It’s been said that even the devil must pay his dues. That every event comes full circle, and the inevitable consequences of our every action catch up no matter how far we run. Consequences…. He thought to himself. It may have been in his nature to be unpredictable, to be the antithesis of everything natural, but even then he should have known that it would have only been a matter of time before the ‘natural order’ reinstated itself.
That was how this world worked, and it had been his reason for existence. There was an order to things, and without chaos to compare it to, without Discord, there would be no telling what was ‘normal’ and what was upside down. So, imagine his surprise when after a millennia, give or take, he felt his cage crack, his tomb opening. It was a gradual thing really. At first it had been the greatest feeling he had felt in the course of the millennia, not that he could feel much as a statue to begin with but regardless.
It was a beam of moonlight on his right shoulder. He had no doubt that the celestial entity would warn its master to his appearance even as miniscule as it was and in moments he would feel his flesh being shorn from his bone as it petrified slowly just like it did the first time. Not many knew that the Stone Tomb Spell was in all honesty a horrendously painful experience. For a moment he felt his anger rise at the fact that they would simply pour more cement on him like a fresh crack in their precious castle. No more than a nuisance to be brushed off their shoulders like a mote of dust.
In his mind, he felt the anger dissipate just as most of his emotions did, fairly quickly and replaced it with reasoning, cold and hard fact would aid him in keeping what sanity he had for the next one thousand years or however long he had left for his banishment if ever it would end at all. He decided that in this moment it would be more important to focus on that patch of moonlight than anything else.
Odd, he thought to himself, he hadn’t felt a patch that big. It actually felt like it was growing, Discord knew however, that if he were to break out of his prison, not only would it hurt now, but, he would very likely just receive a blast of rainbow energy to his face before he even had a chance to breathe fresh air again.
The moon reached its peak and fell and by the time the sun was rising over the horizon Discord had the upper half of his body free from the stone. Around midnight his eyes had cleared and he had taken his first breath of a soon to be short lived dream. What waited him when he opened his eyes was only somewhat surprising. He had assumed that in his absence the sisters had lost the elements due to the whole Nightmare Moon fiasco, and it would seem he was correct as the sisters Celestia and Luna stood at the entrance to the garden that housed him.
What was surprising was they showed no sign of having the elements on hand or, if his assumptions were correct, their current bearers. He had decided at that time to watch instead of act and thus the rest of the night was spent in an odd dance between their eyes, Discord observing them with barely a flick of his eyes and the sisters silently chatting and observing him the same.
Now with the sun slowly rising and the glow fading from the elders horn he decided it would be now or never. He was so tired of games.
Gambling it all on this one moment he decided to speak “May I sit please?”
His legs had long since become flesh again and he must have been completely free for at least a half of an hour already and in honesty, standing for a millennia, even with the support of stone, will make you tired.
Celestia’s eyes widened and it looked almost like she had expected an attack, it was Luna that spoke up almost immediately, the smirk suddenly on her face said she knew something Discord didn’t, he didn’t like this. “You may, I’m sure you are fairly sore from your time as an ornament.”
Discord turned his head to the side and forced a laugh. “Well, if it’s all the same to you two I’d like to get this show on the road. I’m sure it’s been so much fun for you both to… examine me but I’d rather be trapped in stone, if you would please……”
He paused for a moment and held up a paw. Discord took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, then proceeded to do so several more times. His last few became faster but before his breathing became erratic he choked back a sound the sisters had never heard from the creature before.
A sob.
After the moment stretched on, he withdrew his forearm from his now misty eyes, smiled weakly at the sisters, winked and spoke “Thank you for the moment to myself. I’m ready now…I suppose I’ll be seeing you ladies again.” With that Discord sat up a little bit straighter, smiled, placed his paw and claw in his lap and closed his eyes. As he heard movement coming closer, Discord winced lightly but quickly replaced the smile on his face.
He at least wanted to be comfortable for the next thousand years.
Luna and Celestia stopped a stones throw from the pedestal and sat again. Luna still wore the smirk she had had before and Celestia looked somewhat weary. After a few moments Luna spoke up to Discords surprise.
“You owe me 5 bits.”
Celestia scoffed and Discord cracked open an eye to watch. “Fair and square Celly, you bet me his first words would be an insult and here he is, as polite as a prince.”
At the word Discord frowned and fully opened his eyes to look at the sisters. They had not changed much, one wreathed in midnight and silver, the other in sunlight and gold. It would seem that Luna had retained her sense of humor despite rumored events. He’d have to ask later, provided there was one.
“You two took bets on what I would do once you released me? What’s your game?” He paused and scoffed, insulted. “You know what? I don’t even care anymore, if you could just get this over with you two can go back to being chummy elsewhere.”
“Mmm. So you are still in their Discord, and here I thought you were already a statue with the lack of monologue.” Celestia finally piped in.
Discords eyes became slits and his tone spoke death, “Unlike you Celestia, I don’t turn ponies to stone. I don’t torture them with forbidden magic, and I don’t gloat over the victories won by such measure.” He closed his eyes completely and took a deep breath then exhaled.
As he was opening his mouth Luna interrupted, “Discord, we are setting you free, no tricks, this is not a joke, but your freedom comes at a cost.” She stopped for a moment to make sure Discord was listening, his eyes seemed to bore into her skull, “We have noticed changes in you over the past hundred years, very drastic changes in the past few years especially and have seen fit, as the beings who passed judgment on you, to set you free. Your cost of freedom is that you will be set under the care of each of the bearers of the elements to test how each of your virtues has grown or withered.” The smirk returned and Luna turned to leave, “We have full confidence that they will be your final test.”
As Luna Left, Celestia stepped forward and gave him a glare that would have turned a mortal to ashes. “My sister is too kind. As you know there are six elements of Harmony. You will start with magic and end with magic for a second encounter, seven encounters and one day each. You will then be brought back here if you make it that long, to have judgment passed upon you again. Your actions from this moment forward will dictate how long your ‘freedom’ lasts. Is that clear?” Celestia’s attempt at being stern had failed on Discord and instead he returned her glare full force, clenching his fists.
“You are giving me one week to live. Taking almost all of my power and hiding it Titan knows where, and setting me up on a date with your little playthings while you sit back and run the board and its pieces Celestia.” He took a step forward and saw Luna turn around right at the entrance.
“I will play your little games dear. But don’t for an instant think I am just some pawn.” He looked over at Luna and back to Celestia “When do I get to meet the little dearies?”
Luna had decided to continue on, her sister could handle herself, especially since She had been using the moon to store away chunks of Discords power the whole night that he was slowly being freed. It had been a measure they both agreed was necessary, that if he had not been changed they could have easily subdued him and called in the Elements to finish.
Taking flight as soon as she hit an interior courtyard, Luna took a moment to look over the ramparts and towards her towers, a Lone figure stood watching from the edge but made no move to follow at the shake of her head.
Luna continued over the castle walls and around the edges of Upper Canterlot, through a sloping valley and a riverside forest. The sun being high in the sky by this time left the scenery shining from another calm summer’s night. In moments Luna approached the hill she had been looking for, seven figures moved around carrying assorted items for the picnic Celestia and her had requested of them this afternoon.
Flying in fast and low Luna veered upwards and whipped her wings open to an immediate stop. The aftermath of her flight ruffling her feathers lightly as she alighted near the seven figures and greeted them each with a warm smile.
Greetings were cut short as a flash of gold signaled the arrival of her sister and their guest. It was time to begin the explanation.
As Celestia and Luna walked over to the grouping together with Discord in tow general introductions filled the air before they all sat to enjoy the picnic and speak of the real reason they had gathered.
Luna decided it was her turn to explain a bit “Discord will be staying with one of you each for one day at a time. He will be ending his week at Twilight Sparkles house where he will give his report to the both of us. We will leave the scheduling up to you ladies as to not impose as much as possible. With that being said…” Luna nudged her sister and Celestia glared over at Discord, a glow overtaking her horn as two churning orbs of gold appeared and began orbiting his body before sinking in to his delight.
Discord let out a strong sigh of relief as she spoke “I have given you power again Discord, not enough to cause much harm but enough to experiment perhaps. Do with it what you will but know this, if any of them come to harm your judgment will be swift.”
He laughed and snapped his fingers, teleporting to and fro around the little hill completely ignoring the tense atmosphere Celestia had momentarily created. It was broken the moment Pinkie Pie began hopping around after Discord to everyone’s amusement.
After a few conversations of time periods and such Celestia and Luna announced their leave. Luna stayed behind for a moment to speak with Discord and simply wish him luck with his new friends. An alien word for him to be sure and as he sat down on the checkered picnic blanket he echoed the word out loud “Friends?”
Pinkie was on the dot “ Well, yeah. You are our friend now. We still have to get to know you but that doesn’t change the fact that we are going to have some super duper funnerific times together!” The others echoed their agreement.
“Duh” Stated Dash, “ Besides, just wait till you see some of my tricks, you’ll never want to leave.” She pumped her hoove in the air for emphasis and smirked.
“Or the festival darling, its simply divine! And, you must come by for me sometime, I own a boutique and it would be my pleasure to stitch you a few new threads as they say.” Rarity finished with a sweet smile and a soft wave.
“Doncha dare forget ‘bout ah nice meal at Sweet Apple Acres neither.” Chimed in Applejack
Fluttershy even stepped up “and of course, I can show you around all of my Animals, I-if you would like.”
Last was Twilight “ And since I’ll have you twice we can do whatever you would like, I’ve already whipped up a schedule for us all to follow, gather up girls, lets go over it real quick. “
While they gathered and talked about the scheduling arrangements Discord allowed his mind to wander. Questions burned within his mind, but were calmed when he realized that yet again, everything had changed. He thought of the two sisters, side by side, to opposites together…. In harmony.
He lifted his hand and snapped his fingers, stopping time and looking down at the town the mares behind him called home. He split his vision and used one eye to imagine the world as he used to, in chaos, burning, nothing functioning as it should, a world torn asunder. In his other eye he saw the world for its potential in harmony. Beautiful in every aspect and to his ever greater surprise he saw a place for chaos within that order.
He may be akin to a convict on probation, no trial, and unjust imprisonment by all means but….
Standing atop that hill he felt every inch the conflicted patchwork being that he was. He smiled a bit goofy at a realization and time started again. Pinkie noticed immediately “ Whats got you in such a great mood all of a sudden? Better share the joke if it’s a good one!”
He smiled again “Nothing my….friend. I simply figured something out. I think. I think I just want to belong. “ He looked down at them from his spot on the hill and they all smiled back at him.
‘everyone can change’ he thought to himself, ‘besides, is it so bad to want to belong?’
With a final dab of Twilights quill the schedule was completed. With that they agreed that it was time for all to part ways. Discord, giving cautious waves to each of his new friends and following after the golden hair of his guide, took a moment to look out at the town from the hill again. He quick stepped to catch up with Applejack and within minutes they had reached a road leading away from the quaint little town.
Around them the air seemed to become more clear, more crisp and refreshing the further they paced on. It wasn’t long before Discord found himself staring up at the stars again. His ear flicked in AppleJacks direction and he spoke. “Not that I mind a nice walk after…after eating, but how far is this place of yours?”
She looked up at him and her eyes seemed to pierce right through the blanket of night around them, almost shining with the stars above. “Don’t yew even try ta lie ta me. Not ev’n a lie o’ omission. Ah know full-well that yew had somethin’ else on yer mind.” He almost decided to let the statement ring and remain silent but with another glance into Applejacks eyes he realized he would need to appease her or she would not give this up.
Internally he thought for a while about how he wanted to bring this up with someone who would likely never understand. Applejack gave him another simmering look from the side and finally spoke after the silence had hung for a full minutes. “it’s only ah few miles outside ah town. Mind telling me what yew were gonna say parder?” Though the look she gave him spoke of slight impatience, the tone of her voice was sweet and inviting. He simply forgot that that was what ‘friendly’ sounded like.
For the hundredth time he looked up at the sky and sighed, this time staring at the moon that was now cresting over a mountain in the distance. His eyes grew distant and his companion leaned closer, reaching out to comfort him, thinking she had said something wrong. Before Applejack had reached his arm, Discord spoke.
“I….I have been gone for a long time Applejack. Longer than your family has existed and before the plain this town sits on was worn by time and made fertile by nature. I’ll try and make this simple but honestly I just wound up being far too full of myself. I thought with my heart and not my head. The princesses saw fit to put me in my place and in their infinite stupidity or kindness I suppose, they decided to spare me despite how far past the borders of sane I had pushed.” He reached out and grasped her hoof in his taloned hand and gently squeezed.
“By far, the worst part is being trapped with yourself. I was insane…I probably still am. But to have the two sides warring inside my head when that was my only refuge? Madness was a reprieve I had been all too willing to accept, anger and hatred a welcome blanket against the frigid cold truths of my imprisonment.” He didn’t notice he had stopped walking until he shifted his vision to the dirt road they stood on.
Looking over he saw that Applejack no longer regarded him with the suspicion or even impatience that she had before. Instead they showed a look he hadn’t recognized in centuries, Compassion. She moved from his grip and rested her arm on his shoulder before pulling him into a hug. Even though it wasn’t a quick hug or fast by any means, the motion startled Discord. He was stiff as a board until he heard her soft whisper through his fur. “Ah don’t know what yew’ve been through Sugar, won’t ever pretend to neither, but yew ‘ave us now. Yer friends. And we’ll never let yew go s’long as yew do the same fer us.” She held her grip until he had relaxed and absently placed an arm around her in return of the embrace.
This was the first show of affection he had felt in centuries and it had come from the one thing he thought he would never have again…. A Friend. Parting from the small embrace he looked forward and they began their steady pace again. In an almost offhand way Discord stated, “Thank you.” The sentiment was not lost on Applejack and she simply nodded and uttered a reassuring murmur. Nothing more need to be said.
Their journey down the long road gave way to more dirt paths and winding countryside views, sparking a conversation between the two of agriculture and soon leaking into the pool of their favorite things. Though he was by no means of the earth tribe entirely, he was always astounded by the works they could do with hard packed earth all around them. Applejack and her entire ancestry were a prime example of the earth pony. Soon they had glossed over the topic of innate magick and moved on to personnel topics. Discord skipped quite easily over his adolescence and to his great pleasure Applejack did not question him, catching on that that must have been the time when things took a turn for the worse with him.
While speaking about the different types of apples and why they become the different colors they do, Applejack interrupted herself with a serious question to him. “I know it’s a mite sensitive, but…. Have yew ever talked ta anyone ‘bout the bad memories yew have? It could do yer heart a mighty good deal.” Applejack reached up for a moment and gentle slid her grip across the edge of her hat.
With a lopsided grin Discord answered, “The princesses know of my struggles, in my time I spoke with them. “ The meager excuse wasn’t enough to dissuade her, “Well shucks, even ah speak to the princesses ‘round here every now and agin’, that don’t mean yew talked about what yew really wanted to.” She took a step closer and matched their continued pace through the outer orchards.
Discord followed his habit of looking to the sky before answering and answered with another sigh, “You know Applejack…I think you might be right. However, I just don’t think I’m ready to talk about it yet.”
The answer was enough for the cowpony “No pressure from me Sugar.”
During the rest of the stroll through the orchard proper discord was hardly walking straight or not shaking. It seemed that in his absence several new breeds of apple had popped up and though they couldn’t see the zap apples tonight as they were not in season for another three months, Applejack promised when the time came that he could help harvest them to see what it was like. It wasn’t long afterwards that they both padded up the steps of the Apple Family homestead and stomped on a few mats to get dirt off. Once in the threshold one could see a few dog brushes to the side, several pictures of prize winning stock or competitions the family members had been part of and once entering the living room Discord found the pictures practically quadrupled. He swore that if they rearranged a few pictures they could just make a family tree right there on their wall.
“I mean this in a kind way, but there is no way you live on this farm alone and tend to all these tasks by yourself Applejack.”
She smiled and allowed her eyes to fall on each of the many photos one at a time as she spoke “Ah course ah don’t. I have my younger sister, mah older brother, and mah granny ta help. As well as many members o’ mah family stop in every now and agin’.”
“So then, where is everyone now?”
She chuckled “Well, they went on a trip to the royal city, I volunteered ta watch over the farm since harvesting season is over, besides, ah wanted to spend yesterday with the girls.”
A Frown crossed Discords face “I’m sorry I interrupted your time with them.”
She closed the gap between them with another hug, ruffling his cinnamon hair with a grin. “Sugar, you made the day better. What could any of us ask for more than making a new friend?”
In truth the smile warmed him. He had been having second thoughts since reaching the orchard with all the temptation he had seen for chaotic opportunities. He hadn’t felt any urges thankfully, just the slight idea of ‘what if’ or ‘I wonder…”. He rested the top of his head on hers for a moment and returned the hug before she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the stars. “It’s late, both of us need to get some rest. After all, as still need to show yew ‘round my neck o’ the woods in the morning afore ah hand yew off.” With those words the weariness did set upon him and he felt the need for sleep, a bed sounding wonderful.
Allowing himself to be led into a large room and pushed lightly towards a bed he thought to himself ‘so this is what its like to feel accepted.’
“Well yew sure do look happy.” Stated Applejack as she threw a blanket over the top of him and moved for the door. “Ah’ll be across the hall if’n yew need anything.”
With a wistful grin he replied “Thank you Applejack….Goodnight.”
With that she closed the door and was lost to tranquility of the quiet farmhouse.
--=====
He didn’t sleep long into the night after the farmhouse grew quiet. It didn’t take the moon long to be blazing its silvery veins through the window and into his once closed eyes. Discord couldn’t remember if being woken up like this ever had bothered him in his lifetime, but at that moment he decided it never would again. The view he was afforded from the pillow was beautiful even if it was at treetop level in the orchards.
Though the flash that lit up the night time scenery was hard to miss as Discords attention was drawn immediately to it. Rising from the makeshift fort of sheets he had created from nothing he stepped towards the window and wondered what could have made the flash. It could have been the return of the Apple families other members but Discord didn’t remember seeing any unicorns in the family pictures making it highly unlikely.
Deciding it would be better to investigate than wake Applejack for some trick the stars played on his eyes, Discord floated down the stairs and opened the front door to the farmhouse to find himself a few strides from Celestia herself.
There were a few silent moments when their eyes met as both of their expressions went blank. Celestia spoke first “How are you finding the Apple Family Homestead Discord?” It was a polite enough question but the clenching of his jaw told Celestia that he hadn’t bought it as legitimate for a minute. His response guaranteed it.
“As much as I’d love to play a game of beat around the bush Celestia, I’m not in the mood for games. Can we get to the point of this visit?” It was cold coming from Discords, straightforward and serious as she had ever seen.
After a moment she sighed and looked him in the eyes again “I’m sorry, I dropped in to check on you. We haven’t had any reports of anything strange going on and I have indeed granted you more power than previously. All we could tell was there was nothing but…” She makes a rolling motion with her hoof and the same with her eyes, “ … a bit of teleportation.”
Now breaking his stony expression, Discord unclenches his jaw to speak with anger in his eyes “And what business is it of yours what my travel methods are?” He raised a brow and showed a few teeth with his frown.
Celestia nodded to herself and took a deep breath “I am not trying to start a fight here Discord, I simply wished to check up on you and-“
“Why are you here?” he cut her off “ I have done nothing wrong unless you consider a hug a crime nowadays ‘oh purest one’.”
This time Celestia snorted and almost snapped, regaining her senses at the last moment she looked up at Discord with Pity in her eyes and his blood boiled before she even spoke. “I understand why you treat me with such hostility and for that I am more sorry than I can say.”
He had turned away after his last remark but this new one caught him by surprise. The incredulous stare he returned to Celestia made her mouth snap shut in confusion and the sudden dread filled silence was broken by a single word filled with such hatred it brought flashbacks to Celestias mind.
“What?” The word was like the fall of a guillotine, filling Celestia with the dread only the damned can know.
Slightly taken aback She stuttered out, “I-I said that I am sorr-“
The look on Discords face turned to a sickening grin “If you came here to apologize then leave. I appreciate what you and your sister have done for me, but this new life is not a get out of past mistakes free card for you. He snapped his fingers and the sounds of a long passed argument filled the air with ghostly whispers.
Celestia’s face grew hollow and she roared in the Royal voice “Will you just listen to Us for once in your life!”
He knew her shout likely woke Applejack and that fact added to his rising temper. He leapt forward off the patio and landed feet from Celestia, The roar he gave was nothing like the being she had been speaking with before, his size had grown and he had taken on a much more feral glow. The normally dull or misplaced points of his horns and fangs for once razor sharp and his scales thick and now a sickly red, he looked more dragon than anything in that moment.
“First off Celestia, you may be the princess here but there are others in this world and you would do well to respect their times of rest. Secondly I’ve spent lifetimes listening to your wisdom and look where it led me? I’d rather not spend another moment listening to your micromanagement. Third and finally Celestia….” At this moment his body shrunk down and he looked almost normal.
He took a step forward so that they were no less than a foot apart from each other, he slowly raised an arm and stroked her cheek despite the flinch she made at the soft contact. It was heartbreaking the look in his eyes as he spoke, “ Why should I trust you when you were the one who turned me to stone?”
Celestia’s heart skipped a beat, a painful, necessary beat and she sat hard, her face falling away from Discords hand and pointing down to the earth. He could see the clear beads reflecting midnight falling from her muzzle and remembered what compassion felt like. He saw flashes of Applejack from earlier that night and took a page straight from her book. He took a step forward and before Celestia could startle much more than spreading her wings in panic he embraced her around the neck and squeezed gently.
Celestia’s eyes wide with terror morphed to a look of surprise and the tears flowed freely. She sobbed and the damn broke, releasing with it a cascade of endless apologies. At some point he patted the top of her head and she smiled at his antics. They broke away from each other and Discord smiled.
“It’s a new trick I learned, you can thank Applejack for that one.”
Celestia smiled and straightened herself up before looking at Discord again and speaking clearly “I really didn’t mean to sound so suspicious Discord, I was just worried…well, both me and Luna were worried about you. I know it must be hard to believe right now but we are both so happy to have you back.” She sighes again but it’s a warm wistful one that speaks of summer days and well spent eve’s, “You know she really misses having someone to play with like back in the old days. Even if we were all so young then, she remembers it so well.”
Discord and Celestia both looked up at the moon, and so did Applejack from her bedroom window.
“If you don’t mind Celly, could you pass on a message to our dear Lu-Lu?”
She looks over and the smile from before is still there “Sure.”
“Could you tell her I’d like to talk to her sometime. If she isn’t too busy that is.”
“Sure thing Disco.”
He winced at the nickname but before he could gently retort, Celestia had vanished in a glowing ball of warm light.
The rest of the night was uneventful as Discord finally found sleep in his room of the Apple family farmhouse. In the morning, Applejack woke him and they shared breakfast while chatting about the late night conversation once Discord realized Applejack had been woken by Celestia’s shout.
“So, Disco hunh?” Applejack relentlessly teases him for his casual behavior with the princess last night but he enjoys the good humor and makes Apple puns, as terrible as most of them are, for the rest of the day. Applejack lead Discord across the farm and showed him each of the different fields, telling in great detail all the different techniques, procedures, and histories that were a part of cultivating the crops and fields. Of course, he listened in rapt attention and soaked in the information as quickly as she dished it out, he never knew when he might need this info again.
The weather was warm and a tad humid, something he loved. Every now and then he would pick an apple from a tree and slice it through with the one protruding fang that stuck out of his maw before eating the halves. All the while Applejack seemed to find his apple eating antics hilarious as she giggled whenever she noticed him nonchalantly eating one.
Walking back towards the farm house to enjoy an early lunch he stopped to pick up an apple and peg Applejack with it lightly, turning she stared in mock surprise before smirking and picking up another apple that had already fallen to throw back at him. Before he could rightly retaliate he found himself being pelted by apples of all sizes and shades.
The events of that battle would go down in history as one of the most ferocious apple fights to have ever taken place...if there had been anyone else there to witness it.
Both panting for air and hanging about each others shoulders they arrived back at the farmhouse to find that they had a guest waiting in the living room.
Discord smiled and addressed their guest "Ah, Fluttershy, you've come for me?"
She nodded in her usual soft way before looking to Applejack and Smiling. Applejack returned the smile and she approached to greet him “It’s…” a soft clearing of her throat and she continues “Its good to see you are doing well Discord.” She finishes with a meek smile, batting her lashes and staring down at the floorboards.
Discord takes a moment to look her over before speaking. “well, I suppose I should get out of your place Applejack, don’t want to keep time from Fluttershy after all. Thank you for everything so far…”
As they began the walk towards Fluttershy’s forest cottage he yelled back “ And I still kicked your hide in the apple fight!!”
Applejack simply smiled and waved after them, heading back to the farmhouse to continue the days work.
Walking alongside his new companion he felt her eyes on him and watched as she examined each different part of his makeup. Discord could already tell that this was going to be an interesting day, after all, she looked ticklish.
