When Twilight went to see Celestia in Canterlot the following day, they arranged to meet in the princess’s personal study. Indeed, this was a place the young alicorn had frequented while still under Celestia’s official mentorship at the School for Gifted Unicorns, and Twilight knew the way there so well she could have walked there blindfolded. But she decided against this, although the very thought simply reminded her of the reason behind the visit.

Celestia stood at her window, a tall white pony with a multi-hued, flowing mane, looking out upon the Canterlot Gardens as if in deep thought. A small white stand was beside her, and upon a purple cushion there sat what was clearly the letter Twilight had sent to the princess while trying to find research materials related to the Tree of Harmony.

“Princess, is that—?” Twilight trailed off, even as Celestia turned to receive her warm nuzzled greeting.

“Your letter?” Celestia lifted the parchment with her magic. “Yes, it is, dearest Twilight. I received it three days ago.”

Three days ago, before all the craziness began and Discord’s shadow took shape as Tirek.

“I know you must have been pretty busy.” Twilight said first. “Perhaps meeting with a committee outside Equestria, or handling threats to the borders, or other matters of court.”

“Nothing more strenuous than usual.” Was Celestia’s calm reply. “I read your letter as soon as it arrived.”

“Oh.”

“It was a challenge to delay answering your letter, but I chose not to due to a promise made years ago.”

“A promise?” Relief washed over Twilight at the hint Celestia had avoided responding to her request for such a reason, followed soon by curiosity. “What type of promise?”

“As you know, Starswirl the Bearded was my mentor and one of the dearest friends I have ever had.” Celestia smiled at this fond remembrance. “In my mind, no pony was wiser than he, who taught me so much. Starswirl even helped to give Luna and me the confidence and training we needed to assume our positions as princesses of Equestria. So I would do anything he wished.”

Then before Twilight to ask the question eager to get free, Celestia persisted.

“A long time ago, around the time when we—” Here Celestia drew in a deep breath, as if the reminder still gave her pain. But she composed herself after a few moments. “Parted ways, he left me scrolls he instructed me to open only at specified times over the coming years. It was by reading these that Luna and I found out about the Elements of Harmony, among advice for many other situations that would arise.”

“I once read that Starswirl could travel through time and space.” Twilight said.

“That is correct. He unlocked this knowledge and went to various points throughout Equestria’s history, and most of the time my mentor went alone—though he would bring back valuable information that he would use to prepare for future events. In this way, one of the recent scrolls told me to send you Starswirl’s journal to attempt the spell inside, leading to your ascension as a princess. Yet another told me to send you Discord to reform, and that only “Kindness” would make this possible.”

“Wait a minute.” Twilight could only have imagined what Celestia had thought when she opened the scroll and saw these instructions, one year after the ponies had turned Discord back to stone. “Do you mean Starswirl the Bearded was the pony who wanted Discord reformed?”

“Dearest Twilight.” Celestia stroked Twilight’s mane back in a gentle parental manner. “Starswirl asked me to task you ponies, and Fluttershy as the Element of Kindness, with changing Discord’s ways for the better. Although I did have some doubts, I trusted him, and you have since proved him right.”

“Starswirl must have known Discord’s role in Equestria all along.”

“Yes. Did you ever wonder why the Elements of Harmony only turned Discord into stone, or why you were able to use them to summon him when needed? Discord is a very important part of the magic that exists in Equestria. His constant creativity and chaos actually helps to keep it flowing throughout the land, but now he also has some measure of control or understanding over these actions. Yet this is no less vital a role than the one you and your friends play as bearers of the Elements from the Tree of Harmony. All of you are its chosen representatives and connected to this magic in a way unlike other ponies.”

“What now, though?” Twilight couldn’t help except ask. “Where we go from here?”

“That is ultimately your choice, Twilight.” Celestia replied. “Other dangers will still exist that threaten Equestria and its Harmony, and probably from even more devious villains who want to take advantage of the magic found in abundance here. But now the Tree of Harmony has those who can defend it from harm.”

From there Twilight and Celestia moved onto other topics, and spent a pleasurable afternoon in each other’s company. The future was still uncertain, yet Twilight trusted Celestia and decided to enjoy every possible minute.

***

The loud shuffling of paper awoke Twilight that evening, while curled under her warm bedcovers. Sitting up, her snout bumped into a book in the air over her bed. It took the princess a few dazed seconds to recognize the golden unicorn bust that prefaced one of her favorite volumes on Equestrian myths and legends.

But then Twilight noticed the upside-down draconequus holding it, giving her a look of pure mischievous glee.

“Odd.” Discord said, in mock confusion. “I thought the presence of a book would bring you to your senses immediately. Maybe I should have waved it under your nose like smelling salts.”

“Discord.” Twilight whispered just in time for Spike’s sake, snapping into full awareness. “What are you doing here at this time of the night?”

“Just making a special delivery.”

“I’ve read this book before.”

“Not that, dear Twilight. Although this volume is very fascinating.” Discord flipped through several pages, and then turned the volume sideways as a longer paper—that Twilight knew didn’t exist—folded out and gave a low whistle at whatever he had reportedly found there. Then he tucked his under his arm and coasted over to the bedroom door. “No. I had something far more chaotic in mind.”

“Discord. We’re friends, but you shouldn’t wake me up in the middle of the night unless it’s important.” Even so, Twilight slid out of bed and followed the chaos spirit out and through the palace.

“Don’t worry. I promise you’ll forgive me.”

So Twilight followed Discord, trying to avoid yawning or simply dropping to sleep on the castle floor. A great deal had occurred, and she had been looking forward to a good night’s rest. After the week of shadow-filled nights, she had thought Discord would have as well.

They reached a door somewhere deep in the castle, although at first Twilight could not and did not care where.

Then Discord snapped his talons, and the door creaked open.

Twilight had to squint against the brightness within.

But soon she couldn’t stop staring, wide-eyed at the amazing sight before her—and gave a happy gasp. There must have been a goofy grin on her face. Twilight could feel it pushing back her features, but she did not let this worry her one bit.
For in the room ahead was the grandest, largest library and collection of books Twilight had ever seen. Discord had distorted the space inside, apparently, to accommodate a far greater amount of books than even the Crystal Empire had in stock. They were on shelves that reached to the ceiling, and she could discern a staircase leading down into darker, basement rooms—perfect for archives or other light-sensitive materials. Several of these books, she noticed, were flying about the room.

“Welcome to the new palace library.” Discord said. “I thought you might appreciate having one of these again with copies of books from all across Equestria, since you practically live on them. In addition, if you need reference material on any particular subject, just call for it and the volumes with come flying.” He indicated the soaring editions.

“Thank you thank you thank you!” Twilight warbled out in delight, hugging Discord around the middle in her ecstasy. It gave her a flash of satisfaction that this caught the draconequus off-guard, though all the same, Twilight realized she should probably calm down at least a bit. “I mean, thank you, Discord. This means a lot to me.” She gazed at the many volumes, imagining the joy of discovering what lay within each one.

“Well, you were there for me when I was having a bad day.” Discord looked a trifle embarrassed. “So I gave each of the ladies something special to show my gratitude.”

It was true. Twilight would find out the details later, but Discord had indeed gone from friend-to-friend distributing gifts.

For instance, Rainbow Dash awoke to discover a stable, miniature tornado with ever-changing obstacle courses behind her home. And when the daredevil reached the center, she found a grand trophy with her name upon it.

Pinkie Pie found a pink cotton candy cloud in her room, with a sprout in the side. Turning it on, she could get as much chocolate milk as she could stand—and that was quite a lot based on the way the pony would slosh down the stairs the next morning.

Rarity got a magic pony mannequin, with instructions to its usage. Any design she drew out on paper she could project onto it, to see how it might appear if she created the dress. Beside this was box of rare sapphire diamonds.

Applejack discovered a new apple orchard on the property, which grew a menagerie of different types and flavors of these fruits. All of them were delicious and would make tasty snacks from then on for ponies in Ponyville at a good price.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy became well-known among all the creatures in Everfree Forest. They gained a magical understanding that meant even Timberwolves recognized the kind pegasus on sight and would feign tried to harm her in any way. Because in doing so, they instinctively understood a terrible shadow should overtake them, cast by her protector. But, in fact, Fluttershy would find more and more of them coming to her home, in the most peaceful possible way, to have her treat their ills.

***

In his dreams, Discord was having a picnic again with his friends. This time, all of them were trying part of the dream, and not the actual ladies—even Twilight, who chatted with the others over small matters related to books.

There was only one exception, and the draconequus had left a place open for him from the beginning. This time, he didn’t even need to hear the bells before Starswirl sat down with much creaking.

“I see you made it.” Discord said.

“I see you made it.” Starswirl returned. “I brought another casserole, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t. In fact, you’re just in time to sample my own contribution to the picnic.” Discord pushed a seven-layer fudge cake in front of the old stallion. “What do you think?”

“Hmm. It’s a little plain.”

“If you think it’s so, then just try some.” Discord baited, and this time, Starswirl took it.

“Very well.” Starswirl leaned forward to cut a slice—

When the fudge cake jettisoned up and smashed into his face, where the old wizard sat there in surprise for a number of moments while Discord enjoyed being smug.

The cake fell off, exposing a merry gleam in Starswirl’s eyes.

And the pair laughed, without any dark clouds in sight.

Author's Note

Merry (early) Christmas to everyone! Thanks for going with me on this literary journey. ^_^