Chapter two

The two sisters after Twilight have left find themselves in a den passing the time playing a chess with one another like they have so many times in the past with one another. This time being no different as the tables are already starting to favor one sister over the other. Piece by piece starts to loose itself from the board as Celestia takes her time picking and choosing the right time to strike, and when to stay back to allow Luna a small victory in order to seal her own siblings fate. The older of the two has been playing this game for quite some time now, ever sense they were younger.

It has been sort of a rivalry between them from the start. They would always try to outwit one another in this simple, but skilled game that requires much patients and planning. Something that one of them hasn’t quite figured out. While Celestia takes the more subtle approach, Luna has always sought to go right at her opponent without thinking it through completely and push to take as many of her pieces off the board as possible in as short of a time as she could. ‘She never has learned… has she.’ the eldest thinks in the back of her head while she can see the frustration building in her young counterparts face.

Although Luna may not show her emotion when it comes to this. She really is getting more irritated at the fact that she has never won a chess game against her sister, not even once. The fact that Celestia has a slow, but growing grin across her face doesn’t help to ease the youngers mind as she can see her coffin not too far off in the distance. “You know already how this is going to play out?” Luna grinds her teeth asking, “Don’t you?”

“Oh I couldn’t imagine it,” Celestia smiles looking off to the side as she moves another piece in place, “by the way, check.”

Luna scrambles to make a move to save her king as she talks, “You were always better at this then I was.”

“That I was. Then again you never put much thought in to your moves do you?” The older Princess asks moving her Rook while taking yet another lunar pawn, “Oh, and check again.”

“We could always break out the controllers, and shoot at one another in a virtual landscape. Considering I’m really starting to hate this game,” Luna cringes as she moves her king back in to the corner of the board.

“You’ve been saying that one for years, on both accounts in fact,” Celestia points out while she uses her magic to lift and place the final nail in her sister’s coffin, or king in this case. “…and checkmate.”

Her jaw hangs low to the ground as Luna rests her hoof against her head, lightly rubbing her temple while clenching her eyes shut from the mild migraine that is making its way in to her head. Bewilderment, confusion, frustration. All of the above describe what is going through her head as she watched her sister level the board before her vary eyes. The worst part about it, Celestia has always had a fondness of this game, and in a sick twisted kind of way. Loves to make moves just to carry on the game, even though she knows she’ll win in the end. Anything to just prolong it. Luna has called her out on this before and Tia insists it’s nothing more than her wanting to spend time with her sister, but the younger sibling simply calls it ‘playing with your prey.’

“How do you do it?” Luna asks raising her gaze from the set, “How have you always beaten me at this game? It’s one of the few things you are really competitive with to begin with.”

Celestia chuckles at her as she puts the pieces away, still seeing the look on her sister’s face, “I’ve practiced many, many times with this, after all we both have lived for a very long time. I didn’t always play with you, you know. Twilight and I have gone at one each other’s throats a few times before.”

Luna rolls her eyes at her knowing full well she is right. The older has been more adept when it came to games that required concentration and skill, while Luna just isn’t as patient as she may need to be to best her in this case. She’d prefer just to shoot something. Though the pieces resetting themselves lets her know that she isn’t quite out of the woods just yet when it comes to her torment at the checkerboard pattern battle field.

“Come on now,” Celestia gets herself comfortable from across the table, “we have a little bit of time left before I would even expect Cadance to arrive. What do you say to another round?”

“I hate you sometimes,” Luna shakes her head while she prolongs her own torment.

After about an hour passes by. The two sisters are welcomed by a knock to the den room that they were using to spend some time together in. “It’s open!” Luna calls out to the visitor from across the room, and to their presence comes the Princess of the Crystal Empire. Princess Cadance. Full name being Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but still liking the less formal (and less mouthful) counterpart. The pink alicorn with violet eyes. Pink, yellow, and purple mane and the cutie mark of a heart crested, is the long distant niece of the two rulers of Equestria.

Once even Twilights foal sitter, she and the young foal soon became best friends. More importantly though, this is how she was first introduced to Twilights brother, Shining Armor. The two hit it off after a rather cute courtship with one another, mostly an embarrassment of the fact trying to get past their feelings for one another and realizing that they could get it to work. Never the less, she watched her boyfriend climb the ranks of the royal guard, eventually reaching Captain of it all. In time he proposed to her and the two were wed, after dealing with Queen Chrysalis and her army that tried to crash the wedding at take the crown. The young pony Princess has a warm heart for all those around her and that’s not just because of her personality. As her cutie mark may suggest she is able to spread love where ever it may be needed, even to those who think it would be pointless to have in their life.

Luna is the first to dart over to greet her. More than happy to avoid the up and coming ‘check mate’ that her sister was sure to call in the next five minutes. “Oh my sweet niece,” Luna says squeezing her ever closer. “It’s so nice of you to make it tonight,” she mentions. “Twilight left after dinner and wanted to say she would be happy to see you tomorrow. If you could that is.”

“I would never miss a chance to see my favorite aunts, sorry about that delay though. You think the empires own trains would be more reliable than that,” Cadance smiles warmly at them both. “As for Twilight, I already planned on making the trip to begin with. I knew she would have to get back to her new home tonight and get some sleep after a day of studying with Celestia.”

The Princess in question can’t help but smile at the comment from her niece. Seeing as she even knows the lessons that Twilight goes through can range everywhere from simple study in, well the study. To full blown spell practice out in the court yard, and on occasions (like today) spell practice in the study. After the formalities of the trip they all sit down in the den and have come mare talk with one another that they each miss out on. What’s new in their respective kingdoms, what have their husbands been up to (well at least on Celestia’s and Cadance’s part), how have Celestia’s kids been, and even some of the teachings that Celestia has been teaching her protégé.

At that moment, one of the topics of discussion literally bursts in to the room. Followed soon by yet another. Celestia’s husband topples his way in to the room, making a few more than dramatic twists and turns before finally landing face first on to the carpet. Discord lays there on the ground, motionless for a few moments before rising up to face his ‘attackers’ that are in a close pursuit behind him and expected to burst through the door any second now. The chaotic Dragonoci once was the ruler of Equestria itself, before the two regal sisters put an end to him. They trapped him in stone with the elements of harmony and he remained there for centuries. That is until he eventually broke free and it was up to the new holders of the elements (Twilight and her friends) to subdue him once more.

In time though, the Princess herself thought that he may be able to be reformed. Soon seeking to have him renewed so that perhaps his powers can be used for good instead of evil. After a rather short process, he was turned around to them and has sense been assisting the Princess (and even her student) in what he is asked to do. In time though, from working together more and more with one another, the sun Princess and her one time adversary soon started to see each other in a new light. Even sooner before they found themselves spending more and more time with one another in more than one way. What was going on between them was kept a secret. That is until they no longer could from any pony and came clean about their relationship, due to an untimely pregnancy. Sense that time though, possibly the oddest couple in Equestria, have had two kids with one another. Now making one of the oddest fathers in Equestria as well.

The look on Discord's face though is one of a tired father as he plays with his kids in the castle while his wife tends to her teacher duties. Although the newly appointed Prince, due to the marriage, could have nannies take care of the kids while he and the wife handled other matters. Discord sees no reason to do such a thing while there is himself full of free time at the moment, while any sort of needs of Equestria can be tended by his wife or sister in law. Plus the fact of him being so much a child himself adds to the matter of fun for himself. Discord turns his head to the Princesses in the room behind him, particularly his wife, while keeping a watchful eye on the door waiting for the assailants to come through.

“Ahh good evening ladies, Tia…” he grins at her. “So how has your day been?”

“Probably not as eventful as yours, Dissy,” Celestia snickers at him. Although they may be the odd pair, in this case opposites attract in every sense of the phrase. They mesh well with one another, and wouldn’t have it any other way. Even if his antics have been a major pain in the flank at times. The newly appointed father has come around in the later years, leaving Celestia’s health in much thanks, “I’m sorry I haven’t been around today much, Twilight also needs to be taught what she can.”

“Oh don’t worry..,” he pauses to stretch out a few limbs in ways that no joint should ever be able to bend, “I know that Twi can get in to her teachings and you almost have to pry the book from her hooves.”

“Or you can throw the book at her,” Celestia mutters under her breath, “although how have they been today?” Before her husband is able to answer the ‘they’ she was talking about also comes through the door.

The kids of the royal couple come in and tackle their father. Wrestling him to the ground in yet another while they gang up in a two to one match up. One boy, and one girl. The foal colt, Havoc. Has the same face as his father. Adorned with a normal pony eye and one serpent slit eye. A pair of horns, either one bending off in the opposite direction of one another, along with bat and Pegasus wing of his father. Yet maintaining a pony body, unlike the serpent one his dad holds. On top of this, the spry colt is adorned with three of his father’s tails on his hind.

While the young filly, Rosebud, or on occasion Rose for short. Holds the lovely looks of her mother, nearly a splitting image of her in every sense. Apart from the same serpent tail that her brother inherited instead of a pony one, and a tri colored Mohawk running down her head and the end of her tail the same color as her mother’s mane. Both of the kids seem like they were born yesterday to the parents still, although the magic that they picked up from both would beg to differ as they have had it develop even faster in them than the average foal. Especially when it’s considered that Havoc got a little of the chaos magic in him that he has put to use on more than one occasion. Usually in the appearance of coping himself, or changing his bodies form in to a disguise several times over, much to the confusion of the castle staff. Although with both of the kids playing idly with their magic and experimenting with it. It does leave their parent more or less on their toes half the time.

Celestia rolls her eyes and shakes her head as she watches her husband play dad to their kids. The grin coating her face even as she leaps off of the couch and brings her son up in her fore hooves. Kissing the young colts neck and making him squeal in her embrace. That is until he teleports out and lands atop her back to wrap his hooves around the mother he loves. Meanwhile Rose has her own fun as she latches on to her dad’s tail and dangles there in front of him. The other two mares in the room giggle at the tricks and play of the kids after watching the mother and father finally manage to sit down with their kids in their arms. Watching the young pair wiggle eventually calm down, just a little bit, as their conversation picks back up.

“They are so adorable,” Cadance starts to blush as she rests a hoof over her chest covering her heart, “how old are they now? It seems like ages sense I’ve seen them.”

Discord holds a talon to his chin while his daughter lays there in his arms. Her small horn lights up and in a flash a mound of snow falls on the end of her dad’s muzzle as he just looks down at her with a brow raised while she giggles. “The twins are both turning six this year it would see. Now aren’t you?” He nuzzles his frozen nose against hers and drops some of the snow on her, an all too playful yelp escaping her mouth as she squeals from the frost.

Luna can’t resist the urge to smile as she sees the warm, pleasant smile cross her youngest nieces face while she teases her father. Something that Luna frequents with her brother in law, “Time really has flown hasn’t it? They are so precious at that age, both of them.”

“I’m sure Twilight would have loved to see them tonight as well,” Cadance points out. That is before remembering to ask something she’s been meaning to after thinking of it on the way over. “By the way, how is she handling living out in her own home?”

Both Celestia and Luna look at one another, considering their previous discussion about the subject. “She seems to be adjusting quite well, considering Spike and all her friends are in town near her. Twilight sees Spike almost every night for that matter,” The mother answers with a slight cringe in her face. Cadance knows that something else is up, but before she can ask Luna steps up and does it for her.

“We did mention the idea of her having a guard to stay there and help watch over things though, just in case.”

“Oh I can’t imagine how she took that one,” Discord says rolling his eyes after the sarcastic answer, soon receiving an elbow nudge to the side from his wife. Though that isn’t enough to stop her husband from having his own fun, “After all a pony that she doesn’t know now thrown in to her own home, OCD Twilight must have gone nuts.”

“She actually took it quite well,” Celestia informs them, or more so her husband than anyone else, “Although she would like me and Luna to pick a guard for her, seeing as we know them better and have more experience. Still not sure who to pick exactly.”

“She would like him to be..,” Luna chimes in as her sister finishes. Recalling the alicorn’s requests, “Dependable, Reliable, and always willing to lend a helping hoof when need be… in her words. Also one she is comfortable around.”

That last line is the one that repeats itself in Cadance’s head. Putting a hoof to the edge of her chin she thinks back to the times that Twilight visited her in the crystal empire, and what her interactions were with the guards. ‘I know there’s one in mind that she is comfortable with. More or less that is,’ she ponders in her head, ‘but what was his name?’ In an instant though the name pops in to her head and Cadance almost jumps out of her seat. “I know who she can have!” She says with the utmost of enthusiasm after almost lifting herself from her own seat. The sudden outburst takes the others by surprise as they all just stare at her waiting for her to continue. “There is a young high ranking Pegasus guard in my own empire, he is everything that she is asking for. All of his coworker adore him, and to add to this,” Cadance tops off while a nearly sinister grin comes over her, “Twilight has been around him on quite a several occasions in the last few years and they seem to work very well with one another. Although she is a little shy.”

“Shy?” Luna repeats, “How come?”

“Let’s just say,” Cadance contemplates back and forth. Mulling around a good way to put this, “She seems to take a rather particular ‘shine’ to him that Twilight is unaccustomed to feeling for another pony of the opposite gender.”

Celestia is nearly shocked to hear this, along with the others around them. Twilight has never mentioned a guard such as this to them when the subject came up, nor did she ever bring up the fact that she may have a crush on some pony entirely. Either about this particular guard, or for that matter any other colt in Equestria. The older Princess takes it upon herself to probe deeper while the others wait their turn, “How well do you know him?”

“I would say very well in fact,” Cadance answers without hesitation. “He has worked with us for a few years now. The colt ranked up not too long before Twilight had to go inside that mirror to get her crown back, and that’s when I even started hearing his name about the palace. Plus she bumped in to him upon her return as well.”

“Is he really what she is looking for?” Discord chimes in while Havoc nibbles on one of his dads horns after teleporting away from his mom, “or is this just you playing match maker?”

“Eh it’s a little of both honestly. Shining has mentioned him a few times in passing, and I’ve never heard any sort of ill reports about him. As for the part about being comfortable around this guard, she is, but as I said,” Cadance quickly follows up with, “She’s also shy considering this is her first crush from what I know.”

Luna is the one who decides to ask the obvious question that has been buzzing around all their minds, “How do you know she has a crush on him?”

All Cadance does is raise an eye brow to her. “Really now? You can’t fool a pony that deals in love on a daily basis. Plus the fact that Twilight does a very poor job at hiding that sort of thing also helps,” She points out before going in to a ramble of how she can tell. “The cute little glances they give one another as they’ve pasted by whenever she would come around the empire. The fact that when he has helped her in the past while at the Crystal Empire, she would get wobbly in the legs and nearly collapse as they talked to one another. Oh and of course who can forget the way both her eyes light up when she sees him for the first time after getting off the train. I’ve taken it upon myself to send him to greet her when I could not myself,” She answers holding her hoof over her own heart proudly. “Twilight certainly is not fooling any pony.”

The young colt atop his father’s head jumps in to put his own two cents on the matter, “Auntie Twily has a crush!” Havoc giggles with Rosebud as they snicker to themselves.

Watching her two kids, the mother beams while also thinking about what her own actions should be in this matter. Having a guard who her own student is emotionally attached to watching over her could be a good thing, in that she may actually listen to him (seeing as Twilight can be very strong headed at times). Then again it could fail if he doesn’t quite feel the same way and she pushes it.

“What about him?” Celestia ask out of the blue to settle that thought in her mind.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean is the feeling that she puts off mutual between them?” Celestia puts it bluntly to get to the point that was in her mind a few seconds ago, “because if the guard doesn’t feel quite the same way than it could end before it even begins.”

Cadance thinks back to how he acts around her, and just smiles and nods her head, “It would seem that way, and after all I have noticed him getting rather red in the face quite often when around her. On top of that the minor stumbling in words, and when I have spoken to the colt about watching after her on the times she in the empire he does seem all too willing.”

Hmm… Celestia hums in her mouth. Although her own husband ends up taking the stand before she can even continue.

“Well I must say it seems that this colt might be the guard after all. If not I’m sure it would be interesting on both their parts to see how things turned out between them when it explodes spectacularly in their face,” He trails off with a questioning paw on his chin. Receiving a confused glare from his lover. “What? I’m not wrong here, you said it yourself after all. Besides it’s been a while sense I have seen a relationship in turmoil, those always make some of the best chaos because the couple feels the need to get everyone of their friends in on the mix.”

“Got tired of trying to make some of your own chaos in our little relationship?”

“Well no, instead of trying to make more of it I did the next best thing,” Discord leans a little in to her ear and whispers, “I just married you, and called it even.”

It’s not often that her husband goes off on a rant only to bring it back with something sweet from the heart, and after recalling some of things they have gone through in a relationship between a princess of the sun and the master of chaos. Celestia can only answer him with the same ‘I love your crazy ass’ look she has given him on so many occasions. ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ She asks herself before her mind draws a blank, and Tia nods her head. “Cadance,” She says to get their attention before she goes on, “Would you be willing to give Twilight a guard of yours? I know you said he was rather high ranking. Could you take him away from his duties?”

“And get to see the look on Twilight’s face when she sees him for the first time? Duh,” She nods vigorously at the opportunity. “I’m sure he would be happy to help no matter what was asked of him. Although I don’t plan on telling him who it is he’ll be guarding, I’ll leave that a surprise. Besides,” She brushes the thought aside, “Getting to come somewhere new for a guard, and to a quiet place like Ponyville will be more like a treat than anything.”

They all nod in agreement, knowing full well that the only time the guard will be needed is if she were to venture out of the town, and to somewhere less than desirable. Apart from the numerous occasions where trouble finds the little town. In that case, she’ll just have extra support. Celestia takes out a letter ready to send it to Twilight, suspecting that she’ll be able to get ahold of it sooner than one may think. “When would he be ready?” she asks.

Cadance takes out her own parchment and quill, as she jots down a note to Shining Armor, “Considering it’s getting late I can have him here probably by the day after tomorrow.”

“Splendid,” Celestia smiles warmly at the thought, “I’ll inform her now,” She answers as she finishes and sends off the letter in a spark of magic from her horn.

“I can fill her in on more details when I come down to Ponyville tomorrow as well,” Cadance says as she picks up Rosebud in her hooves from the floor after scurrying on with her brother. The foal squirming about giggling all the way as Havoc laughs and carries on while on the couch as he watches his cousin tickle his sister. “Plus if their mother will let me, I can take these precious angles to see their auntie.”

Both of the kids mouths shut at the sound of that and look at their mother with the sweetest face they can muster up. The two parents sitting there as they watch their eyes grow wider and wider in anticipation at their answer.

Both Dissy and Tia just shake their heads and smile at one another while they watch their kids. “Can you really say no to that face?” he asks her, “I mean look at those eyes.”

“Well,” She starts off, looking at the wedding ring on her horn, before giving him a sweet kiss on the cheeks, “I couldn’t say no to your crazy looking eyes?”

“Oh that’s different,” He snickers at her before turning his attention to his kin. “Well unless their mother says anything differently,” Discord gives her a quick glace to see if she does. Returning to them when all she does is gesture ‘fine by me.’ “I see no reason why you can’t.”

The two foals teleport themselves across the room and land in their parents arms. “Thank you thank you thank you!” They scream out while wrapping their hooves around their parents as much as they can and squeeze with all their might. Celestia manages to pry Havoc off of his father while Rosebud is perched on top of her back, “I’ll take them to their room and get them to bed, that way auntie Twilight can have them all day,” She smiles at her daughter while nuzzling her muzzle against her own. Discord comes over to her side and gives his kids a good night kiss before doing the same to his wife.

Once she has left though, it leaves Discord in there with both Luna and Cadance. It is getting late and even though he has been slowly getting tired all day from the kids, it’s now that the toll is starting to take its effect on the chaotic lord. Dissy yawns as he stretches out his arms, soon followed by the Princesses yawning in the same.

“Well now I may be the Princess of the night,” Luna proclaim, “But even I need my beauty sleep.”

“You probably more than most,” Discord counters without missing a beat. Luna rolling her eyes at her brother in law as she starts to walk away from them, while Cadance chuckles to herself at the bantering between the in-laws. “Then again, Cadance,” She stops as soon as she hears that.

“Yes Dissy?” She remarks with a snicker, receiving one from him as well.

“I wanted to ask this before turning in for the night,” He starts off, “Seeing as somehow none of us managed to ask this while we were all still awake in the first place. What is the young colt’s name that will be coming down to watch over her?”

“Oh?” Cadance catches herself. Discord has a point, how did none of them ask that? For that matter how did she even forget to bring it up? Shaking her head now to get her thoughts back in order, “How did that one slip my mind? Well now that you mention it, the guards name is Flash… Flash Sentry.”