Everyone was silent on the way to Fluttershy’s cottage. Twilight, Apple Jack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were thinking about Chime Tuner and how his ignorance was very annoying. Fluttershy was thinking about how Chime Tuner might react to how she still took care of animals. Chime Tuner was thinking about where to start in his business. And finally, Spike was thinking about how Thorn’s beauty was much more beautiful then Rarity’s.
“So… your name is Thorn?” Spike asked.
“Uh… yes,” Thorn answered.
“That is a pretty name,” Spike swooned.
Thorn blushed at the gesture.
“Oh… Th-thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” Spike replied with a smile.
The rest of the way home, everyone was quiet.
~*~
Once at Fluttershy’s cottage, everyone gasped at the sight of her house.
“Oh my darling! … You really spruced up your cottage, didn’t you?” Rarity gasped.
“It looks more like a mansion than a cottage,” Apple Jack pointed out.
“Well, I did try my best.” said a familiar voice behind them.
“WHAT IN THE HAY IS THAT THING?!” Chime Tuner cried out, looking at the deformed figure in a butler suit.
“Oh, forgive me, I forgot my manners! I am Discord, the butler,” Discord announced.
“Butler?” Chime Tuner asked.
“Yes sir,” Discord answered, bowing politely “And I assume you are Chime Tuner?”
“Y-yes.” Chime Tuner stuttered, still baffled at his appearance.
“Oh good, please do come in! I have a special treat for all of you!”
As the 6 ponies went in, they eyed Discord. Fluttershy was about to go in, but before doing so, she pulled Discord aside for a moment.
“What are you doing?!” she asked quietly.
“I’m opening the door for you,” Discord explained.
“That’s not what I meant!”
“Oh… Well I thought I might help you with Chime Tuner and impress him with this knew lovely mansion.”
“But what about my house?!”
“Relax my dear! I have everything under control.”
` Fluttershy took a deep breath and calmed down.
“Ok… I trust you.”
Discords face lit up.
“Splendid! Now shall we go in!”
Fluttershy smiled.
“That we shall.”
~*~
When inside the dark dining room, Discord pulled up a chair for Fluttershy to sit in. She happily sat down.
Once all the ponies and dragons where seated, Discord shone a light on him singing these words:
[Discord]
Ma chere Mademoiselles, it is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight. And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents... your dinner!
Be. Our. Guest, be our guest
Put our service to the test
Tie a napkin 'round your neck, cheries
And we'll provide the rest
Soup du jour, hot hors d'oeurves
Why, I only live to serve
Try the grey stuff, it's delicious!
Don't believe me? Ask the dishes!
(The ensemble enters)
They can sing! They can dance!
After all, they were from Prance!
And the dinner here is never second best
Go on, unfold your menu
Take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest, oui our guest, be our guest!
[Discord, Ensemble]
Beef ragout, cheese souffle
Pie and pudding "en flambe"
[Discord]
We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret!
You're alone and you're scared
But the banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complaining
While the flatware's entertaining
We tell jokes! I do tricks
With my fellow candlesticks
[Discord, Ensemble]
And it's all in perfect taste that you can bet
Come on and lift your glass
You've won your own free pass
To be out guest
[Discord]
If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest
[Discord, Ensemble]
Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!
[Ensemble]
Be our guest, be our guest
Get your worries off your chest
Let us say for your entree
We've an array; may we suggest:
Try the bread! Try the soup!
When the croutons loop de loop
It's a treat for any dinner
Don't belive me? Ask the china
Singing pork! Dancing veal!
What an entertaining meal!
How could anyone be gloomy and depressed?
We'll make you shout "encore!"
And send us out for more
So, be our guest!
[Discord]
Be our guest!
[Discord, Ensemble]
Be our guest!
(First musical interlude)
[Featured Teapot Soloist #1]
It's a guest! It's a guest!
Sakes alive, well I'll be blessed!
Wine's been poured and thank the Lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed
[FTS #2]
With dessert, they'll want tea
And my dear that's fine with me
While the cups do their soft-shoein'
It'll be bubbling, It'll be brewing
[Both]
It'll get warm, piping hot
Heaven's sakes! Is that a spot?
Clean it up! We want the company impressed
[Ensemble]
We've got a lot to do
[FTS #1]
Is it one lump or two?
For you, our guests!
[FTS #2]
They're our guests!
[Both]
They're our guests!
[Ensemble]
They're our guests!
Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!
[Discord]
Life is so unnerving for a servant who's not serving
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon
Ah, those good old days when we were useful...
Suddenly those good old days are gone
One year, I've been rusting needing so much more than dusting
Needing exercise, a chance to use my skills!
Most days I just lay around the castle
Flabby, fat and lazy, she walked in and oops-a-daisy!
(Second musical interlude)
[Ensemble]
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Our command is your request
It's been years since she had anypony here
And we're obsessed!
With your meal, with your ease
Yes indeed, we aim to please
While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you, we'll keep going
[Discord, Ensemble]
Course by course, one by one
'Til you shout "Enough! I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest
Tonight you'll prop your feet up, but for now, let's eat up
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Be our guest! Please, be our guest!
“HOW DID HE DO THAT?!” Chime Tuner shouted.
“Do what?” Twilight asked.
“How did he make all the dishes and candles sing and dance?! That’s just creepy!” Chime Tuner replied.
“No it’s not,” Fluttershy said.
“Then what is it?” Chime tuner asked.
“It’s entertaining,” Fluttershy answered.
“No it’s not!” Chime Tuner screamed.
“Well how do you know it’s creepy?!” Fluttershy began to shout.
“Because that thing made it happen!” He cried louder.
“Hello, I’m right here!” Discord reminded them.
“He’s not a thing!! He’s a person!” Fluttershy snapped.
“Well maybe you need your eyes checked!”He snapped back.
“Maybe you need more friends!”
“Oh really?! You mean the ones that aren’t like you?! You mean the ones that don’t race home to mommy when she gets teased?! You mean the ones that aren’t stupid and dense like you are?!”
After that insult, Chime Tuner realized how much that must have hurt Fluttershy. He saw tears running down her face.
“….. Is that what you think of me?” She asked severly.
“I-I—“ Chime Tuner stuttered.
“IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK OF ME?! She asked louder.
Chime tuner said nothing.
“Then leave,” Fluttershy huffed quietly.
“Fluttershy I--”
“JUST LEAVE YOU BIG BULLY!!”
And with that last sentence, Fluttershy ran to her bedroom, sobbing.
Chime Tuner, still trying to process what had just happened, couldn’t take any more. He ran out the door and into the Ever Free Forest.
“I’ll go after him!” Twilight shouted, running outside.
She ran into the dark, trying to find Chime Tuner. But Twilight couldn’t help but think that something, or someone, was watching her.