Discord watched as Celestia accepted each of her gifts. She was smiling at each as she unwrapped them, but he could tell. She was ready for the night to be over. She was getting bored. He didn't blame her, there were only so many variations on 'ponies bringing their favorite goddess gifts' a mare could take before she got tired of it.

But that was fine. What wasn't fine were the more subtle hints he was picking up. She was hoping, deep down, for something else. None of those gifts were what she actually wanted, just things ponies thought their lovely, perfect, Celestia would want.

"Discord," came a familiar voice from behind him. "Where is your gift to Her Royal Highness?"

Discord spun around, folding his talon behind his back. "I've decided to forego the giving of gifts this year, my dear little princess." He smiled at Luna with a little false laugh. "Besides, if I were to give her something, I'd want it to be something she appreciates more than what she's already getting."

Luna looked annoyed at that. She glanced over at the table of gifts. Discord could see her thinking. There were a lot of gifts. Gifts she had probably wanted for herself, but were now sitting there, unopened, because they were for Celestia. "She does seem, hm, unsatisfied?" She turned an ear back. "I do not understand it. When my birthday comes, I receive hardly as many."

Discord patted her shoulder gently. "You didn't have a thousand years of gift-giving to live up to. Everypony expects Celestia to love what they give her, because she always has in the past. So this year, everyone and their grandmare has given her what a thousand moons of tradition demands. But I don't think your sister is really up for it."

Luna shook his talon off. "Well, she is going to have to grin and bear it, just as I do! We have been preparing for this night for months. She cannot simply decide that she's bored now."

"Or." Discord clapped his hands together. "We could get her what she really wants! You're her sister, surely you would have some idea. What would really put a smile on sunbutt?"

Luna considered. "Well..." she said slowly. "She did tell me, once, about a childhood dream of hers."

Discord leaned down. "Yes?"

Luna closed her eyes. "You are not to repeat this to anypony," she said sternly. She sighed, considering who she was speaking to. "I'm serious. If word of this spreads, I will have my revenge!" Discord looked properly scared, faking it though he was. "Sister has dreamed of a stallion, somepony to share her burden with besides me, to stand at her side as an equal. The further we went, the less likely that became. Ponies are intimidated by her, not in a bad way, but none of them dare consider her a potential partner."

Discord could see where this was going, and the wheels began to turn in his head. "Oh ho. I think I know just the answer." He smooched Luna's cheeks, one to each. "I'll be right back." Before the stunned princess could react, he was gone.

Luna stared after him for a moment, before turning her attention back to the party. She hoped that whatever Discord was up to, it wouldn't be too bad. He meant well, she knew, but his understanding of social norms and expectations was rather loose, if not completely absent. She shook her head with a sigh. "It's out of my hooves."

***

Mark whistled softly, summoning one of several mares to stand before him. He gently stroked over the horse's nose and cheeks. "Good girl." He got to inspecting her for the evening. "Getting tired, aren't you?"

"They've had a long night," came a voice from the edge of the paddock.

Mark turned. "This is their job, Mr. Vega," he said.

Vega chuckled. "As is yours to make sure they have this home to begin with."

Mark tensed at that. "I'll get the payment in, Sir. I just need a few weeks—"

"Relax, Mark," Vega said gently. "You're not at the deadline just yet. If you can get me what I'm owed in two weeks, we won't have to have this conversation again."

Mark bowed. "Yes, Sir."

"Have you made any progress on your sales?" Vega looked out over the paddock and the wandering horses there. "Looking up, I hope? You know I'd rather you be successful. Your rent's more useful than an empty horse lot."

Mark nodded, checking out one of the mares' teeth. "I've got several prospective buyers looking at my girls. I think I can get them sold in a month."

Vega shook his head. "It must be getting desperate, if you'd consider selling even one of them, let alone several. Are you sure they'll be happy with whoever buys them?"

Mark sighed. "I'll make sure of it, Mr. Vega. My family has been caring for these horses for generations. They always come first. And that includes keeping their happiness a priority." He glared at Vega, who seemed to take the hint, wandering away. "Sorry you had to hear that." He stroked the mare's side, not that she seemed to grasp the conversation. "But he's right. You deserve better than being sold off just to pay the bills."

The horse tossed her head as if in agreement.

Mark led that mare and the others to their stalls. "Come on, let's get you inside. Don't want evening dew getting on your perfect hooves."

The horses whickered in protest.

"Don't you start that now," Mark chided gently. "It's almost lights out time. You can all play more tomorrow."

One of the stallions threw his head in frustration.

"Listen, I know you're just bored. But there's nothing to be done about it now." He patted each horse on the way past, guiding them into their stalls for the evening. "You'll be safe in there. Get some sleep." He went to close the doors, but paused at the final stall. It was occupied by a colt, resting alone in the dark. Mark pulled up a stool and sat down beside him. "Still not feeling good?" He encouraged the colt closer, cradling them. "I'm sorry."

"Pity."

Mark looked up. "Sir—" But it wasn't Vega. It was some new man, dressed just as sharply. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

The man walked past Mark, his eyes wandering over the stall. "Quite an impressive place you've got here," he said softly. "Just look at this architecture." He waved down at the sickly colt. "Such dashing steeds."

"He's getting over a sickness." Mark held the colt protectively from the stranger. "If you wanted to talk business, we open at eight in the morning. I'm still closed."

"Well, so am I," the man said with a grin. "But we need to talk. About this lovely young fellow, for starters." He walked over, ruffling the colt's mane. "You can save them, all of them. Every last horse in here. You do want to do that, don't you? For them?"

Mark let out a low growl. "I'd rather not be threatened right now, thanks. Who are you, and what do you want?"

The man sighed. "Straight to the point. I'm not here to threaten any of you, perish the thought." He waved off the idea with a smug smirk. "I'm here to extend an offer. A chance for all these horses to be cared for and live wonderfully productive lives, and you'd be right there with them! Just because they're animals doesn't mean they should be without somepony to give them the attention they deserve."

Mark shifted the colt's weight. "I take care of my horses. What are you getting at?"

The stranger leaned in. "I'm getting at you not having money. I'm getting at you arranging to sell some of them in a desperate bid to save the rest." He twirled away. "I'm getting at that being something neither you nor the horses want, but you're running out of options, aren't you Mark?"

Mark shuddered. "How do you know my name? What do you want?"

The man tapped his finger against his temple. "My offer is a chance to care for your horses without money ever being an issue again." He brought his hands together with a soft clap. "Think of it, never worrying about the next dollar. Just you and horses, forever together."

"Stop saying that like I'm going to leave them!" Mark shouted. The colt made a little noise, shuffling about. "Shh... It's okay..." He glared up at the stranger.

"I'm saying, dear boy, that you don't have to leave them." He flips out a card. "Take this, and call the number. That's all you have to do if you want them, and you, to be cared for. But just know, you've got two weeks before things start getting worse." He handed the card to Mark, who took it after a moment of hesitation. "I look forward to hearing from you, Mr. Silver."

He marched off with a merry whistle into the dark of the night.

Mark cradled the colt, setting the card aside. "It'll be okay. I won't let anything happen to you, or any of them." He stroked the colt's fur gently. "Let's get you tucked in for the night. I'll be here if you need me."

The colt settled into their bed, curling up with Mark's hand on their back. The boy gave him a final reassuring pat before he slipped into sleep.

Mark went to bed himself, but couldn't sleep. He stared at the card and its number and its unwritten promise. "Equestrian Discord," it read in a fancy golden font on a purple background. It had a phone number, taunting him. Two weeks.

Mark thought back. Two weeks... That was when Vega would come back for his rent. No amount of money could cover what he owed now, not any amount he could get quickly, aside of selling some of them.

"I'm sorry," he muttered to himself. "It'll be okay..." Saying it out loud helped ease his guilt, if only a little. He curled up and tried to sleep, hoping for the best.

***

Discord enjoyed being cryptic. He chuckled, watching the poor human wrestle over the choice given. "Come now. It's not even a bad deal." Not that Mark could hear him from another plane away.

To Mark's credit, he lasted a week, desperately searching for a way out. But his horse, the first, would be sold the next day. He was out of time. He called that number.

"Equestrian Discord," sang Discord musically. "How can we help you? Are you ready to take that deal?"

"If you can really do what you say, then I want it," Mark said. "I need your help."

Discord sat down. "Yes, I know. I've been watching you. You really did try, poor thing. No matter. I made a promise, and I don't make too many of those. Now, there is one catch."

Mark sighed into his phone. "There's always a catch."

"Good, you know! The catch is there will be this particular horse. You have to get in good with her, take care of her. That's all." Discord tapped at the table beside him. "Think you can do that?"

Mark blinked. "W-what? I, sure?" He imagined a random mare with an attitude problem. "I'll be gentle with her, but I'll take care of her, yeah!"

"Excellent. Her name is Celestia. You two will become great friends, hm?"

The call ended. The phone dropped to the floor. Mark wasn't there to hold it, and neither were the horses. Vega would return to find the entire horse farm entirely empty.

Mark fell forward onto an alien floor. He struck the ground, but caught himself on his arms, but those weren't his arms. He neighed in surprise, shuffling in place with amazement as he coiled and turned. He was a horse, with a tail, twitching ears, and new senses screaming that he was surprised and scared. The door in front of him opened, allowing several golden-armored little horses to march in. "Ah, Solaris." One saluted sharply. "I thought you were coming tomorrow."

Author's Note

New story go! They paid for 2 extra updates this starting month, so expect weekly updates on this one this month(to 4). What think ye of the premise to start?

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