Princess Celestia lay curled upon her large bean bag chair within her chambers, mulling over paperwork for the upcoming transaction Canterlot was to make with the griffon empire over the coming weeks. The night was young, and she had plenty of work left to do.

She had left the doors to her balcony ajar, allowing a gentle breeze from the raging storm outside to flow through the room, which caused the silken curtains of her four-poster bed to gently sway. Sadly, neither the pattering of rain outside nor the fireplace and cup of hot cocoa in her magical grasp did much to quell her mounting frustration.

The papers hovered in magical suspension before her face. Every few seconds she would glance across the room, fiddle with her hooves and shift her regal frame to imprint herself within the surface of the bean bag chair as much as she could. Each time she finally became comfortable, her eyes would wander once more and her discomfort resurface, leading to another shift.

Her face scrunched up in frustration as she yet again glanced at the food cart by her dresser, placing her cup on the carpet beside her.

Another shuffle.

Celestia sighed and pressed the papers to her face, huffing in annoyance and shuffling once again. She then let out an uncharacteristically girly squeak as she lost her balance and fell from the bean bag, faceplanting the floor.

With a quick flash of her horn, Celestia stood in front of the bean bag, legs slightly splayed wide and still as a statue as her eyes darted around the room with a flush in her cheeks. Once she had verified she was indeed still alone, her embarrassment faded and she faced the food cart once more.

Her features brimmed with newfound determination, eyes glistening in her sister's moonlight. She made her way over to the cart with a steady pattering of her "Sunnyside-up" slippers. With a slipper-clad hoof, she began removing the foil covering a plate resting upon the oaken, patterned surface of the cart. She bit her bottom lip as she glanced around the room a few more times, lest her sister drop in uninvited and catch her in the act. Eventually, the foil fell free from her prize and the usually reserved princess began to drool in anticipation.

The most beautiful, delectable-looking sponge cake she had ever seen in all her thousands of years lay before her upon pearlescent dining ware. Her ever-teasing royal chefs had prepared this cake for the visiting griffon ambassador and his entourage the following day, having filled and decorated it with thick, ruffled cream, strawberry jam drippings and an embossed layer of icing in the pattern of her very own cutie mark on top.

The cake had been sealed within an enormous safe down in the pantry of the kitchen, with an attached note addressed to Celestia herself. Since she could smell cake from no more and no less than precisely six miles away, she had thus promptly demolished the safe and escaped to her chambers with the cake in tow.

She hadn't bothered to finish reading the note's blabbering. All she'd read was 'Celestia, don't you bucking da-' before she blasted the safe to Tartarus. She'd known the chef all his seventy-eight years of living; he surely wouldn't mind too much if she snuck a little piece of it early...

"That's right..." she whispered to herself, wiping a dribble of saliva from her muzzle, "I'll have just a small piece tonight and return it to the kitchen by morning..."

Once the princess of the Sun had raised her cake knife high into the air, she brought it down with all the fervour of a filly tearing into her gifts on Hearths Warming-

Only to quietly whine in dismay as the knife had slipped from her magical grasp, now suspended above her head by an unknown force. Celestia peered up at the knife with watery eyes and a trembling lip. She attempted to grasp the knife once more, only for her golden aura to dissipate as she attempted to touch it.

Celestia sniffled. "Even the cutlery wishes to keep me from life's one true joy..." She grunted with frustration as she attempted to jump up and grab the knife with her hooves, only for it to move just slightly out of her reach each time. Her slippers had now been cast randomly around the room by her flailing hooves and flapping wings.

A whimsical, playful cackling began from over Celestia's shoulder as another presence made itself known.

"Don't you think the royal flanks have had enough cakes for the next few moons already, my dear princess?" Celestia squealed with surprise, jumping a few feet into the air. She swivelled around and regarded none other than the Lord of Chaos himself. He flung the knife over to her bed and began floating above the food cart with a teasing grin.

"Discord?! Don't frighten me like that..." Celestia gasped. She lifted a hind leg and peered back over her withers. "And my flanks aren't that big... Right?"

Discord chuckled at her antics and promptly picked up the entire cake from the food cart, shoving it into his mouth whole and swallowing it instantly.

Celestia's mouth hung open in horror. "Th-That was mine! Well, I never..." She stomped a hoof and turned away from the draconequus with a pout. She did her best to resume her princess-like demeanour once she had finished mumbling to herself.

Discord licked his talons with exaggeration. "Mmf! That cake was delicious! I'd quite like to try it a second time..." He reached into his torso and pulled out the whole, untouched cake, eliciting a mixed reaction from Celestia somewhere between hope and disgust.

Her restrained smile dropped, however, as Discord once again swallowed the cake whole. This time, he chewed it thoroughly.

"Discord..." growled Celestia.

"My goodness, Celestia, you have to try some!" He pulled the cake from his mouth, fully intact, before swallowing it yet again. He repeated this six more times before Celestia dove at him in an attempt to snatch it from his grasp.

Discord vanished and then re-appeared sitting on her beanbag with the cake perched upon his talons. Celestia crashed head-first into the food cart. "Ah-ah-ah, no no no, Celestia," chided Discord, "snatchy ponies get no treats."

Celestia struggled to her hooves and slumped her head in disdain.

After a few moments, her head raised and her expression became kind. She said, "I sincerely appreciate the comic relief, Discord. Legal documents are bland even after a few thousand years of experience with them..."

Discord smiled sweetly, and Celestia mirrored it. Discord said, "I am being serious, though, Celestia." Her smile vanished. "Perhaps you should really consider cutting down on the cakes-"

Celestia huffed, interrupting him. "-But I'm not f-"

"-I'm not saying you're fat, Celestia... You just have to watch your blood sugar... Or something. I don't know." He tossed the cake to her and she snatched it from the air like a bachelorette at a wedding. Celestia placed the cake once more upon her fine dining ware to be returned to the kitchen later; or at least, that's what she told herself.

"I'll keep that in mind, Discord." Celestia giggled slightly, her regal demeanour then returning as she sat on her haunches across from him. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"It's about the ape..." Discord said with slow enunciation and a roll of the eyes. He snapped the beanbag to life and it began panting like a dog. It leapt across the room and took refuge by the fire. "I'm going to get straight to the point - I have a reading session with Fluttershy that I'm late for." He stuck a talon in his mouth and blew on it, causing his tail to inflate like a balloon, which he then reclined on in place of the now-canine bean bag. Celestia merely blinked and looked at him expectantly. "I want to know what he's capable of."

Celestia raised an eyebrow and asked, "Whatever do you mean?"

"I mean that I want to know just how much of a threat the ape poses to our friends and the residents of Ponyville." He folded his arms. "We won't always be there to protect them at every waking moment, after all."

Celestia sighed with a gentle smile, shaking her head slightly. "Discord, he is not an ape; I believe he's a 'human'. I'll admit he seemed potentially dangerous at first, but according to my report from Twilight, he seems to be adjusting just fine."

Discord ground his teeth. "You really trust Twilight's word on this over mine? That mare has the emotional intelligence of a peanut!" Celestia now stood and made her way to Discord's side, resting a hoof upon his paw.

"Oh, Discord... Ever since I made the decision to see you reformed, with every passing day I have grown more thankful for it. It makes me very happy to see now that you've come to care for my subjects as I have..."

Discord yacked. "Ugh... I can sense a 'but' coming... There's always a butt coming with you - a big one." Discord grumbled. He looked away from the princess and folded his arms.

Celestia screwed up her face as she glanced back at her flanks for a moment. "B-But there's a point at which I think you may worry too much," Celestia said with a sigh, "that's all."

Discord stuck the tip of his tail in his mouth and sucked all the air from it, causing it to rapidly deflate. He pulled his paw from under Celestia's hoof and strolled over to the balcony and through the doors. Celestia joined him under the dim light of the moon soon after, enjoying the cool feeling of rain washing over her pristine white coat. Discord glanced down at her.

"I don't trust him, Celestia. Not even the slightest bit," said Discord. "You should see the way he treats the pony down at Ponyville's hardware store." He peered over the edge of the balcony with a forlorn expression. "He reminds me of what I once was..." Celestia looked up at him with sympathy as she waited for him to continue. "A bully..."

"Discord, while he may not be the most pleasant creature in Equestria, he has not brought harm to any creature within this land." Celestia looked back down at her hooves. "We cannot act against him on prejudice alone. Please, stop spying on him. I won't allow myself to partake in such hypocrisy."

Discord said, "Celestia, I don't wish to harm the ape." His tone and speech patterns held not one hint of his usual playfulness. "I only wish to test him for my own peace of mind."

"Discord, Twilight has assured me that he is kind and not at all dangerous-"

"-that silly little filly is infatuated with the creature!" Discord snapped, snarling out from the balcony. "Of course she would think that!" The raging storm picked up pace as Celestia shivered from the violent rain. Discord noticed her shivering and his expression softened, as did the storm. "I'm s-sorry, Celestia... I didn't mean to frighten you..."

"It's alright, Discord, you didn't frighten me. I'm just cold, is all..." Celestia walked back into her room, dripping from head to hoof. "I understand what you're saying. In her message she does seem somewhat... Excitable about the human." She summoned up a towel and began drying herself. "Just remember that he is an alien, ripped from his old life against his will. He may well be clinging to Twilight as an anchor of sorts, pushing away other ponies as elements of a world that is frightening and unfamiliar to him - even if he would never admit it."

Discord followed in behind the princess, snapping the bean bag dog away and back to its original position and form. Celestia silently thanked him and curled up upon it once more.

Discord sighed and replied, "I can tell you harbour some mistrust towards him, too..." He appeared by the fireplace, staring into its crackling depths. "This test will not necessarily tell us of his full nature, but it will help me inform our friends about how best to prepare for whatever that nature may be."

Celestia suppressed a smile at his words. He truly had come a long way to refer to the elements as 'our' friends. "I truly appreciate you approaching me about this first," she said, "when you're more than capable of acting outside my awareness." She turned to face him, meeting his gaze as he did the same. "I don't want you to hurt the human. But, I cannot stop you from assessing the level of threat he poses to my little subjects... Nor would it be right for me to do so."

Discord turned and looked back into the fire. Celestia tapped his shoulder with a wing and said, "Discord... Just promise me that you won't hurt him, even in the slightest. Promise me." Her voice was gentle, yet commanding.

Discord's expression tightened. "I promise," he replied.

Celestia picked up her now lukewarm cocoa in her golden aura and took a dainty sip, trotting away from him. Her face screwed up at the cold temperature of the beverage. "Now, I simply must return to these papers... The griffon ambassador will want every painstaking detail of our agreement relayed in full..."

Discord noticed her exhausted expression and figured it was time he took his leave. Like the flip of a switch, his grin returned as he wrapped himself around Celestia like a snake. The princess yelped in surprise, dropping her cocoa all over her expensive carpet. "Oh, alright. Don't have too much fun without me!" Discord said with glee.

He glanced over at the cake, which was now resting upon the food cart. "You might want to wash that..." he muttered, pointing at it. Celestia scowled in disgust. "Just kidding! Or am I...?" He waved his arms around mysteriously. "Tata!" The mad god booped Celestia on the nose before disappearing in a brief flash of light.

Celestia looked down and noticed her cocoa sitting unharmed on the carpet, now fresh and steaming hot once more.

She smiled.

"Miles...? Miles...?" Miles opened his eyes, blinking several times as the feminine, gentle voice eased him into consciousness. "Rise and shine, my little light." Miles looked up into the softly smiling face above him. Upon glancing around the room, Miles realised he had been sleeping in his bedroom. From the small lamp resting upon the large dresser to the pristine rug and polished surfaces, this room was unmistakably his own.

"Katherine!" shouted an old, gruff voice. Katherine's face froze.

"Yes, father?" Katherine replied. Her southern English accent matched that of Miles.

A slow, loud thudding sound approached from down the hall outside Miles's bedroom door. After a few seconds, a huge, towering man appeared in the doorway. The man was elderly and clearly struggled to walk, but Miles knew the power he still held within his tired frame.

"You know I 'ate it when you call me that, Katherine." The enormous man dipped his head as he entered Miles's bedroom, approaching Katherine across the creaky floorboards.

Katherine rolled her eyes and said nothing. The man continued, "So, what are you an' Miles 'ere doin' today?" He sat down on the edge of Miles's bed and glared at the plain white wall in front of him.

Katherine said, "We're probably going to begin Miles's graduation. It is quite the accomplishment." Her impossibly beautiful face gleamed as she glanced over at Miles. Miles held his head low, his lips set in a thin line.

The old man scoffed, "The lad finished school last year. I'm not fuckin' stupid. Y'know, Kath - you an' this little sod got it good, don't ya?"

Katherine looked over at him. "I'm not sure what you're referring to, father. If you're talking about our lives," she said, opening her arms wide, "then I'm endlessly thankful to have you both in mine." The man laughed.

"You know, just 'cause me lass kicked it, don't think that means I'll be your fuckin' servant while I stay 'ere." His cheek twitched upwards and he made to stand.

Katherine sighed and said, "Father, I don't expect anything from you. You don't have anything material to offer me, anyway."

The man snarled and spun to face Katherine. "An' it's shit like that that I'm always so fucked off with!" he bellowed, pointing a finger into her large chest. Katherine sat motionless. Her iron smile did not so much as melt an inch.

"Now now, father," she said, steadily, "you already learned this lesson." The old man flinched back at her words, clutching his side subconsciously.

He hobbled back to the doorway and slipped a packet of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket. When he went to light one, Katherine lightly 'tsk'ed and stepped over to Miles. She patted him on the leg and said, "Come on, darling. Let us seize the day."

Miles climbed out of bed and began to dress himself. The old man peered at Miles and asked, "What's got ya quakin', boy?"

Miles glowered at him and said, "I was just thinking about Grandmother, Rodney."

Rodney glared at Miles for a few moments and then replied, "Eeeh, fuck right off." He left the room and plodded back down the hall. Katherine stepped over to Miles once he was dressed.

She looked up at him and said, "Don't worry, my little light. He shouldn't bother us for too much longer." Her gaze hardened. "I assume you're ready for your graduation."

Miles did not respond. His eyebrow twitched involuntarily. He'd know a question if he heard one.

Katherine turned and led Miles out into the hallway and towards the door to their cellar. From Miles's perspective, her long dress in combination with her graceful movements gave the illusion of her simply floating across the floor.

She stood by the doorway, facing Miles. She held one of her hands with the other, letting them rest in front of her as she waited for Miles to enter. Her smile still did not fade, yet Miles knew she watched his every muscle movement.

Miles opened the door, and as he faced the darkness below, he felt his beloved mother's presence looming behind him. He took the first step down into the cellar. After a few more, his vision faded to black.

He now found himself standing in the kitchen of his workshop. He was a few years older now, and much larger, too. Miles thought little of the transition; it felt natural to him.

To his left, in the front of the workshop, his diminutive mother knelt scraping some oak with a wood planer. To his right, his grandfather Rodney sat at the kitchen table on his wheelchair, watching the wall-mounted television. He appeared considerably more frail than he had before, coughing once in a while after dragging his cigarette. Each time his coughing escalated, he would take a sip from his glass of water. Miles noted with disgust the brown, murky mucus he left on the edge of the glass after every sip.

"Boy," a hoarse voice called. Miles turned. "Be a good lad an' bring yer grandpap some fresh water." The withered husk held out its glass to Miles, who grasped it and rinsed it through under the tap. Upon filling the glass with fresh water, Miles wordlessly set it down in front of his grandfather. The old man offered no thanks as he continued to watch the tiny television with little interest. "You know, boy - we really should be investin' in a better tv."

Miles did not turn his head as he addressed his grandfather from the corner of his eye with a smile. "Money is tight, Rodney. Mother and I are doing all we can to remain in business." He now turned to face the old man. "Perhaps you should consider cheaper cigarettes." His grandfather scoffed.

"Tight, my arse. Tell me yer not hangin' around in the pub every weekend! An' all them gym memberships, too!" Rodney tried to slam his fist on the arm of his wheelchair, but was barely able to create an audible thud. "You've no right to talk, boy! Why would my dear sweet lass give everythin' to you an' your whore of a mother when she passed?" He began spluttering again, his chest heaving and his eyes leaking.

"I drink neither in great quantities nor often, Rodney," said Miles. He took a step closer to the old man.

"Those savings belong to me an' yer grandma! Yer crooks! Both of ya! My darlin' would never sell me short like that - never!"

"Grandmother is long dead," stated Miles, curtly. The texture of his surroundings began to lose detail, becoming smooth and over time. Miles thought nothing of it.

"I'm well aware 'a that, you little fucker!" Rodney's outburst drove him into a fit of spluttering. Shakily, the contents of the glass were gulped down.

Miles took another step closer and placed a hand upon his grandfather's shoulder, now standing behind Rodney's wheelchair. Miles smiled and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. "Please, Rodney, calm yourself. Grandmother gave everything to us, but we're kind enough to look after you, aren't we?" said Miles, squeezing Rodney's shoulder gently. "Here." He placed the packet of cigarettes in Rodney's hand and closed his fingers around it. He patted Rodney's now closed fist and said, "Why don't you just have a smoke and relax yourself? On me."

The soft sounds of his mother's fingers snapping and her angelic voice caused him to turn. "Miles, my little light... Could you come and help me finish this desk? I feel as though this will be one of our finest yet..." she sang. Rodney looked at the packet in his hand and began to mumble through laboured breaths, not bothering to dry his leaking eyes.

Miles walked over to his mother and brushed himself off. Katherine glanced at the withered old man and watched him light a cigarette. Her smile widened the for briefest of moments.

She placed a hand upon Miles's back. Miles followed his mother across the workshop, where a tiny oaken desk sat, unpolished. She had smoothed out the surface and indicated some minute, swirling details since he had last seen it. His mother's creativity and perfectionism left him ever awe inspired.

Katherine remained silent for a few moments. Miles glanced down at her as she stared at the desk, seemingly frozen. Suddenly, she said, "You know as well as I do that there is no meaning to life other than creation and control, my little light..." Her gentle gaze met his own. Miles blinked in surprise at the sudden shift in tone. "In light of what's happened this week, Miles, I think we should have a talk," she said with an unreadable glint in her eyes. "You are very capable, but we both know your blood runs much hotter than mine."

"Mother, I-" started Miles.

"-Let me finish," she interrupted, firmly. Miles snapped his mouth shut. "Very few strive to create - to control..." She brought her other palm to cup his face, bringing their foreheads together. Miles bowed his knees to maintain contact. "Most waste what life is given to them, Miles..." She glanced at Rodney and then pulled her head back to look into Miles's eyes. "When I'm no longer around, promise me you won't burn too bright, too soon."

She placed a deceptively dainty finger to Miles's lips and whispered, "I won't be there to cool you down."

Despite her words and her permanent smile, her eyes still remained frozen in stasis. Her breathy voice drilled through his skull like a sharpened icicle as she said, "Remember. Control is everything. Let nothing stray beyond yours. You are everything to me."

"Why did this have to happen so soon, mother?" asked Miles, closing his eyes with a clenched fist.

"Miles," warned Katherine, "what did I just say? Control." He felt her cold fingers pressure the joints of his own. His fist unfurled and locked up at her touch. He found himself following her movements as she effortlessly pulled him down to her level.

"Whydd...yulet e di, Mil...?" His mother's speech now muffled behind static, as the television blared white noise across the household. Neither his mother nor his grandfather seemed to take notice.

"What...?" gasped Miles. The static stopped as the kitchen, the workshop and his mother suspended in motion. "Mother, what's wrong?" he asked. Rodney now stood at the junction between the kitchen and the workshop with a lifeless grin plastered across his face. Miles grabbed a hammer from the workspace his mother had been using for the desk and slowly made for his grandfather, with a glare.

Miles heard a rasping gasp rattle from behind him and turned.

There, lying on the floor, was his mother. Her long, platinum-blonde hair was gone and she breathed with great difficulty. He gasped and scooped his mother into his arms. His grandfather exhaled, and a rancid black smoke escaped his lungs, swamping the workshop in its smoggy depths.

Miles looked down into his mother's lifeless eyes as her skin began to dry and tear. Her once icy blue eyes shrivelled up and dropped through their sockets; her limbs grew skeletal and crumbled between his fingers.

"No! NO!" Miles roared with defiance. "I can help you, mother! I'll fix you!" He pulled her close to his chest.

He felt his grandfather now breathing the toxic smog over his shoulder. Miles leaned and sheltered what was left of his mother with his body.

"ENOUGH!"

Suddenly, an indescribably loud voice pierced through the thick smog, accompanied by a blindingly bright light. Miles shielded his eyes until it faded, only to find himself now sitting within an endless blue void. In front of him was none other than the deep blue pony he'd seen soon after his arrival in Equestria.

"Human. We are sorry these nightmares trouble thee. We know what it is like to be troubled by one's memories," she said.

Miles sighed to himself upon the revelation that it had been a dream, calming his breathing. He smoothed out his hair and straightened his cuffs. The space around them swirled and ebbed.

His confident gaze returned before he stepped towards the alicorn and took a knee. Luna scrunched her face as he took her hoof in his hand and squeezed it gently. She jumped back and her wings popped out in surprise. "Thankyou, Princess Luna. I appreciate your help." He stood back up to his full height, now dwarfing the mare once more. "Although, how can I know that I'm not still dreaming, hm? Isn't invading dreams a breach of privacy?"

Luna recovered and coughed into a hoof. "Ahem... Thou art- we- I mean, you are still dreaming, Miles... However, this dream is considerably more... Lucid. As for your privacy - worry not. I only appear to ponies when I sense distress. I do not watch your dreams."

Miles raised an eyebrow and asked, "So, am I currently speaking to the real Princess Luna?" She nodded. Miles shook his head. "Unbelievable. Your world never ceases to amaze me, little pony."

Luna appeared amused and said, "The realm you now inhabit is a shared space within your own conscious mind that I am using to speak with you." Miles nodded sarcastically. Princess Luna turned tail with a huff and began to walk away. "You will awaken soon, Miles. I do hope you're adjusting well to our world... For what it's worth - I know how you feel to be lost in a world that's strange and unfamiliar to you."

"Thankyou again, Princess Luna," said Miles.

"Of course, Mil-" Princess Luna crouched down, looking around with alarm as the blue void began to swirl and grow purple. She spoke rapidly. "Human, we- I am losing control over this dream! I know not what is happeni-"

Luna suddenly vanished before his eyes, immediately replaced with a rather stern looking draconequus. After several seconds of silence, the draconequus spoke.

"Miles."

"Discord," Miles replied. He folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. "This might just be the longest dream I've ever experienced. I'm so very glad you decided to drop by and offer greetings."

"I didn't come to offer my greetings, ape. I hope you understand, but some precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of my friends." Discord said, stepping up to Miles and peering down at him with a slight scowl. "Have fun."

Miles frowned before Discord shoved a talon into his chest, causing him to fall through the infinite purple void.

An open, brown field of dirt approached from below him. Moments before he could be turned to paste, he suddenly ground to a halt mere inches from the field. Miles was unceremoniously dumped into the dirt. His hammer thudded into the dirt somewhere nearby, having fallen with him. He quickly stood to his feet and began dusting off his shirt with a deep frown. The dirt field stretched off in all directions as far as the horizon.

A grey pegasus stallion stood before him, its eyes empty husks of white light. Miles stopped and regarded the stallion with curiosity. "Well, how are you, good sir?" asked Miles. "I don't know what's going on here, but I'd really appreciate if-"

The stallion suddenly pulled a spear from under its wing and pointed it up at Miles, much like an automaton. Miles widened his eyes and scoffed, but did not take a step back. His face twisted into a grin and he dusted off his pants.

"Alright. Let's go, then."

Author's Note

16/10/2024 - Touched up with changes, additions and amendments.