It was a typical night in Manehattan.

Couples were going out to romantic dinners, criminals planned their next crimes, police officers did their best to catch them in the act, friends got together to enjoy the city’s night life in clubs and such.

This story starts in one of them, elegant and modern, not to mention filled with the wild youth of Manehattan.

Harmony was one of the most famous and well-known clubs in the city. One of the reasons was his unique owner.

Calling himself a draconequus, he was a chimerical creature that seemed like a mix of at least nine different animals.

He had a way with people, forming alliances and partnerships with ease. He knew all the right persons, he could enter all the best places, and could take almost anyone to his bed.

But the thing that raised most eyebrows was his name.

Discord.

It was the name of the Beast; the ruler of Tartarus. Not to mention the being which many considered the ultimate evil that existed.

Everyone assumed it was some kind of artistic name; artists and rich people tended to have unique quirks, after all. And having in count the name most ponies were given or chose for themselves, it wasn't that strange.

Because they couldn’t believe that the arrogant yet charming draconequus could be such a being. Surely the Beast could not be the life and soul of the party.

Oh, but how wrong they were. In more than one aspect.

Sporting a black suit (not the pants, mind you; those things weren’t used in this planet) over a white shirt, both tailored for his unique physique, Discord entered his bar, enjoying the wild music while navigating through the dancing ponies and the occasional griffin.

Manehattan was mainly a pony city, with almost 10 percent of the population belonging to other species. Discord, sharing his appearance with no one else in the universe, attracted looks everywhere… a fact he loved, mind you.

After greeting several acquaintances (and kissing one or two), the draconequus managed to reach the bar. The only empty chair shifted and changed to better fit him.

“Good evening, boss,” the bartender said, giving him his usual drink. He just answered with a nod.

“Busy day, Sunset?” He asked after taking a sip.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” The unicorn answered. She had an amber coat, with a red and yellow mane and tail that reminded some of a fire. “Then again, this isn’t what I signed for.”

After attending two more customers, she refilled his glass. “Wouldn’t you want to do something more… significant? Important? Exciting?” She looked at him meaningfully, but Discord just stared back nonchalantly, playing with the ice in his drink.

“Oh, for crying out loud; you’re the ruler of Tartarus. How about we go back and impart justice over those that deserve it?” She questioned; with the music and the constant chatter, no one else was paying attention to them, so they could talk without problem.

“I retired, my dear. And Gaia seemed like a good place to retire to. Poor woman has seen better days, though,” he commented while looking around.

Sunset grumbled while she went to refill more drinks; she missed her old post in Tartarus. The screams, the blood, the tournaments...

“I didn’t ask you to come with me. You could have stayed and enjoyed the screams of the damned; I can take care of myself,” Discord pointed out rather quietly when she came back.

The unicorn snorted. “Yeah, right.”

“Your lack of trust in my capability to stay out of trouble wounds this old heart,” Discord answered dramatically, holding his paw to his chest.

Sunset hit him in the shoulder playfully. “You are my lord; I’ll follow you until the end of time. Even if I don’t agree with every choice you make. Besides, this place has its perks.”

“Drugs, alcohol and sex?” He asked. Her smile was all the answer he needed.

She refilled his glass… or tried to, anyway. The liquid seem to slow down, like it was too lazy to move and gravity was ok with that. The music was next, as well as the people dancing and drinking around them.

The initial confusion passed and they shared a worried look; someone was slowing down the flow of time, and they could not perceive any magic acting around them that could be the cause. That only left one suspect.

A silhouette in the middle of the dance floor catch Sunset’s attention, and her lips pursed. “Boss… we have a visitor.”

Walking among the ponies was someone so similar, yet so different to them. A dark blue alicorn whose mane and tail were like the night sky, complete with stars shimmering in it. She wore a simple white dress that started at the small yoke at the base of her neck and went almost to her tail, covering her flanks. Her wings were uncovered and held at her sides, though.

Her light blue eyes were beautiful, though lacking the warmth Discord once saw in them whenever she looked at him. Shaking his head to get that nostalgic feeling out, he put on a happy smile and walked towards her and meeting her halfway, sitting down on one of the couches at the border of the dance floor.

“Selene! It’s been ages. How are you doing?”

“I stopped using that name centuries ago; I go by Luna now.”

“Really? You should keep me up to date,” he said, taking a half-full glass from a griffin at his side and offering it to her; she lifted a hoof and shook her head. The draconequus shrugged and downed it himself.

“Discord-” She started.

“I mean, what kind of sister doesn’t tell his brother something so important?” He interrupted, half-joking.

Selene- sorry, Luna looked a bit put out by that, and actually seemed to ruminate that for an instant before shaking her head and proceeding with her message.

“Discord, it has been requested by Father that you return to Tartarus and reassume your position as its ruler.”

Having seen that coming, he wasn’t more than bored and a little annoyed at the request. “You don’t say. Let me check my agenda,” the draconequus brought a small notebook from out of nowhere and started to flip page after page. “Hmmm… sorry, I’m too busy with my new job to go back to the old one. Besides, I retired from the entire ‘eternal punishment’ thing.”

Luna took a deep breath. She had seen this coming, and yet, she couldn’t help but to be increasingly irritated at him. “This is a game for you, isn’t it?”

“Yep.”

“Brother, do you know what happens when the Beast is not on Tartarus to supervise things? Do you know what happens to the demons and tormented souls in there?”

“No. And I honestly don’t care,” he answered, looking at her in boredom while scratching his neck. "The demons are mature enough to take care of themselves, and they know what will happen if they step out of line. And the mortals down there? We both know they can't get out, and whoever manages to escape gets hunted down and thrown back in. Tartarus doesn't need me, and I got tired of living in Hell. Up here is much more pleasurable."

Luna simply shook her head in exasperation. “Things would be better and calmer if you were back there, where you belong. You better do as Father asks, brother. He won’t be so merciful with your 'vacation' much longer.”

He stopped for a millisecond, before snorting disdainfully.

“Like I was scared of Dad’s wrath. The jerk can’t do worse than what he’s already done,” Discord answered nonchalantly.

Luna’s features hardened as she extended her right wing, doubling the appendage in an impossible way until the point of her feathers were pressing against Discord’s neck, way sharper than feathers were allowed to be. Though startled, the draconequus hid his uneasiness and snorted challengingly at her.

“Very well, do it. If he’s not angry now, this will certainly do the trick,” a malicious smirk appeared on his face. Even like this, he was more than a match for her.

Luna stood there for a few second, glaring at her brother before looking at Sunset. The unicorn stood with both hooves on the bar, ready to jump over it and join any possible fray. Though her eyes were cold, the demon’s smirk was identical to Discord’s.

Finally, the angel backed down. This was not what she was here to do… even though she really wanted to beat that smile out of his face and pummel him until he screamed ‘uncle’.

“I will be in touch,” Luna said as she turned around and walked away. Discord waved lazily at her.

“I know. Bye, sis.”

The angel disappeared among the crowd, and time hit the throttle to go back to its normal speed.

Discord got up and went up to the bar, his mood dropped a bit. There used to be a time when he got along with Selene. They enjoyed each other’s company back then.

Not anymore.

“Well, that was disappointing,” Sunset commented, getting a stronger beverage for both of them.

“Next time it can be your neck under her feathers, if that makes you feel better.”

“Meh, I could beat her with both claws tied to my back,” The demon filled their glasses, turning serious. “We knew this would happen eventually.”

Discord didn’t meet her look, instead keeping both eyes in his glass. “It couldn’t be helped,” he mumbled, downing his drink in one go.

Author's Note

And so we start this new story.

After seeing Lucifer, this Idea popped in my head and wouldn't get out, so I had to write it.

English is not my mother language so I apologize for any mistake or confusion caused.