Factum Est

"Alright class, it's time for afternoon anouncements." Cheerilee's voice dragged Dinky out of her stupor, and her light, golden eyes trailed slowly to the front of the class. The only thing that caught her attention was that the pegasi had put in orders for the rainy season to start a little earlier, so they should all bring boots if they wanted to play outside. She also recommended visiting Rarity, who had said she would make all them something called a poncho. After that, she rested her head again, quietly doing her work without so much as looking at anypony else. Time seemed to speed up whenever she was in class, the inevitable end of the day looming closer and closer. She frowned. Today was Cheerilee’s meeting with the high school teachers. She’d been dreading today all month, knowing that she was going to have to go outside and face the taunts and beatings. She curled in on herself, watching the clock. Math was relatively easy, so she’d finished before everyone else. But it wasn’t a blessing. It just served to make the countdown to school’s end drag on. She wrapped her forelegs around herself, crossing and uncrossing her legs. Her eyes darted around. She could see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo whispering in the back of the class, their worksheets nearly forgotten. Button Mash, Pipsqueak, and Rumble were on the other side of the room, jostling each other and showing each other flashes of video games on the sly. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon giggled together, pointing at Twist, then straight at her. Her heartbeat doubled in speed, thumping painfully in her chest.

Her gaze flew to the clock. She only had five minutes of safety left. Cold sweat soaked her skin. The skin around her left eye tingled, remembering the last time Cheerilee hadn’t been able to wait with her after school. She raised a trembling hoof up, flinching at a ghost pain that flitted over her. The bell rang, and she was slow to her hooves. Diamond and Silver Spoon moved in her direction and she bit back a pitiful whimper. She was surprised when they walked passed her. A piece of paper fell out of Diamond’s saddlebags.

“Maybe if I take this to her, she’ll let me go home in peace…” Dinky mumbled, smoothing the paper out. She let out an audible squeak, her whole face turning red. On the paper was a crude drawing of her and Twist, kissing. She ripped the paper in half, nearly tripping in her haste to throw the drawing away. Truth be told, she’d never thought about kissing anypony before. To her it was something that happened only in fairy tales. Her mom had never kissed anyone that she knew of. She ducked to hide her red face as Cheerilee headed off to her meeting.

Slipping into the room with all their cubbies, Dinky pulled her saddlebags off a hat rack. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She didn’t remember a coat rack in this room. She poked it gingerly with her hoof, and suddenly the wood turned into Discord, who threw his front legs wide.

“Hiya kid!” he grinned. Dinky smiled, latching onto him. She and her mom had befriended Discord soon after his reformation, and despite the recent business with Tirek, both had forgiven him quite readily.

“Hi Discord!” she trilled happily. He scooped her up, twirling her for a minute.

“I hope you don’t mind me picking you up” –here he paused to giggle at his clever little pun- “but I figured we could go pick up your mom and I would treat both of my lovely ladies out to ice cream.”

“Really?!” Dinky squealed excitedly. He nodded, tapping on her horn.

“Hoof to the princesses,” he said, faux-solemnly. She cheered, wrapping her forelegs around his long neck. He secured his grip on her magically, before walking out with her into one of the last few clear days of the season. She chattered happily in his ear, talking about what they were learning in class, and about some of the new muffin recipes Derpy had tried out. He nodded, adding an occasional “Really?” or an “I see” here and there. Inside, he was testing her. He couldn’t feel her magical field, or anything remotely magical in her at all. This seemed to appease him as he made his way through Ponyville, drawing several stares. He ignored them, appearing to give all his attention to the small lilac filly on his back. It wasn’t long before they approached Derpy’s small house. He knocked quickly, and it wasn’t even a minute before she appeared, her blonde mane rumpled and the smoky haze of sleep in her eyes.

“Muffin?” she asked, yawning. Dinky waved.

“Discord came to visit! He says we’re all gonna go get ice cream!” she beamed. Derpy rubbed her eyes softly, smiling at the draconequus.

“Hello Discord. Thank you for picking up my precious little pastry,” Derpy cooed, nuzzling Dinky’s leg affectionately. Discord bowed, Dinky staying in place midair. The filly giggled, flapping her forelegs like a bird. Derpy smiled, stretching.

“It’s nice to see you again, Derpy,” Discord said, his voice the epitome of friendliness. She nodded in agreement, ruffling her wings. Finally alert enough to head out, the trio headed to a small ice cream shop. Discord waited patiently for the two to pick out their flavors, indulging Dinky in a banana split without a second thought. Once they were all situated, Discord smiled. He made small talk, laughing with the mailmare. Dinky ended up with whipped cream and chocolate syrup on her snout, her hooves sliding onher spoon. They sat and ate for an hour, Discord using his magic to clean Dinky up when she was done, as well as supplying her with several coins for the various gumball and toy machines against the walls. When she was out of earshot, Discord donned a coy smile, turning to Derpy.

“Dinky’s magic is starting to bloom,” he said. Derpy’s eyes widened.

“Really?” she asked. Discord nodded emphatically, covering one of her front hooves with his lion paw.

“Truly. It was quite magnificent. I believe she’s magically strong enough to even rival Prrrrincess Twilight someday,” he purred. Derpy’s smile grew wider. She opened her mouth to say something, but Discord stopped her.

“I would like to offer you a chance of a lifetime.” His eyes never left Derpy’s, his expression earnest and caring. “It would be my privilege- no, my honor, to train Dinky to use her magic to the best of her abilities. It won’t cost you a thing, and as a plus side, I won’t take her away from you. I’d like you both to come stay with me. You’ll both be living lives of luxury, Dinky will get to train and become the powerful magician she was born to be and I can remove your curse and grant you your joy.” All of this left Derpy frozen in glee, and before she could stop herself, tears of gratitude spilled down her muzzle. She wrapped her forelegs and wings around Discord’s barrel, sniffling.

“Y-you would really do all of that? For us?” she asked. He smirked.

“Of course I would dear. But it’s not all for free. You have to make a sacrifice,” he said, crossing his arms and legs, sitting back in his chair. Derpy pulled away from him, her blissful expression now just a tiny bit guarded.

“Like what?” she asked. He smiled reassuringly.

“Nothing big, just your Equestrian citizenship. That’s all really. And think, what’s one small country in the landscape of your future?” His tone was smooth, like honey, and it filled her ears like a snake charmer’s tune. She felt compelled to obey, but she shook her head.

“What about Dinky’s friends?” Derpy asked, trying her hardest to ignore the persuasive offer she’d received.

“Dinky will have a chance to make new friends. I didn’t want to tell you this, but Luna has told me that Dinky hasn’t been sleeping very well of late. The same, sickening dreams of all the ways her schoolmates bully her. I can guarantee her safety. And I can guarantee that she will be loved, no matter what.” Discord went quiet, letting his words weigh upon Derpy. Almost imperceptibly, he lowered the background sounds so she would subconsciously focus on him. He turned his gaze sympathetic. “I know it’s a big decision, and I wouldn’t even think of just letting you agree. I trust you want to talk to dear little Dinky about it?” he prompted. Derpy nodded, a look of longing covering her face as she glanced back at her flank. The seven little bubbles that had haunted her for her whole life stared back, and she imagined them gone, replaced with a muffin, or a rolling pin and chef hat. Her dream… Dinky’s happiness… all there, all being given to her on a silver platter. All she had to do was take Dinky and go with Discord, and everything she’d ever wanted would become a reality… She shook her head again, looking away from Discord and over at her baby. Dinky was her life, her everything. She’d do anything she could to make her little filly happy. Derpy stood shakily, the background noise returning immediately.

“I’ll talk to Dinky about it tonight. Come have tea with us tomorrow afternoon and we’ll tell you our decision. I think it’s best to take her home alone though,” Derpy said. Discord nodded.

“I’ll respect your decision, whatever it may be. And I know you’ll make the right one, wonderful mother that you are.” Discord’s eyes rolled, and to mask it he swirled his pupils around idly. He remembered the good old days when he didn’t have to manipulate anyone and he could just threaten them a pig’s tail for them to do his bidding. He sighed, waving goodbye to the small family. As soon as they left, his smirk grew, and he snapped his fingers, disappearing in a flash.

--

He reappeared next to Sunbutt, who was having her pre-evening tea. To her credit, she didn’t flinch, only sighed.

“Have you decided?”

“Of course I have. I had decided when I was stoned for the second time.”

“Must you take my ponies? Can’t you have made your own, or taken the foreign races?”

“I could have, but it’s much more fun this way. I get to make you squirm, and keep secrets. It’s nice having control, when you get to enjoy it.” Discord sprawled across her desk, intentionally knocking down several stacks of organized paper. “I do take it you haven’t told Moody Moony about our little deal.” His tone carried a threatening edge to it, and she looked away, shamed.

“Of course I haven’t. She wouldn’t let me do this.”

“Of course she wouldn’t! She’s a proper princess, unlike her role model.” Discord leered at her, teeth seeming a little sharper than normal. Celestia cringed.

“I am doing what I think is best for everypony involved,” she said defensively.

“Are you really? Because I think that you and all of your tolerance and friendship talk is a load of horseapples. Luna wouldn’t want to believe that her heroes were nothing special, so you’re putting on a front. You can’t admit to being selfish, or wrong, and that is what will break you in the end, Sunbutt. In the end, you’ll be left alone with all of your mistakes weighing on you so heavily that you’ll go mad. You’ll be insane, and you’ll be mine.” With that, he vanished, leaving the alicorn in a defeated slump.