I woke up to the sounds of knocking on my door, it appeared to be right on the morning hour of 8am according to my pocket watch. I got out of bed in a grunting manner and walked over to my door to open it.

"Morning Bond." Fluttershy greeted.

"Oh morning Fluttershy." I replied. "And morning Big Mac."

"Eeyup." he said quickly.

"Umm we just wanted to let you know that Big Mac and I will be out on date all day and I was wondering if you could watch over Discord and also if you can help introduce him to Tree Hugger."

Well, that shot me right to the point, looking after Discord? Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?

"Uhh, who's Tree Hugger? Is it a protest voter?"

"I met her on a trip to see the Breezies. She's a member of the Equestrian Society for the Preservation of Rare Creatures!"

"Well as much as I would like to, I've got a bit of busy few days such as moving all this stuff to my new home soon." I replied. "I'm not sure if I'll have the time."

"We know that Bond, but Big Mac and I have been waiting to have this date for some time now. Also, Discord needs assurance that he'll get to have more friends if given the chance. Please help me with this and Big Mac will help out with any house work that needs doing in case the builders aren't around."

"Eeyup!"

I could see the pleading expression in Fluttershy and the concern of Big Mac's face...how in Equestria could I ever say no to faces like that?

"Ahhh, alright Fluttershy, I'll help you out with Discord." I said happily with a silent sigh.

"Oh thank you, thank you!" Fluttershy exclaimed as she hugged me by surprise. "Discord is in the cottage, go over to him when you're ready and we'll see you in the evening."

"Okay, see you both...have a fun date together."

"Eeyup." Big Mac replied and they both walked away in Ponyville with smiles.

"Uhhh..." I said to myself. "This is gonna be a long day...might as well get started now."

After I had my breakfast, I left my almost bare house since everything was nearly packed and flew over to Fluttershy's cottage. When I got there, I walked in to find Discord and "something else" was all I could think of.

"Ohoho, that's not all! When I went to look for them again, they were on the ceiling!" Discord exclaimed to the animals before he noticed me. "Oh well if it isn't Prince Bond Racer, I assume you're here to watch over me?"

"Yeah, Fluttershy wanted me to help you be introduced to Tree Hugger, whoever that is." I replied. "I don't even know what she looks like."

"Well I guess we'll have to find out later at the Grand Galloping Gala."

"Wait, wait, wait...there's a grand galloping Gala?!"

"Why of course, it's taking place tonight at Canterlot...did Fluttershy not tell you?"

"Well, it is the morning time, it's not exactly late afternoon."

"I see, but either way, at least you're here to help me make new friends...ho ho ho, I cannot wait!"

"Yeah...neither can I..."

I sighed, knowing that this was going to be exhausting!

"So what am I going to be doing for you in the meantime?" I asked.

"Ah yes, according to Fluttershy, I will need to visit Rarity's boutique after lunch time, she is working on an outfit for me." he boasted. "And I think she's about done by now."

"Really, Rarity's been working on her dresses all night?"

"I didn't mean it like that. Anyways, I thought I like to show you what I've been doing since you seven defeated Tirek."

"Okay, show me."

He took me into the garden to show Angel balancing on a basin full of gummy sweets with a disoriented figure holding the basin.

"That's uhhh...interesting." I commented, although it wasn't much.

"Save your compliments, there is more." he said as he pointed to another of his odd creation.

This continued for some time until he showed a lot of his work, I was quite speechless and dumbfounded. I'm glad he's fully reformed and all, but his work could do with serious feedback, but that wasn't the time for it. The Gala is a bit more important and speaking of which, will we need tickets and are the others going?

"Well it's nearly lunch time, so we better go and get some lunch along the way to the boutique." I advised.

"Ahhh, a marvelous idea...lead the way." he replied.

I then walked out of the cottage and took him to the Ponyville Cafe, unfortunately, it seems the ponies appeared to have a huge trust issue with him. He did try to take over with his chaos stuff a while ago after all, but even so, it didn't seem like anypony wanted to go near him.

"Don't worry about them, Discord, just give it time for the other ponies to come round." I assured him.

"Well, that's very kind of you to say, Bond, thanks..." he replied, smiling a little.

After our lunch, we walked over to the boutique, I went in first and Discord followed after me. I noticed Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow and the CMC's in the main room.

"Oh, your first Grand Galloping Gala!" Rarity exclaimed as she worked on Sweetie's dress. "The excitement, the anticipation! I wouldn't miss this for all the jewels in Equestria!"

" We're going to the Gala! We're going to the Gala! We're going to the Gala!" Sweetie and Scootaloo sang together.

"Alright, y'all, keep it down." Applejack said as she was playing cards with Rainbow, "It ain't like it's a life-changin' experience or nothiiiiiiii-" She cut herself off when Applebloom appeared from behind a curtain with her dress on. "My little sister's all grown up!" she sniffed.

I giggled on the inside, talk about letting your emotions go wild, Applejack. She then blew her nose on Rainbow's tail that got me giggling again.

"Hey!" Rainbow moaned.

"This is gonna be the best night ever!" The CMC's exclaimed happily.

It was time for me to step forward and let them know I was here.

"Uhh hi all of you." I greeted and Rarity was first to notice me.

"Oh!" she gasped. "Afternoon darling...here is your ticket for the Gala." she then gave me a ticket before kissing me. "And how are you, Discord?"

"I'm doing alright, thank you." he replied. "I am here for my outfit if you got a minute."

"Oh right...give me a few moments and we'll get to work, right away...as long as you have a ticket."

"Well I don't suppose that, uh, these adorable little cutie-pies have their own tickets to the Gross Gruesome Gala, do they?"

Applebloom blew a raspberry at him. Fluttershy was right, he's not quite there yet.

"A-hem!" Rarity intervened. "To answer your rather rude question, they're going as our dates, our plus ones!"

I suddenly startled and my jaw nearly went loose. "Wait...what?" I asked which none of them answered.

"We're plus ones! We're plus ones!" the CMC's said in excitement.

"Yes yes yes, I believe I got that!" Discord replied with a hint of annoyance.

"Oh and I'm sorry Bond darling." Rarity apologized as she walked to me. "But Sweetie Belle and I have been wanting to go to the Gala as sisters for a very long time. It's also what my family would've wanted as well, I'm sure you understand, right?"

"Ahhh, well if it's a family thing, then I shouldn't be worried about it." I paused for a second. "Or should I?"

"Please don't, dear." she placed her left hoof on me. "I don't think any of us would want you to do anything stupid."

"Yeah!" Rainbow exclaimed as she placed her cards down, looks like she won a round or something.

"Anyways, have you got a ticket, Discord?"

"That will depend if I can find a date or a partner to go out with." he replied. "Fluttershy isn't able to take me, because of her evening date."

"I see...not to worry, let's get started on your outfit!"

The CMC's, Applejack and Rainbow left the boutique and Rarity got to work on Discord's outfit which was according to his liking and when it was done, she said to Discord to come back here if he finds a partner to go with to the Gala. We left the boutique but not before I gave Rarity a loving kiss. We walked to Sugarcube Corner and I went first to see Pinkie Pie with loads of cakes around the store. Discord disappeared and then I saw a cardboard box appear beside me.

"Oh hi, Bond."Pinkie greeted. "And hi Discord! Want some cake?"

An exclamation mark appeared and vanished above the box and Discord came out of it.

"I can give you a list of all the flavors we have in order of most delicious to incredibly-unbelievably delicious!"

"Actually, Pinkie Pie, who are you taking to..." He cut himself off, noticing the cakes. "I mean, do you... eugh, oh, you know what? I am famished. I'll take all the cakes."

"All of them?!" she then grabbed on to me. "He wants all of the cakes!"

"Okay okay Pinkie, calm down!" I said as she let me go.

"Well, I'll need all my energy when I'm dancing at the Gala, if I decide to go that is, oh by the way, are you bringing anypony?" Discord asked.

"Oh, of course! I was gonna ask my mom, because she's, you know, my mom, but it turned out she didn't want to go." Pinkie replied. "So I started asking around and around and around and I couldn't think of anypony and I was about to just go by myself and I realized, of course! Who loves fancy exciting affairs more than anypony else? My sister Maud!"

"Oh is Maud visiting us again?" I asked. "Are you sure she can handle a night at the Gala?"

"She's a Pie sister, what do you take her for?"

"Nothing, I was just curious..."

"You know what? Cancel my order." Discord said as he disappeared from the store.

"You want none of the cakes now?!" Pinkie exclaimed, seeing that she nearly placed all of the cakes in boxes.

"Actually Pinkie, I'll take a few off you if that helps." I replied.

"Awww thank you Bond, see you at the Gala!"

She then gave me three boxes of cakes.

"If I can find somepony to go with cause Rarity has Sweetie, then sure, you'll see me later."

I then took the cakes and left Sugarcube Corner to see Discord by the fountain and not looking pleased.

"Discord, I hate to say it but are you getting a little bit jealous?" I asked.

"Me? Jealous? Why would I ever think of such a thing?" he asked back.

"Because it seems like everypony else except you and me don't anypony or anyone to go to the Gala with." He then lifted his mood up and looked at me as if he remembered something. "Wait a minute, I'm supposed to be seeing Tree Hugger before the Gala, that was what Fluttershy said."

"Well I don't know, what does she look like?" I asked back.

"Oh I remember now, she is supposed to be a light green mare with some interesting orange mane."

Just then, I saw a light green mare with some orange mane, that must be her and she's alone.

"Is that who you mean?" I asked, pointing at her.

Discord looked and I could see that he was feeling a little less jealous.

The mare looked at us and she came towards us.

"Yo, are you Discord?" she asked him.

"I might be, who is asking?" he asked back.

"Oh, how rude of me. I am Tree Hugger. Fluttershy's friend from the Breezies camp."

"Ah well, I am indeed the one and only Discord."

"Radical to meet you. Really digging your vibe."

Just then, I had a random moment incoming.

"Viiiiiiiiiiibe! Viiiiiiiiiiibe! Viiiiiiiiiiibe! She's got that vibe, you, you got that vibe!!!" I sang and rapped.

Discord just blinked and looked back at Tree.

"My vibe?" he asked.

"It's a compliment." she assured.

"Oh, well, I'm sure it is. Well, I must be off."

"Wait, why?" I asked.

"Well, it has nothing to do with seeing you or not seeing you. You can be sure of that, have fun at the Gala!"

"Righteous!" she replied.

Discord then vanished...so much for being able to watch over him, but I couldn't let Tree Hugger be on her own.

"Uhh sorry about that, he's just not well today." I said before I came up with an idea. "Have you heard of the Grand Galloping Gala?"

"Why yeah, man...Fluttershy gave me a spare ticket, but I don't have anypony to go with cause she's on her date with Big Mac."

"Well, if you want me to, would you like me to take you to the Gala? I have a ticket as well and I'm in need of a partner to go with as well."

"That sounds totally fly! Of course I'll go with you."

"Sweet, thanks...I'll take you to my fiance's boutique, she makes the finest dresses ever."

"Fiance? Are you engaged?"

"Yeah, but Rarity is going with her sister and I'll spare the details cause I'd like to get my outfit over there."

"Alright man, just chill and we'll be fine."

As we walked, I couldn't help to notice that she was some kind of hippy mare, maybe she needs a time machine to go back to the mid-60's. When we got there, I told Rarity about Tree Hugger and she got an outfit made for her and for me and soon, it was time to leave. She was okay with me going to the Gala with Tree since Rarity and I will have time for ourselves if there came a chance at the Gala.

When it was around sunset time, we arrived at the Gala along with Sweetie Belle, soon Rarity and Sweetie met up with the others whilst I introduced myself to Celestia and Twilight and Tree was greeted in return. I then gave her a quick tour of one of the castle rooms with a huge waterfall.

"Woah!" she exclaimed in her way. "The aura coming off the waterfall was so alive! So, like, magic manifestation."

I couldn't tell if she heavily drugged too, but I kept that idea to myself, I'm not a young colt anyway. Just then I felt a slight breath from behind me.

"Discord!" I said. "I thought you weren't coming!"

"No. I actually never said that. But funny how you remembered it that way." he replied, feeling displeased.

"No I wasn't meaning it like that, I swear. I guess you did have a ticket after all."

"Yes yes, the pony delivering the mail was late with the ticket delivery...my world isn't exactly what it seems...anyway, good to see you. Tree Friend, is it? Your name's slipping my mind right now. How strange."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Tree Hugger. Blessings." she replied.

"You have met me before actually!"

"Cool! Like, in another life, maybe?"

"You've gotta be kidding. You don't remember me?"

"I meet a lot of different creatures, each one of them perfect and unique."

I had to intervene to make it less awkward.

"Uh excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, but do you suffer from short term memory loss?" I asked bluntly.

Discord snickered in the back, behind me, but Tree didn't seem to change her expression. I then caught something in the distance, there was a big green blob around another part of the room and I gasped.

"What the...who or what is that?!"

"He is Smooze!" Discord replied. "Smoozeface, the Smoozinator- well I mean that's what we called him back in college. Smooze! I would like you to meet Fluttershy and... umhmhm... Tree... how'd you say it... Tree Embrace?"

"Oh, I like that! It's so in rhythm with my life force!" Tree said, happily in some way. "Maybe I'll change it!"

"I can't believe I've never heard you speak of the Smooze before. Sounds like you two are close." I said, feeling confused.

"Well, I'm glad you got that, because that's what is true. We are very close."

"Well either way, have fun with that thing...oh and if it becomes trouble, keep it under control."

"I'll do my best...ta-ta!"

He then grabbed the Smooze and took him away, although there was a bit of a green mess left on the floor.

"Tell you what Tree, why don't I introduce you to the rest of Fluttershy's friends?" I suggested.

"That would be a good vibration." she replied.

I was tempted to go into swinging 60's mode with a song reference, but I used all my power to resist such a move. We walked to another part of the castle where the dance floor was, I introduced Tree to the rest of the mares apart from Twilight who I was told was watching over the proceedings with Celestia.

She seemed to fit quite well with all of us and as we were talking, Rarity grabbed my hoof with a smile and told the others to look after Tree. We then walked out into the castle gardens where it was a little quieter, she seemed to want to tell me something in private.

"Darling, I didn't want the others to know, but feel my stomach will you." Rarity said, looking blushed.

I placed my left hoof on her stomach, it had gotten a little bigger and I smiled instantly, knowing that our foal is in there. We then went in for a loving and tight embrace with passionate kisses, it was if we found love at first sight again.

"Oh Rarity, I am so glad I'm able to be with you now...I was a little worried earlier even though I said I wouldn't be."

"It's alright darling, I missed you for quite a bit, but after the way you helped Fluttershy's friend, I just had to give you something in return."

"And it means the whole world to me that we will be closer together soon in our new home."

We then shared one more passionate kiss before I heard a microphone being tapped inside as well as Discord's voice. We then walked inside to see Discord has made a stand up comedian stage. With the Smooze nowhere in sight either, I could already tell that this was not going to end well.

"Check check, check! Is this thing on? Good evening, fillies and germs! I just flew into Canterlot, and wow, are my interspecies parts tired!"

None of the ponies responded, I personally thought the joke was lame.

"I've only got these tiny mis-matched wings, and even I can fly better than Twilight Sparkle! Am I right? Pchoo!"

"Hey!" Twilight intervened as Celestia giggled in the back.

Well it was true, Discord was a better flyer than Twilight but that was only for a short while.

"Uh, well, perhaps you're into more observational humor." He then vanished and appeared with his head only. "Did you ever notice how you always materialize out of thin air? Why not thick air? What's the deal there?"

That didn;t seem to get a response either.

"Tough crowd." he muttered.

"What is he doing?!" Twilight asked.

"I think he's trying to tell jokes." I replied.

"Maud! Jokes!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"My favorite." Maud responded in her low tone voice.

Discord continued with another joke. "Knock knock!"

We were all silent once more.

"You're supposed to say 'Who's there?'! This is the most basic of jokes!" he then smashed a watermelon with a mallet.

"You're the most basic of jokes." Maud said, bluntly.

"Ouch!" I exclaimed as the other ponies began to laugh.

Suddenly, I looked to see a door opening from behind us and saw a massive green slime appearing before it reared it's ugly head.

"Well I hope somepony grabs me the phone because I flipping called it!" I said with a hint of pride.

All the ponies tried to run away, but most of them got stuck in the slime.

"None of my magic works on this ooze! Can you stop it?" Twilight asked Celestia.

"I'm afraid not!" she replied worryingly.

"Discord, how could you bring him here?!"

"Oh, he's not that bad!" he replied, flying along by.

"Oh, my shoes will be ruined forever!" Rarity exclaimed in her diva way.

"That's what you're worried about? Really?" Applejack asked sarcastically.

I kept looking around and seeing the damage the Smooze was making until I realized I was stuck as well, that's just fantastic!

"This is kind of a bummer." Tree Hugger said.

"Isn't it, though? And to think, it would never have happened had I come to the Gala as somepony else's plus one." Discord said.

"Seems like something must have harshed his flow, you know? Like his senses are agitated."

"You don't know anything about rare creatures. I've known Smooze-face for ages. He's not agitated, he's partying down, yo!"

"All he needs is some, like, calming auditory therapy. I know, I always feel really at peace when I'm being bathed in positive vibes. Maybe he'll calm down with some sonic bliss!"

"Do you even know what you just said?"

Just then, Tree Hugger began some sort of chant and it was effecting the Smooze slime, it was moving around like a wave. Then it began to melt away from all of us and we became unstuck.

"Let go, Smooze! Bliss out!"

The slime all then formed into the one Smooze who was now like a giant in way!

"Wow!" I exclaimed. "I will never make fun of the 60''s again..."

We all cheered at Tree's impressive technique, if only Fluttershy was here to see it.

"Oh, thanks, everypony, it makes perfect karmic sense why magic doesn't work on him." she replied. "He only responds to vibrations that peace out his energy fields."

Discord appeared in front of Tree and he looked like he had enough.

"Stop it! Stop it! That's it! I'm done with you, Tree Hugger!"

"Oh man. You're really bumming me out! Can you just, like, lower your voice a skosh?"

"A skosh? A skosh?!"

He then scratched his claw and created a huge doorway leading to somewhere, I knew this was trouble incoming.

"Wait Discord!" I said. "What are you doing?!"

"Relax! I'm not going to hurt her, I'm simply going to send her to another dimension! I can't have her interfering in my relationship with Fluttershy anymore!"

"Wait, is this what this is all about? Do you really think Fluttershy would abandon you just because she's on a date with somepony that isn't you?!"

"Yes, because that's what you did when you went with Tree Hugger!"

"No, Discord! I simply brought her here to the Gala! I didn't abandon you! What if you had a friend that you could discuss chaos-based magic with? Would that mean we weren't friends anymore?!"

"Uh no, I suppose not... it would just mean that I'd have different friends for different things. Oh, oh dear, it looks like I've perhaps overreacted just a skosh."

"Try a lot of skosh."

"I'm just so new with this whole friendship thing. It's so much more complicated than it looks."

"Do you think maybe you owe somepony an apology? Not me!"

He then turned around to look at Tree and he then closed the portal till it was no more. Then he grabbed all kinds of royal jeweler from out of the Smooze and vanished them, probably to some room where the treasure goes.

"Er, Tree Hugger, I'm sorry that you got caught in the middle of my... er, you know... wrath."

"Oh, it's all groovy." she replied calmly. "Um, I need like a few minutes to clear out my chakras before I can hug you from a place of authenticity."

"Oh, your chakras. Fair enough."

Eventually, they did share a hug of forgiveness and Discord grabbed Smooze to have a word with him and we all listened.

"I owe you an apology, Smooze. I spent the whole evening thinking about my own feelings, and never thinking about yours."

The Smooze licked him back which was slightly gross.

"Well, friends! I think I may actually grow to like this multiple friend thing."

"That's good to hear." I replied. "But I think I'm going to call it a night, I'll see you all another time."

"Hang on darling, I'm coming with you too." Rarity said.

I smiled as we waved to the others and left the castle and got a ride all the way back to Ponyville. We got inside the boutique and I had noticed there was a disco ball above the main room and my soundblaster from where I used it at the previous Gala a couple years back.

"Uhh Rarity, what's all this?" I asked.

She then got us to stand on our backlegs in a hugging pose.

"Did we get the chance to dance?" she asked back.

"You're right...we never got the chance, because of what happened."

"Well, this is our night now, the others won't be back for a while." she then turned on the lights that were low. "We can dance away to a love song and sleep together afterwards."

"That sounds beautiful...I love you so much, Rarity."

"I love you so much too darling, now let us dance."

We then began to dance slowly and we heard a ballad that I once heard and it was true, I will be her stallion and I will fight for her honor, because I wanna do it all for the glory of love! When the music over, the disco ball stopped spinning and the lights went off, we walked upstairs and took off our outfits, we then got into bed and snuggled up together.

There were no words needed, it was a wonderful and romantic end to what was a very interesting day.

Discord certainly had his issues about Fluttershy not being with him, but it seems he has learned his lesson now and as for Tree Hugger, she was really something, I think she should be a professional, doing massages or something, but if she loves her job with the Breezies, then that's fine with me. Speaking of which, I wonder how Fluttershy and Big Mac got on with thier third date, maybe we'll find out soon. Next Chapter: The Lost Treasure Of Griffonstone Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 37 Minutes