A new perspective

The palace was enough to put many ponies in a state of awe and rapture, Discord was no different, though to him it had a bittersweet kind of beauty.  After all, it held the gardens that had once been his thousand year prison.

The main gates loomed just ahead of them, eerily unpatrolled by the normal Royal Guardsmen, thinking of them sparked a question in his mind.

"Hey, Is it true the princesses began hiring female guards as well?"

Rainbow  looked over shaking her head in a way of showing she didnt know,

Their companion spoke up "It is indeed. The rumor was that the younger princess needed to be exposed to other females, or so said the eldest. Thus, female assassins were given the choice of continuing their career path, or being stripped of their titles for a new position. Rumor has it as well that their new title came with more than a few perks."

Rainbow interrupted, familiar with the rumors "Long lasting life. Lined pockets, privileges that not even eavesdropping gossip lovers could dream of finding out about."

Their companion nodded her head as they stepped through the gate, it closed behind them before four columns of midnight smoke spewed forth from a balcony above and settled into blobs before them. As quickly as the smoke had settled it began to clear, revealing  identical guards, garbed in deep black armor and capes that seemed to devour any light that dared to shine onto them. The pupils of their eyes, slitted like dragons.

"The Lunar Guardsmen." Discord said with a little wonder in his voice

"The Lunar whatnow?" Rainbow said from a defensive position

After a moment of tense silence their guest spoke "At ease my ever loyal protectors."

The voice was fairly different from the body it had come from, Rainbow's jaw dropped as she watched the cloak fall from their companion and a deep aura of blue engulf her. If it could have her jaw would have fallen off when the aura cleared and Princess Luna was standing before them.

The guardsmen bowed, without an iota of shock on their features. Though he found all of these things rather amusing he addressed the princess after a few moments of regarding Rainbow.

"I do believe they showed up because we are late princess." he said with more than a hint of a snobby tone

"Late?" she scoffed "Please, the council can not convene without my presence."

Though she sounded serious he knew she was joking and smiled to prove it.

Without another moment he gestured to the door, "Well, Shall we then, I think Rainbow has about all she can take of shock for the moment....besides....dont we need to get dressed or something?"

Rainbow snapped her maw shut and replied with indignation "Dressed? you're friggin kidding me? I didnt sign up for a tea party!"

The princess and him both laughed before all made their way inside.

The three now decked in regalia, the road was clear towards the Council Chambers.

Rainbow was wearing something akin to her Gala dress. Slightly modified from her friends original design, by whom she could only imagine. She had offhandedly commented to Discord that tonight she would most definitely not be wearing a dress to the club. The colors that had once been only the strict shades of the rainbow, ranged now from one end of the spectrum to the other of visible light, seeming to draw from all the colors around it in complimentary manners.

The princess was wearing a silvery linen that fit tightly to her body, like a vest but very becoming for what a princess could risk wearing in the ways of leisurely customs. Otherwise she had on an identical crown to the platinum one she normally wore, this one made of polished silver, and her boots were shining crystal. Something both Rainbow and Discord joked would make Rarity faint.

He himself wore a simple outfit. Green undershirt, a velvet couplet over a similar colored vest. The rest of his outfit complimenting the red on green scheme Including a very lovely half cape that he was quite fond of using to cover his snout dramatically and wave his fingers like Dracula whenever a servant or guard was within walking distance.

He almost looked like he belonged in royal garb....frowning for a moment he remembered that once upon a time he had been royalty.

The princess caught the look and nodded knowingly "Those times are long since past my old friend. Though, you still look rather dashing in regalia."

"Speak for yourself princess" he offered with a large wink

Their eyes met and a channel opened.

I remember days when we applauded the idea of wearing our regalia. When dressing to the nines was our way of showing each other our time was important. Or just to cause scandal amongst the gossiping aristocracy.

Yes, Well Luna, It has been quite some time. I don't believe I told you how much I-

Their silent conversation was throttled in the second after it had begun, "Are you hitting on the princess? Damn, you've got game!"

The three shared a laugh at Rainbows blatant antics before settling into a more serious mood. The doors to the Council Chamber were looming above them, and inside waited something more terrifying than any monster in Equestria.

Politicians.

Politics had never been one of his favorite things, especially given his old dispositions towards order and balance.

A sigh of relief came from his lips when a familiar voice rang out from behind them "Auntie!"

Turning, the three companions watched as a fourth caught up and smoothed out her own features, readying herself for the oncoming storm of lies they were about to enter.

Princess Luna gave a small smile, though the love in her eyes was plain to see. Discord Greeted her first "Well well, Princess Cadenza. I didn't think I was going to see you again after our run in on the train. I trust your meeting went well?"

Her face dropped the beautiful smile it had been holding to be replaced with a pout.

"No, Indeed it did not. The princess was too busy to see me." The disappointment plain in her words.

He lifted an eyebrow and looked to the younger princess "You're joking right?"

The younger princess raised an eyebrow of her own "What do you mean?"

Discord lost all mirth for a moment as he considered the possibilities "Did you tell her I was coming?"

Luna gave him a simmering glance, "Well of course I did, could you imagine what kind of mess she would have caused thinking you were running amok on grounds?"

"Do you have any idea what kind of mess she is going to cause now that she has had time to prepare?"

Rainbow Dash and Cadence watched the exchange with growing understanding

He looked around the room almost frantically, eyes moving this way and that. "I think we need to hurry this session. I am no longer comfortable being here."

Twilight was frantic to say the least.

A night of fruitless searching and self imposed panic will do that to a body. Especially when fueled by the machinations of someone like herself, always methodical, always organized, always by the book. And this feeling she had was apparently anywhere but a book...wasn't that why she was out here now?

Rechecking the time and her schedule again, Twilight confirmed that the object of her attention would indeed be with Pinkie Pie, maybe with Rarity as well, and only a short amount of time away from being taken up by Rainbow Dash to who knows where. More than half of the town had been scoured in her attempts to intercept Rarity before she could hand him off to Pinkie Pie, seemingly to no avail.

In half trot she stopped and stood, "What am I even doing? What am I going to say?"

She tried to reason with herself but everything went back to that feeling in her chest. The feeling when they spoke, their eyes met. Every thought and feeling she had vanished when Sugercube Corner came into sight.

It was now or never

But for what? What am I really after? Do I? Do I love him? no...its only been a few days...it...no..

"Wow, Someones deep in thought." Twilight practically screamed out her lungs when Pinkie Pie's voice came from beside her

Smiling broadly and giving a small wink Pinkie continued, "Geesh, Twilight, you're in the middle of the street, did you not expect someone to talk to you? That's just silly!" Looking up and down the street with a cursory glance, Twilight saw no one.

"she stuttered trying to regain her barrings, "Well I....I just..."

"Are you looking for our new friend? Cus it seems like you are? You should come inside!" Pinkie waved a hoof towards the doors.

Twilight's eyes widened "How did you....that sixth sense right?....ugh...I just. I need to talk to him, do you know where he is?"

Bouncing in place Pinkie gave a simple "Yep."

A few minutes of Pinkie Pie bouncing up and down and Twilight began loosing patience "Could you tell me where he is?"

"Nope, I have no idea, he left with Rainbow early this morning to go out of town, they wont be back until the Carnival remember? It was YOUR idea."

Twilight nodded "Yes I..I suppose it was...do you mind if I come in? I feel like being with any of my friends will help right now."

Walking into SugerCube Corner Pinkie Pie giggled "Well I'm glad you say that cus...."

Walking through the door Twilight was greeted by the sight of all but one of her closest friends sitting around a table, enjoying the new dishes Pinkie Pie had whipped up.

"Girls! I'm so happy to see you all!"

The court, of course, had been a disaster. From the second the four of them had walked in there had been objection after objection until Princess Luna had taken her throne above the court and ordered silence in a voice above the Royal Canterlot volume. Needless to say it moved even the chairs they sat in back a few inches and left the room eerily quiet, except for the hardly contained giggling of Discord and the stunned "whoa" that escaped Rainbow's lips.

From there, the court had descended again into political chaos, which was like poison to Discord. It was subtle and sleezy and he hated it but for Luna he would sit through it. Plus he had said he would stay for Cadence as well. Her ancestor had been a dear friend to him, even in his less than sane days.

After a while he was glad he came as Cadence brought up many good points and was eventually granted the small military force she had come to gain. It was also a blast finding different unique ways to wake Rainbow Dash up just enough to make her think she was still dreaming.  It was so easy to just snap and use a waterballoon after that.  Throughout all of his constant pranking and the uproar it caused in the nobles, Luna never paid it any heed and when it was brought up she dismissed it with a wave and a simple statement of "You very obviously have never met the avatar of chaos."

Those small victories aside, it was still a disaster. Disastrously boring for all of the four.  That was, until the second half of the meeting. The shift of the meeting was almost physical as things began to turn on Discord. As the pranks became more magickal mischief and almost to the point of malicious the meeting spun out of control as accusations were thrown back and forth and what had once simply been the easy turmoil of a political meeting had devolved into a free for all for each country. Luckily Luna had been able to calm the situation and bring down the talks of imminent war with more than a little help from Cadence's magick.

Upon leaving Cadence and Luna where speaking of which guards she should take in her units while Rainbow and Discord were discussing the details of the club they were going to go to later that night. Passing by an archway he would have rather not looked out onto, he saw an unmistakable figure standing in front of one place he never wanted to be again.

The statue garden and his old pedestal. He just couldn't catch a break. Besides, with everything that had happened in the council chamber he could hardly be blamed for what he did next.

His three companions made the connection as he turned and began a stiff pace towards Celestia. Luna held back the other two for a moment and decided it would be best if Cadence took Rainbow to the Dining Hall. She did so without hesitation and Luna teleported to a balcony above. She could feel that he was waiting for her there and was comforted that he was already watching the situation.

Below Discord had just reached where Celestia was and now stood two steps behind and to her side. Luna leaned over slightly and spoke "We will both be watching. If anything goes wrong, you may act once Discord has left."

The figure beside her would have looked like an earth pony to anyone who didnt know who he was. To those that did, they knew very well that there was a rocky, almost jagged, cropping on his forehead where a horn had once been snapped off. With the soft glow of orange telekinesis the unicorn with no horn lowered his hood and gave a curt bow of his head.

He spoke and it was as soft as the peach color of his eyes "If I did not love you my Queen, or trust your judgement, I would think it wickedly cruel that thy commands always lead me away from him. He thinks me to be dead as all the others of his time. Tis a cruel thought that I live and he know of it not."

Luna almost laughed "I gave you my word that this is necessary. I told you that eventually you will hate me for my commands but in the end, just as before, you will be rewarded with your freedom and life of your own."

Unblinking he responded "I would never commit such heresy as to act against my sovereign."

"Regardless my friend. From what I can hear of their conversation you will be needed in a moment." She focused and dozens of guards oozed from out of the shadows and formed rank behind them "Do not act until he has left."

As she turned and walked away she heard her most trusted General "As you wish my Queen."

She turned around from the back of the ranks and spoke through her mind.

Applejack will arrive shortly after he leaves. You may act once you have sensed that Discord has taken Rainbow into the city and you witness me taking Twilight Sparkle. Once you have acted as you see fit you may go to her.

He nodded and smiled quite broadly. Luna did love the little breaches in etiquette he showed.

--

Down below things had gone horribly wrong in the past thirty seconds.

Celestia and Discord where shouting one second, then one was crying, then the other, Celestia blew up half of the gardens.

All very droll for him. But by Titan how he hated that wench. He definitely got a kick out of how Discord slapped her.... though he almost acted when he thought he felt the mental bond in Discord slip.

It was moments later when he witnessed Discord teleport away and reached out with his magickal senses to find Rainbow Dash. His other target appeared next to Cadence. A moment later Discord appeared, spoke with the two and vanished with Rainbow Dash in tow. They appeared somewhere in downtown.

He looked down at the Princess who had only been left there a matter of moments before theyshowed up in a flash of lavender.

The general smiled.

Twilight walked forward and hugged each of her friends before sitting down to one of the remaining seats. All eyes were on her as she looked up from the food in front of her.  "What?"

Applejack  spoke up first "Yew really should just get on with it."

Rarity was next "Yes darling, we all know, and we all think its just fabulous. Besides, with the Carnival tomorrow you could easily tell him then."

Fluttershy followed "Its uhm...its really cute...we like him."

Pinkie Pie finished "Besides, I already told him I approve of the two of you, it wouldn't be very nice if you got his hopes up for nothing!"

Twilight took all of three seconds to let it all sink in before asking dumbly, "Girls...I...how did you all know?"

They gave her a look like she was crazy, Applejack opting to speak again "We're yer bestfriends, we cin plainly see when yer mind is hogtied round something, especially that there companion of ours."

"Besides," spoke Pinkie "My leg was a twitch'a twitchin' and my arm started tingling, then, yep, heartburn." Just as Pinkie burped for emphasis the foundation shook.

Every one of them was under the table in an instant "An earthquake?" questioned Twilight

Rarity answered "No, it couldnt be, that sounded like an explosion..." They jumped out from under the table and rushed outside. All five of them paled, there was a billowing pillar of smoke rising from the castle grounds, someone had attacked the castle in Holy Canterlot.

"Everyone, to me now, we are going to teleport!" Each of them grabbed a hold of Twilight and were gone in a flash of purple.

Cadence was having something akin to a panic attack.

The Royal Council meeting had been a disaster, and worse yet, their companion was missing, the younger princess had rushed off to go find him, and Rainbow Dash was complaining about being hungry after the princess had mentioned the dining hall.

Thinking back, this had not been her day.

And especially not his.

........

As soon as they had entered the Royal Council Chambers. streamers had gone off to match their attire.

The second they sat down, bowls of color changing punch and balloons had appeared on the table.

Every delegates hair color had been changed shortly after the conversations had commenced.

The chandeliers grew bat wings and began menacing the delegates from other countries.

The rugs turned into snakes and began terrorizing all of the servants as they came in and out of the chambers.

Every single thing that happened however, had been blamed on her subservient.

Cadence had attempted to stand up for Discord and had done fairly well until one of the delegates was turned into a donkey, the meeting burst forth in a wave, demanding retribution of her companion.

His reaction had been unexpected.

In a mighty show of strength he slammed the end of the table he was at and the entire thing crumbled with a swiftly moving wave of golden energy.

Every delegate went dead silent as all of the insanity around them instantly ceased and was turned back to normal.

Her companion simply stood up, and had walked out in a fury to be met by his three companions after the meeting had been ended in haste.

And that wasnt even bringing up her and her Aunt teaming up to soothe what very well could have been a declaration of war on several fronts.

.........

"Are you sure that's all that happened Cadence?" Asked Twilight, standing with the others.

"I'm positive, you four should go check in the gardens, I'm going to the Royal Chambers to look for the Princesses! I need to grab Rainbow from the Dining hall as well."

And with that, Twilight had teleported them outside to the palace gardens, only to find the eldest princess lying on the ground. Tears streaming down the side of her face that wasn't a deep shade of red.

Twilight had stepped forward to comfort her mentor when Princess Luna appeared in-between them.

staring straight down into Twilight's eyes, Luna spoke "Leave her be."

it took nary a moment for Twilight to balk a response "But Princess! She might be hurt!"

"AND IF SHE IS SHE DESERVES IT FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE!"

All four of the friends shrunk from the anger in her voice. Applejack moved forward and put her arm on Twilights shoulder.

Luna seethed and began her tirade "You have no idea what your Mentorhas been doing behind the scenes. All day long since before he even left Ponyville, Celestia has been sabotaging Discord wherever he goes. Ask the delegates at the conference I just came from. She nearly killed a few of them with chaos magick disguised as the gold of Discords. Even Cadenza saw it first hand." She stopped for a moment to let it sink in, her elder sister sniffling in front of her, before sweeping a hoof to point out the massive amount of damage done to the gardens, "This, is what happens when my sister throws a tantrum because she did not get what she wanted out of him. He snapped yes, but not in the way she had wanted. Luckily for all of us, he and Rainbow Dash have left."

"None of you will go looking for him. I gave special instructions to Rainbow Dash should this happen, I had my suspicions after all. He will be taken care of and be back at the Carnival tomorrow with our friend in tow. Are we understood ladies?"

The four nodded their heads. Luna spoke again. "Twilight, I would like to have some time to speak with you."

Twilight nodded and walked over to the younger Princess, looking to her mentor she asked "What about her?"

Luna smiled and Twilight felt the blood chill in her veins "She gets to stay here and deal with four disappointed Elements of Harmony, a riot of angered and mistreated delegates from around the world, a very upset cousin, and us when we get back."

With that the younger princess opened an orb in front of them and they walked through.

The remaining four elements looked to the princess on the floor as did a peach set of eyes from a balcony up above.

It was a look akin to that of hyena studying wounded prey.