The Captain of the Royal Guard came running into the palace’s dining room where Luna was having Breakfast and Celestia dinner. His entrance drew enough attention so he spoke right away without waiting to be addressed by either Princess.

“Sorry for the interruption Princesses, but there’s been an incident...with Discord.”

Celestia flew through the evening streets of Canterlot, flanked by two guards on each side. She landed outside one of the larger mansions of Canterlot that belonging to Ruby Collage and her family. The Princess quickly checked she was presentable and knocked on the door. It was opened by one of the servants who practically fainted seeing the princess in person.

“Is the lady of the house in?” Celestia asked politely, trying to seem formal but not as regal as normal.

“Yes...yes your highness. Please come in and I will announce your arrival”

“Thank you. Guards, please wait outside for my return.”

“Your highness?”

“This is the house of a noble, I think I am rather safe in here especially if you keep guard outside. Besides, I don’t want to seem heavy hooved in bringing armed guards with me.”

“Of course Princess”

Celestia was led into a rather grand sitting room by the maid, where there was a large sofa that Celestia settled on. The maid backed out of the room, curtseying as she did and went to find Ruby. The alicorn looked around the room, noting that it was a very nicely decorated room. It had some rather nice pieces of art, but nothing too lavish.

Her eyes were then drawn to be an interesting bookcase in the room, one that showed signs of books actually read rather than simply out for show. Hopefully this means Ruby is a learned noble, they are much more worthy of their titles than the shallow ones

Out of the corner she then noticed the lady of the house enter the room, and stood up to greet her. Ruby bowed down “Princess Celestia, I am honoured by your visit to my humble abode!”

Celestia bowed back “Please Mrs Collage, just call me Celestia”

“Princess?” Ruby replied, confused to see the Princess bowing to her.

Celestia stood up “I know it seems informal, but I must make it clear I am not here in an official capacity.”

“I see.” Ruby replied, taking a moment to think “I understand, but I doubt I can call you by your name, Princess. But please, call me Ruby”

“If you desire, Ruby, whatever makes you feel most comfortable in your own home.”

“Of course. Please take a seat. Would you like a drink?”

Celestia accepted a cup of tea, and the pair chatted for a while. Celestia made sure to comment on the rooms details, the praise causing Ruby to have a faint blush. After tea was finished, the conversation seemed to start to stall.

“Princess, I doubt you are here just for a social visit?” Ruby eventually asked “I mean, I didn't mean that to sound sarcastic, but I can only presume the reason why you are here.”

Celestia smiled slightly in response “Ruby, do not worry, I don't tend to make house calls so your assumption is correct. Please, explain to me what happened today with Discord.”

Celestia listened carefully as Ruby told her tale. Nothing the pony said seemed out of the ordinary, in that she could imagine the reformed Discord slipping as described. Once Ruby had finished, Celestia had a serious look on her face.

“I assume you will want to make an official complaint?”

The unicorn looked at the princess with some concern and answered with a quiver in her voice “Yes your highness, I feel I have to for the sake of all those I represent. Forgive me.”

“No need to be wary Mrs Collage...Ruby. I will not interfere with your rights in this matter just because of my...friendship...with Discord.”

The unicorn mare let out a breath, not realising she had been holding it.

“However, due to it’s unique nature, I beg your assistance in the matter. I will make sure your petition is read as the first matter of the day so we can schedule a special sitting for the afternoon. Would delaying the hearing for a few hours, say to 3 pm be acceptable?”

“Special sitting?” Ruby replied.

“Yes. I would need a few hours to get everything in place, and to summon Discord”.

“Of course, your highness.”

After a few more minutes of idle chat, Celestia made her excuses to leave. The journey back to the castle was on hoof, the guards flanking as before. The Princess was on autopilot, her mind churning away with the situation.

It was a few minutes before three o’clock, and the courtroom was packed. Word of the previous days incident had spread and there was a lot of ponies wanting to see what was about to transpire. Princess Celestia looked around the room and noticed that many were some of Discords biggest critics, including a number of prominent figures of a movement to have him banned from Equestria.

Ruby Collage had arrived about ten minutes before the scheduled start time, the Princess nodding an acknowledgment when she arrived. With seconds to go before three, Discord materialised in the room. Whispers started echoing round the room and the air was tense.

One of the royal guards stepped forwards and silence the room “The hearing of the matter of Ruby Collage complaint against Lord Discord will now begin”

“Before it does -” Celestia raised from her seat “- there is one matter to take of. Princess Twilight Sparkle, please enter.”

Twilight walked down the main aisle of the courtroom, the alicorn trying to look regal but still having slight nerves of acting in an official capacity. Celestia stood to one side, and Twilight took the throne nervously. Celestia then sat on an ornate cushion that had been placed next to the throne “This is still my court, but due to the defendant in this case, I have asked Princess Twilight to act alongside me for this hearing. You will address us both when speaking.”

“I understand your Princesses” Ruby replied.

“Whatever” Discord dismissed. Celestia looked over to the draconequus with a touch of concern. This was going to be difficult enough with a co-operative Discord, let alone if he was to act up. Still, the act of him even turning up was a positive she was hanging onto.

As the plaintiff, Ruby was to speak first and went on to make her complaint. She described how on the previous day she was hosting a delegation from the Griffin Empire. They were eager to begin trade for the jewelry of the Equestrian nation and Ruby Collage, as one of the leading members of the jewelers guild, was acting on behalf of jewelers across the nation.

However, during the formal dinner, strange things started to happen. Food came alive, items disappeared from plates, ponies and griffins found themselves suddenly transported to a different chair. The Griffins thought that the unicorns were mocking them for not having any magic of their own, and refusing to believe otherwise flew home immediately. With the trade talks collapsed, the entire industry was going to have a major setback.

Celestia and Twilight both nodded as the story finished, accepting that this was a serious matter and would impact across the nation. Celestia then turned her head to the other side of the court “So Lord Discord, what is your version of events.”

“It was a prank” Discord replied.

Silence reigned over the room as everypony realised that was all Discord was intending to say. Twilight looked around nervously “Is that all?”

Discord failed to replied and Twilight looked over nervously to Celestia. “Lord Discord has admitted his actions.” the elder alicorn spoke “In which case, Princess Twilight and I will now rule” Both alicorns raised one wing to hide their whispers from the public, although the noise of the whispers from the gathered crowd would have drowned it out.

Having agreed, they lowered their wings and the room fell silent again “It is the ruling of this court that Lord Discord is guilty in disrupting the lawful business of citizens of Equestria. He will apologise to those he has wrong, and will make fiscal amends for their loses. Do you agree to this Ruby Collage?”

“Yes your highnesses” the mare replied with a smile “And I’m sure the guild will be grateful for any fiscal help during the next year or so.”

“And do you agree to these terms Lord Discord?”

“Yeah, maybe” Discord replied disinterestedly.

“See, he does not even respect Equestrian Law!” a unicorn stallion stood up from the crowd to shout. Celestia recognised him as an agitator who had been looking to make political capital out of Discord release and her relationship with him since “Why do we let such a criminal the freedom to do this?”

“Silence!” one of the guards approached the stallion.

“No, let Furious Aurora speak” Celestia ordered much to everypony’s surprise, but she knew that silencing him would only add to his power.

“Thank you, Princess. This...creature...does not respect the sovereignty of ponykind, or any other nation. He had to be banished to stone, twice, for abusing his power over us mere mortals. Why he had been released and the Princesses allow him to roam free pretending to be reformed is beyond me!”

Twilight looked like she was about to reply, but Celestia held up a hoof to silence her so Furious continued “Discord has possibly ruined ties with an ally, cost thousands of ponies their jobs and he is going to get off with a slapped wrist!”

Celestia stood up to reply “I assure you that the Royal Treasury will subside the industry for any loses, and will recover the costs from Lord Discord in due course. As of a punishment - “ the Princess left the word hanging in the air for a second “ - Lord Discord made a mistake. We have all made them over time and is how we learn.”

“I, and many other ponies, will believe you will let him off with everything. How can we be assured that you will not let your personal relationship allow the so-called God of Chaos!”

Celestia looked over to Discord, expecting a reaction but instead saw him looking back at her with a renewed interest. She made herself seem as tall as possible, spreading her wings slightly in a show of power that resonated around the room.

“Because I am Princess Celestia, co-ruler of this great nation. My spirit has been around since the beginning of time, and will be around long after Equestria is no more. I ruled this country alone for a thousand years, and not one day did do anything but put my little ponies first.”

Twilight noticed that Furious was already looking a little defeated but the white alicorn continued “Whatever my feelings towards Lord Discord, or any other creature, I will never let you, my little ponies, down. Afterall, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…” and then celestia pointed to herself “...or the one.“

Celestia slightly lower her wings, and with a slight change of tone “And if you need proof of that, ask my sister about her thousand year sabbatical. Besides, my fellow Princess agreed on this ruling.”

Furious found himself on the back foot “But Twilight Sparkle…”

“Princess Twilight Sparkle” Twilight reminded him, taking some confidence from the actions of her mentor.

“Sorry, Princess Twilight Sparkle, is also a friend of both you and Discord, hardly independent!”

This time Twilight stood up from the throne and took a few steps down so she was now lower than her fellow Princess “I may not have served for a thousand years like Princess Celestia, and will live and die like every other pony here present. But I am a Princess and I have proved on numerous occasions that I will do whatever it takes to save ponies, or a whole kingdom, from threats. Discord may be a friend, but regardless any reasonable pony wouldn't agree that an extreme response is required.”

Celestia looked over to Discord “Are you going to accept the ruling of the court?” Celestia asked. She just hoped that Discord would agree, but a part of her doubted it.

Discord looked towards the pony he had feelings for. But his back was up having been summoned to court in the first place “I suppose I can find a way to repay the royal treasury. And Mrs Collage…I apologise for my prank. I did not mean to cause you so much personal problems.”

“And what about our Griffin allies?” Furious asked “Will he take responsibility and try to re-establish good terms?”

“I will apologise to the ponies present, but theres no way I’m apologising to some dirty Griffon!” Discord replied. Furious’s face fell into a snide smile and he looked towards the Princesses.

Celestia knew she was a little trapped here, so turned to Discord “Lord Discord, should you fail to apologise to the Griffons in a reasonable timeframe you will be in breach of this court and you will be brought to justice accordingly.”

“Pah, as if!” Discord dismissed

A cold wind seemed to whip through the ponies present, as the tension in the room shifted “Discord, it was made clear to you that your liberty and permission to remain in Equestria was on condition of your continued good behaviour."

Discord knew he should go along, that Celestia had no choice in what she was saying, but his ego wouldn’t let him “Are you threatening me?”

“No, just reminding you that the benefits of being a citizen of Equestria, all the benefits, are dependant on that agreement. We may no longer have the elements of harmony, but we are well capable of defending ourselves. The power of four alicorns, the entire population and it’s allies…”

“Allies?” Discord interrupted.

“Yes Lord Discord. The Griffin and Dragons leaders have advised that they would back us in any emergency. And even the changelings would be willing to fight against you.”

Celestia let that sink in to everypony, and draconequus, present. “Every other nation still fears you Discord, except Equestria. We know you have changed, and embraced friendship, but you cannot abuse your powers on your friends or enemies.”

Discord simply clicked his fingers and teleported away. Celestia sighed and then dismissed the court. After thanking Twilight for her assistance, she went back to her private quarters to think.

Hours later Celestia heard a knock on the door. She was sat on her bed in deep thought after the tiring day and invited the guest in without thinking of asking who it was - she normally wouldn’t continue laying in bed for a visitor unless it was a very close friend or her sister.

It was possibly the former of them and Celestia was surprised to see the cause of all her tiredness march into her private quarters.

“We need to talk!” Discord demanded as he walked through the door.

“It’s nice to see you too!” Princess Celestia replied a little sarcastically “Especially given you rapid departure earlier today!”

“I don’t like being threatened like that, Princess!” Discord snarled to the alicorn

“You left me no choice!”

“You think that friendship, or our relationship, can control me?”

Celestias eyes were starting to mist over “I would hope it would never come to that. But know this, we can control you by force if you make us!”

“I’ld like to see you try!” Discord stared at his former nemesis, and the two found themselves reliving the familiar scene from the past where they only looked at each other with hostility in battle.

Celestia broke the stare first, and put her head into her front hooves. “Why does it have to be like this? I thought you liked me? Loved me?”

Discord was caught in two minds, seeing the pony he had strong feelings for suddenly turn sad “Trying to emotionally blackmail me won’t work, Celestia.”

“Discord, I opened up to you. About...us...me...my desire to foal!” The sudden change in Celestia’s tone made Discord pause for a second as she whispered “I asked her...”

“Who?”

“Her” Celestia continued in a forced whisper, her emotions threatening to overcome her “I asked if it was possible for us to...have a child of our own”

Discord was silent. She was the essence, where ponies came from when they were conceived, and who they returned to in death. She gave the power of flight, powered unicorn magic, gave the earth ponies their strength. She gave life, took life, granted immortality to a chosen few. She was everything, everywhere, everywhen...

Most ponies would never remember any communication with her, only having a fleeting interactions on an infinite stream of time and space. She had never spoken to Discord, although he knew that she had spoken to Celestia and Luna a couple of times.

For the Princess to have actually done such a thing as seek guidance from her over such a matter, showed just how serious the pony was about their relationship.

Discord slid up next to Celestia on the bed, and put an arm around the Princess to comfort her. “What did she say? Did she answer?”

“She...doesn't use words.” Celestia replied, a soft almost docile tone “It’s difficult to explain, it’s like a feeling. I sensed that it wasn't a no, but that it would be difficult.”

“Difficult...thats one way to describe me!”

Celestia pushed away the creature next to her “The thing is, I’m not sure if it’s what I want anymore. Discord, having a child would be a responsibility for both of us...one I don’t know you can handle!"

“What?”

“Look at the actions of the past two days...you have come so far and yet you throw it all away for some silly prank.”

Discord was heartbroken “But Celestia…”

“Please go” the princess begged, and seeing how hurt he had made her, he complied.

Author's Note

Yes, Celestia did just quote Spock. And I couldn't find any pony art of Celestia and Spock together...fandom, you let me down!