Chapters Of Nightmares and Chaotic Love
It seems a millennia ago when I lost her. I remember the look in her eyes as she transformed into that...that monster. Nightmare Moon, as she came to call herself. Years later I remember, and I regret I didn’t help more. Surely I could have done something else, anything to keep her from turning...
I sigh and look into the sky, a crude mockery of her beautiful face across her moon. I close my eyes as a tear slides down my cheek. Some creature of chaos I am. What’s the point of having unlimited, reality bending powers if I couldn’t use it to bring my beloved back? Why couldn’t I save her? Why?! My sadness turns to anger as I remember why I could no longer hold my lovely princess of the night.
Damn that Celestia. Damn her to the deepest pit of Tartarus! What kind of ruler, what kind of sister , would push someone they claim to love to the point of giving into the darkness?! How dare she push those alligator tears out, how dare say she misses her!
I take a deep breath, smoke curling out of my nostrils as I try to rein in my anger. Despite the pain she put her through, my precious Luna would not, could not blame her sister, nor would she stop loving her. She could hold a grudge, but she could never stop loving her. She could easily stop loving me, however, if she were to somehow come back from her exile and find I had done something to Celestia...I shudder to imagine her wrath. The sun may burn bright, but it pales to the burn from the darkest corners of the moon.
I look up and blink in surprise, it appears I have lost track of time whilst in my thoughts. The sky begins to lighten, and I watch with a broken heart as my beloved sinks below the horizon, only for her sister to come up to start Equestria’s day. I growl and turn into my cave. I had always liked the night better than the day, and the darkness of my private refuge offers me some solace while I sleep, waiting and hoping to see my love again.
I have found some comfort in my dreams as well, reliving pleasant memories and imagining dates that would have been. One of my favorite to revisit is when we first met. I chuckle as I settle down, letting my magic do its work and helping me relive every aspect of the memory.
I pull at the collar of my shirt I wore. Exactly why I wore it, I couldn’t really tell you. I was nervous, and thought a shirt might make a good impression, it’s what the other colts wore when courting mares.
Then again...I wasn’t exactly a normal colt. I try not to let my gaze wander to a surprisingly reflective window, I already knew what I looked liked; a monster. A monster...wearing a shirt...about to court a princess...Eyup.
I look over to my guardian, Queen Azure of the hypogriffs. She had found me and taken me in when I was quite young, and now, I was to become a bond between Equestria and the Hypogriff kingdom. It’s not like they were in bad standing, but a marriage alliance never hurt anyone.
Suddenly, the air fills with trumpets as the princesses are announced. I bow down as best I can, I may be technically a prince, but it was always good manners to bow to your host royalty. That, among with many other practices of manners, had been drilled and pounded into my head by Azure. I know that I was supposed to know it, that it might otherwise embarrass my adoptive mother and call into question her capabilities, but sometimes these creatures are far too stuck up for my taste. However, I know better than to cause trouble...For now.
I learned my lesson last time I tried to pull a prank with important ponies. My mother did not take kindly to me replacing the water with chocolate milk when an ambassador had come. I mean, how was I supposed to know he was lactose intolerant? Thankfully he was okay, and appreciated the humor, but I still remember the 2 weeks of inability to sit properly…
I feel a hoof kick my leg and see my mother staring at me from the corner of her eye. I looked up and was nearly swept away at the beauty before me. Blue was my favorite color, and this mare was entirely that. She blushed as we made eye contact, demurely looking to the side. The other mare cleared her throat, “Queen Azure, how marvelous to see you.”
Her head ducked into a respectful nod. “I have high hopes this arrangement will turn out quite well in both our favors.”
My mother nodded as well. “I am glad you are of the same sentiment Celestia. Now, where shall we be adjourning to? Our journey was long, and I am greatly looking forward to tasting some Equestrian delights.”
“But of course, right this way.”
I couldn’t keep myself from staring at the smaller, beautifully blue pony as she walked in front of me. Her eyes instantly had me captivated, her mane looked as soft as a cloud, and I swear I could smell a faint hint of blueberries emanating off her. My heart was doing somersaults and it took all my might to keep it from literally jumping out my chest. My mother seemed to notice my struggle, her wing patting my shoulder comfortingly as we were led outside to a beautiful garden.
A surprisingly simple picnic had been set up, a large blanket set out underneath a towering tree covered with small delicacies and a few pitchers of water and tea. We all settled onto the blanket, my eyes flicking to try and meet the princess’s. She seemed to be shy, but somehow that only endeared her more to me. There had to be something more behind that soft smile though, maybe she was secretly very outgoing, only pretending to be shy. I grin softly, a plan forming.
Celestia and my mother were talking, but I wasn’t paying attention to their words. I saw Celestia pick up a sandwich, and sneakily snapped my claw to turn it into a frogwhich, which ribbited and hopped off her hoof. Her shocked face turned into a giggle, thankfully disrupting the rage I could feel pouring off my mother. “Ah, a prankster as well. It would seem they are better matched then we anticipated. My little sister is known to pull a few pranks here and there as well.”
My ears perked up, and I looked to see a large smile on my betrothed’s face. She appeared to be holding back a laugh as well, glancing between me and her sister. She whispered something to Celestia, who nodded in turn. I cocked my head at them, wondering what they could be whispering about. I was surprised when my claw was grabbed by her hoof, her smile hinting at mischievous thoughts. “Come, let us show you around the palace”
Oh, her voice. It was the most beautiful thing I had heard. I take her hoof and nod, glancing to my mother for a moment before following her. “We have not been formally introduced. Our name is Luna.”
Aww, she still spoke with the royal ‘we’. My heart warms, that form of speaking was starting to go out of fashion, but I find it all the more endearing to hear. “I am Discord.”
We walked in amicable silence until we were out of earshot of our guardians. Luna looked around and pulled me behind a tree. “Want to pull some more pranks?”
I nodded excitedly, she was certainly a mare after my own heart! Speaking of...My heart burst out of my chest like a cuckoo clock, much to the amusement of Luna. She giggled as she pushed it into my chest, spreading her wings. “Can thou fly?”
I grin as I float into the air, “Why of course. You think I walk around on these things all day?”
To emphasize I grabbed my legs and wiggled them at her before putting them back in their rightful place. I was rewarded with another adorable giggle and we took off, flying off to another part of the gardens.
My body jerks as I am awoken by a loud noise. I blearily blink my eyes, wishing to keep them closed and drift back to sleep. However, more loud crashes make that wish more and more impossible. I slowly uncurl and stroll to the front of my cave, surprised as I recognized the sound as thunder. Celestia didn’t usually have storms scheduled for the day, especially not ones as cacophonous as this. I hum in thought as I consider the weather. My heart drops as I realize what day it is. Of course it is bad weather, it is the day Celestia banished Nightmare Moon.
I roll my eyes, this sort of thing was Celestia’s little way of saying she ‘missed’ her sister. “Oh woe is me! My poor little sister was corrupted, but ‘twas not my fault, how could it be my fault, I am the all powerful, greatly benevolent ruler! I love all my ponies equally!”
My paw transformed into a imitation of Celestia for my performance, and I glowered at it. “You have no right to mourn and miss her, it’s your fault after all. Do you have any idea how many times she’s cried on my shoulder while her night is ignored by you and your subjects? Do you!”
Pawlestia just stares at me and I growl. I shake my paw to dismiss her image and stretch out, leaning against the cave wall to watch the storm. The rain pelted the outer world as the wind howled loudly, threatening, no, promising unpleasant flight for anything with wings.
I sigh loudly, snapping my claw and making a large umbrella hat appear on my head. I step out of my cave, shuddering a little at the cold wind. Last year wasn’t nearly this bad, what was it about this year? I snap again and a newspaper appears in front of me, The Daily Chaos in case you were wondering, and I flick it open.
My eyebrows raise as I read the headlining story, apparently Celestia had broken down during a council meeting, and has proclaimed she is going to take a leave of absence, only raising the sun and moon and leaving the royal duties to select delegates. That would explain the worse weather. No doubt the weather teams only knew that today a storm was scheduled, but without Celestia they didn’t know just how strong to make it.
I roll my eyes as the newspaper disappears, ponies could be such dumb creatures sometimes. They are absolutely lost without a princess to guide them in even the simplest of matters. I have no idea how the three tribes survived without Celestia and Luna.
Oh Luna darling, if only they knew just all you did for them. Walking through their dreams and comforting them when nightmares came. Despite nearly everyone missing her beautiful stars and gentle moon, she was gracious enough to do this for them. She loved her subjects, even though she never got that love back. She barely got it from her sister, particularly in the time before her...fall.
They used to be so close when I first started courting Luna. In the year we were together, we made harmless little pranks and wreaked innocent havoc upon the palace staff. However, Celestia seemed to get more serious the more Luna and I played. She started becoming even more business like and detached, scolding and frowning more than smiling and laughing at our antics. Eventually, Luna stopped wanting to do fun things. She spent her time sulking and crying, even shutting me out when I tried to comfort her.
I remember the day everything came to a head all too well…
“Luna? Luna dear, please don’t lock me out. Please let me in.”
I stood outside her chambers, knocking and pleading with her. I sigh softly as the doors remain shut. I once admired and loved the dark blue color, but now it seemed to be black as black can be. It seems a silly thing, for a door to change colors, but I knew it meant something was wrong. It seemed to not only be black in color, but had an aura around it, like it was actively sucking in all the light that dared come close.
I jump as I am teleported, gasping softly as the same darkness emanating from the door enveloped me. It was only when my love’s horn lit did I see I was in her room.
“Luna? Luna, are you alright? I was so worr-“
I stopped short, for it was not my Luna that stood there. She looked like her, but her eyes...I had never seen such hatred, such darkness as in her eyes. I found myself thinking of the phrase, ‘the eyes are the window to the soul’, but there was no soul behind those eyes, not one with any benevolence in it anyways.
She chuckled darkly, “What’s wrong Discord? We have never known thou to be afraid of the dark.”
Cold terror seized my entire body at her voice, it was so wrong, so unlike my sweet Luna. “L-Luna? That...this can’t be you...what happened?”
“What happened? WHAT HAPPENED?! Our sister has shown us that we are not her equal, she thinks that because her subjects prance in her precious light she is better than us...But we shall show her, we shall show all that WE are more powerful! THEY SHALL ALL LEARN TO LOVE THE NIGHT, FOR THERE SHALL BE NO MORE LIGHT!”
She cackled and I watched in horror as she transformed. Sharp fangs grew from her muzzle, her pupils became slitted like a cats, and her fur turned black as she grew taller. Her mane and tail became a terrifying embodiment of the night sky, swirling all around, much like Celestia’s. I was speechless as she grinned toothily at me, her hoof reaching up to trace my chin. I shivered as pure, freezing cold radiated off of it, almost burning me.
“ Thou have always been loyal to us Discord, so we shall grant thou one small mercy. Join us, or stay out of our way. Which shall it be?”
“L-Luna...P-please come back to me, please...I, I know you're in there.”
A loud and irritated sigh came from my love, “ We are not Luna anymore, we are Nightmare Moon! And if thou wish not to worship us, we shall banish thou!”
I didn’t have a chance to react, as she teleported me to the outskirts of the castle. I was still frozen in fear and confusion, wondering how I could have let my love down so much that she turned into... that.A loud explosion soon brought me out of my thoughts, and I realized the sun was eclipsed by the moon. I watched as Luna, no ‘Nightmare Moon’, and Celestia flew up and out above the castle, firing powerful spells at each other.
Blow after blow was dealt from either side, and I winced as Celestia was sent crashing down into the castle. Soon after, a deafening explosion and burst of light blinded me for a moment, and I collapsed from the magical feedback. When I could see again, I saw a face on the moon where none was before. That is, until the moon was separated from the sun and sank below the horizon.
I slowly got up, my body jerkily responding to my muddled mind’s commands. I stumbled my way towards the castle, finally coming upon Celestia weeping in the throne room. She was surrounded by little jewels, and I realized what had happened. “What...What did you do?!”
She jerked up, and I felt bad at how aggressive my tone was. Only for a moment however, for what Celestia said next had my blood boiling; “What I had to.”
I often surprise myself at my memory of what came next. With how angry I was, I am shocked I didn’t blackout and go on a rampage.
Time stopped for a moment after Celestia uttered those four words. “What you had to...what you had t- WHAT YOU HAD TO?!”
She seemed to become more upset at my tone as I keep talking, “You...you dare cry as if you loved her?! As if what you just did actually hurt you?!”
“Do not speak to me as if I didn’t love her! Luna is my sister and I love her more than anything!”
“Why didn’t you show her! Why did she turn into that thing then huh?! Tell me why Celestia, tell me!”
“I don’t know! I...I don’t know…”
She broke down in tears again, but any pity or sympathy was buried deep inside my heart, only reserved for one pony. I sneer down at her, “7 months.”
“H-Huh?”
“7 months ago was the last time you told your sister you loved her. The last time you stayed up with her and watched the stars with her. The last time your sister felt your love.”
I didn’t wait for her response. I flew out through the hole in the ceiling and kept flying. I didn’t have a particular destination in mind, but I just had to get out of there.
Of Nightmares and Chaotic Love
Thunder crashes and lightning streaks across the sky as I sit at the front of my cave. It has been twelve years since that day. Twelve years since Celestia told the nation that Luna had become corrupted, and she had to banish her using the Elements of Harmony. Her subjects had nodded their heads and accepted it without question. ‘Of course, our ruler is wise and just. Anyone born of the dark night would have been corrupted eventually.’
That line of thinking was at the foremost of most ponies minds. The few ponies who did love Luna were quickly silenced and driven to hide their devotion. I’d feel bad for them, but they are simply ponies in the end. Another few decades and they will pass, along with their love. Me, however, I shall live as long as the sun and moon rises and sets, just like my beloved and her sister.
My anger rises again at the thought of Celestia. 12 years and now it’s affecting her? Now she has to ‘take a break’? I would find the situation almost amusing were my anger not as hot as the deepest depth of Tartarus. My gaze falls to my claw and paw, and a wicked idea springs to mind.
“Well, since Celestia has chosen now to take a leave of absence, it’s about time I come out of mine.”
I chuckle as I stand, staring at my instruments of chaotic devastation in a new light. I wouldn’t do anything to directly harm anypony, they are still Luna’s subjects as well after all, but I could definitely make their life much, much harder.
“Yes! Prepare yourself Equestria! Your mundane and perfect lives are about to get a little...chaotic.”
I laugh more as I take to the air, effortlessly bending the rain and wind around me to provide safe passage. Once I am out of my homey little mountain range, I can see a little pony settlement on the base of the mountain. I glide down, stroking my claw along some clouds to turn them pink and make the water turn to chocolate milk. I can’t tell you why I am so fascinated with doing that, I just am.
That was just the beginning of my chaos, however. Once I reach the settlement I start to turn the roofs into umbrellas that barely reach the corners, letting some of my chocolately goodness flow into their homes. I chuckle as surprised shrieks reach my ears, looking around for some more fun. Lightning flashes by me and I am inspired. I wait for the next strike and carefully guide the crackling electricity into my claw and paw, shaping it into some very interesting fireworks.
I wait until ponies start streaming out of their homes to begin the show, releasing what I thought was a marvelous display of bright sparkling lights that emitted slight electric shocks and deafening booms. It rained down upon the village and I reveled in the screams. After a few minutes, it seemed I was noticed by the ponies, and they start screaming ‘how could you do this?!’ And ‘why?!’.
“How can I do this? Very easily actually. As to why...well, who’s to stop me? Certainly not your precious princess Celestia.”
More sparks and shocks are distributed as I boom down at them, cackling madly as they scurry too and fro like little mice. Satisfied with my time there, my confidence and adrenaline carry me to the next town.
There, I turn the lake into a giant blueberry scented bubble bath, and made it rain the icy cold water of the storm inside homes, along with making the cows turn pink and give only strawberry milk. All the while I giggled and laughed like a madman, and truthfully, I felt like one.
I briefly considered an apology to my love, but it was day, it was not her realm. I would never do anything to desecrate her night, even if it was Celestia raising her moon and attempting the stars. So, with a wide grin and my claw ready to snap, so began my beautiful reign of chaos.
~~3 months later~~
I chuckle as I sit upon a throne, looking out at my work. The hills were covered with plaid and stripes, random clouds were storming chocolate milk, and the shrieks of ponies filled my ears.
It was all too easy to turn these ponies lives upside down, literally and figuratively. From simple things like making the flowers snapping dandelions, the classic cotton candy cloud with chocolate rain, and some of my favorite creations - punimals. From the classic flying pigs, to blueberry jays, teacup mice, frogwhiches…My imagination and magic knew no bounds.
Over the course of three months I had slowly spread my reign of chaos across Equestria, and I believe there was even a group of fanatics that worshipped me and called me the ‘God of Chaos’. God had a really nice ring to it, so I spared them from the worst of my magic...Unless they begged for it of course.
I smack my lips and find myself a bit thirsty, holding my paw out and snapping a tea set into existence. I poured tea out of the creamer and got sugar from the teapot, humming softly. I nibble at the teacup as I am struck with nostalgia. Luna used to love the little tea parties I made for her. Her tea was a mix of blueberry and mint tea, steeped for two and a half minutes exactly with three teaspoons of sugar and a mint leaf.
I sigh heavily and toss the tea set away, finding my appetite spoiled. I put my chin in my claw and frown, tapping my paw on my throne and wondering what I could do to cheer myself up. I blink as I feel magic surround me, before I am teleported to a room I had hoped to never see.
Celestia stood at the front of her new throne room, the place looking different and similar at the same time to the previous castle.
I sneer as I look upon her, “Oh Tia, if you wanted to see me, why didn’t you send an invite? Or were you just hoping to ignore me like your sister.”
My barb hits deep and Celestia wince backwards, a pathetically sad look on her face. “Guards. Leave us.”
I raise an eyebrow, watching as they left the room while glaring at me. “You wished to see me alone? Oh don’t tell me you are about to ask me to stop. Or better yet, declare your undying love for me in hopes I’ll sympathize and stop that way.”
An emotion I can’t recognize flashes over her face before a grim and determined one replaces it. “Discord, we are both adults. This is not a place for petty schoolyard insults. As long as you are in Equestria you are my subject, and as your princess I command you to put right all you have done.”
I roll my eyes and mock a bow. “Oh ho ho, my deepest apologies princess . Of course I shall bow to you, all mighty reverent Celestia. You are my true princess, despite your cruel treatment of my beloved Luna.”
She cringes as I speak, and I swear I could hear a soft whimper as I mention Luna. I stand up straight and sneer at her. “You are a pompous, self righteous idiot Celestia. I will not listen to you, aren’t you supposed to be on vacation or something? 12 years and now you have to take a break? If you believe I will stop my chaotic justice you are wrong. Now, I’ll be going. Go back to your sunny beach or wherever you went on vacation.”
I turn in a huff, ignoring the small twinge of guilt as I heard barely restrained sobs.
“Discord, stop.”
I jerk and turn around swiftly, finding that I wasn’t hearing things, that my mother, Queen Azure was in front of me. Well, she was beside Celestia, cradling her in her wings. “Discord...Son...I beg of you, you must stop. I know you are heartbroken over Luna, but can’t you see Celestia is hurting too?”
My heart is torn in two, the love and respect for my mother battling my hatred of Celestia. I take a deep breath, clenching my paw and claw at my sides. “I am sorry Mother, but she does not deserve forgiveness or reprieve.”
I turn again, walking towards the door with a quiet dignity. I am surprised at a flash of light, even more so as Celestia appears, with rage instead of sorrow. Her wings are flared by her sides, and her eyes flash with the same pure, radiating light that surrounded her horn. I find myself regretting my words, just a little bit.
“Discord, thou hast worn our patience thin. Thou shall cease in thy chaotic activity, lest ye suffer our full wrath.”
I breathed evenly and kept fear from crossing my face, instead flashing my trademark smirk. “Oh my, I really did get you in a tizzy, you are speaking like ye pones of old.”
I flashed a fancy hat and coat on, much like how ponies would dress before...
Celestia snarled. “Thou shalt regret thy words. We repeat, cease thy activity or face our wrath.”
I snorted and patted her nose. “Oh Celestia, I have already faced your wrath, when you banished Luna.”
My tone turns hostile towards the end and I go to walk around her. Another flash of light envelopes me and I find myself in a meadow, Celestia raising her head high. “Since thou hast chosen to continually defy us, we shall face thee in righteous combat!”
I blinked, and was barely able to dodge the ray of light that came at me. I growled as I lunged to the side, sweeping my claw in front of me and snapping, a purple beam of crackling, chaotic energy shooting towards her.
She leaped into the air, spreading her great wings. For a moment, illuminated by the sun, she almost did look like the saint ponies revered her as. I snorted and flicked another beam of energy at her, flying into the air myself and snapping furiously, relentless in my assault.
Somehow, she was able to dodge all of them, and from her horn came ray after ray of pure sunlight. I was able to dodge them, curling my sinuous body through the air. Our power was matched, I had to begrudgingly admit. But when I look at her, her eyes are filled with fury and pain. I grinned wickedly as I dodged another volley of sparkling light, snarkily calling out. “Well well Celestia, it appears your fighting has not dulled. Tell me, did you use these same techniques with Nightmare Moon?”
Her nostrils flared as an especially powerful ray of sun comes towards me. I open my arms as if to accept it, but clap my hands together at the last moment to catch it. I hold the crackling fireball in my claw, chuckling as I touched it, turning it into a mixture of sun and chaotic energy. “Oh my, did that rile you up Celestia? My deepest apologies, I would never want to offend you like Luna did.”
Her eyes settled down and she looked about to cry. “T-that’s not fair Discord...you...You don’t know that I…”
I blinked and watched in surprise as she floated to the ground, her horn dying down as she sat. Her head was hung and her wings drooped by her sides, and for a moment, I felt a little sorry for her. “I loved my sister like none other. None other except…”
Her breath hitched as she looked at me, and an expression I couldn’t identify crosses her face. I narrowed my eyes and hardened my heart, lifting the ball of our combined magic and aimed it at her. She noticed but didn’t do anything to stop it. Time slowed down as I reared my arm back and threw it.
I watched as it got closer and closer to Celestia, refusing to close my eyes. When it was about a foot from her, it disappeared in a flash. I furrowed my eyebrows and stood slack jawed as my Mother stepped out from a portal, a remorseful look on her face.
“Discord, I am very disappointed in you.”
Those words nearly swept me off my feet as I land, shaking as my anger slowly dissipated into concern and fear. “Mother?”
My mother shook her head, glaring at me. “Discord, I rescued you as a youth and adopted you as my own. But your actions today and for the past few months have left me no choice. From this moment forth, you are no longer prince of the Hypogriff Kingdom and are thereby banished from its lands. As an ally of Equestria, I speak for its sovereign ruler Princess Celestia, and hereby banish you from their lands as well. You are marked as an enemy and traitor to harmony, stepping into either land from this day forth shall see you hunted and publicly executed once you are captured.”
I vaguely heard the entire speech, the words ‘you are no longer prince of the Hypogriff Kingdom’ rattling around in my head. I sink to my knees and stare numbly at the ground. I am startled a bit as magic hits my chest, and I know it is a tracking spell. “This will let us know should you cross the borders of the Hypogriff Kingdom or Equestria.”
I look up, tears in my eyes as my mother, no, Queen Azure stares down at me, a stony mask used for hard political decisions firm on her face. I think I see her mouth ‘I’m sorry’ before a flash envelopes me for the third time today.
Of Nightmares and Chaotic Love
I hum softly as a teapot flies by, pouring sugar cubes into my teacup. Luna giggles at the chaotic tea set, pouring tea from the creamer pot and plucking blueberries with mint leaf wings from the air to place into her cup.
We were sitting in the palace gardens, having a lovely little early evening tea party. I had only been at the palace for a month, spending nearly every minute possible with Luna, but it felt like a lifetime. Her and I got along fabulously, the only disagreement in how best to pull off a tricky prank.
Today was not a day for pranking, however. The palace was swarming with various delegates and representatives from all corners of Equestria and beyond. Some sort of summit going on. I had managed to pull away Luna, saving her from a particularly loud Yak Warlord. Now, in a secret corner of the maze, we drank and laughed.
Luna had launched into a story of a prank she’d pulled on her sister while they were traveling Zebrica.
“You didn’t.”
Luna’s sly smile told me otherwise. I laugh uproariously, “You actually got the Head Shaman of Zebrica to help prank your sister? Oh Luna dear, you are simply too much.”
She smirked and nodded. “He was wonderfully helpful. Sister and mine were walking to the royal hut for a feast, when a servant intercepted us. They pulled sister aside for an ‘emergency wardrobe change’. Some story about how what she was wearing was improper for a feast of such magnitude. Tia was so flustered she followed without question.”
I raise an eyebrow, giggling. “Oh ho ho, so devious...pray tell, what did she change into?”
“Let us just say, should thou mention a ‘golden goose’ to sister, she shall turn all shades of colors.”
I blink, before biting on my paw in an attempt to stem my laughter. The imagine of proud Celestia dressed in gold and feathered like a goose was simply too funny. My body shook, my limbs actually falling off as I let myself laugh. I wheezed and chortled, chuckled and giggled, guffawed and tittered, all the while my body parts were writhing on the grass.
Luna’s laughter matched mine, sounding quite unlike the demure giggling expected from a princess. She even snorted a couple times, quite adorably so, and that only served to make us laugh more.
After a solid minute we started to calm down, though gasping for breath with lungs burning and red faces might be a better way to describe it. We sobered up even quicker when voices rang out, searching for us. “Princess! Princess Luna where are you?”
I frowned softly as Luna sighed, “Alas, duty calls. We shall see thee at the banquet tonight?”
I stood up and bowed, taking her hoof in my claw and kissing it gently. “I shan’t miss it my dear. Now go, your kingdom needs you.”
She blushed softly at the kiss, but nodded and after some hesitation kissed my cheek before lighting her horn and teleporting off. I gently placed my claw against my cheek, blushing and giggling like a school filly.
~
“Hey Luna, how did you make the stars?”
My dear hummed as she looked up from the cloud we were laying on. “We actually don’t remember. They didn’t use to be there, but when we got our cutie mark they...appeared. We think it was a manifestation from our thoughts and magic. The moon looked so lonely up there, when it wasn’t being covered with a cloud. So, we thought, maybe there should be something up there with the moon. The next night, a few twinkling lights were up there. And so every night a few more would appear. Some believe we arranged them into the constellations ourself, but they just appeared like that.”
“Wow...Do new stars still appear?”
She chuckled softly. “Yes. We can look at any star and tell thou when they appeared. We’ve even named them.”
“All of them? Luna that’s amazing.”
She blushed and looked away. “We suppose it may be. If only our subjects thought the same.”
I sighed softly and nuzzle her. “They will darling, they will. I promise.”
She smiled softly. “We thank thee Discord, thou hast lifted our spirits again.”
I smile, “Of course my love, I always will. You deserve to be happy as well.”
~
Luna looked at me with a smile, her hooves over her mouth as she tries to hide her laughter. We were hidden behind a fake wall, waiting for a unknowing servant to walk by and spring our trap. There was a little block of cheese on the floor, that once picked up would release a horde of rubber mice on top of them.
I put my claw to my mouth is a shushing manner, though I was having quite the time keeping my own giggles from escaping and revealing ourselves prematurely. Both our ears perked up as a set of hooves come down the hallway. We eagerly turn and look through cleverly disguised peep holes.
My eyes widen as it is Celestia herself walking down the hallway, distractedly reading from a scroll. I’d been guest at the castle for 5 months now, but Celestia had yet to fall victim to one of our pranks.
She puts the scroll down in time to see the cheese, picking it up in her magic and releasing the rubber mice. She squealed and reared up, flaring her wings and seeming to prepare a spell until she heard our guffawing. I absolutely lost it, rolling forward out of the wall and laughing at her expression, Luna following suit.
Celestia sighed and looked at us.”I’d heard you two had taken to pranking the castle staff but…”
She shook her head, and I saw Luna look down, all laughter gone. “That said, I am glad I tripped it. We have important guests over for the week, and I need you two on your best behavior.”
A small smile graced her lips as she picked up a mouse in her magic, giggling softly before flashing her horn and teleporting the mice away. “Please do try to be more careful with your pranking sister. We are a young kingdom, and we need to secure good relations with others.”
Luna looked a little less downtrodden and nodded. “Of course sister, we shall ensure all is right for the dignitaries.”
“Thank you Luna. That goes for you as well Discord, you are representing the Hypogriff kingdom as well as Equestria.”
I nodded solemnly. “I understand Celestia.”
She nodded and walked past up, taking up her scroll again and mumbling to herself as she walked. As soon as she was away, I turned to Luna with a grin and boop her nose before scrambling up and running down the halls, laughing boisterously as she cried out, “Get back here thou heathen! We shall smite thee for thy acts!”
She chased me through the halls until we ended up outside, winding our way through a garden maze. She finally seemed to have enough of it and popped in front of me, “Huzzah! I have bested thee!”
I wasn’t able to stop myself in time, crashing into her and rolling a little bit before stopping with her on top of me. I pout softly, “Now that’s just plain unfair. I call a rematch.”
She giggled again, tossing her head back ever so slightly. My heart flutters as I realized this was as psychically close we'd ever dared to get. I could feel her heartbeat against my chest, her incredibly soft and warm fur pressing into me...My mouth suddenly dry, I lick my lips and am caught in her gaze. Her wide smile slowly fades into a gentle one, her lips slightly puckering ever so slightly.
My mind goes into overdrive, and I am utterly frozen. I gulp softly and shakily reach a claw up to cup her face, a blazing blush on both our cheeks as I dare to lean closer a little. She doesn’t move, and I can feel her breath quicken as I inch closer. Our breath intertwines for a brief moment before I press my lips to her.
She stills and I go to pull back, ashamed I had pressed myself onto her like that. I am unable to get far though, before her hoof wraps around my head and pulls me closer. I gasp shakily as our lips clumsily move together. A first kiss is never perfect, but even with our inexperience, I felt it was pure bliss. Slowly, we got into a gentle rhythm, my fang scrapes against her lip but she doesn’t seem to mind. We never part each other’s lips, but somehow that made it feel all the more intimate to me.
The sound of guards calling out for us interrupt us and Luna flashes an apologetic smile at me before lighting her horn and teleporting away.
~
I nuzzle Luna and sigh softly, sniffing her mane deeply and humming at the blueberry scent that always accompanied her. “Luna?”
“Mmm, yes?”
I smile as her eyes flutter open, her voice a touch groggy. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Her eyes closed and she snuggled deeper into my chest, her wings soft and fluffy against my side.
~
I drum my claws quietly on the arm of my chair. I was sitting alongside Luna as she and Celestia held Evening Court.
“Your majesty, we implore you, what would you have us do?”
Celestia nodded sagely as she listened to the stallions plight. His family’s farm was being pillaged by raiding groups of diamond dogs, but he was no fighter. Neither was his elderly father or young family.
“Farmer, thou hast been faithful to us, and we would seek to help thee. Sister, what say you of sending a small regiment of soldiers to send a message to the ruffians?”
Celestia hummed as she considered the thought. “I suppose we could do so sister. Farmer, do they attack during the day or night?”
“Always at night, your highness.”
“Well then, Luna, this is your domain. Why don’t you two go into a conference room to discuss the details.”
Luna stood up and nodded to the farmer before glancing at me. “Would thou mind if our betrothed joined us?”
“Discord can stay here, he and I need to plan for his mother’s visit next moon.”
I knit my eyebrows as I look sideways at Celestia. Lately, whenever I had an opportunity to be with Luna she always found a way to keep me with her. She’d even taken to seating me opposite Luna during dinner. Luna wore a sour expression before changing it back to a serene look expected of a ruler. “Very well, we shall see thee later Discord.”
I grunt softly in answer, not looking away from Celestia. I hear Luna’s regal steps clink away, her pace slow and controlled. The much meeker and softer steps of the farmer followed until a door closed, and it was just the guards, Celestia and I.
“Come Discord, let us adjourn to the grand conference room.”
I grunt again and wait until Celestia is nearly to the door before pushing myself off the throne. I say nothing as we enter the room, and stay silent as we sit at a table with scrolls and maps and books of Hippogriff customs. “Now, your mother’s visit will coincide with the autumn blue moon, but there does not seem to be any documentation of any special activities. Do the hippogriffs not celebrate it?”
I glare at Celestia. “Okay, what’s the deal. All this month you’ve been trying to keep Luna and I apart. You and I have been over this 5 times already! Let me guess, the scrolls ‘mysteriously’ disappeared again?”
Celestia looked at me coolly, a perfect poker face. “I don’t know what you are speaking of Discord, this is the first time I have pulled you to speak of this.”
I roll my eyes and stand up, pushing my chair away without a care for the loud screech it made. “No it’s not, and I shall not be made a fool of Celestia! I don’t know why you are trying to keep us apart, but it shall not work. You were the one to push for this engagement you know, but it seems you are taking every opportunity to keep us apart! ‘Oh Discord I need you to come with me to the Royal Flower Competition while Luna rests. Oh Discord, please come and sit in on this debate, oh Discord, sit across from Luna so the nobles may have closer seats to us.’”
My voice became high pitched as my face turned into a replica of hers. “‘Oh don’t worry about Luna, she’s sleeping. Come, join me at this concert. Your mother is coming to visit soon, we should prepare something special. Oh no, the scrolls were misplaced and my memory isn’t all that great as of late.’”
When I finish my performance her poker face was broken with a raised eyebrow. “Discord, I am the sovereign ruler of Equestria. You are but a prince of another land, betrothed to my sister. Do not question me again.”
I growled and flipped her off with my claw before snapping it, teleporting me to the roof just outside Luna’s room. I huff and start to pace, growling and muttering to myself.
I stayed up there for what felt like an hour or two before I heard my beloved’s voice from the balcony. I poke my head upside down and end up startling her, earning myself a soft bap on my nose.
“Hey, what was that for?”
I pout as I wind my way down, looking at Luna with concern. She giggled softly, but it sounded different than normal. Like it was fake, but she was trying to reassure me. “Luna, darling, whatever is the matter?”
Her smile faltered, tears filling her eyes and she throws herself to me. “Oh Discord...W-why is sister b-being so cruel?!”
I sigh and hold her close, cooing and running my claw through her mane, something I knew she loved. “Hey, shh, shh, it’s okay. I...talked to her a bit earlier, but she didn’t seem to understand. Maybe she’s just stressed? Equestria has grown exponentially, you are no longer a little kingdom.”
She sighed deeply. “Yes, we suppose we aren’t anymore. We only wish sister wouldn’t be so distant. We only see her at dinner and evening court anymore…”
“I know love, I know. It’s okay. Everything will get better, I promise.”
Of Nightmares and Chaotic Love
Resentment. Hatred. Jealousy.
A scream of rage so loud it shook us to our very core.
Overwhelming darkness.
We have floated here for so long, who even are we?
We sigh, the thought echoing loudly, yet whispered so softly.
A great crack of thunder echoes from...outside? We blink and look around, wondering what is happening. Another crack and then blinding light. An echo of the scream. What is happe-
~~
We groan, our head is pounding and the light stings our eyes. We hear voices, unfamiliar to our ears. But one breaks through. Is that…
“T-tia?”
We croak, coughing as our eyes slowly flutter open, slowly adjusting to the light. A white muzzle, stained with tears fills my vision. We are hugged tightly, “Oh Luna, Luna!”
“T-Tia!”
We push into the embrace and hug back tightly, burying ourself into her, memories rushing in. “Oh sister, w-we are so sorry, Tia please forgive us, forgive us…”
“Shh, hush now Luna, it’s okay.”
We remain in her embrace for a few minutes, fearing if we let go we would wake to find this all a dream.
Finally, we sniffle and raise our heads to look around, seeing a group of ponies. We sense great magic in them and gasp upon seeing the elements of harmony adorning them. “Sister, the elements…”
Celestia nuzzles me affectionately and stood up, offering us a hoof. “Oh, yes. Sister, this is my personal student Twilight Sparkle and her friends.”
We stand and look upon the group, more tears falling down our face as we bow to them. “Ponies, thou hast saved us. We are eternally grateful.”
The purple one, Twilight we believe sister said, coughs and blushes. “O-oh um, Princess...Luna, there is no need. Um, we just uh…”
“Totally saved the day we did! Boo yah! We’re awesome, we’re awesome!”
We smile and look up to see a cyan Pegasus with rainbow mane doing a peculiar dance while flying.
“Rainbow Dash! Show some decorum, we are in front of a princess.”
Our gaze shifts to a white unicorn with purple mane, looking disdainfully at the apparently celebrating Pegasus.
“Oh come on Rarity, this is a cause for celebration! We just saved a princess! Hi Princess Luna! Great to meet you, well now it is cause you aren’t all evil and scary and like ‘MWUAHAHAHAHA I’M GONNA RAISE THE MOON AND KEEP IT UP FOREVER!’...Oh hey, what was it like on the moon? Is it really made of cheese? Is that how you survived? What kind of cheese? Gouda? Pepper jack? Cheddar? Parmesan? Swiss? Mmm...cheeeeeeese…”
A pink mare was bouncing about, teetering in front of us on her front hooves before slumping to the ground and drooling, muttering out various cheeses. We chuckle as an orange earth mare comes over to drag the pink one away, bowing her head. “Ah’m real sorry bout her yer highness, she’s real excitable.”
Our smile slowly diminishes as we look around, the ponies looking so happy to be together. Our ears flatten as we realize what we almost did. To destroy something so beautiful and powerful as friendship? We truly deserved punishment. We took a step back and sighed, startled with a wing laying across our back. Celestia smiled at me. “Come Luna, let us go and celebrate with our subjects.”
We gulped softly and nodded hesitantly. Celestia beamed, “Come Twilight, let us return to Ponyville with your friends, a celebration is indeed in order.”
The pink pony shrieked in happiness and left at an impossible speed, leaving the others to laugh and trot after her. We slowly follow behind, heart and thoughts heavy.
‘Oh Luna, what have we done?’
~~
“-And then there was a giant RAINBOW that exploded from us! It wrapped around her and then she was no longer big and meanie scary Nightmare Moon but Luna! And then we came back here to celebrate and that’s how this entire day has gone up until this very moment!”
The voice of the pink mare, aptly named Pinkie Pie, rang out across the quaint bakery. It seemed the entire town was bustling around, Pinkie moving through the crowd with an amount of grace we didn’t think possible.
We also learned the names of the others who helped save us. There was Rarity, the white unicorn who scolded the pegasus Rainbow Dash. Applejack was the earth pony who dragged Pinkie away earlier. Then there was Twilight, who was absolutely taken with us, prodding us with all sorts of academic and magical questions. Last but not least was a shy pegasus, who we were told was named Fluttershy. We had not spoken but exchanged nervous smiles; we found relief in not being the only one awkward at the party.
We appreciated the celebration, but felt like a centerpiece at a fancy ball. Everypony gawked at me with fear and suspicion clear in their eyes, though it appeared the presence of sister kept them cordial.
As we looked around, our heart panged for the face of our love. “Tia? Where is Discord?”
She froze for a moment, a quick clenching of her jaw and flare of her nostrils before returning to the calm and suave face of a ruler. “Let us not discuss such dour matters at the celebration of your return sister.”
“Dour matters? What dour matters are there with our beloved?”
We stood up, our wings flaring from our sides as we stared at sister. “Tell us what has happened to Discord.”
“Not.now. Luna please, you have been gone 1,000 years, let me have some time with you.”
She softens at the look in our eyes and sighs, standing up. Immediately the room falls silent, all eyes on her. “This has been an absolutely lovely celebration, but it is time for me and Luna to return to Canterlot. Twilight, I look forward to hearing of your continuing studies of friendship here in Ponyville.”
Everypony bowed as we left, though we couldn’t shake the feeling it was done for her alone. We rode in a carriage pulled by Pegasi, apprehension boiling in our chest as we approached our new home.
“Sister… I pray you will not be upset with me. But shortly after you...Discord became...unstable. He started to spread chaos about the land, throwing the land into disharmony. I summoned him and pleaded he stopped, but he would not listen to reason! It took Queen Azure to banish him on my part when he…left me unable too.”
We gasp at her implication, “Discord would never hurt thou, what are these lies thou speaks against our beloved.”
She winced at my growl, looking at us in pleading. “Sister, I fear I do not lie. I am truly sorry, but he is not allowed back in Equestria or the Hippogriff kingdom.”
We look to the side, our limbs beginning to shake as the information crashes over us. We had regained our sister, but had we lost our love? The one who understood us and tried to keep us from the dark?
We close our eyes, tears threatening to spill as memories of that night come to the forefront of our thoughts. We remember how he looked, the pain in his eyes as we cast him aside. A sob chokes us as we land in the castle courtyard, Celestia quickly thanking the guards and lighting her horn, transporting us somewhere.
We open our eyes to find us in a bedroom, decorated like our old one, though obviously updated to these modern times. “Today has been very eventful, I shall leave you to rest Luna. Please sleep, and we shall speak more tomorrow.”
We do not look at sister, rather straight to our bed. We shuffle our hooves and collapse upon it, barely hearing the sigh and soft ‘whoosh’ of a teleportation spell. We lay there, trying to will tears to come and fall, but there are no more. We are left empty, with a deeply penetrating ache in our heart. ‘She cannot be telling the truth. Discord? He would never…’
We roll onto our backs. ‘We thought we would never hurt our subjects...Maybe it is possible he would experience his own downfall.’
A deep sigh rolls out of our muzzle as we summon the covers over us, curling up and trying to remember the feel of him, faded whispers of his scent and presence soon bringing comfort, and with it, the escape of sleep.
~~
“What dost thou mean he cannot he found? A tracking spell was placed on him was it not?”
Celestia bit her lip, looking away from us. It was the following evening and we had awoken only an hour ago. We had found Tia and demanded Discord be given another chance. After all, if we could be saved, whom was to say he could not?
“Well, it wasn’t my spell, it was Queen Azure’s. And it was only meant to alert us if he crossed the borders, not constantly keep track of him.”
“Then find a way to modify it! There must be some relic or spell that can find him.”
“...”
“Please sister, he was, is , the only one for us. Please.”
She sighed before reluctantly nodding her head. “Perhaps I’ll send a letter to Twilight. She’s as well read as you or I and maybe a fresh mind could see something we cannot.”
“Very well sister, make the arrangements. Until then, we shall be in the library doing our own research. We shall see thee at dawn.”
“Of course Luna, goodnight.”
“Goodnight sister…”
We stop. “...Tia?”
“Yes Luna?”
“...We love thou and have missed thee.”
Without another word exchanged we nodded and left to the library.
~~
It was a clear night, Discord and mine taking a stroll through the royal garden.
“Discord, has thou always loved the night?”
“Hmm, honestly no. When I was young I was quite terrified of it. But when I was found by my mother I began to love it. Nights in the hippogriff kingdom were so...alive. Nearly everyone went out to celebrate every night, especially in the summers when it was warm. There was just enough lanterns lit to help see, but for the most part we walked by the light of the moon.”
“That sounds lovely. Maybe we should ask sister about arranging a few night festivals. Maybe then our subjects would appreciate us more…”
“Luna…”
We did not look at him, wincing back at the pity in his voice. “Do not speak to us like that Discord, we do not enjoy it.”
He didn’t respond and when we lifted our head to look at him we found ourselves swept into his arms. A very unroyal shriek escapes our muzzle, only to be silenced by his lips.
“Luna darling I love you. I promise everypony in Equestria loves you as well. Let me tell you, Celestia wouldn’t be able to remember every star and their names, she probably couldn’t even tell you the name of every subject. But you...you know them all, you visit their dreams and help guide them to restful sleep. You are amazing my love, don’t ever forget it.”
~~
“Sister!”
We gasp awake, looking around to find some indication of the time passed. We see Celestia trotting towards us with a conflicted look on her face. “Twilight and I have found something but…”
“But what Sister?”
“Are you absolutely sure you wish to find him? For all we know he could already have passed, or he may be too far into his own selfishness that he will not see reason.”
We growl and stomp our hoof, a crack echoing through the library. “Discord is alive and we shall bring him back. He is our love, the stars and moon cannot compare to the comfort we find in his presence. Sister, do not demean us or our feelings.”
She nodded with a defeated look before turning it into a loving and smiling one. “Of course sister. I wish only for you to be happy. Come then, this will require both of our magic.”
We stand and follow, listening as Celestia explained the spell.
“We did find a way to modify it with this seekers orb. I cast a similar spell to what Queen Azure did onto it, now all that’s left is for you to activate it. You were closest to Discord, all you need do is hold it and channel your thoughts and feelings of him. It will then illuminate a path for us to take to find him.”
We take the orb and smile softly as we close our eyes. “Thank you Sister.”
The orb began to glow. “Let us go find our love.”
~~
Sister and mine flew south, past Ponyville and even past a town named Appleloosa. We flew until we had reached the swamplands and even further still. It was nearing dawn when the orb indicated we were close.
“Discord? Discord our love, are thee here?”
We called out once landed, looking all around through the thick trees and fog.
~~
I groaned weakly, my ears flicking at the sound of someone calling my name. Her voice seemed familiar and I clutched my head with my claw, growling at my mind playing yet another cruel trick on me. It’d been 1,000 years since I’d heard that voice and I had long accepted I would never hear it again. “Why, why now? Just let me die in peace…”
~~
“Discord!”
We gasp upon seeing him. He was lazily draped in a tree, looking a sickly shade. “Oh Discord!”
We rush upon him and hold him close, tears slipping down our face. “Oh our love, please look at us, do not die, we beg of you.”
~~
My eyes slowly open. “L-Luna...? How?”
My eyes look behind her and I see white fur and a colored mane. With a weak growl I cough out, “Celestia.”
Luna sighed and forced me to look back at her. “Hush our love, please, lay to rest any negative feelings with sister and come back with us.”
I chuckle, though it is more of a coughing wheeze. “W-will She a-allow me t-t-t...”
I dissolve into a coughing fit, much to my annoyance. I imagined Celestia was quite enjoying seeing me so low, though I couldn’t quite see her face. Everything was starting to become hazy. I groan weakly as my eyes flutter.
Muffled voices.
A scream.
Silence.
Author's Note
Of Nightmares and Chaotic Love is official finished! There will be an epilogue released. Thanks to everyone who enjoyed reading this, I’m sorry for all the wait and long time between chapters.
Of Nightmares and Chaotic Love
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