Factum Estby TheMoreLovingOneChaptersPrologueObservationTemptationPrologue"Dear sister, you look troubled. Is there any way we may assist you?" Luna's query broke the silence of their private dining room. Celestia forced a smile, looking up from her dessert. "I'm fine, Woona." This brought a small smile and flushed cheeks to Luna's face. However, the smile quickly dropped as she surveyed her sister's plate. "Tia, your favorite cake! You haven't even taken a single bite!" she exclaimed, aghast. Celestia grimaced. "To tell you the truth, I'm not feeling well. You can have my piece if you want. I don't wish to leave you in the few hours we share, but I'd like to take a quick walk in the gardens. Might I be excused?" "Of course. But, um..." Luna's gaze flickered to the floor. Celestia stood, moving to Luna and wrapping a wing around her. Luna snuggled into the soft feathers, closing her eyes. "What is it, love?" Celestia whispered into Luna's ear, nuzzling her gently. Her sister trembled, biting her lip. Celestia put her hoof under her sister's muzzle, lifting it up so their eyes met. "Don't shut me out, please... I'm begging you, let me be here for you... unlike before." Luna's eyes watered, and she let out a soft cry. "Tia... We feel as if we've disappointed you. Anytime you've needed us we weren't here. The Changeling invasion wouldn't have happened if we had been there to help you-" "Shhh... Woona, you haven't EVER let me down. I can't even rightfully claim that you owe this land anything... Not after we... I.. treated you so terribly. How could I not have seen you suffering, how could I have neglected you so? Your pain.... Looking back it seems so obvious... and yet I did nothing... and I'm sorry, Woona, I'm so sorry..." "You're sick, Tia, and we feel it is due to the way we keep making it colder in the castle. We became accustomed to the cold on the..." "You mustn't blame yourself. I will be alright. It is probably just a cold coming on. I'm due for one you know, I haven't had one in 350 years," Celestia said, with a small chuckle. Luna shook her head disbelievingly, but gave a small smile anyway. Celestia brushed her little sister's tears away, and upon confirmation that Luna was going to be fine, excused herself for her walk. Luna walked with her until she reached the throne room. The lunar princess entered the Night Court, and her sister finally let herself frown. She hurried outside, passed the courtyard and hedge maze, until she reached the statue garden. Maneuvering her way through the dark, she finally stopped under the largest statue there: Discord. A fluttering sensation filled her stomach and she started dripping cold drops of sweat. Looking up into his stone eyes, her heart started pounding. She frowned. It was a feeling she remembered, but it was vague, and unclear. Fear... The word passed through her mind, bringing goosebumps and shivering. Her feathers ruffled uneasily, and she glanced around before bringing her focus back to the statue. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes and a golden glow filled the garden. Pain shot through her skull. She shouldn't be doing this without the elements of harmony. It would take all her strength and then she would get sick. It was too late to stop now. Feeding more power in, the spell circled around Discord warily, pressing close then moving away. Celestia cried out, the backlash of the spell nearly bringing her to her knees. Pushing one last burst of energy into the spell, Discord's statue shattered, revealing the draconequus. "There you are. I almost thought you'd forgotten our deal... And you know how much I'd have to take away from you were that to happen." He stretched himself out, mainly for show. She'd made sure his second encasement was comfortable. "In order for this to work, you'll need to pretend to be reformed. I have the Element of Kindness as the one you're going to stay with, as per your request." "You're such a delightfully efficient servant, aren't you, Princess. It's too bad no one else can appreciate it as I. Your little ponies are so... boring, don't you think? I can only imagine how your dear little sister would feel about her brave, kind older sibling making a deal with me. Especially one that could potentially harm your subjects." "Stop. I made this deal in the best interest of my sist- subjects." "Whatever helps you sleep at night, dear. Speaking of which, those dream-blocking spells you put on yourself at night are surely going to be the death of you. Look at those circles under your eyes." He giggled like a schoolfilly, before fixing her with a dark smirk. "Playtime is over, Discord," Celestia said, her voice wavering. His smirk stretched into a full grin. "That's where you're wrong, Celly. Playtime has just begun." The spell's effects started to drain, and he waved goodbye as he was turned back into stone. When the golden glow finally dissipated, Celestia fell to the floor, losing consciousness. The next morning, Luna and Celestia lay on Celestia's fluffy cloud bed, eating ice cream with a bunch of trashy tabloid magazines laying around. The solar princess giggled as her sister told her about something she'd seen on the internet. She thought it was cute how Woona got so excited about things, talking with her hooves while a huge grin spread across her face. Celestia must have lost herself in her thoughts, because next thing the solar alicorn knew she was barraged with a bunch of the tiny, soft throw pillows on her bed. She jumped and let out an undignified cry. Luna burst into laughter, falling to the bed. Celestia grinned mischievously, before picking up her body pillow and throwing it right back. War broke out, and it took nearly an hour before the sisters tired themselves out. They laid back, and Celestia sighed happily, closing her eyes. "Tia?" Luna broke the content silence, but to Celestia's surprise, she sounded worried. Celestia rolled onto her side. "What is it, Woona?" "Um... we want to know if you're okay. One of our Night Guards found you on the ground in the statue garden of all places." "I told you I didn't feel well." "Yes, but even so, it's not normally like that when you're ill." "I fainted during my walk. I'm sorry for worrying you, love." She snuggled her sister close. "Thank you for waking me up in time to raise the sun as well." "There's no need to thank us, sister. We owe you so much more than that." "You don't owe us anything; I've told you this before. I should've been there for you, I should've-" "W-we need to go to bed! We're sorry, Tia, see you tonight." Luna fled from the room, and Celestia watched, stunned. "Oh Woona...," she whispered, before standing and righting her appearance. She called for her personal guards and hurried out into the warm daylight. ObservationFluttershy was humming. Discord liked it when she hummed. He relaxed himself on her couch, invisible. She turned around, feather duster in her mouth, drops of summer sweat trickling down her forehead. Her eyes sparkled happily, and she beamed, the thread of the song dying temporarily. She set the duster down on a small end table and then wiped a hoof across her forehead. "Let the rainbow remind you..." she sang to herself quietly, straightening a few feeding dishes. Then she disappeared into what was supposed to be the master bedroom, except she used it as a makeshift animal hospital and nursery. He followed her. She was still singing, but now it was the lullaby he'd heard her sing on a bunch of separate occasions. "Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy heads. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed..." She pulled a small quilt over a doll-sized bed that housed three ¬¬tiny brown bunnies. She turned to leave them, but one chittered for her attention. She turned to it, nuzzling it affectionately. "Don't you worry, dear. Your parents will be here as soon as they can. And besides, you have me here if you need anything." The bunny nodded, then snuggled back into what Discord assumed were its siblings. She closed the curtains and left the room, closing the door halfway. She quietly walked back into the living room, resting on the couch. It was the only rest she'd had all day, and he continued to watch her curiously. She never gave up. She kept going and going, and giving and giving. It was fascinating. It was unimaginable. None of the other Elements did that. Sure, Pinkie was constantly in planning mode, but she didn't feel it the way Fluttershy did. She didn't see anything as chores. Her livelihood kept her busy, but she wasn't really sacrificing anything. Fluttershy, however... She could barely sit down during the day without Angel making another mess, a tiny filly or colt bringing about a pet with illnesses that weren't really illnesses, or feeding some creature or another. She sacrificed most of her days, living in near solitude. It really was amazing, he thought. "Let the rainbow, remind you..." Her voice was even softer than normal, drawing his attention. This time it was out of tiredness. She'd had a particularly busy day today. Discord smiled, slipping through the room like a shadow, closing the blinds, putting a soundproof block of magic around her. Within five minutes she was asleep. He smiled, materializing and curling around her soft form. "Oh dear, look at the time," he said softly, trailing his talons through her mane, then down over her wings. She mewled softly in her sleep and he grinned widely. He prepared to delve further into playing with her wings, only to be stopped by an insistent tugging on his tail. His smile turned into a look of rage. He recognized those paws. He twisted his body around, picking Angel up by the tail. He moved out of the spell's range, and Angel's furious chittering filled his ears. "You know, I always hated you," Discord said, his voice low. Angel stared at him, eyes full of defiance and small traces of fear. Discord clenched Angel tighter, his claws creating two small bloody specks on either side of the rabbit's body. Angel let out a pained whimper and Discord smiled again. "If it were up to me...," he cooed, taking one of Angel's ears into his lion paw. "you'd be dead by now." He tugged hard enough to cause the rabbit a small amount of discomfort. "Unfortunately, I can't. For now. But just you wait, you disgraceful little vermin. You'll regret ever crossing me. Soon enough, I'll have Fluttershy all to my own, and then I'll CRUSH you." He knocked Angel out with a spike of magic and then dropped him to the floor. He took a look up at the wall clock. He'd been bothering Angel for maybe seven minutes, but he didn't have much longer, and he wanted to hear Angel's explanation for his wounds. With a sigh, he woke Fluttershy up, removing the sound barrier and making himself invisible again. She leapt to her hooves upon waking. "Oh my goodness, I must have dozed off! Oh dear, did I miss anything...?" She looked up at the clock and then sighed in relief. "Only a few minutes. I should go to bed earlier tonight." If Discord had been willing to give up his position, he would have scoffed. How much earlier could one go to bed? She was already asleep around nine, most nights. He moved closer, resting just behind the mare. She took a quick survey of her surroundings, reaching up and rubbing her eyes. She yawned, stretching out her slender frame, only to stop. "Angel!" she yelled, hurrying over to the rabbit, kneeling at his side. Discord snapped quietly, and Angel woke up again. What a huge waste of power, he thought. He should have checked the time before putting Angel to sleep, but at least Fluttershy had a few minutes of rest. He tuned himself back in to the conversation. "Angel, I know you don't like Discord, but he hasn't even visited since before Tirek. It isn't fair that you're still intent on treating him so horribly. I know he messed up, and I know he isn't perfect, but neither are you!" She scooped him up. "He couldn't possibly have hurt you. Why would he even want to? He's expressed to me many times how lovely he thinks you are." She set the rabbit on the couch, bandaging him up. "Now, I have an appointment with Twilight and the others today, so you need to make sure everyone stays safe until I get back, okay?" Angel lifted a paw, but was silenced by a glare from the pegasus. He nodded, and Fluttershy smiled, nuzzling him. "You're a good boy," she said gently. Angel puffed his chest out proudly, then scampered down off the couch. Fluttershy smiled, opening the door. Discord grinned, then vanished. He had another appointment, after all. "Ah, hello ponies!" Discord smiled politely, waving. He had a box of chocolates and a bouquet of roses in his arms. Fluttershy looked up with a shy smile as he approached Twilight's castle. "Hello Discord," she replied softly. "Discord, you're ten minutes late!" Twilight barked, approaching him. He gave a practiced look of embarrassment, seething on the inside. "I know, and I apologize, but I had to pick up some things for my dear Fluttershy." He juggled the items into one arm, randomly plucking Applejack's hat out of thin air and tipping it. A pink blush spread across the pegasus' cheeks. "F-for me?" she asked. He nodded, placing them on a table he'd conjured out of nowhere. "I brought them to you as an apology. I know what I did was wrong, and giving into that weakness after you took me in and loved me was simply inexcusable." His voice lilted as a slight mockery of Rarity's but none of them caught it. Fluttershy nuzzled his lion paw affectionately. "Thank you," she said. She waved it away, before turning right back to Twilight. The alicorn was watching him warily. Merciful as she was, she was still suspicious. "Come on Fluttershy, you can't be so nice to him after all that's happened!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, stepping forward. He frowned. "Rainbow Dash! How dare you?" Fluttershy demanded firmly. "Do you think that maybe if you all had trusted him more he would have turned to Tirek at all?" Before Rainbow could respond, Twilight cleared her throat heavily. "This isn't what we're here for girls. We have a job to do." "Ah don't understand all this technical stuff Twilight," Applejack said. "Well you see, it's all very simple actually! I use a spell that powers this generator, then the generator connects to every screen in Equestria as a television channel. We're just supposed to talk to ponies, let them know that we're here for them, and that we will try to help as best as we can, not just as the Elements of Harmony, but the Friendship Council." "The what now? And how are we supposed to be talkin' ta other ponies who ain't in the room or on the phone with us?" "Friendship Council, I made it up! Since you all are just as important as I am, we shouldn't just be "The Princess of Friendship and her friends", so I thought us up another name. And we're not actually talking to them, Applejack, we're just acting as a reminder-" "How is that gonna help anypony?" Rainbow interrupted. Twilight sighed. "We'll also be taking letters and answering them based on our own experience," she explained. "It might be better to learn in practice." "Um, T-Twilight? I don't want to be on television..." Fluttershy whispered. Discord moved close to her, trying to make her feel more at ease. She leaned back against him subconsciously. He allowed himself to wonder, for a second, how long it had been since someone besides Rarity or Rainbow Dash willingly touched her, or even tried. He experimentally put a hand on her lower back, and she looked up at him and smiled a gentle smile. He smiled back. He was a good actor. Not that he didn't like touching her, but not for a nice reason. Not for anything worth her smiling over. He watched, not really listening, as they persuaded and soothed her. "You know what, maybe this isn't a good idea right now. We'll do a practice run tomorrow, and get more acquainted with everything. I'm sorry to waste your time today, girls," Twilight said, chagrined. Pinkie Pie bounced in a small circle around the alicorn. "Don't worry Twi! It's my day off, Rarity shipped off her big order yesterday so she has free time, Applejack has been training Apple Bloom to take care of the apple trees, and today was her "personal application" thingy, and all Dashie has scheduled is a nap!" The pink Earth pony bounced in place for a few extra minutes, not paying attention to the incredulous look on the other's faces. Then she let out a huge gasp. "THAT MEANS I GET TO PLAY WITH THE TWINS SEE YOU LATER BYE!" She took off in a blur. Twilight stared after her. "Why does her social memory outweigh her factual memory?" she groaned, rubbing her head near the base of her horn. That was where her headaches tended to pop up. "I thought ya learned about tryin' to question Pinkie Pie's antics," Applejack said, hinting at a small warning. Celestia help us if we have another 'incident' before Applebucking season, she thought. "Oh I did, don't worry, it's just I get kind of... jealous," Twilight explained, blushing. "I feel so behind on some of the more intimate details of your personal lives, while Pinkie remembers everything about not only us, but extends that to the cow herd and the various nomads who come around! She's only known Cheese Sandwich for a month, and all but one day was through letters, yet she can list off all of his third cousins, their favorite everything, and their birthdays!" "Aw, shucks, Twi. We know ya do yer best. We don't expect ya to know everything about us, do we?" "No way, Twilight. You're awesome enough at it as it is. You get us the coolest presents, even if they're books sometimes, you take care to know exactly what we like," Rainbow assured. "You're always willing to lend an ear and give us advice," Fluttershy chimed in. "And you're always willing to sacrifice your personal time for us. You're just as good a friend as Pinkie Pie!" Rarity exclaimed. Twilight smiled, dragging her hoof along the ground. "Really? You mean it?" she asked. "Of course they do silly!" Pinkie's voice rang out, despite her being nowhere in sight. Twilight looked around, then chuckled. "I don't know how she does it, but I admire her attention to detail.... DETAIL! THAT'S IT!" With that, she ran into the castle without so much as a backwards glance. Applejack laughed. "Well, I should go check on Apple Bloom. You wanna come along RD? We're tryin' a new recipe for lunch, somethin' about Apple Cider donuts? Granny says we might be able to sell 'em with cider later on if they're good." "Anything that's a friend of cider is a friend of mine! Let's go!" The two started off for Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity turned to Fluttershy. "Would you like to accompany me to the spa? We could have an extra day of relaxation, my treat. I'm sure you have an arrangement at home, yes?" "That sounds lovely. Do you mind, Discord?" "Of course not! Have fun ladies, I'll be in town if you need me later." "Be good, okay?" Fluttershy asked, nuzzling his lion paw affectionately. "Of course, dear," he replied, his talons crossed behind his back childishly. He watched them leave, then snapped, vanishing. Temptation"Alright class, it's time for afternoon anouncements." Cheerilee's voice dragged Dinky out of her stupor, and her light, golden eyes trailed slowly to the front of the class. The only thing that caught her attention was that the pegasi had put in orders for the rainy season to start a little earlier, so they should all bring boots if they wanted to play outside. She also recommended visiting Rarity, who had said she would make all them something called a poncho. After that, she rested her head again, quietly doing her work without so much as looking at anypony else. Time seemed to speed up whenever she was in class, the inevitable end of the day looming closer and closer. She frowned. Today was Cheerilee’s meeting with the high school teachers. She’d been dreading today all month, knowing that she was going to have to go outside and face the taunts and beatings. She curled in on herself, watching the clock. Math was relatively easy, so she’d finished before everyone else. But it wasn’t a blessing. It just served to make the countdown to school’s end drag on. She wrapped her forelegs around herself, crossing and uncrossing her legs. Her eyes darted around. She could see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo whispering in the back of the class, their worksheets nearly forgotten. Button Mash, Pipsqueak, and Rumble were on the other side of the room, jostling each other and showing each other flashes of video games on the sly. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon giggled together, pointing at Twist, then straight at her. Her heartbeat doubled in speed, thumping painfully in her chest. Her gaze flew to the clock. She only had five minutes of safety left. Cold sweat soaked her skin. The skin around her left eye tingled, remembering the last time Cheerilee hadn’t been able to wait with her after school. She raised a trembling hoof up, flinching at a ghost pain that flitted over her. The bell rang, and she was slow to her hooves. Diamond and Silver Spoon moved in her direction and she bit back a pitiful whimper. She was surprised when they walked passed her. A piece of paper fell out of Diamond’s saddlebags. “Maybe if I take this to her, she’ll let me go home in peace…” Dinky mumbled, smoothing the paper out. She let out an audible squeak, her whole face turning red. On the paper was a crude drawing of her and Twist, kissing. She ripped the paper in half, nearly tripping in her haste to throw the drawing away. Truth be told, she’d never thought about kissing anypony before. To her it was something that happened only in fairy tales. Her mom had never kissed anyone that she knew of. She ducked to hide her red face as Cheerilee headed off to her meeting. Slipping into the room with all their cubbies, Dinky pulled her saddlebags off a hat rack. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She didn’t remember a coat rack in this room. She poked it gingerly with her hoof, and suddenly the wood turned into Discord, who threw his front legs wide. “Hiya kid!” he grinned. Dinky smiled, latching onto him. She and her mom had befriended Discord soon after his reformation, and despite the recent business with Tirek, both had forgiven him quite readily. “Hi Discord!” she trilled happily. He scooped her up, twirling her for a minute. “I hope you don’t mind me picking you up” –here he paused to giggle at his clever little pun- “but I figured we could go pick up your mom and I would treat both of my lovely ladies out to ice cream.” “Really?!” Dinky squealed excitedly. He nodded, tapping on her horn. “Hoof to the princesses,” he said, faux-solemnly. She cheered, wrapping her forelegs around his long neck. He secured his grip on her magically, before walking out with her into one of the last few clear days of the season. She chattered happily in his ear, talking about what they were learning in class, and about some of the new muffin recipes Derpy had tried out. He nodded, adding an occasional “Really?” or an “I see” here and there. Inside, he was testing her. He couldn’t feel her magical field, or anything remotely magical in her at all. This seemed to appease him as he made his way through Ponyville, drawing several stares. He ignored them, appearing to give all his attention to the small lilac filly on his back. It wasn’t long before they approached Derpy’s small house. He knocked quickly, and it wasn’t even a minute before she appeared, her blonde mane rumpled and the smoky haze of sleep in her eyes. “Muffin?” she asked, yawning. Dinky waved. “Discord came to visit! He says we’re all gonna go get ice cream!” she beamed. Derpy rubbed her eyes softly, smiling at the draconequus. “Hello Discord. Thank you for picking up my precious little pastry,” Derpy cooed, nuzzling Dinky’s leg affectionately. Discord bowed, Dinky staying in place midair. The filly giggled, flapping her forelegs like a bird. Derpy smiled, stretching. “It’s nice to see you again, Derpy,” Discord said, his voice the epitome of friendliness. She nodded in agreement, ruffling her wings. Finally alert enough to head out, the trio headed to a small ice cream shop. Discord waited patiently for the two to pick out their flavors, indulging Dinky in a banana split without a second thought. Once they were all situated, Discord smiled. He made small talk, laughing with the mailmare. Dinky ended up with whipped cream and chocolate syrup on her snout, her hooves sliding onher spoon. They sat and ate for an hour, Discord using his magic to clean Dinky up when she was done, as well as supplying her with several coins for the various gumball and toy machines against the walls. When she was out of earshot, Discord donned a coy smile, turning to Derpy. “Dinky’s magic is starting to bloom,” he said. Derpy’s eyes widened. “Really?” she asked. Discord nodded emphatically, covering one of her front hooves with his lion paw. “Truly. It was quite magnificent. I believe she’s magically strong enough to even rival Prrrrincess Twilight someday,” he purred. Derpy’s smile grew wider. She opened her mouth to say something, but Discord stopped her. “I would like to offer you a chance of a lifetime.” His eyes never left Derpy’s, his expression earnest and caring. “It would be my privilege- no, my honor, to train Dinky to use her magic to the best of her abilities. It won’t cost you a thing, and as a plus side, I won’t take her away from you. I’d like you both to come stay with me. You’ll both be living lives of luxury, Dinky will get to train and become the powerful magician she was born to be and I can remove your curse and grant you your joy.” All of this left Derpy frozen in glee, and before she could stop herself, tears of gratitude spilled down her muzzle. She wrapped her forelegs and wings around Discord’s barrel, sniffling. “Y-you would really do all of that? For us?” she asked. He smirked. “Of course I would dear. But it’s not all for free. You have to make a sacrifice,” he said, crossing his arms and legs, sitting back in his chair. Derpy pulled away from him, her blissful expression now just a tiny bit guarded. “Like what?” she asked. He smiled reassuringly. “Nothing big, just your Equestrian citizenship. That’s all really. And think, what’s one small country in the landscape of your future?” His tone was smooth, like honey, and it filled her ears like a snake charmer’s tune. She felt compelled to obey, but she shook her head. “What about Dinky’s friends?” Derpy asked, trying her hardest to ignore the persuasive offer she’d received. “Dinky will have a chance to make new friends. I didn’t want to tell you this, but Luna has told me that Dinky hasn’t been sleeping very well of late. The same, sickening dreams of all the ways her schoolmates bully her. I can guarantee her safety. And I can guarantee that she will be loved, no matter what.” Discord went quiet, letting his words weigh upon Derpy. Almost imperceptibly, he lowered the background sounds so she would subconsciously focus on him. He turned his gaze sympathetic. “I know it’s a big decision, and I wouldn’t even think of just letting you agree. I trust you want to talk to dear little Dinky about it?” he prompted. Derpy nodded, a look of longing covering her face as she glanced back at her flank. The seven little bubbles that had haunted her for her whole life stared back, and she imagined them gone, replaced with a muffin, or a rolling pin and chef hat. Her dream… Dinky’s happiness… all there, all being given to her on a silver platter. All she had to do was take Dinky and go with Discord, and everything she’d ever wanted would become a reality… She shook her head again, looking away from Discord and over at her baby. Dinky was her life, her everything. She’d do anything she could to make her little filly happy. Derpy stood shakily, the background noise returning immediately. “I’ll talk to Dinky about it tonight. Come have tea with us tomorrow afternoon and we’ll tell you our decision. I think it’s best to take her home alone though,” Derpy said. Discord nodded. “I’ll respect your decision, whatever it may be. And I know you’ll make the right one, wonderful mother that you are.” Discord’s eyes rolled, and to mask it he swirled his pupils around idly. He remembered the good old days when he didn’t have to manipulate anyone and he could just threaten them a pig’s tail for them to do his bidding. He sighed, waving goodbye to the small family. As soon as they left, his smirk grew, and he snapped his fingers, disappearing in a flash. -- He reappeared next to Sunbutt, who was having her pre-evening tea. To her credit, she didn’t flinch, only sighed. “Have you decided?” “Of course I have. I had decided when I was stoned for the second time.” “Must you take my ponies? Can’t you have made your own, or taken the foreign races?” “I could have, but it’s much more fun this way. I get to make you squirm, and keep secrets. It’s nice having control, when you get to enjoy it.” Discord sprawled across her desk, intentionally knocking down several stacks of organized paper. “I do take it you haven’t told Moody Moony about our little deal.” His tone carried a threatening edge to it, and she looked away, shamed. “Of course I haven’t. She wouldn’t let me do this.” “Of course she wouldn’t! She’s a proper princess, unlike her role model.” Discord leered at her, teeth seeming a little sharper than normal. Celestia cringed. “I am doing what I think is best for everypony involved,” she said defensively. “Are you really? Because I think that you and all of your tolerance and friendship talk is a load of horseapples. Luna wouldn’t want to believe that her heroes were nothing special, so you’re putting on a front. You can’t admit to being selfish, or wrong, and that is what will break you in the end, Sunbutt. In the end, you’ll be left alone with all of your mistakes weighing on you so heavily that you’ll go mad. You’ll be insane, and you’ll be mine.” With that, he vanished, leaving the alicorn in a defeated slump.
Prologue"Dear sister, you look troubled. Is there any way we may assist you?" Luna's query broke the silence of their private dining room. Celestia forced a smile, looking up from her dessert. "I'm fine, Woona." This brought a small smile and flushed cheeks to Luna's face. However, the smile quickly dropped as she surveyed her sister's plate. "Tia, your favorite cake! You haven't even taken a single bite!" she exclaimed, aghast. Celestia grimaced. "To tell you the truth, I'm not feeling well. You can have my piece if you want. I don't wish to leave you in the few hours we share, but I'd like to take a quick walk in the gardens. Might I be excused?" "Of course. But, um..." Luna's gaze flickered to the floor. Celestia stood, moving to Luna and wrapping a wing around her. Luna snuggled into the soft feathers, closing her eyes. "What is it, love?" Celestia whispered into Luna's ear, nuzzling her gently. Her sister trembled, biting her lip. Celestia put her hoof under her sister's muzzle, lifting it up so their eyes met. "Don't shut me out, please... I'm begging you, let me be here for you... unlike before." Luna's eyes watered, and she let out a soft cry. "Tia... We feel as if we've disappointed you. Anytime you've needed us we weren't here. The Changeling invasion wouldn't have happened if we had been there to help you-" "Shhh... Woona, you haven't EVER let me down. I can't even rightfully claim that you owe this land anything... Not after we... I.. treated you so terribly. How could I not have seen you suffering, how could I have neglected you so? Your pain.... Looking back it seems so obvious... and yet I did nothing... and I'm sorry, Woona, I'm so sorry..." "You're sick, Tia, and we feel it is due to the way we keep making it colder in the castle. We became accustomed to the cold on the..." "You mustn't blame yourself. I will be alright. It is probably just a cold coming on. I'm due for one you know, I haven't had one in 350 years," Celestia said, with a small chuckle. Luna shook her head disbelievingly, but gave a small smile anyway. Celestia brushed her little sister's tears away, and upon confirmation that Luna was going to be fine, excused herself for her walk. Luna walked with her until she reached the throne room. The lunar princess entered the Night Court, and her sister finally let herself frown. She hurried outside, passed the courtyard and hedge maze, until she reached the statue garden. Maneuvering her way through the dark, she finally stopped under the largest statue there: Discord. A fluttering sensation filled her stomach and she started dripping cold drops of sweat. Looking up into his stone eyes, her heart started pounding. She frowned. It was a feeling she remembered, but it was vague, and unclear. Fear... The word passed through her mind, bringing goosebumps and shivering. Her feathers ruffled uneasily, and she glanced around before bringing her focus back to the statue. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes and a golden glow filled the garden. Pain shot through her skull. She shouldn't be doing this without the elements of harmony. It would take all her strength and then she would get sick. It was too late to stop now. Feeding more power in, the spell circled around Discord warily, pressing close then moving away. Celestia cried out, the backlash of the spell nearly bringing her to her knees. Pushing one last burst of energy into the spell, Discord's statue shattered, revealing the draconequus. "There you are. I almost thought you'd forgotten our deal... And you know how much I'd have to take away from you were that to happen." He stretched himself out, mainly for show. She'd made sure his second encasement was comfortable. "In order for this to work, you'll need to pretend to be reformed. I have the Element of Kindness as the one you're going to stay with, as per your request." "You're such a delightfully efficient servant, aren't you, Princess. It's too bad no one else can appreciate it as I. Your little ponies are so... boring, don't you think? I can only imagine how your dear little sister would feel about her brave, kind older sibling making a deal with me. Especially one that could potentially harm your subjects." "Stop. I made this deal in the best interest of my sist- subjects." "Whatever helps you sleep at night, dear. Speaking of which, those dream-blocking spells you put on yourself at night are surely going to be the death of you. Look at those circles under your eyes." He giggled like a schoolfilly, before fixing her with a dark smirk. "Playtime is over, Discord," Celestia said, her voice wavering. His smirk stretched into a full grin. "That's where you're wrong, Celly. Playtime has just begun." The spell's effects started to drain, and he waved goodbye as he was turned back into stone. When the golden glow finally dissipated, Celestia fell to the floor, losing consciousness. The next morning, Luna and Celestia lay on Celestia's fluffy cloud bed, eating ice cream with a bunch of trashy tabloid magazines laying around. The solar princess giggled as her sister told her about something she'd seen on the internet. She thought it was cute how Woona got so excited about things, talking with her hooves while a huge grin spread across her face. Celestia must have lost herself in her thoughts, because next thing the solar alicorn knew she was barraged with a bunch of the tiny, soft throw pillows on her bed. She jumped and let out an undignified cry. Luna burst into laughter, falling to the bed. Celestia grinned mischievously, before picking up her body pillow and throwing it right back. War broke out, and it took nearly an hour before the sisters tired themselves out. They laid back, and Celestia sighed happily, closing her eyes. "Tia?" Luna broke the content silence, but to Celestia's surprise, she sounded worried. Celestia rolled onto her side. "What is it, Woona?" "Um... we want to know if you're okay. One of our Night Guards found you on the ground in the statue garden of all places." "I told you I didn't feel well." "Yes, but even so, it's not normally like that when you're ill." "I fainted during my walk. I'm sorry for worrying you, love." She snuggled her sister close. "Thank you for waking me up in time to raise the sun as well." "There's no need to thank us, sister. We owe you so much more than that." "You don't owe us anything; I've told you this before. I should've been there for you, I should've-" "W-we need to go to bed! We're sorry, Tia, see you tonight." Luna fled from the room, and Celestia watched, stunned. "Oh Woona...," she whispered, before standing and righting her appearance. She called for her personal guards and hurried out into the warm daylight.
ObservationFluttershy was humming. Discord liked it when she hummed. He relaxed himself on her couch, invisible. She turned around, feather duster in her mouth, drops of summer sweat trickling down her forehead. Her eyes sparkled happily, and she beamed, the thread of the song dying temporarily. She set the duster down on a small end table and then wiped a hoof across her forehead. "Let the rainbow remind you..." she sang to herself quietly, straightening a few feeding dishes. Then she disappeared into what was supposed to be the master bedroom, except she used it as a makeshift animal hospital and nursery. He followed her. She was still singing, but now it was the lullaby he'd heard her sing on a bunch of separate occasions. "Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy heads. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed..." She pulled a small quilt over a doll-sized bed that housed three ¬¬tiny brown bunnies. She turned to leave them, but one chittered for her attention. She turned to it, nuzzling it affectionately. "Don't you worry, dear. Your parents will be here as soon as they can. And besides, you have me here if you need anything." The bunny nodded, then snuggled back into what Discord assumed were its siblings. She closed the curtains and left the room, closing the door halfway. She quietly walked back into the living room, resting on the couch. It was the only rest she'd had all day, and he continued to watch her curiously. She never gave up. She kept going and going, and giving and giving. It was fascinating. It was unimaginable. None of the other Elements did that. Sure, Pinkie was constantly in planning mode, but she didn't feel it the way Fluttershy did. She didn't see anything as chores. Her livelihood kept her busy, but she wasn't really sacrificing anything. Fluttershy, however... She could barely sit down during the day without Angel making another mess, a tiny filly or colt bringing about a pet with illnesses that weren't really illnesses, or feeding some creature or another. She sacrificed most of her days, living in near solitude. It really was amazing, he thought. "Let the rainbow, remind you..." Her voice was even softer than normal, drawing his attention. This time it was out of tiredness. She'd had a particularly busy day today. Discord smiled, slipping through the room like a shadow, closing the blinds, putting a soundproof block of magic around her. Within five minutes she was asleep. He smiled, materializing and curling around her soft form. "Oh dear, look at the time," he said softly, trailing his talons through her mane, then down over her wings. She mewled softly in her sleep and he grinned widely. He prepared to delve further into playing with her wings, only to be stopped by an insistent tugging on his tail. His smile turned into a look of rage. He recognized those paws. He twisted his body around, picking Angel up by the tail. He moved out of the spell's range, and Angel's furious chittering filled his ears. "You know, I always hated you," Discord said, his voice low. Angel stared at him, eyes full of defiance and small traces of fear. Discord clenched Angel tighter, his claws creating two small bloody specks on either side of the rabbit's body. Angel let out a pained whimper and Discord smiled again. "If it were up to me...," he cooed, taking one of Angel's ears into his lion paw. "you'd be dead by now." He tugged hard enough to cause the rabbit a small amount of discomfort. "Unfortunately, I can't. For now. But just you wait, you disgraceful little vermin. You'll regret ever crossing me. Soon enough, I'll have Fluttershy all to my own, and then I'll CRUSH you." He knocked Angel out with a spike of magic and then dropped him to the floor. He took a look up at the wall clock. He'd been bothering Angel for maybe seven minutes, but he didn't have much longer, and he wanted to hear Angel's explanation for his wounds. With a sigh, he woke Fluttershy up, removing the sound barrier and making himself invisible again. She leapt to her hooves upon waking. "Oh my goodness, I must have dozed off! Oh dear, did I miss anything...?" She looked up at the clock and then sighed in relief. "Only a few minutes. I should go to bed earlier tonight." If Discord had been willing to give up his position, he would have scoffed. How much earlier could one go to bed? She was already asleep around nine, most nights. He moved closer, resting just behind the mare. She took a quick survey of her surroundings, reaching up and rubbing her eyes. She yawned, stretching out her slender frame, only to stop. "Angel!" she yelled, hurrying over to the rabbit, kneeling at his side. Discord snapped quietly, and Angel woke up again. What a huge waste of power, he thought. He should have checked the time before putting Angel to sleep, but at least Fluttershy had a few minutes of rest. He tuned himself back in to the conversation. "Angel, I know you don't like Discord, but he hasn't even visited since before Tirek. It isn't fair that you're still intent on treating him so horribly. I know he messed up, and I know he isn't perfect, but neither are you!" She scooped him up. "He couldn't possibly have hurt you. Why would he even want to? He's expressed to me many times how lovely he thinks you are." She set the rabbit on the couch, bandaging him up. "Now, I have an appointment with Twilight and the others today, so you need to make sure everyone stays safe until I get back, okay?" Angel lifted a paw, but was silenced by a glare from the pegasus. He nodded, and Fluttershy smiled, nuzzling him. "You're a good boy," she said gently. Angel puffed his chest out proudly, then scampered down off the couch. Fluttershy smiled, opening the door. Discord grinned, then vanished. He had another appointment, after all. "Ah, hello ponies!" Discord smiled politely, waving. He had a box of chocolates and a bouquet of roses in his arms. Fluttershy looked up with a shy smile as he approached Twilight's castle. "Hello Discord," she replied softly. "Discord, you're ten minutes late!" Twilight barked, approaching him. He gave a practiced look of embarrassment, seething on the inside. "I know, and I apologize, but I had to pick up some things for my dear Fluttershy." He juggled the items into one arm, randomly plucking Applejack's hat out of thin air and tipping it. A pink blush spread across the pegasus' cheeks. "F-for me?" she asked. He nodded, placing them on a table he'd conjured out of nowhere. "I brought them to you as an apology. I know what I did was wrong, and giving into that weakness after you took me in and loved me was simply inexcusable." His voice lilted as a slight mockery of Rarity's but none of them caught it. Fluttershy nuzzled his lion paw affectionately. "Thank you," she said. She waved it away, before turning right back to Twilight. The alicorn was watching him warily. Merciful as she was, she was still suspicious. "Come on Fluttershy, you can't be so nice to him after all that's happened!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, stepping forward. He frowned. "Rainbow Dash! How dare you?" Fluttershy demanded firmly. "Do you think that maybe if you all had trusted him more he would have turned to Tirek at all?" Before Rainbow could respond, Twilight cleared her throat heavily. "This isn't what we're here for girls. We have a job to do." "Ah don't understand all this technical stuff Twilight," Applejack said. "Well you see, it's all very simple actually! I use a spell that powers this generator, then the generator connects to every screen in Equestria as a television channel. We're just supposed to talk to ponies, let them know that we're here for them, and that we will try to help as best as we can, not just as the Elements of Harmony, but the Friendship Council." "The what now? And how are we supposed to be talkin' ta other ponies who ain't in the room or on the phone with us?" "Friendship Council, I made it up! Since you all are just as important as I am, we shouldn't just be "The Princess of Friendship and her friends", so I thought us up another name. And we're not actually talking to them, Applejack, we're just acting as a reminder-" "How is that gonna help anypony?" Rainbow interrupted. Twilight sighed. "We'll also be taking letters and answering them based on our own experience," she explained. "It might be better to learn in practice." "Um, T-Twilight? I don't want to be on television..." Fluttershy whispered. Discord moved close to her, trying to make her feel more at ease. She leaned back against him subconsciously. He allowed himself to wonder, for a second, how long it had been since someone besides Rarity or Rainbow Dash willingly touched her, or even tried. He experimentally put a hand on her lower back, and she looked up at him and smiled a gentle smile. He smiled back. He was a good actor. Not that he didn't like touching her, but not for a nice reason. Not for anything worth her smiling over. He watched, not really listening, as they persuaded and soothed her. "You know what, maybe this isn't a good idea right now. We'll do a practice run tomorrow, and get more acquainted with everything. I'm sorry to waste your time today, girls," Twilight said, chagrined. Pinkie Pie bounced in a small circle around the alicorn. "Don't worry Twi! It's my day off, Rarity shipped off her big order yesterday so she has free time, Applejack has been training Apple Bloom to take care of the apple trees, and today was her "personal application" thingy, and all Dashie has scheduled is a nap!" The pink Earth pony bounced in place for a few extra minutes, not paying attention to the incredulous look on the other's faces. Then she let out a huge gasp. "THAT MEANS I GET TO PLAY WITH THE TWINS SEE YOU LATER BYE!" She took off in a blur. Twilight stared after her. "Why does her social memory outweigh her factual memory?" she groaned, rubbing her head near the base of her horn. That was where her headaches tended to pop up. "I thought ya learned about tryin' to question Pinkie Pie's antics," Applejack said, hinting at a small warning. Celestia help us if we have another 'incident' before Applebucking season, she thought. "Oh I did, don't worry, it's just I get kind of... jealous," Twilight explained, blushing. "I feel so behind on some of the more intimate details of your personal lives, while Pinkie remembers everything about not only us, but extends that to the cow herd and the various nomads who come around! She's only known Cheese Sandwich for a month, and all but one day was through letters, yet she can list off all of his third cousins, their favorite everything, and their birthdays!" "Aw, shucks, Twi. We know ya do yer best. We don't expect ya to know everything about us, do we?" "No way, Twilight. You're awesome enough at it as it is. You get us the coolest presents, even if they're books sometimes, you take care to know exactly what we like," Rainbow assured. "You're always willing to lend an ear and give us advice," Fluttershy chimed in. "And you're always willing to sacrifice your personal time for us. You're just as good a friend as Pinkie Pie!" Rarity exclaimed. Twilight smiled, dragging her hoof along the ground. "Really? You mean it?" she asked. "Of course they do silly!" Pinkie's voice rang out, despite her being nowhere in sight. Twilight looked around, then chuckled. "I don't know how she does it, but I admire her attention to detail.... DETAIL! THAT'S IT!" With that, she ran into the castle without so much as a backwards glance. Applejack laughed. "Well, I should go check on Apple Bloom. You wanna come along RD? We're tryin' a new recipe for lunch, somethin' about Apple Cider donuts? Granny says we might be able to sell 'em with cider later on if they're good." "Anything that's a friend of cider is a friend of mine! Let's go!" The two started off for Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity turned to Fluttershy. "Would you like to accompany me to the spa? We could have an extra day of relaxation, my treat. I'm sure you have an arrangement at home, yes?" "That sounds lovely. Do you mind, Discord?" "Of course not! Have fun ladies, I'll be in town if you need me later." "Be good, okay?" Fluttershy asked, nuzzling his lion paw affectionately. "Of course, dear," he replied, his talons crossed behind his back childishly. He watched them leave, then snapped, vanishing.
Temptation"Alright class, it's time for afternoon anouncements." Cheerilee's voice dragged Dinky out of her stupor, and her light, golden eyes trailed slowly to the front of the class. The only thing that caught her attention was that the pegasi had put in orders for the rainy season to start a little earlier, so they should all bring boots if they wanted to play outside. She also recommended visiting Rarity, who had said she would make all them something called a poncho. After that, she rested her head again, quietly doing her work without so much as looking at anypony else. Time seemed to speed up whenever she was in class, the inevitable end of the day looming closer and closer. She frowned. Today was Cheerilee’s meeting with the high school teachers. She’d been dreading today all month, knowing that she was going to have to go outside and face the taunts and beatings. She curled in on herself, watching the clock. Math was relatively easy, so she’d finished before everyone else. But it wasn’t a blessing. It just served to make the countdown to school’s end drag on. She wrapped her forelegs around herself, crossing and uncrossing her legs. Her eyes darted around. She could see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo whispering in the back of the class, their worksheets nearly forgotten. Button Mash, Pipsqueak, and Rumble were on the other side of the room, jostling each other and showing each other flashes of video games on the sly. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon giggled together, pointing at Twist, then straight at her. Her heartbeat doubled in speed, thumping painfully in her chest. Her gaze flew to the clock. She only had five minutes of safety left. Cold sweat soaked her skin. The skin around her left eye tingled, remembering the last time Cheerilee hadn’t been able to wait with her after school. She raised a trembling hoof up, flinching at a ghost pain that flitted over her. The bell rang, and she was slow to her hooves. Diamond and Silver Spoon moved in her direction and she bit back a pitiful whimper. She was surprised when they walked passed her. A piece of paper fell out of Diamond’s saddlebags. “Maybe if I take this to her, she’ll let me go home in peace…” Dinky mumbled, smoothing the paper out. She let out an audible squeak, her whole face turning red. On the paper was a crude drawing of her and Twist, kissing. She ripped the paper in half, nearly tripping in her haste to throw the drawing away. Truth be told, she’d never thought about kissing anypony before. To her it was something that happened only in fairy tales. Her mom had never kissed anyone that she knew of. She ducked to hide her red face as Cheerilee headed off to her meeting. Slipping into the room with all their cubbies, Dinky pulled her saddlebags off a hat rack. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She didn’t remember a coat rack in this room. She poked it gingerly with her hoof, and suddenly the wood turned into Discord, who threw his front legs wide. “Hiya kid!” he grinned. Dinky smiled, latching onto him. She and her mom had befriended Discord soon after his reformation, and despite the recent business with Tirek, both had forgiven him quite readily. “Hi Discord!” she trilled happily. He scooped her up, twirling her for a minute. “I hope you don’t mind me picking you up” –here he paused to giggle at his clever little pun- “but I figured we could go pick up your mom and I would treat both of my lovely ladies out to ice cream.” “Really?!” Dinky squealed excitedly. He nodded, tapping on her horn. “Hoof to the princesses,” he said, faux-solemnly. She cheered, wrapping her forelegs around his long neck. He secured his grip on her magically, before walking out with her into one of the last few clear days of the season. She chattered happily in his ear, talking about what they were learning in class, and about some of the new muffin recipes Derpy had tried out. He nodded, adding an occasional “Really?” or an “I see” here and there. Inside, he was testing her. He couldn’t feel her magical field, or anything remotely magical in her at all. This seemed to appease him as he made his way through Ponyville, drawing several stares. He ignored them, appearing to give all his attention to the small lilac filly on his back. It wasn’t long before they approached Derpy’s small house. He knocked quickly, and it wasn’t even a minute before she appeared, her blonde mane rumpled and the smoky haze of sleep in her eyes. “Muffin?” she asked, yawning. Dinky waved. “Discord came to visit! He says we’re all gonna go get ice cream!” she beamed. Derpy rubbed her eyes softly, smiling at the draconequus. “Hello Discord. Thank you for picking up my precious little pastry,” Derpy cooed, nuzzling Dinky’s leg affectionately. Discord bowed, Dinky staying in place midair. The filly giggled, flapping her forelegs like a bird. Derpy smiled, stretching. “It’s nice to see you again, Derpy,” Discord said, his voice the epitome of friendliness. She nodded in agreement, ruffling her wings. Finally alert enough to head out, the trio headed to a small ice cream shop. Discord waited patiently for the two to pick out their flavors, indulging Dinky in a banana split without a second thought. Once they were all situated, Discord smiled. He made small talk, laughing with the mailmare. Dinky ended up with whipped cream and chocolate syrup on her snout, her hooves sliding onher spoon. They sat and ate for an hour, Discord using his magic to clean Dinky up when she was done, as well as supplying her with several coins for the various gumball and toy machines against the walls. When she was out of earshot, Discord donned a coy smile, turning to Derpy. “Dinky’s magic is starting to bloom,” he said. Derpy’s eyes widened. “Really?” she asked. Discord nodded emphatically, covering one of her front hooves with his lion paw. “Truly. It was quite magnificent. I believe she’s magically strong enough to even rival Prrrrincess Twilight someday,” he purred. Derpy’s smile grew wider. She opened her mouth to say something, but Discord stopped her. “I would like to offer you a chance of a lifetime.” His eyes never left Derpy’s, his expression earnest and caring. “It would be my privilege- no, my honor, to train Dinky to use her magic to the best of her abilities. It won’t cost you a thing, and as a plus side, I won’t take her away from you. I’d like you both to come stay with me. You’ll both be living lives of luxury, Dinky will get to train and become the powerful magician she was born to be and I can remove your curse and grant you your joy.” All of this left Derpy frozen in glee, and before she could stop herself, tears of gratitude spilled down her muzzle. She wrapped her forelegs and wings around Discord’s barrel, sniffling. “Y-you would really do all of that? For us?” she asked. He smirked. “Of course I would dear. But it’s not all for free. You have to make a sacrifice,” he said, crossing his arms and legs, sitting back in his chair. Derpy pulled away from him, her blissful expression now just a tiny bit guarded. “Like what?” she asked. He smiled reassuringly. “Nothing big, just your Equestrian citizenship. That’s all really. And think, what’s one small country in the landscape of your future?” His tone was smooth, like honey, and it filled her ears like a snake charmer’s tune. She felt compelled to obey, but she shook her head. “What about Dinky’s friends?” Derpy asked, trying her hardest to ignore the persuasive offer she’d received. “Dinky will have a chance to make new friends. I didn’t want to tell you this, but Luna has told me that Dinky hasn’t been sleeping very well of late. The same, sickening dreams of all the ways her schoolmates bully her. I can guarantee her safety. And I can guarantee that she will be loved, no matter what.” Discord went quiet, letting his words weigh upon Derpy. Almost imperceptibly, he lowered the background sounds so she would subconsciously focus on him. He turned his gaze sympathetic. “I know it’s a big decision, and I wouldn’t even think of just letting you agree. I trust you want to talk to dear little Dinky about it?” he prompted. Derpy nodded, a look of longing covering her face as she glanced back at her flank. The seven little bubbles that had haunted her for her whole life stared back, and she imagined them gone, replaced with a muffin, or a rolling pin and chef hat. Her dream… Dinky’s happiness… all there, all being given to her on a silver platter. All she had to do was take Dinky and go with Discord, and everything she’d ever wanted would become a reality… She shook her head again, looking away from Discord and over at her baby. Dinky was her life, her everything. She’d do anything she could to make her little filly happy. Derpy stood shakily, the background noise returning immediately. “I’ll talk to Dinky about it tonight. Come have tea with us tomorrow afternoon and we’ll tell you our decision. I think it’s best to take her home alone though,” Derpy said. Discord nodded. “I’ll respect your decision, whatever it may be. And I know you’ll make the right one, wonderful mother that you are.” Discord’s eyes rolled, and to mask it he swirled his pupils around idly. He remembered the good old days when he didn’t have to manipulate anyone and he could just threaten them a pig’s tail for them to do his bidding. He sighed, waving goodbye to the small family. As soon as they left, his smirk grew, and he snapped his fingers, disappearing in a flash. -- He reappeared next to Sunbutt, who was having her pre-evening tea. To her credit, she didn’t flinch, only sighed. “Have you decided?” “Of course I have. I had decided when I was stoned for the second time.” “Must you take my ponies? Can’t you have made your own, or taken the foreign races?” “I could have, but it’s much more fun this way. I get to make you squirm, and keep secrets. It’s nice having control, when you get to enjoy it.” Discord sprawled across her desk, intentionally knocking down several stacks of organized paper. “I do take it you haven’t told Moody Moony about our little deal.” His tone carried a threatening edge to it, and she looked away, shamed. “Of course I haven’t. She wouldn’t let me do this.” “Of course she wouldn’t! She’s a proper princess, unlike her role model.” Discord leered at her, teeth seeming a little sharper than normal. Celestia cringed. “I am doing what I think is best for everypony involved,” she said defensively. “Are you really? Because I think that you and all of your tolerance and friendship talk is a load of horseapples. Luna wouldn’t want to believe that her heroes were nothing special, so you’re putting on a front. You can’t admit to being selfish, or wrong, and that is what will break you in the end, Sunbutt. In the end, you’ll be left alone with all of your mistakes weighing on you so heavily that you’ll go mad. You’ll be insane, and you’ll be mine.” With that, he vanished, leaving the alicorn in a defeated slump.
