Bougie Apple

The school week has finally ended and the first half of Appleblooms and Diamond Tiara's shared punishment is complete. Something both ponies were more than delighted about. They even hugged for a brief moment in celebration before Diamond Tiara pushed herself away in embarrassment. As they left his office, Diamond Tiara was automatically teleported to the C.M.C. club. She was unfazed by it, rather, she immediately got to work on whatever she could find for her required time. Knowing that she could run straight to Silverspoon's house afterward gave her all the motivation she needed.

Applebloom decided to stay back at school for a while. Surprisingly, Granny gave her the green light to hang out with her friends, even though her sister had already reassured her that it was fine with a playful "I won't tell if you won't." Applebloom kept her promise and never repeated what she said, but the interaction only made her desire Granny's permission even more. She was hoping to make some plans for the weekend with her friends, especially since she was still not allowed to help at the school. As she made her way to the club room, she unexpectedly encountered Silver Spoon, who was walking out from the other side of the hallway. Both ponies froze when they reached the clubroom door, creating a moment of anticipation and uncertainty.

"H-hey" Applebloom awkwardly said. Silverspoon merely replied with a small head nod. "So- Uh, lovely weather, huh." Silverspoon just nodded again, staring at the door. Applebloom nervously chuckled rubbing the side of her head. Silverspoon glanced at her for a moment. "Is she trying to...talk with me?" she questioned. Normally, she would laugh or mock her incompetence for even trying to conversate with her. But after recent events, she chose a different reply.

"Thank you...for before, I mean." Applebloom's ears perked hearing her speak. While she had a surprised look, Silverspoon remained as composed as before. "Oh, don't be so surprised Applebloom. And please stop staring. It's rude." she finished, finally pushing open the door. Applebloom stayed behind her for a second, still taken from her words. But, with a hopeful smile, she walked inside to greet her friends...or at least she tried to.

"Ah-ah-Ah~
Ah-ah-Ah~
Ah-ah-Ah~."

SilverSpoon and Applebloom looked at the translucent figure standing in the middle of the doorway. It was Discord waving his finger, taunting Applebloom.

"What in tarnation is this s'posed to be?" Applebloom said.

"It's a "Discord Notification," said Diamond Tiara, walking up to the two of them. A stack of fliers advertising their Club in her bag. Silverspoon smiled seeing her "best friend" approaching her. "Annoying isn't it?"

"You can say that again," she said, remembering how frustrating it was for her the first time she arrived here.

"I have, In length." Diamond Tiara replied. "This thing appeared on my first day inside this place. I tried to leave to go powder my nose but it stopped me. It only let me go after half an hour passed. I probably thought I was trying to bail and go home...which I was but I did have to powder my nose. " she said.

"And now it's stopping cause it thinks I'm trying to go inside and help?" Applebloom said.

"Mr. Discord made this thing. I don't know if it can think." Diamond Tiara said, getting a chuckle from Silverspoon.

"Did you tell Ms.Starlight?" Applebloom asked.

"Obviously. I'm not stupid," She said, expecting Silverspoon to chime in with her. A moment passed and she said nothing still. Diamond Tiara nudged a little bit to the same response.

"I never said you were," Applebloom declared, feeling somewhat bothered by her comment. She noticed Silverspoon averting her head, albeit slightly. Diamond Tiara huffed, grabbed a flier from her bag, and waved it in front of the Discord model. The model vanished, and as soon as it did, Diamond Tiara walked outside the room, with Silverspoon following behind her as usual. Applebloom stared at them as they marched off, rolling her eyes. For a moment, she thought that they were going to have an actual conversation. Then another thought entered her head. She looked on both sides before attempting to walk inside the club room again.
"Ah-ah-Ah~
Ah-ah-Ah~
Ah-ah-Ah~."

"Dang it."

"Applebloom," said a pair of voices. She turned her head, seeing Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo with bags of fliers on their side. All three of them rushed to the middle of the hallway, saying each other's names as they got closer. They entered in a group hug, tightly hugging each other. Although it's only been a week, for the trio it felt far too long. No pony said a thing, merely enjoying the presence and warmth that they brought each other in the moment.

Meanwhile, at Carousel Boutique, Rarity was enjoying a well-deserved break with Spike after completing an order made by Fleur de Lis. As Spike excused himself to use the restroom, the sound of knocking at the door interrupted their peaceful atmosphere. Curious, Rarity peered through the spy window and recognized Applejack's signature straw hat.

"AJ, what a pleasant surprise." She hugged her before delivering two French kisses to the sides of her face. "Please, do come in," she said, walking back to her living room. She offered her a cup of tea out of courtesy, to which she accepted.

"Many thanks, mon ami" Rarity nearly choked on her tea upon hearing her.

"What was that?" she asked.

"What was what?"

"You-you just said something that I would say. That's rather unlike you. Don't get me wrong, it's welcome but rather-"

"Unorthdoxed, Peculiar, Or maybe even idiosyncratic compared to my usual farm-girl nature and happy-go-lucky country essence..." Rarity was left stunned as she heard her friend speak in a manner that seemed far too "fancy" in her own words compared to her usual country-girl nature. The last time she had spoken like this was back with Trenderhoof, and it was both satisfying and strange to hear her do so again. Applejack calmly continued to sip her tea and even commented on its freshness, surprising Rarity even further. Trying to process these unexpected moments, Rarity hummed her lips as she searched for the right words to respond.

"Did Pinkie Pie put you up to this? Is this some sort of prank or something" she asked, all too suspicious. Applejack nodded.

"I merely wanted to improve myself for the ponies to better understand me. The whole "accent" thing wasn't doing me any favors anyhow." Hearing those words come out of her mouth started to set of flags on her head.

"And, I take it your visit here was to show me this new-iugh...essence of yourself," she asked.

"No actually. I was wondering if you wanted to go shopping with me.

"What?"

"Uhm, Discord?"

"Yes!"

"Why are you always checking your...uhm...what do you call that again? A phone?" She said, motioning to his phone.

"Ah, I'm sorry, my dear. I got a little distracted," he said, casually tossing his phone out of her window and clasping his hands in his lap. Fluttershy laughed briefly before replying, "You're all right. I was just curious." She placed her hoof on top of both of his hands, making him smile. She turned to her right, grabbed a teacup for him to pour a drink into, and asked, "So, how has your week been?"

"Oh, it's been marvelous. Applebloom and Diamond Tiara have been a delight since they were escorted to my office for fighting. It almost makes me wish I extended their detention to three weeks instead of two." he exclaimed before drinking his tea like a puppy, taking small laps at it.

"I'm sorry, what?" She said in confusion.

"I know right? Like, I had every right to do so after Applejack tossed me into a wall. And that was before she and "Mrs. Rich" as she was so happy to remind me, got into a head-shoving match about their families."

"I'm sorry, What!?!"

"Sure, your daughter said something awful about her parents and your sister made her look like she ran face-first into a doorknob... twice over for that matter. But why take it out on me?" he said, motioning his hands to his chest. He scoffed as he picked up his teacup again, this time turning his tongue into a sippy straw to drink it from.

"..."

"Why do I feel like you're the one not paying attention now." He said. Fluttershy took a moment to respond to him, taking a deep breath before slowly letting it out.

"Discord, can you be honest with me?" She opened her eyes, they sparkled in his viewing. Those eyes of kindness and goodwill.

"Of course my dear," he said.

"You didn't do anything to them...did you?" she asked.

"Uhhhhh- Oh my, would you look at the time, I best be on my-

"Discord!" Fluttershy yelled.

"Joking. I was joking," he said with a playful bounce onto the couch. She leaned back slightly from the impact, moving closer to him. "All I did was have them sign some papers explaining what would happen over the next two weeks. I even made them sign with my horns," he explained.

"Made them," she questioned.

"Well, they did fight in my office." he defended.

"Just out of curiosity, can I read one of those papers," she asked.

"Unfortunately, no. Parent-teacher confidentiality and all that schmuck," he reasoned. Fluttershy pouted, frustrated that she couldn't at least give it a one-over for her friend's sake in her mind. "Oh come now. Smile, my dear. You're never fully dressed without one." he said, fixing a strand of her loose hair. Unable to resist, her smile broke through her face as Discord let out a small laugh. "Trust me, my dear. You don't have to worry about the children at all. "

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

Suddenly, Discord's horns began to vibrate. He snapped his fingers, his phone flying back through the repaired window, shattering it again and back into his hand. His eyes popped out of his head like something from a comic when he looked down at it.

"Sorry, my dear. But it looks like I have to get going. Actually, this time. Or else I'm going to miss it. Ta-Ta~" he finished, vanishing into thin air. Fluttershy looked back at her once again broken window, a nervous field of butterflies forming in her stomach from his words. She wanted to think about them, but the broken glass needed to come first.

"Could've fixed my window at least!"