A Royal Consort

Chapters

The search for a Consort
A little help from your Best Friend
Disrupting the Master Plan

The search for a Consort

Princess Celestia returned to her hooves as sunlight graced the Equestrian soil, the cheerful alicorn raised her hoof to the adoring crowd of cheering ponies, some old and frail while others remained in the prime of their youth all showering their ruler with worship and adoration. “Have a pleasant day mares and gentlecolts.” Her soft, dignified voice spoke. Words of love and happiness echoed in her ears as her great wings took flight, allowing the tall mare to easily sweep through the warming sky.

Equestria's leader passed over many villages on the way back home. The sight of foals leaving their homes for school, and couples sitting down for breakfast outside the numerous restaurants pleased her greatly. This was one of the happiest moments of the day when her powers to bring forth the sun gave most ponies a bright new start to another cheerful day. However she knew all to well that some didn't embrace the simple pleasures her powers provided at this time. Celestia flapped her wings for their final beats as she returned to solid ground. Her hooves echoed through the marble masonry as she entered the Royal Palace through a balcony.

Darkness suddenly overtook her eyes as she passed through the thick purple curtains. It took some time for her eyes to properly adjust to the dim lighting given off by a few candles adorning the multiple surfaces. A delicate tune filled the air which grew louder as she approached its source. She smiled with a hint of sadness to the melancholy song being played on the grand piano. She approached the dark figure barely illuminated by the candles, her flowing mane glittered with stars as her silky dark blue hooves played their elegant song. Celestia approached her sister and simply stood beside her as she continued to play.

Luna always preferred to keep her beautiful eyes closed as she played to lose herself in the music, a calmness that allowed her to continue to play despite her sister's observing presence. The song played for another few minutes, even managing to bring Celestia to a few hidden tears before it came to the inevitable end. The Princess of the Night let out a soft sigh as she closed the lid over the piano's keys, before turning her gaze to meet her sister. “You cried again, dear Sister?”

“Crying is a fitting emotion for such music.” Celestia responded, clearly knowing there was no use concealing it. “You always play it so beautifully.”

Luna offered a playful smile. “Our celestial body does beckon the emotions of those who enjoy the soft silence of the night sky.”

“And in the morning, 'our' celestial body gives joy and bliss to a whole new day of fun and love.” The lighter alicorn stated in retaliation, earning a smirk from her loving sister.

“That may be the case for you, Sister.” Luna yawned softly. “But it is nearing the time for my rest.”

Celestia patted her sister's back briefly, before smiling and making her way to the bedroom's internal entrance. She paused in her path to gaze her caring eyes back to her smaller sister rubbing her eyes with another soft yawn, sitting down on her large double bed with fluffy pillows and subtly delicate silk sheets. A fitting place for a Princess to sleep with the distant fireplace offering just the right level of warmth. Luna lay herself down to get comfortable in her bed, cuddled up on the left side which left the rest looking so vacant, the same missing element she often saw in her sister's life. “Luna.”

The sleepy princess responded with a soft moan first before speaking. “Tia?”

“It is your birthday soon.” The pearl alicorn began, unable to help but smile to her sister's use of names.

“You can just get me a book or something.” Luna yawned quietly, rolling over to her other side. “Or maybe a violin.” She brushed her face against the comfy pillow after speaking.

“I was thinking more about your company.” Celestia started to speak her mind. “You really do spend a lot of time in your room.”

Luna moaned once more, her mind half asleep. “You can ask that pegasus Twilight Sparkle mentioned.” She yawned again softly. “She may have an animal of some kind.”

“Sister.” Celestia called a slight bit louder than her previous words to catch the attention of the mare who was trying to sleep. She knelt down next to the bed before re-alliterating. “I think it would be best for us to look for a consort for you.”

Luna groaned a little to the concept. “Why can't you just have one.”

“Because I worry for you sometimes.” Celestia chose as her response to the question this time, having already brought up multiple other reasons on the previous times she suggested a special pony for her sister. “Last Thursday when I had to raise the Moon and then spent the night holding you...” She trailed off briefly with a sigh before continuing, her eyes tearing up. “You don't need to be so alone.”

Luna laid in silence for a short while before finally speaking. “There isn't anypony for me.”

“You are sweet and beautiful and delicate Luna, there's so much about you ponies can love!”

“Like being a Princess, and being popular. Being an ego boost to whoever wanted it.” Luna replied with clear sorrow in her voice, rolling once more to face her sister.

Celestia stroked her sister's flowing mane to comfort her. “Most ponies are not like that. I will do what I can to help you find somepony special, okay?” She waited until her sister nodded in approval before giving a delicate kiss to her forehead, raising to her hooves to leave the room through the corridor entrance. “I'll handle things for when you wake up. Sleep well Sister.”

“Thank you, Tia.” The sleepy alicorn replied softly as she drifted off to her much needed sleep.

It had approached afternoon by the time Luna finally awoke, a little earlier than usual since she had managed to sleep relatively swiftly. Pleasant dreams of staring into the moonlit night with a close friend by her side, somepony she held close and shared whispering words of love between. But as she recalled the memory she failed to see the face of the pony in her dreams. A slight annoyance to the Princess who had the ability to explore the dreams of others. She yawned briefly before raising to sit on the double bed. She levitated over the warm cup of tea which her servant had recently brought into the room, sipping it slowly to wake herself up.

Once Luna had finished her aromatic drink she began to make herself presentable, levitating the tiara and silver shoes over from the vanity and fitting them in place. She brushed her mane a little before making her way into the corridor, passing the servant and nodding in approval to her perfectly performed duty as usual.

“Princess Luna.” The servant called to her, attracting the Princess' attention. “Princess Celestia is awaiting you in the ballroom when you are ready.”

“We see, thank you Charmed.” Luna's caring voice gave a rush of affection to the servant who swiftly bowed as she continued past her. The Princess wasn't sure what her sister wanted her for today, slowly making her way to see for herself.

The sounds of many voices speaking hit Luna's ears as she approached the ballroom, trotting through the doors as they opened for her. “My Sister! Please join us over here.”

Luna panned her eyes across the collection of posh nobles who began to look her way, continuing her panning she met the voice of her sister who called for her standing on the higher ground of the stage. She was joined by Princess Cadence and her husband, Shining Armor. She approached the three of them before almost tripping over the tail she hadn't seen. “Oh do be careful Princess, I came here for a Romantic play, not a Tragedy!” The large mismatched figure of Equestria's own draconequus began laughing to himself in glee. “Well now the Star of this event has arrived! Would you like a little make-up?” He stated before lifting a large pie-dish filled with baking flour near her face.

“That will not be necessary, we are already well presented.” Luna replied coyly, earning a dissatisfied groan from the likely uninvited attendant.

“Fine. But I'm still going to watch.” Discord finalised as he sat down on a small deckchair which seemed to struggle under his form, drinking a multicoloured slushie with a hollow reed.

Celestia smiled at her sister with her almost natural knack to deal with the Demigod of Chaos in recent years. “As promised with the help of Cadence and Shining Armor we have collected the most likely of the nobles who we believe may suit you.”

“You are really going through with this?” Luna replied, still unsure to the whole idea. She gazed around into the prying eyes of all the ponies present, feeling uncomfortable to the situation.

“We weeded out a few, but we didn't want to limit the range of personalities.” Cadence responded.

“I could vouch for those who serve in the Guard, I made sure to pick the nicest.” Her husband continued.

“I really don't know.” Luna cautiously whispered between them so that none of the guests could hear. “How am I supposed to tell if they could get along with me.”

“Don't be so harsh on yourself Sister, just start with asking them questions.” Celestia replied, giving a soft smile to support her. Luna sighed lightly before breathing a few deep breaths, then making her way to the front of the stage.

“This should be Priceless!” Discord happily joked as he continued his cold drink.

“We do not wish to be seen as solely a Princess, but more as a mare with a desire for company. A mare who desires a mutual interest and joy in the company of each other. Is that desire made clear?” A unanimous sound of approving voices filled the room. “Very well. Then we shall begin. You! Speak your mind on this matter.” She stated sharply pointing her hoof at a member of the audience.

“Oh, well, err I would love to spend my time with you. We could go to museums and I have a whole list of romantic restaurants we can eat at. All my friends would love to spend time with you and-”

“Next, you!” She cut off the first before demanding a second to speak.

“Well I'm a writer and I've written a poem that expresses my passionate feelings for your beauty, I read it now.”

“Next! You!” She once again cuts the previous speaker off.

“I could spend the rest of my life simply holding and caressing you.”

“NEXT!” Luna thought to herself for a few seconds before speaking once more. “A question for all. The day is as long as the night, would you be desiring to sleep through that lengthy night to wake up with us early in the morning?” Once again a unanimous approval lit up in the voices of every one of the selected guests. “Thank you for your honesty.” Luna attempted to sniff back the water in her eyes as she made her way outside, to return with speed to her bedroom.

The nobles looked to each other confused as Discord began to laugh, pulling out a scoreboard from his drink with the words. 'Home one, Away zero!' written boldly in chalk.

Celestia looked over to the flash of light which marked where Discord previously sat, before turning her gaze to Cadence and Shining Armor. “I need to go and talk to my Sister.”

“I will join you, I know most about this sort of thing.” Cadence stated before turning to her lover. “Can you let them out, Hun?”

“Yeah don't worry I'll handle this, see you when you get back.” They shared a brief but loving kiss before departing to handle their respective tasks.

Both princesses had an easy enough time following Luna, already expecting her to head to her bedroom which was made clearer by a trail of reflective tears still giving off a soft hue of alicorn magic to shimmer in the light. Upon reaching her room they heard a familiar voice on the inside and paused their entrance.

“Come on it's not that bad, they were probably all annoying anyway!” Discord speculated as he held his paw around the upset princess' shoulder. “Take it from me, I got turned to stone and Celestia hurt her leg every time she tried to kick my sculptured flank!” He changed his form to portray the event taking place, earning a slight giggle from the dark blue mare.

Luna wiped away her tears before speaking. “I know you are trying to cheer my mood, it just hurts to be so alone. To have no one understand me.”

Discorded smirked briefly before clicking his fingers to open the door, causing Celestia to fall forwards from the keyhole. She recovered herself with an annoyed glance to Discord who replied with a smile of satisfaction. “Well your cavalry is here, Princess.”

Both mares approached the dark alicorn, sitting down beside her on the bed. “You are loved Luna.” Princess Cadence reassured her while softly brushing her mane with a hoof. “Both me and your Sister and all who know you love and respect and admire you.”

Luna gazed up from her hooves to the radiant pink alicorn before her, water still building up in her teal jewelled eyes as she spoke. “I fear after being alone for so long, that is all I will ever know.” She soon fell back into her hooves to continue crying, much to the other's dismay.

“How about those you talked to?” Cadence asked. “Sorry to bring them up if they caused this, but how did it effect you so? Perhaps it could help find you the right lover.”

Luna nodded as she sniffed back a few tears. “They all just stared at me like I was a prize, one of them was saying he would be showing me off to his friends like I was such a thing...the same with the others speaking of my looks like they couldn't wait to take me back home and put me on their mantle-piece.” She rubbed her eyes with her soft hoof, the silver shoe having already been thrown off as she entered. “Then I asked them about the night. They didn't even question it, they hated my night and wanted it to be over so they could enjoy their sunlight!” She burst into tears once more, this time having Celestia come and support her as well as Cadence. “Why does everypony hate my night so much... it's like nothing has changed since She.”

“That's in the past, Sister! They don't hate your beautiful night, how could any living thing not adore your calming moonlight.” Celestia spoke, hugging her sister close. “There are many who prefer sleeping through the day, we merely need to find the right one for you. ”She cuddled her sister once more to comfort her. “What do you think we should try next Cadence?” She turned to face the Princess of Love, who had the draconequus whispering something into her ear.

Discord faked shock as they were spotted. “Oh can't we have an intimate discussion in private?!” He stated as he clicked his fingers, a large beige curtain suddenly unfolded from a floating rail, concealing Cadence and Discord in such a way that only their silhouettes showed. Celestia began to tap her hoof in annoyance as the dark images began to perform relatively rude actions before she finally snapped and pulled the string to unfold the curtain. Finding only a floating pie-dish of baking flour behind it, which soon flew right into her face.

The now even whiter alicorn groaned in annoyance, levitating the pie-dish away and patting her face clean while the sound of giggling filled her ears. But instead of shouting at the trickster, she found herself cheering up as she noticed it was her sister who was giggling. “Well I'm pleased you found that entertaining.” Celestia began to collect the flour she could back into the dish as the pink alicorn re-entered the room with a clear smirk on her face. “Pleased you found it entertaining also. Now where is He?”

“Discord told me to tell you he was heading to the kitchen to prepare a new treat.” Cadence responded happily.

“Oh really, because I have one right here for him.” Celestia retorted as she finished patting the flour in place, making her way out of the room with her recycled weapon.

Princess Cadence slowly made her way over to the now smiling alicorn on the bed, sitting beside her and holding her hoof. “I have a friend who may be able to help us, she works for Eternal Hearts, Canterlot's dating agency.”

“Did Discord put you up to this?” Luna questioned, feeling uncomfortable. She noticed the pink alicorn pause briefly before finally nodding her head in response. “Finding a consort in the court was awkward and problematic, I do not see how amplifying that with a dating agency will help.”

“We are aware of how awkward you find such things. However it would broaden the range of possibilities.”

“For more who would want a Princess as a trophy.” Luna retorted with a slight coldness.

“No, not at all! I have a form here so let us begin.” The pink princess replied before continuing with a slight unease. “Name Lulu, gender female, race unicorn.”

“This is most certainly against the law.” Luna replied, looking at her friend inputting incorrect information.

“There is a loop hole which, allows this.” Cadence continued.

“You paused.”

Cadence sighed lightly before meeting her aunt's eyes. “Technically, we can get away with it. Would you rather admit to being Princess Luna to all who would want to date a Princess?”

The dark blue alicorn remained silent for a few seconds before agreeing. “Point taken.”

“Great! Now let's continue.” Cadence levitated her quill to the night-stand, dipping it inside the ink pot before returning to the parchment. “Okay so that's name, gender and race. Orientation?” She waited patiently for a response, before needing to repeat the question. “Your sexual orientation?”

“I do not understand the question.” Luna replied honestly.

“You, well.” Cadence smiled warmly as she tried to word it. “Which gender do you find most, pleasing to be with and to go to bed with.”

The Princess of the Night rubbed a hoof against her face briefly before speaking. “I have always found the times we spend together the most enjoyable. So it would be female.”

“Yes but we are relatives, not ponies who you would want to sleep with.”

“My Sister has slept with me often.” Luna commented.

Cadence giggled briefly before stopping herself to speak openly. “I hope you don't mind me asking, Luna. Are you a virgin?” She noticed Luna growing a sudden blush to the question, before smiling warmly and continuing. “There's nothing to be shy about, Auntie. I'll just write that you are undecided.” She wrote that down, while keeping in mind one of the reasons why trying to find a lover has been so awkward. “Okay next question. Which race would you prefer?”

“Alicorns.” Cadence tapped a hoof on the parchment to remind her of the choices. “Then unicorns. It would be a shame not to fly together but a knowledge of magic is vital.”

Cadence continued to tick the boxes as they came up, most of them from that point either being swiftly answered statements or long and drawn out debates usually resulting in answering a lack of preference for ease. Until she finally came across the final box. “Okay so here we explain what it is you are looking for in your mate.”

“Adoration and a deep desire for the night and all the natural beauty thereof for the most pleasant hours of the day, with a deep affiliation with magic and a smart intellectually interesting mind. Active during the night with an interest in poetry and writings of debates with love of arts and musical performances who will attend plays and musicals and theatre and films and galleries and-”

“Okay! And we are out of room.” Cadence continued to try and fit in most of the words she still hadn't gotten around to writing yet from Luna's long list of traits.

“There is still more.” Luna attempted to continue.

“Then you will need to ask him or her when you meet them!” The Princess of Love happily finalised as she finished the final word. Checking over the parchment form they had filled in. “I always knew you were interesting, but there probably won't be many that will fill all these demands.” She looked over to the princess she was helping, and quickly continued before she had a chance to cry. “No this is great for you! It means it should be much quicker to find the one for you!”

Luna wiped a little liquid from her teal globes before smiling. “It will be possible to find a consort with this?”

Cadence petted her mane briefly before replying as happily as she could. “I'll head over to Eternal Hearts right now for you. You have a nice time looking forward to tomorrow.” Cadence bid her aunt farewell as she made her way onto the marble balcony, spreading her wings to lower herself calmly to the city below. Feeling the soft blow of the wind as she descended with a gentle speed until she finally hit the pavement below with barely a sound. Lowering all four delicate hooves to the cobblestones as she began to trot along, nodding happily to the mares and colts of the town who greeted her.

The sun was still high in the sky as Princess Cadence neared the door of Eternal Hearts. She passed through the colourful garden, sniffing in the beautiful flowers outside before making her way inside. The same aromatic scent filled the reception from the numerous flower pots making the already bright room more enjoyable. “Cadence! Lovely to see you.” The Princess turned her gaze to greet her friend with a warm smile “How is your husband treating you?”

“As lovingly as ever, thanks for asking.” Cadence replied cheerfully to the friendly banter. “I have a favour I'd like your help with, Tulip.”

“Oh? Anything for you Princess.” The light yellow unicorn replied smiling. She noticed Cadence motioning her head towards one of the rooms as a hint. “Let's talk about it in my room.” They made their way over to one of the consultation rooms with her nameplate on the door, she opened the door for her royal visitor before closing it quietly behind them. “Please take a seat.” They both sat down either side of the desk. “So what can I help you with?”

The pink alicorn removed the parchment from a sleeve before placing it on the table. “I'm handing this in for a close friend.”

“You know the rules, you can come with your friend but we still need to see them to make sure this information is correct.” Tulip responded professionally, reaching over for the form.

“I can vouch as a full character witness for her, that all the information in that is correct to as far as my knowledge.”

“Cadence...” Tulip quietened her voice down. “It was only to be the one time.”

“I cannot but help love to bloom in the face of adversary.” Cadence said with a smile. “I trust her.”

Tulip began reading through the form, eventually smiling as she pieced the information together. “You are positive you wish to do this?” She waited until Cadence nodded in approval. “As a royal engagement, I guess I have no power to refuse to help. Do not let this get back to me.”

“I won't, if you find somepony suitable we can check on it for her before the meeting.” the Princess pondered for a moment as she watched her friend check the form before asking. “Do you think you can find somepony for her?”

“This is very niche. I really don't know if I could find anypony who would suit-” Tulip suddenly broke her sentence. “Wait, I recall one.” She spun around on her swivel chair to the side, reaching past the usual drawers to a small dusty stand. She closed her eyes and recoiled as she blew the dust off the sleeve she levitated before her mouth, checking the name before pulling the parchment out.

“Are you sure that pony is still looking for a partner?” She stated cautiously to the idea of how long it had been sitting there.

“We haven't been informed at least. These clients are, well. The professional term is niche clients.”

“Difficult ones like Luna you mean?” Cadence retorted.

“You could put it that way.” Tulip smiled in response. “This is from almost four years ago, but it pretty much hits everything desired.”

“What is their name?” Cadence's tone lift up to the idea of finding somepony for her aunt.

“An interesting one called 'Confidentiality'” Tulip smirked to her friend before continuing. “Once they agree to it then I will let you know the name, when would you like to set up a date?”

Princess Cadence thought to herself briefly about the best options. She didn't want to make Luna wait any longer and her birthday would be perfect if it went well, but there was always the chance it wouldn't work out. But she had faith in her friend to choose a fitting pony for her auntie. “I would gladly pay for express messages if we can do tomorrow night, around 10pm?”

Tulip sat back on her seat as she levitated over a blank parchment. “Very well, I'll send this to 'Confidentiality' and when 'Confidentiality' responds back if in agreement I'll send another two for the confirmed date. Any preference on the date location?”

“Palace Walls Restaurant, to meet at the Royal Lake table.” Tulip gazed over her glasses to her friend, reminding her to change her mind. “Oh of course, one of the garden tables to keep it a secret.”

The yellow unicorn finished writing the letter and placed it into an envelope. “Very well, that is everything sorted. Now to just send this off and await reply.”

“Thank you so much ,Tulip!” Cadence swiftly leapt around the desk to hug her friend. “I can't wait to see Luna happy! I really hope this works out for them.”

Tulip staggered back to her feet once the hug broke, smiling as they both made their way outside. “Oh I'm positive they will like each other.” Once outside the sun had already started it's descent, nearing the evening. Cadence bid her friend farewell with a large smile before bursting into the sky with a strong beat of her wondrous wings, blowing the grass and flowers of the nearby garden as she took her charismatic leap into the heavens. Tulip brushed her mane back into place before making her way to the mailbox, and as she raised her hoof to call for the nearby express pegasus a sudden flash of light erupted before her, snatching the letter from her grip.

“Ah Tulip so wonderful to see you!" The huge figure stated, clicking his fingers to conjure a bundle of flowers, which instead of petals were adorned with miniature paintings of multicoloured tulips.

“You are, Discord?” The curious unicorn asked with as much confidence as possible. Suddenly a flashing neon sign appeared behind him with a ringing sound, lighting up the letters. 'HOLE IN ONE!'

“You couldn't be MORE correct! First try every try you earned a special prize!” Discord yelled with ecstatic joy. “You have earned a once in a life time assist from the LORD OF CHAOOOOOOOOS!” A sudden roar of clapping came from a section of stadium seating occupied by cheering puppies and kittens. “Now the LORD OF CHAOOOOOOOSSSSSSS” He continued before snaking around the unicorn's body with agile speed, and whispering into her ear. “Will deliver this letter for you.” Tulip opened her lips to speak in objection before having a paw placed on her lips. “Twilight Sparkle, Golden Oak Library, Ponyville. Don't you worry your sweet little stem, CHAAAAOOOOOOSSSS has got this!”

With another flash, Discord and his accompanying crowd vanished without a trace, leaving Tulip and the other nearby crowd confused in their wake.

Author's Note

Fun note, this was meant to be a single part story, then Discord some how made his way inside. Then everything changed.... I think I just really wanted to write some more Discord. :twilightsheepish:

A little help from your Best Friend

The sleeping alicorn winced her eyes to the sudden light filling the room, pulling her duvet up over her face with a soft groan as she struggled to remain hidden from the painful brightness penetrating her eyelids. “Twiiiiiliiiight.” She groaned once more, her ear flinching to the soft breath blowing down her vulnerable canal, with the voice vibrating the drum deeper inside. She rolled in her bedsheets, pulling them tightly over her face to mask every possible sense from being assaulted. “Twilight Sparrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrkle.” She groaned a final time as she coiled deep inside her bedding, wrapping herself in a cocoon of cotton blankets. Remaining that way for several seconds before Celestia's setting sun passed the perfect spot for a reflection off a nearby weather vane to shine directly into her bedroom. Her visitor angled the Princess' vanity mirror to shine the beam of light directly between the threads of cotton to penetrate her lavender eyelids.

Twilight Sparkle bucked her sheets violently as the light forced her awake, but still being inside the cocoon she bolted herself right off the bed, hitting the floor with surprising force. The impact caused her desk to shake and the precariously perched inkwell to topple over and cover her mane with a characteristic 'splodge'. She verbally voiced her pain and confusion with a selection of moans and random words before finally managing to poke her sleepy face out from the constrictive bedding. It took a few seconds for her violet eyes to adjust to the light, the impossible to describe blurring soon fixing itself into a vague form of colours and shapes before her iris finally focused on her hysterical visitor. The draconequus lay on his back in a fit of laughter, splintering the wooden floor with his paw as he continued his maddening fit of blissful schadenfreude. “That was absolutely priceless!” He managed to proclaim between choking breaths.

The lavender mare rubbed her forehead briefly from the miniature headache being induced, before responding with a tired groan. “What are you doing here, Discord?”

Discord suddenly flashed behind the tired mare and lifted her into the air with a tight hug. “I have come to visit my dear friend and Princess!” He stated, rotating his body to shake her either side.

“I didn't say you could come.” Twilight attempted to argue, her vocals struggling against the force of the hold.

“Oh Twilight Sparkle! I am hurt!” Discord overacted, throwing his talon to the air. “To think I, as your Best Friend wouldn't come regardless of being asked!”

The alicorn powered her horn to free herself, breathing deeply as she landed on her hooves. “You are far from being my best friend, Discord.”

“Oh?” The draconequus smiled widely, flashing out of existence before reappearing in front of the annoyed pony. “Then perhaps you see us as something greater? Perhaps, lovers?” He spun around her before suddenly pausing with a rose in his teeth, wearing a sparkling white suit with another rose in its pocket.

Twilight's jaw practically dropped before she reached a hoof to her forehead, rubbing it once more. “Are you trying to give me a headache?” She gazed back at her strange friend. “Why would either of us ever possibly want that?”

“So you are saying you are not looking for a Date, Sparkle?” Discord grinned as he flipped the rose from his suit, flapping it against the wind to change form into a sealed letter with a rose seal. His words clearly caught the attention of his friend as she attempted to hide a blush.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Alas you are probably correct! They must have simply gotten the wrong address!” Discord happily finalised as he angled the letter to be perfectly visible by the little alicorn, as soon as she turned to look at the company name adorning the letter, he swatted it from his fingers and out of the window.

“No!” Twilight yelled as she leapt across the room to catch the letter, suddenly being stopped by Discord's paw as he grabbed his prize once more. “That is a private letter I demand you give it to me!” Her voice muffled as she struggled to view through his fingers.

“I can't WAIT to see what's inside!” He giggled happily, bringing his talon to the letter's seal.

“That letter is private property! Opening that is a criminal-”

Discord's talon cleaved the seal in half with a single swift motion.

“Discord!” She yelled once more, clearly annoyed by his probing.

Discord cleared his throat before speaking in a mocking female voice. “Dear Twilight Sparkle, we are happy to let you know we have found a perfect match for y-” His vision suddenly became filled with an obsidian fluid as Twilight grabbed the letter from his talon, throwing herself onto the bed and levitating her sheets over herself for privacy. He brought his talon to his beard to contemplate the situation briefly before grabbing the inkwell off his face and placing it onto the table, flicking some of the ink from his eyes before clicking his fingers to return his natural manly beauty to his perfectly manly face. Eyeing himself in the mirror with a gratified grin.

“They found a match!” Twilight's muffled voice escaped the bedding, soon followed by a series of childish cheering and giggling. Discord floated above her in a laid back position, slowly descending to be by her side.

“Well how positively marvellous for the two of you.” The jester stated as he faked a yawn to reach his arm around the hidden mare, which easily earned her attention.

Twilight peered one eye out of the bedding to stare at her visitor. “Who did you tell about this?”

Discord scoffed the notion. “Why would I tell a soul Sparkle?” She continued to stare boldly at him. “What would I have to gain from that?”

“A laugh? Annoying me? Making me a laughing stock?” The cautious mare suddenly found herself being dragged out of the bedding with speed.

“All true!” Discord admitted as he pulled his alicorn friend to his side, pointing her towards her vanity mirror. “But I've already gotten that!” He smiled with a wide grin as Twilight noticed her ink stained mane, and then panned her eyes over to her pillow and bedding to notice the mess she had unknowingly made. “I have gotten so many good laughs from you, my pretty little Princess. I may be the LORD OF CHAAAAOOOS!” He paused briefly, gazing down at his friend. “You are meant to cheer here.” they shared a mutually frozen gaze before he finally gave in and clicked his fingers to allow for a train of chirping birds to pass through the window. “But do not forget Fluttershy has taught me all about friendship, and I am willing to help you with your date!”

“I am meant to believe that?” Twilight hissed, earning a swift powerful chuckle in response.

“Of course!” Discord kept her close with his talon as his paw panned the horizon. “Why would I lie to you?”

“Repeat my previous three reasons.”

“All true once more!” He spun around in circles while holding the mare by her front hooves, spinning her with great speed until she started screaming in panic. Only then letting her go with alarming speed into a magically conjured wardrobe, multicoloured clothing blowing out in mass from the impact. “Time for a Princess Fashion Parade!” he proclaimed, clicking his fingers to freshen Twilight's appearance.

Twilight scuffled through the pile of clothes littering the wardrobe, poking her head out the top of the sparkling mound. She was almost ready to complain once more before noticing the macabre excuses for rags and overly elaborate sets of armour around her, grabbing a helmet with her hoof which seemed to burn everything around it including her mane, causing her to drop it in sudden panic. “What are these even supposed to be?”

“Oh you ponies wouldn't know a good costume if it bit you.”

“Ouch!”

“Oh I'm so glad you found one!” Discord happily grinned as the confused alicorn pulled a crocodile cap off her tail. “So many wonderful costumes for your special day! In fact they are all so wonderful, how will we even choose?” He removed his paw from the seemingly infinite wardrobe briefly to scratch his handsome beard before snapping his fingers to the thought. “Of course! He placed his paw back onto the corner of the ruby door. “Let's spin on it!”

Twilight rubbed her aching forehead a little as her unwanted helper spoke until she realised too late what he meant. “What? No, Discord don't you dare even think-”

Discord drew all his might and forced his paw against the wardrobe, spinning it with dizzying speed almost breaking the sound barrier as Twilight's screaming seemed to ebb and flow the passage of reality from inside the magical box. “Who needs a theme park when you can have so much fun at home! Round and round and round and round she goes! Where will she stop?” The jester pulled out a chart from his beard to attempt to examine the dancing hieroglyphics before tossing it aside, clicking into existence a long cord of rope from the ceiling. “I certainly don't know!” He grinned as his paw yanked down hard on the tasselled rope, instantly stopping the spinning wardrobe and shooting the screaming alicorn through a flashing hole in the roof.

“Thank you so much for helping me with all my errands today Spike.” The beautiful white unicorn spoke in her usual elegant voice.

“It's really no problem Rarity! Twilight gave me the free day to spend as I liked.” The baby dragon replied back with a blushing smile, simply enjoying his time near the beautiful unicorn.

“And you spend your free day all on me? That is so charming my sweet little Spikey Wikey!” Rarity knelt down in a playful bow to her little admirer.

“Aww shucks Rarity, you know how much you being happy means to me.” Spike easily hid his now bright blush behind the mountainous pile of boxes he was carrying. As Rarity began opening the back door to Ponyville's boutique the baby dragon paused in contemplation after almost tripping into the previously unnoticed water. “Say Rarity, when did you build this pool in your garden?”

The now alert unicorn dropped the single jewellery box she was carrying as her share of the effort and turned to the pool in question. There was a perfect circle cut out of her back garden with coloured markings around the perimeter, with bright red circles leading near the centre to the word 'bullseye' “That is odd, I wonder if Sweetie Belle and her friends made it for their...” Her voice trailed off to a distant sound slowly growing in volume. She looked up into the orange skies where a small dot seemed to be flying overhead. “What is that?”

The distant sound quickly grew in volume as the dot also drastically increased in size as the object fell from the sky. “aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhHHHHHHHHH!” followed by an excessively loud 'Splash' was all either of them could make out before being drenched from head to hoof in the pool's water. Spike dropped the boxes from the force of the overpowering flood, shaking off the dampness from his scales before gazing into the pool.

They both stared with caution into the pool to the familiar colour deep in the centre which slowly rose to the surface. “That sounded like Twilight.” Spike spoke with concern before a hoof shot out of the surface, swiftly being followed by the rest of Twilight's upper body as her best friend and assistant helped her to the edge. “Twilight are you okay? What happened?”

The wet and tired mare coughed out a little of the fresh water as she rested her aching head on the side, suffering from her pounding forehead. “Never accept dating help from Discord.”

Rarity's mood beamed in joy as she heard her romantically challenged friend's words. “Oh Twilight Sparkle! You have a date?”

“What?” Twilight asked before holding her forehead again in pain, looking either side to make sure they were alone. “Keep it to yourselves okay? I was meaning to try and keep that a secret.”

“Oh Twilight you should know you never need to keep such secrets from me!” Rarity rubbed her best friend's hoof before turning to her admirer. “Oh Spikey, would you finish taking everything inside for me like a true gentlecolt?”

“Oh I'd much rather listen to this, this sounds awesome.” Spike replied, sitting himself down with his feet in the water.

“Spike!” Twilight bellowed.

“Okay! Okay I get it, girl talk jeez.” The baby dragon sighed softly wanting to know the rest of the story, pulling himself up to collect the boxes which Rarity's tranquil magic helped levitate onto his stack. “But I wanna know everything when I get back!”

Rarity waited until Spike had left before turning back to face her best friend. “Is it Eternal Hearts?” Twilight responded with a nod. “Oh it's about time! I was starting to wonder about them, what is your date like?”

“I don't know who she is yet, but they said she is a perfect match! Like all the stuff I wrote down seemed to match with her! Like she really loves the night and everything!” Twilight gave an awkwardly happy smile as she splashed her hooves in the water.

“Oh really?” Rarity questioned while keeping a positive face.

“Uhuh, here you can have a read through the letter yourself...” She patted around her wings where she usually held items before whimpering a little. “Oh no, I lost it!” She paused briefly before remembering everything that had happened so far since she woke up. “Or maybe it's at home, or Discord has it again.”

“Discord had your letter?” Rarity questioned once more, this time struggling to keep her positive smile.

“Yeah he had it briefly, you don't think he did anything to it do you?” Twilight suddenly began to tear up. “I mean, he said he didn't tell anypony about it and-”

“I'm positive he was just toying with you Dear, you know how he is.” Rarity petted the alicorn's mane, levitating a handkerchief near her sweet amethyst eyes to dab the tears from them. “You still remember all the information on it, correct?”

Twilight nodded. “They set up a date tomorrow night at 10pm at the Palace Walls Restaurant.”

“Oh what a romantically elegant place for a dinner date! Those garden seats are to die for and how much I've dreamed of eating at the royal table!” Rarity grabbed her friend's forehooves as she blissfully enjoyed her own thoughts, almost pulling her out of the pool before lowering her back in. “Oh, sorry I get a little carried away, that sounds so romantic! I'm sure your date will be absolutely perfect!”

Twilight Sparkle smiled to her best friend as she lay on her back in the soothing water to think. “But I need to reply to that letter, and for all I know Discord is now keeping it hostage.”

“Perish the thought Dear, let's just have Spike send them a new letter.” Rarity tested the water which Twilight was clearly enjoying with a hoof.

“I can't risk Princess Celestia seeing it yet! What if it doesn't work out? She'll think I've failed in my search for a relationship and will downgrade my next Friendship Exam!” Her worrying almost caused her to drop beneath the water as she staggered to regain her buoyancy.

“Don't you worry yourself Dear, I'm positive the two of you will get along just fine! Besides all you need to do is ask her to have a guard deliver it for you and she won't even know what it relates to!” Rarity lowered herself into the soothing pool, sighing happily as her body felt surrounded by a gentle warmth.

“You're right, but.”

“No buts Twilight Sparkle!” Rarity stated proudly. “You will be going to that date tomorrow and you will love every moment of it! You have waited more than long enough to find a suitable pony for yourself.”

“But.” Rarity held a hoof in the air, but Twilight continued regardless. “What if she doesn't like me.”

“Twilight Sparkle.” Rarity swam over to her best friend, brushing a hoof gently across her face while smiling into her violet spheres. “You are an absolutely lovable mare, there is nopony in all of Equestria I would rather spend my time with. You absolutely deserve the happiness you now have the opportunity to enjoy.” She continued to gently support her face before finishing. “Take the chance!”

Twilight blushed deeply to her best friend's words as they enjoyed the calm pool together. “Cutie Mark Crusader Dive Bombers Yay!” Three voices yelled in unison as three fillies splashed down into the pool, shocking the older mares to the edges.

“Hey Rarity! Great pool!” Scootaloo stated with a wide smile.

“Naw it's nothin' compared to mah families lake!” Applebloom retorted with a slight pout.

“It is so much more dignified though, right Sis?” Sweetie Belle swiftly backstroked over to view her sister's face from below.

“You girls shouldn't be diving, it's dangerous!” Rarity attempted to lecture her sister and her friends.

“Why would you put dive markers down if you didn't want us to dive?” Sweetie Belle questioned, still on her back with a hoof to her chin.

Rarity looked at all three of the fillies' reactions to her statement and grew curious. “Wait, so you didn't make this pool?”

Scootaloo raised her hoof out of the water. “Oh! Oh us two wanted it but Sweetie Belle refused to make it.”

“That's not true! I said she would like a pool Applebloom was the one to object!”

“Naw the both of ya objected to it, mah idea was to make it!”

“Not true!” The little unicorn squeaked again.

“Girls!” Rarity attempted to retake control to no avail as they continued to argue and began splashing water at each other, causing the older two mares to climb out of the firing line. “Well I have no idea who made this pool for me then.”

“I have a guess, considering He set everything else up for me today.” Twilight hissed slightly as she spoke about Discord.

Rarity couldn't help but giggle softly to herself before jumping to attention. “Oh! That reminds me, let us get to writing you that letter!” She lead her best friend inside as her sapphire aura levitated two towels from inside, she elegantly wiped the liquid from her own body before attempting to repeat the same to Twilight's ticklish coat.

“Stop it!” Twilight giggled like a filly. “I can dry myself.”

“Very well.” Rarity responded with dropping the towel over the lavender alicorn's head. “Now dry up and come inside.”

Both mares entered the kitchen to see three plates of half eaten poorly created meals Sweetie Belle must have prepared for her friends. Rarity entered first to levitate the hot water Spike had prepared for three cups of tea. “How many sugars would you like?”

“I feel like I could take twenty.” Twilight remarked as she rested her still tired head on the table.

“How about you Spike?” She called to the baby dragon entering the room, dropping an excessively large pile of sugar into the cup.

“Can I have a hot chocolate? With err, 3 teaspoons.” Rarity shrugged as she removed the teabag from his cup. “So Twilight, who's the special mare?”

“I guess I am, but I'm definitely going to need some actual sleep before the date.” The exhausted alicorn responded, bringing her hooves to her face to provide much needed darkness.

“No I meant who are you dating?” Spike jumped up onto the stool and placed his claw around the warm drink on the table. “Besides it's your fault for staying up so late, I keep telling you to sleep during the night then this won't happen.”

“How am I suppose to study the stars if I sleep through them like every other pony?” Twilight levitated a straw into her drink and bent it to flow into her mouth. “If Discord and Rainbow Dash would stop waking me then this wouldn't be an issue.”

Rarity sat beside her admirer with her own cup of tea, gently sipping it with finesse. “Spike would you write us a letter?”

“Oh of course, Celestia would love to hear about your date!” Spike happily proclaimed as he pulled a blank scroll from his pack. “What should I write?”

“Let's keep it secretive for now. So how about...” Rarity paused briefly as she tried to think of the contents.

“Dear Princess Celestia, can you kindly pass this letter to be delivered by Shining Armor once you receive it, it contains urgent personal family matters.” Twilight Sparkle recited.

“Then attach a second letter beneath that addressed to.” Rarity continued. “What was the name of the correspondent?”

“Tulip.”

“Dear Tulip of Eternal Hearts, I would absolutely love to go to this date you have set up for us tomorrow, I would love to hear more about this amazing match you have located and would love to know all about them as soon as possible! With thanks Twilight Sparkle!” Rarity finished smiling, waiting for the baby dragon to finish writing it down.

“Okay that's everything, so you don't actually know who she is yet?” Spike questioned as he coiled up the scroll.

“We had a little outside help, but we will know who she is soon enough.” Rarity replied with a cheerful smile.

Spike gave a deep breath as he aimed the two letters towards the window, igniting the emerald flames in his glands as his draconic might burst the scrolls into flaming ash which flowed out of the open window like a gentle breeze. “I really hope you are right about this.” Twilight whimpered softly, seeing the messages which could spell so much humiliation leaving them.

“Of course I am Twilight.” Rarity held her hoof across the table to comfort her. “Now we just wait for the response, and you make sure to rest up well for your big day!"

Princess Celestia lay in silence, the golden glow of her magic lighting the otherwise dim room as she wrote a letter to her favourite student. The dignified ruler of Equestria yawned softly as it neared her bedtime, enjoying the comforting sight of Luna's Moon rising in the moonlit sky outside her bedroom window. She returned her gaze down to the scroll she had almost finished as a green wind blew through the window and began to congeal above her. “Guess Who.” Her vision suddenly cut to black as the voice she knew so whispered into her delicate ears.

“Discord.” The tall alicorn responded with a distinct happiness, levitating an object from beneath her pillow.

“Oh! Am I really THAT predictable?” He grinned happily, taking his paw and talon from her eyes to share a compassionate gaze with his old companion. Twilight's letter appeared behind the large figure of the draconequus, allowing him to catch it in his talon without being spotted.

“Of course you are Discord.” Celestia continued, smiling warmly. “Which is exactly why I knew you would come to me tonight.” She leaned in to kiss her old partner.

Discord smirked as he held out his spare paw to stroke her beautiful face, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the moment. Before finding himself catapulted across the room and smashing against the wardrobe, opening his eyes to see only darkness from the weapon thrown against him. Celestia laughed heartily as her golden telekinesis faded. Enjoying the rewarding sight of her revenge fuelled flour attack hitting a perfect target. Discord removed the pie-dish before lapping up the baking flour from his face with a single wide lick. “I have missed how much of a Kick your lips give, Celestia!” He remarked while clutching the letter tightly behind is back.

“If you ever wish to feel that kick again, my hooves will make good on that desire.” Celestia concluded with a cheerful smile.

Discord slithered nearer the Princess to gently massage her horn with his paw. “Come and get me anytime you like.” He stated with a playful grin before leaping over her head and through the open window, exploding into a series of flashing streamers and fireworks.

Princess Celestia hid her smile until her old partner had vanished, finally allowing herself to sigh happily, rubbing her pampered horn. “Maybe one day.” She yawned softly, flying herself over to her much desired bed with no idea of the letter she was meant to receive.

Author's Note

I wasn't sure of the direction this part was going to take after Twilight's room, after writing a few versions this is the one I'm going with, any thoughts that stand out might be good to know.

Disrupting the Master Plan

The annoyed rabbit picked up another piece of his jigsaw with his little white paw, pondering where to place it before launching it down with pent up frustration, causing the rest of the pieces to split and fly apart. He set his beady eyes up at the draconequus laying on his chest, snoring with incredible volume, his mouth opening widely to expunge spittle across the room. The bunny fumed as some of the droplets landed on his already messed up fur and stormed across the room on his tiny paws to deal with the nuisance. As he approached the beast he noticed a screwed up scroll clutched in his talon and used all his might to climb onto the giant obstacle to wrestle it from his clutches. He eyed the letter briefly before smiling with a satisfied grin, he rubbed his soft fur against the bedsheets to clean himself and then stormed out the room.

Discord awoke with a loud prolonged yawn from his long night's sleep. He smacked his lips together a few times before grabbing his paw with his talon to force a long good stretch behind his back. “Good morning Equestria!” He spoke loud and powerfully. “What wonderful Chaos can we get up to today? Some chocolate rain, with a touch of slippery whipped cream grass, and a whole mound of Princess-” His voice suddenly cut short as he began to inexplicably choke. Discord struggled to breathe, attempting to pat his back as a worried pegasus flew into the room.

“Oh my are you choking? Let me help you.” Fluttershy spoke with her usual timid voice, grabbing the draconequus from behind and locking her forelegs around his chest. “A one.” She bucked his back softly, getting the hooves behind him into a good position. “A two.” She gripped tighter, heaving him forward a short way. “And a three!” She yelled in a whispered volume, thrusting her hooves into his back and heaving his entire body forward to smack into the bed, forcing a carrot out of his throat. “That's better, oh my you must have been hungry to eat that carrot whole.”

Discord swiftly recovered from the staggering experience, focusing his sight on the little bunny pointing and laughing at him. He reached forward with his now free paw and stared with a mischievous grin at the little pest, ready to click his fingers. “Have you done your morning stretches?” Fluttershy spoke quietly once more, grabbing her friend's arms and interfering with his revenge.

“Yes Fluttershy I alread- AHHH!” He smiled in blissful pain as her movements cracked his arms, allowing him to fall to the bed with a pleased smile. The yellow pegasus climbed onto his back and began to massage him with her soft yet surprisingly effective hooves.

“You have so much tension in your shoulders.” The caring mare stated as she rubbed and pounded away along his back, causing the Demigod to whimper. “You need to stop winding yourself around things, you should keep a proper posture.”

“Come on Fluttershy, I don't have a simply pony anatomy.” Her hooves swiftly rotated his neck to give a sharp sounding 'snap' which further pleased her patient who failed to continue his trail of thought.

“Now then, I can't have you being so hungry that you risk choking yourself, let me make you a nice breakfast.” Fluttershy spoke kindly as she fluttered her delicate wings to fly off the bed.

Discord waited until his overly caring house keeper left the room before breathing a soft pleasured sigh. “This is the life.” He muttered to himself. “Now, for this morning's amusement!” He stood up and cracked the different parts of his well massaged body before kneeling down to pick up the scroll, opening it to snigger at the almost limitless ways he could toy with the Princess' love-life. After reading the short letter to Celestia once more he began looking under the bed to see where the second letter to the dating agency had gone.

“Discord, breakfast is ready.” Fluttershy's quiet voice barely reached the draconequus who was scratching his beard in a worried state. He gave another quick check before making his way over to the living room to question his host.

“Oh Fluttershy, my good friend.” Discord began as he placed a paw against the door. “Have you seen a little scroll I was taking care of?”

Fluttershy nudged under his arm as she struggled to fly over to the table with the bowl of salad. “Oh yes, Angel Bunny brought me that letter you wanted delivered a few hours ago. The mail-pony was just outside when he gave it to me so I made sure to get it delivered right away!” The yellow pegasus smiled softly, pleased with what she had done for her friend.

Discord struggled to find the words, almost feeling like shouting but knowing not to do that to his overly sensitive friend, instead finally choosing to slap a paw to his face, dragging both it and the face down to the floor before snapping them back into place. “Come onnnn. I didn't want that letter to be delivered!”

“Well I think that a letter from Twilight Sparkle is up to her with whether it wants to be delivered, and I trust she would have agreed.” Fluttershy stated as strongly as she could, stamping her hoof down very slowly and softly as she finished.

“You just don't get my glorious plan! It was so fiendishly clever and sure they were going to meet each other in the end but only after we would have had so much fun laughing at them!” Discord stated in such a way as to invoke agreement, waiting briefly for his best friend to acknowledge it. “All of Equestria would have laughed!”

“There is a difference between laughing at and laughing with, Discord. We don't laugh AT our friends, remember?” Fluttershy's voice darkened as she stared into the jester's eyes.

Discord felt increasingly unnerved as the stare continued before needing to turn away and roll his eyes. “Riiight, of course you are right Fluttershy. But it would have been so funny!” He turned back only to see the same stare repeated, swiftly turning once more as he raised his paw. “Well thanks for the motivational talk, but now I need to head off and fix this little problem.”

“Not before you eat your breakfast.” Fluttershy stated strongly.

“I'll conjure something on the way.”

“I SAID Eat Your Breakfast.” The usually calm mare announced her words with such cold strength that the Demigod whimpered in submission to the unbreakable stare from the emerald eyes of the pegasus. Sitting down to eat his meal without the ability to protest, much to Angel Bunny's amusement.

The occasional mare and stallion walked down the street, greeting each other every once in a while until a bright flash stopped them in their tracks. The sight of Equestria's previous villain caused them to flee in panic earning a sigh from the draconequus. “Ponies.” He tutted before clicking his fingers and sliding over a sheet of blue icing to Eternal Hearts, doing a little airborne spin for his absent crowd. He spun until his back hit the mailbox, shifting his gaze left and right before opening the box with his tail and examining the contents secretly. 'Empty.' He concluded to himself as he continued to slide nearer to Canterlot's dating agency, this time with a triple flip. 'Either I'm early, or a little bit of trickery will get me that letter before anypony-'

“You mean Twilight Sparkle was the date?!” The familiar voice broke Discord's thoughts, the icing below his feet melted away to nothing as he rushed along to the open window. “Yes I know Twilight Sparkle so well, she is my husband's sister. I can't believe we didn't think of her ourselves she suits Luna so perfectly!”

Discord bit down hard on his talon as all his plans seemed to disintegrate around him. Damning his best friend, or more accurately her pet for breaking apart all the wonderful fun he had been imagining. “That is so wonderful to hear, I will send off these letters right away for the date tonight.” Tulip told the Princess as Discord peeked through the window to see the letters being wrote.

“No please you have done enough already. I would love to go and tell the both of them myself!” Princess Cadence happily announced as she jumped to her hooves to hug her friend. “Thank you so much for everything again Tulip, I can't wait to see their reactions when I tell them who their date is!”

Cadence whistled to herself happily as she made her way out of the door, before finding herself being grabbed to the side and pinned against the wall. “What are you doing?!” She stated in shock as she felt her back being thrust against the gooey surface with force, before noticing the unmistakable face grinning at her. “What are you doing here, Discord? We agreed to let me handle everything with Eternal Hearts.”

“About that.” Discord stated, further pushing her into the green gloop where the wall should be. “What do you say about keeping it a secret from the unknowing couple, hmm?”

Cadence struggled against the familiar gunk which began covering her from behind, dripping slowly over her chest and causing her heart to race. “This isn't funny Discord, you know I've had bad experiences of this, let me out!”

Discord let the gunk covered alicorn go, allowing her to fall to her hooves where she struggled to spread her wings from the green goo covering them. She looked up to see herself staring back at her with glowing green eyes. “Cut it out, now!”

The playful jester sighed as he reluctantly changed his form back to normal. “It's only a joke, Princess.” He helped Cadence clear off some of the gloop with a talon and swatted it clean. “Now look at how messy you are, it will take you so long to clean this up! Perhaps until around... midnight.”

“Or you could flash me clean right now.”

“I could.”

“Discord.” Cadence sighed. “This isn't going to work to distract me from informing Luna and Twilight about each other.” She paused briefly before cocking her gaze. “I was told you turned up last night, and you first advised trying Eternal Hearts and now you are here as soon as I discover the truth. How long did you know Twilight and Luna were a match?”

Discord raised his arms in defeat with a wide grin. “Wasn't it obvious to all of you?” He waited for the lack of reply before continuing. “Fine, well I've taken a keen interest in that little unicorn that defeated me. 'The power of Friendship.'” He stated with a mocking voice, parading toy figures of Twilight and her friends in the air before forcing them all to slam against each other as if kissing. “Finding a way to make it up to her became a task of mine.”

“So you stalked her attempts as a love life?” Cadence retorted with a clear disapproving frown.

The jester spun around in circles manically laughing before exploding into a large fiery ghostlike monster which began to cackle menacingly with a booming voice. The flames spun around the pink alicorn, singeing some of the goo from her coat before leaving a mere sprite of its former size on her shoulder, leaning in to whisper into her ear. “Correct!”

“I thought you wanted to help Luna?” Cadence swatted away a few of the magical flames still lingering on her slightly singed coat as she spoke.

Discord reappeared before her, grabbing her shoulder with a paw in a friendly manner. “Of course I do, now.” He sniggered briefly before sighing. “Yes now thanks to dear little Fluttershy and friends, I can't help but want to bring happiness to my little friend's hearts.” He pouted with fake overly watery eyes.

“So then why the deception? Why not just tell them both as soon as you realised?” Cadence stated, ignoring his attempts to sweeten her.

“Because where would the fun be!” He boomed to the sky. “Why does nopony understand this? What point is there in just telling them right away when you can make the reveal a good laugh for all of Equestria! Don't you remember how much fun your big day was?”

“This is a date, Discord. Not a Royal Wedding. I will not allow you to torment this chance at romance for my Auntie and Sister-in-law for the sake of a foul prank for your amusement. Am I clear?” Cadence stared into his snake-like eyes with unmoving conviction.

“Ohhhh, very well BUT! On one condition.” Discord clicked his fingers once more to clean Cadence's appearance, pulling out a long candy cane from behind her ear. “You don't tell them who their date will be.”

Cadence smiled slightly. “And in response, no pranks on either of them?”

“Deal!” Discord's talon opened the princess' mouth and slid the sugary sweet into her lips before closing it back around the red and white treat. “Tell them the date is on, and I'll be waiting at the palace overlook for the show!” With a final proud heroic stance, he disappeared in a bright flash leaving the alicorn alone with her treat.

Princess Cadence sucked on the gift as she smiled, swallowing some strawberry and cream flavoured saliva which had collected around the candy cane. She giggled to herself briefly before lifting off into the sky to send the approving news to the two alicorns.

The pink alicorn gracefully flew through the midday sky, watching all the ponies and animals below happily enjoying the beautifully bright daylight. She giggled a little to the sight of little foals spraying each other with water while passing over Ponyville, waving a hoof at the light blue pegasus with a rainbow mane relaxing back on a cloud in the centre of town. She slowly brought herself down level to the occupied cloud. “Hello Rainbow.” She spoke softly earning a lazy wave of a hoof from the pegasus. Cadence smirked a little as she pressed her hoof against the soft surface and pushed with enough force to rock the cloud.

“Woah what's going on?” Rainbow Dash called out as she opened her rose eyes to see the warm smile of Cadence directly in front of her covered partly by her own rainbow mane. “P, Princess Cadence!” She attempted to bow but soon found a pink hoof prevent it and direct her back up. Rainbow released a single note of a smirking laugh while blowing her sleepy mane back into position. “What brings you to my cloud? Other than it being awesome and fluffy of course.”

“I just wanted to check up on my Ponyville friends, do you know if Twilight is at home?” Cadence asked in such a way to fuel her friend's ego.

“Oh yeah!” Rainbow replied bouncing a little on her cloud. “Twilight's always been sleeping through the day recently.”

“Like you?” Cadence giggled to herself a little as she noticed how much she had started to sound like her auntie.

“Phh, this is called chillin', being cas'” The pegasus flopped onto her back and sunk comfortably into the fluffy surface. “But no you try and wake her up and it's always 'stop waking me Rainbow', and 'I told you not to throw a bucket of water on me', and 'This is a third time I've gotten a cold from being carried onto a rain cloud' like come on can't I have any fun?”

The pink alicorn smiled to her words as she spoke. “I'll be on my way then, I would like a chat with my new sister.”

“Good-luck, you'll probably need it if she's cranky as ever.” Rainbow had already closed her eyes as she laughed to herself, waving her leg behind her before laying back on it to continue resting.

Cadence struggled against the influence of Discord and her auntie as she placed a hoof on the little cloud. Patting it a few times before leaving her friend in peace, smiling and flying away. As she flew from sight a bright flash appeared behind the cloud and the playful draconequus put on a baseball cap, held back an overly large bat before swinging it hard against the side of the cloud. Causing Rainbow to scream as her resting place spun around on itself a few hundred times.

Princess Cadence hummed to herself as she neared Ponyville's library, she lowered herself softly to the floor and gave a gentle knock on the oak door. “It's open.” The young male voice quietly escaped the thick door which the alicorn swiftly began to open. She made her way inside the vacant repository, trotting slowly over to the spiky tail coming out from under a desk.

“Hello Spike.” Cadence reeled back a bit biting her lip as the baby dragon smacked his head against the desk.

Spike rubbed his head a little from the shock as he made his way from under the furniture to see his royal guest. “Oww, oh. Princess Cadence it is an honour!” Spike attempted to kneel again before being forced not to in a similar way to Rainbow earlier.

“Are you hurt?” Cadence asked with her sweet voice, kneeling down to rub her delicate hoof along his scales.

“No it's fine, I've gotten used to it.” The baby dragon laughed awkwardly. “Are you here to see Twilight?”

“Yes, is she awake?” Cadence replied with her usual warming smile.

Spike shrugged a little. “Probably not, Rarity told her to get some proper sleep before her date tonight so she's probably still out knowing her sleep pattern.” They both shared a happy glance before Spike realised what he said. “Oh, I wasn't meant to tell anypony about-”

“I already know about her date Spike, that is why I have come.” Cadence smiled happier as she noticed Spike's visible joy from her words. “I will go and see if Twilight is awake.” She bowed before the baby dragon and quietly made her way upstairs to Twilight's room. As she opened the door it was dark inside with the only light seeping through the closed curtains. She could hear Twilight's soft breathing and slowly made her way to the sleeping alicorn.

Princess Cadence sat beside her sleeping sister-in-law, softly brushing her unkempt mane which had clearly been brushed against her pillow and quilt multiple times while attempting to sleep. It had been so many years since she last looked over Twilight like this, back when she used to foal-sit the little cranky filly. She gently lowered down to kiss her sleepy forehead and caress her face with such softness that Twilight smiled in her dreaming state and cuddled up closer within her bedding cocoon. “You will have such a wonderful date tonight, Twilight Sparkle. The mare you will meet is so loving and kind, and I know you will love each other.” She gently brushed her mane again, combing it a little with her hoof. “You are both such lucky mares to know each other.” She gave Twilight another gentle kiss on the forehead before making her way out of the room and back downstairs.

“Did you speak with her?” Spike asked while attempting to carry an oversized stack of books.

“In her dreams, can you make sure Twilight knows that the date tonight is confirmed at 10pm at Palace Walls Restaurant.” Cadence replied while helping to levitate the stack to the required table.

“Okay sure, so who is she dating?” The baby dragon attempted to pry for more information, earning a soft giggle from the princess.

“She will find out tonight, but do make sure to tell her that I fully agree with who they picked.”

“Oookay, so you know who it is.” Spike continued to pry.

“I was asked to say no more, it is the way these dates work I am afraid.” Cadence held her head high as she lied for the silly deal, making her way outside as the door closed behind her from the force of the unique tail.

Discord's tail rubbed along the princess' back before flicking back behind him. “Hoof bump?” He smirked while holding a paw in the air. Cadence sighed happily as she brought up a hoof to slap against it. “One more to go.”

“I thought you were letting me handle this.” Cadence retorted, earning a wide smirk which continued to grow in length beyond the width of his face. “Okay, I'll go tell Luna. Now Do Not wake up Twilight.” Cadence stared into his eyes to force her words before smiling herself and flying away.

“Don't worry, I think I've had enough joy here for the time being.” Discord said to himself as he flashed a hammer into existence to slam the spinning cloud hard, tossing the still screaming pegasus through the air and landing against a magical cushion which soon faded away and dropped Rainbow Dash into the muddy surface of the Apple Family Farm. The jester laughed with ground-shaking strength as he flew away on the same still spinning cloud over the pounding head of the bewildered pegasus.

Princess Luna proudly made her way onto the marble floor surrounded by a smaller yet still sizeable audience than her sister had previously in the day. The sun had reached the horizon and darkness had begun to loom over Equestria. Luna trotted to the centre of the raised platform and the royal guards ushered silence from the crowd. The princess closed her eyes, and through the absolute silence began to hear whispering dialects. Her own voice muttered in silence with her lips speaking the impossible to read, and a soft glow began to surround the purple alicorn. Her ebony aura began to seethe from her horn and surround her, the voices fusing with her own in her mind as she knelt to the floor, absolute darkness overtaking her form wrapping around her with twisted unintelligible runes and figures that began to unnerve her audience. The Mare of the Night opened her eyes which radiated with an intense pale blue glow and the darkness coiled around her with such tightness that she could no longer more. Luna began to rise into the sky from the power of her magic alone, her wings taught behind the coiled darkness which wrapped even tighter. Her magical powers originally blazing outwards drew themselves in to the curled up form she had taken like a new born foal in a womb of absolute darkness. As Celestia's sun fell from sight and the whole world turned to night, Luna's body erupted. The Mare of the Night screamed silently in an unknown language as she forced her body open, her legs and wings spread wide causing the coiled magic to shatter and force itself outwards in a pale blue nova which lit up the town with intense power and light. Luna beat her wings a single time to force herself far into the distance, where she powered all the remaining darkness seething through her body into a single charge glowing her horn with a brightness visible to all of Equestria. She forced her power forwards with a single unfathomably powerful blast which collided with the centre of the pale blue nova and blanketed the entire world with an almost blinding sheet of light.

Luna lowered her exhausted body to the floor, landing on her hooves as she raised to view her jaw-dropped audience. As the light faded moonlight cascaded gently down upon the crowd from Luna's moon resting perfectly in place above the land, radiating it's beauty down on those below. It took some time for the crowd to properly come to terms with the show they witnessed, but once they did they began to stomp their hooves against the floor in appreciative joy.

“We thank you for joining us on this special night.” Luna spoke with her strong dignified royal tone. “Enjoy the beautiful Night, and enjoy each other's company.” She held a hoof high to bid farewell to her captive audience, talking between themselves as they began to spread from the finished moon rising show.

“That was surprisingly thrilling my Sister.” Luna gazed to her side as Celestia beckoned her over. “And your moon seems to glow even more than last year.”

Luna smiled warmly as she walked with her sister across the garden. “The anniversary of the Moon.” She sighed softly to herself.

“Is there something the matter, Sister?” Celestia gently nudged Luna's wing with her flank playfully.

“Do ponies even realise what the day is truly a celebration of?” She gazed up to her radiating celestial sphere. “Perhaps if we called it 'Luna's Birthday' I might actually get some recognition.”

“It has been that way for so many centuries.” Celestia sighed softly, opening her wing to hug her sister with it. “But it isn't fair that only we know what it is truly about, perhaps we can spread word of it for next year.”

“If even a single other pony knew about it, it would at least not make me feel so unloved.” Luna spoke sadly, earning a tighter hug from her sister.

“Luna!” A beautiful voice called from above as Princess Cadence flew down to the soft flowery floor.

“Greetings Cadence.” Celestia spoke warmly, nudging her sister to look up.

“Hey Aunts!” She hugged the both of them in turns. “I've got great news about your date Luna.”

“You set up a date?” Celestia asked alarmed, looking over to her sister who began to brighten up in response.

“I'll explain that later.” She dismissed her auntie's questioning while grabbing Luna's forelegs with her own, bouncing a little in happiness as she did so with her backlegs. “We found a perfect match for you and have set you up with a date at 10pm at the Palace Walls Restaurant tonight!”

“Tonight?” Both princesses questioned with near equal alarm.

“I know it's barely a few hours away, but trust me. Your date is perfect and it will make your birthday even better!” Cadence hugged her purple aunt once more, whispering into her ear to avoid Celestia hearing. “Trust me, you will love her.”

“But I don't have time to prepare.” Luna began to worry.

“You already have the most beautiful moonlight of the year, and a romantic meal date on the garden seating of the Palace is the perfect spot to view it. When you have a night like this all the preparation has been done!” Cadence giggled happily before bouncing around the dark alicorn.

“What should I wear, and say, and do, and-” A pink hoof placed against her lips swiftly silenced her.

“Just go as you feel most comfortable. You don't need to wear anything your date won't mind.” Cadence smirked slightly to the thought of how similar her auntie and sister-in-law could be at times. “Just make sure you at at the Palace Walls Restaurant at 10pm, be comfortable and be yourself and everything will go fine!” Luna nodded in approval as she took in the information. “Good, trust me this night will be one to remember, everything will be perfect! See you tomorrow Luna, Celestia.” She nodded to both members of her family before taking flight to the palace overlook.

“Have a lovely night Sister, I am sure you will enjoy yourself.” Celestia remarked with a happy smile.

“Thanks Tia, I will try.”

“You will.” Celestia hugged her once more before taking flight herself and swiftly chased down her niece. “Cadence!”

Princess Cadence almost dropped from her flight to the unexpected voice, she turned around to see Celestia approaching swiftly and gulped before stopping. “Hello Auntie.”

“What do you mean by 'we' got her a date? Why didn't you tell me about this?” Celestia lectured with a slight hint of sadness.

“I'm so sorry Tia, it wasn't my idea to keep you out of this.” the pink alicorn quaked a little in her flight, never enjoying her lecturing tone.

“We are talking about my Sister's happiness here, who told you not to tell me?” Celestia spoke louder, with a clear hint of annoyance.

“I was just, ermm.” Cadence whimpered a little before seeing a firework shoot off in the distance revealing the words 'palace overlook' “Oh my what a beautiful firework display!”

The pearl alicorn turned briefly to check the strange firework before turning back to notice Cadence rapidly flying away. “CADENCE!” She yelled loudly before gritting her teeth and flying after her with great speed. The pink alicorn flew between the spires of the Palace but Celestia's experience kept her on track and closing in fast. They both made spirals around the overlook tower before Cadence's tail was finally in reach and Celestia reached out with her hooves to stop her as they made the final turn.

“I got it!” Discord yelled happily as his oversized baseball mitt caught Celestia face first as she sped around the corner. Muffled rudeness came from the mitt before the alicorn managed to remove herself from the grip she had planted herself into.

“Discord.” Celestia stated coldly earning a big hug from her old partner.

“So wonderful to see you Celestia!” Discord's hug tightened until she broke herself free with a powerful burning magic. “I didn't know you thought I was THAT hot!”

“So you are the one responsible for this 'date?'” Celestia stated with clear worry. “I need to go stop my Sister now.”

“No Auntie it's totally fine!” Cadence grabbed the worried alicorn with a loving hug. “It's not what it seems.”

Celestia sighed softly, turning to face her niece. “I don't know what you think is going to happen, but I've had enough experience of romance with Discord to know he isn't to be trusted.”

“Oh please, I'm an improved Draconequus, a new stallion!” Discord opened his arms wide, a fleet of doves flying from behind him to the sound of a choir singing.

“I heavily doubt that.” Celestia retorted with little care for his words.

“I'm doing this to make it up for all of you Princesses for my vaguely mean history. Why else would I be doing this?”

“A laugh? Annoying us? Making Luna a laughing stock?”

“Oh Twilight Sparkle has so much in common with you, it's no wonder she's an alicorn now!” Discord laughed happily, remembering those reasons from before.

“You are messing with Twilight also?” Celestia gritted her teeth as her horn began to glow with a deep golden power.

“Twilight is the date Auntie!” Cadence called out to stop the angered alicorn from doing anything brash, she looked over to the tutting jester waving his finger at her. “Sorry Discord, but she needs to know.”

“Wait, let me get this straight. You set up a date between Luna and Twilight Sparkle?” She waited until they both nodded. “Between my Sister and my student?” They nodded again. “Between two mares?” They nodded a third time. “Between two alicorns of the same royalty?”

“Oh please Celestia.” Discord laughed to himself, flashing into existence a family tree chart. “It's not like they are family. You and Luna are how old?”

“You don't ask a mare her age.” Celestia shied away slightly.

“Riiight, well you two are well over a thousand years old, Luna was out of the gene pool for a good thousand years due to your expert family actions.”

“Discord!” Celestia burnt the chart to the ground with her magic as the jester brought up her unwanted memories. “I know they aren't related family wise, but they are both Princesses of Equestria. We can't have those marry! We need to find a stallion and have an heir to keep the royal line alive and-”

Discord roared an excessively loud yawn to silence her. “You are soooo boring Celestia, why do you think we kept you out of the plan?” Discord clicked his fingers to flash a whole pile of treats and beverages on the table of the overlook, clicking once more to flash three deckchairs facing the garden. “Why don't you just sit down and enjoy a bit of romance and let those crippling rules and regulations go!”

Both Cadence and Discord leapt onto their deckchairs and another flash gave them each a pair of binoculars. “Well if you are about done, I will go and continue to look for stallions for the BOTH of them then, there's bound to be one that suits them.”

Cadence sighed lightly before turning to face her clearly worried alicorn. “Twilight is a lesbian Auntie, and Luna is at least bi.” She watched as the alicorn shifted her weight and dug at the floor in awkwardness, clearly unable to think what to say. “You learn a lot when you foal-sit, and this is from Luna.” She levitated a copy of the dating agency form to Celestia who read through it before sniffing and rubbing her eyes, attempting to not cry. “Auntie?”

“Great, so I know nothing about two of the closest mares to me.” Cadence flew over from her seat to hug the sobbing alicorn to comfort her.

“Of course not, you know so much about all three of us! There are just some things ponies tend not to talk about.” Cadence rubbed her beautiful pearl back as she continued to softly cry.

“Clearly you knew, but I.”

“It's hard to notice one thing when you are perpetually trying to force another onto them. 'Let's find a stallion for my Sister.'” Discord interrupted in a mocking tone, throwing some more popcorn in his mouth. “And ponies say I'm the crazy one here.”

Cadence kissed her auntie on the forehead before smiling into her eyes. “Come on, let's sit down and watch.”

“Watch what?” Celestia questioned, rubbing the tears from her eyes as she sat down beside her niece.

Discord flashed a new pair of binoculars near his old partner's face which she levitated closer to see through. “The stars of the show!” Discord smirked while making all 3 pairs of binoculars focus closely onto Twilight Sparkle's star graced flank.

“Discord!” Their objections hit a laughter nerve on the draconequus who gave them full control of their vision. Allowing the three of them to see Twilight Sparkle sit herself down awkwardly on one of the Restaurant's garden tables.