Title: Princess Luna's Reformation Anonymous

Premise: MLP: FIM. In an attempt to help Discord, Fluttershy takes him to a support group hosted by Princess Luna. While there, they come across many familiar faces.

Date Posted: 01/17/13

Personal Comments: Wow! My 100th chapter in this story! And I've reached the 100,000 word mark at this point!

So I've heard about the new MLP episode coming this saturday, "Keep Calm and Flutter On", where the mane six try to reform Discord, and Fluttershy's the only one who has faith in him. I can see that going two ways; either it's similar to the "Luna Eclipsed" episode, as may bronies already predicted, or maybe Discord doesn't want to reform, and acts stubborn about it, and maybe even takes advantage of Fluttershy's kindness to try and pull of an evil scheme, and by the end he'll stay bad. I will definitely say I'm excited to see him again!

I once read this story called "A Chink In The Armor" by Darkryt Orbinautz, in which Fancy Pants hosts a support group consisting of Trixie, Mulia Mild, Gustave le Grand, and Shining Armor. I really liked that idea of a support group for pony characters, and have been trying to think of a good story or drabble to come up with for support groups. I also remember Bad-Anon from Wreck-It Ralph. Support group seem pretty interesting overall; a group of people with a similar problem getting together to talk about it. Seems just as helpful as therapy, maybe more so. I'd like to experience it at some point.

So last night I finally beat Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. It was a pretty fun play, I gotta say. Not sure on if I'll keep it, maybe play again with a different class, maybe keep doing the side missions with my first character (if I can get out of this room that this bug got me stuck in, much to my annoyance). I'm actually glad I beat it before I had to go back to college.

I'm heading back to college tomorrow. Glad I could get this done before I left. When school starts again, I'm going to have to really focus on my studies, and try as hard as I can to keep my head out of this stuff. I'll probably write up a chapter here every once in a while still though. I may be trying out this new medication that should not only help me focus, but will also help me with anxiety issues I have at college. Gonna be really busy. I'm going to start this job on the campus tech crew, and there's going to be a lot of reading in my english course. We're already starting on Malcolm X in English. I should probably be reading it now instead of writing here, but screw it.

Discord followed Fluttershy down the hall towards the room the flier had said to go. Both had their "hooves" planted on the ground. They were heading to the next session of Reformations Anonymous, a support group started by Princess Luna. Discord was not the slightest bit happy about this.

"This is stupid," He whined, "and boring. I'll probably just get so bored I'll turn them all into frogs, or make them bleat like sheep."

"Discord, please," Fluttershy pleaded. "Just give it a chance. You might like it. Princess Luna says there have been some really good results of this group, and those who had come here really got the help and support they were looking for."

"Fine," Discord huffed. "I'll behave myself."

"I'll go in with you if you want."

"Sure."

Fluttershy and Discord have had Spike write Luna a letter that morning, giving her a heads-up on Discord coming.

Finally they made one final turn around a corner and came to a door. This was the place. They could hear a male's voice from inside.

"So I gave him back his coin purse without taking anything. Nothing at all."

This was followed by clapping.

"Well, here we go," Fluttershy smiled. She knocked on the door, hushing the applause.

"Come in," Luna's voice answered.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Discord huffed once more before he pushed the door open and entered, Fluttershy following.

Fluttershy looked around office-like room. There was a large circle of chairs, most of which were full. As Fluttershy scanned the room, she recognized a few faces besides Luna's; there was Trixie, Lightning Dust, Prince Blueblood, Gilda, Flim and Flam, and a few pegasus colts she recognized from Cloudsdale. And then there were two earth pony colts and a unicorn colt she did not recognize.

Everyone was staring at Discord. Some with wonder and confusion, others with disdain because they recognized them.

Discord first eyed them all back nervously, then his eyes darted to Luna sitting at the front. She looked back at him, clearly trying to hide her own disdain.

"It is nice that you could join us, Discord," Luna stated plainly. "Please, take a seat." She gestured two empty seats in between the mysterious unicorn and Lightning Dust.

Discord and Fluttershy made their way over to them and sat down.

"Okay, so what do we do first?" Discord asked Luna.

"We always have new members of the circle introduce themselves. Please start with your name and what you do, and where you're from."

"Oh, I think enough of you already know who I am," Discord smirked.

Luna took a breath, hiding her annoyance. "Some of us may, but not all of us," she replied.

"Okay," Discord said. He cleared his throat and began. "Hi. My name is Discord, I'm the spirit of chaos, and I'm from... Canterlot, I guess."

"Hi, Discord," the room echoed.

"And I'm F-Fluttershy," Fluttershy said nervously. "I'm.., I'm a pegasus from Ponyville, and, I run an animal shelter."

"Hi Fluttershy," Everyone stated.

"Oh, and I don't have any problems," Fluttershy continued, "I'm just here to support my friend, Discord."

Discord gave her a quick glance, surprised that she used the term "friend", but was quick to look away and back at Luna.

"I hope we're not too late," Fluttershy finished.

"Not at all," Luna smiled. "We just started about five minutes ago. Mahogany there had just finished sharing with us his recent activity." She gestured the unicorn who sat beside Fluttershy.

"Before we go any further," Discord spoke up, "I just want to know exactly what the point of this group thing is."

"I am Blueblood, or BB," Blueblood announced, raising his hoof. "I am a member of the Canterlot Elite."

"Hi, BB," The chorus rang out again. Discord and Fluttershy said 'hi' as well.

"May I explain, Aunt Luna?" Blueblood asked.

"Sure," Luna smiled at him.

"Reformations Anonymous is a haven for anyone who has made mistakes in their life," BB explained to Discord. "They've things they're not proud of, or just don't think they're a very good person, and wish to try and move past and rise above such things and better themselves."

"Ponies who have made mistakes, huh?" Discord repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Anyone really, not just ponies," BB replied, gesturing Gilda, who waved at Discord.

"Well then, I don't suppose you have any criminals in here?" Discord asked.

Everyone was silent for a moment before one of the ponies Fluttershy did not recognize spoke up.

"I am Brown Leather, I am prisoner at Canterlot Reformatory Institution," He said.

"Hi Leather," the chorus echoed.

"Oh, yes," Luna nodded. "Brown Leather's story is very inspiring. Leather, would you mind sharing your story with Discord, the one you told us about when you first came?"

"Sure," he replied.

Brown Leather told about his life, how he grew up very poor, never got his cutie mark, and ended up becoming a thief, running from city to city in Equestria, robbing houses and stands and pick pocketing. He also pointed out how he had never brought harm to another pony, until seven months ago.

He told of how he broke into one unicorn's house at night, and as he was going through the house and stealing things, the unicorn woke up, and the two ended up getting into a fight. In the end, Leather had stabbed the unicorn in the chest with a kitchen knife. By then, the unicorn's wife and daughter had come downstairs and onto the scene.

Leather vividly described the look of horror on the wife's face, and the little filly broke down in tears, and clung to her mother's leg sobbing. For fear of getting caught, Leather had jumped out the window and made a run for it. It was shortly after that that he was finally caught and sentenced to prison.

"It was only for a few seconds," Leather continued, "But I still remembered the devastation on their faces, even to this day. I did something so horrible that night. I took something from them more valuable than food, jewelry or silverware, and something that they could never get back.

"Not a day goes by when I don't think about those two. If there was one thing in my life that I could undo, that I could take back, that night would be it. I've spent many nights wishing there was some way I could. That night made me realize just how much of a monster I had become. I don't ever want to hurt anyone like I hurt that family that night. So just a few days after, I stopped running and let the authorities catch me. I've been in prison for the past seven months, and they'll let me out with good behavior in about six and a half more years. And that's why I wanted to join this group, because when I do get out of here, I want to be the best pony I can be."

His story was over. So many of the group were in tears or sniffling. They all applauded none the less.

Even Discord was touched by Leather's story. He was not crying, one could tell by the look on his face that he was awestruck.

"That was beautiful," Fluttershy sniffled.

"Touches me every time," Trixie nodded. She levitated around a box of tissues for anyone who might need one.

"It's a story that shakes you to your very core and makes you look deep inside your soul," Lightning added.

Leather took another deep breath as he dismissed all the memories for the moment. "Thanks guys," he smiled. They had already discussed his story a lot on the first day he had come.

They all understood the tragedy of it, and also acknowledged that none of them had ever gone though something so horrible, and could never quite understand what Leather was going through, but having any support at all was good enough for him.

He then turned back to Discord. "I'm sorry Discord," He said. "I didn't mean to steal your spotlight."

"Oh, that's right," Luna nodded. "Discord, tell us your story please."

"Um, my story?" Discord repeated, confused.

"Just tell us a little bit about your life, specifically what's been troubling you, if you've done anything you're not proud of, and why you decided to join us."

"Alright." Discord put his talon to his chin to think. "Hmm… where should I start?"