It was a beautiful day in Ponyville, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Down in the town, ponies were hard at work preparing for the upcoming Summer sun celebration, putting up banners,cleaning and various other tasks. No pony could possibly have a worry in the world. However on a hill overlooking the town, a yellow pegasus was out of her mind with worry.
“He should be here by now, why isn't here now?” Fluttershy said worriedly, as she paced back and forward. She had done this so repeatedly, that the grass had started forming into a trench. She gasped as a sudden thought occurred to her, “ You don't think he’s hurt do you?”
A rainbow maned pegasus, sighting on a red and white checkerboard picnic blanket, looked up from a game of cards she was playing with a purple dragon and pink earth pony.
“Would you relax, Fluttershy, this is Discord you're talking about, you know, Spirit of Chaos; I'm sure he’s fine he’s just running late.” The blue pegasus said as she refocused on her game.
“But he’s never late!” Fluttershy cried. “If anything, he’s always early, once he even arrived 2 weeks in advance.” Not that Fluttershy didn't mind Discord early arrivals she thought to herself.
“Really? I never imagined that Discord would be so punctual”, a white unicorn said as she inspected her freshly filed hooves. “I thought he would prefer to be quite fashionably late.” she said as she moved on to the other hoof to file.
“Maybe he’s at his chaos area and he just lost track of time.” The small purple dragon offered as he drew another card from the deck.
“Maybe.” Fluttershy said slowly, though she was unconvinced.
A peripheral alicorn looked from her book at her worried friend.
“Don't worry, Fluttershy.” Twilight said calmly, as she got up from her place on the ground to walk to Fluttershy.
“I'm sure Discord will be around any second now.”
“But Twilight...” Fluttershy was cut of by Twilight’s next word
“Has Discord ever missed any of your get togethers.”she calmly asked.
“Well no!”
Twilight smiled at her friend “There your answer, Fluttershy if Discord hasn't missed any of your get togethers, then I doubt he will start now.”
This gave Fluttershy a little comfort, and she relaxed a little. “Thanks Twilight, I just got little worried I suppose, its just not his habit to be late for a type of thing he likes.”
“I sure he’s not that late, perhaps 5 minutes maybe ten.”
An orange earth pony, who was reclined comfortably against a nearby tree pleasantly munching on red apple, shielded her eyes with her hoof and looked up at the sun. “Hmm I’d actually reckon he's closer to 35 minutes late maybe half an hour” Apple Jack said.
“35 MINUTES! ” Fluttershy cried.
“or a half an hour” the pink earth pony added in happily.
Fluttershy resumed her worried pacing, with the occasional “o dear” whisper escaping her lips.
“So Discord running late. Fluttershy, this doesn't mean anything bad has happened to him.” Twilight said trying to calm down her friend. “ He’s one of the strongest magic users in all Equestra.”
“Yeah.” Pinkie Pie added setting down her cards and turning to her friends. “It’s not like he could get col-,” She stopped remembering the twisty worm instead “um will it’s not like he can lose his magi-,” She stopped again. “well its not like he could hur-, well if he lost his finger then I guess he could ge-”
Pinkie’s thoughts were interrupted by an apple core thrown at her head. Only after she shook herself out of her daze did she realise the distress Fluttershy and the scolds she was getting from the rest of her friends.
“But I am sure he’s fine” Pinkie added quickly.
Rarity, put down here file and walked over to Fluttershy. “Don’t worry Fluttershy I am sure Discord’s fine. He’s most likely going to appear in some grand entrance, any time now.”
“Am I truly getting that predictable?” a small high pitched voice said.
The 6 ponies and dragon turned their heads in all directions to see where the owner of the voice was, though it wasn't his usual volume or tone, but everyone knew who it was.
“Discord?” Fluttershy said as she spread her wings and hovered a foot off the ground and looking desperately for the draconequus. “W-where are you?”
“Down here AAAAA Watch where you put your hoof Twilight you nearly crushed me!!” the draconequus cried.
The alicorn moved a couple steps back in shock.
“Down?” Fluttershy asked, while she landed gingerly on the ground next to a startled Twilight. “Down where?”
“If you take one more step you should see me, my dear.”
Fluttershy did as Discord asked and took a tentative step forward not sure what would happen or what she would see.
She looked around again, a look of puzzlement coming over her face.“I still don’t see you.”
“Quit with the games Discord, and show yourself!” Applejack cried, getting up from here spot under the tree to help look for the draconequus.
“But my dear AJ, I’m not hiding at all, I'm in plain view for the world to see; in fact, you could say I'm part of the world, you're all just looking in the wrong place.”
Fluttershy was trying to pinpoint Discord voice; by all accounts, Discord should be right in front of her as he had said. But all she saw was grass, and a drooping flower.
A Flower, Fluttershy thought, had that been there before?
Interested, Fluttershy laid down close to the drooping flower for a closer inspection. The flower had a green stem and white petals that fell forward concealing the head. By all accounts it seemed like any other flower, but this was Discord she was talking about so?
“Discord?” Fluttershy questioned the flower.
For a moment nothing happened, then the flower twitched and lifted its head throwing back its’ petals with one of its’ leaves, like it was getting some hair out his eye. To reveal a grinning gray pony face, with yellows eyes and mismatched red pupils.
“Discord!” Fluttershy cried excitedly, her face breaking into a grin and her eyes lifting up.
Discord gave a wicked grin and suddenly grew into his draconequus form, wrapping his arms around Fluttershy in a warm hug lifting her up in the process.
Fluttershy let out quick squeak of shock with the draconequus’ transformation, but then happily returned the hug with one of her own.
“I knew you would be the one to find me, Fluttershy.” Discord said, his voice returning to normal, as he removed his arms from Fluttershy gently placing her back on the ground.
“I actually often find myself wondering how the others here would function without your keen observation and different outlook, my dear.” Discord gestured to the other ponies and small dragon who were now all gathering over to where the draconequus arrived to greet him.
A light blush formed on Fluttershy cheeks, she was about to respond, but then she got a look at Discord’s face. Fluttershy put one of her hooves to her mouth to stop the trickle of giggles, ultimately failing however, as the trick became river of laughter that issued forth.
Discord gave a confused look to Fluttershy and released the other ponies and dragon were laughing as well.
“ I have seemed to have missed the joke?” Discord inquired.
“You haven't missed the joke, Discord” Rainbowdash said while laughing “ you are it.”
Discord his eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
“Perhaps this will shed some light on what we're talking about darling.” Rarity said handing, with her magic, her powder compact.
Discord took the purple, flat, compact and clicked it open to look at his reflection.
He was shocked to see white flower petals still inserted in his head making him have the appearance of a flowery mane.
Discord quickly disposed of his new floral mane, by pulling on two of the petals both on opposite sides and removing them from his head causing the rest of his flower mane to detach from his head and gently drift down to the ground and then disappear in a explosion of confetti.
“OOOO OOOO OOOO, Discord here we saved you a piece of double layered chocolate apple cake.” Pinkie Pie cried joyfully. Pulling a white paper plate out from from behind her decorated with a few brown scraps of cake. “Well, we did save you a piece of cake, ..but it… kind of got smaller an- OKAY I ATE IT, BUT IT WAS JUST SO GOOD!!” Pinky then spied the last few crumbs of cake; and her tongue shot out like a chameleons, some how growing in size and length, and in one second, the plate was clean of any of the stray cake crumbs. “I AM SORRY IT WAS JUSST SOO GOOD”.
“Uhm..its.. ok?” Discord said unsurely, still confused on how the pink earth pony ticked.
“Really?” Pinkie asked lifting her head from between her hooves.
“Yeah, sure I can make, double layered aa... what ever you said appeared at any time Pinkie, so all is good” Discord said casually.
“Well okey dokey, I’ll still make you an apology cup cake, no an apology pie, no a…”
Discord tuned out on Pinkie’s ramblings and turned his head to where Fluttershy was shyly poking his lizard leg.
“Uhm Discord, if you still wanted to try the cake, and it's perfectly all right if you don't, but you could always have my slices” Fluttershy said in her soft but sweet tone. She was holding out a green plate with a brown and white colored cake that had a few tiny chunks taken out of it.
“O Fluttershy couldn't do that, that’s your slice and I could not deprive of something as epic, as Pinkie describe it.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all, Discord, the cake was quite filling and was too much for me to finish and it wouldn't to be fair to you, not to have tasted it because of you arriving a little late, and I hate it to go to waste.” Fluttershy.
“Well, how about this.” Discord said, taking the plate, placing his hands on either side of the plate and pulled. separating both the cake and the plate into two.
“No, we both can share the cake” he said to Fluttershy passing her one of the plates.
“Sorry if I'm being rude, Discord but why are you late?” Rainbowdash questioned.
Discord’s expression turned to one of caution. “You didn't get a letter?” he asked.
“No, what letter?” Twilight asked equally confused.
“Do you mean the letter you sent me 2 days ago, Discord?” Fluttershy asked helpfully, but doubting the contents in that letter were relevant to Discord tardiness.
The draconequus shook his head, mumbling something about how busy could two princes be not said in a simple letter, that Fluttershy only heard.
“I am so sorry for my late arrival every one, but I thought our graaand ruuulers of Equestria” He said grand rulers of with an eye roll and air quotes “Would be able to spend two or three seconds of their busy day of signing and stamping parchments to write a simple letter.”
“But what did the letter say?” Twilight pursued.
“ the reason I would be late.” Discord stated.
“And why are you late?”
“Because the princes gave me a job.”
Twilight face slapped her self , Discord might be her friend but his antics could be quite tiresome, and waiting for 35 minutes didn’t help matters either.
How does Fluttershy put up with him, Twilight thought.
“So what was the job that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have given you Discord?” Fluttershy questioned.
“Ah the right question, Fluttershy .” Discord exclaimed happily.
Fluttershy, blushed a little at being put on the spot.
“But honestly though, I don’t see why they ordered me to look into the job in the first place...”
“Discord” Applejack said.
“I thought there were ponies with jobs for that type of thing…..”
“Discord.” Rarity said
“I mean, I feel like that my chaotic skills are being wasted on any menial task that Sun buts and Lunn buts want done….”
“Discord.” Rainbow said.
“I don’t know why they were so touchy about the job, any way I mean it was only piece of jewelry that wa-”
“Um, Discord” Fluttershy said
Discord immediately stopped rambling.
“Yes Fluttershy? whats’ the problem.”
“Well, I didn’t want to be rude in interrupting you, bu-”
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!” the 5 ponies and dragon cried, finishing Fluttershy sentence.
Discord rubbed his ear from the sudden outburst. “Gese, why not shout a bit louder, I don’t think I heard you.” He snapped his fingers, summoning an ear trumpet, emphasizing his point leaning the wide end down to the group.
Pinkiepie sucked in a deep breath ready to repeat the question.
“He’s being sarcastic, Pinkie” Twilight said, noticing her friends deep inhalation.
“Oh ” the earth pony said as she let out the breath.
“You still haven’t told us the job, Discord, what was it?” Spike questioned.
The draconequus puffed away the ear trumpet puffed away as he straightened his body to address the group again.
“Well to get down to the bare bones of what that job was, they wanted me to look into a break in at the so called” Discord used his fingers to form air quotes “ impenetrable, Canterlot armoury.”
Most of the group seemed confused at the his statement .
Save for the two purple creatures present, who looked like Discord’s words had physically slapped them.
“WHAT!!” cried Twilight.
The group turned to the shaken dragon and alicorn.
“OH NO NOT THE CANTERLOT ARMOURY. WE’RE ALL DOOOOMED” Pinkie cried falling to her knees. She then turned her head to face Twilight. “Twilight what’s the Canterlot Armoury?”
Twilight took a shaky breath. “The Canterlot Armoury is where all the most dangerous magical artifacts are gathered; it’s also one of the most highly kept secrets in Canterlot due to the contents it holds.”
“Yeah” Spike cut in “It’s also one of, if not the most highly secret place in all of Equestria. It’s under constant supervision, and has magic defenses; the place is impenetrable.”
“Well it was impenetrable Spike, until somepony managed to break in, the whole reason I did the air quotes there” Discord said. taking a bit of the cake and then quickly devouring the rest of the cake and plate.
“So how much of these a magical artifacts was actually taken?” Apple Jack inquired.
Discord liked the remnants of the cake from his fingers before summoning a pair of reading glasses and a clip board.
His eyes scrolled down the clipboard contents, now and again flipping through a page on the clipboard, and letting out a mhm.
Rainbow Dash was the first to break the sudden silence.“Discord, you were just at the armoury; do you really need a clipboard to remind yourself how much was taken”
The clipboard and glasses disappeared as he looked up to face Rainbow Dash “ No, but I do love adding a bit of drama to the whole thing. Anyway to answer Apply Jack’s question, out of the many artifacts that armoury contains, only one was taken. ”
“Well that good isn’t it?” Fluttershy said.
“I thought so too” Discord agreed. “But our graaannd leaders sent me to check it out anyway.”
“It doesn’t matter if few or many of the thousand of artifacts were stolen; they were sealed away because they are dangerous, if even one of them would fall into the wrong hands the ramifications could be devastating.” Twilight .
stated.
Discord arched an eyebrow at Twilight Sparkle, in amusement. “ You know Twilight, I think you’re spending too much time with your fellow princesses, you’re starting to sound like them.”
“So what was taken from the Armoury?” Twilight questioned, fearing the worst.
Discord shrugged, “Some piece of jewelry, I think it was called, the parrot pendant.” Discord’s eyebrows knitted together in consternation “No wait a minute,... uhm.. the negative necklace, no what a minute, that was on the pedestal next to it,”
Discord stroked his beard in consternation. “I think it started with an A, ah, the Albatross amulet, the Aproucto amumlatm, the alamoamlue amulmata, ahhh its on the tips of my tongue.”
Discord then stuck out his fourth tongue revealing a piece of paper cover, he gently picked up the scrap and flicked off some of the saliva of that had accumulated there before of inspecting its contents.
“I knew eating all those pages from your books, Twilight would eventually pay off.” Discord said, grinning at the assorted group who now had faces of mild disgust except for two mares Rarity whose face had turned a shade of green, and Fluttershy who was suppressing a smile at the draconequus antics.
“ Ah, here we are, the item that was taken from the armoury The Alcorn Amulet.” he stated, before turning the page to show the group of the image of the black and red necklace.
There was amount of sighs, of the group digesting this information before they all cried in unison, “THE ALICORN AMULET!!”
“B-but how is that even possible I thought Zecora had the necklace.” Rainbow said.
Twilight shook her head. “ No Zecora gave it to me soon after Trixie left Ponyville to give to the princess for safe keeping.”
“AHHHH I DONT WANT MY MOUTH TAKEN AWAY AGAIN!!!!!” Pinkie Pie screamed.
“Discord did you find any clue to how took the amulet?” Fluttershy asked in a worried tone.
In a flash of white light, Discord was wearing a deerstalker,brown overcoat, and holding a magnifying glass in his lions paw, and a brown pipe in his eagle’s talon, which he placed in his mouth blowing out few brown bubbles, that Pinkiepie eagerly chased after.
Discord took the pipe out of his mouth “With my skilled detective skills, I looked” he stretched like a rubber band a low hanging cloud which he inspected with his magnifying glass.
“and low” Discord’s body returned to his original self and bowed over Fluttershy inspecting.
The close contact made Fluttershy blush and Discord noted a shy smile creep on to her face. He could hear his beating heart , like a pair of drums keeping an oddly fast pace, and he felt warmth entering his cheeks, an odd tingling started to form in his lips feeling to lean over and…
Few strands of Fluttershy mane fell across breaking the spell that had drifted over him, abling him to pull back from her and turn his back to hopefully cover up the growing blush that was taking hold of his face.
“and didya find any evidence?” Apple Jack questioned,
“I was just getting to that AJ.” Discord said spinning around, recollecting himself, pulled a chocolate syrup bottle out from his coat which he poured down the mouth of his pipe, and then placing the bottle he on the pipe blew causing a fresh spew of chocolate bubbles, which Pinkie once again bounced happily after, but this time her pink face smeared broun.
“My expert Detective skills revealed….” Discord said, stopping to take the pipe out of his mouth, and to build suspense. “Nothing!”
“Nothing?”Fluttershy echoed.
“Nothing.” Discord confirmed.
“Like nothing, nothing or like nothing nothing nothing ?” Pinke questioned, bouncing back with a freshly covered chocolate face apparently hearing the whole conversation while she stalked the sugar filled bubbles
“Like nothing, giant zero, diddley squat, nothing.” Discord stated.
“OOOO that type of nothing.” Pike replied, understanding in her voice “strange! Can I have some of that chocolate syrup?”
“Take the pipe too, I’ve done using them as props.” Discord said, snapping his attire out of existence and handing the pink pony the pipe and syrup.
“But I don’t understand, crawling with guards at all times, would have they have noted the intruder.” Spike questioned.
“Spikes right .” Twilight agreed, “And even if they some how did get past the guards, there’s no way, they could have gotten past the wards, hexes and other spells that protect there without at least triggering one.”
Discord shrugged. “ Maybe your security isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be; because I managed to teleport in, no problem.”
“Yeah, but can’t you do anything with just a snap of your fingers” Applejack said.
“Well anything is a bit much, AJ, but I appreciate the compliment”
“What a minute,” Rainbow Dash said, “ So if you can teleport in and out of the armoury with so much ease, what cou-”
“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy cried shocked at her friend’s action.
“WHHHHHHAAAT” Pinkie cried catching everyone’s attention, “the pipes made of choul to that some, Pinkie cried, munching down on the pipe then washing it down with the syrup.
“Look, I’m just saying, that maybe this some joke that went a wrong.” regaining the attention of every pony besides Pinkiepie who was busily munching on the pipe.
“ Well, I won’t deny Rainbow, that it would be a hilarious joke, taking one of the artifacts from the museum, there are two points I should make clear, first one is; I only learned of the armoury’s existence to day, the same as most of you it seems, and the second,even though I said it would be a hilarious joke, I wouldn’t do it because I am reformed, harmless, benign.” Discord said, summoning a crook, and bounte, to emphasize his point.
Discord then heard something that all was made his heart soar with happiness.
Discord turned his attention back to Fluttershy who had her head turned to him, doing a terrible job of concealing her giggles from behind her hoof.
Absent mildly Discord costume vanished as he bent his neck down so he was at the same levels as Fluttershy “I would never do anything to jeopardize the friendship and trust I have with you.” Discord comical tone of voice turned to one of soft gentleness, one dripping the sincerity.
Fluttershy heard the abrupt changing in Discord’s voice and her giling seats as she turned her head so that it was facing his.
Discord wanted to continue his thought, but Fluttershy teal eyes held him captivated him making it impossible for him to continue.
Has she been working on her stare? he thought to himself.
“With me?” Rainbow questioned.
“Hu...what...no ...well yes.., what meant to say..was with all of you ” Discord said getting shaken out of his stupor, by the rainbow maned pegasus words.
“But that still leaves us with the question, who could have broken in” Twilight said getting the conversation back on topic. “ They must have had extensive knowledge of the armoury layout and its security systems, let alone powerful magic and more importantly a specific reason to just take the Alicorn Amulet.” the last thought scared Twilight Sparkle the most.
It took however few moments for her friends to catch on.
Applejack’s eyes is widened , catching on to what Twilight was getting at. “ I see, Twi, you’re saying that the thief had the opportunity to swipe not just the amulet, but also other artifacts as well, so why didn’t he?”
“and if the thief, or thieves, as the case may be, broke in, went through all that trouble get the amulet, you can bet he or she isn’t going to use it just for a fashion accessory.” Rarity added.
Twilight nodded in consent, to her friend’s statements.
“Do you think, whoever took the amulet will take control of a town like Trixie did when she had the amulet. ” Rainbow questioned.
Twilight took a moment before answering and then shook her head slowly. “ I don’t that would be the thieves goal, there would be easier means and subtler means of taking over towns then just barging in with an extremely powerful magical tool. Not mention, sooner or later the word would somehow get to the princess about the towns enslavement and would investigate and apprehend the culprit.”
I think you mean she would send me or the seven of you to investigate and apprehend, Discord thought.
“No, I think whoever took the amulet has deeper plan in mind than that” Twilight counted.
“So what do you think their real plan is?” Fluttershy, softly asked.
“I dont know.” Twilight admitted. “but I don’t think it’s good.”
The group fell silent the cheeriness they had felt before replaced with a growing wariness and unease. Which lasted approximately 5 seconds before it was broken by a certain draconequus yawn.
“I really don’t understand what you’re all making such a fuss about.” Discord said as reclined his floating body next to Fluttershy.
All the gazes turned to face the draconequus.
“Discord dear, do you even know what the Alicorn Amulet does?” Rarity asked.
“Of course I do, I had that page on the Amulet in my stomach sites the day you tried to use a reforming spell on me, I was bound to have learned something about the thing in that amount of time.”
Twilight opened her mouth to ask how it was possible he could have learned anything about the amulet while that page was in stomach, but then closed her mouth, some things were best left unexplained.
“And Fluttershy telling me of that whole list may have helped,” Discord stated, placing his feet on the ground and gently putting his paw on Fluttershy’s shoulder.
Fluttershy looked up at Discord’s touch and they both the draconequus and the pegasus, smiled at one another happily for a second before. Discord then had a strange feeling come over him then as he stared at Fluttershy.
He shook it off and continued on, removing his paw from Fluttershy which instantly felt colder for some odd reason.
Any way “If anypony doesn’t believe me or anyone else has forgotten what the AA does l will explain.”
In a flash of white light the 6 ponies and young dragon were sitting on a quite a large couch that seated them all. And a projector floated above the group lighting up a wide pull down screen.
A circular timer counting down from five appeared with each rotation of the circle, the number decreased by one and a quiet beep sounded.
Pinkiepie pulled a bag of popcorn out from her mane and squirted some of the chocolate syrup onto the popcorn.
Beep,Beep,Beep. After three beeps. A black and white image of Discord appeared wearing a mortarboard and black and white polkadot bow tie.
“Hello and welcome, everypony to another Professor Discord lecture , I will be your gracious host and teacher Discord. To day I will talking about a recently nicked magical necklace known as the Alicorn Amulet.”
An image of a the Alicorn Amulet floated in Discord’s claw.
“ A seemingly harmless piece of jewelry. However looks can be deceiving. When this amulet is fastened around one’s neck, it grants the user the powers of an alicorn and can not removed by anyones hooves save for the owners and it is also very fashionable piece of jewelry.”
Discord then fastened the amulet around his neck and struck a pose.
“Thank you for watching, tune in next time for our talk on magic mirrors.” The Discord on the projector then snapped the fingers on his lion paw and the area returned to its original state before Discord had used his magic.
Pike stuffed the rest of her uneaten popcorn back into her mane and as an afterthought stuffed the syrup bottle in with it.
“Did I miss anything, Twilight” Discord stated, floating on his back next to Fluttershy, his Mortarboard still on his head and polkadot bow tie, which apparently black and white was actually its natural colors, still hadn’t vanished.
“So knowing what the amulet can do why are you so come?” Spike.
“Two reasons, Spike.” Discord said, taking off his hat and throwing it away like a frisbee and letting his bowtie flutter off like a butterfly.
“My magical abilities have not only beaten, but overthrown two highly trained Alicorn princesses with a just snap of my fingers.” He snapped his talons for emphasis.
“And the second, if the thief does make a move, I highly doubt it would be on ponyville. no all it being are new alicorn princesses place of residence, also it will host the other three princes as well as there are royal guards for the Summer Sun Celebration”
“which reminds me” he said cheerily, “I can’t wait to spend the next three days with my favorite ponies and dragon, relaxing, causing chaos, pranking, causing chaos, sleeping, causing chaos, causing chaos-”
“Hate to rain your parade, Discord, none of us have will have time relaxing, you included, since we’re going to be so busy preparing for the celebration.” Twilight said.
“Say what now.”
“All the council of friendship came to a unanimous decision, that you will take part in helping us prepare for the upcoming Celebration. I even finished making a list of which pony you’ll be assigned to work with on each day.”
“whoa, whoa, whoa,” Discord said hastily putting both his feet firmly on the ground. “The way, the to solar buts put was that I was coming down here to have fun and spend time with my friends” as soon as he said it out loud he knew just been duped by two sisters, he had been so excited to come down here to see every pony, particularly one pony, that he hadn’t thought about how this could be a trap to make him do more work.
“working can be fun.” Applejack said
“Yeah, especially if you do it with a friend. And some jobs can be scrumptlydelicious” Pinkie added.
“It can also be overcoming and relaxing” Fluttershy added.
“ But more importantly for you, Discord helping us with all the summer celebration job will help you in improve your status with all the ponies of Ponyville.” Twilight added.
“And how do you figure that.” Discord queried.
“It’s simple really, darling.” Rarity said. “If ponies see how hard you’re working and not causing chaos, they’ll be more willing to accept you as one of their friends.”
“Ha! I have been running jobs all over Equestria for our grand highness, for quite a while now and I haven’t got one thank you card for any of .”
“Yeah, but those jobs you probably do on your own, because nopony else can do them, and therefore nopony realizes how much hard work you put in to it. But here you won’t be alone, you will be working side by side with us and the other Ponyville ponies preparing for the celebration.”
“And since most of the ponies have already seen you about in Ponyville before they will know what to expect, unlike other ponies who haven’t seen you and build up rumors of what they think you’re exactly like” Rainbow added.
“You see Discord we’ll all have great time working and having fun.” Fluttershy said happily, smiling up at him.
Discord was about to reply but he didn’t know what to say; he was both touched and taken aback about what was happening. And the why, Fluttershy was looking at him with that twinkle in her eyes wasn't helping him much for concentrating.
“Welluh I hate to beleaven’ but I gotta pick up some of the Apple Family at station, and I best be moving out if I get there at 4:30.” Applejack said getting up.
“What's your rush AJ, I’m sure you have plenty of time before you half to pick your fellow Apples.”
Applejack glanced up at the sky for second before returning her attention back to Discord “If your definition of plenty of time is 15 minutes yeah right I got plenty of time.”
“O come on AJ, you can't expect me to believe that you can tell the exact time just by looking at the sun.” Discord said.
“Don't believe me? why don't ya magic up a cloak and see for yourself.”
“All right I’ll call your bluff pilgrim” Discord said, conjuring up an alarm clock.
“Well what its say?” Applejack said, a confident smile on her face.
Discord, scowled at the clock face, “lucky guess” he mumbled.
“luck got nothing to do with it, Discord.” Applejack said. “if you want, a can teach ya some time.”
Discord, dismissed the clock with a flick of his wrist.
“Thanks but no thanks AJ, I do not need to rely on such party tricks of telling the time since I can summon a clock whenever I please.”
“Speaking of parties.” Pike explained. “I gotta bounce my self, gotta help the cakes with baking the treats for SSC.”
“I think I should say my farewells too, I have quite a few orders for the celebration that I must complete” Rarity said getting up from her spot.
“I best say my goodbyes as well.”Discord said giving a yawn. “ All this snooping into stolen accessories can really make a guy tired. If anypony needs me I will be at my usual lodgings .”
“Actually Discord, I wanted to talk to you about that” Fluttershy said in a quiet tone.
“Talk about what, Fluttershy?” Discord asked even though he had a bad feeling he knew what.
“About you staying with me; now that Twilight has her new castle and she agreed to have yo-”
For the first time since his reformation, Discord tuned Fluttershy out. He felt like he had been punched in the stomach from the sudden shock of Fluttershy words and he felt twice the pain. Instantly guilt and sorrow filled Discord’s heart. She still doesn't trust me, he thought, and why should she, no matter how many times he apologised to her he could never take back his action.
Discord had been so preoccupied by what Fluttershy said that hadn't noted that her face had fallen or the sad tone she said it in.
“Do you not want me staying with you Fluttershy?” Discord said, interrupting her in mid ramble, matching the same melancholy tone she used.
“What?” Fluttershy said, surprise instantly taking the place of sadness. “whatever gave you that idea, Discord?”
“Well it just sounded like you didn't want me staying with you, Fluttershy.” Discord said, confusion filling his voice “and its perfectly alright if you don't. I know I can be quite boisterous.” Discord said not wanting her to feel guilty at having him at her cottage if she didn't want him.
“Of course I want you at my cottage but I didn’t know if you wanted to stay with me at my place, seeing as how my cottage is always crowded, and Twilight’s castle comes with guest rooms that are comfortable and large like the one in the Canterlot castle so I thou-.”
“Fluttershy.” Discord said interrupting her rambling in now uncommonly gentle voice. “ I love spending time at your cottage even if it is a little cramped sometimes, and even if you have a devil of bunny” he mumbled the last part.
“Really” Fluttershy said looking up at Discord excitedly , he noticed that the twinkle had returned to her eyes, which caused that strange feeling to come over him again.
“Yes Fluttershy, your cottage is like a home away from home for me” This was a lie, Discord had never had a home before, the room in the castle the two princesses gave him was nice, well it was not that he had used some of his magic on it, but he never really associated with anything emotionally just a place to rest his head.
But it was different with Fluttershy’s cottage and he couldn't figure out why, maybe it had to do with Fluttershy herself.
“So you're not coming back to the castle with Spike and me?” Twilight asked.
“Well that all depends, on Fluttershy’s answer” Discord said turning to the purple alicorn and then back to the shy pegasus “can I stay at your house?”
“YES!” Fluttershy cried happily, out of character with her shy nature Discord thought, jumping up on her hooves. “I mean yes” she repeated again her quiet tone back as quick as it had fled.
“Then I respectfully decline your invitation Princess Sparkly” Discord said, addressing Twilight with a mock bow. “I hope that you can live without having my presence.”
“Oh, I think Spike and I will somehow cope”, Twilight said withrelief at not having Discord living with her for four days. Discord was a friend but Twilight could only tolerate Discord’s shenanigans for a certain amount of time before he became a nuisance . “I’ll tell you who you’re working with tomorrow then.”
“Yeah, the castle’s always open though.” Spike said quickly and politely as possible, though he was feeling the same amount of relief as Twilight.
“Well, shall we be on our way then, Flutters, usually your bunny gets fed around this time, doesn't he” Discord asked .
“Oh my goodness, you're right, it's coming up on Angels afternoon snake, poor baby must be getting hungry.”
_______
The friends packed up their picknice, and said their goodbyes to Fluttershy and Discord as they made their way to her cottage in one direction of the hill and others when way to there homes in ponyville.
“I wonder why the princesses didn’t send me a message that the amulet had been stolen.” Twilight said breaking the silence that had descended upon the group since they left the picnic area.
“Perhaps they just wanted to keep it under the hat, not to worry so many ponys” Apple Jack said.
“Yeah, and they probably knew Discord would blab the whole thing to us” Rainbow agreed.
“Speaking of Discord, did anypony else think he seemed too excited that he was staying with Fluttershy instead of us” Spike said. “ Come to think of it, Fluttershy seemed a little too excited that Discord still wanted to stay with her.”
“She did seem about more vocal than usual.” Rarity agreed.
“Well they do spend a lot of time with each other” Pinky added, bouncing beside her friends.
Rainbow gave a shrug. “ Fluttershy lives by herself and doesn’t really get out much so I guess it’s only natural that she would like some company even if it is only for a short time. And Discord….well he’s Discord.”
“Maybe.” Twilight said but she couldn't help think there was something more to it than that. “Well just have to wait and see what happens” And she meant that on both questions.
“So I’m guessing I can thank Twilight for coming up with the idea of me helping out at the festival .”Discord said grumbling as he went down the hill next to Fluttershy.
He could have teleported both of them to her cottage, but since she didn't ask him to, he didn't bother doing so; besides he liked having some quality time alone with Fluttershy.
“What makes you think Twilight came up with the idea?” Fluttershy asked in her traditionally soft tone.
“Well didn’t she? It does seem like her type of MO, ruining my fun while giving friendship lessons.”
There was pause in conversation before Fluttershy timidly said “Well, it technically wasn't Twilight who came up with the idea.”
Discord slowed his pace and then stopped turning, to Fluttershy, who had stopped walking as well and was now scraping a little rut in the ground.
“If it wasn't Twilight, then who?”although from the way Fluttershy was acting he had his answer already.
Fluttershy lifted her head up so she was facing Discord. “Me.” Fluttershy said quietly.
“You came up with the idea for me helping out at the festival?” Discord said confused and starting to feel the touches of guilt. “B-but why Fluttershy?”
She didn't respond for a couple seconds, but then she composed herself and sucked in a breath and started to reply .
“ When you wrote that letter to me telling me that you were coming down for the Summer Sun Festival I was so excited. Then I started to worry because I was afraid that with all my new responsibilities of being a part of the council of friendship and for setting up for festival, I or any other of our friends, wouldn't be able to spend enough time with you. So you'd be alone for most of the time. So I voiced my opinions to all our friends.” Fluttershy’s words were calm at first, but then they started flow out from her, “and then Rarity said one thing and Twilight said another then Piki said something about a party, and eventually we came up with the idea of you helping us prepare for the festival. So you could spend time with us and befriend other ponies in ponyville.”
After Fluttershy had finished her explanation she turned her head away. Discord was starting to regret voicing his previous statements on seeing how emotional Fluttershy was getting .
Fluttershy’s ears flattened and she turned her head so it was facing the ground, in the process causing her mane to conceal her face.“I’m so sorry, Discord,” she murmured. “I feel like I’ve have ruined the whole festival for you, I just wanted to help you and now I feel terrible for forcing you into this.”
Guilt washed over Discord; funny, he’d never felt that emotion until quite recently, and he quickly went to work counseling Fluttershy.
“Fluttershy,” he said in his gentlest of tones, “Please don't feel that way, you did the right thing.” He knelt down so he was facing the curtain of pink mane.
“I did?” Fluttershy said quietly with a sniff, moving some of her mane away from her face with gentle nod of her head, so that she was looking into the draconequus eyes.
“Yes.” he said excitedly, glad that she was listening. “I would have probably gotten bored while every pony was working on the festivities. I would either have tried to help, which would most likely end chaotically, or do something chaotic to pass the time. In the end, probably, my antics would slow down or hinder the preparation for the festival and then every pony would probably have to clean up after me and then Twilight would most likely give me a huge boring lecture on friendship and work. The lecture would state what I had already learned from the experts, that would go on and on and on…”
Discord stopped himself seeing as he was getting off topic. “Point being Fluttershy, what you did was fine, great in fact. This way, as we already stated at the picnic, I get to spend time with all my friends and get spared from one of Twilight's lectures”
“The only point I could see not see working out, is me befriending the other ponies of ponyville.”
“Why not?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well I don't see the point. I have you, Fluttershy, and the other council members as friends; not to mention I'm a Cutie Mark Crusader.” said summoning on a crusader's cape.Or at least I hope I still am, he thought.
Ever since he joined forces with Tirek, he had been on shaky ground with the three fillies. It didn't help matters that the three of them had also already gained the cutie marks so his purpose in helping them find them had been nullified .
“ What more can I want?” Discord said, as he twirled around with his cape around him.
Fluttershy frowned. “We're not trying to force you to make friends with the ponyville ponies; we just want them to have a better understanding of who you are.”
“Fluttershy, I’m pretty sure everypony in Equestria knows who I am, the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony. I highly doubt any pony needs a reminder of that.”
Fluttershy shook her head. “You’re more than that...” then she whispered just in reach of his hearing, “ to me.” Though her new phrase had only two more syllables added to it, it seemed to turn his heart to the consistency of a marshmallow.“And I know if you just spend time, even if it's just a little time, with some of the towns ponies they would see some other sides to you and they stop co-...” Fluttershy quickly cut herself off. But he knew what she was about to say.
“Fluttershy, if sticks, stones, magical blasts, lasers and your bunny can't break my bones, I highly doubt that any of the insults ponies throw at me can.”
Fluttershy looked at Discord shocked. “You know about what they call you?”
Discord shrugged nonchalantly. “I hear things when we're in town or on picnics.” Discord chuckled. “Mismatch is my favorite name they call me; much more creative than freak or monster.”
“But it doesn't bother you? They call you those awful things?”
“Not it in the slightest! I know they're just jealous and who can blame them for that.” Discord said cheerfully.
He then snaked his long neck down so he was face to face with Fluttershy. A slight blush coloured her cheeks. “Between you and me if I wasn't ,well...me, I would be jealous too. I mean if I lacked this figure,” he gestured to his serpent body, “opposable thumbs” He wiggled his mismatched fingers “prehensile tail,” Discord flexed his red serpent’s tail “and these beautiful teeth.”
He grinned at Fluttershy, causing his teeth to shine and sparkle.“And that just my physical appearance, I don't even know where to begin with my magical abilities so no... I don't blame the ponies for their jealousy.”
Fluttershy had been letting out a series of giggles and laughs through all of Discord's array of actions. But when he was finished, her mood changed “Well even if doesn't bother you, Discard, it bothers me that they call you those things. ” Fluttershy said.
“Really, how so?” Discord asked. Then a thought came to him. “Ponies don't call you names do they Fluttershy?” Anger and little horror starting to build at the idea that any pony could make fun of her. Schemes of revenge on those ponies that mocked her started to form ponies, if she said yes.
“What? No!” Fluttershy said a little shocked, shaking her head. “The reason those names they call you bother me so much is because none of them are true. They are all just so cruel. I here some ponies call you ugly, or monster and all manner of other terrible names, and they're all made up by ponies that are judgmental to any creature that isn't a pony.”
Discord was shocked at the tone Fluttershy was using. He had never seen her so angry; he had seen her frustrated and annoyed, mainly those were directed at him.Somehow the way she was standing up for him, the way she was getting angry at pony because they were calling him names did something odd to his heart like it was turning warm and squishy.
Throughout his life, ponies had been criticizing him for his odd look, and he had been the only one to stand up for himself. Even then, he had his weak moments giving into their words, but here was a pony that was telling him that he wasn't ugly. Not for the first time that day, the odd warm swelling feeling came over him. He didn’t know if he felt it because a pony agreed with him or because it was Fluttershy, maybe it was a bit of both.
“Those names they call you make me so mad, I-I just could scream.”
Fluttershy let out a loud scream of frustration, well.. a loud scream for her.
When Fluttershy looked up from her scream , she saw that Discord was holding a silver rectangular object. Not that different from the machines that measure how fast a pegasus can fly, except this one had a wire attached to it which lead to a microphone pointed directly at her.
Discord whistled in false shock. “Wow Fluttershy! That’s the loudest scream you've ever done. You registered 3 out of 10, ordinarily you're at a 0.5. Have you been practising?”
Discord dismissed the device out of existence. He turned his attention back to Fluttershy, a sly smile playing on the edge of his lips. A question formed in his mind.
“Sooo Shyyyyy.” Discord said in a low sly tone that Fluttershy knew all too well, knowing he was up to something.
“Yessss, Discord” Fluttershy said cautiously.
Discord wrapped his serpent body close to her’s, not yet touching each other but close enough to feel the other’s body heat.“If you disagree with what those ponies are saying about my looks...” he said nonchalantly looking at his clothes, picking an invisible speck of dirt out of them, before turning his gaze back to Fluttershy, “then what is your opinion of them?” he said, bringing his head so close to hers that their muzzles were mere inches from touching.
Fluttershy cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “W-well t-the others say th-”
“I didn't ask for what other say about me.” Discord said calmly, though inside his heart was pounding with a strange excitement. “I only want to know what you have to say.” He said, lightly poking Fluttershy's nose with the end of his claw.
Fluttershy’s blush intensified. She drew her head back, her mane covered her face. A sign that Discord had come to recognize. She was about to say something she was nervous or shy about.
He heard her mumble something inaudible behind the pink curtain of hair.
“Come again.” Discord said, bring his head a little closer to Fluttershy.
Fluttershy sucked in a quiet but deep breath. “I” was the only word that Discord heard, the rest of her voice faded to nothing .
“A little louder.” Discord said.
“I….think....your-” The last word was inaudible to him.
“One last time” Discord said playfully goading her. Behind his playful words, he was trying to keep the excitement, that had built to its zenith, in check.
“I… think...your..” Fluttershy paused, “Handsome.” Fluttershy said the last part as quietly as she could and then flinched back, looking anywhere but at Discord.
Discord was shocked, he had hoped that would be her reply but he did not expect his hopes to be
rewarded. His spirits soared with pleasure.
He wondered if he would have felt the same reaction if one of his other friends, not Fluttershy, had told him he was handsome . Come to think of it, he didn't know if he was excited because somepony was saying he was good looking, or he was excited because the pony saying it was Fluttershy. The latter for some odd reason was more appealing to him.
In a sudden strange burst of courage, Discord knelt down and gently pushed some of Fluttershy long pink locks away from her face ,so he could see her rosy flushed cheeks.
“Well,.... uhm... I think you're pretty.. handsome,” he added quickly “too Fluttershy”. He could feel his cheeks flushing again and kicked himself mentally. He was never good at complimenting ponies; a thought crossed his mind why was he so nervous about complimenting Fluttershy anyway. What is happening to me, Discord thought turning away from Fluttershy to hide the incoming blush.
Fluttershy looked up questioningly at the draconequus. A feeling of happiness was coming over her, at Discord’s compliment about her looks, even though it was an odd one.
“You think I am handsome?” Fluttershy repeated.
“Well first of actually I said you were pretty handsome” Discord said quickly “ and secondly of course I do, would I ever blatantly lie to you.” Discord said turning to her again with most of his composure regained.
“ T-Thank you Discord.” A small but bright smile played on her lips.
“For what?” he questioned. His outer composure held but his inner composure was starting to waver, all from a simple smile.
“For calling you pretty-handsome.” Discord guessed . “You're probably called much nicer things than that, Fluttershy.”
“Well no. No one has ever complimented me on my looks before; it's nice to hear that some pony thinks I look good.” she said meekly.
“Well uhm ...you're welcome.” Discord replied ,just as meekly. He felt like he needed to add more but he didn't know what to say or how to say it. Should he that, he had never been complimented on his looks either. Or tell her that she was not pretty handsome but pretty, no, beautiful. Or tell her of this strange warm feeling that came over him after a smile or hug from her.
He shook his head vigorously trying to rid himself of the thoughts that were appeared in his head, like bubbles from a bubble bath.
“What’s happening to me? I've never had these types of thoughts before. Maybe I’m coming down with a fever; or perhaps I'm developing an allergic reaction, but to what? Maybe Fluttershy….no that can't be! I can't be allergic to her...can I? Maybe she wearing some sort of perfume? No that’s crazy; she never wears perfume, she’s always afraid one of her animals will be poisoned by it. What ?How long have I been thinking to myself?”
He quickly came to the conclusion that not voicing any of his previous thoughts and choosing a safer route, would be wisest and changed the subject.
“I suppose if the things ponies call me bothers you so much, Fluttershy, then I make an attempt contribute to the setup of the festival.”
“That’s all any of us can ask of you.” Fluttershy replied, her smile still on her lips. As she resumed her walk back to her cottage.
Discord walked after her. “And perhaps if I help the population of ponyville, they will stop blaming me for every chaotic thing that happens in ponyville.” he added.
Fluttershy looked at Discord. “Ponies don't blame you forever chaotic thing that happens in ponyville”, though even she knew her words were false.
Discord looked down at Fluttershy skeptically “ Oh really?” he said in a tone of voice that matched his expression. “How about the time Rarity's cat grew as big as a mountain, or when the everfree forest attacked…..for the second time?” he quickly added.
“I mean I didn't initially mind getting blamed for all the chaotic troubles that happened, but now it's so boring and repetitive . It's not like ponyville wasn't always chaotic anyway, it had Pinkie Pie bouncing about for crying out loud but now that I am back and make regular visits they seem to place all the troubles onto me.”
“I never blamed you for any of that stuff Discord, because I never believed you did any of it.” Fluttershy replied.
“Really?” Discord questioned. “You didn't have the slightest inkling that I could have done any of that?”
“You could have done it, but I felt like you didn't.”
“Really? How about the time Rarity went all crazy and started remodeling ponyville.” Discord queried.
Fluttershy shook her her head. “ I knew something strange was happening, but it didn't seem like something you would do.”
“And what is something I would do?”
“Well...instead polishing the road till it sparkled, you would turn it to soap or maybe... wax it or perhaps turn it to ice so you could skate on it, or you might have turned it into bubble gum.”
“True” Discord nodded fondly.
“Next, you wouldn't cover the ponyville gazebo in crystals, you would maybe cover it in icing or maybe turn it into a bounce house version.”
“Perhaps” Discord acknowledged.
“ and finally, Rarity turned my birdhouse into a mansion, and I know you would never do anything like that without my approval, and if you were to do it, you would turn it into gingerbread house or something like that.” Fluttershy finished.
Discord stared at Fluttershy, genuinely shocked.
“Am I getting really that predictable?” he finally said.
“I wouldn't say predictable, it's still surprising what your chaos magic can do, it's more....” Fluttershy paused as she tried to find the right words. “ well, I don’t really know! I just have a sense of when it's you who’s up to something” she said slowly.
“I suppose it’s all the time you spend with me. Probably you’ve developed a sense of my magic. ” Discord suggested. “You know Fluttershy, I wouldn't mind the towns’ ponies for blaming me for all the chaotic troubles ponyville has so much, if I could be there to experience some of the natural chaotic fun.”
Then Discord suddenly broke into laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Fluttershy asked.
It took a moment for Discord to speak through his laughter, “Oh I'm just... remembering the letter you sent me, a while back, saying that half of the town was turned into produce…..ha ha ha...” His laughter started up again.
Fluttershy frowned, at his sudden outburst “Discord..” she said disapprovingly.
“Rainbowdash as a zap apple, oh... I would have loved to have seen that.”
“Disco-”
“Tell me again Fluttershy, what was Twilight, an aubergine?”
“Yes, Twilight was an eggplant with broccoli’s for limbs but Dis-” she was cut off again.
“Broccolis for limbs, that’s brilliant.” he crowed as his laughter continued.
Fluttershy decided to wait for Discord’s laughter to die before she spoke.
After about 3 minutes, Discord laughter finally faded, “I wonder if I am having some sort of influence on the CMC?” he finally said through a few stray giggles.
“Discord, it's not funny.” Fluttershy said sternly.
“On the contrary, it was quite ... appealing.” He then broke down into another fit of laughter at his joke.
“I am serious Discord, it isn't. I was terrified when I was turned into a banana...” Fluttershy then blinked at her statement.
Discord stopped his laughter as well but the big smile on his face didn't fade.
Fluttershy couldn't help her face from turning from a serious frown into a smile of unmistakable joy, as well.
Through her attempt to keep her face serious from the bubbling laughter, Fluttershy was making quite amusing face. Discord fell back into hysterical laughter which soon Fluttershy joined in.
“Well it's funny now that I am back to normal; but at the time, I was really scared.” Fluttershy said through her gasps recovering from her laughter.
“I don't see why. I thought you would be used to be turned into random things. I mean, you were already turned into a Comic book hero, bat and a breezy; I even turned you into orange once and you didn't seemed bothered by that. So what has you so scared about being turned into a banana, well save for the hey potassium levels.”
“It was different those times; I had no memory of being turned into bat, it was only when Twilight, turned me back that I ever knew I was one and I wasn't alone when I was a breezy or sucked into the comic book, I had our friends. I also knew that Twilight could change us back when we were breezys. The same way I knew you would turn me back to normal, from being an orange.”
Discord felt his heart warm, from her trust in him.
“But it was a total shock when I was a turned into banana. I had no idea what was going on. I mean one minute I'm a pegasus, getting supplies for my animals, and the next thing I knew….”
“You’re a banana with eyes and a mouth and lemons for legs?” Discord chuckled.
Fluttershy ,sheepishly, nodded.
“Well if being a banana , discouraged you so much Fluttershy, you could have written to me I would have been down in ponyville in a snap.”
She raised a sceptical eyebrow at him.“ To reverse the spell or to see the chaos that was unfolding through town?” Fluttershy asked.
“Wwweeell... I would have to take in my surroundings first to know what counterspell I'd have to use to reverse things…. But” he quickly added seeing Fluttershy roll her eyes, “as soon as that was done, I swear I would have returned you back to your pony form.” Discord withheld the comment about turning the rest of the town pony’s back immediately, why ruin Sweetie’s work immediately.
“I prefer you as a pegasus, Fluttershy, than any other creature, or fruit as the situation may be.”
“Do you really mean that, Discord?” Fluttershy asked a little shyly,he could see a smile playing on her lips
“What a question, Fluttershy of course I mean it. Though I would be interested to see you as banana, if it disturbed you so much I would immediately turn you back to your pegasus form, nothing beats the original, But...” Discord added slyly.
“But what?”
“I’m sure you would be a pretty handsome banna.”
A new blush bloomed on Fluttershy cheeks and her smile grew a few more inches. Before she concealed it with a bit of her mane.
Discord felt that ,odd, warm sensation spread through his body, at seeing Fluttershy smile at his compliment, “at least I think that's a compliment?” he thought to himself.
“I wounder what I would have turned into if Sweetie bells spell hit me” Discord said musing over the idea, as well as changing the subject.
Fluttershy looked back up to Discord. “Hmm, I’m not sure, perhaps you'd be a combination of produce? given your appearance”
“Sure” he said nodding his consent to the idea, then his smile grew again, “so do you think I would have, perhaps a jalapeno tail?”
In a flash a light Discord’s serpent tail was gone, to be replaced by a red jalapeno .
“Maybe I would even have a garlic glove at the end of it?” on cue a single white garlic clove sprouted out of the tip of the jalapeno tail.
“My lizard leg can be a cucumber and my goat leg a potato.” as he said the words his legs turned into the vegetables. As Discord made each of his transformations he grew smaller and smaller.
“ O and my lion paw can be a squash and my eagle talon a mango.” The two yellow fruits appeared in the designated places.
“Now my body….hmmm” He released his mango hand to stroke his beard but only succeeded in fiddling with it. “Any ideas Fluttershy?”
“D-Disc-cord...” Fluttershy uttered between her giggles.
“Perhaps I’ll take a page out of your book” and in a white flash his body turned into an oversized brown banana. he had to move on to all fours and his new body had shrunk to half the size of his original form. “ We’re like two bananas in a bushel .” he joked.
He took her adorable laughter as consent.
“Now for the most fabulous part of my anatomy.” Gesturing his yellow squash arm to his face.
In a flash Discord’s pony head had disappeared and it’s place precisely on the banana stem, which was now his neck, was taken by a grinning day melon. There were still some parts of his anatomy that he retained; he still had his goat beard and he retained his eyebrows. But in his new form he was significantly shorter, his size equivalent to a over sized watermelon.
Noting his horn were still there, he scowled, as if hoping they would just retract on their own.
Fluttershy had recovered enough from her laughing fit to notice the scowl and how his eyes were locked heavenward to his horns and quickly guessed what was troubling him.
“Perhaps your deer antler could be a ginger root and your goat horn could be a blue carrot.”
Discord turned his gaze away from what was troubling him and stared at Fluttershy in bewilderment at what she had said.
And then grinned. “Fluttershy what a chaotic and unusual way of thinking… I LOVE IT” he cried. He made the suggested changes with a flash.
He smiled, looking up and admiring his new set of edible horns.
“Any thoughts on the wings?” he asked turning his back showing his bat wing and feathered wing.
Fluttershy pondered this for a moment before answering. “Perhaps ...your bat wing could be a purple cabbage leaf and your other wing could be a eucalyptus leaf.”
As soon she had finished her sentence, Discord started making his changes. His bat wing grew flat and the ends of it became circle shaped, while his blue wing grew longer and skinnier. They both took the forms Fluttershy had suggested.
“Well what do you think, Shy?” Discord said showing of his transformation. Flexing his jalapeno tail, causing the garlic clove to wobble about, and flapping his drooping wings, in a half hearted attempt to fly.
“ You..look...” was all Fluttershy got out before a torrent of her own laughter cut off her words.
“Like a walking, talking fruit salad?” Discord prompted her as he strutted about. “Whatever I look like you can bet I am chaotically delicious, and nutritious. And all parts are naturally grown” he crowed.
Discord was so busy joking that he didn't notice where he was going. So it was odd when his mango leg bumped into something soft.
He turned his attention forward to come eye to black souless eye with brown fluffy bunny. Although in Discord opinion it was not that fluffy at the moment especially when its’ little tongue stuck out and licked his lips.
Discord’s good humour died instantly, he gulped audibly and started to sweat, well technically it was not sweat that was coming out of his pores it was more of a mixture of the juices of the vegetables he was made up of.
“F-FFluttershy.” Discord to his utter shame stuttered out.
Fluttershy looked up from her laughter. her eyes wide at the predicament Discord was in and then a smile appeared on her lips.
“Now, now, Mrs Cotton, you wouldn't want to eat him.” she said fluttering over to the rabbit and maneuvering so she was standing over Discord and she was smiling down at the brown rabbit.
The rabbit looked up at her, then back to Discord, who was already backing farther away from the rabbit.
Fluttershy noted the lingering gaze the rabbit had on Discord, and she forced her smile to widen. “Tell you what if you don't eat him, I’ll give you an extra big surprise in your treat bowl.” Fluttershy prompted.
Mr Cottontail, pondered this; the gears in his head almost visibly turning as he processed the information. After what seemed like a lifetime to Discord the bunny nodded and bounded off to the house.
Discord watched the bunny bouncing down the road which lead to Fluttershy’s cottage.
“You ok Discord?” Fluttershy asked, concern in her voice.
Discord nodded as he walked out from beneath Fluttershy. “Fine, although I believe I understand how you were feeling while you were a banana, Shy”
He then smashed his squash arm on the ground splintering it and revealing his lion paw. He smashed his lions paw on to his head shattering the melon and his vegetable horns as well, revealing Discord’s regular head and horn. He then stood up on his potato leg and cucumber leg and a zipper appeared on the front of his chest which he pulled down revealing his enlarging brown serpentine body. He shrugged off the banana skin with the attached edible wings.
He then used his paw to grab a loose piece of skin on the mango, and proceeded to unravel his arm. In a matter of seconds, his eagle talon was visible and any trace of the mango was just a long curly piece of skin which Discord tossed onto the growing pile of debris.
“I'm just glad, that a certain bunny wasn’t that pe-uhm, Angel, I think he would have eaten first and asked later, if at all.” Discord said as he summoned a potato peeler and began to peel around his potato leg.
“Oh, I don't think Angel would have eaten you Discord; I think he kind of likes you.”
Discord stopped carving his potato goat leg, to shoot a quizzical stare at Fluttershy before he started on his cucumber leg.
“In his own way.” Fluttershy sheepishly admitted, “besides I don't think Angel likes eucalyptus.”
“There’s a comforting thought, all that would be left of the spirit of chaos would be a wing, or in the case I was in a strip of eucalyptus.” Discord laughed, flexing his newly carved legs. He kicked them about and the thin layer of cucumber and potato that covered them fell off revealing his scaly lizard leg and his smooth goat leg.
Discord then reached behind to his red jalapeno tail and pulled the garlic clove from the tip. He began to peel it and in doing so his tail began to deflate, with the sound of a balloon losing air.
“Will I guess that takes the cake for the worst punishment, being eaten by a rabbit.” Fluttershy giggled.
She thought Discord would add something, but instead all Fluttershy heard was Discord corking his tail with a now transformed garlic clove that had been peeled so it was like his tail feathers. But no laughter!
She looked up and saw a rare sight. Discord’s face looked serious.
Fluttershy laughter ceased , when she saw his look.
“Trust me, Fluttershy.” Discord said. He turned away from her. “ There are worst punishments”. A shiver ran through his body.
Fluttershy’s ears fell as guilt swept her memory; why had she said that she thought. Discord would know all about punishment, he had been turned to stone twice. She knew at the time, they had no choice. Now when she looked at Discord, Fluttershy could never imagine doing that to him, the thought just seemed to scar her heart. Being turned to stone for 1000 years, who knew how that would affect someone.
Discord looked down Fluttershy and felt his guilt flood back when he saw her face. Why did she have to be so understanding, Discord thought, as he looked at the sadness on her face. He tried to think of way to cheer her up forgetting about his own emotion.
“But getting eaten by bunnies would be by far the most humiliating ways to go” Discord added in his usual jovial voice.
Fluttershy didn't respond to the question, instead she said softly. “ Discord you know I would never let anything bad happen to you.”
He was taken aback at Fluttershy’s statement. He wasn't entirely sure how to reply.
“Shouldn't I be the one telling you that, Fluttershy, I mean who, out of the two of us here, has the power to morf reality as you know it.”
“I know I am not much compared to your magic Discord, but I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you.” Fluttershy said meekly
For the umteempth time that day, Discord’s heart did the thing of warming up and turn all mushy. He was unsure how to reply to what Fluttershy just said, he was still new to these types of touching talks.
He decided to change the subject.
“So what exactly what is this treat your going to give this Mr Cottontail.”
“Oh, it’s a mixture of carrot, dandelion and celery all mixed into a cookie.”
“Won’t a certain white rat with overlarge ears and stubby tail get jealous?” Discord asked.
Fluttershy decided to let the comment about Angel slide.
“I was wondering if you would actually give Mr Cottontail the treat Discord.”
“I could do all the animals if you want Flutters, it will take only a mere thought, clap or a snap, then we can spend the rest of the day hanging out.”
“ There's no need for you to do all the animals Discord, but I was wondering if you could help me out with half of them, without the use of magic.”
“Without…” Fluttershy nodded not needing him to finish his sentence. “Oh come on Fluttershy, that will take all day if I don't use my magic. ”
“ It won't take the rest of the day Discord not if we do it together.”
“I don't see why you don’t want me to use magic. ” Discord grumbled.
“ I want my animals to trust you, and that tends to work best when they see you filling their food bowls instead of food magically appearing in them out of thin air.”
Discord was about to interject when Fluttershy cut him off.
“Please Discord, it would mean a lot if you did.” Fluttershy said her teal eyes glistening.
He wanted to say no, he wanted to fight back and say he didn't want to feed her critters. Instead Discord looked at those teal eyes; those kind, pleading eyes,it felt like he was falling into them; he doubted he could say no to those eyes, let alone who they belonged to so instead he sighed in defeat.
“Fine, I'll help feed the animals, under one condition.” Discord said relenting. “That I don't have to feed any bunnies.”
Fluttershy smiled. “Deal.” She said.
And the two happily made the rest of the way to the cottage.
______________________________________
The rest of day they spent feeding Fluttershy’s animals.
And the afternoon was spent bathing them. Fluttershy had miraculously persuade Discord to assist her in cleaning them as well.
Though halfway through cleaning them a water fight broke out between Angel and Discord, both blaming the other for starting it.
The battle soon involved all of Fluttershy’s animals and even Fluttershy who was at first reluctant to join in, and tried to break up the water war, but then after a stray water balloon hit her, she quickly changed her mind.
The group had an epic fight till the sun fell down and h put an end to the battle in order to prepare the dinner for animals. They had to clean the animals again after the war as all the participants were mud covered. Fluttershy relented and Discord magically cleaned the animals .
He even conjured up a dinner for the couple. Fluttershy dined on a variety of greens and fruit. Discord’s dinner consisted of the same, although his were entirely of wax.
After the dinner and a not so pleasant game of snakes and ladders for Angel.
The two went to bed ,Discord going to the guest room Fluttershy had prepared for him.
But only one of the two of them had a pleasant dreams.