//-------------------------------------------------------// The Colored Leaves -by CrystalHeart- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: His Girl //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: His Girl The warmth of the light from the sun kissed Discord's skin, wrapping him in a warm blanket that summer created. The  draconequus's tretched his legs and wiggled his toes, enjoying the calming feeling stretching brought. Discord glanced at the small portions of food in front of him on the carpet of the dojo, the sun from the broken concrete in the roof shining down on him and the small drinking glass. He turned and locked his eyes on the petite figure of Princess Celestia beside him. The princess continued to write away, a smile on her face. He had agreed to help her with some projects, and because of him, they had nearly finished the projects in an hour. Most of the research papers and the like they had finished were neatly stacked and ready to be turned in. At first Celestia had only focused working on her own, but with how slow it could be, she was happy to have Discord help in any way he could. And even though some of the work was bland and vague, he enjoyed the time spent with the sun goddess. Discord knew he should look away...but he couldn't. It was times like those where he felt like the world could do no harm. Like he didn't have a care in the world and that it was just him and Celestia, enjoying the sun and whatever came their way together. The draconequus sighed and gained the nerve to lean in, resting his head against hers. He nuzzled his nose and the bridge between his eyes into her temple. He could feel Celestia stop writing as a blush crept onto his face, but he was too content to pull away. Celestia turned her head slightly and nuzzled back. Discord closed his eyes and sighed, enjoying how warm Celestia felt against his skin. She could say anything right then, but Discord knew she wouldn't. There wasn't really anything TO be said. It was just him, her, and a world that could wait while they had their moment. A few minutes later, Celestia turned her head back and began writing once more. Discord straightened his posture, a smile on his lips. He picked up the paper he had been reading before but couldn't quite comprehend the words on the page, his mind on the beautiful princess beside him. Times like those he felt content. Safe. Happy. No...happy was an understatement. He leaned his shoulder against her arm and she leaned back, both of them continuing to focus on the work at hand. A quote popped into DIscord's head that he had once read in a book long forgotten when he was a child but stuck to his mind all those years. It was Luna that had said: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Discord felt his smile ease into a grin. He couldn't agree more with the quote. He could spend his life counting the days that sped by with the company of his family, Luna, and Luna...but with the sun goddess, what really made life special wasn't the days spent together, but rather the moments they were able to have that took his breath away. *The Next Day* Celestia felt the breeze whistling through Canterlot on her face, a smirk spreading on her lips knowing a hooded figure wasn't far behind her. She turned her head and could see a shadow dart to another building. The princess picked up her feet and walked into the pizzeria. The smell of fresh brewed tea, sugar and baked bread filled her nostrils. She never really appreciated tea and pizza that much until she had met Discord. Now...tea was kind of a lifestyle. Celestia thought she'd get sick of it...but she didn't. The princess picked up the tea she had ordered, payed and left. She stepped back onto the busy city sidewalk and smiled at each stranger that passed by. She missed being outside, among people other than her sister...she loved them but she needed more company than hearing the guard's jokes, dealing with Luna's temper, and Discord's need to be cooped up in his lap. "Hey there, princess...that tea for us?" Celestia was snapped out of her thoughts and turned to stare at three colts in their late teens who had called out to her. She narrowed her head. "Get lost" "Feisty. I like that." The guys snickered. Their leader was a tall and scrawny guy with shaggy blonde hair and a tattoo of a rose on his arm. He put out his cigarette, got up and stood in Celestia's way. Celestia rolled her eyes and moved to step around him. The young stallion stepped in front of her once more. She tried to move around him...no luck. Celestia stepped back and glared at him in a threatening manner. His friends stood up and circle around her so she couldn't make a quick escape. That is, without abandoning the tea. "Why don't you come in, share the tea with us and have a real party..." Celestia stood her ground. She could ditch the tea...she knew she could handle herself...but honestly, she had worked too hard on getting money for the refreshment. And frankly, she didn't want to just run. She searched the skyline for Discord. The only way she could leave the castle was if one of the her friends accompanied her. Naturally, Discord was the one to volunteer, and suddenly, she wouldn't mind his company. Celestia opened her mouth to speak when a eagle claw was placed on her shoulder. She tensed up and whipped around to stare up at the disguised figure of Discord. His face was hidden by the hood of the trench coat he wore and a scarf, but she could see the anger in his eyes. He was well hidden behind the pants and make shift gloves, if she hadn't known better, she would have thought he was any regular guy. "Hey, babe, I've been looking for you everywhere. I was beginning to get worried. These guys bothering you?" Discord gazed down at the young stallion, eyes narrowing. The guy stepped back and parted his lips in surprise. "Actually, they were just going. Glad we finally caught up with each other. Sorry I was running late." Discord said with a smirk, narrowing her eyes at the group of guys. "Awesome." Discord led Celestia forward and shoved past each punk. When he came to the leader, Discord grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. "She's my girl. Mine. If I ever see you or your friends near her again, there will be consequences. Do you understand?" He said this loud enough for the other guys to hear. Discord tilted his head slightly to peer at the young men out of the corner of his eye with a glare. The guys jerked back and put their hooves up in fright. "We got it, man. Sorry we didn't know she was yours." "Good." He shoved their leader down, gave them all one last glare, and walked Celestia off of the street and into the castle way and headed for the nearest door. The princess glanced up at him but Discord didn't notice, his mind focused on the punks they had encountered moments ago. Celestia easily could have shrugged off his arm...but she didn't. And honestly, she didn't think she wanted to. She glanced away from Discord and felt herself smile. 'My girl...my girl...' The draconequus's words echoed in her mind but for some odd reason...it didn't bother her. She played them over and over in her head and he didn't unwrap his arm from around her until they made it to the castle. He took her hoof and gently guided her safely into the dining room . In the dim light and as she waited for the draconequus to sit down, Celestia could feel herself smile. Discord sat down and they began to look in the direction of their face. Celestia glanced at him and felt herself smile wider, knowing he probably couldn't see it in the dimly lit room. His girl...she liked the sound of that. She picked up her feet and walked beside him, their hands brushing. His girl...Celestia sighed in content. A girl could get used to that.