"Well, howdy-doo, Miss Twilight, a pleasure makin' your acquaintance."
“Hey, I can clear this sky in TEN seconds flat!”
“Now, how may I help yo- AAAAAAHH! my stars, darling! Whatever happened to your coiffure?!”
“Um… I’m fluttershy.”
"Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you! Were you surprised?! Were ya?! Were ya?! Huh!? Huh!? Huh!?"
“That’s just it… Whenever I learn how wonderful it is to have friends?... I have to leave them…”
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
POP!
“Twilight Sparkle! Good to see you!”
SCRAMBLE! SCATTER! THUD!
Twilight sparkle opened her eyes blearily, having hit her desk on the way down, she awkwardly rubbed her temple with a hoof.
Twilight looks up and wipes the tears from her eyes, it was Discord, and despite the interruption, a brief wave of nostalgia washed over her features. Crumpled unceremoniously along the floor and leaning up on her hooves, she was barely larger than when she first moved to Ponyville, and had to look up to see the giggly intruder. It reminded her of the old days, something she had been all too caught up on recently.
However, Twilight was very much aware that this was no longer her reality, but that of long ago. She brought herself to her hooves as gracefully as she could, now just barely under eye level to the draconequus.
“Really Twilight, how many years has it been, and you’re still phased by that?” Discord gwuaffed.
Twilight rolled her eyes in amusement. “Yes, truly Discord, I apologise for not getting used to someone invading my private quarters at midnight.”
Discord chuckled, the same mirth in his eyes, the same carefree expressions and tricks. There was an awkward silence between the two, a deafening tone that swiftly shifts to somber as it became evident that Twilight was crying once more. Discord sighed.
“Twilight, please, you know I don’t like having to drop my charade of shenanigans.” He punctuates by pulling a sneezing flower out of nowhere. “But when you are like this, you worry me.” He says tossing the flower to the side.
"Is it that book again?"
Twilight let out a deep sigh. “I suppose I just got caught up in the moment. It brings back so many memories. I have been writing this thing for over a month and just can’t seem to make it good enough.”
“Even with all the adventures you’ve had, you can’t just finish one book? Twilight, you’ve probably written hundreds by now!” Discord chuckles.
“T-this book is special Discord! It means a lot to me, and it has to be perfect!” Twilight says, stuttering indignantly.
“Well then why do you think it isn’t good enough? It is a story of your adventures together, of your companionship and the happy times. Is none of that enough?” The draconequus asks questioningly.
“Well now you’re just making it sound like I am being selfish.” Twilight pouts.
“Well, my dear Twilight. You kind of are being selfish.” Discord says simply.
“Then what am I supposed to do Discord? I want to jot down every memory, I wish I could tell every adventure! It could take a lifetime to write, and I don’t know when it will finally truly be something they deserve!!” Twilight groans in frustration.
Discord looked down at her in understanding. “Because it will never ever be good enough, Twilight.”
Twilight looked up at him incredulously. “Well that’s not very nice at all Discord!” She snaps. “I will have you know that I am trying my very best, and I am an experienced writer!” She states with a harumpf
“Twilight, i’m not trying to insult your writing, just simply state the honest truth. They were too good for this world, and no book is going to do them justice. You and I both know this. People will write thousands of books about their legacy in these coming decades.” Discord says softly, resting a talon on her withers.
Twilight sighs calming down from her outburst, “I know, but I just wish I could do more. They meant so much to me, and now you’re one of my last, in a pool of ever dwindling original friends. Celestia and Luna have been long since retired, and while we occasionally catch up and talk, it just isn’t the same anymore, not even with them.”
“And that right there, is exactly why you should just finish this book. You aren’t looking to immortalize them, or make them famous beyond imagination. They already achieved that, and they were satisfied. You yourself made sure of it! That no matter where in the world, they would be recognized and known.” Discord spread his arms out, expressing a wide gesture.
“You have done everything for them Twilight, they would have gone to the sun and back for you, and you would have done the same. Don’t you think it's time to end the grand gestures? How many monuments and plays, how many buildings dedicated, how many foals named. When will it be enough for them? When will you be satisfied in expressing your gratitude?”
Twilight turns her head, looking out the large open window, deep into the ancient beautiful night sky. “Well then… Why should I finish it? After everything I've done to honor them, why should I write the book if it’s just cheap in comparison?”
“You should finish it for closure, Twilight. It’s what YOU need. Acceptance, like how I had to accept the fact that neither Fluttershy nor any of our friends wanted me to keep them eternally youthful. They chose this, and it cheapens it otherwise. I struggled with that for a long time, even tried secretly doing it without Fluttershy’s knowing… Of course it was silly for trying, she knew what I was doing the second she stopped having back issues while tending to her animals…” Discord finishes with a mirthful chuckle.
This cheered Twilight up slightly, “B-but… What if everyone forgets Discord? What if one day there isn’t a single person left to truly remember them?”
“Oh Twilight, after so many years you still get worried and anxious. You’ve spent so many years trying to keep their legacy alive that you didn’t look at the reality in front of you.”
“Just what is this reality, Discord?” Twilight questions suspiciously.
“You, me, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, even once dear little Flurry Heart? We will be alive as long as the universe goes around, and their memories live on through all of us.” Discord expresses with passion.
“And as for you Twilight? It’s time for you to do something for yourself for once.”
Twilight stopped, her suspicion gone in the wind, leaving behind a loneliness that no one ever deserves to feel. She knows what he is saying is true. She has known it for a long time. But she can't keep running from a fact she doesn't want to accept.
Tears streamed from Twilight’s cheeks, the pain seeping through, she never wanted to let them go, always wanted to distract from the fact that they were gone, instead focusing on how they could be remembered. Slowly, the pain ebbed, letting go to a peaceful serenity in her heart.
Twilight couldn’t help but share a smile, but as she continued, she took on a wistful look, one of deep contemplation. “You’re right Discord, and I appreciate it. Fluttershy, all the girls… They turned out so strong… And I don’t want to cheapen any of their memories with another big epic adventure story… I want something that is satisfying to me, and can speak to those who once truly knew them.”
Upon finishing her sentence, Twilight simply ignited her horn, and the book was ash, the night breeze letting it slowly drift off into the empty skies of Canterlot.
Discord looked at her in shock, “Twilight, either you’re getting hard of hearing or I'm just imagining things… Because I said FINISH the book! Not destroy it!” He waved his hands theatrically.
It was Twilight's turn to chuckle as she once again turned to look at Discord. The tears that fell from her cheeks now mere stains. “You’re right Discord. I am finishing the book.” She punctuates by levitating a newly unwritten book onto her desk. “I’m just starting over.” She says with a thoughtful smile.
Discord slaps his face with a talon, making it stretch comedically as he pulls it off. “I don’t even know what I will do with you, Twilight Sparkle. You and your books.”
“And neither I with you, oh king of chaos.”
“Well I think I know where you can start. How about an ice cream sundae for making all of this so sad?” Discord says with a sparkle in his eyes. “It wasn’t your intention to make old Discord sad was it?” He says, mimicking his best puppy eyes.
Twilight giggles at his antics. “ Fine fine, I guess it is only fair. AFTER I finish this book, we can arrange a time.”
“AFTER the book? Twilight, it took you a month the write the last one! This is simply unfair” Discord complains.
“Oh trust me Discord… I have a feeling this one will be finished a lot faster. Care to sit down and join an old friend as we finish it?” Twilight says with a playful nostalgia.
Discord looked to her, his heart warmed with a sense of pride. “Even when I messed up so bad trying to make you the best pony you could be, you still excelled in every way.”
Discord sighs, staring out at the night sky that had earlier caught Twilight's attention. It was open and vast, with a display of stars and nebulas in the vacuum of space unlike any had seen before. There was a set of six new constellations, that had been created by Twilight under her rule. Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic. Together forever.
It was truly breathtaking.
“Of course I will, you never even had to ask.”
Author's Note
Thank you so much for reading through this story! This is my second story on this site, and a story that was personally a huge pleasure to right. Feel free to leave a like if you enjoyed, and check out my other story as well!
(I'll continue it, Pinkie Promise! 
)
