But what popped out was the head of a chicken. Seeing the chicken, Apple Bloom burst out in laughter. “And here I was scared fer nuthin. It’s just a chicken that wandered here.” Walking forward to get closer to it, she was stopped dead by Spike’s claw. “Don’t-“but he didn’t have to say anymore. Stepping out all together from among the bushes wasn’t a chicken, but a Cocatrice. With a head of a chicken and the body of a snake with wings, it took everything Apple Bloom had not to scream………almost everything.
“HHHEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!”
“Well it would serve them right for wandering here.” Commented the draconequus hanging on his cotton candy cloud. He came to the Everfree Forest for some entertainment, but the place is chaotic already, he didn’t need to do anything. After seeing the filly and the purple dragon run into the forest, he followed out of sheer boredom. He didn’t think he’d get the excitement of watching them become stone.
“You’re really not going to let those children get turned to stone, are you?” a soft voice asked.
Discord looked over on his shoulder to see a little Fluttershy shoulder angel in a toga with a halo on top of her head.
“Oh let them be.” the new voice suggested. Discord looked at his other shoulder and saw a little red version of himself. “It’s their own fault for coming into this forest in the first place. Plus, once they turn to stone, we can mark they’re faces.” Little Discord snickered, liking that that idea a lot.
“But you’ve come such a long way from being reformed. You’re supposed to show everypony that you’ve changed.” The Fluttershy angel pleaded.
“Oh it’s just a tiny harmless prank.” Discord devil argued. “Besides, you can always change them back after you’ve had your fun. You have your fun and they get to go back home after. Everypony wins.”
Before Discord could think more, he heard a sniffling coming from the Fluttershy angel. Looking down, he saw her tearing up. “I…..I thought you changed….” She whispered.
That did it. “Oh, for Celestia’s sake, I can’t win against you can I!?” he cried out. Shaking them both away, Discord leaps off his cloud and lands in the middle of the kids and the Cocatrice.
“Here’s a taste of your own medicine.” And with a snap of his claw, the Cocatrice’s head became stone. It tried to level itself out, but with the weight of the new stone head, it just couldn’t do it. Failing to keep its head level, it ended up landing in the ground, with its body trying and failing to get its head out. Letting out a good chuckle, Discord watched the scene in front of him with glee. Even though he couldn’t do his original prank, this one turned out just as hilarious.
Apple Bloom gave the creature a once over. He didn’t look like a pony. He looked like he had the head of a pony and the rest of his body meshed with other animals. And his magic! He made the head of the cocatrice turn to stone with just the snap of his….claw! Maybe he’s a nice creature. I mean…he did just save our lives. She went up to thank the creature when Spike’s claw once again stopped her.
“Don’t go near him. He’s dangerous!” he whispered loudly.
“But he just saved our lives.” She whispered back.
“Don’t you know who that is!?” he questioned. Apple Bloom shook her head no at the question.
When he realized that she was serious, Spike sighed with impatience. “That’s Discord, the spirit of chaos himself! He once tried to take over Equestria centuries ago, but the princesses stopped him with the Elements of Harmony encasing him in stone. He escaped and tried again, but was defeated by the bearers of harmony and encased in stone. He was released because the princesses wanted him reformed. He says he is but he keeps playing pranks and causing trouble for everypony. Know pony thinks he’s really reformed.”
“As nice as it was to stroll down memory lane, need I remind you that I can hear you?” Said a voice below. Spike and Apple Bloom looked down to see the creature miniaturized between them sitting in a red recliner with a bag of popcorn. Yelping in surprised, they both jumped away from him.
“That was a nice story, but didn’t any pony tell you it’s impolite to gossip behind their back?” he lectured as he grew back to normal size, the chair and popcorn disappearing.
“It’s not gossip, it’s the truth!” Spike replied back before Apple Bloom could reply. “You make every pony’s life miserable with your pranks.”
“It’s not my fault that they can’t take a little joke.” He countered with boredom as he examined his claw. “And I have yet to receive a thank you.”
Spike kept his mouth shut, but Apple Bloom knew better. “Thank you ferr sav’n us. We both appreciate it.” She said sincerely, nudging Spike with her hoof. Spike just turned his head away.
“Oh don’t mention it. Ever.” He replied with deadpan seriousness. “Besides, what are you two doing in the Everyfree Forest anyway?”
“Well……we werr runn’n from a pony cuz Spike accidently stole an apple….and I wuz runn’n away so we both kinda ran here without realizn.” Apple Bloom explained sheepishly.
“So I saved a thief and a runaway. Don’t I feel like hero of the day?” Discord commented while holding a gold plaque with an inscription saying ‘Hero of the Day’ with a picture of him waving. With a grunt, he shredded the plaque like it was paper and threw it into his mouth with a satisfied gulp.
“I’m not a thief!” Spike exclaimed!
“And I only ran away cuz I wuz miserable!” Apple Bloom added.
“Oh yes, I definitely believe a dragon ‘accidently’ stealing an apple.” Discord replied sarcastically making air quotes with his claw and paw. “And I never played a prank on anypony in my entire lifespan.” He added, his snout growing long at the obvious lie.
“But—“Spike tried to argue, but with the snap of his claw, Spike’s mouth disappeared, silencing the tiny dragon.
“And now that I look closer” Discord examined, pushing his snout back in place “you’re the little assistant of that know-it-all princess; sending you on an errand only for you to do some little errands of your own. Oh, the princess would be so ashamed.” Discord explained in mock sadness, wiping away a dry tear. “As a good friend of the princess, I simply cannot let you wander around stealing without informing her royal highness.” And with the snap of his paw, Discord returned Spike’s mouth, but now he was tied up with a piece of paper attached saying ‘I stole. Please teach me the ways of friendship properly’ with a cartoon picture of Discord holding up a piece sign. “Ta-Ta!!” and with another snap of his paw, Spike disappeared.
Apple Bloom was speechless. She just witness outstanding amounts of magic that not even a unicorn could perform, and this creature was doing it like it was nothing!
Discord turned to Apple Bloom with one eyebrow raised. “Now as for you.” He started.
Apple Bloom took a big gulp. After everything he just did with Spike, she didn’t want to know what he was going to do with her.
“Why did you run away?” he asked.
“Wait, what happened to Spike?” She asked hesitantly.
“Answer the question.”
“But I—“
“Answer.”
“But—“
“The.”
“I just—“
“Question.”
“But what about--!” before she could say another word, Discord snapped his claw and took away her mouth. “You know, I despise children who don’t do what their elders request of them.” And to the side “I loathe children no matter what they do….” Looking back at Apple Bloom he finished, “Now answer the question when I give you your mouth back.” He ordered, giving Apple Bloom her mouth.
“I heard that!” she pointed out.
“Oh? Did you?” he asked innocently with a halo appearing over his head, yet not denying it.
Ignoring him, Apple Bloom answered his question. “My life is miserable there. I’m always clean’n, I don’t get enough ta eat, and I can’t take it anymore!” Apple Bloom wailed.
“You’re just going through a phase. Ever filly does. No sense running away from home because of it. I bet your parents are having a field day looking for you.” He lectured.
Her pink bow lowered with her head. Kicking the ground with her hoof Apple Bloom whispered, “I live in an orphanage…..” He barely registered what she said before she picked herself up again and declared, “but ma parents left me with a note sayn they’ll come back ferr me. So I’m gonna save them the trouble and go find them myself.”
“And I suppose you know where they live?” he questioned.
“No!”
“What they’re names are?”
“No.”
“What they look like?”
“……No…” Apple Bloom replied, head shrinking with every no she gave.
“Well then I suggest give up, be a good filly, and behave so some desperate family can adopt a little brat such as yourself. And now my dear child, I bid you farewell and go away.” And with a snap of his claw, Apple Bloom disappeared.
“Well, I did my good deeds of the day. Fluttershy will be so proud.” He exclaimed giddily. And with a smile on his face, Discord teleported back home.
Chrysalis was at her desk reading through some adoption candidates when a flash appeared in the room. When she looked up, there was Apple Bloom sitting in the chair opposite of Chrysalis, tied up with a piece of paper attached saying ‘I’m sorry I ran away. Please discipline me’.
“Welcome back.” Chrysalis greeted with a raised eyebrow.
“Bu-….wha-…how?” Apple Bloom shuddered as she looked around the room frantically. When her eyes landed on Chrysalis, she deflated.
“Dangit……...”