Star-crossed

Sugarcube Corner

The smell of fresh baked cakes and muffins filled Katie's nose as she entered the bakery. Sugarcube Corner had become her favorite place in Ponyville. It wasn't hard to guess why either, between the good smells, the delicious food, and Pinkies endless antics, it was quite impossible not to be in a good mood.

Discord flew right in and pulled Katie behind him. "Pinkie, my dear, miss mopey over here needs a dozen of whatever cupcakes you have at the moment!"

The frizzy ball of pink hair known as Pinkie Pie bounced into view. "Okey Dokey Lokie!" She giggled and was gone as quickly as she had appeared. It never ceased to amaze Katie how that mare could be so perky and so happy all the time, perhaps it was the sugar.

In no time at all, Pinkie came out with a full tray of freshly minted cupcakes. Katie forced herself to forget about Twilight and together the trio did away with the whole batch, laughing and joking the whole time. Discord ate his share, but as usual, his mind was on other things...

'I see you're still crazy about little miss perfect...' 'and why shouldn't I be?' 'Look at her, Discord. Really look at her. Do you see what I do?' Discord glanced at her despite his better judgment, ' I see a beautiful mare, with a wonderful sense of humor, who loves me for being myself.' 'WRONG! Get past your lovesick attitude and think straight! She's the daughter of the traitor princess, heir to the lunar throne, your enemy. She wasn't even born, she was constructed!' 'That doesn't matter to me.' 'It does matter! She's not even your species!' ' Nopony is my species! They all died a long time ago, remember? I'm the only one left! I'm never going to find anypony my own species! '...' 'LD, don't be like that.' '...' 'I..' 'You know what? I give up. Someday, you'll stop feeling sorry for yourself and see things for how they are. This mar- This woman will only break your heart, and when she does, remember that I tried to warn you.'

"And then I said, 'Oatmeal? Are you crazy?" Discord was brought back to reality by the sound of laughter ringing through the bakery. Many had heard the story before, most didn't get the joke, but they all laughed anyway. It was pretty much a given that half of what Pinkie did was so random that most wouldn't understand the humor behind it, that was something that Discord and the pink mare had in common. Discord returned his eyes to Katie and in that instant, their eyes met and she smiled warmly. 'You're wrong. You have to be wrong. She's perfect.'

Katie, of course, had no knowledge of the battle going on in Discord's heart. She only knew that a full belly, and time spent with a few good friends, makes one very tired. She let out a yawn and stretched her wings.

Pinkie laughed, "hee-hee, looks like SOMEPONY's all tuckered out! It's getting pretty late anyway, you should head home, silly filly!"

"I think you're right, Pinkie Pie." Katie giggled, "Big day tomorrow and all that."

Discord raised one eyebrow curiously, "What's tomorrow?"

Pinkie rolled her eyes, Discord had an even shorter attention span that she did sometimes. "The summer sun celebration! It's only on the same day every year! Princess Celestia is coming to Ponyville for the celebration again!"

To say that Discord was surprised, would be an understatement. The last time she held the celebration in Ponyville, was the time that Nightmare Moon escaped. While that certainly wasn't a concern this time, the fact that she chose Katie's first year back in Equestria to come to Ponyville couldn't be a coincidence.

"Why Ponyville this year?" He asked.

"I dunno. Twilight said something about making up for last time."

Katie placed a hoof on Discord's shoulder. "Don't worry about it, love. I'll stay clear out of her way. It won't do you any good to make a fuss about it. I'm not staying home, Scoots really wants to go and it's not really fair to make her stay home."

"I could take her."

"I'm not going to hide just because I'm not on Celestia's nice list."

"The only reason she hasn't attacked you yet is because of your relation to Luna. Luna doesn't make a habit of attending the sun celebration any more than Celestia attends the lunar festival. I'm not sure that she will be willing to let you be if she runs into you tomorrow."

"You know, it's really not such a big deal for both of you to go. And Princess Celestia knows how much Katie likes to be a pegasus, if she goes as an earth pony, she might not be noticed as easily." Pinkie chimed in.

Discord face-pawed. Leave it to Pinkie to find a loophole like that. Katie jumped and clapped her hooves in victory. "That's a great idea, Pinkie! Discord and I can go together as earth ponies! This is going to be so much fun!"

Despite how happy Katie looked, Discord just felt sick to his stomach. Katie was literally playing with fire by going to the celebration. He could only hope that she didn't get burned.

Very VERY early in the morning, the day of the Summer Sun Celebration.

It was that dark and lonely hour when the night had not yet given in to the dawn, where the stars were faded but the moon was still clearly seen in the sky. Groggy ponies from all over Ponyville huddled close together in the town square against the stinging cold that lingered in the air. Scootaloo balanced on Katie's back as the two of the waited for dawn. Discord stood to their side but unlike the others, he felt a sense of dread, not of excitement. He liked to push limits, he liked to live dangerously, but it wasn't his safety at stake this time.

Scootaloo took a deep breath and exhaled a vapor cloud that hung in the air and the spiraled away. Katie laughed and puffed a cloud too. The two smiled and Katie nuzzled the pegasus fondly. Discord sighed and the corner of his mouth lifted in a grin. As nervous as the entire situation made him, nothing made him happier or put him more at ease than seeing his marefriend smile. 'I just wish she'd be more careful' 'Because you are such a great example of that.' 'I thought you weren't talking to me.' ' I'm not. I'm warning you.' 'Warning me? About what?' 'You're precious marefriend.' 'I thought we discussed this.' 'You're sure you can keep her safe?' 'I'm fairly sure i'm capable of that. I won't let Celestia lay one hoof on her' 'Then I have a question for you, friend.' 'What's that?' 'Where is she?' 'What's that supposed to mean? She's right...

Discord heard a high-pitched squeal in front of him and he turned immediately towards the sound. Scootaloo sat in a heap on the ground where Katie had stood only moments before.

Scootaloo shook her head from side to side and stood up shakily. "What just happened?" She moaned. Discord trotted to her side and helped her stand. "Wait...I was on mom's back...Mom! Where did she go?"

Discord abandoned his earth pony form and stood at full height. His eyes desperately scanned the crowd.

"Daddy? Where's mom?!"

"I don't... she was just here...I.."

Scootaloo spun in frantic circles but her mother was nowhere to be found. She cried out at the top of her lungs, "Mommy! Where are you?!"

But Discord knew they wouldn't find her anywhere in town square. Katie was gone, and he had a feeling he knew who was behind it.

Stay tuned for book two!!

Eventually...