"What?!" exclaimed Luna as her left eye lid twitched. On the other side of the door stood Celestia, who laughed nervously. Beside Celestia was Discord, who opted on not leaving her side for some apparent reason. Luna looked at Discord, giving him the stink eye.
"Well hello to you too, Luna," he chuckled.
"You're really want to let him, this creature, the worst thing of all to have here, stay here?"
Celestia sighed. "Sister, he's not that bad-"
"This tyrant turned by shampoo into glue last week! He deserves no home under my roof!"
"This is also my roof," Celestia declared. "He may be a bit hard to handle but it doesn't mean he's not.....uh.....wait I didn't really think my sentence through."
Discord frowned. "I'm right here, you know?"
Luna laughed. "Hah! You don't even know what to call him." Discord sighed as he slithered under Celestia and wrapped himself around Luna's neck.
"Lulu, Lulu, Lulu....." he said as he clicked his tongue. "I thought you'd be glad to have me here again. It'll be like the old times! The three of us, the three musketeers of this castle, the trio that steals donuts from the kitchen but leave the jam filling on the floor leading to a guard who'll get the blame! Don't you miss those times?"
Luna huffed. "Get off me, you fool," she swept him off of her, flinging him onto the ground as if he were a scarf. "I on the other hoof, do not. I think I have matured quite well over the ages-"
"You mean physically or mentally cause I don't see much going on......" noted Discord, making her glare at him.
"...I have matured in mind and heart and I will not let myself tampering in idiotic activities like foals."
"Luna, you spent your early morning hours staring at a pigeon picking on my flowers and instead of stopping it, you threw more bird seed at it," Celestia deadpanned.
"That's an exception. That was fun. This however," she gestured to Discord. "This is not."
Celestia turned to Discord, who wore a never-ending frown on the floor. She sighed. "Discord, why don't you occupy yourself somewhere else? Like the kitchen, perhaps, I do know that you like to do whatever you do in there. I need to.....talk to Luna for a bit."
Discord however, hesitated. "But....I don't think there's anything fun there. I'd rather wait for you to have your conversation with Luna, you can do it in the room and I'll wait here. I won't even eavesdrop, trust me!"
"Discord...." said Celestia. "I don't want to let you wait here like you're some kind of dog. No, you need to go occupy yourself for a bit. Maybe pick out one of the rooms from the guest block? That way I don't have to. You know where that is, right?"
"....no?" he said, trying to convince her otherwise. "....oh come on, Celly. I won't disturb you anymore. I'll just stay put, see?" he sat down, like ponies do. Although it seemed more goofier for him to do it considering his long body and his unmatching legs. "I'm good. I'm behaved. You two can talk. Please."
Celestia looked at him with concerned. "Discord.... Please, just-"
"Wait," said Luna, interrupting Celestia before she could go on any longer. "I have made up my mind."
She looked to Luna in surprise. "You have? That quick?"
Luna nodded. "Indeed. I still need to talk to you maybe later," she leaned in closer to Celly "-maybe when he's asleep. I should take in account his current state of mind," she said, glancing over to Discord who tilted his head at her. "Whatever had happened, you be sure to explain it to me later so that I get a better glimpse of what's to come."
Celestia smiled at her. "So you'll let him stay?"
Luna nodded without hesitation. "Now begone, I still have my duties to attend to." But before she closed her door, she leaned in again to whisper. "Come back when he's sleeping, sister."
Celestia smiled. "Okay, okay." Luna looked to Discord, who didn't really seem to show much expression rather than a questioning one.
"Goodnight, Discord. Don't mess up the castle while you're here," she said. The only response from him was a little peep of 'bye', and the door closed.
Celestia glanced over to him. "How bout I lead you to your room now?"
Discord inspected his room, and all the while touching everything and giving the things he touched a hint of Chaos, so to say, which basically means that he turned everything he touched into a more chaotic form. The walls slowly changed colour as the floors seemingly turned wavy, going up and down continuously as if it were the sea. His night stand started jumping and galloping around the room, the lamp that stood on it shattered but reformed into a different shape. His bed transformed and turned into as if it were different colours, and the blanket turned into a large mismatched quilt. "Hmm....not bad, not bad," he commented on his own interior decor.
Celestia rolled her eyes. She didn't mind him decorating the room as it would be considered his for the time being. "If you don't need anything else, I'll be going now."
"Where are you going?" he shifted his gaze quickly towards her as even the nightstand paused and the floors froze on its wavy state.
"I told Lulu I'd be having a talk with her later, remember? You can handle yourself without me here."
"I thought you promised Lulu that you'll leave when I'm asleep?" he asked.
Celestia raised a brow. "And you expect me to stay here with you?"
"No, but......" he looked around suspiciously, an anxious look strewn across his face. ".....it's.....you know....quiet....and...."
"Discord."
"What if something happens to you and I'm not there to see it?" he asked suddenly. Celestia sighed, although the words had hit her more than they should've.
"Discord, I'll be fine-"
"That's what Fluttershy said the day before and look what it turned to!" he said, his tone raised as if anger resided in the ends of his throat, not daring to show. But as quick as his tone changed, it changed back to the concerned attitude he showed when he arrived. "If only I had more time, I could've......c-could've....." he stammered but paused, not knowing even where he is going with this.
Celestia looked at him with sympathy. He's still shaken up. He isn't in the best state of mind now. She felt like punching herself for not expecting this to come sooner or later. ".....then, would you like to sleep in my room for the night?"
"Pardon?" he asked in confusion. "Whatever gave you such a conclusion to think that sleeping in your room would benefit me in any way?"
"Well, you can layer up a few of my quilts and have it as a little bed in the corner. You won't have to worry about me going away, once I'm done I'll come straight back to my room. That way, you won't have to worry about my well being. But with that being said, Discord, I'll be fine. Surely you trust my judgement?"
"Surely you have taken account of mine as well? Celly, I'm not a little kid. I'm not scared of the dark or anything. It's just.....Twilight can be unpredictable and-"
"And my guards are highly trained and will report any suspicious activity they see. Not to mention that-"
"But Celly, she literally teleported me and exploded my void into an oblivion just to get me into a damn cave! Exploded, Celestia! What if she uses the sare tactics on this castle? We all know very well that your dear student isn't very original with plans and will resort to recyclable items if she can," he retorted. "And I don't think your castle is even exploding-proof, isn't it Celestia?"
She sighed. "We'll be safe. We're fine. You're overthinking it." She felt slightly agitated by the fact that he wouldn't believe her, but then again he's probably agitated with everything at this point. "My offer is still up for grabs; will you take it or should I leave you here empty handed?"
He groaned, but rethinking his options, a whine escaped his throat. A small one. Nothing too noticeable, although it didn't went unnoticed either way. He did take in account that he might've sounded slightly childish with not wanting her to leave. And it is quite......embarrassing if he were to take up on the offer. He sounded like a colt, for God's sake. But..... ".....hnggg....yes okay I'll take your offer."
She smiled. "Then let's get you settled in, shall we?"
"I promise to come right back to my room after tonight however. It's just an exception for tonight. I know you princesses like your privacy and whatever." She nodded.
Celestia lowered her glass of hot chocolate. Luna blew on hers. They sat in their lounge room, dimly lit by a fireplace, where the two would relax in after a day of stress and wanting to maybe talk for a bit. They rarely had the opportunity to be in the room at the same time to talk, having an excuse to now felt refreshing to say the least.
Luna looked up from her mug to her sister, who sat in her own pile of cushion beside her in front of the fireplace. "Care to start?" Celestia hesitated. "Is it that bad?"
"I.....I just feel guilty for all of this," she blurted out.
"Why so? Have you done something that upsetted him? I have to say, this is different than his usual ways of sulking."
"I-it's not.....Twilight. It's Twilight," Celestia said finally. "I....knew she was...unstable in some way. But I thought it was mainly stress. She was putting it out on her own citizens- I knew I should've advised her to stop but I didn't because I thought she'd handle herself after awhile and.....I feel like I was the one that caused this," she lowered her head. "I don't mean to make this about myself but.....I don't feel right knowing that I could've done something."
Luna sighed. "Sister, it is not your fault. She has left your wing after she had proclaimed ascension into immortality and become an alicorn, a princess. And I know you've been sending letters to her still, and I doubt you don't advise her from time to time. She is not a student, a child, but a ruler now. She is on same head level as us, Celestia! Treating her like a child forever would be the death of you sooner or later. Considering her state, yes we should be worried. But every wrong doing of hers shouldn't be our burden. Who's to say she planned this beforehand? No one." Luna put down her mug. "So did he tell you of what had happened?"
"No," she stated bluntly. "Twilight herself did. The letter, it reaps with the stench of pride. She was proud of herself. She was proud. She stated herself that she had done something to hopefully snare Discord away. To end chaos, as she would put it."
"End chaos? Hah, the fool. Even if the draconequus had ceased, his powers would soon find a new host to help lead. And if not, let's never hope chaos finds a way to be sapient," Luna shook her head. "But sister, the letter. Do you still have it?"
"I do. I....I couldn't bring myself to do anything with the letter. I was more focused on where Discord was and I panicked," her horn ignited brightly and brought into life the letter. "I'd assume that I'd have to show you eventually the letter as well." She passed it over to Luna, who stared blankly at the floating letter.
Her sister's words irked her. She has heard of wild news about Twilight's new reign of laws and pure odyssey. But she had never seen proof of it. And to especially have a piece of evidence that might just show Twilight's true intent, it's....terrifying, to say the least.
She took the letter with her own ambience, and unrolled it. There, she read it out:
"Dear Celestia,
I had promised you in my previous letter that I will bring among peace and unity among civilians. You had warned me about the consequences in your last letter as well, but I can assure you that I have everything under control.
To be able to possess true harmony is to remove the elements that opposes it. There will be no wars unless it is to protect our beliefs and land. There would be more than enough space for those who feel like they don't belong. The cycle of life should start fairly simple. To be young, then grow, serve your nation, pass it down to the next generation, wither and repeat.
Imagine a world where order rules. Where nothing but harmony I'd a state of a nation. Everyone would learn to be accepting, even if it takes extreme measures.
However, though ironically we have a disturbance in our cycle. Chaos himself. Every campaign and speech that I hold would be ruined by his presence. I know what his motive is, it's to derail me. He would seek as far as to hurt his own friends. He would go as far as to hurt his reformer so long as harmony doesn't take over.
He is afraid. I know that. But prioritising one being's fear against the possible unity and freedom of a billion others is something I will think carefully of. First Ponyville, then more towns. I will help them all.
He tells me that life cannot go on without chaos. Incorrect. There is no use for balance if everything is perfect. Excuses, he makes plenty. I know what he wants. And I swear he has never changed. He wants to corrupt. He exists to corrupt. Discord is born to be what he is today. I see no reason in defending him after all he has done. Afterall, he had almost mauled me a few minutes prior. He abandoned us. But, I was hoping he would.
Without him, my plans would run smoothly, Celestia. As I said before, I don't need to explain the plan. I'll let time show you itself. And with him out of the way, I assure you my plan will work fine. I am sorry for ruining your efforts in seeing light in him, but it is better to push aside something that can never change and see through a future that can.
Twilight Sparkle, former student."
"....he mauled her?"
"We don't have the full story or context, what if he did it out of self defense?"
"Self defense? He basically emits magic from his pores," Luna deadpanned.
Celestia stared blankly into the fireplace, her eyes fell down. "He....is a confusing one. A confusing one that we should know best, right?"
"Well, between the two of us, you'd be considered the one who should know more."
"True. And the only thing I can gather from this is that he was probably unsure of what was going on as well. He might've also been pent up. You remember when we were younger, he always had the urge to claw on trees when he's angry or upset or just sometimes downright confused. And when he came to see me earlier, I could just see his wandering eyes looking for...answers. Twilight is unpredictable, and this can be claimed proof. For now. I....don't know if we'll ever get the full context, seeing as he became a bit giddy after the situation."
Luna circled her hoof around the rim of her mug. "I really cannot blame him. Only a few years ago was he set free just to be possibly betrayed by everyone you'd taught him to trust. His....him. It's not right. He's obviously paranoid now, and, well, he's usually paranoid about everything from even when we first met him. Now it has taken at least a full toll on him. The part of him that he had always told off for being a liar is practically saying I told you so," she sighed. "Is that why he clinged back to you now?"
"I wouldn't say he clinged back to me specifically. He's probably looking for reassurance. That and I heard from him his own home void was destroyed by Twilight."
Luna winced. "That sounds terrible. Now I feel bad for almost declining his refuge."
"Not like you had the chance, I'm mostly in charge of the castle anyway," Celestia smirked a little. "Seeing you earlier was only a mere announcement of the situation, my dear sister."
Luna frowned, but soon wore a smirk of her own. "I'd say you were doing it just to spite me. Or was it an act of past love you're trying to bring back?-"
"What past love?" she glared at Luna. Luna giggled.
"It's funny to think of us living together again. And to think you two would be sharing rooms like old times again," Luna swooned.
"Who told you?!"
"The maids said they passed by the corridors and saw you and Discord walking into your room. Then I questioned the corridor guard and he said you left the room alone. You think I was sitting here just waiting for you, hah I spent my time investigating and dashed back here after."
"He might've teleported away!"
"We are into deep territory of the conversation for you to turn your head around again. He's gonna be sleeping with you tonight?"
She groaned. "It's the only way I could get him to calm down and let me see you for the night, what was I supposed to do?"
Luna smiled cheekily. "Fair enough," she gulped her mug empty before wiping her mouth and standing up. "I'd have to continue my duties. I wish you both a pleasant night," she giggled as Celestia rolled her eyes.
Celestia levitated the mugs to a maid down the hall and made her way to her room. During the walk she though about what Luna had said. It....is nice to be living together again.
Together. Like family.
Discord slept in the corner of the room, managing with a heavy bundle of blankets and a pillow that he got from God knows where. Celestia stared blankly from her bed at the creature not far away from the foot of her bed. She didn't really planned on where he'd be sleeping, but it's clear that he took the initiative to find his own spot. The same spot he took when he was sneaked into her room as a mere child.
She snickered at the thought. He didn't change as much as she thought he would. He looked so sound in his sleep, curled up and resembling almost of a sleeping cat.
However, her day had started. Grudgingly, she got out of bed. Her eyes continued to stare at him, contemplating on whether she should wake him up or not. He has nothing to do anyway, there's no problem for him to sleep in. Maybe she'll leave a note instead, he could read it himself when he wakes up telling him where she'll be at. But.... then again he has the ability to appear in front of her whimsically just to bother her time and time again. Obviously he didn't need a note to tell him of her whereabouts, she reasoned with herself.
She walked to her bathroom, the door clicked as it was pushed open. At that moment, she could hear him shifting himself in his spot. She cringed at the thought of accidentally waking him up, and whispered a slight sorry before closing the door ever so quietly behind her, wanting to tend to herself for the day awaits.
He could hear the tap running in the bathroom. His eyebrows furrowed as slowly he woke up. That damn sound. And he was so comfy in his spot too.
But, for someone like him, going back to sleep after accidentally waking up is a challenge. He went from tossing and turning to burying his face into his pillow and to burying himself under his hill of blankets. Still, he couldn't sleep.
He groaned. He didn't want to wake up yet.......
From under his blankets, he faintly heard the tap cut off, along with the clinking of glass and whatever she was doing in there. Finally, his head emerged from the blanket hill and stared at the bathroom door. And as expected, the door clicked as Celestia emerged from the bathroom, with now a robe on, wiping her mouth with a small cloth.
Sigh, a scene so familiar to his eyes yet so vague.
She too realised the new pair of eyes on her, staring back at the draconequus. She lowered the cloth from her muzzle and offered a greeting smile. "Good morning." Discord turned his head away, his face turning crimson as he saw the Princess in a robe. Right, scratch what he thought earlier. This scene was of most familiar to him indeed.
Celestia didn't take notice of his red face and went to her vanity, taking a comb and untangling her messy morning hair as she stared into the mirror. Her eyes peered sideways to the draconequus, who started again, staring blankly at her. This time however, he spoke when she looked at him. "Can your tap get any more annoying?"
She merely smiled. "My apologies if I have woken you up. I should've known the Lord of Chaos needed his beauty sleep," she smirked.
"Why of course, you mares aren't the only ones that want to feel beautiful in the morning," he added on to the joke as he snapped cucumbers above his eye lids and a pink towel wrapped across his head. "Although, as a hungry draconequus such as myself in the morning, I can't have myself bare time for such nonsense," he said as his forked tongue flicked the cucumbers off his eyelids and ate them.
Celestia rolled her eyes. "Well, get some breakfast. The maids should be done with breakfast by now downstairs. Usually they'd wake me up ion the morning but with you here I feel rather punctual," she said. "Can't have myself sleep in whilst the Lord of Chaos roams the castle causing havoc on its own, you almost encourage me to wake up earlier than expected."
And as if on queue, her doors were met with swift knocks. "Rise and shine, princess."
Celestia opened the door with her magic, and looked to her maid with a smile, almost proudly. "Good morning, Bella." On the other end of the door stood a maid, her coat as white as fleece and her hair a soft pastel peach, up in a bun. Behind her was a cleaning cart.
"Mornin' to ya, princess," she backed up and pushed her cart into the room. "You're rather early today, your highness. You have an important meeting or some- woah!" she said in surprise as her eyes landed on Discord, as he looked to the mare with only a raised brow.
"Really?" he deadpanned. "Never a good morning or a hello, just a shriek of surprise or the eyes of terror. How expected of you folk."
Bella held a hoof to her chest, but in surprise rather than offended by his stereotyping. "Ghh- my apologies, uh, sir. So the rumours were right, the princess did bring in the Lord."
"That wouldn't be a problem now, would it Bella?" asked Celestia as she lowered her hair brush.
Bella shook her head. "Why of course not- it's your castle! Just....." she looked back to Discord, who still wore the same look. "We weren't really....informed of a guest coming to stay. Of course- we have no problem with it!" she said, fearing of offending her highness.
"Good," was all that Celestia said as she turned to Discord with her signature smile.
"My apologies, uhm....." she looked to the draconequus, eyeing him. "...s-sir. A very good morning it is to see you," she offered a smile, although seemingly reluctant. Discord merely rolled his eyes. "But arhm, h-how long would you be staying? I'd have to tell the others that your stay is indeed true."
"Do the others not believe?" asked Celestia.
"W-well, the guards wasn't sure if it was true that he was staying, just that you had told some of the other maids to ready our guest a room. Is this a private affair? I-i'm sorry for asking...."
Discord looked to his talons, gritting them as he looked to Bella. "Hmm....I don't know how long I'll be staying. Depends on how long I can do this for until the princesses get tired of me......"
"By all means, Discord. You're free to stay as long as you're pleased," said Celestia, knowing whatever he was trying to do was annoy her. As if she hadn't endured this as a filly and weren't used to his antics by now.
"Well then, guess I'm staying here permanently!" he exclaimed proudly. The maid looked surprised, but too afraid to say anything else rather than solemnly nod.
"O-oh. Then I guess i'll tell the others that...."
"No need to worry yourself, Bella. I'll hold a meeting with the staff later to discuss of our....current arrangements. Meanwhile, you should focus on your tasks at hoof," said Celestia as she headed to the still open door. "Discord?"
He grinned at the maid before exiting along with the princess, leaving the maid to gulp as she started thinking of what she had bumped into.
Discord closed the door on the way out, and grinned at the princess. She rolled her eyes. "Trying to scare my staff?"
"I was only clearing up her said confusion. Am I not just a great friend?" he chuckled. They continued their way to the dining room. It was mostly quiet as they walked. Discord was in deep thought of what had happened earlier. "......Celestia?"
"Hmm?"
"Am I really allowed to stay as long as I please? Or was that just you scaring your staff further for me?"
"I though you said you weren't trying to scare my staff?" she reiterated.
"Well whatever you believe it to be, it's that. But that's not the point. Am I....really allowed to stay here?"
"It would be cruel for me to leave you roaming on the outskirts of Equestria homeless now would it?" she wore the smile. The smile. Somehow, he sensed reassurance from it. But....
"So you're letting me stay out of pity?" he asked, feeling rather confused.
"I'm letting you stay because I want to. You are my friend, and I am yours. Besides, who helped me earn my way to princesshood? You did. Without your help, I wouldn't even have this castle. So, have at it."
Discord frowned. "You know I have enough magic to potentially make up my own castle and stay in my own castle and make more of my own castles, right?"
"Then why aren't you? Surely if you had the power and heart, you would had made a new dimension to live in, you'll be safe in your own little space, with no ponies there to disturb or harm you. Yet you came to me," she said, her smile drooped a little. "Discord, you're doubtful of my offer because of what? Trust? Because you fear that I'm doing this out of pity? Discord, if I pitied you when I was a filly I would have let you roam on your own because you wanted freedom. I on the other hoof decided to offer you more than that. Acceptance. You can't get that from pity, Discord, you really can't. For you to truly accept something is for you to see that it isn't something to pity. You are not someone to pity, Discord."
Discord fell silent as he was taken into deep thought once more. She smiled, but said nothing else after that.
He confused himself, he really did.
As they got to the doors of the dining room, he finally spoke up. ".....thank you, Celestia," was all that was said however as Celestia answered with a mere nod. finally, they went in for breakfast.
Author's Note
me: *writing this chapter today as i was very disappointed that no americans died in the area 51 raid *
also me: *actually very glad no one died so that I could continue to meme with no worry :D *
