Discord's Day out

Discord needed a snack. All those twinges in his chest, he must be starving. Plus he deserved a treat, what with single-talonedly saving a filly's life. He figured one or two or three of the cupcakes he'd bought would do.

He walked back to the apple cart. Two of the ponies who had dragged him over to their farm were trotting alongside him, one the yellow filly, yabbering on about a reunion in 98 moons and tasty fritters and stuff, the other the red stallion, quietly smiling at his sister's antics.

They arrived back by the apple cart, and Discord saw, to his relief, that his stuff was still there. Good. He took one of the cupcakes out and was about to eat it when he saw the filly staring up at him longingly. Rolling his eyes, he held the cupcake in his paw, and pulling it with his talon, he created an exact duplicate out of thin air.

He held it down to the filly, who instantly began nomming at it eagerly. That would keep her occupied. One would hardly believe how much noise such a tiny creature could create, but then, one would also marvel at how easy it was to shut them up. All it took was an infinitely duplicating cupcake and BAM! Blessed silence.

Discord hear a soft 'poof' from behind him, and as he bit into his own treat he imagined the look on the filly's face when another cupcake burst into existence right in front of her, and almost sprayed crumbs everywhere laughing. Savoring the delicious treat, he slowly took to the air and drifted back home, reclining on nothing and making a mental note to thank Fluttershy for the recommendation. Those Zap-apple cupcakes truly were divine.

Maybe now he was an honorary Apple, he'd get a portion of the Zap-apple harvest.

Maybe Applejack would freak out when she found out his new title.

Maybe that big, black chariot overhead would be bad for the crops.

Wait a second... Discord knew that chariot, but couldn't remember who it belonged to. He was about to try to remember when his ears rang with a tremendous noise. Focusing on it he realized it was words spoken with an old Equish tint at over 150 decibels.

"CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE! THIS IS YOUR GLORIOUS PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT! WE HAVE ACQUIRED SOME TIME AWAY FROM OUR MANY ROYAL DUTIES FOR A MUCH-NEEDED VACATION! WE HAVE HEARD TELL OF A CELEBRATION BEING PREPARED HERE, AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO JOIN YOU!!!"

Discord's ringing ears just made out a faint call from behind him.

"Luna?"

He barely had time to try to remember what that word was associated with when the loud voice continued on, actually shattering a window in the Carousel Boutique.

"HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT AT THE CELEBRATION WE MUST BE READY TO GET DOWN, ONLY THE TOWN SQUARE IS OCCUPIED AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO LAND OUR CHARIOT!!"

"Luna!"

"FOR THE CELEBRATION FEAST WE HAVE BROUGHT SWEETENED BREAD RINGS AND THE CARBONATED JUICE OF ORANGES!!"

"LUNA!!!!"

Discord looked around and saw that drake... Spike, he thought, normally purple cheeks crimson, puffing like a bellows...

He was supposed to be on the train, wasn't he?

He heard a voice, much quieter now and recognizable enough to send chills down Discord's spine call out from the chariot "Yes, sorry, we... I was swept away in the thrill of it all."

A black alicorn Discord knew only too well flew out of the chariot, made a gesture to the thestrals pulling it, and flew down to land right near Discord.

There were very few things on the planet Equa that Discord was afraid of, but Luna and her sister were one of them, though he'd never admit it to anyone. And though he'd made peace with Celestia, Luna was still a mystery to him. So he did the one thing he could think of.

He curled up into a ball and hid.

Watching the chariot slowly vanishing back towards the distant silhouette of Canterlot, he heard the thump of something heavy landing, followed by Spike saying "That's okay, Princess, we all forget things. And as for the party, you'll have to ask Discord, it's his party.

Discord silently cursed the drake who he knew, and was correct about, was pointing at him.

Discord was already making plans about how Spike would look as a pony, a hoofed creature with no claws for revealing stealthy hidden Draconequii, when he received a sharp poke on his back. He shrunk down tho the size of a mouse, not deliberately, but fe felt small and so he was.

He knew he couldn't teleport away, Luna would be expecting that and so she'd have taken precautions. He felt her hoof touching him.

"Oh Eris, she's gonna crush me," Discord thought that and started to panic.

He felt himself get picked up, and felt his fetal position get pried open by another hoof. He opened his eyes and saw a giant face right above his.

"She looks like she's gonna eat me! But... Ponies are herbivorous. Maybe it's different with alicorns. Oh..."

Due to the unpredictable nature of Discord's powers, he was unable to do anything as the giant alicorn lowered her head, opened her mouth and... started to talk.

"It seems my presence has startled you, Discord."

Discord nodded, sulking and embarrassed.

"As long as I have no reason to fear you, you have no reason to fear me," she contnued.

Discord regrew back to full size with a pop, and, clawing at the ground and trying to hide his blush and restore some dignity, he blustered, "Yes, well, um... Yes. Peace?"

He held out his claw and Luna shook it.

He smiled, and continued, "Okay... Well then. If we want to get this party ready by tonight, I'll need help. Could you hand out invites to the west side of town, and I'll take the east side. Deal?"

Luna nodded and said "Sure."

She flew off in the direction of town, and as she did so Discord turned to Spike.

"Aren't you supposed to be in the Crystal Empire?"

Spike blushed and said, "Actually, your train took off before I could get in. Oh, but I'm sure Twilight is fine, just fine. I'm okay, really."

Discord smiled and replied, "That's good. Could you do me a favor?"

Spike looked inquisitive, but suspiciously replied, "Maybe..."

"Could you help the others set up my party in the Town Center. I know I can trust you, Twilight does, and I trust her judgement!"

Discord didn't really trust Twilight's judgement, but he knew a bit of flattery in the right place could get you far.

Spike blushed and mumbled, "Yeah, well... I'm not sure... All that... But sure, okay!"

Discord turned away, concealing his grin and called, "Great. Thanks!"

He headed off towards town square.