Dating isn't just for mortals...

The small convoy of two carriages, surrounded and pulled by a squadron of elite Royal Guards, trundled along the road from the Griffon kingdom back to Equestria. The border was still a few hours away, and until they entered Equestrian territory they were stuck at walking speed.

Luna sat in one of the carriages alone, thinking about all that had transpired with a slight smile on her face. Celestia had simply picked Discord up in her aura and walked out of the Castle, leaving the younger sieter in the unusual situation of trying to keep the diplomatic situation under control. Luna managed to persuade the King that he should twist the story that having captured Discord, he released him into Equestrian custody for safe keeping, allowing him to take credit.

Celestia had always been the one to be the calm, diplomatic one, so Luna found it unusual she had to be. It just showed how Celestia felt about Discord…

...or that she simply had enough of the Griffon King.

Luna giggled slightly at that thought. With that minor incident taken care of, she had allowed Discord and Celestia to travel alone in a carriage, expecting that they needed to talk. Besides, three of them would be a bit of a crowd in a carriage.

In the next carriage, Celestia was sat with Discord head in her lap. The draconequus had not spoken and barely moved since they had left, although he had smiled and patted her muzzle when they first met. He seemed to be broken...not just magically but in spirit.

“Oh Discord, what has happened these past few days?”

***Two nights ago***

Discord lay on the floor in Sweetie Belle’s bedroom. He looked up at the very comfortable looking bed but decided against sleeping in it. It didn’t seem right to use a little filly's, despite being friends, at least without her knowing anyway. Besides, comfort was a relative thing for him after a thousand years in stone.

Discord looked around the room at the posters on the wall. There was a mixture of fashion posters, no doubt inspired by her sister, and various Bridleway musicals. Clearly she will someday realise her special talent...just hope that Scootaloo and Apple Bloom can do so around the same time.

However, this distraction only lasted briefly and he soon was dwelling back on his relationship issues. He had come so far in such a short space of time...but had he blown his only chance. Knowing Rarity was right and that he should sleep on it, he lowered his head and settled down to sleep.

Discord awoke in a dream. Clearly it was a dream as he seemed to be floating in some form of strange, ethereal space full of stars and nebulae. He looked around and there was only one other pony there. A white filly with a familiar mane.

“Sweetie Belle?” Discord called out as the pony approached him.

“I’m not actually Sweetie Belle, I’ve just taken her form.”

“Then who are you?”

“Don’t you know?”

“I think I do...but is this just a dream?”

“A dream...yes...but so much more” she replied.

Discord looked at the creature. Whilst on the surface it looked identical to the incredibly cute filly that was Rarity’s sister, there was an ageless knowledge behind her eyes that clearly wasn’t from a shy young filly from a small Equestrian town.

“You?” Discord replied in a little shock

“Yes me!” the filly squeaked “Ain't it just awesome, although I still don’t have my cutie mark!” she pouted, looking at her flank and making Discord almost laugh.

“You spoke to Celestia the other night, or so she remembers. She didn’t remember much though, nothing like a conversation.”

“You won’t remember this...no creature does. All I do is leave a vague impression of the outcome.”

“Then why have the conversation?"

“Blunt...I like it!” the filly smiled back “I don’t like to directly control anyponys lives, and this way I can help when required.”

“Help, how?”

“Like creating the tree of harmony, giving little prods to spellcasters, inspiring young minds...that sort of gentle touch.”

“I see, and I guess you want to give me a gentle touch towards something.”

“That depends, what do you think?”

Discord sat down on a cloud, and the filly sat opposite him “What Celestia remembers...about our relationship. And more.”

“It will be difficult...and it will require sacrifice” the filly finished off Discords sentiments.

Discord eyed up the entity “Celestia has already sacrificed so much for her country...her sister for a thousand years, loneliness at running a country. She’s done enough...so it’s up to me. I know this”

“But what do you even have to sacrifice?” the adorable filly squeaked..

Discord was stumped at this one “I guess only my chaotic nature. Celestia is right afterall...it’s not a way to live in a civilised society, let alone a child. But I don’t think I can give up my ways so easily.”

“Would you really be willing to sacrifice everything you are for her?”

“Everything? I hope theres more to me than just my powers” Discord paused for a moment “I hope there is. Fluttershy, Celestia, the others...they must see something in me, so there has to be.”

“Well, maybe it’s time to find out?” The filly replied, in a way that was both calming and for some reason terribly chilling at the same time.

The filly stood up and starting skipping away. But Discord had one last question “So what are you exactly?”

Sweetie Belle stopped and turned around “Me...well, given you won’t remember, all I say is that I am a creature from another dimension that can create beautiful worlds...but has to eventually let them go…”

Discord woke up with a start. He remembered that he just had a dream, but for the life of him had no idea what it was about. But there seemed to be a thought stuck in the back of his mind - he had to go and apologise to the Griffins. He looked at the sky and saw it was early morning and decided to just follow this thought.

With a click of his fingers he magicked up a breakfast treat and a note for Rarity, and with another flash teleported to the griffin kingdom. No soon had he materialised in the strange city, a cold mystic wind blew over him and he sure he heard something in that wind “Sacrifice”.

Discord looked at the Palace of the King and tried to teleport there, but found his magic missing. He tried again, and then tried other tasks, but nothing seemed to work. He remained calm, and continued instead on foot...

***Present Time***

Once Discord finished his story, the pair traveled in silence with Celestia gently stroking the draconequus face. Despite being next to the pony he loved, Discord was still confused and miserable, and the princess couldn’t blame him. But she could tell just being near him was slowly cheering him up.

Once the convoy reached Equestria’s borders, the guards and the carriages took to the air, greatly increasing the speed allowing the journey back to Canterlot to be completed quickly. Landing in the palace grounds, the trio disembarked, the princesses thanking the guards as usual. Discord seemed to slightly perk up at seeing the castle, and walked besides the two Alicorns inside.

Luna made her excuses to sleep before she took over the night, leaving Celestia to escort Discord. Entering the main meeting room, Discord was ambushed by a yellow and pink blurred hugging machine, shortly followed by the five other elements of harmony. After a suitable pause, all but the element of kindness remained and with a slight epp she removed herself from her good friend.

“Discord, are you alright?” Fluttershy asked, fluttering around him like a nervous hummingbird.

Discord managed to grab Fluttershy in the air with his hands and gently lower her to the ground. He then proceeded to tell his friends the tale of what happened, or at least as much as he remembered, over tea and cupcakes. Celestia sat to one side and looked on whilst this was happening and noticing this, Twilight came over to her.

“And how are you Princess?”

“I’m fine, thank you Princess.”

Twilight blushed “Sorry, Celestia, it’ll take a long time to stop calling you that.”

“I understand Twilight.”

“But are you really okay? I can understand this being a bit upsetting for you?"

“More...confused than upset really. I just hope Discord is actually okay. I can find nothing wrong with him, except has lack of magic.”

After around an hour of catching up with his ponyville friends, Discord decided he needed some alone time with Celestia so faked feeling tired. The six mares had to go head home anyway, so after a long goodbye they headed off to the train station, leaving Discord alone with Celestia.

The pair left the large room and Discord started heading towards his quarters. However, Celestia stood in his way and started ushering him along. Discord could work out where they were heading, and as Celestia prodded him along with a wing, Discord had no choice but to follow. Although he would have done so anyway. They soon found themselves in Celestia’s private quarters.

They sat down together on one of the many couches, and Celestia started to talk. She went on about how scared she was that she had lost him to some bizarre Griffin magic, and started to lose it. Discord placed a claw on Celestia’s muzzle and rubbed it gently to soothe her “It’s okay, I’m fine and safe here with you.”

“I know...but your magic!” Celestia was almost crying at this point “I mean, what happened to it?”

Discord smiled “I think it was me...she came to me last night.” He paused for a moment to let that sink in “I think in order to make sure we could be together I must have given up my powers or something?”

“You gave up your magic for me?” Celestia gasped.

“No...I gave up my magic for the two of us!” Discord smiled back, before gently placing a claw on celestia’s tummy “Or perhaps the three of us in time”

Celestia took a look at the draconequus and leant in and kissed him passionately on the lips. Breaking for air, Discord noticed a look in her eyes that he hadn’t seen for a while - a fiery passion. But unlike in the past when it was hostile, this time it was the complete opposite. Celestia stood up and walked to her bed, and the body language she was giving off made sure Discord followed…

Discord was woken up by movement next to him. He opened a eye and noticed it was still dark outside. He wasn’t sure when Celestia had lowered the sun but watched as she lifted her head and started to raise the dawn. Discord waited patiently for the task to be completed and for Celestia’s aura to fade out.

“Good morning” Discord smiled at his special somepony.

“Good morning” Celestia replied “Sorry to wake you.”

“No problem, would you like some breakfast?” Discord clicked his fingers, and then winced as her remembered that his magic was gone.

“Discord I…” Celestia began, but Discord put a claw up.

“I’ll go get it!” he replied and hopped out of bed.

Celestia crawled up into a kneeling position, wrapping a sheet round her a little modestly “There’s really no need…”

Discord was already halfway to the door but stopped. His shoulders sank a little, but he turned round and put on a smile “Look, I may not have my magic, but I still want to treat my special somepony as the Princess she deserves to be. I’ll go down to the kitchens and be back in the jiffy”

Discord turned and walked out of the room, leaving Celestia to her thoughts. Well, I never expected Discord to do that!

When Discord had returned with breakfast, Celestia was already out of bed, brushed, and sitting at her breakfast table. The pair ate in a slight awkwardness given the nature of the night together. but Celestia seemed to be looking at him in a strange way. Once breakfast was done, Discord broke the silence.

“So...what should I do now? I mean, you’ve got court today so I could hang out in the library or something?”

Celestia continued to look at him, her head tilted slightly. “Discord, have you not noticed a change since yesterday...I can feel it.”

“You mean, between us. Well…”

Celestia blushed and quickly interrupted “No, not that. I mean you. I feel something different about you. Don’t you feel it?”

“Not really. I mean, something felt different when I got back to Canterlot. Isn’t it just relief?”

Celestia cast a spell and a faint light formed round discord before dissipating “I think...I think you have unicorn magic now”

“Unicorn magic?”

“Yes, I can sense something inside of you.”

“But why didn’t I...or you...feel it in the Griffin cell?”

“Unicorn magic is actually tied into Equestria's soil. When anypony actually leaves equestria, the further the move away from the borders the less earth, flight or mana power they have, until they have none.”

“I...I never knew that!” Discord exclaimed “And I guess as you and Luna are tied into the celestial bodies, your magic is different?”

“Well deduced. So, want to try to access it?”

Discord looked at Celestia nervously, but didn’t want to disappoint her. He felt within and focused on picking up a cup. Very briefly his antler and his horn shimmered with magic before fizzling out.

Discord looked at Celestia a little dejectedly, but she was beaming back “You do! You do have equestrain magic now!”

“I can’t even lift a cup!” Discord pouted, but Celestia came round and placed a wing around him “Maybe not now, but you just need teaching how. I guess we know what you can be doing today!”

“No, not...not magic kindergarten!”