Losing Control

A tall creature snaked between the plants and flowers of the royal Canterlot gardens, grinning. The being was an unusual one indeed, a mishmash of different limbs from various animals, each body part merging at the joints perfectly. Pausing, it lay down on the cool dirt, running a paw over the tended surface. He, the creature presumed to be a male, brought to the other a chunk of the stone prison that had temporarily held him and threw it into his mouth, crunching it down like a handful of nuts. Slaloming through the foliage, he considered the situation at paw. I can't do things like before, he thought. I hate to admit it, but given what happened last time, I'm going to have to be... He narrowed his eyes irritably. Subtle. Continuing between the flowers and bushes, he smiled, spying a guard standing oblivious out towards the hedges. it could be worse, I suppose. And besides... With a click of his fingers, princess Celestia appeared around a bush and began to walk past the guard, who immediately stood straight to attention. I can still have fun this way.

"Good morning," the fake princess said politely.

"Good morning, your majesty," replied the guard.

"I trust all is well?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Good." The princess was turning to leave when she glanced back sharply. "What," she said mock-quizzically, "is that?"

The unicorn guard followed his ruler's pointing down between his legs and to the floor, where a small pool of off-white, translucent gel sat.

The guard turned bright red, recognising the substance. "I– I don't know, your majesty," he stammered.

The princess smiled devilishly, leaning in towards the guard, who took a nervous step back. "I won't deny," she whispered, "It's been a while, but I think I know what it is. A guard's duty is to serve his princess, just as a ruler's is to serve her subjects, including you, Crossed Swords," she continued, smiling. Suddenly turning to leave, she flicked her tail in his face. "You need but ask, soldier."

Discord continued to watch, splitting his sides over the guard's embarrassment. The stallion's sidesteps simply made him laugh harder.

Finishing his little session, Discord continued to slither through the gardens, scheming up ideas to humiliate Celestia. She always loves control. Everything's got to be her way, he pondered. Suddenly, he stopped and gasped as an idea came to mind. No... That would be cruel, he thought, the wicked grin returning to his face. And so, so perfect. The chimera set off towards the castle with renewed vigour.

Look out Celestia. Discord's coming home.

-<+=+>-

Princess Celestia strolled through the royal Canterlot gardens, enjoying the beautiful summer's day. A cool breeze danced across her back as she relished the break in her schedule.

Leaning down to sniff at a flower, she felt something bump her leg. Looking down, the alicorn saw a small, bright pink cloud, and frowned, her eyes narrowing. Beneath it was a puddle of brown liquid. Celestia recognised the two abnormalities as she magically picked up a note sitting on the cloud and read it.

Hello Celly! I hope you're having fun in your ordered little world, because I'm afraid things are going to change. Here's a clue: you know how much you love to be in control? Soon enough you won't even be able to control yourself.

Love D~

Celestia gasped out loud. Discord is back, she thought. That's not possible. Surely this is one of Luna's jokes? the princess hoped. These thoughts were quickly dispelled when the alicorn rounded a corner and saw the remains of Discord's statue, shattered into pieces.

Taking flight, the princess aimed towards her sister's bedchamber, thoughts racing through her head. First, the elements. Then Twilight and her friends. But what if Discord's changed? He may be crazy, but he's not stupid. He'll have learnt from last time. These deliberations heavy in her mind, she landed hard on the balcony to her sister's room.

"Luna!" Celestia called, trotting through the double doors. The princess of he night stirred a little and maundered. "Luna, wake up!" Celestia said, shaking her younger sister who rolled away in the princess-sized bed.

"Sister, do not disturb our sleep," she mumbled irritably. In a moment of frustration and lack of restraint, the white alicorn telekinetically gave her sibling a good shove and she fell out of the bed. "Ah! Tia!"

Luna got to her hooves and dusted herself off, grumbling, "Well, you have successfully gained our reluctant attention, sister. What is it?"

"It's Discord, he's– Luna!" Celestia was cut off as her sister suddenly lost consciousness and slumped to the floor. A laugh emanated from the room.

"Discord! Reveal yourself!" the princess shouted.

"Oh, you're no fun at all, Celestia," he said, peeling himself off the mural on the ceiling.

"What have you done to my sister?" Celestia demanded.

"Oh, she's fine," Discord said, waving a paw dismissively. "The power of a word is quite something, don't you think?" Celestia narrowed her eyes. "I took my sociological embodiment and made it cause amnesia and loss of consciousness, including my name, and any other kind of reference to me. If course, it doesn't affect you, obviously."

"You mean...?"

"Yes! This will be your own personal little Tartarus, and you can't even tell anyone!" Discord laughed with glee.

"None of this makes sense!" Discord smiled condescendingly at this. "You shouldn't even be floating in front of me! Twilight and her friends destroyed you with the Elements of Harmony!" Celestia cried.

Discord laughed with mocking pity. "Oh dear, Celly. I do hope you're not actually naïve enough to think that objects based around the ideas of things like laughter and kindness could do something even close to killing me," He said, rolling over in the air lazily. "No, the nastiest thing they can possibly do is lock me away for a while," He floated forward, pressing his face into hers. "I'm more powerful than you'd like to think, princess."

Celestia turned away, took a few steps in the other direction and circled back towards Discord. "What are you even going to do?"

"Patience, my little pony," Discord said. "You'll find out soon enough."

I hate suspense. Celestia thought.

"With this, though, I must bid you adieu," Discord said, picking Luna up and returning her to the bed. "Some much to do, so little time. Ta-ta." With a flash, he was gone, the princess who was still conscious watching the spot where he had disappeared with malevolence.

-<+=+>-

The rest of that day passed by in a blur for the alicorn. Court came and went, documents and petitions flew over her desk with a hoofprint or neigh-say here or there and the evening meal seemed bland and listless. What was there to be done? What was there that could be done? Discord had her wrapped around his hoof, or rather, finger.

Despite her worries, Celestia soon found herself in the evening, the red sun and pink clouds' hazy confusion reflecting her mental state. The sisters bid each other a good morning and a good night, one sister speaking less cheerily than the other. Celestia lay restlessly in bed for some time before she was able, finally, to fall asleep.

-<+=+>-

The next morning, as the moon prepared to leave its stage, Celestia awoke, blinked wearily, shifted in the bed– and found out what Discord had done.