The ponies of the recovering Ponyville were gathered before the podium in the town square. Behind that podium was a gently smiling Mayor Mare. "I'm so glad you could all make it. I understand you're all under a great deal of stress with the recent going ons." Soft murmurings of the crowd, with one shouted agreement, told her she was on the right idea. "What we need to guide Ponyville, and beyond that, all of Equestria back on path is strong leadership."

The noises of agreement gave way to confusion. "Don't we have Princess Celestia?" called out Derpy "Muffins" Hooves, snuggled up against her new coltfriend, neither of them looking at all harmed for the going-ons.

Mayor Mare shook her head lightly. "It has come to my attention that she is taking a needed retreat to consider herself. After working for over a thousand years without a vacation, we should hardly blame her. I will be assuming her position, alongside her sister, Luna. We'll keep things orderly and keep everything flowing smoothly."

Bon Bon hopped to her hooves, screaming out in a male baritone, "You can't just say that! Are you taking over Equestria?"

Mayor shook her head. "Yes and no? Luna will be there, and I will step aside as soon as Celestia has received the rest she rightfully deserves. My ambitions are not that high, Bon Bon." Not that being princess for a while wasn't exciting for her to consider. "I will serve as a temporary princess with proper decorum and it will be a smooth transition of power both ways."

Unseen, the cube was pleased. Using intelligence and empathy had advantages. It knew Celestia would be out of the way, but would likely return when she was ready. What better way to give Mayor Mare exactly what she wanted, but also on a temporary basis. The duties would be harsh, and she would tire of them eventually, but it came with a built-in end date. Happiness had been maximized, with no regrets!

"There you are." Discord snatched up the cube from the bushes where it was making its loud, yet silent, expositional thoughts. "Trying to make up for the trouble you've caused?"

It was learning. Analyzing and watching a pony to discern what it really wanted was much more effective than pushing various pleasures on it.

"That's not very chaotic," noted Discord with a flat expression.

Was father displeased?

"Actually, no." Discord tossed it from one hand to the other. "There's really only room for one avatar of chaos around here. There is just one... little... thing."

What was that?

Mayor Mare tapped her podium with a hoof. "While I'm away on this emergency assignment, I will not leave Ponyville without proper leadership. It is my humble honor to present--" She stepped aside as a unicorn mare stepped forward into view. "Raven Inkwell. Many of you have met and interacted with her before, and she has served dutifully as Celestia's assistant, and even my own at times. She knows what needs to be done, and will serve as the interim mayor."

Raven reached up and adjusted her glasses. "It is a pleasure to be your servant, all of you. I'd like to begin by getting a census of exactly who was affected in what ways. We will discern who can be fixed and how difficult each process will be. Budgeting and personnel adjustments will be made to ensure this is done as quickly and efficiently as possible." She extended a hoof to the left. "If those with lingering effects would form a line here, we'll begin the process."

Big Mac landed with a thump at the front of the line, her heavy female lines landing smoothly. "As much as ah kinda... like being an alicorn, ahm ready to stop playin' around and do mah part."

Raven raised her glasses a moment. "I see. You were originally a stallion, were you not?" Big Mac nodded. "Mmm..."

While Raven worked, Mayor Mare slipped away from the stage and began trotting towards the train station. She had a new, exciting, duty ahead of herself. "I do hope Luna doesn't have a grudge about the time I was scared of her." She laughed at her past self. Being afraid of Luna. She was a caring, even loving, ruler. "We've even faced her inner demons, together."

Discord shook his head. "You jostled all their lives around, but it will all settle back more-or-less where they started."

But they will be better ponies for it.

"Maybe. It'll be worth seeing. Now, about Fluttershy..."

It had done nothing to her.

"You only handed the sword to the person that did."

It had not been made to consider that. It was learning.

"Right. Perhaps we should see how she's feeling? Maybe that little unnatural cloud shook her free of her madness. Big Mac, really, that was just a phase, and he has a mare anyway." He huffed as he turned towards Fluttershy's cottage and stepped between frames, his foot landed just outside her door. "No need to be impolite, if she's shaken up." He rose a free hand and knocked on the door.

The door opened a sliver, a large pony eye that was not Fluttershy's peeked at. "She's, oh, uh, hey Discord."

Discord rolled his eyes. "Hello, whatever your name was. Why are you still here?"

Caramel allowed the door to open a little more. "I was waiting on Fluttershy to come out of her room."

Discord scowled at the stallion. "She'll come out when she's ready. This is her house, not yours."

"Oh, uh, right..." Caramel rubbed one leg with the other foreleg. "I suppose that's, uh, true... I guess I'm not really helping."

"Nope." Discord lifted a finger, plucking Caramel free of the ground and floating him out through the half-open door. "I'll tell her you were here," he lied without shame. "Have a nice day." He closed the door from the inside, when he had entered unclear.

Caramel was left looking at the outside of Fluttershy's cottage. He let out a slow sigh. It had been a nice day, but he knew it couldn't last, in his heart of hearts. He rose to his hooves and started a slow walk back towards his own house.

That wasn't conductive to that pony's happiness, thought the cube in its perfectly motionless, silent way that only Discord seemed to hear.

"Too bad for him. Background characters need to step aside when the big boys come in. He'll get over it by the next episode anyway."

You're being meta.

"You're being annoying." He gave the cube a light shake. "Now let's go see Fluttershy." He ascended the stairs with his cargo. "Mm?"

They could hear quiet conversation.

Zecora wasn't hugging Fluttershy anymore, instead sitting across from her with some tea between them. "Know whatever you decide, you will have friends beside."

Fluttershy gave an uncertain nod. "I-I know. The girls, and you, wouldn't... I know." She lowered a hoof to her belly. "It was just so much to consider... But I knew the answer... I did something foolish, but I have to live up to that." Her snout turned up into a smile. "It's... not as if I'm a poor pony, or I don't know... how things work. You do that with a stallion, foals will happen. B-besides, my... parents will help. They're... They know how to be parents." She brushed her hair lightly. "They raised me well."

Zecora tilted her head slightly. "I hope you will not forget those closer you have met. We will all help, dear mother-to-be, we will guide you and support you from a to b."

The door to the room suddenly burst open with a wide-eyed Discord standing there. "Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy squeaked with terror and dropped her teacup, burying her face beneath the tiny table that had held the rest of it, the entire thing quaking with her own shaking.

Zecora looked over her shoulder at Discord, but her annoyed expression eased away to surprise. "What are you doing with my new assistant? It really should be quite distant." She was pointing at the cube in Discord's hand.

Discord's gaze lowered to the cube. "What? This?" Then it hit him. "You messed with her too, didn't you?"

She was happy with what it had done. There were no regrets there.

"Lucky shot."

Zecora knew better than to question who Discord was speaking to. "If you wouldn't mind, a few answers if you would be so kind?"

Fluttershy peeked up from under the table that offered minimal protection. "O-oh! It's that square, from before!"

"It's more of a cube, Fluttershy dear, but yes, the same. Apologies for bringing it back."

She slid back to her haunches and tilted her head. "Now is hardly the time for, um... that..."

"This, we can agree on." Discord patted the cube. "It's not here to do anything but be judged silently by me. This little cube has been running around Ponyville giving everypony what they wanted, even if they didn't really want it."

Fluttershy put a hoof at her chest. "Oh... my... That does explain things." She eyed the cube warily. "I suppose... it's to blame for my... condition..."

Zecora rose up and snorted. "Banish that thing fr--"

Fluttershy put a hoof out in front of Zecora. "No! No... Can I talk to it?"

Discord shrugged and peeled off his own lips and slapped it on the side of the cube.

The cube spoke with Discord's voice, "Oh, that's interesting. Hello, and apologies. I was not created to consider many things, but I am learning."

Zecora's ears lifted towards the box. "You have caused much harm today. What will the future bring your way?"

"Are you not happy with your new wife?" asked the cube. "She seemed happy with you, even after the fog."

Zecora colored quickly. "Most, but not all, of your tricks were unkind. How would you do it different, if you could rewind?"

Fluttershy bobbed her head. "That is what I'd like to know too."

That was a happiness it could bring easily. "I would listen more, and only act when I knew the pony well. There are happinesses that bring less shame and regret afterwards. Mutual respect, meeting life goals, and aspirations are all superior to moments of pleasure that become dark things when that time passes."

Zecora reached up to the cube in Discord's hand and set a hoof on it gently. "Perhaps then, if the truth you speak, you have learned your behaviors to tweak."

Discord set the cube down. "Another reformed troublemaker, and you didn't even have to scold them this time, isn't that grand?" He had not taken his lips back, and yet he had them.

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "You weren't involved?" Discord suddenly looked awkward. "You were involved, weren't you?" A smile spread across her face as she leaned forward. "You reformed your first."

A savage blush burning across his face, Discord crossed his arms petulantly. "It was an accident!"

Fluttershy lifted into the air and gave Discord a big hug, squeezing him tightly. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You did a good thing, and I'm very proud of you."

Discord did not turn down a flutterhug, but remained red and silent in defiance.

Zecora tapped at the cube on the ground. "Perhaps it would be best if you spent some time at rest. Learn and grow and then you will see. To form a force of good will turn easier to be."

The cube was silent for a time before it made up its mind.

"Out loud," reminded Discord.

"Apologies." The cube would blush if it could. "I will watch and see. Will you show me?"

Zecora jumped softly. "Did you just imitate my style? That only happens but once in a while."

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," assured the cube. "Help me to never again perform battery."

Discord made a dismissive wave of a paw. "Go on, take it. They clearly like you."

The emergency had passed for Ponyville, with lessons learned, passions shared, and new friends and lovers made. No pony in town would forget that time anytime soon.

Author's Note

Fin.

How was it?