//------------------------------// // Ch 1: Trust // Story: The Trials Of The Six // by Phantom Dragon //------------------------------// Ch 1: Trust The citizens of Ponyville were enamored with the new structure that magically appeared in their town. The glimmering crystal tree castle stood out in the humble town of Ponyville, it gave their town a touch of class. There were many foals that ran and played outside the castle, while inside of it was Twilight Sparkle and Spike. They were all busy trying to recreate all the books and information Twilight lost when her home exploded. Twilight let out a sigh “Why didn’t I reread my books again, while I still had the chance?” she sadly asked. Spike rolled his eyes, after hearing Twilight say this over and over again; he was at his wits’ end. “Yeah well, I lost my comic book collection too, and most of them were rare!” Spike blurted out. Spike gasped and quickly regretted what he said, shoving a claw on top of his mouth. Twilight looked as if she was about to say something, but she clamped her muzzle. ‘Of course I’m not the only who lost things, Spike has as well’ Twilight thought to herself. She then walked toward Spike and sat down next to him. She then nuzzled him in a motherly way; both of them sharing a moment of lose. ______________________________________________________________________________ Meanwhile, Fluttershy was outside her cottage clutching a letter to her chest standing right next to her mailbox. Angel was right beside her impatiently thumping his foot. I hope the mailpony gets here quickly, this letter needs to go soon.’ Fluttershy thought as she stared down her path. Finally a mailmare came by and looked at Fluttershy waiting there, and then noticed Fluttershy’s pet. The mailpony grinned thinking the rabbit was adorable. The mailmare did wonder why Fluttershy was there, but then the mailpony knew from many years of experience, that if it was really important mail, ponies would usually go out of their way to see the mailpony take that mail from them. By watching a mailpony take it, it gave ponies a piece of mind. The mailmare then remembered the rumors she had heard at the post office. Rumors about what this pony did to another mailpony, and it made the mailmare a little frightened of Fluttershy. A hint of fear showed on the mare’s face when she looked at Fluttershy. Fluttershy sighed while having a look of guilt on her face. Most the mailponies had that look when they came towards Fluttershy or her home to deliver the mail. After what happened to that mailpony in that one indent, she could hardly blame them. “Um ...hello Fluttershy” said the mailpony sounding a bit nervous. Fluttershy exchanged her letter for the ones the mailpony had for her. Even though the mailpony was not supposed to, she quickly glanced at the letter out of curiosity before stuffing it inside her mail carrier bag. ‘Hmm… it’s going to a pony named Timid Storm in Cloudsdale, interesting’ the mailpony thought. The mailpony saw the doubt in Fluttershy’s eyes and wanted to assure her that the letter would be safe. So the mailmare gave a salute as she recited something she said many times to many other ponies. “You can trust us to deliver this mail as quickly and safely as possible.” As soon as Fluttershy hear those words something within her broke “Ttrrustt” Fluttershy said as her voice shook, and there was a very subtle eye twitch when she said that. “Yy…you want to me trust you?” Fluttershy asked in an angry tone, this completely shocked the mailpony. “Why! So you can betray me again, you want to take advantage of me don’t you?! Well I’m not going to let that happen EVER AGAIN!” Fluttershy shouted as she huffed in angry. This caused the mailpony to shiver in total fear and then ran away as fast as her legs could carry her. Discord had just watched the whole scene from afar, he was hiding behind one of the trees near her house. He wanted see how bad the damage of his betrayal was to Fluttershy. Usually when somepony broke they become less fun to toy with. Now Discord just felt awful, the feeling of guilt and regret felt like a heavy rock that sat on top of his heart. “I am the one who caused this” Discord muttered to himself “If I don’t fix this…” At that moment Discord’s imagination conjured up an image of a gray colored Fluttershy staying locked up inside her cottage. Then her becoming too paranoid to trust in anypony including her friends, and then spending the rest of her life miserable and alone. Although at that point Discord did think he went a tad overboard on that one. Discord then saw that Fluttershy was gone. Discord snapped his talon and teleported near one of Fluttershy’s windows. Discord peeked through the widow looking through a tiny opening of Fluttershy’s curtains, only to see her crying. Discord looked away in guilt “The first friend I made and I broke her, I got to get her trust back, but how?” Discord nonchalantly played with his beard while he thought. He then remembered about Applejack’s diary entry, how she wrote about when she broke ponies trust by lying, then she wrote about how she hoped to earn it back with time. “That’s it!” he exclaimed in glee “I’ll ask her, she’ll know what to do.” ‘Wait, I’m going ask a pony for advice? I never done that before, I’m the lord of chaos I don’t need advice.’ Fluttershy opened the window curtains looking outside through her window. She was sure she heard Discord but when Fluttershy saw nothing she drew the curtains. Discord hid on the side of Fluttershy’s house he was unable to face her now. ‘I have to, if I want to fix this, I have to’ Discord thought, his guilt feeling even worse now, so with that Discord disappeared with a snap. ______________________________________________________________________________ Applejack was just about to buck another apple tree, when all of the sudden Discord appeared. This caused Applejack to trip and fall on the ground. ‘Oh right, I guess I have ta get used ta that’ she thought as she dusted herself off. Before Applejack had a chance to say anything Discord said. “Applejack I...uh I need some advice” Applejack’s jaw dropped “Hold on… ya need advice... from me?!” “Yeah I do, it’s about… well you know.” Applejack took an empty basket and with one hoof hit it hard, it flipped in the air and then it landed upside down. Satisfied she sat on top of the bucket, which surprisingly could hold her weight. “Do ya need a seat as well?” Applejack asked her hoof pointing at a nearby bucket with only a few apples inside of it. “No, I’m fine” Discord replied proofing very comfortable lounge chair and sitting on it. “Alright talk” Applejack stated. “Well... I wanted to see how bad the betrayal was, and nopony took it harder than Fluttershy.” “Applejack, how do I…how I do get her trust back?.” ‘Huh…I was expecting him ta turn around, but not this fast’ Applejack thought. “Discord, trust is something you have ta earn, as for Fluttershy she needs time ta heal.” “I do remember, you wrote something like in that diary, So what did you mean by you have to earn it back?” “How I even do something like that?” “Yeah, I did write that, you see it took hard work and dedication ta earn it in the first place but since I broke that trust, it means I have ta make it up ta them.” “As for how… well you did apologized ta her, so that’s the first step, did ya promise ta never do it again?” “No” Discord answered. “Well there you go, that’s another step, for now give her space.” “The best thing ta do is the same thing I have ta do, try be a better pony” Applejack said. "Or your case a better um... dra…con..qui…ques?” Applejack finished sounding the word out like foal would, when they were trying to say a difficult word. Discord was slightly annoyed by this but he let it go. “That way it will be a little easier ta get her trust back.” “I see…well Applejack, I need some time to think things over, if you’ll excuse me” and with that he was gone. Applejack then realized that he did not take the chair with him. “Discord! What am I suppose ta do with this chair?!” Applejack shouted. ______________________________________________________________________________ Discord was now lounging in a large tree. He was deep in thought about the conversation he just had with Applejack. ‘What am I suppose to do? I am the lord of chaos, chaos is all I know.’ ‘I don’t know how to be better’ ‘I don’t how to be good’ ‘Also waiting have never been my strong suit’ He thought back to when he read the diary and each ordeal Twilight and her friends had to go through to test the elements they represent. Just then an idea popped into his head. “Of course!” Discord said as he hit his lion paw into his talon. He looked as if he had another epiphany, when he vanished again. ______________________________________________________________________________ Spike and Twilight went back to organizing the library. Although now, there was an awkward silence between the three of them because what happened earlier in the library. Discord appeared at the moment, and because it was a welcome distraction from the uncomfortable situation. It caused Twilight to involuntarily let out a sigh of relief. Discord had a sly grin on his face, “Well, well Twilight, happy to see me?” He teased “I don’t think you missed me that much.” Twilight let out an annoyed sigh and rolled her eyes at the same time. “Did you want something Discord?” “Yes, I have a proposition for you” “A proposition?” Twilight questioned. “Okay, let’s hear it” “I know you and your friends have forgiven me for that whole Tirek thing, but my guess is that you don’t trust me yet.” “Discord, that kind of…” “Please Twilight, let me finish” Discord interrupted. “I realized that I don’t know anything about being good,so then I remembered about that diary all of you wrote in, and the tests you and your friends passed, which helped you all learn and grow from them.” “So… I … I want you and the others to give me tests. Some trials if you will, maybe it could be something that has to do with the elements you all represent.” Twilight stood there completely dumbfounded. A book that Spike was holding slipped out of his claw. The book landed with a hard thud and it broke the deafening silence that came over everyone in the room. However it made no difference the sound was completely ignored. The situation then became more and more uncomfortable for Discord. Twilight gathered herself and asked “Are you sure about this?” “Yes” Discord replied “Discord, are you really certain about this? There could be another way.” “No, I believe this is the best way for me to learn about being good and also, it will give me a chance to make up to other ponies.” “Are you absolutely sure about this?” Twilight asked emphasizing the word absolutely “Yes” Discord said sounding a bit irritated. “Alright, let me talk to everypony else and see what their opinion is” “Ok, sounds reasonable” And with that Twilight left the castle with Spike following close behind her.