Curiosity can be a beautiful thing

by Shadowstalker

Chapters

• He's climbing in through your windows...
• The tears of... Well, tears
• Blue meanie
• Who likes who?
• Now that you're a man.
• Morning glory
• An old relative.
• Nighttime fiasco
• An apology for the dawn.
• Get well, sweet prince.
• A mystery under the veil.
• Criminal goofballs.
• Ring a ding, ding.
• Side-effects.
• Grand meeting.
• The beginning of winter.
• The big freeze.

He's climbing in through your windows...

'What is she doing?' Discord thought as he leaned against the wall. 'She's been in there for over half an hour since the water stopped. Even the steam has stopped coming out from under the door! Does every mare take this long in the bathroom?' He thought before teleporting onto Fluttershy's bed.

Looking around, he glanced lazily at the nightstand. A glass of water half drank, or half full, a lamp with a red cover with gold trimmings. The bed was still the same; a pink and orange checker pattern with butterflies that reflected the color they were in. The sun was shining through the window, refracting in the panes and spreading the light around like a golden kaleidoscope.

He let his head sink in the pillow as much as he could before his horns made his head stop. Sighing, he looked back at the bathroom door, and, hearing nothing, grunted and got up.

Making his way downstairs, he glanced at the animals as they caught sight and smell of him and began running. Smiling a little, he regretted it when he lost his footing and fell the rest of the way to the floor. Landing as a pile of goo, he solidified as he got up. Stopping at his his shoulders he looked ahead and saw Angel smirking at him, blew a raspberry, and ran off.

"Little nuisance." Discord mumbled getting up. "I wonder what Twilight is doing? Maybe I can get a shower there," he said before pausing to listen to any noise coming from upstairs. "Did she fall asleep? Eh, whatever." He shrugged snapping his talon.

The library

Popping into existence, Discord rolled his shoulders and frowned. A large stack of books were eye level with him, and past those were even more. Climbing to the top of the stack, he squished himself against the ceiling and looked below. All the books that were on the shelves, were now in towers that reached the ceiling. Some were made into arches, others into walls of paper and ink, and walking among them was Spike carrying a rather large one.

Jumping down, he landed in front of the small drake, and, taking the book from him looked down at Spike as he threw it onto a tower of books. Spike just looked at him, the book, and then back to him before he stopped at the book again.

"You know, I was going to use that."Spike said pointing at the book up on the top of the tower. "I'm guessing you want something?" He said crossing his arms.

"Why do you always think I want something when I visit?" Discord said giving Spike a quivering lip and puppy-dog eyes. "Can't I just visit a friend?"

"I don't know, can you?" Spike said brushing past him. "Why are you here?"

"I'm just visiting a friend actually." Discord said wiggling between the towers and arches of books. "Yes I know, it's a shocker that me, Discord, is just visiting. So, speaking of friends, where's the resident shut-in princess?" He asked flipping through a book. "Ugh, a joke book? Please, my mind is a joke."

"Twilight is upstairs." Spike said beginning to climb the tower of books to reach his. "She's busy though, she said to let her finish a paragraph in a book she was reading."

"She's missing re-shelving day?" Discord asked raising an eyebrow. "When did she start reading?"

"Three hours ago." Spike said reaching his book. "It's a series. A large series, with large books. Could I get a little help?"

Discord frowned and took a book from the bottom of the pile, watching it in amusement as he slunk up the stairs, the books and Spike fell the to floor. Looking at the book in his paw, he set it on a shelf by the rail. Going up the rest of the way, he opened the door to Twilight's room and snickered.

Twilight was sitting at her desk, a book the size of dictionary was nestled in her fore-hooves, two more books of the same size were sitting to her right while three more were to her left.

Going up to the alicorn, he looked over her shoulder and made sure he put his chin on her shoulder so she would know he was there. When she didn't respond, he frowned and waved his talon in front of her face. She gave an annoyed grunt and swatted at him with a hoof.

"Twilight?" Discord said clearing his throat. "Twilight can I-"

"I'll help Spike after I'm done with this paragraph." Twilight said moving back to the lit part of her desk.

"I wasn't going to-" He was saying before she swatted at him again. "Fine. But don't expect me to warn you next time when something is attacking the town."

"Yeah, yeah, that's nice." She said. "Can I read in peace now?"

"I suppose so," he said crossing his arms. "What's a chaos god have to do around here to get a shower?" He mumbled. "Is Pinkie-"

"Throwing a twenty-four hour musical class. Rarity is helping Cheerilee design costumes for a play. Applejack is working with Rainbow Dash at the farm. Go ask Spike if he wants to do anything."

"He started re-shelving three hours ago." Discord said pointing a thumb over his shoulder. "Nothing? No response? And I thought Chrysalis was a slave driver. I'm going to bug Celestia... I may wake Luna up too."

"Yeah, yeah, just don't bother me." Twilight mumbled pulling the book closer to her face. "I'm reading."

"Yes, yes you are." Discord said rolling his eyes as he teleported away.

Canterlot Lunar Wing

'Great, did I forget my eyes again?' Discord thought as he stood still in the darkness. 'Wait, what is that?'

He looked around as he listened to a small sound, a soft breathing coming from his right. Looking down, he saw Luna's ethereal mane flowing across her bed and lighting up her pillow that she had on her head.

'I guess I'm waking Luna up. Good thing I can't die, or this would hurt.'

Bringing a can of shaving cream and a feather into existence, he saw one of her hooves hanging out of the covers. Gently taking it in a talon, he shook the shaving cream and sprayed a large glob onto her hoof. He heard a snort from her and froze, watching her merely flutter her wings, he let out a sigh that turned into a surprised yelp when he got a face full of shaving cream himself.

Spitting it out, he wiped he face and got a paw full of fur. Putting his hair back on, he looked at Luna as she sat upright in her bed. Her eyes were narrowed but she was grinning at him, giving a little wave with her coated hoof, she wiped it on him.

"Did you really think I wouldn't know if anypony entered my room without my permission?" She asked rubbing her eyes with her clean hoof. "Especially you?"

"I was hoping you'd be dead to the world." Discord said. "Now I see why ponies hate this prank. This tastes nothing like whip-cream." He wiped his mouth with an arm before wiping it on himself.

"Why are you here, Discord?" Luna asked staring him in the eyes. "In my room, with the lights off, while I'm asleep?" She said trailing off to study a hoof.

"I was trying to find your sister." He said crossing his arms. "Instead I get a smart-mouthed alicorn and a bad mood. Really, all I want to do is take a shower or hang out with a friend. Are we-"

"No." She said. "Leave me, I wish to sleep until I must raise the night."

He rolled his eyes and began to move towards the door when, smiling and rubbing his paw and talon together, snapped his tail and made a large surround-sound appear next to her bed.

As he was exiting the room, to the shock of her guards, the surround-sound began blasting dubstep. He heard her scream, fall to the floor, yell at him, and watch as her guards ran in to help her, and then after him. He was gone by then, casually walking down the hall at the opposite side of the castle.

Canterlot Solar Wing

'Oh, the joys of modern music.' Discord thought smugly as he left a trail of turkeys with each step. 'I wonder what Celestia is doing? Most likely paperwork, or, ugh, a meeting. Those are the worst. All she does is talk, all the other one does is talk, and then it's over. Just go get a coffee or something, but don't make the poor sap stand there yelling up at you.'

Passing by a window, he went back and looked out. Outside, there was an open space with hedges at the Southern end, and doorways to the North. Statues of different ponies, a few griffons, a minotaur, and a Diamond Dog were down there, but just barely visible in the middle of knee height bushes, was his original pedestal. Letting out a sigh as he remembered the time he spent imprisoned, he gave a small snort.

"Stupid Elements of Harmony... Stupid pedestal... Stupid life..." He said crossing his arms. "Why can't anything ever go right for me?"

"It might be because you tried to take over Equestria twice, your unpredictable, and difficult to talk to." Celestia said.

Looking to the side, the alicorn was staring down at the pedestal too. He turned away from it, instead choosing to walk away from Celestia and the window.

"Where are you going?" Celestia asked as she turned to follow him. "Are you feeling alright? You seem upset, or mildly irritated."

"I'm fine," he replied. "Just having a bad day is all."

"I think it is more than just a bad day. Something has bothered you and when something can bother you, then that makes me concerned."

He stopped, and turned towards her with wide eyes. She stood there, looking up at him with a small frown.

"Since when did you care about me?" He asked. "You never cleaned my statue, and you didn't even try and stop me when I got out the second time."

"Discord," she said looking at the ground. "One moment, I would rather speak in private."

He put on a pair of sunglasses as her horn came to life with magic, the light coming from it still made him squint through his sunglasses. After a bright flash, he took them off and rubbed his eyes in annoyance. Looking around after his vision cleared, his frown deepened.

"Your bedroom?" He said watching her climb onto her bed. "I've already gotten a face full of shaving cream from your sister, I don't need you to do it to me either."

"Discord," she said shaking her head. "I thought you would have learned not to prank my sister. You know she still distrusts you and you're giving her more proof not to."

"What do I care? It's not like I have anything to do today. Or any friends to be with... Or anyone to even want to do anything with me." He said as he felt fake tears start to come out. "Not a single soul wants to play with little 'ole me."

"Discord, if you named anything off I would join you in doing it." Celestia said. "I owe you that much."

"Owe me? For what? I haven't done anything but cause some minor chaos while you're in a meeting or even when you're just trying to relax."

"That's exactly it." She said. "I've grown used to the meetings, and nothing seems as relaxing as it did before. When you go into the mix, I want to laugh and scream sometimes, but I always feel refreshed afterwards." She said making his eyebrows rise to his horns.

"You like it when I cause chaos?" He said pulling his eyebrows back down. "Oh, what does it matter? I don't even want to do anything anymore. Fluttershy is doing who knows what in the bathroom after she was done showering, Pinkie is hosting a musical class, Rarity is sewing, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash are both at the farm. And Twilight... Twilight is just reading. Seriously, it's like those mares have to do those things. It's just hardwired into their brains, or they just take a long time doing it." He said throwing his arms int he air.

"Fluttershy was most likely just brushing her mane," Celestia said. "Plenty of mares have to do it if they have a long mane. Pinkie, from what I've read, likes to sing, Applejack and Rainbow Dash are just working, and Twilight is relaxing. Does that bother you because their not paying any attention to you?" She asked resting her head on her fore-hooves.

He opened his mouth, closed it and raised a finger, putting his hand down he scratched his head as he thought for a moment. 'I've seen them do this before, but this time is different. Why am I bothered by it this time? I could just make copies of them, or just go meet some other ponies to make friends with.'

"I..." He began with an unsure look on his face. "I guess I don't understand them." He drawled.

"Don't understand them?" She said raising her head for a brief moment. "What do you mean by that?"

"Like, I... This is hard to explain." He said using his paw to rub the back of his head. "I just don't get mares. I don't understand them." He said shrugging.

"Discord," she said smiling. "You're not the first male to not understand mares. You just need to look at it from their perspective."

"So I need to replace their brains with mine?" He said pulling out a large set of tongs and a salad spoon. "I can't promise their brains will be in their right bodies afterwards."

"Discord." Celestia said narrowing her eyes. "Don't you touch their heads."

"I'm kidding! Geez, I thought you said you liked my form of entertainment?" He said throwing both tools away. "But, that does give me an idea." He said stroking his beard.

He stood there, pulling at his beard, Celestia just sat their for a minute or two, she looked at him and couched into a hoof. Coughing into her hoof more forcefully, he stopped and looked down at her.

"Do you need a cough-drop?" He asked making a small baggie of cherry drops appear next to her.

"No," she said pushing the baggie away. "I wanted to know what your idea was."

"Oh, my idea!" He said floating into the air with a large grin on his face. "If you want to know, I," he stopped to point at himself. "Want you," he again stopped to point at her. "To turn moi into a female Draconequus!"

Her face immediately contorted into a look as if she had eaten something sour, his smile remained as big as it was before while he circled her.

"Discord, you may have finally went completely, and utterly insane." She said slowly. "I think my heart stopped for a moment." She said putting a hoof to her chest. "My chest feels tight, or is that my heart beating erratically? Discord... I-I feel cold." She said as she got a pained look on her face.

He stopped immediately and picked her up, snapped his tail, and teleported them to the hospital.

Ponyville Hospital

Discord watched as the doctors took Celestia away on a gurney. Scratching his head again, he waved timidly at her while she went through the doors to the emergency room.

"I guess she was so surprised she had a heart attack?" He said to himself even if he was doubting that crude idea. "It had to have been a yes. I wonder if Luna can do it for me instead?"

Teleporting out of the lobby, he went back to the castle before the paparazzi arrived and blamed him.

Canterlot Lunar Wing

Appearing on a wall, Discord took a deep breath of air and while doing so, sucked in a bird. Couching heavily, he hit his chest five times before the bird shot out in a blue blur. Spitting out a feather, he looked behind him and saw the statue gardens below. Looking ahead of himself, he saw a window with the latch undone, the window open and the ceiling inside. Grabbing onto the frame, he pulled himself inside.

Luna's bedroom is alight with small candles, and the open window. Looking around, Discord spots her bathroom door open slightly and the sound of running water.

'No steam?' He thought. 'She takes cold showers? And I thought I was weird.'

Making himself comfortable, he pulled up a chair and sat down. Facing away from the bathroom, he twiddled his thumbs as he waited for Luna to finish.

After about five minutes, the water stops, there's a bright blue flash from inside, and Luna comes out with a towel around her waist. She stopped and looked at Discord as he turned around in his seat to wave.

"Discord, why are you here?" She asked through gritted teeth.

"I need your help." He said keeping a straight face.

"Why would I help-"

"I want to be a female Draconequus."  He said biting his bottom lip.

Her angry expression melted away the instant the word 'female' left his lips, now she was smiling, her eyes watering as she leaned against a wall as small chortles began to escape. When she looked back at him, she burst into laughter that shook the room, knocked him back a few inches, and caused the window to slam shut.

"D-Discord!" She sputtered out as she calmed down. "For once, you have actually done something humorous."

"I'm serious." He said putting his arms on the top of the chair. "Can you do it or not?" He asked knitting his eyebrows together.

"Oh, you are telling the truth?" She said as her face slowly dawned a look of recognition. "I can. But what for?"

"I just want to see how the other half lives." He said. "I'm curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat, Discord, remember that." She said taking the towel off.

"No, that was the chocolate Rarity left out. Don't tell her, but I made a cat copy of Opal." He whispered to her. "So, how is this going to work? Do we need some freaky chalk ring? A sacrifice? How about a magic stone?" He said pulling red chalk out from nowhere, broccoli, and a blue stone.

"Just a clipping of a mares coat and your own." She said.

"That's it?" He deadpanned. "I always thought this complicated magic mumbo-jumbo involved a bunch of incantations."

"That's only dark magic." She said. "Or potion brewing. Now, you've got to find a mare that will lend you-"

She sneezed when he shoved a clipping of white fur into her face. She looked at it cross eyed before taking it in her magic. Grinning wickedly as he was busy taking a pair of scissors to his hide, she yanked a lock out from his chest.

He let out a loud yell as he put his paw and claw tot he bald spot. He looked up at her with watery eyes and shook a shaky fist at her.

"The next part is fairly easy," she said going to her dresser. Opening the top drawer, she pulled out a pink piece of chalk, two roses, and a black candle. "I have to make a square on the floor like this," she said sweeping the rug out from underneath him and causing his chin to hit the floor. Drawing the square, she missed some of his tears smudging part of a line. Putting the female rose head in his hands, she set the candle down in front of him and lit the male rose on fire, thereby setting the candle aflame. "Now for this."

"Through the eyes of another, the body and soul, grant him the form crafted from the aether." The lines began to glow, but the smudge was sparking, and neither of them seemed to notice. "He wishes to walk among the fairer, so let her be the carrier!"

There was a bright flash, Luna gasped, Discord tensed for a moment as he was engulfed by blue smoke that turned pink. Outside of the circle, the blue was escaping, and going through the window. After it had cleared, Luna uncovered her eyes and put a hoof to her mouth as she looked down at Discord.

She wasn't much slimmer than before, but his black mane had been replaced by a head of white hair with her black mane coming out from underneath it, her snout was shorter and her snaggle tooth was slimmer and much more sharper. Her colors were lighter, and the fluff at the end of her tail was a almost white pink.

She opened her eyes and looked around. Looking at her talon and paw, she grinned before getting up.

"It worked!" She said before grabbing her throat. "My voice! My voice still sounds magnificent, or maybe it sounds even better, I'm not sure. Oh, and I feel positively electrified, Luna! Luna?" She said as she looked at the shocked alicorn. "Luna what's wrong? It worked, see?" She said spreading her arms. "Oh, I smell horrible! Is that what I always smell like, or is that my breath?" She said as she felt her eyes water.

"T-The spell..." She said. "Something went wrong. Something went horribly wrong, and I have no idea what it was or could have been."

"S-Something went wrong?" The female Discord asked tapping her fore-fingers together. "And you don't know what it was? Now I feel scared. What did you do to me?" She asked.

"What you asked, but... Whose coat did you get that hair from?" Luna asked suddenly. "Discord, whose coat!?"

"I-I forgot!" She said backing away. "I just thought of the color white and it just appeared! Why are you yelling at me...!? I d-din't mean t-to do anything wrong!" She sniffled as her eyes began to water. "Now I feel h-horrible!"

As Luna looked momentarily at the sobbing Draconequus, she gave one last look out the window.

Ponyville Hospital

Celestia was staring at the door, waiting for the doctor to come back and release her. Thinking back to what Discord said, she shivered and the heart monitor jumped slightly before climbing back down. Laying her head down, she was closing her eyes before she heard glass breaking.

Turning around, she saw the window to her room had been smashed in. Getting up, she brushed the glass away with magic and looked out, seeing nopony, she looked back inside and didn't see a rock, or anything that could have been thrown.

"It must have been the wind." She said climbing back into the bed. "Or Discord. It's probably just his way of checking up on me."

The tears of... Well, tears

Discord was in Luna's bathroom, crying, and just looking pitiful to anypony who looked in. As she was in Luna's tub with the curtain drawn, Luna was outside of the door with a discharged Celestia, who was also listening with worry.

"Discord, come out. Please, we just want to talk." Luna said rapping the door lightly.

"Go away!" Discord screamed back. "Y-You're just going to yell at me again! You hate me!"

"Discord... I apologize for how I acted before. Really, I am sorry that I yelled at you." Luna said hitting the door with her head. "It was just the shock that made me yell."

"L-Liar! If you didn't mean to, then you wouldn't have yelled!" Discord screamed before a drawn out sniffle was heard. "Can you slide some tissues under the door? I ran out of toilet paper to use."

"Even the extra roll under the cabinet?" Celestia said.

"C-Celestia?" Discord mumbled as she opened the cabinet door to get the extra roll of toilet paper. "Is that you?"

"Yes Discord, it's me. I was discharged from the hospital earlier. Thank you for taking me there by the way; remind me to get you a gift later."

"A... Gift?" She said drawing the curtain away. "What kind of gift?"

"As long as it doesn't involve taking over Equestria, anything you want. It was very mature of you to have done what you did, and not panic." Celestia said hearing a hoof and claw coming closer to the door. "You may have saved my life."

"Really?" She said cracking the door wide enough to poke her head through. "I... Did something right for a change?"

"You did, you did the responsible thing." Celestia said. "Why don't you come out of there? Come on, you can lay on the bed instead of the tub."

"T-The bed does sound nice." She said opening the door. "I'm sorry Luna about what I did to you earlier." She said passing the lunar alicorn. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" She asked as she sat on the bed.

"An apology is enough." Luna said frowning. "If any of us should be apologizing... It is me. I do apologize for yelling at you. It was unjust." She said before bowing her head. "Can you forgive me?"

Sniffling, she wiped her eyes and nodded. Luna smiled and sat next to her on the bed. Discord looked back down at Celestia and saw she had the same inquisitive look Luna had given her earlier.

"Is something wrong?" Discord asked wiping her nose with a few sheets of toilet paper.

"Nothing, nothing is wrong." Celestia said. "I was just wondering if you know anything about my window shattering while I was in the hospital."

"No. No I don't know anything about that. You weren't cut were you?" Discord asked stretching out to look Celestia's sides. "Is that red on you? No, that's just fuzz."

"You seem much more concerned about others well being with this change." Luna said. "You are not so insensitive, mediocre, or stupid anymore."

"T-That's what you t-thought o-of me?" Discord said looking at Luna while her eyes began to water again. "You still hate me! I-I'm going somewhere where I'll be liked!"

"Discord! You can't leave! You still haven't gotten used to the horm-" Celestia was saying before Discord teleported away. "Luna. Why did you have to say that? She was calm, she was happy at the moment." Celestia snapped making her younger sister paw at her sheets. "Never mind. I'll go and send Twilight a letter and inform her about Discord's fragile situation."

Fluttershy's Bedroom

Fluttershy was laying down in her bed, quietly reading to Angel as the rabbit began to fall asleep. She stopped, smiled at him, closed the book, and put it on the nightstand. Snuggling into the covers, she was letting the sun warm her before a shrill crying startled her and Angel. As she was hyperventilating, she saw Discord sitting on the edge of her bed, with her face in her paw and talon.

"D-Discord!" Fluttershy gasped and immediately went to her side, oblivious to the gender swap. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Luna hates me." Discord sniffled. "She said I was insensitive, mediocre, and stupid."

"Oh, I'm sure she didn't mean it." Fluttershy said. "Discord, what happened to your mane? It's all long and white."

She took her hands away from her face and looked away just as Fluttershy's eyes widened. A moment later, she was pulled around and found the yellow pegasus hugging her softly.

"You're not laughing at me. I-I thought you would have at least screamed." Discord said hugging back.

"I'm your friend," Fluttershy said rubbing her back. "And friends don't judge each other by how they look. Tell me what happened."

"Well," Discord sniffled again. "I was waiting for you to come out of the bathroom this morning so I could take a shower, I got bored and went to see what Twilight was doing. She was busy reading and all the others were busy, so I went to see Celestia or Luna. Celestia had a heart attack and I took her to the hospital, she was discharged, but by then Luna had turned me into a female Draconequus. And then Luna started yelling... And I ran into the bathroom... And then she insulted me again and I came here."

"You poor thing, don't worry, I won't insult you." She said rubbing Discord's back a few more times before letting go. "How about I go get some tea for us and then I can go get Twilight? She may be able to help."

"Twilight doesn't care about me." Discord said pulling the pegasus closer. "All she cares about are her stupid books."

"That's not true," Fluttershy said rubbing her lizard leg. "She cares about everypony. Me, you, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, everypony. Just give her a chance."

Discord furrowed her eyebrows together and nodded. She got up, opened the door to Fluttershy's room, and went down stairs where the sound of hooves and paws came to an abrupt stop.

All the animals downstairs were staring at the Draconecuus oddly. Angel stopped mid-chew on a carrot with his teeth stuck halfway through it when Discord looked at him and narrowed her eyes.

"Here," she said walking over to him and scooping him up in her lion paw. "You need to chew it with your mouth closed, I don't want you to start catching flies." She said as she broke the carrot chunk off and put it in his paws.

He was blinking rapidly, looking back at the chunk and Draconequus as she was smiling down at him. Taking a slow bite of the carrot, he folded his ears back and gave her a thumbs up. She gave him a pat on the head and then went to the kitchen. Angel, letting his jaw drop, didn't flinch when the carrot chunk fell out of his mouth.

Discord opened the bottom cabinet and pulled out a small box of Earl Grey tea, setting it on the counter she took a silver tea kettle from the drainer and filled it with warm water. Setting it on the small eye on the oven, she put a few logs in before throwing in a flame from her thumb. Closing the cabinet door on her way out to the living room, she looked around and saw the animals still staring.

Standing there awkwardly, she rubbed her paw and talon together while keeping her eyes to the floor as she made her way to the couch. Sitting down, she let her arms down and looked up. A fawn was next to her with its mother, it sniffed her arm before putting its head under her hand making her rub it. Discord smiled slightly and rubbed it from the head to the neck again and again.

When the mother made a sound like it was vomiting, the fawn and her disappeared through the backdoor. Discord heard the kettle whistle and, getting up, saw Fluttershy come out of the kitchen with a tray that had a few cups, the kettle on a porcelain plate, and a few cookies. She set it on a small table Discord had brought up, and pouring some tea for the both of them, she sat next to Discord in silence.

"So, how has your day gone so far?" Discord asked sipping her tea. "Aside from my emotional crisis."

"I-It was good," Fluttershy said. "I fed the birds toady, the squirrels were fighting over nuts gain, and some vampire bats even showed up. I was a little sad when I heard that Celestia had a heart attack. Is she alright now? Did the doctors put her on any medication?" Fluttershy asked looking up at Discord with wide-sad eyes.

"She's fine, and I don't know." Discord said mixing her tea guiltily with a cookie. "I ran off before she could say anything. I think she was saying I still haven't controlled my hormones yet, whatever that means." Discord said nibbling on the soggy biscuit.

"Hormones... That's why you were so emotional. You're not used to how many hormones a mare has, you were always used to what you had. I-I should get going, maybe Twilight can help you with your hormone problem."

"What if she can't?" Discord asked setting her cup down.

"She will," Fluttershy said giving Discord one last hug before getting up. "I promise."

Discord smiled and watched as Fluttershy left. As soon as the door closed, Angel jumped onto the table and shot Discord a dirty look.

"Angel," she said trying to pet him but he swatted her paw away harshly. "What was that for? I didn't do anything, did I?" She said rubbing her paw where he hit her.

He pointed at the carrot he had left in the garbage, back to her, and the the door before crossing his arms.

"I was just trying to be nice." She said looking dejectedly at her knees. "And Fluttershy is just going to get Twilight. She thinks she can help me with my... Hormones." She said scrunching up her face. "What a strange word. Hormones."

He tapped his foot rapidly and then pointed back at her and then the backdoor.

Discord looked away and got a blanket from behind the couch. Laying down, she put the blanket up to her shoulders and tucked her tail in.

"Here," she said making a carrot come out from the fridge. "I was planning to make this into a joke carrot for you, but now... I want you to have it like it is, a normal carrot."

He had a sickly looking expression on his face as he took the carrot from her. Setting it down, he was hopping away when she cleared her throat. Turning around, he crossed his arms as she looked down at him.

"Could you lay with me, Angel?" She asked sitting slightly upright. "I... I don't want to be alone right now. Everything feels strange, and I'm confused about what I'm supposed to be feeling. Please?" She asked giving him puppy-dog eyes.

He stared at her for a second before slapping a paw to his face, hopping over to her, she squealed in delight as he cuddled up to her chest. As they lay there, Angel fell asleep quickly in her soft embrace, Discord merely stared out the window at the lush greenery while the warm sunlight came in to shine on her.

'The sunlight feels so good. It's making me feel sleepy, or is that the blanket? I don't care, this is nice either way.' She thought before resting her head under the blanket with Angel.

The Library

Twilight, after finishing the last chapter in the third book she was reading, came downstairs to see Spike putting the last book in place. When he saw her, he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

"Sorry Spike," she said rubbing the back of her neck. "I was a little to caught up in that book."

"Don't worry about it, it's better than being thrown into a bookshelf." He said. "By the way, your cooking diner."

"Fair enough." She shrugged coming down the stairs. "Has Discord come back?" She asked looking up at the rafters.

"Strangely, no, and that's what worries me." Spike said looking around in equal curiosity. "You'd think he would have been-" He was cut off as he belched a scroll out. "Wow, a red scroll. Never seen one of these before." He said staring at it.

Twilight snatched it away from him, and tearing the black seal off, her eyes quickly darted across the paper before she rubbed her eyes and looked at it again. Once she put it back down, she had tears in her eyes as she sat on the floor.

"Twilight? Are you alright?" Spike asked moving to put a claw on her back.

"Discord was turned into a hormone crazed she-Draconequus. Is it wrong I feel like crying? Because I feel like crawling into the tub and crying." She said.

"I think that's a good idea." Spike said. "Do you think Fluttershy knows?"

The bell signaling somepony had entered the library chimed and Fluttershy stepped in. She saw Twilight and slowed down slightly before putting a hoof on her shoulder.

"T-Twilight?" Fluttershy said before noticing the red scroll. "It's about Discord, isn't it?" She asked hiding behind her mane.

"Discord has been gender-swapped and Celestia or Luna don't know what to do. I can deal with hydras, manticores, evil goddesses, even Cutie Mark swapping. But not this, this is where I draw the line." She said shaking her head. "This is too much crazy."

"Well, Discord is a goddesses now, but she's a good one. So it should be easier, right?" Fluttershy said trying to comfort her friend. "She even made tea earlier."

"I guess." Twilight said. "Spike, go tell the girls to meet me, Fluttershy, and Discord here. I'd go get Rainbow and Applejack first since their the furthest. Well be back." She said getting up to follow Fluttershy to the door.

Fluttershy's Cottage

Discord was still sleeping soundly, giving a few soft snores while Angel was curled up in her arms. Outside, Fluttershy and Twilight landed with both of them being quite winded from the flight. As Fluttershy opened the door, she stopped momentarily to press her ear against the wood.

"Is something wrong?" Twilight asked trying to look past her friend to look through the crack.

"I don't know. The cottage is so quiet." Fluttershy said inching the door forward. "All the animals are napping." She said stepping in.

Twilight followed her and let out a sigh she hadn't know she was holding. The cottage interior was still normal, the animals were sleeping together or in the light coming form outside. And on the couch, a large ring was rising slowly up and down.

"Is that her?" Twilight asked pointing to the couch.

Fluttershy nodded and quietly went to the couch, putting a hoof on Discord's shoulder,she tried gently shaking her awake. Discord snorted, blinked and then covered her eyes as the sun came in. Sitting up, Angel woke up and sluggishly climbed onto Fluttershy's back before falling asleep again. Discord had the blanket wrapped around her torso so only her head and tail were showing.

"Y-You're back so soon?" Discord asked as she yawned. "I must have dozed off. I guess all the crying tired me out." She said giving Fluttershy a small smile before she noticed Twilight and the smile turned into a neutral line. "Oh, hey Twilight."

"Discord, you said you would let her try and help." Fluttershy said putting a hoof on Discord's goat knee.

Discord blew a stubborn piece of hair out of her eye and looked back at Twilight. Taking the blanket off, she straightened her hair and gave a nod to the lavender alicorn.

"I heard you were having hormone problems?" Twilight said standing awkwardly while trying to avoid eye contact with Discord. "I got a red scroll from Celestia. She was concerned about you."

"Well, when I get a chance to write her back I can thank her. And yes, I'm having some issues with these... Hormone thingies." The she-Draconequus said. "Is there anything you can do to help me?"

"I can't take any of them away or suppress them, but you may be able to get them under control. We just need to find how to do that." Twilight said. "Discord, I want you to become sad."

"Twilight," Discord frowned. "I can't just-"

"Your tail is too fat for your body." Twilight said looking her in the eyes.

Discord's eyes grew teary while she held her tail up to herself. She squeezed it like a teddy bear while Fluttershy rubbed her back.

"W-Why would you say that?" Discord sniffled. "First Luna calls me names, and now you're insulting my weight. Why is Celestia the only alicorn who likes me!?" She half-said half-sobbed into Fluttershy's shoulder.

"Discord," Twilight said. "Now, I want you to try and take that sadness and make it smaller. Fluttershy, this is something she needs to do on her own."

Fluttershy looked at Discord, and then back to Twilight before slipping out from the chaos goddesses grip. Looking away as Discord continued to sob, she went into the kitchen where they could hear the sink being used.

Discord was taking deep breaths, fast at first before they slowed down. She wiped her eyes and finally let out a last breath before releasing her tail.

"I think my tail is the same thickness as the rest of me." Discord said sticking her tongue out at Twilight. "I don't care what you or Luna have to say about me."

"So, you wouldn't care if I said your still a cheese head?" Twilight said taking a step towards Discord. "Or a lying creep?"

"Nope. I don't care." She said studying her talon. "I should really get a shower. I'm still filthy. Fluttershy, Fluttershy, may I use your shower?" Discord said catching the pegasus's attention on the second call.

"I-I don't mind." Fluttershy said. "Just make sure the water heats up first, and be careful with the knobs, they're very sensitive."

Discord, giving a small clap, quickly walked up the stairs and within a minute running water was heard.

One Hour Later

"Now I need to use the bathroom." Twilight said squirming in her seat. "Tea always goes through me fast."

"S-Sorry," Fluttershy mumbled. "I would drink it, but there was so much still left in the kettle. When do you think she'll be done?" She asked looking up at the stairs.

"I'm not sure, but I think I hear the water being turned off now." Twilight mumbled. "Now she just has to dry off, I can relive myself quickly, and we can-"

They both looked up and saw Discord coming downstairs with a pleased look on her face and a towel around her waist. She rubbed her arms and did a little hop off the last step.

"I never knew feeling clean felt so good." She said. "Or that a shower could be so relaxing. So, where are we going? I want to go somewhere." She said giving a large smile.

"We're going to the library, but I need to-" Twilight was saying before Discord snapped a talon and teleported them all to the library.

The Library

"-Use the bathroom." Twilight said as she watched Discord go to the nearest shelve and start looking at books. "I'll be back in a moment, Fluttershy." She said before hurrying up the stairs.

Fluttershy just sat there, watching as Discord went from shelve to shelve, looking at a book or more on one or none on another. She heard a flush and saw Twilight coming down the stairs just as quickly as she had went up them. She ran to the door and swung it open to let Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, and a panting Spike come in. Shutting it, she peeked out quickly and then locked the door.

"Oh, hey girls!" Discord said waving at the four flabbergasted mares and drake. "What's wrong? It's me, Discord." She said sitting down in a chair.

"Ah don't believe it." Applejack said staring at the gender-bent Discord. "Ah'm seein' it with ma'h own eyes and ah still don't believe it. He's gone and turned himself into a mare!" She laughed causing her to frown.

"Discord," Rarity said using the same voice she makes when Sweetiebelle shows her a bad design. "What, uh, exactly happened to cause this?" She asked waving a hoof at Discord.

"This?" Discord asked looking down at herself. "I just took a shower, and I feel great. A few of you could use them too, that's for sure." She said eying Rainbow Dash and Applejack. "Really, it smells like mud and sweat in here."

"Girls," Twilight said getting their attention. "And Spike. Can we focus on the problem here? Like what are we going to do about her hormones?" She said as a hair began to pop out of place.

"Hormones?" Rarity said. "She's probably just stressed, that's all. Discord, dear, how are you feeling?"

"More relaxed than I have in millennia." She said covering a yawn. "I also want something sweet. Is there any chocolate here? I'm in the mood for chocolate or something chocolatey. Oh, but wait," she said poking her tail. "That will just go straight to my tail and hips. A salad would be fine."

They all, minus Fluttershy, just stared at her blinked, and then put a hoof to their heads. Twilight went and sat on the staircase, clearly in thought while the others just stayed in a group.

"Spike," Discord said drawing everyponies attention. "I wanted to say sorry for the book incident this morning. Will this make it up to you?" She asked bringing out a glass of lemonade.

He nodded, and still red faced, took the glass and sucked half the drink down before taking in some air. He gave her a thumbs up with his free hand while he sipped the rest.

After a while of silence, Discord began wiggling around in her seat. Applejack shared a look with Rainbow before she coughed loudly into her hoof.

"Uh, are ya alright there, Discord?" Applejack asked. "You're movin' around like the tail of a rattler."

"I need to use the bathroom." She said crossing her legs.

"It's upstairs." Twilight said pointing behind her. "Just make sure to flush this time."

Discord gave a gracious nod and quickly ran up the stairs, the others merely sat there in silence before Discord's voice echoed down to them.

"Twilight!" Discord yelled. "How do I do this?"

She got up, looked at her friends and then went up. Going to the bathroom door, she saw Discord standing there, legs crossed and a worried flush in her cheeks.

"What did you want?" Twilight asked.

"How do I go t the bathroom?" The she-Draconequus asked.

"You just sit, and go."

"But my tail keeps getting in the way." She whined. "I can't go with that thing pushed against the toilet."

"Sit sideways then." Twilight said rolling her eyes. "Me and the others will be downstairs when you're done. Just... Try and behave. I don't want toilet paper everywhere like the last time I let you use my bathroom."

Discord nodded, shut the door, and left Twilight to groan in frustration by the door.

Blue meanie

"Spike," Twilight said as she stared at Discord while she read. "Take a letter. I need Celestia and Luna here, now before something bad happens."

"I don't want to speak with Luna." Discord said as she temporarily looked up from her book. "She's mean, and she never has anything nice to say."

"Discord," Fluttershy said frowning at the Draconequus. "What if she can help? She is the ruler of the night."

"And I can warp reality, big whoop. You don't see me boasting or flapping my wings like some headless chicken. If she worked as much as she talked, her and her sister could be on vacation." Discord said snootily.

"That... Doesn't sound very nice." Fluttershy said getting a glare from Discord.

"Well, I'm really starting to dislike her. She hates me, she insults me, and she lies to me!" She finished slamming a fist down on the arm of the chair. "If I ever see her again, I'll make sure to drop something heavy on her."

"Discord!" Fluttershy gasped. "That wouldn't solve anything. That would make her hate you-"

As she was speaking a bright flash filled the room and Celestia and Luna stood there. As they were stepping forward, a large safe landed where Luna had been standing originally. She looked back and then up to see a safe materialize out of thin air. Jumping out of the way, she landed next to Discord who had a sneer on her face.

"Twilight," Luna said. "Is this how you greet everpony?" She asked forcing a laugh.

"It's how I greet ponies who can't shut their trap." Discord said making Luna back away. "I don't want to talk to Luna, I'm fine with Celestia, but I'll start dropping safes again if she even says a word about me." Discord said holding the book she had to mask half her face.

"Discord, you went too far that time." Fluttershy said gulping. "M-Maybe you need to go lay down? W-Would that make you feel better?"

"I'd say what would make me feel better," she said staring at Luna. "But I'd get yelled at."

Luna snorted and upturned her head which made Discord's grip on the book even tighter. Celestia looking between the two, got in between them and motioned for Twilight to come to her side.

"Discord," Celestia said spreading her wings to block Luna from her view. "That's enough. The last thing we need is you getting angry, especially in your state of mind right now."

"Well just keep your sister in line and we won't have a problem." Discord said jabbing Celestia in the chest with a finger.

As she was turning, Luna said something under her breath that made her stop and turn around. Picking up Celestia she put her to the side and went to eye level with Luna who glared back.

"Did you have something to say, princess?" Discord growled.

"I said," Luna said bringing her nose to almost touch Discords. "That you may still have rock in your head from when you were stone."

Discord's eyes widened and before anypony could stop her, she slapped Luna. Luna was wide-eyed as she staggered a bit before putting a hoof to her cheek. The others in the room were staring in shock, Fluttershy had fainted, Rainbow was on the floor, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, and Twilight were hyperventilating, and Celestia's ears were folded back as she backed away herself.

"Y-You hit me." Luna said touching the spot where Discord had left a paw imprint. "I thought you didn't harm ponies?"

"That was the old me," Discord said rising to her full height. "I'm the new Discord. So, how about we have some bonding time?" She said cracking her knuckles.

"I do not want to fight you." Luna said looking up at Discord. "I came here to help you."

"That's right, you were never a fighter, were you?" Discord sneered. "That's why you let Nightmare take you so easily. Why you turned on your sister so fast, because you didn't have the guts to fight her yourself."

At the first insult, Luna was gritting her teeth while her eyes began to water. On the second one, her horn was glowing, the light from it was reflecting of Discord's eyes.

"How dare you..." Luna said letting her horn dim. "You have no idea what that was like for me. To be hated, unappreciated, to be the monster that burns in everyponies nightmares."

"Wrong!" Discord yelled. "I know exactly how that feels, if your think back to a thousand years. At least you look normal compared to everyone else around you. I'm a monster, a freak of nature that no one wanted to be around." She sad falling to her knees. "You were the lucky one."

"I was taken from my sister for a thousand years and possessed by a being of darkness, how was I lucky?" Luna snapped back.

"You had someone who cared about you at least..." Discord said making Luna freeze. "You had Celestia, and you had Nightmare to talk to. I never had anyone; no one to talk to, nowhere to move, all I had was stone and darkness..." She said scratching the floor with her talon and paw while letting out angry tears. "I was alone for a thousand years."

"I... Never though of it that way." Luna said looking down. "It must have been even worse than my punishment."

"It was." Discord said sliding back into her chair. "And every time you made a joke about it, insulted me with a memory, or even mentioned it to hurt me... I felt like tearing my heart out and yours." She said wiping away the tears with a fist. "Now you know how I feel. To have something so hurtful used against you."

Luna opened her mouth to speak but closed it, instead she stepped towards Discord which caused her to tense. When Luna put her hoof on her bird claw, which she looked at it before taking it in her talon and shaking.

"Sorry I hit you." Discord mumbled.

"I deserved it." Luna said brushing some of her mane behind her ear. "I should never have said those things in the first place. Peace?" She asked titling her head to give a small smile.

"Only if you buy me lunch." Discord said smiling back. "That felt good to finally be able to vent."

As Luna went with Twilight to the kitchen to get ice, Celestia came over and hit Discord behind the head. Discord giggled but stopped when she saw Celestia expression.

"What? I apologized and we made up." Discord said scooting to the other side of her seat. "Why do you keep staring at me like that?" She asked as Celestia's expression turned into the same inquisitive one she had given before.

"You will not hit my sister again, do we understand each other?" Celestia said getting a nod from Discord. "I hope you mean it. Luna, is there anything you can do about her hormones or even her emotions?" Celestia asked her sister as she came back in.

"No, I cannot do anything for her hormones." Luna said. "Nor can I do anything about her emotions. I think it would be best if she were to go through them on her own, maybe even let her explore the town."

"Luna," Twilight said giving a nervous glance towards Discord who perked up at the mention of 'town'. "Are you sure in her state she should be in the public? Think about what would happen if she gets angry like that again, she could seriously hurt somepony."

"Discord wouldn't do that," Fluttershy said. "Just this morning I saw her petting a fawn. She couldn't hurt-" She stopped and looked at Luna who was giving her a questioning look. "She may not hurt anypony."

As they were all talking, Discord snapped her tail and teleported outside the front door. Putting her hands to her mouth, she laughed a little before walking off.

Inside, Spike was watching them all begin to bicker when he looked over at Discord's chair. Seeing it was empty, he went over to Twilight and started to pull on her wing. When she looked down, he pointed at the chair and when Twilight looked, all the talking stopped.

"Where's Discord?" Twilight asked.

All at once they all ran to the nearest window and looked out. Ponies were still walking down the street, but some of the stallions were getting harsh looks from the mare they were beside. The town looked normal, there were no fires, monsters, or any invasions.

"I think she went into town." Rainbow said. "Should we go after her? I mean, the town isn't a crater yet."

"Yeah, yet." Twilight said. "Come on, lets go get her."

The Town

Discord had her hands clasped in front of her as she was walking around. As she passed the occasional pony they would give a hesitant wave that she returned strongly, she was smiling whenever she looked at a brightly colored building or at the ponies flying above. She even looked back to see what was causing so much noise when it was just a stallion getting told off by a mare he was by.

Looking around, she saw the trail to the park. Trees and bright green grass were everywhere with a fountain in the middle of it all, a couple of benches, and the two bridges crossing the same stream that went to the cottage.

Ducking when she went under a low hanging tree, she took in a deep breath of air and sat back against the tree. Laying there with the light shining through the trees to give her a green tint, she closed her eyes and put her hands on her chest.

Above The Park

Hoops and his two friends were each carrying a bucket full of water balloons, and each of them were looking for a target to drop them on.

"What about her?" Dumb-bell asked pointing downwards towards a green mare.

"Nah, we got her this morning, remember?" Hoops said. "She was throwing bricks at us." He laughed with the others.

"Yeah, that mare had good aim." Score said rubbing the back of his head. "Ouch."

"Ooh, ooh, what about Discord!?" Dumb-bell said pointing to the left. "He's just layin' down there! Think about it, we could prank the ultimate prankster." He said breathing through his teeth.

The three idiots looked at each other with open-mouthed grins before stealthily flying over to where Discord was, all of them oblivious to the small change he had went through earlier that day.

Hovering over the tree where she was laying, the three stooges of they sky held their buckets in front of them in a triangle. Snickering to themselves, they dropped their payload and watched as the balloons fell. They each leaned forward in the air as the balloons hit, there was a flash, and then they felt water dripping on their backs. Collectively gulping, they all looked up and let their mouths drop.

Discord was soaking wet, her once well shaped white hair was sticking to the side of her neck, any other apart of her that had fluff or fur was soaked and dripping, and she was smiling at them while her head rested on her hands.

"I don't suppose those water balloons belonged to you?" She asked fluttering her eyelashes. "You know, I do enjoy a good prank."

"Wow," Dumb-bell said. "I didn't know Discord had a sister."

"Not a bad looking one either." Hoops said making Discord flush.

"Yeah, she's a lot prettier than that white unicorn that had those bug wings." Score said nodding.

"So, you think a little Draconequus like me is pretty?" She said drawing a circle in a nearby cloud. "I've never been called pretty before."

"I don't see why not." Score said. "You look like a gal who knows how to have a good time. Hey, do you, uh, maybe wanna go play some pranks with us?" He asked smiling with the others.

"Me?" She said putting her paw to her chest that sent a small wave of heat over her and dried her. "Oh, I don't know. I mean, I'm supposed to be behaving, you know? Maybe one more compliment might convince me to go." She said brushing a lock of hair out from her eyes.

"You're prettier than Celestia." Dumb-bell said.

"Alright boys," Discord grinned. "Lets go cause some chaos. And I have the perfect pony to prank; Twilight Sparkle."

The Search Party

"Where could she be?" Pinkie asked as she bounced beside Applejack. "It shouldn't be that difficult to find an emotionally distressed goddess."

"Ah say we keep followin' the blushing stallions." Applejack said. "Ah'm guessin' this new Discord isn't so bad on the eyes to a couple of these folks."

"Yeah, like what's up with that?" Rainbow said floating above them with an annoyed expression. "Can they seriously not tell it's Discord? I mean, there's only one whatever he is."

"Discord's a she." Pinkie said. "I know because I still remember family life while I was in school."

"Well, he she, or in between, I know Discord can't be up to any-" Rainbow was saying before she stopped and peered into the distance. "Hey, are those guards?"

"Guards?" Celestia said. "I ordered my guards to stay where they were. Did you send for them, Luna?"

"No," Luna said watching the approaching trio of ponies. "They appear to be your guards though. Do you think something has happened at the castle?"

Celestia didn't answer but instead watched as the three pegasai approached. They were all identical except for their height and weight, but the armor was golden, shining, and their coats were a bleached white. All three landed in order, bowed and turned towards Twilight.

"Princess Twilight, we are here to inform you of a newly discovered Draconequus." The middle one said. "She is currently in the park, with Princess Celestia and your own permission, we can send for more guards if you deem it necessary."

"Discord," Twilight said. "Never mind any other guards, me and the others will address her directly."

"With all due respect your highness," the one on the right said. "She is currently not in the best of moods for negotiation. As for eye witness accounts, she seems intent on smelting the park to glass." He said to point back towards where they had come, which now had a large pillar of smoke rising from it.

"We need to hurry!" Twilight said as she and the other began flying or galloping to the park. "She's going to turn the town into a crater!"

The Park

Discord was lounging in a tree, glancing occasionally at the bucket and pulley system she had laid out. Looking down from he perch, she could barely see the tripwire where Twilight would activate the trap. Stretching out one last time she jumped down and laid out against the tree. Snapping her tail, she got rid of the burning food by her side and relaxed under the suns warmth.

As she was drifting off to sleep again, a distant flapping caught her attention. Cracking an eye open, she saw Twilight, her friends, and her three accomplices coming quickly. Getting up, she brushed herself off and smiled as Twilight and the others finally drew near.

"Discord!" Twilight hissed as her and the rest stopped. "You need to stay with us, you can't just wander around in your condition."

"What was that?" She said cupping a paw to her ear. "I can't quite hear you. Could you come a little closer?"

Twilight snorted, took a step and activated the tripwire. She closed her eyes as a bucket of honey dropped on her, and then a bucket of feathers with a chicken face on the front fell on her head.

Everypony just stood there in shock, Twilight had her head tilted down. The silence was broken when the three guards began laughing, clutching each others sides and tearing up.

"What is the meaning of this?" Celestia said towards the guards. "I am asking you a question, now answer!" She said with a stomp to emphasize her point.

"E-Eris!" The middle one said before they were all exposed to be wearing pots and pans. "That was great!"

"Yeah, that was the best prank ever!" Hoops said making the Draconequus blush.

"Hoops! Dumb-bell! And Score!?" Rainbow said flying up to them. "What are you knuckle heads doing helping Discord?"

"Discord?" They all said at once.

"Yes," Twilight said taking off the bucket. "Discord." She said pointing at the tittering goddess.

"Yeah right," Score said. "That's his hot sister, Eris."

At the word 'hot', all the ponies either blanched or looked between the trio and goddess. Celestia and Luna both looked at one another before shaking their heads, Twilight used the bucket to dry heave into.

"Oh, you guys are to sweet." Discord said fluffing their manes. "Well, my class is back and I need to get going. Maybe I'll see you three later?" She asked looking over her shoulder at them.

"S-Sure!" Hoops said. "Well be either on weather duty or exercising at the Cloudsdale gymnasium. You can't miss it."

"Thanks," she said giving them one last wink. "You all have made my terrible day so much better."

At that the three of them all began pawing at the ground and mumbling under their breath. Discord snapped her tail and they all found themselves back in the library, except Twilight wasn't covered in honey or feathers anymore.

The Library

Discord was sitting comfortably back in her seat, a large dopey smile on her face as she sat on the ceiling looking down occasionally at the ponies below. When Rainbow started moving again, she flew up to Discord and glared into her eyes.

"You were flirting with those three!?" Rainbow said making Discord grin wider. "Out of all the ponies you could have chosen, you chose them!"

"Don't worry Rainbow," Discord said pinching her cheek. "I wouldn't go on a date with them if it meant I could rule Equestria. There's no need to worry, I may be in a female body, but I''m still playing on the original team." She said rolling her shoulders.

"Yeah, but wouldn't that bother you?" Rarity asked. "I mean, I'm not one for relationships, but, would you be comfortable dating a pony of the same gender?"

Discord was about to speak when she looked down at herself. 'Maybe I should broaden my horizon a bit. It wouldn't hurt, would it? I am one for doing the unexpected after all, so maybe one date couldn't hurt.'

"Hey, hey, hey," Pinkie said. "Why did he call you Eris?"

"Oh, I can't go around telling every little pony I meet who I am." Discord said stepping onto the wall. "New Discord, new body, so why not a new name?"

"Because you are going to be turned back, that's why." Twilight said. "We all think it would be best if you were you again."

"What? I'm sure not all of you agree... Right?" She asked looking down at the ponies. "Luna? Pinkie?" She said but got no response. "No. No, I like the new me and you're not taking this away from me. I feel the best that I have in centuries!" She said dropping to the floor.

"You don't have a choice." Celestia said. "This is for the safety of yourself and others. I'm sorry."

She was looking around the room frantically, but seeing some of the ponies faces were hard-set while others were looking away, she closed her eyes and clenched her fists.

"If you want to change me back, then you're going to have to knock me out." She said before her paw and talon were covered with a sickly orange color. "Who's up for a cat fight?"

"Discord," Celestia said looking at her eyes and then to her fists. "Calm down. We don't want to fight you."

"Yeah, you don't." She said before snapping her talon.

Discord disappeared in a flash, but came back in a pile on the floor. Shaking her head, she looked around and saw Luna, Celestia, and Twilight's horns all alight with magic. Looking down, she saw the rose and candle, with the rose on fire already. Clenching the rose that was by her, she glared at the three alicorns as the square began to glow.

As the same pink smoke rose in the square, there was no trace of the blue, but instead the pink eventually brightened until they all had to cover their eyes, and then it exploded outwards in a puff. As they all looked in the square, Discord was still female, but she seemed to be unconscious.

"I don't understand," Luna said. "I did the spell as I did before, but it didn't work."

"Did you chant the first time?" Celestia asked. "Could that have been it?"

"I wouldn't need to do that for a reversal of the spell." Luna said. "I believe that Discord's masculinity, or what made him male, escaped and transferred into the host he took the lock of hair from. But I don't know if it was even real hair or not, it may have been fake."

"So she's stuck like this?" Rarity asked. "As a she?"

"Yes, she is for as long as she wants," Luna said. "Which is eternity."

Discord stirred, first grabbing her head before cracking her eyes open. Wincing from the light, she opened them and was frowning before she looked down, and then she began to smile.

"Ha! I'm still a female!" She said springing to her hoof and claw. "Goodbye Discord, and hello Eris!"

"Is it wrong I still want to cry in the bathtub?" Twilight asked looking up at Celestia.

"Well see later, but for now, lets try and make sure that Eris doesn't do anything too irrational or dangerous quite yet." She said leaning down to whisper to Twilight. "Discord, or Eris, whoever you want to call yourself, I believe I must take my leave; Luna you can watch her, I'll take the night court for tonight."

Luna nodded and didn't blink when Celestia teleported back to Canterlot, leaving her, Eris, and the other six with her. They all looked around at each other when thunder shook the window and rain began to pelt the glass and door.

"So," Eris said swinging back and forth on the tips of her hoof and claw. "Who's up for a little sleepover?"

All the ponies looked at each other, Spike face-palmed and went upstairs. Eris was looking at them with the same glint in her eye she had when pranking Twilight. The others noticed it too because they all took a step back when she began smiling.

'Tonight is going to be a night none of them will forget.' Eris thought. 'It's a good thing I don't hold grudges, otherwise I'd be planning to do something very mean to these poor, innocent, little backstabbers. Oh, I mustn't think like that, after all, this should be a great bonding experience to make some new friends.'

Who likes who?

"Please, tell me she didn't say a sleepover?" Applejack asked. "Ah hope she said torture instead."

"Oh, Applejack," Eris said slinking over to Applejack. "Why would you say that? It's almost like you don't want to have any fun."

Applejack backed away from Eris as she put Rarity in front of her. Eris rolled her eyes and went back to her chair. Looking back at the farmer, Applejack was giving a concerned look towards Twilight.

"Don't look at me!" Twilight hissed. "I was reading during the last sleepover! I don't know what to do."

"I for one," Luna said stepping over to Eris's side. "Think a sleepover is a good idea. I have never been to one myself, so this may be interesting."

"Luna's right," Fluttershy said. "Maybe it would be a good idea."

"How can you say that?" Rainbow said throwing her fore-hooves in the air. "This is probably one of Discord's traps! Or something bad... That h-she usually does!" She yelled before flying over to Applejack. "Are me and Applejack the only sane ones here?"

"Welcome to my world," Eris said rolling her eyes. "The population at a high, three."

"Make that four." Rarity said. "I for one will not be letting Discord, Eris, or whatever she intends to call herself anywhere near my mane. Besides," she said turning her nose up. "I had a spa treatment after I was done helping Cheerilee."

"You're welcome to leave," Eris said as thunder boomed outside. "I hope you brought an umbrella."

Rarity, sparing a glance outside, gulped as rain was blocking any view outside. Looking back at the Draconequus and alicorn, she sighed, flipped her mane and sat.

"Good," Eris said clapping her hands. "Now, who knows how to start?" She asked getting blank stares from the rest of the group. "Oh come on, none of you know how?"

"You don't know how?" Twilight asked.

"No," Eris said letting her ears droop. "I was never really invited to any sort of social activities with any race. You know, the whole mix-up of animals sort of freaked them all out. I was usually a piñata."

"What is a pinata?" Luna asked giving her a perplexed look.

"It's a paper mache figure that you hit until it breaks open and candy falls out." Eris said. "I always had my head smashed in first, and then the ribs, and then the tail was broke off. Afterwards they put the blindfold on the kid and let the brat start swinging." She said crossing her arms. "I always made sure to put poison joke in any piñatas I found."

Luna put a hoof on her shoulder which Eris took. Getting up, Eris yawned, snapped a paw and a ring of sleeping bags unrolled themselves. Snaking into the longest one, a bright orange and neon blue bag, she peered out so only her yellow and red eyes could be seen. As the others were looking at theirs, they slowly got into them.

"This is not very comfortable," Luna said as she fiddled with her chest-piece. "Ponies sleep in these?"

"It would help if you took of your regalia." Twilight said. "Just so you don't have it pressing into your side."

Luna, looking at her tiara, set it on the floor and pulled her hoof covers off, lastly, her chest-piece dropped with a thunk as it hit the wooden floor. Shifting her wings, she was half-in of her bag.

"So," Rarity said as she lay in hers. "What's the first activity we should do? Truth or dare? Spin the bottle? Tell stories? Or give each other makeovers?" She said the last one towards Eris who narrowed her eyes.

"I choose stories." Luna said. "I rarely get any news of your adventures. Pinkie, why don't you begin?"

Pinkie, sitting up in her sleeping-bag, smiled and jumped out. Standing on it now, she began hoofing at it like a cat, circling until she made it just right before laying down.

"Well," she said sticking her tongue out in thought. "I had to foalsit the twins earlier this week. They aren't usually a problem, but Pumpkin had a cold. It just wasn't a normal no!" She said throwing her hooves in the air. "It was a magic cold! Whenever she sneezed, she froze something! She froze the stove, the fridge, the counter, and my mane." She said taking off her mane and showing them her smooth, pink noggin.

Twilight was shocked, Rarity was rubbing her mane, Applejack and Rainbow were looking at their reflections, Fluttershy was more shocked than Twilight, Eris was snickering, and Luna was shaking her head.

"Yeah, well, I had to help wrestle some storm clouds earlier." Rainbow said. "Thunderlane, thinking I said a lightning storm when I said sunny skies, decides to start pulling storm clouds out the wazoo. So here I am, just staring at him while he smiles, and I'm thinking of putting his head through one. But I don't, so while I'm cleaning up, he's laughing every time I get shocked." Rainbow said rubbing her hooves. "I still can't touch a lightbulb without it turning on."

The others were snickering, she was smiling as she shocked Rarity. Rarity glared at her as her mane shot out in every direction. Rainbow and the others burst into laughter as she tried to get it back down.

"Luna, why don't you share some stories?" Twilight asked looking away from Rarity. "I'm sure you have some interesting memories."

"Me?" Luna said. "Well, all I really remember from my past is... I would say the most memorable memory I have came from being with my harem." She said smiling. "They knew just where to put their hooves."

"You know," Twilight said feeling her cheeks heat up. "I think, as interesting as that would be, wouldn't be appropriate here. What if Spike heard you? Who knows what he'd do?"

"She's the princess of the night," Eris said sticking her head out. "He's a dragon becoming a teenager. We all know what he would be doing." She said making twilight's cheeks turn purple.

"Still. Not. Appropriate." Twilight hissed through her teeth. "Do you have any stories, Dis-Eris?"

"I do!" She said getting halfway out of her bag. "There was this one time where I turned Celestia orange. She wasn't happy with it, but I was having a ball until Luna came and tried to blast me into a wall."

"Which I did." Luna said smirking.

"She did, but you know me," Eris said snickering. "I just took it and melted into a puddle." She said shrugging. "Celestia started yelling at Lune about why they don't kill other beings like that over a joke, Luna was complaining because I had been tormenting them both, and I was eating popcorn while they bickered. Good times." She said wiping a tear away.

"Maybe for you," Luna said. "I felt more inclined to have the Cerberus chew on me than deal with your antics for a day."

"Not everything I do is a joke." Eris said frowning at the alicorn beside her. "I was helpful too. Just ask Applejack and Fluttershy. I was helping Equestria the moment I was set free." She said getting confused looks from the two ponies.

"Eris," Applejack said giving Eris a deep frown. "How the hay did ya help us? Ya turned all ma'h corn into popcorn and ma'h apples were too big for the trees."

"And the small animals got long legs." Fluttershy said.

"I didn't expect either of you to understand," Eris said turning over so she was looking at them upside-down. "I was ending world hunger with your apples, and the popcorn would have been salty enough that ponies would have to have bought your apple cider or juice, otherwise they could have drank from the chocolate milk rain. And I gave the rabbits longer legs so they could get away from predators easier. You saw chaos, I saw chaos and peace."

"She has a point." Pinkie said. "If she kept the food that big, then you could have bought Granny Smith a new hip, a new barn, and nopony would be hungry. And aren't you always sad when one of your rabbits get eaten, Fluttershy?" She asked tilting her head, making a beam of light hit Twilight in the eyes.

"That's not the point!" Applejack said stomping a hoof. "It ain't right growin' crops like that or messin' with the animals. It certainly wasn't alright when she made ma'h brother start actin' like a dog."

"You made her brother behave as a dog would?" Luna asked looking Eris in the eyes. "He wasn't a feral one, was he?"

"Of course not," Eris said rolling her eyes. "He had the mind of a chihuahua. All he did was dig holes, bury some rope, and gnaw on a wagon wheel. I don't physically injure ponies, but if they hurt themselves in one of my tricks, then that's their own fault. Especially if it's all cotton candy, really, how do you sprain a wing in that?" She said looking out the window.

The room was silent except for the sound of rain pelting against the glass and the occasional thunder boom in the distance. Fluttershy yawned but was shocked awake when a particularly loud one shook the glass making her zip her sleeping-bag.

"Well," Rarity said biting her lip. "How about some truth or dare?" She asked glancing nervously at the others.

"Truth or dare? That does sound interesting, what do you think Twilight?" She asked giving Twilight a toothy smile.

Twilight, looking between Luna and Eris, gulped and nodded while giving the lunar alicorn her best fake smile.

"There's just one problem though," Eris said making them all look at her. "We haven't got any hard cider."

"Why would we need hard cider?" Twilight asked. "It's truth or dare!"

"As far as I know, you need at least some form of alcohol." Eris said snapping her tail from inside her sleeping-bag and materializing a pair of bottles and shot glasses. "Who's first?"

"Rainbow!" Pinkie said pointing a hoof before any of them could speak. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare, duh." Rainbow said rolling her eyes.

"I dare you to..." She trailed off from her sentence, all the while tapping her chin with a hoof. "I dare you to... Go throw me near Spike!" She said making them all, even Eris, give her weird looks.

"You want me to throw you...?" Rainbow said. "At Spike?"

Pinkie nodded and curled up into a ball. Rainbow Dash, scratching her head, grabbed the pink pony by her shoulders and began to hover in the air. As they watched her slowly go up the stairs, Eris and Applejack gave a small snicker when they heard Pinkie yell and Spike make a thud, probably from hitting the floor from an elevated surface. The two ponies came back down the stairs, laughing with a fuming Spike shaking a fist from the top of the stairs.

"Ok, Ok," Rainbow said laying back down. "Twilight, truth or dare?"

"Me?" Twilight said looking at the others in shock. "Um... Truth?" She said pulling her bag closer to hide her expression.

"Is it true that Discord kissed you on the cheek last Hearts and Hooves day?" She asked getting surprised looks and a smug look from Eris.

"Not true." Twilight said. "I would have made him stare at a cockatrice if he did that. Ok..." She said looking at the others. "Rarity, truth or dare?"

"I suppose I'll go with truth." Rarity said. "I've learned not to trust dares. Go on dear, ask me anything." She said smiling at the lavender alicorn.

"Is it true you turned in your last book in late?" She asked smiling proudly while the others gave her bored expressions. "What? Is that not a good question?"

"Twilight, dear," Rarity said coughing into a hoof awkwardly. "You asked me that yesterday and I said no. I can see the book from here," she said pointing at a medium sized hardback. "Princess Luna," she said leaning forward. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare." Luna said smiling smugly.

"I dare you to take two shot glasses of the hard cider." Rarity said letting her smile broaden.

"Just two glasses of cider?" Luna laughed. "I thought this was a challenge?" She said lifting a glass from the stack.

"I'm not finished," Rarity said making the alicorn freeze. "Each of them must have a raw egg in it."

The others mouths were open, making 'O's, Rarity was getting up from her bag and going towards the kitchen with Luna's shot glass. Coming back with two eggs, she picked up another glass and cracked both of them in there before pouring a generous amount inside.

Luna gulped as she stared into the yellow and gooey looking substance. Sniffing one, she turned her head away and gave a cough. She took a deep breath, and in one turn, emptied both of them within seconds before swallowing. She shivered and gave a small belch which she blushed from.

"That was the most vile thing I have ever consumed." Luna said licking her lips. "Eris, truth or dare?"

"Truth. I don't trust any of you after that." Eris said giving Rarity a thumbs-up where none of the others could see. "Just nothing-"

"Do you have a crush on somepony?" Luna asked staring at Eris along with the others. "It's difficult keeping up with your dreams, but I thought I saw a more intimate one, one night."

"Well... I wouldn't say I have a crush but, um..." She began mumbling and twiddling her thumbs as a large blush bloomed on her cheeks. "Uh... I think... Celestia is cute."

The small shot glass Luna was sipping from was suddenly sprayed onto Pinkie as Luna began to cough, Twilight was pouring herself a glass of cider, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were green, Pinkie and Fluttershy were both smiling.

"M-My sister!?" Luna said catching her breath. "You think my sister is cute?"

"Yeah, so what?" Eris said scratching at the floor. "I can't have a few fuzzy feelings towards her? Sure, we were enemies, but... Anything is possible, right?"

"Ah'd say," Aplejack said looking towards Twilight. "Twilight has gone and downed a third of the other bottle. Twi, you feelin' alright?"

"I feel fine," Twilight said even though her cheeks had turned a light shade of purple. "Appleflap." She said before snorting and snickering.

"Right..." Applejack said taking the bottle away from the lavender alicorn as slowly as possible.

"Alright, my turn," Eris said. "Applejack, truth or dare?"

"Dare." Applejack said gently pushing Twilight's hoof away. "dang it Twi! Ya don't need anymore!"

"I dare you to balance six rubber ducks in a pyramid while Pinkie tries to distract you." Eris said as she summoned six rubber ducks onto Applejacks back.

Applejack, shocked by the cold rubber suddenly touching her and the weight of them appearing, jumped and knocked the pyramid down. Eris and Pinkie let out a sigh as the ducks disappeared.

"Alright, alright," Applejack said. "Truth or dare, Eris?"

"Me?" Eris said raising her eyebrows. "I thought we couldn't dare the last player?"

"Dare it is." Applejack said smiling. "Ah dare ya to drink the rest of this cider." Applejack said shaking the bottle in front of Eris's face.

Eris took the bottle with a flat stare, wrapped her tongue around the first half, titled her head back and ate the bottle with the cider inside. Licking her fingers, she blew a raspberry at the flabbergasted Applejack. Pinkie was trying to wrap her tongue around the other bottle and managed to tie it around the cork, Rainbow was rubbing her throat as she stared at Eris, Twilight was leaning onto Luna who was trying to keep the lavender alicorn upright, Rarity and Fluttershy were shaking their heads.

"So," Eris said after a hiccup. "Luna, truth or dare?"

"Truth." Luna said pushing Twilight away again. "She's a lightweight, is she not?"

"She is, now," Eris said rubbing her hands together. "Do you have a special somepony in mind?"

Luna paused and let Twilight finally wrap her fore-legs around her neck, looked down in thought and smiled. Getting twilight off again, she turned towards Eris with a smile.

"I do." She said. "There was a handsome stallion on Nightmare Night; red coat, blonde mane, green eyes, and a well toned barrel." She said ruffling her wings. "Oh, I have not seen such a stallion like him in years."

"That stallion was ma'h brother!" Applejack said grabbing the other bottle and taking a generous swig. "Ma'h brother over at the farm. Big Macintosh." She said nodding.

"I may have to visit sometime," Luna said making Applejack smile. "So, Pinkie Pie, truth or dare?"

"Ah vant dis cak off." She said pointing at the cork her tongue was wrapped around. "Off."

Eris, taking her tongue, pulled it back and let go. Pinkie's tongue rolled back in like  a window-blind, she spit out the cork and licked her lips. Picking it up, she threw it over by Twilight and watched as it bounced off her chest. Twilight looked at it, tilted her head, and then sent it into the ceiling where another thud from Spike was heard.

"I choose dare!" Pinkie said. "Make it something fun! Like juggling monkeys over a lava pit! Or turning rarity green while she's asleep!"

"I beg your pardon?" Rarity said scooting away from Pinkie. "Now I'll have to sleep with an eye open it seems."

"Pinkie," Eris said snapping her talon to get her attention. "I dare you to pull a prank on Applejack that involves celery."

"Celery?" Applejack and Pinkie asked simultaneously.

"Yes, celery," Eris said bringing a piece into view. "The gross vegetable that only tastes good with peanut butter and raisins. I would have chosen a tomato, but I've already done that." She said eliciting a glare from Applejack. "It took you this long to find out?"

"Ah should have know," Applejack said. "Especially when it was laughing at me."

"Don't feel too bad," Eris said scooping Applejack up like a foal. "We all miss the small things around us sometimes, like how you haven't noticed that I never put the celery stick with peanut butter down and it's currently in your tail." She said making Applejack jump out from her grasp and check her tail. "Gotcha."

"That wasn't funny." Applejack said sitting down. She froze when a loud snap resonated out from under her. "Pinkie, did ya just put celery under my sleeping-bag?"

"Maybe." Pinkie said looking away. "Or did you put them there to frame me?" She asked leaning over to stare down Applejack.

"It was you." Applejack said. "Rarity, truth or dare?"

"Dare." Rarity said biting her lip. "Not something to gross, alright?"

"Rarity, ah dare ya to... Hm, what do ah dare ya to do?" She asked herself as she stared at the white unicorn. "Ah dare ya to go down the stairs in your bag."

"That's it?" Rarity said taking her sleeping bag up the stairs and getting in. "So, just get down with it?" She asked looking at the numerous steps.

"That's right. Just don't break anything." She said making Twilight snort in laughter. "Eris, could ya get Twilight some coffee?"

As she was looking at Eris, Rarity teleported down to the floor and was moving back to her spot when Applejack looked back. She looked to the side and saw Rarity smiling back.

"What's with all the noise?" Spike said from atop the stairs with a ski cap on that covered his eyes. "And why was I almost hit by a cork, Twilight?" He said crossing his arms while looking the wrong way.

"Spike," Luna said looking at him oddly. "Why do you wear your hat like hat? Is that how your generation wears them now?"

"No, I just don't want to see whatever you all are doing." He said. "With all the noise, Pinkie being thrown at me, and near deaths so far, I don't want to see whatever you all are doing. And why does it smell like a sewer in here? Twilight Didn't back up the sink again, did she?"

"T-That was once!" Twilight yelled back at him. "You know I-I can't cook worth a bit!"

"Twilight, are you feeling okay?" He asked sliding the hat up. "Oh, you're just mildly buzzed."

"Spike, where did you ever hear that term?" Rarity said making him sigh. "You weren't hanging around with those ruffian dragons again, were you?"

"No, I'm over those jerks." Spike said. "As for my brilliant vocabulary, Twilight has some weird books in here. Why does she even have them, I don't know, but I know she isn't supposed to be drinking. She can't handle alcohol well, it tends to make her-"

Twilight took that as the right moment to charge up the stairs, nearly knocking Spike down and flinging her mug with the sudden output of magic. Every occupant in the room watched as it sailed through the air before smashing through the nearest window, and the storm behind it to show a clam night.

"Why has the storm stopped there," Luna said as she picked up a piece and saw rain still pelting it. "But not here, Eris?" She said showing the piece to the Draconequus.

"You know," Eris said. "I think now would be a great time for us to go to sleep. Why don't you just go get in your sleeping-bag and just get all toasty warm? Goodnight!" She said before disappearing into hers an zipping it shut.

"Well, since there's no storm," Rainbow Dash said stretching her wings. "I'm going home."

"Ah'd rather sleep in ma'h own bed rather than on a library floor." Aplejack said going to the door. "Comin' Raity?"

"Yes, somepony needs to look after Sweetiebelle at night." Rarity said. "She stays up so late, and so laong in the day I don't know how she does it."

"I need to get back to the bakery." Pinkie said putting on her fake mane. "See ya princess!" She said bouncing through the broken window.

As they left Fluttershy inched her way into her sleeping-bag and zipped it slightly. Luna looked towards the stairs and saw Spike shaking his head at the doorway to Twilights room.

"Just wait there princess," Spike said. "I'll get the guest bedroom made up for your stay. Just as soon as I clean up Twilight's bathroom floor. Jeez, you couldn't aim a little?" He groaned.

Now that you're a man.

Celestia, in a brilliant flash of white light, reappeared in her bed chambers. Wiping an eye with a hoof, she yawned and went to the balcony doors. Opening them, she stepped out into the cool air of her sister's night. Looking down at the city below, her gaze wandered to the town further down, and finally to the small library residing at the edge. Turning away, she went back inside, closing the doors behind her.

Going to the door, she stopped and looked at herself in the mirror resting in her wardrobe. Her mane was a darker color, a more brownish or red tint to it. Her coat was still the same pristine white, but the clumps of hair in some place were more noticeable, and the hair around her lips was the same hue as her mane and tail. Snorting, turned to the side and looked herself over.

"Have I gained weight?" She asked herself, sucking in her gut the muscles were coming out with more detail than before. "Have I lost weight then? Strange, but not a matter I should-" she was saying before she went into a coughing fit.

A pair of guards came in through the door, stopped and rushed to her side. She stopped herself, waved them off and they returned to their stations by her door. Rubbing her throat, she lit her horn and teleported down the bottom floor.

Appearing in a hall, she looked to her side and saw a nightguard looking back up at her with a calm expression. She gave a small nod which she returned before resuming her patrol. Celestia was going to turn to go the other way, but she watched the guard longer than necessary. Feeling a pleasant unpleasant feeling stirring in her, she tore her gaze away and began her own trek through the halls with moonlight as her only light source.

'Why was I staring for that long?' She thought to herself. 'I must admit though, I have good taste in my guards. When was the last time I was even with a pony intimately? A hundred years? A thousand? It seems like a much longer time than it probably has been.'

Turning a corner, she saw the main four guards stationed at the large, golden doors to the throne room. Looking back, she followed her trail from around another corner further back. Shrugging it off, she went ahead and stopped at the doors. Giving the same nod to the guards there, they stared back with wide eyes. Opening the doors and stepping in, she calmly went to her throne, all the while the guards in the room were following her very move with the same expression.

Taking her spot, she scooted around slightly, feeling the arm rests pushing against her. As she was getting a good position in, she froze when she heard the one voice that disrupted even the guards staring at her.

'Blueblood, at this hour?' She thought. 'It is true what they say, evil really doesn't sleep. Why does my lip itch so much?'

As she was reaching up to scratch her lip, she saw her hoofcover was missing. Turning in her throne, she didn't see it on any of the side or across the room where the pompous unicorn was approaching from with a curious, but uninterested look of annoyance on his face. Putting on her fake smile, she straightened her back to look down at him.

"Your... Highness?" he said giving a small bow while staring at her. "May I ask, where is Princess Celestia?"

"Blueblood, what-my voice." She said in a whisper as she rubbed her throat. "What has happened to my voice, it is so... So... Deep, masculine. I sound like a stallion." She said before her eyes widened.

Getting up from the throne, she ran to the window and lit her horn; casting a ball of light, she looked at herself in the glass. What he saw, made him wobble on his knees before he regained his balance. A white alicorn with a maroon and reddish brown mane stared back at him with a pair of eyes like flaming oranges. Getting onto his hind legs, he was going to take a deep breath to see his belly, but stopped when he could see his muscles flexing with each breath he took. Looking away, he glanced back at Blueblood before shaking his head.

"I need to leave," he said looking towards the nightguards. "Escort Blueblood home, I do not want to read in the morning paper about him being mugged."

"Wait a minute!" Blueblood yelled. "You may be an alicorn, but nopony orders me-"

"Let me rephrase that for you, Blueblood." Celestia said as he stood at his full height and stared down the unicorn from above. "I am not going to ask again. Either you leave with a guard, or you can leave being chased by a guard. Which will it be?" He asked snorting into the quivering unicorns face.

"Y-You know, I-I t-think I'll let myself out, thank you for your hostili-I mean hospitality!" He said putting a hoof to his mouth. "Any friend of my solar alicorn can be considered a friend of mine. I believe I may have business elsewhere too, elsewhere that isn't the cat-" he was saying before he began to gallop away, wheezing like an overweight hamster.

As he stood there, Celestia let out a deep breath that momentarily pushed at something on his lip. Looking back at the glass, he saw a beard covering his chin to his top lip finish growing. Extinguishing the light, he looked out into the city below, just barely catching a glimpse of something running in the streets below. Smiling slightly, he stopped before glancing back down at the town below.

"Guards," he called making them gulp in synchronization. "Have my sister, Princess Twilight, and the female Draconequus down int he Ponyville library brought to my chambers immediately." Not seeing them move, he narrowed his eyes and stomped a hoof. "I said immediately!" He yelled making the glass crack and the guards scramble to get a good grip on the marble floor.

As the guards disappeared he lit his horn again and teleported back to his bed chambers. Laying his head against the wall, he looked around in the dim lighting and found the decor less than satisfying. The white sheets with his Cutiemark on it, the pink carpet, the floral designs in the windows, and the large pillows on the bed. Sighing, he went to the bed and momentarily tripped on something. Snorting, he was about to throw whatever it was across the room when he saw it was his hoofcovers. Picking one up, it seemed a size or a size in a half too small for his hoof now, a hoof that now was showing as a coal black rather than the elegant white it was before.

Taking off his crown and chest piece, the latter was more difficult than he thought, he set those on the ground and got into the bed. Immediately pulling the covers over, he was moving his wings or stretching his legs, desperately trying not to sink into the bed so much. Finally, after three tiresome positions, he was content with laying on his back, his hind legs spread and his fore-legs pulled to his chest along with most of the blanket leaving the tips of his hooves below to poke out.

The Library

"There we go, all done." Spike said as he smoothed the sheets for the guest bed. "A bed fit for whoever wants it." He said sweeping an arm towards it.

"Thank you Spike," Luna said as she got in and set her regalia next to her. "Pleasant dreams."

"You too-" he was saying before belching out a scroll. "Ah, that one kind of burned a little. I need to quit eating so much ice cream." He said rubbing his throat while he held the scroll. "Goodnight."

Luna smiled and laid her head down, but not shortly after did she put her pillow over her head when the sound of Twilight retching began going through the small home. Shaking her head, she was laying back down when there was a knock at her door. Opening it with her magic, Eris was standing there with the scroll in her paw.

"Luna," she said giving a wide smile. "Do you remember how you said my masculinity was transferred to the other host I got the hair from?"

"I do." Luna said looking at the scroll and Eris's guilty look. "The scroll has information on who it went into?"

"It does." She replied looking at it. "Your sister wants to see you, me, and Twilight immediately. As in this scroll will release a teleportation spell upon reading." She said before the scroll began to glow and create a bright flash.

Celestia's Bedchambers

Eris, Luna, an ill Twilight, and Spike all appeared inside Celestia's bedchambers, with the latter of the two looking around in surprise. The lighting was dim but they could see the slight crimson light coming off from the bed, and two orange eyes staring back.

"Sister?" Luna said going towards the two eyes. "You have news of Eris's missing masculinity?"

"Unfortunately," Celestia said making them all jump. "I know exactly where it went. You may turn on the lights, but I would not recommend it."

"Why not?" Eris asked bringing the candles to life. "Oh." She said turning away. "You're other horn is up... An it looks longer than the one on on your head."

Celestia was trying to move as much of the covers as he could over himself so he could sit upright. Getting them all, he hugged them to himself with his wings which had also seemed to lengthen and broaden. Looking at the four visitors his gaze stopped on Twilight as she held a bucket under her head.

"What happened to twilight?" He asked. "I've never seen her that sick before."

"She's a lightweight who got a hold of hard cider." Luna said sitting on the edge of the bed. "Poor Celestia, this must be awful." She said giving a worried glance towards him but otherwise trying not to look at him.

"I feel poor, sister." he groaned. "First came the facial hair, which still itches, the longer wings, increased muscle mass and strength, and the craving for something covered in cheese." He said. "I gave into the last one before you got here."

Looking at his beard, Luna stifled a giggle when she saw the dried cheese along his bottom lip and nose. Eris outright laughed and slunk up next to him making his tense up as she put her arms around his shoulders.

"Celestia," She said resting her chin on his head. "I know how you feel. The cravings for artery clogging amounts of melted cheese, the urge to be angry for no reason, body odor, and your other problem." She said pushing her chin downwards to  make her point. "It's not an easy life, but it has its perks."

"Like what?" He growled. "I cracked the glass in the throne room after yelling at the guards, I threatened Blueblood-"

"We all threaten him." Luna said. "He deserves it."

"He does," Celestia said looking down in shame. "But he ran from me. He was already in the city in mere seconds. What I hate the most about this is the... Thoughts I've been having." he said turning red in the cheeks and hugging the blanket closer. "I feel horrible for having them."

"Ah," Eris laughed. "You're having those thoughts? Have you tried relieving yourself?"

"I've had thoughts," he said looking towards the bathroom door. "But I couldn't do it. i never did it as a mare, even during heat cycles."

"Have you tried masticating with a pillow?" Spike asked making Celestia stare at him. "What? None of you have just gotten something soft and just started masticating until it was a pulp?"

"Are you saying I should kneed dough to relive stress?" Celestia asked.

"Yeah, I do it when I start to get greedy." He said shrugging. "If it works for a dragon, shouldn't it work for an alicorn?"

"Spike, Spike," Eris said tittering. "His problem is different from greed. If anything, he just needs to go do his business in the bathroom or take a cold shower."

"A cold shower would work?" He asked looking up at her. "I thought Luna was just trying to pull my leg with that story. Fine, I'll try it, you all just go outside while I get up."

"Outside is the balcony or a staircase." Spike said. "Couldn't we just not look?"

Celestia, looking towards the balcony and then the door, nodded and waited for them all to close theirs eyes. Once they weren't looking, even thought Twilight still had her head shoved in the bucket she still had her eyes open, he got up and quickly galloped into the bathroom. Once the door shut they all opened their eyes and listened to the water pouring.

"Do any of you find this not weird?" Spike asked. "Because this seems relatively normal to a day in Ponyville."

"N-Not true!" Twilight said raising her head. "I think I'm better. Deep breathes, take deep breaths." She said putting a hoof to her chest.

As she was breathing, the water stopped and the sound of hooves hitting the floor was heard. Going to the door, Eris put her ear to it and knocked. A small thud hit the door making her jump back; from the other side came a groan.

"Eris, the water didn't help." Celestia said hitting his head against the door again. "Do you have any other ideas?"

"There's only one left." She said inspecting her nails. "Do you need any tissues or lotion?"

There was another thud that shook the door, the sound of hooves hitting the tiles and then the water being turned on again. As they waited, Eris stood by the door looking out the window, Spike was rubbing Twilight's back, and Luna was looking between Eris and the door.

Six Minutes Later

Eris was laying on the bed, half asleep with Luna, Twilight as quietly reading next to Spike who was looking over her shoulder to read whatever she was reading. They all didn't notice when the water stopped until the door opened with a wave of steam, and a slightly wet alicorn. Celestia, now wrapped in a towel slightly to small for him, made his way to the bed while brushing off.

He sat down not looking any of them in the eye, but instead he just put his head against the bed-frame.

"I'm not sure if I should be relieved or ashamed." He said looking to his sister. "You wouldn't happen to have anything comforting to say, would you?" He asked folding his ears down.

"It needed to be done." She said opening an eye to look at him. "Now, when did the first changes start? When did you first notice you were becoming a stallion?"

"When I left you to watch over Eris for the night," he said. "I noticed my coat was shaggier, my mane was darker, and I began coughing when I tried to speak."

"It was after you left our company." Luna said looking at him with both eyes. "Well, I'm sorry to say this, but considering you now have Eris's masculinity and she has your femininity, I think you two are stuck as you are."

"What!?" Celestia said standing on the bed with a large scowl. "You mean I'm stuck as a stallion forever? I don't want to live like this; not being able to control my own body, my temper, or even my own thoughts! Are you sure there is nothing you can do?" He asked holding her up by the shoulders.

"No," she said making him drop her back onto the bed. "As I have said before, this has never happened in my experience, including the accident that caused this. I truly do not know how to reverse this, or if it can be reversed." She said looking away from him. "I'm sorry, but I wish I could do more to help you."

He nodded, patted her on the back and then got up from the bed. Looking towards the balcony he opened the doors and shut them behind him, leaving the glass cracked around the edges so his image was distorted through the fragments.

"He's brooding," Luna said. "Celestia only goes to her balcony when she-I mean he, wants to be alone in his own thoughts." She said getting up to go to the staircase door. "We should let him have some time to himself."

Spike got on Twilight's back and they left first, Eris got up but sat back down on the bed, instead she just stared at Celestia through the glass. Luna stopped and held the door, staring at the Draconequus.

"Are you not coming?" She asked drawing Eris's attention.

"No, I thought I'd stay and talk to him when he comes back in." She said sliding onto his bed. "He needs someone in his situation to talk to. He shouldn't be alone, look what happened to me." She said smiling. "You go on, We'll be fine. I just hope he'll let me talk to him, but I'll stay regardless until he is ready. I'll see you in the morning, goodnight, Luna."

Luna took once last glance at Celestia before closing the door. Eris, looking towards Celestia herself, saw him tensing and relaxing while the wind blew his mane faster than it usually moved. Getting up, she went to the door and paused with her talon on the handle.

'He's upset, alone and probably more scared than he's ever been. He needs some company, a shoulder to cry on maybe,' she thought feeling a sinking feeling in her stomach. 'But am I the right one to do it?'

Opening the door, she was hit with a wave of frigid air that made her clench her teeth. Looking towards Celestia as she closed the door, she could hear the sobbing clear enough.

"Celestia," Eris said not making any move while he froze. "It's me, Eris. I came to check on you."

"I-I thought I t-told you to leave?" He said sniffling in-between words.

"I never do anything you tell me," she said putting a paw on his back. "Why are you out here, really? Did you just not want to let your sister or Twilight see you cry? Or do you really feel this bad?"

"I-I... I couldn't let them see me like this." He said letting out another pair of tears. "They have always seen me as strong, unbreaking, always so calm. It would hurt them just as much to see me this pathetic."

"This isn't pathetic," she said turning his head so he was facing her. "This is normal. You cried when you got your sister back, right? How is this different?"

"H-How?" He said looking away but not moving his head away. "This isn't a time to be happy, I'm out here because I feel lost. Eris, I just... For once in my life I do not know what to do." He said scrunching up his eyes to cry again.

She just rubbed his back and put his head on her shoulder. He wrapped his fore-legs around her midsection and soaked the fur around her shoulder with fresh tears. She held him there until the cold was biting into her back and making her wings aches, but when he let go he wiped his nose and just looked up at her.

"Thank you for that," he said swallowing to soothe his throat. "Nopony has ever done that for me. I was usually the one lending a shoulder to cry on, not the other way around."

"Well, if you need a shoulder to cry on again," she said wiping the moisture off herself. "Just find me. You have me worried, with how you are. When something is bothering you, it bothers me."

"Using my own words against me," he laughed. "We should go inside, it's freezing out here."

She smiled before putting her arms around herself and opening the door with her tail. They both entered at the same time, looking towards the bed and the lamp by it. Celestia got in himself and was moving to one side when he stopped to look over at Eris getting in beside him.

"Eris, what are you doing?" He asked eying her warily. "You realize there's always guest rooms available?"

"You need the company," she said turning away from him. "You shouldn't have to sleep alone, especially tonight."

"I don't feel comfortable with you sleeping next to me." He said getting onto his belly. "Really, I'll be fine alone. You do not have to sleep in here if you do not want to."

"Are you going to make me leave?" She asked looking over her shoulder.

"No, I couldn't if I wanted to." He said rolling back over. "Still, this seems unnecessary."

"Don't worry, I don't bite." She said making his snort. "Just don't start having any pleasurable dreams, I don't want to wake up and have your thing poking me in the back. Goodnight."

"Eris, that was unnecessary." he said making her laugh. "Don't be surprised if I kick you by accident, I tend to move in my sleep."

"I'll sleep with one eye open." She said. "Go to sleep, your highness."

"Goodnight Eris." He said watching her turn back.

He sighed and turned off the lamp, leaving the only light to come into the room through the cracked windows, or his mane and tail. In a minute, Eris was asleep and moving. He pushed her tail away more than once before it just hung off the bed; turning in the same spot again, he went back to his original position before she and the others arrived.

'I hope Luna is looking after me tonight,' he thought. 'Now that I'm thinking of her, I wonder how far the guards I sent have gotten?'

Morning glory

Celestia was moving around slightly, trying to get a hold of something in his unconscious state. Finally grabbing something warm, he pulled it to his chest and felt it hit him in the face lightly. As it jabbed him in the eye slightly, he snorted and opened his eyes solowly while keeping his grip on whatever he had. As the world around him became unblurred, his eyes finally rested on the grey tuft of hair of Eris's chest.

Gently pushing her away, he stopped when he felt something soft brush against his morning wood. Looking under the blanket, he saw she had her tail curled up and the end of it was laying against his thigh. Laying his head back down, he let the blanket fall back into place.

He was taking deep, slow breathes when he saw one of Eris's ears flicker, a paw reach up to rub it and then her eyes open to look blearily down at him.

"M-Morning," she said yawning. "How did you sleep?" She asked stretching out so she was straight in the bed.

"F-Fine!" He said giving a snort as he felt the fluff on the end of her tail be dragged across him swiftly. "C-Could you get something for me? I-It's on-"

"Me." She said feeling her cheeks begin to burn. "I believe something of yours is poking me. At least it's not in by back, but from any angle it isn't comfortable."

He looked away feeling his own cheeks begin to burn, turning in bed he quickly got on his belly and looked back at her. She smiled and got up, heading towards his bathroom. Watching her walk the short distance, his eyes strayed momentarily to her tail as it swished side-to-side as she walked. Shaking his head, he noticed his morning wood turned into a log now.

"E-Eris!" He said stuttering from the sheets rubbing against him. "You go to breakfast, I'll be a minute before I'm ready."

"Don't worry, I used to have the same problem." She called out. "Just start thinking of something you really hate and it should go away. I always thought of broccoli."

He shut his eyes and buried his face into the pillow, thinking about Blueblood. Lifting his head for a breath of fresh air, he moved his hind legs and immediately felt only the sheets rubbing against his legs. Hesitantly getting up, he looked under himself and saw no fifth leg.

"Thank you, Eris," he said moving to the door. "Wait, I almost forgot." He said going to the bathroom.

Stopping to see Eris brushing her hair down, he got in beside her and picked up his tooth brush. Squirting a glob of mint toothpaste on it, he rinsed the brush slightly and did a quick brush of his teeth. Leaving the bathroom with Eris in tow, they both tried to exit to the staircase at the same time but got wedged int the doorway.

"Whatever happened to ladies first?" Eris said rolling her eyes as she snapped her free paw.

Dining Hall

Twilight was sitting across from Luna, eating a piece of buttered toast with jelly on it while Luna was poking at a bowl of oatmeal.

"This is oatmeal," Luna said picking the bowl up by the food when she stuck her spoon in. "How do ponies eat this without choking?"

"They usually add more water than what you have." Twilight said as she took another bite of her toast. "When do you think Eris and Celestia will be here?"

As if to answer her question, both alicorn and Draconequus appeared by the doors. Eris quickly got away from the alicorn and took a seat by Twilight, snatching a piece of toast for herself much to the alicorns' displeasure. Celestia sat by his sister who was pushed at an angle when his shoulders bumped into her. He scooted away slightly so she could let go of the table to prevent herself from falling.

"Nice to see you this morning," Twilight said to Celestia. "How did you two sleep?"

"I had this amazing dream about gummy bears waging war against a garden of petunias." Eris said getting strange looks from all but Luna. "Goddess of chaos, remember?" She said attempting to grab another piece of toast only to find Twilight's plate empty. "I was still hungry; why did you eat all the toast?" She asked pouting at Twilight.

"I don't remember my dream, exactly," Celestia said looking around. "Where is the butler? He should be here to get our breakfast."

"You two slept in this morning." Luna said. "I had to raise the sun and force Twilight from going into your room to see why you hadn't come out yet. She was mortified when I grabbed her and had to carry her down the staircase like a foal." She said laughing while Twilight frowned.

"I appreciate your concern for me, Twilight." Celestia said. "Eris, could you make breakfast? I doubt the butler even knows we're awake." Celestia said as his stomach growled.

"What do I look like, your maid?" Eris said crossing her arms. "I bet you want me to polish your throne next?"

"I wouldn't mind if you did." He said smiling at her. "All I want is a cup of coffee and something-"

"Greasy?" She asked smirking as he tried to force the edges of his mouth down. "Okay, two breakfasts coming up."

She snapped her talon and a bowl of frosted flakes with more milk than cereal appeared in front of her, Celestia got a mug of steaming coffee and a plate of hay-bacon strips with melted cheese rolling off them. Eris was slowly eating hers but stopped to stare with Luna and Twilight as Celestia was putting whole strips in his mouth while he occasionally took a swig of his coffee.

Once he had consumed his breakfast and downed the rest of his coffee in a single gulp, he wiped his mouth with a hoof and smiled before looking at his present company.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" He asked putting a hoof momentarily to his cheek. "Why are you all staring at me like that?"

"Uh... Celestia, you realize you only had your breakfast for only a minute before it was gone." Twilight said. "I've never seen you just scarf food down like that. It reminded me of Pinkie when she ate that entire cake in a single bite."

"Oh," he said in realization. "I apologize for that, but the cheese looked so tempting while it was still warm." He said before grabbing his stomach and a moment later, he let out a belch that shook the silverware on the table. "Excuse me, that was unexpected." He said waving the smell away.

"He's behaving like a teenage stallion." Twilight said making him give her a questioning look. "Not that that's a bad thing! I think it's good you're adapting to your new body."

"I'd say he was adapting to well this morning," Eris said sipping from her bowl. "He had me in a bear-hug while he had a minor case of morning wood. I was surprised, obviously of course."

"Eris," Celestia said couching into a hoof. "They didn't need to know that. Especially the last part about my morning wood." He said taking a glance at hiss sister to see her laughing behind a wing. "It's not funny, sister."

"I-I would disagree!" She said snorting. "I would have liked to have seen your faces." She said patting him on the shoulder.

"Only you would find humor in that." Celestia said shaking his head. "Twilight, how was your morning? Not as eventful as mine I hope?"

"It was interesting to say the least." She said slowly looking at the dining hall's doors. "A group of guards rammed my door in, I spilled ink over a new letter I was writing to you. They told me you wanted to see me immediately."

Celestia merely nodded and looked past Eris to the window. Getting up, he pushed in his chair and went to the window overlooking the city at the best angle. Staring down at Canterlot with a frown, he looked at his hooves and then at Eris, who with the others, were staring back at him.

"I think Equestria should know about their new prince." He said. "Just as Discord had changed his name to Eris, I will also take on a new persona. From now on, you may call me Prince Sunshine."

At the mention of 'Sunshine,' Luna, Twilight, and Eris all burst out laughing. Twilight stopped herself once she saw the hurt look on his face, but Eris and Luna were almost on the floor holding their sides.

"S-Sunshine!" Eris laughed. "A big, buff, stallion prince of Equestria named Sunshine!"

"I would appreciate some gratitude for coming up with a name not from mythology." He said making Eris stop to frown at him. "I'm a very well read, but you knew that already, correct?" he said smiling at her as she rolled her eyes.

"W-What made you think of that name?" Luna asked as she wiped a tear away.

"I thought it still held some of my true identity while giving me a new one." He said. "I thought it was a good name."

"For a stallion, it seems so... So... Feminine." She said making him snort. "What you choose is fine, but remember, it will be the name you are stuck with for the rest of your life."

"Prince Sunshine." He said looking her in the eye. "That is my final decision. Now, it's been so long since I've had to arrange for an assembly like the one I'm planning. Twilight, would you care to help me plan how to inform the citizens of Equestria without causing mass panic?" He asked looking to Twilight who was shaking her head.

"Ce-Sunshine," she said catching onto the new name. "There is no way to tell them without causing a panic. How could you explain to them how their princess, a mare, has been turned into a stallion who calls himself Prince Sunshine? The only way I could possibly cause the least amount of worry in the population is to let word spread about it before introducing you to the public."

He nodded to her before looking to Eris and Luna who were staring back at him with grins. He frowned and let out a sigh as their smiles grew wider.

"Why are you two looking at me like that?" He asked looking between the two.

"Well," Eris said leaning over the back of her chair. "Since you're the new prince, don't you need to be fitted for some new regalia?"

"I do." He said rubbing his bare chest. "Do you think now is a good time to worry about accessories? The public hasn't even learned about the accident that did this to either of us."

"You can't just walk around without it," Eris said. "Ponies may start spreading rumors about Celestia or Luna having a little fun with you."

"Then I'll be the one to bury such rumors." He said narrowing his eyes. "Speaking of burying, Blueblood may try to have the public go against me. He has all the proof he needs to do so, but I'm still wondering if he has the guts."

"He does," Twilight said. "If he can throw a mare in front of a pastry to save his own hide, then he can turn a mob against you. Although, they may not follow him without payment, not many ponies like him after all."

"You know," Eris said tapping her fingers together with a razor-thin smile. "Maybe I could convince him not to start anything?"

"Eris, no," Sunshine said narrowing his eyes. "Do not go anywhere near him."

"Not even if he tries to usurp the throne?" She said. "Luna, no offense, is still inexperienced in modern day politics, Twilight is worse, and you're not Celestia anymore. That could give him the perfect opportunity to take what he's been wanting. Now, if somepony, say me, could convince him not see the benefits maybe he wouldn't try anything. He may even support you."

"Eris," he said narrowing his eyes. "He's already scared enough, we don't need him having a heart attack. Leave him alone."

She sighed and rolled her eyes before turning back in her seat. Getting back into his own seat, he pushed at his plate slightly while getting whatever leftover cheese he hadn't got before.

"Going back to the part about spreading word about this," Twilight said waving a hoof at Eris and Sunshine. "I think I know a few ponies who could do that. Pinkie, Rainbow, and Rarity. I know Rarity has connections with Photo Finish and Fancy Pants, so they may even help too."

"If you think it would be best, then you have my full permission to do so." He said. "Now, if you all will excuse me, I believe I will go have a walk in the city."

As he was getting up, Luna pulled him back down and put a few rings around him to keep him in place. Struggling against them momentarily, he chose to stop and glare at her.

"Let me go, sister." He said gritting his teeth. "Or give me a reason why you're doing this."

"Brother," Luna said taking the rings away. "You mustn't go into the city like this; I thought the plan was to let word spread before you show yourself to the public?"

"It is," he said looking towards the window. "But I would like to have a word with Blueblood. He deserves an apology, after all, I may have been too harsh on him. Will you let me do that?" He asked looking her in the eye.

She stared at him for a moment before looking towards Eris and nodded. She smiled and snapped a talon, teleporting the three of them away and leaving Twilight in the Dining Hall, alone.

Blueblood's Home

The two alicorns and Draconequus appeared in a heavily furnished living room. A fireplace and chimney were to the left with small figurines on the mantle, pictures of Blueblood hung on every wall depicting him as either a king, an alicorn, or the center of attention in large groups. Silk chairs on a wool rug sat by a window with a few books on a small table in the middle of them.

"Geez, and I thought Rainbow Dash had a big ego." Eris said drawing a mustache on one of the paintings. "Maybe I should have replaced her in the maze with him when I tried to take over Equestria. He would have ditched the others immediately."

"Eris, quit vandalizing his property." Sunshine said as he watched her turn the mustache pink. "Eris, you will fix that before we leave."

"Why? We've already broken in, all that's left is to steal a few things." She said receiving snorts from the two alicorns. "Yes, I'm going to steal a rug and chairs. I can make anything I like with a thought, I'm not going to take them. Besides, when was the last time I even stole something?" She asked leaning against the wall.

"Two hours before you were put in stone for the second time." Luna said as Eris's face became one of shock. "Or at the table less than a minute ago when you took Twilight's toast."

"Well, besides that." She said. "I'm an angel most of the time."

"You're a trouble maker most f the time." Sunshine said. "Could we please find-"

"Breaking into my home and vandalizing my property!" Blueblood yelled holding an umbrella in his magic. "I want an explanation!"

They all looked towards the doorway to see the shaking unicorn holding a black umbrella as if it would protect him. Rolling her eyes, Eris took the would-be weapon away from him and teleported him into one of the chairs. He gripped the arm rests so hard his fore-legs were completely straight with his shoulders buried into the back of the chair.

"Blueblood," Luna said taking a seat by him. "I believe my brother would like to have a word with you." She said motioning towards Sunshine with a hoof.

Blueblood relaxed slightly before looking at the alicorn that was even taller than the chair he was in. Gulping, he wiped a bead of sweat from his brow as Sunshine sat in the chair to his left.

"Blueblood," Sunshine said. "I've come to apologize to you for the way I spoke earlier. You were only there to file your complaint, and It was my job to listen, but I had yet to realize the full extent of an earlier accident. Blueblood, I am your aunt."

The unicorn smiled, laughed and then to their shock, took one of the larger books from the small table and used it to break a window. Jumping out from it, they all rushed tot he edge to see him land in row of bushes. He got out and began running towards a guard stationed across the street. Eris snapped her talon and the unicorn was back but he didn't have time to stop so he ran into a wall knocking a painting loose.

As he sat there with his head through a painting, Eris fixed the window and brought the book back. Sunshine took the painting off Blueblood and took the shivering unicorn to the chair he was sitting at before to keep him away from the window.

"Y-You're all mad!"  He hissed hugging himself. "The only accident that could have happened was putting an insane alicorn and another incompetent one in power. Now they're popping up everywhere, breaking into my home, vandalizing my property," he said making Luna and Sunshine narrow their eyes. "Who are you, really? My aunts coltfriend?"

"Blueblood," Sunshine said gritting his teeth. "I am Celestia. Look at Eris," he said drawing his attention to the Draconequus. "She was Discord before the accident, now Discord is a she. His masculinity went into me, and my femininity went into him. I was your aunt, now I'm your uncle. Do you understand?"

"So, you and Discord," he said motioning towards Eris. "Were different genders and now you're this?"

"Yes."

"That would explain the similarities," he said looking at Eris. "Well, now that that is out of the way and my safety is not in question, could I be left alone now?"

"Certainly," Sunshine said. "Eris, could you take us back now?"

She didn't snap a talon this time, instead they were simply teleported away from Blueblood and into the statue gardens. Blueblood, taking a cautious look behind his chair, sighed and let himself lean back in relief.

"Finally, no more of those crazed alicorns and their pet," he said. "I should go to the court and file a complaint about unlawful entry." He said thinking for a moment until his first meeting with Prince Sunshine came to mind. "Next week. I'll file it next week."

Royal Statue Gardens

The two alicorns and Draconequus appeared in the statue gardens behind a wall of shrubs. Eris looked above them while Luna and Sunshine pushed their way through the branches.

"Why did you bring us here?" Luna asked as she looked around at the statues and hedges.

"I don't know exactly," Eris said. "I guess I was just thinking of something like this and I brought us here." She said resting her elbows on the top of the hedge.

Standing int he sun for a moment, they all simply let the small breeze in the air go over them. Eris yawned as the sun slowly warmed her coat, Luna yawned and was walking away while Sunshine stood where he was watching them both.

"Going to bed, sister?" Sunshine asked as Luna gave him a drowsy nod. "Sweet dreams then."

Luna took off into the air with a few lazy flaps of her wing. As she was heading towards her tower, Sunshine turned towards Eris with a frown. She was looking out towards the statues with half-lidded eyes.

"You know why you brought us here," he said making her look down at him with a frown. "Go on, tell me."

"You know why," she said flipping herself over the hedge. "I just don't want to admit it."

"You don't have to." He said sighing. "It still hurts, doesn't it? The memories I mean."

"They do," she said leaning back to lay against the hedge. "And what I heard the first time, what I could hear and see the second. You didn't know that, did you? That I could see and hear everything around me while I was trapped?"

His mouth had dropped slightly but he looked away, shaking his head he felt her put a paw on his back. Looking up at her, she had no emotion on her face but he took the gesture for what it was.

"If I had known," he said. "I would have allowed some time for you to move freely."

"Don't beat yourself up about it, it's not your fault. How could you have known?" she said even though her voice was an octave higher. "I wonder how it all would have turned out though, if you did do that and I started acting good. I wonder what it would have been like now."

"It's food for thought." He said taking her paw and squeezing it gently. "We three have had enough time for that, that is for sure."

"We did," she said glancing momentarily at Luna's tower. "I still remember what it was like, being turned to stone for the first time. Everything wasn't cold like stone, it was like being turned to molten rock, even after it was done it still hurt for who knows how long." She said sliding down to the ground. "I wasn't as bad as I had been until that, that's why I did what I did this time. I wanted revenge because I went mad, not from the isolation, but from the pain." She said letting a few tears begin to form.

As they fell, she froze as she felt a hoof wiping them away. Taking a shuddering breath, she looked at Sunshine and saw the heart-broken look he was giving her, that was enough to make her finally hug him and bury her face into his shoulder. He put his hooves around her much the same way she had done for him, staying in the same position until she was done.

"I never meant to hurt you like that," he said rocking her back-and-forth. "I was only trying to stop you, not hurt you."

"I-I know,"she said gripping him tighter. "I-I was never a-angry a-at you, just at t-the world. N-No one ever wanted to b-b near me, no o-one even w-wanted to know me."

"That was then, this is now." He said letting her go once she started to push away slightly. "I would like to know you though, this kind-hearted, responsible, smart, and funny Draconequus." He said making her look at him with still wet eyes.

"N-Now you're just trying to make me laugh," she said smiling. "Do you really mean it?" She asked squeezing one of his hooves.

"I never lie," he said making her give him a quivering smile. "Eris, if you would like, you could join me for diner, or just enjoy breakfast with my sister. That is if she decides to join me for diner today."

"Diner?" She asked wiping her eyes. "What for?"

"You've been though more than most ponies can take," he said rolling his shoulders. "It's the least I could do for everything I've done. For hurting you, for trapping you twice without a second thought... Just everything." He said hanging his head.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" She asked making him look her in the eye with a crimson blush blooming brilliantly across his face. "I may say yes, if the food is good." She said giving him a classic Discord-esq smile.

"Not a date, just an invitation to have diner." He said snorting. "Take it any way you would like, the offer still stands."

"Would you mind if I invite Fluttershy?" She asked resting her head in her hands. "She rarely gets out and she worries if I'm not home by ten."

"I wouldn't mind," he said. "In fact, you can invite her other friends too. I think it would be good for them to see me first before they assist Twilight, just to avoid any doubts they may have." He said standing up. "If you'l excuse me, I'll be going to go get fitted for a new set of regalia."

"Would you mind if I come along?" Eris asked getting up to follow him. "I've heard they melt down guard armor to make new pieces."

"I'm guessing you would want to help take my measurements then?" He asked making her blush. "What did you say I was earlier? A big, buff, stallion prince of Equestria?"

"W-Well, you're not exactly skinny." She said poking him in the side. "It feels like I'm poking a flesh covered wall. Seriously, how is it you got a muscle boost from my masculinity? I'm thinner than Luna." She said flexing her arm but poked it when, for once, it didn't fall limp past the elbow. "I guess I got some muscle too."

"Don't go trying to win any trophies though," he laughed making her pout at him. "I may have a chance, but you don't seem to have any more than you did before."

"I'll show you how much muscle I have," she said bringing a newspaper into her paw. "Hold still so I can swat you!"

He galloped away, laughing as she chased him red in the face. Running past statues, hedges, and jumping over the occasional small bush, he had her chasing him through the halls. he looked back to see her suddenly stop and grin at him, looking ahead, he had just enough time to see his niece Cadance, scream and jump out of the way, before seeing the wall and blacking out.

An old relative.

Eris stood next to Cadance, occasionally glancing at her or the unconscious alicorn laying on the floor. Leaning down, Eris shook his shoulder and elicited something unintelligible from him. Looking at the day old paper in her paw, she threw it over her shoulder and let herself lean against the wall. Looking at Cadance, she saw the pink alicorn staring at her calmly.

"Yes, I got a gender change," Eris said rolling her eyes. "Shocking, I know. What are you even doing here?" She asked glancing momentarily back down at Sunshine.

"I could ask you the same question, Discord." Cadance said. "What I would like to know is why you were chasing this... Alicorn around with a newspaper." She said pointing at the piece of paper laying further down the hall.

"We were playing," she replied sliding down the wall to sit by Sunshine. "You still haven't answered my question." She said shaking his shoulder again. "Wake up you big lug."

"I wanted to surprise my aunts," Cadance said staring at Eris as she shook Sunshine's shoulder. "Instead I'm the one getting a surprise. I'm going to go find Luna or a guard. You just stay here and keep doing whatever it is you're doing." She said turning only to stop momentarily and look back at Eris looking at the cracks in the stone wall.

Eris glanced back at Cadance as she turned a corner, and as soon as she did, she snapped the fluff at the end of her tail and teleported herself and the unconscious alicorn to the castle's infirmary. All at once she was hit with the smell of sweat, disinfectant, latex, and a copper taste in her mouth.

There were a few of the night guard and less day day guards sitting on the beds or walking with crutches, the medical staff were making their rounds by the beds, speaking with the guards or other castle staff who happened to be there. Upon seeing the Draconequus they all froze and just stared at her but went into a hurry once they saw the alicorn by her claw and hoof.

She was pushed out of the narrow room and turned just to have the doors slammed in her face. Blinking, she backed up, huffed and sat in one of the seats by doors. Picking up a magazine, she was beginning to flip through it when the door cracked open and one of the doctors' poked his head through.

"Mrs?" He asked stepping out. "I understand that you brought our newest patient here?"

"I did," Eris said getting up. "Is he alright?" She asked setting the magazine on another table.

"Yes, he's fine." The doctor said nodding. "What many of my staff to do wish is, who is he? Is he related to the princesses?" He asked running a hoof over his blue scrubs.

"He's not related to them," Eris said smiling. "He is Princess Celestia, but he prefers Prince Sunshine. It's a strange name for him, but he seems to like it."

The doctor stared at her for a second, peeked back inside, and than back at her. Shaking his head, he went back inside the infirmary without another word leaving her frustrated again. Eris, looking at the door, noticed the day guard looking at her.

"Let me guess, you think I'm a nut, too?" She asked crossing her arms.

He said nothing but fixed his attention back to the wall in front of him. Letting out a breath through her nose, Eris turned away from the golden hall ornament and went back to the magazine she was reading.

Cadance

"Yes, they're this way." Cadance said bringing the two guards by her sides. "He should be laying down this hall, he may have a concussion so be... Gentle?" She said quietly as she looked down the empty hall.

Rubbing her eyes, she closed them for a second, counted to five and then opened them again. Seeing nothing but empty space again, she scanned the wall until she found the impact where Sunshine had ran into it. Poking at the cracks, a piece of the wall fell off and broke at her hooves.

"They were right here," she said looking around. "I told her to stay here, and instead she runs off with him." Cadance muttered to herself.

"Ma'am," one of the guards said. "Who is it you are looking for?"

"Discord," she said. "And a white alicorn."

"You mean Princess Celestia?" The other asked.

"No, he's a new alicorn," she said shaking her head. "White, tall, reddish-brown mane and beard, and I'm sure he's with Discord. Find her and you'll find him."

"Her?" The guards said in unison.

"Yes," Cadance said. "Her. Discord is now a she. I'll tell Twilight Discord has apparently kidnapped somepony. You two, go and find them, and once you do, find either of my aunts, me, or Twilight."

Twilight

Not looking away from the small pocket-book she had, Twilight attempted to move the straw to her teeth with her lips but given up after she only sucked in air. Finishing the third paragraph on the page she was on, she looked over on her desk and saw an empty space where her drink was. Looking down, she frown when she saw a brown reflection looking back up at her.

Getting up, she went into the bathroom and tore a few sheets off the toilet-paper roll. Cleaning up the spill, she was setting the glass back on the desk when there was a knock at her door. Looking back at what was still on the floor, she huffed when the knocking came again, this time more urgent.

"Alright, I'm coming." She said making the knocking cease.

Going to the door, she opened it and saw nopony, poking her head out, she looked to the left and right and still saw nothing. Shutting the door, she turned around and backed into it when she saw Eris sitting on her bed, smiling, seemingly pleased with herself for scaring her.

"Hello, Twilight," Eris said grinning. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I was almost looking at one," she said ruffling her wings. "Where's Sunshine?"

"In the infirmary." Eris said calmly. "He ran into a wall. The doctors say he has a minor concussion and that he should be fine in a few hours, fine enough to walk anyway. What are you reading?" She asked leaning over the edge of the bed to look at Twilight's book.

"He ran into a wall?" She asked incredulously. "No, there's no way he would do that. Why would he be running in the first place?"

"What is this?" Eris said holding the miniature book in her paw. "Science fiction?"

"Give me that and answer me!" She said taking the book from the Draconequus's hands. "Why was he running?"

"Why was who running?" Eris asked getting up from being pulled to the floor. "Sunshine? I was chasing him with a newspaper."

"Why?" Twilight asked shaking her head. "Was it a game you two were playing?"

"Oh, Twilight," Eris said rubbing the alicorn on the head. "We're always playing games. He just doesn't know it."

Before the lavender alicorn could utter another word, Eris was gone in a flash. Looking around momentarily, the alicorn made sure the goddess wasn't hiding anywhere, once sure she was gone, she sat back down at her desk and opened her book back to where she had left off.

Upon opening it, there was another knock at the door. Grunting, she closed it again and went to the door. Putting her hoof on the handle, she looked back at the bed as she opened the door. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she looked in the doorway and saw nothing. Looking out again, she paused as she heard the sound of pages in a book being turned. Turning around again, she saw Eris laying comfortably on the bed, her own book in her paw while she turned the pages with a wave of her talon.

Looking up from her book, Eris just stared at the flabbergasted alicorn for a moment, shrugged, and went back to reading her own book.

Closing the door again, Twilight Was pulling out her chair but stopped to look back at the bed. Satisfied, she was turning around when she realized the bed was empty again. Looking back at it, she saw the book was still lying there, the sheets were still disturbed from where Eris had been laying. Looking at the door, she sat down in the chair, eyes narrowed at the thin slice of wood. Grabbing her book, she slowly turned her head away from the door and just as she began to read again, there was a knock.

Gritting her teeth, she went to the door and opened it, not even bothering to look up as Eris stood there, grinning down at her.

"By the way Twilight," Eris said twirling a lock of her hair in her finger. "The guards think I kidnapped a new alicorn. If they ask, you never saw me."

"I wish I hadn't." She said shutting the door in Eris's face.

Standing by the door, she looked back at her own book sitting cold on the desk, she sighed and just sat there on the spot. Leaning her head against the door, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. The air she was holding came out in a single word when another knock was heard, and the sound of the door being slammed open along with her yelling at the guard sanding there.

"What!?" She yelled before seeing the nervous look on the guard's face. "Oh, I am so sorry, I thought you were somepony else." She said putting a hoof to her chest. "What can I help you with?"

"I came here to make sure you were safe," the guard said gathering her wits. "There was a recent kidnapping of an alicorn and I came here to make sure you hadn't been taken. Have you seen a Draconequus anywhere? She was suspected of the kidnapping and we wish to bring her in for questioning."

"A Draconequus?" Twilight said. "No. I haven't seen one of them anywhere. Have you tried searching the kitchen?"

"The kitchen?" The guard said pondering the area for a moment. "She is fond of sweets; an excellent idea your highness. Stay inside and be on  alert, I'll have guards put here if I run into any others."

The guard saluted her and began to gallop away. Closing the door once the sound of the guard's hoofsteps were gone, she was closing the door but decided to leave it cracked. As she was turning away, she heard a clinking sound coming from behind her. Opening the door, she spotted a glass of brown tea sitting on the floor, a small yellow note was attached to the lemon.

"Thanks for covering me," Twilight read. "Eris."

She looked at the note and then the drink, shrugging she took a sip and spat it out when it hit her tongue. Dropping the note, she didn't see the words, 'Was I supposed to add salt or sugar?' Written on the back.

Eris

Sitting in the statue gardens again, she looked at the collection of ancient figures, some of them older than her and others quite new. Running her talon over the smooth marble that was once her pedestal, she let out an involuntary shudder.

'This place shouldn't even bother me anymore,' she thought staring at the one statue she could see in her imprisonment. 'But I just can't forget about what happened. I probably never will forget it, no matter how much I try. But why does it still bother me so much?'

Looking around the garden, she spotted the faint outline of a pony working on a wall and her bad mood worsened.

'It's not the garden, or my imprisonment,' she thought. 'I feel guilty about what happened to Sunshine. Why do I feel guilty about that, it wasn't my fault. Not entirely anyway. I could have probably warned him before he hit the wall, or I could have just stopped chasing him, or maybe even not chased him at all. Guilt is terrible, this feels like that time I tried to make Rocky Road with actual rocks.'

Kicking a stone away from the pedestal, she heard a rustling coming from behind her in the bushes. Looking back, she found herself underneath two guards.

"Now, is this any way to treat a lady?" She said pooling out from underneath them.

Standing up, she crossed her arms and smiled down at them as they untangled themselves. Once free they both stood in front of her, crouched and ready to pounce on her, but she had made herself a little hammock she was laying in.

"Ma'am, we need to bring you in for questioning about the pony you brought to the infirmary." The one on the left said.

"Oh, Sunshine?" She said looking at them through a pair of sunglasses. "You can ask Twilight or Luna, they were with us a little while before he ran into a wall. If you want to hear what happened, we were having a conversation, we made some jokes, he said something embarrassing about me, and then we had a little game of chasing that ended when he almost hit his niece but she jumped out of the way and he hit a wall."

"That's all very nice, but we still need to take you in." The guard on the right said.

"Good luck." She said sliding the sunglasses up on her fore-head. "You can't even touch me."

When the guards jumped again, she rolled off the hammock and pulled it back with a finger, holding it there while the guards landed on their chests against it. They looked at the hammock and than at her, shaking their heads vigorously, she nodded twice and than took her finger off the hammock. The guards were sent flying across the gardens and eventually they landed in a large hedge.

"I love messing with the guards." She said to herself. "They're so bold and so very brainless. I wonder if Sunshine is awake yet?"

Sunshine

He was awake, but he didn't want to open his eyes, his head hurt, his mouth tasted like copper and disinfectants. He could hear the sound of hooves, always moving, getting closer or further away, the sound of rubber against the floor, and the snapping sound of gloves on hooves.

'I'm in the infirmary,' he thought. 'That would explain the awful taste in my mouth. What happened? The last thing I remember is Eris chasing me, I was running, and then I saw Cadance, and now I'm here. One of them must have brought me here, most likely Eris, she seems to be doing that a lot recently.'

Cracking an eye open, he quickly shut it from the light piercing his head. Slowly opening it this time, he looked around and saw ponies rushing about in blue scrubs, guards and some staff with bandages, casts, or crutches. Raising his head a little, he looked down at himself. He was in a bed with warm blankets, and an itchy pillow.

Reaching up to rub the spot on his head, he felt the rough threads of one of the bandages wrapped around his head. Putting a small amount of pressure on it, he winced when a small sting was made from it.

As the doctors and nurses went to and fro, checking on remaining medicine, patient information, bedding, and the patients themselves. Sunshine slid out of the bed and landed with shaky legs, shaking the sleep out of them he turned his attention to the doors. Taking off the bandages, he cracked his neck and was about to start walking towards the exit when a doctor was suddenly in front of him.

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to get back in bed." He said putting a hoof on Sunshine's shoulder as if to keep the already balanced alicorn upright. "You suffered a minor concussion and blackout, you need to rest."

"What I need," he said staring down at the medical pony. "Is to find my niece. I saw her just before I hit that wall. Do you know where I can find her?"

"If you get back in the bed, than I can have a guard look for her. What's her name?"

"Cadance." He said and to his amusement, the pony jolted slightly. "Is there something about that name that concerns you? You seem disturbed by it."

"N-No, it's just that you're related to her?" He said taking his hoof off Sunshine. "I thought only Princess Celestia was her only relative other than Princess Luna."

"And you're right, my sister and I are related to her." He said making the pony narrow his eyes. "If you don't believe me, look at my cutie mark and tell me otherwise."

He turned and showing his cutie mark to the doctor, the pony's eyes widened and his mask thinned slightly from his mouth dropping. Sunshine smiled and went around the doctor and other patients until he was at the doors. Hearing somepony clearing their throat, he turned around and saw the doctor again, this time there was a nurse who had a syringe with a clear liquid inside it.

"Your highness," he said taking off the mask for the second time that day. "You need rest, and if you won't get back in bed willingly we'll have to sedate you. Nopony wants to do that, right?" He asked looking at the nurse who shook her head, but tapped the needle on a hoof regardless.

"Doctor, I am able to walk without an aid, my head isn't spinning, and I don't feel ill, I would say I can leave whenever I wish." Sunshine said narrowing his eyes.

"In my professional opinion, my medical one I mean," he said rubbing his hooves together as if washing them in a sink. "You-"

"Doctor, I will not stand here being lectured on medicine and medical treatments when I have important business I can attend to without and pills, tonics, or aids." He said moving closer to the doctor until the nurse had the needle raised. "I was the one who founded most of the medical discovery's in the last century, and there is nopony alive that knows as much or more about medicine and doctoring than me."

"R-Right," he said smiling and nodding briskly. "Nurse, could you put down the needle? It won't be needed after all. Have a nice day your highness," he said opening the door himself. "But, do come in for a checkup if you begin experiencing any headaches or nausea."

Eris

Appearing in front of the infirmary doors again, Eris missed the ethereal tail disappear around the corner behind her, or hear the hoofsteps slowly getting quieter. Looking back down at the guard from before, he didn't glance up at her. Sticking her tongue out at him, she pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

The smell of disinfectants and medicine was overwhelming at first, but she got used to it quickly and let the doors shut behind her. Looking around the room, she saw an empty bed where a nurse was fixing it. Seeing another nurse pick up a cap of bandages, she guessed it was Sunshine's bed.

"Yes, he's gone." A doctor said next to her. "He just left shortly before you got here. He said he was going to look for Princess Cadance."

Nodding at the doctor,  she vanished from the room in a small flash of light and left him alone again. The doctor looked back at the doors for a moment, let out a sigh of relief, and went back to his duties.

Twilight

Closing her pocket-book, she took a sip of water from the fresh glass she had. Finishing what little was left in there, she set the glass down and backed her chair out. She stopped when she was pushing in the chair, looking at the door she narrowed her eyes slightly before going to it. Opening the door, she wasn't surprised to see Eris there, but instead a guard to go flying over her head as she ducked.

"Hey, Twilight," Eris said casually. "You haven't seen your sister-in-law, have you?"

"Cadance is here?" Twilight asked watching as the same guard tried to tackle Eris but ended up sliding down the hall when she turned the floor to soap. "When did she get here?"

"Twilight," Eris said stepping in and shutting the door. "Have you, or have you not seen her?"

"I just found out she was here, of course I haven't seen her." She said before wincing as a thud was heard from the other side of the door. "How long have the guards been after you?"

"I don't know," she said grabbing for a beard that wasn't there anymore. "Oh, I forgot It's gone. That's depressing." She said rubbing her smooth chin.

She sank into the floor just as the guard took the door off its hinges and looked around furiously as caramel and soap dripped off him. Not seeing Eris anywhere, he turned his attention to Twilight.

"Your majesty, are you alright?" He asked pausing to wipe soap away that was getting dangerously close to his eye. "Where did the Draconequus go?" He asked looking toward the window for a moment.

"She was just asking where my sister-in-law was," Twilight said. "Why are you after her?" She asked stepping away from the floor as it began to ripple again.

The guard, seeing this, dived head-first into it and disappeared into the room below, Twilight was looking at it before noticing Eris in the doorway.

"They think I kidnapped Sunshine." She said. "You wanna come help me find Cadance? The guards are only so amusing, but after a while they're just annoying."

"Do I have a choice in the matter?" Twilight asked before she was picked up and was hanging in the air by Eris's tail. "I guess not. Where are we going first?"

"I figured we would just go see if Luna knows anything." She said looking back at Twilight.

"She's asleep right now, we can't just go in and wake her up." Twilight said glaring at Eris. "She'd be mad at you, but she'd be even angrier at me for coming with you."

"So you admit you wanted to come with me?" Eris said making Twilight frown. "No use standing here talking, lets go see if Luna can give us any hints as to where we may find our pink and yellow alicorn."

The two immortals disappeared from sight, unfortunately, the alicorn they were both searching for poked her head around the corner around the same time a tall white alicorn turned the corner opposite down the hall.

Cadance

She stopped as soon as she and the other alicorn were in the middle of the hall. He was walking towards her, a large smile adoring his face as it seemed to split the two lines of red facial hair even further, making it look like somepony had taken a bite out of it. When he was close enough she began walking herself, and to her surprise, she was smiling too.

They both stopped short of three feet, with him looking down at her with the same smile and her now smiling a little uncomfortably.

"It's very nice to see you again Cadance," he said. "This time without a wall to hit me in the face."

"It's nice to meet you too." Cadance said. "Who are you? Celestia or Luna didn't tell me about another alicorn."

"That could be because I'm Celestia," he said turning so she could see his cutie mark. "See? I'm still your aunt, but now I'm technically your uncle now."

"Wow," she said looking away from the picture of the sun on his flank. "How did this happen? Was it Eris?"

"It was, but I'm doubtful she knew what she did until it was to late." He said shrugging. "She's been very kind lately, unusually kind sometimes but different from her usual self. I think this gender switch made her more maternal."

"She did seem more protective over you when you were unconscious." Cadance said smiling a little. "She kept shaking your shoulder and kept glancing down at you. I doubt she even cared that I was there with how she was acting around you. She even sat down by you and started talking to you once or twice."

"She must care about me more than I thought." He said looking down at his hooves.

"I think she cares more a lot more than you think." Cadance said turning away. "Are you coming? I'm pretty sure I got a glimpse of her and Twilight before they disappeared. We should find them before she gets Twilight in any real trouble."

"I doubt they're getting into anything to bad," he said following her pace easily. "What's the worst they can do around here?"

"Isn't your sister asleep right now?" Cadance asked suddenly.

"She is. Why, do you think they would wake her up?" He asked pondering it himself for a moment. "I think I should teleport us there." He said lighting his horn making it spill out a crimson color and not the usual gold.

Luna's Bedchamber. Two Minutes Earlier

In a dark flash of black light, Eris stood in near darkness with Twilight still hanging from her tail. Looking around, she saw Luna's ethereal mane easily in the dark as it blew in some unfelt wind. Setting Twilight down, she could feel the alicorn press against her leg and just barely make out her trying to look for the door. Quickly  shrouding the door in a small burst of magic, she looked back down and saw Twilight looking at the sleeping alicorn.

"What are you going to do? Poor ice water on her?" Twilight whispered.

"Not a bad idea, but no, I have something much better in-"

"Oh, sir Macintosh, you truly know how to treat a mare..." Luna said making a little purring noise before rolling over.

Upon hearing that, Eris almost fell to the floor laughing while Twilight just stood there eyeing the window. Glancing back up at the Draconequus, she could see her biting her knuckle to keep herself from laughing to hard.

"Eris, this is wrong," Twilight said hissing it this time. "We really shouldn't be here. What if she wakes up? She'll think we're invading her privacy."

"Oh don't get your horn in a twist, she's used to having me break into her bedroom." She said snickering lightly before abruptly stopping. "That sounded less creepy in my head."

"Well, how are you going to wake her up without her blasting us into a wall?" Twilight asked and immediately regretted it when she was picked up. "Eris, don't you-"

With a quick 'Too late.' From Eris, the Draconequus sent the small alicorn flying into Lunas bed. In a tangle of limbs and wings, Twilight was suddenly on the floor with a bedraggled Luna laying on top of her.

"Wha-What is happening?" Luna asked still half sleep-drunk. "Where's Macintosh?"

"Sorry to interrupt your little dream, your highness." Eris said making Luna quickly pick herself up quite ungracefully. "But we wanted to know if you've seen-"

In another flash of light this one a dark red, Sunshine and Cadance were standing in the now crowding room. Luna snorted and belligerently opened a curtain letting the lowering sun's light through. Covering her eyes momentarily, the lunar alicorn p and glared outside and than at the Draconequus who threw Twilight on her.

"First of all," Luna said glaring at Eris. "Why did you throw Twilight on me? Second, how much did you hear before I woke up?" She asked much more quietly while avoiding her brother's gaze.

"She thought it would idea to wake you up this way, I still disagree." Twilight said straightening a few feathers.

"And we heard enough," Eris said. "Mrs. Macintosh." Eris said saying it loud enough for Sunshine to hear.

"Who's Macintosh?" Sunshine asked grinning at his sister who's cheeks had turned a deep purple. "Does my little sister have a crush on somepony?"

"N-No, I do not." She said crossing her fore-legs. "That's just Eris talking nonsense as usual."

He smiled knowingly and led Cadance out to the balcony to speak, leaving Twilight and Eris in there with her. As soon as the doors closed, Luna turned towards Eris with a burning glare.

"Do not tell him about Macintosh or else." She hissed through her teeth while Twilight a corner.

"Why not?" Eris said smiling playfully. "Shouldn't he have the right to know about your little-"

"Say another word, and I will tell him you thought he was cute while he was a mare." She said with a growing smirk as Eris's face went from playful to fearful.

"You wouldn't dare. W-Would you?" She asked casting a nervous glance towards the white alicorn outside. "He'd never let me live it down. Please, can we keep it between ourselves?" She asked giving a nervous smile.

"Only if you do not mention Macintosh in front of him or Cadance." She said extending a hoof.

Eris took it and Luna found herself being flung up and down by her hoof. After being set down, and some minor nursing to it, Cadance and Sunshine came back in. Sunshine immediately going to sit by his sister.

"So, who is Macintosh?" He asked draping a wing over her.

"Just some name I made up to embarrass her." Eris said grinning enough to show her teeth.

"Whatever you say, I won't press on the matter if you're so uncomfortable about it." He said taking his wing off of Luna.

"If you two are done," Luna said trying to get back under her comforter. "May I go back to sleep before I have to raise the moon?"

"Sorry to say, but it's diner time now." Sunshine said causing Luna to bury her face in her pillow. "Sorry."

"Speaking of diner," Eris said perking up.  "I still need to see if Fluttershy and the others are coming. I'll meet you all in the dining hall."

"Wait," Twilight said speaking up from her corner. "Could you pick up Spike? I don't want him thinking he can eat another tub of ice-cream again for diner."

"I'll see if I can stop by." Eris said shrugging slightly before disappearing.

Nighttime fiasco

Eris, standing in her full height inside the library, took a quick look around the room she was in, hoping to see the resident drake. Seeing him nowhere, she went to the kitchen and saw a paper-towel with crumbs on it, part of a tomato, a butter-knife with mayonnaise reside, and a salt shaker all on the same counter. Kicking at the floor, she turned back to the foyer and gave a glimpse upstairs.

Slowly going up the stairs, she held onto the rail tightly when she was almost pulled back by her tail. Tip-toeing up, she flinched whenever her hoof or claw made a clap when she stepped on one of the steps to hard. Arriving at the top of the staircase after nearly being pulled back by her tail, two times tripping from the small steps, or getting a splinter stuck between two scales in her clawed foot, she looked at the partially open door. Pushing it open, she saw the room in darkness, Twilight's bed undisturbed, and a small lump in Spike's bed, rising and falling rhythmically.

Closing the door, she turned around and looked back down at the stairs. Grimacing, she just teleported to the next house, the Carousel Boutique, where she hoped to find a white unicorn hopefully not asleep.

Back inside Twilight's bedroom, the small lump in the miniature bed raised its scaly head, listened for a second and making sure there were no other intruders and pulled out a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Carousel Boutique

Rarity was quietly sitting on the couch with Sweetiebelle, neither of them looking towards the mess in the kitchen or the hockey-puck pancakes sitting, and sizzling on the plates in front of them. Instead, they were quietly reading to themselves with Rarity holding the book and Sweetiebelle reading at a faster pace than her sister.

As she was turning the page, the couch shifted dramatically and they were both thrown to the left when something sat down. Looking up after the initial shock, she saw Eris, or rather her chest, looking to the right she saw the Draconequus looking over her shoulder at the book.

"Hey you two," Eris said acknowledging the two unicorns. "What'cha reading?"

"Rarity, why does Discord look like he's a she?" Sweetiebelle asked looking at the head of white hair on Eris's head.

"That would be because he is a she now." Rarity said pushing herself and her sister to the other end of the couch, evenly distributing the weight. "Eris, what are you doing here in this hour? Almost everypony is asleep."

"I came here to invite you to diner at the castle." She said eyeballing the smoking pancakes. "And not a moment to soon I see."

"Diner? At the caste?" Rarity asked, her eyes beginning to sparkle. "I... I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to go. I can't just leave Sweetiebelle here and go have diner there; what would she eat?" She said hugging her little sister.

"Oh, I suppose she can come too," Eris said ruffling Sweetiebelle's mane much to her annoyance. "The more the merrier."

Teleporting them to the castle and herself to Sugarcube Corner, the book fell to the floor, and the pancakes finally melted through the plates and onto the glass coffee table.

Pinkie's Room

As soon as she appeared in Pinkie's room, Eris covered her eyes when she came face-to-mirror with a disco-ball. Falling back from the sudden flashing lights all the while covering her eyes, she tripped on a ball, fell backward and landed in something that made her freeze vertically.

Looking down at the cake she was elbow deep in, she closed her eyes and shivered when she slowly got out of it.

"Falling on a cake is bad enough," she said to herself. "But now I've got icing in places I've never had icing go. I'm never using this as a prank, if this is how it feels." She said wiping what she could off herself.

She was wringing the upper part of her tail out when a towel was suddenly thrown on her head, taking it off she looked in the direction it came from and saw Pinkie giggling on her bed.

"Thank you, Pinkie," Eris said grimacing as the towel was dirtied quickly and just began smudging the icing even more. "Great, now I need a bath."

"What are doing here Eris?" Pinkie asked scratching her head and making her wig move with each scratch. "Did you come for the surprise party?"

"Surprise party?" She said looking around. "I always imagined your room looking like this. Who's this party for?" She asked looking down and the grey and white cake.

"For you!" Pinkie said springing up momentarily to throw a cloud of confetti in the air. "Surprise! Were you surprised? Are you still surprised? How was the surprise?" She asked leaning towards Eris until she fell off the edge of the bed where she safely landed on a balloon that carried her up to the ceiling.

Grabbing the balloon's string, Eris pulled the pink party pony back down and set her on the floor.

"I was surprised, momentarily blinded, and now have a sickness for cake." She said shuddering. "Promise me you won't make some poor sap sit on a cake as a prank, this is the most disgusting thing I've ever felt."

"I Pinkie promise!" She said putting a hoof to her chest. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." She said standing like a guard until crazily squishing a nearby cupcake on her eyelid.

"Equestria thanks you," Eris said patting her on the head. "Pinkie, would you like to have diner at the castle? Rarity and Sweetiebelle are going to be there."

"Oh! Diner at the palace! Hang on, I need to get some things first!" She said before folding herself around the edge of the bed.

Eris watched in amusement as the little pony began throwing things out from under the bed, most of them either having wheels or instructions on how much helium to fill them with. When she suddenly froze and began giggling she came out from under the bed with a new wig and Gummy attached to her hoof. Her new wig made Eris snort in amusement, making her forget about the icing on her tail and legs.

"I hope Twilight doesn't get to jealous that you stole her mane style." Eris said poking at a lock of Pinkie's wig. "What is that made of? It feels almost like the real thing." She said pinching it between her fingers.

"That's because it is from her." Pinkie said making Eris retract her talon quickly. "I made one for all my fiends in case they go bald. I would have kept them in-"

Eris, slightly creeped out by Pinkie, teleported the partier to the castle and made herself scarce at the bakery and known at Rainbow Dash's home.

Rainbow's House

Closing her eyes, she instead covered her ears quickly when boom after shaking boom resonated throughout the room she was in. Making a pair of ear plugs for herself, she opened her eyes and saw the room was in complete darkness, and then a flash of light followed by another boom that shook the bones in her body.

Taking a couple of steps, she nearly fell over when her right knee hit a table. Thankful nearly everything in the house was cloud manufactured, she waited for another flash of light. When one did happen, she rubbed her eyes as tears began to form. Putting on the pair of sunglasses from earlier, she waited again, this time the flash wasn't bright enough to see anything. Thinking for a moment, she made herself a flashlight and shone it around.

She was still in front of the coffee table, there was a staircase to her left, what looked like a kitchen to the right. Maneuvering  around lumps in the floor, she took a cautious step on the staircase, assuring it was solid enough she began to slowly go up. With each step she took, and the higher she got, the sonic booms coming from nowhere and everywhere at once began to get stronger.

Reaching the top, her body was beginning to get numb from the shockwaves, the sunglasses helped to block out most of the flashing but not all of it, and so she could make out a figure in on of the rooms by the stairs that was illuminated with each flash of light.

Going into the room, she stopped short of Rainbow Dash, who, was playing a pair of Thunder drums as if her life depended on it. She had a pair of earmuffs over her ears, and her own pair of sunglasses, and she seemed to have a pair of drumsticks made from the same clouds as her drums, because with each hit, a small arch of electricity flew out from the tips and into the drums creating the flash of light and thunder.

Watching the pegasus play for a moment, Eris tapped her on the shoulder when it became dark again, making her turn around. Rainbow set down the drumsticks, slid the earmuffs off but didn't bother with the sunglasses.

"Hey Eris, what's up?" she asked looking ahead instead of where the Draconequus was standing.

"Right now, my heartbeat." She said. "If you're done, I have an invitation for you to come for diner at the palace."

"What's for desert?" She asked. "Is anypony else going?"

"Yes, Rarity, Sweetiebelle, Twilight is already there, and Pinkie."

"Yeah, I'll go. I'm sure Pinkie brought her own deserts. Did you like my drumming?"

"It's certainly something I'd like to try." She said patting the pegasus on the back. "Goodbye."

Sending the pegasus on her way, she went to the next guest, one who she hoped would go with her.

Fluttershy's Cottage

Fluttershy was outside, checking on the fruit bats resting in their perches she made for them. She would smile when they would wake up and nibble at her hoof when she woke them up with a slight poke, each of them feeling like a warm bag of jelly it made them not as scary as their long fanged counterparts.

Flying down, she watched them all fly in a multicolored vortex and slowly group into their respective colors before dissipating into the night to feed. Watching the last one, a pudgy yellow one fly away, she looked around and saw the other nocturnal animals emerge from their burrows and holes. Racoons came up to her and let her rub them on their heads, moths circled around her, and even Mr. Grizzles was there long enough to wave to her.

Turning away from them she went to the backdoor of her cottage and stepped from the chilly night air to her warm home. Shutting the door, she wasn't surprised to feel angel giving her droopy eyes as he lightly tapped his foot.

"I know Angel," she said picking him up so he could rest in the back of her mane. "Lets get you tucked in, it's supposed to be cold tonight."

As she was coming from the kitchen, she stopped when she saw Eris standing by the stairs, inspecting the claws in her paw. When the Draconequus saw her, she was by her side in a second.

"Why, Fluttershy, I was hoping you would still be awake. Listen, I've got an invitation for diner at the castle, wanna come?" She asked looking the pegasus in the eyes.

"O-Oh, well I'm not sure I could go." Fluttershy said making Eris's smile deflate like a balloon. "It's just really late and I've already eaten. S-Sorry." She said meekly pawing at the floor.

"Oh, well, that's fine... I guess." Eris said rubbing the back of her neck with her paw. "I'll see you in the morning then?"

"Yes," Fluttershy said looking away. "I always have to be up in the morning to feed the birds."

"Right." Eris said kicking at the floor herself. "See you later Shy."

Waving goodbye, Eris disappeared leaving Fluttershy with a sleeping Angel bunny who was softly kicking in his sleep.

Apple Family House

As soon as she appeared in the house her mouth began to water when she smelled mash potatoes, gravy, steamed vegetables, a spiced soup, and cinnamon coming from a fresh apple pie. Following the scent she found herself looking at a diner table covered with dishes, bowls, cups, forks and spoons.

Granny Smith was already sitting while the rest of the Apple family were seating themselves when Applebloom noticed Eris and froze mid-sitting. Applejack and Big Mac turned around with curious looks that turned into a pair of worried or confused looks, the latter was on Big Mac.

"Eris, there somethin' ah can help ya with?" Applejack asked looking around to see if any of the furniture had come to life.

"I-" Eris was cut off by her stomach that made a sound like a manticore growling. She blushed heavily while Applejack and Granny Smith laughed. "I was going to tell you that you invited to diner at the castle. But it seems that you have quite a feast already."

"That's nice and all, but ah think ah'm fine with a good home cooked meal." Applejack said. "Ya should have seen your face, it looked like somepony replaced it with an apple."

"Funny," she said narrowing her eyes. "I'm reconsidering making Pinkie, Pinkie promise earlier."

"What about Pinkie?" Applebloom asked. "Was it somethin' funny?"

"It was soething alright," Eris replied sparing a glance at her still dirty tail. "Say," she suddenly locked eyes with Big Mac. "Aren't you Macintosh?"

"Eeyup." He replied giving her a polite nod.

"You know, Macintosh," she said sauntering up to him. "There's a very special mare that's having diner at the castle. A mare that happens to like you a lot. You're the apple of her eye actually."

He looked skeptical along with Applejack, but Granny Smith seemed completely focused on the conversation.

"Who?" Big Mac asked narrowing an eye at her.

"Does it matter?" Eris and Granny Smith both said at the same time.

"Ya need to go meet her," Granny said. "Now git' before ah shove ya out mah'self."

Eris and Applejack were both giving amused looks towards the second eldest Apple, he was looking between Applejack and Applebloom for an excuse, but neither spoke up.

"Who?" He asked again getting out of his chair.

"You didn't meet her on Nightmare Night, but you certainly caught her attention." Eris said poking him in the chest. "You know, she talks about you in her sleep."

"Macintosh, ah don't wanna hear any eenopes or, buts, or no's! He'll go have diner over there." Granny Smith said making Mac's eyes widen and Applejack burst out laughing.

"Looks like you're coming with me!" Eris said laughing as she grabbed the mortified stallion by the shoulders and disappeared in a flash of light while a faint 'Eenope' echoed through the room.

Royal Dining Hall

Prince Sunshine sat by his sister who was trying her best to ignore his questions about the name, 'Macintosh.' Twilight was desperately trying to switch seats with Rainbow Dash after Pinkie told her how and why she had a wig made from her hair, and Rarity was sipping her water while Sweetiebelle was thanking the waiter for refilling hers.

All eyes turned towards Eris as she appeared with Macintosh, and as soon as they saw him, one pair of turquoise eyes shrunk to the size of pinpricks. Sunshine, seeing his sister blush and quickly look away, smiled and got up from his chair. With a smile still on his face he approached Macintosh and extended a hoof which Mac shook.

"You must be Macintosh, correct?" Sunshine asked the bewildered stallion. "So this is the stallion you were talking about little sister?" Sunshine asked turning his head to a mortified Luna.

When she did look towards them, her blush was hardly visible, but her eyes were glaring death at Eris while she gave a small nod. Satisfied, Eris bumped Mac in the shoulder and nodded to an empty chair by the lunar princess, he looked at the chair and than at Eris before gulping. Sunshine kept the large, warm smile on his face as he sat back down and laughed loud enough for Luna to hear.

"If you all would excuse me, I'm going to go freshen up a bit." Eris said quickly leaving the dining hall as Luna slowly began aiming a fork at her.

"I think I'll excuse myself," Sunshine said. "I need to use the restroom."

Luna, losing her complexion for a second, quickly froze and stared at her plate when Big Mac sat by her. Sparing a glance at him, she quickly looked away when she saw he was looking at her.

"L-Lovely night," he said looking anywhere but at her.

"T-Thank you, Macintosh." She said getting the courage to look at him and give him her best smile. "How has your night been so far?"

"Fine," he said glancing at her. "Gettin' better too." He said making her blush and look away. "Sky is really clear tonight, good for star gazin'."

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Eris appearing quietly in the dark room, stood still as a guard began moving outside. She slipped under the bed when the door opened and he came in; peeking out from under the blanket she could see him looking around before turning and stopping at the bathroom door.

"Your highness, are you in there?" She asked pausing to rap at the door. "Princess?"

"I'm here," Eris called out, mimicking Celestia's voice. "Is there something wrong?"

"I was just making sure nothing funny was happening, I thought I heard somepony in here." She replied making Eris nearly want to jump out at her.

"I can assure you, it's only you and I. I just dropped something, that is what you must have heard."

"Of course," she said standing taller now. "Sorry to bother you ma'am."

As the guard was leaving, Eris slid on the floor and underneath the bathroom door. Coming back up from the floor, she picked a few lint pieces from her chest and hair before pausing to look at the bathroom.

The sink was a green jade with white veins coursing through it, two separate faucets were crafted to look like dragons, the toilet wasn't anything special, but the tub was the same green jade as the sink only instead of white veins they were red, giving it a unique look.

Stepping into the tub after making sure there was a towel, she turned on the hot water and let it run. Picking up a bottle of scented shampoo, she poured a small amount under the running water making the tub suds up faster.

Once it was part-way full she stuck a claw in there and immediately sank into it. Going down to her shoulders, she frowned when her tail and legs were sticking out of the water with soap still on them.

"It was made for a pony," she said to herself. "Not a Draconequus. Figures."

Sunshine

Stopping in the garden, he looked up to study his sister's work for the night. The stars seemed to pulse with their own light, there wasn't any clouds to block the full moon either, and the moon itself seemed to glow brighter than it had in ages.

"She must be trying to show off for Macintosh." He said laughing for a moment. A short moment as he thought more about him, the more negative thoughts began to emerge. "He'd better compliment her." He said snorting into the cold night air.

Stretching his wings, he paused only to admire the foot or two they had grown in length, the muscles at the bases seemed to stick out more, and the feathers seemed to have grown also. Giving them an experimental flap, he raised himself up off the ground, giving them another flap and than another he got the push and rise technique going. Rising above the exotic plants and animals, he took off into the sky.

Spotting his tower, he rose above its height from a distance and glided down to the balcony. Landing hard enough to make his knees almost buckle, he folded his wings slowly and shook off the cold from his hooves. Opening the glass doors, they opened without a sound, and stepping in he allowed his feathers to raise up slightly to let the warm air go between them and warm the blood vessels underneath them. Closing the doors, he looked towards the bathroom in relief and quickly went inside.

Stopping for only a moment, he looked down and saw his bathmat had been moved to the side. Putting it back in place, he carefully avoided the cold tiles but stopped again at the toilet.

Looking down at himself and than the toilet, he felt a small nervous tension in his gut as he looked at the porcelain throne.

Putting his fore-hooves on the top after raising the lid, he was about to begin when movement to his left caught his eye. When a talon pulled back the curtain by his face, him and Eris both froze. She had her mouth open but when she glanced down, she let out a scream and slid her lower half back into the water. He gave his own scream, slipped on the bathmat, and painfully landed on his other horn. Quickly getting up, he was about to run out, saying 'Sorry's!' All the way, but unfortunately as fate would have it, the guard Eris had tricked earlier arrived at the bathroom door.

She looked like she was about to tackle Sunshine until she looked lower, after that he threw himself on his belly and avoided looking back at the mortified Eris.

"What is going on here?" The guard asked looking between Sunshine and Eris who was peeking out from behind the shower curtain. "Well?"

"He was peeping on me!" Eris said jabbing an accusing finger at the white alicorn.

"What!?" He said glaring back at her. "I was going to the bathroom! You were the one who was staring at me!"

"Don't flatter yourself." She said narrowing her eyes. "It's been like this ever since Ponyville, you stallions can't keep your eyes off me. It was only a matter of time before a creep showed up, but you? I'm ashamed of you Sunshine and you should be ashamed  in yourself."

"Why should I be ashamed for trying to use the restroom? In my bathroom?" He countered. "Why didn't you use Luna's bathroom instead?"

"Because I threw toilet paper everywhere! That's why!" she said beginning to stand but quickly grabbed a towel to put around her waist. "Couldn't you tell I was in here?"

"I'm sorry if I didn't see you behind a nearly transparent shower curtain, next time I'll knock before coming in my own bathroom." He said looking away.

"Why do you keep saying this is your bathroom?" The guard asked. "This is Princess Celestia's bathroom, and bedroom. Now, I want explanations from both of you or else I'm taking you down to the cells, decent or not." She said narrowing her eyes at the alicorn. "And you have better tuck it away, alicorn or not I'm not transporting a pervert like you-"

The words died in her throat when he had turned to the side and was pointing at his cutie mark. She gulped and smiled at him, a smile he didn't immediately return.

"Nopony is getting taken down to the cells." Sunshine said. "You can leave us, we'll be fine."

She saluted and quickly went back to her post outside the bedroom. He looked back at Eris and suddenly the anger was gone, and in its place there was a heavy awkwardness.

"Sorry, about what happened." He said. "I should have figured somepony was in here since I smell flowers."

"No, no," she said avoiding eye contact with him. "I shouldn't have just barged in here like I did."

She stood there with the towel still around her waist, knee-deep in the tub and occasionally glanced at him. After a minute, she coughed into her fist catching his attention.

"Well?" She said stirring the cooling water with her tail.

"Well what?" he asked making her glare at him. "What did I do know?"

"I'm waiting for you to leave so I can dry off." She said making him look away. "What's wrong?"

"I can't get up." He said hiding his blushing face with his hooves. "I'm... well, you know."

She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms."No, I don't know. Please tell me." She said leaning a little against the wall. "Go on."

"Eris," he said beginning to get agitated. "You know why I can't get up."

"No, I really don't." She said stepping out. "Tell me." She said leaning over him.

"I'm... I'm aroused, alright?" He said making her half-snort with laughter and anger. "Just dry off in my room."

"So, you were peeking at me." She said playfully dancing around him and to the door. "Just wait until your sister finds out about this."

"Eris, don't you-" he was saying until she closed the door. "Dare."

Royal Dining Hall

"Thank you," Sweetiebelle said as one of the waiters set down her food.

Diner was finally coming out after a grueling ten minutes after ordering, Eris's and Sunshine's had been ordered by Luna since both were absent. Sweetiebelle just had a small plate of pancakes, much to the irritation and amusement of the cooks. Rarity and Luna both had eggplant salads, Pinkie and Rainbow had skipped diner altogether and were eating double chocolate, creme filled, caramel drizzled, fudge cake with whip cream, nuts, strawberries, and white chocolate shaving on top. Twilight, Big Mac, Sunshine and Eris all had potato soup, which Twilight was steadily eating.

"Ya know, ah used to wonder what it was like movin' the stars." Big mac said to his entranced audience of one. "What's it feel like?"

"It is no different than lifting a book," Luna said now keeping her full attention on the red stallion next to her. "A couple billion books simultaneously."

"Ya know, ah was gonna sneak out tonight and sit on the porch lookin' at the moon an stars tonight." He said to her evident delight. "If ya aren't busy, maybe ya would like to-"

All eyes in the room were momentarily blinded when two simultaneous flashes of light turned the room into a sun for a second, and suddenly Luna, glaring at the rapidly approaching Eris, and an equally quick Sunshine. The three immortals all leaned forward, speaking at the same time, but with different news.

"He was peeping on me while I was bathing!" Eris said pointing at Sunshine.

"She was the one peeping on me!" He yelled pointing at her.

"Eris thinks you were cute as a mare!" Luna said glaring at the Draconequus.

All three of them, stopped, looked at each other, and than at  the rest of their present company when they realized what they were doing. Sitting in their respected seats, Eris and Sunshine avoided any eye contact, and any that was made was quickly interrupted by rapidly forming blushes. Luna was glancing nervously at Big Mac, who, was looking between the three of them curiously.

"Why is Eris blushing?" Pinkie asked adjusting her Twilight wig. "And why aren't you looking at her, whoever the heck you are?"

"My name is Prince Sunshine," the elder alicorn replied looking down the table. "And the reason I'm not looking at her is because she was peeping on me."

"Don't get your hopes up," she said looking at him. "You were the one watching me bathe."

"Only in your dreams," he said leaning towards her. "Why would I spy on anypony?"

"You haven't been in any real relationship that has lasted more than twenty years." Luna said making him give her a dead-pan stare. "Have I missed something in the last thousand years?"

"Thank you, Luna," he said sarcastically. "Why don't we discuss you own personal life at the table? Does that sound like a good idea?"

"Sorry," she said looking at her food. "But, speaking of personal lives. Did you know Eris-"

Luna was quickly silenced by a large piece of potato that got lodged between her teeth. Sunshine, and the rest of the table all looked at Eris who was looking disapprovingly at a confused Sweetiebelle holding a soup coated spoon.

"Now, Sweetiebelle, is that any way to act at the diner table?" Eris said scolding the confused filly.

"Me?" She said looking at her pancakes. "I wasn't using a spoon. You put it in my hoof."

"Now you're calling me a liar?" She said feigning mock shock. "Rarity, what have you been teaching this child?"

Now all the ponies, even Pinkie were giving her disapproving looks, Eris though kept up the act until she finally deflated and broke.

"You're not buying it, are you?" She asked looking around the table.

She got a reply of no's, a nope from Pinkie, a what do you think from Sunshine, and one Eenope.

"Luna, go on and tell me what you were saying about Eris." Sunshine said looking away from the blushing Draconequus. "It seemed important."

"I... Do not think it's my place to say." She said making Eris visibly relax. "I think she should tell you herself."

Eris, with one of her eyes twitching and a dark red blush on her face, smiled crookedly before freezing what was left of Luna's food.

"If I remember correctly," Luna said pushing her frozen meal away while glaring at the disorderly Eris. "It had something to do with you, brother."

"Eris," Sunshine said making Eris become nervous enough to lose her concentration and have her own food spontaneously combust. "What about me?"

"I-I... Well, before the... I-" She was taking in a deep breaths to the point where she took a paper bag and began steadily breathing into it, but stopping to look at it, she put it to her mouth and began yelling into it. After she was done, she handed it to Sunshine and covered her face with the fluff on her tail.

As soon as the bag was cracked, Eris's own voice came yelling out from it. "I think you're cute!" It said resonating through the room.

"Eris," Sunshine said looking dejectedly down at the bag he was hugging to his chest. "Could I talk with you outside?"

A red eyed Eris looked t him after lowering her moist tail, gave a small nod and looked like she was about to say something to a surprised Luna when she just blew her nose on a napkin and left.

Sunshine, suddenly getting a furious look on his face turned on Luna and threw the bag at her chest.

"I hope you're proud of yourself." He said glaring down at her. "I'll be having a very different talk about personal information with you later."

Outside The Dining Hall

Eris, hugging herself, crying, and mumbling to herself stood by the doors to the hall. The guards stationed there looked at each other and shook their heads in pity, but went back to statues when Sunshine came out. After ordering them to go inside the dining hall, and shutting the doors, Sunshine went to try and get in front of Eris, but she kept turning way each time he got close.

"Eris, Discord," he said making her stop and turn an ear towards him. "What Luna did to you was cruel and uncalled for. I shouldn't have asked you to tell me if it was making you so uncomfortable. You could have just said no, but than again, I could have not asked."

"Y-You're not going t-to tease me?" She asked with a small sniffle at the end.

"Tease you?" He said irritably. "I would never tease you about something like that. I do think it's sweet, what you said."

She turned her head a little more at the word sweet, but turned away when he got closer to her. She was still having small tremors when she felt something warm wrap around her. Looking back, she was suddenly staring into two orange eyes that were looking into hers. Letting go of herself, she returned the hug much harder than she meant to but he didn't flinch.

"C-Could you tell the others not to m-mention this to anyone?" She asked leaning further into the hug. "This is... Kind of nice."

"Don't worry, I think they already know they shouldn't talk about what just happened. Don't worry about Luna, either, I'm going to have a talk with her after we're done."

"Thank you." She said pushing away from him. "I think I'm going to go back to Fluttershy's in a minute. Could you tell everyone I said goodbye?"

"I will," he said giving her a small smile that she returned with a large toothy one. "And Eris, if it makes you feel any less embarrassed, I think you have a certain charm too."

She wiped a tear from her cheek, waved and than was gone in a puff of smoke. Sunshine's maternal mood quickly turned into anger when he opened the door and motioned for Luna to come over.

The lunar alicorn cast a sorrowful look at the others before going to her brother with her head down. Once she was passed the door, he shut it hard enough to make an echo that startled the guards.

"What is the matter with you?" He snapped at her. "What in Equestria possessed you to make her say something so personal that it would make her cry? What viable reason do you have that could justify that?"

"I-It was back at the sleepover from yesterday," she said not daring to look her brother in the eyes. "We were telling each other about ponies we like, or think are attractive, and I mentioned Macintosh. I told her not to mention him to you, and when she brought him here..."

"Let me get this straight, please tell me if I miss anything," he said putting a hoof on the bridge of his nose. "The stallion that you seem to be fairly acquainted with, the one that was complimenting you left and right, the stallion that likes you and doesn't see you as a goddess, the one you just made a fool of yourself in front of, is the reason you made Eris cry? Because she brought him here and introduced you without creating some kind of panic?"

"Y-Yes..." She meekly replied hugging herself with her wings.

"I-I'm not even sure what kind of punishment is suitable for a grown mare, but I know you will apologize to her in writing and verbally, and you will buy her a gift with your own money." He said. "Whatever she wants. No matter how absurd it is. Do you understand me?"

"I-I do-"

"Look at me and say it." He said stomping a hoof.

Shaking herself, she peeked up at him and envisioned his eyes shooting flames from them, but instead it was only the worst glare he could manage, and to her it was just as bad. Forcing her neck to go straight, she looked him in the eyes and after a gulp, 'I do.' Cam out soft enough to be mistaken for Fluttershy.

Satisfied, he opened the door again and stepped back into the dining hall. He sat back down only momentarily before getting back up. Looking at his sister, who was standing in the doorway, he turned his gaze on the others at the table, and even motioned for the guards to listen.

"What happened tonight, the incident obviously," he said letting himself calm down but still making sure to keep the firmness in his voice clear. "Is not to leave this room. Is that understood?"

None of them shook their heads, but they simply kept quiet. It was unnecessary, but he wanted to make clear none of them would mention it to any others.

"Luna, have your guards take our guests home." Sunshine said before turning towards Big Mac. "I'm sorry about tonight, it usually isn't like this. My sister usually isn't like this. Give her another chance, but let her calm down first."

Big Mac, for once didn't reply with a 'Eeyup,' but instead got up with the others and gave Luna a hug before leaving. She looked back at him in the hall while she still stood there in the doorway, and then she looked back at her brother who was giving her a sympathetic look.

"I'm sorry I was so harsh," he said. "And I'm sure you regret what you said. I just couldn't do nothing, do you understand?"

"It's fine," she said wiping away any forming tears. "I deserved it for what I did. Goodnight brother."

"And a good morning to you, sister."

Fluttershy's Cottage

Eris, wiping away whatever tears were still on her cheeks, looked at herself in the mirror and gave a humorless laugh. Her hair was sticking up in places, the fur under her eyes was dark from moisture, her jaw wouldn't stop shaking, and she had mucus residue by her nose.

"He thinks this is charming?" She said leaning on her elbows. "I'm a wreck."

Getting Fluttershy's brush, she put it under some water and began brushing her hair back into place. Each little spike in it was pushed down, even the ones at the bottom that gave her hair a curl there were made straight. Putting it down, she cupped some water in her hands and used it to clean around her nose.

Wiping her nose clean with a towel laying nearby, she sniffled one more time before putting her head against the glass.

'What makes him think I'm charming?' She thought. 'What does it even mean? Does it mean he thinks I'm charming in a friend way, or the way I said it? Ugh, why am I still thinking about it? What does it matter?'

"It matter because he may have feelings for you."

She took her head off the mirror and looked around, spotting a small Eris wearing a sun hat, yellow shirt that hung off at the shoulders, and a pair of jean shorts, she instinctively wanted to flick it off, but just looked at her.

"What are you?" Eris asked watching as her miniature self walked off her shoulder and into the mirror where a larger version appeared. "And why are you wearing that ridiculous hat?"

"First, I'm your conscience," the other Eris said. "Second, I think it matches my shirt."

"Well, what do you want conscience?" Eris asked folding her arms.

"I'm just here to remind you about what you said earlier. Expanding your horizons, was it?" The replica said. "If I were you, which I am, I'd take that a little more seriously."

"I don't even know if I like him that way." She said feeling her cheeks warm up. "What if he rejects me?"

"You'll never know if you don't try." She said disappearing.

"For once," Eris said bristling at her reflection. "I hate it when I'm right."

"E-Eris," Fluttershy said startling the Draconequus from the doorway. "What are you doing up so late?"

She looked at the mirror, at Flutteshy, and then her reflection more clearly before answering.

"Just arguing with myself. Go back to sleep Fluttershy."

An apology for the dawn.

Feeling the pull of his magic, Sunshine rose drearily from his bed, glaring at everything that was covered in his morning light and even went so far as to shut the curtains. Going to the bathroom door, he stopped after opening the door. Remembering the night before, he could still see where Eris was standing around him and where she had went around him.

Passing the mirror and sink, he went straight for the toilet, and again the nervous tension was there.

"This shouldn't be to hard," he said to himself. "Just aim and relax."

Fluttershy's Cottage

Fluttershy was still sleeping peacefully when something soft began hoping up her comforter to her head. Stopping at her shoulders, the little blue jay put its head under hers to try and wake her, but she just moved a hoof under her chin. Looking as if he would let the woodpecker have a go, he looked back at the door and saw the other birds flocking past and downstairs. As he flew off with them, Angel poked his head out from where Fluttershy's hoof was before and glared at the birds.

Downstairs, with bedhead and a slightly disheveled grin, Eris poured a few cups of birdseed into the feeders hanging up, put the vegetables, fruit, and nuts out for the other animals, and something that woke her up a little more was the deer coming in from the back again. The fawn looked at her with those big, black eyes, gave a horrific hacking sound and left.

"Wonder if I should make breakfast?" She asked herself as she stared at the kitchen. "Not really hungry, maybe Fluttershy would like a muffin."

Making a banana nut muffin with a side of warm green tea appear on the coffee table, the drowsy goddess trudged up the stairs to the bathroom.

Looking at herself in the mirror while Angel busied himself with getting up, she grimaced at her reflection that made her look even worse when it did the same. Looking at the shower temptingly, she spared a glance at the still sleeping Fluttershy and grabbed a towel.

Luna's Bedchamber

Sucking in a breath of air when she yawned, Luna took off her tiara and chest piece, threw her hoofcovers haphazardly by her bed, and climbed into bed where she buried her face in a pillow. Just as she was beginning to go to sleep, she was suddenly disturbed by a knocking at her balcony doors. Not bothering to see who it was, she unlocked with her magic and to her dismay her brother had the nerve to keep the curtains pulled back.

"I would say good morning, but then again it's not so good for you." Sunshine said sitting on the edge of her bed. "How was the night court?"

"Uneventful." She muttered raising her muzzle up briefly to speak.

"Good, you should have enough energy to start writing your apology letter to Eris." He said making her groan. "Better to do it now and get it over with, or I could tell her she can do whatever she wants as revenge."

Luna hastily got up and nearly fell on the floor when her hoof caught on her blanket, scrambling to her desk in the corner she pulled out an ink well, a quill, and a blank sheet of parchment that she began writing on.

"Good," he said looking over her shoulder. "Make sure to put in the part about you having to give her a gift no matter how absurd."

She looked at him and glared until he moved back, all the while grumbling to herself about him waking her up. She paused twice, first to sneeze and second to sniff the air until she was looking at her brother with a sour expression.

"Brother, why do you smell like ammonia?" She asked fanning the air with a wing.

"Luna," he said glancing at her door. "I may need to go with you to Ponyville for a different reason."

She didn't ask why, but instead chose to slide back in her seat and look at the paragraph she had already. Adding three more lines, she rolled it up, put a ribbon on it, and a wax seal. Looking at her brother for approval, he nodded and went back to the balcony doors.

"Luna," he said standing in the open doors. "You can fly to the town, I'll be taking a more direct route. If you need me, I will be at the library."

Fluttershy'sCottage

Covering her face with a wing, Fluttershy desperately tried to block the sunlight coming in through her curtains, but she ended up hitting herself in the face instead. Startled, she hid under the blanket until she gathered the courage to look out from underneath it. Seeing no immediate threat, her blood pressure went back down when she finally sat up in bed rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Looking around, she was expecting to see animals giving her starving looks by the amount of sunlight coming through the window. As she was panicking the bathroom door opened and Eris stepped out drying her hair with a towel. Giving a quick greeting the Draconequus threw the towel in the dirty hamper and went back downstairs.

"Eris, was up before me?" She said to herself looking between the steaming bathroom and the door to the stairs.

Quietly lowering herself off the bed, she went to the stairs and peeked down from the top. Eris was there, giving some rabbits slices of carrot, and she was even smiling about it.

Staring the whole time while she went down the stairs, she didn't see the step she missed until she was already on her back, but by that time Eris had her on the couch in a second. Raising her head up from her fetal position, Fluttershy looked around and saw the animals were looking at her worriedly along with Eris who absently minded cut more carrot slices.

"Morning," she said giving the last slices to the small pack of rabbits. "Nice of you to join the land of the living."

"G-Good morning." Fluttershy said looking at the muffin and cooled green tea sitting on the table. "Was that for me?"

"It was an hour ago." Eris said turning it around to reel most of the muffin had been pecked away. "The birds got to it while I was in the shower. I was hoping the running water would have woke you up, but you're a heavy sleeper surprisingly."

"What time is it?" She asked looking outside where the birds were singing on the tree branches.

"Sometime past two in the morning." She said grinning from Fluttershy's expression. "If it weren't for the animals, you would be a real couch potato."

"T-Thank you for feeding them," she said watching some mice scurry through mouse holes. "What are you going to do today since the animals have been fed?"

"I was going to go into town and stop by Rarity's, but I was also thinking about going to my thinking tree to think." She said grabbing for her missing beard. "I really miss that thing."

"What did you need from Rarity's?" She asked sipping her tea. "If you don't mind me asking that is?"

"Between you and me," Eris said leaning down to her ear. "Whenever I walk around town I feel like a chocolate bar in a fat camp. Every stallion I've passed stares. And, I think Sunshine has once or twice."

"Sunshine?" She said giving Eris a confused look. "Why would he be staring at you like that?"

"The good prince has good taste in mares I guess." Eris said. "He probably looks like someone's image of a perfect stallion to any mare I could think of." She said making Fluttershy grin momentarily. "What?"

"N-Nothing." She said looking away. "I-It's just that you said he was an image of a perfect stallion. I thought you were describing how you saw him." She said looking into her cup.

"Well, he's not bad for a prince," she said elbowing Fluttershy lightly. "Can I ask you something?"

Fluttershy looked up at her with big eyes and saw the serious look on Eris's face, nodding Eris leaned forward, supporting herself by the knees.

"If you say a stallion is cute, and I mean scream at the top of your lungs when I say, say, what does it mean when he says you're charming?"

"I-I don't know." Fluttershy said looking back into her cup. "Nopony has ever said anything like that to me..."

"Really? No one ever?" Eris said making the pegasus blush. "I don't see why not, I'm sure there are plenty of stallions out there that would give a leg for you."

She blushed even harder and ran to the door when a knock was heard. Opening it, she rushed past Luna and went to the small bridge to fan herself with a wing. Luna poked her head in and immediately saw Eris giving her an indignant look as she sat on the couch.

"Eris," Luna said stepping in.

"Loud mouth," Eris sneered feeling her throat start to tighten up again. "What do you want now? Haven't you done enough already?"

She didn't say anything, but instead took the scroll out from under her wing and slid it over to Eris. She picked it up and opened it, looking over it quickly and than a second time, more slowly. Her expression softened noticeably but she still kept her distance from the alicorn.

"You're going to buy me anything I want? No matter how absurd it is?" She asked receiving a nod from Luna. "What a coincidence, I was going to go see if Rarity could take my measurements and make me some clothes."

"Clothes?" Luna asked cocking her head. "Eris, we do not normally wear clothes at all. Why the sudden need for such apparel?"

"Stallions keep staring at me where ever I go." She said. "You know, I think Sunshine did once or twice." She said remembering when she woke up in bed with him.

"He was staring?" She said smiling. "I would not doubt it the way he went to you last night. He seems almost protective over you."

"Why shouldn't he?" She said smiling. "I am a national treasure."

"You seem more like one of his treasures." Luna said laughing. "I thought he was going to bite my head off last night. He may have too if I wasn't his sister."

After a moment of silence between the two, Luna looked Eris in the eye when a flustered Fluttershy came back in, visibly still red but much calmer than she had been.

"Hello Fluttershy, is something troubling you?" Luna asked but didn't receive an answer. "Fluttershy?" She said again waving a hoof in front of the pegasus's face.

"Wha-? P-Princess Luna!" She said coming out of her trance. "I-I'm so sorry I ran past you like that, but I was-I needed to get some air."

"I saw," she said smiling at the pegasus. "Why were you in such a hurry though? Was there something troubling you?"

"N-No." She said shaking her head. "Nothing troubling me at all. N-Nothing at all."

Luna gave her a skeptical look but said nothing. Instead, she motioned with a hoof for Eris to leave with her, the Draconequus after patting Fluttershy on the head, exited the building leaving the pegasus to her thoughts.

Spike

Standing on a ladder, he had two book balanced in one hand and was shelving another with the other. Moving the book to the sides, he tried to get it to slide into the shelf but another two books kept moving in the way when he tried to move the book in.

"Spike," Twilight called from the kitchen and not a moment after came into view with an empty tub of ice cream. "What is this?"

"Evidence I was trying to get rid of." He said not bothering to make up a story. "It was last night's desert." He said casually.

"What did you eat before this?" She asked throwing it away out of view.

"A tomato sandwich." He said putting the last two books away. "I think I forgot to put the tomato in the refrigerator though."

As he was sliding down, a red flash filled the room that temporarily blinded him and Twilight, once it was gone, Prince Sunshine stood where the epicenter was. He gave a curt nod to Twilight but took Spike off the ladder and levitated him upstairs.

"Can I ask what this is about?" Spike asked as Sunshine locked the door and pulled the curtains over the windows.

"Spike," Sunshine said sitting on the floor. "I need your help."

"You need my help?" He asked skeptically. "With what? Don't you have wisdom from the ages?"

"I do, but none of that is doing me any good now. I need your help concerning something... Personal." He said looking down at his hooves he had tucked away.

"Oh," the drake said in recognition. "You need help with asking Eris out?"

"Ye-no!" He said blushing from the thought. "You are almost like a son to me, Spike, and I need to know if there's anything I should know about going to the bathroom. It's a strange question, but I'm still getting used to being a stallion in some aspects. Using my own toilet being one of them."

"Well, I don't see how I could help." He said looking at the embarrassed prince. "Shouldn't you see a doctor about this?"

"No, Spike," he said flattening his ears. "There's nothing wrong with me, other than being a stallion that is. What I'm trying to ask is... When you have to urinate, how do you keep it from making two streams?" He asked making the dragon slowly force out a laugh through his teeth.

"You don't really control it," he said. "You just hope for the best and if it starts dividing, just try and stop going. That's all I can tell you."

"Well, thank you for your help." He said bringing Spike into a short hug. "Spike, I have another question."

"What's that? Is it that you can't go properly? We have some prunes downstairs."

"No, but  it concerns food." He said smiling at the dragon. "Do you know where I could possibly get something greasy to eat? Perhaps something coated in cheese? I'm having these strange cravings again."

"There's a little place by Rarity's," he said pointing at it from the covered window above Twilight's bed. "It has some good veggie burgers and you can get hayfries covered in cheese. It has an all-you-can-eat buffet with some pretty heart-stopping looking food."

Sunshine, letting a smile slowly form, unlocked the door and passed Twilight by the stairs as he quickened his pace to the front door. Twilight, looking at the prince leave, looked back up at the stairs and saw Spike smiling down at him.

"So, what did he have to talk with you about?" Twilight asked going up to Spike.

"The Struggle." Spike said. "You wouldn't understand. No girl could ever understand."

Luna

Looking up at Eris, she couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable she actually looked walking through the streets. Looking back, she saw a pair of stallions quickly turn their heads. She tucked her tail in, feeling uncomfortable herself now that she knew the stallions would be eying her like a piece of candy.

"Do you always feel this way?" Luna asked as they passed a couple walking together. "So, unprotected?"

"This is m third time on the streets, and I feel like running under the nearest tree." Eris replied. "Is it like this in Canterlot?"

"I have no clue, but I would not doubt it." She said carefully watching a stallion out of the corner of her eye. "Those ponies really are vultures, economically and politically. Most of them don't even work, but have others do it for them. I would rather listen to the troubles of these ponies here in Ponyville, the ones who actually know what a hard day's work is worth in their short lives."

"Speaking of hard working, don't look now, but big red and mannerly is coming up behind us." Eris said smiling down at the suddenly ashamed alicorn. "Don't worry, I'm sure he still likes you." She said nudging her in the barrel. "Here he comes now."

Luna spared a glance over and saw Big Mac hauling a cartload of barrels, a stand, and his little sister riding on the back nibbling on an small apple pie.

"Ladies," he said before stopping and backing up, sending his sister into a barrel. "Luna, bout' last night..." He said rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah never got to finish askin' ya if ya wanted to... Maybe... Go star gazin' sometime?"

"M-Me?" She said feeling tears begin to form. "Even after last night? I made Eris cry and I-I made a fool of myself."

"We all have our bad days," he said moving the wooden yoke on his neck. "Some are worse than others. So, uh, do ay need time or are ya busy tonight?"

"I believe Equestria can survive without me for one night," she said. "It did for a thousand years and it may do so for another night. Where will we be going?"

"His room!" Applebloom said from the barrel. "He has this neat telescope in there and he's been wantin' to show it to ya!"

"Thank ya kindly Bloom," he said giving her his neutral look. "Don't ya love siblin's?" He asked making Luna laugh.

"I do adore my brother, and I will admit with him around lately the castle has been more alive than I remember." She said wiping a tear away. "I must bid you a farewell Macintosh, Eris and I have some shopping at Rarity's."

"Eeyup." He said, nodded and began on his way to the market.

"By big sis'!" Applebloom called out waving at Luna that sent the alicorn into a furious blush and giggles.

"Bloom!" Big mac shouted making her fall over from laughter.

Looking down at the amused alicorn, Eris couldn't help but stifle some giggles of her own as she watched the princess considerably perk up.

"See, he still likes you." Eris said walking again. "Nothing to worry about."

"I see that now." She said wiping away another tear. "His sister is quite a jester. Me and her will get along just fine."

Nodding in agreement, Eris spotted the boutique up ahead and ran to the building as fast as her mismatched legs would carry her. Luna, easily being the fittest one in comparison, gained on Eris easily and arrived at the door in nearly the same time. Opening it in a swift motion, Eris walked in with a large grin followed by Luna who stopped to look around at the frills and bright colors she was unaccustomed to.

"Welcome to-" Rarity, who was on a stool overlooking a sketchbook, was saying but stopped and got a curious look when she saw Luna with Eris. "Princess Luna, Eris, is there something you need?" She asked tapping a pencil on the desk by her.

"Luna here," Eris said not even bothering to suppress her grin in the slightest. "Is going to be buying me a few clothes as part of her apology."

"I will also be buying some for myself as well." She said looking back at her tail. "I suddenly feel so exposed." She said sitting down in one of the plus chairs.

"Oh? What prompted this sudden need, if you don't mind me asking?" Rarity said taking the measuring tape around her neck and going to Eris. "Go stand on the platform there, I'll be right with you dear."

"All the stallions keep staring at us." Eris said. "I feel like I'm nothing but a piece of meat in front of a pack of Timberwolves." She said cracking her knuckles.

"Ever since she had brought it up," Luna said looking at the dress-maker. "I have also noticed them staring quite blissfully, if I had to choose a word for them, at my hips." She said scooting further into her seat.

"Oh, I know exactly how you feel." Rarity said getting onto a step latter but still fell short of Eris's shoulders. "This could be a problem."

"If you get stared at too, than why aren't you wearing any clothes?" Eris asked grinning as she saw the white unicorn's cheeks turn bright red.

"Eris, could you get down on all fours for me? I can't reach you properly from this angle and I'm not sure if my measuring tape would be accurate if I used magic."

Letting out a sigh, she promptly got onto all fours and stretched out across the room nearly filling its length. Looking back-and-forth from her, Rarity looked at her tape and excused herself for a moment.

Watching the unicorn rummage through a closet filled with rolls of fabric, she came back out with a piece of measuring tape twice as long as her previous one. Stretching it out, she put one end under Eris's hoof and had her hold the other to her shoulder.

"This will only take a minute," Rarity said smiling. "I promise."

Sunshine

He trotted through the streets, smiling happily as he passed shocked and bewildered ponies while he followed the scent of grease and melting cheese. Ignoring even Macintosh as he passed, he spotted the buffet. A large brown brick building with a rusted green roof, red and white striped shades over the windows, and ponies coming in and out and every time the door opened, it released another burst of the greasy cheese covered food inside driving him even faster.

Stopping at the glass and wood doors, he pushed one open and felt his mouth water with saliva. When he passed through the second set of doors, he glanced at the 'Sit Anywhere' sign, but his attention was fully dedicated to the buffet filled with greasy, cheesy, and unhealthy foods altogether.

There were only six other customers there when, as he was getting his first plate, a portly dark green pony came out wearing a stained apron. Walking up to the alicorn with a partially yellowed grin, he got Sunshine's attention long enough to make some small talk.

"Hey'a there," the pony said. "The name is Artery Blocker, as you can see. Welcome to the Life Savor grill. Listen, you look like a big guy, you eat a lot and pay a lot, you'll be considered family here. Isn't that right folks!?" He said out to the other customers who raised their drinks r gave a few whoops of delight towards him.

As he was looking back to Sunshine, he saw the alicorn was already sitting at a table and had half the plate gone. Smiling, he went back tot he kitchen doors and looked back to see Sunshine get up after scarfing down his food and return to the same table with a plate filled even higher than the last. And then again, and again, and again.

Looking at a clock on the wall, Artery Blocker say, just in half an hour, Sunshine was still shoveling in food, and now he head small stacks of plates crowding his table. Looking at the buffet, he bit his lip when he saw three of the eight trays were empty, and some of the customers were even leaving.

After watching him scarf down food until he was feeling sick, he went back into the kitchen and began having the other cooks go into overtime preparing more food.

Looking at the waitresses and waiters coming in with dirty plates, each one cleaner than the last, he saw the looks of disbelief on their faces just as one of the them sat by the doors.

"Everything." The waiter said looking at the rest of them. "He's eaten everything out there in just an hour and fifteen minutes. He's just standing by the buffet table, looking over here. I think he'll try and eat one of us if he doesn't get any more."

Artery Blocker, sparing a glance outside, saw the alicorn standing expectantly looking at the door with a plate held in a crimson aurora. Looking at what they had left, it was only enough to last the day, not feed a large crowd, and that alicorn had eaten enough to satisfy just that.

"Um, j-just set the food out. He can't still be hungry. He ate the entire buffet after all." He said until he looked back at the alicorn. "Just put out the food, he'll have to stop eventually."

"When we're out that is." The waiter said putting more dishes by the sink.

As soon as they were taking the last of the food out, refilling each tub with hayfries in cheese, haybacon strips, burgers, burgers with cheese or covered in it, Sunshine's smile came back full force as well as his hunger.

Artery Blocker and the rest of the staff, looking as Sunshine finished each steaming tub, one after the other until he was at the last one, which he simply took with him to the table. Just as he was finishing the last one, Artey Blocker, half afraid he may get bitten, and half angry for multiple reasons, interrupted the alicorn's meal when he slammed a hoof on the table.

"You need to leave." He said making Sunshine stop to look at him like a puppy who had just had its treat taken away. "You've eaten nearly everything we have. You've even scared off my customers. Get out of here."

Losing his gluttonous happy face, Sunshine furrowed his eyebrows and stood up, towering over the portly green pony with a good few feet on his side.

"The sign said all-you-can-eat," Sunshine said making Artery Blocker scrunch up his nose from the smell of two buffets worth of greasy, heart stopping food. "And I'm not done eating."

"Well, I'm tellin' you, you are." He said going to the doors. "Just get out of here, you're scaring the staff."

"Well obviously they've never seen appreciation for their cooking before." Sunshine said standing outside by the doors. "And I doubt you know what false advertising means."

"False advertising!?" Artery yelled. "You oversized garbage disposal, all-you-can-eat is for normal ponies, not black hole's with legs."

"Normal ponies? I'm as normal as any of you. I just have a large appetite." He said indignantly.

"large? Large!?" Artery laughed. "I don't think you got a stomach under all that muscle. I bet it's just a deep fryer!"

"Listen, you-" he stopped grabbing his belly, coughed and than grabbed it again, leaning against a trashcan by the doors. "Something doesn't feel right."

"Hey, you alright?" Artery asked backing away slightly. "You're lookin' a bit green in the gills. Yoo-hoo, you hear me?"

"G-Get a doctor and-" Sunshine cut himself off when he stuck his head into the trashcan and grabbed his stomach hard enough to leave a mark on his coat. "I-It hurts... Hurts so much..." He said retching into it again, his entire back arching as he stood on his back legs.

Artery, sending a waitress for help, went back inside to get a cold rag, but Sunshine glimpsed Rarity's house just behind the buildings across the street. Pushing himself off the garbage can, he shakily began tele-hopping his way to the boutique.

Eris

Looking up at Rarity as the unicorn showed pre-made clothes to Luna, she was sore from staying in the same stretched position, even after Rarity had made the clothes she had requested. Looking at the unicorn, she blew a lock of her hair out of her eye that disrupted some of the fabric by her.

"Rarity, when can I stop posing like this?" She asked stretching her clawed leg out resulting in a series of pops and cracks. "I'm getting sore."

"Oh, you could have stopped and hour ago." Rarity replied showing Luna a pair of jean shorts similar to Eris's.

Eris let out a huff and fell ungracefully to the floor, stretching and cracking ever joint in her body before getting up with help from her tail. Pushing herself into a seat, she stretched out again in a more comfortable position.

"Now," Rarity said packing each individual's clothes into two separate saddle bags. "Since you two are first time customers, you get a discount and complimentary bags to carry your purchases. The total is fifty bits for the entire purchase."

Luna, standing in a pair of jean shorts that stretched down to her knees, a turquoise zip-up jacket with a white shirt underneath that, reached under her wing and attached to a small string was a bag of bits. Opening it, she unceremoniously poured the bag out into an empty bowl.

"Fifty bits exactly." She said looking herself in the mirror. "I do see the appeal to wearing clothing now, I look quite attractive."

"Don't start kissing the mirror, your highness," Eris said just teleporting her green shirt and shorts on. "I don't look to bad myself." She said looking at herself from the chair.

Before Luna or Rarity could make a comment, a hard knocking came from the door followed by a wet moan. Eris, closest to the door, reached over and turned the knob only for the door to swing open and Sunshine to fall on his chin. All three of them just looked at him in shock as he didn't make any moves to get up, but instead started shaking and grabbing his stomach. Eris, brushing his mane from his eyes, pulled her paw away and felt it was wet.

"Rarity, I-I'll be right back. Go get Twilight and tell her to meet me at the hospital." She said teleporting her and the prince to the hospital.

Ponyville Hospital's E.R.

Eris, standing over a moaning Sunshine, grabbed the nearest doctor before any of the others could notice her or the alicorn and just pointed at Sunshine. The doctor, signaling the others and nurse had a gurney bed rolled over, and with Eris's help, quickly put him on it and had him rolling to an empty room where fluids were being set up.

Standing outside while ponies rushed in and out, she saw multiple machines brought in, tubes a pump, surgical bags, and even more fluids. Holding her tail, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, trying to block out the machines whirring, the suctioning coming from another, or the doctors and nurses talking to each other so fast it sounded like a buzz.

"Why do I always have to carry you here?" She asked herself letting a few fearful tears escape. "Please, get better Sunshine."

Get well, sweet prince.

Sunshine was curled up as best as he could in the hospital bed, which wasn't much with the I.V. in his right fore-leg, and the wastebasket by his bedside and a vomit tray by his head. His nose stopped running after the doctors put him under for who knows how long, but the pain was still there, evident by his sore throat, cramps, and wet fur under his eyes. His mane seemed to have lost some of its waviness and even the color seemed dull.

Feeling another fit of shaking, he hugged himself on the stomach, the area now with a small bruise forming on it, and spit into the vomit tray. Shaking again, he heard the door opening but didn't try and lift his head.

"Hey, Sunshine," Eris said slowly walking in. "Feeling any better?"

He groaned in response, feebly shaking his head.

"Sorry to hear that," she said pulling up a chair to his bed. "Doctors say it was food poisoning. Apparently six other patients came in like you, well, they weren't as bad. How much did you eat?" She asked laughing shallowly.

"A-All... of it..." He got out.

She shook her head and, going on instinct, grabbed one of his hooves in her paw and held it. He squeezed it lightly, and she smiled at him which he tried to do but stopped when he began coughing. Putting her talon on his back, she gently rubbed it trying to comfort him while he held her paw.

"Why am I always the one taking you to the hospital?" She asked feeling her throat tighten.

"You're... nice like that..." He said pushing his head further up on his pillow. "Throat... hurts."

"I couldn't imagine why after vomiting so bad, or the tube they used to pump your stomach." She said letting go of his hoof to rub his leg. "You know, Luna has a date with Macintosh."

His heartbeat on one of the monitors by his side spiked momentarily while he visibly tensed up. She snorted at the feeble attempt at looking angry but than just started to feel the tears come. Hot and stinging her eyes at first, she cried into her hands when she felt his hoof slowly pull her to his chest where she could hear his shallow breathing.

"It'll... be fine." He said. " Water?" He said looking at the cup by his bed.

She looked up and, holding the straw steady for him, watched as he winced when it hit his throat, but he still drank slowly until half of it was gone. Setting it aside, he just looked up at her while she shook.

"You look good." He said . "I like your shirt."

Smiling at him, she looked down at her shirt which she had soaked with tears and straightened the wrinkles out. He reached out with his hoof again and she took it with both her claw and paw. Putting it to her fore-head, she let him brush her hair back until he brought her in for a short hug.

"Where's Luna going?" He asked letting her go to spit in his pan. "Ouch."

"His house so they can stargaze from his room." She said watching as his heart monitor piked again. "Don't worry, he's only looking at the celestial bodies in the sky, not under her shorts."

"He better." He said snorting that threw him into a small coughing fit. "Sorry about earlier."

"Sorry?" she said looking at him like he was crazy. "What do you have to be sorry for? I'm not the one laying in the hospital bed."

"Sorry," he spit again. "For scaring you. That shirt really brings out your eyes." He said turning his head enough for her to see his smile.

She blushed at the compliment and lightly hit him in the shoulder. As he coughed again, she held her fist where she had hit him and stifled a painful squeak.

"Sunshine," she said grabbing his attention from the vomit tray by his head. "Last night, at the castle, when I told you that I thought you were... You know." She said blushing again. "How did you mean charming? As a friendly way or... more than friendly?" She asked looking at him from behind her hair.

"I'm still trying to figure that one out myself." He said smiling. "I'm liking the ladder though."

She froze, not breathing but just looking into his eyes when she had raised her head. Reaching out, she brushed his mane away before leaning forward and kissing him on the cheek. It was short, loving, and enough for the both of them when she looked away as he blushed and closed his eyes.

"I need to rest." He said. "Talking is... tiring me out. See you later." He said sucking in a breath that she guessed was a yawn.

"You know, I would make a joke about kissing you," she started making sure he was still listening. "But I'm sure your mouth still tastes like vomit. I'll visit later, you just drink your fluids and rest."

Peeling herself off the chair, she took one last glance at him before going through the door and closing it. Standing in the hall with her paw still on the handle, and her head against the glass of the door, she let her paw slide off so she could begin trudging back to the lobby where the others were.

Passing the doctors and nurses on the night shift, they smiled and nodded to her as they went from room to room. Passing the sign-out desks, she pushed the double doors into the lobby open. Immediately, Twilight, Luna, Spike and their friends, even the Crusaders were there in the late hours, waiting to hear from her.

"How is he? Is he awake?" Luna asked running to the side of Eris who sat down and nodded. "Did he say anything?"

"He said he liked my shirt. That it brought out my eyes." She said casually. "He asked where you were going tonight."

She nodded and, threatening to break into crying herself, let Macintosh hold her. Twilight and the others looked just as downtrodden as Eris, and almost as bad as Luna who was trying her best not to lose her composure.

Breaking the sad moment, a portly green stallion came barging into the lobby with a piece of paper and a miffed look on his face. Spotting Twilight, the only other alicorn in the room who wasn't crying besides Cadance, he went up to her and shoved the piece of paper towards her.

"Who are you? What is this?" She asked looking at the slip of paper."A receipt? What do you want me to do with a receipt?" She asked trying to give it back.

"It's the bill for chowder head in there." He said nodding towards the double doors. "I kicked him out before he could pay for his food, now I want my bits."

"Are you crazy?" Eris said looking up at him with a disgusted scowl. "He got food poisoning from your garbage."

"Yeah, but he still ate my garbage," he said making the others who were near him back away like he was infected with some disease. "Who are you? His girlfriend?"

"No!" she snapped. "But I am concerned about his health. And you should be concerned for the other six ponies you gave food poisoning from eating your food."

"Them? They paid before they left," he said making Luna glare at him. "Cool it your majesty, it's just business. You can understand that, right?"

"I can understand your a greedy pig with no respect for those around you." She said snorting. "My brother is in emergency care because of you, the least you could do is wait until he gets out before you start trying to haggle his bits off him."

"Hey, is it my fault that garbage disposal decided to-"

He was sent flying into the other wall opposite of them when Eris punched him square int he jaw, angry tears going down her face as her knuckles cracked by themselves. He got up, disoriented at first but soon he came to his sense when he spit out his three front teeth.

"Don't you ever call him that again." She hissed with a seething anger that shook her body, her whole face turning red. "Or I'll make you eat the rest of your teeth, you overweight lard-ball."

"Hey! Hey, she just assaulted me!" He yelled looking at Luna while pointing at Eris, the whole time spraying blood each time he spoke. "Aren't you going to arrest her? She just assaulted me!"

Looking at Eris, Luna went up to the shaking pony, put a hoof on his shoulder that made him jump, and headbutted him to the floor. Flipping her mane out of her eyes, she left the unconscious cook to lay in his own blood coming from his mouth and fore-head.

"I extremely wish we could still hang ponies like him." She said sitting by Eris. "Guards!" She yelled and coming in the doors, two of her lunar guard stopped to salute her, neither of them paying any attention to the bloody mess on the floor. "Take that piece of trash outside and put him where he belongs, and as for his eatery, have more guards search his building for any unusual ingredients, check his orders with the amount of food pumped from the patients, and question his employees."

Without a word, the two guards dragged the cook outside and another two outside flew off towards the castle, leaving him to bleed by the dumpsters behind the building.

"Thank you, Luna," Eris said inspecting her bloodied and bruised knuckle. "I couldn't help myself... when he just kept talking about him like he was just another lost profit... I just..."

"None of us blame you." Luna replied rubbing her arm. "If it were me who had the first punch, I would have liked to see if his stomach could be put into his head."

"Unbelievable," Twilight said tearing the receipt up. "How could a pony just be so disrespectful towards somepony who can barely lift their head? Now I remember why I don't care for Canterlot so much."

"Fluttershy," Eris said grabbing the upset pegasai's attention. "I think I'll stay with Luna tonight. Is that okay with either of of you?"

"Oh, you take as much time as you need." Fluttershy said. "I understand."

"My home is just as much as your home, Eris." Luna said draping a wing over the distressed goddess. "Are you ready to go? Or would you like to calm down first?"

"I am calm." She said glaring at Luna. "I-I just need some rest. That's all."

"We all need rest." She said taking her wing off. "You all may go home, there's nothing we can do until the morning. I wish you all a goodnight."

Teleporting herself with Eris in tow, Luna planted the two of them in her room.

Luna's Bedchambers

Taking off her jacket, Luna kept on her shirt and just stared blankly at her regalia she had forgotten earlier. Sitting on the bed next to Eris, the goddess was looking down at her knees, small tears dropping from her chin as she silently wept. Luna put a hoof on her back and tried to comfort her by rubbing her, but she just gently pushed her hoof away.

"I'm... I don't know what I'm going to do." Eris said wiping her eyes dry. "Sunshine is in the hospital, again, I just punched a pony and threatened to make him eat his teeth, and I don't even feel bad about it. What's wrong with me?" She asked looking desperately at Luna.

"I don't think anything is wrong with you," she said forcing Eris into a wing-hug. "You were just protecting him. He's obviously close to you, but do you realize how close?" She asked making Eris slouch even more.

"I asked him if he thought I was charming as a friend or in a more than friendly way. He said the latter, but... He had so much medicine in him, I'm not sure if he even knew what he was talking about. And I don't even know what I think about him, I mean... I kissed him on the cheek, but it was in the heat of the moment."

"Give it time." She said looking at Eris. "He may have just been saying what he wanted to, or something to calm you down. I was the only one I believe, who heard a small sobbing coming from the hall when I tried and force my way through the medical staff."

"How did they stop you?" Eris said looking at the bashful alicorn.

"Sedative." She said quietly. "A lot of sedatives."

"I've seen you angry, they must have had to have used enough to take down an elephant." She said smiling.

"Look, that's the Draconequus I like to see. Happy, smiling, and constantly irritating me." Luna said patting her on the back. "Go to bed, I need my privacy if I'm to go into the dreamscape."

"Dreamscape?" Eris said looking at the alicorn close here eyes. "Wait, how do you do that? Look at a ponies dream?"

"Not just look into it, go into it, become a living part of it." She said suddenly staring at Eris quizzically. "Why do you want to know how to-oh. You want to see how Sunshine is doing." She said watching as Eris's face became even more desperate.

"Please?" She asked cupping her hands. "I just want to make sure he's not having any sort of nightmares. The last thing I want, that any of us want is for him to start choking on his own spit while he's asleep. I'm not asking for you to do this for me, I'm asking you to do this for him."

"Even now you still have your silver tongue," Luna said shaking her head. "But now you use it with a heart of gold. I will pass on my knowledge of dream walking to you, but only until he may come home."

"Thank-"  Eris was thanking Luna when she shot a small ball of blue light, the color of the sky right into her head. "My head!" She hissed grabbing the sides of her head. "What did you just do? Woah."

Looking around, the entire landscape before her was just black with small points of light speckling around into a web of stars. Even below her, the ground if there was one, was the same darkness with the same lights.

"Luna?" She called out feeling small in this new world. "Luna, where am I supposed to go?"

"Do you see the crimson dream? The brightest on to your left?" Luna asked appearing beside the goddess. "Welcome to the dreamscape."

Looking to her left, Eris looked at the multitude of dreams and, picking out one that seemed darker than the rest. Going towards that one, what seemed like miles turned into a few steps to the light which grew larger until it wasn't a light, but his outline, laying there in the hospital bed.

"How do I look in?" She asked knowing Luna was by her side.

"Touch the figure, and you should be able to go into the dream." She said. "If you wish to exit, just call for me."

Putting her paw on the figure's shoulder, the world went white momentarily before it was replaced by a dark forest. Looking around, the air was warm, the moon was shining through in some spots, the vegetation wasn't overgrown like the Everfree, but there was still some similarities.

"Luna!"

Looking towards the direction of the voice, Eris tried to creep by the plants but found she simply passed through them. Speeding up a little, she was passing through a tree when she saw, through a hole in it, Celestia standing in a small clearing clearly distressed as she called for her sister.

"Luna! This game is not amusing anymore!" She said calling out to nothing. "Luna!"

"Game? I like games."

Celestia froze, her wings outstretched slightly while she lowered her horn. Looking up from the hole she was in, Eris saw her male counterpart laying in a tree, watching in amusement as the alicorn spun in circles.

"Where are you?" She demanded.

"Just look up."

As she looked up, she gasped and backed away, watching as Discord stood up on a branch and walked to the underside of it. He smiled at her all the while turning his head to get a better angle on her.

"Aren't you a strange little pony?" He said walking in the air and to the ground while his head stayed in the same position. "Wings and a horn. Interesting." He said taking off his head and visibly disturbing the alicorn as he put  it back on.

"What are you, beast?" She asked circling the clearing while he did the same opposite of her.

"Me? I'm a Draconequus. Only one of my kind, and running for best looking one this year." He said making a mirror come into existence.

"How did you do that?" She asked taking a few cautious steps toward him. "You created that mirror from nothing. How did you do that without your horns glowing? I never saw any magic."

"How?" He said stomping on the ground twice so that a hole formed. "Maybe later."

As he disappeared, she ran to where the hole was and pawed at it lightly. Looking at it from  her hole in the tree, Eris smiled knowing her past self was right behind her, his head just over her shoulder.

As Celestia turned, she fell on her plot when she saw Discord standing there, looking down at her. She had a small blush on her face that he smiled at. Sticking his talon out, she flinched away but slowly took it, letting him help her up.

"How I did it, was through the use of chaos." He said. "All the disorder that's around us, from an acorn disturbing a pile of leaves to a dragon smashing mountains. Just making some objects is hardly any show of my power, do you want to see something really, really, chaotic?"

She hesitantly nodded, and watching the fluff on his tail form two fingers, snap and suddenly it was daytime. Looking up in shock, she saw the sun high above them, no sign of the moon or stars was there anymore.

"That is not possible..." She said putting a hoof to her chest. "Only my sister and I should be able to move the sun and moon. How did you accomplish that so easily?"

"Oh, practice and a large amount of chaos. Speaking of which, I just got a huge surge of for doing that." He said patting her head. "You know, this is so unlike me, I never told you my name, did I? I'm Discord."

"Celestia." She said smoothing her mane out. "Discord, you haven't seen my sister have you? An alicorn like me but only blue?"

"So that's what you are." He said rubbing his chin where a beard was beginning to grow. "Why, yes as a matter of fact I did while I was away. She's right here."

Tapping the ground again, a blue alicorn came flying out, did a roll across the ground and stopped just at the edge of a bush. Getting up, she looked around and spotting Discord by her sister, fired a small beam of blue magic. He took it smiling, letting his body become encased in ice as he gave a peace sign.

"Luna, why did you do that to Discord?" Celestia asked looking at the frozen Draconequus.

"It was-Discord?" She said staring at her sister as if she had grown a second head. "It has a name?"

"Yes, and it also has feelings." Discord said walking out from behind the ice. "Sorry to give you to give you the cold shoulder there. Very rude of me. Your sister here has told me so many fascinating things about you, Luna!" He said teleporting above her.

Scrambling out from under him, she glared at her sister who was smiling.

"You told this thing of me?" She hissed at her elder. "Why?"

"All he knows is that you are my sister. I told him nothing else."

"She told me you're an alicorn," Discord said landing next to her. "And that you're blue. You know, without the horn, wings and mane, you would probably look like a blue chihuahua."

Before either of them could ask what that was, he plucked her wings, horn, and mane off. Luna was feeling her bald head before she began jumping up to try and reach her missing body parts, Celestia though, had a wing over her face hiding her laughter.

"Give me my body parts back!" Luna said turning red in the face from anger and embarrassment. "You will hang for such an offense!"

Rolling his eyes, he brought her up to his eye level and put her wings on backwards, screwed her horn back on, and put her mane back where it was. When she tried to fly, she shot herself backwards in an attempt to ram him. Landing in a tree, she stood on a branch and took a deep breath just as he put her wings back on the right way.

"Fix my wings you vile creature or feel my wrath!" She yelled in The Royal Canterlot Voice.

Cupping his paw and claw over his mouth, he began yelling back but just nowhere close to her volume.

"Come and make me, moon-butt!"

Gritting her teeth, she turned around and with a flap of her wings, went further into the tree. Poking her head out, she had a bat covering her eyes that soon flew off showing how red in the face she had become. Down below, Celestia was laughing openly now, making her sister blush more from embarrassment than anger towards Discord.

"Luna, I think I'm ready to go. He's just dreaming." Eris said watching as the dream went away in a white flash only to be replaced by Luna's room.

Looking around, she saw the still clothed alicorn with her eyes closed and her horn glowing. waving a paw in front of her face, Luna did nothing, poking her didn't elicit any reaction either. Grinning, Eris brought out a yellow paint can and brush, dipping the brush in, she painted a yellow mustache on her that contrasted highly with her dark blue coat.

Teleporting away, Eris left a pony-sized mirror in front of Luna before she left.

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Standing int he empty room, Eris hugged herself, feeling suddenly cold. Looking at the balcony doors, she saw they were closed and no breeze was coming in, evident from the curtains remaining still. Looking at the bed, undisturbed since that morning. Taking off her shirt, she threw that to the floor and climbed in.

Getting under the comforter, she still felt cold, so rolling to the other side, an unfamiliar scent hit her nose. It was musky, like after she had jogged for a minute when she was still Discord, but it also had a cinnamon spice to it. As she was breathing it in, she shot up in the bed and blushed even as the chills went away.

"Is that Sunshine?" She said to herself. "Why am I smelling where he was laying?"

"Yes, why are you smelling the spot where a buff, handsome, stallion was laying next to you only hours ago? That's the billion bit question for tonight."

Looking at the mirror by the bathroom, she spotted her conscience grinning back at her from the edge.

"I'm guessing you had something to do with what I did at the hospital? The kiss on the cheek, the punch, and the threat?" Eris asked pulling the comforter further up on herself.

"Actually, like a thousand years ago," her conscience said frowning at her. "You didn't listen to me. You did all that on your own."

"Well, I'm listening now." Eris said laying back. "Any chance you could tell me what I really think of him?"

"Me?" She asked pointing at herself. "I just help make decisions. What you think about him is up to you."

"Than it looks like I'm back to square one." She said letting her head fall back into the pillow. "He's still like a friend but at the same time I feel attracted to him in some ways, but not actually attracted to him like I would if I was in love."

"You have never been in love, so maybe you're mind is just conflicted about the prospect of being in love. And could you stop breathing in his scent on the pillow? It's weird."

"I'm not doing it on purpose." Eris said turning over. "It's not my fault this was where he was laying before."

"You can help where you're laying though." Her conscience said making Eris shake a fist at her from the bed. "Just admit it, you're scared about the thought of him not here."

"I am not!" She said raising herself to glare at her conscience. "What do I have to be scared of? I can control the sun and moon, warp reality, and-"

"Have no experience of any kind talking to a mare or stallion in terms of all that mushy goo-goo stuff that ponies seem to like these days. You're scared because you don't know what to say, what he'll say, or what he might do."

"You know what?" Eris said raising the pillow above her head. "I'm not listening to you anymore."

She put her head on the mattress and kept the pillow over her head, but each time she took a breath, Sunshine's smell invaded her sense, slowly putting her to sleep.

"You're going to try and ignore me on purpose?" Her conscience said waking her up.

"Are you going to let me go to sleep?" Eris asked not even bothering to look out from under the pillow.

"I might or might not," she replied. "If you let me make one small decision for you, I'll consider going away."

"What is that?"

"If you let me move you to the other side of the bed. Really, you're just staying on that side because that's where he was."

"It's warm here and the room is freezing. Leave me alone." Eris grumbled lifting the pillow so she was laying her head sideways on it.

"See you in the morning, and all through the night."

A mystery under the veil.

"I hate you so much." Eris said standing in front of her conscience at the mirror. "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you with every fiber of my being."

"Why do you hate yourself?" Her conscience said smiling back. "Why do you hate yourself?"

Thinking of punching the mirror, Eris was cocking her fist back when she heard a faint knocking. Looking away from her grinning double, she saw Luna peeking in through the curtains at the balcony doors. Opening them from where she was standing, Luna was furious, but her expression quickly turned to a concerned one when she saw Eris with the blanket on her shoulders.

Looking back at what she was thinking would be her conscience, she jumped back when she saw her reflection. Her hair was disheveled, there were bags under her eyes, and her eyes had cracks of red in them.

"Eris, did you not sleep well last night?" Luna asked forgetting she came to yell at her for the mustache on her lip.

"I didn't." Eris said looking at Luna.

"You didn't what? Sleep? Eris, I know you're distressed about Sunshine, but-"

"I wasn't worrying about him." She said yawning. "I was arguing with myself."

"You were arguing... With yourself the entire night?" Luna asked looking at the Draconequus wobbled a bit. "About what?"

"Which side of the bed to sleep on." She said shrugging.

Luna, looking between Eris and the bed, shook her head as Eris stuck her tongue out at the mirror. Leaving the room, she looked back at Eris before putting her fore-hooves on the balcony and with some effort, slowly raised the sun while the moon went down.

"Eris," Luna said stepping onto the rail of the balcony. "My guards will be reporting to Twilight if they find something wrong with the orders weight. Twilight, after asking me multiple times in the night, is looking at the contents of the patients stomachs at the hospital. She seems to think the food poisoning may have more to do with an outside factor than just the grease."

As she leapt from the balcony, Eris was putting on her shirt from the night before after throwing the blanket back on the bed. Teleporting away as a guard opened the door, the guard closed the balcony doors before looking around and eventually finding nothing again, retreated back to their former post.

Ponyville Hospital

Eris, appearing in the lobby, went to the front desk where a nurse in the same blue scrubs was sitting. Ringing the bell, the pony looked up and gasped.

"Hold on, I'll get a doctor in just a second." She said getting up from her desk.

Watching the mare go into the hall behind her, Eris saw her stop a doctor and start speaking in a hushed tone with him. The doctor went out from view and came in through the other pair of double doors in the lobby. Taking her paw, he led her through and down the hall where he led her into an empty room.

"Please, sit," he said motioning towards one of the two beds with a hoof. "Can I have your name?"

"Eris. Doctor what is-"

"Well, Eris, the nurse at the lobby seems to think you're sick Could you list off some symptoms for me?" He asked looking at her with a clip board in hoof and pen in the other.

"I'm not sick, I just didn't sleep last night. I'm just here to-"

"I could prescribe you some sleep medication if you're having trouble going to sleep. We even have a new arm of the hosptal here to help ponies with nightmares sleep, even if they're being kept awake with medication."

"I'm not having nightmares." She said narrowing her eyes at him. "I came here to see when visiting hours begin."

"Oh, I see." He said pocketing the pen. "They start sun-up to sun-down."

"Good, thank you for wasting my time." She said getting up and leaving the doctor there to fiddle with his clip board.

Going back down the hall, she pushed the double doors open just as the ones one the other side were swung open. Looking at Sunshine as he was rolled out, he was in a much better condition than before. A new I.V. with a brown fluid in it was attached to his right leg, his mane was waving much faster and it had gotten back some of its color.

Running up to him, he was smiling before she lifted him out of the chair in a hug.

"Eris," he said shaking from a new source of pain. "You just tore my I.V. out of my leg."

Looking down while she still held him, she saw a small puddle of liquid begin to pool on the floor by a stressed out looking doctor. The nurse that was pushing the wheelchair, held a roll of surgical tape in her magic and a cotton ball in the other. Putting the cotton ball on the red spot forming on his right fore-leg, she taped it over and cut the tape when it reached the cotton ball again.

"Well, it looks like I won the ring toss," she said holding Sunshine as if he were a teddy bear. "I just won a stuffed alicorn. I think I'll take you home and name you Cuddles."

"Do not call me Cuddles." He said attempting to make an angry face but instead he yawned. "I think the medicine they gave me is still making me tired."

"You think?" She said smiling. "Hey, doc, is he being released?" She asked setting Sunshine on the floor.

"Yes," the doctor said nodding at the nurse as she took the wheelchair away. "He needs plenty of rest, to drink two cups of water or fluid every hour, he'll also be on a liquid or soft food diet for the next two days, and he needs to take one of these every two days for eight days." He said pulling a orange prescription bottle out and handing it to her.

"Pills?" She said holding the her talon. "What are these for?"

"They're to cause constipation. It seems one of the other symptoms he had later was diarrhea."

"Poor thing," she said rubbing the top of Sunshine's head with her talon. "You must feel absolutely miserable. Come on, lets get you in bed." She said putting her lion paw under his back legs, her talon over his shoulders and letting him sluggishly wrap his fore-legs around her neck and rest his head on her shoulder, falling asleep in seconds.

Teleporting back to his bedroom, the doctor smiled at the spectacle while another spoke to the nurse behind the check-in.

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Carrying him in her arms, Eris set Sunshine down on the bare mattress before throwing the blanket over him. He turned away from the balcony's doors, covering his eyes with a hoof to block out the light. Shutting the curtains, Eris looked back at him as he uncovered his eyes.

Going to the other side of the bed she scooted in and put her back to him while she laid her head under his chin. Listening to his heart beat slowly, she yawned and began to fall asleep with his hoof he had moved onto her shoulder.

Twilight

Looking at the clear bags of partially digested food, Twilight glanced by them to the three separate ones marked with an 'S'. Taking a hose leading to one of the many machines currently in her basement, she stuck it into the top of the second bag and it began sucking out scraps of nearly undigested food. Spike and the guard, standing away momentarily, looked at each other and shook their heads as the mixture fell into a small bowl.

Closing the end of the hose, she took a dropper and a pair of tweezers and extracted a fluid sample and a small piece of vegetable which she put into a petri dish. Putting the dropper onto a piece of white cloth, she took the petri dish and set it under a microscope. Putting her eye to it, she adjusted the knobs on the sides, the height once or twice, and the power on it before dragging Spike over with her magic.

"Spike, take a look at this." She said putting him up to the ocular lens. "What do those look like to you?"

Looking through, he saw what looked like a miniature forest of white cotton balls on ribbed trunks standing in disarray. Shrugging, it was sufficient enough for her to let him go and take the dropper to a clear tank where she had a carrot and piece of wood separated by a wall. Putting a drop on each of the objects, she closed and locked the doors before her horn began to glow. Spike and the guard watched as the wood remained unaffected while the apple was turned into a white mound within seconds.

Putting on a mask and goggles, she pushed Spike away to the guard before opening the door containing the apple. When the air inside mixed with the air outside and the temperature dropped inside the tank, the mound shifted and split at the top before spitting out a cloud of white and yellow liquid and dust that slid down the sides.

"Twilight, are you sure we don't need masks?" Spike asked backing up onto the stairs as she picked what was left of the apple up with a pair of tongs. "Is this even safe to be doing in here?"

"Don't worry Spike," she said sliding a sample of the apple under the microscope before pulling a book over. "If this is what I think it is, we're perfectly safe."

Watching her work, she began slowly going page-by-page through the book until she went back to one. Looking between the picture in the book and the microscope, she set it down and took out the apple piece.

"I know it wasn't the food now," she said holding the petri dish up to them. "It was this. A rare species of fungus only found in one region in the world, the Griffon Highlands. Common in their high, humid and moist climate, it's nearly harmless to them, but to ponies it can cause a severe case of food poisoning, and to dragons, a very unpleasant end."

"End?" Spike said taking another step up the stairs. "I thought you said that stuff was harmless?"

"Only if ingested, not inhaled." She said putting the petri dish down. "I was lucky enough to spot it on these samples," she said motioning towards the other six bags. "But Sunshine ate enough that he really didn't have time to digest much of it at all. If it wasn't for him, a lot of more ponies may have gotten sick." She said taking off her goggles and flinging them onto a nearby table.

"Now, from the weight and quantity of the orders, I can dry the food out, separate the bodily fluids from grease, add the grease and do a cross reference. But, I've just subtracted the extra weight of fluid in a ponies stomach and found the weight of it without the need to dry it. What I have found, is that a total of three pounds are not in the shipping records." She said nodding towards the bags.

"Does that mean the cook has been buying unmarked goods?" The guard asked stepping toward her. "That in itself is against the law, and against our nation's health policies regarding out of country produce."

"Yes, I had to read that entire book within a day." Twilight said glancing at the three larger bags. "How he still managed to eat that much is as much of a mystery to me as Pinkie's Pinkie sense."

"High metabolism?" Spike suggested. "He's in a new body, he's burned a lot of energy out recently and his body is letting him take that much in. Of course, he may just have a big stomach."

"Whatever it is, we need to inform Princess Luna immediately so we can have a talk with that cook Eris punched."

"Do we have to?" Spike asked leaning on the rail. "Couldn't we just arrest him so we don't have to hear him complain about his bits? Hey, Wrought Shield, could we charge him with attempted killing since I've eaten there too?"

"It's a possibility." The guard said. "It may also be an accident the produce was infected with the fungus. That's what happens when you risk buying unmarked food."

"Well, the risks have been shown quite clearly, and now we need to make sure this doesn't happen again." Twilight said going to Spike. "Spike, send a letter to Luna, tell her me and Wrought Shield will be going to that... Whatever that place is called. Just tell her to meet us where Sunshine got the bad food."

"Will do, and you make sure to stuff a wad of napkins in that guy's mouth if he mentions bits, and tell Eris if he insults Sunshine again. It was scary in a cool way the way she sent him flying across the room."

"If he does anything, I'll tell Luna and she can tell Eris." Twilight said going up the stairs with the guard.

Sunshine

Taking in a deep breath, he gave a small snort before breathing in again. A sweet, almost chocolatey smell was invading his sleep-addled mind, making him smile and take another deep breath in. Waking up a little more, he moved his hoof up to where the smell was coming from and pulled it a little closer, and smiling as a small, rhythmic warmth began tickling his collarbone; he opened an eye to look down at it.

His medicine, what was left of it, burned away when he saw Eris's hair pressed up against his nose. Blushing furiously from the fact he was cuddling her like that, or was she cuddling him? Looking down under the comforter, he saw she had her arms over his fore-legs and was the one keeping him against her. Blushing still, he tried to gently wiggle out from her grasp but she made a move in her sleep and put her chin on his throat and arms around his barrel, effectively trapping him.

'Okay, I woke up with Eris pressed up against me again, she's cuddling me, and I was sniffing her hair while I was asleep.' He thought feeling her tail curl around one of his back hooves. 'At least I don't have an erection. Now, how do I get out of this?'

Looking around as best as he could without disturbing her, he didn't see much but the comforter, her hair at his chin, and the pillow he was laying on. Feeling her take in a deep breath and make a growling noise similar to a dragon, he put his nose to his pillow and took a whiff of it.

'It smells like me.' He thought having an idea begin to form in his head. 'If I could slip this in my place, than I could get out of bed.'

Sliding a wing out from under him, he carefully slid it under the pillow his head was on and, raising his head ever so slightly, began to move it in his place while he used what leverage he could with his free hooves to move down the bed. Carefully moving it to where his head was, he felt Eris's paw drift from him to the pillow and not long after she was squeezing the life out of it. Moving further down, he got as far as her waist before her tail stopped him from going any further. Looking down, he saw her tail, along with his back hooves, hanging off the bed.

Trying to push her tail off his left hoof with his other only encouraged her to wrap her tail around the other one as well. He was taking in a breath to sigh when he got another whiff of that chocolatey scent from her. Shaking his head to clear his head he quickly lit his horn to try and move her tail magically, but as soon as his magic began flowing through his horn, he was struck with a sharp pain that burrowed all the way through his skull and behind his eyes.

Falling out of the bed, his horn discharged regardless before he hit the floor and, to his surprise, Eris was still laying there. Looking at the edge of the bed, he saw her tail hanging off in a curl, tangling itself like a snake trying to commit self-cannibalism.

Getting up while he nursed his temples, he looked at the balcony doors and judging by the light coming through a small crack, it was the middle of the day. Frowning, he looked towards the door and, before going to it, gave one more glance at Eris to make sure she was still asleep. Seeing the Draconequus lovingly hugging his pillow, he reached for the handle and opened the door.

"What do you think you're doing out of bed?" Eris asked frowning down at him as she stood in the doorway with her arms crossed. "You're supposed to be asleep or taking your water and medicine. Get back in your bed."

Not bothering to look surprised, he sat down in front of her. She pointed at the bed with her paw while she held her talons up.

"You have until the count of three to get back in bed or else." She said raising her three main talons. "One."

"Eris, I would like to get some fresh air. Preferably outside." He said watching as her frown deepened.

"Two."

"Eris, I am not a foal. Stop counting and let me pass." He said getting up. "I am not going back to bed."

"Last chance before I get to three." She said holding her index claw up. "Get back in the bed or else."

Watching her just stare at him with that disapproving look, he flattened his ears against his head and, with his head hanging low he turned around and climbed back into bed. Fixing his pillow, he tossed the comforter over his lower half while he glared at her like a child as he leaned against the bed frame.

"That's a good alicorn." She said closing the door. "Now follow your treatment's directions so you can go outside faster."

"I've been sleeping for most of the time I've been sick." He said looking away. "I'm tired of being cooped up inside, and especially when I'm restrained to a bed."

"You didn't seem to mind if you have company." She said sitting at the edge of the bed so she could lean towards him on her elbows. "Did you know you whistle when your head is tilted down?"

"No, I did not know that since I'm usually asleep." He said sitting more upright. "Why were you cuddling me?"

"Excuse me?" She asked looking at him in mild surprise.

"When I woke up, you were hugging me, your head was on my chest, and you wrapped your tail around my back hooves."

"I must have been cold." She said inspecting the claws in her paw.

"Then why were you suddenly giving my pillow a death hug when I slipped out of the bed?" He asked watching her poker face momentarily break. "Were you awake at all until I got to the door?"

"I wasn't quite sure what you were doing when you started sliding down, I was tempted to kick you out when you started smelling my shorts. Creepy."

"I was not trying to smell your shorts!" He barked before a dry wheeze came out. "Ugh, my throat is dry. Could I get a glass of water?"

As he finished the question, Eris brought out a silver tray with a glass of water on it. Taking it he slowly drank until it was empty. As he set it back down, it refilled itself as she set the dish down on a small table she had put next to his bed.

"According to the doctor," Eris said making him sink back into the bed. "You're going to have to rest for two days, eat nothing but soft foods for the same amount of time, and take these." She said handing him the prescription of pills. "You have to take one every two days for eight days."

"What am I going to do for two days?" He growled setting the bottle down on the table. "I have a court to run, meetings to attend to, I still-"

"Have nothing to worry about." She said shutting him up. "Cadance has volunteered as your replacement. Your precious sun and moon cycles are being handled by Luna, and Twilight is looking into the food poisoning along with Luna."

"That little, false advertising, piece of-" he was grumbling until she cleared her throat, giving him another disapproving look. " Never mind."

Sitting in silence for a moment, Sunshine grabbed under the spot where his bruise was healing and attempted to get up only to be pushed gently back into bed.

"I need to use the bathroom." He said, and for emphasis his innards made a gurgling sound as if a drain cleaner was just poured into a stopped valve system. "Can I do that, nurse?"

"Yeah, you can go, wise guy." She said letting him get up. "And don't think about trying to teleport away; if I feel even the smallest amount of magic, then you're coming right out."

"Fine," he said going into the bathroom with Eris standing in the doorway, watching him suspiciously. "Are you going to watch or hold it?" He said glaring at her as she went around the corner.

As he went, she looked at her  nails until she stole a peek at the mirror on the wall. Looking back at her, was her conscience and as before she was smiling. Narrowing her eyes, Eris put two fingers to her eyes and pointed them at the mirror. Her conscience, rolling her eyes, jabbed a thumb off to the left and all at once the mirror resumed what it was supposed to be reflecting, which unfortunately, happened to have a view in the bathroom. Turning away with a squeak, Eris covered the side of the room from view with her talon. Jumping from a flush, she looked down and saw Sunshine come out and crawl back into the bed.

"What's wrong?" He asked watching her keep staring at the mirror. "Eris?"

"Nothing," she said. "Just my conscience playing... Dirty tricks on me." She said blushing from her embarrassment.

"I wasn't aware your conscience could play tricks on you." He said turning over so he could lay on his right side. "How long are you going to play nurse for me?"

"Until you get better." She said crossing her arms. "And in just half an hour, you'll have to drink your other cup of water for the hour."

"Great," he said looking down at his hooves. "What am I supposed to do to pass the time? Twilight is busy working, Cadance is working, Luna is asleep, and I'm sure Spike is helping Twilight. You know, it's times like these that I regret not having a bookshelf in here."

"We could always find something to do." Eris said smiling. "Hey, Sunshine, have you ever seen a blue chihuahua with a yellow mustache?"

At the mention of 'blue chihuahua,' he grinned showing his teeth as he laughed. Smiling herself, she watched as he got a thoughtful look on his face and became quiet. When he didn't speak for a minute, she scooted up next to him on the bed.

"You're thinking about something," she said poking him in the shoulder. "What is it?"

"Nothing," he said losing his concentration. "I was just trying to remember a dream I had last night. Come to think of it, I've been trying to remember last night. With all the medicine they pumped into me, I'm not sure what I was even saying, if anypony spoke to me, or... anything really. It's all a blur."

"Really?" She said letting her ears droop. "That's too bad. A real shame... Yep, a real shame." She said letting her head fall onto the other pillow.

Seeing her distressed by that, he put a hoof on her back and rubbed a little to make her feel better. When she let out a breath of air through her mouth, he could almost see a few tears trying to form.

"Is something wrong?" He asked making her shake her head. "Eris, did something happen last night? Did you talk to me at any time?"

"Yeah, I just asked you a question." She said. "I don't think either of us were in a position to accept your answer. It was a stupid question anyway, I don't really remember what I asked." She said brushing her hair behind an ear.

He saw her face and didn't press the matter, and reaching over, sat her semi-upright so he could look her in the eyes. Unsure of what he was doing, she leaned her head back a little instinctively.

Picking up her paw with a hoof, he wiped off a small few flecks of blood she had overlooked. Looking at her, she looked away and his her eyes behind her hair. When he put a small amount of pressure on the area, he could hear her wince and feel the small jerk she made.

"What happened last night? Because Your knuckles weren't like this before." He said holding her paw in both hooves and before he knew it, she was hugging him with her face buried in his shoulder and crying. "Whoa, whoa, it's all right, just tell me what's wrong." He said rubbing her back.

"That stupid lard head came in after I left your room, I was already feeling horrible about seeing you like that," she said keeping her voice calm. "But he just came in and started demanding the bits you owed him." She said spitting the word 'owed' out like venom. "When he started insulting you, I just punched him. He went lying across the room and lost three of his teeth... and then I threatened to make him eat the rest if he insulted you again."

"Eris." He said holding her in his fore-legs, rocking her back-and-forth.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that to him." She said curling up to him further.

"Eris." He said with as much sympathy he could use, but she still kept going.

"I didn't want to hurt him like that, but he wouldn't-he just wouldn't shut up!" She yelled into his shoulder breaking into tears.

"Eris, I'm not angry." He said making her quiet down, but not by much. "I'm a little flattered you would do that for me. Standing up for me while I couldn't lift my head, that's one of the sweetest things anypony has done for me in a long time."

"Well, you know I'm just sweet like that." She said drying her eyes. "These past few days have been hectic, even for me. So, what did you want to do to pass the time?"

"We could always take a walk in the garden by the entertainment hall." He said wincing as she hit him behind the head. "Fine. We could sit on the balcony and talk. Is that better?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear the words rest and nurses orders in that sentence. Could you repeat that?" She asked making him blow a puff air out of his mouth as he let his head slide on the bed frame.

"You are the most regulated nurse I have ever met," he said. "And you're not even dressed like one either."

"I can look like a nurse if I want to." She said before she disappeared and reappeared by the bed clad in a nurses uniform. "What do you think?"

He just stared, wide-eyed as she sat with her legs crossed in a white nurses uniform, a small cap with a red plus on it was sitting on her head, a white coat with a black shirt was just cut short at her wrists, and the skirt she wore ended just above the knees.

"It looks like your temperature might be rising." She said Pulling a thermometer from a pocket on her coat. "It looks like I'm going to have to take your temperature."

Blushing furiously, he opened her mouth which made her smile even more. Closing it, his eyes suddenly grew as wide as saucers when he realized what she meant. Furiously shaking his head, he scooted away from her while she crawled on all fours towards him. In one quick movement, she was on top of him, giggling while she threw the thermometer over her shoulder.

"Y-You actually thought I was-that it was- that's priceless!" She laughed rolling off of the shocked alicorn. "Y-You should have seen your face!"

"That wasn't funny!" He snapped but his anger didn't last long, and soon he was laughing with her. "Can I-"

"If you suggest getting out of bed for any other reason than the bathroom or stretching, I will get that thermometer and use it." She said suddenly taking on her professional tone again, all of her humorous self evaporating instantly. "Try it, and we'll see how serious I am."

"I was going to suggest you go get a book and we can read together. In the bed and not anywhere else."

"Good," she said patting him on the head. "That's a good patient."

"Eris," he said watching her turn around to look at him with that little cap beginning to fall off yet for it to replace itself. "Are you going to wear that outfit the entire time?"

"I could take it off if you want." She said unbuttoning the first few buttons on her jacket.

"No, No, I think it suits you very nicely." He said looking away. "You make a good nurse."

Criminal goofballs.

"Now hold on, what are you telling me? I got some weird mushroom growing on my food?" Artery Blocker growled as he sat at a table with Twilight and Wrought Shield. "That is a load of manure!"

"I conducted tests and other experiments, and the spores found on your food match the description of the ones in the book I have with me." Twilight said setting the book down on the table and opening it to the page with the picture of the spore. "I was very thorough with my work."

Looking at it the picture, he rolled his eyes and got up. Closing the book with a rude slam, he slid it back towards her and turned to the staff that were present.

"Listen up, which one of you knows where my dad is?" He asked receiving confused or shy glances. "Well come on! Spit it out!"

"Excuse me," Twilight said making the flustered pony turn to face her. "You're the one who ordered the ingredients. We have your signature and the bills to prove it."

"My signature?" He said gritting his teeth. "Why that no good old stallion. I never sign any of the orders, I just cook the food. If you want to talk produce, you'll have to find my dad." He said making her and the guard share a skeptical look. "Don't believe me? Ask any of the staff."

"You could have bribed them to tell us that, or even threaten to take away their jobs if they tell the truth." Twilight said earning another eye roll. "Could you please stop that? It's very rude."

"Yeah, well there isn't a law about being rude, so suck it up princess." He said. "And as for your little theory, we're all out of the job until we can pay for more ingredients. Ingredients that vacuum cleaner sucked up like it was his last and first meal."

"Do you know where we could possibly find your father then?" She asked losing her patience. 'Note to self: Tell Eris he insulted Sunshine twice in one sentence.'

"You could try the usual pick-up spot," Artery Blocker said shaking his head. "The old guy owes me for the hospital bills, my dental, and the ingredients as far as I care. That mare-sounding thing's boyfriend can forget about the bits. I gave up after I got knocked out. Speaking of that, you know how that happened?" He asked.

"Where is this pick-up spot?" Twilight asked ignoring his question. "What times do you get your produce?"

"Like I said, I cook the food, I don't bother with the orders." He said leaning back in his chair. "Can we go home? Or do you want to punch a few of my teeth out too?"

"I'm not at liberty to answer that question." Twilight said shouldering her saddlebags. "Do you have any idea where your father might, be?"

"Like I said, no... well, he might be on one of the back roads by the town trying to meet whoever it is who delivers the produce. Just go up North and search the roads there."

"Thank you, for whatever help you've been." She said sliding in her chair. "What does your father look like?"

"Tall, skinny, and red as a chile pepper. You can't miss him." Artery Blocker said crossing his fore-legs. "Now can we go to whatever families we have?"

"Yes, you all may," Twilight said. But I may call any one of you later if the investigation requires it."

The staff quietly went out the door after Twilight and Wrought Shield had left, leaving Artery Blocker alone. Running his tongue over where his three teeth had been, he set his head down on the table and glared at the wall.

Hearing a creaking noise and feeling a small amount of dust on his nose, he wiped that off and looked up. The ceiling was unusually dipped above him, and for a moment the weight shifted. Watching the mass move, he jumped out of the way just as the panel began to crack and split dropping a pencil-necked, red, disoriented stallion onto the floor.

Staring at his father, he felt a vein pop up in his neck as he ran out the doors and saw Princess Luna and Princess Twilight standing there. Once they saw him their faces went from smiling to a neutral grimace, standing there panting he pointed back at the doors.

"My dad just fell through my ceiling." He said. "Ask him whatever you want."

Twilight, running in stopped part way inside to look at the red stallion sprawled across the table she was just at, Luna looking over her shoulder, was staring at the hole in the ceiling as she approached.

"Sir?" Twilight said. "Sir? Can you hear me?"

"Y-Yeah... I can." He said sitting upright only to fall off the table and onto his back. "Forgot I was on a table."

"You do know what crimes you face currently, correct?" Luna asked wiping some dust off her black and white striped long sleeve shirt and than checking her black pants for anything.

"Crimes?" He said fixing his eyes on them. "What are you talking about? I was getting rid of the mice in the ceiling."

"Not the mice," Twilight said. "The bad food you ordered from the Griffon Highlands. It had a rare fungus on it that made seven ponies sick."

"Griffon Highlands? Fungus?" He said crossing his eyes in thought. "No, No, I don't know a thing about that. You can ask my son though, he usually handles all the orders and shipments. I knew there was a reason he kept meetin' that griffon fellow by the town."

"Are you saying he was the one who ordered the produce?" Twilight asked as the skinny stallion was standing up. "Is this his signature?" She asked pulling out the clipboard.

"Oh, yeah, that's his alright." He said nodding. "Nowadays I can hardly see a thing if it isn't bigger than me or right in my face. Where is he anyway? I need to tell him that barn owls ate all the mice."

Looking back, Twilight didn't see Artery Blocker behind her. Going outside she looked around and saw no sign of the green pony anywhere.

"He's gone." Luna stated as she looked around. "Do not fret Twilight, justice will find him eventually."

"Yeah, it will eventually." She said. "Although, we could tell Eris how he was insulting Sunshine. If she found him... He would, after getting his teeth knocked out, most likely go to the guard for protection. He'll be missing the rest of his teeth but we'll have caught him."

"A marvelous idea." Luna said slapping the younger alicorn on the back. "Come, lets go see how my brother is doing now."

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Sitting with her jacket down to her elbows, Eris looked over at Sunshine who had been reading for the past hour and a half. His eyes were beginning to get heavy-lidded and he kept frequently yawning. When he set down the book and was falling asleep upright, she brought his comforter to his chest. He woke up slightly, enough to watch her and thank her.

As his head began to drop, she readjusted her coat and let it simply fall to the floor. Leaning back in the chair she was sitting in, she was going to set his book on the table but a knock came at the balcony doors. Opening them, she saw Luna and Twilight come in giving her strange looks as they passed her.

"Playing nurse, are we?" Luna said giving Eris a small smile while Twilight was oblivious to the innuendo. "Have you given him his medicine?"

"Not. Funny." Eris said blushing at the alicorn's statement. "We've been reading. He tried to escape once, but I put him in his place."

"I bet you did."

"Luna, say another word and I'll turn you into an actual chihuahua with wings and a horn." She threatened making her stop and blush. "So you do remember that?"

"Remember what?" Twilight asked making Luna shoot a glare at Eris. "Was it something before Discord was Eris, like a thousand years before?"

"Yes," Eris said making Luna's blush grow darker. "It was the first time me, Luna, and Celestia met as a group. It was when I was still in my prime, before I had my be-" she stopped when she realized she was rubbing her smooth chin. "Every time. It's like some sick joke."

"What is?"

They all looked at Sunshine who was looking at them from the bed, grinning at Luna while she kept her distance from Eris. Throwing the comforter off, he rolled onto his belly and rested his head in his hooves.

"How goes the investigation?" He asked. "Anything important I need to know about?"

"That pony lied to our faces," Twilight said. "Tried to incriminate his own father, and he insulted you twice in one sentence. Other than that, there's nothing we can do until he turns himself in or begs the guards for protection."

"Why would he beg for protection?" He asked looking at his sister who was staring at Eris. "Eris, is something wrong?" He asked looking at the stiff Draconequus.

"No, nothing is wrong." She said through her teeth and fake smile. "Why? Do you think something is wrong? Is there something wrong with me? No, I feel fine. Nothing is wrong at all."

The three alicorns all moved a few inches away from the distressed goddess. Sunshine, looking past her, saw the balcony doors open. Looking between Eris and his sister, another idea began to form as he looked at their clothes

"Twilight," he said drawing her attention away from Eris. "I've noticed Eris and Luna wearing clothes, why haven't you thought about buying some? Maybe Spike would even like a shirt or two."

"Me?" She said laughing. "I really don't think I need clothes, it seems kind of pointless since we don't normally wear any. Although, Spike may like a shirt. He does complain about cold pains in the winter. Do you have any suggestions Luna?" She asked looking at Sunshine's little sister.

"I'd suggest getting something made of wool, but it's very itchy." She said tugging at one of her sleeves. "It also collects dirt if you get the really bristly wool instead of the smooth, finely sewn wool."

As they began talking, Sunshine, after informing Eris, went to the bathroom. Sitting in there with his ear pressed against the wood, he listened to them talk about clothes, fabrics, and designs. Eventually, Eris joined the conversation offering her own strange designs and foreign materials, and even things that shouldn't me used for clothing.

Cracking he door, he stuck his head out and saw the three females happily chatting away. Opening the door and stepping out, none of them even glanced over at him. Waving a hoof, none of them, not even Eris, stopped to look at him. Smiling, he looked back at the balcony and saw the clouds drifting by.

Slowly moving to the open doors, he made it to the open balcony and, taking in a deep breath of fresh air, felt his wings spread on their own accord. Jumping off the balcony, he let himself fall before catching the wind in his new, stronger wings.

Smiling as he gave them a flap, he was pushed roughly upwards before he got his balance back. Looking at his wings, he smiled and gave a harder flap and again he was pushed upwards. Laughing for a moment as a soft wind caught under his wings, he began spiraling down the tower until he was on the roof of the hall it connected to.

Looking down at the garden, he saw a group of guards meeting with another before passing one another, the statues of past heroes and explorers, and Eris's pedestal sitting bare in a ring of hedges.

Staring at it for a moment, he thought back to how she had been so protective over him, how she cared for, and even so open with him. A feeling of guilt stabbed him in the gut, making his joyous escape turn sour like a lemon.

"Two days is nothing in my lifetime." He sighed. "She's trying her best to help and I'm here, trying to get as far away from her as I can."

Flapping his wings again, he didn't hold back with the effort so he was shot into the air. Flying back up to the balcony, he was setting himself down when he saw Eris poke her head over, an angry glare staring at him.

He didn't look at her, but chose to simply go back to his bed and curl up under the comforter, pushing the book away as he did so. Eris, still flustered at him, softened slightly when she saw the look he gave her before the comforter covered his shoulder, blocking his face from her.

"So, enjoy your flight outside, Sunshine?" She asked tapping her lizard claw on the rug.

"No," he said making her pause briefly. "I felt horrible after I went out. I'm sorry."

"Well," she said, not expecting to hear him sound genuinely miserable for such a little thing. "I... Hope you learned your lesson."

"What lesson?" He asked, turning to look at her before clutching his belly. "Could I have my medicine now, nurse Eris?"

"Yes, just let me get the-" she paused mid-sentence as she looked at the prescription. "So that's what kind of pill this is."

"What? What does that mean?" He asked feeling a sickness in his gut that wasn't from his illness. "Please tell me those aren't for-"

"You don't swallow these." She said shaking the bottle in front of her face. "You chew them with a soft food." She said grinning at the relieved alicorn.

"Oh, thank the sun," he said. "I always hated taking those pills. Whoever invented that method obviously never had it done on their own being."

Luna, looking between the two in confusion, was thinking of the different ways she had recently learned medicine was taken. When it came to pills, her mind ground to a halt when she put two and two together. Putting a hoof to her belly, she was looking better than Twilight, who, looked as relieved as Sunshine.

"Lunch is served," Eris said conjuring a tray with mashed potatoes, cherry jelly, a bowl of peach slices, a glass of water, and a small sunflower that decided to begin dancing around the tray with a yellow smiley face in its black center. Sunshine shook his head in amusement, and taking them spoon, slowly began to eat before Eris grabbed him by the nose and threw the pill in. He coughed momentarily, glared at her while he slowly chewed his food and eventually continued eating.

"So, how is it?" Eris asked smiling as she filed the small feline nails in her paw.

"Good, but it's the only thing I've had to eat in the last two days." He said attempting to pick up a piece of jello only for it to jiggle and fall off his spoon. "The only desert that always irritated me. No matter what you try and eat it with, it always falls off." He said attempting to spear a cube and scoop the half up only for it to fall off again.

"I always enjoyed jello," Eris said making a bowl for herself. "You could just suck it right out of the bowl and force it between your teeth until it's a liquid again. It's like drinking a fruit or desert that's usually not a liquid." As for emphasis, she sucked in a blue cube and swished it around before they could all hear the liquid.

Watching her, Sunshine tilted the bowl and sucked in a few cubes before chewing. Staring dejectedly down at the desert, he set the rest down and moved to the peaches. Spearing one with his fork, he let most of the juice dribble off before biting into it. As soon as the juice in it got on his beard though, the small sunflower took out a napkin from underneath a petal and nearly jumped onto the alicorns' face.

Sunshine just stared cross-eyed at the living plant that was standing on his shoulder with the napkin held between its leaves. Lifting a peach up to his mouth again, he was about to take a bite when the flower began leaning forward. Pulling the fruit away slowly, the flower retreated, holding the napkin like a ring bearer would hold the pillow.

"Eris, could you get this," he looked at the flower that was giving him a suspicious look. "Mannerly flower off of me."

"Not until you're finished eating." She said. "You can skip the jello, cherry liquid always reminded me of that horrible jello mix Fluttershy keeps in the bathroom cabinet." Eris made a sour face, sticking out her tongue in disgust.

"Eris," Twilight said getting the nurses' attention. "You realize that was cherry cough syrup, right?" She asked giving the goddess a skeptical look.

"Is it that nasty stuff that doctors tell you tastes like bubblegum but actually tastes like rotten fruit?" She asked scratching her head. "Or is that toothpaste?"

Shaking her head, Twilight gave a quick farewell before disappearing in a flash of purple light. Luna, instead of teleporting, took off from the balcony leaving Eris to shut the doors again.

Sitting back down, she giggled when she saw her sunflower beating the napkin against Sunshine's face, and Sunshine, with his fore-legs crossed was just quietly staring at it as the flower went mad. At one point, Eris turned the living flower into an actual flower and let the napkin rest on Sunshine's face, covering his eyes.

Blowing it off, Sunshine looked at the flower before taking a gracious bite out of it. Picking a petal out from his teeth, he set that aside and downed the ice water on the tray. Watching as the water filled itself back up, the tray disappeared and the water was placed to the side again.

"I can't say that I'm ever going to be used to having a meal like that again. Especially one with a napkin crazy flower." He said smiling as Eris twirled the remains of the flower in her paw. "It at least tasted good."

"I'm sure," she said. "Well, what do you want to do now?" She asked looking at him with a side look.

"Staying in bed seems to be the preferred idea." He said watching her grin.

"I was thinking a nice stroll outside would be good, but if you want to stay in bed all day, be my guest." She said grinning further when he got a hurt look on his face. "Oh, that's right, you've already had your exercise today. Bed it is."

'I'm never listening to guilt again.' He thought. "We've already finished reading this book, and I know you didn't find it interesting, so what else is there to do?"

"Read a different book?" She suggested getting a head-shake from Sunshine. "What do you have in mind-"

She was cut off mid-sentence when he hit her in the face with a pillow. She blinked twice, looked down at the pillow in confusion and then back at Sunshine who was rolled over on his side. Shaking her head in amusement, she picked up the pillow and hit him in the side, which, in turn caused a noise like water in a blocked pipe to echo in the room. Holding the pillow still, she watched as he suddenly jumped out of the bed and ran to the bathroom, panic etched into his face as the door slammed shut.

From the noise coming out, she scooted away from the door just as the smell hit her. Putting her shirt over her nose, she went to the balcony doors and opened them, letting a rush of fresh air back in. Leaning on the railing, she fanned her face, trying to get the smell out of her system as fast as possible.

Looking back at the door, it didn't open, but she knew the smell was still coming out from under it. Putting a gas-mask on, she went back in, sitting in her chair as she tried to ignore the sounds coming from the other side.

Waiting for what seemed like an hour, but in actuality was only half of one, she finally heard the sound of hooves hitting tiles. The toilet flushed, and to her worry, Sunshine came out looking close to when he was in the hospital bed; pale, sickly, and he moved with just about as much speed. Watching him try and get onto the bed, he couldn't seem to raise his upper-half up without making a grimace and placing a hoof on his lower belly.

Grabbing him by the shoulders, she picked him up and gently set him on his side. His only response was to shake a little and pull the comforter up to his shoulders.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

He only shrugged before putting a pillow over his face.

Staring at him resting, she scooted closer and laid her paw on his side. He didn't react to it, he didn't show any sign of feeling it, but he rolled towards her when she started gently rubbing his side and then his belly.

"Poor thing," she said. "I bet you feel a little better, right?"

He shrugged, tilting his hoof side-to-side as if the motion would tell her what he meant. Scratching him lightly, he grabbed her paw in a hoof and gently pushed it away. She didn't let go, not until he tried pulling it back.

"You just rest, I'll come back when you need to take your water," she said before conjuring a small bell. "If you need anything, just ring this and I'll hear it."

Setting the bell, on the pillow underneath the one he was using to cover his eyes, she spared one last look at the sleeping alicorn and disappeared.

Smelters Entrance

In a small, compact house-like structure in one of the further parts of the castle, a chestnut colored stallion with a welders mask that barely hid the overgrown black facial hair on his upper lift was sitting back in a chair sleeping. With the welders mask down, anything to have passed him would have thought he was guarding his ores and useless metals, but he was really hiding the fact he was sleeping on an uneventful day at work.

With the mask on, he failed to notice Eris's entrance. The Draconequus though, spotted him immediately after prior knowledge of what he looked about after certain jokes she had pulled on him, and he on her while she was a he.

Leaning down, she lightly rapped his mask causing him to snort and fall off his chair.

"I-I'm awake!" He hollered lifting the mask to look around with eyes that were half covered with more black hair. "W-Who... oh, hey Discord." He said, his surprise turning to a smile before it went back to surprise again.

"Yes, yes," she said rolling her eyes. "I'm wearing clothes. Shocking."

"Yeah," he said disregarding the fact the Draconequus had a gender change. "So, what brings you down here? Chess? Sulfur bombs? Ooh... You want another gold spork with tin tips, don't you?" He asked smiling before she shook her head. "No? Huh. What can ole Furnace do for you then?"

"Do you make house calls?" She asked making the stallion scratch his mustache in thought. "To the two alicorns who live here?" She asked crossing her arms.

"I can, but why the need?" He asked genuinely curious. "Something happen to the princesses?"

"You could put it that way." She said twirling a lock of her hair idly. "Bring your measurement tape and whatever else you need to make regalia fit for a prince."

"Sure, I can-prince?" He said snapping his head toward her causing his mask to fall down. "How long have I been back here? Who's the lucky fella who courted whichever one?"

"No one courted anyone." She said flatly. "Celestia has just been turned into a stallion. He just needs new regalia."

"Well," Furnace said scratching the back of his head. "It'll be difficult, having to go on new measurements, possibly even a new metal for the casting and final mold... I'll see what I can do. But, you may need to do what you did with that one private, you remember him?" He asked laughing.

"How could I forget?" She snickered. "I protected him while you made an armor mold for him, by using liquid metal and pouring it on him. He was so scared that I'd let him get burned that he decided to just wear a pair of over sized boots and a helmet!"

"Yeah, yeah, good times." The stallion sighed. "Give me a minute, I'll be right out."

Ring a ding, ding.

After the rumbling stopped for more than a minute, Sunshine hesitantly sat up. Letting out a shuddering breath, he looked around briefly for the glass of water Eris had left him. Spotting it on the table she had brought up, he took it and began to drink when there was a knocking at his door.

"C-Come in." He said clearing his throat.

He was expecting one of his guards or one of his sister's guards, but not his niece. She poked her head in, covering her eyes with a hoof as she entered.

"I hope you're at least decent?" She asked. "Eris, are you here? You better not scare me with anything."

"Cadance?" Sunshine said glancing at his balcony doors. "What are you doing here? Eris told me you were managing the day court."

"Sunshine?" She said uncovering her eyes. "Oh. About that..." She said pawing at the carpet momentarily. "Blueblood showed up. With a group of ponies demanding an alicorn be taken off the throne." She said watching as his eyes widened.

"Blueblood." He said breathing through his nose. "Eris was right, he is trying something. I need to go down there now." He said attempting to get up before a blue aurora pushed him back down. "Not you too." He said frowning at her.

"Yes, me too." She said going up to his bedside. "Eris left me a little note on the throne. If I see you anywhere that wasn't in this bed, than I am to place you back here." She said jabbing the comforter with a hoof.

"For a being that's supposed to be the incarnation of chaos, she's the most orderly nurse I've ever had." He said. "Back to Blueblood though, what are you prepared to do about it?"

"Honestly," she said laying her head on the comforter to pout at him. "I had a better time talking with Sombra and all he could say was crystals. I felt like I was getting talked down to by a porcupine."

"Him and a porcupine have a few things in common." Sunshine said before drinking the rest of the water and watching it fill back up again. "I believe, for the better of the public, that they see their prince now and not in a bed clutching his insides in discomfort every minute. I need Eris here for this, just as moral support with you alongside her."

Grabbing the bell, Sunshine gave it two experimental shakes. No sound came from it, but he trusted her judgement when she gave it to him.

Eris and Furnace

Eris's ears perked up when the sound of a bell tower went off twice in her head. Rubbing her right ear in discomfort, she brought back her jacket and slipped it on while Furnace got his tools.

"Are you ready Furnace?" Eris asked smiling with only a little teeth showing. "My patient seems to be ringing me."

"Yep." He said putting a few pencils in the brown saddlebag he had on his shoulder. "Got everything."

Winking, they both disappeared in a puff of smoke, adding to the burnt atmosphere in the vicinity.

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Standing now, Sunshine looked down at his niece as she stared back up with a disapproving frown. Squaring his shoulders, he stood as straight as he could to confront Eris. He squinted slightly when a bright flash filled the room along with a strong burnt smell, like ashes being freshly spread across the room.

Seeing Eris, smiling, he knew even as he watched her cross her arms, that she wouldn't win this argument, no matter what punishment she gave him. The stallion she was with though, did spare a glance at him from behind a welders mask.

"When you rang the bell, I thought you needed something." Eris said. "You're not running to the bathroom, so why-"

"I'm going to the throne room, and I'm going to confront Blueblood." He said making her snort. "Do not argue with me about this. If I go, I can settle this rush for power right here, but the longer I stay hidden away up here, the better chance he has of taking the throne. I'll conquer my own country before I let him on the throne, do you understand?" He said lacking any of his cheerfulness from earlier as he stared into her eyes.

"I do." She said nodding. "As much as it pains me to say it, you're right. But, you're not going naked, you need your regalia." She said motioning towards Furnace.

"Furnace I believe?" Sunshine said looking at the black hair sticking out from the corners of the mask. "You seem fairly calm. Did Eris tell you about my recent accident?"

"No, she just said that there was this handsome prince she was nursing back to health so she could kiss-ow! That hurt!" He said rubbing his shoulder where Eris had punched him. "I thought you liked jokes."

"Not. Funny." She said turning red in the face.

"You're not denying it." Cadance said smirking as Sunshine smiled. "Eris and Sunshine, sitting in a tree..."

"Enough of that!" Eris said beet red in the face. "Could we all focus on why I brought the blacksmith here?"

"Yes, of course," Sunshine said laughing at Eris's face. "Furnace, how long should these new measurements take?"

"Want a rough estimate or an exact number?" The blacksmith said lifting up his faceplate. "The rough is about... three hours, maybe four to five. Not including the molding, the type of metal you'll prefer, the design, and if you're comfortable in it." He said calmly watching as Sunshine and Eris both had the same frustrated look on their faces.

"Five hours?" He said shaking his head. "I remember it being far less the first time I had it done. Isn't there any faster way we could do this?" He pleaded.

"We could pour liquid metal on you like we did that one private." Furnace said. "He didn't get burned, but now he won't come near me. It's not as if I was the one holding him in place. I was just pouring hot metal over his exposed flesh."

"Eris," Sunshine said looking at her desperately. "I don't suppose you have anything up your sleeve?"

"Well," she said taking the note pad and a pencil from Furnace's saddlebag. "I was thinking... of something... like this." She said after furiously scribbling, smoke rising from the pad after the brief moment it was used. "Here goes nothing."

In a small flash, Sunshine now stood in a new set of crimson regalia. His hoof covers were larger with more details than his previous ones, his chest piece had been thickened around the shoulders to make covers for them also, and stretching to the middle of his neck was a helmet with a part cut down the middle to allow his mane to spill out.

Looking in the mirror, he turned his head side-to-side, smiling he rolled his shoulders and watched in the reflection as the covers rolled with them.

"Not bad," he said. "Good work, Eris." He said making he roll her eyes. "Really, this is really nice, the detail and color match brilliantly."

"Oh, you know I always had an eye for these sorts of things." She said bashfully twirling a lock of her hair. "On a scale from one to ten, how good is it?"

"Ten isn't justified." He said making his niece snort and look away. "Something funny, Cadance?"

"No, no, nothing at all." She said not trying to hide her smile. "Please, continue with these rather blatant flirts. It's adorable."

"Flirts?" Eris said looking at the alicorn in shock. "We are not flirting with each other!" She said jabbing the pencil towards Cadance.

"Not what it sounded like." Furnace mumbled receiving a hit on the back of the head. "Ow! I'm just calling it like I see it. Don't hit me for that." He said looking wounded at the blushing Eris.

"That's denial hitting you." Cadance said dodging the note pad being thrown at her. "I know flirting when I see it, remember that." She said smiling as Eris crossed her arms and turned away.

"Whatever we were doing," Sunshine said pausing briefly to smile before he regained his composure. "We still have a room full of pests to get rid of." He said looking at them all before his gaze stopped on a smiling Eris. "Whatever you're thinking, the answer is no."

"What?" She asked in mock-hurt. "Did you think I was planning some nefarious scheme? I was only planning to entertain our guests with a little... fireworks." She said giggling at the word. "Just in a show of good faith for their intentions."

"You make it sound as if you wanted to tie them to one and set it off." He said. "Eris, if you could take us there as fast as possible."

"Ooh, medical, dining and transportation?" She said tsking at him. "You're racking up quite the bill. I wont put interest on this little service, until the next time you ask." She said winking.

Throne Room Entrance

Appearing suddenly, the three ponies and chimera startled the guards momentarily but they recovered and were approaching when they stopped to stare at Sunshine.

He looked at them from underneath his helmet, just two seemingly glowing orbs like miniature suns with sunspots in them were staring into them. They stood up straighter and returned to their posts, making sure to stare ahead at the wall in front of them.

Sunshine, looking at the twin doors to the throne room, let out a breath he had been holding before he lit his horn and coated the edges with a crimson aurora. Opening the doors swiftly, as if they were paper, he didn't flinch or look away from Blueblood or the sound the doors made hitting the walls. Instead, he calmly stepped inside, not taking his eyes off the unicorn or the four with him who were, as well as Blueblood, looking at each other and the alicorn approaching.

With half the distance between them, Blueblood stepped forward, his brow already coated with beads of sweat as the alicorn's gaze went considerably lower with each step. He was smaller, both metaphorically and physically, but he stood tall and acknowledged the alicorn with a neutral face.

"Prince-"

"Shut up." Sunshine said said passing Blueblood and leaving him speechless.

"Pr-"

"I said," Sunshine interrupted turning to the group of five once he stood at the first step to the throne. "To shut up. To shut up unless you have an excuse good enough to explain why you're attempting to take the throne to Equestria." He said his neutral frown becoming a glare. "Well, answer me if you can speak."

"We," Blueblood said taking in a small breath. "Have come to the throne of Equestria's leaders to... dethrone them on the account of an inability to rule." He said pulling at the collar to his suit jacket.

"Inability to rule?" Sunshine said forcing a smile. "Enlighten me."

"Reports are... sketchy, but reliable." One of the four said, a silver unicorn with close-cropped blue hair. "That a new alicorn is present, which is obviously true."

"Was I talking to you?" Sunshine said taking a step forward. "I believe I was speaking to Blueblood, not one of the pony's he has under his hoof. Blueblood, explain the inabilities in your own words." Sunshine said glaring at the other four unicorns.

"I-I... I can see that Equestria is in need of a stable government." He said taking two steps back when Sunshine took one. "You have undergone some transformation auntie, your sister is still inexperienced in modern politics and the new princess, Twibright-"

"Twilight Sparkle." He growled staring down the alicorn as he took two steps. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, savior to Equestria more times than either me an my sister have and the most knowledgeable pony other than my sister I know. She is nervous at times, but she hasn't burnt the country to the ground. Unlike you would."

"W-What? That's absurd!" He said stepping forward hastily. "Why would I burn the country to ashes? I have every intention to make this nation strong."

"No you don't," Sunshine said narrowing his eyes. "I've seen your type hundreds of thousands of times in my lifetime here. All of them claim to have the best interest for others when it's their greed that drives them. It makes me sick. So much that I sometimes wish that I would let them rule only so they can watch themselves crumble just like the lives around them in their quest for money and power."

"Wait just a second! I-I have the right to usurp the throne from you if you are inable to rule! You made the law yourself!" He said pulling a scroll out from his jacket. "Look for yourself!"

Taking the scroll with as much disinterest as he could show, Sunshine unrolled it and skipped the mian text, instead looking at the signature. Smiling, he rolled it back up and just as he was giving it back to Blueblood, incinerated it in his hoof.

"That law," Sunshine said holding the charred remnant of the signature. "Was Princess Celestia's. Do I look like Princess Celestia to you?" He growled at a red faced Blueblood. "Answer me."

"N-No, but-"

"I may not be the same alicorn you knew, Blueblood, but I am still the co-ruler of this nation. It's laws still apply to Luna and I, and we each follow them to the letter. So, I will ask you, why are you here? To gain followers on your campaign against me? Because if that's true, than you should know about the law against such a thing."

"Law? What law, Blueblood?" A portly pale yellow stallion said looking at Blueblood. "What's he talking about?"

"The law states that if any group or pony attempts to take the throne while both or one ruler is still able," Sunshine said leaning down. "Will be counted as an act of treason against the country and the crown."

"Treason!?" The grey one said glaring at Blueblood. "You told us they were unfit to rule, that this was your time to take the throne. Where's all that dramatic talk now? Out the door along with me."

As he left, the other three followed him, sparing glances at the alicorn as he stared down Blueblood.

"Au-Uncle," Blueblood said losing his calm demeanor. "I only wanted to make sure that Equestria was taken care of if-"

"Do not talk to me about how you would take care of Equestria!" Sunshine yelled causing the windows to shake again. "Everything you say is a lie, every word makes my blood boil. All you do is complain, but now you've finally found the courage to come into my home and try to take it from me? Let me tell you something you miserable disgrace to Canterlot, I have ruled Equestria for over nine-hundred and seventy eight years. All those years, I have been patient with the most notorious, dim-witted, egotistical beings to have walked this plane of existence, but I was patient with all of them... I was patient until you came here, and then every time I hear your name, your voice, even any news about you that patience disintegrates rapidly like a dam breaking."

"I-I'm sorry to-"

"And every time I have heard you talk, it was only about getting rid of the town at the bottom of the mountain. That, Blueblood, is where me family and friends live. I do not like it when my friends of family are threatened, especially if the one threatening them has every intention to fulfill those threats. I want you gone, Blueblood, out of the castle. Because the next time you step into my home, you will be punished for an attempt at treason, and I will allow my sister to devise whatever punishment she deems fit. Understood?"

"Yes. I understand." Blueblood said shaking as he turned to leave only to fall into a crumpled heap.

Staring at the unconscious unicorn, he grunted and turned to go to his throne. The guards by it twitched as he approached and froze once he sat down to stare at the doors where Cadance and Eris were standing.

"It's not polite to stand in an open doorway." He said, his deep voice easily carrying across the room.

Eris and Cadance, quickly making their way past Blueblood who twitched occasionally, stopped at the bottom step to the throne where Sunshine sat staring down at them. Cadance was looking away from him while Eris was looking disapprovingly at him again.

"Is there something you want to say, Eris?" He asked narrowing his eyes as she continued to stare. "I'm not moving from this spot until the day ends."

"You need to learn to control your anger." She said going up to him. "I know you meant to scare him, but he's on the floor unconscious." She said leaning against his shoulder as if she were leaning against a wall. "It was a nice show, but tone down the anger a little bit. From twenty to like an eight."

"Was I really like that?" He asked looking at Eris. "I suppose I could have been less angry, not nice, but just less angry. I doubt when he wakes up he'll think more than thrice about trying this again, so that's a win for us. What do you think Cadance?"

"You may have scarred him?" She said shrugging. "I never knew him personally, but he did seem pretty easy to scare."

"He was always more bark than bite." Sunshine said as he watched a guard take Blueblood out. "He could never hold an argument where his opponent was speaking with their feelings. He lacked the conviction that they always had."

"Well, good riddance." Eris said sticking out her tongue. "I'd say he had more of a silver tongue than I did when I was evil."

"I wouldn't say that." Sunshine said. "He was a politician, not a being wanting to turn the world into their personal play... never mind what I just said, he was worse." He said snorting.

"So," Cadance said. "Isn't it time for your nurse to give you your medicine?"

"Not until Wednesday." Sunshine said grinning until a small tray appeared on his lap with a glass and red straw. "Eris?"

"Lunch time." She said. "A mix of mashed potatoes, broccoli, beets and a side of milk." She said lifting the glass only for a glass of milk to fall out from the bottom.

"Oh, that sounds delicious." He said rolling his eyes. "And to think, I only have to do this for one more day. Bon appetite, I suppose."

"I hope it's not to-oh. Oh, that didn't feel right." Eris said hitting her chest. "That was mildly uncomfortable." She said making a pained face.

"Eris, is everything alright?" Sunshine asked putting down the straw. "Are you feeling ill all of a sudden?"

"No-No, it's just a bit stuffy in here." She said coughing. "If you need me, just ring the bell I gave you. I'm going to go back to Fluttershy's. I'm sure she needs my help."

Before either of them could stop her, she was gone leaving the two alicorns to share a worried look.

"That cough didn't sound healthy." Cadance said. "She just got that pained expression on her face and left."

"I know," he said staring at his food. "Why do I have a feeling it has something to do with our recent changes. I know she'll probably come see me at some time in the future about it."

"How do you know that?" Cadance asked smirking at him.

"Call it a hunch." He said staring out the window. "An educated guess."

Fluttershy's Cottage

Fluttershy was by the stream, throwing worms to the fish as they stuck their mouths up to the surface to catch one. Smiling at the small white rings opening and closing even as she ran out of food for them, she waited patiently for them to leave, letting them figure out there was no more food. Taking the bucket and placing it on her back, she trotted back to the front door where she set the bucket down by the welcome mat. When she opened the door and saw Eris, she stopped and stared for a minute, watching the sickly goddess stand in the living room.

She was sweating, even with the thin shirt she had on, she was wheezing slightly and holding her chest with her paw, she was wobbling a bit and her eyes didn't seem focused on anything but the floor. Hearing a floor board creak, she slowly turned her head and smiled at the pegasus.

"H-Hey, Fluttershy." Eris said. "I just got back. Think-I think I'm going to take a nap. Wake me if you need something." Eris said collapsing onto the couch where she stared lazily at Fluttershy as the pegasus got closer.

"Eris?" Fluttershy said looking at the table by the couch where Angel stood, watching the goddess wheeze. "Y-You look like you're having trouble breathing. Do you want something to drink, maybe tea?"

"S-Some cold water." Eris said. "Don't worry about this. I'm sure it'll pass by tomorrow. J-Just a fluke."

Fluttershy, standing a second longer than she wanted to, went into the kitchen and retrieved the cold water Eris asked for. Watching the spirit slowly drink it and cough, she almost panicked if Eris had sucked in a deep breath and regained some of her color.

"See, I was just hot, that's all." Eris said patting the pegasus on the head. "I just needed something to clear my throat. In fact, I'm sure whatever I have will be gone by tomorrow morning."

Side-effects.

Eris was laying on her back, making a whining sound like a dog, holding her chest as she writhed on the floor. When a coughing fit came, no noise came out but ragged breathing. The goddess wildly looked around before he gaze settled on the stairs, pulling herself with her tail, she made it halfway up before another coughing fit made her stop there and rest.

Forcing her talon off of herself, she snapped it and she teleported outside over the stream. Dropping herself to the surprise of the fish, her breathing became much calmer as the cold water washed over her. Laying there for a moment, letting the water come back over, she watched the fish cautiously return and swim by.

Slowly pulling herself out, she took a handful of water and splashed it against her face as the heat began to return. Looking back at the cottage, she teleported herself into the kitchen.

Now standing sopping wet in the kitchen she opened the freezer door and squeezed herself in, shrinking herself until she was comfortably laying on a popsicle.

Upstairs

Fluttershy was just waking up, a compliment from Angel as he kept tapping her head, throwing her blanket to the side. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she slid off the bed with Angel jumping onto her back. Seeing the bathroom door closed, she figured Eris was up already and getting ready to take a shower. Going down the stairs to the living room, she stopped halfway when she stepped in something wet.

Lifting her hoof up, she looked around her and saw small spots on the wood. Hesitantly lifting her hoof to her nose, she sniffed it and quickly wiped it on the steps. Gliding the rest of the way down, she landed unsteadily by the couch and nearly slipped when more of the liquid was there. Looking at it, it made a trail to the steps where it stopped where she had stepped in it the first time.

"Eris?" She called out faintly, listening for the tricksters laughter and a bucket of water to pour on her. "Eris are you here?" She called after a moment of silence.

Hearing a lot of noise was calming for the pegasus nowadays, but the strange silence in the cottage sent chills down her back. Looking around, she saw something catch the light on the floor leading to the kitchen. Going to it, she paused briefly to look at the mess coming from her freezer.

Water, melted ice cream, frozen worms she kept for the birds, fruit now unrecognizable from the black coating each piece had that smoked slightly as it flaked away in the water and ice cream. And beginning to come out of the freezer, a trail of black smoke that came out in frequent bursts was changing color rapidly as it dissipated into the air.

"E-Eris?" Fluttershy said with a strong hint of concern in her voice as she watched the door fly open and a torrent of flame emerge sending her hiding behind her mane.

The flames died down, thankfully not setting her ceiling or walls on fire. Eris, dragging herself out hoped onto the floor and hit her chest a few times before smiling at the pegasus. Patting down the blue short sleeve and jeans, Eris looked at the remaining smoke on the ceiling before opening a window by the sink.

"Morning Fluttershy!" She said casually blowing a puff of smoke escaped her mouth. "Sorry about the mess, I was just a bit hot. I'll clean it up in a second."

Stepping onto the puddle, it all slid back into the freezer where Fluttershy got a glimpse of the black edges of the inside. Eris, looking at the mortified pegasus, shrugged and made her way to the bathroom upstairs.

Fluttershy carefully went to the freezer and opening it, looked inside to see none of the liquids or the burnt fruit were in there. Raising herself up, she looked at the bottom of it and saw into the lower part of her refrigerator.

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Feeling the suns rays hit him, Sunshine forced his curtains closed and sat up in the bed, eyes narrowed at everything. Looking down at the comforter, it was suddenly to brightly colored on him so he threw it into a corner. Sliding out of bed, he looked across from him and saw his reflection glaring back at him. Watching his reflection's wings begin to unfurl he threw a small spell at it, making the mirror bubble onto the floor in a hot puddle.

"I always hated mirrors, they made me feel so insecure." He growled. "Showing me everything wrong about myself."

Looking around only made him more agitated, so he went into the bathroom and sat in the tub, letting a stream of cold water hit his back. Glancing at the mirror, he bared his teeth and shattered it in its frame with a nudge of his magic.

Eris

Floating lazily through the air, the goddess was passing through clouds turning them into power upon contact. Dismissing it as one of her more uncontrollable acts in the morning, she went further up and stopped on one of her own cotton candy clouds to look out to the distance and see Ponyville, but hovering a short distance away was Cloudsdale. Remember the three pegasai she met the other day, she grinned and disappeared in her cloud.

Cloudsdale Gymnasium

Hoops and Score were both playing basketball while Dumb-bell was benching two thirties. As Hoops faked a shot right that his friend bought, he jumped up and side-dunked the ball. Landing with the ball, he smiled at his friend who snorted and went to get a drink of water. While Hoops was picking up the ball, he suddenly noticed it was beginning to bounce on its own.

Soon, it was bouncing up to the basket, and now making enough noise to make his friends sop and approach it in wonder.

"You ever seen it do that before?" Dumb-bell asked.

"No," Hoops said shaking his head. "It's not wind either."

The ball suddenly stopped and seemed to be floating in the air before Eris materialized with it in her talon. Putting it in the basket, she put her hands on her knees to lean down and smile at the three flabbergasted stallions.

"Hello, boys," she said. "I'm back."

"Hey Eris!" Hoops said. "I like the new hair."

"Yeah, it looks great." Dumb-bell said nodding along with Score.

"New hair?" She said running her hands through her hair and finding it had grown down past her shoulders. "When did that happen?" She wondered aloud.

"I don't know, I wasn't there." Score said shrugging. "So, what are you doing here? Come to see us?" He asked standing straighter.

"Oh, actually um, yes I did in fact." She said cupping her hands. "I wanted to know some... weather... things." She said uncertainly. "Like... how do you make those snow clouds?" She asked making one that rained ice cream appear.

"Oh, you wanna see the cloud factory?" Hoops said. "Sure, we can show you around. Isn't that right, boys?"

The two pegasai nodded and smiled. As they exited the gymnasium, none of them notice the basketball's surface had bubbled in the shape of Eris's talon. Neither did they notice the cloven hoof and claw marks on the cloud floor that were turning to dust, leaving holes in the floor that resealed itself.

Sunshine's Bedchambers

He had long since melted the shower head and evaporated all the water off himself after he thought of how it never poured out the amount of water he wanted or that the water never made him feel clean.

Standing in the bathroom, he sat down on the floor and stared at the tub. Looking at the toilet, a brief memory of him walking in on Eris brought his testosterone anger strewn mind to a complete halt.  Now with his mind wandering elsewhere, he got back in the tub and threw the piece of metal, now unrecognizable as the shower head, into the sink with the mirror shards. Feeling his cheeks and neck begin to heat up along with the sound of his blood being pumped out faster by his thundering heart, he turned on the faucet and let the water slowly build up.

With the cover of the water, he slowly sank back, giving him enough room to sink his head partially into the cold water while his eyes became distant.

Cloudsdale Cloud Factory

Eris was slightly impressed with the pegasus ingenuity of the building and machines. Looking down at the three stallions, they took three rubber coats, goggles and hardhats with rubber on them. Lifting one of the jackets up to herself, it could fit her, but not cover nearly as much as it did for her new friends. Putting it on, she was buttoning it when another coughing fit hit her, sending small smoke rings out her nose.

Once it subsided, she rubbed the tears out of her eyes and looked at Hoops and the others who were looking at her in worry and curiosity. She gave them a thumbs up and they shrugged before continuing their look around. Going back to the jacket, she straightened herself out, or tried before it stopped her. Sucking in a breath, she straightened herself out and buttoned the last two buttons before exhaling.

Once she did so, the buttons on the jacket shot off and went flying across the room. Looking down at the folds of rubber that hung against her sides uselessly now, she straightened out her shirt and noticed it was bulging near where her tuft of chest fur was. Frowning, she spared a glance at the others and saw them talking with a worker. Flattening her shirt again, this time away from any prying eyes, the bulge was actually two. Looking down her shirt, she cocked her head at the new growths.

"Weird," she said. "I wonder what they're for."

Turning back to the four pegasai, she grabbed a hardhat and ran over, wedging it between her horns. As she got closer, she saw they were talking with a pale blue mare with a white and black mane she had in a bun. Seeing the Draconequus, the mare smiled as did the others.

"You must be Eris," she said. "I heard you wanted to see how we make a white winter, huh? Well, I suppose you can follow me and I can show you."

"A fiend of ours," Hoops whispered. "Ice Sheet."

As she followed the pegasus up a flight of stairs at the end of the room, Eris saw one of her buttons and slid it underneath a machine mixing two vats of liquids. Going up the stairs, the air got considerably more humid while around Eris it began to heat up. Coming up on a catwalk, Score, the one closest to Eris, began to sweat and pant, so much Ice Sheet looked back and saw the stallion panting with his tongue out as he trudged up the steps.

"Score, are you feeling alright?" Ice Sheet asked. "You look a bit worn out."

"Y-Yeah, just feeling a bit hot, that's all." He said pumping the air with a hoof.

She shrugged and made room for the others at the top of the catwalk. Once they were all up, she stepped in front of a pair of doors that weren't made from clouds but seemed to be made of the same rubber as their coats.

"Now, I'm going to ask you to leave any metal objects outside, because we're about to enter the storm cloud manufacturing district of the building. Once we pass through that, well go through some gentler wind and we'll come out in the winter district. This is your last warning to drop any metal, or if you have any implants please cover the area with you jacket."

Seeing none of the group drop anything, except for Hoops covering his right fore-leg with his jacket, she smiled and pushed the doors open. Stepping into a smaller room with another set of the doors opposite to them, she let the first pair close before pushing through the second.

The sound was deafening, and the flashes of light were filtered through the group's goggles. Eris, having not gotten a pair, looked around in interest as her eyes filtered the flashes with ease. The wind wasn't especially strong, but it was enough to keep them staggering every few steps they took, especially for Hoop who had to lean on Dumb-bell for support.

The ceiling was comprised almost entirely of storm clouds, ranging from a dark grey to pitch black making the ceiling look like a rolling sea of lightning and cloud.

Eris was so transfixed by the sight that she almost didn't get away in time as a lightning bolt came at her. Jumping away she felt her hair stick up underneath her helmet and the fluff at the end of her tail frizz out from the electricity. With the nearly deafening boom of thunder, she dodged another as the air began to heat up more while she felt another coughing fit begin to come. Using her serpentine body to her advantage, she ran past the others, all the while dodging lightning as it sent a wall of electricity after her.

Bursting through the other pair of doors, the coughing already began before she hit the floor. Laying there, curled in a ring while hugging her chest, she flinched every time a muffled boom came from behind the storm doors. Getting up shakily, she coughed out any lingering smoke and stepped through the other doors, away from the lightning and thunder.

The room was brighter, almost as if it had a gentler version of Sunshine's sun. The clouds here were letting out a small mist the evaporated against her, the wind was calmer and cooler than in the other room. Taking in a deep breath, the cooling air set her burning throat and lungs at ease for the moment. Taking off her jacket and hardhat, she set them on the end of her tail to cover her fluff.

Moments after she was reaching for the doors she had just came through, the others came rushing, all of them with worried looks.

"Eris? Are you alright?" Ice Sheet asked looking her over. "You're a little warm, but... you managed to dodge every bolt. Good, you got away without a scratch."

"I'm fine, just a little shook up." She said flinching subtly from the far off sounding thunder. "Is this the calmer area? With less lightning and death?" She asked looking at the dazzlingly white clouds.

"Yes, it is." Ice Sheet said running a hoof over her fore-head. "I've never seen that happen before, really that isn't something that usually happens. I'll talk with some of the storm cloud handlers and see if they've been tinkered with. Hoops, you know what else to show her, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know what else." He said. "You just make sure we don't get fried going back."

"We have to go back through that?" Eris said in horror. "I think I'll just teleport out." She said crossing her arms over her plump chest.

"If you want to," he said. "You still haven't seen how they make all the ice and snow. Come on, it's right through these doors."

Leading the weary goddess through the last pair of doors. Opening them they were hit by a blast of frigid air, but Eris relaxed in the feeling of it running over her heated figure. Melting the ice as she walked, the snow coming from below swirled upwards before melting and evaporating on her.

"If you look above us, that's where they keep the two vats of liquid ice." Hoops said pointing up at the large vats taking up most of the ceiling. "If you touch the surface, it freezes over and the whole thing freezes with it. That's why we keep the clouds below and why this is also the cleanest room in the facility. So, this is the big freezer, any questions?" He asked turning to see Eris with steam coming off from around her. "Wow, are you feeling alright?"

"Why are there two vats?" She asked. "You would think one would be enough."

"Not just one town, but probably all of them." Score said. "That's just an extra in case of a bad production. This year though, we recycled the old ones and we have enough snow clouds for the towns, so we don't need either of the vats."

"How cold is the liquid ice?" She asked tracing a steaming finger through the snow. "Cold enough to put out a dragons' fire? From the inside?"

"I-I guess, sure." Score said. "Why? Do you plan on making a dragon drink that stuff?"

"Not exactly," she said disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Looking around they all stopped and slowly looked at one another before slowly looking up just in time to see the pinkish-white of Eris's tail disappear over the edge of the left vat. Flying up in a panic, the three pegasai clumsily smacked into each other as they flew into the narrow space above the vats.

Landing at the edge of the left one, they all nearly fell off when they looked in. Eris had just sucked the last of the two-hundred gallon vat of liquid ice, leaving no trace of it. No ice on the sides of it or on her.

"Thanks for the tour, boys, but I really must be going." She said waving at them before disappearing.

"Dude," Dumb-bell said. "How are we going to explain this? Guys?" He said looking to the side and seeing no sign of the other two.

The Library

Twilight was sitting at the lobby desk, going over the late returns and recent check-outs when Spike came running over, a worried look plastered on his face.

"Twilight," he said poking her on her side. "Eris is in the freezer."

"What?"

Getting up, Twilight slowly went into the kitchen and, true to his word, Eris's tail was hanging out of the freezer. It was swinging back and forth like a cat, lazily tracing circles on the floor. Stepping closer, Eris slid out of the freezer and was staring directly at Twilight through a lock of snow white hair.

"Eris," Twilight said looking at the unusually quiet goddess. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"I don't know," Eris said letting out a breath clouded with smoke. "Something is wrong with me. My chest has been hurting since yesterday and I kee-keep-" she stopped to go into a coughing fit, letting smoke pour out at an alarming rate as small bouts of flame were dancing between her teeth. "I keep doing that." Eris said wiping the tears from her eyes.

"It looks like something Spike occasionally during the spring." Twilight said looking at the pitiful looking goddess. "Your body must be maturing."

"Maturing?" She said snorting. "If you didn't notice, I had a beard before. I'd say I was mature."

"As a male," Twilight said going back into the main library. "I think, now that you're a female, your inner dragoness is maturing. I've read that they will begin having temporary over-heating and will try to find anything to cool themselves down."

"Well," Eris said following the alicorn. "I've already drank two-hundred gallons of liquid ice and that didn't help." She said kicking the floor.

"You drank liquid ice?" Twilight said staring at her in shock. "That should have definitely cooled you down enough. Here, let me feel your chest."

Sitting down in the chair she had recently occupied, Eris eyed Twilight nervously when the alicorn brought up a stool and put her hoof on her. When her hoof accidentally pressed into one of her breasts her reaction was instantaneous. She went through the chair and stuck to the wall, bushing heavily while she put her tail and arms over her chest. Twilight stared at the space where Eris once was before noticing the flustered goddess.

"C-Could you not touch those?" Eris said blowing out a plume of smoke. "They're sensitive."

"I can, but what are they?" Twilight asked pulling a book out from above Eris's head. "Dragon Anatomy."

Opening the book on the seat cushion, Twilight began flipping through the pages without blinking. Eris, curiosity overpowering her embarrassment, poked her head over and watched as descriptions of different dragon parts went by in a blur. Passing between two, Twilight stopped on one showing a rough sketch of a dragoness standing on her hind legs.

"It says here, one particular species of mountain dragon females will, upon maturity or nearing it, will go into a state of constant consumption of anything lower than their body temperature. In doing so, not only is the process sped up but the mammaries located on the chest will develop faster as well." Twilight read while Eris looked at the book in confusion. "You're growing breasts, Eris."

"So, what you're telling me is," Eris said slowly uncovering herself. "This is happening because I'm growing boobs? Like you ponies have?" She said curling her lip into a sour look.

"Not exactly," Twilight said putting the book away. "Ours are smaller and located out of sight. Yours seem to be on your chest and very visible.Tthey're like that to help attract a male dragon."

Eris, hearing this, shot a glance at Spike whom, after seeing her raise an eyebrow at him, stuck out his tongue and shook his head.

"Well, sorry to disappoint all the scaly bachelors out there," Eris said crossing her arms. "I'm not into dragons."

"Lucky them," Spike muttered sweeping a corner of the library.

"Eris," Twilight said getting an inquisitive look on her face as she stared at the Draconequus. "If you've had these late side-effects, could Sunshine also be having them?"

Eris's eyes went wide and in the same moment she and Twilight disappeared leaving Spike to stare where they once were. Sighing, he went back to sweeping the corner he had been vigilantly keeping clean in his boredom.

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Appearing without any warning, Eris and Twilight stood in chock at the state of disarray the room was in. The blanket was piled in a corner, the mattress was overturned with a cut nearly splitting it in half, the walls had signs of fire, the mirror was frozen on the drawers of the dresser, and one of the balcony doors had been nearly torn off its hinges.

"Eris, are you sure it's safe being in here?" Twilight asked feeling extremely unnerved by the sight of the room and lack of alicorn. "He may not be in a sound state of mind, he could even be dangerous."

"I think we've already established that." Eris said looking towards the bathroom. "The bathroom door seems relatively untouched. Since the city isn't in flames, I'd say he's in there."

Slowly approaching it with Twilight behind her, Eris grabbed the brass knob and looked back at Twilight as she turned it. When the door came open, they expected more damage than the melted piece of metal in the sink with mirror shards. Looking at the tub, Eris cocked her head as she saw Sunshine's eyes and anything above that sticking out of the water.

"Sunshine?" She said watching him suddenly jerk away from her voice with a panicked look on his face. "I can see you've been having problems of your own. How are you feeling?"

"E-Eris?" He said avoiding her eyes as he quickly settled back into the water and stared at her from the rim of the tub. "I-I feel fine. Just a little energized." He said returning to his submerged state.

"You don't seem fine." Eris said giving him a skeptical look as he gave her a sidewards glance. "A 'fine' pony wouldn't be sitting in a tub of water nearly submerged after wrecking their room."

"I felt angry." He said simply craning his dripping neck out over the edge of the tub. "I started thinking about other things so... Eris, is there something different about you? Other than your hair?"

"Oh, I've apparently grown these things." Eris said cupping her breasts. "Twilight says it's to attract male dragons, but I told her I'm not into dragons." Eris said watching Sunshine's eyes stare at her chest for a moment before he bit his lip and blushed. "Sunshine, why are you blushing?" She said covering her chest.

"I-I'm not sure." He said closing his eyes in the tub. "I'm just feeling flustered."

"I think it may not be just dragons attracted to them." Twilight said making Eris look down at her with an embarrassed look. "You saw how he was staring and the way he blushed."

"I don't care, just don't say that out loud. It's creepy." She said looking back at Sunshine who was getting out of the tub. "You're not going to try and be my dragon are you?" She said backing away when his face flushed again and he jumped back in the tub. "So that's why you're in there."

"Y-Yes! I'm in here because of that." He said suddenly beginning to breath heavily. "You think I like being like this? Switching between anger and arousal? You're wrong! You're all judging me... I hate it when I'm judged over something I can't help!"

His pupils had shrunk, giving his eyes the look of two suns as his wings flared out. He slowly got out of the tub, keeping his head low while he visibly grit his teeth, stretching his lips into a tight sneer a vein popped up on his neck as he continued to breath like he had just gone for a long run.

"E-Eris," Twilight said suddenly feeling very small against the larger alicorn glaring death at the two of them. "I-I really think we should leave."

"I hate it when my own friends ditch me when I need them!" He yelled charging the two of them.

Eris took a step to the side, blocking his shot of Twilight as he jumped. He slammed into her, not even making the clothes on her move as she looked down at him with worry and fear. Sliding Twilight out with her tail, she closed the door and locked her and the enraged alicorn in the bathroom together.

"You need to calm-" Eris was saying before he pushed himself against her, trying desperately to move her. "Calm down, you just have to much testosterone going through your body."

"Get out of my way!" He growled. "Don't think I wont blow this room up! I never liked it, always so fancy and shiny. It always hurt my eyes when I came in her in the morning."

As he was readying a spell, she reached forward and plucked his horn off. He stood looking at his horn like a kicked puppy. Reaching up to rub his smooth fore-head, he flattened his ears against his head and stared dejectedly down at the floor.

"Give it back." He said with no anger in his voice, but instead a small sadness. "You promised you would never do that again."

She looked at the horn, and remembering a distant memory of Celestia without her horn while a group of townsponies mocked her until he gave it back so she could get away, her throat tightened up as she curled a fist around the ridged piece of bone. Holding it in her paw, she looked at the depressed alicorn in pity.

"I'll give it back," she said putting her talon under his chin to raise his head. "Just, please... calm down. I don't want to take you to the hospital for another injury."

Putting it back on, he looked away and sat by the tub. Sitting there, he hugged himself with his wings before looking up at Eris as she rubbed her arm.

"I'm sorry." He said. "It's difficult getting these new thoughts in order. It was always difficult doing difficult things like this without somepony to help. Just like a thousand years ago." He said taking a shuddering breath.

"Well," Eris said feeling awkward. "I think I know how you can burn off all that testosterone. I can lend you some of my old weights if you'd like?"

"You exercised?" He said laughing. "I've never seen you run more than a foot before tiring."

"I skipped leg day." She said crossing her arms at him. "I should probably have not skipped leg day. Maybe I could have been able to run from the Elements of Harmony when I figured out they would work the second time."

"Yeah," Sunshine said. "Can I come out now? If Twilight is still outside, I'd like to apologize."

"Only if you promise not to stare at my chest." She said looking away as he snorted. "It was bad enough when I was walking through town without clothes, the last thing I need is you staring at me like that too."

"Don't worry then," he said smiling. "You have my word."

Grand meeting.

Twilight backed away into a corner once she saw Sunshine poke his head out the bathroom door. Dragging the blanket over, she held it in front of her face like a foal hiding from the monster under their bed. Watching as he looked away from her even as he came near, flinching whenever her breathing came out in a squeak, he still never looked her in the eyes. She had stopped breathing when he was standing over her, and slowly he got down on his knees and wrapped his wings around her making her shut her eyes momentarily from fear before she realized he was hugging her to calm her nerves.

"I'm sorry, Twilight." He said rubbing her back with a hoof. "I should have sent a letter, I should have warned you... If Eris hadn't been here I-I don't know what I would have done to you. I'm sorry."

Hearing the sincerity in his voice, she slowly tried to wrap her own fore-legs around his shoulders but found they were to wide. Instead, she just hugged his neck and let a few tears escape.

Letting go, Sunshine took one last look at his former student as she got up before turning to the bathroom door where Eris was standing, watching him with her eagle talon in a snapping position. Giving her a nod, she lowered her talon and watched as he went to another corner where he had put his new regalia. Putting on the red metal, he took a deep breath and doing what Cadance did when she was stressed, put a hoof to his chest and took a few calming breathes.

"Eris," he said turning back to her and found she was glaring at a mirror shard. "Eris." He said louder, grabbing her attention, but not before she shattered the shard underneath her hoof.

"Yes?" She asked wiping the shards away as she gave him a forced smile.

"If you wold like to stay, I plan on addressing my guards of my recent transformation. I'm sure you would find some amusement in seeing the shock on their faces." He asked grinning as she shrugged. "You can be the one to announce my arrival to the public any way you wish too, as long as there are no floating buildings." He said making her grin become genuine and her eyes light up with a devious spark.

Eris, cupping her hands while her ears formed horns, disappeared in a bout of laughter leaving Twilight to look at Sunshine in concern.

"Sunshine," Twilight said mortified at the prospect of Eris having free roam in Canterlot. "You realize you just let the spirit of chaos run rampant through Equestria's capital, right?"

"I realize I just let a responsible, kind hearted mare run rampant through the city, yes." He said smiling as he looked out the window. "Hmm, no flashing colors, screaming or crying and I see nothing in the process of being morphed or coming alive, nor do I see any changes in the weather. Twilight, sometimes you need to look past the past and see her for what she is now. A kinder spirit of chaos with a heart of gold and a motherly care for all living things."

"She does seem to be more controlled than when she was Discord." Twilight said biting her lip. "But she's still a trickster."

"Why do you say that?"

"After I lied to a guard for her," Twilight said making him raise an eyebrow. "She gave me a glass of tea made with salt."

Smirking, he chuckled to himself before he couldn't hold it in and laughed, causing Twilight to go red in the face. Going to her, he put a wing over her bringing her into a hug again.

"Twilight, that was a harmless joke. One she has pulled on me and my sister before." He said looking at her even as she stared back up, still flustered. "She may be a trickster, but she's not turning furniture into to taffy or putting superglue on my sister's throne. That, even we agreed, was too far." He said shuddering from the memory.

"I know she's a trickster, but she doesn't follow the same rules like she did before." She said letting her head lean on his shoulder.

"That might be because the rules have changed," Sunshine said. "The last time I checked, there wasn't a male alicorn or a female Draconequus. To her, this is like a game, one where all the pieces on either side have been thrown off and are being replaced."

"She said something similar about her relationship with you." Twilight said smiling. "She's always playing a game with you, she said."

"She's right." He said smiling as he looked back at the city. "When you have nothing but time, you need something to keep you sane."

Canterlot

Smiling gleefully as she watched Sunshine through the telescope she had perched on a two story building, her smile became razor thin when he saw him walk out of view. Waiting for two minutes, she waited for him to poke his head back out, but when he didn't, she giggled with a maelstrom of devious and chaotic thoughts pooling in her head. Looking down at the nobles of Canterlot, the supposed elite of the country, she appeared down on the clean streets with a flick of her tail.

The nobles, taking notice of the cackling goddess stopped in either trepidation or disgust but otherwise didn't acknowledge her. With a short leap, no more than two feet off the ground, she was suddenly standing on a mahogany podium with a microphone and all around the city, speakers had appeared in random intervals.

"Testing, testing," she said listening to her voice come clear through the speakers. "Hello ladies and gentlecolts," she said letting her heart slow down to deep pumps instead of the fast paced ones she had seconds before. "My name is Eris, the former-former ruler of Equestria and gender-bent Draconequus, formerly known as Discord. If you are wondering about the subject of this message, it is only to instill as much patriotism to your new prince of Equestria. Yes, that's right, a male alicorn is on the throne. You all should have an easy time guessing who he was before he was a stallion."

When the nobles merely stuck up their noses and threw a few harsh insults her way, she only smiled and watched them go on their way. Grabbing the microphone in her hands as a sea of her cotton candy clouds began swirling overhead, she blew a small jet of fire into the microphone and fire erupted from all the speakers. The roads morphed, turning to sand in some areas and caramel in others while buildings became transparent and the tallest were colored in stripes, dots or plaid as her chaotic influence spread over the city.

"Maybe I didn't make it clear before," she said looking at the startled crowd around her. "You all are going to go to the very stage where Celestia would raise the sun during the Summer Sun Celebration or I'll turn this city into my own personal playground. And I should warn you, I tend to break my toys' little minds, bending them like licorice over a flame, until it's like a red putty. So, unless you all want to start hugging cabbages and run from saber tooth rats, I'd suggest you hurry."

The ponies quietly taking cautious steps around the smirking goddess, whispered to one another as the ground with each step became normal again until they stepped off. Watching the chaos around her, Eris took to the rooftops that she'd made into interconnecting ice rinks and giant donuts. Skating on the ice and taking a bite out of a lemon glazed doughnut, she sighed happily as she savored it. Her first real taste of chaos, metaphorically and literally, since her reforming.

Canterlot Castle Ball Room

Sunshine peeked around the edge of the curtain as he, Twilight, Cadance and his sister stood behind it, listening to the two guard captains have their ranks form two groups. The day guard were quickly assembling into their respected line while Luna's night guard were squinting against the light and mumbling about loss of sleep.

"The first step," Sunshine said drawing his head back. "Thankfully I won't have to take it alone." He said giving his niece's mane a light ruffle.

"The guards should be easy enough," Luna said. "It is the nobles I am most concerned about. Brother, where might Eris be? Twilight told me that she was here earlier."

"She's... speaking with the nobles on her own terms." He said resisting the urge to snicker at his sister's face. "You shouldn't have to worry about any collateral damage or any ponies becoming discorded, she knows better than to do that now."

"If you have forgotten, she is not Discord any longer." Luna said ruffling her wings. "You heard her yourself, she doesn't have to follow her old rules anymore. Yet, you let her loose in the city? Has this change of gender affected your judgement?"

"No, it has not." He said frowning at her. "If you would have taken the time to get to know her, this new Eris, if you had seen how caring she was you wouldn't be saying that. This gender change only affected her judgement in positive ways. I believe the guard captains have everypony in position so, Luna, I do believe it's time." He said going to her side while Twilight and Cadance took their sides.

Pushing the curtain aside, Sunshine took a moment to look at the shocked guards and, the others who visibly tensed upon seeing the foreign alicorn near their other princesses. Stepping forward with his sister, most of the night guard and a third of his own guard looked between them in suspicion before Luna took the center stage.

"Day guard and Night," she said letting her voice easily echo across the bare room. "You have all been gathered here today for the official introduction of Equestria's recent ruler, or former ruler depending on your point of view. Prince Sunshine."

At the mention of his name, Luna along with nearly all the guards, Twilight and Cadance visibly snorted without trying to hide the small smiles they had as he took her place on the stage.

"Good evening and morning to you all," he said receiving no response from any of them but flat stares. "As my sister has told you, I will be a new ruler. I will be replacing Princess Celestia because," he turned and showed them his cutie mark making nearly the whole assembly gasp. "I am her. Even in this new body, I still expect the same loyalty from either side of the guard and I also expect you to treat me the same, as if I were still a mare, but excuse me for pointing this out rather bluntly, I would appreciate it if my own guards would not eye me from behind. I always noticed it but I didn't want to embarrass any of you."

A large number of the Day guard blushed and were suddenly staring at the golden helmets in front of them, even some of the Night guard had turned a shade darker. Noticing this, Luna smirked at her own guards before turning her attention back to her brother.

"If you have any issue with this, speak now or later in the evening when I will be free." Sunshine said looking over the guards who, still remained motionless, as he expected them to be. "if there are no questions, you may return to what you were doing."

"The Night guard are mine, brother." Luna said watching as her guards were still. "You all may return to your bunks!" She yelled, but when none of them stirred, she shook her head realizing they had fallen asleep.

"That went better than I thought it would." Cadance remarked. "Now, for the nobles."

"Did somepony say nobles?"

Looking behind her, they all saw Eris standing there with an impossibly large grin and a whip cream mustache that she licked off with a finger. Snapping her finger, they hadn't been able to utter a word before they teleported.

Canterlot

The sounds of murmurs filled the air before a loud pop struck the nobles silent. Standing there with Eris, Princess Twilight, Princess Cadance and Princess Luna stood an alicorn, who if he were to raise onto his back hooves, could match Eris's height. With his crimson armor shinning in the fluctuating light, he looked around at the chaos before him in hidden amusement.

Streets both made of sand and caramel were beginning to melt back into stone, the cotton candy storm began to disappear and the multicolored buildings regained their original color. Looking back at Eris, she winked with a smirk that, after nodding her returned making her shy away from his gaze. Looking back at the crowd, nearly the whole city was there, and all of them were staring with as much trepidation as they did with Eris.

"Nobles of Canterlot," he said letting part of his own Canterlot voice roll out making them all jump. "If you have not already heard of me, I am Prince Sunshine." He looked back and saw his sister looking at him with a straight face, devoid of any emotion. "I, as a former princess," he said turning to show his cutie mark. "Will serve just as I have done before my recent transformation. If any of you disagree with this choice, speak now or forever hold what qualms against me to yourselves."

A portly blue stallion hesitantly raised his hoof, stretching his matching jacket. Sunshine, looking at him, nodded in his direction and directed his full attention to him.

"Y-Your highness," the stallion said sweating so bad the front of his jacket began to darken. "What gives you the right to take the throne of the former princess?"

"Seeing as I am her," Sunshine said pointing at his cutie mark again. "I would think that half of the throne would still belong to me. Now, if my sister were to take it, I doubt I'd put up little resistance if not for the sake of having time to myself." He said laughing but, seeing none of the others laugh he quieted down. "Ignore the poor joke, I still have every intention to rule as I did before. With peace and the protection of my subjects in mind."

Satisified, the stallion back away but now two different ponies, slimmer in build but near the same caramel color with cameras hanging from their necks, stepped forward. Sunshine acknowledged the closer one, the one with the cream colored mane slicked back and hidden under a pork pie hat.

"Your highness," he said without any hesitation in his voice. "May I ask, is the Eris character who summoned nearly all of Canterlot have any special relationship to you?"

His calm complexion faltered for a moment from the question and Eris's eyes widened before she caught herself and stared at Sunshine as he stood there, seemingly frozen in thought. Slowly though, the alicorn cleared his throat and pulled at the collar of his regalia.

"I--If what you mean to ask is she romantically involved with me, the answer is no. She is a close companion and, I say this with respect and pride for her, a very good nurse. Yes, I said nurse because recently I have gotten injured numerous times, but thankfully to her, I was quickly put into medical care and even now I still am."

Eris, hearing his compliments, blushed and allowed a small smile to splay on her lips as she curled a lock of hair.

The reporter, satisfied, backed away while his look-alike stepped forward, and holding a notepad brought a pencil out.

"If I may speak to Eris," he said, his voice a slightly higher pitch than the other reporter. "Going back to the former question, do you intend to have you any romantica-"

He was speaking one moment, but now he was silent. Putting a hoof to his throat, he rubbed it before he spit out a cotton-ball. Sunshine, looking at Eris, saw her red in the face and inspecting her lion claws. She glanced over at him and the reporter with the numbed mouth and back to Sunshine who had an eyebrow raised at her making her turn even redder.

"Answering his question," Eris said casually stepping up to Sunshine to lean on his head with an elbow. "If I had any intentions like that, I could have gotten him any time I wanted." She said brushing the fluff  of her tail under his chin and smiling as he shook his head and snorted, blushing nearly as much as her while she still leaned on nothing. "I, while I was still Discord, do admit I liked the princess." She said making the crowd gasp. "Don't act shocked, I'm sure almost all of you felt the same way."

"So," the reporter from before, the one speaking much more confidently than the other. "You have thought about trying to have some relationship with hi-I mean her?"

"At one point, yes." She said nodding. "Too bad this won't make much of a story since none of those feelings exist now. Trust me, it would be as obvious as Luna trying to sneak past an orange wall."

Satisfied, with the answer, he begrudgingly began to erase some of what he had written previously. Looking over the crowd again, Sunshine saw no others speaking up and beginning to turn and speak with his sister, stopped and peered into a corner of the crowd. Once he saw the face, his eyes widened and he sneered as he got to the edge of the stage and stared death at Artery Blocker.

"You lousy fraud!" He yelled letting his voice shake the ground and the ponies with it. "Guards! Arrest him!" He yelled pointing at Artery Blocker even then as his guards began to converge from the corners of the crowd and onto the terrified pony.

Before any of his guards came near him though, he disappeared right before their eyes. Sunshine, looking around felt a gust of air behind him and turning, saw him on stage with Eris glaring down at him.

"You know, Twilight told me something very interesting the other day," Eris said feeling her ears go hot. "About how you were insulting Sunshine because he ate your poisoned food over an urge he couldn't resist. Do you remember what I told you, if you ever insult him again, I'd make you eat the rest of your teeth? Remember? Because I certainly do." She said cracking her knuckles.

"I-I think I'd like t-to be arrested now." He said looking at Sunshine. "I-I dropped the charges! Just get your crazy girlfriend away from me!" He yelled jumping into the path of a guard, who, quickly put a pair of shackles on him.

At the word 'girlfriend' the crowd began bombarding Sunshine and Eris with questions. Looking around in frustration Eris teleported them all away, away from the crowd and guards attempting to keep them calm.

Canterlot Castle Throne Room

They all paused briefly to look at their new surroundings, but once they figured it out Sunshine turned to where he expected Eris to be, but found she wasn't with them. Looking around, he noticed his sister wasn't there either, leaving him with Cadance and Twilight.

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Eris stood behind Luna, red in the face while the alicorn took a moment to collect herself before she realized where she was. Looking around, she saw the Draconequus sitting on the edge of Sunshine's bed. Eris, as red as her tail in the face, very well nearly turned into a dark red as she gently gripped her chest while a small trail of smoke drifted up before stopping.

"Eris," Luna said watching the Draconequus look at her from the bed. "Where are the others?"

"Throne room." She said simply.

"So why did you bring us here?" Luna asked watching Eris blow hair off her face.

"I figured you wold like to question me about my openness with my secret feelings for Celestia." Eris said. "Am I right?"

"Partially. But you seemed to be blushing when he winked at you and praised you for your nursing." She said smiling as Eris smirked. "You still harbor feelings for him?"

"That, is a dirty lie my conscience has been feeding me." She said snorting. "Well, I'm not sure actually. A part of me does like him and another part of me has this weird twisted feeling in it. It's cold and stings whenever I think about it."

"That would be fear." Luna said making Eris narrow her eyes at her. "I'm guessing your conscience has told you that too?"

"She has." Eris admitted sitting upright. "Still, the part of me that does like him isn't quite sure of itself either. It's a simple yes or no question that I keep putting maybe down for the answer. Do you have any advice?"

"That question isn't for me to answer." Luna said smiling at Eris as the spirit's smile vanished. "I apologize if that wasn't the answer you wanted."

"It's fine," she said. "Listen, can you keep this secret? I don't want him feeling awkward every time we see each other, so just try and keep this in the mind and not in the air."

"I don't know," Luna said inspecting a hoof cover. "What would I gain from it? After all, I would just be keeping a secret from my closest relative that I've kept by my side for centuries. Imagine the strain that would put on me."

"Now that's dirty." Eris said frowning at the smirking alicorn. "What do you want then?"

"For you to make up your mind." Luna said frowning at Eris. "That question will stay in your mind like a poison does in your blood unless you cure it. So decide, is he the cure or that maybe you're just friends?"

"For once," Eris said raising her talon. "Could you not be so confusing?"

Teleporting the alicorn away, Eris let herself fall back in the bed. Laying there for a moment to rest, she suddenly felt drained both physically and mentally. Crawling up to the pillow, she made herself comfortable and threw the blanket over herself.

As she was falling asleep from exhaustion, she noticed the bed becoming moist. Lifting the blanket she saw her fur matted down in sweat while the heat was back in her chest. It wasn't as bad as it was before, it was even fading now but it was still causing her discomfort internally and externally. Glancing at the door, she bit her lip as she looked outside and saw the sun was past mid-day and slowly getting lower.

'It wouldn't hurt, would it?' She thought to herself. 'But what if he comes in and sees me like this? What would I do? What would he do?' She thought glancing at her paw and claw gripping the bottom of her shirt. 'He's a gentlecolt, he'd know to look away. Besides, I've slept in his bed without a shirt on before, so why is it now that I have these... breasts... sticking out, that it would make a difference? He'd be reasonably, even before being turned into a stallion he was reasonable like that.'

Gripping the bottom of her shirt with a little less force, she lifted it up and slipped it over her horns without ease. The cool air in the room made her smile in relief as the small fire finally began to extinguish itself. Pulling the blanket up, she jerked it up, out of breath when it brushed against her sensitive skin. Blushing from the feeling, she slowly rolled onto her side but still felt the soft fabric of the bed brush against her making her bite her bottom lip to the point where it almost drew blood.

Getting comfortable, she closed her eyes and let the cool air and soft bed lull her aching body to sleep.

Canterlot Castle Dining Ball

Sunshine stared at the salad in front of him, seemingly smaller now with his small change in growth. Eating the cherry tomatoes, he looked at the other end of the long table and saw the empty seat where his sister would be. Sighing, he ate a few of the sifter pieces of lettuce and the grapes on the side before taking his pill bottle out from under his wing. Opening it up, he took out a pill and took it with a sip from the coffee in his hoof.

Pushing the plate away, he hung onto the pill bottle as he teleported outside.

Standing on the roof, he watched as his sun turned orange as his magic took hold and slowly dragged it down below the horizon. As his sister's moon rose and the night air fell on him, he suddenly realized the exhaustion he felt from having to deal with the nobles and the former chef. Gripping his pill bottle a little tighter, he took off into the air with two flaps of his wings and hastily began flying to his tower.

Looking down as the moonlight hit the gardens, he saw his sister strolling through the exotic plants with an escort. Passing them, he looked towards his balcony where he landed without hardly any sound. Looking down at his horseshoes, he saw a faint glow on the bottoms of them.

Opening the repaired door to his room, the air inside was warmer than the misty cold outside. Quickly going in and stripping his regalia off to set in a corner, he saw his bed had been repaired along with his mirror. Not wasting another moment he climbed into bed, oblivious to Eris. But, as he put the blanket on himself, he felt something underneath a wing irritating it. Reaching down with a hoof, he pulled the object out and he stared at it in confusion.

'What is Eris's shirt doing in my bed?' He thought before an eagle talon found the back of his neck and pulled him against something warm, soft and flattening slightly on him. 'This is happening to often for comfort.'

Setting down the shirt, he looked up and saw Eris's head on the headboard. Attempting to pry her off him only made her pull him closer and that's when he began blushing. Attempting to wiggle away he stopped when she let out a little moan. Against his rational thoughts, he looked down and saw her breasts were pressed against his own chest. As his face turned into the same shade as his regalia, he put the pillow his head was resting on onto his face. Using his magic, he lifted a small blanket out from underneath the bed and gently wrapped around her chest and tying it into a bow on her back.

'This had hopefully not become a regular occurrence, otherwise I'll need those weights sooner than we thought.'

The beginning of winter.

With an extremely nervous expression, Sunshine gently took off the avian hand from his neck and put his pillow in his place as he'd done before. Risking the chance, he slid himself off the bed and onto the floor where he realized, as he hung over the floor, that her tail had wrapped around his barrel and the fact she was holding two-hundred and eighty pounds of alicorn in her sleep as well. The thought didn't escape him and offered a small comfort from the absurdity before her tail curled further around him and broke him from his trance.

Grabbing her gently by the tail he opened a space large enough for him to slide his upper torso through before he got caught by the shoulders. With his fore-hooves pressed uncomfortably against his shoulders, he stopped struggling when she shifted on the bed. Freezing, he listened for her voice or laugh to see him in such a compromising position. When she just rolled over once more, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. As he was trying the pry the limb of muscle off himself, he came to a realization making him sigh even as he escaped her unconscious clutches in a quick teleport.

Getting off his back and off the floor he cracked his neck before looking back at the bed. Eris was laying on her side, hair splayed out around her just showing part of her face, a small smile was on her lips even as her tail hung off the bed. He stood there for a moment, looking at her in the sunlight before pulling the blanket further up on her with his magic as he went to the bathroom.

Turning on the water it came out in a rush and quickly turning it down to a drizzle, he looked back and saw Eris still asleep. Taking his toothbrush out of the holder on the sink, he squirted a bit on mint toothpaste on it and let a little water soak onto it before quickly turning the water off. As he was brushing, he realized he hadn't looked away from her sleeping form. Feeling awkward he spit the foam out, rinsed and quietly shut the door. Going to the corner with his regalia he quietly picked each piece up before pausing on his way to the door.

Teleporting a piece of parchment and an ink well with one of his own feathers in it, he quickly wrote a small note that he slipped between the door as he left.

Eris's Dreamscape

She was laughing while she sat on her throne; pigs flew, buffalo performed ballet, cotton candy clouds were raining chocolate milk, the ground was a checkerboard for her to move pieces and ponies alike and the Elements of harmony were stone themselves. Stretching over the arm rests she let her body simply bend to the natural law of gravity.

Staring upside-down at the chaos only fueled the insanity in her mind as she began flipping wagons and lakes with a single thought. Even as she righted herself the area around her still wasn't quite right, even with the chaos around her she quickly grew bored and paused everything. Frowning, she got out of her throne and looked at Twilight and the others, their faces and their actions frozen in time.

They hadn't been discorded, not this time, but instead were all restrained in some way. Either from a giant jello mold, glue, or duct-tape they all had one thing in common; they were ashamed. Not afraid, not angry at her, but they looked ashamed as their glassy eyes stared at where her throne was. Looking closer, she could see tears that had been forming in Fluttershy's eyes, even Rainbow had one slipping down the side of her cheek as she looked at the empty throne.

Looking at it herself, Eris's world grew dark. It hadn't disappeared but the day had turned to night and the warm air turned into a bitter cold. She looked around, unfreezing everything as she returned things to normal, everything but her throne which had turned into Sunshine and Luna's throne. Looking at her hands, she noticed the floor was a red carpet now, one that stretched to the golden throne where a familiar set of faces were glaring at each other. Discord and Celestia, locked in an unblinking fight were quiet aside from Discord's occasional chuckle.

Moving closer to the two, the sinking feeling she had felt looking at Fluttershy and the others only worsened as the scene changed again and it was of Celestia and Luna without their regalia, but with the saddlebags that carried the Elements of Harmony.

Looking at the three of them, Discord, Celestia and Luna, she tried to close her eyes when the rainbow hit but they wouldn't comply. Even as Discord was being turned to stone, she could feel the effects as if it were happening again and just as suddenly as it had began, it stopped. Taking a moment to notice the cold had stopped up to her wrists, she looked around and the world in the process of turning again was frozen in an inky grey. Looking around, she saw only one thing with any color and she was walking towards her.

"Eris," Luna said eying the changing landscape with unease. "Out of all the nightmares, I hadn't expected you to be having one with such ferocity." She said looking at the shivering spirit.

"Neither did I." Eris replied rubbing her arms to get the feeling back in them. "You froze it, just like you and Celestia did to me a thousand years ago. Cold, black and dark... just like the stone."

"Yes," Luna said nodding. "Just like the stone. Eris, why do you think you were having this nightmare in particular? Ponies have nightmares and dreams for specific reasons, but I don't see any reason for you to be reliving these tragic events. Is there something bothering you?" She asked bending her head down to look at Eris's downcast eyes. "Eris?"

"I-I was having a dream before." She waved her paw and the nightmare whirled away to the former scene with Twilight and Ponyville and ruin. "It was great with all the chaos and wackiness.... that was until I saw what I was really doing." She said nodding towards Twilight and the others. "This may be a dream, but I'm still the one who hurt them. I've just dreamt of hurting my friends. What do you think is bothering me?"

"I think," she said carefully, lowering her voice gently. "It may be the motherly-side Sunshine told me about. I doubted it when he told me he'd let you loose in the city, but I see I was wrong. I've been wrong about a lot of things this past week, haven't I?" She said making a humorless laugh.

"I just feel wrong." Eris said kicking a daisy with a bear head in mid-roar on it. "My feelings towards Sunshine, if there are any, this whole mess and... well, this fear about waking up."

"Why would you be afraid of waking up?" Luna asked narrowing her eyes in interest.

"I may have taken my shirt off last night when I slept in Sunshine's bed." She said blushing from the thought of waking up at the same moment as him. "If anything happened last night... I'd rather not want to have to deal with it."

"You're afraid he'd be upset?" Luna said smiling as she nodded, her long hair obscuring her face. "Eris, he may be a stallion, but he is nothing like the ones' down in Ponyville. If he still behaves like my sister, than he would have been just as uncomfortable as you, most likely even more."

"Him?" She laughed. "I've caught him staring a few times, but you're right. He is well mannered; enough for me to know he wouldn't do anything he'd regret on purpose."

The scene changed again, startling Luna and seeing her shocked, startled Eris too. It turned to night again, but the space wasn't frozen and the air was pleasant. A full moon shone down on both of them, the wind blew across an open field making the light from the moon reflect off the grass like a white wave. In front of them, a white gazebo with lanterns strung up on the sides allowed for zero visibility to the two characters inside.

Getting closer, both alicorn and Draconequus both went up to the patchwork side and put an eye to a hole. Those two eyes, widened at the sight of Eris and Sunshine laying together.

Eris was curled around one of Sunshine's back legs while he hugged her head as he rested his own between her horns. The red and white picnic blanket they were laying on had a stain from a spilled wine glass and sitting next to that one was another one sitting on its rim beside a wine bottle that had been drained, both half the glass and all the liquid inside it were gone. Sunshine had a white dress shirt on with suspenders, but his jacket was acting as a blanket for Eris as the white dress she had on was crinkled at his hind-legs.

"Eris," Luna whispered to the real Draconequus. "Eris, are you wearing a wedding dress?"

"Am I drunk?" She asked looking at the wine bottle and seeing it groove smoothly like a wave around the edges, she sighed, flattening her ears against her head. "Of course dream me is drunk."

"Eris, is he cuddling you?" Luna asked raising her voice slightly. "Are you dreaming your own honeymoon with my brother!?" She hissed feeling extremely awkward as her dream-brother nuzzled the dream-Eris's head.

"I'd say I know what's going on, but I haven't got a clue." Eris said looking at the heartwarming scene in front of her. "I'm not sure whether I should be gagging or curious. I-I think it's time we leave."

Without waiting for Luna to answer, she swiped her paw again and they both jumped back at the next dream.

They were in Sunshine's bedroom, the curtains were drawn and the air was heavy with the smell sweat and feminine moaning. The dream-Eris was underneath Sunshine, gripping onto the sheets while the bed rocked with each thrust he made. The blanket covered most of what they could see, but it was obvious what was going on. Quickly swiping her paw again, they were brought to a new scene, this one much more family friendly with Eris, Sunshine and Luna all smiling at the dining hall table.

"T-That..." Luna chocked trying to get her breath back as her face turned an even darker purple each second. "T-That was my brother... a-and you.... I'll never be able to get that memory out of my mind."

"Imagine how I feel!" Eris said looking around as if the dream would come back.

"I can!" Luna retorted laughing hysterically. "I think we both know how you feel!" She said shaking her head at the embarrassed spirit.

"I-I do not!" She yelled making fists every few seconds as she fanned herself with her tail. "I-I didn't know that would come up! I haven't even thought of anything like that... I haven't! Really!"

"J-Just keep it at this. Please." Luna said putting a hoof to her chest before she slumped onto her haunches. "That was the single-most disturbing thing I have ever seen in my life. To see a former enemy and my own sibling together like that, and gender-bent no less! Eris, I think I will leave before we wander into another scene like that. Good morning to you, and good night to me. If I will even be able to sleep now..."

When she disappeared, Eris's dream world vanished like paint being washed from a wall.

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Eris groggily opened her eyes, brushing away strands of hair as she sat up. Gripping the blanket, she looked to her side and saw the bed was empty. Relaxing slightly, but feeling her cheeks were warm from the blood rush, she noticed the pink blanket wrapped around her chest. Looking at it, she blushed harder as the origin of how it came to be on her connected in her mind. Looking around, her shirt had gone missing too.

Climbing out of bed, a ray of sunlight that was steadily climbing through the room, hit her in the eye making her stagger and fall out of bed. Blowing hair out of her eyes only for it to fall back on them, she pushed herself up and as she was doing so, saw her shirt on the other side of the bed. Going around and shaking any dust from it, she slipped it back on just as the sunlight outside vanished. Curious, she went to the balcony doors and drew back a curtain.

Pegasai were gathering storm clouds and placing them over the city, the castle and even down to Ponyville below. Looking at the black and grey clouds for a moment too long for her liking, she drew the curtain back and turned towards the bathroom.

Staring at the door for a moment, she shrugged and instead went to the main door. When she opened it, a letter fell out by her claw. Picking it up, she looked at the guard stationed there and seeing the mare remain a statue, unfolded the note.

'Dear Eris,' she read, smiling at his formality even in a friendly note. 'If you get this, which I somewhat doubt since you're not fond of doors, I hope you are not alarmed by the blanket I put on you. It was for decency sake when you had pulled me into a hug. Again. Not wanting to wake you, I asked Luna if she could check on you before she went to bed herself. I'll be in the dining hall; there's fresh coffee waiting if you want it.'

As she put the note in her pocket, she hadn't taken her paw out when she was gone.

Dining Hall

Sunshine was quietly poking at a bowl of oatmeal in contempt while his bottomless glass of water sat next to it. Taking another mouthful of the cinnamon raisin and oats, the water earlier made the bland taste stronger and the cinnamon taste wrong. When a flash of light bounced off his glass, he smiled even before he heard the click-clack of a hoof and claw on the marble floor.

"Good morning, Eris. Sleep well?" He asked while the usually talkative Draconequus was unnaturally quiet and even flinched at his voice. "My morning has been fine, thank you for asking."

"M-Morning," she said pulling out a chair and easing herself into it. "Thank you for the blanket." She said using her hair to avoid eye contact as the color returned to her cheeks.

"Oh, you got my note then?" He asked smiling as she pulled it out. "You're very much welcome. Eris, about last night... I just want to let you know that I didn't... I didn't try and take advantage of you. I just want to say that now in case you were still a bit curious about how I got the blanket on you without looking."

"I-It's fine. Thank you for it." She said before adding quietly. "You said there was coffee?"

"Oh, yes, I did." He said before tapping his glass with a spoon.

A second door opened at the other end of the hall, and coming out with a steaming pot of black coffee, Eris turned her head and licked her lips. The pony came up to her and without a moments hesitation, set it down and poured it near to the brim.

Picking up the steaming mug as if it weren't filled with a scolding liquid, she put it to her lips and drank half of it on her first sip. Smiling as energy rushed into her sleep addled mind, she drank the last of it before setting the mug back down and scooting closer to Sunshine. Leaning over his shoulder, bristling with energy, her embarrassment now forgotten in the caffeine induced rush.

"What are you eating? It looks pretty bad. I should know because I've eaten a lot of things I'd thought would be good but turned out to be really nasty." She said as her left eye twitched. "You should try coffee. Coffee is great."

"Eris," he said taking his eyes off the fidgeting goddess and turning them to the empty mug. "Did you drink the liquid and not the mug? Is this the first time you've had actual coffee?"

"Yes." She said giggling. "I should have tried it like that ages ago! Wait, I wonder what chocolate milk tastes like."

Making her a glass with a shaky snap of her talon she sipped from the glass, this time not drinking the glass but the actual chocolate milk. Once the first few sips went past her lips, her eyes seemed to glow as she went rigid with the glass still pressed to her lips. When she didn't move or speak for more than five seconds, Sunshine got up and waved a hoof in her face.

She drank the rest and suddenly disappeared before reappearing on the ceiling and then the wall, in a column, under the table, on the table, in the window and in his seat as she gripped her horns at their bases while laughing hysterically with each teleport.

Looking wildly around as she began moving again and again, Sunshine grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and brought her gently in front of him but not taking his grip off of her as her eyes darted around from the walls to the ceiling. Raising up onto his hind legs, he put the crooks of his front lega on her shoulders and cupped her face with his hooves while he looked her sternly in the eyes.

"Eris, Eris listen to me." He said making her stare at him with interest. "Calm down. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I'm going to let go and when I do, I want you to promise me you will stay away from any sugar or caffeine until you're completely calm again, ok? Eris, do you understand me?"

"What about coffee cake?" She asked cocking her head like a curious child.

"Especially that." He said getting down and releasing his spell on her. "You're not breathing."

"I never promised." She smiled and was gone one moment before Sunshine heard a pop over him.

Looking up, he saw the goddess smiling down at him while she wore his helmet. Not bothering to check if it was his, he merely stared back up at her with a blank expression. Still smiling, she gave a little hiccup and her face went slack as did the rest of her. She fell out of the air and onto him, startling him enough that his legs nearly gave out from under him as the sudden weight was dropped uncomfortably on his back.

"Eris, get off of me, please." He said waiting for a reply but all he heard was her breathing as she hung off either side of him. "Eris?"

Lifting her head up, he smiled when he saw her face the same way it had been that same morning. With his helmet still on her head, he wrapped her arms around his neck which her unconscious form had no problem holding onto when her limbs went stiff. Lighting his horn in a small blaze of crimson, he and Eris disappeared from the dining hall.

Fluttershy's Cottage

Fluttershy, looking outside at the growing sea of darkness above the usually peaceful land, shut the curtain as she locked the shutter to the window. Pulling the curtains in she looked at all the smaller animals that were waiting in fear from within their holes in the wall or bird houses in the air. Angel on her back had buried himself into her mane, and pressing himself up against the back of her neck she could look down and see his ears sticking out from both sides of her mane.

As she was going to the couch where a small family of chipmunks were huddled together behind a pillow, she threw a blanket on it and crawled underneath while wrestling a resisting Angel bunny out form her mane so she could hug him.

When a flash of light filled the room, she thought the storm had begun and shut her eyes while she hid under the blanket with Angel. When no more flashes came and no thunder from the first she opened her eyes and gasped just the same when she saw Prince Sunshine standing there with Eris draped over his back.

"Fluttershy," he said looking between her and Eris. "I just came by to drop her off. She drank her first cup of coffee and tired herself from the teleporting she did. Try not to let her into any more sweets, they make her extremely hyperactive."

Setting her down on the free space of the couch, Eris's tail, after being pried off his back leg, wrapped around her own before she began to lean to the side. Quickly catching her in a wing, he rested her head on the arm rest of the couch and reaching for his helmet, decided against it and let it stay on her.

"There's going to be a bad storm." He said sitting next to the couch so he was almost eye level with Fluttershy. "You can't see it, but the clouds go up to the castle too."

"O-Oh my. Is it going to be that bad?" She asked scooting closer to the chipmunks.

"It will be." He said nodding. "But the storm is the least of my worries."

"L-Least? W-What could be worse?" She asked quietly in surprise before adding a nearly inaudible, ''if you don't mind me asking?"

"My sister." He said blowing air through his nose. "She's trying to sleep right now and do you know who's going to have to hear her gripe in the Royal Canterlot voice over all the thunder? Me. Ever since I implemented this so the winter would come and thaw faster. With more ice and snow, it melts faster, letting the ground soak in the moisture and give us plenty of filtered water. But now, now I almost regret that decision."

She remained quiet but silently nodded in understanding. While he had to deal with Luna, she had to deal with scared animals that would constantly cause her to trip from running between her legs, and she also had to deal with Discord yelling at the pegasai in a rage. Looking at the sleeping Draconequus, she was hardly moving aside from the occasional growl.

"Um, w-what do I tell Eris when she wakes up?" Fluttershy asked as she saw the goddess's tail uncurl from her leg and begin moving around again.

"Tell her what? How she got here?" He asked puzzled by the question. "Just tell her I dropped her off after her sugar rush ended."

As he disappeared in a flash of crimson, Eris's tail found its way back to her legs and coiled around them. Fluttershy, looking at the sight with a smile as Eris let out a snort and smiled herself, she hugged one of the chipmunks closer.

The first explosion rattled the windows making Fluttershy hide under her blanket and Eris to snort and slowly look around as the rain began coming down in sheets. Blearily looking around, she was scratching her head while oblivious to the helmet she had on, but seeing Fluttershy she was about to ask her a question when a chorus of thunder shook the windows again. Eris's eyes widened as she dived underneath the couch making it shake.

"W-What was that!?" Eris nearly yelled as more thunder came from outside and flashes of lightning illuminated the kitchen. "Where am I!?"

"E-Eris!" Fluttershy yelled leaning over the side of the couch to look at two, frightened yellow eyes staring back. "Y-You're in the cottage!" She yelled over the thunder as more lighting blasted away outside.

When a particularly shaky wave of thunder hit the cottage, Eris's eyes seemed to widen even further as she made the couch fly into the air with a terrified pegasus on top of it as she ran up the stairs, tripping twice before the door slammed shut with the intensity of the thunder. Moments later when a bolt of lightning made a boom of thunder shake the cottage worse than the others, Eris screamed and disappeared.

Canterlot Castle Throne Room

Sitting on the throne, Sunshine looked out the window with an calm demeanor even as he felt the golden chair shake when there was no thunder. Looking at the guards around the room, four in all, their faces betrayed no emotion or knowledge of what was about to happen.

'With the rain I won't have to deal with hardly any ponies coming in to file any complaints, aside from my sister of course, but none of the nobles would want to come out during a storm like this. Today should be rather quiet except for my sister, but I still get to tease her about her bed mane. She always looks like something a cat actually dragged in when she wakes up.'

As he was smiling, lost in his own thoughts, something appeared on his side and he felt four pin-pricks of pain shoot up his left side  as something wrapped itself around him. Before he raised a hoof to strike whatever it was, he stopped when it shuddered and squeezed a little tighter whenever a boom of thunder came from outside. Feeling a wetness soaking his right shoulder, he looked past the crimson helmet and into a patch of black and white hair with two different horns sticking out from the sides.

"Eris?" He said waving off the guards as they watched the two. "Eris, are you okay?" He asked hugging her back.

"N-No." Came the pitiful response as more thunder made her tail squeeze a little tighter.

"Tell me what's wrong, maybe I can help?" He said trying to raise her head but she only let him move it to the crook of his neck. "Is it the storm?"

"N-No." She said defiantly before another flash of lightning and thunder made her bury her face back into his neck. "Yes!"

Tightening his hug on her, he put her head under his while he slowly rocked her back and forth. The guards, looking at the two began to feel uneasy and turned back to staring ahead before one of the throne room doors swung opening nearly flattening one of them against the wall.

Luna, whose mane was covering half of her glaring face, limped in on three legs while she shook another awake. Mumbling to herself as she tightened the blanket she had carried in further around herself, she stopped halfway to Sunshine when her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she looked again and simply stared quietly as she made her way to the throne.

"Eris?" She asked looking at the sobbing Draconequus. "Eris, is that you?"

When Eris she didn't answer a nod from her brother confirmed it. Sitting on her smaller throne, she saw the small patch of red on his side and gasped slightly, drawing his attention to it himself. Looking at the blood where her claws had pierced the skin, he took his helmet off of her and put his cheek against her head to speak without yelling.

"Eris, it's alright." He said making her shake her head as more lightning flashed outside. "The storm is outside, we're in here. I'm here."

When she slowly looked up, she looked more like a frightened cat with her ears folded against the sides of her head and her dilated pupils. Looking at the window her scream was drowned out by the thunder from a earlier strike. Shaking, she still held onto him and her muscles protested against him when he pried her claws, both avian and feline out from his skin. Slipping off his hoof covers he took her hands in his hooves and simply let her squeeze them until her breathing slowed down again.

"Fluttershy said you would actually go outside during this time of the year." He said making her ears perk up. "That's right, don't focus on the storm, just me. She said you would go out and yell at the pegasai for making the storm. What happened to that?"

"I-I was almost elec-electrocuted yesterday." She said jumping from more thunder. "I had to run the whole way. I could feel it on my tail, my back, even after I got away!" She whimpered, crying freely now with tears dropping onto the marble of the throne and leaving frost or cracks where they landed.

"If you were so scared, why did you come to the top of a mountain during the years' largest storm?" He asked and just as soon felt his sister's hoof hit him on the head.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack!?" She yelled going back to the feral cat look.

As her grip tightened again, he wrapped his wings around her until she realized what he had done. Wiggling her shoulders to get comfortable, she let her head rest against one of them, marveling at the softness.

"I was trying to ask what made it feel any safer up here than at Fluttershy's?" He asked making Eris get a puzzled look on her face.

"I... I guess I just went to the pony who made me feel safe." She said blushing as she tried to avoid looking at his eyes, but she couldn't once they met. "You."

"Eris, are you blushing?" He asked making her cheeks darken even further. "You look adorable when you act shy, did you know that?" He said smiling as Luna, remembering Eris's dream from last night got up while trying not to look at the two immortals.

"A-Adorable?" She said forgetting about the lightning and thunder or even the pitch in her voice. "I'm not-I mean I never thought I was y'know."

"Well, it always takes two ponies and a mirror to point out the best things about one another." He said making her smile as she slid her hands out of his hooves and sat in Luna's throne. "Do you feel better?"

"I do." She said wiping her cheeks dry. "So what kind of adorable did you mean?" She asked twiddling her thumbs.

"What do you mean?" He asked cocking his head at her.

"Like you think I'm pretty or... like somepony's boyfriend says to his girlfriend?" She asked turning away to inspect and, noticing the blood on her paw turned back to him before he could process what she just asked.

Looking at the bloody marks, she bit her lip and, with her paw glowing with the same energy she had used in the library days before. When she pressed it to the pin pricks, the blood drained back into the wound and the flesh rippled as it healed. Rubbing the spot where the pain once was, he looked at her and saw her griping her side and a new wave of tears were wetting her cheeks. Reaching for her claw, she pulled away from him before he gave her a stern look. She let him pull her claw away and her shirt was stained red.

"Eris, did you just take my injury?" He asked putting her claw back on her side. "I could have just... it would have taken a-" seeing the crestfallen look she had, he sighed. "Thank you. It was a very nice thing to do."

"You're welcome." She said wincing as the wound began to heat up. Looking at Sunshine, his horn was faintly glowing the same color as her claw marks. "What are you...?" She was asking before she noticed the pain was gone.

Lifting her shirt, she rubbed the fur now matted with blood. Looking at him as he gently smiled at her, she didn't do anything but smile back.

"Your question," he said making her look away as fast as she went back to inspecting her claw. "To be honest, I do think you're pretty. I'm just not sure about the latter, but... I wouldn't know how to answer that." He said making her freeze. "Like you said at the speech, you don't have any feelings for me romantically, remember? Of course, you never told a truth around nobles just so you could see the looks on their faces once they found out important. I don't doubt what you said, but years of memories tell me to figure it out myself."

"Yeah. I remember." She said sighing. "I remember."

"You know," he said feeling awkward she hadn't looked at him yet. "Since you seem to be staying and coming here more so much, would you like your own room? If not, just say-"

"I'd love that."She said turning to him with an honest smile. "I'm not so sure your sister would like another neighbor though."

"She'll get over it." He said smiling wider as he thought of Luna and Discord chasing one another through the castle. "I still remember when you two would constantly play jokes on one another and then it would end with her chasing you through the halls. Those were the most memorable days."

When a guard came up, it took him two times to get the prince's attention and when he finally did, the guard looked unsure of himself as he stared at the solar monarch.

"Your highness," he said trying to keep the uneasiness out of his voice. "Your sister is um, well she seems to be in some sort of trance." He said pointing to where Luna was walking into one of the closed doors repeatedly.

"What has gotten into her now?" He groaned. "Last year she fell asleep standing in a hall and before that she was sleep walking on her balcony as rain pelted her."

'I think the better question is,' Eris thought hearing  own disappointment turning to amusement in her thoughts. 'What does she think got into me?'

The big freeze.

The room wasn't what she didn't expect it to be. For a guest room in the castle, it was extremely spacious with only a bed, bathroom to the left, a bookcase and dresser with a mirror sitting by one another on the right side of the room and by the bed, there was a set of light blue pajamas with darker blue stripes running vertically through the clothing. Looking around, she would usually feel the need to put a living plant on the ceiling or turn the bed into a water bed complete with sharks the size of goldfish, but she didn't so much as think of changing anything.

"Spacious." She said looking at the walls, a blank orange that contrasted with the lapis edges. "A blank canvas and I, the painter, with an unfathomable intellect and hunger for creativity."

Pulling out a can of paint and a mason jar filled with brushes, she dipped a thick brush into the paint and held it in front of the wall. Her smile fell when, realizing the time and place and whose property it was, she got rid of everything and sat on a stool that popped into existence as she sat.

"As quiet as you are, I may have missed you looking all serious in the mirror." Eris commented looking sidewards at her conscience who was leaning against the frame with a frown. "Nothing smart to say?"

"So close!" She yelled, kicking at nothing. "We almost got the answer! The answer to finally bury this stupid decision of whether to ask him out or not! To know whether he likes you as a friend or more! Just to finally know what you want to know, what you want!"

Eris watched in amusement as her threw a small tantrum in the mirror, doing nothing to the surface but throwing colors and objects around that smashed into splinters or fragments.

Sliding herself over, Eris leaned on her elbows while she rested her head in her fingers as she watched the mini-her rage.

"I think I like this you better." Eris said propping her legs up while she ate from a tub of popcorn. "It suites how you make me feel."

"I knew you would say that." Her conscience said kicking a chair leg away. "Back to the matter at hand; Sunshine's emotions. How do we find out what he feels towards you if we keep getting interrupting before we can convince him to give us a clear answer."

"How about you not make me so nervous around him?" She said even as her conscience rolled her eyes. "Me again?"

"No, the little gummy bear on your shoulder. Yes you!" She yelled at Eris making her host body flinch. "The chaos takes over your senses. I get completely blocked out whenever you start talking with him. You start acting too natural, so much that your magic just ignores me and your irrational thoughts, which may I tell you, should not happen because they're both chaotic."

"If you ask me," Eris said smiling down at her small self. "It could be you trying to interfere. What if my magic, the chaos in me, is just letting me take control over it again? Real control like I had those ten centuries ago."

"You would have taken it." Her conscience said dismissing it with a wave of her paw and roll of her eyes. "You would ignore me, but I would have decided yes to taking the reigns again. Maybe it's the setting? First it's in the hospital where he looks like death and now it was the throne where you were freaking out. That's it..." Her tiny eyes widened as something clicked. "He can't focus properly like you do when one of you is acting like a parent. You need to-"

"-put yourselves in a situation of equal threat or power." Said a familiar voice sarcastically. "I was holding onto the hope that you two would not need my assistance until it came to pick out an item on a menu for when you and him are on a date."

Eris, leaning forward, saw a small Discord walk into view on the opposite end of the mirror wearing a backpack on the verge of falling apart. Even her smaller version seemed both confused and surprised to see him.

"Me?" She said and in return he graciously bowed. "I thought all of my masculinity was drained away?"

"It was." He said looking at the smaller Eris in interest. "Hm, a female Draconequus. How interesting."

"Than how are you-" She was saying before he cut her off.

"-here?" He said smiling as he took a book. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am your intelligence. Otherwise known to your conscience as the force keeping her from interacting with you while you speak with Sunshine."

"That was you!?" The mini-Eris yelled as she started throwing pieces of furniture at him. "I was trying to help her first!"

"And you both have done a wonderful job at that." Eris remarked making them both flush. "Was it you who put those dreams in my head?"

"Not I, nor was it her." The mini-Discord said. "You should speak with your love. Love, could you come out here, please?" He called.

Eris's eyes widened as a miniature Luna came out weaving in circles with an invisible dancer. She stopped inches away from the mini-Discord, and brushing her mane back she gave Eris half-lidded lidded eyes making her uncomfortable.

"Hello gorgeous," the mini-Luna said seductively. "I see your bed is still empty, would you care to explain that?" She asked pursing her lips.

"I-I don't like this." Eris said looking at the mini-Luna. "This is creepy seeing his sister like this."

"That's not what you thought that one century in your stone prison." Eris's love said smirking as her host blushed. "Such a naughty little fantasy about Celestia and her sister... a dream lasting a century. You do remember it, don't you? I was the one trying to show entice you to be good, but that nasty chaos magic messed it all up." She said stomping a hoof pitifully.

"That wasn't-I mean it wasn't just me?" Eris said feeling the blood rush to her face. "It was one time! It was one time, wasn't it?" She asked staring at her love.

"If you're referring to last night's dream," the miniature alicorn said pressing herself against the mirror. "Only the gazebo was my idea... the rest was all you." She said smiling as Eris crossed her arms and looked away. "Not that it wasn't good enough, but I could have done better."

"Better at making her feel worse." Eris's intelligence remarked getting a playful look from her love. "All we have done is pressure the poor dear; give her some space, let her do what she feels is right."

"Thank you, intelligence." She said earning a polite nod from him. "Why is it he's the only one making sense in here?" She asked pointing at her head.

"I am intelligence." He remarked. "Your conscience needs my approval or disapproval before submitting an inquiry, but love pushes me away, making me as useless as she is to me. If you want actual advice," he leaned forward as she did so too. "Write a letter explaining your feelings, and once you are finished, put it away until he feels the small spark of love in himself. Unfortunately, every situation requiring it will be one of life and death, unless you can throw love in the mix. Say something, do something in a crucial moment to make him see you for what you could be to him."

"A bit long winded, but I get it." She said nodding. "There's only one problem though: winter is here. The most trouble that could happen is if he got a cold or slipped on a patch of ice, but neither of those are exactly life and death scenarios."

"You have the magic, an empty canvas," he said looking around the room. "Would it hurt to make a beach with a dock and warm water to swim in?"

"Not a bad idea," she shrugged. "Although it would seem suspicious if it were just me and him."

"That's why it's good to have friends." Her love said. "To talk in secret about forbidden and very naughty loves, whom would date whom, but also to have a good audience."

"Yeah, that is a good idea." Eris said but she didn't smile, instead she looked down at the desk as she leaned on her hands. "A manipulative idea just like I would have thought of before."

"You disapprove of this, don't you?" Her conscience asked looking at her worriedly. "You're trying to decide whether or not you should do that. Intelligence?"

"I think..." he said looking at love. "That this is a matter for the heart. Love, what is your take on this?"

"You want my opinion?" She said looking at the three Draconequi. "Well, the only thing I can offer is to do the right thing. Tell him while you're relaxing, make him feel comfortable before just hitting him with it." She said shrugging.

"That's better, but do I have to bring my friends just to set the scene?" She said blowing her hair out of her eyes. "What if I threw a party for them? Plus if I invite Luna, she would just think it's because of the nightmare I had last night." She said smiling as the party began playing out in her mind. "It's marvelous."

"I believe it's lunch time." The mini-Discord said observing as a knock came at the door. "Smells like potato soup, water, asparagus and vanilla pudding."

"Ma'am?" A female voice said from behind the door. "Would you like me to leave your lunch at the door?"

"Oh, come in!" Eris said watching politely as a beige mare in a maid outfit came in pushing a trolley with a large platter on it. "It smells great."

"I'm sure it tastes as good," the maid said smiling as she lifted the lid and set the food down at the edge of the bed. "If that is all, may I take my le-"

The mare blushed as her stomach growled making Eris smile as the mare's cheeks flushed pink.

"Excuse me," Eris said sliding through the air to hang over the food. "Would you like some? I wasn't feeling quite so hungry, so if you would like it, take it."

"M-Me?" She said looking at Eris with a mixture of shock and hesitation. "I couldn't. That food was brought for you."

"If it's my food, shouldn't I get to decide what to do with it?" Eris thought aloud as she back-paddled to the mare. "Go ahead, I'm giving it to you. Therefore, my food is your food."

The mare, swallowing a lump in her throat looked at Eris once more before she was pushed by Eris's tail. Going to the bed, she hesitantly grabbed a spoon and the pudding bowl. Taking a bite her stomach grumbled again as she slowly ate.

"So," Eris said watching the mare quietly eat the pudding. "I take it you're one of Sunshine's maids?"

"I am." The mare said simply showing no sign of stopping. "I wash chosen for my memory really, to be able to navigate the castle without a map or a guard. My name is Memory Trotter, pleased to meet you...?"

"Eris," the goddess said making the maid's eyes widen. "You've heard of me?" She said stepping onto the ground.

"I've heard Prince Sunshine mumble about you when I bring him his food." She said making Eris lean in, in curiosity. "I-I shouldn't be talking about that. It's his business what he talks about alone."

"Are they positive things?" Eris asked leaning down to look the mare in the eyes. "Has he said anything... strange about me?"

"I-I wouldn't know." The mare said keeping a straight face.

"Dear little pony," Eris said smiling as she put a hand on the maid's shoulder. "You can't lie to me. I've been the master of deceit and lies since I was fist lied to. Now tell me, what has he said?"

"H-he doesn't really say that much." She said glancing at the door. "He always looks like he's in his thoughts, thinking about you. All I've heard are mumbles, to light to hear unless I got up close to him, but I've never had to do that before."

Looking at the mare, Eris sighed and put her arms behind her back as she paced the room. Looking at the mirror, she could see her love waving a feather duster. Alongside her, her intelligence was holding up a picture of her in the maid outfit and her conscience, standing next to him was giving a thumbs up. Staring at the three of them, an idea formed in her mind.

'If she can get in his room and hear him mumbling, than I can sneak in as her and find out what he's saying.' She thought turning her head slowly with a large grin. "Memory Trotter, I don't suppose it's time for you to go on break, is it?" She asked as she silently snapped her claw.

"I still haven't delivered Prince Sunshine's food yet," she said unknowingly taking a bite of her now medicated pudding. "After-" she stopped speaking as her eyes closed and she fell asleep sitting up.

Giggling, Eris shrunk down until she matched the mare's form and using a quick burst of magic, put the maid outfit on herself. Looking at her fake body, she couldn't help but feel the need to paw at the red bow on the end of her tail. Shaking the thought from her head, she took the cart and exited the room, leaving her sleeping friend behind.

Sunshine's Bedchambers

Looking at himself in the mirror, fixed by Eris, he rose onto his hind-legs and flexed. Snorting in amusement as he saw the muscles rise up form his fore-legs, he got back on all fours and snickered louder before stopping to glance at the door.

"I don't know why this is so amusing." He said smiling as he looked back at himself. "It's just me flexing in a mirror."

Snickering as he flexed his shoulders, he was momentarily blinded by the lightning outside. Stopping to watch the flashes and listen to the dull thunder, he went to the balcony doors for a better look. The clouds blocked out almost all sunlight and whatever did make it through was cut up by the rain as it came down in sheets; the city below was almost in near darkness if it weren't for the enclosed streetlights.

"I hope nopony is in that." He said shaking his head. "I wonder how Eris is doing?" He said looking at his side where she had cut him earlier.

"You should ask her yourself." Luna's voice said echoing throughout the room.

Turning his head, he looked around the room, but seeing no sign of his sister, shook his head before turning his attention back to the window.

"She was awfully frightened earlier." Discord's voice said followed by Luna's giggling. "Hush you, the stallion is trying to think."

Turning again, his eyes ran over the room again, this time checking for any abnormalities. Seeing none, he stepped away from the glass doors and went to his bedroom door. Knocking twice, a guard poked her head in and placed herself in between the door and frame as she stared up at him in attention.

"Has there been anypony in my room recently?" He asked looking over his shoulder. "Anypony unusual or, a better question, has Eris been in my room lately?"

"No, your majesty," she answered looking over her shoulder. "No other being but yourself has entered."

"Thank you, that is all." He said turning around as she nodded and closed the door. "It must be the storm playing tricks on me. My age might finally be catching up to me." He mumbled humorlessly.

"Oh, please, you're just as sane as you were before." Said his own feminine voice.

Turning again with his horn alight, he saw nothing again but the same empty room as before. As he was looking again, a flash of color caught his attention in the mirror. Slowly approaching it, he went slack-jawed at the sight before him.

Three faces were staring back at him, his sister, Discord and Celestia were all looking at him with varying expressions. His sister had a worried look as he stared at her in surprise, Discord had a monocle with a red robe on his serpentine body and Celestia was looking at him with a smirk as she giggled at his expression.

"Who or what are you?" He said  watching in curiosity as they all looked at one-another and smiled. "I want answers."

"Please, calm down, your blood pressure is rising." His two-dimensional sister said as she fanned herself with a wing.

"You will get answers," the Discord look-alike said cleaning his monocle. "For now, we should introduce ourselves, or rather, who we once were. I am intelligence, the Celestia here is love and this Luna acts as both your conscience and maternal instinct. Pleased to finally meet you, sir."

"Once were?" He parroted. "What does that mean?"

"When you had your gender change," the two-dimensional Discord said as he leaned against the mirror frame. "Discord's masculinity wasn't just the only thing transferred. Parts of his mind were swept up too, fragments of his already fragmented mind. Forgive me for saying this, but your head wasn't any more spacious than his. I wonder how our other halves are doing?" He mumbled pulling at his beard. "I'll think on that later."

"You're telling me that Discord's own thoughts were alive?" Sunshine asked rubbing his head even with the helmet on. "That would explain a lot of things."

"They still might be." The mini-Discord said. "We have only been observing you for some time now, you and our former host. What we've noticed has been quite interesting in both of you."

"A little more than interesting sometimes." The mini-Celestia said giggling. "I'll admit it, I only kicked those thoughts off while you were sitting in the tub."

"You made me think those things about her?" He growled. "I nearly had a panic attack from the embarrassment when I saw her."

"That was your fault, not mine." She said giving him a cheeky grin. "I only started the thoughts and you continued them without a hitch. By the way, she is that flexible." She whispered winking.

His face turned completely red at the derogatory comment his former look-alike said. Pulling up the stool Eris had left in there, he sat in front of the mirror staring at the wood as his face became warmer with each heartbeat. He hardly turned his head to acknowledge the guard posted at his door when she poked her head in and spoke to him while a second pony behind her was looking over the cart she had in front of her.

"Your highness," his guard said glancing behind her to make sure the pony wasn't doing anything suspicious. "A, Memory Trotter, is here with your lunch, is this true?"

"It is, let her in." He said turning his gaze back to the mirror where all three mini-immortals were all watching Memory Trotter as she pushed the cart in. Looking behind his shoulder he saw her calmly glance his way before moving her hoof to the remaining platter on the cart.

"Memory Trotter," he said making her snap around to face him with a nervous expression. "When you went to see Eris, did she seem... okay to you? Not scared or nervous about anything?"

"I-I wouldn't know your majesty, I didn't stay long." She said looking him in the eyes. "I only gave her, her food before the floor started throwing up monkeys. I don't believe I've ever ran any faster than that in my life."

"Monkeys?" He asked smiling. "She is a bit bananas I suppose." He whispered sharing a snicker with her. "Tell me, did she happen to mention me in any way?"

"L-Like I said, I didn't stay that long." She said sighing. "I don't think I would have heard her over the monkeys if she did."

"Thank you, regardless of what you couldn't have heard if she had said anything." He said. "Just place my lunch at the foot of my bed, I'll get to it in a minute."

She gave a polite bow, turned and picked up the platter with a hoof. He watched her questioningly as it not so much as wobbled on her hoof or that she hadn't dropped it from the hot metal. As she was turning back around, he took a step in front of her making her stop in an instant to look up at him.

"Tell me, Memory Trotter," he said leaning his head down to look her in the eyes. "When did I assign you as my maid?"

"A-A week ago," she said swallowing a lump in her throat.

"Wrong. " He said calling her bluff, even as she froze. "Eris, you're the only one besides myself who doesn't have a problem holding a hot platter on their bare hoof or claw. You can drop the disguise."

The nervous look disappeared and was replaced by a defeated one as Eris appeared before him, still wearing the maid outfit it had shrunken on her real form. The skirt just barely reached past her wist, the dip in the collar was stuck out from her breasts, the fishnet stockings that had been Memory Trotter's were now up to Eris's elbows and just above her knees, the black hoof covers that had once been for Memory Trotter were now turned into elbow-high gloves and high-heels, the small frilled hat was resting between her horns and the bow on her tail tied off the scales to fluff transition at the end.

"Oh." She said looking down at herself and, blushing, she tried to cover most of herself with her tail and succeeding to hide her face with her tail fluff. "This is probably one of the most embarrassing things I've worn in front of you."

"It's uh-It's not the most compromising way I've seen you, but it's close." Sunshine said turning as red as a tomato behind his wing. "W-Would you mind changing into something else? Everyday clothes perhaps?"

"Right." She said raising her claw to get her older clothes back but, stopping to look down at herself, she smiled and put her paw on his wing. "Sunshine," she said softly making him twitch. "With it raining and just plain dreadful, I was wondering if you and some others would like to have a small beach party in my room?"

"E-Eris," he said feeling her gently try to push his wing down. "I'm not sure I can just drop everything and go to a party."

"Not even," she pushed harshly down on his wing and his face was completely red as he blinked a few times to process what he was seeing. "If I ask nicely?" She said batting her eyes as she twirled a lock of her black hair.

"I-I'll think a-about i-it." He said shaking his head to rid himself of his stupor. "I might-could!" He corrected himself abruptly as she blew a hot breath of air out of her nose onto his face leaving the smell of chocolate in the air. "I could have somepony come in and request to see me."

"In this?" She said cocking her head as more lightning flashed outside. "I think only the guards will want to come in. Anything with any sense will have taken cover and stayed out of the storm. I don't think anyone would mind if their, obviously stressed prince, took an hour or two to relax after such a hard day's work, right?" She said slowly tracing a finger up his cheek to pluck his helmet off his head.

He stared dumbly at the red metal before looking away and, taking in a deep breath, he turned back to her smiling and nodded. She smiled and giving his helmet back, was gone from the room when it touched his hoof.

He stood there, a dumb smile splayed on his face as he held his helmet out. The guard outside, looking in after the new voice, just stared at the alicorn before a boom of thunder spooked him making him gasp for air. As he sat there gasping, he was also laughing at himself in the mirror.

"Did I just get led into a beach party?" He chuckled watching the three mini-immortals nod in unison. "So, this is what my nephew in-law was talking about with Cadance. I'm not sure whether I should feel embarrassed or pleased she did that to me."

"Pleased, definitely pleased." The Celestia look-alike said smiling like him.

"I second that." The mini-Discord said nodding. "She may not admit it, but your conscience here also agrees."

"I feel pleased." He said trying to hold back another laugh. "Oh, I wonder if she was serious about the monkeys though. I hope not, unless it's the ones that bathe in the hot springs with ponies alike during winter."