//------------------------------// // The Truth // Story: Your Mother? // by Dr Atlas //------------------------------// “Okay, we’re gonna do this on the count of three, ready?” “Mmhh hmm!” “Okay, One…” “Mhhmmmhmph!” “Two..” “Mhmmhmhmmmmhmph!!” “THREE!” “MMMHEEAHH!” Discord managed to yank off the zipper around Fluttershy’s mouth, falling to the floor seconds later. Fluttershy gasped and felt her unzipped lips, hoping nothing was damaged. “W-Why couldn't you just use your own magic?” She asked. Discord got back up and took in short breaths. “My mother’s magic is completely separate from mine, if I could use my own magic against hers, then I would’ve snapped that plant away.” Fluttershy could understand that. “Oh…” “Speaking of mother…” Discord turned to the couch, seeing that Eris was still knocked out from the news. “Still overly dramatic as ever, it seems.” He chuckled. “You should see her villain monologues. She could go on and on about-” “Discord…” Fluttershy tugged on his tail. “I-I don’t think we can keep this up for much longer.” Discord pushed her back with his tail and crossed his arms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Shy. This is going wonderful.” He pulled a notebook from behind his back. “We’ve established that I rule over everything and I’ve made sure she won’t kill you, I say that’s going two for two. Now, all we need to do is-” Fluttershy flew up to him and knocked the notepad out of his claws. “All we’ve done so far is lie about everything! You ruling, me being a...sler...vant, and worst of all, she almost killed me...Three times!” Discord started fidgeting. “She wouldn’t of killed you...well, slowly, that is.” Fluttershy started getting riled up over this. “Discord...We need to tell her the truth.” Discord turned away. “You know I can’t do that.” “You can’t or you won’t?” Discord turned back to her. “If I tell her everything, then she’ll look at me like a failure, and the last thing I want on my conscious is a mother telling me I’m no good to her.” “But the more you lie, the worse it gets.” Fluttershy crossed her arms. Discord dragged his paw against his face, knowing this charade could not last forever. “Alright, listen, once she wakes up, I’ll try and get her out of my home, okay?” Fluttershy went eye to eye with him. “We can’t just let her leave without her knowing! And I think you mean my home.” “Isn’t that what I said?” “No, you said-” “AAAAH!!” Discord and Fluttershy jumped as Eris flung herself up from the couch, she then looked around in a blind panic before she laid her eyes on her son. Eris gasped and hugged Discord. “Oh, Discord!” She yelled. “I had the most terrible dream, it was about how you were ruling the world and taking control of Equestria with an iron claw-” Discord raised an eye. “B-But I thought you-” “-only to be thwarted by a group of ponies that turned you into stone.” Eris finished. Discord flinched. “Oh...Y-you don’t say…” “And to make it worse!” Eris continued. “They broke you out and turned you into some good for nothing...good guy!” She sighed. “It was so frightening, but thank the gods that was just a dream. Hah.” She looked up to see Discord had a face of pure terror on him “You okay, Dissy?” Discord’s face was pure white the entire time she was talking. It was only when she stopped that he shook the color back into him. “Bwah! Y-Yes! Yes! I’m fine! Just fine…” Eris pulled away from him. “You’re acting strange again, Dissy. I’m starting to get concerned.” Discord rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. You have nothing to be concerned about, I have everything under control here.” “You sure?” Eris asked. “Of course I’m sure. Now, since you’ve seen and heard about everything I’ve done, how about you-” “I haven’t seen anything yet!” Eris sprang from the couch and pointed to the door. “When I got here, I didn’t see anything except this house, and the last thing I wanna do before I go is see my son’s handy work.” Discord started panicking again. “Y-You want to look outside?” “Seems like she does.” Fluttershy crossed her arms and looked at Discord, knowing full well what she wanted him to do. Eris chuckled. “For once, the slaves right. I mean, what else am I gonna do? Sit here and admire the decor? I like this temporary house, Dissy, but I don’t like it enough to visit here and end the tour.” She started walking to the door. “Now come on, I wanna see where you keep the slaves, they’ve gotta be-” Discord immediately stopped her in her tracks by teleporting to the door, completely blocking it. “L-Listen, uh...Eris, I know you wanna get a look, but it’s really not that interesting...I-I’m sure it’s the same as you would think...heh…” Eris rolled her eyes. “Look, Dissy, I at least wanna see your other slaves, because if this one is acting like some ugly dog off her leash, then I-” Fluttershy was about to object, but Discord did something worse. “Eris, she’s not...well, she is, but-” “WHAT!?” Fluttershy yelled. Discord looked to his right, seeing Fluttershy inches away from him.. “Hey now, is that any way to talk to your mas-” Fluttershy flew up in the air and yelled, “THAT’S IT!” She yelled with a twitchy eye and strands of her hair standing on end. “Eris. It’s time you know the truth!” “Truth?” Eris said. “What are you talking about, slave? In fact, why are you talking at all?” Fluttershy was about to answer, but Discord clamped her mouth shut with his claw. “I-I really don’t know why this pony thinks she has some power even though she’s immortal.” Discord said, straining himself to keep Fluttershy from talking. “m-maybe it would be better if you go while I take care of this little pony.” He lightly shook her, making the pegasus glare daggers at him. Eris continued looking confused. “Dissy, if this pony keeps this up, you’re gonna have to put a leash and a muzzle on her.” Discord thought about that. “Well, I think that’d just make things awkward.” Eris shrugged. “If you say so.” She shook her head at the sight, seeing an immortal pony was bad enough for her, but one who was acting like this, it was becoming too much for her. Fluttershy continued to struggle, but Discord managed to keep her mouth shut. "A-Anyways, a-about that tour. How about we just-AH" Fluttershy managed to get her upper mouth out and bite on Discord’s tallon. Making him let go and yelp in pain. “OW! W-What was that for?” Discord said, cradling his injured claw. “What do you think, Discord!?” Fluttershy lost it. Being called a slave, almost dying, being treated like this, she had to say it. “It’s time she-” “NO! You are NOT telling her!” Discord screamed, clamping his mouth shut seconds later. “Tell me what?” Eris asked, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. Fluttershy went eye to eye wtih her. “I’m telling you that-” Discord panicked and zipped her mouth shut. “H-Heh...y-you were right, Eris, s-she really does need a muzzle un...heheh...” Eris noticed the sweat dripping of his forehead. “Dissy, is there something you’re not telling me?” Discord raised his claw in the air and his paw to his chest while Fluttershy strained to unzip her mouth. “Eris, I am telling the truth when I say, I am completely, one hundred percent- *ZIP* “HE’S NOT EVIL!” … Eris stood still, Discord looked back and forth at her mother and the pegasis, and Fluttershy panted heavily in an effort to regain her composure. “W-what?” Eris stuttered. Fluttershy sighed. “Yes, it’s true, he’s been reformed and is-” Discord stood up and stepped in front of Fluttershy. “Still as evil as ever.” He exclaimed before nervously fidgeting. “A-And is probably about to teach this pony here a lesson about talking over her mas-” “You’re not my master, Discord, you’re my frie-” Discord turned around and went eye to eye with her. “You’re not my...m-my…” For some reason, he couldn’t finish that sentence, even Fluttershy was surprised. Eris crossed her arms. “She’s not your ‘what’, Dissy?” Discord craned his neck to Eris, knowing full well this might be the end. “Well, s-she’s obviously not...uh...not.” He gulped “W-Why can’t I say it!?” Eris had enough, she flew in between both of them and tapped her foot impatiently. “Dissy? What is she talking about?” Discord took a deep breath, knowing he could say it. “W-Who cares, s-she’s not...my...my...f…fr...UGH!” He threw his arms in the air. “I can’t do this anymore!” Discord grabbed Eris and said, “Mom...S-She’s right. Yeah.That pony right there, is right! I need to tell you...the truth.” Eris sighed. “I think I can already guess what it is...which just proves her right…” “Eris, I’m not…” Discord let go of her. “W-What?” Eris flew over to the couch and sat down. “I-I can’t believe she actually meant it, that...that...you…” Eris pointed at Fluttershy. “T-That you beat us...I-I...I’m just...I’m just at a loss for words.” Fluttershy flew up to her, starting to feel safer after the talk. “W-What do you mean?” “What I mean is that Big F was right, that you ponies really can change us...First I find out that Chaos is helping the town, then Strife is happily married to that Butterflutter pony…Who kinda looks like you, actually.” Eris pointed at Fluttershy and looked up at Discord. “Um...Y-You two aren’t...ya know...together, are you?” Both of them looked at each other before looking away and blushing. “W-We’re just friends.” Discord said. “A-And what are you talking about with this Chaos and Strife.” “Dissy. I’m surprised you haven't figured it out yet.” Eris started counting on her claws. “Chaos is the first draconicus I created for my back up, then I knew that alicorn would try to fix him, so I made another, and a third one just in case...but it seems the third time wasn’t the charm…” Discord sat on a chair. “Y-You’re telling me you made other dra-?” Eris shrugged. “I thought it was a pretty good plan, I mean, I ain’t outlivin’ that mare, so I might as well outnumber her…” Eris looked at the floor. “But that alicorn knows just what to do next, she even made two daughters herself! And that still beat me!...I-I mean, th-that’s one less than what I got...h-how in the heck does that work!?...D-did she make a third one behind my back or something?” Eris closed her eyes and covered them with her claws. “She’s just one step ahead...with no matter what I did...just one. Step. Ahead.” Discord looked back and forth. “Eris, I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, Who’s Miss F? W-What plan? What other alicorns? What battle?” Discord leaned in. “Eris, please tell me what you’re talking about.” Eris glared at him. “How about you tell me about yourself, Discord. Y-You aren’t a villain anymore...are you?” Discord opened his mouth but Eris just zipped it with a snap of her claws. “You know what! I don’t even want to hear it, Dissy. I know it now! You’re no villain, You’re not evil. You're not quasi-evil. You're not semi-evil. You're not even the diet drink of evil!" Eris stood up and unzipped him. Discord used Fluttershy as a shield as she stood over the two of them. “You’re good now, aren't you?” Discord gulped. He looked at Fluttershy for help, but just like he did to her, she only pointed at Eris and leaned her head at her, waiting for him to answer. He decided that enough was enough, that this charade had to end here. He stood tall, closed his eyes, and slowly nodded. “I-It’s true, mother...I...I’m not evil. I’m not causing chaos. I’m not ruling over everypony. I’m not even living in my own house...my sla-” Discord flinched as Fluttershy smacked his shoulder. He rubbed it and corrected himself. “Ugh...Fluttershy here is the owner of this place.” “That’s its name?” Eris said. “It’s not an ‘it’, Eris.” Discord said. “It’s a pony.” Eris sat back down on the couch. “I know that...It’s a force of habit.” She covered his eyes with her claws. “I can’t believe any of this, just...all three of my children changed into...into.” “Good creatures.” Fluttershy finished. “Eris, Discord isn’t a bad guy anymore, he’s changed. H’s someone who’s realized the error of his ways and can now. He’s...he...” She then realized Eris wasn’t even paying attention, just looking at the ground with her claw and paw covering her face. Discord rested his paw on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “I-It’s no use, Shy...s-she’s not even caring, and you're right, I’m not evil, not ever since I came out of stone again.” Fluttershy's eyes lit up, knowing full well that wasn’t true. She smiled and flew up to Eris. “Listen...uh, Eris, i-if it makes you feel any better, Discord still acts...well, kind of evil.” “What?” Both draconequus said. Fluttershy scratched the back of her neck, feeling both good and bad talking about this. “W-Well, he’s usually still acting a bit...chaotic around the ponies, mostly my friends...a-and I guess betraying us at one point was-” Eris’s eyes shot open. “Way way WHAT!?...H-He betrayed you?” Eris stood up and grabbed Discord. “I-Is that true?” Discord looked back and forth, hoping he would forget about that. “Um...well, I kinda...sorta...did, in a way...ya know...teaming up with Trek to-” “Trek?” Eris let go of him. “That big red freak, y-you went with that loser? How could you help him? He’s not that good of a creature to trust, and your getting this from the most untrustworthy of lady’s, Dissy.” Discord groaned. “I know that, but-” Eris didn’t seem to care about who he went with, just that he tried being evil again. “Was there anything else you did? P-Please tell me you did more, the other children didn’t do anything after they were reformed, but you...you actually betrayed those ponies? A-After turning good? A-A face heel turn?” Normally, Discord wanted to forget about that moment of his life, but telling his mother about it might just make her happy. “Um...y-yeah, I did. I was evil for a bit after that, a-and I even- OW!” Discord rubbed his arm again after another punch from Fluttershy, who glared at him. “B-but In the end...I realized the error of my ways and went back to...well, being good.” Eris sighed, knowing she was hoping for too much. “Well, at least you were like that for a while...s’better than nothing...I guess.” Her eyes trailed to the floor. “Look, Eris, I-I’m sorry for lying, I-I just wanted to make you happy; to make you proud; to make you...not be disappointed in me…” He turned away, not wanting to look at her, thinking all she saw was an utter failure of a villain. Eris looked back at him, thinking that was the silliest thing she had ever heard. “Oh. Dissy, I could never be like that to you, I wasn’t like that to them, and I’m certainly not gonna be to you.” She took hold of his beard and pulled it toward her, making him face her again. “And good or not, I’m not gonna be disappointed, as long as you did something to cause stress for these ponies, then I’m pretty proud.” Discord’s jaw hung open after that. “Y-You really mean that?” Eris only smiled and pulled him in for a hug.“Of course I do, I don’t care what you do. You can be good. You can make sla- ponies your friends. You can make peace with every pony in the world. I will still love you, no matter what.” Discord was at a loss for words, but in the end, he smiled and hugged her back, feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off his back. Fluttershy smiled as well, happy to know that this ended very well, and that she didn’t die in the process. Once the hug was over, Discord wanted to ask the obvious. “So, what will you do now? I mean, knowing me and… the others are good, do you want to join in on it or-” “Eh...not really.” Eris said, a slight sound of innocence in her voice. “Just because you and the others are good doesn’t mean I want to be. Besides, if you can be on a pony’s good side and cause chaos, then I’m pretty sure this, ‘being good’ thing might...well, be good.” Fluttershy flew up to her. “S-So, you’re gonna turn over a new leaf, t-take back everything you’ve done, apologize to everypony who-” Eris couldn’t hold it in and laughed right in front of her. “HAHAHA! T-TAH Take it back, Yeh-Yeah right! Like I’m gonna take back what I did, I did it for the laughs, deary, and you know what?” She tapped her on her nose. “I don’t regret a thing.” She pointed at Discord. “And I’m sure you feel the same way?” Discord fidgeted. “Um...uh...s-sure, I-I liked what I did.” Fluttershy dropped her jaw. “D-Discord!” Eris only rolled her eyes. “Eh, it doesn’t matter, all that matters now is what you’ll be doing from now on.” Discord raised an eye. “W-What do you mean?” Eris chuckled. “Oh, you know exactly what I mean~” she winked and grabbed the door handle. “Welp, see you latter, Dissy. I wish ya luck on whatever crazy stuff you’ll be doing in the future.” With a mischievous smile and a snap of her claw. Eris vanished in a flash of light, leaving the door wide open afterwards. Fluttershy noticed this and closed the door. “Um, why did she open the door after she-” “No idea…” Discord sighed. feeling very worn out. Though, after all of this, he knew what he had to say right here, right now. “Um...I guess I should say...thanks?” Fluttershy smiled. “Thanks for what?” She asked, hoping he would know. He knew she wanted her to say it. “For...well, everything...a-and I think I should apologize to you too, I should’ve just told her….I...I just hope you can forgive-” Discord felt the warm embrace of a hug. Discord was shocked but quickly recovered by hugging back. “I forgive you.” Fluttershy said. “Now, about watering plants.” Discord pulled away. “OH! Uh...R-Right.” He snapped a bouquet of flowers and a cooking pot. “It goes like this, right?” Fluttershy shook her head. “No, Discord, you need to-” Before they could start, another flash of light came from behind them, they turned around to see a familiar figure. “Eris?” Discord dropped the flowers and pan, Fluttershy frowned and flew down to pick the mess up. “Back so soon?” Eris started fidgeting. “Um...well, I-I almost forgot why I came here in the first place...uh…” She pulled Discord closer and leaned to his ear. “Um...y-you wouldn’t happen to have a place to stay, do you?” “A-A place to stay?” Discord said. Fluttershy’s ears stood straight in the air, hoping she didn’t hear that correctly. “W-What did she ask?” “Yeah, my old place accidentally got swarmed with spirits, last time I make deals with the big red guy, ey?” Eris wrapped her arm around Discord and pulled him in for a hug. “So, how about it, Flutterbutter? You can handle one god of chaos, surely you can handle two, right?” *THUNK* Both draconequus flinched as she fainted. Discord cringed and knew the correct answer and Eris simply smiled, thinking of the incorrect one. “I take that as a yes?”