Ponies, prejudices... and Discord
That winter promised to be very interesting. With upcoming Hearth’s Warming Eve the festivity touched everypony in Canterlot, mutual spirit of forgiveness and cooperation made already cleaned and decorated castle shine seemingly twice intensively with the homely comfort and holiday feel. No wonder, the majority found themselves in significantly higher and more relaxed mood than the rest of the year through. The ponies free of their duties foaling around, playing snowballs were a common view at the moment and even the guards, usually serious and concentrated, looked like they were barely stifling a smile, going to lighten their stern muzzles.
Although, there were two, who didn’t share in entirety the nonchalance and happiness of the others. One serious reason made them finally sit together and think, how they reached such nonsense and ridicule in their life and what they could undertake to bring everything on usual, proper and therefore safe and non-unnerving places.
‘Like if my life here wasn’t full of adventures, often uncalled, and different kinds of the shock-provoking events,’ thought Alex, placing his chin on his fist and looking at Celestia with fatigue and concern. ‘What did I do to deserve that in addition to all other “entertainments”?’
The princess returned his glance with fair dose of despair, through the last few days they tried everything to break the pattern… to no avail. She crossed her fore legs on the table and rested her head atop; Celestia’s ears drooped, her cheeks noticeably flushed still, as the memories of that morning were quite fresh. Alex couldn’t blame her, he himself recovered from the impression not long ago.
“Any more ideas?” Celestia’s tired glance stopped at Alex’s eyes again with visible hope for something, they haven’t yet tried, to dawn on him. “Because I seriously can’t think of any other way to fix everything. Especially considering you being magic resistant and…” Alex slowly shook his head, nothing else flashed in his mind since about the last evening.
‘I’m going to become even more cautious, after seeing how the last idea turned out!’ flied in his head.
Alex sighed and threw a quick look at the square of deep blue clear sky, framed with the heavy curtains, right behind his regal collocutor back. The slightly opened window let winter freshness inside, those elusive smells one could always feel during the nice and bright winter days, but was hardly able to tell what exactly those smells were of – the simple snow couldn’t be that fragrant. This kind of freshness filled with joy and called outside. The Sun was shining almost in Spring style, totally denying its obedience to Celestia’s will at the moment – it wasn’t corresponding princess’ mood a zilch. No wonder it was quite warm and the sounds, reaching their ears, clearly told about another snowball battle unfolding right below, in the castle garden. A single snowball even hit the window of Celestia’s study despite the distance, it was enveloped in the suspiciously familiar blue aura and Alex inwardly chuckled, forgetting for a moment about their problem.
A new blast of loud laugher made Alex approach the window and take a look down: a few ponies, Alex could spot Fluttershy, Pinkie and perhaps Twilight, made Discord tumble in his own “various-caliber” paws and the scene below resembled free-for-all now, where it was hard to tell, who smacked whom with a snowball; it looked like a big messy romp at the moment. Luna, Alex couldn’t hold back a smile, floated above the herd on a small cloud, giggling and sprinkling everypony with snowflakes in equal amounts.
Alex turned back and started step-measuring the room. Apparently Celestia caught a glimpse of his smile, before it faded, drowned in thoughts; the laugher from outside reached her fluffy ears as well.
“Did you tell her?” she looked up; Alex negated. “And Fluttershy?”
‘Merlin’s pants! The last person… pony, which needs to know about that, is Fluttershy,’ Alex’s eyes dilated. ‘She barely reconciled with idea of sharing with Luna…’
*
It all started a few days ago, when he, Fluttershy and the rest of the girls were invited to the castle for the upcoming Hearth’s Warming day. Perhaps Luna put her hoof to it more than enthusiastically, thus nopony had any complaints about. They took their rooms and put themselves in order after the railroad trip; the evening promised fun and entertainment.
They were simply foaling around the castle with Luna, while Twilight dragged the girls to evaluate the snowy and decorated for the holiday castle garden. Apparently Luna missed Alex much and turned into a filly in his company.
She was chasing him through the castle, laughing and trying to catch; although they agreed on no wings-cheating this time. Alex “flied” up the stares and rushed along the gallery, hearing Luna’s hoofsteps close behind. He couldn’t deny himself the pleasure of looking above the shoulder and sticking out his tongue, seeing that she is still far behind. Luna funnily wrinkled her nose, she jumped and seemingly doubled the pace, aiming her magic at something above him. Alex wondered, where she could find speed reserve, and tried to pull up as well…
Princess Celestia exited her study and turned to the gallery… to notice Alex and Luna approaching fast. Alex looked back and didn’t see her, there were hardly a few yards between them; the distance shortened fast.
Celestia didn’t have time to become surprised or step aside, giving those two a clear road, when a few things happened, making her freeze on the spot.
A beam of her sister’s magic hit a big Hearth’s Warming wreath at the ceiling arch, apparently, Luna planned to drop it right on Alex, thus manifesting him being caught finally. But Alex was looking at her over the shoulder, slowing down at that moment. Wrong timing made its nasty job – the wreath landed right under Alex’s feet.
With a gasp and widening eyes Alex stumbled on the wreath and slipped. There was hardly a yard between him and Celestia, looking like an ice statue with wide open eyes. Alex’s feet slid back, while the rest of his body continued moving by inertia, ending tightly pressed to Celestia with hands wrapped around her long neck.
“Mmmuah!!!” their lips met quite nicely with an audible sound. Celestia’s eyes almost met at her bridge, while Alex was sure, his were practically reaching his hairline. Alex found himself almost hanging on bemused and flushing Princess of the Day and tried his best to regain his balance fast. Finally his feet stood firmly on the floor.
*GIGLLE-SNORT*
Both Alex and Celestia stared at Luna, who pointed at something above their head with her eyes only, laughing, shaking and leaning on the column for extra support. Alex followed her glance…
‘Tarnation!!!’ said Applejack in his head…
A big raceme of mistletoe, dark green, lush, with bloody scarlet berries, shining like fine rubies on Rarity’s best dresses, was hanging from the gallery ceiling. Right above the place, where Alex… “met” Celestia.
At first Alex froze, then he swore inwardly, then… looking at pinkish embarrassed Celestia, he started snorting as well. They both burst up laughing and in a minute, after the first shock passed, Celestia joined them.
Truly it was the best method to deal with that ridiculous accident. Laugh heartily and forget about it… Nopony was going to take it seriously, right?
The next morning Alex yawned, stretched and opened his eyes.
The ceiling didn’t match the one, he fell asleep under the last night! Feeling the nasty symptoms of something strange happening again (despite he should have got used to that already) Alex braced himself. A quick glance aside and he met with Celestia’s muzzle, framed in lush pink-green-turquoise mane; the princess slept on her fore hoof, put under her white cheek.
“Eek!” the speed, Alex unwrapped from the covers and escaped the bed with, could easily make Rainbow Dash green from envy. ‘What the bucking hay is going on!!! A-a-a-a, damn it, damn it, damn it.’
Quick self examination showed, he was right like he got asleep; anathematizing the unknown force major, bringing him there (Alex was sure he was totally sober and had no plans on visiting Celestia, not like that at least), Alex grabbed some cover and quickly wrapped around himself as a roman toga. He was in a real trap: guards behind the bedroom doors, the princess going to wake any minute… And the main thing, what the hell he was doing there?!! Alex’s thoughts whisked around like mice from the hunting cat and he didn’t ask himself a reasonable question: how did the guards let him in, as he was to pass them inevitably?
It was quite a task to avoid a quick trip to the Moon, when Celestia woke up. To the princess’ honour we must say, she didn’t shriek, when she opened her eyes and met the glance of Alex sitting in the armchair, wrapped in bed linen. But Alex was to call for all his diplomacy to ensure her, that was some terrible accident, he had no idea about… or perhaps Celestia remembered about his magic resistance. So, the trip to the Moon could turn out a “romantic” journey for two easily. Anyway, when she calmed down, she did everything to return Alex without anypony noticing him being, where he wasn’t supposed to. They decided to forget about that incident obviously.
The next morning the same repeated. It was hard to tell, who was more angry about that weird joke or… whatever being played upon them, Alex or Celestia.
“I may be lightheaded,” Alex stared at the princess, who pondered, what to do to him. “But not QUITE… for THAT, to tell the truth!”
Inevitably Celestia was to agree with him about that being the epitome of dangerous frivolity; Alex told himself to get asleep fully dressed that night.
The morning after brought some remarkable variety to that mockery, the poor human and alicorn faced. Convinced that it’s not a coincidence or some random mishap Celestia tried to find some answers in the books, as well as possible way out; the main task was, of course, to find out, what they were dealing with. She ended the day tiredly snoozing on the couch in the library – something that didn’t happen to her since Alex’s arrival, when she looked for the way to return him.
And, of course, in the morning Alex was next to her. The couch appeared to be small for two, so Alex spent the night (and they had no doubt he did) curling on the floor next to it, so Celestia almost stomped on him upon awakening.
The rest of that day and the next one (which started the same way, making it annoying, unfunny, but already tolerable psychologically, losing its novelty) they spent, trying to invent a remedy which still could be used on Alex as well, despite his magic resistance. After remembering all the events both Celestia and Alex decided that, regardless to how hilarious it could sound, the reason of the strange things happening to them was that unfortunate kiss under the mistletoe.
The last day Alex decided to stay awake all the night long, no matter what… and see, what would happen. He diligently fought the sleep and almost succeeded until… finally fell asleep in the armchair, releasing the book from his weakening fingers.
Early in the morning he found himself in the armchair…
In the armchair in Celestia’s bedroom! And the weight he felt the last couple of hours, thinking it was part of his sleep, was easily explained by the pristine white alicorn, resting on his lap, wrapping her fore legs around Alex’s neck and putting her head on his shoulder, so, her lush mane covered them both instead of the blanket.
Alex simply rolled his eyes this time, inwardly giving up and letting Celestia wake without his help. This involved half an hour of sitting quiet with her, breathing evenly in his neck, and witnessing her flaming cheeks, when she opened her eyes and realized, how she spent that night.
*
“I can’t believe, you never had similar incidents before,” Alex muttered instead. “Did nopony ever do that before, even accidentally?”
“What? Sorry?..” Celestia seemed to let that slip past her ears.
“I mean, didn’t you ever have that happening before?” exclaimed Alex. “Because in that case you might have some remedy… We, people, have similar prejudice as well, but I can’t remember it ever working, that forcedly at least,” he let out a nervous laugher. “For us it was always a prejudice, cute and funny, but still – prejudice and nothing more.”
“I can’t remember it working that way for our subjects likewise,” the princess tilted her head and followed Alex’s trail. “Maybe it’s because of magic and you… and your complicated relationship with it. Have you ever thought about that, Alex?”
“Great!” huffed Alex. “Now it’s me solely to blame…” But he was sure inwardly that Celestia could be very close to the truth with her sudden assumption. ‘Still, Merlin’s pants, I don’t like that idea completely!’
“Ohhhh!” groaned Celestia, throwing her fore hooves in the air theatrically. “You have no idea, how I want to rewind the last few days… Simply make them happen not!”
“What?!” Alex jumped on spot almost like Pinkie, when she heard about a reason for a new party. Then he crossed the room fast, putting his hands on Celestia’s shoulders and bringing himself nose to nose with her. “Rewi-i-i-ind!!! Of course… Tia, you’re a genius!” Alex was about to kiss that nervously twitching white nose, but he noticed, it would be too much for her already.
“Time spells. Twilight!” Explained he laconically after a moment, ruffling his hair with both hands with most encouraged expression. “We can’t apply magic to me, but Twilight can try to change something. Make that incident not happen at all! Merlin’s pants!”
“This may work…” slowly mumbled Celestia, not entirely believing, apparently, that they might have found the way out.
“What? Of course, it will work! You, silly alicorn, you…” Alex still squeezed Celestia in a hug. “Errmmm… Ahem…”
“Okay. Let’s pretend, I heard nothing!” the princess cocked her head, raising one eyebrow.
*
“So?”
“So what, Alex?” Twilight looked up at him sympathetically and tiredly at the same time. “Believe me, I tried. I tried every method, I considered safe enough, but obviously to no avail… as you are still here and remember, what we are trying to do.”
“Look, I became five hours older in the last half of an hour,” her glance became pleading. “Simply to witness, whatever I did could do nothing to you ending in that gallery, slipping on the wreath and…” she flushed brightly and whispered. “…smooching Celestia.”
Alex felt, his face and ears started heating as well. The way Twi stated it made it look, like him and Tia did it on purpose, enjoying the thing entirely; definitely not their case. But he couldn’t blame Twilight at the same time: during the last hour, she tried the time spell five times at least, each time returning more and more exhausted. Each time confirming that she couldn’t do anything to that mishap.
“Sorry, Twi,” Alex hugged her, stroking her shoulders lightly. “I know, thou didst thy best. Tis meaneth, I’m screwed… Royally! Merlin’s pants, Celestially!!!” he nervously chuckled, dropping on the couch.
Twilight took a place opposite and silence reigned in the library for a while. She looked for, but couldn’t find another safe way to change anything. Interfering too obviously was dangerous, letting others witness two Twilights at the same time – even more, despite they had similar incidents before. For Harmony’s sake, she even tried to keep Celestia busy for a longer while to let Alex and Luna pass the gallery, but for some inscrutable reason, the princess managed to exit her study “right in time”… Or that were Alex and Luna, who managed to arrive “right in time”. Her thoughts dashed about, like moths around the light, Twilight threw a quick glance at Alex.
“I can’t believe that happening,” muttered he, rubbing his temples tiredly. “Tis weird, twisted like…” Alex froze, then a sly smile wormed on his face. Twilight looked at him with concern, fearing the psychological tension of past few days might harm him.
“Of course,” started Alex with extremely kind and simultaneously chilling tone. “If we can’t do anything with the events, we can still try to change the partakers. They were more than friends once, long afore… Nothing prevents them from remembering good ol’ times,” he chuckled, pondering aloud. “And it shall bring peace to their relationship… or so I hope.”
Twilight still didn’t get it; she tilted her head and perked one ear, and might look quite comic, while still being unsure, if Alex is not raving.
“Discord!” explained Alex with a wide grin, raising one eyebrow. “Can you try once more, Twi? Please…”
Twilight’s eyes dilated at realization of what Alex suggested.
*
Fortunately she and all the girls were enjoying the decorated garden, thus time-traveler Twilight could easily catch Discord without witnesses. She didn’t even need to imitate the ruffled and totally mental look – after the sixth time travel and change attempt it played out naturally.
“Oh, finally… I found you,” without any preamble she clung to the draconequus. “I need your help, but we must hurry!”
“Everyone needs something from the old King of Chaos,” Discord bent as a big question mark and blinked at Twilight, then squinted. “Judging by your look, Twilight… Does Canterlot have no free firefighting teams left?”
“Oh, come on…” groaned Twilight. “Joking is not the right remedy right now.”
“Hmm, strange. According to my experience, it never failed to help,” huffed Discord, then said mercifully. “Okay, what’s burning?”
“Nothing yet, but the whole castle may blow next minute,” breathed out Twilight.
“Alex and Celestia,” explained she. “They are having a… heated argument right now. I guess Alex is still bitter about her being unable to return him. I have no idea, what winded them that much, but believe me, I’ve heard them from another end of the gallery.”
“Hmmm… I thought the “returning question” wasn’t so sharp now, when…” Discord’s tone became more serious at once; he didn’t even pay enough attention to Twilight’s pinkish nose. “Are you sure?”
“More than,” confirmed Twilight, downcasting. “I thought, maybe, you can extract him from there, before… before they did something…”
The problem was serious indeed: considering the human being magic resistant, his interaction with annoyed Celestia could end quite unexpectedly. Discord didn’t listen further and vanished with a click of his fingers.
The gallery in front of Celestia’s study was empty and quiet, so was the study itself behind the door.
‘What the…’ Discord took a look around. ‘Either Twilight mistook something… or…’
He heard some noise from the stairs, next second the door lock clicked and somepony exited to the gallery behind him. A few seconds Discord and Celestia stared at each other in complete silence. Well, not complete – the laugher and hoofsteps approached from the stairs. Celestia blinked.
Discord turned to the source of the noise and noticed Alex and Luna dashing towards them. Alex looked back and said something with laugher; Luna sped up and blasted a decoration from the gallery ceiling with her magic.
The large wreath was falling down for the eternity seemingly.
Alex turned back to find himself quickly approaching somepony, tall and completely obstructing the way.
Something whizzed in front of Alex’s nose and the next second his foot stumbled and slipped on something large and round. Alex lost his balance and flied forward by inertia.
BUMP!
*
“I did it! I did it, Alex! This time it worked!” with a bright flash Twilight returned to the library.
There was nopony there. Twilight took a look around, an open book lied on the low table, except that nothing disturbed the order and serenity of that kingdom of knowledge.
‘And what did I do, pray tell?’ her enthusiastic smile faded, being replaced by confused expression. ‘Oh, Celestia! I must have read too much and… Definitely need some rest.’
Twilight left the room, taking the book with her automatically.
*
The weather was perfect, not only for winter he was to admit. Alex quickly made a snowball and weighted it on his hand. The silence around was deceptive and each corner of the snowy garden could hide an ambush. He didn’t have time to notice, how all the girls whisked away in different directions, and at that moment everything told that he could easily be the pray.
‘Okaaay!’ squinted Alex. ‘Where are you all, you cunning ones, you… Aha!’
The quick flash of pink behind a large snowdrift was hardly something natural for the winter garden; Alex jumped and launched his snowball on a wide arc behind that snowdrift.
The following “plop” signalized about the projectile meeting something alive and fluffy. Pinkie’s head, appearing a second later, confirmed that assumption, besides, she didn’t have that white snowy hat before.
“Attack!!!” yelled Pinkie, throwing a couple of snowballs at Alex and launching herself in the air.
In a wink the garden around him became alive and filled with flying snowballs and ponies. Alex turned around fast, trying to aim, tumbled and fell, finding himself at the bottom of the pony romp, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Twilight and others formed at once. Luna observed the battleground from above, giggling and providing a fair dose of snow to everypony from a small cloud, she nested on.
*
The Castle of Canterlot provided the warm and homely holiday eve feel, decorated for the upcoming Hearth’s Warming day and making everypony became a foal at heart for a while. The guests enjoyed their free time and games, winter generously provided natural means for.
Although, there were two, who didn’t share in entirety the nonchalance and happiness of the others. One serious reason made them finally sit together and think, how they reached such nonsense and ridicule in their life and what they could undertake to bring everything on usual, proper and therefore safe and non-unnerving places.
‘How come, me, the one who is the prankster always, unable to overcome that ridicule. Moreover, I have no idea how that happened,’ thought Discord, bending in the armchair, like a large question mark, and looking at Celestia with fatigue and concern. ‘Would never believe, if anypony told me such a story…’
The princess returned his glance with fair dose of despair, through the last few days they tried everything to break the pattern… to no avail. She crossed her fore legs on the table and rested her head atop; Celestia’s ears drooped, her cheeks noticeably flushed still, as the memories of that morning were quite fresh. Discord couldn’t blame her, he himself recovered from the impression not long ago.
“Any more ideas?” Celestia’s tired glance stopped at Discord’s different eyes again with visible hope for something, they haven’t yet tried, to dawn on him. “Because I seriously can’t think of any other way to fix everything. You are capable enough, yet still…” Discord slowly shook his head, nothing else flashed in his mind since about last evening.
‘I’m going to become even more cautious, after seeing how the last idea turned out!’ flied in his head.
Discord sighed and threw a quick look at the square of deep blue clear sky, framed with the heavy curtains, right behind his regal collocutor back. Slightly opened window let winter freshness inside, those elusive smells one could always feel during the nice and bright winter days, but was hardly able to tell, what exactly those smells were of – the simple snow couldn’t be that fragrant. This kind of freshness filled with joy and natural inspiration to play some tricks on non-expecting ponies. The Sun was shining almost in Spring style, totally denying its obedience to Celestia’s will at the moment – it wasn’t corresponding princess’ mood a zilch. No wonder it was quite warm and the sounds, reaching their ears, clearly told about another snowball battle unfolding right below, in the castle garden. A single snowball even hit the window of Celestia’s study, despite the distance; it was enveloped in the suspiciously familiar blue aura and didn’t look accidental.
A new blast of loud laugher made Discord approach the window and take a look down: a few ponies, he could spot Fluttershy (Discord felt the strong regret, being unable to join the fun), Pinkie and perhaps Twilight, made Alex tumble and fall, unable to address so many opponents at once, and the scene below resembled now free-for-all, where it was hard to say, who smacked whom with a snowball; it looked like a big messy romp at the moment. Luna floated above the herd on a small cloud, giggling and sprinkling everypony with snow in equal amounts.
Discord turned back and started step-measuring the room. Apparently Celestia caught a glimpse of his sad smile, before it faded, drowned in thoughts; the laugher from outside reached her fluffy ears as well.
“Did you tell anypony?” she looked up; Discord negated.
‘Uughhh! The last thing I need is the girls and human literally neighing after imagining the scene,’ Discord’s eyes dilated. ‘Alex and Luna almost crawled on the floor laughing, when it happened…’
*
He was more than sure that it all started a few days ago, when Fluttershy, the rest of the girls and the human were invited to the castle for the upcoming Hearth’s Warming day. It was Alex’s idea to invite Discord as well, Fluttershy supported and, to Discord’s own surprise, Twilight did likewise, probably thinking that he needed to socialize more. Truth to be told, Discord enjoyed taking part in their games and entertainment much. The Chaos realm might be fun, but sharing the holiday spirit with friends sounded better.
One day Twilight came to him, worried, her eyes twitching nervously, and asked… What did she ask indeed? Discord couldn’t remember, despite how much he tried. He could remember himself standing in the long gallery of the castle, near Celestia’s study, looking for her exactly and Alex.
‘What for, pray tell?’ Discord couldn’t recall that as well. ‘That’s a new degree of weird… even for me!’ he scratched the back of his head puzzledly.
He teleported to that spot and… seconds after he was able to throw a quick look around, he heard approaching hoofsteps and laugher.
Princess Celestia exited her study and turned to the gallery… to almost run nose to nose with him; she looked quite surprised, finding Discord in the castle at that moment. Then they could see Luna and Alex approaching fast, Alex looked back at Luna and was running right into them.
They both didn’t have time to step aside, giving him a clear road, when a few things happened, making them freeze on the spot.
A beam of Luna’s magic hit a big Hearth’s Warming wreath at the ceiling arch, apparently, Luna planned to drop it right on Alex, thus manifesting him being caught finally. But Alex was looking at her over the shoulder, slowing down at that moment. Wrong timing made its nasty job – the wreath landed right under Alex’s feet.
With a gasp and widening eyes Alex stumbled on the wreath and slipped. There was hardly a yard between him and Discord, frozen on spot with wide open eyes. Alex’s feet slid back, while the rest of him continued moving by inertia and bumped somewhere in the middle of Discord’s long body.
The impact was quite palpable and Discord almost fell over, managing to hold by some miracle. But then he noticed, what or better say whom he was holding on and… His eyes dilated…
*GIGLLE-SNORT*
Both Discord and Celestia stared at Luna and Alex, who pointed at something above their heads, laughing, shaking and holding onto each other for extra support. Discord followed their gesture…
‘By the Chaos the merciful!!!’ flied in his head…
A big raceme of mistletoe, dark green, lush, with bloody scarlet berries, shining like fine rubies on Rarity’s best dresses, was hanging from the gallery ceiling. Right above the place where Discord… “met” Celestia.
At first he froze, then he swore inwardly, then… looking at pinkish embarrassed Celestia, he started snorting as well. Even if that didn’t rub well with Celestia, she was to follow suit, rightfully supposing that turning it into a joke was the best variant. Laugh heartily and forget about it… Nopony was going to take it seriously, right?
The next morning Discord stretched and opened his eyes.
He was absolutely sure about his last evening starting in his own realm; what he saw at that moment was a simple ceiling of some castle room! Feeling the nasty symptoms of something strange happening (despite that shouldn’t be a problem for him normally) Discord braced himself. A quick glance aside and he met with Celestia’s muzzle, framed with lush pink-green-turquoise mane; the princess slept on her fore hoof, put under her white cheek.
“What the?!!” the instinctive reaction was faster than his mind and with a click of his fingers Discord vanished, teleporting back to his dimension, then delved into deep thoughts (when the initial shock dispelled a bit). ‘What has just happened?!!’
Quick self examination showed, he was right like he got asleep; anathematizing the unknown force major bringing him there – he was sure, he had no plans on playing a prank on anypony, let alone Celestia, let alone that kind of a prank – Discord tried to find possible explanation of the inscrutable fact that something took him out of his realm… against his will… and put next to Celestia! Needless to say he found none at that moment.
The next morning the same repeated. It was hard to tell, who was more angry about that weird joke or whatever being played upon them, Discord or Celestia, when she woke up. Yes, Discord risked that much that time, because finding out the truth was more important.
It was quite a task to avoid a quick trip to the Moon. To the princess’ honour we must say, she didn’t shriek, when she opened her eyes and met the glance of Discord sitting in the armchair. But Discord was to call for all his diplomacy to ensure her, that was some terrible accident, he had no idea about… If Celestia’s glance could kill instantly, he would have been executed in the most gruesome ways already; she gathered all her prudence and patience to calm down eventually.
“Believe me,” Discord stared at the princess, who pondered what to do with him. “That’s not the kind of joke I’d willingly risk to undertake!” Inevitably Celestia was to agree with him about that being the epitome of dangerous frivolity.
The morning after brought some remarkable variety to that mockery, the poor draconequus and alicorn faced. Convinced that it’s not a coincidence or some simple mishap Celestia tried to find some answers in the books, as well as possible way out; the main task was, of course, to find out, what they were dealing with. She ended the day tiredly snoozing on the couch in the library – something that didn’t happen to her since the human’s arrival, when she looked for the way to return him.
And, of course, in the morning Discord was next to her. The couch appeared to be small for two, so Discord spent the night (and they had no doubt he did) curling on the floor next to it, so Celestia almost stomped on him. He tried to nest all the night through and ended like a collapsed watering hose, no wonder he felt like such upon awakening.
The rest of that day and the next one (which started the same way, making it annoying, unfunny, but already tolerable psychologically) they spent, trying to invent a remedy. After remembering all the events both Celestia and Discord decided that, despite how hilarious it could sound, the reason of the strange things, happening to them, was that unfortunate kiss under the mistletoe.
The last day Discord decided to stay awake all the night long, no matter what… and see what would happen. He diligently fought the sleep and almost succeeded until… finally fell asleep in the armchair, with the books and coffee cups floating around.
Early in the morning he found himself in the armchair…
In the armchair in Celestia’s bedroom! And the weight he felt the last couple of hours, thinking it was part of his sleep, was easily explained by the pristine white alicorn, resting on his lap, wrapping her fore legs around Discord’s long neck, so her lush mane covered them both instead of the blanket.
Discord simply rolled his eyes this time, inwardly giving up and letting Celestia wake herself, without his help. This involved half an hour of sitting quiet with her, breathing evenly in his neck, and witnessing her flaming cheeks, when she opened her eyes and realized how she spent that night.
*
“I can’t believe you never had similar incidents before,” Discord muttered instead. “Did nopony ever do that before, even accidentally?”
“What? Sorry?..” Celestia seemed to let that slip past her ears.
“I mean, didn’t you ever have that happening before?” exclaimed Discord. “Because in that case you might have some remedy… As far as I know, it’s only a prejudice, quite stupid in my opinion, while somepony may find it cute and…” Discord made a face. “I still can’t remember it ever working, that forcedly at least,” he let out a nervous laugher.
“I can’t remember it working that way likewise,” the princess tilted her head and followed Discord’s trail. “Maybe it’s because of your chaotic nature, eh?”
“Great!” huffed Discord. “Now it’s me solely to blame… Like every time. I’m totally not surprised, Cell… lestia” But he was sure inwardly that Celestia could be very close to the truth with her sudden assumption. ‘Why it irks me so much that she may be right?!’
“Ohhhh!” groaned Celestia, throwing her fore hooves in the air theatrically. “You have no idea, how I want to rewind the last few days… Simply make them happen not!”
“What did you just say?” Discord perked his ears. In a moment a sly grin wormed on his face, while a sudden phrase transformed into an idea. ‘Of course, rewind!!! Use a time spell and… make somepony else kiss Celly! Ha-ha, that would be their problem then…’
‘Wait a second! I seem to know a perfect candidate. He loves Luna already… One sister more, one less, not a big deal!’ the grin on his face became wider and even slyer. ‘And if Alex is overly busy with both sisters, I have more time to spend with my true friend!’
Discord was about to kiss that nervously twitching white nose, but he noticed, it would be too much for Celestia already.
“I surely know what to do, Celly!” exclaimed he, clicking his long fingers and vanishing.
That winter promised to be quite interesting. Interesting and… long.
