards. Regaining an iota of strength, Discord padded quietly behind the child as she chattered eagerly like he was actually listening, telling him the history of their farm, from the luscious apples and their apparent origins by zap apples, to telling him about when they first got the duck pond. The tired spirit remained silent, only glaring listlessly around him, trying to ignore the pins and needles. "Ya know, ya don't talk much, do ya? Applejack said ya never shut yer trap, but that seems pretty far from the truth." Of course, Apple Bloom could see the way his head already hung in exhaustion, even his mane seeming droopy and lifeless. She knew when she wasn't feeling well she didn't like talking much either. "Hey, ya want some nice fresh lemonade? Big Mac made it last night and it's mighty fine!" The filly watched his dissolving expression; it seemed to perk up slightly, so she took that as a yes. Trotting through the dry grass and bits of hay, the two pushed open the doors to the house. The house was a quaint little place, old congealed painting on the wall, worn kitchen counters, and an insistent creak from where a rocking chair with some huddled jade bag of wrinkles and bones seemed to be snoring away. "That there is mah Granny Smith, the best pony in Ponyville! Ya know, she's the reason Ponyville came to be!" As the little filly went on blabbering another dismal little tale, Discord's attention was drawn to the elderly mare as she slept peacefully, a small smile turned up on that wrinkled face, little sighs of contentment emanating now and then. Ohoho, he just HAD to ruin this sweet little nap~ "What in tarnation are ya doin'?" Apple Bloom demanded in a whispered hiss, her tone sharp, yet eerily quiet as she watched Discord ignite his talon. Now she knew why Applejack called him the bad guy. "You ain't hurtin' mah Granny!" The draconequus chuckled, his talon staying encased in gold as he focused it on the old mare. "I'm not, my dear. Haven't you ever joked around with your dear old granny?" he asked her, leaning towards the child's face and looking into her eyes questionably. "Haven't you ever played harmless little jokes? There's more to my pranking than just harming ponies..." Of course, those benign looking innocent eyes gleamed with a secret venom, trying to lure the girl into giving in. Perhaps today could be fun after all. Apple Bloom chewed on the inside of her lip, swallowing a gulp of sweet lemonade and contemplating. "Well...Granny and ah have sometimes pranked each other – she's always been a real jokester. And, if these pranks here really won't hurt her.." That was all the draconequus needed to perk up instantly, flitting into the living room, seeming to have forgotten his agony in the joys of being able to torment another hapless little pony. Well, not torment. He remembered Applejack's threats well, and plus...he had to have some respect for the elderly~! A very hesitant Apple Bloom tiptoed in after the draconequus, head low, paranoid of the tea green pony to wake, and feeling a little guilty. Well, it was all in good fun; not to mention revenge on the dastardly old mare for putting a rubber spider in her bed the other night. Apple Bloom's honey colored jaw fell to the ground with a soft plunk as the golden tendrils of magic wrapped around the chair and began lifting it, as well as every other object in the room. Mouth gaping, she stared at the snickering spirit, slowly backing out of the room with him. The startled snore signaled the mare was awake, and her stiff hoof brushed away the drool on her mouth as she gazed around in shock. Apple Bloom's horror turned to desperately fighting her hysterics, face getting red and tears coming to her eyes as her granny blinked and surveyed the scene in confusion. She titled her head, hoof coming to her partially open mouth, brows wrinkling up on her forehead. "Con-flabit. Astigmatism," she muttered, turning back on her side and going to sleep again. Bursting through the doors to the house, the giddy filly and draconequus collapsed in hysterical laughter the moment they were out of earshot. They rolled in the grass, clutching their stomachs and giggling until their sides felt like they were splitting open. "Oh, alright," Apple Bloom giggled, brushing the grass out of her fur. "Ah gotta admit that was pretty funny. She looked so dang confused." Her grandmother's completely perplexed look was still cemented in her mind and she let out a guffaw. Discord was beyond overjoyed, a dark pleasurable feeling welling within him. Oh, finally! Finally a pony that didn't immediately pin him with a ruthless tickle punishment, threaten to whip him, or lecture til the cows come home when he committed just the tiniest prank. Finally, he had partner in crime. Sure, she was a little more of a tightflank than he wished, but he could mold her into something. Starting today. "We should really get back to work now. Ya feelin' any better? Ya must be since ya – hehe – pulled that on mah Granny Smith." At the innocent nod, both cantered their way to a different portion of the orchards, closer to the back of the barn. "This here is where most of the apples are. They been in the trees for a while 'cuz it takes a while for us to get to 'im. We need to buck 'em before they start to rot." The draconequus silently kicked away at the rough trees, pondering on another incentive to lure the little foal into more mischief. Now, what should it be... Hm. "Apple Bloom, what do you do in your spare time?" He said it casually, as if it was merely small talk, and the wonderfully oblivious little foal didn't catch the dark edge to his quiet tone. "Ah mostly try to earn mah cutie mark. Ah can't seem to get it no matter how hard ah try! Applejack says ah'm supposed to be patient and wait for it, but ah been waiting so long!" The filly bent her head sadly, red bangs dragging in the dirt as she kicked her tree. Discord floated towards the child, laying a mock sympathetic paw on her hunched back, stroking his beard and twiddling it around his talon in deep thought. His eyes roamed the area. Oh where to do some chaos, where to do some chaos, where to- Aha. There it was, a nice stretching, newly painted wall just inside the barn; a canvas for art and chaos that seemed to be beckoning him. Hiding the thin smirk, Discord turned her towards the wall. "Have you ever thought of trying art as your special talent, my dear?" he asked, voice nearly a droning whisper. "Why just look at that wall in there; it's so bare, beige and boring! I'm sure your sister would deeply appreciate you spicing it up." Apple Bloom bobbed up her chin, staring at the painted barn walls. Well, Miss Cheerilee had always complimented her on her drawings – usually of the farm and her family – in class, and she never really had tried art as her special talent. "Well...ah remember Big Mac and Applejack saying they didn't like the color of those walls..." An encouraging push from the flat of Discord's reptilian foot was all the child needed to gallop into the barn, eyes eagerly exploring the paint buckets. There was red and green and pink and orange and blue. She knew Applejack probably wouldn't really appreciate her drawing on it. "I'll just give it a nice new coat!" Unaware to Discord's darkening grin and gleaming eyes, Apple Bloom lifted the brush from the bucket and began painting large pink streaks; the congealed blobs of paint dripping crudely down the walls and puddling at her hooves. "Don't hold back my, my dear," Discord chortled, eyes gleaming manically, "let the creativity flow." This was genius! What a lovely tool this child was against her sister. "Apple Bloom!" The foal gave a strangled squeak of surprise, nearly stumbling into the can of paint and sprawling onto the floor at the sharp tone that bounced off the barn walls. "What in tarnation are y'all doing?" The larger southern pony stormed towards her kid sister, emerald eyes darting from the wall to the cowering pony, demanding an explanation. "Ah..ah was just painting the wall," Apple Bloom stammered meekly. "I heard that you and Big Mac don't really like the color much." Applejack gave a large, exhaled, angry huff, shaking her head. You needed to be cautious of what you said around kiddies. "That don't mean we wanted ya to scribble all over it!" she scolded, shaking her head at the pony and fastening the lids back on the paint. "It's a nice design, but really, Apple Bloom! Y'all know better than that." The child submissively lowered her head, ears inadvertently flattening as she gazed at the ground in shame. "Now march your little yellow hinders in the house and wash up," her big sister ordered, tone heavy with disappointment. "No apple fritters for you after dinner; y'all know better than that, Apple Bloom." She was still talking even though her dejected little sister was already making her way to the house. Her lecture completed, the southern pony whirled to a certain draconequus sitting on a bale of hay and hiding his pleased smile. "And you!" she growled, getting up into his face. "Ah bet y'all influenced her plenty to do that!" The draconequus gasped, making his eyes grow as wide as saucers, feigning hurt as his paw flew to his chest. "Why, Applejack!" he exclaimed dramatically, ears back. "You wound me so! Why would yo ever think I'd do such a terrible thing? I've been nothing but nice to your sweet little sister! I just – what's the word? – gave her a creative boost." "Uh-uh," the mare snorted dubiously, leering into his fake innocent eyes. "Well ah'm watching ya, Discord. Ya do anything to her and mah farm and ya'll will regret it." Such a pity you've missed it all, my dear, the spirit thought with inward glee, perhaps you should get your eyes checked if you really have been watching me. The southern pony let the draconequus endure her angry, stony silence, before bidding him out the door. "Git out and git back ta work." The draconequus instantly obeyed, slinking out the barn door, unable to wipe the grin off his face. Suddenly the farm air smelled sweeter, the gloomy un-sweetened clouds having dissipated from his mood. Right where he and the filly had been bucking two small little figures stood; one a marshmallow white and one a vibrant orange. Oh joy. More kids. "Woooow.." Sweetie Belle neared the spirit, eyes wide with awe, circling him like he was some amazing monument or a god...wait. He snickered. "Is that the thing that terrorized Ponyville and Rainbow Dash?" the braver orange one demanded, circling him. Both girls drew back with a squeak as Discord huffed in annoyance. "'Thing' – oh that's a nice name for me. I've been called a dog, a monster, a varment, and now a thing? These labels are really going down hill. Come now, my little ponies." He swooped towards them in the air, looming over them, delighted as he spooked them. "I'm Discord." "Why are you so ugly looking?" Scootaloo asked bluntly, causing the spirit's mouth to fall open, about to turn that impertinent little brat into an orange cushion when somepony from behind him eagerly shouted out a greeting. "Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle! Ah'm so glad ya could come!" The blur of yellow tackled her friends in a playful hug, pulling back and trotting away with them, completely ignoring the draconequus sitting there in the grass. Nothing else to do, Discord tagged along. "We got a load of work ta be done, and ah could really use help with some apple bucking!" Sweetie Belle looked reluctant, but Scootaloo skidded to a stop right then and there, her orange snout wrinkling in disdain. "Work? We didn't come over here to work! We came here to all find ways to earn our cutie marks. Like usual?" The yellow pony chewed on her lip in thought, hooves shuffling uncomfortably as she tried to find a way to convince her friends, who already seemed intent on leaving. The idea came, the light bulb nearly flashing over her head and alighting in her eyes. "We can see if..if apple bucking is our special talent?" Both girls looked doubtful and confused, exchanging looks and shrugged shoulders, before Sweetie Belle turned back to Apple Bloom. "Can there really be a special talent in..apple bucking?" "There can be a special talent in anything!" Her idea seemed to work, her friends slapping hooves with her. Discord had just approached them, promptly collapsing, holding his head as the three shrilly shouted, "YAAY! CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS APPLE BUCKING!" The shout rattled a few leaves from their trees, birds escaping the trees in a flock, ponies from miles probably covering their ears. The children giddily trotted off, leaving Discord to writhe in pain on the ground, his hands clawing at his poor abused ears and shattered ear drums. xxxxxxxx Kill him. Kill him kill him; stone him stone him. Anything but this! Dear Equestria, shaping an accomplice in that little hay seed just wasn't worth it anymore! He'd rather take Applejack's beating, a day with Celestia, an hour of tickling – a day with no magic! Anything but this, absolutely anything! "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FROG CATCHING!" Oh, dear goooooods! What – was that their second hundred thousandth attempt at earning their cutie marks now? Frog catching? Were these kids bonkers? He was quite certain they were bonkers! Every few minutes the dreadfully, painfully, loud scream of their name and some other scheme rocked every apple in the trees above him. The attempts were only followed with brief moments of despondent sniffling, until the process merely repeated itself. Fluttershyyyy!! .......Mommyyyyy!! The little sniffling sighs of the three children indicated the...frog catching certainly hadn't been a success, and at last Discord was treated to some sweet, sweet silence, where he laid on his belly and relaxed. The spirit glanced pointedly at the children, rubbing his beard again. After a few minutes, a dastardly plan hatching in his mind, he floated nonchalantly over. "What's wrong, my little ponies?" All three girls' sad, almost wet eyes trailed to their flanks and then turned back to the spirit. "We're still blank flanks." They sat on them in embarrassment. "Awwww," Discord cooed, "so? We can all still have fun." His tail wrapped around them in an insincere hug, pressing the kiddies close to him, constricting lightly around their tiny bodies. "Why there's endless ways to have fun on this farm~!" His fingers wiggled insidiously. Apple Bloom watched those ruby flecks roam the area for something to corrupt. They settled on moving shapes near the barn: the chickens. Apple Bloom was about to protest, but they fell on deaf ears as a golden coating washed over the white feathers and the chickens stopped clucking. "WHAT DID YA-" The filly's furious shout trailed off when she watched the chickens fold their wings under them, scratching at their sides. It was then they began to screech chimpanzee sounds, dragging their wings on the ground and waddling back and forth. Rolling back and forth in mirth, the kids eventually joining in, Discord howled with laughter, the bubbly, giggling fillies falling to the ground in laughter as well. As Discord rolled up kicking, the same thundering crack from earlier sounded through the air, followed by the intense, blistering pain that reached a degree of burning words could not describe. His jumbled, scrambled brain was having trouble processing the nerves needed to let out a proper scream of anguish for a moment. At last they complied. "OWWWWIIIIEEEEAAAIIIYEE!!" Close to a dozen more lashes made the draconequus let out a strangled shriek, his paw and talon flying to the swollen welts on the base of his tail and rear. It had been a while since he had felt that sort of pain, although there had been a couple instances where Fluttershy had given him a single swat with her hoof (and immediately cried afterwards when she realized she hurt him.) The spirit doubled over, onto his belly, hands clutching at the burning streaks on his scales he was certain were chipped now and bleeding judging by what she did to that tree. It hurt, it hurt and the spirit felt his eyes watering with venom and wrath, his hands providing little comfort to his stinging backside. Nothing would make him happier than to turn that psychotic hill billy into a nice, steaming, cinnamon apple pie. "Stop your whimperin' and git up!" Applejack ordered sharply, spitting out the switch. The spirit begrudgingly obeyed, taking his time to stand on his shaking legs, his talon glowing threateningly. Just one lightning cloud; just one giant waterfall of chocolate milk. Just to show her she couldn't get away with humiliating him this way! "Golly sis," Apple Bloom frowned, stepping a little protectively in front of the sore and whining Discord, "he was just playing." "Ain't no time ta be playing!" Applejack admonished, stomping her hoof down for emphasis. "He got time ta be playing and he got time ta be working – which is what he's supposed to be doin'!" She moved past her sister, to the spirit glaring hatefully at her and concentrating magic in his paw and talon. "Oh go ahead and use your voo doo magic on me – ah dare ya! Ah'm mighty sure Fluttershy and Celestia would be pleased as peaches that ya'd hurt me, hm?" OH, he hated her, he hated her, he hated her. How dare she threaten him, how dare she whip him, how dare she, how dare she, how dare she-! "That's what ah thought." With a slight smirk, Applejack turned from the group, making her way back to the house, unable to suppress the soft laughs when she realized what she actually managed to get away with. Apple Bloom glanced down at the pathetic spirit that once again flopped into the grass, clapping his hands at his backside and trying to rid himself of the vicious pain. Dumbly, the filly decided to ask a stupid question. "Does it hurt?" She shrunk back sheepishly when Discord gave her a murderous glare. Applejack strode off, head held high, as if she had just brought home the highest medal from the annual Roundup. She stood beside her brother, eyes alight with a welling sense of pride and accomplishment. "'Bout time that varmint got his just desserts." Big Macintosh gave a firm nod and a smirk. "Eeyup." xxxxxxxx The skies were lit with twilight and the hay and crops took a distinctive shade of orange under the sun's light, sleepy rays. Already the giant orb of fire was descending down past the hill, bringing Luna's night, stars appearing like freckles on the black sky's face. Discord was under a tree sleeping while Apple Bloom sat beside her older sister and pointed out the stars as they appeared. It had been a long day, and sleep was overtaking the young filly as she gently tumbled onto Applejack's back. Fluttershy approached the tree, where she saw the sleepy, fluffy form there on his belly, looking so peaceful. Peaceful and sweet. He had been the first to fall asleep before anypony, immune system still weaker from the recent trauma, and thus he tired easily. The pegasus gently smoothed a hoof over the ruffled black mane, nuzzling his face. The muzzle twitched slightly as it was cuddled, and then dropped back onto the ground in exhaustion. Fluttershy giggled softly and decided to give him a few more moments to sleep before waking him. She trotted through the dewy, cold grass, approaching the southern pony still looking at the stars. "He wasn't too hard to look after, was he?" Fluttershy asked with a small sheepish wince, kind of figuring what the answer might be. "I was not sure if I should leave him here or not.." "Shoot, Sugar Cube, all was fine," Applejack chuckled, her smiling face turning from the sky and towards her friend. "Ah managed to wrangle him, just like ah do our cattle. How was shopping? Bet ya must be mighty tired." Fluttershy glanced over at her pile of bags she had to drag back with her; Discord's favorite cookies perched at the rim of the brown paper, peeking out at them. "I am, I really am. I managed to get Discord's favorite snack. I had to travel all over Ponyville to find them! Would you believe Sugarcube Corner was sold out?" She laughed, shaking her head. "But lucky for me there was a small sweets vendor at the edge of town. By the time I finally got there and back I was too tired to shop for the things I really need." She giggled, but Applejack had fallen silent, staring intently into Fluttershy's blue eyes. "...Ya really love him, don't ya, Sugar Cube?" The question seemed to slightly catch the pony off guard, but she had her answer prepared in an affirming nod and sparkling blue eyes. "Hm. Well, ya should be headin' off before it gets too dark." She chuckled, eyes roaming over to the stretched out, sleeping Discord. "If y'all can wake him that is." Fluttershy trotted softly back to the curled up form. The fluff of his tail was adorably falling over his sweet little snout, and Fluttershy giggled as he snorted in his sleep, twitching his nose in annoyance from the tickle. "Discord..." The spirit's head flopped to the side, his tail twitching lightly. "Come on, sweetie..it's time to get up." After a few moments a single miffed, red eye opened. "Nn-hrm.." Fluttershy giggled from his barely coherent response as he rose unsteadily onto all fours. "...Hm. G'ess the patch 'nder the tree w's c'mfier th'n I..though'...." At his guardian's laugh he shook his head to rid it of the sleepy state, rubbing his eyes. "What time is it?" "About eight at night. Come on now, let's get home." She gave the spirit a gentle nudge and he haphazardly stumbled into a slow walk to the gates. Walking behind him, Fluttershy blinked as her eyes adjusted to the red stripes on his backside. She shot a questioning glance over at Applejack, who's eyes only glinted mysteriously. xxxxxxxx Discord had collapsed onto his stomach on the plush mattress the moment he and his caretaker reached the living room. Before his head even hit the pillow he was out, and Fluttershy gently pulled a sheet up over the still form. Giving the spirit another nuzzle, she had to smile at the way he made an unconscious attempt to pull away. She ran a gentle hoof over his mane, but the tufts of hair flicked her away. Fluttershy smothered the burning candle and walked to the door. At this point Fluttershy herself would usually saunter her way to bed, or else at times curled up next to him when feeling vulnerable, but the pegasus found herself making her way back out into the frigid night air. The visions Fluttershy had seen – it had been a month ago but it never left her mind, or Discord's. The gruesome images, to the smiling and laughing child gods of the past stayed embedded somewhere in the recesses of their minds, popping out when unwanted. Fluttershy knew something had to be done. She refused to let the draconequus continue to be plagued by his past, and she herself refused to live in inward fear. Most of all, she refused to let Discord and the princesses continue to hate each other. Approaching the library, Fluttershy's hoof faltered at the door. What if Twilight was sleeping? She had already bugged her friend enough about Discord. The two of them had committed crimes against Equestria. She was surprised Twilight even wanted to remain friends with her. The pegasus had barely even realized the light pouring from the open door as Twilight stood there silently in front of her. The two girls exchanged silent, pained looks, sharing the private pain the two were always in from what they knew. Without a word Twilight ushered her friend in and shut the door. xxxxxxxx (Southern dialogue is hard. SOO, I know Discord probably wouldn't tolerate being whipped by a pony and WOULD have turned her into something, but you need to consider the facts in this fic: anything he does can have consequences and anything worse than a pie to the face could land him back in stone. Not saying he'll just accept the humiliation Applejack caused him, cause he'll find a way to get her back~)