Chapter VI – Road to Reformation (Part 1)

Chaotic Love

Chapter VI – Road to Reformation (Part 1)

The room was completely silent; the girls just stared at Twilight their mouths open and Twilight stared at the scroll. Fluttershy was smiling next to Discord who himself was trying very hard not to laugh at their faces, Twilight had just finished reading the scroll Celestia had sent her and couldn’t believe what it said, nor did she really want to do what it said.

“So let me get this straight.” Rainbow started. “Princess Celestia…wants us…as part of his reformation…to spend TIME with him?!” She finished.

Twilight only nodded her eyes still on the scroll, in the scroll Princess Celestia had not ordered but asked Twilight and her friends, if they will spend some time with Discord alone. Just to help his reformation and help him make more friends, she was confident that they could do this as Fluttershy had done it and not only that, she wanted them to write to her with their findings and how they felt about Discord after their time with him.

Fluttershy had thought it was a wonderful idea; it gave them all a chance to see Discord in a new light like she had done and maybe help reassure her that her nightmare wouldn’t become a reality. Discord on the other hand had mixed feelings, on one hand he hated to admit that the idea was a good one; it would at least tone down the essential death threats the girls had promised him. But on the other hand he found it to be somewhat a chore, he didn’t mind spending time with Fluttershy, after all he was living with her and she was somewhat bearable, not to mention she was his link to torment Caramel and Angel. For now though he was mainly focusing on not laughing at the girls faces, Spike saw he was stifling a chuckle and at first glared at him but couldn’t help himself and snickered as he glanced at the girls gaping mouths.

“Well…I think it’s a great idea.” Fluttershy said.

They all looked at her and she simply smiled back at them.

“I think so to if I’m honest.” Spike added. “I mean, you guys need to reform Discord so what better way than to help him learn about friendship and such then by spending time with him?”

“But…but.” Twilight started.

“Oh come now dear Twilight, surely you don’t want to disappoint the Princess?” Discord asked her. “Besides, I kinda like the idea as well.”

Twilight and the other girls frowned looking at Discord, he smiled back at them with Fluttershy smiling as well by his side and Spike at his other side, crossed arms and looking at them expectantly.

“Fine…I suppose we can try this idea…” Twilight looked over the scroll again and saw she had missed a part of it. “Hang on there’s some more here.”

‘P.S. Could you please inform Discord that I forgot to mention when he uses up the limited magic he can do it will take him at least a full day to fully recover. Please tell him I’m sorry I didn’t mention that.

Discord chuckled to himself leaning back on the sofa.

And please give him my best wishes and I’d like him to also record his findings for me and send them along with yours.’

“Typical Celestia, always the prankster.”

Twilight and the girls felt relived somewhat at this, feeling a bit better knowing that if Discord used up all his powers there would be a large gap in the window for when the powers would return.

“Well then, best get started on this. Who wants to spend the day with Discord first?” Twilight asked the girls

There was a short pause before Pinkie began to jump and down excitedly.

“OH ME PICK ME!” she frantically waved her arm back and forth.

“Actually, I was wondering if I could spend the rest of the morning and early afternoon with Applejack.” Discord said.
The girls looked at him slightly curious as Pinkie gave a frown and sat down.

“And why is that?” Twilight asked him.

“Well, I think it may be best if we both start over again, given this mornings…interesting wake up call.” He chuckled.

“Just what are ya up to?” Applejack asked suspiciously.

“Nothing, I simply think it’s the best thing to do. I also think it would mean a lot to Fluttershy if we were able to start over anew as it were.” He replied honestly.

Applejack squinted her eyes at him and gave him a looking over, Discord calmly sat there as the others all gave nervous looks to one another. Applejack then smirked, satisfied he was speaking the truth.

“Well alrighty then, I think we can find sum work for ya on the farm.” She smiled.

“Wonderful, oh Pinkie don’t look so glum. I can come round in the late afternoon at…” He leant towards Fluttershy “What is the shop called again?” He whispered to her.

“Sugarcube corner.” Fluttershy replied with a whisper.

“Thank you.” He whispered back. “Sugarcube corner, does that sound fun?”

“Weeeeeeeell?” Pinkie replied tapping her chin.

“I’ll teach you how to make chocolate cupcakes that explode in your mouth and fill it with chocolate ice cream.” He grinned at her.

“OHMYGOSHTHATSOUNDSAMAZING!” Pinkie giggled and bounced up and down in the room.

Fluttershy couldn’t help but smile somewhat proud, Discord was actually trying to be nice to her friends on what she was hoping to be for her benefit just as much as the Princesses wish for him to reform.

‘If the days with my friends goes well…maybe I can trust him to do other things, like interact with the town…and maybe…maybe I can tell the girls how I feel about him, when the time is right.’

Fluttershy giggled to herself closing her eyes in happiness, Discord saw in the corner of his eyes and couldn’t help smile at it. Unbeknownst to him or Fluttershy, Spike had noticed the reactions of the two and raised his eyebrows curiously; he walked over to the bookshelf and began to look for a book.

“Looking for anything in particular there half pint?” Rainbow asked him, noticing his sudden move.

“No not really just…ah here we are.” He picked up a book and quickly went up the stairs before Rainbow could see what the book was.

Rainbow shrugged and stretched herself before letting out a loud yawn.

“Well, I better get back to work. I’ll see you guys later.”

They all said their goodbyes and she walked out of the door, not before giving Discord a quick look that said ‘watch yourself’ and took off. The girls all said their own goodbyes as they left to do their own things leaving Discord outside of the tree house with Fluttershy and Applejack.

“Are you going to be ok?” Fluttershy asked him.

“I’ll be fine Fluttershy, what’s the worst that could happen.” Discord grinned back at her.

“Don’t you worry nothing sugarcube, I won’t try to break him that much.” Applejack smirked.

“Ok…well, I hope you have fun.” Fluttershy smiled and gave him a hug.

Discord paused for a moment before turning the hug, despite the look of surprise Applejack was giving them. She said good bye to them both and headed back to her cottage, Discord then started to walk to Sweet Apple acres with Applejack.

The two walked in silence for the most part of the journey, Applejack saying hello to passers-by who greeted her and as they now had heard, Silver Tongue. As they came to the dirt road that led to the farm Applejack spoke up.

“So…what was with that hug back there then?” She asked.

“Not sure, I thought it was something friends do.” He replied.

“We meant what we said Discord…you hurt her and-“

“Yes yes I know you’ll tear me a new one I get it, besides. I don’t want to hurt her…” He interrupted.

Applejack looked at him in surprise at the sincerity of his words; he saw this and quickly coughed.

“Because you know, I uhm…don’t want to hurt the person who helps me annoy that Caramel fellow.” He quickly added.

“Uhuh,” Applejack smirked. “Wait…what do ya mean by annoy?”

Discord decided to tell her about how Caramel reacted to what he would do with Fluttershy when he saw them in the streets, she couldn’t help but laugh at how easily wound up Caramel could get. She then gave him a pat on the back.

“Ah think it’s a good thing what you’re doing.”

“…What.” he deadpanned.

“Well…most folk don’t know bout it but, Caramel is good pals with mah brother Big Mac and Big Mac told me that he’s been tryin’ to stop what Caramel does.”

“Which is?” Discord asked.

“He has a habit of sleeping and not calling back if you know what ah mean.” She replied.

“No I don’t…” Discord said.

“Seriously?” She deadpanned at him.

“I know what you meant I was just teasing, and who’d of thought.” Discord chuckled.

“Exactly, but still.” She gave him a punch to his arm.

“Ow what was that for?” He rubbed his arm rapidly.

“For using Fluttershy to annoy Caramel.” She shot him a smirk.

“I’ll try not to in the future.” He gave a mock salute and a grin.

She was about to reply when he was tackled to the ground by three small blurs that fell out of the tree above him.

“We got him girls!”

“Quick tie his legs!

“With what?”

“Applebloom don’t tell me you forgot the rope!”

“…Oops.”

Applejack burst out laughing as Discord lay there dazed and confused, three children sitting on his body trying to pin him down.

“Girls, what in the heck do ya think you’re doing?”

“…Cutie mark crusader Chaos hunters?” Applebloom said with a sheepish grin.

“Can you please get off me?” Discord groaned.

“Oh…sorry Discord.” Scootaloo said getting off him.

“Wait…rewind a second, how do you know who I am?” He looked up to Applejack for answers.

“Well, we decided to tell our families who you were so they would be prepared for you should something like this ever happen.”

“So…just exactly who knows about me?”

“Well, these three, Mr and Mrs Cake, Granny Smith and Big Mac. That’s it.”

Discord thought for a moment before shrugging, he had to admit it would make things easier. Although it was a little disappointing he wouldn’t have the same kind of fun for the mischief he had planned. The three girls apologised again to him before Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo then said good bye to Applebloom and took off , the three made their way towards the farm with Discord listening to Applejack and Applebloom talking to one another. As they approached the main part of the farm Discord saw their house and an elderly lady on the front porch, he naturally assumed she was Granny Smith.

“Howdy Granny Smith!” Applejack called out.

“Well howdy Applejack, who’s the handsome young man?” Granny Smith replied.

“Granny…remember what I said happened yesterday? With the Princess and all that?”

Granny Smith thought for a moment and stroked her chin before remembering.

“Oh yes ah remember, you must be that Discord fellah!” She glared at him.

“Yes…pleasure to meet you?” Discord asked nervously, uneasy at the glare she was giving.

“Come here…ah wants to look at yer.” Granny said.

Discord gulped and carefully walked over to her, she grabbed his neck with her walking stick causing him to yelp as she squinted into his eyes. What seemed like an eternity passed and he knew what an eternity felt like, before she released him and gave a grin.

“Ah like him, he’s got ah good heart!” She cackled.

Applejack stared at her with a blank face and blinked.

“…Are you serious?” She asked.

“Well course ah am! Ah may be old but ahm not crazy!” She cackled once more. “This boy here is going to surprise us all, ahm telling you.”

Discord simply looked at Applejack with a confused expression; she shrugged to him as Applebloom giggled.

“Now Discord, we got one rule on the farm here.” Granny continued.

“And that is?” He asked.

“We look out for one another, and we all pitch in to help.”

“…That’s two rules.”

“Why so it is.” She cackled again.

Discord gave up with a sigh, soon he and Applejack along with Applebloom headed out to the orchards to meet up with Big Mac to collect the apples from the west orchard. The last time Discord was in Ponyville he never really got to see the Farm properly for what it was and had to admit he was impressed with the size of it.

“So where are the other workers?” He asked.

“Yer looking at ‘them.” Applejack replied.

“Yeah right, come on now where are the others. You can’t honestly expect me to believe that you three, by yourselves, collect all this fruit during the harvest.”

“Well yeah…why is that hard to believe?” Applebloom asked looking up at him.

“Well…look at this place, its HUGE!” He emphasised the word with a dramatic sweep of his arm.

“And?” Applebloom raised her eyebrow.

“Well…you’re a stubborn kid you know that?” Discord sighed

Applebloom giggled as Applejack smiled watching the two banter, as they carried on walking, he wasn’t sure how it had happened but along the way Applebloom had managed to convince Discord to let her sit on his shoulders.

“So your club, its aim is to find your special talent right?” He asked.

“Mhm, that’s right.” Applebloom replied.

“And you say you’ve tried practically everything?”

“That’s right.”

“Have you considered trying to get one for chaos? I could help.” He suggested.

Applebloom let out a gasp of happiness as she contemplated the idea, Discord yelped again as Applejack gave his arm another punch and gave him a glare.

“Ok forget that idea.” He grumbled as Applebloom groaned in disappointment.

“We’re here.” Applejack announced.

Discord whistled in amazement looking over the west orchard, about three quarters of it from what he could see had apples still on their branches. Near a tree ahead of them he spotted a strapping male with visible muscles collecting apples, he was wearing a white polo shirt and blue overalls and large brown work boots. He assumed this was Big Mac.

“HEY BIG MAC!” Applejack shouted.

Big Mac looked up from his work and smiled, he gave a wave and placed the bucket he was carrying and walked over to greet them.

“Howdy sis, what brings you three out here?”

“We come to help big brother!” Applebloom grinned.

“Is that so, and who’s the guy?” Big Mac nodded to Discord.

“Discord…” Applejack replied slightly nervous.

“So…it is true then, you were released.” He crossed his arms looking him over.

“Uhm…yes?” Discord said raising his eyebrow at him.

Big Mac gave him a squinted stare, just like with Granny which again made Discord feel a little uncomfortable.

“Why do your relatives keep giving me odd looks?” Discord asked Applejack.

After a while big Mac grinned and clapped him on the back, nearly knocking Discord off balance.

“Well…I’ll think yer all right, but can ya work?"

“I think you’ll find I can probably get the hang of it.” Discord grinned.

“Well, we’ll see.” Applejack smirked and rolled up her sleeves.

Celestia and Luna were in the dining room taking a break from royal duties and enjoying some late morning tea, Celestia had finally managed to calm Luna down after the Princess of the night had a near emotional breakdown following Fluttershy’s nightmare. Celestia had reassured her it wasn’t her fault and in fact actually helped, when she asked why she had told how she had sensed a change in Discord’s aura and could only think it meant he was beginning to change.

“Now Lu-Lu…there is something I wish to discuss with you.” Celestia said as she sipped her tea.

“And what is that Tia?” Luna asked.

Before she could answer the doors to the dining room burst open and in walked an angry looking man, he was wearing a white suit with a blue flower on the lapel and his blonde hair seemed messy.

“Auntie! The guards told me I’m not allowed to leave the castle!” He whined.

“Well Blueblood, after what Luna told me you tried to do to that maid the other day I decided to extend your punishment for the rest of the week.” Celestia calmly replied.

“But auntie that’s so unfair!” He shouted and stomped his foot.

Celestia gave him a sharp stare and he gulped audibly.

“Behave yourself Blueblood, you’re a prince now act like one. Or would you prefer the dungeons for the week…” Celestia smirked at him.

“N-No It’s ok…I-I’ll go to my r-room for a bit.” Blueblood replied and hurriedly left the room.

Luna couldn’t help but giggle uncontrollably the second she was sure Blueblood was out of earshot.

“Was that really necessary Tia, seemed a tad cruel for you.”

“I know, I do love him but…sometimes he just….urgh” Celestia replied rubbing her temples.

“It’s fine Tia, now this thing you wish to discuss?” Luna said.

“That’s right, I know I told you not to enter his dreams but…tonight I’d like you to enter Discord’s dreams, and I’m going to come with you.”

Luna was shocked by this; she sipped her tea softly before replying.

“I see…any reason for this?” She asked.

“I just want to see something…do you think you can project me into the dream walker spell as well?”

“I should be able to, are you certain about this? You said it yourself we are still vulnerable inside a dream as we are out of it.”

“I am Lu-Lu.” Celestia smiled at her.

“Ok then, we shall do it tonight then.”

“Come on Discord, yah can work faster than that!” Applejack laughed.

Discord groaned and glared at her in response, he was leaning on a tree gasping for air. He had been working nonstop for the past two hours, climbing ladders and picking apples then carrying buckets full of the damn things to the trailer where the others were. And he was completely knackered.

“Five more minutes, I just need to catch my breath.” He said.

“Ahm afraid not mister, now get working!” Applebloom said pushing Discord with a giggle.

He grumbled as he returned to his work, he lifted a bucket of apples and carried them over to the cart and placed them down gently. Applejack watched him for a moment and smiled, he seemed to be getting along fine with Applebloom as she watched the two exchange banter. Even Big Mac had made a comment to her about how despite who he was; he seemed to be doing a good job. She began to wonder if she had been wrong about him, Fluttershy seemed to trust him one hundred per cent. Maybe she had been too quick to judge him again? She was brought out of her thoughts by a bop on the nose from Big Mac.

“Now sis, don’t be ah hypocrite and not work when you just told Discord to work himself.” He said with a smirk.

“Yeah yeah.” She muttered and resumed her work.

Discord smirked and knelt down to Applebloom, he had an idea.

“Say Applebloom…wanna play a prank on your sis?” He asked.

“What kinda prank?” She asked suspiciously.

He whispered into her ear what he intended to do and she began to grin from ear to ear before giggling, she then nodded her head eager to see the results of the prank. Discord looked over to see where Applejack was and saw she was carrying a bucket that was filled to the top with apples; grinning manically he clicked his fingers and waited for the fun to begin.

Suddenly, the apples shot out of the bucket startling her, they suddenly produced small legs and landed with a soft thud. Applejack stared dumbstruck as they suddenly sported tiny faces; they all looked up at her and then took off.

“Quick lads, make a break for it!” One apple cried.

“Faith and begorra! She’s a biggun!” Another cried.

“Run for it lads!” One cried as it ran through her legs.

“What in tarnation?!” Applejack cried.

She heard the sounds of laughing and looked over to see Discord laughing heartily and Applebloom giggling like mad at her confusion, she glared at him.

“When ah get all these apples back in the bucket your gunna pay Discord! Big Mac gimme a hand!”

Instead of a reply, she saw Big Mac laughing as well leaning on a tree.

“Oh no sis, ah think yer fine.” He replied between laughs.

Applejack groaned in frustration as she began to chase the apples around, the other three laughed as she kept missing them or they simply dodged her. Eventually she managed to get the majority of them inside of the bucket and laid gently across them so they couldn’t get out; letting out a sigh of relief she saw one last apple looking back at her nearby.

“Ahm gunna count to three…and you better be in the bucket.” She growled.

“Catch me if ya can!” The Apple declared and took off again.

“Oh for the love of…” Applejack groaned.

Discord wiped a tear away and clicked his fingers, the apples returned to normal and the last one appeared in the bucket. Applejack scowled at him as he offered her a hand up, she took it then clenched her fist ready to punch him. Discord closed his eyes ready for it and Applebloom gasped, there was a silence before Applejack began to chuckle softly and lightly punched his arm.

“Alright…I admit that was a good one Discord, ya got me real good.” She smirked.

“Applejack? Complementing Moi?” Discord faked a gasp making Applebloom giggle some more.

“Don’t get used to it.” She chuckled.

“Ah reckon that’s enough work for now.” Big Mac said coming over. “Let’s head back to get some lunch, would you like to join us Discord?” He asked him.

Discord looked at the two before looking at Applebloom who looked up at him with big sad eyes, he chuckled ruffling her hair.

“Sure alright then, I got some time to kill before I have to meet Pinkie anyway.”

The three of them made their way towards the farm house, Applebloom once again on Discord’s shoulders and giggling as she reminded her sister about the apples. Applejack chuckled along with the other two and smiled to herself.

‘Maybe…I was wrong about him, he does seem to be trying his best…I think Fluttershy was right, he does care about her if he’s making this much of an effort with me after I struck him.’

“Hey slowpoke, come on!” Discord called out.

“Yeah slowpoke!” Applebloom added.

Applejack blinked realising she had slowed down when she had been thinking to herself, she smiled and quickly re-joined them as they came close to the house.