It was a bright day at the Canterlot Castle. The gardens were green and managed well. The golden spires shimmered in the sunlight. Alabaster hallways were ablaze with color as that same celestial light shown through the many stained glass windows. Gold armored stallions lined the hallways. Their usual smug and blank expressions were replaced by smiles due to the special occasion that was taking place; a wedding was in the works.
The main hall was filled with ponies racing against the clock to prepare the room for the happy couple's big day. You must be curious as to who it is that's getting married. They are in fact none other than Princess Celestia and Discord. It at first came as a shock to the public when the news of the engagement reached the world. Everyone wondered how it could be possible for these two completely different personages to be together. It was Celestia's sister Luna, her faithful student Twilight, and Twilight's friends that assured the public that Discord had changed. Yes, he had changed in heart, but was forever haunted by the memories and knowledge of what he had done.
"I can do this..." Discord stared at his reflection in the old silver mirror. He straightened his bow tie and brushed the lint off of his white suit. "You look fine. In fact, you've never looked better," he said to himself. It was quiet, and he was alone in the dressing room. He looked into his red and yellow eyes through the mirror. His arms began to shake as a chill thought send a shiver down his long spine. "Yeah but looks can be deceiving." He didn't smile anymore. Discord just sat their meditating in his own personal thoughts. As the thoughts grew deeper, the more his mind began to twist in doubt. "I can't do this..."
He peeked out of the door and into the hallway. The coast was clear. Discord quickly and quietly shut the door once he had exited the dressing room. With swift feat and a pounding heart, he made a mad dash for the exit. It was a long way down the hall. The pressure in Discord's heart raised as he began to run faster. The faint light of the exit door's small window was growing bigger. He was getting closer. He could see the door latch. Almost there. The sound of the breeze through the trees and the chirping birds was now audible to his ears! Just a little more...
Just then, a door opened blocking the path of his escape. Discord came to a screeching halt landing just in front of the oak door which had so suddenly opened up. "Hello?" He knew that angelic voice. "Who is it?" A radiant white face, followed by a flowing pastel rainbow mane, peeked out into the hall with bright eyes. "Discord?" It was Celestia. "Dear, don't you know it's bad luck to see your future wife in her dress before the wedding?" She giggled to herself, but Discord was not about to follow that gesture. "Is something wrong?" Celestia asked. Mist gathered up in Discord's eyes until a hurricane of tears followed. Trembling, he began to take weak steps away from his fiancé. "Discord?" Discord tripped over his legs and then made a hasty recovery to retreat back to the dressing room from whence he came. "Discord! Wait!"
Discord locked himself in the dressing room. He sat against the door as he began to yank on his own ears. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!" He brought his arms down to look at his appendages. On his left, an eagle's claws, and on his right, a lion's paw. His feet: one of a dragon, and the other of a deer. Discord shook his arms hoping that they would go away. "Monster." His rage came out. "Monster!" He began to violently claw at his arms and face. "Take it away!!! I don't want it!" After a few minutes he gave up on this. He fell against the mirror; cracking it. "Faust..." His suit was torn and his body now riddled in scratches. "Faust!!! Why did you let him make me like this?! Why?"
A knock came at the door. "GO AWAY!"
"Hey Discord it's me, Spike."
"Spike?"
"Yeah, could you let me in?" Discord stared at the door. Why not? He unlatched it and cowered back to his corner next to the mirror. Spike entered and shut the door carefully. The purple drake sat down in front of discord. "Discord. I heard you yelling." Discord didn't respond. "Come on. You can talk to me. One monster to another?" Discord looked up blankly at Spike, his eyes still bloodshot.
"And what do you know about being a monster?" Discord asked coldly.
"Well, I do know what it's like to have your relationship rejected by society." Spike said with a sympathetic grin.
"Really? You are married...to a pony. But, you are not a monster that has caused misery and widespread panic throughout Equestria. You have a uniformed look, and you're not a mismatched freak like I am!" Discord now towered over Spike.
"No, but you are a reformed being who has changed his ways and is now currently about to marry Princess Celestia who represents the very essence of harmony. She loves you. She wouldn't have said yes to your proposal if she didn't love you. So what's the problem?" Spike held a stern look as he rebuked the draconequus.
Discord retracted back into his corner again. "She doesn't deserve to be burdened by a creature like me." His tears welled up again. "I'm no good for her. She deserves better. I've never done any good. My mind is constantly fighting itself. My past haunts me and reminds me of what I am...a monster."
Spike had shed a tear for the poor soul. "If anything, it sounds like you need her."
Discord shut his eyes tight. "I'm afraid though. I'm afraid I'll hurt her. I don't want her to have to be married to a monster like me. Spike, I don't even know why she said yes to my proposal in the first place..."
"Because I love you." Neither Spike nor Discord had noticed Celestia enter the room. "Is that what you really believe? That you are a monster?" Discord hid his face from her. He was a mess. "Don't you remember the times before you went insane? You were then, and still are my friend, now more than that."
Discord remember a small fraction of those times, before his mind snapped and he went on a rampage of chaotic proportions. Over the years he had forgotten. His mind had been clouded by evil so long that he had forgotten his friends as a child. He remembered only nicknames: Celly, and Lulu. That was all he could force his mind to recall. "It hurts to remember..."
Celestial knelt down and embraced her fiancé. "Oh Discord. What happened to you so long ago? Why can't you remember?" As this was going on Spike's wife, Rarity, came in to pull her husband out. With a smile Spike left Discord and Celestia to talk to each other.
"Celestia? What was I like before I went insane?" Discord stared at Celestia with his eyes begging to hear something that even hinted that he once was good in life.
"You were my first friend." She smiled. "Luna was my sister, but you were the one I could talk to about my troubles Luna could never understand yet. You were always there for me when I was having a bad day, or when I needed a shoulder to cry on. You always knew how to make me laugh." Tears began to trickle down her cheeks, but Discord wiped them away with his paw. "You left me after you went insane. For one thousand years, I was alone, but now I have you back. The real you is here." Celestia set her horn down on Discord's head. It began to glow, and with the glow, all of Discord's scratches faded away and were healed. "I love you. I don't ever want to lose you again.” She looked up at the clock. “It's almost time you know..." Discord locked eyes with her.
"Will things get better?" He held her hoof in his paw. Celestia moved to place a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"I promise. Things will be better..."
*****
"You may now kiss the bride." Twilight finished the ceremony. With great delight and joy, both Discord and Celestia shared their first, for the first time, as husband and wife.
The crowd cheered. The applause was loud enough to be heard all across Equestria. After the kiss had ended a few photographers came up to take pictures for the press release. Discord stood proud and smiling, in his now repaired suit, with his arm wrapped around Celestia's. When the photographers were done, the crowd cleared the center of the great hall to prepare for the reception. A table was rolled out; serving punch and other finger foods of assorted variety. A stage unfolded for the band to take their places. Next to the stage, a shiny black grand piano was rolled into view. Spike carried his bench up to the piano and took a seat.His wife Rarity watched from the crowd next to her friends as her husband adjusted his microphone.
"Hello everypony. It is a wonderful honor to have been called by Celestia herself to sing at her, and Discord's, wedding. I have a special song I would like to sing for them now, if they would come to the dance floor please?" Spike smiled as Celestia tugged Discord along onto the dance floor. "This one is for you."
Celestia gave Discord a reassuring look as they got ready to dance. And dance they did, as Spike began to play the piano and sing...
It is just starting
Your love is blooming today
Lovers and leaders show us what life can be like
You are passionate
Showed us that love can be free
Just look at how happy you two can be
They danced... With her hoof in his paw, she beamed a bright smile of relief. The waiting had come to an end. After a thousand years, they were dancing again.
You are a princess
He was a monster of fear
But through the chaos, you saw the love that was inside
Monster no longer
Changes came swift through the years
Discord it's time and she can be with you
After one thousand years
Discord was lost in Celestia's eyes. He never used to believe in the so called "beauty and the beast" story, but now things were different. This was his moment. No more evil could haunt him. He was free to be in love. No more memories of evil doings ever came. Something, or someone, special had taken the bad away.
Hear the bells ringing
There's no more hatred to fear
You are now wedded, never forget of this year
Things just get better
Why do you worry so much?
Can this be real or a dreamer's want of touch?
Though you may ponder
How can we throw away hate?
With all the anger, time may have made it too late
Maybe tomorrow
May we forget all our fears
Then we can free our hearts and be new
After one thousand years
Spike enjoyed the sight of the two dancing. It reminded him of when he and Rarity first danced at their own wedding. It seemed like a drastic reflection of their relationship. Two beauties had fallen in love with two beasts. It's funny how the world works. Probably a thousand years ago, it was impossible, but oh, how the times have changed... Spike looked up and caught sight of his wife. He smiled.
There's no more difference
You are in love that is all
Chaos and harmony show us that true love starts small
Lovers and leaders
Show us new blessings to come
After beginning marriage, war is done
Little did anyone in the room know, secretly above, Mother Faust, and Starswirl the Bearded, had been watching the whole scene. "Well Starswirl, you were right. Your son isn't a monster after all."
Star swirl laughed. "He just needed the chance, which your daughter has so graciously given him."
You have each other
No more shall peace be disturbed
This much is known well: Love is a power that's bright
It has no boundaries
And it will last all the years
You broke the bonds and now you're free
You are one thousand years
Spike stepped away from the piano as the crowd along with the newly wedded couple cheered him on. He humbled bowed and made his way over to Rarity who greeted him with a kiss. The band took over the music and played while the crowd took to the floor to dance. Discord and Celestia sat on their thrones and watched the whole scene.
"You were right." Discord smiled as his wife looked up to him with a questioning smile. "Things are already getting better."
Celestia shivered for a moment when she remembered what she was going to tell Discord. "Dear? Do you remember that night we spent together, two months ago?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
She smiled up at her husband. "There is something I must tell you..." To her great comfort, Discord held Celestia's hoof in his paw. After an exchange of smiles she was ready to tell him the great news. "Discord. You are going to be a daddy." A chill came as he didn't respond. "Discord?"
"I'm going to be, a father?" His eyes began to well up with tears that frightened his wife. Then he smiled. "I'm going to be a dad." This time he spoke with a whispered excitement under his breath. "I'm gonna be a dad!" He held his voice to a whisper. He clumsily yanked himself out of his throne to hug Celestia.
It's been a long time, and now they are free, after one thousand years...
