The Discord Chronicles: The Era of Chaosby DJ-PonRainbowFireJackChaptersPrologueChapter One: The Princess and the FrogChapter 2- The Forests of EverfreeChapter Three- A Royal AudienceProloguePrologue Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. But as is true with every story, the beginning of that one was the end of another. A chapter in Equestrian history filled with turmoil and disharmony. This was the Era of Chaos. It is an oft told tale of how the two sisters stood up to the wicked fiend, Discord, and brought harmony to all of the land, but pieces of the story have been lost in time and in shame. But there are those still living these centuries later that remember the tale. Three key players that lived it, felt it, and reaped its consequences. Now the story shall be spread around the land, so that all ponies can learn from these age old mistakes. These are the Discord Chronicles. This is a tale of the Era of Chaos. Chapter One: The Princess and the FrogChapter 1 The Princess and the Frog All good stories begin long before the official beginning. In this case, the story did not begin when Discord took control of Equestria. It began long before that, when those involved were nothing more than foals. Discord was different from all of his peers. Well, perhaps that it a bit of an understatement. Discord was a Draconaquis and only barely resembled the ponies he lived among. He was the only creature of his kind and was thus all alone in a world he did not understand. He could not relate to the ponies, so he could not befriend them. Instead he watched from afar, wishing he could join in their fun, but truly not knowing how. Then there was Celestia. Perfect, beautiful Princess Celestia. She was a young filly, but she was intelligent, if, perhaps, a little mischievous. She had an open heart, a steady mind, and quite an affinity for prank playing. Discord watched the young princess play with her little sister, Luna, from afar, wishing that he could join. The Princess’s jovial nature was something he was drawn too. The charming twinkle of her laugh filled him with a sense of belonging that he’d never had before. So he watched from the bushes, pretending to be with her. Currently the girls were contemplating sneaking off palace grounds and exploring the world beyond the confined life of the court. Celestia, the braver and bolder heart, was encouraging her sister to take a leap of faith while, Luna, the more sensible of the pair, was cautious and wary of the adventure. Well… something of that nature. “Luna, don’t be a wimp,” Celestia was coaxing. “It will be an adventure!” “We’re sure to be caught, Tia,” Luna replied with a shake of her head. “I’m staying right here.” She stomped her hoof deftly and raised her nose into the air. Celestia rolled her eyes. “You’re too careful, Luna. Sometimes you simply MUST takes risks! How else might you live your life to its fullest?” Luna looked at her older sister through her soft blue mane. “But big sister… there is time for risk and there is time for caution. The land beyond Canterlot is a dangerous place.” The warnings of the world beyond the city of Canterlot were indeed the tales they had been raised upon. In the city everything was as it should be. The ponies lived in harmony and celebrated King’s, namely their father’s, raising of the sun and moon each day and night. There was peace and happiness. But beyond the city’s walls lay a dangerous world where the sun rose of its own accord and the clouds moved without a guiding wing. The weather was unpredictable and the creatures were violent and dangerous. This land was known as Everfree and ponies were cautioned against entering it. Celestia and Luna, being royalty and thus the most precious and valuable ponies in the land, were forbidden to do so. “Little sister, we will one day rule this land of Equestria. It may not be much yet, but I want to expand the land beyond this capital city of Canterlot! Little sister, can you not see it! Everfree is an Equestrian territory by law! Perhaps we can tame it and allow ponies and others to settle the land! We can extend the greatness of Equestria much further!” This was too much for Discord. Tame Everfree? Tame his home? His laugh started as a slight snicker, then developed into a steady chortle. Before long he was doubled over in his hiding place with whoops of mirth. Even when the sisters looked directly toward him in alarm he could not stifle his hysterics. “There is somepony in that bush over there,” Celestia said, sounding more excited than frightened. Luna, however, looked unnerved. “I don’t see anything!” “We know of your presence!” Celestia announced boldly. “Show yourself!” Discord giggled. “Ahh, but that would defeat the purpose of the game, would it not?” “What game?” “The one where you must find me, of course!” Celestia laughed. Her laugh reverberated off the walls and brought warmth to the whole court yard. “Well, that will be easy. I know exactly where you are!” “Oh, really?” said Discord. “Why don’t you take a look?” Celestia trotted confidently over to the bush the Discord had been in moments before. She pushed apart the leaves. “Gotcha… huh?” He was gone. He laughed, his laughing mingling eerily with what remained of Celestia’s. “Try again, Princess. You will have to do better than that to win my game!” “So you have magic, then?” Celestia surmised. “Very good, Princess… you are very sharp indeed… but not quite there yet. Keep looking!” Celestia laughed. “My guess is that you are simply teleporting around the courtyard. A simple revelation spell should make you show yourself in no time.” “Do you think so?” Discord asked. “Why don’t you try it? We shall see.” Celestia closed her eyes. Her horn began to glow brightly. She did not have the look of concentration that most unicorns had when they practiced difficult magic. Her magic was spreading over a large space and it was not something that she should have been able to accomplish at her young age. But not only did she succeed in engulfing the entire space in her spell, but she did so with ease. Discord, however, was stronger. He was not fully pony. He was a magical spirit and could not be effected by simple unicorn magic. He remained hidden. The look of utter bewilderment on Princess Celestia’s face caused him to laugh once more. “Oh, Princess! You are strong, but not strong enough! You’re alicorn magic will not disclose my position. You must find me another way!” Rather than losing heart, Celestia looked excited. “You are a tricky player, sir, but you are battling the best at the art of trickery! I’ll find you. Luna,” she said, turning to her sister, who was looking around, trying to locate the source of the voice, “help me!” Luna glanced over at her sister. “If he is a creature that cannot be affected by your magic, Tia, I don’t think I want anything to with him. He is probably a spirit of some sort.” A wide grin spread across Celestia’s face. “A spirit! This is getting better and better! Now, if I were a spirit, where would I hide…” Celestia began to pace around the courtyard, contemplating her options. Discord snickered as he watched her from his hide out in the branches of the tall tree at stood at the center of the area. Celestia stopped and looked over her shoulder at her sister. “Luna!” she said loudly. “Go check the stream! I’ve heard spirits like to hang out in water to hide from ponies that cannot survive in it! I’ll check over here in the rosebushes!” Discord began to laugh quietly. She wasn’t even close! It was amazing how near sighted ponies could be, confined to their little world with its perfect order. Amused as he was, Discord was shocked when the tree he was in began to shake. He glanced down to see Celestia kicking hard with her back legs. He had no time to teleport away before he came plummeting out of the branches and hit the ground with the thud. He rubbed his head and looked up into Princess Celestia’s triumphant purple eyes. “Gotcha!” she repeated, grinning. “Nice one, Princess Celestia,” he complimented. “I’m surprised. I didn’t think that you could accomplish such a feat. Ponies are notoriously bad at mind games.” “I’m not just anypony, sir,” Celestia said proudly. “I am Princess Celestia and you would do well to remember it!” She patted Discord lightly on the head with her hoof. Discord laughed. “I’ll try not to, Celestia. May I ask how you figured me out.” “It was simple. Once I knew you were a spirit I knew you would hide out above my head. Spirits like to surround ponies and make them feel small. But I could tell from your voice that you were a young spirit, so I didn’t think you would be hiding in pictures or windows just yet. The tree is the highest structure in the courtyard.” Discord smiled. “You are very intelligent, Princess Celestia.” “Who are you?” Luna suddenly asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Her face was filled his distrust and worry. “My apologies! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Discord. Discord the Draconaquis, hailing from the vast forests of Everfree!” Both Princesses cocked their heads. “I’ve never heard of one of those,” Celestia said. “Neither have I. He is very unusual looking, isn’t he, sister?” “Very much so, little sister… Perhaps he had been transformed into this shape by wicked sorcery and has come to us to free him.” Luna giggled. “Like in that story The Princess and the Frog?” “Precisely!” Discord laughed and floated up above the two Princesses. “No, no, nothing of that sort. This is my true form! I am not a pony, as you have gathered. I am many things! All things and nothing all at once!” Celestia flew up to join him in the air. Her curly pink mane rippled in the wind. “I see. Well in that case, I am sure you look perfectly normal to your kind.” Discord shook his head. For the first time his smile faltered as he thought of his life in Everfree. No one. There was no one like him. Nothing in the forest wanted anything to do with him. Even the most fearsome creatures ran from him in fear. “Alas, no… I am the only of the kind. There is nothing to compare me to!” Celestia looked at him with concern. “That is very sad, to have no family. I don’t know what I’d do without my sister.” “No family, no friends… It is rather sad, isn’t it?” Celestia frowned, then brightened again. “But you can be OUR friend, right Luna?” Luna flew up to join the pair fluttering around the sky. “Of course! There is nothing wrong with showing a poor creature a little kindness!” Discord raised an eyebrow. “That is very nice of the both of you, but I really mustn’t! It would be so much trouble!” Luna glanced away. “Well, I will not tell a lie, it would be very difficult to explain who you are to our father…” Celestia waved her hoof dismissively. “We will cross that bridge when we come to it! You must spend time with us, Discord! Being a sun pony I can show you all the wonders of the day that you could never understand living in a wild, untame place such as Everfree! And Luna can show you the beauty of the night!” Discord smiled. “I would be happy to accept your generous offer, my friend. But I must tell you, there is a dangerous beauty to the things you cannot control. You really should enter Everfree sometime, my dear. Sometimes a little wildness… a little danger… a little chaos… that’s all anypony really needs.” Chapter 2- The Forests of EverfreeChapter 2 The Forests of Everfree And so their friendship began. Some might say that Celestia took Discord under her wing out of pity, but they would be mistaken. She was truly intrigued by him. Their first encounter had challenged her intellectually and magically and she craved more. She never knew what to expect from her new friend and the unpredictably of him was exciting. One day Celestia, Luna, and, of course, Discord met once again in the courtyard of the palace. They had yet to venture beyond its walls, not because Discord had not suggested it many times, but because Luna’s reason always won out over Discord’s persuasion. As much as Celestia wanted to venture beyond the city limits of Canterlot she would not do without her little sister and Luna was steadfast and strong against Discord’s coaxing. It always had taken a lot to move Luna on anything. Celestia herself was the only pony to ever convince the younger Princess to change her permission, and even then the occasion was rare. But Discord had a charm about him that Celestia suspected could affect even the most stubborn of ponies. It certainly affected her, and she wasn’t exactly capricious herself. “This palace is so boring,” Discord complained, flipping onto his back dramatically. “Can’t we push the boundaries just this once?” He addressed Luna when he said this, as Celestia had already gotten to her feet, ready to take off. Luna frowned. “We’ve been through this. Everfree is alright for you. You live there and embrace the danger. We are ponies and it is dangerous. It would be terribly unwise.” Celestia bumped her sister with her flank, causing the younger pony to fall to the ground with a thud. “Come off it, little sister. You don’t care about the danger. You just don’t want to get in trouble with father.” Luna scowled. “That is not true. I don’t want to die.” Discord laughed an eerie sort of laugh that sent chills up the princesses’ spines. “Oh, please, Luna, do you really think that I would let anything adverse happen to you? You should know be better than that by now. Besides, if you think the stable, predictable world of the ponies is beautiful at night wait until you see the majesty of a night in the forests.” Discord winked at Celestia who grinned back in approval. She couldn’t believe neither of them had thought of it before now. Using Luna’s love of the night was obviously the best an most effective way to convince her of anything. Celestia could see her sister’s hesitation and knew that a victory was underway. Discord was truly a genius in many respects. “Well… I suppose… as long as we aren’t separated… and nopony catches us… well… just this once.” “YES!” Celestia whooped. She turned a few flips in the air in celebration. Discord snickered and looped through the air with her. For a few moments their joy was joined in chaotic harmony and a spark was ignited. It fizzled and burned bright, then faded into a faint glow as they happily floated to the ground, but the essence of the spark still resided in their hearts and shimmered in their eyes. “If you two are done gloating now,” Luna sniffed, “I want to do this before I lose my nerve.” “Onward, my friends!” Celestia chanted. “Onward to our destiny!” “And a wonderful destiny it is indeed!” Discord added as he slithered easily over the palace wall. “Come, sister,” said Celestia. “I need to cast an invisibility spell over us so that the guards do not see our exit. Luna, entirely accustomed to Celestia’s advanced use of magic, took a step closer and allowed her sister to cast the spell. Her horn glowed bright and engulfed the pair in a brilliant ball of light. Discord watched hungrily from his perch right over the wall. Her magic was so strong and so different from his own. Oh, the things he could do with such power… When Celestia’s magic faded away there was nothing. The two royal ponies were rendered entirely invisible and allowed to fly over the heads of the guards without being noticed. Discord kept to the shadows as he sped along toward his home until they were all standing a the edge of the Everfree Forest. The darkness gloomed from the forest and a slight wind whirl around their hooves. Discord looked unconcerned, but even Celestia was starting to feel a little nervous. She exchanged a look with her sister and saw the same doubt in her face. Was this a good idea? There was no time to decide, for the next moment Discord was slinking into the forest and they had no choice but to follow him. It was dark and quiet in the dankness of the trees. Every bush seemed to rustle with some sort of unidentifiable creature. Celestia kept her eyes and ears alert for any sign of danger. She would not let her adventure end in harm. “Why so quiet, my dear princesses! There is nothing to fear here! I am truly the most terrifying thing in these woods!” Celestia snorted. “If that’s true then there is no reason why ponies should fear coming here. You aren’t scary at all!” Discord glanced at Celestia out of the corner of his eye. “If you believe that, my Princess, you are either very brave or you do not know me at all.” “Why is that?” Luna asked. “Because I represent everything there is fear in this forest. I represent the unknown.” Celestia truly didn’t know how to interpret that statement, so she didn’t try. She knew there was nothing to fear of Discord and if there was nothing to fear from him there was nothing to fear from these woods. Her doubts began to ease and her fear faded away. Without the block of caution to cloud her vision she began to see beautiful things that she had missed before. The way the wind blew and rustled the leaves without anypony to guide it, the light from the setting sun shimmering delicately through the canopy. Perhaps Discord was right. Perhaps a little unpredictability was all anypony needed. “Stop,” said Discord. He held out a clawed hand to keep the two princesses from going any further. Celestia cocked her head. Why was he stopping them? Their location didn’t look particularly special and they were entirely alone in the woods. “Why are we stopping,” Luna asked softly, as if she thought if she spoke in normal tones she would wake some sleeping beast. Discord smirked at the girls. “Where we are about to go is very different from even these woods. Are you sure you want to see it?” “Something more than the Everfree Forests?” Celestia asked eagerly. “I didn’t know there was more.” “Silly, naïve, princess,” Discord crooned teasingly, patting Celestia on the head. “There is so much to the world that even I have yet to experience. Wonders and magics yet undiscovered… We will never stop learning.” Celestia scowled at Discord’s demeaning nature, but she knew that he was right. There was always something to be learned. There was always some new discovery just around the corner. You couldn’t learn those things holed up in a castle, learning from stories and books. You had to experience them first hand to truly understand the gravity of the world around you. That was a lesson that, though she almost forgot where she first heard it, she would hold on to for centuries to come. “Well, then, yes! I’m ready for anything. Lead onward, friend!” Luna gulped, but didn’t argue. She seemed to be trying very hard not to come across as the wimp with the group. She was, after all, the youngest. But default this meant she had much to prove. Discord smiled at both girls and flipped a rock on the forest floor. A strange spinning portal swirled up out of nothing. It was almost hypnotic in a way. Watching the way the circle spun make Celestia feel a little light headed. She wrenched her eyes away from the spinning portal and stared at Discord in uncertainty. “What is this?” “This, my dear, is my home. Enter at your own risk.” The three passed through the portal in a blur of colors and shapes. As soon as her head cleared Celestia stared around in her wonder. The world she was in now very clearly resembled the Everfree Forest, and yet it looked nothing like it at all. There were still towering trees and rippling winds, but everything was wrong. The large mansion that had appeared before them was floating in the air, upside down. The sky was filled not with a beautiful sunset, but with fluffy pink clouds. The trees were weighed down and drooping with oversized acorns and, just a few feet away, a rabbit grazed in the bushed on high, spindly, hoofed legs. This wasn’t right and it made Celestia dreadfully uncomfortable. Spontaneity was one thing, but this utter disregard for everything natural was another. “Welcome to my home, ladies!” Discord said happily, longing in one of the pink clouds above them. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” “It’s creepy,” Luna said honestly. Discord sighed melodramatically. “I suspected that you would say that. Ponies just don’t understand the magic of this place. But really, you must get in the spirit of things. Here…” He grabbed a handful of the pink cloud and stuffed into a cone made from and oversized, blue leaf from a nearby tree. “Try this… it’s cotton candy.” “Cotton candy?” Celestia raised, her eyebrow raised. “Yes… filled chocolate milk. Try it.” Celestia took is carefully and nibbled at the end. She instantly brightened. It was, indeed, chocolate filled cotton candy. “So… if the clouds are filled with chocolate milk… does that mean?” Discord smiled and nodded. “Chocolate rain.” Celestia gasped and whirled around to face her sister. “Luna! Did you hear that! This place comes with chocolate rain!” Luna did not look impressed. Her face was filled with discomfort and distaste. “Discord, we should go. You promised me that I would get to see the forest at night.” Discord chuckled. “Don’t worry yourself over it, Luna… Here time is at a standstill. I can manipulate it to suit my will. When we return to the forest it will be exactly as we left it.” “I think we should head home, Discord,” Luna snapped. She wasn’t sounding at all like herself. Being in Discord’s home seemed to truly be bothering her. “She’s right,” Celestia agreed, recognizing her sister’s obvious distress. “We ought to go.” Discord sighed. “Well, if we must, we must.” He snapped his fingers and the portal appeared once more. They all passed through it quickly and silently, though Discord lingered for a moment as if he didn’t want to leave. The pull of his friends was stronger, however, so he passed through the swirling circles and closed the portal behind him. Discord’s promise proved true. It was almost as if they hadn’t left at all. The shadows were the same, the sun was in the exact same location in the sky. Celestia felt a shiver run down her spine. Wherever it was the Discord lived, it wasn’t natural, not at all. They walked back in silence until the sun fell over the mountain top. The moment darkness enveloped them Luna stopped walking and gasped. “My goodness… It’s so beautiful!” Discord laughed. “I told you so.” Celestia snorted. “I can’t see a thing,” she complained. Her night vision had never been up to par. But Luna could see. Luna could see so clearly and it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The moonlight glistened off the shining rocks on the ground and created a kaleidoscope effect off the leaves. A soft breeze rustled through the forest and whistled past them. The music of the night enveloped her sensed and brought her such a sense of serenity that she could have stayed there forever. “Sister, when it becomes my duty to raise them moon my night will look like this.” “I’m sure it will,” Celestia replied, but before she could say anything else the peace of the moment was interrupted by a crash and a growl. Luna squeaked and hide behind her sister. Discord’s eyebrows furrowed and he slithered in front of the two sisters. “Uh-oh… looks like we have company.” A large creature prowled it’s way out of the forest. It was a huge, bear-like creature, taller than half of the trees. It was an Ursa Major, one of the most violent beasts in the Everfree Forest, or at least the Princesses had been told. It was impossible to vanquish. Celestia could feel Luna shaking behind her. She, too, was frozen with fear, unable to remember magic that might save them. The Ursa Major prowled closer, growling and snarling. It crouched down the pounce… Discord lunged toward it and grabbed it’s face boldly. He bore down on the beast, staring into it’s eyes furiously. His pupils contracted and his eyes began to swirl much like the portal had done. The Ursa Major’s vision locked on to Discord’s and it seemed to go into a trace. It’s eyes swirled and it’s face grew slack. It’s colors began to fade into a dull gray. Soon Discord broke away and pushed the beast from him. The Ursa Major blinked once, then trotted in the other direction, gentle and docile. Celestia was amazed. She could battle with the best of them, but never had she seen magic that could alter the behavior of such a fearsome beast with little or no effort. The defeat of an Ursa Major was indeed no small feet. “How did you do that?” Discord glanced over at Celestia with a little discomfort. “I have the power to alter a creatures very nature. I took away the beasts violent nature.” “That doesn’t seem ethical,” Luna commented. Celestia rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Luna, he just saved out lives. You should be more grateful.” “I am, but still… It seems wrong to change the things that define something’s very existence.” Celestia shrugged. “Perhaps, but I am not complaining. Discord, you have saved us. How will we ever repay you.” “No repayment necessary, my dear. I am simply doing what any friend would do.” From that moment forward Celestia and Discord were inseparable. After all, he had saved her life. Nothing he ever did could nullify that. Nothing. Chapter Three- A Royal AudienceChapter 3 A Royal Audience It soon became apparent that Discord could not continue being a secret friend. He became so fully integral to Celestia’s life that she found it difficult not to mention his name in every conversation. Luna, the only other pony who knew about Discord and his connection with Celestia, bore the bull brunt of this problem and was the first to openly present it. “Celestia, if you don’t start to monitor what you say you’re going to slip up and mention Discord in front of Father.” “What do you mean, little sister?” Luna rolled her eyes. “I mean that everything you say these days is ‘Discord said this’ or ‘Discord said that’ or ‘Discord told me…’ or ‘According the Discord…’ You are fully obsessed, sister dear.” Celestia scowled. “I am not obsessed. He is simply a very close friend.” She began to think on the last couple of weeks. It had been three months since Discord had saved her and Luna in the forest. In those three months she had grown closer to the young spirit that she could have possibly imagined. In fact, she was only closer to her sister, which was why, though she scoffed at it, Celestia really was listening to what she sister was saying. Luna was right. Even if Celestia didn’t think of herself as being obsessed she had to admit how much she thought and talked about Discord. There had been numerous occasions when she’d almost said his name in front of their father. “Luna… Why are we keeping him a secret again?” Luna opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again, looking perplexed. “Well… I… don’t… I honestly don’t know… Because he’s not a pony and Father would want to know where we met him.” “We didn’t do anything wrong when we met him. He came into our courtyard.” “I do not imagine Father would be very happy knowing that somepony could just sneak into the palace with no problem,” Luna said wryly. “He might lash out at Discord.” “I doubt it,” Celestia disagreed. “He may not trust Discord, but Father is not a violent pony by nature. He’s docile, even if he does come across as a little… intimidating… That settles it. I’m telling Father about Discord tonight. I can’t keep living a lie.” Luna actually looked relieved. “I was hoping you’d say that… I was dreading the moment when Father would figure something out and ask me about it. You know I cannot tell a lie.” “Well, from this moment you will not have to, little sister. I’m bringing Discord fully into the family folds and placing the protection of the crown upon him. Or, at least, you know… Father’s going to know about him.” Luna laughed. “Oh, Celestia… Always one for the dramatics.” Celestia smiled and struck up pose for effect. Both princesses burst out into very un-ladylike laughter that would have caused some of the women in their father’s court to look on in scandalized shock, but they didn’t care. At their young ages of six and eleven they were much more concerned with fun and laughter than the inner works of the Equestrian court and respectable behavior. Celestia knew that she would soon reach an age where she would have to start behavior appropriately. In five years at the age of sixteen her father would bequeath the task of raising the sun each day to her. She was already doing it once a month for practice, but on her sixteenth birthday and until her death it would be her duty and her duty alone. The same would happen to Luna when she turned sixteen, though her duty would be to raise the moon. But Celestia still had a good five years left before she had to shoulder that responsibility, so she figured that that meant she still had three years to behave like a child and she fully intended to take advantage of them. That’s the spirit, Celestia. Childhood is such a terrible thing to waste. Why shoulder responsibility when you can have fun? Celestia frowned. She really spending too much time with Discord. She was beginning to hear him speak in her mind. Miles away in his home in the Everfree Forest Discord lay back with his eyes closed, his power carrying his mind and vision far away to the palace in Canterlot, smiling as he watched his princess. She was truly a funny thing. There was so much about her that he hadn’t expected. He’d known from watching her that she was a free spirit, but he could have never predicted how sharp she would be, or how open to his way of life she was. It made every thing so much easier when he didn’t have to hide his reality from his best friend. It was Luna that made things more difficult. She was cautious and weary of his chaos. Her caution slowed him and Celestia down, but for the life of him be couldn’t convince Celestia to ditch her little sister for a day, nor could he convince Luna not to tag along. Luna was determined to stand by her big sister at all times and sometimes that meant she would loyally tag along to watch their backs and force them to turn back whenever things became too hairy for her. Furthermore, Celestia loved her little sister dearly and wanted her to share the grand experiences. It was all so frustrating. If only he could come up with a way to drive a wedge through their relationship… but no… no… that’s wouldn’t due. He couldn’t give in to those impulses, no matter how natural they were to him. If he could change the natural behavior of other creatures he could change his own natural behavior. He might want to cause chaos in their relationship, but he wouldn’t because he cared far too deeply about Celestia to hurt her. Now his ability to impress would be put to the test. Celestia did not know that he already knew, but he had listened in on her conversation with her sister. He would be meeting the King of all of Equestria. The idea filled him not with anxiety, but with a burning hunger that he could not quite define. He wanted something desperately and meeting the King was the first step. But what? What was it that he so desperately desired? The day to meet Celestia’s Father came quicker than he expected. Before he knew it he was sitting in Celestia’s room being coached on the proper way to address the King of Ponies. “Bow when you see him, Discord. You may be our friend, but he doesn’t know you, so you have to behave with the proper respect.” “So much formality,” Discord complained. “Are all ponies so uptight and boring?” Celestia smirked. “Well… no… but when you put them all together and make them think something is formal they can be. And then they come to expect it. Anything out of the normal is scandalous. Which is why you have to bow. That’s just the way it is so suck it up and deal with it.” “Alright, alright,” Discord mumbled. He still didn’t like it. What was the point of being what he was if he was forced to conform. “Remember to address him as your majesty.” “Of course,” he replied, yawning with boredom. “Don’t act bored, you dope, this is important stuff,” Celestia snapped, kicking him over with her back hooves. “Luna, come here, I want to go over the game plan.” “We have a game plan?” “I WANT MY FATHER TO LOVE YOU, DISCORD!” Discord rolled his eyes. “So we’re mapping out the course of the entire evening? What’s the fun in that.” “Think of it as plotting.” “Fine.” “Alright, here’s the plan. When Luna and I are going to enter the throne room without you. I will announce that I have brought a very dear friend that I would like him to meet…” “Wait a moment,” Luna interrupted. “Are you meaning to tell me that father is not expecting him????” “Of course not. That would ruin the surprise.” “Don’t you think that might bother him a little?” “Oh, stop being such a cautious loser, Luna. It’ll be fine.” “I like it this way,” Discord commented. “See?” Celestia said as if that settled the subject. Luna did not argue again, but she did not look settled. If anything she looked even more disconcerted before, but fortunately it seemed that she was going to keep her unfounded opinions to herself. For this both Discord and Celestia were immensely grateful. Celestia was concerned that she would lose her resolve if her sister kept arguing with her. Discord just hated to listen to her pointless jabber. Soon they were all in place. Celestia paced back and forth nervously. Discord was amused by how seriously she was taking this. So what if the King decided he didn’t like him? That wouldn’t stop him from seeing Celestia, even if he had to sneak around to do it. He didn’t need approval from some King who’s laws he did not obey to give him permission. His was a being of the separate world and followed different rules. Luna stood stoically at her sister’s side. Deep inside she was hoping that her father would reject Discord. When they had first met she had had compassion for him, but it was quickly waning. She was beginning to see how easily he persuaded Celestia to act out and that frightened her. Truly, though her older sister was the more adventurous of the pair, she was very a sensible young pony, but Discord made her throw away sense and behave on rash instinct. Celestia’s entire life revolved around someone who knew so much more about her than she knew about him. If their father rejected him maybe Celestia would be forced to part ways and regain some of her level headedness. Luna had always preferred propriety to joviality and Discord was the exact opposite of these ideals. There was a proper way to behave when you were of elevated status, and while it was true that it was not always entertaining, it was simply the way things were. Being young allowed them some leeway, but in due that Celestia would have to throw her childish ways aside. Discord’s presence would make that nigh impossible. But Celestia would not be stopped and Luna knew her sister well enough to know this, so when Celestia marched into their father’s presence she followed without further argument. “Father, I have an announcement I would like to make!” Celestia said without ado. Their father appeared to be quite taken aback by her direct approach, but he recovered quickly. “Speaketh, dear daughter. What is it that thou wisheth to share with us?” Luna smiled slightly and took comfort in the warm, royal tones of her father’s voice. She had no memory of him ever speaking to his family without using the proper royal vernacular and she adored it. Her father represented order and tradition in her eyes. His presence brought her comfort in the worst of times. By simply being there he reminded her that even when things started to get out of hand, everything was in control. The sun would rise in the morning, as he commanded it, and the moon would rise at night. Ponykind had everything in their hooves. Celestia’s voice cut through her comfort. “Father, I have a very close, very dear friend that I would like to introduce you to.” The King frowned. “Is that so? And if we may inquire as to how it is possible that thou hath made such a friend?” Celestia lost some of her bravado. “Err… well… this may sound, erm… odd… but he, uh… was in our courtyard. Before you say anything, I know that sounds a tad creepy, but really, he’s very dear to me and I would really love for you to give him a chance!” The King looked over at his younger daughter. “Why art thou silent, my darling Princess Luna. Hath thou no contribution to thy sister’s request?” Celestia elbowed her sister and gave her a look. Luna swallowed. “Yes, father, I too believe that you should give Discord a chance,” Celestia was still glaring at her, as if she was daring her to not support the plan, “as he is a very dear friend of mine as well and I believe that we will bear no ill by knowing him.” Celestia smiled, a smile which Luna returned weakly. Her sister could be extremely intimidating when she set her mind to it. “Very well. We shall accept audience with thy friend.” Celestia grinned and did something that sort of resembled as jig. “DISCORD! YOU CAN COME IN NOW!” she hollered, causing her proper father and sister to wince. Discord slunk into the room and approach the throne. He stooped into a deep bow. “You’re Majesty, it is a pleasure,” he said smoothly. “Might I introduce myself? I am Discord, hailing from the Forests of Everfree. “The Forests of Everfree?” “Please, you’re majesty, I understand your concern about my origins. Everfree is a danger and unpredictable place, but I assure you, I am not so! I simply wish to keep company with your wonderful daughters! I truly care for them, you see, and I seek to know more about pony kind!” He had said exactly the right thing. Though he very rarely did so, Celestia, Luna, and Discord could all see the smile creeping under the King’s mustache. “If that is so, then thou shall be granted thy wish. Thou mayst maintain the company of mine daughters. We wish thee the best of happiness and luck in thy endeavors to further educate thyself in the ways of ponies, young Discord.” Discord offer Celestia a grin, which she returned triumphantly. Everything was going to be alright. They could continue to be friends. It was going to be perfect. She wanted to do a victory dance right there, but didn’t think her father would like that much. But she was dancing inside. She was dancing on the walls, on the ceiling, and on her father’s head. The feeling of joy inside of her was something that she had never matched before and didn’t think she ever would again. She couldn’t bare to ever have to lose Discord and was overjoyed that now she wouldn’t have to. Celestia leaned into Luna and smirked. “I told you father would like Discord.” Luna nodded. “Yes… yes, you did.” She was the only one in the room that was not overjoyed by this proclamation, but nopony noticed. Her feelings disappeared in the night, though she wore them on her face.
ProloguePrologue Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. But as is true with every story, the beginning of that one was the end of another. A chapter in Equestrian history filled with turmoil and disharmony. This was the Era of Chaos. It is an oft told tale of how the two sisters stood up to the wicked fiend, Discord, and brought harmony to all of the land, but pieces of the story have been lost in time and in shame. But there are those still living these centuries later that remember the tale. Three key players that lived it, felt it, and reaped its consequences. Now the story shall be spread around the land, so that all ponies can learn from these age old mistakes. These are the Discord Chronicles. This is a tale of the Era of Chaos.
Chapter One: The Princess and the FrogChapter 1 The Princess and the Frog All good stories begin long before the official beginning. In this case, the story did not begin when Discord took control of Equestria. It began long before that, when those involved were nothing more than foals. Discord was different from all of his peers. Well, perhaps that it a bit of an understatement. Discord was a Draconaquis and only barely resembled the ponies he lived among. He was the only creature of his kind and was thus all alone in a world he did not understand. He could not relate to the ponies, so he could not befriend them. Instead he watched from afar, wishing he could join in their fun, but truly not knowing how. Then there was Celestia. Perfect, beautiful Princess Celestia. She was a young filly, but she was intelligent, if, perhaps, a little mischievous. She had an open heart, a steady mind, and quite an affinity for prank playing. Discord watched the young princess play with her little sister, Luna, from afar, wishing that he could join. The Princess’s jovial nature was something he was drawn too. The charming twinkle of her laugh filled him with a sense of belonging that he’d never had before. So he watched from the bushes, pretending to be with her. Currently the girls were contemplating sneaking off palace grounds and exploring the world beyond the confined life of the court. Celestia, the braver and bolder heart, was encouraging her sister to take a leap of faith while, Luna, the more sensible of the pair, was cautious and wary of the adventure. Well… something of that nature. “Luna, don’t be a wimp,” Celestia was coaxing. “It will be an adventure!” “We’re sure to be caught, Tia,” Luna replied with a shake of her head. “I’m staying right here.” She stomped her hoof deftly and raised her nose into the air. Celestia rolled her eyes. “You’re too careful, Luna. Sometimes you simply MUST takes risks! How else might you live your life to its fullest?” Luna looked at her older sister through her soft blue mane. “But big sister… there is time for risk and there is time for caution. The land beyond Canterlot is a dangerous place.” The warnings of the world beyond the city of Canterlot were indeed the tales they had been raised upon. In the city everything was as it should be. The ponies lived in harmony and celebrated King’s, namely their father’s, raising of the sun and moon each day and night. There was peace and happiness. But beyond the city’s walls lay a dangerous world where the sun rose of its own accord and the clouds moved without a guiding wing. The weather was unpredictable and the creatures were violent and dangerous. This land was known as Everfree and ponies were cautioned against entering it. Celestia and Luna, being royalty and thus the most precious and valuable ponies in the land, were forbidden to do so. “Little sister, we will one day rule this land of Equestria. It may not be much yet, but I want to expand the land beyond this capital city of Canterlot! Little sister, can you not see it! Everfree is an Equestrian territory by law! Perhaps we can tame it and allow ponies and others to settle the land! We can extend the greatness of Equestria much further!” This was too much for Discord. Tame Everfree? Tame his home? His laugh started as a slight snicker, then developed into a steady chortle. Before long he was doubled over in his hiding place with whoops of mirth. Even when the sisters looked directly toward him in alarm he could not stifle his hysterics. “There is somepony in that bush over there,” Celestia said, sounding more excited than frightened. Luna, however, looked unnerved. “I don’t see anything!” “We know of your presence!” Celestia announced boldly. “Show yourself!” Discord giggled. “Ahh, but that would defeat the purpose of the game, would it not?” “What game?” “The one where you must find me, of course!” Celestia laughed. Her laugh reverberated off the walls and brought warmth to the whole court yard. “Well, that will be easy. I know exactly where you are!” “Oh, really?” said Discord. “Why don’t you take a look?” Celestia trotted confidently over to the bush the Discord had been in moments before. She pushed apart the leaves. “Gotcha… huh?” He was gone. He laughed, his laughing mingling eerily with what remained of Celestia’s. “Try again, Princess. You will have to do better than that to win my game!” “So you have magic, then?” Celestia surmised. “Very good, Princess… you are very sharp indeed… but not quite there yet. Keep looking!” Celestia laughed. “My guess is that you are simply teleporting around the courtyard. A simple revelation spell should make you show yourself in no time.” “Do you think so?” Discord asked. “Why don’t you try it? We shall see.” Celestia closed her eyes. Her horn began to glow brightly. She did not have the look of concentration that most unicorns had when they practiced difficult magic. Her magic was spreading over a large space and it was not something that she should have been able to accomplish at her young age. But not only did she succeed in engulfing the entire space in her spell, but she did so with ease. Discord, however, was stronger. He was not fully pony. He was a magical spirit and could not be effected by simple unicorn magic. He remained hidden. The look of utter bewilderment on Princess Celestia’s face caused him to laugh once more. “Oh, Princess! You are strong, but not strong enough! You’re alicorn magic will not disclose my position. You must find me another way!” Rather than losing heart, Celestia looked excited. “You are a tricky player, sir, but you are battling the best at the art of trickery! I’ll find you. Luna,” she said, turning to her sister, who was looking around, trying to locate the source of the voice, “help me!” Luna glanced over at her sister. “If he is a creature that cannot be affected by your magic, Tia, I don’t think I want anything to with him. He is probably a spirit of some sort.” A wide grin spread across Celestia’s face. “A spirit! This is getting better and better! Now, if I were a spirit, where would I hide…” Celestia began to pace around the courtyard, contemplating her options. Discord snickered as he watched her from his hide out in the branches of the tall tree at stood at the center of the area. Celestia stopped and looked over her shoulder at her sister. “Luna!” she said loudly. “Go check the stream! I’ve heard spirits like to hang out in water to hide from ponies that cannot survive in it! I’ll check over here in the rosebushes!” Discord began to laugh quietly. She wasn’t even close! It was amazing how near sighted ponies could be, confined to their little world with its perfect order. Amused as he was, Discord was shocked when the tree he was in began to shake. He glanced down to see Celestia kicking hard with her back legs. He had no time to teleport away before he came plummeting out of the branches and hit the ground with the thud. He rubbed his head and looked up into Princess Celestia’s triumphant purple eyes. “Gotcha!” she repeated, grinning. “Nice one, Princess Celestia,” he complimented. “I’m surprised. I didn’t think that you could accomplish such a feat. Ponies are notoriously bad at mind games.” “I’m not just anypony, sir,” Celestia said proudly. “I am Princess Celestia and you would do well to remember it!” She patted Discord lightly on the head with her hoof. Discord laughed. “I’ll try not to, Celestia. May I ask how you figured me out.” “It was simple. Once I knew you were a spirit I knew you would hide out above my head. Spirits like to surround ponies and make them feel small. But I could tell from your voice that you were a young spirit, so I didn’t think you would be hiding in pictures or windows just yet. The tree is the highest structure in the courtyard.” Discord smiled. “You are very intelligent, Princess Celestia.” “Who are you?” Luna suddenly asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Her face was filled his distrust and worry. “My apologies! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Discord. Discord the Draconaquis, hailing from the vast forests of Everfree!” Both Princesses cocked their heads. “I’ve never heard of one of those,” Celestia said. “Neither have I. He is very unusual looking, isn’t he, sister?” “Very much so, little sister… Perhaps he had been transformed into this shape by wicked sorcery and has come to us to free him.” Luna giggled. “Like in that story The Princess and the Frog?” “Precisely!” Discord laughed and floated up above the two Princesses. “No, no, nothing of that sort. This is my true form! I am not a pony, as you have gathered. I am many things! All things and nothing all at once!” Celestia flew up to join him in the air. Her curly pink mane rippled in the wind. “I see. Well in that case, I am sure you look perfectly normal to your kind.” Discord shook his head. For the first time his smile faltered as he thought of his life in Everfree. No one. There was no one like him. Nothing in the forest wanted anything to do with him. Even the most fearsome creatures ran from him in fear. “Alas, no… I am the only of the kind. There is nothing to compare me to!” Celestia looked at him with concern. “That is very sad, to have no family. I don’t know what I’d do without my sister.” “No family, no friends… It is rather sad, isn’t it?” Celestia frowned, then brightened again. “But you can be OUR friend, right Luna?” Luna flew up to join the pair fluttering around the sky. “Of course! There is nothing wrong with showing a poor creature a little kindness!” Discord raised an eyebrow. “That is very nice of the both of you, but I really mustn’t! It would be so much trouble!” Luna glanced away. “Well, I will not tell a lie, it would be very difficult to explain who you are to our father…” Celestia waved her hoof dismissively. “We will cross that bridge when we come to it! You must spend time with us, Discord! Being a sun pony I can show you all the wonders of the day that you could never understand living in a wild, untame place such as Everfree! And Luna can show you the beauty of the night!” Discord smiled. “I would be happy to accept your generous offer, my friend. But I must tell you, there is a dangerous beauty to the things you cannot control. You really should enter Everfree sometime, my dear. Sometimes a little wildness… a little danger… a little chaos… that’s all anypony really needs.”
Chapter 2- The Forests of EverfreeChapter 2 The Forests of Everfree And so their friendship began. Some might say that Celestia took Discord under her wing out of pity, but they would be mistaken. She was truly intrigued by him. Their first encounter had challenged her intellectually and magically and she craved more. She never knew what to expect from her new friend and the unpredictably of him was exciting. One day Celestia, Luna, and, of course, Discord met once again in the courtyard of the palace. They had yet to venture beyond its walls, not because Discord had not suggested it many times, but because Luna’s reason always won out over Discord’s persuasion. As much as Celestia wanted to venture beyond the city limits of Canterlot she would not do without her little sister and Luna was steadfast and strong against Discord’s coaxing. It always had taken a lot to move Luna on anything. Celestia herself was the only pony to ever convince the younger Princess to change her permission, and even then the occasion was rare. But Discord had a charm about him that Celestia suspected could affect even the most stubborn of ponies. It certainly affected her, and she wasn’t exactly capricious herself. “This palace is so boring,” Discord complained, flipping onto his back dramatically. “Can’t we push the boundaries just this once?” He addressed Luna when he said this, as Celestia had already gotten to her feet, ready to take off. Luna frowned. “We’ve been through this. Everfree is alright for you. You live there and embrace the danger. We are ponies and it is dangerous. It would be terribly unwise.” Celestia bumped her sister with her flank, causing the younger pony to fall to the ground with a thud. “Come off it, little sister. You don’t care about the danger. You just don’t want to get in trouble with father.” Luna scowled. “That is not true. I don’t want to die.” Discord laughed an eerie sort of laugh that sent chills up the princesses’ spines. “Oh, please, Luna, do you really think that I would let anything adverse happen to you? You should know be better than that by now. Besides, if you think the stable, predictable world of the ponies is beautiful at night wait until you see the majesty of a night in the forests.” Discord winked at Celestia who grinned back in approval. She couldn’t believe neither of them had thought of it before now. Using Luna’s love of the night was obviously the best an most effective way to convince her of anything. Celestia could see her sister’s hesitation and knew that a victory was underway. Discord was truly a genius in many respects. “Well… I suppose… as long as we aren’t separated… and nopony catches us… well… just this once.” “YES!” Celestia whooped. She turned a few flips in the air in celebration. Discord snickered and looped through the air with her. For a few moments their joy was joined in chaotic harmony and a spark was ignited. It fizzled and burned bright, then faded into a faint glow as they happily floated to the ground, but the essence of the spark still resided in their hearts and shimmered in their eyes. “If you two are done gloating now,” Luna sniffed, “I want to do this before I lose my nerve.” “Onward, my friends!” Celestia chanted. “Onward to our destiny!” “And a wonderful destiny it is indeed!” Discord added as he slithered easily over the palace wall. “Come, sister,” said Celestia. “I need to cast an invisibility spell over us so that the guards do not see our exit. Luna, entirely accustomed to Celestia’s advanced use of magic, took a step closer and allowed her sister to cast the spell. Her horn glowed bright and engulfed the pair in a brilliant ball of light. Discord watched hungrily from his perch right over the wall. Her magic was so strong and so different from his own. Oh, the things he could do with such power… When Celestia’s magic faded away there was nothing. The two royal ponies were rendered entirely invisible and allowed to fly over the heads of the guards without being noticed. Discord kept to the shadows as he sped along toward his home until they were all standing a the edge of the Everfree Forest. The darkness gloomed from the forest and a slight wind whirl around their hooves. Discord looked unconcerned, but even Celestia was starting to feel a little nervous. She exchanged a look with her sister and saw the same doubt in her face. Was this a good idea? There was no time to decide, for the next moment Discord was slinking into the forest and they had no choice but to follow him. It was dark and quiet in the dankness of the trees. Every bush seemed to rustle with some sort of unidentifiable creature. Celestia kept her eyes and ears alert for any sign of danger. She would not let her adventure end in harm. “Why so quiet, my dear princesses! There is nothing to fear here! I am truly the most terrifying thing in these woods!” Celestia snorted. “If that’s true then there is no reason why ponies should fear coming here. You aren’t scary at all!” Discord glanced at Celestia out of the corner of his eye. “If you believe that, my Princess, you are either very brave or you do not know me at all.” “Why is that?” Luna asked. “Because I represent everything there is fear in this forest. I represent the unknown.” Celestia truly didn’t know how to interpret that statement, so she didn’t try. She knew there was nothing to fear of Discord and if there was nothing to fear from him there was nothing to fear from these woods. Her doubts began to ease and her fear faded away. Without the block of caution to cloud her vision she began to see beautiful things that she had missed before. The way the wind blew and rustled the leaves without anypony to guide it, the light from the setting sun shimmering delicately through the canopy. Perhaps Discord was right. Perhaps a little unpredictability was all anypony needed. “Stop,” said Discord. He held out a clawed hand to keep the two princesses from going any further. Celestia cocked her head. Why was he stopping them? Their location didn’t look particularly special and they were entirely alone in the woods. “Why are we stopping,” Luna asked softly, as if she thought if she spoke in normal tones she would wake some sleeping beast. Discord smirked at the girls. “Where we are about to go is very different from even these woods. Are you sure you want to see it?” “Something more than the Everfree Forests?” Celestia asked eagerly. “I didn’t know there was more.” “Silly, naïve, princess,” Discord crooned teasingly, patting Celestia on the head. “There is so much to the world that even I have yet to experience. Wonders and magics yet undiscovered… We will never stop learning.” Celestia scowled at Discord’s demeaning nature, but she knew that he was right. There was always something to be learned. There was always some new discovery just around the corner. You couldn’t learn those things holed up in a castle, learning from stories and books. You had to experience them first hand to truly understand the gravity of the world around you. That was a lesson that, though she almost forgot where she first heard it, she would hold on to for centuries to come. “Well, then, yes! I’m ready for anything. Lead onward, friend!” Luna gulped, but didn’t argue. She seemed to be trying very hard not to come across as the wimp with the group. She was, after all, the youngest. But default this meant she had much to prove. Discord smiled at both girls and flipped a rock on the forest floor. A strange spinning portal swirled up out of nothing. It was almost hypnotic in a way. Watching the way the circle spun make Celestia feel a little light headed. She wrenched her eyes away from the spinning portal and stared at Discord in uncertainty. “What is this?” “This, my dear, is my home. Enter at your own risk.” The three passed through the portal in a blur of colors and shapes. As soon as her head cleared Celestia stared around in her wonder. The world she was in now very clearly resembled the Everfree Forest, and yet it looked nothing like it at all. There were still towering trees and rippling winds, but everything was wrong. The large mansion that had appeared before them was floating in the air, upside down. The sky was filled not with a beautiful sunset, but with fluffy pink clouds. The trees were weighed down and drooping with oversized acorns and, just a few feet away, a rabbit grazed in the bushed on high, spindly, hoofed legs. This wasn’t right and it made Celestia dreadfully uncomfortable. Spontaneity was one thing, but this utter disregard for everything natural was another. “Welcome to my home, ladies!” Discord said happily, longing in one of the pink clouds above them. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” “It’s creepy,” Luna said honestly. Discord sighed melodramatically. “I suspected that you would say that. Ponies just don’t understand the magic of this place. But really, you must get in the spirit of things. Here…” He grabbed a handful of the pink cloud and stuffed into a cone made from and oversized, blue leaf from a nearby tree. “Try this… it’s cotton candy.” “Cotton candy?” Celestia raised, her eyebrow raised. “Yes… filled chocolate milk. Try it.” Celestia took is carefully and nibbled at the end. She instantly brightened. It was, indeed, chocolate filled cotton candy. “So… if the clouds are filled with chocolate milk… does that mean?” Discord smiled and nodded. “Chocolate rain.” Celestia gasped and whirled around to face her sister. “Luna! Did you hear that! This place comes with chocolate rain!” Luna did not look impressed. Her face was filled with discomfort and distaste. “Discord, we should go. You promised me that I would get to see the forest at night.” Discord chuckled. “Don’t worry yourself over it, Luna… Here time is at a standstill. I can manipulate it to suit my will. When we return to the forest it will be exactly as we left it.” “I think we should head home, Discord,” Luna snapped. She wasn’t sounding at all like herself. Being in Discord’s home seemed to truly be bothering her. “She’s right,” Celestia agreed, recognizing her sister’s obvious distress. “We ought to go.” Discord sighed. “Well, if we must, we must.” He snapped his fingers and the portal appeared once more. They all passed through it quickly and silently, though Discord lingered for a moment as if he didn’t want to leave. The pull of his friends was stronger, however, so he passed through the swirling circles and closed the portal behind him. Discord’s promise proved true. It was almost as if they hadn’t left at all. The shadows were the same, the sun was in the exact same location in the sky. Celestia felt a shiver run down her spine. Wherever it was the Discord lived, it wasn’t natural, not at all. They walked back in silence until the sun fell over the mountain top. The moment darkness enveloped them Luna stopped walking and gasped. “My goodness… It’s so beautiful!” Discord laughed. “I told you so.” Celestia snorted. “I can’t see a thing,” she complained. Her night vision had never been up to par. But Luna could see. Luna could see so clearly and it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The moonlight glistened off the shining rocks on the ground and created a kaleidoscope effect off the leaves. A soft breeze rustled through the forest and whistled past them. The music of the night enveloped her sensed and brought her such a sense of serenity that she could have stayed there forever. “Sister, when it becomes my duty to raise them moon my night will look like this.” “I’m sure it will,” Celestia replied, but before she could say anything else the peace of the moment was interrupted by a crash and a growl. Luna squeaked and hide behind her sister. Discord’s eyebrows furrowed and he slithered in front of the two sisters. “Uh-oh… looks like we have company.” A large creature prowled it’s way out of the forest. It was a huge, bear-like creature, taller than half of the trees. It was an Ursa Major, one of the most violent beasts in the Everfree Forest, or at least the Princesses had been told. It was impossible to vanquish. Celestia could feel Luna shaking behind her. She, too, was frozen with fear, unable to remember magic that might save them. The Ursa Major prowled closer, growling and snarling. It crouched down the pounce… Discord lunged toward it and grabbed it’s face boldly. He bore down on the beast, staring into it’s eyes furiously. His pupils contracted and his eyes began to swirl much like the portal had done. The Ursa Major’s vision locked on to Discord’s and it seemed to go into a trace. It’s eyes swirled and it’s face grew slack. It’s colors began to fade into a dull gray. Soon Discord broke away and pushed the beast from him. The Ursa Major blinked once, then trotted in the other direction, gentle and docile. Celestia was amazed. She could battle with the best of them, but never had she seen magic that could alter the behavior of such a fearsome beast with little or no effort. The defeat of an Ursa Major was indeed no small feet. “How did you do that?” Discord glanced over at Celestia with a little discomfort. “I have the power to alter a creatures very nature. I took away the beasts violent nature.” “That doesn’t seem ethical,” Luna commented. Celestia rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Luna, he just saved out lives. You should be more grateful.” “I am, but still… It seems wrong to change the things that define something’s very existence.” Celestia shrugged. “Perhaps, but I am not complaining. Discord, you have saved us. How will we ever repay you.” “No repayment necessary, my dear. I am simply doing what any friend would do.” From that moment forward Celestia and Discord were inseparable. After all, he had saved her life. Nothing he ever did could nullify that. Nothing.
Chapter Three- A Royal AudienceChapter 3 A Royal Audience It soon became apparent that Discord could not continue being a secret friend. He became so fully integral to Celestia’s life that she found it difficult not to mention his name in every conversation. Luna, the only other pony who knew about Discord and his connection with Celestia, bore the bull brunt of this problem and was the first to openly present it. “Celestia, if you don’t start to monitor what you say you’re going to slip up and mention Discord in front of Father.” “What do you mean, little sister?” Luna rolled her eyes. “I mean that everything you say these days is ‘Discord said this’ or ‘Discord said that’ or ‘Discord told me…’ or ‘According the Discord…’ You are fully obsessed, sister dear.” Celestia scowled. “I am not obsessed. He is simply a very close friend.” She began to think on the last couple of weeks. It had been three months since Discord had saved her and Luna in the forest. In those three months she had grown closer to the young spirit that she could have possibly imagined. In fact, she was only closer to her sister, which was why, though she scoffed at it, Celestia really was listening to what she sister was saying. Luna was right. Even if Celestia didn’t think of herself as being obsessed she had to admit how much she thought and talked about Discord. There had been numerous occasions when she’d almost said his name in front of their father. “Luna… Why are we keeping him a secret again?” Luna opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again, looking perplexed. “Well… I… don’t… I honestly don’t know… Because he’s not a pony and Father would want to know where we met him.” “We didn’t do anything wrong when we met him. He came into our courtyard.” “I do not imagine Father would be very happy knowing that somepony could just sneak into the palace with no problem,” Luna said wryly. “He might lash out at Discord.” “I doubt it,” Celestia disagreed. “He may not trust Discord, but Father is not a violent pony by nature. He’s docile, even if he does come across as a little… intimidating… That settles it. I’m telling Father about Discord tonight. I can’t keep living a lie.” Luna actually looked relieved. “I was hoping you’d say that… I was dreading the moment when Father would figure something out and ask me about it. You know I cannot tell a lie.” “Well, from this moment you will not have to, little sister. I’m bringing Discord fully into the family folds and placing the protection of the crown upon him. Or, at least, you know… Father’s going to know about him.” Luna laughed. “Oh, Celestia… Always one for the dramatics.” Celestia smiled and struck up pose for effect. Both princesses burst out into very un-ladylike laughter that would have caused some of the women in their father’s court to look on in scandalized shock, but they didn’t care. At their young ages of six and eleven they were much more concerned with fun and laughter than the inner works of the Equestrian court and respectable behavior. Celestia knew that she would soon reach an age where she would have to start behavior appropriately. In five years at the age of sixteen her father would bequeath the task of raising the sun each day to her. She was already doing it once a month for practice, but on her sixteenth birthday and until her death it would be her duty and her duty alone. The same would happen to Luna when she turned sixteen, though her duty would be to raise the moon. But Celestia still had a good five years left before she had to shoulder that responsibility, so she figured that that meant she still had three years to behave like a child and she fully intended to take advantage of them. That’s the spirit, Celestia. Childhood is such a terrible thing to waste. Why shoulder responsibility when you can have fun? Celestia frowned. She really spending too much time with Discord. She was beginning to hear him speak in her mind. Miles away in his home in the Everfree Forest Discord lay back with his eyes closed, his power carrying his mind and vision far away to the palace in Canterlot, smiling as he watched his princess. She was truly a funny thing. There was so much about her that he hadn’t expected. He’d known from watching her that she was a free spirit, but he could have never predicted how sharp she would be, or how open to his way of life she was. It made every thing so much easier when he didn’t have to hide his reality from his best friend. It was Luna that made things more difficult. She was cautious and weary of his chaos. Her caution slowed him and Celestia down, but for the life of him be couldn’t convince Celestia to ditch her little sister for a day, nor could he convince Luna not to tag along. Luna was determined to stand by her big sister at all times and sometimes that meant she would loyally tag along to watch their backs and force them to turn back whenever things became too hairy for her. Furthermore, Celestia loved her little sister dearly and wanted her to share the grand experiences. It was all so frustrating. If only he could come up with a way to drive a wedge through their relationship… but no… no… that’s wouldn’t due. He couldn’t give in to those impulses, no matter how natural they were to him. If he could change the natural behavior of other creatures he could change his own natural behavior. He might want to cause chaos in their relationship, but he wouldn’t because he cared far too deeply about Celestia to hurt her. Now his ability to impress would be put to the test. Celestia did not know that he already knew, but he had listened in on her conversation with her sister. He would be meeting the King of all of Equestria. The idea filled him not with anxiety, but with a burning hunger that he could not quite define. He wanted something desperately and meeting the King was the first step. But what? What was it that he so desperately desired? The day to meet Celestia’s Father came quicker than he expected. Before he knew it he was sitting in Celestia’s room being coached on the proper way to address the King of Ponies. “Bow when you see him, Discord. You may be our friend, but he doesn’t know you, so you have to behave with the proper respect.” “So much formality,” Discord complained. “Are all ponies so uptight and boring?” Celestia smirked. “Well… no… but when you put them all together and make them think something is formal they can be. And then they come to expect it. Anything out of the normal is scandalous. Which is why you have to bow. That’s just the way it is so suck it up and deal with it.” “Alright, alright,” Discord mumbled. He still didn’t like it. What was the point of being what he was if he was forced to conform. “Remember to address him as your majesty.” “Of course,” he replied, yawning with boredom. “Don’t act bored, you dope, this is important stuff,” Celestia snapped, kicking him over with her back hooves. “Luna, come here, I want to go over the game plan.” “We have a game plan?” “I WANT MY FATHER TO LOVE YOU, DISCORD!” Discord rolled his eyes. “So we’re mapping out the course of the entire evening? What’s the fun in that.” “Think of it as plotting.” “Fine.” “Alright, here’s the plan. When Luna and I are going to enter the throne room without you. I will announce that I have brought a very dear friend that I would like him to meet…” “Wait a moment,” Luna interrupted. “Are you meaning to tell me that father is not expecting him????” “Of course not. That would ruin the surprise.” “Don’t you think that might bother him a little?” “Oh, stop being such a cautious loser, Luna. It’ll be fine.” “I like it this way,” Discord commented. “See?” Celestia said as if that settled the subject. Luna did not argue again, but she did not look settled. If anything she looked even more disconcerted before, but fortunately it seemed that she was going to keep her unfounded opinions to herself. For this both Discord and Celestia were immensely grateful. Celestia was concerned that she would lose her resolve if her sister kept arguing with her. Discord just hated to listen to her pointless jabber. Soon they were all in place. Celestia paced back and forth nervously. Discord was amused by how seriously she was taking this. So what if the King decided he didn’t like him? That wouldn’t stop him from seeing Celestia, even if he had to sneak around to do it. He didn’t need approval from some King who’s laws he did not obey to give him permission. His was a being of the separate world and followed different rules. Luna stood stoically at her sister’s side. Deep inside she was hoping that her father would reject Discord. When they had first met she had had compassion for him, but it was quickly waning. She was beginning to see how easily he persuaded Celestia to act out and that frightened her. Truly, though her older sister was the more adventurous of the pair, she was very a sensible young pony, but Discord made her throw away sense and behave on rash instinct. Celestia’s entire life revolved around someone who knew so much more about her than she knew about him. If their father rejected him maybe Celestia would be forced to part ways and regain some of her level headedness. Luna had always preferred propriety to joviality and Discord was the exact opposite of these ideals. There was a proper way to behave when you were of elevated status, and while it was true that it was not always entertaining, it was simply the way things were. Being young allowed them some leeway, but in due that Celestia would have to throw her childish ways aside. Discord’s presence would make that nigh impossible. But Celestia would not be stopped and Luna knew her sister well enough to know this, so when Celestia marched into their father’s presence she followed without further argument. “Father, I have an announcement I would like to make!” Celestia said without ado. Their father appeared to be quite taken aback by her direct approach, but he recovered quickly. “Speaketh, dear daughter. What is it that thou wisheth to share with us?” Luna smiled slightly and took comfort in the warm, royal tones of her father’s voice. She had no memory of him ever speaking to his family without using the proper royal vernacular and she adored it. Her father represented order and tradition in her eyes. His presence brought her comfort in the worst of times. By simply being there he reminded her that even when things started to get out of hand, everything was in control. The sun would rise in the morning, as he commanded it, and the moon would rise at night. Ponykind had everything in their hooves. Celestia’s voice cut through her comfort. “Father, I have a very close, very dear friend that I would like to introduce you to.” The King frowned. “Is that so? And if we may inquire as to how it is possible that thou hath made such a friend?” Celestia lost some of her bravado. “Err… well… this may sound, erm… odd… but he, uh… was in our courtyard. Before you say anything, I know that sounds a tad creepy, but really, he’s very dear to me and I would really love for you to give him a chance!” The King looked over at his younger daughter. “Why art thou silent, my darling Princess Luna. Hath thou no contribution to thy sister’s request?” Celestia elbowed her sister and gave her a look. Luna swallowed. “Yes, father, I too believe that you should give Discord a chance,” Celestia was still glaring at her, as if she was daring her to not support the plan, “as he is a very dear friend of mine as well and I believe that we will bear no ill by knowing him.” Celestia smiled, a smile which Luna returned weakly. Her sister could be extremely intimidating when she set her mind to it. “Very well. We shall accept audience with thy friend.” Celestia grinned and did something that sort of resembled as jig. “DISCORD! YOU CAN COME IN NOW!” she hollered, causing her proper father and sister to wince. Discord slunk into the room and approach the throne. He stooped into a deep bow. “You’re Majesty, it is a pleasure,” he said smoothly. “Might I introduce myself? I am Discord, hailing from the Forests of Everfree. “The Forests of Everfree?” “Please, you’re majesty, I understand your concern about my origins. Everfree is a danger and unpredictable place, but I assure you, I am not so! I simply wish to keep company with your wonderful daughters! I truly care for them, you see, and I seek to know more about pony kind!” He had said exactly the right thing. Though he very rarely did so, Celestia, Luna, and Discord could all see the smile creeping under the King’s mustache. “If that is so, then thou shall be granted thy wish. Thou mayst maintain the company of mine daughters. We wish thee the best of happiness and luck in thy endeavors to further educate thyself in the ways of ponies, young Discord.” Discord offer Celestia a grin, which she returned triumphantly. Everything was going to be alright. They could continue to be friends. It was going to be perfect. She wanted to do a victory dance right there, but didn’t think her father would like that much. But she was dancing inside. She was dancing on the walls, on the ceiling, and on her father’s head. The feeling of joy inside of her was something that she had never matched before and didn’t think she ever would again. She couldn’t bare to ever have to lose Discord and was overjoyed that now she wouldn’t have to. Celestia leaned into Luna and smirked. “I told you father would like Discord.” Luna nodded. “Yes… yes, you did.” She was the only one in the room that was not overjoyed by this proclamation, but nopony noticed. Her feelings disappeared in the night, though she wore them on her face.
