On the rugged plains where many ponies would play, there was a lake called Lake Q. But it wasn’t always this way. Before the strange lake had ever been seen, a draconequus named Discord was once mean. He was called a monster until he had found bliss. Now he was really a softy, having been shown kindness. And with some new friends that he had, the kind loyal and true, Discord knew that friendship wouldn’t make him blue.
This was Discord’s first time at the local swimming hole. Ever since he had been asked by the Cutie Mark Crusaders to join them, he had been practicing diving, aqua acrobatics, and the average show-stopper complete with spraying water and bright lights. True, the girls only asked him about a few days ago, but he still wanted to show off his spectacular moves and have fun with the CMC at the same time. When the day arrived, he got his aquatic essentials and headed out. Discord also brought a special companion along so the latter wouldn’t feel left out.
Discord got to the top of the hill and saw several ponies playing either near the water, in the water, or lying on the shore. He held out his fishbowl so that his clownfish, Quincy, would get a look. The draconequus smiled, “Look, Q! We’re going to have so much fun swimming and making new friends. It’s also your chance to stretch those fins. Being cooped up in stone wasn’t very fun, was it?” When Q shook his head, Discord muttered, “Believe me, I know how you feel.”
Just then, he heard a familiar shouting.
“Discord!”
“Over here!”
“Come on! The water’s not so bad!”
His heart beamed with joy when he heard three of his favorite girls, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Though Fluttershy was his closest friend, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were fun to be around…if not annoying or distant sometimes. They acted like they didn’t even know Discord from time to time often because of who they were around with. If it was Fluttershy, it was okay to hang around him, but if they were with a crowd of ponies – mainly their sisters - the CMC acted aloof towards the Lord of Chaos. Fortunately, though, since just about every pony changed their tune about Discord since the opening night of The Singing Stallion, the girls could openly express their warmth to him. This made him one happy lord of chaos.
At that moment, a high diving board shot up from the sand. Everypony looked up and saw Discord ready to dive into the water. All of the patrons braced themselves as the spirit cried, “COWABUNGA!!!” He made a tremendous splash that wet all the ponies except the ones who had covered themselves. When Discord emerged, he said, “Ta-da! And that’s how you make a grand entrance.”
When he looked around, he saw the reaction he had come to expect: ponies murmuring and scowling at him. However, there was another reaction that he had hoped for all along: several ponies giggling and smiling at his stunt. Among those ponies were the Cutie Mark Crusaders. After Sweetie Belle emerged and gasped for air, Scootaloo also rose from the water and exclaimed, “Whoa-ho! That was awesome, Discord!” Apple Bloom swam up to him and smiled, “Yeah, no one makes a high dive like you!”
Discord blushed as he chuckled, “Oh, that was nothing. Wait till you see Quincy.” The girls asked in confusion, “’Quincy’?” When Discord snapped his claw, Q’s fishbowl was on a spring. With a sproing, the spring popped up like a jack-in-the-box. The bowl was still attached to the spring, but Q went flying before he dived into the swimming hole.
When the fish splashed its tail as a sign that it was okay, Discord held up a small card with the number 10 on it. He commended his fish, “Excellent dive, Q! You did even better than I did.” The CMC paddled carefully but excitedly towards the clownfish and were awed by it.
Scootaloo asked, “Who’s this little guy?”
Sweetie cooed, “He’s so cute!”
Apple Bloom asked, “Is he your pet?”
Discord smiled, “Why, yes, he is. His name is Quincy, but I like to call him ‘Q’. I’ve actually had him for a long time. He and I were recently reunited after that show-stopping performance of The Singing Stallion.”
The fish nudged him and his owner said, “What’s that, Q? You want to play ‘Hide-and-Surprise’ with the girls?” He smiled and continued in a playful tone, “All right, but you’re asking for it.” The CMC asked, “’Hide-and-Surprise’?” Discord smirked as he answered, “Oh, it’s a game that usually goes like this…” He then dove underwater quickly. The girls could barely register where he could’ve gone until…
“YAAAGGHH!!!” the girls cried.
They jumped up in the water as soon as they felt their tails being pulled. While they were recovering, Discord emerged onto the surface and laughed, “And that’s how you play ‘Hide-and-Surprise’.” Though the girls still had shock written all over their faces, it wasn’t long until Scootaloo gave a wicked smirk and then dived underwater. Discord looked all around and asked, “Huh? Now where did Scootaloo go?”
Suddenly, he felt his midsection getting squeezed and a voice cried, “Gotcha!” He turned to see Scoots wrapping her arms around his stomach and he chuckled, “That’s very good, Scootaloooooo!!” While he was saying her name, he felt his tail getting pulled down. He fell back into the water and when he regained his focus, he asked playfully, “Hey, who did that?” He lifted his tail out of the water and found Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle clutching onto it and laughing. He retorted teasingly, “That was a naughty thing you did…and a great move! I’m so proud of you, girls!”
They continued playing ‘Hide-and-Surprise” all day long until the sun went down. Discord and the CMC agreed to play at the swimming hole for as often as they could. He loved the girls for their outgoing and fun nature. He was sure Quincy loved them, too, and made sure to take him on his swim dates with the girls. They even invited the Mane Six to come join them and they all had fun in the sun. Through all of this, Discord never once thought that something terrible might just ruin their fun.